Title: A Million Kisses - Chapter 6 Author: Alicia Blade Email: Kammi22@sprintmail.com Hope you all had a very merry Christmas and that your prayers and wishes were all answered! This is the first really VIOLENT thing I have ever written, so bare with me. Hope it's not overboard. ^_^ I don't know when I'll be able to have chapter 7 out, but I'll try hard, k? Thanks go to Moon Klutz and of course, my partner in crime, Lady S. Heeeh, just joshin'. Though in this chapter, Serena does gets to play MaGyver and Rambo. Tee hee? God bless and tell me what you think! "My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. We must keep in mind people that these prophecies were spoken into existence by the most Loving Father of all time for His children so they may be prepared!" - Psalms 89:34 Chapter 6: I Fight for Love She couldn't remember being so cold. She didn't imagine that she would remember the feeling when this was all over either, too fatally painful to be thought of at a later time. But at that moment, the icy chills cutting through her skin was all her mind could focus on. Pain couldn't really describe it, for pain would have been almost welcome. But instead, it was a dim discomfort coated in blowing stings and piercing knives of metal ice. Like a paper cut, not deep enough to be considered a true sore? but more terrible than a bleeding scar. Her body was covered in the cuts, refusing to show themselves upon her skin, slowly turning bluish red, to tell her it was truly pain and not simply a setback. Her whimpering gave her a sense of selfishness, and she hated it. Setting her jaw firmly upon her collarbone, she clenched her fists together, tightening the skin upon her face. Her lips pursed, numbly chewing into the soft tissue, and her legs carried her forward into the dull whiteness. Such an incessant storm? Perhaps what she dreaded most was the scratchy, sandpaper texture within her throat. The biting air had torn at it as she walked through the endless blizzard, and now she dreaded each new breath, flinching every time at the near unbearable pain soaring down her neck and into her lungs. Her cheek filled with numbness and dull, far-away stinging as she felt her knees bend unwillingly and she collapsed to the rocky snow beneath. Even the ground was awful, not feathery and light as she was used to wintertime landscapes being. A groan of anguish lifted from her dried lips as her burning eyes locked tight for a moment. This shouldn't be so hard, she knew. Not even had she reached the palace and her body was giving up on her. If only they were here? If only? Her neck turned swiftly as she forced herself to shake her head. She wouldn't think of them, wouldn't dwell on those things right now. At this time, at this moment, she would continue forward, her strength lying in the knowledge that they were at home, warm in their beds. Or sleeping bags, in most cases. Digging her elbows into the ice saturated frost, she began to push herself upward, managing to open her eyes for a brief moment. But shortly afterwards, that brief moment turned into an all-out, stunned gawking as her eyes resumed their path over the horizon. There, not forty yards ahead of her, was a great, shimmering castle. Looming and treacherous, seemingly even colder than the atmosphere she dreaded now. From the towers and cracks and crevices arose great bellows of thick, black smoke, wispy trains of ominous clouds stretching fingers toward the blank, white sky. But this is not what scared her, nor caught her attention. For there, lined up in rows upon rows in front of the gated entrance to the castle, stood hundreds of grotesque, bloody, pupil-less zombies, with bodies like those of decaying skeletons. Some limped over, their backs hunched in impossible twists of the spine. Others stood almost gallantly; their yellowing teeth grinning with the end of a sword blade held between spider webbed fingers. So many, with no emotions, no life, no souls buried within the thoughtless skulls, and every last one faced in her direction. Her blue eyes widened, a small squeak escaped her lips as her lungs seemed to contract painfully. There stood one in the front, another skeleton, yellow against the white snow. It wore a tattered gray uniform, like that of the previous negamoon generals, and raised its head in her direction. The chattering teeth seemed to smile, and it raised an arm. Serena tensed, clenching her fingers together. All the zombies turned to her, and had they had eyes, she was sure they would have been burrowing holes through the taught material of her thin armor. With a swift movement, the leader dropped it's arm, and instantly, every last one of the fatal creatures straightened drastically, before raising the weapons and rushing toward her as one mass of gruesome death. Serena's breath caught, and her body forgot the cold surrounding her, stood, turned, and ran. She knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that there was no way she could defeat them, not all of them together at once. Her legs burned with energy they did not contain as she skidded over icy hills, her arms thrashing at the snowflakes falling around her. Painful breaths turned to smoky fog, mixing with the piercing wind. Biting her lower lip, she turned briefly, being met with the sight of an army of soldiers, easily catching up with her. It was obvious that the cold had no affect on their skinless bodies, and she realized what a disadvantage she was at. Whimpering, she grabbed at her tiara in desperation, pulling it behind her and chanting the words that flowed instantly to her mouth. Gritting her teeth, she let it fly toward the mob. Her eyes became watery when only six were knocked down, their bones separating and falling to a jumbled mess on the landscape. Turning, she fled again, beginning to surge with hopeless power. She stumbled on hidden hills, pushed herself away from the biting tundra again and again. After only a few short moments, her lungs gave way, panting heavily, forcing her throat to close against the shrill outside air. "No?" she choked, reaching the top of a large hill. Every hill seemed large to her, though this one was especially treacherous. Inside, she felt she had lost, without so much as putting a dent into Beryl's defenses. Collapsing to her knees, raw from the countless shafts of ice she had stumbled upon in her escape, she turned to the army. They marched quickly, and now were only 10 yards from her. 30 feet and still continuing. She saw the leader raise its heavy blade into the air as it approached her, its terrifying teeth grinning demonically upon its prey. Serena felt her head go light, a tear freeze upon her cheek. She tried to urge her legs to stand, but they wouldn't move. Her mind sensed the battle in her eyes droop to heavy regret, and she let her gaze turn to blackness. Pushing back with her hands, she let her