rlm@0: Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon - Infinity Alternate
rlm@0: 'Eye of the Beholder' - Chapter Four
rlm@0: by AmazonessDuo
rlm@0: amazonessduo@hotmail.com
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	Tomoe laughed the laugh of a madman, someone who has started to
rlm@0: lose grip on reality. The man had lived a harsh, painful life and his
rlm@0: sanity had begun to slip years ago. The loss of his wife and near
rlm@0: death of his daughter had thrown him over the brink, from a place
rlm@0: that he could not recover from in this life. “It appears that they’re
rlm@0: already on their way down. But it’s a death sentence for them. They
rlm@0: can’t possibly hope to understand what awaits them here. The time is
rlm@0: nigh! My entire life has built up to this very moment. All of my work
rlm@0: will finally pay off, my dreams will finally come true. The
rlm@0: superhuman hybrid I have designed will be hundreds of times stronger,
rlm@0: smarter, and faster than any average man. It’s life span will be
rlm@0: equally lengthened, making normal humans completely obsolete. Not
rlm@0: that they’d survive the planets rebirth as it is.” He shrugged, as if
rlm@0: the matter didn’t concern him in slightest. Nor did he notice that he
rlm@0: was talking to himself. Again. But then, everyone has their own
rlm@0: little quirks. And it was his way of thinking things through. His
rlm@0: wife had gently teased him about it in what seemed like a lifetime
rlm@0: ago. “I just need to finish a little more research on genetic
rlm@0: manipulation and mechanical adaptations and I will be ready to
rlm@0: construct a perfect cyborg. The perfect form of life. A hybrid. No
rlm@0: one ever understood my genius, but soon my children will flourish.
rlm@0: Just as they were meant to. I’ve been given a second chance since the
rlm@0: accident. A second chance to prove myself. The first testing wound up
rlm@0: being on my own daughter’s body when I had to reconstruct what was
rlm@0: left of her after the fire. That was the birth of my dream, to make a
rlm@0: perfect being, a superhuman.” He paused for a moment, checking his
rlm@0: work as he heard the elevator making it’s way down to him. 
rlm@0: 	“Then they came to me, coming from another world. They brought
rlm@0: their eggs, another species altogether from humans. One that was
rlm@0: highly adaptable. And God chose me to be the one to assimilate our
rlm@0: races, to create a superhuman hybrid that took the best of both and
rlm@0: increased it a thousand fold.” He adjusted his glasses, double
rlm@0: checked his findings, and continued. “I had made a mistake while
rlm@0: reconstructing Hotaru. She wouldn’t live after all. But they promised
rlm@0: me that she would survive if I utilized one of their eggs along with
rlm@0: her cyborg body. And there the egg slept inside my beautiful daughter
rlm@0: until the egg finally reached maturity and Mistress 9 became the sole
rlm@0: occupant of that body.” He tilted his head to the side thoughtfully.
rlm@0: “I’m surprised Hotaru lasted as long as she did.” Shaking his head,
rlm@0: he pushed onward. “But I had finally found the chance to use these
rlm@0: eggs to further my research. I managed to create beautiful, perfect
rlm@0: beings from my tests, leaving them to fulfill their original
rlm@0: objectives. The Daimons succeeded quite admirably, even with the
rlm@0: Sailor Senshi involved. I won’t regret those failures at all, for
rlm@0: they helped me further my knowledge and to create even better things.
rlm@0: And when our master’s utilization is complete and he is brought into
rlm@0: this world, I will surely survive. And then I can create others like
rlm@0: myself, perfect beings to repopulate the earth. I am the god of a new
rlm@0: creation, the superhuman.” Again he laughed, a dark, twisted version
rlm@0: of the gentle, kind laugh that he once had. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	“Dad..” Hotaru closed her silver eyes sadly. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	The elevator moved slowly. Too slowly, for Setsuna. She was usually
rlm@0: much more patient, but she couldn’t help but fear that time was
rlm@0: running out. When the night was through, this would all be over. But
rlm@0: who would be victorious? Who would survive? And were they already too
rlm@0: late to save the princess? Setsuna clutched her Time Staff closer,
rlm@0: wishing that she could know the outcome of all this already.
rlm@0: 	Michiru offered a small, reassuring smile to the green haired
rlm@0: woman, but it didn’t seem to be of much help. She sighed and crossed
rlm@0: her arms. Usagi had finally regained her Super Sailormoon
rlm@0: transformation, but she wasn’t sure if that would be enough in the
rlm@0: coming battles. And she still had the feeling that she would get in
rlm@0: the way. Usagi still wanted to save everyone and that just wasn’t
rlm@0: possible. But she was tagging on whether or not she liked the idea,
rlm@0: so there really wasn’t anything she could do about it. She cast a
rlm@0: withering glance at Haruka as she noticed the two blondes flirting
rlm@0: again. The flirting abruptly stopped and Michiru had to suppress a
rlm@0: smile of triumph. 
rlm@0: 	Haruka frowned, leaning against the back wall, her hands behind her
rlm@0: head. This whole situation was bothering her. They were rushing
rlm@0: headlong into a situation that could very well mean their deaths.
