Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon, or any of its original characters. However, the characters of my creation belong to me, and cannot be used without my permission.
Sailor Moon:
Siblings of the Moon Saga
Part VII
This story begins during the tales of the Nega-Moon. Rini has come back into the past, and the Sailor Scouts have already learned their new attacks. However, Rini does not yet know their true identities.
Sailor Moon held Rini tightly against her chest as she stared into the cold eyes of Rubeus. The evil villain was now surrounded by an aura of black energy waving the legendary Sword of Lunarius, the father of Princess Serena and Prince Erick, in her direction. The other Sailor Scouts, as well as the Four Sisters, were all staring at Rubeus as well. The sight was so amazing that they all seemed to be frozen in their tracks. It wasn't until Rubeus broke the silence that they remembered where they were.
"I am still waiting for you to surrender, Miss Moon," chimed Rubeus. "Don't be a fool. There is no way you can overcome the power of this sword. Now, give me the crystal and the child, and you can live out your lives as my slaves."
Tuxedo Mask stepped forward and drew his cane. "You will never have the Silver Crystal or Rini! Do you understand, Rubeus?! You will never have either as long as I'm alive!" he proclaimed.
A sinister grin began to form on Rubeus' face. He turned his eyes towards Tuxedo Mask, who was definitely ready to fight to save those he cared about. "In that cast Tuxedo Mask, I suppose that it's time… for you to die!" said Rubeus as he leaped into the air. Rubeus raised the blade above his head, and started to bring the blade down on Tuxedo Mask.
Tuxedo Mask quickly leaped out of Rubeus' line of attack. When Rubeus landed on the ground Tuxedo Mask lunged towards him. Rubeus brought up his sword to block Tuxedo Mask's attack. The two warriors exchanged several blows as the chimes of their weapons filled air. After a long parry, the two warriors split apart and stared at each other. Tuxedo Mask's face was filled with determination, but there was also a hint of fatigue. Rubeus seemed more confident than ever as he gazed at his opponent.
"Tuxedo Mask! You're bleeding!" screamed Sailor Moon. A large blot of red had appeared on his white shirt. As Tuxedo Mask gazed at the spot, he fell to one knee. He took his left hand and held the wound. Tuxedo Mask turned his gaze towards Serena who had started to come towards him.
"No, Sailor Moon! You must protect Rini," said Tuxedo Mask. "We cannot allow the Nega-Moon to get her. Leave. I'll hold them off."
"No, Tuxedo Mask. We can't desert you. I won't desert you!" said Sailor Moon.
Tuxedo Mask looked at Sailor Moon as tears began to flow down her eyes. Then, his eyes fell on Rini, still in the arms of Sailor Moon. They were filled with tears. "Sailor Moon, you must think about Rini. She's too important to lose all because of me. Go, now. Please go!" he said as he stood on his feet still holding his wound. Tuxedo Mask allowed a wry smile to come onto his face as he nodded at Sailor Moon. Then, Tuxedo Mask ripped four roses in the direction of the Four Sisters. Each rose hit its mark, and sent the Sisters onto their backs. Then, Tuxedo Mask leaped into the air towards Rubeus.
"Sailor Scouts, retreat!" shouted Sailor Moon. The other Scouts looked at her in disbelief. "Move now!" With the second command given, they quickly left the battle as their leader commanded. Sailor Jupiter took Rini from Sailor Moon and continued to carry her away from the Starlight Towers. Sailor Moon glanced back one last time as the battle raged on between Tuxedo Mask and Rubeus. "Darien," she whispered as she felt the hand of Sailor Mars grab her wrist and lead her away from the scene.
"Well it seems that you're outnumbered now, Tuxedo Mask," taunted Rubeus. "There's no way that you can win. Pledge your allegiance to me, and I will let you live a little longer."
Tuxedo Mask was a few feet away still holding his wound. He noticed that the Four Sisters were back up, and had surrounded him. Then, his gaze returned to Rubeus. "You heard what I said, Rubeus. 'Not as long as I'm alive.'"
"Very well," said Rubeus. Then, with the wave of his hand, the Four Sisters unleashed their various blasts of energy at Tuxedo Mask. The light of the explosion engulfed his body completely, and the sound muffled his scream. Once the explosion had died down, Tuxedo Mask was no more.
"Come on girls, let's go back to the ship," said Rubeus.
"Rubeus?! We're just going to let them get away with the Silver Crystal and the brat?!" Prizma protested. "Shouldn't we go and look for them?"
