Standard disclaimer. Sailor Moon is not mine, the idea and the show belong to people much richer than I. Please don't sue!
Dimmer however is mine…
of course if someone wants to use him or any of his transformations for ANY reason "thbbt" go ahead. You have my complete and total permission, mostly so I can read it too -. I only request you tell me… Hell, I don't care if you do it without my permission, it's not like I could find out anyway.
Warning: mild language, some violent scenes
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The world seemed to rock heavily back and forth, and it was filled with nothing but hot, blindingly white pain. Pain was about the only thing he could feel, what was left of his nose would have to be the only thing to guide him.
He had to get away, even the one scout had almost maimed him with that last explosion, and then the many rows of lights that had filled the streets, did they turn against him as well? Was even nature against him? So bright… so bright, so horribly bright that now the remnants of that bright white light, was all his eyes could see!He couldn't afford to be maimed… couldn't afford to be injured, but that he already was... There was a scent in the air, through his broken nose, and even through the rain, his hunger had still managed to grasp on to it. It was close, barely a mouthful to him, but it would be enough… even if only for a few minutes… He bowled over in agony as his stomach seemed to twist and groan inside of him. He felt the ripping pain as his bones and flesh started to twist back, his power was fading… it wouldn't be long… He needed to feed. The voice in its head was growing stronger and stronger, he barely noticed that scout in time. It was only luck he managed to catch her by the leg, had it been one of the faster ones, he never would have had a chance… he needed to feed… NOW!
This place looked familiar, the demon body he buried was just deeper into the small grove of trees, but the scent he had caught was much closer than that. He hid beneath the shadows of the trees as his sensitive ears caught the sounds of something other than rain and thunder. The little human seemed cautious all of a sudden, almost like a cautious fawn entering a meadow. The child almost entered the clearing where there sat a bench, with her song papers on it... She looked around carefully, like a deer trying to sense if something was wrong.
His age-old instincts kicked in once more, and he crouched low behind the bush, out of sight. He wasn't sure if he wanted this one, the young were innocent, there was no reason to hunt the young. He would move on. Find the demon body further into the woods… He was no human… no amount of hunger would ever make him take an innocent life.
Then it happened.
Emily steeled herself, in an adorable way, and made her decision. She knew something was out of place, everyone was in hiding for a reason, she could tell that much, after all she knew she was a big girl now, she'd be seven in the coming spring! She'd be real fast than head straight back to her mom! She bolted for the binder left on the (familiar) park bench with a few lampposts to either side.
It was the running that triggered everything. The moment she took off running every instinct inside of him told him to hunt! It was as fierce and natural as his want to defend himself. There was no getting away from it. The fear in the air from the little girl's mind blocked off completely the voice screaming to stop in its head. It growled, the hunt was on. The girl reached the bench just as she heard the large growl. And the thunder of the heavens, seemed to roar, and rock the very ground she stood on.
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Mars heard the growl and came running to the clearing. She saw the wolf jump at the little girl.
"NOOOOO!!!" she screamed horrified, "DIMMER NOO!!!"
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From the other side of the park both Jupiter and Mercury showed, and gasped. They walked in to the same sight as Sailor Mars. Mercury shut her eyes, and quickly put her hands over her face, Jupiter's eyes grew even more furious. There was no time, the wolf was already upon her. There was nothing either of them could do.
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Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask stumbled into the clearing, she was looking for a place they could allow him to rest a few moments, she remembered the bench here. Neither of them expected to see this.
Sailor Moon made a gasp.
"Shit." The curse came out clearly despite the shattered jaw.
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Sailor Venus and the moon cats, came on the scene, "No! Dimmer! Venus Crescent beam SMASH!" She would try, but she would be too late, just like the others.
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Emily stood frozen in fear, the monstrous from of the wolf leaping at her, it was so fast… and by the time sense finally came back enough in to her to run, all she could do in that final split second, was scream. The high pitched shriek that came out of her tore though the hearts of everyone watching and left their ears echoing that horrible sound.
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The Council of Fate looked on. It was a horrible thing he had to do, but it had to be done. They led that poor girl there for this very reason after all. They watched the scene from his bright room. A single tear ran down its face as it weaved the arcane circle that would seal her fate. They remembered her mistaking him for an angel… All it ever wanted to do for this world was good, so why had it come to this? How much more evil would thy have to commit, before they could return things to how they should be? Just as they finished, it vanished, and they looked up in surprise, and partly in relief.
"What's this…?!"
He continued to stare at the scene before him…
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The wolf's teeth and claws hit bone and flesh. It reveled in it, as its prey screamed in shock and agony. There was strong magic in this body, he would regenerate, and be at full power! It didn't bother him that it was not the prey he had struck for. He couldn't believe his luck…
Emily looked up at the flowing purple robes as spots of blood landed on and trickled down her face. She was hoping her angel had come back to save her, but this wasn't any angel.
His pink hair, and pointed ears told her it was not the same man, but when he turned his head partly around, looked down at her and smiled a little, the same kindness, same light that seemed to come from her angel came from this dark seeming man in front of her.
Fate seemed to have pity on the girl, there was no reason for her to see what would soon happen to her savior. She fainted and landed softly in the mud at her feet.
