Standard disclaimer - I don't own Sailor Moon, or its characters. All OCs are mine.
Titus stared blankly at the distant Tokyo Skytree, watching as the mass of swirling black clouds approached from the sky above.
"The Revenant Knight..." he murmured. "I've been waiting for this day for a thousand years...and now that it's finally here, Corey's not ready."
"Did you say something, Titus?"
The ginger cat turned to face Artemis, setting his face in an expression of worry. "I was just sending everyone my positive thoughts!."
"I know how you feel. I hate not being there with them."
"They're strong," Luna said. "Stronger than they've ever been."
"And they have Corey with them," Titus added. "He'll do everything in his power to protect them."
"For all the good that will do," Artemis muttered. "He hasn't looked that good the last few times we've seen him in action."
"He hasn't even begun to approach his potential," Titus said quietly, turning to stare at the cloud again. A flash of lightning lit it up, and a laughing face flickered in existence against the dark backdrop.
"I hope that's true," Luna shivered, "because I suddenly have a bad feeling about this."
Justice climbed, staring straight ahead at the ladder in front of him. Sailor Mercury was above him, while Sailor Venus was on his back. He was letting Venus navigate for him after his earlier 'visual mishap'. She hadn't let him live that one down.
"You okay?" she asked, resting her chin on his pauldron.
"Sure. No complaints."
"Oh. You're kind of quiet."
He resisted the urge to shrug; he wouldn't want to throw her off. "Guess I just had nothing to say. How about you? Comfy back there?"
"Absolutely," she giggled. "This is the only way to travel."
"Well, for safety reasons, please ensure you keep your arms around the Corey at all times," he deadpanned.
"And I thought you didn't know how to flirt!"
"I was rusty! It took me a little while to get back into my groove."
"I bet…" She paused. "Hold up, you're about to hit Mercury's foot!"
He heard voices from above; Sailors Moon and Jupiter.
"What is it, Jupiter?"
"I don't know...I thought I saw something moving around above us."
"What kind of 'something'?" Mamoru asked.
"I didn't get a good look. Hang on."
Moon sounded nervous. "I don't like the sound of that."
"What's going on?" he called up.
"I'm not sure...dammit, look out!"
Risking Venus' wrath, Corey leaned around Mercury and looked up...just as Sailor Moon plummeted past him, screaming.
"It won't be long now, Sailor Mars."
Rei pulled at her restraints, straining her neck as she struggled to see the approaching cloud. It was a swirling mass of black, lit up by flashes of red and purple lightning. The Revenant Knight's sudden proximity had her growing nervous. Where were the others?
A news helicopter flew past, swinging wildly in the wind. Were they crazy, getting this close?
"I pity you," Terror said idly. "To die slowly, crushed inside your own mind...it's not a very fitting end for a warrior. No matter my feelings towards you."
Rei was growing desperate. "You don't have to do this..."
His helmet stared blankly into her eyes. "Yes…I do. I am what I am, Sailor Mars. My path is already laid out before me."
"Sailor Moon...she could heal you..."
His anger exploded towards her. "I would rather die than accept her help!" He lashed out with his hand, gripping her cheeks between his thumb and forefinger. "Don't mistake my candour for regret! I made my choice a long time ago, Senshi, and I will happily live with the consequences!"
She fixed him with a furious glare. "Good! Because Sailor Moon's going to blast you into dust!"
Terror just shook his head. "She's welcome to try." He summoned a large group of Constructs with a wave of his hand. "Find the Senshi, wherever they're hiding. Kill them, and bring me Sailor Moon's crystal!"
Rei watched them bound off, feeling her anger starting to burn. Whatever his grievances, whatever the pain he'd been through, none of it mattered. They were going to have to kill him.
"I'm not sure…dammit, look out!"
Sailor Moon saw them about the same time Jupiter yelled out; Constructs, skittering down the sides of the shaft on all fours like nightmarish spiders. She barely had time to react before one slammed into her, knocking her off the ladder and sending her plummeting down the shaft with a startled scream. She reached out frantically for anything to slow her fall, but the inside of the shaft was too smooth and she was too far away from the ladder to reach it.
