Chapter Sixteen: When the Curtain Falls
It felt as if cool water was washing over Eternal Sailor Moon's body. She felt light. She felt like she was floating. To her dismay, it was only an illusion in defense of the immense pain which she was receiving from the cool, white tendrils of light that had wrapped around her. Nothing could compare to the despair she had been feeling up until that point. The souls of a Universe were at the mercy of Anubis and each one's misery had been carefully released into her through the deceptive light, as if the very icon she followed betrayed her. She had never been attacked in such a way. Physical harm had been something she had dealt with ever since taking her eternal destiny in hand. Even emotional and mental pain had become something of a normal thing for her as enemies became more and more vicious in their tactics to conquer or destroy.
This was something completely different. Behind her tightened face, in the depths of her mind and memory, billions of voices were screaming at her. Images of lovers being torn apart by hordes of Gangers fell like blood into water. Families – their portraits smiling and saturated with happiness – were turned on one another and perished at the hands one another. Entire worlds were overtaken by a black sludge of violence and their entire population turned to slaves or specters, turning a once glowing Universe into a black ball of death and oppression. It was all too horrific for Sailor Moon to imagine. As a form inside her mind, the voices beat her from every angle like a gang of ruthless criminals bent on violating, intimidating and destroying. There was little she could do to separate out a single voice. In the waning moments of her consciousness, feelings of insanity welled up inside of her and began to unravel the threadbare will she still possessed.
Anubis had settled into his throne leisurely and smiled at the entertainment his legacy was providing. Mamoru stood next to the throne like the doll he had become, his face showing no recognition to the horror before him or even a semblance of his former self. There was only reflection in his eyes. Anubis stared dubiously at Sailor Moon as she squirmed slightly, her voice failing her quite a time ago. The powerless writhing of her body within the grasp of his light was alluring, bringing a lustful, almost sexual satisfaction at seeing the young girl brutalized by his harem of lost souls. The reality of a new body settled over him gradually and he waved his hand, causing the light to sink back into the floor and let Sailor Moon fall to the ground in a wilted heap.
This made him look even more adept to his urges. "So now you are broken, Eternal Sailor Moon. I have not laid a hand on you, but you wilt at my feet like a dying flower. Do you understand now what you have forfeited with your righteous warmongering?" he cooed affectionately.
Sailor Moon couldn't even move, much less respond. She could feel her lips wet with saliva and her body cold with sweat but not even her eyes dared to stir amidst the subsiding pain. The physical drain of the assault had taken her heart as well, for it was the cries of a hopeless people that could dissolve her will as quickly as it could strengthen it.
Anubis rose from his throne and stepped down to the girl, gazing at her nubile body as it lay heaving at his feet. Images and memories from Mamoru's life fueled this growing desire in him and an open hand was extended over her. A dark light began to bathe her and, just as it had moved Mamoru like a master puppeteer, Sailor Moon rose from the ground and hovered helplessly before him, her toes barely dragging across the cold floor. "So delicate, these flowers are. Whether dewed by a morning sun, or kissed goodnight by a distant star," Anubis spoke in a voice which could have rivaled Mamoru's in tone and sincerity. Sailor Moon's eyes were barely open to the figure before her, but the little clarity she had left in her mind recognized the intentions of such a creature. Even upon the face of her lover, tears defended her eyes from his stares. "The passions of humans can be an interesting thing, Serenity. Though my kin find it to be somewhat limited, I find the raw pleasures of a mortal body…stimulating," the fallen god said.
His hand moved up and touched her neck tenderly, though the touch of his hand was vile in the shadow of Mamoru's. Her breathing choked her slightly as his hand moved across the nape of her neck and down farther, her very essence screaming out for him to stop. It was this small struggle which made Anubis stop at the brooch on her chest and cant his head slightly. He seemed amused. "You resist? Is this not the form of your lover? Do you not long for the touch of his hand and feel of his body?" he asked sincerely while tapping a finger on her brooch.
There was only one thing she could say to him and it took every last bit of energy she had to say it in the tone she wanted, "Don't touch me."
