Cords of Silver and Gold --- Written by Selena (s2jemeko@atlas.vcu.edu). ---The characters, name, and places in Sailor Moon, both the manga and the anime, belong to Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha Comics, DIC, and Mixx. Chapter 7 Selenity sits on her knees sobbing into her mother's lap. "Hush now. Everything is all right. The girls will bring him back. Shh...he's alright." Selenity soothes her in a soft, gently voice while stoking her hair. "No, no. You didn't see it - the faces of people, the death, the blood! And the pain - he's in so much pain. I don't know if I can help him. I can't even feel him anymore!" She wails as her back racks with sobs. Queen Selenity lifts her daughter's chin to look into her frightened, tear-filled eyes. 'She loves him so much. I was so wrong. The Earth and Moon were meant to be one. And I knew this, but did not listen.' "Oh Selena, I am so sorry." She whispers as tears threaten to fall from her eyes as well. "For what?" She asks, confused. "For everything. You deserve so much more than what I have given you." She hugs her tightly and then looks back into her eyes. "Will you trust me to know that everything is going to be alright? I will not let anything else happen. I will keep everyone safe." Selena smiles and dries her tears. "I will. Someday, I hope I can be like you. You're always so strong and brave. Does nothing scare you?" "A great many things frighten me, Selenity. Being alone scares me. When you're father died, I was so lost. But then, I had you. When I look at you, I see him all over again. Not so much in the way you look, but in the little things you do - like the way you eat and your love of music and flowers. You see, there is always something to counteract the bad. Many have died including my friends. So yes, I think my biggest fear is being alone. But as long as I have you, I won't be afraid. You are what keeps me strong." "I love you, Mother." "I love you too, my precious one and I will do everything in my power to see that you, Endymion, and the girls are safe." ************************** Jupiter and Mars stagger behind Venus and Mercury as they make their way toward the palace. "Hurry! We have to get inside before they get here!" Mars looks up and narrows her eyes. "You try carrying him. It's not like he's as light as a feather, you know!" Jupiter wipes the sweat off her face and says through gritted teeth, "It must be the armor. Otherwise, I want to know what, in the name of the Moon, this guy eats!" Mercury runs ahead and calls up her computer. A blue visor crosses her eyes. "Mercury, how can I be of assistance?" The computer asks. "Quickly, open the doors to the side audience chamber!" "Negative. All entranceways and exists have been sealed." "What?!" Mercury screams. She turns to Venus in a state of panic. "The doors are sealed! There's no way through other than the tower and we can't take him with us!" "Oh Gods!" Venus bits her bottom lip. Her eyes brighten and she turns to others. "Put him down quickly! Focus all your energy on Selena. Try and contact her. We need to tell her that we need help!" They kneel in a circle, each holding their pendants. They begin to glow subtly. 'Selena...' ***************************** Luna walks with Selena toward the throne room in compliance with the Queen's orders for all the kingdom's inhabitants. Just as they are about to enter the doors, she stops. "Mars...Venus...Mercury...Jupiter..." She closes her eyes for a moment. Luna looks on in concern and shakes her. "Selena?! What's wrong?!" She asks starting to get worried. Selena looks up, turns around and breaks out running down the hall. "Wait!" Luna calls. "You have to come back. It's not safe! Selena!!" She runs after her. She runs down the East wing through the deserted corridors and almost trips several times over the massive rugs. Finally she stops, panting, at what appears to be a solid wall. Pounding violently on the wall, she searches frantically for an opening. Finding none, she closes her eyes. 'Venus...' ***************************** "She's calling us!" Venus shouts above the howling winds that have begun to blow against the dome. "Selena! Please! We need your help!" 'You need to wake him up! He can come through the tower, but he has to do it on his own! Hurry!' Mercury runs over to him. He lies on his back just staring. She shakes and calls to him, but it is to no avail. "He won't respond! I don't know what to do!" She says frantically. "Can we heal him?!" Jupiter asks. Mars slowly approaches his limp form. She kneels next to him, places her hands on his temples and closes her eyes. A blazing red fire forms a circle around the five of them. "Mars?! What are you doing?!" Venus yells. The fire suddenly breaks and Mars collapses into the gray, dusty surface of the ground. "Are you all right?" Jupiter asks, helping her up. Mars looks at him sadly. "His pain is not physical. I don't know how to breech his mind. He's completely closed it off to everything! He's too strong!" "We need Selena." Venus says flatly. "She could do it." "I'm right here." She answers. The girls whirl around, in utter shock. "How did you..." "Never mind." She commands as she runs to his side and cradles his head in her lap lovingly. Tears flow down her cheeks when she sees him. The white part of his eyes is blood red and open scars and gashes mar his body. "Oh Gods..." Just then a roaring sound cracks through the atmosphere and the winds increase. Dark clouds press against the invisible barrier sealing off the kingdom from the endless reaches of space. Venus's eyes widen and she gets up pulling the others with her. "Hurry! We have to form a shield until we can all pass through the tower!" She turns to Selena. "Can you help him? We have to hurry." She nods. "I hope so." She whispers. Venus smiles. "Don't worry. We won't leave you." Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, and Venus each break their pendants from their chains. Softly the stones begin to glow. They cup them in their hands and say a quick prayer. Power shoots up into the sky from each one, throwing their heads back violently. Selena looks on in horror. She knows how much energy they're using. 'They won't last long at this magnitude!' She moves Endymion to lean him against the wall. She touches her hand to his cheek. "Endy?" She calls softly. "Please, answer me!" She shakes his shoulders urgently. "We don't have time, please! I love you! Come back to me! You said you'd return and you're here! I need you!" She buries her face in his chest, her voice growing hoarse from screaming and her cheeks burning from her salty tears. "Gone..." He says barely audible. She whips her head up in shock and her eyes brighten in hope. "Gone...gone...all gone..." He mumbles over and over, his black eyes not seeing anything. "Oh Endymion, I know how hard this must be for you. I can feel your pain. But you must let it go! We have to stop her before anything else happens!" He still stares beyond her in what seems to be an unbreakable stupor. "Endy!" She screams. "We're running out of time! Please!" "Gone...too late...I..." In his first movement he leans back against the wall and hangs his head. "I...killed them...I killed them all. I couldn't save them..." Crimson tears of blood seep in a steady stream down his scared cheeks. "I did it...I killed them...my people..." "No! You mustn't blame yourself! She did it - that witch! We can still save them!" Selena cries. He struggles desperately to focus on her figure and climbs to his knees. Groping for her hands he finds them and holds them tight. Dejected and hopeless, he shakes his head slowly from side to side. "Save them?" He asks as if a joke. "I can't save them. The power is gone. Earth is dead. Soon I will be too. There's nothing that can stop that now. I can't bring back the dead. They're gone forever...and it's all entirely *my* fault. I'm not afraid to die. I *deserve* to die." "Endymion! Look at me!" She urgently takes his face in her hands. Silver tears cascade down her cheeks to fall on his limp hands. "*You* had *nothing* to do with that, do you understand me?! What she said wasn't true! Yes, they died out of loyalty for you, but you are alive! You survived to save them. Your generals - you can still bring them back. I'll help you find them! We all will. But you have to fight!" "I wish I could, but it's too late." "It's never too late!" Venus cries out weakly from her kneeled position. "You have to believe - anything is possible. Never give up your hope! Their crystals..." She whispers, tears of pain and loss coming from her eyes. "Please save them!" Mercury begs. "You're the only one who can!" Jupiter adds. Selena continues. "You told me to be strong and fight the darkness. You must do it too! I love you and I'll always be here for you, but you must come back to me! You must come back now. Please Endymion! It will all happen again here if your don't fight! If we all work as one, we can destroy her! Please!" She begs, having collapsed into his shoulder, sobbing. He wraps his arms around her and holds her tight." "Oh my Selenity. I would give anything to protect you, but I don't know if I can. How can I fight? I can't see." Mars looks up, very tired and strained. "Sight is not important. Concentrate on your strengths when in battle and not your weaknesses. Look to your mind and it will see for you. You and Selena are bonded. Use her eyes. Let her guide you." She pauses to regain her breath and says sternly. "We need your help now! We must find a way to stop this thing from penetrating the dome. If you do not have the courage to face you fears, we will all die. The choice is yours. Who will be your master? You? Or your fear?" He closes his eyes and clears his mind. He reopens them to see Selena kneeling in front of him, desperation consuming her pale features. She can feel his awareness. "Don't let their suffering be in vain! We can restore them and together we will cleanse Earth of the Darkness!" He stares deep into her eyes, brimming with tears and overflowing with love and confidence in him. 'I will not fail you as I have my people. Please!' He begs in a silent prayer. 