body collapse completely beneath her, and she fell to the ground, limply rolling down the hill away from her attackers. They would find her soon, but they would find her dead, she told herself as every nerve in her body turned to a numb stream of unfeeling. She could still feel snow passing beneath her, but couldn't force herself to stop her descent down the small glacier, delighting in the slap against her face once she finally ceased her fall, and her head went limp as well, falling to the ice below. The trudging of soldiers echoed from above her, to her back, and she knew she was facing down hill. A cracking sound was heard beneath her, like wood splitting. She ignored it. But it happened again, louder, nearer this time. Then again and again, louder still. She forced her eyelids to open to a blurry haze and looked at the ground, almost level with her stare. Slowly, it seemed to be splitting into a large hole around her body, like an earthquake. "Hm?" she mumbled, carelessly. But suddenly, she was falling, and her lips permitted a startled scream to escape. After a moment, her body awoke with a stiff thud as it collided with a hard, concrete floor. Her head throbbed and a moan left her, her mind working desperately to realize what had happened. Looking up, she heard a soft clang as the hole through which she had fallen through slammed shut, hinged on one side. A trap door. "Who would put a trap door there?" she mumbled quietly, letting her head fall once again to the floor. Her body was numb and tired, yet already being pressed with warmth. The pile of snow she lay upon, that had fallen with her, was already beginning to melt into a puddle of slush, her breath no longer stung, no longer condensed to a puff of smoke in front of her face. She tried to move, first her fingers, before slowly stretching her arm up to her head to feel the base of her head. It was damp, but warm, and she knew she was bleeding. Groaning again, she settled her head down upon her arm tiredly. Was she out of danger? Perhaps for the time being. Her eyes were dreary, her gaze blurred, and the few fire torches on the walls provided little light. Letting her eyelids close momentarily, she listened as thousands of feet trampled over the ground above, the door shaking briefly as they passed over it, but not one ever pausing in the slightest of hesitation. The snow must have already been replaced by the blizzard. Sighing, she opened her eyes again. By luck she had escaped. Inside, she hoped that the worst was over, but doubted it. "Just need? to find Beryl." She coaxed her arms into moving, pushing up at the ground, until she could sit. Her clothes were soaked, her hair matting itself to her arms and legs, the usually soft bangs sticky against her forehead. Already, feeling was returning, and she shivered, goose bumps once again covering her skin. After a long moment of staring at the ceiling, the stone walls around her, she let out a sigh of anguish. She would have to continue on, she knew. Chewing on her lip, she managed to bend her knees, before ever so slowly pushing herself onto wobbly legs. She gritted her teeth, falling onto the closest wall for support. Her lungs grabbed for breath that moments ago they didn't want, and she stood there a long while, simply struggling for the needed energy. Leaning against the wall, she let her eyes drift to the ceiling. "How am I ever going to defeat Beryl like this? I can barely even stand?" "Well you won't have to defeat Beryl, little girl?" whispered a raspy voice from the shadows. Serena's eyes widened and she searched the corner the voice had come from. "Because I'm going to kill you first!" "Huh?" Sailor Moon had little time to think before a flash of red lunged at her. A scream echoed down the corridor and she dodged out of the way, just in time. Her body collapsed to the pavement below, throbbing with every new encounter with the ground she experienced. Turning over, she looked up at her assailant, letting her eyes analyze it, or her, momentarily. It was definitely a woman, with the uncovered body to prove it. Only a maroon red bikini over her skin, with a high collar to cover her neck and dress cuffs around each of her wrists. Tall stiletto heels made her seem much taller than she probably was, and her hair was short and full, almost like Amy's only larger and puffier. From her forehead erupted a pair of white, bird like wings and two scars in the center of them. Her skin was pale pink, from forehead to ankles, and her eyes coal black. Thin red lips turned into an evil grin as Serena stared at her in mute fear, her hands shaking against the floor. "Who? who are you?" "I'm Fuega from the Doom and Gloom Girls. Queen Beryl is fed up with you, sailor twit, especially after you killed Master Malachite. Now I'm going to be your doom!" Fuega raised her hands above her head, screaming brutally, before pushing her palms in Serena's direction, emitting a great blast of flame from her hands. Sailor Moon squealed and dodged again, sliding along the smooth floor. She could feel the heat from the nearby flames reach out for her legs, and only nearly avoided it. Squeezing her eyes shut, she jumped to her feet and swiveled around, just in time to jump out of the path of another bolt of sizzling red fire. She landed against a wall, her eyes narrowing in thought. She wouldn't be able to keep this up for long. Snarling her lips back, she lowered her head to glare up at Fuega evilly. How rude to sneak up on her like this when she was so weak! 'An escape? I need an escape? There's no way I can run forever, and she would be able to outrun my tiara easily.' As another blast flew from the enemy's fingertips, Serena ducked away, sliding along the wall. One of the flames licked at her hair, singing the ends of one ponytail. She screamed involuntarily, running quicker. Breathing hard, she slammed her back against another wall, looking up at the villain in fear. Her black eyes were glinting down at her, the tight lips pulled back into an almost smile. Gulping, she began to sink down, her knees bending beneath her. Her entire body began to shake. 'If the scouts were here? I'm sure they could kill her easily. Amy with her water? or even Raye could destroy her. Fight fire with fire?' Her head lowered just as a tear began to press against her eyelid and slip down. Fuega sensed the spirit of losing and smiled. Pulling her hand back, she prepared the last tongue of fire in her palm. "Now you will die Sailor Moon." 