(BGM: Dissidia Final Fantasy - Cosmos)
"…what the hell?"
"You! You're the…thank the gods!"
She watched…they watched him as he floated in a black void of empty space, a girl with long black hair, wearing a long red dress stood with him. Her blue eyes shined with heavy tears.
"ok, how the frig did I get here? Last I checked I was turning on the TV in that room."
"I'm sorry. I felt your mind, and I brought you here. I…I need your help."
They watched as he confronted the girl's father, the man behind the ideal to strike at the Lunar Kingdom with the power of all the minds on Phobos.
"The Queen is nothing more than a farce! Destruction to her and her false kingdom! Such is the will of Metallia! Such is the will of our Goddess!"
"You're wrong. Your weapon doesn't want to be used like that. You…you who would pervert your own daughter, your own people to wield them like tools, manipulate them like puppets…you disgust me."
They watched as the girl's mind reached out to his.
"Please…unless it comes from another, I can't…"
"Why can't I just wipe him?"
"Because he set something in me…if he dies…it'll go off…and I won't have any control…but…if you kill him…if you kill us…nobody can be used like that…nobody on this place can be turned into a weapon."
"You're asking me to kill an entire population…"
"I know…but…would it really be that bad? Can it truly be considered death…if they never were 'alive' in the first place?"
"You really…you don't think there's any other way, do you?"
"I'm sorry…it's…a horrible thing I'm asking…but please!"
He stood before her father, a haze around him.
"What are you doing?!"
"…keeping a promise."
They saw her smiling face as the man clutched his head, and the girl shrieked. A massive shockwave erupted from the grey pod containing her unconscious form, ripping through the entire moon. Blood splattered everywhere as the psychic power forced every living being on Phobos' heads to erupt as one.
"…to cleanse this world…"
They watched him drop to his knees, tears of rage and sorrow mixing with bile hurled from his gut. Though he had been in horrible scenes of gore before, though he had caused such events before, it was the emotions tied to this one that triggered the reaction.
"This is what you wanted…Miranda…"
They watched him rise, a sphere of condensed…something…building within his right hand. He launched it at the ground beneath him, and it expanded, covering the entire section of the moon where the pitiable people once lived. When the massive orb of black vanished, so too did all remnants of them. It was then, as he screamed a roar of rage and grief to the world, a roar so powerful it sent waves of power through the very vacuum of space, that they heard her speak one more time.
"Thank you…"
"We could really use your help here Shinigami!"
"What's the status General?"
The scene shifted. Around him were wounded and tired soldiers. They surrounded a small building where armored men were firing at them, mages, gunmen, all sorts of projectiles were flying through the air.
"We're pinned down. These are the last of the enemy forces, it seems Beryl has recruited normals into her army as well."
"Any innocents?"
His head was turned to the building, so he missed the sudden flicker in the man's eyes.
"None. Just them."
"Alright. Any of your men in there?"
"No sir."
"Good…tell your men to fall back about ten meters. You're in for a treat. Anyone who sees this one usually dies after its over."
A haze of air surrounded him as he floated away from the trench where the general and his men were pinned by enemy fire. Yells erupted from the battlefield as he floated backwards from the site.
"IT'S THE SHINIGAMI!"
"Fall back men!"
He stretched his body, the world seeming to turn black for a moment. Bullets, spells, arrows, they all seemed to be absorbed by the strange dome of pitch black that slowly contracted around his form. As it covered his body, he slipped out from within it, and it condensed further until it shrunk into the palm of his hand. He pulled back and then launched it forward. The orb of black raced towards the building before detonating. A flicker of black covered the vision of all, before the building seemed to collapse into itself as dust and other objects began swirling around the orb. The orb then expanded rapidly, absorbing into itself anything it touched. After a few moments the orb seemed to flicker in and out of existence, before condensing into nothingness, a massive crater being the only sign of the battle.
"You caused massive property damage…ended the lives of hundreds of enemy soldiers…and over five hundred civilians."
They saw him freeze.
"…you're kidding."
The planet's leader stared him right in the eyes, almost looking disappointed in the young warrior.
"I don't kid, with the lives of civilians on my planet."
"Bullshit, I was told nobody clean was in there!"
"By whom?"
The youth grew cold. Even the King of Jupiter grew fearful for a moment, knowing that this youth could destroy his planet and nobody would be able to stop him, not even his planet's guardian Senshi.
"By the man next to me."
"General Carpenter, is this true?"
"Enders like them, sir, are not our people. I care not if they live or die. They were in the enemy camp, and thus they were nothing more than obstacles."
The King sighed.
"Very well General…Dismissed."
"You're going…to just let him walk away?"
"This matter does not concern you, Shinigami. Take your payment and go."
"You would attempt to condemn me for taking innocent lives, and yet you find the one who allowed such an order, and you simply let him be?"
"As I said, this matter-
"HORSESHIT! I don't care what you are, you're dealing with me now. And I don't play that bullshit."
"Mind your tone!"
It was then that they got a glimpse of him. His true nature. The reason why everyone, even monarchs feared his presence.
"…I see. No wonder everyone else considers this planet's people to be a bunch of vapor-brains."
"You dare-chhaaak"
His hand outstretched, the 'King' was lifted by his neck by an invisible force.
"King Derimus the Third…by the will of Tiamat, I sentence you to death, for your crime of being an unjust ruler, allowing a man who sees no problem with causing the deaths of anyone that isn't his planet's own people, when his job is to protect them to the best of his ability, a man who would willingly sacrifice anyone who wasn't born on this world without hesitation, to walk free without any form of punishment. For this, you shall die, and your people notified of your failings as ruler. Pray that you meet not my Lady in the afterlife."
