A New Hope
This chapter is dedicated to one of my avid readers, sangoscourage. Most of what you will read in this chapter comes from sangoscourage's ideas.
Chapter seventeen: The end is near
The Sailor scouts were still in the throne room, trying to figure out how to find Helios, when two guards came forward. Rika recognized them as the ones who had arrested her. They both knelt to the ground.
"We are at your service, milady" One of them said softly. "My name is Ping and this is my friend Ling. Our service to Diamond was for our own protection" Ling nodded.
"Diamond threatened to harm our families if we did not work for him, against the name of the queen" Ling said. Rika was unsure whether or not to believe them.
"Use the crystal" Sailor Venus said. "Your mother and grandmother were able to use it to find the truth in people's hearts" Rika nodded and closed her eyes. The crystal hummed softly and she smiled.
"They speak the truth" She turned to Ling and Ping. "I will accept your service, but until you can prove yourselves, we will be watching you" Ling and Ping nodded. "Do you know where my father is?"
"All we know is that Diamond trapped him in the dream world" Ling replied. "The only ones who might know are Emerald and Sapphire" Sailor Mars groaned.
"We'll never find him then" She said.
"Don't be too sure" "Rika said. "There is good in Sapphire, I am sure of it" The others looked like they didn't believe her.
"He created the machine that took away Luna's cat abilities" Venus reminded her.
"But he did it on Diamond's orders. I have to find him. He is the only one who can help me" Rika declared.
"You called, Your highness" Rika turned to see Sapphire in the doorway. His arms were crossed over his chest.
"Sapphire, please, help me find and free my father" Rika pleaded. Sapphire sighed.
"I'm afraid I can't do that" He told her.
"See" Mars said. "He's just like his brother" Sapphire shot her a withering look.
"I can't help you, because I don't have the ability to enter the dreamworld. The only ones who had that ability was Diamond and Wiseman" Sapphire explained. "I know where he is, but I can't get to him" Rika sighed.
"Then what can I do. I need to free him" She said. Suddenly Mars and Venus both had the same idea.
"Nehelenia" They said together.
"Who's Nehelenia?" Rika asked.
"We fought her alongside your grandmother" Mars explained. "She trapped Helios at that time"
"But, if she was an enemy, why would she help us?" Rika asked.
"Usagi healed her" Venus explained. "She was turned into a child, and grew up living a happy life until Diamond took over. Usagi gave her her deepest desire, the ability of immortality. Nehelenia was one of the ones who helped us fight Diamond, but she dissapeared and we haven't seen her since"
"How do we find her?" Rika asked.
"Diamond sealed her away" Sapphire spoke up. He pointed to a large mirror mounted behind the throne. "He told her that this time, she would never escape from the mirror" He walked over to the mirror and tapped on it a few times.
"Who disturbs my slumber" A young female voice asked. A lovely young woman appeared in the mirror. She did not look as though she had aged a day. but then again, neither did Venus or Mars. Mars walked over to the mirror.
"Diamond is dead" She told Nehelenia. Nehelenia smiled.
"Rei-chan" She said. "I knew it was you, I could tell even though you have purple hair. I am so glad you survived. Diamond told me everyone was dead" Mars smiled.
"No, Venus and I survived, as did the youngest Moon daughter. Nehelenia, do you know how we can get you out?" She asked.
"I don't know" Nehelenia replied. "Diamond always warned his servants never to touch this mirror" Venus thought for a moment and then walked over to the mirror and placed a hand on it. To her surprise, her hand went right into the mirror. Nehelenia grasped her hand and Venus began to pull Nehelenia out of the mirror. Once Nehelenia was freed, Sailor Moon attacked the mirror with her tiara, shattering it.
"Do you know how we can free my father?" She asked. Nehelenia nodded.
"We haven't much time" She said.
"What do you mean?" Rika asked.
"Helios is hurt, wounded. He may not last the night" Nehelenia said.
