...
Someday, the Light of Love you set aflame in your eyes
...
...Will Transcend Time...
...
And Surely Destroy One Dream
Of This World that hurries to Its Ruin
Swallow down your hesitation!
...What is it that you wish for?...
On the path of yearning that's as greedy as this...
Will there be a transient tomorrow?
With the power that can break through the darkness
Something like the ancient magic
That I dreamed of when I was young
I want to meet you and your smile!
What I hold in these frightened hands of mine
Is courage of handpicked flowers...
My feelings are the only thing...
That I rely upon.
The Light will awaken with
This Wish...
Sailor Moon let out another determined scream as she continued to soar through the vortex of dark energy, and she sent her power's light piercing towards the upturned crescent moon before her that lay in between the two bursts of red light that made up his eyes. It mirrored completely her fall into The Galaxy Cauldron as her wings tucked together allowing her to fall faster through to air.
"Silver Crystal... Onegai!" She thought inwardly as she held her scepter out in front of her and closed her eyes tightly as she let out a quiet cry as she kept her teeth clenched together. "Please!" Her wings spread outwards again and she let out another scream as she spun the scepter with both ands and Death Phantom's laughter taunted her as she continued to yell and unleash her power against him.
Luna and Artemis watched from the floor of the ballroom and through the torn open roof as the light and darkness collided in the sky above the city. Luna took a small step forward out of their safe, hidden lip of protection and she stared upwards trying to catch any glimpse of Sailor Moon's form, but the only sign of her was the bursts of bright light ripping through the darkness. "Usagi-chan..." Luna whispered fearfully as there was no sign of either entity gaining an advantage over the other, but Luna feared Sailor Moon wouldn't have the stamina to keep going forever. Artemis was now beside her as Luna continued to look upward through the dark energy in fear.
"She'll be alright." Artemis said finally looking away from Luna's face and up towards the dark battle as well. "She has everyone's powers flowing through her. She won't let it go to waist. You said so yourself: She won't let it disappear." He said, but it didn't seem to make Luna any less tense.
"She's fighting with everything she has!" Luna cried. "I can't handle just sitting here!" Artemis bit his lip understanding how she felt, but unable to do anything about it. "She's awoken her memories... She should be able to use the full power of The Silver Crystal! Just like she could as Queen!" Luna continued. "I don't under..." She paused and her eyes widened as she turned to Artemis. "Artemis!" He leaned back away from her.
"W-What?" He asked unsure by her quick shout.
"We have to go back to The Moon! We have to give Usagi more power!" Luna almost shouted. "It's the only way I can help her!" Artemis blinked.
"The Moon?" He asked uncertain. Luna was already running forward into the opening and looked upwards, but past both the blasts of light and darkness consuming the sky, and towards the glimmer of moonlight that broke through the smoke and dark energy. "How?" He asked. "What can we do there?" He questioned.
"Artemis! We must gather The Moon's energy! Just like we did to propel ourselves towards The Earth. We must return to The Prayer Room!" Artemis stepped beside her and followed her gaze upwards.
"Can we?" He asked in almost a whisper. Luna was already closing her eyes, and her crescent moon crystal shining brightly. Artemis watched her for a moment, but then followed her lead and closed his eyes while tilting his head back. As he sat there he could feel the power filling him; just like he had when he had first rocketed towards The Earth three years before. If... he could just get enough...
"Queen Serenity... Onegai..." He heard Luna beg beside him. "Lend us your power! Just one more time!" Artemis felt a surge of energy rush through his body, and his fur ruffled with a swirling wind. Then surprisingly... he felt his body rushing upward through the air. His eyes opened in shock as he gasped, but his feet were already touching the cold surface of The Moon. Beside him, Luna's eyes opened, both of them turned to face The Earth that now hung above their heads.
