Hello all! Sorry it's been awhile since my last update but it's very hard to find free time to update here, though I do sacrifice sleep for it, and I have been going through some romantic problems. To any guys who read this: when a man says he will not hurt you and is not playing games, does he really mean it or is it a line? Anyway, as I run from a man who got too close to me (as is my habit), I update for you all in hopes of working this all out in my mind. Read and review but be kind. No flames please. Standard disclaimers. Enjoy!
Usagi closed her eyes and concentrated, knowing that deep within each heart there lay a magic spark that lit the fires of imagination. Since the dawn of man, the strength of just the phrase "I can" permitted people to perform amazing feats and succeed where they would otherwise fail. She had to discover the power of dream, for that was where their battle would take place. Her mind took her far, the rest was just her heart, and her fate was now her own creation. She was so tired of being spied on, of being used as a tool, as a pawn in his game. Her hair cascaded around her in a silver pool as her eyes gleamed in the fading light of the day. Her moon rose as she knelt in the light and prayed for strength. She was at the point where she thought she couldn't, but had discovered that she could. The battle was nigh. She felt the Minions coming to battle her senshi and she prayed that her friends could defeat this scourge that came to them, for she was the cause of it, she was solely to blame and she accepted the responsibility. She could almost feel the ground tremble beneath her feet as they approached, as they came closer and she thought with an ironic smile that she would be quite unable to go to school that day. She figured that Haruna sensei knew what was going on because she just shook her head and accepted it. Usagi had saved her sensei too many times for her not to figure out what was happening - as with Naru and Umino.
The senshi had transformed and surrounded Usagi in a protective circle, Makoto and Haruka barely able to contain their battle rage. They wanted to hurt something and badly for the pain that had been inflicted to the one who was the centre of their world, their raison d'être as it were. Rei had gone through every incantation she had and opened up her chi to accepting the full maximum of power that her planet would allow her. Every part of her seemed to be alive with fire, steam seemed to rise off the fire senshi as she swore that no one would insult or hurt her princess except for her. Minako had seemed to change from being the senshi of love to the senshi of hate, for the string of insults and desire to hurt Rubeus and his minions was frightening to hear, but the biggest change of all, and the one that would be the most deadly was Ami. Quiet Ami who had lost her temper with Chibi Usa, gentle Ami who was like Usagi and tried to avoid a fight and not hurt anyone. Ami spoke not a word, but out of her subspace pockets she had pulled a set of lethal and scary looking gauntlets engraved with the symbol of Mercury on it, leading all the senshi to realize that she had done some research to find them. With the gauntlets on her delicate wrists, Ami radiated coldness and frost as Rei radiated fire, causing Michiru to look at her sister in water with a new respect, but of course it was to be expected for as soon as one challenged Usagi, they challenged all Senshi and damned if they'd put up with it. Usagi had done too much and was too much to them for them to abandon her now. Without asking, they followed her. They gave her respect without her ever having to ask for it, her actions long ago deemed that she was more than worthy. "Once she is inside her own mind with Rubeus under no circumstances must she be moved." Hotaru said abruptly. Her body will be here and vulnerable, and it is her body here she must protect, for if it is destroyed, her mind and soul will be forever in limbo and she will be unable to return. Perhaps she would even become what he is now."
Setsuna nodded, not liking this turn of events one little bit. "Usagi, you must remain here where it is safe."
Usagi arched an eyebrow at her friend and shook her head, a small sad smile on her face. "I cannot," she said quietly. "I offered to give myself to him in return for him leaving you all alone and he will. When the minions come, he will come and take me. You cannot stop it, you cannot change it. I made the offer knowing what would come. I will be his, and he will use me until such a time as he deems me weak enough that he will enter me - both physically and mentally and then the battle will begin."
Mamoru looked sick with the knowledge of what Usagi had to do to get close enough to him. She had to give herself to Rubeus in an act reserved only for lovers for it would weaken the shell that housed his vile spirit and would give her the advantage. "At least transform with the rest of them so you will have a bit more power." he suggested, hoping to keep the rage and jealousy and fear out of his voice.
