Chapter Twenty:
Jupiter lunges to her left, wincing as the movement pulls at the bruised rib she had contracted earlier on in battle. Beads of sweat lace her forehead, and exhaustion sets deep into her bones like a gas-tank going on empty. Still, she lets the anger and resentment within her, bubble to the surface, and channels that power in the direction of the hulking monster currently destroying OSAP Grocery.
Its oily black skin leaves slick trails on the floor that smell strangely of sewage and rotting vegetables. What's worse, every time she hits it, hunks of its flesh fall to the ground, leaving grey-pink patches along its body. It stares at her through eyeless sockets, but its' spit is, literally, toxic. Lita has learned that the HARD way. Yeah, can you say "gross"?
"Well," she thinks, "It's time to take this Nega-ick out!"
"Jupiter Thunder Clap!" Electricity bursts to life on her fingertips, and with amazing accuracy, Lita hurls the ball of energy straight into the monster's gut. It hits dead center, creating a gaping hole right in the middle of the youma's stomach. Lita grins. Maybe, she doesn't need the other Scouts after all.
And maybe, she spoke too soon. The youma seems to be absorbing the electricity. Slowly, the hole in its stomach repairs itself, with a hissing sparkle. "What?!" She screams the accusation, before an amazing punch sends her sprawling across the once-gleaming tile.
Lita tries to stand, but her leg is limp, unwilling to obey her commands. Unable to dodge the oncoming attack, she thinks that she can maybe buy herself some time--- stall until the other Scouts get here.... But she would never have guessed what happens next.
One moment, the youma was hovering over her, preparing for a final spring--- and the next moment, it melts--- collapses in on itself, leaving a pool of rotting fruits and vegetables on the floor. She spins around, not letting herself relax.
Rubeus suddenly appears out of no-where, without warning, and his sudden attack catches her by surprise. Extending one hand, he makes Lita levitate in midair, spinning her in lazy circles so that she is dizzy and disoriented. "Cut," she gasps, "it out already," obviously struggling for breath.
"I thought we were playing a nice little game," Rubeus chuckles, a high, lilting laugh that echoes around the store and scrapes the eardrums, like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Lita winces, but forces herself to study him. She never really noticed before, but his hair is all shades of red, orange and gold. That, it addition to the massive amounts of gel he applies to the fringe, makes his head look like it's constantly on fire.
"Only a coward would fight this way" Lita croaks, as she dangles upside down from the ceiling, "I wonder how tough you would be without all your magic tricks, huh?"
Rubeus grins, "Ah, Jupiter, but aren't we getting a little ahead of ourselves, hmmm? I'm not concerned with YOU. Right now, my masters have bigger fish to fry, and you're just perfect bait."
Lita growls. She can't help it, "What is it that you want from me?"
When his gaze meets hers, his eyes are merry, lit by knowledge of some secret joke, "She should be here in five... four... three... two..."
SMASH. The groceries' floor-to-ceiling windows shatter, and glass shards rain down upon the two enemies, still locked in a fierce staring contest. Lita's the first to break, as the realities of the situation crash down upon her, "Serena, don't!"
She fully expected her words to fall unto deaf ears, and so she is completely shocked, when the silhouettes of two people (she can't see Rini) disengage from the group, and slip around the corner.
The one remaining figure, presumably Rei, steps out from the shadows and confirms Lita's guess, "On behalf of love, and on behalf of justice, I AM Sailor Moon*--- and I will punish you." She nixes the poses, which is probably for the best. Lita just drops her head, and sighs.
Rei steps back, then suddenly runs forward, gaining power, before leaping off her perch. "Sailor Moon Kick" she screams, realizing that her announcement is completely pointless, but feeling obliged to say it anyhow.
Rubeus easily steps to the side, so that Rei flies past him. At the last second she tucks into a neat body roll, and pulls herself to her feet, facing him. Building up energy in her moon wand, she raises it above her head. Being careful to speak every word clearly and forcefully, she shouts, "Moon Princess Elimination!"
Rei waits for the familiar warmth to shoot from her hands, for that incredible rush of power, the light show--- there is nothing. "Moon Princess Elimination!" the wand sputters, like it's releasing its' last breath of life. Meanwhile, Rubeus is stalking closer.
