| Sorry took so long... here we go! Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon, (c) Naoko Takeuchi, Toei, etc. Silver Senshi are mine though. Email me if you have questions or comments. |
| Chapter 8 |
| ~* A Family Affair *~ |
| The floor rumbled and shook in violent protest, as hundreds of demons and aliens from all over fled the palace. Huge chunks of the palace fell into the lake and the bridge, creating large obstacles in Gabriella's way. A mournful scream erupted from the palace, knocking Galaxy backward. Galaxy grimaced in pain, and forced her bruised body to rise. Each step was painful, but she continued to move toward Betrix's crumbling empire. Waves of energy hummed off of the palace, thick and hot. Finally, Galaxy slid through to heavy doors and ran down through the coridors, her body screaming in pain the whole way. The great hall was empty, and just as Galaxy felt like yelling in frustration, she turned toward the strange feelings coming from a room not far from the great hall. She slowly approached, and peeked cautiously into the door. Her eyes widened in amazement and sadness. Beatrix kneeled before a lifesized statue of Lorelei Saskia, their mother, weeping loudly. "I have become what you have always warned I would become," Beatrix sobbed. "Why didn't you destroy me? Why would you let me live?" Beatrix rose and ripped a large cloth covering from it's hanging place on a wall far from their mother's statue. "He would have destroyed both of us if it had not been for Daniel Saskia." Gabriella/Galaxy stared at the large painting of Androse Darklier, her mother's first husband. He had been a very handsome man with blonde hair, sky blue eyes and rich clothing. But underneath it all, his eyes, his whole countance was the part of himself he coudn't hid forever. Evil. It was his thirst for power that had first concerned Neo-Queen Serenity, and impulsed the queen and the senshi to introduce Daniel Saskia to their family. Daniel had fallen in love with Lorelei, and after discovering Androse's plot to murder the royal family, and Androse's eventual death by the Senshi's hands, Gabriella's parents were married. After four years of fear and torment in her marriage to Androse, Lorelei was free. Gabriella was born less then a year after their marriage, and it had made Lorelei's life complete. So complete, that she forgot about the daughter she had bore Androse. Beatrix was placed in the back of everyone's mind, much to Beatrix's anger. Gabriella was the only one who tried to have a relationship with the abandoned little girl Beatrix had become (though Daniel did try), but it was Lorelei Beatrix had wanted to love her. When Beatrix had married a man from a shadowed past, Lorelei had felt she had pushed her first daughter into the life she had lived, and not long after became sick. The sickness continued even after Dora's birth, and Beatrix husband's death. Yet even in her deathbed, Lorelei had been unable to voice the love she had felt for her daughter. Unknown to Beatrix, Lorelei had left Beatrix an inheritance, one that Gabriella hoped would save Beatrix from her loathing. "I hate you," Beatrix screamed at her father's portrait. "Even in death you destroyed my life!" Gabriella pushed the door wider open, and entered. "How did he destroy your life Beatrix?" Gabriella's sister whirled around, tears streaming down her face. "You know how he destroyed my life Gaby," she replied quietly. "Our mother hated me-" "Our mother didn't hate you," Gabriella interuppted. "She never hated you Beatrix." "I reminded her of those four years, and him," Beatrix weeped. "That wasn't your fault, and mother was wrong to treat you the way she did. But the fact of the matter is, she did treat you badly most of your life for something that you never did," Gabriella told her, "and she apologizes for it here." Pulling a clear crystal from her scepter, Gabriella floats it in front of her, and in a flash of white light, Lorelei appeared, bathed in heavenly glory. "Mother," Beatrix breathed. "Yes Beatrix, it is me," Lorelei said softly in her melodic voice. "How is this possible?" Beatrix asked. "Daniel helped me make this before he died. He was a good man Beatrix, and he did feel for you. But I was stubborn," Lorelei declared, "and afraid. I don't blame you. I blame myself. I was so scared that if I loved you so much, you would hate me the way your father did." Lorelei laughed sadly. "I did something even worse. I pushed you away without giving us a chance to be a family. Gabriella tried to talk to me about you, but I wouldn't listen. I was being stubborn...but then again, so was she. She wouldn't let up," Lorelei smiled down at her two daughters lovingly, "You both get that stubborness from me. At least that is what Daniel used to say over and over again. I wish we could start over. I wish that I could have your forgiveness. I have done you terrible wrongs, that can never be corrected. But you can stop it from continuing. Love each other, and be the family we never were. I love you Beatrix. The daughter of Androse or not, you were my only salvation through those dark times. Now I want you and Gabriella to be each other's salvation. Love each other, and be loved. Tell my granddaughter, Dora, to never forget whose blood she belongs...to Lorelei Meiko, a guardian of the fires of earth...and Androse, a prince of a galaxy. We can not change who we are...just become wonderful with what life gives you." Slowly Lorelei's image began to fade. "Remember you will both be in my heart...forever." And she was gone. The palace gave a terrible lurch, as the crystal fell to the ground. Beatrix stared at her sister for several moments. "I can not go with you Gabriella." "What?" Gabriella demanded. "Sister, we must go. Please?" She reached out her hand. "No," Beatrix cried. "I can not go. I have destroyed to many people, to many lives. I deserve to die." "And what, Dora deserves to grow up without a mother, just as you did?" Gabriella demanded. Beatrix turned away from her sister and sat beside their mother's statue. "She will be better off without me. I am like my father...I destroy everything in my path. She must live without such things. Now leave." Beatrix summoned a wave of energy that pushed Gabriella toward the door. Gabriella resisted. "I will not leave without you." "The you will die with me," Beatrix said angrily. The walls of the room began to crumble, and huge blocks of stone began to fall. "Please, you must go," Beatrix cried, her eyes imploring Gaby to go. Gabriella ran to her sister's side, dodging falling debris left and right. "I will not leave you," she clasped her sister's hands in her own. "We will end this together, like we were meant to." "I love you sister," they told each other. A white light enveloped them and they hugged each other tightly as the palace imploded around them. |