Chapter Five: the Last Battle
The Moon Palace: past
The Water Courtyard
Soft music filtered through the entire palace from the
Crystal Ballroom. Prince Darien Endymion of Earth entered
the Water Courtyard hesitantly.
"Your Highness?" Prince Darien ran nimbly on the low
wall that - if seen from above - formed the picture of a
swan, the Royal Family of Planet Mercury's emblem. Princess
Serena was standing on a small round, open room in the
center of the Courtyard - what was the Swan's eye from the
air. She was leaning against the low balustrade and staring
up at the full Earth. Darien held his breath slightly, she
was so beautiful...
"Darien!" Serena held out her hands to him, "I didn't
think you'd come."
Darien smiled, "I'd go anywhere for you, your Highness." He
said as he bowed quickly than hugged her, "I've missed you
so much your Highness." He murmured into her golden hair.
"Why do you insist on calling me 'your highness', when I
call you Darien?" Serena whined.
"Because you're the daughter of the ruler of the Moon
Kingdom, and I'm only a prince from a small Planet in that
Kingdom." Darien replied as she leaned her face against his
chest, "I'm lower than you in the court hierarchy." He
said, smiling fondly down at his princess, he still couldn't
believe that she loved *him* - *I must have done something
good in the past, for me to deserve this angel.* he
thought, "And anyway, you are my princess." his tone
softened.
"Well, as your Princess, I *command* you to call me
Serena then." Serena said, pleased.
Darien laughed, "I love you so much - Serena." He said.
"But I love you more." Serena replied lifting her face.
He lowered his face to kiss her, and their lips touched.
Out of nowhere the entire palace shook, and they clutched to
each other, trying to balance themselves.
"What was that?" Serena gasped, her blue eyes scared as
she looked around.
"Serena!" Princess Ami, the youngest daughter of Queen
Mercury ran towards the little room, "Thank all that you're
still alive Serena." She gasped out.
"What's the matter, Ami?" Serena asked.
Ami's eyes were red, like she'd been crying, "Serena, the
Negaverse is attacking the Moon. Reports came in just
minutes ago, they've attacked simultaneously on every planet
in the galaxy. The outer planets are holding them back, but
they can't come to our help..." she trailed off, a tear
sliding down her face - this was the first time Darien had
ever seen smart, calm Ami so distressed, and he felt the
tinkling of danger.
"What of the inner planets?" Serena asked urgently.
"Mars, Mercury, Jupiter and Venus have been taken - and
destroyed." Ami whispered tearfully, "Earth is holding back
the forces, but if the Moon falls, then it will too."
"I'm so sorry, Ami." Serena said, hugging her friend,
"Your family?" the Mercury Royal Family was supposed to be
at court, but news had it that they'd been delayed.
Ami shook her head, "My father and my sisters and brothers
are dead." She swallowed, trembling slightly, but a new air
was surrounding her, "Mother transformed into Sailor Mercury
and fought through the ranks of Negaverse scum, but she
died..."
"But that means you're-" Serena gasped.
"Sailor Mercury." Ami nodded, "Rei, Mina and Lita have
taken up the scout sticks as well, Serena." She added
seriously.
Serena pulled herself from Darien's hold, "Darien - I, we -"
she broke off.
Darien nodded, "I know your duty, Serena." He said, "You
are Sailor Moon, leader of the inner planet guardians - the
Sailor Scouts - as your aunt, Princess Astevia was when she
was younger." He said, "Let me fight with you against the
Negascum, my princess. I love you." he said, kissing her
on the crescent moon on her forehead.
Serena nodded, "I love you, Darien." She whispered to him,
her blue eyes were scared but brave at the same time, for a
second, the two stood there, their love shinning for all to
see, then the moment was broken as another shudder vibrated
through the Palace. Serena whispered the words, and turned
into Sailor Moon.
Ami was already Sailor Mercury, and the sound of fighting
could be heard where once the music had been.
