Part II—Darkness Reawakened
King Darien spoke too soon.
That night, in the darkest realm of the earth a million-year curse was lifted. A deep cavern, full of poison and the screams of death opened, releasing an evil that had been trapped inside for a million years. An evil that's sole purpose was to take the soul of the most powerful being on the Earth and use the power within that body to destroy the light…and life.
With the cunning of a hunter, this misty evil sneaked upon the earth, seeking out the most powerful being that lived upon the surface. Its glowing eyes lighted with victory as it came upon Crystal Tokyo. The most powerful being lived in this city.
And in the Palace.
And she belonged to it.
* * *
By the time the alarm had sounded and the Sailor
Guardians, the Generals, and King Darien had rushed to the courtyard, it was
too late.
A dark mist, crackling with evil had surrounded the Queen and her scream was cut off as the evil mist sank into her open mouth, devouring her. The tears in her eyes told of her apology, her sadness and her defeat.
The King's scream of disbelief and agony could be heard throughout the city. "SERENA!!!"
The Queen had gone searching for Serena-chan and Elios with Princess Skylar, when this evil energy attacked. Serenity had tossed Skylar to the side and sent the girl running to the alarm. The glowing eyes of the evil mist flashed and its cackle of evil resounded through the halls of the palace. But no one had arrived in time to save the Queen.
Serena-chan and Elios rushed to see what the commotion was, their hands clasped in fear and comfort. Serena-chan's big red eyes widened in horror as she saw her mother sparkling with evil energy, her white dress transformed into a dress of darkness and the moon on her forehead transforming to the glowing eye of the evil that had possessed her. Serena-chan screamed in disbelief and Elios grabbed her to him.
Serenity's eyes opened, revealing only an empty blackness within the eyes. The eye of the Evil One sparkled and a twisted evil smile formed on her lips.
King Darien was on his knees in agony and disbelief. He shook his head and drew his sword, gazing at the evil that once was his beloved Serenity.
The Evil One cackled gleefully as the people before it readied itself for battle. Only Elios, Serena-chan and Skylar stood off to the side. Elios was standing in front of both girls, protecting them from whatever would come.
The evil finished its laughter and gazed down at the people before it.
"Thank you, ever so much for giving me this magnificent body so full of power."
The Sailor Guardians, the Generals, King Darien, Elios, Skylar and Serena-chan froze in their places. But to their utter horror the Evil One continued to speak…through the body of Queen Serenity.
"Before you even begin to attempt anything, let me warn you. Only a painful death will result in anything you try or do. So just die the easy way. You cannot save this body; I have already devoured her soul. Just accept your fate and your destruction. I have been asleep for a million years…and my hunger knows no bounds." It suddenly burst into cackling laughter that resounded into the souls of everyone present.
The Sailor Guardians' eyes narrowed. They were not going to go down without a fight. They would fight for the soul of their friend, even if it meant their own deaths. They motioned their intention to the Generals and to the King. They entire group was in agreement. Even if it meant their own deaths, they would save the Queen they all loved so deeply. She had made them whole and had given them happiness. They would not allow this evil to steal her from them.
The burst of power that erupted from the courtyard was a collection of fury from everyone present. The Evil One just laughed and cast the power aside. It was nothing next to the power the woman possessed, especially since her power had been doubled by the power of the Evil One. But not one person stopped the constant array of power. Even if they killed themselves by expending all their power, they would do it to save her.
Even Elios and Skylar were blasting the being with all of their power. Serena-chan could only gaze up in horror. Her mama was gone. Her mama was gone. She couldn't believe it. She refused to believe it. Serena-chan glanced back up, her pink hair flying about her as she clenched her hand into a fist. She would destroy this evil! She would get her mother back!
Serena-chan ran into the palace hurriedly, searching through the corridors for the room that the Silver Moon Crystal was kept in. She came to a halt as she spotted the door and burst through it, desperate for the Crystal. She grabbed the glowing crystal and took it back to the courtyard, where everyone was still plying the evil with all of his or her power.
To no avail.
The thing only cackled in glee.
Serena-chan felt fury rise within her and the Crystal begin to glow with the power inside of her. She would save her mother!
Elios looked back and saw Serena-chan glowing and floating with the power of the Silver Moon Crystal. His stopped plying his power and moved to stand behind her, giving her his strength. Serena-chan turned to him and his eyes full of love calmed her soul and solidified her determination, extinguishing her fear. He gave her lips a light caress with his own and then turned her attention to the Evil One…who now looked to be panicking.
This reaction caused everyone else to look back and see Serena-chan blazing with the power of the Crystal. Darien smiled, pleased with his daughter, until he heard the Evil One's words.
"Foolish little girl! If you use the Holy Power of that Crystal on me, you will destroy the body I inhabit! Then what you are trying to do will be for naught!"
The Evil One cackled as fear set once more in Serena-chan's eyes. If she used the Crystal on it, she would kill her mother too?
Elios' warmth attacked the growing coldness of fear as his hands wrapped around her waist. His strength was her comfort and his whispered words of love her foundation. Her eyes set again as the power of the Crystal gathered and grew.
The Evil One screamed as it floated back, its blazing eye on the forehead closed for an instant. In that moment the black empty eyes of Serenity's body once more became blue, but their life was dim.
"Do it, Serena-chan. Save everyone. Use the Crystal. Don't hesitate. Everyone must use his or her powers against this evil to destroy it. Hurry."
Serenity screamed as the evil eye shot open once more and her eyes returned to the empty black. But the words that had managed to escape and made everyone present begin to gather their powers once more.
