A/N: I'm thinking this is the last chapter of this, maybe an epilogue to end it all and make it happy, but maybe not. And so the plot comes to it's climax and all the pieces fit together! Hopefully….^^
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Title: Lost Star Light, Burn Bright
Chapter Twenty-One
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Sailor Mars tried to calm her breath, reminding her that her little, now five year old, daughter was safe with Felena. Airenia had gotten herself caught by the Mikoradiy, who growled at her with a vicious smile at the moment, bloody from her own attacks. Rei had learned so much since she'd arrived on the sacred grounds or that's what the Dragon Maidens called their Castle. Rei found out why only she was needed on Teres and why Terrestria Gun had given herself up. It was kind of nice, in a weird way, that she was the means to end it all. That because she was dumb enough to fall in love with the Princess of Dragon Maidens, her destiny took this road. Sailor Mars felt the sting of her twisted ankle and most likely broken arm get jostled by another arrow thrown at her from the bow of the monster holding Airenia Gun. The raven haired Senshi leapt to the left and dodged it swiftly, luckily landing on her good leg.
- God I learned a lot, but what the hell am I supposed to do when I can't remember it?!-
" Grrr, I grow tiresome of you Senshi. Leave now and I will wait a long while to kill you." Mikoradiy growled whilst shaking the leader in her hand. It had taken so many of the maidens already, that it was almost whole again. It needed only a few more of the beings. Memories played in it's head, memories of how it was foolish to let that one goddess of the heavens tear it apart, and create a whole new race of beautiful creatures on Teres.
" MARS FLAME SNYPER!" The burning arrow sliced the air and cut it's way into the shoulder of the Mikoradiy. It was barely able to do any damage before the demon ripped it out.
" Don't look away monster! MARS FIRESTORM!"
Mars ran straight behind her column of fire, ready to strike when it engulfed her enemy. Mikoradiy screamed in agony as it's already burnt flesh was charred by the heated element. Rei, knowing her own fire couldn't hurt her, started to punch and kick the body of the demon relentlessly. She knew she couldn't keep this up, her energy was low. Too low to continue the way she was. Unfortunately, her thoughts betrayed her once again by taking her mind off of the task. The Mikoradiy found an opening when she'd hesitated just one second and sent a blast of negative energy her way. Her own screams rang in her ears, her Senshi uniform ripping yet again, at this rate, there would be nothing left of it.
The attack set her back into a wall of the Ashen mountain that supported some of the now broken dome roof of the sacred castle. It shook when her limp body was smacked into it, causing more pieces of the shattered roof to cave and fall upon her.
- Oh god! My leg has went completely numb! How the hell do I save Terri now?- Rei felt herself slipping into unconsciousness and struggled to keep herself alert.
Airenia was jarred from her own unconscious state by that of the Mikoradiy. The demon now found it a most appropriate time to take what was its and flung the older woman down on the broken up marble and stone floor. A dark eerie light grew around the leader of the maidens, mostly focusing on her abdominal section. The black haired demon grinned ruthlessly as it's claws grew another inch and it stabbed them down into Airenia. Airenia screamed like all the others and struggled, eager to escape the burning pain and the feeling of that one part in her growing more negative by the second. Black claws twisted and dug, finally pulling out a dark orb of eerie light. The monster absorbed it quickly, and many of the cuts along the demon's body healed, but not as many as it had wished.
" Your next Senshi. You may not have an orb within you, but your energy Rei is quite strong." It morphed, voice changing into that of a melodious one.
The dark haired beauty recognized the voice of her love instantly, anger boiling within her. How dare it take her dragon's form yet again? It had in the beginning of this entire battle.
" Can you hear me? Can you hear how I live inside the great Mikoradiy, now with my mother by me, all that's left is you, and little one. My Kirei." Terri walked closer, index finger shooting rays of black light to lift the rocks off of the sailor, hopefully hitting her in the process with her random shots. Rei's eyes widened when she felt something sting her under the rubble. Her mind searching frantically for a solution to save everyone.
- Think dammit! What- - Her barely gloved hand ran over something spherical that was laying upon the stone of her front bow. It rolled off and into her hand.
** FB **
Rei stopped her training at the sound of a cough behind her. She turned to see the mother of her dead love standing with a cloth in her hand. Upon the cloth something shined and her curiosity peaked to know what it was.
" Miss Hino, I have something I found." Airenia walked closer showing the shining object to the fiery Senshi.
" What is it?" Rei stared admiringly at the perfect round form. Upon the cloth lay a perfectly round red jewel, the size of regulation marble. It gleamed in the sunlight from a skylight in the ceiling.
