*******************************************************
**A Soul Reclaimed**
By Brickgirl
Brickgirl@hotmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/palace/7112
Rated: PG
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and friends do not belong to me.
                  Adonis, Thalia, and this story do.
**Part 11: To Have And To Hold**
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        Thalia stepped forward to meet the advancing crystal creature.
Her eyes narrowed, her hands tightening on her crystal as it expanded to
sword.  Serenity stepped back, cradling her infant, Luna at her feet,
hoping Thalia would be able to keep the battle on the other side of the
small cell.
        With a vicious snarl, the creature leapt at the Senshi, his
massive claw slashing to cleave her in two.  Thalia dodged, but was
still weak from the teleportation.  The blow hit her gauntleted arm, not
causing any damage, but knocking her sword from her hand.  Separated
from her presence, it reverted to its crystal form.
        The creature chuckled as it bent to pick up the glistening
crystal.  ?Lose your toy?? he rumbled.  His fist closed around it, and
he began to squeeze.
        ?Stop that!?  Thalia stepped forward, preparing to try to
physically wrest the crystal from his grasp.  There was a sudden sharp
crack.  Thalia froze, expecting her Senshi form to melt away.
        Instead, thin beams of light began to streak from the monster?s
hand.  His face held a look of bewilderment, and he shook his hand, as
if trying to drop the crystal.  Suddenly, he stiffened.  A thin shriek
tore from his throat.
        ?Goddess . . .? murmured Serenity in amazement.  The all too
familiar streams of energy began streaming from the creature?s body to
the crystal in his hand.  Luna jumped out of the way as he collapsed on
the floor, his arm outstretched.  Slowly, the light and energy faded.
The crystal rolled out of his now-limp hand, glowing fiercely.
        Thalia hurriedly stepped over the dead guard and snatched up the
crystal.  She could hear slow footsteps coming down the hall.  She
quickly went over and closed the open cell door, hoping that would buy
them some time.
        ?We have to get out of here,? Luna said.  Serenity nodded, gently
cradling her cooing daughter who seem blissfully unaware of the violent
events around her.
        ?I guess we will have to try teleporting again, its the only way
to get out of here.?  Thalia could here voices in the hall, calling for
the missing guard.  She walked over to Serenity, clasping her friend?s
free hand.  Luna hopped onto her shoulder.  She held the crystal out to
the infant, who reached of to grasp it.  Light swirled around them.
Thalia concentrated on Crystal Tokyo.
        The door burst open, and three more crystal soldiers burst in,
only to see the two figures vanish in a burst of light.
__________

        ?She was WHO!? Minako nearly shrieked, accidentally throttling
Artimis with her large cast.  The stunned cat fell of the bed with a
thud.  Minako didn?t even notice.
        ?That would explain a lot,? Ami mused.  ?Where she has been for so
many centuries, why she seems so uncomfortable talking about what
happened to her.?
        ?But I thought we destroyed Beryl, years ago,? Makoto said shaking
her head.  ?This is just so . . . weird.  Why didn?t she tell us??
        ?If you were her, would you have said anything?? Rei asked her.
Makoto didn?t reply.  ?Perhaps she was reincarnated, like we were.  Or
perhaps it was only Metallia we destroyed.  Either way, Beryl is dead.
Thalia is Thalia, and no one else.  I would have sensed any evil intent
at the start.  She MUST have gone to rescue Serenity.?  She rubbed her
still-throbbing skull.  ?Though she didn?t have to bash my head in to do
so.?
        Endymion sat in silence amidst the chatting girls.  Everything had
fallen into place.  The conversation he had overheard.  Her obvious
discomfort around him.  Her odd reaction to their trust.  He closed his
eyes and lowered his head, feeling heavy sorrow on her behalf.  His
memories of what he had done under Metallia?s influence were still as
sharp as a sword.  His beloved Usako lying on the floor, struck down by
his own hand.  For Thalia, the memories of her crimes had to be
infinitely worse.
        A sudden burst of light lanced out from the center of the room.
Everyone drew back, shielding their eyes.  Two figures appeared, one
carrying a small bundle, the other a smaller form.  The light faded,
leaving behind Serenity, her tiny daughter, Thalia, and Luna.  The
Senshi of Earth took a shaky step forward, then collapsed, her
transformation giving way to her civilian form.
        Ami rushed over to her, pulling her tiny computer out of her
pocket.  Serenity knelt, still clutching her friend?s hand.  Ami tapped
a few keys, and studied the screen.
        ?Is se going to be all right??  Ami nodded slowly.
        ?It?s the shock of two direct teleportations so close together.
She had the power, but her body couldn?t handle it.  She should be
fine.?  Ami snapped her computer shut.  ?On the up side, since she
didn?t open a portal, you two can?t be tracked.?
        ?Not that that matters.  Adonis knows exactly where we will have
gone.  He may escalate his attack.?
        Makoto gently scooped up the unconscious Thalia.  ?I?m going to
take her to her room, and then you better tell us what?s going on.?
        Serenity nodded gravely.  ?I don?t think you all will be too
happy.?
__________

