Ah, only one more after this... I hope you enjoy. ___________________ Unwelcomed Return Chapter 6 by: Destiny Rated: PG/PG13 ___________________ Mamoru~ What is wrong with me? Why can't I be up there, fighting beside my Usako? The answer is simple, but I won't accept that I've been defeated. Can't accept that with my legs broken, and an open gash across my chest I'm utterly useless. Useless. It stings, this realization. My world, my love, my earth... everything has been taken away by the enemy. Everything I've ever loved, or tried to protect, is being overrun. How could I let them come so far? How is it this enemy, who was so seemingly easily defeated once, could match every single one of our tactical moves? Every plan - they were always one step ahead. When we tried to be two steps ahead of their one - they would jump to three. They fought well, but even as a warrior there is no respect in my heart for this twisted being. No respect, no nothing. They murder the innocent, many in fact, they've taken down our team, and they've ripped apart Usagi, inside, more than they could ever fathom. My daughter, my love, my comrades. We've failed to protect her. I know many times before I've regretted not doing my job to it's fullest potential - but this time - this time I tried, and I fought, and I put every ounce of myself into this battle. And in the end? What good am I. Why is it Usagi must always be the strongest? Strong, and alone. Without me by her side - hell she fights with MY sword! Shouldn't it be up there? Fighting to protect HER? This is always how it happens, I suppose I should be used to it now. But just this once, I hoped I really could prove to her - show her how much she means to me. I know Usagi couldn't care less what little things I could do now to 'prove' my love. Her heart is so big, she doesn't need any of that. But she does need me. And where am I? I know ... she knows I am not dead yet. But I can't say for sure if I am even conscious. What am I then? I can hardly even communicate with her. With her focus so entirely set on our enemy - I can barely reach through her barrier. Tears. How pitiful. I call myself a man? A prince, to defend the princess of the moon? Dare I truly call myself that, any longer? This failure is so entirely set, so deep in my heart now that I wonder if I live, could I pull out of it? Could I ever look Usako in the face, worthy of the smile, and the love I know she would offer at a glance? I don't feel this physical pain, not in my motionless, twisted legs. Not from the blood that is just now slowing as it seeps from my chest. No... I can only feel the agony of defeat, and of failure. Self-pity? You can bet on it. But not only that. How could I ever explain to you what I am feeling now? How could I ever make you see - what this is to me? What it is to all of us? I couldn't. I couldn't begin to even make some sorry attempt to tell you exactly what I feel right now. Why self pity? Because I have failed, and it is all my fault she stands alone, as she has time and time again. The complete, and utter unfairness of it all makes me sick. What vile creature could ever contempt my Usako with such a fate? Trick her time and time again into happiness - only to take it away? The same fate that punishes me now, I suppose. Ah fates... you lied to us! You lied to me, you lied to them - you've tricked us all! Where is our happy ending now? Why is it no longer written that I should hold my Usako's hand as we jog, smiling and laughing, down the aisle? Was it ever written at all? Why is it denied of us now? Why this time? I can feel Chibi-Usa is gone now. Is this a sign I too, am going to fade away in death? A sure sign, that I will not survive this battle? My daughter... and here I am. Choking on a mixture of my own tears, and blood. Yet I am forced to live, to watch - to see everything happen. I feel like a young boy again. Why am I being punished? ~~~~~~~~ "Quickly!" I screamed, rushing to Usagi's side as I saw Pluto go down, "Grab the staff Venus!!" She was quick to react, but Setsuna, even in her death, would never let the staff go. I knew then it would do us no good anyway. I scanned the room, what I could see of it, from Usagi's side. Saturn, Neptune, Venus, Chibi-Usa. Was this truly all we had left? And still - hundreds of swordsmen swarmed around us! How could this be? As Usagi's crystal few out once more, as it had randomly throughout this entire battle, I watched a row fall down, and gave myself the luxury of taking a short moment to glance at The Dark Knight. In all his smugness, something gripped tightly in his hands.. what was it? I was careful not to travel far from Usako - but I moved a few steps forward, what was he holding? I could see a blue orb flashing on the staff held in his other palm, could that be the source? I drew a rose, readied for aim, but froze in spot. The squirming figure still in The Dark Knights grasp drew my attention once more, and this time I knew precisely what it was. A flash of pink, two... bunned pigtails... Chibi-Usa. Forgetting myself, I ran at the greatest speed I could muster, away from Usako - silent, swift, but too late. My heart shattered as the knight's staff ripped through my little girl.. my Chibi-Usa, followed by a blast that sent her screaming and flailing through the air far into the darkness. Rage burned so heavily in my blood I could not contain myself. The Golden Crystal shifted into my hands, surprising me, though I was slightly distracted at the time, and a heavy beam headed towards the Knight, catching him off guard. I smiled as he went down - the orb atop his staff shattering, and falling silently to the dark ground. And their numbers started dying down as we destroyed the masked swordsmen. Several had found me after their master had taken a hit, but I had no trouble with them. But even after the last of them began disappearing - I noticed our numbers too, had dwindled. Well, I suppose completely dropped, would be more appropriate and to the fact. I saw only Usako, beating off the last of the vicious youma like beings. "Usako.." I whispered, my very voice deep and withdrawn. Usagi looked at me, a look that could tell me easily without words she knew our little girl was killed. But what could I do? What could I possibly say to make her heart any less broken than my own? I was thinking, thinking hard of anything, any mental words of comfort or feeling I could send her, yet my mind for the first time in a long while left me completely blank. She broke the silence then, I could tell she was beyond tired, worn from this never ending battle. "Is... is he?" "I think so... but we need to check. Keep on your guard love, he should be very weakened by my blast..." I croaked. How could I stay brave for her now? I had hope lingering still in my chest, some small prayer that if The Dark Knight was now dead - we had won, and Usagi could somehow call the crystal and everything could be fixed. Put back to normal, as it always had before... And everything seemed to move into slow motion. I heard her quiet gasp from across the corridor as I'd begun to turn to look down upon the fallen masked figure. 