PROLOGUE: TWILIGHT FALLS.
Sunday, July 29th, 2945 AD.
The morning of the big day dawned bright and clear, with temperatures in the mid-seventies and just a smattering of small clouds in the air. The sun reflected off the walls of Crystal Tokyo like a mirror. On this day the palace was hung with buntings, ribbons, bouquets, streamers and pennons of all the colors imaginable! The city, normally busy at around 9am, was bustling much earlier on this day, as people ran this way and that in anticipation of the biggest celebration of the Century.
For years the entire world had held its breath and counted down the days to this date. Today was the day that all of human civilization had been yearning toward for all of its history. The holy union between Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion that would, for once and for all, solidify peace not only on Earth, but throughout the Solar System! Today was a day for everyone to celebrate.
Shortly before noon the royal entourages began to arrive. Neo-Queen Raye Hino of Mars was the first to land her Starship in the Tokyo Spaceport's Landing Grid. She came with her consort, Prince Chad Yuuichirou, and various nobles of her court.
Next came Neo-Queen Lita Kino of Jupiter. She and her husband Charles Yuriko emerged from the ship along with their four-year-old daughter Makoto.
Neo-Queen Mina Aino of Venus, still single after all these years, nevertheless arrived with a flourish. As beautiful as she was, she was a target for lots of lonely young men in the Galaxy. It was widely rumored that the Queen kept herself single for just that reason.
Arriving in their shiny, silver-burnished Starship came the joint rulers of the Urano-Neptunian Confederation: Neo-Queen Michelle Kaioh and her (husband?) Neo-Queen Amara Ten'ou. As always the women went wild over the Uranian Queen. Gender just didn't seem to matter where Amara was concerned.
Neo-Queen Hotaru Tomoe came alone as well. She was the sort of person who drew a hushed silence with her. Clad all in black, she bore her slightly gothic demeanor like a shroud of mystery. When she arrived at the Crystal Palace, cameras caught on tape the first ever public display of Queen Hotaru's rare smile.
At first when Neo-Queen Amy Mizuno's ship did not arrive on time, there was some amount of trepidation. But after much questioning and verification it was discovered that the Queen of Mercury had been in Crystal Tokyo since late last night. Her Starship was already parked in its personal hangar. As the maid of honor for Queen Serenity's wedding, Amy had come the night before to offer support and help put together the final loose ends before the wedding took place.
Unbeknownst to the general public, who watched the pre-wedding ceremonies and preparations via television and the Galactic Net, inside the Palace was a frantic scuffle to have everything in place in time. As the final hours before the opening of the Palace doors and the commencement of the ceremony ticked down to zero, servants, maids, security guards, officials, and dignitaries rushed around trying to make everything as perfect as possible at the Queen's behest.
Finally, in the final hour before the wedding, the special guests arrived from out-of-system. First came a gleaming Starship from the Kinmoku Federation. Out stepped the stunning Princess Kakyuu of Alpha Senshi, along with her three Royal Guardian Senshi: Sailor Starfighter; Sailor Starhealer; and Sailor Starmaker. Then there was an exotic ship landing that no one had ever seen before. It looked like it was made from the trunk of some tree, and even had leaves jutting out of several areas. What the ship ran on, no one could even guess. When two perfectly normal humans came out of the hull, everyone shrugged and waved it off as simply the next step in ship-building technology, as odd as it was. No one knew who these two were, but one did not question the Neo-Queen's choices for guests of honor.
Perhaps the most dramatic entrance was made by King Helios. He flew in as a majestic white Unicorn with wings, and transformed into his human form right before everyone's eyes. The crowd went wild. Accompanying him were the four Amazon Senshi who protected his realm: Sailor Pallas, Sailor Ceres, Sailor Juno, and Sailor Vesta. Countless other celebrities and Nobles from across the Galaxy arrived on the red carpet, and the entrance to the Crystal Palace began to resemble the Academy Awards.
* * * *
"Put it over there. Carefully now!" Queen Amy directed the placement of the large, multi-layered wedding cake in the reception room. The two hapless servants carrying the heavy cake grunted as they carried the tray and placed it gently onto the center of the huge rectangular banquet table.
"It's crazy out there!" Mina was looking out the window. "I should have stayed downstairs to sign autographs! Look at those Sailor Starlights stealing the spotlight!"
"Relax, Mina. You'll always be the Idol Queen in their eyes," said Lita.
"So where IS that meatball brain!" Raye asked Amy irritably. "Hasn't she finished changing YET?!"
"Come to think of it, I should check on her," Amy fretted. "It's only a few minutes until the guests take their seats!" The Queen of Mercury bolted out the door, her blue dress hiked up so she wouldn't trip on the hem of the skirt.
"The more things change, the more they stay the same," said Michelle sweetly to Amara.
"True. Amy is still quite the organizer," said Amara in agreement.
"Are you ready to be the Priest, Raye? Got all your papers together?" Mina nudged Raye.
"Yup! Got 'em right here!" Raye took out a humongous, hard-cover bible and slammed it on the table. The legs of the table nearly buckled under the weight.
"Whoa!" Lita exclaimed. "You could kill somebody with that!"
"It was the only one I could find in Kanji," Raye sweat-dropped and laughed.
"Yeeee!!" Ann ran around the corner excitedly in her human form. "I'm so excited! They've started letting the crowds in! Where's Serena and Darien?!"
"Hey, Ann, where's Alan?" Lita waved.
"Right here!" Ann pulled Alan, dressed in a gray tuxedo, around the corner. Alan looked distinctly uncomfortable, and tugged at his collar as if it were strangling him.
"Alan, dear, you look like YOU'RE the one getting married, relax!" Ann scolded him.
"I'm not used to this getup," Alan confessed sheepishly. "But it's what everyone else is wearing. I think if people suspected what we really were, they'd kinda freak."
"Well your ship is certainly... unique," Mina pointed out. "You might have introduced the new wave in ship designs with that tree house of yours."
All of a sudden King Endymion walked in, dressed in a black tuxedo with his royal cowl draped over his shoulders and the crown of Earth on his forehead. He looked as dashing as ever, and the girls flocked around him excitedly. Chad walked over to Alan and put a hand on his shoulder. "Come on, dude," he said coolly. "This is when all the girls like to drool over the King. Why don't you come over and have a drink with me and Charles?"
"Uh, sure," Alan agreed.
* * * *
"Serena," Amy called. "Are you still in here? I swear, the wedding will go on without you if you don't hurry up!"
"Coming, Amy," Serena said, as she dashed from the bedroom.
Amy looked Serena up and down critically. "Oh, Serena," she gasped in wonder. "You look so beautiful in that dress!" Amy's face became serious again, though. "But you really need to learn to dress faster. Darien is already at the altar, and you don't want to keep the handsome Prince waiting so long he decides to marry someone else."
Serena smiled at her friend's humor. "If I was younger, I would have panicked when you said that."
"Yes," Amy agreed. "You have matured much since your younger days, even though we all thought you hopeless sometimes."
"It's incredible, isn't Ames?" asked Serena, putting the finishing touches on her make-up. "Time really does fly. I mean a thousand years seems like only yesterday."
"Well we DID spend much of that time in slumber, but I know exactly what you mean," Amy agreed. "So you and Darien are finally getting married." her tone was oddly wistful. "And who knows what comes next. Rini perhaps?"
"Yes, if memory serves," said Serena. "I can't wait to see her again."
"Me neither," Amy turned away. "Well... shall we go then?"
Serena giggled with joy and embraced her friend. Tears came to both of their eyes. "I can't believe this is really happening!"
"Whatever the future brings, we'll be friends forever, right Serena?" asked Amy.
"Of course, yes!"
"Alright, that's enough out of you two!" said a voice from the doorway. They both turned to see Raye standing there with her arms folded, leaning on the doorframe.
"You're marrying Darien, not Amy, remember?"
"Come on, guys! The organ has started playing!" said Lita with barely contained excitement. "The guests of honor are all seated and Darien is standing up there with Helios looking dumb! Are you gonna ditch him at the altar after all these years?"
"Alright! Alright! I'm coming!" Serena snapped playfully. There was a short scuffle in the chamber, while the scouts got into positions. Then, the doors opened wide, and Serena, escorted by her closest friends and confidants, slowly made her way toward the altar.
Darien, as predicted, stood at the altar already. His best man, Helios, was dressed all in white, with that familiar golden horn jutting from just above his brow. He too, looked dashing. Darien fidgeted just noticeably. Like most grooms, he was dreadfully nervous, though he did his best to hide it since the eyes of the world, via satellite uplink to all the news cameras around the sanctuary, were on him today.
Serena moved in time to the music, with Ami holding her train. Serena had complained of the high heels she had to wear with the dress. During rehearsals, she had fallen repeatedly on her face, causing much embarrassment to all involved. Today, they crossed their fingers, praying that nothing would go wrong.
Mina preceded the whole party, sprinkling flower petals on the aisle floor from a basket she held. Lita went next, bearing the rings on a red satin pillow. Finally, came Serena, dressed in her bridal best, looking more beautiful than Darien had ever known she could look. Serena looked as regal as excitement allowed, but even so, the procession to the altar seemed to take forever, as she was impatient to get the whole thing under way.
Hotaru, Amara, and Michelle, all excited, snuck in from behind and found their seats in the pews. Raye entered from the right, carrying her oversized bible in her arms. She reached the altar at the same time Serena did, dropping the huge book on the platform with a thud. The music cut off sharply as it did, creating the effect that the organist had been shot with a cannon!
Saiya laughed out loud in the audience as this thought crossed her mind, and the rest of the congregation, including the wedding party, glared at her. Taiki Yaten, and Kakyuu simply turned red and rolled their eyes.
Raye flipped open the cover and began to thumb her way to the marked page detailing the wedding process. When she got to the chosen passage she cleared her throat and took the time to look over everyone before getting down to business.
"Dearly beloved," she began in a regal voice. "We are gathered here today to join these two people: Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion in the bonds of holy matrimony..."
****
Milady," said Commander Lucius Zinc of the fifteenth Black Moon Fleet and Flag Officer of the Battleship: Gorgonite. "The fleet is poised to strike. The Chronometer is set at July 29th, 2945. We await your command."
The woman he was addressing stirred. Her dark blue eyes fixed on the Commander.
"Serena's wedding day. How I've waited for this moment! There will be lots of guests there. Many of them are powerful. I'm going to need total concentration in this attack! I want every one of my battleships in the skies over Earth, causing as much chaos as possible!"
"My men and women are prepared to die for you, milady," said Zinc coldly. "Your planning is most excellent. So long as we follow it to the letter there is no way you can lose!"
The woman folded her hands together. "There IS a way." she foreboded. "Sailor Pluto. Where is she?"
"Still trapped outside the Time Stream," Zinc replied. "We have a cloaked tracker tailing her every move. Theoretically she can't escape anyway, but if she does we will know right away."
She extended her right hand. What was once her right arm was partially replaced with a cybernetic appendage. There were numerous small buttons upon it, and the fingers were sharpened into claws. She flexed it menacingly.
"I'll hold you to that, Commander. You know I will."
Zinc bowed. "Very well. If Pluto involves herself against all odds then I deserve to die." He straightened up. "Now, about the attack?"
"Wait for my signal," said his leader. "I want to make my appearance at just the right moment."
