Lita let out the breath she'd been holding for nearly a minute, her hand firmly held by Ian as his eyes opened. She'd seen the images as well, shared his thoughts as they came racing back to him. He lifted his head and regarded her with a somber expression, finally seeing that same look of trust from his newfound memories in her own eyes. She raised a hand to his cheek as she'd done the night before, a fond smile finding its way to her lips. Ian endured the gentle touch for a moment, then turned his gaze to Serena and Rini, who sat against the wall of the apartment.
Raye saw it before anyone else knew what was happening. Ian's jaw clenched ever so slightly as he stared at Serena, the corner of his mouth lifting in an ugly sneer. With a cry, Raye tackled Serena as the wings ripped the fabric of Ian's shirt, his skin darkening to a deep blue-grey as a dark aura engulfed him. Mina and Amy ran to Serena's side as Dawn pulled Rini behind her. DarkWing stepped towards the frightened blonde, ready to finish what he as Luciender had sworn to do in the time of the Silver Millennium.
"NO!" Lita placed herself between Serena and the beast, more worried for her friend's safety than her own. "She's not responsible, Ian. She didn't do any of that, you can't do this!" She pulled Serena into her arms, knowing full well that even in that horrid form, Ian wouldn't dare harm her. With a grunt, he eyed the pair skeptically, as well as the other three Senshi crowded around their future Princess. He then turned to the other Moon Princess, who sought protection behind Dawn. The wings extended to their full span as DarkWing threw both arms outwards, releasing a torrent of black needlelike shadows intended for the Princess. Instead, the other girl threw her to the side, bearing the full brunt of the demon's attack. With a cry, she fell against the sliding door to the balcony, shattering the glass and crashing to the concrete that served as a porch. Screams from the six girls in the apartment did little to dissuade DarkWing as he turned upon Rini, who lay against the wall sobbing hysterically. Lita called out to him repeatedly, knowing that if she left Serena, he wouldn't hesitate in attacking her.
It was so cold… despite the heat of the afternoon sun and the warm concrete, Dawn shivered as she lay on the balcony. She pulled her knees to her chest, trying to concentrate on the dark energies that were rapidly slipping from her. Just a little bit… don't hang on to all of it, just keep a little for yourself. She flexed the fingers of her right hand, closing it into a fist and pulling herself to a sitting position. Inside, the creature had backed Rini into a corner, the other girls getting to their feet to try and stop DarkWing. Raising both hands to the sky, Dawn opened her palm and screamed the phrase she'd mocked less than twenty four hours earlier. "Dawning Sky Power, Make Up!"
The flash of rose and lavender caught him off guard as the bright halo shot outwards from the balcony. DarkWing turned to see the girl he'd just sent through the glass standing at the door, her body covered with gashes and bruises and clad in something reminiscent of the Sailors uniforms. In her hands, she held an orb that continued to grow brighter and brighter, the shadows swirling rapidly beneath the milky rose surface. In an instant, she whipped her hands outward, the sphere expanding as it hurtled towards him. The impact of the attack threw him to the floor, and he lay for a moment more shocked than hurt. The needlelike heat subsided after a moment, giving him the chance to stand and spread his wings once more. The glass was gone… nothing to stop her from going straight over the balcony to the sidewalk below.
"LIGHTNING SHADOW!" Dawn's confidence faltered noticeably as a violent black light sped from the creature's body. She'd heard of what had happened to the one victim in the parking lot. Unlike that poor slob, she didn't have the luxury of a barrier to stop her from being pushed over the ledge. Hands in front of her, Dawn met the attack straight on and began to channel the raw energy through her body. Even though she anticipated the attack, the sheer force of the dark assault was slowly driving her back. DarkWing brought his palms up higher, the black light growing stronger. The attack became more than what Eos could handle; jagged fingers of black lightning escaped from the safety of her palms and shot to the ground, cutting into the skin in her hands and splitting the leather of her gloves. With a cry, she felt her ankle hit the railing and buckle, forcing the attack skywards. Eos crumpled beneath the massive energy blast as DarkWing stopped and turned his attention back to Rini.
The future Moon Princess stared up in fright at the winged beast that blocked her view of the other girls. Lita sat helplessly, unable to keep both Serena and Rini safe from DarkWing's need for revenge. Cornered like the proverbial rabbit in the shadow of a lion, Rini cowered as the demon stared down at the girl, an evil grin spread across his monstrous features. "Who's going to save you now?"
"Me, of course." DarkWing turned to see Eos standing on the ledge, the railing behind her twisted and bent from the previous assault. Her right hand held a massive purple ball of energy, the edges tinged in black as a rose and lavender lightning storm churned within the orb. "EOS DAYBREAK REFLECTION!" The sphere disappeared beneath the surface of her palm as both hands shot in front of her ribcage, the concentrated likeness of DarkWing's previous attack hitting the demon squarely in the chest. Too amazed to react quickly, he slammed into the far wall of the apartment. Bracing himself against the wall with his hands, he gritted his teeth and spread his wings once more. The deafening roar preceded a third lightning shadow assault that met Eos' attack head-on. The result collision produced a burst of rose and lavender surrounded by a smoky shell of black lightning, finally exploding into a blinding display that sent everyone else to the floor of the apartment. As the haze cleared, Dawn could make out the image of a warrior standing where DarkWing had been, clad in armor and carrying an ornate broadsword across its back.
"Holy shit," Eos breathed, her hands lowering to her sides. "Who the hell are you?"
Luna, who had crept out from underneath Dawn's desk after the explosion, bowed to the young man in their midst. The crescent moon on her forehead glimmered as she lowered her head in greeting. "His Highness, Prince Luciender."
Luciender nodded his head curtly in response, then stepped over to the group of girls and reached out for Lita's hand.
