Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ No Time Like the Past ❯ Deeper into Battle ( Chapter 4 )

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

NO TIME LIKE THE PAST

Chapter 4 (Deeper into Battle)

"Woe to those that take opposite sides of the board... for their rivalry is most fierce. Their battle cries shake the very fabric of the universe and in crossing a threshold can awaken sleeping giants. Ultimately, battle is inevitable and when it occurs... reality trembles."

The blackness of space held her like a womb... she looked about her with her burning ruby-colored eyes and sighed in sheer delight. It was so calm and quiet out here... so much more peaceful than what she had to deal with as guardian of time. There was an explosion nearby and light beamed in all directions from the nexus of the sound. Sailor Pluto watched in amazement as the explosion radiated outward bearing stars, planets, and new life that it deposited into the blackness. How could such empty soil grow such beautiful crops? Sailor Pluto sat up and began to swim through the river of darkness that she now seemed to be submerged in. The alpha and the omega... life was beginning and ending all around her. Stars were born with a gleam and they went out with a dull explosion. Sailor Pluto noticed that what she was seeing couldn't possibly be to scale... as the planets themselves were each only about the height of a skyscraper. The systems of planets encircling their respective bodies were miniaturized versions of what science dictated them to actually be.

Suddenly she saw something that caught her eye... there was a system nearby bearing nine planetary bodies and a central flame sputtering orange star. As she moved closer to it... she knew it to be their solar system. Earth looked beautiful as always from space... a swirling globe of color in the desolation of the blackness. Sailor Pluto reached out and brushed against the surface of the representation of planet Earth and to her surprise it turned transparent to reveal an astonishing site. Millions upon millions of people were hovering about inside of the planetary sphere. They were bound by gleaming shackles of energy and were being pulled slowly forward towards a brilliant focus of light... as people entered the light they vanished from view and flowed out of the planet as pure energy to destinations unknown. Each person possessed an energy pathway that they very meticulously followed... sometimes stumbling but always forward. Some pounded against the side of the sphere pleading for release and tugged at their chains while some moved along with a content look on their faces. Some screamed as they entered the light and others vanished with a moan of pure release. A woman of about thirty years of age reached out for her daughter of roughly five years with tears in her eyes as the child was pulled along her short little path and into the light. Try as she might... she could not break her chains and go to her daughter, who waved her little hand and quietly said "Goodbye Mommy." Sailor Pluto gasped and nearly looked away at the next thing she saw... Ami, Rei, Minako, Makoto, Luna, Artemis, and even Darien were being pulled towards the same light. She knew at last what she was seeing.

"It is the natural way of life Setsuna do not be afraid of what you see. They all follow a path through space and time to finally reach their end and leave this world for a place that even I do not know the truth behind. Yes, even your beloved Inner Senshi have a destiny...know that in the future they too will fulfill their purpose in the plane of reality." The voice was so powerful and so deep... it was wise beyond mortal capacity. Sailor Pluto immediately asked, "Who... who are you?" I am that which you see before you... that which you so desperately seek to preserve against evil. I have felt your battles and I have brought your soul here to show you that if you give up now... you will ultimately seal the fate of the balance that you so endeavor to maintain. Chaos will prevail over Order and I will die. Sailor Pluto was suddenly projected outward by a burst of force and found herself staring at an amazing site. She saw the entire universe before her... it was embodied within the statuesque form of a lion. There were many celestial creatures slowly being pulled towards a bright light of their own, they also were bound by the same energy as those inside their massive bodies.

