Intruder at the Gates 6:
Lost and Alone
After the chaos much like a slumber party dispersed, Sailor Charon approached Setsuna, henshined and cautious. Her fuku was of course opposing to Setsuna's, as was the rest of her.
"Setsuna... it's been so long. I've missed you." She said, hugging Setsuna. Setsuna hugged her back tightly, endearing Charon to her.
"How have you been, Alaura? I've missed you too, more than you know."
"Well, I assume my life is that of a normal Senshi. Oh, I've married! We met two years ago, I hated him at first, but well, in order to hate someone you have to endear them, huh? What about you, I'm sure you have so many stories, yes? Have you found love?"
"Fine, fine. No, I have not found love. I don't want to either. There is no place for love in my life. Being Guardian of Time leaves no room for others." As Setsuna spoke, her heart had become heavy like lead. She suddenly felt her age, old in her ageless time. All of her Senshi thought she was just as old as them, but they were so wrong. They believed that there was no time between their death and their rebirth. But no, not at all. Setsuna had to watch the earth like a growing child. Everything on the Earth, life, had to start over from the VERY beginning. It was awful lonely with out humans, and then when humans were born, it became even lonelier.
Alaura looked at her with a concerned eye. "You're not well are you? Are you, Setsuna?"
Setsuna smiled at her counter part. "I am better now that I have spoken with you, Alaura. I have simply grown tired after my trip. Please excuse me; I'll see you in the 'morrow. Good night." Setsuna said, heading to her chambers. Tears nagged at her eyes and tugged at her heart, tugging on the stone lock that had set itself. As she headed into her room she heard Alaura's voice call after her.
"Setsuna: Do not think me ungrateful for your presence but... why are you here? All of us want to know, but they are too polite to ask. Tell me! Setsuna!" Setsuna shut the door behind her abruptly. She struggled to her bed and let her body fall limp.
{"I'm so weak... I can't kill Alaura... Sailor Charon... she is all that I hold dear to me... all I've ever had... so very weak..."} Setsuna thought as tears leaked down her face. She bit the knuckle of her finger to stop the tears, to stop the pain.
"Even I know that's a lie; you love Duo more than ever. You are strong; I wouldn't have chosen you if you weren't. You are the strongest out their, and your will is unbelievable. You loved your queen and obeyed your unjust punishment for millenniums with out one peep of compliant. That's strength if I've ever seen it." A male voice then said. Setsuna quickly sat up to the intruder, only to see herself. Setsuna fell cold at the new presence.
"Hello Dometry." She said coldly. He smiled in return, gently rubbing her back.
"Don't cry my dove; just remember why you are here. You are here for your final peace." He cooed in her ear, calming her down. Her eyes released their ice and became soft.
"Why Alaura? What has she done in her life to possess your hate?"
Setsuna's double glared, not at her, but at the mention of Sailor Charon's name. "She has evaded me, time and time again."
"How?"
"By defeating my Grim Reaper, over five times. Now Grimmy won't go near her."
"Then doesn't she deserve life?" Setsuna asked, trying desperately to spare the life of her only friend.
"Don't you deserve bliss? Don't you deserve a final peace?" He said, his tone no longer harboring anger or spite, but a concern.
"I... but I..." Setsuna said, words failing to fight for her. She hung her head for a moment, the lifted it, and in her eyes burned determination and pain. "I will." She said finally, her voice stone like and unwavering. Dometry smiled and disappeared. Setsuna rose to her feet, clutched her staff then proceeded to head for the door. As her hand turned to the door knob Dometry's voice stopped her.
"Wait, come here." Setsuna turned around to find him, but he wasn't in sight. "Come to the mirror." Setsuna followed him and almost gasped when she looked in the mirror. It wasn't her reflection, no, it was Dometry's. His actual form was smiling back at her.
"Won't people see you?" Setsuna asked, once again fascinated by his charming looks. He looked so elegant and handsome, sitting on his throne, like a true king. He smiled again.
"No, only through your eyes will you see me. I'll be in any mirror you look; I suggest you find a pocket mirror. I just want you to know, I'm always here with you."
