56: "Moonlight Legend"
The artificial night brought on by the dread Mahisha slowly turned into a true, starry darkness that covered all of Japan. Nergal stared up at the heavens, observing how little they had changed since last he walked the earth. In just a few short hours—one or two, if everything went according to plan—his beloved wife would be among them again, and then...
Once again Ravana interrupted his thoughts. But that was okay; Nergal had expected it.
"So: you deployed Mahisha after all."
"In a manner of speaking. He needed neither persuasion nor command. I think he meant to usurp me."
"And he might have succeeded. Not even the gods could withstand him. How those...disgusting sacks of protoplasm managed to get the better of him... But that is in the past. My only concern now is taking as much pleasure as possible from your defeat."
"My defeat?" Nergal repeated, smiling craftily. Ravana snorted.
"They have killed all those who stood before them: Legion, Gandarewa, Azhi Dahaka, even other gods. Even a fool would recognize where this path will lead them. I intend to allow them safe passage to your side, so that your head may be added to their trophies."
"And what will the cowardly king of demons..." Nergal spun around, smiling with graceful wickedness as Ravana fumed. "Am I mistaken? You fear them; that's why you won't fight them. All the armies of doom and despair at your call, and you shiver at the thought of facing a handful of mortal women!"
"YOU DO NOT DARE ADDRESS ME AS SUCH, WORM! I AM AS FAR BEYOND YOUR COMPREHENSION AS THEIRS IS BEYOND A FLEA'S!" Ravana snarled and snorted, but gradually calmed down, as Nergal only seemed amused. "I will not let you goad me," he said evenly. "Nor will I foolishly fling myself and my minions into this matter. My plans have merely changed, is all."
"So what will you do should I meet my demise? Surrender this world to their lot and find easier targets?"
"Did you not hear what I said?" the demon king snarled, thrusting his face at Nergal. "I am no servant of yours, and I am no fool."
"You still haven't answered my question."
"I need not reply to you." Nergal sighed in disappointment, and resumed his skyward study.
"They do not merely stamp out the flames of wickedness, Ravana: they seek to suppress the smoke before it ignites. Quite simply put, my timorous friend, you will face them one day."
"I have all of time at my side. They do not."
"Their ilk always manages to rise up when the skies grow their darkest. Whether you face these Sailors, or their descendants, it will happen all the same—and because they have such a reliable habit of crawling out of the woodwork, eventually, my friend, you will lose." Ravana let out a gurgling chortle, but Nergal wasn't in a jesting mood. "Am I mistaken?"
"What if I should blot out their entire species? Crack the world's shell? Or cover it with my shadow and remake it in my own image?"
"If you managed to get that far. Remember how they retaliated when Ninurta and the others attempted the same. They even went so far as to rob them of the powers that made them who they were, yet still they rose and fought—and succeeded. I have you at an utter loss, King Ravana. It is your fate to do battle with them."
Ravana spat; his phlegm ate through the ground, issuing foul smoke.
"I defy your fate."
"Defy it all you like, you will still submit. Do you know why? Because I have almost finished calling my beloved from her tomb. All I require is the sacrificed energy of a few more hosts. I plan on taking it from those Sailors."
"Will this be before or after they obliterate you?" Ravana sneered. Nergal smiled.
"Perhaps all I need is one. Perhaps Ea, or Nanna, or even Gula will be with them. Surely their essence will suffice. This country has a respectable police force; maybe they'd be willing to donate to my cause."
"What is your point?" Nergal laughed sharply.
"I am illustrating the vicissitudes of your fate, dear king! Support me, raise your army, and wipe them out, so that I might gather strength in peace; or oppose me, and prevent me from draining their lives. I told you, you have no choice!" Ravana sneered and flared.
"I could slay you instead!"
"Then do it," Nergal said coldly. This caught Ravana off guard, and he backed off. The look in Nergal's face was deadly serious, firmer than stone. Ravana advanced, ready to do battle, but something told him that perhaps he would not win. Nergal had strength enough to challenge the other gods, and now that he had absorbed a portion of Marduk's power...and perhaps even Anu's...
"They will not reach you," he whispered. Nergal softened, and even smiled.
"It's best to admit one's desires. You'll be happier this way, I promise." Ravana parted with one last withering glance, leaving Nergal beaming for joy. "Ah, my love," he said as he looked to the stars, "isn't it wonderful to have so many people laboring to bring you to life? Pity you won't get to meet any of them."
…...