****
As the two lovers placed the rings on each other's fingers, Raye continued on. "Do you, Neo-Queen Serenity, take this man, King Endymion to be your lawfully wedded Husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, through the best and the worst, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," said Serena, gazing unblinkingly at her true love.
"Do you, King Endymion, take this woman, Neo-Queen Serenity to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, through the best and the worst, for as long as you both shall live?"
Darien smiled broadly for the first time that afternoon as he replied: "I do."
Raye beamed, as if there was any doubt as to the outcome of the ceremony. "Then," she conluded, "by the power invested in me, and by the grace of God Himself, I now pronounce you man and wife! You may kiss the bride, King Endymion."
Normally, in these situations, the husband must lift the veil to kiss the bride. In this case, however, it wasn't Darien who lifted the veil. His overexcited bride did the job for him, taking the flustered husband completely by surprise, with a leap into his arms and a kiss. Several chuckles fluttered through the audience and the ranks of the Sailor Senshi. When they disengaged, the whole audience stood on its feet and cheered.
****
"Commander Zinc!" came the voice over the bridge of the Gorgonite.
"Yes, milady!" Zinc replied.
"Commence the attack!" came the order. With a click the line went dead.
****
The audience had not entirely quieted down yet, when the sunlight spilling into the sanctuary through the crystalline walls suddenly increased tenfold!
A huge booming noise terrified the crowd and shook the foundations of Crystal Tokyo! Then, just as suddenly, all went dark!
"What was that?!" was the question on everyone's lips, the wedding party included.
Another boom shook the chapel, and cracks began to show on the crystal walls.
Everyone ran to the transparent walls to see what was going on. Serena, Darien, and the others looked out to see a shocking sight!
Outside, the city was under attack by a gigantic vessel that cast a shadow over the city below. It hovered directly over the Crystal Palace and filled the sky with its bulk. Like a swarm of Mosquitos, thousands of fighters spewed from the hangar bays and began to fire upon the unsuspecting city. The whole palace rocked as the gigantic cannons of the attacking Starship fired upon it! The blasts hit with such concussive force that even the diamond-hard crystal walls of the palace started to show cracks! It felt like an earthquake!
"Raise the shields!" shouted King Endymion. "Get them up before this place falls down around our ears!"
Down in the basement of the Palace, security forces scrambled about madly, trying to figure out what was going on. From what they saw on the monitors a massive Battle Cruiser had materialized out of nowhere over the Palace and now was attacking the entire city of Crystal Tokyo! And that wasn't all. Reports were coming from all across the globe. Other ships had appeared over other major cities and were now in the process of destroying them! The order came down from above.
"Raise the shields! By order of the King!"
One Captain took the initiative. He ran over to the power generator and yanked the lever with all his might. Electrical sparks came to life and danced around the generator as every circuit was thrown wide open! With a giant, droning hum the Palace Deflector Shield sprang up and surrounded the giant crystal structure! For now at least the palace was safe! For everyone in the wedding chapel, this attack caught them completely flat-footed. Who could be attacking them? Who?!
From down below there came the sounds of screaming. Everyone looked down and saw a stampede of onlookers spilling from the bottom levels of the palace and trying to escape the destruction. The innocent bystanders who had shown up to join in the celebration were now scattering in utter terror!
"Serena! A lot of people are going to die unless we do something about that stampede!" Darien bellowed.
"We NEED to do something about that ship!" said Amara.
"What do we do, Neo-Queen Serenity?" asked Sailor Starfighter. "We're at your disposal."
Serena shook her head as if waking up from a long sleep. Shock and betrayal was etched on her face. She looked at all her friends. They were all waiting for her to say something!
"Thank you guys," she said to them. "First things first! We have two problems. that ship, and those terrified civilians! Anyone who is a Sailor Senshi should transform now!"
"No need to tell us twice," said the Starlights, taking out their pens.
Amara, Michelle and Hotaru all had theirs on them as well. Though it had been many, many years since they needed them, it appeared that certain habits died hard. Serena was glad they had the sense to come prepared for anything.
"To tell the truth, I was more worried about terrorists!" said Sailor Ceres. The Amazons had their pens as well.
Alan and Ann had shed their human disguises and stood revealed in their Alien forms.
"Serena! Our pens! They're in your room!" said Lita.
"Right, I know!" Serena said. She turned to her new husband. "Darien! I want you to take Alan, Ann, the Starlights and the Amazons with you to help get that crowd under control! Get them inside the palace, they'll be safer here than anyplace else! Also, alert the System Defense Fleet! Get me Captain Prower!!"
They split up after that. The eight original Senshi ran back to Serena's bedchamber. The rest went with Darien, who by now had changed into Tuxedo Mask.
"I suppose we're the lucky ones to have to fight that ship?" Raye asked.
"This is very strange, VERY!" Amy said, her small computer already in hand. "I'm getting some disturbingly familiar readings from that ship up there! My computer says it's a Black Moon Model!"
"That's impossible! It's too soon for them!" Mina retorted. "Prince Diamond hasn't even been born yet!"
They burst through the doors to the Queen's bedroom and began scouring the place for the pens.
"Now, where did I put those pens?!" Serena fretted, rifling through her closet.
"Oh, just great! What a time to flake out, Serena! Right when we're needed the most!" Raye snapped.
"You better remember where they were in the next ten seconds or I'll jog that stupid memory of yours for you!"
"Stop yelling! STOP YELLING!! I'M TRYING TO THINK!!" Serena shouted back.
"For Heaven's sake, Serena, you put them under your bed!!"
"Oh, thank you, Luna!" Serena paused and looked up. "LUNA!!"
The black cat jumped down to the floor and glowered at Serena. " 'Hold the fort back up at the Moon', she says," said Luna disgustedly. "Honestly, Serena what would you do without me?!"
"Did Artemis come with you?" Mina asked as Michelle dug under the bed.
"No, one of us had to stay," Luna replied. She turned back to Serena. "I was going to surprise you at the reception with a speech, but it looks like plans for this evening have been postponed until further notice."
"You can say that again!" Amara came up with the metal briefcase and threw it on the bed. She flipped the locks open and opened the case. Five gleaming pens sat in the red satiny interior.
"I never expected to have to use these things again so soon," said Lita as she picked up the green one.
"It does sort of bring back memories, doesn't it?" asked Raye, choosing the bright red one. "Well then, shall we?"
"Moon Eternal Power!" Serena lifted up her locket above her head.
"Mercury Planet Power!" Amy joined in.
"Mars Planet Power!" Raye shouted.
"Jupiter Planet Power!"
"Venus Planet Power!"
"MAKE UP!!" they all shouted in unison.
Rainbow light flooded the room as their wedding dresses vanished, to be replaced by their Senshi Uniforms! Eight Sailor Senshi stood ready for action.
"Sweet!" said Chad, watching from the doorway with Charles and Helios.
"You three! Get Princess Kakyuu and Helios down to the basement!" Sailor Moon shouted at them.
"Yes, ma'am!" Charles saluted.
"I shall expedite that process," Helios said, transforming into Pegasus. "Princess, if you will please get upon my back."
Kakyuu blinked and climbed gingerly up on him. "Do not worry. I won't drop you." Helios neighed and charged down the hallway with blinding speed.
"Hey! Wait for us!" Chad and Charles ran behind, waving their arms.
****
Crystal Tokyo was not completely devoid of protection. Though taken by surprise the Crystal Tokyo Defense Force was always ready to scramble. Pilots ran to their fighters and slid into their cockpits.
Within ten minutes after the initial shot was fired by the enemy, the first fighters were taking off and making a beeline for the battle zone. Already Tokyo was in flames! The fighters scoured the skyline with raking laser fire. Ground weaponry fired back, but in futility. Anti-aircraft fire splashed harmlessly off the deflector shields of the small fighters. From the Bay Area, Battleships fired shells and rockets at the mother ship, but they too detonated short of the hull.
When the enemy struck back, they struck back hard! More hangars opened up in the side of the Gorgonite and spilled forth a far deadlier enemy! Daemons, Oni, Droids, and other monsters came out to deal out their own brand of destruction and mayhem! With brutal efficiency they savagely struck back at defense fighters and ships.
"This doesn't look good!" said Sailor Vesta. "Conventional forces are having no effect on the enemy ships, and now they're releasing monsters!"
"That's a Black Moon vessel! No doubt about it!" said Tuxedo Mask. "The design is a dead-ringer for it! But what are they doing here?! This doesn't make any sense!"
"Incoming!" Sailor Ceres cried. All of a sudden a Dragon-like creature broke off from the main group and began to swoop down toward the frightened civilians trying to file inside the palace. It opened its mouth, ready to spew fire at them.
"I got this one!" Alan shouted. He jumped into the sky and powered up for a blast.
The blast caught the Dragonite right in the torso and sent it reeling to the ground. Getting to its feet, it roared in rage at Alan.
"Oh, no you don't!!" Sailor Starfighter shouted at it. "Star Serious Laser!" With a loud bang, the Dragonite exploded entirely!
"Good work, guys! Keep your eyes peeled, we're almost finished here!" Tuxedo Mask shouted.
****
"Resistance has already begun, milady," said Zinc into the communicator. "The main group hasn't emerged yet, but already there is some action with the secondary targets. Also, the Gorgonite's sensors are finding numerous Senshi ID signatures coming from deep inside the palace."
"That's them!" said his leader. "Utilize our resources to destroying Tokyo! I'LL take care of the those that can fight back!"
"It shall be as you say, milady," Zinc complied. "Good hunting."
****
"Trista! Trista are you there?!" Sailor Pluto pretended as if she heard nothing. She didn't even so much as raise her pulse one iota. But she did respond mentally.
"Charon is that you?"
"Oh, thank God I found you, Trista! Are you alright? I thought she killed you!"
"She very nearly did. She's extremely powerful!" Pluto thought quickly. "Listen, Charon. You're my only hope now! The Sailor Senshi cannot possibly defeat her! She's far too powerful and intelligent! I need you to find a way to prevent Neo-Queen Serenity's death at all costs!"
"What about you?" Charon's voice was earnest. "You can easily get out of there, can't you?"
"I'm... being monitored just now," Pluto said. "I'll get out of here once I think of a way to fool the tracker that's watching me. If I get out of here now, SHE will know right away and our plan will be severely jeopardized! You worry about Sailor Moon! Don't worry, I can take care of myself!"
"As you wish," Charon's mental presence faded away from Pluto's consciousness.
Pluto opened her eyes and turned toward where she knew that cloaked tracker was hovering. "That's right, you spiteful creature! I'm still here! I'm not going anywhere... for now!"
****
The Senshi arrived at the scene of the initial attack, the chapel area at the top of the Crystal Palace, in order to get their bearings.
The three Outer Senshi flew up to fight the Youmas and ships that swarmed overhead. The other scouts called upon their powers and began doing something that Thirtieth Century technology could not do: penetrate the shields of the fighters and Youmas to destroy them.
In seconds, a fierce battle opened up over the highest structure in the world.
Explosions, screams of pain, and beams of energy flew across the sky. One by one, the Youmas and fighters fell to the magical powers of the Sailor Scouts, and down on the street level, those who had not been drained of their energy went up in a cheer as their champions began to turn the tide against overwhelming odds.
Tuxedo Mask, meanwhile, had reached the shelter in the basement of Crystal Tokyo. He coolly ushered the last of the civilians inside. he thought triumphantly.
