Farewell by Amethyst Serenity

AN: Sorry for the hideously late chapter! My life's been crazy lately with the trip, moving to another city, wonky internet access and other random acts of craziness. Special thanks to Cometmoon (for a neat idea about the Shitennou), Aridemarcus, Deny and S. Wright (for listening to my moaning about the sword fight and helping me get over my writer's block). Thanks to all who read and review, including: Serenitas (please, no strikes on my conscience), Brightstar, Tina N. Blair (hey, I'll update you on the latest Mars manga sooner or later!), Larissa, Solus Nox, Min Hee Ha, Frosty, Wreath of Roses (I am back from the dead! Twice! Does that mean I'm Buffy?), Iryl, Cherrystarr (see y'all on the message board), ClaimingUntoughable, Princess Destiny Babe, SlrMagica, Yavanna, keemew2 (I think you'll like what I do to Saffir. eventually), jupitergreen12, Bonnie S, Silver Dragonfly, Angel Queen, Princess Serenity, Moon_Bunny, Smily, firelightz, Aurora, the princess of the desert, creature of the night, Authoress*Crest (Don't torture our precious Zoi-chan that way!), Sesshy, Katlin Grace, TriGemini, usagirl (I included some more royal we stuff for you!), sweeti, Hontoutempest, citra, Ying, Small-lady19, ami, Dragonmaster Kurai (please don't kill me for being late!), Sakura-chan, Silver-star, TenshiDaisy and Anonymous Reviewers (2).

Disclaimer: Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might... own Sailor Moon and all the bishies in my sight. Yeah, yeah, I'm not that great with rhymes. XD

AN2: In case you don't know by now, there is no Chibi Usa (the pink curse...) or Shingo (too much angst if I killed him off in the first chapter). Mamoru is 2 years older than Usagi and still in high school (refer to previous AN's for actual ages).

Chapter 28- Arrival

"My friends, we have arrived on Nemesis."

"Geez, I've been in cemeteries that looked better!" Jadeite coughed into his hand.

"Is there anything but rocks and slimy crud on this hellhole?" Nephrite commented, kicking one of the aforementioned rocks.

"We don't have to *walk* across all that, do we?" Zoisite asked in tones of utter disgust (long march + full armor = suicidal depression). Looking at his expression, Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn barely held back their laughter (especially since *they* wouldn't be walking). Mars thought about dispensing therapeutic head slaps but, as much as she enjoyed them, they didn't do much good. As Kunzite wondered if he could trade his friends for less whiny Dobermans, Venus gave him a "my-team-is-better-than-your-team" smirk. Neptune rubbed her temples in anticipation of a headache. Uranus frowned and seriously doubted that the boys would ever grow out of their terminal immaturity. Regally ignoring everyone, Endymion gazed at the faraway mountains.

"The Dark Moon stronghold is distant but it will take perhaps two hours to fly there. We must be prepared for the youma surrounding it," Pluto answered, holding on to her patience by the skin of her teeth. She had forgotten how much effort was involved in maintaining her mysterious, imperturbable composure. Unfortunately, Jadeite was wearing his "choirboy- with-a-marvelous-idea" expression.

"Hey, fearless leader! Endy, I'm talking to you!" he exclaimed. Instantly recalling the usual consequences of Jadeite's ideas, Kunzite tried not to cringe.

"Your impertinence is most displeasing to our ears, Archer Knight Jadeite," Endymion commented.

"Um... Okay, whatever you say. Anyway, we don't like walking and your cloud thingy makes Nephrite sick so-" Jadeite eagerly continued, oblivious to the censure in Endymion's words.

"You better *not* say what I think you're about to say!" Nephrite quickly cut in.

"Why don't *we* get wings like the girls?" he finished, glancing mischievously at an appalled Nephrite. Everyone stared at him as if he had grown another head. Zoisite calculated that Nephrite would recover and try to kill Jadeite within ten minutes. Endymion thoughtfully blinked and drew his Golden Crystal sword in a smooth, graceful motion. While Pluto tried not to giggle, Kunzite, anticipating what was on his leader's mind, belatedly made strangled noises in protest.

