Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon - Infinity Alternate

 'Eye of the Beholder' - Chapter Three

 by AmazonessDuo

 amazonessduo@hotmail.com

 

 

 

 	The future Senshi of the moon raced against time to reach Hotaru

 before it was too late. Her fuku was soaked from the rain and hail,

 her pink hair a mess. “I have to save Hotaru-chan! I can’t let them

 kill her. I can’t let them get to her. I have to protect her.” Her

 long gloves wiped away the tears and rain from her eyes as she

 spotted the fence to the Tomoe residence. Her heart sped up its

 chaotic tempo in her chest. “I won’t run away from her this time.

 Whatever form she’s in, whoever she is, whatever her destiny is, it

 doesn’t matter. I love her...” Her body kept moving, despite her

 mixed thoughts. She leapt over the fence and headed for Hotaru’s

 room, ready for anything this time.

 	Setsuna’s eyes followed the young Senshi’s movements from the tree

 she was waiting in with Haruka and Michiru. “Is that

 Sailorchibimoon?! She’s not supposed to be here!” Pluto immediately

 jumped down from the tree, followed closely by Uranus and Neptune.

 She raced for the ‘younger’ girl in an attempt to stop her. If

 anything happened to her...

 	“Hotaru-chan?” ChibiUsa crawled through the window, unaware of the

 Outers close behind. She looked awful, some dirt streaks on her fuku

 and some scrapes from when she’d slipped in on the street on the way

 there. 

 	“ChibiUsa-chan?” came Hotaru’s weak voice from the bed, unable to

 believe her eyes. The other girl had come back? But... why? After

 what she’d seen earlier, Hotaru had been certain that she would never

 see the pink haired girl again. “Sailorchibimoon, why..?”

 	ChibiUsa didn’t say anything as she sat down next to the pale girl.

 Her heart pounded in her chest. Nothing sounded right. She wanted to

 tell her everything that was in her heart, but she knew the Outers

 were intent on killing her. She had to protect her above all else at

 the moment. Her arms wrapped tightly around the dark haired girl,

 Hotaru shivering in her arms. She looked awfully sick. Holding the

 other girl close, she let her eyes fall closed, trying to regain her

 composure. “I’m so sorry, Hotaru-chan. I didn’t mean to run away.

 You’re everything to me. I just got scared. Seeing you like that just

 brought up everything I’d been frightened about in the first place

 about falling in love with you. But I’ll never leave you again. I’m

 here to make sure you never have to be alone again.” Her crimson eyes

 sparkled as she pulled just enough away from Hotaru to meet her

 silver eyes. “Hotaru-chan, I love you. I really meant that when I

 told you earlier. I do love you. And I won’t let them hurt you.”

 Brushing back some of Hotaru’s dark hair, she hesitated only

 momentarily before kissing her. 

 Hotaru returned the kiss slowly, her body still shaking as salty

 tears spilt down her ivory cheeks. Her heart latched onto this one

 moment, everything else being too much for her to handle. As long as

 she was in her princess’s arms, she would be safe. “I love you...”

 she whispered softly. She swallowed painfully. Hotaru knew what she

 had to say, but she couldn’t get herself to let go of ChibiUsa. “You

 have to go, ChibiUsa-chan..”

 Wet hair swung about as ChibiUsa shook her head. “I can’t go. If I

 go, they’ll hurt you. I’m lucky I got here in time. I promise I won’t

 let them do anything to you,” she said soothingly, stroking Hotaru’s

 back through the dark cloth. She could actually feel some of the

 wires underneath her flesh, but she didn’t care. Her poor firefly.

 There had to be something she could do for her.

 Hotaru shook her head. Everything was getting more distant, as if

 she was watching it all from far off. “But if you don’t go... she’ll

 hurt you..” It didn’t matter if someone was going to do something to

 her. It was too late for her. But ChibiUsa had to get away. 

 	ChibiUsa was confused by Hotaru’s words. The dark haired girl

 sounded so tired, so weak. She wasn’t making sense. The princess

 turned Sailor Senshi had come here to protect her from someone, not

 the other way around. “What?”

 	Hotaru’s deep silver eyes opened again, their depths seeming

 clouded by something. It wasn’t that sad look the depressing girl

 usually had, but something entirely different. Something frightening.

 The door slammed shut, startling the younger looking girl in her

 arms. Before ChibiUsa knew what was happening, a hand snaked out from

 Hotaru, wrenching the broach from Chibimoon’s chest. 

 	Her eyes wide in shock, ChibiUsa slumped against Hotaru. Her fuku

 reverted back to her normal clothes as everything started to grow

 dark. Her last thoughts before she lost consciousness were a painful

 understanding that she had been far too late to save Hotaru.

 	“Small Lady?! Damn it!” Pluto cursed herself for not being there

 sooner to save the princess. 

 	“ChibiUsa!!” Usagi cried as she and Mamoru ran to their future

 daughter. 

 	Hotaru’s conscious faded out at about the same time as ChibiUsa’s,

 something more sinister taking over. Her hair grew past her

 shoulders, pooling on the floor as her body grew stronger. A grin

 creased her lips as her young body rapidly grew to a more suitable

 age. Glaring at the Senshi imposing themselves upon her, they were

 all forced back out of the room by a tremendous power. 

 	Usagi held ChibiUsa’s cold hand as she looked back in at the girl

 that had been Hotaru. “Is that Saturn? Are we too late? Is she

 already awake?”

