Chapter 26
The Dark Queen: Birth of Black Lady
By the time after Esmeraude was defeated, everyone soon received the terrible news of Chibiusa's disappearance, and began to search for her throughout the palace, until they all regrouped.
"Any luck?" asked Sailor Moon.
"No, we can't find her anywhere," replied Sailor Mars.
"Think the enemy's got her?" asked Sailor Jupiter.
"No way! There's no way Chibiusa would willingly let those guys grab her that easily," countered Sora.
"That's right, it's best if we don't jump to conclusions. We've got to keep looking," agreed Tuxedo Mask.
"All right, then let's split up," Said Sailor Venus.
Then everyone nodded and began resuming their search for Chibiusa. But what they didn't know was that Wiseman had found Chibiusa first, and was now holding her before him.
"The horrible memories you have from your past have left you with deep painful scars. Small Lady, You remember how your mean mother and your cruel father always treated you, don't you?" he asked.
Chibiusa nodded slowly, remembering the time she walked with her parents across the city streets of Crystal Tokyo, until she saw a frog and chased after it, while King Endymion and Neo-Queen Serenity warned her to be careful, until suddenly she tripped, and fell down onto the wet ground. Chibiusa saw her parents kneel down to her, as she cried loudly.
"See, that is what can happen when you don't listen to mommy," said her mother.
But Chibiusa continued to cry.
"Crying won't help you," Neo-Queen Serenity said firmly.
"Oh, mommy I hate you! Daddy, help me up!" wailed the young girl.
"Get up by yourself," commanded her father, shocking her to her core.
"Your parents never gave you a helping hand. That act alone proves that they never loved you," said Wiseman.
Then, a dark vortex surrounded her, as the memory of her mother and father telling her that she was to blame for falling, as well as telling her to try and stand on her own two feet on her own, causing her to become angry.
"Think back and remember all the many examples of all who hated you," Wiseman continued.
Chibiusa nodded again, and began remembering how her friends wanted to know why she was upset, as well as how she told them how her mother and father weren't going to come to her birthday due to some work that they had to do, as she wept for them. But when she heard Sailor Mars about to suggest that they help her celebrate her birthday, Sailor Jupiter stopped her and said that they shouldn't tell her at all, and just walked away from her.
"Everyone. They all just left me alone. Nobody celebrated with me. my birthday was ignored," she said.
"Yes, your memories are coming back to you. You're right, no one loved you," replied Wiseman.
"That's right, No one cares about me. No one loves me. I'm all alone," cried Chibiusa.
"So, you hate them, don't you?" said the dark cloaked wizard.
Chibiusa nodded her eyes burning with pure rage, strengthening the darkness within her.
"Then set free that hatred on the world that has rejected you. Shroud them in the gloom of darkness forever. Now, fill your heart with darkness, and accept the power of the Malefic Black Crystal. And use that awesome power on the world that refused to love you!" cried Wiseman.
With the encouragement of the hooded sorcerer, Chibiusa soon felt herself be surrounded entirely by darkness, and suddenly felt herself begin to change in appearance from a small young girl into that of a mature young woman. She saw for the first time that her hair had grown longer so that it resembled Usagi's but she wore a long black slitted-dress, a, satin high heeled shoes, a pink shawl and with red fabric over her arms and chest, a pair of cuffs and a collar that had diamonds upon them, as the darkness surrounded her. Her lips were dark red, and she had a dark crescent mark upon her forehead. Inside his dark throne room, Prince Demande sat on his throne, remembering the last moments of Esmeraude when Wiseman and the now grown up Chibiusa appeared.
"The time has come," he said.
Demande was surprised as he greeted him.
"Our Malefic Black Crystal now has a faithful and formidable servant in the Rabbit. As the recipient of unrivaled power, the rabbit has transformed and become the Queen of Darkness," continued the dark master.
"What? It can't be, you're the rabbit?" demande asked looking confused.
But he saw the dark mark on Chibiusa's forehead, and knew that she too was part of the Black Moon Clan.
"I am Black Lady," she said with a cruel giggle.
"Demande, you must leave immediately for 20th century earth. Once you are there, Black Lady will manifest her dark power. With her darkness, we will be able to conquer the world," Wiseman said.
