Maternal Moon
Chapter 11
author: ChibiCori (Hi!)
rating: PG-13 (errrr, violence I suppose, and two bad words. I think.)
Disclaimer: Yeah, soooooo...I don't own it. Sorry, didn't mean to disappoint!
Maternal Moon
Chapter 11
"Someone turn on a light!" Mamoru ordered, holding a hyperventilating Usagi close to him.
After a series of clicks, Luna's panicked voice cried out, "They've cut the power!"
"Oh gods, oh gods." Usagi mumbled, her knees shaking, nearly giving out beneath her unsteady weight. If what Mamoru had said about her powers was true, there was no possible way to defend herself now.
Feeling her swelling fear, Mamoru sat her back down on the beat up couch and rubbed soothing hands down her arms, whispering in steady calm, "Shush. Sh, Usako."
Fright clogged her throat as she gasped for breath and stammered, "But-but..."
"Be my brave Usako." Mamoru murmured as he pulled her shaking form into his still one. He wrapped long arms around her and willed his strength into her, "Shh. You may not be Sailor Moon now, but you were the first. Be as brave as I know you are."
He palmed her cheek and felt her nod, but could also feel the tears streaming down her face, pooling into his cupped hands. Cursing inwardly at his choice to share his beliefs with her just moments before, he leaned forward and pressed his forehead against hers. 'You can be strong, Usako. You are strong.'
"What should we do?" Luna asked, masking her voice in calm for Usagi's sake. She could hear the other woman's raspy, quick breaths and the muffled sobs that broke in between them. To hear the fear in her guardian's voice now would only make her worse.
"Let's get the power back on." Artemis stated, "Then we should fortify this place the best we can until help arrives."
Mamoru nodded then vocally agreed, "Let's go then. The fuse box is outside."
Usagi's grip tightened then, her finger nails tearing into the fabric of his shirt. Her firm hold halted Mamoru's ascension, then her desperate plea, "No! You can't go out there! He is still out there!"
"Usako, we have to."
"But-"
"Everything will be fine. I'm leaving Luna with you, and Artemis will be with me. We need to get the power back on." Mamoru spoke sternly and took a firm hold of her shoulders. He could feel her flinching at his coldness, but being gentle and soft wouldn't help her.
Usagi appreciated it as well; it had been the first time in months when anyone had told her the score straight out. Though fear still congealed her blood, a tiny part of her was comforted. Her tears slowed and her breathing became less erratic.
"Go."
She could feel Mamoru's grateful gaze, and she forced herself to stay calm as his hands and presence moved away. The sudden burst of courage flickered suddenly, nearly making Usagi call out for him to come back. But the warrior in her that lurked behind every action she did halted her, the flame of her soul steadying again. She would be strong, for her husband who believed in her and for the daughter who depended on her.
The door opened, casting both men in shadow and momentarily lighting up the doorway in moon light. Mamoru turned and cast one reassuring look Usagi's way. At least she assumed that was what he did since his face had been shroud in darkness. After a short moment, he turned and the two men stepped into the moon lit yard, the door closing with a soft click behind them.
The room immediately settled back into an ominous pitch black. Not wanting the silence to be as deafening as the darkness was blinding, Luna clapped, taking a moment to enjoy how much louder it could be done with hands instead of padded paws. But she also sensed Usagi jumping in her seat, so she quickly added her chagrinned voice, "You wouldn't happen to know where the flashlights are, would you?"
Usagi sniffed, and pointed out the direction.
"Usagi-chan?"
Usagi's brows slammed together, than her face reddened as she remembered that Luna couldn't see her own hands, let alone Usagi's pointing finger from the space between them. Releasing a bitter laugh, Usagi apologized, "Sorry. I think there might be some in the bathroom. Under the sink."
Luna's footsteps, followed by her voice disappeared into another part of the cabin. Usagi couldn't make out the words she spoke, but there was a soft mumbling before complete silence enveloped the room.
Usagi buried her face in her hands and tried to keep her heart from hammering out of her chest. She hadn't been this scared in so long. Not even during her last attack. It had been routine before. Change into Sailor Moon, kick bad guy bootie and then go home. But now, now everything was different. For the first time in her life, she was defenseless.
