Episode #22 - The Final Straw
Sailor Saturn and Starslayer raced through the wreckage that was once a city block. Starslayer remembered walking in the park with Hotaru, then it was like a switch was flipped on inside his head; the Queen was in trouble. Robert turned around, and saw a massive column of black smoke rising from downtown. He tapped Hotaru on the shoulder and she turned around, gasping as she did. They ran off, getting into Robert's car and speeding off towards the column of black smoke. They charged forwards, looking for Sailor Moon and the others. Robert was looking around, his one eye glowing red, it was an instrument that activated when Robert transformed into Starslayer. It scanned the area for heat signatures, weapons, and other such things. He located Sailor Moon and her teammates, they were fighting something incredibly powerful, he had never seen energy readings like this, they were nearly off the scale! Robert grabbed his Magna-Gun from its holster on his back and cocked it, loading a shell into the breech. He murmured, "frag shells", the gun echoed him perfectly. He could feel the gun shift in his hand ever so slightly, the insides re- arranging themselves, it was amazing what nano-tech could do. He walked forward, barely a whisper being heard as he picked his way across the treacherous ground. Hotaru shadowed his every movement, keeping close to him. Robert pressed up against a large chunk of debris and peered around it, then looked back quickly. "Sailor Saturn, I think we've met Geoff's fifth child" he said, looking at her. Sailor Saturn still had problems with looking at that red glowing eye of Robert's, but she would just have to deal with it now. "Really, where is he?" "Right around the corner, and it's a she" Starslayer said as he cocked his gun, warily stepping out from his cover and darting towards another piece. Sailor Saturn followed him, catching a quick glance at this new child. She was tall, around six foot two, powerfully built, but still was beautiful, but evil marred her looks, she had a cruel gleam in her eyes and a scornful grin on her lips, she looked like a devil in disguise. Her hairstyle was what caught her eye, four braided odango on either side of her head, each ended in a short blade. Starslayer and Sailor Saturn leapt out from behind their cover and joined their teammates. "So, what's the deal?" asked Starslayer, looking at Sailor Mars. "No clue who she is, but she's the one that levelled this place" said Sailor Mercury, scanning the enemy with her computer. "Anything?" "She's one of his" she said, nearly spitting out the words. Sailor Moon looked at the woman, she was dressed in battle attire, odd reflective armour covered her body and shining blades were tied in her hair. "Who are you!!" She cried, looking at the last child of Geoff. "Why Sailor Moon, you should know me, I'm most of the reason my lovely brothers attack you, I am their leader you see" she said with a laughing lilt in her voice. Sailor Moon gripped her sceptre even tighter, looking at this foul progeny of evil. "Well then, I guess I'll have to kill you" said Sailor Moon, her voice like ice. Sailor Moon charged forwards, screaming "RAINBOW SPIRAL HEART ACHE!!!" The girl leapt upwards, twirling her scythe above her head, and she turned in the air and sped downwards, striking Sailor Moon as she passed by. The girl landed perfectly, while Sailor Moon landed in a heap. The others ran forward, creating a loose circle around Sailor Moon. "Bitch! What did you do to her!!" "Not much, just cracked her in the head is all" she said with a malicious grin. Starslayer murmured something to his gun, and it changed the shell in the chamber. He ran forward, looking around. "Now listen to me harlot, I'm the one that's responsible for blowing you brothers to smithereens ever time they show up, and I'll do the same to you! My gun is now set to full auto, and if you don't leave right now, I'll make you into a bullet-riddled corpse!!" "Like to see you try, human whelp" she said, moving so fast that he could barely see her move. He fired the gun, a massive spray of bullets covered the area, ricocheting off of stone bulwarks and steel girders, making an almost un-avoidable attack. Starslayer let go of the trigger and looked around, his instrument not registering any heat sources or energy signatures. "I think I got her" he said. "Really?" Starslayer turned, the girl was sitting on a piece of stone, her scythe resting beside her. "Goddamit, she moves to fast for me to hit. up close and personal time!" He said, holstering his Magna-Gun and drawing his Claw Sabres. He charged at the girl, his Claw Sabres flashing around him, making him look like he was covered in a thousand sparkling jewels. The girl yawned slightly, drew a massive pistol, and emptied the clip at him, driving him to his knees. Starslayer knew those shells, they were like