--PLEASE READ THIS--
This story is a SERIES. That means there
are more chapters that come before this one.
You can start with these chapters, but I will
promise you will be confused.
The series in order goes as follows;
Don't Let Me Go: Broken Promises
Don't Let Me Go: Insanity
Don't Let Me Go: Roses
Don't Let Me Go: Apparition
Don't Let Me Go: Debauchery
Don't Let Me Go: Analogous
Don't Let Me Go: Barrage
I hope this doesn't make everyone
go screaming and not read my fic ::sniff::
I promise the first couple of Main titles
are not that long ^^
oh, and the next set of chapters are
Don't Let Me Go: Crystalization ^_^
___________________
How do you kill a "god"?
Chronos is completely, utterly, insane,
but that excuse isn't going to save him
from me when I get loose. The light of
madness in his eyes burns almost as hot
as the fires of my hatred for him. He
seems to delight in the pain he's inflicted
on me and in what he plans for my Beloved,
my friends and my world. If I have to come
back from the dead, I will have justice done.
I will see Chronos pay his crimes. And God
grant that the hand that delivers that justice
is mine.
How do you kill a "god"? Watch and see...
-Mamoru.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Don't Let Me Go: Barrage
Chapter: 2
By: Bethany and Patch
Editor: Meara
Rated: PG 13
Comments? Suggestions? Tiggers?
Sour Patch kids? send em' to us!
Bethany212@aol.com and Patchkhan1@hotmail.com
(insert one of them there hints here ^^)
~~~~~~~~~~~
Someone was after her. She could feel it.
Slowly she crept down hall after hall through
the maze of the castle she had called home for
over a millennia. She knew the turns and twists
of the castle like the back of her hand. But
tonight she felt lost and alone as she quickly
turned another corner.
The hood of her cape covered her long hair
and half her face, helping her keep to the shadows.
"I have no where to hide, I can not let him find
me," she whispered to herself.
But even as she said this, she knew what
was evitable. And yet she ran, her heart
pounding against her ribs.
It wouldn't be too long. Maybe she could
trick the Fates. Perhaps it was possible to live
to see another rise of the fog over the Time Gate.
"Going somewhere?" The voice sounded in her
ears seconds before she ran into its owner. Slowly
she backed up, preparing to run.
Another set of arms grabbed her from behind
and she let out a small shriek before a gag was
stuffed in her mouth.
Chronos gave an evil smile and lit a torch.
"Well, my dear, dear wife. What have you been
doing?" He ran his fingers through his beard
thoughtfully. "You know, I've lost something.
Maybe.. you could help me find it?"
Kenbo's eyes widened and she tried to fight
to free herself. But to no avail, the Youma's grip
was too strong. Chronos' eyes flashed in the light
and her grabbed her chin roughly. "What did you do
with it? The Golden Crystal? Damn it woman, I *know*
you have it!"
He ripped the gag from her mouth and she
gasped for air. "What makes you think *I* have
it?" she spat. Her eyes glaring hatefully at the
man she had once loved enough to marry and bare
children for.
Chronos let something close to a growl escape
his throat and pulled his hand back to strike her.
"Tell me where it is."
She met his stare evenly. "I will not."
Even the Youma flinched as Chronos let his
fist fly. It struck Kenbo's face making it jerk
to the left. "I want it!"
Even as Kenbo reeled she her head back to
face him, the side of her cheek as red as blood.
"No," she whispered in a ragged voice. She almost
choked on her tears, but managed to push them back
long enough to spit in his face.
Enraged, Chronos smacked her again and again,
once balling his fist up and punching her jaw. "I
WANT IT!"
~~~~~~~
A little more. Mamoru closed his eyes against
the pain and once more put all of his body weight
into pulling the chains that held him from the wall.
Crack.
A good while later he awoke on the floor.
There was blood on his arms where the manacles had
cut into him as he pulled on the chains. He blinked
once then a small smile formed on his lips. "Thought..
I was a weakling.. bastard," he spit and attempted
to sit up.
The world spun a few times and Mamoru fought
it, knowing he had to get out the room before Chronos
could come back. The only thing he could think to do
was transform. Slowly he slid his hand inside his
jacket and closed his eyes in concentration.
"What the hell?!?" In his hand lay a thorny
stem, no petals whatsoever attached; and he was
still in civilian form. He felt a tingling of fear
in his gut and concentrated again and reached into
his jacket once more.
Again, he received the same results and this
time the fear in his gut became a sharp stab. A
trickle of sweat formed on his brow and slid down
his forehead and onto the side of his nose. Why wasn't
he able to transform? How would he be able to save
Usagi?
And then realization hit him. It was the emptiness.
How could he have missed the emptiness within him?
No, it was not the link that he and Usagi shared.
That bond was still strong, of that he was sure of.
He knew his love was alive. He could feel her...
and that comforted him and gave him strength.
But this hollowness was different and he
suddenly understood why he couldn't transform.
He was missing the Golden Crystal.
It was the life force of his energy and powers.
Without it he was just another human being. With it
he wasn't Prince Endymion of the Past, Tuxedo Kamen
of the Present and Neo-King Endymion of the Future.
The question was, where was it? He knew it was
close by, he could feel its essence and he knew it
was in good hands. But whose? Usagi?
He slowly got up, the world spinning around
him like crazy. He stood still for a moment,
breathing slowly. C'mon, Mamoru, get it to together,
he scolded himself. Finally he was able to stand
straight. He was going to escape, he was now
confident of that.
In the next moment, he fell back against
the wall as a twisting pain swept over him,
starting from the back of his head. He grabbed
his head, knowing what was wrong.
"Shimatta!" Usagi was using her Crystal
and it was sucking the energy right out of her.
And here he was, Kami knew where... unable to help
her. Mamoru felt so helpless at that moment. One
hand left his head and forming a fist, slammed it
against the wall behind him.