To her surprise, Anubis seemed confused and lowered his hand back down. A truly anxious moment passed for her as he looked into her face, the eyes of Mamoru darkened and emptied to accommodate this being. "What a strange girl you are, Sailor Moon. Ryu's lover had this same fault. Though I commanded his body, I could not command Ryu's affections either. Your human hearts are a wonderful puzzle box. Fortunately, I have an eternity to figure them out," Anubis said dryly and raised his hand once more to violate her body. It seemed there was little she could do about it.
Though hot tears had stained her cheeks at this fate, Sailor Moon was suddenly not alone. Another figure appeared next to them both and startled Anubis greatly. Before one word could be uttered from his mouth, Sailor Star Uranus cuffed him with a powerful fist and propelled Anubis back into his throne, shattering it into pieces. The dark fountain of energy which had been surrounding it soon dissipated into the darkness of the room, dimming the entire realm slightly. Mamoru's lifeless form still stood next to the trail of broken stone and metal but an entire new cast had rejoined this battle.
The Star Senshi had grouped around Sailor Moon to defy the will of Anubis. Once he had been floored, the light holding Sailor Moon in the air was waved off and she fell into the waiting arms of Sailor Star Mars, who looked very relieved she was still alive. "Usagi! Are you okay?" she asked. Although Sailor Moon couldn't answer, a small smile came to her from the touch of her true friends and her eyes closed in relief.
Star Sailor Uranus had a moment of nirvana, fanning a pride and vengeance she required ever since hearing of the demise of her friend. While her eyes couldn't release a tear, they could easily take satisfaction upon viewing the crumbling source of his suffering. "That was for Kage," she whispered to herself and eyed the mass of rubble. Their odd, quirky rivalry had been something Haruka never expected, yet she truly had felt misery when she heard of the brawler's demise. He had fought and cursed and done everything else to her that would cast fierce enemies. Yet she paid her respects with her fist – a debt outstanding fulfilled in the name of one that had lived in anguish.
Her moment was short lived as that rubble began to move and a figure rose from it. A breath of annoyance escaped her lips and she called out into the loudly to grab the attention of the others. The fallen god was rising once more and the atmosphere became tense and prickled. "This isn't time for group hugs! I don't think we'll catch him by surprise again," Sailor Uranus cautioned with her hands ready for another assault.
As the others faced the glowering figure as well, they were struck with the intuition that he was not amused by the blind attack. Anubis was glowing in tones of angry green at their offensive entrance. "That was very ill advised, you insects. I don't know how you were able to strike me in such a way, but I assure you that it will not…" Anubis warned but trailed away when he was able to focus on the group of senshi. It was a form that he had not seen before and was not contained within in Mamoru's memories, revealing that someone else had been involved with the preparation of these soldiers against him. Their radiance silenced him and he was cautious, if only for moment.
When he realized that one of the senshi was absent from this group, he instantly knew who was responsible. His face fell darkly at the intrusion. "I should have known he would get involved if I were to attack his precious Sailor Pluto or her friends. It doesn't matter, however, because short of coming here himself, he will not change the outcome," he hissed to himself. It distressed the others seeing someone they cared for, or at least an exact replica, stalking towards them with a look of pure malice in his eyes. While they had, at times, been forced to fight a loved face, it was jarring to see the true Mamoru standing mindlessly just a short distance away. A thousand questions were going through their minds as to the situation but there was never enough time to battle in total wisdom. There was no aura of energy, no gathering of power to finish the deed. There was only an unsettling feeling coming over all of them as Anubis took stance just a few meters away. "These blessed forms will not avail you. My will be done," Anubis called in a booming voice, a voice in which the air around them seemed to obey.
The temperature dropped enough to cause vapor to appear at the lips of the Sailor senshi, though no breath appeared out of the mouth of Anubis. It was a chilling sight.