'Fight fire? with fire?' "Hm?" Steadily, Serena's eyes open. From the corner of her eyes, she could see orange light flickering across the floor. Her gaze widened, her head still lowered. "Fight fire? fight?" she whispered to herself. Suddenly, her eyes lifted, smiling proudly in a threat to the woman before her. "I doubt that!" Fuega froze briefly in surprise. Her mouth opened in shock as she saw the sailor-suited girl seethe with energy, stand and grab at a torch on the wall. Her brow furrowed, her lips pressing together. Instantly, she thrust her hand forward, letting the flames dance toward the wall, but they only hit empty air and a stone wall. "Huh?" "Over here!" Just as the Doom and Gloom Girl turned to face the voice, she felt a burning heat sear through her back. A shrill scream erupted from her lips as the pain moved up over her body. The torch hit her hand, her legs, and she fell to the ground, cringing in pain. Serena, seeing that she was permanently disabled, let the torch fall to the ground beside her, licking at her skin and hair. She was trembling too much to even try to move. With only a moment of pity filling her, Serena raced down the corridor. Once turning, she saw a great fire spitting up toward the ceiling, the woman trapped in its embrace. Gulping, she turned and ran. Breathing a long sigh of relief, Serena stumbled a few more steps before collapsing to the ground. Somewhere along the way it had changed from a dull gray concrete to white and gray marble and she knew she was nearing the center of the palace. The fight with Fuega had strangely helped her strength somewhat instead of diminishing it. Suddenly, Sailor Moon was feeling like the champion of justice yet again. The torches on the walls had become more common, lighting the dim hallways more carefully, keeping dangerous shadows at bay. Serena was grateful for this. Really, things were beginning to look up. The only current downfall being the continuous aching in her right leg, from when she had fallen from the door in the snow. Her hair was beginning to shine again somewhat, not so filthy and matted, and her skin had returned to a healthy glow. Her arms were tired, but not completely useless, and though her right shoulder seemed sore, it was quickly healing. She only hoped that she wouldn't come to anymore negaverse enemies for awhile still. Closing her eyes, Serena sat up in the middle of the corridor, letting her breath catch up with her. Her heart raced treacherously, skipping a beat at every ignored sound through the chambers. Dried throat let out a painful moan as her fingers began to rub over the calf of her sore leg, massaging it momentarily. Her blue eyes drifted open and she looked fully around at her surroundings. The hall took a swift turn to the right directly ahead of her and she could tell nothing of the distance past that point, other than there were more torches sending light flickering across the walls and floor. She swept an arm across her forehead before picking herself up from the ground. Straining her legs against their will, she forced her knees to lock tight, clenching her fists into balls while her senses collected within her head. Chewing on her lower lip, she proceeded, at a much calmer speed, down the bending trail. Chilled fingers stroked along the smooth wall as she turned around the bend. Her brow furrowed at the obvious change in environment. Passing just down the short end of the hallway, she saw it open up into a very large, high roofed, circular room. The walls were bare, perfectly smooth marble without any signs of aging or wear. She imagined it to be about 60 feet from where she stood to the other wall, and about 30 up to the ceiling. Attached to the walls, with 10 foot intervals between each sat a multitude of burning, fiery torches, illuminating the one terrifying aspect of the large cell. Within the center, with an estimated 30 foot diameter, sat a dark, ominous pit, barely lit by the glowing embers around it. Serena froze, moving to the closest wall to lean against it. Gulping, she looked around a bit more, searching for the next exit. And found none. A small whimper escaped her lips and she turned to head back along the hall, but stopped herself. She had seen no other walkways, no other escapes. Her heart thumping painfully against her chest, she pivoted again, looking over all surrounding once again. Her eyes rose to the ceiling, met with something they had not noticed before. In the middle, directly above the pit, was the outline of a round door, with hinges on every side, cut like a pie that would open from the center into different triangular panels. Her brow furrowed. What would be the use of that? There was no way anyone could get up there? Shaking her head, she lowered her gaze once again to the centerpiece of the extent. Gulping, she reached for the nearest torch and grasped her hand around the metal cone base. With shaky steps she neared the hole, peering over the edge. As she came closer, she lowered herself onto her knees, her free hand grasping the rim as her neck craned forward to see what the torch shed light upon. Her eyes drunk in gray walls and empty blackness. Nibbling the inside of her cheek, she pushed the light out as far as she could, before releasing it and letting it fall from her hold. There was silence as she watched the light become smaller, before a soft clang was heard and the light was extinguished. "Too far to jump?" she mumbled aloud, letting her shoulders sag. Her memory serving to show the above door as her only escape, she let her gaze wander upward. Gasping, she stumbled to her feet, her eyes locked on the ceiling. Slowly, without the slightest sound, the panels opened above her, coming down to reveal a large, blackened hole above. Setting her legs straight, she readied herself for a fight. "Those aren't opening by themselves?" she whispered quietly. "You're quite right about that, Ms. Moon." Her eyes flew to the other side of the room, to see another woman standing on the ground on the far end of the pit. 'How did she get there?!' The newcomer was dressed like Fuega had been, only this one with bright orange skin, a brown bathing suit, and crimped, waist-length gray hair. She also had a pair of clear, veined dragonfly wings behind her and in her hands she held a glowing ball of static energy, sizzling in front of her uncovered stomach. Her red lips curved evilly, black charcoal eyes smiling back at her. "I'm Electra, and I have a surprise for you?" she taunted in a singsong voice. Serena tensed, her fingers twitching in readiness to reach for her tiara. Electra's eyes darted upwards, her smile growing, and Serena heard what sounded like turning gears. She creased her brow, not daring to remove her attention from the immediate enemy. That sphere of power could come soaring at her at any minute. Slowly, from the corner of her eye, she began to see a dark form lower from the door above. As it came nearer to ground level, she unconsciously began to form an image in her mind. Her heart beat skipped and her eyes unwillingly lifted to the form. "Darien!" she screamed, her entire body tensing, her bones surging with power, ready to go grab onto the man hanging from tied hands in the center of the pit. He was unconscious, his hair