Wahhhh! This is the last epi for this arch! But, hey it's all done in 24hrs? WOW! O_o Who would have seen this ever happening?
Oh well, that means you guys have to stomach my personal arch as an in between breather – or you can go for re-runs. Hey that's up to all of you dear sweet readers. But, don't you want to see Malachite and Zoicite get hitched? Don't you want to see Desiree get born? And of course we have to go through Hope's birth too. And Luna's Son of course. I'm not sure about Brooke's Son yet – maybe, we'll have to see.
Okay now onto this episode.
Doom Tree is out of control, Luna is found to be benched along with Brooke, Serena and Darien are both in deep crap, and the Scouts and Generals aren't able to teleport to the battle. And to make things worse (am I evil or what?) the Tree's roots are blocking the group's only way in.
Sailor Moon is copyright © 1992 Naoko Takeuchi/Kodansha, TOEI Animation. English Language Adaptation © 1995 DiC Entertainment
What All Need to Grow
Chapter Thirteen
Treed
"We've got to get in there, Sailor Scouts. Serena and Darien are in there!" Artemis snapped in his frustration. He knew that Luna would have came up with a plan to get them in by now, but there was no way he was going to risk her or their unborn son.
He still had a hard time focusing on the problem at hand. After all, it's not everyday he gets told that he is about to be a father and then told that he had to leave his pregnant love to fight for the sake of the world and their Prince and Princess.
Venus looked at her friend and could see he was worried about his love and child. All she could do was help him focus on the problem at hand. "But how are we gonna get in?"
"I know a way." Mars said cryptically. She touched one of the roots and opened her mystically abilities to it.
If the Generals had even slightly suspected that she was going to do such a foolish act they would have jerked her back and held her away from the creature. It could do harm or take control their friend. But all she was looking to do was find a way to get to their friends high atop of this building.
Her words a beat later startled them all. "The Doom Tree's an intelligent, living force. It wants us to save it."
"No way!" Mercury gasped. She couldn't believe that a tree was sentient. Even with all that she and the Scout had survived – this was a stretch. "What's happening?"
Suddenly the roots before them slid apart and created a doorway. Venus was unnerved more than the others – she was terrified of the dark. "Dark in there."
Mars sighed nervously. Anything could be waiting in there for them. "Gotta warn you guys. I don't know what we're up against here."
Jupiter firmed her heart, hearing Serena still crying far above them. "We know."
Neflyte felt his heart tear with each sob that filled their ears. She was his responsibility, because of his vows and his past deeds that in his heart he still had to atone for. "Let's go."
He took lead position. Followed by Mercury and Mars. Then was Jedite, who felt as responsible towards the Prince and Princess as his Leader did. Next were Jupiter, Venus, and Artemis. And Malachite covered all of them from behind.
Malachite was uncertain about this. It was too convenient a way in, and too easy a trap. Still what choice did any of them have? Serena and Darien needed them fast. Just as Mars felt her Psychic Senses tickle from danger, he saw a pod move towards her fast. "Mars look out!"
Thanks to Malachite's warning, she leapt out of the way seconds before where she had been standing was soaked down with acid. "Thanks Malachite!"
Jupiter caught sight of more pods heading for all of them. "Let's get outta here!"
"STARLIGHT ATTACK!" Neflyte cried out as he sent a star power blast to incinerate the attacking pods.
But before any of them could head back outside, the roots slid back into place – trapping them inside with no way out! Mercury had never been so afraid in her life. "Oh! Oh, we're trapped!"
Jupiter growled. "So that's why it led us in here."
"Easy trap." Jedite sighed hard.
"And we all walked right into it." Neflyte growled in his frustration. He should have checked it out by himself!
Seeing the condemnation on his leader's face, Malachite softened it. "Better that all of us are in here together than some outside unable to help and the rest struggling for our lives in here."
"Still, I know my vision was right." Mars complained, to mostly to herself for getting herself and her friends in this situation.
They didn't have time to fight about it. More pods had been created and were launching their deadly acid. It kept the Scouts and Generals moving to keep from being hit and hurt. But one eventually managed to tag Artemis' hind leg.
Venus saw that. "Artemis!"
So did Mercury and Neflyte.
"MERCURY ICE BUBBLES FREEZE!"
"STARLIGHT ATTACK!"
Mercury froze the pods in mid spray, while Neflyte's attack shattered them all. It gave them all a few seconds to catch their breaths. A blessing all were grateful to the pair for.
Panting Jupiter looked to her friends. "You stopped 'em!"
"Oh Artemis, can you hear me?" Venus gasped as she gathered her guardian cat's body in her arms. Luna would never forgive them if he didn't come back from this – and she was stuck raising their child all on her own, without the kitten's father.
"It got you bad, didn't it?" Mercury knelt close by as the group gathered close to check their friend. Each worried the same thing – what would happen to Luna if she lost him because of this.
"Sure is fast." He groaned. "Don't worry. I'll be okay once I catch my breath."
Jedite sighed in relief. "Good. I wouldn't want to be the one to face Luna if we lost you in this battle."
The others shivered slightly in mock fear before chuckling uneasily.
Suddenly the roots changed their attack plan. Switching from pods to sharp thorn like roots attacking. Mars caught it out of the corner of her eye. "Guys, look out!"
She had to do something. Seemingly picking up on Neflyte's body language, they combined their attacks.
"MARS FIRE IGNITE!"
"STARLIGHT ATTACK!"
