"Blood Moon- Part 11"





Blood Moon- Part 11
by becca-oneechan
3/28/97

I'm not even going to open my mouth! Just... please don't flame me, 'kay? I know 
what I'm doing, really! Um, I think.... (Okay, you can flame me if you want -- 
but don't you have better things to be doing with your time?) ^_^
"Sailor Moon" is the property of Takeuchi Naoko.



--Blood Moon--

"Pt 11- Death Knell"
*becca-oneechan*



"Come on, guys! Let's go find the oth...er...s...."
Usagi and Kunzite finally broke their gaze as Sailor Jupiter's voice faded away 
into surprise, uncertainty, or something else entirely.
The others were approaching in a large group. Jadeite, in the front, was 
carrying something that looked like a mix between a cannon and a seltzer bottle, 
draped Rambo-like over his arms. He had changed his battered uniform for a loose 
white shirt, tight black pants, and a large leather vest with scarlet velvet 
trim. Something that bore a striking resemblance to a pistol hung in a dark 
holster over one slim hip. He looked weary, yet determined. Minako strode next 
to him, wearing a strange new outfit of black silk, her hair pulled back from 
her face. She looked both severe and delicate, the impression heightened by the 
scar that still marred her otherwise smooth brow, and the startled, almost 
fearful expression on her face. Her pale blue eyes were wide and glazed, her 
cheeks colorless. Sailor Mercury looked almost like her regular self, except 
that her eyes were as wide as Minako's, her face nearly as pale. The reason for 
the last was apparent in the two strangers accompanying the group.
"Hey! Who're--" 
"Luna, what did you do?" Usagi asked sternly, her voice low, but cutting easily 
through Sailor Jupiter's startled yelp.
The pale woman's face crumpled. 
"Oh, bloody hell...." Kunzite stared in disbelief at Artemis, who was doing his 
level best not to return the gaze. He turned to Luna, taking the sword from her 
shaking hands before she could drop it. She immediately hid her face in her slim 
hands, sobbing softly.
"Oh, way to go," Jadeite remarked in exasperation. "We only just got everyone 
calmed down."
Usagi ignored him, moving forward to stand before Luna. They were the same 
height, unusual as Usagi was easily the shortest person in the group. "Luna, 
why...?"
"It was to get this," Artemis answered, displaying the sword he held. "We-- To 
birth the Star Sword-- Well, when you call it forth-- Or- -"
"Let me," Kunzite said dryly, folding his arms. Artemis shot him a glance then 
flushed and looked down at the sword. Kunzite turned to explain to Usagi and the 
others. "The Star Sword can exist only when it is truly needed. But even when it 
is needed, there is a price to pay. To call it to physical form, a physical form 
must be sacrificed. Usually a living body."
"That's awful!" Sailor Mercury gasped.
Kunzite shook his head. "Not as bad as it sounds. You see, it must be a willing 
sacrifice. And it is only the body that is given up, not the soul. So, I guess 
as our friends here had two forms, they both gave up one half of themselves, 
equaling one body, and fulfilling the price. Am I right?"
Artemis, still a little flushed, was nodding soberly. "Hai. Queen Selene aided 
us in this endeavor. However, we didn't expect that the sword would take our 
feline forms. We were expecting to lose our human forms for all time."
"You lucked out then," Jadeite said, shifting his burden so that he could brush 
his bangs out of his eyes. Evidently his hair had grown a little while he had 
been trapped in the crystal death. It fell into his eyes and brushed the back of 
his vest.
"If you consider it luck," Artemis answered painfully.
"What do you mean?"
Kunzite came to Artemis's rescue, stepping forward. "Then I take it this is the 
Star Sword?"
Artemis grinned at the eager glow in the other man's pale eyes, slowly relaxing 
in Kunzite's presence. "You've been dying to get your hands on this for--"
"For ages. Literally. May I?"
Kunzite held out his hands and Artemis gave the sword into them, flushing as his 
fingers accidentally brushed Kunzite's. The king didn't notice though. He was 
immersed in intent study of the blade. "Perfect! Exquisite!"
Usagi shot him an amused, affectionate glance, then turned back to Luna, who was 
by now leaning against her shoulder, nearly worn to the end of her weeping. It 
was a bit difficult to comfort the small woman when one hand was holding a huge, 
deadly saber, but it was more Usagi's warm, understanding presence that calmed 
Luna than any physical contact. Eventually she raised her head and looked at 
Usagi. Really looked.
