REVELATIONS
CHAPTER SEVEN: Put On Your War Paint
Hi there, faithful readers! Okay, so I know that I've typically been taking a while between updates, but IT'S SUMMER and that means I can have a life again! So – here you go. I'm going to try to update one every two weeks. Cheers!
Thank you so much to all of my incredible reviewers! Also, I just realized that you could reply to reviews, so yeah. That's a thing. Better late than never, I guess.
ALSO: anyone who understood the "you complete me" reference to the deleted Iron Man 2 scene in the previous chapter – you're awesome. So very awesome.
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon. I don't make any profit from this. Just, you know, the joy in my heart when I see a review. So, yeah. That. Hint.
"…Farewell, Endymion. Master the Golden Crystal, for it is our only hope."
Darien woke gasping, Serena not far behind.
"Did you…. Were you there, too?" she asked, voice hoarse and eyes bright.
"Yeah," he replied, running a hand over his face and trying to calm his racing mind.
They both lay there in silence, listening to the night noises coming softly through the open window and the sound of Ken's snoring.
Darien was reeling. Beryl is back? She's been behind all of this? …and so that's how we really died? The Generals – my Generals – were brainwashed and used against their lovers? And we're to bring them back? How? How do we even find them? They were killed in the early days… And what Golden Crystal? Where is it now? I've always known that my inner strength was golden – but a crystal? How…?
His thoughts were interrupted when he felt his Princess's soft touch on his chest as she draped her arm around him and pulled him close.
"We're going to get through this, remember?" she asked.
He brought his arm around to rub her back and planted a kiss on the top of her head.
"Yeah," he said again softly, not quite believing himself. They lay like that for a while, Serena taking comfort in Darien's soft breathing and Darien staring at the ceiling, rubbing slow circles on her back while holding her close, trying to hold everything together.
The sky slowly got brighter, and Darien knew that he would have to leave soon. He did not want to risk being seen jumping out of his Princess's window. All they needed at this point was for their identities to be compromised.
With a soft groan he slid out of the bed, already missing Serena's warmth.
"I wish you didn't have to go," she said quietly, "But I'll see you at the Temple later, yeah?"
He nodded, and leaned down to kiss her again. "Get your rest."
"I love you, Dare. We're going to figure this out."
"Love you, too. I know," Darien replied, his rich voice hoarse as he disappeared noiselessly out of Serena's bedroom window. He just needed some time to think, so he decided to go to his pacing spot in the park and do what he did best. Darien knew that sleep would not be coming back to him, and it would be great to deal with at least some of these revelations before his 9:30 class.
He decided to forego the rooftops and walk like a normal person. A little normalcy was needed at a time like this, and the walk would do him good. With one last look at his Princess's window, he squared his shoulders and walked off into the coming dawn.
XXXXXXXXXX
Rai was awake before the sun. Her grandfather always said she rose with the sun. Sometimes, she cursed him for just how right he was.
But to be fair, right now she wanted to curse everything.
She swept the already pristine temple steps with a vengeance. As the dry bristles scraped the worn stone, a bead of sweat rolled down her forehead. She was freezing. Annoyed, she wiped it away. Grandfather said she had a fever.
He wasn't completely wrong. Her inner fire had been burning high, but the cold (Fear? No. She would not be afraid. She didn't have that luxury.) feeling in the pit of her stomach wouldn't be warmed. Just the thought of him –
No. She would not think of him. She would not think of how she had loved him and in that love became weak. Never again. She would not be used. She would not. She was so much stronger than that, this time around, physically and mentally. The extra memories of her former training had helped to make sure of that.
There was a time when she could only call on her Senshi powers when she was transformed. Now, with the help of years of experience, both in this life and her passed, she was able to tap into her inner fire whenever she saw fit.
Glancing around the deserted courtyard, she squared her stance and drew her hands together, pointer fingers extended like pistols. Calling on her inner fire, she willed the flames to burst forth, shooting into the early morning chill and warning the air around her. She separated her hands, keeping her fingers extended, and did a series of spins and punches that she remembered her trainers from the Silver Millenium drilling her on. As she twirled through the stances, all glossy ebony hair and searing flames, her muscles recognized the steps from some far away time. A time where she had failed. She would not do so again.
As she finished the last stance and landed gracefully in the same position in which she had begun. She recalled the flames, casually picked up her broom from where she had let it fall, and resumed her sweeping.
Yes, she would be ready.
She was always ready.
"What's the matter, Lady Mars?" he asked, his mouth pulling up at the corner and his cobalt eyes dancing like the fire she controlled. "Aren't you always ready for a challenge?"
She glared at him – a glare that she used often to drive anyone and everyone away, to hide in plain view behind her blazing eyes and her long, glossy hair and her radiant power. But he wasn't just anyone, and she knew from experience that he wasn't going anywhere.