"Usako!"
She looked up and saw Mamoru falling after her, his hand extended. She could almost…no, he was just out of reach. His fingertips brushed hers, and she felt his strength, even through that briefest of touches. An idea popped into her head, and she concentrated, willing her wings to flare open just a little. It worked; her descent slowed a fraction and Mamoru was able to grab her hand.
"Hold on tight!" he yelled.
Mamoru produced his cane and held it up horizontally. It extended, scraping against the walls of the shaft several times before wedging, halting their fall. She looked up at him, nervous energy escaping in a small laugh.
"Thanks!"
"I told you I'd be there to catch you, Usako," he replied with a wink.
The sounds of fighting drifted down from above…
"Crescent Beam!" Venus blew a hole through one of the Constructs' heads with a well-placed shot, momentarily forgetting her precarious position. She let out an inadvertent shriek of fear as she started to slip off Corey's back. He shifted beneath her, reaching back to grab her, and she shrieked again in surprise.
Despite the situation, she felt her cheeks start to burn. "Uh…if you were going for my back, it's a little higher!"
"Sorry!" She thought he sounded nervous. His hand quickly slid up into the small of her back; she used the additional support to pull herself back onto the relative safety of his shoulders. A fight in a confined space like an elevator shaft was bad enough. Having to hold onto someone else while they climbed a ladder, and defend yourself at the same time? That was madness! Above her, Jupiter fired off a bolt of lightning, frying one of the Constructs; they were the smallest type they'd seen yet, thin and lanky. Maybe they were scouts?
Mercury swung around off the ladder rather acrobatically, placing a kick right to the face of another Construct, sending it sailing down the shaft. She followed up by hurling a ball of ice that shattered in the face of another, dusting it immediately.
"Go, Mercury!" she cheered. Her excitement was short-lived as another Construct dove right at her. Corey suddenly swung around, and she tightened her grip to avoid falling off him. His left pauldron hit the wall, shaking her, as his right hand brought his sword up in a cut towards the Construct. It hit the wall below them and separated at its midsection, beginning a long fall towards the bottom.
"Still with me?" he called back to her.
"I'm fine, cutie, but maybe you could warn me the next time you're going to do that?"
"Noted!"
Three more Constructs had Jupiter surrounded. They were slashing toward her, almost tauntingly.
"Leave her alone!" The voice came from below them. "Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!"
Sailor Moon's attack raced up from below - narrowly avoiding them - and blasted the remaining Constructs into dust. Venus absently felt around and groaned. Now her skirt was torn too, courtesy of Sailor Moon's attack. What a day.
She glanced down, seeing Moon and Tuxedo Kamen climbing back up towards them.
"Is everyone okay?" Moon asked.
"We're still here!" Mercury called back.
"Hey! What the hell?!" That was Jupiter!
Venus looked up and froze. Terror was hanging half out of the wall, arms wrapped around Jupiter's neck.
"You're coming with me!" he announced, hauling the struggling Senshi off the ladder and backwards through the wall.
"Jupiter!" Sailor Moon cried.
Mercury hurriedly climbed the ladder, reaching out to brush her hand over the wall. "It's no use, the wall is-"
His hand snatched out, grabbing her by the wrist. She cried out in surprise as he hauled her through.
"Let's see what you two fear the most!" he laughed, disappearing from view.
"Mercury!" Venus whispered, feeling her stomach plummet. "We have to find them!"
"No!" Sailor Moon declared. "We can't help them. Not from here, anyway. We need to keep climbing!"
"Sailor Moon is right, Venus" Mamoru agreed. "We know what they're likely going to go through, and we can't help them. We have to focus on getting to the top. Rei needs our help too."
Venus saw Corey's helmet move as he glanced up at the wall. "They'll just have to work it out for themselves."
"Mercury?"
Ami blinked. That was odd. She could have sworn she'd just…no, she couldn't remember. They were climbing the elevator shaft. That's right.