drooping over closed eyes, his wrists pulled above his head to hold him there with a thick green vine. His body looked drained and weak, draped with his normal green jacket and black jeans. Serena gulped. "How? why??" "That's right, girly, we've kidnapped your precious boyfriend. Now, how do you say we fight for him?" Electra teased, the ball of energy sparking momentarily, hissing at its owner and enemy. Serena managed in keeping stinging tears hidden within their ducts, her mind ignoring logic and searching for any means to get him down. "Sailor Moon?" his voice was pained and dry, and her entire body filled with energy. A startled scream echoing from her mouth, Serena reached for her tiara, running forward, all fear forgotten, she leaped into the air. Later, She wouldn't know really what she did or how she did it. She remembered tying her arm about his strong waist, the other slicing at the entangling vines with her tiara, and continuing to fly with him in her grasp until they both collapsed onto the hard floor, directly opposite the pit where she had jumped from. Electra raised her eyebrow, the ball of energy calming down somewhat. "Very impressive?" Ignoring her, Serena smoothed Darien's cheek, tears beginning to seep down her cheek. "Darien? Darien wake up, are you okay?" He groaned, and slowly, his eyes opened. Serena gasped, instantly dropping his head from her lap. "Wha?" "Oh, I'm fine, Sailor Moon?" he spoke, his voice turning raspy. His eyes glared up at her, pits of hidden blackness. Serena screamed, backing away as his skin began to melt away from his skeleton. Her entire body quivered as she stumbled backwards, only ceasing her escape as her heel felt the edge of the pit below her. The form of the new creature was beginning to look quite familiar to Serena, with the revealing bikini, airline stewardess wings bulging from the forehead, and bright colored skin, this time a lime green. Her jungle green, almost black hair smoothed down to her knees, at almost the same length as her shimmering wings behind her. "Come to join the fun, Parra?" The green girl glanced at her ally, smiling innocently. "Hey, I'm just going along with the plan, sis!" Winking, she pulled her fingers back, before aiming them in a stunned Serena's direction. Instantly, five plant vines shot from her limbs, tangling around Serena to tie her arms to her sides. She screamed, her mind beginning to focus on what was going on around her. She struggled transiently to free herself, only ceasing her attempts as the two women began to cackle at her evilly. "Hm?" acted Parra, rubbing her chin with her free hand, "Do you think we should kill her now, or let Beryl handle this?" Electra smiled, placing her hands on her hips. "I think her majesty has more important matters to think about than this scrawny ditz? oh, I'm sorry, your HIGHNESS!" Laughing, she bowed to Serena mockingly, her eyes staring up at her. Parra laughed along, releasing the vines from her fingers. Without their support, Serena fell down to her knees. "Well, well, look who's bowing to who!" Parra giggled. "Yes, she's begging us for mercy!" Electra raised her hand, face upward, as another ball of golden energy began to form within her palm. "What do you say we put this wench out of her misery?" Parra smiled as well, a series of vines growing along her left arm up to her fingers, emerging from the florescent green skin. "Sounds good to me?" Serena's eyes darted between the two, her breathing quick. Her arms shifted, but only managed in rubbing against the tight hold of the binding stems, cutting into her flesh. Her teeth bit down on her lip painfully and her tongue began to taste tinges of blood. "No? I won't give up?" she muttered, prying any last traces of power within her. The two above her only laughed up on their victim's helplessness. "She's still fighting?" "Not for long?" Parra's fist clenched, Electra's arm swung back and Serena was forced to look away and await her death. Hope was becoming slim and minimal, and tears were streaking her face mercilessly. "I'm? Sailor Moon? I can fight? this evil?" Her false words drowned in the crackling of Electra's weapon. Her heart beating furiously against her ribs seemed the only thing real at that moment, and her mind urged her to try something, anything, instead of just sitting there and awaiting destiny. Squeezing her eyes shut, Serena nodded her head once, before hurtling to her feet and running forward into Electra, head-butting her in the gut. She screamed, her electric ball falling to the ground to spark and die. "Hey, ya little brat!" Turning, she saw a storm of weeds flying in her direction, and dropped to the ground, before rolling in Parra's direction. "What the? Ay!" She screamed and tripped over Serena's rolling form, colliding face-first with the marble floor. Slithering to her feet, Serena was just about to kick her when a hand clapped over her mouth, another clenching tightly on her arm. "Why you dirty urchin?" Electra growled, her hold tightening. Serena closed her eyes momentarily, before opening her mouth and snapping at the offered fingers. Her attacker screamed, withdrawing instantly and Sailor Moon began to run as quick as her restraints would let her to the hallway on the other side of the pit. "She bit me! The little mongrel bit me!" A furious Parra rose to her feet, turning around to see her seething sibling glaring at the girl, attempting to escape. Her gaze narrowed. "Why that little?" She clamped her fists at her sides, vines sneaking through her veins as she watched the blond ditz. Her stare darted to Electra, and catching her gaze, she nodded. Turning, each began to walk to the other girl, strolling in different directions around the pit at a leisurely pace as they collected energy within their grasp. "You can run down the hallway and we can fight you there, or you can stay and die proudly," Electra taunted, electricity boiling through her nerves. But to their surprise, Serena didn't run down the corridor, but instead stopped directly outside the exit and turned to watch them slowly nearing her, not even a fourth way in their approach yet. Gulping, she backed up to the wall, feeling an empty torch holder against her back. It was little more than an iron ring jutting from the wall, but she hoped would serve her purpose nicely. Inhaling a quick breath, she backed up on it smoothly, catching a vine in its grasp, before falling down to the floor. Her eyes shimmered hopefully as she felt the twine fall easily to the floor, and her arms were free. Immediately shaking off the rest of the ties, she rubbed at her skin briefly before gazing up to the progressing adversaries. Parra narrowed her eyes evilly as her weapon was shed from Serena's body, before a smooth grin enveloped her face. "So maybe she's not as dumb as we thought. But don't worry, I've got plenty to spare?" she hissed, a