"Your soul still lives!" the Evil One shrieked in disbelief. "Fool! You will kill yourself as well as me! Don't you value your own existence?!"
The group's eyes began to panic once more, but Serenity's voice resounded throughout the courtyard and palace.
Which is better? To be destroyed by you, and have you use my body to destroy those I love so well, or to be destroyed with you, knowing all those I love will be able to live their lives? The choice is clear. I value my life, but if I must sacrifice it for the lives of those I love and for the life of the world. I will do so. Now…Serena-chan. Now…all of you!
Serena-chan could see nothing; her eyes were blurred with tears as they streamed down her face in an endless torrent. She felt Elios press his face against his neck and felt the wetness of his cheeks from his own tears. She knew with every breath she took that all those around her that were gathering their powers to destroy the Evil One, could barely see because of the tears in their eyes.
Serena-chan gave a cry of agony as Elios gave her his power and she blasted in full strength the power of the Silver Moon Crystal. The bellow of anguish erupted from all those beneath her as well, as they used their full power against the Evil One, destroying it and the one they loved.
The Evil One screamed in defeat as Serenity's soul guided the powers to the heart of the beast. The blaze of power shattered the Evil and the body it inhabited until nothing but dust was left to be blown away by the wind.
Serena-chan collapsed into Elios' arm, her howls of anguish echoing throughout the palace as the Silver Crystal fell from her numb fingers. The rest of the people were silent and broken as they stood still, unable to do anything but let the agony of their loss tear through them, the only evidence of their pain the steady stream of tears.
King Darien collapsed on his knees; his body shaking with torment as his mind ran through the sight of his love's spirit smiling her farewell to him.
His scream echoed across the land.
* * *
"I cannot believe it."
Peruru blinked and looked up from his flute to the man who had spoken. He had been a faery child whose people had been wiped out by an evil sorceress who had wished to gather the energy of all the children and had been using him and his people to do it. Only he had survived thanks to the effort of a young girl called Serena-chan and her mother Sailor Moon.
He smiled with the memories. After he had left he had run into this man called Daioshin Kamui. Kamui-sama had taken him in and raised him like a little brother. In fact, he preferred to think of Kamui-sama as his brother. He knew almost nothing of Kamui's past, but that was not important to Peruru. He was content the way things were.
Kamui's iridescent eyes glowed as he floated with his legs crossed. Peruru smiled. That was how Kamui like to sit. Floating in the air with his legs crossed. But it really didn't matter in this case because Kamui's home was the dimensional space between time and the worlds. That was where they lived and there really wasn't much of anything except light and colors.
"You cannot believe what, Kamui-sama?"
Kamui turned his iridescent eyes to Peruru and smiled at the elfin young man. He had taken Peruru in long ago and thought of the young faery as his younger brother. It was something Kamui enjoyed, considering he had no one to call family until Peruru.
Kamui brushed some white hair out of Peruru's eyes with a smile and then turned his gaze back into distance.
"The Guardian of the Silver Moon Crystal. Queen Serenity of Crystal Tokyo…has died," he said severely.
"WHAT?!"
Kamui blinked and looked at Peruru, his black hair shifting into his eyes as he saw the young faery's blue-gray eyes flash with fear and disbelief.
"Why are you so upset, Peruru? I admit, I'm in shock, I would not expect such a powerful and good woman to die in such a way, but why does the thought of her death affect you so?'
Peruru blinked and turned to Kamui, his eyes pleading. "Kamui-sama, the woman you just mention was Sailor Moon, wasn't she? The mother of Serena-chan?"
Kamui blinked. Peruru knew them? But how? Kamui's eyes narrowed curiously. "How do you know, Peruru?"
The faery boy groaned in pain, his head bowing. He looked back up at Kamui. "How did she die?"
Kamui's eyes narrowed, but answered the agonized young man's question. "An evil that a god had imprisoned within the earth a million years ago, became free and possessed the body of the most power being in the world. That being just happened to be Queen Serenity. Her daughter and her family and friends had to use the power of the Silver Crystal and all the power within them to destroy the evil that had possessed her. The unfortunate part was that she died as well."
What Kamui did not tell Peruru was that the soul of the Queen was trying desperately to return back to the Earth. But it was not possible. She no longer had a body to inhabit once more.
Peruru groaned. "Poor Serena-chan."
Kamui blinked and made Peruru look into his eyes. "How do you know them, Peruru? Why does this upset you so?"
Peruru gave Kamui the barest hint of a smile. "Serena-chan and Sailor Moon were the ones who saved me from being killed. Serena-chan is my friend."
Kamui's iridescent eyes widened. No wonder the elfin young man was suffering. They had been his saviors and friends once. Now they were going through the ultimate pain. Peruru looked up at Kamui with pleading eyes.
"Kamui-sama?"
"Yes?"
"May I go visit Serena-chan and offer what comfort I can give her? Please? She needs all the friends she can."
Kamui nodded and made a motion with his had that sent Peruru to the Crystal Palace. But the pain on his little brother's face had torn through Kamui. He closed his glowing eyes and gazed with his mind at the desperation of the Queen's soul as she tried to go back to the Earth and to her family. He saw the agony of her family and his heart clenched in reaction. Her husband had been a mighty warrior. Now the King of the Earth looked as if he was on the verge of his deathbed.
Kamui sighed. He knew Peruru well. He knew when he returned what he would ask. Kamui smiled and turned his inner sight to the direction of another world.