Chapter 24
The Shocking Future: Demande's Dark Ambition
By the time everyone had managed to reach Crystal Tokyo via the Corridor of Time, Sora, Sailor Moon, and all of their friends stood in shock and awe at the sight that beheld them.
"Wait, is that supposed to be Crystal Tokyo?" Sailor Moon asked.
"What is all that?" Sailor Mars asked as well.
But all they could see were several buildings lying smashed and in ruins from what looked to be from a siege, rather than an invasion.
"Almost all the city seems to be covered in ice," mused Sailor Jupiter.
"So, where are the people?" asked Sailor Venus.
"I don't know, but this is starting to remind me of The World That Never Was," replied Sora.
"Yeah, Axel, Xion, and I can't forget about that, Sora," said Roxas.
"Is there anyone even alive out there?" Sailor Mercury asked worriedly.
But the one person who was more worried about her mother, was Chibiusa. So she turned around and ran as fast as her tiny legs could carry her, while her friends called after her. Not wanting to lose her, Tuxedo Mask hurried after the young girl with everyone else at his heels. As they continued to follow her, they soon came across what looked like ruins that made Sora think of the old Moon Kingdom, from what Luna and Artemis told him and his friends.
"Where could she have gone?" Rei asked worriedly.
"Where are you kid?" Axel asked as well.
"Wish I knew," said Usagi.
As they continued looking around, they suddenly saw a man approaching them, and were just about to prepare for battle, when Tuxedo Mask stopped them. To their shock, they saw that the man did resemble him, but they were more confused as to why there were two of him.
"I welcome all of you to the Crystal Tokyo of the 30th Century," the man said to them.
Then suddenly, it hit Usagi. She knew that voice spoke of a premonition about how Mamoru and Usagi's future would end in darkness, rather than light when they dreamt of their wedding day.
"So you're the person who made that doomsday prediction," she said angrily.
Mamoru also charged towards the man in anger, demanding to know who he was, even as Sora told him to stop, but he passed through him when he saw the truth with his own eyes.
"What just happened?" Rei asked in an awed tone.
"I have no intention of fighting you. I am King Endymion," the man who resembled Mamoru said.
This made the real Mamoru surprised and amazed.
"That's right, I am you in the future," Endymion explained briefly.
Everyone was both confused and shocked by what they heard, when they heard Endymion's revelation. Sailor Moon wanted to know why she and Mamoru would have to sever the connection with each other, but Sailor Mercury stopped her and told her that she sensed something different about the man.
"You are correct, Sailor Mercury. My true physical body is actually somewhere else," Endymion said.
"So, you're a hologram?" asked Rei.
"I don't get it, why'd you say that Mamoru and Usagi should sever their connection?" Sora asked.
"The time has come to explain everything. I want you to follow me," replied Endymion.
"Please, wait, before that we have to find Chibiusa," called Usagi.
"Don't worry, I have her in a safe place," Endymion assured them all.
"He's right, everyone. We can't be indecisive now. If we are, then Esmeraude might ambush us, and walk away from our cold corpses as the darkness drags into its depths," Sora said.
The others nodded in agreement, and walked off after him, but they were still being watched by the Black Moon Clan within their dark fortress.
"Blast it! They made it to Crystal Tokyo," seethed Saphir.
But Prince Demande saw that Sailor Moon did look very much like Chibiusa's mother, whom he knew as Neo-Queen Serenity, the same woman he wanted to make his own. Saphir and Esmeraude were both shocked and appalled to see that their future king of Nemesis had a strange glint in his eyes. However Esmeraude was growing enraged at what she was seeing.
"Esmeraude, your objective was to keep those cursed blights from reaching Crystal Tokyo. But now, because of you they're here," he said.
Esmeraude was enraged, but when she was preparing to kill them, Demande stopped her, stating that it wasn't necessary, and that he would go in their place, despite Saphir's protests.
"Saphir, Esmeraude, I want you to go find the rabbit," He said.
Demande's two subordinates nodded as he left, but Esmeraude angrily threw her fan at the projection shutting it off, as she swore to make Sailor Moon pay in blood for capturing Demande's attention.
"What is this place?" Mamoru asked when they entered a strange structure that resembled the old Moon Castle.
