Author's Notes: Not even two months later and I'm back with another chapter update. This one was quite easier to write than the other one, even if there were some turns in this one that I wasn't quite expecting. But hey. My characters know best. Ha-ha. Anyway big hugs and thanks go out to: Jenbunny, SerentiyMoonGodness, roswellachick, CharmedSerenity3, SerenaDarienforeverJune30, mali 86, midnight blue08, Isis2010, sakanascales876, LGCoffeeAddict, Kari moon, and Cosmic-lover for reviewing the last chapter. Your reviews always motivate me and make me smile when I see them in my inbox. Enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: One: I don't own Sailor Moon, which is so very sad. Two: I don't own the song "Shattered" by Backstreet Boys. Three: This is a spinoff idea of the story In Darkness by the wonderful AngelONight. Four: This story is rated M for a reason. Mostly because of dark themes and language in this chapter. Enjoy!
Shadows of the Night: Darkness Remains
By: afallenblackrose
So empty can't feel no more
As I'm left with my tears on the floor
I wait for my heart to mend
But you keep tearing a hole
Oh, inside I'm so lost
In the middle of my heart
It's a battlefield of love
I've been fighting for too long
~Shattered ~Backstreet Boys
"Because in the future, Endymion is dead," Helios said. A silence reigned over the group as the information sunk in. Endymion was dead in the future. That was why Black Lady had not returned after Usagi had come back to life months ago. But how did he die? And why was the future still incased in evil?
"I have the sneaking suspicion," Usagi began, forcing all eyes on her. "That I am not the one who kills Endymion in the future. Am I, Helios?"
"You are correct, princess," he replied. "You do not kill Endymion in the future."
"Then who?" Kunzite asked. "Serenity is the only one of us who even has the power to rival that of Endymion's."
"Rival, yes, but not defeat. Especially now that he has the Golden Crystal," Usagi said. "But I am curious to know, who kills Endymion?"
"His name is Prince Demando of Nemesis," Helios replied. "But I'm afraid that is all I can divulge about the future. I may have said too much already." The words weren't needed though as Usagi put the pieces together. This Prince Demando of Nemesis was obviously also of the Darkness and had either challenged Endymion in the future, or…she trailed off and frowned. Or what? Why else would he challenge him? Unless...flashes of Queen Beryl lusting after Endymion flashed through her mind. There couldn't be a chance that this Demando person had the same lust for her? She sighed. Great, just another thing to add to my list of things to do. She couldn't help but think.
But the only way to change the future was to confront him and get him to change to the Light. …Or kill him herself. But to do that she was going to need all of her Senshi. Which meant that the Outers needed to be informed of the new developments.
"Can you hold down Tokyo for awhile?" She asked the others.
"Of course," Minako replied. "But where are you off to?"
"To bring in some back-up. I have a feeling we're going to need it if we even want a chance to stand up to Endymion and whatever nasty plan he's come up with." She waved good-bye and in a blink of an eye was gone.
Endymion was staring at the glowing ball of energy when he felt the bond that Serenity and him shared return for a second. But in that second he saw a glimpse of Helios. He stepped back from the energy and pondered this. Helios was the young priest who guarded Elysion, his old home before things had changed. The last time that boy had been here, his daughter from the future had also appeared. But when Serenity died, Black Lady had disappeared. Why would Helios be back if everything in the future…
His train of thought stopped. Of course. Everything in the future was not back on course. Endymion was still evil and Serenity was about to become evil herself. Is that why the boy had returned? To confirm Serenity's fears of him still being in Darkness? Well, now she definitely knows, he thought to himself. A bought of emptiness hit him deep in the gut. He almost doubled over at the intensity of the feeling. But the feeling wasn't from Serenity. Well, at least, not directly from her. It was because she was no longer blocking their bond and the reason was because she wasn't in Tokyo anymore.
Hell, she wasn't even on the planet, he felt as he searched for her.
"Well, if you've disappeared to the Moon again, Serenity," he said drawing the Doom and Gloom Girls attention. "Then I'm going to gather the last of what I need. So when you return we can have one interesting welcome back party." He smirked and disappeared. The Doom and Gloom Girls followed suit.
Usagi didn't know what possessed her, but she didn't go to California to warn the Outer Senshi like she had said. Instead she disappeared to the Moon. Her heart was conflicted again and the only one who could possibly help was her mother. Once she appeared, she took a look around and felt a wave of nostalgia wash over her. These rocks used to be her home over a thousand years ago. She was going to be married to Prince Endymion, her one true love. Before Queen Metallia ruined everything. But now, things were almost the same way. Mamoru had been revealed to her as her soul mate and then he was ripped away from her. Just when she thought that she had him back, it turned out that he was still in Darkness.
