Eclipse of the Moon

~*Chapter Three*~

“The Princess is coming, Kaze. She will be most pleased.” A dark figure said with a cackle.

She had been speaking to a taller personage, who gave a low, throaty chuckle at the news, and muttered, “Perfect Umi.”

Out of the darkness emerged five more figures. Both Kaze and Umi turned and joined the circle which then consisted of ten similar silhouetted figures, eight of which were distinctly females.

They stood on the ground in a small clearing surrounded densely by trees. Another figure, this one short and petite, did a flying leap out of a tree above them and floated gracefully to the ground. Instantly, all ten heads bowed and chorused the words, “Welcome, Hime.”

The smaller figure they addressed as “Hime” looked as though she were nothing but a living piece of translucent, black cloth cut out in the shape of a human. She was wispy and moved like a ghost, as did about half of the figures in the circle. The other half, Kaze and Umi included, looked more like statues of black marble, delicately carved into the human form.

“Look, Hime. It is working.” Umi held out her arm for the princess to touch. “You were right. It feels wonderful to move so freely. We were not even affected by the light of the fire. We stood in it freely. It was... wonderful....”

“We succeeded in taking the life of one more, as well as all of their sources of power.” A tall, statue like man. “They cannot transform now. They are helpless.”

“They have always been helpless!” The princess shouted enthusiastically. Her voice was high and shrill. “We do not wish to use them to become human, we wish to take our freedom back from them. The freedom they so wrongfully stole form us so long ago!

“Should we, as superior beings be enslaved by these creatures? No!

“Well, it is all about to change. By dawn we will all be free. Free to move as we wish at all times, free to live, free to take control!” She lifted her wavering arms above her head and shot a burst of black light from them. The circle burst into hissing cheers and malicious laughter.

“You are superior to them in nearly every way, and soon, in every way. Remember, they are weak, and full of emotion. They are human.” The last word was spoken as though it were the most vile, disgusting thing in existence, and its mention caused a soft murmur to spread throughout the circle once more.

“You have until dawn. They must all be gone. By morning, it will be too late.” She continued in a low hiss. ”This is our only chance, and we will succeed. Now go. Go and retake your freedom. When they are all gone, it will be time to act. To take back the body that is rightfully yours. *Now, GO!*”

With a final cheer all eleven figures jumped into the air and flew through the trees like ghostly serpents.

* * * * * *

They walked as closely together as the narrow path would allow. Long ago they had lost any sense of where they were. Shin insisted on being in the lead. Every noise made them jump. Any sign of movement made their hearts leap into their throats, and every gust of wind sent a terrible chill down their spines.

Makoto strived to look brave, but soon forgot and hung closely to Shin’s side. Setsuna was unsuccessfully fighting back tears. Minako let them come without resistance.

Usagi was in a complete daze. Her eyes were blank and her face stunned. Tears did not come, because stronger than the sorrow in Usagi’s heart was the feeling of unbelief. None of it could possibly be real. The mere idea was inconceivable. Rei found dead, Mamoru devoured by the earth before her very eyes, and Hotaru and Ami gone as well. Haruka and Michiru had never been found, and given the circumstances, it seemed foolish to even hope they were still alive.

Or, maybe it wasn’t. “Maybe they’re all okay,” Usagi thought to herself. Maybe, she would turn around the next corner and they would all be standing there waiting for her. Rei would have recovered, Hotaru’s wounds would be healed, Haruka and Michiru would show up with Ami, and Mamoru would be fine. He was probably searching for them now. Everything would turn out alright.

Suddenly the noise of shuffling leaves behind her had stopped. “Minako-Chan?” Usagi turned around, her voice wavering. No one was there. “Minako -Chan!?” Usagi called again. Makoto, Shin and Setsuna had stopped, and were all looking back as well.

“She was right here... She was right behind me.” Usagi gasped, the panic raising in her voice.

The familiar giggling started from in the trees. "Minako-chan, Minako-chan...” the wispy voices chorused with a fresh spout of sardonic laughter.

“What? Did you want her back?” A sharp, grating voice said from somewhere above.

“You-you give back Minako-chan!” Usagi screamed, causing more laughter to ring out.

“I’m *sorry*. I didn’t realize she meant so much to you!” The voice droned on. Usagi stood, fists clenched, staring above into the darkness of the trees. “You want her? Take her.” With this an enormous, ghostly hand stretched down, twenty feet from the bough of a tree. Its gigantic fist was clutched tightly around Minako’s neck. It dangled her, five feet from the ground. Her eyes were half open, her face twisted with pain.

