Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Consequences: Book One- A Changing Destiny ❯ Chapter Sixteen ( Chapter 16 )

Title: Consequences: Book One- A Changing Destiny & nbsp;

Rating: 13-R ; &n bsp; ; &n bsp;

Genre: Alternative Universe & nbsp; &nbs p; & nbsp;

Author: Sean Wright

Editor: Amethyst Serenity &nbs p; & nbsp; &nbs p;

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon; I'm just a fan.

Chapter Sixteen

The local news was still covering the Mugen Delta incident. Sometime during the wee hours of the morning, rescue workers had discovered the daughter of Dr. Soichi Tomoe in the ruins of the Tomoe home. Reporters on the scene claimed the girl, unconscious but alive, was being taken to Tokyo General Hospital. When Hotaru Tomoe awoke, Andrew had already placed people in the hospital. Eiji was among the group.

Hotaru looked at the each terran before finally resting her dark eyes on Eiji. He asked if she knew who she was. She nodded and introduced herself as Persephone, Queen of Saturn, Goddess of Death and the Eternal Senshi of Death and Destruction.

"We can't stay here, Serenity," Ares, King of Mars, stated.

Ilene glared at the gigantic warrior from the red planet with open hostility. "Do you know what you are asking of me, Ares?" she demanded, "You are asking me to revive a dead kingdom."

"Which would you prefer, your Majesty?" Ares looked down at one of his large hands. "You return to Silver Millennium and live your life in peace. Or you stay here and become Endymion's scapegoat."

"His scapegoat?" she frowned at him. "What could that little rat want to blame on me?"

"Anything that he wants," he told her. "Do you really want to deal with him on a daily basis, Serenity?"

"I live in Tokyo," she reminded him.

"And when Endymion decides to reclaim his throne, you, your daughter and most likely every one of us will be members of his court. Permanently, Serenity."

She winced. "You know, I haven't thought that far ahead."

"I thought you might not have," he told her.

Ilene mimicked her daughter's favorite gesture and stuck her tongue out at him. Then, she sighed wearily. It was a deep, old sound. "I have to do what is right. I have to protect my daughter and my people."

"So you are returning to Silver Millennium?"

Ilene nodded. Reaching into the air, she plucked her wand and crystal from out of nowhere. Ares looked at her with a question in his eyes. She smiled down at him.

"I was going back anyway," she explained. "Serenity will need all the power she can get to defeat Beryl and Metallia. And I am going to help her any way I can."

And it hit him. "The prayer column?" he asked. "You are going to raise your castle once more?"

Ilene nodded. "She must give service to our holy tower and bring peace to our kingdom. If she is to do that and survive, the column must be there and standing." The golden crescent insignia appeared on her brow. "Eiji has already departed with Persephone; the terrans are looking for them as we speak. They will be coming to detain us soon. You should go back to Bellona and follow me as soon as possible, Ares. Terra is no longer safe for us."

*******

Eros dropped down to her haunches beside Athena Diana and looked at the mountains in the distance.

"They are in there," Athena said quietly.

Eros brushed a lock of her golden hair over her shoulder and frowned. "We would be able to move faster on our own."

"This army is slowing us down," Athena said, voicing her leader's thoughts.

Eros looked back to where Bunny and Nike stood with the terrans. "Endymion was prepared for a long, drawn out siege. I don't have the patience for that type of work."

"Terrans are used to sieges," Athena said offhandedly. "They actually invented them."

"It's a useless form of war that does nothing except waste time." She stood up and wiped her gloved hands on her skirt. "Unfortunately, time is not on the terrans' side. If Beryl summons more creatures, we would be wading our way through a sea of them." She raised her face to the sky and closed her eyes. "It's time to get to work," she said when she opened her eyes again.

"I assume we are going to the source?" Athena asked.

Eros nodded. "There is no point in delaying the inevitable. Today is Beryl and Metallia's last."

Endy sat on the back of his snowmobile, checking back with Artemis. Sailor Saturn had been found alive in the scrap heap left from the sinking of the Mugen Delta. There was no word on her three cohorts. Endy ordered Andrew to capture Saturn and take her to the mansion for interrogation. He also commanded that Ilene Tsukino be brought in, as well as Eiji Mizuno. Eiji had been a company man for many years now with an impressive service record, but Endy did not trust him. Eiji was the King of Mercury and his daughter was a Senshi. No father would tolerate Endy's plans for the Imperial Senshi of Silver Millennium and their Queen. It was better to defuse a situation before it became too unstable.

In addition, there was still the matter of Jonathan Hino and Bellona of Mars. Endy did not know what was going on with that old man but he wanted him out of the way as soon as possible. Jamie's lieutenant had been told to remove the old man and take Bellona out of the temple.

So far, none of his commands had been met. Eiji Mizuno had disappeared, taking Sailor Saturn with him. Chad had been found in front of a hospital while Bellona, the old man, and even the crows were gone from the Shinto temple.

Andrew and Haruna were currently searching the Juuban area for the Queen. After walking out of the Crown Arcade, Ilene Tsukino had managed to avoid all of her minders and somehow disappear from the Terra's surface. What in the name of Jesus H. Christ was going on?

He turned off his notebook and glared at the Senshi who stood in his path to victory. Endy was still smarting under what he perceived as Eros' high-handed attitude and lack of regard for the fact that this was his war.

"What are those two witches planning now?" he asked as he started the engine of his mobile.

"Eros is trying to decide what to with you, your Highness," Nike said coolly. She flexed her wings slightly and looked at Eros and Athena Diana.

"With me?" he asked incredulously.

"Yes," she turned back to him. "Your army is slowing us down."

"And what does Eros propose that we do, Nike?" Kris asked sarcastically. "Beryl has been throwing legions of her pets at us…"

"We are going to pay Beryl a little visit," Eros said as she joined them. Athena Diana was once again flying back to inform Artemis of Eros' plan.

"What do you mean you are going to pay the bitch a visit?" Endy demanded testily. He cut his engine and swung off the seat.