The ruby sparkling on her finger was evidence of that.
"Oh, that's cute, Jade. You think you're a challenge?" she smirked, calling forth her fire. She moved with purpose as she crafted a sword made of flames and twirled towards him.
He brought called forth his own crystal sword and met hers with a ring that sounded like a bell. Steady and distinct, it echoed through the practice arena and several heads turned their way.
"I'm a lot of things," he said, his rich voice husky and their faces inches apart as they attempted to send the other's sword flying. Flames flared against crystal as they broke apart. With the clang of bells echoing every time their swords met and the intricate footwork, it was almost as if they were dancing.
Jadeite's laughed filled the arena as they twirled across the floor, swords flying faster than should be humanly possible (but then again they weren't quite human) and hearts racing. With a calculated leap, Rai landed gracefully in the stands; Jadeite was barely half a step behind her.
Their spar continued up through the stands and eventually over the back wall. Rai leaped down, lithely twisting in mid-air to block her lover's blade. She used the momentum of the impact of their swords to push herself to the right, where she quickly landed and rolled to the side of the stadium into the shade where she could see properly. Jade was there as soon as she turned, his sword already flying.
She knew he was going to miss her has soon as his sword had begun its arc.
Hah – he's getting rusty! She thought, victory speech already writing itself in her mind as she brought her own flaming sword up to meet his chest.
However, before she could completely raise her arm, Jadeite's sword hit its mark in the water tower above her and gallons of water rained down on them, effectively extinguishing Rai's sword in a hiss of steam and soaking her as it continued to pour out.
In the time it took Rai to process what had just happened, Jadeite had already joined her under the quasi-waterfall he had just created and pulling her into his arms.
Told you so, he said through their link. She could hear his smirk, but couldn't help but smile as he pulled her closer and kissed her deeply, the water pouring down on them and the distinct sound of cheering in the background.
No. She blocked the memory. She would not think of the dreams she had been having as the memories burst forth. She would not think of him.
And if he ever showed his face again, well, he wouldn't have much of a face to show when she was finished with him.
She would never forgive him for allowing himself to be brainwashed (for she knew that was what had happened. She was not blind to the fact that she had loved him - that she had agreed to become his wife, for God's sake! – and that love had been used against her. She was not blind to the fact that she had been weak). But more importantly, she would never forgive herself for that weakness.
Never, she though again to herself, blinking back tears that she told herself were from staring at the rising sun. Her eyes were too bright in the early light, and she shivered again as she continued to sweep.
She took comfort in the silence. Some storms she had to weather alone; it was in her nature. Yes, some storms she had to weather alone, and this was a hurricane.
XXXXXXXXX
It was a decidedly subdued group that met at the Hikawa Shrine that afternoon. Despite their best intentions, none of the Senshi had slept well, thoughts of D Point plaguing them.
Rai greeted them all as they filed in, not even bothering to attempt a smile, simply nodding at her comrades. They took their seats without much small talk, and Mina wasted no time in calling the meeting to order.
"Mind if we join you?" a familiar voice cut in.
Six warriors and two cats turned abruptly to face the two figures silhouetted against the sunshine.
"Amara! Michelle! What are you doing here?!" cried Serena, jumping up from her seat next to her Prince and running over to throw her arms around both of them. "How is Hotaru?"
"Well, we figured Lita would do some baking…" said Amara [A/N: UGH I DON'T LIKE THEIR ENGLISH NAMES BUT DAMN YOU, CONSISTENCY].
Michelle elbowed her in the ribs, earning her a glare from Amara. Laughing softly, she smiled and put her arm around her love's waist, drawing her close. "Hotaru is doing well. She's really enjoying Ireland, and seems to be happy with boarding school in Kylemore – "
"Or maybe it's just something about living in a castle again," interrupted Amara.
Michelle rolled her eyes at her soul mate before looking back to her Princess and continuing, "She wanted us to let you know that she can come at any time."
"I'm sure we'll need her help sooner or later, but I don't want to pull her out of school until it's absolutely necessary. I'm glad that she's happy," said Serena, smiling.
Michelle nodded in understanding. "Also, we've been gone for too long. This is where we belong," she finished simply.
"You've been out having the lives you deserve. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way, that's why we didn't contact you earlier," said Serena, smiling warmly. "You've definitely earned some down time."
"Besides," interjected Lita, walking up to them and offering them the tray of cookies she had made that morning, "no matter how long you're gone, some things never change."
Amara noticeably brightened as she took two cookies and offered one to Michelle. "I think I've missed you most of all, Lita. You indulge my secret sin," she said, while Michelle laughed, sounding like soft chimes.
"Hey now," whined Serena. Amara laughed as she rumpled her Princess's hair. Serena tried to glare, but couldn't help but smile at her newly returned Senshi.
