Chapter 426
"How did you survive?" Ircanite said. "I have the power now...you do not?"
"Every power has a light side and dark side. Energy does not discriminate. You have the dark side..and I have the light side," Sailor Moon said.
"But..you.."
"I am Sailor Moon, the Champion of Justice.."
He threw a bolt at her. It exploded against a shield.
"What?" Ircanite said.
"I fight on behalf of the moon and for love. Love which you seek to destroy. But today I fight for everyone, everyone on this world, and the worlds you would seek to conquer in this universe."
Ircanite built up his energy again and shot it at her.
It smashed into the shield.
"Something must hurt you!" Ircanite shouted.
"On behalf of all the lives you have destroyed, and those who must be protected..I will triumph over you!"
"Save your speeches!" Ircanite shouted and shot another blast.
Sailor Moon stood there and took it.
"You..don't understand do you?" Sailor Moon asked.
"I know what I must do to you!" Ircanite shouted.
"I will not be beaten."
"You've never been that powerful!" he snapped. "You can't stop me forever."
"No, but then again, you don't have forever to stop me," she said raising her scepter. "You Ircanite have violated the sacred rules of existence! You're punishment is banishment from this plane of existence!"
"What...that isn't...Sailor Moon.."
"I am not just Sailor Moon..I speak for all those powers that are light in this world! They are greater then I alone, but they are all with me today! You can draw on only yourself!"
"I will be enough!" he shouted. "Look at what I've already done!"
Globes of light rose from the ground. Sailor Moon stared at them. Humans everywhere. And amidst them all, the scouts, her friends...Luna, Artemas..all of them. She cried.
"They..have paid the ultimate price! No it's your turn!"
Sailor Moon wept some more.
"HAH!" Ircanite shouted and threw a wave of energy at her. She was blasted back.
"Now that's more like it! You're friends are gone forever..who can save them now! You're a little busy!"
Sailor Moon cried some more.
He built up his energy again.
"And now..it ends!" Ircanite shouted.
The attack flew out. Sailor Moon swung into it. Ircanite's eyes widened as the energy was blasted away.
"They died for me!" Sailor Moon shouted. "They all did..protect me..and now I will protect them! I cannot let them down, even if I may never see them again! Something you wouldn't understand!"
Ircanite shot another blast of energy down at her.
She hit it with a shield.
Ircanite keep the energy shooting at her.
"You cannot stop me forever!"
"I must!" Sailor Moon said grimacing. Her wand shot out pushing against the energy.
He's right though. I can't...not this way.
The energies continued to meet. Sailor Moon stared into the stream, her eyes
glazed over and then she began to remember what she was fighting for.
"Serena?" came a voice.
"Amy..." Serena said.
"Serena..you're not going to get anywhere unless you learn some discipline."
"But Amy..it's hard work."
"Serena, you don't get anywhere in life without hard work. You can't just expect everything to be handed to you?"
"But why?'
"Because that's not the way things work."
"But I'm a princess..I'm special."
"That's no excuse for not getting a good education."
"But I have to beat this game..I have to win..come on Amy..I need to beat it."
"That's not as important as the game is!"
"Pleaaseee...Amy..."
Amy stared at her.
"All right Serena," She said with a smile. "I guess reforming you is going to
take some time."
"But Serena..I shouldn't," Greg said.
"Talk to her," Amy said. "Come on, you and Amy would get along fine together."
"But..I don't know.."
"Greg, Amy's the nicest girl you could ever meet. She's perfect for you."
"Oh...I guess..."
"Trust me?"
"But..I don't want to..you know.."
"Greg...stop being so nervous and be the man! Destiny is calling, will you answer the call."
"I'm afraid that slogans like that aren't going to do it."
"Don't be silly! If you want something that bad you gotta go get it!"
"But..I'm not sure I want to .."
"You do!"
"I do?"
"Yes you do..."
Greg stared at her.