Talenite looked down at the wolf chewing down on his stomach and surround area. He screamed out as it pulled out his insides, devouring them, like any hungry dog would. The pain was finally fading, but so was his vision. He remembered coming to the clearing just a few minutes before. He found not the scouts when he teleported, but the little girl. He had tried to center himself between all of their power when he teleported, hoping to be in the middle of their little group. They must have split up... and he'd ended up in the center of their search pattern… or no… he focused on the most powerful thing in the area… was it? no it couldn't be… he stared at his own guts, thrown about over the park bench, he had ended up teleporting above. Either way, the scouts… they were nowhere to be found…but the little girl… He noticed the little girl just in time. He had a little energy he was saving to heal himself and others after all of this. It was just enough to teleport the small distance between the wolf and his target. He wasn't sure why he made this decision. He usually didn't care, about such things… He had no real tie to the scouts cause after all…
But something about these scouts, what they were fighting for… who they were, and how they acted… he had been in a horribly depressed state since his trials in the realm of Nightmares. Ever since… ever since Azariel…he could feel his own heart wrench, more painful than even the wolf's viciousness, with the singular thought of her name. He tried to forget her, tried to feel free of her, tried everything in his power, but his tormentor seemed like she'd be able to torment him forever… But now… now he found something he wanted to help with, something worth risking his life for.. something worth giving his life for. He slowly closed his eyes, letting peace take him.
"Az.. Azariel…" he held up one hand to the sky, as if he could see her above him… she was laughing… she was laughing at him again, he knew it… But it couldn't be helped, he only regretted that he didn't somehow impress her, that he couldn't somehow show her that he could stand out above the others… but it was too late for such regrets, and he was proud to die, with her name on his lips.
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The wolf fed on the power coming from his victim. The crescent beam hit, he felt it, but it did little. He grinned wolfishly (as if he could any grin any other way) at the scouts who had him surrounded, while he feasted on the flesh of their friend. His power was recovered. Jupiter struck first. Her anger and pain beating on his furred, muscled body. The wolf didn't even try to block. The other scouts watched as Jupiter went all out. Her blows sent the wolf through trees and into the muddy ground. She was back on him seconds, smashing into his body with blows as loud as the thunder that shook the world around them.
Her anger, as she remembered Ken's cut up face, laying oN the wet concrete beside her. She screamed in her mind as she rained punch after punch down on the thing. Blow after powerful blow, she was as fierce and steady as the rain that pounded on her, She hit as hard as she could, each punch seemed to bring a flashback of that slow motion scene. Ken's head twisting at that horrible angle as it hit the concrete played again and again in her mind. She was crying openly now, her tears invisible in the rain, and her punches started to slow, exhaustion was kicking in. She was a tornado of powerful blows, but her wind was dying out. The anger was slowing. Despite her want to kill this monster, this beast, this wolf… this… Dimmer…
Her mind started to come back to her, her last punch was no more strong than a kittens, as she sobbed sitting on top of the wolf. It was unmoving beneath her.
"Dimmer…," she whispered quietly to herself, than suddenly opened her eyes, "Dimmer! Oh jeez Dimmer! Are you alright, What did I do?!"
She looked down at the wolf she sat on. It looked back at her, smiling evilly. Its eyes glowed a dark, sickly yellow. It was her mistake to stop. She would learn from it soon enough though, he would teach her. Her arm was still hurt from the their tussle in the streets. He could sense it. His sense of smell had come back to him completely and the wounds from before were healing u as well. This one would be the first to learn. Lightning flashed, and Jupiter found herself being held up by her throat. The wolf took her arm and snapped it, as if snapping one of the powerful Sailor's arms was little more than the breaking of a branch. Sailor Jupiter screamed, as the wolf took to bending her arm until the bone snapped completely in two. He wouldn't kill now, unless he had to. But he still had to defend himself. The ones here would not be giving him trouble again for a long while. He snarled as he looked towards the rest of them, he would make sure of it.
The other scouts just managed to catch up now at the tail end of Jupiter's storm, and now Jupiter was being held up to a tree, and the wolf gripped her already injured arm… then pulled. Her shoulder came completely out of joint. And another heart-wrenching scream was driven from her lungs.
She fell back slumped against the tree as the wolf let go.
"Jupiter!" Sailor moon yelped. She rushed over to her fallen friend, while the others attacked.
Tuxedo Mask watched in pure anger as the creature tore through their ranks like paper. The scouts had been fighting since sunset, they weren't up to where they would have to be, and the wolf was now fully fed. All his work of distracting it for those two weeks, nothing, it all meant nothing in the end. The scouts jumped back and sent blast after blast of their powers into the creature still it came.
Sailor Mars felt the flesh of her stomach explode in pain as its claws ripped down he front of her uniform, Sailor Venus, where ever she came from, could do little as its own speed far exceeded hers. She found herself landing sideways into a tree. The brave cats jumped up, scratching at its eyes, trying to distract it long enough for Sailor Mercury to get some kind of strike in. The cats were swatted away like paper balls, and mercury had a spin kick headed for a fully attentive werewolf. She landed on the ground with a large thump, ankle twisted and broken.
Sailor Moon stood up.
No! He couldn't do anything to help her! Tuxedo Mask stood up quickly, forgetting his wounds completely. It was impossible, in this condition he couldn't take on the wolf in its weakened state let alone like this. Jumping at it randomly wasn't going to solve things. But in this state all he could do was walk, maybe run. Hitting would be of no help… all he could do was be struck…
All he could do was be struck… the words echoed through his skull as he saw Sailor Moon try a spin kick to its head. Only to have her foot caught and yanked horribly forward, ripping the ligaments inside with deadly force, her leg was caught in it's iron grip, she couldn't move!
All he could do was be struck…! Suddenly he stood up, an idea coming to him he asked himself earlier what would Dimmer do? He remembered Talenite…He had found his answer…
Thunder roared and lightning flashed as the wolf's claw rose, ready to leave Sailor Moon maimed. It came down, tearing through, flesh, bone, and blood.
