Chapter 20

Hours previous

Sere circled the ruins high above, searching the dark monoliths of crumbling stone for Rini. Finding no trace of her, she was resolved to search the lonely ruins on foot. Diving silently into the labyrinth of ancients stones. Gloom and cold seeped into her, sending a chill down her spine. Her feet touched down gracefully upon the barren ground, small clouds of dust billowed up around her thin white slippers. Her pure white wings faded away in a brilliant flash of light, a few feather's floated to the ground. Exploding into starlight as they settled upon the earth.

Biting her lower lip, she glanced around nervously. The dank smell of decay was thick in the air, this place reminded her of a tomb. Broken walls surrounded her on all sides, stone pillars lay crumbling or collapsed several yards away. This was all that was left of the great moon temple, it had once been a wonder of beauty and power. Built atop the very peak of Mount Moon as close to heaven as the mortals could get. An earthly palace of lush gardens, endless promenades of white pillars and shimmering rotundas of crystal. Filled with earthly priests and acolytes, who paid homage to her mother Queen Selene. They praised her name, taught her precepts to all who wished to worship here. Guardians of her wisdoms and the only gateway to Heaven. What lay decaying around her was a sad epitaph of a long dead kingdom.

Sere felt no real connection to these ruins, just a mild sense of loss. She had lived far to many life times here on earth in the last ten thousand years. She was no longer a child of heaven but mortal. Her loyalties lay here on earth, the Moon and it's kingdom was a far off memory she had very little connection too. Sere took a deep breath, choosing a direction at random and began to walk. From the air she understood that this was miles of ruins and it would take hours to find Rini. The sky was dark overhead and filled with an eternity of star light, the full moon hung bloated over the western horizon. It's faint light illuminating the stones with a soft, eerie glow. Her feet made lonely crunching sounds as she walked. The silence that reigned amid this haunted place was timeless. Many ghosts of her past lay within these crumbling walls and broken pillars. Leaving her feeling anxious and terribly unsettled inside. Sere soon found herself clutching her arms around her chest. Rubbing away the chill that had settled upon her skin. Faded memories of the glory of this place surrounded her as she gazed mournfully upon the ruins. She had known this place, played within its halls as a child and trained with her mother to wield the Silver Crystal. Bathed and was cleansed in the temples natural springs. The priests had dotted upon her, as the heir to the Imperium throne. She had been the most treasured child both in heaven and on earth. This place was sacred and the Celestial powers it tapped into was a tangible thing, clinging to the crumbling structures that flanked her like an eerie phantom. The power hummed, faint and mournful from the stones. So similar to the song of the Silver Crystal yet alien to her as well. It was discordant, slightly off tune as if the singer was sick. It called to her, like a faint wail of the damned. A whispering croon of the dead, seeking her aid...pleading for a salvation that had yet to come. Sere wished to banish the low hum from her ears, it turned her stomach and made her feel sick. It was out of tune and struggling to be heard. Nagging at her, at the very edge of her hearing. She cringed and pressed her hands to her ears, as if that might silence the odd sounds.

Breathe

Sere sucked in a startled breath as her mother's voice echoed in her mind. She could not tell if the word was spoken from memory or if the tainted queen was really speaking to her. Either way it did not fill her with a sense of calm confidence as it once had. Leaving her shaken and confused instead. Yet she could not deny its impact, as she took that deep breath. Closing her eyes she shuttered and moved towards the crumbled stump of a broken pillar. The strange singing faded away as she calmed herself. Taking in one breath after another, finding a meditative rhythm to soothe her mind and settle her heartbeat. Sitting down upon the broken pillar's smooth, cold stone. Her white gown fluttering around her ankles, the silken material whispering in the darkness. Pressing a palm of one hand against her forehead she bowed her head in tired submission. Resting her elbow against her knee, she fought against the need to cry. The weight of her sadness and guilt over what she had done to everyone was slowly breaking her.

Flashes of long forgotten memories had been haunting her thoughts since entering this hallowed place. Those faint images of her first life had gained more power as she wandered here. The barrier her mother had erected in her mind to keep her from reliving her life as Princess Serenity had been weakening. It would only take one good emotional jolt to shatter that seal and she would be submerged in the memories of her past. So strong was the connection to her first life here, she knew her current self would be dragged under and drowned by the power of her first life. Losing herself to her past frightened her like nothing else every had.