And then an idea came to him. He could use
the Golden Crystal to help his beloved. He
concentrated once more, and felt the Crystal
fuse with hers, aiding her. She was healing
someone, that much he could tell.
Pain ripped at him as he realized her
energy was being drained. What was Usagi doing?
He wanted to yell for her to stop but that was
pointless. She was transforming... into another
form - her princess form! The urge to transform
into Prince Endymion overwhelmed him but he
could do nothing.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open at the
sound of footsteps. Despite the pounding headache
that pulsed in time with his heart, he rushed over
to stand beside the doorway, staying hidden in the
shadowy area. The footsteps came closer and someone
entered the room. Immediately he jumped onto the
thing and the two went tumbling to the floor.
They rolled over and over until Mamoru was
on top throwing punches.... at his own face? His
fist stopped in the air and he peered down at the
person under him.
"Kami..." he whispered. It *was* him. No; a
clone of him. Through his powers of psychometry,
he realized this... this being had no soul, only
the essence... of himself.
And he needed this essence. He needed its
strength, its energy to find Usagi.
He pulled the clone up and was slightly
surprised to see that it was wearing a tuxedo.
"I command you to re-join me!" he ordered
the clone. It looked at him in confusion and
Mamoru growled in frustration.
"Join me!" he said, slightly louder, shaking
the clone. He got no response and knew he wouldn't
be receiving one anytime soon either.
"Fine," he growled, talking mostly to himself.
"We do this the hard way." He closed his eyes and
gripped the still silent clone by the shoulders.
He bent his head and called upon all the powers
of the Earth, the active and dormant forces.
A greenish-blue glow surrounded the two and
Mamoru could feel himself becoming 'whole' again.
He opened his eyes to see the clone in front of him
slowly fading. In another few moments the clone was
gone and Mamoru could feel the energy coursing
through his veins. It wasn't the same feeling as
having the Golden Crystal but it was enough to
help him transform.
He reached into his jacket, silently praying
and rejoiced when he pulled out a perfect, fully
bloomed, red rose. In seconds he was Tuxedo Kamen
and he rushed out of the room concentrating on the
link he and Usagi shared.
"I'm coming love," he whispered. "Hang on for
me."
He rushed down hallways and heard the sound of
fighting close by. He turned down another wing and
skidded to a halt. He was in a hallway filled with
doors on either side but there was only one particular
door Youma's were trying to bang down.
Bingo, he thought grimly and rushed towards them.
At that moment they succeeded in pushing it down and
the sound of fighting soon filled the air.
He pushed Youma's aside, destroying them either
with his roses or his cane, trying desperately to get
into the room.
He finally got in and his eyes widened at the
sight of Sailor Saturn and another Senshi fighting
Sailor Mars and Mercury.
What was going on?
But at that moment he saw his princess, lying
on the ground, unconscious. Sailor Venus was guarding
her, fighting with any lingering Youmas.
He ran over to them and knelt beside Usagi,
picking her up. His heart pounded fearfully as he
pushed aside the hair from her neck and checked for
a pulse.
Faint... it was so faint. He looked up just in
time to see Sailor Saturn voice her attack. A huge
explosion ripped through the room and he shielded
himself and Usagi.
When everything had cleared he saw Sailor Mars
and Sailor Mercury lying on the floor unconscious.
And then it dawned on him. They were clones! Of
course, how could he have forgotten after seeing
his own clone. But he didn't have time to ponder
on that thought when Sailor Venus' voice broke through
his thoughts.
"Tuxedo Kamen-sama... is that really you?" she
peered at him carefully, not knowing whether or not
to trust him.
"Hai, it is me, not my clone. Sailor Venus,
onegai, help me heal Usako."
The anguish in her Prince's voice was enough
to convince the Senshi and from her sub space pocket
she brought out the Golden Crystal, holding it
carefully in her hands.
"I believe this is yours," she whispered, smiling.
"How? Where did-?"
"That's not important right now. Heal Usagi-chan,
please."
He nodded and took the Crystal from her hands.
Again he closed his eyes and concentrated and in
seconds the Crystal was gone, safely inside of him.
Now he felt whole, completely and fully restored.
Bending over Usagi, he tilted his head downwards,
capturing her pale lips. He remembered, from long ago,
how the power of his kiss had awakened Usagi after she
had fought Metallia.*
The power of their kisses... the power of their
love...what strength it held.
"Mamo-chan..."
He heard her whisper against his lips and he drew
back, hard-pressed not to let a few tears fall.
"Usako... how I've missed you," he said, his voice
becoming husky.
Her eyes blinked open and upon seeing his face,
widened. "Mamo-chan? Oh God, Mamo-chan!"
She pulled herself up and grabbed onto him tightly
unable to believe that he was with her... finally... after
what seemed like ages.
"I missed you too, so much! But, I was brave... and
strong and I came here to find you..."
"A very dangerous expedition," he scolded teasingly.
"Anything for you... and my friends." With that last
word she looked around, noticing everyone else.
They stood up together, and she gasped upon seeing
the limp forms of Mercury and Mars.
"What happened?" she cried.
"Don't worry, they're clones," Sailor Cosmos said.
"Is that Mika?" Mamoru asked in amazement. She
looked... well she didn't look like a teenager, that he
was sure of.
"Hai," Usagi replied proudly. "Meet Sailor Cosmos."
"Kami..." He then saw Michiru with a limp Haruka
and he and Usagi ran to them.
"Did it work?" Usagi asked worriedly.
Michiru's eyes glowed with happiness and gratitude.
"Yes, Sailor Moon." Haruka moaned slightly and coughed.
After a few minutes of dizziness and a slightly
upset stomach, Haruka stood on her own long enough to
pull her henshin stick out. In a horse whisper she spoke
the words that would help her regain her strength. "Uranus..