"Of course not, Prizma. Once they find out what's happened to their beloved Tuxedo Mask, they will find us." With that said, the Four Sisters and Rubeus disappeared, leaving only the charred grass and the silence of the night.
"Come now, don't tell me that you didn't expect this," said the Wiseman as he approached Lunar Knight. Lunar Knight was still captivated by horror as he looked at his splitting image walking around him in dark gray robes. "Think about it, in the future, Crystal Tokyo is brought down to its knees. The last line of defense was the four Sailor Scouts trying to protect their queen. Didn't you even wonder what happened to you? The one who swore to his mother to stay with his sister and protect her?"
Lunar Knight looked upon the Wiseman, himself, with disgust. Part of him wanted to lunge out and strangle the Wiseman. This had to be a lie. He would never betray Serena. However, another portion wanted to hear what happened, what could possibly drive him towards betrayal.
"Ah," grinned the Wiseman, "I see that I have piqued your curiosity. Come, follow me. Gaze into the crystal ball, and all shall be revealed." The Wiseman revolved his hands above the orb, as Lunar Knight slowly approached. He glanced at the orb, and then quickly cast a cautious eye back towards the Wiseman, but he was gone. Lunar Knight searched his dark surroundings, but found nothing. His attention returned to the orb, which had begun to glow. Suddenly there was a flash of light…
The surroundings of the palace were beautiful. They looked very much like the palace of the Moon Kingdom, but something was different. All the halls were silent, but suddenly they became filled with laughter. The laughter of children. The huge doors to the throne room burst open, and two small children came racing into the hall. One of them was Rini, only much smaller. She couldn't have been any older than two or three years old. With her was another child, a boy. His hair was dark, but not black. It seemed to be a dark violet. The children raced through the hall, with the Luna Ball soaring behind them.
Shortly after the children, a few more people entered the hall. They looked very much like Serena and Darien, only older. They were smiling and walking hand-in-hand. They appeared to glance directly in this direction… As they got closer, the image became bright and vanished.
As the intensity of the bright light faded, another image replaced the previous. A bedroom. A large four-poster bed, with satin silver sheets draped around the posts. In the bed lay a woman, and in her arms was the boy again. She cradled him very closely to chest as she rocked back in forth. However, she seemed to be crying. The image appeared to get closer, or did someone move closer to the image. Is this a memory?
Upon getting closer, the child appears sick. His face is red, and his hair is sweaty and slick. He folded in… Pluto's arms. She holds him like a mother holds a child. She glances towards… me? Tears stream down her eyes as she returns her attention to the child. The child's eyes open, and now they too fall upon… me? A smile starts to spread across the boy's face. He opens his mouth and whispers, "Daddy." Then the sobs of Pluto grow louder and the image begins to brighten again until everything fades away into the light.
The next image flashes to life as a roar of thunder fills the air. Rain falls steadily from the sky. It feels like the rain is pattering upon… my face? Are these my memories? The grass is green, but there is one stone standing before me. A headstone. However, before the stone is a hole in the ground, a open grave. Inside I see the boy asleep in some sort of tube. For a moment it seems like his eyes are open and he's reaching for… me! I try to reach down and grab him, but my hands meet only grass. The grave is now sealed. What is going on?
The headstone. The answers must be there. As I gaze upon the stone… wait this cannot be me, I don't remember this. The stone. I have to read the stone. Perhaps the answers are there. Upon the stone the words are etched in gold: Here lies Prince Lunarius. Son of King Erick and Lady…. The light briefly flashes again, and the next image that pours to life is….
Darkness. Surrounded by darkness, Lunar Knight pulls his head from the stone floor. As he begins to stand, he calls into the darkness, "Wiseman! What was that? Whose memories are those? What do they mean?" Only the echoes of his own voice answered back. Lunar Knight glanced at the orb still floating in the center of the room, glowing. The answers that he desires are all right there. Does the orb hold the truth, or are they lies? Lunar Knight realizes that there's only one way to find out. As he extends his hand toward the globe once again, the blinding light again begins to engulf him.
"We have to find Darien," said Serena. "We need to know that he's all right! He didn't answer at his apartment." Mina and Raye looked at Serena with concern on their faces. As the morning sun rose slowly into the sky, they waited at the temple for Lita and Amy to show up. "We also need to look for Erick. He didn't come home last night. Why is this happening?!"
Serena broke down into tears, and began to drop to her knees. Mina and Raye grabbed her, and helped her sit down on the steps. Once Serena was seated, they begin to embrace her and tried to soothe her pain. They didn't notice Amy and Lita show up, until their shadows blocked the sun.
"Amy! Lita!" said Serena. "Did you find him? Is he all right?"
