Rated PG-13
Disclaimers: Sailor Moon and everything affiliated with her are the property
of Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation, Kodansha, and DiC. They are not mine, I
am 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 or dreamscape (don't worry, this will make sense eventually, I
hope).
Comments? Questions? You want to praise me or curse me out? I'm at
jnkryo@yahoo.com
Daughters of Destiny
Part 12
by: Johnny Ng
Sailor Moon blinked at her blank communicator. "What's wrong with
this thing? It never seems to work anymore!"
Mercury's computer started to beep. "I'm detecting a sharp increase
in magical activity coming from the throne," she said, "but it's strange. I
don't understand these readings."
"Let me take a look at them," Daniel said. Mercury showed him the
results and he frowned. "This can't be!"
"Oh, but it is, spirit," Bane's voice said. The eye orb rose from
the glowing throne and its crack sealed itself. "I am reborn!"
The minicomputer began to beep wildly now. "The magical emanations
coming from him are off the charts! Everyone, look out!"
The orb pulsed once, twice, and flared...
"Silence Wall!"
A translucent dome of protective energy appeared over the group of
heroes a split second before the flash reached them.
Sailor Saturn gasped and fell to one knee. Her shield started to
buckle under the enormous magical assault.
"Don't worry, I've gotcha," Daniel told the young scout. He
concentrated and poured his energy into the shield. Saturn looked at the
ghost gratefully as some of the strain lessened.
"What's happening?" Venus asked.
*It's the Earth's magic. Somehow it must have resurrected Bane.
This energy discharge is a result of that process.*
"So this isn't an attack?"
Rhea looked around her in fear. "No, this is like when one of the
mana wells were opened...only worse."
Tuxedo Mask spoke up. "If that's the case..." He looked at the
captured bridge crew off in one corner. They had been cowering in terror
ever since Bane was defeated, but now they were screaming. The energy rings
restraining them dissolved in the intense magical release and the crewmembers
were now running around crazily.
Suddenly one of them caught fire and collapsed to the deck, still
screaming. One by one the rest of the crew began to spontaneously combust
until all that remained alive on the bridge were Bane and the people
protected under Saturn's shield.
Sailor Moon turned away from the sight of the burning crewmen and
felt Tuxedo Mask's arms encircle her body. She started to cry when a
realization struck her. "Oh no, the Outers!"
Uranus ducked behind a bulkhead as a series of lightning bolts blazed
towards her. "I can't believe it. These guys just don't quit! And where do
they keep coming from?!"
A minute later, Neptune dived behind the bulkhead.
"What are you doing here?" Uranus asked. "We're supposed to stay
spread out."
The aqua-haired scout shook her head. "It couldn't be helped. This
is the last piece of cover out there."
"Where's Pluto?"
"I don't know, but we're almost surrounded."
Uranus cursed. "I just wish I knew what was happening with the
Inners."
General Riven smiled hollowly. It was nearly over. A lieutenant ran
to him and snapped a crisp salute.
"Sir, we have two of the enemy pinned down in the far west
bulkheads."
"What of the third?"
The officer shuffled his feet. "We don't know where she is, sir, but
she is still in the room. There are no other exits."
Riven nodded. He had lost a great number of his soldiers on these
three intruders, but he no longer cared. Ever since Rix's death he had been
slowly slipping into a type of depression. He sighed. "Go finish it,
lieutenant."
The soldier saluted again and ran to the troops under his command.
The general sat in his chair. Battle no longer satisfied him. He
was a soldier who didn't want to soldier anymore. He had nothing. And since
he had nothing, he might as well be nothing.
General Riven leaned back and mentally activated his suicide switch.
He grit his teeth against the pain of his body dissolving and thought about
the one thing that had made his life worth living. A woman named Kharma Rix
whom he had found as a young orphan and raised like his own daughter.
"World Shaking!" Uranus yelled whipping her hand down to the deck.
A ball of yellow energy shot out and plowed through a pair of soldiers before
detonating against the wall. She fell tiredly against the bulkhead. "I'm
nearly spent," she said to her partner.
Sailor Neptune nodded and took her love's hands in hers. "At least
we'll go out together."
They didn't see the soldier sneak up on them until it was nearly too
late.
"Dead Scream."
The soldier was struck in the chest by the ball of purple energy and
fell over.
Pluto emerged from the shadows and ran to their positions.
"Great," Uranus cracked, "now we can all die together."
The time scout ignored the comment. "We're leaving. Now."
"Wha--?"
