SHADOW
"What a darling baby!"
The infant gurgled happily, reaching up with chubby arms to grab at the long, black hair that dangled just out of her reach. The woman smiled and picked the baby up, holding her protectively close as she walked. Yawning, the baby blinked her brown eyes sleepily and dozed off, safe and warm in her guardian's arms.
********
Hours after the sun crested the Pythian horizon over the small cottage that Abyss circled, the sun made its appearance over the valley where the Pythian Temple sat. The usual dawn bells were silent in mourning as the exhausted monks took a day away from their regular duties to fix the ravages of the recent battle. The fields surrounding the temple had been cleared of bodies, but the smell of blood was on the morning wind and everyone wished for rain.
Makoto, Ami, and Chibiusa stood on the temple walls, staring out over the field. Carrion birds had flown down, drawn by the scent of rotting meat, and were devouring the bodies that had not been claimed. A few serpent farmers had returned to their devastated fields and struggled to save the few plants that had been spared. The wind picked up again and Chibiusa plugged her nose in disgust.
"Yucky!" she exclaimed. "I wish Michiru-san was here. One good tidal wave would wide out this smell!"
Ami sighed. She wondered how the two outer senshi were doing back on Earth. None of them knew how long the two women could live off of one life source, but it had already been several days. Makoto suddenly slammed her fist onto the stone wall.
"She is so stubborn!" Makoto exclaimed. "How can she be so sure Abyss won't find the Sword?"
Ami glanced down into the courtyard where Kyn was organizing the remaining food supply with Rei and Minako. The red headed priestess raised her eyes and Ami waved, but Kyn just returned to her task without so much as a smile.
"She must believe that both the Sword and Galaxia are well hidden," Ami said. "I suppose she thinks Abyss is just waiting for us to lead her to the Sword."
"But what if Abyss doesn't need us?" Chibiusa wondered.
Ami sighed again. The same thought had been plaguing her mind. How would they find Galaxia if their only guide refused to lead them? She gazed worriedly to the horizon and hoped that the Sword was still safe.
********
Galaxia rose to her feet as the enormous dragon settled to the ground before her. She brushed off her hands and clothes as her visitors approached. Squinting against the morning sun, she saw two figures - a child and a woman. As they drew closer, Galaxia realized the woman had a gun pointed at the child. She gasped in surprise, but steeled herself.
"Welcome," Galaxia greeted them in a strong voice.
"Quiet," the woman snapped, shifting the gun from the girl to Galaxia. "You are Galaxia, the most powerful senshi?"
Galaxia nodded slowly. "I was. Who are you?"
"Abyss," the woman replied. "You have something I want."
Galaxia deliberately switched her gaze to the child. The girl had dark blue hair and kept her eyes downcast. Galaxia furrowed her brow in thought, knowing she had seen this child before somewhere.
"What's your name?" Galaxia asked the girl, completely ignoring the frustrated Abyss.
The child raised her head and looked at Galaxia with large, unfeeling brown eyes. "Kuusou Akumu," she replied.
Abyss cleared her throat angrily. Galaxia looked back to her sharply. "What?" Galaxia asked.
"The Sword," Abyss demanded, powering up her gun. "Give me the Sword or breathe your last."
Galaxia laughed. "You could never use the Sword," she said.
"I can if someone of a pure heart gives it to me freely," Abyss snarled, grabbing Akumu roughly by the arm.
Galaxia stared at the girl. Akumu seemed to be a victim, like herself. Would she really give the Sword to Abyss? If she did, was she really of a pure heart?
"Didn't you hear me?" Galaxia said. "You need a pure heart, not one coated with darkness."
Akumu raised her head sharply and Galaxia could see anger in her eyes. The exiled senshi sighed inwardly. Apparently she had guessed wrong and Akumu was indeed a prisoner. Abyss laughed and gestured to the cottage wit her gun. Galaxia brushed her hair out of her eyes and headed for the door, Abyss and Akumu only a step behind.