"It means just that," she moved to stand beside Bunny. "This plodding you have been doing is a waste of time. And as far as I am concerned, we've done what we agreed to do and given you the coordinates to Beryl's lair. How you get there is no longer our concern. As of right now, we are only obeying the orders of our Queen."

"One." Endy said as he strolled up to their little group. "I don't give a rat's fat ass what you did for us. Considering your Queen's debt to this planet, giving up the coordinates to Beryl's hideout is just a drop in the bucket. Two." He marched right up to Eros' impassive face. "Your Queen does not give orders on my planet."

"Get out of my face, Endymion," Eros said savagely.

"Endy," Kris snapped.

"What?" he growled. A muscle in his right cheek twitched violently. God, he wanted one punch, just one swift jab to the chin and Eros would be out like a light.

Eros stared defiantly up at him, silently daring him to make a move and hoping for the chance to cut his black heart out.

Suddenly, the two were separated. Kris had grabbed Endy and Nike had Eros.

"Now is not the time for this foolishness," Kris roared at the two of them.

"It's a matter of honor," Eros told him. "The terran Royal House insulted Venus…"

"Oh, Juno!" Nike spun Eros around to face her. Eros tried to turn back but Nike grabbed her chin. "That feud was settled eons ago."

"We Venusians forgot about it." Eros shook free and looked at Endy coldly. "But that bastard…"

"I knew who my father was, can you say the same, Cupid?" Endy retorted. He struggled against Kris' hold, but his brother had a good grip on him.

Eros lunged at him; Nike caught her around the waist and took to the air to keep her Commander from committing murder. She was suddenly very glad that Athena Diana wasn't around or she really would have had her hands full.

"You twisted, ungrateful, fruity-looking, little bastard!" Eros yelled at him. "Just wait 'til I get my hands on you! You're going to be soprano for the rest of your godd-" Nike put a hand over Eros' mouth to stop the rest of the gutter language.

Endy stopped struggling as he stared at the two Senshi incredulously.

"What the hell?" he sputtered.

Jamie snorted and walked away with a hand over his mouth.

"Kris," Endy said gravely. "Do I look like I'm gay?"

"Yep," Bunny answered for him, flashing him a teasing grin, "But I think it has to do with the way you walk. Or maybe it's your hair?" She laughed at the horrified look on his already stunned features. That was one of Rei's favorite insults to use on any guy who dared to ask her out.

Eros had calmed down; she ignored Endymion and looked pointedly at Kris when she shared her plan with the terrans. It was a good plan, practically sound with the right bit of insanity to make the terrans give up their preconceived notions about the Senshi. Even Endy agreed with it.

"She was trying to tell you that before you got all hostile and riled up over your territory," Bunny told him.

Endy gave her a keep-your-mouth-shut look, which she happily ignored. Bunny presented her back to him.

"We must move quickly," Eros was saying as Athena Diana joined them. "We are heading straight towards that mountain range." She pointed to the highest peak. "Luna's information says Beryl's base is hidden within the mountains themselves. Athena."

Athena hunched down on the frozen ground and waved her hand over a small area. A three-dimensional ice sculpture of the mountains appeared. "Beryl's lair is located in the heart of the mountain range. It's underground with one visible entry." A small red light appeared in the range. "That doorway is chock full of youmas and assorted nasty creatures. We are going to take that corridor and seal it. That's where you come in, Endymion. Your magic is elemental and not easily detected on your planet. Beryl will be under the impression that her creatures are still getting out and won't notice until it's too late that her wormhole to the surface has been cut off.

"The next stage is a cliff, a sheer drop of thousand plus kilometers leading to nothing. We are going to step off that cliff at a precise angle and fall a few hundred kilometers straight down. That's when we hit a ledge. This is where it becomes tricky." The image changed and the ledge came into view with a lighted-up path. "That ledge is connected to a stone bridge that extends the entire length of cavern. It's a narrow bridge and only two can cross side by side at a time. The problem with this bridge is that an anti-magical field protects it with an invisible barrier above it that traps alien magic. If you were to free-fall from the cliff, you would miss it entirely. As for us Senshi, we'd go straight through it. We will have to demorph and cross that bridge unarmed."

"You mean you're going look like the whey-faced school girls you're supposed to be?" Jamie asked teasingly.

"No," Athena responded curtly. "What you see now are our true forms, we can no longer revert to our terran disguises. Our main concern at this juncture is the protection of our Princess during the crossing. Once we make our way over the bridge, we can morph and reclaim our weapons. The next step brings us almost to end of our journey, a stairway going up to the courtyard of Beryl's keep. Eros wants that area cleared quickly, so we three will go in first. You all will follow with Princess Serenity. Then, we storm the castle. We take out anything moving and we don't stop until the place is cleared and then we confront Beryl and her demon. Endymion, do whatever you need to but understand this: the second Beryl makes a move towards our Princess, we won't care what you have planned for Beryl. We'll kill her, no hesitation, no questions asked."

"Fine," he said. "Not that I plan on letting that witch live long once I set eyes on her."

"You are fine with protecting Serenity?" Eros asked him.

Endy looked at the delicate little angel and turned back to Eros. "I'll make sure she survives."

"Then there is nothing more to be said." Eros slapped her hands together. "Senshi, let's move." She looked back at the terran warriors with their snowmobiles. They removed their overcoats and started to dismantle their machines. Flaps and side doors opened and a cadre of weapons came out. There were guns, ammunition rounds, grenades and bombs. Kris and Jamie sported assault rifles, Mike had two shotguns, and Troy and Endy were packing submachine guns along with the rest of their arsenal, which included swords, knives and a few magical weapons.

Athena almost fell from the sky after she got a good look at the hardware the guys were sporting. "This is a testosterone thing, isn't it?"

"Do you think they have enough guns? Or did forget to check the back of Rambo's closet?" Nike asked no one in particular.

"They're armed to their freaking teeth!" Athena waved a hand at them. "And I mean that, Jadeite has a blade in his mouth."

Nike looked at him in horror and then demanded. "What's wrong with you?"

"You never know when you're going to need to cut your way out of something," he told her.