"Tuxedo Hunkster! You better get out here! Now!"
That was Saiya's voice on his communicator. It didn't sound happy.
"I'll be right there," Darien replied, taking off at a dead run.
****
"Looks like our friends up top are finally in action," said Alan.
"Well it's about time!" Sailor Vesta piped in.
"If we're done down here, what say we join them?" Ann suggested.
"You won't be joining anyone, old friend!" said a voice behind them.
Everyone turned and laid eyes on the newcomer.
"Who the Hell are you?!" Sailor Starhealer demanded.
Standing before them, with her hands on her hips and a sneer on her face, was a woman. Obviously, however, she was no ordinary woman. She was clad all in black. Her torso was wrapped in a swimsuit-style leotard with a deep collar. Her boots reached to mid-thigh, and what wasn't covered by the leather boots was draped in fishnet stockings. A heavy black cape hung from a set of shoulder pads and just barely touched the ground at her feet. Her left arm was normal, clad only in a black glove that came to her elbow. But the right arm was almost terrifying to look at! The whole right arm was cybernetically enhanced from the elbow down! The hand was fashioned like a huge metal claw, and multi-colored buttons and switches dotted the forearm area!
Perhaps most frighteningly disturbing about this woman was that she looked familiar in some strange way! Her blue hair was long, hanging to her shoulders. Just beneath her bangs could be seen a symbol of Planet Mercury, literally carved with a knife in the flesh of her forehead! Her dark blue eyes held no sympathy or remorse. They were the eyes of a cold-blooded killer, and they speared the nine superheroes with the intensity of blue flame! Around her, the air seemed to turn frigid cold!
"What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost," she taunted them.
"Alan." Ann moved closer to her mate fearfully. "Who is she?"
"Why don't you ask me directly?!" the villain replied. "I am Dark Mercury! And I am DEATH!!"
She turned and saw Sailor Starfighter talking into her communicator. With a smirk, she raised to her left hand and pointed with two fingers. Suddenly Saiya's watch sparked and a puff of smoke rose from its face.
"Uh-uh-ah!" Dark Mercury wagged her finger at Starfighter. "I can't have anyone here telling the rest of the gang about me just yet! I want them to be just as surprised as I know you'll be!"
"Reveal yourself, Demon!" Alan shouted. "What are you after attacking Crystal Tokyo this way?!"
"I have a score to settle." Dark Mercury replied coldly. "A debt that runs a thousand years deep! It's too bad you of all people decided to stand in my way, Alan and Ann! I had no quarrel with you!"
"H-how. did you know our names!?" Alan shuddered. "Do we know you?!"
Just then, Tuxedo Mask emerged from the basement and saw Dark Mercury for the first time. "Holy, Jesus!" he exclaimed. "Amy?!"
"Ah-HA!!" Dark Mercury leapt into the air and dove straight at Tuxedo Mask. "ONE OF YOU RECOGNIZES ME AT LEAST!!"
****
For fifteen minutes the battle raged on.
The Senshi kept defeating the Youmas, one by one, but more always seemed to come and take their place. It was exhausting work, and the Senshi could have easily wound up being overwhelmed by sheer numbers, but the enemy was too smart to waste all her resources on just the Sailor Scouts.
Without warning, the immediate area was cleared of all opponents! The sudden retreat of the enemy caused a certain amount of confusion in the Sailor Senshi ranks. The Outers wanted to pursue them, and it took physical restraint to rein in the fired up Sailor Uranus. They all gathered on the rooftop of the palace to discuss the change in strategy.
"I knew this would happen," said Sailor Mercury, sweating from her exertions. "Whoever is running this assault is no fool. He or she has turned the forces toward an easier target, saving the heavily defended palace for last."
"Well we won't let that happen," said Sailor Uranus in a confident tone. "They're not rid of us that easily. We can fly, so we'll just take the fight to them."
"Right!" everyone agreed. Everyone, that is, except Sailor Mercury, who had a deeply troubled expression on her face.
"Guys," she insisted. "I'll bet we have bigger fish to fry! Those fighters retreated for a reason!"
"For what purpose?" asked Sailor Saturn.
Sailor Neptune suddenly got the picture. "That's it! I see your point, Amy."
"What point is that?" Sailor Moon scratched her head.
Michelle turned toward her: "Minnows always flee before the shark arrives."
Sailor Moon was still processing that, when Sailor Mercury activated her Computer Visor with a touch to her blue earring stud. Blips and symbols flashed across the transparent, blue screen. It did not take long for Mercury's chagrin to deepen noticeably.
"Just as I thought," she said. "They're sending someone down to us who is much more powerful than the common soldier to stop us from helping the city."
"Let him come," Sailor Jupiter said eagerly.
"Yeah, let him try to put the eleven of us down himself!" Mars excitedly said.
"It's not a man," corrected Sailor Mercury, "and her power is somewhat familiar to me."
Puzzlement joined the chagrin on her face. Suddenly, her face went pale in the space of a heartbeat, and her blue eyes flew wide open in shock. The alarm spread over the others as they watched the emotions play on their companion's face.
"What is it?" asked Sailor Moon, deeply concerned. "What does that thing read her power level at?"
Sailor Mercury had to shake off her shock before she turned to meet her friends' worried faces. "It can't measure the power! According to my calculations, there is no upper limit on the power of this woman!"
The other scouts could hardly believe their ears. That was far superior a strength to any enemy they ever faced before! Not even Chaos was that powerful!
"That's not all," said Mercury, "it says her powers are exactly identical to mine! Only greatly multiplied!"
The scouts were silent for a minute as those words sank in.
"But...How can her powers be identical to yours?" Sailor Saturn asked. "Not even a twin sister could have the same exact powers as you do."
Sailor Moon and the scouts cast their eyes toward the hovering behemoth that was the bulk of the Battle Cruiser. So immense was it that the city had entered a premature twilight beneath the shadow of the hull.
"So... Just where IS this superfly?" asked Sailor Venus.
"Closer than you think, Sailor Senshi!" Suddenly a section of wall next to where they were standing shattered inward! Amidst the falling shards of crystal fell the limp, unconscious (or worse!) body of Tuxedo Mask!
"TUXEDO MASK!!" Sailor Moon cried. Everyone turned to see who the culprit was. Each one that laid eyes on her fell silent and still like deer caught in headlights!
"Merciful God!" Sailor Saturn whispered, also deeply affected by what she saw.
The woman landed on the broken floor of the chapel room. She was clad all in black, and had long blue hair and dark blue eyes! The right hand was made of some kind of metal, yet it was caked in blood! There were blood stains elsewhere on her skin as well! A symbol of Mercury was carved on her forehead!
"Her aura radiates pure evil! Like radiation! I feel like wilting before its power!"
Sailor Mars squirmed uncomfortably.
"It's... her!" Sailor Mercury stumbled backward. "It's... ME!!"
"Sh-she. l-looks j-j-just like Amy!" stuttered Sailor Venus.
"Amara!" Neptune gripped Uranus's hand for support. "Her face."
"Steady. It's some kind of trick! It has to be!" Uranus said, also looking pale and scared.
Obviously, the most severely affected of them was Sailor Mercury. She gaped at this image of herself as it stood before them, with a twisted grin. Amy felt tears well up in her eyes. Just what was going on?
"Well, well," said the newcomer. "I see I've made quite an impression on all of you."
Her voice, too, was identical to Amy's. "Are you all feeling sufficiently surprised? I had a feeling you would be." She turned to the flabbergasted Mercury. "It doesn't take a genius to guess that, does it AMY?"
"Y-y-you can't be real." Sailor Mercury stammered in shock. "You're j-just a Youma, or a Daimon, disguised as a future version of myself."
She tried to sound confident, but her voice betrayed her certainty that the woman who stood before them was most definitely herself.
"Oh, you can't really believe that, can you?" said the other. "I know your stupid little visor tells you otherwise. I know mine does!" with that she tapped her own black earring stud, and a visor just like the one Amy had, slid across her eyes.
"Enough of this," shouted Sailor Mars. "Who are you, really?"
"I am your worst nightmare, Raye, but you can call me DARK MERCURY!"
"I don't believe this," said Sailor Moon. "If you are Amy, then why are you on the side of evil? Amy would never join the Black Moon Family!"
"Black Moo-?!" Dark Mercury paused. "Oh... you mean THAT!" She pointed skyward and snickered derisively. "You really ARE stupid! I have nothing to do with that lifeless ball of rock or its sniveling inhabitants! I simply borrowed their technology! All that matters to me is not that you believe the truth, but that you all die by my hand!"
Dark Mercury raised her arm, and from it, a jet of blue-black energy shot forth from her fingertips and blasted Sailor Uranus in the chest.
Amara didn't even have the chance to scream as she flew backward through the air and didn't land until she hit the far wall hard enough to crack it, and slid to the floor on a bloody trail. Her shoulders and head slumped lifelessly.
"I suppose I should take her out first," said Dark Mercury, smiling evilly. "She's one of the most powerful out of you all. I guess she isn't any longer!" Dark Mercury cackled.
"AMARA!!" Neptune shrieked, with tears in her eyes. The Sailor Scouts wasted no time in counter-attacking. Sailor Mars went first: "Mars Celestial Fireballs Surround!"
With seemingly no effort at all, Dark Mercury deflected the rings of fire with her metal hand. She held up her hand, and in it, a single, gigantic blue-black fireball welled up. Cocking her arm back, she threw it right in the middle of the group of Senshi.
"Look out!" shouted Mina. The rest of the Senshi barely had time to dodge as the ball detonated in a huge explosion that took out the east wall of the sanctuary.
Mars tried again with her Flame Sniper attack, but Dark Mercury caught the arrow, laughing, and tossed it back ten times harder and faster.
Sailor Mars could not duck in time, and was hit squarely in the heart. She went down next to where Sailor Uranus had fallen.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!!" Sailor Saturn stepped forward. "Two Senshi have fallen this night! There will be no more death!"
"Only two?" Dark Mercury cocked her head curiously. "Oh! Did I forget to tell you? You might want to take a look for yourselves. Why do you think I brought Tuxedo Mask's carcass up here?!"
"No! She's lying! She must be bluffing!" Sailor Moon shook her head. "Alan. Ann. The Starlights!"
"She's not lying!" Sailor Neptune said in a sick voice. She was on her knees next to Sailor Uranus' corpse. Her green eyes were lifeless with grief. "If she could do this. If she could kill the likes of us so easily. then it's very possible she's already dispatched the others!"
"Finally one of you says something that makes sense!" Dark Mercury said. "That's right! They're dead, Sailor Moon! They're all dead! Alan, Ann, the Starlight Senshi, even the bratty Amazon Quartet! They were the first, but YOU'LL be the last!"
Sailor Moon started to cry. "Sailor Moon! Don't let her get to you!" Sailor Jupiter exclaimed.
"It's too late! As it stands right now, she has a huge psychological advantage over us!" Sailor Mercury spoke up at last. "As if her power wasn't enough of an obstacle to overcome! She's a genius!"
"Gee! Way to boost morale, Mercury!" said Venus sarcastically. "Well there are some who refuse to be daunted."
Dark Mercury announced, looking at Sailor Saturn. "I'd forgotten how much you've grown up, Hotaru! Do you intend to attack? Or do you just wave that Silence Glaive around for show?!"