It looked surprised as it stared down into the eyes of its rival of this world. It could have sworn it had already dealt with this one…
Tuxedo Mask smiled at the creature. The answer was there right along. He felt stupid for not realizing it earlier. All he could do was be struck. So he let himself be struck. These were his friends, he wouldn't see any more of them hurt. Not as long as there was still something he could do. Sailor Moon had cried something out to him behind him when he took the blow for her. She was worried about him, he tried to mutter an apology, though just more garbled noise came out.
The torn arm wasn't going to keep Jupiter down for long, not after her training with Dimmer. She knew what pain felt like, she had gotten back up and came from behind to try a kick to the wolf's head. The wolf sensed it coming, and turned to strike. To its surprise the kick came through anyway. It hadn't hurt much, but there again was its rival. It had taken the blow for this one too.
Tuxedo Mask smiled, holding on to the arm, that was now right through him. Not so easy now was it wolf? The scouts were all up again. Even Sailor Mercury, though she walked awkwardly.
Their determination… The wolf smiled. They were 'all' its rivals… then he would give them an end befitting of heroes… he would fight with all his power. He wasn't used to of showing honor to his foes. He had no idea what honor was… it was a human trait really. It didn't matter where it came from… all that mattered was that it was there now. It howled, and flung Tuxedo Mask's crumpled body away.
Tuxedo Mask simply pulled himself up with a nearby tree, and joined the circle of scouts surrounding the wolf, holding most of himself in, as he leaned forward. Pain wouldn't stop him, Dimmer taught him never to let it, only death, could stop him.
They all knew what the outcome would be. The scouts would fight, than die. Not a word was spoken among any of them. The rain continued to come down in sheets, stinging against their eyes. The silent perseverance and unspoken vow that they would all fight to their end, even if it meant accomplishing nothing.
"That's enough. With such honor, determination, it is amazing what you scouts can accomplish…"
Everyone looked toward the new voice. Especially Sailor Mars. She was the only one who had ever heard that voice before. The soft glowing familiar blue light coming from the stranger's eyes shone clearly as lightning flashed behind him. His cape bellowed behind him in the wind, his black and blue armor resembled knights of old, but had a futuristic look to it. His long black, or maybe dark blue hair was tied up twice making a pony tail that came down a little further than the middle of his back with the long piece of fabric that was tied also around his forehead. He wore no helmet, simply strange pieces of armor that stood up past his ears. She couldn't believe it, it was really him! It was really him!!
"I am the blood you taste as you draw you're last breath." His voice rang out over the storm.
"I am the face you see as you gaze upon death."
"I am the one who gives honor its power!"
His eyes glowed an even brighter light at this.
"I am the Night's Valor!!"
"Dimmer, in this form you have caused evil you may never forgive yourself for… I am not sure how this came about, but I will put a stop to it. Come at me if you will. Scouts, back off, you've done enough, it is time for someone else's turn."
"Hey buddy you don't know what you're dealing with!" Jupiter called out to the new arrival before Mars pulled her back by her shoulder.
"Huh? What's up Mars?"
"Let him help Jupiter, we can still win this. Let him, I sure he knows what he's doing, even more than any of us…"
"What do you mean?"
"Everybody! Listen to Valor! Back off!" Sailor Mars left Jupiter's question unanswered.
"Sailor Mars…" Mercury looked up at the new arrival, "Are..." She looked back at Dimmer, "Are you sure?"
"Come on, girls you heard the man! Every body back!" Mars immediately turned around to try to herd the other scouts out of area of the fight. Everyone hopped clear as Mars broke them out of the small trance they were in.
"Hurry scouts," Valor looked at the beast as it stared confusedly around, trying to figure out what was happening, "I will not have you deaths on my conscience again, leave, I can handle this, you've brought him this far, and I'll take him the rest of the way. Your victory was already won the day, if you'll allow it, I shall have mine."
Mercury looked to Valor than back to the wolf. They both stood silently judging the other's strengths and weaknesses... "Be careful Valor, Dimmer… He doesn't know what he's doing…"
Valor smiled towards Mercury. He knew… he heard... She didn't know how he heard, she had said it under her breath. But he knew all the same. She turned to jump away.
Venus scooped up the mooncats before jumping off, and Mars helped Jupiter away. Jupiter looked around suddenly, "Hey, wait a minute, Where's Sailor Moon?"
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"Dimmer, transformed as you are, you may just destroy everything we all hold dear. Fate's plan has been set, and that form, has holds no purpose in it, your actions, have breached the cycle beyond unnoticeable repair, and as Fate's servant..!" Night's Valor took a pose, "I will punish you!"
Sailor Venus blinked… "He stole Serena's line…"
Valor Charged head long toward the beast, bring his palms to face down toward the ground, collecting light from all the sources around it. The street lamps to the sides of the bench flickered, and went out, and lightning lit up the sky.
He was happy to see the new person charge at him, a fight. That wasn't confusing at all. He jumped for his throat.
"Super Nova!" A large bright blue blast left a large gaping trench right through the ground, it left a large freshly made crater in which the wolf sat in the middle of, and shook its out its fur, and slowly got up, more then a little sizzled.
"Looks like you have me at a disadvantage wolf. Inside a city like this I can't use my full power. I'd level it. Come on then," Valor smiled, as he walked calmly toward it, "we'll do this hand to hand."
The wolf howled in rage and charged, claws swiping through Valor's body like they did through Talenite's illusions. Suddenly Valor was behind the wolf, levitating like he was laying on a bed, looking almost bored… He pulled on the wolf's tail.
