Hoorah, another chapter! Thanks to everyone for sticking with me, and for your support and follows and such. You guys rock!
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of its affiliated characters. Besides Korina. I do claim her.
The star broach clutched in Korina's hand sparked with scarlet electricity, tingling up her arm and through her entire body. The warmth it gave off was comforting, yet empowering at the same time. It was familiar, touching every corner of her mind and soul.
"Charon Star Power, MAKE UP!"
The words had bubbled with a life of their own, bursting forth from Korina's lips before they had even formed in her mind. She was aware of everyone's eyes settling on her as she shouted, but soon the bright glow shrouded her sight. Squeezing her eyes shut against the light, she set all her focus on the blazing warmth in her hand.
Light sparked out of it, spiraling out in ribbons of dark crimson and white that coiled around Korina's body, whipping her lavender pigtails into her face. Biting back the urge to cry out, she let the ribbons mold onto her skin. Her standard nurse's uniform had been washed away, replaced with a white leotard and deep crimson skirt. Platform boots that reached mid-shin and a sailor's collar matched the skirt in color. Ribbons and other details adorned the fuku in a dark shade of grey.
'Sailor Charon…' a voice called to her. But as soon as Korina tried to listen for more it dissipated. There was no trace.
The sparks died down, and Korina could feel her feet land gingerly on the tile floor again. She opened her eyes, allowing the room to come back into focus. Just as she had expected, nearly everyone had his gaze fixed on her. Some wore expressions of confusion, while others wore mixtures of hatred and surprise. Helios, however, watched her with the old golden glint in his eyes. Hope.
What startled her, however, was how no one reacted. Seconds slipped by her as no one moved a muscle. No one spoke a word. In fact, no one even appeared to be breathing.
Perhaps the seconds weren't really slipping by her.
Sailor Charon glanced down at her newly gloved hands, still hovering in front of her chest. She knew little about the sailor scouts of the past, save their names and general abilities as soldiers. She did know, however, that the silver crystal possessed by Princess Serenity was easily the most powerful. Its presence allowed for the Sol Senshi to be.
'It makes sense…' Sailor Charon thought, her eyes still fixed on the subtle, lingering glow of the crystal. 'It had been dormant for so long… I was only able to transform because it came back to life.'
A slow fire burned deep inside her, igniting a confidence she had long thought was lost. The tides of the battle were beginning to turn.
She took a deep breath, forcing her determination into her eyes. As she exhaled, life seemed to breathe back into her surroundings. Her moments of timelessness blurred into a dreamlike memory, and those around her were suddenly aware of her transformation.
As reality dawned again, Charon caught the last bit of light sparking from the silver crystal fade into a soft glow. Serenity rolled towards one side, as though she were having a fitful sleep.
'I will get you out of here, Princess… I promise.'
She then turned to Helios, whom had returned to her side. A chuckle nearly escaped her lips as she noticed that, with her new shoes, she was almost as tall as him.
Shuffling on her other side snapped her attention back to the guards, who each had tensed at the new development. Charon's eyes slid over each guard slowly before finally resting on Diamond. She mentally berated herself for being confident at all.
'Even an experienced scout would be outmatched in this situation…' She thought. 'What makes me think I even have a chance?'
'You're a master of deception.' Some part of her mind cried out. 'Use that. If anything, stall for time.'
Appear confident, she decided. If the guards believe there was even a chance they could be beaten, they won't be so eager to pounce. Playing into the façade, she dropped her hands into fists at her side, squaring her shoulders, and peered directly at Diamond through narrowed eyes.
Hopefully none of them noticed how she clenched every muscle in fear.
"It seems I missed one. What a development," Diamond said flatly, barely a murmur. "What are you, the sailor scout of medicinal herbs and needles?" He sneered.
"I am Sailor Charon." The Senshi replied, introducing herself. "And you look terrified, Diamond. Afraid of a little needle?" She jabbed, unable to keep her mouth from curling into a smirk.
The Prince's scowl returned. "You wish."
The two forces stared each other down, waiting for one to make a move.
"Release Serenity." Charon demanded, forcing authority into her voice.
