Solar Guardians
This is the second to last chapter for this story and it has been fun to write. I can't wait to write the next one just because of the events that will take place. Anyway thank you to everyone that has reviewed, favorited, and followed. Thanks again to Nesthellshert for putting up with me and doing this huge favor for me. I own nothing, the Big Four belongs to Disney and Dreamworks and their creators. And Sailor Moon is the lovely creation of Noako Takeuchi. Thanks for reading.
Act 8: The Battle Is Nigh
Before the battle started, there was a dark queen with the darkest heart imaginable seated on a dark throne in the darkest part of the world. She sat smirking at the struggling prince as he tried desperately to break free of his crystal prison. Slowly, it filled with black sand, corrupting him inch by inch. His struggles were futile and she had a suspicion he knew it. Yet still he fought. Beating his hands on the crystal till they bruised, only to keep going. It was amusing to watch since she knew in the end it wouldn't matter.
He would be hers.
"My Queen."
Reluctantly taking her eyes of the prince she let her gaze fall on her loyal lords at the bottom of her pedestal. Like a pack of faithful dogs as soon as her eyes landed on them they fell to their knees, heads down. The sight of all four of them only served to please her more.
"We have all healed, your highness." Lord Sky called, keeping his head down.
"We eagerly await your commands." Lady Death cooed.
"Please, allow us to redeem ourselves." Lord Time begged.
"What are you orders?" Lord Sea inquired.
"My commands are simple." She smiled. "Find the princess, keep her busy and the prince will take care of the rest."
"I'LL NEVER HELP YOU!" Rider roared as the sand reached his shoulders.
"I'm afraid you have no choice in the matter my dear Prince Flynn." She chuckled. "You have your orders, now go. Find her."
"At once." They all nodded disappearing before her eyes.
"What are you doing to me?" Rider gritted with the sand now up to his neck.
"I'm corrupting you dear boy." She giggled.
"Whatever you planning it won't work. I'll never hurt Rapunzel."
"Oh dear, I don't want you to hurt her, I want you to woo her."
"What?" he could barely talk now as it crawled up his face.
"I never wanted to hurt the princess, I only want her to rule with me. And with her dear sweet prince on my side, she won't be able to resist."
"NO! I WON'T LET YO-" he couldn't finish as he was now completely buried.
"Alas you have no choice in the matter." She chuckled. "Now, transform and become my fifth lord. My Lord Speed, we will work together and convert our darling sunflower to evil. Don't you agree."
"… Yes my Queen."
The crystal then shattered, releasing a new evil.
"Pascal, go hide." Moon urged.
"Okay." the little lizard nodded running off for cover.
"My son, dear daughters, please be careful." Tooth called gently as she began to fade.
"Thank you, mother." All three murmured, saddened that they didn't get to speak with her more.
"Where is Rider," Sailor Sun demanded summoning her frying pan. "What have you done with him?"
"He's just fine." Lord Sea chuckled. "You would be able to see for yourself if you cooperate and come with us. The time has come princess, now join us."
"She isn't going anywhere with you." Moon snarled taking a step forward only to stop.
"No!" Venus cried jumping forward. "Neptune is mine, if anyone has a chance of awakening his memories, its me."
"You can't fight him alone." Jupiter stressed. "He was the leader of the outer Guardians and now the Lords of Gothel. He's too powerful."
"She won't." Sailor Sun assured stepping forward. "He took Rider, I won't let him get away with it. I'll back you up."
Sailor Venus only nodded, her eyes still locked on Lord Sea.
"Then Officer Moon and I will take on Saturn." Officer Mercury claimed giving the boy a sad look.
"Right." Moon nodded. "Little brother needs a bit of discipline."
"Then Mars and I will take Pluto and Uranus." Sailor Jupiter nodded.
"Everyone be careful." Sailor Mars warned. "Ah sense 'at they are stronger than last time."
