She walked dejected into her apartment and didn't bother to turn on the lights. She has finally been expelled from school. It finally seemed to sink in. She threw her book bag against the wall to release her pent up frustration. She walked out onto her balcony and began to tend to her plants gently. She stopped dead as a drop of water fell onto the back of her hand and ran down a side until it fell onto the leaf of one of her house plants.
"Water?" She reached up and gently fingered the trail her tear had traveled.
"Tears..." She uttered even softer to herself. She clutched her chest and gripped the railing with another. It hurt.
Her breath came out in gasps. Someone was calling to her. Juuban. That was where she was going. Kino Makoto was going to Juuban. She turned away from the balcony, never noticing the bent metal railing of her balcony...
---
"Fire Soul!" A stream of red-hot flames enclosed the youma. The youma would not give up, not that easily. It screamed and rushed at Sailor Mars.
Luna, in her human form, stepped in front of Mars. She extended her hands forward with her palms facing the oncoming monster. An aura of pure light surrounded her being as the crescent moon on her forehead blazed brightly. "Moon Twilight Flash!" An incredible light burst forward from her body.
Tuxedo Kamen turned away from the light and vanished into the distance like he always did.
Mars closed her eyes and looked away to avoid losing her sight. The light was just too pure and too true. There was something calling her, or someone. She squinted to see into the brilliant radiance of Luna's attack. There was someone coming towards her. The light vanished, as did the person. Mars stared into the distance in shock. What was that? She clutched the piece of jadeite that she wore around her neck. Why was she left with such an empty feeling after that vision?
'Naze? Why are things so confusing now? I was right. Things will never be the same again, never. I've made my choice and I've fallen in love.' She stared up at the moon. 'I now know why they say ignorance is bliss...ignorance is bliss...'
---
"Sailor V! Over Here!" The crowd screamed.
Aino Minako twirled around and showed off her costume. She offered her audience a huge bright smile. Funny, she had gotten this job upon her arrival at New Narita Airport. The man had thought she looked very much like Sailor V. She giggled to herself, that's because she was once Sailor V.
She had spent the last year aboard in London, England, fighting crime,training for the time when the Sailor Senshi would awaken and she would become their leader. Two of her soldiers had reawakened, Mercury and Mars. She looked forward to meeting them soon and hoped to become their friend. She knew Artemis was waiting for her backstage, talking to Boss. She also hoped to meet Boss soon. Artemis had actually encouraged her to take this job. He said it was good for her to have something to focus on besides her training.
She performed her traditional pose and the crowd cheered. A man suddenly stumbled onto the stage and collapsed, she could hear the crew begin to panic backstage. A dark shadow arose from the fallen man. "This isn't in the script." The crew muttered as they flipped through the pages.
The crowd chattered about the awesome "special effects." Minako took up a fighting stance. That was no special effect, at least none of which she knew of. It was a lower ranking youma of the Dark Kingdom yet to manifest a tangible form. These youma rode on unsuspecting humans, slowly draining the life out of its host. She had to finish it off quickly, for it was about to take form and power. It must have sensed the power within her and wanted it.
Minako drew her Crescent Compact from her Lunar Space Pocket. This kind of youma was easy enough to defeat. They were nothing more than shadows. You simply had to shine a huge amount of light on it. The youma was becoming more solid by the second.
She flipped open the compact and allowed it to see its reflection in the mirror of her compact. "Crescent Beam!" The upper part of its body vanished but the lower half lunged at her. She closed her compact and readied herself.
"Crescent Boomerang!" The compact flew through the air and shredded the rest of the youma to bits, the pieces turning into nothing but ashes. She walked over to the unconscious man as the crowd cheered and applauded. She checked his pulse and sighed in relief. He was alive.
Her red mask hid her sad cerulean eyes. She gazed sadly at the crowd. They would never know how much danger they were just in or how much danger would come in the next few months. Sometimes, she wished she were one of them, ignorant to what was really going on, to be a normal teenager. Did they re-live the destruction of an entire civilization in their nightmares every night? No, but she did. Not that it matters now. It was already too late. She was Sailor Venus. She lived in two different worlds but didn't really belong to neither...
---
Sailor Mercury glanced worriedly at her friend. She looked back down at her computer and continued to analyze the battle they had just won. She yawned. She was tired and she was beginning to fall behind in her classes, her schoolwork was beginning to suffer. She had devoted a lot of her time into being a good senshi, always there at the first sign of a threat. She had made her choices, no one forced her to do this, and she did it for herself and those she loved and cared for. But she couldn't help but wonder what life would be like if she had taken the other road...
---
She peered through the thickets of the tree leaves. She was crouched on the bough of a tree, absently brushing aside the leaves on her uniform. She watched as the two Sailor Senshi reflected on the last month of their lives.
'Impossible!' She thought to herself. 'They've just awakened. What has happened while I was gone? Could it be true...' Her hands began to shake as she remembered the desolate and decaying land that was supposed to be her home. Terra or Earth, as they called it now, was stranger and more foreign than it was to her a millennium ago.
She buried her faces in her hands as she took deep breaths to calm herself down. When she raised her head, she had become callous and cold. It was as if she had placed an undetectable mask upon her face, this was a mask she had perfected in her years spent in absolute chaos of the universe. If you had met her like this for the first time, you would have thought she was
never any other way.
