As Harry's spine forcibly bent into a bow, the Death Eaters burst into hearty laughter. Usagi fought against her bonds, knowing it was useless. After all the vows, Harry was left to fight alone anyway. She closed her eyes and scowled. 'I won't let that happen.'
Her eyes reopened, searching the battlefield. The forgotten Ginzuishou shone palely among the grass, still sitting in her locket. She called for it, in her mind, but the locket did not move, did not magically float to her aid or untie her ropes. They dug into her skin until her wrists were raw and nearly bleeding, but she pulled on her hands nonetheless. Her hand was scrunched, pained, but she'd almost wriggled free of the ropes.
As she did, her whole arm jerked from the unexpected freedom, and she flexed her numb fingers trying to restore their feeling. Impatiently she worked at her knots, trying to spare her other hand. Her fingers pricked painfully, but the sound of Harry screaming in agony kept them working. Tears pricked her eyes as the raven-haired boy writhed in front of her, under Voldemort's Cruciatus Curse.
Then she was free, and she crumbled before Riddle's tombstone as her shaky legs gave out. The Death Eaters were laughing, at her or at Harry's pain, it didn't matter. Her vision blurred from tears as she stood again.
"Harry!" she screamed, and Voldemort stopped. The faint echoing of Harry's screams still echoed around the graveyard as Usagi lunged forward, trying to break the ring of Death Eaters around the two duelers. The two nearest immediately grabbed her arms and restrained her so no amount of kicking or flailing loosened their hold. Voldemort sneered at her, raising his want toward Harry again.
"Serenity, princess, what a shame. You'll have to see another friend die because of your actions." Harry stood, pressing his weight against his injured leg, and stumbling from the pain. The wall of Death Eaters laughed and pushed him back towards the center, in the line of Voldemort's wand. Usagi screamed and reached toward her locket with all the strength she had, but the men on either side of her held her back with ease.
"Harry, tell me, would you rather die before or after Serenity? Do you want to watch her die, or do you want her to watch you?" Voldemort almost hissed the last word as he smiled, an expression full of malicious intent. The evil did not fade as he watched Harry wobble in front of him, raising his wand. "I asked you a question, Harry. Imperio!"
Usagi watched Harry freeze with the spell, his wand arm falling to his side. Her mouth stretched open in a silent scream, nothing but a croak emitting from her throat. The Death Eaters that restrained her laughed as she squirmed. Her mind was reeling, thinking full force, trying to devise a plan. She looked wildly around, at the locket several feet away, the swaying Harry Potter in front of her, and the Triwizard Trophy glinting in the distance.
In her mind's eye she could see Lee, the Weasley twins, Ron and Hermione, Fleur, and everyone she'd met at Hogwarts. All the people that'd given her strength, and Helios waiting for her and Harry to return some ways away, everyone she couldn't let down. 'What most people don't know is that Veela can also use their singing voice in the same manner as the dance to capture their victims.'
The blonde felt sure her heart stopped on her, she completely stopped breathing. Her weight collapsed, and the Death Eaters holding her stumbled under the sudden weight change of their prisoner. Why hadn't she thought of it before? Why the hell didn't she do it before? She was almost upset with herself for being so stupid.
"I WON'T!" Her head lifted, it felt like it weighed twenty pounds. Harry stood rigid in front of the snarling Voldemort. Time slowed as he raised his wand, Harry mimicking, and they both shouted.
"Expelliarmus!"
"Avada Kedavra!" Usagi wanted to scream, to close her eyes, but could not will herself to blink nor whisper. The flash of green and red that followed simply blinded her, as the spells met in midair, and the explosion burned her retinas. She squinted, but still did not blink, gazing awed at the golden string that lifted her friend and the Dark Lord from the ground by their wands. As they floated, the Death Eaters followed, her restrainers dragging her with them.
Her eyes passed over the locket, and she tried to snag the chain with her shoe, but she just ended up getting her shoe covered in grass and dirt. They stopped in front of the golden web that encircled the two, Death Eaters pounding desperately at the cage-like structure. Usagi could do nothing but stare, her friend now alone with Voldemort, struggling against his bucking wand.
'Sing.' She parted her lips, trying to draw her lost voice from her vocal chords, but only managed a weak wheeze. The Death Eaters around her paid no heed as the watched the struggle going on inside the golden web. She tried to speak a second time, but her voice was still lost to her.
"Priori Incantatem." The Death Eater on her left arm whispered, causing her brow to furrow. Why did that sound familiar? All of the classes she'd taken at Hogwarts this year were a mere blur, but she was sure she'd heard the phrase before. Lifting her head again, she looked into the dome and seen the gray-like ghost of Cedric Diggory floating towards Harry.
