Yeah, I'm late again. There is really no excuse except I felt too lazy to edit and post yesterday. In any case, thank you all for your hits and reviews. This story has come a long way in such a short amount of time and I have all of you to thank for it.
Now, onward to the chapter.
Chapter 10: At the End of the Tunnel
Serenity knew that time had passed, but she wasn't sure how much. She kept fading in and out of consciousness and she some times woke up in the void or back in the Crystal Palace.
When she was in the void, she found that she could move through space, much like what the Death Phantom had done when he had visited her. From the realm between dream and sleep, she could see outside her body.
Serenity could see the battle taken place between the Dark Moon and the people of Earth. She watched as her people died protecting their homes and how the Dark Moon had reduced her planet into a world of ruin. She thought it was ironic that the Black Moon invaded to take the beauty of Earth for themselves, but thought nothing of destroying the planet and turning it into a clone of Nemesis.
She also saw and felt as her senshi used their powers to erect a barrier around the Crystal Palace when the Dark Moon Clan attempted another attack. It was a desperate move since the senshi could no longer physically fight, leaving those outside the Crystal Palace to fend for themselves. They instead put all their hopes in their past selves being able to finish the battle.
From her vestige from the void she watched her husband, her precious Mamo-chan. It was a sight she remembered from her past, but it didn't make it any easier to see him. He was liked a walking ghost. The emptiness of the palace made the image even more pronounce. He walked around with eyes void of emotions as he worked his computer and managed the palace's defenses. He also went around and checked on the survivors who had taken shelter within the Crystal Palace. He attempted to keep the moral up, but he lacked the energy to do much for the disheartened people. It was hard to give others hope when you didn't have it yourself.
The worst, however, was when he came to visitor her. There wasn't a day that went by that Endymion didn't come to see her. The room that held her entrapped body was like a tomb. It was mostly silent even when Endymion was there. He spoke sparingly and it was usually about how much he missed her. He some times spent hours kneeling before her crystal prison saying nothing. If he could, she knew that Endymion would had left roses by her side. No one disturbed him during those visits.
If Serenity didn't know any better, she would believe herself to be dead.
As her awareness in the void grew, she was able to expand herself even beyond the Earth. She could float through space and even extend herself as far as Nemesis.
Serenity could go inside the palace of the Black Moon and watched as Prince Demande and his clan planned the demised of her daughter and past self. It was more than a little unnerving as she watched Demande pinned over a holographic image of herself. His lust was so strong that even in her less than physical state she could feel it.
Saphir was also more than a little disgusted when he caught his brother in that state. Of everyone on the Dark Moon, Saphir was the only one who seemed to have kept his common sense. He spent hours trying to persuade Demande to give up on the past and instead focus on taken over the Earth. He also didn't like the mindless destruction that was taken place on her planet. He wanted some of the beauty of Earth to survive when they returned there.
During her visits to Nemesis, she learned what had become of the Outers Senshi. Thankfully, they were still alive. The people of the Black Moon had pinned them on Pluto with their strongest droids and had destroyed all of their communication devices making it impossible for them to call for help. Although they were holding their own, they couldn't break through the barricade.
In some ways, that was a good thing since she knew if the Outers did break free they would head straight for Nemesis and end the threat directly. There the Death Phantom, whose powers were growing along with the Black Poison Crystal, would undoubtedly kill them. She also feared that Saturn would bring down her Glaive if they confronted the Death Phantom.
The situation with the Outers also ended up being a blessing to the people of Earth and the Guardian Senshi since the Black Moon was using a lot of resources to subdue the Outer Senshi. She also suspected that this was the reason why their past selves never had to deal with stronger droids.
She never stood on Nemesis for long since the Death Phantom could always sense her presence. The Death Phantom said nothing and didn't even acknowledge her since he knew Serenity was powerless. If anything, her presence was a source of amusement to the creature of chaos.
As more time passed, Serenity found her bouts of consciousness becoming fewer and fewer. There were times where she woke up and several days had passed. The world also became less than real and everything felt dreamlike.
There were moments where she was certain she was dreaming. It usually happened when she was thinking of happier times with her family. She had images of having picnics with her daughter and husband that felt completely real. It wasn't until she woke up back in her crystal prison that she realized that it wasn't real or just a memory.
