Nothing to Fear.

Chapter Three.

Disclaimer: Still don't own any of the Sailor Moon characters.

Legion approached the area where they could sense the greatest concentration of meat creatures.

Along the way they had snacked on a few stray humans they had found, a few more homeless people, a police officer, and some woman who was out walking her dog. But now they sensed a large group of humans ahead of them, a veritable buffet. If Legion had any lips, or a tongue for that matter, they would have been licking them in anticipation.

Do you sense them as well my children? A large group of meat creatures in one spot all ripe for the picking. Listen to the foul noise they make and tell me that they do not deserve death. Legion said to its children.

And they replied with one voice. Death, death to the humans, they must be purged from our planet. Legion smiled at its children's eagerness.

Come then, let us begin the purging. Legion commanded. The entity began its slow, inexorable march towards the humans.

The Golden Dragon was rapidly becoming the Juuban districts' premier nightclub. It had only opened a month ago but owing to a well-timed series of radio and print ads, it was crowded every Friday and Saturday night, and this Saturday night was no exception. The club was packed and the line to get in, stretched down the block. Legion entered the line of meat creatures.

Legion came out of the darkness near the middle of the line and commenced its attack. At first the people in line assumed it was some jerk trying to butt in.

"Hey jackass! The line forms at the rear!" Several of them shouted in anger. Their shouts of anger soon became screams of terror, as they fully comprehended the entity called Legion. Many ran away, others fainted or were too terrified to move. Several became lunch.

Yes you worthless meat creatures, flee from us! Flee from your destroyer! We are Legion. We will find you and destroy you all. We are the new masters. WE ARE LEGION!

A group of 5 young women who were close to the front of the line had barely managed to escape both Legion and the stampede of fleeing humans. They gathered in an alley across the street to figure out what to do.

"Damn it! We were so close to getting in too." Minako pouted sullenly.

"Somehow I think if we don't stop that thing here and now, getting in to the place won't matter." Rei pointed out.

"Worry about that later! We need to transform and stop that thing!" Ami stated firmly.

"We had better call the others as well." Usagi added, grabbing her broach.

"I'm on it." Makoto said as she activated her communicator.

At the home of the Outer Senshi, four communicators started beeping simultaneously. As it was after midnight, the residents were either sound asleep, or engaged in, ahem, other activities. Okay they were engaged in having hot monkey sex, happy? Anyway…

After a few moments a pale hand reached for the Tiffany lamp beside her bed and switched it on before grabbing the offending instrument that's beeping was growing more insistent.

"This had better be important." Hotaru growled irritably as she turned the device on with one hand and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes with the other.

"Sorry to wake you Hotaru, but there's a monster loose here." Makoto said.

"Oh hi Makoto. Where's 'here'?" Hotaru asked as she slipped out of bed and put her robe on.

"We're at the Golden Dragon nightclub near Ami's place. You know where that is?"

"Yeah I've seen it in the paper, and we passed it the last time we were at Ami's. I'll wake everyone up and we'll be there soon." Hotaru grabbed her Transformation Wand and headed for her door.

"Okay we'll see you soon. Just hurry please, little sister?" Makoto smiled at her.

"We will Makoto." Hotaru promised as she signed off. She decided to wake Setsuna first on the basis that she would rather deal with a cranky Time Guardian rather than an upset couple who had been rudely interrupted during their passionate lovemaking.

Hotaru opened Setsuna's door carefully. "Setsuna-mama?" She called out softly, yet urgently. No response. Thankfully her nightlight was on as Setsuna had fallen asleep reading one of the Lord of the Rings books. Hotaru thanked her lucky stars as trying to find her way around Setsuna's room in the dark was not fun. She went up to her mama's bedside and began to shake and prod her.

"Setsuna-mama? Wake up, there's an emergency." Hotaru called out.

"Mommy I don't want to go to school today." Setsuna mumbled sleepily as she turned over. Hotaru blew her bangs out of her eyes in annoyance. Next time I'll just poke her with my glaive! She vowed to herself as she pulled the blankets off Setsuna's sleeping (and pajama clad) form. Fuming, Hotaru sat beside her on her bed, pinched Setsuna's nostrils shut, and waited.

"GAH! What the? Hotaru! What are you doing?" Setsuna sputtered as she woke up.

"Makoto called. There's a monster loose at that nightclub near Ami's place. They need our help." Hotaru replied urgently.

"Why didn't you say so?" Setsuna scrambled to her feet and grabbed her wand.

