Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Betrayal ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

The group of us walked down the dark passageways of the abandoned television station, Galaxy TV. I scoffed at myself for not realizing sooner that this would be Galaxia's hideaway. But as I soon discovered, the throne room was not as effortless to reach as the simplistic exterior would have it look.

I was led down a small hallway. The accumulated dust that lined the walls indicated that no one had been down this way in ages. The corridor ended with a broken elevator shaft with two wooden boards sloppily nailed over it, complimented by a sign that read, "Do not enter."

Apparently oblivious to the unwelcoming décor, Nyanko simply ducked under the worm-eaten boards. In response, the elevator doors opened in front of her, leading to a strange and unknown space. Nyanko stepped forward and motioned for the rest of us to follow.

I was hesitant at first to enter, but I knew I had come too far to give up now. Carefully, I stepped under the wooden boards just as Nyanko had and soon found myself alongside the feline in what looked like the old-fashioned cage of an elevator car.

When I had entered the car, Lead Crow followed. Her wings almost got caught on the way in, but she managed to tuck them in enough to squeeze herself through. Siren had the toughest time; she had to pull Taylor's still limp body under the boards. More than once, she bumped her head trying to come up again.

After passing through the mysterious doors, the scenery surrounding them began to change from a room of aged decaying walls to an open space of dark forbidding energy, and swirling red clouds. Nyanko was quick to keep me in front of her, with Lead Crow and Aluminum Siren still lagging behind.

"Hey, Nyanko," Siren whined. "How come we have to be the ones to carry this guy?" She indicated to Taylor.

"Because," Nyanko answered. "It was my cleverness that got us this far. So it's only fair the two of you do the hard work."

"I'll give you hard work," I heard Lead Crow mutter under her breath. But since Nyanko made no reply to the comment, I could only assume she was too caught up in herself to hear. But right now that was the least of my worries.

"I swear, if even a hair on his head is harmed..." I threatened.

"Just keep moving," Nyanko replied, giving me a hard shove from the back. "You are hardly in a position to intimidate us."

As the four of us continued onward, the vague surroundings soon began to form what looked like a room. And in the center of that room stood a golden throne, a shadowed figure seated upon it.

Crow and Siren both got down on their knees, and Nyanko kicked me until I did the same.

As the mists cleared, I saw the figure was actually a Sailor Senshi, but a senshi unlike any I had ever seen before. Her uniform resembled that of a Roman soldier. But more catching was her face. An emotionless countenance, devoid of compassion. Eyes that mirrored a soul obsessed with the self and its power to control everything.

"Welcome, Sailor Uranus," she said with a voice that sent chills up my spine. "I hope my minions didn't have to force you too much to come here." She stepped down from the shimmering throne to greet her visitors. I tried to avoid eye contact. Instead, I scanned the area of the dismal lair I had come to.

"What is this place?" I asked.

"My palace," the senshi answered. "I am Sailor Galaxia, the most powerful sailor soldier in the galaxy. You are very lucky to be invited here, even if it is only to see your death."

I refused to humor Galaxia and said nothing. But Galaxia was not about to be disregarded. She walked over to me, bending down until her face was almost to eye level.

"I'll show you something wonderful," she said through golden lips and a smile of pure evil. "Look up."

I was almost afraid to follow through the request, but something inside brought my head tilting towards the ceiling. I gasped at what I saw. A glittering array of crystals appeared in the space above me. They ranged from every color of the rainbow and every varying brilliance. Most were shaped like diamonds, but others held a strange shape like a star or a teardrop. I knew full well what these stones were. The heart of a Sailor Soldier, in which was sealed the life energy and power of a planet guardian. The Star Seed.

"So this is what you monsters do?!" I yelled. "Collect the very lives of Sailor Soldiers to show off in your museum? How dare you!" Galaxia shrugged off my words and with a small flick of her wrist, throwing me onto the ground.

"Monster? Me?" Galaxia laughed. "I am the most powerful Sailor Senshi in the galaxy. I decide how to treat others. I am the rightful queen of this space!" Galaxia looked back at me as I grunted getting back to my feet. A streak of blood lined my arm where I had fallen, but I took no notice of it.

"Keep up that attitude," Galaxia warned. "And I might just reconsider my offer to you."

"What offer?" I asked. Galaxia did not answer me at first. Rather, she turned her back to me and walked forward, gazing at the marvelous collection of Star Seeds she had accumulated.

"You should know that I have every intention of taking your Star Seed here and now, Sailor Uranus. After which, it is your destiny to vanish. However..." she slyly turned to face me again. "There is a way for you to live." I paused before answering.

"How is that?"

"If you surrender your Star Seed to me without struggle and swear to me your undying loyalty and servitude, I will give you this." Galaxia held out her hands. In each palm appeared two golden circular objects, one adorned with a green jewel, the other purple.

"I have sealed my energy into these bracelets," she said. "If you wear them, then you can live without your Star Seed." I looked long and hard at the objects in Galaxia's hands. Bracelets... they looked more like shackles. And I was not about to become a slave to the demon before me. I turned my face and spat onto the ground.

"I'd die the most miserable death a thousand times over before I'd swear loyalty to you," I declared.

"Is that so?" Galaxia asked. "How noble. But it wouldn't be your death you'd have to worry about." I gasped in horror and Galaxia pointed over to Taylor. As my worst fear embraced my heart, I heard the dreaded words come through to Galaxia's lips:

"Kill him."

Lead Crow nodded and turned to leave, ready to obey her mistress' command.

"No!" I screamed, reaching out towards my love. I quickly turned back to Galaxia. "Don't hurt him, please! I..." I caught myself. Could I really say was I was about to say? Could I really give myself over to the enemy? It would mean dirtying the title of my planet, betraying the moon princess I had promised to protect. But to not say it would mean the death of the one I loved. The one who had been lost to me for so long. I couldn't lose him again. I looked down, my long bangs casting a dark shadow over my guilt-ridden eyes. "I'll do what you want. But only under one condition. You must promise that Taylor won't be hurt."

Galaxia seemed insulted that I would dare to offer her an ultimatum, but before she had the chance to respond, Lead Crow interceded:

"Yes, that is a promise."

I nodded and stepped forward. Galaxia held up her arms, showing the bracelets around her own two wrists.

"Your star seed is mine!" she said.

I did not reply. There was nothing to say, no going back. I only closed my eyes, waiting.

"Princess, forgive me," I whispered. At that moment, I heard the blast. The shots of energy from Galaxia made a circle around me. Then the blow hit me in the back. I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth as the pain shot through my body. I would not cry; I would not show a tear. As I prayed for the strength to endure the pain, a flower emerged from my chest, opening slowly to expose a small blue crystal.