Chapt Eight: Yumemiru Umi mo

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

"Just who are you!" SS Moon sobbed from her position beside both Tuxedo Kamens, the other Sailor Moon, and S Fighter.

Her eyes lingered on ES Moon's face as a dangerous glint entered her eyes. Tuxedo Kamen stepped forward, blocking Rionna's path as he held up a fist full of steel tip roses.

Rionna clasped her hands behind her back and leaned forward. "Ooo…how pretty. For me?" Her lids lowered over flashing eyes. "How thoughtful." The caped man went flying into the air as both hat and mask fell off to expose Chiba Mamoru of the present day.

"No! Stay back!" he called, feeling the power that began to grow around him. A hazy box formed about him and began to crackle with energy. Soon enough lighting bolts of electricity sparked off to slash at his outfit and tearing into his skin. He bit his lip to hold back screams of pain, but his lip only bled, a small droplet of blood forming before trickling down his chin.

The attacks only increased on the inside, making Eternal Sailor Moon cry out in despair to see her love being hurt only more by her attempts to free him. She slid to a kneel before the crackling energy and pounded against the ground furiously. "Mamo-chan…!"

Rionna's attention had long ago turned away from that scene and to the others at hand. The three were taking up fighting stances but were weary, obviously knowing there was nothing they could do to fight her off. She had to laugh. "You give up so easily? Do you not believe Sailor Moon will come through, once again, to save everyone? This Earth? This Destiny? This pathetic Fate? You rely too much on Fate and Destiny!"

She cracked her whip, sending away the roses within Tuxedo Kamen's hand. Next she cracked away the scepter that SS Moon had been prepared to use. Both let out frustrated cries just as Fighter tried her attack.

Rionna shoved it away with a hand and let it crash through the gaping hole where Daara had been destroyed. Looking bored, Rionna called out in a morbid, child-sounding song:

"First attack, second attack, third attack lost… on the fourth attack, Mother was killed, Father, daughter, too. First attack, second attack, third attack lost… tears were sent to the underworld and that's where you'll go too."

"You sick little bitch!" Fighter finally screamed, charging ahead, heedless of the consequences, and attempted to tackle the small female. Just as he hands slammed into the small frame, Rionna lit up with power. Fighter gave out a painful shout as she was thrown high into the arm and roughly back some forty meters away through a warehouse wall.

Smirking with triumph, Rionna turned to the last set of doubles. "Seems you are the only… `two' left. How absolutely pathetic! I thought that the Starlights would be more of a fight… how I overestimated them. You will be even easier than that last little bug."

Energy built up even more within the box Tuxedo Mask was suffering in. Noting that ES Moon was still by his side, Rionna vanished… then reappeared right beside her. She bent down and whispered "Boo!" right into Eternal Moon's ear. Her fingers were already at the blonde's throat and after her exclamation, a beam shot through her fingertips and cut right though the blonde's body.

There was absolute silence that followed, it was such a shock. Such a shock to think that the only one who had ever been able to protect the Earth was dead. Only her younger and weaker counterpart left. Or at least that's how the three senshi viewed it. Rionna had her own way of viewing the situation as she stepped back to her previous position.

"Tuxedo Kamen," she called, bringing the free masked-man to face her. Her glared at her and snarled angrily, charging with a powerfully-charged rose within his hand. Rionna allowed him to run up to her, even to let the rose plunge into the hallow of her neck. But she had a sharp, short dagger already in hand waiting for him.

He was blind to it until he, himself, had impaled himself on the blade. Gasping in shock, he fell to the ground as Rionna released her hold on the blade. She cast him a pitying look as he coughed up blood, body convulsing. Within his own box, the elder Tuxedo Kamen was also weakening, slowly loosing what little life he had left.

But the cry was not Sailor Moon's. Surprise passed over Rionna's and Moon's face; Rionna whirled around to find Eternity Fighter flaring with raw power the lifted her hair into a float about her. The crystal sword was formed in one hand and in the other she held a chain with a scythe on the end.

"I will NOT allow you to WIN this war! Too many have died at YOUR hands, at your orders! I will kill you PERSONALLY!"

Tears were running from fighter's face as she address SS Moon. "I was told to protect the Moon Princess… and I have failed to do that for the one of the present. I cannot allow you to die now! I have a promise! Rionna, you fight me! And ONLY me! We settle this NOW!"

