Hello all! Wow, I'm back. Finally! Well here it is, the next instalment in
my story. I hope that someone is still interested. Well if there please
read, enjoy and review! Thanks!
Chapter 11:
"What the he-?" Usagi looked with wide eyes toward the ballroom as another explosion pushed her and Seiya toward the ground. Usagi struggled frantically with the folds of her gown, trying to regain her footing, but Seiya's hand on her shoulder stopped her, causing her to look up into his stern face.
" Usagi stay here, I'm going to see what happened." His eyes were dark as he looked at her.
" Who do you think I am?" She hissed indignantly, grabbing on to this arm to pull herself up, and prevent him from leaving; " Some kind of liability? I saved the galaxy not to long ago in case you forgot."
" Of course I didn't forget!" Seiya hissed back, his face reddening in embarrassment. " You're just not Sailor Moon right now, or really in any position to fight if there is trouble." He said, looking pointedly at Usagi's heels and ballgown. " I just want you to be safe until I can figure out what is going on."
Usagi opened her mouth to protest, but touched by his concern, she merely nodded and let him help her up. " I just don't want you to think I'm still that old, silly, useless Usagi."
" I never thought of you that way, ever." He said emphatically, pulling her close. " You were never silly or useless. You are the most beautiful person I have ever met, then or now." He leaned back slightly, gazing into her upturned face; " I have always loved you for all that you are."
Usagi felt tears in her eyes, but blinked them back as she held Seiya tighter, until finally she let him pull away. She watched his retreating form blend into the shadows for as long as she could. Turning back to the lake, Usagi gripped the railing tightly, the whites of her knuckles showing in her fear and frustration. Minutes passed like years, without Seiya returning or thankfully more explosions or screams. The moons shone brightly above, bathing her surroundings in a tranquil light that was somehow deceptive.
" This is not right.." Usagi murmured to herself, unable to shake the unease that was steadily worming its way into her consciousness. She didn't know if she was psychic, or that being Sailor Moon gave her certain heightened abilities of perception, but she knew without any doubt that something was very wrong.
Turning back to the shadowed gardens, they betrayed no hint of what chaos could lay beyond their borders at the palace. Usagi stole one more look at the lake before shaking her head resignedly. " I've never listened to anyone before, why should now be any different?" Usagi bent over to remove her useless heels, and gathered as much of the dress as she could so it wouldn't get in her way too much. Slowly, she walked back toward the palace, careful to keep in the shadows and remain as silent as possible.
She smelled what had happened before she saw anything. A thick acrid smoke hung in the air, mingling with another smell that only became stronger the further she walked. Usagi recognised the smell, even though she had only encountered it once before in her young life, during the last days of Galaxia's war on Earth. It was the smell of burned or burning flesh and it soon took every ounce of willpower for Usagi to keep herself from retching. The doors of the ballroom slowly emerged from the darkness, and Usagi could see that most of the windows had been destroyed in the explosions. Glass littered the ground everywhere, and Usagi's progress was slowed further as she picked her way through the rubble. The dim outline of a body was on her left, but steeling herself she passed by, knowing that before the night was through she might see many more, maybe even the body of someone she loved.
Settling as close to the doors as she could, Usagi gazed inside frantically hoping to see what was happening. She could see that most of the guests had fled once the trouble began, but there was still a fair number left inside, including the Palmian Queen and most of her entourage. Many others were immobile on the floor and on chairs, and Usagi hoped that they were still alive. Scanning the crowd, Usagi couldn't tell what had happened, then suddenly a beam of light shot across her vision, hitting one of the delegates closest to her full in the chest. Without a sound they crumpled to the floor, as those around the casualty moved away in muted terror. Turing her head to the source of the blast, Usagi saw a tall Palmian male pointing a blaster towards the fallen delegate. Sheathing his weapon in a hip holster, he turned to the Queen, whose eyes had not moved from the victim.
" How many more have to die, sister, before you begin co-operating? Ten? Twenty? I can line them up one by one, and you can watch one die for every minute you are silent."
He had not spoken loudly, but his words carried in the silence like a shout. His voice had a coldness that made Usagi shiver involuntarily. She watched him draw his weapon from the holster and sweep it over the crowd, pausing slightly on each; smiling faintly as they flinched in turn as the gun rested on their body.
" I'm giving you ten seconds to speak before I dispose of someone else. Nine..eight...seven.."
" Why are you doing this Imaldo?" The Queen interrupted him tonelessly, raising to her feet, " You have already started countless wars tonight so far, I don't know what else you hope to accomplish from this."
