The blast covered the two youma and the Senshi split up. Neptune and Uranus together. Mercury, Mars, and Venus together. Saturn and Pluto by themselves and Younger Venus and Jupiter together. The youma came out of the blast fast and split up. Archane attempted to go after Jupiter with her blade, but instead came in contact with Saturn's Glaive.
"Jupiter is under our protection," Saturn growled. "We'll not let you take her away from us again." The two weapons competed and sent sparks flying. "Why do you serve Tirade anyway, he sent you through this nightmare."
"You can't protect Jupiter from me, and Tirade is my Lord so don't try to turn me against him.” Younger Venus's and Jupiter's attacks combined and plowed through Archane and set Saturn free from her struggle.
Uranus was sword sparring with Tirade while the other Senshi attempted to dodge his projectiles.
You are very strong," Tirade said, "But you can't beat us."
"We'll see about that," Uranus challenged back. "Don't underestimate us." The other Senshi finally released their own attacks and forced Tirade off.
"Go, Saturn, help the others, we'll take care of Archane," Jupiter said. "They need you."
"Are you sure you can handle it alone?" Saturn asked concerned. Younger Venus was engaged with Archane.
"I've fought her for a thousand years, only one of us can live today," Jupiter replied.
"Very well," Saturn nodded.
"Tell Venus nothing will happen to her daughter." With that the Senshi split up. Younger Venus was finding it difficult to dodge the youma's blade and attack at the same time. Though she didn't show it she was scared out of her mind, but her determination was great. She got a ways away from the youma and discontinued her dodging. < The strength of my attack depends on my desire and will to use it. > She remembered Jupiter's words to her in the training room..
< This particular Senshi's attacks are weak. She must be a beginner I have nothing to fear from her. > Archane thought.
"Beauty Senshi Light Cascade!" Younger Venus yelled. The light showered down once again covering the youma. < Please, Venus give me strength. > The youma for the first time felt the light run through her body and burn.
< Strange, she's grown stronger, but not strong enough. > Archane burst out of the light shower and sped towards Younger Venus. Younger Venus was in shock at the rapid approach of the blade.
"Jupiter Thunder Strike!" Jupiter's attack tore through the ground and leapt up at the black blade. It caught the blade stopping it just inches from Younger Venus and freezing Archane's movements. Recovering her awareness and courage, younger Venus agilely jumped away and stood beside Jupiter. She looked over to see Jupiter concentrating hard, and then looked to Archane who appeared to be concentrating as well.
< They're battling energies. > She thought.
"Please, Jupiter," Makoto said softly. The electricity crawled all over the blade and crackled for a few moments. It suddenly stopped and the blade shattered into to thousand pieces. Jupiter opened her eyes to see the blade break. "Finally," she breathed.
"Damn you, Makoto!" Archane roared. Jupiter just stared at her with angry eyes.
"I told you, Younger Venus is under my protection," Jupiter said coldly. < I won't let her kill Minako's daughter like she did mine. My innocent daughter and I didn't even know it. She died for me. > Younger Venus watched the mix of emotions on Jupiter's face and she lightly touched her arm.
"Makoto-san?" Jupiter turned and looked at her. The anger dissipated slightly. "Have your revenge, but remember your promise to the Queen," Younger Venus said softly. Tears formed in Jupiter's eyes as she thought of Serenity.
"You truly are… Minako-chan's daughter," she said.
"Please allow me to fight with you, Jupiter." Pluto walked silently up to the two Senshi.
"We fight to protect the Queen and that's exactly what we're going to do," Jupiter said. "I don't blame you for anything, Setsuna-chan, none of this was your fault." Pluto seemed slightly surprised, but it wasn't important now.
"Black Energy!" The youma sent a semi-circle of energy towards the three Senshi and knocked them off their feet. She charged them and in two leaps she was in range to ravage Jupiter with her claws.
"Time Orb Death!" Pluto's attack struck Archane in the side of the head preventing her from attacking Jupiter. Archane whirled on Pluto and blasted her into a tree. Pluto struggled to get up, but the youma ignored her and turned back to Jupiter. Jupiter had backed away with Younger Venus at her side.
"Quit hiding behind your pathetic guardians. I'll kill them just like that other girl," Archane raged frustrated her revenge was taking so long. "Sooner or later, I'll get you for the past thousand years of misery, no matter how many I have to kill first!"
"Spectrum Glance!" Younger Venus tried one of her less powerful attacks, but with wider range.
"Jupiter Thunder Strike!" The attacks combined and roared towards the youma. Archane appeared to give a scream of agony and disappear.
