Disclaimer: same, general facts. Sailor Moon and anything affiliated with the original series etc. does not belong to me. I claim only the plot and my own ideas and characters.
Chapter 14: An Ancient Restored
I did not anticipate her arrival … not this early …
Sealight's eyes narrowed at the trio as she pointed at them.
"My daughters, eternal servants to my dark cause … ATTACK!" she screeched as she erupted into an array of blue-black light, her great prowess expanding to almost completely consume them all.
The seemingly impenetrable darkness disappeared for her as Serenity and Celestin stumbled backward.
Serenity fell to her knees, Celestin gripping her arm as she attempted to pull her up.
Through the chaos of shadows and dark light Celestin found her niece who stared back, her large green eyes cool.
As if reading Celestin's thoughts Mei nodded as she held out her transformation locket that was fashioned into the shape of a full moon.
Celestin pulled out her own locket that was fashioned into the shape of a sun.
Keeping eye contact the two began to murmur quietly, Serenity noting Celestin's moving lips.
Their lockets opened, producing two beams of light, one golden and the other silver shining directly into the atmosphere, illuminating the entire room and night sky beyond.
"Oh no you don't!" Sealight cried as she reached for Celestin's locket.
The Queen smiled as she faded into the light along with Serenity.
Sealight's face became contorted as she glared in search of the senshi who too were disappearing into the light.
"No! NO! Daughters FIND THEM!" Sealight commanded as the shadows stirred, producing an army of ladies dressed entirely in back, their faces hidden by blue masquerade-like masks.
But even as her army disbanded Sealight knew they had gone.
Dispelling the darkness with a wave of her hand she found herself alone in Queen Celestin's chamber.
The marble was cracked beyond repair, the vine-like cracks splitting the blue walls, the only untouched piece of furniture being the picture of her sisters, the Ancients.
Sealight smirked as she looked over the four faces.
"The end is near sisters, and the time will come when we are all tested and where we will finally know whether I was right all along," she muttered as she pointed at the portrait, lifting it off the wall to place it carefully on the floor with the front of the portrait facing away.
"You can hide, sisters, but even you know that you cannot run from destiny," she murmured as she strode out of Celestin's chambers, headed for her private quarters.
I can sense my weapons, and once I claim them back with them come my great power, restored.
Sealight smiled as she glided into Celestin's office, with the walls fashioned to mirror the night sky that blanketed the Celestial Kingdom.
"At long last," she proclaimed.
::X:X::
The structure was large and completely stunning in the silver light. It was long and rectangular in shape with three large pillars along the length of both sides with a single pillar at the back, joining the last pillars in a line.
The floor itself was silver marble, as was the marble cover while the pillars themselves shone a pearly white.
At the centre of the seemingly bare temple was a single platform, upon which a white basin was perched. The basin glowed in an unnatural light of its own as silver flames rose into the thin air.
Against the celestial divinity of the universe, the fire looked simply astounding.
"I never thought I'd see you again," Celestin wept before the fire as her niece buried her face into her aunt's red hair, taking in the familiar floral scent.
"Everything will be alright now Aunt, now that I have found Moonlight's power …" she began as the pair remained locked in an embrace before Celestin pulled away slightly, her face shining.
"It was a good thing you came when you did, I am afraid that Sealight may have killed us all, as unprepared as we were, despite all my preparations I would have thought that we could have stood a chance … at least here on Gladiola we are able to think about things a bit clearer," Celestin murmured as Mei nodded, her green eyes solemn.
Gladiola, one of the three moons of their kingdom, was the largest of the three. The moon itself was where Moonlight dwelled, building the Ancient Temple in honour of her sisters and companions. It was said that the day the sisters were all united in the universe as celestial bodies would be the day the fire would finally cease burning.
Mei's lips pursed as her brow furrowed.
"I have a feeling that Sealight will not yet attack but I fear more about the Celestial Elite and about my dear friends who are still down there," Celestin revealed as Mei smiled softly, despite herself.
"Do not worry so much, if I know anything it is that Topaz, Sapphire, Ruby and Emerald are fully capable of figuring something out while they wait for your instruction. Besides, Helios tells me that my father is still alive, hurt but alive," Mei spoke as Celestin's eyes hardened.
"We have reason to believe that your father isnot alone. We believe that she may have Kakuei, Kaede and Usagi with her," she informed as Mei's insides went cold.
No … not them … we need them with us …
Standing close by were Serenity, Mars, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Pluto standing around her. Alongside them Shigeru stood with Star-Fighter, Star-Healer and Star-Maker.