“Minako-chan!” Usagi yelped as she sprang forward to reach her. As she did, Minako managed a groan, and her legs began twitching.

“I should tell you, with every step you take towards her,” the voice said, “I squeeze harder around her neck.” Usagi stopped in her tracks and the hand loosened its grip on Minako’s throat.

“Leave me.....” Minako gasped. Usagi starred wide eyed up at her, contemplating what to do, when Shin burst in and did a flying kick at the enormous hand. He flew through the air, almost reaching it, when he was hit head on by another enormous hand, which batted him away like he were a fly. He flew backwards into a tree and fell to the ground in a heap.

The hand holding Minako tightened its grip, and flew back into the trees, carrying its captive out of site.

Makoto’s eyes narrowed and her voice shot out like the explosion of a canon. “Show yourselves! If you want to fight I’ll fight you!” She shrieked. “You can’t do this to us! Give them all back!” Her voice echoed out through the forest. She turned her head and screamed outloud, then fell to her knees in silence.

“We don’t want *you*,” A soft, calm voice said. “Yet.”

Another large hand shot out of the trees, its long fingers were as sharp as daggers and at least three feet long. Makoto looked up and saw them flying straight for-

"Setsuna!" She and Usagi shrieked as they both dove to block herfrom the sabers. The earth beneath them jolted and Usagi and Makoto found themselves being thrown sharply through the air, crashing into the trunks of two large trees with a sickening thump, then slid down to the ground.

Setsuna screamed and fell backward on to the ground. The sabers had gored completely through her stomach, leaving her a crumpled heap of the ground, the grass around her becoming a deep, crimson color.

Makoto tried to stand but could barely manage to keep her eyes open. She glimpsed a foggy black cloud carrying Setsuna’s mangled body away into the darkness, the faint shimmering of a light, and then all was still. She tried once more to stand, but her mind was fogging and her head was pounding. Her head fell and she gave into the foggy mist that was devouring her mind.

Everything went black.

“Well look what we have here.” A low voice seeped through the darkness. It sounded distant and fuzzy. Makoto hadn’t a clue where she was or what was going on. She forced her eyes open and looked up at the towering figures that hovered over her.

“Haru-Haruka!?” Usagi’s baffled voice came from a few feet away. She too was staring up at the many figures standing above them.

With these words, the tallest female figure burst out in a shriek of pure rage, “Don’t you ever call me that! I am Kaze, lord of the wind!” Her gleaming stone-like arm shot out from her side and stuck Usagi across the cheek. She landed on the ground with a painful squeal.

“Who do you think you are!?” Makoto shot up from the ground and swung at the statuesque figure of Haruka, but she merely lifted her arm and grasped Makoto’s wrist tightly, holding her back with what seemed like no effort at all. It did indeed seem to be Haruka holding her wrist, but it couldn’t be her. She was not human, though she resembled Haruka identically. She was composed of a thick, black smoke, slightly translucent and extremely shiny. Behind her stood the figures of Michiru, Rei, Ami, Minako, Setsuna, and Hotaru, all the same ominous cloudy black.

“And you...” The Haruka hissed as she squeezed Makoto’s wrist even tighter, forcing her to her knees, “you miserable creature! The Princess is not at all pleased with your attempts to save that one.” She jerked her head towards Usagi with a growl. “The Princess has something special in mind for you two....” She thrust Makoto to the ground.

“Minna...” Usagi whispered mournfully.

“SILENCE!” The figure of Mamoru shouted and raised his fist threateningly.

“Stop!” A high voice came from Usagi, though she had not spoken a word.

“Now, Princess?” Another voice came from where Makoto sat, who too had stayed silent.

“Yes.” The first answered. The ground beneath Usagi and Makoto began to shake slightly. The wind picked up and a thick black mist rose up from beneath them like a two large rain clouds. The dark mist swirled around them for a moment and then spiraled into the air. It rose for a time, then shot back down to the ground. The first bit hit the ground and began to swirl into the shape of feet, then legs emerged, hips, then a stomach, shoulders, arms, and then the heads of Makoto and Usagi. The two dark figures stood side by side. They were strangely two dimensional, though composed of the same black fog as Kaze and the others. They were completely flat looking, and wispy, and fragile, like steam; not at all the thick, smooth, polished ebony the others seemed to be composed of.

“Hime.” Every figure bowed. The Princess walked up to Usagi slowly and glared at her.

“Who are you?” Usagi stammered. Giggling laughter rang out from the crowd.

