I'm being sarcastic. I know that's absolutely nothing like what you're talking about.

"Don't you think this plugsuit is a little revealing?"

A deep blush appeared on Hikari's freckled face as she glanced downward and spoke seemingly to herself. She had been selected as the pilot of NERV's newest Evangelion unit a few days earlier, and she was currently riding an elevator to the top of the machine's hangar. The legs and shoulders of her one-piece jumpsuit were glossy black, matching the color of her Eva's armor, and the numbers "03" were printed just below the collar. Her brown pigtails were held in place by small, black donut-shaped clasps on the back of her head.

The source of Hikari's current worries was the transparent light gray latex that spanned her most of her torso and the inside of her arms. This see-through portion of the jumpsuit was cut dangerously low around her curved backside, and only a small section of opaque white material shielded her modest chest.

"Yeah, sorry about that."

Misato's voice crackled through a small speaker on the elevator. She seemed sympathetic to Hikari's plight, and spoke in a friendly manner.

"The techies told me something about how the operating system on the American Evangelions is a little more picky than ours. From what I understand, it has trouble detecting the pilot's neural patterns if anything is obscuring them, and your plugsuit was designed so the Eva will respond better to your body's movements. More skin means less interference, apparently."

Hikari looked downward and quietly sighed.

"Oh. I guess I'll have to get used to it..."

Misato's voice now laughed lightly and brightened in tone.

"Don't worry, Hikari. We're already trying to update this unit's hardware. With some luck, you'll be able to use the same kind of suit the other girls have pretty soon."

She words then flowed into a more professional voice.

"In the meantime, I can have the cameras in the entrance way shut off until you're in your cockpit. You won't have to worry about giving anyone a peep show on your way in."

A small smile crossed Hikari's lips as she softly replied to the speaker.

"Thanks, Misato."

-----------------------------------------

Hikari closed her eyes and relaxed into her cockpit seat as she adjusted to sensation of liquid oxygen flowing through her lungs. Her entry plug was filled with a water-like substance, and she could feel the warm fluid pressing against the thinner parts of her plugsuit. Various diagnostics flickered in the holographic screens that lined the interior of her cockpit, and a male engineer's voice soon cracked over the cockpit's radio.

"Activation is complete. Power supply is locked. Synchronization is holding steadily. We're handing control over to you, Miss Horaki."

Hikari's eyelids slowly lifted before she responded to the NERV staff member in a polite manner.

"Understood."

She gazed toward the screen in front of her to see what her Evangelion's eyes saw, then shifted her arms to grasp the cockpit controls at her sides. After taking a deep breath, she spoke in a soft, motherly voice.

"Let's go, EVA-03. Everyone's counting on us."

The dark machine began slowly lurching out of its holding bay and into the open air under Hikari's command. When Hikari became accustomed to her controls, Unit 03's baby steps became casual strides. It continued to confidently walk forward before stopping beside a trailer-sized container on the ground.

"Okay, Hikari. Here's your Eva's main long-range weapon. Once you're ready, we'll start your training. Like I said before, just shoot the targets as you see them."

The container popped open as Hikari heard Misato's voice in her cockpit. She directed Unit 03 to look downward so she can see a colossal assault rifle, scaled to fit the giant creature's hands, awaiting her in the storage garage. The sight of guns had always startled her, but she quickly put her personal fear aside before commanding her Eva to retrieve the weapon.

Steadily holding the firearm with both hands, EVA-03 now turned to a series of rolling hills and pointed its weapon into the light blue horizon. A determined expression appeared on Hikari's face as her thumb pressed a button on her controls that caused crosshairs to appear in the center of her cockpit screen. After this happened, she patiently waited for the drill to commence. When a single dummy target ascended into the air from the nearest hill, Hikari aimed her crosshairs as quickly as she could and pulled the trigger.

---------------------------

Hikari placed her rubbery black and gray pilot suit into the locker in front her. After closing the metal door, she reached to her collarbone to carefully adjust the ribbon of her blue and white school uniform. She was back in her civilian clothes, and her pigtails were braided with their usual pearl clasps. She turned quietly when she heard a young woman's footsteps echoing through the locker room and approaching her.

"How are you feeling, Hikari?"

