A/N: Alright people, we're getting down to the wire! I think maybe three or more chapters and I'm finished! Then my next project will be one of the one-shots and I'll start on the sequel to this. Hopefully. I guess we'll just see what happens. Enjoy!
WARNING: I am writing this story for enjoyment and not for profit. I do however own the original characters in this story. Flaming will not be tolerated.
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Title: Not Set In Stone
Chapter Eleven
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That night after the battle with Terri's body was one of the most solemn and broken-hearted scenes Rei had ever witnessed among her friends. Serena, Ami, and Mako, along with Darien and herself were busy tending to their three fallen teammates. Mina could do nothing but stare at her prone lover with worry and hold her hand close to her face.
The damage inflicted was staggering.
All three had severe concussions as well as were hooked up to a couple of machines each. Haruka, besides the concussion, had nearly every bone crushed, sprained, or fractured. The tree roots had squeezed with all their might and nearly eighty percent of her body was bruised. There were numerous shallow cuts and a large amount of blood had collected under her skin on her neck. As much as Ami hated to do it, she put a leech to work on the blood. The blue haired genius had also carefully wrapped Haruka's cracked ribs, afraid that any small movement to rash would puncture a lung.
Next to Haruka, Michiru lay just as still. Serena had set immediately to taking out any last bits of wood or stone from the over thirty wounds along her body. The blonde leader had then disinfected and bandaged each individual wound. Besides other bruises and cuts Michiru had a large, swollen chin that had started to bleed a little from being kicked by Terri's body. Serena allowed not even one bandage to get too soaked with blood and had Rei fetch her more antiseptic when she thought necessary.
Setsuna was least of their worries though her wounds were just as serious. Around the jade haired woman's forearms and neck were finger shaped bruises. A painful reminder of who they had been fighting. Her own energy had scraped her skin, leaving a slight burn here and there. Though most troublesome were the twin wounds in her shoulders. Mina had gently washed and wrapped the near two-inch holes in Setsuna's shoulders. Ami had completed a scan during her exam of all three and although she would heal well enough, Setsuna's muscle and bones had been severely damaged there.
Each warrior there thanked their lucky stars they had Senshi energy to heal them.
"Mina..." Serena touched her friend on the arm lightly. Mina stared up with blurry sky blue eyes.
"I think you should go to bed."
"I can't, Setsuna needs me." Mina turned her attention back to the bed. Serena sighed and started to glow softly.
"Mina, Hotaru will need you in the morning. The others will watch over Sets and let you know if anything happens. Fitful sleep is better than no sleep."
Mina sniffed and nodded. She laid Setsuna's hand neatly by her side and shuffled out of the infirmary.
"Odango, you're really getting good at that." Rei whispered beside her. Serena jumped slightly in surprise but relaxed and smiled at her friend.
"All thanks to –" She caught herself with a sharp breath. Rei's raven head fell slightly.
"It'll be alright Rei. I'll never let him win."
Amethyst eyes gazed back with mixed emotions.
0
Nyda was hovering in the air with her legs crossed, gazing curiously at the body standing before her master. She looked at it upside down, sideways, and right side up. The short hair made it seem completely different.
"It's like a trophy." She stated with certainty as she poked the body in the arm. Her lavender eyes curiously inspected the grit that came back with her finger. A frown distorted her features and she rubbed her finger on the tattered toga.
Dradian merely chuckled at her antics.
"Yes, Nyda my dear, I quite agree." Dradian allowed himself to stare into the glazed over navy, getting lost in their fog. It amazed him that she was still lovely even in her disheveled state. Nothing's hair was mussed and dirty, her skin covered in dirt, blood, and sweat. Her toga seemed to be held on by a lonesome mighty thread.
The overall sight could entertain him for days.
"Nyda, make sure it gets clean please. Do not cause anymore damage to it." Dradian pulled a silver strand of hair behind his ears and waved her off.
"Go on then." He said to the body. It only blinked and faded away.
"A couple of more stepping stones to go."
The sound of his laughter filled the room.
0
A couple of days went by and Michiru, Haruka, and Setsuna all woke after a complete day of sleep. Their magic had healed them quite a bit while they slept. Michiru's chin had healed, leaving only the slightest crack of skin open. The wounds along her sides from the stones were small dots of raw skin. She still felt severely sore.
