Chapter 27
Serenity
"What do we do? Serena, what do we do?" Mina asked as she whipped around to face Serena whose jaw was hanging open as she tried to process the fact that Michelle and Amy had just disappeared right before them.
"You're all crazy, challenging Raven to a fight was the stupidest thing you could've done." Fabian snapped at the remaining scouts as he glanced at a rabid Zoisite who was cursing and yelling as he tried to pull away from Kunzite and Jadeite. "As for your plan, I'm pretty sure losing two scouts wasn't part of it."
"We can't just leave Michelle and Amy! And what about Trista? She's trapped out there!" Raye protested as her wide eyes settled on Serena. She glanced at the other scouts who were at a loss for words.
"We have to continue with our plan. Once Raven is defeated they will be free." Darien stated as he nodded grimly to Amara who bent to the floor and wiggled a floor board loose. She withdrew a long silver staff. A crescent was situated at the top, the edges appeared razor sharp though Serena couldn't image anyone physically fighting with it.
"What is that?" Fabian asked as his eyes focused on the staff. He could make out several holes within the handle, each filled with a brilliant stone.
"Our secret weapon." Serenity replied as she took the staff from Amara. The instant she touched it, the staff illuminated, shining blindingly bright within the temple for a moment before settling back to its original color. "Alright, just like we planned… I'll keep her busy, generals… good luck."
Kunzite, Jadeite and Nephrite nodded to her while Zoisite finally calmed down.
"You good?" Kunzite asked Zoisite as he grabbed his shoulders and looked him squarely in the eye. "I can't have you running off and doing something stupid—"
"I'm okay." Zoisite grumbled as he shrugged off Kunzite's hands and fixed his shirt. "Let's go. I'm ready to kill this b—"
"Easy, easy." Nephrite said to him as he opened the back door. "Let's just get this done."
Serena watched as the generals headed out the back door. Queen Serenity nodded once to the remaining scouts and with a deep breath, started for the door. Serena ran forward, jumping in front of her path, blocking her exit. "Just what are YOU planning to do?" She asked as panic set in.
"I am the only one who can use this weapon Serena. It will stop Raven." Serenity replied though she wouldn't meet Serena's eyes.
"I don't ever remember this weapon being used before… and I'm sure there's a reason for that. What will happen to you if you use it?" Serena's voice quivered as she felt her eyes begin to sting. It was as if she already knew.
Serenity's eyes finally met Serena's. She reached forward and tenderly touched her daughter's cheek. "This is your time now. You're still so young Serena, there's so much more for you to do. This world needs you, all of you… no matter what happens, promise me that you will continue to fight."
"But we need YOU!" Serena protested. She felt an icy cold sensation wash over her body. She hardly had any time with her mother since she had been brought back. She had spent so much time, trying to figure out which path to follow, that she had never relished the fact that her mother, the woman who had given her life so that all of them could be reborn, had returned.
"You don't… not anymore." Serenity stated as she withdrew her hand and regripped the staff.
Tears swelled within Serena's eyes as Serenity spoke. She felt her knees wobbling, threatening to crumble beneath her weight. She opened her mouth to respond but found no words would come out. She gaped for a moment, attempting, in vain, to say something, anything, to her mother.
"We will never quit." Amara responded to Serenity as she stepped forward. Raye, Mina, Lita and Darien all nodded in agreement, each with their own looks of determination.
"Good." Serenity stated as she cast one look over her shoulder and pushed past Serena into the muddy field before the temple.
Serena felt numb as she heard the temple door close behind her. She could hear Serenity's footsteps as she descended the steps, growing fainter and fainter until she couldn't hear anything anymore. She felt tears clogging her throat, making breathing even more difficult than it already was. Instead of crying she bravely lifted her head to meet the eyes of the remnants of her team and Fabian. "This had better be a damn good plan." She stated.
"It was Serenity's idea." Darien replied as he took hold of Serena's shoulders and drew her deeper into the temple. "But you need to stay inside. If Raven sees you, it's all over…"
"I already said I would!" Serena snapped as she looked around them. "Wait, why are all of you in here? Why aren't you out there helping?!"
"Good question." Fabian commented as he crossed his arms. "This plan just keeps getting better and better."
Darien's eyes narrowed at Fabian. "We can't transform." He stated as he focused his attention back on Serena. "Our crystals are in Serenity's staff."
"The staff's power is enhanced with the power of the sailor scouts and Tuxedo Mask." Luna explained as she jumped onto the back of a nearby chair to get closer to Serena. "Serenity was unable to use this weapon during the Silver Millennium because it is only meant to be used as a last resort. The Silver Crystal was enough then…"
"But not now." Serena whispered as she clutched her own transformation broach. Guilt wrenched her again. She felt utterly powerless to help. The dark energy within her was uncontrollable and wild. She couldn't even count on that to help her team. If she couldn't transform into Sailor Moon how could she help everyone? What could she do?
