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Sailor Moon is a product of Bandai, Toei, and Naoko Takeuchi
...
Makoto let out a happy sigh. Laying her head on Mamoru's bare chest. The rise and fall was somehow therapeutic. Mamoru ran his fingers thru her long locks. "You should keep your hair down more often." He mused.
"Gets in the way." She teased in return.
My she wished that they could could stay like this forever. Just be a normal couple. No responsibilities. The whole world not resting on their started to say something when she felt the slight rumble of the palace. They both leapt up.
"It's starting..."She whispered
...
Mamoru slipped out ahead of her, making his way to the throne room.
"Serenity! Are you ok? What's going on Setsuna?" Mamoru demanded.
"We will wait for the other's. We don't have much time, however." The Senshi of Pluto said. The Senshi quickly assembled.
Setsuna, Endymion and Serenity were soon bombarded with questions.
"Listen! Taizhou is attacking. Using the power of Fenrir to try and bring about Ragnarok. His army of Jötnar will be upon us soon." She stated.
"We will meet them head on then!" Haruka shouted, punching her fist into her other open palm.
"The Ginzuishou is weak. Nearly depleted. This will be an nearly impossible task." Hotaru finally spoke. The room grew silent.
"What will you do, your Highness? What should we do?" Minako came forward.
There was a long silent pause. Serenity's eyes met Makoto's. And there they lingered for what seemed like an eternity. "What would you have me do, my Queen." Makoto pushed ahead of Minako.
Several of the other's exchanging glances filled with confusion.
"What's going on here?" Minako questioned.
"No, I refuse. We will prevail as we always have." Neo-Queen Serenity spoke.
"But..." Mako was cut off. Serenity shaking her head.
"Then the honor guard should take as many civilians down to the Catacombs as possible." Mako finished.
The Catacombs has been a brilliant design. A series of mazes and tunnels running underneath the city of Crystal Tokyo. To be used in case of a dire emergency, such as their current precarious situation.
Serenity nodded in approval. Waving one of the guardsmen along to spread the message.
"My Senshi. My friends. My comrades. This will not be an easy victory. Not that we have ever had many of those. But I know we will be victorious!" Serenity managed a glowing smile for them all.
"They are coming from the East." Hotaru added. "We should meet them on the outskirts of the city." She finished
"Let's do this then!" Haruka shouted, turning on her heels and sprinting out of the palace. The group of uneasy Senshi behind her.
...
They arrived at the outskirts of the city. The blaring of the horns of Heimdall were nearly deafening. Haruka pushed thru the small forest of trees, arriving at a clearing. She stopped, her breath caught in her throat.
"Love?" Michiru asked finally catching up to her. Michiru let out a small gasp. Before them was an army of Jötnar. Numbering close to a thousand. Makoto was the next to arrive.
"By the gods. This is a suicide mission. Even with the Ginzuishou at full strength." The brunette muttered.
One by one the Senshi descended on the scene before them. They were all quiet. No one said a word. Just some uneasy glances, and uncomfortable shuffling. Another blast of the horn of war, shook them from their silence. This was it. Makoto looked to Setsuna. Before any more worlds could be spoken, the ground began to tremble.
"Setsuna and I will remain around the King and Queen. They must be protected at all costs. The rest of you will meet them in battle. May the gods be in our favor today." Minako declared.
"Try not to over exert yourselves too quickly. The Ginzuishou is compromised and will not be able to aid you for very long. Fall back as you feel your powers waning. I am unsure how much time we will have. Good luck my sisters." The Senshi of Pluto said while standing firm at Endymion's side.
For a brief moment, one more time, emerald met sapphire. Words were not needed.
Again the ground below their feet trembled. They readied themselves as something erupted from the ground. A great Serpent emerged from the earth.
"Jörmungandr..." Mako whispered
One great Jötnar approached them. Dwarfing even the mightiest of the Jötnar present. His sword brighter than the sun.