'Let me protect her.' Endymion rises to his feet and places his sword at his side and says with in a strong voice, "Come on. We have to get inside." Selena breaks a smile and hugs him as tears of joy fall freely. The others let go of their energy and collapse to the ground, breathing heavily and quickly scramble to their feet. Immediately the turbulent winds cease and all falls silent. Jupiter scans the surrounding area, looking for any signs of danger. "What the..." She starts. "Something's not right here." Venus says slowly as she stares up at the thick, mass hovering just outside the dome. What appears to be a yellowish - black fire spreads across the surface of the dome. Its reflection dances a song of death upon the palace walls. Endymion stands frozen. The woman and her newborn frozen in the snow...the crumbled palace walls...Kunzite's horrifying scream...a vision of Selenity lying dead at the feet of Beryl...yellowish-black flames that consume the souls of the innocent. 'No!' He clasps Selenity's hand tightly. She jumps at his roughness. "Endy..." "We have to get out of here now!" A loud cracking sound echoes in the distance. The ground begins to quake and rumble. In the distance a faint roaring noise sounds and keeps getting louder and louder. A noxious, sickening odor flows through. The torrential winds return with a vengeance seeking to claim blood. Using a small niche of the palace wall, they brace themselves against the mighty blows of choking, reeking air. The five of them cling to each other. Huddled within Endymion's protective embrace, she looks up at the edge of the roof. "Look out!" She screams. A large portion of solid crystal breaks from the colossal structure and barrels toward them. They all jump out into the open grounds barely escaping. Breathing harshly, Endymion looks up. He blinks his eyes and refocuses, thinking he must be dreaming. There before him stand his generals, alive and well! "Kunzite!" Venus yells. She struggles to stand. The winds slow down a bit and she quickly runs toward his open arms. "Venus, wait!" He shouts too late. "I...I thought you were dead!" She sobs. He smiles wickedly and his eyes flash a deadly red as he viciously clasps her arm and whispers in her ear, "Oh but I am, my sweet." 'Oh no...no, no, no! This can't be happening!' Venus freezes and suddenly struggles to break free of his hold. She only manages to incur his anger. "Stop struggling! Don't worry, it'll all be over soon. You'll not feel a thing." "Please, please don't do this! I love you!" She begs, tears falling in cascades to an already blood-soaked surface. "Let her go." A strong voice calls from behind them. Endymion stands powerfully, his sword drawn and ready. Kunzite smiles and turns to his brothers. "Well, well if it isn't the pathetic little prince. Come to join us?" When he sees Endy's eyes narrow and hatred seep into his features, he smiles. "I guess not. Pity. We'll just have to kill you then." Zoisite, Jadeite, and Nephrite emerge from the shadows of darkness. The others gasp when they see them. Like Kunzite, each wears a solid gray uniform with long capes flapping behind them. Charred human bones clasp the long capes to their uniforms. "Jadeite?" Mars whispers. "It can't be." Breathes Mercury. Jupiter can't help but stare. "But..." "It's not them!" Endymion screams. "Don't be fooled by their appearance." A tremendous explosion sends them all flying into the air. Regaining their bearings they look back to see what happened. Selena screams when she sees the palace. Most of it has been blown to bits. Parts of several walls burn in flames, fallen debris covers the ground, and shattered glass crunches beneath their feet. "No!" She shouts. "Mother!" She takes off running toward it. "Selenity!" Endy shouts, but she doesn't hear him. All she can think about is her mother. 'I have to get to her. She has to be all right! She has to be!' He starts to run after her, but Jadeite tackles him to the ground. "You'll not escape us this time!" He hisses. A ball of swirling blue energy collects between his outstretched hands. "I call on the dark forces! Give me power! Now, you'll die for what you've done, you traitor!" He closes his eyes and concentrates. The ball of energy grows and grows. Just as he is about to send it hurling towards Endymion, Mars screams, "Fire Ignite! Extinguish this evil!" Tears blind her eyes as she sinks to the ground, covering her ears from Jadeite's howling calls of a fiery death. "I love you." She whispers. The prince slowly walks toward the charred corpse. "No." He shakes his head in disbelief. "I can't lose you again!" A glittering green crystal appears, hovering over the rib cage. He reaches out to take it, but before he can, the body disappears along with the crystal. "No!!" "You see. You can't win. You should have become one with the darkness while you had the chance. But now, little prince, you will die just like all the rest." Kunzite sneers, as he keeps a firm grip around Venus. Endy narrows his eyes. "Let her go! She's done nothing to you other than to love you. You loved her once too. Can't you remember?! We were friends. Beryl is the enemy, not the moon and not I! I can help you if you'd only remember." Kunzite loosens his grip on Venus momentarily, his eyes reflecting confusion. She turns and digs her elbow into his stomach. He falters and almost lets her go, but quickly regains his firm hold and whips her around. Kunzite lowers his face to hers. Her eyes widen in terror. It is the same wild look he gave her at the castle. 