The valley was completely silent. Not even the sound of the wildlife could
be heard. It was as if the cursed place could tell something was going to
happen, was almost expecting it.
"Nice day to wage battle." Herb commented solemnly as he looked up at the cloudless sky. The Musk prince was standing next to a winged figure he'd considered his enemy for a long time, yet now he would call him ally due to where their loyalties lay. "Are you sure this will work?"
Saffron, king of the Phoenix people, took a deep breath before answering. He could feel the tension in the air. Both his and Herb's troops were anxious since there still was no sign of their enemy and, even if they were protected from the cursed waters, their proximity was a source of nervousness he could understand. "Hinako-sama made certain any portals coming from the Negaverse will appear in this place."
Herb snorted. "What kind of an idiot called it the 'Negaverse' anyway?"
Saffron ignored the question and examined the entirety of his troops. He couldn't stop a sigh from escaping his lips when his eyes fell on the position usually occupied by Kiima. The knowledge that the woman would be participating in a battle more dangerous and important than this one filled him with both pride and concern.
Herb remained silent as Saffron turned introspective and looked towards the cursed pools of Jusenkyo. He had to admit this was a good strategy. The enemy army would be seriously affected by the time it reached them. His respect for Ranma raised another notch grudgingly. The pigtailed martial artist was the one that came up with this plan to receive the enemy forces.
The Phoenix king was the first to notice something was up. He felt in his blood the alien magic at work just seconds before several portals opened up. Without pause both Herb and Saffron signaled for their armies to get ready. The enemy was here and they needed to take advantage of the element of surprise.
Very soon the first of the armored soldiers walked out of the portals. They stopped and looked around in confusion. This wasn't the place they were supposed to appear in. Even so the soldiers continued to appear through the magical gates.
As it was the portals appeared in the middle of the valley, with the Phoenix and Musk surrounding it. The Silver Millennium soldiers were taken out of their confusion by the sound of displaced air. They turned upwards to watch as arrows rained upon them. Their armors were capable of withstanding ridiculously high amounts of damage, but even the finest of armors had weak spots. Before they even knew it dozens of their numbers were downed, the floor tainted red by their blood.
The rest turned to see their attackers and, with the courage inherent to mentally altered soldiers, charged forward without fear.
Saffron couldn't help a small smile from gracing his regal features. First blood was on their side, and he could see different animals emerging from the waters of the springs. Indeed this battle was going just as planned.
-----
"The battle is already taking place." Nabiki said as she entered the room casually. She stopped a few feet from a woman that was looking at a sand clock. "The assault group has been sighted and will start meeting resistance soon. The troops have been drawn to a trap in the Valley of Jusenkyo."
The woman nodded seriously. "I expected it. Nova has always been a skilled adversary."
Nabiki frowned. "You're not worried."
The woman smiled faintly and turned to regard Nabiki. "Should I be? Things are going according to plan."
"Your plan includes having Serenity defeated? I've seen what those monsters Hinako and Ryoga are capable of. They'll wipe out Serenity's forces easily." The middle Tendo sister said these words with no small amount of worry.
Nabiki's companion chuckled, much to the girl's confusion, and turned back to the clock. "It matters little what happens to Serenity. She's nothing but a distraction anyway. A distraction that will buy us the time we need." She motioned for the clock in front of her. "It's a matter of hours now. We've waited a long time, but now only a few hours remain."
Nabiki frowned again. "A few hours for what?"
The woman smiled expectantly as she regarded Nabiki sideways. "The power to defeat the Novas is within our grasp, girl. Why do you think all the deception was needed?"
"Because fighting them face-to-face would be worse than committing suicide." Nabiki answered without thinking about it.
"Precisely! But their power will mean nothing when the gate is open. For more than twenty thousand years I've waited, ever since I learned the truth behind Nova's origins, the birth of the chosen one. A being incapable of hate is born every couple of centuries, yet the Novas have always kept that being protected." The woman paused and Nabiki frowned at the implication of the words. She knew who this person was. "I've learned with time the value of patience. I knew someday a chance would present itself to make my move." Another pause. "And then the princess and her Senshi were reborn. I knew helping Serenity come back, staying in the shadows of course, would attract the Novas' attention enough so that they would miss my subtle actions."
"So Serenity and this whole plan to bring back the Silver Millennium are nothing but a smokescreen."
The woman turned to Nabiki with a smirk. "You are as sharp as I judged you to be when I first laid my eyes upon you."
"That's the reason why you used me as a double agent, working for Serenity to make sure your plans weren't threatened." The middle Tendo sister said seriously.
"And you've done wonderfully, my dear. Serenity knows nothing of my existence and the Novas are too busy to stop the ceremony."
Nabiki kept silent and hid a smile behind her expressionless mask. *Arrogant bitch. You'll get quite a surprise.* She thought with the knowledge that Ranma was unaccounted for. A knowledge Serenity dismissed and Pluto could do without.
Just then a third woman entered the room, a satisfied smile on her face. "Can you believe that girl, Pluto? After an hour she still couldn't bring herself to even glare at me. It's like Serenity cleansed her."
Pluto smirked. "She's the one, Uranus. I trust you didn't kill her?" Her voice carried a threat in it, which didn't go unnoticed by Uranus.
Nabiki didn't catch it as she was too busy glaring daggers at Pluto. "I thought we agreed on no one harming Kasumi."
Pluto turned back to the sand clock, dismissing Nabiki's anger. "Of course we did. We wouldn't want to risk the sacrifice dying before the ceremony, would we?"
Nabiki raised her hands to prepare a magical blast of energy when a cold sensation filled her. She turned down to stare incredulously at Uranus' sword protruding from her midsection.
Uranus smirked as she withdrew her sword. Nabiki dropped to the ground and clutched her wound with her hands, trying to keep her blood from pouring out of her body enough so that her magical healing kicked in.
