NeoMoon Presents: “WHAT IF: Beryl Had Won?” Sailor Moon “Evil Reign” By: NeoMoon Rated: R She holds onto the crystal, feeling the strength slowly leaving her body, the dark queen standing over laughing. *All in vane.* She thinks, as she tightens the loose grip on the crystal. *Why did they all have to die?* A cold was rising in her body, far colder then artic winds that swept over her form. “Silver Crystal . . .” She breathes in hard, coughing blood as she exhaled. “Please, (cough), please save my friends.” She breathed in heavily once more, but she never exhaled. The crystal shone a bright light, that pulsed outward, farther, and father, sending the Dark Queen reeling backwards. Two years pass, her army grows, and although the armies of Earth try, they fail to succeed. When it came to a fight against the ways of the dark art, and those of human technology, the final battle was decided with a snap of a hand, as the Dark queen still bonded with the mother of all evil, walked onto this world, and there was no guard to defend it. Once the Tokyo tower stood there, now it was reformed into her fortress, at its gates stood two crystal crosses baring the decaying remains of the ones who would have defeated her. There hung the bodies of the Prince and his Princess, a sign to all those who would go against her power. “Mercury. General.” Screamed the young black haired girl as she ran into the tent. Stopping to salute the blue haired woman who stood over a table reading a map. “What is it, Hotoru?” Said Mercury as she turned and returned the young girl’s salute. “General. Our spies have confirmed that the Dark Queen . . .” There was an explosion, and both ran out of the tent, finding the camp under attack. “Mars, Jupiter.” Yelled Mercury into her communicator. “Status report!” “The camp is under attack!” Replied Jupiter. “We have heavy causalities. Ami, Minako.” She stopped, static filling the communicator. “Minako, she’s. Ami She dead.” The transmission ended, Mercury let the communicator drop from her hand as she looked out into the camp watching as the Dark Queen’s soldiers invaded their camp, killing their men. “Hotoru.” She said turning to the small girl next to her. “Gather as many as you can. Find Mars, and Pluto, then begin a counter offensive. I’ll join you shortly.” She turned walking back into the tent. “Mercury!” Yelled the girl, after her. “If I transform . . .” “Do as you’re ordered!” Screamed Mercury from the tent. The girl ran off into the heat of battle. It was fought, the rebellion led by Mercury, and the remaining Senshi had won, but barely. They suffered greatly, losing almost half their ranks. And two of those loses were great. “We found her holding off an entire brigade on her own.” Said Hotoru in her Senshi form. “I transformed to help. General, I’m sorry but I fear that I was the one who killed Setanua.” “I understand.” Said Mercury gravely as the two walked down the rows of the injured and dying. “Was it quick?” The young girl looked up at her, tears filling her deep eyes. “I am afraid no, it was slow. I . . . Oh God, I didn’t. And then . . . Then they took her!” “Hotoru, this is war.” Replied Mercury coldly. “In war soldiers dye. She was doing her duty. “ “Ami, how the hell can you be so cold!” Yelled a voice from behind the two. Jupiter stood, in the center of the rows, in her hands, the lifeless body of Minako Aino. She looked strangely at peace, like she was sleeping. Mercury started to walk toward her, but stopped a cold look filling her eyes. “Ami’s, dead Jupiter. She died in the Artic Like Makoto, and the rest.” “I can’t believe you.” Jupiter said softly, shaking her head almost in disgust. “Ami, maybe you died, but I sure as hell didn’t.” Mercury turned away, trying to keep herself from losing control. “We’ll burn the bodies tonight.” She stopped breathed in deeply, ignoring the pain in her heart. “Find Mars, then I want everyone in the TAC tent with a full report of the battle, numbers lost, equipment damage, etc.” “Ami!” Screamed Jupiter. “Our friends have died.” “And their funeral will be tonight.” Mercury spoke coldly as she began to walk again. “Ami!” “Their soldiers, Jupiter.” She said stopping to look back at Jupiter. “It’s part of the job.” “Ami.” Jupiter whispered, tears filling her emerald eyes, as she watched a person who she once counted among her friend walk coldly out of the MED tent. War can change people. Through history there is proof of this among the common soldiers. But those changed most are those who are placed as leaders, and those who have lost something very valuable to them. This is the case for Ami Mizuno. Once she was the meekest of the Sailor Senshi. But on the day she woke in the Artic, finding her princess, and her friend lying lifeless, on the frozen ground that changed. And later as she watched the only man who she cared for die at the hands of the Dark Queen’s greatest soldier. And in the end as she shed her final tear’s Ami died completely, and there was only Mercury. The four them, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, and Horotu stood in the tent, with only Horotu looking scared. Mercury paced back and forth a grim look on her already lined face. “Ami,” Started Jupiter, but Mercury raised her hand and the girl stopped. “Let me get this straight.” She said stopping in front of them. “They just walked in?” Her voice was had a grim humor to it, but the look in her eyes showed them that she found nothing funny with this at all. “How the hell does the enemy just walk in?” She sounded furious. “Mercury, they passed all the ID checks.” Said Mars, stepping forward looking at their leader. “We believe that they’ve had spies in our ranks . . .” “Spies?” Said Mercury her voice a hissing whisper. “You, Mars have recruited all in our number. You take the blame for this.” “Yes.” “Then let those who have died be on your soul.” Mercury turned, no longer wishing to look at the woman who stood before her. “We have a funeral to attend.” She said coldly making her way out of the tent. Coldness, breeds coldness, just as evil breeds evil. Since the time this war began Mercury had been their leader, and in time she found herself walking on the edge of a cliff. On one side their was her what she stood for, and the honor in which she had held since childhood. On there, an abyss, the endless pit of darkness that many fell into. Mercury knew that pit well for she had almost fallen in many times, and had seen those who had fallen