Sailor Moon Z: #21 - Emotions Running Deep By. Janelle Jimenez (pandora@indy.net) Official WebPage: http://www.indy.net/~pandora/sailormoon/zodiac/intro3.html The Senshi stood in a circle, Sailor Pluto was in the middle of all of them. In her hands she held the Time Staff. The Senshi held each others hands and began to concentrate. "Gateway of Time..open before me.." Sailor Pluto whispered. The Senshi were surrounded with white light and they felt themselves being pulled upwards. There was a brilliant flash, and when it slowly faded away they found themselves in a strange place. All around them were doors. "So, which door is it?" Sailor Mars asked looking around her. Sailor Mercury took out her computer and busily began working. Sailor Pluto brought out a key-chain with several keys on them. "I don't know...but, here's the key.." she said holding up a rusty, old looking key. "This is a key to the past, but we just have to enter the correct door." she explained. Sailo Moon looked at the door in front of her, it was a large door made of gold. "How about this one, ne? It's made of Gold..Golden Millenium..?" she asked. Sailor Pluto shook her head, "I highly doubt it, it seems too elaborate.." she answered. "Ooh, here's the door back home!" Neo Sailormoon exclaimed looking at the big wooden door. "Yes, my old post.." Sailor Pluto said with a soft smile. "Ne..what about this one?" Sailor Saturn asked, she stood before an old looking door with strange designs on it. Sailor Mercury was standing before it with her computer, "I think it is.." she said agreeing. "I know it is, look here.." Sailor Uranus said leaning her head sideways as she observed the carved frame of the door. Symbols of a sun, moon, and star conjoined were deeply etched sideways in the frame. "Well, let's try.." Sailor Pluto said slipping the key into the lock, it fit in perfectly, she turned the key carefully and there was a clicking noise. "I think this is the right door.." Sailor Venus said nodding, not realizing that everyone had already come to that conclusion, Mars glanced at Venus for a second. "Yes, hurry and go inside..I'm breaking enough rules as it is bringing you here.." Sailor Pluto urged. She opened the door, a golden light poured in. Sailor Moon looked rather hesitant, but she stepped forward and walked into the past. * * * * * "This is the Golden Millenium, ne?" Sailor Neptune said as she turned full circle to capture the sight around her. The world she was in was utterly beautiful. Every building made of gold. Set in the black sky was the sun, and in the far far distance they could see Earth in the sky. Around them people bustled around, many not taking any notice of the strange people dressed as Sailors standing in the middle of the road. In the distance they made could see a large, heavily adorned golden castle. "Yes, we appear to be in the Gold Kingdom, the capital of the Golden Millenium.." Sailor Mercury said confirming what they already believed. "The Golden Millenium is a time of great peace, where no one knows what evil is.." Sailor Mars said, repeating words Sailor Cancer had told them about this day and age. "How can we destroy such a place...they wouldn't even know they were being killed.." Sailor Venus commented. "But, we have to...Selestia becomes a tyrant in the future..and Earth is in shambles. People cannot live in ignorance forever." Saturn replied. "What do we do, though? Just..destroy?" Sailor Jupiter asked. At that moment a child carrying a huge loaf of bread ran into Sailor Moon. He fell back, the bread landing beside him on the ground. He quickly got up, "I'm very very very sorry Miss..I should have watched where I was going! Please forgive me.." the boy said sincerely, large green eyes staring at Sailor Moon. Moon turned her head for a moment, and then looked back at him, fighting tears. "Of course, just watch were you go next time.." she said forcing a smile. The little boy gave her a huge grin and ran off. Moon turned to the others, "How can we kill all these people...that little boy didn't do anything...it's not his fault the future is in ruin!!" Sailor Moon cried. "But we have to. People are dead in the future, our families, more than half the world...and everyone who is alive wishes to be dead." Sailor Uranus said turning away. She too was going to find it hard to do her duty. Saturn looked straight ahead, "I'll do it." she said finally, "I'm not heartless, but I won't let my emotions take over. This *IS* for the good of humanity." she replied with a calmness in her voice, but even so...it almost sounded like if she hadn't said those words, then she wouldn't have been convinced it WAS for the 'good of humanity.' She raised her Glaive to the sky. "SATURN NO! There's got to be another way!!" Sailor Moon screamed and lunged forward to