Still alive!...::dodges attacks from readers:: Just barely...
Thanks to Ten'ousai, Soleil-Lune, X00001, RunningStorm, SithLibrarian for reviewing! And Soleil-Lune was first to review after Ten'ousai (the Ten'ousai streak continues...I wonder if it'll ever end...doubt it)! Congrats! And as I've said, first person (aside from Ten'ousai) to review will get a sneak peek at the next chapter!
Not mine. Special thanks to Ten'ousai for helping me write chapters VII and up...or at least bouncing ideas off of...weeeeeeeeee!...don't ask...I've been working on this story for over a week straight...
Rated M for adult themes, violence, and language.
Uranus hurled Hikari down to the marble floor in the throne room. The silver haired woman grunted in pain. She pushed herself up and looked up at the throne. Her eyes narrowed as Kyra descended from the throne. "Queen Kyra. I should have known you were responsible for this."
"For what?" the evil woman asked innocently.
"For corrupting this pure soul. Haven't you learned that Uranus will never love you?" Hikari asked.
"She does love me," Kyra returned.
Hikari rose to her feet, her silver eyes calmly staring at Kyra. "If that is what you believe, then I feel sorry for you. Her heart and soul forever belong to the Princess of Neptune," she said.
Kyra looked at Uranus. "Leave us."
"But…my Queen…"
The golden-eyed queen glared at the Senshi. Dark Uranus bowed and left the room. Kyra turned back to Hikari. "Uranus does love me. She'll even prove it by killing Neptune and the Moon Princess."
Hikari shook her head. "You really do know nothing of love."
Kyra's hand flashed out and grabbed Hikari's throat. She began squeezing, her eyes cold. "You will watch as your precious Order falls."
Hikari shook her head. "Chaos cannot exist without Order, and Order cannot exist without Chaos. There is a balance between the two."
Uranus returned to the room at Kyra's silent summons. "Take Hikari to the dungeons," Kyra ordered.
"Yes my Queen," Uranus said and shoved Hikari out of the room. She roughly pulled the silver haired woman down the stone steps that led to the basement. "Move," Uranus snapped.
"Uranus, there must be a part of you that knows this is wrong," Hikari said.
"I am loyal to my Queen," she returned. The temperature began growing colder as they descended down the stairs. Uranus pulled Hikari to a cell, runes and symbols marked on the walls of stone. The Dark Senshi opened the door and shoved the woman inside. The door clanged shut and the Senshi locked it. "Welcome to your new home."
"Uranus, you must believe me! This is wrong! Trust in your heart!" Hikari pleaded, her hands wrapped around the cold steel of the bars.
Uranus glanced over her shoulder at Hikari. "My heart belongs to Queen Kyra. She is my mistress. I obey only her."
"She is using you! She cares nothing for life or for you! As long as you obey…" she was forced into silence by Uranus viciously slamming the hilt of the Space Sword into Hikari's head. The woman fell to the ground, barely clinging to consciousness.
"Never speak of my Queen like that again," Uranus snapped. She spun on her heel and walked away.
Hikari bowed her head, realizing that there was little chance of freeing Uranus from the evil she had been possessed by. "My friends, please hurry," she whispered.
- - - - - - - - - -
Seiya walked up the steps that led to the Hikawa Shrine, his hands shoved into his pockets. The others were still in Rei's room, trying to figure out what to do. He had gone outside after five hours of no progress to get some air. He kicked a pebble and sighed. He looked up and saw Michiru sitting on the porch of the shrine, staring at her bandaged hands. He walked over and she looked up.
"You okay?" he asked.
"I don't know." Seiya frowned when he noticed her lower lip quiver slightly.
"Michiru-san, are you all right?" he inquired worriedly.
"It's just…I remember holding her in my arms…and I was a baka…"
"How?"
"I only saw her as Haruka. I should've understood that Alex wasn't Haruka but I didn't care. I just so wrapped up in the fact that Alex was the reincarnation of her that I didn't…"
"Michiru…"
"I failed her Seiya-kun. I failed her…and now I've lost her…"
"You only lose her when you give up," he returned. "I never gave up hope that maybe someday Usagi and I could be together. When Mamoru-san died in that shoot out, I blamed myself for it happening. I thought I was responsible since I wanted him away from Usagi." He sat down next to her. "But after weeks of blaming myself, I realized that I had no control over the situation."