in, they where the Dark Queen’s minions. This is what she thought as she watched the fires burn over the countless funeral pyres, there heat warming her in the cold December night, in a fortnight it would be Christmas Eve, and the thought of how she would be forced to spend it sent shivers up her spine. She was angry, at the Senshi, at her soldiers, but more then anything she was angry with herself, and the sad song that Mars broke into to honor their fallen only made it worse. She could feel it burning in her chest, moving into her throat and welling in her eyes, and for the first time since she found herself staring down at the lifeless body of her best friend, her queen, did she cry. She looked up seeing Horotu watching her, and just as quickly turn away. Mercury wiped the tears from her eyes and turned her back to the fires, heading back to the place she now called home, heading for the TAC tent. A messenger awaited her. As the sun rose, breaking though the cold dead winter night, not even a day later, the body of Pluto was found, hanging from a crystal cross next to the girl who would have been queen. Mercury stared at the sight from under her pale blue cloak, and felt nothing, only a small voice telling her that this happens in war. “Good tactic.” Said a cool deep voice from behind her. “Fear is one of the greatest forms of control. Don’t you think?” Mercury turned her face only a mask of calm, hiding the rage underneath. “And you would know, wouldn’t you, Kunzite?” “Very true, my dear General.” He said, mocking her position with his final word. “Your ragtag rebellion can not I’m afraid win.” “And what makes you say that.” “My Queen is fused with Metellia, not to mention she holds the Silver Crystal.” His lips curled into seductive smile. “And to think, all this is the fault of the Senshi, the Royal Warriors of the Moon Kingdom.” “You wanted to talk.” Ami said impatiently. “If all you wanted to do was gout, then you know where to shove it!” She turned, walking away at quick pace. “She killed Zoycite.” He said, his voice becoming sorrowful. “She killed the only man I’ve ever loved.” Mercury turned, it was her turn to smile. “People die in war Kunzite. I’ve lost many people I’ve loved thanks to your ‘Queen’. Welcome to reality.” She turned again, a sudden fear whispering in her mind as the gravity of her words soaked in. “And now you fight.” He continued. “You fight for those who have died. Beryl murdered my only love!” He screamed making Mercury stop. “I . . . I want to avenge him, I want to avenge Zoycite.” She could hear him crying, and turned to look at him again, sighing almost dramatically as she made a decision. “Fine.” Was all she said before turning toward her people’s camp, and started to walk. Behind her she could hear him walking slowly behind her, and could feel the shadow of a cross on her back. No one can ever fight alone in war, people need friends and allies. Sometimes choosing those ally’s is merely a simple choice of the lesser of two evils, in other’s it is far more complex. Whether the young general knew it or not, she was starting down the road that would end one war, and possible start another, for soon she would find herself in a grieve position, and choices would have to be made. On that day, as the strongest of the Dark Kingdom’s soldier’s walked behind her, under the fragile dream of alliance, did it snow in Tokyo for the first time since this war began. “Now I know you’ve gone nuts, Ami!” Screamed Jupiter in the TAC tent as all the remaining Senshi looked in horror at their newest ally. “Right after an attack, not even a full day later, and you decide to trust this . . . This monster!” “Beryl killed his lover, he wants revenge.” Mercury said coldly, not bothering to look up from the map of Beryl’s castle that Kunzite had given her. “And Jupiter, there is no one here alive named Ami. Remember that.” Jupiter, bight her tongue, and looked away as everyone stared at her. She tried hard to remember the way Ami once was, but couldn’t, the woman sitting in front of her, wasn’t Ami, that was Mercury, their ‘General’, Ami had died in the Artic. But she, Mokoto hadn’t.” The tent had become cold to her, she brought her hands up, hugging her chest, and looked back at their leader, and the feeling of cold increased its icy finger running down her back. She shook her head, Mercury was talking but she couldn’t hear, everything slowly faded away, first the sounds, then slowly very slowly everything began to blur and become unfocused till the point were there was nothing, save her, and the increasing cold. She could feel something grab her, holding her tightly as if hugging her. “Mokoto-Chan.” Whispered the wind. “Who’s there?” Around her a pinkish mist started to form into the shape, hugging her, holding her tightly. And suddenly a strong sense of familiarity filled her. “Usagi-Chan?” She whispered in disbelieve. The misty form looked up at her, and suddenly the air became sad. “Oh Mokoto-Chan, I’ve missed you, and Rei-Chan, and Ami . . .” “Ami’s dead.” Mokoto said coldly. The air became sadder. “No.” And slowly as it began Mokoto returned to reality, and fell to the floor in tears. Combat stress reaction. That’s the name of a condition that soldiers are afflicted with in times of great stress in battle. When their minds can no longer rationalize the sights around them. The sights of death, the fear of dying, the stench of the wounded, and dying. As Jupiter lay on the ground curled up in a ball, tears bursting from her eyes screaming hoarsely the name of their first and long dead leader. That was what Mercury had thought; that one of her stronger soldiers had finally cracked under the pressure of the war. And in the farthest reaches of her heart she could hardly blame Jupiter. “Take her to her tent, get her food and water.” She barked at Mars and Uranus, then turned to Horotu. “Go with them, I want you to watch her, make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid.” She turned, not bothering to watch as the three half carried their fallen comrade to her tent. Kunzite followed close behind her, standing next to her as she settled down into her seat, and once more began to read the map of Beryl’s castle. “It’s gone on far to long.” She whispered, touching her earring out of habit, the visor had been broken for a long time. “Far to long.” She continued to read the map. “What is your plan?” Asked Kunzite from what seemed to be miles away. “You’ll see.” She