Her power blazed even higher, causing wind to whip about the battle field. Surprise reached the rest of Rionna and she stepped back just a few steps out of shock.

"Well," she turned her lips to smile. "This will be a most interesting challenge. I accept your offer, Fighter. Let us have at it."

She jumped into the air, dropping down towards Fighter. The other moved back quickly, allowing Rionna to slam into the ground and causing a small crater to form.

They began slashing out, physically and magically as they practically flew around the ruined docks. Super Sailor Moon could only sit off to the side, sadness pouring down her face in the form of tears as she tried to keep and eye on the battle. But they were moving so fast that she could hardly see anything-only blurs of color.

Her chest grew warm as the silver crystal appeared in the air before her. Bowing her head, she let the power flood through her, granting her the dress Serenity wore along with the symbol marking her of Moon heritage.

She prayed with the crystal cupped in her hands and power flowing from her into Fighter. Mumbled chants rolled from her lips as she tried to keep up a small shield and heal any wounds that Fighter received from Rionna. She knew that it was about all she could do.

/I'm sorry for not helping more. Fighter… Please win this…! I would still like to make an acquaintance with you in the future!/

She was loosing, any fool could see that. But she couldn't believe it… her, losing? She had planned so well, gathered all the power, gained everything so all the plans would work out accordingly. Fate seemed none too pleased to be tampered with. Destiny wasn't exactly in her best moods either.

"Damn," she muttered, holding off the on-coming sword, "they seemed to have gotten Luck to ruin me." She had to laugh at herself mentally for the way she was talking. Then again, that was how her mind worked. Or most of it. The more… mature, if you could call it that, side was thinking the whole thing was a screwy idea that never should have been put into action.

"Never tempt Fate, eh?" She asked loud enough for her opponent to hear. "If you make it out of this alive I suggest you never tempt Fate. I'm afraid she gets really pissed when she's tampered with."

Eternity Fighter seemed to ignore her and pressed on, adding another gash onto Rionna's arm. It was very frustrating for it seemed that whenever Rionna wounded Fighter, the skin closed over it immediately, healing. Scowling to herself, Rionna knew she shouldn't have waited to kill of the younger Sailor Moon.

"Ready for the final act, koi?" Rionna shouted, charging her body up for the final attack. Fighter seemed disgusted at the name she was given and was glaring dangerously at Rionna as she swung again. This time the shorter female dressed in red flew up into the air. She just needed a few seconds to finish her ki build up and then she would rejoin Fighter for the grand finale.

Rionna watched from her high position as Fighter seemed to battle with herself if she was able to levitate up to Rionna's height. "Oh I don't think so," she murmured, face turning cruel. She felt her power click and slowly begin to thrum, her heartbeat growing faster.

Fight had a stunned looked on her face as Rionna latched her arms around Fighter, pinning her arms down as they somehow slammed through the layers of concrete and then down into the ocean below. They continued to fall, deeper still into the murky depths of water.

Lungs, deprived of oxygen, began to ache painfully in Fighter's chest as she struggled against Rionna. The water, instead of cooling, suddenly began boiling hot around them. Startled, Fighter focused her attention on Rionna… and finally realized what was about to happen.

Sailor Moon, now in Serenity's form, sprinted over as fast as she could to the rough hole that Rionna and Fighter had created as they had disappeared. Terribly worried, she gazed down into the dark depths and wondered what was happening.

After minutes of nothing, the water began to boil, bubbles splashing and burning her legs. Surprised, she couldn't force herself to move once she saw the dark red that was glowing steadily brighter. Eyes wide with terror, she began to scurry out of the way just as a fountain of water exploded up. The ground beneath her shook and it began to crack into huge pieces. Still bodies of senshi fell with the rubble into the water just as she did.

The waves lapped quietly near her feet as dark eyes slowly opened. The sound of the waves-the only sound, she noted-was relaxing and peaceful. It reminded her why Michiru and Haruka so loved to stay by the ocean and just sit, watching the sunset. The sunsets were so pretty, just the same as the sunrises were… like this one.

Slowly she forced herself into a sit and stared off across the ocean. She reached a hand down to steady herself, only to have it rest in blond strands of hair. Surprised, she turned her face down quickly to find Minako laying next to her, dressed in her school uniform with a serene look on her face.

"We're…" she stood up quickly and glanced up and down the beach. Sure enough, the senshi from the `present' day were all laid out on the quiet, abandoned, sandy shore.

