FA: Stars : Chapter 9
Serena closed the door to the spare room Lunic had been sharing with Reenie. Luna meowed from the top of the couch in the living room when Serena entered. She had forced Travis out on his planned date with Crystal while they awaited information from Amy to find Kakyuu.
"Hey Luna," Serena looked down, "I need to get some fresh air, can you please watch Lunic while Travis is on his date?"
"Be careful Serena," Luna lectured, "keep your communicator on you; Amy could have something any moment."
Nodding she grabbed her keys and made her way down to the apartment foyer, everything was reminding her of the severity of the situation they found themselves in. Darien was dead and now so was her future daughter, sure she thought the kid was a brat, but she was her brat.
"Are you sure about this?" Seiya's voice cut through her inner monologue as she found the three figures standing by the entrance to the foyer.
"Never been more sure of anything," Serena answered nodding, "We're running out of time."
"As long as we stick together, we can do this for our Princess," Yaten said.
"And Endymion and Reenie," Serena added, "for all our futures."
The four stepped out the front doors into the busy streets; the three of them always making sure Serena was in between them.
"Where is this priest of yours Serenity?" Taiki asked.
"We need to go to the lake in the middle of the park, there's a portal there that helps to connect to different pathways," Serena explained quickly reaching her broach. Walking to the park was spent mostly in silence as each one of them thought about everything that led to the here and now.
"You okay meatball head?" Seiya asked from her side.
"Did you call me that even back then?" Serena asked with a small smile.
"Where do you think your precious Endymion got it from in this life?" Seiya mocked before his face grew serious again. "Are you okay?"
"No," Serena answered, "I've watched my daughter fade from existence for the second time in less than six months, my boyfriend is dead - again might I add and I have some freak of nature enemy trying to take over the world again."
"You're so different to how you were on the Moon Kingdom," Taiki spoke from behind the two, "Serenity back then would run from anything in a heartbeat."
"Serenity back then didn't have to face what I've seen in this life," Serena answered quickly with a frown.
"We're here," Yaten interrupted, the four of them stood watching the darkness pass through the sky. Helios stood in the middle of the platform where Reenie frequently showed up. The group made their way to him, Serena stopping to watch him as he held his hands together and looked up at the sky.
"I'm sorry Helios," Serena apologised knowing that he was mourning for the girl they'd both lost. "I never, in my life wanted her to go through this."
"It's not your fault princess," Helios answered turning around to give her his full attention. She noticed that his eyes were unwavering, but his tone of voice gave him away. "Galaxia is losing her self-control; if we want to set the future right and bring Reenie back to us we have to help her before it's too late. Transform."
"MOON ETERNAL MAKE UP!"
"STAR FIGHTER MAKE UP!"
"STAR MAKER MAKE UP!"
"STAR HEALER MAKE UP!"
Gone were their civilian forms now replaced with their transformed selves, "stick together, and don't let her fool you."
Helios clapped his hands together quickly; a crack of thunder sounded and a portal appeared at the edge of the platform.
Travis was finding it hard to focus on his date with Crystal after the revelations of the day, but Serena assured him there was no point in cancelling on her. But he couldn't help but contemplate options for defeating Galaxia and getting his pink haired niece back into existence.
"Travis?" Crystal asked.
"Huh?" Travis asked finally noticing the waitress standing beside their table impatiently tapping her foot. "Oh, um, I'll have the trout."
"Good choice," the waitress answered politely, "I'll be back shortly with your meals."
Crystal picked up the menu's they were looking at and handed them to the waitress before glaring at her boyfriend sitting opposite of her. "What's going on with you today?"
"I'm sorry," Travis apologised.
"So Lunic looks a lot like you," Crystal pointed out with a small smile, "I didn't think you had any family and that was why you moved to Japan with Uncle Jake?"
"I don't," Travis answered, he hated having to hide things from her, and he wanted to spend his life with this woman.
"Then how do you have a sister from parents that died when you were born? How does that work?"
"She was from my adopted parents," Travis said smoothly, "she'd been moved between relatives until they decided they no longer wanted her."
"That's horrible," Crystal looked angry at this revelation. "She looked so much like you I could have sworn she was your little sister by blood." She paused. "It's a little weird really."
"What do you mean?" Travis said as the waitress dropped their sodas on the table.
"When she hurt herself running to press the traffic light button," Crystal said seriously, "I sang her a little piece I had been working on."
"What's so weird about that?" Travis asked, he knew of her interest in writing music but outside of him no one else really knew.
"She knew the words Travis, it's just not possible. Then I got to thinking," She watched him as she brushed her blonde hair over her shoulder. "There are a lot of things that don't add up."
Beep Beep.