He growled and barked at him. Furious at his taunting, he clawed, swiped, and bit at him with all the speed it could gather. It was still nowhere near enough. This thing was worse than that Chad thing he battled before.
Finally he stood still long enough to block one of the wolf's blows. Valor finally looked impressed as it brought his strength into bare.
"Woah, you're a strong one…" He grunted out straining against the wolf. Both of their arms were shaking under the muscle strain, then suddenly Valor's gave way, The wolf laughed inside as Valor flew back making a much larger clearing in the trees than before, then lying in a crater of his own.
He got up and dusted himself off, smiling brightly.
"Wow, I haven't met someone physically stronger than me since that world with the monkey kid and... well… never mind, but still… pretty impressive Dimmer. But it will take much more than pure brute strength to defeat me. I may have to go out a little further than I first thought…"
Valor looked up at the injured scouts, with a sorrowful glance…You have done much to harm those you care most about. I feel sorry for you creature. Our kind were protectors of nature at one time, a force of nature in itself, but this is not a world for our transformations any more. To prove it I'll use a force of nature to bring you down.
Lightning flashed showing a view of the clouds above Valor starting to swirl about. A huge amount of energy was coming from them, and little sparks of lightning started to surround them looking like the storm cloud held so much energy inside that it couldn't hold all of it.
Below Valor was slowly moving his arms in circular motions like he was controlling the clouds.
The wolf looked silent up until now, waiting for this new enemy to make a move. Like a wild dog, the wolf had slowly circled his prey, snarling and making grotesque growls toward him. His prey ignored it, and all the while continued with what it was doing. The wolf couldn't help but be cautious, this thing had already shown it was quite dangerous. This one also confused him, its scent. It smelled exactly like itself, which should be impossible, nothing had the exact same scent, but this one, there was no difference between it, and its own scent. Only his had more of an aura of power…The wolf was getting impatient, if it wasn't going to make a move than he would. The wolf sprinted full speed at him arms fully extended ready for anything that might come his way.
Valor looked up, his eyes glowing much more he opened his mouth, "ELENDIL!! LEND ME YOUR POWER!!"
Just before the wolf had gotten in striking distance a large bolt of lightning came down from the storm clouds, draining them of the incredible power and formed a lightning bolt shaped sword in Valor's hands. It sparked almost viscously in his hands, casting out an immense heat all around it. He simply raised it up to block the wolf's claws with it.
A sudden impact and the wolf was launched backwards, landing on its head in an awkward angle before rolling away for a couple more yards. Elendil? Who was that?! Why? Why call out her name?! Why would the light lend him her power? Artemis was the only one who had such control over light… ! Why?! HOW DID HE KNOW HER?! He didn't understand, it couldn't be real… He shakily got back to his feet… His head hurt, what was going on?!
"GIVE BACK MY BODY, MY BODY!!! GIVE IT BACK!"The voice was back! How? It had eaten, but still the voice had come back. Was it getting stronger? First Artemis, than this… No! He wouldn't accept this, he would protect this world like Artemis had asked of him! These humans, and the other ones, they were all trespassing, and out of control, destroying her heart! Her love! He wouldn't allow it, couldn't allow it! It howled with the rage of the thunder as it met its enemy in lightning. Once again it sprung at Valor, and once again it was blocked, and blown back.
"Stop this Dimmer, It's over…" Valor looked on at the wolf's confusion in pity as it once again stood up shakily.
"MY BODY! MY BODY! MY BODY! MY BODY! GIVE IT BAAAAAACK!!!!!!"
The sudden barrage inside its head had the wolf fall to its knees holding its head in its hands in a useless attempt at covering its ears. It looked up to see Valor's first offensive maneuver, the sword struck with the speed and power of the lightning it was formed from. It sent the wolf flying back into the spot where Talenite's body lie.
There the wolf watched as Sailor Moon was holding what was left of Talenite's body in her arms and crying against Tuxedo Mask as he held her… Talenite had no scent of life in him.
"He sacrificed himself in the end Darien… He didn't have to, he didn't even really want to fight, but he… Sniff… he…" She went back to crying. Tuxedo Mask's powerful persona had been vanquished for the time being, so Darien stood beside her, holding the little girl in his own arms. He tried to comfort Sailor Moon, trying to convince her to move silently. Even in this form where he was less battered than what Tuxedo Mask was, it appeared that his jaw was still broken, and he still had many open wounds from where he had taken the blows for both Sailor Moon, and Sailor Jupiter. One of his hands were completely limp from where the wolf had crushed it. "Why..?"
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Dimmer sat in darkness. It was only a whisper yet it echoed all around him. He hadn't even tried to speak much for a while. He tried at first, but the echoing darkness had nearly driven him mad with his own whispers. He screamed so much when he first transformed. Trying his best not to hurt the scouts, he screamed so loud that every now and than he could still hear the echoes of those screams even after this two weeks has past. Often he found himself suddenly awake from the deepest sleep at a spoken word said throughout the week at some point. Sometimes he caught himself having a conversation with his own earlier whispers. He thought it better just not to speak at all, before he was driven completely insane…
Something else had stolen his mind, his body! Yet there was nothing he could do about it. He searched throughout the never-ending darkness only to find nothing. He walked in silence and nothing changed except the echoes of his footsteps started to get annoying, so eventually he decided just to sit. So he sat. All hope lost, everything he was… lost… lost in this endless blackness…
He sat until it happened, the darkness around him started to fade. Was the blackness weakening? At first it was only whispers, he was scared to have to hear himself again sometime in the next week. But the darkness began to fade even more, so he got much louder, until he was once again screaming at the creature at the top of his lungs, not to hurt his friends. For the most part he couldn't tell what he was doing, seeing, smelling, touching, or hearing, but sometimes a feeling of familiarity crept over him, and he knew, he knew he was fighting them. A sudden bad taste in his mouth though, and the darkness came back even thicker than before. Dimmer found himself on hands and knees, crying in the darkness. He didn't want anymore darkness. He had seen enough of it in his life. He was so close…
"Why didn't it work? It's all I can do, I was so close!"
