Another contract has come and gone, and here I am again! I hope this chapter was worth the wait!
The Sailor Moon music is on! Let's get started!
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Chapter 21
Revelations
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Andromeda fought her way to her hands and knees, then slowly stood up and faced the others. Her balance was somewhat precarious as she stared Serena down. Her clothing was dirty, bloodied and torn. The arrows still protruded from her body, but the roses were gone. A strap had broken on one of her sandals and the remaining length hung loosely about her ankle. Her shoulder shells were gone or broken. She gave a bit of a cough, then wiped the resulting blood from her lips. Her eyes strayed from Serena's only for a moment, and Serena caught a hint of pain and longing. Then she was glaring at Serena again and she saw only Certain Triumph.
"What are you going to do now, girl? Your Princess is gone."
"You are a fool."
"Shut up! She was the key to finding the Princess of the Moon who wasn't from–"
"As I said," Serena interrupted coldly, "you are a fool."
Andromeda went silent. A hint of frustration on her face. What was the girl trying to prove?
Serena continued, her voice like ice. "If you sought her, you found her … and she has escaped you. Again."
Andromeda's frowned, churning the words in her mind and then she gasped, her eyes, widening. The Mistress would not be happy.
She froze as she felt a Presence behind her, then spun and fell to her knees. The others all gaped as a rip seemed to appear in the very air and a tall woman stepped through.
"Darien," Serena spoke softly, "get Mother back with the others. Now."
Ikuko tried to protest, tried to say that Serena should come with them, but something in Darien's face stopped her and her words subsided. She didn't fight Darien's arm as it guided her away, but she didn't look away from her daughter either. There was something about her just now. Something different; stronger.
Reaching the others, Ikuko grabbed Kenji's hand on one side and Sammy's on the other. Darien took a place in front of the family.
"You aren't going back to her, Darien? What's going on?"
Darien looked back over his shoulder, his small smile contrasting with his slightly reddened eyes as he minutely shook his head. He glanced to his left and caught Mina's eye. Mina nodded and took two steps forward. The Inners followed with a single step and the Outers tightened formation about the families and Darien.
"Interesting."
The cultured voice had a slightly echoing feeling to it, like it was being spoken in a large empty room. She was pale of skin, with dark eyes and black wavy tresses that fell long past her shoulder. Her height was accentuated by her narrow frame which was clothed in a robe-like gown of red-gold. The loose cuffs extended beyond her wrists, but did not hide her hands. A belt of gold sat at her hips and trailed down the front of her gown from a buckle made of Hematite and Obsidian circles within circles. She looked over the group and then slowly brought her gaze to her servant.
"Is this her then? The Moon Princess, born of Earth, but powered by the Sun?"
Andromeda remained very still. She hesitated for only a fraction before admitting her failure.
"No, Mistress. The Princess you sought is no more. She sacrificed herself to save these ones."
"Destroyed?" She pondered this. "No, I don't think so. Where is the Star Seed?"
"I was not able to retrieve it, Mistress. My wounds …" Her voice trailed off, knowing there was no acceptable excuse to give this woman. A willowy hand raised slightly from the folds of the gown and black electrical power enveloped Andromeda. She resisted the urge to scream, knowing from experience that screaming too soon only prolonged the torture.
"Stop! Stop it!" cried a voice from behind Serena. Michelle. Serena recalled that Michelle claimed to have known this person long ago. Other small clues clicked into place in her head. She knew. It was time.
Serena's chin came up and a breeze played with her hair. Her unflinching gaze met the eyes of the strange, exotic woman. "The Seed you seek is in a place where you cannot reach it, even if you could find it."
Cold, black eyes settled on Serena. "Child, nothing is beyond my reach." Her head tilted slightly to one side as she considered the defiant blonde before her. "You smell of Power, child. Who are you?"
"Guests first."
"You amuse me, child." A small smile could not hide the gleam of sharp teeth. "You know who I am."
Serena remained silent and the woman's eyes darkened further as she relented graciously.