She couldn't depend on an alliance with the Terrans or Earthling. She slapped her forehead, 'Of course! If there are Sailor Senshi for the planets of this system, then I can seek help from the Queens and Kings of this system.' She powered up to teleport and to leave this primitive planet behind. 'But why are the senshi here on Terra? The Silver Millennium strictly forbade communication with Terra, least of all actually being there but the Silver Millennium is... No! Serenity is fine, she has to be...' She vanished from her spot, leaving only a few sparkles of light, like tiny little stars. It was her namesake after all...
---
Mamoru groaned as he slowly awaken. His spells were becoming much more frequent. He would black out and wake up a few minutes or a few hours later. Sometimes he would wake up with a bruise or two while other times he might have a bleeding wound. He checked himself. He was unharmed, this time. He glanced tiredly at the clock on the desk. It was 1 o'clock in the morning and slumber was calling to him. He knew something was happening during his spells but he had absolutely no recollection. He climbed into his bed and closed his eyes, only be haunted by the mysterious princess in his dreams...
---
Usagi stared up at the moon. There was something very familiar about it, an instant of a long forgotten memory. She laid her head down on her folded arms. She felt strange inside, not the bad kind of strange but a warm and fuzzy kind of strange. She felt it growing inside her, a flicker of candlelight becoming brighter and stronger. It has always been there but she had never realized or recognized it until now. She also knew that it would soon awaken, and when it did, her world would fall apart...
Mirror of Reflections
Chapter 2
Reflection of Loss
Rating: PG - PG 13
Email Alecto: and gain come hand-in-hand, one will always follow the other. We must
all learn to accept both or neither."
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon is the property of Naoko-san. I do not own it. Please don't sue me. However this story is mine and any other characters I will create along the way.
Zoisite's sword met his comrade's, Kunzite, the First General of the Dark Kingdom. Sparks flew as their swords clashed. Nephrite, the Second General, watched the battle blankly from the sidelines. Zoisite hardened himself. This man was once one of his best friends, but now, he was nothing more than a puppet to Metallia. He needed survive long enough so he may help the Sailor Senshi when the time came. He pulled away and slashed at Kunzite. Kunzite jumped back to avoid Zoisite's blade.
Nephrite grinned sadistically as he watched the two men fight. 'These fools waste their time training tirelessly, hoping to fight the inevitable.' He stared out the window. The stars were so especially clear in the North Pole. That was the one thing he loved about their desolate and far-off base. 'They think they can fight what the stars has already decided. Fools...you cannot fight fate.'
---
"Konnichi wa Mamoru-san!" Mamoru jumped slightly but smiled as he recognized the bubbly cheerful voice. He turned and looked down into the girl's bright face. Her smile made his day seem all the brighter.
Usagi grinned happily up at the tall, dark, and handsome man. She was glad that the two of them were able to become friends, but part of her wanted more.
"Konnichi wa, Usagi-chan." Usagi felt a tingle run down her spine at the sound of his rich deep voice. 'Is this what it's like to fall in love?'
---
Ami and Rei sat to one side of Crown Fruit Parlor. They discussed last night's battle in low voices and looked around for suspicious people. Ami smiled as she spotted Usagi talking to Mamoru.
Rei looked in the direction of Ami's gaze. Master... Once again Rei could feel Jadeite's presence besides her. Forgive us for our past sins. We were not strong enough to fight her. Rei's hands immediately went to the gem around her neck.
Ami's smile widened slightly. It seemed so right for the two of them to be standing near each other.
Motoki's sister, Furuhata Unazuki, came over to Ami and Rei's table to deliver their drinks. The cheerful little bell over the entrance rang, signaling the arrival of a new customer. Unazuki turned to greet the new patron. She blinked and stared at the girl who had just come through the door.
"Luna!" Ami gasped.
Luna, human Luna, stood nervously by the doorway. She was dressed normally in some of Ami's clothing. The crescent moon on her forehead was covered up by a small amount of magic. She quickly went over to the two senshi and slid into the booth, her face slightly flushed in embarrassment.
"What are you doing here?!" Ami exclaimed.
"I just came to see if there was something I could do. It's quite boring to be left home alone." Luna coughed as if trying to cover up. "Anyway, your leader and your trainer will be contacting you soon."
"Our leader?" Rei asked. "Aren't you our leader?"
"No, I am just your advisor. I have a significant amount of power, but Artemis will be more fit and qualified to train you." Luna reached into her own sub-space pocket under the table. She pulled out two watches, one blue with the sign of Mercury and the other red with the symbol of Mars. She handed the blue one to Ami and the red one to Mars. "These are your communicator, they can also detect dark energy in the facility and alert you to your comrades' locations."
Rei flipped her hair, "Mou! Why do I have to be some Sailor Senshi? I'm really busy!" Rei gazed deeply into Luna's eyes, boring through her soul. "Luna! About the Princess, do you know which country she is from? Plus...if you don't tell me who you really are, I'm not going to help."
"That...I cannot disclose." Luna lowered her head, unable to hold Rei's gaze any longer. "Even if I told you, you wouldn't believe me. The enemy, I never thought they would come to Tokyo."
"Why did we become Sailor Senshi to fight the enemy?" Ami asked.
"No!" Luna shook her head. "It is to protect the Princess, you are the Princess' Guardians. The reason why the Princess has no been found yet...the Princess has been sealed, that is why we have not found her yet..."
"Sealed?"
"Why was that done?"
"The Princess most likely possesses the Ginzoshou. Could you imagine the trouble if some power hungry manic got their hands on it? Besides, you two are not full senshi yet. When all the Sailor Senshi are gathered and you have become full Sailor Senshi, you will be able to break the Princess' seal. You will then know the true nature of the situation. That is all I can tell you unfortunately..."