"Gods..." she breathed. 
Usagi chuckled. "They're always to blame, ne?"
"Princess Se-- Usagi, what have you done with yourself?"
Usagi's eyes crinkled in amusement. "I thought I asked *you* that question."
"My-- My changes are only outward, and Thany-- Kunzite has explained them. You-- 
You're--"
"I'm still me, Luna."
"You look like--" Luna hesitated. "Forgive me, Usagi, but you look like your 
mother."
Usagi cocked her golden head. "Why do you ask forgiveness? I don't mind." As 
Luna opened her mouth to speak, she shook her head. "I know you mean Queen 
Selene, not Mama. But I don't mind, really."
Minako came to stand beside Usagi, slipping her arm around her slim waist. 
"You've accepted it," she said softly, resting her head on Usagi's shoulder. 
"And I think you've grown up a little."
"Um," Usagi agreed, holding up the saber and gazing at the ruby set in the 
blade.
"So, are you still a virgin?" Minako whispered in her ear.
"Minako!!" Usagi cried in outrage, sounding more like her old self than she had 
up until then. Minako giggled and Luna relaxed, seeing at least a trace of her 
beloved charge in the strange new, self-assured person inhabiting Usagi's skin. 
Minako danced back as Usagi waved the saber menacingly. "Watch it, sister-dear," 
Usagi threatened, her menacing tone ruined by the fact that she was bubbling 
with irrepressible laughter herself. "I'm armed and dangerous!"
"I'll go that," Kunzite commented, not looking up from the Star Sword. "Too bad 
you're not talking about your mind." He glanced up, grinning. Usagi stuck her 
tongue out at him, then giggled.
"Be careful with that thing, Usagi-chan," Artemis said, moving to stand with 
Luna. "It can wound the wind, you know."
"I know, silly," Usagi replied amiably. "And I'll have you know I have complete 
control over it!"
"She does, you know," Kunzite put in. 
"Are we going to get about things?" Jadeite asked, more than slightly 
exasperated. "Why am I the only one who's focused?"
"Because you've always had a one-track mind!" Minako shot back.
"O-ho!" Sailor Jupiter said archly, raising a brow. Sailor Mercury blushed. 
Usagi giggled and Jadeite rolled his eyes. Minako gave her tall friend a hard 
look, then dissolved into laughter.
"Actually, it's because you're the only one here not going through a conflict in 
your inter-relationships," Kunzite told the other king. "And it's a good thing 
we have you with us, or this could go on all day."
"Yes. A little levity is healthy," Usagi added, taking back on her cloak of 
self-assurance and seriousness. She went back over to Kunzite and slid easily 
under his arm. "Especially after all that has happened. But we have a task to 
perform, and a friend to revenge."
This sobered the other three girls and the two former-cats immediately. 
"Hai," Jupiter growled. "Let's go send Metallia back to whatever hell-pit 
spawned her!!"
"Right!"
As they turned and began striding swiftly down the passage, suddenly fired with 
conviction, Kunzite unbelted the dagger that had killed Beryl and replaced it 
with the Star Sword. Then he turned, holding up the dagger.
"Who wants this?"
"Give it to Mercury," Sailor Jupiter suggested. "She needs a weapon."
"No!" Usagi, Minako, Kunzite, Luna, and Artemis all protested at once.
Sailor Jupiter's eyes widened. "Why not?"
Kunzite shook his head. "Ami-chan is the least affected by Usagi's bond to me. 
The knife would do her more damage than good."
"I'll take it," Artemis spoke up. "I'm already mean enough."
"You're a cream-puff," Kunzite grinned. "You always were...."
"Soft?" supplied Luna, with a wicked gleam in her dark eyes.
If looks could kill, she'd have been doubly impaled on the spot. Kunzite tossed 
Artemis the knife and turned back to the fore, putting an arm around Usagi's 
shoulders. Artemis made a great task of strapping on the knife, ignoring the 
knowing or confused looks the others were giving him.
"You're gonna pay for that one, kitty-cat," he muttered to Luna under his 
breath. 
She bit her lip, but grinned widely anyway. "Consider it revenge for all the 
information you've withheld from me, tomcat!" she whispered back.