With that, he clenched his hand into a fist, crushing the King's windpipe without a second thought. The guards did nothing, knowing that though they were meant to protect the king, one, they were against a being that even the Gods feared, and two, they all agreed that he had become unjust as of late. They dropped their weapons and bowed to their knees in front of that who would be their new ruler.
"Rise. I will not rule your people. You will find another, one better suited for Lordship than he, or I. You'd best find another General too."
They watched as the man's body was flung against a wall, pinned there by multiple black spears.
"here, you will die, slowly, painfully, for every death you have caused."
"What right have you to pass judgment Shinigami?! You have ended as many lives as I, if not more!"
"…"
He turned to the man, a calm, deadly look in his eyes.
"But until this day, I've not once ended the life of an innocent. That, and the will of the Lady Tiamat gives me the right to pass judgment upon you, and all like you."
"P-please…help her…"
He stood before a dead woman, child no more than a year old clutched in her arms. The voice of the woman filled his mind as her soul cried out during its passage. He gently pried the crying girl from the arms of her dead mother, silently poking a point on the girl's body with his finger, causing the red of her mother's blood to vanish into particles.
Gently he held the little girl, bouncing her slightly, to calm her. Her cries softened as her eyes opened and she beheld the man before her.
"I cannot take care of you little one…but I can see to it that you are safe."
The child just cooed at him, apparently interested in the strands of hair suspended above her. He offered a small smile at the girl, who giggled and grasped at his locks.
"Try not to pull too hard, they just might come out."
He dodged to the left. A massive fireball narrowly missing him. He rolled to the side, evading a giant orange furred paw as it crashed to the ground. For a moment, he contemplated cutting it, but thought better of it.
This beast is being controlled by another. Its eyes show a false madness…if I can just find how it is being controlled…
As if responding to his wish, the world became covered in lines. As it did, a big red circle appeared on the giant Fox Demon's forehead. The symbol itself had one point in its center, the source of the hypnosis.
I need but one shot.
Flinging his arm, a wave of ice appeared, forming into hundreds of little icicles. He launched them at the fox, watching as it roared in defiance. A wall of fire appeared from nowhere, blocking the frozen projectiles. Seconds later, a shockwave of air ripped through the sky as a razor sharp blade of wind rocketed towards Zero. His eyes widened as the world flickered again. Reacting quickly, he cut straight down, severing the ties the attack had to this world, barely protecting himself.
He threw on as much speed as he could, bobbing and weaving between walls of water, and spires of earth. He noted that the massive Nine-tails he was against could wield all elements as if they were nothing to it, but Fire seemed to be where it got the most creative.
He flung his arm out, materializing a spear of earth. Flicking his wrist, the object shot upwards, and then rocketed back down, aiming for the beast's head. It was deflected by a blast of air…but that was the distraction he needed. He took to the air, his wings fanning out behind him. He pulled his blade back, and rocketed forward, surprising the fox with his ability to fly. Before the fox could do anything, he was on its snout, slamming his blade into the point of the control symbol. The fox roared in agony as massive currents shot through its brain from the erasure of its control device.
Zero floated back, watching the beast stumble around in a haze of anguish.
Wait…what if…dammit I have to do something!
He sheathed his blade and began forming seals in the air. A symbol of the word "bind" appeared around his hand and he raced over to the now collapsed fox. He slammed his own seal on the center of the fox's back, watching as it worked its magic. The excess energies generated by the fox's tails began to be absorbed by the seal, and the kitsune was surrounded in a glow of golden light.
Zero backed off, watching, waiting.
When the glow faded, a nude girl lay on her side, in the exact position the fox did. Zero landed, his wings vanishing in a small pulse of light, as he slowly walked up to the girl. She groaned and rolled over, giving him a full view of her impressive looking chest. Reddish-orange strands were brushed aside as she covered her eyes, trying to block out the light of the sun. She opened one blurry eye as he crouched next to her. He saw the one open eye glow red for a while, before fading into a very light blue.
"So…I guess you're going to kill me now."
He tilted his head to the side.
"Why would I do that? You have been bested, your power contained by my seal. You are no threat to me or anyone else as long as that mark remains upon you."
"…you mean…"
"You are free to live life as a human. I could not seal all of your power however…seals aren't my specialty. I'd say you have the strength of a One-Tail now…still stronger than a normal human, but much more manageable. Plus, you look a lot better like this."
She either didn't notice she was naked, or rather, didn't care.
"Like what you see then?"
He felt his ears begin to heat up.
"Quite. I must say, though your bestial form was rather elegant, I didn't think your human form would turn out this…"
"Sexy?"
"Something like that."
The nude redhead sat up, her eyes now adjusted to the light.
"What…are you?"
He frowned and sighed. "I am…a being of a race that no longer exists. The last survivor of a people slaughtered for the sake of being there."
"I sense the God's touch upon you. Your eyes…the Eyes of the Death God…that is how you were able to break the control upon me."
"Yeah."
"Thank you…for everything."
"What will you do now?"
"I think…I'll go get used to this form. And then…I don't know. Maybe I'll join one of your human guilds."
"Indeed. If you do, tell them Xenmaru sent you. I believe they'll be much more helpful then."
She nodded.
My god's she's beautiful.
