Divinity: Fates and the Afterlife

Chapter Ninety-Two


Becoming warmer and warmer as it lit up like the core of a star, the golden pendant in Sailor Moon's chest reacted as soon as her words left her lips in whispers.

Megumi's eyes widened. Feeling pulled by nostalgia when a familiar light surrounded them in a protective cocoon creating a barrier that parted them from the rest and the darkness around turning everything it caught within its magnetic corona into flakes of ash. It was exactly as if she was back in time and holding on to dear life to the prince's arm while he prayed to go to the moon so he could help the princess from the darkness and the red-haired witch. It was this same protective shield, giving the maiden much hope that somewhere inside that monstrous storm, light could still clean the prince's reason and help them on their journey. She really wanted to believe. She really wanted it to be true.

Megumi couldn't fight her tears at the dedication and devotion they had for one another. Now in a new era, in a world with different challenges and without the flare of their royal heritage, they still lived to make the other one safe. In the past it had been the prince to her rescue, now, it was the princess who fought whoever stood in her way to help her prince and save him from the darkness; Megumi thought as she felt a tug in her hand, a silent signal for them to be ready to take action.

"Our real duty has begun, Shitennou! Let's conjure the power of the Cardinal Points!"

Kunzite urged his brothers to follow him close to the rim of the storm and each one went to stand at a strategic point that would mark a circle with considerable distance between each of them.

Sailor Moon's tousled hair flipped like a curtain of silk as she turned. She was more than familiar with Endymion's skills, but this was the first time she would see the hidden power behind their names and rank as it was always intended. Her eyes followed each general stand around them and how they slowly fell in a deep state of meditation in a very similar way to how Endymion did to find his concentration and focus before making use of his blessed powers.

"I, Zoisite, Knight of Healing and Purification, overseer of the Cardinal Point of the East; I summon to manifest to my call and guard the Circle of the Guardian of Earth!" Zoisite brought his arms forward, palms facing the rim that connected to the vortex above, securing the first pillar of light with a soft jade-green hue glow from him.

Nephrite followed with the same position, "Oh, celestial spirits of the Cardinal Point of the North, the Ancient One of the Earth. I, Nephrite, Knight of Intelligence and Comfort call you to attend this circle. Charged by your powers, as your overseer, Old Celestial Ones, protect the Circle of the Guardian of Earth!" A shot of deep crimson light joined Zoisites from his position and secured the second seal with a warm glow.

"I am the Knight of Patience and Harmony—Jadeite—the overseer of the Cardinal Point of the West. I summon, stir, and call you now to witness this rite! Move thy essence about me as I guard the circle of the Guardian of Earth!" Jadeite moved his arms up to channel his energy and then moved them forward. A light blue glow came from him, joining Zoisite and Nephrite's pillars.

Kunzite quickly searched for Venus, who was staring back at him from her place next to Mars, Jupiter, and Mercury. Her bright blue eyes held all the words her mouth could speak and her voice could not pay justice. The tears streaming down her cheeks; the worry of an uncertain future. She was scared. Scared for them.

Scared of that uncertainty, they all were. Every single one of them, but they also had the power to fight and damn it, they had to win.

The leader of the shitennou brought his hands together and channeled his energy into the ritual, joining his brothers from his position "Winds from afar, in the names of the old gods. I, Kunzite, Knight of Purity and Affection, overseer and protector of the Cardinal Point of the South! Blow clear and fresh and free! In the magical presence upon us, winds of strength! I command you to manifest to the presence of the Guardian of Earth!" As he brought his hands to aim forward a pale pink light burst and joined the others to finish the ritual and close the seal.

With his aim to the storm ahead; Kunzite turned over his shoulder to look at Sailor Moon "Princess, there is only a limited resource as to how much we can keep the gates of Elysion open for you to cross. Please be wise of your time... may the protection of our Guardian leads your way,"

The strong light from four strong pillars of each respective soldier got lost in the thickness of the clouds of dust swirling into the void breaking above.

Sailor Moon watched the streams of light clearing another path for them quickly pulling Megumi's hand to urge her to run towards the barrier knowing this was probably the only opportunity to seize the plan she had in mind. The shitennou had opened the path for her to go where she knew could make her voice heard. She needed—urgently—to make contact with Endymion, and as crazy as her plan was, she knew this was the best way to reach out to him.

Bracing themselves with the power of the silver crystal to protect them from the strong change of gravity in the pocket of space they were crossing into, Sailor Moon curled her fingers tight around her brooch, "Please don't fail me now..." She whispered, "Don't fail me now..."

Strong shivers ran down her body as they came close to the rim and crossed despite not having any ground below and no support above. As she held Megumi tight and let herself be swayed by the strong winds as they traveled through planes; suspended in a separate dimension. In an instant, they got immersed in the energy of the sacred light from the cardinal pillars. Sailor Moon increased her aura as a goddess and depend on it to teleport to their destination; in a flash of light, they were gone.

O—o—O

The noise slowly died down, like a breeze sweeping it away as deeper as they went. Megumi held onto Sailor Moon's arm so tight, she wasn't really sure when it happened until a rush of excitement hit her like a gust of wind cooling the redness of her cheeks. They were not on the same space as the rest anymore, not even Endymion's; meaning only one thing...

A familiar scent caught her nostrils. The nostalgia of it, urging her to open her almond eyes and as soon as she did, her breath was taken away in an instant.

There was no noise other than a slow trickle as if they were surrounded by streams of water. Sailor Moon felt it too, the change in the ambiance and the harmony in the breathable air; a sweet and elegant smell of fresh roses caressing her senses and her memory. She felt Megumi's hold had started to loosen and slowly opened her eyes as well, feeling completely drawn to the scenario before her. Indeed, they were surrounded by endless creeks, greenery and a long stone pathway with tall stone pillars wrapped in branches and vines with roses of all colors. Above there was a peaceful dim-lit sky but there was no Moon or Sun, there were no stars or clouds; it was just a vast space of pastel dawn.

Megumi choked with emotion, trying her best not to sob. While the palace was not exactly the one that it once was, the land she thought had been lost was still standing right before her eyes; her roots were still there. She knew that pathway like the back of her hand from the many times she had walked on it in the past. She knew where she was, and that was...

"Home."

Sailor Moon looked ahead and felt the same as Megumi, the same melancholy of having to walk down this long corridor after so long. She vaguely remembered at first, how she once walked hand in hand with Endymion one night when the moon was shining bright in the velvety sky. Halfway, she finally remembered; she finally knew exactly what place this was.

-O-

"Teach me how to pray,"

"What?" Endymion looked at her puzzled and let out a light chuckle, "To pray?"

Serenity kept her stance, eyes sparkling with interest "Yes… teach me how to pray,"

Endymion's smile turned sad "Bunny, it has been long since the last time I did it... and besides, you do not need to pray, you are a Goddess,"

"And?" Serenity frowned "I want to pray for that child's innocent soul… and I want to pray for you…"

"Me?" Endymion frowned, confused, "Why?"

"Because you care for so many people… You also need protection as much as they do." The princess said softly while taking his hand. Endymion looked down at her fingers gently caressing with his and sighed, a mixture between awe and disbelief.

"Come with me…"

-O-

The soft click of her heels on the stone slowly pulled her deeper into the memory of one of the first times she traveled through the moonlight to meet with him in this sacred place. She remembered the temple was somewhat distanced from the actual palace and that it worked as a shrine; a place to remember and respect the dead and pray to protect the living. A sacred place that cherished the souls of everyone that lived in the beautiful land of dreams, the very heart of Earth: Elysion.

The beautiful temple finally revealed itself at the end of the tall pillars of marble and gold as serene as she remembered. It was so beautiful she almost forgot the turmoil happening above and beyond this precious sacred place. They took the long path of stairs that would lead them to the actual temple without saying a single word, just admiring the view. While reaching the top, Megumi's eyes went wide with awe as she turned to look around. Unlike Serenity, this was actually the first time she had step foot in the sacred temple, the place she knew the High Priest of Elysion spent most of his time praying and sharing his wisdom with the High Prince of Earth.

No one was really allowed to come to this place. Once reached the court, no one could walk up those stairs unless the priest granted said permission. Megumi had heard many stories about at the palace from many people that worked there with her and about the rumors of the priest holding more than just the power of prayer. Rumors of the goddess that had saved humanity along with the secrets of the holy protector of Elysion and how all of its answers were locked inside that temple at the top of that hill said to be built there to reach the voice of the gods. And now, as she was standing there, she could see the mystery everyone talked about despite not having gone inside just yet.

"Endymion learned many lessons in this place."

Sailor Moon stopped for a moment, feeling the weight of nostalgia over her again. Her eyes glistening with tears of the memories that kept flooding in non-stop. "We would meet here many times... this was his safe haven despite having lost all hope. Despite having lost his way..."

Megumi turned, her eyes were glossed with tears as she followed Sailor Moon and crossed a pair of heavy smithy gates with circular designs that welcomed them down the long hallway that would lead them to the temple's main court.

The sky-high dome ceiling of stained-glass painting beautiful patterns in pastel colors as if there was a sun that came out to play from fluffy clouds. Tall ceiling to floor panels of the same stained glass decorated many of its walls, and from its pillars, many vines with the same scent of flowers proved the passing of time in this place was non-existent. It was magical, the sense of being in such a pristine and quiet place truly made you forget the darkness lurking outside of its protective cocoon.