That blew out a hole in the wall next to them all – an escape from becoming shish kabobs! The group made a run for it, but the roots were hot on their trails. Malachite noticed how they knew just where to go – and only an intelligent force controlling it could do that. Maybe Mars had been right.
"C'mon, guys! Move it!" She cried out as they found an elevator.
Mercury slammed on the doors close button dozens of times in succession. "C'mon! C'mon, close!"
"They're not working!" Jupiter shouted in fear.
"So what's wrong?" Mars asked, still shaking from their run.
Mercury felt on the verge of giving up. "They're stuck. Nothing's happening."
Jedite looked out and yelled back. "It's coming!"
"Hurry up!" Jupiter cried out. Things were going from bad to worse and fast.
"I'm trying!" Mercury screamed. "They won't close! It's broken!"
Malachite looked up and saw a chance. "The trap door!"
"Right!" Jupiter kicked it open and, without asking, felt Malachite lift and shove her through the hole above them with his magic.
Artemis wasn't ready to die yet. He had a son to see born. "Gotta move it, guys!"
Jupiter reached down and cried out, afraid of losing any of her few close friends. "Give me your hand!"
One after another, they all made it out of the elevator just in time.
Back at the mansion, Luna was pacing in aggravation. She felt that her tomcat was hurt bad. It was as if she had felt it on her own body. God if she had to one day tell her son that his father was killed in a battle long before the child was born, she wouldn't forgive herself. "How can you girls handle this?!"
"The wait?" Molly asked tiredly.
Brooke too was worn out. "The fear?"
"The worry?" Zoicite was still struggling to remain there rather than join in the battle.
Luna groaned. She forgot these girls had been going through this for various lengths of time. She watched as Brooke covered her now eldest child with and afghan while little Jayde took a nap to eat away the time she had to wait for her father's return – while the elder ladies prayed that all of their friends and men would come home safe and sound.
Luna sighed a tearful groan. She felt the pain in his chest where he was running for his life – running to come back to her and their unborn kitten. "Exactly."
"We hope. That is all any of us can do Luna." Zoicite sighed. She used her limited power to set Luna in a deep sleep. Now was one time in her life that cat didn't need any stress in her body.
Atop the building, the scene wasn't any better. Serena and Darien were both held tight by the roots of the Doom Tree. It was as if the thing was trying to decide what to do with them – or waiting for its orders. All Serena worried about was her love. "Please, let go!"
Darien on the other hand was fighting to get to his fiancée. "Serena! Gimme your hand!"
"I'm trying!" Serena groaned as she stretched ever fiber in her upper body to its limits.
Their fingers were nearly brushing against one another's. She felt so lost and unfocused. Where were the others when she needed them? "I . . . can't . . . reach."
"Come on! I know we can do it!" He had seen this girl do amazing things when she got it into her head. He just couldn't let her give up on this.
"Oh Darien . . ." She reached for him harder than before. She knew that sense of strength would grow in her heart the second her skin touched his. But Alan kick their hands apart a breath before she got that touch she long for so. "Why did you bring us here?"
"Keep your crummy hands away from her, you hear me?" Alan snapped at Darien. He was still out to woo Serena, even if his beloved now knew the truth.
Ann too wanted Darien, now he was with her. "Alan, you've got no right talk to Darien like that."
"So, you finally admit you like the guy." Alan blew up at his former mate. He was supposed to be her eternal light! It didn't matter that he too had been unfaithful. What he felt for Serena was so intense and livid – he would make her feel the same back at him.
Ann blushed. She had never really come out and said that. Oh well, now the truth was out. He made her body light up with joy with one look in those beautiful eyes of his. She glared heatedly at her one time companion at the condescending voice – he had betrayed her before she had him! "Well, what did ya expect when you're drooling all over HER. All that stuff about my being your one and only: all lies!"
She turned her back to him in her hurt. Even if she loved another, it ached that Alan gave her up for a measly human!
Alan didn't like fighting with Ann. For so long they had been all there was for one another – and eventually he knew that it would be that way again. "Come on. Lighten up. Don't be such a drama queen."
"I'm NOT being a drama queen!" She growled in a heated hate. More hate than she had ever felt in her life – especially so towards him. "Doom Tree, I command you! Zap Blondie over there!"
"No, wait. Her boy toy'll give you more energy." Alan cajoled the Tree sweetly. Ann would learn not to hurt his Serena!
Ann glared hotly at her one time only. She had to protect Darien from this blind fool! "Not true!"
"The sooner you zap this guy, the sooner Ann'll come back to her senses." Alan charged as he stared straight at her – daring her to argue his point.
"Yeah, but that bimbo doesn't even appreciate her energy! Take hers first!" Ann pointed out.
The Doom Tree has its own answer for this argument. Drain both humans at the same time. Both Darien and Serena groaned in agony as their energy was pulled from their bodies by force.
Ann gasped in horror. "Darien, no!"
"I've gotta save her." Alan determined fast as he saw the pain Serena was in.
Both teleported to their human loves.
"Doom Tree, let him go!" Ann pulled at the root holding Darien and screamed at the tree. "You heard me. Now, let him go! I'm ordering you! Why aren't you listening to me?!"
"Hang in there, Serena. I'll save you." Alan grazed her cheek with his fingers lovingly. "Why this girl? She's never done anything to hurt us."
The Doom Tree sent out a pulse of energy that flung back the aliens, and at the same time dropped the two drained humans towards the floor several dozen feet to the floor.