"Lets go." Sailor Moon said, she turned to Darien,
putting one hand on the black body armor, "Darien, if - this
is the last battle." She said, "Please remember I love
you." Darien nodded, and pulled a rose from the air, "Our
love is forever lasting, my princess. Tonight, the
Negaverse scum shall fall with my roses in their hearts,
they shall learn to fear me, for I will *never* let them
harm you." he said fervently, "My love for you will lasts
forever." He promised her, kissing her softly on the lips.
There was another quake and they took off running for the
battlefield...
***
The Negaforce's army withdrew for several hours, and
the losses on both sides were devastating. Serena stared at
the silent battlefield from the Palace parapets. There were
no bodies, the weapons that had been used destroyed
everything. A wind blew some dust into the air, and she
cringed away from it. How many dead bodies had just been
flung into her face? How many had she killed? She stared
down at her hands - the hands that had *killed* so many that
night - and shuddered. Two arms surrounded her and she
leaned against that strong chest, crying helplessly, "It's
so needless!" she murmured over and over again, "Why must
they control two universes?" she sobbed, "I killed so many...
so many..."
"Shh, it's alright, Serena." Darien whispered to her as
he held her tightly. He wished with everything within him
that he could take the pain he saw in her eyes. *I'd give
all my power, all my life, everything if I could hold that
pain for her so she wouldn't need to feel it.* he thought.
"Princess Serena, Prince Darien?" one of the few pages
that had survived the carnage appeared.
Serena pulled away from Darien's protective embrace and
swallowed, dredging up a name for the familiar face, "Yes,
Michael?" she asked.
"There is a Council which you must attend, your
highness." The page said.
Serena nodded, "Maybe Mother has found a way of stopping all
this." Darien followed after her, watching her pale face.
There was a strength beneath her exterior, like iron that
refused to be destroyed.
The meeting was held in the Compass Center. A small
room in the very center of the Moon Palace, the magical
center of the Moon Kingdom if truth be told. Queen Serenity
was standing in a circle of light, her wise eyes saddened
and weary - for the first time that Darien had seen her, she
looked all her years. Princess Verena, Serena's older
sister stood next to her. Darien stared at Serena's twin.
When they'd first met, Verena had been as carefree as her
younger sister, though maybe slightly more serious because
she was the heir. Verena had fallen in love with Jadeite,
Darien's boyhood companion as deeply as Darien had fallen in
love with Jadeite. As Darien stood there for a second, he
noticed how old Verena looked now, so serious. Jadeite's
betrayal to the Negaforce had hit her as hard as it had
Darien. *I still can't believe that JADEITE would do
something like that.* Darien thought, it'd been two months,
but it still hurt to think of the betrayal of Malachite,
Jadeite, Nephrite and Zoisite. *The Star Guardians.
Earth's Guardians. What made you go to the Negaforce? What
made you change your mind about everything you were taught?*
he asked for the millionth time, and couldn't find the
answer.
The four other Sailor Scouts were there. Darien knew
them all: Lita, Princess of Jupiter, warrior and fighter.
Princess Rei of Mars, she'd looked like a court butterfly
when he first met her - *Was I ever wrong.*, now she was the
champion of Mars. Princess Ami of Mercury, Sailor Mercury,
the smartest; the bravest in her own way. Mina - Sailor
Venus - Princess of Venus, she looked shattered, but the
Queen's advisor cat: Artemis was by her side, talking softly
with her. The outer scouts weren't here, they might not
even be alive yet. Darien clenched his fist, he felt so
helpless!
"You are all here." Queen Serenity said in her musical
voice. The Queen walked out from the glowing circle of
light - the Compass Center it was called, the Concentration
Circle, from there, the Queen could see all her kingdom.
"The news I have is bad, I'm afraid." She said, her voice
steady but her eyes were old, very old and very tired, "The
Moon alone holds against the Negaverse Army. Prince Darien,
your Father has turned to the darkness." She turned to
Darien, "Your brother and his fiancée are dead, killed by
your mother as they tried to turn to the Negaforce. Your
sister and mother are captured."
Darien stood stone faced, not believing it, and yet -
believing it at the same time. A small hand slid into his
hand, and Serena gave him comfort like he had only minutes
ago.
