A/N: Heh heh. Made a blooper last chap . should have been Zoicite & Ami.
Sorry.
Malachite smiled down at the love of his life. "Minako," he whispered. "Have I told you how beautiful you are?"
Minako smiled. "Not in the last five minutes," she teased.
"Well, you are-" he was cut off by a sudden whoosh in the air beside him. He leapt out of the way just in time to avoid a poison-tipped dart.
Minako was up in a minute. "Venus Power! I am Sailor Venus, Chosen of Aphrodite, Goddess of Love and Beauty! I will not let you go unscathed!"
Meanwhile, Malachite had reverted to Guardian form. (He looks like a Prince Endymion, with more armor, in an orangish color.)
They immediately spotted the assailant. She was not a youma. On the contrary, she was a tall, black-haired, blue-skinned humanoid-looking creature. But she was definitely not a youma. She looked almost normal in fact, if it weren't for her appearance. "I am Titus," she said coolly, "recently most favored of Queen Beryl. I have been sent to fetch you, Malachite. Queen Beryl has taken a liking to you. She wants to . make you one of her Generals. Can you imagine that? A Dark King. Imagine the power you could have . the women you could bed . whatever you wanted, you could have."
"In your dreams," Malachite shouted furiously. "Tell your Queen of B****** to shove her offer up her @$$, and tell her to go away!"
"Temper, temper," Titus chided. "I'm not the Queen's most favored for nothing. I knew you would reject, but I'm afraid I can't take no for an answer. Now you shall know why I am the most powerful of the Queen! I am Titus, Chosen of the Goddess Tatiana!"
"Umm ." Sailor Venus was hesitant. "I've never heard of a Goddess Tatiana."
"Of course you haven't, you fool," Titus scoffed. "Tatiana is the Goddess of Death of the Negaverse! Of course you don't know her!"
"Goddess of death, eh?" Malachite asked. "Let's see if you're as good as you think you are."
"All right then," Titus smiled wickedly. "I call upon the powers of Tatiana, Death be my Element!" She held out her arms, and let out a banshee shriek.
Malachite and Sailor Venus turned away together, covering their ears form the hideous wail. But the screech bored between their hands, and climbed into their ears, traveling to their brain, and filling them with doubt of their love for each other, doubt about their decision .
"Shimmering Blast!"
A cry cut through the empty air. Titus found herself thrown back. She looked up, and saw a glowing, silver figure.
"I am the Angel of Selene, daughter of the Moon Goddess! You shall pay for the troubles you have caused! Silver Crystalline Lunar Attack!"
A blast of light enveloped Titus. "No!" Titus cried as the light consumed her, and dissolved her to dust.
The Angel of Selene turned and smiled at Malachite and Sailor Venus. "Gotta go!" And she jumped out of sight.
"So, Amiko," Zoicite murmured.
"Hmm?" Ami asked pleasantly.
"I was thinking," he began, but suddenly leapt to one side, pushing Ami the other way. Where both had just been standing, something exploded.
"Mercury Power!"
"Do you think to defeat me?" a voice snorted. "I am Medusa! And I have been sent to capture you, Zoicite. You are to be a General of the Queen Beryl. A Dark King, if you wish. How would you like that, O ambitious Zoicite?"
"Mercury Bubbles Blast!"
The area was immediately filled with fog. "Argh!" Medusa cried. "I can't see! I can't see! Where are you!"
Suddenly, by dumb chance, Zoicite managed to stumble into Medusa's grasp. Medusa smiled.
"Ah. Now, I will turn you temporarily to stone." As she began to work her magic, her eyes glowed. Suddenly, a single red rose slashed into one eye, not only breaking her concentration, but blinding that eye as well. "Who was that!" she shrieked.
Prince Endymion appeared with his back to her, shield in front of him, as he saw Medusa. "You will never succeed with your diabolical plan," he informed her.
"And who's going to stop me?" Medusa smirked.
Prince Endymion's only answer was to draw his sword.
But as Medusa's attention was focused on him, Zoicite and Ami were sneaking up on either side of her.
With a cry, Zoicite and Ami both stuck their weapons into her, causing her to cry out in pain. Zoicite gave his a fierce wrench, and watched as she fell and turned into dust.
"Mamoru," Zoicite began, but was cut off.
"Not now," Prince Endymion said. "There are still the others."
Nephrite looked down upon his love. "Mako," he whispered. "My Mako. Would you do me the honor of spending the rest of your life with me as my wife?"
