Chapter 11: The Power of the Prince
Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Pluto gathered the dazed students and got them out of the building, time was running out. He called the authorities to start the evacuation of the surrounding city blocks, hoping it would be enough. Then he returned to wait fearfully as a part of his heart went numb before an explosion shook the building.
The Scouts came running out the door, Sailor Moon crying and carrying the small still form of Rini. "They took her heart crystal," she gulped.
"Her vital signs are failing," Sailor Mercury read, alarmed.
"No!" he denied. He took the child in his arms, their daughter, his daughter, "She can't die, she won't die." Closing his eyes, he felt along the fading bond to her spirit, willing his strength to her as he had for Serena during that dark time months before.* "Rini..Small Lady.." he called into the ether. "Papa..", a faint reply, "I'm lost.and so tired." "RINI!" A golden light blazed, burning away the fog to reveal the huddled form of the small girl.
"Papa," she looked at him, her eyes dull, "I'm so cold."
He gathered her in his arms, his golden light warming her, sustaining her. He heard a concerted gasp around him.
"Her vitals-they're stabilizing," Mercury said in amazement.
He opened his eyes and saw what the others did. Rini was bathed in a pink glow as his power augmented hers, keeping her alive.
"'The hands of the king are hands of healing,'" Sailor Pluto said, quoting an old legend.**
"Well, we can't stand around here all night." Mars commented.
"Take me home," he ordered quietly.
"Sailor Teleport?" Jupiter asked.
"Yes, that's what we need to do," Sailor Moon said decisively. The five surrounded the man and the girl, held hands and with a spoken command, were transported to the familiar apartment. There, they made final preparations for battle while they waited for the streets to be cleared.
"Are you sure we shouldn't have taken her to the hospital, Ami?" Mina asked worriedly.
"Certainly. Darien isn't only keeping her body functioning, he's holding her spirit, too. Without that, she would die even on life support," she replied brokenly. The two hugged each other for comfort and looked to where Darien sat holding the girl, Serena by his side. He had detransformed upon arrival and had slipped into a light trance to preserve the psychic bond. As he held and strengthened her physical body, he held and strengthened her spiritual one, too.
"The streets are clear," Lita reported.
"Darien, dear, we have to go now. Can you hold on?" Serena asked.
"As long as necessary, love," he replied softly, "Have courage, you can do it, Serena."
She kissed him and for a brief moment was pulled into the bond, could feel a warmth, like a hug of confidence from two sets of arms. 'Mama', a whisper of longing. She stood, tears in her eyes, "I will succeed," she said, then turned and joined the others.
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He sat there, unaware of the long hours while the beams of sunlight traveled across the floor. He vaguely noticed when the phone rang and messages were left on the answering machine. Andrew called, concerned why he missed his classes; then Serena's mother called, first wondering, then alarmed and frantic, asking if he were home, if the girls were there, if he knew where they were?
It was late in the afternoon when a flurry of purple sparkles caught his attention. A Sailor Scout appeared. She was Hotaru, yet not. She introduced herself as Sailor Saturn and she returned Rini's heart crystal. As the child drew in a deep breath, Saturn left for her destiny.
With a few gentle words of explanation, he laid Rini down to sleep and in moments transformed and followed his heart.
Sailor Moon was in pain and headed into danger with a committed determination.
And darkness and fire swallowed her.
And the slight silver thread of their bond reached out past nowhere.
*HOTARU* *SAILOR MOON*
He reached the blockade just as a huge explosion tore the building apart. Miraculously, Neptune and Uranus were thrown clear, not badly hurt. The Inner Senshi had been tossed like dolls around the outskirts. For long moments while the dust settled, there was no sign of Sailor Moon or Sailor Saturn. Then a swarm of butterflies, the symbol of the Chalice and of life, appeared and resolved into the form of Sailor Moon holding an infant. Her eyes glazed, her fuku torn and scorched, she barely had the strength to hand the baby over to Neptune with a single word of explanation- "Hotaru"- before collapsing.