rlm@0: And, hey, that was all well and good. They’d done it often enough
rlm@0: lately. But did they have to be in this damned elevator? She was
rlm@0: starting to feel claustrophobic. Haruka had always liked wide open
rlm@0: spaces and the wind against her face. Stuffy little compartments with
rlm@0: God knows what on the other side wasn’t quite her cup of tea. She
rlm@0: smiled softly at Michiru and released a breath she didn't know she
rlm@0: was holding when the aqua haired woman smiled back. She hoped they
rlm@0: lived through this so she could make it up to the other girl. She
rlm@0: just couldn’t resist a little more flirting with Usagi before their
rlm@0: possible deaths. 
rlm@0: 	As the door began to slide open ever so slowly, Setsuna held her
rlm@0: Time Staff in front of her defensively, leaping out as soon as the
rlm@0: doors were open wide enough. The other three Senshi followed shortly.
rlm@0: Haruka was to her right with Michiru on her left. Usagi was standing
rlm@0: a little behind her. 
rlm@0: 	“It sure took you girls long enough. But welcome to my lab,
rlm@0: nonetheless,” Professor Souichi Tomoe said from the other side of the
rlm@0: room. “You don’t know how much I’ve been waiting for this moment. You
rlm@0: girls have really been a bother lately, killing my pretty Daimons and
rlm@0: my Witches 5. But this batch of Daimons is feeling hungry, so I
rlm@0: suppose it’s feeding time.”
rlm@0: 	All around the room, shadows seemed to shift, low snarls coming
rlm@0: from them. Michiru could barely make out the shapes of the Daimons
rlm@0: hiding in the shadows. They were ugly, vicious looking creatures. And
rlm@0: they were all ready to pounce. “Watch out!!” she yelled as the first
rlm@0: few came bounding towards them. Her elegant form barely dodged large,
rlm@0: swiping claws. It took her a moment to realize that it was just
rlm@0: distracting her. The other two had headed for.. Usagi! “Super
rlm@0: Sailormoon!! Get out of the way!”
rlm@0: 	Usagi stood like a dear caught in headlights. The large brutal
rlm@0: looking creature moved much faster than she thought possible as it
rlm@0: eliminated the distance to her. 
rlm@0: 	“Chronos Typhoon!” Setsuna’s attack tore through one of the Daimons
rlm@0: just as it was about to swipe Usagi in two.
rlm@0: 	The second Daimon had moved around to Usagi’s left and she barely
rlm@0: backed out of the large swiping distance of it’s claws.
rlm@0: 	“Submarine Reflection!” Michiru called out before her attack came
rlm@0: crashing into the next Daimon.
rlm@0: 	“Do you really think that’s all I’ve got? I can make an infinite
rlm@0: amount of my precious Daimons for you to play with! Yes, play with my
rlm@0: precious!” The professor laughed maniacally. 
rlm@0: 	Usagi took a step forward, holding her hands out. “Stop it!! We
rlm@0: don’t want to fight you. We know that you’re Hotaru-chan’s papa. We
rlm@0: just want to know where she is.”
rlm@0: 	“My former daughter, Hotaru? Oh, she’s busy. She can’t come out and
rlm@0: play with you now. She’s up at the holy sanctuary, devoting all of
rlm@0: the energy from that mockery of the Taioron Crystal, the Ginzuishou,
rlm@0: to Master Pharaoh 90,” the professor stated matter-of-factly. 
rlm@0: 	“Pharaoh 90?!?” Setsuna exclaimed. Damn, maybe they really were too
rlm@0: late. But that didn’t mean they couldn’t try. If only they could get
rlm@0: there in time..
rlm@0: 	Souichi nodded. “Yes, the master had very nearly arrived. And when
rlm@0: he does, this world will cease to exist as you know it. I’m sure
rlm@0: you’d love the results if you could live through it. It’s too bad you
rlm@0: won’t see it for yourselves, but this place is to be your graveyard.”
rlm@0: His skin began to ripple as if something was moving under it, pushing
rlm@0: it out and deforming it. His glasses cracked and shattered,
rlm@0: splintering as the pieces fell to the floor. His skin ripped apart as
rlm@0: his body shifted to a monstrous form. “I’m no longer Souichi Tomoe. I
rlm@0: am Gelmatoid!!” 
rlm@0: 	“He’s a Daimon?!” Haruka exclaimed as the beast stood up to it’s
rlm@0: full height.
rlm@0: 	“No, not a Daimon. I am infinitely beyond those creatures. I am a
rlm@0: hybrid superhuman!! The first of my kind. The perfect union of humans
rlm@0: and life from the outer reaches of the universe. Now, die!!” The
rlm@0: creature that had once been Souichi Tomoe fired off a powerful blast
rlm@0: at the Senshi, but they all dodged. 
rlm@0: 	“That.. That thing was Hotaru-chan’s papa! We can’t just kill it!”
rlm@0: Usagi frets, barely dodging another attack. 
rlm@0: 	“He isn’t human! He’s a Daimon, Super Sailormoon! An Enemy! We have
rlm@0: to kill him!” Haruka leapt out of the way of another blast of energy,
rlm@0: making her way towards the large monster. She kept glancing back to
rlm@0: Usagi. This wasn’t the time for her to be worried about who they
rlm@0: could fight. She knew that she should have stayed behind. But there
rlm@0: was no time for that now. Moving closer, she pulled up her sword.