They saw him staring at Sailor Saturn, as she raised her glaive. They felt his fear, his anger, his desire, as he raced for her, to stop her from ending the world.
They felt his confusion as he evaded her strikes with the help of an unknown source. They felt his pain, his sorrow as he was struck down, the feeling that he'd failed.
And they felt his surprise as she kissed him, before the cleansing light enveloped both of them.
Emotions. Visions. Thoughts. Memories. They all flowed into their heads as they beheld the more prominent moments of his life as Zero Shinzaki. None of them understood why they were seeing this, let alone how. But they bore the visions, and beheld the power of the one called Shinigami.
Every night for the past three days, every time they fell asleep, their collective minds gathered in an unknown space, and they were treated to visions of his time living as the last survivor of his people.
Unbeknownst to them, he was seeing Hotaru's memories as well.
They could do naught but watch the many events that he lived through, seeing first hand, feeling what he felt. They thought it would end with the end of the life of Zero…but then it continued. They were shown images of his second life, as Kai. They watched as he watched Hotaru, back when Mistress Nine was still within her. How he blinked in confusion when she'd suddenly clutch her head, how he grew angered that others would scorn her when she'd help one, only to be feared and insulted.
They felt his desire to help her, kept in check by his knowledge that she was unstable, imbalanced in her powers, and they felt what he felt, the sorrow, the sheer hatred that he could do nothing for her, not without chancing his death.
It brought tears to her eyes, and a warm glow in even Setsuna's heart when they felt his desire to help her be overwhelmed by his desire to not cause her the pain of being the source of his end. They felt his resolve, that one day he would grow strong enough to help her…and they heard his internal prayers to any Deity that would listen, that she'd survive long enough for that day to come.
These images came faster than the ones before, however. Some of them consisting of single sentences and bursts of emotion. Such as when he learned that Mugen was destroyed, and that Hotaru had gone missing for a while. The relief that she was alright, even though her aura had shifted so much he barely recognized the girl that wore her face. They felt the pang of emotion that he did, when he saw her heal that boy, and the buildings of panic as she fled.
It was then, that they all realized something that Hotaru, and most recently Chibi-Usa had already learned.
He was still just a person. He had his doubts, his fears, and his problems just like the rest of them.
They felt his growing panic as he followed her rapidly fading trail. His joy as she accepted his offer to help her. Every hidden emotion he felt, they felt. Including his desire to maim Makoto for putting her in danger. The resolve in his heart when he had finally begun to remember everything, and decided to go back on his word, just once, to keep the one he felt himself falling for, safe.
They felt his fear at the pain Hotaru would feel if Michiru died from the assassin. His pure terror that the one who had wiped out the only home he once knew, was coming for this one. The sheer pure unintelligible fury that Setsuna would deny him the chance to protect this world. Their knees buckled as raw emotion filled their hearts, an unquenchable, unnamed level of feeling that made them all want to find the closest thing and slaughter it. A level of emotion so vast and pure, that no word in the human language could describe it other than a loud echoing bestial roar.
And then they all saw the elder Chibi-Usa. The current one just smiled, seeing herself in all her glory, seen from the perception of Zero. His internal conflict as his emotions and his natural hormones clashed, and then the solid wall that fell down around it all when he saw how pained Chibi-Usa was, suffering from Charon's Curse.
Again, they could naught but admire his resolve to willingly sacrifice himself to help her, even though part of him was raging at the thought he'd not be able to protect his love.
And then his desire to die. It brought them all to their knees at some point, when they felt the moments where for a while, much like anyone else in his position, he wanted to just give up. They themselves realized something very important.
He was doing it all alone.
Before Hotaru, he had nobody but his 'students.' And even then, it wasn't much. They realized that every success, every failure, and every event in between, was all done by him, and him alone. And they felt his deepest wish to change that. They felt that pure desire, and felt his resolve to simply accept his situation, until a time he could change it, and the pain that came with it.
It was then. It was at that moment that each and every one of them resolved to hold someone they cared about as soon as they woke up. To hold them and simply cherish the fact that they had someone to share their pain with, even if most of the people they cared about didn't know about their secret double lives, they would simply hold them.
Even Haruka found a great deal of respect for him as she watched these events. Knowing that she herself has died a few times, and suffered many things other haven't…even she realized that paled in comparison to what he went through.
And then they got to the moment they've all been wanting to know.
What the hell was in that scroll.
Only one learned anything from it though. For it was in a language that made no sense to them.
Chibi-Usa understood every word. Every symbol, every letter. She understood, and it terrified her. To learn what she did, to learn the history of an entire galaxy, to learn the end of a people so intricately…that morning she would wake up so scared that her inner Light fired off a Moonbeam without her life being in danger.
It would be that act that brought them all together, including the suddenly healed Ami, who apparently had been unconscious through the entire three day period, and was visited by Zero and one of his students to properly heal her nose.
As an added note, she'd muse to the others upon their gathering, the two seemed to have over-charged the spell used, and ended up clearing up all of her remaining acne problems, as well as permanently clearing her sinuses. It had been so charged with raw intent that her body captured and replicated the patterns used, and is now cycling it through her body, clearing any impurities that could be fixed, and setting the rest into reserves in case of need.
And finally, they saw his second encounter with the future Senshi. They saw how the future Hotaru reacted to him, how just by looking at her, he almost completely erased all those years of suffering she went through, rekindling her love for him just by letting his true feelings be shown. They watched as he basically gave her the right and drive to erase the world for her love.
