Emotions are high and much is at stake. Tuxedo Kamen and the other Senshi
have come together to save Usagi, but will they accept Sosoru as a leader,
even if it's temporary? Will they even be able to save Usagi? Will Sosoru be
strong enough? The time has come for ALL to be revealed.
Chapter 15 - Destiny
The group landed in black, sharp rocks. The ride was bumpy, but all
had arrived in one piece. As everyone brushed the dirt and pebbles off,
Triton Moon scanned the area. They had stopped in a cave-live opening. The
entire surface was covered in jagged black rock. The heat was also intense.
Triton Moon knew they were close, too close. She turned around to the
group and everyone stood at attention.
"My mother, Sosohizu is not too far ahead…and she is expecting us. Stay on guard. It is way to quite here. Either she doesn't know we are here yet, or this is…"
The walls of the cave began to move and suddenly hundreds of eyes opened within the rocks. "…an ambush," she said he a Demon leapt onto her.
Mercury used her Aqua Rhapsody attack to get the Demon off of her. She scrambled to her feet as Pluto tried to help her up.
"Run," screamed Mars, "save Usagi!"
Mars released her Flame Sniper that kept the Demons at bay for a second. Tuxedo
Kamen grabbed Triton's arm and ran after Pluto.
"They will be fine," he said, almost comforting, "this is why they exist. It is their destiny."
Sosoru yanked her arm back and ran at full speed. She soon caught up with Pluto,
who was running swiftly through the maze-like settings. She knew every
twist and turn. Suddenly, she stopped, almost making Kamen and Triton run
into her. She turned to them and smiled.
"This is as far as I go," she stated, "It's all up to you two. The others need my help desperately, I can feel it. I know you two can free Usagi."
Triton tried to hold back tears as Kamen stood, puzzled.
"We need you," Triton pleaded, "I don't know if I can get her back without your help."
Pluto held her staff erect, smiled and ran in the opposite direction. Triton and Kamen now stood alone in the dark tunnel leading to Sosohizu.
"This is all happening too fast," commented Triton.
Kamen folded his arms and leaned against the wall.
"Yes," he said almost under his breath, "like so many things." Triton rolled her eyes and proceeded into the tunnel.
"I don't know about you, but I'm going to save, Usagi. If you want to stay here and be an asshole, be my guest, Mamoru." He raised and eyebrow and walked behind her.
"You know better than to use our real names." Triton noticed an opening and stopped abruptly. She knelt down, as did Kamen. She leaned forward to try to see what was past the opening. She couldn't see anything, but she heard a familiar, yet unwelcome voice.
"How many are the Demons fighting," Sosohizu asked calmly. "Nine, your
Highness," a snakelike voice replied. The Queen began to laugh. Her
minions mumbled in confusion, wanting to know what had her so amused.
"Two are missing," she said, almost sing-songy. "Where could the little
darlings be? Could they be on their way? Or, could they be here right now?
Let's find out, shall we?"
Suddenly, the entire area began to shake. Triton
and Kamen tried to maintain their balance, but both fell from the opening
onto the platform before the Queen. Smiling, Sosohizu descended from the
thrown.
"Ah yes. Isn't it my worthless daughter and her sex toy, here to save this
weakling I see."
Sosohizu pointed to a cage. Usagi was inside, battered but alright. Sosoru gasped at the site as she tried to get up, but she believed her leg to be broken.
"Usako," Mamoru exclaimed as he tried to get to his feet, "Release her now!"
The Queen laughed childishly and placed a hand on her ample hip.
"Are you telling me what to do? Take her away," she said sharply, "He must learn I am in charge here." Two small Demons took Usagi out of the cage and forced her into another part of the chamber. "Oh, and torture her if you want," she added.
Kamen used his cane to make himself upright and face the Queen.
"Give Usagi back to me right now! You have no need for her. What has she ever done to you?"
Mamoru was nearly in tears. The Queen smirked and then turned her back to the human. She went up to her thrown and seated herself.
"My niece is a burden. Ever since my sister had the brat, she has been a snibbling little bitch. She did not share my vision of destroying Earth and conquering the Universe after she was born. All she wanted was peace, she even swore to fight AGAINST me if I tried to gain domination. So, when Queen Beryl attacked her, I let the bitch die."