"It is all that remains of our former base, the enemy's powers cannot reach us here," replied Endymion.
"Where's Chibiusa?" asked Usagi.
"Do not worry, you will get to see her shortly," Endymion assured them.
"Why don't you start making sense? What's going on here?" demanded Sora.
"First all of you need to listen closely to what I say," Endymion replied.
Then he summoned forth a projection around them so that he could tell them what happened.
"It all started centuries ago, when a great calamity fell upon this world. As a result, this world fell into a state of cold sleep, and it remained that way for a very long time," explained Endymion.
"Then do you know what happened next?" asked Kairi.
"Yes, in the 30th Century, this world awakened once again, thanks to Neo-Queen Serenity, and the power of her Silver Crystal. With Neo-Queen Serenity as it's monarch, the world sparkled with life once again, and the city of the future, Crystal Tokyo prospered. But then, a new evil appeared. All they wanted was to conquer this peaceful world," continued Endymion.
"You're talking about the Black Moon Clan, right?" said Sora.
"Yes, after many successful battles, we finally suppressed this threat, but rather than choosing to be cleansed by the Silver Crystal and change their ways, many of these malcontents chose instead to flee, journeying across the realm of light. After that,the citizens of Crystal Tokyo Continued living in peace, until the dark world, Nemesis interfered with our business," Endymion stated.
"Planet Nemesis?" Terra and Makoto asked.
"The tenth planet of our universe," replied Endymion.
"Never heard of it," said Luna.
"Same here," agreed Kairi.
"You wouldn't have. This strange world's orbit is very unpredictable, and only recently we were able to prove its existence," said Endymion.
"How did you find it?" Usagi and Sora asked together.
"By confirming a massive outpour of negative power and it's suspected location, but we found out too late," answered Endymion.
"So then is that where the evil people ended up after they left this world?" asked Artemis.
"That's correct. Regrettably, unbeknownst to us, Nemesis' inhabitants evolved into beings who possessed unusual superpowers. And as Sora said they called themselves the Black Moon Clan, and they returned here seeking revenge. Without warning, they launched a full scale attack, unleashing their world's negative energy on Crystal Tokyo, which completely wiped out our forces. Many Guardians fell during this vicious onslaught, leaving only the Crystal Palace intact, and a deathlike quiet came over our world. Even as we stand here, the four Guardian Deities, Sailors Mars, Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury,are projecting their energy to keep our palace protected from the enemy," Endymion finished.
"So those Guardians share our names?" asked Rei.
"How can that be?" inquired Minako.
"Those four Guardians are your future selves," replied Endymion, shocking them all.
"But why?" asked Sora.
"Because of the Black Moon Clan's evil power, many people remain in a deep sleep, and our city seems doomed to destruction. I have also been severely wounded and am no longer able to move. Only one thing can restore this world to greatness, the Legendary Silver Crystal, but only Neo-Queen Serenity can activate that crystal, and she is in a deep sleep. Unless she is awakened, there is not much hope for our world," answered the king.
"Did you just say she's the only one who can use the Silver Crystal?" asked Usagi.
"Wait a second, then that could mean Sailor Moon is…" gasped Sora.
"Yes, she's Sailor Moon from the future, Sora Lucis Caelum," replied Endymion.
"What!? No way!" cried Sora and Sailor Moon.
"How is it possible for me to be Neo-Queen Serenity from the 30th Century!?" Usagi asked in shock.
"And how is that you know so much about me, Endymion?" Sora asked as well.
"In this timeline, you had already passed away after you became king of Lucis, Sora. You used the power of Kings to dispel a terrible darkness that plagued Eos, as well as all the other worlds called the StarScourge, and destroyed the usurper Ardyn Izunia. But in the end, your usage of that power cost you both your heart and your life, as well as the lives of most of your friends, save for two: your beloved princess, Kairi, and Twilight Sparkle, Equestria's Princess of Friendship. But even in death, they're light would still shine on through the darkness. But in time we chose to honor your memory by erecting statues of you to honor your memory, before the Black Moon Clan laid siege to Crystal Tokyo," Endymion explained.
"No way, I became a king?" murmured Sora, even as Minako hugged him with tears stinging her eyes.
"Now, there's something I need to show you," Endymion said.