"Oh don't worry, you're not the only one," replied Lita, also laughing, as she winked at Darien. The Terran Prince simply grumbled something likely explicit while the group erupted in some long overdue laughter. When they had met the introverted man, none of them would have pegged him for such a chocoholic.
"Well, you might as well come in and make yourselves comfortable," said Darien, trying to get the attention back on the matter at hand and away from his sweet tooth. "It's going to be a long night."
At this, the group noticeably sobered and returned to their seats, Amara and Michelle taking over the love seat in the corner.
Amara glanced around the room at the warriors assembled before her. She knew that things had been starting up again, but Serena had assured the couple that there was no reason for them to cancel Michelle's concerts and return. However, their Princess's continued reassurances that they were not needed back so soon, based on the reports that they had been getting, it had been clear that the situation had deteriorated. After Michelle's final concert in Luxembourg, they had hopped on the first flight to Tokyo. That had been yesterday afternoon.
"Alright, bring us up to speed," said Amara, glancing around the room.
"Please," added Michelle, glancing at here partner. "Remember how we talked about manners?" she chided in a softer voice.
Amara merely rolled her eyes, and Darien couldn't help but smile. Michelle was definitely Amara's Serena, no two ways about it. When the Outer Senshi had first appeared, he had been suspicious; however, they had proven themselves time and time again, and he was now honored to count them as comrades. He also knew that it would be important to have them around to put the Generals in their places when they were found and reawaken. At this, he sighed. He sure as hell didn't want to have to be the one to tell the Senshi this new development.
Mina caught up Amara and Michelle on the recent events. By the time she finished, Amara and Michelle were both sitting at attention. Worry was evident on Michelle's normally smooth features; anger did not look entirely out of place on Amara's.
"And that's not even the end of it," added Serena, sounding resigned.
The group all turned to their Princess, unease spreading as they sensed that another bomb was about to be dropped.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" snapped Rai, clearly not amused.
"Queen Serenity came to us in a dream last night," said Darien, glancing around the room. They were taking this as well as could be expected – so far.
"And what did she say?" inquired Ami, trying to keep the panic out of her voice.
Serena sighed, also looking around to meet the troubled eyes of her Senshi. "It might be easier for me to show you again."
Lita bit her lip in trepidation. Whatever it was, she had a distinct feeling that's he wasn't going to like it.
Mina nodded, taking on Venus's air of authority as she commanded her troops. "Well, you heard her. Join hands."
They did so, and Serena used her crystal's power to transmit the dream to all of them. She couldn't help but cringe – it was even worse watching it for the second time, because she knew what was coming.
When the vision was finished and the crystal's brilliant silver glow faded, silence filled the room, broken only by Ami's soft sobs. Lita leaned next to her on the couch and put her arm around her friend's shoulders, while Rai awkwardly patted her arm. They glanced at each other, clearly shaken. While they had known when Serena felt them die, they had not relived it as Ami had, watching herself be killed by her soul mate through Serenity's eyes.
Mina startled them all by primly getting up from her seat in Rai's grandfather's armchair and walking to the wall of the Temple. She then proceeded to punch it so hard that the weathered stone cracked. She stood there for a moment in the aftermath and leaned her forehead against the sun-warmed stone, sending up a prayer for strength.
Then, calmly, she surveyed her warriors. Her cornflower eyes were cold steel and her posture was the definition of control; gone was the carefree aspiring actress with hair like sunshine and the personality to match. She held herself like she had in the Silver Millennium when she had been raised as the Princess of Venus and spent her life training for her role as the leader of the guard of the Princess of the Silver Millennium. Venus had risen. Orange light flared around her as transformed without the aid of her henshin wand.
"So, Beryl is back," she stated calmly. Though she didn't phrase it as a question, they both felt inclined to nod at her.
"And to defeat her, we have to bring back the Golden Crystal,"
Darien nodded again.
"And to do so, we have to revive the Generals?" This time, there was a hint of a question in her tone.
"Yes," said Darien, simply, meeting her eyes. He wished that he did not have to place this burden on them, but it could not be helped.
She inclined her head in response, seeming to understand, and then turned her attention to Rai, Ami, and Lita.
"Sisters," she started calmly, meeting the gazes of her Senshi in turn, chin held high and proud, shoulders squared. "Tonight, we will find out our true past. We've been through much together, both in this lifetime and our last. But I know that it has only been half of what we are designed to take. We are Senshi. This is our birthright. Will you stand with me and accept it?"
Venus's words cut through the room like a whip, breaking the Senshi out of the demons they had been battling since Serena had revealed that the Generals were to be found and revived. They looked at her as if she had three heads, not used to this "tough love" approach from the usually bubbly Goddess of Love.
