Chapter 11
India and Darien walked in the park hand in hand. They were quiet, thinking about all that had happened. The thought on their mind most was Serena. She had came only to be more disappointed than before. She came to get answers and understanding only to find heartbreak.
"Even though we are on different terms, at the moment," India said facing Darien, "I am still Serena's sister. I still love her very much, and I do not know if I can go through with this. I have you, and it's tearing her up inside, but then there is the battle over the throne which only makes it worse. I would give almost anything to be like sisters again with her."
"I know these are trying times for you, for all of us, but to make it through you have to trust in yourself," Darien replied. "Remember, no matter what, I will always be here to protect you. I will stand by you no matter what your decision."
"Thank you, Darien." Tears began to well up in India's eyes. "This is worse than when I lost you. I mean, I have you, but now I am torn between two families that I love. Nanashi is on one hand, and Serena on the other. It seems no matter which one I pick I will not win. I just wish it would all go away and it would be just you and me."
Darien put his arm around India. "No, you don't wish that. If it were just us, if anything ever happened to me you would be all alone. No matter how hard it gets fight to stay and hold on to the people you love. Queen Serenity would never have wanted this, but it seems it has come to it. Serena and the other Scouts still love you, it is just now you are against them and it confuses their emotions. It's like when you left, you gave up me, the person you loved most, to make Serena happy. Even after that, you still loved her, you still loved the kingdom enough to fight for it."
"When I was alone, I always wondered if Serena would ever feel the pain and suffering I went through. I understand what she is going through, but I do not think anyone notices that. What I fear most is that I will feel that pain again.
"I just want to be happy for the time I have with you, and I cannot do that. All I can do is think of Serena and her sadness, and the Scouts, the battle. Then, I remember I have you and for the time everything is all right. I just wish we could all be together in peace, together as a family, but I see that will never happen. Serena and the Scouts will never accept Nanashi, and Nanashi will not accept them either."
Tears rolled down India's face. It seemed all the pain and suffering of her life and those before had come back. Darien gently wiped away her tears. "Don't cry for soon this will all be over and a distant memory." Darien leaned down to kiss India, but stopped when they heard a loud explosion from the far end of the park.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Scouts you have to hurry before more people get hurt!" Rini screamed into her communicator. Rini looked on the dance floor, Melanie was really close to the fire that had started from the explosion. Yukito had been hit by the impact of the explosion and was unconscious. Meilin ran to her twin before he got hurt anymore. Suddenly, a huge branch from a nearby tree started to fall. It had been engulfed in flames and was right above Melanie. "Watch out!" Rini yelled as she ran and pushed Melanie out of the way.
"Yukito, wake up," Meilin cried with tears in her eyes. "Wake up! Do not leave me. Wake up, please, wake up."
"Get out of here, Melanie," Rini demanded. "I will be all right just go."
"Be careful, Rini," Melanie yelled. "I'll go call the police." Melanie ran away to go find a phone.
Rini looked around the area. No one seemed to be left except Meilin, Yukito, and Dark Moon. Now that Rini thought about it, no one even noticed that Dark Moon had attacked except her and the Twins. Now that nobody was here Rini could transform. "Moon Prism Power."
Meilin looked at Sailor Dark Moon, "What do you think you are doing? Look what you have done to Yukito. Mother will hear about this and she will not be happy."
"Listen to me my dear niece, you will not utter a single word about this to your mother or it will be worse next time!" Dark Moon yelled at Meilin.
"How dare you?" Meilin asked appalled. "You need me and my bother a lot more than you know. You shall never rule over the Moon Kingdom or any kingdom for that matter if anything ever happens to us by your hands. Mother and Father will make sure of that, personally."
"What?" Yukito asked in a daze. He finally started to gain consciousness. He looked around confused about where he was until he realize what had happened. Then he jolted up. "What the hell were you thinking? I could have been seriously hurt."
"Shut up!" Dark Moon yelled. "I do not need this from either of you. Just be known, when I become queen you two shall be dealt with."
"Pink Sugar Heart Attack!" Mini Moon attacked while Sailor Dark Moon was distracted. The attack hit Dark Moon and she fell to the ground.