" This was Terrestria's, she was given it when she first was being trained as a Senshi at the age of seven. The first thing she did was bless it, with the great ritual of the maidens. It's a very difficult and complicated ritual, I was surprised she could do it." The old woman chuckled as she remembered her daughter so young and eager to do the impossible.
" Did it do anything to it?" Rei smiled down at it, once it was placed in her hands.
" It turned red."
" Re-Red?" Rei gasped as she saw Airenia nod.
" Terrestria was brilliant through out her life. She always seem to know. But this stone, I see now, was meant for you my dear friend. She loved you so, I could feel it when Terrestria was last home before she died. Take it, it may be what you need."
Rei stood confused and happy, watching the leaders retreating back down the stone corridor.
** End FB **
Rei smiled slightly, even though another beam grazed her leg. The Mikoradiy was almost done tortuously digging her out. It was clear as to what she would do now to defeat the evil claiming her loves voice and face. So, Rei laid still, letting the monster dig her out. It was almost over.
" I've found you my love. Oh! Your all scraped up! Let me help you out of that mess." Terri's teeth were clenched as she grabbed hold of the Senshi's pretty much broken arm, and wrenched her from her spot. Rei landed upon another heap of broken rubble.
Sailor Mars struggled to stand, but succeeded in it none the less. Her left hand held the round red stone between her middle finger and index finger. She began to concentrate, creating a barrier around herself to stop most of the Mikoradiy's attacks. Once she knew she had the strength to do what must be done, Rei dropped the shield and added more strength to herself.
" What are you doing Sailor Mars? I feel rising energy in you." The Mikoradiy hissed, now in it's regular form. With a huff of annoyance it sped forward, claws outstretched.
A small smile that could just be seen if looked closely, appeared on Rei's lips. Her arm flung up, hand releasing the stone like a card. It flung through the air, heading straight for the Mikoradiy. The demon saw it coming and stopped. Cold red eyes watched it closely as the stone circled it's body. It snapped out with its arms to snatch the small red stone from the air, but couldn't since the object dodged swiftly every time. Soon enough, the stone saw it's target and went for it. It embedded itself painfully in the demon's right shoulder, making the enemy scream in pain, dark liquid trailing down its skin from the new wound.
Rei watched with amusement as the evil creature tried desperately to get the small stone out of it's shoulder. Meanwhile Rei concentrated again, pooling all of the energy she had left, into her palms.
" FIRE SNAKE REVIVAL!" It was the point of all of this, to kill the Mikoradiy once and for all. But it was a high price to pay…Half the living souls within would die, and never return to the world of the living.
The shape of a large flaming snake appeared and sprung from her palms like a red streak. The snake's mouth opened to show off two very large fangs looking like they were dripping of red hot fire. It zeroed in on the stone embedded shoulder and sunk it's fangs deep in. The Mikoradiy had never known pain like this, with souls being ripped from it's body like fireworks in splendid colors, all flying out of the dome in search of their bodies. Dark brown skin was torn with each soul (which Rei could see were in crystal forms) breaking away. The demon was soon nothing but a past memory. Nothing but air occupied where it once screamed. At this Rei broke down to her knees, crying into her hands, seeing that her love was no where to be found.
A shining light caught her attention, her amethyst orbs snapping up to look as a dark navy-blue crystal hovered in her face. Her hand reached out to grab it and found it warm to the touch. More tears poured down her scratched face, causing her numerous cuts to sting and burn. The crystal had no where to go, the body it wanted had been destroyed in the first battle with the Mikoradiy. Dusted those months ago with the rest of the cavernous castle of the dead creature. Mars pulled it to her chest, her sobs taking total control.
- It's all I have left of her! All my work, all the deaths of the maidens…Why did I do it if I didn't get her back?! Poor Kirei…she was so hopeful, but I can't live on…- A fiery arrow of her sniper appeared in her hand, flames licking the air.
" Death it is." She pressed the tip to her breast covering her heart and gulped, breathing in her last of oxygen.
" Don't be foolish." A concerned melodious voice startled her as her eyes snapped open to see nothing but two setting suns.
" I-Ter-Terri?" Rei shook her head, there was absolutely nothing in front of her, so Rei shut her eyes and placed the arrow back over her heart. The crystal slipped from her hand and rolled on the marble before her.
" Don't be foolish, Firebird." That concerned voice hit her ears again and her eye lids flew up, to not see the setting suns.
