Disclaimer: The name Selene is the name of the Moon Goddess who is the daughter of Zeus, according to Greek legends.
Author's note: The final battle and the fates of most of the rest of the protagonists is finally here! Uh, I suggest you brace yourself for lots of shocks and emotional. And for Sailor Moon original Anime fans, I'm pretty certain you'll recongise most of this part.
I only own the rights of Jason, Lyla, and Chancellor. The rest belong rightfully to Square Enix, Disney, Nintendo and Toei.
CHAPTER 38: Sacrifice.
Three years later...
It was coming up to Serena's seventeenth birthday, thus, her crowning ceremony. Yet, the young Moon Princess, with no memories of her late sister Kurai, had instead been spending her days gazing at Earth, having fallen in love with a young man from the Planet; it's Prince Darien.
During one of the royal balls with fire-works and display, unfortunately Serenity, who had grown to trust the young Prince, had learned from him that darkness was spreading Earth, as the evil Queen Beryl who had appeared of nowhere from darkness of another universe known as the Negaverse of Darkness, was spreading her army far and wide to destroy the Universe for the Negaverse to be the only place to exist.
While preparing herself for the upcoming invasion, Queen Serenity was on a balcony, gazing down at another balcony of the Palace below her, where stood her daughter Serena, her blonde long hair and beautiful white dress, and her lover, Prince Darien with short black hair and black and white cape, and blue eyes, were discussing of what would be their final moment together.
"...You are in my Heart, Serena." Darien told her.
With tears of sadness, knowing that she would never see her lover again, Serena replied, "And you will always be in mine."
Embracing each other, Princess Serena and Prince Darien shared a loving kiss while the former silently shed tears. She didn't want him to leave. She didn't want him to die. But in order to protect the Universe, Darien had go into battle to try and protect the Moon Kingdom as it was already too late to save Earth.
Serenity watched the two, before looking away as she closed her eyes in guilt. She knew this day would come. But she hadn't want it.
"Queen Serenity?" A female voice spoke behind her.
Turning around, Serenity realised the voice came from the adult Luna who had arrived with the adult Artemis, as the two stood behind her and having arrived, looking concerned. As the two cats of the Moon, who could speak human language, leaped up and stood onto the railing next to Serenity, the Queen responded, "I am alright, Luna. I'm sorry. I can't take it anymore. Serena...I see her future now is..."
She was then cut off when Serenity suddenly felt the dark sensation she hasn't felt in years. The darkness...of red evil eyes briefly covering her vision flashed before her vision returned to reality. To make things worse, she, Luna and Artemis glanced up and to their horror, a dark cloud with a monsterous entity behind it roared...with a large army coming from Earth...was quickly making it's way towards the Moon Kingdom.
(~Forze dell'Oscurita-KH:BBS Final Mix~)
"It can't be!" Artemis cried out, unable to believe what he was seeing.
"No!" Luna cried out, horrified.
Serenity's eyes widened, as she realised it was already too late. "The Negaverse...they've come!" before nodding with determination, knowing that there was only one thing to do. She turned to the two cats and ordered firmly, "Luna, Artemis! Gather the Sailor Soldiers to fight and evacuate the Kingdom!"
"Yes, your majesty!" Luna and Artemis both quickly replied and then leaped off the railing and race into the Palace to warn both the Sailor Soldiers to fight and the party guests to evacuate the kingdom before lives are lost.
As Luna and Artemis were out of earshot, Serenity turned back to the coming army and then digged into her dress pockets, pulling out the important item she hasn't used in 23 years, that she used when she was Serena's age and had time-travelled into the future; her transformation locket.
The time has come for to become 'Sailor Moon' once more.
"Moon, Power, Transform!" Serenity chanted, as her locket glowed in bright light, and her body being covered as she transforms into her Sailor attire.
For the final time.
Queen Serenity's army fought long and hard against the Army of the Negaverse, but the numbers were becoming too great as the dark forces were too powerful, slaggering them to the ground, the Palace crumbling, as the dark entity used it's evil great power down at the Kingdom, a massive green beams destroying everything in it's path, the pillers and walls crumbling and collasping to the ground, being crushed to the Moon's surface.
While most of the summoned Sailor Soldiers were fighting and falling to their deaths, four young seventeen year old Sailor Soldiers, who had become the guardians of the Kingdom, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Venus, decided to try their like and combine their power to try and destroy the dark entity who calls herself Metaria who was grinning evilly at them down below.
"MERCURY, BUBBLES, BLAST!" Sailor Mercury chanted as her powers of bubbles shot out at her command.
"MARS, FIRE, INIGHT!" Sailor Mars chanted as she focused on her energy and blasted a large snake of fire which then combined with Sailor Mercury's power, followed by the attacks from the two other Sailor Soldiers.
