Horaios appeared in empty twilit air above the Shinto shrine, sliding quietly into reality like a predator eyeing its prey. The Archon surveyed the area carefully and Mamoru met Usagi's gaze before the pair of them split, looking for more advantageous ground; he'd distract it, she'd use Halation, he'd finish off whatever was left - the plan they constructed while they had run to the temple seemed feasible still. Horaios had made it clear he didn't expect them to know the location of the last point, so they'd use the element of surprise Rin had given them to take him out before he could sink the dark crystal into the ground of the Shine. The only problem was that Mamoru hadn't seen a dark crystal materialized before, so he had no idea what kind of timescale they'd be working with. Rose in hand, he checked that Princess Sailor Moon had clear aim before he sucked in a breath to call out, but just as he did, Horaios's arm raised over his head, palm flat above him, and an orb of dark energy started to gather. The cracking energy like lightning and made his hair stand on end.
Immediately a raucous cry erupted from the trees on the other side of the complex. Mamoru started, concentration shifting to face this new disturbance as two crows erupted to the sunset sky to a whirlwind of leaves, each dive bombing towards Horaios without a care for their own safety. The suddenness of the attack threw the Archon, who flinched and darted away from the pair of coronids, using his free hand to attempt to strike at them even as the energy coalesced further. Mamoru caught Usagi's eye and dashed out to take advantage of the distraction to throw a rose, aiming not for the body of the purple-haired humanoid, but to the hand gathering dark energy. The rose flew true, but, despite drawing blood, the other just glowered at him and disappeared into thin air.
The crows ceased their cries and wheeled warily in opposite circles; his own attention cast outwards, Mamoru drew his sword and waited with it at the ready, preparing to turn either way to meet whatever attack the Archon would throw at him. The crows started their brash cries. He spun, forearm up, and collided with Horaios's leg, knocking his arm aside but at least he protected his head. The energy floated ominously above the Archon still, the other disappearing apparently not enough to dissipate the dark orb. Purple light reflected out from the center of the amassed crackling energy.
"Moon Princess Halation!" Usagi cried and Mamoru fell flat, having no idea what that kind of power would do to him as the sparkling moonglow tore through the air above him and crashed squarely into Horaios. The Archon made a sound like a squelch before disappearing again, and for a moment Mamoru was hopeful - maybe that had been enough to chase him off? But then he appeared farther above them, the crows rising to pursue -
"Akyryo Taisan!" a feminine command echoed as two slips of papers flew up alongside the crows; each bird grabbed one and hounded the Archon, whipping their heads to send the blessed scripts farther. Thinking quickly, Mamoru rolled up off the ground and made a mad dash back to Usagi - if they aimed correctly - Horaios looked annoyed as one page stuck to his foot and he started to fall, the foot paralyzed. Usagi, her wand outstretched with Silver Crystal shining, aimed for him; Mamoru slid in beside her, his left hand on her shoulder to back her up, his right hand carefully surrounding hers to help guide her aim to be just in front of Horaios as he fell. She didn't hesitate, and despite how they had never made an attempt like this before, it felt right to pour his power in behind hers, adding the guidance of his Golden Crystal to help reign in the enormous power of her Silver. The moonlight shot out of the crystal and hit true, Horaios's eyes growing wide. He screamed wordlessly, but rather than pure fear the call was laced with power, and he jerked the energy hand down to reveal a dark crystal.
His body was flung backward with the energy of their combined attack but the crystal fell straight and true, landing in the carefully maintained yard. He ran forward alone, Usagi panting from the third enormous outburst of energy that afternoon, and scooped up his sword as he passed it and brought it to bear as he slammed the blade into the purple gemstone, a grimace set on his face and a hope straining in his heart that he could shatter it before there was any lasting damage -
The crystal cracked neatly, the coils of miasma dissipating before they made it two meters from the source. He leaned into the blade, taking a moment to breathe, the energy he had had to take in starting to catch up with him. Had they…? Did they do it? He straightened, pulling to free his sword from the cracked purple crystal, and waited for some sort of change.
A weak laugh coughed through quiet, heavy air. "It's too late," Horaios said, crumpled form in a pile on the ground before an ancient tree, "The last stone is in place! Valiant attempt, Earth Guardian, but" he wheezed, voice quieting, "the ritual has already begun." His body collapsed on itself, becoming dust, and Horaios was no more.