He growled, but was relieved to see that his colleague was recovering her good 
humor.
* * *
Prince Endymion paced the front lines, youma diving out of his way at one 
glimpse of the set expression on his face and the fire in his eyes. He was 
furious. Actually, he was scared out of his wits, but that just made him even 
more furious. A youma stumbled before him and he fried her with a thought. Then 
he bitterly regretted it. Then he castigated himself for the regret. Then he was 
hurt by his own hardness. Then--
He was going mad! It was as though there were two people inside his head, 
battling to gain control over him, and he wasn't sure which one he wanted to 
win. 
And there was the problem of Queen Metallia. He knew she had done the 
intelligent thing sending him to the front of the army, but he wanted to stay by 
her side. What if she switched minds again and he wasn't there to protect the 
Mars-girl? It would take only one moment of weakness for one of the youma to 
grow bold enough to strike. Or, if the girl realized exactly what was going on, 
Endymion wouldn't put it past her to kill herself, destroying Metallia's new 
body. And why did part of him almost wish this would happen, thinking any price 
would be worth...? Worth what? Metallia was his ruler! He was supposed to keep 
her safe, not wish her vanquished! And yet, there was the niggling voice at the 
back of his head that told him the universe would be better of rid of her 
blighting presence.
And, to tell the truth, he wanted to speak more to the girl -- Rei- chan, his 
mind screamed, though he didn't know why -- to try to discover what it was he 
was on the border of knowing or remembering. He had thought he knew his purpose, 
knew who he was, but he was getting strange feelings and bizarre glimpses of 
another self, another life, previously unsuspected. He wanted, needed, to find 
the truth behind the fragments!
He cursed quietly to himself, wishing the senshi would hurry up and show. Once 
they were dead and gone, he could-- No! They mustn't die! Yes, they must! No!
"DAMN!!!" he howled, clutching his throbbing head. He must surely be going mad!
Finally he noticed the strange smell filled his nostrils. It was a bitter, acrid 
scent. He raised his head, blinking eyes that suddenly burned and stung. 
There was a dark fog, so thin as to barely be detectable, flowing through the 
ranks of youma surrounding him. As he watched in detached shock, the youma 
began... dissolving. Their features blurred and ran, then they faded away to a 
mist and whimper, then to nothing. Even the wall of bodies, stacked a dozen 
high, disappeared. Soon he would be standing on an empty plain, the ranks of 
youma that had stood so closely together gone, as though they had never existed.
Prince Endymion coughed, and coughed harder, his eyes watering. Whatever was 
destroying the youma couldn't kill him, but it certainly wasn't healthy! He 
warped back to Queen Metallia's throne, struggling to catch his breath so that 
he could stammer out a report. But the stone seat was empty.
* * *
"Are you sure this isn't dangerous?" Sailor Jupiter asked for the third time, 
looking warily at the dark mist that swirled and bellowed before the group.
With remarkable patience, Jadeite explained it again. "No, it's not, Lady 
Jupiter. The youma are of a much more primitive make-up than we are, and so the 
formula which destroyed them is only mildly irritating to us. As long as we wait 
for the worst to disperse, and stay away from any denser areas or puddles of it 
we will be fine."
"Okay...." She wasn't sure she quite trusted Jadeite yet, even for Minako's 
sake, but Ami-chan had backed his claim, and, after all, he was ready to venture 
forth himself, so it must be okay. It was just that, seeing those youma dissolve 
like that.... She shuddered.
Suddenly Usagi's arm was warm about her waist as the other girl gave her a quick 
but tight hug. "Pretty nasty, ne, Mako-chan?" she asked, her soft voice gentle 
with sympathy.
Makoto smiled tremulously at her. She still wasn't used to this change in her 
little friend. She liked it, but it was unnerving. Before it probably would have 
been her trying to calm Usagi. Now, roles were reversed, and it was more than a 
bit strange. 
"What a way to go," she answered, shuddering again. "I mean, as gory and painful 
as it gets, at least when you die in battle...."
Usagi nodded her golden head. "I know. But there were too many of them for us to 
do anything else." She sighed heavily. "War is ugly at the best of times, but 
somehow it's even worse when you don't give the enemy a fair chance."
