The Lady Wore Black: A Lady in Waiting, A Kingdom In Peril
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The princess sent a prayer out her window:
The Moon was high in the sky, her grandmother's fair home.
"Can Granny grant me one wish before the night's over?'
Only a breeze replied.
"Can Granny grant me the love of my life?"
Now the air stopped and nothing stirred.
"Please, Granny, grant me this if you're listening tonight."
And with that the breeze picked up again.
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Helios stared at the sky through the bars.
Sailor Sky hadn't remove the deep darkness for her sky . . . . Would the Queen punish her?
He smiled a bitter smile.
What did they do?
What did anyone ever do?
What was the point of punishment anyone here?
All of them did nothing but good. But goodness couldn't save one.
He learned the meaning: Punishment was to feel pain, to be denied of something . . . .
Everything in him missed her dancing eyes, her musical laugher, her quiet steps.
The guardian of dreams couldn't even protect his own-he was being denied his dream:
Her.
Serenity.
His Lady.
It tore through him enough to make him scream in the remainder of the restless night. . .
"I'VE LOST MY DREAM! I'VE LOST MY HEART!"
He bemoaned these things as the Moon broke into the night.
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Reni gazed the mirror.
A wedding dress made of silk as fragile and exquisite as a spider's web,
her whole being embellished with finery and grandeur, one unruly lock escaped from its elaborate prison.
This wasn't a wedding day: It was a descent into Hell, something shoved down her throat,
she was being ripped away from her one and only love . . . .
Helios would pine away in his cage leaving the princess victim to a wedlock that would forever bind her in chains.
This wasn't how it suppose to be.
"Dark skies hide us but never you from my heart."
Placing a hand on the cool glass, she laid her head down. . . ."Our Light is lost."
And cried . . . .
Through her hazy tears she saw a hand reach to her, outstretched and waiting.
His hand?
She peered closer . . . . A pale hand longing to touch hers.
"He's dying in there."
It moved closer and closer, like it was calling, begging her to answer.
She forced her hand to reach out and take it-why would she fear it?
Her answer came.
The hand bursted through the glass and tried to strangle her, a figure of pure evil shrilled.
A nightmare in her waking hours, a demonic smile floated on its face.
"Ah!"
The girl jumped back in horror.
She wanted to run away, she wanted to escape, she wanted to die.
"No!" She howled, shielding her face, what did it want? What was it doing?
Wiping her tears and mascara away she realized that it wasn't a hand in the glass-
There was nothing there, the glass was only glass . . . . Except . . .
She made herself look again . . . .
Except for the dark passing clouds.
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"You can't make it rain today."
"Watch me." Doreira growled under her breath to Creda.
Each girl was adored in a pink lemon colored bride maid's dress and matching hairstyles.
"Why are they going through with this? She's doesn't want to give away like a mere object."
Terra shook her head as she spoke.
"Brother, my brother, why so misguided?"
"The Queen knows what we did, especially the sky part." Selena wasn't feeling bright.
"She doesn't and don't dare give her any ideas!" The body of the group hissed.
"Doreira, stop it." The soul of the group warned pointing in her face.
She slapped the hand away, "Shut up Creda, just shut the hell up. Half of this shit is your fault!"
The girls were about exchange blows when te mind cut in, pushing the girls apart.
"Both of you stop." The body broke free but Terra pushed her back, "I. Mean. It."
"She doesn't deserve to see us fight." The heart of the group whispered softly.
Creda signed. "I was wrong." She brushed herself off, "Doreira-"
"Save it. Let's get this over with."
"I know you don't mean that-" Selena let the words drop like tears, unseen and poignant.
The four Neos made their way to the great hall that would hold the wedding of their Lady to another . . . .
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"Dearest Lady of the Moon and Crystal Toyko, we mustn't see each other before the wed-"
"I'm gonna tell you a little secret now-" The chosen groom found his tongue cut out before saying his eloquent speech,
the Princess took him by the collar and pulled him down:
"The minute you say I do, I'm gonna make you pay.
I'll make you suffer Prince-my heart belongs to another, not yours."
