I'm finally coming out with this chapter. Hehehe.
Towering figures made of blinding light appeared. The senshi and the generals hid their eyes from the light. Even Beryl, proud as she was, and used to the blazing fury of the entity Metallia, had to look away. Only the Angel and Metallia stared at the blazing light, not shielding their eyes.
The Angel of Selene spoke. "I summoned you, the First Elements."
"WHO ARE YOU TO SUMMON US?" the great, yet terrible voice hurt everyone's ears, resonating throughout their mind.
The Angel lifted her face proudly. "I am the daughter of Selene, and I summon you to a trial of Metallia. She has disobeyed the First Rule, the one my mother was sentenced to eternal loneliness for. She has meddled with the lives of mortals, and she has done the forbidden. She has killed your children!"
This was when the mighty voice that was one now split into 12. The one that spoke first was a gentle, old, voice. "SHE IS CORRECT. METALLIA DESERVES TO BE PUNISHED." Father Time's tone was patient and reasonable.
Then spoke an angry voice. "KILLING OUR CHILDREN, METALLIA SHALL NOT GO UNPUNISHED." The Lord of Fire was vengeful and wanted blood.
Metallia spoke up. Her black hair was now tied back and she was delicately, docilely dressed. No longer clad scantily in black, she approached the ancient elements. "Do you seek to take the word of a child before mine? And the child of an unlawful union! This child is directly a descendant of you, and yet she has meddled most in the mortals' lives. She has lived among them since she was the age of 5. Her mother shattered the scared Moon Orb, and actually passed its pieces out, drawing worshippers away from your children unto her. Now, there is but one piece left of the Moon Orb, the one they call the Silver Crystal, which is in her hand? Does she deserve it?"
"YOU SPEAK TRULY, METALLIA," a cold voice filled the room. The Mistress of Ice was obviously siding with Metallia.
"YOU CANNOT MEAN THAT, SISTER," a gentle, warm voice cried, shocked. "SURELY YOU JEST. THIS IS METALLIA, THE ONE WHO KILLED OUR CHILDREN." The Goddess of Love still wept for her beautiful daughter, Aphrodite.
"YOU MAY ALL ARGUE," a haughty voice said, "BUT I HAD NO CHILD FOR METALLIA TO KILL, AND I FIND TRUTH IN HER WORDS. WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE SUCH A SIMPLE CHILD?" The Lady of Light had always been proud, and had no children, and thus, did not learn to care for the world around her.
The Angel of Selene stepped forward to plead her case. "I hold the Silver Crystal because it belongs to me rightfully by heritage. I have reason to be among mortals because my father was a mortal. I invoke the Ancient Laws! The Laws that date back to before Unisia! That are held supreme! I invoke the Law of Justice and of Vengeance!
"Metallia has killed my mother and my aunts and uncles! She has sealed away my father's body, and has mutilated it! She has in all truths exiled me among mortals! I invoke the Law of Justice and demand that you hear my plea. I invoke the Law of Vengeance and demand that I get my due!" The Angel's eyes were bright, and her voice was terrible as she cried for the ancient ways of justice.
A terrible voice spoke. "HOW DARE YOU DEMAND FROM US? WE ARE THE ELEMENTS, UNEQUALED IN STRENGTH, UNEQUALED IN PROWESS!" It was Old Death, whose temper was often so great he killed his adversary.
The Angel lifted her head. "Go ahead. Kill me. But even the Elements must obey the Ancient Laws. For it was not even the Elements who set them, but the Great Mother and Father of All Time, Space, and Possible Dimensions!"
The gentle, soothing voice of the gentle Zephyr spoke. "CALM DOWN, ELDEST BROTHER, AND DO NOT LOSE YOUR TEMPER."
A grunt was heard as Lady Darkness spoke. "THE GIRL, IMPUDENT THOUGH SHE MAY BE, IS CORRECT. THIS IS NOT A MATTER FOR US TO DECIDE."