rlm@0: “Space Sword Blaster!!” The monster ducked the attack and knocked her
rlm@0: away violently. Pain shot through Sailoruranus as she felt the claws
rlm@0: slash through some of the flesh on her side, throwing her to the
rlm@0: floor. 
rlm@0: 	“Uranus!!” Usagi screams as she watches the taller blonde roll
rlm@0: along the floor, a slight trail of blood behind her. Pain shot
rlm@0: through the younger girl at seeing her hurt like that. She lifted her
rlm@0: Heart Moon Rod, concentrating on the beast as Neptune and Pluto
rlm@0: continued to hold its attention. It was moving slower now, the Space
rlm@0: Sword wedged deep in it’s chest. 
rlm@0: “Rainbow Moon Heartache!!” Energy flew from Supersailormoon to the
rlm@0: superhuman, tearing it apart as it gave an unearthly howl.	
rlm@0: 	Hotaru watched the battle, invisible to the participants without
rlm@0: her body. “Papa.. My gentle papa from before mama’s death.. The papa
rlm@0: that came to save me in the fire.. He died that day. That wasn’t my
rlm@0: papa anymore. Goodbye, papa. I’ll see you soon.” Hotaru closed her
rlm@0: eyes. She couldn’t die just yet. ChibiUsa still needed saving or
rlm@0: they’d both die. But she knew she didn’t have much time left. And she
rlm@0: didn’t even have a body to use for what she needed to do.
rlm@0: 	“Who’s that?” Usagi asked suddenly, staring directly at Hotaru. “It
rlm@0: felt like someone was right there..” She shook her head, trying to
rlm@0: focus on the spot, but nothing appeared.
rlm@0: 	Haruka had finally gotten to her feet with Michiru’s help, but it
rlm@0: hurt to breath, like her entire chest was on fire. Nothing serious,
rlm@0: but the pain shot through her with every breath. 
rlm@0: 	Setsuna looked up from Haruka and Michiru as the ground began to
rlm@0: shake. “Something’s coming! Garnet Ball!” An orb of light surrounded
rlm@0: the four Senshi as the ceiling began to cave in.
rlm@0: 	“What’s going on?” Usagi yelled above the cacophony of noise.
rlm@0: “They’re up there! The rest of the Senshi are up there!” Squinting
rlm@0: through the dust and debris still hanging in the air, she tried to
rlm@0: get a better view of her Sailor Senshi. Before she could get a good
rlm@0: look, her entire body felt like it had taken a sudden hit. Ribbons
rlm@0: played across her sailor suit as the energy that had filled her
rlm@0: started to dissipate. Looking down in shock, she realized that she
rlm@0: had changed back to normal Sailormoon. “What happened? Why am I not
rlm@0: Super Sailormoon anymore? Something must have happened to the others.
rlm@0: Our souls aren’t connected anymore.” Usagi got back to her feet,
rlm@0: straining again to see the Sailor Team. She had become Super
rlm@0: Sailormoon through the combined powers of the Sailor Senshi. If she
rlm@0: had changed back, what did that mean about them? Were they... No,
rlm@0: that couldn’t be.
rlm@0: 	“Damn it.” Haruka watched Usagi for a moment before turning back to
rlm@0: Michiru. Her sense of loss was evident. She had finally put her faith
rlm@0: in Sailormoon and now it looked like she wouldn’t be of any help.
rlm@0: This whole situation was getting worse and worse. It would probably
rlm@0: be up to them after all. It only took a look from Michiru to realize
rlm@0: what had to be done. If Super Sailormoon couldn't provide victory,
rlm@0: they would have to do things their way. Which meant killing Hotaru.
rlm@0: Or whatever it was she was calling herself now. The planet was the
rlm@0: important thing. They had to save what they could. A sigh escaped the
rlm@0: blonde’s lips, but she nodded to the violinist. She would do whatever
rlm@0: was necessary, even if the cost had to be paid in blood.
rlm@0: 	“Small Lady... Please hold on. I’m coming,” Setsuna whispered,
rlm@0: unheard by the others. Her eyes caught on something other than the
rlm@0: Sailor Senshi. Long, dark hair, a silhouette in the sky. That was
rlm@0: her. She was the one that had nearly killed her little friend. And if
rlm@0: she didn’t act quickly, she wouldn’t be able to retrieve the
rlm@0: princess’s soul. Her eyes narrowed as she concentrated her energy,
rlm@0: the orb they were all in lifting through the hole in the roof. As the
rlm@0: Guardian of Time, she was in a unique position to understand what it
rlm@0: was they were dealing with and the future that would not be if they
rlm@0: were to fail. And the gentle princess that would be lost if they
rlm@0: didn’t hurry. 
rlm@0: 	Darkness swirled in the sky above, a black tempest that grew
rlm@0: harsher as they rose higher into the air. It was quickly devouring
rlm@0: the skyline of Tokyo, a dark cloak ready to drop over the city below.
rlm@0: It cast the entire area in shadows, grasping out in surreal patterns
rlm@0: along everything. It increased the sense of urgency, as if showing a
rlm@0: picture of what was to come. A dark dream that was ever ready to
rlm@0: lunge out and consume the planet itself. 
