Chapter 9-Death

Tuxedo Mask dodged right and barely missed the attack. The bolt flew past him and killed the tree behind. Urgh. He groaned in frustration. Up ahead, he could hear the carnage, the explosion...He needed to get to Usagi. He had hoped that she wouldn't be here, but he knew her better than anyone. Power or no power, she would be there for her friends.

"Ahhh..." Another few attacks came hurdling towards him. He raised his cane and blocked most of it. Except one. He slammed hard into a tree and then fell to a ground. Dazed, Tuxedo Mask struggled to get to his feet. The dark figures swarmed around above him...waiting...

Suddenly, a bright light flooded through the night. The figures screeched and then evaporated...

"The silver crystal..." He pushed himself off the ground and took off running. It must be bad...if Serenity was releasing the power...

Usagi froze, in that second. She didn't know what to think. Die? Serenity...what did they do to you?

"Tsukino Usagi. Prepare to die." The wand was raised and aimed. Sailor Princess stared back, blankly.

"Serenity? What happened to you? Are you still you?" Usagi pleaded.

Princess sneered. "Endymion will be mine. If you die." Without another word, she sent out her shot...

Sailor Pluto raised her staff, ready to unleash the forbidden power...when suddenly a dark figure leapt out of the tree and planted himself in front of Usagi...

"NOOOOOOO!" Usagi screamed as she watched. His face, contorted in pain, but he still looked back to make sure Usagi was okay.

"Usako..." He uttered his last word and then fell backwards. Usagi caught him before he hit the ground.

"Mamo-chan..."Tears spilt and Usagi willed them to heal him. Like last time. Only, she's human now.

"Be strong, Usako." Mamoru placed a hand on Usagi's face. "I love you."

Usagi widened her eyes, as Mamoru's hand fell to the ground. His head rolled to the side. "No. Mamo-chan. No. Don't leave me..."

"ARGH"...An anguished scream came from above and Sailor Princess fell to the ground. Her moon shimmered and turned yellow momentarily. "Endymion..."Then the moon turned dark again. Sailor Princess floated back up and raised her wand again. "You took Endymion away from me."

The soldiers moved in front of Usagi.

"Princess Serenity, fight it. Please." Sailor Venus yelled. "Mercury, any idea how to heal her?"

"The only thing that can heal her is the crystal, the one she's in control of right now." Mercury explained. "The bad news is...we don't know what will happen if we attack Sailor Princess. What will happen to Usagi?"

"Our attacks are fatal on humans." Neptune looked at Uranus and Pluto, and shook her head.

"Princess Serenity. I am sorry." Sailor Venus leapt up. "Venus Love me Chain..."The chain whipped out, aiming for the moon wand...

Serenity sent out a shot without hesitation. It sent Venus hurling through a few trees. "You are my guardians. You are my people. You should protect me, not her."

"Shine Aqua Illusion" Mercury took the opportunity to set up a thick ice wall around the princess. "Sorry. It's going to get cold in there." Mercury continued to send icy blasts to the ice wall...

"Watch out." Jupiter picked up Mercury and hurled her out of harm's way. The wall exploded and the single shot came flying out. Jupiter screamed and fell to the ground with a sickening thud.

Princess Serenity watched as her friends suffered.

Never one to give up, Jupiter was back on her feet again and ran straight towards her. Sailor Princess merely waved her hand and sent Jupiter flying back.

"So, Mars..." Princess walked up to her last guardian. "Looks like you'll get what you want after all..."

"Princess, forgive me." Sailor Mars looked sorry. "Akuryo Taisan" The ofuda flew out and sticked to Serenity's forehead.

Momentarily, Sailor Princess seemed dazed. Then, black mist started to pour out of her body and it dissolved the ofuda in seconds...She re-opened her coal black eyes and stared at Mars. The black mist continued to swirl around her as she raised her wand again. "Usagi took away my Endymion."

"Akuryo Taisan!" Mars sent out a hurl of hundreds of ofuda. They flew toward the target but sizzled away the moment they touched the black mist. Sailor Mars shook her head in disbelief. "The mist is dangerous. We can't get near her."

She did the only thing she could do at this moment. She raised her arms and stood in front of Usagi.

Neptune, Uranus and Pluto staggered to their feet and followed. They linked up their arms and encircled Usagi.

"Sailor Princess...Serenity...Please. Come back to us..." Usagi pleaded.

The black mist continued to swirl and intensify around Serenity. Soon, the only remaining white luminance gave out and the silver crystal was as black as coal. Sailor Princess looked up with a sneer on her face.

A silhouette figure appeared beside the princess. A crackling laugh rang through the sky...

"Who's there?" The scouts tensed.

The voice boomed. "Serenity, Usagi took everything away from you. Your life, your love...What are you going to do about it? She's the source of all your trouble..."

The rod moved up toward the sky. A funnel of dark thunder came cracking through and hit the crystal...The earth started to shake and in an instant, the terror spread...

In the distant, buildings crumbled and people screamed. Sirens pierced the slumber night, as the city fell into a pandemonium.

Sailor Princess looked back at the scouts and increased her power channeling. "I don't want to live in a world without Endymion...I'll wipe this miserable Earth off the solar system. No one has to suffer anymore..."

A.N.

Sorry for the cliff hanger. I will try my best to upload the next chapter tomorrow. However, work is super busy this week and I might not be able to until Wed. So so so sorry...