"That's just sick." Bunny shuddered. "You could cut out your own tongue."

"Now that would be a good thing." Mike stepped back to avoid Jamie's fist.

"What are you going to do, Endymion?" Eros asked, "Blow up the freaking Pole?"

"No," Kris answered for his brother. He grunted as he readjusted his chest plate. "We aren't going into this thing unprepared."

"I don't think bullets work on a youma," Bunny told them.

"They will if they're infused with magic," Endy said dangerously. "Now ladies, if you've finished expressing your doubts and concerns about our abilities, could we leave now?"

"Can you fly?" Eros asked him.

"No," Endy replied before Kris could. He brother gave him a questioning look but Endy ignored him.

Eros waved Bunny over. "Do you think you could carry them?"

Bunny assessed the five young men and their baggage. "Yeah, I can do it," she told Eros, "No problem."

"Then there is no reason for us to stay here." Eros turned to her Senshi, "Move out." And as one, the four female warriors began their ascent. "Serenity, don't forget the terrans."

Bunny nodded. Turning to face the armored men, she held out both arms and made a rising motion. As the terrans rose slowly from the ground, Bunny closed her hands and began to climb higher until they were level with the Senshi. If she found their lack of panic strange, she did not say so.

"Are they secure?" Nike asked her Princess.

"Yep," Bunny smiled back at her, very pleased with herself.

"Are they too heavy?" Athena asked worriedly.

"I can hardly feel them," Bunny assured her soul sister.

"The second you feel the slightest discomfort, you will tell us?" Athena pressed.

Bunny nodded, "Of course I will." She turned around and flew up to join them. "I won't overdo, Athena. Don't worry."

"Hey," Jamie called out to them, "I see London, I see France, I see the Princess' under-Oww! What the hell did you do that for, Kris?" He scowled at his leader as he rubbed the back of his sore head.

Kris was calmly replacing his metal-covered, black glove. "Have you forgotten what those four young ladies did to the creatures on this field?"

"So," Jamie retorted sourly. "Is it my fault that Endy's girlfriend needs to cover her butt?"

"I am not his girlfriend," Bunny screamed at him.

Jamie grinned roguishly at her. "Fine, his fiancée," he said nonchalantly.

Bunny screamed. She was going to drop him, she really was but Athena stopped her. "We may need him, Princess," she said quietly as she pulled her friend around and away from Jamie's smirking face.

Bunny turned around with her nose in the air. "First chance you get, will you beat him to a bloody pulp?" she asked through clenched teeth.

Athena fought not to laugh. "First chance," she promised.

"What is the delay?" Eros called from up ahead. "Mercury, Moon, let's go."

*******

They flew over miles of ice in a matter of hours. The Senshi did not talk; their attention was focused on their goal and the battle ahead. Endy and the others tried to strike up a conversation, but the warriors remained silent. Even Princess Serenity was quiet, but Endy suspected her silence was partly due to her fear.

He could feel the waves of nervous tension rolling over the small girl and wished again that she had stayed with her mother. If she were back in Juuban, Endy knew she would be safe; he would have wagered his life on it. His people would not have allowed anything to happen to his Princess, thanks to their fear of his wrath.

Looking ahead at the Senshi, Endy was hit by a sense of déjà vu. Back on Silver Millennium, the Senshi had failed to protect Serenity. He died trying to save her and his sweet, innocent love had taken his own sword and plunged it into her own breast because she could not have lived without him.

"It's in the past, Endymion," she cried. "Our dead, dead past. It doesn't exist. We are two different people from the two who lived thousands of years ago. You are not the same Endymion who was to marry the Princess of Silver Millennium. You can never be him and I can't be Serenity. I am nothing like her…"

"Endy," Kris' concerned voice reached through the terrible pit of despair that was trying to swallow Endy. "You alright, little brother?"

Endy shook his head to clear it. Now was not the time for pessimism. He could wallow in self-pity once he had Beryl's head on a stick. "Yeah, I'm fine," he lied.

Kris did not believe him but chose not to comment. He focused his attention forward on the battle ahead and the completion of his mission. This time he would not fail his Prince.

Nike glanced back at the terrans; a worried frown marred her brow.

"What?" Eros asked as they darted around a mountainside.

"I don't trust Endymion," Nike said shortly.

As Eros' eyes locked on the first hurdle, she drew her crystal sword. "I wouldn't trust him with his own grandmother, but he's all we've got to protect the Princess." She glanced at Nike. "Will this affect your performance?"

Nike shook her head. "I'll be alright," she assured her.

Eros nodded. When she looked forward again, the vengeful force of cruel justice had replaced the concerned leader. "Jupiter, Mercury, with me," she snapped tersely. "Moon, fall back and watch our back. If anything gets past us, collapse that tunnel and move to Beta."

Bunny summoned her tier and held it ready.

Not looking back, the other three Senshi charged ahead and ran into a welcoming party.

"Aqua Rhapsody," Mercury shouted. Ice flooded the entrance, washing over every stone and creature and capturing them all in sheets of nearly impenetrable ice. Just as the first cracks appeared from a few moving around in their iced prison, a ball of intense, bright red and gold energy streaked through the mouth of the tunnel. The youmas cried out as the ball exploded.

"Got them," Mercury told her commander.

Venus turned around and waved Moon down. Once the Princess and her cargo were with them, Venus led them through the tunnel. They stopped to let Endy collapse the opening and then hurried on to the next step, the ledge. The Senshi did not slow down; they just went over the edge of the cliff, leaving Endy and his friends to follow their suicidal path. The Senshi demorphed in mid-drop. Crying out in fright, Bunny clamped her hands over her eyes to ignore the totally dark pit they were falling into.

"Serenity," Venus barked, "Open your eyes, you have to see where you're landing."

Bunny did with reluctance. Seeing the bridge come closer, she screamed in pure terror. But she wasn't the only one, Jamie had been shrieking ever since Kris shoved him over the edge.

When they hit the bridge, Kris moved forward, putting Eros behind him. "Nephrite," he ordered, "Protect the Prince and Princess. Jadeite, guard the rear. Zoisite, you're with me. Let's run, people."