"Yes, this heart belongs again to darkness. All worlds begin in darkness, and all so end. The heart is no different. Darkness sprouts within it, it grows, consumes it. Such is its nature. In the end, every heart returns to the darkness from whence it came," explained Black Lady.
Then she and Wiseman disappeared into the dark corridor.
"Finally, this world will feel the full force of my anger. I will have my revenge" Demande said once he was alone.
"Brother," Saphir said as he appeared from the dark corridor.
Demande turned to face him.
"You would do well to be very cautious around Wiseman. I believe he was responsible for Esmeraude's end. Wiseman used her," continued his brother.
"Used her?" Demande asked curiously.
But he dismissed it as absurd.
"We were exiled, forced to live on this distant planet because of the people from that world. I would trade my life just to have revenge on those monstrous blights," continued Demande.
"But don't you see it? Wiseman's actions have shown that he just can't be trusted," countered Saphir.
"You're wrong! Wiseman has supported us by sharing important information, and providing us with the power of the Malefic Black Crystal. With everything that's at stake in this, who else would you have my trust? We are so close now," argued Demande.
He then showed a projection of the four Guardian Deities who were maintaining the barrier.
"Those four Sailor Guardians are the problem, they are the only ones keeping us from winning this war. We must defeat them to succeed. I believe the best way to conquer Crystal Tokyo is by destroying their world in the past," continued Demande.
He slowly stood up and faced Saphir.
"Now that the rabbit has become Black Lady and truly serves the Malefic Black Crystal, We must seize this chance. So I will leave for the past and help her in building the Dark Gate on their precious earth. As for you, my dear brother, you will assist our efforts by protecting the reactor and amplifying the Malefic Black Crystal's energy, until the dark gate opens," finished the dark prince.
"I will," Saphir replied with a small nod.
"Then onward," said Demande, and the matter was settled.
"What? Chibiusa went back into the past?" asked Sailor Moon.
"Yes, she did. And it also appears that Demande followed her there as well," replied Sailor Pluto.
'Whatever it is that guy's plotting, it can't be good," said Riku.
"Small Lady was not acting like herself," explained Sailor Pluto.
'What do you mean?" Sora and Sailor Moon asked with a look of confusion.
"Something must have happened to her. Something that changed her. You must return to the past, immediately!" answered the Sailor Keeper of Fate.
She then pointed behind them, and a doorway to the corridor of time appeared before them, which opened for them to go through.
"Sailor Pluto, what was the cataclysmic event that occurred on earth? What happened during the time before we became kings and queens and built Crystal Tokyo? Is there any way to prevent this disaster from happening?" asked Tuxedo Mask.
"All of you have seen a glimpse of the future, but it is best that you not know what the future holds. What is important that you continue to believe that good things will come your way, and live your lives to the fullest in your own time unburdened by what the future may bring," replied Sailor Pluto, as everyone flew through the time corridor.
After their long trek, everyone soon emerged in Juban Park.
"Where are we?" asked Sailor Moon.
"We're back in the Juban District," replied Luna.
"Oh, your right. Look how lovely the moon is," said Sailor Moon.
Everyone did, as they heard a sigh of relief from her.
"I gotta say, it does feel nice to be back in our timeline now," said Sora.
"You said it, it's nice to be back in a peaceful place," agreed Sailor Moon.
"Let's hope it stays that way," added Sailor Mars.
"No kidding. Right now we gotta find out what that Demande guy wants to do," said Axel.
"I'm with Axel, guys, we have to find out what Demande's plotting to do here in the present," agreed Sailor Mercury.
"And we need to find Chibiusa and make sure she's okay," added Riku.
Sailor Moon nodded as she looked up at the moon.
"Chibiusa, wherever you are, I hope you're okay," she said softly.
Meanwhile, Black Lady and Demande soon began their work in opening the dark gate, as Maleficent, Pete, and Sephiroth arrived to witness the formation of the Black Gate, by creating a dark platform to help them pour the darkness onto the world.
"Whoa, that's a pretty big black crystal formation," Pete said as he watched from a distance.
"Yes, the gateway to the darkness," replied Maleficent.
"It seems that Demande and the now changed Chibiusa have already started. Therefore we should ensure that they continue their work uninterrupted, until this world is ready to be plunged into darkness," said Sephiroth.
Maleficent and Pete nodded, as they joined their allies after waiting patiently for this moment. At that same moment, everyone noticed the rising darkness in the distance.
