Part II: Chapter 22
The Challenge
Mina shuffled from one foot to another as she felt the crowd around her cheering. She could see Serena on the platform, her face quickly losing its color as she faced Hotaru. To her right she heard Amy scream while Raye and Lita simultaneously cursed.
"We have to do something!" Mina quickly hissed to a stunned Luna who was standing, immobile, next to her.
"By law we can't do anything." Artemis quickly replied as his worried eyes watched Serena pull off her cloak and grab her crescent staff.
"One of them will die!" Mina insisted as she glanced at the platform again. King Albert's smug grin only stretched further as he watched a pale Serena cross the platform to his own daughter.
"Where's Amara? She needs to talk some sense into her parents. They can't allow this to happen." Raye said softly as she glanced around.
Lita's dark green eyes roamed over the packed crowd, looking for the two rulers. She saw the King of Neptune, Theodore, was standing on the platform between the two girls. His queen, Lenora, was seated near the platform on her throne, her dark eyes wide with worry. She caught Lita's gaze and gave her an apologetic glance.
"I don't think they'll be much help." Lita whispered.
"Darien?!" Amy asked as she turned to Darien with Zoisite, Nephrite and Kunzite beside him on the side of the platform. "Do something!"
"He can't help her, just like the rest of you. He's powerless." Jadeite said with a smug grin as he appeared behind them, flanked by Fabian and a stoic Nikko. "I hope your princess is stronger than she looks."
Nikko cursed as he saw Hotaru move into position, ready to fight. "They're right, we need to do something. We can't let them kill each other."
"Any idea then?" Darien asked as he attempted to keep worry from crossing his own features. "Cause I'm drawing a blank."
"Fabian?" Nikko asked as he looked at his bewildered brother.
"I.. uh… well…" He stammered, quickly glancing between Nikko and Darien. "There are certain things that could stop the fight but it's never happened before—"
"Like what?" Lita asked as she reached for Nephrite's hand.
Fabian sighed heavily as all eyes fell on him. "Well… the rules say that the challenge must last until one withdraws or dies. Serena could withdraw—"
"She can't." Darien said quickly as he shook his head. "She won't at least… there's too much at stake. She risks a war."
Fabian nodded, as if he already knew the answer. "She could also accept a champion to fight for her or be released for a number of reasons, she could be too ill or injured or—"
"Wait." Mina said as she glanced at Amy, Mina and Lita. "She's pr—"
"No!" Amy said quickly, covering her mouth, cutting off her words as she glanced sheepishly at the others. "She said no."
"What are you talking about, what are you keeping from us?" Nikko asked as his hand curled around the hilt of his sword. His lavender eyes narrowed as he glanced from a pale Lita and Amy to a solemn Raye and a wide-eyed Mina.
"Mina?" Darien asked, also wanting the truth.
"She'll kill you." Lita said to Mina, shaking her head with much more ferocity than needed. "We promised her our silence!"
"Her life is in danger!" Mina insisted as she gestured to the platform where Serena and Hotaru had taken their formal positions. "If it will save her, we have to tell!"
"What in the world are you talking about?!" Darien growled as he looked at the scouts before him. "Someone start talking… NOW!"
Lita sighed as Raye and Amy shared another uneasy glance.
"Serena's pregnant." Mina finally said as she met Darien's gaze.
The scouts all held their breath as they watched Darien's features melt into confusion then utter fear. All of the color drained from his face as his jaw went rigid. "…what?"
"I'm stopping this now." Nikko said as he reached for his sword.
"No." Trista intervened as she caught his wrist, stopping his movement.
All around them the crowd broke into loud cheers as the King of Neptune cleared the platform so the challenge could begin.
"Not now." She continued as her dark red eyes bore into his and then flickered over to Darien.
"Trista, I'm not going to stand by and let anything happen to her!" Darien insisted as he reached for his own blade but Trista whacked him with her own staff.
"You must!" She said as her eyes widened. "I warned Serenity." She said to him. "I warned her to keep her away from here. Now we are powerless to stop this."
"I can't do that!" Darien replied as he pushed her off. His brow furrowed as his features turned red with rage. He pointed at the platform where Serena had begun a slow circle in step with Hotaru, her staff lowered and ready for an attack. "That's my fiancé up there! That's my child! I lost her the last time I listened to you, I'm not going to do it again."
"Things are not the same!" Trista persisted as she caught his elbow again. "Now is not the time! The balance is too delicate… if we interfere again—"
"I won't stand by and let her be harmed!" Darien argued as he attempted to throw her off again.
"What else can we do?" Nikko asked as he glanced at the platform. "We need a plan, quick."
"Wait and be patient." Trista explained as she bit her lip. "This fight will not be pretty and it won't end well but we cannot interfere. Not yet."
All of the scouts went silent as Hotaru let out a scream and rushed towards Serena. Their two staffs met with a loud clang as the crowd around them cheered.
The fight had begun.