Sailor Star Jupiter had been holding something inside of her for quite a while now. Images coursed through her soul like a hot liquid threatening to sear her from the inside out. Despite the cold shoulder she had received from this entire encounter, from the moment she met her tragic counterpart, something inside of her was quaking in rage and tasting revenge on the one who had been the source of his tragic life. The others had found love. She had found sadness. Yet despite her draw, she was the first to rush forward, "Try this on for size! Jupiter Coconut Cyc…"
However, the thrills of her new attack were brought to a swift halt as a single impact rippled through her body and forced all air from her lungs in a wrenching gasp. The others stared in disbelief as Anubis stood calmly in the same place but simply holding out one finger pointed towards her. Though not one of them had seen it, a blast of air had moved invisibly towards the attacking senshi and struck her in the torso, causing the dull look on Sailor Jupiter's eyes and the searching breath in her throat.
"That attack might have been impressive, but I am no fool. The only reason I spared your life was for this," Anubis said and turned his hand over, now curling his finger like an invitation. A green glow inside of Sailor Jupiter's body began to move up from her chest and into her throat before being pulled right from her mouth. It swirled and danced through the cold air. The other senshi were momentarily stunned as their friend fell to her knees in front of the malicious god, holding her throat and coughing in an attempt to breathe. They had no idea what was going on.
The small, oval orb was glowing a fierce green color, but it soon followed the beckoning finger to the waiting hand of Anubis. Closing his hand around it, he pressed an ominous chuckle from his twisted lips. "Don't worry, Mako-chan. You'll still live without it," he assured her and the glow disappeared, leaving him shaded in darkness and smiled again. "However, I suppose you won't live long enough to miss it, will you?" he added and suddenly turned his hand over to press his palm into the crown of her skull.
It was more than Sailor Uranus would stand for. Seeing the impending doom of another soldier, her legs burned with flight. With another blow ready for his smirking face, she lunged forward with a new attack of her own, determined to save Sailor Jupiter from some horrendous fate and pay tribute to her jaded friend once more. As her unwavering companion, Sailor Neptune also lunged in with her heart roaring in her ears. They were both working on instinct and the desire to save one of their own. Their battle cries rippled through the tense air.
Their attacks were not even allowed to begin.
Anubis shifted his eyes quickly and his other hand rose to greet the charging foes. A single flash of light devoured the room for a moment with the effect being heard shortly after. Both senshi hit the floor a distance away and neither seemed to be moving. In their place were two more orbs of light like the one taken from Sailor Jupiter. They too floated to the waiting hands of Anubis and quickly became property of his stolen form. Sailor Jupiter had now crumpled to the ground at his feet, taking away his target, yet unable to dissipate his joy.
It amused him to the point of laughter. "To think Jikan-sama spoke so highly of you all! Truly, love is the greatest weakness! Even the Scion were able to provide more of a thrill than this!" he said, lavishly tonguing his jeers.
It was that reminder which brought on an unlikely rage. Sailor Star Venus had been reluctant to rush in, concerned with the health of her princess but also battling a fear inside of her. Somehow she had been divided over attacking a friend, yet Anubis's words stirring something deep inside of her and she felt the rage in her hands. The blatant reminder of her lover brought on a rush into her heart, making her face glow with unbridled determination to avenge the loss of Suteki. "Rolling Heart Vibration!" she cried as her power welled within her palms. Within her hand, a heart formed from the power she controlled. A single thought of love gave fuel for the attack and her enhanced powers were quickly to get Anubis's attention. Her heart quickly grew and she hurled it like a disc – her desire to see her true heart's consolation. The heart spiraled through the air at Anubis until he deftly arched to the side and avoided it, proving that he didn't let arrogance cloud his judgment. However, the heart did singe his shoulder as it passed, breaking the skin and causing blood to seep out.
As the attack disappeared into the endless distance, Anubis touched his skin with a wince as pain came to his new body. He did not like it. "You wounded my body," he said, anger shaking his voice slightly. Though he had taken a moment to consider the meaning of this, Sailor Venus had not missed a stride and was in the middle of making yet another attack. Anubis gave her his full attention once more and held out a halting hand, catching the senshi in an invisible net which held her off the ground. Some obscure force began to rip into her body and make her scream while an orange orb floated out through her gaping mouth. She had never felt such anguish. As soon as the orb had been taken, Anubis stressed his hand open and threw Sailor Venus skidding across the ground, as limp and cold as a doll. The most effective of attackers was now thrown aside.