Eros and the others fell back to guard their Princess. Leading the charge of the bridge, Kunzite and Zoisite met some resistance. The two warriors savagely tore their way through the ten youmas blocking their path. Once over the bridge, the Senshi morphed and took the lead once again.

Making quick time, they reached Athena's stairs in less than thirty minutes and stopped at the base. While Athena and Nike went up to check out the entryway, Eros stayed behind to confer with Kunzite. She gave Athena's old Mercury computer to Zoisite. It contained Eros' backup plan and escape route, in case the situation got out of hand.

"Eros," Bunny called after her as the Venusian flew up to join Mercury and Jupiter, "Be safe. All of you."

*******

"They have arrived."

Metallia/Beryl peered into the depths of her crystal ball. A slow smile stretched her thin, bloodless lips in a parody of smile. "Ah, so they have," she purred. "Queen Serenity's pitiful little Senshi. They shall meet the same fate as they did on Silver Millennium."

"Don't underestimate the Senshi, Metallia," her visitor warned. "Luna failed to suppress their powers before she was killed by Ares." She moved further into the shadows, her cowled face fixed on something only she could see.

"Tis no matter," the demon said flippantly. Her entire aura reeked of confidence. "They are so few in number. My loyal followers will dispatch them easily. For they are but weak, helpless little girls."

The robed figure shook her head and chuckled. "Vanity is your greatest weakness."

Stinging under the rebuke, the demon hissed. "And doubt is yours."

Dark, burnt raisin-colored eyes promised suffering to the malevolent creature for her insubordination. Metallia shrank back into her crude throne and focused her attention on the images in her crystal. She did not like what she was seeing. "Where is Endymion?" she demanded with a childish pout. "Where is our betrothed?"

"He is here," the stranger assured her. "Currently he stands with the Princess of Silver Millennium."

"I thought you said he was here," Metallia whined.

"And he is."

"But Serenity-" Her voice mirrored her confusion.

"She is also here." She looked out at the demons milling about on the floor and grimaced. "You do recall the conversation we had when I informed you of our plan to make the Princess into the Senshi of the Moon?"

"Somewhat," she said almost dreamily, dividing her concentration with the hope of locating Endymion. She wanted him beside her when she finally destroyed Queen Serenity's followers. More than that, she wanted the thieving little moon guttersnipe to witness her victory over that ancient kingdom and her claiming Terra and Endymion as her own. Metallia cackled viciously. Caught up in fantasies of revenge and destruction, her control slipped and Beryl awoke just a bit, giving Metallia's visitor an unwelcome jolt of surprise.

The robed person wore a look of revulsion upon her face. Yellow eyes turned a sickly, pea soup green as Beryl's awareness emerged once more. The girl/woman reached out towards the disgusted watcher. Fear and pain mingled with perverted lust and greed in Beryl's eyes.

"Help…I cannot sense him…me." The two spoke in a disjointed voice. "You lied…Please…to me…Please!! I will not…Help me…tolerate your lies…Please." Then, Metallia was back in control.

Her guest turned her back on Metallia in shame. She thought Beryl was dead, not knowing that Metallia had kept the girl alive all this time.

"Beryl is still alive?" she gagged. The implications were too staggering for her to comprehend. What had that fool done?

Metallia cackled in delight. "Oh, did the poppet frighten you?"

The woman whirled on her, her dark eyes flashing dangerously. "You were supposed to devour her soul once you possessed her body, you fool. What have you done, Metallia?"

The demon was still laughing because her great secret was out. "Oh, come now. I kept the child in an endless nightmare for millennia. She has been a source of great entertainment to me through this unbearable exile."

The next moment, Metallia was picking herself up from the floor. The youmas turned their yellow eyes on the tall, cloaked woman who stood over their Queen with a large glowing staff aimed at her bony face.

"Defeat the Senshi," the woman said in a deadly tone, "Kill the Princesses of the Solar System and I will reward you with your heart's desires." She stepped back and let the demon rise. "Do you understand me, Metallia? Do not attempt to toy with the Senshi or the Prince's Guardians. Kill them as soon as they are in your presence."

"I will not allow any harm to come to Endymion," she declared stubbornly.

"Endymion is very powerful, Metallia," the woman told her. "He has become one with Terra and will not be easily manipulated into giving up his throne."

"He will surrender to me," Metallia boasted. "Once Serenity is out of the way, Endymion will love me again and he will do all I bid of him to make me happy."

"Are you so certain?"

She bristled indignantly. "I am very sure."

"Endymion will never allow you to harm his Princess. He will sacrifice himself for her again and again. But for you, he will offer his sword in your belly and rip out your heart at his first chance. And in this form, your heart is within Beryl's. Are you sure you want to take that risk for him?"

"That will not happen." Metallia pushed herself up. Youmas reached out to her but she hissed furious warnings at them. They drew back into the shadows and away from the Dark Queen's wrath. "I will have Endymion," she bellowed, "And I will rule this planet as its Queen. No one, not even Serenity's Senshi, will deny me this."

Her guest was not impressed by her theatrics. What was happening outside proved how wrong the Dark Queen was. The Senshi had penetrated the outer walls of Metallia's fortress. It was only a matter of time before they invaded the keep itself.

It was the beginning to the end of the Dark Kingdom. Metallia's barriers were breached, her armies lay in ruins and chaos reigned outside her castle. Brilliant colors lit up the darkness in dazzling displays that could rival any man-created fireworks. With their savagely controlled raw power, the three legendary warriors wreaked death and carnage on their path to Beryl. Behind them lay a ghastly testament to the past; the brutal efficiency of the Senshi had set them apart from all others. The decimated creatures fell like cropped wheat beneath the onslaught of their relentless attacks. Those who dared to stand before them suffered.

Youmas ran screaming from the terrible strength of the three Senshi. Lightning crashed down and spears of ice rained on the youmas, impaling any unfortunate creature out in the open. Still, there was no use in hiding; little golden hearts littered every available inch of ground like land mines with exploding shrapnel. False steps left hundreds of the creatures down and wanting the deadly ice or lightning to finish them off.