"There's no time." Pluto opened a portal. "Get in, quickly."
The two scouts nodded and immediately dived through the opening.
Pluto looked around quickly and summoned her Time Staff. She held it high
above her head and slammed it into the deck. The butt of the staff went
about a foot into the floor before it struck something solid. Satisfied that
her staff would remain where she had put it she followed her two companions
into the portal and shut it behind her.
"Thanks for pulling our asses out of the fire, Pluto," Uranus said.
"So what's up?"
"The ship is about to be inundated with magic. If we had stayed, we
would have been killed by the overload."
Neptune gasped. "What about the Inners and Rhea?"
"They're alright. Saturn's wall is shielding them."
Uranus breathed a sigh of relief. "That was a good move sending
Saturn along with them."
The time scout looked deep into the portal's mists. "I didn't send
her because of that," she said quietly.
"Then why?"
Pluto remained silent, but no one saw the look of grief she had on
her face.
"Can we see how the Inners are doing?" Neptune asked.
The time scout shook her head and took a deep breath. "I am unable
to. The magical interference prevents me from looking in on them. All we
can do now is wait."
Dr. Kavor woke up with a splitting headache. "Ugghhhh...I going to
get that blond bitc--" An alarm began sounding in her lab. She staggered
over to her computer to check what was going on. What she saw made her face
go white.
According to the displays, there was a huge wave of magical energy
sweeping through the entire ship.
"Computer!" the doctor yelled desperately. "Erect a level ten force
shield around--"
The wave washed over the medical labs at that point and after it had
passed, all that was left of Jana Kavor was a small pile of ashes.
In another part of the ship, Captain Raze was reclining in his
quarters. It had been a long day and he felt he deserved a little R&R. He
had set the computer to awaken him if there was an emergency and he lay down
and prepared to take a nap. If all went according to plan, then these Sailor
Scouts would be dead and Master Bane would have taken all of this world's
magic before the day was out.
Just as the captain was getting comfortable, the alarm sounded. Raze
grumbled and was about to query the computer about what was happening when he
suddenly felt it. There was a tingling all over his body that grew worse
with every second. He struggled upright and made his way to the door of his
bedroom before the pain caused his to black out.
The magical overload reached the Wrath's crew quarters and everyone
there, including Captain Raze, was reduced to dust.
Bane's orb flashed for a final time and, amid the warning sirens
blaring on the bridge, Mercury announced that the magical emanations have
stopped. "But the ship is charged with energy, though," she warned, "so once
this shield is gone, we're going to feel a slight discomfort as our bodies
try to adjust to the heightened levels of magic."
She nodded to Sailor Saturn. The young scout nodded back and
released her shield.
Everyone immediately felt a slight tingling and Rhea shivered. "This
was what I felt the first time a mana well was opened."
"What about the Outers?" Sailor Moon asked worriedly.
A sad expression crossed Mercury's face. "If they weren't able to
get to someplace shielded... " She left the statement hanging in the air.
"You need not worry about your friends, Sailor Moon," Bane told her.
"In fact, pretty soon you won't need to worry about anything ever again."
Tuxedo Mask had had enough. He reached into his suit and pulled out
a handful of roses. Stepping in front of his girlfriend, Tux threw his
floral projectiles at the floating orb.
The orb glowed briefly and the roses speeding towards it reversed
themselves in midair and hurtled back to their thrower.
Tux gasped and jumped out of the way.
"Anyone else care to try?" Bane drawled.
Mercury had her visor on and was taking readings of Bane's orb.
"It's no use," she said defeatedly, "he's too strong. Not even a Planet
Attack can hurt him now."
"We've got to do something!" Mars shouted desperately.
Sailor Moon looked around at her friends and saw the fearful and
resigned looks on their faces. Almost unconsciously she put her hand on her
broach and summoned the Silver Crystal. The scout leader looked down and saw
the glittering facets of the gem and transformed into Princess Serenity. She
was about to lift up the Crystal when she felt a hand on her arm.
"No, Princess," Sailor Saturn said, "the sacrifice is mine."
Serenity looked at the young scout with her wide blue eyes. "What
are you saying, Saturn?"
"Pluto told me to come with you as a failsafe. If Bane survived his
fight with Rhea, then it would have been up to me to destroy him."
"You? How?"
Saturn's voice was grim. "I was once called the Messiah of Silence.
I could shatter worlds with my power if I so desired."
Serenity drew away, horrified. "You cannot mean to use your
forbidden attack. You would be killed!"
