Realm Sagas: Story 22: The Masked Ones By: Chandra Rooney ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Legal stuff: Sonic & Knuckles, and all related characters are copy-right of Sega and Archie comics. KTE, and Bander are copy-right of KTE. Vampire Sephiroth is copy-right of Vampire Sephiroth. The Green Gibbon! is copy-right of GG! Adiemus & Kayla are copy-right of Adiemus Echemmyroo. Moon the Echidna, Ashrire, Lirsage, Tonia, Leslie, Sailor Evil/Sailor Eclipse, and all other original realm sagas characters are copy-right of Chandra Rooney. All the characters and ideas presented are my own, unless otherwise noted. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chapter One: Outside the Old Village, KTE's Home Realm The three echidnas approached the cluster of abandoned buildings. The tall red one crouched down. The smaller red one with the brown hat narrowed dark brown eyes He raised a hand to signal to the last member of their party. The silver echidna in the black metal mask came back from his viewpoint. "It looks all clear," KTE whispered. "No," the Masked Silver Echidna cut him off. "There's a life form just behind that first building. Best we try to take them by surprise." He stopped and looked at Bander. "If that's at all possible." "Right." KTE nodded. "Bander and I'll approach from the sides-" "I'll take them from the front. It's not honorable to attack an enemy from the back. They have less of a chance for a fair fight." Bander gave him a look. "No offense, Masked, but you think they'd give us a chance for a fair fight?" "Honor is honor." Masked repeated. "And I won't forsake mine." "Quiet." KTE hissed. "Bander and I approach from the sides, and you take them from the front." Masked nodded. "I thought you would see it my way." Sailor Eclipse strolled into the room. She frowned at the green fox asleep at the table. She raised a hand. A bolt of dark energy crackled through the air and hit him. Kit yelped as he was thrown on the floor. "Get up you lazy, good for nothing, useless ball of fluff." "Sailor Evil?" he blinked. "Sailor Eclipse." She corrected. "Now, let me see these Master Tools." "Uh, okay..." Kit stepped back from the table. "Kit..dear," she smiled sweetly. "How many Tools do we have?" "Um...four." "Then why are there only two here?" she demanded. "What?!" he rushed forward and looked at the table. Sure enough, The Ring of Change, and the Silver Crescent Moon Wand were missing. "But they were just here a minute ago.." "And then you fell asleep. And while you were asleep someone took them," she concluded. "I do not tolerate failure, Kit." "Gimme a chance, I'll find out where they went," he protested. "I'm sure someone just moved them, or maybe Vampire Sephiroth has them or-" "Enough of your excuses." She withdrew a black crystal staff. Atop it was a double-bladed ax, and atop the ax was a black orb topped with a sharp shard. "Please..." Kit's eyes widened at the sight of it. "I'll go get Vampire Sephiroth...he'll know where it is and-" "I said enough!" She drove the shard through his heart. "Failure and weakness will no longer be allowed a place amongst us." She brushed a strand of hair away from her face, and adjusted her scarf. "Now, on to more important business." "I've got it!" Leslie cried triumphantly, her green eyes shining. "I've figured out the whole entry!" She brushed at her browny-blond hair. Tonia yawned, half-closed her dark eyes. "About time. What's it say?" "Well, it talks mainly about these two types of 'Senshi'. Their roles, their powers. One has five members and they're called 'Protection Senshi'. The other has two members and they're called 'Crystal Senshi'." She paused. "And one last one. A 'Master Dark Senshi'. Apparently these Protection Senshi are to guard the Crystal Senshi until the final battle, when the two Crystals will face the Master Dark Senshi and her Consort alone. The outcome of the battle will determine the Order and Balance of all the Realms." "That's all?" Tonia frowned, twisting her black pony-tale. "We worked for days to get *that*?!" "That's the basic message, yes. But listen here. This part is repeated several times." Leslie cleared her throat. "The Crystal Senshi must remain on the same side. If one is to fall under the spell of the Master Dark Senshi...something...victory will only be achieved if the Crystals fight together." "So..okay. But what happens to those Protection Senshi?" Leslie rechecked the translation. "It seems they were captured before." "Great. Does it say anything about the Realm Protectors?" "Nope. Just