" Spare me your melodramatics. You of all people know why I'm here, with the last of Palma's true allies. I'm here to kill you dear sister, and those who support you, to avenge myself for the great injustice that you and our mother did to me and to Palma."
" You're insane! What injustice? " The Queen had started to walk toward Imaldo, but stopped as the blaster was levelled at her.
" What injustice?" Imaldo's voice rose slightly, his hand tightening perceptibly around the blaster; his black eyes as hard as granite. " The usurp of my birthright, my divine privilege! I am first born, but our mother favoured you and let you take the place that was rightfully mine, and stood idly by as I was banished from my home!"
" Our mother did what was best and let the people decide who would lead them. Your banishment was your own doing, and no one else's. I was chosen fairly and democratically, and with the support of the people!"
" The people." Imaldo snorted, glancing around at the frightened crowd, his contempt etched plainly on his face. " The people are idiots, and so are you my sister."
Raising his blaster once again to point at the Queen, she closed her eyes in anticipation. Usagi held her breath, expecting the fatal shot to come at any second. One of Imaldo's comrades moved to his side, talking quietly in his ear. As he listened, Imaldo's face changed and once his companion had finished a cold smile played across his lips.
" It seems that there is a celebrity here tonight, the representative a new people that you helped introduce to all your allies. That certainly increased your favour didn't it?" Imaldo gave a quick order to his companions, then turned to the crowd. " If Princess Serenity or her dead body doesn't show itself before me in fifteen seconds, I will begin killing all of you, one by one. I think you all know that I am serious."
Usagi's eyes widened, her thoughts tumbling in her head. If she didn't go inside Imaldo would begin killing again, but if she did Usagi was sure that she would probably not come out alive again. " I can't let innocent people die for my sake." Usagi thought, her face solemn as she watched Imaldo pace in front of the delegates. " No matter what happens to me, if I can save their lives that is all that matters."
Just as Usagi rose up to enter the ballroom, there was a disturbance in the crowd. Usagi gasped as she saw Amio, followed by Luna push to the front of the throng to face Imaldo. Usagi had not even thought if he and Luna had survived the attack, but she felt a tear spill on her cheeks now that she was sure they were unharmed. Amio and Luna looked dusty and dishevelled, and Amio had a streak of blood on his cheek, but other than that they were both fine. Amio's amber eyes glared in stark hatred at Imaldo, a feeling mirrored by Luna's blue ones.
" Princess Serenity is not here. She went for a walk outside before you began killing innocent people. " Amio's voice dripped with loathing, his eyes never leaving Imaldo's. " She had probably heard what has happened by now and is far from here."
" That is unfortunate for you because without her to kill, that leaves you to die in her place." Imaldo replied impassively, aiming the blaster at Amio's chest and pulling the trigger. The blast hit him point blank, throwing him back with substantial force. Putting his hand on his injured chest, he drew his blood-covered hand away as the dark stain spread rapidly. Opening his mouth to speak, he collapsed silently on the floor.
" No!" Usagi's frantic scream startled many, especially Imaldo who was enjoying watching Amio die. Before he could raise his blaster to shoot Usagi, she had already run past him to kneel next to Amio. Holding his hand in hers, she looked desperately into his handsome face. His eyes were still open, their ochre brilliance slightly dimmed. He opened his mouth to speak again, but there was only a gurgling sound accompanied by a stream of blood. " Shhh.Amio" Usagi choked, her vision blurring with her tears. A peaceful look spread on his face as his hand went slack in hers. Looking into his eyes, the fire of life was gone and Usagi knew that he was dead.
" No! No! No!" Usagi screamed over and over, holding his head to her chest, rocking in her anguish. His blood smeared on her dress, while her tears washed over his face. Laying him down, Usagi put her hands on his wound and closed her eyes. She was not going to let him die, even if it killed her, she was not going to let him die. Focusing all of her thoughts, she felt the familiar feeling of her power begin to course through her body. This time she did not need the ginzuishou, but in her panic she did not even think about that. She imagined his body repairing itself as she felt the energy pass through her hands to his body. Usagi lost track of time, focusing all of her energy on Amio, but was startled out of her trance as she felt movement under her hands.
Opening her eyes, she saw his chest begin to heave as he began to cough. Lifting up his blood soaked tunic, she searched for any signs of injury but could see none. " Oh Kami-sama" Usagi thought to herself, her shocked expression mirrored by those around her, even Imaldo. Opening his eyes, Amio stared at his surroundings, finally resting his gaze on Usagi. " Usagi." he whispered, holding his out his hand towards her. " Amio.." Smiling Usagi reached out for his hand, before a pain in the back of her head pitched her forward and enveloped her in darkness.
