Hello everyone! Have you all missed me? I've missed me... I know, I know you all probably hate me for not updating at all in the last few months. But things got really hectic in my personal life. Can you forgive me? Please? T_T If not, I understand, it's rude of me to keep you all in suspense when there has been so many good comments and praise for the story! Anyways, I wont chatter for long, leave a review if you would like! I love hearing from you guys on what you think. ^^ Love, Hanna.
Chapter 7: All Around Us
Mamoru raised his hand and slapped Usagi across the face, sending the poor woman to her bum. Usagi let out a yelp that left Chibiusa -standing alone now- frightened. In the distance she could hear this man's own family shouting in terror at the action of Mamoru. "Why did you do that?!" Chibiusa shrieked and backed away slowly from the crazed look in his eyes as he regarded her.
"It's her fault I am such a mess these days," he chuckled nonchalantly. "It's her fault, and that damn bastard Seiya… those two screwed while I was trapped in Galaxia's clutches… Sailor Moon, the great and powerful Princess of the Moon couldn't even rescue her beloved, let alone realize he wasn't in America," Mamoru spat in disgust. "Instead, she had to get freaky with the Alien and look what happened… your older sister came along. And then there was you. Its like Destiny was playing games on me and pissing on what little I had left. Its like its laughing at me for being unable to defend myself against something I didn't even know existed. I think it would have been much better if you were never born to that bastard. You were MY daughter!" Mamoru shouted and moved forward, gripping the front of the pink haired teen's coat.
"Ow you're hurting me let go!" Chibiusa struggled and kicked out, but Mamoru's grip was unfaltering. "Mom! Mom!"
"That's right call to your slut of a mother," he laughed maniacally and raised the poor girl off her feet before moving to toss her aside. Chibiusa flew with a shriek through the air and landed hard on the snow packed ground 5 feet away from the pathway. She panted, having the breath knocked out of her. To her dismay, Mamoru wasn't done and he slowly walked towards the helpless girl.
"M-mom…" Chibiusa tried again but her voice barely carried over a few feet. Usagi attempted to raise herself from the ground, holding her cheek. Her face was stricken with shock and tears spilled over her eyelids.
"Get away from her!" Usagi cried out and clambered to her feet.
"And what are you gonna do? Weak, petty Sailor Moon?" Mamoru chuckled and turned her gaze back to the young girl below him. "I should just do away with you right now, to save me from having the knowledge that you came from that bastards loins."
Chibiusa slid further back, her hands cut by the ground below her. She moved until her back came in contact with a tree, and then the true fear sunk in. She had no where to go, and no means of escape. "Mom help me!"
"There is nothing your weakling mother can do for you right now, not even her transformation as the Princess of the Moon can save you," Mamoru let out a low chuckle and reached out towards the girl's exposed neck. Chibiusa let out a terrified scream and Usagi matched it with a shout of agony. Suddenly, a bright light filled the massive expanse of park, every nook and cranny warmed by it's radiance. The light flowed from Chibiusa whose body now stood, overlooking Mamoru below her who had fallen to his bum from the blinding light. Chibiusa hair billowed out behind her, her reddish-brown eyes glowing slightly, now more red than they were brown.
"You leave my mother out of this! Who do you think you are?! Coming in here and striking an innocent woman, attacking a child?" Chibiusa growled and pointed her white gloved hand at the man before her. Mamoru looked up at Chibiusa with a fear stricken expression, the light reflecting off his eyes and blinding him. Chibiusa was now dressed in a Sailor Fuku, a long pink A-line, double layered skirt flowing around her and her tight fitting top lined with gold trim. The collar and sleeves were edged with frills and lace. She looked nothing like she would have during her original transformation. This outfit boasted power and elegance. In her hand she held a white staff, a crescent moon blade topping it. She held the sharp edge towards Mamoru's neck, the cold metal nearly touching his skin.
"I-It was about time you transformed," Mamoru muttered back and Chibiusa responded by pressing the cold blade against him fully. "Are you gonna kill me? The man that was supposed to be your father?"
"Wait, what?" Chibiusa asked, she did not however, lower her blade.