Planet.. Power - make up."
A weak glow became stronger until everyone in the
room was forced to cover their eyes. When it dimmed,
Michiru would swear she never seen a more wonderful sight.
In the spot where a weak and sick Haruka stood a
moment before, now stood a woman in a fuku, healthy and
ready to kick some butt. "Let's do this," she whispered,
her voice dangerously low. She winked at Michiru before
heading towards the clones of Mars and Mercury.
~~~~~~~~~~~
She heard voices and moved towards them quickly.
She knew she had to find Chronos so he could inform her
of her next move. With one final turn, she came upon
Chronos, two Youmas and a woman she didn't recognize.
"Excuse me?" she said sarcastically, waving a
hand in the air. "But you forgot to inform me of just
what I am to do while I waited for you imps to destroy
the Senshi."
"Setsuna," Chronos spat. "Why are you here?"
Kenbo's eyes widen as the grown woman entered
the hall.
~Flash back~
"Mama!! Where are you?"
Tears fell down Kenbo's face as she heard her
little girl's cry and couldn't respond. The gag in
her mouth prevented anything more than a moan to
escape her.
"Mommy?! Mommy, where are you?!" Tears and
pain mixed together in Setsuna's voice as she cried
out. Suddenly her voice was silenced.
"Hush girl, your Mama left you. She didn't love
you, no one loves you," the deep voice of Chronos
supplied for the young Setsuna.
"NO!" Green hair flew back and forth has she
shook her head - refusing to believe her father's
words. "She loves me! Mommy loves me!"
"Yeah, right," he spat in her face, grabbing
her arm and dragging her from the room. "Now, you
be a good girl and get back to your room before I
take a rod to you."
Silence. It seemed to last forever. Finally
the door slid open and Chronos stood in the doorway.
Kenbo closed her eyes against the harsh light
and turned her head to the side.
"She deserves this, you know," Chronos began.
"You spoiled her, pampered her so that she has no
back bone. I won't allow an offspring of mine to be
raised like this! Baka, you are no more than a fool
and you will live to regret it."
~End Flashback~
Chronos left her there, in the dark. One night
while she slept, she was moved to another part of
castle where she wandered the halls since.
Now, standing once more in the presence of the
girl that had called her mommy.. she couldn't help
the tears that fell.
Setsuna barely let her eyes scan the woman
over before she turned back to Chronos. "Who is *that*?"
"No one," Chronos answered quickly; too quickly.
Immediately he took his frustration out on
Kenbo, raising his hand to strike her once more.
"What did you do with it, woman?!"
"I will not tell you," she whispered hoarsely,
watching Setsuna out of the corner of her eye.
A smile came to Chronos' lips. An evil smile
that seemed to freeze Kenbo's heart. "You are a fool.
Stupid woman, you will live to regret this."
~Flashback~
Small, almost inaudible footsteps moved in the
large hallway. The small figure, maybe four feet
tall, crept slowly towards the room her father had
dragged her out of hours before. She heard his booming
voice and came to a sudden halt, thinking she had been
caught.
But it wasn't her that he spoke so harshly to,
it was someone else. Her emerald eyes peeked slowly
into the room where she found her father talking to
her mother. Even at six years old, she knew better
than to make a sound.
"...spoiled her, pampered her so that she has
no back bone. I won't allow an offspring of mine to
be raised like this! Baka, you are no more than a
fool and you will live to regret it."
~End Flashback~
Setsuna's eyes flashed a brilliant white,
then green before turning a grayish color. She
fought against these images.. these lies. Her
mother left her, she remembered it clearly. But
then, other images of the night she had over heard
her father talking came to her mind's eye. This
woman.. it couldn't be.
Kenbo raised her head regally and glared at
Chronos. "I will do what I must."
~Flashback~
She stood, flinching only slightly, a ten-year
old girl ready to face whatever hardships she had to.
Her head bent, she clutched the staff tightly, as her
father circled her, eyeing her as a hawk would.
"Answer me, daughter. Are you scared?"
"Iie."
"I did not hear you Setsuna. Speak louder, are
you scared?"
"Iie! I am not afraid. I will do what I must!"
she yelled and then cursed herself silently for losing
control in front of her father.
Chronos stepped back and smiled slightly,
satisfied. "So you are afraid, are you not? I can
understand, after all, how many girls your age are
put in charge of time and space all at the same time?
It must be so difficult, at such a tender age."
"I will do what I must," she replied quietly.
~End flashback~
Hundreds of images flooded her mind so quickly
that Setsuna grabbed her head and let out a howl of
pain.
Her mother. Her father. Her brother. Queen
Serenity. The Time Gate. Everything came rushing
back to her. After a few intense moments, the pain
from the flood of memories eased and the Senshi of
Pluto regained her composure.
In a snap of her fingers, she summoned her
time staff. And before Chronos could react, she
raised it high in the air.
"Dead Scream."
The halls echoed with the scream that followed
her words. Such a small command brought on a blow
that forced the winds of time to knock Chronos back
fifteen feet.
Pluto walked quietly, with a deadly stride, to
where her father laid slumped against the wall. "Tell
me *Father*..." A small smile of satisfaction played
on her lips. "Are you scared?"
God Chronos looked up with pure hatred at the
woman above him. Somewhere in his twisted mind, he
knew why his daughter had betrayed *him*.
Time seemed to follow Setsuna's heart and slow
as she watched a beam of energy shoot out from
Chronos'hand and flash past her. A small gleam of
light shined in his black eyes.
Before Pluto had the chance to react, Kenbo
was slammed against a wall; the clothing off her
chest burned, revealing where the blast had burnt
into her.
Chronos' laugh filled the halls of the castle.
An evil, twisted, utterly insane sound that echoed
in Pluto's ears as she ran towards her mother. "NO!!"