"You little brat," Dark Moon said. She got up off of the ground and looked directly at Mini Moon. "Such a foolish, little girl, you dare to attack me when no one is here to help you! Dark Moon Blast." Mini Moon was so scared she froze and was hit by the blast. She fell to the ground unable to move.
"Mini Moon!" Sailor Moon screamed as she ran up to her. The other Scouts were right behind her.
"You are such a coward," Jupiter said. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size? Jupiter Oak Evolution." The attack hit Dark Moon and she fell to one knee.
"Come on, Yukito," Meilin said. "It is time for us to transform. Mini Neo Prism Power."
Yukito transformed into Mini Mask. He looked exactly like Tuxedo Mask. He even had the top hat and cane.
Sailor Moon helped Mini Moon to her feet. Mini Moon didn't seemed to be hurt too bad at all. "Moon Tiara Magic." Sailor Moon's tiara went flying towards Dark Moon. Dark Moon tried to avoid it, but was cut in the arm.
"Damn you!" Dark Moon yelled. "Dark Moon Blast." She hit Sailor Moon with the energy and sent her flying.
Sailor Neo and Tuxedo Mask ran up to the fight.
"It looks like we are missing all the fun," Neo said. "Venus Chain Encircle." Neo chained Sailor Mercury, and she fell to the floor. Neo held on to the chain so she wouldn't get away.
"Help me," Mercury cried.
"Okay," Venus said. "You want to play that game, you like using other people's attacks. Let's see how you like it when they're used on you. Venus Love and Beauty Shock." The attack hit Neo's hands making her release the chain. Mercury quickly unchained herself and got up.
"Mars Celestial Fire Surround." Mars sent fire everywhere.
"Watch it, Mars." Sailor Moon yelled. "You almost hit me."
"Mercury Aqua Illusion." The attack almost hit Neo, but Tuxedo Mask jumped in the way and shielded them both from the blast.
"This I have been waiting for," Mini Neo said as she walked up to Mini Moon. "Mini Neo Fusion Bomb." Mini Moon was hit by her own attack and Jupiter's Supreme Thunder.
Mini Moon held her balance against the attack. "You won't get away from me this time. Pink Sugar Heart Attack." This time her attack hit and Mini Neo fell to the ground. Mini Moon was about to attack again when her hands were hit with a rose. At first, she thought it was Tuxedo Mask, then she looked and saw it was Mini Mask.
"Back off," he said. He ran to help his sister up.
"That's not fair!" Mini Moon yelled. "It's two against one. Let her fight her own battle."
"Have you not hear the expression: All is fair in love and war?" Yukito asked.
"Yes," Mini Moon said. "But if she is going to get beat just let her get beat."
"That is okay, Mini Mask," Mini Neo said. "I can handle this all by myself."
"No, you cannot," he said. "You are still weak from earlier, this will only take more of your energy."
"I do not care! If she thinks I cannot win this on my own I will just have to show her. If I need your help I will ask for it." Mini Neo ran up and thrust the palm of her hand into Mini Moon's stomach sending her falling backwards.
"Dark Moon Blast!" Dark Moon released the attack hitting Sailor Moon and Mars. Both managed to keep their balance against the attack.
"Moon Tiara Magic."
"Mars Fire Sniper."
The two attacks combined sent Dark Moon flying against what remained of the stage.
"Let us see if you like your own attack, Venus," Neo said. "Venus Love and Beauty Shock." The attack hit Venus sending her to the ground. "How did you like it?"
"Jupiter Thunder Crash!"
"Mercury Bubbles Freeze!"
Tuxedo Mask jumped in front of Sailor Neo spinning his cane so fast it shielded them from the attack. He looked down at his hands to see he had been hit by the attack. Tiny trickles of blood came from cuts on his hands.
"Are you all right?" Neo asked.
"It's just a few cuts." Tuxedo Mask responded.
Mini Moon tripped Mini Neo and quickly got up off the ground. She looked at her uniform which had been torn from all the blast and attacks she had taken. "I will beat you."
Mini Neo picked herself off the ground. She struggled with her weigh because of all the energy she had been using. "If you do defeat me it will only be because of all the energy that has been drained of me."
"You set this whole thing up just so you could attack us didn't you?" Mini Moon asked.
