Chapt Seven: The End or The Beginning

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"A shadow is something that never shows itself; something without form, something shapeless... something not seen."

[From "Wrath of the Ninja: The Yotoden Movie"]

"You are free to sever the chains of fate that bind you."

[Legend of Dragoon opening]

CHAPTER SEVEN: The End or The Beginning

Started: December 16, 2000 Completed: December 23, 2000

"Introductions over, let's get started, shall we?" Daara's solid eyes narrowed as she smiled darkly. The small dragon at her neck shifted a bit, head moving to the side.

"Jupiter Oak Evolution!" "Mars Flame Sniper!" "Comet Beam!" "Star Serious Laser!"

The call of attacks moved on, each one rapidly attacking after the other. Within just a few attacks, however, Daara's form appeared floating above the group. Once she was recognized, a volley of blasts were let loose from her open hands as she aimed at them.

"Spread out!"

The group scattered, diving out of the way. Eternity hit the ground hard and winced at the electric pain that jolted up her arm from the landing position. She gritted her teeth bearably and glared up towards Daara. /How is this going to work? There's no time to set up a plan… damn!/ She pushed up with both hands, flinging herself into the air just in time.

A few feet away she landed and assessed how the others were. She winced when she noted that things weren't going so well. /There's going to be others lost… I feel it…/ Worried, she glanced towards Eternal Sailor Moon. The Moon senshi was well protected by Tuxedo Kamen, at least she needn't worry about her yet. /Protect her well, Mamoru-san./

"Comet Beam!"

Eternity Fighter used the attack as a blind as she charged into the power and drew out the lean crystal sword. She cut down… but found nothing. "Nani?!" she cried.

"Pathetic trick."

Daara's elbow slammed hard into Fighter's spine and she was forced earthwards again, hitting the ground hard on her stomach. "K'so…" she whispered, coughing a bit of blood from her mouth.

"Now, we get of all your little new powers. Anubis was caught off guard and your strength had just been given to you when you defeated him. You don't have the strength, now, you just have new little tricks that do nothing… and you have myself… and I fight better than he did." Daara smirked as she settled to the ground before Eternity Fighter's face. She raised a sharp-heeled boot, "Just how strong are you? I doubt you have any more power than you ever had… power-ups, they're completely over-rated." She laughed sharply and slammed her booted foot down against Fighter's face.

Crying out in pain, E Fighter tried to react but the heel only dug deeper along her jaw.

"Fighter! Jupiter Oak Evolution!"

Green light swept overhead and through a dazed mind, Fighter realized the boot was off her face. Daara had turned to meet her next opponents. Sailor Mars, SS Jupiter, SS Mercury, and Sailor Mercury stood facing her. Quirking an eyebrow in interest, "Seems you're missing two, doesn't it?"

Ignoring the comment, the senshi called forth their attacks, praying them to combine. Two shades of blue along with red and green merged into a bright light and headed straight for Daara. The woman didn't flinch as she stood there calmly. The dragon on her shoulders watched with a lazy gaze. At the last minute it opened its jaws towards the senshi and a reddish-orange dome formed about Daara. The power flew right past the dome, only causing Daara's hair to whip about her face.

"You need to plan," she stated coolly. "Now… Shiné!!"

Sailor Mercury saw the power build up in her visor, wide blue eyes staring in horror. She jumped in front of the others, screaming out wordlessly as blue power burst from her to build in front of them. /If only I can…/

"Mercury!" Sailor Jupiter shouted from her position beside SS Moon. "No! Ami!"

/I have to do this! Mercury, help me!/ Sailor Mercury squeezed her eyes shut tightly and forced more of her own ki into the shield. She felt her senshi fuku slip away and she was left in her regular street clothes that she had been wearing earlier.

Someone stepped beside her and she was surprised to feel SS Mercury's presence. "I might as well die usefully," her older counterpart stated lightly, but she could hear the undertone.

"Oh…" she'd forgotten all about that if she died, SS Mercury would die. "I… I'm sorry!"