Chapter 11:
"What the he-?" Usagi looked with wide eyes toward the ballroom as another explosion pushed her and Seiya toward the ground. Usagi struggled frantically with the folds of her gown, trying to regain her footing, but Seiya's hand on her shoulder stopped her, causing her to look up into his stern face.
" Usagi stay here, I'm going to see what happened." His eyes were dark as he looked at her.
" Who do you think I am?" She hissed indignantly, grabbing on to this arm to pull herself up, and prevent him from leaving; " Some kind of liability? I saved the galaxy not to long ago in case you forgot."
" Of course I didn't forget!" Seiya hissed back, his face reddening in embarrassment. " You're just not Sailor Moon right now, or really in any position to fight if there is trouble." He said, looking pointedly at Usagi's heels and ballgown. " I just want you to be safe until I can figure out what is going on."
Usagi opened her mouth to protest, but touched by his concern, she merely nodded and let him help her up. " I just don't want you to think I'm still that old, silly, useless Usagi."
" I never thought of you that way, ever." He said emphatically, pulling her close. " You were never silly or useless. You are the most beautiful person I have ever met, then or now." He leaned back slightly, gazing into her upturned face; " I have always loved you for all that you are."
Usagi felt tears in her eyes, but blinked them back as she held Seiya tighter, until finally she let him pull away. She watched his retreating form blend into the shadows for as long as she could. Turning back to the lake, Usagi gripped the railing tightly, the whites of her knuckles showing in her fear and frustration. Minutes passed like years, without Seiya returning or thankfully more explosions or screams. The moons shone brightly above, bathing her surroundings in a tranquil light that was somehow deceptive.
" This is not right.." Usagi murmured to herself, unable to shake the unease that was steadily worming its way into her consciousness. She didn't know if she was psychic, or that being Sailor Moon gave her certain heightened abilities of perception, but she knew without any doubt that something was very wrong.
Turning back to the shadowed gardens, they betrayed no hint of what chaos could lay beyond their borders at the palace. Usagi stole one more look at the lake before shaking her head resignedly. " I've never listened to anyone before, why should now be any different?" Usagi bent over to remove her useless heels, and gathered as much of the dress as she could so it wouldn't get in her way too much. Slowly, she walked back toward the palace, careful to keep in the shadows and remain as silent as possible.
She smelled what had happened before she saw anything. A thick acrid smoke hung in the air, mingling with another smell that only became stronger the further she walked. Usagi recognised the smell, even though she had only encountered it once before in her young life, during the last days of Galaxia's war on Earth. It was the smell of burned or burning flesh and it soon took every ounce of willpower for Usagi to keep herself from retching. The doors of the ballroom slowly emerged from the darkness, and Usagi could see that most of the windows had been destroyed in the explosions. Glass littered the ground everywhere, and Usagi's progress was slowed further as she picked her way through the rubble. The dim outline of a body was on her left, but steeling herself she passed by, knowing that before the night was through she might see many more, maybe even the body of someone she loved.
Settling as close to the doors as she could, Usagi gazed inside frantically hoping to see what was happening. She could see that most of the guests had fled once the trouble began, but there was still a fair number left inside, including the Palmian Queen and most of her entourage. Many others were immobile on the floor and on chairs, and Usagi hoped that they were still alive. Scanning the crowd, Usagi couldn't tell what had happened, then suddenly a beam of light shot across her vision, hitting one of the delegates closest to her full in the chest. Without a sound they crumpled to the floor, as those around the casualty moved away in muted terror. Turing her head to the source of the blast, Usagi saw a tall Palmian male pointing a blaster towards the fallen delegate. Sheathing his weapon in a hip holster, he turned to the Queen, whose eyes had not moved from the victim.
" How many more have to die, sister, before you begin co-operating? Ten? Twenty? I can line them up one by one, and you can watch one die for every minute you are silent."
He had not spoken loudly, but his words carried in the silence like a shout. His voice had a coldness that made Usagi shiver involuntarily. She watched him draw his weapon from the holster and sweep it over the crowd, pausing slightly on each; smiling faintly as they flinched in turn as the gun rested on their body.
" I'm giving you ten seconds to speak before I dispose of someone else. Nine..eight...seven.."
" Why are you doing this Imaldo?" The Queen interrupted him tonelessly, raising to her feet, " You have already started countless wars tonight so far, I don't know what else you hope to accomplish from this."
" Spare me your melodramatics. You of all people know why I'm here, with the last of Palma's true allies. I'm here to kill you dear sister, and those who support you, to avenge myself for the great injustice that you and our mother did to me and to Palma."