Makoto looked up. "Of course, Nephrite," she whispered. "Of course."
They were about to kiss, when they found a sticky web surrounding them.
"How touching," a voice hissed, and they looked up to see an Acromantula. (HP reference. So what?)
"What do you want?" Makoto asked bravely, as she couldn't transform when stuck with the spider web.
"I want to serve your Nephrite to my Queen as a gift," the Acromantula smiled. "Ta ta. I must go now."
The Acromantula disappeared in a puff of dust, and Nephrite along with her. Makoto was left alone . grieving . still stuck in the spider web.
Rei smiled at Jadeite. She opened her mouth to say something, when she felt something go through Jadeite's back. She stepped back, horrified.
"Jadeite!" she cried in shock as Jadeite fell forward, revealing a spear in his back.
"Oops," a wicked voice called out. "Queen Beryl wanted him whole, but I never was good at following directions."
"Who are you!" Rei cried. "What did you do to him? You shall pay! Mars Power! Mars Fire Ignite!" Her voice was filled pain as she shot fire at the darkness, only to hit nothing.
"Jadeite!" she cried again, turning back to her love. To her shock, he had gone. "No," she whispered brokenly as she fell to the ground. "No."
Topazite was excitedly talking to his parents when he felt a cold gut feeling. He turned around just in time to watch with wide eyes as a net was dropped around him, and closed around him. He looked as his parents became small figures in the background, and he was brought into the air.
"Who are you! Let me go!"
"No. Queen Beryl wants you."
Chrysolite was sleeping soundly when shadows began forming out of the floorboards. Within moments, she was awake, gagged, and tied, unable to do anything as these shadow people carried her outside in the freezing cold to who knew where. Through her bonds, muffled sounds could be hard. "Mmfh phsh mmmf mmph msh!" (You cowards. I'm gonna get you when I'm untied!)
Pyrite was actually still on the carriage, on his way home when it happened. He was bored, not paying attention, thinking about how he wished he had powers like Hotaru. Then he would be able to help so many people. A shock in the carriage startled him.
"What's that?" he sleepily whispered. The carriage door was flung open. He was no longer asleep. He watched apprehensively as clinging, brownish youma came lumbering through the door.
He uselessly fought against them, but they barely acknowledged the blows, and were soon carrying him off into the distance.
Monazite was taking a walk in the forest, when he tensed and froze. He located a sound being made, and whirled to face it, only to find himself surrounded by Queen Beryl's minions. He got ready to fight, realizing too late that a creature above him had dropped a web on top of him. He automatically reached for his knife, only to find that he was paralyzed. He could only watch helplessly as he was towed away.
The Angel of Selene met up with Prince Endymion moments later.
"They're all gone," she whispered.
"We were too late," Prince Endymion said, shocked.
The Angel's eyes flashed. "I will not let this happen," she said clearly. "It is time Beryl was attacked."
"You will not attack alone," Prince Endymion said firmly. "And you ~will~ reveal your identities to the others. We cannot keep secrets from each other at a time like this."
The Angel paused before finally nodding, grudgingly. "I will tell them."
An exhausted group stood before them. Ami stood with Zoicite, both looking down on the ground. Minako and Malachite were both stony-faced, holding hands. Rei and Makoto were both in hysterics, while Hotaru and Setsuna were trying to calm them down. Haruka looked ready to kill, and Michiru was attempting to hold her back. Luna and Artemis stood in human form, both waiting patiently.
Finally, Mamoru spoke. "The Angel of Selene and I have thought long and hard about this, and we have made our decision. In a fortnight, as the sun rises, Beryl will find that her fortress is being attacked. The Angel of Selene and I will be doing the attacking. We invite anyone who wishes to join us."
"Who is this Angel of Selene?" Zoicite finally asked. "And why do you trust her?"
"I am the Angel of Selene," a clear voice rang out. She stepped in the clearing. "I am the daughter of the Goddess Selene, and one of the few remaining descendants of the Gods and Goddesses. I believe there might be some scattered around the galaxies that I do not know of."
"But who are you?" Minako asked patiently. "That's only one of your forms, one of your transformations."
"That is true," she shrugged. "A girl's gotta have her secrets, you know."
"You promised," Mamoru warned.
"Fine," the Angel pouted. "Can't you take a joke? I'm," she destransformed, "Usagi."