Venus grew impatient. "I asked you, will you stand with me? This is what must come to be. Will you let it break you, or will you fight as you were born to do?"
Amara looked on at the leader of the Inner Senshi with an unmistakable glint of pride in her eyes, but also a pang of sadness. Yes, this was the Venus she remembered - the Venus who had sacrificed everything for her responsibilities. While she had tried to keep up a carefree demeanor to satisfy the requirements of Court life – and to retain some semblance of sanity – Amara could see the toll that it had taken on the young warrior. And it had come to this again.
Rai had finally processed Venus's words and nodded at her slowly, sensing in that moment that Mina was more of a kindred soul than she had realized. Slowly, she stood.
"I will stand with you," she said, surprised at how strong her voice sounded.
"And I," said a fierce voice to her left. Ami had stood, tears still drying on her face, small fists clenched tightly. She had a deadly kind of grace as she stood there, meeting Venus's gaze with her own steely blue eyes. "This ends now. I've had enough."
Though normally out of character, the phrase sounded eerily fitting coming from the Ice Senshi.
"Me, too," said Lita, making a fist and sending it flying into her other hand. She did not need to say anything more to convey her point.
Venus surveyed them and nodded. "Good. Now, Princess," she said, turning to Serena, "If you could please allow us to regain our memories."
"Now?!" Serena squeaked. She had not been expecting that, and she shifted uncomfortably under Venus's steely gaze.
"Yes. We will take the night to deal with this, and then meet here again at noon tomorrow to plan our attack."
"She's right, Serena," said Luna, speaking up for the first time. She smiled sadly at her young charge. Serena had grown into her power beautifully, but there were still moments when Luna could see the fourteen-year-old girl who had pulled the Band-Aid off of the small cat's forehead. It was refreshing at times, but this was not one of them. "We need to take action before these creatures get any stronger."
"Right," said Serena, sighing. Darien pulled here close and put his arms around her, ready to lend her his power as she used the Silver Crystal to release the Senshi's memories.
Serena closed her eyes in concentration and called forth the Silver Crystal again, feeling its warmth as a soft silver light filled the room.
"And Hotaru?" she asked, looking at Amara and Michelle.
"She remembers everything has it was, Princess. Pluto made sure that she never made her knowledge known, but she has always remembered."
Serena nodded, closing her eyes and channeling her energy into the crystal, willing that their true memories be unlocked. With a soft yell, she held the crystal aloft and its dazzling light filled the room for several minutes. In that time, the floodgate opened and all of the memories that had been kept from them to protect them from the horrors of their untimely ends in the Silver Millennium resurfaced.
By the time the light faded, Rai and Lita had slumped back onto the couch and were looking decidedly worse for the wear. There was no way to hide the tears that were freely falling, and Ami tried wordlessly to comfort both of them at the same time.
Mina stood where she had been, shoulders squared and chin held high, eyes closed and tears streaming down her face. Slowly she opened her eyes and, without looking at any of them in particular, addressed the Senshi. Her voice was slightly hoarse and she had lost some of the steel from her gaze, but the authority still rang true in her voice: "Here. Noon. Don't be late."
With that, she turned on her heel and, without a backward glance, walked out into the late afternoon sunshine that seemed so oddly out of place. It was strange to think that the world outside this room was turning as it always did (thanks to them), unaware that their own worlds had just been completely turned upside down.
"We should be going, also," said Michelle softly, rubbing Amara's knee as she slowly got up and made her way out of the room, making it clear that she did not want to intrude. Amara followed, nodding at Serena and Darien as she left. She had grown up knowing what it was like to be an outsider, and this was one of those times. While their memories were not complete, and this revelation had left them with much to think about, it did not change their fundamental memories from the Silver Millennium. They had been lovers in both lifetimes, and had minimal interaction with Endymion's Generals.
As they walked hand in hand into the sunshine, Amara put on her sleek sunglasses and got out the key to her sports car.
"Maybe I should bake something for the meeting tomorrow…"
Michelle chuckled softly. "I think they have enough on their plates without adding food poisoning."
Amara groaned. "That was one time!"
So, there you have it! Amara [HARUKAHARUKAHARUKA] and Michelle are back, which I'm sure many of you will be happy about!
Also, I'm trying to make sure that each of the Inner Senshi get at least one individual scene every now and then, because they're all so incredible. Lita's up next, along with D Point strategies, so get excited.
Also: So what if I essentially wrote Rai as a firebender. I make no apologies. I imagine she and Iroh would be great friends.
As always, reviews make me smile, and constructive criticism is also much appreciated. Thank you for sticking with me and this story!
-Elle
Time crawls on when you're waiting for the song to start,
So dance alone to the beat of your heart.
- Fall Out Boy, The Phoenix.