It was more than Megumi would ever imagine the temple to look like. It seemed more like another small palace with its endless halls and tall pillars of marble and filaments of gold. Stairs could be seen ahead to what she imagined would lead to the private chambers that once belonged to the high priest and Helios, his young apprentice.

Surrounded by more greenery as part of the precious gardens she never got the chance to actually see back then, it was when she noticed the princess had finally stopped in the middle of the court. But what took Megumi's breath away even more aside from the beauty of such place were the countless tiny lights flickering around them like little stars.

Sailor Moon felt her heart beating strong as she looked around at the same tiny lights still burning up to this day and took a deep breath as she let herself be taken by another vivid memory.

-O-

"It is so beautiful…"

Serenity breathed and turned to see the white marble fountain in the distance "…And so peaceful,"

"This is Elysion's sacred temple… where our high priest lives." Endymion turned to look at her "This is where I learned how to meditate and pray…"

Serenity widened her eyes and looked around again "It is beautiful,"

Endymion walked towards a large stained-glass wall full of tiny white candles and looked down at the few lights flickering with the sweet breeze of the afternoon. "The last time I prayed here was probably the night before I left to train for the army ten years ago..."

Serenity walked up to him; her heels made a soft echo as she walked on impeccable marble floors. Standing next to him, she followed his gaze and frowned slightly, "Why are there so many candles out of its flame?"

The prince smiled sadly as he looked down at them "Because I have not been here ever since I left…"

"Why?"

"I cannot really give you a reason... I just... didn't..."

Serenity looked at him, her crystal blue eyes curious but also hopeful, "Maybe this is the right moment to do it…"

Endymion frowned, "Do what?"

"Bring the light back to them again."

"Why?"

"Because... you need to believe..."

"Why do you want me to go back to believe in something I decided to give up many years ago?" He asked, his voice instead of sounding angry came out with a hint of hurt, like if he was being betrayed. Serenity noticed it, and slowly turned to hold his hands "Because maybe they did not listen… but I will."

Her soft words hit on a soft spot. Endymion turned but did not know how to react and for the very first time in a long time, he felt his eyes burn with unshed tears "Serenity… what are you saying?" He tried to chuckle but his vulnerability was clearly evident. The sweet and innocent princess was slowly breaking the prince's tough and always hard shell of a character.

"If you pray… I will listen. Pray to me Endymion, so I can help you…" Serenity looked at him; Endymion shook his head and closed his eyes "I cannot do that, Serenity. I made a promise to myself."

"And what about you? What about your own safety? Are you really going to let all the pain from the past burn your soul just because you made a promise to yourself?" Serenity asked upset, "Is your pride that high?"

The prince turned to her with a frown "This is my destiny Serenity. I was raised to become what I am now. What happened today has happened to me before and I dealt with it just fine… Why…" He trailed off and looked away. His voice was starting to break "Dammit!" He closed his eyes and punched a pillar with his fist, startling the princess.

Opening his eyes again, a darker shade of blue haunting them but also telling a truth he was not brave enough to say out loud "Why do you want to carry with my problems?" His voice came out low as he balanced his weight on his arm resting on the same pillar he had hit seconds ago.

"Because I love you."

Endymion felt like if a bolt had pierced his entire body, shaking him from inside out. He widened his eyes and turned to look at her but dared not to say a word. He was completely taken aback by her blunt response.

"Look at you…" Taking a step forward, Serenity searched for his gaze, "All handsome in your armor; always so strong and defiant. A man that has the will and the courage to put his family and people first. It has been so long since you really let yourself go." She made a pause to think her words carefully after taking a deep breath, "I may not be the strongest goddess there is, but I am sure I am the one that loves you with all her heart. Let me be here for you… let me be with you…"

Endymion looked at her. Bringing a hand to his face he felt something he hadn't felt in years. A tear ran through his cheek; he felt exposed. The armor covering his body was not protecting him anymore.

Staring at her with astonishment, he tried to find the right words that could describe what he was feeling and slowly turned to face the altar again. After a couple of minutes, he slowly walked over there and stood in front of the candles and took a thin wooden stick to pick up a spark from a candle nearby and began to lit each one that had lost its light throughout the years making up for his absence, finishing up with one that stood in the middle and that was taller than the rest.

Serenity watched in awe and smiled softly. What better proof that he loved her than to actually break a promise he made to himself. Something he vowed himself not to do ever again.

Endymion sighed and closed his eyes.

"Sacra dimitte terram quae oblitus sum ego filius tuus, quia oblita admirari et ego oblitos parce mihi. Spiritus sacri dimitte quia caret vita, iustitia accepi manu mea, quia amissa fide. Donec ut audivit sermones mei sit... quod honorem animarum hic reliquerunt pervenire placidissima nobis promittis diem cum nascimur. Sacred dea noctis, illumina... vias, ne quid pars ego sum... et tuus perpetuo."

(Forgive me sacred land because I have forgotten that I am a son of yours. I have forgotten how to admire you and that I also have forgotten how to forgive myself. Forgive me, sacred spirits for I have deprived life; for I have taken justice with my own hands, for losing faith. Please may my words be heard... let the innocent souls that have left us here reach the peaceful land you promise to us since the day we are born. Sacred Goddess of the night, illuminate my path, don't leave my side... for I am forever yours.)

Serenity felt a warmth all around her like she never had never felt before. Bringing her hand to touch her chest she widened her eyes in amazement, his prayer was reaching her. Walking over to him, she put her hand on his forearm and leaned her head on his chest. Endymion let out a soft sigh and looked down at her "Et tuus perpetuo…" He whispered with deep sentiment.

Serenity felt her eyes fill with tears and brought her hand up to his face she smiled at him "I love you…"

Endymion took her in his arms and lifted her "I love you…" He whispered and closed the small gap between them and kissed her passionately. Serenity put her arms around his neck to steady herself while standing on her tip-toes and kissed him back in the same way he was kissing her, every now and then stopping to catch their breaths and looked into each other's eyes "Love me forever…" She whispered to him.

"I will. And if we ever live another life… I will search for you and find you again…" He smiled.

Serenity felt instantly drawn by it and smiled in response, pushing his hair back she tilted her head with curiosity, "Do you promise?"

Endymion kissed her softly on the lips again "I swear."

-O-

Sailor Moon stared at the taller candle at the center still burning and exhaled softly, "That light is the very one that has guided us through time. It is the promise we made that no matter what, we would always be together and what helped us find each other again." She went to stand in front of it and let her tears roll down her cheeks freely, "My heart soars to know this single light has burned for thousands of years as a symbol of our hope and the promise we keep as our sacred vow."

She put her hands around the flickering flame and closed her eyes "He lit this candle just for me and prayed for the first time in years. Deep down, there was still a spark of hope within him that wished for us to listen." She slowly opened her teary eyes "I am here Endymion... I am listening..." She whispered "I can hear the beating of your heart linked with mine; your thoughts weaving with mine. We are one... and as I promised you, My Love, I am here for you. I will carry your wish."

Megumi turned in complete awe; her eyes widened when the lights started to flicker with bright sparks in a mystic chain of reaction, all responding to the conviction in her words. She felt goosebumps when she saw Sailor Moon holding Endymion's broken sword reacting to the light of her presence and got caught in the filaments of golden light from all the candles lit. Fully restored and upgraded, the royal staff priest Helios had entrusted Endymion in their fight against Nehellenia was proven to be the evolution of the sword blessed by the prince's ancestors. And now, it had once again responded to the needs of its master. It held the same sleek golden sheen, and from where the crystal once stood when it first appeared, a pointed glaive of light appeared making of it more than just a glorified object.

Her milky skin was glowing like if the moonlight had reached her all the way from the heavens, basking her in its soothing energy and granting her the power to summon the sacred regalia. The emotion of seeing her praying and calling for her prince to wake from the trance he had trapped himself into was something only Megumi could only engrave in her memory. What a beautiful way to live up to a promise, she thought with great awe.

Serenity stared at the ancient words floating along with the filaments of light orbiting and protecting the sacred weapon as she held it suspended in between her hands.

"Earth protector, free yourself! Cut the ties of darkness invading this sacred land... I hear you..." She closed her eyes tightly, her tears slowly rolling down her flushed cheeks, "I pray to you... please... hear my voice. Hear the voices of all the people that believe in you! Listen to my heart trying to reach yours... the Moon resonates with your energy and it is shining for you!" She took a deep breath, "Moon... Crystal... Power!"

A strong pull shook the ground, Megumi saw the portal that had led them there had started to weaken threatening the safety of Elsyion as the darkness could now find an easy way to leak in and contaminate the land "The shadows have found our path!"

She knew it was her time to act; her real task to protect her homeland and prince and princess. She turned to Serenity who had linked her power to the one candle Endymion had lit for her thousands of years ago and saw the flame had started growing with more strength.

Serenity opened her eyes and gasped "You can hear me... you remember..."

With reassurance, she raised the staff to the growing flame engulfing the temple with a blast of light, clearing the shadows that had followed and all the way up and crossing planes, despite the pain in her hands caused by the aggressive fire.

Serenity was strengthening the sacred ground of Elysion with the light of the silver crystal, releasing the hidden potential of the family of Terra. But even with all the blessings that came with it, she was still an outsider and if she didn't return to the living realm of Earth, she would get trapped in the aftermath of Elysion's fate.