"I cannot see to the outer planets." Queen Serenity
said, "I believe that Sailor Pluto, Uranus, Saturn and
Neptune have called down a blocking field to stop new
reinforcements from the Negaverse to enter their
battlefield. But I do not know for sure." Faces grew
strained as they realized how bad it had become, "The
Negaforce has only to destroy the Moon, and they will win.
We cannot allow them to do that, else all is lost." Queen
Serenity walked back into the Compass Center, the two
crystals around her neck started glowing, "My children."
She murmured, her body seemed to be humming now, "I can only
ask that you fight on. Destroy the Negaforce's hold." They
all knew that her voice was reaching all still faithful to
the Moon Kingdom, "Fight, for we are the last defense of
Light against the Darkness." Queen Serenity slumped, and
turned to the gathered Scouts, Princess Verena and Darien,
"Destroy the Queen, and all can still be won." She
murmured, "She has called forth the Seven Shadows..." there
was a sudden shudder, and the roof of the room was ripped
away, in the darkening sky above, they saw the front of the
Negaverse army.
"JUPITER PLANET POWER!"
"MARS PLANET POWER!"
"VENUS PLANET POWER!"
"MERCURY PLANET POWER!"
"MOON POWER!"
The five Sailor Scouts appeared, ready to fight.
"I will come as well." Princess Verena said, holding her
Moon Necklace tightly in her hand.
They all turned to her, "You can't Princess Verena!" Sailor
Moon said, "We cannot protect you if you are in the middle
of the fighting."
Verena turned her old eyes to her younger sister, "Serena,
this is the Last Battle, and I know it as well as you. With
me, the chances of destroying the Negaforce Queen are
higher. Sailors, you know the truth in what I speak." With
that, the Princess mind could not be changed.
***
Verena was still dressed in the pale cream ballroom
dress she'd been wearing. The Moon Necklace was clasped
tightly in her hand as she concentrate for a second, then
her eyes cleared, tears standing starkly in the blue depths,
"Serena, Mother has found a way - she thinks - to save
something at least of the kingdom." Verena said, putting on
the Moon Necklace slowly, "There is a slim chance, so slim
that it's barely noticeable. But it is a chance at least.
Let me go forward. The Negaforce Queen will fall only from
a shot of one of the two stones. And even if she doesn't, I
would have gained mother the time she needs to destroy the
Shadow Warriors."
"But you're the heir!" Sailor Moon protested.
"An heir to nothing if I do not fight for it." Verena
smiled sadly at her younger sister, "I don't really want to
be heir anyway, Serena." She said, holding the crescent
pendant on the necklace. At her touch, it glowed with
energy, "Moon Crescent Pendant!" she mouthed, and a beam of
light destroyed a monster that had crept up on them
unawares.
"JUPITER THUNDERCLAP ZAP!" Sailor Jupiter shouted, and
the battle was taken up once more, the small time of peace
at end.
Serena's scream told him all he needed to know. Darien whirled
around, killing the monster he'd been attacking without a
thought as he ran towards his beloved. Sailor Moon's uniform
was torn and burnt, but she was still alive. Tears ran down
Serena's face as she held up the still form of Princess Verena's
body.
"Verena. Please, Verena!" she wept, and Darien saw the
green vine in Verena's chest, draining her body completely
of energy till she would turn into dust.
"Don't cry Serena." Verena whispered, touching her
sister's forehead, "You are the Moon Princess now." She
sighed, "I'm sorry Mother." She whispered, and her form
started to crumble, "Jadeite..." she murmured, and closed her
eyes.
"No!" Serena screamed, and she grasped the Moon
Necklace. It glowed in her hand, and Darien rushed forward
as he realized that she was pouring energy into her sister's
draining form, "I don't want to be heir, Verena! You've got
to come back! We'll bring Jadeite back for you!"
Darien touched her shoulder, and opened up his energy
reserves, pouring them into her - if she died, then he
wanted to die too, and if she lived and he died, then he
would have died for a good cause.
"No." the whispered words, no louder than a breeze, "You
are the Moon Princess Serena." Verena's blue eyes opened
slightly, she touched the pendant in one almost translucent
hand, "It is over for me."
