Moon Goddess of War Ascended: A Side Story – By Ocramed
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon, the God of War franchise and other properties belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a limited, crossover fusion story. C&C are welcomed.
Special Note: This is a sort of prequel to "Moon Goddess of War". Also, the sequel to "Moon Goddess of War" (called "Moon Goddess of War, Guardian of Sparta") has been uploaded as well.
Part 7
With the restoration of the Statue of Apollo, along with the recovery of its lantern, the Lantern of Delos, the Ghost of Sparta and the Moon Princess proceeds to solve the mystery within, all in an effort to recover the Eyes of the Oracle…
"I don't see why I can't simply crawl through the gaps of the cage that are holding those eyes," Usagi said, as she looked at the Eyes of the Oracle, which were set within the bust of the Oracle Aletheia. "I mean, maybe I can fit inside?"
"Be my guest," Kratos said.
Usagi attempted to crawl through the gaps, only to get an electric shock in response.
ZAP!
"Ah!" Usagi screeched.
"HAHAHAHA!" Kratos laughed. "That was a good one…"
"Humph!" Usagi replied indignantly, as she backed off. She was disappointed that her quest to recover the eyes was going to be difficult after all…
Throughout the quest for the Eyes of the Oracle, the pair of warriors had to figure out how to go around the various barriers that had been put into place by the Furies. Meanwhile, after Usagi consulted with the collected works of Archimedes, the Moon Princess figured out a way to manipulate the puzzle that was the Lantern of Delos…
"Alright," Usagi said, as she finished rotating the dial that she was standing on, synchronizing the giant gem stones in the direction of the Sun. "Open the doors."
Grunting, Kratos partially opened the great doors, which were locked by mechanical representation of Apollo himself. Upon being hit by the rays of the Sun, the giant jewel shone, causing the inter-workings to the Lantern of Delos to move on its own in almost a clock-work fashion.
"You know, I wish Ami and Mamoru were here," Usagi said. "They'd appreciate the engineering of this place…"
With the gears and lens aligned, the main barrier set up by the Furies was broken, allowing Kratos and Usagi to cross over…
"Oh, wow!" Usagi said, as she realized where she was.
"What is it?" Kratos said, as he sees Usagi pulling out a scroll from her pouch. "Well?"
"This place is more than just some dedicated statue, or a fancy lighthouse," Usagi said, as she quickly scanned the text. "Archimedes was a genius, so much so that he was able to build a gateway to other worlds…"
Pause.
"No wonder the Ares and the Furies destroyed this place," Usagi said. "From what I can guess, Aletheia could see across time and place. Archimedes, having built the Temple of Delphi, took that same principle and created an actual doorway into other worlds…including to Mount Olympus. When Aries and the Furies caught wind of what was going on, they destroyed this place, since Orkos had tried to use this place to warn Mount Olympus. Hiding the Eyes of the Oracle here, after the statue was destroyed, was the Furies being ironic. I mean, why would there still be minions guarding this place in the first place?"
"So what do we do now?" Kratos asked.
"Here is the 'Trial of Archimedes'," Usagi said. "Only way to get Aletheia's eyes is by doing what we just did in order to break the barrier to get to this other part of the Lantern of Delos, which doesn't really exist in the real world."
"Fine, then proceed…"
Duplicating the process, the same one that allowed them to enter this second world, was easy enough. However, rather than utilizing the rays of the Sun to open the cage, it was the rays of the Moon that opened the second cage, and thus allowing Kratos and Usagi to get Aletheia's eyes…
"Oh, wow," Usagi said, as she looked up at Artemis, the Olympian goddess of the Moon, who held the rays of the Moon in her eyes, with the Moon right behind her…
"What is it?" Kratos said.
"That's…the statue of Artemis, twin sister of Apollo, who is holding up the Lantern of Delos from at night," Usagi said. "She is both cousin and sister, since she is like me….IS me, in fact."
"Pardon?"
Usagi turned around to face her friend.
"Kratos, like phases of the Moon, we are one and same," Usagi said. "Maiden, Mother and Crone represent aspects of the Moon. Hecate, Selene, Artemis…they are the same, as me, Serenity and Chibiusa are the same, as is Sailor Moon, Eternal Sailor Moon and Sailor Cosmos…"
Pause.