"I won't attack again. Promise." The voice was warm and sincere. Slowly, the brunette let go of Serena and made sure she was safe before allowing her brother to pull her to her feet. The rest of the girls stood as well, Eos pulling Rini up and joining the others as they stared in awe at the Prince of Jupiter. Wordlessly, he reached behind his back, unsheathing the sword and presenting it to a confused Lita. She stared at the amazingly light weapon in wonder, her eyes wandering over the onyx inlay at the hilt and the crest of Jupiter's Royal Family carved into the emerald at the pommel. Her fingers passed over the stone, a quiet hum filling the room as the emerald began to pulse softly. She looked up to see Serena holding her compact, the glowing jewels evident as the two items seemed to almost communicate. Without warning, an emerald burst raced towards the compact, embedding a new stone at the base before splitting into six rays that reached each of the six original Senshi. Eos, unaffected by the transformation that was taking place, stood open-mouthed as each girl took the form of her respective Sailor. Each one held her henshin wand aloft as the soft green beams encircled them, the same ornate onyx of Luciender's sword forming on each hilt. From there, identical black spirals shot downward, altering the formerly tame Sailor uniforms. Armored breastplates covered silver corsets, the schoolgirl collars replaced by short capes of a similar design, and each skirt bore a broad metallic stripe an inch above the hem. The transformations complete, the rest of the girls looked at each other in shock, then at Luciender in hope that someone would offer some kind of explanation.
"Oh my," Luna stammered, taking a few steps back. "The Sol Alliance…"
"The what?" For once, Serena wasn't the first to speak. Rini stood behind Eos, her voice confused. "What are you talking about?"
"Before the attack on Earth and the Moon that tore apart the Silver Millennium, the Royal Family of Jupiter spearheaded the Sol Alliance. Its purpose was to bring the ruling families of the surrounding kingdoms in a pact to safeguard and protect the Earth and its allies." Luna glanced up at Luciender, who hadn't said a word yet. "It was disbanded just before the first attack on Earth, before…"
"Before Serenity betrayed Jupiter's loyalty." He spoke with a disdainful tone, replacing the sword across his back. "She disbanded the one legion that could have saved both the family of Jupiter and her precious Moon." Luciender looked pointedly at Sailor Moon, who was still unable to speak.
"What do you mean, the family of Jupiter?" Sailor Venus demanded. "What happened?"
Luciender ignored her, stepping past the other Sailors until he was a few feet from Eos. "And you are…"
"The Guardian," she replied quickly, placing herself between Luciender and Chibi-Moon. "Eos." In a matter of seconds, her outfit dissolved to reveal the clothes she'd worn to class that morning, now torn to shreds and bloodied. With a weak yet cocky grin, she stepped closer. Her voice dropped to a whisper as she leaned in. "And I'm still not afraid of…" Dawn's body slumped forward, her hands and forearms reddened by her attacks. Luciender stepped away from her, allowing Rini and Mina to catch her before she tumbled to the floor. The armor and sword faded to nothingness as he made his way to the door. Stopping in front of the girls, he offered a hand to the speechless Jupiter. Melting back into her street clothing, Lita looked helplessly at him as Raye comforted Serena and Amy and Mina tended to Dawn.
"Go on," Luna prodded, seeing Lita's expression. "We'll take care of things here."
Lita didn't need to hear another word. She took his hand and he led her through the debris into the hallway. The pair walked silently to the street when she finally regained her power of speech.
"You are going to help us, aren't you?" It came out more like a plea than a question. He stopped walking and sighed, turning to face her. Ian gazed down into her green eyes, then pulled her into his arms. For one of the few times in her life, Lita felt small yet secure, completely protected. She relaxed against his chest, her eyes closed. Wrapped in the warm embrace, she heard him whisper softly into her ear.
"I'll always be there when you need me." Ian held her a moment, stroking the dark hair protectively. "And," he continued, his voice taking on a cold edge, "I will kill the daughter of the betrayer, and end the line of the Moon Kingdom."
Lita pushed him back violently, fists pounding on his chest. "WHY?" Her scream echoed across the parking lot. "It wasn't their fault!"
"Dear sister," his voice remained calm and low, the dark eyes hidden behind the strands of hair that hung in his face. "You don't remember the things I do. You saw what I saw, but you didn't experience everything that I felt or learned."
"What do you mean?"
Ian stepped closer to her. "The Sol Alliance wasn't disbanded because it was impractical; it was disbanded because Serenity couldn't have dominion over it. Your memories of the Moon Kingdom are merely the sugar-coated fantasies that she created for you. I witnessed the true colours of these cowards; they were all puppets for Serenity, many of them claiming thrones through dubious bloodlines and her backing. In return, she oversaw their kingdoms, but not Jupiter's." He held his head high, proud of the ancestry he'd only recently learned he'd possessed. "We had our own strong heritage, proud warriors with superior strength, and our sword smiths and training facilities were second to none. She refused to honor the treaties of the Sol Alliance because the other worlds had already fallen in behind her, and she saw no need to extend her hand further than those she could control."
"But Ian…" Gone was the belligerent young man that Serena and Mina had described to her earlier. This was the person she'd met on the bridge for that split second the night before, the same person she'd seen in the visions in Dawn's apartment. This was someone who genuinely cared for her and whom she knew that she could completely trust, but still… "She sent them here to save them."
"They were sent by Serenity to carry out her wishes here in the future," he countered. "Sent here as puppets to succeed where she had failed."
"That's not true…" She shook her head, upset and horribly confused as Ian went on.
"Father meant for us to honor our alliance with Serenity but never succumb to her rule. You and I were supposed to try and steer the new generation of rulers away from the rule of the moon and into a more balanced alliance. She separated us to keep you away from that influence," he replied purposefully.
"But you tried to kill her," she reasoned, near hysterics. "What was she supposed to do? You're lucky you didn't end up dead!"
His voice grew strained as he spoke. "The only reason she didn't have me executed was to look good in public, to show she bore no grudge against me and what remained of Jupiter's kingdom." Ian's dark eyes misted over as he looked down at Lita. "And mother's screams…you didn't hear them, but I did. All of that could've been prevented without her ambition, and you and I could've been together."
Lita didn't know how to reply to him. She didn't know if any of it was even true. Could Serena be trying to control them all? It didn't seem possible, her friend who'd stood by her side through countless battles and against the most terrible of enemies. Confused and upset, she began to sob quietly.
"It's true, Lita…"
"But she's my friend! You don't know Serena, she'd never do anything like that to me!"
