Sailor Moon Aeons.
Book 2: Rebirth.
Act 6: Queen of Darkness.
Episode 96: A friendship's worth.

By Razor Knight
Last update: May 25, 2015
Last edited: June 12, 2017

It was far from the first time it happened, but Moon was still worried. What if Yuki's guess had been right? Would she have to kill one of her friends to stop Beryl? No, she couldn't give up before even trying, she wasn't like that. "You gloat about taking over this world? Do you think we haven't improved?"

Warwitch smiled. "Usagi, you're foolish. I've been within your friend Yukiko ever since those 'Ayakashi' fools appeared. Why do you think she can use magic? True, she had potential, but it was dormant, worthless, and she could have spent her whole life as a normal human. But I needed to recover, to feed on part of the mana she used for her fancy tricks. I've seen how much you've grown, but I've also grown more powerful, thanks to this human girl."

"You monster..."

"What's the matter, Usagi? Are you upset that the friend you care so much for was only able to keep up with your growth thanks to me?"

"Don't call me Usagi, youma. Call me Sailor Moon, that's what my enemies do."

"I'll call you whatever I want, girl," Warwitch snapped. She looked around, and saw the Senshi were all looking at her. "I must admit, though, that if you all fight me at once, I could lose. Fortunately, that can be avoided."

As she said that, a few dozen creatures appeared. They were shadow-like and had green, glowing eyes. "What the hell-"

"These are the creatures Metallia used, in the past, to take over humans and turn them into youma. I asked her to teach me how to do it, and she saw no harm in letting me 'waste' my own energy creating soldiers for her cause."

Jupiter leapt at one of the creatures, kicking it with all her might, but the monster just staggered back. "They're tough."

"Umino, Yuu, stay out of this battle," Mars warned.

"We can-"

"Yuu, please."

Dragon Mars nodded. "I... I get it."

Dragon Lilith sighed. "Damn it, I feel useless."

The three Huntresses appeared right then, and Circe flinched as she noticed Warwitch had a dark aura surrounding her. "Damn it, Yuki..."

"Be careful, girls, those monsters could get you-"

"We read the legends. Those monsters cannot affect anyone with enough magic power, and we are beyond their threshold," Calisto noted. "Still, we won't be able to defeat one of them either, so..." She looked at the two Dragons who were standing back. "Want us to boost you?"

Dragon Mars shook his head. "I would like to help, but... Use your magic on Moon, she'll need it more than any of us."

Dragon Lilith smiled. "Usagi can beat that demon, but a little help can't hurt, right?"

The three Huntresses nodded, and looked at Mooon. Warwitch wasn't attacking, and they didn't care to ask why. "Hey, Usagi, remember the Eidolon?"

"Ugh, I could never cast something that complicated."

"But we can," Calisto said and looked at her two friends. "Guess we'll be back to our old habits, huh?"

Circe smiled. "I don't regret it if it helps saving Yuki. Wind Eidolon."

"Stone Eidolon," Mira said.

"Holy Eidolon," Calisto said.

The three looked up as their arms lit up with light. "Chain Boost, Eidolon March."

Warwitch saw Moon's body shine, and growled. "That's cheating."

Moon looked back to see the three Huntresses were kneeling on the ground, and smiled. Back to their old habits, indeed. "If you paid attention to our fights, Beryl, you should know it's not cheating, but being wise." Before Warwitch could react, Moon punched her in the face, and sent her flying back and into a wall.

"Ugh..." The witch staggered up and laughed. "Fool."

"What?"

"You could have killed me with that, but you held back."

"I want you gone," Moon said, "but I will save Yuki."

"That's precious. Your friend already knows it's over. She's just cowering in a corner of her mind, waiting to be erased. And the more I use her body, the closer she is to vanishing for good."

"You..."

"Usagi, don't let her get to you!"

Moon looked back at Dragon Mercury and sighed. "I... I know." She turned to look at Warwitch and gave her a short glare. "I can see things in you the others can't. You're just bluffing, Beryl. You're not used to that body yet, and you know I'm strong enough to defeat you, with or without these buffs."

"Stupid little Princess, I'm going to-"

Mars was shocked to see Moon kick Warwitch through a building. "Usagi?"

"I'm bored of her gloating," Moon said. "Guys, take care of those ugly things, I'll take care of this one."

"Sir, the Senshi are fighting a group of strong youma."

General Kino looked at the screen and frowned. "Think they need help?"

Saiko's face told the General a lot. "They... Aiko said we can't go there. These youma they're fighting, they can take over humans and turn them into monsters, and she's not sure the process can be reverted."

"Damn, what about the civilians?"

"The Demon Hunters already evacuated the area."

