rest of part 6

[draegyn]

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Rini followed in Bunny’s wake as the other girl raced towards the shrine where Darien was going to take the scouts. It was barely five minutes since Bunny had burst into the Tsukino household, grabbed Rini and dashed off again, without a word. Of course Rini hadn’t needed an explanation as soon as she had gotten outside and felt the cloak of dread that had descended on the city. The girl glanced up quickly at the dark sphere that lurked in the sky. Bunny had told her enough for her to know that it had appeared, barely half an hour before, and in that time, it had grown from a speck to a black disc the size of the Moon.

Rini shuddered convulsively as she ran after her ‘cousin’. Bunny had warned her of some of the effects that the Darkmoon would have on Earth and she could see evidence of them everywhere. Hurricane winds scoured the streets, the ground shook in steadily growing tremors and, overhead, dark and ominous clouds were brewing a storm the likes of which hadn’t been seen on Earth in millennia. A sudden gale almost swept the small child off of her feet but the elder Lunarian picked her up and continued without missing a step.

As soon as she was in the other’s hold, distant voices began to echo in Rini’s head. Young though she was, Rini was well educated about both of her heritages. So she knew that her proximity to the other Lunarian had allowed them to bypass each other’s mental shields. Bunny’s shields were lowered so that the blonde could bespeak a being far removed from Earth. That was
probably the only factor that allowed Rini to broach the elder Lunarian's shields, despite their closeness, and what those beings were saying found its way into the child’s mind as well. Clumsily, Rini attempted to listen to the conversation, an effort not lost on Bunny who could not afford to spare the time to cut Rini from the link.

*Things are growing more severe by the moment-*

*We are aware of that, my son, yet we are limited in what we can do.*

*I know that Mother, but I’m only barely holding the world together. Even conversing to you risks the frail balance that Reika and I have formed.*

*Mama, we need to act. Recall Luna and Artemis, send some of the guards to watch the boundaries but we need all of your senshi within reach.*

*We already come, Princess.*

*Thank you my friends. My daughter, I have done what I am able so that our world counters the Darkmoon but it only slows the catastrophe. Your brother can testify to this*

*She’s right Usa. Earth is being torn apart by the arrival of this second moon. Powerful we may be yet not even we can prevent the death of this world if the Darkmoon remains. Even as it is, both Reika and I risk announcing our presence to the world at large as our illusions slip due to the power we’re expending... I can see it now. The headlines tomorrow will read, ‘beings of light seen over the Crown Arcade, news at seven!’*

*Even the Silver Keep is beset by difficulty. Between the shields I have erected for the protection of our people and the spells to neutralise the Darkmoon, I am involved to the limit permitted me. I am allowed no further action.*

*Mother we can’t-*

*No we can’t Toki, but what our Mother is prevented from doing, I am not.*

*Usa-*

*Princess-*

*My precious Serenity, what you imply is a massive task that could render you catatonic for several months. Are you equal to it?*

*I’m young for our people, I know, but I’m powerful and the training I’ve undergone to become your Guardian has only made me more so. I am capable, my problems lie elsewhere.*

*The reincarnates.*

*Correct. I had begun to hope that memory spells would remain unnecessary.*

*Just do what you have to Usa. If what’s happening to me is any indication, they will not be able to see your true form through the light you will radiate.*

*As you will. Do you have a suggestion of where I should do this?*

Rini finally managed to find her mental voice. *Do what?*

*Who?*

*What?*

*Rini?!*

*Aye, Mithrillea lirreial, Small Lady-*

*Rini But how?*

*How do you think, Toki? She is within my arms even as I bespeak all of thee. She’s Lunarian, what’d you expect? Rini may I introduce my Twin, Tranquillity.*

*Tranquillity?*

*Call me Motoki, Rini.*

*Our teacher and friend, Luna.*

*Well met Small Lady.*

*Hi...*

*And my mother Selene, High Lady Serenity.*

*...*

*Do not fear child. I apologise that necessity has caused our meeting to be so abrupt yet I am pleased to meet you at last.*

