Xarae, Firebird! Destiny's Phoenix Awakens!

"Eternal Sailor Iridonia!! Use your attack!! Now's the chance!" Sailor Chibi Naboo shouted across the heated battlefield. Eternal Sailor Iridonia nodded and held her attack wand out in front of her.

"Nightingale Devil Wings... Blast!" The dark attack obliterated the unusually long-lived youma.

"That was a close one," Sailor Omwat said, brushing her pearly hair out of her eyes.

"Lets get back to the Temple," Sailor Ryloth suggested.

Back at the Temple, later that night...

"Xarae?" Kairiku nervously asked the long-haired woman.

"Yes, Kairi-chan?"

"Is it just me or.... or are your attacks getting more powerful?" Xarae put down the book she was reading and took a deep breath.

"No, it's not just you. I am getting stronger."

"Is it... time?" The younger girl was, of course, referring to when Xarae would face Kendra and Sidious. Xarae sighed.

"The time is... drawing near, you are right. I have reached my full potential as a senshi... Not to mention Khameir has visited me in my dreams lately..." She trailed off.

"You must miss him so much..."

"Yes, Kairi-chan, I do. Very much." She couldn't help a tear from sliding down her cheek. Kairiku frowned sadly.

"I think it's... time for me to go to bed," she said. "Goodnight, Xarae-chan."

"Goodnight." The small odangoed girl quietly walked off to her quarters. Once she was gone, Xarae set her reading off to the side and wiped her eyes.

"You don't have to hide, Annika," Xarae said.

"I wasn't hiding! I just..."

"Didn't want me to see you. It's no use, you can't hide from me." She smiled as the white haired girl stepped out of a shadowy doorway. She sat down in a large chair across from Xarae.

"Is it true? Is your time coming?" Annika asked solemnly. Xarae cleared her throat.

"Yes, it's true. You've seen. The Sith are afraid of my power. They have been sending more and more youma to do their dirty work. I have reached my full potential as a senshi. Not to mention Khameir has been coming to me in my dreams, more often than usual, telling me over and over again that we'll be together... It is time for me to face Kendra and Sidious," Annika smiled.

"You must be excited."

"Too much for my own good, I think," Xarae giggled. "But..." Her smile quickly faded. "I will miss you guys more than life itself."

"We'll always be here Xarae. You don't have to worry about us." Xarae looked into her lap.

"I don't think i can help missing the only real friends I ever had."

The next morning...

"She's very upset about it all, I think," Annika said worriedly.

"It is a very emotional time for Xarae. She is both finding her love and leaving her friends," Seiyun said quietly.

"Let's not try not to let the whole Temple know about this, alright?" Kairiku said to the small group of senshi around her. They all nodded.

"Where is she, anyway? She sure is sleeping late today," Yukiko pointed out.

"She mentioned she was having very vivid dreams of Maul, no?" Annika nodded at Nagareboshi's question. They fell silent as Xarae walked into the room.

"Speak of the devil..." the tall pink-haired girl said quietly.

"Good morning!" the cheery Mika exclaimed, doing her best to hide her knowledge of Xarae's troubles.

"I'm going back to Iridonia," the long-haired woman said suddenly. The senshi looked at each other. "I won't be coming back." Xarae stuffed her lightsaber in a small bag. "I'm taking the Infiltrator. Anyone coming?" Her unusually harsh, tough voice echoed through the near-empty room. Nagareboshi quietly ran off to tell the others.

"Um... aren't you going to eat something first?" Yukiko asked nervously.

"I've been meditating. I don't need to eat," Xarae replied without looking back as her. She walked out in the direction of the hangar bay, and the senshi ran after her.

Xarae was silent. She was glad that she made the others take their own ships. The Black Fire Dreamer, Mind's Eye and the Silver Swan blinked on her radar screen. Xarae sighed. Her ragged breath revealed her nervousness. There is nothing wrong with being nervous, Xarae. She laughed to herself. You've been waiting for almost three years for this. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't be nervous before being reunited with their lost husband. The thought of him brought a smile to her face.

"I promise you Khameir, I will not let Sidious walk away from this one. I will avenge you, I swear I will." She gritted her teeth and tightened her grip on the ship's controls.

Later...

The weight of Xarae's foot on the land of Iridonia made a small cloud of dust rise. She sighed, then yelled out her henshin phrase, transforming into Eternal Sailor Iridonia. The wind blew through the soft feathers of her wings. She slowly arched all four of them into the sky, pointing the feathers straight into the air. The high screech of the Mind's Eye landing didn't cause Xarae to turn around. She pushed her hair behind her ears and stepped further out into the Iridonian desert.

