A/N: ALRIGHT!! THE FINAL CHAPTER BEFORE THE EPILOUGE!!!!!!!!!! And Atanihx is 'Hinata' backwards with an added x. That's the Naruto crossover part I spoke of. :: Final Fantasy: End of the Nightmare :: Ami ran towards the throne room, the blueprint of the palace memorized in her mind. She had to get there, inform the Pharoh of the dangers to her daughter, and get the backup Makoto and Rei's past self deserved. The blue haired woman approached the throne room and threw open the doors. Only to have several hundred spear points aimed at her chest. ::::---::: Pharoh Serenity had seen much in her lifetime. She had seen bloody wars and massacres, raids and murders. She had seen her parents slaughtered before her very eyes, and was forced to take the crown before her fifteenth summer. "My queen," Came the soft voice of her longtime advisor and friend. "This is the woman that I have seen. She does not pose a threat to us." Serenity turned to Atanihx. The woman was calm and serene, with long, violet tinted hair and endless, milky white orbs. But Atanihx was not blind. The gift of her bloodline was the gift of the mind eye; the violet haired woman could infiltrate an enemy's mind in a matter of moments. "I see. Guards, back away." The palace guards looked at one another confused, but complied with the woman's wish nonetheless. They backed away and the blue haired woman was allowed to breathe without fear of impaling herself. "Atanihx," The Mind-Seeker nodded and crouched to the blue haired woman's level. "Look into my eyes child," As navy blue met startiling white, the world spun. "And let me see your soul..." Flashes of a strange, new world passed through her mind like water. 'Ami Mizuno is her name...' Then, there came the image of a bloodsplattered night. The princess and the desert warrior, entwined, surrounded by a sea of death. A genie, hugging her close, whispering sweet nothings. The desert warrior again, but with fangs and claws, and eyes like a demon's. 'The curse! We need to stop the curse!' Atanihx resurfaced from the corriders of the Ami Mizuno's mind. "My queen," she spoke, her words crisp and sharp. "A snake lives within our midst." :::---::: Makoto cursed and blocked Nephrite's oncoming blow with her forearm before retailiating with a sharp thrust of her knee. Her magic was seriously running low; transporting Ami and herself into the past was a huge toll, and trying to find the source of Usagi's energy had exhausted the last reserves of her magic. Unfortunately, they hadn't found Usagi yet, and now Makoto was basically a mortal now. Rei had disposed of Jadeite, and was now in the middle of fighting off Zoisite, who had in his possesion petals of the Poison Lotus, whose nectar could liquidate anything. And then there was the ever stoic Kunzite, who they knew absolutly nothing about. Makoto always did enjoy challanges. "You wench!" Nephrite screamed. "I will enjoy making you scream!" Makoto grinned humorlessly. "Wow, no first date? Just straight to the action then?" At Nephrite's blank look, she sighed and once again took up her battle stance. "Never mind." Nephrite charged and swung widliy, blinded by fury and revenge. Makoto easily dodged them, flowing between the punches and kicks, becoming like the water. A sharp, mindblowing jab of pain sliced across her side made her cry out. She leaped away from the brown haired man, holding her side. Nephrite smirked and displayed the handheld blade that curved over his knuckles. A trail of ruby red trickled down its side. 'My blood...' "You did not think that I would fight you hand to hand did you?" he mocked. "I am brave, but not stupid." "Could of fooled me!" Makoto snapped. She charged at him again. This time, she dropped to the ground and swung her foot out, much like Rei did to Jadeitie. As expected, Nephrite jumped over her foot, and aimed his blades at her unprotected neck. "Die!!" he roared. Makoto smirked, then fell to her back. She lifted her legs and aimed a kick at the one place she knew would affect him. He let out an almost girlish shriek and fell to the floor, his blades forgotten as he clutched at his groin. The genie laughed and stood up. She then faced Kunzite. The silver haired man lifted an eyebrow at his weeping comerade. "That is certainly not a fighting style I am familiar with." he commented dryly. Makoto cracked her neck and allowed her feet to slide apart, fitting into a defensive position while hiding the minor side wound. "It's called, 'Makoto Style'. Learn it." ::::-----::::: Rei yelped as one of Zoisite's petals nearly touched her cheek. The man chuckled and began to throw more of the dangerous blossom at the desert girl, faster with each toss. Rei rolled and dived away, but even with her slightly inhuman stamina, she was going to tire out sooner or later. 'Got to end this quickly! But how!?' --Release me.-- Her violet eyes widened at the whisper of the demon. 'Wh-What!?' --Release me. Now.-- She groaned and held her head. Not now! She really couldn't afford to argue with the demon now!! She grunted and barley dodged another flurry of petals. -- I will only harm those you tell me to.-- 'Harm Zoisite and Kunzite then!' Heat, intense and consuming erupted in her body. The air around her began to heat as well, reacting to the violent storm inside of the young woman. She gasped and collapsed to the ground, holding her heart as it began to beat spastically. 