There was a dead silence, before Luna shrieked. Usagi ducked behind Mamoru. "When I get my hands on you," Luna muttered, before beginning to chase Usagi. The sight of Luna chasing Usagi around and around a bewildered Mamoru was too comical, and the senshi and the remaining generals burst out in laughter. And everything was all right for the time being.
The two weeks were spent training and discussing tactical strategies. Although "conquer and divide" was sound, the Negaverse sorely outnumbered them, and it didn't seem the best way to go. Finally, they decided on splitting into two groups.
Mamoru would lead one group with the Inners and the two remaining Generals. Usagi would lead the other one, with the Outers and Luna and Artemis. One would attack from the north; the other would slip in through the south. As the Generals were whom Queen Beryl wanted, their group would provide the distraction.
As the fateful day drew nearer, they did not speak of what was coming. They avoided the subject, as if hoping that in that way, it would not take place. Instead, they often pretended they were going to go out on a lark, referring to it as "the trip" and such.
But before long, the fateful day arrived. Armed plentifully, Mamoru led Rei, Makoto, Minako, Rei, Malachite, and Zoisite through a well-thought out path through the Dark Wood until they reached Beryl's fortress. Immediately, they charged towards the castle, mindful of booby traps, youma, and surprise ambushes.
Meanwhile, clad in muted tones of nature, Usagi led Haruka, Michiru, Hotaru, Setsuna, Luna, and Artemis through the back of the castle. After much spelling and hiding, she had managed to break through the wards and discovered the layout of the castle. Now, she utilized the information and led them through a small passageway that would eventually lead to Beryl's laboratory, which (as rumor held it) contained the brainwashing tools, and was used as a throne room.
It was dark and the passage was small, forcing them to crawl at times, and to bend over the entire time, but they persevered, pushing ahead, past dusty torches and imagined visions of nonexistent skeletons of those who must have attempted the passage and failed. They brushed past cobwebs, ignored scuttering mice, or whatever they were, and ignored the old, musty smell of old home that permeated their noses. They squeezed past thin spots, and spread out, keeping alert, in the wider areas that sometimes appeared. Always, they would stop every few moments to listen for sound. It was always spontaneous, yet simultaneous, as if they shared a mind. There was the strain of constantly reinforcing their magic barriers, making sure that Beryl could not sense either their presence or that of their destinies. They dimmed their auras, so that only an experienced Seer would be able to notice.
Finally, an old, crumbling wall that stood in their way stopped them. Usagi was perplexed. This wasn't here when she checked last, she told them. Perhaps they had put it up newly, Hotaru had suggested in a low voice. But no, Setsuna had disputed the fact, saying that it was too old to have been recently put there. Was she sure that this was the way, Haruka had asked, politely, and Usagi had said that yes, she was sure, and that there was obviously some catch that would show them the way. Finally, Michiru was the one to suggest that it could be an illusion. And they had agreed that seemed the best bet. And they had uncovered the illusion and moved on. But Usagi was silent. Because she wondered. Because she was sure even the illusion wasn't there last time she checked, and if they knew about the passageway, they would surely be expecting attack from it, and the element of surprise would be lost.
While they forged onwards in utter darkness, fighting more psychological monsters than physical ones, Mamoru was leading his friends in a seemingly hopeless battle against continually multiplying youma. A parry here, a quick dodge from a flying dagger, and a word of warning to a friend just as you duck a fiery trail of lightning being thrown about was all they could do. In such close quarters, any magical attacks would hurt more than help.
Makoto was the first to get frustrated. She began wildly slashing with her saber, cutting a path of organized retreat. The others did not follow her, and she ignored them. When she was safely within the recesses of the forest and knew that no youma followed her, she scrambled atop a tall tree and viewed around her. She could see large wave of youma coming from the far distance.
"Jupiter Thunder Clap Zap!" Within moments, the faraway youma were zapped.
Taking their cue, Minako, Rei, and Ami dove for the forests as well. Then, "Mars Fire Ignite!" "Venus Crescent Beam Smash!" "Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"
The three attacks cut wide swaths through the youma, obliterating many in one stroke. Now having some breathing room, Mamoru, Malachite, and Zoicite rose to the occasion. Using their elemental magic, they, too, began zapping youma by the dozens. Soon, there were no more youma sent out to greet them.
As they met in the center, and then headed towards the fortress, Mamoru was busy talking. "They've gone to regroup. Keep on alert, and remember that when they strike again, they will be fast and furious. A single mistake could be deadly. We must not leave them time to think about an assault, or for them to wonder about the others. We need to attack now."