Mako realized that was what had been bothering her the whole time. It wasn't 
really the way the youma had died, for Jadeite had assured them it was quick and 
painless. It was the fact that there had been no warning for the creatures. As 
hideous and rapacious as they had been, they should have had a chance to fight 
to keep their lives.
"Come on. It's safe now, and we have to keep moving, so we don't lose the 
element of surprise."
They followed Jadeite across the empty stone floor. The stuff he had used was 
bitter in their noses and made their eyes burn a little, but it didn't seem to 
harm them otherwise. As he had said. 
They were in the cavern which had housed Queen Metallia's prison, and it was 
easily the largest open area in the whole of the Dark Kingdom. The walls were so 
far apart and the ceiling so high, that it was easy to forget they were inside a 
cave at all. It seemed as though they walked over an empty plain at twilight. 
What little light there was was dull and blue-tinted. They had to rely on this, 
however, for no one dared risk giving their existence and position away with a 
gold beam or blue flames. 
They made their way forward, until they could just barely see the next rank of 
youma warriors in the distance. Jadeite sent a wash of dark death in their 
direction, helped along by a small wind created by Ami. Then he frowned and 
shook the bottle. 
"Well, that's it," he said, dropping the devise and rubbing his aching arms. 
"We've managed to take out most of the army, but after this lot goes, any that 
are left will have to be killed by power or blade."
"Good!" Mako muttered. 
"We can handle them," Minako said cheerfully.
"Um..." Artemis put his hand on the handle of the knife at his side, frowning at 
Luna.
Usagi went to stand with Kunzite, tucking herself easily under his arm. "*How do 
we destroy Metallia?*"
He glanced at her, startled, but she was gazing soberly at the crimson ruby set 
in the black blade. The saber was truly outsized, being at least ten inches 
across at its widest point, and almost as long as Usagi was tall, but she held 
it with perfect ease, and her wrist wasn't even taut. Evidently the blade knew 
its master -- or, in this case, mistress.
"*I-- We-- Um....*"
She glanced up, grinning slightly, though her eyes were dark and flat. "*Please 
don't tell me you don't know! I'd as soon have not gone through all the trouble 
of getting this thing for nothing. And think of what Luna and Artemis gave up!*"
"*No, I know what we have to do. I just can't put it into words.*"
She gave him an exasperated look. "*Since when do we need words?*"
He flushed. "*Oops! You're right.*"
"Hey, snap out of it!" Jadeite was standing before them, his hands on his hips. 
"No time for romance, you two. We gotta get moving!"
"Screw you, Jade!" Kunzite remarked inelegantly.
Usagi pulled a face. "You're one to talk, 'Ares-sama'!"
Minako giggled and joined her man. Behind them, Artemis flinched. Usagi sent him 
an apologetic glance, then spoke further. "But you're right. We need to get 
moving. If we wait for the battle to come to us, we lose our advantage. This is 
one time where being on the offensive is safer
"Usagi, the Grand General," Mako chuckled, sweeping her a low bow. "All right! 
Let's go kick some youma butt! A clean fight at last!"
"*Kunzite?*" Usagi queried, as the group set off at a brisk pace, following the 
last of Jadeite's poison.
"*Right.*" As he shared the course of action they must take with her, her face 
grew bleaker and bleaker. 
"Oh, shit...." she sighed.
* * *
"Shit, shit, shit!!"
Prince Endymion was growing increasingly frantic. He couldn't find the queen 
anywhere. He'd checked the tent, scanned the lines of youma within sight, and 
was rapidly running out of options.
Then, suddenly, a thought struck him. The throne was not flush against the wall. 
Perhaps.... It was a crazy notion, but he was desperate.
He peered around the back of the large stone monstrosity. There was a space just 
large enough to hold a small body. And the girl who gazed up at him with wide 
dark eyes in a tear-streaked face was certainly small enough to fit.
"Mamo-chan?"
He smiled reassuringly, and this time he truly meant it. "Hullo, Rei- chan. 
Isn't it a little cramped back here?" He still didn't know why he called her by 
that name, but it just seemed *right*. And he could not help himself treating 
her kindly. There was nothing else he could do. And... really, he *wanted* to.
She stared at him, not sure whether she could trust him or not. He stifled a 
wince. He didn't blame her. After all, it was his fault she was in the mess she 
was in.
"Who's-- Who's in my head?" she asked, her voice quivering with repressed fear.
