Chapter 25: The Power of the Stars

*Kiyoko*

When she woke, Kiyoko could feel the difference in herself. She felt whole. She felt strong. Kiyoko felt the power of the fireball princess, Kakyuu, within her as well. Taking a moment, Kiyoko offered up a silent prayer of thanks. Once that was finished, Kiyoko focused on her goal: leaving this place and destroying the darkness that was Shinigami. Kiyoko knew it was not her place to pass judgement. However, she had seen the inside of Shinigami's heart and there was nothing left to save. Death would be more merciful than anything else at this point. She tried to get to her feet and felt the chains binding both her hands and her feet this time. They had been thorough, that was for sure.

The chains chaffed a bit, but Kiyoko forced herself to continue working at them. She could still feel all of the darkness in this place, yet it did not threaten to suffocate her in the same way it had before. She smiled, the first sign that accepting her own shadow had been the right decision. Feeling the strength of her magic returning and adapting to the power she had received from Kakyuu, Kiyoko refused to give up.

In her mind, Kiyoko heard a whisper, one that sounded like Kakyuu. It had to be… The voice instructed Kiyoko, 'Young Queen, take the next step. You are no longer only a child of the moon. You are a child of the stars! Call forth that power, golden Kiyoko!' She did not know what Kakyuu's words meant at first. After a moment, the strangest notion came to Kiyoko. Was it possible? She didn't know. First she felt like she needed to know how close her captor was, or were. Was the daughter still here? Fighting against the restraints of her cursed chains, Kiyoko let her magic spread desperately seeking out anyone else she could find.

At last she sensed Shinigami, who was in a room far from her cell. But he was getting up and he was furious! Kiyoko knew she had to act immediately. There was no time for hesitation. She closed her eyes and held up her hand, taking a chance and following her gut… following what she believed Kakyuu was trying to tell her. Kiyoko held up her hand, squeezed her eyes shut, and called out "Gold… Star… Power… Make up!"

From inside of her, Kiyoko could feel a strange melding of her power and the power of the fireball princess springing forth. It covered the room in a blinding mixture of golden and crimson light. When it began to fade, Kiyoko was shocked at what she could see looking at herself. It had worked! She had become a Senshi! Her Fuku resembled the Starlights much more than the Senshi of Earth. Yet everything was white and gold, with a few red accents. A rose in her hair, golden burettes and golden and red armor on her odangos. Some red on her shorts. But stars and wings everywhere. That is when she noticed that red heart locket… It was still on her chest… A charm... A relic…. That tied her to her heritage as the daughter of Sailor Moon… No, Sailor Cosmos…. To the moon kingdom and the Silver Millennium. Kiyoko would always be part of her. As she look down further, Kiyoko took note of the ribbons of a golden bow coming from her back and tall white boots with golden edging. And she could see and feel the long white cape that matched her mother and sister.

The one thing that Kiyoko was certain would never happen… It had happened. She had resigned herself to the fact that she would never be a Senshi long ago. Nonetheless, here she was without chains and clearly taken on a Senshi transformation. Kiyoko placed her hand on the locket on her chest and whispered, "Thank you." Then she knew it was time to go, Shinigami was getting closer. So Kiyoko took a deep breath and held out her gloved hand, calling on her powers, and yelled Flaming Bomber! When she did the smoking bomber that normally flowed easily from her hand took on a new power, becoming even more forceful as it was drenched in flames!

This time the doors to her cage did not stand a chance, anger or no. They melted away and Kiyoko stepped past them. That is when the door to the room swung open and Shinigami looked upon Kiyoko. At first she saw frustration and hate in his eyes, but his emotions shifted in an instant to complete shock! Apparently he had not thought this possible any more than she had!

However, it did not take long for Shinigami to recover himself and his entire body lit with blue flame while his eyes glowed intensely green. He growled at Kiyoko, "So, the queen found her inner Senshi. This is not what I had planned! I suppose that means you die too!" He sighed, as if he were truly disappointed.

