Darkness Sees the Light
Chapter 7
Nephelina looked over at the barely conscious Usagi. "You know they'll fail this final test. Even your precious Heero won't be able to stop it.
Usagi looked away her eyes closed. Nephelina scowled. "I thought you'd bring more entertainment then that Princess."
"Heero," whispered a soft voice.
Everyone looked up to see a ghostly form of Usagi still in her Princess Serenity garb. "Usagi?" Duo asked staring at her.
She smiled softly at him, "Heero, her next test is going to be the worse. I don't know what's she's planning so be careful..." She stepped up to him laying a transparent hand on his shoulder. "I don't have the power to give you all of your memories back but I can give you this."
Heero was about to comment when his vision flashed white.
~
Usagi looked around the hazy surroundings. "This isn't possible..."
"What isn't possible?"
She turned startled and saw Heero watching her. "Heero..." She whispered softly. "I told the Ginzuishou to lock away all my dreams."
Heero walked towards her. His hand gently traced her cheek. "How did you know my name when we first met here?"
Usagi looked away, "I don't know... I just knew. It's as if something from my past had been revealed. But I would remember you if that was true, Heero."
Heero studied her for a moment. "I don't think this is a dream."
Usagi blinked, "You don't?"
Heero shook his head slightly, "No, I think this is another dimension that we can only reach while we are asleep. Perhaps it is one that overlaps both our worlds."
Usagi nodded. "That would make sense, but Heero they're coming for me."
"Who?"
"My past... I don't want to leave you."
"Why wouldn't you? I'm not worth your tears."
Usagi shook her head vehemently. "That's not true, Heero. I love you and only you."
"You can't love me. I only destroy others life's. I'm not worth anyone's love."
Usagi stepped forward looping her arms around him and laid her head on his chest. "I do love you and everyone is worthy of love, even you."
Heero stared down at the blonde head against his chest. "I'll only hurt you."
Usagi looked up, "That's a chance I'll take Heero."
"Why?"
Usagi closed her eyes, "I love everything about you Heero. I know this may sound cliche but I believe you are my soulmate."
"Impossible."
"Why do you feel that way?"
"Because if I was your soulmate don't you think we'd be in the same dimension to begin with?"
Usagi shook her head, "Don't you see?"
"See what?"
"We knew each other because we are soulmates. We are in this place because of that fact."
"What about your fiancee?"
"You mean Endymion?" She shook her head, "It's in the past. I'll one day explain everything to you I promise but our time here is so short and I don't want to talk about the past."
"Then what do you want to talk about?"
Usagi shook her head, "I don't want to talk. I just want to be with you Heero."
Heero felt hot tears seep through the fabric of his tank top. "Why are you crying?" He asked as he stepped away from her embrace and studied her face.
Usagi looked up at him, "Because I feel as if our time together is shorter than I thought. I have a bad feeling that this will end one way or another soon Heero." She sat down on the ground and curling up into a ball began to sob.
Heero watched her for a moment before kneeling beside her. " Usagi?"
Usagi turned towards him and was startled when his fingers gently caressed her face erasing the evidence of her tears. "Heero." She whispered staring into his stony blue eyes and feeling as if she had been frozen in time.
Heero leaned forward and gently captured her lips with his. He felt her arms circle him and felt her response to the gentle kiss. 'I shouldn't... I'm too battle-worn she deserves better then what I'm about to do...'
~
Heero remained completely still as the last memories faded. He knew what had occurred after that. He had done something unforgivable but she'd forgiven him. Though he tried he couldn't remember anything else about her except for that one meeting. "What's next, Usagi?"
She frowned slightly her arms hugging herself. "It's cold... please don't be fooled, always be on your guard, and don't believe everything you see or hear. I believe in you all." As her last words faded so did she.
Duo noticed an almost pale look on Heero's face. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Cut it out, Heero. I know she gave you a memory what was it of?"
"It's in the past and it didn't concern you." He looked away down the long mirrored hall. 'I'll rescue you, Usagi and then you'll give me all of my memories back.'
Neo Queen Serenity looked up from the cold harsh wall she was chained to. "You'll never win. Heero won't be so easily fooled and neither will the others."
Nephelina turned and before the moon Queen could react she was slapped full in the face. "Pathetic, Princess. They're so wrapped up in saving you they won't even realize it's the final test. Give up."
"NEVER! I believe in them!"
"That's why you're here because you believed in them. I know everything about them and those children won't realize the trap until it's too late and you know it."
Serenity turned her head away tears of rage in her eyes. "They'll defeat you," she whispered softly.