He ran forward and held her as the others slowly- painfully- gathered. They all had injuries and were so exhausted they could barely stand. Sailor Moon was unconscious, face pale and cold. *She's going into shock,* he realized.
"What do we do now, call a cab?" That was Venus, always trying for the lighter side.
Again he reached inside himself to join with a wellspring of life- force, soothing as wine, yet enervating as a mountain stream. "Put your hands on my shoulders," he told them, "I can help you." He had used a small amount over a long period to sustain Rini. Now he brought up a flowing golden stream that filled him. He directed the flow out to those around him and to the young woman in his arms, washing away their weariness. His control faltered, breaking the energy stream. He felt the hands lifting from his shoulders. He looked down at Sailor Moon, her color had returned to normal, but she was still out.***
"Tuxedo Mask?" He looked tiredly up at the others; they still looked beat, but stronger. "We didn't take your energy, did we?" Mars asked concernedly.
"No," he stood up, "it was Earth power. I've just learned to channel it." He winced in pain, "It left me with a doozy of a headache, but I'll live."
"Thank you."
"Yes, that goes for all of us."
"We can't take Serena home like this."
"I'll take her to my place for the night, Rini's already there. Cover for us, OK, Jupiter?"
"Sure," she agreed as he left in a swirl of crimson in the fading light.
He took her by the hidden overhead paths to his apartment, entering unseen through the balcony. He laid her down next to Rini, triggered her detransformation and his own. He staggered, lightheaded, to the kitchen. He had been awake for more than 36 hours and hadn't eaten for more than a day. They all needed sustenance. He fixed some noodles and tea, woke Rini up and made sure she had some before he settled her down of the sofa in a borrowed shirt. Then he tried to wake up Serena. She responded slowly, her face vacant, her movements mechanical. He had to encourage her to eat while he ate himself.
Worried over her impassiveness, he led her to the bed and sat, holding her. Again, he reached within himself along the silvery bond to her. It led to a place of roiling darkness, flaring with red lightning. He heard screaming, the sound of battle. He found her, a small white form cowering in fear, trapped by terror, reliving the horrors she had experienced: the end of the Moon Kingdom; the caverns of the Negaverse where she had fought Beryl; Nemesis where she'd fought Wiseman; and lastly Pharaoh 90.
He enveloped her with the warmth of his golden love, bringing her to herself, as she had done for him when the Negaverse possessed him. "Serena, look at me," he entreated out loud.
"D..Darien?" she shivered and opened her eyes.
"I'm here. Everything is all right now," he comforted her.
"Rini? Hotaru?" she questioned, her eyes frantic, ready to jump up.
"Rini's sleeping right over there," he nodded, indicating the sofa, "Haruka and Michelle are taking care of Hotaru."
She relaxed in his arms. "Darien, is it over?" she asked sleepily.
"Yes, it's all over," he replied faintly, easing her onto the bed and kissing her cheek. The day's exertion caught up with them and they fell asleep, side-by-side.
She woke once, uncomfortable in her day clothes, too tired to be surprised at where she found herself. She was used to sleeping someplace other than home after fighting to save the world. This was different, though familiar. She rummaged in his closet and found a shirt to change into, it came down mid-thigh on her. It would be more comfortable than her skirt which bunched and twisted while she slept. She checked on Rini, then returned to the bed. By the faint light coming through the window, she could see Darien, his face looking rounder and younger in sleep. They had fallen asleep on top of the covers and the night was getting cold. She gently tugged the blanket from under him and slipped in beside him, warmed by his body heat.
AN: The last chapter was short because it was a transition chapter. This covers the defeat of Pharaoh 90 of course and I have filled in what I thought happened but was not shown. Again I must emphasize that this is based on the anime (as shown on Cartoon Network) and not the manga.
Next chapter: there's two in the bed and the little one said "Andrew's here!" (heh-heh)
* This refers to the 'sleeping beauty' episode when he entered Serena's mind to find her.
** This is a quote from The Return of the King by JRR Tolkien. I thought it appropriate.
*** Did you ever wonder how they could be totally thrashed after this battle and be normal the next day? This is my answer.
Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Pluto gathered the dazed students and got them out of the building, time was running out. He called the authorities to start the evacuation of the surrounding city blocks, hoping it would be enough. Then he returned to wait fearfully as a part of his heart went numb before an explosion shook the building.
The Scouts came running out the door, Sailor Moon crying and carrying the small still form of Rini. "They took her heart crystal," she gulped.
"Her vital signs are failing," Sailor Mercury read, alarmed.
"No!" he denied. He took the child in his arms, their daughter, his daughter, "She can't die, she won't die." Closing his eyes, he felt along the fading bond to her spirit, willing his strength to her as he had for Serena during that dark time months before.* "Rini..Small Lady.." he called into the ether. "Papa..", a faint reply, "I'm lost.and so tired." "RINI!" A golden light blazed, burning away the fog to reveal the huddled form of the small girl.
"Papa," she looked at him, her eyes dull, "I'm so cold."
He gathered her in his arms, his golden light warming her, sustaining her. He heard a concerted gasp around him.
"Her vitals-they're stabilizing," Mercury said in amazement.
He opened his eyes and saw what the others did. Rini was bathed in a pink glow as his power augmented hers, keeping her alive.
"'The hands of the king are hands of healing,'" Sailor Pluto said, quoting an old legend.**
"Well, we can't stand around here all night." Mars commented.
"Take me home," he ordered quietly.
"Sailor Teleport?" Jupiter asked.
"Yes, that's what we need to do," Sailor Moon said decisively. The five surrounded the man and the girl, held hands and with a spoken command, were transported to the familiar apartment. There, they made final preparations for battle while they waited for the streets to be cleared.
"Are you sure we shouldn't have taken her to the hospital, Ami?" Mina asked worriedly.
"Certainly. Darien isn't only keeping her body functioning, he's holding her spirit, too. Without that, she would die even on life support," she replied brokenly. The two hugged each other for comfort and looked to where Darien sat holding the girl, Serena by his side. He had detransformed upon arrival and had slipped into a light trance to preserve the psychic bond. As he held and strengthened her physical body, he held and strengthened her spiritual one, too.
"The streets are clear," Lita reported.
"Darien, dear, we have to go now. Can you hold on?" Serena asked.
"As long as necessary, love," he replied softly, "Have courage, you can do it, Serena."
She kissed him and for a brief moment was pulled into the bond, could feel a warmth, like a hug of confidence from two sets of arms. 'Mama', a whisper of longing. She stood, tears in her eyes, "I will succeed," she said, then turned and joined the others.
`````````````````````````````````````````
He sat there, unaware of the long hours while the beams of sunlight traveled across the floor. He vaguely noticed when the phone rang and messages were left on the answering machine. Andrew called, concerned why he missed his classes; then Serena's mother called, first wondering, then alarmed and frantic, asking if he were home, if the girls were there, if he knew where they were?
It was late in the afternoon when a flurry of purple sparkles caught his attention. A Sailor Scout appeared. She was Hotaru, yet not. She introduced herself as Sailor Saturn and she returned Rini's heart crystal. As the child drew in a deep breath, Saturn left for her destiny.
With a few gentle words of explanation, he laid Rini down to sleep and in moments transformed and followed his heart.
Sailor Moon was in pain and headed into danger with a committed determination.
And darkness and fire swallowed her.
And the slight silver thread of their bond reached out past nowhere.
*HOTARU* *SAILOR MOON*
He reached the blockade just as a huge explosion tore the building apart. Miraculously, Neptune and Uranus were thrown clear, not badly hurt. The Inner Senshi had been tossed like dolls around the outskirts. For long moments while the dust settled, there was no sign of Sailor Moon or Sailor Saturn. Then a swarm of butterflies, the symbol of the Chalice and of life, appeared and resolved into the form of Sailor Moon holding an infant. Her eyes glazed, her fuku torn and scorched, she barely had the strength to hand the baby over to Neptune with a single word of explanation- "Hotaru"- before collapsing.