*Me too...*

*Now, what did you want to know, Rini? Better hurry, time is escaping us.*

*I just wanted to know what you were going to do that’s so dangerous?*

*She is going to construct a shield similar to the one that Queen Serenity has created over the moon. The problem is that the Earth is much larger and Usagi has not had the aeons her mother has to grow in power. It may prove too much for her and, if it does, the spell will fail and, at best, her spirit would need to retreat for an extended period to recover from the backlash.*

*That would mean that, even if by some miracle the Earth survives, Darien and the scouts would be alone in opposing the Darkmoon family. There are factors involved that the reincarnates are not and cannot be allowed to be aware of. At worst, she could be killed-*

*We have no choice Toki. You must remain as you are until the Darkmoon is either removed or a shield is in place, which leaves only me. Trust me when I say that I would rather have your help with this, fy braud, but we do not have that luxury.*

*I know Usa.*

*The courtyard of Raye’s temple should suffice. Heart bless all of you.*

*And you Usa.*

*Speaker guide thee, Princess.*

*Have strength my precious Serenity.* One by one the connections were severed until all that remained in Rini’s mind was the faint sense of Bunny and even that faded as the teen raised her mental walls once more. The conversation, like all such mental exchanges, had occurred in the blink of any eye and the temple was still two blocks away. Rini looked up at the girl who carried her at a break-neck pace. Bunny’s face was determined but her eyes were gentle when she glanced down at her young burden.

“Question Spore?” she asked, not even breathing heavily.

Rini nodded jerkily. “Puu called you Serenity but your brother called you Usagi. What’s your real name?” Rini already knew the answer but she was hoping that it would lead to the one she truly wanted.

Bunny’s lips formed a quirky smile. “My name is Serenity, like my mother’s. That means the people who know us need a way to tell the difference between us. One of them is that she is Queen while I am Princess but my favourite is the use-name Usagi, much the way Tranquillity is also Motoki. She began calling me that when I was an infant and I like it because I dislike the formality of Princess Serenity or Precious Lady Serenity.”

She was getting closer to telling Rini what she wanted to know and the younger girl encouraged her to continue. “Precious Lady?”

Bunny rolled her eyes. “Don’t ask me why the Speaker suggested Mama call me that. Who knows what an entity that serves as the Heart of the Universe has in mind when he does something? All I know is that it’s another way for people to keep me separate from my mother, High Lady Serenity and Precious Lady Serenity. Maybe the Speaker thinks that the name Serenity should have a title with it?”

“So why did you call me Small Lady?” Rini asked the question she was really interested in. One which had been bothering her because Bunny couldn’t possibly know that it was what she was known as in her own time.

Bunny frowned. “I don’t really know.” Abruptly she grinned. “Maybe it’s because you remind me of myself when I was around your age. I was always in trouble too...” Bunny looked at her confidingly. “Let me give you a piece of advice, never turn anyone into a frog until you’re sure that you can turn them back!”

Rini felt her eye go round. “You turned someone into a frog?!”

Bunny grumped defensively. “Well, I eventually figured out how to turn him back.” Suddenly she laughed. “At least I never got myself stuck in another shape, not like Motoki!” She winked at Rini. “He doesn’t know that I know but my smart-alec brother got himself stuck in the form of a cat for a while... Ah we’re here!”

Rini looked away from the blonde’s now grim face to the temple grounds. The courtyard was a large, empty expanse paved in large stones. Bunny lowered Rini to the ground and the pink haired child looked about in vain for the other scouts.

“Where’s everyone else?” she asked.

Bunny frowned and her eyes became distant. Moments later they cleared and she grimaced. “They’ve been held up by some droids.” Rini must have shown her confusion on her face because Bunny elaborated, “With the Darkmoon actually here in this time and so close to Earth, Diamond, or whoever’s calling the shots up there, can just send droids down here, no probs. I ran into a bunch on my way to get you and I took the long way here to dodge another lot... Damn!” She looked down at Rini in frustration and Rini realised that Bunny was worried that something would happen to Rini while she was distracted.