Pluto gave Nabiki a cold look. "As I said before you are sharp, I believe you can guess what's really going on before dying." With that said she motioned for Uranus to finish the girl off.
All Nabiki could do was glare at Pluto from the floor. Even if Uranus didn't finish her off, which she had no doubt would happen if the look on the blonde's eyes was any indication, she'd be too weak to do much for a couple of days. "Damn you..." She whispered weakly.
Uranus raised her sword to decapitate Nabiki and started her downward swing when she was shoved violently out of the way. Sailor Uranus was a trained soldier, one of the very best, and instinctively rolled with the fall to recover her feet with her sword at the ready. She blinked when she saw there was nothing where her opponent should be.
Pluto's eyes narrowed and she turned to her side. She wasn't surprised to find the way blocked by her successor. The expression on the green-haired woman's face hid her emotions well, yet she could tell Setsuna was slightly surprised at this latest turn of events.
Uranus' eyes widened when the air in front of her distorted and revealed a man she knew. The black clothing was new, yet the black hair tied back in a pigtail and the blue-gray eyes were a dead giveaway.
The last thing Nabiki saw before losing consciousness was Ranma's back as he stood in front of Uranus. She inwardly smiled, knowing the pigtailed martial artist would do all in his power to save Kasumi, and wondered if her magic would be enough to keep her alive. Things went incredibly wrong for her, but maybe her older sister had a chance to survive this.
"You..." Uranus muttered slowly.
"Me." Ranma returned tightly, realizing the Sailor Uranus he knew was standing in front of him.
"But how...?" Uranus asked with confusion written plain on her face.
Pluto smirked. "Isn't it obvious, Uranus?" She said before turning to face Setsuna. "We fell into a trap, or so Nova would like to think. The chosen one being left unprotected was the bait." With that she extended her hand forward and a staff appeared in her hand. "We'd be done for if Nova sent one of her children, but these two shouldn't pose too much of a problem."
Setsuna smiled mysteriously at the words. One of her trademark 'I know something you don't' smiles. Without a word she assumed a fighting stance, which was mirrored by her antecessor. She'd ask Ranma and Nodoka what was happening after they were done here, for now it was clear who the enemy was. Preventing the elder Sailor Pluto from performing the ceremony came first.
Ranma studied the Senshi in front of him and smirked expectantly. He cracked his knuckles and fell into a relaxed stance that emphasized speed over strength.
Uranus saw the smirk and laughed. "So willing to become my toy again? Come and let's have some fun." During her time torturing the pigtailed martial artist back in the Silver Millennium, one of the best times of her life, Ranma would always fight back and make her eventual victory all the more satisfying. She was looking forward to how long the pigtailed man could stand up to her this time.
Ranma didn't lose his smirk as he replied to Uranus' words, his voice playful. "I've waited twenty-four thousand and twelve years, two months, three weeks and a day for this."
Uranus raised an eyebrow in amusement. "You didn't count the hours?"
"I'm not that obsessive." Ranma replied before charging the expectant Senshi with a flurry of blows.
Both Senshi of Pluto attacked at the same time, their fight proving why control over time was so powerful. Now that the Gates of Time were useless they could access the forbidden magic without fear. With their power they altered the way time flowed around them. The most noticeable result of this aspect of their magic was the incredible speeds at which they moved. Or so that would appear to the normal observer. In truth they weren't moving any faster than before; the time in their bodies was altered to run faster. Such a technique would have atrocious effects on normal people, making them age incredibly fast and shortening their lives tremendously, yet for two people immune to the passing of time such a technique became a very effective edge. Or so it would be if the other didn't have that very same advantage.
The elder Sailor Pluto gave out a frustrated growl at realizing her current situation. *A stalemate.* She thought as Setsuna dispelled the effects of another area attack, which was cast with the intention of slowing time.
Setsuna remained patiently fighting her opponent, being careful not to be distracted. She knew from the moment she saw her antecessor that the fight would come to this, yet also knew that she wasn't alone. Seeing the former Sailor Pluto was the one pulling the strings came as a shock to the green- haired woman. Actually seeing Sailor Uranus being her usual self was even worse, yet Ranma moving in without fear brought her out of her shock. She put all thoughts aside and entered battle with a focused mind.
Both women continued darting around the other and exchanging blows that didn't find a mark. None took the risk of actually starting an energy blast, though. That would take precious time they didn't have.
Ranma smirked arrogantly as Uranus had to, for the fourth time in only a minute, struggle to her feet. So far the pigtailed martial artist had refrained from killing blows, mainly to get a good feel of his opponent's fighting style and prowess. "You're pathetic." He said in a patronizing tone of voice.
Uranus glared at Ranma, her transformation magic healing her bruised ribs almost instantly. "How the hell did you become this fast?" She demanded as she stalled for time.
Ranma recognized the ploy but didn't press his advantage. "I've always been fast. I'm also pretty strong." And in so saying the pigtailed man rushed into Uranus' defenses and delivered two more crushing blows to the Senshi's ribcage. Uranus cried out in pain and managed to gain some room. Ranma was upon her instantly.
-----
"There's too many of them." Herb growled out.
The Musk prince was right, of course. Even if the Pools of Sorrow and the disadvantageous position dearly challenged Serenity's army, its sheer size more than made up for it. By now the springs were all filled with corpses, making them useless as a trap any longer. The emerging soldiers charged like a wave against the awaiting Phoenix and Musk forces.
Saffron wordlessly took to the sky, followed by his personal guard, and started raining fireballs down on the invading army. His guard rained arrows and spears down on Serenity's forces.
Herb cursed and levitated off the ground to fire chi blasts at the approaching enemies. To his disgust his chi blasts did nowhere near the same amount of damage Saffron's attacks did.
