FLIGHT

FLIGHT

Sailor Moon sat beside Sailor Uranus, watching the ill senshi sleep. The fever induced unconsciousness that had held Uranus for two days had broken several hours ago, the same time that Akumu had vanished. Sailor Moon felt torn. She was worried about Haruka but desperately wanted to know if Akumu was all right. She, like her mother, hated the idea of one person being sacrificed for another and the words of guilt Akumu had spoken made her wonder if a sacrifice had been performed.

Sailor Saturn walked over and pushed a piece of cooked meat into her friend's hands.

"Eat this," Saturn said.

Sailor Moon tore her gaze away from Uranus to look at the food. She wrinkled her nose in distaste.

"What is it?" Moon asked.

"Rabbit," Saturn replied. "It was hurt and was going to die anyway."

Sailor Moon sighed and bit into the food, pretending it was fried shrimp. Saturn looked down at Uranus, her long shadow stretching over the injured senshi.

"How is she?" Saturn asked, unable to keep the grief from her voice.

In their past lives, Hotaru had lived with Setsuna, Michiru, and Haruka, and they had raised her when she had been reawakened. She had even called Haruka "papa" as an affectionate nickname. As nobles of Crystal Tokyo, their close relationship had remained and both Haruka and Michiru often behaved as Hotaru's surrogate parents. As Haruka lay near death, Chibiusa could easily imagine her own father lying there, and understood what Hotaru must be feeling.

"No change," Sailor Moon reported, squinting through the setting sun to look at Saturn.

Saturn sighed deeply and sat down next to Uranus. She smoothed the elder senshi's blond hair and a single tear fell from her cheek to land on Uranus's forehead.

Suddenly, Haruka's eyes opened, but they were not the familiar blue eyes of the senshi; they were white and pupil-less. Uranus's body arched and twin beams of light shot from her eyes. Sailor Moon and Sailor Saturn scrambled backwards in shock as the beams bounced off the treetops and shot back to the earth. They struck the ground near the small campfire and exploded. Moon and Saturn were forced to shield their eyes from the intense light, and when they looked back a figure lay on her side near the fire.

"Akumu?" Sailor Moon whispered.

A soft moan turned the young senshi's attention back to Uranus. The blond girl's eyes had closed once more and her body had relaxed. Saturn gently lay a hand on Uranus's shoulder and the sick girl's eyes snapped open. She blinked twice and looked up at Sailor Moon and Saturn.

"Hotaru-chan," Uranus said weakly. "Princess. What are you doing here?"

Uranus sat up and immediately grimaced in pain, clasping her hand to her wounded arm.

"Haruka-papa!" Saturn exclaimed in worry.

Uranus smiled at her. "I'm fine. My head feels clearer now. I had a wonderful dream; Akumu was there, fighting as the Fury. She saved me."

"Akumu!" Sailor Moon gasped.

Saturn helped Uranus to her feet and the three senshi crossed the campsite to where Akumu lay. Sailor Uranus sat again, still weak from her illness, and Sailor Moon gently turned Akumu onto her back.

The girl lay as if asleep with her black transformation pen clasped tightly in one hand. The symbol of Night, a crescent moon with a star overtop, was still on her forehead. Sailor Moon shook her gently and she opened her eyes.

"You're okay!" Sailor Moon said, relieved.

"Sailor Uranus," Akumu mumbled, looking around.

"Here," Uranus said.

Akumu smiled. "I was afraid you had left us. I never would have forgiven myself."

"What happened?" Saturn asked.

Akumu, helped by Sailor Moon, pulled herself into a sitting position and shook her head. "I don't remember much. I was angry at the poison for hurting Lady Uranus and . . . I guess I lost control."

"You disappeared completely," Sailor Moon said.

"She was with me," Uranus said. "I saw her in my mind as the Fury, fighting the poison in my blood."

Akumu shuddered. "I became a demon again."

"Not a demon," Uranus objected. "A saviour. I would not have ever woken up had you not helped me."

"See?" Sailor Moon said. "Your powers are helpful. You got the cylinder back and you saved Haruka-san."

"But at what cost?" Akumu whispered, staring at her hands.