the one's from Geoff's guns! He knew his armour wouldn't stand up to that type of punishment for long, so he began to use his evasive manoeuvres, trying to evade the shells, and keep his head on his shoulders at the same time. By the time that the pistol was empty, Starslayer had been driven to the ground, panting. "She's just too fast, I can't trace her moves. gotta do something!" He looked at her, then back at Sailor Saturn. She was the reason, the only reason he had to go on living in this ancient time-line, he had to protect her! He gripped his Claw Sabres and looked at the girl. Her eyes were mocking him. He knew that look all too well from the future, only it was the golden eyes of Geoff instead of this girls neon green eyes. He stood up, looking at the girl with defiance in his eyes. "So, the little man thinks he can stop me? That's so funny!" She said, slowly levitating down to the ground and gingerly grabbing her scythe. "You know something, hell-bitch?" "No, please tell me, what is it?" "You're already dead, your brain just hasn't realized it yet" "Really? I don't see how, though. Care to Explain?" "Simple" he said, and he leapt at her, swinging his two claw sabres around himself. They fought like devils, each attack being countered, each counter being turned back. It was like watching some intricate dance rather than a fight. But the dance ended abruptly when Starslayer fell to the ground, clutching his side and his eyes wide with pain. The girl looked at him. "Pitiful Human, do you have any idea who you face?" "Hell-spawned bitch! I'll make you pay for that!" he said as he stood, sheathing one of his blades, and still clutching his side. "Well, you've grown boring, WHO'S NEXT!!" said the girl, turning her back on Starslayer and looking at the other warriors. Starslayer had a decision to make, should he take the opportunity presented to him and shoot this infernal hell-spawn in the back, or just lay there? He slowly reached up, grabbing his Magna-Gun. He whispered "Armour Piercing" and the gun echoed him. He levelled the gun on the back of the woman, aimed directly at her heart, and his finger quivered on the trigger. He squeezed the trigger, but the girl literally shifted vertically, her feet not even lifting off the ground. "Stupid little boy, do you not have any sense of honour?" she regarded him with disdain. "Not for someone like you!" The girl regarded the other Sailor Senshi, each of them were ready for a fight, but they didn't know who they were facing! "Come now, do none of you have the courage to face me? And I thought you were the best this world had to offer!" The girl looked at them all, a wicked grin on her face. "I'll take you on" said a quiet voice. They all turned, it was Sailor Saturn speaking. "You, the weakest of the group? Please! I'll crush you faster than I did the pitiful human over there!" "I don't know who you are, Hell-bitch, but I'll tell you who I am! Saturn is my guardian planet, the Soldier of Destruction and Creation, Sailor Saturn!! And now you die!!" Sailor Saturn pulled out her Silence Glaive, and the girl smiled. "Well, well, well, it seems the pup has fangs, hm? Let's see how hard it can bite!" the girl said, charging at Sailor Saturn. Starslayer watched as the two warriors traded blows, almost too fast for him to follow. Watching them was like watching two blurs of colour, one silver, the other purple. The continues to battle like that for over ten minuets, Starslayer slowly made his way over to the rest of his teammates, looking at them. Apprehension and fear showed on their faces, this could be there worst defeat or there greatest victory, it was riding on Sailor Saturn. Starslayer smiled to himself, he had trained with Sailor Saturn, and now she was as proficient with her Silence Glaive as he was with his Claw Sabres. All that could be heard was the constant "K-tanngtanng" of metal bouncing off of metal. Starslayer knew she could beat that hell-spawned bitch, but he didn't know how long it would take. Suddenly, the fight stopped. Both the girls were standing apart, maybe five or six feet apart. The Girl looked at Sailor Saturn, and Sailor Saturn stared right back. It was then that Starslayer began to get readings on both Sailor Saturn and the Girl. While Sailor Saturn was nearly tapped out of energy and had little stamina left, the Girl was still fine! She was barely even warmed up! Starslayer wanted to call out, to warn Sailor Saturn, but he couldn't, he too weak, the wound in his side was that bad. He looked around, Tuxedo Mask was standing beside Sailor Moon, just as he should be by Sailor Saturn's side. The Girl lifted her scythe and charged at Sailor Saturn, and she responded by grabbing her Silence Glaive and holding it high, ready for the inevitable downward slash. Starslayer scanned the girl, and extrapolated what she was going to do next, but before he could call