goes on and on about these Senshi. Maybe we should try another entry." Tonia nodded. "Okay...I'll pick." She flipped through the book towards the back. "Here, this one looks like it was written by someone different. Try it." "Let's hope this one translates faster," Leslie muttered. She turned back on the decryption program of the portable computer. "Scan it in." The computer took a holographic scan of the pages. "Run Decode program." Leslie instructed. A hum began in a few seconds. "Now, we wait." Chapter Two: KTE crept up by the side of the building. He could just see Bander coming up by the other side. Let's make this quick...He thought. He leapt out from the side, sword drawn, ready to take down the enemy. Only...there was no enemy. Bander came from the other side, spear ready, but he too just stood there. One left to join the party, KTE thought bitterly. C'mon out Lir. The silver echidna, in the black metal mask, calmly walked out from the front passage. "What do we have here, gentlemen?" he asked, regarding the person they'd surrounded. It was a guy, a little on the short side, in a tuxedo. He had brown hair, and his eyes were concealed by a green mask. His bow-tie was green, as was the underside of his cape. He had white gloves, and black dress shoes. "Please tell me this is a bad joke," KTE muttered. "Whatever it is, it is not funny," the Masked Silver Echidna added. "Who the heck are you?" Bander demanded. "Greetings," He bowed slightly. "I am Neo Tuxedo Mask, Master of the Neo Crystal and Defender of the Helpless." "Uh huh," KTE replied. "Any idea who this guy really is, Masked?" "He's not Vampire Sephiroth if that's what you're asking, sir KTE." Masked replied. "But as for anything else...I'm as in the dark, as you." "Okay, Mr. Tuxedo," Bander brought back out the spear. "Whaddya doin here?" "I am here to unite with the other Crystal Senshi and began the battle against Sailor Eclipse." Neo Tuxedo Mask replied. "Where is Sailor Lunar Eternity? It is of utmost importance I find her before Sailor Eclipse does." Bander blinked. "Uh...what should we do with him?" "Let him talk," Masked answered. "Who and who?" KTE was demanding. "You mean there's more of your crazy kind around here? What is going on today?! Has my whole world decided to fall apart on its own?" "Sir KTE," Masked began, softly. "You are not responsible for the maintaining of this world. I can assure you. Everything is in Balance." "How would you know? Things' sure don't seem 'balanced'!" "I know," he leaned in close. "Because someone would have informed me if it was not." "Um, guys?" Bander stepped between them. "The tux guy is seriously weirding me out here." "Tie him up, Bander," KTE instructed. "We've got enough problems, without some wacko in formal wear spouting off crazy talk, and getting the Realm Destroyers on us." "Leave him be, Sir Bander," Masked glared at KTE. "He may be able to aid us in our rescue attempts." "Wait..." Bander looked at Masked. "How did you know me and KTE were here to rescue someone?" "Well...I.." Masked trailed off. "Sir Tuxedo, might you tell us more about this 'Sailor Eclipse'? A comrade of Sailor Evil, perhaps?" "You didn't answer my question..." "Serves you right," KTE whispered. "You shouldn't have followed us anyway, Lirsage." "What did you call me?" Masked demanded. "He called you the Masked One," a female's voice answered. "And you are the Masked One." KTE turned and groaned. "Shoot me now." "I'd be happy to," Masked hissed. "Hand me a gun." Neo Tuxedo Mask had a different reaction. He smiled, and bowed. "Sailor Lunar Eternity. So you've found me." "It wasn't hard," she laughed, and coming forward, clasped his hands. "It's been a long time, old friend." The sailor had silver hair, which hung in two loops. The ends were weaved back through the loops to hang below her waist. A large royal blue bow held the loops up. Her outfit had a silver scarf. A single white strip ran along the royal blue hem. Her white front bow had thin, long ribbons. Her white tunic cut lower than most, and her silver skirt had a white strip above the blue hem. Her long, silver gloves went up past her elbows, and the three ribs on them were blue, white, silver from top to bottom. Her silver boots had a blue stripe on the top, and a white on beneath it. The insignia on her collar, bow, and boots was a crescent moon on it's side, and a blue circle connected to it. She had blue earrings, and was holding a golden rod. The rod was topped with a crescent moon like her insignia, but the blue crystal was resting