"You were gonna be my kid… and inherit Crystal Tokyo… but now you won't inherit much more than a few new abilities you would never of had… All because Seiya is a Fighting Sailor…" Mamoru lowered the lids to his eyes and looked down at the blade. "I hope you are happy in this life…" he said as he reached out and gripped the staff firmly.
Chibiusa struggled to free the staff from his grip, but he was far stronger than she was. Out of the corner of the pink-haired Senshi's eyes, she saw something flash and move at a terrifying speed towards her. A foot appeared next and connected with her jaw, sending her flying to the left. She rolled to a stop and coughed up blood, her hands clutching her jaw. She looked up and saw the young girl that was beside Mamoru's wife, she was dressed in a red-ish brown Fuku, the standard Fuku for the sailors. She held her own staff, a solid ball engraved with the continents of the Earth perched on top. Both Usagi and Chibiusa shared the same expression. Shock.
"Don't you dare lay a finger on my father, or I will do away with you and your injustice," the girl growled and turned her frighteningly green eyes upon the sprawled Chibiusa. The weight of the girl's stare prevent Chibiusa from rising to her feet.
Usagi stood and transformed into Eternal Sailor Moon, her long flowing blonde locks billowing out around her. "If you are a Sailor, there is no need for us to fight!" She shouted in distress. She folded her hands over her heart and stared intently at the strange Sailor. "I don't care if you are Mamo-chan's daughter, you are still a Sailor… a Sailor of Earth. You have to understand that we mean no harm to you or your father… things happened in the past that I cannot take back. Things Mamo-chan may never forgive me for, but we still don't have to hate each other for it!" She pleaded, her tears rolling down her cheeks to make little wet marks at her feet that quickly disappeared.
"I never asked to be a Sailor." The girl spat and glared with hatred. "Four days ago I was a bubbling toddler. The next thing I knew I had the body of a 16 year old girl. This power," she gestured towards her outfit, "stripped me of my only childhood. So easily it was like taking candy from a baby. This power is a burden! I can hear the Earth crying as the humans that infest its lands tear it up, piece by piece, continent by continent. None of you other Sailors would ever understand how I feel right now, so weighed down by these desperate pleas for help. Because none of your guardian planets, have this issue."
"So you take your anger out on those who were trying to protect this planet and its inhabitants from threats that don't belong to this world?" Chibiusa growled, rising up from her place and using her staff to lean against. "You think your childhood was the only childhood stolen? There is no telling what will happen to the other children born to the Sailors, with this new threat arising, there could be hundreds of new Sailors being stripped of their childhood, boy or girl, so they can unite and fight this new evil. And don't tell me you can't feel it, this new Evil. That is why this planet is screaming out louder than it used too, and yes I can feel it too. I am a Sailor of the Moon, and the Moon is the Earth's protector. I can hear the cries as clear as day. Something is coming, and you cannot deny it or blame someone else for it. My mother is right, you can't hate us for your father's depression, because mum didn't even know Mamoru was gone until Galaxia revealed to her his star seed. A pure golden Star Seed, because your father is the Prince of this Planet. So you know what that means right?" Chibiusa asked, surprised herself by how much she was saying, and how little she knew about it all only moments before. But the words continued to pour out: "You have a Golden Star seed too. And that means the enemy will go after you, like the rest of us. And if you wanna continue prancing around, complaining about your lost childhood, think of all the other kids in this world, that will lose their LIVES if the new enemy gets what it wants and destroys this planet. Sound like a plan? Princess?" She put extra emphasis on the final word to accentuate her point about this girl's attitude.
The girl remained silent. Not really unabled to say anything, but more or less hushed into silence. Her brilliant green eyes slipped down to her father, who sat next to her legs, staring forward at the pink haired girl dressed in a Sailor fuku. The Earth Sailor understood her father's depression now. How she would give to have someone who gave off such a warm, comforting light. Mamoru clambered to his feet and turned on a heel, not even giving a second glance to his ex-lover. The young girl with him turned on her heel and followed her father, but she looked back, a look of fear shining in the deep green irises of her eyes.
Usagi approached her daughter and placed a gloved hand on the short girl's shoulder. "How did you know about Galaxia and Star Seeds…?"
"Setsuna told me when I first showed signs of my transformation," she explained sheepishly and dodged the ensuing shocked expression that followed.