stop her. Saturn whirled around quickly, the Silence Glaive resting just inches away from Sailor Moon's neck. "There is no other way, Princess. We have to do this." Saturn said quietly. Gently, she moved her Silence Gliave under Moon's feet to trip her. Not to harm her, but to assure that Moon wouldn't stop her. She then turned around again and held the Silence Glaive before her, "Death Ribbon Revolution.." she said, her voice full of tranquility. The blade began to glow with purple energy and suddenly dark ribbons charged forward, the stream of energy ribbons slashed forwards and in a matter of seconds anything that stood before her was gone. Completely vanquished. The Golden City was now stained with a dark streak of void running in the middle. Sailor Mars gasped, none of the Senshi had ever seen Saturn perform her most deadly attack. "WORLD SHAKING!" Sailor Uranus shouted sending the ringed ball of energy towards a building. "NO STOP!" Sailor Moon screamed in hysterics. "We can't do this, we let them die once..I can't kill them again!" she cried. "SAILOR MOON! Do you understand this situation? This world MUST be destroyed, the survival of the future depends on it!" Sailor Mercury said staring down at her dear friend. "NOOO! We DON'T have to, there's another way! Stop it Saturn! Stop it all of you, we can't do this!" she said, pleading through her sobs. "There is no other way." Saturn replied coldly. She turned her back on Sailor Moon and raised her Glaive again. Suddenly, from the ground grew a vine of pink energy which wrapped themselves around Saturn's arms forcing them apart, causing her to release her hold on the Glaive. It fell to the ground with a clang, and then began to levitate and floated away. "What the hell?" Sailor Uranus exclaimed. Sailor Moon stopped crying immediatly and looked up, swallowing her tears. "Sa..Sailor Taurus? Sailor...Virgo?" she stammered. Out of the shadows stepped forward six figures. "The Zodiac Senshi.." Sailor Mars whispered. "I have NO idea who you think you are, poser Senshi! But how dare you disturb our peace! I am the Guardian of the Sun Lion, Sailor Leo! In the name of our Ruling Celestial Bodies of the Heavens, we will destroy those who threaten the harmony of the Golden Millenium!" Sailor Leo shouted. "Leo! Please...don't you remember us?" Sailor Venus exclaimed. "Am I supposed to remember you? Even if I did, for destroying the Gold Kingdom, you shall be punished!" Sailor Leo said glaring at Venus. "It's no use, she won't remember us..because..she's never met us." Sailor Mars said. "Hey! It's other Senshi, are they on our side?" asked a bubbly voice. A girl with layered blonde hair and sharp blue eyes looked at the Sailor Senshi excitedly. It was like a strange deja vu...for Sailor Moon. She remembered the first time Sailor Leo had appeared. The sight of another Sailor Senshi was surprising...and Jupiter had asked a similar question as what Sailor Aquarius had just asked. The thought brought tears back to Sailor Moon's eyes. "What the hell do you think?! Why would they destroy the Kingdom if they were on our side?!" Sailor Leo demanded. Aquarius looked down shyly and blushed. Sailor Leo's eyes flared and she turned back to the Sailor Senshi and glared at them. She held the Silence Glaive in her hands, "I don't know WHO you are, or what you want. Be you will certainly NOT go unpunished.." she said in a cold voice. Sailor Moon's hear tore in half, for years she was a fighter for justice...but now, she was as lowly as the evils she fought. "No.." Sailor Saturn whispered, her eyes flashed with purple light and an aura around her distinegrated the vines around her. In a swift motion, she grabbed the Silence Glaive and tripped Sailor Leo with it, "GO ON! KILL ME!" Sailor Leo screamed. "What?" Saturn asked taken aback. "You can't do it can you?! You have the perfect oppurtunity to end my life right now...yet you won't!" Sailor Leo said laughing hysterically. Saturn stepped backwards fearfully. Those words...she had said them before, to Scorpio. "You fool." Sailor Leo said with a flash in her blue eyes, she smirked slightly as she quickly created a fireball in her hands. "SILENCE GLAIVE APPLY!" Saturn quickly shouted, she raised the Glaive into the air where it gathered energy at the blade, she quickly slammed the blade into the ground beside Sailor Leo, but instead of destroying her immediatly, she heard Sailor Moon scream. Saturn looked in horror as Sailor Moon had caught the Glaive's blade in her hands. The blast had shaken her tremedously and she fell forward. "YOU IDIOT!!!" Sailor Neptune screamed hysterically as the Inner Senshi quickly ran to her side. "Deep Submerge!" Neptune shouted, "WORLD...SHAKING!" Uranus said following her lead, "Dead...Scream..." Sailor Pluto whispered, the triple attack flew towards the Zodiac Senshi. "Rain Flood!" Sailor Aquarius said, the cloud quickly dissolved the attack. "WHO ARE YOU?!" Sailor Leo screamed. "We are the Sailor Senshi, from the future. We have to destroy this world...the future is in ruin because of it's existance." Sailor Pluto replied. "Don lie to me. I know who you are. You want the Golden key! You're the prophecized Invaders of the Future!" Sailor Leo shouted at them. "We will NOT let you destroy our world." Sailor Sagittarius exclaimed. "Why do we have to do this?" Sailor Moon wailed, she collapsed to the ground again and cried harder. "We can't do this...