The scout of silence bowed deeply to Serenity. "I would gladly give
up my life for you, my Princess." She started to walk away then turned her
head. "I suggest you all move as far away as you can from the bridge. This
might get a little...rough."
The Princess nodded slowly and went back to her companions. All of
them were reluctant to leave, but they eventually reached the doors.
Bane's eye focused on the lone advancing scout. "Ah, Sailor Saturn,
the Dark Messiah. Would you pit you powers against mine?"
"I would sorcerer."
The group of heroes was busy by the bridge exit.
"Hurry up and open the door!" Jupiter hissed.
"It's not opening!" Venus hissed back.
Mercury had her computer open. "Bane's blocking the door! He won't
let us out!"
Mars looked back. "Saturn's going to do her attack soon."
"We have to stop her!" Tuxedo Mask said. He started to run back when
he smacked against an invisible wall. "What the--?"
"It's Bane again," Mercury said shaking her head. "He's trying to
stop us from stopping Saturn!"
"But why would he do that?" Mars asked. "Unless..."
"...he knows that Saturn's attack won't hurt him!" Venus said. "We
have to break out of here!"
Rhea raised her hand and pointed. "It's too late."
Saturn had raised her glaive over her head. "Death Reborn
Revolution!" She slammed her polearm down and glowing black ribbons of
destructive energy lashed out towards the floating orb. It flashed once
before the ribbons engulfed it.
There was silence for a while before Bane's voice echoed around the
bridge again...and he was laughing. "Did you really think that you could
destroy me?" The blackness covering the orb began to pulsate. Cracks began
to appear in the black energy envelope and green fire flared out. It pulsed
again and there was a large explosion.
Saturn had collapsed onto the deck and the shockwave lifted her off
the deck and smashed her against the wall.
By the door, the other heroes saw the explosion.
"Everybody, get down!" Rhea yelled. The mage threw up her arms and
summoned the strongest shield she could. She was still a little weak,
though, the shockwave drove her to her knees; but like last time, Daniel came
to the rescue.
"Thanks, dad." The ghost just smiled.
When the explosion finally spent itself, everyone immediately ran to
Sailor Saturn. The young scout was a mess. Her skin was deathly pale and
cold, and she was coughing up blood.
Mercury shouldered her way to the injured scout and began examining
her. She gasped. "She's still alive! But it's not good. She's got three
broken ribs and a lot of internal bleeding, and her energy levels are at
critical." Mercury lowered her eyes. "The attack took too much from her.
It drained her energy and nearly depleted her life force as well. I'm afraid
there's nothing I can do."
Saturn turned her head and looked at her Princess Serenity. "I...I'm
sorry, Princess. I have...failed you."
Serenity shook her head and tears fell from her face. "No, my
friend. You have done what you could." She stood up and stared at the
glowing orb. "It is now up to me."
Tuxedo Mask grabbed the Princess's arm. "No, you can't!"
Serenity's eyes softened and her hand caressed the tuxedo-clad hero's
face. "I am sorry, my Prince, but for the good of all, I must." She slipped
her arm free and backed away slowly. "Be well, my love."
The Silver Crystal flashed. There is another way, Serenity.
"Mother?"
The Crystal flashed again and a shimmering barrier appeared over
Serenity and her companions. You must hurry, daughter. I have shielded
you from Bane inside a subspace pocket, but it is only a matter of time
before he will discover us. Call forth Aiden's descendants. Serenity
signaled for Rhea and Daniel and she told Sailor Venus to bring Trent.
"What is it?" Daniel asked.
"My mother would like a word with you."
Venus gasped. "You mean--?"
The Princess nodded. "Yes, Queen Serenity." She took out the
Crystal and Queen Serenity's image appeared.
Greetings, children of Aiden.
Daniel smiled. "It's been a while, Serenity."
The image smiled back. Hello, Daniel. It has indeed, however, we
have little time for pleasantries. I am going to need your help if we are to
defeat Bane now.
*Uh...Serenity,* Trent communicated, *I'm not sure if you noticed,
but I'm at a slight disadvantage right now, having no body and all.*
Do not worry, Trent. As Sailor Pluto might say, all is as it
should be.
"What do you mean? What are we going to do?" Rhea asked, confused.
We are going to summon the only person to defeat Bane. We are
going to summon Aiden.
Trent's cube flashed his astonishment. *But, Your Majesty, according
to Bane, he killed Aiden eons ago on another planet. How are we going to
resurrect him?*
I do not mean for you to resurrect him, just to summon him. There
is a prophecy associated with Aiden. It speaks of his return to confront
Bane. It is time for the prophecy to be fulfilled.