This was why, when Sailor Uranus approached the foot of the long hill that led up to her destination, she was confronted with an enormous army of monstrosities, a number beyond count comprised of deformities beyond description. Looking at it now, it was obvious, but in truth she had been told this was the place, by the half-crazed Gula of all people. The remaining two gods had been searching Japan obsessively ever since Nergal's appearance, but it had taken the mindless, accidental wandering of their distraught third to actually find it—perhaps Nergal's twisted idea from the start. In any case, being discovered led to Gula's ultimate destruction. She had fought the first wave of Ravana's forces rather feebly, relying more on her madness than cunning tactics, and was mortally wounded soon after. Nanna and Ea had come to her rescue, but they were too late, and if the goddess of restoration was suffering beyond her skills, there was nothing more they could do.
Nothing, that is, except fight, and alert their only allies of this unsettling discovery. Usmu was sent, and met Sailors Uranus and Neptune during their search; they in turn alerted Pluto, Saturn, and the other Senshi. Usmu had no idea what sort of significance Nergal's chosen hideout implied, but Uranus and Neptune did. The enemy had camped out at the Amaterasu shrine, in the Mie prefecture.
Japan's national religion—nay, its entire history and heritage—began and ended with Amaterasu. Documents like the Kojiki, Nihonshoki, Kogoshui, and the anthology of poetry Manyoshu all focused or mentioned the importance of Japan's sun goddess, product of her father Izanagi's stress-induced bathing habits. Up until the middle of the twentieth century, Japan's emperors assumed divine status, claiming ancestry with her. The mythical world had known apocalypse and darkness until she withdrew from her cave (guided by a striptease, no less); even now, her famous shrine was continually rebuilt, once every twenty-one years, assuring it would always be in the exact same state it had enjoyed since the seventh century. That any sort of evil dared to quarter their forces there was sacrilege.
And the Senshi were staring at masses numbering easily in the hundreds of thousands.
At the apex of all of that depravity was a soul bent on unleashing something wholly unnatural and unknown. Perhaps it was an evil greater than their imaginations could conceive. Time and space might just become nonsense. Physics would no doubt be thrown out the window, life and death would become one—and yes, dogs and cats would be living together in mass hysteria. It was a heavy undertaking for a Senshi; even the two remaining gods seemed perplexed.
Luckily, Japan's military and police forces rolled in to even the odds. Massive explosions and barrages were already going off, painting the night sky red.
"Hey!" Uranus shouted, waving, "it's about time you got here!"
"Since when have the Senshi ever relied on outsiders for help?" Soji Asagiri stuck his head out of a police assault vehicle, fully-decked in riot gear. He was flanked by Usagi's partner, Javier Toha, and the chief of Shibuya's police, Harisvatta Utnapishtim. Uranus smirked and saluted them.
"I figured that since we're all on the same side... Anyway, how'd you find us?"
"Officers Asanuma and Hayashida called in not long ago," Hari answered. "They warned us that something big was about to take place. We didn't know where at first, but thanks to satellite and aerial reconnaissance, it wasn't hard to find."
"I guess this means humanity has one up on the gods," Neptune remarked.
"And maybe us, too," her partner added. "You got enough firepower here to wipe this whole hill off the map."
"We're only here to open a path for your people," Hari humbly noted. "None of us have any delusions about fighting the ones behind this. Just focus on the leaders and leave the rabble to us."
"Looks like you're still missin' half the crew," Toha noticed. Neptune gestured.
"Yes, they were apparently delayed, no doubt a ploy to split our forces. I hate to admit it, but we won't get very far unless all the Senshi are here."
"I'm sure we can keep ourselves occupied until they arrive," Pluto smiled. Asagiri gawked as she stepped forward. He scrambled out of his car and approached her, wide-eyed.
"Suh...S-Sailor Pluto?"
"Yes?" she blinked. He bowed and offered her a pen and paper.
"Can...can I have your autograph?" Pluto looked bewildered, but went about signing her name.
"Does this sort of thing happen a lot?" Hari wondered.
"Not as much as you'd think," she answered, giving the stationery back. Asagiri's face broadened in ecstasy, but soon he was glaring at everybody.
"What are you looking at? Pluto's always been my favorite."
"Fanboy obsessions aside," Neptune sputtered, trying not to laugh, "we may not have time to wait for the others. Our allies over there say that Nergal's almost finished preparations, though even they have no idea what he has in store. Not something we'd want coming to fruition, I can tell you that much." Hari looked over at the titanic glowing entities who called themselves gods, naturally curious and skeptical.