"That must be Surtr?" Ami stated. Makoto nodded in reply.
There was an eerie pause. As if both side were waiting for the other to strike.
"Well, I'm certainly not waiting for them to come to us." Haruka smirked. And with that the fight for Earth began.
Mercury flipped up her iconic blue visor, her fingers furiously typing along her keypad.
"I believe, Saturn and Jupiter would be better equipped to try and stop the World Serpent. It appears as though Surtr is playing field commander, at the moment. I think we should try and take out many giants as we possibly can, then focus on him." A collective nod was received.
"Stay safe everyone." Venus shouted.
"On me, Hotaru." Mako yelled, the two of them storming onward to face Jörmungandr
The great Serpent encircled the pair, striking with its mighty jaws. It's poisonous venom dripping down its massive fangs. Jupiter and Saturn dodged a whip from its mighty tail.
"Silence Glaive Surprise!"
"Jupiter Sparkling Wide Pressure!"
The monster seemed unfazed by their assault. A look of worry spread across Saturn's face. Makoto could see the panic.
"We aren't strong enough. I can feel it. The Ginzuishou barely has enough power remaining to sustain our transformations." Saturn stated, her voice uneasy. The pair looked across the battlefield. They were losing. Struggling, mightily. There should be no reason they couldn't defeat these Jötnar in their Eternal forms.
"Then we must finish this hastily." Jupiter charged Jörmungandr.
She summoned bolt after bolt of lightning, the electricity came screaming down from the sky. Striking the beast repeatedly. The snake shook its mighty head once the dust has settled. Burn marks littered it's scaly form, but otherwise the creature appeared unharmed. Saturn called another attack, as she was preparing the serpent whipped its tail towards her. Jupiter dove after the young girl.
"Move! Hotaru!" Mako screamed.
The beast knocked Hotaru out of the way, it lunged in to finish her off. His giant mouth agape.
Hotaru shook her head, trying to gather herself. Suddenly she glanced up, unable to react to Jörmungandr's attack. She winced, closing her eyes. But the attack never came. There Jupiter stood, holding the beast's powerful jaws open.
"It's heart, Hotaru. Stab it." Jupiter ground her teeth, as she sent another pulse of electricity down the snake's body.
Saturn quickly jumped up, lunging in with her Glaive. Mako's relentless attacks seemed to have damaged the monster's thick hide.
"Silence Glaive Surprise!" She screamed as stabbed at the beast.
It bellowed an awful scream. Mako let go as the snake began to writhe.
"Jupiter Supreme Thunder Dragon!" She called. The massive dragon crackling with electricity flew into Jörmungandr.
"Dusted." Mako smirked. She winced looking down at her side.
"Mako, you're hurt." Hotaru said, glancing at the wound.
"I'm fine, that's the least of our worries." Jupiter muttered. The pair were now surrounded by Jötnar.
Hours they fought. The horde of Giants seemed never ending. It was like the army was a Hydra. Cut off one head and two more would take its place.
Mako kicked at one of the Jötnar, her boot connecting with its skull. As he fell she grabbed it's spear and hurled it at of the Giants attacking Saturn. The spear piercing it's rib cage, killing it instantly. Makoto was unsure how long they had been fighting. She was exhausted, every muscle fiber in her body was burning. The Ginzuishou was nearly gone. Their powers almost useless. She was using brute force, and had been for awhile. She nearly collapsed as another wave of pain hit her. She stumbled, collapsing to her knees. She had realized awhile ago, that the Jörmungandr had clipped her in the side with its fang. Every so often her body would be wracked with an intense pain, and then would fade. She managed a half hearted chuckle, as she remembered reading how Thor, the Norse god of Thunder defeated the Jörmungandr, but could only take 8 steps after the battle before succumbing to the serpent's poison.
"Puny god!" She shouted thru clenched teeth.
