I do not own Sailor Moon.
"Redemption"
Chapter 16
As the curtain of blinding light faded, the mysterious form reappeared, a brilliant smile upon her face. Each Storm Sister let out a gasp, but Glimmer was knocked into oblivion with the appearance of the form. In response, Glimmer released a blood-curdling scream into the air, her gray eyes filled with shame and horror. "It can't be! It's not true!" she continued to shout in denial. "I watched you die!"
"Sisters, what is going on here? Why…you have returned from the grave to haunt me!" Queen Deva exclaimed, her gaze hardening.
"The ice in your heart has hindered your ability to feel. You hate the world for the loss of your beloved, but you cannot be allowed to drench the world in suffering. I am the beautiful champion of justice and I shall right wrongs and triumph over the evil that dares to hurt my friends and family! In the name of the White Moon," Princess Serenity proclaimed proudly, "I will punish you!" As Rini was sleeping and nestled gently in her arms, Serena looked positively stunning. Long tails of pure gold streamed from her familiar odangoes, swaying gently around her. The golden crescent moon upon her forehead, the emblem of her heritage that proclaimed the very essence of her beliefs and soul, emitted a pure, comforting light. Crystal blue eyes filled with a sort of imperial joy, gazed down upon her friends as a loving smile touched her lips.
"Oh my god! It's her! Serena!" the scouts exclaimed happily.
"Princess Serenity!" Sailor Venus cried, tears falling from her cerulean eyes as she took Rini into her arms. Rejoicing, Sunrise and Sunset threw their arms around one another, thankful for such a miraculous event. She was alive…truly alive.
All of the scouts gathered into a group, praying to Kami for such a miracle. Even without formal introduction, the princess embraced Sailor Sunrise and Sailor Sunset. "I forgive you, Eve. It was never your fault…do not be afraid," Serenity spoke eloquently, her melodious and sincere tone comforting.
Now Eve fully understood. The little blonde girl she'd sent running away, never to be found, was the very Princess she sought for all of her life. What occurred between she and Darien was an act of sheer darkness upon the parts of the sisters. Now the guilt was gone and they were destined to fight alongside, vowing to expel darkness.
"Thank you, Princess," Sailor Sunset whispered, a soft smile gracing her lips. A small cry erupted from behind the regal blonde, and Rini could be seen standing behind Serena, hugging her legs tightly with a warm smile. The happy reunion, however, was cut short by an impossibly grave voice.
"I am Queen Deva…for eternity I was frozen within my heart, suffering the pain you instilled upon me. You had no right to take him from me. You and all of your friends will pay the price of my pain. The Universe has fallen under a dark sleep and shall never awake!" Deva exclaimed, her silver hair whipping wildly as a forceful wind picked up. "I hate you, Serenity. Diamond was meant for me…"
Serenity's expression hardened slightly and she positioned herself at the center of the sailor soldiers. This was her battle.
The sad tone reentered Deva's voice and she glowered at Serenity. "Go, my sisters. Glacia, Glimmeur! Aurore and Boreal…chill their hearts!" The four leapt forwards obediently, eyes blazing.
Serena lifted her hands and within them she wielded the Silver Crystal. "Silver Crystal, give my strength!" Glacier and her sisters were mere feet away and as they inched ever closer, the crystal erupted into a burst of light that callously tossed the four into the air. Deva paid them no heed, too lost in despair to care.
"I don't care how many times you try to get rid of me, Deva! I will always come back to protect those I love and care about! Queen Deva you have worn your welcome in this world!" Princess Serena said defiantly. "No matter what pain you have suffered, the world does not owe you. These people are innocent and they don't deserve to die."
"I didn't deserve to watch my love fall into your arms upon his death…I didn't deserve for him to find solace in you rather than myself-his supposed beloved. I only wanted him to care about me the way he did you. If only to be infatuated and obsessed no less," Deva sighed, locking eyes with Serena.
"You loved him, didn't you?" Serenity replied softly, lowering her arms and allowing the crystal to float before her. "Diamond was manipulated by the Wise Man, he never wanted any of this." The blonde motioned around her, illustrating the turmoil and the hatred that had commenced. "It wasn't his fault, and he passed on knowing that his acts were done out of desperation. No one knew what was to occur!"
"The Wise Man imprisoned me…sent me away from Diamond and sentenced me to eternal torment. He paid for such a crime with his life, and now it is your time to do the same!" Deva screamed.
"Deva, no! Listen to me-
Serena had been glancing away at that crucial moment as a blood red beam burst forth at her. Frozen in place and astonished at the speed of the beam, Princess Serena could not react in time. Sailor Sunset, however, cried out inaudibly and threw herself before the light, taking its might blow for her Princess.