Usagi looked at her soulmate, at her future husband and shook her head. "Only the Princess may meet him, for that is who truly captivated him as it did his brother. I will not be Sailor Moon for this battle, I will be me." Usagi stood and walked through the protective circle of her guardians and wrapped her arms around Mamoru's neck, bringing his ear to her lips. "Worry not beloved for when he takes me into his arms I will be thinking of you. There will be no joy, no pleasure in this act for it is not you who will be loving me but a sick parody of that which was once a man and now is less than a lich. I love you and I pray that you will not look at me with too much disgust for what I must do to save everyone and myself. Forgive me beloved for that which destiny has decreed for me."
Mamoru pulled away so he could look into her silver eyes, her beautiful silver eyes, so knowledgeable, so innocent. "I would never look upon you with disgust my love. I know that you dread what you must do and I forgive you for doing it. I love you Usako, and I only fear that you will not return to me alive."
"I will come back to you Mamoru, I always have before, this time is no different save for the playing field." Usagi reassured him.
Mamoru held her close. "If I lost you Usako..." he trailed off, unable to complete that thought, his memories of holding her dead body in his arms and coursing through their link.
"Trust me." Usagi promised. "Trust me to do what needs to be done."
"I don't know about Tux boy there," Haruka cut in, "but there is no one else who I would rather trust this responsibility to."
Murmurs of 'hear, hear' went around the room when Usagi went stock still. "Do you hear them yet? Do you hear the hellish serenade of the damned?" she asked softly.
"You are such a failure, you are making it up, honestly, hogging the senshi here when Chibi Usa needs them worse right now!" Luna snorted as she poked her head into the room. "Stop telling wild stories and tales and just accept the fact that your time is finished."
Haruka glared at the cat as Usagi cut in. "Luna I don't have time for this or for you. If I fail here it will not be for your lack of trying. I know I am clumsy, whiny, a crybaby and a wimp, but right now I need you to shut up!"
Luna opened her mouth to speak and Rei grabbed her and stuffed her in the nearest closet, making certain she locked it and giving a slight bow to the applause that broke out. "Wish I'd thought of that." Haruka muttered.
Usagi returned to the centre of the circle her friends formed and knelt back down, closing her eyes and concentrating. The eyes and the presence gloated, they rejoiced that her defenses were slowly breaking down. He whispered things into her brain assuring her that she was insane. She knew he thought that her head was in his hands, but he didn't know that violent use brings violent plans, and she was planning on being completely merciless, not just for herself, but to right a wrong that he did long ago to one who was truly innocent.
"Protect her body." Setsuna reminded them as the minions came over the crest of a hill, marching in a bloody and devilish fashion. "She will not be able to fight back. Remember we can only protect her, we cannot fight a war for her."
"Wanna bet?" Haruka, Rei and Makoto asked simultaneously, grinning at each other goofily, before hardening their faces and turning their eyes forward.
"Here they come." Ami murmured.
Rubeus rejoiced, for surely that pitiful band of girls were no match for his demon chorus. He had trained them well, and they were strong. Their weapons all lethal, their words poision tipped. They would go for the soul and the body, leaving the mind for him to feed upon, and when they fell they too would feed upon souls. He would have a body after this day and he would use it for total domination of that which he had coveted for so long. He wanted to make these morons understand that there was no good and evil, there was only power, and those too weak to seek it, like Usagi. Ah he couldn't wait to lay over her, to feel her wrapped around him as he entered her mind and stole her very essence. He was more than just a lich, more than a ghoul, he was the start of a new race. She was destroyer, she was the salvation, but which would she be here today? He knew, as no others did save for Usagi herself that she had one power within her grasp, the power that Saturn had, the power which her family had gifted to that planet of silence, and he knew that if she had half the chance she would take her own life, taking him with her. She had offered to give herself to save the innocents and he would at last accept her silly offer, knowing she had made it out of the desperation of her heart.