Then with a decisive nod, Bunny seemed to shake off her humanity. In between one moment and the next, the human teenager became the Guardian of Selene. The show of light that occurred when she changed illusions was absent as Bunny just stopped hiding herself and revealed what she truly was. Rini had no doubt of who she was now, for it was Serenity who stood before her in her glory. No, not all of her glory, Rini realised when some of the shock had worn off. Serenity was still concealing much of what she was and if Rini didn’t have an idea of what that was from Puu then the girl would never have noticed.

The being in front of her was nearly a foot taller than her human alias, her silver-gold hair spilled to the ground from their buns but the eyes were brighter and more luminous. The crescent on her forehead flashed and feathery wings of purest white stretched towards the sky. Although Lunarians weren’t normally winged in such a manner, it was now plain to Rini that Serenity hid much of what she was so that she would fit in with her own people. The cause was obvious now to Rini. Serenity was not just the Lunarian princess, she was also the child of two Council Members. For all of her birth race, with a lineage like that, she would always stand out.

It took Rini several minutes to understand that Serenity had worked some powerful magic. It wasn’t until she noticed that the Guardian was looking at someone behind her that Rini turned to find the four sisters, magic restored. Rini gaped for an instant before Serenity forced her to turn and face her.

“I have called the sisters to guard you Small Lady. If anything should happen to me you must let them take you to Andrew. My brother will know what to do and, if necessary, he can send you to our mother.”

“Andrew?!”

Serenity eyed her firmly. “One was needed to serve Selene on Earth and Tranquillity was chosen. Remember, go to him if the worst happens but only then, not before.”

Rini nodded, speechless and Serenity stood. The Guardian moved to stand in the centre of the courtyard while Rini retreated to stand with the sisters. Serenity’s eyes met Rini’s with a knowing expression. Rini saw that the warrior knew that the girl wanted to see what she really looked like and that she was about to be granted her wish. Then all thoughts were washed away as the angel rose into the air and became a being of pure light.

***

Tuxedo Mask took a moment to regain his breath as the last droid disintegrated. Not too far away Venus and Jupiter were sprawled on the ground, puffing madly themselves. A gust of wind whipped his cape out wildly behind him and the two scouts were forced to spit out mouthfuls of hair.

“This is not my idea of fun,” Venus huffed sulkily.

Jupiter grinned. “Great exercise though.”

“You could stand to lose some weight, Venus,” Mars mocked as she and Mercury appeared.

Tux ignored the blonde’s pout and looked to the newcomers. “Anything new?”

Mercury shook her head. “Nothing we didn’t already know. The Darkmoon is getting closer. We’ve dealt with most of the droids but there’s nothing to stop more from appearing.”

Mars nodded in agreement. “Yeah, we just took care of a bunch near the park but all we’re accomplishing is damage control. We’ve done nothing to solve the problem.” The ground rumbled threateningly and they all paused for a minute to listen.

“Well what do you suggest?” Jupiter drawled after a moment and waved at the new satellite, “How about we all go into space, attach some ropes and tow the bloody thing away?”

“Ha ha,” Mars snarled sarcastically.

Tux frowned, “Cut it out you two. We have to stick together with this. Mercury, do you have any suggestions at all?”

Mercury shrugged unhappily. “Get up there and drive it away?” She ran a hand through her hair sharply. “The problem is we don’t know anything about it. The sisters didn’t say anything about coming from another world and I don’t know anything that could get a moon to move. We need more information.”

“And where’s Moon?” Mars added, “Why do we have to do all the work?”

“She went to get Rini,” Tux answered, “I told her to meet us at the-” An immense column of dazzling white light appeared in the distance and he finished in a whisper, “Temple!”

“My shrine!” Mars shrieked in outrage and took off.

