For the first few weeks the kids battled off and on. Then he pulled a trick from his sleeve. He started easily deflecting them and all of their attacks. "It's no use, he's too powerful for us," Grace hollered.
"Give up now, and I'll let you live," Jasper taunted.
"How about not?" Rini asked.
"What are you doing?" Risk asked, dodging an attack.
"Poor Jasper,all alone in the universe, with nothing to do but pick on us kids. Well, I've had enough of it. I'm not a Serenity for nothing, you know," she hollered at him.
"What are you going to do, brat, kill me with your pink sugar?" he asked.
"Nope. Funny thing, Crystals, you know. There's five for every generation, but most are lucky to be able to use the power of one, let alone all five. It was nice meeting you. I hope you rot in the furthest galaxy from the sun," Rini hollered. Grace understood now. She called for the Dimension Crystal, and it came to her. She held it out to Rini, and Rini took hold of the other half.
"What is that?" Jasper asked suprised.
"Your worst nightmare, asshole," Risk said as he and the others stood in back feeding their energy through the twins. The girls held all the energy at bay inside the Crystal as it built.
"Its not working. Yomas, attack!" he commanded. All of the sudden, they let go of the energy and it came flashing out in a thick dark wave of pure light, killing the Yoma and sealing Jasper away in a dark corner of some other universe to never come back.
"Very nicely done, ladies. Took care of the piece of worthless garbage for me. What will you do now that we have your parents?" a new voice asked.
They turned to see Diamond had not only survived, unlike origionally thought, but now had their parents captive.
"Ah, but you see, you don't have all of our parents. In fact, you seem to be missing an important one. When she comes after you, I'll be laughing, Diamond," Grace said.
"Ooh, just like your mother. Last I counted I have everyone, so no surprises there," Diamond said, and disappeared with their parents.
"That's what you think," Grace muttered. They all went back to the palace. Grace grabbed her phone and called her mom's cell. Serena answered. "He took everyone while we were locking Jasper away. He's not dead either, like you'd hoped. Though from the looks of it, he is severely injured. Call the others that he didn't know about. We're going to need all the help we can get," Grace said.
"We're on our way," Serena said.
They all appeared. "Heads up, he thinks aunt Ari is you," Rini said.
"Good, then he wont be expecting me or their Crystals. It's time he goes down once and for all," Serena said.
They plotted and planned and battled stray Yoma sent down. "Mom, was it like this when you were growing up?" Rini asked.
"Worse, baby. A lot worse. Lilly can attest to that right, Lil?" Serena asked.
"It was horrible. There wasn't a break. They just kept coming at us and coming at us. This time where I was wasn't any better," Lilly said.
"Go to bed, get some rest, girls," Serena said softly. They left without having to be told again.
Lilly pulled Serena into her arms, and Serena let loose the tears she'd been holding back. "We'll find them, Sere. I promise. No matter where it takes us, no matter how long it takes, no matter how far we go, I'm with you to the end. Just keep telling yourself that. Remember those words he promised you. He's not leaving without you, Sere. He loves you too much. Besides, now you have a surprise for him," Lilly said softly.
"Thanks, Lilly. I needed to hear that again. I just miss him so much. I lost him once, I can't lose him again," Serena said.
For the next three weeks they worked tirelessly fighting off Yoma and trying to find the missing others. Finally, during a particularly hard battle, Diamond appeared. "I see you still haven't found me," he taunted the twins.
"I have now," Serena's strong voice carried over the battle noise.
Diamond turned and looked at her, stunned to see none other than Sailor Moon standing there in all of her glory. "This is impossible. I just left you," Diamond said.
Serena took advantage of his stunned moment to throw the Crystals through the dark portal that he'd carelessly left open. He blasted her and sent her flying backwards. She stood. "Go ahead, do it again," she taunted, and the battle was on.
They battled for an hour straight before he started to weaken. "This is impossible. There's no way that you could be stronger," Diamond said.
"Wrong," Sailor Moon said. "I no longer use the Imperium Silver Crystal. I use the Lunar crystal now," she said coldly.
"That's just a myth. So are the others," he said.
"Better check your crystal ball again. It's not so easy without the wise man is it?" Serena asked.
"You're just an impostor," he screamed at her.
"An impostor with my own powers, huh? Remember this one?" she asked and called off her tiara.
He growled as it sliced a clean line though his arm. "How did you do that?" he asked.
"You're forgetting something, asshole," a new voice said from behind them.
Serena smiled. Sailor Serenity to save the day. "I exist, too. No thanks to that no-good bitch that tried to brainwash me into believing that I was her daughter. By the way, Rena, nice aim. I managed to call my Crystal. How'd you know?" she asked as she sent a blast toward Diamond's back.
