S13
Sailor Moon Defenders
By AmandaDoE
Chapter Thirteen: Reunion and Mistrust
He couldn't believe what he was seeing. More appropriately, who he was seeing. She looked as she did so long ago: the pale skin, long curly black hair that reminded him of the midnight sky, dark eyes and still an attractive body.
Mandrake thought she was one of the casualties of Ming's first invasion of Earth years ago. That had saddened him even though he was mad at her for leaving him despite the fact that they had plans for each other only for Cathleen to be the one to pull the rug from underneath him. Knowing how she is, Mandrake was amazed Cathleen was still her typical self and up to her old tricks, but was she on his side?
"Well if it isn't who I think it is," Lothar stated, pulling the magician from his thoughts.
"Cathleen O' Connor." Mandrake added.
"I'm glad that you two recognize me," Cathleen replied with a smug smile on her face.
"What brings you here after all these years?" Lothar asked.
"What does it look like my dears?" Cathleen answered. "I've returned for Mandrake as I promised."
"You never made such promise," Lothar retorted. "The last we heard from you before your apparent death was you left Mandrake with a broken heart without saying a proper goodbye."
"Lothar's right you know," Mandrake added with a calm tone. "You just simply left. The only thing you left was a letter telling me that you were leaving me. You gave no warning that you wanted to leave."
"Which you could have done that instead of leaving him the way you did."
Both Mandrake and Lothar noticed that Cathleen didn't mind them bringing up what had happened that fateful night. The magician sighed, Typical Cathleen. So mysterious.
"I'm sorry for the hurt that I caused you, Mandrake. I was young back then." Cathleen spoke up. "I know there is no excuse for what I have done that day."
"What's there to hear?" Mandrake replied as he crossed his arm. "All that's been done a long time ago. Why tear those wounds back open?"
"I just only want to talk," Cathleen insisted calmly. "Please, just hear me out."
Mandrake didn't really want to hear her out. He looked at Lothar as he wondered about his friend's input. However, it appeared that his friend was willing to give her another chance, provided that they keep a close eye on her this time around. There was no letting their guard down this time. Not this time.
"Very well, Cathleen." Mandrake looked back at his former lover. "We'll hear you out and give you another chance."
"Thank you, Mandrake." Cathleen nodded with relief in her tone.
"Keep in mind," Mandrake added coolly, "we are keeping an eye on you this time around. We're not letting our guard down."
"Understood."
"Since she's now here and going to be staying with us," Lothar stated, "why don't we introduce her to the rest of the Defenders of the Earth as well as the Sailor Guardians?"
-Sailor-Moon-Defenders-
Rei looked around in her room. She had this strange feeling the whole night now. It felt as if something sinister was coming into the mansion. It wasn't as bad as when she had sensed Hadea. Still, it was something she felt she couldn't trust.
"Rei?" she heard Ami call out from behind. "Are you all right?"
She turned around, seeing her friend right in front of her. "Yes. Everything's okay, but I've been having this strange feeling that something sinister has come here."
"What?"
"Are you sure?" Makoto asked.
Rei nodded. "I'm sure. It's not as bad as when we dealt with Hadea but it seems to be pretty sinister and I don't trust whatever it may be."
"If it's as bad as you suspect it might be," Minako replied, "then I say we got to be on our guards."
"That's right." Usagi nodded in agreement.
The girls heard a knock on the door and then it opened, revealing Mamoru.
"Mandrake wants us to meet at Monitor," Mamoru told the girls. "There's someone he wants us to meet."
-Sailor-Moon-Defenders-
Rei joined the Sailor Guardians at Monitor's Headquarters. They met with the Defenders of the Earth as well as a woman who was around the same age as the adult Defenders. She never met this woman before so she assumed this was the person Mandrake wanted them to meet.
At the same time, Rei had that same feeling as she was feeling moments ago. Was this woman the sinister thing, or sinister person she was sensing?
"Defenders of the Earth, Sailor Guardians," Mandrake introduced the woman to everyone, "I would like to introduce you guys to Cathleen O' Connor."
"Cathleen?" Flash asked in surprise. "I thought she had been killed by Ming like you mentioned to me, Mandrake."
"We thought so too." Lothar answered. "However, Cathleen here must be pretty good at escaping Ming since she is here right now."
"Well," Flash replied as he shook the woman's hand, "it's good to see that you survived Ming and it's good to see you again."
Rei looked up as each of the Defenders and the Sailor Guardians were introducing themselves to Cathleen. She looked at her with untrusting glances. She figured this woman had to be the very thing she was sensing.