"What..are you going to make a liar out of me?"
"I...no..."
Serena smiled.
Her collar turned blue.
"Serena..won't you ever learn?" Raye said.
"You're so mean!"
"Well look at yourself! You're a wreck."
"So let me be a wreck...what do you care!"
"You keep this up and you'll always be a whiny meatball head!"
"I like being a whiny meatball head!"
"Of course you do, but it's wrong. You're selling yourself short you know."
"I am?"
"Of course you are..."
"So is that why you tease me?"
"I tease you because you're a foolish girl!" Raye snapped.
"Oh...right.." Serena said.
"What's wrong with you Rick?" Serena asked.
"Nothing..Serena...what brings you by," Rick said.
"I noticed you were acting strangely..something wrong with Raye.."
"It's me..all me...she's great you know."
"To each his own," Serena said.
Rick grinned.
"I think that's the girl. I want to spend my life with.."
"Really?" Serena asked. "You know that already."
"Well you do too."
"Oh that's right...well..I'm a little different."
"It's still destiny..."
"It is...then you gotta reach out and grab it! Take that destiny, stuff it in your pocket and save it!"
"Serena..you're not making sense!"
"What are you doing waiting here! Go tell that girl you love her!"
"Oh...uh..right!" Rick said and hurried off.
"Nice guy," Serena said.
Her boots turned red.
"Serena..you eat too much," Lita said. "But at least you're great practice for my cooking skills."
"Aren't I?" Serena asked. "You can practice on me all you want?"
"I'm afraid I couldn't afford it," Lita said with a smile.
Serena smiled back.
"You know Lita you're so good at this, I've never been good at anything the way you are. How do you do it?"
"It just sort of comes naturally. I love to do it, and I love to see others like what I'm doing it. It pushes itself. To create something like this, it's an art really..not only can you look at it, then you can touch it, taste it, smell it, sometimes even hear it."
"You're right.." Serena said. "Food is the most perfect thing in the universe."
Lita laughed.
"It's pretty close," Lita said.
"I wonder, maybe food runs everything," Serena said. "Maybe our god is just some sort of entree."
Lita laughed again.
"That would explain a lot of things."
"So you blew it again did you?" Serena asked.
"Yeah.." Steve muttered
"Guess you're just not the romantic type."
"I guess I shouldn't care," Steve said. "I mean I'm a man.."
"Yes..yes..you like to think that, but along with all the punching people, and compulsory belching you all want to share how you feel with someone and because you guys are so busy punching each other and belching in each other's general direction, that's where we girls come in. You like Lita don't ya?"
"Yes...she's the kind of girl I could get used to being around a lot."
"Think you're right there," Serena said. "You two would make quite a couple. Only problem is Lita needs someone who can lift her off her feet, and take her into romantic bliss."
"I can't do that?"
"Well..maybe you'll figure it out. I mean if you want it bad enough. That seems to work for everyone else I know."
"Well..it can't work for everyone," Steve said.
"You don't know that for sure," Serena said. "I can tell..that she means a lot to you, maybe as just a friend, you can handle friendship, nothing wimpy about that..having friends you believe in is there?"
"Nope, nothing wrong with that," Steve said.
"You see...and you want her as a friend..but if you want it to be more, I'm sure you'll find a way, maybe not today, maybe not a year from now, but maybe..twenty three years from now you'll figure it out. Not all dream romances are express delivery."
"Touching words," Steve said.
A fold of her dress turned Green.
"Oh you and your rules," Mina said.
"Mina, you can't just date seven people at once," Serena said.
"I didn't say I would, just that it would be interesting to try and balance that, I mean trying to remember all the details..."
"What could you possibly gain from it!"
"An interesting romantic experience, having a date with one guy while hiding from the other six would lead to a maxim of intrigue!"
"Since when does love need intrigue!"
"Oh..it just adds to the fun, it's kinda kinky!"
"Mina! You're sick!"
