AN: Ohayo again! I promised to be back quick so here I am.
Thank you so much to all who review. You're like the chocolate in milk. Lol! MercuryGoddess (::hands tissue:: Here's the next chap!), Linauri, Black Aura-Sama (::cowers:: Please don't hurt me I'll be a good little author... I promise they'll come back...), MarsMoonStar, ScorpioNightShadow (::sigh:: No need to wait anymore!), jchild (Great to see you again!!! Glad you liked it! Here's #17!), Amy (::feels very flattered:: Domo arigato! I didn't think it was that good but I'm SO glad you liked it! Yay!), Spooky Fyre (NOOOO!!!! ::covers ears in horro:: Not that!! Anything but that!!! ::runs away screaming::)
NEway, here's the almost-conclusional, sometimes confusing, unique, odd... ::insert long list:: ... long-awaited CHAPTER 17!!! ::cheers::
Remember to review or I will be sad. ^^;;
**************************************************************************** ** **************************************************************************** **
High above, Usagi was wandering through her own mind. All was darkness. There was no light. There was no hope. There was no love. All was blackness and despair.
Kuroi smirked. "Just a little longer now, Tenshi, and you'll be mine."
Juuanagou [17] saw Cosmos being taken away. One minute she was battling the youma, and the next, it had her in its clutches and was bringing her to its master.
*****Flashback*****
"And how does this concern Usa?" asked Seventeen, almost defensively.
"Cosmos is the Guardian of Light," replied Saturn. "The Darkness will try to possess her and use her to destroy the Balance completely and begin its reign of terror. The Balance is already on the edge. Already the Darkness has consumed stars and planets and even solar systems and galaxies. We can only hope that Cosmos can resist the Darkness and we will find her in time to help stop it, or all will be lost."
*******************
But 17 didn't think much about saving the universe. Iie, this was Usagi. He had to save her. That's all that mattered.
Before another demon youma could replace the one he just destroyed, Juuanagou flew after the captor.
It was out of sight now. Up countless flights at a time, 17 flew, but as was the curse of the stairs, speed meant nothing. The summit seemed further away, but 17 refused to give us. He continued to pursue.
Kuroi looked down and noticed the struggling android. He smirked wider. "Well, if he wants to chase his death, it's fine with me." He snapped his fingers and suddenly 17 found himself at the top of the structure.
The android looked around with shock. There was Usagi, held by some dark force in the middle of her mental tortures. He desperately flew toward her.
WHAM! He rammed into a pillar. Kuroi laughed below. "Ah ah ah, mustn't touch." He continued the odd gestures with his hands, and 17 felt something pulling him to the ground. He landed on his face, and something seemed to hold him there.
"I have some other friends you can play with," came the Kanshisha no Makkura's mocking voice. Two demon youmas slipped out of the shadows smirking. As Cosmos was tortured mentally, they tortured Juuanagou physically. Kuroi just watched, amused.
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~ o~
Far below, amidst a field a dead youma (though they would soon be resurrected stronger), Trunks fell to his knees. His broken ribs were very painful and he struggled to breathe. His shirt was red from blood. His eyes began to cloud over. The abyss of death was pulling him down.
"Go-gomen nasi, Mako-chan, for-for everything." His body fell to the ground, lifeless.
Gohan slowed; his burst of strength had diminished. 'How much longer can I go on?' he wondered.
'As long as it takes,' some other voice answered. 'Help me, Aries, lord of my people. And Lord Cronous, help me protect your daughter.'
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~ o~
Seventeen was battered to a bloody pulp. The two youmas were using him like a punching bag. But not even androids live forever, as 17 well knew.
'You're just another number, 17,' said a voice inside his head. 'Just another monster created for murder. Now you either succumb to your instincts or you die forever!'
'Why has fate been so cruel to me?' he wondered as his body fell to the ground and slipped into subconsciousness, unable to take anymore. The last thing he heard was Kuroi's malicious laughter.
**************************************************************************** **
The dark abyss of death tugged at him, pulling him down. He was ready to go freely. But suddenly he remembered why he had come on this mission in the first place. Why he had thrown his life away to save another...