        ?What do you mean she escaped??  The voice was deathly calm.
Damos cowered away from the throne.
        ?I have no idea how she did it, Master.  Ogon is dead, his energy
drained, and the other guards said they say two figures disappear in a
flash of light.  Yet no portal was opened.  We cannot follow.?
        Adonis slammed his fist down, yet his voice remained eerily level.
They must have used direct teleportation.  Which means she had access to
the Ginzuishou.  And she had outside help.?  He suddenly ripped one of
the arms off of the throne and hurled it across the room.  Damos threw
himself to the floor to avoid being hit.
        ?Damn her!  Why doesn?t she understand that I only want to help
her?  How can she do this to her own people.  WE NEED HER!!?  His scream
echoed through the surrounding caverns.  Damos trembled as he lay
pressed into the floor.  The Master had his rages, it was true, but this
was beyond anything he had ever seen.
        ?Per . . . perhaps we should attack, um, sooner then planned.
Bring her back.?  Damos murmured, eyeing the chair arm that had smashed
into the opposite wall.
        Adonis stood abruptly.  ?As usual, your thinking is sound.  The
attack will be moved from three weeks from now to one.  You have proven
that you are still useful to me, and worthy of being my second in
command.?
        Damos took in a sharp breath as he climbed to his feet.  ?I, I?m
honored . . .?  Adonis waved his hand lazily.
        ?Go and inform the troops of the change of plans.  They must begin
preparing immediately.?  Damos turned to leave.  ?Wait!  One more
thing.?
        Damos froze, afraid.  ?Yes??
        ?Get me another throne.?
__________