Her heart was racing at the daunting prospect of finally reclaiming her whole existence. At her soul finally becoming

whole again. She wanted it! Yet a part of her was scared and filled with grief. She would gain untold power and full control of the Silver Crystal, yet she would no longer be human. Her earthly life as Usagi...as Serena would be over. She didn't know if she was ready for that, if a person could ever be truly ready to become a goddess.

With a growl, she shot up to her feet refusing to wallow in this useless melancholy. Holding her head up, she stomped away, frustrated with her sudden cowardice. Forcing herself to stop thinking about her endless shortcomings. Focusing only on what needed to be done, on what truly mattered. She needed to save this world, if it cost her everything so be it! She would do everything within her power to save her Mamoru and everyone she loved. This time she would not fail!

"So you chased me all the way here?" Mamoru's voice was as cold and dark as the ruins that surrounded her.

Sere spun, clutching a hand nervously to her breast. Her heart pounded against her ribs as her breath was quick to leave her.

"Mamoru..." She began, finding him dressed in his ancient armour she quickly changed her greeting.

"Endymion...It's me...Serenity..." She pleaded, her voice soft and filled with trepidation. Desperate to reach him, her eyes flying wide in horror. Her vision misting with tears as terror griped her heart.

A dark shadow loomed behind him, flowing and billowing like a deathly phantom. What was that? Who? She could feel a great evil just behind him. It's malicious focus directed straight at her.

Swallowing hard she took several steps back from her beloved. She was transfixed upon Endymion's eyes, they had no light...no life? Soulless, blue pools stared back at her as if his body was truly dead and he was being animated by that vile dark energy.

A shrill cackling broke her trance and she shot her gaze to the left. Finding Rini sauntering arrogantly from around a nearby pillar. The dark version of her princess gown swirled around her ankles as she folded her twilight wings behind her. Her smile was smug as she moved with confident grace towards Endymion. Holding the glowing silver crystal fondly to her breast. It's color was no longer pure, a darkness swirled within the facets. It's hum was low and out of tune, calling to her. The crystals eternal voice was painful to hear, like a crying child it didn't understand what was happening only that it felt so terribly sick. It's mournful song brought Sere to tears, she desperately wanted to get her crystal away from Rini. To heal it...purify it again. But she didn't know how...not without killing poor Rini. That would never be a viable plan, so Sere stood her ground instead.

"Rini..." Sere pleaded, reaching for her and stepping into her path. Preventing her from reaching Endymion.

Rini stopped and glared threatening up at Sere.

"What happened to you? This is wrong...so wrong..." Sere felt the tears falling, hot and wet down her face. She was desperate to reach Rini, to save her from the darkness tainting her soul. Twisting her heart into something...cruel. Tainting her soul and forcing her to become someone she truly wasn't.

"You need to wake up! You can't destroy the earth...this is were you were born!" The need to save her over powered Sere's good sense and she made a sudden move to grab the crystal.

"No!" Rini bellowed, the crystal flared to life in her hands. It's light flashed angrily from her palm, illuminated the ruins briefly. A deep, sickly darkness swirling in the depths of its light. Rini cast sparks of darkness towards her. Out of instinct, Sere's own Genesis state came to life. She crossed her arms before her, her twin shakra's forming a small shield. Like a handful of small, yet powerful explosions. Rini's attack sent her flying and screaming several yards away. The Queen had enhanced her powers, the link she had created to the Silver Crystal magnifying Rini's Genesis State. The teen was far to powerful, to mentally unstable and far to dangerous now. Sere landed hard on her back in the dirt. Stunned and slightly unsteady, she rolled and scrambled back to her feet. If she hadn't shielded herself Rini's attack would have killed her instantly. Groaning in pain, she rolled back onto all fours and forced herself to stand again.

"This place means nothing to me." Rini announced coldly, ignoring Sere completely as she sauntered over to Endymion's side. Folding herself against him, she glared at Sere defiantly.

"Now that I have my beloved Prince, this place can rot for all I care." She snarled.

Sere was so overwhelmed with hopelessness she couldn't move. Once more frozen in place, she could only watch in horror as Rini seduced Endymion again. Her hand slithering up his chest and twisting around his neck. Drawing his face down towards her waiting lips. Their heated kiss was a sickening sight, that filled Sere with dread.

