Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the canon characters. Miyako, Cleo, Lia, Harper, and Owen, as well as a few others, are only figments that have escaped from my imagination.
Chapter Fifteen: The Coming of the Queen
"Foolish princelings!" The voice was higher pitched than Serene Star had been expecting. It was also almost, dare she say it, giddy.
"Wiseman!" Diamond let out a roar.
The chuckle sounded all around them, echoing throughout the palace.
"I get the feeling there's no diplomatic solution, here," muttered Sailor Element, remembering squabbles and riots during the Golden Kingdom that had been quickly resolved with a bit of diplomacy.
Knight Aethyr shook his head. "Not without Sailor Water. Though, I doubt even she could talk him down."
Knowing she'd need all the power she could get, Sailor Element reached for her Rainbow Rose Sword. The white metal gleamed with a pale violet light, coming from within it. For a moment, it looked like there was actually purple lightning flickered down it. She'd never seen it do that before. Not even when she first received the sword during the Golden Kingdom. She shook the thought away, sliding her left foot back to drop into a battle stance.
A crackle of black lightning preceded Knight Aethyr drawing his own sword, once again dancing with the black lightning along its blade. Moonlight Knight pulled his, as well. Serene Star spun her wand in her hand. Addy dropped back, digging through the overturned pedestals for something she could use as a weapon. Azurite flicked her wrist and materialized a staff of dark blue, the very gem from which she'd drawn her name.
"Star Shards!"
Sardonyx threw the energy darts at Wiseman, as hard as she could. This was the being who'd taken everything from her and from her planet. He'd brought down the true ruler of Nemesis and replaced him with a false king. He'd destroyed her father's rightful heir. She wasn't going to let him take anything else from her people.
Wiseman merely laughed as the small fragments hit him. While, admittedly, they weren't her strongest attack, she didn't think he would have been able to just shrug them off!
"Elemental Rose Tempest!"
The flurry of rainbow colored rose petals flew from Sailor Element's sword, attacking the cloaked figure.
"Serene Healing Radiance!"
Serene Star poured all she could into the attack, hoping to purge the darkness from Wiseman. Whether it healed him or destroyed him, she didn't really care, right at the moment. She just wanted to stop him before he attacked them.
"Midnight Tsunami!"
Azurite sent another blue-black wave of magical water flying.
He grunted as the blasts collided with him, but he floated away, out of range. He ran his hands over the sphere in his hands. A wave of dark energy surged at them.
"Sardonyx Shield!"
Sardonyx threw up her shield, but it wasn't wide enough to protect them all.
"Energy Elimination!"
Sailor Element lifted her right hand, open palm facing his attack. A swirl of purple energy focused around her hand, pulling in the dark energy. She struggled to hold her palm up, as she sent as much of the dark energy into the Void as she could.
"Aethyr Sanctuary!"
The cage of black lightning sparkled around her, blocking most of the dark energy that escaped her defensive magic.
The attack cut off as Moonlight Knight plunged his sword into Wiseman's arm. The cloaked figure swung the injured limb, sending the cream-colored warrior flying into a wall. Serene Star screamed and ran to his side. Holding the sphere with only his injured left arm, Wiseman pulled the blade out with his right hand, letting it clatter to the ground.
"You are all fools! Prepare to face your ultimate destruction!"
Wiseman lifted the sphere, letting the darkness roll out from it. One by one, the fighters began to drop to their knees.
But, within the dark energy, Sardonyx could hear a voice, small and quiet under the roar of the darkness. But she could still hear it.
"My precious princess." Sardonyx looked up into the warm grey eyes of her father as he spoke. "Welcome to the Chamber of the Black Crystal. This is the life force of all of Nemesis."
Sardonyx stepped forward. Her tiny hands reached for the Crystal in the center of the room. It warmed and welcomed her. "Mine?"
"Yes, my little Sardonyx. One day the Black Crystal will be yours to protect, as it has been mine. I know you will be a great queen, perhaps even the greatest queen Nemesis has ever known."
"Mommy says Jet is the next queen."
"Mommy is wrong. The Crystal has chosen you, not Jet." He dropped down to kneel beside her. Taking one of her tiny hands in his, he placed it on the smooth surface of the Black Crystal. "It will guide and protect you, as you must guide and protect it. It is as much a part of you as your heart, your brain, and your hands."
