The Celestial Warrior

Part Eight: The Battle Begins! One Shall Be Victorious!


Celestia, Sailor Moon, and Tuxedo Kamen stood back to back, watching the hideous harpies circle around them. They took their time in reaching them, hoping to scare them into submission and then slay them. But there was no trace of fear on their faces. The trio stood poised, weapons ready, resigned to kill their leader even if it means their lives would end with hers.

\"Try to hit them hard and fast,\" Celestia whispered to the others. \"I\'m counting on them to be the same as the glass. Maybe we can shatter them.\" They nodded and turned their attention back to the advancing army. She made the first move, charging at one of the harpies and hit it across the face with her boot. It went screeching as it flew into a wall, but it didn\'t shatter. \"Try again,\" she muttered to herself as she advanced on the one. It stood up, shaking it\'s wings out and let out a high pitched screech of anger. The warrior raised her sword and swung it down into it\'s shoulder. It didn\'t shatter it, but now it\'s arm was useless. She ripped the sword out, enjoying the screams of the harpy, but then gasped in shock as the wound sealed instantly.

Dwersis\' cackle could be heard over the harpies screeching. \"There\'s nothing you can do to kill them. They are eternal, like my hatred!\"

Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen also noticed that problem. The little blonde smashed one with her moon rod with no ill effect. His roses stuck into two, but they plucked them out as if they were mere thorns. They were starting to worry about this. How could they destroy them when they were regenerating?

Celestia turned to them. \"Distract these things. I\'m going to the root of the problem.\" Fire flared in a free hand as she rushed the onyx stairs. Dwersis was caught unawares as a fireball rushed at her face and hit her. She screamed in agony as she stumbled for a sword. The redhead whipped her sword around, ready to remove the daemon\'s head from her body, till her blade was blocked with a black double-handed sword.

Sailor Moon had no idea how to take on two of the harpies, especially when she couldn\'t kill them. As they started to attack, she did her best to dance around them. She couldn\'t flip and fly like Celestia could, but she knew how to avoid an attack fast. There were a couple of times where she miscalculated, and had the scrapes and tears in her uniform to show for it. Eventually, she grew tired of leaping around and starting using the Cuty Moon Rod as a shield. She knew that she wouldn\'t last much longer at this rate.

Tuxedo Kamen was having the same problems. He put the roses away since they were as ineffective as a mosquito. Resigning to using the cane, he was able to catapult himself away a couple of times. But with his long cape, they were able to reach up and yank him down again with a sickening thud. The last time he fell to their trick, they leapt on top of him, pinning him down and proceeded to claw him. They were thiof gof glass, but they weighted too much for him to shake them off. Even though it looked hopeless for him, it never stopped him from struggling out of their grip.

Celestia was locked in a sword fight with the spawn of Metallia. Their blades run like thunder in the large chamber, sparks flying from their hatred, and hitting anything that got in the path of their swords. Wild sword blows hit pillars of stones and the onxy throne, causing chips to fly madly. Some managed to hit them, causing damage and blood loss. The warrior was starting to weaken from fatigue, but the bloodlust she carried fueled her arms. Dwersis could sense the weakening and pushed her attack. After a while, all Celestia could do was block the blade as it came down faster and faster. Many times the daemon\'s sword found gaps in the warrior\'s defense and sliced her a number of times. But with Dwersis\' building over-confidence, Celestia could she her fight becoming sloppy. Despite her blood loss, there was still a keen instinct of war guiding her.

Noticing a gap she could use, she quickly called up a fireball and shot it to the daemon\'s midsection. Dwersis recoiled, clutching her stomach, and Celestia struck her. Her flaming sword found the space between two ribs and the blade bit deeply, nearly cleaving her in two. The daemon roared as black blood spilled onto the floor, but somehow it wasn\'t enough to kill her.

Fortunately, it was enough to kill the spell of the harpies. Sailor Moon was on the floor, feebly trying to block their weapons. When suddenly they started to fade and the swords fell to the floor with a loud clang. Tuxedo Kamen was fighting to stay away despite the blood loss and having the breath kicked out of him. They too disappeared, but he remained laying there, too weak to do anything else.