He pounded his fist into whatever surface he was on. He could feel the tears start to trickle again. He felt so weak… so frail… so… not himself…
"What else can I do?" He wept into his hands. "I've tried everything…"
"No you haven't."
The response had him up and looking around. Was he hearing things? Hearing his own whispers from before? The voice was so quiet though, it sounded low, and almost growled it out. He knew that voice, but from where?
"Who's there?"
"You know who I am."
"I mean it tell me! If you don't I won't say another word. I won't be driven insane by this foolishness, I've already been forsaken here. Isn't that enough?"
"You know who I am, I am the one 'you' have forsaken. A part of yourself you no longer wished to have, so you threw me away. But I'll always be here. I reside in this darkness, this solitude… this silence. This is that part of you, you have forsaken."
"Sundown?"
"I am he. I am you. I am both."
"Then why haven't you spoken earlier?" Dimmer looked around at the empty darkness cautiously.
"Because I am silence. That is what I do. Besides, I was the one forsaken, why should I help you?"
"Well what did you expect me to do? You were making my life miserable. The dark attitude, the pain, the misery, and depression that come along with you. I can't handle them."
"You sound just like him."
"Like who?"
"Yourself." The voice chuckled.
"Agh!" Dimmer pushed his hair back in frustration, unconsciously tugging on it, "Then what do you want if you don't want to help?"
"I've noticed you make much more noise recently. It's annoying, and disturbing the sacredness of this place in the far reaches of your soul."
"Hmph, so you just came to tell me to shut up then?"
"Yes."
"…" Dimmer blinked… that was abrupt. "Well than no. Especially now that I know that you're here."
"Very well I will leave then. You can have my home here."
"Leave? Wait! How do you leave?"
"Isn't it obvious? Follow the light."
"But there is no light here… only darkness…"
"This is your soul Dimmer, there is light that exists here. In fact an unimaginable power lies in you and that place of light. I will lead you to it if you'll but do me but one favor."
"Depends on the favor."
"Even I like to see the light every now and than. Let me out. Let me fight. Train me. Train me like you do yourself."
"I gave you up for a reason."
"You gave me up because I am the embodiment of your pain, misery, and sufferings."
"See? You really are smart. I won't let you rule my life again."
"I don't want to rule it, just become a part of it once more. Dimmer, does not every life have suffering, misery and pain? You're going through it right now. Despite getting rid of me."
"Well, I guess you have a point… The dagger will still work?"
"The dagger is a physical item. A magical item with the power to combine souls and power, but after it has been used it is just another magical trinket. It has bestowed you with lifetimes upon lifetimes of experience in fighting, languages, abilities, and anything else one person can learn. An extremely powerful individual combined his soul to ours. He was old and wise, and knew much. This has allowed you such innate abilities as your learning and teaching others. You see he knows everything you do and has done it at least ten thousand times each before. You learn from instinct, from his experience in having done it so much. That man is part of us, just as much as you or I are ourselves. His are the memories I hold that you cannot see. You've never needed the dagger to summon me. It just… helps…"
"How? Who? When? This doesn't make any sense!"
"When you were just a child, your first time being one. His name, is Arkand. Just as yours is, and through magic of course, how else?"
"I combined my soul with … myself?
"See you really are smart?" Sundown chuckled, "Who better to combine your soul with."
"I just don't understand any of this."
"It will come." He laughed "in 'time'".
"How come you know so much?" Dimmer shook his head…
"Because I know you. I've wandered through the furthest depths of your soul. I continually search your soul to help give you your beliefs and answers to life's many questions, and it's meaning."
"But that's just something I do…"
"I am you."
"So my misery and pain is what does my soul searching too?"
"What reason would you have to search yourself otherwise? If you never had pain, you would already have the perfect life, and no need to search yourself."
"I see…"
"Have you decided if I'm important enough to be let out?"
"Yes… I want to feel all of life, even it's pain."
"I don't know if you'll still feel that way after I lead you away from here. There is much pain that awaits you. Even more than before."
"It doesn't matter… I just want to be… myself…."
"That will take time yet. It is good, though, that you have seen that this is what you need. But part of our self has been stolen from us."
"What?!"
"We have 2/3 our memory between us, I don't know what you know, and you do not remember what I do, but than there's …"
"Valor." Dimmer interrupted
"He has spoken to you of this before hasn't he?"
"Yes."
"He doesn't really know who I am, we are opposites. I am your black, he is your white."
"Than what am I?"
"The fighting point. The part we both want to win over in agreement, and I have won, due to his ignorance. Dimmer, you are our life, our body."
"What do you mean? You've won me?"
"No, not that. You are me, it's impossible for us to win, in the end we three must all win in order to succeed. We must win him over to our side. Our side against Fate!"
"Hey! Wait a minute! I ain't going up against Fate! I've been fighting to restore that mess I caused thank you."
"You don't understand yet, but when you leave here you will, I'll help you too. You must still make that decision. For yourself, but I know you Dimmer. I've always been here inside of you, you will decide to go against fate, you will join me."
