Chapter 36
It was an exceedingly dark and tempestuous night. Even the cement walls of the building creaked and groaned under the constant impact of the wind. Small sticks and stones were sucked into the storm, and battered the wooden roof. The rain had started as a slight drizzle, with it pattering quietly down on the roof. In only a few minutes, the tempest threw itself at Tokyo, turning from a light shower to a full monsoon. The once seemingly friendly drops of rain had grown in number and in size. The pitter-patter of the drops had transformed into the beating of a giant on a drum. Except there were a thousand giants and a thousand drums.
A crack of lightning lit up the sky with brilliant fire. The thunder tore through his mind like the cry of a million hellhounds, baying and yapping at the gates of Hades.
Water flowed off his clothes like oil, as he stared up into the heavens, sending up a challenge that could not be refused. His eyes squinted in the darkness, so encompassing were the clouds. The garish lights of Tokyo blared upwards but could not gain purchase against the dark clouds and rain which perverted their beauty into a million amalgamations of shattered light.
From the height of the building, Jadeite imagined he could touch the clouds themselves and heard the faints tones of a requiem reaching his ears. His sword was loose in his hands, his senses prepared for the coming battle.
Thunder beat its way across the sky and he wondered about the wisdom of standing atop of building with what amounted to a lightning rod in his hand. He did not worry about that.
The fear was still there. But this time, he banished it easily from his mind. All that occupied it was the battle he was to face.
An eerie light filled the air and a dark portal opened in front of him. It glowed, with restrained power, as numerous youma marched out to meet him. He ignored their presence, focused instead on his primary enemy who was still to come.
Beryl exited, a smug smile on her face, "You called, dear sir?"
I sheathed my sword, staring at her with a noble sadness. "This ends tonight, Beryl. I offer you a deal." S
he gazed at me with barely controlled excitement, "Yes?"
"I challenge you to a fight for my freedom. If I win, you will die, and all your corruption shall come to an end. If you win, you are free to do with me as you will. But I cannot bear this anymore. Whatever the outcome, this shall come to an end tonight."
Lightly, "Seems hardly fair. I do have a distinct advantage over you in every way. I will win."
"That remains to be seen. En garde, Beryl-hime." I squared off in a backhanded fighting style.
She nodded and raised her hands to the sky, summoning dark magic to her side. I began to circle warily and she followed, calmly even casually. I lunged for the first attack and she floated above it easily.
Tauntingly, "Do you really think that I would ever let you go, Jadeite? Did you think that you could ever be free? If you do, I'm sad to say, it simply isn't so. You shall never get away from me."
"All that you are is a face from the past. An arrogant spirit obsolete ages ago."
"I am more than the past. I am the face of the future, yours and all of humanity's. For as long as you live, I will still be here."
I saw my opening and leapt up to meet her, but she floated away, "All that you are is the end of a storm. The first signs of sun are beginning to show. Tonight, I complete the transition to the light."
"This is not the end, my friend. This is the nightmare that breathes on. I am here to stay, no matter what you try to do and I'll live on long after you're gone."
"Soon, my sword shall silence you. Come fight me if you dare."
Beryl smiled, "Silence....are you sure that's what you want?" A black mantle erupted from her finger tips, smothering me like the first time she had used it. Struggled to breathe, I felt the fear come back in full strength. I choked softly, fighting it with all my heart but failing to win. Like the nightmare, I was brought to my knees by an insidious assault, unbecoming of a warrior.
But, I still had a few more tricks up my sleeves. Closing my eyes, I focused my energies and then whispered the words which had never failed me when I needed salvation. 'Maelstrom'
Blue fire shot from my finger tips, searing through the mantle easily and carving a way out. The unnatural blackness around me faded, replaced with the normality of Tokyo at night. I stared at Beryl and a slow smile crossed her face, "It would seem that you are more powerful than I last remembered. How unfortunate. Too bad, I expect that I will have to take my leave of you. Until next time-"
A rose sliced through the water filled air driving itself into the concrete in front of her.
Another voice cut through the pouring rain, "No! You will not escape tonight, Beryl. I promise you that." Endymion landed deftly beside me and cut a striking pose, "I am Tuxedo Mask! Your reign of terror ends tonight."