Chibi-Usa jerked suddenly, bringing Usagi's desperate thoughts to her little baby, "I know." Usagi agreed, her words forced with a burst of air, "I don't like this either."
A loud creak brought Usagi's head up from its hiding spot in her hands and toward the front of the cabin. A soft gasp escaped her and her heart slammed to a stop, disbelieving eyes widened as they took in the sight of the opened door to the cabin. No form darkened its frame and no voice beckoned her or any other occupant.
Swallowing back a hard lump of fear clogging her throat, Usagi managed to choke out, "Luna? Is that you?"
But her guardian's voice didn't reach out to comfort her. Slowly rising, Usagi took a minuscule step forward and called again, "L-Luna?"
Nothing but the whisper of soft snowfall and rustling wind answered her. Cold crept into her bones and Usagi involuntarily shivered. Wrapping her arms around herself to conserve heat, Usagi inhaled sharply as she gathered what was left of her courage and walked clumsily to the front door.
As she reached out a hand to grip the doorframe, her first instinct told her to just close it. The danger was outside, not in. But at the same time, the frightened child inside of her balked at the thought of being trapped in that dark place again.
'Find Mamo-chan! He'll keep you safe.' the small voice begged. Not once had Mamoru ever failed to protect her. Even when he was unable too, his presence and strength had always been a driving force for her to fight on with. But now, she had no defense what-so-ever, if Mamoru's theory turned out to be true. And something inside her kept insisting that he was right.
He was all she had, and he wasn't with her then.
During these frightening, frigid moments when all she could think about was her child's safety and her judgment was clouded. Usagi needed him next to her before she did something rash.
Having made up her mind, Usagi took a step out of the cabin and into the dimly lit night. Snow fluttered to the ground softly and crunched beneath her tennis shoes. Flakes fell into her hair and began to weigh it down as they melted. Cold bit at her cheeks and nose, surely staining them a rosy pink. Clapping her hands together and rubbing them briskly, Usagi cleared her throat in the silent night and called.
"Mamo-chan!"
And again, as Luna hadn't responded to her call in the cabin, Mamoru didn't answer. Worry creased her brow and surprise had her walking further away from the entryway to her haven.
"Mamo-chan!"
Her answer was the echoing crack of a branch breaking underneath the weight of fresh snow somewhere deep in the woods.
Panic began to grow thick in her throat and the puffs of steam escaping her mouth became more erratic, "Artemis!" Usagi, this time shouting, attempted to get recognition from the other man.
No answer.
"Mamoru! Where are you guys!"
There was a moment of complete stillness before the deafening sound of the door slamming behind her shook the woods from serenity.
Usagi started and quickly spun around. The door she had left wide open was, indeed, now closed.
But what had closed it? Usagi desperately forced her brain into a state of calm that would allow her to think rationally. It wasn't her strongest point, but she was known to be able to gather a coherent thought or two in her time. Mumbling softly, she tried to think of what could have possibly forced the door shut with such force. The wind? But she hadn't felt a gust strong enough to possibly blow it closed.
Had Luna done it? Highly unlikely, Luna would have more likely dragged her back into the cabin, admonishing her for taking such careless risks the whole way.
What then? What, or who, could have done it?
Usagi reached for the doorknob as the most obvious culprit suddenly flashed into her mind. And it seemed that the thought had come too late.
Her hand halted, hovering over the knob as she felt warm air settle on top of her head in steady blasts. A shadow had fallen over her, and when a clump of snow fell from the roof and splatted onto her outreached hand, Usagi finally looked up, the tears in her eyes making it clear she knew her folly.
A man dressed in white from head to toe looked down at her from his crouching position on the roof. His green eyes glittered with the same cold that made the forest crack and shiver. No smile crossed his face, his mouth staying in a firm, but still deadly, straight line. Usagi released a strangled gasp and involuntarily stepped back.