"You forget I am also the Messiah of Silence, Dark Mercury!" said Saturn in a deadly voice. "I am the Senshi of DEATH!!"
Saturn struck. Dark Mercury concentrated and formed a sword of ice in her hands. In the nick of time she brought it up to block the razor sharp Silence Glaive.
"The Senshi of Death is about to meet her OWN demise!" Dark Mercury shot back.
Within seconds the two of them were swinging their weapons fiercely at each other. The amount of skill shown by both fighters was staggering to behold! Sparks flew from each blade as they met time and again! The ringing of steel against hard ice was almost painful to listen to! Inside the enclosed arena of the chapel, the rings echoed off the crystal.
"Something's terribly wrong here," said Neptune.
"No, really?!" Venus yelled. "Maybe it's the fact we're getting our butts kicked in here!"
"Don't be snide, Mina," said Lita, supporting Serena. She looked at Sailor Mercury. "Now would be a good time for a plan, rather than sarcasm. Amy? Have you any?"
"Only one," Neptune said, pulling out her aqua mirror. "We need to find a weakness fast!" She chanted: "Submarine Reflection!" and pointed the mirror at their nemesis. Her eyes widened in shock. "Impossible!"
"What do you see, Michelle?" asked Sailor Venus. "That little fight between Hotaru and Am-uh... Dark Mercury is deteriorating fast!"
Indeed it was, as Sailor Saturn was on the defense rather than the attack. Dark Mercury struck with vicious blows that staggered the stalwart Senshi from the ringed planet.
"Nothing!" replied Sailor Neptune in disbelief. "The mirror shows nothing whatsoever!"
"Which means what?" asked Venus in a panic.
"It means, Mina, Dark Mercury has no apparent weaknesses!!"
As if on cue, Dark Mercury struck a savage blow that knocked the Silence Glaive right out of Saturn's hand. Another impact with a high velocity blast of ice sent Hotaru the way of Raye and Amara!
Inside of just five minutes, three Senshi had fallen!
"NOOOOOO!" screamed Serena in anguish as another of her best friends were now nothing more than a memory. She ran over to Hotaru and knelt at her side, clutching her hand in grief. She didn't see Dark Mercury laugh evilly as she aimed another powerful blast straight at the Sailor Moon!
"Serena! Look out!" It was Sailor Jupiter who tossed a lightning blast at Dark Mercury. The blow knocked her flat onto her back, but there was no real outcry of pain, only surprise.
Sailor Neptune swooped in and carried the inconsolable Queen away from Hotaru's body.
"She was... Rini's best friend!" Serena sobbed. She turned to Dark Mercury: "That was my friend you heartless Bitch!!"
"I don't believe it!" Sailor Jupiter muttered, amazed. "I put all I had into that blast, but if she'd seen it coming, she'd probably barely have felt that!"
"Quiet, Lita!" commanded Neptune, a cold rage building in her heart. "Talk like that is not going to do any better!"
Dark Mercury stood up. She had already recovered from the thunderbolt and glared at the remaining Senshi. "You'll regret that, Sailor Trash!" she spat venomously.
"You know," said Venus. "No matter how powerful, no matter how much they think they're invincible, the bad guys always seem to stoop to name- calling."
"We need to think of something," said Sailor Jupiter. "Sailor Neptune said there were no weaknesses. I say that's bull! Everyone has a weakness somewhere."
"Exactly," said a hollow voice behind them. "And she knows ours better than we do hers."
The girls turned to look at Sailor Mercury.
"Go on!" Neptune encouraged her.
Amy took a deep breath. "If she is really me from the future, then we have to realize that she is just as intelligent. She's probably planned for every last contingency, and she's probably made herself familiar with all our weaknesses and faults. Just look at the fact that she took out Sailor Saturn and Uranus first! She's disabling our strongest members first! She's whittling us down to nothing!"
"Well we're not finished yet!" Jupiter spat. "It looks like Sailor Moon is our only hope once again!"
"Me?!" Sailor Moon cried.
"Who else?" Neptune put a hand on her shoulder. "It was YOU who took down Pharaoh 90 and Chaos."
"Not to mention royally kicking Queen Beryl's and Doom Phantom's butts!" Venus cheered.
Sailor Moon looked down, as if thinking of a plan. "We're going about this all wrong," she said at last. "Attacking her one at a time isn't working! What we need is some Senshi Power! I think the only way to defeat her is to combine our powers!"
"That's the ticket!" replied Sailor Jupiter. "All our powers in a combined, concentrated effort!"
"Are you up to this? Amy? Michelle?"
Amy nodded sadly, still dwelling on the future. Michelle however, recovered quickly. She nodded with much determination in her eyes.
An explosion caught their attention! Another section of the wall blew out with the force of the blast. Everyone looked at Dark Mercury hatefully.
"This is it," said Sailor Jupiter. "Looks like we're up to bat."
"Time Out's over!" said Dark Mercury. "Are you all ready to die now?!"
"I am ready, Dark Mercury!" said Sailor Moon, dropping to the floor, with the rest of her friends behind her. "Ready to kick your ASS!! You've killed my best friends, you've ruined my wedding, and you've destroyed my city! You know who I am, already! You know what I'm capable of! So I ask you this, foul creature of darkness! Are you ready to be punished on behalf of the Moon?!"
"Hah," laughed Dark Mercury. "If you wish to die so soon... Let's get it on!"
As planned, the other Senshi took off and encircled the evil Senshi.
Amy, Mina, Lita, and Michelle, along with Serena, powered up for the biggest blasts they could possibly discharge.
"Mercury Power!"
"Venus Power!"
"Jupiter Power!"
"Neptune Power!"
"Moon Eternal Power!"
"SCOUT POWER!"
And just like that, they let loose all at once! Five angry Senshi, once a proud nine, they knew that this day might well be their last, but they also knew they would rather die than stand by and watch this madwoman take Tokyo and enslave the Earth.
Dark Mercury finally screamed in pain as she was unable to block all the attacks. She soon disappeared in the growing cloud of smoke and ash, but the Senshi poured it on even harder. They didn't let up until they could no longer sustain their attacks.
"I can't keep it up," said Sailor Venus.
"Me neither," said Sailor Mercury. "I'm spent!"
"Ok," agreed Sailor Neptune, lowering her hands. "That's enough."
"Right," said Sailor Jupiter. "That HAD to have killed her. Nothing could survive that amount of energy!"
"We did it!" cried Sailor Moon. "We beat her!"
The other Senshi relaxed their guards, thinking the same thing. All except Sailor Mercury, who switched on her visor again. She read an energy spike still at the center of the cloud of dust.
"My God!" she cried.
"What?" asked Sailor Jupiter.
"SHE'S STILL ALIVE!"
At that, Dark Mercury emerged from the smoke, and, after powering up fully, released a blast that rivaled an atomic explosion! The blast swept away everything that wasn't alive, and blew out the rest of the chapel walls! The explosion shattered Amy's visor, and blew the dead over the edge, to tumble to the ground far below!
Sailor Moon was nearly carried over the edge with them! She stopped only inches from the precipice! Sailor Moon looked over her right shoulder and saw the drop. Scrambling, she dragged herself back to safety.
The other Senshi held on too, but had nothing left in them to even move.
Dark Mercury laughed as she pounded the half-dead scouts. She broke bones and beat their bodies until there was no more life in them. She beat to death Neptune, Jupiter, Venus, until there was no one left but Amy.
She grabbed the Senshi from Mercury by the hair and held her head in a headlock.
"Oh, look! How ironic, my own past self is about to die!" She held Mercury up in front of her. "The future is mine, Serena!" Dark Mercury shouted at Sailor Moon. "My victory here ensures that. And where is your precious Sailor Pluto? For even she is powerless to stop me!"
Sailor Moon turned around to look at her husband's slayer. Rage burned in her eyes.
"You hate me, Serena? Good! Now you know what I feel! The hatred you feel for me pales in comparison to the loathing I have for you! Letting you watch your friends die before your eyes is the only suitable revenge!"
"Why?!" she asked, getting to her feet. "Why could you hate me so much?!"
"You ruined my life!" Dark Mercury raged, finally losing her cool. "You took away my only reason for living! The one light in my life! As long as you were married to him, I had no chance of happiness!"
Serena's blood drained from her face. "You mean... Darien?!"
"You finally begin to see the picture," said Dark Mercury. "Now you will witness only death!" At the word 'death', Dark Mercury wrenched Amy's head violently sideways. A wet snap could clearly be heard. The sound of Sailor Mercury's neck breaking! The struggling Mercury went still.
And then there was only Sailor Moon!
Dark Mercury just stared at Sailor Mercury. All pretenses of enjoyment were gone from her face. There was no more sneering, no more insane laughter, only rage that was palpable enough to feel in the very air.
Sailor Moon stared back, with the same vengeful stare. "At last," said Dark Mercury quietly, "you know what it is to hate someone! You should thank me, for now you are finally all grown up."
"My hatred," Sailor Moon replied, "dies with YOU!"
Sailor Moon attacked with everything she had left. She decided she wasn't going down without a fight. With cold fury, she leapt into action and brought out her Silver Moon Wand and unleashed the Lunar energy that had killed so many enemies before. Dark Mercury was not expecting such a powerful burst of energy. She raised her arms to ward off the blow, but it connected with staggering power!
When the blast cloud cleared away, she still stood, but was slightly wobbly on her feet and more burns had appeared on her left arm, which had absorbed most of the punishment. Her clothes were even more tattered than before, barely covering her at all.
"Whew," she said to herself. "That was too close!"
Serena lashed out again. Her power level was nearly spent, but she used what she had left to reinforce her strength and speed. She fought like a true Senshi, raining blow after blow on the off balance enemy. She moved ten times faster and harder than the deadliest black-belt master in the world, but still, Dark Mercury feverishly blocked her attacks. She was still far too powerful, even after all the scouts could dish out had been spent on her.
For minutes on end, the two fought in an outstanding display of superhuman reflexes and skills.
But in the end, Dark Mercury's higher power outlasted an increasingly exhausted Sailor Moon. Soon, Serena's reflexes and power faded below the critical level.
Dark Mercury went on the offensive, demolishing Serena's defenses with earth-shattering blows. Serena's strength ebbed further and further. The battle ended as Dark Mercury let loose with an ice storm that would have blown an entire city over!
Sailor Moon crashed to the floor all but motionless. She had given everything she'd had and then some, she knew the end was upon her.
Dark Mercury was again all swagger as she stood over the bruised, broken and bleeding Senshi.
"I'm tired of this game, Princess," she said. "Let's end this right now."
As she powered up for one final blast, Serena's body was suddenly bathed in a brilliant flash of light. In a heartbeat, she vanished into thin air. Suddenly confused, Dark Mercury scanned the vicinity with her own visor. The computer was reading a small concentration of Chronal energy where Sailor Moon had been just seconds ago.
"WHAT?!" shrieked Dark Mercury, "THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE! NEO-QUEEN SERENITY DOESN'T HAVE TIME TRAVEL CAPABILITIES!"
She stood for a moment, raging, before a dark suspicion entered her thoughts. "I should have destroyed her!" she hissed, recalling her conversation with Zinc earlier. "It's Sailor Pluto! It has to be her! I'll make sure she regrets ever crossing me!" With that she pressed a control on her gauntlet, and teleported back to the ship.
