Hi everyone! I was able to get everything done and fixed with this chapter so I'm excited to post it on my regular schedule. Just a reminder, while most of this is based on the 90s anime, I am going to start borrowing from the manga and Crystal. This chapter was a challenge for me, it's a bit of a change of pace so I hope you all like it.
Music: (I have two this time!)
Battlefield by Svcina
Play with Fire by Sam Tinnesz
/
Seiya vibrated as their bodies pressed together. The scent of lilacs entangled with intoxicating spices whirled around her. Her head spun. Everything fell away as her hand traced the outline of Usagi's face. She caressed the soft skin of her back. Usagi's muscles tensed under her touch. Reaching the nape of her neck, Seiya's hand rested. Her fingers developed a mind of their own and swirled the short curls at the base of her head between them. The silken strands glided through with ease.
But as Seiya lowered her head to Usagi's lips, the world shifted. She didn't notice Usagi move towards her, the space between them dissolving. She didn't see Usagi rise up to meet her or feel their lips press together, tentative and questioning as she searched for Seiya's reassurance that everything would be alright. The girl made of moonlight and the garden crafted by stars faded as darkness consumed her. The memory — that stirred in the back of her mind since she'd awoken from the healing pools — flung forward, everything enveloped in its grasp.
The blackness cleared as their eyes opened. This body, nothing like her own, shifted, a dark force throbbing in their veins. They stared at a translucent projection of Usagi, every facet perfectly captured in exquisite detail. Though something was wrong, no, missing. The essence of the woman she loved was gone, snuffed out.
Usagi knelt; snow-white hair cascaded around her ivory dress. Strands of pearls pooled about her neck and wrapped her body. The diamond crown perched atop her head gleamed, its owner untroubled by its weight. Her aura nothing like Usagi's — a true goddess among mortals. Their head turned away from the image and Usagi — her Usagi — sat, struggling against a veiled force. Trapped on a concrete throne.
A predatory urge overwhelmed them and they stalked over to her. They stopped and lowered their face towards Usagi's, her breath brushed hot against their cheek. The whites of her eyes gleamed back at them in terror, unable to defy their will. Every pointless struggle, her will refusing to bend and break, only made them want her more. To possess every part of her.
A dark male voice spilled from their mouth, poisonous velvet. "Yes, I finally have you."
His fingers grabbed her chin and he forced Usagi to meet his gaze. Her nails raked against the stone chair. The noise grated against his ears. One final protest.
"Beautiful ruler of this beautiful planet, Neo Queen Serenity."
His other hand rose and grabbed the back of Usagi's neck. Her body trembled in their grasp. Lust dominated him — Usagi was finally his.
He forced his lips over hers. Usagi's protests smothered under his weight. He kissed her like a prize, an enemy to be dominated. The spoils of a victorious war.
Seiya's mind screamed, held hostage within this foreign body. Forced to watch the memory play out. Unable to stop him.
His voice consumed her. A forgotten memory, hidden in the depths of her mind replayed behind her eyes. Seiya trapped in Prince Korin's arms as his lips bowed to her ear. "You will never forget that she was mine first. She will always belong to me. Prince Demande will be the one she kneels before in the end."
As quickly as it came the images faded and a haze of violet light blurred around her. The roar of the waves below crashed in her ears, her senses returning to her body. A gentle voice found her through the rumble. Usagi called for her; unease sharpened the edge of each word. Blinking, Seiya's vision cleared. Usagi stood, a lone star in the night sky, before her — safe.
Adrenaline swarmed through Seiya's veins, her muscles tensing. How dare that man lay any claim to Usagi. How dare he steal her free will from her. She reached for Usagi's hand, anchoring herself. Usagi was here, with her, free from that prison.
Fighting to slow her breath, her mind cleared and a surge of fear swelled up from her stomach. The man who Usagi had warned them about, the man who was supposed to be dead, was here.
"Seiya?" Usagi's voice banished the hateful images that swirled in her mind. "Seiya, what's wrong? What happened?"
Seiya summoned her brooch, the air between them heavy as Usagi called her own. "Usagi, we have to go. Prince Korin —"
A shockwave of dark energy exploded around them, threatening to knock her to the ground. She widened her stance. Her legs strained to keep her upright.
The branches of the Night Plumblossom tree whipped around wildly in the aftershocks. The flickering amethyst stars ripped from its branches and flung over the cliff, swallowed by the darkness below, wild and churning.
Usagi gasped and doubled over. Her brooch crashed to the ground, hand clutched to her chest. Gritting her teeth against the unseen assailant, soft hisses escaped her mouth as she fought to right herself.
Seiya wrapped her arm around Usagi's shoulders. Short sparks of black lightning flew up Usagi's arm.
"Odango, are you alright?"
"Yes," Usagi managed, her breath shallow. She righted herself, the dark flashes receding and stared at her. "Seiya, what's going on? That power, that power is the same as I felt the other day. We have to—"
Seiya cut her off, "It's Demande." Usagi's eyes widened as she spoke. "I know you said he died but he's here. Prince Korin is Demande. We have to go and get the others."
Seiya reached over and took Usagi's hand. The infernal dark bolts refused to subside. "Stay here. I'll go. Wait till I get back."
"No, if Demande is back, you cannot go in alone. You've never faced him before — you don't know how dangerous he can be."
She squeezed Seiya's hand, the reassurance Usagi meant to convey lost as her fingers trembled against her skin. Seiya couldn't tell if it was fear or pain that fed the movement. Seiya tightened her grip.
"I'll be fine, don't worry. We have to get to the others." Usagi released Seiya's hand and grabbed her fallen brooch. Calling out, she transformed; Seiya followed right behind her.
They turned towards the ballroom and ran.
/
Healer's eyes darted around the room, searching for Taiki. Miasma burned her lungs with every desperate breath.
The soft murmur of polite applause surrounded her. Everyone focused on the newly erected stage at the end of the room. Princess Kakyuu and Prince Korin smiled as the signed treaty was displayed by one of the Ministers for all of the crowd to see.
She spotted her sister, Taiki's attention, like all the others, on the Prince and Princess, not ten paces away from her. Healer sprinted to her and grabbed her arm.
Taiki's eyes widened. Her mouth set in a thin line.
"Taiki, we need to get the Princess and everyone out." Her voice strained. "The Elorians… Princess Miyo… right below us… she controls whatever caused the attack the other day. I've barricaded them in the tunnels below but we don't have much time."
Healer's head snapped back to Princess Kakyuu. The crowd quieted, and a deep voice slithered throughout the hall, wrapping around the columns and crawled up her spine.
"Now, if you'll allow me, Princess Kakyuu," Prince Korin stepped behind the Princess, "Please accept this token from Eoros as a sign of our eternal friendship." His arms, holding a golden chain with a dark onyx crystal dangling from the center of his hands, reached in front of her neck and lowered the jewel onto Kakyuu's chest.
"No!" Healer screamed. She sprinted forward, the guests' heads spinning towards her. Every second ticked by in slow motion as she ran.
