Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.
Chapter 7: Impending Catastrophe
Staying hidden upon a branch high up in the shadows, Jadeite silently kept watch of the Hikawa Shrine. In his hand, he gripped the jadeite stone tightly in his grasp.
"How long do you intend to just hold your star seed?"
Unfazed by his companion's sudden appearance, Jadeite's gaze never left the shrine's entrance as he replied, "Nephrite, you know as well as I do that these aren't really OUR star seeds."
"No matter the timeline, our souls will always be the same. Besides, would you not agree that the Jadeite of this timeline would wish to save our prince, his princess and her senshis," Nephrite asked in return.
"The Jadeite of this time also betrayed his prince and attempted to kill the princess, Mercury and Mars," Jadeite replied bitterly as he turned his gaze to the jadeite stone in his grasp, "If he were of sound mind, I'd say he would agree with me that both of us deserve nothing less than eternal oblivion."
"I certainly hope your festering guilt will not make you seek oblivion over saving our prince," Nephrite sternly relied with a concerned frown.
"Hee, you don't need to worry about that. I know there are still things we need to accomplish. Until I've completed our mission, not even the devil can drag me to hell," Jadeite assured with a hollow grin, "Have you retrieved your stone?"
In reply, Nephrite held out an empty palm and concentrated his energy to it. In an instant, the nephrite stone appeared in a flash of green light.
"The job certainly goes by much more smoothly IF one make sure none of the senshis are in the area," Nephrite said smugly as he closed his palm around the glowing nephrite stone, causing it to vanish as quickly as it had appeared.
"Not all of us had the luxury of waiting it out," Jadeite replied with a scoff, "Besides, your precious Jupiter does not spend most of her time at that dojo."
Before Nephrite could retort, familiar colorful flashes of light suddenly seeped out of one of the shrine's room. Waiting patiently in their hiding spot, the two Shitennous did not have to wait long before Sailor Moon and the four Inner Senshis exited and headed toward the direction of the Starlight Tower.
"Seems the tales we've heard back in the Silver Millennium about Uranus and Neptune were not exaggerated after all," Nephrite said after the five girls were out of sight, "They discovered our base even quicker than even Zoisite had calculated."
"Yes well, let us hope the tales of the lengths they are willing to go in order to protect their princess is also true. If we fail in our plan, those two are our last bet," Jadeite said as he absorbed the jadeite stone in his hand, "We better head back. Something tells me that Kunzite will want to advance the next stage of our plan."
Nodding in agreement, Nephrite teleported off with his fellow Shitennou.
"World Shaking!"
"Deep Submerge!"
The combined attack instantly blasted the group of youma into dust.
"Humph, these Dark Kingdom youmas are weaklings. How did we ever lose to them back in the Silver Millennium," Uranus scoffed as she effortlessly dodged an attack before slaying the youma with a single swing of her talisman.
"Don't let your guard down Uranus," Neptune warned as she slammed a youma into its comrade, "I sense something sealing off the youma's dark energy. I don't know what or if its intentional, but something in this tower is draining the youmas' energy."
"Well I guess we'll just have to reach their leader and find out," Uranus said as a feral grin spread across her face, "Space Sword Blaster!"
Howls of pain filled the room as the attack incinerated the remaining youmas. When the smoke from the blast cleared, the two Outers found they now stood alone in a rubble filled room. After surveying the room, Neptune gave her partner an almost amused look.
"Really Uranus, you overdid it with that last attack. Were you trying to bury us alive along with those youmas?"
"Hee sorry, guess I forgot how powerful my attacks could be." Flashing her partner with a playful grin, Uranus lowered her talisman. "Which way should we go?"
Choosing to ignore her partner's first comment, Neptune turned her attention to the Deep Aqua Mirror she had summoned into her hand. A frown began to form when she found her talisman could not pinpoint the exact location of the dark energy source. Refusing to give up after only one try, Neptune tried to channel more of her own energy into the mirror.
Having made her way over to Neptune's side, Uranus quietly waited with patience normally unseen in the senshi of Heaven. When she saw the frown on her partner's face, Uranus immediately recognized the look of discontent as a sign that Neptune was having a hard time deciphering an answer from the Deep Aqua Mirror.
'It would seem the leader of this weak bunch is a lot more powerful if even Neptune can't pinpoint the exact location.'
Knowing it was best to let her companion concentrate, Uranus quietly stood by Neptune's side, acting as a silent protector while the Senshi of Deep Sea placed her entire focus on the talisman. Taking the time to better observe their surroundings, Uranus noted that their earlier fight had resulted in a large amount of cave-in. The stairwell they had used to climb up here was now blocked by piles of collapsed columns and ceiling tiles, thus effectively blocking their only escape route.
'But it's not like we had any intention of turning back,' Uranus thought darkly. After all, both the girl beside her and herself had always been prepared to lay down their own lives for the sake of their mission.
Years of habit kicking in, Uranus quickly pushed back that unpleasant train of thought, burying it into a deep corner of her mind. Returning her attention back on surveying the room, she noted there were three other routes she and her partner could take. An elevator directly across the room. A staircase to its left that seemed to lead to the upper levels. Then there was the third route.
