The final chapter before the epilogue! It is a bit bittersweet... I mean, I had so much fun writing this story because it was so easy to write...aside from the potential maiming from you the readers for past chapters, but it was still fun...

Elphie Muse: Do you need a tissue?

Yes...:sniffle:...oh well...all good things must come to an end I suppose...

Elphie Muse: You still have the epilogue to write.

Oh yeah. But still! It's sad that the readers won't have updates to this story to look forward to. Isn't is sad? Isn't it enough to make you cry?

Elphie Muse: Yes it is, but who knows? There could always be a sequel inspiration...

REALLY?

Elphie Muse: Only if you get more reviews.

Once you're done reading this chapter review! Review like you've never reviewed before!...or something!

Elphie Muse: -.-;;;;

Erm...I'll let you get on with the story so I don't get hurt...

I own nothing...

!WARNING! There is some violence in this chapter, mostly done to Sam.

Elphie Muse: Do you hate Sam or something?

No...she's just my favorite character and I know she can dish back several times over.

Sam: Damn skippy!

Elphie Muse: I give up...

Victory is mine!

Stewie (of Family Guy): You shall pay for stealing my line! For every line you steal from me, I shall kill you.

Um...readers go...read...before this gets more out of hand...

Ja'aku grinned at the defeated Senshi. "Hardly a challenge," he said lazily. "You people are nothing without Phoenix."

"Whatever you've done to her, I swear I'll…" Apollo began.

"I've not done a thing…yet," Ja'aku grinned. He snapped his fingers and Phoenix appeared facedown on the ground, still unconscious. "You see, I want you to see what I'm going to do to her," he explained. He waved his hand and walls shot up around them. A roof formed overhead as nearby buildings fell in pieces to the lava. A cage engulfed the ten fighters and untransformed them.

Jack watched as chains snaked around Phoenix and hoisted her into the air. She slowly opened her eyes and looked around. "What…" she began.

"Get out of here!" Jack yelled.

"She can't," Ja'aku chuckled. "Those chains prevent her from using her powers." He walked over to a newly formed table and picked up something up. He walked over to Phoenix. Her eyes widened at the sight of the leather whip. Ten tendrils extended out from the handle, glass and metal shards jutting out from the braided cords.

"You can't!" Usagi cried.

"Only a coward tortures helpless people!" Makoto snarled.

"Or those with ultimate power because they can," Ja'aku said. "If you do not shut up, you will share her fate."

"It's all right guys," Phoenix said. "He won't break me."

"We shall see," he said. He strolled around to her back, a cruel smile on his face. He lifted his arm and brought the whip crashing down. Phoenix grunted in pain. Ja'aku brought the whip down again, this time harder. Phoenix locked her jaw to keep from crying out as he continued to strike her. After five minutes, he finally stopped. Phoenix's back was a mess of shredded flesh and blood.

"Very impressive," Ja'aku commented.

"Do I get…a gold star?" Phoenix asked trying not to pass out from bloodloss.

He shook his head, clearly enjoying himself. He tossed the whip aside and picked up a metal band that fit over his fist. Phoenix lifted her head, tossing some of her hair out of her face. Ja'aku cocked his hand back and viciously struck her across the face. She timed the blow and turned her head with it, taking some of the force out of it. She felt a cut on her lip with tongue and spat to the side.

"Stop it please!" Usagi begged. "Can't you see that we're not a threat now?"

Ja'aku picked a rod up off of the table and walked to the cage. "Did it ever occur to you that I don't care?"

Usagi's eyes narrowed. "Stop now while you can and give up!"

He threw his head back and laughed. "I am a god!" he roared. "You cannot kill me!" He pressed the rod into Usagi's abdomen and she screamed in pain.

Haruka was first to rush to the bars and tried to wrestle the pain stick away. She managed to get the torture device away from Usagi at the cost of being its victim. After several long moments Ja'aku retracted the device and walked away, leaving the defeated warriors alone.

"Haruka!" Michiru cried, cradling the blonde's head as she gasped desperately for breath, her muscles still seizing.

"Listen to my voice!" Jack ordered. "Focus on your breathing. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out."

She did as he instructed and her body slowly came back under her control. "How did you know how to do that?" Ami asked.

"She's not the first person here it's been done to," he said. He moved over to Usagi and told her to do the same thing.

"Phoenix, are you okay?" Hotaru asked.

"Pea…peachy…" she forced out.

"We need to get out of here," Minako said.

"How?" Setsuna asked.

They fell silent as Ja'aku returned, a cold smirk on his face. "Have a nice rest?" he asked with a laugh.

"You might as well give up," Phoenix said. "I won't break."

He shook his head slowly. "I now know your weakness little girl," he sneered.

