I don't own sailor moon
A/n-This is definitely the longest chapter I have wrote in a long time thanks to my awesome co-creator sailor silver ladybug I hope you all enjoy it please review, kudos follow whatever
Chapter 17 - our solemn hour part 2
Sailor Moon stood speechless for a minute, just looking at the new transformation. It was beautiful, yes. Unexpected, not at all. She was, after all, due to become queen after the cataclysm. Knowing the earth would be put into a great freeze soon is what scared her. Would the family and friends who were not magical be okay, perhaps put into a stasis bubble like themselves, so they would survive?
The thought of how many that would not survive the cataclysm sent a shiver down her spine. Just how many would they have to bury?
Sailor Saturn looked at her counterpart and squeezed her hand. "It will work out Usa," she whispered. Sailor Moon nodded.
"I don't want people to die Saturn," she said, her voice wobbling.
"New people will be born, and not just children of royals but lots of citizens as well," Pluto spoke gently.
"Let's focus on the now," Tuxedo Kamen added.
Sailor Moon nodded. "Hai, lets focus on the now," she replied, and they moved forward.
Meanwhile in the hidden remnants
Sailor Mars held tightly to West Knight's hand. As the second in command when it was just the Inner Senshi, the princess gave her and Jadeite the lead on the mission that would not involve them in the forthcoming battle. It had hurt at first, but people needed to be saved.
Jupiter looked around. Sailor Mars was taking leadership well on the outside, but Jupiter could feel the anxiety coming off the young woman in waves. She had never been in a first leader position, but being an empath like the others, plus the soul link, she felt it as if the feelings were her own.
Mercury had her visor down, While South Knight was looking for potential weakness in the structure, they had four people to save and that was as many he could remember. He only hoped they could save them as Sailor Moon defeated Wiseman. They had the creation crystals, as well as two other crystals in Blue Moon Knight and Sun Knight.
She only hoped they were not insane.
"Here." South Knight said.
Jupiter knew her cue. "Jupiter Coconut Cyclone!" Soon they were all coughing at the dust Jupiter kicked up, but quickly got over it as a dim light illuminated five crystal chambers. They had found them.
"Let's get them healed," South Knight whispered, staring at the trapped men with horror written all over his face.
They teleported to Elysion where both the oracles signified they wanted to stay there, so just bane, paden and Agate returned with the other senshi and shittenou as new life knight. Animalis knight and pure light knight once the soul link was complete
On the surface
Ail and Fiore paced. They were the last line of defence if Wiseman broke out of the dark kingdom. An was soothing a very anxious pair of wolf cubs. She looked at her mates and was fearful for them. Even though she was now human, after Mother saving Akane, who had chosen to stay with Grandma 'Kuko, she still held her deepest fears down unless Usagi was around.
Having only completed the Soul-Bond less than a month before, she didn't understand why her monthly cycle had only lasted three days until she went to Ami's mother who took her blood and confirmed what Hotaru had only discovered a day before. She was indeed carrying a couple of the next generation of the Makai. She cried out mentally to the children of the Makai who had stayed behind. Hopefully soon Mother would have some more of her children back.
"This stinks. I don't get why we have to stay behind," Ail muttered.
Fiore turned on his co-mate. "Be thankful you weren't around when he was here the first time. Pluto died. I was still new here so I stayed with the family as my powers were too weak to go to the far-flung future."
"Shadowman had a hold of us, but didn't come out of hiding until they came back. You would have been dead if he had."
An groaned. Why were the male of her species so stubborn? She stood with the cubs in both arms. "Listen to you two, fighting like children. You're worse than Akane was as a toddler!" Both men shut up. She had never said a word out of place since she was healed, unless she was well and truly annoyed.
"An?" Ail asked quietly.
An bit her lip. She had been with Ail the longest. She wasn't sure what to say next.
"We cannot help what happened with Shadow Man, but he is gone. At least for now. I hope it stays that way. We are growing in number and form rapidly. We will be strong, even if it means for the time being we are the last called." The two young men nodded. Fiore raised a brow even though he was in agreement. Just two days before she would have conked the two boys' heads together in fury because her mates were fighting. He embraced her and felt everything, including the two lives now growing inside her womb.
"You're pregnant?" He asked in wonder.