"No," Mini Mask answered. "Dark Moon told us to come here because of the concert; we had no idea about this." He looked at Dark Moon as if just realizing what had happened. "Yes, Dark Moon told us to come."
He remembered waking up in a daze. "Just be known, when I become Queen you two shall be dealt with." That was what Dark Moon said. She was the one that had knocked him unconscious without even caring.
Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
Yes, Mini Neo answered. We must warn Mother and Father before it is too late.
"Why are you always accusing us of everything?" Mini Neo asked. "Is it because you are jealous of us-of the relationship we have with Darien, our father? If it is you better get use to it."
For a moment, Mini Moon couldn't respond. Had that really been the reason she didn't like them? Was she feeling threatened by them? No! No, she hadn't. It was their fault. "It's all your fault!" Mini Moon screamed. "It's all your fault!" Tears came to her face. "It's all your fault my parents aren't together."
"What are you talking about?" Mini Mask asked. "It's all Sailor Moon's fault. None of this is our fault. If your mother had never interfered my parents would always have been together."
"That's not true," Mini Moon said. "Pink Sugar Heart Attack." The attack hit Mini Mask.
"No!" Mini Neo screamed. "Leave him alone. This is between you and me. Mini Fusion Bomb." Mini Neo sent out her attack combining Sailor Moon's Cosmic Moon Power and Pluto's Deadly Scream. The attack hit Mini Moon sending her against a tree.
"Neo Fusion Bomb!" Neo took out Venus and Jupiter with that attack. "That was my own attack. I hope you liked it."
"Why won't you join our side?" Mercury asked. "That's where you belong."
"You're wrong." Tuxedo Mask answered. "We don't belong there. We will only belong when all this turmoil is over. We will only belong when you all accept our relationship."
"Why do you ask such trivial questions Mercury?" Neo asked. "I thought you were smarter than this. You don't understand, and neither does Sailor Moon. Right now the only people that accept this are our family and Dark Moon. Believe me, this hurts me deeply, but I must choose a side and for the time being I have chosen this one."
"But what if you have chosen the wrong side?" Mercury asked.
"Only time will tell," Neo responded. "To err is human. This decision has been hard for me. I spent years thinking this over for I knew one day it would come. I don't want to be hated. Even thought we are on different sides I love you all as my sisters. Why do you think I came to you as a friend and not an enemy? I came that way because I don't want you all to hate me."
"Don't you think it would be easier if you were on our side?"
Neo looked troubled. Tears were in her eyes. "I don't have an answer to that question."
"Dark Moon Blast!" Mars fell to the ground. "You all have never been friends of mine. You condemned me to the Dark Moon, but when you are defeated I shall rule over the Moon Kingdom."
"What about Neo?" Sailor Moon asked. "Isn't she the one who is supposed to get the Moon Kingdom?"
"Who cares?" Dark Moon asked. "She has Endymion. After all this, the only thing they will want to care about is each other. They won't even notice their kingdom is being taken over. Slowly, but surely, I will have both the Moon and the Dark Moon."
"You are a monster," Sailor Moon said.
"This monster will have your kingdom, though. Now shut up and fight. Dark Moon Blast." Sailor Moon dodged the blast.
"Moon Tiara Magic." Dark Moon dodged the attack. The tiara kept going and found a new target.
"Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhh," Tuxedo Mask screamed out in pain. He held his side. Blood rushed from his injury. He fell to the ground.
"NO!" Neo screamed. She rushed to Tuxedo Mask. She held him in her arms crying. Blood covered her and the ground, it was everywhere. "Hold on. I'll protect you."
The Twins ran to their parents.
"Well, would you look at that." Dark Moon laughed. "It seems you have deeply injured your love. I couldn't have done it any better myself."
"No," Sailor Moon whispered. "No, this can't be happening."
"Oh, but it is." Dark Moon purred. "I bet you would just love to go and see if he's all right, but you can't. Just look at that family in pain. Look at your daughter with tears in her eyes not knowing if she should go and see if her father is okay. Hell, look at your life. You have really done it. Everything is your fault. I wonder if you can even bear the pain."
Sailor Moon was speechless. Her eyes filled with tears as her vision blurred. She fell to the ground. The last thing she saw was Sailor Neo with her family, and then Mini Moon. The last thing she thought was if she should go to Mini Moon or not. After that all went black.