Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Sailor Moon: Only Love can Conquer Hate ❯ Chapter 20 ( Chapter 20 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: SailorJane 
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Comedy / Action | Type: Yuri | Uploaded On: 06.18.2013 | Updated On: 06.18.2013 | Pages: 4 | Words: 4.1K | Visits: 284 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Comedy / Action | Type: Yuri | Uploaded On: 06.18.2013 | Updated On: 06.18.2013 | Pages: 4 | Words: 4.1K | Visits: 284 | Status: Completed
ONLY LOVE CAN CONQUER HATE
By SailorJane & Anonymous
Chapter Notes:
Wow, this update didn’t take 2 years again. I’m glad people are still into this story. It has been almost 3 months, thank you for waiting. Fair warning: There is some violence coming up in this chapter, as well asÉ Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
CHAPTER 20
The History of Ancient Rome; it was a fascinating read. Hotaru had always associated the people of ancient Rome as brutish and violent. Of course they could not escape those traits, but the ancient Romans developed a sophisticated democratic Republic that ruled the country for 500 years. Julius Caesar undermined the republic and began the age of the emperors. Augustus Caesar was a noble emperor and allowed Roman civilization to blossom. His successor was not the same.
Tiberius. Hotaru almost shivered reading the name. The young adult sat in bed atop her purple-colored comforter and pillows. Her window was open so the late afternoon sun could spend a little more time with her. From her angle, the sun was not in Hotaru’s eyes. It shined off the big cabinet of books she had, so packed full of literature, she wasn’t sure if her new book on Ancient Rome would fit anywhere.
Hotaru turned the page. Emperor Tiberius was not portrayed in a positive light in Robert Graves fictional novel, and the history book seemed to back up Graves’ tale. He never wanted to be emperor and instead left his rule to the power-hungry Sejanus, who did away with those who apposed him. However, Hotaru didn’t see Emperor Tiberius as conniving as the Tiberius she met at the comic-con. She was about to read about the infamous Caligula. This insane murdering emperor fit her new enemy perfectly.
BOOM!
An ear-piercing explosion caused Hoataru’s room to shake. About half of her books fell off the shelves. She accidentally dropped her history book on the bed, almost being thrown off herself. The room calmed down. Hotaru’s arms were stiff, her hands clenching the sheets. Her open eyes scanned the room, her ears were ringing from the noise. However she could faintly hear her guardian transforming shouting ‘Uranus Planet Power, make up.’ She could also faintly hear Michelle and Trista talking in the room next door. Hotaru quickly jumped off the bed and grabbed her pen:
“SATURN PLANET POWER, MAKE UP!”
Hotaru was now Sailor Saturn, armed with her trusted glaive. She opened her bedroom door and walked down the corridor. She was frightened by the sound of gunshots going off and the smell of fire. Some smoke and debris poisoned the air. She ran into Sailor Neptune who quickly slid down the staircase. Before Hotaru followed her, she saw Trista, barely holding herself up in the doorway. She held her bandaged covered chest with the other hand.
“Trista!” Saturn commanded, “Stay in bed, you’re in no condition to fight.”
“What’s happening?” Trista blurted out. She was too wounded and disoriented to see into the future.
Meanwhile more gunshots were heard before Neptune shouted “DEEP SUBMURGE!” Some male voices began to yelp in pain and Neptune’s water attack seemed to douse the flames.
“Don’t worry,” Hotaru assured her mother, “We’ll handle it!” Saturn quickly ran down the staircase.
Despite her condition, Trista saw a complicated vision. She was both proud of how Hotaru would handle herself, but also terrified of the tragedy to unfold. After pondering over her prophecy, Trista stumbled back into the bedroom.
“You want to try not to flood the house Neptune?” Uranus snorted.
The outer-senshi stood behind a couch which had a few bullet holes in the back. The floor was soaked with water and it appeared that a tidal wave of Neptune’s had broken down the door leading to the basement. It seemed to stop the wave of danger. The area had been damaged from the small explosion, and still pieces of debris and smoke made the sailor scouts squint their eyes.
“You want the house to be wet,” Neptune looked to her lover, “Or overrun by bad guys?”
Saturn finally stood next to her parents behind the couch, “What’s going on?”
“More of those assassins,” Uranus turned to her adopted daughter, “In our basement!” She turned her attention back to the basement entrance. “That’s the last time I ever do one of those comic-cons.”
No sounds were heard coming from downstairs except for water dripping and rustling. Perhaps the invaders had been dealt with. Hotaru never even saw them. Michelle turned to see her daughter was a little freaked out. Who wouldn’t be after being shot up in their own home? Sailor Neptune put her arm around the Scout of destruction and comforted her. Hotaru didn’t allow herself to be babied by this. She stood resolute and ready for battle.
“Are you down there?” Uranus shouted. No answer. “What’s a matter,” she smiled, “Can’t you swim?”