Too late?
But the crystal was destroyed - there was no more miasma seeping from it, they had won here - what did he mean?!
"Mamoru!" Helios warned, and Mamoru jumped back as the purple crystal began to glow. No! Hastily sheathing his sword, he put his hand out, braced, and fired Golden Crystal energy at it directly, feeling the rush of power surge from the ground through his feet and out at his hand to blast at the crystal. Clenching his jaw he doubled down, hand hot with the expenditure, but when he stopped the crystal remained, glowing several times brighter than it had before. "It's absorbing your energy!"
"Who's there?!" a voice demanded from the temple, the same feminine tenor that had called the crows and blessed the papers. Mamoru, confused and frustrated and not knowing what to do about the crystal now, gave up the attempt and dashed for the cover of the trees, back towards Usako and Rin; the last thing they needed right now was a curious, angry civilian. Princess Sailor Moon had Rin out of the tree he had been stashed in, but the little redhead was attempting to pull her towards the temple, rather than away.
"Please!" Rin called, "You have to! We can't -"
With one motion, Mamoru bent down, scooped him up, and they were off. They didn't have time for this. His stomach rolled with the ineffectiveness of his direct attack, of how Horarios had declared so easily that they were too late. He didn't have time to explain that his attack hadn't worked and so staying wouldn't help anyone. They had to figure out another way. He glanced up at the sky, wishing that the moon were already rising so that they could ask Luna what the archives said to do, but it would be hours still before that happened. The kid fought against him as he ran, but he continued anyway, jumping down the long staircase with Princess Sailor Moon not far behind him. Soon they were down the street and up to the rooftop of the nearest multistory building, and then the next, looking for the highest in the area to stop and think.
He deposited Rin the moment he felt like they wouldn't be spied on and strode to the side of the building, looking out over Tokyo as street lights flared to life, the sun's final light starting to disappear below the horizon. He looked up, eyes searching for the UFO's he knew to be up there right now, heart tight and anxious against the unknown. Helios appeared behind him and he turned to face him.
"All of the crystals are glowing - including the ones we had cracked," he reported. "They are gathering energy."
"What do we do?" he asked. Helios hesitated, not in holding anything back, but from a loss. He didn't know what to do either.
"Awaken the Senshi," Rin said quietly.
They froze, turning to stare at the kid warily. How did he know about the Senshi? He had no reason to - just as he had no reason to know about Usagi or Helios. Even if he had been allied with the Archons until his arrival here, the Senshi of the Silver Millennium had nothing to do with Earth's alignment. He shouldn't know about them. Mamoru had wanted to trust the kid, had fought for him, had even allowed himself to be nearly convinced that he had been a victim of just such an attack on another world, but this… how did he know this secret? Who was he, really? And what was his role in all of this?
"They can help you fight!" the kid continued, throwing his hands out to emphasize the point, "Mars stopped that guy without even being transformed! Think of what she can do with all of her powers! Think of what they all could do! Kunzite and everyone else is gone - they can fight in their place!"
Mamoru's hands tightened to fists. They weren't gone. They weren't dead. They were up there, fighting - he knew it. They weren't gone and they weren't alone. They'd be back. He turned his face away, looking over the city they had fought so hard to protect. He didn't know how, but he'd make sure they had something to come back to.
"How do you know she used to be Mars?" Usagi asked, her voice wavering yet firm in the question, but Rin didn't answer. She continued, growing louder with each question, "How do you know about them to begin with? Why did you want to find me, Rin?! How did you find Mamoru?! How did you know about Helios?! Who are you?!" Mamoru turned sharply, her emotions calling him even more than the answers to those questions would. How long had she been holding that in? But she held up a hand to stop him from coming closer and continued; Rin had gotten smaller, hugging his arms to his side, and while the kid's body language begged to be comforted, Mamoru resisted there, too; while it could be an act, it could also be the push that he needed to finally be honest with them. "Four of my friends are missing," Usagi stated, her voice breaking even as she pushed through, "and you're asking me to try to wake up four more just so they could "fight in their place." They could die, Rin, and they've already died twice fighting wars they were forced into. Even if I knew how to awaken them, they deserve more than that." She accused, "Why do you want that for them, Rin?"