Travis looked down attentively to his watch. "That god damn watch, what is it this time?" Crystal was furious as he pushed himself away from the table getting to his feet. "Where do you think you're going?" He didn't know what to say as he took her in, his watch still beeping for his attention, if it wasn't for everything that had happened in the last twenty four hours he wouldn't have gotten up so abruptly.
"Crystal," Travis said urgently, his tone firm as he stood opposite her, her gaze melted into his and he knew he couldn't lie to her anymore. Instead he told her he was sorry and walked off, she watched him in shock as he went to the counter dropping some cash and pointing to her as the host nodded.
Travis darted out as quick as he could pressing the button his communicator knowing that is must be serious.
"Travis! What the hell do you think you are doing?" Crystal's voice snapped making him freeze. The moment he looked at her his resolve faded, she was angry, pissed off actually but she had tears forming in her eyes and he saw Lunic in her.
"Crystal," Travis whispered reaching for her hands. "I really don't want to leave you right now."
"Then don't," she whispered back to him, "stay with me."
"I have to."
"What's so important that you have to go?"
"Travis!" The voice came through the communicator again, Crystal's anger skyrocketed and she pulled her hands away from him. "Serena's gone with the Starlight's to Galaxia!"
"Was that Raye?" Crystal asked, "Travis, you have to be straight with me."
He brought his wrist to his mouth and clicked the side button his eyes staying with hers as he spoke. "What do you mean she's gone to Galaxia? Who's watching Lunic?"
"She left her with Luna," Raye's voice came through clear as day. Crystal watched on, her gaze meeting his again. "We don't have time to explain - literally, Setsuna will meet us and we need to move now or everything will fall apart so make sure you come transformed."
"Did she just say she left a child with a cat? Who is Setsuna?" Crystal asked.
"I'll be there as soon as I can, I just gotta get Lunic on the way we will need her," Travis looked at Crystal as he clicked the button on the watch again. "I promise I'll explain everything later but right now, you just have to trust me."
"What is Raye on about?"
Travis pulled the stone from around his neck and held the palm of his hand open knowing there wasn't any time to explain. "SUN STONE POWER!" He shouted, the familiar light surrounded him as he transformed leaving a stunned Crystal.
"What the hell?" Crystal asked as she dropped to the bench beside them. "You're Sailor Sol?"
Sailor Sol knelt down to her pulling her chin to look up at him, "I promise that when I get back I will tell you absolutely everything, but right now I have to go help the others."
"You mentioned Lunic, is she one of you too?" Crystal demanded quickly feeling her familiar sense of protection towards the child again. "You said she'd gone back to America." Travis flinched knowing his explanation for the child growing was going to come back for him.
"Travis?" The familiar voice of Helios interrupted the two, Crystal blinked again as she saw the young man with white hair stand beside them, and he wore his traditional robes. "I'll get you to the apartment quicker." he held out both of his hands, Sol placed his hands in one and nodded for Crystal to do the same.
When the light faded from around them Crystal noticed the apartment he shared with Serena.
"Dad!" Lunic's voice said startled from the couch where she sat with Luna. She froze when she saw Crystal.
"Dad?" Crystal asked, "This is not the same child from the other day."
"Later, Lunic I need you to transform."
The girl nodded looking at her the woman who would soon be her mother; she pulled the broach off her dress. "SAUNA CRYSTAL MAKE UP!"
"None of this makes any sense," Crystal whispered, "You are one of them too. You've gotten taller."
"My Prince, we have to go now," Helios cut in, Sol nodded and swept Crystal into his arms he pulled her up to him and gave her the deepest kiss he could before opening one arm to let the child who was watching intently join in the hug for her own comfort. Crystal put an arm around the child who was now much taller pulling her closer.
"Mommy," Lunic cried gently, feeling the comfort of her mother's arms around her, Crystal looked down at her and then up at Sol again unable to speak.
"I love you," Sol answered, "I promise we'll come back to you, and I'll tell you absolutely everything, please trust me."
"I do," Crystal whispered as the two stepped away tears falling down her cheeks as she watched Helios repeat the actions from earlier and they were gone. She sat on the couch and thought about everything, the kid had called her 'Mommy', and the worst part was, she wasn't scared by that.
Princess Kakyuu fell to the ground as Sailor Lead Crow let her go. This was it, everything she had tried to avoid was now here, and her new friends were going to lose their world as they knew it because she wasn't strong enough to defend her own planet.
"You could have saved us a lot of trouble you know?" Lead Crow spat at her, her voice laced with venom.
"You don't want this," Kakyuu used caution with her words. "Why'd you let her do this to you?"
"This is better than dying."