Makoto nodded. "Rei and I can demolish any doors, etc, in our way."
"And we can take care of the rest," Malachite nodded grimly at Zoicite.
"I'll be analyzing with my computer," Ami nodded.
"And I can cover our back," Minako said.
And they set out. Thanks to Ami's nifty computer, booby trap after booby trap was discovered. A little magic was all it took to spring them and let them through. They approached with extreme care, tense with caution. Any moment, they expected to be ambushed, to be attacked. The stress built up in the air.
Meanwhile, Usagi's team had reached the end of the passageway. Walking through what seemed like miles of doom and gloom had made Haruka edgy, but they all waited for Usagi's signal before going. Usagi saw Beryl frantically directing her youma through a crystal ball, while a pool of darkness lay beside her mockery of the Silver Throne.
Finally, Usagi sensed Beryl's sourced of power . a peculiar green staff seething with dark magic. She turned to her friends. Their objective, she said, was this. Someone must make sure that the pool of darkness not be allowed to touch Beryl at any cost, and that the green staff must be destroyed or Beryl will still have a measure of power in which to seal herself away so that she might recuperate.
So they waited with abated breaths for the moment when Beryl would not be watching them, for a moment when she was distracted by her crystal orb, and there! There was the instant! Seizing it, Serenity's team jumped out.
Startled and dismayed, Beryl unluckily let her crystal orb drop. It shattered into pieces. The crash startled the team, giving Beryl the nanosecond needed to grab her green staff, but yet still, Hotaru and Setsuna managed to stand in front of the pool of darkness, allowing Beryl no passageway. And the battle began as the senshi began firing their highest attacks at Beryl. Beryl just absorbed them with her green staff, and reflected them back.
Hotaru stumbled back in pain once and almost fell into the pool of darkness, but was caught by Setsuna before she could fall in. Seeing this, Usagi managed to put up a barrier around the pool. It was a temporary, collapsible one at best, but it would serve for the moment being.
Meanwhile, the youma had ceased their attacks, receiving no orders from their queen. And Mamoru's team pushed onward, before they reached the throne room as well, having memorized their route, and meeting no distractions.
When they got there, Beryl looked frustrated, and finally sent out a magical summons. Immediately, four figures appeared in her throne room. They were Chrysolite, Topazite, Pyrite, and Monazite.
"Where is Nephrite," Jupiter demanded at the same time Rei cried, "What did you do with Jadeite?"
Beryl laughed. "The higher two generals have remained frozen within the brainwashing room, waiting for their partners to meet them. No, they will not face you. But these will." And she sat back and laughed that insane laughter that sent chills down all of their backs.
Usagi's team and Mamoru's team turned to look as their former friends raised up deadly-looking weapons, ready to kill. And they prepared to fight for what they believed in.
The Angel of Selene looked, and finally spoke. "We fight for love and justice."
Venus spoke next. "We fight for beauty and peace."
"We fight for icy intelligence."
"We fight for thunder and lightning, for mother nature."
"We fight for the fiery passions of religion and of purity."
"We fight for the skies and the heavens."
"We fight of the sea and for the creatures."
"We fight for life, and for death."
"We fight for time and space."
"We fight for our brethren."
"We fight for our wills."
"We fight for good, and we fight against you," the Angel of Selene spoke last. "I am the daughter of the Goddess and Selene, and I shall have my vengeance!"
But slowly, the black liquid began to rise, and it formed a shadowy figure of a woman. "And I," it hissed, "am Metallia. I am She Who Was Outcast. I am She Who Was Turned Away. I am She Who Was Wronged. I am She Who Was Scorned. And now, they shall pay, for I am evil! Listen to your petty talk, and little girl, and realize that I AM VENGEANCE! I corrupted Neherenia before you were ever born, little girl. I forced the dissidents to the dark side of the moon! I was the one who spoiled it for your precious mother and her silly visions of love. With a shepherd! Bah! You, who managed to come out of your mother's love. You shall die! Remember this and die!!!!!!!!!"
Usagi looked up bravely. "I stand for love."
"I stand for hate."
"Love shall triumph. Good shall triumph. It is the way of the universe, Metallia. You have stepped out of bounds. I, heiress to the divine throne, call upon the elements!"
There was a crackle and a crash, as thunder rumbled across the sky. Metallia almost looked cowed, and even Usagi seemed uncertain. The senshi and Beryl were oddly silent and as they watched a huge flash of light engulfed the room. When they were able to open their eyes again .