Lit by the spark in Endymion's eyes, the Golden Crystal sword caught fire and poured golden flames over his body. Four trails of blinding light streaked from the sword to cover his Knights. When the tawny fires cooled, a pair of golden dragon wings elegantly arched from Endymion's back. Zoisite audibly gulped and gawked at his newly acquired, silver-blue reptilian wings. Similar to his phoenix totem, Jadeite's feathered wings were scarlet tipped with gold. Nephrite, like a dark angel, possessed a pair of ebony-black, feathered wings. Covering his eyes with one hand, Kunzite groaned and tried *not* to see the creamy ivory, scaled wings sprouting from his back.

"I am not okay in a totally epic way! That was a JOKE on Nephrite! A J-O- K-E! How am I going to explain this to Mom?!? Gee, Ma, don't worry about the feathers on my bed 'cos I'm just MOLTING!?!" Jadeite raved. Endymion smirked, sheathed his crystal sword and flexed his wings.

"When I get my hands on you, you'll *wish* you'd stayed dead!" Nephrite darkly promised, already itching to feel Jadeite's neck between his fingers.

"Thanks for helping, moron. Haven't you heard of being careful of what you wish for?" Zoisite muttered, cuffing Jadeite on the head. His previous calculations proved to be right on target since Kunzite and Uranus barely stopped Nephrite from choking Jadeite. Regaining his sense of humor after his near death experience (a common experience for him), the blonde Knight laughed like a loon. Neptune prayed for industrial-strength aspirin (something she often did around these guys).

"Well, at least our mobility is greatly increased," Kunzite reluctantly admitted.

"Definitely a big plus strategy-wise," Venus agreed. After his homicidal urges passed, Nephrite eyed his new appendages like they were youmas out for his blood.

"Chill out. They'll disappear when we detransform," Jupiter stated, slapping him on the back.

"Great," Nephrite mournfully replied, not visibly cheered by her words.

"Hey, can I get the codename Phoenix?" Jadeite asked brightly.

"Keep it up and your name's going be Retard boy. If I don't fry you first," Mars remarked.

"Enough's enough. How do we find Serena?" Uranus intervened, wearied of the endless bickering. Immediately, everyone turned to look at Pluto. Sailor Pluto shrugged, as if to say she already did *her* part and the rest was up to them. Nibbling her bottom lip, Mercury summoned her visor and flipped open her mini-comp. Before she tapped on the keys, Endymion raised his head. Like a hound scenting his prey, he breathed in and tasted the wind. His pupil-less golden eyes held a glint of silver. Without a trace of hesitation or doubt, Endymion pointed in a northwesterly direction.

"Serenity is there," he pronounced. Spreading his dragon wings, Endymion became a golden comet streaking across the skies. After a commanding glare from Kunzite, the Knights accompanied their King (Jadeite gleefully decided that flying was better than any roller coaster at Six Flags. His aerial aerobatics caused poor Nephrite to redecorate the landscape with his last meal). When Mercury nodded in confirmation, the Sailor Senshi soared into the air. As they wordlessly caught up with the Knights, she refined the data on her handheld comp since the diffuse abundance of negative energy was wreaking merry hell on her readings. As Nephrite fruitlessly tried to restrain Jadeite (after his stomach returned to semi-normalcy), Jupiter, Mars and Zoisite warily watched for enemies. Sailor Venus and Kunzite reviewed their battle plans in hushed voices. Silently, the Outer Senshi reaffirmed their shared vow: *Never again*. While Pluto and Saturn prepared to mow down any and all enemies in their grim path, Uranus and Neptune were coldly determined to either free Serena or die in the attempt.