 	Haruka shook her head, keeping an eye on the new threat. “No, the

 talismans haven’t been activated. Saturn hasn’t been called yet. So

 that has to be something else.” The blonde shook her head, at a loss.

 	A black star began shining on what had been Hotaru’s forehead.

 “What a stupid girl. But she really did come in handy after all. Now

 I have the Ginzuishou. I’ve awakened! And soon I have a gift for you,

 Master Pharaoh 90!” Her grin broadened as she clutched onto

 ChibiUsa’s broach.

 	“ChibiUsa?!” Mamoru held onto the princess’s unconscious body

 protectively. 

 	“ChibiUsa!! ChibiUsa, wake up!” Usagi called frantically. “She’s so

 cold, Mamo-chan... She’s not breathing!” She held ChibiUsa’s cold

 hand tighter. 

 	

 	She was going to kill that little bitch. That’s all there was to

 it. This wasn’t just business anymore. It wasn’t just her duty. She

 had gotten careless, sloppy. But what could be expected of her? She

 had only been a Senshi for little over a week. She hadn’t been

 reawakened as Sailor Pluto until very recently. But she’d had enough

 time to puzzle over her memories. And Setsuna knew damn well that the

 young princess had been her only friend in the future when she’d been

 locked away guarding the Time Gate. And yet she had failed her. She

 hadn’t been quick enough to save her. And now Small Lady was dying

 because of that girl. Telling herself that the girl was possessed by

 a powerful Daimon didn't help her in the least. She had to find her.

 She didn’t even know why they were bothering to discuss all of this.

 Time was of the essence.

 	“She’s gone into cardiac arrest. I’m afraid she’s dying. And

 there’s nothing I can do to help,” Dr. Mizuno said hopelessly. There

 was no way she could sugar coat this diagnosis. The girl was so

 young, too. She always felt a pang in her heart at seeing children

 taken from their parents. It worried her about her own daughter. Ami

 hovered close to her side, as if mirroring her mother’s sentiments. 

 	“No... That’s wrong... This is all wrong...” Setsuna shook her head

 slowly as she watched her little princess dying in the arms of her

 future mother. This wasn’t the way the time stream was supposed to go

 at all. Time had taken a freakish twist, taking with it the life of

 Princess Small Lady. She couldn’t help blaming herself, thinking that

 there must have been something she could have done, some way she

 could have prevented this. It felt like a nightmare that she couldn’t

 wake up from. 

 	“Small Lady...” Diana looked up at her mistress with tear streaked

 eyes, nuzzling her cold side gently. She almost expected to feel the

 gentle hand of the girl she was supposed to watch scratching under

 her chin. This was worse than when she’d gone off into the past

 without her in the first place. Much, much worse. ChibiUsa felt so

 cold. Licking her unresponsive hand for a moment, Diana pressed her

 head against it, her heart sinking as ChibiUsa’s arm slumped

 lifelessly next to her.

 	Dr. Mizuno silently left the room, leaving the grieving family and

 friends. She wished that she could do more to comfort them, but she

 knew from experience that there wasn’t anything she could do. This

 was the part of the job she hated the most. And seeing Ami with

 them... She wanted to just quit for the day and take her dear

 daughter home with her. To know that she was safe. But Ami was a big

 girl now. The look in her eyes had told her that Ami would like

 nothing better than to go home with her, safe and sound. But she had

 other things she needed to take care of. And if that was the way

 things had to be, so be it. Dr. Mizuno said a quick prayer for her

 daughter’s safety, hoping that she would never have to be in the

 situation that those poor people were in at the moment.

 	Clutching ChibiUsa’s cold body tightly, Usagi tried to suppress the

 sobs that threatened to overwhelm her. “She’s dying... Hotaru-chan..

 No, Sailorsaturn killed ChibiUsa-chan..” Even in her deep, tortured

 sleep, the pink haired girl’s face looked oddly serene. Usagi had to

 wonder if she had been wrong, if maybe there had been no other way

 than to kill Hotaru. That maybe her future daughter would have

 survived.

 	“Her soul was ripped from her body,” Setsuna explained quietly as

 she brushed ChibiUsa’s cheek in a motherly manner. At the puzzled

 look she received from all but Haruka and Michiru, she continued.

 “It’s been the Death Busters’ plan from the beginning. They’ve been

 stealing souls the entire time that we’ve been fighting them. From

 Mugen Gakuen and other places. The bodies are mere constructs for

 them, being used like so many spare parts for a machine. They plan on

 using them to build a body for Pharaoh 90. To convert them all into

 one. So he can be reborn here on earth. I’m surprised they didn’t

 take Small Lady’s body as well.”

 	Usagi shook her head in confusion. “But if that’s what they’re

 after and Hotaru-chan was helping... So that wasn’t Sailor Saturn we

 saw over ChibiUsa-chan?” 	

 	Michiru shook her head, aquamarine hair swinging to either side.

 “No, the talismans have yet to activate. When they do, then Saturn

 will awaken. Had it been Saturn, we would all be dead now. So this

 might be out last chance.” 

 	“We failed to plan for this. We were only worried about the girl

 awakening as Saturn, but she has been used by the enemy for years.

