Tears of Light - Part 15 - Hands / Meeting Destiny
Rating: PG-13 for injury and death.
AN's: I'm going to say it right now; this chapter was hell to write. Not only from the standpoint of not having time to write, but it was just really, really hard to express what I wanted to. Well, maybe you'll understand it when you read it.
This chapter's inspiration, and in no small way the whole story's, is Jewel's song "Hands" for reasons that will, hopefully, become evident. It is a beautiful, inspiring song. If you've never heard it, find out how to, it's well worth it.
Disclaimer: "Hands" is sung by Jewel and owned by several companies other than me, me not being a company, of course. Sailor Moon is property of Naoko Takeuchi the almighty, Dragon Ball is owned by Akira Toriyama. (And might I add he did a great job designing characters for Dragon Warrior III) I take claim only for the characters Ameno Silia, Chikyuno Kiji and Kuroi Mamono. They are MINE! Get your grubby hands away from them. *Holds up Vine Staff I made for Halloween* I've got hollow bamboo and I'm not afraid to use it!
********
@~@~@~
If I could tell the world just one thing
It would be that we're all OK
And not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful
And useless in times like these
I won't be made useless
I won't be idle with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
For light does the darkness most fear
My hands are small, I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken
Poverty stole your golden shoes
But it didn't steal your laughter
And heartache came to visit me
But I knew it wasn't ever after
We'll fight, not out of spite
For someone must stand up for what's right
'Cause where there's a man who has no voice
There ours shall go singing
My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken
In the end only kindness matters
In the end only kindness matters
- The first half of "Hands" by Jewel.
@~@~@~@~
Goku watched the clash of powers with amazement at both sides and large concern. Mamono was VERY strong and while Usagi, he guessed it was, had managed to hold her off for a moment, the end result of the battle had barely deterred Mamono. Usagi, however, wasn't moving.
Mamoru clutched Usagi's tiny, untransformed body to his chest, tearing off his cape and wrapping it around her body. She was bruised, bloodied and only barely breathing. The other senshi had dashed over by then with expressions of concern and fear. Mercury was running a quick scan to determine how dangerous Usagi's injuries were. The rest were relieved once they realized she was alive but were fuming with anger and were more than ready to kill.
Goku hadn't moved. He stared at Usagi for what seemed like a very long time' such a young, innocent looking girl. She didn't look like a fighter to his eyes; she shouldn't have been dragged into this. It seemed so wrong to the Saiyan, and it also made him VERY angry. Coupled with Mamono's gaze of joy at the blonde's current state was all he needed.
Before the girls could launch their attacks Goku erupted in a fountain of golden light. His scream and power rocked the very foundations of the cavern and nearly blew the senshi off their feet. Goku's golden ki was aflame and raging, his hair once again golden, his eyes turquoise. Anyone else would have been afraid. Mamono just laughed.
"Well Goku, it seems you've achieved Super Saiyan once again. It won't help you though. Nothing can now."
Goku's eyes were narrowed in concentration. They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul; these however, seemed partially shrouded, as if someone had placed a light curtain behind them. Goku's happy-go-lucky personality, all the joy that made up what he usually was, vanished when he acquired the level of Super Saiyan.
The senshi stopped. They'd never seen Goku like this before; though he had described it to them they weren't prepared for the absolute change of posture. Everything about the way he held himself suggested anger and barely restrained power. They each had a thirst for vengeance within them, but it hadn't changed them. Still, if it had happened to him before they felt confident that, though disturbing, it was the same Goku they had come to know over the past three months and for the time being, they stopped their own attacks and put their faith in Goku.
In Mamoru's arms, Usagi stirred.
The first thing she registered was pain and all she wanted to do was crawl back into the peacefulness of oblivion. Then, she began to remember where she was. She felt Mamoru's warmth and Mamono's crushing cold. The cold terrified her but the warmth was so inviting, familiar, it was hope, it was a why she fought to protect the earth. She woke.