rlm@0: 	The main building in the center of the Delta Area lay in wait in
rlm@0: front of the four. Ominous silence fell upon attentive ears, the only
rlm@0: sounds that of their own boots upon the concrete as they drew nearer.
rlm@0: A glass room stood at the entrance, it’s slightly reflective surfaces
rlm@0: showing the dark skies above. Inside, they could see a figure
rlm@0: shrouded by a dark haze. As she moved, the haze slid over her,
rlm@0: finally showing itself as long, raven hair.
rlm@0: 	“Hotaru-chan?” Usagi asked after a moment of silence. The woman
rlm@0: turned around, long hair flowing behind her like a cape. She looked
rlm@0: directly at the champion of love and justice, her dark eyes glinting
rlm@0: in the dim light. She grinned slowly, joyously. As if all was right
rlm@0: with the world. Or that it soon would be. The thought chilled Usagi.
rlm@0: She didn’t seem to see the Sailor Senshi as any possible threat to
rlm@0: the completion of years and years of work. It was only a matter of
rlm@0: time for her... Usagi shook her head. “No, that’s a daimon. She’s
rlm@0: using Hotaru-chan.” Holding up her rod, she begin heading for the
rlm@0: dark haired woman. 
rlm@0: 	Michiru felt her heart clench up as she followed right behind
rlm@0: Usagi. Now it was the moment of truth. They had come all this way,
rlm@0: through long and twisted paths that had led them throughout their
rlm@0: lives to this single moment. The road hadn’t been entirely
rlm@0: unpleasant. After all, she had met Haruka, a partner and lover
rlm@0: throughout all of this madness. But now they had reached the point of
rlm@0: no return, if they had ever had a choice in the matter in the first
rlm@0: place. Here they would see what would become of them and of the
rlm@0: planet and it’s people. They would see if they really could turn back
rlm@0: the tide. She walked determinedly towards the woman in the glass
rlm@0: room. Even her mirror wouldn’t tell her the outcome of all this, but
rlm@0: she would give her all. She had made her decision long ago. 
rlm@0: 	Before the four could reach the room, the ground in front of them
rlm@0: lurched violently, nearly throwing them off their feet. The building
rlm@0: began to rip apart in front of them, exposing the center of the Delta
rlm@0: Area. The glass room shattered into thousands of tiny glass shards,
rlm@0: the woman standing in it’s center calm amidst the destruction. Into
rlm@0: the air she floated, followed by the reflecting pool that had been in
rlm@0: the room with her, her link back to Pharaoh 90. Four balls of light
rlm@0: followed close behind, the bodies of the Sailor Senshi barely visible
rlm@0: through the light. 
rlm@0: 	“No! Come back!! That’s them! She has the others! Mercury! Jupiter!
rlm@0: Mars! Venus!” Usagi cried out, trying to follow her fallen soldiers.
rlm@0: Her head sank seeing them all lying so still in the balls of light.
rlm@0: She had almost reached the lowest of them when she was thrown back by
rlm@0: the energy surrounding it. It felt like a giant had knocked her back
rlm@0: down to the floor the same way someone would swat away a fly. She got
rlm@0: uneasily to her feet, watching the floating forms of the Sailor
rlm@0: Senshi and Mistress 9 up ahead of her. “No... I can’t get near!
rlm@0: Please, wake up! Everyone!!”
rlm@0: 	But Haruka wasn’t paying attention to the prone Sailor Team. Her
rlm@0: vision was instead on the aquamarine haired girl who had suddenly
rlm@0: gone pale. And then she knew why. The sea was wild, an untamed beast
rlm@0: howling in anguish. And the wind was following suit. She could hear
rlm@0: it all around her in the harsh winds blowing past. “Are we too late?
rlm@0: It feels like the planet’s coming apart at the seams.”
rlm@0: 	Mistress 9 landed slowly, her eyes opening up as if she had just
rlm@0: awakened from a deep sleep. The grin returned to her face as she
rlm@0: looked at the Sailor Senshi facing her. “No, you’re wrong. The planet
rlm@0: is ready to be born. It has spent long enough as this lonely egg out
rlm@0: in space. Now that the energy has been gathered, Master Pharaoh 90
rlm@0: can bring about the utilization. He will assimilate the planet. This
rlm@0: planet will be born anew soon enough. Thank you for keeping it safe
rlm@0: this long. But you are no longer needed.” She frowned slightly. She
rlm@0: could no longer feel the scared little soul that had been flitting
rlm@0: about the Ginzuishou. The Crystal’s power was probably just
rlm@0: interfering. She shrugged it off and prepared to face whatever these
rlm@0: gnats had to say regarding the fate of what had used to be their
rlm@0: planet. 
rlm@0: 	“Assimilate the planet?” Usagi asked worriedly. 
rlm@0: 	Mistress 9 sighed. Why were they acting like school children?
