Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon, it belongs to Naoko Takeuchi. I fully own my original character Lucy.
Words: 5,642
Key
"Speaking"
Thoughts/Memories/Premonition/Dream
"Speaking in Another Language"
Thoughts in Another Language
Lunarian
"I don't like to give up on people when they need someone not to give up on them."
Carroll Bryant
~ Chapter 14 ~
~ Keenest Weapons ~
Usagi and Lucy had just sat down for dinner, talking about their day at school, when their communicators went off. Across from them, Kunzite looked up from the newspaper he was reading, eyebrows hiked up. Both girls shared a look, standing.
"Usagi, Lucy?" Kenji asked in worry. "Where are you going?"
Make General Kunzite stay, Lady Phoibe.
"We promised to have a study session with Ami-chan later." Usagi lied, hurrying from the dining room, not daring to look back. "We'll be spending the night."
"What? When did you plan this?" Ikuko asked.
Kunzite was folding the paper, standing. Lucy stopped him with a hurried, "Don't get up!" She stood in the doorway, staring at everyone as Usagi banged into the wall, wrenching on her socks and shoes. "We, uh, Mako-chan is meeting us at the end of the block. And we planned it last night. Usa and me left our things at Ami's when we hung out earlier."
Ikuko, not quite remembering her daughters leaving with an overnight bag or their homework bags, nodded slowly, watching Lucy curiously. "Are you alright, dear?" She asked, setting down the pot of soup in the center of the table and walking over. "You seem tensed."
Lucy cracked a smile, the communicator stopping when the front door closed. Usagi must have answered. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit tired, and we have a test coming up in math."
"Well, good luck," Ikuko kissed her daughter's cheek, shooing her off after her sister.
Lucy snatched her shoes up as she left, forcing them, without socks, onto her feet as she ran. The door shut with a sharp snap that rung in her ears, racing after Usagi. Like when frightened or late to school, Usagi had picked up amazing speed, and Lucy wished she could put that sort of energy behind her movements. She settled for opening her communicator to hear what was going on.
According to Minako and Artemis, Makoto had sent off a distress signal from the Crown Arcade. The idea of Makoto in trouble rattled her bones. She knew her friend had a pining heart, wanting the one person she couldn't have, but that had been addressed a long time ago when she had first been awakened as Sailor Jupiter. For the Lightning Senshi fall into trouble again twisted the advisor-in-training's stomach.
"We'll be there soon," Lucy said, closing her communicator and propelling herself after Usagi.
Usagi slowed, reaching for Lucy's hand. She looked over her shoulder, blonde hair streaming into silver, "Hold on."
Lucy nodded, Usagi already looking ahead, picking up speed. If possible, the crown princess was moving faster than usual, just dragging Lucy behind. Lucy didn't complain, following as best she could, holding in her wheezy breath.
They burst into the shop, rushing into the arcade area. The others were already there, Minako putting in the code to get below to the center. The game slide to the side, everyone heading down.
Lucy realized at the last moment they hadn't seen Motoki on the way in, and it was eerily empty unlike where one or two people typically hung around. She frowned deeply, taking a quick turn. Usagi, still holding Lucy's hand, tugged her down with a concerned expression.
"Are you alright?" Usagi murmured when Lucy joined her.
"Yeah, it's just a little quiet." What's going on? We do not know. It is very fuzzy. The next few moments are crucial, My Lady. Please be careful.
Nodding, Usagi went into the control room first where chaos broke out. Things moved fast, the details becoming jumbled, but Lucy knew that the Makoto before them wasn't their friend.
"Usagi! You are not allowed near him again! He's been the enemy all along! He was only after the Princess from the start!" Makoto rushed forward, not yet touching the princess, just prowling in short steps like a caged animal. Lucy grabbed her sister's shoulder, pulling her close, out of the Lightning Senshi's hold. Lucy noticed a glossy shine to Makoto's eyes, and her wariness spiked.
"'Him'? Do you mean Endô-san?" Usagi looked wounded, thou confusion was winning Moore than hurt. "Don't go deciding he's–"
"He is the enemy!" Makoto repeated vehemently, the gloss breaking the slightest as her own worry shone through. "What if he were able to steal the Silver Crystal? Do you still have the Silver Crystal? The enemy, they–!"
"Of course I still have the Silver Crystal." Usagi pulled out the necklace, eyebrows burrowed in worry. Her smile was kind, not a bit forced. "I've got it with me like always."
