PRETTY SOLDIER SAILOR MOON: FUTURE
Chapter 71: March into the Depths
Sailor Zarnik's boots lightly landed upon the layers of snow blanketing Tokyo's sidewalks, disrupting the untainted white surroundings. She undid her transformation and reverted back to Midori. She wore a thick, knee-length black trench coat, a black fedora, and delicate black boots to protect her from the elements. Without a word, she began walking in the direction of Tokyo Bay, where Upala Acropolis jutted out of the deathly churning ocean like an egg in water. She spared many long looks for the urbanized stores and restaurants occupying the streets. Traffic lights dutifully continued changing colors for vehicles that would not come.
In her vision, the empty streets of Tokyo turned into the dirt roads of the tiny hamlet residing upon Mt. Zarnik, the tallest mountain on planet Zarnik and the only region capable of supporting life. Although she was the princess of Zarnik, she didn't have a castle. Only about 1000 people lived in this rural farming and mining community supported by intensive terraforming technology, so there wasn't any need for a grandiose palace. Here, the princess was treated more like the mayor of this tiny town, always there when the people needed her to listen to their troubles, solve their issues, or confront any threats to their peace as the world's resident Sailor Soldier.
Midori could see it again, just like when she was at the party with Chibi-Usa. The people would wave to her as she passed by on her rounds. She would stop by the daily bazaar and buy fruit and nuts harvested from the nearby farms. She would have quaint conversations with her neighbors, and they would always urge her to show a smile and wave once in a while. Everyone knew each other within such a small community. One person's struggles were everyone's struggles. She couldn't think of any other time she felt so content and settled, feeling like part of a wonderful picture.
And she had left that happy life behind on a foolish hope.
Those quiet, friendly times were over. Here she was, trapped in an urban world light years away from Alkima, and stuck 1000 years into the future. The loneliness crushed her soul. The only thing that allowed her to continue trudging through the snowstorm was the prospect of confronting Eris in the acropolis.
If anyone from Zarnik harbors a grudge against me for leaving you behind, then I accept it with an open heart. Just let me remain long enough to eradicate that witch. Once I have finished my true mission, then you may all rest in peace.
She sighed, watching her breath curl in front of her face.
It's just a shame I won't be able to join you all in the next life. But that will be my atonement for allowing myself to be tricked. I should have known enough to ask the right questions before getting into that capsule. I should have been wise enough to wonder if my comrades really had my best interests in mind. I'm trapped in this hell, and I have no one to blame but myself. Even if I escape this one, a far greater nightmare awaits me. I'm not frightened of it, however. This will be my punishment for abandoning you all to go run a fool's errand.
With her morose expression and black attire, one couldn't blame Midori for thinking she was going to attend someone's funeral. Indeed, she was in a one-woman procession for the dead, but it wasn't for someone who just passed.
It was for her own upcoming funeral.
"Are you sure of this, Small Lady?" Neo Queen Serenity asked her daughter with a dire tone.
"That's what Diana said," the princess whimpered, clenching her mother's arms. "Papa and his forces have the invaders under control, but they couldn't stop Midori from leaving. If I don't go, she's going to die!"
The pensive queen could only imagine the despair that led the alien warrior down this dark yet noble path. Of course she wouldn't allow anyone to die within her kingdom, but at the same time, something had to be done to destroy Eris or there would only be further destruction. Sources of absolute light and darkness were available for them to utilize, but if either of them were used, death would be the inevitable result.
"Why are you hesitating, Mama?" Small Lady demanded, astonished that she didn't immediately receive permission to rescue her friend. "Are you saying we should leave her like that!?"
"Absolutely not. I was just only thinking of what we could do to stop the enemy for good…"
"That's why we need Midori's help! She's the Soldier of Strategy, isn't she!? She should know of a different way to fight these villains!"
"And yet she has ventured forth on a suicide mission despite that moniker. Her method might be the only one she thinks will work for us."
"She's insane! I don't care what you say! I'm going to drag her back here kicking and screaming if I have to!"
"I figured you would say that," Serenity nodded. "Then at least take the Quartet with you. The Syndicate's minions are still on the loose within the city."
"But what about you?"
"Don't worry about me. Even if Eris made any attempt to get near the palace, the holy energy surrounding this place will act as a barrier. Go forth and bring Sailor Zarnik back here immediately."
"I will!" Small Lady beamed and hurried to retrieve her four guardians.
Earth's guardian Soldiers flew towards Crystal Palace in pursuit of the Syndicate warriors who breached their defenses and shot straight for the castle. They reached the nearest open window and discovered the remains of what was a fierce skirmish between King Endymion's forces and the invaders. Although several guards were injured, at least they fared better than the corrupted women who laid upon the floor, slain from various fatal wounds. The eight guardian warriors landed upon the balcony, and the Inner Soldiers rushed to the sides of their respective Four Generals.
"Damn it…" Jadeite gasped, grasping his bleeding shoulder. "They were powerful…"
"Are you okay?" Sailor Mars asked worriedly.
"At least I'll live…"
Jupiter slung Nephrite's arm over her shoulder and helped him stand up as she said, "I'm sorry. They slipped by us before we could stop them."
"Don't apologize," he nodded. "We're all being pushed to our limits…"
"Wait a minute!" Mercury looked around at the room they were all in. "Isn't this were we left Midori in!?"
"Ah… About that…" Zoisite panted.
"Where is she!? Is she safe!?"
Kunzite muttered, "She's… escaped…"
"Escaped!? Why!?" Venus demanded.