branch crawling over her shoulder for added affect. Serena gulped, analyzing the situation. Nowhere to go? Two enemies, much stronger? preparing attack as we think? They were nearly half way to her now, almost exactly opposite themselves around the pit. Serena gulped. "I hate desperation?" she muttered. Her body tensing briefly, she bent her knees and began to dash toward the pit, her eyes aimed at the still dangling vine hanging from the center of the above doorway. Electra gasped. "Hey! She's gonna try to climb up the rope!" Parra only laughed though. "Not if I can help it." Serena had no chance as she grabbed onto the green rope and instantly, before she realized what was happening, was caught up in it as it wrapped itself around her wrists. Parra chuckled. "Try to get away from that, Sailor Twit!" Serena cried out in anguish briefly. "So? close?" Her body shook desperately, trying to escape, but she knew it was no use. Her head swinging from side to side could see both Doom and Gloom Girls preparing their attacks, staring up at her like ravage dogs. Her head sunk, only one tiny ounce of assurance filtering through her thoughts. Parra and Electra jumped into the air, their wings beating furiously at the air as they aimed their attacks at the dangling princess. Serena groaned, slamming her eyes shut. She could hear war calls erupt from each of the women's mouths and braced herself. Her hands reaching up to tie around the vine, she kicked at the air, gracefully pushing herself forward to flip over in a mid-air somersault, her legs wrapping around the rope. She hung upside down now, the blood already rushing to her head, her eyes still closed. The Girls froze, instantly regretting their released attack. Serena could hear their screams and hoped she had achieved her goal. The screams died into the air and when she finally opened her eyes, she could see the lifeless body of Electra with vines tied tightly about her body and neck, sink down to the ground, landing with a loud thud against the marble. On her other side, Sailor Moon saw nothing but a cloud of ashes spread in the air. She sighed loudly. Stretching to a somewhat more comfortable position, she set to untying the vine from her wrist, struggling to pry it apart until finally she could slide her hands away. A headache pounding at her temples, she swung herself right side up, taking only a second to breathe regularly before climbing clumsily up the rope. Upon reaching the entrance to the large trap door, she swung herself from side to side, easily leaping to the safe platform. Once there, she looked around to make sure there were no signs of life, before scooting to a dark corner of the strangely rectangular room, and plunging into unconsciousness. Serena flinched, rolling slightly onto her side. A gently nudge in her side had rudely awakened her and she swapped at it with a tired arm, refusing to open her eyes. It poked into her rips harder, and she moaned loudly, backing away from it and feeling her back hit a hard wall. She furrowed her eyebrow, but her dim thoughts refused to let her remember the past hours. Until a small giggle was heard above her, Serena refused to even care. Slowly, Sailor Moon let her eyelids open, grateful that the room was dark and no instant light flooded her senses. Her eyes began to slowly focus on a pair of dark purple stilettos on violet feet, and violet legs. Her neck twisted upward, straining the taunt muscles and she could see a woman in a dark bathing suit with long curly brown hair hovering above her. She groaned, bringing her hand up to rub over her temples. "Not another one of you people." The girl giggled, taking a step back. "Good morning, I'm Blade, and it's time for you to rise and shine, sweetie. It won't be any fun to kill you if you're just gonna lay there the whole time." The blond smiled, letting her head fall back down to the floor, closing her eyes. "Well in that case, I won't get up then." Blade only laughed. "Oh, I imagine you will." Serena raised an eyebrow, eventually opening her eyes again. The first thing she saw was a silver streak came slicing through the air toward her. She screeched and with shocking energy, bolted out of the way, jumping to her feet and dodging out of danger. Pausing, she began to gasp for breath, hunched over with her hand clutching to her chest. Suddenly, the woman's laughter became evident and she turned just in time to see her pull a short knife from between the cracks of the stone wall. Sailor Moon gulped, before standing up straight and tossing her hands on her hips. "Hey, what's the big idea! You said you wouldn't kill me if I didn't get up!" The woman shrugged, tying her hands behind her back. "And you got up, didn't you?" Serena pursed her lips angrily, biting her cheek behind her mouth. "How cruel?" she whispered, more disturbed by the thought that she'd been waken than almost killed. Again, the lady only giggled. "Well, if I'm not mistaken, you're responsible for the deaths of three of my sisters, true?" Serena huffed her shoulders, folding her arms over her chest. "It was self defense! They tried to kill me first!" "Oh, I don't doubt it, those were our orders," said Blade casually. "And honestly, I won't miss those three. They were always stealing my makeup." She pouted momentarily, before perking up joyfully. "But what does it matter now? After you're dead, Beryl will most definitely award me with anything I want, and I won't have to share at all! Sounds like a good deal, right?" Running a hand through her bangs, Serena smirked. "And what makes you think you can succeed where the others failed?" Smiling, Blade brought her hands around to her sides, one resting on her hip while the other brushed a strand of hair away from her shoulder. "You'll see in a moment." Her voice became raspy, an obvious evil undertone choking her sweet voice, and Serena clenched her fists, lowering herself to a fighting position. Blade raised an eyebrow, pulling her right hand over her shoulder, ready to throw the knife. Serena braced herself, grating her teeth together. Only when Blade's arm moved, soaring forward, the knife flying in her direction, did the heroine move, straightening her legs and leaping high into the air. She performed a flip, an easy maneuver Luna had taught her, and landed behind Blade, facing her back. She never saw it coming? Blade swung her left arm back, the other knife still held in her palm, listening to the girl's scream as she felt her weapon cut into flesh. Never even bothering to turn, she withdrew her weapon, smiling down on the recent bloodstains. "You shouldn't be so predictable, Sailor Moon," she teased, walking casually to a far wall to pick up her lost knife. Serena couldn't hold back a choked sob, sinking down to her knees as painful tears crawled to her eyes. She glanced down, her hand pressing up against the wound, and slowly