MST 'EM: Rainbow Eclipse (Part Seven)

Mystery Science Theater En Masse

Four Riffers, Episode 7: Rainbow Eclipse (Part Seven)

Here it is, Chapter 9. This is the second to last chapter. I am so excited. I actually managed to keep the whole story under 10 chapters. Yay for me!

Emi, Axl: *glares at the screen*
Miyu: Akiko... how hard did those brain bleach products hit them again?
Akiko: I don't know. They've just gone silent since they recovered. Maybe they'll speak soon.

Thank you Mary Ann and Corie for sticking with me.

Axl: *in a gravelly voice* Not to mention the riffers that had to deal with this...

It's almost over, and then I can start on my new fan-fic! Promise you'll read that one too. Shin_kazima, MJ Parrish, Kimoco and all my allies on the WP forum, thanks for an interesting few weeks!

Miyu: Few weeks? Does this mean that this fic was just written in a few weeks?
Emi: *in a low voice* Well, Stephenie Meyer wrote "Twilight" in a few months. Look what happened to that.
Akiko: Uh... she made millions of dollars and had five badly acted films based on the books?
Emi: Yeah... that, too.

Disclaimer: Guess what? No, go on, take a wild guess. I'll give you three chances. What's that? You say I don't own Sailor Moon?! You win! Right in one! Yayyyyyy for you!

Axl: Do I win another ticket to the emergency room since I "guessed correctly"?

Rainbow Eclipse
Rated PG

Chapter 9
Forgiveness

Akiko: *with a pint of ice cream, points at Miyu, Emi, and Axl with her spoon* Yeah, forgiveness is going to be hard with those three.

The scouts watched, helpless, as Sailor Moon flew backward. The World Shaking threw her over Eclipse's motorcycle and into a scaffold. The scaffold, shaky at best, collapsed on top of her, scattering paint cans and tools everywhere.

Emi: Our substitute riffers forgot to bring one important detail up. In the manga, the Moon Kingdom was fully restored at the end of the first arc. And this fic is supposed to be set after the fifth.
Akiko: Well, I'm wondering about the paint cans on the Moon. Won't they burst in space or something?
Axl: Yeah, that's logic. We can't have that.

All the scouts stood still, unable to make their bodies move. A shrill scream broke the silence.
"NO! Oh, gods, not again!" Sailor Eclipse, who had been lying flat on the ground, pulled herself up.

Miyu: *looks at Cassy's notes* So... the Sue stood there, Sailor Moon pushed her out of the way, and she got hit in her place.
Axl: And I'm still supposed to feel sorry for that foolish Sue? Yeah. No.

Staggering slightly, Sailor Eclipse began jogging toward the rubble. Bending down, the rebel scout pulled a board off the top of the pile and threw it aside. Working as quickly as she could, the sailor scout continued pulling metal cans and wood scraps away from the last place she had seen Sailor Moon.

Emi: Why didn't she use her telekinesis to move the rubble?
Axl: Sues just... forget things. They brag and forget.
Akiko: *as Eclipse* It's more dramatic if I remove all of this stuff with my bare hands!

Breaking free of their mental paralysis, the other scouts rushed to help. All animosity between Eclipse and the others was momentarily forgotten.

Axl: Until they killed the Sue and offered her as a sacrifice two seconds later.

Uranus, tears pouring down her face, had collapsed where she stood, and Neptune was comforting her. Tuxedo Mask was digging fervently.
he thought.

Akiko: Wait, people can think in this fic?!
Emi: Too bad we'll never know what he thought.

Finally a shout came from Sailor Mercury. She had uncovered Sailor Moon's leg. All the scouts rushed to that spot, nearly killing each other by throwing metal and wood haphazardly. It was Tuxedo Mask who uncovered her at last.

Miyu: *lifts a pillow with her telekinesis* Nope, that doesn't exist.

Hauling her away from the debris, he held her in his arms.
Mercury began her scan.
"No pulse," Mercury whispered. The other scouts gaped at her. Tuxedo Mask merely stared, unable to comprehend the statement.

Axl: *holding a microphone* Well, Mary Sue, what do you have to say?
Miyu: *as Eclipse* Wha... it was her fault! She took the attack for me!
Axl: Sue, I don't know if I should agree with you or kick you in your knees. I think I should do the latter since you've mentally tormented us.