"In a way, that's pretty weird that I am both my own mother and my own daughter," Usagi blanched.
"What are you talking about?" Kratos asked in a confused manner.
"Sorry," Usagi said, as she turns away. "Anyway, Archimedes created a dual dimension, where the Eyes of the Oracle straddle two dimensions. Anyone who doesn't know that will never get the eyes. But if we solve the puzzle on both ends of the Lantern of Delos, we can get the real eyes."
"I STILL have no idea what you are referring to," Kratos said.
"I'm saying that I know how to get those eyes."
"Then, let's go get those eyes."
"I swear, your simplistic approach to everything astounds me…"
Upon obtaining the eyes, the floor reconfigures itself into an elevator of some kind. With the help of the Eyes of the Oracle, finding the hidden latches would not be a problem. Unfortunately, the Trial of Archimedes would begin, as hordes of monster and warriors began to appear.
"Told you this wouldn't be easy," Usagi said, as she pulls her Silver Sword out of its scabbard.
"Good," Kratos said, as he gripped his blades. "I could use some blood-letting."
"What's with you and blood-letting anyway?" Usagi said.
"It's easy to negotiate with the enemy if they fear you."
"Well, gee, tell THEM that," Usagi said, as she points to the cackling Medusae, Amazons warriors, harpies and centaurs, as they prepared for battle.
"I want the girl for myself," said the centaur. "She will make a fine mate."
"Oh, no you don't!" said one of the Amazons. "She may be the enemy, but she is a true warrior maiden! She deserves an honorable death, and not become your concubine 'horseman'."
"Well, WE have dibs on her first!" yelled a Medusa. "She and the Sparta slew too many of our kin!"
"No, we do!" yelled one of the harpies. "They slew more of us than of you!"
And so it went, as the minions of the Furies began to fight amongst themselves, even as Kratos and Usagi watched while breaking out in a sweat.
"Um, I have no idea what to do next," Usagi said.
"Just hope that the females win," Kratos said. "Otherwise, you'll end up as that centaur's woman."
"But…I don't want to have horse babies!" Usagi said in fright, imagining herself giving birth to a baby that was half-pony. "In fact, I don't want to have anyone's babies…"
Pause.
"Except for my 'Mamo-chan'!" Usagi said starry-eyed. "He's the man for me, and I want to start a family with him, even if it means having a certain annoying brat as my kid…"
"I think you are missing the point of what I am trying to say, Bunny," Kratos said, as he shook his head in disbelief…
After completing the Trial of Archimedes, which was only concluded when the minions of the Furies killed each other, Usagi and Kratos finally got their hands on the Eyes of the Oracle. Unfortunately, the Furies managed to get a hold on THEM, as well…
"Arggh!" Kratos yelled, as he tried to break the goo that had him and Usagi bound.
"Ugh!" Usagi said. "I've been slimed…!"
Then a thought came to her.
"I really hope that this…stuff isn't some 'bodily fluid' or something."
"Silence!" Alecto yelled, in annoyance.
"I'm sorry, my friends," said Orkos, as he was thrown onto the floor within the Lantern of Delos. "I tried to warn you-!"
"We'll deal with YOU later, my son!" yelled Tisiphone, as she yanks her son's head.
"I will not be a servant of Ares any longer," growls Kratos.
"We shall see, after your stay in the bowels of the Hecatonchires, Spartan," Alecto said, before turning her head towards Usagi.
"Eep!" Usagi said, as Alecto takes hold of Usagi chin.
"Such a beautiful creature, you are," Alecto said softly. "Normally, we do far worse to you, either serving us as a pleasure maiden…or worse. But I see in you something that we Furies can use."
"I'll never turn to the 'Darkside'!" Usagi said, mustering courage.
"I do not know what you are talking about," Alecto said with annoyance. "But, by the time we are done with you, YOU will become one of US."
"NOOOOOO!" Usagi said. "I don't want to be evil-!"