"What is the prophecy?" Trent asked.
Queen Serenity's eyes grew distant. And it shall come to pass that
Aiden will return to battle he that slew him, and those that summon him will
be of his kin. One shall be the mind; the second, the soul; and the last,
the body.
When the queen stopped, Rhea blinked. "What, that's it? What does
it mean?"
"It's speaking about us," Daniel answered, suddenly understanding.
"I am the mind, Daniel is the soul, and you, Rhea, are the body."
"Alright, then what do we do?"
Simply form a circle facing each other. I will place the Crystal
in the middle. Focus your thoughts on it and it will do the rest.
The three did as they were told. The Silver Crystal hung in the air
with Rhea, Daniel, and Trent standing around it. Trent's cube was still
being held by Sailor Venus. Nothing happened at first.
Mercury had her computer out and was taking readings of the ritual.
Mars leaned over and whispered, "Are you getting anything?"
"I am getting slight readings, but nothing definite. It's almost as
though the Crystal is probing...or looking for something."
The fire scout nodded. "I sensed the same thing."
Suddenly, the Crystal flashed and a translucent figure appeared
suspended above it.
"Looks like whatever the Crystal was looking for, it found it," said
Jupiter, who had listened in on her fellow scouts' conversation.
It was a man, but it was really more than a man. He was of average
height, but his bearing was that of a king. With his steel-gray hair and
beard and deeply lined face, Aiden was a person who commanded instant respect
and obedience. However, his eyes held the warmth and compassion of a kindly
grandfather.
Hello, Aiden.
Aiden turned his head and looked at the queen. "Serenity. Has the
time come?"
The Queen's image nodded gravely. I am afraid it has, Great One.
"Please, Serenity, do not act so disconsolate. We both knew this day
would come. If nothing else, this day would allow me to meet with my
descendants." Aiden looked at the people gathered around him. "My
children..."
Rhea just stared at her ancestor while Daniel bowed gracefully and
Trent...well, Trent just sat on Venus's hand. The orange scout was looking
decidedly uncomfortable, as she didn't particularly like being used as a
convenient shelf for her boyfriend.
"My children," Aiden repeated. "You do not know how long I have
waited to see all of you." He glided over to Rhea and gently touched her
face. "You look like my wife, your ultimate grandmother, Rhea. She was
quite a beauty herself."
Aiden's touch was like gossamer on Rhea's cheek and his comments made
her blush. "Th-thank you..." She faltered on what to call him.
"Grandfather would be fine, dear. I don't want to feel that old."
"Thank you, grandfather."
Aiden smiled and went to Daniel. "Your daughter is a special girl,
Daniel. Don't take her for granted. You must make time for your children."
His face turned somber. "That is one of my few regrets. I always wished I
had more time with mine, before my...unpleasantness with Bane."
There were ghostly tears in Daniel's eyes. "I promise I will try,
grandfather."
The summoned spirit turned to Trent and smiled. "You're looking
well, Trent...for a cube."
The cube flashed almost as if in embarrassment. *My body is
currently indisposed of at the moment, grandfather. I assure you that I am
much better looking in person.*
Aiden nodded and looked at Sailor Venus and she curtsied quickly. He
chuckled. "No need for that, Lady Venus." He glanced at Queen Serenity.
"From what I hear, you are practically family."
Venus flushed and, not knowing what else to do, curtsied again.
Aiden smiled and looked around. He saw the other scouts standing
next Sailor Saturn. He floated over to them. "What has happened?"
Mercury explained the younger scout's injuries to the spirit. Aiden
nodded and bent over Saturn. "Lie still. I will do what I can to heal you."
Saturn nodded weakly and closed her eyes.
Aiden also closed his eyes and placed his hands over the girl. He
muttered an incantation and glowing wisps of energy flowed from his hands
into the injured scout.
Mercury had been monitoring Saturn's life signs with her computer and
was astonished when they started to improve, slowly but steadily.
The energy transfer ended and Aiden rose up. "I have healed her, but
she needs rest."
Princess Serenity looked at the spirit gratefully. "Thank you,
Aiden. I almost feared..."
"Think nothing of it, Princess. I was glad--"
The shield suddenly shimmered and Queen Serenity's image staggered.
Bane has discovered my shield, she cried, You must hurry, Aiden.
He nodded. "Drop the shield, Serenity. It is time."