"They're falling." Alan cried out as he and Ann regained their senses fast.
Ann rushed for her male. "Gotta save him!"
Both intercepted the humans half way and safely rested them on the floor below to allow them time to recover.
"Serena, are you all right?"
"Talk to me, Darien! Darien?"
Malachite stopped the group as they wearily trudged up the hundreds of stairs to the top of the building. "I feel a weakness in the force field about here. If I can blast it with the right force at the right spot, we'll be at the top in the blink of an eye."
Neflyte wasn't ready for anymore climbing stairs. "Try it."
Malachite closed his eyes and centered his power, summoning his object of power. "FIRE STAFF OF TRUTH! RIP ASIDE THIS WALL THAT HOLDS US FROM THOSE WE CARE ABOUT WHO NEED US NOW!"
The staff appeared in his hands and gave of an orange-red glow that seemed as angry as he felt to not have been there already for the Prince and Princess. He twirled it above his head three times before slamming it down hard before him.
An invisible wall in front of them shattered like glass, with cracks of the same glow ripped the spell that held them at bay. The girls (and even the Generals) all were impressed by the force and pure true magic this General possessed. Each was thankful that Malachite was their comrade and not their enemy.
Still it cost Malachite greatly. He collapsed into Nelfyte's arms as the group teleported to the top in one swift move. The High General Leader looked his second in the eye firmly. "Rest here until you are at least at quarter strength and no less."
"Understood my Leader, Commander, and dear friend." Malachite panted out as he collapsed back against the clear wall. Ridding them of that wall had taken nearly all of his power.
Suddenly he felt a source of power weaving its way into his weakened body. He would know that magical touch even if he lived to see the next twenty generations have the generation after that. It was his beloved Zoicite. "Stop it now Zoi! I just need a moment to catch my breath. You need your energy for our daughter."
She smirked as she focused moving into the core of his soul. A place that Malachite only allowed her to enter – ever. Once long ago she feared this possibility after she saw herself losing him in a nightmare that eerily mirrored this battle.
She never knew that Queen Serenity had manipulated them back then as well – what little she could do that is. The Queen saw that this was one of many possible paths the couple could be moved towards, and warned Zoicite of it by that awful nightmare.
Zoicite prepared a spell long before, while her love slept. And today was the day she was thankful to have taken the precaution long ago. "Give me a moment my love. I am not trying to feed you my energy or the baby's. There is a spell I put in you long before that you need right now that I am trying to get to. Please open yourself to me."
Malachite did as she asked and could feel her within his spirit – her and their baby girl. He reasons for living. He smiled as he felt Hope pick up on him. She would be as powerful as both of her parents combined one day. But right now she was a little girl who loved her parents dearly. "Hi daddy! Are you okay?"
"Daddy will be fine baby girl. Come and watch what mommy is doing. See this is a spell I put here after I had a bad dream one night. It is especially for your daddy. Tell you what baby – you activate it. Will it to open right here. That's it." Zoicite's heart bubbled over with pride – as did Malachite's. Their daughter was already very strong with true magic. Hope didn't need to ask how to will a spell to open. That knowledge was already hers.
Malachite blinked his eyes and felt himself at more than full strength! "Zoi?"
"Slowly over the years since that nightmare, I have built up a storehouse of power for you. Now I think you can empower the rest as well with what extra power there is. Oh and my love, there is still a large amount left." Zoicite grinned proudly.
Malachite shook his head in disbelief. His love could still surprise him now and again – even after all of these years together. "Thank you my angels. Now back to your bodies. I love you both. And very impressive job Hope. Maybe your mommy won't be the only female High Guardian General ever."
Hope squealed with joy at that. She wanted to always make her father and mother this proud of her.
A heartbeat later Malachite knew that his family was safely back in their own bodies. He telepathically explained the situation to the others, and fed them his extra energy.
Neflyte knew he would have to point this out to the Prince and Princess, along with thanking Zoicite himself before long.
Artemis growled at the sight of the enemy clasping the Prince and his Princess. "LET THEM GO, NEGATRASH!"
"Yeah, you!" Mars shouted she was grateful for the energy boost.
So too was Jupiter. "We want our friends back!"
"And that means now, hairballs!" Mercury too was feeling much better.
Jedite glared at the pair before them all with new power and purpose in his heart. "It also means that we are not asking."
Serena was the first to react to the gentle energy feed Malachite was also sending both her and Darien. "Sailor Scouts. High Guardian Generals."
"Well look who dropped in." Alan sneered, not knowing what he was getting into.
Ann too didn't have the slightest clue of what was about to happen. "Sailor Saps."
The Scouts and Generals were ready for Alan and Ann as the pair shot their energy blasts. Malachite brushed off the dual blasts easily.
That gave the others a needed confidence boost, and stunned the aliens. Mars took her turn to counter attack. "MARS FIREBIRD STRIKE!"
But the aliens created a force field that repelled the attack. That dropped the group's moral as Mars groaned. "No!"
Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter all went up to bat next.
"MERCURY ICE BUBBLES . . ."
"JUPITER THUNDER . . ."
"VENUS METEOR . . ."
But that meant nothing to the aliens before them all. "You're on our turf now, Sailor failures."
Before the Generals could move to attack or defend, Alan and Ann combined their powers in one large blast. It knocked all of them down and out.
Ann chuckled at that. "Let's do that again."