A few bodies down, there was some movement. Hurrying over to the blue-haired girl, she helped her sit up. Still unfocused eyes opened.

"Setsuna-san…" she murmured softly, slowly focusing her attention on the Time Guardian. "Oh! I thought we were really dead!" she cried suddenly, latching herself into an embrace with the usually distant Setsuna. The Guardian, however, was quite surprised at the action and began to chuckle lightly and she rubbed a comforting hand over Ami's back.

And so they went up and down the beach, shaking shoulders and rubbing hands as they worked on first awakening the inner, then outer senshi. The Prince and Princess came next and soon following was the anima-mates. Chibi-Usa and the cats, however, were no where to be seen so they all hoped that they were alright.

Kitsune, awakened with the anima-mates, was frowning. "But I don't feel them. That worries me. As a Starlight… I'm supposed to feel them at all times. Does anyone actually know what happened?"

The others, sans Setsuna and Hotaru (and of course Mamoru himself), stared at her in shock. "You… you were… killed?" Rei managed, stunned.

Gravely Usagi nodded her head, looking down and then burying herself in Mamoru's embrace. Mamoru was looking disturbed. "I was trapped, Rionna killed off my younger version and so I did not see much after. Super Sailor Moon was the only one left."

That made Hotaru frown. "But," her voice was still surprising with its lower tone, "she would not have the power. Not even Eternal Sailor Moon would have the power to defeat the creature."

"Their powers are different, stronger, because on Earth they are calling power from their own home planets along with elements of magic here on this planet. The two forces combined create a powerful attack. With their skill they can use it correctly and destroy nearly anything. That is what Maker tried to do, yet something went wrong. The anima-mates and Star Kit finished Daara with their techniques combined together. Fighter... Eternity Fighter had that strength."

"Let's split up and look for them," Nezu suggested with worry. "They can't be too far, right? We were all right here."

And so their search began. Small groups of two or three split off and walked all about the beach. It was finally Usagi who found the three on her own. She came over the top of a slight hill and looking down she found the three Starlights.

Laying side-by-side, they were clothed in simply, long dresses from Kinmoku. Maker's brown was braided loosely and went over one shoulder to end just above where her hands rested on her chest. Fighter's hair was worn down, black strand steaming across the ground while her hands, too, were clasped over her sternum. Healer also wore her hair down in a position identical to Fighter.

"Okay, you three," Makoto smiled down at them, "time to get up and find out what happened." She knelt beside Maker and shook her gently. When she received no response, she shook her harder. "Maker…? Taiki-san?"

Setsuna's face darkened as she observed the three immobile senshi. Somehow she had guessed this was te case. /But why…?/ she wondered.

"Oh no!" Minako burst into tears quite suddenly and held onto Rei for comfort. Haruka knelt down beside Fighter and slowly extended a hand to see if she could find anything out on the black-haired starlight.

Usagi clung to Mamoru tightly, hiding away from the sight as tears began to overflow. It just wasn't fair! Why were they resurrected and not the Lights?

A warmth filled the air as a gentle, sweet smell drifted to their sense of smell. Recognizing it, Usagi turned hopefully as Kakyuu-hime appeared at the head of her Starlight trio. The red-haired princess looked forlorn as she knelt down and stared lovingly at her senshi.

It was a long while before Kakyuu-hime lifted her head and smiled sadly. "No… no I cannot. My precious Lights are connected," she explained softly. "Since they have this connection, none of them is allowed to be resurrected. Rionna, the demon, resorted to her last attack of destroying herself and using her power to rip through all that she could. Since she was physically in contact with Fighter… since that, Fighter's soul was lost and thrown away. The senshi of her is gone. The same goes to Maker and Healer."

The princess bent over Fighter's head and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. She murmured a few words and the body shimmered, slowly fading from sight. The other senshi gasped, beginning to protest. Kakyuu-hime turned to Healer next and repeated the action. And then the same she repeated on Maker.

Kakyuu-hime stood. "My Lights… they are gone. Somehow I already knew that I would never seen them again when they first left for this." Minako sniffled loudly into Rei's shirt. "You… you don't have to cry. It is their senshi… the Starlight spirit that is dead."

Slowly the princess smiled. "Come, anima-mates, Star Kit, you shall return to your homes." She bowed slightly to the gathered group. "I wish you good luck in your futures." With that last statement, she vanished from sight with a slight blur. The four anima-mates and Kitsune soon after.

