Chapter 30: The End of Both Armies
The Scouts had no time to rest. Beryl had healed her arms and was now ordering another attack on the Palace. Sailor Mercury looked at Koaru's curse mark, and noticed that it was glowing. "Hey you guys, what is this?" the others looked at the scar, and couldn't understand it. Darien couldn't waste time. "We have to leave. If we don't, we will not have time to prepare for the next attack." The others agreed, and they all went to help the last of the soldiers heal their wounds and get their weapons.
Queen Beryl looked at the army that remained, only eight hundred Yoma left. "Not enough..." she said, then turned and opened a small portal to the Black Moon. A shadowy image appeared in the portal. "What is it?" the figure asked, sounding irritated. "I have run low on Yoma warriors. I need the Shadow Demons." The figure's eyes glowed red, then six hundred of the demons behind vanished in a blaze of black fire. Six black demons appeared, their bodies covered in black fire, their eyes glowing red, each with a bloodlust. "Good. Now, let us destroy the castle and all the humans inside!"
The Scouts were already starting the counter attack when the remaining soldiers arrived at the breach. Greg and Seifer fought side by side, while Darien and Serena once again fought back to back. Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Venus had gained a vantage point on a tower, and were now picking off the Yoma six by eight. Sailor Mercury was holding Koaru's katanas and was protecting the bodies of the dead, while Sailor Mars was burning dozens of Yoma with each of her attacks. "Well, we are winning!" one of the soldiers yelled as he watched the end of the demons appear. "That's weird," Sailor Jupiter said, "there were over six hundred Yoma at the end of the last battle, now there are less than two hundred...make that one hundred." she added as she struck eight more Yoma down with a Thunder Dragon. Venus nodded her head in agreement.
Queen Beryl entered the grounds, and saw that the Scouts had finished the last of her Yoma. She then saw Greg and Seifer rush at her, each ready to kill her. "Hmmm..." she smiled, "Child's play." she raised her hand, and it glowed black with dark fire, then suddenly Seifer and Greg's clothes and flesh were incinerated, leaving only their skeletons to clatter to the ground. Sailor Mercury watched from the side, and her blood chilled and her breathe caught in her chest. Beryl then turned her sights to Sailor Moon, who was facing her, Darien off to the side tending to a wounded soldier. "Die, Princess!" she yelled as she shot a beam of energy at Sailor Moon.
Sailor Moon screamed as the beam shot at her, then she jumped as Darien jumped in front of her, facing her. Then he tensed up and cried in pain as the beam struck him in the back. "Darien!" she screamed as he collapsed into her arms, and she looked over him, and her eyes filled with tears. The point of impact had burned a hole through his spine, and he now lay dead in her arms, blood seeping from the hole. Serena cried, tears pouring down her face.
Sailor Jupiter and Venus leapt off the tower and landed next to Sailor Mars, who was in a state of shock at the death of their friends. "Damn it, Raye, we gotta move!" Lita shouted as she grabbed Sailor Mars around the waist and pulled her towards Sailor Moon. Sailor Venus had already run over to Sailor Mercury and they were both already running over to Serena, who was still sobbing uncontrollably over Darien's body. The others attempted to separate Serena from the corpse, and after many struggles, managed to get her to release the body and follow them to the inside of the castle.
Beryl watched the Scouts retreat into the Palace, then turned to watch the few dozen soldiers who remained. "Shadow Yoma, have some fun." The six demons rushed in and had a blood fest as they slaughtered the soldiers like lambs. Beryl smiled and laughed, then gave the order. "Yoma! After the Scouts! Bathe in their blood!" The Yoma rushed into the Palace, and Beryl smiled.
"Is anyone in here!" Sailor Jupiter called as she and the other four ran through the Palace, searching for survivors. They burst into the throne room and saw Queen Serenity, Artemis and Luna sitting around the throne, all three looking relieved to see the Scouts alive. "Serena." Queen Serenity got up and rushed over to her daughter, embracing her, stroking her hair, tears flowing from her eyes. Luna and Artemis both rose to their feet. "Are we to retreat?" Luna asked. Serenity nodded her head. "Yes. Go now and hide. I will find you after the battle." The two bowed, then rushed out of the room.
Sailor Moon looked at her mother, wondering what was going on. "Serena, I must go and hide till I have enough energy to use the Crystal's full power. Can you buy me some time?" Sailor Moon nodded her head, and the other Scouts agreed as well. "Alright." Serenity rushed out of the room. Serena turned and faced the others. "Lets go."
The Shadow Yoma gathered outside the throne room, and then burst in with lightning speed. They found the room...empty. Then they found themselves being blasted out of the window, and facing a 50 foot drop. They got back up and saw their prey rushing out of the Palace, and they readied themselves for the battle.