Metallia's eyes were wild. "I also invoke the Ancient Laws!" she said, grasping at straws. "I wish to prove my honor to the girl by fighting against her, with my extent of power, and her extent of power! It shall be thus fair!"
"NO," came the voice of Father Time. "IMMORTAL AGAINST IMMORTAL . THIS MUST NOT TAKE PLACE."
"YOU HAVE GROWN SENILE," the disdainful voice of Mistress Youth replied. "SHE HAS INVOKED THE LAW, SO THE FIGHT WILL TAKE PLACE."
"SILENCE." The voice that spoke was the voice of Oblivion, the being, element, who never spoke, never interfered with the affairs of gods. He only attended when summoned because he was compelled to. It was Oblivion who spoke. "WE HAVE DEGRADED. WHILE OUR CHILDREN HAVE DIED, WE HAVE TURNED TO PETTY SQUABBLING TO KEEP OURSELVES AMUSED. WHILE OUR CHILDREN HAVE PASSED THEIR POWERS ONTO THE CHOSEN, WE HAVE IGNORED THE AFFAIRS OF MORTALS, AND WORKED ON LIMITING EACH OTHER'S POWER. NOW THE ANCIENT LAWS HAVE BEEN REVOKED, AND THERE IS NO TURNING BACK. THE ANGEL DEMANDS VEANGEANCE, AND METALLIA DEMANDS HONOR. WE MUST ACQUIESCE TO THEIR COMMANDS. THUS NOW DO I SIDE WITH THE ANCIENT LAW. FOR BOTH SIDES TO BE SATISFIED, I PROPOSE THAT THE TWO DUEL. TO THE VICTOR GOES THE SPOILS, AS THE MORTAL SAYING GOES. NO ELEMENT SHALL INTERFERE LEST THE WRATH OF MOTHER AND FATHER BE UPON THEM."
"OUR CHILD SPEAKS WELL," two voices spoke. The last of the Elements, they were the Mother and Father, who never attended, and yet had come. They never interfered, never passed judgment, never executed. Yet they had arrived. Because now, beings even more powerful than the Elements were doing their work. Fate and Destiny.
"THUS IS OUR VERDICT," spoke the Mistress of Ice, the Executioner. "SO SHALL THE ANGEL AND METALLIA FIGHT A DUEL, AND TO THE VICTOR GOES THE SPOILS. DO YOU CONSENT, METALLIA?"
Metallia chuckled evilly, certain she would win. "Yes, I agree to the duel."
"AND DO YOU AGREE, DAUGHTER OF SELENE?" asked the Mistress of Ice.
The Angel lifted her head proudly. "I do agree."
By this time, of course, Mamoru had regained his wits. He braved the bright light. "Usagi," his voice was shocked. "You can't! Either way you look at it, Metallia is still a goddess, and you're still only a demi- goddess. You'd die!"
The Angel turned to look at Mamoru. "Don't worry," she said brightly. "Good always prevails." There was an uncertain moment in which she shot him an uncertain, half-hidden, half-sad look filled with some good old-fashioned love and angst, but it was only a moment, and she hid the look quickly, and Mamoru was uncertain of what he saw.
As the Angel turned to face Metallia, though, soft words emerged from Mamoru's lips to float to her ears. "Good luck . Usako." But she was uncertain of what she heard and whether it was something else he said.
The Angel and the Metallia faced each other. A soft white nimbus surrounded the Angel. A dark black nimbus surrounded Metallia. Both tensed, ready to begin the fight. Metallia was confident. The Angel was not.
This was what it had all come down to. What really mattered. A battle between the Angel of Selene and Metallia. A battle between good and evil. The ultimate battle. The bystanders all felt the tingling in the air. The Elements, Beryl, the Sailor Senshi, Endymion and his Generals and Ex-Generals. All awaited the battle with ill-concealed anticipation. The verdict of this battle would determine the fate of the world. A battle between the Instrument of Dark and the Instrument of Light.
Oblivion arose, as the appointed judge. "BEGIN."