Rin, his hands grasping at the hem of his shirt, tear streaks shining in the ambient light of the city, quietly answered, "I just want to protect you."
Usagi hesitated, probably, like him, having expected a much different answer. He hadn't offered anything of himself beyond that one response, and yet that one statement rang true to him; every time he had done something that could have put Usagi in danger, one mention of that potential consequence had stopped him from doing it again. "I can protect myself now," Usagi answered quietly, and Rin lowered his chin, shaking his messy red hair as he furiously denied her statement -
A creeping, intense energy surged from the direction of the temple behind them, and it was as though the air stood still. Mamoru met Helios's gaze and the unisus disappeared just as Mamoru moved to investigate. He didn't need to go far.
Electric purple light spread from the temple grounds, moving through the city in two directions on either side of where they stood, undoubtedly with the crystal at its apex. As the light travelled, shining eerily, bulbs burst and electric circuits shorted out, the light literally spreading darkness as it went; it wasn't moving the speed of light, but it still raced away from the Crystal Star point with purpose. Helios reappeared, "The points are connecting; this one has moved the farthest in the shortest period, but light is spreading from all five points!" He had fed this one - that was why it was spreading the fastest. But what happened when they connected?
A great rushing sound erupted suddenly, the wind returning all at once, crashing up from the crackling light. His cape whipped in the wind and he backed from the side of the building just as forms appeared from the wind and darkness, their faces stretched, heads bare, boney bodies seemingly made of darkness itself as they rushed inward from the dark energy, arms reaching for them, outstretched fingers ending in claws. Ghoulish mouths opened in low screams as they attacked, slamming themselves at him, claws ripping and tearing as various shapes crashed into him, knocking him down. Usagi screamed and his eyes shot open, strength rushing into him as he pushed himself up from the concrete and scrambled towards her, barely able to see her through the mass of stretching, reaching bodies -
"Moon Princess -" he dove to the ground, "Halation!"
Bright light poured out from her wand and she dragged it around in a circle, enemies bursting as the glow struck them. She had run to cover Rin, the kid crouched down with his eyes closed tight and ears covered as she spun; as soon as she completed the circle he picked himself back up and ran towards her, intent to get them beyond the line -
"The Moonlight would not penetrate the line!" Helios breathlessly revealed, "You may not be able to move through it!"
He scooped up Rin just as the voices sounded again from the darkness around them. He reached for Usagi's hand and ran towards the center of the pentagram: Infinity Park. If they couldn't pass beyond the light and they were near one point of the star, they could be trapped within it and completely unable to resist Demiurge when it arrived. They jumped from rooftop to rooftop, just ahead of the massing ghouls that gave chase, but more were forming from the darkness around them, the lines of light always ahead. Helios appeared several rooftops before them and started to grow to his full size - "Get on!"
Three people?! But as the creatures gained on them and the light left them he had no choice but to trust that Helios knew his own limits. He skidded to a stop before Helios, putting Rin up right behind his neck, before his wings, and reached to help Usagi up but she shook her head, motioning with her wand, "You next!" He understood and mounted, reaching down to pull her up behind him. The following motions were awkward but as Helios took off she was sitting behind him facing backwards, his cape around her waist like a seatbelt. He pulled it tighter, pressing her back tight against his as the unisus leapt skyward, wings pumping to take them higher than the creatures that had caught up to them. From behind him she called out her attack again, swinging her crescent wand in an arc from wingtip to wingtip, the creatures in pursuit bursting as the moonlight struck them. Helios laboured beneath them, wings and legs pumping to keep up speed - they were catching up with the blackout, but just when it seemed like they could beat it, the light turned inward to cut off their escape: they had reached the inner pentagon and the light from star points were hitting the inner points and splitting. "Hold on!" Helios cried, and Mamoru wrapped one arm around the kid, the other pinning his cape to him as he leaned down and gently sent energy into his friend to help ease the pain in the wings that supported far more than they were used.
