She stood at the roof of the building. Nobody noticed she'd slipped past security, nobody saw her near the ledge. Nobody cared.
She had no friends, her family basically ignored her existence, denied her right to live.
Or so she believed.
The truth was that she had many people who cared for her. But they did so in a way just beneath her notice. Her family wanted her happiness, but could not tell what was going on in her head. And she declined speaking with them, for she was certain they would not understand.
She was correct, but she could have at least tried.
In her eyes, nobody wished to see the person she became, nobody noticed who she was, or cared even for her name. As such, she decided living such a life, one where you were invisible, even to people staring right at you, wasn't worth it.
She decided to end it all.
"Hey."
A voice behind her made her flinch, she whirled around in surprise. She thought she'd evaded everyone! No, not thought, knew. She made her actions perfect! No human could have seen her, no camera detecting her movements!
"You sure you wanna do that?"
The man before her appeared, familiar. She didn't know him, but she felt like she should recognize him. She just stared, nodding gently.
"Why?"
The tone of his voice, the tilt of his head…but mostly the fact that he was THERE was what gave her pause. He'd asked her why. For a moment, hope bloomed in her heart, but she crushed it violently. He didn't care, he was just filling his duty. He must have noticed her coming up and picking the lock to the roof.
"…nobody cares." She muttered.
Surprising her, he simply nodded. What? Where were the words of false assurance? Where were the words that claimed opposite?
"Wondering why I'm not trying too hard to stop you?" He asked. She nodded, genuinely confused.
"It's your life. I've got no control over you. All I want is to make sure that's really what you want. You say nobody cares, and while I don't believe you, I believe that you believe that to be true. And thus, it doesn't matter what I think, because I'm not you."
Her eyes widened. Here he was, refuting her words…but accepting her choice? He questioned her like the others, but didn't push his opinion…how odd.
"If you're sure that's what you want to do, I'm not going to get in your way. If you believe there's nothing worth living for, and this is to be your true wish, then go ahead."
Confusion filled her. Why wasn't he stopping her? He was there…isn't it his duty to stop her? Wasn't that what everyone was raised with? But yet here he was, doing nothing. Just casually speaking with her, showing interest, but not determination to keep her from her desire.
"Why?" It was her turn to ask.
"Why not?" Was his answer.
She stared at him.
And then she smiled.
"You're weird."
He shrugged, grinning slightly.
"You're still going to do it though."
Her smile faded, and she nodded.
"No hesitation…alright. There's nothing I can do to stop you then. This is your wish. But…"
Here it comes. She thought to herself. Now he's going to stop her.
"You can't find meaning in life…so how would you like meaning in Death?"
She stared at him, confused. That didn't make sense.
"There's something going on. Something big. You've seen it on the news, the monster attacks. We…that is the Sailor Senshi and I, can possibly stop it…but they aren't strong enough, and I'm not powerful enough on my own. I need their help."
She nodded hesitantly. "…where do I come in?"
"Do you remember those monsters making glowing gems come out of people's chests?"
She nodded again. Something like that was in her mind.
"Well, they're called Pure Heart Crystals. I need a few of those to put my plan into action, but I'm not a big enough asshole to just yank them out of people. So I'm going around 'collecting' them from people on the edge of death. People like you."
"…you want mine?"
"It's up to you. I can put a seal on you that will extract it and transport it to me when you die…I just figured if you couldn't find a meaning to living, maybe I could give you a meaning in death. You could be wrong about what you believe you know, but it's what you believe, and I have no right to refute that…too much at least."
She said nothing, just staring at the strange man speaking strange things.
"…nobody cared…and then you came along. But you don't try to stop me. You're going to let me kill myself…and you're offering me a reason to die."
"I know it sounds weird. I'd offer you a reason to live, but you already seem resolved to this. Plus, I wouldn't have the time to train you up to be able to fight. At the very least, I can drill it into the minds of those who rejected you that not only did they drive you to this, but if it weren't for me, and your choice, your death would have been meaningless."
"…they don't understand. They don't want to understand. They just want…what they want."
"That's people for you. For what it's worth, I'm sorry you didn't find the right person to accept you until now."
She nodded. "…you want to save the world?"
"Well…more like I want it not to end. Someone I care about is going to be fighting to save the world, and I want her to live."
She nodded again. She understood. She walked over to him.
"Do it."
"You're sure? You still seek Death?"
She nodded. "But…at least this way…I'll know I was useful for something."
As he 'drew' the seal, he spoke.
"I'm sorry you felt this way. I really am. I know how it feels to an extent. I won't say I know your pain because your pain is yours, not mine. But I know something similar. And I'm sorry you have to feel like you can only be useful as a tool…and only in death. For what it's worth…I wish you the best in your next life."
She nodded and the seal was complete.
"You can still turn back."
She shook her head, standing on the edge.
"I don't have any reason to live. I have nothing here. But your words…your intent, it makes me feel full, for some reason. I feel like…I'm worth something. And I'm happy…for the first time in so long, I feel happy."
She turned back to him. "Thank you."
He wanted to close his eyes. He wanted to look away. But he didn't. To do so would be to deny her. As she fell, she had a smile on her face. He would watch. He would acknowledge her existence, and curse the unnamed fools who drove her to such lengths.
He got the tool he needed to save the world, but it came at the cost of a pure soul. As the glowing red crystal gently rose to the roof of the building, resting softly in his hands, he shook his head.
But he would not cry.
Not yet.
Helping Hotaru
Division by Zero
All over Japan, people saw it.
High above the planet, a glowing star had appeared. As the days passed, it grew brighter and brighter, scientists and meteorologists alike launching their own investigations.
The public was informed. The 'star' was a giant ship, surrounded by some sort of energy field. On the suggestion of Sailor Pluto, whom had met with Japan's leaders, it was revealed to the public that it was due to that strange celestial object, the monsters kept coming. They were informed that no human weapon would be able to destroy it but the Senshi were devising a method to do so long before it even appeared.
Panic had been averted, but only just. The Senshi weren't horribly loved after it was revealed half a year ago that they attacked an innocent teenager based on false pretences. Zero, back then as Kai, had done a good job vaguely leaking the tale, with Hotaru's help. Their credibility had dropped immensely, only die-hard Senshi fans believing them to have done the right thing regardless.