The light was growing in intensity and strength, proving it was reaching its destination by linking heaven to Earth but such powerful connection could put her life at stake due to the strain of traveling through astral planes and this, Megumi knew perfectly well she couldn't allow. Not when she overheard the brief conversation the princess had with Venus before going on this mission. If she sacrificed herself here, in this very moment, the whole purpose of leading this world to the future would fall into the hands of uncertainty once again.

Megumi saw Serenity losing her balance a couple of times, meaning she was starting to suffer its demands for more than just love and good wishes. With its power becoming stronger, the foundations of the temple and all of its surroundings had started to tremble and crumble; she turned around and saw the candles had started to flicker strongly as if the gusts of wind from Chaos' void had started to break in and she knew it was her time. With all the candles aiming their light to the princess and the sacred weapon, Megumi knew a source of energy was needed to keep this place alive, and it was right there and then when she remembered the dream she had while trapped under the rubble and it all made sense.

Without hesitation, she ran towards the princess and stepped in between the one candle the princess was praying to and stretched her arms to protect its flame using her body as a vessel to channel its power to its source and kept a steady flow to urge Serenity to go to the portal that continued to weaken.

"Megumi!" Serenity blinked, shocked when the maiden took her place. Megumi turned slowly; her mortal body not capable of withstanding the force of the sacred fire. Already feeling the burning light going under her skin and scorching her bones all the way deep into her soul.

The maiden took a deep breath, far from fear it was a resolution. "Princess Serenity, for thousands of years I wandered the universe alone all with the hope of being able to carry on with my mission; knowing its purpose. I wished I had the answers that would explain to me why and what happened that night... Why me? For years, I had no sense of direction. For years, I did not know the real reason until the day I found you."

"Megumi you need to come back with us... there's so much to do... Mamo-chan..." Serenity's eyes welled up, "He'll be waiting for you... You're part of our family!"

The maiden's face was so serene it was needless to say what was going on. She tried to pull Megumi out of the way but she instead took a step forward, setting her fate for the cause.

"I knew this could happen and it was the main reason why I did not leave to the Moon, Princess. This is my fight too—this is the moment I was waiting for. My mission became a desire to protect exactly that, my family."

Megumi smiled, tears started to stream down her cheeks and neck "My soul is at peace because I know this war will end with victory on your side. I believe in my Prince... I have seen him fight, I know what he is capable of doing, and with you by his side... you two will always be invincible. I believe you will." She looked up with her smile intact and her eyes glistening with pride "At the peak of the golden hour... the seal will break... evolution will set its course, and it will contrive the pillars of aether light."

"Megumi..."

"Please carry my message and tell Prince Endymion not to worry about me, for I am where I want to be. This is the path I choose." She turned "Thank you for bringing me home... I love you, Usagi."

Serenity felt her heart scrunching, she widened her eyes with panic "Megumi!"

Megumi smiled "Farewell."

"Megumi!"

The maiden turned into the blazing light and was lost in a matter of seconds; her body becoming the conduct that was needed to seal the connection between realms. One last blast and the lights of all the little white candles burst with force, burning the shadows around and setting the path for Serenity to return. The charge was so strong, she was thrown into the portal against her will and was sent back without any chance to go and get Megumi back with her.

The stream of light and energy was so strong it finally cracked through the tall magma stone monolith that grew from the deep ocean, finally reaching the outer world and connecting the Moon with the Earth.

With the remains of her well-extended life, Megumi caught Serenity vanishing from the corner of her eye and brought her hands to cup the flame still blazing in front of her and slowly felt like letting herself go when a pair of warm hands pressed securely on her shoulders, keeping her steady. Her almond eyes burned with fresh tears when she turned over her shoulder and broke into sobs as she nodded in response to the sweet whispers in her ear "I did it... I was able to help them. My mission is complete."

O—o—o—o—O

From their high position, Zeus watched the polemarchos taking care of Chaos' shadows but his attention was fixed into something else despite the admirable spectacle before his eyes.

"You are finally seeing with your own eyes what she is capable of doing. You now believe she shares blood of your own."

Zeus tightened his grip on his thunder sword. The three gods known as the pillars of Olympus stood next to each other glancing with both pride and allure at the senshi and shitennou also fighting Chaos' shadows with as much power as the polemarchos fighting their own battles above.

"I never denied it."

As he watched Jupiter run and blast her enemies with an unmeasured amount of power; Zeus' jaw tightened. "I always thought of myself to be unbreakable. Back then, when we were trapped in that hole for thousands of years, that was my truth until Chaos resurged, proving me otherwise. That child... Hera always thought I was unjust with how I treated her. Why I never gave her my acknowledgment and left her in the care of the Amazons of Jupiter. The more I see her, the more certain I am that I made the right choice to leave her be who she was meant to be without my name shadowing her." He sighed, "As we stand in the middle of life and death, that child has proven to have more conviction and strength that any of my acknowledged children. If she had stayed with me, her soul would have been tainted with the same pride that has tainted them, the kind of sentiment that makes you feel worthless once you are stripped of all glory." Zeus loosened the tension in his face "I will not force her to be someone she is not. Not now... and not ever. Serenity made the right decision by choosing her to be part of her daughter's court."

"Is that why you are here?"

"I am also here for the same reason you are. Is there really much for you to do in a place like this? This realm does not belong to you; no matter how you put it. You control the fate of those that are dead, not the ones that are still living."

"No, it is about gaining back control. They are all traitors; lost souls following whatever convenes to them and thinking of what would give them redemption. For that, I do not concern myself that much as they will return crawling for the mercy of the sins they know they have committed." Hades focused his gaze at the battle below "You want to see if the lore is true,"

"I do not know how this madness will continue to unfold, Hades." Zeus said uncharacteristically serious "I just had to see it with my own eyes, even if it is from afar; even if it is the last time I get to see it." His grey eyes followed a body surrounded by light "That is..."

"Serenity's daughter, in the flesh."

Zeus looked up at the vortex spiraling "So that means..."

"An Olympian siding with a Titan. Whatever she did... it was for his sake, not ours." Hades looked up as he pointed the blade of his scythe in the direction ahead, "He is quite resilient. Barbaric, as one would expect from one with that kind of ancestry, but I admit he knows how to fight with intelligence."

"It shall be our cue to intervene, then," Zeus turned to both Hades and Ares "I have put Olympus under lockdown. The damage is great; the High Gods have joined me in battle. Athena has done a superb work monitoring Andromeda and Omega who have taken a strong hit from Chaos. Apollo and Poseidon have taken their posts and have been fighting in the outskirts of our realm, but it all boils down to that demon over there."

"I need you up there for when Chaos' breakdown comes near," Ares said, "Endymion is getting under Chaos' skin and if we interfere right now, it will only distract him and the results could be catastrophic." The god of war turned to the lord of thunder "His celestial guards have proven to be more than capable of withstanding the ravaging struggles of war. They have been granted access to the celestial armory to keep up their fight."

From his high position, Hade's eyes narrowed with allure, as if he had received a much-awaited confirmation "...It is done."

-O-

Saturn's grip on her glaive tightened, knowing exactly what she had to do next. After turning the gears of time and manipulating its flow in Endymion's favor, Pluto had remained unnoticed for a while to recover and prepare for Saturn's sentence.

"Pluto," Saturn glossed eyes looked up, "We need to sort order between worlds. Open the path for me to cross the fourth dimension."

Pluto pressed her lips unable to argue the youngest of the senshi because she knew it had to be done. It was a request she could not turn down, not even how much she desired it. Activating the power of her garnet talisman, Pluto did as was told and allowed Saturn to use her energy to elevate high enough to charge her glaive and prepare for her attack.

She came close to the pit and used its force to gain elevation. From a distance, Pluto watched her beloved Hotaru go high all the way up close to the void in the sky and turn her glaive a couple of times before taking her position. Her skin shivered, no matter how many times she's seen this motion, knowing the power she unleashed was always nerve-wracking and what came with it, broke her heart.

Uranus watched her move in between the shadows and go up high in the sky until she almost got lost in the swirls of dust and thunder. Neptune stood by her side and held Uranus' hand with a strong grip her knuckles felt numb. All senshi froze at the moment Saturn swirled her glaive, making its distinctive echo as it glided through the cold air. The shitennou remained in position, preparing for the massive blow.

"Death Reborn Revolution!"

Saturn looked up and swung her glaive up, taking everything in its massively proportioned wormhole. Shadows and ruins alike, they all got caught in the centrifugal force of the attack that soon broke contact with the ground as Saturn manipulated the course of it with her glaive.

Chaos narrowed his eyes; his hand loosened some of his grip on his weapon, finally showing the effects of fighting non-stop for an undetermined period of time. He turned over his shoulder, his eyes quickly spotting Hades in the distance "Imbeciles. Putting a seal on me will not stop me this time," He swung his charged blade to break the cycle but they were already surrounded by Saturn's effect.

"Is this all you have, Olympians?!" He grinned like a maniac. "As always, it is so easy for you to brush your problems into a pit in hell; how predictable," Chaos cackled with disinterest, "You still believe that will take to stop me from going after you all? Gaia did it and look where we are now!"

"Which is why no one is expecting you to be locked anywhere, anymore, Chaos. This time, she's made sure of it." Endymion stood behind the dark titan; Chaos arched his brow, slowly turning over his shoulder to look at the prince.

"Gaia lost because she was a flawed warrior due to her idiotic benevolence."