"Enough talk already." Lady Death shrieked charging forward, Jupiter meeting her half way.
The battle had begun.
"You damn Sailor Venus, get out of my way." Lord Sea hissed forming his water into razors.
"Please." Venus begged dodging the attack. "Neptune, please remember me. It's me, Venus, your love. Please come back to me."
"Enough of your insistent whining. Out of the way." Sea roared.
"Venus look out!" Sun cried jumping in the way of Sea's attack. "SUN, SOLAR FRYING!"
Thankfully the heat from her attack evaporated the attack turning it into harmless steam. Using his stunned pause to the full advantage she took a strand of hair using it to wrap around him and throw him to the other side of the room. Sure that he wasn't a threat for the moment she rounded on her fighting partner.
"Listen to me Venus, I know he is the man you love, but you can't let your guard down. Please, be more careful." She urged as sternly as she could.
With a sad nod, Venus agreed.
"I'm sorry, I won't let him get to me this time." She promised summoning her heart chacrum.
"Snap out of it Saturn." Mercury called having issues of his own.
"C'mon kid." Moon cried dodging another attack. "You have to remember us, we're your big brothers. We used to call you little Saturn, it would drive you crazy. Don't you remember that?"
"Ugh, I've had enough of your stupid delusions." Lord Time growled. "Just die."
"Moon move!" Mercury cried scooping his fellow Guardian out of the way of Time's attack and taking off into the air on Toothless.
"Thanks." Moon puffed.
"That was close." Mercury gritted. "This isn't getting us anywhere."
"No, it's not." He agreed.
"Come tae yur senses already." Mars hissed dodging Sky's attack.
"Please." Jupiter begged grabbing for Death's scythe. "Remember who you really are. We're friends. You swore you would protect the princess."
"Lies." Lord Sky tutted.
"Get off." Lady Death wailed throwing Jupiter to the side with a cry of pain.
"Jupiter!" Mars shrieked.
"Eyes forward." Sky taunted throwing a powerful wind at her which she narrowly dispelled with her flames.
"Jupiter!" she called again.
"I'm fine." she assured standing strong glaring at her former friend. "I'll pay you back for that."
"Whatever, snow flake." Death giggled.
It wasn't as organized as their past battle. Their teamwork was all over the place with their emotions running so high. These weren't just evil fiends they were fighting anymore, they were they're friends and lovers. Officer Moon could see this and knew that if they didn't do something quick they were going to lose.
The Planet Hearts where their last hope.
"Everyone regroup." He called.
"Whit?" Mars roared. "We got 'em on the ropes."
"Now." he ordered.
Growling she did as he said keeping Jupiter in her sights always.
"Whit?" she demanded once they all got together and far enough away from the Lords.
"Listen to me, we stand no chance against them with the power we have now." he informed putting up a frosty mist to keep them hidden.
"So what do you suggest?" Mercury asked.
"Your Planet Hearts." He insisted. "They all have their own special powers, use them. Listen to your hearts, you'll know what to do."
"What about me?" Sailor Sun questioned.
"Yours is the most powerful heart of all." Moon assured. "Wait for us to weaken them then hit them with your heart's power."
"But-"
"Trust me, princess." He smiled. "Your power will save them. Just trust in yourself. Now everyone. They'll find us in a minute. Listen to your hearts."
"I see them!" time called getting everyone's attention.
But it was too late, the Guardians where already deep in the new pool of power they had dipped into. Moon watched them, feeling the upmost pride in his fellow soldiers. He could make out the outline of the enemy, it was now or never.
"Now, do it now!" he called.
"RED HEART, RAGING FIRE BEAR!" Mars roared as her blazing emerald green aura took on the shape of a bear and with a point of her finger, it charged Uranus.
"FURY HEART, NIGHT FURY SHRIEK!" Mercury called getting Toothless to let lose an earsplitting shriek making Saturn scream.
