Sailor Moon Z: #23 - Sacrifices By. Janelle Jimenez (pandora@indy.net) Official WebPage: http://www.indy.net/~pandora/sailormoon/zodiac/intro3.html Surrounded. There was no where to turn, no where to hide. All around the Sailor Senshi stood the Zodiac Senshi. The advantage the Zodiac had was immense. The Sailor Senshi were outpowered, outnumbered, and even worse, on unfamiliar territory. "Oh God no.." Sailor Mars whispered. "We can't be afraid to fight, we WIN, I KNOW we do.." Sailor Uranus muttered as she stood up weakly. Sailor Libra circled the Senshi, the sharp blade of her Justice Star passing inches away from each neck. "Which one of you shall go first?" she asked. "You'll NEVER defeat us!" Sailor Venus exclaimed. Libra laughed and tossed her dark hair. She narrowed her eyes, black diamonds piercing at Venus. "They say blondes are unintelligent...don't be a stereotype." she shot back. Libra stabbed the sword into the ground, "Now, tell us why you're here." she commanded. "We TOLD you, it's our duty to destroy the Golden Millenium! You don't know us yet because we're from the future, but we know all of you... We fought the Black Star Galaxy together!" Sailor Jupiter exclaimed. Libra yawned and removed the sword from the ground. She opened her palm, her bracelet gem flashed, and the sword disappeared again. "Do you know how ridiculous you sound?" she said, her voice full of boredom. She jumped backwards, moving as gracefully as a feline onto the wall surrounding the garden and sat down. "Just kill them." she said, waving her hand effortlessly at the Zodiac Senshi. Sailor Leo smirked, "This'll be my pleasure.." "Please...please...we don't want to kill you...we don't have to, if there's another way...we want to find it!" Sailor Mercury pleaded. "No one would ever give up their lives, their world, their dreams on what ten so-called Defenders of the Future say! No one is that stupid. I'm tired of hearing how *WE'RE* evildoers when YOU are the ones destroying our harmony, killing innocent people, and destroying a city that has no enemies!" Libra shouted from her place on the wall. The Zodiac Senshi nodded in agreement...the Sailor Senshi were silent, it was so very true. The roles were reversed this time. No matter how much they wanted to think they weren't being the villains...they were this time. This wasn't an ordinary situation where there was obvious line between what was evil and what wasn't. The Golden Millenium was peaceful...and hadn't harmed anyone... yet. "You'll never win..you might as well stop while you're ahead." a musical voice laughed. All eyes turned to the location of the melody, a golden light was pouring down from the sky in one spot near a Goldenrod tree. There stood a figure, with three smaller figures standing behind her. They all looked more or less the same, females of differing height in flowing gowns with hair tied in odango. However, because of the light, the faces were impossible to decipher. The Zodiac Senshi immediatly dropped to their knees. Now was the Sailor Senshi's chance to attack...but much to their surprise, they couldn't move...like being forced to be captivated by these women. "Invaders of the Future..welcome." the same voice said, her voice sounded as if it were smiling. The figure stepped forward, her face was a very beautiful one, very familiar. Icy blue eyes, perfect skin, black hair tied in intricate odango...on her forehead was a curious symbol of a star, moon, and sun conjoined. Queen Selestia. "I hope you're finding our world...enjoyable." she commented. Sailor Moon dropped to her knees, this was her grandmother..the mother of her own mother in the Silver Millenium. Yes, they had met before, but now she knew the truth...but did Queen Selestia? "Please, Queen Selestia-sama...we must talk. We don't really want to do this..but..we have to..." Sailor Moon pleaded. Queen Selestia looked down on the girl in disgust. "Who is she mother?" asked one of the figures from behind Selestia. Moon's ears perked..mother? The girl who spoke stepped forward out of the light. She had long black hair, like her mothers. Her face wore a smirk, it wasn't very becoming..but she was still beautiful. On her forehead was a sun, it was Solana. "Yes, who are these people?" asked a quieter voice. She too stepped forward, her hair was a dark blue color. This girl was young, not too young perhaps around the age of fourteen. She looked shy, blue eyes never lifting to look at anyone's face. She looked frightened, even as a Princess with authority and power. She brushed a long bang out of her face, on her forehead was a star...Princess Stella. "She looks..familiar.." said the last voice. Sailor Moon swallowed, there was only one person left for this to be. The girl stepped forward, Sailor Moon gasped...it *WAS* her mother. Younger, her mother at age 16. The girl had silver hair and blue happy eyes..she was staring at Sailor Moon intently...not knowing, that this was her child. "Mother.." Sailor Moon whispered. Queen Selestia stared at Sailor Moon hard. Ah, this was the girl, she thought. She knew who this girl was... but she couldn't let anyone know that this in fact was her granddaughter, and she couldn't tell Selenity that it was her daughter. Granddaughter or not, Selestia would never give up her world. "Girls..get back in the Palace, these are the Invaders from the Future that the prophets warned us about...everything will be alright. The Zodiac Senshi will take care of it." Queen Selestia said turning to her daughters. Solana nodded and they were instantly surrounded in a protective bubble, Selenity was looking out, still intently staring at Sailor Moon. "Why did you lie to her like that. Queen Selestia-sama, you