To be continued.
Towering figures made of blinding light appeared. The senshi and the generals hid their eyes from the light. Even Beryl, proud as she was, and used to the blazing fury of the entity Metallia, had to look away. Only the Angel and Metallia stared at the blazing light, not shielding their eyes.
The Angel of Selene spoke. "I summoned you, the First Elements."
"WHO ARE YOU TO SUMMON US?" the great, yet terrible voice hurt everyone's ears, resonating throughout their mind.
The Angel lifted her face proudly. "I am the daughter of Selene, and I summon you to a trial of Metallia. She has disobeyed the First Rule, the one my mother was sentenced to eternal loneliness for. She has meddled with the lives of mortals, and she has done the forbidden. She has killed your children!"
This was when the mighty voice that was one now split into 12. The one that spoke first was a gentle, old, voice. "SHE IS CORRECT. METALLIA DESERVES TO BE PUNISHED." Father Time's tone was patient and reasonable.
Then spoke an angry voice. "KILLING OUR CHILDREN, METALLIA SHALL NOT GO UNPUNISHED." The Lord of Fire was vengeful and wanted blood.
Metallia spoke up. Her black hair was now tied back and she was delicately, docilely dressed. No longer clad scantily in black, she approached the ancient elements. "Do you seek to take the word of a child before mine? And the child of an unlawful union! This child is directly a descendant of you, and yet she has meddled most in the mortals' lives. She has lived among them since she was the age of 5. Her mother shattered the scared Moon Orb, and actually passed its pieces out, drawing worshippers away from your children unto her. Now, there is but one piece left of the Moon Orb, the one they call the Silver Crystal, which is in her hand? Does she deserve it?"
"YOU SPEAK TRULY, METALLIA," a cold voice filled the room. The Mistress of Ice was obviously siding with Metallia.
"YOU CANNOT MEAN THAT, SISTER," a gentle, warm voice cried, shocked. "SURELY YOU JEST. THIS IS METALLIA, THE ONE WHO KILLED OUR CHILDREN." The Goddess of Love still wept for her beautiful daughter, Aphrodite.
"YOU MAY ALL ARGUE," a haughty voice said, "BUT I HAD NO CHILD FOR METALLIA TO KILL, AND I FIND TRUTH IN HER WORDS. WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE SUCH A SIMPLE CHILD?" The Lady of Light had always been proud, and had no children, and thus, did not learn to care for the world around her.
The Angel of Selene stepped forward to plead her case. "I hold the Silver Crystal because it belongs to me rightfully by heritage. I have reason to be among mortals because my father was a mortal. I invoke the Ancient Laws! The Laws that date back to before Unisia! That are held supreme! I invoke the Law of Justice and of Vengeance!
"Metallia has killed my mother and my aunts and uncles! She has sealed away my father's body, and has mutilated it! She has in all truths exiled me among mortals! I invoke the Law of Justice and demand that you hear my plea. I invoke the Law of Vengeance and demand that I get my due!" The Angel's eyes were bright, and her voice was terrible as she cried for the ancient ways of justice.
A terrible voice spoke. "HOW DARE YOU DEMAND FROM US? WE ARE THE ELEMENTS, UNEQUALED IN STRENGTH, UNEQUALED IN PROWESS!" It was Old Death, whose temper was often so great he killed his adversary.
The Angel lifted her head. "Go ahead. Kill me. But even the Elements must obey the Ancient Laws. For it was not even the Elements who set them, but the Great Mother and Father of All Time, Space, and Possible Dimensions!"
The gentle, soothing voice of the gentle Zephyr spoke. "CALM DOWN, ELDEST BROTHER, AND DO NOT LOSE YOUR TEMPER."
A grunt was heard as Lady Darkness spoke. "THE GIRL, IMPUDENT THOUGH SHE MAY BE, IS CORRECT. THIS IS NOT A MATTER FOR US TO DECIDE."