whispered, not bothering to look up from the map. She lay in her cot, covered by blankets, and staring blankly up at the canvas ceiling, watching as the cold gentle wind ran over it, sending waves through the canvas. “Am I going nuts?” She whispered, closing her eyes, hoping to hear her old friend again. “Makoto?” She turned in the darkness, nothing. “Makoto?” She turned again, Usagi looking at her with large eyes. “U . . . Usagi.” She whispered, running to her friend, embracing her in her arms. “Usagi, what’s going on? Why are you here?” Usagi pulled away, suddenly, she was Sailor Moon, her face was battered, and bloody, her clothing ripped and stained with old blood. She bight her lower lip, her eyes large and sad. “You, you said Ami was dead.” “Oh God, Usagi. No.” Her voice was soft, but in the end it was bursting with sorrow. “She, she’s changed, changed to the point that the Ami we knew no longer exist.” “That’s worse.” Usagi said sorrowfully, as she sat on the ground suddenly dressed in her school clothes. “And Rei, and Minako?” “Rei, Rei is going through a lot Mercury, Ami, she blames Rei for a recent attack. Rei’s it hard, although she won’t show it.” She laughed humorously as she finished. “Same old Rei.” “An, and Minako?” Makoto took a deep breath, it still hurt her, and she was so much stronger then Usagi, but she had to know. “Minako’s dead, she was killed an explosion during an attack. Setanua, and Micheru have also died.” “Who?” “Other Senshi, they came after the first battle, after Beryl had defeated the armies of earth.” “Oh God.” “Jupiter!” Yelled a voice from far away. “Jupiter!” She jumped up with a start, a cold sweet covered her, she could see Mars on her side, looking at her stunned. “Wh . . .What is it.” She said hoarsely, her voice suddenly dry, and meek. Mars sighed and looked at her sadly. “You should say no.” She said abruptly. “What?” “Mercury, she’s going to ask you to come back. She said it’s up to you.” “Oh, okay, I’ll think about it.” Mars nodded, then left in silence, the sad look she carried becoming a permanent mask. Jupiter sighed and rolled over in her cot, sighing sadly as she thought of what had become of their close-knit group. “Usagi,” she whispered through her tears. “Why did you have to leave?” She could feel his hand resting on her back, moving slowly, smoothly up and down. She let out a soft sigh; unable to enjoy the tingling that worked its way through her. “I don’t know your game.” She said trying to hid the pleasure she was feeling from his small action. “But stop it Kunzite.” She looked up at him her eyes betraying her as she looked at his smooth pale face, and his seductive smile. “Please . . . Mmm” He placed his lips upon hers, and she did not resist, parting her lips, wanting, needing him. He played with her, taunting her with his tongue, sending vibrations throughout her body. As he kissed her, a need came over her, a need to fill an emptiness deep within, and she wanted that emptiness filled so bad, and so she opened herself to him. On that night Mercury was impaled by Kunzite’s spear. Thus started the beginning of the end. The snow had left a white blanket over the war torn city. Mercury looked out, watching the sun rising over Beryl’s castle, wishing that such beauty could exist again with out such a dark reminder of their failure. She rubbed her hand across his, and sighed as she looked up into his pale gray eyes. She felt peaceful, watching the sunrise, an arm resting on her shoulder. But this peace was only an illusion, and she knew that much at lest. She could feel it in her bones, the finale was coming, there was no stopping it, no stopping or changing the path that fate had laid for them. She turned away from the sunrise, from him, and started for her TAC tent, a plan already forming in her mind. Time passed, longer for some, shorter for others. As the soldiers of the rebellion, waited honed their skills, that time disappeared to their leader, she was immersed in her planning, and all most never broke away from her maps and broke save for hygiene and her interludes with Kunzite, which became more and more as time drew on. It was the twenty third of the month; the next day the attack would begin, her last rush, her last wind in a battle that had aged her far beyond her years. She stepped into the tent, satisfied with her check of the perimeter, and drew back in both surprise and wonder. A bouquet of roses lay on her desk, they were the color of red blood, and she could not help but to walk over and scoop them up, to cradle them in her arms. “I hope you like them.” Came a now familiar voice from behind her. She turned and smiled, never letting the roses fall from her hands. “How, how did you get these?” She asked, the coldness of her voice breaking slightly. “They’re, there beautiful.” She gave him a cold stare, her dead blue eyes narrowing on him as she noticed the sword in his hand. “I see.” She spat at him, as he lunged at her. “No!” She screamed, as Jupiter flung herself in between them taking the sword with in her. Mercury stood staring at her in confusing as she fell to the ground, Kunzite’s sword still resting in her chest. There was a look of peace in her eyes, and as Mercury looked up a Kunzite that sight was wiped from her memory. “Bastard!” She spat at him. He laughed, cold, uncaring. “Such stupidity.” He said calmly, walking up to her, stepping over Jupiter’s limp, crumpled form. “I would have hated this job had it not been for the small pleasure you gave me.” He laughed again, caressing her face, looking down at her the way a master looks down at his dog. “How does it feel to be . . .” He drew away from her, staring down at his chest, fearful of what had caused the sudden sharp pain in his heart. A rose? He looked up at her, finding her smiling coldly at him, mouthing four words. “Eye for an eye.” She left the tent before he fell to his death, the cold smile on her face broadening. And so the last battle began. Mars looked over her troops, must were younger then her, and she sighed heavily wishing that there wouldn’t be any causalities. She turned to Mercury, who stood before her, looking at her impatiently. “All’s ready, Uranus is in position.” “Mercury nodded, then motioned Mars to her. “You know the plan?” She asked when Mars was close enough, her voice was hoarse and pained. “Uranus strikes from the south, you from the east. You two are only diversions while I sneak in to take out Beryl.” “Alone, Am . . . Mercury