"It is time." he said solemly, drawing the shadows around him like a cloak. Appearing before her mentally, he sensed her steeling herself. Chuckling in a pre-arranged victory, he parted the folds of her mind and stepped inside.
Usagi had arched, her eyes wild and let out an involuntary shriek before collapsing in a heap on the carpet. Haruka stepped towards her and Hotaru stood in her path. "Don't touch her." she snapped. "Now it might mean her death."
Helpless with rage and concern, Haruka let her anger course through her. "Where the hell are they?" she asked in a voice not her own.
"Do not attack in rage Haruka, for then you are no better than they are." Rei said calmly. "I want to open up a severe can of whoop ass on these minions and I have every intention of doing so. They crossed the wrong princess." her words were heated, as she was the essence of the Fire Goddess herself.
Haruka swallowed and nodded to Michiru who breathed a sigh of relief. Setsuna's head jerked up as her eyes turned to Usagi. "I'm an idiot!" she cried out, her hand hitting her head.
"What?" Mamoru asked, fearing the answer.
"She told us, she told us many times but I never made the connection until now." Setsuna said, wringing her hands. The display of emotion from the Time Guardian shocked and scared the others. "She is the salvation and the destroyer. Which will she be to defeat him? What did Galaxia tell her she must do? She has the same dread power as Hotaru, only more so and she will die before she lets him harm us. Oh Usagi, now I know why you were so secretive!"
The Senshi's eyes widened in horror as they stared at the inert form on the floor, realizing her secret. Before anything else could be said or done, the damned bell that the minions had been ringing stopped. The bell tolled no longer. Stepping outside the house, the senshi nodded at their silent pact to protect the treasure within. Silence was louder than anything else as the enemies sized each other up, before the inital breaking of lines as they raced towards the house, a black wave of death. "Free for all!" Haruka hollered as she gleefully waded into the fray, able to hurt something at last.
"Save the Princess!" Rei screamed as she released her fire in liquid gout of death.
Makoto said nothing, only hacked and slashed and threw her attacks with vicious accuracy, ignoring the gaping wounds appearing on her body, ignoring the lies the minions breathed and spat at her.
Ami analyzed the entire situation as she left a herd of frozen and maimed minions in her wake, thankful for all the training she had received, grateful for Makoto showing her the finer points of how to poke eyes and kick below the belt.
Minako's face was grimly set as she plunged into the dark tide, concern and love for her friend the only thing that kept her battle madness at bay, the only thing that kept her sane. Usagi must be protected while she faced off with Rubeus, and she was the leader of the Senshi (after her Princess) so damn it she would lead! When there were no more minions, she shook her head. "That was too easy." she said aloud, eyeing the destruction and death that lay so casually around the house.
"You call that easy?" Neptune's incredulous voice cut through.
"They had to know this wouldn't work." Haruka agreed, surveying the wreckage and sighing at how long it would take to make the yard look half decent...AGAIN.
"Look!" Hotaru's sharp eyes pointed out to just beyond the trees where laughing figures stood.
"Ingra." Ami confirmed with her visior.
"Merltak." Makoto's voice dripped venom and hatred.
"The strongest ones come now." Setsuna agreed, looking none the worse for wear. "Now the true battle begins, for they will help us die."
"Only if they come too." Michiru cracked her knuckles, casting one final glance at the house. "Shall we begin the death chant now?"
"The situation isn't bad enough yet." Minako sighed, then straightened. "Here we go again."
Mamoru cradled Usagi's head in his hands, helplessness threatening to overwhelm him. He knew that she battled in where she had no defenses, in her mind where Rubeus could get her but he could not. "Be strong Usako, you can defeat him." he said aloud, brushing her soft hair off her face.
"Leave her and come with me."
Mamoru looked up to see Chibi Usa standing before him. He had to fight to keep his lip from curling. Had he once truly loved that child? "Go away Chibi Usa. I stay with Usagi."
