Special Disclaimer: Some of the following dialogue is from the episode "The Golden Queen", written by Mark Edens and Mark Zaslove, with some alterations.
Chapter Forty – One. Another Day Risen
Over a Year Ago
Rick looked down upon Jedda's sleeping form. He couldn't believe what was happening. Jedda was in this coma all because of an accident from an experiment with the Necklace of Oros that gone wrong. An experiment that he caused.
The Phantom took them to the Bandar Village to try and help Jedda. The Bandar Chief told them they did all they could do and now it was all up to Jedda.
He held her hand and with tears down his face, noticing Jedda's scarcely breathing, his voice shaking as he kissed her hand. "Don't leave us. Please, hear me, Jedda. Don't leave me."
He continued to look over her sleeping form until he dozed off himself.
The next thing Rick knew, he heard commotion coming from outside, which woke him up from his blackless sleep. He jumped to his feet and saw a group of thin, pale skinned creatures walk into the hut. He pushed down one of the guard and then kicked down another. Then Rick hit two more that came his way before placing another one in a choke hold, pulled him and flipped him over. Then he tagged another pale skinned soldier from behind.
Rick noticed a pale skinned soldier was pointing his blaster at Jedda. If he didn't act, then she would surely be killed. Without a moment to spare, Rick raised his hand to surrender before holding his head down. "Wait! Do what you want with me, just don't hurt her."
Before he knew it, Rick was in shackles and along with LJ brought to a mysterious woman who the Phantom was with at the moment. This woman with long golden hair. Was this the person that had sent those creatures here?
"Who are you?" the Phantom demanded. "What do you want?"
"I am Queen Hadea," the mysterious woman answered, "and I want the Necklace of Oros!"
-Sailor-Moon-Defenders-
Rick was wondering where Hadea was taking them. More importantly, where was Jedda? He looked behind him to see her laying unconscious on a cot. He nodded. Okay, Jedda is safe but for how long? How will she be able to be healed now?
He looked in front of him to see what appeared to be a large castle. "What is this place?"
"My kingdom, the Netherworld." Hadea answered. "This is your world now. You will never see sunlight again."
Rick sagged a bit in disbelief as they advanced further into her kingdom. This wasn't how he thought of his life would turn out. He would never see his father or Earth again and from what he seen her do so far, this woman had the power to make that happen. He had hoped there would be a way of escape.
Hadea led the prisoners to her throne room. Rick glanced around the area as it appeared to be something out of a storybook or something. He tried to see where Jedda was but the guards were pushing him forward until he was in front of their captor.
"Have the prisoners kneel before me." Hadea told her guards.
"What is it you want with us?" the Phantom demanded as the three guards surrounding them forced the three down on their knees, kneeling before her.
Arrogant witch. Rick couldn't help but to think. He managed to take a good look at her. Long golden locks, a stunning royal gown, undeniable beauty but the beauty this woman had was irrelevant to him. His concerns was getting out of here and most importantly, for Jedda's well being.
"For ten thousand years, the ruler of the Netherworld has chosen a mate from those who dwell above." Hadea explained. "It is now my turn. That is why you were spared. I have chosen my consort."
Rick glanced in disbelief as she pointed to the Phantom. "You, the one they call the Ghost Who Walks."
He glanced to see the Phantom standing up as he said. "I'm honored Queen Hadea, but this can never be."
Rick gave out a small smile of hope, maybe there was a way out of this after all.
"You refuse to be my king and to rule with me?!" Hadea exclaimed in disbelief before glancing towards her guards. "Bring the one called Jedda to me."
Rick looked in worry as Jedda was brought before the group and placed on the ground. What was she going to do to her?
"Does she belong to you, Phantom?" Hadea asked, which caused Rick to stew in anger. Who did she think she was, acting as if Jedda was a piece of property? She was a human being.
"She does not belong to anyone." the Phantom answered calmly. "She is my daughter, Jedda."
"I can sense that she is rapidly growing weaker." Hadea stated.
"I had hoped that the Bandar could save her."
Rick looked down, knowing the Bandar wasn't able to save Jedda. What could Hadea possibly do and at what cost?
"I can save her." Hadea glanced at the Phantom as she stood up from her seat. "Give me your word that you'll become my consort and I will restore her health."
"You have my word." the Phantom nodded. "I agree to your terms."
Hadea nodded before glancing at her guards again. "Take my stepdaughter to my chambers."
Rick had to scowl at the stepdaughter part as the two Netherworlders took Jedda away to the chambers in which Hadea mentioned.
"What about my young friends?" the Phantom asked.
"They will be taken to different countries." Hadea answered. "They will be given homes, jobs and spouses. Besides, Ming will see to it that there will be no Earth to return to."
