AUTHOR: Monic
FANDOM: Sailor Moon
RATING: R
SUMMARY: After Sailor Moon's battle with Galaxia, things were set to settle down but as Sailor Pluto was wont to say the Future is not set in stone. A forgotten enemy returns seeking vengeance against the Senshi. Everything's about to take a dark turn...
WARNINGS: Violence, mature themes
NOTES: This is an amalgam of the anime and manga but takes most of its resources from the manga. Set after Sailor Stars
A Dark Turn – Sailor Moon
By Monic
Book One – Gehenna
Prologue - Prelude to Recurrence
The Hikawa Shrine, noted for its peaceful ambience was, that evening, anything but. The shrine was in a riot of party preparations and Rei was in her element bossing people left and right, much to Usagi's chagrin.
"Why do we need so much decoration?" Groused Usagi, lost under boxes of ornaments, she finally dropped them on the floor. "It's not like were running a festival! And where is Mamo-chan!"
"Careful!" Rei glared at her then studied her list. "Mamoru-kun's helping Yuuichiro move the stereo."
A huffing and puffing figure staggered into the room. "This-" Huffed Minako, "is torture!" She glared at Rei, "why aren't you doing anything besides boss us around!"
"This is my home, let's talk when we have a party in yours." Rei said with a disdainful sniff, which wouldn't happen at all, since it's been part of tradition to hold any and all occasion at the Hikawa shrine. Especially this party, the After Apocalypse party, as Makoto dubbed it.
Usagi rubbed her sore back, almost regretting reminding Rei about the party. Hotaru ran pass them, giggling as Ami ran after her screaming something that sounded like, "Don't drop the vial!"
"Haruka!" Rei said, distracting Usagi from the spectacle. The tall sandy blond froze at the doorway and slowly turned. "Rei?"
"How are you?"
"I'm good." She answered, wary.
"That's good." Rei beamed at her and suddenly threw something white and heavy. Instinctively Haruka caught it. Haruka stared, dumbfounded at the white cloth in her hands. "Could you and Mamoru-kun hang that, I'll just get Mamoru-kun, thanks Haruka-san, you're a dear."
"What-- but—" Haruka began and broke-off when she realized she was talking to nothing but thin air. "Damn."
"We feel your pain," Minako said, unloading her burden on the low table. "But mostly I feel my own."
"You know, dinner was a fine tradition." Usagi said. The 'After apocalypse party' wasn't as Usagi had envisioned it when she brought it up again. She thought it would be the same quiet dinner thing they always did.
"Oh, we always have dinners after Apocalypses," Minako said dismissively. "At least now, it's a real apocalypse party."
"A party of ten?" Haruka put-in amused.
Somewhere there was a loud crash, Usagi jumped. Not long after Rei started screaming: "Yuuichiro, you idiot!" Usagi winced in sympathy.
"Geez. The mouth on that girl!" Minako said, as Rei's tirade grew louder and more colorful. "You'd never think she's a priestess-in-training the way she's going."
"Are you okay, Usagi-chan?" Haruka draped the white banner on her arm.
"Of course," Usagi said, smiling and dropping her hands to her sides, she noticed Minako do the same, albeit a lot more discreetly. "Why wouldn't I be?" She caught Minako looking at her as if she were figuring things out in her mind; in fact, Haruka had a similar expression on her face. "Haruka-san, do you know when Setsuna-san will arrive?"
"She isn't here yet?" Haruka asked perplexed. Usagi shook her head. "That's strange, she left with Hotaru and Michiru. Why? Did you need something from Setsuna?"
Usagi felt her heart sink. "No, I was just curious."
It wasn't exactly a lie, after all Setsuna already assured her that Chibi-Usa had survived the encounter with Galaxia. She knew it was rude and unseemly not trusting Setsuna's word but Usagi had seen, with her own eyes, Chibi-Usa fade out of existence. It was more than a little traumatic. Future or no, Chibi-Usa was still her daughter. Usagi had hoped for more news from Setsuna and she had promised to bring one tonight, she looked down at the box of decorations. Still, the night was young…
"Y'know for a guardian of time she's almost always late." Commented Minako.
"Late or," Haruka lifted the edge of the banner by her thumb and forefinger. "Smart."
Minako laughed, pointed up and posed dramatically. "Setsuna is my idol!"
"Get in line!"
Usagi opened her mouth to add her own comment when a whiff of stray wind ushered in the delicious scents from the kitchen; Usagi turned like a trained bloodhound to the direction of the delicious aromas.
