The Battle Reaches a Climax! No Turning Back Now.
"There isn't much time," the small girl said urgently and she refused to be ushered inside by Haruka, "We have to get to where the others are or someone is bound to get very hurt. I fear we are already too late."
Kigai's determination stunned Haruka, but she was not quite sure she could trust the girl. "First, what the heck is going on here? Second, how do you know so much? And third, how can I know that you're not just like all the rest of your friends and are trying to lead me into a trap?" As she spoke, Haruka worked herself slowly angrier.
Kigai lowered her eyes and answered quietly, "You'll just have to trust me."
Realizing that she had gotten angrier than she had intended, Haruka relaxed. There was no way a little child like this could be lying to her. "Okay," she responded plainly, "Where do we have to go?"
"Somewhere closer in the city; I would guess in the Juuban district," she suggested, "We'll know when we get close."
Haruka nodded, "Let's take the car." With that, she retreated into the kitchen and retrieved her keys then stepped out onto the front steps with Kigai, locking the door behind her. On the driveway was parked her beautiful red convertible. Haruka opened the passenger side door for Kigai, who was following slowly behind her, hobbling along on her crutches, then crossed in front of the car and got in on her own side. The tall blond jammed the keys into the ignition but waited for Kigai to get in and settled. "You'd better buckle up and hold on!" she warned. Without waiting for a response, Haruka turned the key and the engine roared to life. She put the car into reverse and backed down the driveway then tore off down the road, the wind whipping blissfully through Haruka's hair.
After a few minutes of speeding across the highway, Kigai spoke, "I suppose you would like an explanation of everything."
Haruka took one eye off the road to glance evenly at Kigai and nodded.
Kigai sighed and brushed her shot cropped bangs out of her eyes then began, "We weren't always tainted like this, you know. We used to be peaceful senshi just like you. We even used to be strong allies with you, but Astra broke away in the early part of her reign, before I was born. Queen Astra was beautiful and benevolent, yet she has always had something against you Silver Senshi.
"There are, or, I guess, were nineteen sun senshi when I left the Golden Millennium, the Sun Kingdom. The Spectrum Senshi, that would be everyone except Pink Sun and Princess Sunlight— ChibiSun, are the ones that are here. Our single job is to protect Aiji, heir of the Golden Millennium. Tsute, Pink Sun, belongs to the Sun Color Senshi that guarded Princess Enogu. They are kind of like you Outer Silver Senshi and we are kind of like the Inners, in a way. They do most of the battling and defending of our realm, being much stronger. We were often used as distractions and decoys, as we were usually faster and a very close team. But I guess that's what got us into all this trouble in the first place."
Haruka raised an eyebrow as the whizzed along, but said nothing.
"Then the tiny girl began the most difficult part of her story to tell, "When the Negaverse Generals with their terrible queen and her seven shadows attacked us we were sadly unprepared. Just over a week into the battle, we found ourselves having to take a last desperation stand. The Colors, Enogu, and Astra stayed at the palace defending it and trying to push the enemies back. Meanwhile, the Spectrums tried to take a risky decoy mission around the back to distract and possibly destroy a large part of Metallia's forces. To give extra protection to Aiji, Astra sent her niece Sailor Pink Sun to guard her and give us more power.
"Somehow Queen Beryl found out about our plan, and she herself and two of her four generals were there to meet us themselves. That day was the day I died. One could say, in a sense, that I was born again just over a week ago. I'm sure you don't know what it's like to fail your princess, the one who depends on your for your loyalty, but you fail. Worse yet, Queen Beryl did not kill us. She had us tortured and experimented on. It was as if she wanted to make us her servants and help her conquer. Or perhaps she wanted to join us with her seven shadows, there were seven spectrum senshi after all. She worked hard to break the princess... she almost killed her and Aiji will never be the same for it," Kigai's voice cracked and she sounded like she was about to break into sobs, "The others, they were so angry that it was easy for Beryl to feed off their anger and turn them to her side. She branded us all with the symbol of an evil crescent moon, the one she planned to use when she took over the moon. I refused to let myself become angry. I refused to let myself be tricked onto their side... so they tortured me— even more than they did with Sunlight." She took a short pause to recuperate from her obvious pain of the past. The tiny girl swallowed hard, "They said I was too resilient, too good. So they tortured me and did all they could to me. I almost broke when they took my ability to use my legs from me. I was about to give in... then they suddenly stopped coming: no more seven shadows, no more generals, no more Beryl. We could still feel Metallia's presence around us, and we were locked in the Dark Kingdom for what seemed to be forever.