"Rini, please wake up! You are precious to me...I can't fight you." Sere called, her voice shaking with sorrow. "I lov you...this isn't you. Your a gentle soul, sweet and stubborn. You have always been frank with me, putting me in my place when ever my head got to swollen. You kept me grounded, kept me honest and forced me to be a better person. I want my real Rini back!" Sere screamed in desperation.

"Don't talk to me like you know me! You know nothing about me!" Rini screamed back, furious at Sere's attempt to find a connection with her. The crystal flared to life again, its light flashing with rage towards the sky. Her hatred and resentment towards Sere was so raw and beyond her control. Rini lashed out again with her dark powers, sending an even more powerful bombardment of energy missiles towards her.

Sere grit her teeth and once again crossed her shakras before her, her slippers digging into the soft dirt as the explosions blinded her and pushed her backwards several more feet. Leaving her drained and out of breath, she blinked away the spots in her vision. Clearing both her head and her sight, struggling to control both her shattered heart and her raging emotions. She stared in disbelief at both Rini and Endymion.

"He belongs to me now. There is nothing you can do to free him from my control." Rini taunted, spinning the crystal upon a raised finger as she strode away.

"Hurt her!" She commanded as she moved towards the swirling dark fog allowing it to swallow her whole.

"Rini!" Sere screamed, the sight of her young friend being devoured by darkness resurrected her courage. She dashed forwards desperate to grab the teenager before she was completely enveloped.

She made it only a couple steps before Endymion's fist struck her in the stomach. She coughed and retched in pain, reeling back a couple steps to confront him.

Tears streamed down her face as she stumbled away, choking on blood as she had bit her bottom lip when he had stuck her. She couldn't reach him, he was staring right through her as if she was nothing.

"Oh...god..." She moaned, she felt so vulnerable...so weak. She was unwilling to use her Genesis powers on him. She couldn't hurt him...or take the chance that she might kill him. There had to be another way?

With out a word, he unsheathed his sword from behind his back. Stalking towards her, moving at a relentless pace. He held the sword before him ready to thrust it through her when he got close.

"Run! Princess! Run now!" Luna's panicked voice penetrated through her terror and misery. All her senses were alert and highly focused as she turned on her heel and dashed away. Catching sight of the black feline perched atop the naked buttress of a near by column. Her small body outlined by the soft glow of the moon, as it hung heavy and full just behind her. Her yellow eyes were sad but fierce as she watched Endymion advance. Ready to pounce upon him if she needed to. Making sure her charge escaped unharmed.

Sere ran blindly down a narrow colonnade, glancing over her shoulder her eyes flaring in alarm to find Endymion running after her. His face was twisted into a vile smile, as if hunting her down was the greatest of games. His tainted joy at the thought of killing her, was like a dagger to the heart. Sere forced herself to stare forward, needing to focus on escaping him. She had no idea how to save him...no way to reclaim the Silver Crystal...she was just reacting right now. Running blind through the ruins with no real plan.

Luna was leaping from pillar to buttress along the columns, keeping pace to her princess. Keeping a close eye on the up coming pathways and Endymion behind.

"Thats not him...my Mamoru could never be so cruel." Sere called up franticly to Luna seeking desperately to explain his actions. The cat merely grunted in agreement as she leaped from the last pillar along the corridor. Landing with perfect balance upon Sere's shoulder, as the young woman ran beyond the broken debris of stone and mortar. Entering a wide open courtyard of grey flagstones. The stones were cracked, some crumbled to dust under her rushing feet. The remains of a central fountain dominated the center of the yard, what remained of the water in the circular reservoir had turned into a stagnate pool of mud and putridity. The sour stench assaulted her nose as she ran by, making her gag and cough. She paid the fountain a mild grimace, racing across the barren yard at top speed not wanting to make an easy target of herself. This was insane! Never in all her lives did she ever think she would be running for her life from the man she loved. She made it to the center of the barren flagstones, when a dry whispering sound caught her attention. Darting her eyes down she noticed to late the thorny vine now slithering around her ankle. It snatched her by the ankle, the thorns digging in mercilessly around her calf, drawing blood. The world spun sideways as she was pulled off the ground, hanging upside down several feet in the air. Dangling vulnerably over the barren yard, she watched in horror as Endymion closed in. His smile was proud and oh so cruel, his sword gleaming in the faint light of the moon, ready and willing to cleave her in half.

