Chapter 8: A Twist of Fate
By - DreamHeart
AN- A Fallen Rose has been revised . . . as you probably already now by now (or at least I hope you do). I hope that you have enjoyed the changes and like this revised ending :) Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Disclaimer- I DO NOT own Sailor Moon or any of its characters BUT I DO OWN the story. Remember plagerism is bad.
Lita stood alone in the palace gardens.
She had chosen the perfect spot . . . in the center of the garden, for four large oak trees cornered it. Her hair was down and swirled about her as a breeze began to stir. She raised her hands, palms to the sky and dark clouds sprung to life from them to encircle her. Then by thrusting her hands outward the clouds expanded to the oak trees to shroud their queen in a dome of rain and darkness.
Ah. Just the way it always has been . . . and should be . . . . The rain is so comforting, how I wish that it had the same ability to comfort Serenity and Endymion.
'Enough stalling,' the rain whispered.
Lita tossed back her head and took a shallow breath. "Great God of lightening, Zeus, lend me your power."
Suddenly, three bolts of lightening hurdled themselves toward her. And yet, Lita remained perfectly still allowing them to penetrate her body embedding their electricity into every fiber of her being. The Queen of Jupiter now glowed as bright as any star in the night sky.
Raising her head, Lita now peered into the darkness of the cloud surround her. Smiling slightly, she walked towards them, parted them with a wave of her hand, and penetrated the wall of clouds. "Show me the secret that you hide," she breathed.
Amy ran through the palace frantically searching for Lita. "Where the hell could she be?! She knows that the others died when they were alone. I should least be there to give her some protection. How could she be so foolish?!"
Without thinking she absentmindedly glanced out the window that overlooked the gardens, but dismissed it in the then next moment. Yet she came running back a few minutes later.
"Damn! Damn! Damn! How could I be so blind? Where else would her powers be at their max? GRR! I hate it when she's so impatient!"
Then she took off towards the cloudy dome.
As she reached the door that led to the gardens, the dome began to dissipate. God, I pray that I'm not too late . . .
Sitting on a branch of an oak, the still glowing queen watched as the cloud dome began to fade. Yet to her amazement, just as the clouds began to fade altogether . . . they returned instantaneously just as when she had summoned them. Thus she began to levitate toward the center of the dome to investigate the cause.
A man dressed in a dark navy blue suit and dark black hair warmly greeted her, whereas the rain did not penetrate the shield that surrounded him. "Ah, the fair Lady Jupiter, what a pleasant surprise to find you here. I must say that I do love you're new look."
She opened her mouth to speak; yet the words were spoken by the rain and thunder. "Sapphire?"
"Didn't you ever learn not to jump to conclusions? But I think that we should wait a moment or two before we discuss who I am and any last requests that you may have. For it wouldn't be polite to leave Amy in the dark, so to speak."
Just then Amy reached the cloudy dome. Circling it, looking for an opening, she found none. I see no other option.
She placed her right hand to the side of the dome . . . feeling the rhythm of the rain falling. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and dematerialized into raindrops and went through the clouds. Once on the other side, the raindrops that she had once been formed into a single drop and in a moment Amy stood beside Lita.
The man carelessly looked down at his watch, frowned, and shook his head. "Dear me, I was expecting you sooner Amy. So, I'm afraid we are a bit behind schedule."
"Do I really care?" Amy glared, but then stopped to take a better look at the man that stood before her. And somewhere in her mind a little light bulb turned on. "Sapphire, is that you?"
Lita began to pat her foot impatiently. "I grow impatient. Get on with it will you, unless you'd like a bolt of lightning square between the eyes."
He chuckled lightly and began to walk along the perimeter of the dome, like a lion circling its prey. "First, let's get this straight, no one . . . ok, only one, before you has been able to put so much as a scratch upon me. And they were both very powerful, so you think that you're little lightning bolts will have any effect on me. Oh, and Amy, don't bother even checking with your little scanner we all know that it won't work in this dome."
Amy seethed. How the hell did he know what I was thinking! Damn him! "Why did you want to prosecute Endymion?"
"That's easy to make him suffer. Why else? Do you think I do this for fun?"
Lita was becoming tired after all the huge amount of power that was running through her veins required a lot of energy. Thus she debated whether or not to end the invocation of the heavens for she was much more powerful in this state. "How are we supposed to know?! You're sadistic enough, Sapphire."