'He's really going to kill me.' She thinks. 'This is not the man I fell in love with.' She trembles under his intense, hateful gaze and he whispers in a deadly tone, "You will pay for that, my sweet." A forceful blast of energy flies from his hand and into her stomach, sending her crashing to the ground, unconscious. Kunzite laughs wickedly. "Pathetic!" "Perhaps you won't find it so easy to conquer me." An icy voice calls from behind him. Kunzite smiles and slowly turns around to meet his opponent. Endymion's eyes rage with hatred and anger. He holds his sword firmly and aggressively lunges forward to attack. Kunzite matches his onslaught blow for blow. After a few tiresome minutes, which seem like hours, Endymion begins to grow tired. "You fool." Kunzite breathes. He swings his sword harder than ever, slicing through the upper part of Endy's arm, causing him to sink to his knees. "I'm not the fool, Kunzite!" He spits back. "You still have a chance to come back. Fight that witch and her thoughts! You're not evil. Fight with me as you swore to always do!" Black clouds swirl around him and red blood fills his eyes. "You're wrong." His voice echoes as if possessed by a demon. "I am evil. And now, little prince, I'm going to kill you." His sword glows with an eerie light and he raises it high above his head. "Venus Love Chain Sword! Attack!" A glowing, bright yellow sword sails from the hand of Venus and plants itself directly through Kunzite's heart. He looks down in shock, his eyes clear and wide. Then he turns around to face her, his eyes full of betrayal and confusion. "Venus?" He calls weakly. "Tears flow from her eyes and she struggles to maintain her resolve. "I'm so sorry." She whispers. "I'm sorry that I can't save you." She buries her head in the ground and lets out a cry of anguish. Slowly she looks up and stares into his eyes. "Rolling Heart Vibration!" In a bright flash of light all that remains is a pile of dust soon blown away by the stormy winds of evil. Endymion runs over to Venus and helps her up. A faint scream sounds in the distance. "Selenity!" He calls. "Go!" Venus cries. "Go save her. We'll be there in a minute. I have to help Mars and Mercury." He nods and runs toward the charred remains of the burning palace. ***************************** Selenity runs through the crumbled walls of the once grand palace filled with crystal halls, mass gothic arches supported by flying buttresses, and twirling staircases lined with plush, red carpets. The mind-shattering rumble and echoing crack of the dome above cause her to run faster and faster. Suddenly, a deathly silence once again fills the thick, corrosive air. She stops, eyes wide and limbs trembling. 'Oh Gods, no. Not again.' Slowly, she looks around. There is nothing - just the emptiness of a world overrun by destruction and on coming death. Her limbs begin to tremble and her knees buckle, causing her to sink to the ground. Tears cascade down her cheeks as she realizes that she is alone. "That's right." A sinister voice calls from behind her. She straightens and remains deathly still. 'I know that voice.' "You're all alone, little girl. No one is here to save you this time - not your mother, not your friends, and not your love." Selena narrows her eyes and courage floods her veins. "What have you done to them?!" The demoness smiles sideways and slowly circles her, her long purple gown flowing behind her. "Don't worry. You'll soon join them." She quickly climbs to her feet and defiantly glares at the detestable figure clad with the crown of darkness. "What have you done to them?!" She repeats, this time screaming wildly. "Poor little princess. Are you such a fool that you cannot see for yourself?" "No! I can't be the only one left! I can't!" She half- sobs, half-screams. "Do you see anyone left? No. They are gone. All are dead. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to die? No, I think you haven't. You think you're so grand, don't you?!" "No I..." "Silence!" Beryl slams her staff into the ground, causing the sound to echo off the walls of the dome. "Well, you're not so powerful now, are you? Without the Crystal you are nothing! Nothing! I don't know what he ever saw in you. I am ten times the woman you are. Why?! Why would he deny me?! If it's the last thing I do, I swear I'll kill you! Then, he'll be mine forever and you will never stand in my way again!" "Then he's alive!" Hope shines in her eyes. "Yes, but you'll never see him again. In fact, you won't see anything where I am going to send you!" A long sword, with a black hilt materializes in Beryl's left hand. Her eyes swell and begin to glow a bloody red color. Her long red hair turns the color of midnight and flies in wild disarray above her head. Her beauty melts away to reveal the pale, discolored figure of a demon crowned with evil. Stale, noxious fumes invade the area around her making it