**FLASH**
"Oh! Just call me Usagi, Tsukino Usagi."
**FLASH**
"Don't let destiny rule your life."
**FLASH**
"Seventeen, they're in trouble! How could I abandon them? They need me."
**FLASH**
"But it's so horrible to be all alone, with no one who really understands you."
**FLASH**
"Everyone is somehow needed, even if you haven't figured out how yet."
**FLASH**
"Android 17 has turned from the path of evil. He has chosen the road of good and righteousness; of light and love."
**FLASH**
The last three words seemed to echo in his mind. Light and Love, light and love . . .
Then something happened that none had counted on, least of all Kuroi. Just when 17 has lost almost all hope and will to resist, he felt something pulling him from the pits of Death and back into the Light.
Wonderful, precious, life-giving Light. He savored the feel as he bathed in it as it healed him, mending his wounds and renewing his hope. But it also changed him- his mind expanded, giving him wisdom of one who had lived more than a thousand years; his body was strengthened, he would not easily go down; his speed and strength of attack were increased, few opponents would even stand a chance; his power was multiplied and he knew that he was now one of, if not *the* most powerful being in the universe. And, for reasons unknown to him, he was granted eternal life.
**************************************************************************** **
As he returned to consciousness, he felt the powerful Light engulf the whole world of Darkness, and all the youmas screamed as they were turned to dust, where they remained. For when the Light returns, the Darkness is no more. He opened his eyes and faced the shocked Kanshisha no Makkura.
"How... what....?" stammered the Guardian of Darkness.
"Your reign of evil has ended, Nameless One." He felt as though someone else was speaking through him.
"But you're just another of my monsters!"
"Nay, evil one. I am the Light. You claim the powers of Darkness. But what is Darkness but an absence of Light? With hope and love, Light will conquer and Peace will be restored. Go, and torment us no more."
With that, he threw an orb of pure light at the Guardian of Darkness. Like an animal in front of a car's headlight, Kuroi was frozen. At the last second he tried to shield himself, but it was too late. "I will return!" he screamed as the Light began to engulf his body. "You will not defeat me so easily next time!"
He was gone. All that remained was black dust.
A flash of light caught the new Juuanagou's eye. Still unconscious, but freed from her tortures, Usagi broke her bonds and fell to the ground in princess form.
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~ o~
The remaining senshi gathered together below. Somehow, all the youma has been destroyed, but the price was high. Of the Sailors, only Mars remained: Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter lay dead; Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto were assumed dead; Saturn was unconscious; and Cosmos had disappeared. Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan were the only remaining Z senshi: the others were all dead. 17 was missing. Bulma was saved by Vegeta.
So it was with heavy hearts that they gathered together the bodies at the foot of the stairs. They had been spared, but it seemed Darkness would cover the world anyway. There would be no future.
They looked up at the soft "pat, pat" of slippered feet. The eerie dark clouds that covered the stairs parted as he stepped down. His silver boots were soft against the stone. His suit was white, but of a noble style, almost like a prince. A sword was at his side and a cloak on his shoulders. He carried something in his arms, but they could not see what. Though his face was still hazy, they could see that his hair was white with silver streaks. [AN: Think kinda like Yue in CCS, but no wings.]
As he walked further, they realized it was not what he carried but who. The who wore a long white gown with silver hair.
"Usagi!" cried Rei, recognizing her princess form, as the stranger reached the last step. She ran forward, followed by the others.
"Who are you and why do you have Usagi?" asked Goku threateningly, beginning to get into a fighting stance.
The stranger smiled. His face was clearer now and they began to recognize it.
"I was once known as '17' but I am a number no more. I have been named, and I have found my purpose. You may call me Shiroi." [::winks::]
There was a shocked pause. "Wow! Hi Mr. Shiroi-san, sir," exclaimed Goku, sticking out his hand. "I'm Son Goku. It's a pleasure to meet you!"
Everyone sweatdropped. "Um... I didn't forget who you are, Goku."
