Chapter 30
The Final Battle
Serena felt her breath catch in her throat as she came to the top of the mountain. The last time she had been here the land was lush with greenery, tall trees and soft grass that waved in the breeze. Now her slippered feet only left a long trail in the dense gray dust. The rugged terrain that had met her last time she had been here had vanished. No matter how many times she visited the ruins of her home planet the sheer magnitude of the destruction always left her heart feeling heavy. She carefully turned a slow circle as her deep sapphire eyes took everything in. The flood of memories hit her like a sledgehammer. She could hear the clank of metal on metal, the screams of her Shadow Warriors, urging her to reach the sanctuary. She could then hear Nikko's voice in her ear, the gentle grasp of his embrace and the caress of his lips. She trembled.
Mina whistled behind her as the group of scouts came to the top of the mountain, oblivious to Serena's current mood. There it was, the temple of Kuya. Its ancient structure somehow still stood, withstanding even the bombardment of the Negaverse and the passage of a millennium. "How it even possible that it is still standing? Not even the moon palace survived."
"There are still some structures lingering on every planet." Luna spoke as she walked past Mina. "The Moon Palace was leveled during the last battle for the galaxy. Most of the other structures built during the silver millennium fell and crumbled with time, but holy temples, well, those were created with magic. They stand still."
"This place gives me the creeps." Amara shivered as they came to the heavy red iron doors. "After you…"
"There was much death here." Trista whispered as her fingers brushed along the side of the temple. "Many souls are still trapped on the Moon, unable to rest until the Negaverse is defeated."
"Princess." Luna interrupted as she turned back to Serena who had turned paler than milk. "Are you okay?"
Serena nodded silently and lifted her white skirts. She wasn't in her sailor uniform like the rest of the scouts. Instead she was dressed as Princess Serenity. She had used her powers to get everyone to the Moon at the request of Luna. She felt that before they faced Raven again, they needed more information from the fires. Raye had been unable to gather the information they needed on Earth. Her powers were strong but a proper fire temple would enhance them even more. The temple of Kuya had been built with fire magic. There she could make a stronger connection.
Serena felt uneasy as the scouts entered the temple, one by one. The cool metal of the crescent staff pressed against her sweaty hands that only continued to tremble the closer she drew to the doors of the temple. The jewels embedded within the staff began to glow softly, as if they too sensed unrest.
"Raye?" Lita asked as she cast a look back at Sailor Mars who was standing just before the doorway.
"There is much unrest here." She affirmed as she closed her eyes. "But still old magic… very old. I should find what we need here." She opened her eyes and pushed past Lita and Amara who held open the doors.
The inside appeared just as it was the last time Serena had seen it. Debris littered the floor, a large hole was evident in the roof although little dust had seemed to have entered the temple. All of the scouts clambered in, shutting the doors behind them.
Raye quickly went to the middle of the room, pulling debris from the pyre that she intended on igniting. All around her the scouts spread out, lighting the few torches that still lined the walls of the temple. Silence fell between them as they worked. Luna and Artemis sat beside Raye, quietly conversing between themselves.
"Princess." Amara said to Serena as they came together, lighting the last of the torches. "No matter what happens today when we get to Raven's palace, I have to go in and find Michelle."
"I understand." Serena whispered back as her gaze softened. She could feel the pain in Amara's voice. "After Raven is defeated, perhaps we can return to the peace we have enjoyed for the past five years—"
"Quiet." Raye hissed as she sat before the fire that she had just set. Everyone gathered behind her as she furrowed her brow, concentrating hard on what the flames could reveal to her.
No one spoke for several minutes as the fire cracked before them, growing larger and larger until finally Raye's eyes popped open. She pushed herself back from the flames just as an image appeared. It was a girl. Her jet black hair was short, sitting just below her sharp jaw.
"Saturn!" Trista whispered as the image grew clearer and clearer.
"Oh good, you see it too." Lita whispered to herself as she too took a step back, afraid she was seeing ghosts.
"My friends…" Saturn whispered as she came to the edge of the flames. "We do not have much time. I know you have many questions. I know that you are preparing yourselves for a large battle. A battle that without the unity of the sailor scouts, you will not win. Before you fret, know that our enemies are not united either. They are broken, just as they have attempted to break our team. That is their weakness as it is ours."
"What are you saying?" Serena asked as she approached the flames hesitantly. "Are you telling us not to fight?"