"Oh, I forgot that we hadn't cleared that up." Stopping his
circling, he walked over to the queens and stood before them. Then he
tossed his head back. And when he raised it, he no longer had dark
black hair with a hue of blue or piercing green eyes. The man that
stood before them now had white silverish hair and piercing violet eyes.
"Ah, much better. But I must say that I thought that I looked rather
dashing masquerading as my dead brother, don't you?"
Both Queens took a step back. For they recognized the face of their old enemy, one that they had thought had died long before Crystal Tokyo.
"I'm glad that you recognize me. And don't worry; I wasn't hurt at all by the fact that you didn't recognize Sapphire. For I am who you think I am . . . Prince Diamond at your service." HE bowed slightly.
It was impossible, wasn't it?Amy's mind raced. How had he survived and why would he attack now after so long a time?
"Amy, Amy, Amy. We all know why. For Serenity. Isn't it perfect?" He began to circle them once more. "Kill her only daughter and frame her husband. For you know what the penalty for that would've been . . . death. Then I could console Serenity and win her love. Yet I knew that her ever-sickening loyal court would intervene in my plans, that's why making it look like he had killed Raye was so convenient. But who would've known that his powers would grow while he was in the dungeons. He developed one of my powers, the ability to control blades of energy. It made it look like he had even killed Mina and Andrew, perfect isn't it. And by prosecuting him, I could really make it look like he was guilty. So, you see if I have to kill a few queens to reach my love I will, for the end more than justifies the means."
Just then a hauntingly familiar voice penetrated the dome. "Oh, really? That isn't what you thought when you barely escaped being flambéed by my fireballs, Diamond."
Diamond's eyes grew wide. She's dead. There's nothing that she can do.
Then the clouds parted to reveal Raye in the gap. "You'd be amazed at what Aires can do when you really, I mean really, piss him off. Do I look dead to you, Diamond?"
"I killed you once. And I can do it again."
Raye raised her arms and then quickly clapped them to her sides. Almost instantaneously the dome fell. Lita fell to the ground but returned to normal. Then Raye haughtily walked over to Diamond and glared at him . . . eye to eye. "Three on one. And may I say that this bitch is stronger than ever. And now you don't have the cover of the dome." Glancing at Lita, she winked and smiled, "Sorry, Lita. I know that was a lot of work. But we need you and can't afford to let you get drained. I didn't mean to keep you waiting so long."
"It's not like it really matters," Diamond said shakily as he took a few steps back. Then he smiled. "You didn't think that I'd come without having a trick or two up my sleeve, did you?" He reached into his cloak to reveal the jewel-studded dagger that the scouts had given to Serenity. And then with a snap of his fingers, Endymion materialized at his side – his hands were clasped and bound and so were his feet – and immediately the dagger was placed at his throat. "Now, what will the big bad scouts do?"
Raye shut her eyes. 'Now what? How could he have possibly have gotten that?'
"Ah. I see that you are confused for once, Raye. All of you must be wondering how I got this. I took it from Serenity when she was thinking of taking her life with it."
Serenity walked through the hallways of the castle looking for Luna. 'What am I going to do? To think that I almost killed myself over a madman . . ."
She stopped to gaze out the window. She looked up at the night sky, 'Why is he doing this for me?'
"Serena, is that you?" Luna called from the end of the hall.
Serenity lowered her head and smiled. But something caught her eye . . . it was gleam of her dagger at Endymion's throat. "ENDYMION!!!!!!!!"
Diamond looked around confused. "Serenity?" In his haste he had dropped Endymion to the ground.
Lita looked at Amy and nodded. Deciding to take full advantage of the momentary weakening of Diamond's defenses they attacked.
"Shine Aqua Illusion!" Amy shouted as she unleashed her power at him.
At the moment that he appeared to be frozen, Lita ran towards Endymion. But before she reached him two purple blades of energy sliced her in two.
Amy screamed. And Raye just stared in horror.
"Just too easy. I told you, Amy, you are no match for me." He picked Endymion up with his free arm and then chuckling he sent a stream of energy towards Raye, paralyzing her. "I've killed you before. Now it is time for you to watch, helplessly, as I kill those closest to you. Amy, darling, time to die."
Amy shut her eyes, lowered her head in defeat, and let her arms hang limply at her sides. 'Not yet. Just a few more seconds . . .'
Then just as he sent a stream of energy charging towards her, Amy threw her head back and her arms above her head. The once calm ponds that were throughout the gardens had formed into a tidal wave that now was crashing down upon Diamond . . . and consequentially Endymion. And yet it was not enough to distract him from keeping his aim firmly on Amy.