She nodded, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I was going to get Ikuko-mama help me prepare a special meal for the two of you after Usa defeated Wiseman, but you two know how to test my temper," she said with a watery grin.
"We need a wedding and soon." Ail was no longer annoyed, he was overjoyed. He was going to be a parent.
Dark kingdom
The group was complete. The others had been awakened and healed, the Oracle and the children were safe in Elysion, and everyone surrounding her was ready to fight. They would do what had to be done to save the Earth. Not that it would last long. She could feel something bigger coming, even though she couldn't put words to what she sensed.
Sailor Moon bit her lip as she tried to feel everyone in the Soul Link. The Bond the group shared grew stronger over time, as they grew closer as friends, learned to trust one another, and helped each other. Now, before the battle, she reached out in her mind, feeling along the length of that link to be sure everyone was in place, was safe, and was ready. She could feel a mix of fear and readiness that was perfect for keeping her friends alive.
"Let's go," she said softly.
As sailor Moon and the warriors moved forward, Wiseman cackled. "These fools won't realize how strong I have become until it is too late," he murmured to himself as he threw out dark energy at the young fools who thought themselves heroes.
The Senshi felt the wash of energy but thought nothing of it until Venus screamed and fell to the ground in agony, writhing in pain. Then the others followed. The only two standing were Sailor Moon and Sailor Saturn, both being protected by forcefield emanating from their wombs to protect their unborn babies.
The Shittenou and the other male warriors fell to the ground next. Wise man cackled.
"Blue Moon Knight! Tuxedo Kamen!" both women cried out to their loves, a feeling of horror overwhelming them as they felt the pain through the bond. It was overwhelming. Sailor Moon wasn't sure the others could survive the pain for long. It was as though their muscles were cramping, trying to draw in on themselves. It grew worse by the second. If they were to have any help at all, something drastic would need to be done.
"So it leaves just us three," Wiseman said darkly, looking as though he had already won.
"Don't Wiseman. You have no idea how strong we are together. We will completely and utterly destroy you if we become one," Sailor moon warned.
Wiseman laughed. "You didn't before, and now you will die for proclaiming you can."
The last remaining Senshi looked at one another and nodded. There was still another option. This was a last resort plan, not even their soulmates knew of this. The two Senshi put their Eternal Tiara and Silence Glaive together and began chanting. "Oh Goddesses of the Moon and of Death and Rebirth, we call on Celeste, our shared ancestor. Let us become one, to forever defeat this evil."
Wiseman gasped as the two young women, still surrounded by their protective forcefields, grasped hands and moved even closer to one another. For just a moment he saw them hug, and then the light grew unbearable and he was forced to look away. When he judged it safe, he turned his gaze back to the girls and gasped.
There was just one being facing wiseman. The woman had hair and eyes that were pure-, inky black, with skin so white he could imagine fresh snow would seem filthy beside it. Long, slim fingers grasped a single weapon, which looked like an ancient weapon forged from bronze, shaped like a star. She wore a long flowing gown of blue, silver, and purple that almost seemed pock-marked, like the surface of the moon, but as the woman moved, it changed, giving him a glance of the skies of Saturn.
Confusion tried to eat at Wiseman for a moment. He did not know of this being, nor did he know how to fight such a creature. She was beauty incarnate, and every inch a warrior.
"Celeste?" Pluto gasped, eyes wide in her face as she stared at the embodiment of an ancient ancestor she also shared, but had never expected to see.
The woman nodded, her eyes solemn. "My descendants have called on me," she said, her voice like the chimes that Usagi's mother had put in their garden. It was a strange, light, tinkling sound that a person felt all the way to their bones.
"But you will become two separate people again won't you?" Blue moon knight gasped, unable to really state what he was afraid of.
"If this goes well," Celeste murmured, her forcefield deflecting wisemans attacks without her noticing. She smiled and reached out a hand to her loves, who were both staring at them, then turned.
"Mother," she cried out mentally to the great tree, still on earth.
"Oh kami," Mother cried out.
"Heal them," Celeste pleaded, looking at her fallen warriors.
Soon Healing energy was washing over all the warriors and they all climbed slowly to their feet again, ready to fight. The energy was of earth, which meant the strongest of it went to Tuxedo Kamen, and to Blue Moon Knight, who both moved to stand at Celeste's shoulders.