Sailor Pluto began to cry at what she was seeing and she whispered, "Where are we going?" The universe replied, "Not even I know that...but one thing is for certain, the light leads to yet another world... another adventure. Now look closely at me...." Sailor Pluto peered closer as she was told and she saw riding upon the back of the great lion many distinct forms. There was Sailor Uranus, Sailor Neptune, the Moon Princess Serena, and even herself standing atop the lion looking towards the light with an emotionless expression. Those that exist outside of time are no longer subject to the laws of the universe and at times may involuntarily bend those laws to secure the natural progress of history. This universe is destined for something great beyond the light my dear sweet Setsuna... you understand that deep down more than anyone else. Once again you have been called to protect the course of the universe and the balance between Order and Chaos... you must prevail, this is our darkest hour. Your time is not yet up Setsuna... there are many dangers and pains on the road ahead but you can and must play a part in them. If you do not.... The lion turned his head to look up at an incoming strong power source... and it closed its eyes. Sailor Pluto instantly noticed the red and black form leading the blast of energy towards the lion... it was he, Tempest. She screamed as the energy slammed into the stone lion, severing its head from its body. The stuff of the cosmos flowed like a river from the exposed veins of the lion's neck and its body crumpled to the ground....

Light. Once again she was in the park and she was being strangled! She remembered now... she was locked in battle with Tempest the man that she lov... hated. Tempest's body was shuttering with grief at what he was doing and tears poured from his blue eyes... even his hair seemed to weep, losing its natural sentience. Sailor Pluto closed her eyes and held what breath was left in her... she appeared dead. Then he suddenly released his grip from her neck and screamed aloud, "ARE YOU NOT SATISFIED? I HAVE DONE AS YOU COMMANDED.... I HAVE MURDERED THE WOMAN I LOVED, ALL IN THE NAME OF DUTY! RELEASE ME AS YOU PROMISED!" Sailor Pluto weakly climbed to her feet and gasped for air, she scowled "You haven't killed me yet you bastard. You love me yet you call me a fool for reciprocating... and may the great gate help me I still am. Tempest; tell me who these people are who command you... together we may be able to beat them." Tempest looked at Sailor Pluto with an expression of utter disbelief, "You... alive... I... we could never beat those that.... It matters not PREPARE TO DIE!" Sailor Pluto knew that in her present state she would not survive another barrage of attacks and yet she brandished the staff with courage. She spoke, "May my last breath be spent stopping your madness."

Tempest glared at her and his cape began to solidify... it was studded with tiny spike-like projectiles. Tempest reached for his back and pulled one of the projectiles into his hand, it began to glow. Tempest reached back for the throw and suddenly stopped... listening to a noise. There was a rumbling of the Earth and the rushing of the sea and a shout erupted from the brush to the right of him, "GET AWAY FROM HER!" Tempest saw the gigantic ball of wind and water energy screaming at him and merely had time to utter the words, "Oh shit" before it slammed into his arm. He was flung into a large oak tree and there was a loud snap accompanied by the splintering of wood... his arm was bent at an impossible angle. Tempest struggled to his feet gripping his arm and shouted, "Who the hell are you?" Two forms emerged from the shadows of the brush and rushed to the side of Sailor Pluto, who was feeling the effects of oxygen depravation slowly wash away.

Sailor Pluto looked up into the eyes of her saviors and smiled. One possessed beautiful turquoise green hair that seemed to flow like water about her shoulders in delicate curls. Her face was the pinnacle of grace and beauty and her movements could be accompanied by the graceful singing of a violin. The other possessed a façade of boyish charm. Her blond hair settled upon her head chaotically. Her aura was that of a woman who had ridden upon the great zephyrs and lived to tell the tale. Sailor Pluto said, "Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus, ladies it is indeed a pleasure to see you again."

Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune nodded solemnly and turned to face the tree that Tempest had slammed against, ready for a fight. Tendrils of red and black slipped out of the trees above Sailor Neptune and wrapped around her throat and waste... lifting her into the air. Sailor Neptune pulled and kicked at the tendrils pulling her upwards to the waiting arms of Tempest.

Sailor Uranus calmly raised her fist into the air and there was a gust of wind followed by the crackling of concentrated energy in her palm. The winds began to blow more swiftly around her and a ring rose from the ground to surround the energy that was collecting in her palm... then she brought her fist to the ground with a shout. "WORLD SHAKING!" The Earth under her rumbled as the ball of energy slammed through the tree that was supporting Tempest and he was forced to release Sailor Neptune, falling to the ground.