that’s crazy.” She whispered harshly. “Horotu will be with me, if it becomes necessary she can transform. Now get your people into position. I’ll contact you, and Uranus when I’m ready.” Mars nodded before running off to prepare her soldiers. Mercury decided to ignore the fearful look in her eyes. The wind blow freely in her face, it’s cold chill biting her face. She looked up at the foreboding tower that was Beryl’s fortress. She looked toward the main gate, looking toward the three crosses one holding her princess, the other her prince, and the last holding the keeper of time and space. She couldn’t help feeling responsible, at least for the passing of Pluto. She looked over at the young standing no more then two feet away from her. She could see the tears welling in her eyes as she stared at the crosses. “They’ll be avenged, Horotu.” She said, amazed by the softness in her voice. “All those who died will be avenged.” Horotu didn’t look up at her, only nodded. In the south. Uranus looked over her troops, a satisfied smile gracing her worn and tired face. *This is it.* She thought sadly. *I’ll be joining you soon, Michiru. My love.* “”This is it!” She yelled toward her troops. “This is the final battle! This day we are all brothers and sisters. On this day we are all bound by more then hatred for the bitch that has oppressed us! We who gather here today, are bound by more, then blood, by more then thought. We are bound by are souls by the love and trust that we so fragilely have place in each other’s hands. Today we can not lose, no matter the number that will fall, we can not be defeated!” She looked them, they were ready, she was ready, and she knew the Dark Kingdom was ready. In the east. Mars looked at the rising sun, and smiled. This was her advantage. The rising sun would blind the Dark Kingdom; Her troops should have no trouble. She looked toward the tower that looked so foreboding, and as she looked at the tower she knew soon the battle would be over, and that weather she lived or died she would be happy. She looked at her troops, her smile fading into a grim frown. “Attack!” The cry shook the earth. In the north. Uranus smiled, as she looked back at the tower. She smiled and licked her lips in anticipation for the bloodshed that would come. Her smile grew. She raised her sword into the air, feeling the fear and hope, and anticipation that soaked the area. And with a deep breath she screamed. “Attack.” At the tower. She could her the explosion, the screams of those lost in the heat of battle, the screams of pain and anguish, the screams of the dying. A cold shiver ran up her spine. It had all come down to this. Live or die, this was it, the end. Mercury looks toward the gates again, then back at Hotoru. “Come on.” She whispered as she ran toward the gates, not bothering to look back to see if the young girl was following. No one. No one guarded the gates. It was too easy to slip in. Had Beryl been stupid enough to send all her people to fight against Uranus and Mars? No. She turned to face Horotu. She looked so afraid and Mercury felt pity for the young girl till she peered into her eyes. And in that instant she realized, the girl was enjoying this. In the north. Uranus screamed as her sword ripped through the enemy his blood splattering across her face. She licked her lips, tasting the sweet metallic nectar of the enemy’s blood and rushed, screaming, sword waving in a twisted dance through out the battlefield a single image focused beyond crystal clear. He stood laughing in the center of the chaos, sword raised above his head, his long dark hair waving madly in the deadly cold wind. In the center of the chaos stood the murderer of her lover. Nefilete. A man leapt at her, she thrust the sword into his stomach savoring the sword of his pained gasp as she through him to the ground and pulled her sword from him. She was done running and slowly she walked toward him. A man came from behind and he fell to his death. A woman from the front. She would live but no longer would she bare child. From the side, the rear, the front, no one could touch her, she licked the blood from her lips the smile on her face growing ever deeper. In the east. Mars looked at the man dying beside her, the sounds of battle lost. He was young only a child but yet he had come to them begging to fight, and she had allowed him to come into all of this. She knelt down beside him cradling his limp head in her hands and whispered to him soothingly, she knew he couldn’t hear her. Knew that this boy, who she couldn’t even remember the name was dead, and at least she was able to take down the heartless bastard that had taken so many years away from that soul. She pivoted around, slowly rising to her feet swiping her sword to her side and ran, not bothering to watch the would be assassin fall to her death. Her breath was hard, to many were dying. Had this been Mercury’s plan? She swung her sword again, taking down two who had just managed to castrate and disembowel two of her finest men. She snarled as she saw the tall slim man walk toward sword raised to point at her his short golden blonde hair waving in the chill wind. “Jadeite.” She snarled in a to clam even voice. The man smiled, stopping just feet away from her, and giving her a mocking bow. She could hear screaming from faraway. The scream of a primal animal pushed to the brink of madness. She never realized it was her screaming. In the tower. Ami screamed as a guard lunged toward her, his mouth open screaming insanely. She smiled coldly as she drove her sword through his groin and up in to his stomach, and further, into his heart. The man’s eye’s widened as the sudden surge of pain filled him, then went numb as his head became limp. One down. Mercury pushed him off her sword not bothering to look at the terrified enjoyment Hotoru was having. She just kept moving, closer to her goal, closer to the center of the tower. Closer to Beryl. In the east. The cold wind blow hard in her face, but yet she didn’t care. All that mattered to her was the tall blonde that stood only yards in front of her. The battle that consumed most of the land did not exist, the sounds, the cries of the dying, none of it was there. It was just she and Jadeite, alone in a dark void, ready to do final battle. He looked at her, his hair waving softly in the wind covering his icy blue eyes, eyes that betrayed him for the murderer he was. His lips curled into seductive yet malevolent