“Don’t get cocky,” Neptune took her arm off Hotaru searching for her phone. “Phone?”
Uranus picked up her phone from the couch without taking her eyes off the basement door. She tossed it to Neptune who hit a speed dial button. The silence was uncomfortable.
“Raye,” Neptune spoke to her fellow scout, “We’ve got visitors here in our own house.” Silence absorbed the house. “I don’t know, just over here as soon as you can, tell the others.” Silence again. “All right.” Neptune ended the call. She handed the phone to Hotaru.
“All right,” Amara got up, “I’m gonna go check. Cover me.” She pulled out her sword preparing for the worst.
“Be careful,” Hotaru stood up and readied her glaive.
Michelle was silent as she watched her lover slowly walk towards the basement door. Even step made the wet floorboards squeak. Sailor Uranus’ sword was out in front of her ready for battle. They had not heard a peep from downstairs. She came closer to the busted door expecting nothing.
“If you’re down there, why don’t you come up and fight like real men?”
Neptune shook her head in annoyance, but Hotaru was still on her guard.
Suddenly, Uranus turned her head to see an object coming towards her. Not knowing what it was, moving too fast to distinguish the object, the soldier of wind and earth instinctively smacked the object with her sword. The object went hurling into the living room, to Neptune’s left. The soldier of ocean knew the object was a hand grenade. Her eyes panicked. Sailor Saturn could not get a good look at the object. By now, Uranus knew what the object was, but time was short.
“Get down!” Neptune violently pushed Hotaru down to the ground, as close to the other wall as she could.
BOOM!
The grenade went off with a noticeable explosion that caught Sailor Neptune and sent her to the ground. Uranus was still close to the basement door falling without injuries. But she soon ran for her lover: “MICHELLE!”
Hotaru, free from injuries, also got up and ran, “MOM!”
Suddenly, the basement entrance was swarmed by soldiers in dark red clothes. Just like before, they were carrying machine guns. A lucky shot hit Uranus in the leg as she dove beneath the couch to cover Neptune. More bullets headed for Saturn, but her glaive deflected them. She spent her time playing defense protecting her parents. The men in the roman outfits looked determined to do away with their adversaries. Uranus was in pain from her wound but too busy focused on her lover’s more severe injuries. Michelle was having trouble breathing. Hotaru tried to turn and see what was happening but a familiar voice echoed throughout the house.
“Find the princess!”
It sounded like Tiberius’ voice but he was nowhere to be seen. It must have been some sort of telepathic thing. Sure enough, a good five or six soldiers made their way for the staircase while a few stayed behind firing rounds towards the outer-senshi. Hotaru couldn’t let them go for Trista, but she couldn’t leave her wounded parents either. What was she to do? Uranus managed to slowly bring herself to her knees, but the soldiers had reached Trista’s room.
“DEAD SCREAM!”
The soldiers suddenly went flying down the staircase from Sailor Pluto’s power. It distracted the soldiers on the floor. Uranus threw a world shaking at them. It certainly knocked them down, even getting the guns out of their hands, but they didn’t hesitate to get up. Uranus was limping, her leg spilling blood on the floor, but she held her sword up and prepared to cut the soldiers into pieces. Two of them were prepared pulling out their own knives. They were masterful swordsmen and aggressive to the max. With a wounded leg, Uranus wasn’t going to last too long with them.
“Mom!” Hotaru took the time to look at her fallen mother. She was badly injured, blood seeping through her chest. She had to save her, but she feared her healing powers were not strong enough without Mercury around. Still she put her gloved hands on her mother’s chest and used every ounce of her strength to save her. Michelle picked Hotaru’s hand off her chest and held it, like she was stopping her. The youngest outer soldier didn’t know what to do.
Sailor Pluto had finally made her way down the staircase, but she was holding her chest with one hand and the railing with the other. She was in absolutely no condition to fight.
“Trista!” Uranus was distracted by her presence.
Pluto saw Neptune’s wounded body and started to walk towards her.
Ill-timing brought more soldiers out from the basement. The first man out in the open was tanned with dark-hair. He looked like a true Roman warrior even carrying a machine gun. He was quick to fire a shot. It was a skilled shot that hit Sailor Pluto again through the chest. The soldier of time collapsed to the ground, not far from Neptune. Hotaru got up running for her tall mother, leaving herself unprotected.
Sailor Uranus dropped another weak World shaking to distract the swordsmen and ran for Hotaru. The dark-haired Roman soldier aimed for scout of distraction. Just as a bullet was about to go throw Hotaru’s head, Uranus’s back received it while pinning the youngest soldier behind the couch. Now all but one of these soldiers was severely injured.
“Forget the pawns,” Tiberius’ echoey voice came back, “Find the princess.”
The dark-haired Roman soldier, along with the others forgot about the scouts and ran up the staircase heading for Hotaru’s room.