Two hours later, Endymion halted his headlong rush to rejoin his Lady and hovered in the air. Surrounded by towering, jagged crystal mountains, the Dark Moon Castle stood in the center of a barren, rocky, roughly circular plain. Spanning two to three kilometers in every direction, the enemy stronghold was a squat, truncated pyramid of seamless, iron gray granite. A swarm of jet-black dots erupted from the ground, enveloping the building and concealing it from prying eyes. Jadeite's eagle-keen sight discerned an army of hideous monsters encased in heavy midnight armor and weaponry in the squirming, roiling black mass covering the Dark Moon Castle. Winged youma circled the sky above their landlocked brethren. Behind Endymion, the Earthian Knights and Sailor Senshi gaped.

"This is going to be *good*," Jupiter predicted with a fierce, martial gleam in her emerald eyes. Nephrite sighed and tried not to vomit again.

"Are you serious? We are going to get so *spanked*!" Jadeite groaned.

"Coward," Mars scoffed, crossing her arms in front of her chest and turning her nose up at him. He grimaced but, for once, did not rise to the bait.

"No visible doors or openings in the structure. Too many youma to analyze for specific weaknesses," Mercury calmly reported, as if she was reciting a weather bulletin.

"Cracking *that* egg will not be easy," Zoisite muttered. Focused on her visor readouts, the blue-haired Senshi absently murmured her agreement.

"What's the plan?" Nephrite asked. Venus and Kunzite exchanged looks.

"Pluto, is there any other way to Serena?" Sailor Venus queried.

"The Dark Moon Family has no need of entrances or exits when they can transport themselves with mere thoughts," Pluto replied. The golden-haired Senshi frowned.

"Then, we go the direct route, quick and dirty. We'll punch through the youma, land on the roof and blow our way in," Kunzite decisively stated.

"Uranus, Neptune, Jupiter and Nephrite take point. Endymion is center. Kunzite and myself are above him with Pluto and Saturn below. Mercury, Zoisite, Rei and Jadeite protect our flank," Venus briskly commanded.

"Fight in pairs and watch each other's back. Clear?" Kunzite added. Sailor Neptune delicately cleared her throat.

"Serena's life depends on *us*. In this battle, there is *no* retreat, holding back or doubts. Only victory counts, no matter the price," she warned. Her somber turquoise gaze touched upon every face, perhaps to memorize each one at that moment. The Earthian Knights (even Jadeite) and Sailor Senshi gravely nodded their acceptance. Fixated on the enemy stronghold, Endymion was lost in a trance and barely aware of the others.

"Time to show what we're made of, boys and girls," Uranus shouted, exuberantly punching the air and throwing a challenging look at the others. Sailor Venus' answering smile was hard, cold and more than a little ruthless. Endymion's head snapped up.

"She *calls* me," he dreamily announced. Propelling himself away from the others, Endymion hurtled towards the castle at an unbelievable speed. A tawny light beam exploded from his outstretched hand and decimated the youma in his path. Shocked into awareness of the enemy, the winged monsters closed ranks and rose to meet him.

"*Crap*! Form up around him!" Kunzite snarled, racing to his King's side. Trying to keep up with him, the other warriors muttered curses and formed a whirling sphere of bodies around Endymion.

"Well, *somebody's* death wish is still going strong," Nephrite acidly observed.

"For the Princess!" Uranus cried, eagerly embracing the battle with Neptune faithfully following her. The others shouted similar battle cries as they sped through the air.

"Once more unto the breach, dear friends," Saturn softly quoted. Emotions drained away from her blank face as she summoned her powers over death and destruction. Violet waves radiated from her body.

"May the Gods look kindly upon us," Pluto whispered, aiming her staff with deadly precision. The intrepid soldiers hurled themselves into the approaching cluster of youma, lancing through its malignant darkness with their rainbowed powers. The battle for Serenity had begun.

In the chilly darkness of her room, Serena wept. Silent tears dripped from her pale cheeks to fall on her lacy, lavender-striped, cream ivory gown. Amethysts and diamonds, linked by gold chains, hung on her neck and dangled from her ears. Demando labored under the delusion that his presents would somehow *buy* her affections. Feeling like the jewelry marked her as a possession, she wanted to rip them off but the bloody things lacked any clasps or fasteners and resisted her best efforts. Hugging her knees, Serena buried her face in her skirts.