"GORGEOUS HEART, GOLDEN HEART STRINGS!" Venus cried using golden crystalized thread to wrap around Neptune, holding him tight as she flooded him with her emotions of love.
"STORM HEART, FROZEN HURRICANE!" Jupiter thundered, creating a monstrous storm to surround Pluto as it froze and tossed her around.
"Now Sailor Sun, while they're down." Moon yelled. "Heal them! Summon the royal Solar Staff, listen to you heart." Moon urged.
Sailor Sun had already been focusing on her Planet Heart, letting its power fill her, fuel her, making her stronger than ever before. Holding out her frying pan she let the power flow into it, transforming it anew. The dish became a golden sphere with twelve smaller orbs circling it resting atop a pink heart embellished with the Solar Kingdom's emblem. The handle elongated into a pink staff that nearly reached the ground. Sitting atop the sphere was the Golden Solar Crystal itself in full bloom. She now knew she could harness this power and she would use it to save her friends.
"Please, Solar Crystal, give me the power to save them." She pleaded. "SOLAR HEALING LULLABY!"
Pointing the staff at their fallen friends they all watched as the golden light sped toward them with it's healing light. This was it, they were going to save them, they were one step closer to ending this. That is what they thought, but the beam dissipated before it even reached their friends. Smacking into something solid and disappearing entirely. They had seen this before, but it couldn't be.
"No." Sailor Sun whimpered as the dust from the attack cleared revealing a strong force field that protected the others.
And standing before them was Rider.
"Rider…" she gasped.
He smiled at her.
"Hello Princess."
"Prince Flynn." Moon gaped. "Why are you here? How are you here?"
"I no longer go by that name," Rider informed still not taking his eyes of Sailor Sun. "I am now call Lord Speed, the fastest of Queen Gothel's lords."
"No." she gasped again shaking her head furiously. "You can't be."
He merely chuckled at her misery before turning his back on her, smirking at her over his shoulder.
"Come and catch me if you can Princess." And with that he was gone.
"Wait, Rider come back!" she cried taking off after him.
"No, Sailor Sun don't go after him." Moon urged chasing after her with the others close on his tail.
But a powerful wind blasted into them preventing them from leaving the room.
"Did you already forget about us?" Lord Sky snickered.
"Your fight is with us. Let the lovers have their moment." Lord Sea chuckled.
"Damn it." Moon gritted engaging the enemy once again. "Please Princess, be safe."
"Rider!" Sailor Sun called as she chased his dust through the halls. "Don't go, come back. Please."
On and on she ran until she was outside the palace, standing at the top of a set of grand stairs looking out over what she assumed was a garden.
"Rider." She called again. "Where are you?"
"I'm here Princess."
Looking down she found him hidden slightly behind a dead tree. Just like her dream. The Princess would run down the steps to her Prince and they would share a kiss.
But this wasn't a dream. This was a nightmare and she needed to wake up. She needed to wake him up.
"Do you remember this place?" he asked coming out of his hiding place as she slowly descended the steps. "We used to spend many hours here, talking, watching you paint, being intimate."
"You remember that?" she asked reaching the bottom. "You remember who you really are."
"I do. And I remember that I loved you."
"Then you should also remember that I would never want this. What she has turned you into. This isn't you."
"She has freed me. I no longer fear losing you, because in the end I know you will be with me forever."
"Not like this." She shook her head, backing away as he stepped closer. "Please, you have to fight her. Come back to me."
"Is that what you want Princess? You want me to become the man you once knew, the one that died in your arms? He died, my love, see me as I am now." he had backed her into a tree now, staring her down with an intense stare. "You must accept that and come with me."
"NO!" she cried diving to the side and pulling out her Solar Staff. "I will save you Eugene, I know you're in there. So please come back to me. SOLAR HEALING LULLABY!"
She expected him to try to dodge, but when he didn't she thought that perhaps she had gotten to him. That is until, it was halted once again. His force field had shot up to protect him making her power useless.