"When did this happen?!"
"About a week ago… the same night Mizuki transformed… the symbol of the moon appeared on my head and Setsuna said she could feel the future time rifts beginning to change… she said that if she had the ability to see the exact streams and what they held, she would have probably been able to see my transformation beforehand, but she is still unable to access such foresight. Not since Hotaru and her returned from their trip to the future 16 years ago. Her powers grow old, I'm sure you can tell. The time of the Old Senshi is coming to an end and quickly the next generation is being ushered forth. This new threat is greater than anything anyone could have ever imagine. Chaos is coming."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Usagi murmured and pulled her daughter against her chest, hugging the girl close. She couldn't help but feel a sense of pride with both of her daughters' powers.
"It wasn't relevant at the time I suppose," Chibiusa murmured. There was a soft light and the two women were back in their casual clothing. "Ren showed signs of Sailor Powers too."
"What? Ren? That's… new." Usagi chuckled softly and shook her head. Male Sailors weren't necessarily impossible, just uncommon. Although the fact that Ren would develop some kind of power shouldn't surprise Usagi. Ren was the son of two powerful Sailor Senshi, it was only natural for him to gain some kind of power. "C'mon we should be getting back to your father; he's probably thoroughly worried right now."
Chibiusa nodded and the two girl's began the 10 minute walk back to the home of Haruka and Michiru. A cold wind blew, the feeling nipping at the exposed skin of Chibiusa's cheeks and neck. Usagi appeared to not be bothered by the wind; Chibiusa tucked her chin inside of her scarf and remained silent, looking down at the stone pathway below their feet she shivered. Something terrible was coming and it was only a matter of time before it would wreak havoc upon this planet and all the planets of the Universe. This was going to be a galactic war… Perhaps a War to rival the Chaos Wars of long ago…
Seiya sat up with a start as the front door swung open. He felt his head throb but he ignored the intense pain radiating up and down his spine and into his head and pushed off of the couch. Mizuki was by his side in an instant, lending him some support. As Usagi and Chibiusa rounded the corner, red nosed and chilled thoroughly to the bone, Seiya pulled the two of them into a tight hug. "I was so worried about you two! Where on Earth did you go?" Chibiusa flinched under the weight of Seiya's voice but Usagi just smiled at him, beaming with pride. "This isn't a time to be happy," Seiya muttered and averted his gaze from the bright-eyed cerulean gaze of his wife.
"You should have seen it Seiya! Chibiusa has so much power!"
"What do you mean?" Seiya pressed, looking down at his pink haired daughter.
"We saw Mamoru," Usagi began and Seiya stiffened next to her but allowed her to speak. "He attacked us, threatening to hurt Chibiusa, but she transformed Seiya. It was the most spectacular thing I've seen. She shines as bright as the moon and holds a very gentle, warm light." Usagi went on dreamily.
Chibiusa continued from where she left off: "Mamoru had his family with him. There was a young girl, and she too transformed into the Sailor of the Earth. It appears the pact between Earth and the Moon has been broken, but we must attempt to get this girl on our side. She will be a powerful ally when it comes to battling the coming threats. I understand the circumstances and all of why Mamoru hates you, dad… but I'm glad you were my father and not him. He holds a hatred locked away in his heart."
Seiya patted the small girl's head but refrained from speaking. Something bothered him about the ease of which Usagi was handling the sudden transformation of Chibiusa. Usagi was about the same age when she first transformed, so long ago. And Seiya was young when he… or she rather gained her powers on Kinmoku. However, the peace that had be sustained for so long should have prolonged Chibiusa's transformation to at least 16 like it had with Mizuki. This threat that was approaching must have been very, very serious. Things were starting to become rocky, and they were going to need a hell of a lot of power to overcome this new threat. Seiya had a feeling that this may be one of the last moments when they, Usagi, Chibiusa, Ren, Mizuki and himself, could all be a true family.
Seiya sighed and looked up at the ceiling of his bedroom. About an hour after their little reunion, the Kou family went home. Seiya went straight for his soft, comfortable bed which was a much better option compared to that terrible couch he was laying on at Haruka's. In his hazy thoughts Seiya attempted to remember how he felt the first day he laid eyes on the smiling, bright-cerulean eyed girl. Back in those times… he had only one goal. To find his Princess…
"Man I hate planes!" Yaten groaned and lifted his arms above his head. Taiki yawned softly and looked down at a magazine he had been reading since the three had started their descent into Tokyo.