Alan agreed with her. "Feel the burn!"
The group was pushed to their limits – even with the energy boost that Zoicite had given them. Even if he hated it, Malachite tried hard to remember where Zoicite had activated her hidden power spell within his spirit without calling out to her.
His earlier feed finally effected Serena fully. No one attacked her guy, herself, or her friends – even if it gave her away, she was going to fight as Sailor Moon. "That's it! I'm steamed! MOON CRYSTAL POWER!"
Her transformation stunned the aliens and gave the others needed time to breathe. Turned out that Zoicite's spell was a little more powerful than the rested suspected. It rebooted itself within them with that break in the battle, so Malachite didn't have to reopen her spell after all.
Alan gasped as Serena changed right in front of them. "No way! Serena can't be Sailor Moon!"
"That little blonde airhead?! No wonder she's such a klutz!" Ann blew it off, but she was worried.
"So you think I'm a klutz? Well, this klutz is teaching you a lesson. I stand behind my friends and fur ball." Sailor Moon snapped as her transformation was completed.
Artemis was stronger, but had the good sense to groan at that. Luna would have been snapping at the Princess for that without a doubt – giving his love's current condition.
But Moon had no idea of what was going on with her cat guardian. All she knew right then was she was tired of having to deal with these punks in front of her. "In the name of the Moon, I will punish you! Surrender, you slimy viruses, or you're moon dusted!"
"All right!" Ann had been itching for a fight against the blonde who now seemingly had her old flame as well as being a wall against their saving the Doom Tree.
"Hold on, Ann." Alan on the other hand knew that they were in over their heads. He also didn't want to see either of his loves hurt – he still loved Ann.
"Why?! 'Cause you have a crush on her?! What, are you going all soft and mushy on me, Alan?! That ditz is the leader of the Sailor brats, and the best way to get rid of THEM is to get rid of HER!" Ann snapped. How could he not figure that out on his own?
"Wha . . .?" Alan couldn't believe that this was still his Ann. She had never been so blood thirsty in all of the years he had known her.
"Hey, if you don't agree, just book it, and I'll find someone else to feed the Doom Tree." Ann brushed her hair off her shoulder. She tried to make herself believe that if Alan didn't want her that she didn't want him. But she still remembered that lonely journey and all of the times he held her safe in his arms. Why couldn't their feelings have stayed that way?
Alan was stunned and hurt – she didn't want him with her anymore? They were the last of their kind that they knew of! "What? You can't do that."
Through all of this, Moon was focused on reviving her beloved Darien. "Darien, can you hear me? Are you all right?"
She fed him a little of the extra energy she had gotten from Malachite. It didn't matter that she might need it in their fight, all she wanted right then was for her guy to open his eyes so she knew he wouldn't leave her forever. "Please, Darien, talk to me. It's me, Darien. Serena."
She felt so responsible for all of this. She should have insisted on the Generals accompanying them on this mission. She should have put herself at risk when her instincts told her things were getting out of hand. She wept beside him as she held his hand to her chest and looked on his tired face. Tired because of her foolishness. "I'm so sorry."
Alan gave Ann an 'I told you so' snort when Darien responded to Moon's voice. "Doesn't look like your boy toy's gonna be too interested in hanging around with you."
"That bimbo! It's her fault! She's poisoned his mind against me." Ann knew that had to be it. It couldn't be that he loved Serena over her.
Alan shook his head, finally realizing that he could never have Serena as his loving mate. "Forget him, Ann. The guy's a human, and they're only good for one thing: Doom Tree fertilizer."
Ann gasped at that. Alan looked at her with certainness in his eyes. "You know I'm right, Ann."
"OOH! Why would he choose her over me?! I won't stand for this!" She didn't want to believe that. She had to have a chance with Darien once she got rid of that blonde airhead! "OOH! AAH! If I can't have Darien, NOBODY WILL!"
"Sailor Moon!" Jedite started to send a blast, but was thrown hard against the far wall by Alan.
Moon still clung tight to her love's hand. "Oh Darien, hang in there."
"Look at that clinging little wimp! LET GO OF HIM!" Ann growled.
"She won't. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that she's a true friend. She's loyal, and she's strong. She'll never desert him . . . even if it means her own downfall." Alan finally accepted that he never had a chance with his angel. He just wondered if he still had a chance with his Ann, or was that gone forever?
He took a breath full of pain and heartbreak. "Doom Tree, since they refuse to separate, go ahead and drain all their energy. Do it now! They're no use to either of us."
"NO WAY!" The Scouts and Generals weren't about to let that go unchallenged.
"MIRROR IMAGE CHAOS!" Jedite sent, enveloping the enemy with thousands of images of him and his friends.
He smiled. Since they weren't touching anything, there was nothing to hold his spell down, so these two would not be able to break away from his power.
"CONSTANT SHIFT MYSTIFY!" Malachite too sent, shifting and moving the images that Jedite had created.
"Way to go guys! My turn now." Moon shouted as she watch Alan and Ann become confused by the magic surrounding them. "MOON SCEPTER ELIMINATION!"
Growling, Ann flung out a blast the knocked back both Malachite and Jedite, breaking the pair's concentration and spells. It also tossed Moon back over to Darien's prone body. Ann chuckled mockingly. "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. Nice try, brat."
Finally Darien had stirred from his unconscious sleep. Moon sighed happily as he reached for her. "Darien, can you hear me? It's me, Darien. Sailor Moon."