Beryl seemed taken aback, then barked out, "Youma, attack, so I may flee!" A youma grabbed me, trying to pin me down to the ground with a tentacle. I swore, slashing off the appendage before being confronted with another. It's slick and slimy skin struggled to gain purchase with mine, I lifted my sword, feeling lightning strike it, sending electricity through my veins and destroying the grounded youma. I felt a little weak myself but forced the pain down .
Then, an orange beam attack sliced right in front of Beryl, slamming into the ethereal portal and shutting it down. A blonde senshi smiled and gave me a thumbs up. "I am Sailor Venus, senshi of love and compassion! Queen Beryl, for your evil, I shall vanquish you tonight."
"A senshi, Tux-boy, and that annoying general, this is becoming most interesting. I didn;t expect so many of you at once. But as they say, take your blessings while you can...." she immediately burst into motion, hurling a lightning bolt at me. I spun to deflect it up to the sky, before stabbing a youma deep in the heart.
I withdrew quickly and shoved another youma off the side of the building.
"Mercury Shabon Spray Freezing!" The rain and winds above us crystallized immediately, into an icy arena that shielded us even more.
"I am Sailor Mercury, champion of water and ice. In the name of Mercury, I shall punish you!"
Other senshi flooded onto the rooftop, engaging youma and taking potshots at Beryl, when possible. She flung bolt after bolt at me, which I deflected with consummate ease. The youmas around me were no match for the Sailor Senshi, as their attacks consumed them even before they could organize for a counter.
And then, there was one. Beryl looked almost shocked, at the carnage around her. She gazed upwards, seeing the ice cage which hemmed her in and then glanced behind to see no portal to retreat back to. "Your treachery knows no bounds."
My practicality does not either. You are too dangerous to let free."
Beryl smiled evilly, then summoned up her staff and crystal ball. She moved more quickly than I gave her credit for. She smashed Sailor Uranus across the face, even before she could free her sword to block the attack. Sailor Neptune managed to dodge quickly and Sailor Saturn used her glaive to knock Beryl back a step.
She fought like a mad woman, with no aim save for escape. I willingly clashed with her, knowing that I alone could disarm her in a melee fight. But even then she showed surprising strength as she clawed at my eyes with her wickedly long nails. I fought back the attacks easily, dodging, trying to get a clear shot to simply slug her in the face. But she was too fast for that and disengaged before I had the chance.
Mamoru hurled a rose at her, but it wilted as it traveled to her, a testament to the negative energy pulsating around her. Aiming carefully, I hurled my blade at her, hoping against all hopes that it would end the fight. But to no avail. She kept on moving.
And then out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rei leap forward, a fluttering ofuda in her grip. A serene look filled her features as if she had the entire situation under control. Beryl looked at her with disdain and as she came into arms reach, swatted her aside. Rei slammed into the icy walls surrounding us at full speed, and then lay still.
In Beryl's eyes, I could already see the beginnings of a plan percolating. She would kill Sailor Mars then and there, with a massive energy blast that would shatter the icy prison within which she fought and allow her to escape. I could see her gather power to accomplish the deed and knew what I had to do.
Whispering half forgotten words, I teleported myself in front of Rei's unconscious body, shielding her best I could from the incoming attack. I felt it sear into my back, burning through the cloak which had served me so well the past few months. The pain tore into my back, collapsing my rib cage as huddled there. The energy slashed into through my back, burning through my ribs and lungs. After reducing my heart to sweet smoke and steam, it continued to explode capillaries until it ruptured the front of my chest. An intense wave of pain slammed into me and I fought for consciousness.
I knew I would die, but not yet.
For I was Jadeite, General of the dark Kingdom.
For I was Jadeite, King of Illusions.
For I was Jadeite, knight protector of Serenity.
And a knight knows not pain.
As if I had flicked a switch, all pain in my body stopped instantly, leaving but an incredible clarity of purpose in my mind. I fed the energy into strong energy shield which ablated the remainder of the blast away, defeating Beryl's final chance at escape.
I could feel her eyes on me. Fear, hatred, and finally a grudging respect which had eluded me for so many years in her service.
Faintly, I could hear the sound of an attack being uttered, to vanquish Beryl to the hell she deserved, once and for all. "Starlight Honeymoon Therapy...Kiss!" And then all fell into blackness.
