Serenity
listened to her advisors absently as she twirled a strand of hair around her
fingers and wondered about her daughter. She sighed as she caught her mind wandering yet again and straightened
in her chair, resolving to listen attentively to what Luna and Artemis were
telling her. Not that it would be
anything urgent or even anything new, their society was still in limbo awaiting
freedom and oblivious to whether or not it was approaching.
She felt a warm hand rest itself on
her shoulder and lifted one of her own to lie on top of it. For all that time did not pass for them she
and her people could still change, albeit slowly. Her relationship with Michael was proof enough of that. She looked up to see both Luna and Artemis
regarding her with indulgence and she smiled ruefully.
"I'm sorry my friends, I cannot seem
to focus today," she apologised softly.
"Or for the past several weeks,"
Michael said fondly.
"For that matter you've been
slightly inattentive for the past several years," Liriel quipped from her
position near the window.
Serenity blushed slightly but did
not deny it. "I know," she said
instead, "But lately I can't help but think that the last ShadowWar is being
fought on the Earth at this time..."
"And the princess is caught in the middle
of it," Artemis, cousin and close friend to the Lunarian Queen, murmured.
Suddenly Serenity jumped to her feet
and stood rigid, her chair tipping to clatter upon the floor. Luna and Artemis rose in concern but it was
the queen's guard who went to her side. Michael held both her shoulders and stared into her eyes intently while
Liriel mentally called the two remaining guards to attend them. Then the queen jerked in her lover's grasp
and Liriel jumped forward to ensure that he didn't lose his hold. Raphael and Gabriel rushed through the door
to their queen. Instants later Luna and
Artemis bolted to catch Serenity as her guards were afflicted by whatever was
ailing her. The two royal advisors
carefully helped the heedless queen to her seat and as Luna tried to decipher
what was happening Artemis checked on the guards sprawled on the floor.
"They are all alive," he said, his
anxiety abating slightly.
Luna looked at him and in her amber
eyes worry whirled. "They are the five
most powerful souls amongst our people, what could have done this to them?"
"Maybe it is their power," Artemis
mused, his eyes lighting up with excitement, "If the time of prophecy has truly
come then it would be they who sensed it first."
***
Serenity sent her mind out immediately
upon sensing the nibbling at the edge of her senses. She blindly groped around with her magic for the occurrence that
had caught her attention. After several
moments of fruitless searching she felt her guards reaching to her in
concern. Mentally she showed them what
she had felt and they had immediately added their efforts to hers. A small part of her mind noted that they
would all have bruises from their abrupt dismissal of their physical bodies but
that was not important at the moment.
With the aid of her guards, each of
whom were bonded to her in a manner that dwarfed all ties but that of a soul
mating, she searched along the border of her realm where the Wall of the Ban
imprisoned her and her people. Raphael's wordless surprise caught her attention and she and the rest of
her guard focused where he indicated. Burrowing through the Wall was a golden cocoon of energy.
*My daughter is in that!*
Serenity exclaimed mentally to her companions.
*Are you sure Sere?*
Michael's thought questioned her.
Serenity's emotions coloured her
reply, both ecstatic and apprehensive. *Of course, it's not her physical
body and she is not alone but that's my daughter encased in a shell of Earth's
energies!*
*The Ban has been broken then?*
Gabriel's practical mind asked, *Are we free?*
The five Lunari examined the barrier
in which the cocoon was tunnelling
through. *I don't know how they did
it but the barrier is dying, the cocoon's passage is making it vulnerable.* Raphael answered his wife.
Serenity ignored the exchange, and
probed the capsule. Inside the whirling
case of gold five spirits were growing stronger, spirits that she had not
touched in eons. She reached in
mentally and touched the centremost
spirit.
FLASH
The silver haired general smiled as
he removed his fingers from her lips, "Were you go Angel, we follow. What risks you take are ours as well. The others will agree with me, we are in it
together."
Their eyes met in understanding
and as one they turned to face Thanatos. Kunzite stood behind Bunny, one hand on her shoulder as the being took
in their acceptance.
"As you wish," he acceded
before smiling at them respectfully, "In the face of such resolve I can do
naught but agree."
FLASH
When death retreats of the Reaper's
free will,
FLASH
She called her power to fight for
his life and they both glowed with the silver of her own being. Her magic supported him with her own
heartbeat but could not free him to sustain himself. Inside of him she sensed the golden pool of light that was his life
force, something she had never before been close enough to feel, dying. The power of each beat of her own heart
stirred the spring of his aura, battling the darkness that was draining the
light and life from him.