 That Daimon has been sleeping within her frail body from the very

 beginning of Pharaoh 90’s gamble for earth. It isn’t even Hotaru any

 longer. She died when Mistress 9 took over her body. At the same

 time, she killed ChibiUsa. Or will. When she stole ChibiUsa’s

 Ginzuishou, she dragged her soul along as well.”

 	“Then... What will happen to ChibiUsa-chan and Hotaru-chan?” Usagi

 asked worriedly. She squeezed the young girl’s cold hand. There

 wasn’t even the reassurance that ChibiUsa was there with her anymore.

 It was just a body.

 	Setsuna felt a burning in her throat, but she refused to let it

 through as she looked up at her future queen. Even if it pained her,

 she couldn’t change the reality of what was happening. “The souls the

 Death Busters have gathered are used to bolster Pharaoh 90 while he

 waits for something stronger to sustain him. They keep him alive in

 the meantime until he can be reborn. But even if he is reborn, the

 souls will be utilized as Daimons. It would be impossible to save

 them at that point. Their only salvation would be death and the

 afterlife that awaits them.” The thought of Small Lady languishing as

 a Daimon tormented her. She knew if that happened, she would have to

 kill her personally, to save the princess from that life. 

 	The Sailor Team was shocked by this revelation. “So all of the

 Daimons we’ve fought up till this point...” Minako began. She was

 starting to feel sick. “They were humans before?” How could they have

 killed so many unknowingly? So many innocent lives had been

 sacrificed already.

 	“You did them a favor. They were trapped in those Daimon bodies.

 You have released them. For all intents and purposes, they had died

 when their souls had been taken. You just allowed them to move on,”

 Michiru explained coldly. She had to remain cold. This was her duty.

 Too many people would die if she didn’t. Too many more innocents. She

 wouldn’t let that happen. She glanced at Haruka for support but found

 Haruka doing the same. Yes, she had to stay strong. 

 	“ChibiUsa-chan... Hotaru-chan... If we don’t save them soon,

 they’ll be changed into Daimons?” Usagi looked up to stare pointedly

 at the Outer Senshi. Her mouth had gone dry. 

 	“It’s too late for Hotaru,” Haruka explained, crossing her arms.

 “She’s already been overcome by the Daimon that’s possessed her for

 years. It’s a wonder that it took this long to break loose. Or it was

 just biding its time. Whatever the case, we won’t allow Hotaru to

 suffer. We’ll kill her before she can. We’ll release her from the

 torment she’s in and send her on her way to the afterlife. It’s too

 late for her in this life.” She didn’t mention that it might well be

 too late for the princess as well. 

 	Usagi gasped, standing up in protest. How could they be so cold?

 How could they call themselves Sailor Senshi? “But you can’t..!”

 	Setsuna’s gaze grew angry as she drew herself up to her full

 height. Her own heart was crying out at this injustice done to her

 friend, but she wasn’t going to sit back and idly debate what they

 could do to save everyone. This wasn’t all or nothing, it was a fight

 to merely survive. They couldn’t be bothered by choosing a course of

 action where everything worked out perfectly and everyone survived.

 It just didn’t work that way. And if she had a chance to save her

 princess, she was going to take it. The quiet little time guardian

 inside of her snapped under the pain pushing on her heart. “Damn it,

 Serenity! She has Small Lady’s soul and the Ginzuishou! What the hell

 do you expect us to do?! What can we do?! If you want to save Small

 Lady, you have to fight them and take it back! If we don’t kill

 Hotaru, she’ll kill us. And ChibiUsa will die. If we don’t act

 quickly, there won’t be anything left of this planet worth saving,

 let alone your daughter. Even if Sailorsaturn doesn’t awaken, this

 planet will crumble around your feet. We have to stop Saturn -and-

 Pharaoh 90 -and- save your daughter. And yet you still want to go

 that extra step and save everyone. We can’t do that! We can’t sit

 around and hope for everything to be perfect! We have to fight! Which

 would you choose, my Queen?” Setsuna didn’t wait for an answer.

 Turning on her heal in a rage, she began to henshin into Sailor

 Pluto. “We’re going. Not just for Small Lady, but for this planet! I

 won’t sit back and watch you let it suffer any longer.”

 	Usagi sat back in silence as Setsuna stormed out of the room,

 followed closely by Haruka and Michiru. Setsuna had been so serious.

 Usagi felt like she had been slapped. “If we don’t save the planet...

 Everyone we’ve fought up till this point, all the innocents... And

 now Hotaru-chan’s one of them.. But I don’t want to hurt anyone...”

 She looked down at the girl in her arms, her heart crying out. What

 could she do?

 	Lifting the small girl in his arms, Mamoru began to walk for the

 doors. “At this rate, ChibiUsa-chan’s going to die. We need to save

 her. Let’s take her back to my apartment. I’ll keep an eye on her.”

 He tried not to think about the lifeless body in his arms, the body

 slowly shutting down as it had no soul inhabiting it. Nothing to keep

 it alive. 

 	“We’re running out of time. We can’t wait any longer or we’ll lose

 ChibiUsa-chan. And maybe everyone else. We need to do something,”

 Usagi mumbled to herself, trying to keep up as the rest of the Sailor

 Team followed. 

 

 	Back at Mamoru’s apartment, Diana stood a silent vigil over her

 mistress. The kitten didn’t take her eyes away from the pink haired

 girl, still feeling guilty about not being with her earlier. Luna and

 Artemis had tried to console her, but she was too distant, lost in

 her own thoughts. She could smell death in the air. It was all around

 her. And she was afraid that death would be a rather punctual visitor. 