And thus, the Ghost of Sparta and the Moon Prison are taken to the Prison of the Damned of the Furies, where they would spend a lot of time being tortured (in Kratos' case) or groomed (in Usagi's case) for the purposes of the Furies. That is, until Maegera, in her anger over the loss of her arm at the hands of Kratos, decided to take matters into her own hands…
"Usagi, wake up," said a familiar voice.
Usagi slowly opened her eyes…
"Ah!" Usagi said, as she sat up in some kind of bed. "Wha-where-?"
"Usagi, calm down," said a familiar face.
"Mamo-chan?" Usagi said.
Mamoru Chiba smiles at his beloved.
"You were having a bad dream," Mamoru said. "You're safe now."
Usagi rubbed her head and yawned, as she looks around the setting of her room. It appeared as if she was in Mamoru's apartment.
"How did I end up here?" Usagi asked.
"I don't know what happened, but you fell ill after we came back from the future," Mamoru said, as he hands Usagi a cup of tea. "We weren't sure if it was right to take you back to your home, or to a hospital, but we decided that, for now, you should stay at my place for a few days."
"And what did my Mom and Dad say?" Usagi asked in surprise.
"Amazingly enough, they were cool about you staying overnight," Mamoru said, as he laughed nervously. "Although, we did tell them that you'd be staying over at Makoto's place."
"Humph," Usagi said. "So, how long…?"
"Just a couple of days. We were worried about you, though."
"Oh, I see…"
Pause.
"But, you know, I could swear that I was someplace else," Usagi said thoughtfully.
"Are you sure it's not a dream of yours?" Mamoru said. "You know, dreams can be vivid."
"I guess so…"
There was a moment of silence between Usagi and Mamoru.
"So, what DID you dream, anyway?" Mamoru asked. "It sounded intense."
"Boy, was it ever," Usagi said. "I dreamt that I was in ancient Greece fighting monsters, alongside this mighty warrior named Kratos. Oh, and there were these three evil 'witches' that were a REAL problem, all of them reminded me of Beryl in a weird sort of way, and all of them had bad fashion sense."
"You…don't say," Mamoru said, as he tightened his mouth.
"And one of them, Tisiphone, I think, was this real pervert who tried to seduce me," Usagi said, as she made a face. "As if!"
"Well, we shouldn't dwell on the past," Mamoru said. "But let's talk about us."
"What about us?"
"Maybe we can take our relationship to next level?" Mamoru said hopefully. "We are destined to be together, after all."
"Um, I don't know…"
"Look," Mamoru said, as he takes his hand to stroke Usagi's face. "You do love me, yes?"
"I do, but…I don't think I'm ready to be serious about…us," Usagi said.
"Then, how about a little kiss?"
"Um, okay," Usagi said, as she allows Mamoru to kiss her. And as she does, the Moon Princess looks into her beloved's eyes…
"Wait," Usagi said, as she pushes Mamoru away from her. "How do I even know who Tisiphone is, if all I have done is dream since getting back from the future?"
"Maybe you heard it from school?" Mamoru offered.
"Oh, really? Then you really don't know me very well…TISIPHONE!"
"Curses!" "Mamoru" said, as the illusion fell away, revealing the real Tisiphone. "How did you know?"
"Everyone, including Mamoru, knows that I'm a poor student in school," Usagi said, as she quickly moves away. "And I told you, I'm not interested in you or anyone else for that matter! Well, my Mamo-chan is the exception, but still…you get what I mean!"
"Oh, poo," Tisiphone said, as her illusion went away, revealing an inner chamber within the Citadel of the Furies.
Usagi looks around the chambers. It was spacious to be sure, with columns forming a ring around the primary platform. She could also see that Kratos was confronting Alecto herself.
"Sister, we have failed!" Tisiphone said, as her flying bird creature carries its mistress to Alecto's side.
"As have I," Alecto said with a sneer. "Kratos has refused our offer of pleasure."
"I only want to be freed from my blood oath, so that I may return to my family in peace," Kratos said.
"Oh, no," Alecto said. "YOU belong to the gods. And since you refuse our offer, you both shall die by our hands!"
"I didn't refuse anything!" Usagi yelled. "I simply didn't want to be with anyone!"