She lightly walked on her former home and tried to fight back tears. She had cried enough over Endymion and her broken heart for one night. Usagi didn't want to go back to who she used to be before her disappearance. But after one healthy cry, it was hard to go cold turkey again. Her mother's prayer room (or what was left of it) came into sight and to Usagi's surprise so did her mother.
"Serenity," Queen Selene greeted. "It seems we are seeing more of each other since your return to Tokyo."
"It's good to see you too, mother," Usagi replied trying to bite back an eye roll. It wasn't her fault that there hadn't been a need to visit Selene before she had disappeared.
"What brings you here this time, my dear?"
"The same thing that I was here for last time, I'm afraid. My heart is conflicted over Endymion."
"But why is it conflicted? I would think after the battle four months ago everything between the two of you would be perfect."
"How did you know of the battle four months ago?" Usagi asked surprised.
"My dear daughter, I watched the skies over Tokyo darken and the world fall to decay. Not to mention I felt when you died, came back, and almost died again." Selene eyed her, and Usagi couldn't help but blush.
"Well…" she sighed. "After all of that, I am afraid to say that Endymion still resides in the realm of Darkness."
Selene's eyebrow shot up in surprise. "Serenity, I think it's best if you started from the beginning."
After Usagi had left, the Inner Senshi and the Shitennou had stayed in the park knowing that their princess would soon return with the Outer Senshi. As soon as that happened, they were going to have to figure out what they were going to do about Endymion. But, not soon after Usagi had disappeared from the park, she had disappeared from the planet, making all the Senshi and Shitennou worry about her. Rei had been trying to find her when something else caught her attention nearby.
It was Darkness, and she wasn't the only one who felt it. They all began searching for the source when a familiar raven-haired man walked out of the shadows a smile on his face. The Darkness that he had hid so well for four months was now spewing off of him in waves. Why continue to hide the secret when everyone knew?
"Well, well, well," he drawled. "The Senshi and my Shitennou are having a party in the park and didn't bother to invite me. That's quite rude, you know."
"Don't even start with us about proper manners," Makoto, always the one with the temper, replied. "Because what we're doing isn't half as bad as the shit you've been pulling these last few months."
His smirk only continued to grow at that, "Serenity didn't waste anytime in telling you about her latest discovery, I see. Speaking of her, where is my lovely moon princess?"
"Like hell if we're telling you," Rei spat. "You son of a bitch, good for nothing prince!"
"Why, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were angry with me, Mars."
"Angry with you? More like pissed. She trusted you and you've done nothing but betray her over and over again."
"I haven't betrayed her," Endymion sternly said. The playful edge to his voice was gone. No one accused him of betraying Serenity and got away with it. Nobody. "I am still here for her. I still love her. I have never been with anyone else. It's always been her." He took a step towards the priestess but Jadeite stepped into his path.
"Don't even think about it, Endymion," he said his face stern. "I won't let you hurt her just because you're on one of your usual power tirades."
Endymion took a step back and glanced at the scene before him. His Shitennou were standing with the Senshi, protecting them. His Shitennou, the ones he had bound to him so that he wouldn't be alone again. "If we're speaking of betrayal, maybe I should point my finger at you, my dear Shitennou. You are bound to serve me, not your little Sailor Senshi." The Shitennou looked at each other nervously. They had a feeling that this was going to come up. Endymion was supposed to be their master. He had brought them back after they had been sealed away in those stones by Beryl. But that spell that he had on them was broken. They were back on the side of Light.
"But then again," Endymion continued. "You have helped me these last few months, haven't you? Why if it weren't for you distracting the Senshi, I wouldn't have been able to go through with my plan. And thanks to you, I'm almost done."
"Almost?" Ami asked, quite curious to know if what they had been hypothesizing earlier had been true. Was Endymion really gathering energy to turn Usagi?
"Yes, indeed, Mercury, I'm almost done. Just one more person to gather energy from and then Serenity will be turned." That evil smirk was back on his face.
"Haven't you learned anything at all?" Minako called out. "Usagi will never turn. She won't allow it."
"That was before these last few months though. Don't bother denying it. You all saw how dejected and defeated she was earlier tonight. She's tired of fighting and it probably won't take too much for her to fall this time around." Victory was almost in his grasp. Now he just needed that energy…
The Doom and Gloom Girls appeared behind him and he smirked again. It was done. After all these months, the energy that he needed was finally in place.
"Who are they?" Minako whispered in shock.
"The Doom and Gloom Girls," Kunzite replied also shocked by their appearance. "They were Beryl's highest ranking youma. The only thing more powerful that she had in her arsenal was us. I can't believe that they're still around."
"Well, believe it because I love to stick around and chat but I have things to do. Since I just found out that my plan is now complete, I think it's time that I go fetch my princess from her hiding spot on the moon." He smirked as the Senshi henshined before him, trying to stop him from disappearing, but the Doom and Gloom Girls stepped in front of him and blocked their attacks. "Have fun with them while I go fetch Serenity." He ordered and disappeared into a portal of darkness.