 	“ChibiUsa-chan’s body is linked with mine now. I’ll keep her body

 alive as long as I can. But it’s still nothing without her soul.”

 Mamoru held his future daughter’s hand, a faint glow starting to

 envelope them as he felt the strain of her body drawing strength from

 his own. 

 	Luna fretted as she paced back and forth. Her daughter, Diana, was

 still unmoving a short distance from her. “But the burden on your

 body will grow tremendously the closer to death her body gets. I

 don’t know how long you can hold it up.”

 	“We have to try something. I’m sure Minako and the others will get

 her soul back soon.” Artemis tried a smile, but his voice sounded

 doubtful. Luna leant against him with a sigh.

 	Mamoru could already feel his breathing growing labored, but

 ChibiUsa’s body was starting to feel a little warmer. He smiled

 softly, trying to keep the worry from his features. “It will be just

 fine. I know it’s just her body, but I can keep it alive for the time

 being. If you can find her, she’ll have a body to return to.” The bed

 shifted as Usagi sat next to him, watching ChibiUsa’s soft breathing.

 He looked up at the nervous expressions on the four girls in the room

 with them. “Could we have some time alone for a moment?” 

 	“Sure,” Rei said with a nod. The four girls took another quick

 glimpse at ChibiUsa before leaving the room. Ami resolved to call her

 mother before they left. Rei had faith that her grandfather would be

 all right while they handled the situation. Minako had a certain

 police chief that she needed to call before heading off. Makoto just

 followed the others silently, her mind already running in circles.

 	Usagi sat in silence for a long moment, paying close attention to

 the shallow breathing from her future daughter. “ChibiUsa-chan...”

 she whispered softly, brushing some of her damp hair away from her

 face. “ChibiUsa-chan, Hotaru-chan, the whole planet. I can’t just

 abandon them! I can’t give up on anyone as hopeless. I can’t believe

 that it’s all a lost cause. I can’t choose between any of them. Won’t

 it just lead to ruin in the end whichever path we take? Isn’t there a

 way to save everyone?”

 	Usagi held ChibiUsa’s hand, feeling the warmth slowly pulsing

 through it. “Mamo-chan’s doing it. He’s managing to keep her body

 alive. But what should I do? I feel so confused...”	

 	“Usa,” Mamoru whispered softly. He could see the tension in her

 eyes. Those blue, innocent eyes were clouded. He leaned forward and

 gave her a kiss.

 	Usagi was taken by surprise at first, but she quickly relaxed into

 the kiss. It got her mind off of how bad things seemed, albeit

 briefly. She noticed that the kiss gave her the same breathless

 feeling that Haruka’s kisses had given her. She chided herself for

 thinking of that at a moment like this. Haruka already had a

 girlfriend. And she was a girl. And Usagi already had Mamoru. And it

 did feel nice to be with him. Especially with how awful she felt at

 the moment. “Thanks, Mamo-chan,” she said, smiling weakly. 

 	Mamoru wasn’t listening. His vision faded for a second to be

 replaced by the image of a ravaged city, corpses strewn about like

 the toys of a girl who was finished playing with them. A woman stood

 in shadows, draped in ethereal garb as she stood atop a broken

 pillar. He tried to make her out, to see past the shadows, but the

 vision began to fade away. He’d seen this before. “We’ll get them

 back, Usa. ChibiUsa-chan’s soul and the Ginzuishou. I’m sure we’ll

 get them back soon enough. I believe in you. Don’t ever lose hope,”

 he said, trying to concentrate on the here and now. She leaned her

 head against his chest. ‘I had that vision again. But who is that

 woman? The Messiah? Or the Goddess of Ruin?’ he asked himself. No

 answers seemed forthcoming.

 

 	Ami put the phone back down after she finished. Her mother was

 worried about her, but she hadn’t asked many questions. Ami was glad

 for that, because she really didn’t know how she could explain any of

 it. Minako grabbed the phone seconds after it was down, already

 dialing. Sweatdropping, Ami walked away from the blonde. Rei

 concentrating, probably in prayer for what was to come. But Makoto

 was nowhere in sight.

 	It took the blue haired girl a minute to locate the taller Sailor

 Senshi. She finally found Makoto on the balcony, looking out at the

 dark city below. Smiling sweetly, Ami approached the brunette, about

 to ask what she was looking for. A sudden detail she had failed to

 notice stopped her short. Crystalline tears dripped past Makoto’s

 chin, falling countless stories to the streets below. Ami knew that

 this was a rather stressful time, but there was still hope. They had

 to cling on to that. She took a cautious step forward.

 	Makoto whirled around at the sudden noise behind her. Ami froze in

 front of her, a concerned look on her face. The brunette wiped

 clumsily at her tears, trying to force them away, to pretend that

 everything was all right. She wasn’t sure whether to try a smile or a

 frown. She just wanted to be left alone. “Ami...”

 	Ami took a few steps forward. “Mako-chan, what’s wrong? You look so

 sad... I know that things look down, but I’m sure that we can solve

 them. Just because things look dark doesn’t mean we can give up.

 We’ve triumphed even when the odds were against us before.” But even

 as she said it, she doubted that it was the reason that Makoto looked

 so crestfallen. At least not the reason in its entirety. 