"I'm very aware of your Earth Guardian, I know what of this love affair-so don't worry your pretty little head off-"
The prince tried to hold his own by being smug, her grip tightened.
"Because if I do, I take your pretty, pretty head off. This is a marriage of convenience sir:
I own my life."
And with that she pushed him back into the dressing room, leaving with her head lifted.
"Lady?" A servant had come to fetch her. "It's time."
The dressed bride walked through the open door . . . . Into the farce matrimony . . . .
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The band played the Wedding March for them-to Reni it could have been the Death March and she wouldn't have notice, each were equally damning.
Her father led her down the aisle as in traditional, for once in her life she couldn't stand to even glance at him.
"It must be done." He confessed softly as the walked through the sea of flowers and decor.
"No, it mustn't. I didn't plan this."
"I didn't plan on having my daughter fall prey to a man-"
"Who loves and cares for me as my mother does for you. I though you would understand."
The king swallowed any more protest. He did understand and that did hurt.
The groom cut her a mean look trying to appear deadly he wanted to let her who was going to be the one with control in this match.
Reni's eyes burned her warning.
Everyone had their places: The bride's party consist of the Nine Ladies save Queen Serenity and the Neos, two women on each side.
The groom's party contained their respective escorts and husbands with the groom's many friends.
The Neos had their heads down in a solemn gesture-Reni faked a smile, afraid that she would cry looking at them-
Being they were so sadden for not protecting the Lady's love.
'Lady, who will always be great, we tried and failed you.' They said with their minds.
'I'm not angry.' She answered back.
An ancient priest came in, the guests remained hushed, nothing moved but the flames in the sea of candles.
"Today, we are gathered here in honor of the joining of two hearts and two minds, of two kingdoms and two lovers. . . ."
His speech could have outlasted lifetimes, for Reni it meant she was closer and closer to the "I do."
She didn't even realize that the priest was looking at her and awaiting her answer.
"And Princess Serenity, lady of the Moon and Crystal Toyko, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband-"
"I do if she doesn't!"
A whip cracked out of the back of the great hall. A girl dressed as a ring leader stood near the doors.
"But I'm not up for those type of tricks-I have a clever one for all to seeeeeeeee."
The ring leader cracked the whip again-all of the doors and windows locked.
The next crack caused a scream to come from the Queen. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!"
She fell down to the floor from her place on the stage as a black rope bound her, the King rushed to her side.
"What the hell-!" The King yelled as the other Senshi rushed to them.
Suddenly the rope became a venomous viper that struck him in the arm.
Reni gasped in horror, "No! Mother! Father!" The groom fainted.
"King Eydimon! Queen Serenity!" The Senshi cried out.
Another crack send a cage around the Nine and royal couple that was hanging in the sky.
The guests watched with growing panic, the next crack froze them all in black ice.
"Come face us you-!"
It took Lady of Mars, Uranus, and the Time Keeper Lady Pluto to hold the Lady Jupiter back.
They saw Lady Neptune grabbed the sides and fall down in pain.
"Lita, we can't fight them, we're no longer Scouts!" It was Ami trying to reason with her.
"What can we do-?" She shot back, hating to be only the lady and not a warrior.
Black ice covered them too.
"Forgive us, dear Ladies, Mothers of the Universe."
The Neos spoke before dumping their bouquets, then forming a human barrier between them and their Lady
Creda looked her in the eye, "Don't do this Charisma-"
Selena clasped her hands together begging her heart, "You can always come back-"
Doreira shook her fist, "Or always get your ass kicked in the process."
"Ooh, those are fighting words. . . ." The dark scout walked down the aisle,
"But any good magician keeps a fresh trick up their sleeve."
She snapped her fingers then threw her hat in the air, a puff of black smoke appeared and a black pen fell into her hand . . . .
It became a black star locket.
"Dark Sailor Extreme Make-Up!"
The Neos witnessed the transformation in scared silence.
"My unveiling."
She floated down easily to the ground.
"I am the Great. And yes, I am the Sailor that is Fury, Sailor Mystique-the other Dark Child."