"Wait." Minako stepped closer to Makoto as klaxons went off. "How did you–"
Makoto shoved Minako aside, reaching for Usagi. "Give me the Silver Crystal for our Queen–"
Usagi screamed, stumbling backwards. Ami and Rei grabbed Usagi as Lucy shoved her back, punching Makoto in the nose. Lucy stared at Makoto, unable to believe she just hit her friend. She swallowed, watching Makoto touch her nose and stare at the blood. Then she snarled and ran at Lucy, who flinched back, saved by Minako using her Venus Kick to throw Makoto back into the wall.
Usagi grabbed hold of Lucy, hugging her tightly, eyes wide in fright as she stared at their unconscious friend.
"Hm, useless. I'd really hoped she would be useful." Motoki tsk'd, stepping around the corner of a console. His eyes were blank, glossed over, and the first thought to enter Lucy's mind was, We've been compromised. From behind him came Tuxedo Mask, lips spread wide in a vicious grin, and Usagi's breath was sucked in like a hung witch's. "But, apparently, not."
Lucy bared her teeth at them, placing herself between her sister and them.
"Mamo-chan?" Usagi whispered, the corners of her eyes wet. "Motoki-onii?"
"Hello, Princess." Tuxedo Mask greeted with a slight bow, the smarmy bastard. "Motoki," he nodded his head at them, and Motoki ran at the group.
Ryū blocked Motoki, kicking him in the stomach. The man fell to his knees, choking in a breath.
"Everybody, transform!" Luna and Lucy shouted over the blaring horns, the Senshi of Love raised her transformation pen up on the order, transforming.
Motoki had stumbled to his feet, reaching for Usagi, Lucy shoving her sister out of the way. "Give us the Silver Crystal!" He screamed, hand brushing Lucy, sending a jolt of pain lancing through her. Ryū reached for him, thrown back by dark energy. He slammed into Ami and Rei, falling unconscious.
Minako jumped between Motoki and Lucy who was crumbled in pain, pulling her whip from around her waist as she kicked him back. "Take this chain," she arched her arm back, "and wake up!"
The warrior trapped Motoki in her chain with a furious, "Venus Love-Me Chain!," the possessed man screaming in agony. He jerked twice, a single convulsion running through him before he slumped to the floor, unconscious. During this, Usagi had helped her sister up, Silver Crystal clutched in hand, the chain snapped.
"Usa, you have to go." Lucy pushed her sister toward the exit, though she refused to budge unless Lucy followed. "They're after you!"
"B-but–!" Usagi glanced back at Minako and Tuxedo Mask now doing battle, eyes wide in panic, confusion, and worry. Right before her eyes, Tuxedo Mask used his dark energy to force Minako back. Then he reached out his hand, taking the Silver Crystal from Usagi's hands.
"No!" Lucy screamed, reaching for the Crystal. He raised his other hand and she slammed into the wall, crying out in pain as she fell to the floor, breathing heavy. Her left arm hurt, a hot poker stabbing repeatedly into her shoulder and down her upper arm. Usagi fell to her knees beside Lucy, staring at Tuxedo Mask. "No. Usagi, you have to transform! Please," she grabbed her sister's arm with her other hand, too shaky to keep a sure hold. "You have to get it back. He can't have the Silver Crystal!"
"Usagi! Transform!" Minako grunted, the force of Tuxedo Mask's power forcing her down, keeping her from standing. "Fight!"
"What are you waiting for, Usagi-chan?!" Luna demanded, hackles raising. She charged at Tuxedo Mask, biting down on his shoulder, drawing a deep well of blood. Luna reared back, clawing at his face, screeching, "He's a fake Tuxedo Mask!"
"You vile– get out of my way!" He grabbed the cat, slinging her across the room.
Lucy sucked in a shocked breath as blood pooled under the cat, the feeling of death spreading from Luna. Usagi raced across the room, collapsing at the feline's side, hands reaching for her, then pulling back in fear of hurting her. Lucy followed, holding her elbow to keep from jostling the dislocated arm.
"Luna hang on. Please, hang on." Tears fell from the Moon princess's eyes, angry and hot. Lucy could feel her heart beating harder, twisting with something close to rage but not quite. It settled over the younger sister that this feeling of anger wasn't her own, not completely. She was feeling it from her sister, who turned from her and their friend and adviser, raising her brooch high, screaming her transformation.