Screaming in fright, reacting only on the instinct to preserve her own life. She ignited her twin shakra's of light, swinging them downward in an arc, slicing the vine in half. The severed piece of vine twisted and shrivelled as it decayed, as a cold wind rushed through the courtyard blowing the remains away into dust.

Landing hard on her right shoulder, she scrambled onto all fours. Sere shot her eyes up, sucking in a surprised breathe. Finding Haruka limping into view on the outskirts of the courtyard. Dressed as she was the day she had left the Estate, her clothes more travel worn, stained with mud, dirt and blood. The shoulder's of her suit jacket was torn and the knees of her dress pants were worn thread bare. Sere realized with both wonder and grim acceptance That Haruka had been living rough upon the mountain all this time, working her way up to the Moon Temple. Fighting one battle after another all on her own...a one woman army, seeking to eradicate the Queen's Onii.

"Ruka-san..." Sere rushed towards her, her heart leaping at the sight of her. The woman offered her a wiry, half smile. A small tornado rotating in the palm of her hand.

"Long time, Princess." She stated, her eyes staring past her to confront Endymion with an icy glare.

Sere never glanced back to see how close Endymion might be, breaking into a full sprint across the courtyard. As she closed in on Haruka that familiar comforting sense of protection she had felt when Darien was around surrounded her. Haruka had been a replacement for Darien in so many ways. Embodying the power of both sexes, she was capable of being whatever Sere had needed in the years he had been absent from her life.

Endymion's scream of fury echoed from just behind, with her heart leaping in her throat. Sere spun and ducked, her twin shakra's crossed just above her head. As his sword came down in a cleaving swing, that would have surely taken off her head if she hadn't moved.

"Endymion! Please...wakeup!" She cried desperately, her heart shattering even more at how dead his eyes were.

Terrorfied that he could really be just an animated shell, soulless...dead. That there was no hope to ever bring him back.

"Sorry, pal but I can't let you kill her." Haruka declared, as a huge plow wind exploded from her outstretched palms. It screamed across the courtyard like a banshee, slamming into Prince Endymion and carrying him away.

"You will not get far!" Endymion bellowed in rage as he was slammed mercilessly into a pillar on the other side of the courtyard. He grunted and fell boneless to the ground.

Sere waisted no time, dashing to Haruka's side she took her hand and they ran into the ruins on the other side. Escaping blindly down several narrow pathways, flanked by crumbling walls of stone. Sere was leading, pulling Haruka behind her. Glancing nervously over her shoulder, as the older woman was stumbling and panting for air. It was strange to have the once cool and confident Haruka allowing her to take the lead. It filled her with anxiety and she quickly slowed, moving them into the shadows of a fallen wall. Haruka never said a word, thankful for the rest. Her movements were clumsy and stiff as she sat down with her back against the wall.

Sere was quick to kneel beside her, her blue eyes pleading and worried. Surveying her dear friend from head to toe, she hadn't gotten a good look at her before. To focused to getting away from Endymion, but now that they had a moment to relax. She was able to get a better look, the light from the moon was dim and did not offer much detail to Haruka's wounds. But the multiple bruises to her face and several cuts along her arms and legs spoke of surviving several battles. Haruka kept an arm wrapped around her stomach, perhaps bracing several broken ribs.

Luna galloped up to them, glancing anxiously down the dark corridor they had just run through.

"Now is not the time to take a break." She reprimanded harshly.

Sere paid Luna a dry look then focused back on Haruka.

"I need to take a look, Ruka." She demanded softly.

"No you don't, I look and feel like hell." Haruka stated, a weak if sarcastic smile pulling on her lips.

Luna took a tentative step forwards then, raising her front paws up to press against Haruka's shoulder. Her yellow eyes stared with compassionate inquiry into the older woman's face. Blood was quick to dampen the cloth under Luna's paws. As soon as the feline felt the moisture under her paws she reared back and sat primely beside Sere.

Sere paid the blood soaked cloth a very concerned frown.

