Standard disclaimer - I don't own Sailor Moon, or its characters. Any OCs, however, are mine.
Minako's eyes flicked to her alarm clock, and she sighed; she'd turned it off at five AM, already deciding she wasn't going to classes…but she still hadn't slept a wink all night. It was almost eight, and amazingly, her mother had let her 'sleep'. Sure, she'd come upstairs and demanded to know why she wasn't in the shower already…but after taking one look at her, she'd left Minako alone. I must look terrible, she realised. That's comforting…not.
"Did you sleep at all?" Artemis asked quietly, from the foot of the bed.
"No," she answered flatly. "At least, I don't think so. I suppose I wouldn't know if I did, huh?"
"Try not to worry, Minako. It won't help."
"Easy for you to say," she grumbled, sitting up and swinging her legs out of bed. "The Revenant Knight isn't holding your boyfriend hostage."
The cat managed a laugh. "If the Revenant Knight was holding my boyfriend hostage, I'd be a great deal more confused than I am right now." The humour faded quickly from his eyes, and he tried to smile. "What are you going to do today?"
"Well, I need to check in on Sam and Jess, and see how they're doing. Without Corey around, I'm the only other person they really know...and that's barely" She sighed. "I don't know what I'm going to tell them, Artemis. I have no idea how we're going to get Corey back."
That was a lie; she'd actually managed to come up with something of a plan as she lay there, unable to sleep. But Minako wasn't going to share it with Artemis; he would never understand. He'd just try and forbid her, or run off to warn everyone that she'd finally lost her mind completely…and she couldn't allow that. No. She would meet with her friends and discuss Corey's rescue with them. Ami was smart; she'd find a way to locate him. Minako had faith in her. Failing that, though? It would be up to her, and her own plan. And that would surely not be received well by her friends. They'd call her crazy, and maybe she really was…but she could handle that. After all, she decided, I will do anything to save Corey.
Sailor Moon stood beside her fellow Senshi atop Tokyo Tower. It was midnight; Ruin's deadline for action. The Outers were absent; Uranus' leg was mostly healed, but she'd asked them to hang back in reserve, just in case something went wrong. The blonde was hopeful that somehow, they'd find a peaceful resolution to this - one that would return Corey to them without the Silver Crystal leaving her possession.
She looked over at Sailor Venus nervously. Moon had offered her a chance to withdraw, to wait with the Outers, but she'd refused. Rather predictably, Moon thought anxiously. I just hope she knows what she's doing.
"Are you alright?" Tuxedo Kamen asked.
"No," she admitted. "I don't like this, Mamo-chan."
"It will be alright," he said. "Just try to relax. You can do this."
"I know. I just wish I could have asked Luna for her advice."
Mamoru nodded. "We all agreed we needed them in the dark on this."
Sailor Moon glanced to her left, looking over at Luna, Artemis and Titus. "I know." The three guardian cats had insisted on coming along tonight. She wasn't quite sure why; perhaps they just felt like they had to do something?
"He's here," Mars called out, gesturing ahead of them.
Moon turned to see a swirl of smoke and ash erupt from the concrete, and Ruin shimmered into view.
He stepped forward slowly, and spread his hands apart. "I will dispense with the pleasantries, Princess." His voice grew cold. "Have you come to a decision?"
Venus glanced at her and gave her a slight nod.
Moon took a deep breath, and nodded as well. "I have…and I will not give up the Silver Crystal."
"I must say, I'm disappointed to hear that," Ruin sighed. "You do realise this means death for your friend Sir Justice, of course?"
Moon swallowed. "Yes."
"We're not going to even talk about this?" Venus asked.
"There's nothing to talk about, Venus," Moon replied quickly. "You know I can't hand over the Silver Crystal to him."
"But they'll kill Corey…"
"Easy, Venus," Mars said softly. "We'll figure something out."
Sailor Moon tried to ignore her own concern for Corey and glared defiantly at Ruin. "Release him at once, or we'll come and take him back!"