“Oh God!” Hotaru’s eyes became teary seeing Amara’s bloody back. She was on top of Michelle who was practically suffocating to death. Trista lied a few feet from them completely motionless. Hotaru couldn’t bring herself to say anything else.
Even as badly wounded as she was, Amara sat up, struggling to cope with her pain, pushed Hotaru off, and grabbed Neptune. She tried to hold her up as well. Hotaru stood up, glaive in her hand, preparing to protect her family to the death.
Amara looked at their house. It was in flames, now what appeared to be a breeding ground for these evil people. She could only imagine how many more soldiers were waiting downstairs to kill them. She looked to Pluto, only for a second. She didn’t want to see her fallen girlfriend anymore. She looked down at her dying lover. Michelle’s eyes were focused on her. Her gentle hands grabbing onto Amara’s stronger fists. Sailor Uranus could feel that Neptune had only a little power left for one last assault. Her wind and earth powers were fading too. The wounded leg was only a scratch compared to the injury in her back. She could barely hold herself up, feeling the bullet poison her vital organs. Lastly she looked up to her adopted daughter. The sole survivor of this attack, and the only one who could help the others fight this enemy and protect their princess. She was young, and afraid, but she would stand and fight to the end. Amara almost felt fears in her eyes for what she was about to do, but it couldn’t be helped:
“Hotaru,” Uranus’ voice was weak, but stern.
Sailor Saturn looked to her guardian with fear in her eyes.
“Get out of here!”
Her eyes filled with confusion.
“Go find the other scouts,” She had a hard time speaking recoiling in pain.
Neptune’s eyes looked to her daughter.
Hotaru kneeled down face to face with her paternal guardian, “I can’t leave you.” Her voice was shaking so badly, she could barely speak.
However, Amara found the strength to carry on, “You can’t fight these people by yourself. You’ll die trying! Find Sailor Mars and others.”
“No!”
“Your allegiance is to the princess Sailor Saturn, not us!”
Hotaru began to cry.
“She’s not here!” One of the soldiers cried out. The girls could hear them talking amongst themselves.
“Sailor Saturn go! We’ll be okay.”
Hotaru knew it was a lie. She felt terribly guilty for what she was about to do. She grabbed a hold of Amara gently, and rubbed her hand across Michelle’s cheek. Michelle had tears in her eyes but couldn’t say a word.
“I love you!” Saturn cried.
“We love you,” Amara reached out for her face. Footsteps were heard running for the staircase. “GO NOW!”
Sailor Saturn reluctantly ran for the door. Bullets flew towards her, but she held her glaive out to deflect them.
Uranus watched her run out the door and sighed with relief. She looked down to Sailor Neptune and kissed her. It was painful to do, but worth it to feel the lips of the woman she loved.
“Forget about her,” the dark-haired soldier called out. The rest of them did not follow Hotaru out and instead pointed their guns towards the fallen heroes. Uranus could see one of the soldiers turning Pluto’s lifeless body around. But the dark-haired cheif of the group regained Amara’s attention, “Where’s the Princess?”
Sailor Uranus looked down to Sailor Neptune who had a different look on her face. Her eyes suggested ‘Do it’ as she squeezed Uranus’ hand giving her the energy she needed. Uranus nodded and looked back to the soldier with disdain, showing off her blood stained teeth.
“Just tell us where the princess is,” the chief asked again.
Sailor Saturn had made it outside on this beautiful late afternoon. She got a good ways away from danger. From out here, the house looked peaceful and the garden was in full bloom. This didn’t distract Hotaru from grabbing her phone to connect with Sailor Mars, but help had arrived.
“Sailor Saturn!”
Sailor Mars was running towards her along with Venus and Jupiter.
“Oh Thank God!” Saturn put her phone away and held up her glaive.
“What’s going on?” Mars asked very matter-of-fact like, “Where are the others?”
Sailor Jupiter put her hand on Hotaru’s soldier, concerned about the debris and blood on her uniform and gloves. “Are you injured?”
“No, but the others are badly. They’re in the living room, let’s go!” Hotaru ran towards the house. The other three scouts followed. “Be prepared, these soldiers-“
BOOM!
An explosion that only came around once in a while for the sailor scouts enveloped the house. It was like something out a movie. The sound was deafening, the flash almost blinding, the impact sent the girls to their knees. Smoke began to rise. The lush surrounding trees began to catch on fire. And as Hotaru regained her balance, she witnessed the scene in absolute disbelief. The house she had grown up in, with the family who raised her inside, was decimated and burning like the flames of Hell. Hotaru was absolutely speechless. She couldn’t comprehend what was happening. No over-the-top scream or cry. Just a young adult woman staring at her world being destroyed.
“No!” Venus was the only one to react vocally, “Amara, Michelle, Trista!”
Raye held onto her also watching in disbelief.
Maybe ten or fifteen seconds passed before Saturn went running towards the house. She sprinted like a cheetah. But even she wasn’t fast enough to escape Jupiter who grabbed a hold of her and brought her back.