'That staircase on the right, it seems to lead down,' Uranus noted a perplexed frown forming. "I don't remember any second flight of stairs when we entered this tower."
"That's because there wasn't one." Neptune's unexpected reply redirected Uranus's attention back to her partner.
No longer gazing into her mirror, Neptune's eyes were directed at that same stairwell which seemingly lead down. "It's faint, but there are definitely three energy signals below us. Not only that, but my mirror is indicating that the dark energy around us is warping the space inside this tower."
"So in other words, up might not be up and down might not be down," Uranus stated more than ask. Releasing a humorless chuckle, she turned her gaze to the dark stairwell her aqua hair companion was currently focused on. "Well whoever your mirror sensed, we better not keep them waiting eh?"
"My, aren't we a gentleman," Neptune teased, that coy smile returning. The atmosphere becoming uncharacteristically light for two senshis who may very well be heading to their death.
Responding to her lover with a playful smile of her own, Uranus replied, "What can I say? Perhaps your etiquettes are finally rubbing off on me."
As the two began to make their way toward the descending stairwell, the sound of their racing footsteps was mixed with the sound of Neptune's soft, chime-like laughter.
"Mercury! Venus! Jupiter! Mars! Where are you guys?"
Walking down the long, seemingly endless corridor, Eternal Sailor Moon gave a sad sigh as the only response to her pleas were the echoes of her own voice.
"Rei-chan is so going to yell my ears off once I find them," she murmured to herself. In her mind, she could already hear the fiery priestess's words.
We told you not to head out ahead of us Usagi-baka!
The very thought caused the Moon Princess to let out another sigh of resignation. An overwhelming sense of déjà vu washed over her as she silently reprimanded herself for falling into another one of their enemy's trap. Literally. Now separated from her fellow senshis, Sailor Moon had been following down this long corridor for what felt like hours but in actuality had only been for about half an hour. Strangely enough, Usagi found that she was not panicking. In her heart, she had complete faith that the others would find her. No, Usagi had no doubt in each of her senshis ability.
'But why can't I shake this sense of unease.'
So lost in her thoughts, Sailor Moon failed to sense the trio of reptilian-like youmas slowly approaching her from behind until one suddenly tackled her to the ground. Unable to twist around to see her attacker, Sailor Moon felt the familiar sense of panic well up in her as the youma above her chuckled maliciously. The feel of the creature's foul, moist breath so close to her neck sent a shiver of fear and disgust down the Moon Senshi's spine.
"Well look what we have here. A lone Sailor Senshi," the youma above her cackled in a deep, raspy voice.
"I bet her energy will be delicious," Sailor Moon heard another one comment, her blood running cold at its words.
"RELEASE ME!" Struggling with all her might, Sailor Moon attempted to push the youma off her back to no avail. A sharp pain ripped through her shoulders as she felt the youma above her dug its claws into her flesh. The feeling of wetness pooling at the site of pain made her realize that the youma's claws must have pierced deep enough to draw blood. Even as she cried out in pain, Sailor Moon continued to struggle free from the youma's grasp. With her strength enhanced by fear and adrenaline, she jabbed her elbow back into the youma's unsuspecting chest, momentarily knocking it back. Not giving it a chance to catch its breath, she quickly twisted around and kneed the youma before shoving it completely off of her into its approaching companions. Ignoring the sharp ache on her back, she wasted no time in pushing herself back into an upright position and instinctively summoned her Eternal Moon Rod to her hand. Inching her way back to create a distance between the three youmas and herself, she never took her eyes off of them.
"You little brat! I'm going to enjoy hearing you scream," the hurt youma hissed out angrily.
With no time to unleash her attack, Sailor Moon could only dodge as the trio of youmas continuously swiped at her with their extended claws. Left. Right. Up. Down. The trio's onslaught seemed endless and becoming more rapid with each blow she narrowly dodged. In comparison, Sailor Moon could feel herself tiring out. The sharp ache on her back becoming harder and harder to ignore with each twist of her body.
'At this rate I'll be―'
Before she could complete that train of thought, Sailor Moon found herself releasing a surprised, pain-filled yelp when her wounded back suddenly slammed against the unforgiving wall. A wave of dizziness hit her as the fatigue and heightened pain caused her legs to give out. The image of the youma trio rushing at her blurred in and out. The sound of their maniac laughter rung loudly in her ears as she fought against the fading blackness that threatens to pull her to the realm of unconsciousness.
"You will not harm another hair on her head!"
"AAAAAHHHHHHH!"
Even in her semi-conscious state, Sailor Moon felt a shiver run down her spine at the sound of the youmas horrifying screams of pain as they faded into nothingness. Through her rapidly fading vision, she saw the man-shaped silhouette making his way towards her, his cape flowing soundlessly behind him. In a few short strides, the blurry figure had made his way to her side. She was met with an all too familiar warmth as the man gently cradled her into his arms, mindful of her injuries.
"Don't worry love, you're safe now."
