Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Revolution Prophecy ❯ The Star Senshi ( Chapter 17 )

The Star Senshi

 

Usagi fell to her knees, exhausted. Her outfit ribboned away from her body as she pitched forward, held up by her own tired arms. She raised her weary head to regard the mysterious figures standing across from them atop the plateau, yet saying nothing.

Venus, on the other hand, jumped to her feet, nearly snarling. "You let them escape!", she screamed. Her entire frame shook with the severity of her temper, each step towards the group of five sounding out clearly in the night sky. "We had a chance to take care of her once and for all, and you LET her run away. Just whose side are you on?", she finished, spitting a small amount of blood from her bruised lips towards the group of warriors.

Altima slowly rose to her feet, brushing dirt from her outfit. She turned away from Venus before speaking. "I have come to the limit of my patience with you, Sailor Venus.", she said simply before walking away.

Venus leaped towards her, brandishing her golden blade and restraining Altima from behind while bringing the edge of the sword to her throat in one fluid movement. The other mysterious female began to move towards the situation before stopping as Altima held up her hand in a silent command to stop.

"What do you intend to do with that weapon, Sailor Venus?", Sailor Altima asked calmly, remaining still. "What will you gain by killing me?"

"You are an ally of the Black Lady, and nothing will please me more than to watch the lifeblood of your dark heart stain your uniform, Altima.", Venus replied, the blade resting physically against her captive's neck just before Altima faded from her grasp, reappearing a few feet away with her staff at the ready.

"You want to fight me, Sailor Venus?", Altima asked. "Will wounding you finally convince you of where we stand in this?"

Usagi stepped forward from out of the blue. "You'll have to fight all of us.", she said simply before turning to Sailor Venus. "Your friends will stand behind you."

Venus stepped away from both Altima and Usagi. "I don't NEED your help. You weren't around to fulfill your duty to our world before. No one needs you now.", she said, turning to walk away. Standing at the edge, she pointed off into the distance at the ruins of Crystal Tokyo's palace. "Meet me there tomorrow. Whether it's just you or all of your friends, I'll show you why I am the new savior of this world."

She turned to face Altima once more. "Meet me not, and no force will save you from having my blade buried in your body.", she said before disappearing in a golden aura and both teams alone atop the mountain.

Usagi stared at Altima for a moment before turning around to face her friends. "Let's go.", she said quietly. The three Senshi nodded and turned to follow as she made her way to the path that would lead down to the foot of the mountain.

"Sailor Moon, please hear me out!", Altima called out suddenly. Usagi paused and turned slowly to face the mysterious Altima. "We are not your enemy, Moon Princess. We have come to help you… even with your abilities, this is not a fight that you can win alone. We have come for the sake of your people as well as ours to put an end to this."

"If you are not my enemy, why does my best friend hate you?", Usagi said, her gaze locked at eye-level with Altima. "I will tell you this, though. If she fights tomorrow, we will fight beside her, no matter how she feels. She is a part of us."

"Our energies are better spent in pursuits other than her jealousy, Sailor Moon.", the third, still unidentified female stated. "Besides, you are a team whose powers have just been realized. You have barely seen the surface of your potential. We do not wish to hurt you."

Jamin stepped forward. "Like you and yours made much of a difference in the fight against Gemini. As much as I dislike her, I'd have to say that Krista is right. You people LET them escape."

Usagi turned back around and offered a short wave as she climbed down the steps leading from the plateau, Hiro walking closely behind. Jamin stared at the mysterious last Senshi before feeling Alyssa's hands on his arms, pulling him away. "Come on… it's time to go.", she said quietly.

Jamin nodded, slipping his new henshin wand into the waistband of his shorts. He followed Alyssa quietly down the mountain.

Once alone on the plateau, Altima turned to her companions. "Starlight, that was completely uncalled for. We need their help, and one of theirs already hates us.", she said, sighing in frustration.

The one referred to as Starlight merely laughed in response. "Oh, she doesn't hate all of us.", she said cutely, looking up at their towering team member, whose expressionless faced cracked just the slightest bit as he pushed her lightly in retaliation.