Kamen stood with his mouth to the floor. He hadn't really gotten past the
niece part. Triton struggled to get to her feet, gasping for air, grabbing her
leg.
"Queen Serenity was not the bitch, you were and still are. She gave her
life so all the others could be reincarnated on Earth," Triton said, as she
finally stood tall, facing her mother. "She gave her life so her family could
live, so her daughter could love. You know, mother… love? That emotion
where you care about someone so greatly you would do anything for them?
The thing that makes you wish the impossible, hope against hope, pray
against all odds…the things that make us all human? Do you know what I'm
talking about?"
The Queen looked at her daughter. She showed no emotion, except for disgust.
"That word is for the weak," she proclaimed, "it is for those that cannot deal with reality. They need to ensue these emotions onto a person just to have the drive to do as they want, to have goals. I need no such emotion, it is worthless to me."
Kamen could do nothing but watch. How can this vixen be full of so much passion, so much desire, so much…love? The Queen noticed his attention was torn, so she decided to regain it.
"So, now, to your little blond," she purred, "How do you plan on getting her from me?" Kamen extended his cane and pointed it to the Queen.
"One way or another, I will get Usako back, there is no doubt about that."
The Queen smiled.
"So, you will challenge me and die. How will that help your Blond out? What will your whore do to save her? Try to kill me again?"
She broke out in hysterical laughter. Kamen almost lunged forward,
but Triton held him back. He fought her momentarily, trying to break free.
Slowly, he calmed down and turned to her.
"She will not talk to you in that way, I won't allow it!" Kamen exclaimed with vigor. Triton placed her hand on his shoulder and smiled.
"You have no problem when it is you talking down to me," she said as he looked away. "This is not about me, it's about getting Usagi-san back to you. Stay on target."
The Queen started laughing again and the pair turned to her.
"Such fools, all this talk and no action. I am sick of it…time to die!" Sosohizu raised her hand and a bright flash came from it, blinding Kamen and Triton, knocking them out.
Sosoru slowly sat up. Her head was throbbing and her leg was still hurting.
She tried to move, but she felt resistance. She was shackled against the wall,
along with Mamoru. As her eyes focused, she noticed both were in their
street clothes, no longer in their powerful forms. Mamoru sat against the
wall, his eyes closed. She leaned toward him, but the chains pulled her back.
"Well, I didn't think it would be like this. I'm used to feeling trapped and
alone, but this takes the cake," she said quietly. Mamoru lowered his head.
"Still the same…always thinking about you. When will you change?"
Sosoru wanted to slap him badly, but she knew the chains would restrain
her.
"So what if I did think about someone else, you wouldn't care. You're
only concern was getting me out of the house so you could fuck Usagi
ASAP. You are no different than me! We are all selfish at one point or
another," she paused and looked down. A tear ran down her face and she
cracked a nervous smile. "Though," she continued, "I guess I can be very
selfish, like with the baby."
Mamoru stood at attention and turned to her.
"So you did get rid of it! I knew you were no good!"
She spat in his face since she could not get a hand free to slap him. Her chest heaved up and down. It felt like a knife went into her heart and was being twisted and
turned in her chest.
"Even if I had, that would not have made me 'no good', it would have been my choice to make either way. Forget it! You don't even deserve to know!"
She scooted over and turned so she did not have to look at him. She began to sob and hold her stomach. The display tore at him. He didn't even know why he was feeling bad. Better yet, he didn't know why he was being so mean to her.
"I…I'm sorry," he said, meaningfully, "I have been selfish as well. Instead of thinking about who I was hurting, I only thought about my interests. And, after you were…"
He could not continue. He choked on his tears held his head back and closed his eyes. He sat in silence for a few moments, seemingly searching for the words to say.
"After that happened and you found out you were pregnant…and you actually
wanted it, I was shocked. I had totally underestimated you. You…you had so
much love you would keep the product of such a horrible act. I felt bad
because for the first time, I realized how selfish I was. I didn't want you to
keep it. I wanted to forget about it and love you forever, I really did. Then
you just…"
Sosoru raised her hand, motioning for him to stop. He looked at
her puzzled. She turned to him, tears streaming down her face.