"Mercury!" She looked down to see Venus watching her, worried. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, you seem out of it." Jupiter was above her on the ladder. That wasn't right…or was it? Where else would she be?
"I'm fine," she answered. "Sorry…I must have zoned out!"
"Hey, it happens!" Venus said, winking up at her. "Trust me, I'm great at it!"
"Guys, can we start moving, please?" Sailor Moon called. "We need to reach Rei!"
"Yes, we do!" Jupiter agreed, heading up again.
Mercury followed, and she heard the faint clank of Justice's armour as he followed below her. Within minutes, they were at the observation deck's level.
Jupiter reached out, carefully prying the doors open just enough to peer through. "Mercury…what does your computer have to say?"
She ran a quick scan. "Several Constructs…no sign of Terror. It doesn't look like he's in there."
"Are you sure?" Venus asked. She sounded dubious.
"He's not showing up on my scans," Mercury replied. "But he always has before."
"Good enough for me," Jupiter grunted, forcing the doors all the way open and pulling herself up. "Let's go!"
Mercury followed her, swinging off the ladder and into the foyer outside the observation deck. The sight that greeted her froze her in her tracks. Rei stood at the head of a horde of Constructs, only it wasn't Rei anymore. Her eyes glowed ruby red, and she wore a decidedly unsettling smile on her face.
"Welcome…Sailor Senshi."
"Rei!" Sailor Moon screamed. "Mercury…you said we had time!"
"I…" Oh, no. Had she made a mistake? How was that possible?
"She also told you I wasn't here!" Mercury spun around just in time to see Terror blink into existence behind Sailor Moon. With a sickening squelch, he impaled her right through the back, the point of his weapon emerging from her chest.
"Usako!" Mamoru cried.
"Sailor Moon!" Mercury screamed.
I failed her!
Makoto sat in frustrated silence as Minako babbled on and on about how much fun she was having dating Corey. She wasn't sure how long she'd been here, but it felt like forever. The blonde was gushing about how great everything was, how interesting Corey was when he finally opened up to her.
She stole him from you…just like before. The prettier girls always steal the guys you like away…
Makoto frowned. That was an odd thought. She didn't even like Corey. Not that way. She'd agreed with Usagi that one time that he was 'cute'.
No matter how hard you try, they never see you as a potential romance…they only see your pretty friends...
Something was wrong. These weren't her thoughts. It was like someone whispering inside her head, using her voice. But the words were foreign.
"Mako?"
She snapped out of it and looked up at Minako. "Sorry, what was that?"
She blonde smiled widely and tapped her fingers together thoughtfully. "I asked when you thought you might get a boyfriend?"
"I don't know," Makoto replied, shrugging. "When it happens, I suppose."
"My money's on never."
Makoto frowned again. What?
"I mean, as soon as you find someone interesting, you'll just lose him to someone like me," Minako continued, annoyingly cheerful. "Men want petite, feminine women…cute, girly ones like me." Her smile became somewhat mocking. "Not tall, strong, girls like you. They want to feel like they're needed, to protect us…they're put off by your strength and size. You're going to be alone forever."
That little exchange proved it. There was something wrong here. Minako was a lot of things, crazy chief among them, but a mean-spirited bitch? No. Was she supposed to be scared by all this? Was that it? Yes…the elevator shaft. Someone had her around the neck…Terror! He pulled her away from the others. Now this made sense…this was her illusion…just like Usagi and Minako's earlier. She snorted derisively. It was pretty pathetic.
"Are you even listening to me?" the blonde asked mockingly.
"Oh, shut up," Makoto sighed, leaning over the table and punching Minako right in the face. She broke apart like glass, revealing a Construct underneath. "There's the real you!"
She slid out of the booth, noticing for the first time that the arcade was deserted around her. How hadn't she seen this all sooner?
"I can't believe you managed to fool the others," she scoffed. "That was pathetic. I'm scared of never finding love? That anytime I do, someone prettier and more 'feminine' will come along and steal him? Really? I've got a newsflash for you. I don't need a man in my life to be happy! Just like I don't resent my friends for finding happiness! I don't know where you pulled that garbage from, but this illusion has failed completely!"