But Darien finally remembered everything. "Meatball Head?"
Moon wanted to break down into happy tears. "That's right. Do you finally remember us? Oh Darien, do you remember about the Moon Princess?"
"Yes . . . my sweet." The Earth Prince had returned to his love once again.
Sailor Moon could hardly believe her ears! Oh she was wondering if she was still out of it and only dreaming. "We'll be together again. I promise. Just like you were there for me, Darien. I'll fight to protect our kingdom, so we can be as happy and peaceful now as we were then. Do you remember?"
"Yes. I remember everything." Darien brushed her cheek with his fingers, wiping away her tears of joy.
Their friends weren't the only ones to hear all of the conversation – unfortunately. Ann was glaring at the couple with eye filled with hate. "Knock it off!"
"SAILOR MOON!" Neflyte cried out as he saw Ann send another blast towards his Prince and Princess.
As the royal couple were tossed every which way from Ann's jealous attacks, Jupiter felt so useless. "They're helpless!"
Alan found a new respect for the human he had fallen in love with as Moon got up and used her body to shield Darien from the blasts Ann sent them. "She's brave."
Darien however saw his only love being hurt for his sake. "DON'T!"
Moon continued to stand there, ready to take it all for her only love. Alan wished he were the one she was fighting for. "Even braver than I thought."
"You don't know what bravery is! Or friendship! All you know is evil!" Moon shouted defiantly. He hadn't realized that she could hear his mutterings.
That stunned Alan. All he knew was evil? He was only trying to survive and keep his Ann alive too the way they had been taught to – as well as happy … seeing as his one time only one no longer loved him. "Huh?"
Ann on the other hand reveled in that fact. "That's right. So glad you finally noticed."
She blasted Moon again, but the Scout Leader took the full brunt of the attack and stood insolent against this evil that was before them all. She wasn't anywhere near ready to give up.
Ann was getting bored by all of this. She would have what she wanted – a life with her Darien. "Renounce your love for Darien and I might spare you."
"No! I never renounce my feelings! True love can't be taken away by anyone!" Moon snapped.
That still shocked Darien. After all she had suffered through because of him, Serena was still devoted to him alone. "She loves me."
"Ya, ha, ha, ha, ha! You're a sentimental fool, but I can make you change your mind in a flash, Romeo." Ann spat at Darien.
This time when Ann attacked Darien got between her and his only one. Serena had shielded him enough; it was time he protected her so his Princess could recover enough to defeat these creatures. But both were thrown back by the blast before he could turn into his Prince form.
Alan couldn't help but still love the blonde below him. "Sailor Moon!"
"Still on your feet?!" Ann huffed. She was sick of this. Darien should be hers not this Sailor Moon's and certainly not Serena's.
Again Ann blasted the couple, and again Darien stood between the enemy and his true love. It raked his body from head to toe with agony and he collapsed into his love's arms.
"Darien!" Moon wept as Darien's weight fell heavily in her arms. She wouldn't give him up. "Oh Darien! We'll still have each other, no matter what they do to us."
Alan saw the look in Moon's eyes as she looked down on her Darien – it was a look that echoed how he felt for her … and he at one time had felt for Ann. Was this what love was? Was that what he had felt? "I've never seen anyone so sad. Maybe . . . maybe this is wrong."
"What is?" Ann looked over at him and sighed with frustration.
"This . . . destroying love. It's such a beautiful thing." Deep inside he still saw the beauty he adored in Ann. Was it too late for him to regain what he brushed off to the side?
Ann gasped as she looked at the pair beneath them. Maybe Alan had a chance. "Can't you see how they love they other? Even if she is our enemy, it'd be wrong to destroy them."
Ann shook it off. He was wrong! "You're just weak, Alan."
"No, you're the one who's weak!" Jupiter snapped as she and the rest of the group gathered near their friends.
"You don't have any real friends, and the only emotions you know are hatred and vengeance and jealousy!" Jedite spouted in his rage.
"Huh?" Alan was shocked. Didn't he still have his Ann? Was she gone from him forever?
"Huh? Can it!" Ann spat back. She didn't want to face that she had lost Alan forever. All because she couldn't take back the words she had been flinging at him all week.
"Huh?!" They both noticed the white rose that nearly attacked them and teleported out of harms way. The Moonlight Knight had arrived in time.
"The Moonlight Knight!" Jupiter was relieved at the sight. So was everyone else.
"It's a bad scene, Sailor Scouts and Generals, but nothing we can't handle! These poor misfits CAN be beat!" He called to the group that were the only hope their planet had against these aliens.
Ann on the other hand growled at that remark. "Misfits? You have no idea who you're talking to, turban boy! Listen, takes more than some stupid little rose to beat the power of the Negaverse! You'll see what this misfit can do! GRR!"
"Your jealousy's blinding you, Ann! You just can't bear that Darien's dumped you!" Moonlight Knight spat at her. He knew Darien's true feelings, and soon the Moon Princess would know why. The day fro the truth had finally come.
That burned Ann from within. "HE HAS NOT!"
With all the hate she had she blasted him and shoved him against the trunk of the Doom Tree. A blink of an eye later, he vanished.
"He just disappeared!" Mercury gasped in shock. Their only back up was gone!
That wasn't all. Once again the Doom Tree began to move of its own free will. Looks like Raye had been right! The Tree was alive!
"What's happening?!" Alan started to reach for Ann, fearing for her safety after watching the Tree kill one of their Cardians.