Kakyuu searched the crowd for the source of the outburst. Healer strained to meet the Princess's eyes, to warn her, but it wasn't Kakyuu who found her gaze. Korin's eyes bore down on her and a smug expression crossed his face. The corner of his mouth twitched into a twisted smile and he clasped the necklace around Kakyuu's neck.
Releasing the necklace, Korin peeled off his onyx singlet and held it in his palm. The ring turned to a puddle of dark liquid and transformed into a short spike, a spear no longer than his arm. It pulsed with a dark fury in his hand. A burst of light exploded inside the black crystal with the violence of a supernova. A pulse of energy slammed into Yaten, hammering the air from her lungs.
The hall went dark, all the candles extinguished; trails of smoke coiled in the air and vanished. Moonlight bled through the windows. The only light left.
Stumbling, Healer fell to her knees. The darkness clawed at her, demanding entrance, total control. Taiki pulled Healer to her feet. Guests littered the floor around them; collapsed under the force of the blast.
Taiki grabbed her broach and turned to Healer. "Get everyone you can out of here. I'll get the Princess."
She raised her hand and transformed.
Another blast surged out. Healer raised her arm to protect herself. Miasma drenched every inch of the hall. She grabbed the arm of an unconscious woman but her head jerked up at Maker's yell.
"Why won't you move?! Get out of my way," she growled in frustration.
A swarm of guests staggered to their feet and gathered around Maker. The dark outlines of their dresses gleamed in the moonlight as they grasped for her, pulling her down. An endless gash slashed through the center of their faces. Their unholy splintered smiles unwavering. The hair on her neck bristled. What the hell was going on?
A cold hand wrenched at Healer's arm and she jumped back. Another group of Elorians stood, their faces also hideously marred, and descended upon her. She dodged one man as he lunged for her leg and bounded over him, darting for the stage.
"Princess!" Healer cried, fighting her way through the sea of creatures. A line of bodies trailed behind her. They didn't stay down for long. For each Elorian she pushed back, another sprung to their feet and clawed their way back to Healer. "You have to get away from him!"
But Kakyuu didn't move.
Healer stopped, frozen. Kakyuu's smile slowly morphed. The same twisted expression plastered across her face. Her eyes vacant, the corners of her mouth turned up but slightly askew. None of it her own. Kakyuu opened her mouth and her command crushed down against her.
"Don't move."
The words strangled her body. Healer's mind raced. The fear that had found her in that grey world, had hounded her footsteps around the courtyard, had plagued her every waking and sleeping moment, bubbled over. Her arms snapped to her sides and her feet stranded where she stood. Her muscles strained against a power she couldn't disobey. Healer's body subservient to Kakyuu's will.
She could only hear Maker's soft cries, a clamor of feet swarmed in her direction. The thud of her body as it hit the floor echoed in Healer's ears. Maker shoved against the ground.
A frigid hand grabbed her and dug their fingers into Healer's skin, bruising her flesh. Another and another hand darted out and clutched at her, dragging her to the ground. Her bones vibrated as her knees smashed against the cold marble. A hiss of air escaped her lips, but her mouth refused to move. Her eyes fixed on Kakyuu's lifeless face. The Princess' eyes held no recognition for them. What had Korin done to her?
Prince Korin raised his hands and slowly clapped. The sound boomed around the silent room. "Well, thank you so much my dear Princess Kakyuu, I do appreciate your help." He sneered. Taking her hand, he lifted it towards his lips.
Kakyuu jerked her hand from his grasp, her arm moving with none of its usual grace. The rest of her body remained still, the distorted smile plastered across her face, unchanged.
Prince Korin growled. He strode in front of Kakyuu and grabbed her by the shoulders. She didn't resist. The features of his face wavered and reformed. His liquid mask shed and only his violet eyes remained. Black hair faded into a stark silver, his square jaw receded, a shape pointed replaced it, his forehead emblazoned with an inverted black crescent moon. He glared at Kakyuu and his eyes narrowed. The crescent moon vanished, a thin horizontal slit where the brand had been. The slit opened and a red light surged out, consuming Kakyuu. The dark jewel on her chest pulsed; black and maroon sparks stormed below the glassy surface.
Healer's mind screamed for her body to move but it refused to acknowledge her command. Her captors pressed down against her and wrenched her arms behind her back. Hot pain radiated through her shoulders, she barely noticed. Unable to tear her eyes away from her Princess. Helpless.
"There, that's better." His voice quieted as he lifted Kakyuu's hand again. She didn't resist as he placed his lips to her fingers. He turned towards them, triumph radiating from his broad smile.
Healer watched in horror as Kakyuu yielded to him. Her stomach churned.
"Now, where are they?" His cold violet eyes scanned the bodies.
Seiya! Her sister's name flashed across her mind. He must be looking for Seiya!
"Where are they?!" Korin yelled, his smile vanished and his face twisted in anger. "Where are Seiya and Sailor Moon?! I know they are here." He shook Kakyuu, demanding an answer. She only stared at him, her smile unchanged.
Usagi! How did Korin know Usagi? Healer's head spun. What did he want with Usagi? The story Usagi told yesterday echoed in mind, everything falling into place. His powers, the insignia on his forehead - Usagi had been right. Prince Demande had returned and he'd captured them all without lifting a finger. The failure crushed against her like the waves that wore against the cliff faces surrounding the palace. They'd failed Kakyuu, she'd failed her - again.
"I don't know, my lord," Kakyuu's voice, quiet, lifeless, fell out of her. His control drew the words from her.
Adrenaline flooded through Healer and her heart slammed against her ribs. Her eyes darted around the room for something, anything, that could help. A way they could fight back. But there was nothing.
They were trapped.
/
Sailor Moon grabbed Fighter's wrist, preventing her from bolting headfirst into the ballroom. The scene that had played out through the glass windows of the door a mirror of her own memories. Demand stripped away Kakyuu's free will - powerless to stop it.
She saw it again, Demande loomed over her, her body no longer her own but his puppet to play with as he pleased. The memories called to her, they wanted to steal her back, to lock her inside. Usagi turned away. There was no time to dwell on the past.
As she studied the room she found Healer and Maker, both frozen, trapped by creatures that used to be human. Their faces were marked with the same scar that had haunted her since she'd come to Kinmoku.
Her body froze when he turned, his eyes glaring out over the room. Her mind shut down as the memories shattered through her defenses and surfaced, threatening to consume her. Just breathe. Breathe, she commanded her body as she forced her way back into the present, her breaths short and staggered as she stared at him, unable to tear her eyes away.
Images still clouded her vision as she clutched Fighter's arm tighter. He couldn't be here. He was dead. And yet, she couldn't deny what was happening before her eyes. Demande had returned - a dark phoenix risen from the ashes of her nightmares.
"We can't run in there. You don't understand what he's capable of. We have to have a plan." The words coming out of her mouth sounded more like Mercury's than her own. "Why are Healer and Maker not fighting back? Is he controlling them?" She muttered to herself and turned back to the door, searching for a way to help the others.