Ruin laughed. "Please…such idle threats are not becoming of you, Princess. The truth is you have no idea where we're holding him. You already tried Wrath's old sanctum, and found it deserted." He laughed at her surprise. "You think I wouldn't keep one eye on that place, just in case?"
Moon looked over to Venus again and saw her hands trembling, clenched into tight fists. "Easy, Venus. He'll be okay." She turned back to Ruin. "I will never give up the Silver Crystal to you or your master, no matter how you threaten me, or my friends!"
Ruin shrugged. "Then I'll kill him…"
"No!" Venus cried. She spun, her eyes glistening with tears. "Damn it, Sailor Moon, this is Corey! I love him!"
Jupiter sighed. "You've been together for three weeks, Venus. Granted, that's a new record for you, but you'll move on-"
"I have five years of memories from our past lives, Jupiter!" Venus snapped. "Don't patronise me!"
It's starting, Moon realised. She help her hands up calmly. "Just take it easy, Venus. We're going to find him."
"How?" Venus shot back. "Tell me, Sailor Moon. How are we going to find him? It took us weeks to locate the entrance to the Dark Kingdom. Corey doesn't have that long!"
Ruin chuckled. "He really doesn't…"
Moon was so focused on Venus that she'd almost forgotten he was there.
"Just calm down!" Mars said firmly. "You're not helping anything with your outbursts."
Venus' voice took on an angry edge. "Don't tell me to calm down, Mars! We're talking about letting Ruin kill the man I love!"
Mercury held up her hands. "Nobody's killing Corey-"
"On the contrary," Ruin interrupted, "Sailor Venus is quite correct. I will kill him…slowly and painfully. And when he has finally expired…I will dump his bloody, broken carcass atop the steps of that shrine you all like so much!"
Venus pressed her hand to her mouth and stifled a sob.
Artemis tried to comfort her. "It will be alright, Venus."
"Will it? Do you know something I don't, Artemis?" Venus turned to Ruin. "Please, I'm begging you! Don't kill him!"
Jupiter grabbed her arm. "Venus, stop!"
"You swore to defend me, Sailor Venus," Moon said softly. "And the Silver Crystal. Have you forgotten?"
Venus' hands clenched into fists again; Moon saw blood on her palms and winced. "No…I just…" Her expression became angry. "If this was Mamoru, we wouldn't even be having-"
"Don't you dare drag him into this!" Moon snapped, suddenly angry herself. "He was taken from me, Venus, and Beryl turned him into a weapon and used him against me!"
She noticed Mamoru stiffen beside her; they'd never really talked about it much, but clearly his time under Beryl's control was still a touchy subject.
"And we all worked tirelessly to find him!" Venus reminded her. "We didn't just give up and say 'oh, well, let them kill him', did we?!"
Mercury shook her head. "That's not fair, Venus."
"That's right," Mars agreed. "They weren't threatening to kill Tuxedo Kamen."
"You all need to take a deep breath, and calm down," Tuxedo Kamen said loudly. "Getting emotional isn't helping the situation!"
"Yes," Moon sighed. "You're right." She held up her hands again. "Venus, I know this is difficult. But I also know that you understand I have a responsibility-"
"I do," Venus admitted quietly, as a single tear slid down her cheek. "But I can't just give up on Corey like that."
"Venus-" Jupiter began.
"Does anyone have an idea?" Venus continued. "Anyone? Someone, please, tell me. What's our grand plan for rescuing Corey? How are we going to find him, before Ruin murders him?"
"An excellent question," Ruin agreed.
Venus folded her arms across her chest and looked to each of them in turn. "Nobody?"
"Venus," Moon said awkwardly. "It's not that easy. This is a different situation from Mamoru entirely...and Corey knew the risks-"
"No!" Venus snapped. "Don't you dare try that 'he knew the risks' shit on me!" She took a step forward, stabbing a finger angrily in Moon's direction. "He gave his life for you once already! You owe him!"
