Life's Lessons
A Sailor Moon fanfic
By Kristin Renee Taylor



Chapter 22 -

Kiyomi had it all: sun, surf, plenty of new friends. A nicely developing tan. Thanks to her near-constant swimming, she was in better shape than when she had skated. And, with help from Shouji, she was even beginning to get the knack of that sailing thing.

Her life was finally beginning to return to some semblance of normality. She was peaceful. She was calm. She was happy.

"Argh! Why the heck am I so bored?" she shouted at the sky.

From the other end of the boat came a chuckle.

Kiyomi sat up. "Are you laughing at me?"

Shouji's teeth flashed bright white in the depths of his goatee. "Of course not."

"Well, you should be," she said sulkily. She flopped onto her stomach, watching the sunset. "I'm bored and I'm worried about Terri. It's been over a week, you don't think she's in trouble, do you?"

Shouji shrugged. "Don't know."

"Whaddya mean you don't know? Why don't you know?"

He shrugged again. "I'm not a superhero, Kiyomi. I don't have psychic powers."

"Well, I do!" Kiyomi shot to her feet, setting the boat to rocking and nearly pitching them both into the water. "I'm going to figure out what she's up to." She pressed her fingers to her temples and concentrated, humming loudly.

Five minutes later, when the only thing Kiyomi had managed was to give herself a headache, she gave up and sat down with a frustrated sigh. "This sucks. I hate not knowing what's going on." She lifted her face to the sun and screamed. "I WANT TV!"

Shouji wisely decided not to say a word.

"Sailor Moon!"

Eternal Sailor Moon collapsed, her fuku dissolving into countless pink ribbons that fluttered around her body. A second flash, fainter than the first, and she lay on the ground in the same street clothes she had been wearing earlier.

Standing over her body, Jake stared at the brooch. He almost looked surprised at what he had done.

I clambered to my feet. "Jake!"

His head snapped up. He turned, barely deflected Jupiter's attack as she and Mars leaped onto the platform, death in their eyes. Jake formed a sword in his free hand, and, backing away, shrieked, "Terri! Stop them!"

I acted without thought, trapping Jupiter in bands of black power. She fell, struggling and cursing.

"Shine Aqua Illusion!" I spun, spotted Mercury behind me. I gestured sharply, and her attack swerved off course, towards Mars, who abandoned her Flame Sniper to dive out of the way. Jake's youma rose from the rock, grabbing them both and holding them immobile.

Jake stopped cowering. Standing, regaining his usual composure, he sneered at the three Senshi. "Pathetic. So pathetic! How did I ever lose to you guys?" He laughed, giddily, and danced in place. "They all got killed, but I won! I beat the Senshi! I beat the Sailor Senshi!"

Mars shouted. "You haven't beaten us, Jedite."

Jake froze in mid-caper. He turned. "Excuse me?" He brandished the brooch. "Have you forgotten that I've got the Silver Crystal? And that all of you are powerless? Huh?"

"Not all of us," Jupiter said, looking at me. I must have gasped, because Jake looked at me as well. He sniggered. "Her? She's just a tool. She won't do anything unless I say so."

"She isn't a tool," Mercury said. "She's a human being, and she can make her own decisions."

I stared at Mercury, surprised. They were defending me. I had tried to kill them, and they were defending me!

Jake was laughing. "Human? Human? She's no more human than those brainless youma holding you, and I fully intend to dispose of her once her job is finished."

Mars was outraged. "You're gonna kill your own sister?! You sick son of a-"

Jake lifted his hands. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry! Sheesh. I won't kill Terri, all right?" He turned towards me. "You hear that, Terri? I'm sorry." The sword became a spear and he sneered. "Sorry I ever used such a defective product!" And in a single smooth motion he flung the spear at me.

With a wordless cry, I stumbled, tripped, and fell backwards. Threw my arms in a futile gesture.

Felt blood hit me.

Slowly, I opened my eyes, lowered my hands. And gasped.

Face twisted in pain, she stood over me, the point of spear protruding just beneath her ribcage. "Tsukino-san!" I caught her as she collapsed to her knees. "Tsukino-san! Why?"

