Chapter 17 Thoughts and Doubts... Three weeks. Just three more weeks, then the barrier would be shut down. Three weeks until everyone could get outside the Palace. Three weeks until Nemesisss attacked. Three weeks to plan. Three weeks left to wonder if they would make it. Serenity walked down the hall, her thoughts all piling up on one another. So much was happening, and so much had happened that made her doubt the battle's outcome. She hugged herself against a chill that ran down her spine and closed her eyes, willing what flashed in front of her eyes to cease. "Zukamori-chan..." she whispered, her mind thinking back to the memories she had gotten back of the litle blonde haired girl she had known so well on the Moon. Now though, she was so different. She was distant. "Get a grip on yourself," she told herself. "She can act the way she wants to. Things happen to people that makes them change." she thought sadly. Once again, her mind began to wonder, shifting through different images and thoughts as she walked. Images of her daughter...and her lost son. ---------- Ruri sighed as her visor disappeared back into the head of her chair and the globes around her hands did the same. "What is troubling you, Ruri?" MCC's voice said as it's screen blinked. "Everything," Ruri said as she leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes. "A few weeks ago this battle wasn't so complicated. Now we're trying to figure out what to do. Kyoko and myself have even been running the Senshi overtime, though they don't seem do mind much, and we've been upping our own abilities and power. Yet it all seems as if it'll be futile since the Evil One has entered the picture, MCC. Zukamori will have to fight her, but I'm seriously beginning to doubt that Zukamori will win." "You must have faith, Ruri," MCC advised. "I know but--" "What was it that Luna said?" MCC intterupted. Ruri stopped, perplexed by the fact that a computer was asking her a question, and an easy one at that. "That Zukamori and the Evil One must fight, but what does--" "What were her exact words, Ruri?" MCC said. "I told you what she said, MCC, so what are you getting a--" "I believe Luna said, and I quote, '...the future of the Moon shall be decided in a fight between the Evil One and...The Grave Keeper.' Am I correct, Ruri?" "Well, yes," Ruri replied, still confused at what MCC was getting at, "but what--" "Luna said Grave Keeper, Ruri. The Grave Keeper and the Evil One will fight." "Oh forget it," Ruri said, waving a hand. MCC's screen shut off. "I don't even know why I'm arguing with a computer." She stood and walked out of the room, heading towards the training room to let out some frustration. ---------- Ami sighed as she leaned back in her chair, her blue eyes staring blankly at the computer in front of her. she thought. She typed a commanded into the keyboard and leaned back again as the screen began to show her all of her notes on the Crystal Senshi so far. Inner Senshi SUBJECT: Aino, Minako SENSHI IDENTITY: Crystal Venus NEW SENSHI ATRIBUTES: -wings, color: light organe. -sword, name: Oragne Heart -attack: Venus Angel Beauty attack SUBJECT: Kino, Makoto SENSHI IDENTITY: Crystal Jupiter NEW SENSHI ATRIBUTES: -wings, color: light green -sword, name: Green Thunder -attack: Ganymede Angel Thunder Attack SUBJECT: Hino, Rei SENSHI IDENTITY: Crystal Mars NEW SENSHI ATRIBUTES: -wings, color: light red -bow, name: Red Fire -attack: Phobos-Deimos Angel Fire Attack SUBJECT: Mizuno, Ami SENSHI IDENTITY: Crystal Mercury NEW SENSHI ATRIBUTES: -wings, color: light blue -sword, name: Blue Mist -attack: Marina Angel Mist Attack Outer Senshi SUBJECT: Ten'ou, Haruka SENSHI IDENTITY: Crystal Uranus NEW SENSHI ATRIBUTES: -wings, color: blue -sword, name: Navy Wind -attack: Miranda Angel Wind Attack SUBJECT: Kaioh, Michiru SENSHI IDENTITY: Crystal Neptune NEW SENSHI ATRIBUTES: -wings, color: light blue-green -sword, name: Aqua Wave -attack: Triton Angel Water Attack SUBJECT: Meiou, Setsuna SENSHI IDENTITY: Crystal Pluto NEW SENSHI ATRIBUTES: -wings, color: light red-purple -sword, name: Maroon Guardian -attack: Charon Angel Time Attack SUBJECT: Tomoe, Hotaru SENSHI IDENTITY: Crystal Saturn NEW SENSHI IDENTITY: -wings, color: light purple -glaive, name: Purple Destroyer -attack: Titan Angel Deadly Attack Ami reread the notes as if something else would pop up at her. But it was the same. She sighed again, shutting the computer down for the night. ---------- ~*~ Chibi-usa stared in disbelief at the scene below her. It was the Last Battle of the Silver Millenium. She had only learned about it through books and the Senshi's own memories. Yet