Author's Notes: Almost three months later and I'm finally updating. Sorry about that, but as it is I'm drowning in the last day of school. Technically I'm supposed to be studying for all three of my finals on Monday, but I decided to post this for you guys. Thanks to Christine Joy, Jenbunny, Jessie F. Babi, icecreamy, midnight blue08, roswellachick, Isis2010, EvaC, Cosmic-lover, Sailor Light37, CharmedSerenity3, Kari moon (your review made me laugh out loud. The kind of sex they would have indeed.), and SerenaDarienforeverJune30 for reviewing the last chapter. As always I am indebted to all of you for reviewing. They mean the world to me! Anyway, onwards with chapter five!
Disclaimer: One: I don't own Sailor Moon, which is so very sad. Two: I don't own the song "Break the Spell" by Daughtry. 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, language, and violence in this chapter. Enjoy!
Shadows of the Night: Darkness Remains
By: afallenblackrose
I could fight you 'til the end
But I will lose you if I win
So I guess I'll just keep on giving
Into you like I always do
No matter how I try
Maybe could it be
That you're the part of me
That's keeping me alive?
This feeling is far from sober
There's beauty buried deep inside
You're the only one who gets me high
And I know it's far from over
As you can see
You're the part of me
That's keeping me alive
~ Break the Spell ~ Daughtry
"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 in it because then I will finally be at peace."
And then she was gone before Endymion could reply.
Luckily he was so used to her saying something meant to stun him and then disappearing, that he didn't even stop to think. He followed her. When he reappeared he was on a bustling city sidewalk and it was late morning. His armor reflected the sunlight, but people didn't pay him much mind. Of course, he thought, she had run back to Los Angeles, just like last time she ran. Only this time, he knew she had a motive. She was here to alert the Outer Senshi what was going on. Typical, when in doubt, get some back up.
He searched the crowd and saw her golden hair further up and began pushing his way through the crowd. While he ran after her, he thought over what she had said before she disappeared. Someone else would kill him? And the way she said it, it didn't sound like she was guessing. She knew for a fact that someone else was going to kill him. So that was what Helios was doing back. The future, which was supposed to be at peace after the war, wasn't. It was still in turmoil and it was because of his death.
Well, that was another hindrance on his plan, but he wasn't too concerned. A few months ago, he would have been bothered by the fact that someone was going to kill him. But that was before his 'future daughter' had shown up telling him how Serenity would fall to the Darkness. She hadn't and had wound up destroying all his plans. So, he no longer put stock in these people coming from the future and telling him how things were going to happen. As Serenity had said back then, "the future isn't set in stone."
Endymion caught up with her as she was entering a park (what else?) and grabbed her upper arm roughly. She tried to pull away, but he only tightened his grip.
"Stop trying to run from me," he hissed into her ear. "You know, I will always find you."
"Let me go," she hissed back. But he refused to, dragging her deeper into the park, hoping that there wouldn't be as many people. "Endymion, I'm serious. Let. Me. Go." She pulled, trying to get out of his grip.
"Why? So you can just go off and disappear again? I don't think so, Serenity. You're coming with me, whether you like it or not." He turned her around so that way she was facing him, and he could see in her eyes how much she hated him. The eyes that once held love, desire (which was really only just a few hours ago) were now hard and steely with anger and betrayal.
"I warned you, Endymion," she seethed and then he winced as he felt something stinging his arm. He let go as the pain increased. As soon as he did, the pain stopped and Serenity was several feet away from him.
"Well, look who's decided to use her crystal for her own selfish needs," he drawled as he flexed his arm to see if anything was broken.
"Out of curiosity, do you only talk because you like the sound of your own voice?" She snapped at him, feeling her anger bubble up. She was tired of his games. Why couldn't he just leave her alone?
"Aren't we feisty?" he asked staring down at his Moon Princess. Maybe turning her to the Darkness wouldn't be as hard as he thought. She was already tainted due to their activities over the last few months. Maybe that had expanded to more than just her behavior in bed. His eyes lit up at the thought. He had expected her to put up a fight; hopefully this meant that this wouldn't be hard as he thought it would be. He took a threatening step towards her.