"Did we get her?" Younger Venus asked. Jupiter knew for sure that their attack hadn't been strong enough to dispatch Archane. She scanned the terrain and saw a shimmer like the distortion a heat wave creates. She suddenly felt an invisible blast of energy hit her hard in the chest. It burned as she fell several feet back wards and impacted hard with the ground. < Fool! That's the second time she's gotten you with that attack. > Makoto thought as she struggled to her hands and knees. She found it hard to breathe and collapsed back to the ground. "She's hidden herself!" she shouted and began to cough, blood ran from the corner of her mouth. "Look for an air distortion, like a heat wave. She's out there." Jupiter coughed again.
"Jupiter! Are you alright?" Younger Venus ran towards the fallen Senshi, followed by Pluto. A few feet away from Jupiter, Younger Venus stopped as if something had grabbed her by the throat. Jupiter and Pluto looked over as Archane materialized behind Younger Venus one hand around the Younger Senshi's throat the other holding her arm in back of her. Kimeko's breaths came quickly, she was frightened, and that was exactly what the youma wanted.
"What now, Makoto? Are you going to let another child die for you?" Archane jeered. Jupiter got up and advanced a step, but stopped when Archane tightened her grip around Kimeko's throat.
"Damn you, you killed my daughter I won't allow you to hurt this girl," Jupiter growled.
"Your daughter? I wish I'd know, that way I could've made her suffer as well for what your did to me," the youma said darkly. "I was in constant pain for the entire time. I wished it had only been a dream, but here you were here to make I all true and now I know it was for a thousand years." Archane looked as if she might cry. "Now, in this time, my Lord and I will destroy everything important to you, Makoto, your precious Queen and Kingdom. I will finally have my revenge on you."
"Your Lord put you through time, don't you know that?" Pluto shouted. "He meant to kill Jupiter to send you through time. He caused all the pain that you felt. He doesn't care, all he wants is energy. If you had succeeded in killing Jupiter you would've been sent through time only to die once you reentered stable time. Your death would've been a beacon to Tirade." Pluto stood beside Jupiter and allowed her some support.
"You lie! He would never do that!" Archane yelled, but something in her voice held doubt.
"I keep time. I've seen others attempt to do what your Lord did and all of their lives were forfeit. Each terrain you fought on was a planet; sub-consciously you were searching for the purest energy. If you had been alone you would've remained in the dream state and eventually died having your being strewn about the time stream," Pluto said coldly. Archane wasn't sure what to do, but her hate for Jupiter was to great to give it all up now.
"I'll still have my revenge on your, Makoto!" Archane unsheathed her claws.
"Let her go, Archane!" Jupiter said angrily. "Let her go now!" she raged. Electricity shot up from the ground and wrapped around Archane. Younger Venus, Raise a barrier!" Jupiter yelled. Kimeko raised a barrier of light and the combination of energy exploded in Archane's face. Younger Venus hit the ground and rolled away from the explosion. When the blast cleared Archane was gone.
"Younger Venus, are you alright?" Pluto asked quickly. Younger Venus put a hand on her throat and rubbed it.
"Yes, I'm fine, if not scared to scared to death," Kimeko replied. "Is she dead yet."
"No, but I think she's gone to talk with Lord Tirade," Jupiter said. She felt pain run up her side and she remembered the blast she had been hit with.
"Are you alright, Makoto-san?" Younger Venus asked.
"Yeah, just bruised a bit." Jupiter placed a hand over her sternum, she felt that it was more serious than bruising, but she hid it from the other two Senshi.
"Thanks for saving me again," Kimeko said.
"It was my fault. She was trying to get me," Jupiter replied.
"It wasn't," Pluto cut in, "We're all here to help you beat her, Mako-chan." The conversation was ended by the arrival of the other Senshi. Mercury was healing a slash on Uranus's side and Saturn was healing some burns on Mars's shoulder.
"Tirade is headed for the palace, we couldn't stop him," Uranus said painfully. "How are all of you? We saw an explosion."
"The youma went after Jupiter by attacking Younger Venus, but we managed to put doubt in her mind about Tirade," Pluto explained. Venus moved closer to her daughter and glanced at her with concerned eyes. "I think she'd probably gone after him," Pluto added.
"We have to go after him, the Queen's in danger," Mercury said once she finished healing Uranus. "Do you think this will stop the youma from going after Mako-chan?"
"I doubt it, in fact I think it will probably increase her rage. She'll go after Tirade, and being as powerful as she is, she might kill him, but a thousand years of hate isn't brushed aside by words. She'll be after Jupiter again for sure," Saturn said gravely.
"Then we'd better go," Mars said impatiently. "What's wrong, Mako-chan?" Rei was alarmed by Makoto's sudden pallor. Mercury pulled out her computer and scanned.
"I'm okay, I just got hit a little hard," Jupiter smiled.
"No you're not. Your sternum has been cracked and you've got some severe burns around your throat," Mercury said and began to heal Jupiter. "Everyone go ahead, we'll catch up once she's healed. She can't fight in this condition."
"Right," the others replied and they headed towards the palace, leaving Mercury and Jupiter on the hill.
