Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Serenity ❯ Chapter 6

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Sailor Moon is property of Naoko Takeuchi/Kodansha
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Sailor Moon: Dark Serenity
Chapter 6
Come back to us Usagi! Wish on the Mirai Ginzuishou!

Dark Serenity looked on the Sailor Senshi who surrounded a pale red haired woman,
who seemed not in the least bit intimidated. An injured looking magical construct stood
off to the side. Chibi Usa lay comatose by her feet. She had not yet noticed Tuxedo
Kamen or the Outer Senshi.

She didn't especially want to be here, she was still on a low ebb, and had just woken up
from a very disturbing nightmare, which was possibly an obtuse premonition. But she
had detected an energy release which was just like the Ginzuishou. In fact it was
identical, and there was no way she could ignore that.

Besides, she would have to confront the senshi sooner or later. At least this way she could
work off some of the stress she was accumulating.

Everyone was looking at Dark Serenity in shock, Kaolinite was the first to find her voice.
"My this place is getting crowded. And who might you be?" She sneered at the newest
arrival.

Dark Serenity grimaced. The Sailor Senshi could wait, teaching some respect to this
human would serve to warm her up. "Have some manners when addressing your betters
'Terran'." She placed heavy emphasis on that word "I am Dark Serenity."

Sailor Mars managed to get out of the stupor she was in at this unexpected development
"Usagi!" She yelled, trying to get her friend's attention.

Dark Serenity didn't even take her eyes off Kaolinite as she fired a weak energy blast at
Sailor Mars. It didn't do any real damage, but it gave her a shock "I've warned you about
using that name." She made a tutting noise. "Don't worry, I'll get to you in a minute, first
though..." She formed a sphere of kinetic energy in her right hand "I have to deal with
this disrespectful human." she flung the sphere at Kaolinite as she finished speaking.

The Sailor Senshi had now decided that being around Kaolinite was a bad idea, and
scattered away from her. Kaolinite merely smirked as she erected an energy barrier
around herself. If she could stop the best that Cyprine and Ptliol had to offer, she had
little to fear from this.

Surprisingly she was right. The barrier strained against the energy ball, but managed to
hold.

Dark Serenity raised an eyebrow "So you do have some power." She said admiringly
"Let's see how you deal with this!" She readied another sphere in her right hand, while
firing a beam of silvery light from her left straight at Kaolinite.

The Deathbuster gasped as her barrier was effortlessly disintegrated. She revised her
opinion of the threat posed by this newcomer as she threw the second energy ball straight
at her.

Just in the nick of time Kaolinite teleported out of the way. With nothing to stop it, the
energy ball tore through several sections of Tokyo Tower, ripping apart reinforced steel
girders as it went. The huge structure groaned as it's weight distribution shifted
drastically.

Kaolinite teleported to just behind Dark Serenity and was about to deliver a vicious chop
to the back of her neck, but she spun round and caught her wrist, and despite being the
smaller of the two women, she was easily stronger. Kaolinite started to panic at just how
outclassed she was.

"You did well." Dark Serenity told her as she brought her free hand up for the final strike
"But you're only human." Her hand began to glow with energy.

Kaolinite's eyes widened in fear "Daimon!" She yelled at the injured creature, not for it to
come to her aid, but to complete it's mission even at the cost of her life "Get the talisman
and take it to the professor!"

Dark Serenity abruptly dropped Kaolinite "Talisman?!" She whirled round to look at the
daimon which was picking up Chibi Usa's pure heart crystal.

Off on the sidelines, still unnoticed by anyone else, Sailor Uranus groaned "Don't tell me
she's after the talisman as well?"

"Don't worry." Sailor Neptune reassured her "We'll just let them fight it out and take it
from the winner."

The heart crystal flew out of the daimon's hand and was caught by Dark Serenity "This
isn't a talisman." She said dismissively.

"What?!" Kaolinite exclaimed "But why is it so bright?"