"I tried to." Hotaru growled after counting backwards from 10. Setsuna didn't hear her as she had already gotten out of her room and headed towards Michiru and Haruka's room.

"SETSUNA!" The happy couple shouted unhappily as Setsuna burst in on them.

"Makoto called and told Hotaru there was an emergency near Ami's place." Setsuna replied as she stood there arms folded and foot tapping impatiently.

"What! Why didn't she wake us?" They called out. There was a mad shuffle for discarded clothes and Transformation Wands.

"Why me God?" Hotaru muttered as she banged her head against the wall. "I'll be in the car! No rush!" She added as she bounded down the stairs and headed for the garage, transforming on the way. She hopped into the back of Haruka's car, buckled up, and waited for her parents.

Soon the four of them were in the car, in their Sailor fuku, and racing for the scene of the attack. Haruka had closed the canopy over their heads and the tinted windows were closed so no one could see them as they drove. Michiru was trying to call the others back. Usagi finally answered.

"What's going on?" Michiru demanded.

"A creature calling itself Legion showed up outside the Golden Dragon and started killing people." Usagi stated grimly. Behind her the sounds of battle could be heard.

"How many people?" Haruka asked.

"We're not sure at least 5, maybe more. We managed to draw it away from the crowd outside the club and make sure they all got clear, but there are still a lot of people trapped inside the club. " Ami said, then she asked, "Is Setsuna with you?"

"Yes I'm here. Why?" Setsuna asked.

"Because this creature appears to be formed out of thousands of cockroaches, and given your, ah, condition…" Ami stammered. All of the Senshi were aware of Setsuna's fear of cockroaches and each of them had witnessed her reactions firsthand. Her family turned to her with worry written on their faces.

"Are you going to be okay Setsuna-mama?" Hotaru asked.

"We can always turn around and drop you off at home if you want to sit this one out. We'll all understand." Haruka said softly in concern.

"Don't worry about me. I'm a lean, mean cockroach killing machine!" Setsuna announced with a look of determination. Her family sweat dropped.

"What did she say?" Usagi asked.

"Nothing, nothing. Haruka just had the radio on that's all. We're almost there, hang on." Michiru replied swiftly.

"Hurry, please!" Usagi pleaded as something exploded behind her and the link was broken.

"Usagi? Usagi! Shit!" Haruka cursed in frustration as she floored the accelerator. They careened around the final corner and saw the situation firsthand.

The other Senshi were spread out around what appeared to be a 10-foot high cockroach. A closer inspection showed that Mercury's analysis was correct and that the creature was indeed formed from tens of thousands of cockroaches. They also saw several bleached skeletons lying on the sidewalk in front of the club under the streetlights, and they all had to fight to keep from throwing up.

More disturbingly, it appeared that a lot of the Senshi's attacks were having little effect on the composite entity known as Legion. Venus's Love Me Chain would wrap around it then pass through like it was wrapped around air. Jupiter's lightning did a fair amount of damage, but it reformed quickly as more cockroaches joined it. Mars and Mercury's attacks were doing a fair amount of damage, but with its ability to reform its mass, the damage was inconsequential.

Sailor Moon rushed up to the four of them as soon as they parked in a secluded spot and ran out. "I'm so glad to see you!" Moon exclaimed. "Mercury has an idea on how to destroy the thing, but she need's Neptune's help."

"That's what we're here for." Neptune assured her as she moved to join Mercury.

"Saturn, we'll need you to put up your Silence Wall in front of the entrance of the nightclub." Moon told the youngest Senshi.

"You got it." Saturn gave her a reassuring smile and a 'V for Victory' sign as she ran to her assigned spot. Venus greeted her warmly as she arrived. Saturn spoke her words and a barrier appeared between her and Legion, effectively blocking access to the club.

This barrier will not stop us! Legion roared. You only delay the inevitable.

"What's Mercury's plan?" Uranus asked.

"She wants to combine her attack with Neptune's and freeze that thing solid. Hopefully that'll buy her some time to analyze that thing and find its weak point." Moon stated.

"Then we gang up and blast it." Uranus finished. She smiled and drew her Space Sword. Then she noticed Pluto running at the creature. "Pluto wait!" She shouted.

"Okay let's go! You and me! Woman to bug! Bring it on baby!" Pluto shouted as she charged Legion with a manic gleam in her eyes.

"What the hell are you doing?" Mars screamed at Pluto as she charged.

"Is she nuts?" Jupiter demanded.

"No, just hypnotized." Uranus shouted back.