FLASH
When Gold dances to Silver's beat,
FLASH
The cocoon of magic suddenly began
to whirl around them, the golden energies of Earth revolving around their souls
faster and faster. Currents and swirls
of power warped reality outside of it.
FLASH
When the Earth revolves around the
Moon, Then will the host be free once
more.
FLASH
Michael's strength steadied the
queen as she reeled from the mental onslaught. He knew with out words what she had learned. *Rena broke the curse* he carolled.
*They are besieged!* Serenity
managed to form the thought through her horror, *Serena was wounded and
Endymion used his link with his world to bring her spirit to us in the hope
that we could heal her. She was too far
gone though and the Guard were forced to accompany her to ensure that her soul
survived the journey.*
*Can we save her?* Liriel asked apprehensively.
Assent and determination radiated
from the other four minds and Michael expanded, *We can do more than that
now... the host is free!*
Serenity reluctantly restrained her
enthusiastic guards. *Unfortunately it's not that simple. All five of them are physically dead, we are
able to rectify that now and her guards as well as Serena will awaken to bodies
which are fitting houses for their souls but they will still be on Earth. My daughter is the Shadow Bane, it is she
who must face Metallia and end the conflict. As for our people, at the moment only we five would be strong enough
cross the Wall of the Ban and we cannot leave our kingdom unguarded else our
unprepared state leaves us vulnerable.*
*But we can't not do anything!*
Liriel protested.
The cocoon broke though the Wall and
Serenity used her magic to gently cradle it. She felt the souls inside quicken to the magic that her kingdom
generated and which permeated the entirety of its reality. She felt the soul of her daughter fully
awaken for the fist time in millennia and the watched as the mortal souls of
her daughter's guards were enhanced by their proximity to the awakened moon
princess. Mother and daughter reached
to each other mentally and for the first time in nearly ten thousand years they
were able to communicate.
Endless moments later Serenity
returned her attention to her guards and answered in determination, *No we
can't*
***
Luna
and Artemis looked at the spaces that had, until mere seconds ago, been
occupied by the royal guard. Between
one breath and the next, the unconscious warriors had been lying immobile on
the cold floor and then had disappeared, only the open window and four streaks
of light in the sky to suggestion their path. A soft murmur behind them drew the attention of both advisors and the
pair rushed to the side of their queen.
"They've gone?" she asked hoarsely.
Neither advisor needed to ask who
she meant. Artemis nodded, "Aye,
Majesty. Is it...?"
The regal woman drew herself to her
feet. Her silver-white hair was the
exact shade of the feathers on her wings and her silvery blue eyes shone as she
nodded, "Yes, my friends, it is. One
way or another it is the last battle against the Shadows being fought on the
Earth at this moment and we need to prepare for the outcome."
The two advisors followed the queen
as she stepped from the room, each of them mantling their wings, preparing for
action. There was no going back from
here. For better or for ill, the angels
were free once more.
***
Endymion
came back to himself with a jerk to discover that he was kneeling in a war zone
with Sailors Pluto and Saturn guarding him. In his arms was the still form of Sailor Moon but the prince was no
longer concerned by her condition for he had seen what her people were, what
her mother was and what she herself would be again. Angels are known for miracles. He lifted her into his arms as he stood and, flanked by both
Saturn and Pluto, moved to a more defensible position. Mars who replaced Saturn when she left to
help the other Scouts as they tried to protect the prone Guard soon joined the
group.
He
gently laid her on the ground and looked to Pluto, "Why didn't you tell me?" he
demanded. Her face was bewildered and
he expanded, "Why didn't you tell me that the entire Lunarian people were
angels? All of them, commoners,
warriors, princess... and queen!" The
dark Scout's eyes were wide. You did
know Setsuna, didn't you?
"I had no idea, highness," she
whispered in awe, "I knew that they were beings of magic but I had thought
angels to be a story... I would never
have thought to connect them to the Lunari!"
"It explains so much," Mars murmured
and he looked at her in question. She
flipped her black hair over her shoulder and continued softly, "Why, even in
our time, the magic of the universe was fading and how wonders happened less
and less. Their absence could even have
been why the Guard was formed..."
"The origin of the Guard is as old
as the Prophecy of the last ShadowWar," Pluto remarked as she stood to observe
the battlefield.
