Chapter 23 – Check Mate

Diamond stood waiting impatiently knowing that Sapphire was off disposing of their sister's body. He had spent the first half of lunch upset over not getting to kill her. He didn't like the fact that his festering rage wasn't going to have an outlet. Halfway through lunch he had a fabulous idea that would give him the perfect outlet to get out his anger and assuage his growing impatience.

It was time for him to enter the battle and kidnap Serenity. He would break her down and make her beg before the night was through. He grew excited thinking of her in tears begging him to let her go and watching as the hope bleed out of her when she realized that she belonged to him. Forever.

Sapphire entered the room bowing and Diamond noticed he smelled of ash and smoke. Diamond smiled.

He then ordered, "Prepare some youma. It is time for me to go collect my future wife."

"Yes, Sire. I have four ready to go right now if that will be sufficient for you."

Diamond was pleased with Sapphire's ability to predict his every desire. He knew this was why he had no plan to kill him. Smiling he compared him to a loyal dog who is pleased to serve his master.

Diamond indicated that number would be sufficient, and Sapphire smiled.

With the attack prepared they collected the youma and stepped through a portal.

Four youma and Sapphire were already in the park by the time the whole team had arrived. Serena looked at Darien and smiled, she knew what this meant. He nodded and they both turned to engage the enemy.

This time before the Generals could even protect Serena, Mina had ordered the Scouts to surround her in a formation that kept her protected and did not interfere with her fighting. Mina then noticed that the Generals went to work on weakening the youma.

Serena held her position keeping an eye out for attack from the youma and Diamond. She knew Sapphire was a feint and that she needn't be concerned about him. Mina yelled out and Serena noticed Amy was analyzing a youma's weakness. Amy let them all know the weak spot was right in between the eyes.

Serena readied her tiara and shouted, "Okay, Goliath let's get this party started." She then sent her tiara and dusted the youma.

She turned when she heard Sapphire yell and noticed his face pale. At that moment she felt someone grab her arm from behind her. She barely registered the thought that Diamond had, in fact gone rogue before she snapped into action.

Several things happened in quick succession. Fortunately, Jupiter had been paying close attention and launched a lightning attack that forced Diamond to drop Serena's arm. She didn't miss a beat and concentrated on his energy signature and mentally grabbed a hold of it. Diamond then grabbed her arm again and tried to open a portal to pull her through. Serena managed to choke off the energy he attempted to force through her block.

Darien heard Diamond howl in frustration, and he launched a sharp tipped rose at the arm Diamond was using to hold on to Serena. She then jumped back maintaining her block on Diamond's energy. As soon as Darien noticed there was enough space to execute his next move safely, he launched five exploding roses. He figured if it was worth doing it was worth over doing.

Sapphire noticed Darien's attack on Diamond and quickly calculated the chance of success before the roses even reached Diamond. He smiled and destroyed the last three weakened youma in quick succession. He had made sure to rig a supply of youma with kill buttons days ago.

He smiled realizing he was going to make it through this whole thing alive.

Diamond was not a pretty sight when the smoke cleared. Darien realized fully why the term overkill was such a descriptive expression.

Serena reached up and pulled a finger out of her hair and looked over at Darien. "Yuck! I am definitely going to need a shower Tuxedo Mask. Ugh! Please tell me this isn't brains on my skirt."

He looked sheepish, "Sorry. He is dead though."

"That happens when your head is blown off," she replied to Darien.

Sapphire collected the mutilated parts blown off his brother and piled them on his corpse. "I will be back in five minutes," he let them know before disappearing with Diamond's body. He had a body to cremate and a position to secure quickly.

Serena looked and asked, "Surely no one will mind if I shower quickly? I smell like death."

Mina shook her head and said, "Go for it. We will wait here."

Serena was glad she could shower and then transform back into Sailor Moon. It would make everything go quickly. She then disappeared and reappeared in her bathroom.

Darien looked around at his Generals and the Scouts and smiled. "Well, we won."

Kunzite laughed and said, "You really hated Diamond didn't you!"

Mina interjected, "With all of the suffering he has caused them I found it satisfying."

Kunzite just smiled at her. There she was, there was the fiercely protective woman he had fallen in love with. He had been seeing her more and more and Serena had been keeping him updated. "Go out with me Friday night."

She quipped, "Is that a question or an order."

"It is whatever it needs to be to get you to say yes."

"It was a question then," she smiled at him. "What time?"

"How is six o'clock?"

Nephrite sighed, "Are you really planning a date on the battlefield."

Mina shook her head and said, "Don't be ridiculous. We are planning a date on our field of victory." And then she held up her Sailor V sign and winked at him.

Kunzite just smiled even bigger.

Sapphire appeared and smiled at everyone and then asked. "Where is Sailor Moon?"

Darien replied, "Apparently she wanted to clean up and she went to shower quickly."

Amy shook her head, "Actually, I think she was using that as an excuse. I don't think she wants to be in front of Sapphire like she was." She then turned and looked directly at Sapphire, "I don't care how much you agreed with the outcome, that had to have been disturbing."

"Fair enough," was his only reply to that statement. "Can someone go collect Emerald? She doesn't need to be in hiding anymore."

Jadeite disappeared and one minutes later he was back with Emerald.

Emerald spoke up, "Are you going to tell me what happened? Is it even safe to me to be with you all?"

Everyone let Sapphire speak and he said, "Diamond has been defeated. You are now safe, he is dead."

Right as he was telling her that Diamond was dead Serena appeared again dressed as Sailor Moon.

Sapphire nodded at her and said, "Let's take this back to my place. If that alright with you Serenity."

Serena nodded and said, "Please call me Serena. I will follow you."

That got everyone else to quickly reply they were coming along too. Sapphire opened a portal and ushered them all in.

"I told everyone to congregate outside, I hope you still have enough energy to rid of us of the dark energy. Everyone is understandably impatient."

Serena could tell Darien was about to object, but she cut him off. "I will be happy to heal you all of the dark energy now. I am not too tired." She then looked at Darien, "You agreed I get to make decisions like this when it comes to what I am willing to risk."

Darien was obviously struggling to remain quiet and nodded his head stiffly and stepped back. Kunzite whispered, "Well done." Darien didn't think he fully agreed with Kunzite.

Serena looked to Sapphire and said, "Lead the way, I will let you address everyone first and let them know that I will be healing all of you."

Sapphire said, "Thank you for letting me lead my people in this."

He led them all up a set of winding stairs to the top of a tower and they all looked down on the people below. Serena didn't wait for him to speak as she began gathering her energy and calling on her Silver Crystal. She felt it hum inside of her and pull out to float in front of her just as Sapphire finished telling the crowd what would be happening.

She closed her eyes and made a wish on her Silver Crystal and the energy flowed out over everyone effected by the dark energy. She felt them healing and she felt the protection click in that would prevent them from ever being infected again. She wanted her friends and allies to stay her friends and allies in the future.

She opened her eyes and heard loud cheering and shouts of joy and then everything went black and she collapsed.