Darien didn't realize he had spoken his thoughts aloud. At these sentiments, all the scouts began sobbing.

Emi: Uh... what thoughts? I didn't see any words.
Akiko: Sue ate them. She needed more life force.

Sailor Uranus closed her eyes in a pain beyond tears.
Sailor Mars was immobile, her face and eyes blank. She just sat, staring at the lifeless body of her best friend, memories of Serena racing through her head. But Sailor Pluto gave a small smile. She turned to Sailor Eclipse, who smiled back. Together they approached the group of mourners.

Akiko: Uh... you two are some sick freaks. *as Pluto and Eclipse* Yes, yes, she's dead! *laughs evilly*

"How much do you love her?" Sailor Eclipse asked, completely out of the blue. The grieving scouts looked at her incredulously.
"How can you ASK that?" Sailor Jupiter raged. "You as good as KILLED her!"
"Control yourself, solider.

Axl: Eat a dick, Sue. How can they control themselves if she's dead?
Emi: You know she won't stay dead for long, Mr. James.
Axl: Yeah, I know. But still, that just made me want to puke.

I ask again; how much do you love her? Enough to die for her?"
"Yes." Tuxedo Mask replied no hesitation in his voice.
"Then listen well. I am the antithesis of Sailor Saturn. While she has the power to destroy, I possess the power to create. I can restore buildings, oceans…and lives. Not on the scale of a civilization, but nonetheless,"
Eclipse shook her head bitterly and fell silent. waiting for the scouts to absorb this information.

Miyu: *sees a puddle* Oh, dear. *quickly mops the puddle up*
Akiko: *as Eclipse* Hey, Moon's dead, but wait! I have to show off more of my powers because I'm better than all of you!
Axl: God, I hate this stupid fic.
Emi: It's even worse when you consider that the Sue now has an ability that Neo-Queen Serenity has... only weaker.
Miyu: Not to mention that she's truly eclipsed... pardon the pun... Sailor Moon. One of Sailor Moon's powers is resurrection, especially when the manga showed her undoing the damage that Queen Metalia caused. This Mary Sue literally stole Sailor Moon's abilities to make herself look better.
Akiko: *speechless*
Axl: Freakin' what?! *hits himself* God, I really hate this stupid fic!

The scouts gasped at this matter of fact statement. A slim ray of hope pierced their grief.
"I can save her, but I need a spark, a spark of life from each of you. When I have that, I shall use my life energy to weave a new life force for Sailor Moon. I cannot do it without you, and the choice is entirely yours. But be aware, time is limited. I know that I have given you no reason to trust me, but you must do so now."

Akiko: Uh... so you need to steal some life force from them as well? Man, you really are an energy vampire!

The scouts considered for a moment. They had nothing to lose…except Serena. That thought decided them. As one, the scouts, all eight of them and Tuxedo Mask nodded.
"Very well. Close your eyes, and think of Serena. The removal of life will hurt a great deal, but you must be strong and think only of the one you wish to save. Begin."

Axl: Welp, if it fails and everyone dies, Emi can roast the Sue alive.

Sailor Eclipse closed her eyes, and the scouts followed suit. One by one they formed thoughts of Serena.
Eating ice cream, studying, playing video games, running after Darien, and fighting with Raye. One by one they all focused on Serena, the beautiful girl who had forever changed their lives by saving them from their loneliness.

Emi: So... we're revisiting the Sailor Moon R film. Okay, then.
Akiko: I'm actually surprised that someone that's not the Sue was described as "beautiful".
Axl: Yeah, even though it was on her temporary death bed.

Mars was the first to feel the tug. It felt like a part of her was being ripped forcibly away, and her mind automatically tightened against this. But as thoughts of Serena returned, Mars forced herself to relax. She let go of the small piece of her that was wanted. Sighing, she felt a peace descend on her. The balance of her life was being restored. One at a time the scouts felt the tug, and the ensuing pain, and they let it go.

Miyu: You know, when the Senshi had to use their powers to combine with Sailor Moon's... it didn't take a single shred of their life forces away.
Axl: This is official proof that Mary Sues can slowly kill ya. The canon characters always have to be punished for a Sue's dumb actions.

they thought as one

Akiko: *wearing a pair of fake glasses, scribbling in a notepad* No capitalization, no punctuation... F! Minus!

