Greetings all! Well I've been told I've tortured everyone enough and
I will reveal the cowled figure today. It was suggested that it could be
Pharaoh 90, but I'm thinking that Saturn stuck her Silence Glaive where the
sun doesn't shine on him. There have been quite a few guesses so today that
part will be revealed. I hope you are enjoying this story, as I am!
Standard disclaimers. No Flames.
Usagi stared out at the sky, convinced she was going insane. His voice was inside her, along with a set of invisible eyes. He saw all she did, heard all she thought, knew all she was. He was breaking her down. It had started so small, just little comments in the beginning, small insults really. They did their job, slowly breaking down her self esteem from the inside. The most teasing comments from her best friends suddenly became barbs aimed directly at her very soul. The hateful words spoken by Ingra and Merltak only served one purpose. She imagined that they were his servants. "I must speak his name." She said softly. "But I cannot. He has hurt me so much, not just now, but in the past he ruined my happiness. How can I speak the name of one so evil?"
"Easily." A silky voice said behind her.
Her eyes widened, knowing the voice. She turned to him. "All I hear and see is your laughter, laughing at my cries." She said softly.
"You fear me and that is not only good, but proper. The more you fear me the stronger I will become. One of my servants has already agreed to give me possession of his body when my strength peaks again." He seemed to float over the ground, coming to stand before her. The stench of burnt flesh reached her nostrils and she fought the urge to step back, determined to stand her back.
"I rule you now. I want you to call me master before you break. Before the light of insanity glows in those blue orbs of yours, I want to hear you admit defeat. You can't escape me. I whisper things into your brain, assuring you that you are insane."
"Get the HELL away from her!" a voice roared.
The cowl turned to face almost all of the senshi. The only ones missing were Pluto, Saturn and Mars. Haruka's hands glowed as she held her attack at the ready, surrounded by other senshi whose attacks were ready to be thrown. "Would you risk hitting your precious leader just to get to me?"
"Yes." They nodded. "She wants it that way."
A short laugh came from the depths of the black hood. "In madness you will dwell Usagi, make no mistake. My servants perform their jobs well. I have been in your mind since the day you thought you destroyed me. I have watched the most personal and intimate details of your life so that I could figure out how to break you down. Now you are weak and I am strong. Soon I will be in a body once more. This city will fall and there will be the living dead."
"No." Usagi shook her head. "Leave them. If it's me you want, then just take me."
"Are you mad?" Haruka shouted. "Don't tell him that!"
"A tempting offer to be sure," he glided back to Usagi, resting one charred hand on her shoulder. "But I will have this city irregardless, and I will have every part of you. There is nothing you can offer me that will change what I plan to do to this city."
Usagi bit her lip. "What if I came to you willingly?"
He paused. "I'm listening."
"You idiot!" Haruka shouted, being held back by Michiru who looked like she wanted to add some choice words herself.
"I know I'm an idiot and lazy and a crybaby. I'm a good for nothing really, but I can't let innocent people be killed because of me. I'm here to protect the people, not to damn them." Usagi explained. "He wants me to fight him, but he'll get more out of me if I go willingly, of my own free will, of my own choice."
"You can't do this!" Makoto hollered. "There must be another way!"
"I can't see one." Usagi replied.
He tilted his head. "As I said, tempting indeed, but no. Our time will come later moonchild, make no mistake. But for the moment I prefer you living with the knowledge that I am watching you. I am inside your head always. You cannot escape me." He made a slight gesture and vanished.
Usagi stood, shaking. "Rubeus." She breathed before she collapsed.
Luna watched as the senshi carried the limp and unmoving form of Usagi to Haruka's car, worry lacing their every movement. "Damn that girl. Can't she do anything right?" she muttered.
"I can't believe how you treat her."
Luna cocked her head. "Artemis. Have you come to apologize to me?"
"I have come to find out what foolishness that you are doing Luna. You've changed allegiance to Chibi Usa, a child who may not yet be born because the future is always be in motion, you've insulted and performed any number of treasonous acts towards our princess and future Queen."
"Chibi Usa is the future. Usagi is nothing." Luna retorted. "Look, she can't even go to school without passing out. She didn't even bother to transform."
"She was about to give herself to the enemy to save the lives of a city full of innocent people. He wants her. Only her. He'll torture the city for fun, but Usagi is his sole target. She was the reason he was almost destroyed years ago, and we never thought to follow up and see if he was truly dead, never bothered to consider he could have gotten off that spaceship, only worried about Esmeraude. He managed to keep himself alive, gather strength and he's hunting her inside her mind. She can't fight him there." Artemis explained. "But you've missed all this following around that child."
"Chibi Usa is more important." Luna maintained.
"You are a disgrace to the name of Royal Advisor." Artemis sneered. "You think I don't know that you're taking your temper and frustration at me out on Usagi? I don't think of you 'that way' Luna."