The others were off and running after her without a thought and it was only a matter of minutes for them to cross the city and arrive at the temple. Tuxedo Mask perched on the high wall and swept the courtyard with a brief glance. He saw the four sisters clustered together with Rini protectively placed in the centre. Then his eyes were drawn to the pillar of light. Several seconds later he landed near the sisters and stood slowly, his gaze never leaving the light.

It began on the old stones that paved the courtyard and continued to reach up into the dark, intense clouds that had gathered overhead. In the centre of it he was positive that he could see a figure but the light was so bright that he could not be sure. The light was mesmerising and without consciously trying, the warrior felt himself falling into a trance. The energy fields that he could only faintly feel an hour before became starkly clear to him under the influence of whatever power lit the courtyard. There was a will and reason to it, he could sense it and that will was in no way malicious. The presence in the pillar was almost familiar to him, though he could not say how, and he felt its efforts. Whatever it was trying to do was arduous and he could feel it struggling to succeed.

“What is it?” Venus whispered at his side.

Tux shook his head but did not look away.

“It’s Bunny,” a frightened voice stated.

Tux tore his eyes away from the phenomenon and found himself surrounded by females. The scouts had gathered on one side, almost but not quite touching him. The sisters had moved nearer to him and Rini pressed against his side, her terrified eyes glued to the spectacle before them.

“Rini?” he asked softly.

The girl bit her lip, the only sign that she heard him until she answered, “Earth’s being torn apart and she had to try something or there’ll be nothing left.” A particularly violent tremor shook the grounds and Tuxedo Mask felt Rini gripping him for dear life.

“But what could she-” Venus started, interrupted by a loud boom of thunder.

Tux shook his head, as bewildered as she. To have any effect on the situation would require more power than it was possible for a human to possess. There was no way for her to succeed even though it was obvious that Bunny had a lot more magic than she’d let on. As he looked up towards the glowing heart of the pillar, he felt no anger that the girl had kept secrets. Instead all he felt was a deep and powerful fear for the blonde mage. The magnitude of her struggle resounded in the depths of the Earth to which his earthborn senses were attuned. He felt her losing her hold on the massive spell she was attempting and he willed her to be strong. He knew he was asking the impossible of her yet he asked it anyway. With all the power due to him as a Terran prince, he called on his home to support its defender.

“Come on Meatball Head. Save my planet.”

***

The magic that flowed through her was agony. The flood of power had burned her senses raw but she could not afford to surrender. Distantly, she felt the silver spell-workings of her brother and his mate that held the world together in a fragile web. He could not spare the focus to reach to her nor could she risk the distraction of reaching for him. She had no choice but to complete the spell on her own.

She hadn’t let any of her friends know how scared she had been at the prospect of such a major casting. The spell was one even her mother would hesitate to try in the magnitude that was necessary but there was no other option. Her mother and Luna might suspect her terror but they also knew there was no other way and so had remained silent. Her brother undoubtedly knew her terror for all of her efforts, as she knew his, but once more they were not free to choose their fates. Still she had been able to conceal her fear from both Rini and the sisters, burying it under the need to keep the little girl safe but that need was gone now. Both the reincarnates and the four sisters were with the child now and there was nothing to hold back her fear.

She could not finish this. If she had begun with any belief of success then she would have been guilty of gross hubris but all she had was the weakest of hopes that something might be saved. The spell began to slip and the pain of the power was joined by the torment of a breaking spell. She grasped the working with the last of her will power and laboriously attempted to complete it but even with her senses overwhelmed by power, she did not have enough and the spell began to fail yet again.

She barely registered her brother’s web of spells strengthening, the Earth growing more stable even as her grip on her own magic became more tenuous. A faint golden radiance flowed from the sorcery of her brother into her. She had never known her brother’s magic to feel as welcoming as it did then. The golden flood energised her and strengthened her will. Vaguely she wondered at the colour she perceived it to be. Like their mother, both twins tended towards silver power, but she forgot about it as she grasped her own power firmly once more.