"Aren't they...?"
Saturn nodded. "The ones who took over the city awhile back. Well, one of them is, anyway. The other... He's a little more complex. But they're on our side for now."
"It's that last part that has me worried. Weren't there more of them?" The Senshi frowned grimly, giving the chief all the information she needed. "I see. Judging from the alliance you've formed, I take it your people aren't entirely responsible for that. 'Enemies of an enemy', eh?"
"Something like that. ...Uh-oh." More demonic creatures were filing in to supplant the fallen, and they showed no signs of stopping. The Senshi clutched onto their weapons tightly, preparing for a spectacle. "We're out of time," Saturn murmured, violet eyes hardened and fiery.
"Then cover your ears," Hari warned, right before giving the signal to attack. Hellfire and metal rained down upon the masses, opening a path for the Senshi to blaze down. Uranus led the charge, Pluto and Saturn keeping their flanks clear as the four women plowed their way through the army up to the apex, the epicenter of their doom. The earth trembled with missiles and explosions, the heavens roiled with gunfire; yet the demonic army surged, thousands encircling the Senshi, closing in like a noose. Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus wrought destruction, a thousand deadly screams piercing the horde as a tidal wave submerged them, causing the world to shake. The path cleared momentarily, then surged back, like an impenetrable wave of malice.
"We're in trouble," Neptune muttered tersely. Saturn held her glaive aloft, took two steps, and stretched out her palm. Pluto felt a far deadlier fear crawl down her spine.
"Hotaru, what are you..."
"Trust me, Setsuna: I know what I'm doing." Her whole body glowed an eerie purple, lavender beams shot out of her eyes. A reddish-blue mist formed on her palm and was fired out, dozens of tendrils whipping around, shredding and piercing and crushing the demonic forces. The tendrils relented after a moment, the glow ceased, and Saturn collapsed to her knees, exhaling deeply.
"Hotaru...are you..."
"Just give me a moment," she wheezed. "It seems holding back takes more out of me than going all-out." Uranus helped lift the younger woman to her feet as more demons filled the gap.
"We need to hurry. At this rate..." The masses were suddenly laid waste as an enormous fireball rocked the world. When the light and smoke faded, the Senshi beheld their younger companions smiling back at them.
"Sorry we're late," Sailor Moon grinned, waving bashfully. "We kind of had to stop Mt. Fuji from erupting, and..." Uranus smiled at her.
"Good to see you too, dumpli—"
"Is Shingo all right?" Sailor Saturn lurched, ignoring her weariness. Sailor Moon smiled proudly and gave a thumbs-up.
"You bet! And he totally kicked tail, too!" Saturn breathed out a sigh of relief, then stood up once more, energized by her love.
"Then let's do the same! Our enemy's at the top of this hill! The police have our back; it's time we end this once and for all!"
"YAAAH!" Everyone cheered and made a mad dash for the summit, pursued by the endless forces of evil.
I'm sorry that I'm not honest
I can say that in my dreams
My thoughts are about to short-circuit
I want to see you right now
The Senshi mercilessly fought their way through the crowd, shooting massive fireballs, hurling immense glaciers, leveling multitudes with blasts of lightning, cutting them down with searing bolts, opening large gaps with torrents, blowing masses away with squalls, consigning the survivors to death and oblivion, yet scarcely making any progress, so large was the fray. The ground split open as immense centipede-like monstrosities emerged, carrying misshapen fiends dredged from nightmares of the insane. Venus and Mercury stared them down, then nodded at each other.
"We're not getting anywhere like this! You all go on ahead; we'll hold these guys off!" Sailor Moon wrestled three of the cackling beasts off, gawking at the duo.
"Are you sure it's not just some elaborate excuse for you two to be alone?" Mercury punched one, her eyes steely.
"The thought had occurred to us! All the same, you had better hurry!"
"I'd take them up on their offer, moon-face," Neptune said. "The more of these uglies fighting them, the less are fighting us."
"Yeah, but..."
"But nothing!" Venus shouted. "Get moving!" She and Mercury stood back-to-back, facing off against the legion, together opening a pathway for their friends to take. Sailor Moon shouted something to them as she was whisked off, but they didn't catch it. Before the army could pursue her, Mercury blocked them off with a solid ice wall. Hundreds of evil eyes glared at the two women. Their hands clasped together.
"Hey, Ami," Venus said, "when all this is over, will you marry me?"
