Chapter Four
There was fire everywhere. Trees and plants were burning to black ashes. Tall flames illuminated the night sky. The whole world felt like a growing inferno. It was so hot, the five girls and the tuxedo clad man standing amidst the blaze felt as though their skin was melting. The heat was distracting, but Sailor Venus pulled her mind away from the pain long enough to attack her foe.
"Venus…love-chain…encircle!" She shouted, throwing her chain at the being that caused the fire.
"Do you think a silly chain can save you?" the being roared. "I want the scepter and I'm not leaving until I get that or the crystal!"
"Jupiter…thunder…crash!" Sailor Jupiter screamed trying to get at least one good shot in while the creature was sidetracked.
"Stupid senshi! Just give me what I want and maybe I will spare your pathetic planet."
"We are not giving you anything," Sailor Moon shouted. "You have no right to harm any of the innocent people on Earth. Leave now or I will destroy you."
"Give me the scepter!"
"No!" The creature became angry. The senshi were hitting it with all the attacks they knew with no avail. All they succeeded in doing was make the creature angrier. Sailor Venus tried her chain again when she thought it didn't see her. She misjudged the creature's sight. It shielded itself from the chain then sent it back at her ten times faster than she originally made it go. Venus could do no more than put her arms in front of her face before she was blasted off her feet and went flying into a bush.
"Venus!" Mars cried desperately. She started to go help her friend but suddenly found herself lifted into the air by some unknown force. Mercury, Jupiter, and Tuxedo Mask joined her. Sailor Moon had somehow managed to stay on the ground.
"If you want your friends to live, give me the scepter." The creature threatened. Mars spotted Venus pulling herself out of the bush. She looked shaken up but otherwise fine. A brief flutter of hope filled the raven-haired senshi. Venus' eyes widened when she saw her companions floating in the air at the whim of an evil being. She ran to Sailor Moon's side and together they sent a joint attack at the creature, thinking that the combined force would make some sort of impact. It didn't. The creature sent a fireball at the two blond senshi, just barely missing Sailor Moon and singeing Sailor Venus' skirt and leg. Moon rushed to assist her. The other senshi and Tuxedo Mask watched in horror, helplessly dangling in midair with nothing they could do to help their cohorts.
"It's no use trying to attack it. We aren't strong enough," Moon said helping Venus to her feet. "There is only one way to stop it."
"No. No, I know what you're thinking. You can't do it. I'm not going to let you do it," Venus said determinedly. Moon shook her head.
"We have to destroy it, Venus. It will destroy Earth if we don't."
"It's not worth your life! At least let me help you. Maybe with two people, the energy will be split between us and it won't drain you."
"It won't work. You know it won't."
"Then give it the damn crystal! I'm not going to let you do it! I can't let you."
"Do you think giving it the crystal is better than my dying?"
"Please don't do it. We can think of something else!"
"There is no time. Cover me with your crescent beam and get to safety. There's no sense in both of us getting hurt."
"No, please don't do it, Serena please!" Moon turned away, preparing herself for her death.
"Tell Darien I love him."
"Serena no!"
"Get out of the way."
"No!"
"Go now, Mina!" Venus stood frozen in place, torn between running and staying. "Mina!" With tears in her eyes, Venus turned and ran behind the only tree that wasn't on fire.
"Venus…crescent-beam…smash!" she shouted repeatedly. The senshi stared as the only one of them free left their leader in the open.
"Venus! What are you doing? Go help her!" Mars screamed frantically. She saw Moon hit with another ball of fire. "Venus! Mina!" Moon was suddenly surrounded by a blinding light. The creature cried out with pain. The sound was mixed with five different screams of terror.
"Sailor Moon!"
Venus watched from behind the tree through blurred eyes as Moon fell to the ground in heap. The creature was defeated. The senshi and Tuxedo Mask dropped to the Earth. Mars recovered first and rushed to Moon's side. Mars instantly knew that nothing could help her, for she was already dead. Mars cried out in anguish. Tuxedo Mask collapsed on his knees, lifting up Moon's head slightly. Venus could see the tears streaking his cheeks, even from where she stood. Watching the scene made her heart break into pieces. Venus knew there was nothing she could have done, though she couldn't help blaming herself. She clutched the tree with all her strength; afraid to move for she thought her legs would not support her. She wanted to join her friends in mourning, but she was too weak to move.
Mars stood up and saw Venus leaning on the tree. Hatred filled the senshi. She knew Moon's death wall all Venus's fault.
"Mars…fire…ignite!" She shouted, directing her fire at her fellow senshi. Venus ducked as her tree lit up. Her eyes widened in shock.
"You ran! You ran when she needed you the most! You were the only one who could have helped and you left her to fight alone!" Mars sent another streak of fire at Venus, who was too drained to defend herself.
"I couldn't stop her!" Venus protested. Mars didn't hear her words.
"It's your fault! Get away from me!"
"But—"
"Go!" Another beam of fire. "Go or I'll kill you!" Sobbing, Venus ran as fast as she could out of the ashes that once were a park.
*****
A/N: Ah the satisfaction of another chapter completed. Let's see…oh, the "creature" really doesn't have an identity. It can be any SM villain that wanted Sailor Moon's crystal/scepter. I like to be ambiguous like that. Also, ff.net refused to italicize my first paragraph, but imagine that it is, and go on with your life. I hate it when this thing screws with my format, though.
P. Thunder