And when the visions ended. When they finally caught up to the moment before he did whatever it was he did…
They gathered. And waited.
Helping Hotaru
Chapter XI:
Is a Willingly Forced Unison Truly Forced?
The Effects of Synchronicity.
"…what do we do?"
"About him? I don't know…"
"Was…" Makoto stared at the ground. "Was that all true?"
Hotaru nodded. "I've been in his head before. I've seen a couple of those things, mostly the ones of Kai…but yes, all of it was real."
"How…how did he…" Michiru was baffled.
"Whatever he intended to do to me…must have reached out to all of you as well."
"Wait what?"
They turned to the roof where he was perched. Not even Hotaru had felt him arrive.
"Ka-…Zero-kun."
He dropped down, leaning next to a tree. "Run that by me again?"
Setsuna spoke for them. "She said that whatever you did, effected all of us."
He sighed. "I guess that's to be expected then…"
"Why? What did you do?" Ami had once again brought a pad and paper. She blushed slightly at the smile he sent her way.
"How's that nose doing?"
"Quite well thank you. You seem to have cleared my skin, and my sinuses too."
He tilted his head. "Huh…must have pushed too hard…"
"Ka- Zero. Could you…?"
"Right right…Synchronicity Chain…it's…a method. To link two minds as one. See, a link like that already existed between me and Hotaru, one of affection. But I needed her to understand what was going on. The thing is…Synchronicity Chains…they're meant to happen naturally, when two minds are united as one. When I forced one on the two of us, I guess because it wasn't natural, her connection as a Senshi to you all must have dragged you all along with it. I only saw Her life…but I guess because of your bonds, you all saw mine."
Chibi-Usa shivered. "Nii-san…was all that…did she really…"
"You…were able to read it?"
She nodded.
"Yeah. Four galaxies…two of them by herself. The third weakened her…because people almost beat her. And the fourth…was mine."
"That's why…"
"That's why I was so horrified to find out she was coming. She found a way here, and now she's coming to devour this planet as well. I can't let that happen…but you…you're all still too weak…although…"
The biggest problem, he'd found, was that they were too singular. They didn't have many area of effect attacks, abilities that could cover a wide range. Not to mention, they weren't properly in tune with their elements…save for maybe Michiru, who regularly swam.
He spent a few seconds, staring right at Ami, who still had a rather fierce blush on her face.
"Wh-what?"
He just tilted his head, mind running through multiple scenarios, casting around for as much information as he'd gathered, as he'd learned from Hotaru, and the memories he'd ended up gaining.
Lemme see…I might…just be…
He stepped over to her, holding out a hand. He still had a somewhat blank look on his face. She hesitantly took it, and he pulled slightly. She rose to her feet, Zero still holding her hand in his, staring at her. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
Immediately Ami flinched. She felt an unusual feeling in the back of her head.
"Don't fight. I have to figure something out."
She nodded and tried her best to relax. The odd tingling now spread, encompassing her entire brain. Zero's hand began to glow a frosty blue. Not long after, the tingling faded, but Zero's hand was still glowing.
He stepped back slightly, opening his eyes, now the same blue as his hand.
"Aqua Mirage, huh?"
The blue glow spiraled around his hand, forming into a solid orb of water.
"let's see."
He threw the orb down, the water ball breaking apart, before forming into spirals of water around his body. He raised his hand, where the spirals converged and turned into a miniature twister, a glowing ice blue sphere in the center. He pointed at a nearby tree, and the sphere pulsed with light, before the twister broke apart into hundreds of small streams of water, which all rocketed to the tree. He twisted his wrist, and suddenly the streams of water were tipped with ice. The now ice missiles slammed into the tree, coating its trunk. Everyone gasped as he replicated and then changed Sailor Mercury's ultimate attack.
"Not bad…damage is good…but…"
He turned to the group. "Your two major weaknesses are your lack of Area attacks, and your lack of full control over your elements."
"How did you-
"The same way I did it before. That scroll basically unlocked me fully, almost permanently. I had to…take a bit…to re-align myself. While I'm not as strong with them all, I have full control over all elements. Not as powerful with them as specialists, but I have something they might not, Imagination. I can get creative."
Ami went back to jotting it all down.
"You said we need Area attacks…like what?"
"Something that could maybe clear out this entire clearing in one shot, preferably with little energy drain on the caster but…I won't hold my breath for that."
"We've got plenty of those!"
"Maybe together. I know some of you can easily merge elements and make some pretty interesting combinations, but those combinations require two or more of you to be around at once, and have sufficient energy levels, AND be unoccupied."
He was right. It was a major weakness.
"Ami, that attack of yours, it has some serious potential."
"Thank you."
"It needs work though. That little twist I did at the end, I want you to be able to do. You have two elements, with a higher specialty in Ice over Water. Same with some of you as well. I know at least Makoto has moderate control over wood, which is a part of Nature, which is a sub element of Wind, but her main is Electricity, which is a sub element of Earth. So…if I want this world…let alone myself, to survive…I have to train you. All of you."
Haruka swallowed her pride, and rather than refuting, brought up a good point. "Do we even have enough time for that?"
"There's always time to train. Nobody said training was only exercising yourself, or your powers. To ponder, can be another method of training. Zero-…I…didn't get as strong and as skilled as I did just practicing. No, I thought, I pondered scenarios, possibilities…and then I practiced."