Setsuna let a small smile cross her face. "Do not worry, Usagi-chan. Kakyuu-hime does not lie. Now, I apologize, I must return to the Time Streams. Anubis completely destroyed them and I have much mork needed to be done."

"Let me come with you, Setsuna," Hotaru offered, her head resting lightly on Setsuna's elbow. The taller senshi let her eyes smile as she nodded. Happily Hotaru embraced the slightly taller senshi quickly. The others around them grinned while the sun shone brightly down upon them.

Author's notes: YES! FINISHED, FINISHED, YAHOO~~~!!!! ;;^^ Well, it is finished, me dears. =) I have the epilogue yet and that will be it! (Wow, can you imagine? 54 pages! That's really a surprise to me! Ties with my other long story!) Anywho, I hope you enjoyed this as much as I loved to write it. I know the battles become a bit vague, if it really need more… well perhaps I'll add in later. In my view this is more finished than my recently completed Ronin Warrior/Yoroiden Samurai Troopers. That story needs some work… this one really just need the epilogue and the editing. ;;^^


	Lionna's Corner of Anime Fanfiction \| home Chpt One: Old Faces and New Light! \| Chpt Two: Mysterious Concert \| Chpt Three: Yumewomiru Zetsubou \| Chapt Four: Abune! Dare de?! Senshi Mix-Up! \| Chapt Five: Zetsumei no Ni Senshi \| Chpt Six: Anubis’ Victory with a Price; Welcome in Eternity Fighter \| Chapt Seven: The End or The Beginning \| Chapt Eight: Yumemiru Umi mo Chapt Eight: Yumemiru Umi mo "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 EIGHT: Yumemiru Umi mo [To dream of the sea] Started: December 23, 2000 Completed: December 23, 2000 "Just who are you!" SS Moon sobbed from her position beside both Tuxedo Kamens, the other Sailor Moon, and S Fighter. The young female lifted her head slowly to face the group. She smiled. "Watashi wa Rionna desu. Hajimemashite." Her eyes lingered on ES Moon's face as a dangerous glint entered her eyes. Tuxedo Kamen stepped forward, blocking Rionna's path as he held up a fist full of steel tip roses. Rionna clasped her hands behind her back and leaned forward. "Ooo…how pretty. For me?" Her lids lowered over flashing eyes. "How thoughtful." The caped man went flying into the air as both hat and mask fell off to expose Chiba Mamoru of the present day. "Mamo-chan!" ES Moon called out, beginning to rush to his side. "No! Stay back!" he called, feeling the power that began to grow around him. A hazy box formed about him and began to crackle with energy. Soon enough lighting bolts of electricity sparked off to slash at his outfit and tearing into his skin. He bit his lip to hold back screams of pain, but his lip only bled, a small droplet of blood forming before trickling down his chin. "Mamo-chan!" ES Moon called again, closer, but knowing enough not to touch it. "Mamo-chan! Please!" "Silver Moon, Crystal Power Kiss!" The attacks only increased on the inside, making Eternal Sailor Moon cry out in despair to see her love being hurt only more by her attempts to free him. She slid to a kneel before the crackling energy and pounded against the ground furiously. "Mamo-chan…!" Rionna's attention had long ago turned away from that scene and to the others at hand. The three were taking up fighting stances but were weary, obviously knowing there was nothing they could do to fight her off. She had to laugh. "You give up so easily? Do you not believe Sailor Moon will come through, once again, to save everyone? This Earth? This Destiny? This pathetic Fate? You rely too much on Fate and Destiny!" She cracked her whip, sending away the roses within Tuxedo Kamen's hand. Next she cracked away the scepter that SS Moon had been prepared to use. Both let out frustrated cries just as Fighter tried her attack. "Star Serious Laser!" Rionna shoved it away with a hand and let it crash through the gaping hole where Daara had been destroyed. Looking bored, Rionna called out in a morbid, child-sounding song: "First attack, second attack, third attack lost… on the fourth attack, Mother was killed, Father, daughter, too. First attack, second attack, third attack lost… tears were sent to the underworld and that's where you'll go too." "You sick little bitch!" Fighter finally screamed, charging ahead, heedless of the consequences, and attempted to tackle the small female. Just as he hands slammed into the small frame, Rionna lit up with power. Fighter gave out a painful shout as she was thrown high into the arm and roughly back some forty meters away through a warehouse wall. Smirking with triumph, Rionna turned to the last set of doubles. "Seems you are the only… `two' left. How absolutely pathetic! I thought that the Starlights would be more of a fight… how I overestimated them. You will be even easier than that last little bug." Energy built up even more within the box Tuxedo Mask was suffering in. Noting that ES Moon was still by his side, Rionna