After unsuccessfully searching the castle several times, she had once more tried to persuade Saffir into helping her. At the very moment when he might have softened, Demando' sudden appearance ruined everything. He had banned Saffir from her presence and confined her to her quarters until after the wedding. Ostensibly to provide her with company but more to emphasize his power over her, he was "sharing" his meals with her. Fortunately, he had not gone beyond leering at her but in three days, Demando would... he would *not* be gentle in claiming her. Serena forced down a surge of blind panic. The unending cold, isolation and boredom, disrupted solely by the dark prince's surprise visits, were gradually wearing away at her spirit.

Shaking free of her gloom, Serena jumped to her feet and searched the room for the billionth time. Because of her punishment, the doors to her room, originally created for her convenience, no longer existed. Frustrated, she punched a wall and earned a scraped knuckle. She was *Sailor Moon* the champion of love and justice, not some weak, hysterical schoolgirl. Somehow, she'd beat the odds and find a way to defeat Demando, as she always did. Her friends would *not* fail her when she needed them the most. They were coming for her. She could not lose faith in them.

Suddenly, Serena was hit by a wave of dizziness. Disoriented, she thought she was floating in an empty, gray sky with nothing beneath her and darkness on the horizon. When she blinked, she saw her room again. Serena stumbled into a wall as burning rage filled her mind. A tempest of emotions swept through her body. Anger, determination, and a desperate, overwhelming need to protect her, to love her... *her*? Serena's heart leaped with elation and renewed hope. They were here. *He* was here. Bringing clasped hands to her lips, she murmured a prayer to Selene for their safety.

"Serena," a voice murmured in her ear.

Emitting a faint squeak, Serena jumped into the air. Her startled gaze landed on a small, transparent figure in the center of the room. It quickly floated to face her. Although it was blurry at the edges, the little person was clearly Saffir. His troubled silver eyes searched her face. Clearing his throat, he hesitated before speaking, as if he was unsure of his actions.

"Serena, if you want to leave, *now* is the best time. I don't know how they did it but your friends are here."

"Thank you, Saffir," Serena simply replied, beaming at him. "You are a true friend."

"Traitor!"

Like an unexpected thunderbolt, the word cracked the stillness in the air. Serena and mini Saffir trembled at the sight of Demando, his face white with fury. The inverted crescent moon on his forehead blazed with ebony flames. A diaphanous wave of force snaked towards them, wrapping around Serena and ripping through mini Saffir until he disappeared. In a distant laboratory, Saffir's physical body was thrown backwards into an unforgiving granite wall. He crumpled senselessly to the ground.

"Did you think to run away, my foolish little rabbit?"

Immobilized by invisible bonds, Serena glared mutinously at her captor. With a flick of his wrist, Demando pulled her closer to him. He looked deeply into her stormy ocean blue eyes and smirked. She spat in his face. Demando muttered a curse and tightly clenched his fist. Serena gasped as the pressure holding her increased to unbearable levels. He slowly wiped his cheek clean. When she was on the verge of fainting, Demando relaxed his fist until she could breathe again.

"Your bursts of temper are rather delightful, my sweet, but you *will* behave properly. Do not force me to punish you."

"Do your worst, worm."

"Taming you will be my greatest pleasure," Demando hissed. Desire darkened his icy amethyst eyes to obsidian. The flaming crescent on his forehead cooled. Serena shuddered but proudly tilted her chin up. "Such a show of spirit, my beauty. You must believe your little friends will rescue you."

"You cannot defeat them."

"Darling girl, you don't know the extent of my power. I will destroy them *and* your feeble hopes of escaping me."

"I believe in them," she stated with quiet, unshakable confidence.

"Shall we test that theory? I believe your friends and your *former* love are now meeting a specially prepared welcoming committee. Let us see who survived."

Enveloped in a bubble of midnight fire, Demando and Serena disappeared.

