My life is endless drama. *Endless.* Over the last four months I have struggled with depression, anxiety, graduate school, and a parade of external dumpster fires. The highlights include 4 family members in the hospital simultaneously, one of which was my son who needed new tubes asap, a toxic work environment that while being handle is still driving up my anxiety, and ultimately the death of my husband's grandmother. I've squeezed writing in when I have the time, but the time has been sparse and unproductive. However, there's been a string of positive news which has to lead to a noticeable decline in external tension.
So, I really want to shift to posting exclusively on AO3 (also know as Archive of our Own). I will continue to post here, but if you want to newest chapter sooner, I will post there first. Also, the explicit version of the fic is hosted there, so there's some modified content.
A big thank you to you all so much for all the kind reviews. They have saved the day for me time and time again. Thank you for sticking with me through these sporadic updates and long breaks. I can't promise more updates soon, but I can hope. I do have *plans.*
So, without further ado, here's a new chapter of SMX!
Sailor Moon X by Starling Sinclair
Chapter 31: Shifts in Allegience
8/3/21
XXX
He wasn't sure what he was expecting on the other side of the portal, but the corrupted mirror world of Elysian wasn't it. The marble halls and floor were dark and glossy like an oil slick. Shadows hung thick and heavy in the corners like cobwebs, eating the echo of his boots. He could feel eyes on him, but couldn't figure out where they were. Where the large Grecian archways would have opened up the room to the world around them, this nightmare allowed the vast emptiness to seep in like a fog. It was as if the memory of his palace was slowly ebbing with dementia.
Beryl sauntered ahead toward a parody of his throne. The regal chair looked more like the simplistic drawing of a child, all geometric edges without artistry. It blended in with the iridescent flooring.
"Your majesty," Kunzite broke the silence, still holding a weakened Zoisite in his arms. She barely glanced over her shoulder as she stepped up to her place. "Perhaps we can send Zoisite to the energy chamber. His wounds aren't healing. I think an infusion of darkness will help."
As the self-appointed dark queen took her seat, Mamoru noticed the corridor continued behind her into some sort of towering skull-shaped rock formation. It wasn't obviously skull-shaped; the oozing red power dripping from two openings allowed for the only Rorschach interpretation to be one. If only George R.R. Martin could see this, he wouldn't think his Iron Throne was so intimidating.
"I have a better idea," she cooed. "We shall send Endymion to the chamber for an infusion of loyalty."
"What?" both Mamoru and Kunzite echoed together.
"I said I'd come willingly!"
She smiled, sinisterly and satisfied. "Willingly does not mean loyally." She snapped her fingers and Mamoru found himself restrained by two colorful, fairy youma. Their grip was iron, yet they giggled softly like teenagers touching their crush. He suspected struggling would just be a waste of his time and remaining power. He needed to keep focused.
"Without an infusion soon, Zoisite could die," Kunzite protested.
Beryl waved her hand, dismissively. "An acceptable casualty. Aka, Momo, bring Endymion to Buraisu. Let her fix what is broken with him."
Kunzite's face paled, and he subtly held the unconscious General closer. Something stirred deep inside Mamoru, a ghost feeling from another lifetime. Damnit. He couldn't stand here and do nothing.
He dropped his weight, figuring the fairy girls would expect him to pull, not fall. He was right; in the split second it took them to try to readjust, he'd broken free and rushed Kunzite.
"She'll heal him," he whispered. "If you take him to her."
The muscles in Kunzite's jaws clenched. "Are you offering me Sailor Moon's identity?"
Mamoru pursed his lips as Aka and Momo restrained him again. A third fairy girl, this one blue, joined in.
"Ah, ah, ah, little prince," she clucked. "Just where do you think you're going? Dr. Buraisu needs to fix you up first." She gripped his hair, pull his head back.
"I'm sure you'll figure out a way, Kunzite," Mamoru called as the youma pulled him away, down the winding path towards the skull. He hoped the General would listen. Even though Mamoru had always perceived Zoisite as an enemy, the part of him that was Endymion did not. He did not want the General to die.