"I don't understand." She whimpered. "That power-"
"Yes." He nodded. "That is the Terra Heart protecting it's host. So you see, whatever Gothel did can't be bad if the heart is still working."
"No, but she-"
"Freed me." he assured. "And you can be free to. No more isolation, or responsibility. Just you and me. All you have to do is take my hand."
Something about his voice, it was almost hypnotic. She found that she couldn't refuse him as her hand reached out for his. On the inside, she was screaming at herself to run or attack again. Yet in the end it was no use. Their hands brushed and she fell limp and unconscious in her waiting arms.
He now had his princess.
"Ugh!" Moon cried as he was slammed into floor, he stood shakily, using his crook to stabilize himself he was confronted with a terrifying sight. "No…"
"Yes." Lord Sea smirked glancing to the water sphere which held his baby sister.
"Venus!" he cried.
"That's not all." Sea nodded to the others.
Following his nod Moon was practically brought to his knees. All his friends were captured. Lord Sky had Mars in a whirl wind. Lady Death had her scythe blade against Jupiter's neck. Then his heart sank as he saw Mercury and the Night Fury trapped in a time bubble.
"Let them go!" he demanded pointing the hook of his crook at the Lords.
"And what do you plan on doing if we don't?" Lady Death giggled.
"He can't do anything."
They all looked to the door way where Moon's worst fears were made reality.
"NO!" he screamed. "Princess. Let her go."
Lord Speed merely smirked wider looking down at the girl in his arms.
"Why would I do that?" he chuckled.
"Prince Flynn, don't do this." He urged. "Solstice wouldn't want this."
"She willingly took my hand. She chose this." He shrugged.
"Your lying!" Moon roared.
"Doesn't matter if I am or not. Either way, you and the other Guardians will be coming with us. Queen Gothel would like you all to be present as she brings this world to its knees."
"No." he shook his head staring at his crook. "This can't be happening."
The Planet Hearts where our last chance, but no matter what we did we couldn't get them. We were too focused on getting to Sun, now… I'm so sorry my queen. I wasn't able to save them once again.
"Now don't make this difficult and just come with us." Speed sighed.
The Planet Hearts… he thought looking down at crook. It's still out there somewhere. I can harness the power… it may be my last chance.
"If you don't want your friends to die, I suggest you do as he says." Lord Sea suggested.
But Moon only took a deep breath standing tall, raising his crook above his head. Focusing on the distant power that was somewhere in the world he made a silent prayer to his Planet Heart. Just hoping it was listening.
"Please, I know you're out there. I need your power now." he begged, holding his crook aloft as it began to glow. "CRESCENT HEART, LUNAR PURIFICATION!"
The crook began to glow an intense silver blinding everyone. He could feel the power coursing through him. With this power, he could win. And yet, just as he was about to unleash it something, or someone cut off his connection. Right before his eyes his crook snapped in half causing a deep ache within him. His eyes lost focus as he dropped it and fell to his knees then on his side.
"Well that as anti-climactic." Lord Speed ticked. "Grab him and let's go. Queen Gothel is waiting for us."
To make matters easier they passed on the other Guardians to Time so he could keep them in his time bubbles, all except Venus who Sea wanted to keep a hold of for whatever reason.
"At last." Gothel cooed, caressing the glass gently, watching as the black sand buried her. "You are finally mine, my little sunflower."
"How much longer?" Speed demanded.
"patients my young prince. The process is almost complete." She sighed. "Once she has awakened we will use the power of the Terra Heart, the Crescent Heart, the talismans, and the Solar Crystal, we will finally be able to awaken the greatest power and bring this world to its knees."
"What did you do to him?"