* * *
Serena was vapor. She was insubstantial and she didn't care.

Axl: Yeah, the fic made her insubstantial to begin with. Now she officially quit caring!

Red and white was all around her. Suddenly, a glimmer caught her eye. Turning, she saw a figure in a rainbow cape materialize.

The woman nodded and grinned. In her hand she held a ball of fire. The fire sparkled with ten colors, from blue to red to garnet to black. The colors shifted and blended.

Akiko: Black? What Senshi has that color?
Emi: Probably the Sue. You already know that her name is Sailor Eclipse.
Akiko: Oh. Heh.

Eclipse closed her eyes and Serena saw a surge of white light leave her heart. Smiling, Serena watched, as the ball of fire became a beautifully vibrant pink.
Serena thought.
Eclipse trailed off.

Miyu: Wouldn't that imply that she spoke? Because she hasn't said a single thing in this scene.

Another glimmer had appeared. A figure materialized, but this woman had long silver hair confined in buns and pigtails. A long white dress flowed to the ground, and a golden crescent moon sigil on her forehead shone in the pale light. Queen Serenity had appeared.
Serena called out in delight. Queen Serenity smiled at her daughter.
The queen turned her attention on the scout still holding the ball of fire.
I greet you, friend of my heart. Eclipse replied, her mental voice shaky.

Axl: This is coming from the Sue who boasted about how she was better than the damn Queen. Now she's wavering.
Akiko: This is just so... bad.

Eclipse hung her head, tears dripping onto the ball of fire, causing it to glow more brightly.

Miyu: Yes. A Sue's "crystal tears" make everything better. What does she do that isn't amazing?
Axl: It'd be amazing to me if the Sue just keeled over.

Eclipse nodded, smiling through her tears.
I miss you, Serenity. Every day, its like a constant ache.

Emi: Did she take that from Master Kyo's poetry book?

Eclipse laughed with Serenity. The two women looked at each other, smiling.
Queen Serenity began to fade.

Emi: That was as funny as...
Miyu: *pushes glasses up* Waiting in line at the DMV, perhaps?
Emi: I guess so, Miss Prower.

Eclipse fired back.
I must go. Save my dear Serena, Destiny. You are in my heart, always.

Axl: *mutters* They don't have time to save the Sue's brain in the process?
Akiko: *sings* 'Cause you'll be in my heart... yes, you'll be in my heart...

Eclipse replied.
Queen Serenity faded from view.
Turning, Eclipse saw Serena. She grinned cheekily and held out the ball of pink fire. she intoned.

Gift of the hearts
Who love
Heart of the souls
Who give
Soul of the minds
Who trust
ALCADIRIA!

Miyu: *wearing a top hat, waves a wand* Alakazam!
Axl: Suethor, you're making your Sue sound a lot dumber than she already is with those made up words.
Akiko: Person who loves... has a gift... of purity... flimflamababble!
Emi: *laughs*

Serena watched as the ball of pink flame left Eclipse's hands and rose towards her. Unafraid, Serena opened her arms to the glow. As it entered her body, Serena felt warmth and life spreading through her. All doubt and fear was banished in the face of that blinding light.

Emi: And then Eclipse grinned evilly. Serena was completely obliterated by the light. The End.
Miyu: *shocked* O... kay... uh... Emiko, you're just as morbid as Cassidy.

Serena noticed that both she and Eclipse were glowing.

Serena asked

Axl: Asked what? Did the bad formatting eat the damn words again?

Laughing, the two turned toward a glowing white light that had formed at another point in the never ending red and white space.

Akiko: Welcome to Heaven! Enjoy your stay! Elvis is performing tonight!
Axl: Wait, fat or thin Elvis?
Akiko: Uh... he changes shape when he feels like it! This is Heaven!

* * *

Serena woke slowly in comforting arms.
"Darien!" she gasped.
"Welcome back, my love." Darien said, tears streaming down his face.

Miyu: Don't you just love how Darien's... er, Tuxedo Mask's tears are regular tears?
Akiko: Yeah, he's not special like the Sue is! He's not supposed to have those shimmering crystal tears!