She was also certain that she could hear Small Lady in her mind at times. For the most part she couldn't understand what her daughter was saying except that she sounded sad and lonely. Other times, she heard Small Lady as clear as a bell. She was usually screaming for her, asking to come home. Her screams of anguish were some times followed by ripples in time.
Serenity wanted to reach for her daughter, but lacked the power to do so. Small Lady was so far a way and her strength had all but faded. Drained by both the lack of having her Silver Crystal and from the prison that entrapped her.
She feared that one day she would fell asleep and never awaken. She knew how things were supposed to play out, but she also knew that time was ever changing. One thing could change everything. She could be trapped within this crystal forever. The Black Moon Clan could kill her daughter and the world destroyed by the evil of the Death Phantom.
Oh, how this could had been avoided. If only she had cleansed Triten when she had the chance. So many lives could have been saved and her daughter wouldn't be going through such pain. Even now, however, still thought she did the right thing. If she had cleansed Triten, then he would have been right about her. Even so, was her morality really worth the lives of millions of people? Was it worth the centuries of suffering that the people of Nemesis were forced to endure?
She didn't want to think about it anymore. She just wanted to fade now. Maybe she should finally give in and sink completely into the darkness. Everything she did just ended in pain.
Without warning, Serenity suddenly jolted awake. She wasn't sure what had ripped her from the iron grip of sleep, but she felt like something important was happening. She heard voices outside her prison. They sounded familiar, but different at the same time.
"Is that..." she heard someone asked.
That voice...it sounded like her.
"Yes, the queen of Crystal Tokyo, Neo-Queen Serenity," Endymion said. "She is your future self."
Serenity felt like she was struck by lighting. Her past self was here? How long has she been asleep?
"Mommy!" Small Lady yelled. She saw her daughter lean against her crystal prison. "I brought Sailor Moon and the Sailor Senshi from the past." Her voice began to break. "Mommy, please open your eyes."
She wanted to answer, but just like all those other times, she lack the strength to even twitch.
"King, how did this happen?" a male voice asked. It was undoubtedly the voice of her husband's past self. He sounded so scared.
"Is the queen even still alive?" Venus asked fearfully.
"I don't know," Endymion answered honestly. His voice was filled with an unspoken emotion. "If we still had the Silver Crystal we may have a chance, but the Silver Crystal is currently missing."
Serenity heard Small Lady grasped. She knew the guilt she must be feeling over taken the crystal. She didn't blame her daughter, not even a little bit. It was terrible mistake that would never have happened if she had spent more time with her. It was another one of her failings.
"Missing, what happened!?" Jupiter exclaimed.
"I have no idea," Endymion sighed. "It disappeared just as the Black Moon attacked us."
Small Lady began to moan in guilt.
"But if we need the Silver Crystal, Sailor Moon has one," Mars said happily.
"Can my Silver Crystal really awaken Neo-Queen Serenity?" Sailor Moon asked doubtfully.
"Give it a try!" Luna insisted.
"Go for it," Artemis encouraged further.
"Have fate, Sailor Moon," Tuxedo Mask said, his voice was filled with fate in Sailor Moon.
"Okay," Sailor Moon said as she turned to face Serenity.
Serenity wanted to weep. She knew that Sailor Moon's efforts would end in failure. She felt a pang of sadness not only for herself, but for the pain she knew Endymion would soon experience. He truly believed that Sailor Moon could save her.
If only her past self was stronger and more experience with the Silver Crystal, she could probably free her. If only...
"Moon Crystal Power!" Sailor Moon yelled.
Serenity soon felt a wave of healing energy overtake her. The crystal's energy filled her with power and rekindled the life that was being smothered by her prison. She actually felt alive again. She knew, however, the feeling wouldn't last and Sailor Moon's power was already starting to waver.
At that moment, an idea suddenly formed in Serenity's head. When Sailor Moon using the Silver Crystal, she became directly linked with its power. If she focused, she could follow the pathway of the crystal's energy into Sailor Moon. By doing so, she would create a mental pathway that would allow herself to link directly into her past self's mind. That way she could move freely between Sailor Moon and her trap her body.