"Ming?" Rick gasped in surprise. It was even more surprising was the fact that there were other countries in the Netherworld, just like Earth. He didn't want the Phantom to follow through with this. On the other hand, he wanted Jedda to be alive and well again.
"In time you will see," Hadea assured the Phantom before she left the room, "you will forget that blue sky you once knew."
Rick glanced in disbelief. "You can't sell out, Phantom!"
"I'm not selling out, Rick," the Phantom assured him, "I'm buying us time."
The Present
Rick woke up next to Jedda's side. He found everything hard to believe. Yeah, he wanted to spend his future with the woman he truly loved but he never expected things to turn out the way they were.
Just over a year ago, Rick was against spending the rest of his days living in the Netherworld under Hadea's ruling. That was because he had always had expectations for himself as his father had given him expectations as well. He still wasn't living to all of the expectations given but this seemed to be a life he could get used to.
Another part of him was still feeling conflicted by all this. Hadea was once their enemy and spent over a year ruling over the galaxy. Now, she was Empress of the Diamond Kingdom while Jedda had become queen of this kingdom. He should be happy. Grateful as well. Not only would he be safe from those that would be after his powers but he was also with the person he felt to be his true love and that was Jedda. He should rebel and be defiant as his father would but he felt held back. Something was holding him back. Why was he feeling so conflicted by all this?
"Good morning, Rick." he heard Jedda call to him.
"Jedda." Rick smiled as they both sat up.
"How did you sleep?"
"I slept okay."
"You're still trying to get used to life here." Jedda stated. Rick perked over in surprise. He could tell that she was sensing his conflict.
"I'm trying to get used to living here." Rick admitted. "It's a change and..."
"I know, Rick." Jedda gently placed a finger to his lips. "I know you're trying to get used to things around here. Give it time. I assure you things will be just fine."
She stood up as she got in her night robe. "I will need to get ready for the day. My people will be expecting me soon."
Rick smiled. "I understand."
"One of the servants will be there in case you need something." Jedda informed him.
He sighed as he stood up in his night robe. He looked down on the marble floor, wondering what the future was going to hold for him since he was now here. Was everyday going to be like this?
-Sailor-Moon-Defenders-
Usagi gave out a small smile to Chibiusa as the rest of the Sailor Guardians along with the Defenders were having a quiet breakfast. It was quiet at first because nobody knew what they were going to say. This was the first morning without Rick or Jedda as they left the team due to the circumstances with Rick's powers.
"It sure is quiet with Rick and Jedda gone." Usagi finally spoke up, breaking the silence.
"Yeah." Mamoru nodded. "They are going to be okay though. Hadea and Jedda promised that Rick would be safe."
"Are you okay, April?" Rei asked as Usagi followed her trail. She noticed April was quiet than the others.
"I'm fine." April quickly answered. "It's just...strange. It's strange not having Rick here with us now. I knew Jedda would leave the team eventually given her past situation with Hadea but Rick. It's just hard to believe."
She sighed before looking back at the others. "I woke up this morning and I looked at an old photo with us back when the Defenders of the Earth was first a team. It's fond memories."
"Things happen for a reason." Mandrake stated. "My guess is Rick was meant to be with Jedda."
"He's probably just as surprised as the rest of us." Makoto added.
"Jedda's probably surprised too." Minako nodded in agreement.
"Fate has a way of paving the paths to our destinies." Setsuna spoke up as she glanced at the others.
"We will see them again, right?" Hotaru asked.
"Of course we will." Usagi answered. "Both Rick and Jedda said they would talk to us whenever they weren't busy in the Netherworld."
"They're going to be busy for the first few weeks or so in the Netherworld." Michiru stated. "Jedda will anyway."
"That's right." Haruka added. "She's now the Queen of the Netherworld."
"What about Rick?" LJ asked.
"He's most likely her consort until they decide to get married." Minako answered. "That would be a lovely wedding!"
Chibiusa swiftly stood up. "Guys. I was originally going to return home over a year ago but that didn't happen when Hadea took control of Earth and the rest of the galaxy."
"What brings that up all of a sudden?" Lothar asked.
"Well," Chibiusa explained, "since my pink crystal materialized a few days ago, my romantic encounter with Helios and meeting my future guardians Ceres, Pallas, Juno and Vesta, I figured it's about time to return to the 30th Century for awhile."
"I definitely agree that we should tell the King and Queen about your exploits, Small Lady." Diana leapt onto Chibiusa's shoulder.
"I think it is a lovely idea, my dear." Mandrake nodded in agreement.
"I agree." Michiru nodded, showing her sign of agreement.
"That's right." Setsuna smiled. "I'm sure they'll be happy to see you."
"You're going back to your real home, Chibiusa?" Hotaru asked before letting out a groan. "Awww."
"Yeah." Kshin added. "Hotaru is right. First, we had to say goodbye to Rick and Jedda, now you too? We'll miss you."
