Disclaimer: I do not own anyone from "CardCaptor Sakura". They are all owned by the ladies of CLAMP who are much more talented than I. (smile) I also do not own anyone from "Sailor Moon". They are all owned by Takeuchi Naoko whose vision will live eternally. (smile) (Much to Elflina's dismay...) All other characters are my own. Feel free to steal them.
I do not hold chapters ransom for reviews, but I sure appreciate compliments, constructive criticism, and grammatical corrections. So if you feel like it, please press that little review button, and let me know what you think.
Ooo... To have mercy or not... This chapter is only two pages long. Very, very short. And I don't think the next one is much longer. I don't really remember why I did it this way, but I think it was because of the drastic change of scene. And a short bout of writer's block and extended travel.
Hmmm... I think I'll split the difference. Instead of giving you all two chapters tonight, I'll give you one tonight and one tomorrow night. (smile) Feel free to stick pins in your "Raya Light" doll. Only one of them would work, and she wouldn't be sticking in pins for this story, hahaha...
Six reviews once more. Yeah! And one from a first time (for me) reviewer. Welcome to IchikoKitsuneKoumori! And greetings to aserene, xo Concrete Angel ox (haha, don't worry, I do that myself even without sugar!), Mangaka-chan, and yaoifanboy. And REEEEEE! What're you doin' in here? (grin) I finally tempted you with that excellent Minako story, didn't I? ( -- not written by me) No fair giving away plots and twists and turns, okay? Like you would anyway... Yes, minna, the infamous Ree has finally joined fanfiction dot net.
Interesting question, Mangaka-chan, as always. (abashed grin) Actually, I thought it meant something else. When I read your question, I decided to go look it up just to double check. I was originally going to use Aether or Ether (the medium through which light travels), not Ethos (a distinguishing characteristic or guiding belief). I didn't think Ether sounded as good, and I thought Ethos meant pretty much the same thing (that which the universe is made from). Since it doesn't, guess I'm going to have to change that, too. Thanks for the catch!
And now, for today's little snack. Enjoy, minna! - Raya
Moonlit Sakura
Chapter 38 – Journey's End
Queen Fey fought fiercely to keep her mind centered on King Necro and Earth. The energy drain of the emergency teleportation spell was beginning to sap her partially recovered reserves, but she knew the dangers of falling out of transit early. As an old tree faded into view, she gave a sigh of relief. King Wisp's cry of astonishment and consternation as he stumbled and flailed his arms made it fade quickly, however.
As she reached out to steady him, she looked around rapidly, and suddenly felt herself stumble over something on the ground. She blinked as she recognized the barely conscious form of her orange haired partner.
"Necro!" Queen Fey exclaimed as she quickly knelt beside him. "What happened?" She and King Wisp looked around the shrine area defensively, searching for attackers.
"Did… Did I get them?" King Necro whispered faintly as he struggled feebly to sit up.
"Who?" Queen Fey asked as she turned her attention back to him. Gently, she put her arm under his shoulders and helped him to sit up. "There isn't anyone here now."
"Except her," King Wisp corrected. He pointed towards the pink haired girl lying stilly under the tree.
When King Necro saw her, he began to struggle frantically for his wand. "The… princess… Help me! … Help me get rid of her now!" Just as his hand found the wand, he heard a low growl and felt a sharp pain which made him cry out and release it. The three of them watched in shock as the princess' cat snatched the wand up in her mouth and drug it out of reach. Blood began to slowly seep from the scratch on King Necro's hand.
"My cat!" King Wisp cried out happily. His expression darkened a moment later. "Hey, give that back."
"I am not your cat," it spat in reply. "And I certainly will not give this back!"
"Yes, you will," Queen Fey said with a threatening tone in her voice. The cat's eyes grew wide as she exerted her control over it. "Bring it here," she commanded.
Slowly, fighting every millimeter of the way, the cat lowered its head and reached for the wand. Suddenly, just as its mouth was about to close upon it, it raised its left front paw and batted it far away.
"Why you…" Queen Fey snarled as she clenched her hands. The cat cried out in pain as she made its nerves zing in punishment. "Now go get it and bring it here!"
"Di… Diana?" a voice called out weakly.
King Necro looked towards the princess and made a snap decision. "Help me now!" he ordered as he began to drain energy from his partners and the grey cat. As they cried out in shock and protest, he continued. "We can't let her regain her strength! Give me your energy so I can destroy her!"
"Diana!" Lady called out as she pushed herself up to her knees and reached for her adviser. "Stop it! Diana!"
"Small… La… dy…" Diana gasped as she collapsed.
"No! Diana! Diana!" Lady yelled her eyes wide with panic. Somehow, she managed to push herself back up to her feet as King Wisp and Queen Fey sank weakly to the ground.
King Necro rose also, and held his hand out towards his wand. Immediately, it flew back to his grasp. "You are mine now, Princess," he said triumphantly as he pointed it towards her.
Lady tore her eyes from Diana, and stared at him. 'No choice. I'll have to use the Crystal,' she thought to herself as the fear on her face slowly transformed into a look of determination. Deep inside, she felt a small flutter of panic. 'My energy level is pretty low, but if I focus, I can cleanse him before I pass out. Hopefully… Hopefully, Mercury and the rest will make it back by the time the other two recover.'
King Necro felt himself pause at the look in his adversary's eyes. He watched as she slowly reached up and pulled a jeweled pendant out of her top. "A focus stone? How quaint," he quipped as a sense of unease crept into his mind. Something about the stone and her eyes told him that this would be her last, ultimate attack. Given their previous fights, he wasn't too sure he could last long against something that powerful.
Lady ignored him as she raised her Pink Moon Crystal in front of her and concentrated. The ground around her feet began to glow, and her eyes widened in shock as white power streamed towards her from all corners of the shrine. A pink light rose up and surrounded her, and then faded into her skin.
Princess Lady Serenity let the Crystal fall back to its place over her heart. Her eyes had a far away look as the light triggered a recent memory.
Ami looked directly into Lady's dark pink eyes. "You are strong enough to bring us all back on your own if you need to." She smiled encouragingly. "Just shine. Shine with all the brightness of the Moon, Earth, and Sun when the time is right, and be a beacon of love and hope for us."
"A beacon," she said softly as she focused on her adversary once more.
"Beacon? For what?" King Necro asked curiously. He continued almost snidely. "All of your protectors are gone. There is no one to guide. Even your cat is out."
"You will not win," she said resolutely as her eyes flicked quickly to Diana and then back to him. She reached out with her right hand and grasped the scepter that appeared in front of her.
He laughed coldly as she raised it defensively. "They're dead, Princess," he said sneering the last word with obvious hatred. "All of them. Who will protect you now?"
"They're not dead,' Princess Lady replied firmly. "I will find them and bring them back. And then…"
With a wave of his dark wooden wand, King Necro cut her off. A dark, ugly black light flew out of the wand towards her, but she blocked it with her scepter. She winced in pain, but managed to hold it steady. As he threw another attack at her, she narrowed her eyes.
'A beacon of love and hope. I'm here! Home is this way!' she thought to her lost family and friends. "Moon… Power…" she said softly as a bright light surrounded her. Her three adversaries winced and reached up to protect their eyes. 'Hurry… I can't hold it much longer! Hurry... Mama…' With her left hand she once again lifted her Crystal in front of her. "Pink… Moon… Pow…"
She stopped as another bright light appeared. Every color of the rainbow swirled and circled in a giant sphere, and then faded away to reveal a small group of travelers in its heart. The tall, white haired angel and the strange golden cat with wings immediately caught everyone's attention.
"The Princess…" a soft voice said wonderingly.