Fighter's eyes narrowed as she spoke through gritted teeth. "He's controlling her somehow, Princess Kakyuu. She must have commanded them to stop. The three of us, we cannot disobey her direct orders. Since I wasn't there when she gave it, I'm not affected but I won't be able to resist either if I hear it. I'll be useless." Her hand clenched into a fist, eyes glued on Kakyuu.
"She can do that to you?" Usagi's mouth fell open. She'd never heard of a Princess having that power over their Guardians.
"Yes, I don't have time to explain but —" Fighter fell silent as Demande took Kakyuu's hand and leaned towards it. She lunged for the door again. Disregarding the pain that coursed through her, Sailor Moon dug her heels into the ground as Fighter lurched forward.
"Fighter, we have to wait—" For the second time in moments, they were left speechless. Kakyuu batted her hand from his grasp. She's fighting back! She still has some control. But Demande grabbed Kakyuu again and his third eye opened, she fell under his control again, Usagi's hope smashed.
The pain in her arm exploded as his power seeped out from the cracks around the door; the sparks crawled up her body. Her vision narrowed, the entirety of her existence captured in the singular expression of agony, a phantom dagger stabbed her wrist. As his power faded, so did the bolts. The black lightning receded to a small throb of darkness at the base of her palm. Demande consumed her vision as he turned from Kakyuu, the onyx gem on her necklace pulsed black and crimson against her alabaster skin.
"You can't fight like this," Fighter placed her hand on Sailor Moon's wrist as Usagi's fingers dug like claws into Fighter's arm, the pain demanding an escape. "I'll go in and get Kakyuu, then we can figure out how to free the others."
The hot white receded from her vision and her senses returned. Sailor Moon breathed in deeply, the cool air sharp against her lungs, drawing her away from the pain. "No, you cannot win against him alone. He's far too powerful. Did you see that, where his crescent moon emblem is?" She winced as she unfurled her fingers from Fighter's arm, she hadn't realized how tightly she'd grabbed her, and pointed towards Demande. "He uses his third eyes to control people. If he catches you, you won't be able to fight back. And from what you told me, it sounds like while Kakyuu is under his control, you'll be in as much danger from her."
"I can't sit and watch him do this to them. I cannot abandon them," Fighter pleaded.
"No," Sailor Moon agreed. "I think our best chance is to find a way to distract him. The less he's concentrating on Kakyuu, the more his control should wane. If I can distract him long enough, there might be a chance for Kakyuu to break from his control. Healer and Maker would be safe as well. Is there another way into the ballroom, somewhere close to where Kakyuu is?"
Fighter nodded absentmindedly, her focus on the others. "Yes, she has a personal sitting room that has an entrance to a garden not far from here."
Not a moment later, Fighter's eyes narrowed, her head snapping back to Sailor Moon. "No." her voice was curt and low. "I can't let you use yourself as bait. If he's as dangerous as you say he is, you shouldn't be facing him alone either. I won't leave you unprotected. Especially in the condition you're in."
"What choice do we have? I don't know my way around this castle. There's no way I wouldn't be able to make it to Kakyuu in time. And I know Demande will come after me.
"I'll be okay, I've beaten his mind control before - I know how to protect myself. Besides, I know you and the others won't be far away so I won't be alone for long. This is the only way, Fighter. It's our best chance at saving everyone. I don't always need you to be my bodyguard."
Demande's yell rang out, barely muffled by the doors.
"We don't have time to argue. Go, I'll be fine." She grabbed Fighter's hand and squeezed gently.
"Fine, but promise me you'll be careful. You still owe me those handmade desserts. And I won't let you out of that promise so you need to take care of yourself."
"Don't worry about me. Go!"
Usagi practically had to shove Fighter away, her figure merged with the long shadows of the palace as ran through the abandoned garden and vanished into the darkness. Sailor Moon stood alone, bathed in the silver light of the half-full moons above. Closing her eyes, she filled her lungs with the night air and pushed down the fear that coiled within her.
Reaching for the door, she banished everything away: the searing pain that consumed her; the memories that replayed in her mind; the thunder of her heart against her chest.
She grabbed the handle and opened the door.
She ran into the room. The moonlight flashed off her white wings as she moved. "Prince Demande!" Sailor Moon called. "Let them go!"
No one moved. Maker and Healer prisoners of not only the creatures that restrained them but of Kakyuu's command. The Princess stared ahead, her pupils consumed every inch of her eyes. Darkness filled her face, void of emotion. Demande stood — transfixed — as he drank in the sight of her.
The anger that twisted his features moments ago vanished, the well-constructed mask returned and he smiled. Demande released his grip on Kakyuu and he stepped towards Sailor Moon, vanishing into the air as he teleported. Tiny pricks traveled down the back of her neck, hairs standing to attention, as Demande appeared before her.
"It has been too long, Neo Queen Serenity - or is it still just Sailor Moon, or are you going by yet another name these days?" He flourished before her in a mocking bow.
He looked the same as before. The dark crescent moon that marked him; the crooked slant of his smirk, the madness that danced behind his eyes. Every loathsome inch of him reborn.
"What are you doing here, Demande? How are you on Kinmoku?" Her voice was steadier than she felt. She refused to give him the satisfaction of tasting her fear.
"I can tell you are surprised to see me. I would be too were I in your situation. But the bounds of time, of life and death, hold little meaning to me or the wielder of the Malefic Black Crystal. You and your Guardians are not the only ones who can bend fate to your will." He stepped closer.
"And where are they tonight? For once it seems like you are so utterly alone. Though that does save me a good deal of trouble having to kill them." His eyes flashed in the moonlight. She refused to break her gaze from his — to submit.
"Those eyes, no matter your form, they are always the same. Blazing with an unholy fire that will be mine." He smirked and took another step forward, looming over her.
She kept her gaze on him. Hoping that she would be enough to keep his attention away from the others.
"I will never be yours, Demande. Now tell me, how are you here?"
"You will be mine, Sailor Moon. Or do you believe that you are still destined for your Prince Endymion?" He leaned in closer so only she could hear, "Well how could you, if you're here. You've clearly abandoned him. Though it will be my side you choose in the end. You have always been destined for me."
His black moon crest faded into him; a small slit appeared in its place. His third eye snapped open. An overwhelming force clamored against the walls of her mind, demanding entry into its domain. Her muscles spasmed as she fought to maintain control of herself. His power wasn't the same as before — it was stronger, a familiar pulse hidden under the darkness, twisted and distorted by its song.
His hand reached out and grabbed her chin, pulling her towards him.
"I will never let you decide my destiny." She stepped back, freeing herself from his grasp. "Your power doesn't work on me, or have you forgotten?"
Demande's face contorted with rage, his eyes baring down on her. He opened his hand; a pointed crystal spike, nearly the length of his arm, appeared before him. His fingers clenched around it, dark energy tore through the room. Her lungs choked as the miasma thickened, the sparks stabbed her skin under her glove, reappearing. The wordless voice in her mind grew stronger, his will wrenching control from her grasp.
