DISCLAIMERS:
All canon characters are (C) 1992 - whatever year it is Naoko Takeuchi and all other related parties. The Shadow senshi are (C) Wild Nature 2006 - 2007. This is a fanfic based upon the anime version and all written work that this consists of is (C) 2006 - 2007 Wild Nature.

Chapter Two: Trials of the Fire and Water

Eternal Sailor Mars opened her eyes carefully. She looked around the settings, the warmth quickly creeping into her skin as the ash in the air cut off a great deal of oxygen. She coughed and nearly gagged.

“The air..” She wheezed. She spotted Kaiki and Kaki looking around intently. “Guys?”

She pulled her back bow off and tied it around her nose and mouth. The others had their hands over their faces as they nodded to the senshi. “You all right?”

Sailor Mars looked around, skimming the horizon. The land was dead, at least it appeared to be so. She heard a dim sound of running water. “This is..”

“I don’t know what this place is..” Kaiki shrugged. “Let’s look around, okay?”

They moved easily over the rock-free area. It was long spread, the dirt and ash trapped floating in the air as the sound of running water dimmed in and out at the places they stilled at.

“I don’t understand,” Kaki said finally, her voice muffled. “What are we supposed to do!?”

“Well, what do you guys want anyways?” Sailor Mars asked finally, just wanting to make conversation.

“We want to help!”

“Please, when I first started, I wanted to quit,” Sailor Mars snorted. “And don’t go saying it’s for destiny! You must have another reason, something that’s deep in you.”

Kaiki eyed the raven haired. “So what’s your reason? The whole thing that made you chuck out everything?”

“I haven’t chucked out anything, I’ve merely prioritized,” Sailor Mars sat down on a protruding mound of dirt.

The others quietly sat down with her. “Go on and tell us then. We don’t know that much about you as a senshi anyways.”

“Heh, where to begin?” Sailor Mars smiled warmly. “I met Usagi in middle school. She came to my temple and in my less perfect judgment, I used my ofuda on her.”

Kaki snickered. “Oh yea, nice way to make friends!”

“I didn’t want to be a part of the Sailor Team,” Sailor Mars said thoughtfully. “I wanted nothing to do with it but something changed..”

She looked up and fixed her eyes on the other two. “It’s not about fighting enemies, it about being together, bringing a peace that’s so powerful, it’s universal. It all centered on Usagi. Not on our loyalty, but our friendship. She means more to me than anything. She was, is, and will always be my Princess. All of us feel like that. She’s not just that either, she’s my friend, my ally, someone I know I can trust and someone who would help me. And I want to help her,” Sailor Mars squeezed her hands into fists.

“We are a team, brought together by one single purpose. We are justice, we save the world and we protect, so much more than what’s actually at stake. If we lost, who would step up and save the human race?”

“So we must follow someone?”

“Not follow, believe. But it may not be the case for you guys. Something else must fuel you. What made you fight in the first place?”

Kaki scratched her nose. “I didn’t want my sister to be hurt again.”

“I wanted to be there to do something,” Kaiki said finally.

“That’s a good start. But what is it about people? Is it someone in particular?” Sailor Mars asked pressingly.

The two girls looked at each other. Kaki was the first to say something. “To be honest, I’ve always looked out for my sister. I do it out of love. Love is what makes me want to fight. I want to protect, I need to protect..”

She pulled out her necklace. “Even without this, without being a Shadow, I want to make a difference because I know I can. I believe in that feeling..”

Her fingers tightened as the gem lit up, shining brilliantly as her eyes widened. “Oh.. wow..” The ground shook as the area she was under turned red, her body heating up. “This is.. intense..”

Her forehead blazed a round, red circle before it faded.

“How do you feel?” Kaiki asked finally, after a lengthy pause.

“Huh...?” Kaki shook her head. “Oh wow, head trip.”

She held up her gem. “It’s warm again!” She said gleefully. She got up and began to dance around. “It’s working! Working! Working!”

Kaiki’s eyes widened. “Me too!” She shook her gem. “Come on!”

“Listen..” Kaki said suddenly. “Hear that?”

“What?” Kaiki cried out as Kaki took off running. The other girls followed at the sound of running water became louder with each step.

Kaki had stopped on the side of a crashing waterfall. “There’s a doorway!” She called out to the others.