vanished… then reappeared right beside her. She bent down and whispered "Boo!" right into Eternal Moon's ear. Her fingers were already at the blonde's throat and after her exclamation, a beam shot through her fingertips and cut right though the blonde's body. There was absolute silence that followed, it was such a shock. Such a shock to think that the only one who had ever been able to protect the Earth was dead. Only her younger and weaker counterpart left. Or at least that's how the three senshi viewed it. Rionna had her own way of viewing the situation as she stepped back to her previous position. "Tuxedo Kamen," she called, bringing the free masked-man to face her. Her glared at her and snarled angrily, charging with a powerfully-charged rose within his hand. Rionna allowed him to run up to her, even to let the rose plunge into the hallow of her neck. But she had a sharp, short dagger already in hand waiting for him. He was blind to it until he, himself, had impaled himself on the blade. Gasping in shock, he fell to the ground as Rionna released her hold on the blade. She cast him a pitying look as he coughed up blood, body convulsing. Within his own box, the elder Tuxedo Kamen was also weakening, slowly loosing what little life he had left. Rionna's eyes sought Super Sailor Moon's and was pleased to find absolute horror on the girl's face. "No ~!" But the cry was not Sailor Moon's. Surprise passed over Rionna's and Moon's face; Rionna whirled around to find Eternity Fighter flaring with raw power the lifted her hair into a float about her. The crystal sword was formed in one hand and in the other she held a chain with a scythe on the end. "I will NOT allow you to WIN this war! Too many have died at YOUR hands, at your orders! I will kill you PERSONALLY!" "But I thought the younger was dead," Rionna murmured, baffled but not showing it. Tears were running from fighter's face as she address SS Moon. "I was told to protect the Moon Princess… and I have failed to do that for the one of the present. I cannot allow you to die now! I have a promise! Rionna, you fight me! And ONLY me! We settle this NOW!" Her power blazed even higher, causing wind to whip about the battle field. Surprise reached the rest of Rionna and she stepped back just a few steps out of shock. "Well," she turned her lips to smile. "This will be a most interesting challenge. I accept your offer, Fighter. Let us have at it." She jumped into the air, dropping down towards Fighter. The other moved back quickly, allowing Rionna to slam into the ground and causing a small crater to form. "Ooo, you're fast." They began slashing out, physically and magically as they practically flew around the ruined docks. Super Sailor Moon could only sit off to the side, sadness pouring down her face in the form of tears as she tried to keep and eye on the battle. But they were moving so fast that she could hardly see anything-only blurs of color. /I have to help! I just have to!/ Her chest grew warm as the silver crystal appeared in the air before her. Bowing her head, she let the power flood through her, granting her the dress Serenity wore along with the symbol marking her of Moon heritage. She prayed with the crystal cupped in her hands and power flowing from her into Fighter. Mumbled chants rolled from her lips as she tried to keep up a small shield and heal any wounds that Fighter received from Rionna. She knew that it was about all she could do. /I'm sorry for not helping more. Fighter… Please win this…! I would still like to make an acquaintance with you in the future!/ * She was loosing, any fool could see that. But she couldn't believe it… her, losing? She had planned so well, gathered all the power, gained everything so all the plans would work out accordingly. Fate seemed none too pleased to be tampered with. Destiny wasn't exactly in her best moods either. "Damn," she muttered, holding off the on-coming sword, "they seemed to have gotten Luck to ruin me." She had to laugh at herself mentally for the way she was talking. Then again, that was how her mind worked. Or most of it. The more… mature, if you could call it that, side was thinking the whole thing was a screwy idea that never should have been put into action. "Never tempt Fate, eh?" She asked loud enough for her opponent to hear. "If you make it out of this alive I suggest you never tempt Fate. I'm afraid she gets really pissed when she's tampered with." Eternity Fighter seemed to ignore her and pressed on, adding another gash onto Rionna's arm. It was very frustrating for it seemed that whenever Rionna wounded Fighter, the skin closed over it immediately, healing. Scowling to herself, Rionna knew she shouldn't have waited to kill of the younger Sailor Moon. "Ready for the final act, koi?" Rionna shouted, charging her body up for the final attack. Fighter seemed disgusted at the name she was given and was glaring dangerously at