Hotaru remembered that this was one of the fundamentals of her training with him. She blinked and suddenly the tree that was covered in ice, shattered, toppling. Zero whirled around, sphere of…something…in his hand. He saw the shattered tree, and traced the faint line of power back to Hotaru.
"…since when can you do that?"
"Uhh…" She blinked, not realizing the significance of what she just did.
"Because that was a very very high ranking skill. Most people don't reach that level, and I'm certain you didn't have that much control, let alone precision, last time I tested you."
"I dunno…I just…wanted to break that thing…for the hell of it."
"Sweet merciful crapshit…that's one of my tricks. You just sent a telekinetic pulse to the tree, without interacting with anything but the tree! Do you know how long it takes most psychics to even start considering such a possibility?"
"Years?"
"Decades." He just looked at her, and shook his head. "Yeah…I definitely need to train you guys…" He looked away, thinking for a moment.
"Alright. Here's what's what. You're all going to come back here tomorrow. Every one of you. Then, I'll give you the stuff you need."
They all nodded. "I've got…preparations to make. I'll see you all later."
Chibi-Usa piped up. "When?!"
"Uhh…" The next day was a Sunday, so no school. "Noon. I might be a bit early, I might be a bit late, but no more than ten minutes either way."
Nods again. He turned and left, muttering to himself before vanishing in a sudden distortion of air, that strange loud ripping noise echoing.
The next day, he'd arrived, just as promised. He came bearing-
"You want us to watch anime?!"
"Not just anime. I've brought a few Manga, and normal books and movies as well. You have to realize girls, you're horribly limiting yourselves by sticking only to your pre-gained attacks. Sure you can manipulate your elements some ways, but look at Haruka, without her Space Sword she's only got one move, and that's a big ball of wind that just so happens is already infused with enough destructive force to do something other than push someone around! And what happens if you run into someone who's immune to, or has better control of the winds than you do? You get killed, that's what."
He had an irritated glare on his face, his eyes were duller, tired.
"Zero-nii…did you stay up all night getting this stuff?"
"Not…all night…" He said softly. He was tired, and he knew it. Emotionally, physically…the Synchronicity Chain left him a lot more drained than he let on.
"Hang on a second." Minako looked around. "Where's Mistress Nine?"
Zero blinked. "Kyu? She's off with Kouji. Her main's darkness, and he's much better at wielding it than I am." Except under…specific circumstances…
Minako nodded, appeased by the information. Zero walked around the group, levitating over the objects he found specific to them, explaining all the while. "You're not just watching this stuff for the sake of watching it. In it, a good majority of characters, if not just the main, utilize the element you embody to a very interesting extent.
"Static…Shock?" "An American cartoon. It's actually very good, especially later on when he starts using his power to do all sorts of awesome." Makoto looked skeptical. "Ok, can you create a dome of electricity around you that effectively cancels out nearly any physical attack by way of deflecting it due to an arc of energy that shoots out seconds before impact and knocks it away?" Her eyes widened.
"Similarly, can you levitate objects, or even power them up just by channeling your inner electricity to your hands?"
"I get it, I get it…I'll watch." Besides…he looks kinda cute anyway.
"Thought so." "Why do I get the one called Witch Hunter?" Rei was uncertain, not wanting to accuse Zero of insulting her religion, but at the same time…
"Because Robin, the main character, is a Pyrokinetic. And halfway through the show, she gets an upgrade. She's not as flashy as I'm gonna end up teaching you to be…but when one can stop bullets by insta-melting them before they even get close, without pulling up any form of shield or anything, simply willing it to happen at the very second you think it got too close…"
Rei's eyes widened as well. "I can do that?" "Maybe. It's all up to you."
Hearing the things he was saying, the girls all now had a much stronger resolve to study these materials.
"The first thing you have to do is get in tune with your element, or elements if you have multiples. Light, dark, water, earth, fire, wind, whatever it is, you have to feel that element. You all use your elements in your daily lives, so it won't change much, it's just now, you have to notice them. It'll be hard at first, but it'll happen much sooner than you think. And when it does, and you've been doing it for a while, you'll wonder how you ever fought or did anything without that feeling."
Hotaru looked at him. "What about me?"
He looked at her, and she stifled a gasp.
Until that point she never realized just how much he loved her, but she could feel it now. She felt how just hearing her voice seemed to restore his energy some, how just locking eyes with her gave him strength.
"You've got all the training you need love…you just need refinement." Hotaru nodded.
"Well…there…is a long term thing you can do."
Everyone stopped at his hesitation…or what they thought was hesitation.
"What?"
"Become them." He pointed his thumb back at the other Senshi.
"I…what?"
"Hotaru…you're Sailor Saturn. Saturn embodies destruction and creation, Death and rebirth. Saturn represents Chaos."
She stared at him, as did the others. To them, Chaos was a tangible force that they'd tangled with.
"E-explain."
"Chaos is everything. Its in life, it's in death, it's in the air we breathe, it's in the water that sustains our bodies. We are Chaos. I won't get into the details, but suffice it to say, our existence, the things we can do, how we are alive…it doesn't make sense. Technically, it shouldn't be possible, we shouldn't be alive. But we are. That, is a Chaos in itself. Our very existence is a contradiction to everything our people have claimed as truth. It's discord, our existence. And you, my love have been touched by a demon. A very being who represents the negative half of Chaos. For years she bonded to your soul, feeding off your life, tainting your energies. Not only that but you are Sailor Saturn, the very embodiment of existence itself, able to cut the threads of life for an entire solar system, eradicating all within, including yourself."
