Opposing Protectors
Disclaimer: You all know what goes here.
AN: I am still grateful to all my reviewers for taking precious time out of their day to read my fanfic...Thank You!
Chapter 9: A New Problem
Akuma had been watching the scene unfold before him and he did not like what he was seeing. He was not impressed at all. The Senshi had overcome his challenge and had been reunited with each other. The fact that they had managed to survive his specially chosen environments, ones that he had been so sure would have destroyed them after wearing them down, filled him with rage. Keeping true to his word, now that they were reunited, he brought them to his domain. Within moments his enemies were standing before him, slightly confused at the sudden change of scenery.
"I must say that I'm surprised you actually made it through and survived my challenge."
The room brightened slightly as Akuma raised the lighting level (through his magic), and the group got a better look at their surroundings. Imara, of course, was relaying all this information to Michelle who couldn't look at their surroundings. They looked towards Akuma, waiting to see what he was going to do next, when they noticed that slightly behind him was Serena, still hung by her arms and unconscious.
"Serena!" they all chorused in unison.
"Ah, so you've noticed my little power supply. Well, guess what? Her time is now up! I had intended to keep her in order to use the Crystal, but unfortunately destroying you is going to take more energy than I originally thought. I guess I'll just have to rule Nagare'boshi without the Silver Crystal."
As he said this, they noticed the rope that bound Serena's hands together started glowing. Rini, who had been drifting in and out of consciousness much like her mother had been, was now awake and tried to summon her Crystal, despite how weak she felt already. Unfortunately, her efforts came too late, for she started to disappear and was gone within only a few minutes. The bonds around Serena's wrists also began to fade away and she fell to the ground.
Akuma had planned on attacking immediately, but he decided that he would rather watch their pain and suffering of losing their loved ones first, so he did nothing for now.
Darien, meanwhile, had run over to Serena's side, trying to deny what he knew to be true through their connection...Serena was dead. He grabbed her in his arms and tried to tell her to wake up. Akuma broke out in laughter at his futile attempts. The Sailor Senshi just stood there in silence, shock and horror, tears filling their eyes. They refused to believe that Serena was dead. Finally getting bored, Akuma took advantage of their distressed state and started firing energy blasts at them from the Silver Crystal. He figured that if his power source was gone, then he would at least have fun before his reserves ran out.
Darien was completely oblivious to the danger that the Senshi were in. He was lost in his own world of pain and despair; Serena was gone. The most important person in his life, the only person who filled his life with joy, the one who made his life complete...she was gone. He held her body close to his chest while he silently cried, letting all his tears fall freely onto her soft golden hair.
"Serena, don't leave me. You can't. You can't leave me alone like this. Please Serena, please come back to me." he kept muttering to himself. Then he gave into the pain, sorrow and frustration. "SERENA!!!!!"
With a brilliant flash of light, the Silver Crystal left Akuma and appeared above the tragedy stuck couple. As it did so, Darien's body began to glow with a bright goldish hue, which spread to surround Serena's body as well. When the intense brightness faded somewhat, allowing the others to see again, they noticed also that the two of them were now in their past forms of Serenity and Endymion while they themselves had returned to Senshi form. Seiya was not excluded from this, and she was once again Sailor Star Fighter. The glowing did not completely dissipate until another few minutes had passed. They all looked on in wonder (even Akuma) as they tried to figure out what was happening. When the glowing did fade away, they were all shocked to see Serenity open her eyes and wake up, at which point Rini also reappeared as Sailor Chibi Moon.
"Endymion?" she whispered, slightly confused by her surroundings.
"Welcome back, my love. Now lets finish this." he said as he helped her to her feet.
With his power over the Crystal broken, the seal he had placed on Kakuu, Taiki and Yaten was also broken, allowing the three ladies to join in the fight as well.
In an act of desperation, Akuma let out a fury of attacks, which the Stars and Senshi easily dodged, having also received an energy boost from the Silver Crystal. They joined together to provide Serenity and Endymion (who were standing slightly ahead of the others) with their powers, allowing Serenity to combine all of their strength into one attack. The last thing Akuma heard was Serenity calling out her attack: "MOON CRYSTAL POWER!"
Sitting up so as to get their bearings, the large group was surprised to find themselves in Kakuu's palace on Nagare'boshi. Kakuu went to a window to see what was happening outside. To her surprise, the people were out in the streets celebrating the defeat of Akuma and enjoying the bright sunny day. She relayed this to the others with a tone of relief in her voice. The Starlights were glad and relieved to hear this as they and the others detransformed. The Sailor Senshi, however, were more worried about Serena and Darien, whom had also reverted back to their normal selves. They were alive, miraculously, but were weak and unconscious from over- exerting their energy.