removed it. She whimpered again at her bloody palm, streaks seeping between her fingers. Her entire arm throbbed and she saw the wound, dark maroon red, almost black. She gritted her teeth, lowering her head angrily. She heard the opponent's footsteps pause before turning to her, the high heels clicking against the marble floor. "That's quite a bad wound you have there," taunted her innocent voice. "Would you like another?" Serena gasped at the feel of a cold blade pressed up to the base of her chin, slowly lifting her head up. The woman's coal black eyes shone down on her, one hand on her waist while the other mocked her with the fatal weapon so close to her neck. Sailor Moon's lip trembled, and she began to back away from her, fear throbbing in her mind. "Just? just leave me alone?" she pleaded pathetically. Blade laughed, tossing locks of hair from her face. "You're asking for mercy? The? warrior of love and? JUSTICE is begging me for mercy? I never thought I'd see the day?" Serena felt another tear slip down her cheek and was too frightened to wipe it away. She was tired, wounded, achy, and only wanted to go home. Continuously sliding backward, she soon found the cold wall at her back, and she let her head sink down again. "I never asked for any of this?" she whispered to herself. "I never wanted to be Sailor Moon. I never wanted to fight anyone? I just? want to live in a quiet world? with my friends? with Darien?" Her voice cracked and she sobbed again, lost momentarily in her own small world of pity. "We never ask for these things, girly. But sometimes you just have to take it as it comes, not as such an irresponsible crybaby," she hissed. Shaking, Serena looked up at her, seeing both arms crossed in front of her chest. Angrily, she swiped an arm across her face, unconsciously mixing the tears with drying blood, and raised to wobbly knees. Sailor Moon clenched her teeth angrily, leaning up against the wall, one hand still clasped over her wound. "You don't understand. I have been stronger than anyone in the world. I have given up so much, and every time I've felt weak, I only become stronger because of it. You don't know me. You'll never know me, or what I go through!" Blade stared into her eyes unwaveringly. "Boohoo, cry? cry?" she whispered beneath her breath, walking forward slowly and raising one knife to point at Serena's throat. The smaller girl shrunk back slightly, but hid all signs of fear well behind seething anger. "You're right, I never will know you. Because you're about to become nothing more than a memory." Serena closed her eyes, her energy slowly draining, and let her body slump completely against the wall. Soon, she could feel the cold sting of metal against her throat, and shivered, ignoring another tear slide down her cheek. The woman grinned sardonically, tightening her hold on the knife, ready to slash forward at any moment. But she stopped. A warm hand rested gently on her own now, soft, gloved, gentle. She frowned mentally at the young girl's persistence, and her sudden loss of composure. Looking up, she saw that Sailor Moon was staring at her again, emotionless, her unwounded arm hanging at her side limply. Blade raised a questioning eyebrow. "Think that will stop me?" "Yes," the child whispered, almost inaudibly. Blade held back controlled laughter. "Because there's still many things you don't know about me, Blade. And one is that I have a lot of people back home, counting on me. I can't lose. Because if I lose, they do too. And I won't let that happen." Her voice was calm the entire time, rendering Blade almost speechless. She stared back into a cool blue gaze, damp from recent tears. So mature at that moment, with a friendly hold still on her hand, and she could only stare. "So?" she finally managed to stutter, her voice dry. "You are the princess, after all. I was beginning to doubt it." Serena only returned her gaze for a long time, ignoring the throbbing in her arm. Her mind continued to play visions of Darien, Raye, Amy, Mina, and Lita, all so happy and joyful, with her? She kept them in her heart, always, she knew. They would get her through this. "I'll give you a choice. Take me to Beryl now? or die." Blade hesitated and Serena wondered if she would take her to the queen after all. 'Obviously not?' she thought as a smirk crawled onto her enemy's lips. "Right?" she taunted disbelieving. "I'm shaking?" Serena gulped, clenching her teeth together, and could already feel dreadful tears rising again. "Goodbye, Blade?" Listing her head to the side, her curly brown hair tumbling over her shoulder, Blade only smiled. "Goodbye indeed." Her hand pulled back once again, and Serena's injured arm dropped from her wrist down to her own side. Again, the foe ceased her attack, this time her eyes widening drastically and a dried scream leaving her mouth. Serena squeezed her eyes shut, withdrawing her hand with the knife still in her palm. Blade looked down at her side, seeing warm blood drizzle over her bare skin. Her mouth was open and shocked as her hand dropped the other knife and came to hold itself over the skin. After a shocked moment, she sunk to the ground, tasting blood in her mouth. Her black eyes rose to Serena, shaking still against the wall. "H? how?" Sailor Moon bit her lip, gradually opening her eyes, glittering with tears unshed, and looked upon the dying woman. "You were distracted," she whimpered quietly. Never had she killed any youma so brutally, and her heart throbbed painfully within her chest. She could see a realization enter Blade's eyes, evidently remembering when she had been so stunned by Serena's words and strange movements, it would have been the perfect time for the girl to steel her weapon. Coughing, she hunched over, holding a hand to her chest, blood spilling from crimson lips. Serena cried, wanting to collapse beside her, but instead slowly inching away along the wall. "Wait?" her voice was dying? croaked out between gasping breaths. Slowly, Sailor Moon turned once again to see her prey. Blade reached for her knife, the one nearest her, and tightened her fingers over the handle. Serena watched on, no fear in her thoughts, knowing the lady was too weak to attack her vengefully. But when Blade looked up at her, the night black eyes were pleading, and Serena could only watch curiously until the woman had brought the knife and pointed it at her own heart. Her knuckles were white. Serena whimpered, turned, and fled sobbing through the nearest escape. Her mind replayed the past events constantly, and imagined the final blow taking her life, before a lifeless corpse falls onto forever-bloodstained marble floor. She stumbled through the corridor, her right hand clutched tightly over her upper arm. Her exhausted eyes staying closed for long intervals, walking blindly through casual darkness. Chewing her lower lip, she paused, lifting heavy