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. She kept the Crystal's power crackling at her fingertips just in case.
"Don't be like this, Serenity," he whispered taking another step forward. "If you come with me, we could be so happy together. Remember how you felt after we make love? We can have that feeling all the time."
The idea was so tempting. The words her mother had said to her before Endymion's appearance, repeated in her mind. The other option is you stop fighting. Follow your heart. But there was a difference. Follow your heart and not your raging libido. She was going to fight him, just like before. And Usagi was going to continue to fight until this was over. Or until she was dead whichever came first.
He saw the momentary lust in his princess' eyes and he thought that he had finally done it. That he had finally gotten her to come to his side. But he should have known better. For in a second that lust was gone and replaced by her usual stubbornness. He groaned in frustration, why couldn't he have his way just once? He took another step towards her, but this one was more violent and Usagi prepared herself for a fight.
However, before Endymion could advance further, a sword and a familiar staff blocked his path.
"That is as far as you go, Endymion," Sailor Pluto's determined voice rang out. Usagi looked up and slightly smiled at the appearance of her Outer Senshi.
"You really think you can stop me, Pluto?" Endymion's voice asked, frustrated beyond belief. He was very close to losing his temper. This was not what he had planned for when he went after Serenity.
"We can and will, Earth Prince," Uranus spat out, she was also just as furious. The Outer Senshi had been very shocked to feel their princess' presence back in Los Angeles. Why would she be back here when they thought that everything had returned back to normal before their departure? Their question was answered when they felt Serenity's fear through their bond and rushed to her side. What they saw shocked them more. Endymion was back to his Dark ways and trying to get Serenity to turn too. When he took threatening steps towards her, they decided to intercede.
Endymion stared at the determined faces of Serenity's Outer Senshi and knew that he was at a severe disadvantage. He would not be able to defeat them and Serenity. This battle was pointless but he couldn't help but laugh as he realized there was another battle in Japan that could possibly turn things in his favor. His laughing increased.
"What is so damn funny?" Uranus seethed her grip on the hilt of her sword tightening.
"You can fight me all you want," he replied. "But why waste precious energy when there is even a bigger fight waiting for you upon your return to Japan. Or have you forgotten about the Inner Senshi and my Shitennou?" He watched with snarky pride as Serenity's eyes widened in alarm. So she had forgotten. "Ah, you did," he tsked her. "Some princess you are, Serenity. Forgetting about your precious soldiers and leaving them in harms way."
"What did you do to them, you bastard?" She exclaimed and threw a ball of white energy at him. He just laughed harder as he disappeared before the ball hit him. Instead of making her feel better, it only made her feel worse. Endymion was right. What sort of princess was she when she left the Inner Senshi and the Shitennou alone? What has happened to them? She wondered as the Outer Senshi turned to her, concern written on their faces.
"Usagi, what has happened? How is Endymion still evil?" Neptune asked her.
"He tricked us all," she replied. "The night of the great battle – he awakened the Golden Crystal. When I stabbed him, instead of my Crystal healing him, his did and since he was still in Darkness when it was awakened, he remained. The last few months, he's been fooling me and the others, collecting energy to turn me." Her eyes were devoid of all emotion. It hurt too much to know the man she was supposed to be with had betrayed her in such a way.
The Outer Senshi exchanged looks, seeing how broken their princess had become. They had only seen her like this once before and that was when she had first come to LA. She hadn't wanted to fight, but eventually that changed. Now though, Usagi looked utterly broken and that no matter what she didn't see the point in fighting anymore.
"Has something else happened?" Pluto asked, her voice calm. "I felt a disturbance in the Time Gate earlier."
"Helios came back to tell me what I already had figured out about Endymion," she replied. "And that in the future Endymion is killed and not by my hand."
Unlike the Inner Senshi and the Shitennou, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto had taken the news of Endymion's death in stride. Then again they had never really cared for him, so to hear of his imminent death barely brushed them.
"Who kills him?" Uranus asked, sort of hoping that it was her. It would serve that pond scum right if eh died by her hand.