The 10 pairs of eyes were focussed on one person.
The female was beautiful and held an aura that both commanded and exuded calm.
In the strong silver light her silver locks seemed to glow as they fell from their silver buns. Her bright blue eyes were raised as she admired the two other moons nearby, a gentle unnatural breeze lifting her hair slightly.
"Is it … can it possibly be?" Venus breathed as she moved forward, Serenity still uncertain as she bit her lip.
As if noting some sort of discord amongst the watchers, Selene turned her gaze upon them, her blue eyes warm.
"I have dreamt about you many a time, Serenity. You are as beautiful in reality as you are in my dreams, I am glad to now have gazed upon my daughter in her prime, with my own eyes," she spoke finally, her delicate voice echoing through the temple.
Serenity's eyes widened momentarily as she released a sharp gasp.
She knew it deep inside that it was her past mother, but the fact that she had verified it made it unquestionable.
The Serenity of the past standing before her looked slightly younger than herself, she noted as a slow smile dawned upon her lips.
"And you are her guardians! Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter … and even Pluto!" she continued as her eyes began to fill.
"My dreams are so much sweeter now, now that my eyes are seeing the future of my Kingdom …" she spoke as she herself smiled, edging her way forward towards Serenity who simply blinked.
The young Selene took Serenity's hands into her own.
"I do not know what to call you …" Serenity confessed as Selene smiled.
"You may call me Selene, after all, I am an incarnation of the Goddess. The name Serenity is rightfully yours although I must say, I find it amusing how you are my future daughter and that you are older then me," she pointed.
Serenity nodded, amused as she pulled her into an embrace.
"I must apologize for the interruption, ladies, but we have a grave task at hand," Celestin interrupted as she appeared before them with Mei at her side.
Shigeru nodded as he cast a sidelong glance in Mei's direction, one that went unnoticed.
"Moonlight gave me a mission and that mission was to find the bearer of her power who came from another dimension completely, which is why Selene is here. She was and is entrusted with Moonlight's power," Mei began as the group fell into a thoughtful silence.
"Now that Moonlights power has been found Sealight is able to claim the entirety of her own powers, for when they have all been awakened Sealight is granted her vast power to do as she pleases," Celestin added as they stepped forward.
"Wait a minute, if the Ancients, when awoken altogether, free Sealight's power then why didn't we just leave them dormant?" Star-Healer asked as she flicked her grey hair, her pea-green eyes hard.
"Because in order to seal Sealight we need them all awake, for with their presence come both destruction and peace," Mei responded as Celestin nodded alongside her.
Star-Healer's lips pursed, her face smug.
"So now what? Sealight practically has the Castle …" Jupiter began as Celestin grimaced.
"As we speak my army is fighting against her army but I suspect that Sealight is not after the Castle, or my Kingdom for that matter," Celestin murmured.
Pluto's brow furrowed as she gazed deeply in the queen's golden stare, whose depths held no answers.
"I suspect she is looking for her weapons. Once her daggers are restored, all power to wreak havoc is hers," Celestin finished as the crowd stilled.
"We have to stop her!" Star-Maker cried.
"That is the problem, we cannot. All I know is that Sealight, at the peak of her power, will come close to ruining the entire Universe."
Serenity's eyes flicked from Selene to Celestin.
"Close?" she whispered.
"Close, because in the time of our greatest need our greatest hope will awaken," Celestin murmured.
"According to Prophecy," Shigeru nodded as her stroked his chin.
"And this hope is?" Mercury asked.
Celestin smiled despite herself.
"We don't know," she responded.
Star-Fighter's eyes narrowed as her fists clenched.
"We can talk about Prophecy later, right now we need to know if we can find Usagi and the other princess and prince," Star-Fighter reminded as she turned to the group.
"She's right, Helios told me that my father is still alive and is being held prisoner in Sealight's Castle on a nearby meteor that is close enough to see our three moons clearly," Mei reported as Celestin nodded.
"In that case it is probable that Kakuei, Usagi and Kaede are being held there also," Serenity spoke.
Celestin straightened as she flattened her light dress.
"We need a plan, and I think I may have one," she spoke.
All eyes turned to the celestial queen.
::X:X::
Kakuei stood, his face subdued as he ignored the hanging figures of the very people he had claimed to be his friends.
Have I done the right thing? At least my kingdom will be safe from Sealight, right? Afterall that is why you are helping her … Think of your mother and father Kaku! You're doing it for them!
Yet the more he repeated the same phrase to himself, the less he believed it.