Haruka's ribs had healed and while she was still extremely sore, she insisted on sitting up and walking every now and then. Ami realized her blonde friend was too stubborn to listen to her completely. Small patches of her body were still bruised.
Setsuna stayed in bed. Though her muscles and tissue had been repaired for the most part, she had trouble lifting her arms. Ami explained her newly grown tissue was most likely too new and sore to function properly. Besides, her clavicles were slightly out of place as well. It was better she try not to move them for another twenty-four hours.
Not one of the three had enough energy to transform.
Terri had either demanded all their energy or their levels were just too low from healing. Serena worried about this to herself. She knew Dradian would not be able to resist throwing Terri back out to fight them in their depleted state. They were broken and down in numbers. He wanted the crystal too badly to risk waiting for the three damaged Senshi to heal properly.
The Princess also realized that neither Rei nor Hotaru had the will to fight against Terri. Rei, though she didn't know it, was falling in love. There was a snowball's chance in hell that the raven haired woman would even think to raise her bow against the other. Hotaru and even more surprising, Saturn seemed too frightened to strike her princess down. Serena always felt an ache when she thought about it. Saturn had never seemed to hesitate in contradicting her. Especially when Pharaoh Ninety had been released.
She chuckled to herself softly. Here she was, thinking of ways to battle the one person who had been able to teach her how to be a leader. Terri had been the only person who was truly focused on readying Serena to become Serenity.
Ironic was an understatement.
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The next morning Rei was in the Fire Room meditating. Her mind was calm, slowly combing over each question she had ever asked the fire regarding Terressia of Teres. She saw the foggy future. Rei recalled the attack where the capture had taken place. The day she had taken Terri into town filled her thoughts and body with an ache. Rei remembered the battle just a couple of days ago with Terri's body. She seemed to be gone but Rei knew she was in there, somewhere.
There was something off about all of it. The fire kept telling her that Terri may still survive and yet Terri herself was dead to everyone but Dradian. And if her teammates who were just as capable as Mars – why was she the one to "know what to do"?
"Where is she, Rei?" A soft voice startled Rei out of her meditation and she jumped slightly. Her amethyst eyes opened to stare back into Hotaru's own purple gaze.
"Hotaru, you scared me." She said quietly, her breathing hitched.
"Sorry. Do you know where she is?"
Rei only sighed.
"You'll know soon enough. I know you will." Hotaru said with a small smile, her large eyes full of hope.
"How do you know? One moment you were sure it was over and the next you think I can save her."
"I saw it. I saw she was distracted. Princess is waiting for you to understand."
"What?"
"I have faith in you, Rei."
Rei could only stare as she turned to leave as suddenly as she had come.
"Hotaru-"
The preteen stopped and shifted towards her.
"I can't defeat the Princess; I'll save my energy for Dradian."
The younger girl left, leaving Rei to wonder after her.
In the afternoon, Rei was still at a standstill with the fire. With reluctance she accepted that it had nothing more to tell her and it was time she fit the pieces together herself. It was damn frustrating though! Terri can survive but only Rei can save her?! And how can she be distracted if she's no longer in her body?!
The other's just made her worry worse.
Serena was trying to stay calm while she watched over everyone else, most specifically her guilt ridden and sorrowful boyfriend. Darien missed his sister to a point that she could no longer fathom. It was assumed that Terressia and Endymion had been very close as children, having never really been separated until the night of Beryl's attack. The dark haired prince was sick with worry and kept going over how he could have, should have, saved his little sister from her kidnapping. He woke up most nights begging her to come back and Serena could do little to get him to go back to sleep.
Haruka had managed to transform into Uranus out of sheer stubbornness. She still felt weak but could hold herself if necessary. Michiru and Setsuna had not been far behind and were also able to become their Senshi alter egos. Both were weak and quickly transformed back but assured Ami that they could protect their princess when the time came.
And Serena knew it was coming. It had almost been a week since the battle and the blonde was sure Dradian would want energy soon. The princess was starting to believe that there was only one way out.
"Oh Terri…" She whispered to herself as Rei came and stood near her in the Alert room.
"Anything?" Rei asked. Serena only shook her head, looking up to her best friend.
"You?"
Rei shook her head 'no'. "The Fire has told me everything it can." Though Rei didn't think that was the truth, the fire would only refuse her if she went back again.