Celestia dragged her sword out of the wound hnd held it up in a ready stance, snarling as she breathed hard, the blood slowly dripping onto her hands. Dwersis looked up in shock, and saw the pure fury of the warrior goddess. For a moment, Dwersis looked as if she realized the trouble she was in, but the daemon recovered quickly. With one hand holding her injured side, she lifted her sword and took her stance.

\"Give it up, daemon,\" Celestia panted. \"You can\'t win against us. Either you leave us alone, or we kill you.\"

\"Never!\" she screamed. The blood was still pouring from her fingers, and it was weakening her further. But there was no giving up in her. Dwersis roared as she blindly cleaved the air around the warrior. She was too slow, so it gave her plenty of time to move away from her sword. Celestia grew tired of the game, blocked a few of her feeble blows, and with one swing knocked the black sword out of the daemon\'s hand.

With a kick, Dwersis landed on her back, panting and groaning in frustration. A red boot stepped on her chest, the sword point digging into her throat, pinned down to the floor. \"Now are you going to give this up?\" Celestia snarled. \"You\'re going up against someone the same caliber as The Ultimate Senshi. You can\'t win against my powers. Oblivion is now the only option.\"

\"Yes,\" she panted, \"I guess it is.\" It almost sounded like a white flag, and Sailor Moon stood up in hope that this was all over. But it wasn\'t.

Dwersis started to snicker, and it grew louder until she was cackling as she did before the battle began. Celestia looked down at her as if this daemon just went mad, then was blown away from an unseen source. The warrior went flying from the staircase, crashing into the opposite wall and falling down to the floor. Sailor Moon was blown off her feet and was flung herself. The two senshi recovered quickly and sat close to each other, completely confused over what just happen
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The daemon stood up as if she was never wounded. She glowed with an inner evil power that crackled around her. It couldn\'t have been her own power. It was from something, or someone, else. Dwersis was powerful, but nothing like this. There was something more to this fight now, but they couldn\'t figure out what. They stood up and walked slowly over to Tuxedo Kamen to get him to wake up. He was starting to recover, then wished he hadn\'t. Celestial helped him to stand up, because with this new threat they would need all the strength they could get.

If only there was a way to free them from the mirrors, she thought to herself. Do I dare shatter them, or do I kill Dwersis and hope that will break the spell. I don\'t know. But with their powers we could finish this once and for all.

Suddenly, Celestia could feel a burning within her chest. Looking down in horror, the center of her broach was starting to glow with a bright red light. It grew larger, making Sailor Moon to turn her head and stare at the glow. Her light started to overpower the evil power emanating from the daemon, that even she had to take notice.

She felt like something was clawing it\'s way through her body, starting with her heart. The pain got to be so intense that she started to scream. Something inside her mind told her to hold out her hands before her chest, and she did so. With a searing pain, something was slowly pushing out of the broach. She couldn\'t take her eyes away, and neither could the others.

What took shape, was a ruby red crystal. It hovered between her hands, and it shimmered like a freshly cut diamond. Glowing like a fiery blaze, she now understood what the dream meant. The only salvation to this mess was the crystals they possessed.

The Fire Crystal. I haven\'t seen you in a long time, my friend, she thought to herself.

Sailor Moon understood. Their crystals were needed. With her will power, she caused her locket to open. The Silver Crystal inside glowed in response to the Fire Crystal and emerged out of its resting place. She held her crystal between her hands and understood the bond that they had, that all senshi had. They were blessed with this inner power that would banish the darkness.

As they became one with the sealed powers of their crystals, their forms changed. They lost the uniforms, and were replaced with the gowns they wore a millennium ago. Sailor Moon became the Moon Princess Serenity, the crescent moon on her forehead twinkling like a star. Celestia was resplended in a gold dress that left her shoulders bare. A flared collar came out to points off her shoulders, giving her a severe look. A crown formed on her head, decorated with rubies and sculpted out of yellow and white gold. She retained the look of a fiery war goddess, only now dressed in stately robes.