“Stop!” Hotaru’s teary voice screamed, “Let me go Lita!”
“Hotaru you can’t!” Lita stopped her and turned her around holding her shoulders.
Hotaru tried to break free, she screamed in a way none of them had ever heard before, “My fucking family’s in there!”
“You’re not going in there!” Lita was firm about this.
“We’ll go in,” Raye started running towards the house with Mina next to her, “We’ll find them Hotaru!”
“She’s the scout of fire,” Lita held onto Hotaru.
Sailor Saturn finally calmed down and watched Sailor Mars and Venus run into the burning building.
Meanwhile, Sailor Mars blew some heavy flames and smoke away with a wave of her hands. She wasn’t completely invincible against fire, but had a lot tolerance from it’s poison. Sailor Venus was more vulnerable. She could barely keep her eyes open and held her gloved hand to her mouth. Burning buildings brought back bad memories, her supposed death back in England.
“Where’s Mercury when you need her?” Sailor Venus shouted.
Either Mercury or Neptune could get this house-fire under control very quickly. Mars could manipulate flames, but she getting rid of them wasn’t in her power. She was still able to clear a path to where the couch must have been. It was obviously the epicenter of the blast.
“Amara!” Sailor Venus shouted, “Michelle!”
The Goddess of Love began to cough.
“Venus,” Mars shouted, “I can do this myself.”
“The Hell you can,” Venus spat back. She then found what looked like a body burning to flames. “Mars!”
“I see it!”
Sailor Mars moved the flames out of the way as she and Venus examined the body as close as they could. For anybody else, even Hotaru, this would be a frightening scene to see a fellow scout burning alive. But Mars and Venus were calm. The blonde had a hard time keeping her eyes open, but she explained:
“That’s not any of them,” Venus said with a cough in-between, “Must be one of those Roman guys.”
Mars got up and cleared a greater path looking around the area. Another smaller explosion went off somewhere downstairs. Debris began to fall. Time was short.
“I don’t see them,” Mars explained. She looked up and shouted again, “Amara! Michelle! Trista!”
Venus coughed again, and came close to being crushed by the flaming ceiling. She screamed a little. Mars ran to grab hold of her.
“The house is collapsing,” Jupiter shouted from outside, “Get out of there!”
“We can’t find them!” Mars shouted back.
“Get of there Raye!” Jupiter called back.
A huge chunk of the wall came down towards Raye. Luckily, Venus was there in time to pull her out of the way. The scout of fire looked back at the wall that could have killed her.
“C’mon Raye,” Venus pulled her, “There’s nothing more we can do!”
Mars reluctantly allowed Venus to pull her out of the burning house.
Back outside, Hotaru was holding onto Lita like a frightened child. She let go as soon as Mars and Venus were outside. The blonde was coughing heavily, the priestess simply brushed off her gloves and then her face.
BOOM!
Another explosion went off as it seemed like anything still in the house would burn up in flames. All of the scouts ran away from the house further, trying to keep their distance. Hotaru could not take her eyes off the place and let go of Lita. The tallest scout still kept her arm around her.
“Hotaru I’m so sorry,” Mars came up to her. “Listen they might have gotten away. This happened to Venus back in England.”
But Saturn ignored the scout of fire and walked ever so slowly towards the house. Jupiter followed the youngest soldier hoping she wouldn’t run in. Hotaru knew that her parents were in no condition to escape a burning house. Trista may have been killed by gunshot. Michelle sounded like she was breathing her dying breaths. Even Amara, the toughest soldier she knew, looked like she knew she was at her end. The last image of Amara’s face was looping across Hotaru’s eyes over this horrific burning building.
Her family was gone.
She began to shake and breath heavily. Her legs almost collapsed as she bent over. Lita grabed a hold of her, but Hotaru screamed at the top of her lungs:
“MOM!”
Sailor Mercury’s eyes shot open. She could feel something wasn’t right, like waking up from a nightmare. on her side, she was facing her girlfriend, Sailor Moon who was sleeping like a baby. They’re gloved arms were around each other’s naked bodys. Their tiaras and chokers were the only other clothes on their heads. Amy began to ponder what it was that was bothering her. Her first instinct told her it was something back home. Then she began to overanalyze everything. She was obviously weary about all that had happened. Raye had nothing to report. Maybe it had something to do with tonight. She had finally achieved her dream of being with Serena. It was a little nerve-racking. Perhaps she was also feeling guilty about Lita. Still the possibility that something really was wrong hung in her mind. She could call Raye right now. It should still be early back in Japan. Unfortunately, Amy remembered her phone didn’t work in the apartment. She would have to take it outside and she didn’t want to wake Serena. She looked so cute lying there by her side. She was like an angel. Perhaps it was just all a big shock for Mercury. She smiled running her hand softly across Serena’s smooth skin, trying her best not to wake her. Sailor Mercury snuggled in closer to her girlfriend and allowed this most perfect sleep of her life to continue. Tomorrow would be a busy day with her girlfriend.