Dark Serenity frowned, almost regretfully "The brightness is a barometer of purity..."
She looked down at Chibi Usa, and saw that she was unnaturally pallid 'It must be
hers...' she surmised "She has a very pure heart..." Dark Serenity spoke almost enviously
'I'm anything but pure...' she thought sadly while dropping the crystal so it could be
reabsorbed.

"Then what about that energy she released?" Kaolinite was insistent, she had been so
sure that it was a talisman.

Dark Serenity looked thoughtfully down at Chibi Usa "What about that energy
indeed...?" The pieces were all starting to come together in her head, and it certainly fit
with what they had learned in the 30th century.

But there were other things to deal with first. She turned to Kaolinite and stretched out
her right arm. A blast of pink and black energy lashed out and surrounded her, Dark
Serenity grinned evilly as she levitated the Deathbuster into the air "I was going to kill
you anyway for your lack of respect. The fact that you attacked someone of royal blood
doesn't really change your punishment - I've never been one for elaborate torture I'm
afraid."

And then without another word, she simply let Kaolinite drop. The energy field
prevented her from teleporting or levitating as she plummeted several hundred feet down
to the unforgiving ground. She screamed out for the professor before her life ended.

"I think we should leave." Neptune whispered to Uranus.

"I think you're right." Uranus agreed. If there was no talisman here, there certainly wasn't
any reason to stick around and risk angering Dark Serenity. The pair skillfully leapt
from girder to girder down to the lower levels.

Meanwhile the daimon was cowering in a corner hoping desperately that no one would
notice it.

"Well, it looks like it's just us now." Dark Serenity turned to the Sailor Senshi "It's a pity
Endymion isn't here to make this little gathering complete."

Tuxedo Kamen finally came out of the funk he was in and leapt down to the platform
everyone else was on "I'm right here."

Dark Serenity visibly blanched. Taunting was one thing, but she truly did not want him
around, the mixture of revulsion, hatred and... something else she didn't want to admit to,
that he stirred in her was not something she needed right now. She did her best to hide
these feelings and adopted her usual haughty demeanor while hoping no one noticed her
initial reaction.

"So you are." She sneered at him while inside her stomach was turning over.

"Usagi, what's happened to you?" Sailor Venus pleaded with her to explain just what had
caused this horrible change in their gentle friend.

Dark Serenity did her best not to sigh "Are you people slow or something?!" She spoke
with an exasperated tone "I've explained several times that I am not Tsukino Usagi. Can't
you get it through your thick heads?!" She suddenly smiled as a deliciously evil thought
occoured to her "Usagi was still in my head until recently. But Endymion here helped
kill her." 'That should sow some discord.' she thought happily.

"Nani?!" Jupiter exclaimed at this bombshell.

"What do you mean?" Mars spoke with a dangerously low voice. While the question was
aimed at Dark Serenity, her glare was pointed straight at Tuxedo Kamen.

Tuxedo Kamen took a few steps toward Dark Serenity "What does that mean Usako?"
He was genuinely confused.

Dark Serenity felt herself becoming more and more spiteful. It helped distract her from
other emotions. "Usako? That's not what you called me the other night..." She paused, a
wicked grin splitting her features "... Endy-kun."

Tuxedo Kamen looked like he had been hit with a ten tonne weight. The Senshi looked
confused as they tried to figure out what was going on. "Wh-what do you mean?" He
cursed himself as soon as the words were out his mouth. He knew what she meant.

She suspected he knew, but she wanted it spelt out clearly for the Sailor Senshi's benefit
"What I mean..." She began, enunciating each word carefully "Is that Usagi felt
everything that night. And she knew you were doing it with ME, not HER." She clasped
her hands above her busom and tried to look grief stricken "The shock killed her." She
shook her head mournfully as if lamenting the loss of a dear friend.

"D-doing it?" Mercury said in a small voice, shock plastered all over her features.

Mars and Jupiter both glared at him hatefully. If looks could kill, Tokyo's favourite
masked superhero would most certainly have been reduced to a pile of ash.