"She is many things," Ian answered gently but firmly. "Your friend, she is not. She would sacrifice you or any one of the others to save herself. I've seen it happen, and I've witnessed the horrors firsthand. You can't turn your back on her." A finger beneath her chin, he lifted her face up to meet his and wiped a tear from her cheek "But I'll always be here."
"Please don't hurt her, or Rini, or any of them," she cried. "You don't know them, you really have no idea of who they are. They aren't like that at all, Ian, you just can't…" The sobbing became fiercer, Lita coughing as the tears ran down her cheeks. "Promise me you won't hurt them, Ian! Promise me!"
Ian sighed the deep sigh of the defeated, nodding in reply as he drew Lita close to him. "I promise, I will not hurt them, or the Guardian, for as long as you wish, but no longer. I will always aid you in battle, but I will not be responsible for that bitch or her acolytes."
Lita wasn't exactly ecstatic about his response, but it was a start. At least she knew that Serena and the rest of the girls were safe for the moment. She embraced him once more and slipped her slender hand into his. Wordlessly, they walked together to the park were they sat on the bank, watching the sunset and the moonrise in silence.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ian returned home in the small hours of the morning, ready for some well-needed sleep. He and Lita had sat by the lake for hours on end, speaking occasionally. Mostly, she had just leaned on his massive frame while he held her with one hand and stroked her hair with the other. Like the first night at the lake, it had seemed complete, and just right. He'd walked her home as well, then set off towards his place. He had a small apartment about five blocks away from campus, right on the edge of one of the more unsavory parts of town. He'd done it to keep the cost down, figuring that he was more than able to handle himself if the situation came up.
As he approached the building, he noticed a figure in the doorway. It wasn't uncommon to see people around so late; there were often hookers and bums hanging around at all hours of the night. This time, it felt wrong somehow. As he walked closer, he made out the figure of a woman… no, scratch that. It was a girl, and from a quick glance around, she didn't have a pimp nearby. Ian snorted and kept walking. Nothing to be scared of; even if it was an ambush, he felt confident he could handle it with a minimum of fuss. Nearing the doorway, the light from inside revealed her pale face and a slim figure clad in a long flowing black dress which billowed spontaneously. Odd, considering the fact that there was no wind in this concrete jungle. Ian felt a chill on the back of his neck when he looked at her. Regardless of how small and defenseless she appeared, something was definitely wrong. As he climbed the steps, she came towards him.
"Dark One." She spoke in an eerie echoing voice that belied her youthful appearance. "I have come to seek your help."
"Hey lady, I'm just going home. I don't want any trouble," Ian offered, bewildered. Talking cats, impromptu transformations, it was just enough for one day. He didn't need to deal with any more junk like this today.
"But I know you, prince." Ian stopped cold at the last word as she continued. "I know of your past and I know what you are."
The "what you are" pissed Ian off immediately; in the space of a few days in some foreign country, he had found God knows how many people who knew what he was. He pushed past her, fishing his keys out of his pocket. "Look, lady. I don't know what you're on, but I'm not interested."
"I can help you destroy the House of the Moon, Luciender." She waited as Ian slowly turned to face her. "If you help us remove the Guardian, we can help you achieve your revenge."
"Now you've got my attention." A sly smile crossed his face as he motioned towards the door. "Do come in." The young woman curtsied and brushed past him through the open door. As she passed, he realized that her feet weren't actually touching the floor, and the faint scent of sulfur hung on her clothes. It didn't matter too much at the moment; an ally was an ally.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Dawn had managed to drag herself out of bed to the sound of her alarm clock. She had awoken to see Mina sleeping on the couch next to her bed. She vaguely remembered the girls at her apartment, helping her to her bathroom to clean her up. Most of the injuries were just scrapes and bruises, so the girls had put her to bed, cleaned up the wreckage in the living room and then all but Mina had left. As she carefully showered and changed, she could feel the skin on her hands and arms tingling. It still hurt, but she wouldn't need bandages today. Strangely enough, she was getting the hang of the whole Guardian thing. Guardian or not, it still meant that the ass-kicking she'd taken part in the day before had left her stiff and sore all over. After she'd rustled Mina from her dead sleep and accompanied her back to her apartment, they met the rest of the girls for breakfast in a local diner.
"So what happened with that head case brother of yours yesterday?" asked Serena with her usual utter lack of tact and mouth full of food.
Lita shot her the kind of expression for which the phrase "if looks could kill" was invented as she sipped her orange juice. Setting the glass on the table, she leaned back against the vinyl seat and looked out the window. "It was perfect, if you have to know. We sat for hours by the lake." Her expression blissful, she rested her chin on her hand as she thought of the time she'd spent with Ian.
"But did he mention if he was… I mean, did he say… Well, you know…" Raye stammered, fingers pulling on the sleeves of her shirt. The visions she'd seen had come back as she'd slept that night, more and more vivid than when she'd seen them in the fire.
"Did he say if he still wanted to kill us all?" Amy blurted out. Hands wrapped around a cup of coffee, the circles under her eyes almost matched her blue hair. She'd lain awake all night, terrified that he'd burst through her bedroom door and try to kill her in her sleep.
"No." Lita was still in her euphoric daze; her dreamy tone a direct contrast to the worried inquiries of her friends. "He said he'd leave you all alone as long as that was what I wanted. I made him promise." The enormity of what she'd just said was completely lost on her, but registered a fair amount of shock with the others in the group.
"Oh, swell." Dawn harped in with as much sarcasm as she could muster. "I'm so relieved that you're able to tame that wild and unpredictable beast. However can we thank you?" She rolled her eyes and sighed, reaching for the coffee that had been refilled for a third time that morning.
"Will he help us?" Mina ventured a tad more diplomatically. "I mean, is he on our side?"
"No. Well, not really."
"'Not really?' What does that mean?" Rini snapped, frantic.
"He won't help us, but he said that he'll always protect me." She smiled wistfully and looked back at the rest of the girls. "He'd die for me."
Dawn arched an eyebrow. "You know, where I come from, that could be classified as stalking."
"You just don't know him," Lita answered. "He's not a bad person, he's really sweet and kind and…"
"And he's attacked me twice in my own apartment, threatened Serena and Rini, and –" Dawn dropped her voice to a whisper. "If what you've told me is true, he's killed one person while in that crazy DarkWing form. That's not sweet and kind, that's aggressive, cold-blooded, and psychotic!"