It was an exceedingly dark and tempestuous night. Even the cement walls of the building creaked and groaned under the constant impact of the wind. Small sticks and stones were sucked into the storm, and battered the wooden roof. The rain had started as a slight drizzle, with it pattering quietly down on the roof. In only a few minutes, the tempest threw itself at Tokyo, turning from a light shower to a full monsoon. The once seemingly friendly drops of rain had grown in number and in size. The pitter-patter of the drops had transformed into the beating of a giant on a drum. Except there were a thousand giants and a thousand drums.
A crack of lightning lit up the sky with brilliant fire. The thunder tore through his mind like the cry of a million hellhounds, baying and yapping at the gates of Hades.
Water flowed off his clothes like oil, as he stared up into the heavens, sending up a challenge that could not be refused. His eyes squinted in the darkness, so encompassing were the clouds. The garish lights of Tokyo blared upwards but could not gain purchase against the dark clouds and rain which perverted their beauty into a million amalgamations of shattered light.
From the height of the building, Jadeite imagined he could touch the clouds themselves and heard the faints tones of a requiem reaching his ears. His sword was loose in his hands, his senses prepared for the coming battle.
Thunder beat its way across the sky and he wondered about the wisdom of standing atop of building with what amounted to a lightning rod in his hand. He did not worry about that.
The fear was still there. But this time, he banished it easily from his mind. All that occupied it was the battle he was to face.
An eerie light filled the air and a dark portal opened in front of him. It glowed, with restrained power, as numerous youma marched out to meet him. He ignored their presence, focused instead on his primary enemy who was still to come.
Beryl exited, a smug smile on her face, "You called, dear sir?"
I sheathed my sword, staring at her with a noble sadness. "This ends tonight, Beryl. I offer you a deal." S
he gazed at me with barely controlled excitement, "Yes?"
"I challenge you to a fight for my freedom. If I win, you will die, and all your corruption shall come to an end. If you win, you are free to do with me as you will. But I cannot bear this anymore. Whatever the outcome, this shall come to an end tonight."
Lightly, "Seems hardly fair. I do have a distinct advantage over you in every way. I will win."
"That remains to be seen. En garde, Beryl-hime." I squared off in a backhanded fighting style.
She nodded and raised her hands to the sky, summoning dark magic to her side. I began to circle warily and she followed, calmly even casually. I lunged for the first attack and she floated above it easily.
Tauntingly, "Do you really think that I would ever let you go, Jadeite? Did you think that you could ever be free? If you do, I'm sad to say, it simply isn't so. You shall never get away from me."
"All that you are is a face from the past. An arrogant spirit obsolete ages ago."
"I am more than the past. I am the face of the future, yours and all of humanity's. For as long as you live, I will still be here."
I saw my opening and leapt up to meet her, but she floated away, "All that you are is the end of a storm. The first signs of sun are beginning to show. Tonight, I complete the transition to the light."
"This is not the end, my friend. This is the nightmare that breathes on. I am here to stay, no matter what you try to do and I'll live on long after you're gone."
"Soon, my sword shall silence you. Come fight me if you dare."
Beryl smiled, "Silence....are you sure that's what you want?" A black mantle erupted from her finger tips, smothering me like the first time she had used it. Struggled to breathe, I felt the fear come back in full strength. I choked softly, fighting it with all my heart but failing to win. Like the nightmare, I was brought to my knees by an insidious assault, unbecoming of a warrior.
But, I still had a few more tricks up my sleeves. Closing my eyes, I focused my energies and then whispered the words which had never failed me when I needed salvation. 'Maelstrom'
Blue fire shot from my finger tips, searing through the mantle easily and carving a way out. The unnatural blackness around me faded, replaced with the normality of Tokyo at night. I stared at Beryl and a slow smile crossed her face, "It would seem that you are more powerful than I last remembered. How unfortunate. Too bad, I expect that I will have to take my leave of you. Until next time-"
A rose sliced through the water filled air driving itself into the concrete in front of her.
Another voice cut through the pouring rain, "No! You will not escape tonight, Beryl. I promise you that." Endymion landed deftly beside me and cut a striking pose, "I am Tuxedo Mask! Your reign of terror ends tonight."
