Chapter 24: Realization
Previously
With that, a blazing shot of light was emitted from her broach. The Crystal worked its magic to relieve its Mistress from her fiery binds. Wings sprouted from her back as they supported her in the air. The light relieved the physical pain to a dull numbing sensation. Sauron's eyes mirrored his utter disbelief, for this was truly the power of Cosmos. "Cosmic Moon Power!"
--oo--
Three words sent a ripple of aftershock through the failing infrastructure of Mount Doom. The dome which had previously shielded the two adversaries collapsed and pieces of terrain fell all around them. The magic of the Imperium Silver Crystal was evident by the pulsating light on the broach of the Sailor Scout. At that moment, even Lord Sauron was spellbound by the ethereal vision before him. It was rather alluring to the see the maiden engulfed in a silver glow, her clothes now replaced by a translucent material that hugged her curves. The eight point star upon her head throbbed in sync with the Crystal. The Dark Lord knew that this was the source of the Maiden's powers.
She whispered incoherently, but in reality, she was peaking in the ancient tongue of Lunarian, lost to many except to the royal monarch from the Moon. Some of the words were actually derived from the High Language of Quenya. However, Sauron could not possible know this, and he cared not. When he saw that the female before him was about to strike, so he lunged forward, hoping to wretch the Crystal from her.
So concentrated, Cosmos neglected to protect herself. A ball of energy began to form in between the palm of her two hands when suddenly, she felt a force advancing towards her. Her eyes snapped open and her head was lurched backwards as she felt her Crystal being forcefully ripped from her. It was the second time that she felt this sensation. The first was by Fiore, the alien possessed by the evils of the Kisenian Blossom (SMR movie). However, this time, the Crystal reacted violently to the hands of Sauron while the Morgul poison within her welcomed it. She had no control over her own self like somebody was stretching inside her body. Her chest constricted by the build-up energies inside of her. Her eight point star burned into her skull and she attempted to pull the hand away from her broach.
Electricity erupted on contact, still, Sauron hanged on. With his free hand, a dagger materialized and without a thought, he jabbed it through the right side of Cosmos. He twisted the weapon in his hand. Not holding in her screams, she let out a piercing cry. Sweat formed profusely. Her eyes clouded by tears of pain. Stung in agony, as her stomach heaved. Somehow, a burst of energy shot from the Crystal in defiance and Sauron was so startled that he forced his hand away. His hand was left with the imprint of the broach. He too, was drained of energy by the workings of the Crystal.
Cosmos began to hyperventilate. Luckily, the dagger had missed her stomach, but no doubt, the wound would be infected . She would continue to bleed internally if the dagger was not pulled out. On the other hand, she would die from the massive blood loss from the open wound. In either case, it was a lose-lose situation. Without a second thought, she bit down on her tongue as she wrapped her hands around the hilt of the dagger and pulled out the weapon. Blood flowed freely as it ran down her legs and she paid no heed to the sticky fluid, at least now, she would not have the nagging sensation of having a weapon inside her. Morgul poison was taking over her sense and her wings began to shed blackened feathers. Her head felt as though it was swimming and she fought for consciousness. She wielded her Crystal to heal slightly but strengthen her stamina and whatever willpower that she still possessed. She commanded herself to stay aloft.
Sauron recovered faster than the Moon Princess because the surrounding elements lent him strength. All of a sudden without warning, he hoped to finish her off. However, Cosmos had anticipated this and in fact, she was prepared. "Cosmic Moon Power," she called as she conjured her Lunarian sword. She gripped the weapon tightly in her hand, forgetting the injury in her shoulder. Sauron was caught off guard by the sword that was wrought with the magic of the Crystal and that of the incantation the Cosmos had uttered earlier. She aimed for his head but in a shuffle, he held a firm grip around her neck.
No, she was too close to be defeated. Still fuelled by Cosmetic energies, she pulled the Uranian blade from her subspace pocket and plunged it into his side. Then without hesitation but with the perfect precision and grace, she ran her blade into his heart. Out of shock and impulse, he took a hold of her wrist. At that moment, all the boulders that they somehow had managed to dodge or missed, one struck Cosmos in the back. As she fell, she was pulled down by Sauron's grip on her. The Dark Lord uttered in his dying breaths, "I shall destroy you yet ... she-Mortal."
"I care not, for you shall die by my blade."