Altima sighed again before turning to Solaris and Lunaris, whom had reverted from their Senshi forms. "As for you two. Did you not HEAR me when I gave you your orders, or did you just not care? You two have no idea what you've begun. Especially you, Stephen… you had NO business taking charge of this situation.", she stated, glaring at the male.

Stephen bristled a bit, his only response being silence.

Altima disappeared in a burst of energy, her companions leaving with her soon afterward.

~~~~~~~~~~

The stars were shining brightly that night as Usagi and her party made camp under the darkened skies.

Usagi sighed softly as she sat down next to Hiro, who was lost inside the pages of another book. Alyssa and Jamin were talking quietly in their tent, the light from inside showing their fingers intertwined.

Krista watched this from afar, her expression blank as she had made her own camp near the ruins of the Imperial Palace.

She sat down with a cloth and began to wipe the surface of her golden blade, her motions stiff and repetitive as she restored the gleam to the weapon, a ritual long since established for when she fought.

Starting to speak aloud, she said. "I am conflicted. I hardly even remember my own childhood or my friends. All I know is that I have been fighting for so long and they have not. Should I accept their help? I don't know whether I can do it alone anymore…"

She pulled a small glowing sphere for her small knapsack of possessions and looked into it, seeing herself and her friends five years earlier, faces alive with youth and eyes filled with dreams. Her mother's hands were on her shoulders, and Krista frowned. "The same mother that doomed me to this life of strife. I wish I had died back then with her."

She spread her sleeping bag quietly and watched her former friends from afar, not able to hear anything. She dared not move any closer, though. She laid back against a tree and fell into restless sleep, her blade held tightly against her chest.

Hiro's eyes were on the book, but he could sense Usagi's eyes upon him, staring deeply into him. "Usa?", he asked simply, not looking up from the pages.

"We're going to fight them tomorrow.", she replied, her voice quiet.

Hiro nodded silently, shutting his book and looking up. "It appears that way, Usa. Our battle could be over tomorrow if they are the reason our world is annihilated.", he said.

"But I don't think they are!", she exclaimed. "That silver-haired one saved us from certain death. If they are the Enemy, why would she let me live? Is the satisfaction of defeating me herself greater than the opportunity to just have it done with?"

"I don't know, Usa, but Krista doesn't trust them.", he responded.

"Krista doesn't trust us either, and we need her! If she ends up fighting tomorrow, we'll have to stand by her side or she'll never join us. Even if they aren't our enemy."

Hiro nodded. "Even Krista cannot be so blind to the truth, Usa. If those five are our allies, then it will be decided tomorrow. But tomorrow is yet to come, Princess. Let your mind and body rest tonight. I'll protect you, no matter the cost."

Usagi nodded silently and and glanced over at the other tent before slipping into the tent she shared with Hiro, shared even though she knew he would never sleep inside with her in it. But such things would have to wait for another day. Alyssa and Jamin were asleep, preparing for what was to come. A battle to rival all great conflicts was going to envelop them all tomorrow.

~~~~~~~~~~

The destruction was great, and the devastation stretched as far as the eye could see. Two boys and two girls stood in the center of the vast space that used to be the Imperial Crystal Palace. The Moon loomed menacingly overhead, the new Palace of Dark Crystal visible even from the surface of the Earth. One girl held a shining crystal in her hands, then clasped it to her chest. Screams could be heard from afar, and the sounds of sadness reigned over the once prosperous central point of the planet.

From the rubble of the Palace gates, a group of people walked towards these five. They were three females along with two males, and their attire was inconsistent with the devastation and loss suffered by the local residents.

Altima stepped forward and made her voice heard.

"Sailor Senshi, hear us out. We are NOT the ones who your quarrel is with. We are the Star Senshi, protectors of the Altaris Star Empire.", she said. "We would take you to our home, where you can be safe, and realize the full extent of your abilities."

Usagi stepped forward. "Yes, we are the Sailor Senshi, but how are we to trust you? Our world is decimated, and our world was peaceful before you and your group arrived here. How do we know that you aren't trying to lead us into a trap?"

Altima replied with a look of surprise on her face. "We have not been defeated yet, and we have fought off armies on your world, the same as you. Your inexperience was a major factor in the confrontation on top of that mountain. If we were your enemy, why would we lead you into a trap when we could just destroy you where you stand?"