Sardonyx looked back towards the door. Uncle Carnelian stood there, a smile on his face as he nodded to her. There was a woman there, too, though Sardonyx couldn't remember seeing her before. Dark blue hair fell down to her chin, while tears glimmered in her eyes. Both of them bowed at the waist.
"I'm the next Queen?" Sardonyx couldn't believe it. Mommy was never wrong. But, neither was Papa.
"It's our little secret, my precious princess."
Sardonyx blinked. She couldn't possibly have remembered that! She'd been all of three. She couldn't remember anything of her life as a princess, except for that last day. And that was only because of the nightmares.
"You may not remember, but I do," came the voice, a little stronger now. "I remember everything that happens to my chosen ones."
The Black Crystal had remembered? It was calling out to her?
She felt her shield falter and fail. It wasn't strong enough to keep back Wiseman's darkness for long. In fact, it was astonishing it had lasted as long as it did. But, as her shield collapsed, another wave of dark energy headed straight for Sapphire and Diamond.
"No!" She threw herself between them. She hadn't found them only to lose them again! She would protect them! She would make her father proud! She would protect all her people. Her hair whipped around her. She shut her eyes, waiting for the blast that would possibly destroy her. But it never came.
It was as if an invisible shield had materialized between her and the attack. A familiar warmth surrounded her. The Crystal was refusing to attack her.
"Who are you?" Wiseman demanded, a hint of fear creeping into his voice. "What are you doing to the Black Crystal?"
Sardonyx drew herself up to her full height. "I am Sardonyx, daughter of Obsidian and Opal, sister to Jet, adopted daughter of Azurite and Tyrolite. I am the Princess of Nemesis!"
"The princess of Nemesis?" Wiseman let out another giddy laugh, all trace of fear fleeing. "A pathetic excuse for a princess. You'll never have the power your sister possessed."
"You're wrong! I'll possess even more power than Jet. The Crystal chose me, not her!" Sardonyx yelled.
The hair in front of her face slowly darkened to black. But the hair whipping out from behind her remained white. Just as it had in the old picture of the royal family, the only picture she'd ever had of her parents, her only clear image of the people she'd lost before she could really remember them.
She lifted her scale over her head.
"Sardonyx Scale Strike!"
All the energy she could muster was thrown into that attack. Every bit of energy that created Sailor Sardonyx, the power she'd hidden behind. Azurite and Tyrolite hadn't lied to her. She was meant to be Sailor Nemesis. She was meant to be Nemesis's queen. And it was time she proved it!
The ball of burnt orange light shot from the top of the scale, heading straight for Wiseman. She pushed with all her willpower, praying to destroy him. The attack rammed into him, and the cape shredded apart. The scale shattered in her hand. Drained, Sarah dropped to the ground, her hair still colored both black and white. The shard of sardonyx she'd so often used to transform clattered to the ground next to her, the power gone from it, as cracks ran through the stone.
"Chalcey!" Diamond and Sapphire dropped down next to her, followed closely by Addy. Azurite lifted her staff, standing protectively in front of her princess and niece.
Inside the Crystal Palace, Motoki pulled Rini, Aki, and Takara closer to him. They could feel the darkness growing from Nemesis. The fight against Wiseman had begun. Endymion's holograph hovered nearby, crouching beside them. Phantasm growled, hackles raised, standing guard. For now, they could only wait and hope for the best.
They both looked up as lights began to sparkle around the crystal coffins holding the queens. Were they going to join the fight, as well?
Wiseman's giddy cackle still sounded, as he grew larger, freed from his cloak. No longer even trying to appear human, his skin moved with a mottle of dark energy. Red slashes formed his eyes as he lifted the sphere, still held in his shadowy hands. All the power seemed concentrated into that round object.
"That sphere," whispered Sailor Element. "That must be the source of his power! If we destroy that, we destroy Wiseman!"
Serene Star nodded, lifting her wand once more. "Together!"
She rose, leaving Moonlight Knight on the ground, winded by alive.
"Serene Healing Radiance!"
"Elemental Rose Tempest!"
"Energy Meditation!"