"A man named Prince Demando of Nemesis," Usagi transformed before they could discuss the name. Not that it mattered since they didn't know it, but still. Who was this guy? And why would he kill Endymion in the future? "But we can't stand around here talking about that. The Inner Senshi and the Shitennou are back in Japan and who knows what Endymion has done to them?" Her voice broke into hysterics since it was her fault if anything happened to them. She shouldn't have left them behind.
"Alright, let's go," Uranus said sheathing her sword and taking Moon's hand as they formed a circle to teleport.
Lola – the head of the Doom and Gloom girls – felt a smile grace her lips as she looked around her. Her fellow sisters had done well with "playing" with the Inner Senshi and the Shitennou. It had almost been a slaughter for her sisters because the Shitennou knew how they fought since they had previously worked for the same side. But the Inner Senshi did not, so they were easily tricked and used as leverage against the Shitennou. Lola continued to smirk as she stared at the coffins made of vines. Inside lay Serenity and Endymion's guard, now she just needed more orders of what to do with them.
A flash of light distracted her and when it cleared her smirk disappeared. Standing in the clearing now was Serenity's Outer Senshi and Serenity herself. The princess stared around and felt her mouth drop open. Her Senshi and the Shitennou were entombed in coffins made of vines. Her eyes flashed to the Doom and Gloom girls standing before them. Anger bubbled in her veins and could have killed when her eyes landed on Lola.
"Well, if it isn't Princess Serenity. We were wondering when you would show up to avenge your guard."
"You did this to them?" She seethed.
"On Endymion's orders, yes."
The Outer Senshi stood behind her waiting for their orders. There were five of these Doom and Gloom girls while there were only four of them and they had a feeling that Serenity was going to take two of them on herself. They didn't doubt that she could, because they had seen their princess grow over the last few years, but the only thing that concerned them was if her anger would get the better of her.
I'm not concerned about that, her voice rang in their heads. But you are correct into believing that I will be taking two of them on. The blue and lilac ones are mine. After you defeat them, get the girls and guys out of those tombs and make sure they are okay. She broke contact with them before they could accept their orders. But Serenity had not doubt that they would.
"All right, I think it's time we crashed this party," Uranus said turning around, her eyes landing on a Doom and Gloom girl with orange skin. "You'll do." She grinned and jumped pulling out her sword.
All hell began to break loose as the Outers began to fight the youma. The lilac Doom and Gloom Girl and Lola stared at Sailor Moon waiting for her to make her move. They knew that she was a weak fighter and didn't understand why she would choose to take two of them on. It didn't matter to them, it would just be one more Sailor Senshi that would be captured. And not just any Senshi, but Endymion's love. Lola smirked, a plan forming in her head. She had been after him since he had awakened them all those months ago. But he was all about Serenity, so if she mysteriously died while trying to rescue her fellow Senshi… Well, she could have a straight shot at him.
"I'm surprised, Princess Serenity," she spat as her lilac sister – Deirdre – got into position to ambush the princess. "That you would take two of us on when it is know that you are the Senshi's weakest link."
A fire burned in the girl's eyes that the youma shuddered at. They had heard the rumors of the way she looked when she was about to launch her death move and were now slightly shaken. But Lola was determined to have her way. She never did understand what Endymion saw in this pathetic girl.
"I may have been a weak fighter a long time ago, but right now I'm about to become your worst nightmare," her eyes turned cold and her mouth was set in a solid line. This wasn't the face of the bubbly, crybaby, and klutzy Sailor Moon. This was the face of the defender of love and justice. She threw her leg back and grinned in satisfaction when it collided, solidly, with Deirdre's stomach sending the Doom and Gloom girl flying backwards. Moon turned her eyes on Lola, who grimaced. Her sister wasn't done just yet, she just needed to buy some time so that way her sister could ambush the princess.
"All right, Moon brat, let's dance," she said sending out her arm full of long vines.
Sailor Uranus gasped in a breath of air as she felt a powerful punch hit her stomach. It didn't take her too long to recover, for wind was her element and she couldn't lose it as easily as other people. But that punch still hurt and this bitch was in for it now. She powered up her sword and made eye contact with her Doom and Gloom girl.