"Too late!" Tisiphone said, as she began to change reality, even as Alecto changes her form to that of a giant, multi-tentacle sea monster.
"Now suffer the wrath of the Furies!" Alecto said. "RRRRRARRRRGH-!"
"Tentacles," Usagi said. "ALWAYS with the tentacles. What are we, back home in Japan…?"
With Tisiphone's spell complete, Usagi and Kratos find themselves on a damaged ship, as it circles what appeared to be a whirlpool.
"You know, you'd think Alecto and Tisiphone would be more upset at us for Maegera's death," Usagi said.
"As you say, the day is young," Kratos said, as he grips his Blades of Chaos. "We do this, together."
"Together," Usagi said, as she smiles. She then thrusts her hands into the air, and said the first thing that came to mind.
"Dios Moon Prism…Make-Up?"
FWOOSH!
When the light show cleared, Usagi had become Shin Sailor Moon…for the first time. Usagi's simple gown was rewoven into ancient warrior version of her traditional sailor fuku, complete with silver breastplate armor, given the Moon Princess a look fit for a Amazon.
"Whoa," Shin Sailor Moon said.
"A little too fancy for my tastes, but it suits you," Kratos said. "You ready?"
"Ready," Shin Sailor Moon said, as she twirls her Silver Sword. "I'll deal with Tisiphone up top, while you get to play with Alecto."
"Typical how you get to deal with the easy foes," Kratos said.
"Hey, I ain't going to deal with HER down there," Shin Sailor Moon said, as she stared down into the whirl pool. She could barely make out Alecto's monster form.
"Uh-uh, no way."
"Humph," Kratos said, as he took a deep breath before running across the deck to dive over the side of the boat.
SPLASH!
Meanwhile, Tisiphone floats overhead.
"So, it's you and me," Tisiphone sneered. "We could have had a good life together."
"No, we wouldn't," Shin Sailor Moon said. "I would have been nothing more than a plaything for your amusement. Besides, what you have done to your 'guests' at the Prison of the Damned is unforgiveable."
"So be it, Moon Princess!" Tisiphone said, as she summons Spartan warriors to the boat. "See how you fare against THEM!"
"Yaaah!" yelled the first Spartan, as he charges forward, followed by a thrust of his spear.
Taking her fighting lessons from Kratos to heart, Shin Sailor Moon side-steps the blow, and quickly slices the spear in half.
SLICE!
CLAK!
Shin Sailor Moon then uses a doppelganger to stymie the first attacker while she turned to block a second attacker's spear thrust with her Silver Shield.
CLANG!
After creating yet another doppelganger, Shin Sailor Moon leaps into the air, takes out her Silver Club, charges it with the Lightning of Zeus, and slams it onto the deck of the ship, sending out waves of electricity that decimates her foes in the immediacy.
ZAARK-BOOM!
Tisiphone showers energy blasts, causing Shin Sailor Moon to move on the defensive.
"Yikes!" Shin Sailor Moon said, as she leaps out of the way. She then takes a step back, pulls out her Silver Javelin, and flings it at Tisiphone.
"You missed!" Tisiphone yelled in delight.
"I did?" Shin Sailor Moon said, as the skies open up with a shower of Silver Spears that rained down upon Tisiphone and the rest of her Spartan minions.
"Augh!" Tisiphone screeched, as her animal familiar was impaled. The Fury felt the creature's pain, rather than feeling the pain in a direct way.
"I guess I didn't," Shin Sailor Moon said, as she takes out her Silver Sword, mentally preparing herself for the next melee…
Later, Alecto and Tisiphone, both mortally wounded from their respective battles with Kratos and Shin Sailor Moon respectively, are returned to their normal guises.
"It is over," Kratos said. "Free me from my blood oath to Ares!"
"It…it will NEVER be over," Alecto said. "The will of the Furies will live on, long after WE have perished!"
"What do you mean by that?" Shin Sailor Moon asked, dreading the answer.
"Why do you think we spent much time with you, Moon Princess?" Tisiphone said. "Why do you think you adapted to Maegera's power so easily?"