"Huh? Hey, wait a minute! I was going to ask you!"
"So is that a 'yes'?" Mercury smiled beatifically; tears came to her eyes. She then winked and slapped Venus's rear end.
"You bet your sweet ass it is!"
"Okay! Let's go wipe em' out, wife-to-be!" She and Mercury screamed, throwing themselves into the slaughter.
It makes me want to cry, this moonlight
And I can't make a call at midnight
Because I'm naive, what should I do?
My heart is a kaleidoscope
Jupiter and Mars stared down the titan as it blocked their path. On every other side was an insurmountable wall of monsters. The Senshi were nearly out of time, energy, and breath. Slivers of crackling energy and sputtering cinders coalesced in their hands.
"Guess this is our stop."
"Looks like it. Usagi...well, what can I say, except, 'don't argue with us'."
"Aw, man," she grumbled, "this is way too much like deja vu."
"Things are looking a little familiar," Jupiter noted, bracing herself for the inevitable. "All the same, you need to get going. I really wanted to give that Nergal a piece of my mind, but I'll he happy so long as someone does it."
"And that 'someone' is me, huh?" she groaned. Mars laughed sadly.
"Was there ever a doubt?"
"Well, when you put it like that..." Sailor Moon picked herself up, promised they'd all meet again, and continued up the long slope with the remaining Senshi. Mars and Jupiter looked up into the looming sentinel of death, and grinned.
"Just like old times."
"Don't get too crazy on me, Mako. That shrine's not due for remodeling for several more years."
"I'll try and keep that in mind." They lit up, lightning and fire dancing in the sky, their voices crashing like a thunderous conflagration...
Guided by the light of the moon
We meet each other again and again
Great swarms of titans now lumbered down the hill, some needing four and even six legs to support their considerable size. Many decorated demons rode the beasts, calling on their foul horns. Flying monsters blanketed the sky, their shrieks drowning out the march of hideous infantry closing in. All of the Senshi and police were doing a marvelous job keeping the enemy at bay, but there were simply too many of them to fight, and still so much ground left to cover. The gods Nanna and Ea quickly dispatched themselves to fight the titans; Pluto broke off to handle the foot soldiers; Neptune entrusted Uranus and Saturn with the rest as she separated from the group, calling forth the dragon of the seas. Sailor Saturn pressed on, but Uranus hung back, watching her lover, and Sailor Moon watched her.
"Haruka..." Silently, she embraced the older woman, then gave her a firm shove. "Sorry!" Uranus stumbled down the hill, caught herself, and glared up at Sailor Moon, who was running away as fast as she could, towards the source of all these horrors. Gathering up her dignity, she brushed herself off and smiled.
"You're beyond me, dumpling. Okay, Michiru, I hope you saved some for me."
By counting the constellations' blinking
We forecast the outcome of this love
Born on the same earth
MIRACLE ROMANCE
Together, she and Saturn sprinted through the clearing, driven solely by their unstoppable passions, their intense desires, the looming unknown that cast a shadow darker than the skies above, the emptiness of being what seemed like the last resistance against all this madness. More than once, one would break down and would have to be encouraged by the other: smiling, strong, an unlikely but unbreakable bond. They didn't say a word to each other, because they understood and shared the same thoughts and feelings.
The armies finally returned, swarms beyond measure obstructing the last stretch of the great hill. Saturn stood defiantly, a true death-goddess guarding, somewhat strangely, an emissary of light and goodwill. Of course, Sailor Moon stood her ground as well, a beautiful and powerful Queen who would not allow those she loved to suffer. Many hundreds learned to fear this mismatched duo; many more fled, preferring to peddle their evil elsewhere. But Saturn,who was physically the feebler of the two, finally collapsed, her face much paler than usual. Sailor Moon stirred her to little avail.
"Hotaru! Come on, get up! Just a few more steps..."
Her only response was a faint groan. Sailor Moon began to panic. They were so close!
Fifteen of the hideous monsters surrounded them. She stood alone against the tide.
A rose fell, separating them.
To be together once more this weekend
God, please grant me a happy end
In the present, past, and future,
I'll be completely devoted to you
"I missed!" she heard Umino say. Oh, but of course it was Umino. Sailor Moon honestly didn't know whether to feel relieved or disappointed. A shotgun blast stirred her, and she ducked down.