Lucy turned from the fight, reaching out to Luna, quaking fingers brushing her bloody fur in a vague pet. Warmth spread from near her lungs, reaching out, down her arm and out the tips of her fingers. Beyond blurry vision, Lucy could see Luna take a shaky, wet breath, the sticky red blood spread under her began sparkling near the edges. It dispersed like dust, and Luna took another shaky breath, it clearer, deeper.
Vaguely, she recalled Ryū once telling her about her powers as a Lunarian, how she was a Healer. Have my powers fully manifested? She wondered, lips puckering before she decided to wait on that, and instead focus on Luna. Taking a breath, she lifted her other hand, biting her lip at the searing pain lancing from her, focusing on the warmth in her lungs and sending it down through her hurt arm.
It was odd, how disconnected it felt, how it trickled through like blood in an IV drip, slow and cautious, as though the healing energy was alive. When it reached her palm, it flared out, and Luna took a long, deep inhale, eyes opening a fraction with a pained moan. The blood under her was gone, the speckles around her lips fading with a glimmer.
The warmth retracted, it coming back with a snap, fizzling out, leaving her left arm thrumming as it pulled back into place with a pop, an ache in her lungs where the energy had been. Luna looked up to Lucy, blinking at the brunette in awe. Lucy reached out with her arms, lifting Luna into her arms and hugging her close, tears falling down her cheeks.
"You're okay." She whispered, listening to Luna's heartbeat as it picked up again, the lingering aura of death fading like a bad dream. "You're here."
"Usagi!" Lucy looked sharply to the side where Ami was struggling to get up, awakened moments ago. She had yet to transform, but it didn't matter. "Use the Moon Stick on Makoto-chan and Luna!"
She doesn't need to heal Luna. I already did. Lucy thought, standing and making way to the others. Minako had moved Makoto and Motoki to where the others were once Tuxedo Mask had been distracted, released from whatever hold he had over her. Lucy refused to set Luna down, cuddling her close.
Usagi raised the Moon Stick, brow set in grim determination. "Moon Healing Escalation!"
Makoto made a soft sound, shifting. Luna sat up straighter, looking over Lucy's arms at Makoto as she slowly came to. Ryū blinked awake, Rei pushing herself from where she was slumped over.
"False Tuxedo Mask!" Usagi clenched her hand around the Moon Stick, Lucy's heart twisting at the jilted pain her sister gave her. "If you think you can seduce me with some handsome smile, you are badly mistaken!" Raising her hand, she pointed it at him. Ryū looked up, eyes focusing slowly. "In the name of the Moon, the one playing pranks will be punished by me, Sailor Moon! Moon Heal–!"
Dark energy dispersed through the room as Tuxedo Mask gripped the Crystal close, it spreading in a thick purple fog through the room, blocking the Moon Senshi's view. It was choking, cutting off Lucy's air supply, making it impossible for her to breath. From behind Tuxedo Mask in a black-red portal came a woman, dressed as a dark witch. Lucy knew her.
"Us–" Lucy reached for her sister despite the distance, fear bubbling up in her heart, and she knew it was her own fear.
"Well done, Tuxedo Mask!" The witch cackled. "With the Legendary Silver Crystal in hand, I have no use left for you. And you, Sailor Senshi," she scoffed out the words, making Luna hiss, "this will be your grave!"
"Who do you think you are?" Usagi demanded, taking a step closer.
"Hah, Princess." Her red hair brushed the floor, parting the fog as she took a step closer as well. "No matter how many times I meet you, you are always a bratty little child. Do you not recall my face? Though," her triumphant grin spread, a vicious curl to it, "I am not as I once was."
"She can't be that woman!" Minako whispered, reaching to grab Artemis who had froze in terror.
"I am Princess Beryl, Queen of the Dark Kingdom!" She raised her spear, pointing at Usagi. "Princess Serenity, I believe your true wish is to die at the hands of Prince Endymion!"
"M-Mamo-chan?" Usagi blinked, disbelief clear. She stepped closer, ignoring Lucy's soft plea to stop. "Endymion?!" She shook her head, rubbing away tears. "It's a lie! Look at me, Mamo-chan!"
Ami grabbed her arm, pulling her back. "Usagi-chan, stop it! He's under some temporary spell. Once we defeat Queen Beryl–"
"Oh, Princess, the prince you once knew no longer exists. I hear tell you sent the power of the Legendary Silver Crystal into him when he was on Death's doorstep! Hah, but it was useless. He died. I watched."