She couldn't help but to notice Mandrake and Lothar weren't so trusting of Cathleen either. Given their past with her and how she probably had hurt him before. They had every right to not trust her. April didn't trust her either. However, she's typically like that to a stranger. She was like that to the Sailor Guardians at first too.
Rei looked at the other Defenders as they didn't seem to be too bothered by Cathleen. Confused by her story but still. Then she glanced over at the other Sailor Guardians. The Outer Guardians appeared to have their suspicions but then looked at her fellow Inner Guardians, who were also suspicious but not as much.
"Rei?" she looked up as Cathleen was now in front of her.
Rei looked up, facing the newcomer and shook her hand. Both women gave each other respectful nods.
"So what brings you here all of a sudden?" Usagi asked.
"Well hon," Cathleen answered, "I wanted to patch things up with Mandrake. We used to be in a relationship until I called it off."
Rei glanced over at Mandrake and Lothar, who appear to not believe much of what the woman was saying. They definitely had some history with this woman.
"Yes, Cathleen and I were in a relationship," Mandrake explained as he confirmed some of what Cathleen was saying, "but one night she left, leaving behind a note which told me she had left me rather than saying it to my face."
"And Mandrake told me Cathleen was one of Ming's casualties," Flash added, "along with many others."
He looked down, "Including Dale's ex lover, Joe Wylee."
"Well," Makoto spoke up, "Cathleen is alive as we see here. She must have done something to evade this Ming the Merciless."
"Maybe this Joe Wylee might be alive too." Minako added.
"I highly doubt it." Flash replied. "If he was alive somehow, Castra would have had a dream vision about it and Baylin would have told me about it."
"Who are Castra and Baylin?" Michiru asked.
"They both reside in the planet Mongo," Flash answered, "Baylin is my friend who lives in Mongo with Dr. Hans Zarkov and they help the alliance against Ming the Merciless as Ming caused her home world of Verden to be destroyed."
He paused a moment before continuing to speak, "Castra is one of the princesses of Mongo."
"Like Aura and myself." Sheila spoke up. "Castra is my half sister and Ming's youngest daughter."
"Ah, so you're daughter to Ming, huh?" Cathleen asked. "I thought you were from Australia."
"Oh, because of my accent?" Sheila chuckled before proceeding to explain, "I was born on Mongo along with my twin sister Aura but I left Mongo to Earth when I was a girl and spent most of my life in a boarding school in Australia."
"Something like what Castra done except she still resides on Mongo." Flash added.
"I see." Cathleen replied.
"You think that we should call it a day?" Mamoru asked.
"Yes please." Rei answered. "I'd be up for that."
"Good idea." Flash nodded in agreement. "Tomorrow is a new day for us."
Rei sighed as everyone left Monitor's Headquarters. She noted that Cathleen was cleared for now but she knew that this was far from over. Cathleen was the sinister thing, the sinister person in which she was sensing. She has had a past with Mandrake the Magician as he was her former lover and even Lothar knew her in the past. It wasn't quite over. Rei was certain of that.
Author's Note: This is the most challenging chapter yet as Cathleen didn't have as much to go on as the rest of Marzena's original characterss did. Introducing Cathleen O'Connor was the hardest thing to do in this series so far for that very reason.
Scene Commentary:
"You never made such promise," Lothar retorted. "The last we heard from you before your apparent death was you left Mandrake with a broken heart without saying a proper goodbye."
"Lothar's right you know," Mandrake added with a calm tone. "You just simply left. The only thing you left was a letter telling me that you were leaving me. You gave no warning that you wanted to leave."
"Which you could have done that instead of leaving him the way you did."
Both Mandrake and Lothar noticed that Cathleen didn't mind them bringing up what had happened that fateful night. The magician sighed, Typical Cathleen. So mysterious.
"I'm sorry for the hurt that I caused you, Mandrake. I was young back then." Cathleen spoke up. "I know there is no excuse for what I have done that day."
"What's there to hear?" Mandrake replied as he crossed his arm. "All that's been done a long time ago. Why tear those wounds back open?"
"I just only want to talk," Cathleen insisted calmly. "Please, just hear me out."
Mandrake didn't really want to hear her out. He looked at Lothar as he wondered about his friend's input. However, it appeared that his friend was willing to give her another chance, provided that they keep a close eye on her this time around. There was no letting their guard down this time. Not this time.
Aside from Cathleen having the least amount of details, I have a hard time writing flashbacks when it comes to certain characters. I once got this advice: either write the description or don't write it at all rather than tell a reader that you suck at such things.