"She may have lost back then, but she had her reasons to do so... You were once her brother and she once had hope." Endymion aimed his glowing palm at him, "But rest assured, I am not her and I don't give a fuck about you. You have stolen too much from us, it's impossible for me to grant you any damn consideration. If I am being dragged to hell as you say, then I am dragging you with me."

O—o—O

The sailor senshi kept their stance in battle, each following their plan and Mercury's strategies in Sailor Moon's absence. Venus remained strong taking the front with Jupiter and Uranus as her allies in strength blasting and taking down their obstacles to keep the area as free of shadows as possible while the shitennou maintained the four cardinal points activated to prevent more destruction and keep Earth balanced while Endymion was disconnected from them.

The light in the distance alerted all of them of the outcome, being Venus and Kunzite the first to release a breath of relief when they saw Sailor Moon walking out of the stream of light still bursting from underground, only to notice seconds later that she was alone. Megumi had not come back with her.

Venus ran after her "Usa—" she stopped completely startled when she saw Serenity looking heavenward, holding Endymion's new royal staff in one hand and her moon tiare in the other. The blonde senshi blinked, "T-That is..."

"I know you can hear me," Serenity said strong and hopeful, "Look this way, Endymion... I'm right here."

O—o—O

The sky rumbled. A storm inside a storm. Their movements were glimpsed; every time a bolt of lightning crashed through the sky and lit their faces both were seen glaring at each other with murder tainting their haunting gazes. The energy force of the aftershock from the impact of both weapons clashing with each other and the increased power of their auras started to influence the ground and all of their surroundings but not without consequence.

Chaos was like drinking a bottle of poison, being close to him affected all senses and stripped anyone from all reason and sense of logic. A few more clashes and Endymion's latest lent weapon was shattered with one of Chaos' strong swings of his glaive again, making this the perfect opportunity for Chaos to take the advantage by breaking his defense and pull him into his effect.

One fraction of a second was all Chaos needed to change the course of things and now Endymion was heading towards a dead end. He spat the blood pooling inside his mouth and growled when he felt Chaos's hand tightening around his neck. The titan didn't need to say any words to claim his victory over him and Endymion didn't need an explanation to know he was being possessed by Chaos. He felt it, burning his brain through the vicious glare of his blood-shot eyes. He felt the thick mantle of bleakness taking over his will and mind.

He flinched in pain as he was forced to stare into Chaos eyes and saw his string of life from the very moment he was born in Elysion all the way to this era. It played before him with such clarity, as if he had never forgotten a shard of it, the links to all of his existence. The torment he suffered when the accident happened and when he woke up in the hospital having no clue of who he was. The solitude he dealt with in the orphanage, his anger and anxiety attacks. Everything he feared was there, demanding his full attention like a monster feeding on his pain.

"You are nothing like us. You are never going to be like us." Chaos frowned "The reason you are here is to pick up the pieces and make something out of their mistakes to lift the guilt off their minds."

Endymion felt Chaos' stare like claws piercing through him and numbing every nerve in his body, tying him with an invisible cord of desolation. But beyond the solitude and limitation of his current state, he wasn't afraid. Of all he could feel, fear was not there to haunt him anymore. This, he understood was what Obelix was trying to reason with him when he was trapped in Purgatorio. He was preparing him for this very moment; more than teaching him how to master the golden crystal, more than to learn how to regain his confidence as a warrior, and more than just embracing his nature and forgive. It was about overcoming and moving on because to be able to create a future, you have to make peace with the past and work through it in the present. It is not just a leap of destiny, but a reason to continue fighting. This was his fight—both, revenge and redemption. This was his greatest mission.

Chaos represented fear. He was all the negative that could be harbored in anyone's mind. His power came from other's weaknesses and dark emotions. He turned any hesitation into rage and ambition, and pain into a pit of depression. That is the spark to ignite his power and conquer. Turmoil, suffering, guilt, anger, rage, hunger, abandonment, solitude, depression, anxiety, loathness, vengeance, poison, hatred... bottomless void. Chaos was that—chaos—and Endymion had two lifetimes to learn from it and know how to deal with it.

"What is it?" Endymion grunted through clenched teeth, "Can't find what you're looking for?"

He felt Chaos digging deeper into his mind, moving his thoughts and scattered memories. He flinched; despite not caring, it still hurt, his head felt like it was being torn apart but he wasn't going to give him the satisfaction to see his pain. As an empath and a man born with the gift of psychometry, he realized he was at the other end of their bloodline. Chaos was void and while he may have the power to create and end things, Endymion had the power to transform them and set the course for evolution, just like a sunset creating the path for the next sunrise.

Every single thing that has happened to him had set a new path in his life, always forcing him to evolve into who he is now and that has been a lesson on how to get away and overcome any negativity in him and damn it, he was too prideful to lose his dignity. The boy had learned to thicken his skin.

"You cannot break what is already broken."

Endymion's voice came out hoarse but still had the courage to look into his eyes. He had gut-wrenching pain. He had been suffering and he too had lost his mind. He had too much in his hands only to lose it in seconds. He resented the distance between him and his wife; he needed her too. He had lost a baby too. Endymion wanted to cry, but there were no tears that would let him show it.

With the remains of his strength, he raised his arms and put his hands on Chaos's neck with his eyes fixed on him as he let his aura bleed through his touch, "You cannot feel anything new for something you've experienced more than once. You cannot feel what you have thrown away."

"What—" Chaos frowned and felt a bolt of energy flowing inside him and frowned, "W-What is this?!"

"You don't feel anything; it's your nature to be this way. Trying to understand you, is a waste of time." Endymion concentrated his energy to counteract the dark titan's through the link he created between them, "We may be bound by blood, but we have different purposes; we live for different causes as polar opposites. Unlike you, I feel everything, and now, you will know what it's like... The fucking burden of empathy." His eyes darkened as he stared into Chaos' ruby eyes absorbing Chaos's energy through his touch "Because to defeat you, Chaos, I have to become you."

Chaos widened his eyes and yelled with strain, feeling a burning rush all over his body, all in one single blow. In a desperate attempt, he tried to cut Endymion's link but the prince kept a hand holding tight his neck and the other tangled in his long tresses. With a strong pull, he looked into his eyes the same way he did to Serenity and fed on Chaos' dark energy despite the horrible emotions it caused to read a deity like him, he remained stern, "You are nothing but carrion. Now, tell me, Titan... how does it feel?" Endymion narrowed his eyes, pulling further down with rage "How does it feel to be damned by your own existence? How entertained are you now, you son of a bitch?"

Chaos roared like a madman and tried to kick Endymion off of him, losing all of his famous composure and calm behavior. His red eyes turned darker until they became pitch-black, like his soul. He threw several punches going straight to Endymion's face and made him bleed and feel his rage, he still didn't let go. It didn't last long until he started to feel desperation devouring him from the inside. It hurt, everything inside him hurt, and it was driving him to a point of collision. His mind screamed and disconnected from his body. The sounds of all those souls he claimed as his were screaming at him, he was absorbing pain, madness, regret, and anger. He was experiencing his own dementia.

"I am not the one to bring you down."

Helios's voice stirred more rage inside of Chaos "NO!" His bloodied eyes widened as he roared completely out of character. He took harsh breaths and continued blasting his energy but to no avail; Endymion didn't budge. He was linked to his opponent, proving his descendance unafraid, and that rattled him.

"NO ONE OVERPOWERS ME!" Chaos strong voice broke the sound barrier, shaking Earth's ground. "NO ONE SURVIVES AGAINST MY WILL! "

From this point, everyone, the high gods, polemarchos, the shitennou, Sailor Moon, and even Motoki from his distant location along with all the people that was still conscious or in hiding, watched with wide eyes when they were finally coming to view again and saw the wave of magnetic field blast around both of them exploding in blinding explosions of energy like nebulas inside the storm.

From her position, Saturn spotted Endymion. Her violet eyes widened when she saw his body suffering the consequences of what it was to restrain and live through Chaos's eyes; but even with all the burns and wounds all over, he didn't break his restraint. Chaos was distorting everything to a point of collapse. Squirming with rage, he turned into a maniac entity; it was a ticking-bomb and they were running out of time.

Saturn turned to find Pluto and raised her glaive "Pluto! Open the planes for us to cross! This is our only chance!"

Pluto clenched her jaw but her hands were tied. This is what Endymion meant by not interfering, what he meant he had to face him alone. He had the will and the power to do it. Chaos was not like any other enemy they had encountered in neither of their lifetimes. Even if it hurt, things needed to get done and she had to trust.

She took one long breath as she lay down her time rod with an echoing thud on the ground "Oh, Guardian of Space and Time, our father... Chronos! Grant me power! Shut this taboo door that was wrenched open with darkness!" The strong gusts of wind blended with Saturn's effect of her glaive that had released its power swirled up, lifting the darkness from the ground. All this was too familiar, again, a bitter experience because she knew well what she was about to allow, again.

Her eyes burned with tears as she looked up, "Don't you dare not coming back..."

O—o—O

The sky roared when forced opened; the heavy gates of space and time swallowing everything in the streams of power of death and silence pulling them out of every realm.

Losing the grip of everything he had possessed for eons was cracking every sense of his logic. The fact that after all he has done, after everything he has taken—created and destroyed—there was still an invisible force pulling him in other directions that made him lose the little self-control he had left, becoming a full calamitous entity.