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Serenity glanced around herself. She was in a large room, covered with large windows that stretched all the way to the ceiling. Outside a storm raged, wisps of golden and brown dirt flurried by her window as the wind howled. She turned a slow circle as she examined her surroundings. There was a four-poster bed set along one wall with heavy green velvet curtains and rich emerald green blankets. A couch lingered nearby along with a small table for two. A tray of food was perched on top as well as a teapot, steam lifting from the spout.
"Hello?" Serenity called to the empty chamber. She crossed the room to the door and pulled on the handle but the door wouldn't budge. It resisted against her grasp.
"Queen Serenity." A voice said from behind her.
She paused as the voice sent a ripple of goosebumps down her back. She turned to see a man, seemingly appearing from thin air. He was tall with short brown hair and brilliant blue eyes.
"Who are you? What do you want?" Serenity asked as her blue eyes narrowed with distrust.
"At one point, I would've been your son in law, at least in our previous lives." He replied with a snide smile. "Now you have to make do with Endymion. I've been told he's dreamier, not that it matters now."
"So you're the infamous Barrick." Serenity replied with a sigh. "And we must be on Jupiter."
"You're smarter than Raven believes." Barrick said as he crossed his arms. "Then again, I hardly trust any words she has to say. She isn't as clever as she believes. How else could I have gotten you off Saturn undetected?"
"Why did you bring me here?" Serenity asked as she felt her heart rate pick up. She didn't trust him. How could she trust in anyone that deceived her daughter for three years? "What do you want?"
"I don't want you to die at Raven's hands." Barrick said as he walked towards her slowly. "I suspect you know that was her plan…"
"And you're a saint? You saved me because of your good conscience?" Serenity replied as she kept her eyes on him, watching his every move. "Why would I trust you?"
"Something like that." He said with a chuckle. "Serena needs you still." He said as he came to stop just a few feet from her. "I don't need you to like me Queen Serenity, but trust, yes, we will need to trust each other. I think we can both come to a mutual understanding."
"A mutual understanding?" Serenity asked as she crossed her arms. "Tell me, why would I trust someone who betrayed my daughter? You are evil, you are vile, you are the last person I'd trust!"
"Without you this galaxy will crumble to the Negaverse." Barrick said as his smile vanished. "My relationship with your daughter is inconsequential in this life. We respect each other. I've saved her life once at the hands of your enemies, I doubt it will be the last. And while my intentions aren't entirely …valiant… I think we will need each other in that coming battle. The Negaverse already is making their first move."
"You know how this battle ends." Serenity said as she held her head a little higher. "We lose and my daughter is reborn. The Silver Millennium comes to an end and… my kingdom falls."
"Not this time." Barrick said as his grin returned and a glint formed in his eyes. "This time we will triumph. This time the Silver Millennium will persist and thrive. This time, the Moon Kingdom will rule the galaxy because you Serenity, with Princess Serena, will be its saviors."
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Serena took a deep breath as she met Hotaru in the middle of the platform, their staffs meeting with a loud clang. She was taller and stronger than Hotaru but the dark glint in her violet eyes was menacing. That wasn't Hotaru in there, not really. Was she possessed? Was it even her? Behind her she could see King Albert's wicked grin grew, taunting her.
Serena pushed her off and adjusted her grip on her staff as Hotaru took two quick steps back, her chest heaving. "Stop this now Hotaru, I don't want to hurt you. You're being used!" Serena pleaded as Hotaru yelled and rushed her again.
Serena spun, missing the end of her staff and hitting her with the end of her own, sending the smaller girl flying to the ground.
Hotaru whimpered as she crashed to the ground but didn't linger there long. She got back to her feet as the crowd around them erupted into cheers.
"Snap out of it Hotaru! I don't want to hurt you!" Serena yelled as she cast an uneasy glance down the length of the platform. She could see all of her friends clustered together, their eyes wide with worry as they watched her. She could see Nikko and Fabian together, giving her encouraging nods while Darien stood beside them, surrounded by his generals. His features were pale and his eyes appeared to be on the brink of tears. She felt her blood run cold as she could see Mina behind him shaking her head, as if apologizing.
Hotaru yelled again as she charged at Serena who whipped around too late. She yelled as she fell to the ground, falling hard on her back as Hotaru fell on top of her. The tip of her blade whipped down to Serena's head. She barely had time to move out of the way. She kicked Hotaru off and rolled away to the edge of the platform.
"Get up!" Hotaru yelled as her deep violet eyes flashed.
"Serena, move." Nikko said to her from the edge of the platform as he handed her the crescent staff that had rolled from her fingertips. His lavender eyes softened as they met hers. "You can defeat her." He said.
"I can't kill her." Serena replied as she got to her feet, her brow furrowed in concentration. "But maybe I can heal her."
"Be careful, Albert knows your powers." Nikko warned as she brought her staff up.
"We're not done." Hotaru said as she swung her staff at Serena who quickly rolled out the way and swung her staff at Hotaru's ankles, sending her flying to the ground.