        ?Ow, stop it Luna!  I didn?t mean to do it!?  Artimis dodged the
furious Luna, hiding behind a plant for protection.  He peered between
the leaves with large, overly-innocent eyes.  ?Minako made me tell!?
        Luna slashed with her claws, cutting away the leaves of the plant.
?Can?t you ever keep your mouth shut?? she hissed.  ?I told you not to
tell!?
        ?Well, maybe they had the right to know!?
        ?It isn?t your job to say anything, it?s hers to do when she?s
ready!!!?
        ?All right you two, break it up.?  Serenity strolled into the
room, Small Lady in her arms.  The baby kicked and gurgled when she saw
the cats.
        ?Luna, I know you?re mad, but I?m really sorry.  Hey, look at the
time!  Gotta go . . . um, gotta run!?  He darted for the door, Luna hot
on his tail.
        ?Luna, can I speak with you??  Luna paused at the door.  Artimis
turned around a corner and disappeared.  Luna sighed and turned back to
the Queen.
        ?He had no right.  Sometimes I think he has no more sense then a
kitten.?
        Serenity smiled gently.  ?Well, it?s too late to worry about that
right now.  The cat is out of the bag, so to speak.?
        Luna ignored the bad pun.  ?How did the other Senshi take the
news??
        ?Surprisingly well, actually.  It helps to have an empath around.
Thanks to Rei, no one has any doubts about Thalia?s intentions.?
        ?That should be a relief for her, when she wakes up.  She has been
worried sick over the whole Beryl thing.?
        ?Can you blame her?  She was forced to betray everything she stood
for.?  Serenity sighed.  ?That reminds me.  I don?t understand why
Adonis is doing this.  He fought for my mother, he was her advisor.?
        Luna shook her head.  ?Adonis is one who thinks the ends justify
the means.  Back during the Moon Kingdom, he tried to have Thalia killed
to prevent the rise of a prophesied evil.  He was intelligent, but
thought only in terms of numbers, not people.  He always had good
intentions at heart, though.  Now . . .?  She paused.  ?He?s insane,?
she finally said.  ?He?s a genocidal maniac.  He will wipe out this
entire planet without a second thought.  And he has the power to do so.?
        ?And I don?t have the Ginzuishou.  Not to mention the Senshi are
still recovering from the last battle.?  She shook her head.  ?Setsuna
was right.  We need Thalia more then ever.?
__________

        ?Ugh,? Thalia muttered, shaking her head to clear it.  ?Why do I
seem to spend most of my life unconscious??  She blinked at the bright
light shining through the window.
        ?So, your finally awake.?  Makoto walked into the room, carrying a
tray full of food.  ?I thought you might be.  Brought you a snack.?
        ?If that?s a snack, I would hate to see a full meal.?  Thalia dug
in.  Makoto perched on the edge of the bed, unsure of what to say.  She
cleared her throat.
        ?Thalia, Artimis told us everything.?
        Thalia paused in mid-bite.  ?How much is everything??
        ?Beryl everything.?
        Thalia sighed, putting down her fork.  She closed her eyes and
shook her head.  ?I . . .?  She suddenly found herself being crushed in
a tight hug.
        ?I?m so sorry, Thalia, we all are.?
        Thalia blinked in shock.  ?What are you talking about??
        ?All those years ago, on Earth.  You gave up your life to help
Serenity well we were off with Endymion?s Generals.  We should have been
there to help you.  None of this would have happened.?
        ?It?s not your fault.  Maybe . . .?  She trailed off.
        ?What??
        ?Maybe it isn?t anyone?s fault.?
        A knock came at the door.  King Endymion stepped into the room.
He smiled when he saw Thalia.  ?You seem to spend a lot of time
unconscious.?
        King or not, Thalia gave him a withering look.  Figuring that
Endymion wanted to speak to her alone, Makoto stood.  ?Let me know if
there?s anything else you want.?
        Thalia looked at the stack of food in front of her and gave a
short laugh.  ?I think I?ll be fine.?
        Mako left, closing the door behind her.  Endymion went and stood
by the bed.  He cleared his throat and looked at the Senshi.
        ?I want you to know that nobody blames you for anything,
especially me.  I know what it was like to be under Metallia?s control.?
He put his hand on Thalia?s shoulder.  ?Please understand that we have
already put it in the past.  I hope that you will be able to do the
same.?
        Thalia felt tears well up.  She managed to blink them away.  ?I
think . . . I?ll try.?
        He squeezed he shoulder.  ?Good.?  His tone became more serious.
?If you?re feeling up to it, come with me to the war room.  We are
discussing the defense against Adonis? troops.?
        ?So they probably are going to attack??
        His voice was grim.  ?I think we can consider it a certainty.?
__________