 	“Yeah.. You’re right, Ami-chan.” Makoto turned back on the railing,

 glancing down at the city below. She held back the anguish inside

 that kept threatening to spill over. 

 	“What’s wrong?” Ami asked, trying again. She licked her lips as she

 watched, hoping for an answer but unsure of whether or not she would

 get one. Anxiety washed over her as she waited for infernally long

 seconds. She had almost given up hope and had turned to reenter the

 apartment when Makoto finally spoke.

 	“Sometimes I wonder why I’m fighting, Ami-chan. I don’t have my

 parents. I’m all alone. I don’t have a boyfriend who will stick with

 me through it all. I don’t have a child to fight for, to hold dearly.

 In the end, I have my tiny little apartment that I can go back to.

 All alone.” Makoto paused for a moment, the tears starting up again.

 It took a strong effort on her part to keep talking. “I know it’s my

 duty. I know I have to do it. But I don’t know why. I know that Usagi

 is important. I know that the earth is important. But I don’t have a

 reason for why I fight. Maybe that makes me a liability to the team.

 Throughout all of this fighting, I can’t find my reason for enduring

 it all. I can’t reach inside myself and know what I’m fighting for.”

 Another pause as she swallowed painfully. Why was she doing this? And

 with Ami watching her, no less? It hurt too much to keep it bottled

 up inside. “No, I guess I’m fighting for my friends. I’m fighting

 because the rest of you are and because I can’t let you down. But

 still... Sometimes..” Her voice cut off as a sob broke free. 

 	A smaller body pressed against Makoto’s as Ami hugged her from

 behind. She didn’t know what to say. She had no idea that this had

 been troubling Makoto. It hadn’t occurred to her to think about her

 own reasons, but she knew they were there. Because her friends were

 important to her. Because she knew it was right. Because she believed

 in the greater good of things. Because she wanted to protect her

 mother who had to strive so hard to raise Ami all by herself. Makoto

 shivered against her as she held tightly to the railing. Ami felt her

 soul shudder in response. There was silence for a long moment. “I’ll

 be your reason,” Ami said in a voice barely above a whisper.  	

 

 	Mistress 9 scowled as she cut off some of her incredibly long raven

 hair. “It doesn’t matter how much I cut it because it keeps growing

 back. Crappy hair. This vessel is worthless. It was far too young for

 me but it handled the enhanced aging poorly. I can’t wait until I can

 be rid of it.” 

 	Professor Tomoe burst into the room, followed shortly thereafter by

 an excited Kaolinite. He knelt in front of the body that had once

 belonged to his only daughter. “Mistress 9!! You’re finally here.

 We’ve been awaiting your arrival for a long while now. We

 transplanted your egg into Hotaru years ago. I was starting to fear

 that you wouldn’t awaken.”

 	“Not that it hasn’t gone without problems. But I have finally

 arrived. And not a second too soon, it seems. We need to revive

 Master Pharaoh 90. He mustn’t be kept waiting any longer.” She turned

 to the red head, barely suppressing an inner urge to kill the woman

 for years of torment and abuse. She shrugged it off. Must be some

 after affects from the previous owner of the body. “Kaolinite, you

 have done very well in your service to Master Pharaoh 90. Unlike

 those that have failed up to now, you survive. I am the master’s

 partner from the old world. I will handle his resurrection and this

 world’s glorious rebirth. You must handle another task for our

 master. Eliminate the Enemy. They wish to end our very way of life,

 and that of our master. They are ruthlessly interfering with a

 magnificent process that has been repeated thousands of times in the

 past. This world my shake in the throws of birth as it begins anew,

 but it will be a glorious new birth for this planet. You must stop

 them. I will not tolerate failure, Kaolinite.”

 	“Yes, Mistress 9. As you wish.” Kaolinite faded away to begin her

 preparations.

 	Turning from the man who had once been Hotaru’s father, the ancient

 woman made her way to an intricate stone hall, the place where they

 contacted their master from the vast distances of time and space.

 	“Mistress 9, you have awakened. I have been waiting for this! I

 knew your arrival would coincide with the rebirth,” a booming voice

 said from everywhere in the large room.

 	The woman smiled as she bowed graciously. It had been so long since

 she had heard that voice, since she had truly felt alive. “Master

 Pharaoh 90! I bring you a gift.” Raising the broach she had acquired

 from the young Sailor Senshi earlier, energy began to flow across the

 tesseract that linked the two spaces. The small, silver crystal grew

 brightly as it gushed forth waves of energy through the gate. 

 	“You’ve only just awakened and you’re already bringing me such

 power. I knew I could count on you, Mistress 9. But what is this

 power? It’s more potent than any of the souls you have gathered

 before,” the booming voice said, intrigued but pleased by this

 offering.

 	The body that had once been Tomoe Hotaru grinned, pleased with

 herself. “Master Pharaoh 90, this is not from the light of souls. It

 is the Ginzuishou. The very light of the moon and the heart of a

 precious young warrior. I’ve managed to get a hold of it thanks to a

 rather beneficial situation I found myself in. And we can keep this

 great power to speed up the process. We can use it’s limitless

 strength to facilitate the rebirth, to bring this planet new life as

 we remake it.”