"I didn't. It was a shot in the dark. Literally," she said as she dodged blast from the Yomas and Diamond. One Yoma picked her up, sinking it's claws deep into her back.
"Rena!" Sailor Serenity cried, horrified. Diamond took the moment of distraction and aimed a blast at her. It bounced off an visible shield, and toward the Yoma holding Serena. The battle began in earnest for their lives. They battled long and hard. Serena tried as much as she could, but she was bleeding badly. Finally, she'd had enough. She called forth the Black Crystal.
"Serenity, no, it'll kill you!" Lilly cried.
"It'll kill him, too," she said weakly.
"Please, Rena, don't," Gabe tried.
"There's no way to talk her out of it," Malachite said softly.
"Don't worry, Rena, we'll look after everyone," Zoicite said.
"Yeah, we promise," Jadeite said.
"Hey, just do what you have to do, and with any luck, it'll bring you back," Nephrite said.
"Lilly, promise me you'll try talking to Erin?" she asked. Lilly managed a nod. She looked at the children. "Just know that no matter what happens, I love you all," Serena said. The men helped her to stand. "Alright, Diamond. Once and for all, you will leave this universe and never again live to see the light of another day. I hope you rot in hell," she seethed, and poured the last vestiges of her energy into the Crystal. Light came from within and exploded into a million directions healing the wounded, killing the evil, and releasing the others. It also took the last of Serenity's strength. She collapsed to the ground and lay there looking asleep.
"What happened?" Kaden asked, looking around the battlefield where Yomas lay in bits and pieces. No one said anything. Lilly came up to him, took him by the hand and led him to where Serenity had collapsed. He dropped to his knees, stunned. He took her cool hand in his and held it. She looked like she was sleeping. Darien knelt in front of her and checked for a pulse. He shook his head. Kaden said nothing. He simply looked at her. A tear made it's way down his face and landed gently on her cheek.
"It shouldn't have killed her, it's always brought her back before!" Rei said.
"She was already dying when she used it," Lilly spoke softly. They turned and looked at her.
"A Yoma picked her up and shredded her back. She was bleeding profusely," Ariana said.
"We all wanted her to stop, but there was no talking her out of it. She did what she had to do," Grace said.
"She'd do it again if she had to," Rini agreed.
"Sadly, the last thing we ever wanted was for all of you kids to turn out as battle hardened as we are," Darien spoke softly.
"We know. We locked Jasper away, but then somehow Diamond got a hold of you guys. She wanted you all back safe and sound so bad," Risk said.
"We'll never forget her," Gabe said.
"Come on, guys, let's leave Dad alone with her. He'll never be the same," Grace said.
"How come you two are taking this so well?" Darien asked.
"Because we knew this was going to happen. We saw the whole thing unfold. If we could have done something, we would have. We'll cry probably when it really sinks in," Rini said. They left the park and went back to the mansion.
"Well?" Trenton asked.
"She's gone," Grace said softly.
"How's Kaden taking it?" he asked.
"We left him there with her," Darien said.
"He won't be able to live without her. They were too interconnected," Trenton said.
"We know," Rei said.
"How long before the Crystal brought her back before?" he asked.
"We don't know," Mina spoke softly.
"How could you not know?" Trenton asked.
"Every other time we've died, too. This is different," Rei said softly.
"How many times have you all died and been brought back?" Trenton asked.
"Including the fall of the Silver Millennium, five," Amy answered.
"All of you, including the guys and Kaden and Darien?" he asked.
"The last time, not Kaden or Erin. They'd left for the States but they felt us die," Lita said.
"Does it feel like Serena's dead?" Trenton asked.
"We aren't connected to her like that. Kaden is, and Darien might be, but I doubt it," Michiru said.
"Darien?" Trenton asked.
"I don't have a connection with her anymore," he answered softly.
"Wouldn't Erin or Ari feel it? Speaking of which where are they?" Trenton asked.
"They wouldn't leave the park," Haruka said.
"Who would know if Serena still lived or not?" he asked.
"Faith might, but she can't tell us. It would breach the rules," Setsuna said.
"Don't you all get one time wish?" Trenton asked.
"Yes, but we can only go back, not forward. We already know what's in our past. We're not allowed to know what our future is," Hotaru said.
"Well if she is dead, then can't someone go back and kill the Yoma before it attacks her?" Trenton asked.
"Only Kaden could," Setsuna said.
"Why only Kaden?" he asked.
"Because they're soul mates, and they're the only ones that have power enough to change their fate," a new voice joined their conversation.
"Hello, Destiny. What's it been, ten years?" Setsuna asked.
"Something like that. You all knew that it would take a tragedy to bring me back," she said. "Hello everyone," she greeted. They nodded respectfully.