Above the enemy stronghold, the Knights and Sailor Senshi were amusing themselves. Unleashing the full extent of their powers, their attacks sliced through the enemy ranks as if the youma were nothing more than flies to be swatted. Sadly, the good guys were vastly outnumbered to an unimaginable degree.... but then, they were on Endymion's side. If the Senshi and the Knights were dangerous, he was unstoppable, a force of annihilation disguised as a man. Fixated on finding Serenity, he didn't bother with trite attack phrases or florid gestures. Raw power pulsated from him in huge, arching golden waves that instantly disintegrated anything in his path. Spotting two figures on top of the castle, Endymion, like a harbinger of doom, plummeted towards them. His tawny eyes blazed with uncontrollable fury.

On the roof of the Dark Moon Castle, Demando gaped at the remnants of his army. He was particularly infuriated by the large numbers of youma who had the utter *gall* to run away from the intruders. Never one to keep his emotions private, he vented his extreme displeasure by frying the closest ones with bolts of black lightning. An unfortunate side effect (at least for *him*) was attracting notice from a certain dark-haired enemy but Demando was too busy exterminating his own troops to care. Meanwhile, Serena, although deeply gratified by the appearance of her friends, was on the verge of fainting because he had unconsciously tightened his grip on her until she couldn't breathe. A powerful energy wave suddenly pierced through Demando's defenses and broke his hold on Serena. Amber-tinted light surrounded her and cushioned her drop to the ground. Disoriented, Demando stared up into the sky and met the burning, glowing eyes of his most hated rival.

"Get away from our beloved Serenity, you arrogant piece of *filth*," Endymion commanded. Landing on the roof, he drew his crystal sword and glared at the man who stood between him and his comatose lady. His tawny dragon wings folded and retracted into his back.

"Serenity belongs to the one with the power to keep her. She's *mine*," Demando sneered, abruptly launching a counterattack. Jagged, pitch-black lightning bolts splashed harmlessly against Endymion.

"Is that *all* you can do?" he taunted, not bothering to conceal the contempt in his voice. With a slash of his sword, he sent a burst of energy towards Demando. Despite a hastily strengthened shield, the dark prince skidded backwards several feet and fell to his knees when it impacted. Snarling a few choice words, he darted a quick glance at Serena. A barrier of amber fire instantly materialized around her.

"Don't even *think* it," Endymion warned. Each word dripped icy menace. "Your only choice is to die like a man or a coward."

"Jup! Nep! Get her!" Sailor Venus ordered. As Jupiter provided cover fire, Nephrite quickly touched down within the golden circle of fire and slung Serena facedown over his shoulder. Quickly leaping upwards, he extended his feathered ebony wings and carried her into the sky. Demando ground his teeth with rage.

"Keep the youma away from the roof," Kunzite barked. Automatically forming a guard around the princess, the Knights and Senshi concentrated on annihilating any enemy who dared to come within a mile of the inevitable fight. Getting to his feet, Demando summoned a sword of diamond-hard, bluish silver steel with a silver-wrapped, obsidian hilt. He scowled and pointed the sword at his rival.

"I will take her back even if I have to slaughter you all."

"Please try. It would be *much* more entertaining that way," Endymion replied, baring his teeth in an almost friendly smile. As he slowly approached the pale-haired man, the building shook with the power of his footsteps. His eerie, pupil-less, golden eyes radiated promises of painful, torturous death. Demando threw a veritable firestorm of energy bursts and lightning blasts at his enemy but Endymion indifferently shrugged the inferno aside, as if it was nothing more than a spring breeze. A blaze of tawny lights wrapped around him, brighter than the sun and crackling with inconceivable power. Yet, the Earth King did not unleash a magical assault and obliterate his opponent from the universe. It would be too quick, too easy for the scum who dared to kidnap Serenity. Endymion wanted. he *needed* something more satisfying. His uncontrollable rage demanded nothing less than the blood of his enemy.