Though, the thought left his mind as the darkness crept in closer as the youma dragged into the skull. In what would have been the cranium stood something like the trap of a carnivorous plant. Long root-like tendrils throbbed around it, linking it to a nebulous red membrane against the back of the wall. It pulsed and a chill went down Mamoru's spine. Whatever was back there was pure evil.
Waiting beside the pod was another youma; he assumed that must be Buraisu. She looked like a cross between a Silent Hill nurse and a doll, cocked oddly and faceless save giant blue eyes. Her fingers tapered into thirty-five centimeter long needles.
"Do you want him in the pod, doctor?" the pink fairy girl asked, the sugary quality of her voice contrasting with the heavy feel of wrongness in the room.
Buraisu nodded, and suddenly the blue fair lifted his legs up. He struggled suspended as the youma lowered him into the pod.
"Don't worry," the red one giggled. "I promise, you won't remember a thing."
As the pod closed around him, Mamoru closed his eyes and made a wish. He wished with all his heart that no matter what they did to him, he'd be fine as long as he kept Usagi safe. They couldn't learn her identity. As the darkness washed over him, and the breath was forced from his lungs, he swore he heard a voice whisper in his mind, "Wish granted."
XXX
Makoto had no idea what it felt like to discover your ex was your soulmate. She had no idea what it was like to have that recently discovered soulmate ripped away. She had no idea what it felt like to learn that the fate of the world rested on her shoulders.
But she did know loss. She knew heartache and unwanted responsibility. She knew that no matter the circumstances, these things were shitty and life was unfair. So, she dealt with this new loss the same way she always had - with comfort food.
Her apartment was closest, and Ami desperately needed rest. So they went there. It was a tight fit having everyone in her living room. She picked a place with a large kitchen. The rest of the layout was trivial as she was only one person. Still, she had a sofa, and with a few chairs from a closet, everyone was situated. While the awkward silence lingered only cut by Usagi's muffled sobs, Mako went into the kitchen to start prep work. Curry was always best for these sorts of things. She turned the rice cooker on and pulled several ingredients from her fridge. Hmm, curry would take a while. So once she started her roux, she pulled out her steamer. Frozen catering dumplings would have to tide everyone over in the meantime.
As she puttered about chopping carrots, onions, and potatoes, she could hear Minako and Rei arguing over the blonde's action through the little archway. Ami was surprisingly well informed on the events that had taken place, and if she were anything like Makoto, had the ghost of her memories, lurking. It was like having binged an intense anime, and everything was blurred yet fresh and she felt tired from the whole experience.
The dumplings finished quickly, and Makoto plated them on a platter before gathering small plates, chopsticks, and sauces. With the ease that only comes with several years of practice carrying food, she brought the dumplings out to the coffee table.
Only then it was clear that nearly everyone was mad at Minako.
Mako wasn't sure how she felt towards her supposed leader. She and the woman had never grown close. But trauma survivors recognize each other, and for that Mako cut her a bit of slack. Didn't make what she did right, but Mako's anger had faded. Replaced by the need to take care of this motley group of women who had had a day.
She returned to the kitchen, and the bickering subsided as everyone ate her dumplings. Food was a great mediator after all.
Minako left shortly after that, and Ami peered in to ask to nap in Mako's bed.
"Of course! I'll wake you up when curry's ready."
The doctor smiled softly and stepped away. Through the archway, Mako could see Usagi sprawled out on the couch, resting her head in Rei's lap. That's when she decided to start on a matcha marble cake.
A strange tapping at her kitchen window beckoned her over. Luna and a white cat she had not met yet, sat on the ledge. Carefully, as not to knock the cats off, she opened the glass and let them inside. They greeted her with soft hellos before heading into the living room to see Usagi. Mako double-checked her fridge for the fresh tuna she had bought for dinner earlier. After quickly slicing it up and placing in on two very cute cat plates she'd bought when she first met Luna, she brought out more food. Fish for the cats and curry for the women.
That's when Mako noticed Usagi has only eaten one dumpling. Her stomach twisted.