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~ o~
Seventeen... er, Shiroi.... teleported them all to the new Namek, where they could get the best healing. For days, he sat in the endless light, looking at the odd landscape and wondering what had happened during the last stand against Kuroi. He couldn't explain how he had changed, nor how he had been able to defeat him. He awaited the others to awaken (those that hadn't needed to be wished back), especially Usagi.
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~ o~
Weeks later . . .
Two hands covered his eyes. "Guess who?" came the sweet voice.
"Usa-chan," he smiled.
She pouted. "How'd you know?"
He smiled. "Because I asked you to meet me here."
She seemed to think about this and then smiled and plopped herself down beside him on the green hills. "Okay... what do you wanna talk about?"
"I want to know why it happened."
Usagi suddenly became more serious. "I told you, I don't know."
"But you know something."
Usagi paused. "All I know is that you were chosen. The Light chose you to restore the Balance."
"But why me? There's so many better candidates. Why not Goku or Gohan or even Vegeta? Of all those in the universe, why was I special enough to be chosen?"
Usagi hesitated again. "Because... Because I asked it to. I pleaded to not be sent out, all alone again. It granted my plea. It chose you because... because you hold the light of my love."
He looked at her and she blushed. He smiled. "Ai shiteru, Usa-chan."
"Ai shiteru, Shiroi-kun."
**************************************************************************** ** **************************************************************************** **
Yep, definitely need a sidestory. The whole Namek part is too short.
And I think I need to add a few explanations. How can the Balance remain if there are basically two guardians of light and only one of darkness? Well, Kuroi was extra strong so he already overpowered Usagi. When 17 'transformed', she was weakened, so almost all her potential power was temporarily passed to him. But that still wouldn't be able to topple Kuroi. So the Light sent a surge of power and for a few moments, it used him and spoke through him to return the Balance to normal. Does that make any sense?
Normally, the two guardians of light would share the power, both having about equal. And Kuroi is immortal as well, but his physical self was temporarily destroyed, so he would be reborn somewhere else to begin again, without the excess of power from a toppling Balance. So if I decide to write a sequel, it's likely that they may be meeting him again, in his new form.
Wow. I can't believe I'm this far. Hope you liked it. Epilogue next time. Please review! Ja!
~Calli-chan
Thank you so much to all who review. You're like the chocolate in milk. Lol! MercuryGoddess (::hands tissue:: Here's the next chap!), Linauri, Black Aura-Sama (::cowers:: Please don't hurt me I'll be a good little author... I promise they'll come back...), MarsMoonStar, ScorpioNightShadow (::sigh:: No need to wait anymore!), jchild (Great to see you again!!! Glad you liked it! Here's #17!), Amy (::feels very flattered:: Domo arigato! I didn't think it was that good but I'm SO glad you liked it! Yay!), Spooky Fyre (NOOOO!!!! ::covers ears in horro:: Not that!! Anything but that!!! ::runs away screaming::)
NEway, here's the almost-conclusional, sometimes confusing, unique, odd... ::insert long list:: ... long-awaited CHAPTER 17!!! ::cheers::
Remember to review or I will be sad. ^^;;
**************************************************************************** ** **************************************************************************** **
High above, Usagi was wandering through her own mind. All was darkness. There was no light. There was no hope. There was no love. All was blackness and despair.
Kuroi smirked. "Just a little longer now, Tenshi, and you'll be mine."
Juuanagou [17] saw Cosmos being taken away. One minute she was battling the youma, and the next, it had her in its clutches and was bringing her to its master.
*****Flashback*****
"And how does this concern Usa?" asked Seventeen, almost defensively.
"Cosmos is the Guardian of Light," replied Saturn. "The Darkness will try to possess her and use her to destroy the Balance completely and begin its reign of terror. The Balance is already on the edge. Already the Darkness has consumed stars and planets and even solar systems and galaxies. We can only hope that Cosmos can resist the Darkness and we will find her in time to help stop it, or all will be lost."
*******************
But 17 didn't think much about saving the universe. Iie, this was Usagi. He had to save her. That's all that mattered.
Before another demon youma could replace the one he just destroyed, Juuanagou flew after the captor.
It was out of sight now. Up countless flights at a time, 17 flew, but as was the curse of the stairs, speed meant nothing. The summit seemed further away, but 17 refused to give us. He continued to pursue.