rlm@0: Didn’t they understand that greatness was about to fall upon this
rlm@0: world? No longer would it be the scared, sick little child out all
rlm@0: alone by itself that it was. It would become something much greater,
rlm@0: the resurrection of a once great world. “When all is said and done,
rlm@0: this world will be one with Master Pharaoh 90. It will become the
rlm@0: second Tau star and spread it’s light throughout the cosmos. This
rlm@0: planet will become our new mother world, and our proud legacy will
rlm@0: never be forgotten!” She was really getting into this. How long had
rlm@0: it been since she had really been able to bask in what they were
rlm@0: doing? Too long. So she had that to thank the school girls for. It
rlm@0: gave her a chance to look at it all again. A wave of anxiety swept
rlm@0: through her. It was almost done. After all these years... ‘Master,
rlm@0: we’ll be together again soon,’ the dark haired woman thought to
rlm@0: herself.
rlm@0: 	Michiru ignored the last of what the harbinger of the chaos that
rlm@0: was surrounding them had to say, turning instead to her mirror and
rlm@0: then out to sea.
rlm@0: 	“Neptune?” Haruka asked, noticing the nearly panicked look in her
rlm@0: partner’s eyes. Of course she never panicked, but right at that
rlm@0: instant it sure looked close enough. 
rlm@0: 	“The sea, it’s subsiding all at once. It could be the signs of a
rlm@0: tsunami. The sea itself is being thrown into a frenzy from all of
rlm@0: this,” Michiru explained, still gazing towards the ocean.
rlm@0: 	Haruka felt it, too. The sky was growing darker, the winds fiercer.
rlm@0: The smell of rain was in the air. She could feel the uncertainty in
rlm@0: the wind. “Is it a storm? Or is something else coming?”
rlm@0: 	“The planet’s facing a catastrophe. It’s being ripped apart by this
rlm@0: power. We need to protect it.” Haruka saw Michiru nod in agreement.
rlm@0: She clutched the Space Sword closer but paused for a moment. Where
rlm@0: was Setsuna?
rlm@0: 	Mistress 9 laughed as she watched the Sailor Senshi in front of
rlm@0: her. It was like watching small animals. Poor, confused animals that
rlm@0: had absolutely no idea what was going on. “Why did you girls come
rlm@0: here? To die? Why can’t you accept the Fate of this planet? It’s
rlm@0: meant for greater things than this. We’ll see to that. Whether or not
rlm@0: you had come here tonight, it changes nothing. This was destined long
rlm@0: ago.”
rlm@0: 	“I like to think I know a thing or two about destiny. And this...”
rlm@0: Setsuna’s voice, a mere whisper, reached Mistress 9’s ears. She was
rlm@0: very close. Right behind her. “This is not destiny. Dead Scream.” A
rlm@0: bolt of purple energy shot out of Pluto’s Time Staff, tearing into
rlm@0: the body that had once belonged to Tomoe Hotaru. Setsuna watched with
rlm@0: a measure of grim satisfaction. She knew that Usagi had come here to
rlm@0: save everyone, but that was now an impossibility. They were on the
rlm@0: verge of losing their planet. The Time Guardian wasn’t about to make
rlm@0: anymore mistakes that might cost the life of her future friend or the
rlm@0: planet. Letting Hotaru live was no longer an option. “How dare you
rlm@0: come here and expect us to lie down and let you succeed? How dare you
rlm@0: take what’s dear to us and think that we won’t fight with every part
rlm@0: of our being to get it back?”
rlm@0: 	Usagi gasped in mute horror as Mistress 9 fell forward, slumping to
rlm@0: her knees. Blood was dripping down her sides from her injuries. Her
rlm@0: dark eyes were wide in shock. She was trembling, obviously in pain.
rlm@0: “Pluto!!” Weren’t they going to save Hotaru? Wasn’t that the plan?
rlm@0: Had the Senshi from the Outer planets been listening to her at all?
rlm@0: “No!!”
rlm@0: 	“You... bitch.. You think I don’t know what it’s like to lose
rlm@0: everything?! To see everyone dying right before your eyes? Why do you
rlm@0: think I’m here!? Stop being so self-righteous. You’d be doing the
rlm@0: exact same thing in my position.” Mistress 9 forced herself to her
rlm@0: feet, still shaking as pain wracked her small frame. Tears fell down
rlm@0: her pale cheeks as anger and sadness mixed together through her. She
rlm@0: had come too far to let some pathetic soldiers stand in her way.
rlm@0: 	“That may be true. But you would be trying just as hard to stop
rlm@0: me,” Setsuna said, her voice still quiet yet forceful. She barely saw
rlm@0: the hair whip out and wrap painfully around her neck, yanking her off
rlm@0: her feet. Her heart sank as she felt the hair start crushing around
rlm@0: her throat. No, this wasn’t fair. She was supposed to save the
rlm@0: princess. She couldn’t have failed. 
rlm@0: 	“You foolish woman. Now that the utilization has begun, I don’t
rlm@0: need this worthless body. Attacking me was pointless. After I discard
rlm@0: it, you won’t be able to touch me. And don’t worry about what’s
rlm@0: precious to you. I’ve already been taking very good care of it.”
rlm@0: Mistress 9 closed her eyes, ready to cast off the body she was in.
rlm@0: Nothing. Her eyes shot open. “I can’t get out! Something’s holding me
rlm@0: here!!” Fear shot through her as she felt the slick blood under her
rlm@0: fingertips. Her hair wrenched more painfully at Pluto’s neck. She
rlm@0: most certainly wasn’t going to die in this stupid body alone. 