"Get ready, we are about to be bombarded by squealing teenage girls." Taiki muttered and walked forward, the long ponytail of his brown hair swinging from side to side. Seiya rolled his eyes and smirked at how cold his friend was being. They were stars! They should at least try to enjoy the limelight a little bit.
Sure enough as they rounded the corner and exited the terminal, hundreds of school girls and a few older women were pressed tightly against a red rope fence. Security guards were the only thing standing between the girls and the shining Idols. The three walked nonchalantly down the aisle, walking towards their escape. They came here because this is the place where they had last felt the presence of their Princess. She must be close! Seiya could feel it in his bones. As they walked Seiya noticed a young girl hanging onto the arms of a slightly older man. He was dressed in a business jacket and slacks, holding a briefcase and pulling a suitcase behind him. The girl smiled up at him, and Seiya felt a shock run up and down the course of his spine and into his limbs. The light that radiated from this girl was so warm, and inviting… and from that moment he felt a different calling. A different love… but he had to repress that feeling because she was a human… of this World, not his. And even more so, in a relationship. Seiya couldn't help but stare as the blonde went by.
It was practically in that moment that Seiya had fallen head over heels hopelessly in love with Usagi. An unrequited love in the beginning, but he never stopped fighting for her. And in the end, he succeeded in winning her over. His dark blue eyes trailed across the ceiling to the doorway, where the short, blonde haired woman of his dreams stood with a soft smile upon her face. "Usagi…" he breathed and instantly felt at ease. Usagi walked across the floor and crawled into bed beside her lover. She rested her head on his chest and listened to the steady beat of his heart for a long while. Together they enjoyed the silence, simply being in the other's presence was enough satisfaction.
"How are you feeling?" Usagi asked softly and lifted up onto her left elbow.
"Much better now that you are here," Seiya smiled softly and pulled the blonde back down, this time pressing his lips to hers. They lay together for a while, occasionally pressing their lips to the others or kissing along jawlines, but they did not do much more. Seiya soon drifted off to sleep, leaving Usagi awake and alone to listen to his even breathing. She was worried about him, she could not deny that. Every since they met that Chaos Demon, Seiya just hasn't been at the top of his health and he wasn't improving at all in the last few days. Usagi wondered if he would permanently be without strength for the remainder of his life. Could he even still transform? Surely they would need him when they traveled to Kinmoku… no doubt about it, he knew the way.
However Usagi couldn't help the feeling of fear that enveloped her as she thought about the days to come. What would become of her children? Mizuki would take it upon herself to protect everyone, she was stubborn like that. Chibiusa and Ren though, they were still on the cusp of adolescence and that was about to be stripped from them for the remainder of their lives. She could feel the tears begin to well up behind her closed lids. When she opened her eyes, the cerulean irises were glazed over and a few drops managed to escape and roll down her lightly coloured cheeks. She didn't want this future for her children, she just wanted peace. She was so very tired of fighting all the time, but this time… and she could feel it, deep in her bones and in her heart, that this fight would be different. There would be no understanding, only bloodshed. Chaos had no heart, it had no will other than mass destruction, and this time, Usagi wouldn't be able to shine her bright light and things return to normal. This was going to be an all out war and she needed as much help as she could muster.
She slid off the bed and made her way to the covered window at the far edge of her bedroom. She needed to make sure that her children, and the children of the other Sailors would survive the next few years as this battle reigned and ruled all that they have ever known. She looked up at the glittering full moon that rested mid-way to it's peak. Usagi closed her eyes and prayed, prayed that everyone across the galaxy would hear her voice and gather to fight together against this new evil. She prayed for understanding and for the safety of all those that she loved dearly, and lastly, she prayed for a full recovery of her husband and the swift return from their journey. When she opened her eyes she felt a heaviness overcome her and dread fill her limbs to the point where it was an effort to lift them. No matter how hard she prayed, the peace they had lived through was completely and utterly gone.