Without a second thought, Serenity floated through the Silver Crystal's healing energy and moved into Sailor Moon's consciousness. It only took a moment to create the proper link and leave a little of her essence behind. With the task done, she floated back into her body just as the crystal's energy faded.
"She didn't react at all," Mercury observed. Sadness and disappointment were in her voice.
Small Lady started to cry. "Not even Sailor Moon could save mommy!" She then ran out of the room
"Chibi-Usa!" Sailor Moon exclaimed once she regained her bearings.
It surprised Serenity how weak Sailor Moon was after such little use of her power. It really showed how far she had came.
"Chibi-Usa needs time to herself," Tuxedo Mask said as he held Sailor Moon back. "She's safe as long as she remains in the palace."
Serenity suddenly remembered what happened at this point. Small Lady would leave the safety of the palace and be captured by the Death Phantom. The thought of that monster being anywhere near her daughter made her sick with panic. She wanted to stop him and she could by manipulating Sailor Moon. The child's mental defense was weak and she could easily control her past self.
Serenity was struck by how cold-hearted she sounded. Was she really thinking about controlling her past self like some kind of puppet? Even if Sailor Moon was her of the past, she was still her own person. She didn't deserve to have someone invade her mind and manipulate her actions.
At the same time, her daughter was in danger. She could save Small Lady from the pain of being twisted by the Black Crystal and turned into a slave of the Death Phantom. Besides, where did her suppose morality leave them? It left her with a broken kingdom with millions of people dead on both sides. Lives could be saved by her possession Sailor Moon. Maybe she could even save Demande and Saphir.
Just as she was about to move her will into Sailor Moon's mind, she stopped herself. If she did this, was she any better than Death Phantom? Willing to use and manipulate others to get her way? Even if it was for the greater good, was it worth crossing this line?
"I'm sorry, King Endymion," Sailor Moon said shamefully, getting Serenity's attention. "I wasn't able to help Neo-Queen Serenity."
"You did your best," Endymion said gently. "I should had known that the crystal of the past could not undue whatever is keeping Serenity asleep."
"Is she really just asleep?" Mars whispered with dread in her voice.
"What do we do now?" Venus asked somberly.
"The only thing we can do is find the crystal of this time," Endymion said. "We maybe able to locate it by using Sailor Moon's Silver Crystal."
"It can do that?" Jupiter asked.
"The Silver Crystal of the past and present will react to each other if the will is there," Endymion explained.
"That would be our best bet for the moment," Luna said as she looked at Serenity. The utter stillness of her future queen unnerved her more than she wanted to admit.
"Yeah," Sailor Moon said as she walked over to Serenity's prison. She then gently placed her hand against the crystal. "I don't know if you can hear me, but we'll find a way to free you. Until that happens, I will take care of Chibi-Usa. I promise nothing will happen to her."
Serenity was struck by the words. Somehow, she had forgotten that she had spoken them. At that moment, she felt ashamed for even considering taken over her younger self. What was she becoming to do such a thing?
"Let's go," Sailor Moon said as she left the room with her senshi.
"Seeing Sailor Moon has given back my hope, my love," Endymion said once they had left. His voice was soft, barely above a whisper. "Even though you didn't move, I somehow felt that Sailor Moon was able to get through to you. For a just a moment, there was a simmer in our link. Knowing that you're still alive is all I needed to know."
Serenity felt herself tear up, if she was able to through her closed eyes. Even when Endymion wasn't even trying, he knew exactly what to say.
It was not too long after they'd left that Serenity felt the palace shake. Through the link she now shared with Sailor Moon, she saw an image of a dragon in her mind. The dragon that was the twisted form of Esmeraude.
Serenity wondered if she could influence Sailor Moon into healing Esmeraude instead of killing her. If Sailor Moon knew the true form of that dragon, she would not want to kill her. At the same time, she wasn't sure if Sailor Moon had the power at the moment to heal Esmeraude.
Esmeraude was corrupted by high amounts of negative energy that was equal to the amount used to control her daughter. It had taken almost all her strength as Sailor Moon to break the spell on Small Lady, along with power from herself as Neo-Queen Serenity. Still, it was wrong to let Esmeraude die if there was even a small chance of her being saved.