It had been now a week since the failed attempt made by Zero, to reduce Hotaru's lingering guilt and then finalize the Senshi's training. The Pure Heart Crystal retrieved from the girl Miranda still shined brightly, hovering over his slowly reconstructing form.
He had nothing left. Those demons had taken everything from him. His wife, his brother, his two children.
They died in the attack on the Mall, killed before the Crimson Knight could save them. He was the only one who survived, because he was late. It was pure luck…
Or to him, a curse of Fate.
He knelt before a picture of his family. Before him, resting on a soft pillow was a small blade. A sword, passed down through generations of family. He would take this blade, and plunge it through his heart, meeting his family on the other side.
Why would he stay? He had nothing.
"This is your wish?"
He whirled around. A man was in his home? How did he-
"You wish to die here? Alone?"
The concern in his voice startled the man, his grey eyes turning back to their sad state.
"I have nothing. Those…things…killed my family…my children."
"Yeah. They do that. Asshats."
The man absently nodded, grief once again overtaking him.
"So you wish to die…to join them?"
He nodded again.
"Very well."
"…you will not stop me?"
"You have noble reasons. You feel you have failed to protect that which you care for. And that blade…while there is a market for them, something tells me you're not the type to just buy it for decoration. You inherited that, didn't you? You plan on honorably taking your own life. I can respect that. I can understand your choice. I do not agree, of course, but it is not my life. It is yours."
"You are a good man, stranger. Unusual, but good."
"As it is, your death would mean something to you, and you alone. To the world, you would be just another nameless person committing ritualistic suicide. Lamented only in word, not by emotion. But…"
He would not be denied.
"How would you like revenge?"
His eyes widened, as he beheld the man before him.
"I am of a group who is planning on ending the threat that ended the lives of your family. We are not strong enough on our own, but I believe you can give us something we need to gain that strength."
"I am not giving you my soul."
The other man smiled. "No…you get to keep your soul." His eyes then blinked. "…I think. Honestly I don't know what those bloody things are…look, it would take forever to train you up to the point where battle would be easy for you, and even then you would, no offense, be useless against the ringleader."
The kneeling man nodded, to tell him to continue.
"But you possess something known as a Pure Heart Crystal. I can place a seal on your body that, upon your death, will extract the crystal. And with that, I can use it to help increase our chances at destroying this threat."
"…and that would grant me revenge, how?"
"Your crystal would be put to use to eradicate the very demons that took your family, and effectively ended your life. Revenge from beyond the grave, a tactic that dark forces such as theirs love to employ. Poetic, is it not?"
"You…can succeed where I failed?"
"Yes. And I can make sure your name and family go down in history, so you will not be forgotten."
"It is not glory I seek."
"It need not be. If you seek vengeance, then I can give it. If I could train you, and through that be certain of our chances, I would. But I cannot."
"You would still permit me an honorable death then."
"You who have nothing to your name, no family to claim you, no love to sustain you; there will be honor in your end."
The man nodded, turning around and grabbing his blade.
"Place your seal, sorcerer. I will grant you what strength I can."
He watched the man pierce his own heart, blood spraying. He calmed the man as he panicked, the last unconscious desire to survive ripping through his body. He spoke his promise, and watched the life drain from the broken man.
But the man died peacefully. He died with honor in his heart.
He took the crystal that gently float upwards from the still warm body, and bowed in respect.
"This isn't right…" Mercury whispered.
It was silent around them. Other than the weak sounds of machinery and the sizzling of electricity running through currents above them, it was quiet. There were no monsters, the clanking of their heels against the metal ground creating an eerie atmosphere.
"She's got a point." Uranus mentioned. "We should have encountered at least some resistance.
"She's a World Eater. What resistance does she need? With the Quarter Knights all but ruined, Mother would have no need of other defenses than herself. Hell the monsters were probably just tools to confuse and separate the focus of people below anyway." Saturn added.
"Even so…it's almost as if she knows we're here…" Sailor Moon spoke.
They thought they had snuck aboard the ship, called Photosphere, by Earth's scientists. But every now and then, they'd find a locked door. One that would suddenly open. A gateway, at first barred to them, only to release itself. It was as if Mother was herding them somewhere.
Finally, they stumbled into a pitch black room. They looked around wildly, and as Hotaru was about to create a light, the entire room was illuminated.
"…Uhh…guys?" Minako stated hesitantly.
The other Senshi turned.
Before them was a giant cocoon-like creature, face and torso of a woman, spindly legs sticking out.
"I think we found her."
He thought of giving up. What was the point if he couldn't even help his own beloved? Why bother fighting if he can't even heal the heart of the one he cares for?
He watched the ends of the seven people he took crystals from. It was a horrible thing, to watch someone die, be it by natural causes, or by their own hand. So much death…and now he couldn't fulfill his promises.
He felt himself fading. His hope was lost.
"Don't give up now!"
His head snapped up in surprise. That sounded like-
"Come on, you're so close! We have to beat that thing! If you give up now, who's going to keep us safe?"
A fireball launched from Mars' fingertips. A torrent of frigid water from Mercury's. A wall of air slammed into the fireball from before it, dispersing the flame, as a mighty slab of metal ripped from the ground and blocked the frigid stream.
Bolts of lightning would arc around only to be absorbed by spires of metal that ripped from the floor. Gales of Light and Darkness would be launched by Black Lady and Sailor Moon, corrupted and illuminated into the opposite before vanishing.
Everything they did, she undid.
Uranus charged in from above, leaping high with the power of wind, a heavy gale around her fist, blown back by a lance of earth ripping from the space before the creature. A condensed blast of temporal concept ripped through the air, only to fall into a 'hole' created in reality. Mother was a being without peer.
He turned around. The little girl…the last life he took.
She was right in front of him.
"You…"
"You can't give up. The Senshi need your help!"
"…what's the point? I couldn't even help Hotaru…how am I supposed to help the world?"
"But you did help her! She's up there, fighting that thing while you're stuck down here. She's fighting for you!"
He was confused. "She…what? Dammit they aren't strong enough yet! Are they trying to get killed?"
"At least they're trying something! You're ready to give up and they're busting their butts!"
"I…"
"We're sorry, Zero."
He was confused further. "We?"
From behind the little girl, formed a figure. The Pure Heart Crystal he'd extracted from her began to shine, even in this odd landscape. From the misty grey depths, spoke an older, tired voice.
"Yes. We."
A shape took form from around the child, growing larger and larger until it dwarfed the girl. The hazy image shimmered before taking a form he would never forget.