One arm fell to her side, her body slowly giving in.
"You will be mine this time. I will have you." Demande the amusement in his voice falling over her. She was losing.
A peal of deep brooding laughter filled the room as Demande's will bore down on her. Her muscles strained to move of their own accord, to prove that she held some control. Her blood hammered as the darkness closed in. She fell to her knee, gasping for air. Her hand clutched at her broach, knuckles white, refusing to let it go. She called out to her crystal. But her power was torn out of her, ripped from her body.
"Oh?" Demande cocked his head, "How did that get in there? It looks like you already have some of the dark crystal's power flowing within you. That will make this much easier on both of us." A maniacal smile crossed his lips and he knelt down in front of her. He grabbed her wrist. Demande, no longer a creature of shadow and smoke that invited her dreams, but real and solid as his hand ensnared her, examining the black light barely visible below her white glove. The dark tendrils grew out from the light, reaching out for her.
Sailor Moon dove inwards, clinging to her friends, as she always did when she needed strength. Minako, Makoto, Ami, Rei, they all stared back at her, their faces smiling, their support reaching out to her. Hotaru, Setsuna, Michiru, and Haruka guarded her, unyielding. Each one her Guardian. Each one her friend. She clung to them. Her constant lifeline in the dark.
Her consciousness was wrenched back into the present. The sharp edge of the crystal sliced her skin. The fabric of her glove tore away as Demande pressed the spear down. Her skin poked through. A small trail of ruby liquid tricked out and streamed down her hand.
"It doesn't have to be so painful, give into the power, don't resist. You and I will rule the universe together." As he brought the crystal further down into her, a small cry escaped her lips. The force within her clawed at her power, taking it from her. "If you come with me, we can take the Malefic Crystal for ourselves and I will spare the insignificant girl you seem to care so much about. They will not offer you the same luxury."
She pulled away with every bit of control she had.
Demande sneered at her. His voice laced with satin and contempt, "This time I already have you kneeling before me, and it won't be long till you are mine alone again."
Her transformation flickered, threatening to fall away as he stole her power out from her body. The heart at the center of the Malefic Crystal consumed it. An endless black hole that could never be filled. How has his power changed so much? Nothing was the same as before.
The energy snaking through her body wasn't only the Malefic Crystal but something entirely different. An all-encompassing rage beat within the darkness — unbridled fury itself.
Pulling her focus inward, she struggled to contain the Silver Crystal's power. Familiar pink ribbons encircled her body as her fuku faded in and out, her power unstable and dwindling. She blocked out the world around her.
Fighter hurry, I don't know how long I can hold him off. Rooting herself, Sailor Moon's eyes sprang open, Demande square in her gaze, as she fought back.
/
Fighter ran. The fear that chased her since Usagi had arrived on Kinmoku hounded her every step. She had to get to the ballroom — she had to save the others.
Sailor Moon's face smiling back at her as she tried to hide the small tremors that wracked her body, the pain bleeding into the corners of her eyes. Don't worry about me. The impossibility of such a task was not lost on her but she had no choice to concentrate on the task before her. She couldn't fail everyone — Usagi — again.
Rounding the corner, she slammed her feet onto the ground to stop herself, skidding on the soft earth she stumbled forward. Her muscles strained to keep her upright. She grabbed the gate handle and jerked it open, the squeal of the rusted hinges hissing in the night air. She winced. Her eyes darted around her. She needed to get in undetected, not to announce her presence to everyone within a mile radius.
Fighter crept into the garden attached to Kakyuu's sitting room and darted to the side door, wrenching on the handle when she reached it. Locked. She could force it open — one blast would clear the door away but the element of surprise would be lost.
Her brain reeled, one terrible idea after the other flooded her thoughts — none of them would work. She didn't have time to debate with herself.
A piercing cry from the other side of the door broke the silence. A cry she would know anywhere, that sank like a dagger into her chest. Odango! She saw it again, thrown back into the memory that had been forcefully injected into her consciousness. Demande stood over Usagi, her body trapped, unable to fight back.
"Star Serious Laser!" She wouldn't wait.
A gaping hole stood where the door had once been. Sprinting into the Princess's drawing-room, she nudged the hidden panel and peered into the hall. Smoke clouded her lungs as she pushed back the fit of coughs trying to break free.
At the far end of the room, she saw Usagi, fallen onto one knee. Demande crouched in front of her. He drove the dark sphere into her wrist. Miasma spewed out over the room, black fireworks glowing out from the wound in Usagi's wrist. The bolts of lightning she'd seen earlier bursting from her wrist stormed about her as the dark spike inched downwards, Usagi's body absorbing it and its energy.
The plan forgotten, Fighter ran. Her feet pounded against the stone floor. Her heart thundered in her veins as Sailor Moon cried out again. A flash of silver caught her eye as she sprinted towards Usagi. Her head spun— Maker. Her sister's arms pinned behind her back, body stiff, unmoving. But her eyes, her eyes glared at Fighter as she moved.
Everything Yaten had accused her of this past week was coming true. Fighter's first instinct was no longer to protect Princess Kakyuu and her sisters but Sailor Moon. Betrayal overflowed out of them.
An inhuman growl emerged from Fighter's throat as she turned back towards Sailor Moon, still trapped in Demande's snare. His third eye bathed her in a demonic red light. A storm of energy grew around them. She tore her eyes away as she turned and darted towards Princess Kakyuu, standing alone at the front of the room, a barren smiling statue.
Fighter wasn't ten paces from her when a frigid hand reached out and coiled around her arm. Her feet almost slid out from under her as she was pulled back. Another cold hand grabbed her shoulder, an arm closing around her waist.
A mob of Elorians encircled her, the same gash etched down their faces as Suki had when she was possessed by a Phantom. Catching the elbow of one of her would-be captors, she flipped them over, crashing, backfirst, into the marble floor. But for each one she threw off, another five took their place as she was engulfed in a sea of mindless bodies.
Her heart pounded in her ears as she fought to free herself. How are they this strong? She had bested all manner of monsters before - a group of humans shouldn't be a problem. But yet her muscles strained under their force. No human could hold this strength. Another pair of hands grabbed her knee and she swung her elbow onto their neck, knocking them down.
A cold flare burst down her arm as her hand brushed against a gleaming black jewel that embellished the Elorian's gowns.
She steadied her breath and reached out with her power towards the Elorian, a malevolent presence shoving her back. The black jewel on their chest thobbed, a deep red light pulsing within.
Her eyes darted around. The same dark jewel adorned each of her captors. Straining, Fighter reached her hand out towards the nearest gem and ripped it from the woman's breast. She smashed it to the ground and the stone shattered. The woman tumbled to the floor unconscious, her auburn hair scattered about her, the gash vanishing from her face.
Fighter's hand shot out, ripping out every stone insight. The Elorians wilted to the ground around her. Free, she sprinted towards Kakyuu, her arm outstretched towards the jewel that hung around her neck, gleaming with the same demonic aura as the others.