The new assassin stayed perfectly still, his eyes following her retreating steps. Usagi knew instinctively that this one wouldn't play the games the last one did. He was here to kill her, and kill her he would. She had fallen into his trap so easily. But where were Mamoru, and Luna and Artemis? Had he gotten them already? He had to have, or they would have come to her calls.
The thought that the murdering bastard had killed her friends and her precious Mamo-chan simply to make killing her easier boiled her blood. None of them deserved that. No one deserved to die for her, no matter what their destiny's claim.
"You coward." She sputtered suddenly, finally breaking the silence that strung between them and the night. Tears began to streak down her face and her lower lip trembled in fury and pain, as she spat, "At least the last one had the guts to go after the target first. You had to take care of your obstacles."
The green-eyed assassin didn't move, his posture and face not revealing one ounce of indignation at her accusation. Usagi realized in a flash of fear that momentarily took over the fury, that he truly was as cold as his eyes. Quickly stamping the trembling that started to rack her body and masking the fright with her anger, Usagi firmed her body and forced her expression to impassive.
But the assassin saw the flash of fear, and he had caught her scent. She was dead.
The assassin finally moved, his hand slowly reaching behind him. Usagi watched in frozen horror, suddenly unable to speak or move. With an ominous hiss, the assassin unsheathed his deadly blade. He stilled again, holding his sword to the side as if he was showing off the fine craftsmanship of the lethal weapon. As if he where wordlessly proclaiming, "Look upon your death."
The moon glinted softly off the blade and the wood where Usagi was sure she was going to die was lit with its dim glow. And as its white face again floated behind night-darkened clouds, the assassin jumped from his perch and ran towards the queen, his feet and sword like lightening with his deadly intent.
It was Chibi-Usa's urgent jerking, as if the little spore had physically been there to kick Usagi in the shins and tell her, "Move it odango-brains, or you'll get us both killed!", that made it possible for Usagi's feet to finally work. With a strangled gasp, Usagi turned and fled in the opposite direction, into the woods and farther away from whatever help may have been at the cabin.
Usagi ran blindly, the added shadow of the trees making it impossible to see more then two feet in front of her. Branches whipped at her face and her limbs, Usagi feeling each and every scratch placed on her. Her lungs constricted, ready to burst at the lack of oxygen. But still, Chibi-Usa urged her onward, and it quickly came to be Usagi's will as well. Determination wrinkled her brow and her eyes darkened with each life saving step she took. She didn't dare a look behind her, just kept her gaze straight ahead, on a constant look out for upraised roots and low-hanging branches that might slow her down and bring upon her end.
Her lungs finally exploded and no amount of prodding from Chibi-Usa could make her legs move any farther.
Falling to the ground, Usagi gasped and sucked in short breaths of air. Her vision blurred and thoughts of the assassin closing in on her were forced away by the desperate need for oxygen. Sweat poured down her face and limbs, which ached at every point.
When her breathing slowed to a more normal pace, and her body began to finally feel the chill of the night, Usagi allowed her mind to wander back to reality. The snow beneath her melted and had soaked through the front of her jeans and sweater. Quickly sitting up, she searched with wary eyes around her, looking for any sign of her predator.
Nothing. There was nobody. She didn't see, didn't hear anything. And that probably frightened her more then actually knowing where he was.
Her heart pumping wildly again, Usagi desperately looked around her, looking for somewhere to hide, something she could possibly use to defend herself.
And wouldn't it figure that she had been chased into a vacant clearing, with no visible means of support.
Usagi whispered an oath as she slowly got up, wiping the damp, dirty snow from her hands onto her wet jeans. Tears began to well up in her eyes, but she furiously wiped at them. Now was not the time to be weepy Usagi. It was all up to her now, and she wasn't going down without one hell of a fight.
Almost magically, the clouds suddenly thinned, and then opened. The moon, with her familiar white face, shined through. Moonlight, mystic and soft, enveloped the clearing where the queen who had once been its princess stood, washing her in pure light. Usagi looked up, tilting her face to the moon's wonder and letting it fill her with its peace. The insignia of the moon, cleverly hidden before, now shone with majesty upon her forehead. Warmth bloomed in her chest and Usagi's eyes slowly opened, remembering that she did have one weapon left.