 	Leaving her master satisfied for the time being, Mistress 9

 returned to Hotaru’s room to think. “This beautiful light... It’s the

 same as the light the courses through the Tau system’s Taioron

 Crystal. Such a holy relic does not belong in the hands of such dirty

 creatures. I will take excellent care of it, just like it deserves.

 It’s like something is dwelling inside of it, holding on. Peeking out

 as it glimmers and sparkles. It’s relaxing, putting my mind at ease.

 I know things will work out. We will change this world for the

 better.” She held the crystal in her hands, feelings it’s warm glow

 wash over her. Something caught her attention as she felt a flicker

 run through the crystal. “I should have known it would be protected

 by that girl’s pure, beautiful soul. She must have come along for the

 ride. She’ll soon be part of something much grander than she ever

 could have before.” 

 	A chill shot through her entire being, unease beginning to build

 through the raven haired woman, the crystal almost slipping out of

 her hands. “Who’s there?” she demanded, a note of fear in her voice.

 It felt like something was trying to push her out. No, it couldn’t

 be. She was dead. It was just the crystal’s power. “It’s giving me

 strength. With the Ginzuishou, our ideals will soon be realized.” She

 felt the soul protecting the Silver Crystal offer resistance, but it

 was too weak to impede her. She laughed. It was a cute little thing,

 protecting the crystal so diligently even when it was pointless.

 “Don’t worry, little girl,” she cooed, reassuringly. “Everything will

 be all right. Soon your world will be an entirely new place and

 you’ll be there to see it all.” Smiling gently, she felt the soul

 waver for a moment. 

 	“Mistress 9!!” Professor Tomoe hurried into the room, a look of

 concern etched on his brow. “We’re running out of Daimon Eggs. After

 Viluy’s death, a lot of the machines she’d programmed have been

 shutting down and the Daimon egg production has stopped entirely. The

 bitch must have planned for this if she didn’t get her sister

 returned. She probably intended to use it as leverage when our new

 world order was about to get underway. But I can’t start on the new

 eggs in time for the utilization. There’s no way I can get a large

 enough batch in time. But planting the eggs and using spirit energy,

 it’s our only way to survive in this world.” 

 	Mistress 9 laughed softly, still sending soothing impulses to the

 soul in the palm of her hands. “That doesn’t matter in the slightest.

 It has no affect on our plans. The utilization is useless now. We

 have an entirely new source of power that far outweighs what we could

 get with the Daimon eggs. The birth of our new world is right around

 the corner. Soon, this old planet will be reborn as a shining goddess.”

 

 	Setsuna leapt from rooftop to rooftop, silently landing and

 hurrying through the shadows. She knew that Uranus and Neptune were

 following, but she couldn’t hear them and it was difficult to make

 anything out in the darkness. She, more than anyone else, knew that

 time was truly of the essence. And so the Guardian of Time hurried as

 quickly as she could, knowing that the princess’ life hung in the

 balance. 

 	A short time ago, the most stressful thing in her life had been her

 college midterms. And she had known she could pass them easily

 enough. But now she knew who she truly was. Sailor Pluto. And she

 knew that the very earth hung in the balance of this one night. And

 there was one soul in particular that her heart pushed her to save.

 Her body ached from the nigh constant running. But she knew that she

 might already be too late. No! She couldn’t think like that. There

 were no second chances. This was the last dance. She would throw her

 all into this. It wasn’t just her life. She would sacrifice it in an

 instant. She felt more loyalty for the little princess than she ever

 could for her queen. But it was whether her sacrifice would buy

 anything. She had died before. And she knew, most likely, she would

 die again before the night was through. A shiver shot through her

 tanned body, but she didn’t slow a bit. 	

 	“I’m coming, Small Lady. Be strong. It won’t be much longer.”

 

 	Mamoru sighed, shifting into a more comfortable position on the

 bed. His future daughter stirred slightly in his grasp. He held her

 closer, wanting to reassure her that everything would be all right,

 but he knew there was nothing he could do. What he held was merely

 her body. 

 	Another sigh escaped the young man, his eyes heading for the

 window. Out there somewhere was the girl he loved in a fight that

 would determine the fate of the planet. And more importantly, the

 fate of his future daughter. He had often said he cared about Usagi

 and ChibiUsa the same and he meant that. But now, he was very close

 to losing them both. It was a maddening blow to see the girl he would

 one day have dying in his arms while his girlfriend was out trying to

 save the entire planet. And there was nothing he could do to help but

 sit there and keep the body alive. 

 	Holding the cold hand tighter in his own, Mamoru brushed back the

 pink hair covering ChibiUsa’s eyes. She looked so peaceful, like she

 was asleep. But he knew that beneath those eyelids lay lifeless eyes,

 the soul out there somewhere in the night. How painful it was to know

 that he couldn’t protect her. What type of father was he? All he

 could do was sit back and wait. 

 	Diana was sharing that same desolate feeling that Mamoru was

 experiencing. She hadn’t moved from her position near ChibiUsa’s head

 for over an hour. The tiny kitten still blamed herself for this whole

 thing. The position of guarding and advising the princess had fallen

 upon her and she had gladly agreed, happy to follow her friend back

 to the past. But now Diana felt like she had failed her, having

 arrived too late to even see what had happened.

