Crisis of the Heart
By: Armitage Blade
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Sailor Moon
Note: Italicized speaking is supposed to be Japanese. Since I do not speak Japanese, I have to have some way of showing the difference. Italicized and underlined text is dream/flashback sequences.
Prelude to Finality
Several weeks had passed since the last monster attack, and Mendleton was beginning to feel spring thaw coming. However, those who knew that it was not over yet were preparing to defend against the next attack. Christina's nervousness had transferred over to the Legendary Warriors and the Scouts, because over the course of the past several weeks, all of the members started to copy Christina and wear their talisman necklaces as bracelets on their wrists.
The day was setting up to be perfect, with a clear sky showing a blazing sun. Christina and her father, however, were aware of the tension of battle humming just under the perfection the day was promising.
"Christina," Tom said, "Be careful today."
A look of puzzlement came over Christina's face as she tried to puzzle out what her dad was talking about. It wasn't until she saw him willingly flare his birthmark that she realized what he was talking about. She immediately got up and walked over to him, the quiet whisper of fabric over her new knee brace providing a bit of white noise.
"Don't worry, Dad. I'll be careful, and I'll come home to you. I promise. Semper Fi." She said, giving him a hug, and mentally trying to prepare herself to keep her promise. She wasn't one hundred percent sure this was going to work, but would die trying to rectify what was happening.
The two separated and left for their daily routine, knowing that they would be trying to keep tabs on each other, just in case the worst happened.
During classes, Christina was quite jittery. She couldn't describe why, but just knew Naraku was going to try something today. She had a disconcerting feeling that he was going to make a power play for the Crown today, and she quickly sent a mental message to her mother to tell the others to meet her at lunch. When she heard that they would all be at the designated spot during lunch, she gave a small, determined sigh.
It would be now or never.
She knew the time for the final battle with Naraku was close at hand, and hoped that everyone would come out alive.
At lunch, she met with everyone.
"What does it take to be crowned Princess Regent of the Crystal Alliance?" Christina blurted out when everyone assembled. Gasps rang out, as no one expected her to ask this question.
"Normally, it takes a formal ceremony, but since we are in a state of war, it needs to be carried out by a qualified Priestess and the leader of the Inner Scouts." Ami said, almost as if it was from memory.
"Great! How long will it take?"
"Ten minutes. Let me help Rei and Mina with their parts, and you'll be Princess Regent before lunch is over."
Ami pulled Rei and Mina aside to start going over the ceremony. Skylar walked up to Christina and asked, "Are you sure about this?"
"I have no choice. If I want to protect the timeline, I have to be appointed Princess Regent. I will have to appoint Serena as Heir Apparent when she is alive and ready, but I will always be Princess Regent. It is something I will need to live with." Christina replied.
"If you are sure, Princess." Skylar said, bowing. "Your Generals and I will witness the ceremony, if it is your will."
"It is my will." Christina said, the long-dormant traits coming back to her. Turning to Lita, she said, "Princess Jupiter, please secure the area. No one gets in or out until the ceremony is complete."
"Yes, Princess Christina." She said, curtseying and preparing a Jupitarian specialty: Silencing and Barricading Wards. Once the area was secured, she turned to Christina and nodded.
A slight pulse turned everyone in the room into their highest form. For many of the Legendary Warriors, they were dressed as Heir Designates to their respective family lineages. Ami, Lita, and Mina were dressed as their Heir Apparent selves. Rei was dressed in the Heir Apparent/Miko form she truly favored.
Rei cleared her throat. "Will the candidate for Princess Regent please step forward."
Christina, in her pale gold dress, stepped forward.
"What qualifies you for the position of Princess Regent?" Rei asked.
"I am the elder of the twins from the Moon Kingdom, seat of power for the Silver Millennium. I am currently the only one capable of claiming the seat." Christina replied.
"If you are the elder twin, then why are you claiming the Regent, not the Heir?" Mina asked.
"I ask for the position of Princess Regent because I am not the true Heir of the Moon Kingdom. I am not the future Queen to reign over this planet. I wish to hold these powers in trust until the one who can claim the powers is able to rightfully claim her true place." Christina said, bowing her head.