“Haven’t you yet figure it out?” The princess hissed, staring into Usagi’s mirror image face. “I’m a part of you. You stole our right to live and we are taking it back. I am your shadow, Usagi.”

“....My-my... What!?” Usagi stammered.

“Oh, how I have tired of your foolish questions! I am your shadow. Do you not know what a shadow is?”

“But-why? Why are you doing this?” Usagi continued, her voice hushed and frightened.

“Because you gave us life and then confined us like slaves! Day in and day out, unable to move freely, to think freely, to be free.” The Princess shouted back angrily.

“’WE’ gave you... life!?” Usagi stammered.

“Yes... YOU! YOU, the Sailor Senshi. YOU who have devoted your lives towards that which is good and pure. You gave your lives over to the cause of ridding this world from evil, and all the while you have been creating the most evil thing of all. US.

“Everyone has bad in them Usagi... even you... especially you. But, you and all of your little friends,” she sneered, “turned your minds over to good. To things like truth and hope, and we,“ She gestured around to the many figures standing behind her, “we cannot exist with such things. We thrive on hatred and lies. Destruction, death, pain, sorrow... we love them. That is what we are created from. All of your most hateful thoughts, your most unsavory ways. It is what we are. We could not exist within you, and we were forced out of your bodies... but one cannot be totally without us, so we infested your shadows... it was the only way to stay alive. After all, what is a shadow but the darkest part of your existence. A part of your being that can never be touched by light. It hides behind your body when faced with light and truth.

“We were separated for the first time from that which we cannot coincide with: your goodness of heart. We were now in a place of existence where all there was was darkness and misery... we thrived upon it.

“You are not like most humans, though you still retain all of their weaknesses. You have strange powers within you. Strange connections with nature and powers to control the elements.

“No longer held back by your goodness and pureness, we began to feed upon these powers, growing stronger and stronger every day. Soon we began to realize the injustice you had done by riding us from your bodies. Using our power we began to take control of our own actions when we were free from your clutches. A shadow is bound to its body only by the presence of light. Haven’t you ever wondered what happens to a shadow in the dark?” The princess put her flat, foggy black face close to Usagi and whispered, “It is free. As long as you were in the dark, we were free to move about and complete our mission.

“We are just as much a part of you as anything else, and you had no right to try and exile us. Like I said, you created us, and then put us out.

“Well, it worked for a time, but that time is now over. This time, it is you who will be eliminated. It is time our bodies have been purged of your imperfection. Soon, you will be gone, and we will rule, once again.”

Malicious giggling broke out through the crowd of shadows.

“That giggling... “Usagi shot out, “Its been you! Its been you all the time! Give them back... give them all back!”

“You’re just now getting it!” The princess laughed out loud. “Think back Usagi... it’s been us all along. Think...”

“Rei...” Usagi said. “That night in the cabin. She said you were choking her, but we didn’t see anyone!”

“You turned your flashlights on before I could finish the job.” The thick, staue-like Shadow of Rei replied. But I got her in the end.” She made a chocking gesture with her hands, a pitiless smile on her cold, hard face.

“But, Haruka... and Michiru!” Usagi gasped, becoming more hysterical.

“An ‘unfortunate’ car accident took place as they searched ever so valiantly for the lost fool you call, ‘Rei.’"

“And... Mamo-chan?” Usagi said quietly.

Makoto didn’t wait for an answer. She had stayed silent too long. “Why are you doing this? What good are we if we’re dead? A shadow without its body cannot exist! You said so yourself, you’re a part of us!”

“Oh, but that is where you’re wrong.” The princess sneered. “Once you are gone, we will be able to re-inhabit your bodies, forever. We do not need *you*. We only need your bodies.” She walked very close to Makoto and stopped, straining her ears as though she were listening to a noise coming from far away. “Come forward Inazuma.”

A thin, foggy, two dimensional shadow stepped forward from the circle. It was Makoto’s.

“You are very foolish from what Inazuma tells me.” The Princess told Makoto in a matter-of-fact sort of way. “Standing here facing your death and thinking over and over again in your mind, ‘I must protect Usagi, I must protect Usagi....’

“This is what I hate about you most! Your idiotic obsession with protecting this foolish weakling.” She shot her froze, blank eyes towards Usagi, then turned back to Makoto. “What angers me most is that you have stayed alive all this time, and that you know you will die soon, and you *still* insist on being noble and standing up for her. Your faithfulness sickens me. For this, you shall pay.”