in the curve of it. A smaller blue crystals was on each tip. She turned to them, and smiled, her dark blue eyes shining. "Warm greetings, fellow heroes. I am Sailor Lunar Eternity." "I'm known as the Masked Echidna," Masked took her hand and kissed. "It is an honor, Madame Lunar." "Likewise. Who are your friends?" "I'm Bander," Bander shook her hand roughly. "That's KTE." "Yeah. Hi." KTE muttered. "What brings you to this place?" Sailor Lunar Eternity asked him. "We're here to rescue some friends," Bander answered. "You'll have to s'cuse my friend, he doesn't like Sailor scouts." "Oh? Praytell why, dear KTE." "Bad experience." KTE replied. "Look, if you two don't mind, we really need to be going." "As do we," Neo Tuxedo Mask nodded. "We must find Sailor Eclipse, and stop her." "Good luck to you, heroes," Sailor Lunar Eternity added. "May we meet again." The two of them ran off down one of the side paths. "Hopefully not," KTE muttered. "Now, let's get back to business." "Yes, business." Vampire Sephiroth eased out of the shadows. "Ember, Julie-su, bring forth the prisoners." The purple hedgehog and the pink echidna drug Adiemus and Kayla Echemmyroo forward. "KTE!" the twins cried. "So, nice you've decided to be reasonable, KTE. I trust you represent the whole of the Realm Protectors?" Vampire Sephiroth smiled slightly. "Tell me, have they all returned home? You have brought me the other two Master Tools, haven't you?" "I'm here for Addy and Kayla." KTE answered. "Show me the Tools." "No. First you give me Addy and Kayla." "We are not here to deal, boy." Vampire Sephiroth scowled. "Where is Sailor Evil, Kit Fox, and the Green Gibbon!?" Masked demanded. "I do not see all of your team, Sephiroth." "Aw, the Masked Echidna. And Bander. How nice you've asked your dear friends to join you, KTE." Vampire Sephiroth drew his masamune. "Now, that we have dispensed with these bothersome pleasantries, let us get down to the matter at hand." "You don't see those tools till Addy and Kayla are safely back at the village with Bander and Masked. Then you and I can finish negotiating." "KTE," Masked leaned in close. "I think we should find out where Sailor Evil and GG! are hiding. Do you want to be ambushed?" Vampire Sephiroth frowned and waved his hand. "Very well. Ember, Julie-su. Release the girls. I'll be glad to be rid of them." Addy and Kayla were shoved towards them. "KTE!!!" they both cried. "Gnyah! Get off me, you two!" KTE yelled. "Go with Bander and Masked." "We're not leaving you!" Addy exclaimed. "No way!" Kayla agreed. "Just go with them!" KTE snapped. "Yes, go with Sir Bander," Masked stepped forward. "Madame Adiemus, Madame Kayla, I beg of you. Go and return to the village. We'll be fine." "We'll?" KTE turned to him. "What's this 'we' stuff?" "Once you've returned to the hut, Sir Bander, notify Madame Moon. She will organize the remaining Realm Protectors to come to our aid." "Sounds good," Bander nodded. "But still...I don't like the idea of leaving you guys here." "My patience wears thin, Protector." Vampire Sephiroth warned. "I don't believe that I need to warn you about how dangerous that would be for you and your friends." "Go," Masked nodded. "Before Sephiroth changes his mind." Bander looked like he wanted to argue, but he nodded to Addy and Kayla. "Let's go, girls." "You too," KTE told Masked. "Get out of here. This is my fight." "I'm staying." He replied stubbornly. "Whether you want me here or not." "Enough of this idle chatter," Vampire Sephiroth snarled. "It's growing late, and I've yet to feed today. Hand over the Tools." "Let's play a game first." Masked replied. "It's called QandA. I ask a question, you answer. Then you ask a question, we answer. One question and one answer each." "A game..? You dare try my patience further you fool?" "You think you scare me, Sephiroth?" "Perhaps I need to remind you of the power of my Ultima..." KTE flinched slightly. "Masked...just-" "After I finish with my questions." Masked paused. "You killed Sir Shadows. Yet, he was not a Realm Protector. And he had already passed the Book of Shadows onto Madame Leslie." "I am aware of this. Ask your question already." KTE looked at Masked. Why was he talking about this? "So, therefore I am led to believe he was more of a threat to you than it first appears. Now, I have given this much thought. His name had reference to the Master Tool he carried. Yet, never before had you made any move to take that Tool or acknowledge that he had it. I assume you must have known he did. For, you knew much about the Realm