Kuroi looked down and noticed the struggling android. He smirked wider. "Well, if he wants to chase his death, it's fine with me." He snapped his fingers and suddenly 17 found himself at the top of the structure.
The android looked around with shock. There was Usagi, held by some dark force in the middle of her mental tortures. He desperately flew toward her.
WHAM! He rammed into a pillar. Kuroi laughed below. "Ah ah ah, mustn't touch." He continued the odd gestures with his hands, and 17 felt something pulling him to the ground. He landed on his face, and something seemed to hold him there.
"I have some other friends you can play with," came the Kanshisha no Makkura's mocking voice. Two demon youmas slipped out of the shadows smirking. As Cosmos was tortured mentally, they tortured Juuanagou physically. Kuroi just watched, amused.
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~ o~
Far below, amidst a field a dead youma (though they would soon be resurrected stronger), Trunks fell to his knees. His broken ribs were very painful and he struggled to breathe. His shirt was red from blood. His eyes began to cloud over. The abyss of death was pulling him down.
"Go-gomen nasi, Mako-chan, for-for everything." His body fell to the ground, lifeless.
Gohan slowed; his burst of strength had diminished. 'How much longer can I go on?' he wondered.
'As long as it takes,' some other voice answered. 'Help me, Aries, lord of my people. And Lord Cronous, help me protect your daughter.'
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~ o~
Seventeen was battered to a bloody pulp. The two youmas were using him like a punching bag. But not even androids live forever, as 17 well knew.
'You're just another number, 17,' said a voice inside his head. 'Just another monster created for murder. Now you either succumb to your instincts or you die forever!'
'Why has fate been so cruel to me?' he wondered as his body fell to the ground and slipped into subconsciousness, unable to take anymore. The last thing he heard was Kuroi's malicious laughter.
**************************************************************************** **
The dark abyss of death tugged at him, pulling him down. He was ready to go freely. But suddenly he remembered why he had come on this mission in the first place. Why he had thrown his life away to save another...
**FLASH**
"Oh! Just call me Usagi, Tsukino Usagi."
**FLASH**
"Don't let destiny rule your life."
**FLASH**
"Seventeen, they're in trouble! How could I abandon them? They need me."
**FLASH**
"But it's so horrible to be all alone, with no one who really understands you."
**FLASH**
"Everyone is somehow needed, even if you haven't figured out how yet."
**FLASH**
"Android 17 has turned from the path of evil. He has chosen the road of good and righteousness; of light and love."
**FLASH**
The last three words seemed to echo in his mind. Light and Love, light and love . . .
Then something happened that none had counted on, least of all Kuroi. Just when 17 has lost almost all hope and will to resist, he felt something pulling him from the pits of Death and back into the Light.
Wonderful, precious, life-giving Light. He savored the feel as he bathed in it as it healed him, mending his wounds and renewing his hope. But it also changed him- his mind expanded, giving him wisdom of one who had lived more than a thousand years; his body was strengthened, he would not easily go down; his speed and strength of attack were increased, few opponents would even stand a chance; his power was multiplied and he knew that he was now one of, if not *the* most powerful being in the universe. And, for reasons unknown to him, he was granted eternal life.
**************************************************************************** **
As he returned to consciousness, he felt the powerful Light engulf the whole world of Darkness, and all the youmas screamed as they were turned to dust, where they remained. For when the Light returns, the Darkness is no more. He opened his eyes and faced the shocked Kanshisha no Makkura.
"How... what....?" stammered the Guardian of Darkness.
"Your reign of evil has ended, Nameless One." He felt as though someone else was speaking through him.
"But you're just another of my monsters!"
"Nay, evil one. I am the Light. You claim the powers of Darkness. But what is Darkness but an absence of Light? With hope and love, Light will conquer and Peace will be restored. Go, and torment us no more."
With that, he threw an orb of pure light at the Guardian of Darkness. Like an animal in front of a car's headlight, Kuroi was frozen. At the last second he tried to shield himself, but it was too late. "I will return!" he screamed as the Light began to engulf his body. "You will not defeat me so easily next time!"