Then he showed an image and they saw the sleeping Neo-Queen Serenity encased in crystal, something that Usagi found extremely difficult to believe.
"Tell me, what is this crystal we're seeing surrounding the Queen's body?" asked Ami.
Luna and Artemis were also shocked at what they saw, and they believed it was the Silver Crystal.
"No, it's not. Just before the enemy's attack was about to strike the queen, the Sailor Guardians used their powers to envelope the queen's body in a protective crystal shell. Ever since that day, the Queen has been secluded in a deep sleep. And so, for our only daughter, Small Lady, this would mean losing her mother," explained Endymion.
When the projection faded, a door opened before them, and soon they saw the sleeping Chibiusa rising up on a bed. Gently Sailor Moon picked her up, relieved to see her again.
"I'm glad you're okay, too, Little Sister," said Riku.
"Sailor Moon, Tuxedo Mask, that girl you're holding is your daughter," Endymion said.
"WHAT!?" Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Usagi cried out in shock.
"Chibiusa's really my daughter?" Usagi asked in dismay.
Then, they soon realized that after their marriage Mamoru and Usagi would have a child they'd call Chibiusa. Everyone wanted to know when Chibiusa was born, as well as why Riku said he was Chibiusa's older brother.
"I hope you'll forgive her for those times she was just rude. She was just desperate. I've always shared with her many stories about Sailor Moon. The Legendary, Invincible Guardian, Sailor Moon. That's probably why she got the idea to go back into the past, to seek out your help. The Black Moon Clan's objective was to defeat us here, and then steal the Legendary Silver Crystal, so they could take over the entire world. Once they knew they could not bring down our Crystal Palace, they tried to destroy the world of the past, your world. As for Riku, the only reason he asked Chibiusa to be her older brother, is because she needed someone she could look up to, along with Sailor Moon," explained Endymion.
"If the world of the past is destroyed," said Luna.
"This world would be destroyed as well," agreed Artemis.
"Exactly, which is why you must protect your worlds at all costs," replied the king.
Everyone nodded in agreement, until the Endymion turned his attention towards them.
"Sailor Moon, Tuxedo Mask, I know that I exposed you both to nightmares and ominous images, so you may be angry. But to win this battle, to stand strong against this enemy, you can't have a frivolous half-love between you, unless the two of you share an unbreakable bond of love, you will not be able to overcome the danger you will face. That is why I tested your love," he said.
"A strong bond of love," murmured Sailor Moon.
"Yes, an unwavering love, a love that remains strong and constant, no matter what the enemy throws at you. Sailor Moon, Tuxedo Mask, please I want you both to keep Small Lady safe. In my current condition, I am unable to stay with her, or protect her," continued the king.
"I swear, I will protect this child with my life," replied Mamoru.
"As will I, your majesty. Because even though your daughter may call me Big Brother Riku, it's due to the fact that we're soul siblings, who both care about each other, even if we're not related by blood," added Riku.
"It's strange. Here I am, speaking to myself in the past. And you, a young Keyblade Master who understands compassion and strength to protect what matters most, thanks to your predecessor, Terra. All in all, Riku, I'm sure Small Lady would be happy to let you teach her how to balance light and darkness in her heart, Knight of the Dawn. Look after her," said Endymion.
His disappearance shocked everyone, but suddenly a cold wind blew sending darkness flying everywhere.
"So this is where you've been hiding. Well, It won't do you any good," Prince Demande said as he emerged with Ultimecia.
"Who are you!?" demanded Sailor Moon.
Demande however, could see that Sailor Moon's eyes were very much like the Queen's eyes, then a third eye appeared on his forehead where the dark crescent mark was on him.
"You will come with me, young lady," he said.
The others tried to stop him, but it was no good, he had everyone paralyzed by his gaze. Then Sailor Moon suddenly found herself being pulled towards Demande by an unseen force, as Mamoru tried desperately to stop him, but failed and caught Chibiusa in his arms, but the dark prince reopened his third eye and made his power become stronger, and grabbed Sailor Moon's arm.
"I was hoping to capture both of you at once, but at least I have my real prize in hand," he said furiously.
"LET HER GO!" shouted Sora.
"You are in no position to give me orders, Sora Lucis Caelum!" Demande shouted furiously.