Setsuna smiled bitterly. "I don't know whether I should be happy or frightened. But thank you. We made a deal; I'll hold my end of it." She said, and then walked out of her room and down the magnificent hallway to Alaura's room. Quietly she opened the door and crept in. Alaura was sitting on her bed, legs folded underneath her, arms placidly at her side. All of her ruby black hair was let down, curls tumbling lightly down her back. Her eyes were closed and she didn't move when Setsuna stepped inside, pulling out her staff. Setsuna opened her mouth to announce her presence, but Alaura spoke first.
"I know why you're here; my meditation has shown me." Alaura opened her deep green eyes and pierced Setsuna's garnet eyes. The deep, innocent knowing look of Alaura's eyes pierced Setsuna deeply.
"So tell me," Alaura said, her voice cracking with tears, "Tell me Setsuna: Is this worth it? Is my life worth your eternal happiness?" Tears threatened to spill down Alaura's cheeks. "Is anyone's life worth taking your own? Can't you find happiness within yourself? If not... I cannot begin to tell you... if not... then you can take my life..."
"Alaura..." Setsuna said, tears pouring freely down her face. "I... thank you." She said, her voice cracking. She then stepped forward and kissed Alaura, breathing away Alaura's soul, locking it deep within her own heart. {"Betrayed with a kiss"} Dometry's words spat back at her as Alaura fell limply backwards onto her bed. She was always beautiful; now her beauty was morbid, but still none the less. Her skin was now paler than Setsuna's snow white skin, her eyes open, void of light or life. Setsuna reached forward and closed her eyes, breaking into tears.
Setsuna's sobbing aroused Sailor Phobos from her sleep. Sailor Demos' telepathic link with Phobos woke her up as well. Phobos mentioned for Demos to stay quiet as they approached Alaura's chambers.
"Oh my Goddess..." Phobos said when she saw Setsuna weeping over Alaura's dead body. "How could you..." She began, but couldn't find the words to finish.
"Ren... I..." Setsuna tried to say but the air locked in her throat. Demos then shoved her way passed Phobos. Demos paled at the sight but couldn't say anything.
"Ryuu... Ren, please I..." Setsuna said in between sobs, her chest heaving with every breath and sob. Phobos then henshined, pulling out a sword. Demos then put a hand in front of her, ceasing her actions.
"Ren... let her speak. Setsuna, Senshi of Pluto: Did you kill your guardian, your friend, Alaura of Charon?" Ryuu, Senshi of Demos said. Setsuna drew in a deep breath, pulling herself together.
"Yes." Her voice came out like a frosty breath, void of all emotions. Ryuu paled further, then henshined. In her chartreuse eyes burned a deep hatred.
"You fuckin bitch! How dare you! How dare you come into our palace with all of our welcome and kill your friend!!! We give you our praises, food and shelter, and you kill one of our most powerful Senshi! You bitch!" She screamed, releasing her hold on Ren. Setsuna then rose to her feet and grabbed her time staff.
"You wouldn't understand... so I won't waste time explaining it to you. Just step out of my way and no one else will get hurt." She said, her eyes a cold steel and her words a sharp frost. Ren glared.
"What happened to the garnet orb?" She asked calmly, now holding Ryuu back.
"It has become a part of me. It does not matter. Stand down!" Setsuna snapped, moving into an attack position.
"How can you use the Garnet Orb for evil?" Ren continued, her eyes narrow. Setsuna began to look impatient.
"Evil? Hnn, evil is only in the eye of the beholder, Ren. Now move, or—"
Suddenly five other Senshi ran into the room. Sailor Io, Mimas, Pasiphae, Larissa, and Cressida. Pluto's eye twitched with anger. Ren had been distracting her. Of course all the yelling would get their attention. {"Shit"} Setsuna thought. She readied her staff, prepared for an onslaught...
............................................................................ ...................................................................
Duo sighed. "Where are we? This place is so bleak... what do you think happened?" Usagi sighed, her shoulders slumping.
"I don't know... everything is... destroyed..." Usagi said as she looked around. They had stepped through their fifth portal, one week into their journey. Their portal had led them to a palace, thoroughly destroyed. Bodies were scattered everywhere, Senshi bodies. A great battle had obviously claimed this place. Usagi and Duo knelt beside a body that had begun coughing.
"Who are you? What happened, are you all right?" Usagi asked in a whirl of questions. The girl's eyes widened when she saw Usagi.