“Mercury, it's not that important," Jupiter said impatiently.
"Mako-chan! Don't do this!" Ami said loudly. "You have a promise to Queen Serenity, why do you seem so determined to break it?" she pleaded. "We want to help you, Mako-chan and no one wants to see you die. I can't imagine what it felt like to discover Pluto had caused you all that suffering or that it had been your daughter that died. I haven't lost my daughter, but there are so many people here who care about you. Please, don't let Younger Venus see you throw your life away for a thing of the past." Tears came to Mercury's eyes as she finished healing Jupiter. Makoto slumped to the ground. "Are you alright?" Mercury asked quickly.
"Yes, but you're right Mercury. I tried so hard to find another way out of this, but I can't let go. How selfish of me," Makoto replied.
"We'll help you, Mako-chan," Mercury said reassuringly.
"I know you will." Makoto stood up and they made their way back to the palace.
Queen Serenity had been impatiently waiting on her throne when Tirade forced his way in. He promptly stated that he'd come to kill her and then Archane appeared. Serenity watched with fascination as the youma confronted the Demon Lord.
"Lord Tirade!" the youma seethed. "It was you who sent me through a thousand years of hell!" Tirade turned in surprise at the youma's accusation.
"You sent yourself on that journey when you failed to kill Sailor Jupiter. Take your vengeance out on her," Tirade replied calmly.
"I will, but first I'll see you die. You had meant for me to die in the coldness of the Time Stream. I should thank Makoto, she kept me alive so I could take my revenge out on the both of you," Archane grinned.
"You cannot beat me, Archane," Tirade said unconcerned.
"I think you'll be surprised at what a thousand yeas of fighting has done to my power. Black Energy Blast!" From her palms a black wave of energy shot towards Tirade. Serenity felt the evil power of the attack as it passed her. Unconcerned, Tirade raised a barrier, but to his surprise it didn't stop the energy wave. His barrier cracked and the blast threw him into the wall. Archane walked up and picked up his fallen sword, charging it with negative energy. Tirade stood up and blasted her with his own attacks, but she easily deflected them. She stabbed the negatively charged sword through the center of him and burned him into nothing. The Senshi burst into the chamber just to see Tirade fall.
"He's dead," Neptune breathed.
"Don't think this will save you," Archane turned towards Serenity.
"Where is Jupiter?" Serenity asked fearlessly.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure she'd here before I kill you," the youma growled, "Then I'll kill her."
"Get out of here, your Majesty," the Senshi yelled and launched their attacks. The youma was determined and blasted the Senshi into the opposite wall. Only Venus and her daughter were left standing.
"Don't trifle with me Senshi unless you truly wish to die. My quarrel is with Makoto, not you," Archane yelled a them.
"Than leave my Queen alone!” Jupiter's voice rang across the hall.
"There your are, Makoto, I thought you'd surely died on that hill," The youma sneered.
"You threaten our Queen, so you must deal with us, you've taken it too far," Mercury shouted. The Senshi had regrouped and realigned their attacks.
"Everyone, remember the attack in the training room. We should try and attack her like Jupiter caught the outer core," Mercury suggested.
"But the person who would distract her would be in extreme danger," Mars said.
"True," Saturn added.
"I'll…" Jupiter was cut off.
"No, I want to do it," Younger Venus said quickly. Minako looked over in surprise. "Please, Mama, I want to do this."
"Alright," Venus agreed.
"Take up positions around her then. Hide yourself, Younger Venus. When we're ready you'll distract her and we'll finish this," Uranus said in stern voice. The Senshi broke apart and encircled Archane. Jupiter ended up next to Serenity by her throne. She shot her a glance of warning, but gave her a smile as well.
"Be careful," Serenity mouthed and moved back. Kimeko stood behind her mother and darted behind a column as they moved. The youma watched the Senshi warily; secretly she formed an energy blast in her hand.
< What are they preparing? > She thought as she watched the Senshi encircle her. In a flash, Kimeko leapt from her hiding spot.
< The Strength of my attack comes from my desire and will to use it. > She remembered as she showered her attack down on the youma.
< The Queen > Archane thought and launched her collected blast of energy at Serenity.
"No!" Jupiter leapt in front of Serenity and was stuck by the blast in mid-air. She felt the sharp blast of energy tear through her side and out her back again. Blood rose in her throat as Jupiter fell back and hit the steps in front of Serenity's throne, hard. The other Senshi's attacks stopped Archane's and Serenity pulled Jupiter in close to her.
"Celestial Lightening," Jupiter whispered, but Archane heard and Serenity began to cry.
"No, Makoto! Don't do this to me again!" Archane screamed at her and blasted another wave of energy at her. Serenity pulled Jupiter closer and held out the Ginzouisho to block the attack.
"It's finished," Makoto said softly.