Endy nodded in comprehension as he,
too, rose and his gaze swept over the conflict to survey events. The Guard are the guardians of Earth's
magic, chosen by the creatures of magic themselves. If the Lunarians were free then what need would the spirits of
magic have of mortals to be their avatars when their true masters were
accessible? Maybe the creatures knew in
some way that the time of prophesy had come and that's why the Guard are so
powerful… He saw Uranus standing
between a cluster of youma and Neptune who was dragging the fallen forms of
Kunzite and Zoicyte together. The
aggressive Scout wielded her sword with wicked efficiency, holding off not only
the youma but also the two Guards' evil twins. Her partner finished placing the two bodies together and then moved to
stand beside her but even together they would not be able to meet the odds for
long.
Jupiter and Mercury stood back to
back over the fallen Nephrite and Saturn was assaulting Beryl's Jadeite while
Venus dragged the original out of the line of fire. The Dark Kingdom generals were still throwing the occasional
blast of energy into the fray but had apparently been appeased by the defeat of
the Guard. Even so their interventions,
the overwhelming numbers of youma and the ever-increasing amount of Shadow were
killing the Scouts. As he watched,
Endymion saw Mercury and Jupiter caught in a blast sent by Nephrite's twin. Mercury fell to her knees but Jupiter remained
on her feet to counter the projectiles sent by and attacking group of youma.
Endymion hurled dozens of roses at
any those of the foe who looked as if they were about to attack any of his
warriors but the sheer numbers of enemy prevented him from delaying all of
them. Endymion could see the Scouts
began to feel the strain of their attempt to restrain Beryl as their blood
began to flow freely as they gamely fought on. He gestured for Mars and Pluto to go to their comrades' aid. The two women nodded reluctantly and moved
to reinforce their badly hurting friends while Endy was left to guard the
Shadow Bane.
We can't keep this up for much
longer. The prince flung more of
his magical flowers at the enemy and threw himself to the ground as a huge
blast of energy passed through where he had been standing. What the...? Oh Goddess it's Kunzite and Zoicyte's doubles! He regained his feet and blocked several
more pulses of dark energy as the two generals turned their attention to him
and the girl on the ground that their queen had been so eager to see dead. Even as he stood his ground against the two
clones, as Shadows began to surround him and his charge Endymion eyes widened
at a sight that worsened the situation a thousand fold.
Goddess! Please don't let her be doing what I think
she's doing! Across the conflict he
saw the flow of Shadows halt on their own and the figure of Beryl convulse
painfully. The sorceress' features were
obscured by darkness for an instant and when they were visible again it was not
Beryl's personality that Darien saw in the woman's golden eyes. Goddess it was, she's freed
Metallia! Angel, whatever you and the
Guard were planning, now is a good time!
The Dark Kingdom generals continued
to attack Earth's defenders, ignoring the change in their mistress. More and more the scouts were being pushed
back, Jupiter was dragging Nephrite and supporting Amy as they backed away only
Sailor Saturn preventing the youma and Shadows from finishing them off. Uranus had Zoicyte thrown over her shoulder
and was dragging Kunzite with her free arm as Neptune took her place and
covered their retreat. Mars and Venus
were dragging the body of Jadeite while Pluto defended them from the attention
of Jadeite's double. The generals were
attacking with vicious delight, the youma surged in renewed violence and the
Shadows swarmed around the humans, unable to escape from the chamber.
The prince's armour saved him from
an energy blast but the force threw him to his knees. Endymion tried to clear his head but before he had had a chance
to do so a barrage of razor edged crystals was aimed his way. No, Angel! He began to throw his tattered cloak over Sailor Moon, trying to
protect her when the being in Beryl's body began to laugh. Then all hell broke loose.
The full power of the Queen of
Demons began to stir the air in the chamber as the very light was drained from
the air. The Shadows gained in strength
and substance, the magical wind seeming to feed them. The eyes of the Dark Kingdom generals became midnight pools of
nothingness, displaying the unholy origins of the enemy copies of the Guard,
and the four enemy warriors' assaults gained in strength. Endymion was knocked to the side and he slid
several feet across the floor before he came to a stop, lying on his
stomach. He dragged his head up and saw
that the only creatures standing were spawned from Shadow, youma, general or
the dark wraiths themselves. The Scouts
lay sprawled among the ashes and corpses of the youma they had destroyed, the
bodies of the Guard interspaced with theirs. The evil figure that had once been Beryl levitated into the air and the
atmosphere grew heavy with her power.
We're dead!
An instant before Metallia released
the energy she had gathered to finish the Scouts and their prince off four
piercing stars of light burst through the ceiling of the cavern. Shadows boiled to use the holes as escapes
but the light burned them away. The
lights began to resolve themselves into figures and, as he his eyes began to
adjust enough to register details, five new lights erupted from several of the
battered warriors on the ground.
