Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or the image used. I do own my OC characters in this story.
Chapter Fifteen
They had all transformed, waiting at Juuban park near where the swings were, surrounded by apartment blocks. Marcasite had contacted Setsuna, telling her he would open a portal for them and then precisely ten minutes later, Prince Endymion with his Generals would come in. The two Queens were pushing their way in now, psychically and physically. Marcasite was struggling, Setsuna as Sailor Pluto could feel it. She had this urgent need to help him so the moment the portal, a big black tear drop hole appeared, Pluto led the way in. They all knew they may not come back from this battle, but the mission was simple, get Helios out.
At first, they could see nothing through the blackness. Mars reached out with her arm, swinging it about hoping to see something, anything. Suddenly, it got bright and they found themselves by a slightly ajar large white door with gold gilding on it.
"Damn it they're in!" Pluto screeched as she raced forward, the Senshi following closely behind her. Ahead of them, Marcasite brandished his rod and slammed it at his attackers. Shooting energy blast after energy blast, Marcasite finally noticed the Senshi, Helios was being cornered. Feeling incredible pity and sadness, Sailor Moon raced forward towards Helios. He was nothing more than a boy with his short white hair and clear blue eyes, dressed all in white. Sailor Moon could sense it, his soul. It was soft and gentle, not built for fighting.
Althea spotted Sailor Moon, Marcasite had noticed where her eyes were pinned on and he immediately sent an energy blast hitting her stomach and blasting her towards the Senshi.
"What the hell!" Venus spun around to see Tuxedo Mask looking incredulous at them.
"Not now cape boy, we have a mission" Uranus shouted "WORLD SHAKING!" Her attack was aimed at Arron, hitting him in the back. Generals from both sides were there and Pluto found herself wondering how Marcasite had handled them on his own like that.
"Twilight Flash!" Sailor Moon blinded Gwendolyn before kicking out at her and grabbing Helios by the arm. Helios looked at Sailor Moon, recognition flashing in his eyes, but he kept silent on the matter. Sailor Moon saw that look however and wondered whether she should question it. But now wasn't the time to do that, now was the time for action. Spinning on her heel, Sailor Moon just about blocked an attack from Ariana. Ariana was using a staff this time, slamming it on Sailor Moon's arm.
"Ow!" Sailor Moon yelled in pain before she had to use her damaged arm again to block another attack. Ariana lifted her staff again but cried out in pain when a flash of light hit her. As the light died down, squinting her eyes, she was angry when she no longer saw Sailor Moon or Helios.
Mercury felt her legs give way after a shock blast from Zirconia. Zirconia wasn't even concerned about the Senshi, her eyes were on Tuxedo Kamen.
"I knew it….the little Prince thinks no-one would recognise him, but I would always, he could never hide from me" Zirconia said darkly as she lept into the air, ignoring Nehellenia's mental prostrations. Nephrite stepped in front of his Prince and, lifting his arm forward, shot out an energy blast towards Zirconia. But she was quick. Laughing like a maniac, she pushed Nephrite out of the way and then released an intense shockwave, hitting all of Earth's Generals as well as Mars and Venus.
"Sailor Moon, come with me, now!" Pluto screamed out. Sailor Moon nodded and pushed Helios forward.
"I am going to teleport you to the Moon, stay there until we arrive, do you understand?" Pluto asked anxiously. Sailor Moon nodded, a determined look in her eyes. Raising her Garnet Rod upwards, she opened up a door just in front of them.
"Go through, don't look back, I will come and get you" Pluto ordered. Again, Sailor Moon nodded. Helios pushed open the door, ignoring the questioning look from Tuxedo Kamen who had successfully blasted Zirconia off of him.