The roots lifted off of the floor and sent everyone flying. A few began to attack them all – including Alan and Ann! Alan was able to dodge two of the sword like roots, but a third hit him like a whip. That was all it took to make Ann remember how deeply she cared for him. "ALAN!"
She teleported herself in front of Alan and guarded him with her body – like Moon had for Darien not long before. She glared at the roots attacking her dear Alan. "YOU CAN'T HAVE HIM!"
"Ann!" But the roots don't stop, and stabbed Ann without any mercy. Alan watched in horror as the roots withdrew from her body. "ANN! NO!"
Just as she fell, he grabbed her weakening body. They learned the truth – the hard way and far too late it seemed. She was barely breathing and bleeding far to fast for any of them to heal her. Somehow Ann knew it and was at peace with that. There was only one thing she had left to right before she left the world forever.
"Oh . . . Alan . . ."
He clutched her close to his chest. He did love her – more than he ever thought that he had felt such for Serena. "I'm right here."
"Oh, tell me it's . . . it's not like . . . they said it was, Alan." She felt hot tears pour out of her eyes and sown her cheeks. Had she lost him?
Alan brushed a few of the tears away. This couldn't be the end … he didn't want to say goodbye. It felt so final and eternal. "Like what?"
"You're my friend. You're the one true friend I've ever had." She felt her strength leaving her and groaned so softly as the pain throbbed in her body. If she had lost his friendship as well as his heart, well she would rather be dead.
But he nodded. Inside he knew that the feelings went much deeper. He truly loved Ann and was so sorry it took losing her to see that. "Uh huh."
"Just promise . . . promise me . . . you won't forget." Ann gasped. The end was close – she could feel it.
Alan didn't want to live without her. Why live if she was gone? No, he wouldn't let her go! "Ann, don't talk like this."
Ann however knew that her time had come. As her eyes slowly drifted shut she felt at peace that he still cared for her. She didn't deserve his love, though she would never stop loving him. "This life is over for me, dearest. I never understood what love was . . . but . . . now I know, Alan. You're the only one I ever truly loved."
"ANN! DON'T LEAVE ME!"
Her eyes shut for the last time, and the air rushed from her limp, torn body. He didn't have to look up, he felt the danger and heard the sound of the root aiming straight towards him. It was over, and she was gone. Alan didn't want to live, and was grateful that the Tree wasn't going to make him suffer in a life devoid of his beloved Ann.
"Ann, I'll be with you, shortly. Goodbye, my sweet."
But seeing that they learned the truth, Moon cried out. "STOP THIS NOW! SAVE THEM!"
To everyone's shock, the Tree stopped its attack. And then it spoke to Moon! "You think so, Sailor Moon?"
Everyone was in surprise, but not as much as Sailor Moon herself. Seeing as the question was directed towards her, she decided that she should be the one to fight for Alan and Ann. But a talking Tree? "Huh? You can talk, too?"
A light flashed and everyone was soon in another place and in a new form. Sailor Moon gasped as she looked around at the strange sights surrounding her. Not sure what was up or down. "Where are we?"
Alan heard her. "I think we're in the mind of the Tree."
The Tree smiled emotionally towards them – a smile they could only feel, not see. "That's right, my children. I have brought you here to tell you my story."
Alan wished Ann had lived to see this and hear the Tree speaking to them now. If only he had not brushed her away. He wanted to be with her. His true and only love.
The Tree went on, after pulling in those who had not been in the battle, but would want to know the truth later. Each lady found her mate. Zoicite and Malachite held Hope in their arms. Darien held Serena tight against his chest, as they stood near her – no their family. Molly and Neflyte held their Desiree. Neflyte held his daughter and pulled his wife close to him. Brooke was holding a little blonde haired brown-eyed boy in her arms – their son. Between Luna and Artemis was a little boy that was black with shield like patches of white on his neck and chest, as well as white boots on each of his feet. Jessica smiled at the group.
"Now that everyone is here. Long ago, there was only me and the ocean. I lived alone for eons and eons with not a soul to talk to, but then I decided to change all that." The Tree explained.
Alan gasped as long forgotten memories resurface in his mind. "I remember. We were born from the Doom Tree."
The Tree corrected him with the gentle love of a mother. "Back then, I wasn't known as the Doom Tree. I was called the Tree of Life. It was such a happy time, filled with joy and peace. We all knew only harmony, and as I grew, so did my children."
Alan wished things had remained like that – then his Ann would still be alive. He couldn't remember what had caused things to change. The Tree remembered well that horrible time.
"But then, evil forces managed to turn some of them against me, and they began to fight for my energy. I tried talking to them, but they only obeyed the dark force telling them that power was the most important thing. Soon, all that existed in our world was anger and hatred. Still, I believed that patience would reward me and that one-day we'd all find harmony once again, but it was not to be. The evil became so great, they destroyed themselves and our world. Luckily, I was still strong enough to escape, and I took my few remaining followers with me in search of light. We tried many planets, but none of them had what we needed to sustain life. Soon, only you and Ann were left with me, poor little children who'd never known real love, only hatred in a battle for power. I wanted to teach you, but by then, I was then too weak to speak anymore."
The Tree returned everyone, including those not physically there or even born, to the apartment building. Now the group understood, Darien more so than the rest – he was lucky that Serena had brought love into his life after his long and lonely existence in the orphanage. Sailor Moon felt such a pity for both Alan and Ann. "And they steal energy to try to save you?"