Usagi clasped her hands over her heart and spoke aloud this time, a begging tone filling every inch of her high pitched voice. "Please! Please I beg of everyone who can hear this! Please come together and set aside your difference and fight for our right to peace! Fight to protect our children and our legacies. Fight to protect the people of the planets you inhabit that cannot help themselves, please! I'm begging everyone to fight this new evil with every last ounce of strength you possess!" Usagi felt suddenly weakened from her passionate shouts. She gripped the seal of the window and shook, tears threatening to well up in her eyes and spill down over her cheeks. She felt a hand on her shoulder and she looked up to find the soft gaze of Seiya looking down at her, a smile lighting the corners of his lips.
"We will get through this, I promise you." He whispered and pulled the petite blonde into his arms, wrapping them around her shoulders and refusing to let her go. Usagi buried her face in his shirt, wiping the tears that fell over her eyelids on the fabric that covered his chest. "And I am sure that you will be our leading light to unite all the Sailors in the galaxy against Chaos. If I were a stranger, just meeting you, I would be compelled to follow you, even if it were to the death," he whispered and pressed his lips against her forehead in a soft kiss.
"I know Seiya, I'm just… I don't have a good feeling about the coming weeks…"
The door at the far end of the room opened and Mizuki peered through the crack into the dimly lit room. Seiya removed his arms from around Usagi and the two parents turned to look at their eldest daughter. "What is it, honey?"
"Uhm, I was just wondering if I could go out with some friends tomorrow is all, I want to get my mind off of things and a friend from school said she'd treat me to smoothies and a movie, if it's okay with the two of you?" She asked, innocently. Usagi sighed, knowing exactly what her daughter was going through. The desire to escape from the eminent danger was felt strongly among all of the Sailor Senshi, not just this young 16 year old girl.
"That will be fine, make sure to check in with us often and to call us if anything happens. I'm sure Haruka and Michiru will be keeping a close eye on your and your siblings between now and the day we return from our trip to my home-world. If you ever need help, they will be there for you while we are absent." Seiya nodded and smiled at his daughter. Mizuki lingered in the doorway, her cerulean coloured eyes looking down at the floor before she moved to turn away. Usagi left Seiya's side and rushed forward, pulling her daughter into her arms.
Mizuki was initially surprised by the sudden movement of her mother, but the warmth that the petite blonde gave off comforted Mizuki in a way she hadn't felt since she was little. Mizuki wrapped her arms around her mothers thin waist and lowered her cheek into the crook of Usagi's neck. Seiya stepped next to them and placed his arms around the two of them, the three relishing the moment of the hug. As if it may be the last hug they ever share, at least until the end of the battle.
"I love you, Mizuki. Never forget that," Usagi whispered and kissed her daughter's forehead. "No matter what my future was going to be like before I met your father, I am glad that you came to me in this world. I am glad, so very glad that you were born. And I am so very proud of who you have become! You will make an excellent wife and mother one day, and even more so? The best friend that anyone could ever ask for. You are strong, and you will need to continue to be strong for your siblings and the other Senshi children, okay? Can you be strong for mommy and daddy?"
"Don't chatter at me like I am still a child," Mizuki complained and the three chuckled in the somber moment. It seemed a bit surreal to Mizuki, that the world was in grave danger, that she would soon inherit the title of leader of the Milky Way Galaxy Senshi. The she would be leading children, mere children, into battle to protect their planet. And she didn't even know how to approach the situation. All she really wanted to do, was curl up in a little ball and hug her knees, hiding away from the world until the danger passed and peace ensued once more.
Mizuki had yet to experience what love was like, from another person her age. She had yet to discover the thrills of driving, of making responsible decisions that would affect her future, of completing high school and attending university. There were so many things she wanted to do, for example she wanted to record a few songs she had written over the last summer, she wanted to learn how to play the guitar and get a 4.0 grade average. She wanted to go to America and to France. There were just so many things she wanted to do. And right now, she needed the relaxing feeling of accomplishing things… not the stress of knowing that she may not be strong enough to protect those she cared about.