Chronos stood, ready for his victory speech:
"You BITC--"
"VENUS.. Love and beauty, shock!"
Chronos lost his small grip on sanity. His eyes
flared red and a white light surrounded him. "I AM
TRYING TO KILL SOMEONE HERE, WHY THE HELL ARE YOU
INTERRUPTING?"
Venus snapped her finger and made a face. "Uh,
gee, let me think on that one."
In his now increased rage, the white light
flared up and engulfed the ceiling and spread like
a wild fire down the hall. As the ceiling burned with
the strange energy that Chronos seemed to be feeding
on, Haruka and Michiru helped Setsuna to carry Kenbo
into another room.
~~~~~~~~
"Come on! Come on!" Eternal Sailor Moon whispered
over and over, her eyes never leaving Mars and Mercury's
body.
Tuxedo Kamen felt for a pulse once more, almost
giving up hope when he felt a small movement in Mercury's
wrist. "Now Usako, we have to help them."
Their hands touched and in that instant, they became
one. The power of the Silver Crystal and the Golden
Crystal combined into a force of unimaginable strength.
Mamoru and Usagi were one soul in two bodies. Their hearts
beating as one, the Prince of Earth and Princess of the Moon
fought to reawaken the Senshi.
Slowly Mars' eyes fluttered open and then closed.
Opening again, she moaned and looked over at Usagi who
was now crying.
"Meat..ball head.. don't be such a cry.. baby..."
Usagi grinned through her tears, having never
been so happy to hear her dreaded nickname.
Tuxedo Kamen felt both Mars and Mercury's
pulse once more, noting happily that it was increasing.
"Alright you two, you need to transform and let your
powers heal you."
~~~~~~~~~
Everyone in the room seemed to stop and watch
the light show that Chronos was providing. As the
flames moved further down the hall and grew brighter,
Pluto sat next to her mother.
Tears coursed down her face as she spoke:
"Mother? Come on, you'll be okay. The Princess, she
can heal you, just hold on."
Kenbo let the top of her cape flutter backwards,
revealing her gray streaked hair and dull emerald eyes;
much like Setsuna's. "My dear, sweet daughter; how I
have missed you. But Darling, surely you must know more
than anyone that everything has it's time. My dear,
mine is up."
"No, no it's not," Setsuna shook her head and
held fast to her mother's limp hand.
"Shhh. Do.. do you remember when you were just
a young girl and I would brush.. your hair?"
Setsuna remembered, the talks about her growing
up and becoming a beautiful Princess. Tears streaked
her face as she nodded. "Hai mother, I do."
"You.. kno-w.. You are just.. as beautiful.. as
I i-imaged you would be--"
Setsuna felt Kenbo's hand go completely limp
within her grip and a sob tore at her throat. "Mother..
no. NO--please! Please don't leave me...please."
The once bright green eyes, filled with love when
Setsuna was a child; and filled with pride only moments
before - were now a dull gray as they rolled back in her
head.
Setsuna bowed her head and wept silently.
-End Chapter 2.
Wellllll..... ::cries:: I hope that was sad enough ::sniff::
I'm going for angst here.. ::sobs:: did I suceed? ^.^
btw,
* were you confused when Mamoru remembered his kiss bringing
Usagi back after Metallia? Are you a dubbie and don't even
know who Metallia is? Okay, here's the low down ^_~
-- Metallia was the ultimate force behind the Dark Kingdom
(This is manga info. If you do not have manga, GO GET IT! You
can buy it at any Border's Book Store! I PROMISE you that
if you take this little advice from me, you will thank me
later! ^_^ Just ask for "Sailor Moon Graphic Novels" they rule!)
After Venus stabbed and killed Beryl (yep, she did ^_^) then
Metallia took over. Now, all the senshi were dead and Mamoru
was brainwashed - so Usagi took on Metallia by herself. Well,
she couldn't do it alone, and so Luna started praying to the
tower on the moon and that released the ultimate power of
the Moon which unbrainwashed Mamoru, but he couldn't see. His
eyes were all black, but even then he reached out for Usagi's
hand and swore to help her. Metallia killed over after a
rather large explosion and Usagi died. But I ain't done, because
**here comes the part we are referring to in the story** he
reached down and picked her up, holding her *insert HUGE sigh
here* and reached down and kissed her. On the Moon, Luna closed
her eyes and smiled, saying that Usagi was being awoken by her
Prince. Back on Earth, Usagi starts waking up and they kiss
and hug and live happily ever after (Until Chibi-Usa falls
out of the sky -_-;; who am I kidding? I *love* the manga
Chibi-Usa, she's sweet and just a little lonely ^_^ )
So there you have it, my rather long (^^;;) explanation of
where we got that wacking idea ^^
Anyhoo, on with author's notes.. if you are still here ^^;;
:::gets on her knees and bows to the all wonderful Meara:::
OMG! This woman rules beyond words I can come up with!!
Go read her story "Fatal Exposure" it rules!! AND she is the
world's best editor, and just an all around wonderful person!
^_^
HUGE thanks to everyone who emails us about this story!!!
Celia - luv ya girl! and to Masked Madien (I hope I spelled
that right -_-;;) who absolutly made my YEAR with that
email she sent ::grins stupidly from ear to ear:: and everyone
else out there who reads this story, and even if you don't
email me, I still love you all! **HUGS** I know I have some
faithful fans out there and you guys mean SO much to me ^_^
I guess that is all I can fill your ear with, for now ^^;;
PATCH NOTES!!!
Hi everyone! Send all email bombs to me if you think we've
been taking too long on these chapters... THAT WAS A JOKE!!!
No seriously, you can send all bombs to Bethany, she has
the perfect e-mail addy for that... aaaack!
**Bethany inserts a small glare to Patch ^^**
Luva!