"No, you lust after a human girl!" Luna retorted. "And she has a boyfriend!"
"I don't lust after Minako anymore!" Artemis hollered.
"But you did!"
"I'm not going into this conversation with you for the thousandth time Luna! I thought you'd want to know what Usagi is going through; thinking that there might be some shred of compassion or caring in your heart, but I see I was wrong." Artemis shook his head. "Stay away from her if you're so convinced that Chibi Usa is the future. Nothing will happen to her, since her mother is the target. Think on that you stubborn feline!"
Luna shook her head, sighing. She and Chibi Usa had some long conversations about Usagi and they both agreed that Usagi had an emotional immaturity that crippled her. Once Chibi Usa had passed the age of 10, she had become more mature than her. She had to make the others realize that Chibi Usa needed the protection and the understanding, not Usagi.
Mamoru didn't bother to knock. He slammed the door to the house open, nodding curtly at the senshi before heading up the stairs to the room he knew Haruka and Michiru kept only for Usagi. He gently opened the door and saw Usagi lying on the bed, tears falling from her blue eyes as she stared blankly at the ceiling. "Usako?" he whispered.
Usagi whimpered slightly and held out her arms to him. He didn't need any further prompting, gathering her close to him and rocking her. "He's back Mamo-chan. Rubeus has returned."
"I know beloved. I know." He soothed. "We'll fight him again Usako. We'll win again."
"How can you?" Usagi asked in a soft voice. "He's in my head. He's listening and watching. I hear his voice. I know his will. He will destroy to get to me, and though I told him I'd go to him willingly, it's not enough. He wants total destruction and domination. He's watched every private moment I've shared with the girls, with myself and with you. He's been watching us Mamo-chan."
"Then that just means he's a voyeur." Mamoru replied grimly, angry at an unseen enemy who was tormenting one who didn't deserve it.
"He's inside me." She whimpered again. "I can't get him out. How can I fight this way? I didn't tell any of you but the last time I tried to transform I almost couldn't. The henshin hurt me. He's changing me. He's taken so much from me already."
"Then by the Goddess we take it back." Mamoru swore.
Usagi didn't say anything, just closed her eyes and let Mamoru rock her to sleep, scared to sleep, but unable to avoid it any longer.
**** "I've been waiting for you. I knew you had to sleep sometime. I am strongest here."
"Please leave me alone."
"Like you left me on the burning ship? You and that insufferable brat. She's your child you know."
"I learned that years ago. I care not one way or another."
"You lie."
"Prove it."
"Is that a challenge?"
"Just leave me be."
"Can you fight the fright in your soul? Can you fight me?"
"I don't know how to beat you, you know that."
"I do, and that is why this is so perfect. Unless you figure out how to defeat yourself, you cannot get rid of me."
"What of when you are in a body once more?"
"I will be immortal. You will not be able to harm me."
"What is your goal here? Why did you choose me?"
"The future rests on your shoulders, everything rests on you. If you are destroyed then the peaceful, utopian future will never come to be and I can rise once more. No one can oppose me other than you, and I have made certain that you are unable to fight me, even if you wanted to."
"Then I have lost before I've begun."
"As you always have. You are a failure, good for nothing. You are worthless and I want you to know that. I see your sanity slipping through your fingers like sand. You cannot win against me. What would you give to save this world? To save innocent lives? Your life is worth little when it comes to power I have."
"I would give my soul if that was required to save innocent people. Do not harm them."
"Still a sentimental fool. Why you were chosen as the herald of a new age, as the prophet of the future I'll never know. You stupid idiot, I have won and you have lost. Awake now and know that it was your stupidity that has caused the soon destruction of all. Your laziness let me stay alive. Your ignorance gave me rebirth. You are a complete failure and everyone you know, knows this. No one loves you, no one wants you. Kill yourself if you wish, for no one will miss you.
Horror raced through her body at those words, as they crept into her brain and imprinted themselves on her. Believing the words to be truth, forgetting they were implanted in her brain, she thought he spoke the truth. "NO! IYADA!" she screamed, clawing at her face.
Menacing laughter surrounded her and she was freed from the dream. *****
Merltak and Ingra awaited orders, disgruntled at not having been able to do a double strike on Usagi. "She's weak and she's fading fast. Soon it will be your time my servants. Have patience." Rubeus commanded.
"We wait." He nodded.
"I will suck out her soul." Ingra rubbed her hands together eagerly. "And the bonds shall be lifted as our evil spreads freely once more."
"She's still hanging on. We must accelerate my plans. Begin making her see what is not there, while I let her hear my thoughts. She will not be able to determine what is mine and what is hers."
"It is done."