Kiyoko saw the move before he made it, her precognition intensified in this form. So when Shinigami leapt toward Kiyoko, she was able to dodge him fortunately. Kiyoko got past him and bolted through the door, in spite of not knowing where she was going or how to get out of this place. She ran up the steps, breath coming in heavy waves. In that moment, Kiyoko missed her wings. But something inside of her told her that when she accepted and absorbed her showed… She lost her wings, making flight a much rarer phenomenon from this point forward.

The steps wound, twisted, and turned in all directions. Even with her magic, Kiyoko found herself lost within these walls. Finally, she reached a door that was heavy and wooden with an ornate design. Pushing it open with her power, Kiyoko stepped inside. She needed a moment to gather herself. Looking around, Kiyoko noticed a stone structure that was slightly raised. Feeling powerful magic coming from it, Kiyoko stepped up to it. It was a pool of some sort.

When she looked into it, Kiyoko gasped. In the pool she saw… She saw Serenity. Kiyoko saw Serenity standing with their mother and Seiya. This was how Shinigami knew so much about Serenity. He had been stalking her.

*Usagi*

She put her hands on her hips as she looked at Seiya. Usagi let out a sigh, "Seiya, I understand what you're saying. Really, I do. But listen to reason. No matter whether or not she is invited on this mission, she will come. You know it."

Squeezing her fists at her sides, Seiya snapped back, "So I am just supposed to be okay with HER coming to my wife's rescue again! After what Haruka said!"

This time it was Serenity who interjected, her voice firm but understanding, "Trust me Seiya, I know how you feel. However, please think about it this way. Other than the three of us, who else would so readily lay down their life to save her?"

Usagi could see the war of logic versus emotion raging in Seiya's midnight eyes. Seiya would give everything to save Kiyoko, but the pain of everything that had happened made the idea of working with Haruka nearly unbearable. She placed her hand on Seiya's upper arm, "Serenity is right my friend. And right now, getting her back is what is most important. We all need her, and your children need her."

"Damnit," was all that Seiya could say. They were right. There would be no one more ready to lay down their life to save Kiyoko. Seiya would do whatever it took to save Kiyoko. She had been prepared to do that even when all hope seemed lost, when it looked like she would lose the battle with her own dark side. Seiya would have done everything and anything to save her beloved Kiyoko, even from herself.

Understanding, Usagi nodded and turned to Serenity, "As soon as we have a lead on where that creature has taken her, the four of us will head out." She turned back to Seiya, "We will get her back and you will hold her for the rest of your lives." Reassuring Seiya made Usagi think of her beloved Endymion, the soulmate that she was certain she would never hold in her arms again. All she could do now was to face forward and protect the universe as was her duty, no matter how much she wanted to return to her slumber at times.

Just then, Usagi heard someone approaching. When she pivoted on her heels, Usagi caught sight of a very exhausted Ami. She queried her friend, the Senshi of Intelligence, "What is it Ami?"

Ami reached them and bowed, ever the respectful soldier and friend, "We have something. I think that we've found out where he could be holding her!" Everyone looked at Ami with astonishment. So happy to have been able to help, Ami finally started feeling the exhaustion visible all over her.

Usagi saw her friend as she lost her balance and began to collapse, catching her before the others could Usagi pled with her friend, "Ami, Ami! Oh Ami! How could you do this to yourself?" Her eyes met Seiya's and Usagi said, "We'll get her back. But first, we have to get Ami inside." Seiya did not say anything, she simply told hold of Ami's other side and they made their way into the Crystal Palace.

Serenity looked sorrowfully at poor Ami, but went to inform Haruka of their plan, gritting her teeth the entire way there. She was still pissed, so she really did understand Seiya's point of view. Those feelings, they did not matter right now though. As queen, and as Sailor Moon, Serenity knew that the mission came first. Kiyoko was the mission right now. And Haruka was the best soldier for this mission, of that Serenity had no doubts.

4 Page