End Notes:
É Don’t hate me!
As always please review and let me know your thoughts. Next update might take a while, but I will get out soon.
By SailorJane & Anonymous
Chapter Notes:
Wow, this update didn’t take 2 years again. I’m glad people are still into this story. It has been almost 3 months, thank you for waiting. Fair warning: There is some violence coming up in this chapter, as well asÉ Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
CHAPTER 20
The History of Ancient Rome; it was a fascinating read. Hotaru had always associated the people of ancient Rome as brutish and violent. Of course they could not escape those traits, but the ancient Romans developed a sophisticated democratic Republic that ruled the country for 500 years. Julius Caesar undermined the republic and began the age of the emperors. Augustus Caesar was a noble emperor and allowed Roman civilization to blossom. His successor was not the same.
Tiberius. Hotaru almost shivered reading the name. The young adult sat in bed atop her purple-colored comforter and pillows. Her window was open so the late afternoon sun could spend a little more time with her. From her angle, the sun was not in Hotaru’s eyes. It shined off the big cabinet of books she had, so packed full of literature, she wasn’t sure if her new book on Ancient Rome would fit anywhere.
Hotaru turned the page. Emperor Tiberius was not portrayed in a positive light in Robert Graves fictional novel, and the history book seemed to back up Graves’ tale. He never wanted to be emperor and instead left his rule to the power-hungry Sejanus, who did away with those who apposed him. However, Hotaru didn’t see Emperor Tiberius as conniving as the Tiberius she met at the comic-con. She was about to read about the infamous Caligula. This insane murdering emperor fit her new enemy perfectly.
BOOM!
An ear-piercing explosion caused Hoataru’s room to shake. About half of her books fell off the shelves. She accidentally dropped her history book on the bed, almost being thrown off herself. The room calmed down. Hotaru’s arms were stiff, her hands clenching the sheets. Her open eyes scanned the room, her ears were ringing from the noise. However she could faintly hear her guardian transforming shouting ‘Uranus Planet Power, make up.’ She could also faintly hear Michelle and Trista talking in the room next door. Hotaru quickly jumped off the bed and grabbed her pen:
“SATURN PLANET POWER, MAKE UP!”
Hotaru was now Sailor Saturn, armed with her trusted glaive. She opened her bedroom door and walked down the corridor. She was frightened by the sound of gunshots going off and the smell of fire. Some smoke and debris poisoned the air. She ran into Sailor Neptune who quickly slid down the staircase. Before Hotaru followed her, she saw Trista, barely holding herself up in the doorway. She held her bandaged covered chest with the other hand.
“Trista!” Saturn commanded, “Stay in bed, you’re in no condition to fight.”
“What’s happening?” Trista blurted out. She was too wounded and disoriented to see into the future.
Meanwhile more gunshots were heard before Neptune shouted “DEEP SUBMURGE!” Some male voices began to yelp in pain and Neptune’s water attack seemed to douse the flames.
“Don’t worry,” Hotaru assured her mother, “We’ll handle it!” Saturn quickly ran down the staircase.
Despite her condition, Trista saw a complicated vision. She was both proud of how Hotaru would handle herself, but also terrified of the tragedy to unfold. After pondering over her prophecy, Trista stumbled back into the bedroom.
“You want to try not to flood the house Neptune?” Uranus snorted.
The outer-senshi stood behind a couch which had a few bullet holes in the back. The floor was soaked with water and it appeared that a tidal wave of Neptune’s had broken down the door leading to the basement. It seemed to stop the wave of danger. The area had been damaged from the small explosion, and still pieces of debris and smoke made the sailor scouts squint their eyes.
“You want the house to be wet,” Neptune looked to her lover, “Or overrun by bad guys?”
Saturn finally stood next to her parents behind the couch, “What’s going on?”
“More of those assassins,” Uranus turned to her adopted daughter, “In our basement!” She turned her attention back to the basement entrance. “That’s the last time I ever do one of those comic-cons.”
No sounds were heard coming from downstairs except for water dripping and rustling. Perhaps the invaders had been dealt with. Hotaru never even saw them. Michelle turned to see her daughter was a little freaked out. Who wouldn’t be after being shot up in their own home? Sailor Neptune put her arm around the Scout of destruction and comforted her. Hotaru didn’t allow herself to be babied by this. She stood resolute and ready for battle.
“Are you down there?” Uranus shouted. No answer. “What’s a matter,” she smiled, “Can’t you swim?”
“Don’t get cocky,” Neptune took her arm off Hotaru searching for her phone. “Phone?”
Uranus picked up her phone from the couch without taking her eyes off the basement door. She tossed it to Neptune who hit a speed dial button. The silence was uncomfortable.