After taking his newest orb, Anubis turned to the remaining senshi and expressed no more patience in his eyes. He began to walk quickly the last two guardians. His posture alluded to his task. Sailor Star Mercury readied herself only long enough to inhale before she was hurled across the ground as well. She was also defeated. The blue orb floated right into Anubis's left hand as the right reached out to Sailor Mars's throat. Sailor Mars had been surprised at how quickly he had approached and with her weakened princess strewn in her lap, she could do little more than grasp at his wrist and gag.
The fallen god had no more roles to play. He was intent on finishing it quickly. "You, Sailor senshi of Mars, will have yours taken only after I pry the life from your body," Anubis snarled from a place deep inside of him that truly felt her legacy.
Sailor Mars clutched at her arm but felt no strength to stop him, as if his very touch could sap the strength from anything it touched. Ironically, she found something almost pathetic in the fact that his intention to single her out was for one reason alone; Yamito had genuinely scared Anubis. There was only a small amount of satisfaction stemming from his fear which her beloved cast upon this fallen god.
Yet the moment was delayed by a light in the darkness. "Stop it," whispered Sailor Moon, her eyes barely open to the terror.
Although Sailor Mars couldn't move her head to see, she knew that her princess had managed to stay awake a bit longer. Anubis was the subject of this plea, however, and he looked down to the senshi as she tried to grab his pant leg pleadingly. He seemed almost impressed at her determination. Sailor Moon's body was perfectly healthy, but it was her soul that had been attacked by his harem of lost angels. It made focusing even to move far enough to plead for her friend's lives a trial all into itself. "Don't hurt anymore of my friends. Please," she spoke in a pale whisper.
Anubis was encouraged by this. He smiled a stretching grin. Groveling had become one of his favorite conversations and he found the broken tones of the mighty Sailor Moon very refreshing. "I'm glad you finally found your place, Sailor Moon. However, you had your chance to save your friends from this fate. You chose this," he snarled and looked back to Sailor Mars. Again, there was something very impious in his eyes as he looked at this young girl; something accelerated by the one she had been so intimate with.
"You, soldier of Mars, will suffer a much different fate than your comrades," Anubis said, his eyes drifting to her body, "I can sense it inside you, you see. I can feel it here." His hand moved across her chest. The sensation of that hand on her body made her twist, but his opposite hand around her throat would not let her move away. The lack of oxygen was beginning to get to her, as something inside of her chest was warm in spite of all the cold air circling her body. It was a soothing feeling that almost lulled her into blackness, but the breath on her cheek and the hand on her chest made her clench her eyes in anger.
"Rei…" a voice in her mind called out. She was jarred by its presence. Her throat would not follow her mind and call out, but ever fiber in her being burned at the violation of his touch. Then, another voice echoed through her head. It was a soothing voice of which she knew very well. It instantly made her heart race and her eyes fly open.
"Rei…" it called again.
It was at this time that both hands of Anubis were torn from her body and she fell to the ground in front of Sailor Moon, holding her throat and her chest defensively. The only thing which put her attention as to the why of her release was a name coming from behind her. Sailor Moon's own voice rolled her lover's name proudly, "Mamo-chan!"
Sailor Mars forced herself to look up at the confusing scene. Anubis was utterly shocked; so much that he could not react for a moment. The empty shell of Mamoru's body had moved according to his own will and assaulted Anubis, grasping him tightly in lifeless arms. His movements were still slow and empty, just as his eyes were void of any light reflection, but he had pulled Anubis from his prey with surprising strength.