"Guys, look there," Roxas said pointing towards it beyond the buildings.
"Look at all that evil energy," added Tuxedo Mask.
"It appears as if Demande is trying to create a new dark gate, replied Artemis.
"We gotta stop him," declared Sailor Moon.
Together they all raced towards the exit of the park, only to see a dark corridor opening before them.
'What's that?" Sailor Moon asked in shock.
There standing before them was Black Lady.
"Insolent fools, stop where you are," she said fiercely.
"What?" questioned Usagi.
"Wait a second, who do you think you are?" asked Sora.
"Who am I? I am the Queen of Darkness created by the great Wiseman. I am known as Black Lady," replied Black Lady.
"Black lady?" everyone asked in confusion.
But Luna P's antenna started blinking, as if it sensed something familiar about her.
"Using the Malefic Black Crystal, I will turn the world around here into a permanent darkness," she continued.
Then suddenly, everyone noticed Luna P slowly floating towards Black Lady.
"Ah, Luna P, at least you still recognize me. You were the only one I could call a true friend," she said to her companion, causing everyone to realize who it was.
"Is it possible?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Are you Chibiusa?" Sailor Mars asked as well.
But Black Lady just giggled malevolently at them.
"I guess I may have been called that at an earlier time," she said.
"This can't be," protested Tuxedo Mask.
"There's no way. Our Chibiusa would never grow up to be like you," added Sailor Moon.
"Has the darkness taken you, Chibiusa?" Terra asked firmly, as he readied his Keyblade for battle.
"Since you don't believe me, I'll use Luna P to prove just who I am," replied Black Lady.
(Play Forze Del Male from KH3 for this battle)
She cast Luna P to the ground, causing it to transform into an umbrella. Then she twirled it and began firing dark lightning at them sending them all flying until they all landed on the ground. Sailor Juptier saw that she was truly powerful, even as Sailor Venus asked what happened to the Chibiusa they used to know.
"I can't forgive you people," she said darkly.
"Something's wrong. Her eyes, somehow someone has brainwashed her," Sailor Mars said, as everyone slowly recovered from the attack.
"Then she's given herself over to the darkness as Starlight Glimmer, Sunset Shimmer, Terra, and I once did," replied Riku.
"So what should we do?" asked Sailor Moon.
"We're just gonna have to fight," replied Sora.
Black Lady fired another volley of darkness, but Sora jumped in front of them and deflected it with his Keyblade.
"Chibiusa, why are you siding with the darkness?" he asked.
"The darkness obeys me now Sora. Now I have nothing to fear," replied Black Lady.
'You're stupid! Sooner or later it'll swallow your heart!" argued Sora.
"Not a chance! My heart's too strong!" countered Chibiusa's dark side.
"How can you even say that? Chibiusa, your dad, your mom, everyone around you, all of us loved and cared for you," interjected Sailor Moon.
"Your stupid love was fake!" snapped Black Lady, as she lunged at her foes.
But Riku stopped her by blocking her attack.
"Stand aside, Big Brother!" she said furiously to Riku.
"Chibiusa, what have you become?" he asked.
"Yeah, this isn't like you at all, kid," added Axel.
"Don't call me that! I hate it when people call me that!" yelled Black Lady.
"Then how about you take me on instead!?" called Sora as he ran towards her.
"ENOUGH!" shouted Black Lady, and she summoned forth the dark figure that Ansem and Terra's norted form used.
"Wait you guys, what are you doing?" Luna asked.
'Yeah, we can't fight her like this, she's still Chbiusa!" called Sailor Moon.
"Not anymore, Sailor Moon. She's become a creature of darkness," replied Terra.
Black Lady fired several pikes at Sailor Moon, who tried to dodge them, but was now pinned to the ground, giving her the chance to finish her off. But before she did, a rose suddenly stopped her, and forced her back, causing Luna P to revert to its original form.
"Even the prettiest flowers will wither away when they're filled with poisonous energy. Chibiusa, an evil energy is in possession of you already. Don't be a fool, shake it off," Tuxedo Mask said.
"So you think all of you can gang up on me, and beat me down?" she asked furiously.
"You're wrong, Chibiusa. Please, come back to the light, face up to what you've done. We can help you," countered Sora.
"It's too late for that. You're too late. You only want to help yourself," argued Black Lady.