Moon recoiled as she realised which finger Venus was pointing at her.
"Back off, Venus, and calm down!" Jupiter warned, stepping between them. Tuxedo Kamen stepped closer as well; they'd apparently noticed too.
Mars placed her hand gently on Venus' shoulder. "Just think about this. Take a deep breath and really think. You can't seriously be suggesting that we-"
Venus shook her off and took another step towards Moon. "Give him the Silver Crystal, Usagi." Tears glistened in her eyes. "Please! Don't let them kill him!"
Moon wiped tears from her own eyes as well, and shook her head. "I'm sorry, Venus...but you know I can't do that."
"Is it really worth his life?" Venus asked softly. "Is it really worth any of our lives?"
Luna's eyes went wide. "Of course it is! Sailor Venus, what's gotten into you? You know this already!"
"I've already died twice for you, Usagi…" Venus whispered. "We all have…how many times will you sacrifice one of us?"
Moon recoiled slightly. That comment had cut her deep. "Minako…"
"That's not fair, Venus, and you know it!" Artemis snapped. "This isn't like you!"
"I'm sorry you feel that way, Minako…" Moon managed. "I had no idea that you resented me so much."
"But that's the thing…I don't! Until now, I would have gladly died for you again…because I always thought it was a last resort, when there was no other choice." Venus' eyes flashed with anger. "But seeing how easily you'd let Corey die now? That changes things."
"I see it now," Moon said flatly. "What you feel for Corey…it's not love. It's obsession!"
"No! It's the most powerful kind of love!" Venus countered. "The kind I would do anything to save, Sailor Moon. Anything!"
"I'm sorry…but I will never give up the Silver Crystal."
Venus' expression became oddly calm. "Well, then...I'm sorry too." She raised her hand suddenly. "Crescent Beam!"
The blast struck the rooftop barely an inch from her foot, and Moon recoiled instinctively as Tuxedo Kamen moved to stand before her, a rose in his hand.
"The next one goes through your heart!" Venus whispered. "Don't make me do this…please."
"What are you doing?" Mercury called anxiously.
"What the hell?!" Mars demanded.
"Venus!" Artemis cried. "What's the matter with you? You're not acting rationally!"
Venus actually laughed; it was sad and bitter to Sailor Moon's ears. "I'm in love, Artemis...and love isn't always rational." She turned back to face Moon, deadly serious. "Give him the crystal."
Moon stepped out from around Mamoru and glared at Venus. "Are you insane?! You'd risk the entire world for one person?"
"I would rather watch this whole world burn than spend one second longer in it without Corey," Venus said coldly. She raised her arm again, pointing towards her. "I've made my choice, Sailor Moon...now you need to make yours."
"What the hell's happened to you?" Jupiter asked, stunned.
"Venus, please," Titus said, his tone cautious. "I know we've never really seen eye to eye, but think about this! Do you really think that Corey would want you to do this?"
She laughed at him. "Right, Titus…because you've always been so concerned about what Corey would want!"
Moon was taken aback by the venom in her voice; this didn't sound like the Minako she knew.
"Listen to me, Venus," Mars said slowly. "I know you're upset, but this isn't the way."
"You're wrong, Mars," the blonde replied. "It seems like it's the only way. If I want to save Corey…I need the Silver Crystal. Simple."
"Stop this madness," Luna begged her. "I don't understand why you're suddenly acting like this!"
"I have spent the last six years choosing duty, Luna. Time and time again. I lost loves, I lost friends, and I lost my teenage years." Her cool facade cracked for a moment, and another tear slid down her cheek. "But now that I've found Corey…my Corval? I'm choosing him. I'm choosing love!" She quickly wiped her cheek and raised her arm again. "Now give...Ruin...the crystal!"
Moon raised her Tiare, and set her own face in an expressionless mask. "That will never happen, Venus. You'll have to take it from me. And to do that…you'll have to kill me."