"Yes, and they have kept me alive, but to grow I need love, positive energy." The Tree had finally made its needs known.
Alan held the limp body of his beloved tight to his own and moaned. "We failed."
"No, Alan. You WERE failed. No one should grow up without experiencing love and friendship as you did. You behaved as anyone would given those circumstances, but luckily, people learn, and you two have discovered what's most important: love. Now I know I won't have lived in vain." The Tree emphatically said. Everyone could feel the tears of regret in the Tree's soul.
Alan kiss Ann's now cold forehead. He finally understood. The one thing he would not have ever again. For his heart belonged to Ann forever. "Love . . ."
The kitten beside him looked up at Artemis with such a sad look in his eyes. "Daddy?"
The boy knew him! That made his heart soar with joy. "Don't worry. I have a feeling that everything is going to work out."
"Okay. Love you and mommy." The little boy nudged both of his parents in turn. Luna smiled with joy filled tears in her eyes. Her son loved her and Artemis! She licked him a few times – knowing that soon he would be within her again. "And we love you little one."
Then he was gone, but not far form either cat at all. Artemis licked Luna a couple of times. "Be home soon kitty cat."
"I know. I love you Artemis." Luna sighed as she relaxed against him.
Jedite rustled his son's hair and smiled. The boy grinned happily. "You and mommy happy about me daddy?"
"Of course we are. And soon we'll figure out your name. Take it easy on your mom, son." Jedite never thought that he could fit any more love in his heart after gaining his wife and daughter, now he was glad that he had been wrong – so very wrong.
The boy grinned and rested against Brooke's chest. "I will. Love you both. Love you big sissy."
"I love you too little brother! Can't wait till I get to hold you either!" Jayde giggled and smiled at her little brother.
A heartbeat later he was back in his mother's womb.
Neflyte and Molly smiled at the buddle of giggles in her arms and womb. "How much longer mommy and daddy?"
"A few more weeks baby girl. You are one Christmas present none of us can wait for." Neflyte grinned as he pulled his child close. Not much longer and she would be sleeping on his chest, and he could hardly wait."
"Love you Desiree." Molly smiled through her happy tears.
"Love you more mommy!" Desiree giggled once more before returning to her mother's belly.
Hope smiled up at her mother and father. Malachite never thought that he could feel so good and whole in those awful thousand years. Now his one and only love had helped him create this gorgeous angel. "I am so proud of you my dearest Hope."
That brightened Hope's smile all the more. "When am I going to be born?"
"In July darling. You're going to be a summer child." Zoicite combed her fingers through her precious daughter's hair. A child she once feared she would never have.
"Yea!" The child squealed as she returned to her mother's belly.
Without a word Zoicite leapt into her lover's arms. Just as he had so long before, this man had made her feel complete. As she in turn had done to him.
Sailor Moon sighed as Darien wrapped his arms around her. Then a giggle filled the air and a vague misty form stood before the couple. With the hairstyle they could easily see it was their future daughter. Again the girl giggled as her mist body separated into two orbs that melded into both lovers. They had been given the hint of a child they had yet to conceive.
All of this had a greater purpose. The Tree hated seeing one of its children in such pain, but did not have the power needed to change it. These couples however could help – as they all wished that they could. All that was needed now was one last request.
"Sailor Moon, a favor?"
"Yes?" She looked up at the Tree as those who were not physically there returned to their bodies.
Finally the long ache and pain would be over with. "Please rid me of all the negative energy I've been poisoned with all these years."
"Sure." It was all Serena thought that she could do. Her magic did have its limits – she couldn't raise the dead. "MOON SCEPTER ELIMINATION!"
What Sailor Moon didn't know was that the Tree could once free of the Negaenergy that bound its powers. Sailor Moon's power broke the binds and an aura of warm light surrounded the entire building. "I . . . am . . . free!"
That light moved Sailor Moon's mind to another realm so her heart would know peace and the Moonlight Knight would have his chance to explain everything. All she saw around her was light and Darien laying on the ground at her feet. It made her fear the worse. "Oh no! I killed the tree!"
"No, Sailor Moon. You healed it." He was hovering in mid air above her with such a look of adoration and the purest of love.
"Moonlight Knight? I thought you disappeared." Moon was relieved that he wasn't gone forever. She still hoped for some explanation.
It was time that he gave her that account. "Sailor Moon . . . Serena . . . Moon Princess . . ."
"You know all that?" She was astounded at that! He knew so much about her, yet she knew nothing about him.
"Yes. Now it's time you learned who I am." In one movement her pulled down the mask that covered his face.
It left Moon more than stunned … more than astonished … there were no words to explain how she felt at that moment. She looked at the man at her feet and the man above her – it was true they were one in the same! "Darien! I don't understand . . ."
"I'm not Darien, but the courageous soul of Darien that fights the Negaverse." Darien's soul's voice sounded as if every word was urgent, and that their time was slipping away.
"What do you mean?" Moon was scared. Was this that story she read? What was it called … a doppelganger? A marker of Darien's impending death? Was her Muffin dead?
"In the battle against Queen Beryl, Darien lost all of his memories of the Moon Kingdom. And yet, deep inside, some part of him always knew he must protect the Moon Princess, his true love, from the Negaforce, so I was created to fulfill that mission. I exist only to protect you, Sailor Moon, and help the Sailor Scouts, but there's no longer any need for me, now that Darien has his memory back." Darien's soul's eye became so very sad. Like her Muffin – his soul loved this young woman dearly, and would miss her – even if her would always be there.