"Hold on, Harry." The other champion said, and then it looked at her, and smiled as if to say thank you. Usagi turned back to the wand as a second figure emerged, one she did not recognize. He looked to be old, leaning heavily on a walking stick, and saying something in undertones to Harry. She couldn't concentrate, for another person was emerging from the Dark Lord's wand already, and it occurred to her then what was happening, and what would happen next.
A mane of dark, messy hair appeared, followed by a set of broad shoulders and a tuxedo-clad torso. Tears flooded her eyes as the ghost-like apparition floated to the edge of the dome, past a confused Harry, and stared straight into Usagi's clouded blue eyes. She couldn't speak, she just cried while the other senshi joined him, smiling down at her from the other side of the dome.
'Usako, sing.' Usagi choked, trying to talk over her lump in her throat, trying to do as he told.
'You can do it, Usagi.' The girls chorused. Seeing the blonde struggle, they looked at each other, and nodded. The blonde girl looked up, teary-eyed, as the sailor senshi's voices rang across the graveyard. Quietly, she joined in, until her voice grew to match theirs.
I hear the voice of my destiny call
And I know I must go find my way
The hardest part will be leaving you all
And I'll miss you much more
than words can say
A silence had fallen over the Death Eaters, their eyes were on her, and though there may have been females among them, it was working. The hands on her arms pulled her upright, and then let go. Someone placed the shimmering golden locket in her palms, but her eyes were closed, and she was still singing.
I'll be only a memory away
If you need me
You can call me any time of day
And I'll be there, It's OK
Only a memory away
Finally, Usagi peeled her eyes open. Inside the dome, beyond her friends, Harry was listening to another ghost-like person. His father, she soon realized, and he was giving him instructions. The Death Eaters that crowded around her stepped back as she raised her hands against them. The locket in her hands was open, and shining, and she was still singing.
I'll be only a memory away
If you need me
You can call me any time of day
And I'll be there, It's OK
Only a memory away
Inside the dome, Harry jerked his wand up fiercely, breaking the golden thread that attached it to Voldemort, and the dome disappeared. Her senshi immediately swooped for Voldemort, with his other victims, blocking his view. Harry ran, and grabbed her arm as he ran past, dragging her with him. Startled, her voice was cut off, and the locket in her hand dulled.
In an instant, the previously stupefied Death Eaters snapped out of their stupor. Voldemort was shrieking at them, but they were disoriented, and the spells they sent were terribly off the mark. The two of them dove towards the trophy, falling short but avoiding the spell that flew over them. Harry rolled and grabbed onto Cedric's arm, trying to drag him towards the cup as well. Usagi quickly caught on and she grabbed the other arm.
'Helios, we need a distraction.' She cried to the winged horse, sensing the enraged Voldemort coming closer. With a loud neighing sound, she saw the blur of white immediately descend upon the group of Death Eaters and Voldemort, knocking some off their feet. Beams of red and green flew towards the Pegasus, but it easily dodged in midair, diving for a second attack.
Meanwhile, Usagi and Harry had almost made it to the trophy, when they heard Voldemort's furious shout. The former looked back, seeing the barrage of attacks heading for Helios that he surely couldn't dodge.
"Helios!" She screamed, the locket around her neck bursting to life once more. A bubble appeared around the winged horse, much like the one that had shielded her and Harry before, and deflected the attacks back down to the scattering Death Eaters. Helios flew off as Usagi turned back to Harry; they both nodded, and grabbed the handles of the trophy at the same time. Just as she felt a tug somewhere behind her navel, a beam of light shot next to her, and connected with the still open golden object in her hand.
It was unlike him to be so uptight, to be so completely bent out of shape. Even Fred and George were watching him warily, not keen on the idea of getting close to their pacing friend. Leave it to Usagi to just ride away on some Pegasus without so much as a word to him, and then stay gone for hours. Every nerve in his body was shot, so when the flash of color appeared beside him, he whipped his wand out and nearly cursed it.
"Usagi?" Lee questioned in disbelief, watching as the blonde girl panted on all fours. Dumbledore was beside him, but he didn't care, he knelt down to her side. She wobbled, and then looked up at him. Pulling the locket in her hand to her chest, she moved her mouth to say something, but her voice was gone. She collapsed, limp, onto the grass.
"Usagi? Usagi! Harry, what happened to her?" Lee demanded, turning to the black-haired Gryffindor. He was in enough pain as it was, completely disoriented, and the people crowding around them were shouting, 'Cedric's dead!' Harry was still clutching the boy's dead body, and he peered over at the blonde in confusion.
"We got away, she wasn't hit. I didn't see her get hit." He muttered. Fudge shouted something about the Hospital Wing, but everyone's voice was incoherent. They began to flock around Usagi, wondering if she was dead to, and all of Lee's shaking wouldn't rouse her. Still, her chest rose and fell lightly, so she couldn't be dead.