"Then this is on your head!" Venus snapped. "Crescent-"
She was cut off as Mars tackled her to the rooftop; the two Senshi rolled as they grappled. Mars seemed to gain the upper hand initially, straddling Venus and pinning her to the concrete.
"Stop this!" she yelled. "I won't let you hurt Sailor Moon!"
Venus slammed her forearm into Mars' face, knocking her from atop her. She spun and followed up with a kick to the raven-haired Senshi's stomach, and Mars doubled over in pain. Venus flipped to her feet, and leapt for Sailor Moon; Jupiter slid between them again...and Venus punched her in the jaw, knocking the taller brunette on her rear.
"Venus!" Artemis cried. "Stop this, please!"
"Shut up, Artemis!" she snapped, raising her arm towards Moon. A rose suddenly embedded itself in her left shoulder, and she screamed in pain.
"I won't let anyone hurt the woman I love," Tuxedo Kamen warned her. "Not even you, Venus!"
"Damn you!" She snapped off another Crescent Beam at Tuxedo Kamen, but it went wide, and Moon suddenly found herself shoved out of the way. She hit the concrete, and looked up to see Mercury holding her side as she grimaced in pain.
"Mercury!" she cried.
The blue-haired Senshi forced a smile. "I'm alright...it just winged me." Blood began seeping out from around her glove, and Moon hurried to her side.
"Damn you, Venus! Mars Flame Sniper!" The flaming arrow sped from Mars' hands, brushing Venus' side as she dodged. It set her uniform alight, and she shrieked in pain as she hit the rooftop and rolled, quickly extinguishing the flames. She recovered quickly, and rolled back to her feet.
"Venus Love Me Chain!" The golden links lashed out towards Mars...and were caught by a decidedly pissed-off looking Sailor Jupiter. She tugged on the chain hard, pulling Venus forward into her waiting arm, clotheslining the blonde and knocking her hard to the rooftop.
"Now stay down," Jupiter growled.
"Not until you agree to save Corey!" Venus retorted, flipping back to her feet again and swinging for Jupiter's face. The two began exchanging blows, neither able to strike the other with any kind of real effect. Moon knew Venus had spent a lot of time on her own in the beginning, but she couldn't hope to stand up to Jupiter in hand-to-hand combat for long.
"I didn't expect such an entertaining evening," Ruin called, leaning rather casually against a support strut. "This is quite a show!"
The smug bastard is happy to watch us kill each other, she thought angrily, forcing herself to focus on Mercury's side. The cut didn't look too bad; it had taken off several layers of skin, but the bleeding was already starting to slow.
Luna bounded up to her side. "Sailor Moon, is Mercury alright?"
"I'm okay, Luna," Mercury answered. "It just grazed me. See? It's already sealing."
"How did we not see this coming?" Luna asked sadly, turning to watch the fight. "I didn't pick up on any signs at all."
"Nor I," Artemis admitted, joining them. He seemed quite upset, and Moon felt a sudden guilt gnawing at her insides.
"She's in love…" Moon sighed. "She was right; love isn't rational." She glanced up at Tuxedo Kamen, who stood before her. "If the situation was reversed, and it was Mamo-chan about to be killed? I might not find it so easy to hold out either."
"You don't mean that, Usagi," Luna whispered. "I know you…and you'd do the right thing."
"Perhaps."
"At any rate," Luna said reluctantly. "You must protect the Silver Crystal. Even from Sailor Venus. That is your duty as heir to the Moon Kingdom; it cannot be allowed to fall into the wrong hands."
Moon bowed her head. "I know."
Venus suddenly broke away from Jupiter, leaping back to land in the corner of the rooftop. She glanced backwards, seeming to realise she was trapped, then focused on Sailor Moon. She nodded slowly, and leapt forward. "Give me the crystal!" Another of Tuxedo Kamen's roses cut across her forearm, but it didn't even slow her down.
