He he he ... .; ... sorry for the late posts ... but my mother decided I was spending too much time on the computer and dragged me to her work. x_______x; ... Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer:: I don't own Sailor Moon
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The soft clicks of the their boots echoed through the silent room and the dark shadows swirling around them emitted malevolent whispers, threatening them to turn around. There were only four left to fight the queen and her last general. Sailor Moon, Sailor Venus, Tuxedo Mask, and Kunzite. One was of no use ... he was a human.
"Show yourself, Beryl."
Her soft command filled the room, putting their nerves on edge even further. Brushing her silver hair back, Sailor Moon stepped forward as light filled the room. The shadows seemed to fight the light, but soon the room was filled with a bright glow. A strangled cry escaped through the warrior's mouth as she saw her daughter on the floor ... near death. She tried to run to the child, but was held back by Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Venus. "You monster! How could you have done that to her? She's just a child!" She turned to look at the red-haired woman standing a few feet away, gripping her staff.
The pale woman smirked at the struggling leader, nodding towards Kunzite who stepped from the shadows. Her green eyes narrowed as she spotted the man who looked exactly like her most powerful warrior and she frowned in confusion. Who was this imposter? "Very simply, my dear. She annoyed me. So, I shot her. Not that hard to comprehend, Sailor Moon. She is dying, lovely. Not much you can do to help her." Beryl sighed happily and sat down on her throne, crossing her legs. Her tight dress slipped down from her thighs showing much more leg than the others had ever wanted of the evil queen. "My, my ... you do seem attached to the little brat. Almost like..." Beryl's eyes widened as realization hit her. "Almost like a mother!"
Moon trembled at the look that entered the bloodthirsty queen. Feeling Tuxedo Mask and Venus release her she clenched her hands into tight fists. "What do you want from me? What do you think you accomplished by taking Serenity?! You lost three of your best warriors, that's what!"
"And you my dear? You have lost three of your best warriors as well. Oh, no, my dear ... they're not dead, but they are hanging on by a line. Want to see?" Three visions appeared before the occupants of the room. The first one was of Sailor Mercury lying on the floor, her lower half frozen. Her sapphire eyes were focused on the ceiling, crystalline tears running down her cheeks. The room was covered in ice, the temperature obvious from the puffs of vapor that escaped from the fallen warrior.
The next was of Sailor Mars. She was lying on the floor in a room surrounded by roaring flames ... an inferno. Her face was covered with blood and she seemed to twitch every once in awhile, tears running down her face as well. Her gloved hand was wrapped her transformation pen, as if it was a lifesaver of some sort. Sweat poured down the soldier's face and she had her eyes closed as if accepting death.
Last, but not least was Jupiter. Electricity surged through the room and around her, wrapping around her body. The tall Amazon lay on her stomach, leaning on her cheek. Her normally passionate green eyes were dull with pain and exhaustion. And once again, tears ran down her bloodied cheek. She was in pain every time the electricity hit her, yet all she did was jump. She too was accepting her death.
Sailor Moon moaned, falling to her knees. Wrapping her arms around herself, she looked up towards Beryl who was laughing. "You monster! You are the incarnate of evil itself!" She shook her head, tears shimmering on her eyelashes. She could hear Venus' sobs behind and Tuxedo Mask's quick gasp, yet she ignored them. What kind of leader was she?
"Enough of this blubbering! I swear ... you humans are so quick to tears. I lost my warriors, yet do you see me crying?" Michael watched, confused as ever. He felt his heart go out to the ones who had died, but he was worried about Serenity. He turned towards the red-haired woman called Beryl and felt complete hatred fill his heart. She had hurt Sere ... she was only three! The other three seemed to be preparing themselves to attack the queen and he tensed up.
"You will pay for all that you have done, Beryl!" Sailor Moon grasped her crescent wand, building up her energy. Until she heard it ... the soft voice...
"...Mally...?" The faint plea seemed to echo through the room.
Everbody stilled as Michael ran over to the child, ignoring the surprised look on Kunzite. Picking up the child, he panicked as he felt how cold she was. "I'm here ... Sere. Mally's here. Shh..."
A soft smile graced the delicate features of the child as a chubby hand reached up, playing with his long silver hair. "Me no you not mean man ... he too mean to me." Her voice was a soft whisper, barely heard past her lips. "Mally have blue eyes ... mean man had gray eyes..."
