Chapter 22

His swordsmanship is flawless. Is it I that lacks the technique? No, what I lack is not the movement nor the skill, Jove knows that I am more than capable of killing Nephrite, but he also knows that I am fighting more than just this man. I can hear the echoes of the fight behind me. Sapphire and Jadeite exchange blows, but I'm not sure who has the advantage. Both men fight from a distance so their tactics mirror each other.

Strategy dictates that he should be the one fighting Nephrite. Their styles of fighting are completely different and I know that I could take on Jadeite, but my pride stops me. There are just some things that I know I have to do myself.

Sapphire yells out, but my attention remains fixed on the bleeding man in front of me. His eyes are dark. "Is this all the power you have, Makoto? You've grown so weak."

I summon the roots of nature beneath his feet. "Jove is not weak."

He jumps to the side and recovers his footing. "Jove is a faceless god. What kind of entity chooses to hide behind a soldier?"

I shake my head. "You misunderstand the will of gods. They are not hiding."

He lunges forward, both hands on his sword and I move to counter. The tip of his blade clangs against my armor as I kick him back. He stumbles but only for a moment. "You're holding back."

"You are mistaken."

He smiles. "Am I? Swat me down with your lightning, crush me with nature's arms. I don't care. I am ready for it, but you're too scared to deal the final blow."

In that moment our eyes meet and I realize just how weak I have become. He's not wrong, but he's not right either. When these visions first came to me I thought that my true nature was being revealed. I thought that Queen Makoto, the last daughter of Jupiter, was who I was supposed to be. If I was her than I could be heartless and cutthroat, but I wasn't born as Makoto.

I didn't understand what it was that my memories were telling me. It wasn't that I was supposed to become Makoto; I was supposed to learn from her. I sheath my swords. "I care about you more than I will ever admit to anyone. I don't know if that is fate or the echoes of the past walking between us, but the future for us and this planet is not what matters. What matters is that I don't fail."

He merely laughs at my words. A darkness such as this could only belong to her; Metalia. I hear Jadeite falling to the ground, and Sapphire taking advantage of the stumble. My aura glows a bright green and I find myself reaching back and pulling the Jovian dagger from my belt.

Nephrite attacks and I move with the greatest ease. Thunder cracks as the wind picks up and in that moment I hear the voices of both Phobos and Deimos. They sit over the arch once more and bow their heads. Out of respect for this place I don't want to kill him here. I hear Jadeite screaming in agony as I run at Nephrite.

"Jupiter! Wait, don't..." Sapphire.

My shoulder hits Nephrite full force as I tackle him back. His sword falls and the two of us plummet down the many steps of the Hikawa shrine. My head hits one of the steps, but I am quick to recover. Nephrite lands face down on the sidewalk. His breathing is slow, but I know he isn't dead.

The dagger rests clenched between my fingers. I grab a handful of his hair and force him to turn over. His smile never fades and I soon realize why. The sting of a small blade digging into my collar is enough to make my mind panic, but my body refuses to relinquish the grip I have on him. I hear the crunch as he twists the handle and scrapes the blade through my flesh. I cringe, but not enough to back away.

"Makoto!" Sapphire is rushing down the steps.

Nephrite laughs at me. "Look at you, a goddess? No, nothing but a scared little girl. You should be afraid. Metalia is just on the edge of her dream, and when she wakes up the nightmare will begin."

I slow my breathing. "Neph-"

He pushes his blade. "Would you scream for me if I asked you to? Because I just want to hear you in absolute agony."

The steps grow louder and Sapphire continues to call my name, but I see only one end to this. I lean down closer to him, forcing my wound to tear deeper. "You bastard."

His hand never leaves the hilt of his blade as I stab him once in the chest, but that isn't enough. The blood drips and sprays as I make wound after wound. His life slips away and I don't stop. There may have been tears but I discarded them in exchange for the drops of red.

"I always knew that it would be you to kill me Makoto. No one else was worthy."

I sigh. "For treachery there is only death as the consequence. I hope you rot in the pits of your Earthly Hell."

He falls to his knees and looks up at the sky. With each breath he takes, his chest bleeds more and more. "You really are beautiful." In that moment, I could see the look in his eyes. For that split second I had him back, but the sight fades as he pushes himself to stand and lunges once more.

I jump to the side and reach back with all my strength. It seems like everything slows with this moment. There is no thunder to be heard, only my cry to battle. He gives me his back and I don't hesitate. In one motion I strike down with the blade in my right hand. I never saw the look on his face as I separated his head from his shoulders, and for the first time I'm glad. Love, even after all we've been through, is still as heartless as ever.