********
The baby saw it all. A scream, a flash of white light, and silence. Blinking in confusion, the baby cried, but no warm hands reached down to soothe her. Lost and alone, the child waited in darkness.
********
At the midday meal, the senshi gathered again in Kyn's quarters. They were served by a brown robed monk whom Kyn dismissed with a wave, not even looking up. As the senshi ate, Ami politely cleared her throat.
"Excuse me," she said, "but I was wondering if it is possible to contact Galaxia, to warn her about Abyss."
Kyn put down her plate. "You Earthlings just don't understand, do you? Galaxia is safe and secure where she is."
"So she never has contact with anyone?" Rei asked.
"I visit her once a year to make sure she has everything she needs," Kyn replied. "It's a long journey so I don't want to make it needlessly."
"What if, for whatever reason, Abyss found Galaxia?" Makoto asked.
"Then she would be able to take care of herself," Kyn replied. "She is the most powerful senshi in the galaxy."
The group fell silent for a few minutes as the girls sipped their tea. Finally Kyn put her cup down and looked at each girl in the eye. The priestess sighed.
"It would make all of you feel better if we checked on Galaxia, wouldn't it?" Kyn asked.
The senshi nodded furiously. Kyn closed her eyes for a moment, the gray gem on her forehead reflecting the room's dim light. She remained motionless for a moment before nodding slowly.
"All right," she said, opening her eyes. "I'll take you to Galaxia as fast as I can, but we're going the long way to make sure we're not being followed."
The inner senshi cheered and Kyn smiled.
"When do we leave?" Minako asked excitedly.
Kyn rose to her feet and picked up her bow and quiver. She opened a draw of her desk and drew out a silver whistle on a chain. Clenching the whistle in one hand, she turned back to the senshi.
"Right now," she replied.
********
The monks of the Pythian Temple gathered in the courtyard and on the walls to watch the Summoning. This event was so rare, it existed only in legend. Sailor Apollo stood in the yard facing the enormous temple doors. The five Earth senshi stood in front of the doors, watching with just as much curiousity as the monks. Sailor Apollo put the silver whistle between her lips and nocked an arrow in her bow. Blowing the whistle sharply, she released the arrow into the air above her. It soared straight up for several feet before splitting into six individual arrows and flying into the mountains. Apollo tucked the whistle inside her uniform and rested her bow on the ground.
"Now what?" Sailor Moon whispered.
"Now we wait," Apollo replied without looking at the pink senshi.
They did not have to wait long. A couple of minutes after the arrow was fired, a monk on the wall began hissing excitedly and pointing into the air. The eyes of everyone assembled followed his finger and gasped in awe.
Six very large, beautiful swans flew over their heads and settled in the courtyard of the temple. Five of them were white and they were lead by an elegant black swan, who honked at Apollo. The Pythian senshi smiled and caressed his head. The black swan closed his eyes appreciatively. Sailor Apollo motioned for the other senshi to join her.
"These swans will take us to Galaxia," Apollo said. "Let one chose you to ride it and we'll get going."
The senshi looked at the five swans. The swans looked back at the senshi. Finally the one on the end extended its long neck and pointed to Sailor Jupiter. She smiled and stroked the swan's head. The remaining four swans overcame their shyness and chose a rider. When all the senshi were firmly seated on their steeds, Sailor Apollo mounted her black swan and the six birds rose into the air.
"This is fun!" Sailor Moon exclaimed.
Her swan gave a small honk of gratitude and followed the others over the mountains, away from the Temple.
********
The baby stopped crying, her eyes captivated by the warm light surrounding her. Two figures looked down at her, hidden in shadow. One reached out a long, elegant finger which the baby took hold of, smiling in joy at being found.
"It's her," one of the people said.
"We will care for her here," the other said.
"Until the time is right," the first agreed.
Happy to be among people again, the baby settled into a peaceful slumber.