"Princess... Serenity? Is it you? I thought I would never see any of you planetary Senshi again... forgive me, I am Sailor Rhea, of a Moon of Saturn. What happened... was..." Tears then rapidly poured from the young girl's eyes. "Sailor Pluto, she... she killed her! She killed her, and then most of us, I don't know who's still alive, I can't move my body Sailor Moon please I'm so scared for them... help us... please, kill Sailor Pluto, she's so evil... a red light came from her chest, it nearly wiped everything out... they're dead Sailor Moon, dead!" They girl cried as she began coughing up blood. Usagi held Sailor Rhea until she died soon after. Usagi stifled back tears as Duo rested a hand on her should.
"Duo, I don't believe it, I won't! Setsuna would never do this, it must be an imposter, I don't believe it Duo! What do I do, how can I help these people?! Duo!" Usagi then broke down into tears. "People are dead Duo, dead!" Duo cradled her in his arms as she cried. He closed his eyes tightly.
{"Setsuna, it couldn't have been you... right? Please tell me I'm right!"} Duo's thought's screamed at himself...
............................................................................ ....................................................................
Setsuna was thrown out of the portal. She landed on the ground and skid a couple of feet until her body hit a rock. She clenched a pocket mirror in her left hand and her orb-less staff in her other. Tears stained her face and her body trebled, wracked with pain. A huge, long gash bled profusely on her right thigh, deep and serious. Her body was covered in cuts scratches and bruises.
She had taken five souls now, five innocent souls. "Tenchi Musaki, Jean Grey, Enki, Sakura Avalon, and now Alaura... plus so many who died in that battle. An innocent boy, a mutant, a holy creature, a guardian, and now a Senshi, my best friend, my only friend. Five people will never live again. Not even the Ginzoushou could revive them. Plus an untellable amount of innocent people who weren't involved." Setsuna said as she lied there crying, trying to move her pain wracked body. Her chest heaving painfully with every breath, Setsuna flipped open the pocket mirror that she had taken from Alaura before the battle and looked in to see what she had expected. Dometry was sitting majestically in his throne, waiting for her response.
"How many more?" She asked in a tearful broken voice. "Please let me be done... please make it be over. Please" Setsuna cried. Dometry's eyes softened for her.
"I am sorry my Dove, there are two more. Only two more, I promise you. Then it will be all over, all the pain, the guilt the anger and heart ache. Just eternal bliss. You've come too far to stop now, now dove. I have already spoken with Heavens; they agree with me, you deserve it. Soon my dove, soon." Dometry cooed to the sobbing woman.
"Through all of this you still love Duo don't you? He is still making you suffer, even when he is not there. Would you like to know where he is, what he is doing? Right now Duo is with Usagi, and they're looking for you; they are looking to kill you. Right now Duo is holding her, holding her until they find you... and kill you." He continued. The image in the mirror then changed to show Duo holding the weeping Usagi over the dead Sailor Rhea.
"Look at the parchment Setsuna. There are only two more names; they will come to you this time."
Setsuna did as she heard and glanced at the parchment. As she watched it two names in blood red scrawled across the center. "Usagi Tsikino and... Duo Maxwell." Setsuna threw herself up into a sitting position, wincing as her leg bled more. She pulled her aching limbs up and looked back into the pocket mirror. The image had changed back to Dometry.
"Why them? Why can't you leave them alone? Let them alone!" Setsuna pleaded. Dometry then looked at her eyes with a soft confusion.
"But I thought you hated Serenity, and that Duo's love for her was causing you so much pain? Isn't that so?" He cooed to her. Setsuna winced, closed her eyes tightly for a moment, then opened one, praying that he wouldn't be in the mirror, that there would be no mirror, all a dream. He was till there, still waiting for an answer.
"Yes... I do... I hate her... but... haven't I done enough? Please, make it stop, let it be over!" Setsuna pleaded. "I don't think I can fight them like this... I've lost so much blood please let it be over..." She begged. Dometry reached out and touched to glass of the mirror, trying to touch her face.
"Your garnet orb... its power saved you from the last battle, it will help you again."
"It won't be enough, it can't defeat the Ginzoushou, nothing can..." Setsuna sobbed.
"Then use your Garnet orb... to wish me there... to where you are. It can; it's powerful enough to do that, and then I will help you fight. But I cannot get there on my own; you have to use the Garnet Orb." His voice sounded almost eager, yet still sympathetic.
"I don't know how... I don't know how..." Setsuna lowered her head, turning away form the image.