"No!" Wiseman raged, even though he couldn't be heard through the shimmering forcefield. Droids suddenly surrounded them, made much stronger than they were used to. The other warriors formed into teams, protecting the goddess that was still facing Wiseman.
Suddenly, Wiseman was no longer before them. Tuxedo Kamen turned in every direction, but could not see the massive form of the robed man anywhere. "I think he's fled," he said incredulously. He could not believe the man would run. It did not bode well for the warriors. "We have to go after them."
The battle continued as they moved closer and closer to the fortress. Each of them fought one droid after another, not able to do much more than take a step or two forward after each battle. Never had they seen so many at once, or so strong. And the closer they came to the fortress, the weaker they grew as tiny black crystals littered the ground around it.
"Stop," Sailor Mercury cried, realizing what was happening. "Wait a minute. Zo, I need you."
Sailor Mars and West Knight moved close to the pair and began fighting the droids who were attacking them, letting the rest of the group continue with the others. Soon, Mercury and South Knight were standing together, him behind with his arms wrapped around her waist and one hand outstretched in front holding his sword, while Mercury wrapped both hands around his wrist. "Ready," she whispered, only heard by West Knight, who was very close.
"Ice Age!" the couple screamed. A blizzard of snow and ice flew from the tip of the sword with a speed that was unmatched by anything they had seen on the earth. Shards of ice like blades swept over the ground before them, knocking away the tiny pieces of crystal, and knocking the droids off their feet into heaps.
Mars and West Knight both flung out attacks of flame to destroy the droids. In only moments they were standing in front of the doors to the fortress, unimpeded. "Wow," West Knight murmured, staring at the short bluenette and his brother. "Remind me not to piss you two off. Let's go," he added, grinning, and reached for the door.
On Earth
Ail and Fiore looked out into the ocean in front of them. It was growing chillier by the minute. Something glinting in the fading light caught Fiore's eyes as the dark blue ocean colour of the deep night was turning inky black with dark energy.
"An, go protect Mother, and help her form a barrier," he ordered the young woman at his side.
An nodded and teleported with the cubs in her arms. Mother seemed frantic.
"Mother, what on earth is wrong?" she asked through the mental link she had with her creator.
"Celeste has appeared," she gasped.
An gaped, remembering the story Mother had told them when they were still young children. "Thats not good, not good at all" An started pacing
"Child, they will become Usagi and Hotaru again," Mother soothed as she tried to calm her daughter.
"As long as Wiseman does not kill her first," An replied, tears forming in her eyes. She didn't want to lose them.
"She has never been defeated dear child. Only by her own weapon," mother spoke calmly.
An nodded, knowing where her mother was going. The young woman had died by her own weapon. She wasn't sure how, but the most obvious made her want to fall into a maelstrom of tears.
"An, we need to protect the citizens of earth," Mother said, preventing her child from collapsing into tears.
She nodded and put the pups onto Mother's roots and hugged her tightly. She felt the rise of energy and tasted sweet flowing water, the sugary rich flavor of honeysuckle, and felt the touch of soft rose petals over her face. It was energy straight from the earth itself. She helped form a barrier, spinning the energy into a web that quickly encased the earth.
Back with Ail and Fiore
The two young men felt the barrier raise finally, but why was their mate preventing a maelstrom of emotion flying forward?
The pair jumped into the ocean. The only two of their species that could go down without oxygen as their life came from mother in small trickles and they had An's help as if she was breathing for them, it was easier than it would have been for a human, even of the Senshi variety. Soon their eyes adjusted to the darkness and Ail thankful they had been tied into the soul link so the dark energy could not corrupt them.
As they swam the object grew closer and the two young warriors began throwing their energy at it. Every time the pure earth energy hit the thing, which looked a bit like a Crystal, it cracked and cracked until eventually it disappeared into nothing but stardust.
At the Battle
How much time had passed since they'd entered the fortress, Venus couldn't guess. Immediately they had been overwhelmed with visions of those they had failed to protect. Visions that screamed out at them for help, or accused them of not doing enough to save them. Almost immediately the others had begun to shrink in on themselves, feeling the weight of a guilt that could never be shaken. Venus wasn't about to have that. These weren't really the spirits of those they had lost. Even the dead could feel love, and these were empty. Made to impersonate the dead only. A trap.