Both convictions ran true, for Sauron himself had lost too much in his last attempts. The Maiden made true of her word as her magic was spent and blood still flowed from her many wounds. The poison in her had taken over any physical assertions. She felt her spirit leaving her body behind but in her mind, she was content for she had not failed this time. Her renewed understanding made her 'sacrifice' that much more meaningful for she would leave the world with hope. She had fulfilled destiny's plan for her but instilling a second chance into the hands of the survivors of Middle Earth.
In a flash of purple and green, she closed her eyes and uttered a phrase ...
--oo--
The skies around them seemed to darken still if that was still possible. At times, there were a series of lightning from where the Dark Towers were situated. Those looking beyond the Dark Lands prayed for the safety of one Lady Serenity. Out of the blue, Legolas felt a jolt as his hands which went up to his head. His body shook uncontrollably as the pounding in his head attempted to swallow him whole. He struggled as each breath that he took became labourious and tortured his lungs. He was crouched in such a fetal position that others did not know how to approach him.
Only Aragorn dared to venture to help the Elven Prince. However, as the Man put his hands around the Elf's shoulder, his body reacted in a similar fashion. Aragorn closed his eyes hoping to wield away the pain. His legs buckled from underneath him as he sank on top of the Elf and succumbed into unconsciousness.
--oo--
Legolas opened his eyes, still glazed as he tried to register where he was. No longer was he at the fields of the Great Battle, but he found himself inside the very fortress of Mount Doom. What was peculiar was that the fire balls and boulders was suspended in mid air. The Elf was compelled to move away for fear pieces from the structure would fall upon him. Even the fires of Mount Doom that would usually churn remained motionless.
"Never would I find myself here," said a voice beside him. Legolas was slightly startled but he relaxed when he recognized that to be Aragorn.
"Inside Mount Doom," the Man continued, "only some time before Frodo and Sam had escaped from here. Isildur himself had been in this very caverns. Yet, everything is as still as a snapshot taken in a moment of time."
"I do not understand it either, mellon nin," answered the Elf.
"That is because I have stopped time," replied a voice from behind.
The two whipped around and gasped at the site of Serena who had reverted from her Cosmos incarnation. Her blond hair was unrivalled and clung to her like a second skin. Deep gashes ran down the side of her arms and thigh. Both Legolas and Aragorn could count every wound on her body that she was taken from the battle. Her dress was comparable to the colour of rich wine, mostly from the blood loss from her stomach. Without Aragorn's expertise in healing, they could see that she was much too pale, and there was a part around her neck that was particular discoloured. It was around the area where Sauron had held her.
Legolas immediately ran toward her but she raised her hand up in alarm to stop him in his tracks, "No, you cannot touch me," she cried desperately.
"Why ... how can you ask me to do this ..."
Her face softened in apology to the Elven Prince. "I have committed a forbidden act in stopping time. The Sailor Scout of Time, Sailor Pluto shall perish after uttering this command."
"And you?" asked Aragorn.
"I never told you why I came to Middle Earth," she said, ignoring the question for the moment.
Her voice was so soft that even Legolas struggled to hear her with his Elven hearing and it was even harder for Aragorn, though he had grown up with Elves.
"My friends and I fought in a battle under the pretense very much like this one. Chaos sought to destroy and take over the entire universe by stealing the very life source of its people, mainly Sailor Scouts. Chaos came to Earth because of the power that I hold, a rare sort of purity quite desirable to those who seek world domination. I had sealed Chaos into the hearts of the people. My friends was lost in the process, for they sacrificed themselves to protect and retain that peace for the people of that dimension. I made a wish in search of a place where I belong. The Crystal brought me to Middle Earth for its origins was here. Lunarians were a group of Elves that were first driven out by the Dark Forces of Middle Earth, so in fact, Lunarians were once Elves."
Their shock was evident but before either of them could interrupt, she continued. "I realized that destiny bids me to fight for the future of the people. No matter how grim, there is always hope like my friends who chose to sacrifice themselves for peace. I too belong in the hearts of the people, forever alive in their memory. Whether or not I used Pluto's attack, I shall perish along with Lord Sauron."
She felt the effects of the spell waning but she strained and begged Cronus himself for more time. Both Aragorn and Legolas wanted to say something but they were too caught up in the moment to do so. The female before them seemed to age another hundred years but she was still in the body comparable to a eighteen year old human.
"You were right, Aragorn, son of Arathorn. Our destinies were intertwined. Do not hesitate and never doubt the strength inside you. You have great wisdom to lead the people of Middle Earth. I fight for hope, Estel." He looked at her, surprised by the Elvish word that she had used. She smiled knowingly, "Legolas once told me," she answered his unspoken question.