"How do you know?" Jupiter asked.
"Helios and I talk to eachother when I am asleep. Because he is trapped here, and in the dream world, he could not venture to dreams outside these castle walls. He is too weak. But he managed to enter my dreams. He has no idea his daughter is alive" Nehelenia said. "Neither did I" She turned to Sapphire.
"I take it you know where Helios is" Sapphire nodded.
"Good" Nehelenia said. "Everyone, hold hands and I will pull you into the dream world" Everyone clasped hands and stood in a circled. Nehelenia muttered something under her breath and they all felt the floor cave beneath them. When the world righted itself, Sailor Moon looked around and realized she was no longer Sailor Moon. She was princess Rikana. A soft pink dress flowed about her, and her hair was in the original odango hairstyle. She looked around and saw many different mirrors.
"What are all these mirrors?" She asked.
"These are dream mirrors" Sapphire explained. "Helios uses them to visit children's dreams and make sure they are having pleasant dreams" There was a large garnate mirror in one corner.
"That's the one Helios is in" Sapphire pointed. "I must warn you, it is no dream, it is a nightmare" Rika nodded and squared her shoulders. She strode forward. Jupiter made to stop her, but Mars placed a hand on Jupiter's shoulder.
"This is something she must do on her own" Mars whispered. Rika braced herself and entered the dream mirror. It was dark and cold and gloomy inside the mirror. Rika ducked as a flock of bats swooped towards her.
"Papa!" She shouted. A dark thick jungle loomed in front of her. Ready for the worst, Rika entered the jungle, using her moon stick as an ax. "Papa" She heard a shrieking sound and swung around, but nothing was there. Rika was starting to get frightened. She kept pushing on, determined to find her father. She finally made it to the other side of the jungle and gasped. Helios was bloody and beaten and tied to a tree. "Papa" She whispered, running to him. Helios looked up painfully.
"Serenity" He whispered. "No Papa, it's me, Rikana" Tears filled his eyes as he opened his mouth to speak, then winced in pain.
"I have to get you out of here" She cried. She sliced the ropes binding him to the tree and allowed him to lean on her for support. Suddenly she heard a rumbling laugh.
"You haven't heard the last of me Sailor Moon" A voice said.
"Who was that?" Rika asked, trying to help her father through the jungle. Helios didn't say anything at first.
"Wiseman" He said finally. "He was holding me prisoner" Rika shuddered and kept on pushing through the forest. Once they reached the mirror, they found wiseman guarding it.
"I shall not give up my prisoner so easily" Wiseman demanded. Rika glared at him.
"Let us pass" She said, eyes flashing. Wiseman laughed. A light was suddenly emitted from Rika's crystal. She focused on the crystal and the light hit wiseman. He let out a shout and vanished. Rikana led her father through the mirror, where the others were waiting.
"He needs medical attention" Mars cried, upon seeing him.
"We'll take him to the medical lab in the palace" Sapphire said. "Quickly" They hurried back to the palace, Helios slipping into unconciousness on the way. While Sapphire attended to Helios, the scouts heard a commotion outside the palace. When they got outside, they saw thier friends, who had defeated the guards and Emerald, being held captive by Wiseman. When Wiseman saw them, he laughed in a low rumbling voice.
"Where is Diamond?" He asked, taunting Sailor Moon.
"Dead" Mars said flatly. "Sailor Moon defeated him" Wiseman scowled under his cloak.
"Very well" I will kill all of you and rule this planet" He declared.
"Everyone, give your power to Rikana" Mars shouted. As one, everyone single person called forth thier power and allowed it to flow to Rikana, who held up the moon wand, where all the energy was combining.
"Moonlight attractive attack!" Rikana shouted. The light hit Wiseman square in the chest, destroying him for good. A loud cheering erupted from the crowd. The Moon family had regained the thrown. Rikana turned away from the celebration and ran back into the palace, praying that her father was still alive.