"JUPTER, THUNDER, CRASH!" Sailor Jupiter chanted as she focsed her energy and then unleashed a powerful wave of Lightning and Electricity.
"VENUS, CRESENT BEAM, SMASH!" Sailor Venus chanted as she unleashed a powerful beam of light straight towards Metaria, her attack combined with her fellow warriors.
But despite the strong combination, it barely even layed a scratch onto Metaria who chuckled evilly and monsterously, much to their shock and horror. "Pitiful humans! I will show you what a real power is!"
She then held out a clawed dark hand, easily blasting a giant tornado-wave of dark energy straight towards the four Sailor Soldiers who were helpless to do anything as they were caught and swallowed up by the power, thrusting right into their bodies and hearts. They screamed in pain and agony that didn't seem to end until...their screams faded and their bodies going limp. Once the power was finished, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Venus all then fell lifeless onto the ruined ground, dead. They had been killed.
Elsewhere on the Moon, more of the Kingdom was being perished while the leader of the invasion, the evil Queen Beryl, her pale skin, her evil monsterous face, her red hair and black tiara, her dark purple dress, with a staff that held a crystal orb of darkness, stood laughing in near victory as her army, lead by her four generals, destroyed everything in their path.
"Soon the Moon will be mine, and all will obey me! I will have Queen Serenity beg for mercy! But there will be no mercy, for the Universe is no more, only the Negaverse!" Beryl declared, holding up her staff with, under her silent command, summoned more dark energy that was causing more and more damage, slowly bringing the Moon into darkness.
Little did she know, despite taking more lives, her victory will soon be denied.
In her Sailor Moon attire, Serenity raced through the ruins of her Kingdom, and stopped when she saw...many of her warriors and guards, including the four young ones whom she requested to protect Serena...were all lifeless and dead. Shocked beyond belief and horrified, tears welled up in Serenity's eyes, until her sorrow grew into determination before summoning her Scepter which she hasn't used in years either, but it was still as good as new.
"I will not let it end this way! I must protect our Universe, on behalf of the Moon!" Serenity declared boldly, preparing to fight.
As most of the army, having seen her, roared battle cries and with their swords and shields drawn, marched to eliminate her. But Serenity defended herself while taking down the evil warriors, slashing and clashing against men while she managed to either knock away their swords or use her Moon Tiara Magic to defeat them, and actually took hold of one of the fallen swords and used it to either stab or slice into the warrior's armor, drawing blood that made her grimice, but knew that there was no other choice if she wanted to save her kingdom and her people...and her daughter.
She went to fight more who were starting to become very tough as more bulker and larger men attempted to crush her or stab her to death, though she did her best to block these attacks. Eventually Serenity found an opening and tossed her Moon Tiara Magic at three of them who didn't see this coming and were hit hard by the Tiara which caused them to fall and collaspe to the ground which gave Serenity the chance to clash and thrust at them before cartwheeling out of the way as more blasts of evil energy nearly engulfed her, though she was hit in the arm which caused her to cry out in pain.
Serenity counterattacked by chanting Moon, Scepter, Activation and her Moon-Light power clashed against five more who were sent into oblivion before leaping the way as more and more of the army attempted to get to her. One warrior, similiar to Chancellor's abilities, then used his own abilities and zip-teleported in incredible speed a few times to attack Serenity who who could barely dodge it but managed to sense the evil traitor and used Moon Tiara Magic when she found her chance. Despite attempting to dodge it, the warrior wasn't able to escape as it followed him before hitting him several times before he managed to knock it away with his sword.
This allowed Serenity to clash against the evil warrior by thrusting her Scepter at him and even kicked and punched him. However, the evil warrior shoved her back by smacking her in the face, causing Serenity to stumble back. He then raised his sword skyward and then from strange red aura coming from it, several sharp pellets came shooting out from a circling direction when it was aimed at Serenity who had no choice but to but to dodge the attack as fast as she could as she knew that she had to wait until the attack was finished before she could counterattack the evil man again.
When it was done, Serenity then had an idea and chanted her Moon Scepter Activation, but this time did Aqua's magical trick from her past of 23 years ago and which would be learned in the future and held up her Scepter while twirling around as the Scepter's power of Moonlight was now formed into a misty swirl that attacked the warrior who tried and failed to get through it and was instead hit fully hard by the power which caused him great pain and growing weaker by the Queen's determination. Then once the attack fininished, warrior used this to his advantage as he zip-teleporting all over the place while thrusting and whooshing his sword at the Queen at several seconds while she screamed out in pain, unable to to dodge for five times until she rolled out of the way, hissing in pain as she rechieved cuts to her arms and legs.
Serenity quickly jugged it down that healed most of her injuries and restored most of her health, before leaping out of the way when the evil warrior swooped into the air and thrusted his sword down to the ground, creating a shock-wave. She then raced forward and clashed against the man again, sometimes she was blocked by the warrior's sword, and other times she managed to find an opening to hit him back, kneeing him in the gut and punching him in the face, mentally thanking her true love for all the lessons she learned and now fully remembered before he zip-teleported away again.
