The time had come. Kunzite was floating over the Tokyo Tower. He reached out his hands and called on the dark magics for the last time. He pulled the energy from the lights and into himself. He could have easily pulled the energy from the people, but his conscience refused to let him hurt that many.
"It's your turn, Nephrite." Kunzite declared. "Good luck, my friend."
*Sailor-Moon*
Nephrite smiled as the lights whizzed out, the signal that it was show time. Someone stumbled into him in the dark, and he was sure from the feminine form and the fragrance of roses it was Makoto.
"Kino-san, are you alright?" He asked her as he steadied her.
"Yes, thank you Nagai-san." She smiled as he helped her up. "What happened?"
"Looks like the power went out. Come on, let's get you outside…"
He was cut off as he sensed something flying towards him in the dark. He let go of his love and stepped backward as something passed harmlessly between them.
"No fair… you dodged!" Came a screeching voice.
"A Yoma?" Nephrite asked in confusion. "What is one of Jadeite's clay dolls doing here?"
"I was not created by Lord Jadeite." The female monster cackled. "Queen Beryl herself gave me life. Did you really think you and Lord Kunzite could fool her? She knows enough about your bonds to know you two are hanging by thin puppet strings. Time to die, Lord Nephrite."
There was a growl from his side and Nephrite felt someone fly through the air before he saw Makoto strike the Yoma into the ground with a punch.
"You talk too much, lady." The future Jupiter cracked her knuckles. "Maybe I don't understand what you want to Nagai-San here, but I won't allow you to hurt him right in front of me."
"You… struck me?" The Yoma wailed in confusion. "You knocked me down? Are you some kind of monster?"
Well, Nephrite winced on behalf of the poor naïve creature. He could tell from the flare of Jupiter's power around Makoto that she had just signed her death warrant.
*Sailor-Moon*
Kunzite floated above the tower but saw no signs of Nephrite putting his part of the plan into action. He started to float away when he felt killing intent to his right. He turned around to see a vision of heaven. There on the rooftops, looking at him with a mix of pain and longing, was his Venus, his Morning and Evening Star. She was dressed in her orange sailor fuuko again and not that fake moon outfit she had worn as Sailor V. Though he hated seeing the crescent moon on her forehead instead of the mark of Venus or her tiara. It meant that the Princess was in danger and she was fulfilling her role as body double. He hated even more that it was his fault the Princess was in danger.
"Kunzite…" Venus spoke. Her voice was mixed with determination and steel. "I won't let even you harm the people of this world. Not the world you shed your own blood to protect. I would rather die a hundred times than see you bloody your hands with the deaths of those who you should be protecting."
If his heart had not still been gripped by darkness, he would have broken at her words. He loved this young woman more than words could describe.
"Venus," He said. "I won't harm any of them. My senses have started to return to me. But darkness still has a hold of me. Nephrite and I came to have Sailor Moon save us as she did with Jadeite and Zoisite."
An evil cackle came from the air around them. "See sisters? Queen Beryl was right! Lord Kunzite is a traitor as well!"
Kunzite looked up as three Yoma, reeking with the darkness of Beryl and her evil mistress appeared around them.
"I see she has found new servants." He remarked dryly. "Only three of you?"
"The powers given to you by the darkness will not work on us, Kunzite. And until you are purified, you cannot use the powers of a knight. It will take far too long for Sailor Moon to save you."
A male voice, light and merry with glee came carrying on the breeze. "Oh, and what am I? Chopped liver?"
*Sailor-Moon*
Hiroshi, as Jadeite once more, went running with Sailor Mars towards the place he had sensed Nephrite. He looked down at the green transformation pen given to him by Luna.
"I sense a large spike in Jupiter's energy." Luna explained. "The guardian planet is trying to make a connection. Get this to the vessel of Jupiter's might and we might be able to turn things around."
He had taken the pen with a nod. He remembered just how fearsome Princess Jupiter had been in her prime.
"Are we going to make it in time?" Mars wondered as they felt signs of not one but two battles going on in the city.
"Yes, I think we will. Turn, just up here."
She gave him a smile. "Thanks, I can sense the energies but not well."
"Well, you are not the leader of your band. That was always the power of the leader of the Four Guardian Goddesses to sense when the others were in trouble."
Mars nodded. "Thanks for making me feel better."
They rounded the corner and saw a woman beating another woman into the ground. Jadeite wouldn't have known she was a younger girl if it had not been for the middle school uniform she was wearing. He and Mars slowed to a halt as the monster made from clay wailed helplessly on the onslaught from the Sailor Guardian.
Jadeite saw Nephrite standing there, lost in amazement as his still-human soulmate attacked his would-be killer without mercy.
"What happened?" Jadeite asked in exasperation.
"The Yoma made the mistake of calling Kino-san there a Monster." He said softly. "I haven't seen her this mad since the time Zoisite replaced her tiara with a kaiju mask."
"So, your memories have returned?"
"Mostly, there is still strings of darkness around me, but Sailor Moon won't have any fight from me when she cuts them. Is she with you?"
"No, she is looking for the Master. She felt it was important for him to be here for this battle."
"Probably a good idea. I doubt that is the only Yoma."