out, she had made her move. Instead of slashing downwards, she struck Sailor Saturn in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her and she dropped to the ground, gasping for breath. Starslayer felt a rush of Adrenaline flush through his system, the pain in his side forgotten for the moment and he ran forwards, scooping up Sailor Saturn before the girl could finish her off. "Aw, you're no fun! I wasn't gonna kill'er! Maybe maim her, or just take a arm or something!" She said with a pouty voice. The girl looked at the rest of the Sailor Scouts. "Come now, surely you must know by now that you can't beat me!" "I can," said a cold voice. Sailor Moon turned, she looked upon her daughter, Rini. She had spoken. The Girl looked at her, slammed another clip into her pistol and smiled. "If you think you can, then come little girl, come and face me, for I am Death Incarnate, Shino Demea!" The others paled slightly at her name, it meant Bearer of Death. "Fine, I'll put you down, and your brothers will follow soon after! MOON GORGEOUS MEDITATION!!!" A massive blast of energy was flung from the end of her sceptre, aimed right at Shino. She merely bent her head to the side and evaded the attack. "Come now, you'll have to do better than that to defeat me!" Shino said, her lips curled in a wicked smile. Sailor Chibi-Moon charged at Shino, swinging her sceptre like a sword, and attacked. They fought like demons, each trading blows that would cripple another being, then Chibi-Moon drew her arm back and brang her sceptre down, connecting with Shino's head, then again and again. "Bitch! That Hurt!!!" Shino growled as she grabbed her pistol and unloaded the entire clip at Chibi-Moon. Chibi-Moon dodged and feinted through the lethal barrage, but was hit twice. Her shoulder burned with intense pain, and her lower abdomen felt like it had been shredded. Shino smiled cruelly and charged, the scythe's blade parallel to the ground, she was moving so fast the Chibi-Moon was hard-pressed to keep her eyes on her. Rini stood and held her sceptre up in defence. "Behind you, bitch" a soft voice said. Rini turned around, her sceptre dropping ever so slightly. The next thing she knew, it felt like her entire chest was on fire and the world was falling away from her. She grabbed at her chest, and felt something warm and sticky there. She looked down, a massive gash ran from her right shoulder to the left side of her abdomen, but she couldn't see Shino anywhere. Chibi-Moon looked up, and saw Shino high in the air, her scythe pointing at her. Chibi-Moon hadn't noticed until then that there was a crystal spike on the end of the scythe, and it was glowing brightly. Shino raised the scythe high above her head, shrieking "CHAOS!" The blade of the scythe sparked with energy. Then she brought the scythe down so it was parallel to the ground and yelled "DEATH!" The energy coruscated up the scythe blade and energized the crystal atop it. She brought the blade forward in a wide slashing motion, screaming "SPIKE!!" The energy collected at the point of the crystal and a massive blast of black energy exploded from it, striking Chibi-Moon in the chest, hard. Sailor Saturn watched in horror as Shino leapt into the air, firing a massive attack. She managed to get up and walk forward, out of the cover provided her by a large chunk of rock. Saturn didn't know who was fighting, but she had to heal them, it was her one chance to save another person from being killed. Suddenly, her back felt like it was on fire. "That was payback for that little smack in the head you gave me" she heard Shino whisper in her ear. Sailor Saturn spun around, the Silence Glaive in her hand and she slashed as she spun, but no one was there, only a puff of white smoke. Sailor Saturn rushed forward, she had to be sure that Rini was okay, but before she rounded the last piece of rock, she heard a beastial scream of sorrow. "NO!!!!" It was Serena. Hotaru's transformation faded away as she rounded the corner, looking upon Serena. She was on the ground, her eyes glazed over in horror. Hotaru followed Serena's gaze, only a locket and a sceptre laid on the ground, pink light twinkling away into the distance. "Wh. wh. where's Rini" Hotaru stammered, already knowing the answer. Robert walked forward, clutching his side still and looked at Hotaru. She instantly knew what had happened. Hotaru let out a ear-piercing scream of anguish, falling into Robert's arms. Robert looked at her. "Hotaru, Geoff will pay, I'll make him!" Hotaru looked at him, her eyes cold and hard. Robert knew at that moment that Hotaru wouldn't hesitate in destroying the world just to keep it from Geoff. Robert simply stood there and held Hotaru, while the others slowly departed, Darien carrying a now-unconscious Serena away. "Hotaru." "I know Robert, I know" was all she said as they walked away, their silence saying everything that they couldn't.