"Oh really?" she asked with more bravado than she felt.

"Oh yes," he said. "I'd do it myself, but since I want to watch you beg for mercy, I brought an old…friend of yours back."

Phoenix frowned and opened her mouth to say something when a figure walked into the room. "Who's that?" Rei asked.

"Some guy with dark curly hair," Makoto said.

"Oh crap…" Jack muttered.

"Hello Colonel Carter," the figure said in a cold voice. "I thought you never expected to see me again."

Phoenix let out a small laugh. "I know he's not real. RepliCarter killed him over a year ago."

"I brought him back," Ja'aku grinned.

Phoenix's brave mask slipped. "You…you couldn't have…" she whispered.

"He did," Fifth said, stepping forward. He reached out and cupped her face with his hand. "And now it is time for you to suffer."

"Fifth don't…please…" Phoenix whispered.

"I can," he snapped. He lifted his right hand and his fingers extended. They reached inside her head and she shut her eyes tightly.

"What's he doing?" Usagi asked.

"Torturing her mind," Jack snarled. "He'll find it isn't easily broken."

Phoenix gasped as Fifth removed his hand. "Fifth…if you don't stop…Ja'aku will kill you! He's only using you!"

"I don't care," Fifth said coldly. "I only care about making you suffer for what you did to me." He drove his hand back inside her head. After several minutes he removed it. "You will feel the pain I feel."

"Fifth, I feel the pain of the entire galaxy! You think you're pain or the pain you can make me feel will cause me to break?" Phoenix asked.

"I'm not finished yet," the Replicator said. He plunged his fingers back into head. Her eyes shut tightly as she gasped and whimpered.

"Stop it!" Jack shouted.

Fifth removed his hand. "I will enjoy torturing you next." He turned back to Phoenix and reached out.

She flinched away, tears sliding down her face. "Please…no…please…" she whispered, sobs racking her body. Fifth and Ja'aku grinned in triumph.

"You bastards!" Jack roared, glaring angrily at them.

Ieyui…nobomenou…renmiri…yojuyogo… Hasatekanae… Kutamae…

(Pray, saviour. Dream, Child of Prayer. Forever and ever. Bring us peace)

Everyone fell silent as the words echoed throughout the room. The six words kept repeating. "What…what is that?" Hotaru asked.

"It's…beautiful…" Ami whispered.

"Look!" Rei exclaimed and pointed at Phoenix.

White wisps were floating around her, keeping the two evil men at bay. Some of the spirits melded with the wounds on Phoenix's back and the burns on her face. The wounds healed slightly. As the song continued, more and more spirits appeared and surrounded Phoenix.

Without warning, they rose into the air and as one, melded with Phoenix. The chains holding her broke but she did not fall. Her outfit mended itself and turned pure white. She opened her eyes revealing glowing white orbs. She raised one hand and Fifth vanished in a bolt of pure energy.

"Imp…impossible!" Ja'aku stammered.

"The time has come for you to die," Phoenix said, an echo to her voice from the spirits. "Surrender."

"Never! I am a god! This world is mine!" he roared.

"No longer!" Phoenix thundered. She flung her hands out, palms down. The entire city was engulfed in white light, blinding everyone and everything.

As their vision cleared, the nine Senshi and Jack saw that the city had been restored. The lava was gone, buildings were complete, and a group of people lay in the middle of the park they were in.

Usagi gasped. "Mamoru!" she cried. She ran over to him and flung herself into his arms. Tears slid down her face. "I thought you…" she sobbed, unable to go on.

"I'm all right," he said, holding her close.

"Yeah but…what happened?" Haruka asked.

"Phoenix must've found a way to merge with those…spirits and destroyed Ja'aku, returning the city to normal," Ami mused.

"Then where's Phoenix?" Jack asked. They fell silent and looked around. Jack lifted his gaze to the warm sun, praying that Sam was alive.

Sam: How could you end it right there?

There's still the epilogue! So until then, review! And who knows? Maybe I'll be inspired to do a sequel or something...ooohhh...I might have a good idea for it, but I need reviews to hold onto the idea...

And since I only got two, TWO! reviews last chapter, no epilogue till I get back from home. But to SithLibrarian and Darth Tater, much thanks. Your gold stars are on the way...now I just need gold stars...

Elphie Muse: Ahem. I have a suggestion:Whispers to author:

Ahh...good idea. With advice from Elphie Muse, I shall post the epilogue today if I get equal to or greater thanseven reviews. If I do not, you will have to wait for the epilogue. That and I'll kidnap the entire world's supply of cookies and Jell-O (all colors).

Sam: Not the Jell-O!

Then tell them to review.

Sam: Review! Review like you've never reviewed before! Please! Save the blue Jell-O!