"I could not get myself from where I was locked and Bengosha found me where I was, locked down near death. She and Furea got me out of there. They found something for me to bind my legs with and some sticks to use as crutches, and so we spent our entire time in search of Aiji, but she was no where to be found that we could go. In our hearts we knew she still lived, but our minds told us that she was long dead and there was no hope for her.
"So we waited for rescue that never came, never growing older in that timeless place. As far as I know, the beautiful Queen and the rest of the soldiers are dead. Poor Tsute has never been herself since she came to that realization. She was terribly devoted to Enogu and Astra. But then again, none of us are the same, not even me.
"Then we felt stirrings in the Negaverse again, and we retreated into hiding, hoping to be forgotten and we were, but it was difficult to stay undiscovered in our large group so we split up alone in hiding. It was almost suffocating to live with so much evil around us. I fear that it is in my blood now and it's only a matter of time before it takes me and taints me like the others. They took it very quickly though.
"I lived in fear then. More fear than you can imagine. I did not want to be returned to torture and I also feared for my companions that they would be found and give us all away. But then I felt the strangest thing just before Metallia was about to break free. There was such a purity that I can't describe, and it broke through the Dark Kingdom right to the very seams.
"Usagi," Haruka murmered softly as she made the connection.
Kigai apparently didn't notice, being too involved in her story, and continued on without a pause, "I thought I would die then. The dark part of me fighting with the light. From then, I must have fallen into a deep sleep of some sort. The next thing I knew, I was floating in a small bubble of light down towards a beautiful blue and green planet. I sleepily watched it come then found myself on its surface in a completely new world that was vaguely like what I knew before. As soon as I could make sense of things, I knew that there were Negaverse youma all over the city and that Princess Aiji was still alive and somewhere in this city, as well as Apollo, Solara, and Helia, whom I had taken for dead long ago. And soon after, I ran into you. As you can see, my friends have been destroyed as they were before and have submitted to the darkness and have held the sole goal of protecting Sunlight and each other, with everything else to distrust and hate. That is what we have come to," Kigai concluded, looking weary from retelling her tale.
"But how is it that they all gave in and you are still yourself," Haruka asked, puzzled, as they entered the main Tokyo area.
"As I said," Kigai answered quietly, "I am not myself. I died a millennia ago. I cannot go back to that. As to the others: Bengosha, Kanmi, Furea, and Jika had short tempers, were vain, angry, or overly stern. It was simple for the Dark Kingdom to draw those qualities out and make them evil. Tsute was already living in self-hate from her failure, so she fell easily. Itazura and Chou were cheerful and mild people, but not strong enough to last through the fear of their torturing. The Dark Kingdom took that fear and weakness and magnified it until they were molded properly. I don't know what they did to Aiji, she is so filled with trauma, that she rarely speaks any more."
Haruka nodded. "You are a brave soul Kigai, and an amazing one at that," she commended, "Now for my side of the story: I was also alive in the Silver Millennium, but I was on Uranus when it happened. We Outers did all we could, but it was not enough to save our world. Our princess killed herself and our queen saw no other option but to use the power of the Ginzuishou to decimate the Dark Army, seal up the seven shadows, and send us all off to a better life in the future, so I was reborn seventeen years ago. Before I found my princess, she had already found the four Inner Senshi and together they defeated the revived Queen Beryl and all of her soldiers. It was she that freed you with the pure power of her Ginzuishou and the love and companionship of her friends. It was that blast of purity that freed you. Since then they fought many enemies, and we helped them to defeat some as well, but as the Outer Senshi, we have other things to watch after."
"So it was Sailor Moon that saved us!" Kigai exclaimed, "I thought I recognized that light when we first met."
Haruka nodded. Suddenly, she felt the distinct power of the Senshi all battling.
Kigai tensed up as well. Haruka knew that she had also felt it. "Oh no," she moaned, "We have to hurry, Bengosha is ready to murder."
Haruka smiled grimly and pressed the gas pedal further to the floor, dodging traffic as fast as she could.