"She's right," Amy jumped in. "That relationship can't be healthy, Lita. You're just setting yourself up to get hurt. What if he's lying to you? What if he turns on you when you're alone with him?"
"He couldn't do that," Lita replied stubbornly. "You didn't see what I did, he's not that way at all!"
"Calm down!" Mina exclaimed, not wanting to have them get into this sort of thing in public. "So he's nice to you, and he won't hurt you. That's good for you, but you've told us that he wants to get his revenge through Serena and Rini. We can't let that happen, Lita."
"That's why I made him promise – "
"And how do you know he's going to keep that promise?" Mina pressed.
Lita stopped, regarding each of the girls in turn. "Well, I…" she faltered, seeing the skeptical expressions on the faces of her friends. "I just know, I guess. I mean, I've gotten to know him pretty well in the past day or two. Maybe that's it, you just don't know him the way I do. He wouldn't do that to me."
"I don't wanna get to know him," Rini grumbled, shredding her napkin in her tiny hands.
"And I knew him before any of you did," Dawn added. "Lita's right, he does have his nicer moments. But those mood swings…" she shook her head. "That's what I don't trust. He just changes like that, and without warning."
"You just don't know him like I do," she protested. "If you took the time, maybe you could see that he's not going to hurt you as long as I'm around. Maybe," she said, an idea forming in her head. "Maybe if we all got together someplace, we could all just get to know each other. No Luna, no setups, just talking and stuff."
"Not my apartment," Dawn immediately replied, sipping her coffee. "He's done enough damage in there."
"What about a coffee shop or something?" Mina suggested. "It's a public place, well lit, and I'm sure he wouldn't try anything with tons of people around. Would that work, Lita?"
The brunette thought for a moment. "We can try. I mean, I think he might go for it. I can ask him later." She checked her watch and stood up, fishing some money out of her pocket. "I gotta go. This should cover my share."
"This afternoon, you think?" Mina asked, standing up as well. "Or tonight? The sooner we get this done, the better."
Lita shrugged. "I'll let you know." She turned and left, the rest of the girls looking helplessly after her.
"Think it'll work?" Amy asked hesitantly. "If he'll do whatever she says…"
"He'll do whatever he damn well feels like," Dawn cut in, slamming her mug on the table in disgust. "Psycho Brit."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The lecture came and went without incident. Ian settled into his chosen seat at the back of the room, taking note of Amy sitting in the second row from the front. As he'd expected, she avoided any and all eye contact with him, going so far as to bolt out of her seat and run for the opposite exit as soon as the lecture finished. It didn't matter to him one way or the other, so he gathered the few books he'd brought and left the lecture theatre. Outside, the temperature had dropped a few degrees, making the weather almost bearable. Brushing a bit of hair out of his face, he set off for the other side of campus. One more class for the day, and then he could go home and sleep. The past few days had been rather taxing, and Ian looked forward to simply crashing in his flat that afternoon. He'd had only a handful of hours of sleep the night before, and the repeated transformations into his demon form always took a lot out of him. Barring any random people falling from the sky or sudden attacks on campus, he planned to catch forty winks after classes were done for the day.
"Hey."
The now-familiar voice made Ian lift his head and turn around. Lita leaned against a railing, her hands tucked into the pockets of her black capri pants. Her backpack slung over a shoulder, she nodded at him and smiled. He nodded his head in reply, stepping over towards her. "Hey," he echoed. "How're ya?"
She shrugged, tilting her chin up to see his face. While tall, she still had to look up to speak to him. "Fine, I guess. You sleep all right? I didn't mean to keep you up half the night…"
"S'okay," he replied quickly. "Wasn't a problem."
Lita smiled, somewhat relieved. "Oh, good." She twisted a bit of her hair around her finger, trying to figure out how to bring up Mina's suggestion subtly. Doing anything tonight? Corny. Me and the other girls want you to come hang out with us later? An obvious boldface lie, considering the way that the others felt about her newfound family. My friends think you're a mental case and I'd like the opportunity to prove them wrong? That was the best reason at the moment, but she didn't think Ian would appreciate the premise behind it. From the bit of time she'd spent with him, she'd learned that he didn't care what a bunch of college girls thought of him. Ian hanging out with her friends voluntarily was as likely as getting him into a formal evening gown. No way, no how, no dice.
"Something on your mind?" Ian asked, knowing the answer already. Lita's bright green eyes didn't hide anything, and he could instantly tell that something was gnawing at her, and had been for some time.
"Well…" Lita squirmed, unsure of how he'd react to the suggestion. "The other girls want to um, kinda give you a second chance. Like, start out on the right foot," she explained. "Just get together over coffee and, well, just talk and stuff." She coughed and looked up at Ian, waiting for a reaction.
Ian snorted in reply, turning slightly. "I told you not to trust them, Lita."
"And they told me not to trust you," she answered with a frown. "What am I supposed to do, turn my back on them?"
"Now there's an idea."
"Well, I can't do that," she replied stubbornly. "They're willing to give you a chance, so could you just do this one thing? One time, and I won't bring it up again." Lita eyed him, knowing the two words that would get him to cooperate. "For me?"
Again, the defeated sigh. He didn't have time for this; he had a class to be at in a few minutes. "Fine," he answered, shifting his books to the other hand. "No coffee shop, though."
"Where would you rather meet?" Lita asked, happy that he'd agreed to her suggestion.
"How about the Uni bar?" A figure in the shadow of a nearby building caught his eye, and Ian straightened up. "I've got to get to lecture, so later."
"But this evening," Lita protested.
"Yeah, tonight," he interrupted. "Sounds good. Later." With that, he turned and headed off to class, leaving a bewildered Lita at the edge of the plaza.
"Have you considered our proposition?" Sarah asked in a velvety tone. Flanked by Aaron and Val, she smiled up at Ian as she spoke.
"I have." The reply held no emotion whatsoever. He eyed the other young man, a sneer forming at the corner of his mouth. "Are you sure you can carry out your part of the bargain?"
Aaron tensed as Sarah placed a hand against his chest, chuckling softly. "Of course, Dark One," she answered. "My companions and I are prepared to aid you in your quest, provided that you fulfill your role in this endeavor."