Even with their attacks decimating the invaders the circle of soldiers around the valley soon was engaged in melee combat. Saffron and Herb watched worriedly as more and more soldiers continued emerging from the portals.
-----
The elder Sailor Pluto glared hatefully at her successor. The fight between them was not going to end soon, and time was not her ally. Worse yet was the fact that Ranma stopped playing around with Uranus a minute ago. The pigtailed martial artist mauled his opponent's body with so many blows the blonde Senshi was unable to stand up, much less continue fighting. *If he joins Setsuna against me I'm finished.* She thought in alarm, desperately trying to find a way to distract her opponent. "You traitorous bitch!" She accused. "Turning your back on your duty. And for what? So you can spread your legs for the enemy?!"
Setsuna didn't even bat an eyelash at the accusations. "You're one to talk." She said calmly as she delivered a downward blow with the key.
A blow that was blocked perfectly by Pluto's staff. *I have to think of something!!!* She desperately searched through her mind, looking for something that would distract Setsuna. *Just a second. Only need a second!*
Setsuna blocked the returning attack and spun on herself to deliver a kick to the face. Her opponent dodged out of the way.
Uranus's arms gave out from under her and she groaned in pain. "How...?" She whispered and looked up through a pain-filled haze. "How can a mere human... defeat one of Serenity's Sailor Senshi?"
Ranma stared down at Uranus' beaten form with a look of satisfaction on his face. Upon hearing the whispered question he smirked and knelt next to her. "How does it feel to be the one down and in pain? I wonder. Are you suffering like all those children you tortured to death?" His smirk only widened when she struggled to get up again, obviously trying to hide the fact she was feeling stronger than a few seconds ago. "Don't bother pretending. I know you heal fast and are stalling for time. Don't worry; I'll kill you before you can stand up." He said conversationally as he pressed a finger in the back of her neck. "This point here, for example. A little more pressure here and your brain will explode inside your head." He then touched the space between her shoulder blades. "A feather touch here and both your lungs will fill with blood. Not even your magical healing will save you from that." He lifted her chin and glared into her scared eyes. "I've wanted to kill you for so long; now that you're here at my mercy I can't decide how to do it."
The Guardians of Time stood in front of each other, the elder glaring at Setsuna while the green-haired woman stood calmly. The latter knew Ranma would be done with Uranus and come to help her. She didn't want Haruka dead, not by a long shot, but she couldn't challenge Ranma's right for revenge. Uranus recovering her memories sealed her fate.
The older woman suddenly cried out in frustration. "You have no idea, do you? No idea what that bitch you fight for really is!" To her increasing frustration and dread Setsuna still remained impassive. "You fool! Nova isn't human! She wasn't even born in this dimension!" *Yes!* She cheered inside her head at seeing Setsuna's eyes widen slightly. This was the vein she had to attack to get that precious second. *Now to do it fast before Ranma is done playing with Uranus.* "Nova is a goddess. A fallen goddess that was exiled from her dimension after killing her husband so that abomination she called Beryl could be born. Can't you see it? Nova selects the strongest to kill, so she can infuse her children with their powers!"
Setsuna did her best to remain impassive. She somehow expected something like that, if Demagorth Govian's fate was any indication. "I've known Nova for a long time. While I ignore her reasons or the truth behind her actions I can tell she's not an evil being."
Pluto smiled mockingly at her successor. "Is that so? Then tell me why she kept that human that fights so well with her, if not to have another powerful child."
That caught Setsuna's full attention and despite her effort to stay focused she couldn't help but turn to regard Ranma as he took a hold of Uranus' throat and cocked his other arm back, ready to give the killing blow.
That moment of hesitation was all Pluto needed. Concentrating deeply she surrounded her opponent with a field of time-altering magic. She inwardly cheered to herself when Setsuna failed to counter the spell.
The first indication Setsuna had of being caught in a trap was the fact that she could see everything around her happen incredibly fast. *Damn it!* She cursed as she started working on a counter for the spell, but knowing it would take her too long. Her concentration was tested to the limit when the events outside took place almost too fast to make out. But make them out she could, regrettably.
Sailor Pluto employed the forbidden magic of time to accelerate time around her body and exit the room. In less than half a second she was back with two tied up figures on the ground by her side, her staff glowing and pointing at one of them. "Hold it." She commanded with a calm she wasn't feeling after the long and strenuous fight.
Ranma's fist stopped inches from crushing Uranus' windpipe and he turned to see what happened. He paled upon seeing Setsuna seemingly frozen in place while Sailor Pluto was pointing a glowing staff at Kasumi's beaten and bloodied body.
Sailor Pluto smiled. "Let go of her. As formidable as you've proven yourself to be I'm still a lot faster than you are. You wouldn't want anything to happen to our lovely Kasumi, would you?" She finished sweetly, adding to the effect the fact that a magical blast was formed at the point of her staff. Now all she had to do was release it and the eldest Tendo sister would die.
"Ranma-kun." Kasumi, whose eyes were filled with tears, turned to look at Ranma pleadingly. The pigtailed man could tell, just by the look in her eyes, the many sufferings she'd been exposed to since her disappearance.
The pigtailed man clenched his fist tighter and didn't let go of Uranus, who was slumped and felt hope in her being about surviving after all. "You're going to kill her anyway." He said coldly.
Pluto's smile widened. "True enough. But are you willing to be the direct cause of her death?" She amusedly turned to a sand clock. "You could prolong her life. Who knows? Maybe someone might turn up to rescue her." Sarcasm dripped from her every word. Of course, when Ranma didn't move a muscle she knew she had him. "Let go of her and stand up so we can have a nice conversation. I believe she'll recover in ten to fifteen minutes after your 'impressive' display."