And Crystal Tokyo continued to burn...
Sunday, July 29th, 2945 AD.
The morning of the big day dawned bright and clear, with temperatures in the mid-seventies and just a smattering of small clouds in the air. The sun reflected off the walls of Crystal Tokyo like a mirror. On this day the palace was hung with buntings, ribbons, bouquets, streamers and pennons of all the colors imaginable! The city, normally busy at around 9am, was bustling much earlier on this day, as people ran this way and that in anticipation of the biggest celebration of the Century.
For years the entire world had held its breath and counted down the days to this date. Today was the day that all of human civilization had been yearning toward for all of its history. The holy union between Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion that would, for once and for all, solidify peace not only on Earth, but throughout the Solar System! Today was a day for everyone to celebrate.
Shortly before noon the royal entourages began to arrive. Neo-Queen Raye Hino of Mars was the first to land her Starship in the Tokyo Spaceport's Landing Grid. She came with her consort, Prince Chad Yuuichirou, and various nobles of her court.
Next came Neo-Queen Lita Kino of Jupiter. She and her husband Charles Yuriko emerged from the ship along with their four-year-old daughter Makoto.
Neo-Queen Mina Aino of Venus, still single after all these years, nevertheless arrived with a flourish. As beautiful as she was, she was a target for lots of lonely young men in the Galaxy. It was widely rumored that the Queen kept herself single for just that reason.
Arriving in their shiny, silver-burnished Starship came the joint rulers of the Urano-Neptunian Confederation: Neo-Queen Michelle Kaioh and her (husband?) Neo-Queen Amara Ten'ou. As always the women went wild over the Uranian Queen. Gender just didn't seem to matter where Amara was concerned.
Neo-Queen Hotaru Tomoe came alone as well. She was the sort of person who drew a hushed silence with her. Clad all in black, she bore her slightly gothic demeanor like a shroud of mystery. When she arrived at the Crystal Palace, cameras caught on tape the first ever public display of Queen Hotaru's rare smile.
At first when Neo-Queen Amy Mizuno's ship did not arrive on time, there was some amount of trepidation. But after much questioning and verification it was discovered that the Queen of Mercury had been in Crystal Tokyo since late last night. Her Starship was already parked in its personal hangar. As the maid of honor for Queen Serenity's wedding, Amy had come the night before to offer support and help put together the final loose ends before the wedding took place.
Unbeknownst to the general public, who watched the pre-wedding ceremonies and preparations via television and the Galactic Net, inside the Palace was a frantic scuffle to have everything in place in time. As the final hours before the opening of the Palace doors and the commencement of the ceremony ticked down to zero, servants, maids, security guards, officials, and dignitaries rushed around trying to make everything as perfect as possible at the Queen's behest.
Finally, in the final hour before the wedding, the special guests arrived from out-of-system. First came a gleaming Starship from the Kinmoku Federation. Out stepped the stunning Princess Kakyuu of Alpha Senshi, along with her three Royal Guardian Senshi: Sailor Starfighter; Sailor Starhealer; and Sailor Starmaker. Then there was an exotic ship landing that no one had ever seen before. It looked like it was made from the trunk of some tree, and even had leaves jutting out of several areas. What the ship ran on, no one could even guess. When two perfectly normal humans came out of the hull, everyone shrugged and waved it off as simply the next step in ship-building technology, as odd as it was. No one knew who these two were, but one did not question the Neo-Queen's choices for guests of honor.
Perhaps the most dramatic entrance was made by King Helios. He flew in as a majestic white Unicorn with wings, and transformed into his human form right before everyone's eyes. The crowd went wild. Accompanying him were the four Amazon Senshi who protected his realm: Sailor Pallas, Sailor Ceres, Sailor Juno, and Sailor Vesta. Countless other celebrities and Nobles from across the Galaxy arrived on the red carpet, and the entrance to the Crystal Palace began to resemble the Academy Awards.
* * * *
"Put it over there. Carefully now!" Queen Amy directed the placement of the large, multi-layered wedding cake in the reception room. The two hapless servants carrying the heavy cake grunted as they carried the tray and placed it gently onto the center of the huge rectangular banquet table.
"It's crazy out there!" Mina was looking out the window. "I should have stayed downstairs to sign autographs! Look at those Sailor Starlights stealing the spotlight!"
"Relax, Mina. You'll always be the Idol Queen in their eyes," said Lita.
"So where IS that meatball brain!" Raye asked Amy irritably. "Hasn't she finished changing YET?!"
"Come to think of it, I should check on her," Amy fretted. "It's only a few minutes until the guests take their seats!" The Queen of Mercury bolted out the door, her blue dress hiked up so she wouldn't trip on the hem of the skirt.
"The more things change, the more they stay the same," said Michelle sweetly to Amara.
"True. Amy is still quite the organizer," said Amara in agreement.
"Are you ready to be the Priest, Raye? Got all your papers together?" Mina nudged Raye.
"Yup! Got 'em right here!" Raye took out a humongous, hard-cover bible and slammed it on the table. The legs of the table nearly buckled under the weight.
"Whoa!" Lita exclaimed. "You could kill somebody with that!"
"It was the only one I could find in Kanji," Raye sweat-dropped and laughed.
"Yeeee!!" Ann ran around the corner excitedly in her human form. "I'm so excited! They've started letting the crowds in! Where's Serena and Darien?!"
"Hey, Ann, where's Alan?" Lita waved.
"Right here!" Ann pulled Alan, dressed in a gray tuxedo, around the corner. Alan looked distinctly uncomfortable, and tugged at his collar as if it were strangling him.
"Alan, dear, you look like YOU'RE the one getting married, relax!" Ann scolded him.
"I'm not used to this getup," Alan confessed sheepishly. "But it's what everyone else is wearing. I think if people suspected what we really were, they'd kinda freak."
"Well your ship is certainly... unique," Mina pointed out. "You might have introduced the new wave in ship designs with that tree house of yours."
All of a sudden King Endymion walked in, dressed in a black tuxedo with his royal cowl draped over his shoulders and the crown of Earth on his forehead. He looked as dashing as ever, and the girls flocked around him excitedly. Chad walked over to Alan and put a hand on his shoulder. "Come on, dude," he said coolly. "This is when all the girls like to drool over the King. Why don't you come over and have a drink with me and Charles?"
"Uh, sure," Alan agreed.
* * * *
"Serena," Amy called. "Are you still in here? I swear, the wedding will go on without you if you don't hurry up!"
"Coming, Amy," Serena said, as she dashed from the bedroom.
Amy looked Serena up and down critically. "Oh, Serena," she gasped in wonder. "You look so beautiful in that dress!" Amy's face became serious again, though. "But you really need to learn to dress faster. Darien is already at the altar, and you don't want to keep the handsome Prince waiting so long he decides to marry someone else."
Serena smiled at her friend's humor. "If I was younger, I would have panicked when you said that."
"Yes," Amy agreed. "You have matured much since your younger days, even though we all thought you hopeless sometimes."
"It's incredible, isn't Ames?" asked Serena, putting the finishing touches on her make-up. "Time really does fly. I mean a thousand years seems like only yesterday."
"Well we DID spend much of that time in slumber, but I know exactly what you mean," Amy agreed. "So you and Darien are finally getting married." her tone was oddly wistful. "And who knows what comes next. Rini perhaps?"
"Yes, if memory serves," said Serena. "I can't wait to see her again."
"Me neither," Amy turned away. "Well... shall we go then?"
Serena giggled with joy and embraced her friend. Tears came to both of their eyes. "I can't believe this is really happening!"
"Whatever the future brings, we'll be friends forever, right Serena?" asked Amy.
"Of course, yes!"
"Alright, that's enough out of you two!" said a voice from the doorway. They both turned to see Raye standing there with her arms folded, leaning on the doorframe.
"You're marrying Darien, not Amy, remember?"
"Come on, guys! The organ has started playing!" said Lita with barely contained excitement. "The guests of honor are all seated and Darien is standing up there with Helios looking dumb! Are you gonna ditch him at the altar after all these years?"
"Alright! Alright! I'm coming!" Serena snapped playfully. There was a short scuffle in the chamber, while the scouts got into positions. Then, the doors opened wide, and Serena, escorted by her closest friends and confidants, slowly made her way toward the altar.
Darien, as predicted, stood at the altar already. His best man, Helios, was dressed all in white, with that familiar golden horn jutting from just above his brow. He too, looked dashing. Darien fidgeted just noticeably. Like most grooms, he was dreadfully nervous, though he did his best to hide it since the eyes of the world, via satellite uplink to all the news cameras around the sanctuary, were on him today.
Serena moved in time to the music, with Ami holding her train. Serena had complained of the high heels she had to wear with the dress. During rehearsals, she had fallen repeatedly on her face, causing much embarrassment to all involved. Today, they crossed their fingers, praying that nothing would go wrong.
Mina preceded the whole party, sprinkling flower petals on the aisle floor from a basket she held. Lita went next, bearing the rings on a red satin pillow. Finally, came Serena, dressed in her bridal best, looking more beautiful than Darien had ever known she could look. Serena looked as regal as excitement allowed, but even so, the procession to the altar seemed to take forever, as she was impatient to get the whole thing under way.
Hotaru, Amara, and Michelle, all excited, snuck in from behind and found their seats in the pews. Raye entered from the right, carrying her oversized bible in her arms. She reached the altar at the same time Serena did, dropping the huge book on the platform with a thud. The music cut off sharply as it did, creating the effect that the organist had been shot with a cannon!
Saiya laughed out loud in the audience as this thought crossed her mind, and the rest of the congregation, including the wedding party, glared at her. Taiki Yaten, and Kakyuu simply turned red and rolled their eyes.
Raye flipped open the cover and began to thumb her way to the marked page detailing the wedding process. When she got to the chosen passage she cleared her throat and took the time to look over everyone before getting down to business.
"Dearly beloved," she began in a regal voice. "We are gathered here today to join these two people: Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion in the bonds of holy matrimony..."
****
Milady," said Commander Lucius Zinc of the fifteenth Black Moon Fleet and Flag Officer of the Battleship: Gorgonite. "The fleet is poised to strike. The Chronometer is set at July 29th, 2945. We await your command."
The woman he was addressing stirred. Her dark blue eyes fixed on the Commander.
"Serena's wedding day. How I've waited for this moment! There will be lots of guests there. Many of them are powerful. I'm going to need total concentration in this attack! I want every one of my battleships in the skies over Earth, causing as much chaos as possible!"
"My men and women are prepared to die for you, milady," said Zinc coldly. "Your planning is most excellent. So long as we follow it to the letter there is no way you can lose!"
The woman folded her hands together. "There IS a way." she foreboded. "Sailor Pluto. Where is she?"
"Still trapped outside the Time Stream," Zinc replied. "We have a cloaked tracker tailing her every move. Theoretically she can't escape anyway, but if she does we will know right away."
She extended her right hand. What was once her right arm was partially replaced with a cybernetic appendage. There were numerous small buttons upon it, and the fingers were sharpened into claws. She flexed it menacingly.
"I'll hold you to that, Commander. You know I will."
Zinc bowed. "Very well. If Pluto involves herself against all odds then I deserve to die." He straightened up. "Now, about the attack?"
"Wait for my signal," said his leader. "I want to make my appearance at just the right moment."