"Shit." He sighed and slumped heavily against the side of the throne, his 
shoulder guard ringing against the stone. 
"Is it.... It's....."
"It's Metallia."
She seemed to have been expecting this answer, but it still struck her like a 
physical blow. She let out a sharp little cry and wrapped her arms about 
herself, tears flowing hot and fast down her cheeks. "Mamo-chan...."
He heard the utter terror and desolation in her voice, and it pierced him to the 
heart. Without thinking, he slipped sideways into the cubbyhole with her, and 
wrapped one arm -- which was all he could manage in such cramped quarters -- 
around her shaking body. She bit her lip until it bled, keeping herself from 
losing control by a sheer force of will.
"Rei-chan, I need your help!" he said urgently, praying with all his might that 
Queen Metallia would not return before he had found out what he needed to know.
"Wh-what is it?" she quavered.
"Who am I?" he asked desperately.
She looked at him with dark eyes. "Oh, Mamo-chan," she sighed, reaching up to 
stroke the side of his face. "So, you're not lost to us entirely."
"What do you mean?"
"I--" She drew in a deep breath, which caused their breastplates to ring 
together. "It's a long story, Mamo-chan. It began ages ago, in a bright and 
glorious kingdom on the Moon...."
* * *
"What in the bloody hell is Lord-master Endymion-sama doing?"
The youma, who possessed long yellow-white hair -- if something formed of fibers 
so thin that they could slice through flesh with one touch could be called hair 
-- pale blue-white flesh, and wide, silver- blank eyes, looked up from 
sharpening her right hand, which was formed into a slim stiletto.
"Ne, Regal-sama?"
The tall, heavily armored man shook his head and flicked a hand in her 
direction. She flinched, but it had been a gesture only, nothing backed with 
power. He turned burning yellow eyes in her direction, but didn't truly *look* 
at her. "Speaking to myself," he growled. "After all, there isn't anyone else 
around!"
The youma accepted this set-down without offense. After all, she was lucky she 
wasn't dead. Regal had a reputation for lightning-quick temper that was 
well-earned.
"I mean, first he comes back from the front lines, in obvious distress, but does 
he give a report? No! He's having too much fun wallowing around behind the 
throne!"
The youma watched in fearful silence as the tall man paced. As one of the only 
humans in the Dark Kingdom, he was accorded great prestige. Not that the power 
he wielded in quick and ready hands hurt any either. While some wondered at his 
slitted yellow eyes and coppery skin, topped off with an unruly thatch of pure 
white hair, no one dared suggest his lineage was anything but pure. Not and 
continue living, that was. And there were things worse than death, as Regal had 
proved several times. He was an expert at pain -- causing it -- and had spent 
many centuries honing this skill.
"And where did her majesty go? She ought to be putting that little bastard in 
his place! Instead, she's gone missing on the eve of battle! She must surely 
have a reason," he added this last out of tact, for one never knew when a Dark 
Kingdom ruler might be listening in, and there were spies and tale-bearers 
everywhere. However, tact only carried so far. "But she should have let us know 
where she was going, so that we could report to her!" It was instant death to 
dare to question Metallia, but Regal was too angry to keep his mouth shut, or 
his thoughts to himself. "I mean, what are we supposed to do; report to that 
popinjay prince? I think not!"
He tossed his pale mop haughtily. Then he looked over in surprise as a youma 
pounded up, her metallic-green hair standing out about her head, her orange eyes 
huge with fear.
"My Lord! Regal-sama! Something awful has happened!!"
* * *
"I have--" 
"A bad feeling about this?" Mako suggested when Artemis broke off.
He didn't reply, his crystal blue eyes wide as he looked cautiously around. Luna 
seemed to have adapted to her human form completely, though she moved with a 
quiet grace the other females in the group could only envy, but Artemis still 
retained many of his former mannerisms. He looked around now in a choppy, 
anxious way that was so feline Mako was almost surprised not to see whiskers 
sprouting from his face. 
"He's right," Jadeite added tightly. "We're supposed to be taking them by 
surprise, but we should have run into some opposition by now. As brainless as 
the youma are, even they should notice when the regiment next to theirs 
dissolves!"
Minako frowned. "You're right."
"There's something wrong," Kunzite said, frowning. He clasped his hand about the 
handle of the Star Sword, but it didn't seem to offer him any comfort. "There's 
something very, very wrong."