"No!"
"Yes! This is Prince Endymion brought back from Death using the power of our great ruler, Queen Metelia! He is the strongest warrior of the Dark Kingdom, wielding the same power as I." Usagi gave a strangled sound, Ami and Lucy grabbing her arms to stop her from doing something brash.
Tuxedo Mask raised his hand and, in seconds, the Senshi transformed, forming a barrier to protect Usagi. A hole was blown through the main wall of the Control Room, luckily not taking out a support beam. Makoto begun to summon her lightening, stopped by Ami crying out. "Jupiter, no! If we fight in here, the entire control room collapse."
Motoki moaned, shifting. His eyes fluttered. Ami and Makoto went to his side, taking him back upstairs. Rei and Minako shifted away from Usagi, standing at her sides a few steps ahead. Lucy, still holding Luna close, stood at Usagi's immediate right. Ami and Makoto were just returning, taking up place behind Usagi and Lucy, when Beryl and Tuxedo Mask made their escape.
"We have to follow them!" Lucy ordered. "We have to get the Crystal back and if Beryl gets away…"
Lucy did not need to finish her words, the threat of Beryl proved in the short time they'd had her as a direct adversary. Ami reached to her earrings, pressing the largest to summon her computer glasses. She loves looked to Luna, taking notice of how strongly Lucy still held the cat. "Luna, I need you to do the time-axis calculations to protect the Game Center."
Luna looked up at Lucy, eyebrow raised. Reluctantly, Lucy took her to the computers. Lucy looked over at Minako and the others. "Protect her."
Artemis jumped from on Minako's arms, joining the two advisors. Luna tapped away at the keys, sending the coordinates off to Ami's computer glasses. Lucy's heart went off with her sister when the Senshi left. Unease settled low in the brunette's belly, unable to do anything about it.
Ami moved to the middle of the room, muttering the information on the screen before her eyes. She raised her arms, summoning the power of Mercury. "Hyperspatial Sphere Generate!" She cried. A blue bubble encased her before bursting into a mist. It covered the room in a soft blue light, the lights overhead brightening until they were blinding before sinking into a pale glow. Ami breathed shakily, smiling at the three advisors before following after the others.
Lucy followed after, stopped by Ryū. She turned, glaring at him. "Let me go," she ordered, tugging on her wrist sharply. Stronger than him from her awakening Healer blood, she could have easily made him let her go. "They need me, Ryū."
"Usagi needs you here, safe." He replied harshly. "You can protect yourself, yeah, but Usagi needs all her attention on Beryl."
Her chin quiver, angry at him, the situation, and how it all led to here. She was wrathful. Wanting desperately to help her sister and friends while wanting to not be here, knowing what was going on and who she was, at all. It made her all so angry and made her feel absolutely helpless.
"Let me go!" She snapped. Lucy's next pull was rougher, and he tightened his hold a fraction more when her skin slid against his. If her bones were weaker, they would have creaked and cracked from the pressure. "Don't make me force you, Ryū."
Luna moved to stop the potential fight, stopped by Artemis who shook his head. The black cat frowned, worried eyes training on the pair across the room. Her fur bristled when Ryū grabbed her princess's other hand, forcing their fingers to lace together even as she shouted at him to let her leave, struggling to get out of his surprisingly strong grip.
"Release me!" The woman snapped, panic beginning to rise in her. Something was wrong. The panic belonged to Usagi, she knew it, and it terrified Lucy. It made her fighting stronger, pushing against his chest and begging that Ryū let her leave. "I can't stay! She needs me! Usagi–"
"They've disappeared!" Rei yelled, coming into the control center, Makoto and Ami hot on her heels. "Tuxedo Mask took Venus and the Princess went after her!"
Ryū's grip slackened in surprise, and Lucy shoved him away roughly, barging to the control panels. Luna and Artemis jumped out of the way, letting her take over and begin searching for Usagi and Minako. She did not say a word, shoulders hiked to her ears as she swiftly worked. The three Senshi gathered around, trying not to crowd to close.
"There they are." Some tension drained from Lucy's body at seeing the blips, terror still strong as before. The blips blinked in and out, moving vaguely northward. "They're going north, but something is jamming their locators."
"Do you know the region, Luna?" Ami questioned, cat nodding.