"Shh ... he's not going to hurt you anymore. I promise. We can go home and then we can have some cake, okay?"
Serena watched the scene, wanting to run to them but Kunzite blocked her path as well as Tuxedo Mask's. The silver haired general just grinned at her. "Get out of my way!" He said nothing and her eyes widened as she heard her daughter.
"Me sleepy..." Her eyes were narrowed as she fought to keep awake, her hand loosening its grip on his hair.
"No! Stay awake, sweetie okay?! Stay awake!"
"Good night ... 'morrow we have cake ... love Mally and uncles... me play with 'Wena 'morrow too..." Her eyes fluttered close and her small hand fell with a soft thud, the sound forever echoing in the mind and heart of her mother, Michael, and Darien.
"Serenity!" The shrill screams of Sailor Moon pounded through everyone as she broke past Kunzite and ran over to her fallen daughter. Grasping the tiny child away from the stunned Michael, she smoothed the hair away. "Serenity ... wake up ... it's me, 'Wena." Yet, Sere did not move. "Come on, baby ... wake up. It's mommy ... please..." Her voice shook as tears dripped off her chin. "You're so cold ... come on ... we have to warm you up." She rubbed her hands over the child's hands, trying to give some heat.
Darien watched, slowly making his way over to the frantic leader of the senshi. She ignored him completely, just tried to warm her child. He looked towards Michael and realized the man was in the same shape he was. The two men looked at each other and they realized they were crying. Then the harsh sobs of Sailor Moon blasted through room as she rocked back and forth, holding the still body of her child.
Beryl watched, her eyes wide with amusement. Laughter bubbled forth from her as she watched the scene played out in front of her. "Oh! Did you lose your daughter as well?"
Sailor Venus blocked Kunzite from advancing towards her grieving leader. She felt a bit disoriented as he looked down at the man who looked exactly like Michael. Tears ran down her narrowed eyes as she looked into his gray eyes. "You bastard. Bother them and you'll have to go through me."
"And who might you be grieving for? The child or your dying friends?" He smirked coldly at the petite woman in front of him, laughing slightly.
Sailor Moon stood up, gripping on Serenity. Walking past Darien and Michael, she headed towards the laughing queen. "Bring her back! Bring her back!" Angry tears ran down her face as she gripped the wand in one hand.
Beryl raised an eyebrow, confused at the warrior's request. Tired from laughing so much, she leaned on her staff. "And ... how do you suppose I do that?"
Sailor Moon bent down, placing the child on the floor. Brushing back a few tendrils of hair, she bit her bottom lip trying to keep from sobbing. Stepping over the still form of the child, she cried out. "I know you have the power! You must! You took her life ... now bring it back!"
"You've become delusional my child. Even I don't have that much power." She tensed as the girl raised her wand in the air, chanting under her breath.
"If you can't bring her back, then you will pay with your life!" The silver aura surrounded Sailor Moon as energy built in the wand. She floated into the air, staring down at the dead body of her daughter. With a cry of outrage and grief, she let loose her anger and pain. The silver light blasted towards Beryl, striking dead on with the staff the queen had in front of her. Black energy flew out from the staff, fighting against the powerful silver light.
"Is that all you have, child?! That's pathetic!" With a burst of laughter, the black energy pushed against the silver aura, dissipating the bright light. The dark energy flew towards Serena, striking into her chest. With a cry of pain, the warrior flew back several meters, slamming against the wall with a deafening crack.
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"Serena!"
Sailor Moon moved, hearing the voices calling for her. The pain ... it was so powerful. Where were they? Who was calling her? Serenity ... was dead. She had failed as a mother and a leader. What more did she have to live for? Beryl was too strong. She remained with her eyes closed, allowing the pain to take over. She didn't have the heart to fight against death any longer. Her daughter and friends were dead. She still had Venus ... but she will die as well.
"Serena!"
Who was it that kept calling for her? She tried to reach the voice, fighting to open her eyes but it was too hard. "No ... I can't come..." She moaned and soon felt another presence near her. Opening her eyes to the best of her ability, she almost cried out with pure joy as she saw the innocent form of her daughter standing before her. "Serenity! You're alive!" She struggled to move, to get up and hold her daughter.