"She will fail as she always does. Rubeus is dedicated to how he is killing her, and might, MIGHT let her live if she calls him Master. She will succumb to him. She is so weak." she said scornfully.
"Begone you hell child." Mamoru spat at her. "I am ashamed to be your future father."
Chibi Usa's red eyes gleamed in fury. "You will regret saying that to me....daddy." she turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, forgotten as soon as Mamoru had turned his eyes from her and back to Usagi. "Hang on beloved." he pleaded. "You can do this, do not give up!"
Darkness. Nothingness. Was this death? Usagi wasn't quite sure. What part of her mind was this?
- At last we have come to this battle of true minds. At last you come to me. -
-Reveal yourself. - Usagi demanded.
Laughter around her. - In time my little rabbit, in time. For now why not relish this place? -
- Where are we? - Usagi asked again.
- A part of your mind you apparently forgot about and never knew existed. This is your mind, this is your dark place, and this is where you are weakest. Are you ready for me? -
- I will not give in to you, and then you will be forced to destroy me. - Usagi thought defiantely.
- If needs be. I will destroy you my little bunny, but it is up to you to decide how soon that happens.-
-I will not surrender.- Usagi relaxed for a moment.
- You are unwise to lower your defenses!- he thought triumphantly as he struck her, sending her reeling back, blood trickling from her mouth. - Stupid, stupid idiotic girl! You can't defeat me? Haven't you realized that yet?-
Usagi pulled herself up, fear evident in her eyes as she faced the awful truth that she would lose, that she would die here and he would still be free. Despair threatened to overwhelm her as she let out a keening wail and collapsed, unable to find it in herself to go on. Rubeus rose above her now, victorious and triumphant. -Young fool,- he thought. -Only now, at the end, do you understand.-
Usagi bowed her head in shame as he grabbed her violently and lowered his blackened and charred lips to hers. The day was lost and they could not win, for as Luna had predicted, she had failed. She did not see the light glowing from within her, she saw only despair and black.
And so it ends for this chapter! I hope you enjoyed! Remember I write based on reviews so lets get them moving in here a little bit faster! Anyone who has advice on relationships (since I have the WORST taste in men) please give some to me, believe me I need it! Remember no flames and I will see you shortly as I have some good ideas for what will happen next!
Ja ne!
Usagi closed her eyes and concentrated, knowing that deep within each heart there lay a magic spark that lit the fires of imagination. Since the dawn of man, the strength of just the phrase "I can" permitted people to perform amazing feats and succeed where they would otherwise fail. She had to discover the power of dream, for that was where their battle would take place. Her mind took her far, the rest was just her heart, and her fate was now her own creation. She was so tired of being spied on, of being used as a tool, as a pawn in his game. Her hair cascaded around her in a silver pool as her eyes gleamed in the fading light of the day. Her moon rose as she knelt in the light and prayed for strength. She was at the point where she thought she couldn't, but had discovered that she could. The battle was nigh. She felt the Minions coming to battle her senshi and she prayed that her friends could defeat this scourge that came to them, for she was the cause of it, she was solely to blame and she accepted the responsibility. She could almost feel the ground tremble beneath her feet as they approached, as they came closer and she thought with an ironic smile that she would be quite unable to go to school that day. She figured that Haruna sensei knew what was going on because she just shook her head and accepted it. Usagi had saved her sensei too many times for her not to figure out what was happening - as with Naru and Umino.
