Crimson Darkness by Sailor Draco
Chapter 9 : The End
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. Naoko Takeuchi does.
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POV: Usagi
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"GO!" I screamed at Chibi-Usa as the earth shook violently under our feet.
Chibi-Usa had tears streaming down her face, screaming that she wouldn't go, that she wouldn't leave me. My heart ached to see her like that, but she couldn't stay here! Hotaru and Michiru grabbed her, despair and regret in their eyes as they looked at me for the final time. Hotaru summoned the time gate and everyone went through except for Seiya. "I love you!" I yelled at Chibi-Usa as Hotaru and Michiru dragged her through the gate.
My eyes turned to the sky, a hurricane of darkness with lightning dancing in its grasp. Thunder ripped through the sky in warning. There was no time left.
Seiya took my hand, looking me firmly in the eyes. "They'll be safe Usagi," he promised.
I nodded, knowing none of us could make such promises. The darkness had no limitations.
"You should have gone with them," I scolded.
"I'm not leaving you alone with this," he said, determined.
"You'll die," I said again. We had this argument before.
"I don't care," he said truthfully. "If this thing spreads beyond Earth, everything is threatened. We make the last stand here."
I nodded, knowing I couldn't persuade him. We transformed into senshi for what could be the last time.
"Remember the plan?" I asked.
He nodded. We held each other tightly, glowing with our respective powers. The darkness was getting closer, lightning barely missing us. We stood strong, unafraid. The winds began tearing at us, then swept us into the air. We never let go of each other. We let the darkness swallow us, laughter echoing softly as we were consumed.
When I awoke I could see nothing, feel nothing. I knew my body had been destroyed. Like we had suspected, it couldn't take our souls. Our bodies may deteriorate within the darkness, but the light of our souls remains, swallowed. The more aware I became, the more my soul began to glow. Soon I could see a mile around me. I moved within the darkness, searching for other lights.
I came upon many sleeping souls--anyone who was swallowed or taken by the darkness. I awoke them one by one, and they followed me. My heart ached to find my sisters, but I forced myself to have patience. The other souls seemed to cling to me, afraid to be alone in the dark. Together our accumulated light grew, chasing back the dark. Demon dogs and terrible dragons appeared to subdue us, but they were scared of our collective light.
We walked deeper and deeper into the darkness, adding to our numbers. Finally I sensed we were in the darkest part. We stopped there, spreading out into a circle. We became a sun in lonely space. We kept look outs in all directions, searching for others. I meditated in the center of our light, praying and calling to my sisters, willing them to wake.
I don't know how much time has past for time was nonexistent in the dark. Whispers spread amongst the souls I awoke as we saw faint lights approaching us from different directions. The first to reach us was Seiya with a small group of souls.
I ran to him, embracing him as a spark of hope grew within me. He kissed me softly, holding me as if he were afraid I was an illusion that would dissipate at any moment.
"Look who I found," he smiled.
I looked at his group that had joined ours and saw them part as Rei walked forward. I ran to her, tears in my eyes, and hugged her tightly.
"Usagi," she whispered happily, hugging me back.
"Rei-chan, I thought I had lost you all," Usagi cried.
"Silly odango atama," she smiled, tears in her eyes.
After I caught her up on everything she had missed since she died the other distant lights caught up to us. Ami and Minako lead one group, Setsuna, Makoto, and Haruka another. I cried as I embraced each one of them. I had honestly thought my sisters lost to me forever. How foolish was I! I should have known better. After all of our previous battles... we always came back together.
Though in my heart I still knew this time was different. Our lucky was running out.
"I gave Chibi-Usa the crystal," I explained to them. "It answers to her anyway. It's time I passed it down. Hotaru thought we could push away the darkness with our collective light," I said as I surveyed everything. Our light was so bright I could barely see the edges of darkness. "I don't know if we will be reborn again. If we are, I suspect it will be when we are greatly needed. The future is now Chibi-Usa's."
They nodded in understanding. We all hugged each other again, saying our last words and how much we loved each other. Everyone held hands--we were countless in numbers. Everyone that was swallowed by the darkness was with us. We sang and grew with our determination, and our love for the world. Our light intensified, eating through the darkness. I heard the voice scream as the darkness was devoured. Then we began to feel lighter and were lifted upwards. The light released us all.
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POV: Chibi-Usa
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I still remember that day long ago when we fled the darkness. We knew the moment when my mother succeed, as I knew she would. I could feel her perish and her soul leave this world. The rest of us returned to the present and healed the world with the crystal. I gathered my own senshi with the help of Hotaru, Michiru, and the remaining Starlights. I built memorials to the fallen senshi... my family. I have ruled for a few thousand years. I haven't aged since the day my mother defeated the darkness.
There are whispers among my people of the dead senshi returning to help them, and then disappearing as quickly as they came--spirits. This morning I felt her, unmistakably. They have been reborn. This rings true through every part of my soul. I rejoice at their rebirth, but I'm also weary What awaits us that would bring their rebirth? What are we to face next?
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I want to thank everyone who read this series, more then 2000 of you! It's my most read fanfic. I apologize for taking three years to write the final chapter. Life happens quickly, I had no idea that much time had passed. I graduated from college, got married, and just had a beautiful baby girl this year! Gomen for not finishing this sooner! Thank you for your patient. I do have a new series with Rei and Yuuichirou called Conflicting Loyalties. I also have a novel that I have finished and am currently revising before I start submitting it to publishers under my name, Rachel Cantrell. So stay tuned for more work! -
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/sailordraco