Unable to fight back the darkness anymore, Sailor Moon felt the world around her slowly fade away. In her last moment of consciousness, she felt a strange sense of sadness and longing emitting from the man who effortlessly lifted her bridal style in his arms.
"Tuxedo-Kamen-sama?"
The name was spoken in barely above a whisper before everything finally faded into black.
The soft glow of the full moon lite the shadowy garden of the Golden Palace. Among the rows of rose bushes and other various shrubberies, a young girl dressed in a long flowing white dress gown stood in serene silence. Clutched tightly in her hands was a star-shaped locket she planned to gift her lover.
'I hope Endymion will like this.' Serenity smiled to herself as she found herself lost in thoughts of her prince. An occurrence that seems to be happening increasingly often.
"The situation is becoming more dire."
The unmistakable voice of the very person who occupies her thoughts alerted Serenity she was no longer alone in the garden. Her first instinct had been to run to his side, but the serious tone her prince was using kept her rooted in place.
'Perhaps I should not bother him tonight.' Serenity thought to herself as she noted the stiff posture Endymion was emitting. One she have only ever seen when her prince was discussing issues of utmost importance. But just as she was turning around to make a quiet exit, Kunzite's voice reached her ears and his words caused all colors to drain from her face.
"Her influence is spreading like the plague Master Endymion. There is no guarantee that we will not fall victim to her powers if we remain here, even with the protection of your Golden Crystal."
"So you want me to turn coward and abandon my kingdom? My people? No Kunzite, I refuse to seek refuge with Queen Serenity and abandon my duties!"
"Forgive my insolence Master, but I don't believe for a second that that is your real reason…at least not your main reason in your refusal to seek Queen Serenity's help." Kunzite's disapproving frown evident of his feelings about Endymion's current display of stubbornness.
"Do not test me Kunzite." Endymion's tone warning his commanding Shitennou to drop the subject.
Bluntly ignoring his prince's threatening gaze, Kunzite fearlessly returned the stern look with his own determined, unwavering gaze. "I understand your desire to keep the Princess in the dark about the growing hostility between the Earth and Moon, but you cannot hide it from her forever. Sooner or later, the Princess will learn about the impending war."
"No! Serenity will never know the ugliness of war because I will stop this pointless war from starting!"
"Listen to yourself Master! You know as well as I do that we are powerless to stop the spreading darkness. If we do not seek Queen Serenity's help now, it will be too late for the Earth and the Silver Alliance. Whatever is controlling Beryl will not stop once it finishes tainting the Earth. It will surely try to conquer other Kingdoms. We are but the first in its quest for power. Please Master Endymion, I know you wish to shield the Princess from the harsh truths of reality, but you will only be harming her in the long run."
Silence filled the garden as the two young men stared eye to eye. If not for the soft rustling of their capes being blown by the cold night breeze, one may mistake them for stone statues. Endymion was the first to concede. Lowering his head in defeat, the young Earth Prince let out a tired sigh. "As usual, you are right Kunzite."
Then returning his gaze back to his Shitennou and trusted advisor, Endymion gave a weak smile. "I am glad that I have you to guide me in my moments of stupidity my friend."
"It is always a pleasure to be of service Master Endymion." Kunzite replied with an amused smile, rarely seen on the usually stern Shitennou.
"I will request an audience with Queen Serenity first thing tomorrow morning. As you said, we must act quickly to prevent Beryl's continuing spread of that THING's dark influence…and Kunzite."
"Yes my prince?"
"I want…no I NEED you to promise me something."
"And what might that be?" Even as he asked, Kunzite felt he knew what his prince was about to request, but that did not stop the sense of dread when he next heard Endymion vocally voiced it out.
"If I were to ever fall victim to this creature's spell, do not hesitate to kill me."
Silence fell once more as Kunzite stared searchingly at the Earth Prince. Endymion stood unflinchingly as he patiently waited for an answer. His gaze held no fear, no hesitation, only a strong conviction as he allowed the Shitennou to come to a decision. When Endymion saw a look of understanding flash pass his friend's eyes, he knew he would get his wish.
"I understand. You have my word Master Endymion."
His stance immediately relaxed at the Shitennou's promise. With a nod, Endymion silently thanked his friend as the two began to make their way back toward the Golden Palace's halls, unaware of a pair of wide, disbelieving eyes watching their shrinking silhouettes.
Serenity felt like the ground beneath her was crumbling, sinking her to the depths below as she tried to wrap her mind around the conversation she had unintentionally eavesdropped on. A whirl of emotions spun in her mind, hitting her with a wave of nausea. Confusion, guilt, sadness, disbelief and above all else, a growing fear for her prince. It was all too much.
Do not hesitate to kill me.
Those words, spoken with such conviction, continually repeated in Serenity's mind. An image of her prince, bloodied and unmoving flashed through her head. The very thought caused tears to spill from her already misted eye. Choking back a sob, Serenity hastily spun around and took off at a speed that even Uranus would have been proud of. No longer paying any mind to the blooming roses around her, Serenity was only aware of her desire to return home to find her mother and senshis.
'Surely they will know what to do. They have to know!'