Her eyes flickered open just as Goku's power erupted. The harsh golden light hurt her eyes but she was quickly distracted by Mamoru's light blue ones.
"Usako?" Mamoru's breath caught in is throat for a moment; the relief in his voice and body language were incredibly obvious. As gently as possible, he moved Usagi into a sitting position.
Usagi smiled, she was finally back, resting in Mamoru's arms, how could she not? "I'm ok, Mamo-chan. I'm home." Despite her pain, and the situation, she giggled a little and reached up to kiss Mamoru. It was a short kiss but it filled them both with warmth, fire and the strength to go on. They were together once more and come hell or high water, they would not be separated again.
******
Sailors Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Venus sat on one of the army vehicle's hood. The army's officials had refused to pull out and there was nothing the four women could do about it without hurting someone innocent.
"So why do you think they haven't moved yet?" Venus asked, staring at the wall of Mamono's creatures that had stopped attacking a few minutes ago. The senshi were slightly bruised and knocked around, but they battle hadn't lasted long.
Uranus shrugged, playing with her sword a little. "Setsuna figures the others are distracting Mamono by now. She still hasn't told me why it matters though... yet." The sandy haired senshi twirled her talisman around in her hands as she spoke.
They were all itching for action. But Mamono's army was vast and strong and if it meant sparing lives by not provoking them, that's just what they would do.
Sailor Neptune brushed a strand of her aquamarine hair out of her eyes and gazed intensely at Pluto. "So what else are you withholding from us?" She demanded, with a touch of harshness.
Pluto smiled sadly as was customary for her. An eternity of knowing what was to come and what had already passed, without the power to change it was more than any normal person could bear. Even the legendary Sailor Pluto had a hard time dealing with it from time to time. "Nothing that would be of any help to your urge to fight." She sighed a little. "Even if you were with the others you wouldn't be fighting right now. Simply accept things as they are and all will turn out well."
Venus looked puzzled as she gazed at the darkening sky. A chill was beginning to creep into the air and the both armies were getting restless. "If Mamono's distracted enough to not be able to make her army attack, then why don't we go after her too and help out?"
Uranus answered before Pluto could. "Because she might not feel safe sending them against us, but if we leave this area unguarded her army won't need any real guidance." Her eyes flickered to Pluto's, that is if these creatures really are brainless enough to need Mamono's control."
Setsuna nodded slightly and leapt off the vehicle. "It's not that they're brainless, it's something else. But the idea is generally right. I'm not completely certain what it is myself anyway." She straightened and her posture changed to one of determination. "Keep guard here. The others may need a quick exit. I'm going to the time gate." Without a further word Pluto vanished to her post. Leaving three restless senshi to deal with a very nervous army of humans and a looming army of darkness.
********
Goku, now Super Saiyan, raised a hand. A ball of power shot at Mamono with all the force of the Super Saiyan behind it. It hit a barrier of blackness. Mamono laughed and it stopped. The barrier curled around its shimmering surface and in one smooth moment it turned to pure darkness. Mamono put her hand in it and the new energy seeped into her own body.
Goku narrowed his eyes as Mamono chuckled. "It was a nice try I must admit. Too bad you didn't throw something more powerful at me, this power born of anger is truly wonderful."
The Saiyan didn't let Mamono faze him and flew at her fists flying. She threw a shield around herself and, while Goku's fists themselves nearly broke through, his power was merely absorbed, making Mamono faster. Goku wasn't the brightest of people, but when it came to fighting, he knew better than to keep giving the enemy power and backed off. His fists were clenched in anger; there was nothing he could do! For a brief moment he considered trying to over power her but quickly disregarded the idea. Even if he was stronger she'd recover nicely every time she stole his energy instead of deflecting it.
There were no words for the saddened warriors. All they wanted was to save the Earth but it seemed that they were quickly running out of options.
The senshi wouldn't give up and they stood to face their foe.
"You've got to have some kind of weakness." Mercury stated with utter conviction.
"Ya," Chimed in Mars, "Besides, there's no way you can take us all out at once. Right girls?!"