Ranma let go of Uranus and stood up as ordered. It was only then that he turned to regard the second prisoner. His eyes widened in shock.
Pluto gave out a laugh. "Surprised? I can't blame you."
In the floor next to Kasumi, bloody and beaten as hell, was Haruka. The blonde had obviously seen better days, for she was still trying to recover her bearings. But it was indeed Michiru's lover. In that moment Ranma almost laughed at himself. *If I get out of this one I have some apologizing to do.* He thought with the knowledge that he would most likely die here. There was no way he could risk Kasumi being harmed and knowing Uranus she'd want some payback after she recovered from the beating.
"Ranma of the House of Nova." Pluto said thoughtfully. "Out of all of Nova's actions adopting you into her family is the only one I don't understand. That and actually sending you to fight us instead of one of your siblings."
The pigtailed man smirked. "Isn't it obvious? She wanted to avoid being spied on by the Gates of Time."
"I must admit that would be a good reason, but not good enough. There must be something else." She turned to regard Uranus' downed form. "And while your increase in fighting prowess is impressive I don't think that's it. Nova already has Razt for fighting."
"Could it be that mother actually has a heart?" Ranma asked sarcastically. "Unlike someone in this room."
The Senshi smiled, taking Ranma's intended insult as a compliment instead. "You know as well as I do that she would still refrain from adopting you into her family, making you an equal to her true children." She shook her head. "No. There must be something I'm missing."
"What do you care anyway?"
"I only want to satisfy my curiosity about her before she's destroyed." When Ranma snorted at that she favored him with a condescending smile. "While I must admit Nova is incredibly powerful, the ceremony will open a gate to her dimension. The beings there should be happy enough to get revenge after what she's done to them."
"That's if you manage to open the gate. For all you know this is also a trap and instead of opening a gate to another dimension you'll fall right into my mother's plans." Ranma said snidely. "Could it be that the ceremony will serve to resurrect Beryl?"
Pluto frowned at the thought of actually falling into a trap but dismissed it. Nova wouldn't be risking the fall of her son, even if he was adopted, and Setsuna if she actually wanted for them to go through the ceremony. *No. They did try to stop us. If they wanted the ceremony to happen they wouldn't send someone to try and stop us.* Even though the reasoning was good Ranma's comments did plant the seed of doubt in her. Nova was a very cunning and sneaky opponent. What was she really after?
Pluto turned down to regard Kasumi, who was sobbing and trying to break free of the ropes that bind her. *She lacks any kind of negative emotion. Whatever Nova's plan is it must be related to her.* She thought and then turned to Ranma. *Or him.* That last thought made her open her eyes in realization. Maybe there was something to the pigtailed martial artist she hadn't considered. The fact that Nova took him in, saving him from his death in Uranus, had to have a good reason behind it.
The former Guardian of the Gates of Time shook her head to clear it and cursed Nova and her deviousness. There was no way to understand the woman's plans. *Or...?* She regarded Ranma more intently, noticing certain body language signs that told her of his nervousness. To test this theory she moved her arm, making the magical blast come closer to Kasumi. Sure enough the nervousness Ranma was displaying increased. He was clearly worried about the brown-haired woman.
"You are as devious as your mother." Pluto said with a smirk. "You had me doubt my course with your intrigues, yet your own body betrays you."
Ranma narrowed his eyes and tensed, but a raised eyebrow from Pluto had him back to his relaxed stance. *Damn it! Why hasn't it happened?*
"Uranus, get up already." Pluto commanded and the blonde Senshi finally managed to regain her feet. She looked a little unsteady still, yet obviously recovering at an accelerated rate. "Give Nova's son a show of our hospitality. I'm certain you're raring to pay him back for beating you up." Uranus glared at Pluto before turning murderously at Ranma. Upon seeing the martial artist narrow his eyes Setsuna's antecessor laughed. "Don't even think about moving a muscle in your defense, boy. Do it and your sweet little Kasumi will die. And please refrain from speaking as well. I grow tired of your lies and my control is starting to slip." She finished making the magical blast pulse.
Ranma grit his teeth and lowered his arms.
As soon as Uranus retrieved her sword she struck, and Ranma cried out in pain when he felt his arms fall uselessly to his sides, completely limp after Uranus cut the muscles and tendons of both his shoulders.
Many were the tales of people being tortured but not screaming in pain. This was no such a tale. Uranus was too good, too experienced, at torturing human beings for it to be the case.
Pluto interrupted Uranus only to have her move Ranma's body to a better vantage point for Setsuna to see how her lover was dealt with. She then enjoyed the show and even dispelled the magical blast after it was obvious the pigtailed martial artist wouldn't be able to fight back.
The cries of pain and the sounds of metal tearing into flesh and bone filled the room. Pluto smirked at Uranus' expertise in inflicting the wounds, at this rate Ranma wouldn't die for hours. Haruka and Kasumi stared in open-mouthed shock at the cruelty displayed, for Uranus went easy on them compared to how she was mutilating Ranma's body.
Trapped in the spell of time Setsuna's concentration was nearly broken when she understood what the blurred images in front of her eyes meant. She continued with her spell with a sense of desperation filling her entire being, yet she was also filled with despair and loss. She knew she wouldn't be fast enough to save her love's life.
END PART 17
Author's notes: And so we come to the end of this chapter. I was going to make it a lot bigger and have the ending right here, but decided against it since I've been very busy and will likely be busy for a while still. The next chapter will conclude with The New Order, though. And I'm working on it to release it as soon as possible.
As you can see these are the events that happen while the other group is fighting in the Negaverse. The person behind the resurrection of Serenity is really the former Sailor Pluto, and Sailor Uranus and Haruka are different people. Nabiki was burned for playing with fire, but even corrupted as she was she wanted to protect Kasumi.