difficult for her to breathe. What appears to be a dense, black cloud of gas seeps up behind the demon and she pulls back. "Oh, the power!" She screams. "I can feel it running through me!" She slowly turns around, now cackling. "Finally! I have the power!" She raises the sword high above her head. "Say goodbye, princess." ************************** When he sees the scene lying before him, he stops. A rushing noise sounds through his ears and his limbs refuse to obey his brain. The sight of Beryl about to kill her sends shock waves convulsing through his body. Finally he is able to speak. "Selenity! No!" Then suddenly his. vision goes black, blindness once again setting in. "Oh Gods, no! Not now!" He tries desperately to clamber to his feet. True fear consumes his soul and threatens to haunt him forever if he cannot reach her in time. Then he can see again - or can he? In an instant he rises to his feet. But wait. Endymion sees Beryl lifting up the sword to strike him. "I'm seeing through her eyes!" He whispers. His breath quickens and he strains to find the path to stop her. Endy closes his eyes and blocks off all other thoughts but her. Time, destruction, hate, anger...none matter...only fear. 'She's here with me always. I can feel her.' He thinks, concentrating all his energy on her. Suddenly, his eyes still shut, he breaks out running as fast as his battered body can carry him. 'Run, run!' is the only thought he can entertain. ************************** Selenity remains completely unable to move. Her body stands frozen in a hypnotic trance as her mind screams desperately for her to awaken. Suddenly strong, warm hands roughly grip her arms and push her out of the way. Endymion feels relief soar through his body. But before he can do any thing else, he feels a searing, hot sensation course through his back. His sightless eyes fly open and he cries out in pain. His cry awakens Selena and she shakes out of her daze. Her eyes widen in shock. "Endymion!'' she screams, as he falls to the ground. She stands in shock as she stares at the blood spattered on her dress and face. In a blind panic, she dives beside him and turns him over. Tears blur her vision when she sees the blood pooling from his chest. The sword had gone straight through him. "Oh Gods!" "Selena..." He chokes through ragged breaths. "Shh...I...I'm here." She finally whispers. "I'm here." She repeats, stroking his hair and moving sweat soaked bangs from his forehead. He smiles weakly. "Then I made it. Are you...alright? Are you..." He asks in a raspy voice. "Yes, I'm fine." She sobs as she shakily rips the lower half of her skirt to absorb some of the blood. "Don't cry." Her whispers slowly. "You're safe...and...you're...alive. That...that's all that...matters...to me." A cracking bolt Lightning sizzles in a blue flame and thunder rumbles in the distance. 'Goodbye Nephrite. I'll soon be joining you.' He thinks silently. Ascertaining his thoughts, Selenity whips her head from side to side and violently yells at him, her eyes wild and full of passion. "No! You're not leaving me! You can't!" She screams. "You can't leave me alone." She cries into the sky. Endymion gathers the last of his strength and upon finding her hand, grips it tightly. She looks down into his hard, resolute, beautiful eyes- forever shining with love and a protective spirit. 'Can I ever live without seeing those eyes again?' "Listen...listen to me!" He says forcefully. "You will survive. Everyone...needs you...they ...need hope." She shakes her head in protest, tears gushing from her glassy indigo eyes. "No...I won't..." "Hush! Listen...I can't..." He struggles to regain his breath. "I can't protect you anymore. Find the girls...and...find your...mother. They love you...and will keep...you safe. Just...remember...remember...that I...will always...love you...and be with you forever." He weakly reaches up to touch her face. She closes her eyes at his touch. Endymion feels her hot tears seep onto his hand and he smiles. In a barely audible whisper he says weakly. "I would...have given my live...a thousand times over...to save you. I love you..." A rush of cold terrifying air sweeps against Selenity's cheek as his hand falls to his side and his body goes limp. Selena's eyes snap open wide and fearful. She peers down at his face. It is peaceful - his fathomless azure eyes shut in endless sleep and a faint smile crossing his face. "No!" She cries, shaking her head in denial. "You weren't supposed to be hurt! I was! Please no!" She screams. "I don't want you to die! I want you to be with me! I can't do it alone!" Her body begins to shake violently and she falls sobbing onto the dead prince's bloody chest. "No! No! No!" She repeats. The deep rumbling in the distance is blocked to her ears. Slowly she looks up, almost forgetting to breathe. The fallen, crumpled palace...nothing...only silence. 