*I* can't do this!!" she sobbed. Sailor Mars suddenly exploded, she grabbed Sailor Moon's arm and pulled her upwards. "SAILOR MOON! Don't you understand this situation? We NEED to do this. The lives and happiness of our world depend on it!" she shouted. "WHY ARE WE BEING SO SELFISH?!" Sailor Moon screamed, "What about their happiness...I can't kill the Zodiac Senshi again! We're connected together, don't you see? I would rather sacrifice my life than have to kill them all!" she cried. Sailor Mars raised her hand and slapped Sailor Moon on the face. "Listen to yourself! *THAT* is being selfish. You care more about your own emotions than the lives of those billions in the future. Get a hold of yourself Sailor Moon!" she shouted. It had been years since she ever had to do anything as drastic as she was doing now, but Sailor Mars knew it had to be done. Sailor Moon was quiet, she didn't respond with anything but simply lowered her loud wails to quiet sniffles. "Sailor Moon, please...this is something we were destined to do... and if not us, you." Sailor Pluto murmured. "You are the Messiah. By destroying this age, you saved the world after. This world is naive and that's why it collapsed...because of its destruction your mother was able to establish the Silver Millenium..she learned from her mother's mistakes. The Golden Millenium was made to be destroyed, it's all how fate and destiny works." Sailor Uranus said quietly. "What are you talking about?!" Sailor Leo demanded, "That's got to be the dumbest thing I've ever heard. If you think we're going to give up our world, whether or not fate is involved, you're insane!" she exclaimed. "Then I guess, it's going to be a long battle." Sailor Uranus said and turned around. "The faster we do this, the better. We shouldn't drag this out any longer." She said to the other Senshi. She looked to Neptune and Pluto, "WORLD SHAKING!" "Deep...Submerge!" "Dead..Scream..." they all said in unison sending the triple attack at the Zodiac Senshi again. Sailor Leo jumped over the attack with remarkable agility, however the attack managed to strike Sailor Aquarius before she could stop the attack. "Venus..Love & Beauty SHOCK!" Sailor Venus said and threw the hearts at the Zodiac Senshi. "Mind Split." Sailor Gemini whispered, mental waves passed from her to the Sailor Senshi causing them to see double. "Multiple Flash.." she quietly whispered, she then quickly jumped and ran towards the Sailor Senshi, even those who were not struck by her Mind Split were confused at the tremendous speed Gemini was running at, and the fact she was being trailed by a line of flashing silouettes. "DOUBLE ICE FREEZE!" she shouted and landed right in front of Sailor Venus, the attack hit her from point blank range. "Mars..Flame..SNIPER!" Sailor Mars shouted and threw the arrow of fire at Sailor Gemini. Gemini quickly darted out of the way, the attack hitting a weakened Venus instead. "Stop moving!" Sailor Mars exclaimed. "SHABON..SPRAY!" Sailor Mercury shouted sending the blinding spray of bubbles towards Gemini. "I can't...see.." she said frantically. "I'm sorry Natalia.." Sailor Jupiter whispered, "Sparkling Wide Pressure!" she shouted and sent the ball of lighting into the haze. Gemini screamed. Sailor Saturn looked sadly at Sailor Moon who had returned to sobbing uncontrollably. "Death Ribbon Revolution.." she said emotionlessly, sending the deadly stream of energy ribbons into the haze. The screams stopped abruptly, there was silence. Sailor Venus turned away, her eyes filling with tears. "I can't do this anymore!" she cried, "I know it has to be done, I just can't do it!" she exclaimed. The haze began to disappear, they all saw Sailor Gemini detransformed lying on the gound. "GEMINI!" Sailor Leo screamed, she looked up quickly, her blue eyes flaring with hatred and anger. "SUN LION DESTROY!" she shouted yet again, this time the lion was huge. The firey animal was at least five times it's normal size. "I WON'T EVER FORGIVE YOU FOR THIS!" she screamed. "Oh my God.." Sailor Mars exclaimed. Sailor Mercury pressed her earring brining down her VR visor and quickly tapped on the computer. "We can't defeat it..there's