"So after all of that, Endymion is still in Darkness and he also has the Golden Crystal," Queen Selene said after Usagi had told her everything that had happened over the last few months. "You are in a predicament, my dear."
Usagi sighed, "I can never catch a break, can I? For once, I would like to not have to keep fighting. I'm tired of this, mother. When do I get my happy ending?"
"I can't answer that for you, Serenity. You know as well as I that you have to fight for what you want. So the question is what do you want?"
She didn't have a response. What did she want? She wanted to stop fighting. But she also wanted Mamoru. These last few months had been wonderful until she found out that it was all a lie. She had felt complete until it was all ripped away from her again.
So, she wanted Mamoru and she wanted to stop fighting. To get what she wanted though she was going to have to fight one last battle. Who says it will work though this time? What was to stop Endymion from tricking her again? A part of her couldn't help but add. Usagi groaned. She was at the same crossroads that she had been at earlier that night. How could she save Endymion when all previous attempts were futile?
"Have you come to a decision?" Her mother asked.
"How can I, mother?" Usagi replied. "I know what I want. I want Mamoru and to stop fighting. But to get that I have to fight one last time."
"I'm sensing another but."
"But who says that fight will ultimately lead to what I want? Goddess knows the last battles didn't. If anything they made matters worse."
"So what is your other option?"
"The other option," she sighed and felt those familiar tears come back to the corner of her eyes. "The other option is that I have to kill him. Which would then lead to my own demise. How can I kill him when I know that Mamoru is still in there somewhere?" The tears began to fall freely as she realized again the hopelessness of her situation. Also she cried when she realized that a part of her old self had leaked through. This wasn't how it was supposed to be.
Queen Selene watched all of this with a few tears of her own. Tears that she didn't shed because her daughter was crying enough for them both. She couldn't even begin to imagine what she was going through. She hated seeing her daughter in so much pain. But there really was no bright side in this situation. There were only two options.
No, there isn't, a voice in her head whispered. You know there is one more option to consider. One more option? Selene frowned but then figured it out.
That can't be an option! She screamed at herself. It is and you know it. Besides just as long as Serenity is happy does it really matter? Did it? She wondered. Selene looked at Serenity and decided that it didn't matter. She had cried enough for her lifetime.
"There is another option, Serenity," she calmly said. Usagi looked up questioning.
"Another option? What are you talking about?"
"The third option is that you continue to love Endymion the way he is. And you - " she stopped knowing this next part was going to be hard for her to get out, but it was for her own daughter's happiness. "You stop fighting."
Usagi gasped as she realized what Selene meant. "Stop fighting? But that means giving into the Darkness! You can't be serious, mother!"
"But I am, Serenity. If it means you are happy then do what you must." She began to fade away much to Usagi's shock.
"Selene, don't you dare disappear on me. Get your butt back here this instant!"
"Follow your heart," her voice whispered. The queen of the fallen Moon Kingdom did not reappear. Leaving a gawking Usagi in her wake.
Selene couldn't be serious about what she had said. Join the Darkness, stop fighting all so that she could be happy? Her mother must have gone senile after all these years on the moon by herself. Why else would she tell her daughter to turn to Darkness, to go against everything she had been taught?
Unless…a new idea popped into her head. Unless Endymion had somehow known that the first thing Usagi would do after figuring out that he was still evil was run to Queen Selene. And he had gotten to her first. That would explain a lot. But at the same time Usagi couldn't believe that that was what had happened. Her mother was strong. There was no way that she would succumb to Endymion and his Dark powers.
'Follow your heart,' her mother had whispered before disappearing for good, but that was the problem. Her heart was conflicted about what she should do. Should she try and save Endymion from the Darkness? Or should she forget it all and kill him?
Or, her mind piped in. There's always this new option. You could stop fighting and give into the Darkness. Usagi froze. No! There was no way in hell that she would even consider that option. She couldn't give into the Darkness now. Not after everything that had happened since this had started so many years ago. She had to settle this once and for all. And turning to the Darkness was a cop out. She could win this. She just needed to figure out how.
"Careful there, Serenity, or else you might self-combust from all that thinking you're doing," that familiar husky voice said from nearby. Usagi looked around startled. How had he found her so quickly? Her cornflower blue eyes connected with his deep azure blue eyes and she noticed for the first time in four months what she had been missing. The evil glint was back.
"What do you think you're doing here?" She almost spat at him, but she kept her tone even. Almost cool, even.
"I started to get concerned when I felt your part of our bond disappear completely. Then I remembered the last time that happened you came here," he looked around the ruins that had once been the lustrous Moon Kingdom and couldn't help but shudder. He hadn't been to the Moon since the day he died a thousand years ago. The Dark Kingdom had really brought the once powerful kingdom crumbling down. But that wasn't the point, a part of him reminded. He fought back the memories and stared again at Serenity. "I'm surprised you even came here considering all the horrible memories that come with this place."