smile. “How do you, Mars.” His voice was to calm, to perfect. She didn’t reply. He snickered at her, the smile fading from his face, replaced by a mask of calm that hid his murderous enjoyment. “As you wish, Priestess.” He spoke calmly as he raised his sword to point at her. She returned the favor, rising her’s in suite, then swinging it close to her chest letting it there in wait. She studied him, how he stood, his breathing, the flickering in his eyes that showed his bored amusement. And finally the predatory scream that emerged from his mouth as he leapt toward her. In the north. Uranus blocked, the swords of the metals pulling away from each other sending chills down her spine. She leapt backwards barely missing another thrust. He was two could, far to good. She swung her sword catching his inches away from her stomach. She had to concentrate. She pushed out every thing, leaving her mind blank, only Nefilete and her. She thrust, he dodged, she swung in an arc catching him in the arm, but he also made a hit and she fell back, clutching her stomach, not daring to look at the warm fluid she felt flowing through her hand. “Damn you, Bastard!” She spat as she blocked another attack, rolling to her left, and bringing her sword up just in enough time to bring her sword up to block again, bringing her foot around as he brought his sword back to trip him and gain her own footing. “Bitch!” She heard him scream as another sword came from the rare, stopping to her left, as she felt the weight of the solider slide down her sword. She was careless, if she hadn’t noticed the flicker in his eyes . . . She brought her sword back in front of her, and smiled at Nefilete as he shakily rose to his feet, ignoring the perverse enjoyment in his eyes. In the east. Mars jumped out of the way, fury playing on her face, as she felt the weight of her long hair replaced by pain. She flung her hand back. Gone her hair from her neck down was gone. She felt her ends, charred. He was smiling, a light laugh coming from him. She spat, ignoring the pain, ignoring the new sensation of wind grazing her neck. “Burn, you son of a BITCH!” Fire burst from her hands, and she smiled as she watched him struggle to move, finding it to late. The sounds of his anguished screams were pleasure, and she turned, walking back to the battle, thrusting her sword through a demon as she went the smile growing on her face. And then it faded as she heard laughter. Seductive, calm, malevolent. She turned her smile fading replaced by a swirling sickness in her stomach as she saw the charred beast walking toward her, his empty eyes fixed on her. She couldn’t hear her scream as he drew nearer, couldn’t feel her feet racing across the ground, couldn’t feel as she fell over a dead soldier and landed with bone crushing force on the ground. She couldn’t feel. In the tower. Wind blew hard against her back, as it made it’s way up the stairwell. She looked at what lay ahead. It was dark, to dark. She looked harder straining her eyes, ignoring Hotoru’s heavy breathing. It was a long hall, at one point it would have been beautiful, that is if you can call anything from the Dark Kingdom that. There were no doors, save one large one at the hall’s end. She started to walk toward it, slowly, unsure of herself, the feeling that came from there, fear, anger, hatred, sick pleasure. She could hear the cries of child, like a soft wind whispering past her. She turned, hoping to see something, yet nothing presented itself. She sighed and beaconed Hotoru to her side. The girl did not answer. She slowly walked toward the stairs, her breathing becoming heavier her heart pounding against her chest trying to free itself of her. She stopped her eyes wide, the grip on her sword loosened. She felt illness swirling in her intestines. Hotoru lay on the ground, her clothing ripped from her tiny form, her porcelain white skin exposed. She was trying to scream but couldn’t, it was as if something were stopping her. Then she saw it, black as night, is lay beside the young girl caressing the outline of her body, it’s spider like hands slowly seductively moving circularly down her stomach, going down to her . . . “No!” Mercury screamed lunging at the Creature, as it stood slowly to meet her. “Die you filthy son of a . . .” She stopped her body frozen, her sword mere inches from the creature’s face. She couldn’t breath; she could feel its hand on her face, stopping her. *No!* She tried to scream as the creature’s other hand slowly moved down her waist, and rest on her ass. “NO!” She screamed, the sword flying forward, impaling the creature through its eye. It screamed in anguish as Mercury drew the sword back, swinging it in an arc. She could feel the pressure, the weight of the creature as her sword broke through its neck separating its body and head. She breathed harshly, her chest rising and falling greatly with each breath. Her arms dropped to her side, the grip on the sword still tight. She looked over at Hotoru, not daring to move, afraid that she might find a cold body. “H, Hotoru?” She said hoarsely, as she forced her body forward, watching the small girl closely, praying for even the slightest movement. She breathed shallowly, her chest barely rising, Mercury fell to her knees, placing her arms around the girl, and helped her into a sitting position. She looked stunned, her eyes looked distance. Mercury wasn’t sure if the girl was even there anymore. “Thank, tank you.” Hotoru whispered so suddenly Mercury jerked back. Mercury nodded, as she rose to her feet, and turned to face the long corridor. She cold feel the cold that came from the door, she could sense it’s evil, but there was a difference. The cries in the wind were gone; the souls of the children that that beast had raped and murdered had been released. She turned back to look at Hotoru who had placed the remains of her clothing around her. The wind whispered it thanks. In the north. Uranus laughed as the sword punctured her side. She looked up into the man’s dark eyes, could see the murderous yet seductive beauty that played in them. And her smile finally faded, she remembered that look, she remembered the scream. Micheru, kneeling before him, tears streaming down her face, she couldn’t help, the soldiers held her back, away from the woman she loved. The bastard Nefilete looked at her the same look in his eyes; he smiled at her, then turned back to her love. He raised his sword to Micheru’s neck, the cold