"Sailor Iridonia!" Sailor Alderaan shouted into the wind. Xarae didn't turn or answer her. She felt the presences of Sailors Naboo, Dathomir, Chibi Dathomir, Tatooine, Chibi Naboo, Omwat, Chad, Ralittir, and others drift into her conscious as they exited the craft. The wind began to howl. Xarae put her hand to her eyes and peered across the horizon. There was a small town in the distance. She could see the high pillars of the baron's castle.

Suddenly, another screech sounded, and Sailors Bakura, Hoth, Chibi Hoth, Nebula, Ryloth, Honoghr, Yavin IV, Kessel, and Vjun stepped into her range of perception as they exited the Silver Swan. Xarae turned around, frowning.

"Are others coming?" she yelled across to the senshi.

"I'm not sure," Sailor Hoth said, shielding her eyes from the wind driven sand and grit. Xarae clenched a fist when Obi-Wan walked out of the ship. Him, of all people. Why did he have to come with Annika? She turned away, forcing tears back.

The wind whipped at Xarae's wings and hair, blowing it behind her into a tangle. She stood for a while, then walked out into the emptiness. The senshi followed her quietly. Stopping about twenty feet later, she fell to her knees in the gritty sand, burying her gloved hands in it. This planet and its death... The sand fell through her fingers.

Priire's Black Fire Dreamer joined the other ships. Sailors Asteroid, Shooting Star, X, Broxan, Chibi Bakura, Chibi Tatooine, Cathar, Dagobah, and Tuxedo Jedi joined the other assembled senshi. Xarae heard Tuxedo Jedi ask Sailor Naboo what was happening. My friends... The wind seemed to carry in another ship. Sailor Yavin's Crystal Prism brought Sailors Chandrila, Myrkr, Dantooine, Chibi Dantooine, Calamari, Teta, Coruscant, and Chad. Everyone's coming to help me... Xarae stood up and turned around to see Sailor Asteroid walking towards her.

"You can't get involved, Priire."

"We understand that this is your fight, Xarae." The Dark Sailor stopped in front of the winged senshi. She flapped her wings once, slowly. "We're worried." Xarae smiled.

"Don't worry about me." She reached out and touched Priire's shoulder. The blonde opened her mouth to say something, but didn't. She smiled broadly and walked back to where Tuxedo Jedi was shielding himself from the wind with his cloak.

Xarae turned back to the horizon as Sailor Corellia's Galaxia Star landed among the throng of ships, and Sailors Endor, Togoria, Belsavis, Malastare, Chibi Yavin, Centrali, and the Corellian and Coruscant Knights set foot on Iridonia. The familiar sight of the Clear Mist brought Sailors Talasea, Kashykkk, Chad III, Iego, Selonia, and Chibi Mimban. The Shiroi and Qumerian Knights proudly guarded them as the ladies stepped out onto the cold, infinite dead land.

Xarae watched them all shift nervously. I shouldn't have told them... They're going to end up hurt... She wrinkled her brow worriedly. But I'm not going to let that happen to my friends!! She clenched her fist.

"SIDIOUS!!" Xarae's sudden, bloodcurdling cry of her adversary's name made the senshi gasp. "Coward!! Come out!! I'm not afraid of you!!" Her voice cracked hoarsely from her screaming. She walked further into the desert. "Sidious!!" Tears forced themselves out of her eyes.

"Xarae..." Eternal Sailor Bakura stepped forward from the mass of senshi, her two hands clasped over her heart.

"NO!! Everyone!!" She swallowed hard and held out her hands. My friends... "Don't! No matter what happens, I'll always be here watching you! Please don't forget that!!" Her voice was choked with tears. "When..."

"Sailor Iridonia!! Look out!!" Sailor Chibi Yavin shrieked, interrupting her. Xarae whirled around. A blast of dark Force energy sent her flying backwards. She landed hard on the ground.

"Xarae!!" Sailor Chibi Naboo yelled.

"That was a cheap shot!" Sailor Omwat screamed at the two figures ominously floating in the air. Xarae slowly brought herself to her feet. Her attack wand materialized in her hand and she pointed it shakily at Sidious and his Evil Queen. He laughed.

"Before we begin, Eternal Sailor Iridonia..." Sidious opened his arms, and suddenly the ground began breaking up around them. The ships, the distant town, everything crumbled away with a loud crash. Only the senshi and Xarae remained on the empty plain of desert. "Welcome to my playground!" Crimson Force lightning illuminated Sidious and Kendra, floating before Xarae, grinning sadistically. The angelic senshi gritted her teeth.

"You took my children, you took my husband, you will not take me and my friends!! Nightingale Devil Wings... Blast!!" The blast of dark light crashed against the bright pink Force barrier surrounding the two Sith. Sidious laughed manically.