Her fingers brushed against the cold stone as another Elorian grabbed her ankle, pulling her back. Air exploded from her lungs as she collided with the floor. She didn't have time to react before the mob was on her as she kicked the man off her.
She struggled to her knees, hands from all directions clawing at her skin. Her muscles shook as she pushed up against the growing weight of bodies. Fighter reached out, pulling the gems from the three Elorians crowded in front of her. She launched herself towards Kakyuu as they collapsed. Her hand closing around the necklace, a burst of energy blasting through her, her nerves seethed with fire. She yanked on the chain and it snapped from Kakyuu's neck. Filing the stone to the floor. The shards shattered around her.
Light returned to the Princess's eyes. "Starlights fight!" she yelled. Immediately calling forth her crystal, she held it out. The light flowed out in front of her, the space around them drenched in a brilliant fiery glow. The Elorian's fell away, the dark stones bursting into a thousand pieces.
Fighter stood in front of the Princess, soon joined by Healer and Maker. All three of the Starlights surrounded Kakyuu.
"Princess, are you alright?" she asked, scanning the room for Sailor Moon and Demande.
"My pride is a bit wounded at being tricked and overpowered so easily, but yes I will be fine. Are you hurt, Fighter?"
"No," her voice cold and flat as her eyes landed on Sailor Moon, trapped in Demande's grasp. His concentration consumed by Usagi, unaware of what had transpired. Another wave of possessed Elorians reformed around them.
"Take care of Kakyuu," Fighter called to the others and ran towards the back of the room, Healer calling after her to come back. But she couldn't leave Sailor Moon to fend for herself any longer. She had to save her.
One direct blast was all she needed, to drive him away from Usagi. To destroy him. Stopping in front of the back storage room, she raised her arm, summoning her brooch.
"Star Serious Lazer." A burst of energy exploded from her hand towards Demande. His head turned at the last second, jerking the crystal from Usagi's arm, the tip breaking off, lodged in her wrist — he fled. Sailor Moon shuddered as she reached for the fragment. Before she could grab it, a swarm of black lightning burst from it, consuming her. She cried out as both the electricity and the shard vanished in an instant.
"Sailor Moon!" Fighter yelled as Usagi doubled over. Her arm supported her against the ground, keeping her from collapsing. She had made it in time — Usagi was safe.
A thunder of footsteps was the only warning Fighter had as the door behind her exploded in a blast of energy. Unable to dodge it, she covered her face. The air ripples with the power of it; the heat singed her skin.
Fighter slammed into the marble floor and rolled, the world spinning around her as she stopped. Two hands seized her and yanked her to her feet, her arms pinned behind her back. Princess Miyo before her, Keeper to her right, Defender holding her where she stood.
"Demande, we will be taking them." Miyo gestured towards Fighter. "Go get the Moon Princess," she commanded Keeper. Sailor Moon crouched on the ground, her labored breaths visible in the silver moonlight; her transformation unstable, caught between a burst of pink ribbons and her fuku. Miyo's eyes widened as she studied Usagi. "That girl…from the other day...it was her?"
Fighter fought against her captor's grip, Defender's hands tightening with each movement. She couldn't let them get to Usagi. Hooking her leg around Defender's calf she tossed her weight forward hoping to throw her off balance. But she didn't budge. Her body was as still as a statue. Unable to be moved. Fighter couldn't get away.
"You know I don't think I shall. I will be taking both of them with me." A biting edge underlying his tone.
Miyo's mouth set into a thin line as she spoke. "This isn't the plan, Demande. Now hand her over."
"No."
Before she could blink, Demande appeared in front of Miyo. His third eye blazed and his hand ensnared her arm.
"Tell them to give her to me."
"Defender, give Fighter to Prince Demande." Miyo's voice flat, all the fight went out of it as she stared into his eye. Her body went slack in his gaze.
Defender's grip squeezed around her arm as she yanked her forward. Seiya smashed her elbow into the Elorian's ribs, but she didn't flinch, her face was set in stone. A flash of light flared in the corner of Fighter's eye.
"Star Sensitive, Inferno," Healer called, aiming at Demande's back. Releasing Miyo, he vanished. The blast was careening towards them. Freed from his control, Miyo dove forward, shoving her two guardians out of the way of the attack, knocking Fighter from Defender's grip. She tucked her head and rolled onto the floor.
Healer's blast slammed into the wall behind them, splintering the stone. The crystals on the pillar hanging above them chimed, pink petals floating to the ground. The wooden beam moaned and shifted.
"Princess!" Defender and Keeper cried and rushed to her.
Miyo, having taken the brunt of the blow, was crumpled on the floor, unconscious. Her body covered in small pools of red as the fresh cuts bled. Keeper lifted Miyo into her arms, the two Guardians desperately trying to wake her.
Standing, Fighter sprinted towards Usagi. "Next time, don't aim directly at me, Healer," she yelled at her sister.
"Next time, don't get caught," she shot back.
A gasp cut through the air behind her. Fighter's head spun around. Maker was doubled over as Demande drove his fist into her stomach, sending her flying backwards into the wall. She crumpled onto the ground. Grabbing Princess Kakyuu, his third eye opening again, the gem on her chest sparked to life at his call. Fighter cursed herself. How had she missed that earlier?
Healer spun and darted back towards their Princess. She looked back, and her eyes narrowed as Fighter hesitated. She turned back towards Sailor Moon, on her knees, a stream of blood flowing down her hand. She couldn't leave her.
"Fighter!" Healer called. "The Princess!"
Trapped between Usagi and Princess Kakyuu, her heart and her duty, her body froze. She took a step but as her foot hit the floor, her leg stopped, refusing to move. Her body crashed down to the ground, tumbling as she fell, her back to Kakyuu and the others. The cold stone pressed against her. The Princess's command rang in her ear, curling around her body.
"Stop."
Her eyes darted around furiously, unable to see the Princess and the others behind her. She fixed her eyes on Sailor Moon. A pool of celestial light rippled out from her as the Silver Crystal bloomed from her breast. Its rays beat back the dark electric tentacles that entwined themselves around Usagi.
A glint of falling glass sliced through Fighter's vision, distorting the holy light. A soft chime of crystal on stone sounded as it ricocheted off the floor. Another and another followed. She strained her eyes upward — the only part of her that would respond to her commands — but she couldn't find the source of the noise. Then she heard it. The groaning and splitting of thick wood filled the room.
The beam fell into her vision, collapsing in on itself, the wood splintering down the middle. Strands of crystals and flowers suspended in time, only a matter of time before they careened to earth.
Sailor Moon below.
Fighter wanted to yell, to warn Sailor Moon to get out of the way. But her mouth wouldn't move, air hissed from her lips. Usagi's eyes were fixed on her Silver Crystal as dark ribbons crawled back up her body. Unaware of the danger looming above her.
A thunderous crack echoed in the rafters. The beam snapped in two, hurtling towards Usagi. The crystals shone like gleaming daggers and they plummeted towards their unsuspecting victim.
No! I can't let this happen again! I have to help her. Fighter's muscles strained against the force that shackled her.