The warrior then levitated himself in the air by a few inches as he glowed bright red, then zipped around as he pointed out his sword, thrusting out so fast that Serenity had trouble dodging this strange and evil power. She was hit and flown all over the place a few times before she eventually raced around to avoid the attack while preforming her cartwheels even though she was starting to lose her strength again. Serenity was knocked back against the wall as she cried out in pain when the warrior knocked her with his sword. Despite this, she leaped out of the way and thrusted her Scepter onto the man's head, then finished him off as she chanted her Scepter which caused him to disintigrate into nothing.
However, the ground then shook and then a blast of darkness then hit her so hard that it sent Serenity flying backwards as she screamed, and unfortunately, as she hit the ground hard, having lost the Scepter which disappeared, the impact of the attack also hit her in the chest, breaking away her Locket which shattered into pieces, much to her horror and shock. Her attire then reverted back onto her long gown with the cresent moon bow in the middle, leaving her defenseless.
Her powers as "Sailor Moon" were no more. (~End Forze dell'Oscurita~)
Before Serenity could even think on how to protect her kingdom now, two horribly familiar screams...crying in agony, and familiar names made her blood freeze and her heart stop for a brief moment, which was combined by another green blast of evil energy coming from a few yards away.
No...anything but that!
Getting up, Serenity immediately ran to investigate and found Luna and Artemis standing and gazing up...dismayed. When she looked up, her fears were confirmed...as floating upward and lifeless...were Princess Serena and Prince Darien who were caught by Metaria's power of death and destruciton, and the lifeless Serena's tears fell freely.
"Serena! NO!" Serenity cried out in horror, realising what Beryl had done. "She's taken them both!" her own tears falling freely.
Not her only daugther...not Serena too!
Luna, heart-broken, broke down into tears, crying in sorrow and loss, "No, not the Princess...! NO!"
A short distance away, Beryl, who had confronted the two lovers, laughed evilly as she declared in evil victory, "Perfect! The little Moon Princess and the Prince are dead and the Snake survives! They'll never mess with me again!"
"NO!" Serenity exclaimed, collasping onto her knees in despair and devastation, screaming out, "SERENA! NO! It can't be!"
Her family...her Kingdom...were all gone. Serenity had failed. She lost her husband, and now both of her daughters, in just a short span of three years. If only she could do something...anything, to at least to have her children and everyone else on the Moon who perished to be reborn on Earth-
Then instantly, a memory of the little girl she met in the future...
Six year old Serena who now resembled strongly to that of Princess Serena's six year old self, the exact same innocence, the same hair, the same kindness, the same blue eyes...and what her own mother told her years ago before Selene's death by the hands of Chancellor came back to Serenity sharply that made her gasp, her eyes widening in realization.
"Use the Crystal to seal away the evil forces, and with the last strength of your life and for the love of your daughters and your successor's court, send them into the future on Earth and erase their memories until the time is right, should the enemy break free. No other would guide our light's hope to keep the Realm safe. None, Serenity, except you."
Now Serenity realised the whole truth. This was the day when she would sacrifice herself for her daughter to live a peaceful future...so that Serena's future-self would be reborn into the happy little girl on Earth...to meet with Serenity's past-self via time-travel. And then...
Nodding to herself, despite that this would cost her life, Serenity didn't care. With more tears falling, Serenity whispered to her beloved daughter, "Don't worry, darling. I won't let it end this way. I will not let them take away your future...!" taking out the Cresent Moon Wand and Silver Crystal, attacting them together which glowed in pink light before fading. It was time...to keep to her promise.
This wasn't gone un-noticed as both Luna and Artemis saw this, then both realised in horror what their Queen was about to do, as the Silver Crystal will take away her strength. Luna then pleaded with tears, not wanting to lose her Queen as well, "Queen Serenity, if you use the Silver Crystal's power, you won't have any strength left!"
"It's the only way, Luna." Serenity told her wisely. "I must provide our Kingdom's safety, and the safety of everyone else." then thought about her friends of the future, whom would be born in the future...and their fates having been decided. For a moment, she could see their faces, smiling warmly at her.
'...Aqua...Ventus...Terra...Jason...Grovyle...I'm sorry. One day...things will be alright.' She mentally spoke.
(~Beyond the Door-KH:BBS~)
Holding up the Cresent Moon Wand and Silver Crystal, Serenity chanted in an echo, "COSMIC MOON POWER!" and at her command, the two items glowed in bright pink light which creates a mist that surrounds the area and hitting Beryl, Metaria and all of their armies, flooding them and engulfing them.
Seeing what was going on, Beryl exclaimed in shock and for the first time, fear, "What is this!?"