"Lee Jordan, she's probably exhausted. You don't want to hurt her further, do you?" Dumbledore asked lowly beside him. Lee stopped shaking the girl's shoulders as the headmaster's words sank in. The elderly man turned, opened his mouth to speak, and in one swift motion rose to his feet. "Where is Harry?"
A loud neighing sound broke through the noise. Several people screamed as a white blur descended on them, some raised wands, but everyone calmed when they seen the familiar white horse land ungracefully next to the crowd of people. A light engulfed the Pegasus, until it stood on two legs as its human form. Helios pushed his way through the crowd and to Usagi's side, looking frantic.
Immediately, he grabbed for the locket in her hand and pulled it from her loose fingers. Dumbledore was long gone by now, searching for Harry with a few others, but the rest of the school was glued to the dead Cedric Diggory and unmoving Japanese girl. As Helios clicked the locket open, his face contorted with something between shock and horror. Lee leaned over to see what he was looking at, and saw the picture in the locket.
Perplexed, he looked to the other side and saw the dull crystal sitting there, a defined crack running straight up the middle. Apparently this is what'd upset the Pegasus, because he traced his finger down it and winced as Usagi screamed. Wordlessly he scooped her up and turned towards Lee.
"Lead me to the infirmary." It was pretty much a command, but Lee didn't object in the least. He simply turned on his heel and rushed towards the castle, Helios behind him. The crowd of people, unsure of what to do, agreed it might not be the best idea to follow.
"What the hell is going on?" Lee finally asked, glaring at Helios as he sat the unconscious blonde on one of the beds in the Hospital Wing. Madame Pomfrey was nowhere to be seen, and Helios had nothing to do but glare back.
"She was hit, okay? Just as Harry and she were teleporting away, she was hit. That," Helios pointed at the open locket that he'd placed back in Usagi's hands, "is the Ginzuishou. It's almost like a part of Usagi, and as you can see, it's been cracked."
"So what does that mean?" Lee asked slowly, quietly. Helios looked down at the lifeless girl, frowning.
"It means she could die."
(The end...see you next chapter! -is stoned to death- Kidding, sheesh!)
"Usagi," her blue eyes blurred the face hovering above her. She sat up shakily, feeling the hands of the person supporting her wobbling form. Usagi rubbed her eyes vigorously, until her vision was clear, and looked over at the unknown person. The familiar face smiled as the blonde's mouth dropped, and helped her to her feet.
"Rei-chan?" She asked in disbelief, staring dumbly into her friend's twinkling violet eyes. She simply nodded, laughing as Usagi pounced on her. Rei returned the embrace as Usagi shook against her, sobbing.
"Don't cry odango atama." Usagi glared indignantly, and they both stuck their tongues out at the same time. Laughing, Rei nodded her head behind the blonde, and Usagi turned. Her eyes welled up with tears once more as she studied the faces of her loyal sailor senshi.
"Am...Am I dead?" The blonde asked breathlessly, but the other girls only shook their heads.
"Usa-chan, you're still alive, but the Ginzuishou was cracked." Ami explained, stepping forward. Usagi ran over and hugged the senshi of ice before she questioned the statement.
"What does that mean?" She asked, tilting her head towards the blue-haired girl.
"We're going to have to help you if you're going to live." Minako said, grinning as Usagi launched herself towards her as well, enveloping the goddess of love in a bone-crushing hug.
"Now I'm starting to feel left out." Makoto whined from beside Minako, and then laughed as Usagi pounced on her next.
"Where's Mamoru? Chibiusa? The Outers?" The blonde questioned, looking around for them. Rei frowned slightly.
"Only us four were allowed to see you. Mamoru says he loves you. He wants you to move on and be happy. He wants you to let him go." She explained softly, frowning as Usagi's eyes brimmed with tears once more.
"We, together, can repair the Ginzuishou." Makoto said, making Usagi turn her head back to the towering brunette. There was something shining in the girl's green eyes that almost hurt.
"But Usagi, we'll only do it if you want us to." Ami offered, placing a hand on her shoulder. Usagi turned towards her, biting down on her lip.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, Usagi..."
"Do you want to live?" Rei was standing beside her now, misty-eyed despite herself. Usagi latched onto her best friend, trembling like before, and Rei hugged her back.
"I'm sorry. I should've tried harder. I should've been stronger. I'm sorry for being foolish." The blonde sobbed, feeling the arms of her other three friends circling her as well.
"Usagi, we aren't mad at you, don't ever think that." Minako said softly.
"We just want to see you happy." Ami agreed.
"I do." The blonde whispered, pulling slightly back from Rei's shoulder. "I want to live."
"That's what I wanted to hear, Odango." Rei smiled down at her, before yelling, "Mars Planet Power!"
"Venus Planet Power!"