Venus only looked at him mournfully. She could sympathise with the poor guy, but she
was still disappointed as hell.

"No... no it's not true..." Tuxedo Kamen ignored the Sailor Senshi as he tried to deny the
horrible truth.

"Oh it's true all right." Dark Serenity took a few steps towards him so they were face to
face "You should have heard her. She begged you to stop. Begged!" She twisted the knife
further. "Right before her mind died... leaving only me!" She paused a moment, a teasing
smile on her features "Not that you minded."

While Tuxedo Kamen was frozen shock, Sailor Mars felt fury rush through her. A low
growl came from her lips before she rushed him "You bastard!" She screamed as she
knocked him to the ground "How could you?!" She shook him wildly by the shoulders
while pinning him.

It took a moment for the other senshi to react before all three ran over to pull Mars off of
him "Leave it Mars. He's not worth it." Jupiter said, though her expression indicated she
would gladly pummel him.

Dark Serenity brought up a hand to cover her chuckle. This was terribly amusing, and
helped distract her from her recent problems quite a bit.

After Mars was upright again she decided to forget about Tuxedo Kamen and focused on
Dark Serenity "Please Usagi, I know you're still in there! Can't you fight her?" She
pleaded desperately.

"She can't hear you." Dark Serenity informed her coldly.

***

"Please Usagi, I know you're still in there! Can't you fight her?"

Usagi sat up and blinked. She was in a sunny glade with her friends, mostly enjoying a
companiable silence, and that statemend was decidedly out of place. "Fight who, Rei-
chan?" She looked over at her friend.

"Huh?" Rei looked confused as she tilted her head to look at her friend "What are you
talking about Usagi-chan?"

Usagi looked equally confused "Didn't you just ask me to fight someone?"

Rei sat up "I never said anything Usagi-chan. Besides, why would I ask you to fight? It's
our job to protect you remember." She indicated the other girls who were all lazing
around.

Usagi considered this "Yes you're right." She shrugged amiably "It must have been my
imagination."

***

"No!" Mars shook her head "I refuse to believe that! Usagi can't be dead, she just can't!"

"Believe what you will." Dark Serenity shrugged before her hand shot out and gripped
Mars' neck "This is reality." She easily lifted the senshi of fire off the ground and started
to strangle her.

Even as she felt the life being chocked out of her, Sailor Mars refused to put up a
struggle. She would rather die than hurt Usagi.

"What?" Dark Serenity's voice was filled with disbelief "You won't even fight me?"She
disdainfully tossed Mars to the ground "What use is a senshi who won't fight?"

"We can't fight you. We believe in Usagi, that she's still alive." Venus said softly.

Tuxedo Kamen wisely decided not to say anything, since he would probably just make
the situation worse.

"Bah!" Dark Serenity snorted in disgust "You're pathetic. I had at least hoped for a good
fight." She shook her head in disbelief "To think that I once had to be 'protected' by the
likes of you."

***

Usagi suddenly sat bolt upright, startling those around her "Something's wrong!" She
exclaimed.

"What do you mean Usagi-chan?" Ami asked patiently.

Usagi looked around, a slightly wild look in her eyes "I have a terrible feeling..."

"Don't worry about it." Minako tried to placate her "If anything bad happens, you have
us to look out for you, ne?"

Usagi refused to let this calm her down. She could feel it in the pit of her stomach,
something important was about to happen, and she should be doing something about it.
"I have to get out of here!" She said breathlessly.

"No." Makoto said firmly "It's not safe for you out there. We won't be able to protect you
Usagi-chan."

"You'll only get hurt again Usagi-chan. We don't want that to happen." Rei looked at her
with pleading eyes.

Usagi faltered. She remembered that something horrible happened to her before she came
here, she couldn't remember what, but she knew it was painful. "Perhaps... perhaps you're
right..." She said at length, sitting back down.

"That's right Usagi-chan. If you stay here you'll be safe, so don't worry about it." Minako
said.