Kakyuu's eyes narrowed as she took in her whereabouts, the golden throne that sat in the middle of the empty space aside from the lights from all the star seeds that were floating around.
"Sailor Lead Crow," Galaxia's voice was heard before she appeared. Kakyuu moved back, this woman sent fear through her. "You've done well in bringing me the princess."
"I live to serve," Lead Crow bowed her head quickly.
"But now that you have delivered, I don't have a need for you," Galaxia's hand thrust forward with an open palm to the sailor scout, her bracelets glowing. "I never really needed you anyway; you were purely here to do the hard work for me."
The bracelets glowed brighter and Lead Crow screamed in pain as a bolt of electricity split from the ground and engulfed her.
"STOP IT!"
Galaxia stared in shock at the blonde haired girl who landed infront of the Sailor Scout. Her arms opened wide in defence to protect the scout who was still screaming in pain.
"What do you think you're doing?" Galaxia demanded.
"You can't do this, spreading all this hate," Sailor Moon argued, Galaxia's gaze narrowed on the blondes own. Those eyes, they reminded her of so much more.
"Well I'll be damned," Galaxia whispered, she clicked her fingers and Lead Crow's bracelets dropped to the ground with her star seed left floating. The Three Starlight's appeared next to their own fallen princess as Galaxia's gaze was fixated on the blonde.
"How could you be so evil," Sailor Moon asked, "you're a sailor scout."
Galaxia's laughed radiated around them, "you looked just like that pathetic Queen of the Silver Millennium for a second there."
Sailor Moon had tears welling in her eyes, "how do you know Queen Serenity?"
"How do I know?" Galaxia asked, "You don't think that a pathetic sorceress like Beryl had enough power to take out the kingdom on her own did you?"
"Don't look into her eyes Sailor Moon," Star Fighter called quickly leaving her princess to stand with her. "She's trying to control you."
Galaxia dropped to her knees quickly, grasping her head in her hands and moaning in pain. "No! Leucite, No!" A burst of light surrounded her and she vanished.
"What happened? Who is Leucite?" Sailor Moon asked, "Where did she go?"
"She's being controlled," Kakyuu stated, "She never used to be like this. We need to find her, and bring the light of hope back into her."
Sailor Moon stood on one side of Princess Kakyuu allowing the girl wrap an around the Sailor's waist as they walked. "Thank you Serenity."
"Anytime," Moon answered with a small smile, "I won't rest until Galaxia is healed and we can all head home."
"It's a beautiful dream, to bring hope back to those who have lost theirs." Kakyuu whispered to the sailor of the moon.
"Where are we Mercury?" Uranus asked as she looked at their surroundings, "Is everyone okay?"
"Yeah," Jupiter answered but it was Venus who seemed brush off the dust from her skirt. Sailor Sauna moved close to her father who kept one hand on his sword at all times.
"Can you sense that?" Sol asked as he felt an energy spike. ::Serena?:: He called through the bond shared with his sister hoping for a response.
::Travis:: Sailor Moon called back to him.
"Well, if it isn't the rest of the scouts, here to find your princess are you?" Sailor Galaxia's voice resonated around them as they each moved in closer, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune moving closer to Sauna.
"What's it to you?" Jupiter shouted back.
"Where are the others?" Mars shouted when Jupiter didn't get an answer. "Show yourself."
Sailor Galaxia appeared infront of Mars only a few feet away. "Better?"
"SOLAR FLARE!"
"SAUNA RAY STRIKE!"
The two attacks merged together flying towards Galaxia; they passed straight through her leaving a stunned Sol and Sauna. Saturn held her glaive up in the air.
"SILENCE GLAIVE SURPRISE!"
Galaxia raised her hand pushed the glaive away knocking Saturn.
"She's a hologram," Mercury pointed out quickly, "But she appears to send her magic directly here." Looking up the hologram faded like an electric signal losing connection.
"What are we supposed to do with her then?" Venus asked.
"We need to find the central computer so to speak," Neptune added, "make sure we all stick together, who knows what we will find."
"Sailor Sol, have you found Serenity?" Uranus asked standing behind Neptune with her hand on her hip.
"Not yet, but we're still focusing on getting the hang of our bond across distances," Sol answered, "Let's go straight ahead, we need to find them before it's too late."
Their surroundings slowly began to waiver.
"What's happening?" Sauna asked, the surroundings turned from empty space into the park in Tokyo. Dark clouds formed across the sky sending the darkness again. "Why are we back here?"
"I don't think we ever left," Mercury said quickly, "Neptune can you use your mirror?"
Sailor Neptune nodded holding her mirror up to the sky before bringing it down to look closer into it. She gazed harder as the mirror showed the vision of Sailor Moon holding Princess Kakyuu, the Starlight's behind her for protection.