" You're insane! What injustice? " The Queen had started to walk toward Imaldo, but stopped as the blaster was levelled at her.
" What injustice?" Imaldo's voice rose slightly, his hand tightening perceptibly around the blaster; his black eyes as hard as granite. " The usurp of my birthright, my divine privilege! I am first born, but our mother favoured you and let you take the place that was rightfully mine, and stood idly by as I was banished from my home!"
" Our mother did what was best and let the people decide who would lead them. Your banishment was your own doing, and no one else's. I was chosen fairly and democratically, and with the support of the people!"
" The people." Imaldo snorted, glancing around at the frightened crowd, his contempt etched plainly on his face. " The people are idiots, and so are you my sister."
Raising his blaster once again to point at the Queen, she closed her eyes in anticipation. Usagi held her breath, expecting the fatal shot to come at any second. One of Imaldo's comrades moved to his side, talking quietly in his ear. As he listened, Imaldo's face changed and once his companion had finished a cold smile played across his lips.
" It seems that there is a celebrity here tonight, the representative a new people that you helped introduce to all your allies. That certainly increased your favour didn't it?" Imaldo gave a quick order to his companions, then turned to the crowd. " If Princess Serenity or her dead body doesn't show itself before me in fifteen seconds, I will begin killing all of you, one by one. I think you all know that I am serious."
Usagi's eyes widened, her thoughts tumbling in her head. If she didn't go inside Imaldo would begin killing again, but if she did Usagi was sure that she would probably not come out alive again. " I can't let innocent people die for my sake." Usagi thought, her face solemn as she watched Imaldo pace in front of the delegates. " No matter what happens to me, if I can save their lives that is all that matters."
Just as Usagi rose up to enter the ballroom, there was a disturbance in the crowd. Usagi gasped as she saw Amio, followed by Luna push to the front of the throng to face Imaldo. Usagi had not even thought if he and Luna had survived the attack, but she felt a tear spill on her cheeks now that she was sure they were unharmed. Amio and Luna looked dusty and dishevelled, and Amio had a streak of blood on his cheek, but other than that they were both fine. Amio's amber eyes glared in stark hatred at Imaldo, a feeling mirrored by Luna's blue ones.
" Princess Serenity is not here. She went for a walk outside before you began killing innocent people. " Amio's voice dripped with loathing, his eyes never leaving Imaldo's. " She had probably heard what has happened by now and is far from here."
" That is unfortunate for you because without her to kill, that leaves you to die in her place." Imaldo replied impassively, aiming the blaster at Amio's chest and pulling the trigger. The blast hit him point blank, throwing him back with substantial force. Putting his hand on his injured chest, he drew his blood-covered hand away as the dark stain spread rapidly. Opening his mouth to speak, he collapsed silently on the floor.
" No!" Usagi's frantic scream startled many, especially Imaldo who was enjoying watching Amio die. Before he could raise his blaster to shoot Usagi, she had already run past him to kneel next to Amio. Holding his hand in hers, she looked desperately into his handsome face. His eyes were still open, their ochre brilliance slightly dimmed. He opened his mouth to speak again, but there was only a gurgling sound accompanied by a stream of blood. " Shhh.Amio" Usagi choked, her vision blurring with her tears. A peaceful look spread on his face as his hand went slack in hers. Looking into his eyes, the fire of life was gone and Usagi knew that he was dead.
" No! No! No!" Usagi screamed over and over, holding his head to her chest, rocking in her anguish. His blood smeared on her dress, while her tears washed over his face. Laying him down, Usagi put her hands on his wound and closed her eyes. She was not going to let him die, even if it killed her, she was not going to let him die. Focusing all of her thoughts, she felt the familiar feeling of her power begin to course through her body. This time she did not need the ginzuishou, but in her panic she did not even think about that. She imagined his body repairing itself as she felt the energy pass through her hands to his body. Usagi lost track of time, focusing all of her energy on Amio, but was startled out of her trance as she felt movement under her hands.
Opening her eyes, she saw his chest begin to heave as he began to cough. Lifting up his blood soaked tunic, she searched for any signs of injury but could see none. " Oh Kami-sama" Usagi thought to herself, her shocked expression mirrored by those around her, even Imaldo. Opening his eyes, Amio stared at his surroundings, finally resting his gaze on Usagi. " Usagi." he whispered, holding his out his hand towards her. " Amio.." Smiling Usagi reached out for his hand, before a pain in the back of her head pitched her forward and enveloped her in darkness.