"It isn't real!" she turned to Kunzite, but North Knight was kneeling on the hard stone floor, his face a rictus of grief and pain she could hardly begin to imagine. She knew there were wounds she hadn't yet touched, but this was horrible. There had to be something she could do. Spinning, she saw a black Crystal hanging over the door.
Pluto, who had been silent even in the grief of refacing those she had already lost, searched for anything to lift her out of the pain of watching her bloodied parents beg for her to save them. She wasn't even sure those were their true faces. She didn't even know their names. It was too much. When she saw Venus turn, she focused all of her attention on the younger Senshi, and saw the moment she realized the cause.
Pluto stood, enraged by what Wiseman had done to her, and more importantly, to the ones she loved. She let out a scream of rage and lifted her weapon in a smooth arc that knocked the Crystal down. She watched it fall, feeling as though time had slowed for just a moment, and then breathed a sigh of relief when it shattered on the stone tiles below.
"Enough!" she shouted, anger overwhelming the pain, making it easier to push the pain away and fight. "Come and face us Wiseman," she jeered, "unless you are too weak and pathetic to handle a bunch of half-grown warriors." An enraged scream echoed around the room, reverberating back to them so loudly Pluto was forced to cover her ears.
"It is time," Celeste said, the chime of her voice breaking through the echoing scream and making all the warriors turn towards her. "This is the end of it." She looked utterly sad as she turned to stare at Wiseman. "I can save you," she said, her voice softer now, as though she already knew his response. "Let me try," she pleaded.
"Never," Wiseman spat. He moved closer, floating over the ground in his cloak, his hidden face never leaving Celeste. "No, instead, I think I will turn you into my hound. You will be nothing more than a dog chasing after the scraps I give you."
He thought to anger Celeste, but she was not of the world and could not feel the anger he wanted of her. She was pure, as she had been at the time of her Creation, when all beings knew their purpose. She was love. A special kind of love that grew between sisters, or very close friends. She was peace, kindness, joy, light, and understanding. She was healing.
"I am sorry," she whispered, closing her eyes at the pain of losing a soul, even one turned so black as his. "I am so, very sorry." Her arms raised, lowering the shimmering sleeves that covered them. The arms were wrapped in some sort of glowing tattoo, that showed the image of a dragon, coiled around her wrists.
"Dragon of Death, come to my call," she whispered. "Dragon of Life, come to my call."
The shimmering, glowing tattoos writhed over her skin for a long moment before turning into smoke, rising over the goddess and flapping massive wings that were far too large even for the massive entrance chamber they were in. The dragons themselves were hardly more than mist, but they existed. One, which seemed more purple than the other, flew sinuously over their heads and towards Wiseman, whose hood had fallen to reveal his ancient face.
Wiseman let out a terrified scream as the dragon launched itself towards him and swallowed him whole. Through the creature's misty visage, they could still see the wiseman, struggling against the dragon. He had no way out.
In moments, the second dragon had raced forward and when the first dragon let out a gout of purple flame, and the remnants of their enemy, the second dragon inhaled it, spinning in a circle and coming to land just before Celeste, who stood silent, tears coursing down her cheeks. He bowed his head to the Goddess, and then bent to lay a single seed on the ground at her feet with gentle teeth.
Celeste stared at the seed. It wasn't for a plant, or anything else the others would be familiar with. It glittered pink and blue in the light, and there was nothing evil about it. It was the starseed that had once belonged to a man. That man had lived a horrible life, which had turned him angry and bitter. The impotent rage he had felt had led him to what he became. It did not excuse his behavior, but Celeste understood. Now, all that was left was the starseed. There was no soul to be reborn. It was among the greatest pains she had ever felt.
Thankfully, Sailor Saturn and Sailor Moon would not realize the extent of what had been done. Her dragons, of death and rebirth, had eaten a soul. It was an ending that could not be undone or taken back. Wiseman would never be reborn. He would never get another chance to do it right. The bitter gall of that knowledge would be too much for the kind hearted girls to bear. Like Metalia, Wiseman had become unsavable. It was a pity. If he had followed his true destiny, he might have been a king.