"Space Sword Blaster!" She exclaimed and a beam of light surrounded her sword as she dashed forward and cut the youma in half. With a final scream, the Doom and Gloom girl was gone. But not without a few nicks. That last attack had taken a lot of energy out of Uranus, not to mention that there was a deep wound on her right arm that was bleeding out heavily.
She shook it off knowing that her mission was not done. She approached the vine coffins that held a Sailor Senshi and a Shitennou. Carefully, she cut them open and was slightly relieved to find that they contained Sailor Mercury and Zoicite before collapsing into a heap on the ground.
"Sailor Uranus!" Mercury exclaimed as she sat up from her coffin. Her eyes quickly took in the scene of the Outers fighting their Doom and Gloom girl before she rushed over to Uranus' aid. Zoicite handed her a piece of his uniform to make a tourniquet that would suppress the blood flow on Uranus' arm.
"Hey Mercury, Zoicite," she said her eyes slightly drooping from the blood loss.
"Ssh," Mercury whispered. "Save your energy so your body can heal."
Uranus nodded before she let her drooping eyes win. Her mission was done, she could sleep for a little while. Sleep felt so good.
Sailor Neptune tried not to wince as she heard the final scream of Uranus' Doom and Gloom Girl and her Doom and Gloom girl's screech at the loss of her sister. The pink Doom and Gloom girl started attacking wildly now, with vines coming at her from all sides. She tried dodging, but eventually tripped over one of them. This gave the youma the advantage as she shot out more vines to surround Neptune completely. She felt herself power up to escape her prison.
"Submarine Reflection!" She exclaimed and felt her waters break through the vines and finally attack the Doom and Gloom Girl that they were attached to. She screamed as her sister before her, until she was nothing but a pile of wet dust on the ground.
"Neptune, are you okay?" Zoicite rushed over to her aid. She peered up at him and nodded.
"I'm fine, but would you mind?" She pointed behind her to the coffins of vines behind her. Zoicite nodded and approached them as he drew his sword. He carefully cut open the coffins to reveal Sailor Jupiter and Nephrite. They opened their eyes and jumped into defensive positions as they glanced around them. Their eyes fell on Zoicite and Neptune behind him.
"What happened?" Nephrite asked as he stood. "The last thing I remember was trying to rescue Sailor Jupiter from the vines."
"They trapped us in coffins," Zoicite explained. "And then the Outer Senshi and Sailor Moon showed up." He pointed to where Sailor Moon and Sailor Pluto were still fighting. They all stared not knowing what to do to help them.
Sailor Pluto was leaning heavily on her Time Key as she tried to stay standing. This Doom and Gloom girl was tougher than she looked. Not only did she shoot out vines, but she also shot flames down those vines. Pluto had many burns on her legs and upper arms from where she had gotten caught for a few moments before she could break free. But what was killing her was the fact that one of her ribs was broken severely. She could feel the bone trying to poke through the skin. Every time she breathed it burned.
"Who would have thought that the Guardian of Time would be the weakest Sailor Senshi?" The Doom and Gloom girl mocked and Pluto grimaced. She was the Guardian of Time, she could easily defeat this youma trash. She stepped back from her Time Key and lifted it slightly to call out her attack. Before she could, vines encircled her torso, crushing her already broken rib. Pluto gasped out in pain and saw black spots in her vision. But she couldn't pass out. Not yet. Not before she killed this threat to her princess.
Besides if she passed out now…she wouldn't wake up again. Pluto was certain of that. Yet she couldn't breathe and the dark spots were spreading. Forgive me, Princess Serenity. She thought before she succumbed.
"Moon Cosmos Star Shards!" A voice exclaimed from across the park and the Doom and Gloom girls had to back away from the oncoming shards of white. The Senshi and the two Shitennou watched as the vines that held Pluto were cut away by the bright shards of light. Her body fell and landed in Sailor Moon's arms. She flew towards Sailor Mercury and gently placed her down on the ground. She then turned back around and threw her tiara at the Doom and Gloom Girl who dared to hurt her friend. It hurled through the air and surrounded her before she disappeared without a scream.