They both turned to the distraught Officer Mercury as he fought his bindings, desperately trying to get the shocked Officer Moon. All the Guardians where pinned up on cross shaped crystals, their hands and feet melded into the crystal so they had no chance of escaping. They struggled of course, but alas there was no hope of escape. The only one that wasn't trying was Officer Moon who was hanging limp, eyes glassy and staring at nothing. Yet somehow Mercury knew that he could see and was comprehending everything that was going on.
"What did you do to him!?" he demanded once again.
"Calm down." Speed drawled. "We didn't do anything. He did that to himself when he tried to use a power that wasn't his."
"The Crescent Heart is his birth right." Jupiter growled. "He was born to the Planet Heart. It belongs to him and only him."
"Wrong." Gothel growled stomping forward. "You worthless half-breeds ruined our kingdom. Our prince was meant to marry me. I was entitled to that power. Then word got out that the prince already had two children, one being born to the power Jupiter and the other taking on their father's features. That destroyed our kingdoms dynamics. His majesty Prince North spent months trying to convince the high council to allow his son to ascend the throne. I couldn't have it. When I confronted the prince, and reminded him of our betrothal all he had to say to me was that he was in love with the famed beauty Sailor Venus. Everything, everything I had worked so hard for gone. I had to do something."
"So ye annihilated th' entire Lunar Kingdom?" Mars accused.
"I only took what was mine, the Crescent Heart now is with it's true wielder." She clarified.
"And the Princess?" Venus wondered. "Where does she come into your sick delusions."
"I was meant to have a daughter, just as gorgeous as myself. With the prince gone, I lost her. Then I saw she was reborn, on the sun to the Solar Queen. She was just as beautiful as I imagined. But the Queen had her, and brain washed her to thinking the way of the sun was right."
"Because she wasn't yours." Mercury roared. "This is all your delusional fantasy. Solstice is the Solar Princess, and the Crescent Heart belongs to Moon, to Jack."
"No matter what you do you won't win." Jupiter assured.
CRACK!
They all looked to the sphere now bulging with sand.
"We'll see about that." She smirked.
The sphere burst open and out floated the Princess. She wasn't wearing her usual Sailor Uniform or royal gown she would wear, or even her street clothes. Instead she was wearing a black turtle neck, long sleeved dress with the shoulders cut out. The sides were slit all the way up to her hips. And she wore pointed toe, black six inch heels. Her hair was braided and she had the Sun's emblem on her forehead. Her eyes opened and instead of the brilliant green they were dimmed and glassy. She was not the Princess they loved.
"My dear Sunflower." Gothel cooed embracing the girl as soon as she touched down. "I'm so happy to see you again."
The girl didn't respond, her eyes looking only to Lord Speed.
"Yes, you can spend all the time you want with him." Gothel promised. "But first you have to do something special for me."
Now the girl looked at her, nodding robotically.
"Good girl." She smiled beckoning the Lords forward. "Now all I need you to do is use the power of the Solar Crystal to help me get the ultimate power and then you can be with Lord Speed for the rest of your life."
Nodding again the Princess summoned the crystal and waited for further instruction.
"Now," she nodded to the Lords. "Summon your talismans."
So they did. Lord Sky summoned his sword and fan chain. Lady Death summoned the missing piece to her scythe, a red orb that settled in where it was meant to be. Lord Time summoned the Time Titan, Baimax. And lastly, Lord Sea summoned his ice pick. All talismans gathered and the Terra Heart's host present, the summoning could begin.
They held their sacred object to the sky and listened as Gothel chanted in a language long since dead. A massive midnight black cloud burst from the ground hovering over their heads. Using the Crescent Heart Gothel stepped into the center of their circle and channeled the dark power absorbing its loathsome force. Turning her eyes black and her skin pale.
"Now, I have been reborn, the power of the ancient Fear Lords is mine to command." She cackled.
And all Officer Moon could do was watch and know he had failed.
Dun-dun-dun. Yep still a major dork. One last chapter to go. Let me know what you guys think and thanks for reading. And remember, fanfiction authors need love to. Thanks guys.