Author's Note:
This is a sequel to Angelic Embrace. I thought about doing it, but I didn't until someone told me they thought a sequel was possible. You will really want to read the first one to find out what's going on.
As we all know the names of the Senshi, there's no need to go there, except to say that I use the Japanese names.
For a review, I'll list the names of the Shitennou:
Keagan Kris MacNeal (Kunzite)
Nick Michael Canter (Nephrite)
Jace Daniel Taencer (Jadeite)
Zale James Indiano (Zoisite)
You can contact me at Guardian4@cox.net.
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The Last Journey
Chapter 13: Chariots of Fire
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It was as Mars was relating her vision to her comrades when the alarms of the Crystal Palace went on full blast, nearly shattering everyone's hearing. Blessing their luck that they were already transformed, the Senshi rushed to the Shitennou in the security room.
"What the hell is going on?" demanded Venus. "As far as I can see, nothing has attacked Crystal Tokyo. There are no yelling, screaming, cursing, blasts—"
"That's because that alarm isn't for the safety of the Palace, but for outside threats."
Venus whirled around as the Outers made their appearance. "When did Mercury put that in? And why wasn't I notified?"
"Mercury didn't put it in, Pluto did, when you were at that World Council thing," Uranus explained grimly. "I just didn't think of it to tell you, in light of everything else that has been going on."
"So a threat is approaching the Earth? But Demando is already here," protested Jupiter.
"Demando may be, but if what my vision says is true, his compatriots are not. That may be them, with force," Mars interjected. Her violet eyes were shadowed and worried, she alone knowing the full force of fear that she had felt during that vision. The others…why she may have told them, they did not feel it like she had. She had been there, knew what it had felt like to hear it from Mercury's own lips and to see with her own eyes. She did not think the horror of that vision would be leaving her any time soon.
"Are they here yet, Zoisite?"
Zoisite touched a number of keys and relayed to his superior, "No. They're nearing the planet, but they haven't entered the atmosphere yet."
"Can you tell how many ships may be out there?" questioned Jadeite, leaning over the other blonde's shoulder.
"No, not yet. The satellites surrounding Earth just aren't equipped enough to tell that. If we had some of our technology up there, maybe we would be able to tell. Maybe. We'll just have to wait until they hit atmo to find out."
"I hate waiting," Nephrite said in the ensuing silence.
~~~
"Reports are coming in from all over the globe of giant spaceships landing. Many people have described hard to believe things: fire shooting from the palms of those who came from the ships, black lightning rains down on cities. Civilians and loved ones collapsing for no reason, as if their very energy were being taken from them. Such things have never been recorded before and are unheard of in this day and age. Self proclaimed witches are theorizing that we are unequipped for such an assault. All except the newly recognized Crystal Tokyo. The governments are maintaining that they are able to deal with this threat and—"
Serenity and Endymion exchanged glances as the screen flickered from the newscast man to a face that though they didn't know, they feared. An upturned, black crescent moon sat on his forehead like a beacon and the smile he gave was cold.
"People of Earth, I am Prince Demando from the Black Moon. You have held your dying planet in your clutches long enough, destroying it. I plan to revitalize it…with the help of Neo Queen Serenity." As if he was looking straight at her, he said, "My dear Queen, please wait for me. I will be there soon and we shall rule this Earth and make it green and wondrous again."
Serenity's hand sought and found her husband's. She couldn't help her trembling, after hearing about Rei's vision three days ago. Could it be possible that he had enough power to accomplish his goal?
"You know that the other countries will think that this is what you were planning," Endymion murmured as he switched off the TV.
"Endymion?"
He looked at her when her soft voice drew his attention. Her deep blue eyes were wide with fear and her hand gripped his tightly. "What is it, Serenity?" he whispered, holding her close.
"You won't…you won't let what Rei saw come true, will you?"
"Never. We'll be together forever, us and Chibiusa."
She took a deep breath and managed to say, "Then I can deal with this. I can."
~~~
Venus and her Senshi contingent entered the room first, with wary eyes at all they saw. It was not three hours ago that Venus had sent the Outers to find out what they could about the extent of Demando's army.
Serenity and Endymion entered next, with the Shitennou behind them. Though it had broken their hearts to do it, they had left their daughter with Serenity's parents. They had then proceeded to hide her family securely.
All of the eight warriors were armed to the teeth and made no effort to hide it. The Senshi's wings were out and ready, the Shitennou's weapons within easy reach of their hands. The leaders of the various countries watched them silently as they stood in the center of the circular room.
Finally the US president spoke, "Do you know what this is all about? What do these people want?"
"Mars?"
At Endymion's unspoken request, the Soldier of War told in painstaking detail what she had seen. Though her face didn't change, and though she held herself stiffly, it was obvious to everyone there that what she was saying bothered her a great deal. When her voice faded off, no one's picked up.
"So you see what will happen if they are not stopped," Endymion told them.
"But how do we stop these…invaders?" demanded the French president. "They…they can…"
"They can use magic," Serenity supplied gravely. "The only way we can protect and win the Earth back from them, is to combine every single countries' armies and weapons and fight together. Crystal Tokyo will fight the Black Moon with or without help, but…we will not be able to win against them. There are only the Senshi, Shitennou, and my and Endymion's magic against them."
"What can we do to fight them, if the entire world except those you mentioned doesn't have magic?" questioned Spain's leader.
"From what we can tell from Mars' vision," Endymion continued, "their entire army seems to be 'droids', not humans and they cannot use magic. It seems that the only ones that can are Demando and the contingent nearest to his rank. As of this moment, the other four Senshi are observing just how many Demando has under his command. If the supposition is correct, and only a few in high ranks have magic, then it is somewhat simpler, though still hard. The Senshi and Shitennou can target those magical forces, while the armies of the world, including Crystal Tokyo's, can fight the droids. Serenity and I will target Demando himself."