eyelids to look around at the glowing, eerie torches, seeing no end to their losing battle with the shadows. She groaned, leaning up against a wall and listening to her pained sobs echo off the walls. It must have been hours since she'd come here, teleported into the near forgotten snowstorms. Possibly even a day or more. She missed the vague warm comfort in her home, the warm comfort in his embrace or in their gossiping, cheery voices. Moaning agitatedly, she let her head hit the stone walls, rather painfully. Her neck was sore, bent down slightly. Her entire body was sore. Releasing her hand from her arm, she brought the bloody fingers in front of her, looking down on an open palm. The wound had nearly stopped secreting the maroon gore, now lying dry upon her satin glove. For a moment she considered changing into a mere human, just briefly, knowing that once she transformed again the mess would be gone and her outfit would once again be clean and in tact. But she dared not leave herself so open for attack, even for the shortest moment. Her eyes closed yet again, wishing the impounding headache away, letting her fingers shake. Drip. "Hm?" Slowly, Serena lifted her eyelids to see a clear water droplet create veins in the palm of her hand against the dark red background. Drip. Another, this one slithering down from her ring finger to mix with the other. She lifted her fingers to her nose, smelling no scents above the familiar taste of blood. Furrowing her brow, she lifted her eyes upward, for the first time noticing a chain of rusted pipes above her head. There were four of them, all silver with copper aging surrounding them. Mostly on the one directly above her, with a small slit through the pipe, occasionally letting a tiny droplet seep through. "Since when have those been there?" she mumbled to herself. Listening to the soft splash of water on the marble below, she let a tiny, insignificant smile lift her tired features. "Where there's water, there's civilization. Beryl's gotta be nearby." Using one arm to push herself away from the wall she continued, trudging through the dark hallway, following the pipes as much as she could. She took notice of the few stairways, every turn, every minor change in her surroundings. Her knees seemed to become weaker with every step, but persistence in her mind strengthened them to enough to make the next stride. Dull hums could be heard now, even bits of mumbling, like mechanical voices. For awhile she thought she heard the turning of squeaky wheels, and later her mind substituted running water with cheering crowds. The torches began to come more frequently, and larger, now held in shining bronze vases instead of the simple wooden holders. Every advance brought more hope, and dread into Sailor Moon's heart. Her eyes saw one fairly tall staircase in the distance and she walked toward it, stumbling toward the dark shadows above. She clutched at the wall as she began the ascent upward, pushing down on her knee with one hand as to push herself onward. Chewing her lip, she reached the top. Pausing, her eyes met the only thing in the dead end, the tiny chamber without any visible escape. "Oh God? not another one?" "Welcome, Sailor Moon." The blue-skinned fairy creature smiled evilly, her arms crossed over her chest, her back leaning up against the far wall. She had long, shining, golden hair, reaching to her knees, cascading over her shoulders. Unlike the others, her uniform was not a bikini, but still much too revealing, even for a bathing suit. With a one piece, but a large slit down the middle leaving little to the imagination. Again, she had the navy high heels and wrist cuffs, but on her upper arm she wore two thick golden arm bands, and on her forehead, paired with the stewardess wings, was a jeweled tiara with a single red stone glowing in the middle. Like two of the past enemies, dragonfly wings lowered down from hidden shoulder blades. Serena shook her head, closing her eyes momentarily to lift her hand up to her forehead, running fingers through her thick bangs. "Don't you people ever die?" "Don't you?" Her voice seemed to change instantly into the sounds of rushing water, like waves crashing on a beach and Serena had little time to look up before a great tsunami crashed into her, instantly knocking the balance from her feet. Her screams died in the water as she was pushed over the edge of the stairs. With the stinging knives of the ice cold liquid now came the breaking hardness of the sharp edged stairs. Her back collided with one and she could not breathe, even once the water had strung out beneath her body. She lay coughing at the base of the staircase, her body crumpled up like a fetus, one leg twisted on the upper stair while the rest simply lay shivering against the cold floor. Her hair was matted against her skin, streams of water invading her lungs as she choked desperately on the freezing air. Panting hard, she managed to look up. The fairy creature was no more than a shadow at the top of the stairs now, even her emotionless eyes blending with the darkness. Serena looked down for a minute, trying desperately to ignore the pain flowing through every vein in her body. Clenching her teeth, she clambered onto shaky legs, her right leg nearly giving out the second pressure was place upon it, and she knew it was broken. Her eyes could not hold back the built up tears no matter how hard she tried, but she ignored them, holding onto courage as long as she could. Her eyes lifted to the woman and managed a weak smile. "What? No introduction first?" She slowly began to strut down the stairs. "Well, well. You haven't spoken your spiel on love and justice either, now have you?" Serena spit on the ground suddenly, feeling the water grow to a fowl taste behind her lips, before raising her eyes once again to her opponent's. "I am Sailor Moon. The soldier of love and justice. And in the name of the moon, I will? AH!" Serena's screech died instantly as one freezing hand grasped around her neck. Two black eyes glared down on her with unkempt hatred. "I am Helada, the leader of the Doom and Gloom Girls. You have killed all four of my sisters, and for this, I will punish you!" Serena struggled against her grip as the bony fingers tightened below her jaw and air immediately came scarce within her. Blue eyes closed as her hands reached up to wrap around her enemy's wrist, struggling blindly against the attacker. "Now?" hissed Helada's dangerous words. "To kill you quickly, or slow and painfully??" A forced scream died at Serena's lips as icy needles began to crawl over her neck and down past her shoulders. Her eyes widened again, looking into a black gaze with horror. Her entire body began to shiver, before becoming instantly numb against the sheet of ice that was growing down from Helada's fingers. She whimpered, sobbed, and cried some more, toiling against the