Her tiara came back to her outstretched hand before becoming her Moon symbol once more.
The Doom and Gloom girls that remained finally regained their sight, but what they saw wasn't pleasant. The Inner Senshi and Shitennou were free from their prisons and Sailor Moon was pissed. Even though she had been through hell while fighting them. Parts of her Sailor fuku were missing from where Lola had attacked her with thorny vines and electricity. Deirdre's left arm was bleeding heavily from where Sailor Moon had attacked her with her wing barrettes. Sailor Moon knew that she would be the next one to go, she just had to figure out how. They would be pissed that not only had her and her Senshi freed their captives but that three of their sisters were dead as well. The obvious kill would be stupid to go after, a part of her knew, but she was so tired of fighting that she wanted this to end and she didn't care how.
She flew straight at Deirdre, dodging when she tried to stop her with vines. When she was within a few feet she simply touched her and she erupted in a violent ball of light. Sometimes using the crystal was the best idea.
Or, as she felt the vines wrap around her wings bringing her down hard to the ground below, the worst idea ever. Her body protested as it met concrete and she knew she had suffered a few broken bones. What really hurt was the electricity that came after the fall. And kept coming. Black spots danced across her vision and she knew if this continued she was going to die.
"Sailor Moon!" She heard her friends exclaim in desperation. At least they were safe now, which was all that mattered. She winced as another bout of electricity went through her and at the same time her transformation finally gave way. Her body was too weak to keep it up anymore. Well, this wasn't good; the next attack would kill her for sure. And yet she still had so much to do. Endymion was still evil and with her gone, who was going to stop him?
Wait, speaking of Endymion, where was he? Considering how much he claimed to love her she thought that he would at least be here to rescue her from her death.
A flash and she felt the vines give way. Someone had rescued her, but who? She fought back against the blackness that threatened to claim her to see who it was. But she should have known better. Endymion would not let her die. She saw the back of his cape and knew that he was about to finish that last Doom and Gloom girl.
"Lola, what do you think you're doing?" His voice shot out hard and cold. He had ordered her to capture the Inner Senshi and the Shitennou, not to nearly kill Serenity. "This is not what I ordered you to do."
"I'm sorry, Prince Endymion but she interfered with my orders," she replied her expression almost fearful. She had never thought to see this part of him but now that she had she knew that she was in for it.
"That doesn't give you reason to almost kill her!" He exclaimed now fully pissed off. "Especially considering the fact that you've wanted to be in her place since I awakened you. But that's fine because now you will be." He rushed forward, his sword drawn and thrusted it through her stomach. She opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out before she was gone.
The sword in his hand drooped before he could turn to face her. But what he saw nearly broke his heart. Her body was beaten almost to the point of being broken. If he had come a moment later, she would have been dead. He went to her, taking her body into his arms.
"I'm sorry, my love," he whispered placing a kiss on her forehead, which caused her moon symbol to glow. The dress she wore as Princess Serenity encircled her frame. The usual pristine white dress was soon darkened by her blood from her various wounds.
"Endymion," she whispered before she finally lost consciousness. He sighed and stood up with her in his arms. This wasn't how he wanted this to end. But it gave him the opportunity he had been searching for.
"You're crazy if you think we're just going to let you walk away with her," Mars snapped.
"Do you really have a choice? You're in no form to fight me, besides you can't stop me. I have what I want now." He looked lovingly down on his Moon Princess.
"No! Mars Flame Sniper!" She exclaimed a fire arrow going straight for him. He sighed and created a portal to the Dark Kingdom. He stepped through it and disappeared with Princess Serenity.
"No! Serenity!" The Senshi screamed, but it was no use.
She was gone to the Dark Kingdom with Endymion.
Author's Notes: Ugh. I'm going to be honest, the ending for this chapter was supposed to end so much differently in my head. I was going to have Endymion stab Serenity, but…meh. I figured she'd already been through enough. So. Let me know what you think! Don't forget to review!