Chapter Twenty-two
She was searching, reaching for the light within. It was there, she could feel it, and it wanted to come out. It wanted a form, it wanted to conquer the evil threatening it's holder. Getting closer, she could see the light starting to surround her, the change in her appearance that had started. Soon, she would be at the point where her mother had died, standing in regal garb in front of the Dark Queen with only the Crystal to defy the villain's will. That couldn't happen now. She needed to be stronger, wiser. The world depended on her. Buffy depended on her. She could let neither down.
//"Now, reach out towards the light. Help it form with your will. The Crystal will need your guidance. Don't let go."//
Reaching out, wrapping the light around her slender fingers, she felt the light starting to bring her out of herself. Opening her eyes, Usagi could see the light entwine itself, forming itself into the beautiful piece of crystal which was the only hope of the world.
//"It will hurt. The raw energy from the crystal isn't something your body can easily take. Be strong."//
Crying out at the sudden pain burning into her being, Usagi cried out. It was to strong! Even as the light started to stream towards Metalia, she could feel her body giving up. It couldn't channel all the power, it couldn't keep together in the close proximity of the pure power making up the crystal.
"No!" she shouted, gripping the crystal harder even as it burned her flesh. "I have to do this."
"Foolish girl!" Metalia snarled, even as she kept a shaking shield up against the energy fighting to take her over. "You can't channel such energy! Soon you will cease to exist, following your mother's example. I will win, I will have the world!"
//"Don't listen, hold on. She's wavering."//
Usagi could hear it, the wavering in the redhaired demon queen's voice. just a little more... She knew she was near, so very near, but she couldn't do it! It was too hard, to much... Her hands shaking, she fought to keep up the attack. She couldn't give up now! Keeping her eyes from the sight of her flesh bleeding and sizzling, Usagi fought to add energy, to draw even more power into the attack.
//"Now gather all you have. We will help you. Let our spirits join you."//
Then she felt it. A calm aura enveloping her, diffusing some of the backlash hurting her. Smiling thankfully at the familiar feeling of Minako's mind, she focused on using the provided help to bring more power behind the attack. Then another power joined her, and another, and another. Her senshi was helping her, joining her in her fight. And so was Mamoru.
"Thank you, minna," she whispered under her breath. Then she threw all caution to the side and reached for all will she had. Metalia was going down. Ignoring the blazing pain, she threw all she had at the enemy, willing herself to give all to the crystal to finally end it all.
//"Now!"//
She felt it as the energy finally reached its goal. A huge explosion rocked the palace as the crystal crushed Metalia's shields and everyone standing was thrown to the ground, the energy pressing them into the ground. Screaming in intensive pain worse than anything she had ever felt, Usagi lost concious.
When the unconscious senshi had existence into existence after the final battle, courtesy of Angelus' extensive power, now possible to use, the two remaining warriors had began to work in a flurry of movements. Concentrating on the most severely injured, Buffy and Usagi, they had begin the process of healing. As the generals awakened, they helped as well, taking over the duties of watching the exhausted Inner and Outer senshi. Soon, the warriors who had just saved the world rested in a peaceful slumber.
Two years later
Angelus and Hotaru was sitting on a bench in the park, watching the people move around them. The two so very different beings had bonded deeply during the time they had spent together, and it was generally accepted that Hotaru had adopted her Tenshi as some sort of big brother/mentor.
The former sickly child had grown into a beautiful young woman, no different than other children of her age, and had become a valuable part of their team as she matured into her healing powers. With the help of Angelus, she had even developed attacks and spells that used a sliver of her power to harness in battles. Sailor Saturn had without doubt risen above her prophesized self.
Buffy, or Bri as she now called herself, had a difficult time the time immediately following the battle. It was as if the past had finally caught up to her, that her death and loss of her blood family had finally taken its toll. Yet, with the help of her lover, whom with she was again building a relationship with, and her brother, she had managed to come to her feet again. At this time, she preferred to live separately from both, holding the top apartment in a three apartment house Angelus' had purchased together with Haruka.
In the beginning, the relationship between Mamoru and his sister had been frail to say the least. The years apart, the years of uncertainty of betrayals had left deep tracks, and only now they had the time to start heal their relationship and become family again. Now, they were becoming closer than ever, and Mamoru shared the apartment house with Angelus, Hotaru, Buffy and Haruka.
Usagi, wanting to remain close to her dear friends, lived not even a five minute walk from Angelus' apartments. Sharing an apartment with Minako, she and the man she had loved so deeply for so long ago was getting to know each other again. Neither of them knew if they would ever regain the earth shattering love they had in the Silver Millennia, but for now they were quite satisfied with knowing that they liked spending time together. Minako though, currently involved in a serious relationship with Kunzite, was quite positive that they would.
Neither of the other senshi had chosen to live very far away from their friends. Ami and Makoto both lived within a short distance of the other's homes, and Rei still lived at the shrine, seriously considering devoting her life to its preservation. Setsuna was never more than a phone call away, despite her duties across the world - she and Angelus seemed to have developed some sort of friendly relationship in keeping the younger senshi in check. Often one could find the two of them talking in hushed voices about events that had yet come to happen, and it was easy to see how much easier it was for the time guardian to have someone to share the burden with.
Michiru was still the famous violinist, and even if she never could stay long in Japan, she always returned when needed. Her mansion in the more fashionable parts of town had many a times been a base for battle, and she and Angelus' often joined their resources to produce what the group of them needed. In recent times, she had begun to spend more time in Japan though, wanting to keep close to the people she loved.
Life was good for their little group. Or maybe not so little anymore. There were fights, apocalypses and saving the world business every now and then of course, but with joined forces and the love they shared, they had so far managed to get through it under the guidance of Angelus. They had all found their place in life, people to love and the answers to their pasts. And they would fight to keep it that way.
the End
That was that. Finally it has ended, after two years time and numerous rewrites. Thank you for staying with me. ^_^ There will probably be revising of this story every now and then, but this story is finally and officially over. It has been a grand time!