"Interesting…"
She whirled about, finding the self-proclaimed Shadow-Knight standing behind her, arms folded across his chest. As she glanced down, she saw that she wore her Senshi uniform once more. It seemed he was admitting defeat.
"I thought for sure this was your personal fear…" he admitted. "It was the only thing I could find. All of your friends had something, deep down inside that they hid from the outside world, even from each other. But you…you appear to genuinely fear nothing."
"Certainly not you," she snapped.
"Your confidence is admirable. Foolish…but admirable."
"We'll see." Jupiter adopted a defensive stance, arms out in front of her body.
"Are you really challenging me to a fight in my own domain?" he asked, sounding genuinely surprised.
"What's the matter?" she taunted. "You're not scared, are you?"
Terror responded by launching himself towards her, swinging a gauntlet-clad fist at her head. The brunette ducked under it easily and summoned a ring of lightning around her fist, hammering it into his ribs. She followed up with a quick strike to the area over his kidneys, shocking him a second time.
Terror actually backed away. "Impressive…you are much stronger than I gave you credit for."
"I haven't even gotten started yet," she assured him. "Sparkling Wide Pressure!" She slung the crackling disc right at him, hitting him in the face. As he recoiled, apparently blinded, she leapt at him, aiming a powerful kick right at the side of his helmet. It connected with bone-crushing force…and shattered the helmet, revealing a Construct beneath. "What? Even you're not real?!"
It screeched at her, swinging its claws. She blocked the strike and slammed it into the floor with a hip-toss, stomping on its face for good measure. It turned to dust, and the world around her collapsed.
"Mercury, how could you make this kind of mistake?" Venus screamed, cradling Sailor Moon's body in her arms. "Rei's lost to us, and now Usagi's dead, because you failed!"
"What good are you?" Jupiter asked coldly. "You're no use in a fight! You're powers are weak! We spend half our time keeping an eye on you!"
"I…" She felt tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry…I don't know what happened…the data…"
"You and your damned data!" Venus yelled. "What good is it now? You're useless, Ami!"
She knew they were right. She was the weakest Senshi; no use in a real fight. Her powers were barely enough to keep herself safe. She didn't have the raw power of Jupiter, the finesse of Venus, or the spirit of Mars. And Sailor Moon was already in a league of her own. At least she was…before she'd gotten her killed.
"Don't listen to them, Ami!"
Mercury turned slowly to see…Sailor Jupiter? She looked back at the other Senshi, seeing the other Sailor Jupiter staring at the newcomer with…was that fear?
"They're not our friends!" Jupiter stepped forward and placed her hands on Mercury's shoulders, turning her to look into her eyes. "You're trapped in an illusion, just like Sailor Moon and Sailor Venus were. Terror's using your deepest fears against you!"
"No…" Mercury whispered. "They're right…"
"Listen to me!" Jupiter said firmly, placing a hand under her chin and tilting her head up. "They're wrong! You're not weak, Ami. You're as strong as any of us are. Maybe your powers aren't purely offensive, but they're no less important! And you're so smart, Ami! How many times have you saved us all, just with your mind?" She smiled. "Don't buy into Terror's lies. We love you, Ami, and we need you. Don't ever forget that."
The fog began to lift from her mind, and the blue-haired Senshi smiled faintly in return. "Thanks, Mako…I almost did."
"Hey!" Venus interrupted. "How dare you just turn up here uninvited and spoil our fun? That's so rude!"
"And if there's one thing I can't stand, it's rudeness!" not-Jupiter growled, pounding a fist into her palm.
With a ragged, rattling breath, Sailor Moon sat up, and turned limply to face them, staring out of hollow eyes. "In the name of the moon…I'll murder you!"
Jupiter turned back to Mercury, laughing. "You see? He's got nothing left but cheap tricks!"
"I do. I see it now!" Mercury was growing angry. She'd nearly let him manipulate her into giving up. He'd used her friends against her. Her friends who loved her, and would never turn on her like that. It was unforgivable! "You know how to break out of here, I presume?"