"M…Miranda?"
The black haired girl from his past life smiled sadly at him.
"CONDEMNATION PANDORA!"
Hotaru screamed out her new ultimate attack. The potent beam of negative energy ripped through the air straight at Mother's form.
The battle had been horribly one-sided. Everything the Senshi threw at her, she just redirected. Not a scratch was upon her form, while the Senshi had been drained. They hadn't yet been hurt too badly, instincts expecting attacks from all angles, but they were getting tired.
She was stationary, barely moving, but she moved the world around her. Beams of light, streams of flame, walls of ice…Every conceivable elemental combination had been thrown at them. Even Eternal Sailor Moon could do no damage, the World Eater able to place an equally powerful barrier of dark energy to defend.
And she never showed emotion. Even now as the beam of pure destructive force slammed into the wall she'd created, she showed no signs of amusement or strife or worry. Her porcelain white face was like that of a china-doll's. No emotion was displayed at all.
Saturn struggled to keep the beam going, but her energy eventually faded. Surely that had to do something.
The dust and smoke cleared.
And a wall of light ripped through their bodies.
"Please. Just one more try. For me?"
Miranda, both of them, had been trying to convince Zero to keep fighting. Slowly they were getting through to him.
"You're the only one who can truly defeat her. The others, they can stop her, but only you can defeat her."
"Because of my people…right?"
"No Zero…because of who you are."
He looked down at that.
"…one more shot…?"
"You will have our support. All of our support."
A wall of red seemed to morph under the swing of a spear. An armored fist of blue slammed into the stomach of the woman flying at him, before the figure swung its weapon in an arc, trying to decapitate her. She vanished in a flicker backward, just narrowly passing the gap between her chin and torso through the space of the weapon's path. He turned with the swing, pointing his spear upwards behind him, deftly blocking a scythe swing from the recovering attacker.
Naru and Mistress Nine had come to join the Senshi in their fight, but had been stopped by the final Quarter Knight, Zeikfried.
Unknown to them, their battle was much like the Senshi's fight against mother. Entirely one-sided. Kyu's swings could not penetrate his armor, and Naru was still too inexperienced with her weapon and powers to outmatch the mighty human-like demon.
She swung for his head, blocked by the spear, only to move with the deflection and spin it back around low, which he just simply lifted his foot out of the way, tilting his head back as a crescent shaped indentation of black ripped into the space his skull once occupied. He flicked his spear around in hand, holding it point low, a blue crescent wave impacting upon it, 'fore it pulsed, the worlds colors becoming inverted.
Engaging his signature technique, Negative Rainbow, the strange 'eye' on the unusual sword-shaped weapon snapped open, glowing a bright red. The girls' sight became inverted, colors becoming black and white, before a heavy force ripped from the 'shining eye', taking the form of hundreds of streams that slammed into both of them. Naru groaned, coughing up a small bit of blood, while Kyu just pulsed herself, the world having returned to normal. She flung out her arm, torrent of black curling up from the ground in the form of a ring. The black circle slammed into the knight, but dealt barely a scratch on his armor, yet that was merely a set-up for her next maneuver.
Flinging out her arm again, palm facing Zeikfried, hundreds of silver chains ripped from the space around her, all of them wrapping around him, tangling him in their grasp. He gave a sound of acknowledgement, noting the tactic of weathering his blow to deliver one of her own, and allowed the attack to continue. She pulled back, cupping her hands before ripping forward, a literal wall of black shooting from the ground and slamming into him.
The dust cleared from the impact, and he was still standing.
He actually felt that one.
He smirked, the battle now becoming interesting.
The way she said that made him look up. To his shock, the forms of hundreds, no thousands of people began to appear.
"What…?"
"You kept my father from making a grave mistake. He had been swayed by the words of the Dark Queen. That you would give yourself so freely, taint your soul so heavily for the sake of others, for my sake, pulled him out of his foolishness. Our people…my people do not hold ire towards you. And rather than be your enemies once again, we all have decided to be your allies."
He was in shock.
"You said…you said my death would have meaning. Did you lie?" The girl who jumped off the office building appeared, startling him.
"I…"
"You claimed you would give me revenge. Can you not fulfill your promise?" The man who took his own life to be with his now dead family stood before him.
Everyone whom he'd gathered a Crystal from appeared before him, each one adding to his guilt.
"Ne…you said I wouldn't be forgotten…I know you won't whether you live or die…but…"
He looked at the smaller Miranda, tears in his eyes. He gave his word, he promised them all.
"We know your plan. And we will be a part of it. We will give our energies to your weapon, so it may be able to pierce the World Eater's defense."
"Why? Why do you wish for this so much?"
"Because you touched me, that day." She says, gently grasping his hand in hers.
"Because you granted me hope, you granted my desire. You gave me the one thing I wanted most in the world. And now, it's my time to do the same for you. Please…just trust me. You who see the world with Eyes Unclouded. Only you can reveal the truth."
He saw the conviction in her eyes, heard the words of encouragement from the others.
And he could do nothing but nod.
He had always been a being of Unity. Admiring the strength of human will when combined, becoming disgusted with the world when they separated. He always believed in the old anime trope: the Power of Friendship. The Power of Love…
The Power of Unity.
When many sources of thought combine into one, each living form echoing the thoughts and wishes of their peers and others, immense power could be born. That was the origin of the source of humanity's strength, that is what created the first Sailor Saturn…
And that would be what finally removed the cloud of doubt and disgust towards himself, from his heart.
The crystal floating above his body pulsed. Streams of light began wafting off it like tendrils of life. The crystal flared to life, shimmering light streaming through the air, piercing the walls of the makeshift shed that housed his recovering form.
In an instant, the remaining repairs to his body were finished. Slowly regenerating arms and legs suddenly appeared. Scars were banished, marks were healed, bruises were removed. His body had been returned to its original state through the power hidden within one person's remnant soul. The memory of the world was taken, used and activated. The world itself didn't like the thought of it being ended, and had granted its strength to the planetary warriors. However it knew it wasn't enough, and in this makeshift shed was a being capable of delivering the final blow.
It too sung in harmony with the souls of the lost, granting him its strength.
The crystal gently descended. It faded into his chest, and in a single heartbeat his eyes snapped open. His body gave off an impossible shine, silver aura flaring to full before erupting outwards in a wave of pressure.