Bethany - Bethany212@aol.com
Patch - Patchkhan1@hotmail.com
This story is a SERIES. That means there
are more chapters that come before this one.
You can start with these chapters, but I will
promise you will be confused.
The series in order goes as follows;
Don't Let Me Go: Broken Promises
Don't Let Me Go: Insanity
Don't Let Me Go: Roses
Don't Let Me Go: Apparition
Don't Let Me Go: Debauchery
Don't Let Me Go: Analogous
Don't Let Me Go: Barrage
I hope this doesn't make everyone
go screaming and not read my fic ::sniff::
I promise the first couple of Main titles
are not that long ^^
oh, and the next set of chapters are
Don't Let Me Go: Crystalization ^_^
___________________
How do you kill a "god"?
Chronos is completely, utterly, insane,
but that excuse isn't going to save him
from me when I get loose. The light of
madness in his eyes burns almost as hot
as the fires of my hatred for him. He
seems to delight in the pain he's inflicted
on me and in what he plans for my Beloved,
my friends and my world. If I have to come
back from the dead, I will have justice done.
I will see Chronos pay his crimes. And God
grant that the hand that delivers that justice
is mine.
How do you kill a "god"? Watch and see...
-Mamoru.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Don't Let Me Go: Barrage
Chapter: 2
By: Bethany and Patch
Editor: Meara
Rated: PG 13
Comments? Suggestions? Tiggers?
Sour Patch kids? send em' to us!
Bethany212@aol.com and Patchkhan1@hotmail.com
(insert one of them there hints here ^^)
~~~~~~~~~~~
Someone was after her. She could feel it.
Slowly she crept down hall after hall through
the maze of the castle she had called home for
over a millennia. She knew the turns and twists
of the castle like the back of her hand. But
tonight she felt lost and alone as she quickly
turned another corner.
The hood of her cape covered her long hair
and half her face, helping her keep to the shadows.
"I have no where to hide, I can not let him find
me," she whispered to herself.
But even as she said this, she knew what
was evitable. And yet she ran, her heart
pounding against her ribs.
It wouldn't be too long. Maybe she could
trick the Fates. Perhaps it was possible to live
to see another rise of the fog over the Time Gate.
"Going somewhere?" The voice sounded in her
ears seconds before she ran into its owner. Slowly
she backed up, preparing to run.
Another set of arms grabbed her from behind
and she let out a small shriek before a gag was
stuffed in her mouth.
Chronos gave an evil smile and lit a torch.
"Well, my dear, dear wife. What have you been
doing?" He ran his fingers through his beard
thoughtfully. "You know, I've lost something.
Maybe.. you could help me find it?"
Kenbo's eyes widened and she tried to fight
to free herself. But to no avail, the Youma's grip
was too strong. Chronos' eyes flashed in the light
and her grabbed her chin roughly. "What did you do
with it? The Golden Crystal? Damn it woman, I *know*
you have it!"
He ripped the gag from her mouth and she
gasped for air. "What makes you think *I* have
it?" she spat. Her eyes glaring hatefully at the
man she had once loved enough to marry and bare
children for.
Chronos let something close to a growl escape
his throat and pulled his hand back to strike her.
"Tell me where it is."
She met his stare evenly. "I will not."
Even the Youma flinched as Chronos let his
fist fly. It struck Kenbo's face making it jerk
to the left. "I want it!"
Even as Kenbo reeled she her head back to
face him, the side of her cheek as red as blood.
"No," she whispered in a ragged voice. She almost
choked on her tears, but managed to push them back
long enough to spit in his face.
Enraged, Chronos smacked her again and again,
once balling his fist up and punching her jaw. "I
WANT IT!"
~~~~~~~
A little more. Mamoru closed his eyes against
the pain and once more put all of his body weight
into pulling the chains that held him from the wall.
Crack.
A good while later he awoke on the floor.
There was blood on his arms where the manacles had
cut into him as he pulled on the chains. He blinked
once then a small smile formed on his lips. "Thought..
I was a weakling.. bastard," he spit and attempted
to sit up.
The world spun a few times and Mamoru fought
it, knowing he had to get out the room before Chronos
could come back. The only thing he could think to do
was transform. Slowly he slid his hand inside his
jacket and closed his eyes in concentration.
"What the hell?!?" In his hand lay a thorny
stem, no petals whatsoever attached; and he was
still in civilian form. He felt a tingling of fear
in his gut and concentrated again and reached into
his jacket once more.
Again, he received the same results and this
time the fear in his gut became a sharp stab. A
trickle of sweat formed on his brow and slid down
his forehead and onto the side of his nose. Why wasn't
he able to transform? How would he be able to save
Usagi?
And then realization hit him. It was the emptiness.
How could he have missed the emptiness within him?
No, it was not the link that he and Usagi shared.
That bond was still strong, of that he was sure of.
He knew his love was alive. He could feel her...
and that comforted him and gave him strength.
But this hollowness was different and he
suddenly understood why he couldn't transform.
He was missing the Golden Crystal.
It was the life force of his energy and powers.
Without it he was just another human being. With it
he wasn't Prince Endymion of the Past, Tuxedo Kamen
of the Present and Neo-King Endymion of the Future.
The question was, where was it? He knew it was
close by, he could feel its essence and he knew it
was in good hands. But whose? Usagi?
He slowly got up, the world spinning around
him like crazy. He stood still for a moment,
breathing slowly. C'mon, Mamoru, get it to together,
he scolded himself. Finally he was able to stand
straight. He was going to escape, he was now
confident of that.
In the next moment, he fell back against
the wall as a twisting pain swept over him,
starting from the back of his head. He grabbed
his head, knowing what was wrong.
"Shimatta!" Usagi was using her Crystal
and it was sucking the energy right out of her.
And here he was, Kami knew where... unable to help
her. Mamoru felt so helpless at that moment. One
hand left his head and forming a fist, slammed it
against the wall behind him.