KNOW we win." Saturn asked coldly. "Not if I can help it.." Queen Selestia replied with equal iciness. "You can't stop the future...you know the Zodiac Senshi lose, that's why you sent Sailor Cancer to the future...isn't it? You wanted to change the future. Have you appeared to us yet in the future..don't you REMEMBER us? I'm that violent girl.." Sailor Uranus said stapping forward. Selestia blanched, but maintained her composure. The Zodiac Senshi all turned to look at Queen Selestia quizzically. "I don't know what you're talking about. Anyone could have known about me sending Cancer away...and I've never contacted the future.." she replied, not able to hide the fact she was utterly terrified. These girls could destroy an already shaky bond she had with the Zodiac Senshi. They had to be destroyed...at any cost. She shakedly waved her hand, "This world is ours, and we won't let it be destroyed." she answered. She carefully moved her hands together, a beautiful object began to materialize. It was long-shaped, made of what appeared to be pure sunlight, it radiated an immense shining aura and a hum of power. The object shrunk slightly in size, forming it's true shape..it was a large key. "It's..it's..." Sailor Pluto mumbled staring at the key, "The Golden Key.." Sailor Leo whispered, her eyes locked on the shining object. * * * * "Onee-chan? (Note: Onee-chan means big sister, it's frequently used in Japan for older sisters.) What's wrong?" Stella asked, she intently watched her sister who was curled up on the window seat staring out the window. Selenity looked up abruptly, "What? Me? Nothing..." Selenity said, reassuring her youngest sister. "Don't worry about her Stella-chan, she's just stupid." Solana replied, she tossed her black hair over her shoulder and began to take the other side of her hair out of its odango. She was the image of her mother, the oldest of the three girls...and perhaps the least liked. "Don't say that.." Stella murmured twisting a lock of her wavy blue hair around her finger. "I'm not stupid.." Selenity said in defense of herself. "YOU ARE! Imagine! How could you possibly sympathize for those people? They killed two hundred innocent people in just a minute and plan on killing everyone else...including you!" Solana snapped. "But..that girl, the leader...the blonde. I feel like I know her, and that...she...she seemed so good and innocent." Selenity protested, the image of the blonde haired girl with a face much like her own flashed in front of her eyes. "This is utterly ridiculous!" Solana exclaimed slamming her brush on the vanity table. She stood up and glared at her younger sister, "How could you condone the deaths of your own people?" she demanded, she grabbed Stella's hand. "Sulk all you want Selenity, but when those girls come to destroy you...don't expect ME to save you!" Solana exclaimed, she pulled Stella with her out the door. Stella was only fourteen, very young.. she didn't know exactly what was going on. Solana was eighteen, she pretended to know everything, but she didn't either. "Are you actually my sister?" Selenity whispered at the shut door. She turned her head back out to the window. She stood up and walked over to a table which sat in the corner of the room, on it were three intricate boxes. Each box had the contents of the box engraved in the lid. There was a red one decorated with gold which belonged to Solana, a green one decorated with ivory which belonged to Stella, and a blue one decorated with silver which was Selenity's. In these boxes were treasures that each sister owned, Legend said that the treasures were made of something magical, that if "One found the two treasures which exist, yet not in this time" and brought them together, then amazing things would happen. The sisters never took the legend seriously, how could someone obtain an object that existed, but not in the time they lived in? They did, however treat the treasures with the utmost respect. Whether they had special powers, or were just beautiful pieces of rocks they did not know, however, the treasures gave them a comforting sense of security, for some reason. whenever Selenity was confused, she would look at the treasures, her sisters' and then her own. It was very comforting, and it always helped although she never knew why. They were just beautiful gems, that's all. Selenity opened Solana's box, sitting in red velvet was a beautiful shining gem that was rather yellow-ish in color. Selenity delicately touched jewel and closed the box. She opened Stella's box and did the same, finally she opened her own. Sitting on blue velvet was her treasure, a beautiful crystal. She picked it up and held on to it tightly, and brought it to her lips, gently kissing one of the smooth facets. "Please..help me.." she whispered to it. She then shook her head and giggled, how could this crystal help her? She carefully placed the crystal back on its bed of blue velvet and shut the lid. She looked at the cover and carefully ran her fingers over the beautifully engraved words: Illusion Silver Crystal. * * * * "Fragments of the Golden Key flew into space landing in the hearts of people, giving them the ability to become Sailor Senshi.." Sailor Neptune murmured as she remembered the story Pisces and Aries told. Were they looking at their true origin? Queen Selestia smiled at Neptune, seeming to hear her near silent words. The Golden Key was hovering in the middle of her palms, everyone was in awe. She brought her hands away from the key, and it floated in the air near her. Close enough for her to protect it, but far enough for her to use her hands again. She extended her hand towards the Sailor Senshi and curled her fingers slowly...as if she were...pulling...something out. Sailor Mercury was the first to drop to her knees. She screamed horribly and clenched her fist to her chest. "Ami-chan!" Sailor Venus exclaimed at rushed towards her. Before she could reach her, she was struck with the same pain. "STOP IT!! STOP!" Venus screamed crawling towards Selestia in pain. Soon after, Mars and Jupiter were on the ground, writhing in agony. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO THEM?!" Sailor Pluto shouted as she charged forward towards Selestia. Selestia looked at Pluto and did a motion with her fingers...pulling. Pluto immediatly dropped to her knees, the Time Staff falling to the ground. Her dark green hair spilled over her shoulders as she lay her head on the ground, stifiling screams. Selestia closed her eyes, but continued with the motions. Uranus and Neptune placed their arms protectively around Saturn, but that didn't stop whatever was happening. "MY HEART! She's TEARING IT OUT!!" Saturn screamed to Uranus and Neptune as she fell to the ground. Neptune was next, she looked at Uranus and opened her mouth to scream. Uranus grabbed Neptune's hand to comfort her, but she too was struck with the pain. They both fell to the ground, wordlessly. Together. "WHAT DID YOU DO!" Sailor Moon screamed. Selestia's eyes snapped open. Lying motionlessly were eight Sailor Senshi, the Zodiac Senshi were all standing around, looking slightly horrified. However, two of the Sailor Senshi stood..unaffected by Selestia. Sailor Moon and Neo Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon's eyes filled with tears and she lunged for Selestia, "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO THEM?!" she shrieked. Selestia moved to the side very gracefully, leaving Sailor Moon in a crumpled, crying heap near her feet. She looked up, tears clouding her vision. It was clear now what Selestia had done, in the air were many fragments of gold, not just the nine that she had presumably taken from the Sailor Senshi. The pieces flew into Selestia's hands, and quickly formed into a second Golden Key. "This is the Golden Key of the Future...I have never been able to call both of them at the same time, but because so many of you were here... it was possible." Selestia said in a low whisper. "You see, Sailor Moon, you aren't made from a piece of the Golden Key, I think you know why." Sailor Moon choked back a sob, Selestia knew. "The prophecies said, when the Invaders Came, then the Golden Key of the Future could be called.." Selestia murmured almost insanely. In her hands was Universal Power...doubled. "In all of time, people get disillusioned when they come across power.." Sailor Moon whispered remembering Sailor Pluto's words. Was she to forgive this...woman...this witch...this ancestor who had killed her friends and other innocent people to simply get power? Sailor Moon stood up and closed her eyes. "I WILL NOT FORGIVE YOU!" Sailor Moon shouted (Note: You may notice in anot of anime they say they won't forgive someone. In Japan forgiving is a big deal.) "Chibiusa-chan, I need the power of the Future Silver Crystal.." Sailor Moon whispered turning to Neo Sailor Moon. Neo Moon nodded and brought her hands to her chest, with an outward movement a Silver Crystal appeared in her hands. Neo Moon's eyes went blank and she collapsed to the ground, the Silver Crystal of the Future hovering in the air. A misty ghost-like being rose up from Neo Moon's body and grabbed the Silver Crystal of the Future in her hands. "We've had to make Sacrifices, all of us, to save Humanity...the Future is never written in stone, no matter what. You can and will defeat them, because you are Sailor Moon. " the ghost of Neo Sailormoon whispered. She placed the Silver Crystal of the Future in Sailor Moon's hands. The spirit smiled and looked down on the body of herself. The ghost looked down at her body, who had detransformed and fell back into it. Her job was done, the future would be saved...hopefully. The body began to fade out, until finally it disappeared leaving nothing but a slight pink aura. Sailor Moon stared at the spot where the body lay, Chibiusa sacrificed herself to save the world. Tears filled Sailor Moon's eyes once again, "Thank you.." she murmured. "You are the Princess.." a wavering voice suddenly whispered in her ear...Mamoru? Where was the voice coming from? "You are the Saviour.." another voice whispered...Rei-chan? Where? "You are the Messiah.." she heard being said, not only one voice this time..but millions of voices in unison. The voices of every single person she alone would save. Sailor Moon opened her eyes, and held the Silver Crystal tightly to her chest. It was reacting to her own Silver Crystal..Sailor Moon nodded her head and looked upwards, directly staring at the Zodiac Senshi who had changed positions around Queen Selestia. Sailor Moon looked into Selestia's cold eyes, as tears formed in her own. "I am the Messiah. It is my duty as Saviour of the people of Earth to make sure this world is destroyed." she said, Queen Selestia smirked just slightly, tainting her beautiful face. "One girl alone? Aren't we being a bit too sure of ourselves?" Sailor Leo asked. Sailor Moon closed her eyes, tears falling down her cheeks...what if she was right? What if she failed? I won't fail, she thought to herself. The Celestial Moon Wand appeared in her hands, the Silver Crystal of the Future floated over to it, locking in place at the top. Sailor Moon held the wand tightly, this was going to be the hardest battle...physically--eleven versus one and also emotionally--having to fight former friends, her grandmother. But I won't lose, Sailor Moon thought, because.. "I am...Sailor Moon."