****
As the two lovers placed the rings on each other's fingers, Raye continued on. "Do you, Neo-Queen Serenity, take this man, King Endymion to be your lawfully wedded Husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, through the best and the worst, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," said Serena, gazing unblinkingly at her true love.
"Do you, King Endymion, take this woman, Neo-Queen Serenity to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, through the best and the worst, for as long as you both shall live?"
Darien smiled broadly for the first time that afternoon as he replied: "I do."
Raye beamed, as if there was any doubt as to the outcome of the ceremony. "Then," she conluded, "by the power invested in me, and by the grace of God Himself, I now pronounce you man and wife! You may kiss the bride, King Endymion."
Normally, in these situations, the husband must lift the veil to kiss the bride. In this case, however, it wasn't Darien who lifted the veil. His overexcited bride did the job for him, taking the flustered husband completely by surprise, with a leap into his arms and a kiss. Several chuckles fluttered through the audience and the ranks of the Sailor Senshi. When they disengaged, the whole audience stood on its feet and cheered.
****
"Commander Zinc!" came the voice over the bridge of the Gorgonite.
"Yes, milady!" Zinc replied.
"Commence the attack!" came the order. With a click the line went dead.
****
The audience had not entirely quieted down yet, when the sunlight spilling into the sanctuary through the crystalline walls suddenly increased tenfold!
A huge booming noise terrified the crowd and shook the foundations of Crystal Tokyo! Then, just as suddenly, all went dark!
"What was that?!" was the question on everyone's lips, the wedding party included.
Another boom shook the chapel, and cracks began to show on the crystal walls.
Everyone ran to the transparent walls to see what was going on. Serena, Darien, and the others looked out to see a shocking sight!
Outside, the city was under attack by a gigantic vessel that cast a shadow over the city below. It hovered directly over the Crystal Palace and filled the sky with its bulk. Like a swarm of Mosquitos, thousands of fighters spewed from the hangar bays and began to fire upon the unsuspecting city. The whole palace rocked as the gigantic cannons of the attacking Starship fired upon it! The blasts hit with such concussive force that even the diamond-hard crystal walls of the palace started to show cracks! It felt like an earthquake!
"Raise the shields!" shouted King Endymion. "Get them up before this place falls down around our ears!"
Down in the basement of the Palace, security forces scrambled about madly, trying to figure out what was going on. From what they saw on the monitors a massive Battle Cruiser had materialized out of nowhere over the Palace and now was attacking the entire city of Crystal Tokyo! And that wasn't all. Reports were coming from all across the globe. Other ships had appeared over other major cities and were now in the process of destroying them! The order came down from above.
"Raise the shields! By order of the King!"
One Captain took the initiative. He ran over to the power generator and yanked the lever with all his might. Electrical sparks came to life and danced around the generator as every circuit was thrown wide open! With a giant, droning hum the Palace Deflector Shield sprang up and surrounded the giant crystal structure! For now at least the palace was safe! For everyone in the wedding chapel, this attack caught them completely flat-footed. Who could be attacking them? Who?!
From down below there came the sounds of screaming. Everyone looked down and saw a stampede of onlookers spilling from the bottom levels of the palace and trying to escape the destruction. The innocent bystanders who had shown up to join in the celebration were now scattering in utter terror!
"Serena! A lot of people are going to die unless we do something about that stampede!" Darien bellowed.
"We NEED to do something about that ship!" said Amara.
"What do we do, Neo-Queen Serenity?" asked Sailor Starfighter. "We're at your disposal."
Serena shook her head as if waking up from a long sleep. Shock and betrayal was etched on her face. She looked at all her friends. They were all waiting for her to say something!
"Thank you guys," she said to them. "First things first! We have two problems. that ship, and those terrified civilians! Anyone who is a Sailor Senshi should transform now!"
"No need to tell us twice," said the Starlights, taking out their pens.
Amara, Michelle and Hotaru all had theirs on them as well. Though it had been many, many years since they needed them, it appeared that certain habits died hard. Serena was glad they had the sense to come prepared for anything.
"To tell the truth, I was more worried about terrorists!" said Sailor Ceres. The Amazons had their pens as well.
Alan and Ann had shed their human disguises and stood revealed in their Alien forms.
"Serena! Our pens! They're in your room!" said Lita.
"Right, I know!" Serena said. She turned to her new husband. "Darien! I want you to take Alan, Ann, the Starlights and the Amazons with you to help get that crowd under control! Get them inside the palace, they'll be safer here than anyplace else! Also, alert the System Defense Fleet! Get me Captain Prower!!"
They split up after that. The eight original Senshi ran back to Serena's bedchamber. The rest went with Darien, who by now had changed into Tuxedo Mask.
"I suppose we're the lucky ones to have to fight that ship?" Raye asked.
"This is very strange, VERY!" Amy said, her small computer already in hand. "I'm getting some disturbingly familiar readings from that ship up there! My computer says it's a Black Moon Model!"
"That's impossible! It's too soon for them!" Mina retorted. "Prince Diamond hasn't even been born yet!"
They burst through the doors to the Queen's bedroom and began scouring the place for the pens.
"Now, where did I put those pens?!" Serena fretted, rifling through her closet.
"Oh, just great! What a time to flake out, Serena! Right when we're needed the most!" Raye snapped.
"You better remember where they were in the next ten seconds or I'll jog that stupid memory of yours for you!"
"Stop yelling! STOP YELLING!! I'M TRYING TO THINK!!" Serena shouted back.
"For Heaven's sake, Serena, you put them under your bed!!"
"Oh, thank you, Luna!" Serena paused and looked up. "LUNA!!"
The black cat jumped down to the floor and glowered at Serena. " 'Hold the fort back up at the Moon', she says," said Luna disgustedly. "Honestly, Serena what would you do without me?!"
"Did Artemis come with you?" Mina asked as Michelle dug under the bed.
"No, one of us had to stay," Luna replied. She turned back to Serena. "I was going to surprise you at the reception with a speech, but it looks like plans for this evening have been postponed until further notice."
"You can say that again!" Amara came up with the metal briefcase and threw it on the bed. She flipped the locks open and opened the case. Five gleaming pens sat in the red satiny interior.
"I never expected to have to use these things again so soon," said Lita as she picked up the green one.
"It does sort of bring back memories, doesn't it?" asked Raye, choosing the bright red one. "Well then, shall we?"
"Moon Eternal Power!" Serena lifted up her locket above her head.
"Mercury Planet Power!" Amy joined in.
"Mars Planet Power!" Raye shouted.
"Jupiter Planet Power!"
"Venus Planet Power!"
"MAKE UP!!" they all shouted in unison.
Rainbow light flooded the room as their wedding dresses vanished, to be replaced by their Senshi Uniforms! Eight Sailor Senshi stood ready for action.
"Sweet!" said Chad, watching from the doorway with Charles and Helios.
"You three! Get Princess Kakyuu and Helios down to the basement!" Sailor Moon shouted at them.
"Yes, ma'am!" Charles saluted.
"I shall expedite that process," Helios said, transforming into Pegasus. "Princess, if you will please get upon my back."
Kakyuu blinked and climbed gingerly up on him. "Do not worry. I won't drop you." Helios neighed and charged down the hallway with blinding speed.
"Hey! Wait for us!" Chad and Charles ran behind, waving their arms.
****
Crystal Tokyo was not completely devoid of protection. Though taken by surprise the Crystal Tokyo Defense Force was always ready to scramble. Pilots ran to their fighters and slid into their cockpits.
Within ten minutes after the initial shot was fired by the enemy, the first fighters were taking off and making a beeline for the battle zone. Already Tokyo was in flames! The fighters scoured the skyline with raking laser fire. Ground weaponry fired back, but in futility. Anti-aircraft fire splashed harmlessly off the deflector shields of the small fighters. From the Bay Area, Battleships fired shells and rockets at the mother ship, but they too detonated short of the hull.
When the enemy struck back, they struck back hard! More hangars opened up in the side of the Gorgonite and spilled forth a far deadlier enemy! Daemons, Oni, Droids, and other monsters came out to deal out their own brand of destruction and mayhem! With brutal efficiency they savagely struck back at defense fighters and ships.
"This doesn't look good!" said Sailor Vesta. "Conventional forces are having no effect on the enemy ships, and now they're releasing monsters!"
"That's a Black Moon vessel! No doubt about it!" said Tuxedo Mask. "The design is a dead-ringer for it! But what are they doing here?! This doesn't make any sense!"
"Incoming!" Sailor Ceres cried. All of a sudden a Dragon-like creature broke off from the main group and began to swoop down toward the frightened civilians trying to file inside the palace. It opened its mouth, ready to spew fire at them.
"I got this one!" Alan shouted. He jumped into the sky and powered up for a blast.
The blast caught the Dragonite right in the torso and sent it reeling to the ground. Getting to its feet, it roared in rage at Alan.
"Oh, no you don't!!" Sailor Starfighter shouted at it. "Star Serious Laser!" With a loud bang, the Dragonite exploded entirely!
"Good work, guys! Keep your eyes peeled, we're almost finished here!" Tuxedo Mask shouted.
****
"Resistance has already begun, milady," said Zinc into the communicator. "The main group hasn't emerged yet, but already there is some action with the secondary targets. Also, the Gorgonite's sensors are finding numerous Senshi ID signatures coming from deep inside the palace."
"That's them!" said his leader. "Utilize our resources to destroying Tokyo! I'LL take care of the those that can fight back!"
"It shall be as you say, milady," Zinc complied. "Good hunting."
****
"Trista! Trista are you there?!" Sailor Pluto pretended as if she heard nothing. She didn't even so much as raise her pulse one iota. But she did respond mentally.
"Charon is that you?"
"Oh, thank God I found you, Trista! Are you alright? I thought she killed you!"
"She very nearly did. She's extremely powerful!" Pluto thought quickly. "Listen, Charon. You're my only hope now! The Sailor Senshi cannot possibly defeat her! She's far too powerful and intelligent! I need you to find a way to prevent Neo-Queen Serenity's death at all costs!"
"What about you?" Charon's voice was earnest. "You can easily get out of there, can't you?"
"I'm... being monitored just now," Pluto said. "I'll get out of here once I think of a way to fool the tracker that's watching me. If I get out of here now, SHE will know right away and our plan will be severely jeopardized! You worry about Sailor Moon! Don't worry, I can take care of myself!"
"As you wish," Charon's mental presence faded away from Pluto's consciousness.
Pluto opened her eyes and turned toward where she knew that cloaked tracker was hovering. "That's right, you spiteful creature! I'm still here! I'm not going anywhere... for now!"
****
The Senshi arrived at the scene of the initial attack, the chapel area at the top of the Crystal Palace, in order to get their bearings.
The three Outer Senshi flew up to fight the Youmas and ships that swarmed overhead. The other scouts called upon their powers and began doing something that Thirtieth Century technology could not do: penetrate the shields of the fighters and Youmas to destroy them.
In seconds, a fierce battle opened up over the highest structure in the world.
Explosions, screams of pain, and beams of energy flew across the sky. One by one, the Youmas and fighters fell to the magical powers of the Sailor Scouts, and down on the street level, those who had not been drained of their energy went up in a cheer as their champions began to turn the tide against overwhelming odds.
Tuxedo Mask, meanwhile, had reached the shelter in the basement of Crystal Tokyo. He coolly ushered the last of the civilians inside. he thought triumphantly.