Knight Aethyr focused his attack through the sword, knowing how much stronger it was, then. Sailor Element channeled all her energy into the sword. In the back of her mind, she could feel more power being sent to her, stronger than any elemental power she remembered. The future versions of her Elemental Warriors? Where they sending power to her? She didn't really care, as long as it helped her defeat Wiseman.
The wand pulsed in Serene Star's hands. But, there was also another pulsing energy, too. From its hiding place in her bracelet, the Silver Crystal tried to join the fight. She started to fight with it, pushing it back down. And then she remembered. She was in the future. Beryl couldn't sense it here. It would be fine to allow the Crystal to slip out and help. She channeled the silver energy out of the bracelet, sending it into the wand to help increase its strength. It took a while, for the two energies didn't want to seem to combine. But they were both her power. They were both part of her, and they would work together! For a moment, the wand seemed to flicker into a staff, but only for a moment, as the two powers finally merged into one.
All three attacks slammed into the sphere. Azurite threw her staff, as Addy lobbed a large stone from one of the pedestals. Sapphire reached into the pocket of his jacket and removed a small vial, the liquid bubbling and churning inside it. That, too, was launched at Wiseman's sphere. Even Diamond managed to summon up a bolt of white light from somewhere to send at Wiseman.
With all the energy pouring into the sphere, it shattered into pieces. Wiseman was gone. Within moments, not a trace of his darkness remained.
From the remains of the sphere grew a large black object. It took a moment to realize it was in the shape of an upside-down crescent moon. It towered, larger than any of them. Energy pulsed off of it, erratically. Was this Wiseman's final strike? If he was destroyed, then this would remain to ensure his victory?
Sailor Element stepped forward, lifting her sword. If she had to, she would send this object into the Void.
Sarah struggled to her feet. Diamond held out a hand to help her. She grabbed Sapphire's shoulder as she regained her balance. It took her a few steps, but she managed to stand on her own. She let go of both of her friends, her head held high. Despite her exhaustion, she moved with an innate grace.
"Kneel, my precious princess," her father's voice whispered in her ear.
She made her way forward, to drop to her knees before the black object. Her jeans and tank top wavered into a long orange dress. Translucent burnt orange sleeves fell from her shoulders, belling at her elbows. Underneath, snug black sleeves covered her arms. White wings formed the neckline, baring her shoulders, even as a black ribbon wrapped around to form an empire waist on her gown. A burnt orange ribbon suspended a small piece of the Black Crystal around her neck.
"Oh, Black Crystal, life force of Nemesis. I beg of you, do not harm your world. I know I may not be worthy of your power or your aide, but I ask it for the sake of the people. If you deem me unfit, please, seek out one who is worthy of seeing Nemesis into the future, a much brighter future than the one Wiseman wished. Please, Black Crystal," pleaded Sarah, her head bowed, but she kept her eyes on the Crystal the entire time.
Slowly, the pulsing stopped. The Crystal grew warm. Its power reached out, towards Sarah. Trembling, she stretched her hands forward, the way she had as a child. The Crystal drifted closer, until her hands touched its surface. She felt the power flow into her, accepting her, just as it had, so many years ago.
"You are worthy, my precious princess. You have always been the one who was my heir. You just had to realize it," came her father's voice, again. "I now crown you as the heir to Nemesis. I present Nemesis's new queen, Sardonyx, daughter of Obsidian."
She felt the crown press down on her head. The belled sleeves vanished. Her skirt tightened in front, a bustle growing in the back. The wing neckline vanished, as the tight sleeves shrunk up to form puffy cap sleeves resting just off her shoulders. Her bodice tightened, as if a corset was now pressing around her. But her hair didn't change. It still waved down her back and fell before her face, split white in back and black in front.
Slowly, she rose to her feet, turning to face the others.
Azurite dropped down to her knees, head bent. Addy joined her, in a fluid motion. Momentarily stunned, Diamond and Sapphire didn't move.
Knight Aethyr gave a deep bow, as Sailor Element and Serene Star both gave curtsies. Moonlight Knight struggled up to his feet, to bow as well. Serene Star flew to his side, as he straightened.
The crystals shattered around Neo-Queen Serenity and Queen Tranquility. Tranquility slid her sword back into subspace. Both shook their wings and slowly folded them away. Minoru ran out from behind his mother. He charged towards the ghostly image of his father, just before he vanished.