'I'm truly alone.' She thinks. She looks up into the black starless sky. "No!!" She lets out a terrifying, howling scream. ******************************** Queen Selenity slowly opens her eyes. Struggling to gain her bearings she tries to move. Every movement hurts. She pushes fallen debris off herself and stands. A savage, wild call fills her ears. She hunches over as she feels a tearing pain rip through her heart. Wiping tears from her eyes, she catches her breath. Suddenly, she looks up, eyes wide and fearful. "Selenity! No! Wait! I'm coming!" She cries into the thick air. ******************************** Beryl struggles to her feet. All she can remember is raising the sword to kill the princess. She looks at the long silver sword carved with auspicious carvings. Turning her head up the princess fills her vision. 'No! I couldn't have missed!' Then she sees the dead prince. Fear and disbelief runs through her veins as she realizes what she has done. Abruptly she drops the sword and loses herself in thought. 'What have I done?! What am I doing?! Did *I* really kill him?! But...I couldn't have?! I loved him. Love? Do I remember?' ******************************** Something clangs in the vicinity causing Selena to look up. The object at Beryl's feet catches her eye. "The Holy Blade..." She whispers. Selenity slowly rises to her feet and in a trance makes her way toward the sword. Beryl backs away from the approaching princess, confusion filling her demonic body. But Selenity doesn't see her. Only one thought fills her mind, only one object fills her vision. She picks up the sword and stares at the hilt, a wild insane gleam shines in her bloodshot eyes. Her hair is matted with wet fresh blood. She licks her lips and nods, knowing exactly what she must do. The pain...oh the pain is too much. She hears a buzzing in her head making her faint and dizzy. Princess Selenity turns back and looks at Endymion. Her legs wobbling beneath her, she stumbles toward him. She kneels before him and kisses his lips. She looks at the sword one last time and then with a smile whispers, "Goodnight sweet prince. And with you may angels fly. You shall never be alone - for I am with you always..." She looks up to the starry sky and closes her eyes. A panicked, horrified scream reaches her ears. She looks up seeing double. A hazy yellow blob seems to be getting closer. 'Mmm...it must be the sun...the sun - that's it. Yes, so warm...just like your hands...' Selenity falls onto Endymion, her face peaceful and serene. ******************************** Beryl hears Venus scream as she runs to the two dead figures and kneels in a dark pool of blood. "No!" She cries, her head whipping from side to side in denial. Then she looks up and sees her. Hatred fills her flaming yellow eyes and her blood demands vengeance - yes, payment for what she had done to her love, to her friends, to the prince and most importantly to the princess. She looks down at the sword lying next to the fallen lovers. With steady hands and a resolute heart she takes it and aims it at Beryl. "You!" She screams. "You did this! You will pay for what you have done! "I..." Still confused, Beryl tries to speak, but a dark voice enters her mind. "Oh no you don't. I'm not finished with you yet." Again her head flies back and her eyes glow red. On her forehead the symbol of darkness appears. "I am Venus, the Soldier of Love and Beauty! You have destroyed everything. You are a slave of evil and deserve to die! I will not let you get away with this!" A rumbling, deep cackle echoes throughout the dome. "You think you can defeat Metallia?! Ha Ha Ha! I will destroy you first, you petty insignificant fool and then I will take the Moon Queen. The Crystal will be mine!" "I don't think so!" Mars returns, Mercury and Jupiter close behind. Venus closes her eyes. "Holy Tower of the Moon, please, I have failed my princess. Let me, in this one act repay her. Let her murderer and that of many others die. I give my life in exchange for another as universal justice demands. Please. For peace, for love..." She opens her eyes and beings her hands together around the sword. The Amber Topaz diamond appears hovering in front of her, shining in yellow brilliance. To her amazement 3 other crystals appear next to hers - The Star Ruby, The Aquamarine Garnet, and The Sacred Emerald. Venus looks to her friends. Each one glows with the colors of their respective star. They smile and nod. She returns their smile. 'Goodbye, my friends. I shall miss you.' She turns back to Beryl. "Your petty power is no match for me!" "We'll see about that." With all her might, Venus charges towards Beryl. With a great explosion of light, the sword slices through her flesh and oozing blood sprays out." "Ahhh!" Beryl screams, her demonic face contorting in pain and her pupils disappearing to reveal only the red pockets of Metallia. As she falls to the ground a dark cloud rises from Beryl's body. ****************************** Queen Selenity feels her pulse stop and blood chill in her veins. She sinks to her knees at the sight before her disbelieving eyes. All of them lie cold and lifeless. Her head spins and she grows dizzy. She focuses on the blood - covered body of her daughter. Slowly she runs to her and cradles her in her arms. "No! My baby! My precious one! No!" She runs her fingers through Selena's matted, stained hair. "Gods no! This is my fault! My fault!" She holds