Sailor Moon soon began to feel faint, as she and the dark prince disappeared into the corridor of darkness. Everyone called out to Sailor Moon, but Mamoru asked everyone to look after Chibiusa.
"Don't panic Tuxedo Mask, I have a good idea where he's heading right now," Endymion said calmly.
"Can you tell us where he's taken Sailor Moon?" Sora asked, as Mamoru's fear and anger started to become stronger.
Inside a strange bedroom, Usagi slowly awoke after gently rubbing her head. To her shock and surprise, she saw that she was wearing a dress that looked similarly like her future's self's dress. Luckily she found her brooch, but she felt as if all the strength in her body had somehow left her, as she looked around the room.
"You are all that I thought you'd be. You took the full force of my attack in that crystal, yet you're already awake. But, you may find this castle a bit unpleasant," Demande said, drawing her attention to him.
"Just who are you?" Sailor Moon asked him,trying to be brave.
"I am Prince Demande. I want to welcome you to our forward base, Sailor Moon. Or, it might be more appropriate for me to call you the future Neo-Queen Serenity. Now, let's have a nice relaxing talk," replied the dark prince.
Using his power, he levitated Usagi into the air, just as she soon tried to turn into Sailor Moon, but realized she was unable to transform.
"Your Legendary Silver Crystal is useless against the Malefic Black Crystal," Demande said as he approached her.
"Malefic Black Crystal?" questioned Usagi.
"This entire chamber is filled with a power absorbing strength of the Malefic Black Crystal. Even your Silver Crystal's power will be absorbed," he replied.
Demande tried to place his hand onto Usagi's shoulder, but the blonde slapped it away from her, as she glared furiously at him.
"Those eyes. The eyes of Neo-Queen Serenity," he said.
He soon paralyzed her with his darkness, then gently stroked her cheek with his hand, then suddenly pulled her towards him.
"I made this room, just for you, Sailor Moon. It will be your for all eternity," explained the Dark Prince, making her gulp in fear.
"Tell me why. Why have you chosen to single out and try to ruin it?" she asked angrily.
"Since I have the Malefic Black Crystal, I can control all space energy and time, and I plan to rule both you and Earth, forever," replied Demande.
Outside, Tuxedo Mask and Sora were now searching for Demande's fortress in the sky, thanks to the directions Endymion gave them.
"Whoever possesses true absolute power, will lay claim to this world, and rightfully so," continued the dark prince.
"Your thinking is twisted and wrong," Usagi said furiously at the prince, as she tried to resist his advances.
"Yes, my queen, I would do anything to have you," sneered Demande.
Then he opened his third eye and began to affect her with hypnosis.
"Neo-Queen Serenity, at last you are mine," he said.
But Suddenly, Usagi thought she heard the voices of Mamoru and Sora calling to her. They sounded so near yet so far at the same time, as the fear of loneliness and helplessness started to eat away at her. As Demande slowly inched his lips towards Usagi's, they were suddenly pulling away from each other, as a rose whooshed past him, but Usagi landed safely on the bed, as Demande wanted to know who threw that rose. But Usagi saw that Sora and Tuxedo Mask had come to the rescue.
"We made it!" Sora said with a proud smile.
"How dare you use your demented power and depravity to try and force yourself on an innocent woman, you coward!" the caped crusader said angrily at Demande.
"Silence you self righteous fools!" snapped Demande.
He attempted to stop Tuxedo Mask with his paralysis beam, but Sora cast a powerful wind spell to stop him, granting the caped crusader time to get Usagi to safety.
"Get Usagi to safety. I'll handle him!" Sora called up to Tuxedo Mask.
Tuxedo Mask nodded, but Usagi turned back towards him.
"Be careful of him Sora! Demande might use his power to paralyze you and force you to bow down to him!" she called.
Sora nodded and turned back towards Demande.
"So, you're Prince Demande. And seeing as we finally meet face to face, you seem pretty familiar with me, just like Rubeus, Esmeraude, and everyone else from the Black Moon Clan," he said.
"That's right, Sora Lucis Caelum. I know much about you, thanks to Ultimecia, the sorceress of time," replied Demande.
"Well, you should know that I'm more than just Sailor Moon's friend, I'm also her knight," Sora said to him.