"Now, you tell me how you want me to do this. Okay? " Sere moved gently, pulling off Haruka's grey jacket. The white tank top underneath was filthy, blood had soaked through the left side and was dripping from the hem. She finally got a good

look at all the wounds Haruka had been concealing beneath the heavy jacket. Bruises and deep lacerations crossed her chest and one ran down her left shoulder all the way down to her elbow.

"Ruka..." Sere sucked in a pained breath.

Ruka sighed and thumped the back of her head against the wall. "Just get it over with, already." She sighed, glancing nervously at the black cat.

Sere reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. Haruka offered her a tremulous smile. "It's okay, Koneko. This is how I wanted it to be."

Sere's throat went dry and she felt as if she was choking on something foul.

"You came here to die..." She whispered brokenly, examining her left side. Her arm was injured, Haruka winced as Sere lifted the arm up slightly. Her wrist was swollen and the whole arm was discoloured with several bruises, cuts criss crossing over every inch including that one, long, ugly gash. The right arm was in little better shape, but Haruka didn't grimace when Sere lifted it.

Sere gently laid her arm back down and then lifted up her tank top just enough to bare a portion of her rib cage. She examined the area, on her right side stopping to ask her if it hurt. Most of her injuries were contained to the left side. She had multiple ugly bruises from under her arm pit and down her side, along with a very deep, mortal gash just under her rib cage. Blood seeped and bubbled from the wounds down her side. Sere bit her lower lip and then without thought, tore her skirts apart. Haruka said not one word as she wrapped her homemade bandages across her abdomen. It was a hopeless endeavour, Haruka knew it but she hadn't the heart to explain that to Serenity.

"How did most of these happen?" Sere asked, her voice breaking. "Or were some of these injures from our fight back at the arena?" She couldn't mask her sorrow, so worn down both emotionally and physically she didn't even try.

Haruka merely sighed, cradling Sere's cheek tenderly for a moment with her left hand. "A bit of both, Sweet Serenity." She admitted.

Sere glanced over at Luna, finding the cat pacing anxiously. Haruka had been fighting other soldier's perhaps even some of the Queen Generals. They were being hunted and not just by Endymion. They had little time to just sit and rest. They needed to be off, find a real place to hide and figure out their next move. They were out in the open here and easy targets.

Haruka sighed heavily and turned her head up so she could take in the blanket of stars above. "I ascended back at the arena and reclaimed all my memories. I remember being a Guardian...being sent far away from the light of the Silver Millennium...from my princess. I was alone for so long...then my talisman began to sing...it was a dirge...the funeral march for the end of the Silver Millennium. " Haruka's voice was low, bitter. "Everything was wiped clean when Saturn awoke and then I began the cycle of rebirth here on earth. After ten thousand years of loneliness, I finally found true love...

and I squandered it. I don't want to be here anymore..." She sobbed, tears falling silently from her eyes as she gazed up at the heavens. "I want it all to end...Princess." The timeless despair and anguish in her voice spoke of how truly broken she felt.

The endless round of karmic rebirth had slowly broken them all...at least all who could remember.

Haruka was utterly broken, both in spirit and body. While Sere was broken only in spirit, she was also still determined and hanging on to hope that this time...this final time she could mend things, make it all right again for everyone. She sensed that Haruka had accepted her fate, that she had come here for one purpose, to end it. Wanting to take out as many of the Queen's soldier's as she could before her own life was snuffed out.

Sere to had accepted her fate, that she might not live past this night. But while Haruka seemed to have given up and wished to die right here under the stars. Serenity couldn't, she had to push herself forward past all endurance and never give up.

"Ruka-chan...you rest here. I can make things right again, I promise." Serenity gave the dieing woman a small, happy smile. Her warm blue eyes moist with unshed tears. Leaning forward she place one final, sweet kiss to her dear friends lips. Haruka had gone so very pale, her breath was shallow and growing weaker. She was bleeding out from far to many wounds. It would not be long now...soon she would have her wish and find her final peace.

"I'll catch you the next time around, Koneko. Sayonara." Ruka whispered against Sere's mouth as the blonde began to pull away.

Sere merely nodded solemnly, unable to respond. So choked up with grief, she stood quickly and dashed away. Luna gave Haruka a somber nod, "We will meet again Guardian of Uranus."

Haruka never acknowledged her, staring blindly up at the stars, her final breath rattling in her chest.