Rionna as she swung again. This time the shorter female dressed in red flew up into the air. She just needed a few seconds to finish her ki build up and then she would rejoin Fighter for the grand finale. Rionna watched from her high position as Fighter seemed to battle with herself if she was able to levitate up to Rionna's height. "Oh I don't think so," she murmured, face turning cruel. She felt her power click and slowly begin to thrum, her heartbeat growing faster. "Let's finish this! Shiné!!" she screamed as she plummeted to the Earth. Fight had a stunned looked on her face as Rionna latched her arms around Fighter, pinning her arms down as they somehow slammed through the layers of concrete and then down into the ocean below. They continued to fall, deeper still into the murky depths of water. Lungs, deprived of oxygen, began to ache painfully in Fighter's chest as she struggled against Rionna. The water, instead of cooling, suddenly began boiling hot around them. Startled, Fighter focused her attention on Rionna… and finally realized what was about to happen. * Sailor Moon, now in Serenity's form, sprinted over as fast as she could to the rough hole that Rionna and Fighter had created as they had disappeared. Terribly worried, she gazed down into the dark depths and wondered what was happening. After minutes of nothing, the water began to boil, bubbles splashing and burning her legs. Surprised, she couldn't force herself to move once she saw the dark red that was glowing steadily brighter. Eyes wide with terror, she began to scurry out of the way just as a fountain of water exploded up. The ground beneath her shook and it began to crack into huge pieces. Still bodies of senshi fell with the rubble into the water just as she did. With her last breath she screamed for all she was worth; even with no one to hear her. *** The waves lapped quietly near her feet as dark eyes slowly opened. The sound of the waves-the only sound, she noted-was relaxing and peaceful. It reminded her why Michiru and Haruka so loved to stay by the ocean and just sit, watching the sunset. The sunsets were so pretty, just the same as the sunrises were… like this one. Slowly she forced herself into a sit and stared off across the ocean. She reached a hand down to steady herself, only to have it rest in blond strands of hair. Surprised, she turned her face down quickly to find Minako laying next to her, dressed in her school uniform with a serene look on her face. "We're…" she stood up quickly and glanced up and down the beach. Sure enough, the senshi from the `present' day were all laid out on the quiet, abandoned, sandy shore. A few bodies down, there was some movement. Hurrying over to the blue-haired girl, she helped her sit up. Still unfocused eyes opened. "Take your time, Ami-chan," she assured the younger girl. "Setsuna-san…" she murmured softly, slowly focusing her attention on the Time Guardian. "Oh! I thought we were really dead!" she cried suddenly, latching herself into an embrace with the usually distant Setsuna. The Guardian, however, was quite surprised at the action and began to chuckle lightly and she rubbed a comforting hand over Ami's back. "It's alright, Ami-chan. Let's wake the others, ne?" And so they went up and down the beach, shaking shoulders and rubbing hands as they worked on first awakening the inner, then outer senshi. The Prince and Princess came next and soon following was the anima-mates. Chibi-Usa and the cats, however, were no where to be seen so they all hoped that they were alright. There were others, however, who were also missing. "What about Yaten-kun and the others?" Minako asked worriedly, her eyes huge and teary. Haruka waved a hand. "They'll be fine; those three have a knack for getting out of everything." Kitsune, awakened with the anima-mates, was frowning. "But I don't feel them. That worries me. As a Starlight… I'm supposed to feel them at all times. Does anyone actually know what happened?" "Mamo-chan was the last one left," Usagi stated. The others, sans Setsuna and Hotaru (and of course Mamoru himself), stared at her in shock. "You… you were… killed?" Rei managed, stunned. Gravely Usagi nodded her head, looking down and then burying herself in Mamoru's embrace. Mamoru was looking disturbed. "I was trapped, Rionna killed off my younger version and so I did not see much after. Super Sailor Moon was the only one left." That made Hotaru frown. "But," her voice was still surprising with its lower tone, "she would not have the power. Not even Eternal Sailor Moon would have the power to defeat the creature." Setsuna finished for her, "Only the anima-mates or Starlights did." Now everyone was quite confused. "What do you mean, Setsuna-san?" Makoto inquired. "Their powers are different, stronger, because on Earth they are calling power from their own home planets along with elements of magic here on this planet. The two