"And you leave Jupiter out of it?"
"As you wish."
"Tonight, then." Ian nodded slightly. "As we discussed."
"Of course. Tonight."
Raye saw it before anyone else knew what was happening. Ian's jaw clenched ever so slightly as he stared at Serena, the corner of his mouth lifting in an ugly sneer. With a cry, Raye tackled Serena as the wings ripped the fabric of Ian's shirt, his skin darkening to a deep blue-grey as a dark aura engulfed him. Mina and Amy ran to Serena's side as Dawn pulled Rini behind her. DarkWing stepped towards the frightened blonde, ready to finish what he as Luciender had sworn to do in the time of the Silver Millennium.
"NO!" Lita placed herself between Serena and the beast, more worried for her friend's safety than her own. "She's not responsible, Ian. She didn't do any of that, you can't do this!" She pulled Serena into her arms, knowing full well that even in that horrid form, Ian wouldn't dare harm her. With a grunt, he eyed the pair skeptically, as well as the other three Senshi crowded around their future Princess. He then turned to the other Moon Princess, who sought protection behind Dawn. The wings extended to their full span as DarkWing threw both arms outwards, releasing a torrent of black needlelike shadows intended for the Princess. Instead, the other girl threw her to the side, bearing the full brunt of the demon's attack. With a cry, she fell against the sliding door to the balcony, shattering the glass and crashing to the concrete that served as a porch. Screams from the six girls in the apartment did little to dissuade DarkWing as he turned upon Rini, who lay against the wall sobbing hysterically. Lita called out to him repeatedly, knowing that if she left Serena, he wouldn't hesitate in attacking her.
It was so cold… despite the heat of the afternoon sun and the warm concrete, Dawn shivered as she lay on the balcony. She pulled her knees to her chest, trying to concentrate on the dark energies that were rapidly slipping from her. Just a little bit… don't hang on to all of it, just keep a little for yourself. She flexed the fingers of her right hand, closing it into a fist and pulling herself to a sitting position. Inside, the creature had backed Rini into a corner, the other girls getting to their feet to try and stop DarkWing. Raising both hands to the sky, Dawn opened her palm and screamed the phrase she'd mocked less than twenty four hours earlier. "Dawning Sky Power, Make Up!"
The flash of rose and lavender caught him off guard as the bright halo shot outwards from the balcony. DarkWing turned to see the girl he'd just sent through the glass standing at the door, her body covered with gashes and bruises and clad in something reminiscent of the Sailors uniforms. In her hands, she held an orb that continued to grow brighter and brighter, the shadows swirling rapidly beneath the milky rose surface. In an instant, she whipped her hands outward, the sphere expanding as it hurtled towards him. The impact of the attack threw him to the floor, and he lay for a moment more shocked than hurt. The needlelike heat subsided after a moment, giving him the chance to stand and spread his wings once more. The glass was gone… nothing to stop her from going straight over the balcony to the sidewalk below.
"LIGHTNING SHADOW!" Dawn's confidence faltered noticeably as a violent black light sped from the creature's body. She'd heard of what had happened to the one victim in the parking lot. Unlike that poor slob, she didn't have the luxury of a barrier to stop her from being pushed over the ledge. Hands in front of her, Dawn met the attack straight on and began to channel the raw energy through her body. Even though she anticipated the attack, the sheer force of the dark assault was slowly driving her back. DarkWing brought his palms up higher, the black light growing stronger. The attack became more than what Eos could handle; jagged fingers of black lightning escaped from the safety of her palms and shot to the ground, cutting into the skin in her hands and splitting the leather of her gloves. With a cry, she felt her ankle hit the railing and buckle, forcing the attack skywards. Eos crumpled beneath the massive energy blast as DarkWing stopped and turned his attention back to Rini.
The future Moon Princess stared up in fright at the winged beast that blocked her view of the other girls. Lita sat helplessly, unable to keep both Serena and Rini safe from DarkWing's need for revenge. Cornered like the proverbial rabbit in the shadow of a lion, Rini cowered as the demon stared down at the girl, an evil grin spread across his monstrous features. "Who's going to save you now?"
"Me, of course." DarkWing turned to see Eos standing on the ledge, the railing behind her twisted and bent from the previous assault. Her right hand held a massive purple ball of energy, the edges tinged in black as a rose and lavender lightning storm churned within the orb. "EOS DAYBREAK REFLECTION!" The sphere disappeared beneath the surface of her palm as both hands shot in front of her ribcage, the concentrated likeness of DarkWing's previous attack hitting the demon squarely in the chest. Too amazed to react quickly, he slammed into the far wall of the apartment. Bracing himself against the wall with his hands, he gritted his teeth and spread his wings once more. The deafening roar preceded a third lightning shadow assault that met Eos' attack head-on. The result collision produced a burst of rose and lavender surrounded by a smoky shell of black lightning, finally exploding into a blinding display that sent everyone else to the floor of the apartment. As the haze cleared, Dawn could make out the image of a warrior standing where DarkWing had been, clad in armor and carrying an ornate broadsword across its back.
"Holy shit," Eos breathed, her hands lowering to her sides. "Who the hell are you?"
Luna, who had crept out from underneath Dawn's desk after the explosion, bowed to the young man in their midst. The crescent moon on her forehead glimmered as she lowered her head in greeting. "His Highness, Prince Luciender."
Luciender nodded his head curtly in response, then stepped over to the group of girls and reached out for Lita's hand.
