Chapter 10

To say that I was furious was an understatement. The thunder cracks with each step I take. Lightning strikes the ground at random. The three Generals stop as I raise my hand and pound it into the ground. All eyes are on me as each General is struck by lightning and thrown off their feet.

"I told you that you had to kill them!" The thunder cracks again. "You can't be soft in the heat of battle!"

There's rage in my eyes as I clench my fists and walk towards Jadeite. Sailor Moon steps in front of me. "It's alright Lita, you can stop now."

I push her to the side. "None of you know the pain they've caused or the lies they've told. We gave them our hearts and they threw them away for a lonely queen."

"Lita, stop."

I turn to the future Queen. "You're weak right now, but you'll grow quickly."

I grab Jadeite's collar and lift him off the ground. With a handful of lightning I ready myself. Behind me I hear my name echo over and over again. On Jupiter, the enemy must fall.

"Bravo Jupiter. That's the fire we were missing in our last fight below the shrine. That is the Princess that I know all too well."

I look over my shoulder and see Chaos standing there with a smile on his face. "We can play once I've finished with these three."

He steps forward. "No, I think we'll play now. You're so predictable Jupiter. The rage in your soul calls to me just like it did all those centuries ago. Remember the battles we fought and the wars we won?"

I throw Jadeite to the side. "You're impatient aren't you?"

He shrugs. "You waste your time on these pathetic Generals. You should let me help you. We'll kill them together just like we would on the battlefield, remember?"

Mars forces herself to stand. "Lita."

I shake my head. "We killed many didn't we?"

He nods. "These girls are weak. They were weak then and they are weak now." He extends his hand. "Come with me."

I feel so different and I'm not sure why. In that moment I understand that this is not what I want. Those Generals… I want so bad to kill them, but I can't… can I?

Kunzite stands and charges towards me. The lightning crashes a mere foot to his left. I turn. "You're head is mine."

Everything seemed to slow right down. I raise my hand only to have Sailor Moon tackle me to the ground. Kunzite resumes his charge only to stop a few steps in; around his neck, a golden chain. I watch as Venus pulls back as hard as she can. The snap of his neck fills my ears.

Realization sets in as Venus lets the tears fall from her eyes. "I tried not kill him. You told me not to hold back but I did. I didn't think I was capable of taking a life."

Both Jadeite and Zoicite look at each other before disappearing. Chaos steps forward and claps his hands. "Now I didn't see that coming. Perhaps you aren't as weak as I thought." He turns to me. "Are you coming with me, Makoto?" I push the princess off me and walk towards him. He smiles. "You can't resist the feeling of battle."

The others protest as I take his hand. "I failed one trial, but I refuse to let you walk away."

A bolt of lightning strikes the both of us. The pain means nothing to me. This is my element and it will do as I command. He screams and falls to the ground. My knees buckle and give out under my weight.

I grasp my chest and close my eyes. The hole in my heart is already too far open. A shadow lifts from Chaos' previous body. That's when I understand. "Mina, get them away from here."

Mercury gets to her feet and stands beside Mars. Both motion towards Sailor Moon after seeing the shadow move. Venus pulls Sailor Moon out of the way as I quickly move and strike Chaos. It turns. "You can't stop us."

I run at it head on only to see it disperse in front of me. Sailor Moon struggles in Venus' grip. "Jupiter!" Mercury's warning comes too late.

Chaos emerges and surrounds me in a dark cloud. I close my eyes and summon a great storm. "You will be mine."

I shake my head. "That is never going to happen."

A surge of energy like none other echoes from the sky and hits the both of us. The pain is exhilarating. I fall to the ground. My eyes are getting heavy. I failed my trial and I accept the consequences. Mars screams my name but I don't have the energy to respond.

A portal opens behind Sailor Mercury allowing the Outer Senshi to step through. Saturn looks on at the smoking crater surrounding Jupiter. "By the gods."

Without warning she raises her wall, blocking an invisible attack. "You're very perceptive Saturn."

Uranus scans the area. "Where is he?"

Jupiter brings herself to stand. "It's just like old times isn't it?"

Sailor Moon steps forward. "Lita?"

Mercury lowers her visor. "I'm picking up massive amounts of negative energy."

Saturn turns away. "That's not Jupiter."

A bolt of lightning hits the wall. "Of course it's me, but my eyes are open now."

Saturn quickly opens a portal. "We have to go."

Neptune and Pluto hurry through followed by Mercury, Mars and Uranus. Venus stands there unable to move. "Lita."

Saturn pushes her through and grabs Sailor Moon. Both of them look back before disappearing. The wall collapses leaving Jupiter to stare at the Earth.

"What in the world was that?"

Saturn steps back. "She attacked them didn't she?"

Mercury nods. "I tried… but I just couldn't take a life."

Uranus turns away. "Even if it was for the greater good?"

Neptune pulls her back. "Amara, this isn't the time."

Mars looks to the ground. "I'm just as much to blame."

"No, it's my fault. I told her…" Sailor Moon drops to her knees and lets the tears fall from her eyes. "How did this happen?"

Saturn closes her eyes. "Fighting the Generals awakened the darkness suppressed for years. It was easy for Chaos to influence her. She failed her trial."

Venus steps forward. "Is this what happens if we fail the trials set before us?"

She nods. "The timeline is unstable. Every action will have its consequence."

"Can we save her?" Pluto's question causes Saturn to let out a sigh.

"I saved her once by locking Chaos within its crystal prison, but that cage has long since been broken. As much as this pains me, we cannot worry about Jupiter. Her fate now lies within the future Queen. We must attack directly and confront our past enemies." She then brings out half of the scepter. "It is the only way."

"But, Jupiter…"

Saturn nods. "At the very least she has taken Chaos out of the equation for the moment. She has her own struggle to deal with now."

Sailor Moon steps forward. "It was my doing."

"All actions will have its recourse. You will find that out before the end. All of our trials are far from over."

Sailor Moon takes half of the scepter and combines it with her own. "Let's end this before we lose anyone else."

In that moment a flash of light pierces through the sky as both halves become one. Saturn steps back and watches as Sailor Moon changes. "Duty before friendship that is how it was always meant to be."