"Fabian." Serena turned to Fabian who was impatiently watching Serenity approach a preoccupied Raven through the window.
"Yeah?" He asked as he reluctantly tore his gaze from the window.
Her dark blue eyes settled on his as suddenly her expression was very grave. "Take the dark energy out. Now."
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"Luna… I've had a vision." Queen Serenity stated as her worried gaze settled on the rising Earth, visible just beyond the gardens. The sun was slowly sinking below the horizon, turning the land a brilliant orange that slowly faded to red and a deep purple. She wore her usual silver gown and her brilliant silver tiara was nestled on top of her white hair, glinting with the last of the sun's rays of the day.
"My queen?" Luna asked as she cautiously approached.
"In my vision I saw our great kingdom fall to the power of the Negaverse." She whispered, barely loud enough for Luna to hear. "Everyone perished… all life was destroyed. I was the only one left…"
"It must have been a dream." Luna remarked with a smile. "The Moon Kingdom is one of the strongest in the galaxy. Such power does not fall easily."
"There is a darkness within our galaxy." Serenity stated as she turned to face her friend. "It grows stronger every day. Now it threatens our neighbors. How much longer before we are threatened?"
Luna hesitated, unsure of how to respond to her queen's comments. It was true that the galaxy was being threatened. The Earth was the latest victim of the Negaverse. Reports had been coming in that the planet was close to falling, but even more sinister were the reports that Endymion's generals had been brainwashed to join the Negaverse. They had been careful to keep that information from the princesses.
"My vision did show me one glimmer of hope…" Serenity continued, ignoring Luna's silence.
"What was it?" Luna inquired as her brows lifted.
"A weapon…" Serenity stated as she turned back to the window to watch the sun finally disappear beyond the horizon.
"A weapon my queen?" Luna repeated, unsure that she had heard correctly.
"A terrible weapon… a weapon I pray we will never have to use." Serenity stated as she watched the Earth. "It must be crafted immediately."
"Yes, my queen. I'll call the armory and have them send me their best craftsmen—"
"No." Serenity interrupted as she looked back at Luna. "There's only one kingdom that could make a weapon capable of the destruction I saw in my vision…Saturn."
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"She's too strong." Nephrite panted as he gripped his left bicep which was freely bleeding. He tried not to pay too much attention to it, or the chunk of flesh that was loosely hanging there.
"We won't last much longer." Jadeite affirmed as he limped to Nephrite, taking shelter behind a nearby tree as another blast blew by him. A large cut was evident below his hairline, trickling blood along the side of his head and pooling onto his shoulder.
Zoisite appeared across from them, his features hard. He threw a ball of dark energy at Raven that she easily deflected. "Silly little generals… you never wanted to work for me but preferred the pathetic Beryl!" Raven taunted as she sent another blast at the tree line. "No wonder you are so weak."
"Is it time yet?" Nephrite panted as he lunged from behind his tree, narrowly avoiding another blast from Raven. He did a rolling dive, wincing as his arm throbbed painfully.
Zoisite rushed to Nephrite and helped him to his feet as Jadeite glanced back at the field. "Nearly." He stated.
Raven's cruel laughter filled the air as she lifted her arms, powering up for another attack. The Generals appeared like cockroaches before her, darting from hiding spot to hiding spot, avoiding the inevitable moment of their death. She was still high in the air, floating above the sea of destruction she had just created. The trees beyond the field of the temple were quickly falling to her attacks, crumbling and turning to ash or burning like fiery pyres. "Little generals, when will you quit? Or perhaps you desire a new queen— "
"Not a hag like you!" Kunzite shouted as he got a running start and flew at a distracted Raven, his arms outstretched, burning with dark energy that he thrust at her exposed chest.
Raven turned just in time to get hit by the blast. She shrieked as she crashed onto the muddy ground as the dark energy rippled across her body, setting her nerves on fire.
"Now Serenity!" Kunzite yelled as he rolled away from Raven. He got to his feet within seconds and rushed to the safety of the remaining trees. The others joined him, attempting to put as much distance between them and Raven as possible.
Serenity stepped forward, the crescent staff held tightly in her hands. She exhaled deeply as she brought up the staff, raising it to the black sky. The crescent illuminated, turning a bright white as her dark blue eyes settled on Raven's. "I hope you enjoy the darkness Raven, you'll be returning to it for good. The Earth will never be yours."
Raven's eyes widened as the staff came down, pointed straight at her chest. "What the hell is that?" She stated.
"Karma." Serenity replied simply as a white beam of light shot out from the crescent, barreling straight into Raven's chest. She screamed as the energy shot into her body, consuming the dark energy that powered her.
