Battle to the Death

It had come down to just the two of them, the way it was always meant to be. Before her stood her most dangerous foe so far, Queen Metallia of the Dark Kingdom. This evil entity had destroyed her beloved Prince and her best friends. In addition, to think the stupid inky darkness actually thought she would be able to get away with it. Not this time, she was not going to let what happened on the Moon Kingdom a thousand years ago repeat itself here on Earth. Not now, not ever she was determined about that fact.

The dark mass quivered with manic laughter. Was it laughing at her? This giant mass of nothingness was laughing at her? She could not believe it; it was obvious, this thing had no idea of who she truly was. After all, if it had known that she was in fact Moon Princess Serenity, she probably would not have been laughing as hard as she was.

Suddenly a blast of energy hit the sailor-suited warrior; she thrust her crescent moon wand before her. The blast threw her back and upward as the crescent wand deflected the energy towards the ice beneath her. She stood encased in ice and she felt a surge of power as her will to survive overcame her. The transformation into her true form overwhelmed her and the surge of power that emanated from her was so strong that it broke the ice around her creating a perch of sorts.

Metallia was shocked to see that this twit of a child had survived her attack and had in fact used it to her own advantage. Not to mention that she now stood face to face with the young Princess Serenity, heir to the Silver Millennium. "You think you can defeat me? You, pitiful Princess Serenity?" Metallia laughed as her power coiled around her in roiling dark waves. "I have news for you Serenity, you were never as strong as your mother and she fell by my hand."

"You're wrong Metallia. My mother never fell before you. She sealed you away into nothingness. However, in her weakened state she was unable to bind you for long. I will correct that mistake; I will seal you away for eons beyond knowledge." Serenity said resolutely. Did this thing actually think it would go unpunished for its crimes against humanity? Could it honestly believe that she was not strong enough to follow through with her threats.

"What are you going to do? Bat me away with that microscopic wand of yours?" Metallia asked trying to intimidate the young princess.

"Never underestimate your enemy Metallia. I learned that much from the fall of the Silver Millennium. You should have learned it by now too, as your pawn Beryl did." Serenity said forcefully. She held her wand before her and praying to the Moon Goddess for strength summoned from within the recesses of her body a power formidable enough to destroy an entire planet.

Metallia laughed as she saw the moon brat take a fighting stance. "If that's the way you want it then a fight is what you'll get." She cried out as she sent a dark blast of evil energy hurtling towards the Moon Princess.

"MOON HEALING ESCALATION!" Princess Serenity cried out with all her strength. Her pure energy hit Metallia's dark one in a shower of lights seen clear across the solar system. She did not hesitate; she was determined not to lose this battle. She had sworn to her friends that they would make it through this battle alive. She had failed them in that sense but she would not fail them now. Blessed Selene help me now. I dare not lose this battle. I will not let history repeat itself. Not here, I will never allow Metallia to have this beautiful planet.

"Don't think that you can seal me away!" Metallia cried as she grunted and threw more of her oppressive energy into the unwavering blast that was already showing signs of overcoming Serenity's power.

Serenity knew that she was a formidable opponent but who knows for how long Metallia had been gathering her power to take over earth. However, she knew that she could not fail her friends, nor would she allow herself to fail. It was for so much more that she wanted to save earth, she saw an infinite amount of potential in mankind. It was for humanity that she must not fail. Mother help me defeat this miscreant. My loved ones, lend me your strength to defeat her. Selene do not let me fail this time. "My friends I will not fail you! My love help me!" Serenity cried as she felt the presence of her loved ones surround her.

Suddenly she heard their cries…

"MERCURY POWER MAKE UP!"

"MARS POWER MAKE UP!"

"JUPITER POWER MAKE UP!"

"VENUS POWER MAKE UP!"

Lastly, she heard the voice of her beloved prince beside her. "Take my power as well my love. The powers of this earth use it to seal this evil away for eternity." Their voices faded away but their presence lingered beside her. No she would not fail. Earth would be safe even if it cost her life.

She could feel their power overwhelm her and she remembered a lesson her mother had taught her and she pulled from deep within her soul a power as old and ancient as the universe. A power that was linked with her life force a risk she was willing to take if it would seal away this evil witch. This battle would seal her doom as well as Metallia's. Serenity glowed bright silver as she cried out, "MOON HEALING ESCALATION!"

The power that resonated within her voice frightened Metallia just a bit. Nevertheless, the entity was resolved not to lose this battle. The last thing she wanted was to be sealed away with the nothingness as her companion.

Serenity's blast of silver power overcame Metallia's and encased the darkness that was once a queen. The light blinded Serenity, she could only hope she had succeeded in sealing away the Queen of the dark kingdom as she floated in a sea darkness that suddenly overcame her.

Why is it so dark? Where am I? Serenity asked herself as two voices resonated from her lips, one was older and mature. The other sounded so much like a normal teenager.

You are safe here. A voice declared, a female voice that sounded like a thousand women speaking all at once.

"Who are you?"

I am your Imperium Silver Moon Crystal.

"You are sentient? Mother always told me you were inanimate."

Yes, I am sentient. Your mother knew not. She fought battles but she had never had to use my full potential.

"So I won?"

You have won…

"Then I paid the price for this victory did I not?"

Yes, you knew very well that my ultimate power was the full power of your life linked to me. You knew it would kill you to win, yet you used my full potential anyway?

"I did, didn't I? I could not let her win. Not again. I did not want to see what happened on the moon happen on the earth."

So you did it for the sake of humanity?

"I did. They do not deserve to suffer for what was our mistake in the first place."

Your mistake? How was it your mistake?

"It was the Moon Kingdom's mistake. We had grown too proud, believed we were untouchable by any being. Metallia proved that our hubris was our downfall she destroyed our era of peace in one night. It was our fault we had not followed her after she rocketed out of the sun. We should have detected her on Earth sooner but we did not. We were to blame for that failure because we did not believe that there were still those who were unafraid of our strength."

You understand much of what happened that day. But dear girl it was not your fault. You had no say in the road of destiny that you walk. However, your heart was pure when you used my true power. I will grant you one wish.

I wish to be a normal teenage girl.

You are aware that you will forget that this has ever happened? Your friends, everything it will all be as though it had never existed.

I understand but as you say, I walk a road of destiny. I believe we will all be reunited once more.

You still desire this normal life.

Yes, I do. I wish to be normal.

Very well, live in peace Princess Serenity, if even for a little while. The thousand voices said cryptically as the darkness encased her once more.