"Don't worry," Chibiusa assured the group as she stepped away from the others, "I'll be back soon. You'll see."
"I'm going to miss you guys." said Chibiusa. "Even the Defenders of the Earth. Give my love to Rick and Jedda. Hadea as well."
"We'll do that." LJ nodded.
"That's right." April nodded in agreement.
Usagi could tell they only meant it for Rick and Jedda and not Hadea, albeit she could understand why.
"We'll miss the both of you." Ami spoke up.
"Come back and visit." Makoto added.
"You two take care of each other." Luna told the two.
"Give our best to the King and Queen, okay?" Rei glanced at her departing friends.
"We hope you have a safe journey back." Minako told her friends before glancing over at her cat who was looking the other way the entire time. "Artemis, say something will ya?"
Artemis turned around as he appeared to be crying. "Diana..."
"Father?" Diana looked at her father with confusion.
"Good grief." Minako groaned.
Usagi glanced down at her future daughter. "Chibiusa, you have everything, right?"
Chibiusa nodded with a smile on her face.
"You're welcome back anytime." Mamoru smiled at her.
Usagi held Mamoru's hand and looked on as a burst of white energy appeared before the group, which appeared to be the portal to time.
"Bye guys!" Chibiusa waved at the group. "Thanks for everything!"
She and Diana walked into the portal and vanished moments later.
"And just like that," Makoto stated, "Rick, Jedda and Chibiusa are gone."
"It's going to be even more quiet and lonely without them." Minako added.
"Don't worry." Mamoru assured everyone. "We'll see them again."
Usagi perked up as Flash stood up and left the dining room. "What's with Flash?"
"Yeah." Makoto added. "He's been the most quiet out of all of us."
"I will talk with him." Sheila stood up and left the dining room as well.
-Sailor-Moon-Defenders-
Flash entered his room. He approached an old photo on the table before picking it up. He looked to see himself and Dale standing side by side. In front of them were Rick and April when they were ten and eleven respectively. He smiled fondly of this photo, seeing this as happier times as a family. Before April left for the academy. Before Ming killed Dale. Before Rick left for the Netherworld.
Half of his family was gone. Well, his wife was dead and his son was still alive but at the Netherworld. Rick wasn't dead and he hadn't lost him. He shouldn't think that way.
"Flash? It's Sheila."
Flash stood up and turned around to see Sheila standing at the doorway, concerned.
"I must have forgotten to close the door." he stated.
"Come on, Flash." Sheila walked further into the room. "Don't be like that."
"Give me a break." Flash sighed roughly before speaking up. "It feels as if I am destined to lose my family. First, my wife dies and just yesterday, I had to say goodbye to my son."
"You haven't lost Rick." Sheila reminded him. "He isn't dead. You know that he had to stay in the Netherworld to keep evil forces like Ming and even this Galaxia from obtaining his powers."
She sighed and then looked up. "We don't know how powerful Galaxia is but it seems Hadea is our best shot in keeping your son safe."
"Didn't you remember that she caused my son to die before?!" Flash stood up in anger. "Rick turned to stone and he crumbled to dust in my arms! In my arms! If it wasn't for Jedda reviving him and the rest of the fallen, I would have lost him forever."
As Flash turned away for a moment, he could recall seeing his son turned to stone and running to him trying to save him somehow, only for Rick to literally crumble to dust in his arms. "I don't even know what I would do if that were the case."
He looked up at Sheila as she didn't really know what to say. She was there when he had to go through the traumatizing ordeal. He was trembling a bit as she walked towards him and held him in a caring embrace. "I know...well, I can't really understand what you're going through right now but Rick is alive again, right?"
Flash took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah."
"And you still have your daughter, right?"
"Yes." he nodded again. "However, there were several years when I didn't. April went away to the space academy when she was thirteen. She came back for awhile after Dale died to be there for me and Rick."
"Well," Sheila hugged him, giving him comfort, "you need to know this: you and April are not alone. You have the rest of us Defenders to support you. You also have the Sailor Guardians. We are all here for you."
"Thanks." Flash finally accepted the hug. "I'm sorry I snapped at you like that."
"It's okay." Sheila smiled. "I'm always here when you need an ear."
The two then locked hands. Flash looked over at her. She was surely nothing like her tyrant father as she was more like her twin sister as well as her younger half sister. Sheila always had reminded Flash of both Aura and Castra, and he couldn't explain why.
Before he knew it, Flash leaned forward and they both shared a kiss.
Moments later, they pulled away as Flash seemed surprised by this, so was Sheila. She appeared to be smitten as him though.
"I'll...I'll catch up with you guys in a moment." Flash told her. "Thanks again."
"Okay." Sheila nodded before she left the room. "And it's not a problem."