A razor sharp, golden chain danced wickedly across the field, ripping out chunks of flesh, while a storm of rose petals and oak leaves electrocuted all it touched. Falling back, youmas called to their all powerful and dreaded Queen to smite the infidels but their Great Queen was silent. The creatures threw vile curses at their enemies, slandering the name of the White Queen and her low Senshi. But they only enraged the already furious warriors. The attacks worsened, driving the monsters against the castle wall. When youmas finally begged for mercy, the three Imperial Senshi of the Silver Alliance showed none.

A loud explosion shook the stairs, loosening the earth above them. Bunny screamed. Endy grabbed her and pulled her into his arms. "Kunz, it's time for us to get the hell out of here," he shouted.

"You heard him. Let's get out of here." Kunzite pushed Endy behind him and started up the stairs.

The Dark Castle shuddered violently. The force of the next explosion was like a good-sized earthquake and it slammed repeatedly against the castle's walls. Metallia glared at the doors of her throne room as if they were cause of the disturbance. The rhythmic pounding continued for ten minutes and then there was silence.

The shrouded woman in the corner felt the anticipation in the air. Every creature melted as far back in the shadows as they could, but they weren't quick enough to escape Metallia's rage.

"You dare to run from our enemy!" Her voice echoed throughout the cavernous pit. "You are not fit to kneel at our feet." The creatures growled and hissed as they slithered into the dim light. "Go forth, my children, and bring me the Senshi's heads."

The creatures moved as one slithering body with a multitude of eyes to do the Dark Queen's bidding.

The strange woman came forward when Metallia was too preoccupied with the visions in her crystal to notice her.

"Do not fail us, Metallia."

"What, you can't stay?" Metallia purred mockingly. "Afraid that your Queen will find out about you before you move against her?"

The hard look in her eyes warned Metallia off and the demon cowered back. "Don't tempt me, for I am more powerful than those three out there. I can kill you, Metallia, and I can keep doing so for eternity," she told her. "Do as you are told and you will receive all that you asked for." She stepped back into the shadows and then was gone.

Metallia threw a bolt of energy where the woman last stood and screamed. "Damn you for threatening me," she hissed menacingly. "You are nothing but a worm; you forget that you are a servant to the Great Queen, just as you were to Serenity."

*******

Queen Serenity looked at the rising Terra in the Lunar sky. It was almost time.

Hermes knelt beside Persephone as Ares healed her injures. The Senshi were winning the war, but they had yet to face Beryl.

"You see it, too?" Ares asked him.

Hermes nodded. "We need to tell the Queen," he said in a low voice.

Ares looked over his shoulder at the small, fairy-like woman. "It will only confirm her worst fears."

"She needs to know," Hermes insisted. "She has to stop her."

The giant king shook his head. "Not now. Half of Serenity's heart is on Terra and we can't afford for her to be distracted. No matter the cost."

"But this is treason," Hermes tried desperately to stress the severity of the matter.

Ares looked at him sadly. "I know, but this is the way it must be, my friend." He stood up and turned to face his queen's back. "This is the end."

Endy and his guards entered the courtyard and found only a crater.

"Shit," Zoisite cried in shock. "What the hell did they do?"

It was plainly obvious as to what Venus, Jupiter and Mercury had done; it was just… well, the fact that they had done it alone. Endy knew he was being cheated out of his victory, but damn if he wasn't impressed by the results.

"I wonder what this black stuff is?" Jadeite poked at a puddle of slimy goo with a shinbone.

Bunny glanced back at him and said nonchalantly, "Fried youma."

"My first guess was raw liver that's been dipped in tar," he commented before tossing the bone over his shoulder. "Looks like the Senshi took out all of Beryl's outdoor pets."

"And they have moved to the ones inside," Kunzite noted.

They all looked at the black, blasted castle. The doors were splintered from their hinges. Two youmas lay at the base of the stairs with large splinters of wood protruding from their chest and backs.

"I guess those two were the lucky ones," Mike said.

Looking at the courtyard, those were the only ones left intact and not burnt to a crisp or smashed to bits after being frozen. Chunks of Beryl's minions were strewn about with shattered bits of melting ice with black goo leaking from them. Getting a piece of wood to the back had to have been better than that.

An explosion from somewhere inside drew the group's attention once more to the castle. A sizeable part of the castle wall blew out.

"Duck," Bunny cried as she crouched down low. The rubble flew over their heads and crashed into the far wall. Bunny peeked over Endy's shoulder just in time to see a group of youmas spilling from the hole. In their haste, none of the creatures were thinking about the front door, they just wanted to escape the horrors inside the castle but they still met their doom in the courtyard.

Bunny lowered her tier as the final grain of fine, powdery dust floated to the ground. Endy and others stared at the dust that had been creatures a second ago and then at the Lunar Princess who was dimming her battle aura. The silver orb in her tier, which Endy had assumed to be mere ornamentation, was pulsating with a soft light in response to her.

Athena Diana appeared at the entrance in time to see her Princess take out the pack she had been chasing. "Thanks, Sere, I thought for a moment those things had gotten away," she called cheerfully.

"Athena, you are looking a bit natty." Kunzite drawled sarcastically.

Athena looked down at herself and shrugged carelessly. Her right leg was covered in black blood and her face and torso were also streaked. "You can't have this much fun without getting dirty. She looked down at the pile of dust and then at her Princess. "The palace has been cleared, your Highness," she announced with a wolfish grin. "You may enter now."

Bunny nodded, but she was in no real hurry to walk through that door. She had no reason to be afraid. Yet, the woman who had destroyed her world was within those walls. "Endymion," she looked up at him, her eyes reflecting everything she felt. "Hold my hand, please?"

Understanding, Endy took her offered hand and laced their fingers together. "I will always be with you, Serenity."

Metallia waited alone in the bowels of her throne room, for she had sent out all of her followers to destroy the Senshi, only to have the Senshi annihilate them. The Dark Kingdom had fallen, but she remained. She would not surrender; she had defeated the Senshi before and she was going to do it again. This was her universe, not Serenity's. She would not be denied her place.