What on Earth? Endy shielded his eyes from the brilliant
light that was coming from Sailor Moon. He heard the exclamations from around the room and risked a glance to
see that the Guard were also glowing while Metallia and her various minions
recoiled from the light. Forget
that, what on the Moon is happening? It
has to be the Moon... I think Angel's people are free and that means-
There were nine columns of light in the
chamber, each of which resolved itself into the figure of a warrior in white
and gold. Eight of the warriors wore
uniforms similar to those the Guard had once worn. Three of those warriors were female and five were male and of
them Endy could only identify four. The
final figure was garbed in the uniform of a Scout, with the colours of gold,
white and silver shimmering softly and her presence caused Endymion's heart to
jump. Nine pairs of eyes opened to
shine with an inhuman light, nine great pairs of wings arched to revel in the
glory that was theirs.
Angel, angels. I knew you would return.
The prince dragged himself to his
feet and smiled in vicious satisfaction as the Shadows around the throne room
were burned away by a power of purity that had not been known in the universe
for eons. His movement caught the
attention of the angel Scout and she turned to him, her eyes widening in
concern as she saw his tattered state. She quickly moved to his side and Endymion found himself drowning in her
blue eyes. Angel, you came back to
me. The back of his mind registered
the other winged beings either helping the Scouts or watching the enemy. Generals, youma and Demon Queen alike were
all paralysed
by the sudden appearance of the Lunari but all he could concentrate on was the
woman in front of him.
Angel. Unable to stop himself he leaned down for a
kiss.
***
Jupiter grasped the strong hand
offered to her without looking at it, her gaze caught by that of the hand's
owner. Nephrite stood before her,
attired in a white and gold uniform. His auburn hair hung loose about and over his shoulders to mingle with
the identically coloured feathers on his wings. His blue green eyes captivated her and only by an extreme act of
will was she able to look away. Next to
her Mercury was being helped from her knees by one of the winged warriors. Her wings were the same flame red as her
hair and her eyes were a compassionate bronze as she assisted the wounded Scout
to her feet.
All across the battlefield Jupiter
could see angels garbed in gold and white attending to the injured Scouts. Kunzite was supporting Uranus and Jupiter
could not help but think that his silver wings suited him. Like the, now angelic, Guard the strange
warriors were garbed in the white and gold of which, Jupiter realised, was a
guard uniform with a silver crescent moon prominent on their foreheads. Jupiter turned back to Nephrite and with her
free hand, the other still entwined with his, she brushed his hair aside to
reveal his own crescent sigil.
She opened her mouth to speak but
didn't know what to say. He smiled at
her gently and she looked away blushing at the feelings he inspired at even
this inappropriate time. Her eyes
caught on the form of the smallest angel and widened. She was dressed as a Scout and yet the only familiar thing about
her was the twin rivers of silver-blonde hair streaming from her two buns. Her skirt and collar were gold, her bows and
boots were silver-white, her wings were of the purest white and above
crystalline blue eyes her crescent insignia shone gold.
"Bunny," Jupiter whispered in awe.
Beside her she felt Nephrite
nodding. When she did not turn around
she felt him lean close and whisper in her ear, "That's the real Bunny, that's
what she was born to become once more."
"She's beautiful," Jupiter murmured.
Nephrite's breath tickled her ear as
he chuckled and replied, "Apparently we're not the only ones who've seen
that."
The tall Jovian Scout began to blush
again at the man-angel's closeness and hid it behind aggravation as she watched
her prince pull the awakened Shadow Bane into his arms and kissed her. "Where does he think we are? Disneyland?" she growled in
exasperation. Any answer her companion
might have given her was lost when, as the kiss deepened, the princess' wings
spread to their full extent and a silver radiance engulfed the room. An eternity later Jupiter found herself
being held in Nephrite's embrace, his supporting hold the only thing preventing
her knees from collapsing in the aftermath of Sailor Moon's demonstration of
her true power.
He reluctantly released her as the
radiance around them began to fade and she looked down at herself to discover
all her wounds had disappeared. Around
her, her fellow Scouts' cries of relief told her that they too had been healed
but any though of celebration disappeared at the enraged scream that echoed
across the chamber. Jupiter looked up
to find Beryl's figure floating above her throne, her eyes glowing red and a
black aura surrounding her. There was
something wrong with the picture that Sailor Jupiter could not put her finger
on until her companion hissed, "Metallia!"