And then an idea came to him. He could use
the Golden Crystal to help his beloved. He
concentrated once more, and felt the Crystal
fuse with hers, aiding her. She was healing
someone, that much he could tell.
Pain ripped at him as he realized her
energy was being drained. What was Usagi doing?
He wanted to yell for her to stop but that was
pointless. She was transforming... into another
form - her princess form! The urge to transform
into Prince Endymion overwhelmed him but he
could do nothing.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open at the
sound of footsteps. Despite the pounding headache
that pulsed in time with his heart, he rushed over
to stand beside the doorway, staying hidden in the
shadowy area. The footsteps came closer and someone
entered the room. Immediately he jumped onto the
thing and the two went tumbling to the floor.
They rolled over and over until Mamoru was
on top throwing punches.... at his own face? His
fist stopped in the air and he peered down at the
person under him.
"Kami..." he whispered. It *was* him. No; a
clone of him. Through his powers of psychometry,
he realized this... this being had no soul, only
the essence... of himself.
And he needed this essence. He needed its
strength, its energy to find Usagi.
He pulled the clone up and was slightly
surprised to see that it was wearing a tuxedo.
"I command you to re-join me!" he ordered
the clone. It looked at him in confusion and
Mamoru growled in frustration.
"Join me!" he said, slightly louder, shaking
the clone. He got no response and knew he wouldn't
be receiving one anytime soon either.
"Fine," he growled, talking mostly to himself.
"We do this the hard way." He closed his eyes and
gripped the still silent clone by the shoulders.
He bent his head and called upon all the powers
of the Earth, the active and dormant forces.
A greenish-blue glow surrounded the two and
Mamoru could feel himself becoming 'whole' again.
He opened his eyes to see the clone in front of him
slowly fading. In another few moments the clone was
gone and Mamoru could feel the energy coursing
through his veins. It wasn't the same feeling as
having the Golden Crystal but it was enough to
help him transform.
He reached into his jacket, silently praying
and rejoiced when he pulled out a perfect, fully
bloomed, red rose. In seconds he was Tuxedo Kamen
and he rushed out of the room concentrating on the
link he and Usagi shared.
"I'm coming love," he whispered. "Hang on for
me."
He rushed down hallways and heard the sound of
fighting close by. He turned down another wing and
skidded to a halt. He was in a hallway filled with
doors on either side but there was only one particular
door Youma's were trying to bang down.
Bingo, he thought grimly and rushed towards them.
At that moment they succeeded in pushing it down and
the sound of fighting soon filled the air.
He pushed Youma's aside, destroying them either
with his roses or his cane, trying desperately to get
into the room.
He finally got in and his eyes widened at the
sight of Sailor Saturn and another Senshi fighting
Sailor Mars and Mercury.
What was going on?
But at that moment he saw his princess, lying
on the ground, unconscious. Sailor Venus was guarding
her, fighting with any lingering Youmas.
He ran over to them and knelt beside Usagi,
picking her up. His heart pounded fearfully as he
pushed aside the hair from her neck and checked for
a pulse.
Faint... it was so faint. He looked up just in
time to see Sailor Saturn voice her attack. A huge
explosion ripped through the room and he shielded
himself and Usagi.
When everything had cleared he saw Sailor Mars
and Sailor Mercury lying on the floor unconscious.
And then it dawned on him. They were clones! Of
course, how could he have forgotten after seeing
his own clone. But he didn't have time to ponder
on that thought when Sailor Venus' voice broke through
his thoughts.
"Tuxedo Kamen-sama... is that really you?" she
peered at him carefully, not knowing whether or not
to trust him.
"Hai, it is me, not my clone. Sailor Venus,
onegai, help me heal Usako."
The anguish in her Prince's voice was enough
to convince the Senshi and from her sub space pocket
she brought out the Golden Crystal, holding it
carefully in her hands.
"I believe this is yours," she whispered, smiling.
"How? Where did-?"
"That's not important right now. Heal Usagi-chan,
please."
He nodded and took the Crystal from her hands.
Again he closed his eyes and concentrated and in
seconds the Crystal was gone, safely inside of him.
Now he felt whole, completely and fully restored.
Bending over Usagi, he tilted his head downwards,
capturing her pale lips. He remembered, from long ago,
how the power of his kiss had awakened Usagi after she
had fought Metallia.*
The power of their kisses... the power of their
love...what strength it held.
"Mamo-chan..."
He heard her whisper against his lips and he drew
back, hard-pressed not to let a few tears fall.
"Usako... how I've missed you," he said, his voice
becoming husky.
Her eyes blinked open and upon seeing his face,
widened. "Mamo-chan? Oh God, Mamo-chan!"
She pulled herself up and grabbed onto him tightly
unable to believe that he was with her... finally... after
what seemed like ages.
"I missed you too, so much! But, I was brave... and
strong and I came here to find you..."
"A very dangerous expedition," he scolded teasingly.
"Anything for you... and my friends." With that last
word she looked around, noticing everyone else.
They stood up together, and she gasped upon seeing
the limp forms of Mercury and Mars.
"What happened?" she cried.
"Don't worry, they're clones," Sailor Cosmos said.
"Is that Mika?" Mamoru asked in amazement. She
looked... well she didn't look like a teenager, that he
was sure of.
"Hai," Usagi replied proudly. "Meet Sailor Cosmos."
"Kami..." He then saw Michiru with a limp Haruka
and he and Usagi ran to them.
"Did it work?" Usagi asked worriedly.
Michiru's eyes glowed with happiness and gratitude.
"Yes, Sailor Moon." Haruka moaned slightly and coughed.
After a few minutes of dizziness and a slightly
upset stomach, Haruka stood on her own long enough to
pull her henshin stick out. In a horse whisper she spoke
the words that would help her regain her strength. "Uranus..