"I…I am not selfless. The only reason I kept it because I hoped against hope. I hoped that there was a chance it could be yours. I didn't want it because I was this loving person, it's because it would have killed me if I got rid of it and it was actually yours. So no, you were wrong about me. I'm still as selfish as ever."
Mamoru was left speechless. He had forgotten how much she loved
him, she would have done anything for him, anything to be in his life. He
wanted to smile and cry at the same time. All the pain he caused her, all she
wanted was to be loved in return, and he stopped because of jealousy, and he
could never take it back or make it better. His thoughts were interrupted by a
voice in the darkness.
"What a touching story," the female voice said with contempt.
The pair easily recognized the voice. The figure then moved into the light. It
was Usagi, her hair dirty and strewn, her face red, her hands chained, but a
fire burned in her eyes.
"I honestly thought you were lying, Sosoru-san, in order to trap my Mamoru."
Mamoru looked Usagi in the eyes, something did not seem right about her. "Sosoru wouldn't lie about something like that, believe me."
Usagi started laughing hysterically. "Believe you? I can't believe anything anymore! That vamp is my cousin and the woman who just as well killed my mother is my aunt!"
Sosoru sat back against the wall. It was as if she turned her emotions off and went on auto-pilot, as she often did.
"It doesn't matter anymore. Everything boils down to saving your Earth,
which is what I was sworn to do. Some of us may die protecting you, it will
be our fate. Fate is a funny thing…it will take us on a path we may not have
expected. Remember that, Usagi."
As she uttered the last word, a loud rumbling shook the area and the dungeon was full of flaming light.
"The Queen would like to kill you now," the small Demon said, almost jokingly.
Three Demons came in behind it, unlocked the trio from the wall and
dragged them from the dungeon into the Queens lair.
All three were thrown on the ground before the Queen. She smiled they tried
to get up, but could not.
"Fools, you have failed…and now you will die. I never dreamed I would have been able to kill all of you so swiftly, now, nothing will stand in my way. My sister's dream of a Universe full of peace is now dead, and soon, my darling Usagi, you will join her in the Afterlife."
The tears flowed freely for Usagi. Her mother died so she and the other
inhabitants of the Moon could live. She died to ensure the future would be
safe. She did so much for so many, and now her dreams were to be taken
away? She would not let her mother die in vain, she could not allow it
"People die," she spat, "Dreams live forever."
She then closed her eyes and concentrated. An aura soon surrounded her, and her symbol, the crescent moon, appeared on her forehead. The Queen looked on, no emotion showing on her face. Soon, she was able to break the chain that bound her and she began to float to the Queen.
"Usagi, NO," Sosoru screamed.
She yelled out and a lavender aura surrounded her. Her power-up was more explosive than Usagi's, almost sending Mamoru over the edge of the platform. She too
broke from her chain, freed Mamoru and flew after Usagi.
"Enough of this foolishness, you cannot defeat me," the Queen sneered. "My daughter could not do it, and neither can you!"
She then unleashed a powerful attack that sent the trio hurling out of control. They all hit the wall, but quickly got up and hovered back near the Queen. She frowned in discontent. She was about to unleash another attack, when a shining object caught her attention. Everyone turned around and saw a staff; Eternal Pluto's staff. She then
stepped forward and the Queen drew back. Pluto's clothes where badly tattered, her body covered with bruises. Still, she stood tall and intimidating.
"The Keeper of the Gates of Time," the Queen said, almost under her breath,
"You are supposed to be dead like with the other Senshi. I had all of you
killed!"
Behind Pluto, the figures of the other girls could be seen, and the
Queen was speechless.
"Never underestimate, Sosohizu," the raven-haired girl responded.
She then stepped into the light, holding a fireball in her hand. She flung it down to the Queen, who simply smiled. All the others stood forward, and Usagi, Sosoru and Mamoru sighed with relief. All badly beaten and bleeding, they jumped down and stood in front of the snickering Queen.
"You brats cannot beat me," she said calmly. "You could barely defeat those
Demons with 'teamwork', what makes you think you can defeat me?"
Usagi smiled as she held the Eternal Moon Crystal in her hands. The other Senshi's
Tiaras disappeared and the symbol of the planet appeared on their foreheads.