Moving with almost a feline grace, he approaches Rei. Every instinct in her body screams, "Run," but she's trapped in a corner, without any routes of escape. She looks between Rubeus and her Moon Wand... Rubeus and her Moon Wand... before hurling the ancient relic at the bad guy. It hits his left shoulder, bounces off, and then skids across the floor--- clearly out of reach.
Rubeus's eyes have tracked its' progress, and Rei seizes the opportunity to bolt. Pumping her legs, she scrambles over to Lita, and desperately tries to help the brunette to her feet. "What are we going to do?"
Somewhere in a back corner of the store, Serena's thoughts echo Rei's, "What are we going to do?" She clamps her eyes closed, and tries to focus on the distant sounds of battle--- boots skidding across the floor, a tiny whimper of pain, several shouts, and then nothing. The world is holding its' breath in anticipation--- In anticipation of what?
Tuxedo Mask, more often prone to pacing, feels anticipation build in him. It is torture--- waiting, staying in the shadows--- but it is also necessary. He keeps his face carefully closed off, but does give the hand holding his a gentle squeeze.
Rini turns to him--- allowing her eyes to travel up the long cape, the white half-mask and top hat, and suddenly an image flashes into her mind: her dad--- who was never afraid of anything--- standing strong and resolute in the midst of panic. The stresses of the future war never showed on his face. The only time Rini ever saw him lost or weeping was when mommy---
Rini swivels around and faces Serena. In contrast to Tuxedo Mask, every emotion is written clearly across Sailor Mars'* face, etched into her features like a map. FLASH For a minute, Rini sees Serena as her mom, shining with a radiant light that was hers to command because she loved everyone and everything.
The words, "Follow your heart," are running through her head, over and over again.
Suddenly, Rini lets out a little cry that reverberates deep within her heart and spills out unto the surface. Without thinking, without recognizing what she is doing, she drops Serena and Darien's hands, and scrambles out from behind their hiding place--- a stack of storage boxes placed strategically around the store to hide them from view.
Her small, sneaker-covered feet dart around all obstacles, and she luckily, avoids grabs by both Sailor Mars* and Tuxedo Mask, as they try to lure her back to safety. Now that they are no longer touching, her body begins to flicker. Her body feels lightweight, and unstable... Rini can't keep this up much longer.
Pink pig-tails flying, she spots her goal--- the Moon Wand lying abandoned on the floor, surrounded by heaps of rubble. Her flushed hands clasp the handle, and heave it off the floor. Rini staggers, unprepared for the wand's weight--- but from the moment her fingers grip it, she feels well. Alive. Powerful.
Rini feels herself steady--- heat floods into her, so that her cheeks flush, and electricity pours into her arms causing them to tingle. The most incredible sensation! It's like the wand is a part of her, has always been a part of her--- keeping her tethered to reality when she might otherwise disappear.
But no burst of inspiration, no knowledge of what to do or what to say suddenly appears in her mind. She settles for bowing her head over the wand, wishing desperately for things to be okay, "Help everybody gather the strength they need to ward off evil. Help the Scouts defeat these guys, so they can save my mommy. Please."
'Please' truly seems to be the magic word, because the wand bursts with light, fills with energy, and then explodes--- stars and crescent moons rain down on everyone and everything in OSAP grocery: Lita's leg is healed, Rei's skirt flaunts its' rainbow colors, and the counters, shelves, and floors of the super-market are once again pristine and gleaming.
Rubeus's eyes narrow with annoyance, but otherwise he is unharmed. "Ah, Little Rabbit," he intones with obvious dislike, "My Prince was after Serenity, but I'm sure he will be quite pleased to have YOU as a present." Rini's face goes white.
She shakes the Moon Wand, hoping for another burst of energy--- anything to prevent what is coming next--- but it seems to have spent its reserves. Rini feels similarly weary. She's barely keeping her head up from exhaustion, and her eyes are beginning to droop, "I'm sorry everyone," she says in her mind, "I tried my very best to help out."
"Not so quick, creep-o!" Lita is back with a vengeance, "Rini represents the future, and with kids like her, the future is guaranteed to be bright. I will not let you destroy such bravery!" Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Mars* step up as well, voicing their agreement, when Jupiter turns to them with pleading eyes. "Guys, let me take this one alone."
"But Lita---" Serena murmurs under her breath, "We work best as a team."
"Yeah, and I know you guys always have my back, but I've got something to prove this time."