all that information didn't tell how gruesome it really was. she thought. Crying reached her ears. Chibi-usa turned and saw a young girl huddled under a broken pillar. Chibi-usa thought, stepping closer to the girl. A scream sounded and the girl's head shot up. "Sere-chan!" she gasped before running out from under the pillar and in the direction of the voice. Chibi-usa followed her, surprised by the speed the girl moved at through the battle feild. When the girl reached her desination, she screamed. Chibi-usa stepped back in shock when her eyes fell on the broken balcony and the two bodies floating in the air. "Sere-chan!" the little girl gasped. "Sere-chan!!" Suddenly the girl clentched her fists at her side and her eyes narrowed on Beryal, who was reveling in her victory so much she didn't notice the girl. All she cared was that she had won. Or so she thought. "You," the girl hissed, her hazel eyes turning white. Beryal's eye caught the glow radiating for the girl and turned her attention to her. "Who are you?" she said when she felt the energy that pulsed from her. "You killed her," she whispered. "You," white light surround her and flared like a fire around her body. Almost unconsiously, she raised her hands above her head. "What is this?!" Beryal gasped, backing away as pulse after pulse of a strange energy struck her. "YOU KILLED SERE-CHAN!!!" the girl shrieked. The light around her shot up her hands and flew out in all directions, blanketing the battle feild and Moon Palace in whiteness. Chibi-usa raised her arms to block the light from her face upon reflex. Screams sounded, then a deafening silence followed. Slowly, Chibi-usa lowered her arms and opened her eyes. The light was still all around and the girl still shot more of it out. The silence was deathly. Chibi-usa could see the bodies of the soldiers that were close to the girl being burned instantly to ashes while others further away weren't as lucky. "Zukamori-chan...." a soft yet pained voice spoke. The girl took in a sudden breath. "Zukamori-chan....I...I...for...give...you..." Soon the light disappeared and the girl stood on the feild alone. "No," the girl whispered in disbeileif. "No. No. That can't be." She stumbled towards the bodies of Princess Serenity and Prince Edymion, which had somehow survived the attack. "I killed her," she said, falling on her knees beside the Princess, tears streaming down her face. "I killed her," she sobbed. "*I* killed her!" "Of course you did," a harsh voice said. The girl spun around and saw a man standing behind her. He was tall and had brown hair that stopped just below his shoulders. His cold blue eyes stared at her with a hatefull gaze. "You!" she said, knowing him without ever have meeting him. "So you know me, Little Grave Keeper," the man sneered. "No matter." His eyes narrowed as he raised a hand. "You'll be dead in a few moments anyway." His hand was surrounded by black light. "No!" the girl shouted with such ferousity it shocked the man. A curved wave of white light shot from the girl's raised hands and struck the man on his neck, cutting his head clean off. The decapitated head and body suddenly evaporated. The girl sat there, shock at what she had just done and seen. "You poor child," a ragged voice spoke. The girl's head shot up and saw Queen Serenity standing a few yards away. The Queen's arm was around her stomach and her once pure white dress was stained bright red right under her arm. "Queen!" the girl gapsed, backing away in fear. "Zukamori, I won't hurt you," the Queen said, wincing in pain as she took a step towards the frightened girl. "N-no. No! Stay away!" Zukamori shouted, standing up and backing away even more. "I failed, Queen," she said. "I failed. I was supposed to make sure he wasn't released and he was anyway. I failed!" "You did not fail, Zukamori," the Queen insisted. "Yes. Yes I did," Zukamori said, suddenly calm. "And I must take responsiblity for my failure." "Zukamori! No!" the Queen shouted. "It has to be done," she said, raising a hand. In it appeared a gold and silver glaive just her size. Zukamori closed her eyes as she moved the blade, pointing it straight at her heart. "Goodbye, Queen." "No!!" the Queen yelled, running to stop the girl dispite her injury. She wasn't in time. Without hesitation, Zukamori drove the blade through her chest. Chibi-usa's eyes widened in horror as the small girl fell to the ground, her blood creating a crimson pool around her. "Oh my gosh," she whispered, her hands covering her mouth. "No! Zukamori!" the Queen shouted, dropping to her knees and picking the girl up. "No," she breathed when she found