Usagi stared at him, taking in the familiar armor. So cold she couldn't help but think. "I didn't come here for the memories. I came here to get some advice from my mother."
He smirked, "Because that worked so well for you, last time."
"I thought it did, until this evening."
"Amazing how a little slip can turn into something so much bigger. But now that you know, there's no use in pretending anymore. So, I will ask you this only once, Serenity. Save yourself another battle and please join me in Darkness." He offered her his hand.
Usagi could only stare at it with disgust. She would never join him like this. It was either Light or nothing at all. The fact that he continued to ask her this was rather laughable and quite annoying.
"You know my answer, Endymion," she replied stepping away from him.
"Pity," he said retracting his hand. "I would have hoped that you would realize that after your previous attempts were futile that there was no other choice but to join me. But you never liked doing things the easy way." The hand he had offered her now rested on the hilt of his sword. Usagi's eyes narrowed. He wouldn't dare start a fight with her on her old home. He pulled out his sword and faced her.
"Don't you dare," she seethed. "Not here. Not on my former home."
"What better place than to start it here where it all ended?" He asked and rushed her. Usagi glared and felt her Sailor fuku appear. How dare he mess with her on her one place of sanctuary? She threw a white energy ball at him and he fell back. He looked up amazed; somehow he hadn't been expecting her to fight back. He had thought that the shock of him still being evil and the fact that he chased her here would have caused her not to attack him. But he should have known better.
Serenity was always strong willed, even if she acted like a klutzy crybaby sometimes. Or, she used to act like klutzy crybaby, but ever since she came back she had been more mature. More of the princess that he remembered from the Silver Millennium. While he was ecstatic about this, there was a part of him that was saddened by this. The sweet and pure innocence of his Odango Atama was gone. Endymion grimaced. Dealing with Mamoru was starting to get annoying and troublesome. After he turned Serenity, he was going to have to see if he could do something about him.
"A little warning would have been nice, Serenity," he growled. "You could have seriously hurt me there."
"Warning? I don't owe you any such thing! Especially after all the shit you've been pulling? You're lucky I'm letting you live, for now." Usagi said almost cryptically, making Endymion take a step back. Had she just threatened his life again? He looked into her eyes and froze when he saw how hard and steely they were. She was not joking.
"Are we really going to play this game again, Serenity? We both know you don't have it in you to kill me."
She glared at him obviously pissed off before she disappeared. And re-appeared two inches in front of his face, the sword he was holding wasn't in his grasp anymore. It was in hers and was pointing directly…well…this was going to be interesting.
"This is not a game, Endymion," she hissed at him. "You stopped making this a game when you decided to trick me into believing that you were Mamoru for four months! Any sympathy that I had for you disappeared tonight when I learned the truth of what you did." She disappeared again before he could be moved to reply. He had been distracted by the raw emotion in her eyes. He had seen her disappointed and distraught before, but this? This was a new emotion that he had never seen before.
When Serenity re-appeared, his sword still in her possession, he finally decided to speak.
"How else could I have gotten what I wanted? God knows if you had known I was still in Darkness, we would have continued to fight. Besides, this way I was able to get the upper hand."
She scowled at him. The strong princess he remembered shining through.
"Now, just come with me, Serenity," Endymion continued and did what he had said that he wouldn't do. Asking her a second time to join him. "I know that you are tired of fighting me, and I am tired of fighting you. We are meant to be together. So make it easy on yourself and come with me. If you do, you'll have everything that you ever wanted."
The same offer again. The one-millionth time could be the charm.
But Serenity, being the stubborn girl that she was, refused him again.
"Did you not hear what I just said, Endymion, or are you implying selective hearing again? I'm not coming with you. This fight ends with your death."
He chuckled, "And again, we both know that you don't have it in you to kill me. You tried once and faltered, that's why our crystals brought us back. And you could have easily killed me a few moments ago, but you didn't. Admit it, Serenity, you can't kill me." He crossed his arms in front of his chest as he watched her think this over.
He was right and she really hated that he was. But then again, she knew something that he didn't. He would die, just not by her hand. She sighed and threw him back his sword. He caught it easily, even though he was slightly taken aback by the motion.
"You're right," she whispered softly. "I can't kill you, but don't you dare think that you're safe. Someone else will kill you and when that day comes, I will relish it because then I will finally be at peace."
And then she was gone before Endymion could even fathom to reply.
Author's Notes: Uh….right….so….I told you my characters know best, and I'm sticking with that notion. I couldn't believe it myself when Selene gave Serenity that option. What will happen next? Well, I'm going to talk to the characters to see, so please review and I'll try to update soon!