"Tuxedo Hunkster! You better get out here! Now!"
That was Saiya's voice on his communicator. It didn't sound happy.
"I'll be right there," Darien replied, taking off at a dead run.
****
"Looks like our friends up top are finally in action," said Alan.
"Well it's about time!" Sailor Vesta piped in.
"If we're done down here, what say we join them?" Ann suggested.
"You won't be joining anyone, old friend!" said a voice behind them.
Everyone turned and laid eyes on the newcomer.
"Who the Hell are you?!" Sailor Starhealer demanded.
Standing before them, with her hands on her hips and a sneer on her face, was a woman. Obviously, however, she was no ordinary woman. She was clad all in black. Her torso was wrapped in a swimsuit-style leotard with a deep collar. Her boots reached to mid-thigh, and what wasn't covered by the leather boots was draped in fishnet stockings. A heavy black cape hung from a set of shoulder pads and just barely touched the ground at her feet. Her left arm was normal, clad only in a black glove that came to her elbow. But the right arm was almost terrifying to look at! The whole right arm was cybernetically enhanced from the elbow down! The hand was fashioned like a huge metal claw, and multi-colored buttons and switches dotted the forearm area!
Perhaps most frighteningly disturbing about this woman was that she looked familiar in some strange way! Her blue hair was long, hanging to her shoulders. Just beneath her bangs could be seen a symbol of Planet Mercury, literally carved with a knife in the flesh of her forehead! Her dark blue eyes held no sympathy or remorse. They were the eyes of a cold-blooded killer, and they speared the nine superheroes with the intensity of blue flame! Around her, the air seemed to turn frigid cold!
"What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost," she taunted them.
"Alan." Ann moved closer to her mate fearfully. "Who is she?"
"Why don't you ask me directly?!" the villain replied. "I am Dark Mercury! And I am DEATH!!"
She turned and saw Sailor Starfighter talking into her communicator. With a smirk, she raised to her left hand and pointed with two fingers. Suddenly Saiya's watch sparked and a puff of smoke rose from its face.
"Uh-uh-ah!" Dark Mercury wagged her finger at Starfighter. "I can't have anyone here telling the rest of the gang about me just yet! I want them to be just as surprised as I know you'll be!"
"Reveal yourself, Demon!" Alan shouted. "What are you after attacking Crystal Tokyo this way?!"
"I have a score to settle." Dark Mercury replied coldly. "A debt that runs a thousand years deep! It's too bad you of all people decided to stand in my way, Alan and Ann! I had no quarrel with you!"
"H-how. did you know our names!?" Alan shuddered. "Do we know you?!"
Just then, Tuxedo Mask emerged from the basement and saw Dark Mercury for the first time. "Holy, Jesus!" he exclaimed. "Amy?!"
"Ah-HA!!" Dark Mercury leapt into the air and dove straight at Tuxedo Mask. "ONE OF YOU RECOGNIZES ME AT LEAST!!"
****
For fifteen minutes the battle raged on.
The Senshi kept defeating the Youmas, one by one, but more always seemed to come and take their place. It was exhausting work, and the Senshi could have easily wound up being overwhelmed by sheer numbers, but the enemy was too smart to waste all her resources on just the Sailor Scouts.
Without warning, the immediate area was cleared of all opponents! The sudden retreat of the enemy caused a certain amount of confusion in the Sailor Senshi ranks. The Outers wanted to pursue them, and it took physical restraint to rein in the fired up Sailor Uranus. They all gathered on the rooftop of the palace to discuss the change in strategy.
"I knew this would happen," said Sailor Mercury, sweating from her exertions. "Whoever is running this assault is no fool. He or she has turned the forces toward an easier target, saving the heavily defended palace for last."
"Well we won't let that happen," said Sailor Uranus in a confident tone. "They're not rid of us that easily. We can fly, so we'll just take the fight to them."
"Right!" everyone agreed. Everyone, that is, except Sailor Mercury, who had a deeply troubled expression on her face.
"Guys," she insisted. "I'll bet we have bigger fish to fry! Those fighters retreated for a reason!"
"For what purpose?" asked Sailor Saturn.
Sailor Neptune suddenly got the picture. "That's it! I see your point, Amy."
"What point is that?" Sailor Moon scratched her head.
Michelle turned toward her: "Minnows always flee before the shark arrives."
Sailor Moon was still processing that, when Sailor Mercury activated her Computer Visor with a touch to her blue earring stud. Blips and symbols flashed across the transparent, blue screen. It did not take long for Mercury's chagrin to deepen noticeably.
"Just as I thought," she said. "They're sending someone down to us who is much more powerful than the common soldier to stop us from helping the city."
"Let him come," Sailor Jupiter said eagerly.
"Yeah, let him try to put the eleven of us down himself!" Mars excitedly said.
"It's not a man," corrected Sailor Mercury, "and her power is somewhat familiar to me."
Puzzlement joined the chagrin on her face. Suddenly, her face went pale in the space of a heartbeat, and her blue eyes flew wide open in shock. The alarm spread over the others as they watched the emotions play on their companion's face.
"What is it?" asked Sailor Moon, deeply concerned. "What does that thing read her power level at?"
Sailor Mercury had to shake off her shock before she turned to meet her friends' worried faces. "It can't measure the power! According to my calculations, there is no upper limit on the power of this woman!"
The other scouts could hardly believe their ears. That was far superior a strength to any enemy they ever faced before! Not even Chaos was that powerful!
"That's not all," said Mercury, "it says her powers are exactly identical to mine! Only greatly multiplied!"
The scouts were silent for a minute as those words sank in.
"But...How can her powers be identical to yours?" Sailor Saturn asked. "Not even a twin sister could have the same exact powers as you do."
Sailor Moon and the scouts cast their eyes toward the hovering behemoth that was the bulk of the Battle Cruiser. So immense was it that the city had entered a premature twilight beneath the shadow of the hull.
"So... Just where IS this superfly?" asked Sailor Venus.
"Closer than you think, Sailor Senshi!" Suddenly a section of wall next to where they were standing shattered inward! Amidst the falling shards of crystal fell the limp, unconscious (or worse!) body of Tuxedo Mask!
"TUXEDO MASK!!" Sailor Moon cried. Everyone turned to see who the culprit was. Each one that laid eyes on her fell silent and still like deer caught in headlights!
"Merciful God!" Sailor Saturn whispered, also deeply affected by what she saw.
The woman landed on the broken floor of the chapel room. She was clad all in black, and had long blue hair and dark blue eyes! The right hand was made of some kind of metal, yet it was caked in blood! There were blood stains elsewhere on her skin as well! A symbol of Mercury was carved on her forehead!
"Her aura radiates pure evil! Like radiation! I feel like wilting before its power!"
Sailor Mars squirmed uncomfortably.
"It's... her!" Sailor Mercury stumbled backward. "It's... ME!!"
"Sh-she. l-looks j-j-just like Amy!" stuttered Sailor Venus.
"Amara!" Neptune gripped Uranus's hand for support. "Her face."
"Steady. It's some kind of trick! It has to be!" Uranus said, also looking pale and scared.
Obviously, the most severely affected of them was Sailor Mercury. She gaped at this image of herself as it stood before them, with a twisted grin. Amy felt tears well up in her eyes. Just what was going on?
"Well, well," said the newcomer. "I see I've made quite an impression on all of you."
Her voice, too, was identical to Amy's. "Are you all feeling sufficiently surprised? I had a feeling you would be." She turned to the flabbergasted Mercury. "It doesn't take a genius to guess that, does it AMY?"
"Y-y-you can't be real." Sailor Mercury stammered in shock. "You're j-just a Youma, or a Daimon, disguised as a future version of myself."
She tried to sound confident, but her voice betrayed her certainty that the woman who stood before them was most definitely herself.
"Oh, you can't really believe that, can you?" said the other. "I know your stupid little visor tells you otherwise. I know mine does!" with that she tapped her own black earring stud, and a visor just like the one Amy had, slid across her eyes.
"Enough of this," shouted Sailor Mars. "Who are you, really?"
"I am your worst nightmare, Raye, but you can call me DARK MERCURY!"
"I don't believe this," said Sailor Moon. "If you are Amy, then why are you on the side of evil? Amy would never join the Black Moon Family!"
"Black Moo-?!" Dark Mercury paused. "Oh... you mean THAT!" She pointed skyward and snickered derisively. "You really ARE stupid! I have nothing to do with that lifeless ball of rock or its sniveling inhabitants! I simply borrowed their technology! All that matters to me is not that you believe the truth, but that you all die by my hand!"
Dark Mercury raised her arm, and from it, a jet of blue-black energy shot forth from her fingertips and blasted Sailor Uranus in the chest.
Amara didn't even have the chance to scream as she flew backward through the air and didn't land until she hit the far wall hard enough to crack it, and slid to the floor on a bloody trail. Her shoulders and head slumped lifelessly.
"I suppose I should take her out first," said Dark Mercury, smiling evilly. "She's one of the most powerful out of you all. I guess she isn't any longer!" Dark Mercury cackled.
"AMARA!!" Neptune shrieked, with tears in her eyes. The Sailor Scouts wasted no time in counter-attacking. Sailor Mars went first: "Mars Celestial Fireballs Surround!"
With seemingly no effort at all, Dark Mercury deflected the rings of fire with her metal hand. She held up her hand, and in it, a single, gigantic blue-black fireball welled up. Cocking her arm back, she threw it right in the middle of the group of Senshi.
"Look out!" shouted Mina. The rest of the Senshi barely had time to dodge as the ball detonated in a huge explosion that took out the east wall of the sanctuary.
Mars tried again with her Flame Sniper attack, but Dark Mercury caught the arrow, laughing, and tossed it back ten times harder and faster.
Sailor Mars could not duck in time, and was hit squarely in the heart. She went down next to where Sailor Uranus had fallen.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!!" Sailor Saturn stepped forward. "Two Senshi have fallen this night! There will be no more death!"
"Only two?" Dark Mercury cocked her head curiously. "Oh! Did I forget to tell you? You might want to take a look for yourselves. Why do you think I brought Tuxedo Mask's carcass up here?!"
"No! She's lying! She must be bluffing!" Sailor Moon shook her head. "Alan. Ann. The Starlights!"
"She's not lying!" Sailor Neptune said in a sick voice. She was on her knees next to Sailor Uranus' corpse. Her green eyes were lifeless with grief. "If she could do this. If she could kill the likes of us so easily. then it's very possible she's already dispatched the others!"
"Finally one of you says something that makes sense!" Dark Mercury said. "That's right! They're dead, Sailor Moon! They're all dead! Alan, Ann, the Starlight Senshi, even the bratty Amazon Quartet! They were the first, but YOU'LL be the last!"
Sailor Moon started to cry. "Sailor Moon! Don't let her get to you!" Sailor Jupiter exclaimed.
"It's too late! As it stands right now, she has a huge psychological advantage over us!" Sailor Mercury spoke up at last. "As if her power wasn't enough of an obstacle to overcome! She's a genius!"
"Gee! Way to boost morale, Mercury!" said Venus sarcastically. "Well there are some who refuse to be daunted."
Dark Mercury announced, looking at Sailor Saturn. "I'd forgotten how much you've grown up, Hotaru! Do you intend to attack? Or do you just wave that Silence Glaive around for show?!"