The candles danced an evil dance . . . .
"Minion of Fire, Red Scorpion, show them what I already know, the power to make them suffer more!"
The giant red scorpion drove its tail into the ground causing the ground to quake.
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"Selena!" Reni flew toward her, the scorpion stood directly behind her.
"Huh?"
Neo Sailor Moon pulled her up in the air-flames covered the carpet.
She spat out the order to them all: "Don't touch the ground! You'll get burned!"
"Lady I-!" The golden one tried to protest.
"Neo Moon Sugar Rose Attack!" Light followed and the fire vanished in a field of pink dust.
"Just watch your back. Understand?"
She nodded blankly.
Now the Neos were being held up in the air by Psyche's Levitation Maker.
"Damn, if only I could use my Sky Shadow Hue like I did last night! We could confuse her."
"We gotta do something and none of our old attacks are working." Creda spoke.
Terra suddenly focused her total attention on the girl, "Anything she can do, we do better."
"But-but how?" Sailor Sun asked in her tiny voice.
Sky cut in, "She summoned her Guardians Pluto and Saturn, we summoned ours."
"Doreira, wait we must-"
Psyche tried to get them to form a plan but the girl was already flying toward the bug.
"To the Sky, Guard the Body, give me the power-!" The wind began to blow a gale.
"Sky Sleeper Hold. . . ." Blue light appeared from her hands. "Bind!"
The scorpion wailed as the blue energy pinned its appendages together.
"Ha!"
"Wh-at!" Mystique whined watching her upper hand in the fight fall.
Sailor Earth suddenly channeled the Earth, the ground hummed in response:
"You can do it, just put your mind to it."
She flew to the ground and touched it.
"Earth Galvanizer Juggernaut-!" Copper beams made her glow, "Energize!"
Terra rushed the bound bug then knocked it clean into the back wall.
"Noooooo, my bug!" Sailor Mystique felt her anger rise. "This isn't the last trick left!"
The windows reflected dark clouds, "Mystique Gossamer Tango Wrap!"
Webs came after the Mind and Body sailors. But they had lost their fear . . . .
"Some trick-" Earth brushed off.
"A cheap one . . .Trick." Sky was provoking her.
The girls easily broke their bounds.
"You thought it was over . . . . "
Charisma could never take wounded pride.
"Mother, I call you to rise! I call the Black Lady to return!"
The windows shattered, a black mist came in, the broken web rejoined and struck the two again.
Black lighting emitted from the threads, this time they couldn't get free . . . .
"Ahhhhhhhhh!"
Screams from their voiced filled the hall, the mist turned into a liquid, it traveled up the webbing then into the girls . . . .
It amplified their screaming, their terror . . . .
It had them.
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A woman in the mirror smiled at Reni . . . . Hand held out . . . .
This morning a hand tried to choke her . . . . The hand wanted her, tried to kill her . . . .
That hand was hers . . . .
"I'm coming back for you."
The Neo Moon felt a rush of memories hit her.
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"TERRA . . . ! DOREIRA . . . ! LET THEM GOOOOOOO!"
Reni cried out, breaking free of Selena and Creda.
"Lady!" She didn't answer their calls.
She flew toward the webs and grabbed it, it wouldn't break. The two knew what would come next . . . .
Creda followed her.
Mystique channeled more energy, "Take that one! If I can't win then you won't either!"
The black lighting coursed through her veins but she refused to reveal her pain.
"I won't yield!"
The room was black, the day was giving out, the world was growing colder . . . .
"I'll get you Neo Sailor Moon, drain her now!"
"Lady, noooooooooooooooooooooo!" Terra couldn't let her own blood be taken.
"Princess Serenity!" Sky yelled then dropped into a dead faint with Terra.
The Fury Scout saw the Sun Scout stand there unmoved.
"Go on, Sun, let them die!" She belllowed, "Mystique Opaque Shadow, hide her heart!"
"Get them all, FED ON THEM Mother!" The channeling continued, Mystique's rage fed it.
"I won't give up!" Reni told her, the fear replaced with determination.