"It is done," Celeste said, lifting her gaze to stare at the others. "Be kind to each other," she added, smiling at the group of friends and fellow warriors she already knew would one day save the Galaxy. Then, she let herself go.
Tuxedo Kamen stared in wonder at the two young Senshi who replaced Celeste. She had been both young and ancient, but to him, the soulmate returned was far better. He knew young Blue Moon Knight felt the same as he had launched himself at Saturn the moment she reappeared. For himself, he wrapped an arm around Sailor Moon and pulled her close. It was good to be reminded just how much he loved and needed her.
"That was different," Venus said, bending to pick up the starseed. "I was expecting a Crystal,"
Sailor Moon nodded, staring at the seed. She knew more than Celeste would have wanted. She knew the seed was empty. There was no hope of bringing Wiseman back. Still, there was always hope for something new. She happened to know a little secret Natsume had only learned that morning. The Starseed would come in handy in less than seven months.
"Let's go to Elysion," Sailor moon whispered, trying to hide the sadness she still felt.
"Usa," she paused at the sound of Saturn's voice. The young woman stood in front of her and looked into her eyes. She could see the questions swirling there, just under the surface.
"I'm okay," she whispered.
Saturn nodded and went back to Blue Moon Knight, who whispered, "what was that about?"
"I was just making sure her eyes had gone back to her normal coloring. The last time we did that…" she paused, letting out a tiny cough. "Well, lets just say Celeste was shunned, which caused her to end her own life with her weapon," she replied, feeling a little sad.
"That's awful," Mars whispered, hearing them.
Saturn nodded. "I think she remembers, as do I."
They all formed a circle and teleported to Elysion.
"Mama!" Tentomushi cried, and ran toward her mother. The other children yelled as they saw their parents, a little worse for wear, but safe.
Chibiusa wept as she hugged her mother. Celeste had made her presence known in her mind. She was only half of the puzzle, and the other half would not come for a few more years. She glanced at her aunt, who was holding tightly onto Zita and Angharad, whispering words of comfort to them.
"Is the bad man gone forever Mama?" Angharad whispered to her mother.
Hotaru nodded. "He won't ever hurt us again my sweethearts," she promised.
"We have altered the timeline. He will never come to this one again," Setsuna said, like a weight had been lifted off of her shoulders,
"That's right," Usagi said, wiping the few tears that had gathered and giving a tremulous smile.
"Maboroshi, will you go and collect our families?" Ami asked the priestess?
The priestess nodded and he disappeared. Natsume, Akane Seijuro and Tomatsu appeared first with the wolves, who ran straight to Hotaru and Shingo. Then Rei's father and grandfather, Ami's mother, then finally Usagi and Shingo's parents appeared and their friends and families that were staying safe came.
There was a big shock when Yume came out of the temple, holding two small bundles passing one to Katsuo(Rei's dad), and the other to Hotaru and Shingo, Katsuo choked, this was his son.
"My wife?", he asked.
Yume shook his head sadly. "We were able to bring him, but your wife has already gone for Rebirth. I'm sorry Senator" he said. "Do not fret," he added, smiling. "You will be joined with her again. A time will come when you see her face, hear her voice, and touch her hand. She is watching over you until then."
Katsuo wiped his eyes, hardly able to contain the overwhelming flow of emotions. Long had he hoped to hear such reassurance. Now he had his son and Rei, and he knew he would see his wife again one day.
"I'm resigning as a politician. My father's health is declining, and my son and daughter need me. I will begin training as a priest."
Rei ran up to her father. "You mean it daddy?" she asked, her eyes shimmering. He nodded, and she fell into his arms, minding her much smaller brother. He held her tight as she wept.
Hotaru and Shingo were shocked. Who was this little boy? Hotaru looked at Yume, uncertain she understood.
"Your baby brother. Its the same for your mother and father Hotaru. These two were born as twins, but will be raised as cousins, if that's okay?"
Hotaru nodded, weeping. She didn't have her mom and dad anymore, but now she had a little brother that needed her. She would pour as much love into him as she did her daughters.
"Uncle raised as our brother?" Zita asked, confused.
Hotaru gave a watery laugh. Her little daughter was smart, like her dad, but she had her moments.
Authors final word- Thank you for reading and I want to take this opportunity to wish you a safe and happy holiday season