"Don't mind if I leave that decision up in the air, or as it is until you get me outta this place do you?" Dimmer smirked as he watched shadows suddenly form into the well-known dark figure of Sundown.
Sundown looked up at Dimmer from under his hat. Dimmer imagined he could see an identical smirk to his own underneath Sundown's scarf as he replied.
"Not at all."
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The wolf once again stood. It narrowed its eyes as Night's Valor came charging through the trees. This blow was meant to end this, but he couldn't see Darien and Serena there. Or Emily…. Wait? How did he know their names? It didn't matter. He had to stop that blade! If he judged the sprint right, and the intent, the next blow would end him, and most of the surrounding area!
Valor charged, the wolf was weak, Dimmer was stronger than he thought he would be... He was stronger than his own transformation was! Once Dimmer joined him, it would be a simple matter to get rid of and forcing Sundown to join them and once again become whole. Fate himself had to step in to stop him when he had become a werewolf so long ago. Beryl, never knew what hit her. But it was the foolishness on his part that allowed Beryl to get that far. He couldn't forgive himself for letting the scouts die like that back then. Why hadn't he listened? Setsy, The Council of Fate itself, everything told him, not to get involved… And it cost all of his friends lives before he paid them any heed…
After The guardian of time, and the Council of Fate, had restored everything back to the way it should be, he never regretted taking their memories and leaving Rei behind. Her life was more important than his own selfish desires of being with her. Once this was over, he knew Dimmer would agree with that. After all Dimmer was him wasn't he?
Fate had more power than just weaving the threads of lives, much more power. But now Valor was even stronger than Fate himself when it came to power. Not by much but still…
Eternities of the training he had went into mastering the new power of space. Only he knew it, he was special. He had no idea why he could use it, he just knew he could, and his wings had made him even more powerful, when his wings were out, he was invincible. The wings of Valor, from them he received his name. Dimmer would join Fate, Fate would be restored, and Rei would be allowed to live, without the pain of memories of a love she would never be able to have.
But before all that… first the wolf…
"Yaugh!" Valor suddenly jumped up from the full sprint he was in, and brought down the sword of Elendil, like a bolt of lightning smashing down against the wolf.
But just as sudden the wolf's claws came up in a large thunderclap of power of his own, catching the sword between its claws. Just an inch away from its snout, the wolf growled and snarled in pain as currents of powerful electricity ran through its body. Still holding the blade with both its hands it slowly stood up.
"Amazing…" Valor looked on at a creature with such a high pain tolerance it could hold a pure lightning bolt by its tail end, and have the stubbornness not to let go! He noticed Sailor Moon and Darien watching the fight in awe and terror. The wolf was trying to protect them!
That meant Dimmer was getting some control back! But how?!
He decided it didn't matter. This could be the chance he was looking for. His only other plan was the same as the scouts, and what Fate did to him. To wear out the wolf, but, if this was the case, he could try right now!
But he would have to use his full power to do so. With the light of Elendil already being applied to the wolf, it might be enough!
Valor smiled, he was finally able to let loose, but it would have to be through her…
The scouts watched as the two titans rocked against each other. They were battered and bruised from their own battles with one of them that night. Now they watched as this titan came down and appeared to have the battle won before it began, but the wolf hadn't finished yet. At last second it jumped up and clapped its hands together around the lightning blade Valor had summoned. Arcs of white-hot light were seen jumping through the wolf's fur, and the wolf's agonized and angry roars… no… screams, were heard!
But for some reason it wouldn't let go. Then they had seen it. Their leader was still down there, crying over a lost friend. From the power these two were throwing around, it was obvious she was in danger. The scouts were there in under a second, they would never leave their leader behind, and their leader would never leave a friend.
There were no allowances, this principle was, above all, the most important held by the scouts.
"Amazing, the strength, courage, and stubbornness you have learned since I left you so long ago. I am more than a little proud to say you force me to use this Dimmer!"
The wings came out.
There is only one word that could be said about the shimmering wings that seemed to fold out from his back, beautiful. Beautiful bright white around their rims, with almost a transparent look to the bottom larger feathers.
They were the wings of an angel. There is no other description one could give. They seemed to inspire hope, love, and purity within each feather. A beautiful symbol to all who would look upon them. Each wing was twice the size of his body, and the power that came from them seemed to pulse though everyone around, there was no power that could stand up to those things, now the wolf continued to hold the sword for all it was worth. The ground was starting to break apart and in small rocks arose around them from the amount of static electricity, each rock were quickly destroyed by the jumping electric arcs that flew threw the air that surrounded the wolf and the sword.
"Sailor Moon, we have to get out of here! They might tear up the whole place at any minute!" Sailor Mars yelled urgently, grabbing her leader's hand.
"I won't. Dimmer is still there, still here! Can't you see it Rei? He's protecting us, me Darien, and now you guys too!"
As if in response to her the wolf's efforts doubled, pressing Valor's blade back towards him. The surrounding energy seemed to double, and the ground they stood on seemed to become a crater. Large deformed bumps, as if something living, seemed to crawl underneath the skin on the back of the werewolf.
Valor couldn't believe it, it couldn't be! The wolf was holding him back! That could mean only one thing! This thing had to be stopped now! There was no time! More power was needed, he looked over at the scouts, he couldn't put his full power into it like he wanted, not with people around. The scouts and most of that side of Tokyo would be wasted! His gaze focused on Sailor Moon. Than back to the wolf, then back to Sailor Moon. There was something he was missing, the winning factor that lied just beyond his reach, without the scepter and full power of the crystal she couldn't stand up to the wolf! Not like this!