"No." Saturn shook her head. "I am telling you that the Crescent Staff will hold Queen Raven but not all of the evil within the Negaverse. You must sense that with her arrival, a rebirth was stimulated. I gave my life so that Pluto could warn all of you, and use her power to keep the team together. I have failed all of you. I can't help you in this fight. The darkness of the Negaverse gave me life again, but the person that is in Raven's palace is not me. It is a mere shell of the person I was. She is a pawn. Do not attempt to save her. Do not risk your lives for someone who is gone. Raven is yours alone to defeat but know that with her death, more evil will come and you will need more power but you cannot get it fast enough. She won't die tomorrow, it is too late..."
"What do you mean it's too late?" Mina asked as Saturn's image began to blur.
Saturn's image flickered several times, her voice faded as she spoke. "glaive...Back... go back... you must... unite...she already has it."
"Oh my gosh." Luna whispered as she broke the heavy silence that settled over everyone as the flames flickered back down to glowing embers. "Raven has the Silence Glaive."
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Darien trudged up the side of a steep hill, willing his burning calves to press just a little further. He was in the best shape of his life but a five-mile hike and now this treacherous hill were beginning to take a toll on his energy. He could feel sweat trickling down the back of his neck, soaking the collar of his black shirt. Somewhere behind him he could hear the hoot of an owl, eerily cutting through the warm night air. He was almost there.
He stopped, taking in a deep breath as finally his legs lifted him to the crest of the hill. A cave, large and looming, appeared before him. He could feel the old magic in the air, tickling the tiny hairs on his arms and the back of his neck. Any mortals that got too close to this cave would find themselves idly wandering past it, but not him. The last time his eyes had settled on its dark caverns was during the Silver Millennium, a lifetime ago.
The Onyx Cavern. It had been a myth then, often spoken of but never revealed. Old tales were of dangerous treasures, fabled weapons and dark magic. Darien had chanced upon it during the war, seeking shelter from the onslaught of the Negaverse. He knew at once what it was. He could feel the magic tickling the back of his neck sending the hairs on his arm on edge. The tales his soldiers told each other around the evening fire and even shared by his grandmother, all shared one key detail: the entrance was blood red, covered with vibrant ferns that shouldn't be growing there. They swayed lazily in the cool breeze as if they invited him to delve into their dark depths.
Darien had hesitated then, knowing that if he entered and took anything, he would pay a steep price. Some of his soldiers had said that a life must be paid for any treasures taken or the trespasser would suffer an ill fate himself. His grandmother had said that a curse would fall upon anyone who entered. Even if it were true, the threat of total defeat was what kept his feet moving. He entered only because he was desperate to save his planet. Now Darien sought out the dark powers hidden within once more. What would be the price now? The entire Silver Millennium had ended with the death of everyone he had loved. Was that the price he had paid? What would he lose now? His career? His city? His friends? Serena?
"I didn't think you'd actually come, Endymion." Idra's deep voice stated as she waltzed out of the mouth of the cave. A long white dress clung to her body, hugging her curves and trailing onto the mossy earth beneath the ferns. Her long hair was braided and pinned onto the back of her head giving her a bridal look, out of place for the middle of a forest.
Darien attempted to hide his surprise. "Stay out of my way Idra. You were with Rhea when she killed Queen Serenity, if you come near me I will kill you too."
"I can't do that." Idra said with a roll of her blue eyes. "My sister promised her allegiance to Queen Raven and it is in her best interest that she live. I didn't harm anyone, I just made sure that witch was still breathing, that was my total involvement. That's not important now...I knew you'd come here sooner or later. Not many people ever knew where the Onyx Cavern was. Those that did are dead now, well, two. Tell me Endymion, what will you sacrifice now?"
"It is not your concern." Darien glared back as he examined the red ferns that seemed to stretch towards him, pulling him into their dark depths. "You need to leave Idra."
"I hope you are ready to pay for the price of darkness. It was only a matter of time before you grew this desperate. Somehow, I'm surprised it took you this long. Tomorrow your Sailor Scouts are going to attack Raven in one last show of strength. They'll probably succeed. Her powers aren't what they once were but then again, your scouts too have aged. No longer are they spry teenagers. Who knows what will happen?"
"Why are you here then? Your sister owes her life to Raven, not you. You can walk away from all of this and no one would stop you." Darien stated, his left eyebrow raised curiously. "In fact, your absence wouldn't even be noticed. You are insignificant to Raven and to all of us."
