Chapter 11 – Fight
The pillars of the Crystal Palace stood around us. It was the same desolate place as it was when we first arrived, but right now, this was the most beautiful place in the world. I looked around, standing in Tuxedo Mask's arms. My nightmare was over. "Mommy!" Rini came running down the stairs. The image of the King and her Luna Ball were following behind her. My knees trembled seeing her; she was safe. I worried for Rini more than anyone. I fell to my knees, hugging her close, "Rini!" I couldn't stop from crying as I kissed her cheek. My greatest fear was that Diamond or the Wiseman would send someone after her. She was part of the reason I gave myself up. Diamond believed I was stronger than Rini and of more value to his cause.
I stood up with Rini in my arms. She looked up at me and gasped; her eyes grew in size, "You're one of them now?" My fingers grazed over my forehead, remembering the black moon symbol, "No, of course not." She was skeptical, but said nothing. The holographic image of the King came towards us. The image of his hand touched the mark on my head, but I felt nothing, "You are home now, Sailor Moon. Their symbol will disappear once you use the Silver Crystal." I brushed my hand across my head, "That's a relief." I felt awful that Diamond's mark on still on me. Darien curved his arm around my shoulder and walked me and Rini inside the palace. Rini nuzzled against my chest as we walked into Darien's room.
Neither, Rini or Darien released any part of me; one holding my hand and the other in my arms. It was funny; a month ago I thought Rini was the most annoying child and that Darien wanted nothing to do with me, but now, I loved the both of them more than anyone in the world; my family. I won't mention our two older children to Darien, unless he says something first. I looked down at my daughter, "Why are you suddenly so affectionate? I thought you hated me." Rini hugged me tighter, "I can't hate my own mom, even if she's just a bratty girl." Darien laughed and I smiled at her, lightly kissing her hair, "Don't you call me 'bratty,' you little brat." The three of us were together again, the way we belonged. Rini bounced on the bed, while Darien and I sat together.
My joy was wonderful, but there was something pressing on my mind. Darien took my hand in his, seeing the diamond ring on my third finger, "What did they do to you?" I bit my lip, "You don't want to know." Rini's eyes narrowed, "Come on. What happened? Why did their leader take you?" For a moment, I saw the five year old child before me. I wanted to tell her the truth, but she was too young to know. Darien took Rini in his arms, "Diamond wanted the Silver Crystal and your mother is the only one who could use it. So, he thought to keep Serena and make her their princess." Darien downplayed the entire plot for Rini. Rini blinked a few times, "That's terrible. Will he come back?" My heart sank in my chest; I feared the same thing. Darien patted Rini's head, "If he does, we'll be ready for him. He won't break up our family again."
There was a quiet knocking on the door. Sailor Mercury came in, "Come on, Rini, they need a moment alone." Rini jumped out of Darien's hold, "Ok." She took Mercury's hand, then looked back, "Just try to stay here, Serena. We don't need to track you down again." I laughed, "I will." Darien closed the door behind them. We looked at each other; we hadn't seen each other in days, so close to losing each other.
I could feel the energy of the Dark Crystal leaving my body. My eyes closed, feeling the last of the energy leave me, taking their family symbol and my clothes changed into my princess gown. Wisps of white satin covered my skin again, "Thank goodness." Darien slowly walked across the room; I watched him as he came over to me, resting his hand rested on my cheek. I leaned into his touch. His warm embrace soothed me. My eyes were closed, feeling Darien touch his lips against mine. His kiss brushed away everyone Diamond took from me.
Darien pulled me closer into his chest. His arms wound around my body, leaning back onto the bed. His knee rested onto of the soft mattress next to my leg. Once again, the fabric of my gown was being moved, but this time I wasn't scared. Darien's hand moved and hitched my leg around his waist. His mouth kissed down my chest and my fingers ran through his hair. I moaned feeling his gentle embrace. His lips moved back to mine. I inhaled deeply when his tongue glided along my lower lip. My eyes shot open as a sinking feeling suddenly hit the pit of my stomach. Nothing else in the room was moving, but it felt like I was falling. I don't know how I knew, but I did; they were coming.
"Darien," I whispered. I had to tell him. "Shh," he silenced me, as his hands moved across my stomach. We were about to be in more danger. "Darien, they're coming." He pulled back to look into my eyes, "I know, Serena." He kissed me again, not letting me speak. His hands curved around my neck, pulling me off the bed. Thunder crashed outside, but it didn't scare me; I was safe again. Darien didn't seem to notice as he undid the back of my gown and let it fall to the floor. Darien took my hand, laying me back onto the bed. His hands rested on my waist, kissing me slowly. He held my body to his, moving with him. Darien's chest was hot against mine. I moaned again, feeling Darien move, filling me. My forehead leaned against his, his hand holding my cheek. My mouth fell open, moaning against his neck.