Chaos felt like if his head was going to explode with all the noise happening inside; he started to hyperventilate. His growls were deep and he couldn't control the excess salivation every time he opened his mouth. Like a demon unleashed from all of its restraints and all he praised for not dealing with any sort of emotions, Chaos had reached a level of detachment from his own self that was now going to take everything under its hatred. The effect was already taking over Endymion as he started to cough blood; one slight move of his head and caught the titan staring straight at him with bloodshot eyes. An insane grin destroyed all of his beauty, all the allure, and mystery he built over millions of years, now gone in all the dark veins crawling all over his body and thorns tearing through his skin.

"Is this what you presume of having against me?!" His eyes dripped dark tears as they twitched in anger "What makes you think you can overpower me? ME?!" His grin quickly turned into a maniac frown "I AM THE BEGINNING AND THE END OF EVERYTHING!" He manages to free his arm and calls for his glaive, already charged in that same vicious energy "You are an insignificant speck of dust against the magnitude of my presence! You are not near to be a rightful descendant—you will never become what I was born to be as I cannot be replaced! I will never be replaced! I WILL GUT YOU AND TAKE WHAT BELONGS TO ME!"

There was no calculation nor grace in any of Chaos' movements. He swung his glaive, aiming for Endymion's head while still kept him under his restraint. He had been too focused on the bond he was sure his voice had lost all range and volume. He had made the choice to be deaf and mute in a storm, to lose identity when everything got out of control and get away from everything and everyone.

That he believed he had done until a voice—a very sweet voice—reached him.

"I know you can hear me,"

His eyes widened; clearing some of the madness in them. His heart pounded in his chest; every single beat echoed in his ears.

"Look this way, Endymion... I'm right here."

He caught a glimmer on the corner of his eye and felt it, the strong calling pulling him away from his corrupted mental state. He couldn't see because he was trapped in Saturn's attack and Pluto's force of nature, but he felt the pull in his chest; his soul was not complying with his will but to its real owner. The carrier of his wish, his heart, and fate.

Chaos noticed the gleam in Endymion's eyes change as he felt a twitch in the psychic bond between them and took advantage of it reminding the prince, he needed only one second to set a different course—that one second, Endymion forgot.

Chaos triggered the power from within him and grinned. He manipulated the course and potency from the vortex and swung his glaive knowing Endymion would let go to protect himself from the attack. He aimed in Sailor Moon's direction but before he made a move, Endymion stepped in and reacted by calling for another weapon, this time, his own.

The royal staff in Serenity's hand began to glow intensely, reacting to its master and disappeared in a flash of light just in time to block Chaos' glaive, shocking the titan to see the weapon he was using to fight against him.

"You can be given as much divine intervention as you want, mortal scion, but from this, you will not come out unscathed. Mark my words. That crown upon your head will come down." Chaos' voice turned corrupted, hoarse and cold. Detached from all the elegance that once glamoured it before.

Endymion raised his staff across his chest to press against Chaos' blade, evolving into the glaive of light as it did in Elysion. His cobalt-blue eyes changed once again letting the gold within coming through "Don't be stupid. A crown does not give me the skill or the determination to hold a weapon and fight, nor the filthy desire to kill you. You believe I fear death... that I fear you, but you have turned out to be nothing more but a psychopath fighting without a solid cause." His anger peaked, "Absolute power? Because the universe does not meet your standards? It is you who doesn't meet anything and why you are so eager to hold everything in your control."

"That is for me to decide!" Chaos swung his dark glaive in curved motions to blast Endymion and break his defense and traced a circle in front with his blade, summoning the curse of his power.

"Ignis noctu insidiis veneno animas resurgere præcipio pedum. Sol noctis venit ad me anima damnata praeesse iussit!"

(Fire of the night, the poison lurking in these souls I command you to rise beneath my feet. Midnight Sun, come to me and take command of these condemned souls!)

Endymion fought the pressure coming from the pit and raised his staff high above his head and unlocked the power of the golden crystal in streams of fire flowing to the sharp pointed-blade of light pulsing with energy.

"You don't get to decide; this is as far as you will go!"

His aura started glowing as he moved his arm clockwise and traced a symbol in front of him as he spoke his words out loud moving from right to left to meet up and close in a perfect circle of light surrounded by a golden halo with ancient symbols gleaming around forming several rings of light moving like a helix around him, making loud echo sounds as they glided to charge in a magnetic field.

-O-

"You are right, Obelix, I am afraid. I am afraid that in my quest for peace I will meet disgrace in the end and hurt those close to me. I cannot be selfish enough to call upon such power and leave everything and everyone behind."

Mamoru looked down at his hands and closed his eyes again, "Quod vereor ne quis me in caritate, et non vis ea de causa doloris. Non vis relinquere illam. Et aperuisti os tuum, et non deficient bis eius."

(I am afraid because I am a man in love and I don't want to cause her pain. I don't want to leave her. I made a promise and I cannot fail her twice.)

Obelix turned and took Endymion's hands and brought his palms to face each other "It is true, behind such majestic power there is sacrifice. That is the reason Helios's disposition was to always leave such important treasure in the hands of those who could really carry on with his legacy. That is the reason why the stone chooses its carrier and protector."

-O-

Everyone looked up with awe at the power manifesting from the prince. That magnificent power than made his descendance so powerful and unique—the power of becoming one with its source.

A cold chill ran down Kunzite. He sensed the great danger they were being exposed to and also, what Endymion was doing. His gray eyes widened when he saw the light halo around him and shared a quick glance with his brothers that confirmed the same when he felt the calling.

Ares' eyes went round "The symbol of the Sun..." He turned to the polemarchos "Raise a main line of resistance! The rage from the Sun will fall upon us!"

"The rage..." Kunzite caught Ares' command and turned "Princess! Use me as your shield!"

"Kunzite!"

"Endymion is not in his senses and he will attack regardless of who stands in his way!"

"Endymion would never do—"

"The aftershock will hit us soon! Now Princess! There is no time!"

Sailor Moon didn't argue his plead but also, didn't back down. She went to stand behind him and raised her tiare "I am here to fight with him. I am not going anywhere." She felt it growing, the ripple echoing beneath her feet in a thundering cracking sound.

Zoisite, Jadeite, and Nephrite did the same by urging the rest to stand behind them. Being them the shield that would support the impact. Venus felt her heart shattering, the power of sacrifice coming to haunt them again, breaking the little hope they had built.

"I don't know if we can withstand this... it's too strong!" Jadeite said as he pushed harder to keep his cardinal point steady. Zoisite flinched, feeling the same struggle "You must! Do not dare give up or I will never forgive you!"

"This will end in a deadly vacuum... that is the symbol of the Sun... Endymion is—"

"Don't say it!" Jadeite turned, interrupting Nephrite "Don't you dare say it!"

This was Sailor Moon's moment to intervene, feeling the connection with Endymion weakening. Coming out from behind Kunzite she took a stand next to him, taking him by surprise "Princess!"

"I will not hide. I am here for him. I will not surrender and give Chaos what he wants!" She pulled the brooch off her bow and let it shine like a star in her hand. It instantly reacted as she raised both hands and let it sit at the top of her moon tiare.

"I will not let you go," Sailor Moon said under her breath and unleashed the power of the silver crystal full force. Concentrating her power to reach its current limits, she felt as if a protective cast had been broken and reached a divine level of power awakening to her full self as a deity. Her sailor uniform glowed like stardust. The divine moon symbol on her forehead shined like a true descendant.

"I forbid the darkness to keep leeching onto this planet!" Serenity slowly closed her eyes to focus and channel the energy of the crystal and create a link to become one "I order you to leave this plane! I condemn you to face the consequences of your trespassing to this galaxy!"

A deep breath filled her lungs, one more prayer.

One more breath.

One more wish.

"Please hold on a little while longer... Just a little longer, Baby, please..."

"Just a little longer... Don't let go... Don't let go..." Serenity exhaled slowly, fully awakened to her divinity "Luna... Artemis... Megumi... please lend me your strength... I will fight to protect this planet! For our future!" She raised her tiare right where the shitennou guided her and opened her crystal blue eyes "Everyone! Lend me your strength!"

"We need to dismantle his guard!" Mercury adjusted her smart goggles and pointed "Endymion is being pulled into the void! Both Saturn and Pluto have linked their attacks... Jadeite!" The bluenette calculated with urgency "I need Endymion's coordinates!"

"In his current situation, it is difficult for me to track him!"

"I need an approximate!"

The blonde shitennou closed his eyes, trying to make a mental map and quickly read the directions "80 degrees of separation, 50 degrees up north—30 degrees of inclination to the East but the distortion is too high!"

"They are leaving this plane!" Mercury widened her eyes "Dimensions are being torn apart!"

Serenity raised her tiare higher. The silver stone at the top released its mystic power to great heights blowing up into swirls of pure light in reaction to the sacred fire unleased from the golden crystal. She felt the strong power of the moon and the prayers of her friends and family with her and her energy rising to heights she never experienced before; just like her queen mother once did.

"Get the hell out of our land... you disgusting demon," Serenity said with authority and raised her hands "Selene's light! Answer my command! Grant me the full power that graces the Moon—allow me to be your vessel. I, Serenity, Olympian Goddess of the White Moon, I take a stand to bring justice, I will give voice to the ancient prayer that fought the darkness that threatened our peace!"