********

Abyss stood before the two vacant thrones in the vast audience chamber of the Crystal Palace. Not long ago, this empty room had been full of life and the two monarchs had sat side by side, ruling their kingdom. A smaller throne sat a step below, reserved for the young princess. Abyss walked up the red carpet leading to the thrones, a feat she had not yet dared to attempt. To her left were the four empty chairs of the inner system ladies and to her right, the three chairs of the outer system ladies. Abyss looked neither left nor right, but kept her eyes firmly on the large, crystalline throne of Queen Serenity. She slowly mounted the dais and sat on the thick purple cushion of the royal chair. Abyss smiled and looked out at the audience hall, imagining it full of her devoted followers. She closed her eyes, reveling in the moment.

Suddenly, she opened her eyes to see a kneeling figure before her. It was one of her small demons that she normally used to spy on the inhabitants of Crystal Tokyo. Sitting up straighter on the throne, she looked down at her minion.

"Report," she ordered.

"Majesty," the demon hissed, "the humans of the city are rebelling. They are guarding the last three Crystal Points."

Abyss waved a hand negligently. "Kill them."

"We have been," the demon said. "They fight valiantly and have made barriers our forces are having trouble getting through."

Abyss stood abruptly and the demon scrambled backwards in fear. Abyss walked down the three steps of the dais and stood directly over the cowering demon.

"Are you telling me," Abyss said quietly, "that my army of demons cannot defeat a bunch of puny mortals?"

"We will try again," the demon whimpered. "We will not fail you, Majesty."

Abyss pointed to the door and the demon quickly ran off. She watched him leave.

"You will fail," Abyss predicted, "but I will not."

Turning on her heel, she swept out of the audience hall and into the Shield room. The captive senshi and cats watched as she walked purposefully to the entombed senshi.

"You are doing this," she snarled to them. "Somehow, you are uniting the people."

Angrily she strode to the desk and snatched a strange crystal gun from its surface. She marched up to the chained Sailor Neptune and pointed the gun at her chest.

"With this," she said, "the senshi will fall."

********

Sailor Moon, Sailor Saturn, Sailor Uranus, and Akumu continued their journey out of the northern mountains and toward Crystal Tokyo. Saturn led the way, with Sailor Moon a few steps behind holding the cylinder protectively. Uranus and Akumu brought up the rear, the elder senshi sometimes leaning on Akumu for support. Akumu had not transformed once since she had saved Uranus from the poison, but she carried her transformation pen clasped firmly in one hand. She still blamed herself for Uranus's lingering illness, even though the older girl had assured her she was fine. Akumu found the stain of guilt on her soul not an easy burden to bear.

"There it is," Sailor Moon said.

The foursome looked down from the plateau onto Crystal Tokyo. It looked a mess: tall, graceful, crystal towers had fallen; buildings had been reduced to rubble; and the beautiful parks and walkways were blackened. Akumu heard Sailor Uranus curse softly.

"What is it?" Akumu asked.

Uranus pointed to the city. The northernmost Crystal Point, which would have been clearly visible from the mountains, was gone. In its place was a tall pillar of smoke and many crystal fragments. Sailor Moon gasped.

"Oh no," she whispered. "Not the Points."

"We must hurry," Saturn said urgently. "The inner senshi may not have very much time."

As if Saturn's announcement had given her new strength, Sailor Uranus led the way unaided down the mountain paths to the city.

********

It was nightfall when they arrived at the northern gate. Their entrance was blocked by several large, muscular demons who guarded the road. Behind them, the senshi could see the remains of the Crystal Point, and were relieved to see the damage was not as bad as they had thought. The four girls crouched in the shadows out of view.

"How do we get in?" Sailor Moon asked.

Akumu pursed her lips in thought. "I think I can get us in, if the way hasn't been destroyed."

"How?" Uranus asked.

"Follow me," the former thief said, disappearing into the night.

Akumu led the three senshi to a large grate that was locked closed. Water trickled along the ground and a foul stench wafted out into the night air. Sailor Moon made a face and pinched her nose closed.

"Ew! Is that the sewer?" she asked.

Akumu reached behind her right ear and drew out her lock-picking tools. Wordlessly, she fiddled with the enormous padlock as Sailor Moon made gagging sounds behind her. Eventually, the lock fell free and hit the ground with a splash. Akumu pushed the rusty grid open and slipped inside.