"I'm a goddess of love!" Mina said.
"Mina..you...really..need help," Serena said.
"Well..maybe," Mina said. "But then again..life is full of surprises and boredom..."
"And?"
"And what?"
"That's it?"
"What?"
"The quote Mina?"
"Oh yeah. I think I got the point across," Mina said.
Serena stared at her and then laughed.
"Well..I don't think it would made any more sense if it was something better
anyway!" Serena said.
"Hey Serena," Mike said.
"Ahh!" Serena shouted.
Another fold of her dress turned orange.
"Why can't we fight together!" Serena shouted.
"Because you'd get in our way," Haruka said.
"Yes, we have a mission to perform, it is better this way," Michiru said.
"No it isn't," Serena said. "We shouldn't have to fight each other."
"I'm sorry you feel that way, but we have our duty, and our duty cannot be compromised by weaknesses."
"Weaknesses!" Serena said. "Are you saying compassion is a weakness!"
"It is right now," Haruka said.
"Please understand the stakes are high," Michiru said. "There are many reasons why we must do what we do."
"I don't believe it is necessary to sacrifices human lives."
"And that is why you are still pure, relish it," Haruka said. "It is feelings we cannot have anymore."
"Yes Sailor Moon, you are special..you can...handle the stress of life by seeing it through a different lense entirely," Michiru said. "You are blessed."
"Oh.." Serena said. "But.."
"Duty comes first though," Haruka said.
"We are sorry," Michiru said.
"But.."
"When the fate of the world is at stake, we know what we must do," Haruka
said.
"You're music, it's like it's reaching out to someone," Serena said.
"Yes..that's true," Seiya said. "You can sense it?"
"Oh yes, I can feel it calling, I wonder if you'll get an answer someday."
"Amazing," Seiya said.
"Seiya..we have to go," Yaten said.
"Who's she?" Taiki asked.
"Someone who understands our music," Seiya said. "She can hear it calling."
"You can?" Yaten asked.
"Really?" Taiki asked.
"Yes..who are you trying to call though?"
"We...don't know," Seiya said.
"Perhaps it's you," Yaten said.
"Yes...perhaps," Taiki said.
"Oh this is hardly a memory, I want to remember you guys for being better then that," Serena said.
"Taiki..you really love Amy don't you.."
"I..don't' know..maybe."
Serena smiled.
"Yaten..oh...what can I say about you..you're just..nice.."
"Nice? That's the best you can do?"
"Well.uh..you've something to you..I guess if Luna likes you you must be very special.."
"Oh.."
"Seiya..maybe..in another world..we could be together.."
"That's all right..we have our destinies," Seiya said. "We have our loves too."
Serena nodded.
More colors were added.
"So you wish to fight me?" Sai shouted.
"No..I don't.." Serena said.
"Oh..all right.."
"Sai..what are you fighting for?"
"Whatever is worth fighting for."
"You must have a better answer then that!"
"No..not really..it changes, and sometimes I don't even know, but I fight because I have to."
"But you should relax..life isn't always about fighting."
"Ah...that' where you're wrong, fighting is necessary. Some people will always have to do it."
"Now that's not true," Serena said. "Someday..there might be peace."
"Dream if you like.."
"Sai..you accept this responsibility so willingly.."
"Not willingly...but I understand what I must do."
"I guess so.." Serena said.
"Don't blame him, he's not much of a talker," Akiro said. "So..strange sort of visions ey?"
"How do you know it's a vision.."
"I'm Akiro..these things happen."
"Stop disrupting things!" Ai muttered. "This is serious."
Akiro laughed.
"Typical Akiro, breaching the most serious elements of time space, emotions and mystic powers," Ai said.
"Hey...it's all about being Akiro!"
"If you weren't so cute I'd clock you!"
"Ai..now calm down, he's just trying to cheer me up."
"Exactly."