The silver crystal started to shine brighter than it ever has before. Escalating its power to a higher force, Serenity aimed "Silver Moon Crystal Eternal Power!"

Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Mercury, Uranus, and Neptune stood on her right side to give her their support. The blonde leader raised her hand, thinking in her future, in the life she wants... with the man that she loves.

"Venus Crystal Power!"

"Mars Crystal Power!"

"Jupiter Crystal Power!"

"Mercury Crystal Power!"

"Uranus Crystal Power!"

"Neptune Crystal Power!"

From her position close to Saturn's Pluto raised her time rod, joining forces as well "Pluto Crystal Power!"

Saturn closed her eyes to join as well "Saturn Crystal Power!"

"Shitennou! Keep the barrier of the Cardinal Points!" Kunzite raised his arms, his eyes glued to the battle above them "Prepare for impact! Contain the collision! It's coming!"

"Pillar of the Cardinal Star of the East!"

"Pillar of the Cardinal Star of the West!"

"Pillar of the Cardinal Star of the North!"

"Pillar of the Cardinal Star of the South!"

"Orbis resurrexit a praesidio quod terra! Defendat omnes!"

(Compass of the rose protect this earth! Protect us all!)

The light against the darkness rumbled, sending aftershocks down to the ground and catching Saturn's path to the underworld. Streams of light and fire swirled into the deadly vacuum hitting Chaos's barrier full force, finally cracking its defense.

O—o—O

It felt like the rise and fall of another Titanomachy. Ares blinked startled, impressed by the synchrony of their teamwork and the sharp strategies given by Mercury who kept her eyes reading the information in her glasses with accurate speed.

Hades watched in silence next to him, proud and amazed at the same time for the immense duty her daughter was responsible for. He pulled his scythe closer to him and turned to leave "The gates of the Underworld are being opened,"

"Hades!"

"This might be our only opportunity, Ares." Hades turned over his shoulder to look at his brother "I am here to retrieve my authority over the dead. You lead your army." His eyes darted to Zeus "And you... well, do I need to say what you need to do?"

Zeus's lips tightened at his brother's snarly comment. He turned and charged his thunder blade "I will take matters to protect Olympus. There is a battalion still keeping guard and fighting the shadows."

"Commander!" Centaurus frowned and followed Ares "The black hole of Omega is still in Chaos' power!"

"We might be already in it, Centaurus. We might not return alive from this..." Aegeus said as he called for another set of celestial weapons "But that doesn't mean we will surrender while we are still here. We still have work to do."

Ares took a deep breath and turned to Centaurus and Aegeus "The Gates will open—strengthen the perimeter! It's time to retrieve the balance, annihilation stands in highest priority."

"Yes, Commander!"

Hades went to join his daughter into the storm, being the only one that could be unaffected by her effect. He looked down at the fight between Chaos and Endymion and saw the spear in his hand glowing with blinding golden light.

The Lord of the dead raised the sleek blade of his scythe "Is it not beautiful?"

"Father..." Saturn turned to Hades who had joined forces with his daughter "Many souls have breached the natural laws of death. A realm must be rebuilt, but I do not plan to do it alone this time..." His eyes darkened as he swung his scythe and released its power to merge with Saturn's "Soul Reaper!"

A strident howl overpowered the cries of the souls being collected. Hades raised his scythe and released its energy, forcing the shadows to follow his command. From the thundering sky, Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aeacus appeared in their celestial beasts and their chained weapons to pull the souls back into the Underworld.

Hades turned and saw Zeus riding his own beast swinging his thunder sword fully charged and slashed down into the vortex, electrocuting the demons and lost souls alike. Centaurus and Aegeus along with Ares mounted their celestial beasts and took over to fulfill his final command of annihilation, wiping everything in the path for the vortex to be completely locked into the space-time warp Pluto had opened to seal Chaos.

O—o—O

"Look around... everything and everyone turned against you."

Endymion bounced back when Chaos' glaive clashed with his glaive. He turned quickly, balancing the weight of the heavy weapon with his neck and shoulders as he moved it around and pointed it back to charge again "From this point on, it is just you and me; the rest is a lost battle,"

Chaos swung his glaive and charged another blast at Endymion. His face completely dismantled of confidence.

"I do not have any battles lost! MY EXISTENCE IS ABSOLUTE!" He turned to the prince as he changed position and put his large weapon across his body, his red-rimmed eyes glared at Endymion as he watched him break the seal of the golden crystal.

"Luceat Luz Vestra—Timebunt Umbrae!"

He shot his attack at Endymion, to what the prince reacted and saw determinant with gold in his eyes and raised his glaive to counterattack.

"Don't give up..."

With the pointed blade made of light, Endymion traced the cardinal points in the air activating their sacred power to break their divine conclave. With an abyss below and the unknown above; he had to act fast before he got lost into the nothingness and everyone's efforts go to waste. Sparks flew around his hands, setting his weapon in a fire as he continuing to summon the sacred ritual; his entire life began to play in his head.

"Don't give up..."

He could see himself as a child running through the long hallways of the golden palace. His training days with the army and his lessons with the high priest, Obelix. His days at war; departure and arrival back to Elsyion. The day he met Serenity and their many shared moments in total secrecy. Their meeting at the winter ball, and the fall of the silver millennium and his death that transcended into his life as he woke as Chiba Mamoru.

"The moment your past life came back to you, so did your essence. You are the High Prince of Earth and a Titan's descendant, heir to the throne of the Golden Kingdom. The Polemarchos of the Elysian Army and Holy Guardian of the Golden Crystal."

Obelix's words brought back the lessons he has learned in life; his failures and struggles to find out who he was and his moments of weakness. The moments he was close to giving up. His nights as a thief in search of truth and then the moment he crossed paths with Usagi that sealed their constant alliance in battle and the sweet moments they shared in private as a young couple. From their first time being intimate, to the blissful moments celebrating their accomplishments and the moments they shared a hug to heal the emotional wounds for whenever things went wrong. Their highs and lows, when they didn't agree on something and when they did all the way; their wedding and the everlasting promise of their love and devotion. All this he could see through the magic in his eyes and the power manifesting from within.

"Your name represents the life of the planet you protect and the energy that flows within you from the star that protects you. But the truth is, my young Prince, that you do not have to choose between one and the other. Endymion De Terra—Chiba Mamoru... You are both the same person and you must embrace both natures as a whole. You did not die and were born in your present time a different man."

The priest rested his palms facing up and waited for Mamoru to imitate his movements, "Quod crystallum agere ad hoc quod utiliter praecipitur, sed finis eventus est ad vos," he took a deep breath, "Ut unus spiritus munditia et ir..."

(The crystal will react to what is commanded, but the end result is up to you. Take one deep, cleansing breath, and let it go...)

Behind him, the lights of his ancestors stood to cast a divination and bring judgment. But there was a light that strengthened his character completely. Endymion held his staff across his chest and unleashed his senses to new heights.

"...Let it go..."

"Me sentire vim tuam, primum trabem de lumine, ut pervenit ad superficiem. Audite me qui antiquorum in quibus præcepit cuncta quæ ex intonant; ut excusso somno prodeant eius custodem vocant. Cupio reserare ultra oculorum caliginem. Puncta A fine mundi, hoc est columnas quibus omnis terra usque habere. Tatem in Oriente, et Occidente proeliisque caruerunt. In statera de impeccabilem Meridionalis et Septentrionalis altum puncta et ex scientia. In nomine sanctae terrae, Elysion, domibus potentia maiores terram et factum praesidium in arce aurea hora mando virtutem investituram conteres sigilli magni Sole per proiecta incendio sacra omnia!"

(I feel thee force, the first beam of light that hits the surface. I listen to the ancient commandments that resonate from within; calling for its guardian to come forth. I open my eyes for I wish to see beyond the darkness. From the endpoints of the world—the pillars that support this Earth. The calmness of the East, and the rages of the West. The impeccable balance from the South and the high points of knowledge from the North. In the name of the sacred land that houses the power of the ancestors of Earth, Elysion, and its born guardian, in the peak of the golden hour, I command thy power in me to break the seal of the mighty Sun and cast everything under its power!)

"I know what you are doing... you speaking those words is heresy..." Chaos charged to fight against it but the power was soon caught in the heated atmosphere they were locked in. "I will not fall by the weak hand of a mortal!"

His blood-red eyes followed Endymion's moves as he slowly traced a symbol from the point that marked the north and dragged it down in all four directions, a circle with a cross; the crest of his royal home and dynasty.

Sparks crackled around him catching everything in fire, seconds after coiling around the spinning force of the storm. In a nimble display of fast movements, he had merged his Terran descendance to the power of the Sun and stood at the center blinding with its fuming light.

Endymion aimed the blade at Chaos "Animorum et virium particularum ignis calore solis dico revelationem caelesti luce, faces ardentes et fulminis ictus arcu. Vos Catalyzes mutationem clamavero ad te animo ob vim lumen infundere. Fabrica spiritus invoco te impleatur. Ingenium voluntatem tuam flammae: ignis in Solem, Helios, te voco te!"

(I evoke the elemental force of fire, I call to the celestial warmth and the Sun's revealing light, to the lightning's strike and the meteors blazing arc. You, that catalyzes transformation, I call you here to infuse my intention with the unforgiving force of your light. I call you here to fill the spirit forge. Temper my will in your flames, Father Sun, Helios, I summon you thee!)