With their change, Tuxedo Kamen\'s suit melted away into the armor of Prince Endymion, Heir to the Throne of Earth. He went to the side of his eternal love, planted his unsheathed sword into the floor, and braced her with his body. He might be just a mortal, but he was still needed to support the Princess.

Queen Celestia, Ruler of The Starlit Path, raised her crystal over her head and sang a note. The crystal amplified her tone, making the stained glass windows to shatter and the mirrors to vibrate. After a few more beats, the mirrors shattered, and their prisoners fell to the floor.

Princess Serenity whispered her command. \"Heal them,\" was all she spoke. The crystal flared, sending out two columns of pure silver light onto the two forms. Queen Serenity woke up first, recognizing the familiar light of her home. Tsukiyomi came to after her, looked down at his armor, and stood up as if he forgot his recent life of a simple game shop keeper. He walked over to Celestia and took the same stance as Endymion did. The Queen stood to the other side of her Sister. They smiled at each other, once again reunited after being centuries apart.

Dwersis only got more angry. The rage powered her further, the lightning arching from her body and lancing the three goddesses and their consorts. They stood their ground, even when they were lashed by the currents. The daemon let out her full power, a shot that easily rivaled the power of her Mother. The women buckled for a moment, but were able to recover and formed a shield in front of them. They couldn\'t see a thing, the power clashing in front of them only made the light blinding, almost like a wall. The dark energy seemed to grow stronger, making their shield waver for a moment.

\"Your revenge shall be complete, my love!\" They could hear Dwersis over the crackling of clashing power. \"All three shall die by my hands, never to return again! Then this world is for your taking! Yours!\"

Who was she talking to, they all thought. Metallia was dead, never to return. Who is this now?

\"The Earth shall never be yours!\" screamed the Princess. \"I fought long and hard to save it! Nobody is going to take it away from me!\" Wa fia final burst of fury, she exploded the last word from her mouth. \"Never!!\"

With that burst, all their powers flared into one massive bolt of light. It sucked up the black lightening, devouring it and fueling it. Dweresis gasped in horror, terrified and stunned that they could overpower her. \"No,\" she muttered, \"No, this can\'t be happening. No!\" The light was starting to reach her, gaining speed. \"No, I can\'t let you!\" No matter what she threw into it, it was to no avail. The light started to wrap around her. \"No! My Goddess Ga....\" She nearly called out a name, but the power destroyed her utterly. Nothing was left but the echo of the unpronounced name.

With the growing light, the floor rumbled and the roof started to splinter. The five were not afraid of the massive destruction. In one great flash, everyone was blinded.

And when the light faded, everything was gone. No trace of the underground kingdom remained.

And the five were gone.


**************************************************

Celestia woke up very slowly and started to feel again. As her eyesight returned, she opened her eyes and saw nothing but space. Her body was curled up in a ball as she spinned with ease through the heavens. \"Oh great,\" she thought, \"I\'m dead again. Now what am I going to be this time?\"

She stretched out her form and realized she was in her pure form. Floating unashamedly naked, goldgolden wings unfurled into their full glory, like feathery sails to the solar winds. She looked at her s, as, and noticed the scars and the talons were gone, leaving soft skin and neatly manicured nails in their place. Celestia was in her true glory now.

But where was Serenity? Or Endymion?

Where was Tsukiyomi?

The little princess seemed to appear from her thoughts, spinning just as she did, in the same pure form as she. Serenity\'s body was covered with her silvery wings, shielding her as she tumbled through space. Celestia flew to her and caught her in her arms, making the wings let go of the little one\'s limbs. The two goddesses floated there, the redheaded one stroking the blonde locks of the other. Now to find the other one, she thought.

She unfurled her wings again and flew in a random direction, one she hoped would lead her to him. After a while, she found him in the same state as Serenity. Endymion also wore golden wings, which also covered him in protection. She wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him close.