He took her hands in his, noting she was shaking. He was scaring her, hell he was scaring all of them…save for Chibi-Usa.
She was the only one who'd fully come to terms of what she was, what she'd done. She understood, and she accepted it.
"As Sailor Saturn is such a destructive force…what prohibits her from accessing the other elements of the universe? Destruction comes in many forms, so what's stopping you from snapping your fingers and having something burst into flame? Or possibly creating a vortex with winds so strong it can shear metal? Or such a high pressured water blast you could carve mountains?"
She looked at him in awe. "You've…spent a lot of time thinking about this…haven't you?"
"The Sailor Senshi are supposed to be protectors of the galaxy, right? If so, then why the hell are they so damn weak?! And I realized, it's not the Senshi that are weak. It's the people who are the Senshi. Ignorance, belief, thought-it clouds the mind, it limits what such powerful magical warriors are capable of. Think about it, if you had the proper control over your destructive self, do you really think you would have to die with your spell, every time you cast it? Don't you think you'd have found a way around that part?"
She looked him dead in the eye. "…why?"
He knew what she meant, and he sighed, the tiredness coming back, this time for all to see. "Because…I don't want to lose you. And you're tied to them…and if they're weak…you're at risk. And if one of them died…I know a part of you would die too."
She just stared at him, smiling softly. "Somehow…you make the most morbid things sound so sweet."
"It's the tru-
His senses screamed danger. He was so focused on them that he didn't keep an active guard around the area. Something was here, something powerful. It was hidden from sight, hidden from even sound, but he'd felt it. The distortion that came along with anyone who was around Mother.
The feeling of hundreds of dead planets and stars, cast into the abyss by a single hand.
His sentence cut off as information raged through his mind. A massive spiked object was heading straight for Ami. In the blink of an eye, he'd wrenched his hands away from Hotaru's, blurring over to Ami and wrapping his arms around her before whirling the two of them around.
Ami's cheeks flared as her body stiffened in surprise, only for both of them to go flying towards a tree as the giant mace slammed into Zero's back. He stifled a yell of pain and settled for a loud agonized grunt as the two of them landed next to Hotaru.
The others called out to the two of them, shocked, as trails of red began streaming down Zero's back.
"Awe hell I wanted to kill that one." A giant lizard-like being holding a spiked metal ball on a long chain materialized at the stairs. Ami and Zero slowly stood, Zero still clutching Ami as if their lives depended on him holding her.
"Bwahahaha! Don't matter, I'll take you all out eventually!"
The lizard roared with laugher, which stopped when they all felt a strange force emanating from Zero.
Berserk…even…even though he's the weakest…we're…they're not ready…
His body began slumping, his hands losing their grip on her shoulders, and sliding down her chest. Ami's eyes widened as she felt Zero's energy start fading.
Why…am I…so tired…suddenly? It's…it's not poison…then…
He seemed to wobble, Ami's arms now catching around his torso, holding him to her, her hands now wet with blood.
…they…can't win…we…we need…
help.
He fell unconscious, just after his hand seemed to stabilize upon Ami's breast…before dropping.
Unknown to him, his subconscious mind, charged by the power and knowledge within the single scroll that had survived over a millennia after his world's destruction, was already at work.
The reason for his energy loss was apparent to everyone else, as the seal of Chaos materialized beneath his feet for a brief moment. Pressure seemed to build in the area, as soon as he fell unconscious, slumping in Ami's arms.
Blue eyes snapped open, turning blood red.
It's time.
A body was engulfed in raging fire.
(BGM: Disgaea 2 - Disgaea Rhapsody)
A circle appeared in the center of the grounds before the Shrine. Nine glowing points appeared on the circle, before lines connected them, forming a nine pointed star. The star seemed to rotate for a few moments, before a massive pillar of fire erupted from the array.
The pillar receded, and in its place was a massive dark brownish-orange furred fox.
With nine tails whipping around.
The contract had been completed. His blood and desire combined, activating the seal on their unspoken contract.
He would call, and she would answer.
And answer she did, a mighty roar tearing through the air as the beast stared down the large lizard-demon-man. A second roar, and the air became engulfed in heavy black particles. The fox beast had summoned a modified Reality Marble.
Berserk stared at the beast, shocked as all hell.
"Damn you're big…" He smirked, thinking this would be simple.
He never was the smart one of the group.
He pulled his arm back, swinging the chain around his head, before sending the ball flying at the beast's eye. A loud clang rang through, as the ball collided with a wall of solidified air, before the beast roared again, calling forth a torrent of electricity to run down the chain, rooting itself in Berserk's body. He shivered for a while, as heavy bolts coursed through his frame, before pulling the chain back, ending the connection. The beast stepped forward, its massive paw crashing down on Berserk, who rolled out of the way just in time, only to be met with a burst of flame that came out of nowhere, as one of the tails twitched.
"Holy crap!" Minako exclaimed. "That's the Kitsune from his memories!"
Hotaru turned to her blonde friend. "How can you tell?"
"Look at it! It's flicking around elements like nobody's business!"
It was true. The beast would swipe at Berserk, only to just narrowly miss. Berserk would strike, only to be blocked by barrier or tail, and get hit with an element. Balls of water, pillars of flame, even small concentrated blasts of air were launched. Vines appeared out of nowhere, binding him before he was engulfed in searing hot waves. He was being whittled down, his arrogance and foolish initiative leading to an early demise. But he kept fighting. The Senshi stayed back, not wanting to be seen as enemies, not knowing how, or why the Kitsune was summoned.