The way closed before them, but in final burst of speed they made it through, the light closing on the last hairs of Helios's tail, singeing them off. His chest expanding and contracting greatly with the effort, Helios straightened his wings to coast towards a building, air rushing through his nose with worrying effect, but he had done it: they were in the inner pentagon. Infinity Park lay ahead, the three surrounding towers still lit, the park below them glowing merrily. "You did it!" Usagi-chan cheered, but the moment the words left her mouth something hard and invisible slammed into them.
Helios screamed and then went silent, losing control entirely of their flight and shrinking beneath them. Panic briefly shot through Mamoru - they were more than twelve stories high still, a fall from this height for any of them would be devastating - but he had the tools to stop this. He held tighter to Rin's waist and ordered, "Catch him!" but the kid was holding fast to his arm, afraid of falling and holding tight and pressing back as hard as he could as they plummeted like rocks through the night. He couldn't blame him, but he had to adjust.
He turned his head to Usagi "I'm going to -"
"Let me go!" Usagi finished, her arms already over her head, wand gone, "I trust you!"
He took a deep breath and felt out the speed, getting his timing right, and then released his cape. The material whipped around them as he quickly shook it off of his arm, undoing the winding he had done to keep Usagi safe as quickly as he could so as not to doom her now. She started to fall the moment the cape loosened, the seconds ticking down as he single-handedly attempted to loosen and free the material, Rin shaking in fear against him, the wind taking his screams away from them; when finally it came free, cape streaming out above him, he lurched down to grab Usagi's hand in the split second before the cape's anti-inertial accelerator kicked in, slowing the fall almost like a parachute. She had spun as she fell and grasped his waiting arm tightly, still-shrinking Helios held close to her chest. She smiled up at him like the entire thing had been no problem. "Easy as eating cake!" she enthused, and he shook his head incredulously, squeezing his hold on her forearm appreciatively.
They had nearly reached the ground when a figure appeared in mid air before them, yellow eyes glaring and hand outstretched. Senses screaming at him, Mamoru released Usagi to fall the rest of the way and twisted to spare Rin the brunt of the attack as an invisible force struck them, sending them flying off course. The man disappeared and something hard slammed into Mamoru's back, knocking the breath from his lungs, and as the man reappeared to knee him in the stomach he doubled over. Shocked with pain, he could only feebly attempt to keep his hold on Rin, who called out his name as the golden-haired Archon roughly pulled him from his grasp, the alien's hand gripping the cape above one shoulder to keep him in place as he removed the kid.
Holding Rin by the back of his shirt, the Archon's golden eyes stared only at Mamoru as he spat, "Taking a child into a warzone? Did you think I would take pity on him? Your pathetic use of a human shield only makes you more despicable, Earth Prince." And with that, he tossed Rin aside like a ragdoll, without recognition, without notice. Rin was nothing to this man, Adonaios, leader of the Archons. But then, who was he? The kid screamed, but Usagi caught him before he could be hurt.
His muses twitched back into action, but he wasnt alone in that realization. Before he could make a move, Adonaios curled his fist and punched him solidly in the stomach again, keeping his grip on his cape to keep him from flying. "That was for this planet's future," he hissed, and released him, letting him fall. "And this is for Horarios." he brought his leg around, hitting him solidly in the chest and sending him flying, the cool night air rushing past him before he hit the ground and tumbled to a stop. When he finally stopped moving he pulled himself to his knees and summoned a rose, but the Archon was gone.
Princess Sailor Moon rushed over, pulling Rin along behind her until she bent to help him up. He didn't need the assistance, not with the power of the entire planet fueling him, but he accepted her help for the simple excuse of being near to her. "He disappeared before I could hit him," she said apologetically.
"He knows what happened to Horarios," Mamoru said, stretching the newly mended muscles, "I doubt he would give you the opportunity."
Rin backed up, holding Helios's unconscious form carefully as he bumped into them and then moved around behind Mamoru's cape. That Adonaios had not reacted to him at all… Where did he come from?
"Mamochan," Usagi whispered quietly. He followed her gaze to the purple line of the pentagon, and the hundreds of monsters that pressed themselves against the energy barrier it had created. They writhed and screamed all along and up its area, wanting in.