Before Beryl and her army and even Metaria knew it, they were all feeling the distorations of being absorbed and sent away, almost as though they were being sent to their deaths as they all disintigrated into nothing, screaming out as the evil army of the Negaverse disappeared, but not before Beryl hollared angrily, "YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAST OF ME!"
The Negaverse army disappeared, and the sky returned to normal of night. Even Earth was restored, the darkness around the planet faded back into it's blue and greenary despite the Earth's kingdom also suffering catastopic damage. The glowing also stops and all of the bodies of those who died on the Moon glow and became absorbed into the Silver Crystal. Queen Serenity, her energy drained, fell backwards and hits a piller, lying on it, deattaching the Crystal from the Wand. (~End Beyond the Door~)
Before she lost consciousness, Serentiy was able to mutter at the destruction of her kingdom, "...Our Kingdom...is no more..."
Then, her world went black. But in her unconsciousness, Serenity suddenly saw images of the fates of three of her remaining friends of the future...
And like her, there were more sacrifices...
Back in 1988 in the Multiverse...
Aqua had just defeated the possessed Terra which she now realised that Xehanort had taken over his body, even though Terra was attempting to fight back to reclaim his body, in the cloudy Radiant Garden that Xehanort had arrived in.
"Stop fighting back!" Xehanort roared at Terra from within. He clutches his right shoulder as the Guardan beast he controlled vanishes, groaning in intense pain, and begins to glow with a bright aura. He looks at himself, unable to believe what is happening, as he shifts his form in an awkward struggle. Through gritted teeth, he feels a force over him.
"Terra, I know you're in there!" Aqua cried out, trying to get her friend to hear her and to fight against Xehanort's heart.
However, Xehanort refused to surrender. He will get what he wants. He WILL destroy everything in his path. Xehanort looked to his Keyblade, struggling to move his arm. Grunting as he moves, he grabs the Keyblade and points it as his chest and to Aqua's horror, he made to stab himself like he did in his original body in the Keyblade Graveyard.
"This'll teach you. Get out of my heart!" Xehanort declared, before stabbing himself in the chest.
"TERRA!" Aqua screamed out.
The blade clatters to the ground and vanishes. The Guardian appeared behind Xehanort as the man's chest glows. He begins to fall backward and the Guardian melts into pieces, his darkness falling away like sludge to the ground, creating a large pool of darkness around Terra's body. He buckles back, and crashes into the pool. His hand remaining afloat and without even thinking, Aqua races forward. She dives into the pool to save him and a light bursts forth. She engages her armor and flies through the darkness after Terra's body, wind whipping past them.
She pleaded her glider to go faster and she extends an arm to him. She grabs him by the hand and hoists him onto her. She flies toward a light in the darkness, but the portal was getting further and further away, meaning that the exit to the Realm of Light was closing.
"I have to do something or we'll both be lost." Aqua thought desperately.
Then...with a sacrificing decision, she came to a conclusion. Knowing that it was the only way, Aqua then dismissed her glider and removed her armor from her body, having it embrace the unconscious from of her possessed friend. She falls in the dark abyss next to Terra's body, held by the remains of her armor. Aqua
places her Keyblade into Terra's hand.
"I'm with you." Aqua told her friend, before she guided Terra, and the armor towards the light, "Go!"
Seeing that they made it, Aqua half-heartedly smiled, while she fell into the darkness, tears forming in her eyes, falling into the Realm of Darkness, she spoke, "Ven, I'm sorry...I might not make it back as soon as I thought. But I promise I'll be there, one day, to wake you up." as her body shined...
Becoming the only light in the Realm of Darkness...
Back in the Future of Darkness...16 years later...
(~Dismiss-KH:BBS~)
An thirtyone year old Jason, twelve years before had married Lyla who gave birth to their only son, which they named Gavin who had a loving for Piplup, and had jokingly nick-named him Piplup, wore a dark gray shirt and blue jeans, with his wristband he retrieved from his wife in their childhood, slashed against dark invading army of the Negamoon that send dark replicas of a Slaking since it would take another four years before they could invade Earth. Lyla had died only one year after Gavin's birth, but it couldn't be helped. Jason missed her so much, but he had to focus on protecting his son.
Who, amazingly, by touching an artifact of time, had developed a special ability called the Dimensional Scream, a power that allowed Gavin to see into the past and future, though mostly the past since time was still destroyed.
With the evil army becoming increasingly too much, Jason grunted, before he knew there was only one thing left to do. Turning to his six year old son who was hiding behind a tree, cried out to him urgently, with heavy guilt in his heart, knowing that this was the last time they would be seeing each other, "Gavin! Run! Run and don't look back!"
"But what about you!?" Gavin cried out, not wanting to leave his father behind.
"I'm sorry...it's only way." Jason muttered, smiling emotionaly at his only son, "Gavin-Piplup, I believe in your ability to see the past. Use that ability to find a way to change the future!"