The memory plays over and over again. This time when I watch him die there are no words. Sapphire rushes to my side and pulls me off of him. The dagger falls from my hand. He looks as if he's trying to save Nephrite's life, but I know that that is impossible. After several moments his hands start to shake and he looks to me with a sad expression.

"I was so stupid! I should have known." He turns to me. "Jupiter, I'm so sorry."

I reach to the blade in my collar and cringe as I pull it out. "I told you that I would be fine."

He quickly rips part of his sleeve and goes to make a bandage. "No... you don't understand. I-"

Heavy footsteps scrape against the stone ground and I look up to see a man standing on top of the steps. He's holding his left arm and limping towards the edge. Jadeite? I look to Sapphire. "What is this?"

He tries to wipe the blood from my face. "I didn't... I tried to get your attention. The dark energy in his body is the same that my powers are derived from. I didn't know that I..."

But I stand and turn away before he can finish. I put my head in my hand as the memories, both past and present play over and over in my mind. "I didn't have to kill him..." My voice is shaken and barely audible.

I can feel the tears spilling over and for this moment I truly can't think straight. I don't even remember hearing Sapphire step out in front of me. All I feel are his arms around my frame and I know that he feels just as guilty as I do.

The storm roars louder than when I first summoned it, and though I know it isn't needed anymore, it stays. If anything it is comforting to know that there is an ounce of familiarity still present on this planet. The Jovian dagger sits on the ground, right where I dropped it, being cleansed by the rain.

Sapphire reaches down and picks it up. I can tell that he's studying the designs. He turns to me and places the weapon in my hand. There are no words, no motions or fears. Our eyes meet and that is the end of it. For the first time in a long while I think it's alright for him to be this close.

Nephrite... I look to him one last time. My chest feels as if I had ripped my own heart out. I suppose that is exactly what I had done. To stop him and save the others was my goal and I accomplished it, but for right now I mourn because I know that no one could make this sacrifice but me. History really does repeat itself.

"I knew what I was doing, but I just... I couldn't move my own body." Jadeite walks a mere pace behind us.

Neither Sapphire nor I say anything to him. His guilt was evident ever since we started to head back. I know exactly where this road leads. It seems that this is the path of redemption for all of us. I can still hear the Silver Crystal calling for me. Every once in a while I will remove myself from my thoughts and look up at the palace that has been my home for the last millennium.

The skies are clearing; the dark purple is swiftly replaced by the bright blue that I remember adoring as a child. We continue on through the city and past the mangled gates leading to the crystal palace. Several guards stand at the front door. I watch as one of them quickly runs back inside. The onslaught will come any moment now.

I stop. "Sapphire."

He nods. "What is it?"

"I think you should go back to Nemesis."

He pauses. "Are you sure?"

I look him in the eye. "Yes."

He takes my hand and drops a small purple crystal in my palm. "Just use it when you're ready. I will wait for you."

I smile and wipe the dirt from his cheek. "Alright."

He fades away and I am left standing alone with Jadeite beside me. The tears well up in his eyes as the senshi emerge from the main doors. His eyes rest fixed on Mina.

I turn to him. "Stay here."

He merely bows his head in silence.

The atmosphere shifts as Pluto emerges with Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion at her side. They stand in a straight line and I know that this is far from being a happy reunion. Neo-Queen Serenity whispers something to Pluto and I suddenly feel as if my wrists are being bound.

"What the-" My body feels so heavy.

"Jupiter!" Jadeite catches me before I fall. He can see confusion on my face. "What's wrong?"

I look to Hotaru. Her glaive glows a deep purple. "Judgment."

"Planetary laws have been written since the beginning of time itself. It is by the creed signed at the beginning of Silver Millennium that we live." Pluto bows her head and continues. "Lita Kino, you appear before your peers, guilty of acting as a solitary entity seeking vengeance in the face of this age."

I struggle to step away from Jadeite. "I don't care what you all do to me but just listen. Nephrite spoke of Metalia's awakening-"

Pluto stabs her rod into the Earth. "Lita, please. Stop."

I shake my head. "Setsuna..."

She slowly walks towards me. "Makoto, this is out of my hands. The Silver Crystal has lost it's power. Nemesis must be brought to justice."

I clench my fists. "There is nothing wrong with the crystal it's-"

"Lita!" Uranus steps forward. "What the hell is he doing here?"

I stand as straight as I can. "He's with me. Leave it at that."

She walks straight for him. "Not when that bastard is the reason Venus can't walk."

No one is going to stop her. I attempt to charge my fists, but Saturn raises her hand and it feels as if gravity itself is against me. "What are you doing to me?"

