Disclaimers: Sailor Moon and the Sailor Scouts and everything affiliated with them are the property of Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation, Dic, and many other big name people and companies with lots of money and lots of lawyers. I do not own them so don't sue me; I'm only borrowing them for a little while. Any other characters are mine. If anyone wishes to use them, please notify me first.
Just a bit of clarification:
the * * signify a person's thoughts
the ***** before a section signify either a memory or a shift into the mindscape (don't worry, this will make sense eventually, I hope).
Please email me with your comments and/or criticisms at jnkryo@yahoo.com. Heck, flame me if you want to. I'd like any feedback I can get. Enjoy the story!
Brother's Keeper
Part 11
by: Johnny Ng
Daniel reappeared next to the Stone. *I hope it doesn't see-*
And what do you think you are doing, my former host?
The magus grimaced. *So much for that.* He drew himself up to his full height. "You forget your place, I am the master. I control you."
You still do not understand do you? You never controlled me.
"You forget about this." Daniel held up the empty silver ring.
Fool! That ring merely allowed me to enter your body.
"Exactly, and allowed me to use your power." He placed the ring against the Stone and spoke the incantation he had used in his laboratory. There was a sudden flash and the Stone was once again set in the ring.
Very well. You wish to become my host again, but when I am through with you, I will destroy you.
*****
"I don't think so." In his mind, Daniel and a man-sized Philosopher's Stone were facing off against one another.
You bore me, but I will make your death quick and painless for all your service. The Stone launched a destructive beam at the magus.
Daniel just raised his hand and deflected it.
The Stone seemed taken aback. You seem to be more powerful than you look.
"I'm full of surprises," he retorted and lunged at the Stone wrapping his arms around it in a bear hug.
What do you think you are doing?
"This." Chains formed and began to wrap themselves around Daniel and the Stone.
Fool. If you do this, you will be drained as well.
"Just as long as go with me."
Enough! I will strip you of my power and then I will destroy you. The Stone reabsorbed its own power that Trent was using, but the chains still remained. In fact they were glowing a bright white.
What is this?! You should be powerless! Where are you getting your energy from?
"You're so smart, you figure it out."
This is the Silver Crystal's energy, but how...Serenity, she gave you her energy!
"Got it in one." He concentrated and the glow from the chains became blinding and the last thing her heard before the world dissolved on him was the sound of a stone cracking...
*****
The others had seen the Stone mountain flash and be reset in Daniel's ring.
"Daniel, you fool!" Trent screamed.
"What happened?" Serena asked her mother.
Serenity gazed upon the magus sadly. "It would appear that Daniel made the Stone's power enter him body again and he would battle it inside himself."
"Do you think he'll win?"
"I don't know, daughter. I don't know."
The three of them watch on in silence.
Suddenly Daniel wrapped his arms around himself and chains formed and wrapped around him. In his mind, he had just caught the Stone in the bear hug and summoned the chains as well. The chains began to glow white and Serenity gasped. "He's using the Silver Crystal's energy that I had given him!"
Serena realized the implications of this. "But wasn't that energy keeping him alive? If he uses it..."
"Yes, dear, he'll die."
"Then we have to do something!" Trent cried.
"It's too late now. He's already using the energy. We must hope that it will be enough."
The chains' glow increased and flared dazzlingly. When they were able to blink the blindness from their eyes they saw Daniel lying on the ground, the chains still around him. They ran to his side.
Trent got there first. "Brother! Are you alright?"
Daniel cracked one of his eyes open. "Brother...? I thought you didn't want me...for a brother," he wheezed.
Trent smiled. "Who says I do, but you are family, and...and I forgive you."
"You don't know how...good it is...to here you say that." Daniel coughed weakly.
Trent looked at Serenity. "Can you help him?"
The Queen shook her head. "I gave him all my energy. I can't do anything."
Trent nodded and began tugging on the chains, but Daniel spoke up. "No...don't."
"But the chains are draining your energy! If we get them off, you might be able to heal yourself."
"No...the Stone is still inside me...I must keep the chains on...to drain all of its power. It's...the only way."
Trent tried to appeal to his brother another way. "But if you die, your mindscape will collapse and we'll all be lost in oblivion." He looked at the Queen for confirmation.
She nodded slowly. "That is correct, and I lack the energy to transport us out."
Daniel smiled slightly. "Then, Your Majesty...I think I have something to return to you." He closed his eyes and a translucent white beam shot from his forehead at Queen Serenity.