'Wh-what's happening!?' --Relax child. Become what you were meant to be.-- Flames swirled around her body, and then, she was fire, all molten heat of destruction. Her body was consumed, and merged with the fire until there was no 'Rei', there was no demon. There was only the heat, the passion, the desire and will to protect. Zoisite backed away, afraid that he woud be consumed as well. But with less positive results. The flames swirled for a few more minutes, then they receded to reveal the new warrior. "Holy shit..." Makoto gasped. Rei was no longer clothed in the leather armor of soldiers. Her feet were clad in red mocasins which tied up to mid calf by a red silk ribbon. Around her waist was a red linen wrap, which made a 'V' at her waist. Her midriff was bare, displaying the ritual tatoos that had been carved into her body. Her breats were covered by a lavender wraparound that ended in a small bow at the front. Attatched to the middle of the bow, was a heart-shaped ruby, gleaming with magic. The lavender wraparound was also supported by red ribbons that were tied at the nape of her neck. White fingerless gloves hugged her forearms, ending at the elbow where a red ribbon held them in place. Around her head, was a golden tiara shaped like a cobra, whose head was resting on Rei's forehead, right above the bridge of her nose. And hanging from it's mouth, was an oval shaped ruby, suspended from a small silver chain. "Now," the desert warrior spoke, her voice dripping with malice. "Where were we?" Zoisite hesitated, then threw more of the dangerous flower at the black haired girl. Rei made no move to dodge them. "Rei!" Makoto screamed. As the petals neared the girl, they eurpted into flames a few centimeters away from her chest, their ashes drifting to the ground. The desert girl lifted an elegant brow. "Is that the best you can do?" Without waiting for his answer, she attacked. The tips of her index finger and middle finger began to glow. "Burning..." With an elegant twist of her body, she created a circle of fire. Ancient runes bean to glow within the circle, each at a directional point. North, northeast, northwest,south,southeast,southwest, east, and west. She spread her legs and placed both of her hands, palms up, in Zoisite's direction. "Mandala!" At her command, rings of fire ripped from her palms and sped towards the guard. He stared wideeyed at the oncoming attack, surprised to no end when the fiery rings merely slashed the pouches that contained the flower petals. He looked back to see the petals of the Poison Lotus burning away to nothing. "Do not think I will let you live." Zoisite turned to see that Rei had created a bow and arrow, made entirley out of flames. Aimed at his heart. Her purple eyes glared at him. "Flame..." "Zoisite!" A larger, more muscular body covered his own. Silver hair trailed over his shoulder. Zoisite's eyes widened. "Kunzite!" he gasped. "Sniper!!" Kunsite screamed as the flaming arrow pierced his back, then pierced Zoisite's chest, the force of the attack sending both men sprawling to the floor. "W-why?" Zoisite coughed, ruby red blood trickling from his lips. "You are precious to me," Kunzite whispered. "I could not allow you to die alone." Zoisite smiled, a truly happy one as he closed his eyes. "Sentimental fool." he murmured. Nephrite wobbled unsteadly to his feet, still weakened by Makoto's low blow. "Kunzite! Zoisite! No!" he screamed. The two men were dead, as was Jadeite. "Damn you!" he roared to Rei. The raven haired beauty turned to regard the enraged man with cool eyes. She lifted a palm. "Fire Bird." With that, a bird made of fire shot from her palm and shrieked as it zoomed towards Nephrite. The brown haired man roared yet again, a cry of anger and sorrow, as he aimed his final punch at the fire bird. The bird opened its beak and caught the fist, going so fast it pushed Nephrite out of the window and into the night sky, where it consumed him in a blaze of red. He didn't even scream. Makoto stared at the warrior. She was truly dangerous now that she had completely merged with the demon. Now she was going to be unpredictable, perhaps become worse than the Cursed One. Rei turned to Makoto. And bowed. "I have completed the favor I was asked." she murmured. The clothes she had on suddenly dissolved and reformed back into the leather armor, leaving Rei to collapse onto the ground. Makoto rushed and captured the exhausted woman in her arms. "Rei!" she whispered, shaking the unconcious woman in her arms. Rei groaned and her eyes fluttered open. "Makoto?" she groaned. Makoto sighed in relief. "You're okay." the genie of the future breathed. The raven haired girl forced herself up into a sitting position. "Yes I'm--" A shrill scream ripped through the night, blood curdiling and heartstopping. Makoto yelped and looked around, a cold sweat coating her face. Whoever that scream belonged to-- "Usagi!" Rei yelled as she leaped up and began to run towards the top of the palace. Makoto followed. :::----:::: Ami ran with Atanihx to the source of the scream. "I have no doubt that the scream belongs to the princess!" Atanihx explained breathlessly. Ami