"Yes. It's the Arctic Circle." Luna moved closer to Lucy, laying a paw over her hand. Artemis moved closer to the screen. "We've been eyeing it with suspicion," Luna went on. "I know they're heading for the Dark Kingdom."
"We'll go after them before they can disappear!" Rei turned, others joining her. Lucy moved to follow, throwing off Ryū's hand and baring her teeth with a hiss just like a cat. He stepped back, gaze pained at her reaction. Luna made a sound of pain, and Artemis was at her side instantly. "Luna?"
"I'm fine! It's nothing." She replied, standing up but clearly in pain. "Go on ahead and I'll guide you. I'll follow later."
Lucy picked up Luna, laying a kiss on the cat's cheek and sending a burst of healing through the alien feline's body. The cat sighed in relief, set on her paws by Lucy who transformed a second later, rushing after the others.
"Everyone, turn on your communicators!" Lucy ordered as everyone touch down in the Arctic Circle. A single word rung in her head as a flurry of snow whipped past, curling through her hair and draping clothing, snow stinging her cheeks but not her bare toes or fingers: home. "We need to keep in touch with Luna and each other."
They did as ordered, Hecate letting out a pleased purr, rejoining the conversation. Very good choice, Lady Phoibe. It will be needed soon. Leto joined, voice quiet, My Lady, be safe. Asteria snorted, Why wouldn't she be?
There were a couple sharp whispers, but not a single star let their voice be discernible to the princess.
"Senshi, I set you down in Point C, Latitude 72. It was the closest to them." Luna's voice crackled over the comms. "But they're still heading further North at a fast rate. You need to hurry!"
They began their trek, not slowing down as they listened to Luna's voice. "Their coordinates disappear from above Point D."
"Thank you, Luna." Makoto doesn't turn off Luna's end of the connection, but she does turn off her mic. A few minutes passed, helping each other when one stumbled or needed help, them coming to a hill. At the crest, it dropped off into a cliff, a long stretch of snow covered ice and permafrost spreading out as far as they could see. That was when Lucy felt the malevolence of the area, her stars murmuring low in the back of her mind.
"We've reached Point D!" Ami announced.
Rei looked around, confusion on her visage. A shiver ran down Lucy's spine. Against better judgement, Lucy began to make her way over the ledge, sliding down slow, cautious the entire way. Rei spoke up, following a few feet back. "There's no land here. It's all permafrost above the ocean. Where did they go?"
The word was on Lucy's tongue. But she didn't know what the word was. Lucy tried to grasp it, tried to think. Her thought process was cut off, wrenched away by a pain lancing through her heart. Fog coated the area. Everyone froze, Ami reaching out to part the fog.
"Fog, here?" The Water Senshi murmured.
"It isn't just fog." Rei glared ahead, continuing to walk. Lucy started up again, keeping the lead. "The space-time here is… is…"
"Warped," Lucy supplied, avoiding a jagged obelisk of ice narrowly.
Rei nodded, frown deepening. "And an evil chi energy is spread throughout this area."
"I think Luna was right." Lucy murmured, pulling Hecate from her hair to turn her into a bow with her quiver. She nocked an arrow as a rush of familiarity filled her veins. Usagi, wherever she was here, had awakened. "And I can feel Usa. She's…" Lucy's brow furrowed. "That doesn't make any sense."
"Look!" Makoto pointed out, running forward, pointing ahead through the fog as it thinned and parted in several places. "I can see land ahead!"
"Usagi is underground." Lucy stated in confusion.
"It's warning us to stay away." Rei scowled, staring at the land ahead made of jagged peaks, crumbling cliffs, and hallow crevices.
Makoto did not stop as Rei and Ami had, Lucy at her side. The Lightning Senshi looked over her shoulder at Rei, "Does that mean the empire of darkness is near?"
Rei's scowl dropped, expression grim. Her nod was stiff and singular. Ami turned the two way comm on her earrings back on to speak with Luna. "We're going down beneath the crust to the Earth's core."
Lucy's fingers went slack on the bow string, stumbling forward to her knees. Makoto grabbed her, helping hold her up. Lucy clawed at her throat, gasping for breath as her lungs burned. She was taking in air, but her body wouldn't register the oxygen, as though some invisible force was stopping it. Her eyes burned, tears stinging and freezing to her cheeks.