She attempted to link into Sailor Moon's mind, but by the time she reached her younger self, it was already too late. Sailor Moon had landed the killing blow with her scepter. Because of her hesitation, she had acted too late to save Esmeraude. Serenity watched through Sailor Moon's eyes as Esmeraude appeared one last time before she fell into the void created by the fragment of the Black Crystal.
Yet another life she couldn't save.
For the most part, Serenity stood out of Sailor Moon's affairs as they rushed back into the past. As much as she wanted to change the outcome of what she knew was going to happen, she also had to acknowledge that her powers were now limited.
Now that Sailor Moon had returned to her own time, her influence over her past self was greatly reduced. The only way she could directly interfere now is if Sailor Moon calls for her help. Given what she remembered of history, that wouldn't happen until they confronted the Death Phantom for the last time.
Serenity allowed her consciousness to fade as she rested in the back of Sailor Moon's mind. She would need her strength for the future battle ahead.
Just like all those other times, Serenity was jolted out of her sleep. Her memory was a little fuzzy as she attempted to find out where she was. She then remembered that she was currently within Sailor Moon's consciousness. Serenity quickly looked through her past self's eyes to see what was happening.
She appeared to have waked up in time to see Demande attempting to hypnotize Sailor Moon with his third eye. Serenity was disgusted by the action and wanted to use her limited powers to blast Demande away from Sailor Moon.
She stopped herself, however, when she realized that this was Sailor Moon's battle, not hers.
Reluctantly, Serenity stood back as Sailor Moon fought and won over Demande's power. She watched Sailor Moon's memories of her friends and lover flashed before her eyes. The one memory that caught her attention was seeing her childhood friend, Naru.
Oh, how she missed her dear friend. Although their relationship was never the same after she had become Sailor Moon, Naru still supported her during her time of need.
What touched her the most was that Naru knew her secret long before she was willing to tell her, yet never asked for an explanation. Naru had accepted that Usagi would tell her about Sailor Moon in her own time. How cruel the passing of time can be.
Serenity snapped herself out of her musing as Sailor Moon called Demande out for his selfish ways and warned him about the Death Phantom. At that moment, Demande looked more like the man she met on Nemesis those four years ago instead of the mad man that he had become.
Right on time, Death Phantom made his appearance and attempted to corrupt Demande again. When that failed, Death Phantom decided to kill everyone in the room.
Using the gifts granted to him by the Death Phantom himself, Demande was able to fight evenly with the monster. In fact, looking at it now Demande had the upper hand. Death Phantom had the advantage of pure power, but Demande was powered by the rage of his fallen clan men. Demande had also trained his entire life for battle, while the Death Phantom sat in the background manipulating everyone.
Death Phantom seemed to have sense he was losing ground and changed targets. Before Sailor Moon could blink, the Death Phantom was right on top of her. Serenity knew what was going to happen, but she was powerless to stop it.
With a dark laugh, Death Phantom sent spikes of negative energy meant to impale Sailor Moon. Quicker than even Serenity could see, Demande was by Sailor Moon's side and took the attack head on.
"Demande!" Sailor Moon grasped in horror as Demande fell to his knees. Blood drenched the once spotless white jacket.
The Death Phantom laughed in triumph.
Despite his pain, however, Demande slowly stood up and faced the Death Phantom. He clenched his side as blood continued to pour.
Death Phantom was surprise that Demande was able to get up given the extent of the injury. "So, you still have the strength to stand up?" he asked bemused. "You will die along with Sailor Moon," he gloated as he attempted to kill both Sailor Moon and Demande with one blast.
"Don't underestimate me!" Demande yelled confidently as he sent every ouch of his remaining power at Death Phantom. Instantly, Demande's power overwhelmed the Death Phantom's energy blast.
The Death Phantom grasped in disbelief and surprise as the black energy struck him. He screamed in pain as his body shattered and his robe floated lifelessly to the floor. His crystal ball gently hovered down until it lay next to the remains of the Death Phantom.
Serenity knew by both her memory and the aura that she was feeling that the Death Phantom was far from dead. A being of chaos couldn't be killed by dark energy. Even if that energy was used for good. She also knew that the Death Phantom was immortal as long as the Black Poison Crystal existed.