"WHO SUMMONS US!"
To be continued .
Malachite smiled down at the love of his life. "Minako," he whispered. "Have I told you how beautiful you are?"
Minako smiled. "Not in the last five minutes," she teased.
"Well, you are-" he was cut off by a sudden whoosh in the air beside him. He leapt out of the way just in time to avoid a poison-tipped dart.
Minako was up in a minute. "Venus Power! I am Sailor Venus, Chosen of Aphrodite, Goddess of Love and Beauty! I will not let you go unscathed!"
Meanwhile, Malachite had reverted to Guardian form. (He looks like a Prince Endymion, with more armor, in an orangish color.)
They immediately spotted the assailant. She was not a youma. On the contrary, she was a tall, black-haired, blue-skinned humanoid-looking creature. But she was definitely not a youma. She looked almost normal in fact, if it weren't for her appearance. "I am Titus," she said coolly, "recently most favored of Queen Beryl. I have been sent to fetch you, Malachite. Queen Beryl has taken a liking to you. She wants to . make you one of her Generals. Can you imagine that? A Dark King. Imagine the power you could have . the women you could bed . whatever you wanted, you could have."
"In your dreams," Malachite shouted furiously. "Tell your Queen of B****** to shove her offer up her @$$, and tell her to go away!"
"Temper, temper," Titus chided. "I'm not the Queen's most favored for nothing. I knew you would reject, but I'm afraid I can't take no for an answer. Now you shall know why I am the most powerful of the Queen! I am Titus, Chosen of the Goddess Tatiana!"
"Umm ." Sailor Venus was hesitant. "I've never heard of a Goddess Tatiana."
"Of course you haven't, you fool," Titus scoffed. "Tatiana is the Goddess of Death of the Negaverse! Of course you don't know her!"
"Goddess of death, eh?" Malachite asked. "Let's see if you're as good as you think you are."
"All right then," Titus smiled wickedly. "I call upon the powers of Tatiana, Death be my Element!" She held out her arms, and let out a banshee shriek.
Malachite and Sailor Venus turned away together, covering their ears form the hideous wail. But the screech bored between their hands, and climbed into their ears, traveling to their brain, and filling them with doubt of their love for each other, doubt about their decision .
"Shimmering Blast!"
A cry cut through the empty air. Titus found herself thrown back. She looked up, and saw a glowing, silver figure.
"I am the Angel of Selene, daughter of the Moon Goddess! You shall pay for the troubles you have caused! Silver Crystalline Lunar Attack!"
A blast of light enveloped Titus. "No!" Titus cried as the light consumed her, and dissolved her to dust.
The Angel of Selene turned and smiled at Malachite and Sailor Venus. "Gotta go!" And she jumped out of sight.
"So, Amiko," Zoicite murmured.
"Hmm?" Ami asked pleasantly.
"I was thinking," he began, but suddenly leapt to one side, pushing Ami the other way. Where both had just been standing, something exploded.
"Mercury Power!"
"Do you think to defeat me?" a voice snorted. "I am Medusa! And I have been sent to capture you, Zoicite. You are to be a General of the Queen Beryl. A Dark King, if you wish. How would you like that, O ambitious Zoicite?"
"Mercury Bubbles Blast!"
The area was immediately filled with fog. "Argh!" Medusa cried. "I can't see! I can't see! Where are you!"
Suddenly, by dumb chance, Zoicite managed to stumble into Medusa's grasp. Medusa smiled.
"Ah. Now, I will turn you temporarily to stone." As she began to work her magic, her eyes glowed. Suddenly, a single red rose slashed into one eye, not only breaking her concentration, but blinding that eye as well. "Who was that!" she shrieked.
Prince Endymion appeared with his back to her, shield in front of him, as he saw Medusa. "You will never succeed with your diabolical plan," he informed her.
"And who's going to stop me?" Medusa smirked.
Prince Endymion's only answer was to draw his sword.
But as Medusa's attention was focused on him, Zoicite and Ami were sneaking up on either side of her.
With a cry, Zoicite and Ami both stuck their weapons into her, causing her to cry out in pain. Zoicite gave his a fierce wrench, and watched as she fell and turned into dust.
"Mamoru," Zoicite began, but was cut off.
"Not now," Prince Endymion said. "There are still the others."
Nephrite looked down upon his love. "Mako," he whispered. "My Mako. Would you do me the honor of spending the rest of your life with me as my wife?"
Makoto looked up. "Of course, Nephrite," she whispered. "Of course."