"But," Rei began. "How do we become full Sailor Senshi?"
"Memory. Only memory will do that."
"Memory?" Rei whispered.
"Those visions we've been having..." Ami trailed off.
"Hai," Luna nodded. "You are on your way to becoming full Sailor Senshi. It will only be a matter of time. Time, which we are running out of..."
"Ami-chan." Usagi suddenly appeared by their table. Luna and Ami almost jumped three feet into the air. "Who's your friend?"
"Usagi-chan, this is..." Ami began but was not sure of how to finish.
"Levana Lunas, pleased to make your acquaintance." Luna stood up and bowed to Usagi.
"Pleased to meet you Lunas-san." Usagi bowed in return. "Are you new in town?"
Luna nodded her head, "I'm looking for someone."
"Good luck. Have you been to the arcade yet?" Usagi asked eagerly.
"Not really-" Luna was cut off as Usagi dragged her toward the door.
Ami stifled a giggle and turned to Rei, "I suppose we should follow them."
Rei nodded and the two teenagers followed Usagi's example. Ami stopped for a second to pay Unazuki and then they were gone. Rei took one last look at the counter and the dark man sitting there before disappearing out the door. She was so sure that she had sensed power...
---
Mamoru could feel the brunette's gaze burn a hole through his back. As soon as Usagi stepped out of this shop, he felt a familiar void expose itself. Usagi's new friends were strange. No. They were just different. Yet he still couldn't trust them, especially the new girl with a hairstyle similar to Usagi's.
Usagi waved enthusiastically to Motoki as they entered the Crown Game Center. She then proceeded to seat Luna before the Sailor V game. Luna stared blankly at the game for a second and then turned to Ami and Rei for help. Ami began to explain the controls and the goal of the game as Rei watched silently.
"The highest score is always by S.V. I can't ever beat their score." Usagi whined slightly.
Luna stared as the high score screen came up. Sure enough at the top was the initial S.V. and right under it, the second highest score, was A.Q. 'Could it be?' Luna asked herself silently. She fingered the controls nervously as Usagi inserted the coin. The machine played its music and the first level began.
Ami stared at the screen, reading the scrolling numbers that were only visible to her eyes. This began happening not too long after becoming Sailor Mercury. Whenever she looked at a computing machine, she saw all the 0's and 1's. For some odd reason, she was able to read the programs and could predict its every move. It was strange at first but she quickly got used to it, for it worked to her advantage, especially in video games.
Luna bit her lower lip as she concentrated on the game. She got used to the pace of the game quickly and was easily racking up points. 1000...2000...3000...4000...5000...6000... 7000...8000...9000...10000...and so on.
Rei looked around as people began to gather around Luna. The people muttered and whispered. Could it actually be that someone was about to beat the infamous S.V. and A.Q. on the Sailor V game? Her mind's eye picked up a strange golden aura, as pure as light itself. Rei looked to the far corner of the arcade. A teenage girl with long blond hair was leaning against the far wall, watching Luna from a distance. At her feet was a white cat with the same crescent moon marking as Luna. Rei jumped to her feet, more than ready to confront this girl. She blinked. The girl was gone. Rei slowly returned to her seat, was it all in her imagination?
---
Minako let out a sigh of relief as she and her cat reached the alley behind Crown Game Center. She leaned against the brick wall and looked down at her cat, Artemis. "That was too close. She almost got us..."
Artemis wheezed for air. "Atalanta is so suspicious. We can't reveal ourselves, not yet."
"What'll happen if she reaches the high score?" Minako asked.
"They'll also gain access to the command center, but that doesn't matter."
"Levana Lunas or 'Boss', an ambassador from Mau and your partner. Chishiki Kallan, the princess of Mercury and Sailor Mercury. Arden Atalanta, the princess of Mars and Sailor Mars." Minako whispered to herself. A soft grin slowly made its way across her lips. "My comrades and my friends..."
"Those are their names from our past lives, Kallan and Atalanta both bear different names in this day and age." Artemis shook his head sadly. "They probably have no memories of the Silver Millennium, not like you do at least."
"I know but they haven't changed," Minako smiled down at Artemis. "Not to me."
---
Droplets of rain poured down from the clouds. Patter patter, patter, patter... Water ran down the sides of cars, umbrellas, and windows. Rain is the sky's tears, rain is when she sobs quietly for all our lose, lose of innocence, faith, hope... Rain is when our mother cries on our behalf, rain is her sadness and sorrow.
Makoto did not need an umbrella. She was a child of the storms. Rain did not seem to touch her but the sky's sorrow did. She sighed and raised her face to the sky. The rain was cool upon her skin. It calmed the turmoil within her.
Something beckoned her to look down. She gave in, too tired to fight her instincts. She looked up to see a golden angel in the rain and a car heading straight for the angel. She didn't think. She just acted. She didn't fight her instincts.
---
Taima Levina, the princess of Jupiter, defeated her fourth opponent today. 'People are so much less challenging here than on the Moon. How do they train on this planet?' She thought in disgust. Soldiers began clearing out of the training room. It seemed that no one would be able to defeat the warrior princess from Jupiter. Even the most elite guards of the royal family were no match for her.
"Not everyone can be as strong as you are Taima-sama." Someone had read her mind. She turned around to see a girl about 5 years her junior staring nervously at the floor. "Gomen," she muttered. "I didn't mean to read your mind
without permission."
Levina stared down at the girl, trying to remember her from the formal introductions made earlier that day. Than it clicked, she was the daughter of the King's sister, Duchess Galena, a girl who was well liked and intimately known by everyone in the palace, from the lowest servant to the Queen herself. "It's okay, I guess."