"I could never figure out how they do it, but I'm glad they're on our side," Kino said.

"I'll keep an eye on things from a distance, but sir... The main enemy seems to have taken over Warwitch's body."

"... Really, what is it with enemies and taking over the good guys?"

"Moon seems to be facing Warwitch alone," Saiko said, "she's winning so far. I'll tell you if anything changes."

"Icycle Storm."

"Ice Zone."

The two attacks turned all the creatures a deep blue, and stopped them from moving. But the 'fun' was far from over for them...

"Inferno Grid."

Jupiter saw the ground underneath the creatures turn red with heat, and arcs of fire shoot up from it. "Wow..."

Mars sighed as the creatures walked out of her attack mostly unharmed. "This is starting to annoy me."

Venus appeared near them. "My speed does nothing, they can take a hundred hits without even flinching."

Earth frowned. "Damn it, what's the deal with these things?"

"We never had to face them, even in our past lives," Mercury explained, "but if they're this strong, then why sacrifice them to create the youma?"

"Metallia was a twisted, revenge-fueled wraith," Uranus said, "it's quite likely she did it to enrage Serenity, turn the humans she was supposed to protect into monsters..."

Mars looked at the creatures. They didn't attack, just defend, but if any of them tried to get past them to help Moon, they would block their path. "Those things... I want to go help Usagi, not waste my time with them. Let's do it."

"Do what?"

"The Planet Attack. I'll be the catalyst."

"Rei, we shouldn't-"

Mars stared at Mercury. "Ami, if you have a better plan, I'm all ears. We've already tried everything else and we can't even make them acknowledge our attacks."

Dragon Mercury frowned. "Let's go with her plan."

"But-"

"Ami, you know how Rei is. Once she gets an idea in her mind, you would have to brainwash her to get it out of there. Just one question, was this attack ever done using someone who wasn't a Moon Senshi as a catalyst?"

"Yes, and the results were always bad. Whether they did destroy their target or not wasn't important - every time a Planet Attack was used by someone who wasn't a Moon Senshi, they died from the strain."

"I..." Mars shook her head. "Let's do it, I'm ready."

Venus flinched. "Didn't you hear a word, Rei? You could die!"

"Any of us could die in any of our battles," Mars said.

"That's no excu-"

"Damn it, will you guys just shut up and shoot me?"

Mercury looked at the creatures for a few seconds. "I don't like this and I know it's a stupid idea, but it's also the best idea we have."

Mars looked at Saturn. "Let's hope I don't need your help."

"Agreed," Saturn said, "and Rei... This is crazy, and a long shot, but I also want to help Usagi."

Mars smiled and closed her eyes. "I guess this would be a good time to tell you, guys... I asked Usagi about the Planet Attack, about how it worked. She thought I was just curious, but I... Thought I should know, in case she wasn't around to use it. I can do this, guys. Of course I haven't practiced it, and it's not something I'd love to use all the time, but I won't fail."

Mercury sighed. "Rei... Good luck. Just tell us when you're ready."

Mars concentrated and summoned her bow, Ifrit. "Do it." The others all shot their attacks at her, and Mars let out a scream of pain, but never stopped aiming her bow at the enemy. After a few seconds, the bow lit up much like the Ginzuishou had when the attack was first used, and Mars opened her eyes. "Cosmic Planet Attack!" A huge wave of flames shot from her bow as she shouted that, but the flames were rapidly changing color.

Venus watched as the flames washed over their enemies, and there was nothing left of the creatures once the attack was done. "That was awesome, Re- Rei!"

Mars was lying on the ground, but smiled weakly. "Ugh... Usagi was right, this really... Hurts."

Saturn rushed to her and started healing her. "The damage was much heavier than when Moon used it. It will take me a while to heal you."

Mars groaned. "Damn it. Guys, just go. I'll join up when I'm healed."

Mercury seemed about to protest, but then realized something. Mars probably already knew using the attack would leave her unable to help Moon, but she had, in a way, already helped her a lot. "We'll protect Usagi in your stead, Rei."

"Good," Mars said, then blinked as a flash of light illuminated the area. "What the hell..."

Mercury looked in the direction the light had come from, and her eyes widened. "Moon got her."

"Beryl is dead?" Venus asked.

"Not quite, but... We don't need to hold back now. Let's go."

Moon and Warwitch had been locked in a swordfight for the last few minutes. Moon used her own sword, while Warwitch used twin blades made of dark energy. Moon was surprised Beryl could keep up with her, but she wouldn't let that stop her. She leapt away from Warwitch, dodging a sword swipe, then smiled. "I just realized something. You have no moves of your own."

"What?"