Jamin leaped forward. "Destroy us?! I don't know who you are, but I know that our world is enslaved and I'm sure it's because of your presence! How arrogant can you be?"

Solaris stepped forward, replying with, "We came here to help you Terrans in the time of your greatest peril! We've risked our lives to help you, and continue to do so. Perhaps by fighting you, you will realize that it is not US that you should direct your attention towards."

A golden flash filled the area as Krista appeared, thoroughly enraged. "Help US? Risking your lives for us? Yet you want to fight?? Fine! If it's a fight that you want, you'll have it!"

"Venus Star Power, Make Up!"

As Krista went through her transformation into Sailor Venus, Usagi turned to her friends. "I guess this is it. Whether she's right or wrong, we have to help her.", she said softly, her friends nodding in reply. "Let's go!"

"Moon Cosmic Power, Make Up!"

"Mercury Star Power, Make Up!"

"Mars Star Power, Make Up!"

"Jupiter Star Power, Make Up!"

As the Sailor Senshi transformed, the lead female turned to her companions and said sadly, "We have no other choice. They'll not listen to reason. Defend yourselves, friends. Do not injure them seriously. We will need them."

The lead female, Sailor Altima, turned around and called out, "Altaris Elemental Power, Make Up!"

The two other girls, Sailors Lunaris and Starlight, stood firm and called out their own transformations.

"Dark Lunar Power, Make Up!"

"Shining Starlight Power, Make Up!"

The two males, Sailors Solaris and Polaris, called out theirs as well.

"Solar Star Power, Make Up!"

"Polar Cosmic Power, Make Up!"

Sailor Altima's human form disappeared in an impressive explosion and reforming of the four elements of nature, ground, air, fire, and water. When she reappeared, she was dressed in a white sailor bodysuit that was contrasted by pure black. She held a magnificent crystalline staff in her hands with a multi-colored glowing jewel at the top.

A cloud of darkness shrouded Sailor Lunaris' human form. When she reappeared, her bodysuit was a dark grey, complimented with midnight blue. Sailor Solaris was hidden by a blinding flash of light, and he reappeared wearing a bodysuit with a pair of short pants instead of skirt. His colors were yellow and white.

Sailor Starlight's human form was bombarded by bright, star-shaped energies. Her regular clothing melted from her body, and the energy formed her outfit, which was colored in various shades of gold.

Sailor Polaris' clothing was transformed, and molded into his Sailor outfit, with short pants similar to Sailor Solaris'. His colors were earthen-toned.

Humans gathered around the site of the former Crystal Palace to watch. Murmurs could be heard from the crowd as the Neo-Sailor Senshi stood off against the Star Senshi. There was a flash of lightning in the distance, accompanied by the rumble of thunder. All the people present knew that this would be a battle to remember. Yet, none of them moved, each team of Senshi seeming to wait for the other team to make the first move.

Neo-Sailor Jupiter couldn't stand the wait anymore. He stepped forward, and called out his challenge, "Aren't any of you brave enough to attack us?!". None of the Star Senshi answered him. Angered, he attacked first.

"Fine! Let's get this done with! Sparkling Wide Pressure!" he called out, throwing a dense ball of lightning at Sailor Starlight, who quickly dodged.

There was no more waiting at that point, and the battle between Senshi began. Sailor Altima stepped back, watching the intense battle, and noticed the innocent bystanders having to dodge out of the way of stray attacks.

She spun her crystalline staff in her hands, and the jewel began to glow. "Chaos Breaker, let us make an arena for this battle." The jewel flashed, and the ground began to shake as four walls of rock rose high into the sky. She then turned to Sailor Moon and yelled, "Let us find out if you are the leader that I am!"

She spun the Chaos Breaker in her hands again, and called out, "Chaos Breaker! Judgment Blast!". The jewel atop the staff emitted a beam of mixed elements, which raced towards Neo-Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon twirled the Spiral Heart Moon Rod in her hand. "Fine! Moon Spiral Heart Attack!", she called out, aiming her crescent moon blast at Sailor Altima.