Planet.. Power - make up."
A weak glow became stronger until everyone in the
room was forced to cover their eyes. When it dimmed,
Michiru would swear she never seen a more wonderful sight.
In the spot where a weak and sick Haruka stood a
moment before, now stood a woman in a fuku, healthy and
ready to kick some butt. "Let's do this," she whispered,
her voice dangerously low. She winked at Michiru before
heading towards the clones of Mars and Mercury.
~~~~~~~~~~~
She heard voices and moved towards them quickly.
She knew she had to find Chronos so he could inform her
of her next move. With one final turn, she came upon
Chronos, two Youmas and a woman she didn't recognize.
"Excuse me?" she said sarcastically, waving a
hand in the air. "But you forgot to inform me of just
what I am to do while I waited for you imps to destroy
the Senshi."
"Setsuna," Chronos spat. "Why are you here?"
Kenbo's eyes widen as the grown woman entered
the hall.
~Flash back~
"Mama!! Where are you?"
Tears fell down Kenbo's face as she heard her
little girl's cry and couldn't respond. The gag in
her mouth prevented anything more than a moan to
escape her.
"Mommy?! Mommy, where are you?!" Tears and
pain mixed together in Setsuna's voice as she cried
out. Suddenly her voice was silenced.
"Hush girl, your Mama left you. She didn't love
you, no one loves you," the deep voice of Chronos
supplied for the young Setsuna.
"NO!" Green hair flew back and forth has she
shook her head - refusing to believe her father's
words. "She loves me! Mommy loves me!"
"Yeah, right," he spat in her face, grabbing
her arm and dragging her from the room. "Now, you
be a good girl and get back to your room before I
take a rod to you."
Silence. It seemed to last forever. Finally
the door slid open and Chronos stood in the doorway.
Kenbo closed her eyes against the harsh light
and turned her head to the side.
"She deserves this, you know," Chronos began.
"You spoiled her, pampered her so that she has no
back bone. I won't allow an offspring of mine to be
raised like this! Baka, you are no more than a fool
and you will live to regret it."
~End Flashback~
Chronos left her there, in the dark. One night
while she slept, she was moved to another part of
castle where she wandered the halls since.
Now, standing once more in the presence of the
girl that had called her mommy.. she couldn't help
the tears that fell.
Setsuna barely let her eyes scan the woman
over before she turned back to Chronos. "Who is *that*?"
"No one," Chronos answered quickly; too quickly.
Immediately he took his frustration out on
Kenbo, raising his hand to strike her once more.
"What did you do with it, woman?!"
"I will not tell you," she whispered hoarsely,
watching Setsuna out of the corner of her eye.
A smile came to Chronos' lips. An evil smile
that seemed to freeze Kenbo's heart. "You are a fool.
Stupid woman, you will live to regret this."
~Flashback~
Small, almost inaudible footsteps moved in the
large hallway. The small figure, maybe four feet
tall, crept slowly towards the room her father had
dragged her out of hours before. She heard his booming
voice and came to a sudden halt, thinking she had been
caught.
But it wasn't her that he spoke so harshly to,
it was someone else. Her emerald eyes peeked slowly
into the room where she found her father talking to
her mother. Even at six years old, she knew better
than to make a sound.
"...spoiled her, pampered her so that she has
no back bone. I won't allow an offspring of mine to
be raised like this! Baka, you are no more than a
fool and you will live to regret it."
~End Flashback~
Setsuna's eyes flashed a brilliant white,
then green before turning a grayish color. She
fought against these images.. these lies. Her
mother left her, she remembered it clearly. But
then, other images of the night she had over heard
her father talking came to her mind's eye. This
woman.. it couldn't be.
Kenbo raised her head regally and glared at
Chronos. "I will do what I must."
~Flashback~
She stood, flinching only slightly, a ten-year
old girl ready to face whatever hardships she had to.
Her head bent, she clutched the staff tightly, as her
father circled her, eyeing her as a hawk would.
"Answer me, daughter. Are you scared?"
"Iie."
"I did not hear you Setsuna. Speak louder, are
you scared?"
"Iie! I am not afraid. I will do what I must!"
she yelled and then cursed herself silently for losing
control in front of her father.
Chronos stepped back and smiled slightly,
satisfied. "So you are afraid, are you not? I can
understand, after all, how many girls your age are
put in charge of time and space all at the same time?
It must be so difficult, at such a tender age."
"I will do what I must," she replied quietly.
~End flashback~
Hundreds of images flooded her mind so quickly
that Setsuna grabbed her head and let out a howl of
pain.
Her mother. Her father. Her brother. Queen
Serenity. The Time Gate. Everything came rushing
back to her. After a few intense moments, the pain
from the flood of memories eased and the Senshi of
Pluto regained her composure.
In a snap of her fingers, she summoned her
time staff. And before Chronos could react, she
raised it high in the air.
"Dead Scream."
The halls echoed with the scream that followed
her words. Such a small command brought on a blow
that forced the winds of time to knock Chronos back
fifteen feet.
Pluto walked quietly, with a deadly stride, to
where her father laid slumped against the wall. "Tell
me *Father*..." A small smile of satisfaction played
on her lips. "Are you scared?"
God Chronos looked up with pure hatred at the
woman above him. Somewhere in his twisted mind, he
knew why his daughter had betrayed *him*.
Time seemed to follow Setsuna's heart and slow
as she watched a beam of energy shoot out from
Chronos'hand and flash past her. A small gleam of
light shined in his black eyes.
Before Pluto had the chance to react, Kenbo
was slammed against a wall; the clothing off her
chest burned, revealing where the blast had burnt
into her.
Chronos' laugh filled the halls of the castle.
An evil, twisted, utterly insane sound that echoed
in Pluto's ears as she ran towards her mother. "NO!!"
