~Wavering Destiny~
by Strawberry Moon Rose
I've been dropping hints for so long, I wonder if anyone will see this coming...
Enjoy! :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the characters. They belong to Naoko Takeuchi.
Chapter 43: The Light of Hope
"NOOOOO!" Sailor Moon screamed at the top of her lungs.
What happened next seemed to unfold in slow motion. Uranus drove her sword at Fighter's side. Fighter twisted, the blade whizzed by, missing her rib cage by a fraction of an inch. Uranus pulled back, preparing to strike again. Fighter sidestepped as the whoosh cut through empty air. The Starlight got out of the way once more, rolling to her feet.
"I thought you'd be belligerent to fight me," Uranus taunted.
"Why're you doing this?" Fighter cried.
"Because we have our destiny to protect, that's why." Uranus brought her talisman to her side. For a second, it looked like she was giving up. The entire entry room was eerily quiet.
Then suddenly, in a nothing but a blur, Uranus whipped her sword up and thrust it sideways to Fighter's neck.
"Fighter!" Sailor Moon screeched, thrashing around in Neptune's hold. Everyone else was too shocked to react.
Fighter froze. The blade felt like ice against the skin of her throat. She didn't dare move an inch.
Uranus's breathing was low and quiet. "Back down now," she whispered. "I don't want to hurt you."
"Then don't."
Before Uranus could respond, Fighter dropped to her feet and swung her leg around, knocking Uranus's ankles out from under her. The tall guardian crashed to the floor, letting out a low, mangled grunt. Her sword hit the marble with a clank and spun in circles, ricocheting across the room until it stopped at Jupiter's feet. Without hesitation, the brawny guardian scooped it up.
"Stop it! Stop doing these terrible things!" Sailor Moon begged. A hot tear cascaded down her cheek. She tasted the salty water on her lips.
Fighter stepped over Uranus. Bending, she pulled her forward by her navy-colored collar so they were face to face once more.
Fighter's eyes flitted to Sailor Moon, then back to Uranus. "I know you don't like me, but don't make this harder for her. She's been through enough. Let it go already."
Uranus glowered at her for a long time, hating that Fighter had the upperhand. Her expression was hard to read. "Let go of me," she muttered at last.
Reluctantly, Fighter released her grip on her sailor collar and stood up. She took tentative steps backwards.
Uranus got to her feet and returned to the others, stopping before Jupiter. "I'll take my sword back," she said breezily.
Jupiter clenched the hilt tight at her side. "No."
Uranus's eyebrow twitched, then she outstretched her hand. "Give it to me. Please."
Jupiter took a step back and raised the sword into a stance, the point aimed at Uranus. "I won't give it to you, Uranus, so don't bother reasoning with me. The Starlights want to help, how dare you attack them!"
"That's right!" Mars agreed, stepping up beside her crony. Venus and Mercury joined their sides as well, their faces cross.
The corners of Uranus's mouth crumpled into a scowl. It was four against one. Uranus had socked one to her that day Jupiter had gotten her heart crystal retracted, and she wouldn't hesitate to do so again. But fighting them was a last resort. She shot a look to Saturn, who was standing quietly in the back of the room, near the big, castle-like doors. The tiny, pretty soldier wanted nothing to do with any of this - her only wish was for Chibi-Usa's safety. It was clear by her solemn countenance that she didn't agree with Uranus and Neptune at all. Yet, she made no attempt to intervene.
Irritated, Uranus breathed heavily out of her nose. This was not how their mission was supposed to go. Why didn't anyone else understand? If Fighter came back with to Earth, it would ruin everything; wiping Crystal Tokyo and Chibi-Usa's existence to zero. Didn't they care?
Uranus marched over to the Starlights and Kakyuu.
"Well?" Fighter shifted her weight. "Are we done being childish now?"
"This is your last chance," Uranus warned. "Stay away from Sailor Moon for good. If you can't, we'll settle this for good here and now. It's up to you."
"With all due respect," Kakyuu interrupted. "I do not care for this behavior. I allowed you in because you're friends of Sailor Moon. Do not harm my dear Starlights again. Is that understood?"
Uranus pursed her lips and avoided Kakyuu's eyes. "Well?" she said to Fighter.
Fighter's eyes shifted to Sailor Moon. The moon princess was forced on her knees, her chin trembling and cheeks glistening from tears. All the pain and suffering everyone had put her through marred her face. Seeing her look so mistreated sent a hot frission of anger through Fighter's body.