\"Well, my friend, my sister. It seems that I\'ve failed you both, and now we\'re left to start all over again.\" The two didn\'t wake up, so Celestia was left to talking to herself. Tears started to fall from her eyes. \"I\'m so sorry. I was hoping this would be the last time you both would have to go through all this.\"

\"You don\'t have to,\" a familiar voice spoke through the void. \"Let me guide you to your Home.\"

In a flash, space disappeared, and a large meadow appeared under her bare feet. Trees decorated the landscape in little groves, and in the distance were mountains decorated with many different castles. She nearly cried out in joy, for she recognized the Land of the Gods. This place came with as many different names as she did through her many lives; Valhalla, Heaven, Olympus, to name a few. But no matter the name, it will always be her true Home.

Celestia lowered herself to the ground, took the form she once had as the Queen of The Starlit Path, and laid the two down into the grass. As soon as Serenity and Endymion touched the ground, they regained their former lives robes and armor, and the wings disappeared. Once their clothes were in place did the two wake up.

Princess Serenity woke up and looked up at Celestia. She was surprised at the change that she went through. Gone was the harsh look of deep lines around her eyes and the frown of her eyebrows. The blood red of her irises were gone, leaving a golden light to them. The red lips were replaced with a deep pink hue. The Egyptian markings around her eyes were still there, but they didn\'t make her look evil like her present day form. This only enhanced her beauty. Her red hair didn\'t flare around her head like an angry bonfire, but flowed calmly down her back. She was absolutely stunning to her.

Celestia extended a hand to the little princess, and she took it to help her stand up. Serenity hugged the new queen, relieved that she was alive. Endymion woke up, saw the new form of his friend, and couldn\'t believe the change. She reached out an arm to him, and he entered the three-way hug.

\"You have all survived, and have freed me.\" They turned around as saw Queen Serenity standing in the same meadow. \"Thank you.\" The Princess ran toward her Mother, tears streaming from her eyes. The Queen scooped up her Daughter and hugged her tightly. \"My dear Daughter,\" she whispered, \"I never doubted your strength to save me.\"

\"I could never let them win, Mother,\" little Serenity choked out between her tears.

Celestia walked over to the Queen and took her hand in hers. \"My Sister, we have returned Home.\"

The Princess looked at them questioningly. \"Yes, we are Home. But, unfortunately, you three cannot stay.\" When she said this, the Queen looked down sadly at her Daughter. Raising her little one\'s head up to meet her eyes with her fingers, she tried to explain things to her. \"My dear, you are in the Realm of the Gods. This is where we all came from, and will return when our time on the mortal plane is done. You will join me when your time has passed, and your successor has taken your place.\"

\"My successor?\" she asked.

\"You see, Serenity,\" Celestia entered into the conversation, \"we can only leave this cycle of reincarnation until our need to be there is gone. This only happens two ways. Either your job is complete and the mortals are fully on the path of the Ultimate Destiny, or you bear a child and rear it to stand in your footsteps. Once the child is fully trained and can rule in your stead, then you can \'die\' and return Home.\"

\"That\'s why I\'ve been coming back to Earth all this time?\" the Princess figured. Her Mother nodded.

\"This is why I\'ve been reincarnated so many times,\" the redheaded goddess added. \"My mission was a failure, and I took on another oath to protect you in your many reincarnations. I also don\'t have a Daughter to take my place. She did,\" with a nod to the Queen, \"and could return back Home once you were rooted on Earth.\"

Endymion stepped forward. \"Then why was I sent back?\"

\"She needed her true love to also guide her,\" Queen Serenity said. \"My Daughter would never be truly happy if he wasn\'t near her side.\" There seemed to be more in her mind to answer this, but she wasn\'t going to say it.

\"Then where do I go when I die?\"

\"You will join her,\" Celestia added quickly. \"We cannot separate her from her love. Just as much as Serenity could be separated from her love.\"

\"Who is that?\" His mind reeled with the questions that were swimming around in his head. He must find out more if he can.

The Queen blushed. \"We cannot tell you that now. All you need to know is that you two will be together forever.\"

The Princess turned around and reached for Endymion. \"We\'ll never be separated! Even in death! You don\'t know how happy that makes me.\" They hugged each other tightly, making sure that their statement will always be true.

Celestia dropped her head a bit. \"In my case, it might be an exception.\"

\"He did fight along side you,\" Serenity offered.