As quickly as she was being asphyxiated by the invisible force, breath was flooding her blood stream, allowing her to register the panic and heartbreak Usagi was experiencing. Her fingers fumbled for the bow and the arrow dropped into the icy snow, fingers clenching around them until her knuckles turned white. A frantic Hecate demanded she tell the three stars how she felt, but Lucy ignored them.
She turned burning eyes to her friend and sister's protector who held her. "Tuxedo Mask just tried to kill Usa." Lucy pushed herself to her feet, slinging the bow across her back, she dropped the arrow into its quiver. "Luna, we're heading down. I don't think you'll be able to reach us. I want you to monitor us anyway."
Luna was hesitant to reply, but she did. Her voice was quiet, unease for the situation clear. "Very well. Be safe, Lucy-hime."
Tears stung the back of her eyes at the title, suddenly feeling stronger at the acknowledgement of who and what she had been. Lucy closed her eyes and took a breath, turning to the others. Her shoulders tightened, pushed back to make her taller and more imposing.
"Lucy," Ryū spoke as the princess took Makoto's and Rei's hands, they clasping hold of Ami's, "please be safe. Come back to me."
"Of course," she told him. Together, the girls raised their hands, shouting out, "Sailor Transport!"
The four dropped onto dark stone floors, dropping their hands. They all turned in different directions, checking for immediate threats. There were none.
Lucy's heart tugged down the hallway they were on, and she raced down it, following every turn it made. The others followed, heels clacking against the freezing stone matching the sound of her bare feet giving ringing slaps. She skidded to a stop suddenly, staring across the wide hall at her sister crouched beside the steadily awakening Minako.
"Sailor Moon!" Lucy yelled, garnering the silver haired girl's attention. Minako's eyes fluttered, moan low. "Sailor Venus!"
Ami, Rei, and Makoto pulled to stops behind her, before they all rushed across the hall to their friends and fellow warriors. Lucy took hold of Minako's arm, sending a burst of healing through her to disperse some of the dark energy slowing her awakening. Usagi's own Healer abilities had helped some, but weren't unlocked deep enough yet except in large cases.
Tuxedo Mask wiped at the blood in the corner of his mouth. His voice was gentle, with an edge of chastisement that had everyone's blood boiling. "Princess, was the power you just now emitted your own? Can you make it do your bidding?" He laughed, a ghoulish outline growing from behind him, spreading out to take up the entire room. "The power of the Legendary Silver Crystal is you?"
The blood of the Moon Royalty! A new voice, raspy with age and disuse, screeched. It placed a chill deep in their bones that the Arctic above had been unable to do. Lucy practically choked on the evil. So you have come this far into my Dark Kingdom!
"This is Queen Metalia?" Ami gasped, covering her mouth.
Tuxedo Mask attacked them, using the dark energy Queen Metalia gave him.
"No!" Lucy pulled Usagi back to protect her again. They were protected by the materialization of Luna and Artemis, the power intercepting the attack. Tuxedo Mask was thrown back, crashing into the stone and petrified wood throne.
"Luna!"
"I never thought he to be this powerful. It must be the Silver Crystal within his body." Luna went straight to business, watching the briefly inert man. "Listen carefully, everyone. What is written on the sword is a method to create a spell to seal away the evil Queen Metalia. You need the Silver Crystal in its full form, and so you must retrieve the portion of the Silver Crystal that was sucked in his body. Using the power of Sailor Moon's heart, you must return it to the Crystal's full form. Then, using that as a switch, you will release the power!
"You must seal Queen Metalia away to banish her from existence. That time is now, Sailor Moon!"
Power, you say? The Legendary Silver Crystal's limitless power, yes? Where is the source of its power!? Give it to me!
"The power is meant to bury you, Queen Metalia!" Luna replied savagely, snarling, shocking everyone by the rage there.
You witless, know-nothing queen! You think you can seal me away! The monster cackled. You will be preserved for eternity in the Dark Kingdom as a corpse!
Rei growled, pulling out an exorcism slip. "Evil Spirit…!"
"Mars!" Usagi gasped as Lucy reached out to stop her with a sharp inhale, "No!"
"… be exorcised!"
A shudder ran through Queen Metalia's form, low moan coursing it. More! More energy! Give it all to me!
"It didn't affect it!?" Rei took a step back, horrified. "But that's not possible!"
"Apparently it is," Lucy replied quickly, "Don't dwell on it.
"What are we supposed to do?" Makoto demands. "We don't have a chance of winning like this. I don't even know how we can beat Tuxedo Mask!"