********
Abyss stood with her back to the closed door inside the cottage. The house consisted of a single large room, with a small kitchen tucked into one corner and a simple bed and desk in another. A few chairs sat by the fireplace and nothing decorated the walls. An open door separated the kitchen from the living space and a toilet and sink could be seen.
Abyss motioned for Akumu to sit in one of the chairs by the fireplace. The girl did, looking neither at Galaxia nor at Abyss.
"Show it to me," Abyss ordered.
Galaxia drew herself up to her full height and stared defiantly at Abyss. The purple haired woman swung the crystal gun at Galaxia.
"Show me!" Abyss yelled.
Galaxia hesitated a moment longer before walked up to the fireplace and pressing one of the bricks. A panel above the mantle flipped open and inside lay the golden Sword of Galaxia. Abyss stared at it for a moment, the sun from one of the cottage windows reflecting off the yellow blade. Pulling herself together, she motioned for Galaxia to sit in the other chair, and the woman did.
Reaching for a cylinder of aquamarine gas at her belt, Abyss unhooked it and showed it to Akumu.
"You know the deal," Abyss threatened.
Silently, Akumu stood and walked toward the mantle. She reached up with shaky hands and closed her hand around the Sword's hilt. The weapon was surprisingly light for being nearly as long as Akumu herself. She lifted it easily and held it for a moment in her hands.
"It has to be of your own free will," Galaxia told her.
"Shut up!" Abyss snarled. She turned expectantly to Akumu.
Suddenly, an image flashed before Akumu's eyes. A child with pink hair and large blue eyes, badly injured and being held by someone in a white dress with large angel wings.
Please save that galaxy with this sword.
"I can't," Akumu whispered.
"What?" Abyss said.
"I can't give you the Sword, Abyss."
Galaxia smiled warmly and Akumu blushed. The blue haired girl held out the Sword for Galaxia to take and the woman extended her hand. Abyss, seeing her control over the situation starting to disappear, placed herself between the two.
"I know you hate me, child," Abyss said softly, "but this woman is not who you think she is."
Akumu withdrew the Sword and blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Abyss straightened and a smirk appeared on her face. "Your earliest childhood memory is of a senshi taking away your guardian."
"How did you know that?" Akumu demanded.
Abyss ignored her. "Your guardian was Sentou Karasu, whom Galaxia destroyed."
Akumu gasped and stared at Galaxia. The woman bowed her head in shame, but did not deny the accusation.
"You took her from me?" Akumu asked in a quiet voice.
"I did," Galaxia replied softly.
Akumu clutched the Sword to her chest as tears coursed down her cheeks. All her life she despised the senshi who had taken the life of her guardian and here she was about to hand over the Sword to her. Akumu suddenly felt her power bubbling up inside her and she raised the Sword above her head.
"Darkness of Night, Transform!" she called.
Her senshi power absorbed her, her anger making her transformation pen unnecessary. Akumu became Sailor Nyx, and both Galaxia and Abyss gasped in shock. Her rage taking over completely, Nyx's transformation did not end. A circle of white light appeared at her feet and shot up her body, changing her into the Fury. The Fury turned to face Abyss and the purple haired woman cringed in fright.
The Fury held out the Sword to Abyss. The woman smiled in triumph and reached out to take it.
"Wait!" Galaxia cried.
The Fury and Abyss both turned to face the woman, Abyss's hand inches away from the Sword's hilt. Galaxia took a few steps towards the Fury, her hands clasped in front of her. All of a sudden, an arrow shot through the room between the Fury and Galaxia and embedded itself deep in the wall. All eyes turned to the doorway where six people stood.
Sailor Apollo knocked another arrow on her bow and aimed it at the Fury. The Fury snarled and snatched the Sword away from Abyss, holding it ready against another attack.
"Please, everyone!" Galaxia cried. "There will be no more violence!"
The room fell silent. Apollo lowered her bow but kept a weary eye on the Fury, who was once again holding the Sword out to Abyss. Again, before Abyss could take it, Galaxia began to speak.