People stared at the shaft of light that erupted from behind the crumbling house. They gasped as a brilliant sphere of silver ripped from the pillar like a bullet, ripping through the air above the city before shooting into the sky.
Winds whipped his hair behind him. Clothing fluttered at incredible speeds as he shredded the distance between him and his goal.
One more try. One last fight. He let his instincts, his love for Hotaru be the guiding light that led him to her. He would put an end to this…or die trying.
One more time.
Naru ducked under the thrust of his spear. She retaliated by bringing her scythe up diagonally across his chest. The armor protected him, but the maneuver granted her space. He was forced to whirl around to defend the globs of darkness that were launched from Mistress Nine's fingertips.
Their battle was fierce, for while immense, his spear, Glumzamber was wielded with swift strokes like that of a sword.
So far they had only managed to damage his armor, while they themselves had been cut and bruised by his blade and strength. Even with wings outstretched, Naru could not hold the advantage, for her skill in aerial combat was not as much as she wished. Together, they covered their openings, but could only defend.
Any advantages they'd gained were quickly lost, due to his superior defense and immense power. Waves of inverted light would wash over them, walls of compressed air…he was no World Eater, but he was near a God in his own right.
They were panting, while he showed no signs of fatigue, his dark blue armor still almost spotless, only a few nicks and gashes where scythe met defense.
They tensed up, ready to try again, when an unusual feeling of…love…washed over them. Neither had ever felt such pure emotion in their lives, not even when Zero cried on Naru's shoulder after the scroll was unlocked. The feeling turned into a burning desire, a command to move. They jumped to the side just as a brilliant shaft of light ripped through the large room they were using as a battlefield.
The beam revealed itself to be a heavily glowing form that punched straight through Zeikfried's armor, surprising the blue demon, as well as his opponents. The sheer amount of love and desire spiraling around Zero's form became a whirlwind of destruction, tearing through the demon's defense, shattering his spear in two, and shredding his body to pieces.
And just as suddenly as he came, he vanished down the corridor, racing to his beloved's side.
"…what…the hell was that?"
"I don't think we're needed here anymore." Naru said.
"Huh?" Kyu was very confused.
"We should get out of here. Zero's got this fight covered." Naru said as she turned away, to the teleporter they used to get onto the Photosphere.
A confused Mistress Nine followed.
Be careful, my Prince…
The barrier was broken. Though the attack had ended, Sailor Saturn's ultimate defense had been pierced. Mother's power was too much for the girl to handle.
"I'm sorry…there's nothing I can do…" She dropped to her knees, the exhausted, bleeding bodies of her allies next to her.
A shimmering flare of light appeared in front of Mother, her spindly arms and legs reaching for it. Crackles of pure white discharge ripped between it and the sphere, the World Eater preparing to erase them all in a single attack. The light pulsed, sphere growing to immense proportions. Her haunting laugh was to be the last thing they heard, sphere ripping from before her form and racing toward theirs. They closed their eyes, knowing they failed. Knowing once again they were to die. Only this time, there would be no return.
The rushing sound of death coming for them filled their ears, a single white noise, a shrill ringing as the pressure gripped their hearts.
"IZANAMI!"
Hotaru's eyes snapped open.
That voice…?
Her gasp opened the eyes of the others. They all watched in shock as a single shimmering figure appeared before the glowing sphere of death, pointing something at it. They stared as the sphere seemed to buckle and shake, as if becoming unstable. For a brief moment, Hotaru thought she saw a wave of black lines rip along the sphere's surface like breaking glass.
And a moment later, it exploded outwards, twisting itself from within like a dying cyclone. The shimmer floated down before their stunned forms, landing heavily and stumbling before the glow revealed itself to be very familiar wings, that vanished.
Damn…all that energy just got used up revealing the existence of that thing! She's even more powerful than I thought if her attacks are hard to conceptually erase!
"…Zero?" Hotaru's voice was small.
"I thought I told you to wait, Hime-chan." He sighed. "But I guess it can't be helped." He shook his head.
Damn…I don't know too many healing spells. Hotaru was the healer really…
As he puzzled over what to do, he felt his chest get tight. He coughed once, gripping his heart, before a shimmering glow ripped from him, taking the form of a Pure Heart Crystal. It seemed to glow with unusual runes surrounding it. His eyes widened.
Holy…Song?
He slammed his weapon down, a red, cross tipped staff. He reached up, wings returning. In the air around him formed a magical glyph, taking the shape of a crossed ring, lowest point reaching down past the ring into an infinity symbol, six sword shapes reaching from the ring and vertical portion of the cross.
"Was yea erra ecchra spiritum mea sos infel."
The glyph vanished, before forming into the glyph of Creation beneath his feet, the Pure Heart Crystal flaring with light, a wave of energy coating the Senshi. They felt their wounds heal, the pain subside. Slowly they got to their feet, feeling tingly all over, Hotaru, Chibi-Usa, Usagi and Ami with bright smiles on their faces. They knew what the tingly feeling was.
It was the feeling of love.
Together they stood, the Crystal fading back into Zero's chest as he picked up his staff from the cross' edge. Mother simply stared, uncaring. Now or later, they would die. She would obtain some entertainment from their struggling forms for the moment, but then, they would die, just like all before them.
Zero was blasted back to the others.
Slowly rising, he was the last one to be able to withstand the pressure behind Mother's defenses. Her barriers were similar in concept to his gravitational manipulations, in which they would twist and contort to defend against any attack.
Renewed by the power of the love he felt for Hotaru, the Sailor Senshi once again took up arms against the mighty World Eater. Their powers and weapons fueled by forces beyond compare, they emerged into battle stronger than ever before, led not by Sailor Moon, but by Sailor Saturn, and her would-be male counterpart.
Yet with all the power they held, not even two beings charged by the power and concept of Destruction could match the World Eater. Lines were impossible for Zero to see, her concept of existence so strong, yet so fragile with all her power that it created a dichotomy that confused even his Conceptual Sight. Though he understood her defenses, because he could not fully understand how she was able to use them, he could not simply pierce them.
They held her on the defensive, but even those defenses had offenses, and now, once again they all found themselves battered back.
"Titshitting, fucknutting CUNTWAFFLE!" Zero yelled out in a display of immense frustration. All the power he'd gained, and still he couldn't even put a dent in that field. I'd do the thing but…shit at this point would it work? I can't engage the cannon until I'm sure it'll actually blast the bitch!