The senshi had transformed and surrounded Usagi in a protective circle, Makoto and Haruka barely able to contain their battle rage. They wanted to hurt something and badly for the pain that had been inflicted to the one who was the centre of their world, their raison d'être as it were. Rei had gone through every incantation she had and opened up her chi to accepting the full maximum of power that her planet would allow her. Every part of her seemed to be alive with fire, steam seemed to rise off the fire senshi as she swore that no one would insult or hurt her princess except for her. Minako had seemed to change from being the senshi of love to the senshi of hate, for the string of insults and desire to hurt Rubeus and his minions was frightening to hear, but the biggest change of all, and the one that would be the most deadly was Ami. Quiet Ami who had lost her temper with Chibi Usa, gentle Ami who was like Usagi and tried to avoid a fight and not hurt anyone. Ami spoke not a word, but out of her subspace pockets she had pulled a set of lethal and scary looking gauntlets engraved with the symbol of Mercury on it, leading all the senshi to realize that she had done some research to find them. With the gauntlets on her delicate wrists, Ami radiated coldness and frost as Rei radiated fire, causing Michiru to look at her sister in water with a new respect, but of course it was to be expected for as soon as one challenged Usagi, they challenged all Senshi and damned if they'd put up with it. Usagi had done too much and was too much to them for them to abandon her now. Without asking, they followed her. They gave her respect without her ever having to ask for it, her actions long ago deemed that she was more than worthy. "Once she is inside her own mind with Rubeus under no circumstances must she be moved." Hotaru said abruptly. Her body will be here and vulnerable, and it is her body here she must protect, for if it is destroyed, her mind and soul will be forever in limbo and she will be unable to return. Perhaps she would even become what he is now."
Setsuna nodded, not liking this turn of events one little bit. "Usagi, you must remain here where it is safe."
Usagi arched an eyebrow at her friend and shook her head, a small sad smile on her face. "I cannot," she said quietly. "I offered to give myself to him in return for him leaving you all alone and he will. When the minions come, he will come and take me. You cannot stop it, you cannot change it. I made the offer knowing what would come. I will be his, and he will use me until such a time as he deems me weak enough that he will enter me - both physically and mentally and then the battle will begin."
Mamoru looked sick with the knowledge of what Usagi had to do to get close enough to him. She had to give herself to Rubeus in an act reserved only for lovers for it would weaken the shell that housed his vile spirit and would give her the advantage. "At least transform with the rest of them so you will have a bit more power." he suggested, hoping to keep the rage and jealousy and fear out of his voice.
Usagi looked at her soulmate, at her future husband and shook her head. "Only the Princess may meet him, for that is who truly captivated him as it did his brother. I will not be Sailor Moon for this battle, I will be me." Usagi stood and walked through the protective circle of her guardians and wrapped her arms around Mamoru's neck, bringing his ear to her lips. "Worry not beloved for when he takes me into his arms I will be thinking of you. There will be no joy, no pleasure in this act for it is not you who will be loving me but a sick parody of that which was once a man and now is less than a lich. I love you and I pray that you will not look at me with too much disgust for what I must do to save everyone and myself. Forgive me beloved for that which destiny has decreed for me."
Mamoru pulled away so he could look into her silver eyes, her beautiful silver eyes, so knowledgeable, so innocent. "I would never look upon you with disgust my love. I know that you dread what you must do and I forgive you for doing it. I love you Usako, and I only fear that you will not return to me alive."
"I will come back to you Mamoru, I always have before, this time is no different save for the playing field." Usagi reassured him.
Mamoru held her close. "If I lost you Usako..." he trailed off, unable to complete that thought, his memories of holding her dead body in his arms and coursing through their link.
"Trust me." Usagi promised. "Trust me to do what needs to be done."
"I don't know about Tux boy there," Haruka cut in, "but there is no one else who I would rather trust this responsibility to."
Murmurs of 'hear, hear' went around the room when Usagi went stock still. "Do you hear them yet? Do you hear the hellish serenade of the damned?" she asked softly.
"You are such a failure, you are making it up, honestly, hogging the senshi here when Chibi Usa needs them worse right now!" Luna snorted as she poked her head into the room. "Stop telling wild stories and tales and just accept the fact that your time is finished."
Haruka glared at the cat as Usagi cut in. "Luna I don't have time for this or for you. If I fail here it will not be for your lack of trying. I know I am clumsy, whiny, a crybaby and a wimp, but right now I need you to shut up!"
Luna opened her mouth to speak and Rei grabbed her and stuffed her in the nearest closet, making certain she locked it and giving a slight bow to the applause that broke out. "Wish I'd thought of that." Haruka muttered.