Hotaru cried out as she fell to the platform, landing with a loud thud.
Serena stood, her chest heaving as strands of her long blond hair stuck to the sides of her sweaty face. She could vaguely hear the crowd cheering behind her as she brought her staff up, lifting it above Hotaru. "MOON HEALING ESCALATION!"
Hotaru laughed as the beam of white light cascaded over her. It danced along her limbs and into her chest but the cruel glint in her amethyst eyes remained. "There's nothing wrong with me princess." She said as she got back to her feet, her deep purple eyes flashing. "But now you've pissed me off."
Serena took a deep breath as Hotaru swung her staff again at her, this time anticipating her block. She hit Serena's staff out of the way and caught the edge of her arm with the blade of her staff, cutting into her flesh.
Serena screamed as she fell to her knees, blood pouring from her arm and saturating the skirt of her dress. She could see Nikko and Darien scrambling to jump onto the platform but were held back by Fabian and Kunzite. "Serena get up!" Darien shouted as he struggled against Kunzite's strong grip. "NOW!"
"That's right, get up princess." Hotaru said as her eyes narrowed. "Let's finish this."
Serena stood, shakily rising to her feet as suddenly the crowd around them went quiet. She lifted her staff up, shaking as her right arm was still bleeding. She could feel the air becoming electric around her as Hotaru approached her. She couldn't use any of her attacks on her and risk killing her. She also couldn't rely on purging whatever darkness gripped her right now. She felt at a loss as she approached. What could she do?
Hotaru's eyes glinted as she lifted her staff, her focus entirely on Serena. She screamed as she brought the staff down, crashing towards her but it stopped just inches from Serena's face.
Serena took a step back in awe as a barrier made of green energy wrapped around her, shielding her from Hotaru's attacks. She turned towards Nikko and Darien but their wide eyes appeared just as bewildered as hers. If they didn't cast the shield, then who did?
The crowd around her screamed as a black hole appeared behind Hotaru. It spun and spun for several moments before a single black boot emerged followed by a leg and a torso.
Serena felt her heart nearly stop as she saw the figure emerge fully, his back to her. She could see broad shoulders and rich chestnut hair. He turned slowly, revealing piercing blue eyes that regarded her kindly, if only for a moment before narrowing at those around her.
Barrick.
"My kings and queens…" He said loudly as he turned a slow circle, examining all of those around him. "My name is Barrick, I was once a prince of Titan. You allowed the extermination of my entire family and refused to protect them." He said as the black hole behind him expanded, growing larger and larger until it was the size of the platform. "Remember my name, remember my face… for it is the last thing you shall see."
Screams broke out in the crowd and hundreds of soldiers stepped out of the hole, all of them dressed in black uniforms, their eyes glowing a vivid green.
Serena watched in horror as they attacked those around them, their swords cutting down anyone and everyone in their path. Hotaru took off into the crowd, her father close on her heels. Serena attempted to break through the shield around her but it wouldn't budge. It held her in place while chaos surrounded her. She could see Darien screaming at her as Kunzite, Nephrite and Zoisite drew their swords.
The scouts quickly transformed, battling those around them as best they could but the soldiers kept coming, pouring from the black hole like blood flowing from an open wound. There was no stopping it. The screams only intensified as the soldiers circled the platform, spreading out and cutting down anyone in their way.
Barrick's cruel laugh rang out over the screams of the crowd as he watched his soldiers take down those around them. He turned towards Serena, his eyes catching hers as his grin only stretched.
"You're crazy." She said with a shake of her head as tears filled her eyes. "Stop this madness! Don't hurt these innocents!"
"Innocents? Do you think my family is the only one that has endured atrocities? Every single person here is guilty of crimes against their own people as well as others. My family was not the first to be exterminated. They deserve this fate." Barrick replied.
"Barrick… please… not like this." Serena pleaded as she watched her friends battling against five soldiers. Their attacks were taking down only those around them, not those across the platform or those that were chasing down the people who were trying to escape.
"Princess." He bowed to her. "I promised I would return for you." He said softly as he waved his hand and the shield around her dissipated. He extended a hand towards her, inviting her to take it. "Come, let's go."
"I'm not leaving, I can't leave them!" She shouted as tears filled her eyes. "I'm still Sailor Moon. I protect those that need it."
"These people are not worthy of your protection." He sneered as his grin darkened. "Curious that you want to save the very people who stood by, about to let a creature of darkness slaughter you. They came here to watch you die princess, I'm doing you a favor. I am saving you from watching their slaughter."
"I can't." She insisted with a shake of her head. "Those are my friends! Those are my teammates!"
"Your scouts won't be harmed." Barrick promised as he held up his hands. "Besides, I think you want to see what it is I have to show you."
"Where are you taking me?" She asked as she studied him, not sure if she could trust him.
"Jupiter." He replied as he gave her the charming grin she had grown so used to seeing. "Serenity is waiting for you."