"Well, what can we do but keep going o--" Mako began, before being very rudely 
interrupted.
A loud bang and a bright flash before the group preceded a blast of hot, foul 
wind that knocked Ami and Luna to the ground and rocked the others. Ami looked 
up into the air directly before and above them, and let out one of the loudest 
screams any of the others had ever heard.
"Bloody-hoppin-blue-blazes-goddamn-shit-fuck-it-to-bloody-freakin- HELL!!!" Mako 
belted out, staring upwards.
"SHIT!!" Jadeite commented, yelling over the roar of the wind. "Kunzite, it's--"
"I know!!" Kunzite yelled back, snarling in fury, his eyes narrowed to blazing 
slits. "Regal!!!"
The others simply stared at the apparition hovering above them.
The first thing that most of them noticed had to be the huge beast with a 
wingspan of over twenty feet, a long, naked neck, and a foul, heavy body. It 
looked like an unimaginable cross between a vulture, a giant lizard, and a rabid 
rat, combining the ugliest and most deadly features of each of these creatures, 
and adding a few of its own. It glared down at them with blazing red eyes that 
were inordinately small in its swollen, misshapen head, and opened its wide maw 
to let out a painfully shrill shriek. Its jaws were hard and horny, looking 
almost like a curved beak, but its mouth was lined with row upon row of sharp 
ivory fangs. It stank of death and decay.
However, Kunzite, Jadeite, and Usagi completely ignored the monster and gazed 
fixedly up at the man who half stood, half sat atop it. He was small in 
comparison to his steed, but his white shock of hair and burning yellow eyes 
were easily distinguishable. He wore full armor of bright scarlet trimmed in 
black, and a yellow cloak flapped over his broad shoulders. In his hands he bore 
a long black spear, formed of crystal and crackling with power.
"Greetings, traitors," the man said, his deep, sneering voice magnified by 
arcane sources into something quite menacing. 
"Hello, Reggie!" Jadeite shouted easily, his hair whipping in the wind. "Does 
Metallia know you slipped the leash?"
"Don't call me that!" the man screeched, losing his temper quite completely, 
along with much of his studied menace. He pointed the spear he held, releasing a 
bolt of yellow lightning at the king on the ground.
Jadeite blocked it easily with a shield. "Time hasn't improved your temperament 
any!" he comment jeeringly. "Or your aim!"
"Be silent!" Regal sent another bolt.
As Jadeite continued baiting the other man, he waved a hand frantically behind 
his back. Minako took the hint, and while she was loath to leave his side, she 
scooted over to where Mako was helping Ami to her feet. The dark-haired senshi 
seemed petrified with fear -- it was probably a phobia of some sort, Minako 
thought, because Ami wasn't anything like a coward normally -- but Mako was 
ready and eager. As Jadeite continued to taunt Regal and the furious man sent 
bolt after bolt into his shields, the two girls readied their attacks.
"Hurry!" Kunzite urged them, as Jadeite began to grow pale, sweat beading his 
brow. "I'm saving my strength to fight Regal, I can't help Jade!"
"Right!"
Together the girls sent a sparkling lance of ki-power streaking straight toward 
the enemy. Even if he had seen it before it was too late, Regal could not have 
deflected it. He flung himself off the monster's back as the bolt of raw power 
speared it through the breast, going all the way through. The beam shattered 
against the far away ceiling. The beast shattered on the floor, dispersing into 
a wave of hideously foul air and a few tattered feathers. Regal hit the ground 
heavily, but rolled immediately to his feet. Which was pretty impressive, 
considering the weight and bulk of his armor.
As the others choked and gagged, struggling not to throw up, Kunzite stood tall, 
his hands at his sides, his eyes narrowed as he stared at Regal with pure 
hatred. Regal stared back, his expression much the same.
"So...." Regal hissed.
"This time it's fair," Kunzite snarled.
"Fair? You call eight against one fair?"
Kunzite laughed humorlessly. "Oh, no. Though I seem to recall thinking twenty 
against one weren't the best of odds either. No, this is between you and me. I 
fight you alone."
Regal narrowed his yellow eyes. "Field of Combat, single weapon?"
"Hai!"
"Very well. You chose the format. I choose the weapon. Magic. And no one 
interrupts until the victor triumphs, and you die."