forces combined create a powerful attack. With their skill they can use it correctly and destroy nearly anything. That is what Maker tried to do, yet something went wrong. The anima-mates and Star Kit finished Daara with their techniques combined together. Fighter... Eternity Fighter had that strength." "I felt it too," Hotaru added. "Then where are they?" Michiru questioned softly, hair flowing with the breeze. "Let's split up and look for them," Nezu suggested with worry. "They can't be too far, right? We were all right here." And so their search began. Small groups of two or three split off and walked all about the beach. It was finally Usagi who found the three on her own. She came over the top of a slight hill and looking down she found the three Starlights. Laying side-by-side, they were clothed in simply, long dresses from Kinmoku. Maker's brown was braided loosely and went over one shoulder to end just above where her hands rested on her chest. Fighter's hair was worn down, black strand steaming across the ground while her hands, too, were clasped over her sternum. Healer also wore her hair down in a position identical to Fighter. "Okay, you three," Makoto smiled down at them, "time to get up and find out what happened." She knelt beside Maker and shook her gently. When she received no response, she shook her harder. "Maker…? Taiki-san?" Setsuna's face darkened as she observed the three immobile senshi. Somehow she had guessed this was te case. /But why…?/ she wondered. "Oh no!" Minako burst into tears quite suddenly and held onto Rei for comfort. Haruka knelt down beside Fighter and slowly extended a hand to see if she could find anything out on the black-haired starlight. Usagi clung to Mamoru tightly, hiding away from the sight as tears began to overflow. It just wasn't fair! Why were they resurrected and not the Lights? A warmth filled the air as a gentle, sweet smell drifted to their sense of smell. Recognizing it, Usagi turned hopefully as Kakyuu-hime appeared at the head of her Starlight trio. The red-haired princess looked forlorn as she knelt down and stared lovingly at her senshi. "You can help them, can't you?" Ami asked hopefully. It was a long while before Kakyuu-hime lifted her head and smiled sadly. "No… no I cannot. My precious Lights are connected," she explained softly. "Since they have this connection, none of them is allowed to be resurrected. Rionna, the demon, resorted to her last attack of destroying herself and using her power to rip through all that she could. Since she was physically in contact with Fighter… since that, Fighter's soul was lost and thrown away. The senshi of her is gone. The same goes to Maker and Healer." The princess bent over Fighter's head and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. She murmured a few words and the body shimmered, slowly fading from sight. The other senshi gasped, beginning to protest. Kakyuu-hime turned to Healer next and repeated the action. And then the same she repeated on Maker. "What did you do?" Ami questioned hesitantly as she gazed sadly where the Starlights had been. Kakyuu-hime stood. "My Lights… they are gone. Somehow I already knew that I would never seen them again when they first left for this." Minako sniffled loudly into Rei's shirt. "You… you don't have to cry. It is their senshi… the Starlight spirit that is dead." "What do you mean?" Haruka asked, eyebrows raised in interest. Slowly the princess smiled. "Come, anima-mates, Star Kit, you shall return to your homes." She bowed slightly to the gathered group. "I wish you good luck in your futures." With that last statement, she vanished from sight with a slight blur. The four anima-mates and Kitsune soon after. "Might there be hope that we will still see them, then?" Usagi asked tentatively. Setsuna let a small smile cross her face. "Do not worry, Usagi-chan. Kakyuu-hime does not lie. Now, I apologize, I must return to the Time Streams. Anubis completely destroyed them and I have much mork needed to be done." "Let me come with you, Setsuna," Hotaru offered, her head resting lightly on Setsuna's elbow. The taller senshi let her eyes smile as she nodded. Happily Hotaru embraced the slightly taller senshi quickly. The others around them grinned while the sun shone brightly down upon them. * * * * * *** Owari *** * * * * * Author's notes: YES! FINISHED, FINISHED, YAHOO~~~!!!! ;;^^ Well, it is finished, me dears. =) I have the epilogue yet and that will be it! (Wow, can you imagine? 54 pages! That's really a surprise to me! Ties with my other long story!) Anywho, I hope you enjoyed this as much as I loved to write it. I know the battles become a bit vague, if it really need more… well perhaps I'll add in later. In my view this is more finished than my recently completed Ronin Warrior/Yoroiden Samurai Troopers. That story needs some work… this one really just need the epilogue and the editing. ;;^^