That was when they noticed several glowing orbs of light outside, and Saturn glanced back to see what they were. She recognized the colors of the five orbs flying away from the palace, and she uttered, "Chibi-Usa… and the Quartet?"
The entire group felt Serenity's power flow into the area, and they heard her call out, "Everyone, please come to the throne room immediately."
"Queen!" Pluto gasped. "Where are Small Lady and her guardians going!? Where has Midori gone!?"
"Small Lady has gone to retrieve Midori before she can use her forbidden power. Our forces are weary, so we have little choice but to fortify the castle's defenses until they return."
Uranus cursed under her breath and grumbled, "If only the enemy wasn't so strong, we would have been able to help the Little Lady out."
"All we can do is pray that she returns with everyone safely. We must do our part to allow the guards to recover from this battle," Neptune assured.
"I know."
The eight Sailor Soldiers ran straight for the throne room and reunited with their queen. Without any words, she used the Silver Crystal's power to summon a pedestal from beneath the marble flooring. The guardians stood in a circular formation around the pedestal facing outward and held each other's hands. They closed their eyes and focused their planetary powers upon the altar, their bodies glowing with each of their thematic colors.
Midori reached the pier closest to Upala Acropolis and gazed at the fallen fortress in the frigid ocean. She could feel a strong barrier of invisible dark miasma surrounding the place to keep away intruders of sacred allegiance.
Hmph. A dark shield is useless against a warrior of darkness.
She unfurled her hand and made the Zarnik Crystal appear. After some concentrating, she mentally commanded, O, embittered darkness mired by evil. Heed my call and become one with the ancient power that flows through my blood. Together, we shall prevail over wickedness and reclaim the silent night, for it is our darkness that allows the moon to shine its brightest.
The green crystal glowed softly, and the dark miasma that blanketed the acropolis gradually funneled its way into the gemstone. Midori could feel her spirit grow heavy with horrible thoughts of ruining others' lives, impossibly selfish desires, or just flat out destroying everything for nihilistic reasons. This corruption was represented by the Zarnik Crystal's light losing some of its luster. After absorbing the dark energy, she breathed heavily and composed her thoughts in an attempt to push away the negative emotions that didn't belong to her.
This is just a byproduct of the conversion process… she assured herself. Because evil forces have cloaked themselves behind the darkness for so long, the two have practically become synonymous with each other. I just need to hold on for a bit longer…
Then she saw a different set of lights being reflected off of her Sailor Crystal, and she looked back to see what it was. Eight pillars of distinctly different colored lights shot from the ground around Crystal Palace in the distance.
Looks like Serenity's forces are on the defensive now, and I just eliminated the Syndicate's barrier. Both sides must be weakened from the clash, so now is the best time for me to assassinate Eris.
Even though she could tell that the majority of Earth's protectors were preoccupied with guarding their home, she had to remember that Small Lady could still possibly chase her down. The last thing she needed was to contend with the princess' rantings about how foolish she was acting.
I better hurry, or I'll lose out on this opportunity.
Midori conjured power from the energized Zarnik Crystal that allowed her to fly over the icy waters of Tokyo Bay towards the entrance to Upala Acropolis. She didn't meet any resistance during her short flight, but she could feel an overwhelming sense of mirth emanating from deep within the castle.
Eris… You're welcoming me to the party, aren't you?
Her eyes narrowed darkly.
You're going to regret inviting me.
In total silence, she descended upon the large double doors that led inside. Several of the Animus Syndicate's evil Sailor Soldiers were guarding the place, appearing confused about why the dark barrier protecting them was gone, when she landed upon them unexpectedly.
"Who the hell are you?" one woman demanded.
Midori didn't even flinch her gaze toward the irate guard.
"Hey! I'm asking you a question! Answer it immediately or suffer the consequences!"
The other Syndicate warriors got into their battle stances unprovoked, but all Midori could think of was, 'Suffer the consequences'? How cute.
The young woman raised her arm forth, showing the Zarnik Crystal resting over her palm. Her foes glared at the evil gemstone and backed off a bit when they felt the immense miasma emanating from it.
"That's the barrier's energy, isn't it?" the first woman wondered. "She must have absorbed its power!"
"Is she a Sailor Soldier of darkness!?" another girl exclaimed. "How is that even possible!? We only exist on the side of light!"
"No, maybe she's an aspect of Chaos who wants to sustain herself with the goddess' power! She's just taking the form of a Sailor Soldier to deceive us!"
"That definitely has to be it! Don't be afraid! If we defeat this creature, Lady Eris will be most pleased!"
As the evil soldiers roused each other, Midori's crystal shone a hideous dark green. Suddenly, everyone else writhed in pain and clenched their chests. Sinewy strands of darkness streamed from their brooches where they housed their tainted Sailor Crystals. Each warrior's gem broke out of their brooches and floated over their bodies, depriving them of their lives before they could even understand what was going on. Although it was bloodless, the victims' screams of agony made this scene on par with a madman having a good time in his personal slaughterhouse.
The streams congregated toward the crystal and fed it with more energy. Ironically, all of the evil was sucked out of the Sailor Crystals, allowing them to be purified once again. In exchange, the Zarnik Crystal was irrevocably tainted with evil and would be nearly impossible to cleanse. But she didn't mind. This was all part of her gamble to defeat Eris.
Midori stared at the shining Sailor Crystals. She didn't need words to convey her thoughts to them as she mentally said, Go back to the Cauldron and rest your weary bones.
The numerous crystals shot into the sky as they returned to the Galaxy Cauldron to be reborn someday in the distant future. With the guards eliminated, she could continue on her way towards Eris.