"He's already been reborn as a new person. He is just like Queen Metalia." Minako says sharply, "We need to get the Silver Crystal out of him!"
The blonde steps ahead of her friends and fellow warriors, raising her hands. A powerful, golden orange glow emanates from her hands. "I call up my Planet of Love, Vanus, and ask her to bestow on my the Power of Love!" A pulsing red heart forms in her hands, and she releases it. "Rolling Heart Vibration!"
The attacks heads straight for Tuxedo Mask, who disperses the attack and uses his power to throw her back. Her name goes up in a unified cry, and Makoto moves to help her up. Usagi raises her arms, the Moon Stick in her hands, a hard set to her jaw.
"Usa," Lucy reaches out to Usagi, worry etching her face. "Don't…"
"Moon Healing Escalation!"
Tuxedo Mask holds his own against the onslaught. He stares at her, stare blank. "It's no use," he tells her. "You can never defeat me."
Lucy grabs her sister's hand, holding her back. She could tell where her sister's thoughts were going, down the road of self doubt and pain, of feeling her love had turned the man she loves into a monster, and Lucy wouldn't let Usagi near those thoughts a second longer. "Usa, look at me." She lays a warm hand against her sister's cheek, turning her sister's visage towards her. Distress crystal blue eyes looked back at her calm silver-green, wide in pain and panic. "Usa, this is not your fault. It will never be your fault. Don't listen to him."
"But don't I have to defeat him, Lu?" Her sister's voice quivered, eyes dampening with tears. "Don't I have to– to kill–"
"No!" She cuts off her sister, aghast the elder princess's thoughts had led her there. "No! You won't ever have to do that!"
Usagi shakes her head, pulling away from her sister. Confusion is clouding the princess's face, tears slipping down her cheeks. Her voice is small, like a frightened child's, and Lucy pulls her sister close, letting her sister take comfort as she worries. "I don't want to do this anymore."
Tuxedo Mask stumbles, a crease between his brows as he clutches at the Silver Crystal. The room shakes and Metalia's laughter dies down a fraction. Rei grabs a hold of Ami's shoulders, staring at the confused man. "Luna, what's going on?"
Luna looks surprised, watching in fascination, eyes moving over to her princesses. "It appears that the Crystal and Tuxedo Mask are reacting to the confusion and worry in Usagi-chan's and Lucy-chan's hearts and are resonating with them!"
"Do you mean," Ami shook her head, "do you mean that Usagi-chan's and Lucy-chan's heart can control the Silver Crystal? But that isn't possible!"
Usagi lifts her head from Lucy's shoulder, shaking in her sister's arms as she thinks. Her lips form the words Luna used, resonate and hearts and react. Her arms fall from clutching the soft fabric of her sister's gown. She turns, looking at Luna, then at the Senshi, then at her sister at her side. Lucy feels as though the life has been cut from her when her sister's emotions become distant, suppressed by a sudden knowledge of their connection.
Tuxedo Mask lashes out, throwing the Senshi back in his confusion and anger, and Usagi gasps. Lucy falls, stopped from being thrown by her bare feet sticking to the stone floors. She pants, struggling to think past the wall of nothing where her sister's emotions usually rest, struggling to focus passed her rising panic at having no idea what her sister is thinking.
Usagi grabs the Sword of Artemis, lifting it. Fear– pure, unadulterated fear– rushes through Lucy's veins and she suddenly knows, even without feeling what her sister feels, what is about to happen. She can hear Minako scream, calling her sister's title. Usagi holds the sword as she did long ago, with inexperienced, soft hands, and she runs at Tuxedo Mask.
Breath pressing at her throat to be released, Lucy is suckered punched by Usagi's unraveling emotions of fear, panic, helplessness and oh– Usagi keeps hold of the sword by one hand as she tilts her head up, using her other to bring Tuxedo Mask's head down for a kiss– love. Then she turns the sword around.
The world seems to slow. Lucy reaches for Usagi, as Tuxedo Mask– eyes suddenly clear and blue and warm– looks down in confusion at the sword ripped clean through the beautiful princess's stomach. Someone screams– it registers belatedly that it's Lucy, who's arm is grabbed as she's ripped back– and the others cry out. There is a bright, blinding flash.
Words w/o additional script: 5,642
Name of the chapter taken from this quote by Nora Roberts: "Evil cannot and will not be vanquished by evil. Dark will only swallow dark and deepen. The good and the light are the keenest weapons."