The two attacks met in the middle of the area with an explosion of extreme intensity, and then the two beams struggled against each other, both seeming to gain ground against the other, and then losing that ground just as fast. But this wouldn't continue for too long, as Sailor Altima's Judgment Blast broke through Sailor Moon's Spiral Heart Attack. Sailor Moon dodged out of the way in the sparest of time to avoid getting blasted.

Sailor Moon stood and her brooch opened, revealing the Silver Crystal beneath, pulsing and radiating with pure power. "Silver Crystal…", she whispered. "Please give me the strength to be victorious today…"

A blinding light filled the area as the Holy Grail appeared in front of her. Sailor Moon gasped and took the cup into her hands. "Mama's Grail…", she whispered in awe, finally lifting it over her head and calling out, "Crisis! Make UP!". The Grail seemed to explode with energy which flowed into her, and she reached the level of Super Sailor Moon.

"Care to try that again, Altima?", she made her voice heard over the din of battle. Sailor Altima replied with a mere twirl of the Chaos Breaker, and then pointed it at Super Sailor Moon.

"Judgment Blast!"

"Rainbow Moon Heart Ache!"

While this was happening, Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Venus were facing off against Sailor Solaris and Sailor Lunaris.

"Crescent Beam!"

"Solar Beam!"

Both narrowly dodged the other's attack, bracing off to perform them again.

"Supreme Thunder!"

"Lunar Rings!"

Sailor Jupiter's memorable lightning attack faced off against Sailor Lunaris' multiple rings of dark, star-shaped energies. They met in the middle in a small blast, negating the other's attack.

Jupiter turned to Venus and said, "I think its time for a double team!", to which Venus replied, "You got it!"

"Supreme Thunder Dragon!"

"Crescent Beam Shower!"

Sailor Venus' chain of hearts, which was augmented by Sailor Jupiter's lightning attack, raced towards Sailor Lunaris.

"Solar Blast!"

"Dark Charge!"

As before, their offensive abilities met in the middle and exploded upon contact. Obviously frustrated, Sailors Jupiter and Venus decided to try one last time, this time with their best attacks.

"Sparkling Wide Pressure!"

"Love-Me Chain!"

As their strongest attacks flew at Sailor Solaris, he and Sailor Lunaris attempted to deflect the double team. "Solarbeam Slash!", he called out, and Sailor Lunaris assisted with her Lunarbeam Blast. As the four abilities met in the middle, Sailor Venus' Love-Me Chain deflected their defensive efforts, and Sparkling Wide Pressure blasted Sailor Solaris in the center of his chest, sending him flying.

"No!!!", Sailor Lunaris cried out, leaping to catch Sailor Solaris before he hit the ground. He fell unconscious in her lap. She set him down on the ground gently and stood up. "I'll destroy you both!", she screamed at Jupiter and Venus. "Lunar Rings!", she cried out, sending an endless barrage of her rings of dark, star-shaped energies at Sailor Jupiter, who tried to retaliate. "Supreme Thunder!", he called out, but it was too late. Sailor Lunaris' attack seemed to absorb the energy and knocked Sailor Jupiter into the arms of Sailor Venus, who fell to the ground.

As this was happening, Sailor Mercury and Sailor Mars were having problems of their own with Sailor Polaris.

"No! Don't use your Shabon Spray! If you do, then none of us will be able to see!", Sailor Mars yelled out to Sailor Mercury. "Right!", Sailor Mercury replied. "Shining Aqua Illusion!", she called out.

Sailor Polaris, the only of the Star Senshi previously known by the Milky Way due to his expert control over the stasis of gravity and magnetism, merely laughed as he held his hands towards Sailor Mercury's Aqua Illusion. The attack seemed to stop in midair, and then just as fast as it had frozen, it was hurled at the ground by a massive gravitational shift.

Sailor Mars tried to reason with him. "If you are truly our ally and not our enemy, why are you fighting us?". Sailor Polaris turned to him and brought his hand up and Sailor Mars began to float in midair. "Foolish boy, why do you continue to believe that WE are the enemy? We came here to help you save the Earth."

