8. End of an Era
Bra slammed her fist into Pan's jaw with all the force she could put behind the blow. The shock wave was enough to send spidery cracks through the ice a thousand feet below. The young half-saiyan shot forward to press her advantage, only to have Pan return the favour, landing a powerful punch to the chest.
Bra dodged to the side as Pan came at her once again. Pan overshot her target. Bra twisted in mid air, firing a half dozen powerful energy blasts at Pan.
Pan turned just in time to take the first explosion in the shoulder. The second and third blasts impacted her in the chest, while the fourth, fifth, and sixth blasts missed completely. Pan reeled back just from the force of those three shots.
"You got stronger," said the thing controlling Pan.
"Yeah," said Bra. "And you still haven't learned."
She moved, little more than a blur of motion. The thing controlling Pan could barely even follow her movements. When Bra stopped, she slammed her fist into Pan's face. Before Pan could even fall back, Bra grabbed a hold of her leg, hurling her into the cold ground.
"Give up. Give Pan back to me," said Bra.
"Eat this!" Pan fired a massive energy blast up at Bra. The girl barely had time to throw her arms up to block, and even then, the blast sent her hurtling up higher into the sky, where the air was thin.
"Okay," Bra managed through clenched teeth. "That hurt! Take it back!" She returned the favour, firing a blast easily powerful enough to vaporise a continent.
The blast struck Pan full on, not even giving her the chance to block the attack. It drove her into the ground, into the ice, forcing her further and further down into the heart of an ever-expanding crater.
Bra let up, gave herself to gravity's pull, using the planet's natural gravity to accelerate herself towards the girl who was once her friend. She slammed into Pan with all the strength and power that she could muster. Pan screamed in agony…
***
Alone on an endless field of snow, Sailor Moon was walking towards the volcano, towards her inevitable confrontation with the dark ruler of the Negaverse.
She understood now. Her friends were dead, killed by servants of the dark queen, but then, they were never meant to face Beryl. It wasn't their destiny to do so.
"Finally, she's alone. At last. Sailor Moon, we finally meet face to face," Queen Beryl hissed.
It was a fairly simple application of Beryl's magic that pulled Sailor Moon to the dark realm. The look of surprise was an added benefit, as Queen Beryl watched her enemy scooped up by the power of the Negaverse, only to be unceremoniously dumped on the floor of Beryl's court.
"Sailor Moon, how nice of you to drop in," said the dark queen. Sailor Moon gasped, recognition flashing across her pale face. "Welcome to my Negaverse."
"You're… you're Queen Beryl," Sailor Moon gasped.
"Yes," said Queen Beryl, nodding her head. "And you remember Prince Darien?"
The darkness gave way, allowing Sailor Moon to see more clearly. An unmistakable look of shock, of betrayal, settled onto Sailor Moon's face. Prince Darien knelt at Beryl's side, her hand in his, his lips pressed to her hand.
"Prince Darien, I want that Imperium Silver Crystal now!"
"Consider it done, my queen," said Darien. He stood, facing Sailor Moon. Darien pulled the sword at his side free from his belt. "It's been sweet, Sailor Moon."
Darien leapt at Sailor Moon, bringing his sword around in a brutal arc. Sailor Moon managed to roll out of the way just in time. The sword embedded itself in the dark floor, shattering the stone. He yanked it free, and turned to try again.
"Moon Healing Activation!" Sailor Moon called out, pouring all of her energy into the attempt at healing her lost love. For a just a moment, it looked like the healing light from her crystal was getting through to him; it looked like he was coming back to her.
"It's no use!" Beryl crowed, laughing darkly. "You can't heal him! When you took one of my Saiyans from me, I made sure to fortify my remaining servants against your power. It would take energy far greater than your crystal to overcome the spell I've placed on him! Prince Darien is mine, now and forever!"
Prince Darien leapt at Sailor Moon, smashing her hand with the flat of his sword. Sailor Moon screamed in pain, certain that something in her hand was broken. Her wand went skidding across the floor, becoming lost in the darkness. He slammed his foot into her chest, smashing her into the ground. She hit her head hard.
"Darien!" Sailor Moon gasped, dazed. "Oh, my wand…"
"It's mine," said Beryl, laughing. Ultimate victory was finally within her grasp. This was the moment to gloat. "As it was meant to be. Your mother managed to keep it from me for a time, but now at last it's mine! Your universe will be no more, only the Negaverse, ruled by Prince Darien and me!"