"You may not have had control, but I did and I blew it," she returned. "I shouldn't have…I should have told her no…"
Seiya wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders. "You haven't seen her in close to twenty years. I couldn't imagine living that long without Usagi. You're a strong person to have stayed loyal to her."
Michiru opened her mouth to say something when her sea blue eyes narrowed. She slowly rose to her feet, her bandaged hand reaching into her pocket. "Something's coming," she whispered. "The sea is in an uproar…"
Seiya got up as well, his hand heading for the headset in his pocket when the sky suddenly darkened. "This is a bit creepy," he muttered.
"So you two are Sailor Senshi," a voice smirked. They turned and saw Alex striding out of the darkness. She wore black boots, a pair of black leather pants, and a black shirt under a black leather coat.
"Alex…" Michiru whispered. "Are you all right?"
The white haired woman smiled. "I've never been better." She looked around the grounds, her hands in her pockets. "So where are the others?"
"Inside," Michiru said. "Are you sure you're all right?"
Alex looked back at them, her teal eyes cold and full of hate. "Of course," she whispered softly. She removed her hands from her pocket, pulling out the dark henshin pen. A cold smile formed on her face. "Are you ready to die?"
"Alex? What are you doing?"
"Carrying out the orders of my mistress."
"Alex…"
"Dark Crystal Power! Make UP!"
Michiru and Seiya stared in shock as Dark Uranus appeared before them. "So…so na…" Michiru whispered.
Uranus pulled the dark Space Sword out and pointed it at the two. "Are you just going to stand there and die or do you intend to put up a fight?"
"We're on your side!" Seiya said.
"No. You aren't. Shadow Sword Blaster!"
"Silent Wall!" Pluto, Saturn, the four Inner Senshi, and the two remaining Starlights leapt in between Uranus and Seiya and Michiru.
"Stop this!" Mercury said. "We can help you!"
Uranus laughed. "I don't need your help," she grinned. "This world will belong to my Queen."
"Your Queen?" they repeated.
"Kyra," Michiru growled. "Neptune Crystal Power! Make UP!"
"Fighter Star Power! Make UP!"
"So you do intend to put up a fight," the Dark Senshi grinned. "Good."
"Akuryo Taisan!" Mars shouted, hurling a charm at Uranus.
Uranus caught it in her hand and it burst into flame. "Pathetic," she scoffed.
"Na…nani?" the Senshi exclaimed.
Uranus smiled. "Surrender and I'll make your deaths quick."
"We won't give up until we save you!" Venus cried.
Dark Uranus shook her head. "I've already been saved," she said. She looked them all in the eye. "Queen Kyra welcomed me with open arms. She never saw me as a reincarnation. She saw me as a person."
"That's not true!" Neptune cried.
"Shut up and die," Uranus snapped. "Darkness Shaking!"
The Senshi dove out of the way of the attack. "Alex! Stop this!" Jupiter demanded, glaring at the Dark Senshi.
"Not until you're all dead or kneeling in defeat before my Queen!"
"You're a Senshi! That means…"
"I AM MY OWN PERSON!" Uranus bellowed, a crash of thunder sounding. The black bladed sword rose into the air, the wind beginning to pick up speed as it whipped the hair of the Senshi. "Kuro no Ten'on!" she shouted (Dark Blessings of Heaven). Golden energy descended from the sky, thin lines of ebony energy crackling around it. The energy struck the black blade and she swung the sword down. The dark energy lashed out. The Senshi stood rooted to the spot, eyes wide. Each felt like the temperature had dropped twenty degrees. The energy flew closer to them.
"Silent Wall!" Saturn cried, snapping out of shock. The energy wall formed around them. Saturn's eyes widened in horror as the attack from Dark Uranus shattered the protective wall. The attack slammed into them, sending them hurtling into the trees.