"Come on, Princess," she whispered from the darkness.

Sailor Moon looked extremely displeased, but stepped in after her friend. Sailor Saturn and Sailor Uranus were only a few steps behind.

The four girls held each others hands in the darkness, with Akumu in the lead. They heard dripping water and felt the rancid sewage around their ankles. Occasionally, a rat would squeak as it ran off, but the brave group kept moving forward. After what felt like hours, Akumu stopped. The three senshi found they could not see her in the darkness and wondered what the hold up was until the thief spoke.

"I believe we're directly under the Crystal Point," she whispered, her voice echoing in the tunnels. "Should we go up to investigate or keep moving to the palace?"

"Go up," Sailor Uranus replied. "Without all five points, we can't raise the Shield and free the senshi."

In the darkness, none of them could tell if Akumu had nodded in agreement or not. She simply began to walk again, tugging the others along with her, until she reached a ladder. Carefully, she guided each one to the first rung and they climbed up, Akumu bringing up the rear.

The sewer lead them out into the street directly in front of the demolished Crystal Point. The four free senshi darted from the sewer to the shelter of a nearby house. Cautiously, they peered out into the street, checking for demons.

"What now?" Sailor Moon asked.

"You can start by telling me who you are," a new voice behind them said.

The senshi whirled around. Behind them stood a young man wearing thick glasses. He had unruly hair that stuck out in all directions and wore what might have been a suit at one point. Now, his clothes were reduced to muddy tatters. He blinked when the girls turned and adjusted his glasses.

"Holy cow!" he gasped. "Senshi!"

"Shhh!" Sailor Uranus hissed. "Do you want the demons to know we're here?"

The man shook his head fiercely back and forth. He then bowed deeply to them.

"Forgive me, Sailor Uranus. You just surprised me, that's all."

Sailor Moon stuck out her hand. "Hi! What's your name?"

The man's eyes widened even more as he shook the girl's hand. "Sailor Moon?"
Moon giggled. "No, that's my name."

The man blushed. "I'm sorry, Highness. I thought you were, well the rumors said that…"

"What?" Akumu asked, her eyes narrowed.

"That you were dead," the man finished. "Those few who had escaped the palace said the queen was beside herself with grief."

Sailor Moon's face fell. Tears formed quickly in her eyes and she ducked back behind Sailor Uranus. The man blushed in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, Princess," he said. "I truly am."

"What is your name?" Sailor Saturn asked kindly.

"Umino," he answered.

Sailor Moon's head came up, and Sailor Uranus gasped. The man did resemble the Umino of the past, with his large glasses and wild hair, but his hair had a distinct red tinge to it, unlike the older Umino's brown hair.

"I'm Akumu," Akumu said. "What are you doing here?"

Umino shrugged. "Here is as good as anywhere. The demons destroyed the university where I was studying under Dr. Mizuno. Since then, everyone who lived here has either been hiding or has died. We thought the senshi had abandoned us until Abyss started destroying the Crystal Points."

"When was that?" Uranus asked.

Umino shrugged. "A few days ago, perhaps? Anyway, a few people formed a resistance. We've been guarding the other Points against Abyss's demons. So far, none of them have broken through."

"So why are you at this Point?" Sailor Moon wondered.

"Spying," Umino replied. "I'm not too good at fighting, so I volunteered to stay here and report if the demons returned. They smashed up the Point pretty good, but I don't think they did a thorough job."

"Are you saying the equipment in the Point may still work?" Uranus asked.

Umino shrugged again. "I don't know. I haven't been able to get close enough to check."

Akumu smiled. "We'll get you there, Umino-san. Then you can figure out how to fix it."

********

Queen Serenity sat silently in the Shield room. Abyss was quite pleased that the once strong monarch had not said a single word since the announcement of her daughter's death. The queen was also quickly outliving her usefulness. As soon as Abyss had control over the Silver Crystal, the first thing she would do would be to kill Serenity and Endymion.