Her determination was bolstered enough that she reigned in the wild spell. The golden strength offered itself to her but she refused it; her twin could not spare the magic that she would draw from him if they joined their power. Its presence alone was enough though. She began to work with renewed heart. It seemed like an eternity and doubt fought to cripple her but memory of the golden comfort banished it and she worked free of her fears. Abruptly the workings of the spell seemed to click in place and what had been agony became a rush of pleasure so great, it was almost pain itself.

The shield spread around the entire planet and it was as though the Darkmoon was no longer there. Behind the wall of power that she had erected she could feel the ominous presence of the Darkmoon and its inhabitants but that no longer seemed important. The shield she had created was all that mattered. She became the conduit that powered it, her mind dissolving in the magic now that it was no longer needed. She didn’t know why her personality began to coalesce once more. Her sense of self-preservation had been drowned by the power and so there was no reason that she shouldn’t have remained a mindless part of the spell but she didn’t.

Distantly, she could hear other minds calling to her and self-awareness returned in a rush. She could not spare the time to reassure her mother and brother. If she did not hurry, she would once more lose herself in the magic, only this time to never return. She was the centre of the shield that warded the world but she could not remain so. An inanimate object was needed to serve as the focus and even as she thought it, the answer came to her. She summoned Mercury’s gift and with a mental twist, it lengthened into a staff. Time slowed as, step by careful step, she wove the shield spell around the sceptre and finally she was done.

She relaxed her grip on her magic and the pillar of light shrunk as her power receded until it was a thin beam that surrounded the staff. She stepped away from the light and blinked in confusion. Everything was dark. Had her arrogance in performing such a spell sent her blind? No. Her eyes adjusted slowly. She realised that several hours had passed and that it was dark because it was night. She rocked unsteadily on her feet and several people rushed towards her as her knees gave out. A shadowy form supported her with worry in his dark blue gaze and her heart leapt into her throat with the realisation that she had not remembered to disguise herself before she had left the concealment of the light. When her reeling mind refused to focus, she shrugged off her worries.

Instead, in a tone of complete surprise, she said to Tuxedo Mask, “It worked!” and succumbed to unconsciousness.

***

Andrew’s mental presence wearily watched as his friend lay Bunny on a pallet in the temple. He was exhausted and he had done nothing in comparison to what his sister had accomplished. Still, if the mysterious stranger with the golden magic hadn’t interfered, he, his mate and his sister would all have burnt their minds to crisps. As it was, Rita and Bunny were deeply unconscious and he was not far off.

The scouts had settled in for a night of planning while they waited for Bunny to wake up again. Andrew already knew that Mercury had scanned the comatose girl and found nothing incriminating. Andrew was just as capable as his sister of crafting professional illusions. When Tuxedo Mask had tucked Rini in at Bunny’s side and settled himself on the floor beside the two, Andrew felt it was safe for him to return to his body. His own weariness was becoming overwhelming and he had only fought it off so that he could ensure that his sister’s identity would remain safe. His mind settled itself in his head and he looked down to be certain that his lady was sleeping safely at his side before he too joined her in slumber.

***

“I have been closer to dying before,” she told him. He said nothing, only tightened his arms around her. Her cheeks were damp where they rested on his shoulder and her shoulders began to shake with sobs. He rocked them both, kissing the top of her head and all of her available face. “I don’t... know why... it’s... it’s so bad now...”

He stopped rocking her and forced her to look at him. “You don’t have to do this alone,” he informed her, “I can help you.”

She shook her head and pulled away from him. Her eyes swam with loneliness as she answered but her determination was displayed all over her face. “I am a senshi, a Guardian. I serve one of the Divine Stars and I cannot shirk my duty.”

“And what god demanded that you be alone while you do your job?” he demanded of her.

“I don’t know,” she answered and tears began to pour from her sapphire blue eyes once more. “It’s just the way things have worked out.”

He stared at her in yearning. He wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms but that alone would not banish the stark loneliness he could feel in her. All he could say was, “I love you.” Her eyes met his in shock. Disbelief flashed across them but not fast enough to hide a spark of hope. He took a step closer to her and gently traced the line of her jaw. “I love you,” he repeated, “Without you... You are my everything. I couldn’t bear to go on without you. I’ll follow you to the ends of the universe and beyond and trust me when I say that I’ll never leave you alone. If need be, I’ll hound you for the rest of eternity until you accept me.”