"You hear, crone!" she screamed at the ceiling. "I defeated your warriors and brought the Great Gods of Terra and the Solar System to their knees once before. And I shall do so again. You will not defeat me, Serenity. Never!"

*******

Queen Serenity opened her eyes. "It is time." She held her crescent moon staff to the sky; her flowered crystal began to glow as she summoned all the energy of her sleeping world to her heart. "Serenity," her heart called out to her daughter. "Together, we will reclaim our Kingdom."

Bunny gasped as she felt a tug on her heart.

"Serenity," Endy cried worriedly.

"My mother," she said; her voice had a far off ring. "She calls to me."

Endy stared at her oddly. He turned to ask the other Senshi what she meant but they were staring off dreamily as well.

After a long, uncomfortable silence for the terrans, Eros filled them in, once the euphoric feelings wore off. Endy was not pleased; the Queen was free and she had succeeded in taking Mars and Saturn with her, along with the Kings of Mercury and Mars. Well, six Senshi were still on his planet, as well as Queen Serenity's daughter, and Endy was not letting them leave until he got what he wanted.

"We need to get on with this," Eros said as she drew both her swords. "Merc, stay with the Princess. Nike, you take the rear and I got point."

"Excuse me, Eros." Kunzite stepped past her. "This is our show now. He turned to his soldiers. "Two things. Don't let anything get to our Prince and don't die."

"Short and sweet. Just the way we like it," Nephrite said with a bloodthirsty grin.

Nike snorted, "What's going to get him? His own shadow?"

"Hey, you might have missed something," he told her. Her green eyes narrowed and Neph took a step back. "Or not," he squeaked.

"That's sad," Jade said to Zoisite, "I don't think they've said three words to each other prior to today and she already has him whipped."

"If I had the time, I would give him a proper eulogy," Zoisite joked. "In Memory of Noel Michael Forrester's lost manhood and freedom."

Nephrite started to respond to the pair's quips but was spared the pleasure by Athena Diana.

"You both wish someone of the opposite sex would give you the time of day," she said with derision. "Jadeite, with your sophomoric humor and childish antics, what woman in her right mind would want to spend one minute, much less a lifetime with you? And Zoisite, dear sweet Zoisite." She batted her eyelashes at him. "I emphasize the word, fair General."

"What the hell?" Zoisite was incensed. "Sweetheart, don't question my sexual preferences. My only problem is that I fancy alien princesses, particularly those of the Mercurian variety."

"Well, we can get you over that little problem," she told him.

"People, please. Let's concentrate," Kunzite growled.

"Athena, save it for later. Right now, Senshi," Eros snapped. She had enough of the games and was more than ready to see this end. "Let's get to work."

Without a word, the Senshi moved into position and followed their leader at a dead run through the winding corridors and vaulted antechambers until they reached their final destination. The terrans came panting behind them.

Endy glared at Eros and was ready to make his displeasure felt, but he stopped cold when he felt a familiar and unwanted presence in the air. He sniffed and a gold fire lit up his dark eyes.

"Beryl," he spat the name. His right hand sought his sword.

"Stand back." Kunzite grabbed Bunny around the waist and pulled her out of harm's way as Endy strode past the quickly moving Senshi to the solid-looking doors. Endy raised his right leg and kicked once. The doors fell inward. He walked inside before the others could follow and stopped in the center of the room.

Metallia was stunned. She had sealed those doors with a magical shield protecting the entirety but Endymion had walked right through it as if it was nothing but air.

"You dim-witted little shrew, you can't turn my own planet against me, even if you've been rotting in the bowels of hell," he said contemptuously.

"How dare you!" she shrieked, "I am the Queen."

"You're the Queen of Delusions, you filthy crack whore," he retorted. He sniffed the air and made a gagging nose. "God, when was the last time you had a bath, woman? It smells like ass and animals in here. Phew, crack a window or something, shit, damn. That's more than unwashed bodies in the air. I smell some straight up fish and it ain't right. Chick, you need FDS or some Always wet wipes or something because you're ripe." He sniffed again and then covered his nose. "This must be what a thousand year old mummy smells like once the lid has been popped." He fanned the air in his face. "God, Erebus smells better after chasing skunks."

Metallia was speechless. She honestly did not know what he was talking about. Then she heard the snickering as the laughing blond young man fell to his knees. She was the greatest enemy of the solar system; she made planets tremble just by mentioning her name and…

"That was a good one, Endy," Jadeite howled.

These pitiful fools were laughing at her?

But Endy was no longer joking. The way he was watching Beryl was that of a predator seconds before it made the kill. Endy brought his golden crystal forward; his countenance was cold and ominous as he said menacingly "The time has come for you to die, Beryl." Before he had finished talking, Endy had begun his attack.

Metallia matched it, but the force behind the Golden Crystal was stronger than she anticipated. This body did not possess the necessary strength and energy to face Endymion. He was stronger than she had ever realized. To survive, she had to abandon this body.

The air around the throne room shifted as the dark, rotten presence of evil permeating everything suddenly lifted. Almost simultaneously, the four Senshi turned to Beryl. A dense, dark shadow briefly loomed over Beryl's gaunt form and quickly floated away through the cragged ceiling. While Bunny shouted for Endy to stop, Nike was already rushing forward. Athena threw a wall of ice between the now defenseless Beryl and the attack that was going to end her life. Bright, warm golden power collided with the ice wall, exploding it. Nike tackled Beryl to the ground and shielded her body with her own to protect her from the shards.

There was cackling from above. Eros drew her sword and Athena Diana notched two arrows to her bow. Both looked to the sky and waited.

"Endymion," Bunny crashed into him to stop his next attack.

Nike started to move, but Beryl caught her collar with her skeletal hands. "Save me," Beryl begged. Her voice was dry and reedy, but the desperation could not be missed. "Please."

