*~*Dark Nightmares*~*
*~*Dark Nightmares*~*

 

"When it all comes down to it, we all just want to be loved."

-Jamie Yellen

The end!!! The end, the end, the end, THE END!!!! (then the epilogue!)

Chapter 29:     Spirits of Sorrow

When I finally was released from the black orb, I knew I must have been miles away from the others, and I knew that Master 45 would attack them now, just to get me riled up… God, how I hated that… wait… what was I talking about?

The others! I glanced around for any sign of them, and, off into the distance, I saw many different explosions, which I expected to be their attacks. I started running, and prayed I got there before anything too grave happened. I didn't notice the large distance between myself and what I thought to be them; I was too preoccupied with getting there. Nor did I notice the stunning familiarity of the situation as I ran.

In what seemed like a millennium later, I drew near enough to make out the figures that combated. The Senshi were there, fighting what seemed like hundreds of spectres, all in a semi-invisible form. Each Senshi tried attack after attack against them, but the energy just slid through the beings, not fazing them one bit. The odds were stacked against them, but they refused to give up. The energy blasts soon slowed, before they stopped entirely. As I ran up to them, I saw them all on the ground, and I prayed to whatever heavenly entity there was out there that they were not dead. 'Oh, god, this is just like my dreams…' I thought, but before I could think of anything else, I heard the all-too familiar laughter of Mistress 9.

I saw her attacking Pluto with a glaive – a glaive like mine, but made out of a black, shiny metal – while Pluto held off her attacks with her staff. Pluto set a look of pure determination on her features, but Mistress 9 had a glare so full of malice, impiety and corruptness that it would send chills down the very spines of the dead. I started walking towards them, slowly at first, not wanting to distract Pluto from the battle. One slip and she would falter, resulting in something I didn't want to start thinking about. I stopped about 20 metres away, hiding behind a tall pillar of marble that must have been there since the silver millennium. I watched as the battle progressed, everlastingly long, and I saw Pluto gain the upper hand. She tore the black glaive from her hand and thrust it through her abdomen. Mistress 9 looked shocked for a second, before her face contorted in pain and she dropped to the ground. Yes! She's gone! And Pluto's still alive to boot!

I came out of my hiding spot as Pluto dropped the bloody weapon and turned away from the gruesome scene. I called out her name, and I saw her smile as she noticed I was okay. She started to walk forward, but then time seemed to slow. I was horrified as I saw sight of movement behind her, and as I cried out her name, she whirled around to see Mistress 9 run her bloody glaive through her chest. A look mixed with terror and disbelief shot through the eyes that had always been so noble. Setsuna did not make a sound, as the cold glaive was calmly un-sheathed from her body. I saw deep red blood staining the fabric of her fuku, and I saw my vision go red as I heard her corrupt laughter fill the silence. I didn't care if I took the whole universe with me, I would kill her with every ounce of strength I had. I felt the energy building in my body, and I let it built until the wind howled around me and the sky darkened even more that it was already…

I felt Master 45 presence beside Mistress 9 as he laughed with her, but I didn't see him. I didn't see anything. Or hear anything.

All I heard was the millions of dead souls that I commanded. They screamed out injustices and demanded that I take justice upon the corrupt that had haunted my very soul for as long as I could remember. I felt their souls press up against mine, giving me the strength to defeat all that wished to harm my friends. Anger burned in me, their laughter fuelling the fire. Her victory was short lived as I raised my hand in her direction and felt hundreds of souls shoot out and engulf her. The power surged through me, I was never one to hate until that moment. All my grief was released upon her and her Master. I did not even hear her screams, only the pulsing of my own blood, beating hard in my ears.

The initial blast dissipated, and as I looked on, my hatred still burning brightly, I saw Master 45, wounded and clutching his chest. He looked upon me in contempt, but I could see the slight look of disbelief in his eyes.

"You think you can rival my power?" He cried out, incredulously. "I am the strongest supremacy in the universe, a little pale girl like you can't amount to my power!" He shifted out of human form and took his true form, a parasitic creature made from negativity and evil, consumed by shadows.

I summoned all my power, every single joule of it I could muster, and concentrated it as fine as I could. I knew I would only get one shot at this, so I gave it all or nothing. With hundreds of silent encouragements from all the voices in my head, I called upon the power of Saturn, letting the hundreds of souls lost in the fateful battle with Beryl in the Silver Millennium aid me in preserving my planet once again. As all the souls and voices called out, one, stronger that the rest, caught my attention. First, say to yourself what you would be. Then, do what you have to do.  I knew this voice – why did it sound so familiar? I didn't dwell on it, just the hope it gave me.

 

Saturn, I called out in my mind, the planet of Ruin. Occupied by the goddess of Death. That's me, I thought sardonically. It is time… Yes, it is. I can do this. For my friends. They can be saved. AWAKEN!

I felt a new wave of power hit me, course through me. Never before had I felt so hopeful, so confident in myself. I knew I could do this. With my friends, I will defeat this monster. For them. Everything slowed, and I could see everything with crystal clarity. I saw the Master shadow rush towards me, but he moved incredulously slow. I simple raised a hand and he stopped, inches from my face, and I sent him spiralling away from me. I heard the yelp of pain as he hit the ground, and I saw him get up. I felt around. My friends, they couldn't hold out much longer. It won't be long before not even I can bring them back. I gathered all the power together in between two hands, and formed one large ball of power, one so powerful I bet in the future I won't believe I had done it. Just when I felt I couldn't hold it anymore, I sent it shooting at breakneck speeds towards my foe. I heard a blood curdling scream, and felt the energy dissipate, leaving nothing but a cool wind sweeping away some ashes.