"Figures. Setsuna says the Time Stream is muddy as well." Mina stated from her intense focus on the monitors.
"Do we still have a future?" Mako asked quickly, setting a tray of sandwiches down in front of her girlfriend. Ami only smiled at her stern look. None of them have been eating very well.
"Yes, we do. Crystal Tokyo is still there just the same as always." Mina's face fell slightly and Serena urged her to go on.
"She says it feels weird to watch our future selves. There's no Terressia in sight. She even checked on her planet and it's blurry. All the people just go on with their day. Except –" Mina stopped, her eyes flicking towards Rei's worried features.
"The place looks deserted. No one's living in Teresian Palace."
Rei felt her heart drop into her stomach.
"You all are worrying too much." Hotaru's voice said suddenly. Her body appeared a second later and she lifted a sandwich to her mouth, purple eyes aware she was being stared at.
"Oh Hotaru." Serena sighed, not sure if the young Senshi was right this time. Mina smiled slightly and stood to hug her adopted daughter from behind. The blonde smoothed and kissed her hair soothing her own nerves.
"No, it's true. You worry too much. Rei is going to save the Princess." The pre-teen simply smiled, kissed her mama on the cheek and faded away.
"How is that going to happen when Mars can't fight against Terri?" Mako said absently before she could stop herself. Ami smacked her quickly and stared worriedly at Rei.
"It's alright Ami, I-" Rei opened her eyes as the alarms went off just as she was about to finish. All eyes glued to the monitors as the rest of the team popped into the Alert room.
"It's them." Serena said gravely. Her expression went serious as she sent a message to the others out searching. With a firm nod, her Senshi followed her back to the mountainside.
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"My dear nothing, how are we feeling?" Dradian stroked the neck of his doll sensually, gazing at its profile. It made no expression and didn't move a muscle.
"I do not feel."
"That's wonderful. You're old friends will be showing soon, shall we give them a sight to see?" Dradian asked it, knowing full well he wouldn't be receiving an answer. The dark being could feel the Senshi's energy rippling into place. He decided to give it just enough time until he turned his doll towards him.
Endymion nearly flew into a rage as he watched his sister being kissed almost lovingly. Almost, since such a filthy monster as his sister's captor was could never be truly loving.
Moon's arm kept him in place
Mercury and Jupiter kept her in place.
"I may be sick." Uranus muttered, clutching the hilt of her sword. Mars kept her eyes averted while she attempted to not shatter at the sight. Could Terri really be alive in there? Could she really allow that monster to kiss her? Would she know how much it was hurting Rei to see that happen?
Dradian pulled away from his doll with a satisfied grin. Nyda glared with pure hatred at the thing. Her arms were tightly crossed against her well exposed chest. A growl was threatening to burst from her throat as she resisted stabbing her master's toy with delight.
"Senshi! You have arrived, I'm certainly glad to see you. We can end these games if you only hand over the crystal." Dradian spoke evenly, a smirk playing across his lips.
"Not even with my last breath." Senshi Moon shouted up, her anger rising with every second.
"No? Well, how about a little more persuasion then, moon child?" Dradian replied, gripping Terri's body by the arms he pushed her forward. She hung slightly limp in the air, unmoving.
"I will have the crystal, little princess." He laid a hand upon Terri's shoulder, "You give me your crystal or your beloved sister in arms will die."
"Ah, Princess, let me finish!" He grinned, cutting Moon off before she could speak. "It is not by my hand that she will die. It will be yours." Dradian marked his words by rippling energy over Terri's body.
Gasps and cries carried over the mountainside as the Senshi watched the magic subside.
"For every time that we meet, my doll will fight you. You will either defend yourself against her, for she can be quite tireless, or hand the crystal over. You will also watch as each time, her wounds will worsen and remain."
Terri floated before them, unseeing as the cuts, bruises, and scrapes reopened along her body. Her skin bled just as if the wounds had just happened. All of them were from the previous battle. All of them were caused by her family.
"Tell them how you feel?"
"I feel nothing." She spoke in monotone, with no flinch of pain.
"That sick bastard!" Jupiter growled out.
"Is it real? She'll be useless to him if he allows her to die." Pluto wondered to her leader, eyes questioning.
"Mercury?" Moon looked to her blue haired teammate and awaited her answer.