The world moved in slow motion. The feet between them could have been thousands of miles, an uncrossable chasm between them. How had everything gone so wrong? How could they fail their Princess, their people? How had she failed to protect Usagi, unable to save her again? Never enough.
/
Dark fire burned through her veins as Sailor Moon forced herself to her feet. The cut at the edge of her palm reopened. Hot blood trickled down to the floor, the red gleaming against the pure white of her glove. One by one, muscles returned to her control as she beat back the darkness. She slowed her breath and flexed her fingers. Slowly she drew her head up, her body fully hers again.
Her vision littered with black and white spots as she focused, stomach sinking as she took in the situation before her. The Starlights sprawled across the ground — unmoving. At least both Healer's and Fighter's eyes were open, but Maker appeared to be unconscious next to Kakyuu, once again under Demande's control. The dark gem on her dress sang with life.
In front of the storage room, she and Taiki had entered the ball from not an hour ago, the girl who chased her out of the Elorian's quarters the other day lay unconscious, the two Elorian Guardians crouched next to her on the floor, unable to wake her. None of them were unscathed from Yaten's attack.
Propping her against the wall, they both charged across the room at Demande. Not turning his gaze from Kakyuu, he lifted his hand. A blast of dark energy careened towards them, flinging them backwards. They crashed into the wall next to the girl and crumpled to the floor, not moving.
Usagi summoned her crystal, her transformation still unstable as she poured herself, her lifeforce, into the lotus flower gem. Rainbows burst to life within, the white light danced with color. The darkness that had been crawling around her flared, awakening again. Paralyzing darkness latched onto her and drained her power, stripping it out from her and stealing it away. Feeding its own ruinous ends. She concentrated on the warmth growing and building around her. She wouldn't let things end like this.
Raising the crystal above her, a small object struck her. It bounced off her skin and tapped against the floor. Another followed, grazing her back, and another hit her head. A barrage of stones fell to the floor around her like the beginnings of a rainstorm, the promise of more to come. She glanced up and her heart stopped. The pillar above had split in two, driving straight towards her. She didn't have time to avoid it. Her body tensed as she clutched the Silver Crystal to her chest, eyes shut as she braced for its impact.
"Dead Scream."
The beam shattered into dust above her, demolished by the attack. Two arms wrapped around her and lifted her effortlessly. They were airborne, her body tucked in against her protector's chest. The familiar scent swirled around her, woods after a spring rain.
"Uranus!" Her eyes sprang open. The older scout smiled.
"What type of mess have you gotten yourself into, kitten?" She flashed a smile at Usagi. Her expression hardened as they landed, setting Sailor Moon back on her feet. The other Outer Guardians appeared by her side.
Saturn raised her staff, the blade of her scythe gleamed in the moonlight, a barrier forming around them. The weight of the miasma lifted from Usagi's chest.
Neptune scanned the room. "You always do know how to keep things interesting for us. What's happened, Sailor Moon? Who is that?—"
"Prince Demande," Pluto interrupted her, voice low. "How is he back?"
"I don't know. But we have to go help the others," Sailor Moon said, her power returning to her body, safe under Saturn's shield.
The dust around them settled, Fighter frozen on the floor. Usagi started to run towards her, but a hand caught her before she made it out from the barrier. Uranus held her back.
"You are in no shape to fight." Her voice stern. Neptune, Saturn, and Pluto nodded, stepping in front of her, blocking her way. "Let us handle it."
"We have to get to Kakyuu and destroy that crystal on her dress. I think he's using it to amplify his power. The others are trapped as long as he has her under his control. He's stronger than the last time I faced him. You need to —"
Her warning dried out on her lips as Neptune and Uranus took off, sprinting out of the barrier and past the fallen Starlights.
Demande released Kakyuu from his grasp. Raising his hand, he summoned the black crystal spike he'd driven into her, its tip gone. A wave of darkness hurled through the room. Saturn flinched as it collided with her barrier. Neptune and Uranus leapt into the air, avoiding the attack.
Nepturn called forth her talisman and aimed the mirror at Demande, a beam of azure light pouring out from it. Demande grabbed his crystal and aimed its power towards her. The two beams collided, energy sparking forth from them. The darkness gained ground, pushing Neptune's attack back.
"Neptune!" Sailor Moon yelled. Summoning her crystal again, unable to stand and watch them fight alone when Pluto rested a hand on her shoulder.
"Just wait, the two of them will be fine." How was she so calm at a time like this?
The ring of glass shattering reached her ear. Her eyes darted from Neptune, who had retreated backwards, still fending off Demande with her mirror, to Kakyuu. Uranus stood in front of the Princess of Kinmoku, the shattered remnant of the black stone strewn across the ground.
Whiling towards Demande, Uranus' sword morphed from a saber into a dagger. Pointed straight at him, she lunged forward. Demande blocked her with his crystal spear, parrying her blade to the side. A ball of dark energy formed in the palm of his open hand, he struck Uranus in the side, grazing her, as she dodged.
She flew back and caught herself before she hit the wall. Her sword, its full length again, dug into the stone floor, slowing her as she landed on her knee.
His third eye pointed in her direction as he laughed. "No matter how many of you there are, none of you are a match for me. I will have what I came for. Your Princess will be mine!"
"Uranus, don't look into his eyes!" Sailor Moon yelled. No matter what Pluto had asked her, no matter how much she trusted the others, she couldn't wait. She couldn't watch as they were stripped of their will too. It couldn't happen again.
She shrugged off Pluto's hand as she crossed out of the barrier. The gravity of the dark miasma returned and crushed her body. Black sparks sprung to life across her body, dark tendrils swirling and digging through her, their touch like viper's fags. Her transformation faded as her power was leached from her body once again. Shadows grew at the edges of her vision as she fell to the ground.
Saturn and Pluto were by her side in a second. Saturn's shield reformed and Usagi caught her breath. "You cannot go outside this barrier. His power is only growing and it seems to be attracted specifically to you."
A flash of lightning passed by their side. Healer struggled to stand as she called out her attack.
"Star Sensitive Inferno."
Usagi's eyes scoured around the room for Fighter, a thick layer of dust blanketed the hall. She found Seiya and her heart leapt, the raven-haired Starlight sprinted towards Kakyuu and Maker.
Usagi let out a sigh of relief as she stood, still trapped. Unable to help.
/
She didn't know how or when the others had arrived but Fighter had never been so relieved to see Uranus and the other Outer Guardians. Her mind relaxed as she watched Uranus whisk Sailor Moon away from the collapsing beam that only two heartbeats later smashed into the marble floor. The sound of pattering wooden rain filled the room as timber shrapnel bombarded them. Tiny splinters lodged in her skin, unable to shield herself.
The next few moments passed in a blur, the battle ragged on behind her, a deep drone under the rumble of the crashing wood. A new energy pulsed through the room, quickly followed by the darkness, its aura growing thicker. She strained to breathe through the miasma, her lungs on fire.
Without warning, she felt the unseen cage that trapped her lift. The invisible bonds broken. Her body was freed.