“Raye,” Neptune spoke to her fellow scout, “We’ve got visitors here in our own house.” Silence absorbed the house. “I don’t know, just over here as soon as you can, tell the others.” Silence again. “All right.” Neptune ended the call. She handed the phone to Hotaru.
“All right,” Amara got up, “I’m gonna go check. Cover me.” She pulled out her sword preparing for the worst.
“Be careful,” Hotaru stood up and readied her glaive.
Michelle was silent as she watched her lover slowly walk towards the basement door. Even step made the wet floorboards squeak. Sailor Uranus’ sword was out in front of her ready for battle. They had not heard a peep from downstairs. She came closer to the busted door expecting nothing.
“If you’re down there, why don’t you come up and fight like real men?”
Neptune shook her head in annoyance, but Hotaru was still on her guard.
Suddenly, Uranus turned her head to see an object coming towards her. Not knowing what it was, moving too fast to distinguish the object, the soldier of wind and earth instinctively smacked the object with her sword. The object went hurling into the living room, to Neptune’s left. The soldier of ocean knew the object was a hand grenade. Her eyes panicked. Sailor Saturn could not get a good look at the object. By now, Uranus knew what the object was, but time was short.
“Get down!” Neptune violently pushed Hotaru down to the ground, as close to the other wall as she could.
BOOM!
The grenade went off with a noticeable explosion that caught Sailor Neptune and sent her to the ground. Uranus was still close to the basement door falling without injuries. But she soon ran for her lover: “MICHELLE!”
Hotaru, free from injuries, also got up and ran, “MOM!”
Suddenly, the basement entrance was swarmed by soldiers in dark red clothes. Just like before, they were carrying machine guns. A lucky shot hit Uranus in the leg as she dove beneath the couch to cover Neptune. More bullets headed for Saturn, but her glaive deflected them. She spent her time playing defense protecting her parents. The men in the roman outfits looked determined to do away with their adversaries. Uranus was in pain from her wound but too busy focused on her lover’s more severe injuries. Michelle was having trouble breathing. Hotaru tried to turn and see what was happening but a familiar voice echoed throughout the house.
“Find the princess!”
It sounded like Tiberius’ voice but he was nowhere to be seen. It must have been some sort of telepathic thing. Sure enough, a good five or six soldiers made their way for the staircase while a few stayed behind firing rounds towards the outer-senshi. Hotaru couldn’t let them go for Trista, but she couldn’t leave her wounded parents either. What was she to do? Uranus managed to slowly bring herself to her knees, but the soldiers had reached Trista’s room.
“DEAD SCREAM!”
The soldiers suddenly went flying down the staircase from Sailor Pluto’s power. It distracted the soldiers on the floor. Uranus threw a world shaking at them. It certainly knocked them down, even getting the guns out of their hands, but they didn’t hesitate to get up. Uranus was limping, her leg spilling blood on the floor, but she held her sword up and prepared to cut the soldiers into pieces. Two of them were prepared pulling out their own knives. They were masterful swordsmen and aggressive to the max. With a wounded leg, Uranus wasn’t going to last too long with them.
“Mom!” Hotaru took the time to look at her fallen mother. She was badly injured, blood seeping through her chest. She had to save her, but she feared her healing powers were not strong enough without Mercury around. Still she put her gloved hands on her mother’s chest and used every ounce of her strength to save her. Michelle picked Hotaru’s hand off her chest and held it, like she was stopping her. The youngest outer soldier didn’t know what to do.
Sailor Pluto had finally made her way down the staircase, but she was holding her chest with one hand and the railing with the other. She was in absolutely no condition to fight.
“Trista!” Uranus was distracted by her presence.
Pluto saw Neptune’s wounded body and started to walk towards her.
Ill-timing brought more soldiers out from the basement. The first man out in the open was tanned with dark-hair. He looked like a true Roman warrior even carrying a machine gun. He was quick to fire a shot. It was a skilled shot that hit Sailor Pluto again through the chest. The soldier of time collapsed to the ground, not far from Neptune. Hotaru got up running for her tall mother, leaving herself unprotected.
Sailor Uranus dropped another weak World shaking to distract the swordsmen and ran for Hotaru. The dark-haired Roman soldier aimed for scout of distraction. Just as a bullet was about to go throw Hotaru’s head, Uranus’s back received it while pinning the youngest soldier behind the couch. Now all but one of these soldiers was severely injured.
“Forget the pawns,” Tiberius’ echoey voice came back, “Find the princess.”
The dark-haired Roman soldier, along with the others forgot about the scouts and ran up the staircase heading for Hotaru’s room.
“Oh God!” Hotaru’s eyes became teary seeing Amara’s bloody back. She was on top of Michelle who was practically suffocating to death. Trista lied a few feet from them completely motionless. Hotaru couldn’t bring herself to say anything else.