"I guess he is," Ai said. "He's a cutie. It is your destiny that awaits you. It all stands before you, and there is no one better suited to meet it then you."
"Well thanks for saying so Ai, but I'm just a girl.."
"No..you are the savior of this universe."
"No pressure," Akiro said.
"I know we have not known each other long...but you are going to be able to do it, I know it.."
"She's right," Setsuna said. "The storm is rising, but despite what one might call your flaws you are a girl filled with hopes, and dreams, not just for yourself, but for everyone. You are truly selfless...seeking out the pain that others feel and trying to relieve them of it! You are the true princess of the Moon Kingdom!"
"So kick some butt will ya!" Ayeka said.
"Give the enemy a nice surprise as you vaporize him," Patterson said.
"We're all with you!" the scouts shouted.
"I know," Serena said.
"I'm with you too," Darrien said.
"I knew that too..you have always been with me!" Serena said.
"Sailor Moon.." she turned.
Sailor Saturn stood there.
"I am trapped in the other realm..for now..but...I send you the hopes of all those who wait on the other side..they stand with you as I'm sure the world does now."
Sailor Moon nodded.
"I don't think this is the time for me to start whining and hiding is it?"
"No it's not!" Luna said. "So get out there and be a real leader!"
"Yep, the world is counting on you," Artemas said.
"Oh you two..a stern lecture just for old times sake," Serena said.
"Well..yes.." Luna said.
Serena smiled.
She blinked.
The energy battle was continuing.
She grinned.
"Ircanite..you have no idea what you're dealing with!" She shouted.
"What?"
"Do you really think that you standing alone in the darkness and fight off an entire planet!"
"I see only you!"
"And that's why you are going to lose!"
The energy shot from her, multicolored, sweeping upward. Ircanite was hit from all sides.
"What is happening! This power is invincible!"
"Not from us!" Sailor Moon shouted.
She leapt forward.
A glistening golden sword fell into her hands.
Ircanite let out a scream of fear as Sailor Moon swung through him. He vaporized.
Sailor Moon landed on the ground.
She looked around.
"And now...as I promised..."
White energy swirled around her.
"To all those who have died..I grant you life again..all across this galaxy! REVIVE!"
The energy flew out across the city. It shot into space and flew across the globe in all directions.
She spun as it took control of her then it faded. She stood there, in a red, white, and blue uniform. A circular golden locket sat on the bow.
"So much for that power," she said.
"I think you used it well," came Raye's voice. "You actually did something right for once."
She turned.
Her friends were all standing there.
"Oh..guys!" she shouted and ran forward into their arms.
"Well you've done it again," Lita said.
"Hey, it's what I do," Serena said.
"Good job Serena," Darrien said. "I'm proud of you."
"Naturally," Serena said.
"Don't get a big head will you?" Raye said.
"I'll get a big head if I want I saved the world, the universe even!"
"This week," The guardian scouts all muttered.
"Oh..enjoy the moment!" Mina snapped.
"Look at them.." Setsuna said.
"Yeah..wish I could be like that sometimes," Haruka said.
"Oh come on Haruka, just this once you can make an exception," Michiru said.
"Guess you're right!" Haruka said.
"I hate all this mushy stuff," Steve said.
"Yeah. Let's go rob a liquor store," Mike said.
"Good plan," Akiro said.
"What is history going to make of us?" Yaten said.
"They'll probably clean it up," Taiki said.
"Intrepid hero Mike Leslie..now that will be something to see."
"They'll be naming cities after me, you just wait," Mike said.
"So..you seem well," Hotaru said.
"Uh.." Greg hugged her.
"Oh..I see..."
"I know I'm embarrassing myself..but..I just can't help it."
"No.please..by all means," Hotaru said.
"Well once again you saved the day Serena," Amy said.
"No..we all did," Serena said. "You guys protected me..remember?"
"We did a little..." they all said.
"And so you can protect me some more..from hunger! Let's eat!"
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