Chapter 7: Training Day

“Kick!” Celeste ordered, grimacing as a foot struck her hand. “Punch! Again!”

Taking a deep breath, Emily nodded. With surprisingly ease, the girl pivoted, swinging her leg up to kick Celeste’s outstretched hand. In one fluid, waste-less movement, she punched Celeste’s hand.

“Okay, enough,” Celeste said, shaking out her aching hand. “Are you sure you haven’t done this before?”

Emily shook her head. “No, never, but cheerleading keeps me in good shape.”

“I’d say,” Celeste replied with a grin. “Up for some sparring?”

“Like you and Jonathan did? No way!”

The redhead laughed. “No, I’ll take it easy on you. You should caught on quickly and we’ll work up to that level.”

“So I can help in the battles?”

“No, so you will survive the battles. This is very serious stuff, Emily. Never make a mistake about that.”

She nodded solemnly. “I get it.”

The two women took their places on the mat. As Emily raised her hands, Celeste attacked. The girl managed a decent block and made a counterstrike, hitting Celeste in the shoulder.

For a moment, Celeste watched her opponent. The girl wouldn’t attack, so the older woman pounced again. Emily grunted as Celeste swept her feet out from under her.

“I guess I still have a lot to learn,” Emily stated as she stared up at Celeste and the ceiling.

The older woman smiled. “Actually, you did pretty good for your first time.”

Celeste offered her hand and pulled Emily to her feet. They chatted as they watched Sofia practice with Jonathan. In the past several months, Sofia had learned a lot.

However, Sofia was not intended to be a fighter. That was a reality of life. Hopefully she knew enough to protect herself in a battle if she couldn’t call upon her attacks or Celeste as Sol couldn’t help her.

It was risky gamble. All of them realized it. Yet, Sofia never voiced any reservations about her place as Sailor Athene. There were times that Celeste envied her ally’s surety.

Suddenly, she shivered violently. Emily turned and asked what was wrong. Sighing, Celeste looked at her. “There’s an attack. Sofia and I have to go.”

“Wait, what about me?”

“You’re not ready yet,” Celeste said, already moving away. “You’re not fighting until you are.”

“Hey, I have a part in this, too, Celeste,” Emily protested, marching on Celeste’s heels.

“Right now, it’s not a participating role.” They arrived at the other practice mat. “Sofia, we need to go. Jonathan, I’ll be back later. Keep an eye on Mara?”

“Sure,” he said. “Be careful.”

She nodded and the two were gone. It wasn’t until he had packed his gym bag and was walking out with Mara that he noticed something was wrong. Then it hit him. Emily was gone, too.

* * * * *

“Leave me alone!”

Zephyr groaned as the young co-ed drove the heel of her shoe into his foot. Capitalizing on the distraction, she turned and fled to the nearest building. As he straightened back up, he smiled.

“You’re not getting away that easily.”

With a wave of his hand, a gust of wind sent the doors crashing down. The college student screamed and ran down the hall. Zephyr followed on her heels, using his nearness to frighten her further.

“I’m not surprised that you’re attacking those weaker than you are.”

He immediately stopped. As he turned around, he sneered. “I was wondering if you were even going to show up.”

“Well, here I am,” Sol replied. “Catch me if you can.”

Sensing a trap, he smiled. “Oh, no, we play by my rules.”

He turned and ran to a door labeled “stairs.” Cursing under her breath, Sol pulled out her communicator and began to follow. Without even looking at the device, she opened the comm link.

“Change in plans,” Sol announced, now climbing the flights of stairs. “He didn’t take the bait.”

“I didn’t think he would,” Athene replied. “I should be there in a few moments.”

“Be careful. We don’t know what he’s planning.”

“I know.” With that, Athene shut off the link.

Sol only paused long enough to form her staff before resuming the chase again. She had hoped that Zephyr would take the bait and fall for her and Athene’s hastily made trap. However, this new enemy was smart, and in Sol’s opinion, that made him even more dangerous.

“I didn’t think you would be calling for back-up so soon, Sailor Sol,” Zephyr stated, standing on a landing above her. “Too bad she won’t provide as much as a challenge.”

“Who said I was going anywhere? Sol Corona Flare!”

To her disappointment, Zephyr dodged the attack. He retaliated with a strike of his home. Yet, he missed, as well.

“Sudden Revelation!”

Athene’s attack was off. It only grazed his shoulder, inflicting minimal damage. With a snarl, Zephyr turned to the new arrival.

“Sofia!” Sol screamed in warning.