Intending to utterly crush Demando, Endymion slowly, relentlessly advanced towards him. Drawing upon every source of power at his command, the Black Moon prince increased his energy barrage until his foe was hidden from view by dozens of explosive bursts. After the amber-eyed King emerged unscathed, Demando blanched and felt ice run down his spine. How did the rose throwing, half-crippled by his own lameness, masked Tuxedo weakling amass so much power in less than a fortnight? And since when did all his enemies have wings? Refusing to admit defeat, he continued the attacks in the hopes of finding a weak spot or at least tiring his opponent. When they were a couple of feet apart, he ceased, realizing that his magic could not penetrate the other's shielding. Endymion stared directly into Demando's face. "We are sorely disappointed. Our grandmother, may she rest in peace, could throw a better tantrum in her sleep," he mocked.

"You have yet to test my skills and defeat me, braggart," Demando retorted, narrowing his eyes and flattening his lips into a grim line. Tightening his grip on the ebony and silver sword, he slashed the air before him and pointed it at his foe's throat in challenge. A smirking Endymion raised his crystal sword. Engaging in a lethal, intricate dance, they circled around each other and tested each other's skills. Metal clashed against crystal, ringing through the air like clear bells. At first, neither held a clear advantage. Although Demando had an edge in swiftness and agility, Endymion was far better protected by his armor. With their smooth, fluid movements, both men wielded their weapons as if they had been taught swordplay from the cradle.

For agonizingly long minutes, neither managed to land any solid blows. Dodging Endymion's powerful slashing blows, Demando counterattacked with deceptive feints and lightning-quick jabs. On the other hand, Endymion instinctively detected Demando's feints and blocked the true hits in the nick of time. As each successive strike became stronger and faster, the movements of the two men blurred too quickly for anyone to keep up with the fight. Perhaps he misjudged the distance to his opponent or he stumbled a little on a pebble or his armor was a shade too heavy. At any rate, Endymion was a fraction of a second too slow. Demando's sword sliced a thin, shallow cut on his left cheek. A few droplets of blood slipped down his face.

"First blood," the pale-haired prince noted with cool satisfaction.

"A mere scratch" was the terse reply. Endymion pressed another swift barrage of attacks, forcing the other man backwards. Even though Demando was panting slightly from the continued exertion, Endymion wasn't even breaking a sweat, despite his undoubtedly heavier armor. Thinking of a new tactic to weaken his opponent, Demando changed his snarl to a vicious smile.

"Serenity *enjoyed* our time together, you know," he cruelly insinuated. Endymion narrowed his eyes, gritted his teeth and concentrated on wiping off the smirk on Demando's face. "Despite all her protests, she was quite a naughty little vixen in *my* bed. Jealous, old man?"

"Lying scum! I'll send you to Hades!" Endymion roared, losing all control and lunging at the other man. Expecting such a reckless reaction, Demando laughed in anticipation of his rival's grisly end. Yet, he was still unprepared for the assault. Instead of just becoming angry enough to make careless, potentially fatal mistakes, the amber-eyed King was totally, completely, homicidally berserk. The look in his eyes was not entirely sane (not that they've been normal lately). His strength was limitless; his speed seemed unbelievably fast. Oblivious to anything other than destroying his enemy, Endymion hammered him with a wild, brutal tempest of blows. Demando's defensive movements harmlessly bounced off gold-trimmed, ebony armor.

Unable to cope with the fresh onslaught, the Black Moon prince could barely lift his sword in response and staggered backwards. He summoned another shield for protection but Endymion shattered it with repeated pummeling and smashed aside his sword. Ripping through the once-pristine ivory suit, the crystal sword carved several gashes all over his now battered body. The Earth King took savage pleasure in coating his sword with Demando's blood. Even more than his death, Endymion wanted him to bleed, to *suffer*. In a desperate bid for survival, Demando teleported but he could not go farther than the other side of the roof due to his lack of concentration. Gasping for air and clutching at his wounds, the stunned prince collapsed in a bloody heap. A small part of his mind (the part not panicking and shrieking in irrational fear) realized he should not have toyed with his enemies, giving them the chance to grow strong enough to do this to him.