"Sailor Moon is fine, at least for the moment," Neptune assured, "Princess Kakyuu looks hurt."
"Where are they?" Sol asked.
"Sailor Moon is on the same plane as Galaxia," Sailor Pluto said stepping out of the darkness. "I'm sorry I've been gone so long."
"Where were you?" Mars demanded, "You should have been here."
"Crystal Tokyo is gone, it has been destroyed. I came back as soon as I could, we need to defeat this enemy everything depends on it." Pluto admitted, "I've failed my duties of the time guardian."
::TRANQUILITY:: shouted through Sol's mind, his head shot up. "Serena?!"
"Locate her now Mercury, she's in trouble," His sailor outfit faded quickly revealing his sun kingdom armour, he looked between his hands as the transformation faded. "What happened?!"
"Someone is messing with something along the lines," Pluto said, "Uranus, Neptune & Saturn; we need to secure the Crystal points around Tokyo, it'll buy us some time."
"We'll find Sailor Moon," Jupiter said.
"Use the communicators if anybody has any issues or finds them before the other day," Venus instructed, "We need to do this for Serenity, and for Crystal Tokyo."
Everyone nodded in agreement; the outer scouts moved together turning their back on the remaining scouts as they ran ahead knowing their mission.
"Mercury can you find her?" Mars asked, "I can sense her, but it's not overly strong."
"Can we Sailor Teleport there?" Sauna asked quietly, the remaining scouts looked at her in shock. The idea was so simple they couldn't believe they hadn't thought of it.
"Travis can you get a firm enough hold onto her energy to lead us?" Mercury asked, "I think if you can hold onto that we can reach her."
"No time like the present to find out," Prince Tranquility answered, he reached for Sauna's hand and then held his other hand out for Venus, the rest of the scouts joined the circle as Mercury put her computer away before sealing the circle.
"MERCURY CRYSTAL POWER!"
"MARS CRYSTAL POWER!"
"JUPITER CRYSTAL POWER!"
"VENUS CRYSTAL POWER!"
"SAUNA CRYSTAL POWER!"
"SUN STONE POWER!"
"SAILOR TELEPORT!"
The different rays of lights shot up from each of them before joining together in the middle before encasing the group in light.
"Should we split up to hit each Crystal Point?" Saturn asked standing in front of the popular cosmetics store next to the others.
"We can cover more ground that way," Uranus answered, "Little one, you take this place and the Ice Cream Parlour near the park."
"Let's meet at the platform when we've sealed our point," Neptune suggested, the four women nodded leaving the young girl alone. Saturn thrust her arms forward to give her energy to the point to seal it in place; she wanted to do this for Crystal Tokyo, but most of all for her best friend.
Energy surged from her body and surrounded the building as two beams of energy shot out from inside slamming into Saturn's body.
Sailor Uranus raced down the steps of the temple knowing that she had successfully secured it, ready to move onto the next one. What they were up against kept playing on her mind as she raced through streets, she noticed civilians were on the grounds unconscious, star seeds resting above their heads.
She raced faster to reach the super market where Neptune was securing, they needed to secure these spots to secure even a little power, and they had been in the future helping defend it with their future selves when everything faded.
"Neptune?" Uranus called when she reached the Lucky Charm shop. Sailor Neptune pulled her hands down after she finished securing it. Sailor Uranus pulled her close and kissed her temple. "Well done love."
"Let's get Pluto, Saturn should be in the park waiting," Neptune suggested. The two broke out into a fast pace run as they darted around the buildings, Neptune stopping when she saw the collection of bodies in the middle of the main intersection, their star seeds around them.
"Don't stop, we can't save them all," Uranus said seriously, "We need to help our Princess."
"So many innocent lives," Neptune whispered, "They didn't even stand a chance."
"And neither will you," a deep voice interrupted from the darkness of the side street beside them.
"Show yourself," Uranus ordered stepping into the side street, glancing around she found no one. "Don't be a coward!"
A matching laugh resonated around them. Neptune moved closer to Uranus, not of fear but just for security. "Are you the enemy?"
There was no response.
"Who are you?" Neptune asked gentler than her counterpart.
"Look out," Sailor Pluto's voice intercepted, the duo looked up in time to see their friend race forward dropping her staff to the ground a beam of light shot forward through her body. Sailor Pluto dropped lifeless to the ground; Neptune reached for the woman but was pulled back as her body vanished, her star seed flying off.
"Leave her," Uranus ordered, "We have to go now." The two raced away as they heard the familiar laughter around them.
"Look out Uranus!" Two beams smashed through their bodies and the darkness consumed them.
Soundtrack: Smoke & Fire - Moog