"I think I missed, too. Heeeeey, Tsukino!" Sailor Moon was nearly bowled over as she saw Hayate, Naru, Umino, the Ayakashi sisters, and many more people she knew and loved, racing to her rescue. Officer Hayashida was uncontrollably giddy with excitement.
"Hayate?"
"No, it's...Magical Woman Hai-chan, and her indomitable partners, Naru and Tuxedo Umino!" Hayate poised dramatically, lifting her finger in the air, almost as if she expected a flourishing theme song and fireworks. Naru and Umino were somewhat more restrained.
"We're late because she wanted to change into costume."
"And I just threw my last rose."
"Use your shrimp!" Hayate exclaimed, thrusting her finger in Umino's direction. "Use anything you can! You're a hero, aren't you?!"
"I..."
"Of course he is!" Naru chirped, kissing his cheek. Umino's face turned red, and he lit up with a smile so bright, it almost broke through the sky.
"WOW! Yah...ya...y-you bet I am! Okay, bad guys, prepare to face my wrath!" He laughed as he thrust out an ink pen, brandishing it like a rapier. The Ayakashi sisters had slightly more grace, choosing instead to give their friends safe passage.
"I guess you heard the kids," Petz said. "We'll take over here."
"Yeah," Calaveras added, "you two get to the top and give that Nergal creep what for!"
"IF my Ryo doesn't beat you to it!" Bertier gushed. Koan rolled her eyes.
"Oh, brother." Sailor Moon smiled, and helped carry Saturn the rest of the way. While Umino kept a few monsters at bay with his, ahem, lethal weapon, Hayate leaped into the fray, firing her sidearm and ranting nonsensically.
"Evil shall never prosper so long as Magical Woman Hai-chan is around! Take that, villains! And some of this!" She was clocked smartly on the jaw, forcing her to stumble backwards. Scowling, she rubbed her face and tucked her gun away. "Okay, that tears it!" With a mighty roar, she dug her fingers into her uniform and ripped it open, revealing a Superman shirt underneath (only with a large red letter "H" sewn in).
"WHO WANTS SOME?!" she bellowed. The demons wisely backed away.
I can't forget that dear look in your eyes when we first met
Out of tens of thousands of stars, I can find you
Turning even chance into an opportunity,
I love that way of life!
Sailors Moon and Saturn finally put enough distance between them and their enemies to pause and rest. Saturn was sweating and gasping heavily; her arms and legs trembled, and she coughed unevenly. Sailor Moon gently caressed her back, offering whatever strength and comfort she could. Slowly, Saturn raised her face, and smiled at the older woman.
"Thank you, Usagi. I'm...sorry I'm such a burden to you. I wish I could..."
"Don't," she said, embracing her close. She didn't need to do or say anything else: everything was expressed in the warmth of her arms. The sincerity of her love was enough to make Saturn revive a little.
"Usagi? I want your blessings."
"For what?" She blushed and looked away, somewhat embarrassed to be dropping this news now, of all times.
"Just before he was captured...Shingo asked me to marry him. I said 'yes'."
"Oh, Hotaru...!" Sailor Moon was stricken, but in a good way. She squeezed Saturn harder, weeping for joy, whispering that of course, of course she had her blessings—of course she did!
"Thank you," she sighed. "Um, I mean...not that I had any reason to doubt you..."
"Oh, Hotaru," she said again, pressing their foreheads together. "I would be honored to have you as part of my family! Have you planned on a date?" She nodded warmly.
"Sometime in autumn, when the trees are their most colorful."
"That soon, huh? Oh, Hotaru, it'll be wonderful..." The two women sat there holding each other for a moment longer, but soon, Saturn stood tall, her body aflame with desire.
"Usagi—go. Now. Quickly." She noticed several hundred creatures climbing up to meet them. Whether all her friends had failed to stop them, or had simply neglected them, the point was that there was still a battle to be fought, and a destination to reach. They couldn't do both, unless...
"Hotaru..."
"Don't worry, Usagi," she said, her voice strong again as she twirled her glaive. "I'll be all right. I won't let a single one get through. It's the least I can do...sister."
Sailor Moon hesitated, before finally accepting her fate.
"Thanks, Hotaru. Sister." She smiled and was off, leaving the goddess of death with her prey. The glaive jutted out against the crowd, her eyes glinting with righteous indignation.
"So: who wants to die first?"