The wretched scent of blood and death filled her nostrils. She glanced across the battlefield. Death was everywhere, but the Jötnar continued to press on. Jupiter quickly realized she hadn't noticed any of her comrades in quite some time. She had been so focused on destruction and keeping an eye on her younger counterpart that she had lost track of everyone. She sprinted to Hotaru. Quickly sinking a Jötnar sword into the torso of a giant scuffling with the Senshi of Saturn.
"We need to fall back towards the Queen." Makoto stated. The small girl nearly collapsed into Mako's arms. Jupiter cursed herself for not paying more attention. Saturn struggled to stand back up.
"Let me carry you." Mako spat at the younger girl
"I am not weak. I am fine." Saturn continued to struggle
"I know, you've done well Hotaru. You just need to rest a minute. And we need to go before any more of these things show up. So stop struggling and let's go." Saturn sighed, as she leapt up on Jupiter's back.
"Let me heal you Mako. You've got some nasty wounds." Hotaru muttered as she struggled to even keep her eyes open.
"No, you've used too much energy as it is. I'm fine. Rest. We're not even close to being done here." Mako said as she sprinted away. Makoto's mind was reeling. She didn't see anyone. Surely, surely one of her sisters hadn't fallen. She would've felt it. Mako began to panic as she still didn't notice anyone, she continued running. The blast of a horn. She cursed loudly. That meant another wave.
"Jupiter!" She heard a voice.
She ran towards Setsuna, as the others came in to view. She inwardly said a blessing to Jove for keeping them relatively safe. She collapsed on her knees in front of the Senshi of Pluto.
"Praise Uranus! I thought we'd lost you!" Haruka wailed as she ran over and took Hotaru from Mako.
The older woman embracing the younger girl as tears streamed down her face.
Jupiter looked around. Her breath caught in her throat. All of them were beaten and bruised. Michiru and Minako lay unconscious.
"How, how are we going to face more of them. The Ginzuishou, is done." Rei said he voice uncharacteristically shaky.
They all looked towards Serenity. She held the Ginzuishou in her palm. The usually brilliant light, nothing more than a flicker.
"This is all my fault. After all that we have been through." Serenity began to sob.
"It is not your fault. We all succumbed to this darkness. This can't be it..." Rei replied. Trying her best to stay composed and console their queen.
"What do you have left in the tank, Haruka?" Makoto inquired. Uranus just looked at her puzzled.
"I need up, high." Jupiter pointed towards the clouds.
"No,'I'm not sending you off on a kamikaze mission. If we die, we'll do it together." Haruka snapped
"It's not suicide. Let me try and take out Surtr. I have enough energy left. If he falls, the rest will fall back. Even if it's just long enough for us to retreat and regroup. Just get me up as high as you can. And try and catch me after." Mako tried to laugh
"Catch you?" Haruka questioned
"I tried this once and ended up unconscious. It's a rough landing. Hotaru, do you have a Silence Wall left?" Saturn nodded.
"Then you come with us. Put up a wall. And keep it up"
"'No, I still don't like this." Uranus frowned at Jupiter
"Do you have another suggestion? Because they're coming." Jupiter said flatly. They turned to go. Makoto briefly looked back at Mamoru. The look of despair on his face was nearly overwhelming.
The trio sprinted across the field. Surtr coming into view. The giant behemoth let out a massive roar. His footsteps shaking the ground. Jupiter came to a stop.
"Here?" Was all Haruka asked. Anxiety building in her voice as another wave of Jötnar approached them, and with haste.
"I'm afraid I'll hurt you." Uranus stated.
"Just wind. I need up high, I don't have enough energy to do it and attack. Just do it! We're out of time!" Mako shouted. She backed up and took a run at Haruka. Haruka caught her foot, whispered a nearly inaudible incantation and launched the Senshi of Jupiter into the sky.
A green glow emanated from her body as she hovered among the clouds.
"Oh great Jupiter. Hear my call. Your Daughter needs your mighty power. Let me be your instrument of destruction. Lend me your strength. Hear me, Jove!"