"Face me like a man, you damned gutless coward!" Endymion howled. As the ground shook with his displeasure, powerful golden lightning bolts randomly gouged craters in the roof of the structure. The berserk King stalked towards Demando, fully intent on cracking all his bones, gutting him like a fish, ripping out his internal organs and other assorted mayhem. Demando was preoccupied because he was trying *not* to bleed all over the roof (and not doing a very good job).

"Princess... Serenity... Serenity... you must awaken!" a strangely familiar voice buzzed in Serena's ear. Feeling her head pound, Serena groaned. Her face was buried in some kind of satiny material and her body was draped like a sack of potatoes over something hard, something hard that was moving and had a good grip on her waist. Blearily, she slit her eyes open and saw nothing but black. Actually, she was eating a jet-black cape and some feathers. Feathers? Spitting out the offending material, she realized she was hanging upside down over someone's shoulder. Tuxedo Kamen? But he had wings, beautiful, dark wings! Looking down, Serena saw empty air and the ground far, far below. Did she somehow die and go to hell when she wasn't looking? But she was already in a kind of hell with the Black Moon family. Then, Sailor Saturn, sending violet waves of devastation to the remaining youma, twirled into her sight. She was rescued! Thank Selene, she was finally safe. At that moment, Nephrite (the fool) chose to speak.

" Hey, can someone else take her for awhile? Sere's not as light she looks!"

"You jerk!" Serena screeched, trying to knee Nephrite in the stomach. Sadly she got a sore knee for her trouble because he was wearing armor. Unknown to her, Nephrite grinned at her grumbling and used the golden, double-bladed axe in his free hand to eliminate a few monsters.

"As much as I live to obey your highness, would you mind transforming and getting off me? My shoulder's pretty numb."

"Gah, I would've already done that if I had the Silver Imperium Crystal, Einstein. Do you think I *like* being stuck here? And what's with the wings? If *you're* an angel, I'm dead and the world's in deep fecal matter."

"Well, Endy gave 'em to us, just like you did with the Senshi."

"Endy? Mamoru did this? How?"

"Glad to see you in the land of the living, girl!" Jupiter broke in. As she casually waved her hand, her lightning-edged leaves speared another dozen enemies.

"Same goes, Mako-chan!"

"Hey, Sere! Love the Princess Barbie outfit! Or should I say Princess Bride?" Jadeite snickered, shooting golden-red, burning arrows with frightening speed and accuracy.

"Jade, if you like it so much, *you* can wear it! If I wasn't so happy to see you guys, you'd be eating those words!" Serena retorted, trying to hide her smile.

"Promises, promises. You know you love me!"

"Odango, get your butt in gear and calm your man down!"

"Geez, Mars, I haven't had odangoes in ages! Plus, I've been stuck with an obsessed stalker for weeks. Can't you cut me a *little* slack?"

"I'm overjoyed you're back. Now, get with the program and *do* something! He's totally lost it!"

"He? What are you talking about? And does anyone have my Crystal?"

"The green-haired chick probably knows," Nephrite commented.

"Green-haired *chick*? You know Mako-chan kicks your butt when you say stuff like that."

"She didn't hear so it didn't happen."

"Unless I tell her," Serena retorted. Nephrite thought about dropping her briefly to scare her but he knew that others would kill him before he caught her again. Besides, that didn't begin to cover what his King, who bore some resemblance to a frothing, rabid dog at the moment, would do to him. Death would be a kindness in comparison.

"Sailor Mars is referring to King Endymion, your Highness," the strangely familiar voice intervened. Serena looked up to meet serious garnet eyes, eyes that sparked memories of another life.

"Pluto? Why... how..." she gasped. The mysterious Senshi smiled a little at her open-mouthed shock. "Aren't... aren't you supposed to be at the Gates?"