"Oh, yeah. Just follow my lead," Jupiter grinned. She turned and pointed a finger at their 'friends'. "You guys are toast!"
"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"
"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"
The world imploded around them with a deafening crash.
Jupiter opened her eyes slowly. She was lying on the floor, beside the open elevator shaft. Mercury lay beside her, slowly stirring. With a groan, she pushed herself up to her knees. Her eyes widened as she realised where they were.
"I'll be damned," she muttered. Ahead of her, Sailors Moon and Venus were crouched at the door to the observation deck, peering through. Tuxedo Kamen and Justice stood behind them. She helped Mercury up and the approached the others.
"Guys-"
Justice whirled about, his sword stopping mere inches from Jupiter's throat. "Jupiter! Mercury!" he said, sounding surprised. "When did you-"
"Just now," Jupiter answered, gesturing towards the sword with a frown.
"Oh, right!" He lowered the blade, returning it to his side.
"Mako, Ami!" Moon crashed into her, pulling them both in for a big hug. "You're alright!"
"Yes," Mercury agreed, returning the hug. "We're fine."
"Terror tried his little tricks on us, but it didn't work out so well for him." Jupiter said, smirking.
Venus smiled towards them. "I'm glad you guys are okay."
Mamoru nodded to them both. "Welcome back."
"Thanks everyone," Mercury said, motioning to the doors. "So…we're finally here."
Venus nodded. "And it's fairly safe to assume Terror is expecting us."
"Almost certainly," Justice agreed. "Not that it matters…we're almost out of time."
Mercury consulted her computer. "There's some kind of storm raging outside…the readings are intensely powerful. I think the Revenant Knight is here…"
"Then we need to get in there!" Sailor Moon summoned her Tiare and marched towards the door. "Let's go save Rei!"
Rei looked up at the sky above her, shivering. Hate and anger washed over her like waves, and her stomach lurched. She thought she caught a glimpse of a face in the cloud, smiling down at her. Red lightning lashed the tower around her, and she felt genuine terror. She was going to be possessed. The Revenant Knight was going to use her body to kill her friends. The thought horrified her.
"Give Rei back to us! Now!"
Her head wrenched over towards the doors to the room. Sailor Moon had physically kicked them open and was standing in the doorway, flanked by the others; Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Tuxedo Kamen and Justice. But there was no sign of the Outer Senshi. Had they abandoned them again?
"Sailor Moon…I wondered if you'd make it here in time for the show," Terror chuckled, blinking into existence beside Rei. "You all look terrible. Did you have some difficulty getting here?"
Rei had to agree with his assessment. They were all scuffed and bruised, missing pieces of their uniforms, while Justice's cape was in tatters. Venus looked the worst by far; her left arm was in a makeshift sling, and she was quite pale. The determined look on her face was very familiar, however. It was the same look they'd all worn many times before. Sailor Moon stepped forward and pointed her Tiare right at Terror.
"Get out of our way! This ends here."
Rei couldn't help it. She burst out laughing at Terror. "Oh, wow! If she's mad enough to skip her speech, you're in serious trouble!"
"The only one in trouble here is you!" he roared. His finger stabbed towards Sailor Moon. "Kill them all, my Constructs!"
Sailor Moon dove out of the way as a Blade-Construct smashed into the floor where'd she'd just been standing. She remembered these ones; they were tougher than the others. But she didn't have time for a long, drawn out fight. Rei needed her!
"Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss!" Golden light lashed out, as she willed the attack to be even stronger than usual. It disintegrated the Construct in an instant, and she suppressed a squeal of delight. That would hardly be professional, after all! Another Construct leapt at her from the side and she rolled under it's swing. It ended up behind her, and she instinctively swung her Tiare like a club, smashing it into the Construct's head and knocking it to the floor. "Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!" It collapsed into dust.
"Sailor Moon!" Rei screamed. "I can see you're all busy…but could one of you please get me down from here?!"
The blonde immediately took a step towards her friend. A blast of purple fire slammed into her from the side; she screamed in pain, landing awkwardly on her knees.