Her form crumbled away, leaving the pendant in a pile of
dust. Serena was sobbing as she picked up the pendant,
"I'll always remember you, Verena." She cried, and Darien
held her. She looked up at him, "She's always been with me,
Darien." Serena whispered, "I've never been without her."
Serena closed her eyes then stood up, her uniform changing
into a gown very much like Verena's, "MOON PENDANT IGNITE
BLAST!" a pure beam of power shone out from the pendant,
destroying all monsters in its path as it sought out the
Negaforce Queen to destroy.
Darien clenched his jaw, pouring more and more of his energy
into his princess - he could feel her drifting away as
attacks around them grew fiercer... Drifting from him out of
his reach... He could feel her life force grow weaker.
"No! Serena!" he reached, trying to touch her, and he
felt her trying as well.
The beam of power reached the Queen Metallica and she
laughed, stopping the power with one hand, and then turning
it around, turning it to her power, and sending it to
destroy them!
"NO! STOP THIS!" Queen Serenity's voice shook the
battle field.
Pure energy - soul energy - poured from the Silver Imperium
Crystal. Stopping the Shadow Warriors, destroying all the
enemy. . .
But not in time.
Serenity stared around her. The bodies of her children
lay scattered around, the Queen of what had once been the
Moon Kingdom, collapsed, her body wracked with weakness as
the toll from using the Imperium Crystal took over.
"Your Majesty?" Luna was still alive, as was Artemis -
they'd been with her all this time.
"They're dead. All my children, all my people."
Serenity whispered, staring unseeing around, she pulled
herself till she was lying on a broken pillar, "They never
had a chance, Luna, Artemis." She held the Silver Imperium
Crystal in the Moon Wand against her chest, "I will give
them a chance." She murmured.
Luna and Artemis guessed immediately, "No! You might die."
Artemis protested.
"While millions have a second chance." Serenity
answered, and took a deep breath, concentrating - her kind
did not grow old, but the millennia rested heavily on her
shoulders now.
The bodies of the dead, the souls of the destroyed, rose,
encased in bubbles of power, "To the future of Earth. Last
of the Nine planets to hold life." Serenity murmured, "Let
the battle against good and bad be completed there." she
concentrated and Luna and Artemis were suddenly encased in
sleep capsules, "Protect my children, Luna, Artemis." She
whispered, weak now.
And now she was alone. Serenity gasped for breath. She
had had enough energy and will. Just... she closed her eyes,
one last use of the crystal. Her body rose and vanished to
a pocket of space, of dimension. To regain energy, to wait
the centuries out... She knew, as she knew so much, that she
would be needed again. So tired. Rest... To wait for a time
when everything was older. The strains of a song floated in
her mind... From the future centuries... a song from a group
called Eternal... Serenity smiled softly. It was slightly
ironic, eternal...
Someday,
When we are older
When we have learned
I pray
Someday we may yet live
To live and let live
Someday
Life will be fairer
Need will be rarer
Greed will not pay
God Speed
This bright millennium
On its way
let it come
Someday
Someday
Our fight will be won then
We'll stand in the sun then
That bright afternoon
Till then
On days when the sun is gone
We'll hang on
Wish upon the moon
there are some days dark and bitter
Seems we haven't got a prayer
But a prayer for someday better
is the one thing we all share
Someday
When we are wiser
When the world's older
When we have learned
I pray
Someday we may yet live
To live and let live
Someday
Life will be fairer
Need will be rarer
Greed will not pay
God speed
This bright millennium
Let it come
Wish upon the moon
One day
Someday
Soon.
***
Energy shone, holding, securing, freezing, making. It
paused as it searched for the heir to the Moon Kingdom. Two
princesses. . . One heir, yet to save the soul of both,
and both were heir as if one had given the right because she
lay dying, while the other had taken the heirship. Power
paused, uncertain. Power flashed, creating, reemerging.
Minds becoming one, confusion. Power holding, freezing,
sending. One person two souls, minds too alike. No
difference, not unless a trigger appeared. Power worried,
weakening. Dwindling. . . stopping. . .
