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Things Fall Apart “Sol Corona Flare!”
The attack caught Eurus by surprise. He dropped the girl as he yelled in pain, and the girl took the opportunity to run away. With an angry glare, he turned to Sol. “I should have known that it would be you,” he hissed. “Ready to die so soon?” Sol tightened her hold on the Sun Staff. “Shouldn’t you be asking yourself that question?” “Your attitude will make it all the more enjoyable,” Eurus said. “Now, what was it you said the other night? Oh, yes. Catch me if you can, Sailor Sol.” With a smirk, he turned and ran. Sol followed after him. She tried to ignore that nagging voice in her head that said it was a big mistake. After the encounter at the movie theater, Emily and Brian had decided not to go back to her house. Brian’s parents were out of town, leaving the apartment to them. It was an opportunity too good to pass up. As the beeping of her communicator seemed to grow more insistent, Emily slowly untangled from Brian. “Sorry, but I have to get that,” she said. She began searching through her purse. “It’s just your mother calling your cell,” he protested, reluctantly sitting up on the couch. “Call her back later.” “I have to answer this.” Kissing him briefly, she retreated to the other side of the room. Emily kept her back turned and opened her communicator. “This had better be good,” she whispered. Selene narrowed her eyes. “Yes, or I wouldn’t be bothering you, Aurora. Celeste never made it to Jonathan’s apartment. We think that she may be in a battle.” “Get Mara and Sofia to do it.” “I can’t reach them. Sol could be in trouble.” Emily gritted her teeth but knew what she had to do. “I’ll go find her and help her out if she is in a battle. However, keep trying Mara and Sofia. If they’re still in the movie, the beeping will either draw their attention or get them thrown out.” “Maybe it won’t come to that,” Selene said. “Just be careful, Emily.” “I will.” With a sigh, Emily closed the device and slipped it into her pocket. She smiled at Brian as she gathered her belongings. “I have to go. It’s pretty urgent.” “Well, let me take you home.” “It’s okay, Brian, really. I promise to call you later.” He stood up and walked her to the door. “You know that you’re going to have this up to me.” “I know,” she replied with a smile, “and I will.” Giving him one last kiss, she left. Brian watched her until she disappeared around the corner. Sailor Aurora kept her eyes open as she neared the abandoned courtyard. Smoke and dust still clung to the air, making her want to cough. However, she fought the urge desperately. She wouldn’t draw attention to herself until she knew what she was facing. Keeping a gloved hand over her mouth, she dropped into a crouch on the roof. She crept as silently as she could to the walled edge. She heard the voices below her and thought that one could be Eurus. “Is that it?” Sol croaked, in obvious pain. “Chaos?” Aurora forced herself to look and gasped. Both Sol and Eurus were bloody from their battles. However, Eurus had Sol by the throat, slowly strangling her. Eurus shook his head at Sol’s questions. “That’s not exactly what we want, but the girl will help.” “Leave her out of this,” Sol growled, only to have him restrict her air further. ‘What do I do?’ Aurora wondered furiously. She knew that she had no chance against Eurus, even with the possible help of an injured Sailor Sol. There was no way to know if or when Mara and Sofia would arrive. Yet, she couldn’t sit idly and watch Sol die. “You’re not in a position to bargain here,” Eurus stated, watching his opponent fight desperately for oxygen. “When will you realize that your feelings only make you weak?” Sol couldn’t answer. “Where are your friends now, Sol? Where are they in your hour of need?” “Jerk,” Aurora muttered, knowing that her decision was made. She hoped that she wouldn’t regret this later. ‘I’m turning in my transformation pen tomorrow,’ she vowed. Aurora rose to her feet, stretching to her full height. “Aurora Tranquil Dawn!” Eurus released Sol, letting her hit the ground in a crumpled heap. “I will finish you in a minute. I’ll take care of our interloper first.” Aurora forced herself to smile. “You can try,” she replied with far more confidence than she felt. ‘Mara and Sofia, you guys better hurry up.’ “Aurora Sunbeam Entangle! Aurora Sunlight Dazzle!” Hecate held the blood-stained glaive in front of her. The red stone flared with light, illuminating her and her enemy. “Hell’s Fury!” There was a scream of pain, then silence. With a shaky breath, Hecate detransformed. As Mara, she turned to Sofia. “How are they?” Sofia wiped at her tear-streaked face, but she only succeeded in smearing the dirt and blood. “Emily didn’t make it.” “What?” Mara ran to the other girls. “Are you sure?” Sofia merely nodded. She forced herself to check Celeste’s prone form. However, she felt the slow, weak pulse and called for Mara. “Not her, too,” Mara begged. When she felt the pulse as well, the usually unemotional girl choked back a sob. “Thank God.” In the distance, sirens blared. The two girls glanced at each other before looking at their comrades. Sofia rose to her feet, pulling Mara up as well. “We have to go, Mara.” The girl’s hazel eyes flared with emotion. “We can’t leave them.” “We have to,” Sofia repeated, her face grim. “Help is already on its way. If we stay here, it will raise too many questions.” “I don’t care,” Mara declared. Sofia grabbed her friend’s shoulder. “We have to go, Mara. If we stay, it will only cause more problems. For Celeste and for us.” With one last glance, Mara let Sofia drag her away. They watched the emergency crews arrive and begin to work. Neither one spoke as they left to return to the apartment. |
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