"You're leaving?" Moon worried that she was losing Darien. That his soul was going away and her Muffin really was dead.
The spirit explained further – erasing Moon's worse fear. "It's Darien who needs me know, Sailor Moon. He's too weak to sustain me much longer. Farewell, my princess. I'll always remember you."
"Wait! Where will you go?"
The Moonlight Knight slowly dissolved into a misty image – like her and Darien's future child, only much clearer in sight. "Where . . . I belong. Goodbye."
The misty body of the Moonlight Knight sunk into Darien's body. Darien and his soul were again one. Sailor Moon knelt next to her love's body and lost consciousness sitting there.
A few minutes later, he awoke to see her sleeping. She had been through so much, and now it was finally over with. They would be together again. Their wedding would have to be soon – when there was peace in their lives. Gently he shook her shoulder. "Sailor Moon . . . are you there? Sailor Moon!"
"Hmm?" She slowly opened her eyes. Darien was awake and smiling down on her. That was the most beautiful sight Sailor Moon could have ever hoped to see. "Is . . . is that really you?"
"It sure is, and it's sure good to be back, Meatball Head." Darien was relieved that she was still with him. If he ever lost her, he didn't want to think of how Alan was feeling at that moment.
"Darien, I can't believe it. It's so perfect. Everything's okay." She started crying tears of absolute joy. In a heart beat she had her arms around him and let all of her tears loose. "Oh Darien! Oh, I was so afraid I'd lose you again."
That last bit of love energy was all that had been needed. Not far away from the loving couple, a miracle was taking place. Alan gasped as the limp body in his arms began to glow – surrounded by all of the joy, happiness, and love energy that the Tree had collected for her. "Ann . . ."
Her wounds closed and warmth filled her cold body – as did her spirit. Alan was stunned to see her chest rise and fall with her first breath. "Ann . . ."
A beat later she opened her eyes to his joy and everyone else's shock. "Oh, Alan . . ."
"You're back! You came back! Ann!" Sailor Moon had been right! The moment was perfect, and everything finally was okay again – better than okay. Alan had another chance with his only love! He wouldn't be alone.
"I wouldn't leave you." Ann sighed as he kissed her tender lips. It was the first time they had ever kissed – and it was with each other, just as it should be!
That love the pair shared was just enough to give back to the one that gave Ann back her life. Sailor Moon was the first to spot the glow between her and Darien and Alan and Ann. "Oh look! The tree! It's come back to life."
"Look, Ann! We've got another chance!" It was a small seedling of the Tree of Life! Alan held out his hand and the seedling settled in his palm. "It's . . . growing!"
"Yes." Ann chuckled as she fought of the urge to cry for joy.
"We can start over again, this time the right way!" Alan hadn't felt this much joy in his life.
Ann smiled up at him. Oh this was the Alan she fell in love with so long before, strong and sure. "Yes, build a place of our own filled with light and love."
Sailor Moon snuggled into Darien's embrace. "They've been healed."
"Yeah." And so had he. He was whole again, and he still had his girl … his fiancée.
A glow of light surrounded Alan and Ann. The pair said farewell and floated of to find a place to build a new home and life. Though they promised to return one day to check in with everyone.
Sailor Moon sighed as the pair disappeared from sight. "Got a feeling. I think they're gonna make it this time."
"Yeah. I hope so." Darien was happy that the only guy who nearly stole Serena from his arms was in love with someone else.
Sailor Moon looked up worriedly at he guy. "And what about us?"
The other Scout surrounded them a beat later. "Hey, what about you?"
Mars was the first into the fray. "All right, give us the buzz. When are you guys taking the plunge?"
"Inquiring minds want to know." Mercury added.
Jupiter's body language showed that she wasn't going to let the couple leave until the day was picked. "Right now!"
Venus agreed. "Yeah, Sailor Moon!"
Malachite chuckled at the sight. "You know that they won't let you two go until a date is set."
Darien grinned at the equally sneakily smirking Sailor Moon. Malachite suddenly wished he had remained silent. Darien and Sailor Moon's eerie laughter affirmed that feeling.
The Prince looked on his beautiful Princess. "Mind if I say it my sweet?"
"Not at all, my Prince."
Looking dead at Malachite, Darien smiled dirtily. "Not until after the last two Generals get hitched."
All of the Scouts turned and looked at Malachite with the same look on their faces. Before they could start, he vanished for the safety of his lover's embrace. It sent all of the others into belly laughs.
Neflyte smirked at his Prince and Princess. "You know that this will only give you two a brief reprieve."
"Yes. But when we tried to give the two of them the okay to hitch a thousand years ago, Darien and I were threatened by his father with not being allowed to wed. Now we just gave them the clearance we have wanted to for so long."
"And it felt so good." Darien pulled Sailor Moon closer to his body as he had their youmas take the pair to his place – and then leave them alone.
The others knew what was happening, and especially so when they saw the glow on Serena's happy face the next day. But her illusive daughter wasn't created just yet.
Am I awful?
Well, I have to get Zoicite and Malachite hitched soon – after all, she's pregnant!
Hey, when was the last time I gave two chapters within 24 hrs?
I got a good bead with my Moonie muse.
Next Arch will be one of my own design. Got to hitch and pop out kids – besides I think that they all need some time off.