"You won't get off that easy, Xarae!" The old man nodded to Kendra, who hit Xarae to the ground yet again with a powerful attack.

"Xarae!!" Sailor Corellia stepped forward.

"No!! Don't!! Just..." Xarae stood up painfully. Suddenly, Sidious's Force lightning reached out and grabbed the brooch in the center of her fuku bow, lifting her into the air. Xarae screamed as the lightning wound around her.

"NO!" Sailor Corellia clenched her fist.

"Sailor Corellia, stop!" The girl looked at the woman who had so calmly stopped her from intervening.

"Master19." Sailor Naboo acknowledged the silvery angel. The wind blew her lone, icy hair behind her.

"Everyone, you must not interfere with Xarae and Sidious. This is her battle, and you must not help her, no matter what happens." The wind became fierce. Master19 raised her voice. "If you are really her friends, you will do this." She watched the tears well in Corellia's eyes. The group turned to face the battle as Xarae's brooch suddenly shattered. Her fuku exploded into streaming black ribbons. Xarae screamed, and Sidious dropped her body to the ground.

"Now, why weren't you a good girl and stay away from my apprentice?" Her weak body convulsed as Xarae was shocked with lightning. She let out a faint moan.

"STOP IT!" Sailor Asteroid's voice rang out across the battlefield. She stepped forward, her green eyes ablaze, her blonde hair blowing in the wind. "I can't let you do this to her!" Sidious scoffed, and Kendra hit the Dark Sailor with a scarlet red attack. She fell backwards into Tuxedo Jedi's arms.

"Aster?" Kousotsu whispered to his fallen love.

Suddenly, from across the howling battlefield, a bright light shone.

"Sailor Thyferra! No!" Yavin yelled to the heavenly senshi. The illuminated sailor held her hands up in the air. "NO!"

"Bacta..." Her body was flung across the desert by Sidious's lightning before she could even complete her attack.

"Sailor Thyferra!" Sailors Ryloth and Shooting Star ran to their fallen comrade's side.

Xarae kneeled, clutching her hand to her heart. Around her, the black ribbons of her fuku fluttered in the wind. She could hear the senshi's nervous, worried breaths behind her. Kousotsu held the weakened Priire up on his shoulder. Sailor Corellia was crying quietly. Sailor Chibi Naboo was arguing with Master19. My friends...

"It's hopeless, Xarae! You can't win, and everyone here knows it! Finally, thanks to you, I can destroy the Sailor Jedi!!" Sidious's gravelly voice sounded like thunder.

"No..." Xarae coughed. "No! Iridonia Eternal, Make UP!" The ring on her left hand glittered faintly, and the sign of Iridonia on her forehead began to glow. But before she could even begin her transformation, she was shocked with Kendra's Force lightning, and the fiery stone in her ring shattered. Xarae heard Priire gasp. She fell to her knees again.

"No!" Xarae whispered, staring in horror at the destroyed ring. "NO!!" She slammed her fist on the ground in anger and sadness. Her tears dripped into the dust, forming a sprinkling of dark spots in the sand. The wicked lady above her grinned. But before Xarae could do anything more, a blast of Dark Side energy hit her, and her magnificent blue eyes turned blank. Her mouth opened, and she took one last, difficult breath.

"Xarae! XARAE! NO!" Annika screamed at the top of her lungs. Obi-Wan held her back as she tried to lunge out, crying, at Sidious. "NO! You can't do this!!"

"I can, and you'll be next!!

Xarae fell backwards. She was falling, back and back and back and back. The further she fell, the more darkness replaced her vision. The frozen bodies of the senshi faded to black, their mouths open in horror. The sound of Sidious's insane laughter echoed in the empty emptiness like thunder. This can't be... I can't die now... Her heart beat faster and faster. No! NO! Khameir! This can't happen! My friends, you were always there for me... Why can't I protect you now? She took a deep, ragged breath as tears slipped out of her eyes. My friends!

Eternal Sailor Bakura cried desperately. Xarae's body lay sprawled on the ground. Her blank, unmoving eyes, her tattered ribbons, the maniacal laughter of Sidious, brought tears to everyone's eyes.

"Xarae!!" Annika was on her knees, beating the ground. "You can't do this!..." Priire sobbed silently into Kousotsu's shoulder. Master19 held Sailor Corellia and Chibi Naboo to her soft dress. The wind blew a cloud of sand across the battlefield. Suddenly, a whisper carried from the center of the desert.

"My friends..." The senshi all gasped as one. "My friends!!"

"Xarae?" Sailor Omwat whispered unbelievingly. Xarae sat up, holding her arms out from her sides.

"You will not hurt my friends!" A glittering light began on her forehead.