Once they went through, the door disappeared. Pluto sighed in absolute relief, content for now that Sailor Moon and Helios was gone, Marcasite nodded in thanks as he shot out at Gwendolyn. Violet was engaged in battle with Mars, Venus and Mercury, kicking out at them and cursing when she noticed Sailor Moon was gone. Arron fought off the Generals whilst Althea focussed her attention on Marcasite, a crafty look in her eyes, she shot out a spear like blast that went through his shoulders. Pluto's eyes widened when Althea teleported to where Marcasite was and then she disappeared with him.
"Damn it" Ariana screeched, knowing exactly what happened. The battle continued as the doors to Elysian was beginning to shut.
"We must get out of here before we are left in eternal darkness" Kunzite shouted, grabbing Tuxedo Kamen by his shoulders and pushing him out. Pluto agreed and signaled for the Senshi to retreat. Arron wasn't having it and went to attack Sailor Jupiter. Jupiter felt a sharp object pierce her side. Screaming out in pain, she collapsed to one knee. Eyes furiously green, she was about to hurl a lightening bolt right through Arron but didn't need to, Nephrite had blasted Arron to pieces, anger and fury laced on his face. Jupiter and Nephrite locked eyes with each other. Silent promises passing between them, love, loss, shame, guilt and anger.
"Come now, we have to go" Jadeite whispered softly, giving Jupiter a sad look as they left. Jupiter felt herselfbeing hoisted up by Mars and soon, the Senshi also left before the door closed.
XXX
"Its…all ruins" Sailor Moon gently said as she finally understood, she was on the moon. All around her, from the blackest skies filled with millions of stars above, to the white sands, dusty roads and broken marbled and cobbled walkways beneath, she had no doubts she was in the middle of the Moon Kingdom. She could feel a slight jolt run through her, her blood pumping wildly through her veins. She felt wired, every hair on her body standing on edge. Helios looked more calm, serene even.
"I have always wanted to come here" he said, walking ahead of Sailor Moon, looking at the what was the shadow of a beautiful, great Kingdom that had ruled the entire Galaxy.
"Weren't you allowed?" Sailor Moon asked before inwardly groaning. Helios smiled understanding.
"No…relations between the Moon and Earth was forbidden, even though the rulers wished it weren't so" Helios voice echoed, as if the ruins of the palace agreed with him. Sailor Moon felt a shiver run down her back as she walked ahead of Helios, his clear blue eyes looking at her curiously.
Usagi sometimes wondered about fantasy books she had read, about characters feeling parts of the earth or buildings spoke to them. In her mind, although it was dreamy, it was also unrealistic, stones don't speak. But now, she could hear them so clearly. It was as if they were screaming at her, shouting accusations, calling for her to remember.
"Sailor Moon….are you alright?" Helios's question went unanswered as Sailor Moon's eyes misted over. Every fibre in her body was jolted, electrified. As she took tentative steps forward, her mind was elsewhere but at the sometime, right where it needed to be.
She was standing alone, on a curved white balcony, hands clasped, blue eyes glittering, looking up towards the earth. She could feel herself in a tight bodice dress, dressed all in white. Her hair was silver, trailing down to the ground and her skin was pale, in a pearlescent way. Sailor Moon knew this person was herself, she could feel it.
"I always looked towards the Earth too my daughter" Sailor Moon spun around to her right and there, standing tall, regal and magical, was a Queen, with a golden moon crescent on her forehead, dressed in a white tight fitted gown with a bow on the chest area. She held a small rod, pink in colour with a gold crescent at the top, it looked to have a special spot for something to sit in the middle. Sailor Moon fell to her knees, staring up at this woman, her warm silvery blue eyes watching Sailor Moon. There was such a calm, serene expression on her face.
"My daughter, Serenity….how I have longed to see you again" Queen Serenity helped Sailor Moon up. Helios stayed back, in awe and bowed.
"To think it took the Moon's demise to finally let you come up here" Queen Serenity giggled softly, Helios looked shocked and was about to say something when she held her hand up to him "I am joking". Queen Serenity then looked at Sailor Moon, appraising her. She knew her daughter still believed herself to be simply Sailor Moon.