Sailor Saturn and Starslayer raced through the wreckage that was once a city block. Starslayer remembered walking in the park with Hotaru, then it was like a switch was flipped on inside his head; the Queen was in trouble. Robert turned around, and saw a massive column of black smoke rising from downtown. He tapped Hotaru on the shoulder and she turned around, gasping as she did. They ran off, getting into Robert's car and speeding off towards the column of black smoke. They charged forwards, looking for Sailor Moon and the others. Robert was looking around, his one eye glowing red, it was an instrument that activated when Robert transformed into Starslayer. It scanned the area for heat signatures, weapons, and other such things. He located Sailor Moon and her teammates, they were fighting something incredibly powerful, he had never seen energy readings like this, they were nearly off the scale! Robert grabbed his Magna-Gun from its holster on his back and cocked it, loading a shell into the breech. He murmured, "frag shells", the gun echoed him perfectly. He could feel the gun shift in his hand ever so slightly, the insides re- arranging themselves, it was amazing what nano-tech could do. He walked forward, barely a whisper being heard as he picked his way across the treacherous ground. Hotaru shadowed his every movement, keeping close to him. Robert pressed up against a large chunk of debris and peered around it, then looked back quickly. "Sailor Saturn, I think we've met Geoff's fifth child" he said, looking at her. Sailor Saturn still had problems with looking at that red glowing eye of Robert's, but she would just have to deal with it now. "Really, where is he?" "Right around the corner, and it's a she" Starslayer said as he cocked his gun, warily stepping out from his cover and darting towards another piece. Sailor Saturn followed him, catching a quick glance at this new child. She was tall, around six foot two, powerfully built, but still was beautiful, but evil marred her looks, she had a cruel gleam in her eyes and a scornful grin on her lips, she looked like a devil in disguise. Her hairstyle was what caught her eye, four braided odango on either side of her head, each ended in a short blade. Starslayer and Sailor Saturn leapt out from behind their cover and joined their teammates. "So, what's the deal?" asked Starslayer, looking at Sailor Mars. "No clue who she is, but she's the one that levelled this place" said Sailor Mercury, scanning the enemy with her computer. "Anything?" "She's one of his" she said, nearly spitting out the words. Sailor Moon looked at the woman, she was dressed in battle attire, odd reflective armour covered her body and shining blades were tied in her hair. "Who are you!!" She cried, looking at the last child of Geoff. "Why Sailor Moon, you should know me, I'm most of the reason my lovely brothers attack you, I am their leader you see" she said with a laughing lilt in her voice. Sailor Moon gripped her sceptre even tighter, looking at this foul progeny of evil. "Well then, I guess I'll have to kill you" said Sailor Moon, her voice like ice. Sailor Moon charged forwards, screaming "RAINBOW SPIRAL HEART ACHE!!!" The girl leapt upwards, twirling her scythe above her head, and she turned in the air and sped downwards, striking Sailor Moon as she passed by. The girl landed perfectly, while Sailor Moon landed in a heap. The others ran forward, creating a loose circle around Sailor Moon. "Bitch! What did you do to her!!" "Not much, just cracked her in the head is all" she said with a malicious grin. Starslayer murmured something to his gun, and it changed the shell in the chamber. He ran forward, looking around. "Now listen to me harlot, I'm the one that's responsible for blowing you brothers to smithereens ever time they show up, and I'll do the same to you! My gun is now set to full auto, and if you don't leave right now, I'll make you into a bullet-riddled corpse!!" "Like to see you try, human whelp" she said, moving so fast that he could barely see her move. He fired the gun, a massive spray of bullets covered the area, ricocheting off of stone bulwarks and steel girders, making an almost un-avoidable attack. Starslayer let go of the trigger and looked around, his instrument not registering any heat sources or energy signatures. "I think I got her" he said. "Really?" Starslayer turned, the girl was sitting on a piece of stone, her scythe resting beside her. "Goddamit, she moves to fast for me to hit. up close and personal time!" He said, holstering his Magna-Gun and drawing his Claw Sabres. He charged at the girl, his Claw Sabres flashing around him, making him look like he was covered in a thousand sparkling jewels. The girl yawned slightly, drew a massive pistol, and emptied the clip at him, driving him to his knees. Starslayer knew those shells, they were like the one's from