Chapter 19

It has been a long time since I had seen pure determination, and what surprises me is that it comes from a Shitennou. Zoicite stands defiant, but I see what lies beneath the facade. He favors his right leg; I can tell simply by looking at his stance. He may want to fight Wiseman, but there is no way he would win. I feel as if there is a piece to the story that I have missed. Two Shitennou stand against me while one remains loyal at my side. What in the name of Jove happened? I kick Kunzite back and bind him in place with nature's roots. He struggles but escape is futile.

Wiseman steps towards Zoicite. "Strange. Why are you not bowing to me?"

Neptune falls back and I am right there to catch her. She tries to hide the wound on her back, but the blood has already touched my armor. I set her down and bind Jadeite to the ground. Roots slither around his arms until his bow falls against dirt. It would be so easy to crush these men, but my attention is now only on Wiseman.

"We Shitennou have more honour and pride in our duty than all in the galaxy. My heart is to my king and I will break the hold you have over my comrades." Zoicite lunges in for an attack, and though I call out to him he doesn't stop.

Wiseman merely smiles and raises a fist. One punch, and Zoicite falls with a bloody nose. Wiseman pulls his sword from his sheath and looks to me. Neptune is still weak, but that isn't what concerns me. The crackle of wood breaking fills my ears as both Kunzite and Jadeite break free. Damn it. There are things I could do and then there is what I know I must do. Shadows are still in the palace, and there is no way Neptune is making it there herself.

"What does the life of this man mean to you, Makoto? He killed Mercury and betrayed your kingdom. Would you care if I erased his pitiful form from this planet?"

Jadeite pulls the string to his bow, and for the first time in centuries I'm torn by who's life to save. This shouldn't be hard. Neptune and I have known each other for a lifetime, but there's something in Zoicite's eyes that I have never seen before. It's as if he carries regret within him.

I clench my fists. "Do you trust me, Michelle?"

She coughs. "You shouldn't worry about me. If I die then I die. Just tell Amara that I went the way I wanted to."

And in this moment my decision is made. Her words are simple, but the message is clear. The storm howls and I make sure that I don't look back. I practically throw her over my shoulder and sprint towards the palace. Wiseman laughs and all I hear is the sound of death as it takes the man named Zoicite.

"Lita! What are you-" She stops when the arrow flies.

I feel the tip pushing the solid wood straight through my wrist. Then there are pounding steps; Kunzite. I close my eyes and summon the lightning. It strikes sporadically all around us.

Bang! The gunshot is loud and I know instantly that it comes from in front of me. The sound of metal hitting metal is clear as Kunzite swats the bullet away.

"Fire!" Bullets rain from the palace balconies. These are some of the men I left behind with the Shitennou.

Kunzite growls in frustration as Wiseman appears overhead. "These puny rocks won't do anything."

At that moment I feel the temperature drop. It's like walking into a field covered in snow. Mercury runs past me towards Kunzite. I don't look back. Uranus appears in the doorway and helps me with Neptune. There is the snap of a metal chain overhead as Venus vaults off of one of the balconies to help Mercury.

This is what a battlefield sounds like. Bullets fly, and soldiers carry their pride into the fight. I snap the wood of the arrow and push it through my wrist. There is a moment when I lose feeling in my hand, but it quickly passes as the wound heals. I am quick to rejoin the battle. Wiseman meets me without hesitation.

There are no words; just the clash of our swords that ring louder than the bullets or the cries of pain. A blast of fire flies and hits Jadeite square in the chest, leaving Venus enough time to strike from behind. Mars stands leaning at the doorway with one hand on her side. Neptune is stumbling behind with Uranus readying an attack.

Shadows bleed through the Earth and surround both Wiseman and I. The thunder echoes over our heads as I lunge forward. He jumps back and catches my left arm with the tip of his blade. Neither of us are willing to back down.

"I've had enough playing with you, Makoto." He raises his hand and releases more dark energy than I had ever felt before.

I can feel the pressure rising. It feels like everything is getting heavier. He must be shifting gravity. I watch as everyone, both Senshi and Shitennou alike, are forced to their knees. I, however, refuse to go down. There's something familiar about the atmosphere. I smile and twirl my swords between my fingers. "Thank you for making this feel like we're on Jupiter."

I'll admit that this gravity he has created feels a little heavier than what it's like on Jupiter, but confidence is one of my greatest weapons. Our swords meet again, but this time I kick out his left knee and follow him to the ground.

He laughs as I place my blade to his throat. "I love how you hate me."

A blast of dark energy forms between us and I'm hit back several feet. Before I know it he's in front of me, hand pulling my hair, bringing my face close to his blade. I laugh. "I'd let go if I were you."

The thunder roars moments after the lightning from the storm hits me. Wiseman cries out as his body seizes and his grip loosens. I waste no time. His immobility will only last for a couple of seconds. I thrust both blades up through his chest and for the first time in so long I feel an enemy go truly limp at the end of my swords.

His eyes widen as his knees collapse. "So the storm isn't just for show..."

I pull out my blades and flick his blood to the ground. "May Jove have mercy on your soul."

He laughs. "It isn't my soul that he needs to show mercy to. My work is done. This kingdom falls even as I lay dying. Senshi are still mortal, Makoto."

In that moment the shadows surrounding us melt away, but what I see hurts more than anything else. Venus is on the ground looking up at Jadeite with an arrow in her back and her chain several feet to her left. Mercury lays face down with Kunzite standing over her body.

The skies howl as Uranus' attack hits Kunzite straight on, but he seems to laugh off his injury. She runs to meet him on the battlefield, but I see what's coming. I yell for her to stay back, but Jadeite's arrow is already flying. "No!"