Serenity came running onto the battlefield. "Amy! Raye! Endymion!" But she was too late to save her friend from being vaporized.
"Serenity, go back inside. This doesn't concern you," Diamond called.
"Not my concern. You were the one in my chambers earlier. You were the one who kissed me. Why the hell would I go inside when you are ruining MY LIFE?!"
"Go on, Sere, this is all for you. I love . . . "
"Don't call me 'Sere' and don't you dare finish that sentence. If you loved me you wouldn't have driven me to the edge of suicide."
At that Raye snapped out of her daze. 'Suicide, my best friend. . .' "Mars Celestial Fire!"
"Fine, Raye, two can play this game." And with one quick movement he had sliced Endymion's throat. "I warned you now you can watch him DIE." With that he threw Endymion against one of the stone pillars of the entrance of the garden and threw a ball of energy at Raye. It slammed into her chest causing her to fly back and hit the ground hard.
Serenity watched, as everything seemed to be moving in slow motion as Endymion crumpled as he hit the pillar. "NO!!!" Her hands flew up to gasp the sides of her head as she fell to her knees in agony. Then all of a sudden burst of energy seemed to explode from within Serenity's being and launch itself towards Diamond.
The shockwave flung Diamond into the trunk of one oak tree on the gardens perimeter and the dagger came to rest at Serenity's feet. She picked it up and gingerly held it as she had done earlier that day. Then she turned to see Raye lying not more than 10 feet away from her.
She hurried to her side. "Shh. Everything's going to be ok," she murmured as she propped Raye up.
"I'm sorry, my queen, that –cough- I failed you," Raye struggled.
"Don't say that. You'll be ok. You did a fine job. Just don't leave me."
"I'll always be with you. What else are best friends for?" With that Raye drew her last breath and died in Serenity's arms.
Serenity gently laid her friend on the ground and looked towards her husband, knowing that he was dead before he hit the pillar. Closing her eyes, she firmly grasped both sides of her head totally engulfed by the events that had just occurred.
"Get up, Serena. We are with you. End this now," Lita's voice whispered in the wind.
She shook her head, breaking free from her daze. 'Right this ends now.' Then she picked up the dagger and stood up slowly. "End this has to end," Serenity repeated over and over to herself as she walked over to the unconscious Diamond. She raised the dagger as if to strike but then hesitated.
"Remember, what he has done to you and us," Endymion's voice echoed in her head.
Nodding, she slit open Diamond's chest cavity and left her dagger firmly embedded in his heart. "Over. It's over . . . what now?" Glancing over her husband's body and that of her best friend, she knew what she had to do.
She crawled over to him, traced the outline of his face, and kissed him one last time on the forehead . . . .
Selenity had decided to take a walk in the gardens just in time . . . to see her daughter slit her throat, to be with her friends and family. "SERENITY!!!!!!!! No!" She rushed to her side and scooped her up into her arms. Tears streamed down her face like the rain from the sky. Please, please don't die. Then after her eyes had long since gone dry, she allowed herself to survey the rest garden. She saw Raye, Amy, and Endymion all dead. She saw Lita's body sliced in two and a man sprawled out by one of the oak trees in a puddle of blood with a dagger sticking out in his chest.
She looked down at her daughter and kissed her forehead. Then she gently set her on the ground. No, I will not allow her to die like this. She took Serenity's crystal from her dress and raised it above her head. "Let them live," she whispered. With that Selenity collapsed and died.
Serenity moaned and slowly sat up. Next to her she could hear Endymion grunt as well. Where was she? She looked around. She was still in the gardens. Her hand flew to her throat and she found it to be intact.
"MAMA!!!!!!!"
Serenity blinked and saw Rini, in her pink pajamas with bunny feet, standing at the entrance of the gardens. The little girl started to run towards her. Once again she heard the soles of the pajamas clap against the floor. NO! This has to be only a dream. A cruel dream just like before. Rini threw herself into her mother's arms and this time Serenity caught her It's really real. "Oh Rini!"
Endymion was now up and had both of them in his arms. Tears streamed down his face, "Thank heaven! Rini, it's really you baby."
Then slowly but surely Amy, Lita, and Raye sat up dazed and then went over and joined the happy family. And elsewhere in the castle Mina and Andrew sat up and embraced. Then they headed off to find their friends and embrace this second chance at life together.
The End.