"It's not up to you what she does with her future. You may be her guardian, but you're not in charge of her. You believe that what you're doing is somehow helping, but it isn't." Fighter took a deep breath. "And you can't tear us apart anymore. I'm in love with Sailor Moon, no, Usagi Tsukino, and I'll do anything to protect her, even if that means risking my own life. So there you have it, that's my answer."
Uranus frowned. "If you loved her, you would've backed down when you learned the truth. But you didn't. You've messed with her emotions since you first fled to Earth, and have caused her nothing but confusion and pain. And now the future that was laid out for millenniums in advance will soon be destroyed, and her only daughter will perish. And you're to blame."
Fighter gnashed her teeth together. Uranus's words stung. She never meant to hurt her, or to cause this destruction. She fell in love with Usagi - was that such a horrendous crime after all?
But there was no turning back now; they were past the point of no return. Fighter looked away, trying to remain calm.
"Mamoru is destined to be with her for a reason," Uranus went on. "Their love didn't cause chaos like this. What you're doing is testing her fate, and it's unacceptable."
"You're wrong!" Sailor Moon screamed, her voice echoing across the large room. She struggled harder, but Neptune pinned her down more tightly. "Me and Mamo's love wasn't perfect! It was just as flawed, ask anyone!"
"You know that Mamoru is the only way it's supposed to be," Uranus shot back.
"Whoever said that anyway? Who made that stupid rule?" Sailor Moon asked shrilly. "Is it just because of our past? Is that the only reason? Me and Serenity are nothing alike! We're two completely different people! This is my life this time around, and I can choose my own destiny. Fate isn't chance, it's choice!"
Fighter blinked hard. Those words were exactly what she'd said to Usagi that first night she'd come to Kinmoku, out on the balcony. A realization hit her like a brick, squashing all the seeds of doubt Uranus had planted in her mind; Usagi loved her. That day Pluto and Tuxedo Mask dragged her away could've been the last time they'd ever seen each other. Usagi could have patched up things with Mamoru and everything would've been okay again. But she hadn't. She'd come back to Kinmoku; to Seiya, because she loved her, and because she had faith everything would work out in the end.
Fighter squeezed her eyes shut, a powerful, identifiable feeling moving within her. They couldn't give in, not after everything they'd been through. She couldn't bare to lose a love like this.
"Your past doesn't have to define your future," Healer interrupted.
Maker nodded. "I believe so, too."
"Now let's please," said Kakyuu, "put our weapons down and talk this over."
Fighter said, "Yes. We need to move forward saving Chibi-Usa. Bun Head's with me, that's that."
"You know nothing about her past," Uranus countered. "We can't afford to waste anymore time standing around talking. Let us go with her. Now."
"No," Fighter declared. "You're not leaving with her again."
"Then you leave me no choice…" Uranus threw her hand in the air. Golden energy rays began to collect in her palm. Closing her fist, an orange ring formed around her feet and shot up to her palm, creating a globe-shaped mass of light in the shape of the planet Uranus. It crackled with electricity.
"World..." With a flick of the wrist, Uranus thrust the powerful orb to the ground. "...SHAKING!"
Digging into the floor, the sphere spun side to side like a bowling ball bouncing off both bumpers, then dove up, airborne.
"Fighter! Look out!" Sailor Moon cried. The attack was heading straight for the Starlights!
"Princess!" Healer threw herself at Kakyuu, knocking her out of the way. They hit the floor together, hard. Healer lay on top of Kakyuu, shielding her from the blow.
Maker made an attempt to get out of the way, but she was too late.
"Maker!" Mercury cried.
Fighter watched as the yellow light enveloped them, knowing it was futile. The pain washed over her, paralyzingly. She'd felt the wrath of Uranus's attack when she'd acted under Galaxia's power. It hurt just as bad now as it had back then.
The next thing Fighter knew, she was lying on the ground, staring up at the tall, faraway ceiling that seemed to teeter to the left and right. Perhaps it was her head spinning.
A white flash burned her eyes. Fighter blinked and realized it was only lightning outside one of the entry room's glass windows. Illuminating the starless sky, the bolts struck the ground like bony fingers. The storm had returned.
Perhaps it never left.
Boots clicked across the floor, growing louder with each step. She couldn't decipher which direction they were coming from or who they belonged to. Maybe it was Uranus coming to finish her off. Fighter groaned and tried to sit up.