Still he spoke: "All you have to do is desire it deeply, more deeply than a desire. I know you can do that. Wish to not be alone, wish that I was there with you."
Setsuna then looked back at the mirror in her hand and lightly shook her head. "But I don't want you here with me... not now. I want to do this... alone... If I need you, I will call upon you. If they will come to me, I will wait here and recover my strength. Please, leave me alone until then..." Setsuna said, heaving her last breath as she closed Alaura's mirror.
Alaura... she could hear all five of them speaking to her... all five of them talking to her in her head.
"Setsuna, you can end this yourself. You can get out of this, just stop killing." Alaura's voice softly sifted in over the din of Setsuna's thoughts.
"No... I've come too far to turn back now..." Setsuna said aloud.
"It's never too late. Just turn back now Setie-chan. Please, we don't matter anymore, but Serenity is your queen, and D—"
"Some queen she is!" Setsuna spat out. Alaura's voice then disappeared. A dull silence hushed over Setsuna. She then inhaled deeply and held her breath, seizing her Time Staff and hoisting herself up to her feet. She leaned on her staff as a crutch for her wounded leg. Feeling her hand grow weaker Setsuna pulled the brooch off of her Senshi fuku and replaced it with the mirror of Alaura. {"In memory of you, my friend."} She thought. And there, leaning on her Time Staff as a crutch, Setsuna waited for them...
............................................................................ ........................................................
A.N.: Okay all; we are coming on the last chapter! Wooooooooooooottt!!!!! I have never gotten this far, I'm so excited! To all of my loyal reviewers, I am so proud of you! Thankies to all of you! And to those of you who stopped reviewing and are just free loading on my story, go to hell. But we aren't talking to you. What, you miss us? Tough noogies! Woot, I'm getting nervous here! Wow, I have expanded my Microsoft dictionary by sooooo much, you have no idea! Okay, just review and love me, t's all I ask! Your reviews have been very nice to me. Thankies to all! Please, more reviews! I have the LAST chapter, all typed up and pretty! I can't wait, I'll throw it up on Thursday, promise! Gotta have enough time for all reviews to come in after all. Oh god, I am so excited. And I would love this story to be considered an epic, but you reviewers are the ones who decide that. Wow, my first finished fic... wow. Well, bye all!
Lost and Alone
After the chaos much like a slumber party dispersed, Sailor Charon approached Setsuna, henshined and cautious. Her fuku was of course opposing to Setsuna's, as was the rest of her.
"Setsuna... it's been so long. I've missed you." She said, hugging Setsuna. Setsuna hugged her back tightly, endearing Charon to her.
"How have you been, Alaura? I've missed you too, more than you know."
"Well, I assume my life is that of a normal Senshi. Oh, I've married! We met two years ago, I hated him at first, but well, in order to hate someone you have to endear them, huh? What about you, I'm sure you have so many stories, yes? Have you found love?"
"Fine, fine. No, I have not found love. I don't want to either. There is no place for love in my life. Being Guardian of Time leaves no room for others." As Setsuna spoke, her heart had become heavy like lead. She suddenly felt her age, old in her ageless time. All of her Senshi thought she was just as old as them, but they were so wrong. They believed that there was no time between their death and their rebirth. But no, not at all. Setsuna had to watch the earth like a growing child. Everything on the Earth, life, had to start over from the VERY beginning. It was awful lonely with out humans, and then when humans were born, it became even lonelier.
Alaura looked at her with a concerned eye. "You're not well are you? Are you, Setsuna?"
Setsuna smiled at her counter part. "I am better now that I have spoken with you, Alaura. I have simply grown tired after my trip. Please excuse me; I'll see you in the 'morrow. Good night." Setsuna said, heading to her chambers. Tears nagged at her eyes and tugged at her heart, tugging on the stone lock that had set itself. As she headed into her room she heard Alaura's voice call after her.
"Setsuna: Do not think me ungrateful for your presence but... why are you here? All of us want to know, but they are too polite to ask. Tell me! Setsuna!" Setsuna shut the door behind her abruptly. She struggled to her bed and let her body fall limp.
{"I'm so weak... I can't kill Alaura... Sailor Charon... she is all that I hold dear to me... all I've ever had... so very weak..."} Setsuna thought as tears leaked down her face. She bit the knuckle of her finger to stop the tears, to stop the pain.