But her cry was too late. She watched in horror as the blast of wind hit its target, knocking Athene into the railing. However, she had too much momentum and it carried her over it, plunging her into the empty air below.

“Aurora Sunbeam Entangle!”

Sol clung to hope as the stairwell erupted in a rainbow of colors. ‘Please,’ she asked some unknown deity, ‘let Sofia be safe.’ The light died and Sol was rewarded with Aurora’s grunt of effort.

“I’ve got her,” she announced, slowing hauling the ribbons and Athene up.

That was all the assurance Sol needed. “Sol Nemesis Nova! Sol Corona Flare!”

Zephyr dodged the first attack but couldn’t elude the second. He howled in pain as the light and heat dissipated. With a final, angry blast in Sol’s direction, he disappeared.

The Sun Staff vanished as Sol ran down the flights of stairs. She quickly arrived at the level where Aurora was slowly pulling Athene to safety. Fighting the urge to yell at the newest Senshi, Sol joined the girl in her task.

Within a few minutes, Athene joined them on the landing. “That was a pretty close call, wasn’t it?” she said, her voice shaky. The ribbons around her dissolved and she rubbed her arms.

“That was too close,” Sol replied before turning to Aurora. “What are you doing here anyway? I told you you’re not ready to fight!”

“Hey, if it wasn’t for me, Sofia would be a greasy spot several floors below us right now!”

Athene shivered. “She’s right, Sol. She did just save my life.”

“That’s not the point,” Sol spat.

“What is then?” Aurora countered, narrowing the distance between them.

Sol clenched her fists. “I told you you weren’t ready yet. You didn’t listen.”

“Are your rules and orders more important than Sofia’s life?”

The older woman stilled. Her eyes slowly drifted to Athene and realized how quickly she could have lost Sofia. It had scared her, and she was lashing at Aurora as a result.

“No,” Sol finally replied, her voice quiet, “nothing’s more important than Sofia’s life or anyone else’s. However, by showing up, you endangered your own life.”

“Part of the job,” Aurora replied with a shrug. “Besides, you and Athene would do the same for me. I’m a part of this for a reason, Sol. Let me do what I can to stop this monster.”

“Somehow I know I’m going to regret this,” she replied.

Aurora cheered and impulsively hugged Sol. “Thank you! We’re a team now. Zephyr had better watch out.”

Despite a nagging in her heart, Sol allowed herself to smile.