The other Sailor Senshi nodded at the obvious statement and the hidden one. They didn't wait one moment. On that one cue the inner senshi hurled their most powerful attacks at Mamono.
"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"
"Mars Flame Sniper!"
"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"
"Gentle Rain!"
The four attacks joined, danced together, each power enhancing the other and soared for Mamono.
Tuxedo Kamen helped Usagi to her shaky feet. The tiny blond was still in pain and untransformed. Wearing merely the skirt and blouse she had been wearing when she'd dashed out of Capsule Corp. Something, however, was calling to her and she knew she had to get moving.
The senshi were attacking Mamono with everything they had. She merely laughed and struck back. Jagged daggers of darkness arched from her hand, striking out at the soldiers of justice. Their powers were strong, but compared to Mamono they were nothing.
Usagi clutched to Mamoru in horror.
Rain Drop screamed in pain as a volley of energy slammed her into the jagged walls of the cave. The eternally young warrior slumped into unconsciousness. She, mercifully though, remained transformed, a hopeful sign.
Usagi's hand touched her broach lightly. She was so intensely weak, but standing, holding Mamoru for support, helpless, was something she couldn't stand! Not while her friends were being hurt.
Her fears multiplied, suddenly, when the absence of a certain 4 people registered to her. Not seeing Pluto at a battle scene wasn't extremely worrisome, she often stayed at the gates of time, and if Saturn hadn't been present she wouldn't have thought anything of her, Neptune and Uranus' absence. They, also, tended to disappear for lengthy amounts of time. However Saturn was present, Uranus and Neptune were gone, as was Venus.
::Mamo-chan?:: She asked mentally, savouring the ease with which she could talk to him while she was in his arms. ::Where are the others?::
In the instant that mental conversations took place, Mamoru recounted how Mamono's army was supposed to be attacking Japan. Usagi was both relieved and more intensely worried. She moved to say more when the ground shook, violently.
Even Mamono was caught off guard and nearly toppled by the sudden shifting of the earth.
True, Earthquakes were rather common in Japan. However, this was strong, and Mamono's domain, while buried in a mountain, was not entirely of this dimension, especially not this far in.
Mercury's computer started beeping frantically and she snapped on her visor while typing at whirlwind speeds. For those moments even Mamono waited, in silence, wondering what could possibly have affected her lair.
Mercury frowned, moments later, as the others watched both her and Mamono carefully. "I can't believe this!" She exclaimed suddenly. "The dimensional rifts we thought were part of Mamono's realm are destabilizing. It's a completely temporal cause, and it looks like it's only going to get worse."
Mamono snickered in response, "Right. You're just trying to scare me out of here! Even if you're right, it doesn't bother me. Let this world tear itself apart. It'll only please me more!"
Tuxedo Mask's jaw nearly dropped. "Are you insane?! This is the very fabric of the universe we're talking about here!"
Mamono's eyes narrowed, her heels clicked on the stone as she took a few steps forward. "Even if this universe tears itself apart, I'll just move to a new one and sleep better knowing you no longer exist."
Usagi's eyes flared with sudden despairing thoughts. "Like Goku's?! We'll never let you!" She exclaimed back. It was as if she was suddenly defending not just the people of this Earth, but the people of Goku's whom she had become so acquainted with over the last months.
Mamono raised a dark hand. "You should be dead." She told Usagi with vehemence. "Too bad Frost didn't accomplish her goal, but I'm to strong to be stopped now. Sayonara, Princess Serenity!" A great beam of darkness crackled from her hand. Usagi and Tuxedo Mask had no time to move. Goku was faster though; in an instant he threw himself at the frozen couple and dragged them away from the blast.
Though shocked, Tuxedo Mask recovered rather quickly. "Thank you Goku, I'm going to help the girls, take care of Usagi."
"But-" Goku started, Tux cut him off.
"Your powers don't hurt her, let me try, someone has to watch her."
Goku caught the look in Tuxedo's eyes, desperation and utter love for the shaky blond now in Goku's arms. He nodded. "Good luck."