"What special magic do you have?"
The leaders exchanged glances at the British Prime Minister's question. They had never actually told any of the leaders just what the Ginzuishou and the Golden Crystal were capable of.
"We have something that can stop him, but it difficult to explain," temporized Endymion.
Just as an outbreak of questions hit them at the evasion to the question, the entire building shook. Protectors threw themselves on their charges all around the room as a hail of brick, mortar, and steel rained down from an explosion in the wall.
"So there you are, my dear Serenity."
The sudden wind that had accompanied the explosion died quickly, as if it feared the group levitating into the room. Venus motioned towards her Senshi and the Soldiers quickly jumped up to attack the newcomers.
"Star Children!" The beams and stars of Venus' attack burst from her hands as she held her arms tightly to her sides. Disappearing from surrounding her, they burst through the air toward Demando.
A man wearing white slacks and a dark cobalt jacket blocked it. His sapphire hair was short and bounced around his startling features as he glared at her, standing in front of Demando. Venus growled in anger.
"Diamond Dust!"
Sparkles of ice blue light circled Mercury's form. Her hand rose above her head and an ice corridor appeared around the four. Barely jumping out of the way, a column of ice formed in the center and shot up. Mercury brought her arm down in a horizontal arc and a thin blast of blue light erupted in its wake, flying unerringly at the ice column and shattering it.
Spiky red hair and deep garnet eyes glared at her as he blocked the attack toward his leader. He wore a bright red vest with hunter green pants. Black boots reached his calves and crunched on the slowly disappearing magical ice. Mercury stared on in shock.
"Thunder God!"
"Final Burst!"
Jupiter's tiara extended; her fist crackled with lightning and she thrust it toward the ceiling. Lightning and wind flew down and struck it. Her body was encased in lightning and lifted four feet above the ground. She jerked her body from her fetal position and thrust her palm towards her monarchs' enemies.
Fire flamed at Mars' back, replacing her wings temporarily, and encasing her in an eggshell. She lowered herself down on one knee, as if kneeling in front of a monarch and fire swept in horizontal and vertical angles. She stood up slowly and twirled five times, faster each time. The fire at her back burst toward her opponents.
The lightning and fire intertwined into one cohesive blast and with the destruction left in its wake, both Senshi were sure that they must have gotten at least on of them, if not Demando himself.
But when the dust settled, a woman in a green mini-dress and a pink veil laughed at them. Her light green hair fell to her waist and she flipped it over her shoulder haughtily.
"Impossible," Jupiter muttered in shock.
And through it all, Demando did not even blink.
With a rallying cry, the Senshi burst forth in a flurry of movement and the three other fighters met them head on. Demando walked unhurriedly toward the Shitennou and Serenity and Endymion. He held out his hand toward the Queen in white, saying, "My dear Serenity, please come with me. Our marriage ceremony will be renowned for eternity."
Nephrite slammed his fist onto Demando's jaw, using the sheer shock of the prince to his advantage. "In case you hadn't known, here's a news flash: She's already married."
Demando rubbed his jaw and a sickly smile touched his lips. Nephrite didn't even have a moment to comprehend that when he was flying backward through the air. He landed hard on the ground next to the US president, who cowered behind his secret service agents.
At that moment, a few leaders attempted to leave, but they found droids at all the exits.
"I don't think you'll be leaving," Demando told them conversationally.
Kunzite, Jadeite, and Zoisite drew their swords, the bright sunlight glinting off their armor and white uniforms. Nephrite drew himself up to his feet, panting slightly, and gripped his weapon.
"There is no way you're leaving with Serenity," hissed Kunzite, his voice still managing to overpower the battles going on with the Senshi and Demando's followers. "She's married to Endymion and his happy where she is."
Demando shook his head. "I'm afraid she'll be a widow within three minutes."
Jadeite saw red and thrust his sword at Demando's heart, but the surprise of an attack had worn off with Nephrite's punch. The prince neatly slammed a fist in Jadeite's stomach and knocked the blade from the King's hand. "Don't ever attack me again," he whispered in his ear as a ball of black lightning knocked him back.
"Demando, leave now."
Suddenly all battles ended and there was silence as the Black Moon prince stared at Endymion and Serenity. Both held glowing crystals in their hands and stared at him.
Demando just smirked. "I don't think so. What can your crystals do to me?"
Simultaneous blasts of silver and gold flew toward him, but a shield held off most of the damage. Serenity and Endymion didn't let up, and kept pouring on the power despite worried protests from their friends.
In order to prevent Demando's followers from going to his aid, the Senshi engaged them again in a fierce battle, knowing the only way to stop their friends from pouring so much power and dying as a result was to end the battle as quickly as possible. Perhaps if Demando knew his comrades could not come to his aid…
"You're power cannot defeat me!"
With a spell of his own, the magical battle became a contest of wills. Jadeite dragged himself to his feet and the Shitennou surrounded the couple, adding their own power, but also dividing it evenly so Endymion and Serenity wouldn't die because their body overloading with power.
With now not only two people, but five against him, Demando called to his friends only to find them beaten back by the Senshi. Left with no alternative except to die, if he stayed, the prince called a retreat.
Silence reigned in the destroyed room.
Kunzite caught Endymion and Zoisite caught Serenity when the King and Queen collapsed in exhaustion.
~~~
End Chapter 13.
I'm really sorry that this came out so late…I've been extremely busy and just didn't have the time to spare until now. Thanks for reading the story this far! More action coming up as well as an entire planet war!