Except for Ami. She clutched the bleeding Zero to her chest, Hotaru unable to get to her because of the distance, and not wanting to get caught in the cross-fire between demon and spirit. Tears ran freely down Ami's eyes. He was alive, that was sure, but he was weakened horribly. She felt her hands tingle, as his back seemed to become slicker. She felt around, noting that the wounds seemed smaller, and realized he must have been healed somehow.
But it wasn't enough.
She could hear the sounds of the one-sided battle, even if it was dragging on longer as Berserk stopped being a total moron, and began fighting with moderate intelligence.
But it wasn't enough.
For the first time in her life, she truly felt rage.
For the first time in her life, she wanted something dead. No, deader than dead. She wanted it erased.
He was right… She thought. We only get in his way. As we are, we only get him hurt…we only put him at risk. He does everything alone…because nobody else can keep up with him…because everyone else is too weak, or too slow, or too anything that he isn't.
But he doesn't just leave them behind. He slows down so they can catch up…even if it puts him in danger.
That…thing…hurt him. He hurt Zero…he hurt My Zero…Our Zero…
She realized where her thoughts were going.
Why…why do I care so much about him? The others aren't affected like this…save for maybe Chibi-Usa…but she sees him as an older brother…
Why is it…that I feel like Hotaru does? I barely know him…even with that memory trade.
…Maybe…it's because he was the first, outside of my friends, my fellow Senshi…he was the first guy to actually look at me that way…without being some sort of ploy to get to the Senshi…because…he would smile…that smile he saved for Hotaru…he would smile it at me…
and now…he's hurt because of me…
She either completely forgot how he damn near shattered her nose for good, or put it so far behind her it didn't matter anymore. None the less, she clutched him closer to her…nobody noticing the soft frosty glow around her body.
He's done so much for everyone…and I got him hurt. And now, not even Hotaru can help him…not as long as that thing is still here.
Her emotions flared up again, anger bursting through.
I want it gone. I want Zero to be healthy again…but…it needs to go. It needs to die. Now.
She opened her eyes, feeling tingles all over her body. She saw how Berserk was on his last legs, but still fighting strong. The kitsune now had a few marks on it, very light grazes, but damage all the same. That it could be damaged, even lightly, spurred Berserk on. Which in turn, lit up the cold blue flame of rage within Ami's heart. She grasped onto it, feeling the tingles in her body flare even further, until it felt like her entire body was covered in frost. She slowly released her right hand from Zero's body, holding it up as she felt the tingling course to it.
Hotaru was the first to notice the change. She felt something powerful start radiating from where Zero was, and it didn't feel like him. Her eyes widened as Ami's hand slowly rose over her head, a frosty blue mist swirling around her arm, gathering over the palm of her hand. She watched in surprise and shock as the symbol of Mercury appeared on the elder girl's forehead, blazing with pure light. The mist seemed to solidify into multiple razor sharp looking icicles.
She's…calling her element outside of Senshi form?!
It was then that Hotaru understood what Zero meant. He wanted them to be like her. He wanted the rest of the Senshi to be able to at least slightly do something with their elements outside of their transformed states, much like Hotaru.
The kitsune sensed the buildup of energy, and the feeling of rage directed at the creature she fought. She sensed the connection between her unconscious summoner, and the one calling forth such power. A slight bob of her head was all the warning Berserk received, before her tails flicked and once again, vines wrapped around his form. He struggled, ripping a few apart, but then metal chains materialized as well, their blazing heat searing into his scales, holding him in place.
Ami saw this, and let her hatred loose. Her words, and her actions would serve as the turning point for her Senshi allies. Their attention was ripped to her, as she yelled.
"JUST DIE YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT!"
With that, she slammed her hand forward, the icicles hovering over it rocketing off like missiles. The ice lances spiraled through the air, crashing into Berserk from all sides, each strike not only impaling him, burrowing through scale, flesh, and bone, but coating him in a sheet of ice, freezing his body from both inside and out.
Ami's hand flicked up again, as energy shot to it, forming an ice blue orb of power above her palm. The world tinted blue for a moment, as the light gathered. She closed a fist around it, pulling her arm back as if she were about to punch something, before launching the orb forward. The sphere raced to where Berserk stood frozen, crashing into it, before detonating in a whirlwind of biting cold. The detonation shattered Berserk's form, the pieces braking into particles, before turning into glowing wisps.
The glow faded from around her body, as she panted, eyes still narrowed in a glare that none of her friends had seen her take. The kitsune stepped forward, glowing, shrinking, taking the Reality Marble with it. The moving glow continued until it was just in front of Ami, shrinking to around her height, and now forming into a human shape. When the glow faded, the girls got a look at exactly who it was Zero had unknowingly summoned.
It was the red-headed girl from his memories. The very girl who was once a raging Kitsune.
The girl was clad in little, a blood red bikini top, a black and red checkered skirt with black lace trim, and a pair of red sandals. Her hair was long, reaching down to her knees. She hadn't cut it in forever, knowing she needed to, but never having the chance. As the Senshi raced over to Ami, she reached out a hand to Zero.
"May I?"
Ami looked at the girl, glare slowly fading. Her instincts told her she could trust this girl. She nodded, and the redhead held up a hand, blazing red with flame. She swept it over Zero's form quickly, as a distortion of energy appeared not far from the Shrine.
"Holy hell what happened here?!"