She reached up and placed her fingers against his lips. Her mouth opened to speak-

***

“Oh sorry Darien,” Mina whispered as he started awake, the memory of his dream already vanishing from his mind.

He rubbed his eyes and ran a hand through his unruly black hair. “No, I’m fine,” he muttered and straightened up. “How is she?”

Mina looked back to where Bunny lay on the pallet. “She’s fine,” the younger girl assured him, “Still very deeply asleep but after what she’s done I’m not surprised.

Darien started to rise from the floor but was stopped by a weight on his legs. He looked down to find Rini curled up against him. He sighed. It was starting to be a habit for the child to use him as a giant teddy bear. Carefully he lifted the pink haired child up and placed her at her cousin’s side. It was a surprise to both watchers when both cousins moved closer to each other.

“There’s no doubt about it,” Mina said after a moment, “We can’t deny that she’s been keeping secrets from us.”

“Obviously,” Darien agreed softly.

Mina looked at him regretfully. “You were correct, we shouldn’t have trusted her.”

“No,” he shook his head in disagreement, “You were right in that, not me. We need her and she’s given us no reason not to believe in her. In fact, everything she’s done should make us trust her more.”

“But she’s kept secrets-” Mina started and Darien laughed sourly but softly.

“So have I, so have you and the rest of the scouts-”

“But none of our secrets are of the magnitude that hers is.” Mina shook her head in frustration and tried to make him understand. “The power she has, the skill, her knowledge... why would she hide it all from us if she wanted to help us?”

“You want a wild guess?” he asked her while he stared at the sleeping blonde. Mina nodded and Darien looked back at her. “I don’t think this is the first time she’s had to handle a mess like this,” he told her, “I think she’s a veteran and that the people who’ve worked with her in the past knew what she could do. I think they lumped responsibility and duty onto her because of it until all she seemed to be was a tool for their cause. Maybe I’m exaggerating but not by too much I’ll bet.”

He grimaced in memory. “This is a holiday for her, and that’s from her own words. She didn’t tell us because she doesn’t want to be treated differently.”

“We wouldn’t-”

“Wouldn’t treat her differently? After what you saw this afternoon?” He smiled wretchedly. “If I’d known how powerful she was from the start, I know that I’d have treated her differently. My tactics during battle would have put more pressure on her. I’d have depended more on her and I think you girls would have as well.”

Mina opened and closed her mouth but she couldn’t disagree with something they both knew to be true. “She wanted our friendship,” she eventually said.

He nodded. “I can forgive her that. Besides, I get the feeling that even she doesn’t know half of what she can do. You didn’t hear how surprised she was that the shield worked. Then there was the incident on Rubius’ ship-”

“What incident?” Mina jumped in.

“It doesn’t matter,” he answered quickly, “The only thing that matters is that if I’m willing to give her a chance, as her friends, you should be as well.”

She was silent a moment before she answered with more than a little humour, “If the Frog-face is willing to give a Meatball Head the benefit of the doubt then I can do no less.”

He looked at her sourly. “Oh shut up Mina, you know as well as I do that she was only acting that way to annoy me.”

“You know?!”

“I’ve had it rubbed in my face. Not even I’m stubborn enough to ignore some of the evidence shoved under my nose!” His tone almost dared her to contradict him.

“I guess I owe her a sundae then,” Mina announced, ignoring his challenge.

“Sundae?”

Mina shrugged. “We had a bet going.”

“She bet on me?!”

“Mmm...”

Darien blinked and then glanced at the sleeping girl with an apologetic look. “I really did irritate her, didn’t I?”

“You’re not angry?” Mina asked carefully.

“Of course not,” Darien answered reasonably and started to leave the room. At the door he turned back and winked at a stunned Mina. “So long as I get half of her winnings of course!”