that Zukamori was already dead. "It had to be done," a calm, familiar voice spoke. Sailor Pluto appeared standing in front of the Queen. "The heck it did!!" Chibi-usa shouted angrily, though she knew they couldn't hear her. "What the heck's wrong with you, Pu?!" "Why?" the Queen said through gritted teeth. "Why such a young child, Pluto? She did nothing to deserve this." "Each is responsible for their own actions," the Guardian of Time said. "The Grave Keeper failed in her job and took responsiblity as she said." "She was only nine!" the Queen exclaimed, bringing her tears filled blue eyes up to look at her. "She was just a child and she was handed a job she could never have handled!" "Could she?" The Queen stopped, confused. "This all needed to happen, Queen," Pluto continued, "in order for the future to live." "So what now then?" the Queen asked. "You already know," Pluto said, motioning towards the Moon Septer that lay beside her. ~*~ ---------- Zukamori studied her glaive, running a hand across the decorated staff part. Her eyes ran along the sleek edge of the blade. She smiled slighly, remebering how the blade had smoothly sliced through her chest so many years ago. "Like a hot knife though butter," she mumbled, fingering the tip carefully. "Reminesing of things past?" Zukamori sighed inwardly as she looked to her right and saw Setsuna standing there. "Why is it you all ways know what I'm thinking of, Guardian?" she said. "Can I ask you the same thing?" she replied, smileing. Zukamori blinked. She had never seen Setsuna smile before. It was strange to see a happy/carefree expression on her usually serious face. "Eh?" "Never mind," Setsuna said shaking her head. Niether spoke for a few seconds, each thinking their own thoughts. Finally, Setsuna said, "Are you fully aware of the situation ahead of you, Zukamori?" Zukamori snorted, leaning back against the wall. "I'm not *that* ignorant, Guardian." Setsuna smiled further at the name. She remembered back on the Moon that Zukamori all ways called her 'Guardian'. All that the small girl that Zukamori had once been knew was that Sailor Pluto was a guardian much like herself. The only one responsible for something very important. But Time itself was never a moblie being with great power. Setsuna crossed her arms and looked down the other end of the hallway. "Some say ignorance is bliss," she half-mummered, a far away look overcomeing her features. "They know what they're talking about, huh?" Zukamori agrreed, glancing back at the glaive in her hands. "Yes," the Keeper of Time said, looking back at her. "Zukamori...just be sure you know what you're doing." "No prob," she said, a half-smile appearing on her face. "There's a reason for everything I do." ---------- Kyoko frowned, shutting the book in front of her. She set it on the growing pile on her left side and turned to her right side, picking up the next book. "Twenty down," she mumbled, opening the cover carefully, "one undered and two to go." She sighed, flipping through the worn pages. She yawned largely, leaning her head on her palm. She stopped, frowning again at what she saw on the page. "What the--?" She blew on the pages, causing dust to fly away from it. She scanned the words on the page as she read outloud, "Evil, take a form. One from Earth and Moon born To deliver you into the universe, To be repayed by your curse. Take the halves of Earth and Moon, For your time comes soon. Take them and create, What you shall not take. Your lord will return, Yet you will be the one to burn. You, take the Tears of the one you scar Which will take you very far For the universe knows as well as you, In one, there is all ways two." Kyoko stared at the last few words. "'In one, there is all ways two...'" she whispered softly. "No way. No way!" She shoved the book away and began to flip through the next one, saying under her breath, "No way! There's no way!" ---------- NEXT: Kyoko finds something that might pull them ahead in the battle. But, she does come too late... ---------- Hi! Sorry this took so long to get out! School started and I got caught up in that and homework, plus I'm getting the hang of web building. Which reminds me, there was some miscommunication and someone sent a fic to my father e- mail address instead of mine. To make sure this doesn't happen in the furture send all fics and other e-mails to pchan@pernet.net and no other. Also, please send it in .txt format *attached* to your e-mail, I'll except it no other way. And fics from other series besides Sailor Moon are welcomed, just make sure they meet the rules! Questions? Comments? pchan@pernet.net -Anaconda-