The truth behind all the intrigues will be revealed in the last chapter of The New Order.
"Nice day to wage battle." Herb commented solemnly as he looked up at the cloudless sky. The Musk prince was standing next to a winged figure he'd considered his enemy for a long time, yet now he would call him ally due to where their loyalties lay. "Are you sure this will work?"
Saffron, king of the Phoenix people, took a deep breath before answering. He could feel the tension in the air. Both his and Herb's troops were anxious since there still was no sign of their enemy and, even if they were protected from the cursed waters, their proximity was a source of nervousness he could understand. "Hinako-sama made certain any portals coming from the Negaverse will appear in this place."
Herb snorted. "What kind of an idiot called it the 'Negaverse' anyway?"
Saffron ignored the question and examined the entirety of his troops. He couldn't stop a sigh from escaping his lips when his eyes fell on the position usually occupied by Kiima. The knowledge that the woman would be participating in a battle more dangerous and important than this one filled him with both pride and concern.
Herb remained silent as Saffron turned introspective and looked towards the cursed pools of Jusenkyo. He had to admit this was a good strategy. The enemy army would be seriously affected by the time it reached them. His respect for Ranma raised another notch grudgingly. The pigtailed martial artist was the one that came up with this plan to receive the enemy forces.
The Phoenix king was the first to notice something was up. He felt in his blood the alien magic at work just seconds before several portals opened up. Without pause both Herb and Saffron signaled for their armies to get ready. The enemy was here and they needed to take advantage of the element of surprise.
Very soon the first of the armored soldiers walked out of the portals. They stopped and looked around in confusion. This wasn't the place they were supposed to appear in. Even so the soldiers continued to appear through the magical gates.
As it was the portals appeared in the middle of the valley, with the Phoenix and Musk surrounding it. The Silver Millennium soldiers were taken out of their confusion by the sound of displaced air. They turned upwards to watch as arrows rained upon them. Their armors were capable of withstanding ridiculously high amounts of damage, but even the finest of armors had weak spots. Before they even knew it dozens of their numbers were downed, the floor tainted red by their blood.
The rest turned to see their attackers and, with the courage inherent to mentally altered soldiers, charged forward without fear.
Saffron couldn't help a small smile from gracing his regal features. First blood was on their side, and he could see different animals emerging from the waters of the springs. Indeed this battle was going just as planned.
-----
"The battle is already taking place." Nabiki said as she entered the room casually. She stopped a few feet from a woman that was looking at a sand clock. "The assault group has been sighted and will start meeting resistance soon. The troops have been drawn to a trap in the Valley of Jusenkyo."
The woman nodded seriously. "I expected it. Nova has always been a skilled adversary."
Nabiki frowned. "You're not worried."
The woman smiled faintly and turned to regard Nabiki. "Should I be? Things are going according to plan."
"Your plan includes having Serenity defeated? I've seen what those monsters Hinako and Ryoga are capable of. They'll wipe out Serenity's forces easily." The middle Tendo sister said these words with no small amount of worry.
Nabiki's companion chuckled, much to the girl's confusion, and turned back to the clock. "It matters little what happens to Serenity. She's nothing but a distraction anyway. A distraction that will buy us the time we need." She motioned for the clock in front of her. "It's a matter of hours now. We've waited a long time, but now only a few hours remain."
Nabiki frowned again. "A few hours for what?"
The woman smiled expectantly as she regarded Nabiki sideways. "The power to defeat the Novas is within our grasp, girl. Why do you think all the deception was needed?"
"Because fighting them face-to-face would be worse than committing suicide." Nabiki answered without thinking about it.
"Precisely! But their power will mean nothing when the gate is open. For more than twenty thousand years I've waited, ever since I learned the truth behind Nova's origins, the birth of the chosen one. A being incapable of hate is born every couple of centuries, yet the Novas have always kept that being protected." The woman paused and Nabiki frowned at the implication of the words. She knew who this person was. "I've learned with time the value of patience. I knew someday a chance would present itself to make my move." Another pause. "And then the princess and her Senshi were reborn. I knew helping Serenity come back, staying in the shadows of course, would attract the Novas' attention enough so that they would miss my subtle actions."
"So Serenity and this whole plan to bring back the Silver Millennium are nothing but a smokescreen."
The woman turned to Nabiki with a smirk. "You are as sharp as I judged you to be when I first laid my eyes upon you."
"That's the reason why you used me as a double agent, working for Serenity to make sure your plans weren't threatened." The middle Tendo sister said seriously.
"And you've done wonderfully, my dear. Serenity knows nothing of my existence and the Novas are too busy to stop the ceremony."
Nabiki kept silent and hid a smile behind her expressionless mask. *Arrogant bitch. You'll get quite a surprise.* She thought with the knowledge that Ranma was unaccounted for. A knowledge Serenity dismissed and Pluto could do without.
Just then a third woman entered the room, a satisfied smile on her face. "Can you believe that girl, Pluto? After an hour she still couldn't bring herself to even glare at me. It's like Serenity cleansed her."
Pluto smirked. "She's the one, Uranus. I trust you didn't kill her?" Her voice carried a threat in it, which didn't go unnoticed by Uranus.
Nabiki didn't catch it as she was too busy glaring daggers at Pluto. "I thought we agreed on no one harming Kasumi."
Pluto turned back to the sand clock, dismissing Nabiki's anger. "Of course we did. We wouldn't want to risk the sacrifice dying before the ceremony, would we?"
Nabiki raised her hands to prepare a magical blast of energy when a cold sensation filled her. She turned down to stare incredulously at Uranus' sword protruding from her midsection.
Uranus smirked as she withdrew her sword. Nabiki dropped to the ground and clutched her wound with her hands, trying to keep her blood from pouring out of her body enough so that her magical healing kicked in.