Being together was what I wanted for so long. I missed him so much and the time we lost from losing our memories, being taken from each other and separated. I realized why he was doing this now. Darien was scared of losing me and now we were in danger again. A fight was coming, but this was a moment of peace from days of chaos. Could this be our last time together? Could this be the last time Darien and I would experience of love for one another? He stared into my eyes and our lips pressed together.
Thunder continued to roar outside. It was darker, but neither of us moved from our embrace. I laid on his chest and his arms were around me. He played with my left hand, then looked at Diamond's ring, "Hmm." Darien removed the ring from my finger, tossed it onto the nightstand, then replaced it with our wedding band, "That's better." I sat up looking at my old ring; it seemed so long since I wore it last. My Star Locket played quietly on the nightstand. I smiled as the gold band glistened into the lamplight.
"You know we have to be remarried on Earth." Darien's hand brushed my back, "We will be." His fingers caught my chin, turning my face to his, capturing a kiss. The danger was getting closer, but we remained calm. Darien told me about all the things they learned in the Crystal Palace while I was gone, including our two children, Serena and Endymion, "We cannot meet them, but they are amazing." I smiled, my eyes wetting with tears, "I can't believe it. We have three children." Being royalty wasn't important to me. Learning about my family was far more valuable. That and apart from being guardians of the Royal Family, the future Sailor Scouts had careers and families of their own.
Amy was a world renowned scientist, which wasn't a big surprise. That was always going to be in her future. Raye still lived at her family's temple and ran it with her husband and son. Lita was a judge and Mina was a teacher. The Scouts were also the queens of their planets. Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Venus were self-sustaining kingdoms in this time, so the Scouts could come and go whenever they were needed. They wanted to have as normal lives as possible. But our lives weren't meant to be normal. Though they loved their planets and kingdoms, the Scouts preferred to live on Earth. I was happy to know that my friends had full and happy lives in their future. Darien told me that the Scouts were married to the reincarnations of Darien's guardians from the Silver Millennium. Amy was married to Jedite, Raye was with Nephlite, Lita married Zoycite and Mina married Malachite. I remembered the way Malachite looked at Mina during the Silver Millennium; I was glad they found each other again.
The thunder crashed so loudly outside the barriers of the palace, I knew the Dark Moon clan was right outside our walls. My heart lurched from the thunder's roar. I looked out the dark window, feeling the negative energy seep into the walls. Holding the sheet to my chest, I leaned into Darien's embrace, "It's time."
Darien and I walked out to the front entrance of the palace. Outside the barrier, everything was much darker. He changed into Tuxedo Mask and was ready to fight beside me. Holding my Silver Crystal locket, I spoke the words, "Moon Crystal Power!" Energy of the Silver Crystal flowed through my body, consuming all of me. The energy strengthened every part of me, allowing my body to be faster and stronger. My clothes changed into my Sailor Scout uniform and my tiara appeared on my head. My shoes changed into high red boots. The Silver Crystal locket rested in the center of the bow on my chest. The energy of the Silver Crystal and I were now one. I was once again Sailor Moon; ready to fight alongside the Sailor Scouts.
Outside, there was a hoard of our enemy waiting, riled and angry. The sounds of their taunts filled the air. Their negative energy darkened the skies to pitch black. From above, the greatest threat was coming. A terrible, green dragon flew at the palace barriers. My eyes widened as it smashed its tail against the walls, trying to get through. "You must go outside to stop it," the King informed us.
Mercury's scanner came across her eyes, "I see." Her small computer was in her hands while she analyzed the creature, "It has a human-like mind. Its weakness is the black crystal on its head. We have to hit it there." I nodded once, feeling braver than I've felt in a long time, "Then let's go." The Scouts, Tuxedo Mask and I ran outside of the barrier to face the first of this battle. The dragon flew over our heads; its large body swooped close to the ground, swirling up a strong wind that blew us off our feet. I groaned landing hard on the ground. Behind the dragon, there were the Dark Moon soldiers ready to fight. Among them, I saw Diamond, Sapphire and the Wiseman.
Diamond's eyes were fixed on me. I looked away in time to see the dragon attempting to crush me with its massive tail. Tuxedo Mask leapt in and took me up in his arms. "Be careful," he warned. The two of us sailed through the air and landed on away from the dragon. "Mars Fire Ignite," blasts of fiery rings flew towards the dragon, scarring it. The large animal roared loudly, but it wasn't defeated.