He turned his gaze, once again back to the wolf. The wolf… the werewolf… THE WEREWOLF! That's it! Lyncanthropy was a disease!
"Sailor Moon! Heal him! If you ever want to see Dimmer again! You must heal him NOW!"
She looked down at Talenite, yes, didn't he say that her healing might be able to defeat the wolf, and win them back Dimmer? She stood up determinedly.
For Dimmer,
for Talenite…
She would do it.
She took the trademark stance.
She COULD do it!
"Moon! Healing! ACTIVATION!!"
The white energy surrounded the wolf completely, slowly penetrating it, slowly forming him back to a more human like form. It rained down upon it like thousands of drizzling of specs of light, outlining him in its purity and innocence.
"It's working Sailor Moon! It's working! Keep it up!" The scouts were cheering her on. Mercury and Mars were beside themselves with joy. They had seen this whole situation go from bad, to worse, to just plain frightening. Now there was a glimpse of hope, hope in the middle of devastation, and it was growing, brightening the lights in their eyes almost as bright as Valor's wings.
But it stopped, the wolf fought back, fought against the lighting in its claws, fought against the light from the scepter, fought against the light in its own heart. It wouldn't give in, not to any of them, Artemis, gave this world light, he would NEVER be destroyed by her, by her love, or by her power. He dug within himself, dug deep for power enough to survive this all, and he found it. Found them! He could feel his skin tearing along his back, as some muscles seemed to try to jut outwards
"No, I… I can't…" Sailor Moon screamed, out in warning. It was working, but he found a way to repulse it back, to defend against it, and she just didn't have the power needed to over come it, the power it was using… tremendous… she couldn't ever imagine going up against such power.
"Yes… you… CAN!" Valor growled out, try to hold the creature back. "I'll help you, we have to do it together! Throw in the last of your power, I can help it, But I can't do it alone, we must be completely synchronized!"
Sailor Moon nodded, determined to give it her all. She planted her feet in the mud.
"NOW!!" She called out suddenly, the area around her suddenly lit up with the light of her wand once more, a flash of lightning, and for a split second it almost like she was wearing a beautiful white gown, but the image was gone as fast as the lightning.
"SYNCHRO!!" Valor suddenly let go, and just as quick was over behind Sailor Moon, holding his hand over hers, wings spread out behind them both, feathers, flying around them in the powerful wind gusts it was created in the attack.
Sailor Moon fell to her knees, tired, and triumphant, for where the once hulking form of the werewolf was, now knelt Dimmer, shaking, in nothing more than the scrap of jeans that the body of the wolf had ripped apart on him weeks ago. He was slowly gasping for air.
Already formed back Amy and Rei rushed to his side, but to everyone's surprise it was Amy that got to him first hugging him dearly to her. Rei stopped slowly, letting the two have a few moments. She learned at the hospital how protective of Dimmer Amy was.
She smiled silently as she listened to Amy mumble quietly.
"It's okay Dimmer, everything is alright. My sweet Dimmer…"She whispered and kissed his forehead as she slowly rocked him back in forth.
It never ceased to amaze Rei how close those two were. Some would think that she was the one Dimmer loved. She flushed an angry red, for a moment there she was jealous, but she knew different. There was something special about those two… She stopped that line of thinking abruptly.
She had already given up Darien because she thought there was something special between Serena and him. Dimmer was hers, and she wouldn't let go of that for anybody. She walked, keeping careful not to stomp like she felt like doing, going up to Dimmer. She was about to give Amy a piece of her mind then and there, if she didn't notice something.
"Amy! Amy move!" Rei grabbed her and pulled her away from Dimmer.
"Rei! What?!"
Instead of explaining Rei just continued to stare worriedly at Dimmer. Amy looked to the other scouts to see their reactions, they all stood stunned like Rei, eyes on Dimmer. She turned to see what they were staring at.
Dimmer continued to breathe hard, and started to breathe faster, it was harder and harder to catch his breath. The pain! The agonizing pain! His bones were being strained against, his back felt like it was being torn open, like it would split in two! He could feel muscle strains in muscles he'd never used before, than he felt something back there tear….
It was the first sign of it.
The storm continued to pour down around the scouts as they watched as a small bump seemed to grow gruesomely out of his back through the moving lumps that were there. The flesh and skin tore under the strain, letting out another secret Dimmer had no idea he bore. A wing, and then the other side, another, both feathered and glowing white like Valor's. Only they were covered in globs of blood, bloodstained, and falling down into the dark, mud.
Suddenly Dimmer screamed and they extended, showering all who stood there with blood and mud. Strings of blood still attached them in the middle, some blood shining pink form the glow of the wings.
They looked broken and bent in the middle, they must have been broken at one point, and the bones were never set back in place before allowing them to heal…
Now they stood out fully for all to see. The glory of the bent and broken, mud and blood-stained, wings of Valor!
Dimmer let the muscles in his back collapse. The wings fell down, useless as they were, but still illuminated with power. He spat out blood. It didn't seem real. None of this seemed real. How would 'He' have wings? It didn't make sense, people don't come with wings, that was something off Sailor Moon, not real life! He spat out more blood, and looked around. He saw Rei, and her worried look, Amy, she was crying into her hands at the sight of his pain, the others were standing in silent awe, and terror, not sure of which one to have. Darien held Emily in his hands. They had saved the girl. That's good. He fought hard for that, then by Serena's feet… It was a body, a face, a face that still seemed to smile despite the obvious coldness of death in its eyes. It looked familiar…
It looked like Talenite…
Talenite…!