her tightly screaming hysterically. Finally, after a short time, she buries her face in her hands and sobs. ****************************** The Queen sits before her daughter, numbly staring before her. She gazes at the fallen wreckage and death surrounding her. Slowly in a daze, she shakes her head. Then a noxious odor fills the air. Every muscle in her body tenses and grows strained as she feels the presence of evil creep up behind her. Slowly she stands and turns to face none other than Metallia herself. Tears refuse to fall from her China-blue eyes, glaring with an icy cold intensity. "You've finally come." Queen Selenity states flatly. "You are a coward for not coming to me first. I would have destroyed you in an instant!" "So confident are we?" The gaseous entity hisses. "I did not come to be destroyed. I came to conquer. And now I finally have you, Moon Queen. Give me the crystal. All is lost and you cannot win." "Never! I will die before I give it to you." Thunder rumbles and the surface of the Moon quakes. "Fool! Are you in such a hurry to meet your fate?! Know you nothing?! What is light without darkness? I am even a part of you - we are sisters. Cosmos, you know that you would destroy the balance along with me!" Selenity feels her blood pressure soar. She narrows her eyes and raises a long staff - the Mystical Silver Crystal hovering just above it. "If I cannot destroy you, then I will make sure you remain sealed away for all time! You do not frighten me. I have no more tears left to shed. You have taken everything that is life to me! If you were gone, another would only rise in your place. But light *shall* prevail! I will *not* fail in this! Cosmic Light Array..." She screams into the heavens. She gathers the remnants of her energy and focuses it all toward the crystal. 'Holy Tower of Light, please hear me!' She begs silently, beads of sweat pouring down her neck and back as exhaustion starts to set in. 'I pray for the preservation of life and for hope...please! Grant my request!' The crystal tower vibrates and shakes. Then in a brilliant burst color, it lights up the entire sky. Queen Selenity's eyes close and her head jerks back as she feels the cosmic energy channel through her. Hundreds of small crystals fly to the heavens from the souls of those now gone. Four stones -one blue, one red, one a grayish-pink, and a fourth green stone - fly forth. Following close behind them are four majestic crystals. Each one blazes with a different color of the spectrum. In an instant, they also ascend in their climb to the heavens. Feeling herself growing weaker, she begins to falter. "No! I must...hold...on..." Finally, two scintillating crystals remain. Together, they have bloomed into their crystalline flowers in response to the power of the cosmos - One a golden rose - The other a silver moon lily. They circle each other as they rise forever joined to their new awakening. The Mystical Silver Crystal flies away from the Queen and joins with the silver moon lily. With one last lustrous beam of light, the hundreds of crystals move together in a spiral pattern. It looks as though a new galaxy were forming. Each one slowly fades away into the black darkness of space... ************************** Letting out a weak, strained cry of pain, Queen Selenity falls to the ground, which is covered with jagged remains of the crumpled palace walls. Sharp edges tear through the exposed flesh of her arms and upper back causing her to fall unconscious in a small pool of blood. Faintly she hears a fuzzy voice calling to her. A short time later, she opens her heavy eyes to see a hazy figure, with black fur, sitting beside her. "Luna?" Selenity whispers in confusion, not yet remembering the events that had taken place just a short moment ago. Artemis sits on the other side and stares down at her with worried, tear filled eyes, relieved that she has regained consciousness. "My Queen, are you alright?!" Memories flood into her mind. Ignoring her concern, the Queen struggles desperately to get up, panic mixing with her weariness and pain. "Selenity?! Metallia?!" "No. It's alright." Artemis says soothingly and she lies back down. "You've done it! Metallia is gone!" Selenity closes her eyes and takes a calming deep breath, tears escaping form her china-blue eyes. "No. It's not over yet." She says quietly. She begins to glow with a faint silver aura and Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto materialize before them. Tears trace a steady path down Pluto's cheeks as she steps forward. "I think I know what you are about to do. Please don't! You don't have to sacrifice yourself! There must be another way!" She pleads. The Queen smiles faintly as she looks past her up into space. "Look up at the stars. There are so many of them - countless worlds that deserve a chance for peace. Metallia is sealed deep inside Earth. Soon another will rise in her place. She was right about the balance - as long as there is good, evil will follow. It is the way things have always been and the way they will always be. That is the duty of Cosmos - to keep peace amidst the ever-growing threat of Chaos. I failed. The