Anubis was not at all tolerant of such an act. "Impossible! You have no will of your own! How dare you interfere!" he roared. The rage in his voice did nothing to affect the blank look on Mamoru's face and Anubis was quick to throw the doll aside. Mamoru went rolling across the ground and came to a stop amidst a dust cloud - his eyes still empty yet poisoned with tears. There was a moment of furrowed confusion on the face of Anubis. He had taken Mamoru's memories and his life-energy, but the doll still moved to help his loved ones. It was something completely unheard of. Though he wasn't aware of it, his lapse of attention to his battle would be something he wouldn't be able to regret.
"I'm going to end this," Anubis swore and clawed his fingers into the air. Deep pools of energy began to gather upon him and the accumulation of all the power he had began to appear as green flame around his body. The palace began to quake. A chorus of fallen souls sung out to the ears of the soldiers and each one sounded tapped. It was the pain and suffering of them all. It brought fear in its wake.
Sailor Moon had found enough energy to stir in Sailor Mars' lap, holding her friends arm and staring at the god in terror. Her own heart wept at the source of his power yet she was still too weak to stand up to him. All she could do was grasp tightly to her friend and stare up at her.
Sailor Mars stared down sadly. It wasn't often her courage evaded the task, yet time didn't allow her the chance to rise. The heart-worn protector simple closed her eyes and held her princess tightly. She could barely speak above her regret. "I'm sorry, Usagi," she whispered just as Anubis loosed a massive green fireball at them. It didn't move fast but it plowed a trail of jagged stone under it as the floor broke loose. It was the antithesis of Sailor Moon's power and it engulfed them both in death and sorrow.
All they could do was hold onto one another and accept whatever fate awaited them.
It was a fate denied. A dome of fiery red flame suddenly covered the two soldiers, protecting them from the green while saturating them both with a frighteningly smooth peace. Sailor Moon opened her eyes. She saw Sailor Mars' face peaceful and serene – an oasis in a sea of fire. At first she couldn't understand how she was generating so much power. She had only experienced such flame once before and that person was gone. Yet despite her preconceptions and stricken heart, something appeared around Sailor Mars and seized the very breath in the moon princess's chest.
A shadowy figure embraced Sailor Mars from behind, translucent arms wrapped affectionately around her just as two great wings of fire protected them from death. Like lovers locked in an eternal bond, the two Mars children appeared peaceful – engaged despite the squall of energy around them. In the end, it was Yamito's unnatural power which allowed a part of him to remain with her – protecting her and Sailor Moon both. Sailor Mars appeared calm and happy, her head slightly turned to the side as if she were truly feel her lover's arms.
Together, the two rose to stand against Anubis's power and stepped beyond Sailor Moon to face the peril. They moved as one, for they truly shared the same heart. It was the fluidity of love. "Stand and defeat this scourge, Sailor Moon," Sailor Mars suddenly said, her eyes opening to the shocked god. In her dark pupils, fire churned and flared with the intensity of her heartbeat. Her voice had a slight echo of Yamito's weary voice. It was as they moved as one. Their power was that of the fire of love. Yamito's fire wings spread out widely to display their joining and a hot wind blew defiantly through the cold air, making Anubis scoff and stand against the force.
The fallen god was distraught. It was what he had sensed inside of Sailor Star Mars. What he saw unfold before him chilled his very core and threatened to snuff out his existence. The green flame still brewed around him and he cursed the legacy of the Fire Scion. He had known from the very beginning that the fate of the boy was linked with his own, yet when the moment came he felt unprepared for it – denied proper expectations. Whatever the Scion had become was more than even he expected, yet he was not deterred and his power swelled. He would not be denied. "Even in death you persist. Not even this power can save them!" he cried and the green fire lashed out at them. Its terrible wrath shook the pillars and stone, yet still only impacted on the fire of the Mars soldiers.
A battle of wills began to rage as both flames struggled, yet it became obvious that they were equally matched – neither having dominance over the other. Anubis stood firm and glared, yet made no auspicious moves. Sailor Mars stood equally strong and stared forward, her body, heart and soul reinforced by the fiery power of Yamito.
Sailor Moon watched all of this from beyond. Her heart raged with the washing flames while her body struggled to move, though she truly had no idea how she would help. The combined power of the two energies forced the sweat on her cheek to roll horizontal to her ears while her eyes could barely stand the heat. Too much had happened with her heart to allow her brain's workings and she simply sat there, propped up on her side to watch the divine battle.