Mamono fired again, this time they were both ready, they each dodged in a different direction, Goku taking Usagi with him. Tuxedo rolled to a stand and charged Mamono, the girls joined him, all except Mercury who was tending Rain Drop's wounds and keeping an eye on the temporal disturbances.
Usagi was instantly frightened for her soul mate but she was still too weak to do anything. The Super Saiyan held her tight and she felt both safe and disturbed at the same time. Something clicked in her mind and she looked up at Goku with determination. "Return to normal!" She exclaimed suddenly. This power of anger that Super Saiyan provided was too akin to Mamono's. It disturbed her, unsettled her, and she knew it couldn't be helpful.
Goku looked down at the tiny blond. Her eyes shimmering with pain as her friends and loved fought. She clung weakly to his stronger frame, but her spirit blazed still with intense fire. Something in her eyes, something in those deep blue pools of compassion told him that he had to listen to her. She knew, she was right. One day, perhaps, he could tame the fire of Super Saiyan, but a until that day it would be a power ruled by anger. In his world that wasn't so bad, but in hers...
His golden hair fell and returned to black, his eyes darkened to normal, his happy soul displayed in their depths.
"You have a beautiful soul Goku." Usagi told him softly, "I can see why Mamono is afraid of you."
Goku blinked a few times and smiled. "You have a bright light as well Usagi. Brighter than mine will ever be."
Usagi felt she should blush or take offense, but coming from Goku's mouth it seemed, not flirtation, but a clear, innocent statement of the truth. Instead she replied in a surprisingly mature voice, her forehead glowing softly with the signal of the moon.
"Mamono's darkness threatens to smother all that we've strove so long and hard to protect..."
Goku smiled an extended his hand. "That's why we have to stop her."
Usagi nodded and reached her hand for his.
"FIRE SOUL!" A great fountain of flame flashed a path of destruction towards Mamono. She sidestepped it neatly, throwing out a hand to let a bolt of dark energy scream towards the raven-haired warrior.
Mars rolled to the side but the bolt grazed her ankle. She screamed in pain as the darkness, instead of merely leaving it's mark, clung, burned and slithered farther up her leg.
"SUPREME THUNDER!!"
Mamono neatly deflected the thunder attack. That was fine, it was only a distraction anyway. Saturn leapt at Mamono from one side, Tuxedo Mask from the other. Saturn arched her scythe with deadly precision, Mamono only barely dodging. To do so she stepped back and Tuxedo Mask swung down with his cane. Mamono reached up and caught the cane, wrenching it from his hands. She laughed and it burst into flames, reduced to nothing but ashes.
Mars pulled out a scroll as the pain shot up her leg. "Akuryo Taisan!" She pressed the anti-evil scroll to her leg. New agony arose in the limb as good and evil battled. Fortunately it had only grazed and it what sounded like a death scream a cloud of darkness hissed and rolled off of her leg. She let out a whoosh of air in relief only to find that she couldn't put any pressure on the ankle. There was no way she could help fight.
Goku's hand brushed Usagi's and their world was filled with light. Usagi's fuku changed around her, the skirt extended to the ground, the bows vanished, a few more adjustments were made, and she was in her princess form once more. Goku didn't change, his expression was puzzled but deeply happy, his eyes wide with surprise.
Mamoru gave a start as, mid battle with Mamono, he was suddenly in his prince armour. Now looking exactly as he had when he had been known as Endymion, he turned to see Usagi and Goku holding hands, glowing with a pure bright light.
Mamono gave a shriek of agony as the light expanded, covering her eyes with one hand and swinging wildly at some invisible foe with the other. She cried out suddenly, in a language none recognized, as she tried to push back the light now sweeping across her lair.
The memories of what happened next ended up as a blur. The best anyone could remember afterwards was the impossible battle of pure darkness clashing against pure light. At some point the senshi had started to glow with their own inner light; it wasn't as bright as Usagi and Goku's, but its release seemed to send Mamono's sanity over the edge. With one final scream Mamono's darkness was overcome by the pure brilliance and vanished.