With that a blast of electricity ran up her body. She could feel the raw power coursing thru her very veins. She let out a scream as a ball of electricity formed in her hand. And as if Jove himself wielded it, she whipped a great bolt of lightning down to the Earth. It struck Surtr directly. The light was blinding. Haruka stood under Hotaru's shield. Both covering their eyes. Their ears ringing from the thunderclap that followed the blast. Hotaru shook Haruka and pointed towards the sky. Hotaru was speaking but Haruka could only hear ringing. She then noticed the brunette tumbling back down to earth. She sprinted across the field, as fast as her legs could carry her. She followed the path, and turned around just quick enough to catch Makoto. Both of them falling to the ground. Haruka looked up as she saw the behemoth Sartr fall. Immediately the remaining Jötnar began to flee. The Senshi of Uranus quickly ran back to Hotaru, urging her to make haste back to the others. Haruka arrived out of breath carrying Makoto. She laid her down as green eyes fluttered open. Makoto tried to sit up.
"No, rest. You're hurt. Badly." Hotaru tried to shove her back down.
"We have...to go." Mako managed. Her whole self hurt. Her gloves were gone, her body riddled with burn marks and cuts. Her Fuku was tattered
"Where are we to go? The palace isn't safe." Ami inquired.
"The shrine. We'll be safe there. These evil entities cannot cross over into sacred ground." Rei stated. Haruka bent down scooping up Michiru. Endymion offered to carry Venus.
"Can you walk?" Setsuna offered Makoto a hand up.
"I'll be fine." Mako grimaced. The thought of walking that far made her wince.
They immediately started the trek. A very fast paced march. They constantly were looking back to see if they were being followed. They were nearly there when Setsuna noticed Makoto's pace had slackened. She was getting left behind.
"Come now, almost there." Setsuna urged the Jovian Senshi. Makoto only nodded. Every step was agonizing. A deadly combination of overspent energy, ghastly wounds and the mythological poison now flowing thru her veins.
They arrived at the Hikawa Shrine. Makoto couldn't help but grimace again at the thought of all these stairs, but she pressed on.
Punishment. Surely this was the god's punishment for her. Another step, another searing pain. Atonement, this was her atonement. She pressed forward. Beads of sweat ran down her face, mixing with dried blood. It made for an awful concoction when it dripped into her eyes. Another step, one more towards atonement for her wretched sins. She finally ascended to the top. Everyone already inside. Her absence apparently going unnoticed. She trudged up the few stairs to the main entranceway. She leaned against the sliding door frame, the weight of her entire body being held up by the door. She watched as Hotaru began the process of trying to heal her Michiru-Mama. Serenity furiously doting over Minako, using what little power was left in the Ginzuishou. See, if she were sacrificed she would not be nearly as missed as the others. Serenity needed Rei and Minako, needed them for their bond. Ami was the brains of their outfit. Hotaru, Haruka and Michiru were inseparable. It was only right it was her. Only right. She felt the blood oozing from the wound on her side. The warm fluid dripping down her thigh and hitting the floor.
"What is that dripping noise?" Rei asked, turning away from Minako and Serenity for a brief moment.
Rei glanced over towards Makoto who was still just in the doorway.
"Mako?" The Senshi of Mars moved closer to her comrade.
"By Mars! Makoto! Mamoru, help me!" Rei screeched. Noticing the growing pool of blood at Mako's feet.
The mention of his given name snapped the King of Earth out of his stupor. He quickly ran to the side of his lover. His heart began to pound as he saw the puddle of her blood, the lack of color in her face. Mako collapsed to her knees.
"Why didn't you say anything?" He chastised the brunette. As he tried to look over her.
"They are more important." She quipped back, gasping as she fell on her hands.
"Where, where is it coming from? Mako? Mako?" He asked again. Panic had set in. It was not going to end like this.