"As one," I commanded the Scouts. The Sailor Scouts used their powers to attack the dragon, giving me the distraction I needed. Tuxedo Mask leapt in the air and cracked the black crystal with a rose. The dragon roared in agony, as charges of black energy pulsed around its body; it was in pain.
Running towards the beast, I leapt into the air with my scepter in hand, "Moon Scepter Elimination!" The energy flowed from the Crystal to my scepter, hitting the dragon in the black crystal. The dragon gave its last roar, immobilized where it stood. Its skin faded to gray, becoming nothing but dust as it fell to the ground. I breathed quickly, landing on my feet. My eyes looked up to the sound of faint screaming. In the dark, there was an image of Emerald was falling into space.
"The dragon was Emerald?" Diamond looked on in indifference, seeing one of his followers fall. Diamond looked away from the sky towards me, "She was always weak. That's why she could never rule by my side." My hearing was stronger being Sailor Moon and I heard him clearly. He spoke so heartlessly about her. I gasped, "How could he do that? She loved him." Diamond's eyes were fixated on me, taking in my uniform. Sailor Mars came over to stand next to me, "Worry about that later."
The next hoard of the attack was coming. The six of us took our stance, preparing to fight. Dark energy charged the air as Diamond's soldiers charged. The battle was difficult, but I felt stronger than I have in a long time. Being near another large amount of Dark Energy, my body was absorbing it again and it was taking an effect on me. I was finding it enjoyable taking down my enemies. "Down," someone yelled. Ducking out of the way, Sailor Jupiter wiped out half of her enemies with the slash of her Thunder Whip. With my scepter, I swept across their line, taking out the rest of their fighters. Thick puffs of smoke billowed into the air. All that were left among their ranks were Diamond, Sapphire and the Wiseman. Diamond was staring me down. My eyes softened as I looked at him. He was lost and lied to. He and his family needed help.
I bit my lip and took one step in their direction, "We don't have to fight. The Wiseman has been lying to all of you. I want to help you." Diamond smirked and the sinking feeling returned. The pit of my stomach fell away as the feeling got stronger. I closed my eyes, "Is that what I think it is?" Diamond smiled, "You didn't think it would that easy, did you?" I sighed, feeling foolish, "You know, for a moment, yes, I actually did." "Silly girl," he breathed. Looking up to the sky, more warriors were coming from Nemesis. Seeing all the soldiers, this was a thousand times worse than what we just faced.
"Sailor Moon, you can heal them all with the Crystal," Jupiter suggested. My heart slammed in my chest seeing all these people who were corrupted by the Wiseman. "That would take a lot of energy to do it." "She can't," Tuxedo Mask interjected, "It could kill her." The wall of warriors came down on us and we fought them off as best as we could. They kept coming, battering down on us. Taking the Dark Energy and my knowledge of it to my advantage, my hands faced toward them, blasting out their own energy at them. Some withered and disappeared, but more kept coming. My body buckled and I fell to one knee, trying to keep them back.
"Back to the palace!" I ordered. Tuxedo Mask fought off the ones that were coming towards me. Keeping them away was difficult in my weakened state. They were trying to grab me; on Diamond's order, "Kill them all, but bring Sailor Moon to me!" I kept fighting, while making my way back to the palace barrier. Fighting away one, another got their hands around my waist, stopping me from fighting. The one who held me was restraining my arms, pulling me away from the Sailor Scouts. The cold was coming over me, but Tuxedo Mask got there before this one made us disappear. A red rose was embedded in its head, releasing its hold on me. Tuxedo Mask towed me back inside the palace barrier with the Scouts were right behind us.
The barrier sealed up and the enemy fighters couldn't get inside. All of us were out of breath and tired. My body was protesting each move I made, but I couldn't quit. The one that held me bruised my arm, leaving blue-black marks on my skin. Sailor Mars stood next to me, "Are you all right?" I nodded slowly, trying to slow my breathing, "We need help here. This is too much. Their whole planet's defense is coming and they'll keep coming." Diamond's soldiers pounded against the walls that protected the Crystal Palace. This was too much for just us to handle. We were facing enemies that were too advanced for us to handle on our own.
I turned to see five warriors walked towards us; the Sailor Scouts' future counterparts with Sailor Pluto. The future Sailor Venus stepped forward, "Let us help you." My Scouts stared at their future selves. It was strange to see my friends as adults, grown women. I smiled, "Of course." The future Sailor Mercury bowed her head, "It would be good to fight with Sailor Moon again." I looked at what was waiting for us on the outside of the barrier; waves of Nemesis warriors. The eleven of us prepared ourselves to for our planet's future.