"Well senshi," Sailor Pink Sun began coldly, "We meet at last in battle. In Sailor War, as you asked for, if indirectly. We understand the time has come; the sailor soldiers have a battle. As Kanmi said, you don't stand a chance now, if you ever did."
Sailor Jupiter bristled with anger, at being insulted as a weakling, she was about to attack, when the pale girl finally spoke. Her voice was enough to stop even Makoto.
"Be prepared Silver Moon Senshi," she started, her voice quiet and weak, the death-like quality of it was enough to send shivers down anyone's spine, "You do not know what you are against, and we do."
There was a long silence, when Mars finally gave in, "Enough with the speeches! Mars Flame Sniper!"
Her red arrow shot straight for Pink Sun who easily dodged out of the way and quickly retaliated. "Pink Dying Star!" A devastating pink attack shot for Mars and Saturn, who was standing next to her, both went down with moans of pain. "First mistake," she said precisely, "Never try to attack someone who's better than you without a ration plan."
Sailor Blue Sun laughed cruelly.
Mars was seething and struggled back to her feet while Saturn planted the butt of her glaive in the ground and pulled herself to her feet with its aid.
"How's this for a plan?" Mars shrieked, "Everyone attack now! Mars Flame Sniper!"
Jupiter gladly joined the fray, and soon everyone did as well, "Jupiter Oak Evolution!"
"Pink Dying Star!"
"Orange Solar Flare!"
"Venus Solar Flare!"
"Blue Solar Flames Incinerate!"
"Violet Ultra Rays!"
"Deep Submerge!"
"Silence Glaive Surprise!"
"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"
"Shining Light!"
Sailor Indigo Sun was too confused to attack and dove to the ground, covering her head, but somehow landing in the middle of the fight.
Attacks met attacks and bright explosions of power knocked over senshi and a few attacks managed to make it through, striking down single senshi at a time.
Just before the confusion cleared, Sailor Moon raised her tier and shouted, "Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!" The pure white light shot through the crowd and met it's mark.
Indigo Sun screamed in terror and pain as the light enveloped her. She uncurled herself from her protective ball on the ground. The dark moons disappeared from her broaches and her transformation faded into indigo ribbons, leaving a battered Itazura in her Juuban uniform lying on the ground.
"That's it!" Blue Sun screamed, "I've had enough of this! There's no way all of you could possibly be beating all of us!" She stood angrily surrounded by two fallen comrades that were not going to rise for some time again, as well as Orange Sun and Violet Sun who had fallen victim to the flurry attacks. On the other side, only Sailor Moon, Mercury, and Saturn remained standing while Mars was looking very injured. This time she was just barely able to stand again.
Bengosha lent a hand to Orange Sun then to Violet Sun and the two rose while Pink Sun carefully moved Itazura out of the way. The Silver Senshi waited nervously all the while.
Violet Sun laughed, "It puzzles me, you senshi. You give us time to recuperate while you could decimate us. It's a wonder you've been able to defend this planet as long as you have."
"Take that back!" Jupiter yelled, "Take that back!"
"Never!" Violet Sun retorted forcefully then attacked, "Violet Ultra Rays!"
Jupiter was faster this time and was able to dodge out of the way, but Neptune was unfortunate enough to be standing behind her. The poor girl was blasted to the ground with a short screech of pain. She lay their moaning, the attack was stronger than she could bear.
"Michiru-mama!" Saturn cried in dismay, "Now you'll pay! Silence Glaive Surprise!"
Violet, not expecting the sudden retaliation from Saturn, was hit full force by the destructive attack. She shrieked in pain as well, and collapsed on the ground, but defiantly pulled herself back up and staggered slowly back up to the line.
"This is getting nowhere," Sailor Mercury murmured quietly to Venus.
The blond senshi nodded, "Same plan?"
Before the pair could attack, Pink Sun and Sailor Sunlight began attacking on their own.
"Pink Dying Star!"
"Shining Light!"
"Silence Wall!"
The attacks were stopped short and rebounded back. Sunlight and Pink Sun dodged out of the way, and the small princess wound up very near to Venus and Mercury as she tumbled instinctively across the grass.
"Shabon Spray!" Mercury yelled, fogging over the area and confusing everyone, not sure of her intentions, but Venus knew.