Mina and Rei met together, and placed their hands together. A white ball of light formed, and floated out of their hands to form a crown. They cradled it together as they moved forward to Christina.
"Christina of the Moon, we find you acceptable. Your bid to become Princess Regent of the Crystal Alliance is accepted. We crown you Princess. Do you accept to abdicate the crown of Princess when your twin is awoken?" They asked together.
"I do." Christina said.
"Does anyone object to this crowning?" They asked. When no one answered, they asked, "Does anyone witness this ceremony?"
"We do." Came the voices of all of the Legendary Warriors.
"Then, by the powers granted to us and through us, we anoint you, Princess Christina of the Moon Kingdom, Princess Regent of the Crystal Alliance. You will be crowned Princess Apparent until your twin, Princess Serena of the Moon Kingdom, is ready to claim those powers for herself." They said as they lowered the crown onto Christina's head. When it touched, a purplish light radiated off the crown.
"We witness this crowning, on behalf of the Planets of the Crystal Alliance." The Legendary Warriors stated.
"As is done, so shall it be." Everyone said together, sealing the ritual, and securing Christina's place in the Crystal Millennium.
A fierce banging on the walls pulled everyone out of the ritual's peaceful air.
Christina, without a thought, transformed herself into Crisis Sailor Armitage Moon. Everyone else followed suit, transforming into their most powerful form.
"Looks like the party started without me." Naraku said, strolling into the classroom they were using.
"The party's over, Naraku." Christina said. "If you want a battle, it will be you against me. No interference."
"Oh, but I can't get my challenge in?"
"What challenge?"
"I, Lord Naraku, of the Royal Lunarian House, challenge you, Princess Christina of the Moon, to a duel. Winner claims the ruling seat of the Crystal Alliance."
Christina simply gave a derisive sigh. "That challenge only works if the seat has not been claimed, Naraku. Since the seat has been claimed, you leave me no choice.
"I, Princess Christina of the Moon and Crystal Alliance, challenge you, Lord Naraku of the Royal Lunarian House to an honor duel. Winner takes all."
"To the death, then dear girl?"
"To the death." Christina spat out, glaring at him. "Do you accept the challenge set forth?"
"I accept."
"Good. Then prepare yourself, for I am not Serena." Christina said. "I'm darker than her, and I will do whatever it takes to keep you from taking her birthright-and mine-away!" She fell into a stance, sword pointed out at him.
"If you think I'm frightened, then you have something coming." Naraku said, falling into a similar stance. "Dear niece, if you wish to claim your birthright fully, then you need to kill me."
Looking him dead in the eye, she said, "If killing you is what I must do, uncle, then so be it. One of us will not walk away today."
The two combatants glared at each other, until Christina relaxed. "I must ask, uncle, for us to move this fight. As much as I want to kill you, I also don't want to destroy my school and know that even if it was fixed, I would still have been somewhat responsible."
"Well said. We will move ourselves to a more comfortable location for the civilians." Naraku said. A snap of his fingers and the group found themselves out on set of cliffs. "Does this suit our needs?" He asked, mockingly.
"You wouldn't have picked it if it wasn't." Christina said, stepping towards her friends. Looking at Skylar, she said, "Don't forget what I told you last night." Addressing everyone, she said, "Be on the lookout. Naraku won't play fair."
As she stepped away, Skylar recalled their phone conversation last night and what she told him at the very end: "Skylar, I love you and always will. No matter what happens, whether I die during the final confrontation or live to serve Serena as the General of the Alliance Armies, I will always love you. Besides, I'm not going to fight just for her. It's as much my battle as it is hers."
"But, Christina, what happens if he tries to kill me to distract you?"
"Skylar, you can fight even better than I. If he tries to kill you, know this: I will kill him for even attempting to take your life. You can take that to the bank."
"Even though I know we will be tested, I love you." Skylar said.
"I love you too. Let's go prove why you don't mess with us!" Christina said.
"Good luck, Princess. I love you." Skylar whispered.