The rest of the scouts dashed away tears as they attacked her with hugs. After the initial relief, Serena powered down and stood.

Axl: Serena powered down to Serena? Yeah, Sailor Moon's truly dead!

Supported by Mars and Darien, Serena made her way to Uranus. Uranus threw herself at Serena, clutching her close as she sobbed.

Emi: Since when did Sailor Uranus cry?
Axl: Like it matters. Everyone's been tossed into the out of character blender. It's way too late to repair them.

"I am so sorry Serena! I wasn't thinking, I lost my temper, I never meant to…"
"Shhhh. It wasn't your fault. Eclipse can be aggravating at times."
"To say the least." Uranus said, wiping away her tears.

Axl: "Aggravating" is a giant understatement here.
Akiko: *cringes* Serena's rather calm about that. And it's scaring me a lot.
Emi: That is your excuse for letting the Sue get away with this? Are you kidding me?!
Axl: That Bleepka's looking mighty good again...
Miyu: No, Axl!

"Where is she, anyway? I want to thank her."

Axl: For what?! *as Serena* Oh, thanks for being the catalyst of my temporary death and not deflecting Uranus's World Shaking with your bajillion Sue powers! *normal voice* No! Screw you!

Serena looked at all the scouts who stared blankly back. Serena turned to Sailor Pluto, a question in her eyes. Pluto gave a little half smile.

Emi: Pluto... why are you being a pod person... never mind. They're all pod people.

"She had to leave. She must sort things out, decide how she feels. Besides, her band is about to become wildly famous and she'll be busy.

*A large puddle splashes on all four riffers.*
All: *screaming in agony*
Miyu: I've never felt so unclean in my entire life!
Akiko: I'm calling for a shower as soon as we're done with this chapter!
Emi: Good. We don't have that much to go, anyway.
Axl: Thank the freakin' heavens for that! This is an awful feeling right now!

But you will see her again. She is always with you."

Miyu: *adjusts glasses* Like the Force, but a billion times worse.

Serena nodded, bizarrely content with this strange answer. If ever the time should come when Eclipse was needed, Serena knew she would come. After all, that's what friends are for.

Akiko: *in a cheerful tone* Yeah, friends always try to kill other friends! Murder is magic!
Emi: We are definitely going to be sued now.

Let me know what you think! Stay with me for Chapter 10.

Axl: You do not want to know what I think, lady.
All: *slinks off to clean up*
*Two hours later*
All: *sits back down*
Miyu: Well, in our absence... the couch has been hauled off and burned by Kyo. He was very giddy that he had to burn something.
Akiko: At least this new couch is very comfortable.
Axl: So was the old one. And, uh... did we really need guys in hazmat suits to clean us off?
Emi: It was for the greater good, Mr. James.

The Epilogue a.k.a. Chapter 10. Enjoy

Mary Ann, Tamahome is mine. You cannot have him. Sorry, you are my bestest friend, but you can't have him. Corie, he's off limits to you too! And so are Hotohori and Lantis and Eagle, whilst I'm naming names! The are ALL mine!

Axl: Lady, take your Jerry Springer drama somewhere else. I don't have time for that.

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon is not mine. It is going to take years of therapy to come to grips with that. May as well get started.

Emi: *narrows her eyes, shakes her head*
Miyu: *adjusts glasses* That was as funny as that show "Work It".

Rainbow Eclipse
Rated G

Chapter 10 – Epilogue
The Turning of the Page

Serena received a mysterious package in the mail two months after the showdown at the Crystal Palace.

Axl: Which was on the Moon in the 30th century or some crap because what the hell is consistency?

Inside the small, square package were two things; a CD and a letter.
The CD bore the logo 'MYSTIC VISIONS; Icing of the Sun' and had a picture of the band of the cover, with Destiny front and center.

Akiko: Yeah, Sues need to be front and center or they'll die of attention starvation!

Serena had been following the band's progress in the magazines and knew that a major record label had offered the band a great deal a month and a half before.
The band had recorded their first CD and the songs 'Icing of the Sun' and 'Mind's Mirage' had soared to Numbers 1 and 2 in the first week. Every time Serena turned on the radio, she heard mention of Mystic Visions. The band had become an international success, sweeping music awards around the world. 'Icing of the Sun' had gone platinum last week, and the music word stood in awe of this rising star. The band was now involved in a world-wide tour and were planning to record a second album.