"We have to stop him," Mamoru stated, keeping calm as he turned towards the three towers of infinity park. "He's still here, so he must serve some final function," he reasoned, striding towards the three buildings and the sudden flash of light at the top of one, narrowing down his target destination. "If we take him down, maybe this all stops. And if it doesn't, maybe he'll give me a hint on how to take out Demiurge."
…
After so long jumping his way to the top of buildings, riding an elevator felt a little ridiculous, but the three buildings were a just too far apart to make it up through normal means. And, this way, it gave them a moment to rest. Helios was out cold; revived to consciousness, he near immediately fell into a deep sleep. Rin had been charged with keeping him safe until he woke up, and despite the tears the kid took the charge seriously. As they rose through the nearly 100 stories, he and Usagi quietly held hands. At the quarter way mark the voice started to boom, becoming a backdrop to their silence:
"People of Earth, prepare to meet your Savior. He is Demiurge, and he will protect you from a fate worse than Death. Know him as I know him, and welcome him with me when he arrives!
"You may be frightened, but rest assured you will know solace soon, for with Demiurge there is only peace and equality: all will get what they deserve, and together we will fashion a future worthy of this great human race!
"I, too, was once of a world doomed by its ruler, who manipulated and corrupted everything she touched, backed by the power of our planet. Under her our lives were long and miserable until I found a way out though the Great Artisan Demiurge! Since I freed my planet and set it to rights, I have traveled across the galaxy freeing other such doomed worlds and letting them know peace. Come! Take to the streets and welcome him with me! The Beacons have been set! Come, Demiurge!"
He spoke then in a rhythmic chant that reverberated through the steel beams of the building, shaking the elevator around them, but by then they were slowing for the final floor. They left quickly, running through the halls towards the roof access. Rin hid there, at the top of the stairs, and Mamoru unsheathed his sword before kicking the door outward. The chanting - maybe if they stopped the chanting?! He veered to one side as Usagi threw her tiara, the metallic disk flashing out towards the figure standing with his hands held high by the edge of the building, facing the center of the triangle formed by the three towering buildings. Adonaios turned just in time, side-stepping so the tiara flew wide, but quickly reappeared to keep up the chant. A weakness. The Archon held up an arm towards the roof access and Mamoru let out a battle cry to draw his attention away from them - the golden eyes of his opponent and the outstretched hand shifted to him and unleashed a forceful attack. He crossed his arms and bent his knees, absorbing the attack -
"Moon Princess -"
Adonaios disappeared, reappearing right behind him to use him as a deterrent for her attack. Mamoru turned, swinging his sword, and made contact with a sword made of glowing purple crystal. He scowled and Adonaios pushed back only to dart closer, the chant still rhythmic and purposeful on his lips. Mamoru dodged, moving on instinct drilled into him through hours of practice in his past life, taking every opportunity he could to silence him, but the other moved with ease.
"Stop this!" Mamoru called, "If you are looking for peace you can find it here! I have no intention of ruining this planet's future!"
"EMOC OT SU TEARG TCETIHCRA!" Adonaios replied, a crazed smile set to his face as their swords met and he pressed back. Energy hummed on the air and the blond warrior laughed, "My Architect hungers and your planet will fulfill Its desires just as It will fulfill ours!" But then the smile faded into a deep scowl, "Or It would have!" With a gluttoral cry and a burst of strength, he kicked Mamoru back. He skidded, leaning forward against the momentum before he could fall over the edge, but then a swift kick to his back sent him sprawling, his sword bouncing away. "But you killed them!" the other roared; Mamoru twisted and rolled just as the crystalline sword was thrust into the ground where his shoulder would have been. "Demiurge may need you alive," he raged, yanking hard to get the blade out of the floor and disappearing, reappearing to stab down at him. The blade pierced his abdomen, wracking his body with pain as the purple, sparking negative energy raced through him like white-hot electricity, burning and numbing only to reach higher thresholds of pain. He screamed - he couldn't help it. Adonaios yelled to be heard above it. "But I know where to find the fine line between death and wishing for death, Earth Prince."