***

Dark Serenity walked over to the edge of the observation deck and looked out over
Tokyo. "Even if you envision a beautiful future, you can't escape the truth." She turned
to face the other five "This world is foul and corrupt!"

"No! We believe in this world that Usagi tried to protect!" Mars said as she picked
herself up, still gasping for breath.

"You believe? In what?" Dark Serenity started to glow with power "In love? In
friendship? In trust?"

Chibi Usa had recently regained consciousness and overheard the exchange. "We believe
in them!" She yelled as she stood up "We believe, and you should too! I know you're still
Usagi!"

***

"We believe, and you should too! I know you're still Usagi!"

"Chibi Usa-chan!" Usagi exclaimed as she heard the familiar voice.

"Who?" Ami looked puzzled.

"My daughter, Chibi Usa!" Usagi looked at her friends for any sign of recognition, but
none was forthcoming.

"You don't have a daughter Usagi-chan!" Minako giggled.

"Yeah, you're only fourteen." Makoto pointed out.

Usagi was shocked at their response "Don't you remember her? She... she..." Usagi
faltered as memories of the life she left behind caught up with her. Painful memories.
"Mamo-chan!" She wailed "How could you?!" She huddled in a little ball and started
rocking back and forth.

Rei was by her side and put a comforting arm round her "There there Usagi-chan..." She
soothed "You don't have to think about those upsetting things when we're around."

Usagi stood up. Even though her eyes were tear stained, fierce determination shone in
them "I have to go now."

"No!" Rei shouted "If you leave, who will protect you?!" There was desperation in her
voice.

"If I stay, who will protect her?" Usagi asked as the dream world she had built up began
to fracture around her.

***

Dark Serenity could feel Usagi's presence beginning to reform in her mind "NO!!" She
screamed, clutching her temples "I killed you! You're dead!!" She took a few staggered
steps towards the others "Get out of my head!!"

"Mama!" Chibi Usa's voice was etched with concern as she started to run towards Dark
Serenity.

"Get away!" She flung a ball of kinetic energy at the child, who was pulled out of the
way at the last second by Tuxedo Kamen. The ball of energy tore through several
support struts, giving off shrieks as metal raked against metal. Everyone suddenly
stumbled as the observation deck tilted at a small angle. The daimon, still trying to hide
in the corner, was crushed by several tonnes of falling steel.

"The whole place is gonna come down!" Jupiter yelled above the groaning as the tower
strained to support it's huge weight on massively reduced support.

"Get out of my-" Dark Serenity stopped talking and abruptly screamed, her hair was
starting to turn blonde again. She was breathing heavily and looked at her hands in
wonderment "I'm back!" Her voice was tinged with disbelief and had none of the harsh
inflections she normally used.

"Usagi?" Venus asked hesitantly, taking a few tentative steps towards her.

Her demeanor abruptly changed again "NO! This is my body and I won't let you have
it!!" She fell to the ground, sweat dripping from her face as the body strained to keep up
with the battle being fought by the two identities inside it.

"You can do it Usagi!" Mars encouraged her "Fight her!!"

"Gah!!" She let out a final scream and slowly picked herself up "It's me." She spoke with
Usagi's usual gentle voice.

Everyone let out exclamations of joy and were on the verge of rushing her when she put
up a cautionary hand "Gomen ne minna." Her voice was loaded with regret "I'm not
strong enough to hold her for long." Even now she was breathing heavily with the strain
of holding the struggling Dark Serenity in check.

"What can we do to help?" Venus asked hopefully.

A tear slid down Usagi's cheek "Kill me." She said simply.

"What?!" Everyone exclaimed.

Usagi started to cry freely now "I'm sorry. I'm weak. I'm not strong enough to win this
fight." She drew herself up shakily "You can't kill her, she's too strong, but I won't defend
myself. It's the only way to protect everyone from her."

"No!" Mars ran over and took Usagi by the shoulders "There has to be another way! We
can't kill you, you have to fight her!"