"I won't attack again. Promise." The voice was warm and sincere. Slowly, the brunette let go of Serena and made sure she was safe before allowing her brother to pull her to her feet. The rest of the girls stood as well, Eos pulling Rini up and joining the others as they stared in awe at the Prince of Jupiter. Wordlessly, he reached behind his back, unsheathing the sword and presenting it to a confused Lita. She stared at the amazingly light weapon in wonder, her eyes wandering over the onyx inlay at the hilt and the crest of Jupiter's Royal Family carved into the emerald at the pommel. Her fingers passed over the stone, a quiet hum filling the room as the emerald began to pulse softly. She looked up to see Serena holding her compact, the glowing jewels evident as the two items seemed to almost communicate. Without warning, an emerald burst raced towards the compact, embedding a new stone at the base before splitting into six rays that reached each of the six original Senshi. Eos, unaffected by the transformation that was taking place, stood open-mouthed as each girl took the form of her respective Sailor. Each one held her henshin wand aloft as the soft green beams encircled them, the same ornate onyx of Luciender's sword forming on each hilt. From there, identical black spirals shot downward, altering the formerly tame Sailor uniforms. Armored breastplates covered silver corsets, the schoolgirl collars replaced by short capes of a similar design, and each skirt bore a broad metallic stripe an inch above the hem. The transformations complete, the rest of the girls looked at each other in shock, then at Luciender in hope that someone would offer some kind of explanation.
"Oh my," Luna stammered, taking a few steps back. "The Sol Alliance…"
"The what?" For once, Serena wasn't the first to speak. Rini stood behind Eos, her voice confused. "What are you talking about?"
"Before the attack on Earth and the Moon that tore apart the Silver Millennium, the Royal Family of Jupiter spearheaded the Sol Alliance. Its purpose was to bring the ruling families of the surrounding kingdoms in a pact to safeguard and protect the Earth and its allies." Luna glanced up at Luciender, who hadn't said a word yet. "It was disbanded just before the first attack on Earth, before…"
"Before Serenity betrayed Jupiter's loyalty." He spoke with a disdainful tone, replacing the sword across his back. "She disbanded the one legion that could have saved both the family of Jupiter and her precious Moon." Luciender looked pointedly at Sailor Moon, who was still unable to speak.
"What do you mean, the family of Jupiter?" Sailor Venus demanded. "What happened?"
Luciender ignored her, stepping past the other Sailors until he was a few feet from Eos. "And you are…"
"The Guardian," she replied quickly, placing herself between Luciender and Chibi-Moon. "Eos." In a matter of seconds, her outfit dissolved to reveal the clothes she'd worn to class that morning, now torn to shreds and bloodied. With a weak yet cocky grin, she stepped closer. Her voice dropped to a whisper as she leaned in. "And I'm still not afraid of…" Dawn's body slumped forward, her hands and forearms reddened by her attacks. Luciender stepped away from her, allowing Rini and Mina to catch her before she tumbled to the floor. The armor and sword faded to nothingness as he made his way to the door. Stopping in front of the girls, he offered a hand to the speechless Jupiter. Melting back into her street clothing, Lita looked helplessly at him as Raye comforted Serena and Amy and Mina tended to Dawn.
"Go on," Luna prodded, seeing Lita's expression. "We'll take care of things here."
Lita didn't need to hear another word. She took his hand and he led her through the debris into the hallway. The pair walked silently to the street when she finally regained her power of speech.
"You are going to help us, aren't you?" It came out more like a plea than a question. He stopped walking and sighed, turning to face her. Ian gazed down into her green eyes, then pulled her into his arms. For one of the few times in her life, Lita felt small yet secure, completely protected. She relaxed against his chest, her eyes closed. Wrapped in the warm embrace, she heard him whisper softly into her ear.
"I'll always be there when you need me." Ian held her a moment, stroking the dark hair protectively. "And," he continued, his voice taking on a cold edge, "I will kill the daughter of the betrayer, and end the line of the Moon Kingdom."
Lita pushed him back violently, fists pounding on his chest. "WHY?" Her scream echoed across the parking lot. "It wasn't their fault!"
"Dear sister," his voice remained calm and low, the dark eyes hidden behind the strands of hair that hung in his face. "You don't remember the things I do. You saw what I saw, but you didn't experience everything that I felt or learned."
"What do you mean?"
Ian stepped closer to her. "The Sol Alliance wasn't disbanded because it was impractical; it was disbanded because Serenity couldn't have dominion over it. Your memories of the Moon Kingdom are merely the sugar-coated fantasies that she created for you. I witnessed the true colours of these cowards; they were all puppets for Serenity, many of them claiming thrones through dubious bloodlines and her backing. In return, she oversaw their kingdoms, but not Jupiter's." He held his head high, proud of the ancestry he'd only recently learned he'd possessed. "We had our own strong heritage, proud warriors with superior strength, and our sword smiths and training facilities were second to none. She refused to honor the treaties of the Sol Alliance because the other worlds had already fallen in behind her, and she saw no need to extend her hand further than those she could control."
"But Ian…" Gone was the belligerent young man that Serena and Mina had described to her earlier. This was the person she'd met on the bridge for that split second the night before, the same person she'd seen in the visions in Dawn's apartment. This was someone who genuinely cared for her and whom she knew that she could completely trust, but still… "She sent them here to save them."
"They were sent by Serenity to carry out her wishes here in the future," he countered. "Sent here as puppets to succeed where she had failed."
"That's not true…" She shook her head, upset and horribly confused as Ian went on.
"Father meant for us to honor our alliance with Serenity but never succumb to her rule. You and I were supposed to try and steer the new generation of rulers away from the rule of the moon and into a more balanced alliance. She separated us to keep you away from that influence," he replied purposefully.
"But you tried to kill her," she reasoned, near hysterics. "What was she supposed to do? You're lucky you didn't end up dead!"
His voice grew strained as he spoke. "The only reason she didn't have me executed was to look good in public, to show she bore no grudge against me and what remained of Jupiter's kingdom." Ian's dark eyes misted over as he looked down at Lita. "And mother's screams…you didn't hear them, but I did. All of that could've been prevented without her ambition, and you and I could've been together."
Lita didn't know how to reply to him. She didn't know if any of it was even true. Could Serena be trying to control them all? It didn't seem possible, her friend who'd stood by her side through countless battles and against the most terrible of enemies. Confused and upset, she began to sob quietly.
"It's true, Lita…"
"But she's my friend! You don't know Serena, she'd never do anything like that to me!"
"She is many things," Ian answered gently but firmly. "Your friend, she is not. She would sacrifice you or any one of the others to save herself. I've seen it happen, and I've witnessed the horrors firsthand. You can't turn your back on her." A finger beneath her chin, he lifted her face up to meet his and wiped a tear from her cheek "But I'll always be here."