Pushing herself to her feet, she turned back towards the battle. Sailor Moon was arguing with Pluto, safe under a shield held up by Saturn. Uranus knelt, Neptune next to her. Their eyes fixed on Demande who floated in the middle of the room, both of them trembling under the weight of the dark force that threatened to smother all of them. Kakyuu was safe, Healer guarding the Princess, Maker still unconscious on the floor behind.
She turned towards Sailor Moon, needing to make sure she was alright and ran. Demande let out a low laugh, Fighter whipped her head back, Saturn's barrier only feet away. He'd vanished again, his body reforming next to Kakyuu. She called out to Healer, trying to warn her. His staff blasted her sister out into the room, directly at Fighter. Their bodies collided together, slamming her to the floor.
"Where is his power coming from?" She grunted, both her and Healer struggling to their feet.
His power grew with every second, while they pulled from their final reserves. Every step was like wading through quicksand as the darkness congealed around them. A flash crossed Healer's fever-green eyes. A single ray of hope came to the surface as she stared down at the floor.
"Below us." Her voice was quiet, as though she were talking only to herself. "It's all below us." Healer yelled to the group, "Everyone, he's getting his power from the crystals below us. We need to destroy them."
Not needing any more prompting, Fighter called forth her brooch and aimed at the ballroom floor.
"Star Serious Laser!" The blast detonated her hands.
The floor shattered. Darkness obscured by plumes of dust and debris gave way to a sea of black crystal spikes that surged with power. Onyx and magenta lightning bolts catapulted from one jagged crystal to the next, electricity mingled with dust in Seiya's mouth. Another after another blast followed, streaks of aqua, gold, and purple reflected off the razor-sharp edges, and a barrage of energy hurled down into the pit.
A deafening crack split her ears and a wave of energy crashed into her, a disembodied punch to the gut that threw her off her feet. The power conducted by the crystals was no longer contained. Air exploded from her body as her back collided with the stone wall behind her. The ringing in her ear punctuated by the smooth marble that shattered and fell around. Fighter slumped to the floor.
For a few brief moments, her body was numb as she fought to reorient herself. But she knew the moment she moved, the hot pain would find her. Searing violence bloomed from the center of her body as she shifted. Her hand flew to her left shoulder, the joint screamed as bone ground against bone. The muscles already stitched themselves back together, phantom razors cutting and reforming her body. The pain was blinding. But there was no time to let herself recover.
A chorus of groans filled the room, punctuated by the clear clang of glass raining against the marble. Fighter turned her head, a fog of black dust pinpricked with silver moonbeams obscuring her vision. Healer, not more than two paces from her, struggled to her knees. Her body was blanketed in raw scraps, pearls of red strewn across her skin.
Across the room, a halo of fire-red split the dark smoke. Kakyuu braced with her crystal drawn: Neptune, Uranus, and Maker, shield by her power. Safe from the worst of the blast.
Her head darted to the left, hoping to find Usagi sheltered with the others. Her chest closed around her heart. Saturn's protective dome eviscerated, the trio flung to the ground. Usagi's arms wrapped around her face, legs splayed out on the floor behind her. Shredded pure white strips steamed from her back, the last remnants of her wings. Dark blots sprang from her body, encircling her.
Get up, she willed her tired body, Get up, she willed her weary aching bones. This isn't over yet. It can't be. Fighter forced herself to her feet. Her skin was clammy as the night breeze whistled through the shattered windows, chilling the sweat that had beaded on her arm. With each movement, her muscles protested. They begged her to wait, to rest. But he was still here, still threatening those she loved.
/
The darkness ripped through Usagi. Barbed claws tore through her and seized every ounce of life, digging in further and further. Spiked tendrils strangled her lungs, weaving through the space between her ribs. They burrowed into her veins, no part of her untainted. A seductive voice whispered in her ear, pulling at memories she'd hidden away. Smoke and shadow enveloped her.
Give in. You won't have to hurt anymore, you won't have to fight. I can give you power such that no one would ever dare to challenge you. All you have to do is let me in. The cosmos is yours for the taking if you surrender to me.
The pain pushed Sailor Moon past the point where she was able to discern if the voice was filling the room or only her head with its sweet promises. Not that it mattered. It was a bargain she had been offered many times before by many others. But its price was one she would never pay.
There were always moments where she longed to give in, to rest, but as the voice summoned her, another called out. Her voice rose from within. I will not give up. Not when those I care about are with me. There is such beauty and love in this world. I want to protect it, I will protect it. And she always would.
She pulled her chest off the cold floor. Chunks of rubble shifted under her and scratched her skin as she moved. Strands of golden hair tumbled across her face, knocked loose from the battle. The black light under her wrist pulsed in time with the spasms of pain that threaded through her. Blood dripped from the cut Demande had left.
Demande.
Usagi frantically scanned the room for him. He had been only a few feet away from Princess Kakyuu when the blast knocked her to the ground. The others were huddled beneath Kakyuu's barrier, Demande nowhere in sight. Had he left? Had they managed to defeat him?
Seconds later, Usagi had her answer. Quiet coils of a deep laugh caressed her ear. A shudder writhed its way down her spine and she lifted her gaze. Floating above her, his violet eyes anchored to hers. Demande loomed over her. His crystal spear floated above his open palm. Moonlight gleamed off its tip.
Instinct dominated Usagi; her hands flew to the broach on her chest. Its golden cover vanished. Gentil tingles skimmed down her fingertips and to her palms as her hands brushed the Silver Crystal, like blood waking a sleeping limb. A power so familiar to her, flooded her body, forcing the darkness to retreat into the recess of her being.
Demande sneered at her as she raised the crystal. The sheen in his eyes a mingle of desire and unbridled fury at her resistance. He didn't move, frozen in time as she called forth the Silver Crystal's power with her own life force. Unlike the darkness that demanded her submission, wrenching her power from her, the crystal waited and only took what she gave.
Her arms extended above her head. But a twinge sparked at her wrist, a chink in the armor of her power as the darkness serged back. It trailed down her veins. A web of blackness streaked across her body, obsidian tattoos growing under her skin.
The gentle beat of her crystal was overwhelmed by the black tentacles that grasped for her hands to claim the Silver Crystal, her power, as its own.
Her transformation flicked as the dark force leached off her, growing stronger with every passing moment. Reaching inside herself she offered more to the Silver Crystal, knowing the price she might pay for depleting herself. But she had never given up, never lost, and she wouldn't allow herself to. Not while those she loved were in danger.
But darkness grew at the edge of her vision. Consciousness toyed with her, slipping in and out of her grasp. She didn't know how long she could keep going before exhaustion or death claimed her.
"You still haven't realized what's happening." Demande's hand closed around the crystal. "The Malefic Dark Crystal is already part of you. The more you draw on the power of your Silver Crystal, the stronger it becomes. It's bonded to you. You cannot resist. Give in Serenity."
Pink ribbons exploded around her. Her transformation gone, the crystal demanding every once of her strength. Celestial white light filled the room and a whirlwind blew up around her.