Metallia's eyes were wild. "I also invoke the Ancient Laws!" she said, grasping at straws. "I wish to prove my honor to the girl by fighting against her, with my extent of power, and her extent of power! It shall be thus fair!"
"NO," came the voice of Father Time. "IMMORTAL AGAINST IMMORTAL . THIS MUST NOT TAKE PLACE."
"YOU HAVE GROWN SENILE," the disdainful voice of Mistress Youth replied. "SHE HAS INVOKED THE LAW, SO THE FIGHT WILL TAKE PLACE."
"SILENCE." The voice that spoke was the voice of Oblivion, the being, element, who never spoke, never interfered with the affairs of gods. He only attended when summoned because he was compelled to. It was Oblivion who spoke. "WE HAVE DEGRADED. WHILE OUR CHILDREN HAVE DIED, WE HAVE TURNED TO PETTY SQUABBLING TO KEEP OURSELVES AMUSED. WHILE OUR CHILDREN HAVE PASSED THEIR POWERS ONTO THE CHOSEN, WE HAVE IGNORED THE AFFAIRS OF MORTALS, AND WORKED ON LIMITING EACH OTHER'S POWER. NOW THE ANCIENT LAWS HAVE BEEN REVOKED, AND THERE IS NO TURNING BACK. THE ANGEL DEMANDS VEANGEANCE, AND METALLIA DEMANDS HONOR. WE MUST ACQUIESCE TO THEIR COMMANDS. THUS NOW DO I SIDE WITH THE ANCIENT LAW. FOR BOTH SIDES TO BE SATISFIED, I PROPOSE THAT THE TWO DUEL. TO THE VICTOR GOES THE SPOILS, AS THE MORTAL SAYING GOES. NO ELEMENT SHALL INTERFERE LEST THE WRATH OF MOTHER AND FATHER BE UPON THEM."
"OUR CHILD SPEAKS WELL," two voices spoke. The last of the Elements, they were the Mother and Father, who never attended, and yet had come. They never interfered, never passed judgment, never executed. Yet they had arrived. Because now, beings even more powerful than the Elements were doing their work. Fate and Destiny.
"THUS IS OUR VERDICT," spoke the Mistress of Ice, the Executioner. "SO SHALL THE ANGEL AND METALLIA FIGHT A DUEL, AND TO THE VICTOR GOES THE SPOILS. DO YOU CONSENT, METALLIA?"
Metallia chuckled evilly, certain she would win. "Yes, I agree to the duel."
"AND DO YOU AGREE, DAUGHTER OF SELENE?" asked the Mistress of Ice.
The Angel lifted her head proudly. "I do agree."
By this time, of course, Mamoru had regained his wits. He braved the bright light. "Usagi," his voice was shocked. "You can't! Either way you look at it, Metallia is still a goddess, and you're still only a demi- goddess. You'd die!"
The Angel turned to look at Mamoru. "Don't worry," she said brightly. "Good always prevails." There was an uncertain moment in which she shot him an uncertain, half-hidden, half-sad look filled with some good old-fashioned love and angst, but it was only a moment, and she hid the look quickly, and Mamoru was uncertain of what he saw.
As the Angel turned to face Metallia, though, soft words emerged from Mamoru's lips to float to her ears. "Good luck . Usako." But she was uncertain of what she heard and whether it was something else he said.
The Angel and the Metallia faced each other. A soft white nimbus surrounded the Angel. A dark black nimbus surrounded Metallia. Both tensed, ready to begin the fight. Metallia was confident. The Angel was not.
This was what it had all come down to. What really mattered. A battle between the Angel of Selene and Metallia. A battle between good and evil. The ultimate battle. The bystanders all felt the tingling in the air. The Elements, Beryl, the Sailor Senshi, Endymion and his Generals and Ex-Generals. All awaited the battle with ill-concealed anticipation. The verdict of this battle would determine the fate of the world. A battle between the Instrument of Dark and the Instrument of Light.
Oblivion arose, as the appointed judge. "BEGIN."
To be continued.