'Faster than a speeding bullet' I thought ironically to myself as I felt my legs break under me with the pressure from whatever power it was the Dark Knight sent at me. I pulled my sword even as I fell painfully to the ground and across the evil man's sword. Blood fell freely from my chest as I weakly flailed my sword. I don't know if it was luck, or if it was carelessness on the Dark Knights behalf - but my sword met with his arm, and sank a good two inches into it. But then my arm fell limp, and my hand slid from the handle, leaving the sword somewhat embedded in my enemies arm. And I turned my head, on the ground, to look at her face. I wish I hadn't, as much as she is the last thing I would ever want to see before I passed on - it hurt me beyond words to see the look on her face. Her scream, to me, was silent. Though at that moment, everything was. I'm so... so very sorry my Usako. I'm so sorry... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Usagi~ I could start from where I began before, when my enemy was finally unmasked, but I'm afraid I must keep you waiting a little longer. There is still more to tell... I honestly can't tell you, if I could rightfully explain to you exactly how it feels to lose both your daughter, and your soul mate in a period of 5 minutes, by the same god forsaken murderer. I must have been on the verge of hysteria. All of my friends were dead, or something very near there. My fianc鬠my future daughter... all of them. I thought I could protect them all. I'd lost so many of them, so many times before, shouldn't I know better now? Shouldn't I have known to do anything to keep them all alive? The pain is still real. It still hurts more than anything in the world. More than any physical pain ever could. I'm sure you've heard enough of the guilt though, haven't you? Yes... I won't linger there. And I won't let you believe it's anyone else?s fault but my own, and the Dark Knight's. There is no one else to blame. When I had control of my crystal I should have been brave, and I should have used it. I thought perhaps... just maybe I could save this lost soul. Bring him to light, and fill his being with happiness. I see that was laughable. Such a stupid girl I've been. Such a stupid girl... When I saw Mamoru go down, so quickly, all of my resolve crumbled. I fell with him, to the ground, watching in horror was even as he fell, our enemies sword swiped across my beloved?s chest. I stared at my hands, glared at them really, and I screamed into the darkness that fell upon us after Mamoru had gone down. The light fell with him, I wonder if I'll ever know why. I screamed until my lungs could no longer take it. I yelled, shouted out bitter words, angry words. Some at him, some at myself, but most at the Dark Knight. The pain that ripped through me made me wonder if not only our minds were linked by our souls. My entire midsection stung, my legs were throbbing, and for a moment I felt so completely empty I thought I could just die right then. No friends, no daughter, no love... what was left for me? Mamoru's sword flashed as the Knight tried to pull it from his arm, somehow catching my lost attention and I heard a shout as he tried to grip the sword. Not just anyone could handle Mamoru's sword, I assumed the Knight could not touch the sword without receiving a good does of pain from it in return. So he shook his arm madly, and as the sword flew towards the ground, I was on my feet, I had no time to grieve anymore. The sword landed somewhere near me, and behind my fading tears I searched for it with my heart. It was all I had now... the crystal had seemingly abandoned me. As I put my shaking hands around the sword, I felt a certain power join in all I had left. My last gift from my Mamo-chan, I supposed sadly. I stood, and the air seemed to still in the darkness... and then a breeze of icy winds ran about my tired body. I listened as quietly as I could, but I could hear only my own hard breaths, and a few others, slower... weaker... my friends. I held tighter to the sword and made a quiet prayer that it would be enough now. My enemies broken laughter came with a dark surrounding light of purple. As the laughter got louder, my blood began to boil. "Show your face, Dark Knight." I said angrily. "And enjoy your laughter, it will be your last." The laughter died down to a slight chuckle. "You wish to see my face, you tired little pest? Perhaps it is time... just before I lay you to rest." He pulled up a gloved hand, and gently removed the full face covering mask he'd wore to every battle, hiding his face from them. Hair fell over the Dark Knight's shoulders, and cold, angry eye's flashed from behind red bangs. In a new voice, the Dark Knight spoke, "Not all things are as they seem, and tonight, you will die." I almost stumbled over. How could it be? How was this even possible?! "It's... you!" I gasped. Beryl just grinned wider, her laughter now in a different voice, her own, and as cold as ever. The witch was back, and now it was just me against her. Can I win...? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ooooooooh and NOW the secrets out. You know you should be very happy, I almost didn't tell! I'm sorry that you have to wait for another chapter so you can see the end, and I'm also sorry this one took me so long to get up here, but it was a really hard one to write okay?! I do hope you liked it... the final battle will be the next chapter. Till then... Blessed be! Destiny dreemwrld@hotmail.com