Everyone glanced back to see Mistress Nine, or Kyu, as Zero called her. The redhead spoke. "Demon attack. One of the Quarter Knights, if I'm not mistaken."
"Who the hell is she? Who the hell are you?!"
"My name is Kira. Master Zero summoned me here before he fell unconscious due to his wounds. His cry for help completed the unspoken contract we made millennia ago." The glow from her hands faded, as she stood from kneeling before Ami, scanning Zero's whole body.
"He's lucky he constantly keeps a low-grade barrier up at all times. If he didn't…well…his spine would have broken from the impact. As it is, he just has a couple cracked ribs. He'll be sore for a while, but if we can find a healer, we might be able to speed up his recovery."
"I can heal." Hotaru stepped forward. Kira tilted her head, sniffing the air. "Odd…you're bathed in his scent…but I don't smell sex upon either of you."
Hotaru blushed. "I…well…we…"
"Oh…I see. I read about those. Something about a mental chain, if I recall. I assume you're his mate then."
She blushed heavier. "Well…I don't know if I'd put it like that…"
Kira dismissed the stuttered claim. "But if that's the case, why is her scent on him as well?"
Everyone looked at Ami. "Blood maybe?"
"No no, it's his scent. Not the scent of his blood, or body. But the scent of his soul, his essence. It's not as strong, but it coats you, and the little one as well."
"One of three Senshi I respect…'" Ami muttered.
"Well I've been in his mind before…and Hotaru's his girlfriend…I don't know about Ami though.
"It doesn't matter right now. Hotaru…was it? You said you could heal him? I'd like it if you did that now, before the damage gets any worse. His wounds seem to be covered in some sort of barrier though…almost like ice."
Ami gasped. "Oh…I must have done that somehow…"
"That and other things! That was crazy! How did you do that?!"
"I…I don't really know. I just…was so…angry…that all we do…all we do is put him in danger. I wanted that to change…I wanted…to be useful. And I wanted that thing gone. It hurt him…and I wanted it dead in return…I…does that make me a bad person?"
Kira shook her head, watching Hotaru work, beating the smaller girl to the punch. "No, it doesn't. It makes you human. I've noticed, it's a common trait in humans to want people to suffer for harming their mates, or loved ones. Considering that you were up against a Demon, that's actually a very good stance to have. While not all demons are evil, or even intentionally negative, anyone under her rule most likely is."
"Alright…I closed the holes…but…I don't know if I got his ribs." Kira's hand flared up again, as she passed it over. "They seem a fair bit better. A day or so of rest and restraint should have them back to full strength."
Haruka was suspicious. "How do you know so much?"
"The seal he used. Either he intended it, or he used the first one he could think of, it bound our souls together. The seal was originally used to form a contract with a spirit or person, binding two lives upon the same thread of fate. Because he did it selflessly, to keep me from dying, the seal reacted, and bound me to him. After he left, I found that I was stronger than even he thought, and looked into it. It took a few years, and having the world restart was a definite setback, but I found information on it. I pledged my life to his, because he saved me when he could have let death claim me, and take with it a powerful destructive force. So, I made the contract with him, and it wasn't until now that he finally accepted, when his soul cried for help before he dropped. I must say…I may have had a hand in his current state…for the contract to activate, it takes a large amount of energy from both parties, the summoner, to act as a beacon, and the summoned, to forcibly manifest in whatever realm or location the summoner is. That energy is usually restored the second the agreed contract is completed…but I guess he was too tired anyway, or he should have at least been conscious for some of it."
She shook her head. "We can discuss this when he wakes. For now, let us get him somewhere comfortable."
He found himself waking in the middle of the night. He stretched his senses out frantically, not knowing if he was safe or in danger. A figure walked up to him, giving off a feeling of peace.
"Calm yourself Master, you're safe."
"Who are you?!" He didn't recognize the voice. He fought down his building panic, it would seem the earlier injuries did more damage to his mind, than his body.
"I am Kira, Master. I am a friend. Your ice maiden and child-sister are fine, as is your mate, and your allies."
Ice maiden? Wait…Ami?
"What…happened?"
"You summoned me, Master. Your spilt blood, and cries for help solidified our contract, made lifetimes ago."
"Contract…wait…you're that kitsune aren't you?"
"Indeed I am, Master. I am now bound to you. Such says our contract."
"I…I'm confused."
"Rest, master. You have not fully recovered from your injuries, your mind, it seems, needs to restore itself as well. Sleep, knowing your allies and love are safe."
"I…yeah…Kira…how did…we win?"
"I fought the Demon, Master. However it was your Ice Maiden that delivered the final blow. She conjured missiles of frost at the demon, before shattering him like glass. You should be proud of her, Master. She did so out of rage, and love for you."
"…Love…?"
"She loves you, much like how your Mate does. But that is a conversation for later. Rest, Master. I will stand by your side should you need me."
"…thanks…"
She felt her bond-mate fall back to the land of dreams. Her hand flicked out, brushing a strand of hair from his still pained face. "I am more than happy to do it…Master."
A/N: Man, it's been a while. Like usual, I'm cranking this out before work. It's not the best, but it shows a little bit as to how Zero lived, before the reincarnation. Kai and Zero have almost fully merged now. Just a little longer, and he'll be one being again.
Now, the Senshi's training begins. I wonder how that'll turn out, especially since Mother has lost one of her knights now.
Taeniaea: As you can see, he reversed the damage with help from a friend. And now, she's basically completely fallen for him. Hoo boy, Zero just gets all the ladies doesn't he?