"Xarae?!" Sailor Hoth looked on in disbelief. The bright light from Xarae grew brighter still. Sidious stopped laughing. The gentle, fire-like light exploded from her forehead and enveloped the whole battlefield. The senshi and Sith alike shielded their eyes.

As the light slowly faded, it revealed Xarae, floating serenely in the air. Master19 fell to her knees.

"Xarae? Xarae is the Phoenix?" She whispered softly, unbelieving. Xarae turned and looked at the senshi, smiling gently. Her dark fuku had transformed into a flame red one. The soft ripples of her bows and skirt shone with red glimmer. The wind blew the ribbons from behind her, wrapping them around her tall red boots. The ring on her left hand glittered in her own angelic light. On her forehead, the sign of the Phoenix glowed.

She turned to Kendra and Sidious, who stood, awed, where they were. Xarae lifted the long, wide broadsword she now carried and unfolded all six of her red wings.

"Xarae?" Annika's tears glinted in the gentle light. Xarae gritted her teeth.

"Sidious! You have killed my children, you have killed Khameir, you have killed me, but I will NOT let you harm my friends!" Her sword grew white-hot. Xarae hair began to blow in the wind her weapon made. "Winged warrior of destiny, death come quickly to those who oppose me! For fate, and infinity! In the name of destiny, I am Destiny's Phoenix, and I will punish you for the evil you bring!" The expression on Kendra and Sidious' faces faded. "Sword of Fate!! Protect me!!" Xarae screamed, raising the sword. She aimed it to Kendra's body. Xarae shot forward through the air.

"NOOOOO!!" Kendra wailed, a hair-raising cry, as the blade sliced into her body. Xarae froze in mid flight as Kendra's body began to disintegrate. The light from the Sword of Fate pulsed, and Kendra's screams became fainter and fainter. She dissolved from the sword out. Sidious stared, horrified, at the sight of his queen being destroyed. Xarae pulled her sword from where Kendra once was.

"That's..... That's not possible!!" Sidious shrunk back in horror. "She can't be dead!!" Xarae's sword fell from her hands and stuck in the sand below. She looked at Sidious. "This isn't possible!" Sidious repeated, bringing his hand shakily to his mouth. "I'll get you next time, seductress!" He pointed angrily at Xarae before disappearing.

Slowly the ground re-materialized, and the wind died down to a gentle breeze. The darkness that the evil of the Dark Side brought dissipated, and the bright sun shone off the gleam of the senshi's ships. Xarae was silent as her awed comrades watched her.

"Xarae...?" Sailor Hoth whispered, her voice blowing away with the wind. Master19 let go of the senshi she was comorting and stood up.

"Xarae." The woman floated up to Xarae's level, who turned and took her mentor's hands in her own. "Xarae, I think I owe you something."

"Oh god..." The otherworldly Phoenix whirled around and put her hand to her mouth. "By the gods..." The golden portal Master19 had opened glimmered in the sun. Xarae turned to look at Master19, but the woman had vanished without a trace. Xarae was too shocked to care. She turned back to the portal.

"Khameir!" Tears flowed like a river down her face.

"Nightingale." The tattooed, winged man whispered from the other side of the portal. Xarae clamped her hand over her mouth. "Don't be afraid, Nightingale." He chuckled, stretching a dark hand out to her.

"This can't be..." Xarae wept in happiness.

"Nightingale..." Khameir reached his hand out a bit further. Xarae was too awed to think. Ever so slowly, she reached out to his awaiting fingers... Trembling, she inched forward towards him. Suddenly, they grasped for each other in unison. As soon as they touched, a magical light swept over Xarae's body. It was an awesome sight to see. Her red fuku transformed into an angelic, flowing white dress. Her six wings morphed into two massive ones, identical to those of her love. They held each other's hand like concrete as Khameir pulled Xarae closer to him. Their eyes met, and Xarae gasped, open mouthed.

"Khameir." He put her hands in both of his.

"I told you we would be together, Nightingale." He kissed her gently of the forehead, where the sign of Iridonia glowed brightly. "My Nightingale..." Xarae felt herself getting lighter as the two gently faded away.

The senshi stood stunned. No one talked, no one cried. The wind even was silent. Some looked around, at themselves, making sure what happened, really did. It took a few minutes for the reality to set in. Sailor Bakura wept in happiness. Sailor Corellia cried in both the pain of loss and the joy of Xarae's unison with her love. Even the ever-serious Nom could not help a knot from forming in her throat. They all stood there, rejoicing and mourning silently.

The eerie sounding of bells echoed across the desert. The deep and tinkling bells clanged out a haunting melody as it carried on the wasteland. Kairiku stopped her silent sobbing to listen intently to the bells. Smiling, she was the first to speak.

"You know, they say... that every time a bell rings, an angel gets their wings."

The senshi were silent as the last bell echoed across the plain.