There was a slight intake of breath as Mercury closed her computer.
"He's not lying. Terri's wounds are real… She's losing energy quickly."
"Princess…" Saturn whimpered sadly. The young Senshi stayed close to Mars as she struggled to reign in her emotions. Too much of Hotaru was leaking out, she had to maintain her composure.
"Endy?" Moon whispered to him, looking up at him with unsure eyes. He smiled to her sadly, nodding.
"We will fight. There is no other choice."
The dark being watched the Senshi below with amusement. He knew they would fight. Dradian understood that when the Princess of Teres took her last breath and died at their hands it would break them. The resolve of the Senshi will fall with a gentle breeze and the crystal would be his.
"Go, defeat them." He ordered. Nyda cackled with glee as the freely bleeding doll flew down to her death.
"I am highly entertained, my Lord." She leaned on him, watching with delight as the Senshi moved into action.
Mercury, Jupiter, and Venus stood outside the shield being created by the others. Endymion stood alongside them, refusing to remain in safety. Senshi Moon was the main concern and she was well protected by her guardians. The dark haired prince was now sure his mission lied in getting his sister back.
"Watch your back, guys." Jupiter said as she stared at Mercury who smiled back before the area became too foggy to see in.
Mercury watched closely for Terri's body as her two teammates stayed fairly close to her. She scanned rapidly on her computer, watching the ground below them for any signals of an attack from underneath.
"Are you sure this is a good idea, Mercury? Sure, she can't see, but neither can we." Venus whispered.
Mercury smiled to herself.
"Jupiter, she's coming up on your left!" Mercury called quickly.
The sound of a left hook contacting with skin and bone could be heard. There was a growl of power from Jupiter and the shuffling of feet. Mercury watched with pride as Jupiter tackled Terri and brought her back against her.
"Now, Venus!" Mercury cried out as she lifted the Shabon Spray, just in time for Venus's chain to claim its victim.
Dradian frowned as the fog lifted to show his doll held by chain, arm, and sword. Endymion had been able to sneak through the fog and train his sword on his sister's neck.
"This is good." The prince said as he watched the indifferent look on his sister's face. His heart almost broke being so close to her. He resolved, however, that for now she was the enemy. When they had her back at the mansion he could break her out of Dradian's hold.
Endymion smiled inwardly, they would have her back.
"No! Watch your backs!" Neptune cried out from behind the shield.
There was a tremor in the ground as Terri's eyes went shut.
Venus cried out in pain as a sharp stone embedded itself in her shoulder from behind. The blonde lost concentration immediately, her chain breaking and allowing Terri to be free. With quick hands, Terri snapped Jupiter's hand back and grabbed her arm, flipping her over her shoulder and on to the ground.
Endymion had been taken out by a group of roots that had cut through the earth, curling around him and his sword. With the other two Senshi down, Terri went for Mercury. Her sharp elbows cut to the blue haired guardian's head, striking her temple. Mercury fell instantly, her body crumpling to the ground.
Moon had nearly busted through the shield at seeing her beloved thrust into the air like a weightless doll. Uranus was unafraid to hold her back though. She had grabbed her leader around the waist, pinning her arms to her sides.
Mars watched with fear in her stomach as the others continued to fight against Terri. She had opted to remain outside of the shield, deciding that she could use her Flame Sniper to repel the enemy. Saturn stood beside her, calmly stoic once again. The youngest Senshi followed each movement with ease, her eyes every now and then flicking towards Mars with hope.
Who could understand these riddles, Mars sighed to herself.
Terri was doing as she had before. Jupiter and Venus had managed to stay standing, keeping Terri at bay. Mars knew they were losing. Endymion was struggling to get free of the tree roots but he hacked one to bits, another broke out from the earth and wrapped itself around him. Just as he thought he was finally free, a thick root caught him around the neck.
Amethyst eyes widened as she watched the root tighten around his throat. Could Terri knowingly kill her brother? Strangle him to death with her power? Tears were welling up in his eyes as Endymion fought less and less. He was losing air and consciousness. A sharp cry from inside the shield told her that Moon was intensely focused on her dying lover.
"Endy!" Her voice rang out as the dark haired prince finally lost. His eyes went shut and his body hanged slightly off the ground. Endymion's powers flickered off and left Darien helpless on the battle ground.
The tree roots dropped him immediately and retreated back into the earth.