Serenity tucked a leg behind the other and smiled, tilting her head. "You can get up, mommy. Come with me!"
"Come with you?"
"Mhmm ... the place is so pretty and I don't hurt anymore!" The little girl held out her hand, reaching for her mother. "Come with me."
"Serena, come back to us!"
Was that Venus' voice? No, it couldn't be. Serena looked up at the outstretched hand of her daughter. She slowly reached out, touching the very tips of her daughter's fingers. Warmth spread through her, removing the pain. She stood up and her hand tightly grasped the tiny one of Serenity. The little girl smiled and turned towards where the light shone the brightest.
"Come on, mommy. We can be a family again!" She tugged on Serena's hand and started to lead.
"Yes, a family..." She smiled brightly, knowing only her daughter. Where was she? She didn't care. All she cared was that she was with her daughter.
"...Serena..." The faint voice whispered around her and she stopped. The voice was so familiar. Who was it?
"Come on, mommy! We haven't much time!" The light seemed to grow smaller and Serenity seemed to be in a hurry.
"Didn't you hear that? Didn't you hear that man's voice?"
The little girl nodded her head vigorously and frowned. "Yea, but he's a bad man. He wants to take you back to the place where you hurt a lot."
"...I don't know..." The voice had been so familiar. The place where she would hurt a lot? Where was that? She shook her head, trying to remember.
"Mommy ... we don't have a lot of time. Please come with me."
"No!" The dark shadow appeared, stepping towards Serena. Its arm was held out, its fingers wanting to grasp her own. "You musn't. You are still needed. You can be with her later on in life."
Serena's eyes widened. She knew this man! Her hold on Serenity's hand loosened and she reached for the man's hand. "Beloved."
"Yes, it's me. You must go back. Return to me."
"Mommy ... don't you want to come with me? He'll just take you to world where you are always sad. A world that'll separate you and me. Do you want that?"
Serena glanced towards the man she loved and her daughter. With her eyes flowing with tears, she shook her head. How was she supposed to choose?
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"...No..." Queen Selenity sobbed, watching her granddaughter died. Leaning against Cronus' body, she slammed a fist into his chest. "Was that the damn sacrifice you were talking about?! Our three year old granddaughter and daughter?! Or was it the Senshi? Were they supposed to sacrifice everything?!"
He did not even flinch at the hit, just glanced towards the screen. Even he had not foreseen the death of the little child. Emptiness filled his heart as he watched the innocent still form of his granddaughter. The girl had lived for such a short time ... but no, she was not the sacrifice. He tightened his hold against the hysterical queen and looked towards Pluto. Her magenta eyes stared back at him, endless knowledge and pain etched into them. Her look of betrayal was all he could handle.
"Our daughter is not dead yet, m'love. She hangs in the balance between life and death. She is struggling to remember what her purpose in life is. Princess Serenity's created two people, figments of her imagination to represent the choice. Her dead daughter represents the peace death brings and the one she loves, he represents everything, good and bad about being alive. She must choose between life and death. It is up to her. It depends on her whether she can right what was wronged or bring about Chaos."
"Who will she choose?"
"That, my dear daughter, even I do not know."
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Michael gripped the still bodies near him, watching as the two remaining warriors fought. Tuxedo Mask was fighting against Kunzite and Venus against Beryl. They were not faring well and he grit his teeth because he couldn't help. Sailor Moon had a faint pulse and he desperately hung onto her. Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Venus needed her help. "Come on, Serena. We need you."
Sailor Venus cried out as she barely dodged the blast that Beryl had sent. Anger and grief made it hard for her to think straight. This woman had taken everything from her. Everyone she loved and cared about. Throwing her love chain towards the queen, she attempted to catch the redhead and thus the fight continued.
Tuxedo Mask struck Kunzite with a rose, jumping back. Immense fury and grief arose in his heart at the death of Serenity and almost dead Sailor Moon. The rose's stem elongated and wrapped around the surprised warrior, and electricity shot through the white-haired warrior.
Michael watched, emotions sweeping through him. He wished that he could help, but what could he do? In his arms, Serena stirred a bit, but that was all he received. They needed her.
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Okay! In the beginning this chapter was twice as long ... but then I reread it over and didn't like so I erased half of it. u.u; ... Review!