Moon levelled her Tiare and closed her eyes. "Silver Moon Crystal Power!" The blast of golden energy lashed out, enveloping Venus. She opened her eyes to find Venus still standing, her arms forming an X before her. The blast was cutting into her uniform and skin, small tears forming in her gloves and skirt as the energy washed over her. Moon kept the attack going, gritting her teeth with the effort.
"Please, Venus!" she called. "Stop this! I don't want anyone else hurt, including you!"
"Then save Corey!" Venus pleaded. "His death will hurt me more than any attack!" She narrowed her eyes and actually stepped forward into Sailor Moon's blast. "Otherwise, I'm sorry, but I won't stop! I won't let you sacrifice him for that stupid crystal!"
"Then…I'm sorry too!" Sailor Moon focused her energy, and pushed yet more power into her attack, watching as a brighter, stronger pulse was sent down the existing beam. It slammed into Venus...and knocked her backwards off the top of the tower.
"Venus!" Artemis cried, rushing to the ledge. After several long seconds, a distant crash echoed up to them, followed by the sound of a car alarm. Moon stepped over to the edge and looked down; Venus was barely visible, lying atop a crushed car, her Love Me Chain draped over and around her. She didn't appear to be moving. Panic gripped her heart. That's a long way to fall…even for a Sailor Senshi. I hope...
Mars approached slowly; she didn't look down. "Is she...?"
"It doesn't matter," Moon said firmly, forcing herself to step away as she wiped a tear from her eye. She locked her gaze on Ruin, and raised her Tiare again. "I will never give up the Silver Crystal...so you might as well release Corey; killing him will serve you no useful purpose."
Ruin studied her silently for a long time, before finally nodding his head. "Yes...I can see that now. It seems our spies were wrong about you, Princess. You are far colder than their reports would have me believe; once Sailor Venus made herself known as a threat, you eliminated her quickly...with startling ease."
"Shut up," Moon muttered. "She was my friend."
"And you fought her with no hesitation," Ruin mused. "Interesting…I may have judged Wrath and the Sailor Marauders too harshly. You really would let Sir Justice die, wouldn't you?"
"He would expect me to," she whispered.
"I must reflect on this…" Ruin faded from view with a cloud of smoke.
Sailor Moon immediately rushed over to the ledge again, but Venus was gone; the only trace of her existence in the first place was the crushed car she'd landed on.
"Where did she go?" Jupiter asked, concern creeping into her voice.
"Her communicator is still active," Mercury noted, peering at her computer. "But she's not moving very quickly."
"After a fall like that, I'm not surprised," Titus murmured.
Mars placed her hand on Moon's shoulder. "What should we do now, Usagi?"
"Nothing." Moon sighed. "Venus made her choice. The next move is hers."
"Are you okay?" Tuxedo Mask asked quietly.
"I just hope she's alright..."
A few minutes earlier…
Venus groaned, and tried to sit up. The noise from the car alarm was almost unbearable; it seemed to reverberate through her skull. There was an excruciating pain in the small of her back, and as she sat up, it extended down into her right leg. She'd actually managed to latch onto a support beam with her chain as she fell, but her burned arm had given out and she'd lost her grip. She'd latched on a second time, but only managed to swing herself back first into a support strut. Finally, she'd run out of chain, and had the bright idea to try dropping the remaining fifty or so feet; the car had broken her fall, at least; albeit rather painfully. If not for her Senshi powers, she'd probably be dead.
"Come on," she murmured, wincing as she moved. "You dragged yourself out of a burning warehouse in London…you can walk away from this!"
Venus managed to roll off the roof of the car, stifling a cry of pain as a jagged piece of metal tore into her outer thigh. Her feet hit the asphalt, and she nearly collapsed; it felt like someone had stabbed her in the back, and was turning the blade every few seconds. She managed to limp away from the car, turning down the first alleyway she found.