It's over. We've won.

We??? My friends!!!

I rushed over to where my friends lay, afraid of what I would find. What I saw wrenched my heart out of my chest. I couldn't believe the horrors that I came across. My friends, my dearest friends, my only family, lay on the hard surface, puddles of blood under each, and looking too pale for words. Tears, un-countable amounts of tears slid down my face as I quickly felt for pulses, and listened for heartbeats. Not one gentle beat could be heard in the silence, the never-ending silence. Only my sobs could be heard for miles around as I looked for any remote sign of life, trying my healing powers, but finding that they don't work on the already dead. Dead, oh, god, my friends were dead. Hot tears streaked down my face as I crawled over to Setsuna, hoping to Kami that she had not left me, too. I placed my hands on her pale face and was horrified to find her body cold and lifeless. The silence was screaming in my ears. All that I did, I could not stop it. It's true…I did cause the silence. And it killed all that I hold dear.

"No!" I sobbed out. " Don't leave me!" I screamed out to what ever could hear me.  I walked around in circles surveying the damage that I had inadvertently caused. Overtaken with desperate sorrow, I wept bitter tears. My body racked with every heaving sob. I am so sorry, I said to myself. I was too late, now all is lost… No. No, it isn't. I can still save them. I know a little about the Gate, if I could go there, I could pull them back, or at least switch places with them… I felt at peace as I thought this. It must be right, then…this is Fate.

I placed my hand on my chest, and when I removed it, I saw the crystal sitting there… yes. It can help. I let it hover before me, and I channelled all my remaining power into it, all my energy and all my soul. I felt Death's hand being laid on my shoulder, and felt all my energy being pulled into the crystal. This is it. One last battle. For you, Setsuna. For everyone.

…Silent….

…Death…

…Reborn…

I felt a new power overcome me; I felt the energy being drained from me into everything around me. I knew that my attack would revive the other Senshi, but there were too many to help them as well as myself. I could live with that. As long as the others were alive, I would be happy. They need not die at my hands. And then it was over. I feel to my knees beside Setsuna-mama and felt for any sign of life. Tears flowed down my face as I felt a pulse and heard her take in a breath. Everything was getting darker, and I slowly slid down into darkness. At least the people I loved were safe…

*****

Haruka, or rather, Princess Uranus looked around after the pain subsided. She saw the other princesses of the 7 planets, along with Princess Serenity. They were all glowing in their respective planet's colours, and each of them were wearing beautiful gowns…

Are we… dead? Asked Michiru as she looked to the others. She stopped when she saw Hotaru, still alive, crying as she ran to each of the fallen Senshi's bodies, checking for any signs of life.

Oh, god… we are… but Hotaru's… Makoto said, as she too saw Hotaru, crying as she laid beside Setsuna's body, gently shaking it, trying to wake her up.  They all watched grief stricken as Hotaru got up and looked them over again. Before Haruka could say anything, a bright light appeared behind them, they all gasped.

Is that… heaven? Rei asked, stunned.  The light was so bright, so warm, so inviting, as they took a couple steps toward it, they saw a gate, made of enormous slabs of marble. 2 guards stood in front of the gate, and as they saw them, they looked stunned, but sorrowful as well.

Senshi. You've not supposed to be here. The first one said, as he looked them over. The second nodded.

Too soon. It's not your time yet. He agreed.

Wait! Serena said. Where is here? And where are we supposed to go if this isn't where we belong? She asked, utterly confused.

This is the Gate of Death, ruled by the Goddess of Death and Rebirth. The first explained.

We can't allow you to enter, it would break code. Only the Queen can decide who enters and who is turned away. The second nodded.

Who's this Queen? Setsuna asked, tilting her head. In all her time as a Senshi of Time, she had never been here before. 'Well… I haven't exactly died either, baka.'

The guards stared at them, not believing they didn't know who their queen was, when suddenly, their faces dropped in shock and the dropped down on one knee, bowing.

Your Majesty. They said in unison. The Senshi turned around to see Hotaru, standing in the middle of where they had died. She was glowing a brilliant lavender, and held her hands up into the sky. They could see energy waves pouring off her, flowing off the Senshi and pouring into the land. The places where the energy touched bloomed to life, the planet restoring itself to all its glory. The energy also washed over the Sailor Senshi's bodies, repairing their wounds and pulling their spirits back to their corpses. Before the women were completely returned to their physical selves, they saw all their wounds reappear on Hotaru, and saw the look of extreme pain on her face before she completely relaxed, fading away until she was nothing but a glowing Firefly, who flew in a few circles before vanishing in a wisp of glitter and energy.

*****

I looked around. I was at those gates again, the ones I saw when I was six… with…

"Hotaru…" I heard an all to familiar voice, whisper from a way away.  I turned slowly to find myself staring into the loving face of…

"Okaa-san..." I said as I slowly walked up to her, speeding up until I was running into her arms. "Oh, momma… I finally found you…" I said as tears of joy ran down my face.

"I told you I'd wait here… until you joined me. I'll never leave you…" she said, and I've never felt so happy in my life… well, afterlife. I knew my friends would be ok, but I just wanted to dwell on how I felt right now. Truly happy. This really was Heaven.