Usagi returned to the centre of the circle her friends formed and knelt back down, closing her eyes and concentrating. The eyes and the presence gloated, they rejoiced that her defenses were slowly breaking down. He whispered things into her brain assuring her that she was insane. She knew he thought that her head was in his hands, but he didn't know that violent use brings violent plans, and she was planning on being completely merciless, not just for herself, but to right a wrong that he did long ago to one who was truly innocent.
"Protect her body." Setsuna reminded them as the minions came over the crest of a hill, marching in a bloody and devilish fashion. "She will not be able to fight back. Remember we can only protect her, we cannot fight a war for her."
"Wanna bet?" Haruka, Rei and Makoto asked simultaneously, grinning at each other goofily, before hardening their faces and turning their eyes forward.
"Here they come." Ami murmured.
Rubeus rejoiced, for surely that pitiful band of girls were no match for his demon chorus. He had trained them well, and they were strong. Their weapons all lethal, their words poision tipped. They would go for the soul and the body, leaving the mind for him to feed upon, and when they fell they too would feed upon souls. He would have a body after this day and he would use it for total domination of that which he had coveted for so long. He wanted to make these morons understand that there was no good and evil, there was only power, and those too weak to seek it, like Usagi. Ah he couldn't wait to lay over her, to feel her wrapped around him as he entered her mind and stole her very essence. He was more than just a lich, more than a ghoul, he was the start of a new race. She was destroyer, she was the salvation, but which would she be here today? He knew, as no others did save for Usagi herself that she had one power within her grasp, the power that Saturn had, the power which her family had gifted to that planet of silence, and he knew that if she had half the chance she would take her own life, taking him with her. She had offered to give herself to save the innocents and he would at last accept her silly offer, knowing she had made it out of the desperation of her heart.
"It is time." he said solemly, drawing the shadows around him like a cloak. Appearing before her mentally, he sensed her steeling herself. Chuckling in a pre-arranged victory, he parted the folds of her mind and stepped inside.
Usagi had arched, her eyes wild and let out an involuntary shriek before collapsing in a heap on the carpet. Haruka stepped towards her and Hotaru stood in her path. "Don't touch her." she snapped. "Now it might mean her death."
Helpless with rage and concern, Haruka let her anger course through her. "Where the hell are they?" she asked in a voice not her own.
"Do not attack in rage Haruka, for then you are no better than they are." Rei said calmly. "I want to open up a severe can of whoop ass on these minions and I have every intention of doing so. They crossed the wrong princess." her words were heated, as she was the essence of the Fire Goddess herself.
Haruka swallowed and nodded to Michiru who breathed a sigh of relief. Setsuna's head jerked up as her eyes turned to Usagi. "I'm an idiot!" she cried out, her hand hitting her head.
"What?" Mamoru asked, fearing the answer.
"She told us, she told us many times but I never made the connection until now." Setsuna said, wringing her hands. The display of emotion from the Time Guardian shocked and scared the others. "She is the salvation and the destroyer. Which will she be to defeat him? What did Galaxia tell her she must do? She has the same dread power as Hotaru, only more so and she will die before she lets him harm us. Oh Usagi, now I know why you were so secretive!"
The Senshi's eyes widened in horror as they stared at the inert form on the floor, realizing her secret. Before anything else could be said or done, the damned bell that the minions had been ringing stopped. The bell tolled no longer. Stepping outside the house, the senshi nodded at their silent pact to protect the treasure within. Silence was louder than anything else as the enemies sized each other up, before the inital breaking of lines as they raced towards the house, a black wave of death. "Free for all!" Haruka hollered as she gleefully waded into the fray, able to hurt something at last.
"Save the Princess!" Rei screamed as she released her fire in liquid gout of death.
Makoto said nothing, only hacked and slashed and threw her attacks with vicious accuracy, ignoring the gaping wounds appearing on her body, ignoring the lies the minions breathed and spat at her.