"I'm afraid I can't let you take her," Terror growled. "Lord Revenant would be most displeased." He summoned another ball of fire, letting it build in his hand. "I've waited a long time for this…"
"And you're going to keep on waiting!" Venus' golden chain slammed into the side of his head, knocking him off balance. "Go, Sailor Moon! I've got this!"
Moon managed to make it to her feet. "No, Venus, it's too dangerous!"
"Worry about yourself, fool!" Terror launched himself towards her with incredible speed and buried his armour-clad fist in her stomach. She felt the air being driven out of her lungs and collapsed to her knees again as waves of nausea rolled over her. A shadow fell over her as Terror approached.
"Venus Love Me Chain!"
He caught Venus' chain in mid-air as it lashed out towards him, letting it wrap around his hand. With almost no effort at all he pulled her towards him. The surprised blonde let out a shriek as she was was pulled through the air, colliding face-first with his forearm. She hit the floor and lay still.
"Venus…" Moon whispered, struggling to stand. Her vision blurred in and out of focus; he'd hit her so hard it felt like she was going to be sick.
"I could kill her right now," Terror said tauntingly. "Would you like that, Princess? Would you like me to burn your friend to ash as you watch?"
"Please," she begged, summoning the strength to rise to her feet. "You want me…leave her alone!"
"But it will cause you pain-" Tuxedo Kamen crashed into Terror from the side, struggling with the armoured man. Terror kneed him in the stomach, knocking Mamoru back. Terror extended his hand and a large, dangerous looking spear appeared; it had an axe-head and a spike on the tip. He swung it around before him, gripping it in both hands. Mamoru willed his cane into existence and moved to stand between the Shadow-Knight and Sailor Moon.
"I won't let you hurt her."
"You won't be able to stop me!" Terror crowed, swinging his weapon. His attack seemed to overpower Mamoru almost immediately, the impact against his cane knocking the tuxedo-clad man to the side. They exchanged several more blows, and there was no doubt about it; Tuxedo Kamen was outmatched.
"I can't best you…" Mamoru admitted, breathing heavily.
"Lower your weapon," Terror sneered. "I'll make your death quick."
"That wasn't quite what I had in mind. I meant, I can't best you like this…" His tuxedo shimmered out of existence, replaced with his own suit of black armour; Prince Endymion of Earth now stood before the Shadow-Knight. He drew his sword. "Like this, though? I think so!"
Justice whirled, lopping the head off another Construct. He watched as Sailors Mercury and Jupiter double-teamed another of the large Blade-Constructs. Mercury shrouded it in fog before Jupiter blasted it with some kind of electricity dragon. He shook his head; their attacks were certainly creative. He realised Venus was no longer with them. Where'd she gotten to? She'd been right beside him a moment ago.
"And you're going to keep on waiting! Go, Sailor Moon! I've got this!"
He turned at the sound of her voice to see her strike Terror with her chain. What the hell was she doing? She was in no condition to face off against him! The Shadow-Knight completely ignored her anyway, driving himself forward and striking Sailor Moon hard. Justice took a hurried step in her direction…and was tackled by two more Constructs. They wrapped around him, scratching at his armour furiously.
"Get the hell off me!" he shouted, tearing one of them off and driving it into the floor with enough force to crush its head. A moment later, the other one found itself sailing through the nearby window on a one-way trip to the ground. Where was Sailor Moon? There she was…she was barely standing, gasping for breath. Venus was lying on the floor, and she wasn't moving. Please, he thought desperately, let her be okay! A familiar looking man in black armour was fighting Terror, who was now carrying a…halberd? Yes...that was its name. The weapon was oddly familiar to him. Of course. Faith had fought him in the past…it would make sense that he'd use the same weapon.
"Jupiter!" he called. "I'm going to help Sailor Moon and…that guy!"
"Endymion!" she offered helpfully, blasting another Construct with a ball of lightning.
Endymion. The name seemed familiar, but in what was becoming an all-too-common occurrence, he couldn't remember why. He rushed towards the combatants, falling to one knee as a massive thunder-like boom reverberated through the tower, shaking everything.