Abyss tossed the Crystal negligently up and down in one hand. Her other hand held the crystal gun she had fashioned. She was quite proud of her invention; she had studied Lady Mercury's Shield design and had used the same principles Mercury had used to build the Shield to build the gun. It was long and crystalline, and it shot a beam of energy into the very soul of its victim, wrenching the life force out to be stored in a glass cylinder at the base of the gun. Abyss smiled to herself and looked over to where Neptune hung. The aquamarine senshi would be the first to go, she vowed. She would keep the life-energy on display as a reminder to those who crossed her.

The doors to the Shield room opened and three demons came in. They bowed before Abyss and she motioned for them to stand and report.

"Majesty," the first demon said in a gruff voice. "The citizens of Crystal Tokyo are not surrendering. They had destroyed a large portion of our troops. It appears that they have figured out a way to shield the Points from us. We cannot break through."

Abyss cursed and put the Crystal down on the chair behind her. She gestured wildly with the gun as she expressed her extreme displeasure to the three demons. From the corner of the room, Endymion crouched to be next to his wife. A small purple flash leapt from his cape, across the floor, to Abyss's chair. Sailor Neptune noticed the movement and watched out of the corner of her eye.

Diana's head peeked out from between the seat and the back of the chair, and Neptune saw she held something in her mouth. In front of Diana, Abyss didn't even notice the kitten jump silently to the seat cushion and placed a fake Silver Crystal down beside the real one. The purple kitten then picked up the real Crystal and scurried back to where Endymion waited. The King of Crystal Tokyo picked up the kitten and hid her beneath his cape.

"And that's just the beginning of what I'll do if you don't break down this rebellion!" Abyss shouted. "Now, get out of my sight!"

The three cowed demons bowed and ran from the Shield room. Abyss picked up the glass Crystal and began tossing it in the air again. Sailor Neptune watched, waiting for her to realize the fakery, but Abyss kept playing with it. Finally, she put it in her pocket and marched out of the room. She snapped her fingers at the guards who surrounded Serenity and Endymion, and the king and queen were hustled out of the room as well.

"That was close," Sailor Juno remarked.

"Parapara didn't think it would work," Sailor Pallas added.

"Quiet," Sailor Ceres hissed.

"There are still demons around," Sailor Vesta continued.

"Sorry," Sailors Juno and Pallas said at the same time.

Sailor Neptune exhaled the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. So Serenity now had the Crystal again. Maybe this situation would be resolved faster than Neptune had anticipated.

********

Sailor Saturn and Sailor Moon stood guard just inside the half demolished doorway of the Crystal Point. It was an unnecessary gesture since only two walls of the structure and no roof remained. Sailor Uranus and Akumu helped Umino clear away some of the wreckage and uncover the main console of the Point.

"See?" Umino said, pointing to the console. "The demons missed this, the main operating center of the Point. They might as well have just left the place whole."

"Can you fix it?" Uranus asked in a weak voice. She sat on some rubble and passed a hand over her pale face. Akumu watched her worriedly.

"Probably," Umino answered, "but the power source is off line."

"What's the power source?" Akumu asked.

"The senshi who raised the Shield," Umino said sadly. "If the Point can't detect the power source, it must mean the senshi are dead."

"What about the cylinder?" Sailor Moon said. "It has the life essences of the inner senshi."

Umino brightened. "Great! I can use that to reactivate the Shield once I get these wires sorted out, but it won't do us any good with the western point down."

"Two Points fell?" Uranus asked.

Umino nodded. "That's why the resistance has put up such a fight to keep the other three intact. It's no problem, really. I just need time to fix both. If the western point isn't as badly damaged as this one, it should be a breeze."

"How much time?" Uranus said.

"A day or two," Umino replied. "Then we have to travel to the west."

"We only have until nightfall," Uranus told him.

Umino paled. "Then I better stop talking and start working."

Uranus said nothing as the man disappeared under the console. The elder senshi reached up and gingerly touched her bandaged arm. Akumu saw her wince and took a step forward. Uranus turned to look at her, and her eyes were enough of a warning to keep Akumu at bay.

The hours ticked by…

********

"Done," Umino said breathlessly.

The senshi and Umino had been in the Point all night and all of the following day. Umino had worked without rest for the entire time and had manage to complete his task by Uranus's harsh deadline.

Sailor Uranus nodded and stood. She had rested for much of the time and looked almost like her old self. "We have to hurry to the western point. It's almost nightfall."