“Let’s wait a minute!” Sailor Mars interrupted. Her body was tingling with strange energy but she was sure it wasn’t for her, not here.

She sat down once more, Kaki fidgeting. “Come on! The door right there, see it Kaiki!”

“Kaiki,” Sailor Mars said calmly. Kaiki stilled as she listened. “What about you?”

She blinked. “I don’t know. I’ve always been on my own. I’ve never actually wanted anything save for good swimming days.”

“That’s not true!” Kaki argued. “There is always something that a person wants! What did you want?”

“I’ve always wanted... um, well, for my parents to, well, you know, notice me,” Kaiki mumbled. “I can be gone for hours and they wouldn’t care.”

Kaki’s eyes softened. “I’m sorry.”

“Hey, no big thing..” Kaiki looked away, trying to hide her face.

“I know how you feel,” Sailor Mars said quietly. “My father’s too busy with his job. I’ve never been close to him and it was only worse after my mother’s death. It still hurts greatly.”

“That’s why I want to be a mother. A wonderful one! With a loving husband and all that!” Kaiki said fervently. “But that’s still not enough, is it?”

“It’s too focused on you,” Kaki pointed out.

“You need something grasp, something to hold. To believe in. What do you want to believe in?” Sailor Mars asked finally.

“I want to believe.. to believe in.. my own self..” Her hand tightened onto her gem. “I want to believe that I’m strong enough! That I’ve always been good enough! I want to be somebody!”

Her gem turned jade green as the area underneath her shone. She was showered in light before her hand lessened on the tight grip. “Wow.. that was wonderful..”

“Okay!” Sailor Mars lunged for Kaki’s swinging arm.

“Can you not wait a moment?!” She muttered as Kaki tugged her up. She rolled her eyes as Kaki ran behind the cascading water.

“Are you okay?” She asked Kaiki who smiled.

“Yea, I’m fine.”

They followed Kaki but after a moment, they couldn’t see either one of them, let alone a hand in front of their face.

“It’s a bit dark..” Kaki said finally. “Can’t you light it up?”

“I don’t do tricks,” Sailor Mars swore as her foot hit something. “What the hell..”

Her scream echoed as something very near her oozed something slimy on her. “RUN!”

The three girls backtracked as a huge insect monster followed, its numerous thick, hairy legs scraping the ground, its belly fat and swollen as it screeched.

“Not good!” Kaiki groaned.

“Mars Flame Sniper!” Sailor Mars aimed and watched the arrow streak. The bug’s front legs heaved itself into the air, leaning high as the arrows crashed harmlessly on its thick hide.

“Kaiki!” Kaki stated. “We need to transform!”

“NOW?”

“YES!” She held up her gem. “Nepheline Holy Fire, Make Up!” She felt the energy boil within her. Her fuku formed, distinctly different. Her tiara, and shoes were the same but her choker was double black threads, a round red orb in its center, the sign of Mars attached at the bottom. Her collar was red outlined in yellow on its back edge. Her bodice was the same but her brooch was a round red orb, a set of four arrow pointed crystals on each side, a set of four small points jutting out from in between each larger point. the top edge of the bodice was lined in a yellow metal bar that curled in at the meeting between the point of where the black piece would tie together.

She had a thin yellow metal band wrapped around the tops of her gloves, much like an outlined armband. Her gloves were pink and meshed fabric, a purple orb still on the backs of her hands. Her shirt was double layered, the top being red and the bottom transparent pink mesh. Her waistband was the same save that the yellow strap was metal and the midsection connected with four looped beads. The slender tails trailed down to the backs of her knees.

“Nepheline Holy Ocean, Make Up!” Kaiki shouted. Her fuku formed, also distinctly different. Her tiara, and shoes were the same but her choker was double black threads, a round jade green orb in its center, the sign of Neptune attached at the bottom. Her collar was jade green outlined in yellow on its back edge. Her bodice was the same but her brooch was a round jade green orb, a set of four arrow pointed crystals on each side, a set of four small points jutting out from in between each larger point. The top edge of the bodice was lined in a yellow metal bar that curled in at the meeting between the point of where the black piece would tie together.

She had a thin yellow metal band wrapped around the tops of her gloves, much like an outlined armband. Her gloves were light green and meshed fabric, a jade green orb still on the backs of her hands. Her shirt was double layered, the top being jade green and the bottom transparent light green mesh. Her waistband was the same save that the yellow strap was metal and the midsection connected with four looped beads. The slender tails trailed down to the backs of her knees.