Footsteps sounded on the crystal floor. They all turned to see King Endymion come running into the room, mask and cane cast aside.
"Daddy!" He was instantly buried under three small bodies as they all wrapped their arms around him.
Takara stepped toward her mother, a hesitant smile on her face. But Tranquility was having none of it. She swept up her daughter, lifting her into the air. Arms wrapped around both of them as Motoki joined them. Smiling, Tranquility turned and kissed Motoki.
Serenity made her way over and tugged on Rini's pigtail. The pink-haired girl turned and threw herself at her mother. Aki wasn't far behind. Minoru grinned as Endymion made his way back to his feet. And, finally, their family was reunited once more.
"Diamond!" Emerald ran across the now grassy plain.
With Wiseman's defeat and Sarah's coronation, life had once more spread across all of Nemesis. Just as Earth was now recovering, so was the farthest planet in the Solar System.
Petz wasn't far behind. She ran to Sarah, first, hugging her dearest friend. Only when Sapphire cleared his throat did she turn to him. She blushed as he took her hand and pulled her towards him.
Sarah laughed and gave Petz a slight shove, so that she collided with Sapphire, her arms around his neck.
"Your majesty," stated Tyrolite, bowing as he approached.
Sylvanite, Alexandrite, and Calaveras bowed as well. Koan and Berthier ran forward to hug Sarah, just as their older sister had.
Azurite ran to Tyrolite, wrapping her arms around her husband.
"Alright, Pluto. We're ready to go," announced Usagi, stepping up to the doors in the Crystal Palace.
There were five of them returning to the past. Rini, Aki, and Takara had bid them farewell, a few hours ago. They'd also gotten a brief glimpse of Minoru, who had been too shy to approach the time travelers. Petz and her family were safely back on Nemesis, back in their home. Sapphire had gone with them, much to Petz's joy and anxiousness. Emerald and Diamond waited with them, with Phantasm having been their guide to the Time Doors.
"I'll be back soon. I promise," explained Sarah, embracing her two friends. "Until I get back, though, you're in charge, Diamond. I trust you was the steward of Nemesis."
"I just wish you weren't going back. You've only just claimed the throne," protested Emerald.
"There's something I have to finish, back in the 21st Century. When I'm done with that, I'll be back. No one should trust a queen who breaks her promises and can't finish what she started," explained the newly crowned queen.
Diamond nodded. "Just don't take too long. I've never wanted any of this, and you know it!"
"If it gets to be too much, ask Uncle and Auntie to give you a hand. And I'm sure Emerald and Sapphire will be able to help, too."
The three of them shared a laugh as Trista arrived, Garnet Rod held aloft. "Are we all ready, then?"
The five of them nodded and stepped through the doors.
Alright, so I cut off last chapter, expecting this part to be longer than what it ended up being. I had to come up with a new way to destroy Wiseman, since I wasn't brining Rini into the fight. And, while I love the battle in the manga, I didn't want to repeat it, here. Let me know what you think, please? Just one more chapter to go to wrap up this arc, and then onto the Heartsnatchers/Daimons! Will I bring in the Outers? Of course I will! You'll just have to stick around and see how it goes!
And ShotaroxPhillip, here are the answers to your questions. Yes, I am planning upgrades, though they won't be exactly the same as her other ones. Serene Star is sort-of my equivalent to her first upgrade. Royal Star, the first form, was close in power to Sailor Moon, so I wouldn't really call it an upgrade. Serene Star is more powerful than Royal Star and the first Sailor Moon form. Since she has this new power, from her bracelet, her future upgrades will reflect it, too. If you're interested, I do have a piece up on my DeviantArt account that has the current and past forms that Serena/Usagi's used, and there are slots for her future upgrades, though those aren't visible yet, but it'll give you an idea how many I have planned.
I haven't quite decided on her parents and brother. I might have them eventually remember her, but I'm not sure right now. If I do, it will probably be in a chapter sometime after she's defeated Beryl. Possibly even at the end of the whole series. She'll probably tell them about Sailor Moon/Sailor Serene(Royal) Star at the same time. It's something I've been toying with but I haven't made any real decisions.
Bookworm0913