"I never wanted this life for you my daughter, but it has made you stronger. A princess was never meant for a warrior's life, I had to leave it behind to become Queen…. but I digress, you have been through so much" Queen Serenity said.
"But…. who am I? I thought I was…." Sailor Moon's mind was all muddled but the more she tried to pick them apart, the more memories came back to her, reminding her who she really was.
"I think you know who you are deep down. You're are the reincarnation of my daughter, Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom" Queen Serenity declared.
"But….I am a Sailor Senshi" Sailor Moon dumbly said, blinking rapidly.
"You weren't supposed to be a Sailor Senshi but the seal I placed on you was meant to even fool Luna and Artemis. Only you could ever become Sailor Moon" Queen Serenity was patient, this was a lot to take in.
"I….Prince Endymion….." Sailor Moon felt her heart ache incredibly.
"I think I have some explaining to do your majesty" Sailor Pluto appeared, looking a little shy as she approached the woman she so greatly respected and admired.
"Pluto, I am so happy to see you again. Yes, there is much explaining to be done before my daughter goes back" Queen Serenity looked at her daughter sadly and then led the way to a bench that was still intact, near what used to be a fountain. Before they reached the bench, Sailor Moon passed out.
"Hime!" Pluto called out. Queen Serenity raised her hand to stop Pluto.
"Leave it be, there is so much she has to sort through with her memories…. we need to speak" Queen Serenity bent down and held her daughter in her arms, cradling her. Pluto nodded, also bending down.
"Prince Endymion believes that to protect earth, he has to forsake his love for my daughter. He will cause her more pain and I truly fear for her" Queen Serenity admitted "I was just so afraid of what could happen to her in the past. I knew she was in love, but with who? If I had just gotten over my fear then may, just maybe the disaster of the past wouldn't have happened" Queen Serenity's eyes were on her daughters' face.
"Its not your fault your majesty, even if they were allowed to marry, Meteria would still have risen and she would have used anyone with a dark heart" Pluto said.
"Nehellenia, her words…all those years ago. I just couldn't stop thinking about them. I questioned everyone in my mind thinking who could or would harm my daughter. I became distrustful and placed protective barriers, encouraging the Senshi to train harder…. I have so many regrets Pluto" Pluto knew there were unspoken things that ran through her Queen's mind.
"I did what I thought was right, there was evil on earth Pluto, they had evil creatures, a whole underworld of darkness that went uncontrolled and I couldn't do anything, earth is not within my jurisdiction and Aethlios would have taken insult to my meddling, so I kept away….I kept them away from the Silver Alliance to protect us all….You must see Pluto" Queen Serenity had an almost desperate tone to her voice. Pluto nodded.
"Any mother would have moved heaven and earth to protect their child. We didn't think much of Nehellenia's curse and maybe it wasn't her curse that caused their deaths, Chaos would always rise, seeking light…what matters is what we can do now" Pluto answered.
She was laying down on the freshly cut grass of the outstretched fields away from Earth's palace. The wind was calm today and warm. The skies hazy with the sun peeping out in between the haze every so often. Beautiful redwood trees and pine trees covered the stout mountains behind, with a few small trees closer to where she laid next to the one person she had grown to love. Shrubs filled with flowers around them had butterflies fluttering away whilst a patch filled with lavender giving off the smell only lavender could, filled with bees trying to pollinate. Surrounded by such beauty, Serenity felt at peace.
"We don't have this on the Moon" she said for what must have been the hundredth time in the past three months. Her silky white gown clung to her growing frame, a womanly body starting to blossom. Next to her was Prince Endymion, dressed in a loose shirt and pants today. Watching them was Sailor Venus and Kunzite, both in their own worlds discussing serious matters, matters that Serenity's mother had only recently start to talk to her about. Rolling onto her side, her blue eyes were filled with worry. Endymion has his eyes closed, laying on his back with his arms folded behind his head.