"You haven't changed at all, dear little princess," she fondly replied. "Arrangements were made so I could help you. And now, onto our business." The dark red orb of Pluto's staff turned silver for a moment. In a burst of light, the Silver Imperium Crystal disappeared from Endymion's side and appeared before Serena. Glowing softly, the Crystal floated to her cupped hands. "With the blessings of the Gods, receive your birthright, Princess Serenity. Use it well."

Silver-white light spilled through Serena's fingers, surrounding her with warmth and unlocking her quiescent powers. As the Silver Imperium Crystal lifted her into the air, a cocoon of light, ribbons and feathers enveloped her slim form. Her clothes melted into a familiar, short-skirted Senshi uniform. Translucent, rainbow-feathered wings gracefully arched from her back. Once again, Serena was Sailor Moon. The Silver Imperium Crystal shimmered above her linked hands. With a gentle, sweet smile, she turned to Pluto (while Nephrite surreptitiously massaged his sore shoulder). "It is good to see you again, old friend. Did anything else bring you to my side?"

"Your Highness, you must stop him. Endymion is on a berserk rampage."

"Endymion?" a confused Sailor Moon asked. Looking around the battlefield, she noticed her friends gleefully wiping what remained of the youma from existence. Surprisingly, Mercury, usually the most calm and rational, was just as bloodthirsty as the rest. Drawn by an irresistible force, her eyes went to a tawny glow on top of the Dark Moon Castle. In the center of the light, a dark-haired, armored man was mercilessly turning another pale man, formerly in a spotless suit, into a bloody smear on the ground. She gasped at the waves of fury radiating from the dark man. While a tiny part of her reveled in Demando's misery after all he put her through, a much larger part was appalled at the violence of the other man. "That's *Mamoru*?!? He looks crazy! How?"

"Princess, your kidnapping unleashed Endymion's true powers. Without you to balance him, he cannot control his emotions and may go mad. If he continues on this path, he will become nothing more than a mindless killing machine. Only you, as his Princess and the other half of his soul, can reach into his mind and calm him. You are his center."

"Not asking for much, are you?"

"I only ask what is necessary."

Taking a deep breath, Sailor Moon tried reaching out to Mamoru through their link but she sensed little besides echoes of berserk rage. There seemed to be no remorse, hesitation or mercy in his heart. She shuddered, wondering at the depths of his madness. How could she reach him? Offering a prayer to Selene, the Senshi of the Moon searched for answers and heard her mother's voice deep inside her. *Little moonbeam, call from your heart.* And then, she knew. As he was Endymion, she must be Serenity.

Closing her eyes, Sailor Moon raised her Silver Imperium Crystal to the sky. As it blossomed into a flower-shaped jewel, her translucent wings glistened and wrapped around her. Light flooded all the empty places in her soul, summoning a presence, a separate yet integral part of her, sleeping beneath the surface of her conscious mind. The crescent moon on her forehead glowed like a miniature sun, blinding everyone who looked upon it with its purity. As a tempest of rainbow flower petals and sparkles covered her body, silver-white light streamed from her, gifting the Senshi & Knights with a feeling of hope and peace. When the light dimmed, Princess Serenity of the Moon looked upon Nemesis and smiled.

In an iridescent, fragile-looking but stronger than steel bubble, Serenity floated above the battlefield. Silver and pearls dangled from her ears and rested as a circlet on her hair, now in the royal twin bun and pigtail hairstyle of the Moon. She wore a medieval-style dress with a square bodice, billowing sleeves and a silver color that subtly glimmered of amber, lavender, sapphire, rose and emerald depending on the light. Her skirt was parted in the center to reveal a snowy white petticoat with silver rose embroidery. A silver girdle studded with pearls and diamonds gently hugged her slim hips. In her hands, the flower jewel, the Silver Imperium Crystal, shimmered with infinite possibilities. Her musical voice, soft yet compelling, echoed through the skies.

"Endymion, my love."

AN3: Yes, I'm evil for ending the chapter here. I wanted to add more but I don't know when I can post again since I am still moving. Sorry. And yes, Endy is a tremendously powerful, homicidal psycho and I like him that way. In case you want to know, there's probably only one more chapter and an epilogue.