Purity's head snapped up, a huge grin plastered across her pretty face. "Why aren't you with your friends?"
"Friends?" Levina asked in confusion.
Purity stared oddly at the older woman. "Kallan-sama and the rest."
"Oh, them. We're not really friends..." Levina answered in an awkward manner, but it was true. They were comrades in battle, but they did not associate outside of training.
"But you're all Sailor Senshi and ambassadors from the Silver Millennium, you all must have been together from an early age." Purity furrowed her brows, not quite understanding.
Levina stared at the girl before her, 'How can she be so naive and innocent...?' Something deep within the seemingly untouchable princess of Jupiter ached. She wanted desperately to protect this girl. This girl could be destroyed by this world too easily. Her innocence and purity could be crushed in a matter of seconds. She wanted to protect her...
---
She stared at the bleak ruins of the once glorious Magellan Castle. Queen Meira had always been the closest to Queen Serenity out of the other rulers of this solar system. In fact, they were cousins. She shook her head sadly. How foolish of her not to realize that the fall of the Silver Alliance meant the destruction of the other kingdoms as well... That had been their treaty. Their alliance was to last till the end of time or their destruction...
---
Usagi yawned tiredly. She had not gotten enough sleep last night. The rain poured down around her in a gloomy manner, sliding down the side of her pink umbrella. She walked down the wet pavement in a dead manner. She didn't bother to look before crossing the street as a car sped toward her.
"WATCH OUT!!!" A tall girl seemed to barrel out of nowhere. Makoto threw Usagi over her shoulders like a damsel in distress. Usagi's umbrella clattered, forgotten, to the floor. The car sped by, running over the umbrella and spraying the two with a sheet of water.
Makoto lowered Usagi onto the ground and looked the girl over for any sign of injury. Usagi stared at the tall girl before her. The rain droplets hung from the girl, framing her in a heavenly glow. A sparkling rose earring caught her eye.
A guardian angel?
Makoto sighed in relief. She looked back toward the street, the umbrella laid crushed on the pavement. She turned back to the girl before her, "You need to be more careful."
"Thank you..." Was the only word that came out of the shocked Usagi. She continued to stare after the brunette as she vanished into the storm.
Makoto looked up as an expensive-looking red sports car pulled up before her. She clutched her fist. It was the car that had almost run Usagi over. The driver's window rolled down to reveal a man with shoulder length auburn red hair. His emerald eyes, much like her own, bore right through her. Makoto stared at the man in shock. She didn't why but she was surprised to see this man.
Nephrite looked the girl up and down like she was a cattle for sale. There was power in this girl, very much of it incorporated into her physical strength.
Makoto glared at the man. "Stop that!"
"If you say so. That was pretty impressive. Is your friend alright?" Nephrite forged concern.
"No thanks to you!" Makoto snapped.
"Gomen." He apologized. "I wish I could have apologized to your friend as well. How about I give you a ride home? You'll catch your death in weather like this."
Makoto measured the trustworthiness of the man before her. He sounded sincere enough. Mothers always warned their children never to take rides from strangers and they had good reason to with all the sick people in this world. Makoto took him you up on his offer. Perhaps she was a bit overconfident at her ability to defend herself. Makoto welcomed the warm air within the car that warmed her cool skin.
Nephrite stared at Makoto through his rear view mirror. "Where do you live?"
"Just keep going straight." Makoto instructed.
The ride was mostly silent. Nephrite tried to decode the girl that was sitting in the back seat. Makoto could sense Nephrite's eyes on her as she stared out the window. "Turn left right here." Makoto ordered.
"Left or right?" He asked in an innocent manner.
"Don't play stupid." She growled.
Nephrite sighed and did as he was instructed. Just as Makoto was about step out of the car, Nephrite stopped her. He turned around and handed a card to her. He winked at her. "Call me sometime."
"I doubt it." She replied in a steel voice but took the business card anyway. She turned away without a second glance and disappeared into the apartment building.
Nephrite grinned wickedly at the vanishing back of the girl. He glanced at the address and drove off. What he failed to notice was the silver-haired shadow watching him from the roof.
---
She clutched the spot over her heart. It ached. She commanded it to stop but it refused. 'What happened here? Why are things like this? Serenity, where are you? No. I can't be weak at a time like this. I must be strong.' She nodded to herself. 'I have to be strong... Imouto... Help me...'
---
Makoto clenched her fist as she watched Nephrite drive away. The man awoke some strange emotions that were not all too foreign to her. Betrayal... Hate... Anticipation... Dread... And fear... That was new. Fear, she couldn't remember the last time she had felt it. Then there was also...love... Did she know love?
---
Levina walked away from the garden festivities held in honor of the delegates from the Silver Millennium. All of the Sailor Senshi had managed to sneak away from the activity. They were not very fancy of formal affairs such as this. Rumor was that the Terran Prince, his four generals, and his cousin had all found ways to escape the tedious event earlier on. The other nobles and the Queen did not seem to mind, they were all to use to the six of them running off, even at this age.
The Terran Prince, strong, determined and proud, it was as if he commanded the earth itself. She shook her head. Every woman fell head over heel as soon as he entered the room. Even his cute little cousin Purity, as he called her, was madly in love with him. She sighed. If Purity wasn't careful, she would get hurt.
Then there was Kunzite, First General to Prince Endymion. There was power in his very stride, every step he took. Yet he was all too calm. Levina did not sense even the tiniest storm within his heart. It was almost inhuman. He seemed to possess a heart of stone. He needed love to soften that stone. He needed something to balance himself. No one could stay harden like he was for too long of a time.