"Pulvis et umbra sumas," Chaos charged his glaive and went full force creating another vacuum of energy to swallow everything in his way and break the trance with his glaive. The burn of his energy disrupting the centrifugal spin of the vortex. He traced a perfect circle before him and shot "Est ultima per orbem, pulsus caelestium et sub diaeta obumbratio. Et manifestabit consilia significatione nominis mei, Chaos, in decursu Eclipsin viverra est in promptu, quae retro sunt in ordine suo penumbra!"

(We are but dust and shadows. The last rays of the celestial orb pulse from underneath the shadows. I expose the meaning of my name, Chaos, to the course of the Eclipse to manifest and pull everything back in its order of penumbra!)

"NOCTE ECLIPSIS SOLIS!"

There was no question that Chaos was an entity with unparallel strength but much to his bitter realization, as predicted, he was no longer the only one that could summon the raw forces of titan power.

Serenity quickly searched for Endymion; her heart pounding in her chest when she sees him swinging the glaive of light, now fully surrendered to the power of the crystal acting on his command.

Everyone stopped, feeling completely helpless to such a shocking spectacle. At this point, no one knew what was going on, if they had won or lost. The entire sky was lit in flames and veins of light, pulsing in several explosions all over; crumbling everything above and threatening to devour everything below.

Ares couldn't help to think about Gaia the whole time he was watching Endymion fall and get up again with renewed force. He wondered what would she feel if she was able to see her son taking full ownership of the legacy she wanted to preserve and clear from all the mud that stained its reputation. He couldn't stop thinking about Helios either, and his constant teachings on how was vital to preserve order in the universe.

He had been a witness of this attack once during the Titanomachy. He had seen its catastrophic power unravel as well as the consequences of its destructive results. Now, that order was being brought back by none other by his descendants but his future for being tied to humankind was still a mystery.

War could end here, but there was no guarantee the warrior would be there to live through it.

-O-

Painted in many colors after the strenuous blast of light and fire, strong enough to make the results of the battle visible to the naked eye.

Hating everything at this point and in the unglamorous condition far from his enigmatic presence; it was hard to recover to his former self. No longer caring if he survived this in the end or not, all he wanted was to make sure he had taken Endymion's life first. He lifted his head enough to find the prince with his bloodlust gaze and stormed like a full-fledged beast after him. Chaos regained control of his glaive and swung it in figure eight, taking advantage of its centrifugal force to pull the prince into its long-range attack.

Endymion turned and went in, moving faster than Chaos, he swung his blade to clash against Chaos' glaive in three consecutive blows to interrupt his cycle and moved back out of the blade's range. Chaos glanced down, like in slow motion, Endymion appeared swinging his weapon and channeled the aggressive power of the golden crystal. Chaos moves back to recover and creates the same barrier to counterattack when he heard the words that would set the score. Endymion's position made his blood freeze. His eyes went wide. His heart stopped.

From the streams of magma and the unforgiving force of light, Chaos was revealed completely stripped from his grace. Burned and left to deal with his own vulnerability and still locked inside Saturn's territory, he was thrown back to the remains of tar and gore, still, under the unforgiving power of the Sun, he had now lost to master. He looked up at the gates of space swallowing everything he had built over the course of millions of years and the constellations of polemarchos in a murder spree, taking his subordinates into their control and dismantling his well-constructed plans.

Blood spilled through his cuts and open veins. He stared at his hands reduced to charred skin and bone, vivid flesh peeking through; his body was starting to fail to his orders, but his objective stayed intact. His hatred remained intact and despite being limited, Chaos was still standing and against admitting any loss.

Pulling air through clenched teeth forcefully and stumbled as he pushed himself back up. His eyes still gleaming red he extended his hand to call for his weapon still obedient to his command and watched Endymion appearing from a dissipating curtain of smoke with his sharp glaive in hand and spat the pool of blood in his mouth without a single remain of grace and went after him like a mad boar.

Both quickly engaged in a fast-paced battle to set the score. Chaos proving his upbringing as a deity born from destruction and his impeccable training as a polemarchos despite his body burnt and flaking in ashes. While his powers were now limited, his strength was mostly intact; being this his last resort.

The clash of their weapons lifted the crumbled ground, dirt spinning with the speed of their swings only to be thrown down again with the next hit. The sound of their boots skidding in the gravel of the structures floating along with them and splashes of gore intensified with the sullen presence of death and silence; both of them grunting and feeling pain from their wounds; both exhausted but determined to get each other's head once and for all.

Chaos stepped in and held Endymion's blade with his, he kicks Endymion and charged his glaive and turns to swing it down; unexpectedly Endymion had taken advantage of the stream of dust Chaos had created with the force of his blade and used it to his advantage to infiltrate his defense. Like in slow motion, Chaos' red eyes widened when he saw Endymion pull his glaive and pinned him down with its blade deep into the ground.

The pain was unbearable, like venom gnawing away his insides. It was hard for him to breathe, much less to make another move and call for his glaive that was now in Endymion's bloodied hand as he slowly walked over to him, like a lion watching over its prey.

"As expected," He turned to spit blood and saliva "Your summon to cast a Parhelion is weak. You do not have what it takes to perform a divine cast of such caliber. Even if you have Helios' blessing, and you aim at me with his signature attack, your half-breed nature makes it all worthless," Chaos said between harsh gasps of air, blood spilling from his mouth as he spoke. A maniac grin spread across his pale face. "I am a Titan... even if this void eats me whole I—"

"You will not be coming back from anywhere; give that speech a rest already. You will be swallowed into the same void you created and that is the end of it."

Endymion's cold and deep-toned voice forced Chaos to look up. Finally, within his reach, the prince glanced down and pulled away Chaos' glaive; his eyes a rich golden color swirling like melted gold just like Chaos' once did to show his descendance as he stared with authority at him.

"Just because Helios granted you the right to use the crystal, does not mean you have become someone above any of us. A hybrid still dies... there is mortal blood in your veins..."

"I never said I was nor, that I wanted to be. You said so yourself, my existence is a declaration of war against yours but even as a hybrid, I will always find more than just one way to fight back." His brow arched and raised his right hand to expose his wrist and show his binding contract with Hades "My death is inarguable, but I made well damn sure I will live long enough to see how you fucking rot until there is no trace of you left in the universe."

Endymion's eyes showed the same pride in his words and made his stance, "I am Gaia's son. As it is with evolution, she taught me how to grow up and forgive..."

The remains of color left Chaos' face realizing now that Endymion had not finished the summon of his attack and that his words had a deeper meaning; that it did not come from just him... but that he was in fact, honoring a higher command.

"...But never to forget."

With nothing but plain rage crossing his handsome face, Endymion snapped his fingers shooting Chaos up in a strong stream of hot air and fire, he jumped high to follow and threw his golden glaive straight through the titan's chest and pulled out the core of Omega's black hole making him squirm in pain as he felt another valuable source of energy being pulled away.

Endymion turned before Chaos could make another move, he pulled his blade back revealing that were two long swords fused into one and used the second blade to stab him and dragged it down his back in one fatal blow. The ritual was complete, pinning Chaos into his trap, with his hand fully charged and everything set into place; Endymion pulled back and lay down his final command.

"PARHELION!"

A stream of molten ember flashed down to Endymion's control; the light pinpoint in all four positions was caught by the millions of ice particles in the atmosphere acting as mirrors shooting up with force in response to his deep voice. The light from the Sun reflected in intricate patterns through the thick veils of smoke and tar breaking like millions of tiny shooting stars swaying with speed with the currents of hot air from above and cold air from below creating thousands of pillars of light through the sky.

His hand aimed straight to Chaos, he blasted him with said blades of light from all angles, devouring everything in its blazing and unforgiving fire.

His screams surpassed the speed of sound, spreading into magnetic waves crashing down into the atmosphere on Earth. Chaos screamed and as he was predicted, his body began to deform and flake from the force of the fire that was hitting him from all directions; forcing him to listen to her voice once more as he was pulled back into one specific moment.

"Cho..."

"Cho..."

"...Can you feel it, Cho?"

Chaos widened his eyes when the echo of her voice reached his mind pulling him into a specific moment in their lives.

-O-

Chaos frowned, trying his best to understand what he was being asked to do. He slowly opened one squinted eye, revealing the gold and ruby in his irises, changing colors like an enchanting prism of warmth. From the corner of his eye he spotted Gaia still pressing his hands on the ground they were sitting on. That girl with curious eyes of green and gold with her raven hair loose and dancing to the breeze in her beloved earth.

"The power of Earth..."

Chaos tightened his jaw, feeling more frustrated than amused. Gaia held his hands with a stronger grip as if that was going to help in some way "You don't feel its call? Its heart beating? The soothing rhythm in which it plays its natural song..."

Chaos pulled his hands from underneath her smaller ones. He opened his eyes in full, still squinting them due to the intensity of the sun over them. By now, he did not know how long they've been seating under the blazing sun... something she loved to do. The black of his robes and pants matching that of his raven black hair also flowing in the breeze as hers. He studied her in silence, he always did, as if he always found something new about her every day, as if he would find the answer as to why they are related in the first place.

Her skin had a soft golden glow in comparison to his much paler skin. Her lips were always curved in a smile as opposed to his usually stern face. Her eyes gleaming like stars in contrast with his deep hypnotic glare. They were siblings, inarguable, the resemblance was there, but at the same time, it was as if they lived in different parallels in the universe as to how different they were in terms of character and ideals.

