Chapter 20: Dies Irae
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Everyone had settled in the temple to have dinner and discuss what exactly they were facing. The mood was relatively good, but quiet considering the days events. Hotaru was busy helping to heal some of the more serious twists and sprains. She wasn't allowed to do any more because of her weak state.
Usagi had stuffed herself full of food, almost to the point of giving herself a stomachache. She was lounging in Mamoru's lap dozing. The others were all scattered about. Shiori, Yumiko and Kira were with their boyfriends. Suddenly, Setsuna stood up. "We should discuss what we're up against."
The others quickly came around and all looked at her. Ami looked at Setsuna. "You mean you don't know?" Setsuna shook her head. I'm afraid all I can see is the future, but this time, I cannot even see that." That got everyone's attention.
"What do you mean? You can't see Crystal Tokyo? Or Chibi-Usa? Asked a very concerned Mamoru.
"No. And that is what worries me the most. While I cannot see the future, I also cannot go to the gates of time. It is like a wall has been built."
"What about you Rei? Has the fire been able to tell you anything? Asked Minako.
"All I get are snatches here and there. It is not very reliable and nothing makes sense."
"Michiru, what about your mirror? Hotaru, anything?" asked Makoto. Both shook their heads.
"Well, this puts us between a feather and a chicken," said Minako.
The entire group sweat dropped. "OK so maybe it was a fluke that she got one right," muttered Yaten.
"Hey!" yelled Minako as she threw a pillow at him.
"It's between a rock and a hard place, Minako," corrected Shiori.
"Ah well, tomato, potato," she shrugged as groans were heard all around.
"We're digressing here," said Ami to get the conversation back on track. "What exactly are we up against? I mean what do they want?"
"She wants revenge," said Usagi.
"How do you know this?" asked Shiori.
Usagi took a deep breath. "Before I can answer that I need to tell you what happened to me." Mamoru gently squeezed her hand to let her know that it would be all right. "I was trapped in a nightmare," she began. "I began having nightmares shortly after we met the PrincesStars. At first I thought it was just something I ate or some silly thing like that. They always started the same, I would walk out into the street and I couldn't hear anything. No birds, no cars, nothing. At first I would wake up and breathe a sigh of relief, but they only got worse. I would go out into the street and I couldn't hear anything. I tried to call to Mamo-chan, but no sounds would come out of my mouth. It felt as though I was being smothered from the inside. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't find him or anyone." Tears began to fall down her face. "I couldn't find anyone…" She turned her head into Mamoru's shoulder and cried.
Mamoru wrapped his arms around her and finished the story. "She would cry out in the middle of the night for me and I would wake her up and comfort her. Each time she had that dream it began to get harder and harder to wake her up. I also had the same dream for a bit, but it faded away as hers grew stronger. Then finally I couldn't wake her up at all. That's when I came to you guys. When I went to rescue Usagi, I had to fight the witch. She wanted Usagi's powers. I believe that she is the one behind all of this."
"But why does she want revenge on Usagi?" asked Haruka.
"It's not revenge on me she wants, only my powers," sniffled Usagi. It's the PrincesStars she wants revenge on."
Shiori, Kira and Yumiko all looked at each other confused. "But why us? What did we do to her?" asked Kira.
"You didn't do anything except be born," replied Usagi. "Your parents were the ones who exiled her for trying to overthrow them."
The three girls looked at each other shocked. "But we never knew our real parents," said Kira. "All we remember is here."
"How do you know about our real parents?" asked Shiori. "How do you know this when we don't even know?"
"While Mamoru was fighting off the witch, I heard him. He woke me up from that horrible lonely nightmare. The witch was about to kill him, so I became Princess Serenity and somehow when I used the crystal I knew the reasons behind her actions. I knew who you were and who your parents were. You see, during the Silver Millennium, your parents were allies of the Moon Kingdom. Your Father was King Okiaku and you Mother was Queen Yukino of the planet Cèrande.
"What happened to them? Why are we here instead of with them?" asked a frustrated Yumiko.
"It's OK Yumi, let Usagi finish," comforted Yaten. Yumiko leaned back into his arms and tried to calm down.
"Before you were born, they hired a nurse to help care for you after you were born. Her name was Deirdre. She seemed to genuinely love to care for children. But it was all a façade. All she wanted was to have power. She thought that if she could just get close enough to the King, she could make him forget about his current queen and marry her instead, thus making her the Queen. Somehow, she was found out and banished. She carried her hate for him and you with her. Her hate grew along with her powers. When you three were a bout four months old, the Negaverse attacked the Moon Kingdom. Deirdre waited and bided her time to attack Cèrande. She timed it perfectly. The Moon Kingdom was busy defending itself, so Cèrande was utterly helpless against her power. Your mother and father quickly made the decision to send you away in hopes that someone would find you and care for you. I don't know exactly how it happened, but you were brought to Earth in the twentieth century. Deirdre was defeated, and imprisoned in the core of Cèrande. But her defeat came with a price. Cèrande was devastated. The people fled the destruction to other worlds. Your parents died imprisoning Deirdre, but they knew that their children were safely away to a better life."
Usagi looked up at the three girls. Their eyes were full of tears. "And Deirdre is who we are facing now?" asked Kira.
Usagi nodded. "But now she is known as Dies Irae." (A/N: Dies Irae is a musical term that translates to Day of Wrath.)
After Usagi was finished, everyone was quiet. Shiori got up from where she was sitting. "Excuse me, I need some fresh air." She went outside and walked around to the other side of the Temple. She stopped and looked up at the night sky. "Oh Mother, father. I wish I knew you. Did we turn out like you wanted us to? Do we make you proud? Do you still love us?" Tears began to fall freely down her face. "I wish I knew what you looked like." Hands gently touched her shoulders. "I wish I knew what you looked like…"
Seiya gently turned Shiori around in his arms where she continued to cry. After a few minutes, Shiori began to calm down. "Seiya?"
"Hmmm?"
"Do you think they're proud of us?"
"Of course they are. You know, where I come from, when a person's body dies, their soul becomes a star in the night sky. It is a reminder of their love to us."
"It is easier to think that they are up there looking down on us." She hugged him. "Seiya? Thank you."
"For what?"
"For being here."
"I'll always be here for you my love."
"Oh Seiya!" whispered Shiori as she wrapped her arms around his neck and tilted her head to meet his lips. As their sweet kiss ended, she whispered, "I love you so much Seiya. Thanks again for being here."
"I love you too, my star. Now, how 'bout we go home. I told the others I would take you home. Everyone is done for the night. We are going to meet back here tomorrow at ten in the morning."
"Seiya? Can I please stay with you?" asked Shiori. "I really don't want to be alone right now, but at the same time I don't want to be with my sisters."
"If that's what you want, then it's all right with me," he answered. "Now let's get going. It's been a long day for all of us."
Hand in hand they turned and began the walk to where Seiya was staying. Kira, Yaten, Taiki and Yumiko watched them walk off.
"I think we don't need to worry about her tonight," winked Yumiko. "She'll be just fine. But um, you two may just want to stay with us tonight."
That sounds like a wonderful idea to me," said Yaten. "What about you Taiki?"
"Sounds like a fine plan to me," he smiled.
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WOW! Another chapter finished! It took me long enough! Especially after the week I've had. I found out my best friend is moving to Texas. I have been really upset over that. I know she will be happy down there, but I will still miss her terribly. So this one was for you C! (Aka: Serena "Dancer" Moon) We will always be best friends no mater the how far away you are.