 	But what would she have been able to accomplish had she been there

 when it happened? Was there anything she could have done? Had she

 lost her best human friend? The one thing she was certain of was that

 ChibiUsa’s body was losing it’s grip on life. The body was nothing

 more than a shell and it wouldn’t last much longer. The stench of

 death was beginning to grow overpowering, even though Mamoru didn’t

 seem to be able to smell it at all. The kitten kept fearing that

 Death would come to take the girl’s soul off at any moment. But then

 she remembered that her soul had already been taken away, being used

 for God knows what. So really, did it matter if the body died? Soon,

 Death would be off to take ChibiUsa’s soul away. And that’s what

 Diana was really afraid of. Not for ChibiUsa, but for herself. She

 didn’t want to be left without a mistress. Or a friend. The kitten

 yawned, but resolved not to sleep. She would keep her silent vigil on

 the girl’s body until Death came. And she would fend him off herself

 if she could. Little did she know that Death was female. And would be

 coming much sooner than the kitten could anticipate.

 	

 	Mistress 9 frowned to herself as she watched the events going on as

 the Sailor Senshi continued to try to impede their progress. These

 ruthless killers had just blown away Magus Kaolinite and were trying

 to get to their inner sanctum, no doubt in an attempt to kill them as

 well. They were the army of the other side, Sailor Senshi bent on

 killing all that did no fit their ideals or beliefs. They loathed all

 that was not their own. But Mistress 9 was not about to let these

 vicious soldiers put an end to her beloved Pharaoh 90’s plan to

 restart the life of their people on this planet. It would be a new

 golden age. “She’s found her way to the fortress. It won’t be long

 now. Supersailormoon, I won’t let you stop us. It’s time for this

 Omega Area to become the Sacred Land, to transform into what it was

 always meant to be. There’s no longer anything to fear.” Her fingers

 stroked over the warm feeling of the Ginzuishou, feeling the tiny,

 brave soul inside as it tried to protect the crystal. “There’s

 nothing to fear,” she repeated soothingly to the fearful little soul.

 Smiling softly, she lifted up the Ginzuishou. “The time is now. This

 world will be reborn and so will you. Won’t you come watch the

 rebirth with me?” The soul seemed to skitter away, still a little

 frightened, but she was patient with it, like the mother of a

 newborn. If there was one thing that Mistress 9 had gotten extremely

 good at, it was being patient. “Don’t worry. I’ll help you with the

 transition, little one.” 

 	Lifting the Ginzuishou higher, she concentrated it’s power to the

 one being that could truly utilize it the way it was meant to be. She

 felt a sense of peace inside, despite her growing excitement. Soon

 she would be alongside Pharaoh 90 in their Promised Land. The crystal

 lit up spectacularly, bathing the entire surrounding area in bright

 crystalline light. Energy began to pour through her body, increasing

 exponentially with each second. The energy surged along the weak link

 from ChibiUsa’s soul to her body. It was only a single strand keeping

 her tied at all with her body, but the energy raced along it, forcing

 itself into the dying body. 

 	

 	ChibiUsa’s eyes fluttered open for a moment, the crimson orbs

 flashing for a brief second. Her entire body began to glow brightly.

 	“ChibiUsa-chan!!”

 	“Small Lady!!”

 

 	“Ohhh... The strength.. It’s... almost overwhelming!” Mistress 9

 closed her eyes, feeling the steady pulse of the Ginauishou’s energy

 as it filled her body with it’s gentle glow. The power of this

 amazing crystal simply enthralled her. The sense of peace deep within

 her grew with the energy coursing through her. 

 	“I can feel it! That mystical power!” The booming voice echoed in

 the room, coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once. “It’s light

 is so similar to the Taioron Crystal. You have unleashed the

 floodgate. This truly is the power of the Ginzuishou! And it will

 recreate this entire world! It must have been preordained. Life

 begets life. Such is the power of the Crystal.”

 	Mistress 9 smiled broadly and finally allowed herself to feel

 something that had diminished in her for all of those grueling years

 as they struggled to find a new home, a new place for their own

 survival. She finally allowed herself to hope once more. “Master

 Pharaoh 90, I acquired the Ginzuishou for you, to bring you here. I

 will bring you it’s power.” Closing her eyes, the woman in what had

 once been a young girl’s cyborg body lifted into the air, floating up

 towards a large stone palace. Everything was almost complete. Their

 battle was almost over. She felt the soul protecting the Ginzuishou

 grow restless again as she neared her destination. Soothingly rubbing

 the crystal in her hands, she let herself imagine the world to come.

 The frozen flame in her hands flickered with the power surging

 through her.

 	“It’s light is pure and untainted. Brilliantly lighting

 everything,” the booming voice shot out. “It’s thousands of times

 more powerful than the human souls! And it’s an unlimited source of

 energy! The time has finally come. I will return to resurrect our

 world here. It will become our second mother world! Now is the time

 for my utilization. Hurry, Mistress 9! So close... I need more power!”

 	Mistress 9 gratefully offered it up to the once great ruler,

 focussing as much energy as she could. “Open up your powers,

 Ginzuishou! Show what you are truly capable of!” 

 

 	ChibiUsa’s body began shaking on the bed as if she were having a

 seizure. Diana started growling anxiously as she watched the poor

 girl shuddering in front of her. Mamoru continued to hold the small

 princess close, trying to keep her from getting worse, but there

 wasn’t much he could do. Diana feared the worst. Death must be on his

 way. The bright light outside in the darkness only made her feel even

 less at ease. “Small Lady...”