Pluto gave Nabiki a cold look. "As I said before you are sharp, I believe you can guess what's really going on before dying." With that said she motioned for Uranus to finish the girl off.
All Nabiki could do was glare at Pluto from the floor. Even if Uranus didn't finish her off, which she had no doubt would happen if the look on the blonde's eyes was any indication, she'd be too weak to do much for a couple of days. "Damn you..." She whispered weakly.
Uranus raised her sword to decapitate Nabiki and started her downward swing when she was shoved violently out of the way. Sailor Uranus was a trained soldier, one of the very best, and instinctively rolled with the fall to recover her feet with her sword at the ready. She blinked when she saw there was nothing where her opponent should be.
Pluto's eyes narrowed and she turned to her side. She wasn't surprised to find the way blocked by her successor. The expression on the green-haired woman's face hid her emotions well, yet she could tell Setsuna was slightly surprised at this latest turn of events.
Uranus' eyes widened when the air in front of her distorted and revealed a man she knew. The black clothing was new, yet the black hair tied back in a pigtail and the blue-gray eyes were a dead giveaway.
The last thing Nabiki saw before losing consciousness was Ranma's back as he stood in front of Uranus. She inwardly smiled, knowing the pigtailed martial artist would do all in his power to save Kasumi, and wondered if her magic would be enough to keep her alive. Things went incredibly wrong for her, but maybe her older sister had a chance to survive this.
"You..." Uranus muttered slowly.
"Me." Ranma returned tightly, realizing the Sailor Uranus he knew was standing in front of him.
"But how...?" Uranus asked with confusion written plain on her face.
Pluto smirked. "Isn't it obvious, Uranus?" She said before turning to face Setsuna. "We fell into a trap, or so Nova would like to think. The chosen one being left unprotected was the bait." With that she extended her hand forward and a staff appeared in her hand. "We'd be done for if Nova sent one of her children, but these two shouldn't pose too much of a problem."
Setsuna smiled mysteriously at the words. One of her trademark 'I know something you don't' smiles. Without a word she assumed a fighting stance, which was mirrored by her antecessor. She'd ask Ranma and Nodoka what was happening after they were done here, for now it was clear who the enemy was. Preventing the elder Sailor Pluto from performing the ceremony came first.
Ranma studied the Senshi in front of him and smirked expectantly. He cracked his knuckles and fell into a relaxed stance that emphasized speed over strength.
Uranus saw the smirk and laughed. "So willing to become my toy again? Come and let's have some fun." During her time torturing the pigtailed martial artist back in the Silver Millennium, one of the best times of her life, Ranma would always fight back and make her eventual victory all the more satisfying. She was looking forward to how long the pigtailed man could stand up to her this time.
Ranma didn't lose his smirk as he replied to Uranus' words, his voice playful. "I've waited twenty-four thousand and twelve years, two months, three weeks and a day for this."
Uranus raised an eyebrow in amusement. "You didn't count the hours?"
"I'm not that obsessive." Ranma replied before charging the expectant Senshi with a flurry of blows.
Both Senshi of Pluto attacked at the same time, their fight proving why control over time was so powerful. Now that the Gates of Time were useless they could access the forbidden magic without fear. With their power they altered the way time flowed around them. The most noticeable result of this aspect of their magic was the incredible speeds at which they moved. Or so that would appear to the normal observer. In truth they weren't moving any faster than before; the time in their bodies was altered to run faster. Such a technique would have atrocious effects on normal people, making them age incredibly fast and shortening their lives tremendously, yet for two people immune to the passing of time such a technique became a very effective edge. Or so it would be if the other didn't have that very same advantage.
The elder Sailor Pluto gave out a frustrated growl at realizing her current situation. *A stalemate.* She thought as Setsuna dispelled the effects of another area attack, which was cast with the intention of slowing time.
Setsuna remained patiently fighting her opponent, being careful not to be distracted. She knew from the moment she saw her antecessor that the fight would come to this, yet also knew that she wasn't alone. Seeing the former Sailor Pluto was the one pulling the strings came as a shock to the green- haired woman. Actually seeing Sailor Uranus being her usual self was even worse, yet Ranma moving in without fear brought her out of her shock. She put all thoughts aside and entered battle with a focused mind.
Both women continued darting around the other and exchanging blows that didn't find a mark. None took the risk of actually starting an energy blast, though. That would take precious time they didn't have.
Ranma smirked arrogantly as Uranus had to, for the fourth time in only a minute, struggle to her feet. So far the pigtailed martial artist had refrained from killing blows, mainly to get a good feel of his opponent's fighting style and prowess. "You're pathetic." He said in a patronizing tone of voice.
Uranus glared at Ranma, her transformation magic healing her bruised ribs almost instantly. "How the hell did you become this fast?" She demanded as she stalled for time.
Ranma recognized the ploy but didn't press his advantage. "I've always been fast. I'm also pretty strong." And in so saying the pigtailed man rushed into Uranus' defenses and delivered two more crushing blows to the Senshi's ribcage. Uranus cried out in pain and managed to gain some room. Ranma was upon her instantly.
-----
"There's too many of them." Herb growled out.
The Musk prince was right, of course. Even if the Pools of Sorrow and the disadvantageous position dearly challenged Serenity's army, its sheer size more than made up for it. By now the springs were all filled with corpses, making them useless as a trap any longer. The emerging soldiers charged like a wave against the awaiting Phoenix and Musk forces.
Saffron wordlessly took to the sky, followed by his personal guard, and started raining fireballs down on the invading army. His guard rained arrows and spears down on Serenity's forces.
Herb cursed and levitated off the ground to fire chi blasts at the approaching enemies. To his disgust his chi blasts did nowhere near the same amount of damage Saffron's attacks did.