Sailor Moon shook her head in silent denial. This wasn't over! This couldn't be how it ended! Not after everything they had been through. Her friends, her love… no! She wouldn't let it end this way.
"Now Darien get me that crystal!" Beryl ordered. "And get rid of her. She's caused me enough aggravation."
Sailor Moon struggled to sit up, locking eyes with Darien. "I know she's wrong about you, Darien. You're not evil." Gathering the last of her energy, the girl threw her Moon Tiara at him. Willing it to work, praying for it to work.
Darien collapsed, the strength of the attack temporarily overwhelming him. Sailor Moon felt the rush of relief leave her, as Darien forced himself to his feet. "I warned you. You can't turn him against me. His mind belongs to the Negaverse now. He'll never turn against his queen!"
"Goodbye, Sailor Moon!" Darien groaned. He tried to raise his sword over his head, to finish her off for good. The effort was almost too much for him in his weakened condition.
"Darien, she may have your mind, but your heart belongs to me," said Sailor Moon, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible. She looked up at him with pleading eyes. "You remember, don't you?"
"You are the enemy," Darien said, though there was confusion in his cold blue eyes.
"No, I'm not," said Sailor Moon, her voice gaining strength. She pulled her locked free from where she always kept it. "Look, Darien. It's our locket. Don't destroy it. Remember, it's our locket, the symbol of everything we shared… all those happy times on the Moon. Don't let her take all of that away from us. Please, Darien."
The desperation in her voice was evident, even to Darien, but his memory was beginning to return to him, that much was evident as well. "It's me, Darien: Princess Serena. I've come to set you free again, just like I promised."
"I… remember," Darien whispered.
"All you have to do is touch it," Sailor Moon said, holding out the locket for him to touch. Hesitantly at first, Prince Darien Champion of the Negaverse reached out and touched the locket. Brilliant white light flooded the dark chamber, forcing Beryl to shield her eyes. Their love had purified him, and rid him of Beryl's control.
"Oh Darien…" Sailor Moon whispered, hugging the weakened Prince Darien tightly.
"Thank you. I'm free," Darien gasped, his hand reaching up to stroke Sailor Moon's cheek.
"This Sailor brat is not going to insult me in my own place!" Beryl snarled to herself. She raised her hands over her head, gathering her magical energies together, crystallising them into a long sharp shard of ice. She hurled the attack at the two lovers. "You are mine!"
Darien pulled Sailor Moon out of the way, hurling one crimson rose at the attack. The attack shattered, and the rose continued, embedding itself in Beryl's chest. Several of the icy splinters caught Darien.
"You got her," Sailor Moon whispered, even as the tears welled up in her eyes. She knew enough to recognise fatal wounds when she saw them.
"You… you haven't seen… the last of me…" Queen Beryl threatened, as the darkness of the chamber swallowed her up.
Sailor Moon ignored the evil queen. "Oh Darien… Can you hear me? Answer me."
Darien managed to open his eyes. "I'll… I'll find a way back to you," he whispered, his voice weak and barely audible.
"Hey, you can call me Meatball Head," Sailor Moon offered, smiling through the tears. She held Darien tight to her chest, even after she felt him die. This couldn't be how it ended. She wouldn't let it end this way…
***
Bra had grown so much as a fighter. She was Pan's equal in strength now, her anger and grief giving her an unstoppable edge over what was controlling Pan. It never really stood a chance, though it had managed to deal some substantial blows.
Pan was barely conscious. The thing controlling her was pinned down by Bra's weight.
The two struggled, rolling in the cold ice, but Bra managed to land on top. She punched Pan hard, again and again. With each blow, Pan's energy diminished just a little more.
Pan could hear the blood rushing in her ears. Every heartbeat brought pain, both physical and emotional. She was going to die, and her best friend was going to be the one to kill her. She sincerely doubted that she could even move, should Bra halt her onslaught.
Her heart beat.
Despair swelled in Pan. She was going to die. There was nothing she could do to save herself.
Her heart beat.
A swell of anger rose up inside her. She was going to die, and she was helpless to stop it.
Her heart beat.
Pan heard a primal scream, and realised it was coming from her broken mouth. With her anger, she felt power coming to her. There was an explosion of brilliant gold light. The entire planet trembled.