Geoff's guns! He knew his armour wouldn't stand up to that type of punishment for long, so he began to use his evasive manoeuvres, trying to evade the shells, and keep his head on his shoulders at the same time. By the time that the pistol was empty, Starslayer had been driven to the ground, panting. "She's just too fast, I can't trace her moves. gotta do something!" He looked at her, then back at Sailor Saturn. She was the reason, the only reason he had to go on living in this ancient time-line, he had to protect her! He gripped his Claw Sabres and looked at the girl. Her eyes were mocking him. He knew that look all too well from the future, only it was the golden eyes of Geoff instead of this girls neon green eyes. He stood up, looking at the girl with defiance in his eyes. "So, the little man thinks he can stop me? That's so funny!" She said, slowly levitating down to the ground and gingerly grabbing her scythe. "You know something, hell-bitch?" "No, please tell me, what is it?" "You're already dead, your brain just hasn't realized it yet" "Really? I don't see how, though. Care to Explain?" "Simple" he said, and he leapt at her, swinging his two claw sabres around himself. They fought like devils, each attack being countered, each counter being turned back. It was like watching some intricate dance rather than a fight. But the dance ended abruptly when Starslayer fell to the ground, clutching his side and his eyes wide with pain. The girl looked at him. "Pitiful Human, do you have any idea who you face?" "Hell-spawned bitch! I'll make you pay for that!" he said as he stood, sheathing one of his blades, and still clutching his side. "Well, you've grown boring, WHO'S NEXT!!" said the girl, turning her back on Starslayer and looking at the other warriors. Starslayer had a decision to make, should he take the opportunity presented to him and shoot this infernal hell-spawn in the back, or just lay there? He slowly reached up, grabbing his Magna-Gun. He whispered "Armour Piercing" and the gun echoed him. He levelled the gun on the back of the woman, aimed directly at her heart, and his finger quivered on the trigger. He squeezed the trigger, but the girl literally shifted vertically, her feet not even lifting off the ground. "Stupid little boy, do you not have any sense of honour?" she regarded him with disdain. "Not for someone like you!" The girl regarded the other Sailor Senshi, each of them were ready for a fight, but they didn't know who they were facing! "Come now, do none of you have the courage to face me? And I thought you were the best this world had to offer!" The girl looked at them all, a wicked grin on her face. "I'll take you on" said a quiet voice. They all turned, it was Sailor Saturn speaking. "You, the weakest of the group? Please! I'll crush you faster than I did the pitiful human over there!" "I don't know who you are, Hell-bitch, but I'll tell you who I am! Saturn is my guardian planet, the Soldier of Destruction and Creation, Sailor Saturn!! And now you die!!" Sailor Saturn pulled out her Silence Glaive, and the girl smiled. "Well, well, well, it seems the pup has fangs, hm? Let's see how hard it can bite!" the girl said, charging at Sailor Saturn. Starslayer watched as the two warriors traded blows, almost too fast for him to follow. Watching them was like watching two blurs of colour, one silver, the other purple. The continues to battle like that for over ten minuets, Starslayer slowly made his way over to the rest of his teammates, looking at them. Apprehension and fear showed on their faces, this could be there worst defeat or there greatest victory, it was riding on Sailor Saturn. Starslayer smiled to himself, he had trained with Sailor Saturn, and now she was as proficient with her Silence Glaive as he was with his Claw Sabres. All that could be heard was the constant "K-tanngtanng" of metal bouncing off of metal. Starslayer knew she could beat that hell-spawned bitch, but he didn't know how long it would take. Suddenly, the fight stopped. Both the girls were standing apart, maybe five or six feet apart. The Girl looked at Sailor Saturn, and Sailor Saturn stared right back. It was then that Starslayer began to get readings on both Sailor Saturn and the Girl. While Sailor Saturn was nearly tapped out of energy and had little stamina left, the Girl was still fine! She was barely even warmed up! Starslayer wanted to call out, to warn Sailor Saturn, but he couldn't, he too weak, the wound in his side was that bad. He looked around, Tuxedo Mask was standing beside Sailor Moon, just as he should be by Sailor Saturn's side. The Girl lifted her scythe and charged at Sailor Saturn, and she responded by grabbing her Silence Glaive and holding it high, ready for the inevitable downward slash. Starslayer scanned the girl, and extrapolated what she was going to do next, but before he could call out, she had