As the ground shook, the next events were all too clear.
*******
"I'm telling you if you attack now it will be a HUGE mistake!"
"Listen Ms., I realize you think you know what you're doing, and maybe against one or two of these things you do, I gotta admit I've seen the proof of your 'powers', but armies are ours to deal with."
"YOU IDIOT! You have no idea what these things can do and have done! You're completely in-" Uranus's frustrated insults were cut off as Neptune's gentle hand fell to rest on her shoulder. Uranus was arguing with the nearest head of Japan's forces who was carrying orders to attempt rescue of the civilians that were attacked. The had proof the poor people weren't dead, and the head of the department, who'd never experience youma attacks, felt that time was of the essence.
Uranus knew better, things could only get worse if a move was made. She wasn't dealing with the situation well, she had a deep, unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach and the tension was getting to her.
"Excuse me sir," Neptune interrupted politely. "However, I feel that if you leave us another hour, if nothing has been done you may carry on as you wish. We'll even help if we may."
The soldier seemed to consider this and then shook his head slightly. "I don't think my superiors will like it. But... I'll ask them."
The soldier stepped away and turned on his radio to talk in private.
"You think that was a good idea?" Uranus asked her partner with a sigh.
Neptune echoed Uranus's sigh and leaned back on a vehicle. "It buys us time. Besides, if they haven't solved things by then, then there's little hope anyway.
The ground shook.
Uranus and Neptune managed to catch themselves but Venus, who was perched on the top of a nearby trunk toppled off and landed on the ground with a dull thud.
"Owwww...." She groaned feebly, getting back onto her feet. "What was that?" She asked worriedly, "earthquake?"
Neptune nodded slowly, "Yes, but not natural, it seems." She held her mirror lightly in her hand. The reflection showed only white light. No picture revealed what happened to their companions. "The sea trembles with fear, but it cannot speak why."
The ground shook again. This time, however, all three were thrown to their feet and the general roar of talk around them intensified as even the vehicles swayed.
That was when the Sylphs went insane.
Their movements, once patterned and even, became chaotic. They bounced into and off of one another until the general confused consensus seemed to suddenly be one of attack. The mass charged, swallowing up ground and soldiers. The three senshi started to throw their attacks, knowing that, whatever had caused them too attack; there was little hope as things were.
Venus's beams flew into the masses and Neptune and Uranus's were at their fingertips when a great mass of white light came in from the north, nearly blinding the humans and causing the Sylphs to shriek in agony. The white light moved in lightning-fast waves, covering the ground, spreading outwards and blinding everyone's view.
It seemed both an eternity and an instant until the light died, and when Venus opened her eyes she nearly wept for joy. The army had vanished, obliterated by the sparkling power. The land behind had regained it's life, the rotted plant life regenerated and the people slowly began to wake up.
"They... they did it... THEY DID IT!" Sailor Venus jumped her two fellow senshi, hugging them tightly and laughing ecstatically. The outer senshi smiled, and stared up at the bright blue sky, ignoring the confused looks of the soldiers suddenly without a purpose.
The army was gone, destroyed or banished, it didn't matter; what mattered was that it meant that Mamono had been defeated.
It was finally over
*******
The ground shook again. This time so violently that the Earth nearly split apart and the walls of Mamono's lair threatened to crumble. The senshi were all thrown from their feet, and were attempting to get back up, however the ground continued to vibrate making the situation more dangerous by the moment.
There was no time to celebrate in driving Mamono back.
Usagi, now garbed as Princess Serenity, still clutched Goku's hand, but was also being supported by Mamoru, now garbed also as Prince Endymion. The princess was exhausted; she did not smile, merely looked relieved that the battle was won. "It's over." She declared softly, releasing Goku's hand as the ground jolted again.
Usagi and Mamoru both shimmered for a moment, returning to their senshi forms. Usagi's arm was wrapped around Mamoru's waist, she now drew closer, reveling in his warmth and there was no way Mamoru was going to release her.