Even as badly wounded as she was, Amara sat up, struggling to cope with her pain, pushed Hotaru off, and grabbed Neptune. She tried to hold her up as well. Hotaru stood up, glaive in her hand, preparing to protect her family to the death.
Amara looked at their house. It was in flames, now what appeared to be a breeding ground for these evil people. She could only imagine how many more soldiers were waiting downstairs to kill them. She looked to Pluto, only for a second. She didn’t want to see her fallen girlfriend anymore. She looked down at her dying lover. Michelle’s eyes were focused on her. Her gentle hands grabbing onto Amara’s stronger fists. Sailor Uranus could feel that Neptune had only a little power left for one last assault. Her wind and earth powers were fading too. The wounded leg was only a scratch compared to the injury in her back. She could barely hold herself up, feeling the bullet poison her vital organs. Lastly she looked up to her adopted daughter. The sole survivor of this attack, and the only one who could help the others fight this enemy and protect their princess. She was young, and afraid, but she would stand and fight to the end. Amara almost felt fears in her eyes for what she was about to do, but it couldn’t be helped:
“Hotaru,” Uranus’ voice was weak, but stern.
Sailor Saturn looked to her guardian with fear in her eyes.
“Get out of here!”
Her eyes filled with confusion.
“Go find the other scouts,” She had a hard time speaking recoiling in pain.
Neptune’s eyes looked to her daughter.
Hotaru kneeled down face to face with her paternal guardian, “I can’t leave you.” Her voice was shaking so badly, she could barely speak.
However, Amara found the strength to carry on, “You can’t fight these people by yourself. You’ll die trying! Find Sailor Mars and others.”
“No!”
“Your allegiance is to the princess Sailor Saturn, not us!”
Hotaru began to cry.
“She’s not here!” One of the soldiers cried out. The girls could hear them talking amongst themselves.
“Sailor Saturn go! We’ll be okay.”
Hotaru knew it was a lie. She felt terribly guilty for what she was about to do. She grabbed a hold of Amara gently, and rubbed her hand across Michelle’s cheek. Michelle had tears in her eyes but couldn’t say a word.
“I love you!” Saturn cried.
“We love you,” Amara reached out for her face. Footsteps were heard running for the staircase. “GO NOW!”
Sailor Saturn reluctantly ran for the door. Bullets flew towards her, but she held her glaive out to deflect them.
Uranus watched her run out the door and sighed with relief. She looked down to Sailor Neptune and kissed her. It was painful to do, but worth it to feel the lips of the woman she loved.
“Forget about her,” the dark-haired soldier called out. The rest of them did not follow Hotaru out and instead pointed their guns towards the fallen heroes. Uranus could see one of the soldiers turning Pluto’s lifeless body around. But the dark-haired cheif of the group regained Amara’s attention, “Where’s the Princess?”
Sailor Uranus looked down to Sailor Neptune who had a different look on her face. Her eyes suggested ‘Do it’ as she squeezed Uranus’ hand giving her the energy she needed. Uranus nodded and looked back to the soldier with disdain, showing off her blood stained teeth.
“Just tell us where the princess is,” the chief asked again.
Sailor Saturn had made it outside on this beautiful late afternoon. She got a good ways away from danger. From out here, the house looked peaceful and the garden was in full bloom. This didn’t distract Hotaru from grabbing her phone to connect with Sailor Mars, but help had arrived.
“Sailor Saturn!”
Sailor Mars was running towards her along with Venus and Jupiter.
“Oh Thank God!” Saturn put her phone away and held up her glaive.
“What’s going on?” Mars asked very matter-of-fact like, “Where are the others?”
Sailor Jupiter put her hand on Hotaru’s soldier, concerned about the debris and blood on her uniform and gloves. “Are you injured?”
“No, but the others are badly. They’re in the living room, let’s go!” Hotaru ran towards the house. The other three scouts followed. “Be prepared, these soldiers-“
BOOM!
An explosion that only came around once in a while for the sailor scouts enveloped the house. It was like something out a movie. The sound was deafening, the flash almost blinding, the impact sent the girls to their knees. Smoke began to rise. The lush surrounding trees began to catch on fire. And as Hotaru regained her balance, she witnessed the scene in absolute disbelief. The house she had grown up in, with the family who raised her inside, was decimated and burning like the flames of Hell. Hotaru was absolutely speechless. She couldn’t comprehend what was happening. No over-the-top scream or cry. Just a young adult woman staring at her world being destroyed.
“No!” Venus was the only one to react vocally, “Amara, Michelle, Trista!”
Raye held onto her also watching in disbelief.
Maybe ten or fifteen seconds passed before Saturn went running towards the house. She sprinted like a cheetah. But even she wasn’t fast enough to escape Jupiter who grabbed a hold of her and brought her back.
“Stop!” Hotaru’s teary voice screamed, “Let me go Lita!”
“Hotaru you can’t!” Lita stopped her and turned her around holding her shoulders.