Nephelina scoffed and turned to a mirror displaying the group. She gently ran her nail across the surface in a circular pattern creating a crescent moon shape. She smiled and closed her eyes for a moment transferring some of her power into the mirror. It fluctuated for a moment before the image cleared showing the Gundam Wing pilots and Haruka staring at a new mirror that appeared in front of them.
Haruka frowned. Unlike the mirror they had entered before this one looked old as if it was made out of stone. Engraved crescent moons were carved into the stone and at the very top of the mirror was a pair of eyes with a painted yellow crescent moon slightly above and in the middle. "We have to go through."
Heero shook his head, "Have any of you noticed we haven't ran into any resistant only those tests?"
"So?" Duo demanded with a scowl. He wanted to rescue Usagi not stand around and discuss the emotionally wrenching tests.
Heero turned a spark of annoyance in his eyes. "How do we know these tests aren't just one big test to keep us distracted? We don't know how much time passes during them and Usagi-chan could be dead."
"What did you say?" Duo asked his indigo eyes filled with fury.
Heero wondered why Duo was so upset but pushed the matter from his mind as he went over his last words. 'Kuso… I called her Usagi-chan.' He frowned at Duo, "We don't have time for this Duo. We have to rescue Usagi-san now."
Duo grudgingly nodded and looked at the mirror. "So do we go through or what?"
Heero shook his head, "Iie, something isn't right-" his words were cut off by Quatre's startled gasp.
"Usagi!"
Duo turned, "Where?"
Quatre pointed at the mirror, "Look."
Duo did as requested and he felt his blood start to boil. Usagi was shackled to the wall her blonde hair undone from its odango's and her face was smeared with blood. Dirt and debri clung to her and she looked dead. Her eyes opened a slit and she stared dully at them. "Help me," she whispered her fingers weakly reaching for them. Duo didn't need any more persuading and before Heero could stop him he charged through the mirror.
Quatre and Haruka followed but Wufei and Heero hung back. "It's a trap," Wufei commented.
Heero nodded, "Hai, that woman isn't anywhere to be seen inside of there. It's too easy but the others have gone in. Stay out here Wufei and look around for any more mirrors."
Wufei nodded and did as requested as Heero pulled out his gun and entered the mirror.
Usagi looked up as the four people appeared. "Minna-chan," she whispered. Her dull eyes suddenly filled with worry. "Quick, hide! She's coming. You can't stay here she'll kill you."
Duo pulled out his gun, "No way, Usagi. I'll take care of that so called Queen."
Heero studied Usagi for a long moment but remained silent. He kept his distance from her and watched as Queen Nephelina entered the room. Duo reacted quickly and shot a volley of shots from his gun until all the bullets were gone. He smirked as the evil woman fell to the ground. "Never mess with the God of Death," he said with a sneer.
Heero meanwhile was pointing his gun at the shivering Usagi. "Who are you?"
Duo turned his eyes widening. He quickly leapt in between Heero and Usagi his eyes full of fury. "What the hell do you think you're doing, Heero! We came to save her remember?"
Heero shook his head, "It's not her. This whole thing was too easy. Think about it Duo."
Haruka stood beside Heero's side. "That's not Koneko-chan. You only have to look into her eyes to see that." Before any more words could be said the ringing sound of a gunshot was heard.
Duo turned startled to see Quatre lowering his gun and his gaze dropped to the bleeding Usagi. She looked up at him her eyes full of tears of pain before she fell to the ground.
Heero listened to the distinct sound of glass shattering and nodded. "That was the final test now let's find Usagi-san."
Duo looked at the broken glass and then to Quatre. "It was a test?"
Heero nodded, "Hai, now let's find Wufei. He should have found where we're to go next by now."
Nephelina cursed. "Damn them!" She turned to the broken Queen her eyes triumphant. "It doesn't matter. Their victory won't be completely sweet." She grabbed Neo Queen Serenity's head and laughed as the woman began to scream in pain.
The entire group stopped as they heard the sound. Haruka lowered her head. 'Gomen, Koneko-chan. We'll make her pay for doing that to you. I promise.'
Nephelina stepped away from the unconscious woman and turned to another mirror. "I'll be leaving now, pathetic little Princess." She announced before stepping through the mirror. She turned startled at a sound and she screamed as a bullet slammed into the mirror shattering it and her. "NOOO!" she screamed a final time before the glass hit the floor.
Duo knelt by Neo Queen Serenity his eyes full of concern. She detransformed in his arms and her eyes slowly opened. "Duo?" She whispered.
"Hai, it's us. Are you alright, Usagi?"
Usagi smiled softly, "I'll be okay." She leaned her head against his chest and noticed Heero, Quatre, Wufei and Haruka were present. She ignored them as she looked up into Duo's indigo eyes. "I knew you'd rescue me, Duo-chan," she whispered before kissing him with a passion.