*Another large puddle hits the four riffers.*
All: *screaming* Not again!
Axl: *swearing loudly*
Miyu: That's it! Intermission, guys!
All: *runs out*
*Two more hours later*
All: *slowly sits down*
Emi: I'd like to know who managed to foot the bill for those hazmat suit people.
Miyu: I don't know, but I do know that Kyo was excited to burn more things today. It's like he won the lottery.
Axl: Okay, he really is a pyromaniac.
Miyu: He's your friend, Axl.
Axl: *smugly* Yeah, but I'm not dating him, Miyu.
Akiko: *puts on a raincoat, gets out an umbrella* I'm not taking any risks here. No more risks.
Emi: *calmly slides under the umbrella* At least you got a big umbrella, Akiko.

Serena headed for her room and popped the CD in, listening as Skott and Destiny sang the title track.

Akiko: What... what's the point of this chapter?
Emi: Nothing. Well, nothing except the part where we have to shill the Sue one more time before she goes back to her rightful spot in Hell.

ICING OF THE SUN

I walk alone
And people call to me
But visions of the past
Stop me from being
What I want to be

Miyu: *adjusts glasses* Which is a well-rounded character.

The truth is
That what I seek
Is like vapor in the dawn
It fades before it can be caught
Before it can be won

Axl: Especially when the damn truth was in front of your face the whole time, you nitwit.

It's like icing
Icing of the sun
That melts away as just as quickly as
It touches my heart
It fades
So quickly that I'm not
Sure it was ever really there
I wander lost in memory
And dream

Akiko: Wait, she had a heart?
Emi: *shrugs*

I'm hoping for the one
Who will take me far away
I don't dare to seek
For I'm not sure what I will find

Axl: Sue, this is Kyo LeMaire. Enjoy your time with him, because he'll be more than happy to take you far away!

Some deadly truth
That even I can't face
For memories are deadly
And hard to erase

Emi: Especially the deadly ones that you've caused.

It's like icing
Icing of the sun
That melts away as quickly as
It touches my heart
It fades
So quickly that I'm not
Sure it was ever really there
I wander lost in memory
And dream

Miyu: *adjusts glasses* I hope that riffing this fic was just a dream.
Akiko: I wish, Miyu-chan. The puddles smacked me back into reality.

Serena smiled and opened the letter. Shocked to realize it was from Destiny,

Axl: *headdesks* This! Stupid! Moron! Right! Here!

Serena sat and read the lilting print. Tears filled her eyes as she read it.

Emi: Oops, and she smudged the print with her tears. Looks like we won't be able to listen to the nonsense -- I mean, letter! Letter!

Serena~

I wanted to tell you how sorry I am for not saying goodbye. I was confused

Axl: *coughbullshitcough*

and your friends were more than willing to see me on my way. I had to go. My life has turned out to be much more complicated than I thought.

Akiko: Yeah, nothing's more complicated than being a computer hacker, knowing four languages, being a model, taking a bunch of film courses in college... and winning a bunch of music awards! And doing all of that easily, in fact! *mutters* Man, that just burns me up.

I want to see you the next time I'm in town. It won't be for a while, but if you're cool with it, maybe we could get together. Have coffee or ice cream. Talk mostly. I'd be glad to answer any questions you have about the Silver Millenium.

Emi: *as Destiny* But only if they pertain to how awesome I was, am, and will continue to be.

I'm just hedging, I know. The real point of this letter is to thank you. You saved me in a very real sense.
You saved me from myself, and from the path of destruction I had set myself on. Thank you for that.

Axl: Wait. Hold everything. The Sue admitted that she was wrong?!
Miyu, Emi, Akiko: *gasps*
Akiko: *hands Emi her umbrella, runs outside, sees a blue cube on the lawn* I think the sky's falling!
Rory: *picks the cube up* No, that's just something for my board. Heh, I had a feeling that something fell out of my box of stuff.
Akiko: Oh. *returns, sits back down* Well, I feel dumb now.