Demande fought to not be carried away in its wake. But as the energy radiated from her, she felt it: a bolt of darkness reaching her fingertip, a shot upwards, a crash against the Silver Crystal, a fracture. Inside her something snapped, shattering like a mirror flung onto the floor. Her connection faltered and the brilliant white light dimmed, tainted with a back shadow.
Laughter rained down from above. The corners of Demande's mouth twitched upward. He thrust his arm forward and hurled the dark crystal spear towards her. The razor edge of the tip aimed at her chest. Ready to plunge through her.
A blur of movement flashed across her vision. A figure, a dark outline in the glow of her crystal, thrust themselves in front of her. Arms outstretched. Demande's cries filled the hall. Unrelenting rage, more animal than human, shook within her ears. But the sounds barely registered in her mind.
Usagi's crystal vanished and she sprinted forward. Her bare feet stumbled against the lifeless marble. Her mouth opened in horror. Her world stopped.
"Fighter!"
Fighter tumbled backwards into Usagi's arms, her legs unable to support both of them. She collapsed, cushioning Fighter's fall with her body. She pushed herself up. Seiya's head slumped in her lap. Her blue eyes blurred but smiling up at her; her lips quivered in pain. The dark bayonet jutted from her chest, slowly sinking down further and further into Fighter. Her body absorbing the hellish weapon.
No. No. No. No. No.
The word raced over and over in Usagi's head. Her mind refused to accept the reality in front of her. Another person she loved, hurt because she wasn't able to save herself.
The box inside her torn open. She was back with Ami, Minako, and Makoto, speared through by ice, their lifeless bodies encased by crystal daggers. She was back with Haruka and Michiru as they faded from existence, reaching for one another, unwilling to leave this world alone. She was back with Rei, her body weightless in Usagi's grasp as she faded from the world, telling her to be strong, that she was sorry she couldn't protect her. The guilt swelled within her — Why was it always her they were protecting? Why could she never save them?
Fighter, her battle-worn body, lay motionless in her lap.
Usagi's hand lunged for the last of the crystal. But the mirror black stone slipped between her fingers and sank into Fighter's chest. She was too late.
Demande's voice shattered her thoughts. "I will have you. You will be mine! I will not let this insolent woman take what has been promised to me!"
He dove down for her, the slit of his third eye prying open on his forehead. A beam of red light seeped out and weighed down on her.
The edge of a silver blade flickered in her vision as it slashed through the air. A blur of gold and blue darted in front of her. Demande fell to the floor, screaming. His hands clutched his forehead, his body writhing in pain. Seconds later, his voice was cut short as the end of Pluto's staff slammed down against his head and he crumpled, unconscious, to the floor.
The others swarmed around her in a flurry of disembodied movement. But her eyes never left Seiya. Her breaths were stiff and labored as her hand moved up to Usagi's cheek, the warm leather of her glove trembling against her skin. "Odango, are you alright?" The words choked from Fighter's lips.
"Fighter, why… why did you do that?" Tears streamed down her cheeks in an uncontrolled river laced with stars. "Why…" Usagi's voice faded as her shoulders shook. The tears gave way to sobs. "You're going to be okay. You have to be okay. Don't leave me again. I can't… I can't..." Her body bent down over Seiya's, their foreheads pressed together. Her crescent moon held against Fighter's golden tiara, studded with a single star. Her black hair strewn around her. The cloth tie was lost during the battle.
"Don't think that you will be free of me so easily. You still owe me those sweets you promised. And besides, what type of bodyguard would I be if I didn't protect you?" Fighter forced a laugh. Her words were no louder than a whisper as her eyes fluttered shut. "You know I could never leave you, not when I just got you back." These words were meant for Usagi's ears alone.
Usagi wanted to believe her. To cling to Seiya's words, to know she would be all right. But Fighter's voice was so weak, her body still in her lap, her skin chilled against the heat of her own. She wrapped her hands around Seiya's arms, afraid that if she let go, Seiya would slip away from her.
Saturn! The thought drove through her mind, a beam of hope. Saturn had always been able to heal others. A gift none of the other Guardians possessed. She couldn't give up yet.
She lifted her head to call for help when she saw it and her breath trapped in her throat. A blackness spiraled out from Fighter's chest where the crystal plunged into her. Webs of onyx light entangled Seiya's body, pulsing below her skin. Usagi reached out her hand.
Pain shot out through her. A dark power clutched her hand and reached down into her. She couldn't pull away. A storm of dark lightning enveloped them. She could hear her voice cry out, Seiya's intermingling with it. Unable to move, her body fused with Seiya's, their existences blurred together. Trapped in a labyrinth of pain.
A hand closed around her arm and yanked her back. But Usagi wouldn't let go of Seiya. If she held her, Seiya was safe. She could see her chest, streaked with rivers of black, rise and fall. She could feel the soft beat of her heart. Usagi could hold her to her promise.
"Kitten, you need to let go of Seiya. Whatever is inside of her is draining your lifeforce from you. The Silver Crystal is fading. You are fading. Please!" Uranus's voice cut through the fog and begged her to go back. But she wasn't ready.
"I can't let her go. I can't leave her alone again." Usagi managed through the pain.
"And you don't have to but we can't help either of you like this. You have to trust us. You are our Princess too — you can't leave us."
Haruka was right: this wasn't only about her and Seiya. She couldn't be so selfish. Her hands loosened and Seiya slid from her grip.
Blackness surged from the corner of her eyes as the blinding sparks faded from her body. Usagi forced herself to focus on Seiya as she felt an arm wrap around her, helping her stand. Unwilling to let the darkness take her until she was sure that she was all right. Healer knelt to the floor and gathered Seiya in her arms, Kakyuu next to her summoning her crystal. The light like the flames of a phoenix rained down on Seiya. Her chest shifted in a slow but stilted pattern, rising and falling. She was still alive.
The drum of her heart muffled the others' voices. The world blurred. Her legs were no longer able to support her. Usagi collapsed forward. Two strong arms wrapped around her and gathered her up. Her head nestled against Uranus' chest. She could see Haruka's mouth move but her voice was lost between them. Her eyes filled with worry.
Haruka, I'm fine, don't worry. I'm just tired. Take care of Seiya, she has to be okay. I can't lose another person. The words she wanted to say were trapped in her head, her lips refused to move, the effort too great. The room fell away as her eyes shut. The darkness took her.
/
I hope you all liked it! It was a challenge for me to write such a long battle but I'm pleased with how it turned out. I find the more emotional scenes much easier to write so this pushed me. So I am still behind on finishing the next chapter since this one required a major rewrite. I am nearly done but I need to rebuild a buffer again. So I am going to post again in two weeks but it's just going to be one POV a mini-chapter if you will. I should be good after that to go back to the normal chapters. But I'm not going to lie, these 11k+ chapters do take it out of me lol.
As always thank you so much for all of the reviews and comments. I really do love reading them and responding back. It makes writing all the more fun!
Also Happy Pride everyone! I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying summer, if it's summer for you too now. See you all in two weeks!