Training Day “Kick!” Celeste ordered, grimacing as a foot struck her hand. “Punch! Again!” Taking a deep breath, Emily nodded. With surprisingly ease, the girl pivoted, swinging her leg up to kick Celeste’s outstretched hand. In one fluid, waste-less movement, she punched Celeste’s hand. “Okay, enough,” Celeste said, shaking out her aching hand. “Are you sure you haven’t done this before?” Emily shook her head. “No, never, but cheerleading keeps me in good shape.” “I’d say,” Celeste replied with a grin. “Up for some sparring?” “Like you and Jonathan did? No way!” The redhead laughed. “No, I’ll take it easy on you. You should caught on quickly and we’ll work up to that level.” “So I can help in the battles?” “No, so you will survive the battles. This is very serious stuff, Emily. Never make a mistake about that.” She nodded solemnly. “I get it.” The two women took their places on the mat. As Emily raised her hands, Celeste attacked. The girl managed a decent block and made a counterstrike, hitting Celeste in the shoulder. For a moment, Celeste watched her opponent. The girl wouldn’t attack, so the older woman pounced again. Emily grunted as Celeste swept her feet out from under her. “I guess I still have a lot to learn,” Emily stated as she stared up at Celeste and the ceiling. The older woman smiled. “Actually, you did pretty good for your first time.” Celeste offered her hand and pulled Emily to her feet. They chatted as they watched Sofia practice with Jonathan. In the past several months, Sofia had learned a lot. However, Sofia was not intended to be a fighter. That was a reality of life. Hopefully she knew enough to protect herself in a battle if she couldn’t call upon her attacks or Celeste as Sol couldn’t help her. It was risky gamble. All of them realized it. Yet, Sofia never voiced any reservations about her place as Sailor Athene. There were times that Celeste envied her ally’s surety. Suddenly, she shivered violently. Emily turned and asked what was wrong. Sighing, Celeste looked at her. “There’s an attack. Sofia and I have to go.” “Wait, what about me?” “You’re not ready yet,” Celeste said, already moving away. “You’re not fighting until you are.” “Hey, I have a part in this, too, Celeste,” Emily protested, marching on Celeste’s heels. “Right now, it’s not a participating role.” They arrived at the other practice mat. “Sofia, we need to go. Jonathan, I’ll be back later. Keep an eye on Mara?” “Sure,” he said. “Be careful.” She nodded and the two were gone. It wasn’t until he had packed his gym bag and was walking out with Mara that he noticed something was wrong. Then it hit him. Emily was gone, too. * * * * * “Leave me alone!” Zephyr groaned as the young co-ed drove the heel of her shoe into his foot. Capitalizing on the distraction, she turned and fled to the nearest building. As he straightened back up, he smiled. “You’re not getting away that easily.” With a wave of his hand, a gust of wind sent the doors crashing down. The college student screamed and ran down the hall. Zephyr followed on her heels, using his nearness to frighten her further. “I’m not surprised that you’re attacking those weaker than you are.” He immediately stopped. As he turned around, he sneered. “I was wondering if you were even going to show up.” “Well, here I am,” Sol replied. “Catch me if you can.” Sensing a trap, he smiled. “Oh, no, we play by my rules.” He turned and ran to a door labeled “stairs.” Cursing under her breath, Sol pulled out her communicator and began to follow. Without even looking at the device, she opened the comm link. “Change in plans,” Sol announced, now climbing the flights of stairs. “He didn’t take the bait.” “I didn’t think he would,” Athene replied. “I should be there in a few moments.” “Be careful. We don’t know what he’s planning.” “I know.” With that, Athene shut off the link. Sol only paused long enough to form her staff before resuming the chase again. She had hoped that Zephyr would take the bait and fall for her and Athene’s hastily made trap. However, this new enemy was smart, and in Sol’s opinion, that made him even more dangerous. “I didn’t think you would be calling for back-up so soon, Sailor Sol,” Zephyr stated, standing on a landing above her. “Too bad she won’t provide as much as a challenge.” “Who said I was going anywhere? Sol Corona Flare!” To her disappointment, Zephyr dodged the attack. He retaliated with a strike of his home. Yet, he missed, as well. “Sudden Revelation!” Athene’s attack was off. It only grazed his shoulder, inflicting minimal damage. With a snarl, Zephyr turned to the new arrival. “Sofia!” Sol screamed in warning. But her cry was too late. She watched in horror as the blast of wind hit its target, knocking Athene into the railing. However, she had too much momentum and it carried her over it, plunging her into the empty air below. “Aurora Sunbeam Entangle!” Sol clung to hope as the stairwell erupted in a rainbow of colors. ‘Please,’ she asked some unknown deity, ‘let Sofia be safe.’ The light died and Sol was rewarded with Aurora’s grunt of effort. “I’ve got her,” she announced, slowing hauling the ribbons and Athene up. That was all the assurance Sol needed. “Sol Nemesis Nova! Sol Corona Flare!” Zephyr dodged the first attack but couldn’t elude the second. He howled in pain as the light and heat dissipated. With a final, angry blast in Sol’s direction, he disappeared. The Sun Staff vanished as Sol ran down the flights of stairs. She quickly arrived at the level where Aurora was slowly pulling Athene to safety. Fighting the urge to yell at the newest Senshi, Sol joined the girl in her task. Within a few minutes, Athene joined them on the landing. “That was a pretty close call, wasn’t it?” she said, her voice shaky. The ribbons around her dissolved and she rubbed her arms. “That was too close,” Sol replied before turning to Aurora. “What are you doing here anyway? I told you you’re not ready to fight!” “Hey, if it wasn’t for me, Sofia would be a greasy spot several floors below us right now!” Athene shivered. “She’s right, Sol. She did just save my life.” “That’s not the point,” Sol spat. “What is then?” Aurora countered, narrowing the distance between them. Sol clenched her fists. “I told you you weren’t ready yet. You didn’t listen.” “Are your rules and orders more important than Sofia’s life?” The older woman stilled. Her eyes slowly drifted to Athene and realized how quickly she could have lost Sofia. It had scared her, and she was lashing at Aurora as a result. “No,” Sol finally replied, her voice quiet, “nothing’s more important than Sofia’s life or anyone else’s. However, by showing up, you endangered your own life.” “Part of the job,” Aurora replied with a shrug. “Besides, you and Athene would do the same for me. I’m a part of this for a reason, Sol. Let me do what I can to stop this monster.” “Somehow I know I’m going to regret this,” she replied. Aurora cheered and impulsively hugged Sol. “Thank you! We’re a team now. Zephyr had better watch out.” Despite a nagging in her heart, Sol allowed herself to smile.


Chapter 8: Setbacks and Progress Sailor Sol: Battle Against the Winds