At the mention of his name, the Elf could not help to utter a choke cry. "I made a promise," he said, "now I doubt I can keep my word."
They were both tempted to rush to each other, but that would break the spell. "Do not despair, please Legolas. I shall always be a part of you. Remember, I put a bit of my magic in your bow and it shall sing in my memory."
"Then I shall shoot a thousand arrows and a thousand more each day to keep you near."
"Middle Earth still needs you, as do your friends. Live for hope, Legolas and for each new day that life brings."
"My days will be darkened without you."
Her eyes glazed, betraying all her longing. "The spell shall end soon. I must teleport you both back. My body is exhausted from the blood loss and no longer can my magic sustained me even if I could survive the Morgul poison inside me. I leave knowing that Middle Earth has a real chance. I shall miss you, my friends, please make the others understand. Legolas, the light lies within your memories and my love will never falter as long as you have hope. I am with you always in spirit."
She blew a kiss to him and both Man and Elf felt the pull of consciousness. Legolas caressed a part on his cheek and whispered, "You grant me strength, Serenity. I shall fight to keep that hope alive for you."
He did not know whether he spoke this out loud or merely in his mind, but nonetheless, she could finally rest from her duties.
--oo--
Time resumed its course as both Sauron and Cosmos plummeted into the depths of Mount Doom. On impact, silver and gold erupted, beams shot outwards. A single beacon from the tower shot up into the darkened skies. There was a break in the skies as silver rain fell. Both Legolas and Aragorn were awaken by the soft sprays. They knew it was a sign of renewal and way to mark the sacrifice of the Moon Princess for hope.
"The structure of Mount Doom has crumbled," remarked Eomer. The soldier of the Mark felt that he had been cleaned by the downpour. Though he could not explain the phenomenon, he knew it was the magic of a certain Lady.
"Yes, as it is as she had said ... for hope ...a new day ..." whispered Legolas with a faraway look on his face.
He made no other comments as he went off on his own, ignoring the eyes who followed his abrupt departure. Nobody could blame him and none followed him, no matter how much they wanted to. Aragorn only hoped that his friend made good on his promise and not fall into despair.
"The lass is not coming back," stated Gimli. His words seemed to put reality into perspective. He shook his head and turned in the direction of where the Elf had ran off, "This will tear that Elf from the inside. He shall place all blame upon himself."
"She sacrificed herself because she had faith in Middle Earth, when all seemed to fail. It was her destiny and even in her final moments, she thought of her friends. You shall be revered always in our memories, Crown Daughter, Princess Serenity of the Moon, Monarch of the Silver Millennium, Serena Tsukino, Lady Serenity, Protector of the Last Crown, lover of all humanity. On this day, I Aragorn, son of Arathorn take this pledge as the Ruler of Men in the name of peace."
He unleashed his sword as it glittered in the sunlight. The rain stopped and the sun rays came forth to bless him in his pledge. All onlookers realized that Serena had heard him as well.
End of Chapter 24
I can't believe that I can update so quickly. I think it is the feeling of the fic coming to an end, with only one more chapter to go. I am already penning the next one. The feeling is almost surreal. Yes, this is the ending that I had always envisioned from the very beginning. What did you think about it?
Also, I just want to take a moment to thank all my reviewers and make note that I revised the last chap for easier reading. No major changes, just a lot of spelling and grammar proof reads.
GemJewel: Hopefully this chapter will answer some of those questions. If not, hopefully the next one will bring some sort of resolution.
ejqHorseLady: Thank you for your review. I am so sorry to have spell your name wrong. I did revise the last chap and I have corrected my mistake.
JeRee: lol. I know it was a cliff but I did update asap. Hope you liked this chap.
MidnightDragonShadow: I think this chap will answer your questions. Yes, she is Cosmos and she herself truly embraced that destiny.
messiah of fate: Thank you so much! I think you were the 200th reviewer...
Llamrei: begins a tug of war fighting for Leggy I don't think so, Legolas is mine and besides, who's older. Yup that's what I thought ... Revise the last chapter and hopefully this one is slightly better but no guarantees. LoL. Hyperness IS fun!
Special thanks also goes to Crystal-Winter, Lady Light, Parasite Eve, Henio, koosei. You are all very kind to have reviewed. Some of your compliments about the last chap being one of the best were very much appreciated. Keep reading and don't forget to r/r.