Sailor Polaris then waved his hand, and Sailor Mars went flying into Sailor Mercury. They both fell to the ground, but Sailor Mercury quickly leapt to her feet. "Shining Aqua Illusion!" she called out. Multiple Aqua Illusion shots flew towards Sailor Polaris, who wasn't able to defend himself against them all. He was hit by multiple shots, and he fell on his knees. Sailor Mars then took the opportunity to get a hit in. "Burning Mandala!" he called out, sending flaming rings at Sailor Polaris.

Sailor Polaris tried to react but could not. Just as he was about to be bombarded, Sailor Starlight jumped towards him, grabbing him and leaping to safety. She then turned to Mars and Mercury. "Falling Stars!" she yelled, holding her hands above her head, then waving them to the ground as flaming star-shaped energies fell all around Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury. Sailor Starlight didn't give them time to recover as she kept attacking. "Starburst!" she called out, a star-shaped energy forming in her hands, which she tossed at Sailor Mars. When the star hit the ground, it burst into dozens of small star-shaped energies. Both Sailor Mars and Mercury were overwhelmed by the sudden attacks, and fell to the ground. "Falling Stars!", Sailor Starlight called out again, sending another wave of stars down on the two fallen Senshi.

"Crescent Beam!"

Sailor Starlight couldn't even turn to see Sailor Venus' stray attack as it broadsided her. She screamed as Sailor Venus' beam struck her right in the middle of her back, and she crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

The fighting continued for what seemed like hours, neither side seemed willing to accept defeat. From the outside of Sailor Altima's new "stadium", bystanders talked in hushed tones as they listened to a battle of such extremes that hadn't happened since Sailor Galaxia invaded the Earth, and only the older humans knew of that battle since it had happened when they themselves were only children.

Back inside the walls of rock, the lengthy battle was taking its toll on both sides. Sailor Mars crouched protectively over the fallen Sailor Mercury, who laid unconscious on her back near a wall. The same held true for Sailor Polaris, who protected the fallen Sailor Starlight, who was bleeding from the wound in her side.

Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Solaris had resorted to hand-to-hand combat, Jupiter employing various forms of martial arts against Solaris, who countered with a fighting style of his own. They traded blow after blow as Sailor Venus and Sailor Lunaris kept attacking each other with their Senshi abilities.

"Lunar Rings!"

"Crescent Beam!"

Each jumped and leaped to different positions, each trying to be the first one to strike the other with their ability. The fatigue was self-evident on both sides, though, as both came closer and closer to being hit.

Sailor Altima and Super Sailor Moon were still going strong, though. Both of their energy reserves were being sapped quickly, however, and the light emanating from both Super Sailor Moon's Silver Crystal and Sailor Altima's Chaos Breaker had dimmed considerably.

"Judgment Blast!"

"Rainbow Moon Heart Ache!"

And the battle raged on…

Outside of the barriers, the bystanders were all dead. Their bloodied corpses were flanked by five daemons, each laughing as the sounds of battle floated out from the middle of the clearing.

Back inside the barrier, Sailor Mars suddenly leaped to his feet. She screamed at the top of his lungs, "STOP!!!".

Surprisingly enough, all the Senshi stopped at his command, listening as the sounds of evil laughter floated in from outside the four rock walls. Super Sailor Moon fell to her knees, and groaned as her transformation reverted to Sailor Moon. The ground began to shake…

The walls began to crumble, and then fell to the ground with a deafening roar. Standing outside the walls were the five daemons that had been joined by five more, each ready to do battle with the tired Sailor Senshi.

Sailor Altima knelt next to Sailor Moon.

"Now is the time when we can show you that we are on your side. We must work together to teleport all of us to OUR home, where we can rest and train to defeat this evil. Will you work with me, Sailor Moon? We can't win if we are not together."

"I have no choice but to trust you. Our lives are on the line."

Each held their gems in their hands.

Sailor Moon called out, "Crisis! Make Up!". Sailor Moon's Holy Grail floated the both of them, flooding them both with power. Both of them proceeded into the next evolution of their transformation. When it was done, Super Sailor Moon stood side by side with Super Sailor Altima. They were flanked by Sailors Jupiter, Venus, Solaris, Lunaris, and Polaris. Sailor Mars carried Sailor Mercury and Sailor Starlight to safety, and guarded them.