"No need to be. Help me, now!"

Their powers combined, blasting in every direction, knocking back Daara's next attack. The woman snarled angrily with her plan's failure and directed her attack differently. "Let's see you stop this…" The dragon on her shoulder began to glow as it rose up and floated before her, staring down at the two ice senshi. The next minute the small dragon was a blur of color as it sped down towards the powerful shield. Once it was one foot before the younger Ami's face, it opened its mouth to let out a blast of fire.

It struck the girl straight on and Ami screamed out, breaking her concentration.

"No! Don't-Aaa!!!" SS Mercury was flung back towards the nearest warehouse and tore through the walls and somewhere into the building where loud crashing was soon heard.

Sailor Mars was flung into the air with SS Jupiter and both cried out as Daara's attack broke through the last remnants of the blue shield.

SS Mars collapsed to the ground before Eternal Moon. "Usagi-chan!" she cried, feeling her ki flicker dangerously. Biting her lip in pain, she raised her eyes to Tuxedo Kamen as he knelt before her worriedly. "Mamoru… Mamoru-san… please… protect Usagi-chan… kudasai…" She managed a weak smile as tears from her eyes. "Kudasai!"

"Rei-chan!" ES Moon called, reaching out for her friend just as her essence vanished, leaving nothing at all. "Rei-chan! Ami-chan! Mako-chan!" she sobbed.

Dust continued to rise about the ground as Daara once more floated out from it. "Aa, loosing my pet is an acceptable price. Hmm. I do not remember seeing another Jupiter, might she be here somewhere?" Her dark eyes searched and found her beside SS Moon. "There you are. You're turn."

"No way!" Jupiter shouted, eyes tearing. "There's no way you're just getting away with that! I won't let you get away with it!"

"Honto?" Daara questioned, amused. A staff of energy appeared in her hand as she walked slowly towards the senshi. Her boot heels clicked ominously against the hard ground and resonated off the buildings surrounding them.

Eternity Fighter squeezed her eyes shut tightly to hold back the tears. /Damnit! I'm not recovered enough… how can I be any help…?/ She watched forlornly from her spot on the ground and stared helplessly as Daara prepared to cut Jupiter down.

Suddenly her view was blocked by three pairs of boots. Wondering, E Fighter tilted her head up a bit and could make out the basic features of the three before her. "Daijoubu desu ka?" A hand reached down to help her up. Fighter did her best to stand on her own but was still too weak so another pair of hands steadied her.

"Why aren't you helping her?" she accused once she found her voice again.

Pluto shook her head, "Saturn is calling forth her shield but it won't do much good. Hopefully it will be up long enough to retrieve the Princess, but I'm not sure how Jupiter will fare."

"Will you even try to save her?!" E Fighter demanded angrily.

SS Neptune gazed at her with a heavy stare. "Sailor Uranus is going to do her best, but she also must survive this. I'm afraid, for now, the only other person beside yourself that you look out for is the princess."

Fighter hung her head, pressure building within her temples. "But that so selfish," she whispered.

"Silent Wall!"

The call caused the three outer senshi and Fighter to look back to what was taking place. Daara enforced her power against Saturn's defiant wall. The dark senshi firmed her stance, transmitting more of her power into the shield. Behind the flickering wall, E Fighter noted that, Sailor Uranus was rushing in and pulling SS Moon along, grabbing Jupiter last second before they began running for shelter. Daara dismissed her attention from Saturn and aimed towards Jupiter's back.

Narrowing her eyes, power grew before her and she raised a hand to point at the retreating back. "Shiné," she whispered.

Jupiter gasped, back arching over in pain as she was hit. She fell to the ground just as Sailor Uranus pulled SS Moon up onto a rooftop. They looked down and Uranus growled to herself. /Damnit. Just a little faster and…/ She'd known it was pointless. Daara knew how to get what she wanted. /But now the question is…/

/What does she want next?/ SS Neptune mused, her lips pressed thin.