made her move. Instead of slashing downwards, she struck Sailor Saturn in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her and she dropped to the ground, gasping for breath. Starslayer felt a rush of Adrenaline flush through his system, the pain in his side forgotten for the moment and he ran forwards, scooping up Sailor Saturn before the girl could finish her off. "Aw, you're no fun! I wasn't gonna kill'er! Maybe maim her, or just take a arm or something!" She said with a pouty voice. The girl looked at the rest of the Sailor Scouts. "Come now, surely you must know by now that you can't beat me!" "I can," said a cold voice. Sailor Moon turned, she looked upon her daughter, Rini. She had spoken. The Girl looked at her, slammed another clip into her pistol and smiled. "If you think you can, then come little girl, come and face me, for I am Death Incarnate, Shino Demea!" The others paled slightly at her name, it meant Bearer of Death. "Fine, I'll put you down, and your brothers will follow soon after! MOON GORGEOUS MEDITATION!!!" A massive blast of energy was flung from the end of her sceptre, aimed right at Shino. She merely bent her head to the side and evaded the attack. "Come now, you'll have to do better than that to defeat me!" Shino said, her lips curled in a wicked smile. Sailor Chibi-Moon charged at Shino, swinging her sceptre like a sword, and attacked. They fought like demons, each trading blows that would cripple another being, then Chibi-Moon drew her arm back and brang her sceptre down, connecting with Shino's head, then again and again. "Bitch! That Hurt!!!" Shino growled as she grabbed her pistol and unloaded the entire clip at Chibi-Moon. Chibi-Moon dodged and feinted through the lethal barrage, but was hit twice. Her shoulder burned with intense pain, and her lower abdomen felt like it had been shredded. Shino smiled cruelly and charged, the scythe's blade parallel to the ground, she was moving so fast the Chibi-Moon was hard-pressed to keep her eyes on her. Rini stood and held her sceptre up in defence. "Behind you, bitch" a soft voice said. Rini turned around, her sceptre dropping ever so slightly. The next thing she knew, it felt like her entire chest was on fire and the world was falling away from her. She grabbed at her chest, and felt something warm and sticky there. She looked down, a massive gash ran from her right shoulder to the left side of her abdomen, but she couldn't see Shino anywhere. Chibi-Moon looked up, and saw Shino high in the air, her scythe pointing at her. Chibi-Moon hadn't noticed until then that there was a crystal spike on the end of the scythe, and it was glowing brightly. Shino raised the scythe high above her head, shrieking "CHAOS!" The blade of the scythe sparked with energy. Then she brought the scythe down so it was parallel to the ground and yelled "DEATH!" The energy coruscated up the scythe blade and energized the crystal atop it. She brought the blade forward in a wide slashing motion, screaming "SPIKE!!" The energy collected at the point of the crystal and a massive blast of black energy exploded from it, striking Chibi-Moon in the chest, hard. Sailor Saturn watched in horror as Shino leapt into the air, firing a massive attack. She managed to get up and walk forward, out of the cover provided her by a large chunk of rock. Saturn didn't know who was fighting, but she had to heal them, it was her one chance to save another person from being killed. Suddenly, her back felt like it was on fire. "That was payback for that little smack in the head you gave me" she heard Shino whisper in her ear. Sailor Saturn spun around, the Silence Glaive in her hand and she slashed as she spun, but no one was there, only a puff of white smoke. Sailor Saturn rushed forward, she had to be sure that Rini was okay, but before she rounded the last piece of rock, she heard a beastial scream of sorrow. "NO!!!!" It was Serena. Hotaru's transformation faded away as she rounded the corner, looking upon Serena. She was on the ground, her eyes glazed over in horror. Hotaru followed Serena's gaze, only a locket and a sceptre laid on the ground, pink light twinkling away into the distance. "Wh. wh. where's Rini" Hotaru stammered, already knowing the answer. Robert walked forward, clutching his side still and looked at Hotaru. She instantly knew what had happened. Hotaru let out a ear-piercing scream of anguish, falling into Robert's arms. Robert looked at her. "Hotaru, Geoff will pay, I'll make him!" Hotaru looked at him, her eyes cold and hard. Robert knew at that moment that Hotaru wouldn't hesitate in destroying the world just to keep it from Geoff. Robert simply stood there and held Hotaru, while the others slowly departed, Darien carrying a now-unconscious Serena away. "Hotaru." "I know Robert, I know" was all she said as they walked away, their silence saying everything that they couldn't.