"Taiki, Yaten, take them to our guest rooms so that they might sleep it off. And then meet us in my dining room." Kakuu instructed the two women. "As for the rest of you, follow me and we will get something to eat and I will send for a doctor to give us all a quick check up and to examine Michelle."
"Thank you." Michelle said quietly.
"Princess, if I may please have your permission to go and help Taiki and Yaten, I'd like to help them get those two settled in." Seiya was still in male form, for that was his form when he had transformed on Earth. He had not changed back yet.
"Of course Seiya, go."
So Seiya left and took off after the other two while the rest of them continued on towards Kakuu's private dinning room. Imara and Trista glared at Seiya as he left. Michelle would have done the same if it were not for her sight problem.
Due to the society's unstable nature before Akuma's attack, Kakuu had spent very little time fixing up her palace, so it was very humble looking and not highly decorated right now. She had the necessary rooms set up and that was about it. This proved to be a problem in finding a room for Serena and Darien. There was nothing really available, so Taiki and Yaten ended up placing them in separate rooms (for the time being) that were right across the hall from each other.
After making their charges comfortable, Taiki and Yaten went to join the others for a well deserved meal. Seiya on the other hand, decided to stay behind. He slipped into Serena's room and took up vigil by her side. About half an hour later, Serena woke up and looked around at her surroundings. She quickly noticed Seiya who had moved over closer to her upon seeing her move.
"Where am I?" were the first words out of her mouth.
"You're in one of the guest rooms in Kakuu's palace." Or lack there of Seiya though to himself.
"And who are you?" she asked as she stared at him blankly.
"Very funny. You can't say you don't recognize me this time." he said thinking back to the first time they met.
"I'm sorry but I don't. Have we met before?"
"Serena, cut it out!"
She continued to stare blankly at him.
"Fine, be that way. I'm Seiya you're Serena and we're good friends."
"Serena?" Now she just looked confused.
"Serena, what is it? What's wrong?" he asked, a little confused by her reactions.
Tears were welling up in her eyes and she began to panic as she said: "I don't know who I am. I can't remember anything!
Disclaimer: You all know what goes here.
AN: I am still grateful to all my reviewers for taking precious time out of their day to read my fanfic...Thank You!
Chapter 9: A New Problem
Akuma had been watching the scene unfold before him and he did not like what he was seeing. He was not impressed at all. The Senshi had overcome his challenge and had been reunited with each other. The fact that they had managed to survive his specially chosen environments, ones that he had been so sure would have destroyed them after wearing them down, filled him with rage. Keeping true to his word, now that they were reunited, he brought them to his domain. Within moments his enemies were standing before him, slightly confused at the sudden change of scenery.
"I must say that I'm surprised you actually made it through and survived my challenge."
The room brightened slightly as Akuma raised the lighting level (through his magic), and the group got a better look at their surroundings. Imara, of course, was relaying all this information to Michelle who couldn't look at their surroundings. They looked towards Akuma, waiting to see what he was going to do next, when they noticed that slightly behind him was Serena, still hung by her arms and unconscious.
"Serena!" they all chorused in unison.
"Ah, so you've noticed my little power supply. Well, guess what? Her time is now up! I had intended to keep her in order to use the Crystal, but unfortunately destroying you is going to take more energy than I originally thought. I guess I'll just have to rule Nagare'boshi without the Silver Crystal."
As he said this, they noticed the rope that bound Serena's hands together started glowing. Rini, who had been drifting in and out of consciousness much like her mother had been, was now awake and tried to summon her Crystal, despite how weak she felt already. Unfortunately, her efforts came too late, for she started to disappear and was gone within only a few minutes. The bonds around Serena's wrists also began to fade away and she fell to the ground.
Akuma had planned on attacking immediately, but he decided that he would rather watch their pain and suffering of losing their loved ones first, so he did nothing for now.
Darien, meanwhile, had run over to Serena's side, trying to deny what he knew to be true through their connection...Serena was dead. He grabbed her in his arms and tried to tell her to wake up. Akuma broke out in laughter at his futile attempts. The Sailor Senshi just stood there in silence, shock and horror, tears filling their eyes. They refused to believe that Serena was dead. Finally getting bored, Akuma took advantage of their distressed state and started firing energy blasts at them from the Silver Crystal. He figured that if his power source was gone, then he would at least have fun before his reserves ran out.