She smiled at me. "Nobody can make you do anything... that you don't want to do." Her eyes closed briefly, then opened. "And I told you that... everything... would be... all... right." Horrified, I watched as she closed her eyes again-

And didn't open them.

She was still smiling.

On the other side of the door, unaware of what was going on, Venus paced Serenity's elaborately furnished sitting room and fumed. Humiliating Herself was one thing, but being humiliated in front of an audience...

She glared at the doors that led to Serenity's rooms, where Saturn stood, emotionless gaze following Venus' every movement. Saturn had actually smiled when Serenity had thrown Her against the wall. As if She wanted Venus dead. Venus clenched Her hands. What I would give to be able wipe that smile off Her face!

"That is it," Venus said angrily, and stalked over to Saturn. "Let Me in. I want to know what is going on in there!" Saturn regarded Venus in silence, but it was Uranus that spoke. "Be patient, Venus. Queen Serenity will tell Us when She wants Us to know."

"But, I want to know now," Venus retorted, turning to look at Uranus, who lay on a couch with Her head in Neptune's lap. The two partners shared a look, and Neptune murmured, "With an attitude like that-"

"It is no wonder the Inners were defeated," Uranus finished. And They both smiled condescendingly at the now-livid Venus. Only Pluto's abrupt arrival stopped Venus from immediately attacking Them.

Pluto swept Her gaze across the room. "What is the Queen doing?"

Neptune shrugged marginally. "We do not know. She would not tell Us."

Pluto frowned at Saturn, who remained silent. Venus said, "Where is Jupiter?"

"Dead," Pluto said, and Venus gasped. "Dead? How? The child is here, and-" A scream rent the air, followed by an explosion of power that knocked Venus to Her knees and rocked the entire room. It lasted barely more than a second, but to Venus it felt considerably longer. When it was over, She stood, bracing Herself on a wall, and saw Pluto doing the same. Uranus and Neptune were both on Their feet, looking around. Saturn, of course, hadn't moved a bit.

Dust drifted from the ceiling onto Venus' head. She coughed. "What... What just happened?"

"A sudden backlash of magic," Neptune said. She looked at Pluto. "So much power... Was it the girl?" Pluto nodded and Uranus said, "Should We check on the Queen?"

Brushing off Her shoulders, Pluto said, "I do not know what Terri is capable of, but I can guess that the Queen is fine. Otherwise, We would have felt it." She looked at the others and a ghost of a smile appeared. "But, I do know this: Our Queen is succeeding in Her task."

Venus looked at the doors, unconsciously biting Her lower lip. She didn't know why, but Pluto's words made Her very afraid.

Jake was giggling.

I couldn't look at him. All I could do was stare in a sort of horrified daze at the body I held, at the serene face of the woman that had been Tsukino Usagi, Eternal Sailor Moon. Tsukino-san...

The woman that had just died to save my life. Eternal no more.

Jake’s laughter suddenly broke off. "Eh? What the heck’s wrong with this-" He screamed in pain, and, jolted out of my stupor, I looked up. Jake’s left hand, the hand holding the brooch, was on fire. White flames wreathed up his arm, fell to the ground like rain. And, even though I could smell it burning, his arm remained unconsumed.

Jake shook his hand furiously, trying to put out the fire, to drop the brooch, to do anything, but nothing happened. His hand remained fused to the brooch, and screams became shrieks of agony. Jake fell to his knees, pounding his fist into the rock.

Suddenly, Jupiter blocked my vision. She had to shout to be heard over Jake. "Ami-chan said the volcano’s erupting! We’ve got to get out of here!" Carefully, she lifted Usagi’s body from my arms.

Still numb, I could only nod and watch as Jupiter stood. I rose, started to follow to where Mercury and Mars stood, Venus supported between them.

Jake grabbed my arm. Spun me around. Shrieked. "I won’t be alone!" And slammed his burning fist straight into my chest.

There was a sickening crunch.

I don’t remember screaming. All I remember was the excruciating pain as fire lanced through my veins. Jake’s booming laugh. Mars’ Flame Sniper.