He quickly scooped her up and carried her into the room with the other Senshi. Questions were being asked all around him, but he failed to listen. He was lost in this task. Saving the one whom he loved. He noticed the gaping wound on her side. Mamoru placed his hands on it, a golden glow emitting from his trembling hands.
"Stay awake, love." He whispered in her ear.
"Rei?" Mamoru shouted
The Senshi of Mars ran to his side.
"Keep her awake. At least until I get this healed, the best that I am able." Rei only nodded
She folded her legs underneath her and sat by Makoto's head.
"You must stay awake Mako. You've gone and gotten yourself a nasty injury." She gently tapped on Mako's face.
"Ofuda..." The brunette whispered
Rei looked puzzled. Makoto writhed in pain.
"Ofuda. Around...the grounds. Fenrir..." She clenched her teeth unable to speak any more.
Rei looked up at Setsuna.
"That is a good idea. They will certainly be trying to locate us. And given our current state, we are in no condition to try and leave. Take Haruka with you, do not stray too far. We are defenseless at this given moment." The Senshi of Pluto stated
The other Senshi had detransformed. Mako was the only one who remained so. Setsuna assumed Rei's position.
"You could've gotten yourself killed. Or worse, captured. Fenrir would like nothing more than to have you as his next subordinate. Now, you need to try and focus to detransform. You've expended far too much from your Planetary Crystal. You are still drawing on it. " Setsuna remained calm. Her voice soothing to Mako's ears, even if she was being chastised.
Mamoru finally finished healing her wound from Jörmungandr. He let out a deep sigh, relaxing back on his elbows. What power he had left from his Golden Crystal had faded.
Makoto's veins no longer felt like magma coursed thru them. Her skin was no longer aflame. Her eyelids felt as if they were weighted. Her muscles fatigued. She was spent. Exhausted. She shut her eyes for a brief moment, her transformation fizzling out.
Setsuna knelt down in a large cabinet and retrieved a bed roll.
"Rest. Your body needs it." She unrolled it. Giving it a pat, Mako's cue to climb inside. She stood up wobbly, briefly catching a glance from Serenity in the adjacent room. She laid down on the mat, her eyes instantly giving way to darkness. Setsuna fetched several more bed rolls, assembling them about the room. There would be one for each of them, but for now she made sure there were two available for Michiru and Minako. Mamoru carried their sleeping forms one at a time, laying them down. Allowing Setsuna to get them settled in.
"Your highnesses, I wish I could allow you to rest as well. But we must discuss our situation. " the pair nodded.
"I hope we're invited. Because I damn well would like some kind of opinion." Haruka demanded coming back in the door.
"I agree. This is no time for secrecy. " Queen Serenity said
...
"No." Was all Rei could muster up to say.
"We don't have a choice, Rei. Understand that if there was any other choice. I would try anything. There just isn't." Setsuna sighed.
"We are not sacrificing one of our own!" Haruka spat.
"Have we looked thru all the ancient data from other Lunar Dynasty's? Has this happened before? The need to re-light the Ginzuishou?" Ami inquired now.
"I have. And yes, that's why this protocol exists..." Setsuna trailed off at the end. Staring at the other room, where their comrades slumbered.
"What's wrong, Sets?" Haruka asked. Setsuna put a finger to her mouth. A sign of silence.
She approached the small sliding paper door that separated the two rooms. She slowly pushed it aside. Instantly her blood ran cold. He heart pounded in her chest wildly. Makoto was standing at the other doorway leading to outside. Michiru and Minako were huddled together against the wall. And in front of Mako, a towering head with eyes as red as Mars.
"Fenrir..."
...
Shew! That one turned out a little longer than I anticipated. Hope everyone is enjoying so far. I hope to have another update on this one soon. I am working on several more shorts for "a Pinch of This and That" and have another chapter nearly completed for "My Painful Past". As always reviews and PM's are most welcome! :)
-Lady D