no way...we're going to die.." she said solemnly. "We're going to die in the Golden Millenium, having unfulfilled our duties." Sailor Uranus said, her voice full of anger and sadness. "Perhaps that's why Earth was in ruin, because we hadn't saved it." Sailor Pluto said and braced herself for death. The lion slowly drew closer it's incredible height had slowed down it's speed considerably. The heat of the fire brought sweat to Sailor Mercury's brow. She closed her eyes shut, but nothing happened. She quickly opened her eyes, to her surprise she was enclosed in a protective shell. Sailor Moon stood with the Silver Crystal in her hands, but she wasn't Sailor Moon anymore, she was Princess Serenity (Note: I'm using Selenity when I'm referring to the Queen of the Silver Millenium, Selestia's daughter. Serenity is Sailor Moon as her form on the Moon Kingdom.) Tears streamed down her face. The protective barrier of light expanded and disintigrated the lion of fire. Sailor Leo gasped, "Princess Selenity?!" she exclaimed as she stared inside the dome. "No, it's not her..but..it looks just like her!" Sailor Virgo exclaimed. "IT IS HER!" Sailor Aquarius shouted, she dashed towards the globe. Serenity stood, eyes closed, the silver crystal levitating in her hands. Her eyes suddenly flashed open and the silver crystal gave off a blast of tremendous energy, the Zodiac Senshi where thrown back. Tears continued to run down Serenity's face. "PRINCESS SELENITY! Why are you DOING THIS?!" Sailor Leo cried. The light surrounding the Sailor Senshi disappeared, "Because..I'm..I'm not...Selenity....I'm her daughter.." Serenity said, lowering her head sadly. "You..You were..telling the..truth.." Sailor Leo said in shock, her eyes looked frantic. "This..isn't possible. We're not evil...we weren't doing anything.." she said her voice full of hysteria. The Sailor Senshi looked at her sadly, they knew they were going to have a hard time destroying this world. This was by far the most difficult mission they had ever been part of. Sailor Leo's eyes flashed darkly, and in a flash she had created once again her fire lion which she shot to the Sailor Senshi. The attack had surprised them, and all of them fell to the ground. Princess Serenity fell unconcious. "Aren't I a great actress? What idiots. I can't believe they thought I actually believed them." Leo said turning to her friends, she took a small bow as they clapped and cheered. She knew she had to keep their spirits up. The Zodiac Senshi had never actually had to fight anyone before, and these Sailor Senshi had been difficult advesaries. She looked down at Sailor Gemini, now detransformed. One fatality when she had just destroyed 10 enemies. She then turned her head and looked at the Sailor Senshi, they too had all detransformed. "That was pretty easy, ne?" Sailor Virgo asked. "Yea, it was actually. Wait till I tell Libra, she'll be so proud!" Sailor Leo exclaimed. The Zodiac Senshi began to giggle and shortly after began gossiping. They had totally forgotten about the Sailor Senshi, who they assumed were all dead. The Zodiac Senshi began to walk away towards the palace as they talked, Sagittarius carrying Natalia in her arms to have Selestia revive. * * * * Hotaru slowly opened her eyes, she stood up and looked at her friends. Quietly and quickly a purple aura radiated from her body and washed over the Senshi, healing them. "Hotaru...what.." Rei began. "They think we're dead, so they left us here. They're going to the palace, we'll attack there." Hotaru explained. The Sailor Senshi looked hesitant. Hotaru ignored their looks and raised her purple henshin stick. "SATURN IMPERIUS POWER...MAKE UP!" she shouted. Her clothes melted off and a purple light filled her body, translucent violet wings appeared briefly on her back and then disappeared, as a stream of dark ribbons rose up from the ground and wrapped themselves around her creating her uniform and other accessories. She smiled slightly as lipgloss was applied, and she tossed her hair gently. The Silence Glaive then appeared, which she held with both of her hands and posed. "Imperial..Sailor Saturn.." Michiru whispered. Quickly the Senshi also transformed (Note: I figure you all know how the Sailor Senshi transform, besides Saturn never had a transformation..) "Sailor Moon, before I forget.." Neo Sailormoon said, she brought out a heavily adorned golden sceptre. "This was a gift from you, Neo-Queen Serenity..that is." she said and gave the sceptre to Sailor Moon. "It's called the Celestial Moon Scepter..it uses the power of the Future Silver Crystal. When my services aren't of need, tell me and I'll give you the Silver Crystal." Neo Moon explained. "If..I gave you this in the future then.." Moon began, Sailor Saturn looked up and said quietly "It means we won."