That is when the flash of purple bats the arrow to the ground. Behind me are the slow steps of Saturn. Her glaive shines bright. Both Kunzite and Jadeite look to each other before disappearing.

"Hotaru..."

She nods. "Come, Makoto. We have a mess to clean up."

I feel the tears breeching the corners of my eyes. I knew the state of their injuries before Uranus had helped me bring them inside. My fists rest clenched, and even when Mercury woke with nothing but a broken arm I knew that the worst was yet to come.

For the first time in so long I cried and mourned for my friends. Yes they were breathing, but I know their lives will never be the same. I remember how Mina looked at me as I helped her stand, but she couldn't support her weight, and though we both silently knew why she continued to smile as if it were nothing.

Even in death I can still see the evil in Wiseman's eyes. I feel the dark energy rising around us long before Hotaru does, but I don't get ready for an attack.

"Jupiter." Sapphire's voice is calming somehow. Several men appear behind him.

Saturn moves to attack, but I step between her and her target. "Do that and I won't hesitate to strike you down."

She backs off. "We will solve this problem later."

Sapphire turns towards the palace. "We have come with some supplies. I felt the dark energy fluctuate." He then looks to Wiseman. "Then it is over."

I shake my head. "No, not quite yet, but all we can do for the moment is tend to our wounded."

He turns. "I've brought what medics that we have. I've ordered them to assist where we can."

I nod. "Alright. Let's go."

I can still smell the blood drying on the ground. I know that Hotaru can to. Sapphire and I walk side by side through what's left of the palace doors towards the infirmary. Uranus is the first to react at seeing Sapphire, but she calms as I enter with him. The wounded are overflowing into the hallway. The medics from Nemesis head to work.

Sapphire steps forward. "Where are the senshi?"

Uranus rolls her eyes. "Why do you care?"

He bows his head. "I wanted to apologize."

Uranus goes to speak, but stops as Saturn interjects. "They are in the room ahead. I would insist that you go with Jupiter."

I take Sapphire's hand. "She's right. I don't know how the others will react."

He nods. "I understand."

We walk forward, leaving both Uranus and Saturn behind us. His steps are heavy. I can tell he is nervous by the way he drags his feet. There is heavy pull in my chest. I have never been good at looking at my injured comrades. Mina is the first to greet us. There is a part of me that remembers what it was like to be emotionless and detached from those that fought with me, but that is not how I am now.

"Lita. I'm so glad you're alright."

I keep asking myself how she can be so cheerful. "Mina..."

The tears breech the corners of my eyes. Sapphire looks to me. "The Princess of Venus, this is an honour."

I turn away. "I'm sorry... I just... can't."

Mina struggles to sit up. "I told you I'd be fine. Amy says that I was lucky. That's all that matters."

Raye and Michelle are asleep in beds across the room. Sapphire looks to them next. "I truly am sorry for this."

Amy appears in the doorway with her left arm in a sling. "Have you guys seen..." She pauses upon seeing Sapphire. I'm waiting for her to get angry, but she doesn't. "Thank you for sending us help. I appreciate it."

I look to Sapphire. "I'm sorry. I just... need some air."

No one says anything as I step out into the hall. I know both sides of battle, but I never wanted anyone else to know it with me. Wiseman's blood is still on my armor. I walk through these halls, but my steps are empty. I have not felt this inability to control my emotions since my parents died.

"Lita."

I know who it is even before turning around. "Go away."

"I hope you're happy."

I clench my fists. "Serenity, I am not in the mood to argue with you."

She shakes her head. "How dare you let those men into this place? They attacked it."

I turn slowly. "And now they're helping. I told you they only want peace and I am not one to deny that to them."

"I want them gone. Look what they did."

I sigh. "It wasn't them. I told you about Wiseman-"

"It is because of them that we're in the state we're in."

I turn back and continue walking. "I told you I'm not in the mood to argue."

She hurries to my side. "So you're not going to hold them accountable for what's happened?" She's crying, I can hear it in her voice.

"Please don't-"

"What about Mina? Doesn't she deserve some sort retribution?"

I take a deep breath. "Serena-"

"Amy says that she won't walk again!"

In that moment I just... lose it. I don't remember charging my fists, but I do remember the feel of my knuckles breaking her nose. "Do you think I don't feel guilty? I fought the best I could, but where were you when the fighting started? Tell me because I would love to know what was more important than protecting the planet." I take one step back after realizing what it is that I had both done, and said. "By Jove..."

She stands, blood seeping down the front of her white dress, and steps back. "You don't understand anything."

Saturn emerges from the left and summons her glaive. Her eyes meet mine, but I don't attempt to draw my swords. There is enough of my comrade's blood on these grounds.

"Enough of this!"

I sense the temporal energy. Small footsteps trample the rugged carpet. "Mama!" Rini runs towards her mother.

I turn. "Setsuna."

Pluto emerges behind me with Endymion at her side. I step back as Serenity stands shocked; I'm not even sure she notices her daughter. Tears roll down her cheeks and mix with the blood on the front of her dress. She hurries past me and wraps her arms around her husband. Rini stands with a look of confusion on her face.

I walk towards her and pull her into a hug. "I am glad you're safe, Princess. Go to your mother. She missed you."

She runs off and I stand tall. Saturn never lowers her glaive. Regardless I walk past her. "Touch her again and I'll kill you."

I ignore her and turn to Pluto. "Setsuna, where is Nephrite?"

She stomps her rod onto the ground. "Speaking with the stars."