"Giant Wave Tsunami!" "Black Wing's Flight!" "Star Fox Blaze!"

The last attack was called wordlessly as the four attacks consumed Daara. The dust cleared and the woman still stood, but this time she was wounded. Looking angrily at the four that stood around her, she snarled. Solid eyes flaming dangerously, she sent off power at each senshi on all sides. Shields, however, prevented her from getting through. Surprised by this, she sent a more forceful attack… still not getting though.

"Nani…?" Sailor Neptune murmured. For one thing, Crow and Siren were supposed to be back at the temple, and second… how were the four fighting off the attacks?

The anima-mates wore stone expressions, only determination showing through. Slowly, one-by-one, their auras began to glow visibly and their arms reached high into the air.

Crow through back her head, eyes closed: "Tsuki no hikari sore wa buruu no, Inku no you ni shimite kuru no sa, Yoake made Close me tight, Mono uge ni kanashimi o utattara mata modoreru yo..."

Siren followed her example, crying out: "ano nayamashisa setsunasa, ano eien ni inoru yo, ano shibireruyouna toiki mo, tada tsuka no ma no yasuragi mo, dare ga ubaeru mono ka?"

Mouse snapped her fingers twice before calling out her phrase: "nokosareta tamashiiwa, mezameno nai yamiwo samayou, tsurai koto bakari dattane…"

Star Kit was last and before she tossed her head back, she looked towards Eternity Fighter. With a soft smile, she turned away: "sasayakiga kikoketa, darenimo kikoenai koe, eien no nemuri samasunowa, maiochiru hikarino kakera, OH, TELL ME WHY oshiete kure, moichido kanawanai yumeno, yukusakimo

...THE END OR THE BEGINNING."

In unison, they finished: "sasayakiga kikoeta, darenimo kikoenai koe, sasayakiga yonderu, mezameru kodono kioku"

An immense power erupted skyward as the phrases were concluded. The four energies combined in a pyramid-shape above and around the five-person group, in each corner stood the anima-mates. While the others held concentration and worked on keeping Daara in check, Star Kit turned slightly and raised a glove up to wave goodbye.

"My friends…" she called, "sayonara. I will see you… on the other side." With that, she turned around and let out a loud cry. The light was blinding, but however was contained.

Coughing on smoke, the remaining senshi stared in a sort of horror at the place where their friends and enemy had been just minutes ago. All that remained was a jagged, four-sided hole leading down into the ocean below. Ashes scattered on the breeze, mixing with the smoke and smudging on senshi fukus.

"Siren… Crow…" "Nezu…" "Kit…"

"Oh well."

They all turned as soft footsteps resounded. The shorter female now was walking towards them with a simple painted, closed-lip smile on her face. Her whip sang through the air as she snapped it once. "I never did think they would last. But I'm surprised that Daara did not succeed in the rest of her mission. I guess the anima-mates were underestimated." She smiled wider, eyes darkening and narrowing with a dark glee. "That just proves how very upset Fate can become."

"I will finish off her mission. Let's…" her whip sang out and caught Sailor Neptune's arm and drew her towards the female, "go!" The dark-colored whip bit deeply into Neptune's arm and she cried out in pain as she was thrown to the ground.

"I want you to know," the female whispered as she leaned over the struggling senshi, "this is nothing personal. I actually rather like you outer senshi…" Her eyes flicked over. "Except that Guardian that thinks time must never change. That is all. Sayonara zutto!!" Without warning, the end of the whip burst to life with a blazing fire that caught onto Neptune's glove.

Shocked, the senshi pulled away; this time the whip let go. She began working on putting out the fire just as SS Neptune came up to help her. The jester-clothed female widened her eyes slightly…

The flames skyrocketed as two identical screams rushed through the air.

The blaze continued as the girl walked forward, eyes changing focus between Saturn, Pluto, and Uranus. "Just you three, now? Aa, yes. Anubis defeated the late Super Sailor Uranus, didn't he? Such a pity. She did have such spirit."