Now the energy was taking Psyche.
"Psyche!"
"Lady-stop, don't!"
But Selena-her fear had taken her.
The Sun sailor felt her pen crush in the palm of her hand . . .
Golden dusk between her fingers. Gasp held the other two Neos from words, was she gone too . . . ?
"Selena! Block it out!" Reni begged. 'Don't listen!"
"Selena, help us!" Creda strained against the lighting.
The scorpion started to wiggle, then get to its feet. It fixed its eyes on the Lady.
Selena brushed herself off, stared fixed on the Dark Scout's creation.
"You'll rise!" The Fury scout beckoned, the power was building in the three of them.
Selena felt the Sun fading, Doreira's absence meant the sky would be empty.
Tera's absence meant the earth would fall cold. There only remained the heart and soul . . .
The webbing snapped, Reni and Creda took their bodies from the ruins.
"It's not too late!" The Neo Moon declared, a faint breath came from Terra.
"They-they're not responding!" The silver one felt her heart twisting, Doreira was cold.
"Terra, Doreira, wake up!" Their pleas fell on deaf ears.
"We are connected, as one body, your body. We live as one and we die as one."
She reminded herself, a pink light came from the locket that surrounded them all . . . .
Something had fed her power, another attack came to her.
She bitted her lip to keep it from taking her, the locket blinked in tune . . . .
Creda knew something would occur, lights golden, dark, and lemon pink danced in the air.
The bug jumped at the two Neos.
"Watch out!" Selena shrieked, "Sun . . . . Eclipse Finesse. . . ."
Her anger made the flames rise higher, she wouldn't be taken by fear. "I-l-l-u-m-i-n-a-t-i-o-n!"
A golden wall of flame engulfed the room . . . .
The hall was shaking, the mist was thicker, the dink dust rising. "YOU WILL RISE!"
A wave of energy surged from Reni: "Neo Moon . . . . Pink Mist . . . . EFFERVESCE!"
Three lights struck at once.
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Reni hit the ground.
The sailor of fury howled, a flood of pink dust was consuming her . . . .
It picked her up then threw her into the wall. The Minion Scorpion followed her, it crashed and burned.
Selena dropped to the ground, the attack left her drained.
Creda was on the other side of the room watching all of this.
A black pool of liquid formed where the girl had fell, dripping from the broken glass falling into the middle . . . .
The liquid was spreading.
"She lives-" A crackle filled the room, filled with evil triumph: "She lives!"
The great hall was decimated and covered in pink dust.
Selena looked toward the stage, the cage remained untouched,
the Ladies nor the King couldn't be reached in their barrier.
But the Minion was nothing but a golden powder.
Yet the black liquid remained.
"Not dead but sleeping. . . ." The Fury Scout warned then eyes rolled back in her head.
She dropped to the ground, then fell covered into a pink and golden powder.
Creda forced herself to move her now twisted ankle.
Selena moved her hand form her eyes, trembling. "Is she-?"
The question lingered in the air. The mist was now the air.
From the pool a figure arose, hand offended out . . . .
Reni screamed.
"Dark am I-" The voice sung, "A Lady to rise . . ."
A mirror image in a black dress with a deep slit and high heels-and pink hair.
That hand was hers.
Selena couldn't catch in time Reni when she fainted.
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Helios was convulsing in his cell.
Something had happened.
Something to Reni.
"My heart-" He breathed then collapsed to the cold floor.
"What had become of her!?!"
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"Helios."
A hand he saw in the haze of his delirium reached out to him.
It couldn't belong to her . . . . Could it? If something had happen, they why was she . . .?
"My one and only love." A soft hand touched his.
A woman with deep pink locks and a wedding dress leaned down.
She smiled in his face. "Helios: It's me."
"Lady . . . ?" Was the only thing he could manage to say, her eyes took him.
She picked his head up, brushing away his hair,
"Don't worry. I'm here."
He couldn't contain his joy, "Oh, my love-!"
"I love no other." The voice full of the bells he cherished whispered.
She kissed him, touching the depths of his soul.
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