The Queen received the energy and glowed brightly for a few seconds. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
With energy of the Silver Crystal gone, Daniel's face began to contort in pain in response to the chains' effects. "Yes..." he gasped. "Consider it...a repayment of a loan." He turned to Trent. "You...you had better leave...now...I not sure how long...I'm going to last..."
"But-"
"No...you have to leave...you have...a wonderful girl...waiting for you."
Tears welled up in Trent's eyes. "Alright." He got up and walked over to Queen Serenity and Serena.
Daniel struggled onto his side. "Tell...tell Mina...tell all of them...I'm sorry..."
Trent nodded, his tears finally falling. "I will. Farewell...my brother."
Serenity closed her eyes and white light enveloped them all, but not before Trent saw Daniel smile one last time.
*****
The light surrounding Serenity, Daniel, Trent, and Serena vanished. Trent blinked and saw he was back at the Tokyo Tower again. He turned and saw Serena had her eyes open as well and was smiling.
"We did it!" she said happily.
"I guess we did," Trent replied, then he remembered, "Daniel!" He looked at Queen Serenity who was still holding onto the magus's hand.
Daniel started to convulse and broke free of Serenity's grasp. He started to fall backwards, but Trent was there it catch him. Daniel jerked his head toward his brother and reached out with his hand. "...trent..." He suddenly stiffened and then went limp, his final breath leaving his body. The ring slipped from his nerveless fingers. When it struck the ground, the Stone popped out.
Trent gently set his brother down and reached up and closed his eyes. "Good-bye, brother." He whispered a command and teleported his brother away. He then retrieved the Stone and brought it to Queen Serenity.
Serenity accepted the Stone with a nod of her head. "Do not grieve too much for your brother. He died saving us all."
"I hardly got to know him," Trent said sadly. "It seemed like whenever we met, we ended up fighting."
"It doesn't matter. In the end, your forgave him and that's what's important," Serena consoled him.
"I suppose you're right, but what about you?" Trent asked. "With the Silver Crystal destroyed-"
"I beg to differ," Serenity said.
"What do you mean?"
"What was done cannot be undone, but it can be fixed." Serenity walked over to the shattered shards of the Crystal. She placed her hands over them and the pieces began to glow. They rose up and gathered together. Serenity closed her eyes and her sigil flared white. When the light dimmed, there was the Crystal, floating in the air undamaged.
Serena walked over and cupped the Crystal gently in her hands. She looked up at the Queen. "Thank you, mother." She raised the Crystal up and transformed into the Princess. Looking at the unconscious forms of her friends, she issued a simple plea. "Heal them."
The Crystal shone brightly, its light touching them all. One by one, the Scouts and Tuxedo Mask groaned and stirred.
Tuxedo Mask got into a sitting position. "What happened?" He opened his eyes and saw Queen Serenity and gasped. "Your Highness," he said scrambling to his feet and bowing.
The Scouts heard this and, looking up and seeing the Queen, knelt.
The Queen smiled. "Please, no need for that, arise all of you. Don't worry, all your questions will be answered, but I must leave now. I can feel my power waning."
"Must you leave, mother?" the Princess asked.
"Yes, dear, I must. Now that the Silver Crystal is safe, I must return to it and guard again. But first..." She took the Philosopher's Stone and concentrated. The Stone shivered and disintegrated. "It is done." She turned to the Princess. "Take heart, my daughter, that I will be with you always." Queen Serenity shimmered and vanished back into the Crystal.
The Princess returned the Crystal to her broach and became Serena. The Scouts and Tuxedo Mask detransformed also. Serena then braced herself for their questions, but they were interrupted by Mina.
"Trent!" she screamed rushing to his side.
Trent smiled and gathered Mina in his arms. "Told ya I'll be back."
A shrill whistle cut through the air. Everyone looked at Raye. "Good, I got your attentions. Now..." She looked at Serena. "What happened?! Where's Daniel?"
"Daniel's dead," Trent told them.
Serena saw Raye about to press Trent for more information and shook her head. Raye saw her and frowned, but held her tongue. "What about the energy drain?" she asked Amy.
The girl genius took out her computer and read the information displayed. "Apparently, the city's power grid is back online."
Trent sighed. "With Daniel's death, his energy amplification spell dissipated. Excuse me for a moment." He began to walk away, but Mina grabbed his arm.
"Will you be alright?" she asked worriedly.
Trent nodded. "I just want to be alone right now." Mina let go and watched Trent walk away.
Lita looked confused. "So we won, right?" she asked uncertainly.
Serena looked at Trent's diminishing form. "Yeah...we won, I guess," she said quietly.
~~Just wait for the epilogue to wrap things up! Thanks for reading!~~