Eros had heard the plea. "Do it!" she roared, sparing a glance at her Senshi. As her eyes met Nike's, the Joven warrior nodded and looked down at the helpless little girl with terrified green eyes trapped in the grown woman below her.

"Shh, little one," she said softly. "And close your eyes." She smoothed back Beryl's hair from her face. "You will never have to suffer again," she promised. Nike laid a firm hand on top of Beryl's head and twisted it sharply.

Neither Endy nor his guardians heard any of that; they just saw the Senshi interfere with Endy's victory and Eros giving Nike the order to kill Beryl. Endy was in a rage. The Senshi had messed with his plans for the last time. He was not going to stand for-

"Athena," Eros barked, "Where is she?"

"She's out of the castle and rising to surface," Mercury reported, "We need to hurry, the Queen is in the palace."

"Eros-" Endy yelled.

The golden Senshi ignored him, walking over to where Nike stood over Beryl. She looked down at the sad figure and steeled her heart for what she had to do. "I will take care of this," she told Nike. "You and Athena make sure that the Princess and Prince find Metallia. She's what we want." She dropped down beside the corpse and said a brief prayer over her.

"What is she doing?" Endy demanded as Nike rejoined them. "And why did you interfere? Damn it, Jupiter, I want some damned answers right now."

Grim faced, Nike only took his arm and turned him away. "We need to stop Metallia before she embeds herself into-"

They heard a sharp gasp. Nike looked to where Bunny stood with Athena Diana. Athena had wrapped her arms about her friend and was trying to pull her away from the horrible sight.

Endy looked from her to Eros and everything fell into place. "Beryl…?" He clamped a hand to his mouth, his own eyes widening in horror. "She was…" He turned to his brother. "Kris, what is she..."

"Get them out of here," Eros ordered. Kunzite helped Nike escort his brother out of the palace. Zoisite carried Bunny with Athena close beside her.

Jadeite stayed with Eros. No one should perform such a task alone.

"Beryl is dead," Hermes said flatly.

"That poor, lost child." Ares raised his eyes to the white domed palace that once more graced the lunar surface. "Ananke will pay for her crimes."

They reached the surface roughly at the same time as Metallia.

Endy recovered enough to focus on the situation at hand. Bunny was still a bit shaken; yet she managed to put it in perspective. But she could not forget the terrified plea from Beryl. She doubted if she ever would.

"Metallia at five o'clock," Athena's warning shook them all from unsettling thoughts.

"What is it doing?" Kunzite asked her.

Athena stared critically down at the humongous dark cloud hovering over the frozen landscape. "It looks as if Metallia is trying to immerse herself into the planet." She frowned, puzzled. "But she can't get through the ice, it's too dense. Still, she should have been able to get through it-Holy Athena, is the ice fighting her?" She whirled sharply to look at Endy.

The Prince of Terra's attention was fixed on their enemy. His eyes showed his concentration and his tensed body revealed his effort to protect his planet.

Kunzite glanced at his brother and started to snap orders. Nike and Athena joined the terrans after Bunny urged them go. When her guardians left to engage their great enemy, Bunny went to Endymion's side.

In all this time, he had not said a word. A faint golden nimbus surrounded Endy as he channeled his power into the planet. He looked so alone at that moment, alone and defiant. He would do this alone, even at the risk of his own life, to save his people and his world. Bunny understood since she would do the same in a heartbeat. To spare one innocent person, she would gladly die a thousand deaths or fight a thousand battles. It was why she chose to become Sailor Moon again.

Wordlessly, Bunny took Endymion's left hand with her smaller right one. A jolt of power rushed straight through her like a wild electric current. Bunny cried out and tried to pull her hand free, but Endy tightened his hold on her.

"I need you, Serenity," he spoke directly into her mind.

Her mind raced, along with her pulse. Magic was flowing to her and coming out of her. Endymion was doing this to her, drawing on her Silver Crystal and feeding her the power of his Golden Crystal. It was too much for her to handle. She screamed out in pain as her knees buckled beneath the onslaught of their combined power.

"Serenity!" Eros appeared in the sky above them with Jadeite behind her.

Metallia heard the cry. Her false eyes found the Prince of Terra holding the hand of the kneeling Princess of the Moon and she roared. The sky and the ground shook from her rage as she tried to advance towards them.

A barrier of whitish-gold energy held the demon in place. The force of his power blazed about Kunzite as he battled with the creature. Nephrite and Zoisite were pushing her away from the surface but Metallia would not be denied.

"Even as she lay dying, the twit would not let you go!" she roared.

"Endymion," Bunny cried.

"What will it take?" Metallia went on. "I was your lover, but she came and you tossed me aside. I offered you power at my side and you rejected me to be her consort! I destroyed her world and she returned from the dead to take you from me. What will it take, Endymion, for you to be free of that Lunar witch's spell?"

"How about you going to hell?" he said darkly.

Metallia flinched. She lashed out at the guardians and Senshi, scattering them like leaves. Looming over the Prince and Princess, her false eyes were malicious.

"You petty princeling, you dare to deny me," she hissed. "I offer you a place at my side as my consort. I offer you protection from my master and more power than you could possibly dream of."

"I don't need you," Endy shot back contemptuously. "I am my own ruler and I don't need your protection from a ghost. Beryl's dead, bitch."

Metallia laughed or made a sound that was close to it. "You think Beryl ruled? You fool, she was a skin sack. My master is the most powerful in all of the cosmos, which is more powerful than you or your pitiful Princess and her mother. And you will meet my master soon, my love. Very soon."

Endy smiled cruelly. "If and when I do meet your so-called master, Metallia, you won't be there," he smirked. "Now, I'm through chatting, it's time for you to say bye-bye." He helped Bunny to her feet. Silver energy mixed with touches of gold swirled restlessly around the Princess. "Serenity, if you will do honors, my dear."

As Bunny raised her Eternal Tier to the sky, the light from the sun and the moon filled her, strengthening her and healing her. She could feel the great power of her mother reaching far beyond their world to Terra and the magic of her Senshi as they gave their power to her willingly. Endymion's warm touch on the back of her neck reminded her of the love they once shared and the deep spiritual connection that tied their destinies together once again. His power mingled with hers in a dazzling play of light and magic. Metallia now realized what was going on and how she had fallen for the ploy. She knew too late that she was betrayed all along.