"Venus Love Me Chain!" Venus followed quickly, the golden chain wrapping around Sunlight's waist. The sun princess yelped when she realized what was happening.
"Princess?" Blue Sun yelled in confusion, still unable to see through the fog.
"Sailor Moon! Do it now!" Mercury called behind her and her princess understood.
Usagi carefully aimed for where she heard Mercury's voice then attacked, "Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!" Her attack once again met its mark. Both Venus' chain and Mercury's fog faded under the light of her attack, leaving the Princess Aiji in a crumpled heap on the ground in a lovely light yellow and gold dress.
"PRINCESS!" Orange Sun shrieked, being the first to see their leader.
"Sailor Sunlight!" Violet Sun wailed as well, hurrying to her fallen leader as fast as she could.
"No! It can't be true!" Pink Sun sobbed, her composure quickly fading into angry tears.
Only Blue Sun held her ground. "You'll pay," she growled.
Orange Sun and Voilet Sun managed to scoop up the princess between the two of them and carry her to the back of the battlefield with Itazura and Furea.
"I will never let you harm any of my comrades again," Blue Sun said in a dangerously low voice, "First you attack happy Chou, then Furea— something I cannot forgive, then sweet Itazura, then our princess. Never again! I can never forgive you!"
Pink Sun ungracefully whipped her eyes and nose on one of her glove hands and sniffed before coming to stand next to Sailor Blue Sun, "I will not have both of those who I owe alliance be destroyed while I could have helped it! I cannot forgive you!"
"Pink Dying Star!"
"Blue Solar Flames Incinerate!"
Both of the attacks aimed straight for Sailor Moon who was so paralyzed with shock she couldn't move. This time, none of the senshi were fast enough to dive in front of her.
Neptune, sill lying battered on the ground planted one well-aimed kick at the nearest of Eternal Sailor Moon's ankles just hard enough to knock her over, which it did. Usagi found her self on the ground with an aching ankle. She whimpered in pain, then realized what had just happened. She held herself silent, stunned.
Neptune grinned weakly. "Sorry to hurt you Usagi," she managed to say through difficult breaths, "But it seemed the only way."
Usagi smiled, "That's okay Neptune!"
"Enough pleasantries," Violet Sun said sharply, "Are we going to fight or not?"
"Why not!" Mars answered, "Mars Solar Heat Wave!"
Blue Sun dodged out of the way of the attack, but was hit hard on one shoulder, she staggered back, clutching it and gritting her teeth trying to resist yelling out in pain. "I will not," she said, still gritting her teeth, "Have you use Furea's attacks on me!"
Orange Sun returned from tending to her princess and yelled, as Blue Sun spoke, "I will never forgive you for what you've done! Orange Solar—!
Blue Sun prepared to attack as well, "Blue Solar Flames—!"
"Stop!" A high voice cried from the other side of the park.
"Hold it right there!" a lower, almost masculine voice commanded.
All of the senshi halted what they were doing to gape at the sight of Sailor Uranus and Sailor Yellow Sun sprinting across the grass, just recently transformed after they vaulted out of Haruka's car. Uranus, a much faster runner, was deliberately slowing her pace to keep even with Kigai.
"Kigai!" Blue Sun scolded, "It's about time! What are you doing with her?"
"She found me," Sailor Uranus answered evenly as she skidded to a stop between to the two lines of senshi, not even panting, in contrast to Yellow Sun.
"She what?" Jupiter asked angrily, "Yellow Sun has done something to Uranus! Leave her alone kid!"
"No I—!" Sailor Yellow Sun protested, but it was already too late.
"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"
"You don't understand!" the tiny girl protested as the attack came for her, and she tried to clumsily tried to get out of the way.
Fast as the wind, Haruka put herself between Kigai and the attack, taking it herself straight in the chest. She despite her efforts to keep the yell in, she let out a short yell of pain and collapsed to the ground, her stormy gray eyes only just barely open. She moaned quietly but was unable to move.
"Uranus!" Both Neptune and Yellow Sun shrieked at the same time.
Neptune managed to crawl over to Haruka and grasp one of her hands reassuringly while Yellow Sun stood defiantly over the pair. "Now look what you've done!" she accused, "All of you! Stop fighting! We have to or none of us will be left. The longer we fight, the more people that get hurt! Don't you see it?"
Not one of the senshi there dared to answer her.