rlm@0: 	“I won’t let you escape!” a voice rang out through Mistress 9’s
rlm@0: head. 
rlm@0: 	“Who are you?! Get out of my head!” Mistress 9 screamed, struggling
rlm@0: to get free of the body that was quickly becoming her tomb. 
rlm@0: 	“This is still my body, not yours. You won’t get out of it! I’ll
rlm@0: never let you be free!” Hotaru soul flashed defiantly inside the
rlm@0: pained Mistress 9. 
rlm@0: 	“I thought you were dead after I took over. Your soul should have
rlm@0: passed on by now. Your weak, pathetic soul isn’t necessary to any of
rlm@0: this. I have the Ginzuishou now. There’s no more reason for you at
rlm@0: all. I’ll cast off this worthless body and tear it apart. Now let me
rlm@0: go!!” Mistress 9 growled angrily at the young girl inside of her.
rlm@0: Everything was falling apart. Her beautiful dream was fading because
rlm@0: of these frustrated girls. The anger boiled within her. They weren’t
rlm@0: the only ones who would try their all. 
rlm@0: 	“You can tear my body to pieces! You can ruin it, break it apart if
rlm@0: you wish. It doesn’t mean anything in the end. But I won’t let you
rlm@0: get ChibiUsa-chan’s soul or her shining crystal!	Whatever happens,
rlm@0: I’ll protect them! I’ll gladly give my body away for that. I don’t
rlm@0: care what you do to me.” Hotaru’s voice was sad but determined. She
rlm@0: had mixed feelings about losing her body. It had always been so
rlm@0: horrible, a corpse kept alive by machinery. It had been her prison
rlm@0: for so many years. But now she had already lost it. No, that was all
rlm@0: right. It was better now. It had died years ago. There was no reason
rlm@0: to keep it. What really saddened her was that it also meant she was
rlm@0: going to die. She had somehow managed to hold on for the moment, but
rlm@0: she knew she couldn’t for much longer. She was a soul without a body.
rlm@0: It was only a matter of time. And even that held some relief in it.
rlm@0: The pain would soon be over. But she didn’t want to leave ChibiUsa.
rlm@0: She didn’t want to go away yet. She finally had a reason to live. But
rlm@0: that wasn’t really her choice anymore. She closed what passed for
rlm@0: eyes in her spirit form. If she had to die, she wouldn’t let ChibiUsa
rlm@0: go with her just yet. It didn’t matter if she herself died, but she
rlm@0: couldn’t let that happen to her sweet princess. So she would protect
rlm@0: the pink haired girl.
rlm@0: 	“Impudent humans! Why do you insist in making yourselves such a
rlm@0: nuisance? No one can stop this! You’re already too late!!” Mistress 9
rlm@0: forced herself forward, Setsuna’s struggles growing weaker and weaker
rlm@0: by the second. 
rlm@0: 	“Moon Spiral Heart Attack!” Usagi yelled, trying to focus her
rlm@0: powers on the injured woman making her way towards her. She felt
rlm@0: awful doing it, but she didn’t know what else to do. Maybe the others
rlm@0: had been right about not being able to save Hotaru. But nothing
rlm@0: happened. The Ginzuishou was growing brigher, having blocked Usagi’s
rlm@0: attack. Raising a hand, Mistress 9 sent Usagi sprawling back, her
rlm@0: body skidding across the ground.
rlm@0: 	“I won’t be stopped now! Too much is riding on this for me to give
rlm@0: up! I already have the full power of the Ginzuishou! Ruined body or
rlm@0: not, you can’t take that from me.” Mistress 9’s eyes darkened as she
rlm@0: watched the Sailors of Wind and Sea ready to attack. Damn them. Why
rlm@0: were they all struggling so much? Couldn’t they make this easy on
rlm@0: themselves? She would see to her Master’s revival. She had promised
rlm@0: the tiny spirit that had been protecting the Ginzuishou that she
rlm@0: would show her the wonders that the new world had to offer. And she
rlm@0: would not be made a liar. “Their souls. I need more power. The Sailor
rlm@0: Senshi’s souls should be abundant with it.” The floating bodies
rlm@0: dropped lifelessly into the reflecting pool as tiny orbs of light
rlm@0: left their bodies, hurrying towards Mistress 9.
rlm@0: 	“No!! Mars! Mercury! Jupiter! Venus! No!!! Give them back!” Usagi
rlm@0: screamed, struggling to her feet.
rlm@0: 	Setsuna kicked weakly, still trying to get free. By now she was
rlm@0: fairly sure that it was pointless. The hair was just growing tighter
rlm@0: around her throat and she was growing weaker. Her vision was starting
rlm@0: to fade and there was a pounding in her ears. Visions of her last
rlm@0: death kept coming to mind, slipping away after using her final
rlm@0: attack, Dark Dome Close, to help save the future. But this time, she
rlm@0: had failed miserably. She would die, as would the princess. If only
rlm@0: she hadn’t been so careless... She could only hope that her sacrifice
rlm@0: hadn’t been in vain. 
rlm@0: “Space Sword Blaster!” Uranus slashed forward, the energy blade
rlm@0: shooting through the air. It missed Mistress 9’s barrier, instead
rlm@0: cutting through the thick raven hair that clung to Setsuna’s throat.