At Gavin-Piplup's gasp, Jason nodded, "You're the world's only hope now. Find a friend, and nothing will stop you. I'm counting on you, son!"
"Dad, no!" Gavin-Piplup cried out, tears falling.
"GO!" Jason shouted for the final time, with a tone that left no room for anymore arguments.
Recongizing that tone, Gavin shut his eyes tightly, before realising that there was no other choice, and with determination to change the future as he would learn more and more, he finally nodded and turned to run away, running as far as away as he could, not yet knowing who would be his partner, but it was coming soon.
Once he knew that his son was out of sight, Jason sighed, muttering to himself, "I guess Zoroark and Xehanort were right about my fate...but...the future will change!"
He then continued his fight against the dark Slakings, slashing at them with his Keyblade that stayed with him for all these years.
Through out the years, Grovyle had evolved into a Sceptile, still having his pendent necklace Lyla gave him years before, and had mated with a female Sceptile who layed a Pokemon egg that hatched into their own son, Treecko. Unfortunately, the female Sceptile was killed by Dusknoir, but Sceptile had managed to send him back, severaly weaking him before Sceptile then grabbed Treecko and then made a run for it.
He then found a cave nearby and placed his son who would soon evolve into a Grovyle himself, as he knew that the day had come for his son and most likely Jason's son to take their place to solve the mystery of Temporal Tower and then...travel back in time and change the future.
"Treecko...I want you to continue my mission for me-find a way to save Temporal Tower and change the future." Sceptile requested after placing his son into the cave to hide.
"What about you, father?" Treecko asked, worriedly. He had his father's seriousness, but was still fairly young.
Sceptile sighed, apologetically saying, "...I'm sorry, my son. It's the only way. You and a friend you should meet are Time's only hope left..."
He then gently cupped Treecko's face, saying with tears in his eyes, "I love you, son."
"I love you too, father." Treecko replied, desperately trying not to cry, realising that this was goodbye. He would never see his father again.
"Partings Such Sweet Sorrow." Sceptile told him for the final time, and Treecko automatically memorized it, since this was what Treecko would one day say after he evolves into a Grovyle.
Nodding a goodbye, Sceptile then stepped away from the cave, before turning with determination, then raced off.
He raced towards the battle field and used combinations of Leaf-blade, Solar-Beam, Bullet-Seed, Pound Attack and Energy Ball to defeat the enemies that came before him on the battle field in an attempt to keep them away from Treecko and very possibly Jason's son and the two Celebi's possible daughter. (~End Dismiss~)
At the ruins of Temporal Tower, a young Dusclops who had evolved from a Duskull, could only watch in sadness as his father, Dusknoir, faded away into nothing as his life, having had to fight against the Planetary Investigation Team, and ultimately lost.
"Dusclops...do take my place...as Master Dialga's Agent." Dusknoir muttered for the final time, before vanishing into the afterlife.
A single tear escaped Dusclop's eye, before he nodded, sorrow turning into anger and determination, before he glanced up at the towering Dragon Pokemon Dialga who softly roared, accepting the young Pokemon as his new agent, giving him dark ability of a Dusk Stone that appeared before Dusclops who picked it up, and the moment he touched it, his body glowed purple, his body shifting into a different form.
"Yes, Master Dialga." Dusclops muttered, slowly evolving into a Dusknoir himself. "I will see to prevent anyone from changing history."
The new Dusknoir then formed, becoming the agent who will one day see the major difference and possibly realization.
"Jason!" Sceptile screamed out in horror, unable to do anything as a dark Hyper-Beam blasted and engulfed Jason who was knocked hard into a tree, suffering devastating injuries.
In anger, Sceptile fires a powerful Bullet Seed that eliminates the powerful Slakings before racing towards his best friend, kneeling next to him as he gently held his human friend's body as Jason's Keyblade dismissed itself for the final time. The injuries were too severe.
Jason was dying.
"Jason..." Sceptile stuttered, tears beginning to form. All the years of being together and being friends...his friend was dying.
"...Sorry, old friend...I guess we're not meant to change...the future...together..." Jason breathed weakly, hissing as his life was quickly slipping away. "I have...a feeling...my son...Gavin...he'll know what...do to..."
"And my son." Sceptile agreed, realising that Treecko and Gavin would soon meet and become partners...just like their fathers. Those two will be the ones...to learn the full history of Temporal Tower and change the future. "I wish they wouldn't be forced into this, but they are our last hope..." holding Jason's hand for the final time.
Sceptile then said, knowing that this was goodbye, and that this would be their ultimate sacrifice, "I'll be with you soon, my friend...my brother."
Jason weakly chuckled for the final time, almost fading away completely, "...I couldn't ask for a better brother than you, Pokemon or not...sometimes I wish I was a Pokemon too..." with those final words...he fell limp, unmoving and cold.