They were about to kiss, when they found a sticky web surrounding them.
"How touching," a voice hissed, and they looked up to see an Acromantula. (HP reference. So what?)
"What do you want?" Makoto asked bravely, as she couldn't transform when stuck with the spider web.
"I want to serve your Nephrite to my Queen as a gift," the Acromantula smiled. "Ta ta. I must go now."
The Acromantula disappeared in a puff of dust, and Nephrite along with her. Makoto was left alone . grieving . still stuck in the spider web.
Rei smiled at Jadeite. She opened her mouth to say something, when she felt something go through Jadeite's back. She stepped back, horrified.
"Jadeite!" she cried in shock as Jadeite fell forward, revealing a spear in his back.
"Oops," a wicked voice called out. "Queen Beryl wanted him whole, but I never was good at following directions."
"Who are you!" Rei cried. "What did you do to him? You shall pay! Mars Power! Mars Fire Ignite!" Her voice was filled pain as she shot fire at the darkness, only to hit nothing.
"Jadeite!" she cried again, turning back to her love. To her shock, he had gone. "No," she whispered brokenly as she fell to the ground. "No."
Topazite was excitedly talking to his parents when he felt a cold gut feeling. He turned around just in time to watch with wide eyes as a net was dropped around him, and closed around him. He looked as his parents became small figures in the background, and he was brought into the air.
"Who are you! Let me go!"
"No. Queen Beryl wants you."
Chrysolite was sleeping soundly when shadows began forming out of the floorboards. Within moments, she was awake, gagged, and tied, unable to do anything as these shadow people carried her outside in the freezing cold to who knew where. Through her bonds, muffled sounds could be hard. "Mmfh phsh mmmf mmph msh!" (You cowards. I'm gonna get you when I'm untied!)
Pyrite was actually still on the carriage, on his way home when it happened. He was bored, not paying attention, thinking about how he wished he had powers like Hotaru. Then he would be able to help so many people. A shock in the carriage startled him.
"What's that?" he sleepily whispered. The carriage door was flung open. He was no longer asleep. He watched apprehensively as clinging, brownish youma came lumbering through the door.
He uselessly fought against them, but they barely acknowledged the blows, and were soon carrying him off into the distance.
Monazite was taking a walk in the forest, when he tensed and froze. He located a sound being made, and whirled to face it, only to find himself surrounded by Queen Beryl's minions. He got ready to fight, realizing too late that a creature above him had dropped a web on top of him. He automatically reached for his knife, only to find that he was paralyzed. He could only watch helplessly as he was towed away.
The Angel of Selene met up with Prince Endymion moments later.
"They're all gone," she whispered.
"We were too late," Prince Endymion said, shocked.
The Angel's eyes flashed. "I will not let this happen," she said clearly. "It is time Beryl was attacked."
"You will not attack alone," Prince Endymion said firmly. "And you ~will~ reveal your identities to the others. We cannot keep secrets from each other at a time like this."
The Angel paused before finally nodding, grudgingly. "I will tell them."
An exhausted group stood before them. Ami stood with Zoicite, both looking down on the ground. Minako and Malachite were both stony-faced, holding hands. Rei and Makoto were both in hysterics, while Hotaru and Setsuna were trying to calm them down. Haruka looked ready to kill, and Michiru was attempting to hold her back. Luna and Artemis stood in human form, both waiting patiently.
Finally, Mamoru spoke. "The Angel of Selene and I have thought long and hard about this, and we have made our decision. In a fortnight, as the sun rises, Beryl will find that her fortress is being attacked. The Angel of Selene and I will be doing the attacking. We invite anyone who wishes to join us."
"Who is this Angel of Selene?" Zoicite finally asked. "And why do you trust her?"
"I am the Angel of Selene," a clear voice rang out. She stepped in the clearing. "I am the daughter of the Goddess Selene, and one of the few remaining descendants of the Gods and Goddesses. I believe there might be some scattered around the galaxies that I do not know of."
"But who are you?" Minako asked patiently. "That's only one of your forms, one of your transformations."
"That is true," she shrugged. "A girl's gotta have her secrets, you know."
"You promised," Mamoru warned.
"Fine," the Angel pouted. "Can't you take a joke? I'm," she destransformed, "Usagi."
There was a dead silence, before Luna shrieked. Usagi ducked behind Mamoru. "When I get my hands on you," Luna muttered, before beginning to chase Usagi. The sight of Luna chasing Usagi around and around a bewildered Mamoru was too comical, and the senshi and the remaining generals burst out in laughter. And everything was all right for the time being.