Diamond's cold eyes pierced through her confidence. His glare matched hers, fire for fire, as the emotion behind it changed from hatred to surprise to a vague sort of confidence. "I find it hard to believe one little scout could stand against me." He sneered, stepping in her direction. "In fact, even when there were eight scouts you still stood no chance."
A scowl tugged at Sailor Charon's lips as she recalled the fates of the past scouts. "You ambushed them one by one. Attacking them from behind when they were defenseless, like a coward."
"Ha!" Prince Diamond threw an amused look at the scout. "Yet you reside in my castle and do absolutely nothing to 'protect' your Princess. I had ambitions and I worked towards them. Which of us is the coward, Korina?" He spat her name as though it were venom in his mouth.
"Our work has been quiet, calculating." Helios stepped in. "We've been waiting for the right moment."
"And this was it?" It was Diamond's turn to smirk. "Let me tell you children something. There was never going to be a right moment. I have destiny on my side, and destiny will fight for us to be together." He glanced towards Serenity's sleeping form.
"You're delusional." Helios scoffed at him. "Destiny had another idea in mind, and you destroyed that." He spat.
The brute of a guard that attacked Helios earlier tensed to make another move, but Charon positioned herself between them in a blink of an eye. She snarled at the bastard, making him hesitate just long enough to decide to hold off.
Diamond looked at him, surprisingly calm. "Ah yes… The pink rabbit, right? That's what you're really referring to. The little brat of a princess."
Sailor Charon raised an eyebrow, clearly confused by the statement. She looked to Helios, who had clenched his shaking fists in rage.
"Not only her! The entirety of Crystal Tokyo! The future was supposed to be beautiful and happy. She told me that."
Diamond lifted his hands, motioning to the colored crystal tiers that rose in walls around us. "Look around you. I have created this Crystal Tokyo. Who's to say it's any different? How do you know for sure?"
"You wouldn't be leading." Charon spoke up, crossing her arms over her chest. "Neo-Queen Serenity would be in power, so it would undoubtedly be better. At the very least she actually has a heart."
"Her so-claimed utopia wasn't any more perfect than mine is. I was there; I saw it!" Diamond defended himself. "But I can promise Serenity something she didn't have in her Tokyo. I can promise someone who truly loves her for her soul. Not one predestined for her, who loves her only because she is Queen." The honesty and compassion behind his words astounded Charon.
Sailor Charon frowned, her confusion growing uncomfortably. She never knew this other Prince or other Princess; had never even been aware of their existence. That there were such important things Helios kept from her only added to the frustration.
"How dare you insult my Prince like that!" Helios shouted, startling Sailor Charon from her thoughts. "He loved Serenity with all his being for millennia. You're the one after her power!"
At these words, Diamond's eyes actually… softened. "You are wrong. I have my own power. Power I intend to protect my love with for all eternity. She will never need to lift a finger, will never need to fight again. Your pathetic Earth prince could never offer her that."
"Look at you, being all righteous. Let's not forget the lives you crushed to get here in the first place." Sailor Charon muttered, her crimson eyes narrowing at him.
Diamond glanced between the two of them, a thoughtful glaze in his eyes. "I did what I needed to ensure an empire in which Serenity could rule as she pleased. No biased scouts to influence her every decision, to degrade her and judge her compassionate actions."
"You kill her friends and family. You put her into a coma and slowly destroy her memories. You force her to love you." Charon's teeth clenched together, her voice slowly rising. "Now you talk about giving her control of the world, yet from where I stand you look to have all the power. You say you're protecting her, but from what? You're the one hurting her! Her true guardians were slaughtered by your own hands!"
Energy bubbled deep within Charon's soul. Angry, hateful energy. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, focusing on her new power. How she wished she knew how to use it, to attack and defeat the spoiled Prince and transform everything into a world fit for Serenity. Charon allowed her mind to submerge in the power, hoping to find a way to use it effectively. Instead, she felt it spark and flare out, doing nothing but send a wave of acknowledgement.
A strange expression passed over Diamond's face before it twisted into an almost triumphant laugh. "Never have I felt such darkness in a scout; such hatred." He studied her face, as though noticing her for the first time. "But you have no control. What do you expect to do?"