"Like it or not Endymion, I am tied to this battle. My sister joined the Negaverse to bring me back to life. I can't just walk away from her now, that wouldn't be very sisterly." Idra said as she took a few casual steps towards him.
"No. That's a lie." Darien replied with a shake of his head. His features curled into a cruel smile. "You're still hiding something. You've been here for almost two yeays with me, perhaps even longer in Tokyo. I doubt Rhea and Raven have been back that long. How is it Raven didn't notice? Or maybe she did and the two of you are keeping secrets from Rhea. That's why you're here... alone."
"Your cleverness was always very attractive, well that and those dreamy blue eyes of yours." Idra grinned as she came to a stop just a few feet from Darien. "Perhaps I have a trick or two up my sleeve as well. Maybe there's more to my story, maybe not, why should I tell you?" She reached forward and rested her hand on his cheek as she drew herself closer to him. Her eyes caught his as he cringed. "Anyway, my story is insignificant. I know something you don't... something that I think you'd need to know, especially if you want to live past tomorrow."
"I don't care." Darien replied as he pushed off her hand. "As long as you stay out of my way, do what you want." He pushed past Idra, heading for the entrance to the cave as he felt the wind pick up around him. He wasn't going to fall for Idra's lies. She was attempting to stall him. He could only imagine why.
"Darien, I'm serious." Idra said simply as she caught his arm causing him to pause mid-step. "Let me help you."
Darien spun around on his heel, his eyes wide with rage. "Why would you want to help me? You just told me it's in your best interest that Raven live for your sister. Helping me would change that. You're a liar Idra and a bad one at that. Now suddenly you're here to help? I'm supposed to believe that? How can I trust anything you say? You expect me to believe that you're trying to help now after all you've done? You're incapable of being honest." Darien stated with a cold snarl as he turned on his heel and entered the front of the cave.
Idra ran after him, grabbing his wrist, pulling him from pushing past the red ferns. "Darien… tell me… honestly, without even thinking about everything that's just happened these past few weeks. We had a bond didn't we? We were together for a long time. We practically lived together. Did you not love me?" Her eyes were wide, set on his, searching for a glimmer of hope.
Darien softened for just a moment as his eyes settled on hers. While he still didn't trust her, evil or not, Idra was still a woman, a woman with feelings at that. Beryl had been cruel, Raven had been cruel, even Nikko had been overcome with darkness but all three still were able to show their feelings, even if they hadn't manifested like regular peoples did. "No. I've only ever loved one woman… Serena. That won't ever change."
"I know that." Idra said with a roll of her eyes. "I'm not trying to win you back. If Raven uses that weapon we're all lost. I just need you to believe me." Idra's grip tightened on his arm as her features suddenly turned somber. "Look, I don't like Raven any more than you do. I never did and I definitely don't now. I do however, want you to live. I know we don't have a chance, you've got your moon princess back. You almost have the happy ended you were robbed of in our last life but Darien..." She paused as Darien attempted to pull his arm from her but she held firm. "Raven...she has it."
"Has what?" Darien asked as he attempted to pull his arm from her grasp.
"The Silence Glaive." Idra answered simply as her eyes bore into his.
Darien opened his mouth to speak but no words emerged. It was if someone had turned off the volume on his voice. His lips moved but still nothing. He didn't know if he could trust her. If she was lying, it was a good way to change their battle strategy. If she was telling the truth he needed to warn the scouts.
"It's too late to stop her now. She has the weapon and she has the item you are here for." Idra said softly as she released his arm. "Now we are all doomed."
"What do you know about that? How could she get the Silence Glaive? How do you know what I'm looking for?" Darien said quietly as his mind started to run. Was she being honest? How could this happen? Saturn wielded the Silence Glaive, how could Raven acquire it and what did Idra know about the Onyx Cavern?
"If she uses that weapon we all die. If she uses that weapon there's a good chance you'll be reborn and I won't! That is where my interest lies!" Idra said as she sighed and took a step back from Darien, her eyes searching the land around them. "I may not have been an earthling but this is my home now. I like it here. I never felt that I belonged in the Silver Millennium. Rhea had left me to grow old alone in our home, left with nothing but a shoddy bakery and a senile mother while she traveled the galaxy with her Shadow Warriors. I like my life here and I don't want that to change! I had to do something!"
"What do you know Idra?" Darien asked as his tone grew stern. His hands balled into fists as he attempted to control his anger. Was she playing with him or stalling? Was she just leading him into a trap?