He was gone. All that remained was black dust.
A flash of light caught the new Juuanagou's eye. Still unconscious, but freed from her tortures, Usagi broke her bonds and fell to the ground in princess form.
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~ o~
The remaining senshi gathered together below. Somehow, all the youma has been destroyed, but the price was high. Of the Sailors, only Mars remained: Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter lay dead; Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto were assumed dead; Saturn was unconscious; and Cosmos had disappeared. Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan were the only remaining Z senshi: the others were all dead. 17 was missing. Bulma was saved by Vegeta.
So it was with heavy hearts that they gathered together the bodies at the foot of the stairs. They had been spared, but it seemed Darkness would cover the world anyway. There would be no future.
They looked up at the soft "pat, pat" of slippered feet. The eerie dark clouds that covered the stairs parted as he stepped down. His silver boots were soft against the stone. His suit was white, but of a noble style, almost like a prince. A sword was at his side and a cloak on his shoulders. He carried something in his arms, but they could not see what. Though his face was still hazy, they could see that his hair was white with silver streaks. [AN: Think kinda like Yue in CCS, but no wings.]
As he walked further, they realized it was not what he carried but who. The who wore a long white gown with silver hair.
"Usagi!" cried Rei, recognizing her princess form, as the stranger reached the last step. She ran forward, followed by the others.
"Who are you and why do you have Usagi?" asked Goku threateningly, beginning to get into a fighting stance.
The stranger smiled. His face was clearer now and they began to recognize it.
"I was once known as '17' but I am a number no more. I have been named, and I have found my purpose. You may call me Shiroi." [::winks::]
There was a shocked pause. "Wow! Hi Mr. Shiroi-san, sir," exclaimed Goku, sticking out his hand. "I'm Son Goku. It's a pleasure to meet you!"
Everyone sweatdropped. "Um... I didn't forget who you are, Goku."
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~ o~
Seventeen... er, Shiroi.... teleported them all to the new Namek, where they could get the best healing. For days, he sat in the endless light, looking at the odd landscape and wondering what had happened during the last stand against Kuroi. He couldn't explain how he had changed, nor how he had been able to defeat him. He awaited the others to awaken (those that hadn't needed to be wished back), especially Usagi.
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~ o~
Weeks later . . .
Two hands covered his eyes. "Guess who?" came the sweet voice.
"Usa-chan," he smiled.
She pouted. "How'd you know?"
He smiled. "Because I asked you to meet me here."
She seemed to think about this and then smiled and plopped herself down beside him on the green hills. "Okay... what do you wanna talk about?"
"I want to know why it happened."
Usagi suddenly became more serious. "I told you, I don't know."
"But you know something."
Usagi paused. "All I know is that you were chosen. The Light chose you to restore the Balance."
"But why me? There's so many better candidates. Why not Goku or Gohan or even Vegeta? Of all those in the universe, why was I special enough to be chosen?"
Usagi hesitated again. "Because... Because I asked it to. I pleaded to not be sent out, all alone again. It granted my plea. It chose you because... because you hold the light of my love."
He looked at her and she blushed. He smiled. "Ai shiteru, Usa-chan."
"Ai shiteru, Shiroi-kun."
**************************************************************************** ** **************************************************************************** **
Yep, definitely need a sidestory. The whole Namek part is too short.
And I think I need to add a few explanations. How can the Balance remain if there are basically two guardians of light and only one of darkness? Well, Kuroi was extra strong so he already overpowered Usagi. When 17 'transformed', she was weakened, so almost all her potential power was temporarily passed to him. But that still wouldn't be able to topple Kuroi. So the Light sent a surge of power and for a few moments, it used him and spoke through him to return the Balance to normal. Does that make any sense?
Normally, the two guardians of light would share the power, both having about equal. And Kuroi is immortal as well, but his physical self was temporarily destroyed, so he would be reborn somewhere else to begin again, without the excess of power from a toppling Balance. So if I decide to write a sequel, it's likely that they may be meeting him again, in his new form.
Wow. I can't believe I'm this far. Hope you liked it. Epilogue next time. Please review! Ja!
~Calli-chan