“Let’s show this thing what we’re up for!” Shadow Mars shouted. “Magma Firepot!” She wove her hands together, creating a inner swelling of thick magma, burning hotly as she aimed and it slimed onto the ground, licking up at the insect’s feet.

“Deep Impact!” Shadow Neptune raised her hands up as she called forth water that boiled upon impact with the magma. The steam heated up and smoked around the enemy as the two stilled.

“I can’t see it..” Shadow Mars said weakly. She screamed as it lunged out, the fangs bared and its gums dripping.

“EWW!!” Shadow Neptune moved forward only to find a leg cutting underneath her, tripping her.

“Magma..” Shadow Mars began her attack only for the insect to hit her in the abdomen, sending her in the river.

“Shadow Mars! Shadow Neptune!” Sailor Mars reared up. “Mars Flame Sniper!”

Once more the attack hit harmlessly. “I don’t get it! I’m supposed to be able to!” She shouted in frustration.

She thought of the doorway. “Inside.. there’s something inside for me!”

She took off, ducking under the waterfall, the others following.

“I hope you know what you’re doing!” Shadow Mars panted.

“I can’t think of anything else,” Sailor Mars stopped at the door. It was covered in ash and grime as she pushed it open. It swung open surprisingly easy, a single light hitting the lone pedestal.

“It’s a way home!” Shadow Mars said gleefully.

“But Duchess Nerthus said I had a choice!” Sailor Mars broke out.

“Look..” Shadow Neptune pointed. “It’s got a place for three hands..”

“But I only have two..” Shadow Mars said, looking at her own.

“No, it’s for all of us!” Sailor Mars reached over and placed hers in the center. The other two did the same and it lit up. The girls turned into shimmering light as Sailor Mars gasped, her eyes widening.

Her own crystal pulled free from her and she saw the elements of fire and water battle each other before fire won over and it swallowed the crystal. She felt the sign of Mars burn upon her brow as she reached out and grasped her crystal. It melted into her as a amulet, designed like flames, clasped her wrist.

She held up her wrist as she shouted. “Mars Elemental Merge, Make Up!” With the amulet thrust in front of her, a four pointed star of fire shot out its tendrils and shot backwards, covering her in its flames to form her fuku.

Upon her head was a headpiece, two violet fabrics wrapped around the back to attach to the front sides by white beads. The two white beads connected at the front by a red fabric. Upon her brow was the sign of Mars. Her earrings were red round gems with golden hoops attached. Her choker was partial, and violet, the space between in the front edged by a round white orb on each end. Connected the two gems was a thin, drooping black thread, attached to it the sign of Mars. Her collar was white with red flames going from the outside in. Her gloves were red mesh and cut at the first knuckles and around the top forearm where it ended was a metal, silver band. Her bodice started at the breasts, shaped like a strapless bra. Around her ribs, from underneath her breasts to point down at her hips, was a metal, silver protection. At the point of this, at the bottom edge, was round silver orb, a red gem in its center and dangling red teardrop. Her skirt was double layered and edged like flames. The top was red and the bottom was violet.

Her front bow was two violet tails, attached to a flame shaped brooch, white and outlined in red. Her back bow was violet and the bow was shaped like three throngs and the tail was long to the backs of her knees, also ending in three throngs. Her boots where like violet sandals, strapped on the tops of her feet, to reveal her toes. From before her toes to the middle of her thighs was a red mesh covering. From her knees to her ankles was a silver metal protector covering the front only, strapped around the leg three times to hold it in place.

She turned to see the insect lunging at them. “Time to get squashed,” she muttered.

“Ares Hammer Barrage!” A fiery hammer formed in both gripped hands as she struck the ground, fire shooting over to ensnare the insect.

“Magma Firepot!”

“Deep Impact!”

The three attacks merged as the insect shrieked, burning from outside in as it turned to dust.

“We did it!” Shadow Mars cheered. “Finally! We can go...”

The area swirled at the girls grouped together. “What’s going on?!” Sailor Mars asked worriedly.

The three faded from the area as it turned to gray. They landed in front of the pedestal, the other girls still there. They were still in their new fuku as Sailor Mars started to move.

“No, don’t. You must let the others finish their trials,” Duchess Nerthus said quietly. She held up her hands. “It won’t take long. Have patience.”