Sailor Charon's eyes snapped open, meeting the Prince's. His words felt like a slap in the face… she was a sailor scout who was dark with hatred? Who was he to judge her, with his track record? But the more she thought about what he had said, the more it weighed down on her mind. A dark sailor scout wasn't fit to protect someone so pure. Just what kind of power did she possess?
"She has plenty of control." Helios's voice rang out, breaking Charon's concentration.
'Helios…' He glanced back and forth between them, hope and frustration still gleaming in his eyes.
Charon almost wanted to shake her head at him. His support was heartwarming, but did little to convince her of anything. Diamond still glared at her, a violent storm churning in his eyes. She looked up at him and her thoughts suddenly turned thick, as though drowsiness were being forced upon her.
'This is pointless…' Charon thought. 'Already my powers have me fatigued, how could I possibly fight?'
"Korina!" a voice shouted.
Sailor Charon's eyes snapped away from Diamond's as she glanced around the room, looking for the source of the voice. It was only then she realized it was that voice in her own mind.
'Snap out of it!' The voice chastised harshly. 'You aren't fatigued; Diamond is using his mind control abilities on your body. Get ahold of yourself and stand up like the scout you were born to be!'
With her mind becoming increasingly groggy, it took several seconds for this voice's words to register in Charon's mind. 'I can't go down without a fight.' The thought slowly came to her. 'That will only prove that he is right.'
She closed her eyes again, trying to focus on the power that was so prominent before. It was harder to locate this time but it was there, a faint beacon of energy.
Charon mentally gripped onto the energy, fighting a new wave of confusion. She repeated exactly what she had done before, praying that it would work. With a start, Sailor Charon remarkably jumped out of Diamond's control, and stood panting from the effort.
"Perhaps you do exercise some control, little girl." Diamond's voice taunted Charon. "Though you still face the impossible." He murmured, narrowing his eyes at the pair. His expression grew tight, the same thoughtfulness returning to his features.
'Time is running out… If I don't figure out how to use at least some of my energy there's no way we're leaving here with Serenity…' Charon bit the inside of her lip as anxiety slipped into her mindset. Options were running low. As much as she despised the idea, escaping with Helios for the day was starting to sounds attractive.
But of course difficulties plagued that option too. Difficulties, and the sheer stab of defeat that would come from retreating.
Prince Diamond cleared his throat, drawing Sailor Charon from her thoughts. "What do you fight for?" He asked, an odd tone to his voice.
Charon blinked. What were they fighting for? Was he serious in asking that question?
She scowled at him. "For Serenity. For a prosperous future."
"As do I," The Prince whispered, barely audible. He turned to the sleeping form of Serenity and placed his hand atop hers.
"Don't touch her!" Helios shouted. He looked ready to pounce.
Diamond slowly looked up to them. "Perhaps we are going about this the wrong way."
"What are you talking about?" Expecting the worst, Charon lowered her stance, bracing herself for a battle.
"I will admit that, as a Senshi of this planet, you are a rightful guardian to Serenity. Then you," Diamond switched his cool gaze to Helios. "Have a duty to this planet. Am I not mistaken?"
Both Helios and Charon stood silent, motionless, unsure of how to respond to him.
Diamond continued anyway. "Both of you have demonstrated a faith to Serenity and her upmost happiness. You aren't corrupted by selfish means like the others were." He seemed to be drawing on and on, hesitant of what he was saying himself.
Charon risked a glance to the guards, who seemed as confused by the Prince's sudden change as she was.
"Join me. Join us."
Her jaw dropped. She stared dumbfounded at Diamond, unable to believe her own ears. Helios stared too, in the same state of utter shock.
"We battle for the same goals. So why are we battling? Even if you miraculously defeated me – and my many followers – what would you do? Serenity would become a Kingless Queen with only one lone scout as protection. This world would…"
"Never." Helios harshly interrupted him. "Never would we follow you."
Sailor Charon glanced between Helios and Diamond, silent. She hated the fact that some part of her, deep within her fears, came close to agreeing with the murderous Prince.