And that is the end of chapter 4! I was going to make it longer but my fingers are stiffening up and I have a splitting headache. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please read and review! I write based on reviews! Next chapter – your eyes can deceive you, so don't trust them. Usagi's tormentors move in closer to her, accelerating her eventual collapse as the senshi race to find a way to protect Usagi.
Mata ne! ^_^
Usagi stared out at the sky, convinced she was going insane. His voice was inside her, along with a set of invisible eyes. He saw all she did, heard all she thought, knew all she was. He was breaking her down. It had started so small, just little comments in the beginning, small insults really. They did their job, slowly breaking down her self esteem from the inside. The most teasing comments from her best friends suddenly became barbs aimed directly at her very soul. The hateful words spoken by Ingra and Merltak only served one purpose. She imagined that they were his servants. "I must speak his name." She said softly. "But I cannot. He has hurt me so much, not just now, but in the past he ruined my happiness. How can I speak the name of one so evil?"
"Easily." A silky voice said behind her.
Her eyes widened, knowing the voice. She turned to him. "All I hear and see is your laughter, laughing at my cries." She said softly.
"You fear me and that is not only good, but proper. The more you fear me the stronger I will become. One of my servants has already agreed to give me possession of his body when my strength peaks again." He seemed to float over the ground, coming to stand before her. The stench of burnt flesh reached her nostrils and she fought the urge to step back, determined to stand her back.
"I rule you now. I want you to call me master before you break. Before the light of insanity glows in those blue orbs of yours, I want to hear you admit defeat. You can't escape me. I whisper things into your brain, assuring you that you are insane."
"Get the HELL away from her!" a voice roared.
The cowl turned to face almost all of the senshi. The only ones missing were Pluto, Saturn and Mars. Haruka's hands glowed as she held her attack at the ready, surrounded by other senshi whose attacks were ready to be thrown. "Would you risk hitting your precious leader just to get to me?"
"Yes." They nodded. "She wants it that way."
A short laugh came from the depths of the black hood. "In madness you will dwell Usagi, make no mistake. My servants perform their jobs well. I have been in your mind since the day you thought you destroyed me. I have watched the most personal and intimate details of your life so that I could figure out how to break you down. Now you are weak and I am strong. Soon I will be in a body once more. This city will fall and there will be the living dead."
"No." Usagi shook her head. "Leave them. If it's me you want, then just take me."
"Are you mad?" Haruka shouted. "Don't tell him that!"
"A tempting offer to be sure," he glided back to Usagi, resting one charred hand on her shoulder. "But I will have this city irregardless, and I will have every part of you. There is nothing you can offer me that will change what I plan to do to this city."
Usagi bit her lip. "What if I came to you willingly?"
He paused. "I'm listening."
"You idiot!" Haruka shouted, being held back by Michiru who looked like she wanted to add some choice words herself.
"I know I'm an idiot and lazy and a crybaby. I'm a good for nothing really, but I can't let innocent people be killed because of me. I'm here to protect the people, not to damn them." Usagi explained. "He wants me to fight him, but he'll get more out of me if I go willingly, of my own free will, of my own choice."
"You can't do this!" Makoto hollered. "There must be another way!"
"I can't see one." Usagi replied.
He tilted his head. "As I said, tempting indeed, but no. Our time will come later moonchild, make no mistake. But for the moment I prefer you living with the knowledge that I am watching you. I am inside your head always. You cannot escape me." He made a slight gesture and vanished.
Usagi stood, shaking. "Rubeus." She breathed before she collapsed.
Luna watched as the senshi carried the limp and unmoving form of Usagi to Haruka's car, worry lacing their every movement. "Damn that girl. Can't she do anything right?" she muttered.
"I can't believe how you treat her."
Luna cocked her head. "Artemis. Have you come to apologize to me?"
"I have come to find out what foolishness that you are doing Luna. You've changed allegiance to Chibi Usa, a child who may not yet be born because the future is always be in motion, you've insulted and performed any number of treasonous acts towards our princess and future Queen."
"Chibi Usa is the future. Usagi is nothing." Luna retorted. "Look, she can't even go to school without passing out. She didn't even bother to transform."
"She was about to give herself to the enemy to save the lives of a city full of innocent people. He wants her. Only her. He'll torture the city for fun, but Usagi is his sole target. She was the reason he was almost destroyed years ago, and we never thought to follow up and see if he was truly dead, never bothered to consider he could have gotten off that spaceship, only worried about Esmeraude. He managed to keep himself alive, gather strength and he's hunting her inside her mind. She can't fight him there." Artemis explained. "But you've missed all this following around that child."
"Chibi Usa is more important." Luna maintained.
"You are a disgrace to the name of Royal Advisor." Artemis sneered. "You think I don't know that you're taking your temper and frustration at me out on Usagi? I don't think of you 'that way' Luna."
"No, you lust after a human girl!" Luna retorted. "And she has a boyfriend!"
"I don't lust after Minako anymore!" Artemis hollered.