murderous seductive beauty never leaving him. “Haruka!!!!” She would have fallen to her knees had the Dark Kingdom soldiers not been holding her. She could see him, holding her lover’s bodiless head high in the air through tear filled eyes, she could feel the could rising through her body. That was the first day of her life in this war, it was also the day she realized she was a Senshi. She smiled again, raising her sword, stopping his inches away from her neck, she ignored the sparks of clashing metal, as she slowly rose to her feet, she ignored the pain of a punctured lung. She blocked everything, her eyes were focused, intense, her smile returned as she saw the cold beauty on his face give way to fear, as she turned to the offensive, turning the tide, forcing him to block her as she attacked. She could feel his black heart pounding; the heavy forced breathing leaving his lips. “Do you remember Micheru?!” She spat, the intensity in her eyes growing. “DO you remember making her beg for her life?” She swung her sword, cutting his leg, forcing him to fall to his knees. “Do you remember her butcher? Do you remember any of girls you raped!? DO YOU?!” The edge of her sword touched his neck; a trickle of blood ran down her blade. “No, your kind never does.” Her voice was almost regretful. “No, you do, don’t you? You savored taking their lives, after forcing there serve.” She tried to fight back the tears, but couldn’t. “I and my friend, my lover, were brought to you, butcher. You saw the bound between us. You enjoyed forcing me to watch you brutally rape her; you made me listen to her cries. But that wasn’t enough, was it?” Her voice was hoarse, dried. “You took your sword, made her beg you, and when she wouldn’t kneel to you cut her knee’s so she couldn’t stand!” She drew the sword back. “You killed her in cold blood!” Her sword met his neck, his blood splashing against her face, his eyes dimmed, and then he was gone. She backed away from him and fell to her knees, looking into the reddening sky. “My love, you have been avenged.” Her voice was barely a whisper. She smiled, and closed her eyes. “I will join you shortly my love.” She whispered as she placed her hand over her wound and fell to the ground, a smile on her face. In the east. Mars looked up at him, as his empty eyes fixed on her, she gasped as pain flooded through her. She gripped her arm, wincing as she touched it. He started toward her again, his sword raised, pointing at her. What was left of his lips curled into a vicious snarl. He looked down at himself, shaking his mockingly. “I liked that body.” He spoke with a dramatic sigh. He looked back at her, the snarl turning into disgusting smile. “Now what shall I do with you? What do you think?” He was mocking her, turning the short-lived happiness she had felt into utter dread. He walked closer to her, his smile growing with every step. She could feel her fever overcome the pain of her shattered arm. She scrambled to her feet, the fear she felt driving her forward away from him. His smile faded as he watched her run. “The old man should be happy I silt his throat.” He yelled after her. “I saved him the trouble of seeing his disgrace of a grandchild running like a scared rabbit!” She stopped running from him, from what was left of him. She turned raising her sword, ignoring the panicked beating in her heart, ignoring the windy voice in her mind tell her this wasn’t possible. Most of all she ignored the heated pain of her crushed right arm. “Bastard! She yelled through the tears, through the memories of finding her Grandfather lying in a pool of his own blood. “I am a Shinto Priestess, I do not run!” His lips are rather what were left of them curled into a vicious smile. “Stupid child.” His voice was still as seductive as it had always been. It didn’t suit him now. She cringed as he reached for her, swinging her sword with her good arm in a wide arc, she felt slight pressure as she fell to the ground. His screams filled the darkening sky. She looked up at him, holding his arm, head raised in agony. Lying next to her was a charred hand. Wind rose around her, she could smell the sweet aroma of cook meat. She tried to smile, tried to hold onto anything, but she was overcome by the cold of reality as his sword pierced her, pinning her to the ground. Blood rushed up her throat, feeling as if she were drinking in reverse. Her vision blurred, she could feel the pain spreading through her body, could feel her legs spasm. She could him, his charred blackened body standing triumphantly above her; she could hear his cry of victory. *No.* A faint whisper in her darkening mind. She tried to grasp for it ignoring the cold that kept forcing it self on her. *No.* Louder, closer. She could hear it now, right beside her, she could feel it, like a long awaited caress. “NO!” Her hand grasped his leg. He looked down at her as empty eyes trying to express surprise. She lay there, her hand clamped around his leg, a growing smile on her face, her eyes intense, knowing, ancient. “Ashes to ashes.” She whispered. Fire burst in a circle around them, spiraling upward, it heat increasing. He could feel it burning, already burnt nerves, he could smell, as he charred flesh was burned even farther. He could feel it, caressing his mind and soul, embracing it in a lovers caress. This was the fire that burned within a psychic; this was an end worst then death. He let out a primal scream as his mind; body and soul were engulfed in the psychic fire. She could feel the fire embracing her, but she didn’t care, she was a child born of the fires. She had lived within it for so look, yet was sealed away from its loving caress. The seal was now broken, and she let out a sigh of pleasure as the fire engulfed, and released the fire that was trapped within the shell of her body. In the tower. Cold, so very cold. She could see her breath in front of her. She could feel the chill of the room caressing her bones. She couldn’t help but shiver. The room, was endless, at least that was the illusion that it gave. Its sides ran into to the darkness, a single flame of light shone unnaturally bright in the center of the room. She looked up no ceiling, only darkness. She walked forward, the room growing colder with each step. Her heart raced, her breathing was shallow. She gulped down the frozen air, and motioned for Hotoru to stay behind her, the girl didn’t protest. This was it, the moment she had dreamed of, had nightmares of. This