Mars narrowed her eyes in suspicion. Were they coming back to pierce through him as they did Pluto? She shook her head in confusion as Jupiter electrified Terri's body, stopping her for a few moments time, allowing Venus to run over to her fallen teammate. Mercury who was getting up from being knocked out by the blow to her temple intensified the shock by attacking with aqua rhapsody.
Relief flooded through all of them as she called out he was still breathing. Venus was then distracted away from him as Terri came up behind her and kicked her hard in the side. She sent the love Senshi sprawling away from Darien. Jupiter had already been taken care of – she was lying under an assortment of stones and dirt. The battle ground became foggy again.
Mercury came running in, keeping her feet light and soundless as she rushed up behind Terri. Her blue boots slammed into the doll's shoulders. Terri fell forward but spun on her toes, turning over. Her body landed in a bridge over the unconscious prince. Leaning back on her arms, she flipped her feet up into Mercury's chin. Mercury cried out in pain as she flew a couple of feet and landed, passed out on the grass. It turned out to be one too many knocks to the head for the Senshi of ice to handle.
Mars watched with some fascination as Mercury became Ami and was totally ignored by Terri's possessed form. Did she have something planned for all of them? Or was she just unafraid of humans? Maybe her master had ordered her to worry only about their Senshi forms?
Venus had struggled to stand, her arm wrapped tightly around her ribcage where the others assumed something was broken.
"My master wishes to posses the Silver Crystal." Terri spoke in monotone, standing in front of Ami's prone figure.
"Over my dead body." Venus hissed and lashed out with her chain.
She deftly caught one of Terri's wrists, yanking her forward and into her other fist. Terri stumbled back but couldn't get far because of the chain.
"I'm sick of having to fight you." Venus whispered. "We miss you and Hotaru promises somewhere in there you are still alive." Pulling on the chain again, the blonde grunted in pain as she kneed Terri in the stomach. "If you'd just pass the hell out, this could all be over!" She emphasized her words as she butted Terri in the head, causing them both to see stars. There was a thrill of excitement in her stomach as the blonde watched her friend fall to her knees finally in exhaustion.
"Damn, finally." She sighed.
Venus didn't notice how Terri's hand had dug into the earth. Her head was spinning too much to feel the tremors under her feet.
A scream was ripped from her throat as the roots burst from the ground and curled around every inch of her body like a cocoon. The roots spiraled up her legs, wrapping her up to her head.
"Damn-it." Venus said through clenched teeth. The roots were starting to squeeze just like it had done to the others, only her limbs were all together, smashing into one another.
Mars trembled slightly, watching again as one of her friends was squeezed to mere inches of life. The raven haired guardian couldn't bear to watch another teammate nearly die, not again. Shaking, she raised her arms and her bow appeared, blazing in the now growing darkness. Hollowness filled her eyes as she drew back on the invisible string. Terri had risen to her feet by now, focused on Venus who's head was lulling to the side. The brunette had picked up a sharp piece of stone.
Mars could barely watch as she let go of the flaming arrow that went straight for Terri's heart.
"RETURN TO ME!"
The voice boomed over the battle, startling all on the field. The doll immediately disappeared. A moment longer and she would have been struck by Mars' arrow.
Senshi Moon and the others immediately broke the shield. Pluto carefully but quickly cut her beloved goddess out of the cocoon. Neptune and Serenity went for Darien, his unconscious form still prone on the ground, surrounded by stiff roots. Saturn ran over to Mako and started to dig her out frantically, calling for her to wake up. Uranus gingerly straightened Ami out and checked her breathing then went to help Saturn with Mako.
Rei watched her friends with unseeing eyes. The second the arrow had passed through the space Terri had been standing in, her powers had receded. Rei had fallen to the ground, legs crumbling beneath her and her body shaking.
She could have harmed Terri. They all would have watched that arrow pierce her heart. Sadness filled her at the thought. Tears started down her cheeks as she realized that the next time…her arrow would hit its mark.
Next time, Rei would kill Terri.
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A/N: Who wants me to be shanked? Are all the hands raised? That's what I thought. So, is Rei forming a plan? How much longer can Terri's body take the abuse? I haven't any idea, so don't look to me for answers. We'll just see what happens in the next chapter! Please review if you still kinda-sorta lurve me.
BR