Eyes widened at the sight, her mouth hanging slightly open. Tanned feet wrapped in leather sandals with the straps lacing up endless tanned legs, to the small brown leather skirt of all Dragon Maidens. Toned, flat stomach, long tan arms with slender hands met her eyes next. A large bust held inside the short leather button up tank, with semi-wide straps covered in dark ash brown hair, two white strips hanging longer on either side of the maidens face. Large dragon wings were folded behind her back. Navy-blue eyes smiled at her happily, a ten-point star signal on the maidens forehead. Rei looked her up and down several times, still kneeling on the ground, when she noticed something around her neck. It was a choker with nothing but a red perfectly round stone in the middle of her neck.
" Ter-Terri?" The arrow disappeared as the new Dragon maiden kneeled down in front of her, a hand stroking her hair.
" Yes, love." Terrestria, Queen of Teres, Princess of Dragon Maidens, and Senshi Protector pulled her love into her strong arms.
" Oh god, never leave me." Rei cried for once, happy tears.
" I try my Firebird."
Terrestria picked her up easily, holding her close. She walked past the many bodies of her deceased friends, most from when she ran the corridors as a little girl. Her own eyes welled up with tears at the site of her bruised and battered mother, who was with half the souls that never revived, and would never revive.
***
Most of the castle was unharmed, since the warriors who fought were able to keep the enemy from moving farther onto sacred grounds. Terrestria couldn't help but notice how much lighter she felt, like something was missing. She tossed it aside at the moment, searching out her daughters signal. Kirei was in the great foyer, a room full of many comfortable couches and chairs.
The arch doors came in site, and at her command swung open to reveal the colorful room. Two dark heads popped up from an oversized chair. Both pair of eyes unbelieving at the site.
" Mommy!"
" Terrestria?!" Felena held Kirei back, just in case it was a trick. Terrestria simply put her love on a dark red couch and turned to grin widely at them both.
" Come here little one."
Ignoring her protectors protests, Kirei ran straight into the arms of her mother, who picked her up and held her tight.
" Little Maiden! Please, that might not be your mother!" Felena jumped over the chair and two the family. Her blue orbs watched in concern. It couldn't be her old friend.
" Oh little one I missed you! I'm sorry I left, it had to be done. Watch your daddy for a second alright?" Terrestria grinned and set Kirei down beside her father, who lay unconscious.
" It's nice to see you too Lena."
" But you can't be Terrestria! She hasn't taken the form of her true self since the day she became a Senshi! Terrestria…why did you even take that role?" Felena felt herself drawn to the other woman, and found herself enveloped in a friendly hug.
" It was a duty passed down in my family for years, dear friend. I might be like this more often though." Terrestria grinned and rubbed her friend's short dark evergreen hair.
" I'm glad your home…Queen Terrestria."
" I'll do something about that later on, it's seems I won't be able to keep up with my role as Mother, maybe wife, Queen, Senshi, and Leader of the Maidens."
" You? Leader? Your serious right??? You'll be coming home?!" Felena felt so happy her best friend would be returning after so many years, it made her giddy inside.
" Possibly, but now I need you to go and find the others who survived. Bring them back…and don't worry about my mother's body…I'll give her the proper burial…" A tear slipped her cheek and Felena gave her a quick hug before flying off to find her comrades.
" Mommy?" Kirei knew something was very wrong, more wrong than before she was put in a room with Felena.
" Kirei, your grandma…has passed away…" Terri pulled the small girl to her as she began to cry.
" Sshhh, little one. Your grandma is very happy now, she can watch over you from way up high. She'll always be with us Kirei." Terri petted her head soothingly. A hour of crying later, the small princess had cried herself to sleep and lay under a blue blanket on a couch across from Rei.
Rei's transformation had faded from her lack of energy, but her body was gladly excepting the new leader of Dragon Maidens easily. Only a half hour later, the fire Senshi's eyes fluttered open slowly, her head resting in her beloved's lap. Terri's eyes were closed, a sweet sad song sounded out as she hummed contently.
" Ter-Terri?" Rei's voice felt very horse, and she couldn't move most of her body, but just staring into the beautiful face of Terri made her glad to be alive.
" Rei, you woke up. I see my energy did you good. Your almost healed. You'll be sore for a couple of days though." Terri helped her sit up against the couch, then happily put her arms around her waist and pressed her head against Rei's flat stomach.
" I'm not dreaming? Because this really wouldn't be a dream, not with all the loss, and me knowing the fact that your not really here…" Rei closed her eyes, feeling heaven upon her lips as Terri kissed her softly.
" No dream. I love you."
" Hm…I'm not sure if that's a good thing anymore. I've almost died a lot in the past two years, but I love you too." Rei pulled Terri into a deeper kiss, glad to know she would never have to dream again.
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A/N: Not very many ppl read this, but it would bug me if didn't finish it. Then finally, my whole original character obsession will have finally been satisfied. Well if some do read this story, please review! C ya!…It's not over yet!
JupeJupe ^_^