She cursed them all, from her master to her love. She cursed them. Her attention returned to the source of her pain, the reason she been sent to die in this place. Serenity would not live another day. Moving to strike out at the glowing Princess, she raised her gigantic claws high with dark magic flowing from them. If she could not have her victory, she would make sure the universe suffered a grievous loss. She brought her claws down fast.

At that same moment, Bunny opened her eyes and sang out. "Cosmic Power."

Metallia was not unprepared. She lashed out with her own attack and the two powers clashed.

Darkness overwhelmed the light, but only for a moment. Endy focused the bulk of the power he had taken from Bunny, combined with his own and used it to strike out at Metallia's heart. Metallia was unable to retaliate. The Princess was relentless; the assault from Endymion was merciless. Against them both, Metallia was helpless and defenseless. They overwhelmed her in a tidal wave of meshed silver and gold. It washed over and around her until she was filled with the warm, pulsating energy of three powers.

"Get back, you demon," Endy roared, "This sacred light will burn you to dust."

The demon screamed as the power coalesced around her. With a final cry, Metallia evaporated.

"Everyone, get down!" Kris dove into Eros and wrapped a shield over them. The area around them erupted in a series of earthquakes that rocked the polar cap and knocked down a few glaciers.

After it was over and the earth had stopped shaking, the seven warriors hurried to their leaders. When they reached them, Endy was pushing off a chunk of ice. Kris nimbly leapt over a sheet of ice and rushed to help out his brother. Eros and Nike were pitching in. With a shout, Endy pushed the last of the ice away. Reaching down, he pulled up a now white-haired Sailor Moon.

"Serenity," the Queen raised her wet face to the column of Silver Imperial Crystal. "We are free, ma cheríe."

A scouting party found them a short while later. Endy nudged the sleeping little Princess in his arms. She blinked a few times, yawned and stretched.

Nike, Mike and Jamie returned from their demolition run. The Dark Kingdom's castle had been brought down and the two Guardians sealed the last of the wormholes leading into their world.

Athena and Troy healed the fissure in the Polar Cap while Kris stabilized the fault lines. Throughout their work, Endy kept the oceans and seas calm to keep tidal waves from washing out major coastlines around the globe. All this had been accomplished during her nap.

"So you are finally awake?" Endy teased her gently.

She looked out at the barren landscape, gray eyes caressing the world that she had been reborn on, but it was not home.

"Bunny," Endy caught her chin with his fingertips and turned her face towards him. He looked deep into her eyes and smiled down at her. "Thanks."

Without a word, she leaned forward and tenderly touched her lips to his. When she drew back, she noted, with some pride, the stunned look on his face. Cheekily smiling, she said, "You're welcome, Endy."

"Whoo-hoo!" Jamie hooted. "Go, Endy. It's your birthday."

Endy turned away from the girl cradled in his arms to glare at his so-called best friends. Jamie was singing his little ditty and dancing. Troy and Mike were giving him thumbs up. The stoic Kris had even joined in the harassment of his brother. With his arms crossed over his armored chest and badass sunglass, Endy could not miss the "Gotcha!" smirk on his brother's face.

Not knowing who to address first, Endy chose the easiest mark. "You know, James, the irony of that statement is its truth. It is my birthday and a kiss from a beautiful princess is the best gift I could want."

Jamie stopped dancing around and turned to Kris for confirmation. The silver-haired youth nodded and Jamie swore.

"Damn it, Endy, can't you just accept a ribbing?" he demanded sullenly.

He grinned, "From a loser like you? Never."

"You know, some days I wonder why I'm even friends with you, man." Jamie pouted. Then, an unholy light appeared in his eyes. "Hey, Endy, you know I saw your girlfriend's panties-"

The amusement died on Endy's face. In the next second, Bunny had landed on her butt in the snowy ground and Endy was after Jamie.

"Get back here, pervert!" he hollered. "I'm going to kick your ass when I catch you."

"Now that's sad." Eros stepped past Kris and helped her Princess out of the snow. "He dumped the woman he loves into the snow to go beat down another guy."

Soon after that, the main bulk of the terran forces arrived with Terran and Artemis at the helm. Terran called out to them. As soon as his hovercraft came to a halt, he jumped down from the deck of the hovercraft and rushed over to the young men now coming to him.

Artemis watched his partner's antics with a hint of distaste but a huge smile broke out on his face as he started to wave at his favorite band of heroes.

"Girls," he hollered just loudly as Terran. "Eros, Nike, Athena!" He leapt down with practiced ease and was swamped in a sea of wings and limbs. He laughed in real joy as he was embraced and kissed profusely by the female warriors. "You three were magnificent," he praised.

Eros wrapped her arms about his waist and hugged him tight. "And we owe it all to our magnificent teacher." She reached up and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

Princess Serenity watched the happy reunion between her Senshi and their teacher with a slight smile on her lips. It was over. Finally, it was over and she and her kingdom were free. She closed her eyes and, with a thought, her fuku melted into a soft gossamer gown of white and silver lace. She turned to Endymion and curtsied; her Senshi moved behind her and waited.

Endymion waited for-He did not know what he was waiting for. He looked at the Princess expectantly and Serenity smiled at him.

"Bye, Endy." She winked at him and then she and her Senshi were gone.

"Damn it," Endy shouted. "Where the hell did they go?"

In the deepest recesses far below the Moon Palace, a solitary Senshi watched and waited. The chains of destiny were broken and a new world was emerging. She did not have time to save it all, but she could grasp one critical part. How ironic that statement was, when one considered who she was.

She summoned her staff, the giant key shaped rod with a glowing garnet ball resting in its enclosure. Rapping it on the marble floor once, she summoned a portal. She heard voices in the catacombs that led to her station beneath the Silver Palace. They were coming now, but it was too late.

Pluto stepped inside and the gate disappeared. The Gates of Time were sealed.

The End