Nephrite was second-in-command. Levina could swear he was clairvoyant. It had to be precognition. He seemed to possess an inner knowledge of the future but it was only for him to know and not for anyone else. He was sort of arrogant in that sense. He felt he was superior because of his Second Sight. He seemed to watch everything with a strange amusement. She had met the Guardian of Time, Sailor Pluto. She was one who knew all and saw all but never was she arrogant on bit. What he didn't understand was that the future was not always set in stone.
Jadeite was the most light-hearted of the group. He played tricks on the nobles and had been responsible for the fiery deception that had been following Atalanta around all day. She had been jumpy all day long and had nearly managed to behead the poor General in a fit of frustration. Jadeite, on the other hand, found her anger absolutely hilarious and amusing. That man did not know of meaning of the fear. Levina shook her head sadly. Jadeite was far too reckless. He could put himself and others he was meant to protect with that sort of behavior.
Zoisite was the most intelligent of the Generals. He could easily match Kallan in that aspect. The two of them were still in the library trying to finish the chess game started hours ago. It was a stalemate. They were evenly matched. The man spent most of his free time in the library. He has been known to read every book in that room.
There was a rustle of leaves over her head. She glanced up and all she saw was foliage of spring green swaying in the breeze. "General Jadeite, I don't appreciate your little pranks any more than Atalanta-san..." There was another rustle of leaves and Nephrite dropped down from above.
Levina jumped back in surprise. She had been expecting that half-wit Jadeite. Nephrite grinned widely and stated simply. "I knew you were going to do that."
"What the hell were you think?!" Levina hissed angrily.
"What do you think?" He raised an eyebrow in an annoyingly cocky manner. She was very tempted to just punch him in the face.
"Smart ass." She muttered to no one in particular.
"Why thank you milady." His grin widened further. She growled and raised her fist. "Now now, anger isn't very fitting for a lady such as yourself." She lunged at him and met the ground. He laughed and she looked up from her position in the grass. He was seated leisurely on a strong branch of the tree. "There's a reason why no one in the kingdom has ever landed a hit on me. It's true that Kunzite has always and will always the strongest of the four of us, but no one has been able to lay a finger on yours truly."
"You arrogant son of a bitch. Supreme Thunder!!!" Bolts of lightning fell from the sky at her command. Nephrite leaped off as one of them stuck the branch he had been sitting on. Instead of dying out, as it should have, the lightning seemed to bounce off the wood and doubled after Nephrite again. He knelt down and the energy flew over his head.
He sighed in relief. He had been this close to being fried by the pissed-off princess of Jupiter. He sweat-dropped. Maybe he should apologize... He turned around and instead met Levina's fist. "Shit!!! What the fuck was that?!" He screamed at her as he grabbed his right eye.
"That'll teach you. Just because you have precognition doesn't make you better than the rest of us... Open your eyes to the world around you, there's a lot more than what you think you see... The future is not always set in stone. We have the power to take charge of our own lives. We make our own destiny. We make our own fate. You depend far too much on your psychic abilities and I've just proven it to you." Levina reached over and caressed his black eye gently. Nephrite could feel a soft green energy flow from her hands. "There, that should lessen the swelling a bit."
He laughed but it was not his usual laughter. It was carefree and joyful... "Very well. I get your point. I concede... I guess I can't predict everything..."
---
Queen Beryl listened intently as Zoisite reported on the progress of his experiment. All was going well. Very soon, she would have what rightfully belonged to her...
Zoisite paused. He was aware the queen stopped listening to him a seconds before. "Your Majesty, you seem distracted lately. Perhaps you should get more rest."
Beryl snapped out of her reverie. She appeared to be slightly dazed. She did not look like the proud queen she usually was. "Iie, I'm fine Zoisite. The transformation is in its final stage?" Zoisite nodded. "Very well, initiate the plan. You're in command."
Zoisite bowed lowly to Beryl. "Hai. I will not fail." Zoisite took one last look at the queen and vanished. Perhaps, just maybe, the woman was finally coming to her senses, but Zoisite did not dare to hope.
---
Usagi sighed happily. She sat here on the grass, having lunch with her friends. She was content. Why did she feel this wasn't going to last?
Nothing lasts forever. A warm and motherly voice whispered to her. It's just the way things are. Usagi looked around. She did not hear the voice again.
"Something wrong Usagi-chan?" Ami asked. "Are you okay? You seemed dazed..."
"Speak for yourself, Ami-chan." Usagi countered. "You're being too hard on yourself. Take a little break."
"I have responsibilities, ones I cannot neglect." Usagi knew Ami did not mean her schoolwork but she hesitated to ask.
Usagi stood up quickly. "I have to get something from my locker." She broke into a run for the school.
Naru glanced worriedly after her best friend. She turned to Ami. "I wonder what's up with her? She's more spacey than usual."
"Hai." Both her communicator and her mini-computer cut her off. She excused herself from the group. She hid behind a tree and answered the two instruments. Both of who informed her of the same thing. Creatures of dark energy were heading for the school. Her communicator sounded off again. Rei's face appeared in the small screen.
"You felt it?" Ami asked quietly.
Rei nodded. "It's stronger than usual. I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Do you think they found out who we are?" Ami frowned.
"I don't know but we'll find out soon enough. You better contact Luna. Rei out."
---
Luna raced along the rooftops. She could move faster as a cat than in her human form. Looks like things were finally picking up. It would be over sooner than they thought. Jupiter... She was slowly awakening but she was also repressing it. Don't fight it child... She told the soldier out there somewhere. It's your destiny.