Even if it meant her life, however, she would fight to protect those she cared about, even if they are ignorant or not to the situation. She was going to be their leader, and she would need all of their cooperation and support to accomplish such things. She sighed and rubbed her forehead, having left her parents' room to retire to her own room. It was late and she could feel the sleep creeping into her limbs. There was so much swirling in and around her mind, that her vision blurred and her mouth felt dry. The pressures of reality were too much for a such a young girl to possibly hold alone. But that was the thing, she wasn't alone, and she knew it. So why did she feel like she was alone? Something else about the coming weeks made her stomach churn, but she just could not place a finger on it. Something dark and depressing weighed against her consciousness, threatening to overtake her at any moment unless she finally grasp the meaning of the feeling and exploit it for all that it has to offer. Yet the feeling was as close to her grasp as was the sun and moon. She could feel their gentle rays, the curling tendrils of black wisps trailing across her consciousness, but she could not reach out and grasp them without leaving the solid ground she had come to take for granted.
She knelt on her bed and looked out the window, towards the bright orb of the moon. She sighed and once again rubbed her forehead, the middle, positioned between her brows and slightly above, was itching something awful. She couldn't quite figure out why. When she looked up again, about to be driven crazy by the intense insistent itching, she noticed her face reflected in the glass. Where the itching had been moments before, now lay a crescent moon. The familiar shape drew comfort from the depths of her consciousness and wrapped her in a warm blanket of reassurance. But in a fleeting glimpse, the familiar yellow crescent moon was suddenly turned upside down and layered in a thick black mist. She gasped and fell backwards, but the image was gone as soon as it came. She blinked, unable to believe what her eyes had just seen. There was no way that she could be the bad guy?! Right?...
She fell over onto her side and muffled a sob into her pillow. This little occurrence had to mean something, but like everything else these days that begged meaning, she had little ability to discern exactly what was supposed to be gleaned from them. It was as infuriating as it was curious. Disturbing as it was alluring. The contradictions in emotions that now overcame her body, wracking her with sobs and dark thoughts, were all that accompanied her on her path to the world of dreams. And her dreams, like reality, offered little help on the issues at hand. That night, she dreamed of a surreal silver realm. Crystal clear streams travelled through an opaque silver forest. Gentle silver leaves fell from the tops of the trees and swayed lightly upon an unfelt wind. They twirled and spiraled until the moment they touched the soft, silver grass below.
Mizuki was wandering the forest, her long black hair undone and falling around her slender shoulders. Her cerulean gaze was affixed to something in the distance, a figure, or creature rather, standing in the still eddy of a particular stream. The whole forest was cast in a grey shadow, the silver colour becoming dark and mysterious. Yet, Mizuki felt no fear, and when she glanced down at her bare feet as they peeked under the hem of her long, silver gown, she almost felt, at peace. She walked on, her eyes retrained on the creature ahead.
She called out, her voice a trill on the silent wind that carried far and wide and could be heard for miles around. She covered her mouth quickly, the words: "Who's there?" still reverberating off the distant tree trunks. The creature had raised it's head, two large ears and a pair of huge antlers angling themselves towards her direction. "A deer," she whispered and stepped forward again. "No not a deer, a stag… a silver stag." she breathed in awe. She had read a bit of greek mythology and new what the silver stag stood for. But she dare not mention the name of the being lest she curse her own fortune in being greeted by it. She inclined her head, her cerulean hues concealed by her heavy lids. When she raised her head again, she was back in her own bed clutching the pillow against her chest.
"That... was strange," She murmured and rubbed her forehead. She made a note to have a chat with Haruka and Michiru about this dream the following day when they met for their first training session. Suddenly the thought of training, of fighting actual sailors, overrode all the others and left her paralyzed with nervousness. She breathed heavily and closed her eyes tight, thinking happy things to attempt to clear off the unwanted feeling of nausea that came with the nervousness. Everything was going to be fine. She just had to make it through the night, first and foremost, before she could even fathom worrying about the days to come. Easier thought than done, however.
I know exactly where this will be going everyone, however the issue I am facing, is well, getting it to that point, filling in the space, dragging it out and not rushing things to much. Y'know? Anyways, I will also be putting up some fan art of the new sailor Senshi I will be introducing on deviantART.(: When i do, I'll be sure to let you all know so you can check it out and see what our beloved Mizuki looks like!
Okay! This time I will try to update, before three months pass. 3 So sorry again! Todaloo till next time my lovelies! 3 R&R