 

 	“No!!” Hotaru screamed into the darkness. “I have to hold it in...

 I can’t let you use the Ginzuishou like this. Not ChibiUsa-chan’s

 pure heart. It’s power mustn’t be sent out like this. It shouldn’t be

 opened up! I won’t let you!” Even all alone, even in the darkness,

 even stripped of her body, Hotaru Tomoe clung desperately to the

 memories that kept her going, through sheer will managing to brush

 consciousness with the woman who had stolen her body. 

 	Mistress 9 let out a cry of pain. Something inside her wasn't

 feeling the same peace that she had, obviously. Her head hurt badly,

 her vision blurring as she tried to concentrate. The poor, scared

 soul protecting the Ginzuishou was starting to act fearful. Whatever

 it was that was affecting Mistress 9 seemed to be affecting her as

 well. “It hurts... Something’s trying to get control from inside of

 me! But... I have to last a little longer... I’m almost done, Master

 Pharaoh 90... And then I won’t need this body anymore. We’ll be able

 to revolutionize this world! It will be a paradise! And we’ll finally

 be together again!” She forced back the mental assault as best she

 could, clinging to her hopes and dreams. Only a few more minutes

 now... It would be all over soon enough.

 	“I won’t let that happen!” A voice yelled in her head.

 

 	Everything was nothing. Everywhere she looked, there was darkness.

 No, not quite darkness. Darkness was something. This was the utter

 lack of anything and everything whatsoever. She was floating in the

 nothing. And fear started to grip her shaken soul. 

 	“Where am I? I’m all alone... I’m scared! Please, somebody help

 me!” ChibiUsa yelled into the nothingness, but the shallow sound to

 it did nothing to help her state of mind. She felt all alone, lost

 and lonely in the void. She tried not to panic, but she couldn't help

 the rising fear inside of her. What had happened? Was she dead? A

 frightened part of her mind seemed to confirm that she was, indeed,

 dead. But that still didn’t explain why she was here. Why hadn’t she

 moved on? Unless, there was still need for her here. She could

 vaguely remember the Ginzuishou. She had to protect it. Her mother

 had given it to her, trusted her to keep it safe. But how could she

 do that from here? Wherever here was, of course.

 	“ChibiUsa-chan...” A soft, shy voice called out through the void. 

 	“Hotaru-chan?!” ChibiUsa looked around hurriedly, trying to spot

 the girl somewhere near her. Her heart grasped at notion that she was

 there as well. She needed her. She needed to hold onto her and know

 that she wasn’t alone. A brilliant light caught her eye. A shining

 crystal very near her. “Oh! My Ginzuishou!” She slowly floated down

 near the shimmering gem, taking it gingerly in her hands. “I was so

 worried when I lost it. My body couldn’t take the strain. It’s a part

 of me.” She sighed as she held it close, feeling warmer as it’s light

 cast over her nude body, or at least the image her soul cast of her

 body. Her body was still in Mamoru’s apartment, but she had no idea

 of knowing that.

 	“That’s right, ChibiUsa-chan. It’s the symbol of your pure heart.”

 Hotaru’s laid her hand on ChibiUsa’s chest. “You can’t live without

 it. Which is why you shouldn’t show it so easily to people. You’re

 too trusting. You need to protect your pure heart. And I’ll protect

 you.” Her arms wrapped around the younger girl, holding her close in

 the emptiness that surrounded them. She held ChibiUsa closely,

 comfortingly.

 	ChibiUsa blushed faintly as she rested her head on Hotaru’s

 shoulder. It felt different from her mother’s embrace. It was warmer

 and made her heart jump. But it still had the same soothing quality

 to it. She felt safe in Hotaru’s arms. “Hotaru-chan...”

 	“Everything will be alright,” Hotaru whispered in her soft voice,

 holding ChibiUsa reassuringly. “I’ll protect you, no matter what. I

 won’t let them get your beautiful, pure soul. And I won’t let them

 get the Ginzuishou. ChibiUsa-chan, I’ll be sure to save you. I

 promise.” Determination built inside of her as she now knew what she

 had to do. Her soft lips kissed ChibiUsa’s forehead, right above her

 crescent moon. Even though neither was in their physical body, the

 gesture still registered as gentle and pleasant. “I won’t let

 anything hurt you.”

 	ChibiUsa nodded slightly, her head buried against the crook of

 Hotaru’s neck. 

 	

 	“The Ginzuishou’s power’s weakening!!” Mistress 9 yelled in

 frustration. How could this be happening? When they were so close?

 Something was ebbing the flow of power from the crystal, keeping her

 from fulfilling her duty. Her slivers of hope began to collapse, but

 she latched on to one, not willing to give up just yet. Not when they

 had come so far. She would just have to find another way to bring her

 beloved here. And then the world would begin anew.

 

 	“ChibiUsa-chan?!” Mamoru watched as his daughter slowly stopped her

 rhythmic motions on the bed. “The convulsions... They’ve stopped.”

 Reaching out gently, he took her hand in his own and felt that it was

 warm to the touch. His heart began to pace. “Does this mean...

 Someone’s protecting her soul? But who?” He let himself relax

 slightly, glad that someone was watching the part of his daughter

 that really counted.

 	Diana sat warily, not quite as certain as the man who would one day

 be king. She was still worried that Death was visiting ChibiUsa’s

 soul even as they waited. And it looked like there was no way for her

 to help.