The two weeks were spent training and discussing tactical strategies. Although "conquer and divide" was sound, the Negaverse sorely outnumbered them, and it didn't seem the best way to go. Finally, they decided on splitting into two groups.
Mamoru would lead one group with the Inners and the two remaining Generals. Usagi would lead the other one, with the Outers and Luna and Artemis. One would attack from the north; the other would slip in through the south. As the Generals were whom Queen Beryl wanted, their group would provide the distraction.
As the fateful day drew nearer, they did not speak of what was coming. They avoided the subject, as if hoping that in that way, it would not take place. Instead, they often pretended they were going to go out on a lark, referring to it as "the trip" and such.
But before long, the fateful day arrived. Armed plentifully, Mamoru led Rei, Makoto, Minako, Rei, Malachite, and Zoisite through a well-thought out path through the Dark Wood until they reached Beryl's fortress. Immediately, they charged towards the castle, mindful of booby traps, youma, and surprise ambushes.
Meanwhile, clad in muted tones of nature, Usagi led Haruka, Michiru, Hotaru, Setsuna, Luna, and Artemis through the back of the castle. After much spelling and hiding, she had managed to break through the wards and discovered the layout of the castle. Now, she utilized the information and led them through a small passageway that would eventually lead to Beryl's laboratory, which (as rumor held it) contained the brainwashing tools, and was used as a throne room.
It was dark and the passage was small, forcing them to crawl at times, and to bend over the entire time, but they persevered, pushing ahead, past dusty torches and imagined visions of nonexistent skeletons of those who must have attempted the passage and failed. They brushed past cobwebs, ignored scuttering mice, or whatever they were, and ignored the old, musty smell of old home that permeated their noses. They squeezed past thin spots, and spread out, keeping alert, in the wider areas that sometimes appeared. Always, they would stop every few moments to listen for sound. It was always spontaneous, yet simultaneous, as if they shared a mind. There was the strain of constantly reinforcing their magic barriers, making sure that Beryl could not sense either their presence or that of their destinies. They dimmed their auras, so that only an experienced Seer would be able to notice.
Finally, an old, crumbling wall that stood in their way stopped them. Usagi was perplexed. This wasn't here when she checked last, she told them. Perhaps they had put it up newly, Hotaru had suggested in a low voice. But no, Setsuna had disputed the fact, saying that it was too old to have been recently put there. Was she sure that this was the way, Haruka had asked, politely, and Usagi had said that yes, she was sure, and that there was obviously some catch that would show them the way. Finally, Michiru was the one to suggest that it could be an illusion. And they had agreed that seemed the best bet. And they had uncovered the illusion and moved on. But Usagi was silent. Because she wondered. Because she was sure even the illusion wasn't there last time she checked, and if they knew about the passageway, they would surely be expecting attack from it, and the element of surprise would be lost.
While they forged onwards in utter darkness, fighting more psychological monsters than physical ones, Mamoru was leading his friends in a seemingly hopeless battle against continually multiplying youma. A parry here, a quick dodge from a flying dagger, and a word of warning to a friend just as you duck a fiery trail of lightning being thrown about was all they could do. In such close quarters, any magical attacks would hurt more than help.
Makoto was the first to get frustrated. She began wildly slashing with her saber, cutting a path of organized retreat. The others did not follow her, and she ignored them. When she was safely within the recesses of the forest and knew that no youma followed her, she scrambled atop a tall tree and viewed around her. She could see large wave of youma coming from the far distance.
"Jupiter Thunder Clap Zap!" Within moments, the faraway youma were zapped.
Taking their cue, Minako, Rei, and Ami dove for the forests as well. Then, "Mars Fire Ignite!" "Venus Crescent Beam Smash!" "Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"
The three attacks cut wide swaths through the youma, obliterating many in one stroke. Now having some breathing room, Mamoru, Malachite, and Zoicite rose to the occasion. Using their elemental magic, they, too, began zapping youma by the dozens. Soon, there were no more youma sent out to greet them.
As they met in the center, and then headed towards the fortress, Mamoru was busy talking. "They've gone to regroup. Keep on alert, and remember that when they strike again, they will be fast and furious. A single mistake could be deadly. We must not leave them time to think about an assault, or for them to wonder about the others. We need to attack now."
Makoto nodded. "Rei and I can demolish any doors, etc, in our way."