        ?So basically, what you are saying, is we have no idea what kind
of forces we up against, when they plan to attack, and how we can stop
them?  Sounds like fun.?
        ?Your sarcasm isn?t helping at all, Minako,? Serenity said, her
voice sterner then usual.  ?This is serious.  We haven?t had a threat as
large as this since Crystal Tokyo was built.  This time, we don?t have
Sailor Moon, or the Ginzuishou.?
        ?It?s just as well,? Rei muttered.  ?You just about damn kill
yourself every time you use that thing.?
        Serenity shot her a look.  She wisely shut up.  ?It?s going to
take more then witty comments to beat Adonis.  It is our duty to protect
this planet.  We need a strategy, an edge.?
        ?Somebody called??  Thalia strode through the doorway.  Her face
was set.  ?Just tell me whose head to bash in.  Especially if it?s the
bastard who tried to kill me.?
        ?I?m afraid it?s going to take more then brute strength to win
this fight.  Adonis? soldiers can use our strength against us.?
        ?Not necessarily.  I have an idea.?
        ?Anything would be helpful right now.?
        Thalia gestured around her.  ?We?re on Earth, right??
        ?I hope this is going somewhere,? Minako muttered.  Makoto
promptly elbowed her.
        ?Well, we have two people here who are tied directly to Earth?s
magic.?  She gestured to herself and Endymion.  ?If we can tap into that
power, we might be able to repel Adonis? forces.?
        Serenity lowered her head in thought.  ?It might be risky.  If you
pulled too much power, it might overwhelm you.?
        ?It?s are only chance,? Thalia argued.  ?If we can use the
planet?s own defense forces, we might have a chance.?
        ?Usako, she?s right.?  Endymion clasped his wife?s hands.  ?If the
Senshi distract them long enough, Thalia and I can use the Earth?s own
power against them.?
        Serenity sighed and nodded.  ?I guess it?s worth a try.?
__________

        ?As far as I can tell, the key to accessing the Earth?s power is
in Thalia?s crystal,? Ami told Endymion and Thalia the next day.  The
three sat in her lab, surrounded by a mix of high-tech machinery and old
volumes of magic that had been found preserved among the ruins of the
Moon Kingdom.
        ?If the crystal is plunged into the Earth, its channeling powers
should draw the Earth?s magic into those who have Earth magic within
them and are in contact with the crystal.  It will only work with both
of you.  Only one will not have the strength to channel such power.
With that power, the Earth itself and its life will be at your command.?
        ?That definitely sounds like an edge to me,? Thalia murmured.  Ami
nodded.
        ?The only problem is, you will need to be in a fairly open area in
order to do this.  The Senshi will act as your defense.  With a bit of
luck, we should be able to either repel or destroy the crystal
creatures.?
        The two nodded.  Thalia grinned humorously.  ?We?ll show Adonis
this is one planet he doesn?t want to mess with.?
__________

        The Senshi began sleeping in shifts, no less then three Senshi
awake at any given time.  Ami built a device that would detect any sort
of major magical energy signature coming from the Moon?s core.  With
luck, it would give them enough of a warning before the army attacked.
        Serenity spent most of the time with her family.  Inwardly, she
wished that she could fight along side her friends, but realistically,
she knew she now played too important a role to endanger herself without
any of her power.  She had a daughter to protect now.
        Thalia spent most of her time alone, honing her already sharp
fighting skills, and working on her mental skills in order to be
prepared to control the power that she would be using in the battle.
Finally able to put the past behind her, she at last felt the peace she
had been searching for since she had woken up.
        A week after Serenity had been rescued, the siren Ami had built
went off.  The Senshi and Endymion knew what they had to do.  They
headed to the clearing they had deemed as they place to make their
stand.  Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, and Venus, all full recovered from their
injuries, form a circle around Endymion and Thalia.  Thalia stood as
Sailor Earth, while Endymion wore his familiar silver-trimmed armor.
They stood tall in the face of the small but incredibly powerful army
that poured through the portal.  They had to win.  Losing was not an
option.
__________