"WHAT!" The Inners exclaimed in unison.

"We'll explain later. Let's just help her, okay?" Neptune shouted.

"Dead Scream!" Pluto shouted as she launched a sphere of energy at Legion. The ball exploded with the equivalent power of several hand grenades, to little effect as Legion reformed its mass instantly.

Your attacks are useless to us. Now feel the power that is Legion! Legion spread its arms and a swarm of cockroaches flew straight at Pluto, completely engulfing her. Pluto screamed.

"Setsuna no!" Moon screamed.

"Mama!" Saturn shrieked in horror.

"No, please no!" Uranus cried. It's all my fault! She cried to herself. Tears of helpless anger and frustration streamed down her cheeks as she watched her best friend being smothered by the mass of cockroaches. .

"You won't have her!" Neptune roared. "Deep Submerge!" A wall of water engulfed the now fully covered Pluto washing her down the street. Amazingly the majority of the cockroaches were washed away to reveal that Pluto was still alive! Her costume was shredded and she was soaked and nearly naked, but she was alive. She screamed and swatted the rest of the cockroaches off her.

You will die for defying us! Legion shouted angrily.

"No, you will die for harming our friend and killing those people!" Uranus vowed. "Space Sword Blaster!" She screamed and blasted Legion as it tried to reform itself. Mars, Jupiter, and Venus attacked as well and more of its mass was reduced.

"Mercury, Neptune now!" Moon roared.

"Deep Submerge!" Neptune shouted and nailed Legion with a wall of water.

"Shabon Spray Freezing!" Mercury shouted and the wall and Legion were frozen into a solid mass. Legion was literally frozen in their tracks so Mercury had time to toggle her visor and start her analysis. Cracks were already appearing on the creatures' frozen mass so she had little time.

"Setsuna-mama!" Saturn cried as she dropped her Silence Wall and rushed to her mother's side. Uranus and Neptune joined her and they helped their shaken friend to her feet.

"Are you all right?" Neptune asked in concern.

Pluto allowed herself to be supported by her family as Saturn began healing her wounds. Pluto sneezed and then smiled at the three of them. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. You're all right, we're here." Neptune said.

"I'm sorry. This is all my fault for hypnotizing you. Forgive me." Uranus couldn't bring herself to look into Pluto's eyes.

Pluto looked at her for a moment, then leaned closer and kissed her on the cheek. "I forgive you Haruka." She said simply. Haruka looked at her and smiled in relief. Setsuna then kissed Michiru and Hotaru on the cheek and they all stood there and held each other.

"I hate to interrupt but I think Legion's about to bust loose!" Jupiter cried urgently. The Outers turned their attention back to the creature and saw that it was indeed breaking free. The thick layer of ice that covered the creature was cracked and buckling.

"Mercury!" Sailor Moon cried.

"Almost got it, there!" Her visor pinpointed Legion's central consciousness. "Everybody, simultaneous attack, center mass!"

"Right!" The Senshi cried and moved into striking position.

"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"

"Mars Flame Sniper!"

"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"

"Venus Love and Beauty Shock!"

"Dead Scream!"

"Space Sword Blaster!"

"Submarine Reflection!"

"Silence Glaive Surprise!"

"Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!"

The very heavens trembled as the energy wave rushed at Legion. The entity screamed as it was engulfed.

This cannot be! We are Legion! We are Legion! We are… The screams faded as Legion was reduced to a fine ash that blew away in the evening breeze. Victory was theirs.

Pandemonium ensued as the Senshi loudly congratulated each other for their victory. The celebration was cut short as the people trapped in the nightclub realized that the battle was over and rushed out en masse to thank their saviors. That, combined with the approaching sirens and the need to treat their own sick and wounded, caused the Senshi to flee the scene in a hurry. They managed to reach Haruka's car, still parked safely a few blocks away, and change back to their normal forms.

"Man, I never want to go through anything like that again." Minako exclaimed as she sat down heavily on the ground.

"You and me both sister." Rei said as she sat beside her. Makoto and Ami slumped down beside them and nodded in agreement.

"Are you going to be okay Setsuna?" Usagi asked in concern. Haruka had wrapped her in a blanket she had in the trunk and placed her in the back seat. She was wet and miserable, but she still managed to smile at her friends and family.

"I'll be all right Usagi, thank you. All of you." Setsuna replied. Usagi smiled in relief, as did the others.

"What was that you said about hypnotizing Setsuna earlier?" Makoto asked Haruka. Haruka flushed a bit and explained what she did and why with Hotaru and Michiru filling in a few details. The others, especially Setsuna's, eyes grew wide at their story.