As if those syllables were a cue the
violence began again. Jupiter found
herself once more on the ground covered by Nephrite as his evil twin targeted
them in the next round of hostilities. Jupiter's eyes were wide as Nephrite's huge wings shielded them from the
blast. He met her eyes urgently,
"Metallia has taken Beryl's body over, we can't let her leave this place. I'll take my twin while you and the Scouts
help the Moon Guard with the youma, that'll leave Endy and Angel free to tackle
Metallia."
He began to prop himself up but her
hand paused him long enough for her to ask, "Moon Guard?"
"Queen Serenity's guards... the
archangels," he answered her. Then in a
move that surprised them both he leaned forward and for the briefest instant
their lips were connected. Jupiter
blinked and he was gone. She rolled to
her feet and looked around to find that the winged warriors of the Earth Guard
were each fighting their doppelgangers in what was now much more even
duels. Her fellow Scouts fought along
side the Lunarian warriors and in the distance she could see the Shadow Bane
glowing silver as she fought to hold Metallia's power in check while the Rose
Prince fended off the youma who dared approach his angel. Jupiter nodded in determination and soon her
lighting and storms had rejoined the battle.
***
An
explosion of light came from over head and Sailor Pluto glanced up
briefly. When she turned back to the
youma in front of her moments later she was smiling in satisfaction, Kunzite
was hovering overhead as the ashes that were all that remained of his twin
drifted in the wind. The ageless Scout
swung her staff with the skill of centuries, making her almost untouchable as
the numbers of youma reduced bit by bit. From the corner of her eye she saw the battle of wills between Sailor
Moon and Metallia and sent a brief prayer to Selene that she was watching over
her daughter.
"I thought Sere had told you that
she wasn't a goddess!" a deep, but friendly, voice said from her side. Pluto let loose an undignified squeak as she
whirled to face the newcomer. He
chuckled lightly as he hurled a ball of light with one hand and wielded his
broadsword with the other. His hair was
almost as dark as Endymion's and his wing's were creamy white patterned with
silver. The silver crescent on his
forehead glimmered as his brown eyes twinkled at her.
Pluto looked at him in surprise,
then suspicion and he quickly shook his head at her, "Oh I wasn't reading your
mind I just guessed from the look on your face. You seemed to be praying and since I know that Serenity and you
have met I thought I'd lighten things up."
Pluto nodded and sent off a blast
from her staff that destroyed three youma. "But you could read my mind if you wished it? Angels read the hearts and minds of mortals right and Lunari are
angels?"
He took up a stance at her side, his
wings shielding both of them from behind as they prepared for the next wave of
youma. "Yes, angel is another name for
us, no, not all of us could read minds and yes, if I had to I could. Is that a problem? I don't do it unless I have permission or there is no other
option. By the way, I'm Michael"
Sailor Pluto glanced at him from the
corner of her eyes and shook her head slightly, "As in the archangel
Michael? The most powerful angel, God's
right hand? That Michael?"
He laughed at her shocked tone and
without thinking they simultaneously killed the force of youma who were about
to interrupt them. "I'm sorry Pluto,"
he said, still chuckling, "But, is that really how humans view us now? Would that make Serenity God? I don't think she'd be pleased at the
notion. You are, however, partly
correct, my queen and her daughter are still stronger and Kunzite might be my
equal-" At the mention of the Terran
angel Pluto looked up to find him, Zoicyte and two of the strange angels
providing air support for their forces.
"Yet I am one of the most powerful
of my people as are my fellows, who better to guard the queen?"
"But Kunzite?" Pluto murmured in
perplexity..
He shrugged as he sent another ball
of light at a youma, "The spirit guides of Earth chose their physical
incarnations well for them to become terrestrial beings with souls so similar to a Lunarian's. Serenity noted it when she gave the princess
into his keeping, all of them but especially Kunzite, differed from us only in
form and strength. I am glad that the
princess has gained such an able protector."
With that statement Pluto understood
not only the present miracle but a phenomenon that had puzzled both herself and
her predecessor. "I've always wondered
why they were able to do magic before they were chosen and empowered by the
greater spirits. They weren't just
chosen, were they?"
"We have a prophecy-" Michael began.
"About how your people would be
freed? Bunny told it to Darien" Pluto
interrupted when he paused to slash at a youma. While the youma was concentrating on the angel Pluto destroyed it
with her staff.
"Did she remember it?" Michael
asked, surprised.
"The last part, she did say there
was more than what she told him."