Usagi then turned into Neo-Queen Serenity as the power from the Senshi
materialized into the power of the Eternal Moon Crystal. Sosoru then turned
into her Princess form and held up a small lavender crystal. It's power
merged with the power in the Serenity's crystal. The pure rawness of the
power was almost too much for Serenity to bear. The chamber began to
shake violently and Serenity looked back at her friends. She smiled an eerie
smiled and released all the power of the crystal. A silver light burst from the
crystal and absorbed Queen Sosohizu. As her screams were heard, the
chamber began to collapse, and then all was silent.
Usagi opened her eyes. An abyss stretched out before her as she floated to
no where. She felt like she was moving through water, everything so heavy
and blurry.
"Where am I," she thought to herself, "Am I dead? Did I kill everyone? Did I fail?" She began to float in the direction that felt like up, and closed her eyes. "I am sorry, I did my best."
A tear rolled down her cheek and fell into her surroundings. She had failed to protect the earth. Instead of leaving it to Sosoru, she took the fate of the world and put it in her hands. She would never see her Mamo-chan, or her daughter every again.
Never would she enjoy the blooming of the cherry blossoms, or the
tranquility of the first snow. Everyone, everything she had sworn to protect,
was gone. Now she too was dead, and this was her torment, to float forever
not knowing what happened to her world and missing all she held dear.
"Usagi," a voice whispered. Usagi looked below her and saw a figure with
flowing brown hair approach her. Sosohizu stopped in front of Usagi and
smiled. "Thank you," Sosohizu said, "I had harbored so much hate for so
long, and now I am finally free. I think I'm going to see my sister now, I
have so much to say to her. You did not fail, you will see all you love again.
You have helped me, now I will help you. "
Usagi smiled and hugged her aunt. She flew above her, her hair streaming behind her.
"Here is my gift to you," she said as she floated away. Sosohizu turned around and a sparkling light formed in the palm of her hand. "This is what is left of my human life,
you may have it…you will make better use of it than I ever would."
The light floated down to Usagi and went into her body. "Thank you," she
mouthed as she began to disappear. Sosohizu let her tears flow freely and
she continued up to the light where her sister was waiting for her with open
arms. "Tell my daughter…I love her," she said as she opened her arms
and smiled.
Mamoru leaned over Usagi's body and cried, along with the others. She had
done so much for everyone, and now she was gone.
"I'm sorry, Usako," Mamoru whimpered and he held her body against him, "I love you, don't leave me, please!"
Sosoru, unable to tolerate the display stepped back and turned around. It was over. They had all made it out alive, except for Usagi. The world is safe, but there is now no one to rule. If she took over, she would be nothing but a replacement, a cover-up. Mamoru could never love her the same, she knew it all along, but it was fully realized now. Her thoughts were interrupted by his sobs, and she turned around. Usagi's body
was limp, her body cold. She could never take her place. Sosoru gathered an
energy ball in her hands. The others noticed and stepped away, while Mamoru continued to hold Usagi in his arms. He looked up at her, his eyes
blood-shot, pleading.
"Sosoru…I cannot live without her, please help her."
She began to cry uncontrollably, her heart aching. "I used to think the same
thing about you," she said through her tears as she gently lay the energy on
Usagi's chest.
She began to sparkle and her color returned. Her chest began to move up and down and she slowly opened her eyes. The group, overcome with joy, began hugging each other. As the excitement died down, Usagi looked in Sosoru direction and she spoke to her.
"Your mother said she loves you," she whispered. Sosoru nodded and turned around.
Her job was done. Now, it was time for her to go back where she belonged, and to make the most of her life.
"Soso-chan," Mamoru said, "where are you going?" She turned her head to the side and looked in his general direction.
"I'm walking off into the sunset." Not knowing where she was going, she continued
forward without any further adieu. The group watched one of the greatest
Senshi that every existed went her own way. They didn't realize it, but she
had become one of them during the whole ordeal, yet, there was no
celebration, no joy. In the end, she left how she came, with emptiness in her
heart and a pain in her soul. Perhaps it was her destiny, her fate to be alone.
~The End~
Well, that's it. It took over a year to complete this. What when on with
Sosoru and Setsuna? Will Mamoru always save a place in his heat for
Sosoru? Will she ever return? Maybe I'll make a sequel one day. I'd like to
thank everyone that supported me and reviewed my fics. Much love.
Sosoru