"Zero-san!" Ami yelled out, aghast at his choice of language.
"It FITS!" He barked back. Something caught his eye though.
"…Hime-chan why's your stick glowing?"
Saturn stared at him. "My stick? What are you-
She looked down at her feet, where her transformation pen had fallen, and was indeed glowing faintly, the symbol of Saturn pulsing a faint silver.
"Maybe it wants us to do something." He said. Hell if I know, I don't have any 'transformed states' like they do. All my power comes from me…most of the time.
"Do something? Like what? What can we possibly do? We're getting rinsed!" Hotaru retorted. Zero blinked at her usage of one of his terms.
He reached for it, and it began to glow brighter. Is it…reacting to me? Huh…wait. What would happen…
"We could try calling your little incantation."
"We? As in both of us? What would that do? Hell, I don't even know if I can transform twice!"
"Err…technically didn't you? Y'know the whole 'super' upgrade?"
She shook her head. "No, that's just like you said, just an upgrade."
Pluto sat up holding her head. "It wouldn't matter…even if Hotaru would get a boost of power, men cannot become Senshi."
"Yeah well…has anyone tried recently?"
"Yes."
"Recently?" he emphasized.
"Well…no…" She admit to him.
Holding her side, Venus gave a pained giggle. "Zero-kun, you really want to be dressed like us?"
"If it meant tearing through that crapshitting asscock of an A.T. Field, I'd let the bloody thing turn me into Imari from Bible Black, AFTER she got possessed!"
Uranus gave a heavy cough at that, blushing furiously. Despite the situation, that statement was both horribly crude, and hilarious to her at the same time. "Imari?" She pushed.
"Imari!" he yelled back.
Neptune looked back and forth between the flushed but glee-filled smirk on her lover's face, and Zero's irritated stare.
"Who…is Imari…and what is Bible Black?" She asked, taking note as Uranus flushed darker.
"It's…well…" She tried to make out, cursing Zero for yet again defeating her in a battle of wills, when Saturn's transformation pen flared an angry violet.
"I think it's getting irritated we're taking too long." Zero quipped deadpan.
Saturn shook her head. "I guess it can't be helped. I don't think anyone's ever encountered anything like this."
"Might as well give it a shot, right?"
Saturn nodded, picking up the pen as the two stood up. The pen began pulsing in her hands, as if sensing what was to come. Zero placed his hands around hers, both their eyes closed as they focused their thoughts on the strange device used to unleash the power of the Sailor Crystal within the Senshi.
Mother stood silently, never encountering such annoying creatures. Not even the planet with the winged humans stood against her like this. She was interested now.
It didn't help, that a small part of her felt familiarity in those forms.
The transformation wand began wafting with soft violet energy, as it seemed to suck in the light around it, dimming the air between them as it shimmered. Together, they spoke as one.
"Saturn Planet Power, MAKE UP!"
That light was incredible! What power had these two humans tapped into that gave off such immense pressure?
The release of energy from the simultaneous cry shattered Mother's defenses like glass, the World Eater actually forced to shield her eyes with a weak veil of darkness in order to not be blinded by the immense energy.
After a minute however, the energy began to stop radiating so wildly.
The Senshi opened their eyes.
Hotaru floated before them, wearing the same garb she wore on the day she returned after the attack on Zero by the outers. None of them had commented on the fact that she changed back to her normal attire, but now, Usagi began to realize that it might have been Zero's influence that triggered her to suddenly be wearing a different than normal Senshi uniform. The difference between times, was that now, she had a near aura of silver floating around her, with eight glowing violet shimmers of light fluttering behind her. The glaive had transformed from a strange looking spear-like weapon, to a true scythe, gleaming silver blade with a dark violet shaft.
Zero took form. Flowing silver-white hair cascaded down his back, covered by deep grey robes with black trim. Instead of wings, six prismatic blades floated behind him like a cape of broadswords, the cross-tipped staff, Izanami now with a silver glow, the shaft of it looking more blade than staff at this point. He turned his head, and they saw his skin had darkened considerably, looking like a deep dark chocolate brown. Ami blinked as she realized he now resembled a Drow, or rather, a Dark Elf. Blood red eyes locked upon Chibi-Usa's.
"Ini en exec hymmnos REPLEKIA."
Chibi-Usa's eyes widened in shock as she felt something in her chest make her heart beat heavily. She clutched her chest, gasping, as her mind was now overcome by knowledge. The execution song sealed within her mind now began ringing, her eyes blanking as she felt something very ancient and extremely powerful take hold. Suddenly everything cleared, and she could hear the feelings of the people around her. She heard their fears, tasted their desire, drunk in their love and hate.
All of their emotions, she felt as she tilted her body back, arms dropping lifelessly to the side, as the silver crystal, now tainted permanently with red, exploded from her chest in a wave of light, banishing her Senshi form, and leaving her body bare for all to gaze upon. A ring of light erupted from beneath her feet, becoming a wide rippling circle. Within the circle, the symbols of the hymmnos language spiraled around in a chain that read: Murfanare chsee cest. Exec sarla REPLEKIA. (Thoughts become real. Execute song Replekia). Her arms slowly rose up, spreading as if baring herself to the world. Suddenly, in a wave of black, her alter-ego, Black Lady appeared in front of her, in the exact same position. The crystal flared to life between the two as their mouths opened as they began to sing.
xA harr hLYUmLYUmOrO eje/.
(She sings the song of her crazed heart)
xA harr hUmmOrO eje ag dazua/.
(She sings the song of her crazed heart and agonizing darkness)
xA sorr kLYUvLYUr du qejyu/.
(Her singing covers those painful people)
xA sorr kUvUr du qejyu dn balduo/.
(Her singing covers those people in darkness)
xI rre fIrIlU hIlIsUsU ayulsa dazua/.
(Frightened and grievous in eternal darkness)
xI rre cEzE fIrIlU hIlIsUsU ayulsa dazua, vega ouvyu giz sphaela/.
(She happily enjoys being frightened and grievous in this ruined world's eternal darkness)
Deep within the depths of space itself, the planet Saturn rest. In a conceptual space opposite to the current reality, rest its other half, a phantom world created by the severing of the powers of the Original Goddess, Tiamat. Upon that world once lived a people with wings of shimmering light. Over time, they created a world of magic and song, where peace and prosperity held sway. They created a powerful device, an amplification orbital satellite known as Replekia. By channeling the power of existence itself, it could perform wondrous acts. But those people were destroyed by a conceptual being known as a World Eater.