"I can't believe she actually did that to me," she admitted to herself, leaning back against the wall. Taking some of the pressure off her legs seemed to be helping. Sailor Moon actually did it. I'm surprised.
Venus caught a faint flicker of movement out of the corner of her eye, and whirled about with her arm extended, ready to attack.
"You intrigue me, Sailor Venus," Ruin admitted, moving to lean against the wall opposite her.
Venus didn't answer; keeping her arm raised like this was incredibly painful in her current condition, and it was taking all her effort. Uh-oh…I've seriously screwed up my back somehow.
"I had thought you the most loyal of the Sailor Senshi," he continued. "Except, perhaps, for Sailor Mars. But you turned on your princess so easily."
She let out a bitter laugh, injecting that unfamiliar venom back into her voice. "You think that was easy for me? I love Serenity like a sister! I would die for her; I already have, twice!" Venus' anger faded again almost immediately. "But…she betrayed me the moment she decided to let Corey die."
Ruin's head tilted slightly to the left as he stared at her.
"It doesn't matter anyway," she muttered. "I made my choice. I tried to take the crystal from her, and I failed. So, if you came here to fight, let's just get it over with. Otherwise, leave me alone."
"There is a third option…"
"You seem to think I want to talk to you," she said coldly. "Don't treat me like an idiot; you're the one holding Corey, and threatening to kill him!"
"I am nothing if not pragmatic," Ruin shrugged. "I see an opportunity for us both to get what we want, Sailor Venus."
"Why would I believe anything you have to say?"
Ruin's voice froze over in an instant. "Because you have no other choice, Senshi. Will your friends take you back after what you just tried to do?"
Venus let her head fall forward slowly, until she was staring at the ground. "No…they won't."
"I didn't think so. Nor will you be able to rescue Sir Justice on your own, I assure you."
She sighed. "No. I won't." She slowly let her arm lower, and leaned back gently against the wall. The pain was instantly less intense. "What do you propose, then?"
Ruin hesitated…but only for a moment. "Join us, if only temporarily. My initial offer stands; aid me in recovering the Silver Crystal, and I will release your beloved to you. I will honour my earlier promise as well; I will take Wrath and the Sailor Marauders, and leave this world in peace. After all, with the Silver Crystal in his possession, my master will no longer have any interest in you."
Venus frowned back at him. "I still don't trust you."
"Trust is not required," Ruin countered. "Only desperation, and I see plenty of that in your eyes, Sailor Venus."
So…this is how my next step begins, she thought idly. I didn't expect this."I have one condition."
"You're hardly in a position to negotiate," he chuckled, "but I admire your spirit. What is this condition?"
"I want to see Corey. I want to be sure he's really alive, and unharmed. Then…if you've been honest…we can talk about what comes next."
Ruin was silent for several seconds; he was clearly thinking. "Very well. He is alive, and mostly unharmed…but I do not expect you to take my word for it. I will take you to my sanctum, and you can verify his condition for yourself. Then, we will discuss how you may be able to assist us further." He extended his clawed gauntlet. "Do we have an arrangement?"
Venus extended her hand slowly…and hesitated. There's no turning back from here. I know I did all of this for Corey, but…this is it. Once I go in there…I may never come out again. She forced her fear from her mind, and took his hand, shaking it lightly. "Deal."
Ruin turned and waved his hand, summoning a swirling black vortex in the air beside them. He gestured towards it. "After you…Sailor Venus."
Venus reached down and rubbed her wrist nervously. I have no other choice, she thought determinedly. I have to save Corey, and that means going in there. I told Usagi I wouldn't sacrifice him…and I meant it. She took a deep breath, and stepped through the portal. Into darkness.
AN: Nice, quick update - admittedly, I'd already written two-thirds of this one and had to delay it to get Corey's epiphany moment right. Things are getting intense now, though, and we're almost at the climax. Not much else to say on this one - if all goes according to plan, we'll have everyone rejoining the story next chapter, Outer Senshi included. Thanks for reading!