The purple-haired woman was holding a folder of papers at her side when she stopped and leaned against a nearby locker. She was clearly happy and relieved, and Hikari grinned in return before replying.

"I'm fine, Misato. It felt kind of weird when I started breathing normal air again, though."

Misato nodded in understanding.

"That usually happens. The pressure difference in LCL can take some getting used to, but I'm sure you won't even notice it after a few more exercises."

Hikari now tilted her head in curiosity before questioning her superior.

"How did I do?"

Misato paused to glance over the documents in her folder. She then turned her eyes back to the anxious student.

"Your synchronization rate was great, and your reflexes were good. The Commander was grumbling about how your marksmanship was a little off, but I think you did great for your first try."

The brown-haired girl now looked toward Misato and spoke with more enthusiasm in her voice.

"Will I be able to join Shinji's team soon?"

Misato replied warmly.

"Sure. As long as an Angel attack doesn't force us to put you on the field, we always make sure you guys have a couple of weeks of basic training before you're fully enlisted."

She then lowered her voice in slight concern.

"Are you comfortable with all of this, Hikari?"

Hikari quickly responded with a delighted nod.

"Mmhmm. Now I can be the one protecting Toji for once."

Misato's expression became relieved again, and she spoke with new encouragement.

"That's good. Keep that motivation and I'm sure you'll be one of our best pilots."

She then delivered Hikari's new assignment in a stern but compassionate tone.

"You'll be trying out EVA-03's melee weapons tomorrow, so get a good night's sleep."

Hikari nodded obediently before replying.

"I'll be here."

When Misato left the locker room, Hikari spent a few more minutes gathering her personal belongings. When she finally left for the day, the only things on her mind were the happy thoughts of being an Evangelion pilot.

Asuka and Hikari were standing in NERV's main hangar in their respective plugsuits. The impatient redhead was standing with her clenched fists against her hips and tapping one foot against the ground, and her pigtailed comrade stood beside her with her hands folded over her waist. The two young women looked up and watched as various personnel went about preparing Evangelion Units 02 and 03 for launch. They were about to engage an enemy that had recently appeared on the ground above.

Asuka eventually turned her head to Hikari and spoke in a bored manner.

"So, this is going to be your first real Angel fight, right?"

Hikari turned her attention to her peer and nodded timidly before replying.

"Yeah. I'm a little nervous."

The long-haired tomboy looked forward again before growling slightly.

"Great. That doesn't make my job any easier."

She peered upward to make sure none of the workers were the scratching the vibrant red paint on EVA-02 before muttering her next words.

"Just stay out of my way. The last thing I need is some newbie messing up my aim."

Hikari moved her gloved hands to her sides. Her face turned to a slightly stubborn expression before she spoke in a tone that matched her partner's

"You don't have to be so bossy, Asuka."

Asuka turned her attention back to Hikari before narrowing her eyes and grumbling in disagreement.

"And why not?"

Hikari now gave a more diplomatic smile before replying.

"Because I know you're better than me. I'm not going to fool myself into thinking I'm as skilled as you and try to take command. That would probably just make things worse for the both of us. I'll follow any advice you have and let you do things your way."

Asuka found herself giving Hikari a rare look of joy in response to her words. The veteran pilot couldn't decide if she liked her brown-haired comrade for her genuinely friendly attitude, or just because the girl knew her place. Either way, an apology was in order.

"Sorry. I'm so used to working with Wimpy Boy and Robot Girl that I get carried away sometimes."

Hikari offered a grin that said "No harm done" to dispel Asuka's concern. The assertive girl's happier mood returned when she spoke again.

"Alright. When we get up there, just follow my lead and stay alert. You'll be fine."

Asuka's blue eyes then studied her new partner's nervous form, making note of the somewhat provocative quality in her black and gray pilot jumpsuit.

"By the way, what's with that plugsuit they're making you wear?"

Asuka's glossy red index finger gently poked the transparent gray material near Hikari's visible navel, causing a tiny burst of ticklish giggling to escape the brunette's mouth. Asuka then prodded the solid red latex around her own waist, apparently comparing the textures of the two outfits. A familiar blush appeared on Hikari's face, as she had become so accustomed to her unique outfit that she had nearly forgotten about its questionable design.