Yet their legacy lived on.
xA harr nAtLYInO hymmnos/.
(She continues her song)
xA harr nAtAnO hymmnos, ut ouvyu/.
(She continues to sing till destruction)
xA sorr mLYOrArA du sphaela/.
(Her singing is a reflection of this mad world)
xA sorr mOrArA du daedu ag ujes/.
(Her singing is an ugly and evil reflection)
xO rre mLYOtOyOyO giz wOsLYI du giz/.
(Giving birth to terror, giving birth to fear)
xA harr jOzOtO ouwua giz hymmnos/.
(She ragefully invokes her song of extreme terror)
The World Eater made a mistake. Rather than completely obliterating the space that contained that world, it simply consumed all existence upon it, and left, weary from the battles. The Infel Phira, the dormant form of the Replekia remained, untouched by the rampaging nigh-goddess' power.
And now, its seals were removed, as the song of activation was sung. Within, it glowed with a brilliant shine, the softly shimmering sphere shattering like glass, twisting and contorting like a quadruple-helix, until it finally formed into a gigantic red mass. Around it, waves of distortion appeared, the command to transport, to move, tearing through the concept of space, leading it to where its power was required.
Somewhere, on the ruins of the world Infinitia, a broken screen flickered to life, words scrolling across its cracked frame.
Replekia Activation Confirmed.
Initializing Replekia.
Free Soul Count: 01
xN herr v.t. ess dazua/.
(She was born in darkness)
xN herr v.t. goa balduo sphaela/.
(She knows nothing but a dark world)
xN rre hLYImLYUmOrO a.u.k. zess quesa/.
(Her chaotic singing is like thunder)
xN rre hLYUmLYUmOrO byui q.l.s. du sechel/.
(Her chaotic singing shakes her surrounding world like crazy)
xA harr nAtLYInO hymmnos/.
(She continues her song)
xA sorr mLYInLYUgO dn z.z.x./.
(That's her only way of tolerating despair)
xA harr nAtLYInO hymmnos/.
(She continues her song)
xA rre mArArA sphaela/.
(Reflecting this world)
xA rre mArArA balduo ouvyu sphaela/.
(Reflecting this world of dark ruins)
xN rre hNmNmNrN ayulsa/.
(Her song continues...)
xN rre hNmNmNrN ayulsa/.
(Her song continues...)
xN rre hNmNmNrN ayulsa/.
(Her song continues...)
xN rre hNmNmNrN ayulsa/.
(Her song continues...)
For the first time in a long time, Mother felt something other than blank.
She felt fear.
These two…these two strange beings, coasting on wings of light and blade. They had awakened a power that resonated with something deep within her soul.
Before, they were nothing. Her incomprehensible strength decimating them and their allies, much like it had every other world's warriors. But now, they were able to match her. Her barriers were torn through by the cape of blades behind the male. Her weavings of elements, blocked and easily overpowered by the female. With a swing of her scythe, the world around her was torn asunder, all manners of power being cut down. With a thrust of his staff, space was pushed, contorted into whatever form he desired.
They had become her equal. Everything she did, they would undo. Fire would be snuffed by removal of air, or simply tearing a hole in reality itself. Spears and streams of water and ice would be boiled into steam, melted into water which was then used to coat the air as torrents of lightning erupted from Her fingertips. The metal ground around them was torn apart, panels decomposed into their base forms, stone and grain turned into javelins and whips, to be broken down further by gales of wind, to be glazed by waves of flame.
Conceptual barriers, spatial distortions, temporal configurations…not a single thing worked upon them. Whenever one seemed to be caught, the other would pulse with the power of Chaos itself, and free their companion. She felt fear, she felt hatred…
She felt love.
xA harr hLYUmLYUmOrO eje/.
(She sings the song of her crazed heart )
xA harr hUmmOrO eje ag dazua/.
(She sings the song of her crazed heart and agonizing darkness)
xA sorr kLYUvLYUr du qejyu/.
(Her singing covers those painful people)
xA sorr kUvUr du qejyu dn balduo/.
(Her singing covers those people in darkness)
xI rre fIrIlU hIlIsUsU ayulsa dazua/.
(Frightened and grievous in eternal darkness)
xI rre cEzE fIrIlU hIlIsUsU ayulsa dazua, vega ouvyu giz sphaela/.
(She happily enjoys being frightened and grievous in this ruined world's eternal darkness)
xA harr nAtLYInO hymmnos/.
(She continues her song)
xA harr nAtAnO hymmnos, ut ouvyu/.
(She continues to sing till destruction)
xA sorr mLYOrArA du sphaela/.
(Her singing is a reflection of this mad world)
xA sorr mOrArA du daedu ag ujes/.
(Her singing is an ugly and evil reflection)
All around planet Earth, people suddenly froze up. Children would suddenly stop laughing, looking to the sky, before tears would stroll down their faces. Screams of pain and fright would rip through homes as their bodies exploded in waves of light, their spiritual energies being launched into the heavens. Business owners, criminals, mayors, world leaders, common people…
They all suddenly stopped what they were doing, minds overcome by song, bodies fragmenting into light, their Dream Energy, their Ideya being drawn into space, where the Replekia appeared behind the Photosphere, just next to the Moon. Good, evil, innocent, guilty…it mattered not. Thousands…no, millions of people cried out in agony, in fear, in rage, as their bodies became nothing but memories, their very existence consumed, their lives terminated, souls sent immediately to the next life.
They would pay the price of death, that their ancestors of the Lunar Kingdom had brought upon them. But even then, the scales of balance were tipped in their favor. Their deaths had meaning. Their deaths were used to begin the final stage of the battle. Whereas the Infinitians…they were simply consumed.
xA harr vIsIkI dazua/.
(She knows nothing but darkness)
xA harr tAhAsA siann/.
(But now, feeling the light for the first time)
xA harr lAkAkA maen/.
(She gazes up at the moon)
xA harr hAmmrA byui eje/.
(And her heart makes her sing)
xA rre wArAmA maen a.u.k. zess titia/.
(The shining full moon is like a beautiful heart filled with kindness)
xA rre cEzE hymmnos/.
(So, let us become a song)
xE rre hAkAtt nafan ouwua siann arhou/.