"Your fighting style, the way you're moving, even the few spells you've used... They're all Yuki's own."

"Still trying that?" Warwitch mused. "She's gone, and you know it."

"She's not gone. See, I thought she was just a fangirl at first, but I must admit the more I knew of her, the more I could respect her. She wouldn't give up so easily. Yes, feeling hopeless is natural, but you shouldn't let that hopelessness defeat you. You have to fight, Yuki. I won't give up on you, but my fight will be worthless if you give up."

"I have to... Fight?" Warwitch said. Her voice had changed, becoming more like Yuki's voice.

"You're better than her, Yuki. She just helped you get those powers, but that doesn't mean she deserves to take over. It's your choice to do, if you just want to let go... But do you want the world to remind you as someone who let someone as rotten and weak as Beryl defeat her?"

"What are you-" Warwitch growled. "No, go away! I already won, you are nothing without me! Nothing!"

Moon saw Warwitch fall on her knees, screaming in pain. That only lasted for a few seconds, and suddenly Warwitch stood up, but her eyes weren't black anymore. "No, Beryl, you're wrong. You're nothing without me. Nothing but a ghost of the past. Begone."

A column of light shot up from the girl, and a black mist poured out of her mouth as the light faded, swiftly transforming into someone Moon knew very well. "Beryl."

Beryl looked at Warwitch and frowned. "You stupid kid, it's thanks to me that you could use your powers! Without me, you are nothing but a normal human, a worthless-"

"Witch Prism."

Moon blinked as Warwitch knocked Beryl through a wall with a multi-colored beam. "Wow..."

The witch looked at Moon and smiled. "Usagi, I can do this."

"But-"

"Please, I need to do this."

"Fine, but if I see you're on the losing side..."

"I know."

As the two started fighting, Moon noticed something, and smiled. "Guys, don't interfere."

"That's Warwitch, and also Beryl?"

Moon turned to Dragon Earth. "She kicked her out, and... She asked me to let her try."

"Are you crazy? She could die!"

"Aiko, trust her. Also, look at her fight," Dragon Mercury said.

True, the two women were fighting with all they had, but each magic blast was countered, each sword slash parried, it was like someone fighting a mirror image of themselves. "How is that possible?"

Dragon Mercury shrugged. "If I had to guess, I would say it's because Beryl has been linked to Yuki for too long. Got used to those movements. It'll take time for her body to remember her own style."

"So what, are they going to fight until they're both out of energy?"

Moon smiled. If that was Warwitch's plan, then she could agree to it. She would be ready to blast Beryl to dust - for good this time.

Beryl, however, had figured out Warwitch's plan by now. "Is this really all you can do?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're just tiring me down, so that the Senshi can defeat me? What's the difference, really, you may not be mine to toy with, but you are still just a tool for your 'friends.'"

"That's a lie," Warwitch snapped. "See, I'll admit it, I knew I couldn't defeat you, and yet, I could be the cause of your defeat. You will never understand friendship, Beryl, because you've always been a spoiled, lonely brat. It's time for you to give up to your destiny."

"Destiny? Don't you tell me about my destiny! I've fooled death more than once, and I'll keep on doing it. You humans, you are weak, your feelings and friendship are a curse."

"That's bullshit."

"Oh, it is?" Beryl smiled and looked to the side. "Let me show you the truth. Die!"

Warwitch saw Beryl shoot a wide beam to the side, and paled as she realized what her plan was. "No!"

Moon wasn't expecting Beryl to attack her, but the beam never reached her. She saw Warwitch lying on the ground and gasped in shock. "Yuki!"

Warwitch smiled weakly. "I couldn't let that bitch... Kill you."

Moon glared at Beryl, then turned to her friends. "Hotaru, heal her."

"She may be too-"

"I don't care. Ask the others for energy if you have to, but don't let her die. I want her to see this."

"Wow, she's..." Lilith started.

"She's being herself, in a way," Mars noted, as Saturn started healing Warwitch.

Beryl chuckled. "That stupid kid proved me right, jumping in the way of a beam she knew she couldn't survi-" Her gloating was interrupted by a fist to the face, and she staggered back. "Damn it, what the hell was that for?"

"You have the face to ask that?" Moon snapped. "I thought Metallia had killed you, back then, but I see I shouldn't trust an evil pseudo-goddess to do my job."

"Thought you didn't like killing," Beryl said with a cold smile.

"You used and nearly killed one of my friends. For that, I'm going to make an exception with you, Beryl."

"Try as you might, Moon Princess, but I will kill you, and your friends."

"No, you won't. Your destiny is to lose, once and again, but I'll make sure this is your last battle."

A/N: Guess Moon read the script.