Darien was completely oblivious to the danger that the Senshi were in. He was lost in his own world of pain and despair; Serena was gone. The most important person in his life, the only person who filled his life with joy, the one who made his life complete...she was gone. He held her body close to his chest while he silently cried, letting all his tears fall freely onto her soft golden hair.
"Serena, don't leave me. You can't. You can't leave me alone like this. Please Serena, please come back to me." he kept muttering to himself. Then he gave into the pain, sorrow and frustration. "SERENA!!!!!"
With a brilliant flash of light, the Silver Crystal left Akuma and appeared above the tragedy stuck couple. As it did so, Darien's body began to glow with a bright goldish hue, which spread to surround Serena's body as well. When the intense brightness faded somewhat, allowing the others to see again, they noticed also that the two of them were now in their past forms of Serenity and Endymion while they themselves had returned to Senshi form. Seiya was not excluded from this, and she was once again Sailor Star Fighter. The glowing did not completely dissipate until another few minutes had passed. They all looked on in wonder (even Akuma) as they tried to figure out what was happening. When the glowing did fade away, they were all shocked to see Serenity open her eyes and wake up, at which point Rini also reappeared as Sailor Chibi Moon.
"Endymion?" she whispered, slightly confused by her surroundings.
"Welcome back, my love. Now lets finish this." he said as he helped her to her feet.
With his power over the Crystal broken, the seal he had placed on Kakuu, Taiki and Yaten was also broken, allowing the three ladies to join in the fight as well.
In an act of desperation, Akuma let out a fury of attacks, which the Stars and Senshi easily dodged, having also received an energy boost from the Silver Crystal. They joined together to provide Serenity and Endymion (who were standing slightly ahead of the others) with their powers, allowing Serenity to combine all of their strength into one attack. The last thing Akuma heard was Serenity calling out her attack: "MOON CRYSTAL POWER!"
Sitting up so as to get their bearings, the large group was surprised to find themselves in Kakuu's palace on Nagare'boshi. Kakuu went to a window to see what was happening outside. To her surprise, the people were out in the streets celebrating the defeat of Akuma and enjoying the bright sunny day. She relayed this to the others with a tone of relief in her voice. The Starlights were glad and relieved to hear this as they and the others detransformed. The Sailor Senshi, however, were more worried about Serena and Darien, whom had also reverted back to their normal selves. They were alive, miraculously, but were weak and unconscious from over- exerting their energy.
"Taiki, Yaten, take them to our guest rooms so that they might sleep it off. And then meet us in my dining room." Kakuu instructed the two women. "As for the rest of you, follow me and we will get something to eat and I will send for a doctor to give us all a quick check up and to examine Michelle."
"Thank you." Michelle said quietly.
"Princess, if I may please have your permission to go and help Taiki and Yaten, I'd like to help them get those two settled in." Seiya was still in male form, for that was his form when he had transformed on Earth. He had not changed back yet.
"Of course Seiya, go."
So Seiya left and took off after the other two while the rest of them continued on towards Kakuu's private dinning room. Imara and Trista glared at Seiya as he left. Michelle would have done the same if it were not for her sight problem.
Due to the society's unstable nature before Akuma's attack, Kakuu had spent very little time fixing up her palace, so it was very humble looking and not highly decorated right now. She had the necessary rooms set up and that was about it. This proved to be a problem in finding a room for Serena and Darien. There was nothing really available, so Taiki and Yaten ended up placing them in separate rooms (for the time being) that were right across the hall from each other.
After making their charges comfortable, Taiki and Yaten went to join the others for a well deserved meal. Seiya on the other hand, decided to stay behind. He slipped into Serena's room and took up vigil by her side. About half an hour later, Serena woke up and looked around at her surroundings. She quickly noticed Seiya who had moved over closer to her upon seeing her move.
"Where am I?" were the first words out of her mouth.
"You're in one of the guest rooms in Kakuu's palace." Or lack there of Seiya though to himself.
"And who are you?" she asked as she stared at him blankly.
"Very funny. You can't say you don't recognize me this time." he said thinking back to the first time they met.
"I'm sorry but I don't. Have we met before?"
"Serena, cut it out!"
She continued to stare blankly at him.
"Fine, be that way. I'm Seiya you're Serena and we're good friends."
"Serena?" Now she just looked confused.
"Serena, what is it? What's wrong?" he asked, a little confused by her reactions.
Tears were welling up in her eyes and she began to panic as she said: "I don't know who I am. I can't remember anything!