Even with their attacks decimating the invaders the circle of soldiers around the valley soon was engaged in melee combat. Saffron and Herb watched worriedly as more and more soldiers continued emerging from the portals.
-----
The elder Sailor Pluto glared hatefully at her successor. The fight between them was not going to end soon, and time was not her ally. Worse yet was the fact that Ranma stopped playing around with Uranus a minute ago. The pigtailed martial artist mauled his opponent's body with so many blows the blonde Senshi was unable to stand up, much less continue fighting. *If he joins Setsuna against me I'm finished.* She thought in alarm, desperately trying to find a way to distract her opponent. "You traitorous bitch!" She accused. "Turning your back on your duty. And for what? So you can spread your legs for the enemy?!"
Setsuna didn't even bat an eyelash at the accusations. "You're one to talk." She said calmly as she delivered a downward blow with the key.
A blow that was blocked perfectly by Pluto's staff. *I have to think of something!!!* She desperately searched through her mind, looking for something that would distract Setsuna. *Just a second. Only need a second!*
Setsuna blocked the returning attack and spun on herself to deliver a kick to the face. Her opponent dodged out of the way.
Uranus's arms gave out from under her and she groaned in pain. "How...?" She whispered and looked up through a pain-filled haze. "How can a mere human... defeat one of Serenity's Sailor Senshi?"
Ranma stared down at Uranus' beaten form with a look of satisfaction on his face. Upon hearing the whispered question he smirked and knelt next to her. "How does it feel to be the one down and in pain? I wonder. Are you suffering like all those children you tortured to death?" His smirk only widened when she struggled to get up again, obviously trying to hide the fact she was feeling stronger than a few seconds ago. "Don't bother pretending. I know you heal fast and are stalling for time. Don't worry; I'll kill you before you can stand up." He said conversationally as he pressed a finger in the back of her neck. "This point here, for example. A little more pressure here and your brain will explode inside your head." He then touched the space between her shoulder blades. "A feather touch here and both your lungs will fill with blood. Not even your magical healing will save you from that." He lifted her chin and glared into her scared eyes. "I've wanted to kill you for so long; now that you're here at my mercy I can't decide how to do it."
The Guardians of Time stood in front of each other, the elder glaring at Setsuna while the green-haired woman stood calmly. The latter knew Ranma would be done with Uranus and come to help her. She didn't want Haruka dead, not by a long shot, but she couldn't challenge Ranma's right for revenge. Uranus recovering her memories sealed her fate.
The older woman suddenly cried out in frustration. "You have no idea, do you? No idea what that bitch you fight for really is!" To her increasing frustration and dread Setsuna still remained impassive. "You fool! Nova isn't human! She wasn't even born in this dimension!" *Yes!* She cheered inside her head at seeing Setsuna's eyes widen slightly. This was the vein she had to attack to get that precious second. *Now to do it fast before Ranma is done playing with Uranus.* "Nova is a goddess. A fallen goddess that was exiled from her dimension after killing her husband so that abomination she called Beryl could be born. Can't you see it? Nova selects the strongest to kill, so she can infuse her children with their powers!"
Setsuna did her best to remain impassive. She somehow expected something like that, if Demagorth Govian's fate was any indication. "I've known Nova for a long time. While I ignore her reasons or the truth behind her actions I can tell she's not an evil being."
Pluto smiled mockingly at her successor. "Is that so? Then tell me why she kept that human that fights so well with her, if not to have another powerful child."
That caught Setsuna's full attention and despite her effort to stay focused she couldn't help but turn to regard Ranma as he took a hold of Uranus' throat and cocked his other arm back, ready to give the killing blow.
That moment of hesitation was all Pluto needed. Concentrating deeply she surrounded her opponent with a field of time-altering magic. She inwardly cheered to herself when Setsuna failed to counter the spell.
The first indication Setsuna had of being caught in a trap was the fact that she could see everything around her happen incredibly fast. *Damn it!* She cursed as she started working on a counter for the spell, but knowing it would take her too long. Her concentration was tested to the limit when the events outside took place almost too fast to make out. But make them out she could, regrettably.
Sailor Pluto employed the forbidden magic of time to accelerate time around her body and exit the room. In less than half a second she was back with two tied up figures on the ground by her side, her staff glowing and pointing at one of them. "Hold it." She commanded with a calm she wasn't feeling after the long and strenuous fight.
Ranma's fist stopped inches from crushing Uranus' windpipe and he turned to see what happened. He paled upon seeing Setsuna seemingly frozen in place while Sailor Pluto was pointing a glowing staff at Kasumi's beaten and bloodied body.
Sailor Pluto smiled. "Let go of her. As formidable as you've proven yourself to be I'm still a lot faster than you are. You wouldn't want anything to happen to our lovely Kasumi, would you?" She finished sweetly, adding to the effect the fact that a magical blast was formed at the point of her staff. Now all she had to do was release it and the eldest Tendo sister would die.
"Ranma-kun." Kasumi, whose eyes were filled with tears, turned to look at Ranma pleadingly. The pigtailed man could tell, just by the look in her eyes, the many sufferings she'd been exposed to since her disappearance.
The pigtailed man clenched his fist tighter and didn't let go of Uranus, who was slumped and felt hope in her being about surviving after all. "You're going to kill her anyway." He said coldly.
Pluto's smile widened. "True enough. But are you willing to be the direct cause of her death?" She amusedly turned to a sand clock. "You could prolong her life. Who knows? Maybe someone might turn up to rescue her." Sarcasm dripped from her every word. Of course, when Ranma didn't move a muscle she knew she had him. "Let go of her and stand up so we can have a nice conversation. I believe she'll recover in ten to fifteen minutes after your 'impressive' display."
Ranma let go of Uranus and stood up as ordered. It was only then that he turned to regard the second prisoner. His eyes widened in shock.