"I followed Raven here, she went inside and twenty minutes later she came out with a large black sphere. Darien... I think it was the Time Orb."
"What do you know about the Time Orb?" Darien asked as he glanced back at the cave as if the answer were plastered within the red ferns.
"Very little." Idra replied. "I've just heard stories. It's meant to give the power to control time. The catch is you get one shot and if something isn't said correctly—"
"Then everything is messed up." Darien finished for her. "It's useless without the right knowledge of how to use it. I don't even know if I could use it properly if I did obtain it, but it would be a last resort to the destruction of our world."
"Darien, if she uses that weapon and the Silence Glaive then she can literally hit the reset button on everything and control where we begin again and how." Idra whispered.
Darien froze as he caught her eyes. Idra's tone had changed. It was darker, somber. She looked genuinely fearful. He cast a long look at the Onyx Cavern and then back at her with a look of determination. "We have to stop her...and you're going to help us."
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It was just before sunrise. Tokyo had fallen into an eerie silence. The devastation to the city had knocked out power, crumbled roadways and destroyed buildings. Millions had evacuated. All that remained was the wildlife that had lived around the city. The only sound that broke the early morning air was a flock of birds, flying so far away that their chirps were hardly audible. The solace of the abandoned city was eerily familiar to Serena and the scouts. She only hoped that Tokyo would come to life again and the rest of the planet be spared the same fate, the same fate that had befallen Earth in the past. A fate that no one even knew occurred except for those before her.
Serena breathed in deeply as a light breeze whipped around her, rustling her white gown against her ankles. Her long blond tresses tickled the back of her arms. She hardly noticed as she watched as the sky around them slowly turn a brighter blue, shifting to shades of purple and then orange as the sun began to rise, drawing breath into what could be their last day on Earth. No... the Sailor Scouts had to prevail. Earth deserved to live in peace. Raven had to be stopped, especially since Darien had told them what she had found in the Onyx Cavern.
"Princess…" Luna said from beside Serena, nearly invisible within the wild grass as they walked towards their fate. "Your friends are not the only ones counting on you, but all the life within this universe. I'm not putting pressure on you, I am just reminding you that today is not a day for mercy. Mercy has been shown to our enemies before. Mercy only heightens the rage they carry and allow to fester within themselves. If Raven is not defeated today she will come back more powerful and frightening than ever and believe me, she will never show you mercy. She will use Saturn's weapon against us and then we will not even be aware of how great of a threat she is when we are reborn. She will be in complete control with the Time Orb."
Serena felt her spine begin to tingle. It was unlike Luna to encourage anyone to harm someone much less kill them, but yet she heard those words all the same. Luna's message was clear: Raven had to die. Could she kill her? Was Sailor Moon created to protect or kill? Was there a difference?
"Luna—"Serena began but Fabian appeared beside her, his heavy black armor once again covering his body.
"We are ready when you are princess." Fabian stated as he put his hand on the hilt of his sword that rested against his hip. "Remember the plan. Don't be deterred or distracted by what comes at you or happens behind you. We must get to her before she can use the Silence Glaive. Plan B is to grab the Time Orb. If we can't stop our rebirth then our best bet is to control it."
Serena hesitated for a moment as she watched Sailor Jupiter, Nephrite, Zoisite, Idra and Femi all move within the wooded area next to the hill they were on. She caught Idra's eyes for a brief moment and felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. "Fabian, can we trust them?" Serena asked as her dark blue eyes settled on his. She knew that Fabian wasn't truly aligned with the Negaverse, but he had been at Raven's side for a long time. Though he had proven himself trustworthy she still couldn't shake the feeling that Femi and Idra weren't. A feeling that was only growing stronger now that they were once again at Raven's palace.
"I have pledged my allegiance to you princess. Queen Raven was never my true queen as she was never theirs. Femi followed because Nikko did. Idra never joined Raven's side, she only wanted to be with her sister. If anything, trust my judgement princess. That witch killed my brother, I won't allow her to kill anyone else I love." Fabian said bitterly as his hands balled into two tight fists.
"I see..." Serena felt a smile tugging at her features as Sailor Mars, Pluto, Uranus and Venus came into view on the other side of the field, ready to attack from the north. Kunzite, and Jadeite weren't far behind them. "I think your allegiance may actually be to someone in particular... someone that drew you back to the light."