Amy turned Lita, who caught the glance and moved closer towards Serena. Amy, whose hands were behind her back, extended them towards Serena. The object that was in her hands was released into Serena's. Before looking, Serena noticed that tears were forming in Amy's eyes as she released the object. Serena opened her hands to find the mask of Tuxedo Mask in her hands, both charred and frayed. "It was all we could find, Serena. I'm sorry," sobbed Amy.
"NO!!" cried Serena as she fell to the ground. "It can't be! No please! NO!!" Mina and Lita fell to her side, and tried to comfort Serena as tears flowed from their eyes too. "Why did I leave him? I should have stayed."
The same palace chamber, only darker. Why? Everyone has their heads hung. The Queen, Serena, she is crying. "Please don't go," she cries. However the image swirls around, and now someone is blocking the door. They don't want… me… to leave. It's Sailor Pluto, and she has Rini in her arms. Again there are tears upon her face, she also doesn't want… me… to leave. It seems like… I… am going around her, and out of the door. As… I… exit, the image again becomes very bright.
As the brightness fades, it seems that this place is different. There is wreckage all around. Conduits are exploding with sparks and fire is spouting out of the wreckage. A hand… my hand… comes into focus. It's covered with blood. There are two young men reaching for me through the flames. One has white hair and the other blue hair. They look very much alike like brothers. As their hands approach me, the brightness begins to engulf me again.
A new image reappears, its cold. There's no snow, or anything else. It feels as if my soul is freezing. Is it… my… soul? The room is empty. The image seems to move, as if I… someone… just stood up. Now, everything is moving, like I… someone… I am walking. I reach for the doorknob to pull it open. As I do so, there is nothing, but blackness there. As I stare at it, I feel something reach out, and pull me inside. Something that I loathe, something that I hate! Yet, I don't struggle. I don't resist. Instead I embrace it. I embrace the dark. I embrace the hate. I embrace the pain. I embrace the… evil.
Slowly everything is swallowed into the blackness. Everything that was me, is gone. I am different now. I am no longer who I was. I want pain. I want pleasure. I want death. I can truly feel it inside of me now. I want power. I want absolute power. I want the kingdom that is rightfully mine. And anyone standing in my way, even my sister… especially my sister… will be destroyed.
Lunar Knight awoke on the floor again. This time he found that he was not alone, and that the Wiseman was with him. However, he was hooded once again. As Lunar Knight rose to his feet, a smile began to grow on his face. He looked into what seemed to be the eyes of the Wiseman. The Wiseman raised his hand, and pointed in a direction. As Lunar Knight turned in that direction, he saw the crystal ball.
Lunar Knight began to walk in that direction. As he reached out towards the floating orb, he could feel the dark power surging within it. He could also feel the dark power surging within him, coursing through his veins in his very blood. He could feel the powers calling out to each other, the orb calling out to him. All he had to do was touch it, and he would be complete. The pain and the yearning, now cursing his body would cease if only he would touch it.
Lunar Knight's hand was only inches away from touching the orb. For some reason he stopped. He felt slightly dizzy, and he faltered. He reached to grab his temple and shook off the sensation, but it happened again.
"What is wrong with you?" asked the Wiseman. "The orb before you will erase the pain. All you have to do is touch it. Then, the pain will be gone. You will be free! The power will be yours. You will be unstoppable. Can't you taste it?! Go ahead touch the orb and feel the true power of the Nega-Moon! The power of your birthright!"
Lunar Knight reached once again for the orb. The pain inside him was stronger than ever. He reached for the orb to ease the pain. The slightest touch and it would all go away. He fell to his knees, still trying to grasp the orb. With the orb only a few millimeters away, Lunar Knight fell into another wave of bright light as he felt his hand graze the orb.
"Stupid Serena!" complained Rini as she marched off the elevator. "I don't know why she didn't want me to come and see Darien. If she's upset with him that shouldn't mean that I can't spend time with him. Come on, Luna Ball. His apartment's this way."
The young pink-haired girl marched down the hallway towards Darien's door. She rapped lightly on the door. "Come in," she heard someone say. Rini turned the knob to find the apartment was dark. As she, and her Luna Ball, entered the door closed behind them.
"There you are you little brat!" shouted Avery completely blocking the door.
Rini shouted and ran deeper into the apartment. "Darien! Darien! Help!"
"Oh you won't find him her little girl," said Bertie, as Rini bumped into her leg. "It looks like you're all alone. Check and mate."