---
Usagi rounded a corner of the school, coming near the field where a group of boys were playing baseball. Not too far from them sat Kino Makoto, the girl who had saved her the previous day. She crept behind a nearby tree and glanced curiously at the girl. 'She must be a new transfer student. I've never seen her around before.' Usagi caught sight of her bento box. She was about to drool. 'Her lunch looks delicious. What a cute bento box!'
Meanwhile in the field behind Usagi, the pitcher had just pitched another ball. "Hit it out! Home run!" One of the teammates yelled at the batter. The batter readied the bat but missed but a mile. It must have been one of those days, not only had the batter missed the ball completely but the pitcher had been a tad overzealous when he threw the ball. The baseball flew right toward Usagi's head.
Makoto sensed it right away. With her bento box still in her hand, she leaped forward with an inhuman reflex and speed. Usagi screamed as Makoto covered her and hit the ball hard. The baseball flew through the air and vanished into the trees beyond the school.
"Watch it Amazon!" One of the players yelled across the field.
"You should be more careful. You almost hit her!" Makoto screamed angrily at the boys while pointing at Usagi.
"FREAK!!!" A couple of boys retaliated in unison. The players gathered in the middle of the field to see what they would do now that they no longer had a ball to use.
Makoto turned away from the boys, muttering under her breath.
"You're the girl who save me before..." Usagi trailed off.
"You should be more careful." Makoto said as she sat down with her bento box once more. Usagi stared at Makoto as she lifted a delicious-looking rice ball. Makoto sweat dropped. "Do you want to try?" She asked as she offered the rice ball to Usagi.
"Really?! Arigato!" Usagi squealed and stuffed the rice ball into her mouth.
Makoto grinned contently. She was at ease just watching this girl enjoy her home-made lunch. "How is it? Here. Have the rest of it. I'm not really hungry..." Usagi stuffed the goodies into her mouth.
"It's delicious!" Usagi exclaimed. "Did you make this yourself?"
"Yeah..."
"I'm Tsukino Usagi! This is better than my mom's cooking! What's your name? Are you new to this school?"
"Hai. I'm Kino Makoto, pleased to meet you Tsukino-san. If you like, I'll make an extra lunch just for you everyday."
Usagi stopped. "Why? You don't have to do that. And just call me Usagi, everyone does."
"It's okay. I enjoy cooking, especially if it's for others. Besides, you've been the first person to approach all day. The rumors have already started..." Makoto ended in a whisper.
Usagi gulped down the rest of the lunch and shot up in the air. She clenched her fist angrily toward the direction of the school. "It's must be that Umino... I'll make him pay. No one as sweet and as good as a cook as you are deserves it!"
Makoto stared at the girl in shock. "Arigato..."
"Huh? You're welcome..." Usagi replied cheerfully.
There was a sudden burst of sweltering heat, followed by a blast of chilling cold air. The sky above darkened ominously, thunder rumbled, lightning flashed and rain began to pour down in buckets. Usagi shivered. Makoto felt chills. She glared up at the sky. There had not been a single cloud in the sky a few minutes ago. This storm was not natural. Her hair was fighting its bounds and stood on its end.
"We should get inside..." Makoto said as she begun to steer the soaked Usagi back towards the school. Usagi sneezed delicately.
Usagi nodded but then stopped dead in her tracks. She stared into the downpour and spotted, one, two, three, four, four people. Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, and Luna were drawing the youma away from the school and toward the forest. "Ami-chan, Rei-chan, Luna-chan..."
"Do you know those people Usagi-chan?" Makoto watched as the Sailor Senshi and co. raced by without a second glance. 'Those people have to be crazy to dress like that in this weather...'
"I don't know, it looks like them...but why are they dressed in such ridiculous outfits? I have to find out what they're doing!" Usagi raced off into the rain and after the senshi.
"Matte Usagi-chan!!! It could be dangerous!!!" Makoto screamed after the girl and took after her.
---
"Great! Not only do we have to fight this youma, we're getting soaked." Sailor Mars groaned as they raced through the forest.
"We have no choice in this. Besides, I detect that this is not a natural storm. It's was probably sent by our enemy." Sailor Mercury was analyzing their surroundings through her mini-computer.
"This storm, it could have been sent by Nephrite...I hope I'm wrong..." Luna trailed off.
"Is that baka youma still on our tail?" Mars asked as the small group stopped to catch their breath.
"Actually, it's gone but there's two other life-forms approaching our position." Mercury reported.
"Who-" Luna was cut off as Usagi and Makoto broke through the shrubs, breathing heavily.
"Ami-chan, Rei-chan, Luna-chan, what are you doing out in this weather?" Usagi wheezed.
"Your friend...she saw through your disguise magic..." Luna uttered in shock.
"Magic?" Makoto stared at the black haired woman she perceived as completely mental.
"Why are you dressed like that?" Usagi circled the three and stared them up and down. "And in this kind of weather?"
"Usagi-chan, what are you doing here?" Mercury asked.
Usagi shrugged. "I dunno. I saw you guys out in the rain here and decided to follow you."
"You should go," Mars urged. "It's dangerous out here."
"Then you shouldn't be out here anymore than I should." Usagi protested.
"Oh no..." Mercury whispered as her computer started beeping. "I think it's back but the dark energy reading is far too strong to be a youma."
Mars pushed Usagi and Makoto back toward the way they came. "Get out of here! Run as fast as you can!"