"Sailor Moon!" he called.
"Get…to Rei!" she wheezed. "Please! Save her!"
"No, you need help!" he protested.
"Mamoru can handle it. Save Rei! That's an order!"
He turned back to Mercury and Jupiter; they were holding off the remaining Constructs, and couldn't get free in time. Mamoru had his hands full with Terror. He seemed to be holding his own but he wouldn't be able to break off easily. Venus was still out; he was relieved to see her chest rising and falling steadily. Usagi was right. He was Rei's only option.
"Alright…" he agreed reluctantly, sheathing his sword and rushing towards the trapped girl.
He heard Sailor Moon speaking as he left her behind. "…need you, now!"
"Rei!" he called, sliding to a stop beside her.
"It took you long enough!" she snapped, looking up anxiously at the sky.
"I'm glad to see you too," he muttered, pulling at her restraints. It was no use; they were stuck tight, maybe even magical. Could he just pry them out of the pillar? "Hold still!"
"Yeah, like I'm going anywhere!"
He drew his sword and drove it into the pillar itself, between her hand and the binding.
"Hey! Be careful with that thing!"
"Do you want me to get you out of here or not?" he shot back.
She nodded. "Point taken."
He groaned with the strain as he pushed down on the sword, trying to lever the restraint up and out of the concrete. With a reluctant groan, the bolts snapped free, releasing Rei's left hand. He quickly moved around to her right side.
"Get away from her!" he heard Terror roar.
He looked up; 'Endymion' was lying on the ground, his sword knocked from his hand, and the Shadow-Knight was running right at him.
"World Shaking!"
"Deep Submerge!"
Twin globes of energy, one amber and one aqua, slammed into Terror's chestplate, catching him completely by surprise. He was sent flying back by the impact, smashing through a wall.
"Invited by a new age, Sailor Uranus, acting beautifully!"
"Likewise, invited by a new age, Sailor Neptune, acting elegantly!"
"My guardian is the planet of silence. I'm the soldier of death and rebirth, Sailor Saturn!"
The Outer Senshi dropped down through the hole above Rei, fanning out around them.
"You get Rei!" Uranus shouted. "We'll watch your back!"
A fresh wave of Constructs poured into the room, swarming around Jupiter and Mercury.
"Never mind that!" he shot back. "Help them!"
He got no answer; they were already moving. Uranus and Neptune fired off two more attacks that smashed several Constructs into dust. Sailor Saturn entered the fray, swinging her Glaive with deadly efficiency, thinning the enemy's numbers with ease. Their strength was incredible, and he was forced to admit that he'd stood no real chance against them in their battle. He spared a glance for Usagi, and found her wings stood out easily on the battlefield; she was crouched over Mamoru, his hand in hers. It looked like he was moving. Maybe they were all going to be alright after all.
Rei's panicked words cut right through his confidence. "Oh, gods, he's here! The Revenant Knight!"
He looked up and felt a block of ice form in his stomach. A cloud of ash swirled down from the sky towards them, coalescing into a vaguely humanoid form; the upper body of a demonic knight. Two wicked horns swept back from its helmet, matching the spines emerging from its pauldrons. Ruby-red eyes glowed beneath the helmet, the T-shaped slit a match for his own. Justice forced himself to look away and focus on freeing Rei. Slowly but surely, the blade lifted the metal from the pillar…until it slipped free with a clink, leaving it only half open. Rei struggled but couldn't get her hand free, cursing with a creativity Justice found astonishing. He glanced up again and shivered. It was too late; the Revenant Knight was here. It swooped down from the sky, clawed fingers reaching out for Rei.
- She is mine! –
AN: Wow, that turned into a huge chapter. Lots of stuff happening though, and it was a lot of fun to write! Thanks to all my reviewers for your great feedback, especially metalgear for your thoughts and suggestions around the illusion scenes!
And here we are; right on the verge of the climax. Depending on how the next chapter turns out, I may need an epilogue, just to tidy up some plot threads, but we'll see. More to come shortly!