Rei quietly filled the feline in on the events of the day between bites. Usagi's tears had stopped, but she pushed the spoon around her bowl of curry without taking a single bite. It was only at that point did Mako decide the blonde girl would be staying. She did not need to be alone.
With her bowl empty and the sun setting, Rei needed to leave. Luna and Artemis, the new cat, snuggled beside Usagi, who set her bowl back down on the table while she sprawled across the sofa. Mako went back into the kitchen to pull her cake from the oven and set it on the cooling rack. That's when the ringing started.
Taking off her oven mitts, she walked into her living room. Usagi's phone was ringing, but the blonde continued to ignore it. After a tense moment the ringing stopped, caller sent to voicemail. She was about to join Usagi on the couch, when the phone started ringing again. Sighing, she brought the phone to the girl on the couch.
"Maybe you should answer it."
Usagi didn't respond. But on the third time, even Ami stepped out.
"It's the same person. A Naru," Mako explained.
Usagi sat up. "Naru's calling?" Slowly, she answered the phone. She tensed at the very clearly male voice on the other end.
"Nephrite…"
Ami rushed over, taking the phone out of Usagi's hand and putting it on speaker.
"There is no time to explain. I need your help," the deep voice rumbled over the tinny speakers. "Meet us at Mamoru's apartment. Come quickly. A life is on the line."
The screen read call ended. Nephrite had hung up before they could even answer. The three shared a glance for only a moment before Usagi jumped to her feet. Then she teetered. Mako rushed over, catching her before she fell into the coffee table.
"Usa, you need to rest," Ami added, helping steady the princess. "You expended so much energy…"
"It could be Mamoru," she pleaded. "We have to go."
Mako knew it was very likely not Mamoru, and it was very likely to be a trap. But it was also very likely that there was nothing they could do to stop her. So, they would just have to go to protect her.
Ami sighed, looking at Mako. She'd clearly reached the same conclusion. With a quiet nod, the trio left Mako's apartment and took her catering van to Mamoru's apartment.
XXX
Thankfully, Mamoru's building had a garage, so they were able to park the clunky catering van after a dangerously speedy trip to his place. Makoto would stand guard while Ami could assist with her medical skills. Someone's life was on the line after all.
They all agreed it was probably best not to contact Minako. After all the shock of the day, they did not think it wise to further upset their leader. Or maybe former leader. With Usagi's revealed princess identity, no one was entirely sure of the power hierarchy anymore.
The elevator felt slower than usual. As soon as the door beeped open, they rushed to the apartment. Usagi fumbled with her key, tumbling into the gekkan and nearly tripping out of her shoes. The apartment was virtually unchanged from when she left it that morning. (Had it only been that morning?)
Yet, she was not prepared for the sight that greeted her.
On the sofa was a bloody and dying Zoisite. The man was grossly pale and breathing heavily. His hair half fell out of his ponytail, waves frizzed and lackluster. Beside him, Kunzite knelt, holding the wounded General's hand in his. Nephrite stood in the shadows, waiting for their arrival.
On paper, the situation screamed "trap." Here were three dangerous men; they'd lured her to an isolated area. Last time the Senshi had taken on multiple Generals at that night club months ago, they had barely escaped with their lives. And all she had for back-up was Mako and a very drained Ami. Yet, something about it didn't feel like a trap. There was a vulnerability, in the way Nephrite had called her, in the way Kunzite hadn't looked at them as they entered the room, in the very sucatto way Zoisite was breathing.
Ami recognized the fragility, moving quickly to Zoisite. She broke the silence by gently asking Kunzite to step aside so she could assess the situation. He gave her an icy glare before stepping away. Ignoring him, she quickly went to work assessing the injured man, Dr. Mizuno in full swing.
Finally, he looked at Usagi and said, "I need you to heal him."
She paused before asking,"Where's Mamoru?"
"In the Dark Kingdom, being tended too," Nephrite answered. There was something in the way he said tended that sent a chill down Usagi's spine. "He's as safe as he can be."
