Elegy
Stranded on an unfriendly planet, a lone senshi struggles to find her way back to her planet before it is completely consumed by war.
Disclaimer: Bishoujou Senshi Sailor Moon is the property of Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha, Toei, and anyone else that the rights are licensed to. What's mine? The character ideas, story, and writing. Please don't sue me...I can only bargain in fabric scraps.
Author's Notes: The story that never got a definitive plot and came in a sudden burst of inspiration. It turned out a lot more melancholy than I had originally anticipated, but I was so enamored with it that I stayed up way too late writing.
Prelude
"So proud she was to die
It made us all ashamed
That what we cherished, so unknown,
To her desire seemed."
-Emily Dickinson
"Come out, come out, wherever you are," a voice cooed.
Silence met the words, and each died in the other's embrace.
The speaker sighed huffily. "I know you're there. Hiding." They scoffed. "The great protector of our planet, hiding from a short girl that is most certainly weaker than her. Come out unless you want to be ashamed."
The person this girl hunted for did not dare to breathe, to move, to blink, as she watched her huntress pace up and down the room, bloodied silver knife in hand. Behind this pillar, she would be safe, at least until the girl decided to look behind them. Could she take her by surprise, then? Swallowing, the person clenched her fists. It would be alright.
Someone ran into the room and, catching sight of the red streaking the knife, cried out, "what have you done to her!?"
The girl grinned wickedly. "Her? Oh, I've done nothing to her. Not yet, at least." She stroked the knife's blade. "You see, that woman you worshipped? She's hiding from a little girl like me. Afraid! Of me!" she cackled.
The other person said nothing as the girl advanced on him.
"But you, I think," the girl purred, wrapping her arms around him and holding the knife to his neck. "You could help draw...her..."
Behind the pillar, the woman knew it was time to act. She stepped out, into the open.
Prey met predator's eye, and smiled.
"...out," she finished, pronouncing the word carefully, lips curling around the sound as she slit the man's throat.
He fell to the floor, scarlet spilling across the once-flawless cool gray stone.
The woman knew she was at a disadvantage. She knew she couldn't win. But she would try, wouldn't she? Meanwhile, a man she'd been so close to, the man who'd raised her, was bleeding out, beyond all hope of salvation.
The girl walked towards her. The woman licked her lips.
"Alena...please...don't. Please," she whispered, voice trembling. "Just end this. If you kill me the war will never end."
Alena smiled impishly. "I want the war to go on, dear Princess Mariele. That's why I need to kill you. You see, you're Sailor Imbrium. With you alive, there's still a great chance that my side won't succeed."
Sailor Imbrium pressed a hand to her mouth. She wasn't in control, she knew, stripped already of her powers by Alena's poison. Without the ability to use her attacks, she couldn't beat Alena, who was faster, smaller, more agile, and, more importantly, better at physical fighting.
"Alena," she begged. "We were friends."
The girl drew the words out slow over her lips as she stood directly in front of Imbrium. "Were," she murmured. "But not now. As you're giving up without a fight." She raised the knife, gleaming in the torchlight.
Sailor Imbrium closed her eyes, preparing herself for what she knew was coming. I'm sorry.
But then someone else ran in. Alena jerked back. "Who is it?" she asked, annoyance edging her tone.
"Alena," someone said harshly. "You know that wasn't the plan."
Alena rolled her eyes. "I wasn't going to!" she complained. "I was just having some fun freaking her out."
Sailor Imbrium had no idea what was happening as she looked from Alena, who was reaching into her pocket now, to the man at the door, who she recognized as well...or thought she did....
And she had little time to react as Alena produced a multi-colored stone from her pocket and threw it at Sailor Imbrium, light flaring from it just before it touched her.
"Have fun on your new planet!" were the last cackling words Sailor Imbrium heard before she felt herself being squeezed into what felt like nothingness.
