Act Twenty Seven: Her Light Extinguished, the Moon Will Die…

AN: There's some thought speak, and words spoken telepathically will be surrounded by these;

Sailor Moon awoke to find herself chained to what appeared to be a stone altar. She tried to move her arms, but the chains were too tight. The metal cut into her skin, and chafed her wrists. Dazedly, she wondered how she'd gotten there, and then she remembered the events of the past several hours. Now that she'd had what amounted to some sleep, she had the energy to shed more tears. All of her friends were dead, and the Starlights were frozen in time. The blonde struggled against her bonds, and the metal cuffs rubbed painfully against her skin, cutting into her wrists. She grimaced, but continued to struggle. She couldn't let everyone's sacrifices be in vain. A treacherous voice in the back of her mind told her that she'd already lost that battle, but she ignored it.

"Ah, you're awake!" Serenata's voice came from somewhere to the right.

Serena turned her head to look. Sure enough, her enemy was off to the side, a triumphant smile on her face. In her hand was a sinister-looking knife. Maximus was at his mistress' side, and if wolves were able to look triumphant, then Maximus certainly did. The blonde kept her face calm, and tried to control the panic that was steadily rising in her heart. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't calm herself, and she could find no escape. Unless she somehow managed to pull a Houdini, she was royally screwed.

"Nice décor," she managed to say. "Very gothic, very Edgar Allan Poe."

"Even in the face of death, you continue to make jokes. Do you think this is a game?"

"Do you think this is a game?" the blonde asked innocently.

"Never mind," the goddess snapped. "Soon, I will have the Silver Crystal, and you shall be dead."

"I've got news for you; I've died, like, three times already."

"I am aware that you were reincarnated. It was mere luck. I can promise you this; you will not be revived this time around."

"I wouldn't go making promises I couldn't keep if I were you."

"Do you know what is going to happen to you, Serenity?"

"You're going to take the Silver Crystal and rip my heart out."

"Did you know that your soul is bound to the Silver Crystal?"

Serena blinked. She hadn't heard about that. She knew that she would die if it was broken, and that it was insanely powerful, but that was about it.

"I see you did not. It is, and as long as your soul remains free, I will never be able to use it."

"Guess you're out of luck."

"Not quite…do you know of the dark gods I serve?"

Serena remained silent, knowing perfectly well that Serenata would answer her own question.

"Of course you don't. These gods have immense power, and they have given me the instructions for a ritual that will ensure that I have the Silver Crystal under my control. All they ask in return is your soul."

Serena felt her face pale. She'd seen enough horror movies to know what that meant. If this ritual happened, she would end up in Hell, or some other dark dimension. She would be doomed to an eternity of misery and torture. The worst part was that no one was around to stop this from happening but herself, and she couldn't even figure out how to free herself. She prayed to Selene. 'Goddess Selene, Mother Moon, aid your daughter in her darkest hour,' she prayed silently. She watched as the knife was set down.

Fear not, my daughter; I am here. Selene's voice spoke to her softly in her mind.

My soul is about to be claimed by gods of answered in the same silent way.

I know, my child. I am here to help.

What must I do?

As long as you do not let fear and pain overwhelm you, I can keep your soul from the dark reaches. The ritual will occur, but it will not succeed. I shall be with you the whole way. Listen to my voice, concentrate on it, and darkness will not touch you.

So I'll die, then.

I wish that it didn't have to be so, but even I cannot thwart the Fates. But I can prevent you from being taken by the dark gods. And fear not; you and your loved ones will meet again.

Will…will it hurt?

I will dull the pain. Now listen to me, my child…listen… Selene began softly singing a lullaby that Serena vaguely remembered hearing her mother Queen Selenity sing to her in the Silver Millenium.

Serena focused on Selene's sweet voice, and ignored the vile smells that were rising around her. Clearly, Serenata was boiling up some vile concoction or other. The blonde pushed the smell away, and concentrated on the soft voice of her mother goddess, trying to block everything else out. She could almost feel Selene holding her hand. Serenata moved around in the background, and there was a faint clatter. The blonde continued to focus on the sound of Selene's voice. She had to trust in her goddess. As long as she listened to Selene, the dark gods would never have her in their grasp.

Suddenly, a vile-tasting liquid was shoved roughly down her throat. The blonde coughed and gagged. As she did so, she temporarily lost focus, and she began to choke. Then, her airway was somehow cleared. Most likely, it was the work of Selene. The blonde turned her attention back to the gentle voice of Selene, the Lunarian words caressing her, and giving her a strange feeling of comfort, despite the horror of what was about to happen to her. From what seemed like a long way away, she could hear Serenata chanting in a harsh-sounding language, used only for the blackest rituals of old. Pain shrieked across her abdomen. Serenata was carving arcane symbols on her stomach. The same pain streaked up both of her arms and legs. The blonde focused even harder on Selene's voice. Fear was washing over her.

I'm with you, my dear. Selene whispered those reassuring words so gently that it was not at all difficult to believe her.

Another vile draft was forced down her throat, but Serena continued to focus on Selene's voice, and she stared fixedly at the stone ceiling above her, not looking at anything else. More pain, and except this time, it was in her chest area. Something else was being carved onto her body. The chains on her wrists and ankles seemed to constrict, cutting off circulation. A burning sensation was spreading through her body now, and it was growing steadily stronger, and harder to ignore. Nevertheless, Serena continued to focus on Selene's voice, still singing that strange, yet familiar lullaby. Shadows slowly clouded the blonde's vision, showing her frightening images. Serena held on to Selene's voice. As long as she could do that, those shadows would not touch her. She clutched an invisible hand, yet she could still feel Selene lightly squeeze it. The burning sensation had spread, and the pain became agonizing. Selene's singing became louder, and the blonde forced herself to focus, despite the pain that was trying to consume her. The shadows reached for her. She closed her eyes.

Hold on, my child. It will be over soon. I promise. Just listen to my voice.

Serena obeyed, and tried to block everything else out. Behind her closed lids, she could see Selene holding out her hand. She reached for it, still listening to her goddess' voice. The pain was worse than anything else she'd endured, but somehow, she still managed to hold on. Selene was closer now, and she could almost take the goddess' hand. She just had to go a little further…

Take my hand.

Serena obeyed, and she felt the knife cut into her chest, but Selene held fast to her hand, and the shadows trying to claim her screamed in rage and defeat. Then, she crossed into light.