"Now, help him," Kunzite reiterated.
"He has multiple rib fractures and a pierced lung. But there's this aura. It's almost as if it's poisoning him, or blocking his own natural regenerative abilities," Ami said authoritatively. "Surgery could stop the internal bleeding, but this darkness…"
Usagi stared Kunzite down with every bit of royal authority she could muster. "Why can't you heal him? I'm sure you must have…"
"Beryl did this," Nephrite interject. "If we healed him, then we'd all be killed. Besides, healing isn't our specialty. It's yours."
Usagi chewed her lip. They weren't wrong. Her specialty was healing, always had been. It's something she knew Minako resented. She hadn't hesitated when she'd had the opportunity to heal Jadeite, so what was holding her up now?
The girl on that tarmac hadn't faced death and lost before. The one in this apartment had.
"Bring me Mamoru, and I'll save Zoisite."
Ami glanced at her, mouth agape, while Nephrite looked away, shaking his head. Makoto squeezed her shoulder in warning. Kunzite pushed Ami away, bending to lift Zoisite into his arms.
"I told you, she wasn't going to help us, Nephrite. This was a foolish idea. I don't want to spend the last moments I have with him in this place."
"Wait…" her voice squeaked. Usagi bit back the tears. How was this fair? Why did her enemy get to save his lover when she didn't even know if hers was safe? Why could they threaten to throw her off a rooftop just hours before, then beg her for mercy? But she knew she wasn't like them. She knew in her heart that she would do the right thing, even if her selfish impulses told her otherwise.
"Put him back down and move out of the way, Kunzite, unless you want to be healed too," she grumbled.
Kunzite stared at her for a moment, an icy stare evaluating her sincerity, before placing the man in his arms back on the sofa and stepping aside. Zoisite lay sprawled across the sofa, unconscious, breathing shallowly, framed by Ami at one side, looking on with the concern of a physician, and Kunzite at the other, his expression unreadable. The whisper of one of the princess's memories tickled the back of Usagi's mind, but she pushed it aside.
Summoned her power, she felt the magic shift the clothing around her body into the princess dress. She wasn't sure she was entirely comfortable with this form. Still, she moved to kneel beside the fallen general. As she summoned her Moon Stick, the Silver Crystal now set inside its crescent, she thought the whole thing must look absurd. A princess, kneeling before her enemy, her Senshi to one side, the Dark Kingdom's generals to the other, set against the minimalist decor of Mamoru's modern Japanese apartment. Well, absurd seemed to be the way her life was going now, so might as well embrace it. Wrapping her hands around the weapon, she reached for the crystal's power with her heart. It responded, flickering and weighing her request.
"Moon Healing Escalation," she whispered. A white light engulfed the room, and when it faded, Zoisite was still unconscious on the couch.
"It didn't work!" Kunzite growled.
"Hold on," Ami interrupted, holding her hand up in attrition, staring at the compact computer in her hand. "His vitals are stabilizing. The darkness preventing his natural powers is gone. His body is restoring what injuries remain."
Kunzite's shoulders sagged in relief, the scowl slowly melting off his face. When he started to kneel beside the sleeping general, Nephrite grabbed his arm.
"We should go," the dark-haired man commanded.
"And leave Zoisite with us?" Usagi exclaimed.
Kunzite closed his eyes, schooling his face as he thought over the suggestion. "I'm sure Jadeite will help you. But I do not believe that he can return with us safely."
Well, that was probably true. Sighing, the princess dress melted away, and Usagi pulled her cell out of her pocket. She should probably text Jadeite the news.
In the kitchen, a dark portal appeared, and the two Generals approached it. Nephrite stepped through, though Kunzite paused to look back over his shoulder. His face contorted before he said, "Sailor Moon, I am in your debt. I will not forget this."
Huh, look at that. She nodded, staring in awe at the white-haired villain as he stepped through the portal. It vanished behind him, returning Mamoru's kitchen to its neat and tidy normality.
The phone pinged in her hand, and she looked down to see a text from Jadeite.
You did what?!