Pluto gave out a laugh. "Surprised? I can't blame you."
In the floor next to Kasumi, bloody and beaten as hell, was Haruka. The blonde had obviously seen better days, for she was still trying to recover her bearings. But it was indeed Michiru's lover. In that moment Ranma almost laughed at himself. *If I get out of this one I have some apologizing to do.* He thought with the knowledge that he would most likely die here. There was no way he could risk Kasumi being harmed and knowing Uranus she'd want some payback after she recovered from the beating.
"Ranma of the House of Nova." Pluto said thoughtfully. "Out of all of Nova's actions adopting you into her family is the only one I don't understand. That and actually sending you to fight us instead of one of your siblings."
The pigtailed man smirked. "Isn't it obvious? She wanted to avoid being spied on by the Gates of Time."
"I must admit that would be a good reason, but not good enough. There must be something else." She turned to regard Uranus' downed form. "And while your increase in fighting prowess is impressive I don't think that's it. Nova already has Razt for fighting."
"Could it be that mother actually has a heart?" Ranma asked sarcastically. "Unlike someone in this room."
The Senshi smiled, taking Ranma's intended insult as a compliment instead. "You know as well as I do that she would still refrain from adopting you into her family, making you an equal to her true children." She shook her head. "No. There must be something I'm missing."
"What do you care anyway?"
"I only want to satisfy my curiosity about her before she's destroyed." When Ranma snorted at that she favored him with a condescending smile. "While I must admit Nova is incredibly powerful, the ceremony will open a gate to her dimension. The beings there should be happy enough to get revenge after what she's done to them."
"That's if you manage to open the gate. For all you know this is also a trap and instead of opening a gate to another dimension you'll fall right into my mother's plans." Ranma said snidely. "Could it be that the ceremony will serve to resurrect Beryl?"
Pluto frowned at the thought of actually falling into a trap but dismissed it. Nova wouldn't be risking the fall of her son, even if he was adopted, and Setsuna if she actually wanted for them to go through the ceremony. *No. They did try to stop us. If they wanted the ceremony to happen they wouldn't send someone to try and stop us.* Even though the reasoning was good Ranma's comments did plant the seed of doubt in her. Nova was a very cunning and sneaky opponent. What was she really after?
Pluto turned down to regard Kasumi, who was sobbing and trying to break free of the ropes that bind her. *She lacks any kind of negative emotion. Whatever Nova's plan is it must be related to her.* She thought and then turned to Ranma. *Or him.* That last thought made her open her eyes in realization. Maybe there was something to the pigtailed martial artist she hadn't considered. The fact that Nova took him in, saving him from his death in Uranus, had to have a good reason behind it.
The former Guardian of the Gates of Time shook her head to clear it and cursed Nova and her deviousness. There was no way to understand the woman's plans. *Or...?* She regarded Ranma more intently, noticing certain body language signs that told her of his nervousness. To test this theory she moved her arm, making the magical blast come closer to Kasumi. Sure enough the nervousness Ranma was displaying increased. He was clearly worried about the brown-haired woman.
"You are as devious as your mother." Pluto said with a smirk. "You had me doubt my course with your intrigues, yet your own body betrays you."
Ranma narrowed his eyes and tensed, but a raised eyebrow from Pluto had him back to his relaxed stance. *Damn it! Why hasn't it happened?*
"Uranus, get up already." Pluto commanded and the blonde Senshi finally managed to regain her feet. She looked a little unsteady still, yet obviously recovering at an accelerated rate. "Give Nova's son a show of our hospitality. I'm certain you're raring to pay him back for beating you up." Uranus glared at Pluto before turning murderously at Ranma. Upon seeing the martial artist narrow his eyes Setsuna's antecessor laughed. "Don't even think about moving a muscle in your defense, boy. Do it and your sweet little Kasumi will die. And please refrain from speaking as well. I grow tired of your lies and my control is starting to slip." She finished making the magical blast pulse.
Ranma grit his teeth and lowered his arms.
As soon as Uranus retrieved her sword she struck, and Ranma cried out in pain when he felt his arms fall uselessly to his sides, completely limp after Uranus cut the muscles and tendons of both his shoulders.
Many were the tales of people being tortured but not screaming in pain. This was no such a tale. Uranus was too good, too experienced, at torturing human beings for it to be the case.
Pluto interrupted Uranus only to have her move Ranma's body to a better vantage point for Setsuna to see how her lover was dealt with. She then enjoyed the show and even dispelled the magical blast after it was obvious the pigtailed martial artist wouldn't be able to fight back.
The cries of pain and the sounds of metal tearing into flesh and bone filled the room. Pluto smirked at Uranus' expertise in inflicting the wounds, at this rate Ranma wouldn't die for hours. Haruka and Kasumi stared in open-mouthed shock at the cruelty displayed, for Uranus went easy on them compared to how she was mutilating Ranma's body.
Trapped in the spell of time Setsuna's concentration was nearly broken when she understood what the blurred images in front of her eyes meant. She continued with her spell with a sense of desperation filling her entire being, yet she was also filled with despair and loss. She knew she wouldn't be fast enough to save her love's life.
END PART 17
Author's notes: And so we come to the end of this chapter. I was going to make it a lot bigger and have the ending right here, but decided against it since I've been very busy and will likely be busy for a while still. The next chapter will conclude with The New Order, though. And I'm working on it to release it as soon as possible.
As you can see these are the events that happen while the other group is fighting in the Negaverse. The person behind the resurrection of Serenity is really the former Sailor Pluto, and Sailor Uranus and Haruka are different people. Nabiki was burned for playing with fire, but even corrupted as she was she wanted to protect Kasumi.
The truth behind all the intrigues will be revealed in the last chapter of The New Order.