was what she desired. She only wished that she could do her Princess honor when she took the Dark Queen’s life. “Beryl!” She screamed, lifting her sword in front of her. “Come face me, snake!” Laughter. Cold, malevolent, powerful. It filled the room, echoing through out the large throne room, threatening to shatter her mind. She didn’t move, she didn’t breath, she just waited. “Poor deluded child.” The voice echoed. “I defeated the Silver Crystal, I destroyed the Moon Kingdom, and I killed the strongest person in this world!” She moved out of the darkness with the grace of cat. She looked at Mercury, her face half hidden in shadows. Her lips curled into a vicious smile as she finished her ascent out of the shadows. Mercury gasped, she could feel herself shaking, could feel the twisting in her stomach, the sickness stirring throughout her body. She fought it, and smiled at the decaying woman in front of her. “The new look suits you.” Mercury said with disgust. Beryl continued to smile, unwavering. “The Crystal requires a lot of energy.” Her voice was flat, monotone. Her smile grew, and within a blink she moved like a lion pouncing on its prey. Mercury gasped, it was so hard to breath, she could feel the cold of the Dark Queen’s hands, could feel the cold hunger in her eyes piercing through her, trying to grab at her soul. Cold, so cold. So dark, so dark and cold. Bang. *What was that?* Bang, bang. *What?* Bang, Bang, Bang. She could feel the warm, soft covers around her, the bed beneath. She whispered a moan as she savored the feel, not wanting to leave it. Bang, bang, bang, bang. “Ami!” Her eye’s jerked open, sending pain shooting through her head. But the pain was nothing compared to the shock she felt. “My, my room.” She whispered. She threw of the covers and quickly got to her feet. She looked, her mouth hanging uselessly open, trying to comprehend all the information, all the sights that tried to brake through her fragile mind. “Bu, but my apartment was destroyed almost two . . .” “AMI!” Screamed a boy outside. She walked to the door, her mouth still open, looking back and forth at something that should . . . Not . . . Have . . . *No. Oh God no.* She looked at the boy standing in front of her. She couldn’t breath, she couldn’t thing. She moved closer, reluctantly, then fast, one foot after the other, closer to him. Tears welled up in her eyes, not daring to fall, not wanting to believe what they saw. “RYU!” She screamed, as she flung her arms around him drawing him into a tight hug, not caring that the tears ran down her face. “Oh, god Ryu.” It was a lifetime, a precious god sent lifetime, before he struggled in her arms, and backed away from her. It felt like another as they just stood there, looking at each other. She shuddered when he touched her lightly, as he wiped the tears from her face, and ran his soft strong fingers around the outline of her face. “I’m glad you’re better, Ami.” His voice was so soft, so sweet. “Better?” “You’ve been sick for months.” He said, his voice so full of concern. “You kept slipping in and out of sleep.” She looked in his eyes saw the loving concern on them, and started crying again. “Don’t you remember?” She shook her head, instantly regretting it as she fell into darkness. Blood, so much blood, so much pain. Death, all around. Usagi, hanging from a cross. Minako, fun loving Minako, dead, in the arms of . . . Mokoto, lying dead, in a pool of blood. So much blood, so much pain. Some was screaming, calling to her, so familiar. “Ami is dead. She died I the artic.” That voice, so cold, so uncaring, yet familiar. She tried to run, but something, someone held her, laughed at her. Someone called her, someone familiar, so faraway, so far . . . “Ami!” She jumped up from the soft bed, only to be pushed gently back down. “Whoa there darling, take it easy.” So warm, so sweet. She like this voice. “Mrs. Mizuno, will she be all right?” “Yes, she’ll be fine. She just got over excited, that’s all.” That voice so sweet, so caring, familiar . . . Mother. “Is it all right if I stay?” She opened her eyes. Ryu, it was Ryu. He was looking at her, his eyes so soft, so full of concern. She tried to smile, before closing her eyes again, know that she was safe as long as he was . . . “I don’t see why not. You are her boyfriend after all.” Boy, boyfriend. The word caressed its way through her mind. Such a nice word. The rest of the day was spent in talk. He told her about Usagi and Mamoru, and how fun a couple they made. She was glad to hear that they were finally together after so long. And on everything she had missed doing her illness. She was sad, when he said he had to leave. She wanted him to stay to be with her, to hold her. They walked in silence to the door. Her mind swimming in the days events, and in the wishes that the . . . Day . . . Wouldn’t . . . His lips touched hers, soft caressing. She brought him closer, wrapping her arms around him not wanting him to leave. She would do anything to keep him there. Anything. She her mouth opened to his, letting there tongues dance. She muffled a sigh when he wrapped his arms around her. She loved this feeling, she didn’t want it to end, she didn’t . . . Pulling away. Why is he pulling away? “Ami, I really got to go. I’ll see you in class tomorrow.” He smiled. She liked his smile. “That is of course if you Usagi and Mokoto don’t steal you.” “Yeah, of course.” She said trying not to sound hurt. She lay in her bed, staring up at the blank white ceiling. “He kissed me.” She whispered before falling asleep. Cold, so cold so dark. Why was it dark? She could feel the chill running up her legs, and arms, and slowly cooling, moving into to her thighs, into her sex. So cold, so dark. She screamed in pain as the cold made its way into her stomach, but no sound was heard. Someone was calling her, yelling to her. So far away, so far. She could feel wind in her face, rubbing against, laughing. “The crystal requires a lot of energy.” Whispered the wind. Cold so cold. *No.* *No!* “NO!” She jumped up in the bed, tears, and sweet soaking her face. She could hear someone running, someone coming to her. She looked at the door, a young girl stood there; she looked afraid, but some how happy. “Hotoru?” She whispered. “Who?” Her mother asked. Ami shook her head, and looked at her mother standing were . . . *Hotoru? How do I know that name?