"Please don't hurt her, or Rini, or any of them," she cried. "You don't know them, you really have no idea of who they are. They aren't like that at all, Ian, you just can't…" The sobbing became fiercer, Lita coughing as the tears ran down her cheeks. "Promise me you won't hurt them, Ian! Promise me!"
Ian sighed the deep sigh of the defeated, nodding in reply as he drew Lita close to him. "I promise, I will not hurt them, or the Guardian, for as long as you wish, but no longer. I will always aid you in battle, but I will not be responsible for that bitch or her acolytes."
Lita wasn't exactly ecstatic about his response, but it was a start. At least she knew that Serena and the rest of the girls were safe for the moment. She embraced him once more and slipped her slender hand into his. Wordlessly, they walked together to the park were they sat on the bank, watching the sunset and the moonrise in silence.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ian returned home in the small hours of the morning, ready for some well-needed sleep. He and Lita had sat by the lake for hours on end, speaking occasionally. Mostly, she had just leaned on his massive frame while he held her with one hand and stroked her hair with the other. Like the first night at the lake, it had seemed complete, and just right. He'd walked her home as well, then set off towards his place. He had a small apartment about five blocks away from campus, right on the edge of one of the more unsavory parts of town. He'd done it to keep the cost down, figuring that he was more than able to handle himself if the situation came up.
As he approached the building, he noticed a figure in the doorway. It wasn't uncommon to see people around so late; there were often hookers and bums hanging around at all hours of the night. This time, it felt wrong somehow. As he walked closer, he made out the figure of a woman… no, scratch that. It was a girl, and from a quick glance around, she didn't have a pimp nearby. Ian snorted and kept walking. Nothing to be scared of; even if it was an ambush, he felt confident he could handle it with a minimum of fuss. Nearing the doorway, the light from inside revealed her pale face and a slim figure clad in a long flowing black dress which billowed spontaneously. Odd, considering the fact that there was no wind in this concrete jungle. Ian felt a chill on the back of his neck when he looked at her. Regardless of how small and defenseless she appeared, something was definitely wrong. As he climbed the steps, she came towards him.
"Dark One." She spoke in an eerie echoing voice that belied her youthful appearance. "I have come to seek your help."
"Hey lady, I'm just going home. I don't want any trouble," Ian offered, bewildered. Talking cats, impromptu transformations, it was just enough for one day. He didn't need to deal with any more junk like this today.
"But I know you, prince." Ian stopped cold at the last word as she continued. "I know of your past and I know what you are."
The "what you are" pissed Ian off immediately; in the space of a few days in some foreign country, he had found God knows how many people who knew what he was. He pushed past her, fishing his keys out of his pocket. "Look, lady. I don't know what you're on, but I'm not interested."
"I can help you destroy the House of the Moon, Luciender." She waited as Ian slowly turned to face her. "If you help us remove the Guardian, we can help you achieve your revenge."
"Now you've got my attention." A sly smile crossed his face as he motioned towards the door. "Do come in." The young woman curtsied and brushed past him through the open door. As she passed, he realized that her feet weren't actually touching the floor, and the faint scent of sulfur hung on her clothes. It didn't matter too much at the moment; an ally was an ally.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Dawn had managed to drag herself out of bed to the sound of her alarm clock. She had awoken to see Mina sleeping on the couch next to her bed. She vaguely remembered the girls at her apartment, helping her to her bathroom to clean her up. Most of the injuries were just scrapes and bruises, so the girls had put her to bed, cleaned up the wreckage in the living room and then all but Mina had left. As she carefully showered and changed, she could feel the skin on her hands and arms tingling. It still hurt, but she wouldn't need bandages today. Strangely enough, she was getting the hang of the whole Guardian thing. Guardian or not, it still meant that the ass-kicking she'd taken part in the day before had left her stiff and sore all over. After she'd rustled Mina from her dead sleep and accompanied her back to her apartment, they met the rest of the girls for breakfast in a local diner.
"So what happened with that head case brother of yours yesterday?" asked Serena with her usual utter lack of tact and mouth full of food.
Lita shot her the kind of expression for which the phrase "if looks could kill" was invented as she sipped her orange juice. Setting the glass on the table, she leaned back against the vinyl seat and looked out the window. "It was perfect, if you have to know. We sat for hours by the lake." Her expression blissful, she rested her chin on her hand as she thought of the time she'd spent with Ian.
"But did he mention if he was… I mean, did he say… Well, you know…" Raye stammered, fingers pulling on the sleeves of her shirt. The visions she'd seen had come back as she'd slept that night, more and more vivid than when she'd seen them in the fire.
"Did he say if he still wanted to kill us all?" Amy blurted out. Hands wrapped around a cup of coffee, the circles under her eyes almost matched her blue hair. She'd lain awake all night, terrified that he'd burst through her bedroom door and try to kill her in her sleep.
"No." Lita was still in her euphoric daze; her dreamy tone a direct contrast to the worried inquiries of her friends. "He said he'd leave you all alone as long as that was what I wanted. I made him promise." The enormity of what she'd just said was completely lost on her, but registered a fair amount of shock with the others in the group.
"Oh, swell." Dawn harped in with as much sarcasm as she could muster. "I'm so relieved that you're able to tame that wild and unpredictable beast. However can we thank you?" She rolled her eyes and sighed, reaching for the coffee that had been refilled for a third time that morning.
"Will he help us?" Mina ventured a tad more diplomatically. "I mean, is he on our side?"
"No. Well, not really."
"'Not really?' What does that mean?" Rini snapped, frantic.
"He won't help us, but he said that he'll always protect me." She smiled wistfully and looked back at the rest of the girls. "He'd die for me."
Dawn arched an eyebrow. "You know, where I come from, that could be classified as stalking."
"You just don't know him," Lita answered. "He's not a bad person, he's really sweet and kind and…"
"And he's attacked me twice in my own apartment, threatened Serena and Rini, and –" Dawn dropped her voice to a whisper. "If what you've told me is true, he's killed one person while in that crazy DarkWing form. That's not sweet and kind, that's aggressive, cold-blooded, and psychotic!"
"She's right," Amy jumped in. "That relationship can't be healthy, Lita. You're just setting yourself up to get hurt. What if he's lying to you? What if he turns on you when you're alone with him?"