"Like Aura and myself." Sheila spoke up. "Castra is my half sister and Ming's youngest daughter."
"Ah, so you're daughter to Ming, huh?" Cathleen asked. "I thought you were from Australia."
"Oh, because of my accent?" Sheila chuckled before proceeding to explain, "I was born on Mongo along with my twin sister Aura but I left Mongo to Earth when I was a girl and spent most of my life in a boarding school in Australia."
This is something I enjoy about writing others' characters. Those who never got to interact such as Princess Sheila Oceanna Dewindt and Cathleen O' Connor, who never interacted or met in Marzena's version of Defenders of the Earth. There might just be a couple more interactions between Sheila and Cathleen in the future.
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Chapters
Volume One
Using the power of the Necklace of Oros, Queen Hadea conquers the galaxy. The Defenders seek help from a group called the Sailor Guardians.
Rei notices the effects of battle on Usagi. Meanwhile, both teams make desperate efforts to end the clash. The Sailors approach Hadea's temple, and Flash's daughter returns to lend her aid.
Each side becomes more powerful.
Issues in Jedda's past and present lead to a monumental decision.
Princess Jedda begins embracing Hadea's cause. Ami and Rick continue to bond.
Members of the Sailor Outer Senshi join the battle. Princess Jedda is faced with a decision as a ruler. Later, she explores a startling possibility.
Now divided, the teams fend attacks off while struggling to reach Hadea.
As Rick and the princess finally reunite, a climactic showdown with Hadea begins.
The Guardians and Defenders continue their clash against the queen.
In the aftermath, revelations emerge and choices are made.
Volume Two
The younger team members begin adjusting to the changes. Others strive to fit back into normal society.
As his companions reflect, Mandrake begins to sense a mystical disturbance.
Mandrake is reacquainted with a major figure in his life.
Ming returns.
The group scrambles to counter Ming, who is aided by Krotan.
16: The First Abductions: LJ and Mars
Once again, Krotan makes his move on Jedda.
17: Closure For Rick and Mercury
The groups scurry to save their friends. Ami and Rick have a personal discussion.
As Minako and Jedda connect, Krotan continues closing in on members of the group.
Krotan has an enticing proposition.
The Defenders and Guardians make their stand against Krotan.
Volume Three
Rick's dreams signal a great change in his life. Mysterious figures begin moving behind the scenes.
Rei and Rick sense more darkness on the horizon.
Ming and Galaxia engage in discussions.
An unexpected battle occurs at a concert.
Rick considers the effects of his transformation.
The team has a confrontation with a group knows as the Three Lights.
Rick's abilities make him a target.
As Rick continues healing, the Sailors assess the situation with the Starlights.
Rick is targeted by the Sailor Animamates.
The team searches for Rick, along with information on their new opponents.
Volume Four
As the struggle against Galaxia continues, Hadea and Jedda discuss the Netherworld's future. Meanwhile, Usagi's power grows.
Cathleen initiates her effort to control Rick.
The team manages to locate Rick and his manipulator.
Rick frets over his mutation while others seek to reverse it.
The Sailors and their allies face a new threat in Tin Nyanko.
Nyanko becomes the latest to seek Rick's power.
As Rick's humanity begins slipping away, his friends continue their quest to cure him.
Rick runs amok, and a massive battle against Nyanko begins.
The Sailors make a stunning discovery.
Jedda and Rick take a huge step forward.
Volume Five
Rick and Jedda begin their new lives.
A girl arrives to meet Mandrake.
The group begins getting to know the newcomer.
Rick is visited by a servant who gives him access to valuable information.
Amy's special abilities are revealed.
Rick learns more about his power, and how it might relate to the current events. Hadea attempts to console him later.
The group endeavors to rescue Mamoru from a mystical prison.
Usagi and her friends confront Mamoru's captor.
The battle in the dream realm reaches a conclusion.
The aftermath of the dream clash brings several people closer.
Volume Six
Rick senses that the Netherworld could face an imminent attack.
The groups begin learning more about the Kings.
Hadea and her companions take preemptive measures against Zorelda.
Hadea and Phantom explore their bond, as do several others throughout the day. First appearance of Tori Gordon.
Rick and Jedda work to resolve recent issues. Minako explores life in the Netherworld.
Ming reenters the fray as the Kings converse with Zorelda.
The groups decide that it's time for the confrontation.
The Guardians and Defenders engage the Kings in the Netherworld.
The Kings begin to realize the truth.
With Zorelda seemingly thwarted, the groups begin moving on. A woman named Rachel arrives at Monitor.
Everyone begins learning more about Rachel.
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