"No, I didn't-"
"Of course you dis!" Alecto said. "Kratos was supposed to be the weapon Ares would have used to bring down the rein of Zeus, but you interfered, changing the winds of Fate. And when that happened, we knew it would be a matter of time before our own demise occurs…"
Kratos knew what was going on, and the terrible price that his friend Bunny had paid in order to save him from himself and those he cared about."
"YOU, Moon Princess, will be the Fury of the Olympus," Tisiphone said. "For the remainder of your days, we will be a part of you…as your shadow."
"No!" Shin Sailor Moon cried out, as she felt the power of Alecto and Tisiphone flow into her, joining that of Maegera's. A glowing Omega symbol forms around her crescent moon symbol, marking the Moon Princess as a Fury.
"It is too bad you and Kratos never accepted our original offers," Alecto said. "It would have been a glorious new era…for the gods…"
And, with that, the last two Furies die, leaving their legacy to live on…
"I can…feel them," Shin Sailor Moon said, as she looked at Kratos in fear. "I can feel them…inside me."
Kratos takes Shin Sailor Moon into his arms, as the Moon Princess cries.
A week later, Kratos and Usagi return to Sparta, with Orkos in tow.
"So, this is your home, Spartan?" Orkos said.
"It is," Kratos said, as he smells the air. For the first time in a long time, he felt at peace with himself…
Orkos nods his head, and then turned towards Usagi.
"Are you sure you won't do this thing?" Orkos said, referring to the single oath stone that was embedded in his stomach. With Usagi as the new Fury, she freed the prisoners within Hecatonchires, including Aegaeon the Titan.
"I will, only if you promise me that you will write down your experiences, and the experiences of those touched by your mothers, as a testimony for future generations to read about," Usagi said. "And then, I want you to live…for Aletheia's sake."
"I do not know about the latter, but I promise you the former," Orkos said.
"Then, it shall be done," Usagi said, as she casually removes the stone from Orkos side.
PLUCK!
"Thank you," Orkos said with relief. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart…"
Kratos began seeing the full extent to what he had done in his mind. He growls, as he falls to his knees while reaching out to his companion.
"I have you, Kratos," Usagi said, as she held the Ghost of Sparta's hand. "And I always will."
"Th-thank you, Bunny," Kratos managed to say, as he began to breathe more easily. He could remember everything that he had done, after her had asked to serve Ares at the god of war's discretion. However, he did remember being stopped from committing a greater sin: the slaughter of his wife and child. He could remember when he was stopped by a certain annoying, yet good-natured girl, from doing the deed.
I have you, Kratos. And I always will…
Kratos turned toward Usagi, who smiles in return. This resulted in the Ghost of Sparta smiling for the first time in a while, twice thus far.
"Is…is that a smile on your face?" Usagi said, as she teased Kratos.
"No," Kratos said, as he blushed slightly. "Just…a reflex from the spasms of muscle pain I've been feeling lately."
"Sure, it is…"
"What do you do now, Ghost of Sparta?" Orkos said. "You are freed from the Furies."
"But not from Aries," Kratos said, as he sees his wife and daughter, before standing up. "You know that my family was purposely placed in a situation for me to kill them, so that I could be the perfect weapon for Ares. If I have to journey to the ends of the Earth to rid me of THAT burden, the guilt of being a tool of Ares, then I shall continue to stay away from those I care about…for their sake…"
Pause.
"My friend, tell Lysandra and Calliope that I still live, and that I shall return to them as soon as possible," Kratos said, as he extends his arm in friendship.
"I will," Orkos said, as he accepts the hand in friendship. "You have my word…"
As Kratos and Usagi depart Sparta, Kratos looks back at his home.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Usagi said. "You do know that Ares won't be satisfied until he gets what he wants."
"Just as you are burdened by the legacy of the Furies, I am burdened by what I have done to get to my present predicament," Kratos said. "And as long as I am not at peace, I cannot take the chance that I might endanger my family."
"Don't worry, Kratos," Usagi said. "Until you no longer need me, I'll be there for you."
And thus, the journey of the Ghost of Sparta and the Moon Princess would continue, until the day Ares is defeated by their hands. What resulted from that is, of course, another story…
Fin.
Author's Note: This story is a prequel to "Moon Goddess of War". Check it out. Later…