At that moment, Demande collapsed into Sailor Moon's arms. His breathing was rough and Serenity knew he was only moments from death.
"Demande, hang in there!" Sailor Moon exclaimed.
"Sailor Moon, it seems that I was mistaken," Demande said somberly as his eyes mist with both regret and guilt. "My wish was to allow my clan to emigrate to Earth. To accomplish this I was willing to risk my life. But somewhere along the way I fell for the Wise Man's deception and stopped seeking a peaceful resolution with the people of Earth." He closed his eyes for a moment. "I have allowed so many to be sacrifice from both Nemesis and the Earth. I had forgotten my heart as a human."
Serenity thought of the Death Phantom's words to her. About how Triten lost his soul in his bitterness toward her and the Earth. In many ways, the same fate had also befallen Demande. They both wanted to do the right thing, but chose violence instead of trying to work towards a peaceful solution. Triten didn't trust her to lead the Earth and Demande didn't trust the people of Earth to allowed them back.
"But you saved me," Sailor Moon said gently as she squeezed Demande's hand. "If you realized your mistake, for now on you can work towards correcting it."
Demande chuckled humorlessly. "That's true, but I'm no longer able to do that."
"Demande!" Sailor Moon exclaimed. She realized only now that Demande was truly dying.
"Poor girl, if she knew how to use the full abilities of the Silver Crystal, Demande could be saved," Serenity thought sadly.
"Just as the Four Ayakashi Sisters are now living happy now...just as you tried to saved Saphir...we may be able to live together with the people of Earth, if we allowed our hearts to communicate with others," Demande said as his voice grew softer.
Serenity could feel her own tears along with Sailor Moon's. This was even worst than she remembered.
"And to do that we need you," Sailor Moon insisted through her tears.
Demande reached up and gently wiped the tears from Sailor Moon's eyes. "Are you crying for me?" He looked truly touched by the gesture. Serenity suspected it was because Demande never expected anyone to mourn his death outside his clan men. "You are the ones who will build the future. Please...take care of the Black Moon Clan on Nemesis."
Sailor Moon nodded sadly. "Okay."
Demande relaxed in Sailor Moon's arms. "Thank goodness." He then gave Sailor Moon one last look as he closed his eyes. "Sailor Moon...I love you..." he said before his body relaxed completely and his eyes closed for the final time.
Serenity mourned as she watched the princes of Nemesis die once again. Even with all her acknowledge, she couldn't do anything.
"Demande, I promise to bring all the people of Nemesis back to Earth," Serenity vowed, doubling down on Sailor Moon's own promised. "I give you my word."
As Sailor Moon weeps over the fallen prince a cold hand suddenly grabbed her from around her neck. Soon, Sailor Moon was staring into the cold face of the Death Phantom.
Serenity stood back once again as she allowed Sailor Moon to fight through the dark influence of the Death Phantom. She allowed her mind to fade for a moment, knowing that she would be needed soon.
It wasn't too long afterwards that Serenity felt a pull on her consciousness. The Silver Crystal was being used. From Sailor Moon's deepest despair, she was summoning all the energy that the crystal would allow her. The wish was simple. Help her save Chibi-Usa. It was time.
"Moon Crystal Power!" Sailor Moon shouted as she held the crystal over her head. Soon a bright light surrounded her.
Serenity's felt her mind begin to merge with her past self and within seconds they were one being. Through Sailor Moon's minds, Serenity could see the girl's past in glaring detail. Memories that she had long forgotten came rushing back to her. It was an odd thing to behold, but she didn't have time to probe. She was here to get her daughter back.
After one struggled after another, Serenity and Sailor Moon had succeeded in breaking the spell of the Black Poison Crystal. Serenity felt her mind slipped back in Sailor Moon's consciousness, where she nearly fell asleep again. She quickly fought the urge. There were still things that needed to be done.
"Even after the lost of Black Lady's power, the Dark Gate has already opened," the Death Phantom informed as he floated above the weary group.
"What!?" Tuxedo Mask exclaimed in disbelief.
The Death Phantom chuckled at his distress. "Soon, the enormous energy of the Black Poison Crystal will arrive. The time of this world annihilation is at hand."