universe must have guardians to restore peace and happiness. But my daughter, her love, and my girls are also sealed away, never to be revealed again. I failed her as well." She sobs. "I promised I would always protect her. In trying to do what's best, I did far worse than I ever could have imagined. Apollo made me promise that I would follow my heart. This is my chance to set things right." Neptune quickly rushes to her side and takes her hand. "But you mustn't blame yourself!" Uranus places a hand on Neptune's shoulder, silencing her. She straightens her posture and her deep blue eyes grow soft. "What you do is for honor, peace, and truth. No one can argue with that." The space sword appears before her, glowing brightly. Her resolve increases as she looks deep into the Queen's eyes. "We will die when the full power is released, won't we?" Tears cascading in twin rivers down her cheeks, Selenity nods sorrowfully. "Yes, both you and Neptune. But Pluto will return to the gate. There in the dimension between time, she will remain alive. Time can not be left unguarded. Her mission is a special one. But this I promise, you will return stronger than ever." "How?!" Neptune asks incredulously. "Life is as much a part of death as death is a part of life. That is the full potential of Saturn's power - It remains the key to restoring a world of peace by creating a new one and merging it with the old. You must hurry, I don't have much time." "Oh, Queen Selenity..." Luna sobs. "Don't cry Luna. Everything will work out right, you'll see." Neptune calls forth her Aqua Mirror. Fearlessly Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto form a circle. Pluto's garnet orb dissociates from her staff. All three weapons cast a scintillating light. All that can be seen is a white hot light and all that can be heard are shrilling screams. In an instant all falls silent and Artemis cautiously opens his eyes. Queen Selenity hovers above the surface of the ground, her wounds instantly healed and a bright silver aura emitting from her body. Long wings protrude from her back and her skirt and hair fly in the wind. Behind her, Saturn appears. Her sleeping form slowly floats down from its hovering position in the sky to rest on the ground in a fetal position. "It is time for you to go. When you awaken, you must find my daughter and reunite her with her friends. Take care of her." Two capsules envelop the cats, placing them instantly in suspended animation. "Farewell..." Selenity turns around. Saturn stands with her violet eyes wide and confused. "What going on?!" She asks meekly. She gasps and places her hands over her mouth in shock when she sees the fallen kingdom. "Everything is gone?! I can't believe it!" "Yes." The queen smiles. "You are our only hope now. The time has come for you to awaken." "What?!" She shudders in disbelief. Only hope?! That's impossible!" "No. You are very special, Saturn." Selenity touches her hand to Saturn face and the glowing, purple sign of death appears, emblazoned on her forehead. The Queen's body falls to the ground cold and lifeless. A small, glowing figure appears in her place and smiles. "The time has come. Save us all please, I beg you. If you ever see her again, help her. I won't be there to guide her." The light dissipates and the small fairylike figure fades into the black depths of space. "No! Wait!" Saturn cries, tears sliding down her cheeks. "I can save you too! Don't leave me all alone!" She falls to her knees. "You're never alone..." A faint voice echoes. She looks up, her eyes searching for the speaker, but she can find no one. "Pluto?!" She calls. Suddenly, in a mass explosion of light and darkness Saturn's body again curls inward into a fetal position. Her eyes clench shut in pain and she lets out a blood curdling scream. Slowly, her form straightens and she opens her haunted eyes which tell a story of one thousands of years old who has seen every form of death and torture. Dressed in a long purple gown, she reaches out a gloved hand. In a flash of scintillating light, the silence glaive appears in her left hand. She flies down to touch one foot on the ground and stabs it with her glaive. "So once again, I have been summoned. Everything was and forever will be ruled by fate. Now that I have awakened, it is time to bring about the end. I, the guide to death, will lead this place into silence and nothingness!" Blackness swirls around her as a torrent of energy rises into space. "But...along with death, hope and reproduction begin...They will return, and through the strength of their love, will redeem us all. Yes, with powerful cords of silver and gold..." The moon begins to rumble and quake. "Death Reborn Revolution!" Silence...A shining, blue Earth lights the surface of a barren, lifeless moon. The End... *********************************************************************** So?! What did you think?! Was is good? Bad? Great? Or just plain awful? Please, let me know! I love feedback and this was my first story after all. If this one goes over good, I might consider a sequel... s2jemeko@atlas.vcu.edu. ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]