"There's no need to rush. Your friends could stay for a while, the more the merrier." Zoisite chuckled as he appeared behind Mercury. Mercury jumped as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "Kallan..." He whispered into her ear, sending chills down her spine. "I've missed you so much..."
"Let go of me!" Mercury screeched awhile she rammed her elbow into his stomach.
"Mercury! Are you okay?!" Mars asked as the girl fled to her side.
"Kallan..." Zoisite said quietly. "I'm doing this for us. Do you really want us to end up like Jadeite and Atalanta-san?"
"I don't know what the hell you're talking about! Just keep your filthy hands to yourself!" Mercury spat venomously.
"Kallan, you really don't remember me?"
"All I know is you're my enemy and that's good enough for me!"
"Very well." He said as he floated into the air. Usagi and Makoto watched the scene in shock and dismay. "Surrender the Ginzoshou to Empress Metallia and you might live to see tomorrow."
"We don't have it!" Luna exclaimed. "And even if we did, we would never give it to a filthy traitor like you. I could never imagine you would be that foolish too..."
"Ah, Lunas Levana, how long has it been? Months? Years? Centuries? I believe it's been at least a millennium..." Zoisite trailed off and was pleased with the reaction he got.
"A millennium?" Makoto muttered to herself. Who were these people? And why did she feel like she should know them? Why did she feel she belonged in the battlefield with the senshi?
"I would think that the legendary Sailor Senshi would be smarter than involve innocent civilians in their battle. I think I'll begin with her." Zoisite pointed to Usagi. Shards of jagged ice formed around his being, they hovered menacingly over the frozen girl. "Die..."
Usagi could only watch as the attack came closer and closer. She heard Mercury scream "Usagi-chan!" Her body refused to listen to her mind. Suddenly she felt a warm body slam into her own and knocked her clear out of the attack's way. She lay grass with a warm prone body draped over her form. Rain continued to pour down from the in the sky. She saw black and red. The body remained still. She rolled it over onto the grass. A tuxedo? She felt something sticky on her hand. She looked down. It was blood... She shook the man frantically. "Wake up!" Tuxedo Kamen moaned quietly and began to stir. "You're bleeding!"
"How dare you attack innocents you lowly piece of shit." Mars growled and raised her arm; fire swirled around her body. "FIRE SOUL!!!" The pouring rain did much to diminish her attack. The flames snuffed out just before they reached Zoisite.
Tuxedo Kamen sat up slowly, helped by Makoto. "I took a pretty bad hit didn't I?"
"You could say that..."
Usagi closed her eyes and offered her hands to the sky. 'Please wash this blood from my hands...' For some reason, the rain did not seem to help. It only succeeded in making her feel all the dirtier.
Mercury, Mars, and Luna were attempting to fight Zoisite but the storm was seriously limiting their attack options. The rainwater washed away Mercury's fog and weakened Mars' flames. Luna's attacks were far too concentrated and large to be used in such a small area without possibly harming Usagi and/or Makoto.
"Fire Soul! This isn't working..." Mars backed away from the villain after her magic died out. "Is there anyway we can stop this storm?"
"Yes..." Nephrite stepped out of the trees. "That is if you can defeat..."
"Nephrite!" Zoisite growled. "What are you doing here?! This is my mission!"
"Her majesty is becoming very impatient. Finish what you started fool!" Nephrite commanded.
"Nephrite...not you too. Have all four Generals fallen under her spell?"
Luna whispered in a desolate manner. "Why did you give in?"
"I did it all for Kallan..." Zoisite gazed longingly at Mercury. "I could have never been together with her...I was nothing but a General even if I was one you nder Endymion-sama. She was a princess, not even one of Terra, she was completely untouchable and out of my reach. Metallia and Beryl offered me a solution. If the Silver Millennium were to fall...then all the social barriers of that society would crumble as well. I could be with Kallan and Beryl would have her daughter once again. It seemed perfect but neither Beryl nor I could foresee the fact we would not be able to control the dark energy in our bodies. In the end...I killed her...I killed the woman I loved with all my heart..." Mercury shivered and stared at Zoisite in shock. Was this man really in love with her? Everyone, including Nephrite, remained still, captivated by Zoisite's words. "When I died at Kallan's hands, Metallia still would not let me go even after that. I was too important to the puzzle, all the Generals were. Without one would be like missing a piece to a jigsaw puzzle, the picture was incomplete even with one piece missing. I couldn't fight her. She was far too strong. When she reanimated us, I was the only one who retained any memories. I spent countless centuries planning and scheming to make my way back towards the top once more, to gain their trust. Do you know how long I've waited for your rebirth? I've waited so long to be saved...but I would never betray Beryl. She may be blinded by her ambition but she was still my teacher. The student does not abandon the teacher in his or her time of need. I will finish what I started. I will see everything till the end..."
"How long have you've been keeping this from us?" Nephrite hissed angrily. "We have every right to know."
Zoisite turned to his fellow General. "What good would it have done you? We live only in the present, not in our past. In the end we would still be under Metallia's command. Why burden yourself with unnecessary knowledge of a past that no longer matters? We serve Metallia and as long as the dark energy remains in our bodies, we are bound to her for the rest of eternity. Nephrite, are you not gifted with Second Sight? How come you were unable to predict this twist of fate?" Zoisite cocked his head to one side. "You can't predict everything, remember?"
Nephrite sighed. His eyes took on a thoughtful expression. "But Jadeite has been freed. He's been freed of this slavery and drudgery. Is it possible that the only way to break these chains is to join him in oblivion?"