He ran forward and held her as the others slowly- painfully- gathered. They all had injuries and were so exhausted they could barely stand. Sailor Moon was unconscious, face pale and cold. *She's going into shock,* he realized.
"What do we do now, call a cab?" That was Venus, always trying for the lighter side.
Again he reached inside himself to join with a wellspring of life- force, soothing as wine, yet enervating as a mountain stream. "Put your hands on my shoulders," he told them, "I can help you." He had used a small amount over a long period to sustain Rini. Now he brought up a flowing golden stream that filled him. He directed the flow out to those around him and to the young woman in his arms, washing away their weariness. His control faltered, breaking the energy stream. He felt the hands lifting from his shoulders. He looked down at Sailor Moon, her color had returned to normal, but she was still out.***
"Tuxedo Mask?" He looked tiredly up at the others; they still looked beat, but stronger. "We didn't take your energy, did we?" Mars asked concernedly.
"No," he stood up, "it was Earth power. I've just learned to channel it." He winced in pain, "It left me with a doozy of a headache, but I'll live."
"Thank you."
"Yes, that goes for all of us."
"We can't take Serena home like this."
"I'll take her to my place for the night, Rini's already there. Cover for us, OK, Jupiter?"
"Sure," she agreed as he left in a swirl of crimson in the fading light.
He took her by the hidden overhead paths to his apartment, entering unseen through the balcony. He laid her down next to Rini, triggered her detransformation and his own. He staggered, lightheaded, to the kitchen. He had been awake for more than 36 hours and hadn't eaten for more than a day. They all needed sustenance. He fixed some noodles and tea, woke Rini up and made sure she had some before he settled her down of the sofa in a borrowed shirt. Then he tried to wake up Serena. She responded slowly, her face vacant, her movements mechanical. He had to encourage her to eat while he ate himself.
Worried over her impassiveness, he led her to the bed and sat, holding her. Again, he reached within himself along the silvery bond to her. It led to a place of roiling darkness, flaring with red lightning. He heard screaming, the sound of battle. He found her, a small white form cowering in fear, trapped by terror, reliving the horrors she had experienced: the end of the Moon Kingdom; the caverns of the Negaverse where she had fought Beryl; Nemesis where she'd fought Wiseman; and lastly Pharaoh 90.
He enveloped her with the warmth of his golden love, bringing her to herself, as she had done for him when the Negaverse possessed him. "Serena, look at me," he entreated out loud.
"D..Darien?" she shivered and opened her eyes.
"I'm here. Everything is all right now," he comforted her.
"Rini? Hotaru?" she questioned, her eyes frantic, ready to jump up.
"Rini's sleeping right over there," he nodded, indicating the sofa, "Haruka and Michelle are taking care of Hotaru."
She relaxed in his arms. "Darien, is it over?" she asked sleepily.
"Yes, it's all over," he replied faintly, easing her onto the bed and kissing her cheek. The day's exertion caught up with them and they fell asleep, side-by-side.
She woke once, uncomfortable in her day clothes, too tired to be surprised at where she found herself. She was used to sleeping someplace other than home after fighting to save the world. This was different, though familiar. She rummaged in his closet and found a shirt to change into, it came down mid-thigh on her. It would be more comfortable than her skirt which bunched and twisted while she slept. She checked on Rini, then returned to the bed. By the faint light coming through the window, she could see Darien, his face looking rounder and younger in sleep. They had fallen asleep on top of the covers and the night was getting cold. She gently tugged the blanket from under him and slipped in beside him, warmed by his body heat.
AN: The last chapter was short because it was a transition chapter. This covers the defeat of Pharaoh 90 of course and I have filled in what I thought happened but was not shown. Again I must emphasize that this is based on the anime (as shown on Cartoon Network) and not the manga.
Next chapter: there's two in the bed and the little one said "Andrew's here!" (heh-heh)
* This refers to the 'sleeping beauty' episode when he entered Serena's mind to find her.
** This is a quote from The Return of the King by JRR Tolkien. I thought it appropriate.
*** Did you ever wonder how they could be totally thrashed after this battle and be normal the next day? This is my answer.