"HALATION!" Usagi screamed, the charged attack firing with a fierce pale light that lit up the area with its glow. Adonaios disappeared as the attack rushed over him, shattering the top of the crystalline blade and showering him with the small fragments. He bit down on his screams, clenching his teeth against the pain as he reached up to tug the remains of the sword free, but just touching it made his body jerk. Unable to get a grip, he tried to sit up, to force it out of him that way, but it was useless -
"That's right," Adonaios purred, reappearing above him to press the sword down further, stepping on his shoulders to keep him down; his vision whited out for a moment, "I can still visit that sort of pain on you, can't I?" He grinned, leaning further, "Do you know how long Horarios had been with me? Far longer than she has been with you, that I can guarantee. How shall I kill her, little Prince?" He leaned further, the blade piercing through the skin of his back. "A sword through the chest? That seems the preferred method here, is it not? Saboth, Elaios, Iaos - all were lost that way. Or shall I use force on her, as was done to Astaphaios and Horaios?" Energy crackled and he lost his sight yet again. "Both then."
His presence left and Mamoru, struggling again against the crystal blade, called out a warning, "USAKO!" But then the blade was gone, pulled up by an invisible force to follow its master. Adrenaline and the energy of the planet beneath them pumped through him in the wake of the pain the sword had caused, but rather than allow the energies to heal them he gathered them in on hand, turning over onto his stomach to see, his hand reaching towards Usagi and gathering as much energy as he could muster.
Princess Sailor Moon brandished the moon wand, "Moon Princess -" but before she could finish the incantation Adonaios cut the distance between them, knocking her wand aside and strangling her with one hand, lifting her off the ground. The sword floated beside him, bobbing and weaving as though impatient. Mamoru pulled himself up onto one elbow, forced his arm to stop shaking, aimed carefully - the sword darted in and he released the energy sooner than intended, but fear had cut through patience as the energy shot off like a rocket. It crashed into Adonaios and the blond screamed and released his grip on her; she fell into a crouch. The Archon staggered, the crystal blade falling to the ground with a clatter.
Mamoru breathed heavily, though he felt fine: he knew from earlier what that meant, but nevertheless kept the transformation. He got to his knees, then stood, his hand over the new skin beside the metal plating of his fauld, and prepared another blast as Princess Sailor Moon dove for her wand. He hit him again, and Adonaios disappeared, reappearing beside him, but rather than attack the leader of the Archons, beaten and bloodied, toed the edge of the rooftop. "Demiurge comes," he gurgled, spitting blood through a toothy grin, "Ever may he reign."
And with that, he fell over the edge.
Mamoru strode over, carefully leaning to see, not quite trusting him - but he fell lifelessly, and just before he hit the ground he seemed to implode. Darkness seeped in from the void he left and the electricity went out in Infinity Park, wind lashing up from the triangular center of the buildings. Lines of violet light raced in from the five pentagonal corners and the barriers that had held the ghouls at bay suddenly fell, the creatures of darkness now free to rush in, their screaming groans further filling the air with the riotous sounds. From all around them they raced inward, towards them. Mamoru backed away from the edge of the building as the winds strengthened, creating a vortex of raw energy and power. Demiurge would appear there, but with the creatures rushing in would he even get the chance to fight it off?
Usagi appeared behind him, her wand in hand, and, together, back to back, they fought off the ghostly creatures of darkness as they threatened to overwhelm them. The rooftop access rattled and exploded as the creatures tried to hide from Usako's pale moonlight, and the pair of them rushed over to defend Rin and Helios, bringing them out into the open to better keep them safe.
But Princess Sailor Moon was exhausted, her newly-attained power stretched farther than ever thought possible, and Mamoru fought for breath, the Golden energy coursing through him negating any pain but blinding his senses to his need for rest. They couldn't keep it up for much longer; when Demiurge arrived, would he even have any energy left to use against it? Usagi wavered, her knees buckling after having dragged her Halation in a circle around them to grant hem precious few moments of peace. He caught her before she fell.
They needed help.
He looked up but the night sky was lost entirely to angry black clouds that whirled around to mirror the vortex of energy so near him. He knew they were there. He knew they were alive. Closing his eyes he could almost see them. "You're cutting it close to the wire, guys," he said quietly. Holding tight to Usagi, he sent out a burst of power, using his psychometry as a beacon rather than radar, hoping to call them to him, to show them where he was and let them come to him. "If you're there, I could really use your help right now."
The creatures gathered for another attack.