        ?Are you ready, Thalia?? Endymion yelled over the sounds of the
battle that already surrounded them.  The other Senshi had engaged the
army, to keep the soldiers away from the two so they could perform the
magic.
        Thalia nodded.  Biting her lip, she transformed her crystal into a
long staff.  Endymion grasped it opposite of her.  In unison, they
murmured the incantation Ami had taught them from the most sacred of the
books of magic she had recovered.  At the spell?s end, they plunged the
staff into the ground.
        The magic poured through Thalia almost instantly.  For an instant,
she felt torn apart as every living thing on Earth as well as every part
of the Earth itself connected to her.  It was if a billion chaotic
voices screamed at once in her head.  She bit her lip until it bled to
keep from screaming.  A small part of her observed Endymion caught in a
similar struggle.
        Then, her head cleared.  Her mind was silent except for her own
voice.  The power of the Earth filled her, awaiting her command.  She
smiled to herself.  The kid gloves were off this time.
__________

        ?Oh my Lord, look at that,? Rei whispered, even as she fended off
a creature with a broadsword.  The Senshi had taken no chances, arming
themselves with weapons of the physical sort.
        The ground beneath a group of soldiers churned, knocking them off
their feet.  Two columns of earth rose on either side of the fallen
creatures, then moved inward, crushing them.
        The very earth turned on the creatures before they knew what was
happening.  They were swallowed by crevices that mysteriously opened
underneath them, or crushed as their fellow soldiers had been.  The
Senshi wisely moved out of the way to avoid injury themselves, though
that really wasn?t much of a danger.  Thalia and Endymion attacked with
pinpoint accuracy.  Within minutes, the entire army was decimated.
        ?Well, that was a lot easier then I expected,? Jupiter commented,
wiping dust from her fuku.  She looked at the ruin around her.  ?Thalia,
I have to say, that was a brilliant idea.?
        Thalia smiled and released the crystal.  The overwhelming feeling
of power slowly drained from her body.  ?Well,? she said simply, ?I
try.?
        None of the Senshi noticed the small portal that opened behind
them, or the figure that disappeared through it.
__________

        Adonis was pacing, waiting for news of his victory, when the
portal opened behind him and Damos tumbled through.  He was fatally
wounded, half of his body crushed, but he still managed to crawl until
he lay at is master?s feet.
        ?I?m sorry my lord, we have failed you,? the fallen creature
wheezed.  ?The very Earth . . . it fought against us.?  His head thudded
to the floor.  ?We . . . have lost.?  He choked once, then lay still.
        Adonis studied the body of his fallen soldier for a moment then
sighed.  He shook his head.  ?If you want something done right . . .? he
said, his tone almost bemused.
        But the gleam of death in his eyes was very serious.
__________

        The attack caught them all by surprise.  One minute they stood
surveying the damage of the battle, the next, a bolt of energy hurtled
from the sky, striking down Endymion.
        ?Oh my God,? whispered Thalia.  She dropped to her knees, cradling
the unconscious King?s head.  His breath was faint, and his pulse seemed
weak.
        ?I don?t think the battle is over yet,? Mars murmured.  Thalia
followed her gaze upward.
        Adonis seemed to stand on air, hovering in the middle of the sky.
Energy crackled around his massive form, and his eyes glowed with mad
power.
        ?How right you are, my dear Sailor Mars.?  Adonis? voice rang
through air.  Energy gathered around his fists.  Incredibly, he smiled,
a twisted, mirthless smiled of pure evil.
        ?The battle is just beginning.?

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Incredibly, I found time amidst my term papers and finals to write this
part.  I?m sorry to have kept everyone waiting for so long, but
education comes first.  Thanks for everyone who has continued writing to
me.  I hope this part was worth the wait.  Want to see what has been
taking up so much of my time, besides school?  Visit my new Batman
Beyond site (a great show, start watching it now!) at
http://www.batmanbeyond.net

NEXT TIME: The final battle.  Need I say more?

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