"But you did!"
"I'm not going into this conversation with you for the thousandth time Luna! I thought you'd want to know what Usagi is going through; thinking that there might be some shred of compassion or caring in your heart, but I see I was wrong." Artemis shook his head. "Stay away from her if you're so convinced that Chibi Usa is the future. Nothing will happen to her, since her mother is the target. Think on that you stubborn feline!"
Luna shook her head, sighing. She and Chibi Usa had some long conversations about Usagi and they both agreed that Usagi had an emotional immaturity that crippled her. Once Chibi Usa had passed the age of 10, she had become more mature than her. She had to make the others realize that Chibi Usa needed the protection and the understanding, not Usagi.
Mamoru didn't bother to knock. He slammed the door to the house open, nodding curtly at the senshi before heading up the stairs to the room he knew Haruka and Michiru kept only for Usagi. He gently opened the door and saw Usagi lying on the bed, tears falling from her blue eyes as she stared blankly at the ceiling. "Usako?" he whispered.
Usagi whimpered slightly and held out her arms to him. He didn't need any further prompting, gathering her close to him and rocking her. "He's back Mamo-chan. Rubeus has returned."
"I know beloved. I know." He soothed. "We'll fight him again Usako. We'll win again."
"How can you?" Usagi asked in a soft voice. "He's in my head. He's listening and watching. I hear his voice. I know his will. He will destroy to get to me, and though I told him I'd go to him willingly, it's not enough. He wants total destruction and domination. He's watched every private moment I've shared with the girls, with myself and with you. He's been watching us Mamo-chan."
"Then that just means he's a voyeur." Mamoru replied grimly, angry at an unseen enemy who was tormenting one who didn't deserve it.
"He's inside me." She whimpered again. "I can't get him out. How can I fight this way? I didn't tell any of you but the last time I tried to transform I almost couldn't. The henshin hurt me. He's changing me. He's taken so much from me already."
"Then by the Goddess we take it back." Mamoru swore.
Usagi didn't say anything, just closed her eyes and let Mamoru rock her to sleep, scared to sleep, but unable to avoid it any longer.
**** "I've been waiting for you. I knew you had to sleep sometime. I am strongest here."
"Please leave me alone."
"Like you left me on the burning ship? You and that insufferable brat. She's your child you know."
"I learned that years ago. I care not one way or another."
"You lie."
"Prove it."
"Is that a challenge?"
"Just leave me be."
"Can you fight the fright in your soul? Can you fight me?"
"I don't know how to beat you, you know that."
"I do, and that is why this is so perfect. Unless you figure out how to defeat yourself, you cannot get rid of me."
"What of when you are in a body once more?"
"I will be immortal. You will not be able to harm me."
"What is your goal here? Why did you choose me?"
"The future rests on your shoulders, everything rests on you. If you are destroyed then the peaceful, utopian future will never come to be and I can rise once more. No one can oppose me other than you, and I have made certain that you are unable to fight me, even if you wanted to."
"Then I have lost before I've begun."
"As you always have. You are a failure, good for nothing. You are worthless and I want you to know that. I see your sanity slipping through your fingers like sand. You cannot win against me. What would you give to save this world? To save innocent lives? Your life is worth little when it comes to power I have."
"I would give my soul if that was required to save innocent people. Do not harm them."
"Still a sentimental fool. Why you were chosen as the herald of a new age, as the prophet of the future I'll never know. You stupid idiot, I have won and you have lost. Awake now and know that it was your stupidity that has caused the soon destruction of all. Your laziness let me stay alive. Your ignorance gave me rebirth. You are a complete failure and everyone you know, knows this. No one loves you, no one wants you. Kill yourself if you wish, for no one will miss you.
Horror raced through her body at those words, as they crept into her brain and imprinted themselves on her. Believing the words to be truth, forgetting they were implanted in her brain, she thought he spoke the truth. "NO! IYADA!" she screamed, clawing at her face.
Menacing laughter surrounded her and she was freed from the dream. *****
Merltak and Ingra awaited orders, disgruntled at not having been able to do a double strike on Usagi. "She's weak and she's fading fast. Soon it will be your time my servants. Have patience." Rubeus commanded.
"We wait." He nodded.
"I will suck out her soul." Ingra rubbed her hands together eagerly. "And the bonds shall be lifted as our evil spreads freely once more."
"She's still hanging on. We must accelerate my plans. Begin making her see what is not there, while I let her hear my thoughts. She will not be able to determine what is mine and what is hers."
"It is done."
And that is the end of chapter 4! I was going to make it longer but my fingers are stiffening up and I have a splitting headache. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please read and review! I write based on reviews! Next chapter – your eyes can deceive you, so don't trust them. Usagi's tormentors move in closer to her, accelerating her eventual collapse as the senshi race to find a way to protect Usagi.
Mata ne! ^_^