Kunzite sneered. "I don't plan on dying at your hand, baka half- breed. But I 
agree."
Regal, with what was for him a great amount of self-control, ignored the last 
crack. He thrust his spear deeply into the floor of the cavern. Kunzite 
unstrapped his sword and gave it into Artemis's hands without ever glancing away 
from Regal. Then he and Regal paced several feet away from the others, carefully 
watching each other the whole time.
"What are they doing?" Mako asked Jadeite anxiously. Usagi stood alone, watching 
calmly.
"Field of Combat," Jadeite answered absently as the two men faced off, and a 
large half sphere of transparent energy sprang into being around and above them. 
"They fight in there, using only magic, and the first one to die loses. The 
barrier keeps anyone from interfering. It will only fall of one of them is 
killed or wounded badly enough that he can't hold up his end. And if that 
happens, then he's too weak to stop his opponent from finishing the job. Damn. I 
sure hope Kunzite knows what he's doing. Regal's always been too powerful for 
his own good, and he's cunning."
"Oh, jeeze..." Mako moaned. "I have a bad feeling about this!"
* * *
Prince Endymion's head was spinning, and he wasn't sure what to think or 
believe, but he had enough sense to coax Rei out from behind the throne and into 
the hard seat. The girl was weary and emotion- torn, and she was about to lose 
her rigid control.
The eyes flickered, then blazed red. Endymion quickly knelt before her, bowing 
his head. Just in time!
"My queen," Endymion began, not at all certain of what he was going to say, but 
Metallia suddenly leapt to her feet, her expression a mixture of rage and 
triumph.
"The fools!" she howled, then disappeared away in a fiery warp.
"What the hell--?"
* * *
The battle seemed to be almost a draw. Both combatants were of equal power and 
will, and though both had been wounded, neither was even close to getting in a 
really damaging blow. The others watched fearfully, except Artemis, who 
exhibited no concern, and Ami, who had recovered and was now monitoring the 
fight on her computer, giving the others a play by play account of things they 
couldn't see.
"Oh! Kunzite's taken a blow to the shoulder! Just a bruise, nothing serious. Ah! 
A slice above the brow for Regal! That will adversely affect his eyesight. And 
now-- Oh, SHIT!!!!"
No one even noticed Ami's outburst, for they had seen the same thing her 
computer had picked up, and were all uttering their own curses.
Bending swiftly, Regal had pulled a slim white blade from his shin guard. With a 
flick of his wrist, he sent it winging toward Kunzite. The king was not 
expecting a physical attack, for they had agreed to single weapon form. The 
knife embedded itself deeply in his upper chest.
As he staggered to his knees in disbelief, a crimson stain spreading through the 
front of his uniform, the barrier disappeared and Regal stepped toward him, 
ready and eager to finish the job.
There was a tremendous crack, that echoed through the whole of the huge cavern. 
Regal froze and swayed, looking down in amazement at the ruins that had been his 
left arm. Jadeite swore and reaimed his pistol as Regal turned to look at him in 
shock. This time the bullet caught him square between the eyes, and he toppled 
without a sound.
"Usagi, quick!" Luna urged. "If you can get the ginzuishou to Kunzite--"
Usagi was already on her way, had moved before Jadeite had fired his first shot. 
But before she could reach the fallen man, there was yet another flash, and a 
swirl of red flames in the air over Kunzite's prone body. A newcomer appeared 
abruptly.
"Rei?!" Mako gasped.
"Metallia!!" Usagi snarled, brandishing her saber, her eyes flashing.
Queen Metallia tossed Rei's head and laughed mockingly. "So, you have finally 
come to join with me in glorious battle! But I shall not make it so easy on you! 
And I have a traitor to take care of first!"
She raised her slim arms and effortlessly send forth a huge blast of burning, 
searing power. Everyone cried out in pain and fell to floor. Ami and Luna lost 
consciousness. Usagi, however, remained on her feet. She held the moon stick 
before her in her left hand, the ginzuishou blazing bright gold.
"Pretty trick," Queen Metallia sneered. Before Usagi could move toward her 
again, Regal's spear suddenly appeared in her hand.
"And now a fitting end for a traitor to his realm," she laughed, raising the 
weapon.
"NO!" screamed Usagi, diving forward.
With a determined thrust, Metallia drove the spear through Kunzite's heart.
End Part 11