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Chapter 23 – Checkmate

Diamond stood waiting impatiently, knowing that Sapphire was off disposing of their sister's body. He had spent the first half of lunch upset over not getting to kill her. He didn't like the fact that his festering rage wasn't going to have an outlet. Halfway through lunch, he had a fabulous idea that would give him the perfect outlet for his anger and assuage his growing impatience.

It was time for him to enter the battle and kidnap Serenity. He would break her down and make her beg before the night was through. He grew excited thinking of her in tears, begging him to let her go and watching as the hope bled out of her when she realized that she belonged to him. Forever.

Sapphire entered the room bowing, and Diamond noticed he smelled of ash and smoke. Diamond smiled.

He then ordered, "Prepare some youma. It is time for me to go collect my future wife."

"Yes, Sire. I have four ready to go right now if that will be sufficient for you."

Diamond was pleased with Sapphire's ability to predict his every desire. He knew this was why he had no plan to kill him. Smiling, he compared him to a loyal dog who was pleased to serve his master.

Diamond indicated that number would be sufficient, and Sapphire smiled.

With the attack prepared, they collected the youma and stepped through a portal.

Four youma and Sapphire were already in the park by the time the whole team had arrived. Serena looked at Darien and smiled, she knew what this meant. He nodded, and they both turned to engage the enemy.

This time, before the generals could even protect Serena, Mina had ordered the scouts to surround her in a formation that kept her protected and did not interfere with her fighting. Mina then noticed that the generals went to work on weakening the youma.

Serena held her position, keeping an eye out for attacks from the youma and Diamond. She knew Sapphire was a feint and that she needn't be concerned about him. Mina yelled out, and Serena noticed Amy was analyzing a youma's weakness. Amy let them all know the weak spot was right in between the eyes.

Serena readied her tiara and shouted, "Okay, Goliath, let's get this party started." She then sent her tiara and dusted the youma.

She turned when she heard Sapphire yell and noticed his face pale. At that moment, she felt someone grab her arm from behind her. She barely registered the thought that Diamond had, in fact, gone rogue before she snapped into action.

Several things happened in quick succession. Fortunately, Jupiter had been paying close attention and launched a lightning attack that forced Diamond to drop Serena's arm. She didn't miss a beat and concentrated on his energy signature, mentally grabbing hold of it. Diamond then grabbed her arm again and tried to open a portal to pull her through. Serena managed to choke off the energy he attempted to force through her block.

Darien heard Diamond howl in frustration, and he launched a sharp tipped rose at the arm Diamond was using to hold on to Serena. She then jumped back maintaining her block on Diamond's energy. As soon as Darien noticed there was enough space to execute his next move safely, he launched five exploding roses. He figured if it was worth doing, it was worth overdoing.

Sapphire noticed Darien's attack on Diamond and quickly calculated the chance of success before the roses even reached Diamond. He smiled and destroyed the last three weakened youma in quick succession. He had made sure to rig a supply of youma with kill buttons days ago.

He smiled, realizing he was going to make it through this whole thing alive.

Diamond was not a pretty sight when the smoke cleared. Darien realized fully why the term overkill was such a descriptive expression.

Serena reached up, pulled a finger out of her hair, and looked over at Darien. "Yuck! I'm definitely going to need a shower, Tuxedo Mask. Ugh! Please tell me this isn't brains on my skirt."

He looked sheepish, "Sorry. He is dead though."

"That happens when your head is blown off," she replied to Darien.

Sapphire collected the mutilated parts blown off his brother and piled them on his corpse. "I'll be back in five minutes," he let them know before disappearing with Diamond's body. He had a body to cremate and a position to secure quickly.

Serena looked and asked, "Surely no one will mind if I shower quickly? I smell like death."

Mina shook her head and said, "Go for it. We'll wait here."

Serena was glad she could shower and then transform back into Sailor Moon. It would make everything go quickly. She then disappeared and reappeared in her bathroom.

Darien looked around at his generals and the scouts and smiled. "Well, we won."

Kunzite laughed and said, "You really hated Diamond, didn't you!"

Mina interjected, "With all of the suffering he has caused them, I found it satisfying."

Kunzite just smiled at her. There she was, there was the fiercely protective woman he had fallen in love with. He had been seeing her more and more, and Serena had been keeping him updated. "Go out with me Friday night."

She quipped, "Is that a question or an order?"

"It's whatever it needs to be to get you to say yes."

"It was a question then," she smiled at him. "What time?"

"How's six o'clock?"

Nephrite sighed, "Are you really planning a date on the battlefield?"

Mina shook her head and said, "Don't be ridiculous. We're planning a date on our field of victory." And then she held up her Sailor V sign and winked at him.

Kunzite just smiled even bigger.

Sapphire appeared. smiled at everyone, and then asked, "Where is Sailor Moon?"

Darien replied, "Apparently, she wanted to clean up, and she went to shower quickly."

Amy shook her head, "Actually, I think she was using that as an excuse. I don't think she wants to be in front of Sapphire like she was." She then turned and looked directly at Sapphire, "I don't care how much you agreed with the outcome, that had to have been disturbing."

"Fair enough," was his only reply to that statement. "Can someone go collect Emerald? She doesn't need to be in hiding anymore."

Jadeite disappeared, and one minutes later, he was back with Emerald.

Emerald spoke up, "Are you going to tell me what happened? Is it even safe for me to be with you all?"

Everyone let Sapphire speak and he said, "Diamond has been defeated. You're now safe. He's dead."

Right as he was telling her that Diamond was dead, Serena appeared again dressed as Sailor Moon.

Sapphire nodded at her and said, "Let's take this back to my place. If that's alright with you, Serenity."

Serena nodded and said, "Please call me Serena. I'll follow you."

That got everyone else to quickly reply they were coming along too. Sapphire opened a portal and ushered them all in.

"I told everyone to congregate outside. I hope you still have enough energy to rid us of the dark energy. Everyone is understandably impatient."

Serena could tell Darien was about to object, but she cut him off. "I'll be happy to heal you all of the dark energy now. I'm not too tired." She then looked at Darien, "You agreed I get to make decisions like this when it comes to what I'm willing to risk."

Darien was obviously struggling to remain quiet and nodded his head stiffly, stepping back. Kunzite whispered, "Well done." Darien didn't think he fully agreed with Kunzite.

Serena looked to Sapphire and said, "Lead the way. I will let you address everyone first and let them know that I will be healing all of you."

Sapphire said, "Thank you for letting me lead my people in this."

He led them all up a set of winding stairs to the top of a tower, and they all looked down on the people below. Serena didn't wait for him to speak as she began gathering her energy and calling on her Silver Crystal. She felt it hum inside of her and it came out to float in front of her just as Sapphire finished telling the crowd what would be happening.

She closed her eyes, made a wish on her Silver Crystal, and the energy flowed out over everyone affected by the dark energy. She felt them healing, and she felt the protection click in that would prevent them from ever being infected again. She wanted her friends and allies to stay her friends and allies in the future.

She opened her eyes, heard loud cheering and shouts of joy, and then everything went black as she collapsed.