The CD is for you. I'm sure you've heard the rags to riches story of Mystic Visions, so I won't bore you.

Miyu: *as Destiny* But I will... eventually.
Axl: Please, it wasn't rags to riches. It was "riches to richer". Those folks weren't even struggling.
Emi: Character development doesn't exist.

But number 12 is a little piece I wrote for Serenity. I'm told that it is climbing the charts to number 1,

Emi: Because Mary Sues never settle for second best.

and I wanted you to now that the song is for her, and for you, a little.

Axl: Because screw you, Princess Serenity.

I'm writing a song for you. It'll be on the next album. It's called 'Light in the Darkness.' I'll get you a free copy. Autographed, no less. I can get you concert tickets and backstage passes for the next concert we do in Tokyo. Let me know if you 're interested

Akiko: Y'know, if she wasn't a crummily done character, I'd probably hang out with the rock star part of her!

Stay true to yourself Serena. You are your mother's daughter in every way, and that is the highest compliment I can give you. If ever you need me, just close your eyes and think of me, and I will come, no matter where I am.

Miyu: *waves her hands frantically* No! No, no, we don't need to think of you! We don't need to think of you for a very long time!

I owe you my life and my sanity, and I offer you my friendship.
You're all right, kid, and I swear my fealty and allegiance to you as the future Queen of Crystal Tokyo.

Thank you again,
Destiny

Emi: Thank you and goodbye. Preferably forever.

Serena smiled at the letter, then rose and crossed to her CD player. Pushing the FF button, Serena jumped the disc to number 12 and settled back to listen.

Axl: Why do we need another song?
Miyu: I don't know. At least this fic's almost over.
Axl: Thank god.

THE EVENING STAR

All through my life
Things changed in crazy ways
People came and went
The season's passed me by
And the world seemed so large

But you were always there
To take my hand
And guide me on my way
I stood tall and proud for you
You saw me through it all

Emi: Uh... the Sue bragged that she was so much better than Queen Serenity. Now she's thanking her. Yeah, sure.

You were as constant
As the brightly shining moon
You stood strong as all the mountains
Your voice was like a favorite song
You showed me the way
Through night and day
Leading me along
My constant in this mixed up world
You're my Evening Star

Akiko: I know it's supposed to be a close friendship, but... this just makes it sound like--
Axl: *snickers* Don't even go there.

You showed me all the beauty
That was here in this place
You taught me, and guided me
With patience like the sun
You never let me falter
But you were there to see me run

Axl: ...off a cliff.

Miyu: Also, if Serenity led her, I'm absolutely positive that the events in this fic would not have happened.

My only constant in this mixed-up world
As shining as, as lovely as, as pure and bright and shining as
My only Evening Star.

Akiko: *whispers to Emi* Is she done singing about herself now?
Emi: *snickers*

Serena was crying when the song had ended.

All: *unfazed*
Axl: *woodenly* Yeah, that just tugged at my heartstrings.

came the unexpected reply,

Miyu: What reply? And where's the complete sentence?
Axl: Guess it got eaten. Again.

Smiling, Serena nodded and rose to turn of her stereo.
Putting the CD carefully back in its case, she stored the disc with the others in her collection.
"Serena, your friends are here!"
"Thanks, Mom."
Serena grabbed her beach back and slipped on her sandals.

Akiko: She grabbed her back?
Miyu: Ouch.

Running downstairs, Serena kissed her mom goodbye and ran outside into the warm afternoon, her heart soaring with the clouds.

Axl: Uh... I think Serena just turned into a human Miss Potato Head. She can remove her back and her heart!
Emi: Mr. James... I don't think that Potato Heads had removable organs.
Akiko: Why not? She did lose her brain. Or was that the Sue for most of this fic?
Miyu: *gets up* I'd say both. Anyway... we're finally done!
All: *cheering*
Akiko: Yeah, now what?
Axl: *gets some luggage* Packing. Going on a long vacation. I'll see you... next century.
Emi: *to Akiko* Uh... he didn't get the Sue's powers of immortality, did he?
Akiko: *shrugs* Probably not.
Miyu: Um, Axl... you'll most likely be dead before this century ends.
Axl: Exactly, Miyu. I'll see you all in Heaven with the shapeshifting Elvis!

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