"I said all that?" Setsuna asked incredulously as the others laughed.

"Yeah, you did." Michiru replied. She was laughing so hard now that she had to hold onto Haruka for support.

"You sounded like one of those lady wrestlers from the WWE!" Haruka added as she wiped tears from her eyes.

"And you hate watching wrestling!" Hotaru put in the punch line. She howled with laughter as she held onto Setsuna. Setsuna stared at all of them like they were crazy until she too started laughing. They all laughed until their sides hurt and they couldn't laugh any more.

Setsuna sat there giggling in the back seat of the car as she hugged her daughter closer to her. Finally Hotaru looked up at her and smiled. "I'm glad you're all right Setsuna-mama."

"So am I Hime-chan. So am I." She said then she looked at the rest of her family. "Let's go home."

Haruka and Michiru smiled back and got into the car. Everyone said their farewells and went to their respective homes.

Epilogue, two days later at the Tenoh/Kaioh/Meioh/Tomoe residence.

"Ah-choo!" Setsuna sneezed again for the thousandth time in the last hour by her estimate. If there was one thing she hated more than cockroaches, it was being sick. She sat on the couch in the living room in her sweater and sweat pants feeling miserable.

The contractors had come and gone already, and Michiru could hardly wait to see what her brand new kitchen floor was going to look like. They would be done in a few days, so she was forced to make stuff with the microwave, which was set up in the dining room.

"Here Setsuna. I made you some chicken noodle soup." Michiru smiled and set a tray with a steaming bowl of soup along with a glass of milk and some toast in front of Setsuna.

"Thank you Michi." Setsuna replied with heartfelt thanks. Michiru nodded and sat down beside her. Haruka and Hotaru came in from the garage at this moment. They had spent the day at the park among other places so they could keep out of the contractor's way. Michiru had stayed to keep an eye on both the contractors and Setsuna.

"How's our patient?" Haruka asked.

"I'm feeling better now, thank you." Setsuna replied with a smile.

"That's good." Haruka looked relieved. After a good night's rest she had managed to remove the post-hypnotic suggestion from Setsuna and then she put the book away. She wanted to burn it but Setsuna stopped her on the basis that she felt it was wrong to burn books for any reason, and that she wanted to keep the book around as a reminder.

"Call it a lesson in humility if you will." She said. Haruka agreed and placed the book on the shelf.

"So, how is the kitchen coming?" Hotaru asked.

"It's coming along. It should be finished in a few days." Michiru replied. "In the mean time, what say we order a pizza? I didn't feel like cooking tonight anyway."

The others agreed and Haruka reached for the phonebook. As she did, something came crawling across the floor.

"Oh great, another cockroach." She growled. She moved to hit it with the phone book when Setsuna grabbed it out of her hands and proceeded to smash it. Then she scooped up the remains and tossed them out the window before sitting back down and going back to her soup.

Her family stood there shocked at what they had just witnessed. "Ah Setsuna?" Michiru asked tentatively.

"Yes?" She replied.

"Are you all right?" Haruka asked.

"Of course I am. Why shouldn't I be?"

"You mean that cockroach didn't affect you in any way?" Hotaru asked.

"Why should it? It was only a cockroach after all." Setsuna replied as she took a sip of milk.

Her family whooped with joy, it seemed as though Setsuna's fear of cockroaches had been cured after all! Setsuna set the tray aside as Hotaru sat in her lap while Haruka and Michiru sat on either side of her and all three embraced her. Time would tell, but all of them were certain that her fear was a thing of the past.

The End.

Alternative Ending.

"In the mean time, what say we order a pizza? I really didn't feel like cooking tonight anyway." Michiru said.

The others agreed and Haruka reached for the phone book. As she did, something went crawling across the floor.

"Oh great. Another cockroach." She moved to hit it with the phonebook when…

"AAAIIIEEE!" Setsuna screamed and the tray hit the floor. Setsuna's eyes rolled up in her head and she collapsed in a dead faint. Haruka smashed the cockroach with the phone book.

"How is she?" Haruka asked as she came back with the broom and dustpan. Michiru and Hotaru looked over Setsuna.

"She's fine. She'll just wake up later feeling silly like she always does." Michiru replied as she shook her head sadly.

"Well, at least everything around here is back to normal." Hotaru remarked with a sigh.

The End.

AN: I honestly couldn't decide which ending I liked better so I wrote them both. Silly thing really.