rlm@0: The older Senshi dropped to the ground, Neptune catching her and
rlm@0: dragging her away from the injured Mistress 9. 
rlm@0: 	In the vast emptiness, Hotaru spotted the light of the Sailor Team.
rlm@0: She was already holding a single glowing orb close to her heart.
rlm@0: Reaching out, she grabbed the other four as they rushed deeper into
rlm@0: Mistress 9. Clutching all five orbs of light, she tried desperately
rlm@0: to hold on to them. “I have them, ChibiUsa-chan,” she whispered to
rlm@0: the original ball of light she had been carrying. 
rlm@0: 	“Let go!!” Mistress 9 yelled in rage, trying to utilize the power
rlm@0: of the souls inside of her to accomplish her mission. 
rlm@0: 	Hotaru cried out as the mental assault on her grew worse. Mistress
rlm@0: 9 was trying to drag the souls away. But she had to hold on. If they
rlm@0: slipped through her fingers... “I want to protect ChibiUsa-chan and
rlm@0: her shining crystal and the four soldiers... But I don’t even have my
rlm@0: body. My soul’s all that’s left. I’m already dead. So how can I save
rlm@0: them? My dad is gone, my body dead long ago... I have nothing left.
rlm@0: I’m all alone. So why do I still have enough power to hold onto them
rlm@0: like this? How can I hold her off? I’ve always been so weak... But
rlm@0: somehow I can still fight her, even without my body. And inside me, I
rlm@0: feel someone else. Not like when she was taking over my body. It’s
rlm@0: another me. A stronger me. She’s telling me to keep these lives, to
rlm@0: save everyone. But I don’t know how. I can’t save everyone. But I can
rlm@0: take these five souls and ChibiUsa’s crystal and escape from this
rlm@0: terrible prison. I don’t need my body anymore.” Hotaru clutched the
rlm@0: orbs tighter. “Let’s go, ChibiUsa-chan.”
rlm@0: 	A glowing ball of violet light tore out of Mistress 9, pulling away
rlm@0: from her. Mistress 9 fell back to her knees. “Damn! The souls have
rlm@0: been taken away.” A slight grin crossed her lips. “But now I’m free.”
rlm@0: The fear that she had come so far for nothing slowly began to
rlm@0: dissipate. She had been right in the first place. These pathetic
rlm@0: soldiers were beneath her notice.
rlm@0: 	“That light...” Usagi watched as it flew past. Four lights
rlm@0: splintered from it, flowing to the bodies of the Sailor Team. Slowly,
rlm@0: one by one, their eyes opened again. “Minna-san!!” The blonde magical
rlm@0: girl ran to their side. Her eyes fainly caught a glimpse of Hotaru
rlm@0: standing beside her, smiling softly. Before she could say anything,
rlm@0: the younger girl had disappeared in a ball of light. “Hotaru-chan?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	Mamoru yawned as he opened his eyes. Getting up, he went over and
rlm@0: felt ChibiUsa’s forehead. “I must have dozed off.” He sighed as he
rlm@0: looked down at his future daughter, lying so still. “ChibiUsa-
rlm@0: chan...” There had to be more he could do. It was so painful to watch
rlm@0: her as she lay dying. His eyes finally caught on Diana. She was
rlm@0: sitting at the edge of the bed, ready to pounce. She was hissing at
rlm@0: something. He followed her gaze and saw a dark haired girl sitting in
rlm@0: his window. She looked like a ghost, not quite there. Her eyes never
rlm@0: left ChibiUsa’s prone body. “Who are you?”
rlm@0: 	Two lights shot into the room past the girl’s head, one going into
rlm@0: ChibiUsa’s body and the other forming the Ginzuishou. ChibiUsa’s
rlm@0: crimson eyes opened slowly, her body starting to move again. Where
rlm@0: had she just been? She felt so disoriented. Hadn’t she been with
rlm@0: Hotaru? Oh good. The Ginzuishou was right there. She’d been afraid
rlm@0: that she had lost it. She was in her body again. So that meant...
rlm@0: 	“ChibiUsa-chan!!” 
rlm@0: 	“Mamo-chan!” ChibiUsa sat up. Her body felt like she had just
rlm@0: awoken from a nap. Her gaze went past her future father to the spirit
rlm@0: sitting in the window. She scrambled over, hurrying to the spirit’s
rlm@0: side.
rlm@0: 	Hotaru smiled gently, her silver eyes looking deep into the big
rlm@0: crimson ones of the princess. “Good.” Her ethereal fingers played
rlm@0: through ChibiUsa’s cotton candy hair. It was a huge relief to her to
rlm@0: know that the younger girl was finally safe. She felt a burden lifted
rlm@0: now that she saw her up and about. It had worked after all.
rlm@0: 	“Hotaru-chan...” ChibiUsa whispered softly. She wasn’t really
rlm@0: there. At least, her body wasn’t. But she could almost feel her
rlm@0: fingers brushing through her hair. Hotaru’s reassuring presence had
rlm@0: comforted her throughout the whole ordeal she’d just gone through.
rlm@0: That feeling was still there with the girl in the window.