Maker pushed herself up, blood dripping from a dozen wounds all over her body. She looked up at the smirking evil Senshi. "Uranus…" she whispered.
"Do you wish to die first?" Uranus calmly asked, a delighted smile on her face at the pain the Senshi were in.
"Machi na sai!" a voice snapped.
Uranus turned. "I was wondering if you were brave enough to face me Princess," she sneered at Sailor Moon.
"Uranus, stop this now. I know we should have trusted you more. For that I…"
"Will die," Uranus cut in. "You think you can stop me? Look at your precious defenders Sailor Moon. They've fallen." Uranus lifted the sword to the sky and the wind began picking up again. "And so will you."
"Sailor Moon! RUN!" the Senshi shrieked.
"Kuro no Ten'on!" Uranus yelled. The gold energy laced with ebony struck the sword. Uranus grinned and swung the sword down. The Senshi helplessly watched as the dark energy lashed out at their leader. It slammed into Moon and she screamed in pain as the energy rippled over her body, forming cuts and gashes on her skin as she flew into a pole on the shrine porch. She crashed through it and the wall, coming to a stop in Rei's room.
Uranus got up on the porch and walked to Moon. She knelt down and gently brushed several fallen blonde strands from the Moon Senshi's face. The older Senshi looked up. "Uranus…stop this…" she whispered.
"I will," the Dark Wind Senshi replied. A smile formed on Moon's face as Uranus put the sword down. Uranus smiled and placed her hand over Sailor Moon's henshin brooch. She tore the brooch off reverting Moon to Usagi.
"Alex-chan…what are you doing?" she demanded.
The white haired Senshi opened the brooch and pried the Silver Crystal out. She held the powerful gem in her hand. "So this is the source of your power…"
"Uranus…" Usagi began, trying to rise.
"I'd give you time to say goodbye to your friends, but they'll be joining you shortly," Uranus said. She picked up her sword and rose to her feet. She set the Silver Crystal on the outside porch and looked at the struggling Senshi. "Bear witness to the beginning of the end," she said. The Dark Space Sword rose into the air and crashed down to the Silver Crystal.
"NO!" "STOP!" "YOU'LL KILL HER!" the Senshi cried.
Uranus ignored them and slammed the sword into the Silver Crystal. Several cracks formed and light began escaping. Usagi shrieked in pain and the crystal shattered, disappearing into darkness.
Uranus leapt lightly down to the ground from the shrine building, a victorious smirk on her face. "Be thankful I have to go." She turned and vanished into the darkness. The clouds blocking the sun broke apart, lighting up the battleground.
Fighter staggered to her feet and stumbled to Usagi. She cradled the blonde's head in her lap, tears streaming down her face. Usagi stared blankly up at her, the light gone from her eyes. The other Senshi limped over, defeated looks on their faces.
- - - - - - - - - - -
Kyra looked up as Alex walked into the study. The golden eyes roamed over the Senshi's athletic body. The Senshi bowed as Kyra rose to her feet. "The mission was a success," Alex reported with a grin.
"Sailor Moon?"
"Neutralized," Alex replied.
Kyra walked out from the table and hugged the Dark Senshi. "I'm so happy you're safe beloved."
Alex returned the hug. "I'd do anything for you," she whispered.
"I know," Kyra replied. "Tonight, I want to be with you. No titles, no powers, just us," she said.
"As you wish my…Kyra," Alex said. Kyra smiled and passionately kissed Alex, the Senshi eagerly returning it, their tongues dancing in the other's mouth.
- - - - - - - - - -
Seiya stared into the amber liquid in front of him. Dark circles hung under his eyes. He lifted the glass and drained the contents. He motioned for a refill and the bartender complied. He began to drain the alcohol when someone sat down next to him at the bar. He set the glass down with a soft thud.
"Can I get you anything Miss?" the bartender asked.
"Light beer," came the reply. He nodded and a moment later the glass was placed in front of her. She picked it up and drained a third before setting it back down.
"Why are you here?" Seiya asked.
"To get drunk," Michiru replied.
Seiya snorted. "How pathetic are we? We couldn't protect the ones we love most…" he muttered, draining his beer. "How are the others?"