Chronos stood, ready for his victory speech:
"You BITC--"
"VENUS.. Love and beauty, shock!"
Chronos lost his small grip on sanity. His eyes
flared red and a white light surrounded him. "I AM
TRYING TO KILL SOMEONE HERE, WHY THE HELL ARE YOU
INTERRUPTING?"
Venus snapped her finger and made a face. "Uh,
gee, let me think on that one."
In his now increased rage, the white light
flared up and engulfed the ceiling and spread like
a wild fire down the hall. As the ceiling burned with
the strange energy that Chronos seemed to be feeding
on, Haruka and Michiru helped Setsuna to carry Kenbo
into another room.
~~~~~~~~
"Come on! Come on!" Eternal Sailor Moon whispered
over and over, her eyes never leaving Mars and Mercury's
body.
Tuxedo Kamen felt for a pulse once more, almost
giving up hope when he felt a small movement in Mercury's
wrist. "Now Usako, we have to help them."
Their hands touched and in that instant, they became
one. The power of the Silver Crystal and the Golden
Crystal combined into a force of unimaginable strength.
Mamoru and Usagi were one soul in two bodies. Their hearts
beating as one, the Prince of Earth and Princess of the Moon
fought to reawaken the Senshi.
Slowly Mars' eyes fluttered open and then closed.
Opening again, she moaned and looked over at Usagi who
was now crying.
"Meat..ball head.. don't be such a cry.. baby..."
Usagi grinned through her tears, having never
been so happy to hear her dreaded nickname.
Tuxedo Kamen felt both Mars and Mercury's
pulse once more, noting happily that it was increasing.
"Alright you two, you need to transform and let your
powers heal you."
~~~~~~~~~
Everyone in the room seemed to stop and watch
the light show that Chronos was providing. As the
flames moved further down the hall and grew brighter,
Pluto sat next to her mother.
Tears coursed down her face as she spoke:
"Mother? Come on, you'll be okay. The Princess, she
can heal you, just hold on."
Kenbo let the top of her cape flutter backwards,
revealing her gray streaked hair and dull emerald eyes;
much like Setsuna's. "My dear, sweet daughter; how I
have missed you. But Darling, surely you must know more
than anyone that everything has it's time. My dear,
mine is up."
"No, no it's not," Setsuna shook her head and
held fast to her mother's limp hand.
"Shhh. Do.. do you remember when you were just
a young girl and I would brush.. your hair?"
Setsuna remembered, the talks about her growing
up and becoming a beautiful Princess. Tears streaked
her face as she nodded. "Hai mother, I do."
"You.. kno-w.. You are just.. as beautiful.. as
I i-imaged you would be--"
Setsuna felt Kenbo's hand go completely limp
within her grip and a sob tore at her throat. "Mother..
no. NO--please! Please don't leave me...please."
The once bright green eyes, filled with love when
Setsuna was a child; and filled with pride only moments
before - were now a dull gray as they rolled back in her
head.
Setsuna bowed her head and wept silently.
-End Chapter 2.
Wellllll..... ::cries:: I hope that was sad enough ::sniff::
I'm going for angst here.. ::sobs:: did I suceed? ^.^
btw,
* were you confused when Mamoru remembered his kiss bringing
Usagi back after Metallia? Are you a dubbie and don't even
know who Metallia is? Okay, here's the low down ^_~
-- Metallia was the ultimate force behind the Dark Kingdom
(This is manga info. If you do not have manga, GO GET IT! You
can buy it at any Border's Book Store! I PROMISE you that
if you take this little advice from me, you will thank me
later! ^_^ Just ask for "Sailor Moon Graphic Novels" they rule!)
After Venus stabbed and killed Beryl (yep, she did ^_^) then
Metallia took over. Now, all the senshi were dead and Mamoru
was brainwashed - so Usagi took on Metallia by herself. Well,
she couldn't do it alone, and so Luna started praying to the
tower on the moon and that released the ultimate power of
the Moon which unbrainwashed Mamoru, but he couldn't see. His
eyes were all black, but even then he reached out for Usagi's
hand and swore to help her. Metallia killed over after a
rather large explosion and Usagi died. But I ain't done, because
**here comes the part we are referring to in the story** he
reached down and picked her up, holding her *insert HUGE sigh
here* and reached down and kissed her. On the Moon, Luna closed
her eyes and smiled, saying that Usagi was being awoken by her
Prince. Back on Earth, Usagi starts waking up and they kiss
and hug and live happily ever after (Until Chibi-Usa falls
out of the sky -_-;; who am I kidding? I *love* the manga
Chibi-Usa, she's sweet and just a little lonely ^_^ )
So there you have it, my rather long (^^;;) explanation of
where we got that wacking idea ^^
Anyhoo, on with author's notes.. if you are still here ^^;;
:::gets on her knees and bows to the all wonderful Meara:::
OMG! This woman rules beyond words I can come up with!!
Go read her story "Fatal Exposure" it rules!! AND she is the
world's best editor, and just an all around wonderful person!
^_^
HUGE thanks to everyone who emails us about this story!!!
Celia - luv ya girl! and to Masked Madien (I hope I spelled
that right -_-;;) who absolutly made my YEAR with that
email she sent ::grins stupidly from ear to ear:: and everyone
else out there who reads this story, and even if you don't
email me, I still love you all! **HUGS** I know I have some
faithful fans out there and you guys mean SO much to me ^_^
I guess that is all I can fill your ear with, for now ^^;;
PATCH NOTES!!!
Hi everyone! Send all email bombs to me if you think we've
been taking too long on these chapters... THAT WAS A JOKE!!!
No seriously, you can send all bombs to Bethany, she has
the perfect e-mail addy for that... aaaack!
**Bethany inserts a small glare to Patch ^^**
Luva!
Bethany - Bethany212@aol.com
Patch - Patchkhan1@hotmail.com