Saturn looks me in the eye. "Serenity has invoked the ancient law of judgment. This entire planet's power is being used to bind your powers."

"I'm tired of fighting with you, Serenity. If there is something that you want to say then say it, but don't hide behind ancient laws that I'm sure you never even knew about."

Uranus grabs Jadeite and shoves him to the ground. "I should pound the sh-"

"Amara! Stop." Mina makes her way over.

I expect Serenity to come forward, but there is something different abut how she stands. Jadeite stands and bows to Mina. I can feel the sadness coursing through his veins. "Princess Minako, I am so sorry."

Mina nods. "I don't know who Minako is, but it's okay. I can tell that you're different from before."

He drops to one knee. "I want to make this up to you."

She shakes her head. "Oh... no it's-"

He takes her hand. "Please. My devotion will be all yours. I pledge my life to you, Princess. So that maybe in Kunzite's place I could atone for all of us."

The amount of power Saturn is using to suppress mine is uncanny. The two of us look at each other with familiar eyes. I surge what lightning I have through my body. The power of Earth is one thing, but the power of Jupiter is certainly another. Her eyes widen, for a mere moment, as I break her hold over me. "Serenity."

"Lita?" I turn to see Mina facing me. "It's over, right?"

I nod. "For now."

In that moment I see what is happening. None of us are children anymore. We had all grown together and now everything has changed. I look at Amy and see the same skeptical expression. She sees the scene in front of her just like everyone else, but something is bothering her. Raye stands with her back tall. I know that she will always stand behind her Queen. Michelle looks to Amara who is so filled with rage that I am ready to jump between her and Jadeite if necessary. Hotaru and Trista are just abiding by their duty. So this is what we have become; guardians without thought.

I hear the sounds of wheels and turn to Mina. She, my best friend, still has my full respect. "I won't doom a planet to be judged in this way."

She nods. "I didn't want to confront you like this."

I smile. "I know." Regardless of what actions are seen, I walk towards Serenity. Endymion pushes her back slightly. "I won't hurt her. I am tired of fighting."

Neo-Queen Serenity, for the first time since all of this had begun, walks past her husband and looks me in the eye. "I loved you as a sister."

"It's okay, I'm done here. I will take Nemesis away so that you can rebuild in peace since I know that you won't let them stay."

She steps forward. "It's that I can't let them stay. Not after this. They need to be brought to justice."

I shake my head. "What happened to the compassion and forgiveness that we used to exert in the past? Is this how Crystal Tokyo has changed us? Have we forgotten how we once were?"

Saturn walks towards us. "Duty over friendship. That is how it will always be."

"My duties have changed." I then look back to Serenity. "Why did you call me here if this is all you wanted to say?"

She shakes her head. "I didn't call you here. The crystal is broken."

No, it isn't. I turn to Endymion, but he says nothing. He mustn't have noticed. Was it the Princess that called me here? The others don't seem to have heard the call of the crystal. I pause. "Where is Rini?"

Endymion speaks. "Inside. She doesn't need to see this."

"So, am I being exiled from this planet?" Everyone's eyes are on me. I can sense the split thoughts amongst them. Neither Mina, nor Michelle seem to agree with this decision. No one says anything and I take this as my cue to leave. "Fine, but don't ever let your guards down. There is something still out there."

Pluto goes to speak. "Jupiter is no longer a recognized seat on the council of Crystal Tokyo."

I turn away. "That is how I thought it would be."

In these final moments I remember not feeling any regret for my actions. I looked back to the palace one last time and saw Princess Rini standing on the balcony with tears dripping down her cheeks. She was so young, but she must have understood. I took Sapphire's crystal in my hand and disappeared from the planet that I had protected for so many centuries. I was forgotten and my existence was left to be erased by the harsh fields of time.

"Are you alright?" Sapphire stands in front of me. He must have seen the entire thing.

I nod. "Yeah, let's go. Jupiter is waiting for us."

He presses several buttons and an image appears on the screen. "We're already here."

My eyes widen. "It's beautiful."

My planet never looked so vibrant. I don't think I have ever seen it from this angle. "I trust you, Makoto. We can rebuild this planet together."

I nod. "It was once the center of an empire."

He smiles. "Then it can be again."

In my heart I know that this is only the beginning. Those that witness this will surely remember it for all eternity. Father, I would be so proud if you and mother could see me here. Jove knows that I will succeed in rebuilding what was lost for two millennia. The Jovian Empire, the legacy forgotten by time, will be found again and I will sit on its throne and rule with an iron fist and a gentle smile just like you taught me.

Sapphire and I look to each other then back at the planet. "So this is home."

I take his hand. "Yes, it is."