His blue eyes ran over the bleeding wrists and ankles, his eyes wincing at the severe swelling and bruising that encircled their bound limbs.
Kakuei, even you know in your heart that they do not deserve this, they trusted you!
Kakuei shook his head as he remained standing before them, his eyes lowered.
If your mother …
"Mama …" he murmured.
The torchlight that lit the opposing walls of Sealight's throne room flickered shadows over him, the same shadows dancing as if taunting him.
His eyes screwed shut as his mind took him back to a distant memory, to a memory from his past.
He stood in the warm sunlight, surrounded by fragrant flowers and singing birds that flew overhead.
Next to him, holding his hand was a tall and lean figure.
Her slim finger slipped into his small palm, his own fingers tightening around it, as if by letting go he would risk losing her touch completely.
The pair watched the same chirping birds nestle onto a nearby tree branch.
The three birds all flitted happily, that was until the middle bird began to pick on another. The bird from the other side flew over, pulling the offending bird away to finally have it fly away, leaving only the pair of them.
"That bird was not very nice Mama," Kakuei murmured as his mother nodded.
"Yes Kaku, but luckily that bird had a friend who helped him chase that bully away. No good friend ever leaves a friend in need, remember that Kaku," she spoke as her voice began to fade, along with the scene.
Kakuei opened his eyes to find the same sad scene before him.
Usagi hung limply, as did Hikaru and Kaede.
All three remained unmoving and silent.
No Kaku, you have outdone yourself now! You did not leave your friends in need, you are the reason they are in this position!
Kakuei sank to his knees as his eyes began to sting.
The cold black marble caught his streaming eyes.
What do I do?
::X:X::
Sealight stood alone in the bare room, her eyes cool as her gaze lowered.
"Return to me, my daggers," she called as she lifted her eyes.
Five silver daggers aligned themselves before her, their blue hilts glittering in the appealing light.
"At long last, they are mine once more!" she cried as she threw her cloak off, the daggers all flying to her waist where the slid into the five pouches that waited for them.
As the daggers settled into their old home a blue circle appeared around Sealight, the light expanding to encompass her entire being.
As the light died away she straightened herself, admiring the familiar touch of cool metal against her already cool being.
She wore a blue breastplate with heavy metalled shoulders that bore silver designs etched into the plate. Even the black skirt itself was made of pleated metal.
A small smile played on her wine red lips as she slid a defensive over one of her daggers.
My time has finally come…
::X:X::
"Fire the trebuchets!" came Sapphire's blatant call.
Through the chaotic evening and flickering torchlight on the roof of the palace, the five hundred or so females each moved to one of the large trebuchets that would launch burning comets to their enemies.
"FIRE!" another Sapphire elite cried as all the females cut loose the ropes the held the huge arm that housed the dormant comet.
"NOW!" Sapphire cried to her companion Ruby who waited below on the outside of the palace walls with her own elite.
"RUBY BLAZE!" the Ruby elite announced as the females in red released 500 blazing attacks, each fire carefully aiming for the one comet they had to ignite.
And as if executing some long rehearsed act of a play, each of the fired comets exploded with red life as they flew to the swarm of black that moved through the abandoned Celestial Citadel.
The females watched their attacks in action, some comets successful as the Obsidian Army burned under its wrath. Other comets came against opposition who tried to send the comets back.
We cannot hold them off forever Ruby thought, her thoughts heard by her counterparts who stood in their own positions.
Ruby is right, they are coming from both the inside and out, I do not think that we can hold the palace for any moment longer Topaz responded as her own ladies continued a heated debate of how to best preserve the palace.
We have to try, all I know is that Celestin has put her faith in us. I have absolutely no doubt that our queen will come to our aid Sapphire's voice sounded.
That's the way, ladies, we will fight! To hell if they think they are taking our kingdom! Emerald added from her position on the palace fields where black shades moved slowly across the lake headed for their black queen whom they all knew to be waiting inside.
"Just keep up the fight, as long as we live, hope lives,"Emerald reminded aloud as she raised her sword, pointing it forward as her Emerald Elite and the Celestial Elite stirred behind her.
Her counterparts and sisters nodded, their leader's message echoing to their different stations throughout the palace.
"Ancients be with us," Topaz whispered from a chamber in the palace, the hairs on her arms prickling as she felt the palace grow colder.
The battle had begun.
::X:X::
A/N: Thanks for your support friends! I think I'm on a roll again with the story … please continue to review and tell me what you think, if it's still worth finishing!
Much love,
Lady Sapphira