A wondrous miracle growing closer,
We meet each other again and again
By counting the constellations' blinking
We forecast the outcome of this love
Born on the same earth
I believe in it
MIRACLE ROMANCE
Sailor Moon sprinted up the last few meters of the hill's ascent, hoping against all hope that her friends would survive, furious beyond all reason for the disasters that had fallen, completely out of breath, her muscles giving out, her gait unsteady, her hair loosening. Only her spirit remained strong, only her faith, which her enemy had mocked so severely. The hill seemed to go on forever, unnaturally climbing past mountains and clouds and the border that separated Earth from the vast emptiness. She finally stumbled, her face colliding with the hard earth, her hands clawing at the grass and dirt. She barely had any strength to stand, let alone climb those last few impossible steps.
A demon finally caught up, cackling at the prize it had found. Sailor Moon winced as she looked up at it. No one was around, no one could see her or hear her or help her. She fought to stand, but could barely even move; she was all tapped out. The monster raised a serrated spear, gathering strength for a single, piercing blow. Sailor Moon could do nothing but grit her teeth and close her eyes, wondering if this truly was the end.
It was not. She heard the creature gurgle, struggling against an unseen foe. Cautiously, she raised her face, straining to see what had delivered her this time.
His cape billowed in the breeze. His top hat eclipsed the stars. He crushed the demon against his tuxedo, spotless white gloves holding back malevolent arms. And his eyes...
They were looking directly at her.
"Hey there, dumpling-head," he winked. A thrust of his fist, and the monster was down for the count, freeing them both. He smiled at her as their eyes met again. "Whoa, did you get a haircut? I like it."
Overflowing with emotions, Sailor Moon defied her body's weariness and stood, trembling with an energy beyond any weariness. Her fists balled as she clenched her teeth.
And then...
"You..."
She punched him.
"ASSHOLE!"
Hard.
But rage gave in to sorrowful joy, and she fell onto his shoulder, weeping uncontrollably. Tuxedo Kamen bore his bruise silently as he held her, and continued to hold her, for untold hours it seemed. All of the tears she had wanted to shed for him, and had meant to shed for him, were now coming out in full force, and he didn't want to move or speak until they had all been spent.
Finally, she could cry no more. "Where were you?"
"Someplace I didn't want to be," he answered softly. She gently beat her hand on his chest.
"That's not good enough, Mamoru. You owe me so much..."
"I know," he said, caressing her hair. He glanced up, noticing that more demons had caught up to them, and were closing in. Gently, he separated himself from her. "Let me start making it up to you. I don't know what's going on, but it looks like you're going somewhere in a hurry. I'm guessing you'd rather not be disturbed."
"Huh? Oh." She sniffled, wiping her eyes, before finally adopting her airs. "Yes, well...don't think I'll forgive you so easily! You'll have to do a lot more than that if you wanna get back on my good side, mister!"
"I wouldn't have it any other way," he laughed. He turned round to face the onslaught, but Sailor Moon didn't want to just end it there. Noticing that his hat had fallen off when she hit him, she picked it up and cleared her throat, getting his attention.
"Um, aren't you forgetting something?"
"Oh," he smiled humbly, "um, yes, I suppose. Thank you."
"Not that," she giggled as she handed it to him, "this." A quick kiss was exchanged, giving them both more strength and hope than they had ever known. She then winked, "Knock em' dead, tiger!", and was off.
Tuxedo Kamen chuckled softly to himself, then turned round to appraise his situation.
"Okay, fellas: let's rock!"
…...
Sailor Moon ascended over the final slope, and stood breathlessly upon flat earth, not far from Amaterasu's sacred shrine. Before her was Nergal, his back turned, his hands hovering over empty space, glowing with otherworldly light. Slowly, he lowered them, and turned around, a bitterly warm smile on his face.
"Welcome, moon-sailor," he bowed. "I have been expecting you."
To be concluded!
Author's notes:
Yep. At long last.
Did you really think I'd make an epic Sailor Moon story and omit the theme song? Of course not. I was simply waiting for the right moment! While those may not be the most accurately-translated lyrics, it's basically the same thing (the title is "Moonlight Legend", which is why I named the chapter that). Isn't it a whole lot better than that other song (Fighting evil by moonlight, winning love by daylight)?
I took heavy liberties with the land formation of the area around Amaterasu's shrine; for all I know, it's totally flat in every direction (and is, despite its critical importance, the only part I really have not researched). Even so, I had my heart set on having the Senshi climb a hill, and the meaning behind Nergal's choice of headquarters was too significant for me to choose anywhere else. For the sake of my art, I can weather criticism in this regard.
In case you're wondering, there are only two chapters left.