"World Shaking!" "Dead Scream…!"

The girl caught the two attacks with either hand and held the swirling power above her head. "Oh, how lovely! But I'm afraid these gifts will have to be returned!" She shot the attacks back at the owners; the Dead Scream going to Uranus and World Shaking charging at Pluto. The Time senshi was able to block and knock away most of the attack but Uranus was not so fortunate.

Most of the dark blue skirt was torn away, leaving bloody marks smeared all over her left thigh. She was wincing painfully and clutching one arm. "Damnit Pluto! You have a powerful attack!"

The Time senshi ignored her. /If it were so powerful, then it could have helped a long time ago!/

"Silent Wall!" Saturn brought up her shield to protect herself, Pluto and Eternity Fighter just in time. Holding strong, she chanced a glance at fighter. With her more mature body came a better developed mind and she stated, "That one is after the outer senshi now. You still have time to live… Fighter, I can see the power in you. I feel it! Try… try to protect our princess." Her eyes lowered but her strength did not waver from the shield. "I'm holding this to let you escape! Go now!"

Eternity Fighter stared with a sad understanding at the older Saturn. She was also surprised when she felt a warmth spread through her and she saw a lavender haze about herself and Saturn.

"I have healed your wounds… Please."

Pluto finally turned to E Fighter, her face strong yet eyes betraying the despair she felt. "Saturn is right, your power is immense. We must believe in you, for I don't think the princess is strong enough to do this. Fighter…" She stared deep into the cornflower eyes. "Destiny has already been far too much destroyed. What you fight for… it's for this world. It is no longer for their future."

"I believe in you. Please do this, Fighter…" If there was more Pluto was going to say, it was cut short as the sound something akin to broken glass began to reach their ears. The Time Guardian shoved E Fighter a few feet away and then turned to face the shield that broken. Pieces, like shattered glass, of Saturn's shield flew back at them, cutting away and sending both senshi into the ocean with a splash.

"NO!" Eternity Fighter screamed. "Setsuna-san!!"

A blast about twenty meters away alerted of Uranus' defeat.

Gasping for air, E Fighter shook her head. "Nonononono…." She murmured, not believing it. /This can't be happening! How could it be? They're defeated so easily? No! How can this be?!/

*** *** ***

Tsuki no hikari sore wa buruu no Inku no you ni shimite kuru no sa Yoake made Close me tight Mono uge ni kanashimi o utattara mata modoreru yo...	Moonlight It penetrates Like blue ink Until the dawn close me tight Singing sorrow until you return...
ano nayamashisa setsunasa ano eien ni inoru yo ano shibireruyouna toiki mo tada tsuka no ma no yasuragi mo dare ga ubaeru mono ka?	That pain, that oppression That eternal prayer Or that numbed sigh Or that momentary tranquility Are they things that someone can take away from me?
nokosareta tamashiiwa mezameno nai yamiwo samayou tsurai koto bakari dattane	The remaining soul is... wandering in the darkness that never wakes. There were only painful things.
sasayakiga kikoketa darenimo kikoenai koe eien no nemuri samasunowa maiochiru hikarino kakera OH, TELL ME WHY oshiete kure moichido kanawanai yumeno yukusakimo ...THE END OR THE BEGINNING	I heard your whisper. No one else can hear it. The pieces of moonlight fluttering down... are waking the infinite sleep. OH, TELL ME WHY tell me... one more time, the destiny of... an impossible dream. ...THE END OR THE BEGINNING
sasayakiga kikoeta darenimo kikoenai koe sasayakiga yonderu mezameru kodono kioku	I heard your whisper. no-one else can hear it. the whisper is calling me. the memory of heartbeats awakens...

Cool Moon - a Yoroiden Samurai Troopers image song

Bronze -Saishuushou- -- ending theme to Bronze

Jesus Christ love For you -2nd song from Cathexis (part of the Bronze/Zetsuai series)

Moonlight Eternal Mobius -5th song from Cathexis (part of the Bronze/Zetsuai series)