"What about this Point?" Akumu asked. "The demons might notice it's working now."

"I'll stay and guard it," Saturn volunteered. "You go on with Umino to the west and when you're done there, call me and we'll meet at the palace."

Sailor Uranus considered the request for a moment and nodded. "You call if anything goes wrong. We'll get here as quickly as possible."

Sailor Saturn nodded and tightened the hold on her glaive. Sailor Moon looked near tears as she embraced her friend. Saturn smiled bravely and waved as the newly formed foursome left the north and headed west.

The shadows were deepening and Umino was looking more and more nervous, despite being surrounded by senshi. Akumu watched the man warily, knowing they could not succeed without him, but wondering how he would react if they were attacked.

Suddenly, she got the answer she was looking for.

Half a dozen demons burst from the shadows and rushed at the group. Sailor Uranus pushed Akumu and Umino to one side as she and Sailor Moon faced the demons. Umino crouched behind Akumu and the girl fingered her transformation pen. They watched the two senshi battle the demons, but it quickly became apparent that they would not defeat all six alone. Swallowing her fear, Akumu realized she had to fulfill the responsibility she had already accepted.

"Stay here," she said finally.

"Where are you going?" Umino asked.

"To help," Akumu replied.

"How?" Umino wondered.

Akumu held up her transformation pen and winked at Umino.

"Darkness of Night, Transform!" she called.

In a flash, Akumu was gone and Sailor Nyx stood in her place. Umino gasped in shock as the new senshi leapt into the fray, her eyes glowing white. As she fought with the demons, she could feel the Fury aching to be released. She suppressed the emotion, knowing that if she lost control it could mean doom for her friends and their mission.

When half the demons had been destroyed, Sailor Uranus looked over her shoulder to Sailor Moon.

"Go to the Point!" she shouted. "Get started and we'll meet you there if we can."

"But," Sailor Moon began.

"Take Umino and run!" Uranus ordered.

Without another word, Sailor Moon grabbed Umino by the wrist and picked up the cylinder in the other hand. The two of them disappeared into the night.

"World Shaking!" Sailor Uranus called.

Another demon vanished from the attack. Sailor Uranus fell to one knee, holding her head in one hand. Sailor Nyx gasped and concentrated her powers. She lifted into the air and stared at the two remaining demons with her white eyes.

"Nightmare Revelation!" she exclaimed.

The whispering white figures materialized from every shadow and converged on the two confused demons. They tried to run, but the figures followed and eventually consumed them. Sailor Nyx floated back to the ground and blinked, her eyes resuming their normal colour.

"Uranus!" she gasped.

"Just a little dizzy," Uranus replied. "I'm fine."

"We have to go," Nyx said, "Sailor Moon is waiting."

Uranus nodded when another sharp needle of pain pierced through her head. She felt absolute terror and knew it was not from her.

"Michiru," she whispered.

Sailor Nyx blinked in confusion.

"We have to go to the palace," Sailor Uranus said. "Hurry!"

The elder senshi took off at a run, with Sailor Nyx only a few paces behind.

********

Sailor Moon and Umino found the western Point in fair condition. No demons guarded it and most of the exterior remained in tact. Cautiously, the two people slipped inside and Umino got to work.

Less than an hour later, he emerged from beneath the main console with a triumphant smile on his face. He took a deep breath and stood.

"Whoever destroyed this place did a lousy job," he commented. "They didn't even touch this console."

"You're done already?" Sailor Moon asked.

Umino nodded and held out his hand for the cylinder. Sailor Moon gave it to him and flicked open her communicator.

"Hotaru-chan," she called.

"Yes?" Sailor Saturn's voice replied.

"We're done here and we're turning on the Shield. Meet us at the palace," Sailor Moon informed her.

"Gotcha," Saturn answered. "See you in a few minutes."

Umino pushed the cylinder into the appropriate slot and smiled at Sailor Moon.

"Cross your fingers, Princess," he said.

Umino flicked a few switches and the console hummed into life.

********

The two senshi burst through the palace like a tornado. Sailor Uranus had her sword drawn and hacked anything that got in her way to pieces. Nyx followed as best she could, annihilating anything Uranus missed with her own powers. She could not understand the girl's sudden desire to storm the palace when their previous plan would have worked much better, but followed because she knew Uranus could not go alone.