"It worked!" Artemis couldn't believe his eyes. It had really worked. He hadn't known they could harness The Moon's power like that. The Earth's entire atmosphere was now darkened and occasionally a bright light would crackle through the sky like a web. "Sailor Moon..." He whispered in realization. The battle wasn't just taking place in Tokyo or even just Japan, but the entire world was feeling the two powers' clashing energy. Luna ran forward and Artemis twisted his body in order to see where she was going. She was running deeper into the ruins of The Moon Castle, and he quickly chased after her. "Luna!" The black cat did not stop in her gallop, and Artemis struggled to stay a few feet behind her. Luna stopped suddenly without warning, but she did not turn to look back at Artemis, but kept staring forward as she breathed heavily. Artemis stopped beside her and looking past her he could see the floor dip downward and into the very depths of The Prayer Room. In the center, directly in line with the two cats sat the still broken Crystal Tower, but now it pulsed with light, almost in a heartbeat's rhythm. "What is it?" Artemis inquired. Luna took a step into The Prayer Room, and then hopped down the rest of the steps before running towards the Tower as it continued to pulse. Artemis hesitated a moment before following after her. Luna stood in front of the pillar where Venus and Uranus had pulled out The Holy Sword together, and she bowed her head desperately closing her eyes.
"Queen Serenity!" She shouted. "Please return to us!" There was a flicker of light on the top of the pillar and Artemis' mouth opened in surprise as the shards of The Crystal Tower glowed more brightly and the image of Queen Serenity came entirely into view.
"Luna... Artemis..." The Queen's voice was weak, but Luna's eyes opened with a few tears at the edges as she lifted her head and looked up at the ghostly image.
"Queen Serenity! We must give Sailor Moon more power!" Luna shouted desperately. "Please! Unleash the full power of The Moon!" She cried closing her eyes again as she bowed. "I've come in Sailor Moon's stead! Please!" She continued. "You... You once told me that I must pray to The Tower if anything threatened the things we loved..." Her eyes tightened as she quivered slightly. "Nothing has threatened what I loved so much as this!"
Sailor Moon floated vertically in front of the darkening mass that was Death Phantom and she leaned forward as she held The Eternal Tier with both hands out in front of her and tried to unleash all of her power into the darkness. "Silver Crystal! Moonlight!" Luna's eyes opened and she looked back up to The Queen, and then at the still pulsing Tower of Prayer. At that moment she could feel Sailor Moon's pain and fear.
"The Silver Millennium must be reborn!" She cried. "Usagi-chan must be able to become Queen!" Artemis leaned away from her in surprise, but he could remember Queen Serenity's warning when Minako had first told them of her dream: why Serenity could not be Queen. But she had been Queen in Minako's dream. She had been Queen in the future, but it had been a future that had not happened, but had at the same time. She was Queen in spirit, but a Queen without a palace or kingdom. Artemis moved beside Luna and bowed his head as well offering up his own prayers.
"Unleash the full power of The Moon!" He said harshly as he begged and Luna closed her eyes as she lifted her head upward, and her crescent moon began to pulse with golden light before shining completely along with The Crystal Tower.
Another burst of dark energy hit Sailor Moon in the hands and she screamed in terror as the staff in between her fingers broke in two places and it pushed her back as she let the shards go. Her wings spread out behind her in another attempt to stop her fall, but the blast continued unhindered by the scepter's power and the wings began to shred and feathers fell all around her. "No!" She let out as she began to fall as her wings completely disappeared, but then the dark energy surrounded her and held her in place as Death Phantom's dark laughter filled the sky. She floated in the air laying on her back for a moment as the broken pieces of The Eternal Tier floated a few feet beneath her and she kept her eyes staring directly above her where the faintest hint of Moonlight floated down to her. Sailor Moon's eyes narrowed as tears began to form in the back of her eyes, and she suppressed a sharp cry at the back of her throat and her throat muscles contracted painfully as she pushed it down. Death Phantom's laughter engulfed her as she lay in the dark energy's grasp helplessly, and finally she let out a sharp cry as a tear skid down the side of her face and onto her ear.
"Now... Neo Queen Serenity..." He mocked her. "Die knowing you cannot defeat this darkness!"He declared, and Sailor Moon remained with tears in her eyes as she floated in front of him with her arms fallen to the side of her, and her hair cascaded behind her as it blew in the dark energy's wind.