"Very well, then. As I reward for amusing me. I am Discord. Now … die."
She flung her right arm out in a discus throwing gesture … and three shadows moved from their hiding places.
Serena stepped back in surprise as the dark energy was deflected by a shield of Starlight.
"Fighter! Healer! Maker!"
Discord took a slight step back, frowning at this new set of arrivals. Reaching behind her, Fighter gathered Serena to her side and the three of them jumped closer to the others. Serena pulled away slightly.
"Fighter, why are you here?"
Fighter smiled. "We had a mission." Flashing grins, the three leapt back into the air and immediately began attacking Discord. She deflected their attacks with the ease of one brushing away mosquitoes. They landed in a crouched line between Discord and the group. Serena chose this moment to step forward.
"I think it's our turn to introduce ourselves." Taking another step forward, eight followed behind her. Kenji grabbed Darien's arm.
"What's going on here? Get her back here before she gets hurt, Darien! What-" Kenji's arm was detached and he found himself looking up at Kunzite. Ikuko put a calming hand on his arm and leaned against his shoulder. Judith's protests were cut off when Zoisite caught her eye and winked. Grandpa was harder to convince and almost came to blows with Jadeite. It was Chad that grabbed his shoulder firmly.
"Quiet, Grandpa. I think this is finally it."
"Of course, it is! My granddaughter is going to be killed! Let go of me, Chad!"
"No, Grandpa! I mean we're finally going to learn the secret she's been hiding for the past few years."
Jadeite nodded at Chad. Then turned to watch.
Serena never took her eyes off the Enemy. "Call it, Mina."
Mina threw a fist in the air. "SENSHI! HENSHIN!
Eight auras of Power surrounded the girls as they transformed on either side of Serena. Their families watched in wonder as the young women emerged with proud poses.
"Sailor Mars!"
"Sailor Mercury!"
"Sailor Jupiter!"
"Sailor Venus!"
"Sailor Uranus!"
"Sailor Neptune!"
"Sailor Pluto!"
"Sailor Saturn!"
Serena raised both arms before her and called out. The Silver Moon Chalice appeared and Serena was enveloped in a soft pink glow.
"Wings … my baby girl has wings!" Darien heard whispered behind him. His loving eyes continued to watch his wife's transformation. He never got tired of watching this.
"Eternal Sailor Moon is here! Together, we are the Soldiers of the new Silver Millennium!"
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
My apologies for leaving this chapter for so long, but I had a horrible case of writers block as well as a series of odd jobs with long hours. But I've caught up with most of my work now, and I hope to get this up for you as soon as possible. It should end soon. (Thank you, faithful readers!)
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
The amusement had disappeared from the face of Discord as she watched the appearances of the Powers that opposed her. She glanced down at the three who had thought to attack her earlier.
"And you? Who are you, little worms?"
"There are three invincible lights were the stars drift to … Sailor Star Healer!"
"Sailor Star Fighter!"
"Sailor Star Maker!"
(in unison) "We are the Sailor Starlights!"
"Indeed," sneered Discord. She looked back at the huddled group and noted the protective positions. "And who else are you hiding back there?"
Darien grinned and produced a rose. "Hiding? Nobody here is hiding from you, lady!" The rose began to glow with a strong, yet gentle aura. The aura extended around Darien and Tuxedo Mask soon stood between the Enemy and his loved ones, his cape floating on the breeze.
The small group gaped at him, stunned. Blinking, Ikuko gave a soft smile and turned to Kunzite. She opened her mouth to ask if he had powers too, but he stopped her with a shake of his head and a wink. From off to the side came a quiet 'Whoa.' from Chad.
Summoning her staff, and planting it firmly in front of herself, ready to defend, Sailor Moon spoke with authority.
"Introductions are over! State your purpose, and then leave!"
Discord's eyes narrowed slightly. There was open defiance in the eyes before her. She would have to squash it out like the worms they were.