He was dead.
His heart aching in utter sadness, Sceptile silently cried in grief. Everything he knew...was gone, with only Treecko remaining, along with Jason's son. Now it was up to both of them to make a difference. Soon enough, this world of darkness will disappear to make way for the new future of light.
(~Beyond the Door-KH:BBS~)
Sceptile's attention then drew to a dark Slaking, the only one left of the invading army, stomping towards him and Jason's lifeless body, growling dangerously as a corridor of darkness opened up behind him. It also looked like a door of time, but Sceptile didn't care to know at the moment, or ever. He gently puts down Jason's body, and then stood up, ready for his own sacrifice to end this battle once and for all.
"Where are the two who will change the future?" The Dark Slaking growled.
So even the Negamoon knew what was going to eventually happen, which was why they invaded in the first place. They were after Treecko and Gavin.
Well, not if Sceptile had anything to say about this! "You will not go anywhere NEAR THEM!" he yelled, and with a roar of determination, he uses Quick Attack, forcing himself and the Slaking into the corridor of darkness of distoration, shoving both himself and Slaking into the portal, where they would meet their ends.
Or so Sceptile thought, as he was unaware of where he would actually be going, because his end would not be coming to him soon. Where he would go, he would be in a time-line where he would guide the chosen of the Realm of Light to protect Earth from another dark evil from the Realm of Darkness.
But even so, Sceptile thought about everyone he met in his life, even when he was a Grovyle, speaking out softly as Jason had once told him the name of his son and to own son Treecko, "Treecko...Gavin...the fate of the world is up to you..."
In his mind, memories of himself as a Grovyle, Jason's eleven year old-self, Terra, Mickey, Ventus, Aqua and the seventeen year old Queen Serenity as 'Sailor Moon', saying for the final time, tears in his voice, "Protect the Light...for everyone's sake..."
Tears falling freely as he closed his eyes, Sceptile then allowed himself to be swallowed up by the portal along with the dark Slaking, vanishing without a trace as the portal closed. (~End Beyond the Door~)
But despite this...this was not the end of Sceptile, and Jason's spirit...will also travel back in time once more someday...to meet an immortal Pirate in the past...
Back in the Past...
"...nity!...Serenity...! Queen Serenity!" Luna's voice was being heard as Queen Serenity was regaining consciousness.
"Wake up!" Artemis's voice called out as well.
Despite feeling heavily exhausted with her life slowly fading away, Queen Serenity managed to open her eyes, and found she still had some strength, which she realised that it was only because she only used part of the Silver Crystal's power. Her heart felt heavy, remembering the visions she'd seen; Aqua was trapped or will be trapped in the Realm of Darkness...and in the dark future...Jason will die, and Sceptile...he vanished.
It seemed that only their children would lead the Realm of Light into the right path. At least nothing horrible to Mickey.
But her heart felt heavy.
'It's really the end of us...but there is still hope...' Serenity thought to herself, her eyes gazing at the ruins of the Moon Kingdom. Soon...it would be nothing more than an empty world, glowing in the night sky down on Earth.
"Majesty, you did it!" Luna said, relieved that both Serenity was still alive and that the enemy has disappeared, despite the destruction.
"They're gone!" Artemis added.
(~Sacrifice Yet Acceptince*Claire Farron-LR FINAL FANTASY XIII*~)
Seperating the Crystal from the Cresent Moon Wand, Serenity replied to both of them, holding the Silver Crystal in her left hand, "I trapped them all, yes. If I destoryed them, I would've destroyed Serena and the others too." gazing at it, with great sadness yet knowing there was no other choice. "Now they're all in the power of the Crystal. I must use the last of my strength to send them to a new future on Earth." beginning to cry as she was dying.
"But you saved them, so why are you so sad?" Luna asked.
"Because all of them would be reborn, with no memories of what happened to them what so ever, and I will never see my sweet daughter again, or you two either." Serenity answered, adding to herself in her mind, thinking about her other daughter, 'Or my other sweet daughter, Kurai.'
Weakly, Serenity held up the Cresent Moon Wand above her, telling the two cats as she would send them to Earth as well, giving one of them the power to recreate it one day on Earth, "Serena and her court, will need your help if the enemy breaks free. I need you to find her and protect her."
Suddenly realising that this would be the final time they would ever see Queen Serenity alive, both Luna and Artemis, with tears in their eyes, agreed in unison at the ruler's final request, "Yes."
'The power of rebirth...it must be done...not just for everyone on the Moon...but...also to those who died before the war split the other worlds into what they are today and in the future.' Serenity thought to herself, thinking of what Grimoire told her years ago in his dying breath. So, holding up the Silver Crystal, mentally wishing it for the final time for her request, told the souls of those within it, "Now, all of you will be reborn with no knowlage of your past lives...I must send you now..."