"You forget I am also the Messiah of Silence, Dark Mercury!" said Saturn in a deadly voice. "I am the Senshi of DEATH!!"
Saturn struck. Dark Mercury concentrated and formed a sword of ice in her hands. In the nick of time she brought it up to block the razor sharp Silence Glaive.
"The Senshi of Death is about to meet her OWN demise!" Dark Mercury shot back.
Within seconds the two of them were swinging their weapons fiercely at each other. The amount of skill shown by both fighters was staggering to behold! Sparks flew from each blade as they met time and again! The ringing of steel against hard ice was almost painful to listen to! Inside the enclosed arena of the chapel, the rings echoed off the crystal.
"Something's terribly wrong here," said Neptune.
"No, really?!" Venus yelled. "Maybe it's the fact we're getting our butts kicked in here!"
"Don't be snide, Mina," said Lita, supporting Serena. She looked at Sailor Mercury. "Now would be a good time for a plan, rather than sarcasm. Amy? Have you any?"
"Only one," Neptune said, pulling out her aqua mirror. "We need to find a weakness fast!" She chanted: "Submarine Reflection!" and pointed the mirror at their nemesis. Her eyes widened in shock. "Impossible!"
"What do you see, Michelle?" asked Sailor Venus. "That little fight between Hotaru and Am-uh... Dark Mercury is deteriorating fast!"
Indeed it was, as Sailor Saturn was on the defense rather than the attack. Dark Mercury struck with vicious blows that staggered the stalwart Senshi from the ringed planet.
"Nothing!" replied Sailor Neptune in disbelief. "The mirror shows nothing whatsoever!"
"Which means what?" asked Venus in a panic.
"It means, Mina, Dark Mercury has no apparent weaknesses!!"
As if on cue, Dark Mercury struck a savage blow that knocked the Silence Glaive right out of Saturn's hand. Another impact with a high velocity blast of ice sent Hotaru the way of Raye and Amara!
Inside of just five minutes, three Senshi had fallen!
"NOOOOOO!" screamed Serena in anguish as another of her best friends were now nothing more than a memory. She ran over to Hotaru and knelt at her side, clutching her hand in grief. She didn't see Dark Mercury laugh evilly as she aimed another powerful blast straight at the Sailor Moon!
"Serena! Look out!" It was Sailor Jupiter who tossed a lightning blast at Dark Mercury. The blow knocked her flat onto her back, but there was no real outcry of pain, only surprise.
Sailor Neptune swooped in and carried the inconsolable Queen away from Hotaru's body.
"She was... Rini's best friend!" Serena sobbed. She turned to Dark Mercury: "That was my friend you heartless Bitch!!"
"I don't believe it!" Sailor Jupiter muttered, amazed. "I put all I had into that blast, but if she'd seen it coming, she'd probably barely have felt that!"
"Quiet, Lita!" commanded Neptune, a cold rage building in her heart. "Talk like that is not going to do any better!"
Dark Mercury stood up. She had already recovered from the thunderbolt and glared at the remaining Senshi. "You'll regret that, Sailor Trash!" she spat venomously.
"You know," said Venus. "No matter how powerful, no matter how much they think they're invincible, the bad guys always seem to stoop to name- calling."
"We need to think of something," said Sailor Jupiter. "Sailor Neptune said there were no weaknesses. I say that's bull! Everyone has a weakness somewhere."
"Exactly," said a hollow voice behind them. "And she knows ours better than we do hers."
The girls turned to look at Sailor Mercury.
"Go on!" Neptune encouraged her.
Amy took a deep breath. "If she is really me from the future, then we have to realize that she is just as intelligent. She's probably planned for every last contingency, and she's probably made herself familiar with all our weaknesses and faults. Just look at the fact that she took out Sailor Saturn and Uranus first! She's disabling our strongest members first! She's whittling us down to nothing!"
"Well we're not finished yet!" Jupiter spat. "It looks like Sailor Moon is our only hope once again!"
"Me?!" Sailor Moon cried.
"Who else?" Neptune put a hand on her shoulder. "It was YOU who took down Pharaoh 90 and Chaos."
"Not to mention royally kicking Queen Beryl's and Doom Phantom's butts!" Venus cheered.
Sailor Moon looked down, as if thinking of a plan. "We're going about this all wrong," she said at last. "Attacking her one at a time isn't working! What we need is some Senshi Power! I think the only way to defeat her is to combine our powers!"
"That's the ticket!" replied Sailor Jupiter. "All our powers in a combined, concentrated effort!"
"Are you up to this? Amy? Michelle?"
Amy nodded sadly, still dwelling on the future. Michelle however, recovered quickly. She nodded with much determination in her eyes.
An explosion caught their attention! Another section of the wall blew out with the force of the blast. Everyone looked at Dark Mercury hatefully.
"This is it," said Sailor Jupiter. "Looks like we're up to bat."
"Time Out's over!" said Dark Mercury. "Are you all ready to die now?!"
"I am ready, Dark Mercury!" said Sailor Moon, dropping to the floor, with the rest of her friends behind her. "Ready to kick your ASS!! You've killed my best friends, you've ruined my wedding, and you've destroyed my city! You know who I am, already! You know what I'm capable of! So I ask you this, foul creature of darkness! Are you ready to be punished on behalf of the Moon?!"
"Hah," laughed Dark Mercury. "If you wish to die so soon... Let's get it on!"
As planned, the other Senshi took off and encircled the evil Senshi.
Amy, Mina, Lita, and Michelle, along with Serena, powered up for the biggest blasts they could possibly discharge.
"Mercury Power!"
"Venus Power!"
"Jupiter Power!"
"Neptune Power!"
"Moon Eternal Power!"
"SCOUT POWER!"
And just like that, they let loose all at once! Five angry Senshi, once a proud nine, they knew that this day might well be their last, but they also knew they would rather die than stand by and watch this madwoman take Tokyo and enslave the Earth.
Dark Mercury finally screamed in pain as she was unable to block all the attacks. She soon disappeared in the growing cloud of smoke and ash, but the Senshi poured it on even harder. They didn't let up until they could no longer sustain their attacks.
"I can't keep it up," said Sailor Venus.
"Me neither," said Sailor Mercury. "I'm spent!"
"Ok," agreed Sailor Neptune, lowering her hands. "That's enough."
"Right," said Sailor Jupiter. "That HAD to have killed her. Nothing could survive that amount of energy!"
"We did it!" cried Sailor Moon. "We beat her!"
The other Senshi relaxed their guards, thinking the same thing. All except Sailor Mercury, who switched on her visor again. She read an energy spike still at the center of the cloud of dust.
"My God!" she cried.
"What?" asked Sailor Jupiter.
"SHE'S STILL ALIVE!"
At that, Dark Mercury emerged from the smoke, and, after powering up fully, released a blast that rivaled an atomic explosion! The blast swept away everything that wasn't alive, and blew out the rest of the chapel walls! The explosion shattered Amy's visor, and blew the dead over the edge, to tumble to the ground far below!
Sailor Moon was nearly carried over the edge with them! She stopped only inches from the precipice! Sailor Moon looked over her right shoulder and saw the drop. Scrambling, she dragged herself back to safety.
The other Senshi held on too, but had nothing left in them to even move.
Dark Mercury laughed as she pounded the half-dead scouts. She broke bones and beat their bodies until there was no more life in them. She beat to death Neptune, Jupiter, Venus, until there was no one left but Amy.
She grabbed the Senshi from Mercury by the hair and held her head in a headlock.
"Oh, look! How ironic, my own past self is about to die!" She held Mercury up in front of her. "The future is mine, Serena!" Dark Mercury shouted at Sailor Moon. "My victory here ensures that. And where is your precious Sailor Pluto? For even she is powerless to stop me!"
Sailor Moon turned around to look at her husband's slayer. Rage burned in her eyes.
"You hate me, Serena? Good! Now you know what I feel! The hatred you feel for me pales in comparison to the loathing I have for you! Letting you watch your friends die before your eyes is the only suitable revenge!"
"Why?!" she asked, getting to her feet. "Why could you hate me so much?!"
"You ruined my life!" Dark Mercury raged, finally losing her cool. "You took away my only reason for living! The one light in my life! As long as you were married to him, I had no chance of happiness!"
Serena's blood drained from her face. "You mean... Darien?!"
"You finally begin to see the picture," said Dark Mercury. "Now you will witness only death!" At the word 'death', Dark Mercury wrenched Amy's head violently sideways. A wet snap could clearly be heard. The sound of Sailor Mercury's neck breaking! The struggling Mercury went still.
And then there was only Sailor Moon!
Dark Mercury just stared at Sailor Mercury. All pretenses of enjoyment were gone from her face. There was no more sneering, no more insane laughter, only rage that was palpable enough to feel in the very air.
Sailor Moon stared back, with the same vengeful stare. "At last," said Dark Mercury quietly, "you know what it is to hate someone! You should thank me, for now you are finally all grown up."
"My hatred," Sailor Moon replied, "dies with YOU!"
Sailor Moon attacked with everything she had left. She decided she wasn't going down without a fight. With cold fury, she leapt into action and brought out her Silver Moon Wand and unleashed the Lunar energy that had killed so many enemies before. Dark Mercury was not expecting such a powerful burst of energy. She raised her arms to ward off the blow, but it connected with staggering power!
When the blast cloud cleared away, she still stood, but was slightly wobbly on her feet and more burns had appeared on her left arm, which had absorbed most of the punishment. Her clothes were even more tattered than before, barely covering her at all.
"Whew," she said to herself. "That was too close!"
Serena lashed out again. Her power level was nearly spent, but she used what she had left to reinforce her strength and speed. She fought like a true Senshi, raining blow after blow on the off balance enemy. She moved ten times faster and harder than the deadliest black-belt master in the world, but still, Dark Mercury feverishly blocked her attacks. She was still far too powerful, even after all the scouts could dish out had been spent on her.
For minutes on end, the two fought in an outstanding display of superhuman reflexes and skills.
But in the end, Dark Mercury's higher power outlasted an increasingly exhausted Sailor Moon. Soon, Serena's reflexes and power faded below the critical level.
Dark Mercury went on the offensive, demolishing Serena's defenses with earth-shattering blows. Serena's strength ebbed further and further. The battle ended as Dark Mercury let loose with an ice storm that would have blown an entire city over!
Sailor Moon crashed to the floor all but motionless. She had given everything she'd had and then some, she knew the end was upon her.
Dark Mercury was again all swagger as she stood over the bruised, broken and bleeding Senshi.
"I'm tired of this game, Princess," she said. "Let's end this right now."
As she powered up for one final blast, Serena's body was suddenly bathed in a brilliant flash of light. In a heartbeat, she vanished into thin air. Suddenly confused, Dark Mercury scanned the vicinity with her own visor. The computer was reading a small concentration of Chronal energy where Sailor Moon had been just seconds ago.
"WHAT?!" shrieked Dark Mercury, "THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE! NEO-QUEEN SERENITY DOESN'T HAVE TIME TRAVEL CAPABILITIES!"
She stood for a moment, raging, before a dark suspicion entered her thoughts. "I should have destroyed her!" she hissed, recalling her conversation with Zinc earlier. "It's Sailor Pluto! It has to be her! I'll make sure she regrets ever crossing me!" With that she pressed a control on her gauntlet, and teleported back to the ship.
And Crystal Tokyo continued to burn...