The Queen nodded. Good luck. She faded back into the Silver
Crystal and it floated back to the Princess. The shield abruptly disappeared
in a bright flash of white light.
Back on bridge, Aiden and the others shimmered back into existence.
Once again everyone experienced the tingle of excessive magic.
"So, you have finally returned," Bane said nonchalantly, "I was
beginning to get worried. I hoped you enjoyed your little respite, because I
am going to eliminate you now."
Aiden stepped into view. "No, Bane. You will bother them no
longer."
The orb pulsed in surprise. "Aiden! Is it really you?"
"It is I, sorcerer, and the time of thy reckoning is at hand."
Bane chuckled. "Thy archaic speech doth reveal that it is indeed
thou, Aiden." He reverted back to normal speech. "Reckoning you say? Have
you returned just to spout ultimatums at me? Was that what the prophecy was
about?"
"No, I have come to challenge you."
"Challenge me?! Have you forgotten what happened last time we
dueled?"
"I remembered that I defeated you, sorcerer."
"Ah, but you were the one who died."
"Only through your treachery, Bane."
The orb glowed. "Yes, and my skills for deceit have grown, my old
enemy." There was a sudden flash and a pentagram appeared on the deck below
Aiden. It's runes flared and Bane laughed. "It appears I have you trapped,
Aiden."
The spirit looked at the containment circle and shook his head. He
waved his hand and stepped out of the pentagram. "You haven't changed, Bane.
Your arrogance has always been your failing."
"That may be..." Bane's orb flashed an angry red and the deck
plating that the scouts and the others were standing on curled up and
enveloped them in a globe of dark metal. "...but your compassion is yours."
Aiden glared at floating sphere. "Let them go, Bane. I challenged
you myself."
"I prefer to have a little insurance. Besides, as you have said
yourself, I haven't changed. Oh, wait, I have changed. I now have the magic
of an entire planet at me command. Neither you nor your descendents can
destroy me. I on the other hand..."
The metal globe started to compress and cries of panic and fear could
be heard coming from it.
"Stop it!" Aiden yelled.
"Why don't you make me?"
"Can't someone do something?!" Venus shouted as the wall next to her
started to crumple like tin foil.
Mercury shook her head. "It's no use. There's a magic dampening
spell inside the sphere. We can't use our attacks or your magic, Rhea."
Tuxedo Mask held his princess protectively. "Well, one thing's for
certain. We're all going to be a lot thinner."
"You can't win, Aiden," Bane said smugly. "Either you fight me and
die, or you try and save them and I kill you. This is really a dilemma."
The spirit's face had a frantic look on it, then he smiled. "I think
there is a third option." He lunged at Bane's orb and simultaneously sent a
telepathic message to the only ones who could help now.
Sailor Pluto's head shot up. "We must go."
Uranus was confused. "What? What happened?"
"They need our help. We are going back to the ship."
"But how?" Neptune asked. "You said yourself that the magic
radiation prevents you from teleporting there."
"True, but that is why I left my Time Staff there. It will act as a
focus for my portal."
The blond scout shrugged. "If you say so."
In the now empty ship storage bay, a shimmering portal opened next to
a large key shaped staff that was sunk into the deck. Three scouts suddenly
came tumbling out.
Sailor Uranus banged her head against the hard deck and swore loudly.
"What happened, Pluto?!" she yelled over the klaxons, "your landings are
usually better than that."
"It is the magical radiation. It interfered with the portal. I am
afraid that another teleport is out of the question. I was only able to get
us back to the storage bay because of my Time Staff."
"Great, I guess we'll have to get to the others the long way."
Uranus ran to the bay entrance and passed through the hole General Riven's
troops made. She looked down the hallway and swore. "There's a wall
blocking our way!"
Pluto and Neptune made their way to the tall scout. "The emergency
bulkheads. The magical overload must have triggered them and the sirens,"
the time scout said.
Uranus threw a punch at the wall and winced. "Now what? It'll take
time to blast through this, and we'll have to do this with every wall we meet
up with."
Neptune stood back and pondered the problem, and happened to glance
back into the storage bay. She smiled. "I think I may have an idea."
Uranus grimaced slightly. "If is was anything like your last
idea..."
The aqua scout ignored her partner's comment. "Like I was saying, if
we can't get to the bridge by going through the ship...why don't we just go
outside it?"
"Outside? How--oh..." Uranus saw Neptune gesture at the rows of
spacecraft in the bay.
Pluto smiled. "It just might work."
End Part 12