"Oh, this. Misato told me it was made this way so I could get a good synchronization rate with EVA-03. She said they were trying to convert the system so it would match the other Evas and I could use a standard plugsuit, but I think they ran into compatibility problems."

Asuka placed her hands back on her hips as she turned her head upward. She gazed toward the black machine slumbering in front of Hikari before speaking aloud.

"Huh. Good thing I don't have to be that Eva's pilot."

Her eyes then returned to Hikari. After scanning over the pigtailed girl's figure again, Asuka rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath.

"Pervs. You can practically see her butt in that thing."

Hikari was attentive enough to hear her mentor's bitter remarks. She smiled as she calmly debated the subject with Asuka.

"Umm... I don't think it's that bad once you get used to it, Asuka. I wouldn't be able to control Unit 03 without it, and it's actually pretty comfortable when you're in the entry plug."

Asuka blew a few strands of ocre hair away from her face being responding in feigned interest.

"Right. I'll keep that in mind next time I'm thinking about using EVA-02 as a jacuzzi."

Just as the two girls had finished their conversation, they heard Misato's voice calling them from the side of the hangar's catwalk.

"Asuka, Hikari. We're ready to launch."

The two teammates nodded in unison before parting ways and approaching their respective Evangelion units.

Black Lady was seductively sprawled across a couch in the Black Moon Clan's royal quarters. The pink-haired beauty glanced toward her master, who floated several feet from the floor in a meditative position. His only identifiable features were his bony hands, as a long, dark cloak completely obscured the rest of his body. Between these hands hovered a strange object; a miniature staff with a gray handle and a guard fashioned after the clan's inverted crescent moon symbol. It was decorated by an orb that resembled a smaller version of the glass globe Wiseman usually wielded.

Black Lady spoke playfully as her leader remained in silence.

"What is that thing, Wiseman? You've been working on it for a long time, so it must be important."

The glowing circles that comprised the only distinguishable parts of Wiseman's eyes turned toward Black Lady. He then answered in a deep, echoing voice.

"This is a new weapon I'm creating for you, my lady. It will allow you to finally defeat the Sailor Soldiers."

Black Lady tilted her head in curiosity, quickly taking interest in the strange object.

"It looks kind of like that wand Sailor Moon uses."

Wiseman appeared to be impressed by her perception.

"That's because it's closely based on that device. I've been carefully studying her abilities for some time, and I now know how she's been using those meddlesome powers of hers to turn your sisters against you."

Black Lady pouted briefly at these words.

"You mean the Ayakashi?"

The cloaked figure nodded to his minion's question before responding.

"Sailor Moon was able to break their minds and corrupt them for her own purposes. However, this will have the opposite effect. You'll be able to cleanse your enemies with the powers of darkness and lead them on the correct path."

He briefly paused in vile thought, then continued.

"If you use it to purify the Sailor Soldiers, they will no longer hate you."

A devious smirk grew on the young servant's face. As far as she could remember, Wiseman had always been the only person who didn't allow her to fall into complete loneliness, and she was excited by the prospect of making new friends.

"That sounds fun. When will I be able to use it?"

Wiseman let out a low chuckle before replying with a single word.

"Soon."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Come on, Chibiusa! You have to remember!"

Usagi desperately shouted to a snickering Black Lady standing on the rooftop above her. The evil villainness gazed down on the five Sailor Soldiers from the dark city sky, and her opponent's words quickly annoyed her.

"Are you still going on about that nonsense? It's about time I shut all of you up."

She had grown tired of Sailor Moon's ridiculous speeches, constantly trying to convince her she was actually some stupid brat with a mutated body and a major identity crisis. She shook her head a few times to rid herself of her rival's screeching voice, then lifted the crimson parasol resting across her shoulder and pointed it forward.

A streak of black lightning flashed from the top of the parasol, striking the ground below and causing the entire Sailor team to stagger backwards in pain. While her enemies collected themselves, Black Lady allowed the umbrella to disappear from her arms and summoned the new weapon Wiseman had given her in one hand. She giggled as she studied the small wand a final time, then thought out loud.

"Hmm... I wonder if this thing will really work."