And then all of it faded to nothing.

It was Saturn’s movement that alerted Them. Without any warning, the Senshi of Silence moved, walking from Her position in front of the doors to where the others now stood. She faced the doors, bowed once, and again became as immobile as a statue.

The double doors opened.

Venus hastily dropped to one knee, with Uranus and Neptune following suit, but more leisurely. Standing behind all of Them, Pluto gripped Her staff tightly and wondered, not for the first time, if the path She had chosen was the correct path.

It was the power She felt first; the same unconstrained, churning storm of magic that always signified Serenity’s presence. It was almost tangible, and as it filled the room Pluto held Her breath, doing nothing to draw its attention to Her. But, it was Terri that stepped out, arms folded in a posture of arrogance and sneering contempt. She surveyed the arrayed Senshi. "It is done." Serenity’s voice came from the woman’s mouth.

Venus jerked in surprise and looked up. "Highness?"

"Venus," Serenity said. Her voice, though soft, rumbled the walls of the room. She smiled sweetly. "I should thank You for Your role in bringing Me this marvelous body." Slightly sharper, "However… there is the little matter of why this body was injured."

For an instant, Venus crouched, looking very much like a trapped animal. Then, she stood. "Highness, I can explain-"

Serenity lifted a finger. "No need."

And the power constricted, focused on Venus. The startled Senshi screamed once, raggedly, as Her entire body spasmed, arched backwards. There was a sharp crack. And then She was gone.

Uranus and Neptune were standing. Both were pale, staring at the place Venus had been. Pluto held Her staff so tightly She threatened to snap it.

Serenity sighed in satisfaction. "I have wanted to do that for centuries." She let Her gaze roam across the remaining Senshi. "And, now that She is gone, I can tie up My other loose end." And She moved to stand in front of Pluto. "And, I believe that concerns You, Pluto." Her eyes narrowed. "Doesn’t it?"

Pluto burst into motion, swinging the staff in a perfect two-handed arc straight at Serenity’s head in a blow guaranteed to shatter bone.

Serenity arched an eyebrow. Pluto’s body froze, paralyzed, and the Garnet Orb halted an inch from Serenity’s face. The orb sprang to life, and a shower of red sparks fell between Them.

The others started forward. Serenity held up a hand to stop Them, and regarded Pluto through the rain of light. "You’ve been planning this for a very long time, haven’t you, Pluto? Using both Descendants and Senshi in Your ingenious little plot to make Me commit to a permanent body, Terri’s body, so You could kill Me." She smiled. "Now, why would You go through all that trouble? Power? Certainly not. Money is no longer a factor." She shook Her head. "I just cannot guess Your motive. Why don’t You enlighten Me?"

Body trembling, Pluto hissed through gritted teeth. "You are not supposed to exist."

"I’m not?" Serenity said in mock-surprise. "Well, that is certainly odd, because, You see, the Senshi exist. So, why shouldn’t I?" She gasped. "Oh, could it be that You think that I’m some sort of accident? An aberration created by the Silver Crystal and some few stray thoughts? Could that possibly be it? Hm?" She laughed. "Well, I have a surprise for you, my dear Pluto." She leaned closer, past the Orb, and whispered in Pluto’s ear. "Only a Queen can sire a Queen. Understand?"

Pluto’s sudden, sharp inhalation told Serenity that Pluto did understand.

Serenity patted Pluto’s cheek and pulled away. "Good girl." Stepping back, She released Pluto.

Pluto caught her aborted swing, stared wide-eyed at Serenity. Holding Her staff to Her chest, shaking from the raw fear surging through Her, She turned at the others, met Saturn’s eyes.

Serenity folded Her arms. "Better run."

Pluto obeyed.

Uranus said, "Shall We pursue Her, Highness?"

Serenity stretched languorously. "There’s no need to. I know where She is going." She faced Them. "Saturn."

Saturn bowed and vanished.

Neptune said, "What shall We do now, Highness?"

"Now?" Examining Herself, Serenity smiled. She said, "Now, the Sailor Wars have truly begun."