They met no resistance in the audience hall, and Sailor Uranus didn't even pause to regroup as she kicked down the door to the Shield room and ran inside.

The room was filled with demons. In the calm before the action began, Sailor Nyx was able to see where everyone was in the room. Queen Serenity and King Endymion were stuck in a corner, surrounded by ten guards. The desk in the opposite corner that used to hold Endymion's legal documents now held three cages, one of which was empty and the other two contained Luna and Artemis. The four inner senshi were locked in crystal in the center of the room, and five other senshi were chained to the wall opposite the king and queen. Abyss stood in front of Sailor Neptune, holding a strange crystal gun at her chest. As the was about to squeeze the trigger, Sailor Uranus leapt into action.

Uranus brushed aside the first few demons as if they were nothing more than insects as she rushed to Abyss. Her space sword flashed as the attack struck Abyss, but did no damage. The purple haired woman turned her head and smiled at Uranus as she pulled the trigger of the gun.

"No!" Sailor Uranus yelled.

Sailor Neptune cried out as a beam of black energy struck her through the chest. At the back of the gun, a small glass cylinder began to fill with an aquamarine coloured vapor. The blast would have thrown Neptune backwards had she not been chained to the wall, but instead made her body arch before going limp. Abyss laughed and held up a hand as Uranus flew towards her.

Sailor Uranus struck the shield of dark energy and fell to the ground, tears of anger pouring down her cheeks. She looked up at Neptune, who hung lifelessly from her chains.

"Damn you," Uranus snarled.

Abyss laughed and pointed the gun to Uranus. "Care to join her?"

"Not so fast," Sailor Nyx said.

The girl walked the few steps to the center of the room and lifted her hands above her head. Her eyes turned completely white and she rose off the floor.

"Nightmare Revelation!" she called.

The demons looked around the room in worry. Whispers called to them, teasing them before they attacked. The worst dreams of every demon in the room began to come true, and a few cried out as they were consumed. Having purged the room of demons, Nyx then turned to Abyss.

"You will return what is not yours," Nyx said.

Abyss backed out slowly to the door and aimed the gun from Uranus to Queen Serenity. Nyx's white eyes narrowed, and a white mist began to swirl around her feet in a fast circle.

"Night Fury Attack!" Sailor Nyx cried.

The swirling mist shot into the air, engulfing the senshi momentarily. When the mist dissipated, Sailor Nyx was gone and the Fury stood in her place. Abyss's eyes widened in fear and the Fury lunged at her.

Abyss turned and fled, still holding the crystal gun. The Fury raced after her, through the halls of the palace and out into the grounds. Abyss called for her dragon, and the huge beast that had been guarding the captive citizens in the training arena raised its head and belched out flames. The Fury was consumed, but unaffected as she hunted her prey. Abyss finally whirled around and fired her gun.

The beam of black energy did not strike the Fury in the chest, but lower down in the abdomen, too low to extract her essence. The beam did, however, knock the Fury out cold and transformed her back into Kuusou Akumu.

"Interesting," Abyss murmured.

The purple haired woman leapt onto the dragon's back and the enormous beast lifted itself into the air. At Abyss's command, it snatched up the fallen Akumu in one huge talon and they began to wing their way into the sky.

The Asteroid senshi and King Endymion exited the palace in time to see the dragon pick up Akumu. At that instant, the Shield began to rise from the ground up, picking up speed as it went. For a moment, Endymion believed that Abyss would not escape. As the Shield neared the dragon's height, the beast picked up speed and escaped the Shield. The dome closed at the top and Endymion and the Asteroid senshi could do nothing but watch Abyss escape with Akumu.

********

The Shield Room was empty. Queen Serenity had left with Luna and Artemis to greet Chibiusa and Hotaru, who had just arrived in the audience hall. King Endymion and the four Asteroid Senshi had ran off in pursuit of Abyss and Akumu. All that remained were the four entombed senshi and a woman with a broken heart.

Sailor Uranus knelt on the ground, holding the body of Sailor Neptune in her arms. The aquamarine girl was without life, her skin cold and her breathing stopped. Haruka stared at her serene face and allowed the tears to fall. Michiru, her love, her life, was gone.