TALENITE!!
The claw marks! The mangled lower body! The Tooth marks! The bad taste in his mouth! The blood! Talenite! Oh God No… NO! NO! NONONONONO!
Dimmer's eyes widened and his pupils shrunk to small dots. The roar of a sudden burst of thunder and the flash of lightning covered his scream, making it seem like it was a silent wail into the darkest hour of the night. He fainted and fell into the mud.
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Sailor Moon Says:
"Every action has a reaction every cause an effect… good and bad alike, it's a law of life we live under. And when we commit to evil actions we all must beware the consequences of it, for it will come back to you, often much worse with time. Talenite learned this lesson the hard way, and it's kinda depressing when you think about it, because no matter who we are, we've all done stuff we shouldn't have, and we did it willingly… But remember it goes the same for the good we've done too! No matter how bad the things we've done in life are, and how bad our life can seem, everyone has done some good too, and it will come back for you, and not everything is what you take it for at first, watch out for those blessings in disguise! Sailor Moon says!
Next time on:
Sailor Moon
A Change in Fate: Dimmer Chronicles!
Valor's explanation!
A lost friend awakes.
Greg, in relation to Dimmer?
All there in the next episode!
Sleeping Angels…
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Reality Check:
Mike steadied himself. No one was sure if this would work. The virtual reality made it seem like he really was at Munroe park, Dimmer's old hang out spot when he lived with them. It made him feel kinda lonely, he hadn't been down to Munroe unless Dimmer was with him. They created this place in hopes to help lure him here. They wouldn't really be able to have physical contact with him, they said. Just mentally.
They needed more information on his wings to do any more then they have done for now. They picked the person he was closest to in this world to be the one to contact him. Looks like someone remembered he was anti social before all this.
So now Mike waited. His body was inside some weird chamber filled with some chemical mixed fluids. Everyone had there fingers crossed. They planned to contact Dimmer through his dreams after he had turned back from the wolf. Mike was nervous, did he even remember him now? He hadn't appeared on the show for a very long time, but that didn't mean Dimmer wasn't thinking about them… did it?
"Dimmer…" Mike watched the show as Dimmer fell asleep, it didn't take more then 10 minutes after he fell asleep to end up in front of him. Finally, now his friend he had missed for so long stood right in front of him, and he couldn't think of what to say. Dimmer was looking around curiously, then he noticed him, and walked over to him. There were tears in his eyes as he managed to blurt out two words in greeting, two words that showed everything Dimmer meant to him, words they'd used towards each other in fun, nicknames they had for each other…
"'Ey dirt."
"'Ey bitch." Dimmer smiled as he replied, it was a smile happier then Mike ever remembered seeing on that face.
Mike wasn't the one to invade anyone's personal space, he felt weird whenever he got too close to people. Knowing it never stopped Dimmer though, it was proven again now as Mike was forced into a hug.
"Is it really you, Mike? Or am I just dreaming again?" He heard Dimmer's whisper as he felt himself hug start to hug back.
"It's me." Mike couldn't keep the tears from his eyes as he held him. It was going to hurt to tell him the truth, so he didn't tell him, he'd find out for himself when he awoke anyway. For now it wasn't a dream, for this moment it was real, and for now they were together again.
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Review Responses:
Penguin: G.I. Jooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Hart: heh…. Uhh… yeah… updated…. Soon… uuuh right… did I mention I moved to Halifax and haven't had internet for a month, and had final project the month before that? Uuh? No? Uuuh… yeah I know. Gary = suck.
But hey I updated! And it's the end of this overused fight scene too! And yet … another cliff hanger… hmm.. getting good at those… I don't think Mike's gonna have a big affect on the SM universe, as he is his own. So no need to worry 'bout that one. But to ease yer pain, of finding this fic if the rating does get down, it's one of the longest in the SM category, so ya can search there too.
I think this one went a bit too DBZ for my liking, I'll definitely try to tone it away from that.
And I'll be looking for a long review next time to make up for deleted one eh? Hehehe! Peace!
Lily Haven: sorry to keep ya waiting so long lily, shouldn't happen again. It's awesome you've enjoyed the fic thus far, but horrible you've discovered my evil secret to it…
You weren't supposed to notice the jokes have gradually disappeared and the story's turned over to angst yet!!
Of course I couldn't put a lot of jokes in the fight vs the werewolf, but they'll start coming back after this no worries. Unfortunately they'll never completely be back to the way they were either. Ya see this fic is really, REALLY coming close to its end and so all the self confidence gaining, courageous, big surprises, and unrivalled by any other scenes part of this fic are coming up now. On the other hand I do know of at least two certain chapters left that'll be full of good times and laughs, now just to think them up…
Great, now I have to think up more jokes… hey Serena goes to some hot springs to relax with her family in one of those later episodes right? Hmm… well I do see some crazy antics of funnies in the semi near future, but this and the next chap have already been written, think ya can hold out 'til than? I hope so, thanks for following the story all this way so far, and i hope you enjoyed this chap, despite the lack of comedy therein ;;
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Endnotes:
Finished my digital animation course! So no more tests and projects getting in the way of this fic, yay! Already found a job in animation and moved into a place to get it, so no job hunts needed, to get in the way of this fic yay!
These two actions didn't take long to say but took well over 2 months to complete, which is the reason this fic is 'that' late being updated.
No more excuses allowed, my sleeves are rolled up and I'm getting to work on this baby, with any luck she'll be finished before the summer's out. Peace everyone!