Fabian's gaze flickered over to the scouts. His hard expression softened at the sight of Mina. "I can't let anything happen to her."
"You should tell her that. Tell her how you feel." Serena felt her smile widen as she watched Fabian's eyes twinkle at the sight of Mina. She was oblivious to the attention as she and the scouts worked their way into their positions. Serena knew that look, a look of longing and affection. Her own prince often gazed at her the same way. She felt a pang in her chest at that moment.
"Darien? Where is he?" Serena asked as her eyes scanned the area around them. The sun was now above the horizon, illuminating the field before them. Queen Raven's palace sat just beyond them, dark and gloomy even with the sun's rays shrouding it. Darien was supposed to be in the tree line with the others but she hadn't seen him go in.
"Right here." Raven's voice said from behind them.
Serena jumped and spun on her heel as Fabian unsheathed his sword.
There stood Queen Raven, dressed in a long gown of flowing black silk. Her jet black locks were pinned beneath a golden tiara, dotted with black diamonds and dark rubies. Beside her Rhea had Darien in her grasp. His wrists were chained together and a long thin dagger was pressed to his neck.
"You expect us to believe you'd kill your own son?" Serena said as she pointed the Crescent Staff straight at Raven's chest. She fought to keep her voice from quivering. Raven hadn't been fooled. Their plan to surround and surprise her was already falling apart.
"Maybe, maybe not, it doesn't really matter...however, this beautiful piece of... devastation... will keep you from doing anything stupid." Raven stated as she pulled a long staff from behind her. The curved tip was sharp, catching the glint of the sun's rays as she twirled it with a cruel smile. The Silence Glaive.
"You know, this is doing wonders to get me back to being your son." Darien spat as he struggled against Rhea's hard grasp.
"Endymion...my dear son..." Raven stated as she set the bottom of the Silence Glaive onto the soft grass. "I have the power to start everything over again. I even have the ability to wipe those treacherous memories of yours. Imagine, all the pain that the Moon caused you, all those silly moments with this piece of filth before me—" Raven's eyes flickered over to Serena who had not faltered from her stance, ready to fight. "Gone. Erased forever." She finished with a cruel smile. "It would be a comfort to us both. In fact, I could even completely erase her from existence."
"Is that what you want Raven?" Darien asked as he struggled against Rhea's tight grasp. "Another life built on a lie? You want me following you around like a child, calling you mother again? What about father? You want us to be one happy family again or do you just want to control everything I do? I bet that's it isn't it? The day I decided to stop listening to you was the day you moved towards the darkness because you lost control."
"You don't have any idea what I've done for this family!" Raven screamed as she lifted the Silence Glaive, pointing the tip towards her own son. "I have made so many sacrifices to make things better for us you ungrateful brat! I have raised you to be better yet you stand before me as if I am your enemy... I can see the loathing in your eyes!"
"Going back won't erase everything you've done. We have regained memories of our past life here. If you send me back I will eventually remember my old life and all the terrible things you have done. We will be back right to where we are now!" Darien yelled back as he felt tears stinging his eyes. What was left of his mother's sanity was cracking before his eyes. How much longer would they have before she used the weapon and sent them back to the Silver Millennium?
"You can't win this way Raven." Serena said, cutting into the tension that had built between Raven and Darien. She was vaguely aware of Fabian behind her, slowly walking around the hill to where Idra, Zoisite, Femi, Sailor Jupiter and Nephrite hid. "Your selfish antics cost you your family and instead of trying to repair that relationship you only seek to make it worse!" She raised her Crescent Staff and pointed it straight at Raven. "I will kill you if I must to stop this maddness."
Raven turned sharply to face Serena, still holding the Silence Glaive at Darien's chest. "If you even think of using that, I will use the Glaive and end us all. You are nothing but a stupid, silly little girl. That's what you were in the Silver Millennium and that's all you are now, a spoiled, selfish child! You weren't able to save anyone then and you won't be able to now. I will enjoy watching you lose everything and everyone you care about as the world crumbles around us. Your tears won't save you. Your Sailor Scouts can't stop me and that weapon is only good for one shot. Even if you take that shot I will still be able to reset everything before I die. All that is left now is for you to cry your pathetic little tears before you are wiped from existence!"
Serena held the Crescent Staff at Raven firmly, feeling her fingers beginning to burn with the power surging through the staff. Raven was just as quick, whipping the Silence Glaive around to face Serena as it began to glow white, growing brighter and brighter. They stared at each other for several moments. Raven was right. In the time it would take for the Staff to power up she could set off the Silence Glaive's worst attack. Perhaps plan B was a better option after all.