Serenity's forehead furrowed in concentration as she held the staff firmly in her hands, willing the power to intensify enough to destroy the woman who had encouraged the demise of her kingdom. She could feel the energy pulsing from the staff, rushing into Raven's body that was struggling against the light. She didn't know how long the energy would last or if it would be enough.
"Serenity!" Trista shouted from her spot on the ground, still bound and largely forgotten during the battle. "SERENITY WATCH OUT!"
Serenity turned her head just in time to see two women emerge from a nearby portal. One had bright pink hair that was styled back behind her head. She wore a shiny black bodysuit with knee high boots. Beside her was another woman with long flowing white blonde hair. Her dark eyes were cold, focused right on Serenity. She gave her a chilling smile.
"Rhea!" Trista screamed as the woman with the pink hair withdrew a shiny silver dagger from her boot. "DON'T!"
From the temple, Darien squinted as he peered through the front window of the temple. His jaw dropped as he spotted the two women but his focus was on the blond. She flicked her hair back behind her shoulders and winked at him through the glass, as if she knew he was there and watching the entire time. She then turned back to the fight before her.
"IDRA!" Darien shouted and threw the door open to the temple. He ran down the steps to the field but knew he wouldn't make it in time.
"Darien where are you going?" Serena screamed as she attempted to rush after him but Fabian caught her around the middle.
"You made a promise to stay." Fabian said to her as Serena's eyes filled with tears. She finally knew why Darien had bolted from the temple. She could see the two women nearing her mother. She felt a sinking feeling settle into her stomach as the world seemed to be moving in slow motion. "NO!"
Serenity watched helplessly as Rhea took two steps and plunged the dagger into her back, driving it through her flesh as deeply as she could. Serenity yelped as she felt the dagger cut into her back. Amazingly her grip remained strong on the staff as she fell to her knees. She watched as the power within the staff flickered once and then twice before finally disappearing altogether. Her gaze wandered to Raven who was pale as ice but still alive, clinging to the last remnants of dark energy that remained within her.
The blond woman walked forward and gathered Raven in her arms. She carried her back to the portal as Rhea followed with a nod to a sobbing Trista. "Thanks for your help Pluto, couldn't have done this without you… we'll see you around." She stated as she jumped into the portal and disappeared.
Serenity crumbled forward, falling to the ground as Darien finally reached her. He took her into his arms as the generals came rushing out of the tree line, their faces white in shock.
Serena finally broke free from Fabian and ran into the field, tears streaming down her cheeks as she kicked up clumps of mud. "MOM!" She yelled as she willed her legs to move faster, to push her forward to where her mother laid in Darien's arms. She felt the tears clogging her throat as more gushed down her cheeks, soaking her shirt and flying backwards into her hair.
Serenity glanced upwards at the sky as Darien held her. The bright green dome that had surrounded the temple and the surrounding area was slowly dissipating around them, crumbling to the ground as the energy that powered it was sapped. Her vision was quickly growing cloudy as she coughed up a chunk of blood. She hadn't defeated Raven as she had hoped. She only wished that she had weakened her enough that the Sailor Scouts could more easily defeat her, that is if her daughter could finally transform.
Serena fell to her knees next to her mother. "No, no, no, no… mom… mom!"
The generals stood around them as Darien lifted Serenity's torso up so she could see her daughter one last time. "Don't… don't… forget what …. I…I told you…" She stammered as she used the last of her energy to lay the staff into Serena's hands. "It's…. it's up….to… to you…"
"No! I need you still…. mom…. MOM!" Serena screamed as Serenity's eyelids fluttered closed. She threw down the staff into the mud and wrapped her arms around her mother as her body shook with sobs. "I'm not ready! I need you!"
The other scouts rushed onto the field, all of them silent as they came to join the circle around Serenity's body. No one spoke as Serena's sobs filled the air. She clung to her mother like a small child, not willing or ready to part with someone so instrumental in her life.
"Serena." Darien finally spoke as he put his hand on her shoulder. "You have to let her go…"
"Princess." Trista spoke finally, cutting through the silence that was only occupied by Serena's sobs. "They'll be back…"
Serena's head snapped up at the sound of Trista's voice. She kissed her mother's forehead and got to her feet, not even stooping to brush the mud from her knees or legs. Instead she crossed the field to where Pluto still sat, bound to the ground with a heavy chain. Her gaze turned cold as she stopped before her and without a word, punched her right in the mouth.
Trista's head snapped back from the force of the blow as she yelped.
"Serena!" Mina shouted in shock.
Serena squatted before Trista as her dark eyes narrowed. She took her chin roughly in her hands so she could look her right in the eyes. "This… all of this is YOUR FAULT! Talk… NOW!"