Protectors. Where they were, what they were doing." "I am going very tired of this-" "Then here is my question. Who was Gabriel Shadows to you?" "That's what you want to know?" Vampire Sephiroth smiled coldly. "He was no one." "It appears I neglected to mention the question must be answered honestly." "Do you already know the answer to this question? If so, then why ask it?" "Call it confirming a suspicion." "He was...a being of my past." Vampire Sephiroth replied vaguely. "Now, of my question. I demand to know why you involve yourself in these Realm Protector's matters when they obviously do not concern you." "Ah, but they do concern me. I have made it my duty to ensure their survival. You might say I have taken up Sir Shadows' position." "Fine. Enough. Show me the damn Tools. Now!" Vampire Sephiroth snapped. His green eye blazed. KTE frowned. The eyes...they looked familiar. Where had he seen them before? "No. KTE has not asked his question." Masked looked at KTE. "Make it a good one, KTE." He blinked. What does he want me to ask? "Fine." Vampire Sephiroth seethed. "But you are losing sight of why we are here. You should be surrendering your Tools. Not bothering me with stupid questions." Something clicked. "Earlier," KTE began. "You told me Gabe's survival was important to the survival of the Realm Protectors. You said that without a guide, we were lost." He took a deep breath. "I want to know what you know. So answer my question. Who was Gabriel Shadows really?" Vampire Sephiroth threw back his head and laughed. Chapter Three: "I shouldn't have left him," Bander muttered. "Partners don't leave each other." "Hold still while I cut your ropes, Kayla," Addy drew the spear across the ropes, sawing through them slowly. "Good thing you took that when he wasn't looking," Kayla replied. "Yeah, maybe I shoulda asked, huh?" Bander looked down at the spear. "Yeah, I don't like it when people take my spear without asking." He held out his hand. "Now give it to me. We're going back." "Sailor Vega H, Sailor Phoenix F." Tonia and Leslie looked up from the translating computer. The guy with the brown hair in the tuxedo smiled. "You're needed to assist your friend KTE. He is at the Dojo of the old village. If you follow this trail it will lead you to him." "Uh okay," Leslie replied. "Thanks. Tonia-?" Tonia was staring at the guy, with a dreamy look in her eyes. "Uh huh?" "Make haste, Sailors. Time grows short." "Wait! Who are you?" Leslie asked. "I am Neo Tuxedo Mask," he replied. "You may be seeing a lot of me in the future. But we will have to wait until the next time for anything else." He vanished with a flap of his cape. "Great. Okay." Leslie muttered. "k.a. get over here! C'mon, Tonia, we have to go help KTE. Tonia?" She looked over at her starry-eyed friend. Tonia was galaxies away. Leslie sighed. "Oh, brother." Chapter Four: "So, you want to know who Gabriel Shadows was." Vampire Sephiroth watched KTE closely. "Yeah, I do." KTE replied. "That's my question. Now you answer it. Who was Gabriel Shadows?" He smiled now. Just slightly. "I was." "What?!" KTE exclaimed. "That's impossible!" "Is it?" "How-how could that be possible?" He looked to Masked. "He's lying right?" "Maybe not..." Masked trailed off. He seemed lost in thought. "That's hardly a full answer, Vampire Sephiroth." "It's an answer, and all that's required. An explanation will cost you extra." "KTE! We're here!" Tonia yelled as she and Leslie ran into the clearing. "Us too!" Addy cried, as she Kayla, and Bander came from the other side. "I told you to go back to the village!" KTE yelled at Bander. "What? And leave my partner? I couldn't do that." Bander grinned. "Sides...I'd like to take a few stabs at this guy." "Madame Prower, Princess Tonia," Masked turned to them. "How did you arrive here?" "We-" Leslie began. "Neo Tuxedo Mask told us you needed our help," Tonia interrupted. She looked around. "So...where is he?" "Mista KTE and Mista Bander!" k.a. yelled, bouncing around them. He stopped and stared at the other echidna. "Mista Masked?" "Hello there, young Ashrire." Masked patted him on the head. "Looks like the party is all here," KTE muttered. "Not necessarily..." Masked began, but trailed off. "Sailor Evil?!" "Sailor Eclipse, you metal-faced fool. Holder of the Eclipse Crystal, and the dealer of Fates." She sneered. "But someone seems to be missing..." "Looking for us, Sailor Eclipse?" Neo Tuxedo Mask smiled, and waved. "So, should I spare you the introduction?" Sailor Eclipse laughed. "This should be interesting. No, Neo Crystal