Suddenly an explosion of leaves and twigs erupted from behind her, revealing the assassin, his sword slashing a deadly arc towards his target. But what he saw halted him, and though his face betrayed no emotion, his eyes showed his disbelief.
For before him stood not the frightened woman he had chased into the woods, but a regal and self-confident queen. Her body seemed to harness the light of the moon and reflect it outward, making an unearthly aura bright as the sun to emanate from her. Her street clothes had disappeared and her gown of shimmering white fabric and golden stitching had replaced them. Her golden crown was perched imperiously on her head and flaxen streamers of hair moved like liquid, though there was no wind. In front of her, suspended mysteriously between her palms, was the Silver Imperium Crystal.
The assassin's eyes again dimmed to his expressionless state and moved from the crystal to the queen's face. And for the first time ever, he felt his heart stop.
Her face, though still beautiful and serene, was as cold and impassive as his.
He knew of the legendary power of the Silver Imperium Crystal, knew that the likeliness of him being able to fulfill his contract while the queen wielded it was slim. Almost impossible. But he had also known that his employer understood the risk, but she still hired him. Failure was not an option she had hissed. Bringing his sword in front of him, he took firm hold with both hands and tensed, ready to pounce.
The queen's voice, the kind of voice that touched even the most tortured of souls, halted him from doing so, "Don't.
You know that you cannot win."
Her word's touched a deep, hidden chord of him. But that part had long ago been shut off, the resonation of her plea reaching no farther then that poorly tuned string. After a pause that lasted maybe half a second, he leaped forward, his sword poised to pierce her through the heart.
Neo Queen Serenity sighed sadly, than closed her eyes.
With the grace and agility that she always had when using the crystal, she easily willed its power to her. The crystal shone blindingly, than emitted what could best be described as a bubble of pure light around the queen.
The assassin realized far too late exactly what the bubble was. He jumped up a few feet from the queen and came down at her, ready to take her life and finish his contract. But when he reached the light around her, he was suddenly suspended in the air. The light became burning hot, and he felt electricity shoot through his body. The metal handle of his sword seared through the flesh of his hand. Finally, and thankfully, the power released him. It shot him further into the clear. The pain, was over.
Serenity slowly opened her eyes and watched the assassin on the forest floor for several long, moments. He didn't move, and smoke rose from his burned body and clothes. But his chest moved up and down in slow, steady movements, showing the relieved queen that he was breathing, only unconscious.
Willing the crystal back into her body, she slowly lowered to her knees. Her dress began to melt away and was replaced with a black sweater and jeans. The crown disappeared in a glittery fog and finally and lastly, the crescent moon on her forehead, faded away. The clouds in the sky peacefully thickened and the opening that let the moon shine through filled in. The battle was over.
Usagi looked up then, her blue eyes filled with tears, her breath steaming as she panted out pained breaths. The assassin hadn't moved, and didn't look like he would be getting up anytime soon. With this knowledge, Usagi gave into the desperate need to release and choked out sobs. Folding her hands over her abdomen, silently thanking her daughter for the strength, Usagi doubled over as she cried and cried.
Soon, the tears began to dry and her breath came more evenly. Staring at the ground, Usagi prayed softly that her concerns for Mamoru's and her guardian's safety was unfounded. 'Oh, Mamo-chan. Be safe. Help me find you.'
The thought to get up and find the cabin and her loved ones was quickly cut off as an arm suddenly wrapped around her waist and her startled scream was silenced by a hand slamming over her mouth. The hand on her mouth jerked her head up and the arm around her trunk drew her up on her knees. Usagi's eyes widened as she felt the hard length pressed against her back and then whimpered as this new assailant's head bent and whispered cruelly into her ear.
"Now that you can't use that little trinket of yours, I'm going to finish my partner's job."
To Be Continued…
Ha, you thought it was over didn't you? Well, FOOLED YOU! Hee hee! Cliffie!
:Big dumb grin no emoticon can emulate:
Cori!
Written: Ummmmm, November of 2000? Maybe, possibly, kinda?
Revised: Feb. 8, 2002