\"But as our current persons, we had a bad fight. I\'m not sure things could be patched up that readily.\"

She took the warrior queen\'s shoulders in her hands and turned her around. \"What happens, happens. If he will not accept his true life, there will always be others. Present the facts to him. If he scorns you, wipe his memory away. We cannot have men that follow us blindly, or who don\'t want to follow their destiny.\" Celestia nodded her head.

\"But, I\'m afraid, you must return back to Earth,\" the Queen informed them sadly. \"You will not reincarnate. You\'ll take on the same lives as before. Tsukiyomi will be waiting for you in his room. Go to him, My Sister.\"

Celestia gave Serenity only last embrace. \"May this lifetime be my last, My Sister. I cannot be apart from you again.\"

\"I wish that too.\" Tears started to fall from her silver eyes.

The war goddess backed away tearfully, letting the Princess a chance to hug her true Mother goodbye. \"Farewell, Mother. At least I have some comfort that what I do will be to my benefit also.\"

\"My dearest Daughter, I will always be with you, no matter what.\" She kissed her on top of her head, then on the crescent moon on her forehead. \"Endymion, I trust you. Please keep my Daughter safe. Never abandon her, for her death means yours.\"

He nodded, then genuflected before the Queen, taking a hand in his and kissing her knuckles. \"I still serve you and your Daughter, from here to eternity.\"

The silver goddess nodded in pleasure. \"Rise, Prince of Earth, and take my Daughter\'s hand. I will return you all back to your home.\"

As much as the two goddesses did want to be reunited with their loved ones on Earth, they didn\'t want to leave the peace of their ancestral home. But, their job wasn\'t complete in the mortal realm, and to leave was imperative. With the raising of her arms, Serenity cast them into sleep, sealed them in the same crystal bubbles she used before on the moon, and sent them speeding back to their world.

\"Thank you again, and good luck.\"

************************************************

Raven woke up with a start. Realizing she was laying on the floor of her bedroom, her hand went scrambling for her glasses. She couldn\'t find them, so she was left blind as a bat. There were a pair of feet next to her head, belonging to a certain little blonde girl. Someone was leaning their head against her ankles, and recognized the black mop of hair that covered hyes.yes. They were all back.

She reached over and shook Usagi\'s foot to wake her. With a snort she woke up and sat up on the wooden floor. Rubbing her eyes, she looked around and tried to take in everything. \"Are we...are we back?\"

\"Looks that way.\" Raven nudged Mamoru to wake up. He did after a few blinks and sat up.

\"We\'re alive?\" he asked after clearing his throat. \"Was that...was that all a dream?\"

\"We couldn\'t dream the same thing,\" Usagi answered. \"Too real. Can feel it true, down here,\" she said as she pointed to her heart.

\"That means that Dwersis...\" Raven started.

\"Dwersis is dead,\" the girl finished.

After it finally dawned on them that their job was done, they all cried out in a loud cheer and gathered each other into a massive hug. They survived and won the freedom of the Earth and their friends. But something still bothered Raven in the back of her mind. Dwersis spoke a name before she was destroyed, and it wasn\'t the call to her dead goddess. She tried to call up something of the name, but it wouldn\'t come to her. After a while, she gave up.

Her mind was cleared when the phone rang. She freed herself from the two and answered it. \"Hello? Oh, hi. Yeah, we\'re all here.\" Now that got Usagi and Mamoru\'s attention. They knew who was on the other side. \"Talk? Yes, I think we have a lot to talk about...\" she said, choking out the last words out of fear. \"Yes, I\'ll be there as soon as I can. Room 234? Yeah, I\'ll be there.... Goodbye.\" Raven hung up the phone, leaning her hand on the receiver for a long moment.

She turned to the others, and saw the looks on their faces. \"You know who that was, right?\" They nodded with a sad look in their eyes. \"Well, it\'s time to face destiny.\" She grabbed a purse out of her closet and checked to see if her wallet was in it. Slinging it over her shoulder, she walked for the door. \"Don\'t wait up for me,\" she said as she disappeared around the corner.


To Be Continued....