"And we can take care of the rest," Malachite nodded grimly at Zoicite.
"I'll be analyzing with my computer," Ami nodded.
"And I can cover our back," Minako said.
And they set out. Thanks to Ami's nifty computer, booby trap after booby trap was discovered. A little magic was all it took to spring them and let them through. They approached with extreme care, tense with caution. Any moment, they expected to be ambushed, to be attacked. The stress built up in the air.
Meanwhile, Usagi's team had reached the end of the passageway. Walking through what seemed like miles of doom and gloom had made Haruka edgy, but they all waited for Usagi's signal before going. Usagi saw Beryl frantically directing her youma through a crystal ball, while a pool of darkness lay beside her mockery of the Silver Throne.
Finally, Usagi sensed Beryl's sourced of power . a peculiar green staff seething with dark magic. She turned to her friends. Their objective, she said, was this. Someone must make sure that the pool of darkness not be allowed to touch Beryl at any cost, and that the green staff must be destroyed or Beryl will still have a measure of power in which to seal herself away so that she might recuperate.
So they waited with abated breaths for the moment when Beryl would not be watching them, for a moment when she was distracted by her crystal orb, and there! There was the instant! Seizing it, Serenity's team jumped out.
Startled and dismayed, Beryl unluckily let her crystal orb drop. It shattered into pieces. The crash startled the team, giving Beryl the nanosecond needed to grab her green staff, but yet still, Hotaru and Setsuna managed to stand in front of the pool of darkness, allowing Beryl no passageway. And the battle began as the senshi began firing their highest attacks at Beryl. Beryl just absorbed them with her green staff, and reflected them back.
Hotaru stumbled back in pain once and almost fell into the pool of darkness, but was caught by Setsuna before she could fall in. Seeing this, Usagi managed to put up a barrier around the pool. It was a temporary, collapsible one at best, but it would serve for the moment being.
Meanwhile, the youma had ceased their attacks, receiving no orders from their queen. And Mamoru's team pushed onward, before they reached the throne room as well, having memorized their route, and meeting no distractions.
When they got there, Beryl looked frustrated, and finally sent out a magical summons. Immediately, four figures appeared in her throne room. They were Chrysolite, Topazite, Pyrite, and Monazite.
"Where is Nephrite," Jupiter demanded at the same time Rei cried, "What did you do with Jadeite?"
Beryl laughed. "The higher two generals have remained frozen within the brainwashing room, waiting for their partners to meet them. No, they will not face you. But these will." And she sat back and laughed that insane laughter that sent chills down all of their backs.
Usagi's team and Mamoru's team turned to look as their former friends raised up deadly-looking weapons, ready to kill. And they prepared to fight for what they believed in.
The Angel of Selene looked, and finally spoke. "We fight for love and justice."
Venus spoke next. "We fight for beauty and peace."
"We fight for icy intelligence."
"We fight for thunder and lightning, for mother nature."
"We fight for the fiery passions of religion and of purity."
"We fight for the skies and the heavens."
"We fight of the sea and for the creatures."
"We fight for life, and for death."
"We fight for time and space."
"We fight for our brethren."
"We fight for our wills."
"We fight for good, and we fight against you," the Angel of Selene spoke last. "I am the daughter of the Goddess and Selene, and I shall have my vengeance!"
But slowly, the black liquid began to rise, and it formed a shadowy figure of a woman. "And I," it hissed, "am Metallia. I am She Who Was Outcast. I am She Who Was Turned Away. I am She Who Was Wronged. I am She Who Was Scorned. And now, they shall pay, for I am evil! Listen to your petty talk, and little girl, and realize that I AM VENGEANCE! I corrupted Neherenia before you were ever born, little girl. I forced the dissidents to the dark side of the moon! I was the one who spoiled it for your precious mother and her silly visions of love. With a shepherd! Bah! You, who managed to come out of your mother's love. You shall die! Remember this and die!!!!!!!!!"
Usagi looked up bravely. "I stand for love."
"I stand for hate."
"Love shall triumph. Good shall triumph. It is the way of the universe, Metallia. You have stepped out of bounds. I, heiress to the divine throne, call upon the elements!"
There was a crackle and a crash, as thunder rumbled across the sky. Metallia almost looked cowed, and even Usagi seemed uncertain. The senshi and Beryl were oddly silent and as they watched a huge flash of light engulfed the room. When they were able to open their eyes again .
"WHO SUMMONS US!"
To be continued .