As Bertie reached to grab Rini, Luna Ball smashed squarely into Bertie's nose. Bertie let out a shriek of pain as she grabbed her nose. "Someone give me a compact! Hurry! That stupid ball could have totally ruined my nose!"
Catzi dropped a compact in front of Bertie and started to chase Rini around the apartment. As they ran into the kitchen, Rini pulled the stove open as well as the refrigerator door. Catzi tripped on the open oven door, and her face smashed into the door of the refrigerator. "I'm going to kill that little brat!" howled Catzi as she held her forehead and rolled off of the oven door.
Rini had reappeared in the living room, and was headed for the door. However, Prizma had papered right in front of her, and Avery was still blocking the door. "Looks like you little game of tag is over, twerp. Now, you're coming with us," proclaimed Prizma. Suddenly Luna Ball was soaring at top speed at Prizma's head. Prizma ducked and the Luna Ball smashed Avery's head against the door. As Prizma leaned over to grab Rini, the Luna Ball bounced off of Avery's head and smashed Prizma and the back of the head, sending both Sisters to the floor.
Rini ran for the door, but eventually felt someone lift her up before she could reach it. "Put me down!" shouted Rini, as she kicked in the air.
"Oh I don't think so, kid. As of now, you're Sailor Bait," said Rubeus.
"The Sailor Scouts are going to make you pay for this, you big bully," Rini squeaked.
"Oh I doubt that, your highness. You see, this sword is stronger than 100 of your Sailor friends. When they come to rescue you, they'll end up Sailor Memories," said Rubeus.
"Oh yeah, well, Tuxedo Mask and Lunar Knight…" began Rini.
"Won't be coming to the party. Tuxedo Mask was destroyed last night. And pretty soon, Lunar Knight will be out of the way as well. It's over Small Lady. The bad guys won this time," said Rubeus as he laughed.
The Luna Ball started to soar at Rubeus, but he managed to catch it with one hand. "Take a message ball! Tell the girl's guardians that we have Rini, and we will kill her unless Sailor Moon surrenders the Silver Crystal to me at the Starlight Towers tonight at midnight."
After leaving his message, Rubeus and the battered Four Sisters disappeared from the room. Luna Ball quickly soared out of the window and towards the Cherry Hill temple in search of help.
The bright light remained this time. There seems to be nothing here, but then a boy appears in the distance. He seems to be approaching… me. He looks at me and smiles. He holds out his arms like he wants me to embrace him. As I reach out to him, he cringes away. As I turn, I see the large blackness approaching. When I turn around, I see the blackness coming towards me… no, coming towards the boy in every direction.
He's still reaching out towards me. The darkness has surpassed me, it doesn't want me, it wants him. He's afraid. He's still calling out to me. "DADDY!" His screams echo through me. He's calling for his father. Is he calling for me? "DADDY! HELP ME! I'm scared…." His cries are being muffled by the darkness. I run to him with my hand outstretched. Trying to reach him. Something has grabbed my leg. The darkness. As I turn, I see that the orb is also within my reach. It's closer to me than the boy. Perhaps if I grab it, I can save him too. The sobs of the child recapture my attention. He's afraid. Tears are falling from his eyes. I try to reach him, but he's just too far. The orb… is it my only chance.
As I start to reach for the orb, I notice the screams of the boy die away. He's farther away. There's no way I can reach him. I refocus my attention on the boy, and he seems closer, however the orb has moved directly in front of my face. The boy is terrified, and calling for his father. He's calling for…. He's calling for me. I try to reach for the boy, but now the orb is in front of me blocking the way. "DADDY!"
With all the might I can muster, I smash the orb. The shards of glass disappear as if it were never there. The darkness loses its hold upon me, and I touch him. I hold him in my arms. I feel my soul become warm, as if set on fire. "Daddy," says the boy as he rests within my arms. I begin to hear the laughter as I find myself within the palace halls again. As I look up from my embrace with the boy, I see the younger Rini in Serena's arms as she stands next to Darien. I see the Sailor Scouts, and I see the Sailor Pluto with her arms open. The boy runs from my arms, and into hers. They boy turns back towards me and waves, "Bye daddy."
Lunar Knight awakens, but finds himself at the Gate of Time. As he rises to his feet, he notices Sailor Pluto on the other side of the gate. "I'm sorry, I failed," said Lunar Knight. As the gate opens, Lunar Knight slowly walks through. His gaze never falls from her eyes. He looks deeply into them as if searching for something.
"You did not fail. You broke the Wiseman's cycle," responded Sailor Pluto. "I had every confidence that you would succeed, your Highness." Sailor Pluto noticed how Lunar Knight was staring at her. "Is there something wrong?"