"Even I know that's a lie; you love Duo more than ever. You are strong; I wouldn't have chosen you if you weren't. You are the strongest out their, and your will is unbelievable. You loved your queen and obeyed your unjust punishment for millenniums with out one peep of compliant. That's strength if I've ever seen it." A male voice then said. Setsuna quickly sat up to the intruder, only to see herself. Setsuna fell cold at the new presence.
"Hello Dometry." She said coldly. He smiled in return, gently rubbing her back.
"Don't cry my dove; just remember why you are here. You are here for your final peace." He cooed in her ear, calming her down. Her eyes released their ice and became soft.
"Why Alaura? What has she done in her life to possess your hate?"
Setsuna's double glared, not at her, but at the mention of Sailor Charon's name. "She has evaded me, time and time again."
"How?"
"By defeating my Grim Reaper, over five times. Now Grimmy won't go near her."
"Then doesn't she deserve life?" Setsuna asked, trying desperately to spare the life of her only friend.
"Don't you deserve bliss? Don't you deserve a final peace?" He said, his tone no longer harboring anger or spite, but a concern.
"I... but I..." Setsuna said, words failing to fight for her. She hung her head for a moment, the lifted it, and in her eyes burned determination and pain. "I will." She said finally, her voice stone like and unwavering. Dometry smiled and disappeared. Setsuna rose to her feet, clutched her staff then proceeded to head for the door. As her hand turned to the door knob Dometry's voice stopped her.
"Wait, come here." Setsuna turned around to find him, but he wasn't in sight. "Come to the mirror." Setsuna followed him and almost gasped when she looked in the mirror. It wasn't her reflection, no, it was Dometry's. His actual form was smiling back at her.
"Won't people see you?" Setsuna asked, once again fascinated by his charming looks. He looked so elegant and handsome, sitting on his throne, like a true king. He smiled again.
"No, only through your eyes will you see me. I'll be in any mirror you look; I suggest you find a pocket mirror. I just want you to know, I'm always here with you."
Setsuna smiled bitterly. "I don't know whether I should be happy or frightened. But thank you. We made a deal; I'll hold my end of it." She said, and then walked out of her room and down the magnificent hallway to Alaura's room. Quietly she opened the door and crept in. Alaura was sitting on her bed, legs folded underneath her, arms placidly at her side. All of her ruby black hair was let down, curls tumbling lightly down her back. Her eyes were closed and she didn't move when Setsuna stepped inside, pulling out her staff. Setsuna opened her mouth to announce her presence, but Alaura spoke first.
"I know why you're here; my meditation has shown me." Alaura opened her deep green eyes and pierced Setsuna's garnet eyes. The deep, innocent knowing look of Alaura's eyes pierced Setsuna deeply.
"So tell me," Alaura said, her voice cracking with tears, "Tell me Setsuna: Is this worth it? Is my life worth your eternal happiness?" Tears threatened to spill down Alaura's cheeks. "Is anyone's life worth taking your own? Can't you find happiness within yourself? If not... I cannot begin to tell you... if not... then you can take my life..."
"Alaura..." Setsuna said, tears pouring freely down her face. "I... thank you." She said, her voice cracking. She then stepped forward and kissed Alaura, breathing away Alaura's soul, locking it deep within her own heart. {"Betrayed with a kiss"} Dometry's words spat back at her as Alaura fell limply backwards onto her bed. She was always beautiful; now her beauty was morbid, but still none the less. Her skin was now paler than Setsuna's snow white skin, her eyes open, void of light or life. Setsuna reached forward and closed her eyes, breaking into tears.
Setsuna's sobbing aroused Sailor Phobos from her sleep. Sailor Demos' telepathic link with Phobos woke her up as well. Phobos mentioned for Demos to stay quiet as they approached Alaura's chambers.
"Oh my Goddess..." Phobos said when she saw Setsuna weeping over Alaura's dead body. "How could you..." She began, but couldn't find the words to finish.
"Ren... I..." Setsuna tried to say but the air locked in her throat. Demos then shoved her way passed Phobos. Demos paled at the sight but couldn't say anything.
"Ryuu... Ren, please I..." Setsuna said in between sobs, her chest heaving with every breath and sob. Phobos then henshined, pulling out a sword. Demos then put a hand in front of her, ceasing her actions.
"Ren... let her speak. Setsuna, Senshi of Pluto: Did you kill your guardian, your friend, Alaura of Charon?" Ryuu, Senshi of Demos said. Setsuna drew in a deep breath, pulling herself together.