***
Bra was thrown violently from Pan. She felt her energy draining away, as she realised what had happened. Anger gave way to fear, and her edge evaporated.
She was strong, but there was no way she could take on a super saiyan.
Gravity took hold of her body, pulling her cruelly back down to Earth. She hadn't realised how much energy she'd used against Pan. She could no longer even slow her descent. Bra hit the ground hard enough to bury her in rubble. She was no longer strong enough to free herself from her rocky confines.
Suddenly, she saw light. Pan was struggling to dig her free. Bra felt Pan's hand reaching for hers. She felt Pan pull her free from the rubble.
The golden light was gone. The transformation must only have been a temporary one. Even so, when she was free, Bra collapsed on the ice, her energy almost gone. Pan joined her, in a similar state of burn out. "I… think we really overdid it… this time," Pan breathed to her friend.
The energy provided by Pan's abrupt transformation must have burned away the thing controlling her.
"Yeah," Bra laughed, though her laughter was weak. She was dying and so was Pan, and both girls could feel it. The fight had taken too much out of them.
"Pan, I missed you…"
"I missed you too," Pan whispered, her voice almost inaudible. Bra felt rather than heard her friend die. Pan's energy passed from her body with her last breath.
There was something strange in the air, a power that Bra couldn't recognise for a moment. Then a smile settled itself on her face. "Amy…" She whispered. Her sister was there, somehow. With that thought, Bra felt her energy let go of her body…
***
There was an explosion. Queen Beryl literally blossomed out of the volcanic crater that had once been her base of operations, laughing. Her hair had turned green, swept up and away from her twisted pale face in gravity defying waves. Her bright orange eyes almost glowed with the power she had received. She was now a monstrous plant-like creature, imbued with the full power of the Negaforce, a small fragment of which had been enough to wipe out the Moon Kingdom.
There was nothing that could stop her, not even that simpering brat, Sailor Moon.
"Better enjoy that laugh, Beryl. It's the last one you'll ever have." Beryl turned around to face Sailor Moon. Gone was the cowering weakling. This Sailor Moon was confident and powerful, every bit the image of her mother. "You'll never rule the universe as long as I live."
"We better get this over with, then," said Beryl, chuckling darkly. There was no way Sailor Moon was going to defeat her. Not with all the power that she now possessed.
"Let's go to it," Sailor Moon said confidently.
"You don't know what you're up against. Goodbye, Sailor Moon!" Spreading her hands before her in an expansive gesture, Beryl gathered her energy. Sparks of dark lightning jumped between her hands, eager to be unleashed on her victim. Beryl flung the attack at Sailor Moon.
Sailor Moon was smashed into the ice, buried by it, consumed by it. The wave of dark energy splintered the ice, and sent Sailor Moon up in a spire of ice.
For a moment, little more than a long heartbeat, it looked as though Sailor Moon was finished. Then the spire split open like an icy flower. Sailor Moon was gone, and in her place stood Princess Serena, heir to the throne of the Moon Kingdom.
"I will defeat you, Beryl, in the name of the Moon."
"You?" Beryl asked, almost sounding surprised. "Pitiful little Princess Serena?"
"I am not afraid of you anymore, Beryl!" Princess Serena announced, producing her wand, and the Imperium Silver Crystal, as if by magic.
"You should be!" Beryl roared. She spread her arms again, gathering more of her dark power.
"Cosmic Moon Power! Fight this evil!" Princess Serena yelled.
With that, she gathered her strength, pouring it into the Imperium Silver Crystal as she had done earlier, this time producing an impenetrable barrier of pure energy. It halted the dark ruler's attack, but made little headway in defeating her.
"I am not letting you win this one, you witch! My friends and family are counting on me!"
"Hey Serena, I'll help you with this assignment if you want." Princess Serena heard Amy's voice laugh.
"You're so stubborn, Serena. Let us help, or I'll never speak to you again." This time it was Rei's voice.
"Yeah," she heard Lita's voice say. "Let us help you put her away. Still too many guys we gotta meet."
"Let us help. We haven't known each other long enough for it to end yet," said Mina's voice.
"Don't forget about us!" Princess Serena didn't recognise this voice, but the speaker sounded very young to her.