Ami analyzed the entire situation as she left a herd of frozen and maimed minions in her wake, thankful for all the training she had received, grateful for Makoto showing her the finer points of how to poke eyes and kick below the belt.
Minako's face was grimly set as she plunged into the dark tide, concern and love for her friend the only thing that kept her battle madness at bay, the only thing that kept her sane. Usagi must be protected while she faced off with Rubeus, and she was the leader of the Senshi (after her Princess) so damn it she would lead! When there were no more minions, she shook her head. "That was too easy." she said aloud, eyeing the destruction and death that lay so casually around the house.
"You call that easy?" Neptune's incredulous voice cut through.
"They had to know this wouldn't work." Haruka agreed, surveying the wreckage and sighing at how long it would take to make the yard look half decent...AGAIN.
"Look!" Hotaru's sharp eyes pointed out to just beyond the trees where laughing figures stood.
"Ingra." Ami confirmed with her visior.
"Merltak." Makoto's voice dripped venom and hatred.
"The strongest ones come now." Setsuna agreed, looking none the worse for wear. "Now the true battle begins, for they will help us die."
"Only if they come too." Michiru cracked her knuckles, casting one final glance at the house. "Shall we begin the death chant now?"
"The situation isn't bad enough yet." Minako sighed, then straightened. "Here we go again."
Mamoru cradled Usagi's head in his hands, helplessness threatening to overwhelm him. He knew that she battled in where she had no defenses, in her mind where Rubeus could get her but he could not. "Be strong Usako, you can defeat him." he said aloud, brushing her soft hair off her face.
"Leave her and come with me."
Mamoru looked up to see Chibi Usa standing before him. He had to fight to keep his lip from curling. Had he once truly loved that child? "Go away Chibi Usa. I stay with Usagi."
"She will fail as she always does. Rubeus is dedicated to how he is killing her, and might, MIGHT let her live if she calls him Master. She will succumb to him. She is so weak." she said scornfully.
"Begone you hell child." Mamoru spat at her. "I am ashamed to be your future father."
Chibi Usa's red eyes gleamed in fury. "You will regret saying that to me....daddy." she turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, forgotten as soon as Mamoru had turned his eyes from her and back to Usagi. "Hang on beloved." he pleaded. "You can do this, do not give up!"
Darkness. Nothingness. Was this death? Usagi wasn't quite sure. What part of her mind was this?
- At last we have come to this battle of true minds. At last you come to me. -
-Reveal yourself. - Usagi demanded.
Laughter around her. - In time my little rabbit, in time. For now why not relish this place? -
- Where are we? - Usagi asked again.
- A part of your mind you apparently forgot about and never knew existed. This is your mind, this is your dark place, and this is where you are weakest. Are you ready for me? -
- I will not give in to you, and then you will be forced to destroy me. - Usagi thought defiantely.
- If needs be. I will destroy you my little bunny, but it is up to you to decide how soon that happens.-
-I will not surrender.- Usagi relaxed for a moment.
- You are unwise to lower your defenses!- he thought triumphantly as he struck her, sending her reeling back, blood trickling from her mouth. - Stupid, stupid idiotic girl! You can't defeat me? Haven't you realized that yet?-
Usagi pulled herself up, fear evident in her eyes as she faced the awful truth that she would lose, that she would die here and he would still be free. Despair threatened to overwhelm her as she let out a keening wail and collapsed, unable to find it in herself to go on. Rubeus rose above her now, victorious and triumphant. -Young fool,- he thought. -Only now, at the end, do you understand.-
Usagi bowed her head in shame as he grabbed her violently and lowered his blackened and charred lips to hers. The day was lost and they could not win, for as Luna had predicted, she had failed. She did not see the light glowing from within her, she saw only despair and black.
And so it ends for this chapter! I hope you enjoyed! Remember I write based on reviews so lets get them moving in here a little bit faster! Anyone who has advice on relationships (since I have the WORST taste in men) please give some to me, believe me I need it! Remember no flames and I will see you shortly as I have some good ideas for what will happen next!
Ja ne!