"Well part of it was about
terrestrial beings becoming beings of heaven and that is what has happened to
your Guard. The greater spirits created
human shells for themselves, prolonged exposure to our princess changed them
and then the sudden influx of power when she reverted to her true self forced
them to... evolve."
"One last question if I may?"
"At your service Lady Pluto."
"How could she revert to her true
self if the terms of the prophecy haven't been met?"
"But they have," he replied.
She looked at him from the corner of
her eye and said sarcastically, "To the best of my knowledge neither the Earth
nor the moon have changed orbit."
"Did you not sense the method
Endymion aided my princess in contacting us, surrounding her with his power,
the power of Earth? And as your prince
is the Earth so is Serena-"
"The moon," Pluto finished.
He nodded, "The Wall of the ban was
vulnerable to the power of Earth and Endymion..."
"Is the first with such power to
know of the situation."
"None of your princes, or rather, no
Terran Scout knew before Endymion and he only knew because his soul calls to Serena's
so strongly-" he broke of mid-sentence. Pluto finished off the youma she was fighting and turned to him in
concern.
"What's wrong?"
Michael stilled for a moment and
caused a wave of light to eradicate a grouping of youma who were overwhelming
Sailors Venus, Mercury and a youthful looking female angel. He turned back to Pluto and said urgently,
"The princess cannot hold Metallia in check for much longer. We have to finish this fast."
Pluto nodded as two more explosions
in the air heralded the end of the remaining two Dark generals. Pluto looked up to where Jadeite and
Nephrite joined their fellows in the air, gaining skill with their new limbs
quickly.
Michael drew her attention back to
him, "Aeons
ago, those who served as their planet's avatars had the ability to join
together to create a shield, a force field. Is this still possible?" Pluto
nodded and Michael smiled grimly, "We can destroy the remaining youma all at
once," Pluto's eyes rose for there were still several hundred youma alive and
she wondered why they hadn't done it at the start if they could do it
know. Michael understood the question
on her face and continued, "The eight of us can do so but the energy will be
enormous and it leaves not only yourselves but our princess and your prince
vulnerable. Your shield may not be
enough-"
"It will be," the eldest Scout
replied, "For all our sakes it has to be."
The archangel nodded and launched
himself into the air, joining the other airborne fighters. Pluto growled as a youma launched itself at
her and ruthlessly dispatched it before making her way to where Venus, Mars and
Mercury were battling side by side. Her
staff impacted with the head of one of the youma opposing them and Mars' flames
incinerated it.
"To the prince, now!" the dark Scout
ordered.
The younger women looked at in her
askance but at her obvious tension caused them to obey with out question. The guardian of time saw that Saturn and
Jupiter were already fighting with the prince, the enemy forces having
concentrated themselves on the defenceless
Sailor Moon. Above her Pluto saw the
eight warriors, Moon Guard and Earth Guard together, forming a ring above the
battlefield. Tearing her eyes away from
the awe-inspiring sight of eight archangels preparing a major spell-casting
Pluto rushed to where Uranus and Neptune were battling.
Both were formidable warriors yet
were outnumbered greatly and were being herded into a corner. Pluto caught Uranus' eyes and motioned to
where their fellows were gathering with their prince. The blonde Scout nodded and, when Pluto's blast created a hole in
the wall of youma surrounding them, she and her partner dashed across the
battlefield. Minutes later the eight
Scouts circled prince and princess. As
the ring of angels above erupted into light a multicoloured
pillar blazed on the ground below.
***
Sailor Moon felt the power around
her recede and she dared to open her eyes slightly. Above her friends and guardians from both this lifetime and the
last were still haloed in the light of their power. In a circle around her the Scouts stood with linked hands, their
auras flickering about them as they dismantled the shield they had
constructed. Last, but not least,
around her waist were the arms of the prince she had loved for two lifetimes. Her silvery power illuminated her and danced
across his tanned hands. She looked
over her shoulder to smile at him and that was when Metallia struck.
Her knees gave out at the blow and
only Endy's arms held her up. She
relinquished her physical safety to him, instead turning all of her
concentration to the battle with Metallia. It was a battle she had known that she was not strong enough to win from
the start yet one she knew she could not afford to lose. Distantly she felt an object being placed
into her hands and she opened her eyes to stare into the brown gaze of her
mother's lover. A quick glance at the
item in her grasp caused her to smile and she heard the gasps as the Imperium
Silver Crystal came alive in her hands.