"Fighter!" Sailor Moon dropped to her knees. Her eyes were big and frantic as she inspected the Starlight's injured body.
"Bun Head?" Fighter said dizzily. "How did you... I thought Neptune had you..." She pressed her hand to the back of her skull. I must've hit my head...
"Are you okay?" Sailor Moon was asking. Her voice sounded far away, like she was talking into a fishbowl.
Fighter grunted. "Yeah..." She looked down to find her entire body was covered in scratches. A nasty cut dribbled blood down her elbow. The side of her shorts was tore, slit all the way up to her hip, revealing her yellow undergarments. Her hair was messy around her shoulders, her ponytail completely undone. With one glance up, Fighter realized she'd skid from the blow and was now fifteen feet farther back than where she'd stood before. The marble floor was torn up in a zig-zagged path from the attack.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Sailor Moon pressed, touching her arm.
"Yeah." Fighter looked past her under thick lashes. How dare she attack them inside of the palace? And in front of the Princess?
Fighter gasped. The Princess! She looked all around, a sinking feeling forming in her stomach. Her eyes landed on Kakyuu, safe and sound off to the side, with Healer knelt over her. She looked fine, just a little dazed. Fighter let out a breath of relief.
Uranus stood with her arms folded across her chest. Her lips were carved in a frown. "Do you get it now? Back off and let us go."
Fighter got to her feet. She sprinted head on at Uranus, ignoring the pains searing up every limb. Vertigo struck in a disorienting wave, throwing her off balance and nearly knocking her from her feet. Blotches of color dotted her vision. Fighter shook it away and pressed on. She'd been through much worse than this before.
Whoosh. Fighter threw a punch. Uranus easily dodged it. Swoosh. Another miss. Then another.
"Stop it, now!" Sailor Moon ran after them. "Please! Fighter, don't - you're hurt!"
"Sailor Moon!" On the other side of the room, Mars darted forward. She couldn't allow Sailor Moon to be injured in the mist of this battlefield. Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter hurried close behind.
Neptune instantly stepped between them, blocking their path. "Don't make me do this," she warned, lifting her talisman mirror.
"Move!" Jupiter clamored. Fortunately for them, Uranus's sword just so happened to land before someone who knew martial arts. Jupiter expertly poised the weapon to prove she wouldn't hesitate to use it.
Neptune raised her mirror in front of her flawless face. Spinning in a graceful circle, she bent the mirror at an angle and flipped it around, shoving it in the direction of the inner guardians.
"Submarine Reflection!"
Glittery light discharged from the glass, springing at them in a single beam.
"Watch out!" Jupiter grabbed Mercury's hand and yanked her out of the way. Mars hit the floor, realizing a second too late who was still standing in the pathway of the oncoming attack. She watched in horror as the gust rocketed into the one person she cared about most.
"Mina!" Healer scrambled to her feet, tearing across the room like she was on fire. Nobody had ever seen her move so fast before in her life.
Maker hurried over to Kakyuu and ushered her princess out of the way. It was clear by the way Maker limped that she too had suffered immensely from Uranus's previous attack.
"I'm...okay. Really, I'm fine," Venus repeated when Healer reached her. She got to her feet slowly. Her knees wobbled, she looked pale. Her skirt was ruffled, and the red bow in her hair was ripped.
"I shoulda got here faster." Healer steadied Venus, making sure she really was okay. She then turned to Neptune. Her insides felt hot, then cold.
"You'll regret that!" Healer manifested her Sailor Star Yell and thrust it above her head. She opened her mouth when someone cut her off.
"Mars! Flame... Sniper!"
A burning arrow shot by at bullet-speed, striking Neptune below her left rib. Neptune gasped, her blue eyes enlarging. She looked up at Mars in horror as she staggered back, and let out a cry.
Still enraged, Healer took the opening.
"Star Sensitive Inferno!"
"Neptune!" Uranus froze at the sight of her injured lover. Realizing her mistake, she turned back just as Fighter's punch connected with her shoulder. Pain spread down her bicep, sending her stumbling backwards.
"Damn it." Uranus cursed for allowing herself to be distracted, and turned her focus to Fighter again. Unlike the others, she and Neptune had made a promise to never let their emotions for each other get in the way of duties. Battles shouldn't hold sentiment, that was the major difference between them and Sailor Moon.