"Yes." Her voice came out like a frosty breath, void of all emotions. Ryuu paled further, then henshined. In her chartreuse eyes burned a deep hatred.
"You fuckin bitch! How dare you! How dare you come into our palace with all of our welcome and kill your friend!!! We give you our praises, food and shelter, and you kill one of our most powerful Senshi! You bitch!" She screamed, releasing her hold on Ren. Setsuna then rose to her feet and grabbed her time staff.
"You wouldn't understand... so I won't waste time explaining it to you. Just step out of my way and no one else will get hurt." She said, her eyes a cold steel and her words a sharp frost. Ren glared.
"What happened to the garnet orb?" She asked calmly, now holding Ryuu back.
"It has become a part of me. It does not matter. Stand down!" Setsuna snapped, moving into an attack position.
"How can you use the Garnet Orb for evil?" Ren continued, her eyes narrow. Setsuna began to look impatient.
"Evil? Hnn, evil is only in the eye of the beholder, Ren. Now move, or—"
Suddenly five other Senshi ran into the room. Sailor Io, Mimas, Pasiphae, Larissa, and Cressida. Pluto's eye twitched with anger. Ren had been distracting her. Of course all the yelling would get their attention. {"Shit"} Setsuna thought. She readied her staff, prepared for an onslaught...
............................................................................ ...................................................................
Duo sighed. "Where are we? This place is so bleak... what do you think happened?" Usagi sighed, her shoulders slumping.
"I don't know... everything is... destroyed..." Usagi said as she looked around. They had stepped through their fifth portal, one week into their journey. Their portal had led them to a palace, thoroughly destroyed. Bodies were scattered everywhere, Senshi bodies. A great battle had obviously claimed this place. Usagi and Duo knelt beside a body that had begun coughing.
"Who are you? What happened, are you all right?" Usagi asked in a whirl of questions. The girl's eyes widened when she saw Usagi.
"Princess... Serenity? Is it you? I thought I would never see any of you planetary Senshi again... forgive me, I am Sailor Rhea, of a Moon of Saturn. What happened... was..." Tears then rapidly poured from the young girl's eyes. "Sailor Pluto, she... she killed her! She killed her, and then most of us, I don't know who's still alive, I can't move my body Sailor Moon please I'm so scared for them... help us... please, kill Sailor Pluto, she's so evil... a red light came from her chest, it nearly wiped everything out... they're dead Sailor Moon, dead!" They girl cried as she began coughing up blood. Usagi held Sailor Rhea until she died soon after. Usagi stifled back tears as Duo rested a hand on her should.
"Duo, I don't believe it, I won't! Setsuna would never do this, it must be an imposter, I don't believe it Duo! What do I do, how can I help these people?! Duo!" Usagi then broke down into tears. "People are dead Duo, dead!" Duo cradled her in his arms as she cried. He closed his eyes tightly.
{"Setsuna, it couldn't have been you... right? Please tell me I'm right!"} Duo's thought's screamed at himself...
............................................................................ ....................................................................
Setsuna was thrown out of the portal. She landed on the ground and skid a couple of feet until her body hit a rock. She clenched a pocket mirror in her left hand and her orb-less staff in her other. Tears stained her face and her body trebled, wracked with pain. A huge, long gash bled profusely on her right thigh, deep and serious. Her body was covered in cuts scratches and bruises.
She had taken five souls now, five innocent souls. "Tenchi Musaki, Jean Grey, Enki, Sakura Avalon, and now Alaura... plus so many who died in that battle. An innocent boy, a mutant, a holy creature, a guardian, and now a Senshi, my best friend, my only friend. Five people will never live again. Not even the Ginzoushou could revive them. Plus an untellable amount of innocent people who weren't involved." Setsuna said as she lied there crying, trying to move her pain wracked body. Her chest heaving painfully with every breath, Setsuna flipped open the pocket mirror that she had taken from Alaura before the battle and looked in to see what she had expected. Dometry was sitting majestically in his throne, waiting for her response.
"How many more?" She asked in a tearful broken voice. "Please let me be done... please make it be over. Please" Setsuna cried. Dometry's eyes softened for her.
"I am sorry my Dove, there are two more. Only two more, I promise you. Then it will be all over, all the pain, the guilt the anger and heart ache. Just eternal bliss. You've come too far to stop now, now dove. I have already spoken with Heavens; they agree with me, you deserve it. Soon my dove, soon." Dometry cooed to the sobbing woman.
