Disclaimer: All Sailor Moon references and characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi, TOEI, Kodansha & Pioneer. Everything else is mine.
Alleluia's tone was entirely too comfortable for Josh's taste. The headache that had been building for the last three weeks, decided to have an instant growing spurt. "They haven't been my council the entire time I've been here."
"They have always been the Guardian of Temple Draco's council."
"No, Alleluia, they haven't. They've been their own council." Josh was angry that he was having this conversation with Alleluia. The Templeflights were supposed to be a team, right? Did teams abandon one of their members? "We can't just dispose of Deli! She's Sailor Temple!"
Alleluia shook her head. "I have already explain-"
"Shut up! Until, I'm allowed to consult with the Great Dragon, I refuse to let them kill Deli. And if the Dragon tells me to kill her as well, I'll... I'll..."
"You will what?"
"I'll take us both back to Earth and let all of you handle Floribunda alone. You seem to be doing just fine making decisions without us." It was an idle threat, but maybe it would get her to listen. Josh couldn't transport alone.
"You can not."
Oh, really? His last statement lost its idleness. Josh would find a way to get Deli back to Earth, if necessary. "Why not? And don't give me the whole 'destiny' excuse again. I've heard enough of that to make me go insane."
"Very well then."
Unless he was already insane, Josh knew this all had to be some horrid nightmare. Kill Deli because there's a possibility that she might be an antenna sending information to Floribunda, via her unconscious mind? It was crazy.
Alleluia's eyes had a tendency to bore into Josh's skin. "You know, I don't think the Great Dragon exists."
"He does."
"Oh, and you've seen him?" She remained silent. "I didn't think so." Josh left Alleluia in the corridor, seeking out Deli's room. If the council was going to carry out their decision soon, he was going to be there to stop them.
Thankfully, Deli was still asleep, not dead, when he arrived and she was alone. The decision was made without thought. "It's my fault you're here. I'm getting you out of here." He picked her up and turned to leave but someone was blocking the way.
A rather annoyed someone. "We tried to give you the choice, Young Draco Soul. We tried to show you what you needed to know."
Josh was aware that this was not Dream Space. Belladonna's Presence was too invasive for it to be a dream.
"Now, We will tell you what We've been trying to show you all along." The King stepped into the room, motioning for Josh to come closer.
Josh didn't move.
"Stubbornness is the trait of a peasant."
"Then call me peasant, but I'm not doing anything you want me to."
"Very well then. You should know by now that the Great Dragon does not exist. In fact he is a myth We have worked hard to make all you animals believe. We are the Great Dragon of Temple Draco."
That can't be true.
"Everything that you have worked for, everything you have sacrificed, have been for the greater good of Floribunda."
Sacrificed? Deli?
"Do you wish your friend to live?"
Deli... Deli... The weight in his arms was considerably less that the last time he'd carried her. And her face... She looked like Death had already taken her.
"We can bring her back. We can give you that which you desire."
Bring her back? Why would Belladonna do that?
"You needn't worry about her anymore."
Can he bring her back?
"You can expunge the guilt, repay your debt."
Yes, he must make it up to her. Deli... "What do I have to do?"
*JOSH! NO!*
What was that?
"You must simply..."
A melody rose up in Josh's mind. It invaded all the dark places in his head, the places that ached with sorrow and guilt. The melody was accompanied by a pastel pink and blue aura and two shining green orbs.
Deli... It was Deli. It had to be. The dark aching guilt receded.
Belladonna frowned, and then took up a defensive stance. "We see that Thornrose's gift is not so powerful after all."
Belladonna? Then it hit Josh what he'd almost done. Bakadelic to say the least!
He quickly set Deli back on the bed, turning back in time to see the whole of his council file into the room and bow to Belladonna.
Dorwyn, the head council member, addressed the King of Floribunda. "Lord Dragon, thank You for blessing our decision and attending the execution. This will ensure our victory over Floribunda."
Belladonna simply nodded.
"Dorwyn, don't you see-"
"It's no use Draco Soul," Dorwyn cut Josh off. "We have learned from Lord Dragon of your association with forces in Floribunda. You have been discovered Spy! Guards!"
The doors opened once again to allow two dozen guards into the room.
Josh began his transformation when Deli's song interceded and ceased control of it. Two words entered Josh's heart. Between the words and the melody, Josh's transformation took on a new light.
"You must listen to me!" The melody faded.
"Why do you continue to fight, young Draco Soul? You can not win."
"This world is not here for the pleasure of petty tyrants like you."
"Tyrant?" Dorwyn sputtered. "That is the Great Dragon you are speaking to!"
"Enough, Dorwyn!" Belladonna stepped closer to Draco. "Tyrant? We can show you how much of a tyrant We can be." A flower shaped stiletto appeared in his left hand. The council cringed out the door, but the guards remained in a semi-circle behind the King. Belladonna let loose with a series of slashes to the air. "Thornrose come forth."
Lady Thornrose appeared, bowed to her king and asked his bidding.
"The gift you have bestowed upon the Senshi child has only one use now... Kill her."
The Lady's face fell. "But, she is my gift to Floribunda."
"And you will be the gift to the Crystal if you do not do as I say."
"Yes, sire." She nodded her head, taking up the energies of the Thorn.
"No!" Draco jumped in front of Deli.
"That is no use, Draco Soul." Thornrose's voice held sadness. "It shall be done."
"Fantasy Wither." Sailor Nike's smoke reached for Belladonna and Thornrose as she landed in front of Draco Soul.
"Sailor Nike?" Thornrose hissed.
Belladonna blew the smoke away with the flick of his wrist.
The guards pushed past Belladonna, aiming to cease Nike.
"Slumber of the Faerie Queen." This time her Staff of Illusory Welcoming glowed green and tiny blue faeries flew out to sprinkle the guards with sleeping powder. "Draco, get Miss Sendle out of here."
"What?"
"Take Miss Sendle out of here. I will handle Floribunda."
"Right." He scooped Deli up again and headed for the window.
"I have warned you too many times, Lady Thornrose."
That was the last thing Draco heard before taking the three-story plunge. He landed running.
"Deli? Deli, wake up! I know you're in there!" He slipped into a copse of trees to take a look back at the temple when he realized that Deli wasn't breathing.
To be continued...