(That embraces her gently with the light of hope)
xE rre sAlE sphaela arhou/.
(And let us believe in this world's hope)
xA rre sEnEkk mirie, ag hEmmrA eje/.
(Warmth sprouts, and then she sings her heart's song)
xE rre lAnAcAaA eje/.
(So, let us tie the hearts together)
xE rre lAnAcAaA eje/.
(So, let us tie the hearts together)
xA rre hLYAmAmArA sphaela/.
(And let us sing for the sake of this world)
xA rre hLYAmLYEmLYErA sphaela/.
(And let us sing for a world of happiness)
xA rre cLYAzE tafane arhou hymmnos/.
(Let us sing the song of shining hope)
xA harr mLYErErA aje tafane sphaela/.
(Her heart is the reflection of a bright new world)
xA rre yAzAtA aje tafane nEmElA sphaela/.
(And let us wish for this world to be shrouded in brand new radiance)
She felt their love for one another shine through the waves of pain and darkness within her heart. Rage, jealousy, fear, disgust…
Desire.
Their love had combined, creating a force even she could not easily stand against. She heard the little one's song, the words ringing in her soul, familiarity washing over her form as slowly she came to realize what was coming. But as they tore through every barrier she had, as they defeated every attempt she made to end them, she knew. They sought to end her.
Powered by Desire, fueled by their love for one another, and the love of their allies, for the Sailor Senshi had gathered around Chibi-Usa and Black Lady, all of them joining hands glowing with their planetary sigils blazing with impossible strength upon their foreheads. Their power was being channeled into the song, into the two warriors battling for their right to exist.
"SALOR PLANET POWER! MAKE UP!"
xA rre wArAmA maen a.u.k. zess titia/.
(The shining full moon is like a beautiful heart filled with kindness)
xE rre hAkAtt nafan ouwua siann arhou/.
(That embraces her gently with the light of hope)
xA rre sEnEkk mirie, ag hEmmrA eje/.
(Warmth sprouts, and then she sings her heart's song)
xE rre lAnAcAaA eje/.
(So, let us tie the hearts together)
xA rre hLYAmLYEmLYErA sphaela/.
(And let us sing for a world of happiness)
With the final cry, a massive lance of light ripped through the air, the cannon firing its gathered power. It smashed straight through the barriers of the Photosphere, ripping down through conceptual space, slamming into Mother's shocked form. A massive explosion of light and sound, dust and wind kicked up as the power of over eleven million souls ripped through the World Eater. With the song's end, the crystal gave a final flare, before the glowing red radiance faded. Its shine settled into Chibi-Usa's chest, Black Lady fading back into her form, as the girl was re-clad in her Senshi garb.
But even then…all of them could still feel her presence.
Her form was revealed as the light and smoke cleared.
I knew it…
The others gasped as they saw an almost exact mirror image of Sailor Saturn kneeling on the ground in front of them.
"The True Original Sailor Saturn…"
"WHY?" She screamed out.
"Why are you stopping me? I'm doing what I was meant to do! I'm doing what you told me to! It's not enough for you is it?" She continued, hysterical. The others were shocked, even confused. She…was aware of herself? She wasn't just a mindless beast of destruction?
"How could we want you to-
But Usagi was cut off.
"YOU TOLD ME TO! You took me from my life, almost killed me! Tortured me, raped me all so you could have your weapon! And now you want me to stop? You want me to stop when the only reason I have to live is to destroy everything? The only thing that keeps me going is the consumption of other's lives! You don't care…you don't care, you don't care, you don't care! YOU DON'T CARE!"
It all makes sense now. They made her, and told her to crush their enemies. Not be their protector. The girl within…they hurt her so much, just to get their weapon. To get their Senshi. They didn't care…
"We DO care! It's why we're here now! We're here to stop you because of the people we care about!" Usagi spoke strongly.
She's killed…billions. No…far more than that. But…
"WHAT ABOUT ME?" She screamed back, tears flowing down her cheeks. "I thought I had…rest…when they put me in that other girl's body. It felt…so good…I felt like I could sleep. No more blood…no more pain…no more screams…but…but you took me out of it! You pulled me out! You woke me up from my rest! And you left me to die!"
Can I truly fault her…when she was following directives that were given to her millennia ago? Does a weapon…does a tool not follow its wielder's will? And given that she literally was infused with all this power from somewhere, she was given no time to control it. She was awakened, forcefully, her mind overtaken by destructive will…and given a command.
"What about you?" Haruka yelled back. "All you've done is kill countless innocent people! You're nothing but a monster that thrives on death and destruction! Something like you…should not exist!"
She was left to die…so she did the only thing she could. She killed. She killed and consumed their life essence, to continue her own. Nobody cancelled her command. Nobody said 'hey, it's done. You can sleep now. We're sorry we put you through hell, but your job's over. Get some rest.' She did what she had to…to survive, and continue the directive she was given…Goddammit…
"THEN WHY DID YOU MAKE ME? I'm not the monster! You're the monsters! You made me and now you condemn the actions you told me to take? Who is the real demon? The one who kills and destroys because they're told to? It's either that or death? Or the one who summons the power forth, and commands it to kill or die?"
I'm…surprised though…yet…I'm not…
"No more death! No more destruction! You're gonna pay for the lives you've taken!" Makoto yelled out.
"...no."
The Original was about to scream out again, when Zero spoke that one word.
"…she won't."
Everyone whirled around, staring at the teen.
"…Zero-kun?" Hotaru spoke from his side. She blinked as the Izanami vanished into the ether. Their eyes widened as the six swords floating behind him like wings, gently dissipated.
"Zero-nii! What are you doing?"
No more…
He didn't answer. He just took a step forward. Slowly the darker tone of his flesh faded away, his hair remaining silver however.
The Original looked back at him, tears still running down her cheeks. All she could see was a man commanding a lot of power, slowly walking towards her.
"N-no! Stay back!"
He kept walking.
"I said STAY BACK!" She screamed out, a massive ball of fire ripping through the air at him.
"ZERO-KUN!"
I'm putting my trust in you…one last time…
It crashed into him with a mighty BOOM. But as the flames dissipated, they saw him, smoking, clothes burnt, but mostly unharmed.
"I-impossible…n-no! Don't come any closer!" She lashed out with a blast of air. Zero stumbled backwards, before pushing forward, small cuts appearing on his arms and legs.