"Princess Serena…" Sunset moaned falling to the ground, her hazel eyes glazed. Sailor Sunrise behind screamed out for her fallen sister.
"No! Sunset…Sailor Sunset!" Serena screamed, tears in her eyes. The Princess dropped to her knees beside the fallen Sailor and took Eve's hand in hers. The soldiers watched in agony behind them.
"God, Eve!" Sailor Sunrise cried out.
"Open your eyes Sailor Sunset, open your eyes I beg of you. That beam was meant for me…"
She was too weak to respond, however, and Serenity quickly took matters into her own hands. Rising to face the icy, despondent queen, she exclaimed: "How dare you! This will not be tolerated…I won't let anyone else suffer! In the name of the White Moon, I shall protect those I love!"
"Serena! We're with you!" Sailor Mercury choked out, repeating the familiar phrase. A strengthened smile formed upon Serenity's lips.
In mere moments, Princess Serena, Serenity of the future, brought her arms out before her, the Silver Crystal shining. In an instant, the crystal disappeared and in its place remained a new broach, glistening in gold. "Guide me, Silver Crystal. Give me the strength to protect those I love! Moon…Eternal Power!" At the resounding call, the broach opened and in a ball of light placed itself within Serena's chest. Her crescent moon emitted a strong light and from the glowing sphere exploded iridescent ribbons that wrapped and molded about Serena's body. Angels' wings sprouted from her back and in a burst of feathers, swirled about to create her fuku. Clad in Sailor Attire, Eternal Sailor Moon came forth-strong and beautiful-the champion of love and justice.
Assembling behind her, the scouts prepared for battle once again.
The Four sisters, however, had now regained consciousness and struck out at the scouts, commending the great battle. The scouts fought two or more to a sister and Eternal Sailor Moon knew her destiny was to save her universe from this monster.
"Listen to me, Deva. There is still time to stop this; I can help you to change. But if you are not willing, I have no choice but to sentence you back to where you've come from. There is no place in this world for hatred…" Eternal Sailor Moon spoke fearlessly. As the battle raged on behind her, she and Deva continued their staring contest.
"You took him! And thus, it is time for you, Miss Moon, to bid your beloved world farewell!" Deva replied, obviously angered by such a proclamation. Laughing darkly, but sadly, she released an enormous sphere of black fire and energy upon Eternal Sailor Moon. Bracing herself and wielding the Silver Crystal once again, the Sailor Soldier of the Moon erected a field of light to protect her from the oncoming attack. And as hoped, it sliced through the black energy ball.
"Diamond didn't love me, Deva! Why can't you see that? He was confused… the Wise Man took over the initiative and blinded him with thoughts of conquest!" Eternal Sailor Moon shouted, her hair flying behind her as she tried desperately to sustain a powerful beam of light against Deva's own beam of darkness.
"He died in your arms!" the silver-haired Queen claimed, tears pouring shamelessly from his eyes.
Meanwhile, the fighting raged on between each scout and the sisters. "Come on, Venus! You're not so tough, are you? My Aria demon nearly got the best of you once, but this time there's no one here to save you!" Borealis giggled. "Taste death in its coldest form!"
"Venus Crescent Beam-ugh!" The disk of dark energy cut into her side, tossing her to the ground.
"Neptune Deep Submerge!" The explosion of oceanic power pummeled Borealis, knocking her away from a wounded Sailor Venus. "You alright?"
The blonde nodded in gratitude. "We have to help Eternal Sailor Moon. We can't the sisters on our own."
"Eternal Sailor Moon! We have to destroy them together!" Mercury cried out, agreeing entirely with Venus. She sent a wild splash of Mercurian power at Deva, knocking her off balance and distracting her. At the moment, the scouts assembled to defeat the four sisters together. Deva would be tended to later.
"My friends…embrace the new power! We can stop her together! Silver Crystal, give us hope!" One by one, each scout felt a new force coursing within them, filling them with hope and a sensation of grace.
"Moon Eternal Power!"
"Moon Prism Power!"
"Mercury Crystal Power!"
"Mars Crystal Power!"
"Jupiter Crystal Power!"
"Venus Crystal Power!"
"Neptune Crystal Power!"
"Uranus Crystal Power!"
"Sunrise Crystal Power!"
"Sunset Crystal Power!"
"Sailor Planet ATTACK!" they cried in unison as 10 balls of pure and gorgeous energy shot through the air and vaporized the sisters with a quick slice.
"Ugh!" and within seconds they exploded into dust and disappeared. Deva flailed her arms in a terrible rage and sobbed.