Sailor Pluto smiled as she rushed into battle with her compatriots... it was wonderful to once again have support in such a monumental conflict. There was no better support than that rendered by two of the outer Senshi. Sailor Neptune stood and the air began to chill... a sea breeze seasoned the air as a globe of water collected in her hands and she hovered slightly into the air. Two great walls of water parted around her as she shouted, "DEEP SUBMERGE!" Tempest sprung into action... warping the very air currents so that the attack was deflected back towards Uranus and Neptune. They were knocked to the ground from the concussive force. Sailor Pluto tapped Tempest lightly on the back and he turned to her with a snarl. She smiled and pointed at the end of her staff... which was charged and ready to fire, aimed directly at his chest. He laughed to himself and said, "You wouldn't.... hahahaha... ha?!" Pluto looked away and said very remorsefully, "DEAD SCREAM!"

There was a flash of indigo light followed by a dull thud and Tempest crumpled to the ground. His chest was a gaping cavity... no signs of life issued from his face and he still gripped his broken arm. Sailor Uranus and Neptune once again began to charge an attack to fire at his now mortally wounded body. Sailor Pluto looked away at first and then with tears in her eyes shouted, "NO!" Uranus and Neptune looked at Pluto questioningly and Uranus spoke sarcastically, "Oh Setsuna you can't be serious." Sailor Pluto stated, "This man is in need of our help... although he will not admit it he is not in control of his actions and we... he is merely himself a pawn in this cruel game." Sailor Neptune replied, "That is irrelevant, he is a traitor to the sanctity of reality as you so well understand and must be destroyed... that is the mission on which we were deployed. A mysterious and regal voice spoke to us... telling us to go to your aid."

Again Uranus and Neptune took their positions as firing squad and prepared to deliver the death knell to Tempest. Sailor Pluto's thought to herself, "Setsuna you can't just let him die like this... he can be reached... he doesn't have to be like all the others, you don't have to kill your heart." Her face shattered the granite exterior and she pleaded, "No please don't! I love him!" Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune lowered their hands... awestruck by what they had just heard. Sailor Pluto placed her hand to her chest and felt the steady thumping... she wanted to tear it out.

Tempest slowly reared his head and turned towards Sailor Pluto as she pleaded for his life. He wanted so badly to run to her, taking her into his arms. He longed to relive their night among the stars... gently swaying back and forth for all eternity. Then the voice that he hated more than the slowly fading pain in his chest as the cloak washed over it entered his mind. "No Tempest... do not allow your emotion to cloud your judgment as she does, you must continue with the mission and fulfill your destiny." Tempest stood slowly and he felt the smile upon his face fade to a smirk. His body was nearly fully healed now but the time for action was not now... now that they had the element of surprise. He thought to himself, "I know nothing about these new sailor scouts... I must look into this matter further before proceeding." He closed his eyes and faded away... away from the plane of reality and back to the plane in which he belonged.

Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus caught the site of his fading body and quickly shouted, "WORLD SHAKING! DEEP SUBMERGE!" Their combined power only hit air and created yet another smoldering crater in the already wounded field. Sailor Neptune blinked in disbelief and spoke, "You are a fool. Now we have no idea where he will strike again or even when... it could be any time in Senshi history. It was futile for us to render help unto you... he has already won." Sailor Pluto replied, "We must travel to the gate and watch... watch for further disturbances. He will no doubt be ready for the two of you next time and it will not be so easy. We had the element of surprise this encounter... but that man will not back down."

Sailor Pluto knew that Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune were the best associates she could have hoped for in her trials against Tempest... they are the anchors that she needed to keep both feet on the ground and not be carried away by whimsical emotion. She waved the key to the gate into the air and a shimmering portal opened... she stepped through and beckoned for her compatriots to follow. As they crossed the threshold and Sailor Pluto felt that familiar chill of the mists she whispered to herself, "Welcome to my Prison my friends."

Tempest walked into the large marble room that haunted him every night as he slept and kneeled in front of the throne before him. The throne began to turn and a voice issued from the shadow, "We have another mission for you Tempest. Tell me... are you familiar with the man known as Darien?"

TO BE CONTINUED
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