"He couldn't do that," Lita replied stubbornly. "You didn't see what I did, he's not that way at all!"
"Calm down!" Mina exclaimed, not wanting to have them get into this sort of thing in public. "So he's nice to you, and he won't hurt you. That's good for you, but you've told us that he wants to get his revenge through Serena and Rini. We can't let that happen, Lita."
"That's why I made him promise – "
"And how do you know he's going to keep that promise?" Mina pressed.
Lita stopped, regarding each of the girls in turn. "Well, I…" she faltered, seeing the skeptical expressions on the faces of her friends. "I just know, I guess. I mean, I've gotten to know him pretty well in the past day or two. Maybe that's it, you just don't know him the way I do. He wouldn't do that to me."
"I don't wanna get to know him," Rini grumbled, shredding her napkin in her tiny hands.
"And I knew him before any of you did," Dawn added. "Lita's right, he does have his nicer moments. But those mood swings…" she shook her head. "That's what I don't trust. He just changes like that, and without warning."
"You just don't know him like I do," she protested. "If you took the time, maybe you could see that he's not going to hurt you as long as I'm around. Maybe," she said, an idea forming in her head. "Maybe if we all got together someplace, we could all just get to know each other. No Luna, no setups, just talking and stuff."
"Not my apartment," Dawn immediately replied, sipping her coffee. "He's done enough damage in there."
"What about a coffee shop or something?" Mina suggested. "It's a public place, well lit, and I'm sure he wouldn't try anything with tons of people around. Would that work, Lita?"
The brunette thought for a moment. "We can try. I mean, I think he might go for it. I can ask him later." She checked her watch and stood up, fishing some money out of her pocket. "I gotta go. This should cover my share."
"This afternoon, you think?" Mina asked, standing up as well. "Or tonight? The sooner we get this done, the better."
Lita shrugged. "I'll let you know." She turned and left, the rest of the girls looking helplessly after her.
"Think it'll work?" Amy asked hesitantly. "If he'll do whatever she says…"
"He'll do whatever he damn well feels like," Dawn cut in, slamming her mug on the table in disgust. "Psycho Brit."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The lecture came and went without incident. Ian settled into his chosen seat at the back of the room, taking note of Amy sitting in the second row from the front. As he'd expected, she avoided any and all eye contact with him, going so far as to bolt out of her seat and run for the opposite exit as soon as the lecture finished. It didn't matter to him one way or the other, so he gathered the few books he'd brought and left the lecture theatre. Outside, the temperature had dropped a few degrees, making the weather almost bearable. Brushing a bit of hair out of his face, he set off for the other side of campus. One more class for the day, and then he could go home and sleep. The past few days had been rather taxing, and Ian looked forward to simply crashing in his flat that afternoon. He'd had only a handful of hours of sleep the night before, and the repeated transformations into his demon form always took a lot out of him. Barring any random people falling from the sky or sudden attacks on campus, he planned to catch forty winks after classes were done for the day.
"Hey."
The now-familiar voice made Ian lift his head and turn around. Lita leaned against a railing, her hands tucked into the pockets of her black capri pants. Her backpack slung over a shoulder, she nodded at him and smiled. He nodded his head in reply, stepping over towards her. "Hey," he echoed. "How're ya?"
She shrugged, tilting her chin up to see his face. While tall, she still had to look up to speak to him. "Fine, I guess. You sleep all right? I didn't mean to keep you up half the night…"
"S'okay," he replied quickly. "Wasn't a problem."
Lita smiled, somewhat relieved. "Oh, good." She twisted a bit of her hair around her finger, trying to figure out how to bring up Mina's suggestion subtly. Doing anything tonight? Corny. Me and the other girls want you to come hang out with us later? An obvious boldface lie, considering the way that the others felt about her newfound family. My friends think you're a mental case and I'd like the opportunity to prove them wrong? That was the best reason at the moment, but she didn't think Ian would appreciate the premise behind it. From the bit of time she'd spent with him, she'd learned that he didn't care what a bunch of college girls thought of him. Ian hanging out with her friends voluntarily was as likely as getting him into a formal evening gown. No way, no how, no dice.
"Something on your mind?" Ian asked, knowing the answer already. Lita's bright green eyes didn't hide anything, and he could instantly tell that something was gnawing at her, and had been for some time.
"Well…" Lita squirmed, unsure of how he'd react to the suggestion. "The other girls want to um, kinda give you a second chance. Like, start out on the right foot," she explained. "Just get together over coffee and, well, just talk and stuff." She coughed and looked up at Ian, waiting for a reaction.
Ian snorted in reply, turning slightly. "I told you not to trust them, Lita."
"And they told me not to trust you," she answered with a frown. "What am I supposed to do, turn my back on them?"
"Now there's an idea."
"Well, I can't do that," she replied stubbornly. "They're willing to give you a chance, so could you just do this one thing? One time, and I won't bring it up again." Lita eyed him, knowing the two words that would get him to cooperate. "For me?"
Again, the defeated sigh. He didn't have time for this; he had a class to be at in a few minutes. "Fine," he answered, shifting his books to the other hand. "No coffee shop, though."
"Where would you rather meet?" Lita asked, happy that he'd agreed to her suggestion.
"How about the Uni bar?" A figure in the shadow of a nearby building caught his eye, and Ian straightened up. "I've got to get to lecture, so later."
"But this evening," Lita protested.
"Yeah, tonight," he interrupted. "Sounds good. Later." With that, he turned and headed off to class, leaving a bewildered Lita at the edge of the plaza.
"Have you considered our proposition?" Sarah asked in a velvety tone. Flanked by Aaron and Val, she smiled up at Ian as she spoke.
"I have." The reply held no emotion whatsoever. He eyed the other young man, a sneer forming at the corner of his mouth. "Are you sure you can carry out your part of the bargain?"
Aaron tensed as Sarah placed a hand against his chest, chuckling softly. "Of course, Dark One," she answered. "My companions and I are prepared to aid you in your quest, provided that you fulfill your role in this endeavor."
"And you leave Jupiter out of it?"
"As you wish."
"Tonight, then." Ian nodded slightly. "As we discussed."
"Of course. Tonight."