"Through all of this you still love Duo don't you? He is still making you suffer, even when he is not there. Would you like to know where he is, what he is doing? Right now Duo is with Usagi, and they're looking for you; they are looking to kill you. Right now Duo is holding her, holding her until they find you... and kill you." He continued. The image in the mirror then changed to show Duo holding the weeping Usagi over the dead Sailor Rhea.
"Look at the parchment Setsuna. There are only two more names; they will come to you this time."
Setsuna did as she heard and glanced at the parchment. As she watched it two names in blood red scrawled across the center. "Usagi Tsikino and... Duo Maxwell." Setsuna threw herself up into a sitting position, wincing as her leg bled more. She pulled her aching limbs up and looked back into the pocket mirror. The image had changed back to Dometry.
"Why them? Why can't you leave them alone? Let them alone!" Setsuna pleaded. Dometry then looked at her eyes with a soft confusion.
"But I thought you hated Serenity, and that Duo's love for her was causing you so much pain? Isn't that so?" He cooed to her. Setsuna winced, closed her eyes tightly for a moment, then opened one, praying that he wouldn't be in the mirror, that there would be no mirror, all a dream. He was till there, still waiting for an answer.
"Yes... I do... I hate her... but... haven't I done enough? Please, make it stop, let it be over!" Setsuna pleaded. "I don't think I can fight them like this... I've lost so much blood please let it be over..." She begged. Dometry reached out and touched to glass of the mirror, trying to touch her face.
"Your garnet orb... its power saved you from the last battle, it will help you again."
"It won't be enough, it can't defeat the Ginzoushou, nothing can..." Setsuna sobbed.
"Then use your Garnet orb... to wish me there... to where you are. It can; it's powerful enough to do that, and then I will help you fight. But I cannot get there on my own; you have to use the Garnet Orb." His voice sounded almost eager, yet still sympathetic.
"I don't know how... I don't know how..." Setsuna lowered her head, turning away form the image.
Still he spoke: "All you have to do is desire it deeply, more deeply than a desire. I know you can do that. Wish to not be alone, wish that I was there with you."
Setsuna then looked back at the mirror in her hand and lightly shook her head. "But I don't want you here with me... not now. I want to do this... alone... If I need you, I will call upon you. If they will come to me, I will wait here and recover my strength. Please, leave me alone until then..." Setsuna said, heaving her last breath as she closed Alaura's mirror.
Alaura... she could hear all five of them speaking to her... all five of them talking to her in her head.
"Setsuna, you can end this yourself. You can get out of this, just stop killing." Alaura's voice softly sifted in over the din of Setsuna's thoughts.
"No... I've come too far to turn back now..." Setsuna said aloud.
"It's never too late. Just turn back now Setie-chan. Please, we don't matter anymore, but Serenity is your queen, and D—"
"Some queen she is!" Setsuna spat out. Alaura's voice then disappeared. A dull silence hushed over Setsuna. She then inhaled deeply and held her breath, seizing her Time Staff and hoisting herself up to her feet. She leaned on her staff as a crutch for her wounded leg. Feeling her hand grow weaker Setsuna pulled the brooch off of her Senshi fuku and replaced it with the mirror of Alaura. {"In memory of you, my friend."} She thought. And there, leaning on her Time Staff as a crutch, Setsuna waited for them...
............................................................................ ........................................................
A.N.: Okay all; we are coming on the last chapter! Wooooooooooooottt!!!!! I have never gotten this far, I'm so excited! To all of my loyal reviewers, I am so proud of you! Thankies to all of you! And to those of you who stopped reviewing and are just free loading on my story, go to hell. But we aren't talking to you. What, you miss us? Tough noogies! Woot, I'm getting nervous here! Wow, I have expanded my Microsoft dictionary by sooooo much, you have no idea! Okay, just review and love me, t's all I ask! Your reviews have been very nice to me. Thankies to all! Please, more reviews! I have the LAST chapter, all typed up and pretty! I can't wait, I'll throw it up on Thursday, promise! Gotta have enough time for all reviews to come in after all. Oh god, I am so excited. And I would love this story to be considered an epic, but you reviewers are the ones who decide that. Wow, my first finished fic... wow. Well, bye all!