She could only watch until the image of Yamito appeared at Sailor Mars' back, turning to appeal to her with the last of his worldly presence. "Usako," he said, bringing her eyes to him. She was too fragile to reply, yet he looked down at her out of love and the things they had shared. "Usako, you must end this. Not even I can destroy Anubis, for our powers are both of destruction and only stall one another. Rei needs your help. Only you can save her…save all of them," he said, marking the bodies of each of the other soldiers.
The lives of countless innocent people, both living and lost, were staked on the end of the battle. The others had stood against Anubis and fallen at his feet, yet because the fires of devotion burned greatly than hellfire, even a fallen god was held vulnerable. It was the rarest of opportunities, yet Sailor Moon was reluctant – stopped by the very power she possessed for victory. "But," she stuttered, stared through the hot air at his angelic face, "what about Mamoru? What about you?"
Yamito's eyes closed. All that was left of him was passion and dedication. His afterthought cared only for the task. He could not return the love she bore for him any longer. Because her question depended on emotion, he was silent in reply.
"U…sako," said a voice that tore Sailor Moon's eyes away. Mamoru's doll-like eyes were still cast upon the floor, yet his face showed the kind of resolve Usagi lacked at time. With his heart taken and his body nothing but a shell, he was still the guiding beacon in her life – the part the told her what must be done for the good of so many. "Prevail," he said, though his lips were the only movement allowed. Deep within, Mamoru's heart beat strongly for the end of such a monster, confident that his lover's power could bind the god to eternity. He knew that it possibly meant he would die as well, but if it meant being leashed to a god of destruction for all eternity, he preferred death. Even within Anubis, where his core was bound and his soul cried out, Mamoru longed for Sailor Moon's righteousness and ability to defeat the most terrible foe.
Sailor Moon stared in disbelief. Even if she were to destroy Anubis, he had said he possessed Mamoru's soul. She might never be able to see him again. If victory meant losing the ones she loved, she would rather lose. Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she thought of so many that were destroyed by Anubis. The voices of countless woes beat inside of her head. Her fallen friends' faces were carefully analyzed and caressed, yet all of her thought came right back to Mamoru's smiling face. His comforting voice soothed her and made her strong, yet it was now also telling her move on and endure.
That was the hardest part.
Clenching her teeth in determination, Sailor Moon faced Yamito with desire in her heart. Questions and complaints of her terrible fate were left aside as she gripped her wand tightly. She had no choice. She was Sailor Moon. Mamoru's words rang truer than ever as she looked at the face of her enemy. Even if it took all of her power, she would stop the menace and save all of her friends. She would be with her loved ones once more. She knew this was all possible because she was Sailor Moon. Somehow, deep inside where her heart resided and her soul lay embedded, she knew that things would work out and she would smile again.
Yamito's ghost smiled. Turning back to Sailor Mars, his arms once again wrapped around her and he whispered to her – something that caused her to also smile even though she strained against Anubis. The two shared a moment within their connection and glimmered because of their lives. Then Yamito merged back with the armor of fire around her and the fire senshi held Anubis in check with a smile on her face.
Eternal Sailor Moon had already gathered the last bit of her energy. It wasn't much, but because the fire of Mars consumed Anubis and perfectly checked his full power, she was confidant that it was enough to end the suffering. Faces flashed in her mind. The horrific tales of the Scion strengthened her resolve. Her friends were counting on her and she was going to take the step without knowledge of the consequences. All she knew was that things had to work out in the end. She had gone through too much and suffered the fates of the trodden. The Universe was not so cruel as to punish justice.
With her faith in hand, she threw the last of her energy towards Anubis. The fallen god was too engaged with Sailor Mars to notice it. The stories of many hung breathlessly in the air as the tiniest reserve of Sailor Moon's benevolence slipped through the green flames and merged with him. He never looked away. He never swore his eternal revenge. He never even felt the end.
It was just simply the end.