"The annihilation of Earth!?" Mars exclaimed in horror. All the senshi stood up to face the monster.
The Death Phantom laughed at all of them. "You all will be obliterated alone with this world!" He then raised his crystal ball and waves of dark energy rained down on the senshi.
They all screamed in pain as they felt the negative energy attempt to tear them apart.
"At this rate, the Earth will become a desolate ruin!" Tuxedo Mask muttered as he attempted to shield Small Lady.
"I won't allow that to happen!" Sailor Moon yelled. She once again summoned the power of the Silver Crystal. With little effort, she was able to deflect all the dark power. "I will not allow that to happen," she repeated.
"What!?" the Death Phantom exclaimed in surprise.
"I don't want to lose this beautiful planet and everyone on it," Sailor Moon continued as she stood up and walked without fear towards the Death Phantom. The Silver Crystal started to blaze in her hands. "The thought that Earth, so full of our memories, will no longer exist. The thought that everyone living here will die. I don't want that to happen!"
Serenity smiled through Sailor Moon's mind. She couldn't have said it any better. She heard the other Sailor Senshi begging Sailor Moon to stop. They were right to worry. Sailor Moon using the Silver Crystal in her current state would kill her. She, however, wouldn't let Sailor Moon die. Through the link they now share, she would protect Sailor Moon's life force.
The Death Phantom scoffed at Sailor Moon. "I won't lose to the insignificant power of the Silver Crystal!" He attempted to blast Sailor Moon with a column negative energy.
The attack hit, but Serenity shielded Sailor Moon at the last moment. Powered by the Silver Crystal and Sailor Moon's wish to protect everyone, Serenity and Sailor Moon merged one last time.
Death Phantom was annoyed with all this and summoned all his energy into one last blast. Serenity knew this was their final chance.
With the Silver Crystal raised, the final battle began. Serenity had forgotten how strong the Death Phantom was now that the Dark Gate powering him, but she couldn't give up. The people of Earth and Nemesis were depending on her.
"Now that the Dark Gate is open, the power in the Silver Crystal is nothing!" the Death Phantom roared over the waves of energy.
Serenity felt Sailor Moon's body beginning to waver and the black energy started to overwhelm her. This body was too weak to maintain the full power of the Silver Crystal for long. To keep Sailor Moon from completely exhausting herself, she began to drawn power from her own prone body back in the future. She would keep Sailor Moon alive until the Sailor Senshi and Small Lady could lend their aid.
She wasn't sure how long the fight had lasted before Death Phantom riled back in surprise. "What, two Silver Crystal!?"
The part that was Sailor Moon glanced behind her to see Small Lady in a white dress similar to the one she wore as the Moon Princess. "Chibi-Usa!"
"The power to protect everyone!" Small Lady yelled as she added her power to the battle.
"Mercury Star Power!"
"Mars Star Power!"
"Jupiter Star Power!"
"Venus Start Power!"
Serenity felt herself floating higher as she gathered the energy of her past senshi. Small Lady joined her as the power built within the two crystals. "Moon Crystal Power!"
The build up of energy unnerved the Death Phantom, but he refused to back down. He had waited millenniums for this moment. "I will not lose to the power of the Silver Crystals!"
"Evil Power!" Serenity yelled.
"Begone from this world!" Small Lady finished.
With one final pushed, the black energy of the Death Phantom was overpowered and he disappeared into the white light of the Silver Crystals.
"I, Death Phantom, will not be defeated!" the Death Phantom screamed in rage and disbelief. He didn't have time to conceive his defeat before he was reduced to dust.
The white light of the Silver Crystals kept going until it reached the core of Nemesis using the Death Phantom's own Dark Gate. The Black Poison Crystal shuttered as Silver Crystals' energy burnt through it. The Black Crystal attempted to absorb the energy of the two Silver Crystals, but the evil crystal was soon overwhelmed. The Black Crystal cracked and dissipated into nothingness.
Serenity smiled as she felt the dark influence on Nemesis fade. The long nightmare was over.
The Death Phantom has been defeated and the Black Poison Crystal has also been destroyed. What fate now awaits Nemesis and the Earth? The conclusion in the next chapter.