"Mother has been telling me about the war" her words, spoken in a quiet voice was loud in Endymion's ears. He sighed and then opened his own eyes, two blue oceans staring back at Serenity as he too rolled onto his side. He started to trace his fingers lightly on her bare arm, sending tingles all the way down to her stomach.
"Its not something you need to worry about" he said nonchalantly, but Serenity was no idiot, people may have thought she didn't notice anything, but she knew her role in things. The Silver Alliance wanted her to remain carefree, smiling and laughing whilst her Senshi trained and were informed of the seriousness of matters. Venus had come back the other day after a meeting with the Moon's council, all humour and joy gone from her face and instead, she looked pale and cold, almost lifeless. Serenity knew things were getting worse.
"I have to worry, the disquiet is aimed at my home, at my mother and myself" Serenity said a little firmer. Prince Endymion's eyes sharpened a fraction as he continued to trace his fingers on her arm.
"We will quell it my love, I don't want you to worry" Endymion was surprised when Serenity sighed heavily.
"You sound like all of the leaders of the Silver Alliance who seem to just brush it off with me, telling me to go out and have fun, to find my Senshi and laugh with them like nothing is happening" Serenity said. Endymion nodded, now making circles on her arms.
"Serenity, you may not notice it but I will tell you the honest truth. People are scared, we've not come across anything like it, even with the war that happened many years ago before I was born. With all the worry and stress, your smiles and laughter bring a warmth and makes people feel safe…I think that is the reason why people don't want to burden you with worries, its selfish in a way but you're like a balm at the moment" Serenity didn't know what to say to that.
"War is coming my love and it will be devastating, we all know it but for now, whilst there is some peace, let us not think too much on it. The day is beautiful, and I am at peace, I am with the woman I love and…." Serenity cut him off.
"That Beryl doesn't like me Endymion, and she is leading the army against not just your family but that of mine, Earth have made it clear they want nothing to do with us" Serenity stated.
"Not all of Earth's subjects, they're brainwashed, you haven't seen it like I have" Endymion snapped a little, rolling back onto his back.
"I have to know Endymion, I will do all I can to help my mother, the stress is starting to show" Serenity said.
"Even if it means going to war against earth, against me?" he asked, his voice a little cold.
"No….I couldn't fight you" Serenity said breathlessly.
"Serenity, what do you think will happen? People of earth are brainwashed, calling for war against the Moon, against your mother, where do you think it will lead to? I don't want war, I love you more than anything…please, lets drop the subject, I wanted to spend the day with you. I haven't seen you in a week" Serenity blushed when Endymion pulled her into a hug as he spoke. She would drop it but the fear rising in her chest was there, what would become of them?
"I think she is coming around" Sailor Moon heard Pluto's voice, albeit just about. She felt herself in someone's embrace…. Queen Serenity. Spluttering and blushing, Sailor Moon got up quickly and bowed. Queen Serenity giggled a little as she got up with Pluto.
"Memories have a way of taking you away from reality…. I see you are remembering" Queen Serenity said before Sailor Moon started to cry.
"Why is he doing this? He loved me and now he wants nothing to do with me" Sailor Moon almost yelled. Subconsciously, Princess Serenity had heard the words of Tuxedo Mask, knowing he was Prince Endymion.
"I am so sorry Princess, but his mind is set, I can feel it" Pluto admitted, cursing Endymion in her mind. Sailor Moon didn't know what to do, she felt restless, distracted and fearful.
"We need to focus Princess, we need to defeat Queen Beryl once and for all, if we don't all will be lost" Pluto said. Sailor Moon nodded, looking at her mother.
"What do I need to know?" Sailor Moon asked.
Hi Everyone,
Just managed to get this chapter up today, although it has nearly been a month since I last updated...
Hopefully now things are settling down I might be able to update more often, this story is becoming longer than I expected but hopefully in a good way.
Thank you guys so much for the support of this story, your reviews has kept me going! and thank you for the advice Jakeros :-)