Luna huffed and then ran after her charge into the night.

Sere never stopped running, pushing herself to her limits. She barely saw the ruins that surrounded her, her eyes so full of tears, the sorrow crushing her so fully, all she could do was run...just run. Wishing to put all the pain and despair behind her. Racing up a slope of crumbled steps into the pre dawn light atop a large circular platform, in circled with pillars. The wooden roof above had long since rotted away into nothing. As she reached the center of the platform she finally succumbed to her exhaustion. Crumpling to the stones, panting, wailing and screaming in anguish to the silent sky above. She felt as if she was dying on the inside, so lost and alone here on the mountain. She didn't know what to do, how to make things right.

"Mina...Raye...Ami...Lita..." She bawled into her arms, "I don't know how to fix this..."

A heavy fog rolled in, billowing up from the ruins below to blanket the open rotunda that Sere had sought refuge within. So caught up in her sorrow she never felt the change in her environment until a cold, brisk wind blew over her. Snapping her torn, frayed skirts violently, sending chill bumps over her bare arms, tossing her long blonde hair around her shoulders violently. Forcing her to raise her head and face the muted storm now forming behind the pillars.

She caught her breath her tears drying instantly. So immersed in her grief she hadn't noticed the eternal fog of time encroaching around her until it was to late. It hung on the outside of the round platform, obscuring the ruins below. The strange fog was rolling and billowing in upon itself, a cool mist hovered over the stones, curling around the base of the pillars like a lovers caress. The atmosphere around her became muted, what color that might have been seen by the dim light of the setting moon was now washed away. Leaving the platform and the pillars beyond in a murky Gray half light.

The mist soon filled the open platform, forming a barrier that blocked out all reality. Serenity sat frozen, staring into the mist as if entranced by it as it closed in around her. The world beyond the pillars was like a fogged glass, images distorted and wavy upon it's surface. She could still see the ruins through the pillars, as if they were reflections of stone at the bottom a deep well. Other things were moving just beyond the mist, faded, intangible shapes. Then a low humming sound echoed from all around her, it was deep but not loud.

The dull grey light began to fade away into darkness, as if the moon the only source of light she could lay claim to was being absorbed by the fog. She couldn't see anything anymore, she could only feel the pressure of the darkness against her body.

The discordant humming felt like it was vibrating inside her chest. The darkness became oddly transparent as a soft silver glow illuminated her body. Casting a faint light onto the world around her. Warming the darkness back into a muted void of heavy mists.

Serenity took one breath after another, focusing on her breathing. Rather then the absolute terror that was threatening to overwhelm her.

Sucking in a frightened gasp of air she began to see shapes moving within the gloom. Spectres floating just out of reach. Then the whispering sound of feet to the left, she snapped her head around as an odd sensation of longing enveloped her. The humming became clearer and she realized that it was voices.

Thousands of voices...calling her name. Distant and faint they beckoned for her to join them, the dark shapes within the mists began to converge all around her. Crowding near, beckoning her, reaching for her...

One form moved closer, its presence pushing the others back. Taking prominence over the others. An unexpected stab of loneliness struck her hard. She shuttered and curled her arms around her stomach, unable to endure the pain. The feelings of utter solitude, of a life lived on the fringe of society. Never fitting in, never understanding why people loathed her upon first sight. Never being loved, or understanding how to truly love others.

Only hate...rage...resentments...jealousy...death...were her only companions.

Then she saw her...a lone woman in the white gown of the dead. With long flowing. Reddish, brunette hair. Wearing the asian features of her current incarnation.

"Beryl..." Serenity breathed, her heart was pounding.

Beryl merely smiled with sorrow, her green eyes mournful and wet with unshed tears. She moved free of the mists to stand before her, reaching down to offer her a hand up.

"It is time, to reclaim your true self." She stated, "I shall guide you through the Dark Kingdom, the realm of the Dead."

Serenity's was spellbound, her eyes wide with fear, her face grew ashen as the prospect of crossing the boundaries between life and death. Her frightened eyes stared up at Beryl's, seeking answers, confidences...forgiveness.

"Come, your highness the end is neigh and I have to much to show you." She crouched down, taking up both of Serenity's hands in hers and forcing her to stand. With out any further words of comfort, Beryl pulled Serenity into the mists of the underworld.