Super Sailor Altima spun the Chaos Breaker in her hands and called out, "Judgment Blast!". The deadly beam erupted from the tip of the Starhelm, hitting one of the daemons full in the chest. It exploded in a blaze of fire, ashes floating to the ground.

Super Sailor Moon responded in kind with her Rainbow Moon Heart Ache. Another daemon was hit by the blast and disappeared.

At that point, the daemons began to rush the Sailor Senshi, raking with claws and various weapons. The fight began again, only this time it was eight daemons fighting against 7 tired and wounded Sailor Senshi. Sailor Jupiter gave Sailor Venus a tired smile. Sailor Venus only nodded in reply.

"Sparkling Wide Pressure!"

"Love-Me Chain!"

Sailor Venus flung her Love-Me Chain at one of the daemons, who swiftly moved out of the way, unfortunately enough right into the path of Sailor Jupiter's lightning attack. The daemon fell to the ground, fried but definitely not done yet.

"Eclipse Wave!"

Sailor Lunaris and Solaris used their abilities together to create a powerful beam of energies that spiraled around the other, blasting the daemon with full force into a wall. After wailing in its death cries, it collapsed upon the ground and turned to dust.

Super Sailor Altima turned around to watch the daemon get destroyed by Solaris and Lunaris' double beam, and was blindsided by a blast from one of the surviving daemons, who were attacking relentlessly at this point. She was knocked back forcefully, but struggled to remain on her feet. She found support from Sailor Polaris, who kept her on her feet.

"Cosmic Energy Bind!"

The daemon that had blasted Sailor Altima suddenly found itself being suspended in midair, unable to move. Sailor Altima tried to aim a blast from the Chaos Breaker, but she was still dizzy from the energy blast.

"Moon Tiara Action!"

Super Sailor Altima and Sailor Polaris turned around just as Super Sailor Moon flung her tiara at the daemon. The tiara settled itself upon the daemon's forehead, and it began to radiate light. The daemon screamed in agony.

By this time, Super Sailor Altima had just regained full control of her senses. "Energy Blast!", she cried out, blasting the daemon. It exploded in a burst of energy.

The battle raged on, and soon enough, the daemons had the advantage over the Sailor Senshi, who had lost ranks with injuries to Sailor Venus, Lunaris, and Solaris. Super Sailor Altima, Super Sailor Moon, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Polaris were left to defend themselves against 6 daemons, who showed no signs of tiring.

"Sailor Moon, we can't last much longer like this! We have to teleport away and live to fight another day!" Super Sailor Altima called out. "We have to retreat! Do you have enough energy to teleport??"

"I think so, but how can we get away with these things attacking us so fast??", Super Sailor Moon replied, dodging an fiery blast from one of the daemons. She quickly turned on her heel, spinning the Spiral Heart Moon Rod. "Rainbow Moon Heart Ache!" she called out, blasting through the second fire blast to destroy the daemon, bringing the enemy count down to five. Across the way, Sailor Polaris spread his legs, making a wide stance as he raised his arms into the air.

"Gravitational Disruption!"

In an impressive display of his mastery of gravity, he suspended all five daemons into the air. "Now!!", he cried out as he fell to the ground, his body sapped of all his energy.

Super Sailor Moon, Super Sailor Altima, responded synchronously with "Right!"

The remaining Senshi stood around their fallen comrades and called out "Senshi Teleport!" A bubble of power surrounded them and whisked them into the air as Polaris' last ditch effort wore off and the remaining daemons rushed forward.

The power bubble began to soar extremely fast and all the Senshi where whisked away from the Earth, passing the Moon on the way. From atop the Palace of Dark Crystal, a dark figure stood and watched them escape, her dark hair cascading down to her knees. Usagi strained to get a close look at the figure just before the bubble seemed to jump into a warp speed, leaving the Milky Way behind.

The three Sailor Senshi came down from their power rushes. Super Sailor Altima and Super Sailor Moon lost their second transformations while Sailor Jupiter had reverted back to human. The battle was over, and the Sailor Senshi emerged victorious…

Barely victorious…