She uses the Crystal one last time, and it glows and floats into the air, preparing it's task that it would shatter into seven shards and into the hearts of seven people on Earth, so that one day in a thousand years time, Serena would find it and restore it to it's full power when she would recover her memories.
Until then, Serena would live a new peaceful, normal life on Earth.
'Goodbye, Serena. You are in my heart, always.' Serenity thought as she watched the crystal do it's task.
Once it was high enough, the Silver Crystal then glowed a powerful light, shining across the Moon, creating several of orbs of many who perished in the Moon Kingdom, guiding all of them, including the Sailor Soldiers, Prince Darien and Princess Serena towards Earth to be reborn in 1,000 years time.
Deep within the chamber that hasn't been disturbed, at Serenity's other final wish, the Silver Crystal's light managed to shine through there as well, before an orb of light surrounded Kurai's body, as her spirit was seen only in Serenity's eyes, tears falling freely at the sight of her mother, before her spirit then faded and rejoined her body into deep sleep, her memories of her past also being erased before it floats through the ceiling and into the sky, and floats towards Earth, joining the others to be reborn.
"Be happy..." Serenity spoke weakly, "On behalf of the Moon...you will be free again..."
Then...her life slipped away and Serenity fell limp. She was gone.
'...Perhaps we will meet again...' Were her final living thoughts, as the Cresent Moon Wand slipped out of her lifeless grasp, much to the dismay and devastation of Luna and Artemis.
"Queen Serenity!" Luna and Artemis cried tearfully as the Cresent Moon Wand then glowed as well before it could hit the ground.
It then glowed brightly and shined, and sealed both Luna and Artemis inside capsals where they sleep and are also sent to Earth. A light briefly shines over Queen Serenity, who, as he spirit starts to depart from her body to reach the Afterlife, she spoke, solely to Kurai who would one day see this in a vision, "Kurai...you...deserve a future...as well...the Silver Crystal is more now connected to...Serena... and...her heart...it will connect to the Silver Crystal one day...perhaps...one day...you will meet and be together... again...there's still...hope..."
Above her, an older King Grimoire's spirit descended towards her, reaching out a hand to help guide her to join him and others who remained in the Afterlife. Serenity, seeing her lover again, muttered as she reached out to grasp her husband's hand, '...One day...it will all begin...and only our successors will take our place to protect the Realm of Light.'
Thus began the rebirth of Princess Serena and her court and lover...and sister. (~End Sacrifice Yet Acceptince*Claire Farron*~)
Back in 1988 in the Multiverse...within the Heart Realm...
(~The Key of Light~)
In body form, Ven's heart sank within the waters of blackness, floating endlessly, searching for a place to stay safe and sleep. It was incredibly famililar. Then, after what seemed like forever, his eyes half-opened as light shined brightly ahead of him...
It was...warm and familiar...and another memory and answer of how he survived for four years had returned to him. The young heart at birth...it saved him.
This place...He's been here. So warm. He remembered now.
'This is your heart.' Ven's thoughts were, feeling the call of someone calling out to him.
Even though the young boy would not know what he had done to save Ven. (~End The Key of Light~)
Meanwhile, back in the Realm of Light...
On the islands where five travellers had come to visit briefly before, in the middle of the night, were Sora and Riku who were on the beach on the mainland, lying on their backs on the sand, gazing up at the stars. The waves are quiet and peaceful. Riku sits up after a while and turns to Sora, saying as it was getting really late, "Hey, I'm gonna head back."
"Yeah, me too." Sora replied as he sat up in agreement.
(~Ventus's Theme-KH:BBS~)
As the two boys walk back toward the town, Riku turned to Sora before stopping, growing concerned as he asked, "Sora, what's wrong?"
"Huh?" Sora blinked in confusion, wondering what his friend was talking about.
"You're..." Riku trailled off, pointing at Sora's face.
The four year old boy was thoroughly confused, until he noticed something wet trailing down his face. Sora reached out his hand to catch it, and when he gazed at his hand, he realised it was a single tear, which suprised him. He didn't know why he was suddenly crying, and then suddenly his chest felt heavy and...tightening.
Yet he didn't seem to be really sad at all, as he said, "That's weird. It's like something's squeezing me inside."
Riku, being a smart boy for his age, then thought, "Somebody up there must be sad."
"Up where?" Sora asked, confused.
"They say every world is connected by one great big sky." Riku explained, then suggested, "So maybe there's somebody up there in all those worlds who's really hurting, and they're waiting for you to help them."
Sora, hearing this did make him want to help the person who was feeling sad, didn't know how to do it, so he asked, "Well gee, do you think there's something I could do?"
Riku thought deeply about it for a moment with his arms crossed, before having an idea and suggested, "Maybe they just need you to open your heart and listen."
After a slight pause, Sora then muttered, "Hmmm... I dunno Riku, you say some weird stuff sometimes, but I'll try it."