"Destiny, huh? How come you didn't come back with them?" Trenton asked.
"Because I had a hard time dealing with not ruling the Gates," she answered.
"It was never your fate," Trenton said.
"So I've been told. Serenity put me in my place about ten years ago, and I sulked off. I caught wind of the battle from some bystanders, and it was said that the moon queen had fallen. What happened?" Destiny asked.
"We weren't aware that they knew we existed," Darien said.
"I figured as much," she said.
"She used the last of her energy to kill Diamond and free us," Mina said.
"The Silver Crystal let her die?" Destiny asked.
"She doesn't use the Silver Crystal anymore. Well, not really, at least. She took the Sun Stone, the Silver Crystal, her crystal, well the Eternity crystal, her Planet and Life Crystal, and merged them all into one Crystal that she split into four. She gave one to Grace, one to Erin, and one to Kaden for safekeeping for the future. She kept one piece for herself. She said the Crystal would pull itself back together if there was ever any trouble. There was, and it did. That's how we found out about Jasper being loose," Setsuna explained.
"Then she can't die," Destiny said.
"She was attacked by a Yoma and bleeding profusely when she used the crystal," Grace said.
"That makes a difference. It wasn't the Crystal that killed her then, it was the blood loss," Destiny said.
"So you're saying that she could have been alive if the Yoma wouldn't have attacked her?" Darien asked.
"Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner," Destiny said sarcastically.
"Using any of the Crystals would have healed the wounds, but if she'd suffered massive blood loss before then, she would have probably died from lack of blood. The Crystals cant infuse blood," Destiny said.
"You're such a joy," Darien said sarcastically.
"Wanna tell us something we didn't know?" Rei asked.
"Sure. Kaden can go back in time and kill the Yoma before it attacks her, therefore not killing her. The only thing is, you have to find them before he does something stupid, and get him to listen to you," Destiny said.
"Last we knew, he was at the park with her," Mina said.
"Start there then," Destiny said.
"Wherever he's at, Ariana and Erin are with him," Lita said.
"Wait, who found Ariana?" Destiny asked.
"Rena. Just by shear chance," Rei answered.
"Same way she found Gabe," Michelle said.
"Is there anyone not found?" Destiny asked.
"No," Darien answered.
"You're so helpful," Destiny said sarcastically.
"Enough. We already know the two of them could never stand each other. I, personally, don't need a repeat. We get enough of that from Erin and Lilly," Trenton said.
Destiny raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were dead," she said.
"Yeah, well, so do most people. Your mother wasn't smart enough to make sure I was dead," he said.
"No, after what happened, she went insane. She decided that if she couldn't have you, then no one would. I've never felt more sorry for Rena since then," Destiny said.
"Don't feel sorry for her. She hated pity," Grace said as she tended a wound on her arm.
"That looks like it hurts, wanna let me look at it?" Darien asked.
"No. You'll just tell me that I need stitches, and I'll just tell you it'll heal just fine without them," she answered. Darien shook his head.
"Lord, if you don't sound exactly like your mother," Mina said.
"Funny, you all keep saying that. It's getting a little annoying," Grace said.
"Let me guess. You're Grace, then and you're Rini?" Destiny asked pointing at each of them.
"Well, gee, how'd you guess?" Rini asked sarcastically.
"They're right, you sound like Serena after a nasty battle. So did you win?" Destiny asked.
"Yes, thank you. He won't be bothering anyone for a few hundred millennia," Grace answered.
"We forgot about him," Mina said.
"He made just a long enough distraction for Diamond to nab you all. He wasn't expecting more than he encountered before. Besides, he thought he had her. He didn't realize he had Ariana," Rini said.
"Why didn't he go after you all?" Destiny asked.
"It's not as much fun if you're playing by yourself," Grace answered.
"It was all a game to him. He wanted Mom dead, and from the looks of things, he's succeeded," Rini said.
"Unless of course, we find Dad and try to talk to him," Grace said.
"Think the bleeding's stopped?" Rini asked her sister.
"Surface wound. I'll live," Grace said. Rini helped her wrap gauze around the wound tightly then taped it off. They headed for the front doors.
"Ladies, how are you getting there?" Darien asked.
"Magic," Rini said, and they disappeared.
"I want my girls back that only got frustrated with school and only fought with their mother and each other," Darien said.
"It'll never happen. They've grown up a lot over the last couple months," Lilly said. They turned and looked at her. She'd been quiet most of the time.
"Lilly, do you feel Serena?" Destiny asked.
"I feel her sometimes, but usually only when she's in danger. I remember what it felt like when she died. A sort of lost feeling. Kinda like now," Lilly said. She looked at them, shook her head, and disappeared.