"I---"
"Let her go," Darien murmurs, "Sometimes our toughest battles are those we fight within ourselves." Rei resists the desire to her roll her eyes at the sheer corniness of that statement, but agrees, "Yeah, Serena, give Lita this chance."
Serena is obviously fighting some sort of internal battle, but finally relents, "You know we believe in you."
Lita nods. She reaches inside herself for the source of her power, and taps upon a pulsing energy unlike anything she has every felt before. "Jupiter Oak Revolution," she twirls in place, while hundreds of razor sharp leaves are born into existence around her, and go shooting straight at Rubeus. All of this happens in a matter of seconds, not long enough for him to react--- and so he finds himself stuck to the wall, by the leaves that are like daggers.
"What are you going to do with me?" he quells. Even his hair seems to be quivering under Lita's hot gaze.
"Why you punk---" Lita lunges.
"Wait!" Serena lays a desperate hand on Lita's shoulder, not restraining her (because really, she doesn't have the strength), but giving Lita pause. She turns to Rei, "Do you think you could heal him? Make him good?"
"Umm," she bites her lip, and passes a frazzled hand through her hair, "My powers are still off. I don't know what I can do."
"Is this scumbag really WORTH saving?" Lita asks.
"Lita, you know there is good in everyone. If we do this, if we kill him, we're no worse than the bad guys."
Lita seethes, but feels her heart go out to Serena, "How will we do it?"
"What if we all do it together?" Everyone jumps. They had almost forgotten Rini was there, before she spoke up.
Darien stares at the little girl, as if measuring her with his gaze, but Serena can read the warmth in his stance, the love in his delicate nod. Still, she is the first one to voice the group opinion, "Great idea Rini."
One by one, the Scouts, Rini and Tuxedo Mask lay a gentle hand on the Moon Wand. It seems to charge as each of their powers are added to the mix, "Moon Healing Activation!" they speak in one breath. Rainbow sparks flutter from the rod, drowning out Rubeus's alternate threats and helpless begging.
"No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" His shouts seem to stretch on forever, but eventually, the wand dies down, and Rubeus slumps to the ground. "Did we kill him?" Rini asks in a small voice, guilt already cementing itself on her features.
"No, look."
White lights still swill around him, and eventually go IN to him, until Rubeus's body is consumed by dancing orbs. The lights rise into the air, and disappear into the distance.
"He's free now." Serena sighs. The group heaves a collective murmur of relief, before Lita draws attention back to Rini, "Guys, is she flickering?"
Darien and Serena grab Rini's hands immediately, and she stabilizes, "Right, about that," they begin.
It dawns on all of them that while they have won the fight today, there is a long road ahead of them. Only Rini sees where that long road will lead: to a Crystal city, a sparkling utopia. She glances around at the Scouts--- her friends--- and wonders what will happen, when past, present, and future meet.
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Author's Notes: Just to clarify, Rini does not know that Darien and Serena are her parents. Only that at times they can remind her of the love she felt when in the presence of her mom and dad. Okay, thank-yous go to: Bakagirl123- So it's not exactly soon, but I tried my best. Swear. CharlotteElBourne- Rini's big chapter comes next, and then (gasp) we start working towards the big final battle. I'm almost nervous to see this story completed, especially since the poll about Serena's evil-ness is still pretty close. Everyone, make sure you vote! Ange de l'aube- Yeah, I know a lot of people wanted Serena to really blow up at Darien, but can anyone see her really doing that? She's pure sweetness, and she would put his happiness before anything else, so I didn't feel comfortable writing her as scornful or cold. Rosebudjamie- It's like I completely forgot about the cats, but I can definitely hear Luna's reaction to the news, "That lazybones the Moon Princess. Are you sure you haven't hit your head, Mina?" It could very possibly make a good upcoming scene. Fedski- Yeah, that cold shoulder moment was one of my favorite scenes to write. It just felt so RIGHT, and I can see that gesture really affecting Darien, you know? Roses and Diamonds- Thank you! Thank you! Hold the applause (lol). Really, thanks so much for your reviews. I'll come home after school, and be completely stressed out, and then I'll read a comment you made, and I'm back to being on top of the world. It means a lot to me. PrincessSerenity1976- I wonder if anyone has ever died their hair pink in real life. I mean, someone somewhere had to, right? Other shout-outs to: CharmedSerenity3, SerenityMoonGoddess, Ldsprincess, IceQueenBarbarien, Ashgeliton, and Chichiforever.