"Perhaps, but only they can fulfill our death wish." Zoisite turned to the warriors. All of them stared at the Generals in rapture. "Come, Kallan, destroy us to save your world and Princess, free us from this meaningless existence. We no longer belong in this world. The dead and the living should never exist in the same realm. For the living, time keeps moving, they live, they love, and they grow. For us, time has stopped long ago, centuries ago. Return us to the world from
which we were drawn away from..."
Mercury stepped back in utter fear. Her heart constricted painfully in her chest. What were his eyes doing to her mind? She felt sick, dizzy... "Iie..." She clutched her head, trying desperately to block out his words. As far as she was concerned, they were still humans, despite the fact they were filled with emptiness and dark energy. "I don't want to hear this. I don't want to be a murderer, I will not be one."
Zoisite laughed cruelly and bitterly, his laughter sent chills down everyone's spine. "We are no longer human, we are nothing but reanimated corpses. I am nothing but a ghost of my former self, a lifeless shell. What can possibly be so human about that? Do me this favor and send me back to my world of darkness, let me join Jadeite in his eternal wandering..."
Mercury chocked back a painful sob and buried her face in Mars' shoulder. Mars held the shaken girl tightly. Anyone would be frightened by Zoisite's words. The pendant around her neck glowed, speaking to her mind. "We won't do it..." Mars replied sullenly. "Jadeite wants me to save you. He wants his friends to live..."
"Don't be a fool, Jadeite." Nephrite shook his head. "They would be doing me a favor. I know deep down Zoisite is right, no matter how much I fight it. Let us join you once more brother..."
"Don't Zoisite, Nephrite." Tuxedo Kamen commanded. "Turn back, it's not too late."
"Gomen Prince but we are beyond the point of salvation. Destroy us, I beg of you. I thought at one point I might be able to help the Sailor Senshi and begin on a road of redemption, but I now see that's impossible. I would never allow myself to betray Beryl..."
"We refuse to!" Mars shouted.
"Very well, you forced me to this point. Destroy me if you wish to save your own lives." Zoisite lunged forward and threw Mercury and Mars back into a tree. He followed that attack with a storm of hard and biting hail. The two senshi screamed as the ice ripped at their skins. They however refused to return any of Zoisite's advances. "Why must you be so foolish?" Zoisite asked as he sent a ball of dark energy into the duo. The power coursed through their bodies and rendered them unconscious.
"Don't do this! It's not too late to start over..." Luna appeared at Zoisite's
side. She touched his forearm gently, her claret eyes begging him to stop hurting
her charges.
"Do it!" Zoisite commanded harshly.
"Iie! Queen Serenity wouldn't want me to do such a thing. You're the one who's being foolish!" Luna screamed, tears coursing down her pale cheeks.
"I don't need to hear this." Zoisite closed his eyes sadly. With a slight flick of his wrist, he impaled a spear of ice into Luna's abdomen. Luna stared at him in shock, her hands clutching the fatal wound. "Attack me..." He ordered her gently.
"Iie, I will not dishonor Queen Serenity..." Luna closed her eyes and dropped to the ground. Blood flowed freely from her wound, staining the blades of grass cerise. "Princess, forgive me. I've failed you..."
Usagi and Makoto watched in horror. The rain washed out Luna's blood, creating a small river of crimson. Usagi's pupils contracted and blanked out. In her mind's eyes she saw a dismal battlefield, millions dead, an entire civilization destroyed, and a heart-wrenching sob broke the silence. "It's happening again. The end is coming...it's coming..." Usagi repeated to herself over and over again.
"Usagi-chan!" Makoto grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "What's wrong?! Usagi-chan! Answer me!" Usagi gazed through Makoto with empty eyes. She turned around, continuing to mumble about the end. Makoto's arms dropped uselessly to her side. No, it couldn't be...she had just lost her only friend...
"Angel." Tuxedo Kamen slapped Usagi's cheek lightly. "Snap out of it. Come on. Pull yourself together!"
"You son of a bitch! You did this to her!" Makoto screamed and sprung at Nephrite who was closest to her.
"Quiet bitch, this doesn't involve you!" Nephrite snapped and brought his elbow down on the base of her neck, knocking her unconscious.
This snapped Usagi out of her trance. Tuxedo Kamen grabbed Usagi to prevent her from doing something rash. "Mako-chan! What did you do?!" Usagi screamed hysterically. Everything was going wrong and it was happening far too
fast.
Nephrite lifted his hand, raw dark energy gathered in his palm. "She's dead." He stated calmly. "All of them are."
Something pulsed within Usagi and it wasn't just her heartbeat. Tuxedo Kamen released her immediately as if she was the plague. He had felt the raw and untamed energy course through her veins. Awake... It was the same motherly voice from before. It beat once more. This was what Usagi had feared, that power, sleeping deep within her, was finally awakening. Usagi closed her eyes. A cocoon of light enveloped her being.
Don't be afraid. Embrace your power and save your friends. The voice in her mind urged. Usagi could see nothing but a vision of pure untainted light. Take it. She reached out and grasped the power.
Senshi of the moon, soldier of justice, AWAKEN!!!
Her cerulean eyes snapped open with an odd new realization.
To Be Continued
...I don't know what kind of mood I was in when I wrote that ending. Must have been pretty depressed...-; Pretty heavy duncha think? I know Ami and Rei got a lotta coverage in the last two chapters, compared to Makoto. It doesn't seem very
fair but things are really starting to pick up. I needed to cut her moment in the spotlight short so things can get moving. Gomen, Mako-chan. What do you think? R/R please.