Both icy blue and angry orange eyes turned to her.
"Is that how you feel, Sailor Charon?" Diamond asked her.
She licked her lips in anxiety, fixing her gaze on the steady rise and fall of Serenity's chest. The tension in the room thickened, nearly suffocating her. Charon was aware of the restlessness in the soldiers surrounding them.
"You expect us to trust you?" She squeaked, feeling the need to say something.
"I'm allowing you to be close to my Queen Serenity, and fulfill your duties as they are." Diamond paused, enjoying the indecision in the senshi's eyes. "And I expect you to realize that you have no better option. In exchange for your loyalty to us and protection of the new royal family, I can promise you both safety in my castle."
Charon swallowed the lump forming in her throat while trying to sketch out any other possible course of action. Her mind raced, desperately looking for sufficient reason to say no. Then again, how much happiness could Helios and herself really promise Serenity, if they managed to defeat Diamond? With all her scouts and friends dead, and this other prince and princess gone as well, what would be left for the Queen? And if in the future there was a significant threat to Crystal Tokyo, how could the two of them protect her alone?
But that was the easy way out.
That wasn't what she had sacrificed so much for; had dedicated her life for.
That wasn't why she and Helios were here, risking everything for a brighter future.
"We fight for different destinies. We will always be enemies." Charon answered at last, looking up at Diamond in time to see his face twist into an angry mix of hate and rejection.
"If that is your choice, you have sealed your fate." He seethed.
Charon glanced towards Helios. If only they had thought this whole thing through, or at least sketched out some sort of plan if they were caught. Then again, neither of them had expected things to go quite as they had.
She opened her mouth to speak when a pale, slender movement caught her eye.
Princess Serenity, whom had until now lay virtually motionless on the bed, had lifted an arm to rub her eye softly. Her lips pursed together in effort, and a slight groan sounded from her throat.
Even from where she stood across the room, Sailor Charon could make out the brilliant blue of Serenity's eyes as her eyelids fluttered open.
She blinked several times, raising her other arm to rub her eyes as well. Her head was turned to the side, facing the front doors, enough so that everyone was well within her gaze.
Still lying down, Serenity's eyes flitted around the room, resting on each face long enough to take in the features before moving on to the next. Her facial expression never changed from the tired, confused overcast worn over her delicate features. No recognition. No fear.
Diamond was the first to react, reaching the side of her bed in a blur of motion. He closed one of her hands in both of his. "My Queen, you are awake…" he said, dazed, as though he still didn't believe it. "Please rest, you must be weak after such an intense cleansing." His voice instantly converted to an incredible warmth and love.
But then his words sunk in, and she blinked in surprise. Cleansing? Is that what he thought of all this?
Serenity's eyebrows knitted together as though she were under stress. She opened her mouth but a tattered, strangled sound was all that came out. Instead, she propped her free arm beneath her torso and lifted her head off the pillow.
"No, no my Queen! Please allow your body the time to rest," Diamond looked distraught, undoubtedly from his concern of the princess's well being. Seeing his care for her rooted deep in his expressions almost made him seem humane.
Almost.
The princess stubbornly ignored his plea and continued her attempt to sit. Eventually Diamond gave in and started helping her, until she was upright.
While Diamond busied himself with the princess, Sailor Charon glanced at the guards around her from the corner of her eyes. Though their gazes were fixed on their King they still held their stances stiff, hanging on every word out of Diamond's mouth, yet ready to attack if either Helios or Charon made a wrong move.
Claustrophobia seeped into her thoughts for a moment. She was literally trapped – one wrong move could end everything.
Charon looked to her other side, trying to catch Helios's attention. His eyes flickered to hers, uncertainty laced within them. So he had no ideas either. Would they ever find a chance out of this?
She turned her gaze back to Diamond, who had a hand resting on Serenity's shoulder in a protective gesture.
It seemed only time would tell.
Too bad they didn't have much left to gamble with.
A tad shorter than last time (my apologies), but writing has a way of coming to perfect end points, and this happened to be it. Hope you enjoyed, and stay tuned! :)