"Serena, it's time for you to believe in us. We may be dead, but we pack quite a punch still!" That was Bra's voice. So she had fallen in combat with her young brainwashed friend. Then the other speaker had to have been Bra's friend.
Princess Serena closed her eyes, and tried to picture all of them together again, happy, and living in peace. That dream would never come true while Queen Beryl still existed. "I do need your help. All of you. Please, help me stop this evil!"
"Mercury power!"
"Mars power!"
"Jupiter power!"
"Venus power!"
One by one, Princess Serena's loyal guardians, her close friends, added their Scout powers to hers. She felt their strength flow through her, empowering her.
It wasn't until she felt Bra put her hand on her shoulder, and Pan do the same, that she felt their strength added to her own. The sensation was almost overwhelming; Serena had never felt such energy, such immense power.
"Cosmic Moon Power Unite!" She screamed, pouring all of that power into the Silver Crystal. The resulting energy overwhelmed Beryl in no time. Whatever her boosted powers had been worth, it was nothing before their combined strength.
"Beryl is gone, blasted back to the Negaverse. The universe is safe again, thanks to you, my friends. Finally we have a chance for peace…" Princess Serena fell to her knees, exhausted. "Real peace." The Princess passed out. The Imperium Silver Crystal glowed brilliantly for a moment…
***
"Where are we?" Pan wondered, kick flipping effortlessly to her feet. The young girl looked around, a clueless look on her face. Bra was still unconscious a couple of feet away, but Pan decided to let her friend sleep.
The battle between them had been fierce, and giving Princess Serena their energy was more draining than either of the girls could have anticipated. Bra needed her rest.
"Welcome to the Moon Kingdom, Pan."
Pan whirled around, a surprised look on her face. Queen Serenity had to smile at how similar her reaction was to Bra's, the first time they met. She too had gathered her energy, ready to destroy whoever was behind her.
"Who… who are you?" Pan asked, more curious and less cautious than her friend.
"My name is Queen Serenity," said Queen Serenity, smiling warmly at the young girl. "This is the Moon Kingdom."
Pan let her reabsorbed the energy that she was going to use against the queen, and relaxed visibly. She allowed her feet to leave the ground, floating up to get a better view of her surroundings. "It doesn't look like much," Pan admitted.
"It was attacked, long ago," Serenity explained.
"Is Bra going to be okay?" Pan asked, glancing at her friend.
"She will be fine," said Queen Serenity sagely. "You both had a difficult fight, and you should both be very proud of yourselves. You both overcame your limitations to achieve something extraordinary."
"What did we achieve?" Bra asked, sitting up. "We died fighting each other, when we should have been fighting Beryl."
"You broke free from Beryl's control, both of you. That in itself is not something to scoff at." Serenity reached out, brushed Pan's dark hair from her pale face, smiling warmly at the girls. "In time you may understand what happened here today, but that time is not yet upon us. Be happy."
That was the last thing either of the two girls saw or heard. They had to shield their eyes as a brilliant light enveloped them in its warmth. Pan thought she heard the distant roar of an animal, but that could just have been her imagination. She felt her conscious mind let go, felt herself drifting off into a peaceful oblivion…
***
"I'm so proud of our Scouts," Artemis said. The white cat sat watching from a nearby rooftop, as Serena dashed hurriedly to school. She slept in again, and was late because of it. "They really did it, and they all came back safe, too."
The black cat next to him nodded her agreement. "Yes, only now, they don't remember any of it. It's like none of them ever met. They don't remember being friends, or Sailor Scouts. Nothing," Luna responded.
"Don't worry," said Artemis confidently. "They just need to meet up again, become friends, and then maybe they'll remember."
They watched as two younger girls, dressed in identical navy blue uniforms, ran to school. "And what of those two? They could potentially destroy the world."
"They're just kids, Luna, and neither of them was really evil to begin with," said Artemis. "Besides, I doubt they even remember how to use their powers."
"Race you to school," said the dark-haired girl.
"You're on!" Her friend responded. Almost as if to prove Artemis wrong, the two younger girls blurred, running faster than the eye could follow. The resulting sonic boom toppled Serena, and set her off crying.
"We should really keep an eye on them," Luna suggested, with a deep sigh. "Even if they do seem to have forgotten everything…" Artemis could only nod, as they watched the dust cloud kicked up by those two recede into the distance.