Haruka was saying something but Usagi happily ignored her and made a beeline towards the scrumptious feast and found herself at the threshold of the kitchen. A wide wolf's grin curved her mouth.
Peering left and right Usagi confirmed that Rei was nowhere in sight and hurried in the kitchen and grounded to a stop. Makoto and Michiru were over the counter engrossed with their work and chatter to notice her. Usagi ducked behind the table and held her breath.
Just above her, somewhere were mouthwatering, juicy meat and chicken-- So near, yet so far…Slowly, Usagi lifted her hand, surely Makoto and Michiru won't miss one drumstick.
"I still have nightmares." Usagi heard Makoto say in a quiet voice, stilling her hands and her hunger. The chopping noise ceased, and the kitchen was silent for the longest time. Usagi lifted her head in time to see Makoto place her knife on the table.
"I mean we... died! And Usagi--" A frustrated sound escaped from Makoto she picked up the knife and ended her incoherent speech with a flourish of her knife.
"Yes, we did." Michiru said, even quieter.
"We died and she was all alone—" That was all Usagi could stand to hear she slipped out as quietly as she could. Out to the hall, past the rooms where her friends were laughing and arguing and pausing, briefly, to gather her coat from the rack and straight out into the night where there were no walls to suffocate her until she came to a stop in the pathway not too far from the stone steps. She stood there trapped between the desire to continue on and the uneasiness of straying too far from her friends.
All in all this was a good place to stop. It was quiet here save for the whisper of trees and the occasional sound of laughter from the house she had emerged from. So different from the past few months, when any given moment screams of distress could mean death and danger.
It was peaceful. Usagi liked it.
Usagi stared at her hand and at the ring Mamoru gave her before she looked up at the night sky, she could barely see the stars, but knew they were there innumerable and eternal.
"I still have nightmares."
Usagi shivered.
"Cold?"
Usagi jumped and flailed her arms uselessly before managing to raise them to defend herself, only to see the lean form of Mamoru. "Mamo-chan, don't scare me!"
"Sorry." He stuffed his hands on his pockets, contrite. Usagi grinned she couldn't help it he looked so cute, just like a little boy caught stealing from a cookie jar.
Mamoru returned her smile and reached for her hand, the one with the engagement ring, and tugged her close. His arms went around her, she turned into his embrace and buried her face on his chest. Usagi let out a sigh. Breathing in the scent of him, and savoring the solidity that was Mamoru. This was home. This was peace.
"What are you thinking?" His voice rumbled in his chest pleasantly against her ear.
"It's done, Mamo-chan, Setsuna said--"
"That it was our last battle until we're crowned." Mamoru finished for her. Usagi turned in his arms and gave him a mock frowned.
"Mamo-chan, if you're not going to let me finish, don't ask me!" She grinned then looked at him with eyes wide. "How did you manage to escape from Rei?"
"I have my ways," he said. A mischievous smile lit his face, and his eyes danced. Usagi's heart beat a little faster he opened his mouth to speak but changed his mind halfway and instead leaned in for a kiss that left her breathless.
Unexpectedly a blast of chill air blew through the yard lifting fallen leaves and sending icy cold fingers down her spine. Usagi pulled away and turned around, afraid. "What--?"
"Usako?"
She looked at Mamoru and saw a frown marring his brow, his slate blue eyes darting from her to the surroundings, as if his very stare could pierce the dark.
Usagi followed his gaze to the shrine, where her friends were in a riot of party preparations.
"Usa?" His voice full of concern and her heart was flooded with love.
"It's nothing," She said and stuck out her tongue. "I was just being silly."
Mamoru looked skeptical.
Usagi pouted. "You don't believe me!"
"I do!" He said, rushing in to assure her. She grinned at him, pecked him on the lips and danced away from his reaching arms.
"Hey, love birds, are you going to help with the party?" Rei shouted. Minako and Hotaru were standing beside her on the porch looking harassed.
"Nah. You're doing good work!" Usagi said, waving her hand airily.
Rei's eyebrow twitched, "Really?"
The others appeared behind Minako and Hotaru, looking at them, eyes sparkling with ill-concealed mirth. Then as one they raised their arms and pointed at Mamoru and Usagi, "In the name of love and justice, we will force you to help!"
"Charge!" Haruka shouted, and like a flood tide they charged at the hapless couple, laughing and colliding.
Usagi knew this was going to be the best night of her life.
Usagi tiptoed away from the room, where all the senshi were bunked for the night, and willed herself to be one with the shadows. It wasn't her fault, she reasoned, that she woke up in the middle of the night hungry. She did tell Rei acquiring the last three slices of cake was vital for her continued existence it was the solemn truth, it was Rei who chose to regard it. Rei was awfully closed minded about certain things for a priestess-in-training. Usagi took out a handkerchief from her pajama sleeve and tied it around her head and giggled.