"Okay." Riku nodded.
So, with determination, Sora gazed up at the sky, before clutching his fists, and closed his eyes, doing his best to focus, with Riku looking up at the sky as well. For a moment, nothing seemed to happen.
Then, as though he entered either his own thoughts or within a dream, Sora found himself in a strange new place, then sensed something that would make a huge difference in his life in ten years to come...in the new timeline once the dark future was erased.
Inside the chambers where Aqua had left him...for goodness knows how long, Ven continued to sleep...and even in sleep, he could hear a familiar young voice call out to his heart...
"Hey... Can you hear me?"
In Neo-Tokyo on Earth in the Solar Universe...
In the early evenings, six year old Serena Tsukino was reading her favorite story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in her room, humming happily until something twinkling outside her window caught her eye. In confusion, the little girl puts the book down and crawled over on her bed towards the window, gazing up at the stars that were twinkling along with the city's lights.
Yet...a few of them looked like they were...blinking sadly.
Being a gullible and highly imaginative girl, Serena asked in confusion, "Why do the Stars look sad?" (~End Ventus's Theme~)
Back in Radiant Garden in the Multiverse...
(~Xehanort's Theme-KH:BBS~)
Ansem the Wise was being led by Braig into the central square of town, with Dilan followed as Braig led them into the centre of their kingdom. There layed a young man with clothes and an armor guard on his left arm, silver hair and appeared to be unconscious.
Seeing the injured young man, unaware of the dangers, Ansem knelt to his knees and cradled him, asking gently, "Young man, what ails you? Can you speak? Tell me your name."
Half-conscious, the young man muttered in a deep voice, "Xeha...nort."
"Xehanort?" Ansem questioned, finding the name unsual and unaware that behind him and Dilan, Braig smiled evilly, aware of the plan that was a success. Xehanort had taken over Terra's body.
Xehanort then lost consciousness again, alarming Ansem who ordered his guards, "Quickly, get him to the castle!"
"You can count on me." Braig replied, bowing before he carried Xehanort, Snow White style, before requesting his fellow bodyguard, "Dilan, get those for me." gesturing at an blueish gray empty armor with a Keyblade that layed abandoned on the ground that seemed to have belonged to a young woman.
The young woman named Aqua who just sacrificed herself to save a friend...and unknowingly doomed the Realm of Light to the hands of Xehanort.
This would lead into the many adventures of the future in eight years to come. (~End Xehanort's Theme~)
In the Realm of Darkness...
Tired and exhausted, not knowing how long it's been since she landed on the dark soil of the dark world, Aqua only did what she knew she would do if she wanted to find a way out of this place. She just walked down an unending road. By now, however, she felt like she'd been walking for ages. How long has she been here in the darkness?
However, just as she thought this to herself, a large shape looms over her from the darkness with black wings and long antennae, its yellow eyes gazing at her like two burning suns. It seems to pulse with darkness. Aqua catches sight of it and summoned Master Eraqus's Keyblade, the only Keyblade she had with her. Another creature of the same appeared behind her, and then two more, until she's completely surrounded. They towered over her, their chests bearing a heart-shaped hole. Realising that she is out-numbered, she hung her head low in defeat and sorrow, and dismissed the Keyblade.
"Maybe...I should fade into the darkness here." Aqua muttered to herself, accepting her fate. She would never see her friends again. Never see the Realm of Light again...
One of the Heartless pulls back his fist and two points of light appear in the beyond. As it moves in to deliver a crushing blow, suddenly lights appeared and struck the Darkside, destroying it. The lights fly past Aqua, and she sees them as Terra and Ven's Keyblades. They proceed to eliminate the other three Heartless before flying upward into the abyss. Aqua stared in their direction, in relief that she ended up laughing, then realised in disbelief that she could still manage to laugh. (~Always On My Mind-KINGDOM HEARTS~)
"I guess it's been so long, I almost forgot how to smile." Aqua said to herself. She looks at her Wayfinder and remembers the smiling faces of all the friends she's made.
Ven, Terra, Master Eraqus, young Queen Serenity in her "Sailor Moon" form, young Jason, Mickey, Grovyle, young Lyla, Cinderella, Jaq, Fairy Godmother, Snow White, her Prince and the Seven Dwarfs, Prince Phillip, the three Good Farires, Yen Sid, Donald, Goofy, Queen Minnie, Horace, Pluto, Hercules, Phil, Zack, Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, the Lost Boys, Sailor Pluto, Celebi, and lastly Kairi, Riku and Sora. They were inside her heart. They were her strength to keep going.
One day, she will find a way home and she was determined to keep going.
"There's always a way." Aqua said to herself.
So...she kept going. (~End Always On My Mind~)
A/N: Epilogue/Ending is up next! And then after that, the secret endings! See you real soon!