"Can it really be done?" She thought hopelessly. "Have I really failed? Is there no more I can do?" Her eyes closed with more tears as the light flashed off of the broken metal underneath her. "Gomenai... Everyone... My power just wasn't enough..." Her eyes opened and through her tears she could see The Moon's light growing brighter, but it was blurred by the tears and Death Phantom's darkness still consumed her as he taunted her.
"Your precious kingdom, all of your sacrifices and prayers... for nothing!" He laughed. "You have abandoned The Earth into darkness by your weakness!" Sailor Moon gasped, and her eyes widened fearfully as she looked upwards and he continued to laugh. "All of those bright dreams..."
""Why are you crying, Usagi-baka? We're all together now, silly!"
"We would always be friends! No matter what! Even if we got too busy for one another for a time, we would always have the other's back, and would always know it. I promise!"
"You are a bright light for all, a miracle, a savior, please, believe in yourself..."
"There is so much you have to fight for!... For yourself as much as the others!"
"No matter what future, I believe in you... Usako..."
"I could never abandon you...Mama!"
"Watch them as they all disappear!" He declared forcefully, and Sailor Moon kept her wide gaze upwards towards The Moon as a few tears remained glistening at the very edges of her eyes, but then her fingers coiled into tight fists beside her as his laughter continued to grow stronger.
"Iie..." Sailor Moon whispered in a broken voice. His laughter slowed, and he watched her in amusement.
"What?" He inquired not sure what she had said. Her one hand lifted and covered the brooch before her fingers dug underneath the clasp and she opened it partway. Death Phantom's eyes narrowed. "You fully intend to continue this useless battle?!"He demanded. Sailor Moon's grip on the lid of the brooch tightened and she pulled it all the way open to reveal The Silver Crystal shimmering like a pearl. As she opened the brooch she continued to watch The Moon above her as its light filled her with strength.
"I cannot give up..." She whispered, but her voice was no longer broken, but had evened out. Death Phantom's fingers fluxed angrily and he held them out in front of him.
"Die!"He ordered. "And take that accursed light with you!" The energy tried to rip at her flesh, and Sailor Moon let out a quick shout as it completely encircled her and her eyes closed shut as she curled her legs closer to her chest and her two hands pressed against The Silver Crystal within the brooch.
"Please! Silver Crystal!" She demanded inwardly, and her hair whipped around her violently as the energy continued to beat down on her. "Please!" Sailor Moon's eyes opened and they were the pure image of determination, and a bright light illuminated all around her from The Silver Crystal.
"Onegai! Moonlight!" Luna cried out loudly with her eyes still pressed shut and Artemis begged the same thing with his heart fully behind the prayer. "Help Sailor Moon!" Artemis' eyes opened and he stood surprised seeing The Crystal Tower beginning to reshape and grow in front of them.
"Luna!" He cried out, and Luna's eyes opened with the light of the Tower reflecting in her blue eyes.
"Now!" Luna cried closing her eyes again. "Neo Queen Serenity!" She begged. "Unleash it all! Please!" Her voice was the most urgent of pleas. "Don't let what we've loved be lost!" She almost sobbed. Artemis' eyes closed again and his paw touched hers as they prayed together, and the Tower of Prayer illuminated the entire area around them and Artemis felt a strange power flood over him. Luna's finger's curled around his and Artemis' eyes opened in more surprise. He found himself staring down at his knees covered in white clothing, and he turned to view Luna who squeezed his hand mercilessly as she continued to pray and a holy aura surrounded her as her heart poured out its desperate mother's prayer.
The dark ball of energy around Sailor Moon shattered with the light of The Silver Crystal and she stood there with her hands pressed over each other as she rested them gently over The Silver Crystal and the brooch. Death Phantom's attack ceased and his hands remained out in front of him a moment as he watched her, and she floated with her eyes opened, but she did not stare up at him, but outwards towards no certain point.
"What?" Death Phantom's voice echoed uncertainly through the sky.
"Luna..." Sailor Moon said vacantly, and then her eyes narrowed as she glared up at Death Phantom. Her hands moved outward to reveal The Silver Crystal and its light erupted around her and she removed it from her brooch, and the Eternal Transformation came undone in a stream of red ribbons. She held it out in front of her with both hands and the light continued to flash from it. "I will not let it end like this!" She yelled violently and Death Phantom let out a noise that sounded like an annoyed growl.