This enraged Demande even more, as he summoned his sword, just as Sora summoned his Keyblade. Then, the two warriors charged at each other in a deadly duel of attrition. They fought their way throughout the entirety of the bedroom, as Demande tried desperately to keep Sora unbalanced, but the spiky-haired brunette was careful not to underestimate his foe, as they're weapons collided against each other, and entered a blade lock.
"You have no idea about your destiny, boy," Demande said.
Sora forced Demande back, then they fought more intensely than before, causing the room to echo with the clashing of metal, but this time Sora was now on the offensive, and drove the dark prince back with an unrelenting fury.
"Ah, now I remember. You once dispelled the darkness using the power of kings you inherited from your father. That must be why he left you behind, and why that scar is proof of his love for you, before he died most painfully," Demande taunted, goading Sora to give into his anger.
Using his wind magic, Sora blasted Demande back, but he countered with a powerful telekinetic burst of darkness, sending Sora flying back to the ground, where he slid back. He quickly recovered, and saw Demande about to attack him, when he blocked the blow with his Keyblade. He broke the blade lock, and tried to flee, barely dodging a killing blow from Demande's sword, forcing him to the ground.
"Once Sailor Moon becomes my queen, You can become my knight as well," he said to him.
"I will never become a knight to someone who wants to rule the world with fear, and Sailor Moon will never become your queen. Her heart belongs to Mamoru Chiba, and neither one of us will let you turn her against those she cherishes with her heart. She's now safe and sound at the Crystal Palace with her friends," remarked Sora.
"I never expected such treachery from someone who cares about Sailor Moon just as much as your friend Tuxedo Mask does, but sooner or later Sailor Moon's insignificant heart will become mine after I kill you and the rest of your pathetic friends," countered Demande.
"Sailor Moon's heart is something you can't control," argued Sora.
"YOU DECEIVE YOURSELF!" roared Demande, and he charged at Sora.
But Sora soon got back up, and he and Demande engaged in another furious clash of blades. Metal clashed against metal and the room began to radiate with their fierce battle between two swordsmen. Demande found himself being driven back by Sora, until the dark prince blasted him back with the power of darkness, sending him sprawling to the ground.
"You are stubborn as you are persistent, Sora," Demande said, as he blocked a killing blow with his sword.
Sora glared furiously at him, then he jumped back and fired a beam of light at him that sent him crashing to the floor.
"Once both your's and Sailor Moon's friends are no more, she will be my queen, you will be forever transformed into Vanitas, become a Knight of Nemesis, and you can marry Esmeraude and start your own family with her," continued Demande.
But Sora shook his head, then transformed into his Keyblade Armor, and soon rocketed out of Demande's bed chamber after Usagi and Mamoru on his Keyblade Glider. Demande laughed as he watched him leave, knowing that they would see each other again. At that same moment, Esmeraude saw Sora regrouping with Tuxedo Mask and Usagi who was using a hang glider to return to safety, when Saphir appeared.
"Esmeraude, I hope you weren't the reason they went to undermine my brother's plans and escape," he said furiously.
"Me, help those three escape? and what makes you think that I would do such a thing?" Esmeraude asked feigning innocence.
"Women are capable of anything, and when there's jealousy involved, there's no telling what they'll do. Maybe in that strange mind, you actually feel good about Sailor Moon getting away from my brother, while Sora bought them time to escape," remarked Saphir, earning a cold laugh from her.
"I have my loyalty to Prince Demande, and I'm not switching side's Saphir," Esmeraude said, with a malevolent chuckle.
"I know you, and I know exactly how you feel about Sailor Moon," smirked Saphir.
This made her confused.
"Listen Esmeraude, I despise Sailor Moon, just as much as you do," he said.
"Well then, we're birds of a feather, aren't we?" she mused with a cruel smile.
Meanwhile, Sora, Usagi, and Mamoru had managed to reach the safety of the Crystal Palace.
"Oh, you guys," she said.
"Remember what King Endymion told us? We must conquer this battle with our love," Mamoru replied.
"No matter what happens, we are one," agreed Usagi.
"And if Demande ever tries to trick you into becoming his queen again, I'll give him one from you, Usagi," said Sora.
The two of them nodded respectfully at him after exchanging a kiss, as the cold wind blew around them, but they knew the battle would not be so easily won.