She froze instantly, when a muttered grunt answered her, she waited for two beats and was extremely relieved she heard nothing else. Quietly as she could she crossed to one door until she and flattened herself to the wall and held her breath. She waited, staring at the patch of floorboard lit by moonlight.
Their ten-person party was a hit, lots of delicious food, music and dancing, except, for the fact that instead of a ten-person party, they were in reality, only nine since Setsuna did not come. Makoto joked about Setsuna mixing up dates in the Time Gate, Usagi doubted it, if there was one thing she knew about the enigmatic Guardian of Time it was that Setsuna had a purpose behind every action.
Her stomach growled reminding her of her mission. She patted it in consolation and resumed her quest, tiptoeing gingerly around every corner until she found herself at a crossroad. At one end of the corridor was the kitchen and at the other end, Yuuichiro's quarters where Mamoru was sleeping off the hangover he acquired after Rei's grandfather forced him to 'commemorate' his engagement.
Mamoru wasn't too happy about it but was too polite to decline hence their staying over the night. Her head swiveled from one side to the other in indecision, which to follow her heart or her stomach?
Standing alone in the cover of darkness, Usagi hit upon an inspired solution. She would rouse Mamoru and invite him to her midnight feast. Satisfied with her plan she crept towards Yuuichiro's room, passing through the shafts of moonlight and bathing her in a silver glow. The shadows lengthened feelings of trepidation made Usagi hesitate.
The corridor had gotten so dark she could barely make out the door at the end.
Coward. She chided herself. It's just a corridor. Mamo-chan is there!
She took a fortifying breath and bravely ventured into the dark corridor groping at the walls that inexplicably grew colder the further she went in. The corridor was longer than she remembered. Her heart pounded loud in her ears so much so it took her a while to realize that it was quiet.
There wasn't even the sound of trees rustling in the wind.
"Something's wrong." She whispered and almost jumped at the sound of her own voice.
Then she heard it: A slow and terrible creaking sound like a long unused door being pried open.
Usagi felt a terrible fear and a certainty that all was not as should be and she was suddenly all too aware that she was alone. There was a loud thump that shook the floorboards, and another louder thump, closer this time and another.
"You can't come out yet!" She shouted. "It's not time!"
The shaking grew fiercer, Usagi fled screaming for Mamoru. She ran a few steps straight to Yuuichiro's quarters and abruptly collided with a barrier. It was a shoji.
Desperate with fear Usagi rammed the shoji, it gave under her weight and she burst in falling from the excess force straight into Yuuichiro's...
Garden?
Soft grass met her fall, she sat-up, startled at the blinding rays of sunlight when moments ago it was night. Her eyes hurt from the sudden light.
Grass was everywhere luminous in the light and further away was a hill and on it a rug of vivid violet and orange colored flowers. Usagi rose and was astonished to see she now wore the long white gown she wore as Princess Serenity and was even more chagrined to note she was barefoot. The grass was soft, damp and chilly under her feet.
Brushing a few stray blades of grass from her dress she noted the wet stain on her pristine ball gown. A breeze caught and tangled her hair she ran her hand on it and brushed it away from her face.
Breath still harsh from her sprint, she whirled around to glance behind her and was gobsmacked. There was no entranceway, no dark hallways, nothing that indicated that the whitewash stonewall was anything but what it was—Usagi tentatively, with shaking hands touched it—solid. Where was she? She whirled from one side to another and tried to approximate where she was but only saw the lush green grass and the large whitewashed stone structure.
Suddenly she felt the ground shake, Usagi didn't have to be warned twice, she lifted her dress and fled, her feet slapping on the damp grass. She stretched out her hand and used the rough stonewall as guide, Usagi rounded a corner and was relieved to see a vaulting entryway that she was sure led to safety.
She entered, feet meeting cool marble and was surprised to find herself in the austere hallways of the Moon Castle.
"I have to keep on moving." She said urging herself on. Her voice echoed through the halls and ending in a rippling motion, changing the scene as the sound waves expanded outwards. Usagi halted to a stop and gaped as the scene shifted to her old junior high complete with Haruna-sensei and herself sleeping on the desk. On either side of her sleeping form were Endymion and Mamoru. Usagi opened her mouth to speak but her perspective changed, altered and she was the Usagi sleeping on her desk, in her classroom dreaming and seeing herself as Serenity standing by the door and Mamoru and Endymion behind her. She was happy for that but she was also getting hungry, she wondered when the food would come.