"Let him go Rhea." Fabian said, breaking the tense silence.
Rhea turned her head, her dark eyes grew large as she glimpsed Fabian just before the tree line. His arms were wrapped around Idra and his sword was at her throat.
"She's using you Rhea, just like she used all of us. She won't need us when she uses that weapon. What do you think will happen to us?" Fabian questioned as Rhea's eyes darted from him, to her sister, and back to Raven who had lowered the Silence Glaive. "She didn't need us during the Silver Millennium, she had her own pawns then. She will leave you to rot!"
Rhea hesitated, her eyes went from Fabian to Raven. She could see the concerned etched onto Fabian's face and the outrage chiseled onto Raven's. Who could she trust? Fabian had never led her astray but Raven had killed Nikko, her greatest follower until the end.
"Great idea Endymion." Idra shouted at Darien as they stared at each other. "Is this your idea for me helping you? Getting me killed by Nikko's baby brother?!"
"Quiet." Fabian hissed as he pulled Idra roughly closer to his chest, his grip tightening on her. "Rhea... think..."
"Of course he's lying." Raven interjected as her eyes met Rhea's. "I reward all of my loyal servants..."
"Like you rewarded Nikko?" Rhea asked as she pushed Darien from her chest, releasing her grip on him and dropping the dagger to her side. "He's right Raven. You don't care for us. You're only loyal to your wicked self."
"Quite right." Raven replied with a snide smile. A smile that sent a long shiver down Serena's spine. Slowly she reached into the bodice of her dress and withdrew a black ball, no larger than an orange. The Time Orb. "This time is no different. I hope you're all ready to go back, back to where it all began. Back to where I can seize control of my planet and this entire galaxy—"
"Supreme thunder!" Jupiter cried as she stepped out of the tree line. The air filled with electricity that shot towards Raven, stunning her for a brief second.
"Venus love me chain!" Venus cried, stretching her arms toward Raven. The chain gripped Raven's feet and Mina yanked hard, pulling her to the ground. Raven screamed in agony as the lightning shot through her body, losing her grip on the Orb as she crashed onto the hard earth.
"Now Serena!" Luna cried as the Time Orb flew through the air.
Fabian and Darien bolted for the Time Orb, running as quickly as they could, arms outstretched. The Time Orb sailed high into the air, catching a glint of the sun before rushing back to the ground. They were fast, but Idra was faster. She jumped higher than both of them, her long slender fingers wrapping around the Orb, pulling it towards her chest. She landed on both feet as the two men collided and crashed onto the ground, groaning.
Serena raised the Crescent Staff. It began to glow, gathering power as the scouts ran across the field towards them, circling in. "Raven, this is the end." Serena said as she brought the staff crashing down towards Raven's chest. Before the staff could release its energy, Serena felt her feet leaving the ground.
Femi yelled as she tackled Serena sending both girls spiraling down the hill. They rolled towards the grassy field with increasing speed. The staff followed, rolling out of Serena's reach. Jupiter and Nephrite left the wooded tree line for Serena, rushing to get to her as Femi got to her feet first.
"Get back witch!" Nephrite yelled as he sent a blast of dark energy towards Femi, sending her across the field with a chilling scream.
Raven was back on her feet within moments, breathing heavily as she regained her senses. "It's over." She said as she lifted the Silence Glaive into the air. "I don't need the orb, all I need is a fresh start... " She swung the Glaive around her head, causing the air around them to seemingly hold still. The Glaive turned a bright white and then a vibrant violet as Raven spun and spun, gathering speed.
"We have to stop her!" Serena yelled as Jupiter helped her to her feet.
"On it!" Uranus shouted as she, Mars and Pluto joined her on the field.
"World Shaking!"
"Dead Scream!"
"Fire Soul!"
Serena watched helplessly as the scout's attacks bounced harmlessly off the wall of violet light that engulfed Raven. The light only expanded, creating a cylinder around Raven that was growing higher and wider. The ground beneath them began to tremble and shake. Above them several flocks of birds began to scream and scatter, flying away quickly as the sun itself seemed to pause, no longer rising into the sky.
"It's too late." Darien whispered as he got to his feet, his eyes wide in disbelief.
"Idra! The Time Orb!" Fabian said quickly as he jumped up, running towards Idra who had linked hands with her sister.