A small part of her laughed at her
human friends' reaction to the power of her mother's trinket but the rest of
her hoped with all of her being that their awe was deserved. The crystal was no more than a focusing tool
her father had given her mother as a child yet millennia of use had imbued it
with its own power. The only hope for
the Earth was that she could use it as effectively as her mother.
The Lunarian Scout drew upon the
crystal's reserves and renewed her assault on Metallia and for a moment she
almost succeeded. Then Metallia counter
attacked with images of death and destruction to weaken her resolve. Sailor Moon, the princess Serenity swayed,
her mind recoiling from the horrors she was being shown. Nothing in either of her lifetimes had
prepared her for such wanton cruelty and she faltered. The warm arms around her tightened as a wave
of darkness engulfed them all, quenching even the radiance of the crystal and
she tried to fight the darkness off but to no avail. She was nothing in comparison with Metallia.
Who was she to think that she could
oppose the Queen of Demons and win where Queen Serenity, Selene herself, had
failed? She was just a child, a ditz, a
meatball head... the light that would give the world hope. In the back of her mind she felt her four guardians
send her their strength. It would take
only a small act of will to reach out to their thoughts but she found that she
didn't have to. She knew what she had
to do. Metallia was the Queen of
Demons, Darkness incarnate and there was only one way for darkness to be
defeated. She was the Shadow Bane, she
was the light.
The arms around her fell away as he
wings spread and she rose in the air. She faced Metallia on the same level and stopped trying to destroy the
darkness, instead she began to glow. All of the joy and laughter that was in her, the love for friends,
family and Him, shone forth in a
display of glory. The crystal in her
hands responded and with her it blazed like a star in the darkness that
Metallia had conjured. The Demon Queen
flinched but did not submit, her assault renewing itself against the blinding
power of the Lunarian Princess. Serenity felt her guards reach to her through their bond to her and
support her with their love. The power
of Dragon, Gryphon, Phoenix and Unicorn reborn flowed into her and she added
their light to her own.
She felt them lift into the air
behind her and with them her mother's protectors. Michael, the man who had raised her as a father, Liriel, a
scoundrel to match Jadeite, Raphael, a scholarly man with a quiet brilliance
and Gabriel, calm master spell-caster. She remembered each of them as they took their place with her guard,
joining them in offering her their strength. As if their power were the trigger the princess felt the light touch and
joyfully welcomed her mother's spirit to the melding of hearts and power. With her mother came the Lunari, the entire
population of the Moon Kingdom, each individual overjoyed at the return of
their princess. Thousands of minds
supported hers, thousands of hearts shared with her as their spirits joined in
a manner those not of their people could ever understand.
There was light. Darkness retreated before the brilliance of
the Lunari joined together by the enormous heart of their princess. Metallia reeled back and Sailor Moon
advanced on her, not giving her the opportunity to recover her
equilibrium. The evil queen's eyes
showed her panic as she tried to escape from the merciless light. The princess stopped right before her and
her hand reached towards the other woman. Metallia flinched as if from a blow but the touch on her cheek was as
light as a feather. The touch was a
conduit for more and Metallia could not resist the revealing light that flooded
into her being. All the she was
illuminated and her power crumbled. Without light there was nothing, darkness had no substance, she had no
substance. With this knowledge she
failed and the Lunari felt the being that had been their greatest enemy melt
away as a shadow before the light.
The Metallia's borrowed body fell to
the ground but none of the Lunari noticed, too enraptured in the melding
between them. The Moon Guard cherished
the joining that would have been the last if they had failed. The Earth Guard revelled in the welcome
they found in the minds and spirits of the Lunari while Sailor Moon, the
princess Serenity felt her mother's love surround her and knew that she had
come home.
***
Endymion
watched as the floating figures drifted down slowly, still immersed in the
union that they had created. They're
beautiful, all of them, and that's something I never thought I'd say it about
Jade but it's true. They saved us...
she saved us. My Angel, will she want
to return to her home now that she remembers? Will she still want me? He
closed his eyes in pain at the thought that she might leave him but he knew
that he would accept it if the time came. I can't cage her, she doesn't belong on Earth. She'd be trapped and I won't do that to
her. She deserves better and I won't
deny her that. But I love her so much,
I need her... so do her people and they have waited an eternity to have her
back. I will miss her, I'll miss them
all-
The prince's eyes widened in horror
and he began to run, shouting, "Angel. AAANNNGEELLL!" Angel watch out! Beryl's behind you. You witch,
don't you dare! Behind him heard
the Scout's gasps of shock but the winged warriors were still too distracted to
notice the threat. Endymion watched
helplessly, unable to reach her in time, as Beryl drove a sword into Sailor
Moon's body. The girl jerked and the
sorceress withdrew the sword to strike again. It's Angel's sword! Beryl's
using her own sword on her! Before
she could strike a third time Endymion's blade sheared through her neck with a
single stroke.