"I have come for revenge, of course. Revenge that is centuries old for waiting, and revenge that is more recent still." She let her eyes roam over the crowd until they settled on Eternal Sailor Moon. "You. You are the one who defeated Sailor Galaxia. You defeated Chaos. You achieved, if only for a moment, the ability to wield an amount of Power that will rival Sailor Cosmos."
"Yes." Sailor Moon gave the answer firmly, showing neither fear, nor pride, but simply truth.
"Sailor Chaos was my brother. You caused him and his guardian fairy to melt into the cauldron. While all others have been re-born, he has still yet to return to me."
Sailor Venus crossed her arms in front of her. "Sailor Scouts have always been women! How is it that Sailor Chaos is a male?"
Discord permitted herself a small smile. "Such is Chaos, little worm. Chaos is bound to no rule, otherwise, it would not be Chaos."
Sailor Venus snorted. "Yeah, and he wasn't cute either."
Kunzite made a small choking sound, but quickly controlled the startled expression on his face. Jadeite, Nephrite, and Zoisite openly grinned.
Discord frowned. "Such impudence." She flicked a hand towards Sailor Venus, a black javelin shooting towards her. Sailor Moon leapt up and deflected it with a swing of her staff.
Star Fighter smiled. "All that training paid off, yeah?" (AN: See STARS anime – Seiya trained Serena for a baseball competition at school.)
Warm smiles reflected on the faces of the Inners and Sailor Moon, but nobody took their eyes off the Enemy in front of them. Suddenly Sailor Moon spun and looked behind her … to see Tuxedo Mask and the Outers already moving into position.
"WORLD SHAKING!"
"DEEP SUBMERGE!"
"SILENCE WALL!"
The two Outers' attacks weakened the black crackling sphere just enough and Saturn's shield was able to dissipate the rest.
"Ah." The deep throaty voice brought Sailor Moon's attention back to the front. "You are paying attention. Very good." One long arm reached up and slender fingers stretched out, palm towards the quickly darkening sky.
Jupiter suddenly dashed to wards Sailor Moon and leapt in front of her, taking a bolt meant for her. Landing heavily, she was quickly on her feet as stream after stream of black lightening struck from the sky. Saturn stubbornly held her ground, shielding the families and friends as well as the Knights within.
"Jupiter!" Sailor Jupiter bit out between gritted teeth, as the Scouts around her grunted and gasped in pain, struggling to keep on their feet. She was butt-kicking Jupiter! She wasn't going down like this! She had to do something to save her friends ... her family! For they were all more than just friends now. They would always be together! She believed that. "Jupiter, give me strength!" She took a deep, painful breath and put everything into her call.
"JUPITER! THUNDER DRAGON!"
White lightening struck the antennae of her tiara and spread throughout her body, gathering, building, and then blasting out in the electrical form of a dragon. Jupiter watched as it swept about the sky, purifying the black bolts and actually offering Power to her friends before shooting to Discord's hand as a large powerful bolt, causing her to jerk that hand back with a small growl.
Jupiter was surprised at her dragon's actions. "I … I didn't know it could do that," she murmured to herself. She noticed a pressure in her left hand, and looked down to see that it held Sailor Moon's. Sailor Moon, who knelt behind her on one knee, gave her hand a quick squeeze. Jupiter was even more surprised. Sailor Moon had never combined attacks with anything but her tiara before. She opened her mouth to ask, but found herself trying to keep her balance instead as the ground began to tremble.
Discord gave a throaty chuckle. "Did you really think that you would be beating me so easily? Oh, no little worms … it is far from over! And now I have an idea of what you are capable of!"
The ground exploded at five points around them as Discord and her servant backed off to watch.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Okay, I should be wrapping this up right away, but I wanted to get something posted for those who are waiting! My thanks to the loyal readers! Note for above - Thunder Dragon was used once in the anime. Episode R55/49 – apparently Jupiter can only use it when she's very angry.)
If you have questions, or I've flubbed something, please message me!
Don't forget to REVIEW! Let me know you were here and what you think!
Jade's Rose
"Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."