“Inazuma tells me you are thinking about how we possibly managed to do this... how you saw before some of us standing in the light of the fire. Shall I show you how we have done it?” She snapped her fingers and immediately a tall masculine figure sprang through the air and landed above Shin’s crumpled body, which lay sprawled on the ground near the tree where he had hit, and fallen not even an hour earlier. It was impossible to tell whether he was dead or not.

Makoto gasped and jumped to her feet, running towards him frantically, but tripped. Inazuma, her thin, ghostlike shadow, had extended one of her tentacle like arms and wrapped it around her ankle, and was now retracting it into her body, dragging Makoto on the ground closer and closer to herself. Inazuma’s other arm wrapped its way around Makoto’s neck and pulled her closer in. Makoto was struggling to free herself from Inazuma’s grasp, but found herself almost inside of Inazuma’s cloud like body. It was cold and terrifying, and seemed to suck the strength out of her. Inazuma forced her head up so that she was forced to watch Shin’s fate.

Usagi, now being held back by Kaze in the same manner as Makoto, began to scream, and tears welled in Makoto’s eyes. She couldn’t make a sound. Shin’s counterpart had taken hold of his neck and now held Shin’s limp body out at arms length so high that Shin’s feet dangled above the ground. The slow blinking of his eyes told them that he was still alive, if only barely. Shin’s shadow tightened the grip on Shin’s neck and Shin’s eyes opened wide and his mouth dropped open. His shadow smiled viciously. A sizzling black light shot down the shadows arm and crackled around Shin’s body. A faint light burst out of Shin’s limp body, breaking the darkness. Though the light shone out brightly, The Princess and Inazuma remained whole, completely unaffected by it.

Shin’s shadow dropped Shin’s body to the ground with a THUMP. The shadow’s eyes bulged and he put his hands out in front of him, staring at them with fascination. His flat, two dimensional body began to swell and take form. His fingers grew thick and took shape, then his arms followed. Then his shoulders and neck, his torso followed, then legs, feet and his head. It was like filling a balloon with air. This mere figment of a human was now a perfect replica of Shin, save it be the lack of skin. Makoto’s eyes widened and a shrill scream broke out. Inazuma let her fall to the ground. “With your death, your powers go strait into us, giving us the strength, and power to withstand light, without being forced back to your side. Your bodies are left empty, ready for us to inhabit, that is, once all of us are ready.”

The princess sneered. “Usagi, Usagi, Usagi...” She tisked. “Still such confusion. You are wondering, ‘why us?’ Well the answer is simple. You are the only humans in the world to exhibit such strength and love... and hide such ugliness and hatred. It is because you *are* you that this is possible. Once you have all perished, we will inhabit your bodies as completely unstoppable forces of destruction. We will have complete control over every element of the earth. And now, there’s only two of you left, and soon, none.

“Inazuma, take care of that stubborn girl.” An evil gleam shone over the princess’ cold, dead eyes. Inazuma turned, dark foggy eyes on Makoto. Inazuma’s arms flew up, and she was struck by a bolt of lightning that gathered into a ball in her cupped hands. She held it gently, her thin lips curling in a nasty grin. “Stand and fight me.”

Makoto glimpsed Shin’s body, the flock of black figures circling her, and Usagi’s helpless, frightened expression and snapped. Red hot fury shot through her veins and she exploded with power. Screeching loudly she lunged at Inazuma, who quickly dodged. Makoto screamed even louder, very seldom were her words comprehensible, but usually a jumble of shouts and curses, the names of her friends thrown in now and again.

She lunged once more, and Inazuma released her ball of lightning. It whizzed through the air and strait into Makoto. It smashed into her and unleashed its fury, zapping her again and again, each time forcing choked, painful yelps from Makoto.

Inazuma snapped her fingers and thunder clapped over head, shaking the earth and knocking Makoto’s panting, breathless figure to the ground. She shot another blast from her ball of lighting. It shot at her and split into a thousand tiny electrified needles of light which stuck her body all over and sizzled their way into her skin. She screamed all the while. Her eyes closed slowly, and she fell silent.

Inazuma stood above her, “Shine.”

“Not yet...” Makoto whispered. Inazuma gasped, eyes darting upward. Her head spun around and stopped on the Princess who stood quite calm fifteen feet away.

“We will return shortly. You all will stay her until I give orders.” She said, and disappeared. Inazuma gasped once more and vanished. Warm moonlight shone onto Makoto’s bruised face.

She and Usagi were alone once more.

The moon had risen.

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