"You know that's not true! The heart may be weak, and sometimes it may even give in. But i've know that deep down there's a light that will never die," countered Sora.
"So you have come this far. And still you understand nothing. Every light must fade, every heart return to darkness!" Chibiusa's dark side said furiously, as the dark figure sent dark blades at them.
"Quick Sailor Moon, you must use the power of the Silver Crystal to erase the evil energy that's possessing Chibiusa," Tuxedo Mask called to his beloved ally.
(Music ends here)
Sailor moon nodded, as Sora stood beside her. He gave her a nod, then summoned his keyblade to his side.
"Chibiusa you're mind is infected with evil energy," she said to her future daughter.
"It's time for you to face the light," added Sora.
Then with the light of the Silver Crystal and the Keyblade, their combined light engulfed Black Lady.
"Chibiusa, you're not thinking clearly. You need to remember your childhood again. You're mother and father were always kind to you," they said together.
In the light, Black Lady soon heard her younger self calling for her mother and father, then saw herself rushing through the corridors towards a door that she soon opened to see her friends and family wishing her a happy birthday, making her happy that they never forgot it was actually a surprise birthday party, that they had been keeping secret for a while until they were ready to give her that moment. Now she saw that instead of being alone, she was still loved.
"You all were happy for me," she said.
Then she slowly began to feel herself changing back into her former self, which started to make everyone relieved. But the moment didn't last much longer when Wiseman's projection appeared.
"Black Lady, don't allow them to deceive you. Remember how mean your mother was, and your cruel heartless father," he said.
"So you're the Wiseman Chibiusa was talking about, aren't you!?" Sora said angrily at the dark robed figure.
"You were a pitiful rabbit who was starved for love, nothing but a lonely soul who wanted to be remembered on her birthday, but who never was," explained the dark sorcerer.
"No Chibiusa, don't listen to that evil man," pleaded Sailor Mars.
"You gotta snap out of it, kid!" added Axel.
"You wanted so badly to believe you were loved, that you concocted this foolish illusion," continued Wiseman.
"An illusion? You mean all of my wonderful memories weren't even real?" asked Chibiusa.
"Chibiusa, you mustn't let him trick you," Sailor Moon said.
"That's right, all you'll become is a puppet of darkness,' added Xion.
"There's more to light than meets the eye, Chibiusa," agreed Aqua.
"And what you saw, wasn't something you dreamed about, it was all for real," said Sora.
"I don't know. I don't know anymore," replied Chibiusa.
"They are lying. No one loved you. You must harden your heart. It is time you became more hateful," said Wiseman, as he made Chibiusa maintain her personage as Black Lady by continuing to twist her memories.
"Chibiusa, I know that there's good in your heart, you have to fight the darkness," called Namine.
"No one loves you, it's all lies! No one will ever love you. No one!" Wiseman said fiercely.
"The truth is, none of you celebrated my birthday with me. No one loved me after all! He's right! You all hate me and I hate you as well!" cried Chibiusa as she now went back to being Black Lady.
"No! Chibiusa!" called Sailor Moon.
"You mustn't do this! Find the light in your heart!" Sora called towards her as well.
"Come back to us!" cried Sailor Mars.
"Wiseman has given me a new name and a better life a s Black Lady. I'm not Chibiusa," countered Black Lady.
"You're wrong, you are Chibiusa," argued Sailor Mercury.
"That is the name of your true self, that you're forgetting about. We know there is good in you. Wiseman hasn't driven it from you fully," added Sora.
"That's who you are!" Sailors Venus and Jupiter said together.
You're not from the Black Moon Clan!" called Artemis.
"Remember you're true self," added Luna.
"Don't allow that evil energy to possess you," finished Tuxedo Mask.
But Black Lady just laughed at them
"Soon the power of the Malefic Black Crystal will be unleashed from Planet Nemesis and fired toward Earth, then this entire world will be plunged into darkness, and everyone of you heartless people will be destroyed by it, along with your soon to be dark world!" she said.
Then she disappeared into the corridor of darkness with Wiseman just as everyone called after her.
"She's gone," Sora said sadly, and he dropped to the ground.
Sailor Moon however, was emotionally crushed but she still maintained her hope that Chibiusa was still alive in Black Lady, and promised that one day she and her friends would find a way to help her rediscover the light that she had forgotten.