Jaditie acknowledged that Nephrite was probably correct. He handed the pen to Nephrite. "Here, you're the only one who can approach her when she is like this. You give it to her."
The red-haired knight took the pen and walked over to his former lover. "Here, Kino-san. Use this."
She looked over and took the pen. "Should I stab her with it?"
The Yoma made a little gurgling sound which caused Jaditie to laugh. "I wish I had a video camera right now."
Nepphrite shook his head. "No. Just focus on it and say… what does she say, Sailor Mars?"
Jadeite saw Mars blink. "You don't know?"
"Well, you had a bunch of power-ups in our timeline, so I don't know which one you girls are currently on."
"We have power-ups… never mind. It's Jupiter Power, Makeup!"
The brunette raised her hand with the pen. "Jupiter Power, Make Up!"
Lightning flashed down from the heavens and engulfed her before she stood before them, transformed into the mighty Jupiter.
"Protected by Jupiter, the planet of Lightning. Guardian of Protection. I am Sailor Jupiter!" She called out.
Then a small lightning rod rose from her tiara. "Jupiter my guardian planet. I beseech you. Bring forth a storm and bring down your thunder! Supreme Thunder!"
The Yoma screamed in pain before it was reduced to ashes.
"Well done, you defeated the first of us."
Six more Yoma appeared, surrounding the two Sailor Guardians and the two knights. Jadeite summoned a second sword and passed it off to Nephrite.
"Thank you, I can fight as well now. I bet you're glad I made all of us summon two blades now."
Jadeite rolled his eyes. "I still feel like it was a waste of time usually, but this is a very specific situation even you could not have foreseen."
"True, let us fight together!"
*Sailor-Moon*
Kunzite looked over at Zoisite, now returned to his Knightly form. He had his sword still sheathed to his side and his hair fluttered in the night breeze. Beside him was Sailor Mercury, looking so radiant and happy next to her partner. He could tell their bond as soulmates was already restored and they were empowering each other beyond the basic transformations both bore.
"You call that a knightly Henshin?" Kunzite gently scolded.
"Give me a break, Lord Kunzite. It's my first in this new body!"
Mercury gave him a look that told him she would not tolerate any bad-mouthing of her partner at that moment, leader of the Knights or not. Kunzite had to admit that was fair.
A moment later, Venus was by his side. "We need to fight, Kunzite."
"No, 'Princess' you need to stay back and let the three of us handle this," Kunzite said with a look of emphasis at Mercury.
"Princess? Sailor V, are you Princess Serenity?" Mercury asked in confusion.
"Aye, that's me." He could tell how much she hated lying to her own sister-at-arms. He would have hated to lie to Zoisite had it come to it.
"Hold still, Kunzite." Zoisite placed a hand on his forehead and channeled the power within him. "As the Knight of Purification, I restore you, Lord Kunzite of the North Wind. Knight of Purity and Affection, return from the Darkness and serve our Master once more."
The dark chains that bound him shattered, leaving Kunzite as he was before the darkness had claimed him. He summoned his Knightly transformation, a basic one like Zoisite and Jadeite's own. He then reached down to draw his sword, his true source of power.
The Yoma flinched back in fear as a wave of light swept from Kunzite and a chilly wind hit them all.
"What is this?" Mercury asked Zoisite.
"Kunzite, like your own leader, is special. He is as tightly bound to this world as the Master is. The earth is welcoming his return."
The wind gathered at Kunzite's sword as he aimed it at the Yoma. "Witness now, why we were named the Four Kings of Heaven! ARCTIC STRIKE!"
He slashed forward and the freezing wind stuck to the blade flashed out as a cutting breeze. The Yoma were struck, two of them being slashed in half. The third one simply froze solid before shattering to pieces.
"Wow, is this the power of a Knight?" Mercury asked.
"Yes," He heard Zoisite confirm. "Though my South Wind allows me to heal my allies rather than attack directly. Jadeite commands the East wind, and Nephrite the West. Some legends say we are the incarnations of the four winds themselves that give life to earth."
"Is it true?" Mercury asked.
Kunzite laughed. "We don't know, either. Does it matter if we were born of the will of the winds or if these were powers bestowed upon us by the Master?"
Venus shook her head. "It never mattered to you or my handmaidens who loved you all so."
Mercury blushed as Zoisite squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, Mercury. Your memories will be back soon."
"Come, I sense Jadeite and Nephrite are still fighting with their own Sailor Guardians. Let's see if we can help…"
Right as he said that there was an unholy scream in the distance. Kunzite knew that keen far too well. In his fear, he forgot himself.
"No! Princess!" He dashed off on the wind and rushed in the direction of the scream, Venus hurrying after him.
"Wait, was that Usagi?" Mercury asked and she and Zoisite followed suit. "Why did you call her Princess?"
"We can talk about it more after we find out what's wrong," Venus promised her. "For now, we must protect Usagi at all costs."
Zoisite stopped. "You three go ahead. I'll go back and help Nephrite and Jadeite. Nephrite will need his powers anyway."
"Be swift, Zoisite." Kunzite nodded his agreement before resuming his dash.
He just hoped they made it in time.
A/N: Another chapter now. I hope your enjoying the story! See you in March for the next chapter!