"You've taken away everyone I've ever loved! First, my one true love and then my family! Eternal Sailor Moon, I will obliterate you!" she moaned, her deep eyes shedding tears. With a graceful leap, she floated into the air and released a black, hellish torture. Hateful fire rained down and the energy pelted down upon them, damaging them miserably.
"Hold on, scouts!" Eternal Sailor Moon shouted above the incessant, roaring whir of the blasts, crossing her arms in front of her chest to shield herself.
"And this is for you, Princess!" Deva shrieked, her silver locks whipping about. She lunged at Eternal Sailor Moon, ripping the crystal from her grasp and throwing it to the ground with one clean sweep of her arm.
"The crystal!" Eternal Sailor Moon cried breathlessly. The once beautiful and despondent Deva had become a monster driven by hatred, and stretching her out clawed fingers she mercilessly attacked, launching her hatred and fear onto the Princess. Struggling beneath the weight of the Queen, Eternal Sailor Moon fought her hardest to evade the clawed hands as they drove down to strike at her.
"Serena!"
"Eternal Sailor Moon!"
"Sunset, let's do it!" Sailor Sunrise exclaimed, calling out to her sister. The two Scouts of the Sun nodded with a conviction and prepared to launch their attack once again. The Solar Twins joined hands. "Raging Solar FLARE!" and their ultimate attack caught the wicked monster off guard. Deva spiraled away from Eternal Sailor Moon, falling to the ground with a harsh thud.
"Diamond," she cried once again, banging her fists against the broken earth. She stopped abruptly and laid her head against the ground and her silver hair sprayed out around her. Her eyes went black and she spoke in a whisper. "She still has your heart…"
"I will stop your wicked ways, you evil monster! I am the future Neo Queen Serenity! In the name of the White Moon." Eternal Sailor Moon lifted a hand to the skies above, and within her grip appeared a long, beautifully jeweled staff. Raising it above her head, the Silver Crystal levitated from its place amongst the rubble and joined the staff at its head in the center of the staff's white crescent moon.
"We will defeat you together!" the scouts cried. The gathered around the Princess in a circle and shouted out their planets. Their signs glowed on their foreheads and they too glowed. Their powers combined with Eternal Sailor Moon's. She raised the staff high and spun around while twirling the staff skillfully.
Rolling onto her back and gracefully rising from the ground, Deva glowered at the scouts sadly. "I love you, Diamond."
"White Moon Universe…" Eternal Sailor Moon called out, twirling the staff.
"I always will," she murmured, closing her eyes and clasping her hands. "I can be free now."
"Cleansing!" the soldier of the Moon finished. As she ended with a final pose, the staff was held high above her. The crystal omitted four rays of light spinning in a circle and then climaxed as it melded into a ball of energy above the head of the staff that exploded outwards in a 2 miles radius, cleansing and obliterating anything evil.
Deva screamed in agony as her body wrenched back and forth in the light and then burst into dust.
Eternal Sailor Moon lowered her staff and let out a sigh of relief. It was over…the Queen was dead and so were the four sisters. The battle had been won…
"Serena! You're okay!" Rini laughed, but soon darkened as she watched her future-mother fall to the ground.
"Eternal Sailor Moon!"
"Serenity!"
The Scouts gathered around the Princess, who had reverted back from Soldier form. Her beautiful gown was tattered and torn, her hair wild and large pieces straying, her eyes were filled with happiness, but she was in great pain. In a flash, two strange forms appeared before the rejoicing group. Several gasps arose as the soldiers recognized them.
"Sailor Pluto!"
"Tuxedo Mask!"
The masked man gathered the now fainted Princess in his arms and he kissed her forehead softly. "I never meant to hurt you, my love. Serena…" he whispered in to her ear gently. Despite her state, it looked as though a smile spread across her face at hearing those words. Tuxedo Mask drew her close and lifted her into his arms, standing there for a moment to revel in his beloved.
Sailor Sunset watched from behind as the two soul mates were reunited. 'Serenity…Darien. I never knew how much love could hurt until I met the both of you, and now I understand. We can pay an enormous price for loving someone, but in the end, seeing each other happy makes it all worth it. The sisters manipulated us all. I didn't know the significance of my affections for Darien, but now I see. You two were meant for one another, and Kami bless you.' A sweet smile touched her lips and Sunrise could see that her sister had come to terms with everything.
Silently, but filled with relief and thanksgiving, the scouts following Tuxedo Mask and their Princess back to the portal through which they had come. The battle was over…they'd won and now their lives could go back to normal, for a while at least.
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