"Mercury Planet Power!"
"Jupiter Planet Power!" The four senshi stepped back, forming a circle around her. They clasped their hands together as their auras shone. Usagi closed her eyes, her crescent moon flickering to life on her forehead. The auras around the four girls shot from them, straight at the royal birthmark.
Usagi peeled her eyelids apart. Her breaths came in low, steady gasps of air as she sat up, her head throbbing painfully. As she moved her hand to wipe her sweat-covered brow, she felt it weighed down. Peering over at the bedside, she found Lee, his top half sprawled next to where she'd been laying on the bed moments before, and his hand latched onto hers. A smile touched her lips.
When she turned her head, the grin only widened. Helios was passed out in a chair on the other side of the bed, curled up into a ball like a child. The only thing that could've made the scenario cuter would've been him sucking his thumb. In her other hand she felt the smooth metal of her locket, still clenched there for lord knows how long. The sun was just peeking through the tall windows of the Hospital Wing when Lee stirred beside her.
"Usagi?" The blonde couldn't suppress a giggle, as the boy had been in the middle of a yawn when he noticed her waking state. She nodded to his questioned, smiling brightly at Lee, who still had her hand in a death grip. Unable to contain himself, he pulled her towards him in one quick movement, holding on to her as tightly as he could.
Usagi breathed into his robes, unsure of how to react, but slowly she hugged him back. She hadn't been as close to someone in a long time, and found herself enjoying it. That is, until her breathing became difficult.
"Lee, I can't breathe." She gasped, smiling as he pulled away looking quite embarrassed.
"Sorry, but you've just been out of it for two weeks and Helios said that you could die and so--"
"Two weeks!" The blonde exclaimed, but quickly shushed as Helios stirred behind her. Lee nodded. Her head swam, considering it had only felt like ten minutes she'd been with her senshi before she woke up here. "What happened? Did they catch Voldemort? Is Harry okay?"
"Yes, Harry is fine. You'll have to ask him about the You-Know-Who thing, but not right now." Lee said firmly, recognizing the glint in the blonde's eyes as she reached for the covers. She pouted, giving him the best puppy eyes she could muster, but he was unwavering. "You almost died. I was worried. I'm not about to let you go running around Hogwarts. Besides, I'd rather have you here."
Usagi raised an eyebrow at him, but didn't have a chance to inquire before his lips claimed hers. She nearly squealed in shock, but stifled it as she closed her eyes. Her arms subconsciously wrapped around his neck, pulling them closer to each other. Before the kiss could be deepened, however, Helios coughed and the two immediately broke apart, red-faced.
"Well, well, already making out?" The Pegasus teased, laughing as Usagi swung hr pillow at his head.
"Why don't you go make out with Fleur?" She countered, effectively making Helios blush too. That was how Harry found them, all flushed like tomatoes and laughing.
"Harry!" The green-eyed boy hadn't time to blink before Usagi pounced on him. "Are you okay? What's been going on? Have they found Voldemort?"
"Um..." Harry pried the girl's arms off of him, leading her back over to the bed. With a slight sigh, he began to explain the parting of ways between Dumbledore and Fudge. Usagi listened raptly, solemnly, as he recalled the argument, the truce between Sirius and Snape, and everything else that'd happened since the night of the Third Task.
"So Voldemort is still out there?" The blonde questioned softly. Harry nodded slowly, looking quite gloomy as he stared out of the closest tall window, lost in his thoughts. "Hey now, don't look so glum. We may not have done so hot against that twerp this time, but next time we'll kick his butt!"
"What?" Harry turned back to the blonde, who was grinning like a mad woman. He chuckled to himself, shaking his head dismissively. "You're really something, you know."
"What's that supposed to mean? I'm serious!" Usagi said indignantly. Harry looked sideways at her before he grinned.
"It was a compliment."
The song lyrics used in the battle scene thing is from Sailor Moon, and it's called "Only a Memory Away." I just though it fit, so I used it.
Ohayo! Just as a warning, this is not the end! I still have one more chapter/epilogue, so don't curse me out about a crappy ending. Please. Well, at least not until next chapter. I've been listening to too much My Chemical Romance lately, so shoot me. You can thank them for the inspiration to update this story. I'm disappointed with how this went, but the more I try to fix it, the worse it gets.
Look, I'm not very happy with how this turned out, but I'd like to hear specifically what you didn't like about it. I never planned to have Usagi kill Voldemort, because as the prophecy states, that's strictly Harry's job. I think I downplayed Harry too much, but we already know everything that happened from his point of view, right? Just review with a little more than 'it was good' or 'I liked it.' I need the criticism to get better, it's all I ask. With that in mind, review!
♥SachiNyoko♥ "To be a non-conformist, you have to dress in black, and listen to the same music we do." (Goth kid, South Park)