* She looked up at her mother; tears welled up in her eyes. She was confused, so confused. “Ami, are you okay?” Her mother asked softly, stepping to the foot of the bed. It was hard to breath. “Yeah, it, it was just a bad dream.” “Must have been a bad one. Your soaked!” Ami nodded. “Well change. You just got better, I won’t have get sick again. After she was change, and her mother left, she walked over to the window and stared out into night sky. Ryu walked with her to school the next. It felt nice to walk with him. It felt so peaceful, so right to have her hand intertwined with his. She walked into the classroom, and saw Usagi immediately. She sat there, in the back of the room, staring at Ami; her face was hard, serious. That scared Ami. Usagi rose slowly from her seat the serious look on her face quickly shifting to one of determination. She walked over to Ami, slowly confidently. She stopped only inches away from her friend. And brought her head so close to Ami’s ear that her lips were touching it softly. “Go to the roof. And hurry.” Her voice was soft, and strong. The voice of a Queen. Ami could feel the room grow cold and unwelcoming after Usagi left. She turned to go after her friend. Ryu grabbed her arm as she reached for the door. “You’re not going.” It sounded like a command. “Ryu please let go. Usagi’s my friend.” His lips curled into a smile. She didn’t like that smile, that smile scared her. “Alright, but please be careful.” “Why would I need to be careful around Usagi?” She asked annoyed. He shrugged, and moved to the side to let her by. It was so cold in the hallways as Ami ran toward the roof. Usagi stood near the edge, looking down over the fence at the courtyard below; she turned when Ami was no more then two feet away from her. Her face was sad, tears filling her eyes. “Are you all right, Usagi-Chan?” She asked, afraid of what might have made her friend this upset. “Oh Ami-Chan!” Usagi wailed as she wrapped her arms around her friend. “It’s been so long, I’ve missed you so much. And it was so hard to get here.” Ami gently ran her hand over the top of Usagi’s head. “It’s alright. I was only sick for a little bit.” Usagi pulled away, shaking her head violently. “No, no don’t believe that. You weren’t sick!” “Usagi what do you mean?” “You’re being tricked. Ami You’re going to die if you don’t wake up!” Usagi grabbed Ami’s shoulders. “Beryl’s using the power of the crystal to make this. She doesn’t want you to fight back, to reject her as she fuses with your body!” “Usagi what are you . . .” Usagi fell to her knees gripping her stomach. “Its alright Ami I’m already dead.” She said softly caressing her friend’s face, before drawing in her final breath. She lifted her friend into her lap, and cried, rocking back and forth there was nothing else to do. She didn’t understand what Usagi . . . Laughter, someone was laughing. She slowly put Usagi down, and turned around as she rose to feet. Her eyes went wide, she couldn’t breath. Why couldn’t she breath? “A pity really.” Ryu said looking down at Usagi. “Oh well.” He looked up at Ami, his lips curling back into a vicious smile, a smile she knew. “You do know.” He started as he walked toward her. “If it wasn’t for the small pleasure you gave me.” He stopped, letting Ami take in the transformation he was going through. “Well, you know the rest.” “No.” Ami gasped, backing away from him. “Your dead, your dead. I killed you!” The smile on his face grew. “An eye for eye.” He whispered as a blood red rose appeared in his hand. The world around her shattered like glass, leaving only a lifeless Usagi, herself, and Kunzite. “Good bye, ‘General’.” He laughed, as he pointed the rose toward her chest. “NO!” Screamed a soft, thunderous voice. “I will not allow this!” Ami turned, Usagi, no, Princess Serenity stood looking at Kunzite. “Go.” She said flatly to Ami, not looking away from Kunzite. “But.” “GO!” She gasped; the air was cold, so very cold. She couldn’t feel anything below her neck, only cold. Her eyes jerked open as she felt lips brushed against hers. Darkness, no there was light, faint, behind . . . “Beryl!” “It’s to late.” The Dark Queen said softly. “We are almost one.” “No!” “You can not stop me.” “No!” “Just alight more girl, don’t resist the enviable.” “NO!” She gripped the sword, she couldn’t feel it, but she knew it was there. She strained, it was so hard to control her body, so . . . She could feel the steel pierce her, she screamed in pain, but she kept pushing. It was the only way, she knew that. But . . . “Usagi. Please forgive me.” She whispered as the sword broke through her back and she fell to the ground. Beryl breathed heavily, spitting blood with every breath. “Th, this can not be.” “Shut up.” Laughter, cold, malevolent, childlike. Mercury strained to turn her head, fight to keep just a little of her fading strength. Hotoru knelt beside her, a cold seductive smile on her pale face. She rubbed her hand through Mercury’s matted, blood crusted hair. “Thank you.” Her voice was odd, like it maturing. “You played your part very well.” “Pa, (cough), part?” “Oh yes. The Senshi, and the Dark Kingdom were all that stood in my way.” She giggled like a child that knew a secret. “One of you might have stopped me. SO I waited, I bought my time.” She rose and walked around Mercury, her body changing, maturing with each step. “Pluto found out. I wanted her to die better, but.” She looked down at Mercury through cold eyes. “There wasn’t enough time.” “Why?” Mercury asked. Fighting, praying for just a little bit more time. “I bring the silence.” Hotoru said coldly. “I am the Dark Messiah. No one would stand in my way.” Mercury felt cold, she could hear Horotu, no the Dark Messiah walking away out of the room. Her vision was getting blurry, she couldn’t fell her face. “Usagi. I am so sorry.” She didn’t greet the darkness with open arms. The End. What did you think? Really hope you enjoyed this story. How bout that ending. Not your usual happy ending. IF you were able to guess how it would end through the clues I placed throughout the story, then congratulations! Well it took me awhile to do this one, and if my word program is right, then this is my longest story yet, spanning almost twenty-five pages. SO please tell me what you think. And don’t worry if you though some points needed improvement, so did I. (Smile’s evilly). I’m not done with this yet; I plan on at least two more revisions to this right here. Well thank you for reading, and again I would love response. You can reach me at: neomoon@yahoo.com COPYRIGHTED NeoMoon 2000