"The visions that I saw," said Lunar Knight. "You were there, holding a child. I assumed that he was my son. Are you…"
"This is not the time to concern yourself with that," said Sailor Pluto. "You must return to the present, your friends are in danger. The one called Rubeus has Small Lady. Sailor Moon and the other Sailor Scouts do not stand a chance now that he has the Sword of Lunarius."
"Lunarius," said Lunar Knight to himself.
"You must hurry, and remember that only the combined power of the true bloodline of Lunarius will supercede the Rubeus' control over the sword," said Sailor Pluto.
"Right," said Lunar Knight, "but the visions… were they memories?"
"You will find the aid that you need at the end of the passage before you return to the present," said Sailor Pluto. Then, the mist began to rise and Sailor Pluto was gone.
"This is a trap," said Sailor Venus as she peaked through he bushes, "I can feel it in my bones."
"We don't have a choice," said Sailor Jupiter. "That creep has Rini. What's the plan Sailor Moon?"
"Come on," said Sailor Moon as she stood up. The other Sailor Scout were shocked and proceeded after her. "We're here Rubeus! Come out now, and give us Rini!"
"I'm amazed by your attitude, Miss Moon. I was certain that you would have been too afraid to show up, especially with Tuxedo Mask and Lunar Knight out of the way," said Rubeus.
"What have you done to Lunar Knight?!" cried Sailor Mars.
"Business first ladies, then pleasure," said Rubeus. "Now, where is the Silver Crystal?"
"You show us Rini, first," said Sailor Mercury. Rubeus snapped his fingers and the Four Sister materialized holding Rini firmly.
Rubeus drew his sword and pointed directly at Rini. "Now, give me the crystal Sailor Moon before she ends up like Tuxedo Mask."
"Not this time, Rubeus," said a voice from behind. Rubeus turned around to see Lunar Knight's Lunar Saber slicing towards him. Rubeus rolled out of the way of the attack. "What's the matter Rubeus, scared to see me!"
"I don't know how this is possible," began Rubeus. "Nevertheless, I'll enjoy destroying you with your own father's sword!" Rubeus lunged at Lunar Knight. Every blow that Rubeus tossed, Lunar Knight blocked. "I've had enough of this game. Farewell Lunar Knight!" Rubeus aimed the sword at Lunar Knight, and unleashed a huge wave of black energy.
"Lunar… Sheild… Eclipse!!!" yelled Lunar Knight as he raised his forearm in front of him. The energy wave clashed against the clear energy shield that formed, but didn't manage to break through. Rubeus stood watching in awe as Lunar Knight escaped his attack unscathed. "You're strong with the sword, Rubeus, but not strong enough. Only those of the bloodline can call upon the swords ultimate powers. Sailor Moon, use your Moon Scepter, and together we can stop Rubeus!"
Sailor Moon nodded, and revealed her Moon Scepter. "Cosmic… Moon… Power!!!" cried Sailor Moon.
"Lunar… Celestial… Wake!!!" shouted Lunar Knight.
As the energy poured from their weapons they collided with the Sword of Lunarius in Rubeus' hand. With all of his might Rubeus tried to maintain control of the sword. Then, a surge of energy exploded in his hand. The energy beams from their weapons then engulfed the sword. The sword seemed to disappear, and the beams returned to the weapons of Sailor Moon and Lunar Knight.
"Ahh!" shouted Rubeus. "The sword? Where's the sword?!"
"Where it belongs Rubeus, within the bloodline," said Lunar Knight.
"Sisters! Kill the girl!" cried Rubeus.
The Four Sisters fired their energy beams at Rini just as they had done to Tuxedo Mask. The explosion engulfed her, and the eyes of the Sailor Scouts were full of shock. "I warned you not to cross me, Sailor Moon!"
"You missed me," came Rini's voice. Everyone looked into the air to find Rini safe in the arms of Tuxedo Mask. Once they were safe on the ground, behind the Sailor Scouts, Rini gave a raspberry to Rubeus. "I told you so!"
Filled with rage, Rubeus disappeared, as did the Four Sisters. The Scouts all paraded around Tuxedo Mask and Rini. "Tuxedo Mask, how did you escape?" asked Sailor Moon.
"Sailor Pluto, rescued me just before the attack from the Sisters managed to hit me," explained Tuxedo Mask.
"And where were you, Lunar Knight?" asked Sailor Mars.
Lunar Knight looked down at Rini, and took her into his arms, "Making sure that Nega-Moon won't be able to do anything like this again. Not now, and not in the future."