"Arrogant pest!" He shouted down at her and sent another harsh wave of dark energy down upon her. She lifted The Silver Crystal above her head and the light broke the energy before it even had time to inflict its damage upon her. His red eyes flared angrily. "Die!" He ordered once more and sent a torrent of power against her. Usagi bent her head forward and closed her eyes as she released her own power.
"Everyone... I will not let your power go to waist. Please, Moonlight, protect those I love! Protect our future!" Her eyes opened, and she continued to look downward towards the Earth's surface for a moment. "I will protect this planet... The one I've always loved... even in ancient times." She looked upwards with anger flashing in her eyes as she stared up at Death Phantom. The Dark Energy encased her once more, and once it faded away the swirling ribbons around her flashed with The Silver Crystal's white light and once it faded Neo Queen Serenity lifted her head upwards as the crescent moon on her forehead gave off a glint of golden light. "I will not let my home be destroyed!" She yelled lowering The Silver Crystal to an angle where it aimed directly at the upturned crescent moon on his forehead. "I am The Queen of this planet, and will protect it! To the very end!" She shouted upwards to him and he sent all the energy he could racing towards her.
"I will not have come this far to have to face off with such an insignificant power!" His voice echoed around her and it only served to harden Neo Queen Serenity's power.
"Luna! Artemis! Mamo-chan! Everyone!" She shouted. "Chibiusa!" She called out. "Give me your power! Lend me your strength, onegai!" More power began to surge through her, and The Moon above broke through the darkness and smoke as it shone down upon Neo Queen Serenity. Neo Queen Serenity dropped one hand out to her side and the other remained underneath The Silver Crystal as it began to create a ball of light that extended all around her. "I will certainly..." The ball of light began to expand rapidly and broke all of the darkened barriers, each snapping like twigs, and the smoke vanishing like mist. "Make a future for us all!" The light erupted outward and Death Phantom let out a deep shout as it began to rip him apart. Streams of light illuminated from his body and Neo Queen Serenity's eyes closed as the power surged out once last time from her and his scream was cut short as his body dissipated into the light. The power completely drained from Neo Queen Serenity's body and she lowered The Silver Crystal to her chest as she stayed floating in the air for a moment longer. "I did it... Everyone..." She thought softly, and her eyes began to close as she tilted forward and she began to fall through the entirely white void she was in. her hands barely keeping The Silver Crystal close to her heart. "Please... I don't care what it is... I just want to give them a future... Don't let...it...be..." Her strength was fading as she continued to fall and the two streams of white hair flew upwards past her cheeks and her eyes closed completely as she faded into darkness. "...gone."
"So... Did we save it?" Artemis asked in a weak voice. Luna's hand rested gently in his between them as they lay on their sides staring at each other with dropping eyes. The Moon was cold even now with the castle surrounding them, and The Crystal Tower giving off a soft light. "The future you loved so much? Did we save... your... our Diana?" Luna's blue eyes closed and she nodded slowly.
"I believe it..." She said. "Usagi... wouldn't let us down..."
"I'm glad..." Artemis said closing his eyes as well. Above them The Earth was being enveloped in light, and the light was falling through the crystal roofing of The Prayer Room, and trickling towards the surface of The Moon. The Crystal Tower shone brightly for a moment, and a small sprite-like figure appeared on the short pillar, and she looked down at the two weakened creatures in front of her with a radiant smile.
"I'm so proud of you... Luna... Artemis..." Queen Serenity said, and Luna's blue eyes opened partway.
"Queen Serenity..." Luna whispered softly. Everything around them had a pink tint as The Earth's light leaked into The Prayer Room.
"You can let go now, you can stop fighting." The Queen told them sweetly. "Go to your mistress, Luna. Never leave her side, kudasai." Luna's eyes closed again, and a single tear drifted down her cheek as the light began to dance around them and consumed the entire castle as their hands rested together. "Take care of my daughters... Our family." The Queen's hands came together prayerfully as she watched the two glow with light and disappeared. "Everyone, please... This time, be happy..." She begged as she continued to stare upwards at the dancing speckles of light as the ascended towards the ceiling.