She then narrowed her eyes toward her weakened opponents and raised the scepter into the air. Its jewel began pulsating with a black aura, and the Sailor team was quickly engulfed in a cyclone of negative energy that appeared on the ground below. They were soon paralyzed on their feet, and the ominous cloud of energy split apart and began condensing around each girl. As the team was enveloped head to toe in blackness, the energy seemed to nullify their Sailor costumes and cling directly to their skin, giving them the appearance of a set of nude obsidian statues.

But then, something unexpected happened. A brilliant beacon of light burst from the center of Sailor Moon's chest. The light overcame the darkness, allowing the confused heroine to safely escape from her cocoon with her Sailor outfit intact. She staggered forward, nearly collapsing as she caught her breath. Black Lady frowned when she realized Sailor Moon's crystal brooch had protected her and negated the effects of the spell.

Usagi's colleagues were not as fortunate. After being bathed in darkness for several more seconds, their bindings faded away and left an unusual sight. Each team member was clad in an altered version of her Sailor suit. They retained their original color schemes, but now had a black trim accenting the skirts, bows, and scarves of their uniforms. Most alarmingly, their tiaras were missing, revealing the Black Moon symbol now marking each of their foreheads.

Sailor Moon gasped when her teammates collectively turned their heads and deviously smirked toward her. Even more baffled than before, she slowly stepped backwards as she struggled to speak.

"Wha-... what's wrong, guys? You all look different..."

The raven-haired Sailor Mars answered first. There was obvious frustration in her voice.

"We've had enough of you, Usagi! Why should someone as stupid as you be leader?"

Sailor Moon's shocked expression now snapped toward the always-collected Sailor Mercury. The blue-haired fighter stroked her chin in thought as she spoke calm, but slightly sinister, tone.

"I agree with Mars. We'll never get anywhere if we don't change our strategy."

Sailor Jupiter cracked her knuckles and shouted next.

"Yeah! We shouldn't let someone as weak as you boss us around!"

Sailor Venus brushed her long golden hair from her face and spoke last, growling in envy.

"What did Luna even see in you when she made you Sailor Moon? I was a Sailor Soldier before you!"

Sailor Moon's eyes widened with horror as her four companions positioned themselves around her, forming four corners of a square with her standing in the middle. She frantically turned her head toward each Sailor Soldier as she continued to stumble through her words.

"What's... gotten into you guys... ?"

Her attention then turned upward toward Black Lady. The fiendish woman had watched the entire event unfold with a look of amusement on her face.

"What did you do to them, Chibiusa?"

Black Lady responded only by smiling toward her four new allies. In an eerily wicked tone, she then gave them their first command.

"Destroy her."

The brutal attack began before Sailor Moon even had a chance to defend herself. She was simultaneously struck by harsh streams of fire, water, lightning, and (strangest of all) heart-shaped lasers. When the violence ceased, her scorched and mangled body silently toppled to the ground. Her eyes remained wide open when she died.

Black Lady's elevated heels clicked softly against the concrete ground when she carefully landed in front of her followers. Sailor Venus stepped forward from her team, seemingly more concerned with introductions than the corpse now lying on the ground.

"We're sorry for mistreating you, Black Lady. May we still join you?"

The group's new matriarch giggled happily before she answered with a warm smile.

"Of course."

She then stepped forward and knelt in front of Usagi's fallen form. She reached for the decorative brooch on the deceased girl's chest, flipped the top panel open, and removed the sparkling jewel housed inside. She studied the artifact in her slender palm before Mercury quietly spoke over Venus's shoulder.

"That's the Silver Crystal, mistress. Are you going to keep it?"

Black Lady thought to herself for a few more seconds. A mischievous smirk formed across her lips when she replied.

"We're much more powerful than this silly toy. I don't think Wiseman will need it any more."

She closed her fist, crushing the object into worthless dust in a single burst of strength.

This battle marked the end of the war between Earth and Nemesis. The Black Moon Clan were the winners, and, as an added benefit, they had swayed the imperial princess and her bodyguards to their side. An odd man in a tuxedo and a cape was left as humanity's only protector, but the Black Moon family's numbers worked against him, and he was quickly disposed of.

Black Lady's team became the clan's first line of offense, and they used their magical powers to enslave the people they had once sworn to protect. Crystal Tokyo was erased from existence, leaving Wiseman's ambition to go unhindered.