Hotaru tried to break free, she screamed in a way none of them had ever heard before, “My fucking family’s in there!”
“You’re not going in there!” Lita was firm about this.
“We’ll go in,” Raye started running towards the house with Mina next to her, “We’ll find them Hotaru!”
“She’s the scout of fire,” Lita held onto Hotaru.
Sailor Saturn finally calmed down and watched Sailor Mars and Venus run into the burning building.
Meanwhile, Sailor Mars blew some heavy flames and smoke away with a wave of her hands. She wasn’t completely invincible against fire, but had a lot tolerance from it’s poison. Sailor Venus was more vulnerable. She could barely keep her eyes open and held her gloved hand to her mouth. Burning buildings brought back bad memories, her supposed death back in England.
“Where’s Mercury when you need her?” Sailor Venus shouted.
Either Mercury or Neptune could get this house-fire under control very quickly. Mars could manipulate flames, but she getting rid of them wasn’t in her power. She was still able to clear a path to where the couch must have been. It was obviously the epicenter of the blast.
“Amara!” Sailor Venus shouted, “Michelle!”
The Goddess of Love began to cough.
“Venus,” Mars shouted, “I can do this myself.”
“The Hell you can,” Venus spat back. She then found what looked like a body burning to flames. “Mars!”
“I see it!”
Sailor Mars moved the flames out of the way as she and Venus examined the body as close as they could. For anybody else, even Hotaru, this would be a frightening scene to see a fellow scout burning alive. But Mars and Venus were calm. The blonde had a hard time keeping her eyes open, but she explained:
“That’s not any of them,” Venus said with a cough in-between, “Must be one of those Roman guys.”
Mars got up and cleared a greater path looking around the area. Another smaller explosion went off somewhere downstairs. Debris began to fall. Time was short.
“I don’t see them,” Mars explained. She looked up and shouted again, “Amara! Michelle! Trista!”
Venus coughed again, and came close to being crushed by the flaming ceiling. She screamed a little. Mars ran to grab hold of her.
“The house is collapsing,” Jupiter shouted from outside, “Get out of there!”
“We can’t find them!” Mars shouted back.
“Get of there Raye!” Jupiter called back.
A huge chunk of the wall came down towards Raye. Luckily, Venus was there in time to pull her out of the way. The scout of fire looked back at the wall that could have killed her.
“C’mon Raye,” Venus pulled her, “There’s nothing more we can do!”
Mars reluctantly allowed Venus to pull her out of the burning house.
Back outside, Hotaru was holding onto Lita like a frightened child. She let go as soon as Mars and Venus were outside. The blonde was coughing heavily, the priestess simply brushed off her gloves and then her face.
BOOM!
Another explosion went off as it seemed like anything still in the house would burn up in flames. All of the scouts ran away from the house further, trying to keep their distance. Hotaru could not take her eyes off the place and let go of Lita. The tallest scout still kept her arm around her.
“Hotaru I’m so sorry,” Mars came up to her. “Listen they might have gotten away. This happened to Venus back in England.”
But Saturn ignored the scout of fire and walked ever so slowly towards the house. Jupiter followed the youngest soldier hoping she wouldn’t run in. Hotaru knew that her parents were in no condition to escape a burning house. Trista may have been killed by gunshot. Michelle sounded like she was breathing her dying breaths. Even Amara, the toughest soldier she knew, looked like she knew she was at her end. The last image of Amara’s face was looping across Hotaru’s eyes over this horrific burning building.
Her family was gone.
She began to shake and breath heavily. Her legs almost collapsed as she bent over. Lita grabed a hold of her, but Hotaru screamed at the top of her lungs:
“MOM!”
Sailor Mercury’s eyes shot open. She could feel something wasn’t right, like waking up from a nightmare. on her side, she was facing her girlfriend, Sailor Moon who was sleeping like a baby. They’re gloved arms were around each other’s naked bodys. Their tiaras and chokers were the only other clothes on their heads. Amy began to ponder what it was that was bothering her. Her first instinct told her it was something back home. Then she began to overanalyze everything. She was obviously weary about all that had happened. Raye had nothing to report. Maybe it had something to do with tonight. She had finally achieved her dream of being with Serena. It was a little nerve-racking. Perhaps she was also feeling guilty about Lita. Still the possibility that something really was wrong hung in her mind. She could call Raye right now. It should still be early back in Japan. Unfortunately, Amy remembered her phone didn’t work in the apartment. She would have to take it outside and she didn’t want to wake Serena. She looked so cute lying there by her side. She was like an angel. Perhaps it was just all a big shock for Mercury. She smiled running her hand softly across Serena’s smooth skin, trying her best not to wake her. Sailor Mercury snuggled in closer to her girlfriend and allowed this most perfect sleep of her life to continue. Tomorrow would be a busy day with her girlfriend.
End Notes:
É Don’t hate me!
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