Beryl seemed taken aback, then barked out, "Youma, attack, so I may flee!" A youma grabbed me, trying to pin me down to the ground with a tentacle. I swore, slashing off the appendage before being confronted with another. It's slick and slimy skin struggled to gain purchase with mine, I lifted my sword, feeling lightning strike it, sending electricity through my veins and destroying the grounded youma. I felt a little weak myself but forced the pain down .
Then, an orange beam attack sliced right in front of Beryl, slamming into the ethereal portal and shutting it down. A blonde senshi smiled and gave me a thumbs up. "I am Sailor Venus, senshi of love and compassion! Queen Beryl, for your evil, I shall vanquish you tonight."
"A senshi, Tux-boy, and that annoying general, this is becoming most interesting. I didn;t expect so many of you at once. But as they say, take your blessings while you can...." she immediately burst into motion, hurling a lightning bolt at me. I spun to deflect it up to the sky, before stabbing a youma deep in the heart.
I withdrew quickly and shoved another youma off the side of the building.
"Mercury Shabon Spray Freezing!" The rain and winds above us crystallized immediately, into an icy arena that shielded us even more.
"I am Sailor Mercury, champion of water and ice. In the name of Mercury, I shall punish you!"
Other senshi flooded onto the rooftop, engaging youma and taking potshots at Beryl, when possible. She flung bolt after bolt at me, which I deflected with consummate ease. The youmas around me were no match for the Sailor Senshi, as their attacks consumed them even before they could organize for a counter.
And then, there was one. Beryl looked almost shocked, at the carnage around her. She gazed upwards, seeing the ice cage which hemmed her in and then glanced behind to see no portal to retreat back to. "Your treachery knows no bounds."
My practicality does not either. You are too dangerous to let free."
Beryl smiled evilly, then summoned up her staff and crystal ball. She moved more quickly than I gave her credit for. She smashed Sailor Uranus across the face, even before she could free her sword to block the attack. Sailor Neptune managed to dodge quickly and Sailor Saturn used her glaive to knock Beryl back a step.
She fought like a mad woman, with no aim save for escape. I willingly clashed with her, knowing that I alone could disarm her in a melee fight. But even then she showed surprising strength as she clawed at my eyes with her wickedly long nails. I fought back the attacks easily, dodging, trying to get a clear shot to simply slug her in the face. But she was too fast for that and disengaged before I had the chance.
Mamoru hurled a rose at her, but it wilted as it traveled to her, a testament to the negative energy pulsating around her. Aiming carefully, I hurled my blade at her, hoping against all hopes that it would end the fight. But to no avail. She kept on moving.
And then out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rei leap forward, a fluttering ofuda in her grip. A serene look filled her features as if she had the entire situation under control. Beryl looked at her with disdain and as she came into arms reach, swatted her aside. Rei slammed into the icy walls surrounding us at full speed, and then lay still.
In Beryl's eyes, I could already see the beginnings of a plan percolating. She would kill Sailor Mars then and there, with a massive energy blast that would shatter the icy prison within which she fought and allow her to escape. I could see her gather power to accomplish the deed and knew what I had to do.
Whispering half forgotten words, I teleported myself in front of Rei's unconscious body, shielding her best I could from the incoming attack. I felt it sear into my back, burning through the cloak which had served me so well the past few months. The pain tore into my back, collapsing my rib cage as huddled there. The energy slashed into through my back, burning through my ribs and lungs. After reducing my heart to sweet smoke and steam, it continued to explode capillaries until it ruptured the front of my chest. An intense wave of pain slammed into me and I fought for consciousness.
I knew I would die, but not yet.
For I was Jadeite, General of the dark Kingdom.
For I was Jadeite, King of Illusions.
For I was Jadeite, knight protector of Serenity.
And a knight knows not pain.
As if I had flicked a switch, all pain in my body stopped instantly, leaving but an incredible clarity of purpose in my mind. I fed the energy into strong energy shield which ablated the remainder of the blast away, defeating Beryl's final chance at escape.
I could feel her eyes on me. Fear, hatred, and finally a grudging respect which had eluded me for so many years in her service.
Faintly, I could hear the sound of an attack being uttered, to vanquish Beryl to the hell she deserved, once and for all. "Starlight Honeymoon Therapy...Kiss!" And then all fell into blackness.