Goku looked at his hands, blinking in confusing. "What just happened?" He asked perplexedly, "I've never done that before."
Ami, who was helping Makoto support Silia, who was slowly regaining consciousness shook her head. "If you two don't know, I haven't got a clue. We've never seen anything like it before."
The others nodded their agreement, most looked dazed but happy or relieved. Rei looked about to say something when the air shimmered near where Mamono had died, a swirling portal of green and purple formed and the soldier of time stepped out.
Sailor Pluto stepped out onto the platform, her heels clicking on the odd ground. The portal closed behind her.
"Pluto!" Minako exclaimed first, "is everyone else ok?"
Pluto nodded her head slight but she did not meet the eyes of anyone in the room. Rather she kept them fixed on the ground. "They are fine. Mamono was distracted enough that not much damage occurred."
The ground shook again and Rei swore as she was nearly knocked off her feet. "Pluto do you know what's going on?" She demanded, the soldier of time usually did, the more appropriate question was probably one of would she tell what was going on.
Pluto clutched her staff in a death grip; her eternally sad eyes seemed to deepen into a state that seemed so depressive to be almost suicidal. She seemed, however, determined to accomplish her goal in joining the soldiers, it was the fire behind the depression.
"I am happy to see you returned Princess." She started, not lifting her eyes. "Though you don't believe it, you knew what needed to be done. My respects to you as well Goku, however the process has only been sped up now and I have little choice left."
Goku's stare drilled deep into Pluto as he listened, "what do you mean?" He asked suddenly, a horrid feeling brewing in the pit of his stomach.
Pluto sighed and straightened a little. "It is a long story that I do not have the time to tell. You can feel the ground shaking. The quakes start here, soon they will spread to Japan and then the rest of the world will tear itself apart, followed quickly by this entire universe." She ignored the sudden onslaught of questions and outcries the comment received, and merely continued on. "Mamono dabbled in things she shouldn't have. The switch between Goku and Usagi should not have happened, the only reason it did was because lines between dimensions are so incredibly thin because of what she's done. If things were as they should have been, Princess, you should not have been able to return of your own accord."
"Isn't there anything we can do?" Makoto demanded angrily. Not at Pluto, but at the sudden horrendous thought that all they had just accomplished was futile.
Pluto raised her eyes, passed by the others and stared up at the ceiling. "Not you." She responded slowly, her voice suddenly wistful, expressing emotions, as she had never done much before. "I thought you ought to know, besides, what you would you think if Goku simply vanished without reason?"
Usagi's eyes suddenly filled with tears as realization donned, she wasn't the only one. "Setsuna-san you can't!" She exclaimed suddenly, fear filling her eyes. "You can't do this on your own."
Hotaru nodded her agreement. "Usagi-san's right!" She chimed in, tears filling her eyes. Suddenly she seemed less like the soldier of destruction, Sailor Saturn, and more like the child, Hotaru. "There's got to be another way!"
Pluto's hard eyes were unmoved by their tears. "I am guardian of time AND space. It is my duty, and my decision. You can and will not stop me." Something in Setsuna's voice left no room for discussion. At separate times both Usagi and Hotaru tried to stop her again but both were stopped by the look in her eyes. The others were no less opposed, but they knew they couldn't stop her. Even if they did things would only end up worse in the long run.
There was nothing anyone could say. Tears trickled down the girl's cheeks, some more openly than others. Mamoru held Usagi tight as his love turned to sob on his chest. Goku met Setsuna's eyes, and a wash of respect passed between the two. Goku had died for his planet, family and friends before and would again.
There was nothing anyone could or would say, even though Usagi was screaming inside to stop it she couldn't. It was if the soldier had cast a spell about the all, perhaps she had slowed down time. It hardly mattered now her life was forfeit anyway.
She raised her Staff above her head, not a word was uttered. She and her staffed flared with purple power, for a moment time stood still, and then all was light.
Slowly, as the universe returned to its proper order, one eternal light flickered out.
***********