"Still pretty banged up. That attack…" Michiru fell silent and shook her head.
"I know," he returned as she motioned for a refill of her empty glass. "Think we could go back in time and stop all this?"
"The Time Keys are hidden and Setsuna's still unconscious. She lost a lot of blood covering Hotaru."
"Great. We have to face off with one of our own and we can't even lay a finger on her but she's already taken out the most powerful of us."
"We were holding back Seiya. She is one of us…or she was…" Michiru sighed and finished her second beer. "She was so full of hate," she whispered as she got a refill. She downed the contents to hide her tears from Seiya.
"What say we get out of here?" Seiya suggested. Michiru shrugged and the two paid for their drinks before leaving.
"My place isn't too far," Michiru said. Seiya nodded and they headed to Michiru's apartment.
They arrived a short time later and Seiya looked around. "Nice place."
"Thanks." She looked at him. "Did you want anything to drink?"
He shrugged. "I don't care."
She nodded and pulled off her jacket, draping it over the back of a chair. She rested her hands on the back of the chair, unsuccessfully holding back her tears. A pair of warm arms wrapped around her and she turned and began sobbing on Seiya's chest. He said nothing as he held her. She pushed away from him slightly, wiping her eyes. She looked up at him and opened her mouth to apologize when he suddenly kissed her. Michiru shoved him away, staring at him in shock. They stared at the other for several minutes, unsure of what to do or say. They suddenly were in each other's arms, kissing the other desperately.
"Seiya…" she whispered, her speech slurred from the alcohol.
"Mmm?"
"We shouldn't…" she whispered.
He blinked and sat back. "Sorry…I…I don't know what happened…" he returned, his own speech impaired.
"Oh you can't stop now," a cold voice smirked. They turned and saw Kyra smirking at them.
"You!" Michiru snarled. Before either could move for their henshin devices Kyra held up her hand, freezing them both.
"What…did you…do…to us?" Seiya snarled.
Kyra merely smiled. "Alcohol's a funny drug. Especially when mixed with a potion I had made for you two." They stared in confusion. Kyra laughed. "Enjoy each other's company," she smirked. She snapped her fingers and vanished. Seiya and Michiru's eyes dulled. Lustful glints formed in their eyes as they looked at each other. They turned and desperately began kissing, their hands roaming over each other's bodies.
Seiya grabbed Michiru and slammed her into the wall, his deft fingers unbuttoning her blouse as they kissed. His tongue flicked into her mouth in exploration. They broke apart and she pulled his shirt off as he slipped the blouse from her shoulders. He began kissing her again, his hands fumbling to remove her skirt. Her fingers undid the button to his black jeans and she unzipped the pants. The skirt hit the floor and he suddenly picked her up and carried her down the hall. Remembering where her bedroom was from the tour he and the other Senshi had been given a few years ago he walked in, shutting the door behind him.
He set her down and they renewed their kissing. His fingers undid the clasp to her bra and tossed it aside. The last of their garments hit the floor and he pushed her onto the bed. He climbed on top of her, kissing her neck and chest. Her eyes fell close as he paid special attention to her breasts. Seiya grabbed Michiru's wrists and left a trail of kisses from her neck to her chest. He moved into her and she cried out in bliss, her skin darkening with his movements.
- - - - - - - - - -
Kyra smirked as she watched Seiya and Michiru through the glass. The door opened and the evil queen looked over as Alex walked in, her white hair mussed up from sleeping. "I didn't know you were up," Kyra said.
"Just woke up," Alex yawned. She noticed the image on the screen. "Aren't those…" she began.
"Neptune and Fighter," Kyra said. She shook her head. "Neptune claims she loves you, doesn't she?"
Alex's eyes darkened. "She does…"
Kyra shook her head. "So disloyal if she does truly love you."
"It doesn't matter. I love only you Kyra," Alex returned, holding the golden haired woman.
Kyra smiled. "And I love only you beloved." The pair kissed, the scene of Seiya and Michiru vanishing.
::peeks out from behind an adamantium wall:: Um...no one kill me for these chapters! Things will eventually get better...I promise! Until then, review! More reviews mean a happier ending!