"It is true I took your guardian," the woman began, addressing the Fury, "but we were friends at the time. I had taken Chaos into me to protect the galaxy, but I was growing weaker. I had come to ask Karasu-chan for help, but it was too late. Chaos consumed me and I consumed her. She began to work for me as I collected Star seeds."
"Sentou Karasu?" Sailor Mercury whispered. "Sailor Lead Crow?"
Galaxia nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. The Fury's expression softened and she melted back into Sailor Nyx, her own tears brimming in her eyes.
********
"Karasu?" Galaxia called.
"Here," Karasu replied.
Baby Akumu giggled happily as Karasu tickled her nose with a black feather. Akumu could remember her kind eyes and dark skin, but most of all she remembered the smell of the feather on her nose. Another woman with long golden hair melting into red came into the room.
"What a darling baby!" Galaxia exclaimed
Akumu made a final grab at the feather as Karasu picked her up and walked with her around the room. Out of the corner of her eye, Akumu could see Galaxia doubling over in pain.
"Is it getting worse?" Karasu asked.
Galaxia nodded. "I don't know how much longer I can hold it."
Karasu sighed. "I really thought our treatments were working."
Galaxia smiled weakly. "We'll keep them up as long as we can."
Karasu gently put Akumu down into her cradle and smiled at her. The baby clapped her hands together, reached down, and started sucking on her toes. Karasu laughed softly and looked back to Galaxia.
"Let's go," she said.
The two women left the room. Akumu twisted herself to try and see where her guardian had gone, but could not. Suddenly, she heard a cry of pain followed by a brilliant white flash and a terrified scream. Frightened and alone, Akumu began to cry.
********
"She was my friend," Galaxia sobbed. "They all were."
"I remember," Sailor Nyx whispered.
The gray senshi turned away from Abyss and held the Sword out to Galaxia. The woman wiped away her tears and took the Sword back. Abyss screamed in anger, holding the cylinder of Neptune's life essence over her head. The senshi cried in alarm as a portal of black energy appeared behind her.
"Say good bye to your senshi friend," Abyss screeched.
"No!" Sailor Nyx cried.
Abyss laughed as she prepared to toss the cylinder when suddenly she looked down and saw an arrow embedded in her chest. Shocked, the purple haired woman dropped her gun and looked up to see Sailor Apollo still holding her bow ready.
"No," Abyss said weakly. "It can't end this way!"
She threw the cylinder and Sailor Nyx dove for it and caught it before it struck the ground. As she straightened, she noticed the discarded crystal gun and picked it up, tucking it away with the cylinder.
"Master!" Abyss cried out. "Avenge me!"
Abyss fell backward into the portal and quickly disappeared from view. The portal, however, did not disappear with her. The ground suddenly began to shake.
"Quick!" Sailor Jupiter yelled. "Everyone outside!"
The senshi and Galaxia ran from the cottage as the portal expanded. They ran to the coast where their swans were waiting and looked back. The cottage was gone and in its place was a giant black creature. It loomed above them and blocked the sun, casting a shadow over the entire island.
"What is that?" Sailor Mars asked.
"Abyss's Master," Sailor Nyx said. "I heard her talking to him at night. He's the Shadow King."
The towering shadow seemed insubstantial as the senshi could make out the forms of the forest through him. He had a large, gaping mouth, huge empty eyes, and a glowing red point on his left breast.
"We have to stop it," Sailor Venus cried.
Sailor Apollo nocked an arrow and fired it at the monster. It passed right through him, but it caught his attention. The two huge eyes looked down at the small group of senshi, and he howled in anger.
"Uh oh," Sailor Moon said.
"Mars Flame Sniper!" Sailor Mars yelled.
"Jupiter Oak Evolution!" Sailor Jupiter called.
Again, the two attacks passed through him. The senshi backed up in fright as a massive hand swung down to destroy them. They leapt clear, but the hand left a massive print in the ground.