"Use it, quickly." Idra urged as she laid the Time Orb into his shaking hands. "We don't have much time. When the light reaches the top of the atmosphere it's over. The power will radiate over the planet and we will begin again. The Orb can send us all back to the Silver Millennium."
"She's right." Darien said quickly as he rushed to Serena's side. The other scouts ran towards them, all forming a circle around Fabian. "That's our best chance to stop her. We can keep this from ever happening again..."
"We won't know each other." Serena interjected as she glanced around the circle. "How will we know Raven is the greatest enemy? How will we know to come together to fight her? We weren't all on the same side then, we never fought together as a single unit."
"You must trust we will find each other." Kunzite said as he cast a long look at Mina. Mina wrapped her arms around him, pulling herself to his chest as his arms circled her. "I promise I will find you." He said to her.
Mina smiled sadly as their lips met.
Fabian watched them painfully as he looked down at the orb. It began to glow in his grasp, sensing the pending doom that was soon to befall all of them. He thought of how life would be back in the Silver Millennium. Would he be alone again? Would his brother again fall to darkness? Would he follow him down that path? Or was there another option? Could he be the prince Mina wanted him to be? Could he claim her instead of Kunzite? Did he want to live through that pain again?
"Do it Fabian." Nephrite urged as he held onto Lita. "For all of us."
"Quickly." Pluto urged as Amara and Zoisite took off to Raven's palace in a desperate attempt to reclaim their own loved ones that were still trapped within.
Fabian watched them push themselves to run faster and faster in a vain attempt to outrun the pulsing violet light. Light that once it touched them, would destroy their bodies and send their spirits to be reborn again. He felt his heart pang for them. He couldn't be selfish now. Maybe things could be different. Maybe he could be different.
"Send us back..." Fabian stated as he looked directly into the orb. It began to glow brighter as he spoke. "Back to our first life during the Silver Millennium. Bring us together and draw back our memories from our first and second lives. Give us the strength to fight together and defeat the evil that threatens the galaxy..."
Darien turned towards Serena as Fabian spoke, knowing that they had only moments before the light reached them. "I love you, I will always love you... forever." He whispered to her. "I will see you again."
Serena felt herself trembling. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling herself against him and bringing his lips to hers. She treasured the sweet touch of his lips, the strong feel of his hands on her back, pulling her closer against his warm chest. She breathed in his scent one last time as the light creeped closer, touching their toes. "I love you... forever." She repeated as the violet light engulfed them.
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"It's done." Idra said quietly as she bowed before her master. She was in a dark room, cold and desolate. She held the Crescent Staff in her hands and gently laid it at his feet. "Fabian was the smarter one but thankfully Raven didn't give him much time to think through a good plan. He set the Time Orb for the Silver Millennium."
"It's useless now." A man's voice said as he walked into the fading sunlight. His dark chestnut hair fell into his blue eyes, eyes that no longer appeared light and spry but old, flecked with darkness. "We have only moments...we almost didn't make it."
"Luckily Darien didn't pry too much into how I got here, only Fabian suspected that I had been here longer than believed. Raven was too much of a fool to see that her resurrection spell didn't work properly. I was already alive when she casted it." Idra stated as she watched her master walk to the window. The violet light was creeping closer. "I must say it is impressive that Serena never discovered you."
"That part of the plan worked perfectly." He said as he grinned. "New faces in Tokyo would always be suspect but a friendly lawyer in Chicago? Hardly someone of the Negaverse." Blake scoffed as he took the Crescent Staff into his hands. "It matters not now, Raven did as I thought she would, another pawn for the Negaverse. Now we can start the real work. The Negaverse will come alive again in its full strength. We will have all of our powers returned and with the scouts busy fighting Beryl and Raven, we can wipe them all out and control the universe just as we desired... especially with the Silver Crystal."
"How do we know we will still have it when we go back?" Idra questioned as she looked at the brilliant crystal set within the crescent. "It belonged to Queen Serenity then."
"That was Fabian's mistake. He didn't mention how they could defeat Raven nor did he say that only he, the scouts and their precious generals were to be the only ones going back. The Crescent Staff was forged on Saturn. That means Serenity took the Silver Crystal to Saturn herself, away from her guards and soldiers. We will be waiting there for her, we will be ready. Don't forget, Fabian wanted everyone to keep their memories." His smile widened as the violet light reached them, spreading into the dark room. "That includes us as well."