Both stubborn, both strong and a little prideful but unlike him, Gaia always had the will to change. Even if things went wrong or made her miserable, she always changed and every time she did, he was left behind, remaining exactly the same. Chaos was a state of confusion and delusion. A contradiction between beauty and mystery... just like the meaning of his name... the path of the umbra and penumbra of the sun; the phases of an eclipse.

He did not know how long they had been roasting under the bright and clear sunlight basking over a field of endless wildflowers that went up and down the hills ahead. Normally, he would have found this annoying... bothersome. Normally, he would be locked away in his temple where the light did not reach his presence long enough to bother him. It bothered him greatly, but for some reason, it didn't bother him that much as long as he was with her... until this day.

It was well known that the only reason one went to meet with Chaos in Gaia was the only one that actually went to visit him because she wanted to, not because she needed to. Now, she did, he knew how to read her well. He also knew that whenever the gleam in her eyes didn't match the smile on her lips was because something had happened and she was trying him to do what she always did to her, change.

"Enough,"

Chaos finally turned to look at her with those blazing eyes "I have other things to do than to be seating here paying homages to Navus as if I cared."

"Cho..."

"What could you possibly want from me this time, Gaia?"

The coldness of his words dawning on Gaia, her eyes no longer on his "I heard... things... things that I find hard to believe... Cho... please tell me... please tell me none of its true... please tell me it's all misunderstanding..." This time Gaia looked up but dared to say nothing.

"Why would it be a misunderstanding? Have not I done this for centuries on behalf of Olympians?" Chaos arched his brow "The only difference is that this time I am not doing it for anyone, but for my own personal gain. Because I want to and because I can."

Gaia felt her blood run cold; still wanting it to be a lie, "Cho..."

"Are you going to keep ignoring and pushing aside the truth of what happened to us Titans? To be a tool to follow their daunting rules? The reason for us being here is to remind us over and over again how they stole power from us. You have chosen to drift apart from the principles of our descendance."

"You are my brother! And I have not drifted from anything! We have been given us the opportunity to live our lives as—"

"I am not a god; I am a titan. Their opportunities are archaic—I do not care for anything they throw at us like alms. I am not to be bound to follow their rules nor to fill any expectations from anyone. I will never change because I am absolute. I will never yield because I am a force to be reckoned in the universe." His eyes turned darker, "But even Titans have nightmares and I find darkness more appealing than light as it is easier to bend it to my will."

"Chaos..." Gaia's eyes gleamed with unshed tears, "Do not do this... don't you dare do this..."

"Do you know why were you born, Gaia? To keep me amused. To put a leash on me so I would not go and do my own free will and keep bending universal laws. Well, I am no longer amused and I will fix my attention in sorting the order I see fit in this universe. One where my existence is the beginning and the end of everything and being a Titan is a reformed glory and not a remembrance in time attached to stolen victories. And it starts by getting rid of this heresy of a planet that contradicts our nature." Chaos arched his brow "Helios took the Sun's stone from me to glorify you and put you against me... Eye for an eye, Gaia. Regardless of who you are, I will retrieve what is mine."

"No!" Gaia widened her hazel eyes "Cho! No!"

"A planet like this cannot withstand the power of void. Much less you, who have betrayed me. You, who have chosen a side... your insignificant planet says nothing to me, it just stands in my way."

Chaos snapped his fingers to spark the fire he mastered catching Gaia's earth fields in a fire, in an instant covering in quilts of magma pouring from the ground, destroying everything Gaia had harvested ever since her birth.

A spark inside Gaia stirred her conviction. The symbol of earth glowed in her forehead, awakening to her calling as a soldier of protection and evolution. Taking a stand against Chaos to protect her beloved Terra, a senshi had been born.

Her hazel eyes burned with tears of rage and deception to see all that had purely bloomed with life go in a blink of an eye without consideration for her, without thinking of the bond that once was between them. A line had been traced; one that divided her goodness and love for her brother and the anger towards an enemy "This planet is not alone. Even if I perish... a new guardian will wake to protect it. You have threatened the beauty of Terra and condemned it to fall under the disgrace of your presence but it will regenerate... it will always evolve while you remain the same. Mark my words, Chaos, for I will learn to forgive as it is part of evolution after all... but I will never forget."

Her eyes darkened,

"We will never forget."

-O-

The titan of void looked up and widened his eyes feeling his imminent death and let out one last chuckle "Pulvis et umbra sumas... oculum pro oculo... Gaia..."

A nuclear blast lit the sky in bombs of fire. Endymion put everything in him to keep Chaos' remains from getting out but it was taking all of his will and energy as he kept manipulating the rage of the sun under his command until all traces of Chaos' aura was consumed by the same power that brought him life; burning it every essence that would allow any reincarnation by sending it back to its source.

Endymion felt his body no longer felt his own, his movements were slowing down until he felt a tug in his chest similar to when he was sent to Purgatorio; the crystal reacting to his state as well.

Below, everyone stopped; everyone watched in complete awe.

The shitennou remained in their position as pillars of Earth to keep it balanced despite feeling close to a point of collapse; the ground beneath them roared and crumbled upwards, going in reaction with the magnetic explosion above. To support them, the senshi kept their powers aimed into the vortex to keep it from spreading and help them keep their shield intact while the army of polemarchos followed their duty and annihilate the remains of Chaos' invasion.

"It is done..." Ares lowered his bow "Take position to activate the constellation chain. We are escalating the target to our plane. Hades has given the confirmation. Saturn is guiding the shadows to the Underworld—Pluto will close the fourth dimension soon."

Centaurus and Aegeus quickly charged after Ares' command. Everyone turned; Serenity caught his voice and turned, urged with panic "What do you mean by that? You know what just happened...?!"

"Mastering the Golden Crystal is a double-edged sword, Serenity." Ares turned to the princess "Summoning its power to that extent requires a heavy amount of conviction due to the sacrifices that must be made..."

Serenity's eyes widened; her heart stopped "N-No..."

"The celestial coordinates are set—the lockdown is confirmed." Centaurus came close with Aegeus interrupting them "We shall now proceed with removal and annihilation."

Centaurus called for a new weapon and turned to Ares "The Sol Polemarch is unresponsive—what shall we do?"

"Proceed."

Serenity felt chills, she turned with a frown. Her eyes glaring with anger "What will happen to Endymion?! Why are you agreeing to this?!"

"Princess-"

"How dare you?!"

Ares' gray eyes moved from Centaurus to hers, feeling a heavy weight in his chest, one of uncertainty and also familiar detachment he tried to reason with her "The Sol Polemarchos—"

"I don't care about your position! I don't care he is a polemarchos!" She interrupted. "He's my husband! He is the rightful guardian of Earth! I don't care about anything else! I care about him coming home!" A rumbling interrupted their heated conversation forcing everyone to look up. Her chest hurt; no matter how much she tried to call for him there was no response.

"Mamo-chan... where are you?"

Another earthquake escalated; the shaking force so strong lifted the darkness that had been spread all over in flakes floating up with the current. Panic grew, her anxiety showing through her beautiful crystal blue eyes as she kept looking for any signs of him. Her instinct urging her to intervene and go look for him.

Her eyes widened when she remembered his words. The vow he made to her.

"Serenity, you take me wherever you are. I am yours, completely yours; I surrender my existence to you. That is the meaning of my words. It's my solemn vow to you."

"You pray, I listen. That is the power you have over me."

"The power I have..." Serenity breathed. She dried her tears with the back of her hand to have a clearer view "Being together was your solemn vow to me, love is my power. Endymion, it's time for you to come back..."

Serenity's first instinct was to use her crystal to protect everyone on Earth from the blaze that was heading towards them but her eyes were glued to the breaking sky and her heart was beating strong enough to pull the strings of fate that linked her with her beloved prince.

She raised her hands, her tiare engulfed in the beam of light pulsing from the crystal at its top and let it float in her hands. It was her alone and the power that was bested to her from the moment of her birth.

Serenity's brows furrowed when the stone reacted to her voice, "I call for you, my beloved Earth Guardian. With the Moon illuminating all that is needed around the world, let those who have to be blessed with abundance and let the Earth be healed with rays of love from our hearts. Let all of my prayers for benevolence and divine intervention be heard throughout the universe and on this sacred land."

The light burned stronger in her hands, like holding the most beautiful crystal star. The princess didn't stop, "Bring the presence of your cleansing power to guide me on my journey as I fulfill my ancestors' purpose." She took one deep breath as she slowly closed her eyes "Guide his path... please... bring him home."

The pendant in her chest started to lit up and glisten with a golden light, reacting to her prayer as well. She opened her crystal blue eyes and aimed her power up "Moon Crisis Power!"

A shot of gold and silver flared up disappearing in the explosions and thunder still breaking the sky. The shitennou widened their eyes by the princess own level of power.

"Princess..." Kunzite felt his heart pounding in his chest and turned to Zoisite to his right "Keep the barrier up! Do not yield! Gravity is being manipulated but we need to restrain its crushing force as much as we can before Endymion returns to stabilize it!"

Zoisite turned "But we cannot establish any connection with him... How—"

"We can't, our link has been torn... but..." Kunzite turned with a hopeful glance "She can."


The Divinity Series is rated M. Violence, gore, cursing, and/or intimacy may occur.

I do not own Sailor Moon, just this plot and some of the characters.

A/N: All I have to say is... Thank you. Thank you for your support.