frozen sculpture as it modeled over her body. She could feel the dead fingers crawling down her stomach, over her hips, down past her thighs. Soon, even her toes could not move within her red boots. The blanket of ice stopped at her jawbone, allowing her breath and thought, despite the fog rising from her lips, nearly turning to water drops before her, so heavy was the freezing temperatures. The woman finally released her hand, stepping back to look at the living ice sculpture in front of her, her own creation. "I think slow and painfully will do the trick. No mercy." Her tongue spat on the words, before a cackle erupted from her throat and she grinned sardonically at the tears freezing on Serena's paling cheeks. "Freeze or starve to death. We'll see which happens first." Her high laugh echoed away from Serena as the woman turned slightly and walked right past her. She could hear the clicking of her high heels against the floor, dying into quietness. She tried desperately to scream and cry, but her vocal cords only strangled her and very little thought was welcome to her mind. Though her body was numb, she could still feel bits of the ice like needles puncturing every inch of her skin. Her hair even felt heavy and she knew the tips were frozen now as well, clinging to some covered skin she could not feel. Against the tears, she let her eyes close. 'So this is the way I'll die.' The voice in her mind began whispering, switching from humiliating laughter to proud coaxing. She tried to ignore it, looking into the blank darkness her mind had become. This morning she had been so hopeful. She even remembered the words she had spoken to Darien before she had left. 'But don't worry about me, alright? I'll be fine, really, a total cinch! I mean, really, how tough could this witch possibly be, after all? I'm Sailor Moon, for goodness sakes, and I will overcome all evil. Trust me on that one, haven't lost a battle yet! So you have no reason to be scared about me, that's all. I'll come back without so much as a scratch.' Irony throbbed against her skull. She hadn't even met the witch. She had been beaten by her henchmen. Darien? she'd lied. 'Forgive me.' Her mind began to replay the last days she had spent with him. At the museum, the fountain, the park. Three times, she had promised him a million kisses. A promise she would break. Another tear froze against her skin. "For?give? me?" she managed to choke out in a whisper of a breath. She felt so tired, so incredibly weak. Never had she been so hopeless, not in any battle. 'So this is the way I'll die.' Her imagination began to wonder what would Darien do if he was here. Throw a rose, break the fatal crystal shield around her? Hold her and kiss her until his own body heat melted it away? Her mind smiled, thinking of his kisses. He would kiss her tenderly at first, she knew. Running one finger along her cheek, over her jaw. Maybe cup her chin in his tender grasp, lifting her face upward. She sobbed, feeling his warmth covering her and wished he was there. He could melt it. One hand would travel through her hair, then press against the back of her neck momentarily as soft lips caressed hers. The palm would travel down her back, pressing her shivering body against his warm chest. One hand would rub against her arms, warming them with electric friction. Shivering, Serena could feel goose bumps crawl over her skin. She sniffled even, feeling more tears drip from her cheeks. Only if he was here? His lean body would move into hers, wrapping both arms around her to completely trap her in his embrace. Maybe his tongue would slide seductively into her open lips. Or maybe he would pull away and leave tiny butterfly kisses along her cheeks and neck. All the while his hands wandering over her thawing skin, heating her with love more effective than burning fire. "Darien?" she sobbed loudly, opening her eyes. When she saw nothing but the air before her, she let a wail rise up from her throat, before slumping completely, falling down to her knees, letting her hands collapse into a shallow puddle. "Huh?" she gasped, her eyes flying open quickly again. Stunned, she curled her fingers, looking around to see the puddle beneath her, and her entire body free. Free. She remained there for a long time on her hands and knees, wondering what had happened, still vaguely feeling the hands and kisses of her one true love on her. Eventually, she pushed back to sit on her ankles, gulping roughly. "Enough of this." Clambering onto her feet, she held back a screech as pain seared through her right leg and she remembered falling down the stairs, what seemed to be hours ago. Biting back tears, she turned and began stomping, quietly, down the hallway. She followed a path of water, quickly and always silent, until after one turn, she saw a gold waterfall of hair retreating from her, walking proudly. Serena glared her eyes, tightening her fists and bracing against the pain. Taking extra precautions to be silent, she proceeded toward Helada. Once at a close distance, she froze. "No mercy," she whispered, loud enough so that the woman would hear her. She paused, instantly, before swiveling around. "What the??" The second the words escaped the ruby lips did Helada scream as a golden, sharp-edged discus came hurling toward her, slashing one arm easily. She groaned, collapsing to the ground with her hand covering the bleeding wound. Serena twitched two fingers and the tiara flew back, this time hitting the woman in the center of her back. A pained screech sliced through the dead silence, until she fell forward, landing on her face. The floor around her immediately became dark with blood and Serena gulped, not able to remove her eyes from the dead woman now lying before her. She stood silently for what seemed to be hours, simply staring down at the motionless body, before swallowing and letting her head fall down to her chest. Not raising her eyes, she walked around the body, marching with agonizing slowness down the hall that Helada had recently been traveling along. Her shoulders were bent, her neck craned, her eyes shut. After a period of time where all the world seemed dead, she stopped. Just stopped. In the center of the hallway, Serena let her shaking knees and her broken leg give way, collapsing to the floor. Barriers of strength broke and her body curled into a tiny ball on the cold stone. She felt broken. Not her body, not her heart. Just, SHE. She was broken. "She has killed all of the Doom and Gloom Girls, your majesty. Though she is very weak now." "All of them? I didn't think they were so feeble." "They nearly succeeded in finishing her off. Really, a child could kill her now. She must be hanging onto life by a mere thread. It is a miracle she has survived at all." Red fingernails, jagged and long like knives, scratched at the dull wood on the arm of her chair. "Bring her to me. Now."