"Please stop it!" Sailor Moon tried to get between Uranus and Fighter, but it was impossible. She stood with her hands shaking, unsure what to do, watching as the scene played out in front of her eyes. Fighter kept prancing back, trying to shake off Uranus, but it wasn't working. It was obvious Fighter was holding back for Sailor Moon's sake by making more defensive moves than offensive.
Neither one of the guardian had been seriously injured. Yet. Even if Sailor Moon crystallized her tier, what good what it do? The silver crystal was powerful, but there was no enemy to cleanse. How could she stop this from going on any longer?
"Say it!" Uranus demanded, managing to twist Fighter into a headlock. "Say you'll stay away from Sailor Moon for good!"
Fighter's fingers pried at Uranus's forearm, but she wouldn't budge. She kicked at her shins, but her grip remained tight.
Uranus wrapped her other arm around Fighter's stomach and pulled her close. "Well?"
"Stop it!" Sailor Moon threw herself at them and pulled on Uranus's arm. "Let her go!"
With a single push of a hand, Uranus shoved Sailor Moon off. The blonde landed on her bottom.
"I...won't..." Fighter croaked. "...lose...her again." No guy Fighter had ever been tackled by in football had this kind of strength. The previous attack had drained her energy.
All the shouts and screams swirling around them droned on and on, melting quieter as the world started turning white. No, I've gotta hang in there. If I pass out, she'll take Bun Head away forever...
"Deep Submerge!"
"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"
"Star Gentle Uterus!"
Sounds crashed together like a bad orchestra. Somebody else threw another attack. Another person screamed in the distance. Fighter couldn't tell who it was. Maybe it was coming from her own mouth. She felt disconnected, like she was floating outside her body.
KABOOM! The whole world felt smashed open by the most earsplitting crash of thunder imaginable. Everyone flinched, stupefied and frightened.
The candles along the wall eerily burned out in a line, one by one. The chandeliers shook, the crystals clinking together like giant wind chimes. A chill ran down Sailor Moon's spine and the hair on the back of her neck stood erect. She scrambled to her feet. What was going on?
Uranus froze, her gaze darting all around. Something was off; she could feel it in the air. Fighter took advantage of the opportunity and slithered out of her grasp. To her surprise, Uranus let her go. She didn't even go after her as she stumbled back to Sailor Moon. As she filled her lungs with air again, her mind became clearer.
"Seiya! Are you okay?" Sailor Moon threw her arms around the Starlight and nuzzled her face into her shoulder.
"I'm fine," Fighter assured her. The dizziness subdued and was quickly replaced with tenseness. A switch clicked on inside her and she was back in guardian mode, alert and on her toes.
There was a flickering of light to their left. It came out of nowhere, forcing everyone to squint. It was like looking directly into a giant, floating sun. On cue, another crash of thunder shook the world, making everyone wobble on their feet as if it were an earthquake.
"Stay close!" Mars commanded. Jupiter bent her knees and raised the sword protectively. Mercury flipped open her compact computer and analyzed the strange, growing light.
"What the...?" said Healer. Venus flitted closer and clutched her arm nervously.
Uranus's eyebrows knit together. Neptune appeared at her side, and they exchanged bewildered glances. Saturn hurried past Maker and Kakyuu, emotions bubbling up inside her.
Then all too quickly, the illumination began to fade. Sailor Moon lowered her hand from her eyes and gasped.
Two tall silhouettes stood side by side. One was a man suited with a top hat and cape. The other was a woman. She held a long rod in her right hand and entwined a shorter girl's hand in her left. The smaller girl was nearly transparent, like a ghost. She flickered, like a light bulb on the verge of burning out. Perched on her shoulder was a small kitten with a crescent-shaped bald spot. A mechanical ball with a familiar face and antenna rolled out by her ankles.
"Chibi-Usa...?" Sailor Moon's heart skipped a beat. Was this real or was she seeing things? The overwhelming urge to run forward and throw her arms around her daughter engulfed her. She felt her feet walking forward.
A high-pitched giggle rang through the air, and everyone did a double take. The culprit squirmed around in Tuxedo Mask's arms. Ever so slowly, he bent and let the smaller child toddle out from his arms. She wandered straight to Sailor Moon and Star Fighter.
The child cocked her head and blinked. She touched a chubby finger to her chin, and cooed cluelessly, "Chibi Chibi?"