"At least we know he can hit us," Sailor Apollo said.
"What can we do?" Sailor Moon wondered.
Galaxia fingered her Sword. She turned to the senshi and smiled bravely.
"You go," she said. "I'll hold him here as long as I can."
"But Galaxia," Sailor Nyx began.
Galaxia turned back to the Shadow King. "It's been a while since I've used this Sword. I may not defeat him, but I should give you enough time to escape to face him again."
The senshi nodded reluctantly and climbed aboard their frightened swans, Sailor Nyx sharing a ride with Sailor Moon. As Apollo ordered them all into the air, Galaxia raised her Sword and swung at the Shadow King. He howled in pain.
As they flew higher, Sailor Nyx looked back and saw Galaxia dueling with the Shadow King. Tears came into her eyes, but she found she could not take her eyes off the scene.
"Don't look," Sailor Moon advised.
Sailor Nyx turned to her friend and forced a smile. The pink senshi smiled back sadly and held Nyx's hand comfortingly. Without warning, the swans gave a surprised honk and nearly threw their riders as the air currents changed. Nyx held on tight, but looked down at Galaxia's island.
There was little left of the place, the whole island having been drained of life, and the Shadow King was rising into the air after them. Sailor Moon gasped in front of Nyx and urged her swan to fly faster.
"Galaxia," Nyx whispered.
"Hurry!" Sailor Apollo yelled back. "We have to reach the Temple before the Shadow King does."
The swans flew faster, but the King stayed within sight. In minutes, they were back at the Pythian Temple. The monks hissed a welcome, but were quickly silenced as the sun disappeared behind the enormous Shadow King. He landed at the mouth of the valley and slowly to advance, sucking the life out of everything he encountered. The senshi leapt from their swans, who quickly launched themselves into the air, and ran to the walls.
Apollo launched several arrows at the Shadow, but nothing happened. The monks ran around, throwing sticks and rocks at the approaching threat. Sailor Venus and Sailor Mercury tried their attacks, but they passed through him as if he was not there.
"What can we do?" Sailor Nyx cried.
"Nothing here," Sailor Mars said. "We need the Imperial Silver Crystal."
"We have to go," Sailor Jupiter agreed.
"We can't just leave the Pythians," Sailor Moon objected.
Sailor Apollo stood apart from the other senshi, still firing her endless supply of arrows into the approaching threat. She was, however, listening intently to the conversation
"If we leave now, we could draw the Shadow King away from this planet without him destroying it," Sailor Mercury said.
"It's a risk, but we have little choice," Sailor Venus agreed.
"What about Apollo?" Sailor Nyx whispered.
Abruptly Sailor Apollo stopped firing arrows and turned to the courtyard. All the monks who lived there, as well as the farmers who had managed to escape, had assembled when the Shadow King had appeared and they all looked up to their priestess for guidance.
"Flee the Temple," Apollo ordered. "Head for the mountains! We cannot stop the Shadow King!"
The monks hesitated for a second then fled the temple in a panic. Apollo sadly watched them go, gripping her bow tightly in one hand. The six Earth senshi stared at her in silence for a moment.
"My family is gone," Sailor Apollo said softly. She turned to the other senshi, her face grim. "Let's go."
The senshi joined hands and bowed their heads in concentration. The Shadow King was nearly on top of them as they disappeared into streaks of light and headed into outer space. The Shadow paused for only a moment to destroy the Pythian Temple before launching himself into space after them.
********
Queen Serenity looked in on the sleeping forms of Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune. They had been unconscious for nearly a week and a half, and she didn't like how pale they both were getting. The strand that connected their life essences no longer glowed with the same intensity it once had and the queen took that as a bad sign.
Serenity walked over to the window and gazed up into the night sky.
"Ami-chan, Rei-chan, Mako-chan, Minako-chan," she whispered, "please return safely home."
As if in answer to her prayer, seven streaks of light shot across the black sky, followed by a darkness that coated the stars and hid them from view.