The prince turned to see Jadeite and
the black haired angel cradling her between them. Goddess, no! Angel! He felt numb as he knelt beside them on the
rubble-strewn ground. Her blue eyes
were closed and her face as white as chalk. One of her wings was attached by only a thin bit of tissue, the sword
having gone right through her to sever the bone.
He looked at the black haired
warrior, "Can you heal her?" Oh
please...
Brown eyes met his blue, "We cannot,
we are warriors, not a healers."
You can't let her die! Endymion's entire being shouted but the
prince voiced not a word as he tried to breath.
"No we can't" the angel agreed with
his unspoken message, "But there is no one on Earth who can save her."
"On the Moon." It wasn't a question.
"Our healers could but the Wall of
the Ban is too strong for them to pass and will continue to be so for many
years to come. They can't get here-"
"Take her to them," the prince's
voice was flat, commanding.
The angel nodded in agreement and he
relinquished the bleeding body to Jadeite as he stood. "She might not survive the trip and even if
she does she might not ever be strong enough to pass the Wall again in your
lifetime-"
"Save her." Save her, no matter what it takes.
The angel nodded and helped Jadeite
to stand. Both spread their wings,
before he launched the blonde Guard smiled sadly at the prince, "Don't worry
Endy, I won't let her die on us." Then
both took to the air, arrowing through the gaps in the chamber ceiling, straight
towards the sky. No, I know you
won't Jade.
Nephrite stepped before Endy and
placed his hand to his heart, "My prince," he said simply and prepared to take
off. A thought seemed to strike him and
he looked behind Endymion. The prince
turned to see the Scouts behind him with Jupiter only a step or two away. For an instant the Jovian Scout and the
Gryphon stared at each other then as one they stepped forward into each other's
embrace. Their kiss was desperate and
Endymion saw the tears in both their eyes as he stepped away and leapt into the
air flying to the roof and hovering there in wait for his companions. Oh Lita, I'm sorry.
He turned away from her, unwilling
to add another's pain to his own, and found that only Zoicyte and Kunzite
remained, the rest of the Moon Guard were with Nephrite waiting for them to say
their farewells.
Zoicyte moved close to him and
kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you
Endy," was all she said but he understood.
Oh Zoi anyone would have been
stupid not to want your services. I'm
just glad I could be the one to help you. He smiled at her sadly, "Be happy Zoi," he whispered hugging her. She stepped back and Kunzite took her place.
The two men stared at each other
before Kunzite dropped to his knee, "Highness I'm sorry, for everything."
Endymion grabbed the silver haired
warrior's arm and pulled him to his feet. "You have nothing to be sorry for," he said, meaning every word. Nothing, you hear me Kunzite? You have done nothing wrong. You were not responsible for Beryl nor the
Day of Darkness. As for leaving me for
Angel, it was the right thing to do. The prince continued, "But I have a command for you as the leader
of my Guard." Kunzite's eyes were
filled with sorrow and regret as he opened his mouth to speak. Endymion held up a hand to stop him. You will let me say this! "Protect her," his words were soft. Kunzite's eye's widened and Endy smiled
sadly, "The last order I will ever give you, be her Guard as you were mine. Keep her safe and make her happy."
I freely release you from your
duties my friend. It is time for you to
move on.
Kunzite stared at him for a moment
in gratitude before saluting once more. "No matter what the future brings, you will always be my prince."
"And you will always be my friend,"
the young man replied. They clasped hands
and then Kunzite walked towards Zoicyte.
He turned back for a moment and
looked at Endymion intently, "The Angel's a very determined young lady. Don't think you've seen the last of her just
yet. Remember angels are known for
miracles." With that he nodded and he
and his lover launched themselves from the ground. Within seconds they joined their waiting friends by the holes in
the roof and then they were gone.
Goodbye my friends.
Endymion watched after them for a
moment before turning away. He looked
over the Scouts. They were battered,
bruised and none of them showed the joy they should have had at their
victory. He offered a hand to his
foster sister and when she took it he pulled her close, placing his arm around
her shoulder. Angels are known for
miracles Lita. Let's hope that our
respective angels aren't all out.
He faced the other Scouts and said
wearily, his heart heavy within him, "Let's go home.