Usagi looked down shamefully "I can't Rei-chan." She said bitterly "She's so much
stronger than I am." Suddenly she shuddered out of Mars' grasp "Hurry! I can't do this
much longer!" She insisted.

"No!" Chibi Usa yelled shrilly as she ran over to Usagi "You can't die mama! Everyone
needs you!" She started to cry "I need you!"

Usagi looked down at her future daughter, eyes filled with regret "I wish I could have
held you as a baby... muzume."

"Then don't die! I know you can win this!" Chibi Usa's voice was filled with conviction.

Usagi doubled over and let out a strangled scream. When she managed to compose
herself she spoke "I can't... it's taking all I have to hold her like this, and I can't last
long." She stood up once more "Please hurry." She begged her friends.

"NO! I won't let you die mama!!" Chibi Usa began to glow as she shouted, giving her
pause "What is this light?" She asked, voice tinged with wonderment as it began to
gather between her outstretched hands. Suddenly a crystal, emanating tremendous power
winked into existence before her.

"The Ginzuishou!" Mercury breathed.

'It must have been absorbed into my body...' Chibi Usa realised 'All of this is my fault... if
I hadn't taken it, the Black Moon wouldn't have attacked and hurt mama... and if I hadn't
dragged Usagi into this, she would have been safe... It's my fault and it's up to me to
make things right!' She held the Ginzuishou of the future out towards Usagi "Onegai
Ginzuishou... help Usagi!"

While Dark Serenity was preventing Usagi from using her own Ginzuishou, the one from
the future was completely outside of her control. It's purifying light washed over Usagi,
affirming her control over her own body and giving her the power to defeat Dark
Serenity in her mind.

"You did it!" Usagi, now wearing the same clothes she had worn before transforming
into Sailor Moon and travelling into the future, looked down proudly at Chibi Usa.

"We did it." Chibi Usa said happily.

Usagi suddenly swayed on her feet "Oooh, I'm sleepy..." She murmered before falling
towards the floor, being caught by Tuxedo Kamen just in time.

"She needs to rest. I'll take her to my place to make sure she's okay." He said, gently
cradling the unconscious blonde in his arms.

"Like hell you are!" Mars growled as she advanced on him "She'll stay at the shrine
tonight so we can be sure she really is herself, then she's going home with her family."

The two glared at each other in a tense standoff for a minute before Mercury decided to
intervene "Ano... Mamoru-san, perhaps it would be best if she were to awake in more
ah... neutral surroundings." She said diplomatically.

Tuxedo Kamen saw that all four senshi were in agreement, while Chibi Usa just looked
confused - she had been unconscious at Dark Serenity's revelations about what he did.
With a sigh, he gently lowered his love into Sailor Mars' arms, he didn't want a
confrontation. "I'll be round to see her tomorrow morning."

"Can I stay at the shrine too Rei-chan?" Chibi Usa asked eagerly while tugging on Mars'
skirt to get her attention.

"Sure thing Chibi Usa." She smiled warmly at the child.

Suddenly there was a loud screeching of metal as the tower began to shift again. "I really
think we should get out of here now." Jupiter pointed out, recieving no argument from
the others.

***

The phone rang.

And kept ringing.

Eudial was absorbed in designing an upgrade to her Fire Buster, but she became irritated
and looked around the office. Mimette was reading some teen idol magazine, Viluy was
playing a computer game, Cyprine and Ptliol were sleeping, and Tellu was nowhere in
sight.

With an exasparated sigh, she got up and answered the phone. "Hai, Eudial desu." She
listened to the voice on the other end of the line for a moment "I see, so Kaolinite is
dead." She said, loud enough that everyone in the office could hear her. She listened for
another minute before putting the phone back down.

"What was that all about?" Mimette asked. Eudial was pleased to note that she had
everyone's attention now, even the twins had woken up.

"Kaolinite was killed. The professor wants our proposals by tomorrow to see who will
take her position."

***

End Chapter 6