It started…with our other halves. Our missing people…We gave her peace…and yet…we took it from her.
"DAMMIT MAN WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Haruka screamed at him. He was getting himself killed!
"It's alright…" He whispered forward. The Original's eyes widened as she took a step back.
She's afraid…Rightly so but…all the more…
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" The air around her rippled, and hundreds of tendrils of shadow ripped from the ether around her, winding and spiraling towards Zero with reckless abandon. He didn't bother moving. Most of them missed, crashing into the ground around, behind, and before him. But some of them struck. Large cuts on his arms and legs ripped open as flesh was torn off. Blood splattered on the burnt and broken ground of Mother's Chamber.
Tch…Eyes Unclouded, huh?
But he kept moving forward, even as his breath became haggard, nerves reeling from the pain, body itching from the wounds trying to close themselves with his power, but something denying it.
"It's ok…"
She stared at him in horror, shaking her head. She closed her eyes and lashed out with her glaive, flinching when she felt warmth running down her arms. Her eyes snapped open as she felt his hands wrap around hers. She looked at him.
Wh-why?
"Why? Why why why why why WHY WHY WHY?" She cried out, questioning everything.
"Because…"
Everything seemed to stop.
"We're family."
Her eyes widened. "What…?"
He pushed forward, the girl letting go of the glaive's handle, her hands in his. Everything around them was silent.
"That's right…"
"I…I don't...we aren't-
"You lived in my cousin for a while. The Saturnians took my cousin, my princess, and put you in her. While you were asleep, remember? While you were asleep, she was in control…and she was my cousin."
She stared at him with shimmering eyes, tears still running down her cheeks.
"I'm…you're my…"
"That's right…" He reached up and gently brushed a tear from her face, ignoring the flicker of the world around him, a sure sign that his body was finally beginning to succumb to its wounds, ignoring the blood running down her spear, still slightly embedded in his chest.
"Family…?" She breathed out. He nodded. She shakily reached up and touched his face with bloody hands.
"You weren't born it…but you were made it, when you were put in her."
"B-but that doesn't…make sense! You, she doesn't-
"Her blood flows through my veins. She was my cousin from a long line back, the bloodline branching and converging at multiple points…"
He took a shuddering breath.
"And that's why…"
She looked at him.
"I forgive you."
Her eyes widened. As did everyone else's.
"I hated you…I hated you so much…and I was afraid of you. But…I learned who created you…I learned what they did…you were just a tool…and how…how can I be who I am…live the way I do…if I got mad at a sword being wielded, and not the hand who wielded it? Those lives…will never return…their souls are lost to us now…but…"
He cupped her cheek. "You did…what you had to…to survive. I can't fault you for that…hell…I was almost going to kill the Sailor Senshi before I fell in love with one of them, without knowing she was one."
"…who…?"
"The other you."
She slightly tilted her head, looking past him. Her eyes widened. "But I thought we were-
"You are my cousin. You still hold a fragment of her original soul. Hotaru back there…she's a slightly different soul. It's…complicated. Besides…you still hold the original body. So you're my cousin in both blood, and soul. That makes you my blood relative, my family."
"…I…I just…wanted…"
"Shh…I know." The spear dissipated into the ether, and he pulled her close to him as she began crying again.
"It's alright…"
"I'm sorry…I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry!" She screamed into his chest. Ami blinked as she swore she saw a haze around the two.
"I know…I forgive you."
She kept chanting her apology, clutching him to her.
I don't have much time left…I have to do it.
"Hey…hey." He pulled back gently, lifting her chin. She looked at him, eyes red from crying.
"As the last of our people…I officially declare your job complete. I terminate your clause of service. You've done a good job…"
She nodded. "Can…can I…rest now?"
He gave her a soft smile, lifting his arm off of her waist and raising it into the air.
She didn't flinch. She didn't pull away.
She smiled.
"Zero-kun!" Hotaru yelled out.
A heavy distortion appeared around his hand, before it seemed to shudder. Within seconds, the distortion seemed to buckle and burst, as the air around his hand began to darken. It was as if the very concept of light were being drained from a small radius around his raised appendage. Moments after the distortion's existence was solidified, light began fading in small intervals around it, like rays of 'black light' streaming around the now orb-like fracture.
She felt no malice. Only resignation…determination.
"With this…you'll be able to rest forever."
The orb seemed to pulse, a gentle 'ring' of itself emerging.
She smiled, sighing softly, before wrapping her arms around his chest.
"I…would like that…"
The ring expanded. The ground cracked beneath them, the ceiling splintering. Tubes of unknown liquid began cracking, spilling their contents all over the ground. Lights began flickering left and right.
The Senshi began shouting. They yelled at each other they had to leave, no they had to stay, Zero was still there.
It ended up, as a massive chord dropped from the ceiling, the sparks still shooting through it contacted the strange liquid, setting it alight. Even Mars said she'd have a hell of a time trying to control that flame. Hotaru didn't want to leave, but Zero turned around and nodded at her. "I'll be fine." He mouthed. She put her trust in him and fled with the others.
They ran. The ground beneath their feet rumbled, their pace slowed both by their injuries and the lack of stability of their pathways. All around them, windows began cracking, consoles began sparking as their keyboards and screens suddenly burst from within. As they raced for safety, Minako called out, seeing a sign that just shorted out after it said 'transporter'. With renewed hope and vigor the group pushed forward, each one noticing in time how their bodies felt lighter for no reason at all.
It was just as they reached the hall leading to the transporter, that Ami cried out in shock. Pieces of broken glass and shrapnel were beginning to float in the air. Chibi-Usa tripped, only to find herself floating slightly. Gravity, was beginning to weaken.
They reached the transporter, watching the world blur with color before they landed in the park. They all looked up, seeing the Photosphere bursting with explosions all over, pieces of it crumbling and falling off, dropping towards the earth…before a massive wave of black ripped from it, rays of inverse light screaming outward. The pieces that were now aflame, falling through the atmosphere, suddenly stopped, a slightly transparent wall of black halting them, before it all began to slowly move backward.
They watched as entire panels began spiraling around, being sucked towards the Photosphere, as it seemed to crunch and collapse inward. The transparency went away, becoming a solid black orb…one that was slowly shrinking. The whole world watched that orb shrink to a single point…before vanishing entirely. Everything was silent. As if the very concept of sound had vanished from the world…until it was broken…
By a single, agonized scream.