I'm back!!!!!!! Thanks to all who have waited ever so patiently for me to update. I offer you all my most profound apologies for taking so darn long to get another chapter up. My thanks go to those who review for the last chapter: SetsunaFanGirl, secrets, moonpixie16, Sailor Bubs, Chaos Babe, Usagi2sailormoon, SilverPink, and Paige Halliwell.
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon
Dedication: To the men and women who serve in the US military, especially those who have been injured or have given their lives for freedom. Thank you!
Enjoy!
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Book I
Chapter XI
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I awoke completely refreshed on the day of the New Moon. My limbs felt refreshed and relaxed – a feeling that I had become unaccustomed to. My mind was completely free from any hurt or haze. I almost felt like a new person.
"Whatever comes before this day is up, I'll be ready for it," I promised myself, "That bastard is going to pay for killing the only friends that I had left in this world."
I dressed for school with anticipation in everyone of my movements. I could feel the adrenalin waiting to be released in my body so that I could have the extra surge of energy when I needed it.
I left my house with hardly a word to my parents and brother. My mind was much to preoccupied to think of such a trivial matter as that. I couldn't even concentrate on school once I arrived there.
The day was a complete blur to me. I don't remember anything that happened at school. I don't even recall if I stayed after to do my homework. I just did everything as though I were a machine.
The first thing that I remember looking at was the sunset. Different hues of red and orange filled the sky. The sun was a blazing fire sinking below the buildings of Tokyo. After a time the reds and oranges were replaced with dark pinks, blues, and purples. Its beauty was astounding; it held me captivated until I could see the first little stars glowing in the sky.
It was at that moment that I felt a slight twinge run through my body – that same sensation that alerted me to an attack on the city. The adrenalin that had been waiting in my body all day was released and I could feel that extra rush of energy powering my every movement.
I shouted my transformation phrase and felt the rush of power that accompanied my Spirit Sailor Moon form. As soon as the silver ribbons disappeared and I had my staff in my hand, I dashed off in the direction of the attack. I was most likely racing to my death.
Shock, complete and utter shock, was my only reaction when I arrived to face the enemies' forces. There were dozens of them, dozens of those horrible, wretched monsters. Some of the beasts fought amongst themselves, while others stood in a sort of hypnotic state.
In an instant I heard a shrill scream rise from within the enemy's army and all of the monsters turned their attention to me. I expected the creatures to charge at me, but they just stood and stared at me. Then the sea of monsters parted to reveal a man with blood red hair.
"So you did decide to show. I hope that you are prepared to die. With you out of the way I will destroy this damn planet," the red-haired man cackled out evilly. A huge confident grin spread across his face.
"I don't think I'm going to be that easy to kill. I'm going to wipe that smirk off your ugly little face. You're going to pay for killing my friends," I spat out coldly and took a fighting stance.
The man's grating laugh rang through the air and he casually raised his hand. The next moment he flicked his wrist forward and gave his troops the order, "attack."
Every one of the beasts sprang into motion, all rushing straight at me. I summoned my energy together for an attack.
"Spirit of Selene, strike!"
The silvery apparition of the goddess flew straight into two monsters, and they disappeared screaming in a brilliant flash of light. Unfortunately the other creatures didn't pause to morn the loss of their comrades. They continued to charge at me and surround me.
Before I could summon another attack several claws were launched at me. I defended against them with my ever-trusty staff. My staff moved with incredible speed in accord with my body. I managed to block some of the claws, others I slashed or stabbed at.
While still defending myself furiously with my staff I began to summon another energy attack.
"Spirit of Selene, strike!"
Once more the phantom goddess leaped forth to kill more monsters. And once again the beasts' last screams disappeared with the flash of light. I jumped to where those monsters had once been a stepped out of the circle that the creatures had trapped me in.
I thrust the crescent end of my staff into the back of a monster. It cried out in pain and turned into black dust. Although I fought bitterly to prevent it, the creatures once again encircled me, and I found myself once more fending off the vicious claws.
It felt like I was fighting against those claws for an eternity. I foiled the countless attempts on my life, sometimes by blocking the claws other times by severing the claws off. I could feel my muscles burning and my limbs straining because of the unrelenting action. The minor cuts and bruises that I had received were beginning to sting as my sweat fell into the open wounds. I was left more drained and more haggard with every energy attack that I used. I didn't know how much longer I was going to last.
I managed to steal a quick surveying glance at my surroundings. I noted that the creatures' numbers had greatly dwindled. I probably had about eight of the things left to kill.
'I can do this,' I triumphantly thought right before the tide turned against me.
In a single instant my good luck and skill failed. One of the monster's claws broke through my defense and smacked into the side of my head. I flew back threw the air, landing a few feet away.
My vision blurred and I desperately fought to keep my world in focus. I could feel the warm fresh blood running down the side of my head from the new gash. I tried to stand, but another claw attacked me and pinned me to the ground. I felt an acute pain in my right side where the claw had impaled me.
All the noises around me sounded distant and unreal. I heard my scream of pain; I heard the monsters' evil laughs and victory cries. But, none of it seemed right. I felt as though I was listening to and old radio horror broadcast instead of real life.
'I can't believe that this is what death sounds like. I always thought it would be louder and scarier,' I thought in my delirium, 'I guess not everything is how you expect it to be.'
I began to cough up blood, and more pain ran through my body. My world began to black out once again from the pain. My vision grew dark and dim. My hearing began to diminish. The only thing I could feel was pain.
Vaguely I heard the red-head call out, "This battle is won. Bring me her spirit; I shall feast on this one, you may have the rest."
Then the man laughed. Thought my hearing was weak I heard the laughter loud and clear. It was the same horrible laughter that haunted my dreams from the same wretched man responsible for the deaths of my friends. I didn't want him to win; I didn't want him to devour my spirit.
In a last effort to stay alive I fumbled around with my left hand until I found my staff. In a painful and desperate movement I managed to sever the beast's claw off. It dissolved into thin air leaving me unpinned. But, seconds later I was assailed by several more claws. My staff was knocked from my hand and I was pinned once more to the ground.
'This is the end. I can't do it,' I sadly thought with a twinge of guilt.
I closed my eyes and waited for my end to come, but instead I just heard the monsters' pained screams. I reopened my eyes and gasped at what I saw.
An eerie black hole was engulfing one of the beasts as it cried out in pain. In an instant the beast disappeared. Lightning tore across the opening as it grew larger and it began to consume another monster. The remaining monsters turned all of their attention to the hole in the sky. Some tried to attack the darkness but their claws were only swallowed by abyss.
Even after all of the remaining monsters had been killed the black hole still grew, each second it came closer and closer to me. The hole loomed ominously over me and could almost feel the electricity from the lightning bolts.
'So this is how it really ends.'
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I once again apologize for the huge period with no updates. I hope that you'll forgive me. I hope that everyone had a happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and happy New Years. I hope that 2005 is good to everyone. I resolve to keep working on this story and to get more frequent updates.
-The Golden Lady