"Princess," a voice called, waking her from her dream-sleep, Usagi raised her head from the desk and found the scene had once again changed. She was in the garden, the one earlier, and somehow Usagi didn't care because Mamoru's arms around her.
"Was that you, Mamo-chan?"
"No, Usa," he began to kiss her lightly on her neck. Usagi sighed. She liked this dream better.
"Princess," the mysterious voice called again. This time she recognized the voice as Setsuna's. Usagi reluctantly focused at the edge of her dream, and there was Setsuna, garbed as Sailor Pluto, the Guardian of Time.
"Pluto?"
"Time is a stream, the outcome may never be the same."
"Setsuna-san, I know this." She said not unkindly and added. "You didn't come to the party, Setsuna-san."
Pluto spoke as if she didn't hear Usagi. "History will repeat, the past must be remembered. You must make your own destiny." Then as sudden as Pluto had appeared, she faded. Usagi frowned but let it pass. She relaxed into Mamoru's embrace but the garden began to blur and darken. She was waking-up, Usagi realized, she was reluctant to wake up it was so lovely and peaceful in her dream. Besides she was so tired after the battle with Galaxia and she had just gotten Mamoru back—
Oh.
Of course she wanted to wake, she coasted freely into consciousness, loving the feel of sleep and wakefulness and the warmth of the real Mamoru's touch. She had missed him so, and in the back of her mind a thought (Too long, too close, much missed) but her mind never ran to the dark place in her thoughts, of the chilling fear and emptiness when he was gone (dead).
Usagi buried further into his embrace, and soon blinked away her sleepiness. She smiled at the reflection of herself, Mamoru mumbled, his chest vibrating beneath her ears. Funny, her reflection wasn't smiling back.
Her hazy mind registered her reflection moving of its own volition, raised a too pale hand over her own chest and—
A scream tore from her throat as the hand plunged into her chest, the invasion inflaming parts Usagi did not know she had. She bucked up, writhing, trying to escape the pain. Pain. Pain.
But it was there, singular, present, moving inside, holding, gripping. Tormenting. Agonizing.
She could feel the hand, the fingers slipping and sliding inside her chest, searching…
"Usa!"
The relief was almost physical but the pain remained, she curled in on herself and through the haze of tears saw Mamoru, a tower of rage as he advanced on her attacker. Blurred with tears she saw her attacker lie prone on the floor, unmoving.
Usagi sobbed. She shook from the shock and pain, Mamoru looked from her attacker and to her. He produced five roses and threw them around her attacker's prone figure, trapping her attacker. Then he knelt gathering her into his arms. "Usa, It's alright, it's alright. I'm here…"
She wept into his chest, she couldn't help it, her insides stung, her lungs and things she didn't even knew existing under her ribs burned. She clung to him, it was only by chance she saw the glint of steel in the corner of her eye. Usagi turned her head and saw a shadow of a woman behind Mamoru. Mamoru tensed, sensing something amiss, and turned Usagi opened her mouth to shout but it was too late, and the blade sunk in his back with a meaty chunk.
"No!"
Mamoru jerked, a strangled yell escaped from his throat as he twisted, he threw off his attacker, Usagi struggled to her feet desperately trying to pull Mamoru away when a second knife appeared glinting, Usagi tried to twist, turn her body into a shield but Mamoru had also seen what she had seen. He held firm, pushed Usagi far from the knife and gasped loudly, painfully as it went up and under his ribs and Usagi's knees buckled as Mamoru fell into her arms. "Mamo-chan!"
Usagi could feel Mamoru's blood on her hands, her arms. "Usako--" He managed, choking. She was coated in his blood and his callused fingers brush against her own. His hands found her face she held his hands, willed him to live. "I'm sor—sorry."
Then his hands fall, nerveless, without life. The scene that played so regularly in her nightmares, reality in two lifetimes had come alive again.
No no no no no no.
There was pressure behind her eyes, her hands shook and she felt a scream build-up inside her. She touched his skin so pale and cold and so horrifyingly familiar. A keening wail finally broke through. She was a banshee, mourning for her death. She was at the very edge, sanity only a thin line to cross.
She didn't notice, nor would she have cared that she now wore white flowing robes or that the Silver Crystal floated above her flooding the room in pure white or the shadow moving forward, grabbed hold of the Crystal, diminishing its luminescence.
"Didn't I promise you this? Marked in stone, my words. Shh… Don't fret it's going to get worse." And then a white, soundless explosion filled the room.
And Usagi, cradling Mamoru in her arms couldn't care less…