Senshi, By all means, announce your presence." "I am Neo Tuxedo Mask, Master of the Neo Crystal and Defender of the Helpless!" He cried. "And I am Sailor Lunar Eternity!" The girl beside him added. "On behalf of the moon, and by the power of the Eternity Crystal I will right wrongs, and triumph over evil!" A pause to point the Eternity wand at Vampire Sephiroth and Sailor Eclipse. "And that means you!" Vampire Sephiroth smiled sarcastically. "Really, my dear, you have no idea how threatening that was." "Hmmmm..." Sailor Eclipse smiled slyly. "Well, now that I've got a look at you, Crystal Senshi, there really is no need to continue this till I choose to." "Running away is so like you Sailor E," KTE told her. "It'll take more than a new costume to change that." "I suggest you do not provoke me, child. You have no idea what a blessing your Gods have just given you." She turned to Vampire Sephiroth. "We have what we came to get from this wretched place. We're leaving." "Indeed." He smiled coldly. A Black force field surrounded KTE, Tonia, and k.a. Another surrounded Masked and Leslie. A third around Sailor Lunar Eternity. "I'll deal with you the next world," Sailor Eclipse replied. There was a flash and they vanished. "What the heck?" Bander stared at the spot where KTE had been. "Face me, Sailor Eclipse!" Neo Tuxedo Mask cried. "I am fully prepared to return your evil to its Crystal prison!" "Where'd KTE go?" Addy asked. "You better not have hurt him!" Kayla warned. "He lives...for now." Sailor Eclipse raised the crystal staff again. "And this does not concern you." A black bubble surrounded Adiemus and Kayla. "I send you back to the void." The bubble vanished. "As for you," she turned to Bander. "You are to spread the news through your world that soon the forces of Darkness will be the only rulers of the Realms. The Protection Senshi and the Crystal Senshi will fall before me." A wave of her hand, and another black sphere caused Bander to vanish. Vampire Sephiroth blinked. "Don't you mean, us, my love?" "Take the others," she said to him. "Go on and find the two groups of Realm Protectors. Destroy them while they are off-guard." He nodded, and turned to Ember and Julie-su. "We leave." They vanished in a swirl of shadows. "So it is just the two of us," Neo Tuxedo Mask spoke up. "You're not impressed by my demonstration? I could easily scatter you to the furthest reaches of the worlds." "Your power is over-rated. Perhaps you can send your opponents off, but it is all you can do." She laughed coldly. "Poor Neo. You're still upset at how I duped you into being my willing slave." "I was hardly your slave. And your game is over." "That's what you think, my dear Tux. My game has just began." She raised the staff. "Soul Eclipse Activation!" A black energy sphere surrounded him. "Neo Deflection Shield!" He cried. "You won't take my will from me so easily, Sailor Eclipse!" "You wound me," she pouted. "I would never dream of using such a cheap trick on you. I have someting so much better planned." She raised her hand. "Eclipse Light Energy Trap!" "Gnyahhh..." Neo Tuxedo Mask dropped slowly to his knees as the sphere drained his energy. "Now, once your crystal leaves you and returns to the guardian I will be able to find them and take both Power Crystals!" She laughed. "As for you...you'll wonder powerless and memory-less once you awaken in the next Realm. No doubt my little surprises will take care of you." She waved. "It's be so nice knowing you, Neo Dear." "You won't get away with this..." he gasped, barely able to keep his eyes open. "You... can't...win..." "Oh, but my dear Tux," Sailor Eclipse smiled, as he collapsed. "I already have." to be continued.... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fav lines :) Sailor Lunar Eternity: "And I am Sailor Lunar Eternity! On behalf of the moon, and by the power of the Eternity Crystal I will right wrongs, and triumph over evil! And that means you!" Tuxedo Neo Masked: "So, should I spare you the introduction?" KTE: "We've got enough problems, without some wacko in formal wear spouting off crazy talk, and getting the Realm Destroyers on us." Bander: "I shouldn't have left him. Partners don't leave each other." Masked Silver Echidna: "I'd be happy to. Hand me a gun." Tonia: "We worked for days to get *that*?!" Leslie: "Oh, brother." Sailor Eclipse: "Poor Neo. You're still upset at how I duped you into being my willing slave." Vampire Sephiroth: "Now, that we have dispensed with these bothersome pleasantries, let us get down to the matter at hand."