bit her lip and allowed the advisor to lead them to the top. "I don't think we'll be able to stop Endyimon by ourselves!" Ami cried. "Then you will not be by yourselves." Ami and Atanihx stopped and turned to see... "Minako! Setsuna!" Ami gasped. It was indeed the past selves of the blonde and the One of Magicks. Minako looked so much different, childish blue eyes replaced with hard sapphires. "I offer my assistance." the blonde said with a small bow of her head. Setsuna joined the advisor and the proffeser in their trek to reach the princess. Minako followed shortly, and soon, the four women were racing to the top. :::::----:::: "Let me go!" Usagi shrieked as Edyimon dragged her to the edge. The pharoh said nothing for a while, then whirled on her to clamp his hands on her throat, swinging her to dangle over the egde of the perilous abyss. "Want me to let go now?" he taunted. Usagi screamed, though it was hoarse. She grabbed Endyimon's wrist with her hands. "You should have never lain with that, that--desert whore!!" he spat out. Usagi's eyes flashed dangerously. "Don't you dare call Rei that you snake!" she hissed. Endyimon laughed. "I will call her however I want!!" he sneered. He smirked and loosened his grip on the blonde's throat, causing her to slip a bit. She bit her lips to keep from crying out in fear. "Get your hands off of her!!!" Rei roared as she drew the scimatar that rested at her hip. Holding it over her head, she charged, seeing red as that pig dared to touch what was hers. The demon, so close to the surface, sprang and Rei was lost in a sea of flames. Endyimon's eyes bugged out of his head as the girl--no, the creature sprang out of the fire and leaped toward him with a savage growl. He wasted no time in dropping the princess in favor of springing away. He watched in glee as the creature dived over the top in order to save her. "Fools!" he laughed. "You're both fools!" "He who calls one fool, is the fool Endyimon." Endyimon gasped and whirled around. :::::---::::: Usagi nearly died of fright as she was dropped from Endyimon's grasp. She screamed and closed her eyes, awaiting her fate. It never came. Instead, the feel of silky feathers carresed her face, and warmth spreaded from her lips to her entire body. Someone was kissing her, but-- "Rei?!" she gasped in disbelief. This was the physical embodiment of Rei's demon, she realized. Feathers, the color of flames, covered Rei's entire body, save for her face which was human. Her hands and feet were now three toed talons, black in color and dangerously sharp, yet she knew that Rei would never cut her with those sharp claws. Large wings sprouted from her back, huge in wingspan, almost a large as their mistress was tall. Rei smiled and cradled the blonde princess to her feathered chest and pulled them up and flapped her wings. They soared in the night, Usagi breathless when they reached the peak. Rei's wings flapped to keep them afloat. "Hold onto me," the demon girl said, her voice containing a growl that made Usagi's heart flutter. Obediantly, she wrapped her arms around Rei's waist, shivering at the feel of the satin smooth feathers and the empty air. "Endyimon!" The demon girl roared. She raised her palm and soon gathered a large ball of heat and energy. "Die!" With that, she puled back her arm and flung the energy ball at the pharoh. :::---:::: Makoto dived down and pulled Ami underneath her body to sheild her love from the intense heat and the horrifiing sounds of Endyimon's screams. She dared a glance and saw Atanihx had long hidden behind a stone obelisk, and Minako had drawn the sorceress into her arms behind another stone obelisk. Minutes passed. When the heat had receded, the women sat up slowly and looked at the black scortchmark that marked Endyimon's final resting place. More minutes passed; an eternity seemed to tick away. "It's over," Ami whispered. "It's finally over...the nightmare will never come to pass..." Makoto said nothing, but drew Ami into a breathtaking kiss that lasted another eternity. ---That Morning...----- "By the power of Ra, and with my blessing," Pharoh Serenity finished with a smile. "I bind these two lifeforces together as one; may the gods favor you always." Usagi, daughter of the Pharoh and princess of the Nile turned to her beloved. She was breathtaking, her body wrapped in pure white silk and her heart in her smile. Rei, daughter of the desert sun and princess of demons smiled back, ever so gently. Her body was, for once, without armor. Instead, much to Usagi's surprise, she was dressed in the same, pitch black robes she had worn when they had met. "What are you waiting for!?" Makoto yelled with a grin. "Kiss her already!" Rei blushed gently, then placed her hands on Usagi's waist, drawing her in for the kiss that would seal their lives together. "Ti amerò per sempre, o mia dea del Sole..." Rei whispered before kissing the love of her life, her one and only. The desert roared with the cheers of the people, all cheering for the princess, and her raven haired love. "Ready to go?" Makoto asked as she held Ami close. Ami nodded, and with a swirl of green magic, they dissapeared into the timestream, back to the future. The nightmare, was over.
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