rlm@0: 	“I was able to save you, ChibiUsa-chan. I’m happy. It’s good. We’re
rlm@0: both girls, but it’s strange. It must have been fate that we met.”
rlm@0: Hotaru had spent most of her life alone, crying in the shadows. Pain
rlm@0: and loneliness had been constant companions. But that had all changed
rlm@0: because of this genki little girl. She wasn’t alone anymore. She
rlm@0: wasn’t in pain anymore. Her entire life, she had been pushed away
rlm@0: from everyone. So she hid from them all, wanting the cold solace of
rlm@0: the shadows. ChibiUsa was the only one to ever reach out for her, to
rlm@0: pull her from her hiding place and actually embrace all that she was. 
rlm@0: 	“I thought that, too,” ChibiUsa said quietly, still looking up into
rlm@0: Hotaru’s eyes. “Hotaru-chan...” The two girls held hands as best they
rlm@0: could with one of them not quite being there. Hotaru leaned down and
rlm@0: kissed the princess. ChibiUsa’s eyes closed after seeing the dark
rlm@0: haired girl’s face right next to hers. Even if she wasn’t fully
rlm@0: there, ChibiUsa thought she felt a feathery kiss before Hotaru pulled
rlm@0: away. Her eyes fluttered open at the realization that it was a
rlm@0: goodbye kiss. Her heart began to pound in her chest, too many things
rlm@0: she wanted to say fighting to be said, but her throat felt too
rlm@0: painful to say anything.
rlm@0: 	Hotaru cried out in pain, the last links with her body being
rlm@0: destroyed as it was torn apart by Mistress 9’s escape from it. It was
rlm@0: gone. There was no going back. But it was all right. ChibiUsa was
rlm@0: safe. And she would never be alone again. 
rlm@0: 	“Hotaru-chan?!”	
rlm@0: 	Hotaru smiled weakly, her fingers hovering over ChibiUsa’s cheek.
rlm@0: “It’s good we met. I’m glad we became friends, ChibiUsa-chan. Thank
rlm@0: you.” She paused a moment, silvery eyes sparkling sadly. “Goodbye.”
rlm@0: ‘I promise I’ll always watch over you, ChibiUsa-chan,’ she thought as
rlm@0: she faded away.
rlm@0: 	“Hotaru-chan!!” ChibiUsa cried out, grasping for the spirit that
rlm@0: had been there moments before. Tears began spilling down her cheeks
rlm@0: as she hugged herself. She barely felt Mamoru pulling her away from
rlm@0: the window, holding onto her. “No... Don’t go, Hotaru-chan..” She
rlm@0: shook her head, tears falling to the floor. “It’s not fair! Why
rlm@0: should she have such a sad fate? Where’s her happy ending? How come I
rlm@0: got to come back but not her? There are people who must live that
rlm@0: fate?” She wiped at her eyes with balled up fists. She felt so empty,
rlm@0: so alone. It felt like a piece of herself had been ripped away. When
rlm@0: she closed her eyes, she could see Hotaru as if she was still there
rlm@0: with her. Hotaru had protected her, just as she had promised, but
rlm@0: ChibiUsa hadn’t thought that meant she’d leave when she was through. 
rlm@0: 	Mamoru pulled ChibiUsa at arms’ length, looking down at the young
rlm@0: Sailor Senshi. “ChibiUsa-chan, can you fight with me? To help
rlm@0: Sailormoon? She needs you now.”
rlm@0: 	ChibiUsa looked up, sniffling. She nodded quickly, determination
rlm@0: overcoming the sadness in her eyes. “I can fight. I won’t cry
rlm@0: anymore. I’m a Sailor Senshi, too. I can help the others. With the
rlm@0: life Hotaru-chan returned to me, I’ll fight with everything I have! I
rlm@0: won’t let it be wasted. Moon Prism Power! Make Up!” The pink haired
rlm@0: girl appeared in her Sailor fuku, clutching her moon rod in one hand.
rlm@0: With the other, she wiped her eyes again. She had to do this. For
rlm@0: Hotaru. Now that she was back, she had to put a stop to all this.
rlm@0: “Thank you, Mamo-chan! You protected my body while Hotaru-chan was
rlm@0: protecting my soul. We might not be as strong as Sailormoon or the
rlm@0: others, but let’s go fight together!” ChibiUsa turned and ran out of
rlm@0: the room, Mamoru close behind.
rlm@0: 	‘I feel like I’d just given my wife a daughter,’ Mamoru thought to
rlm@0: himself while changing into Tuxedo Kamen. ‘She’s so full of energy
rlm@0: now. It’s like Hotaru-chan’s power did more than bring her back, she
rlm@0: revitalized her as well. But then, it was a strange visit, so
rlm@0: ChibiUsa-chan obviously has a lot of emotion involved in all this.
rlm@0: Hang on, Usa. We’re coming!’
rlm@0: 	Diana sighed in relief as she watched the two hurry off. It seemed
rlm@0: that Death had been merciful on this trip. When Diana had spotted
rlm@0: her, she had been sure that Death, the dark haired girl that she was,
rlm@0: had been there to end ChibiUsa. Instead she had brought her back.
rlm@0: Diana whispered a silent thank you as she finally let herself fall
rlm@0: asleep after all the hours of watching her mistress.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	The monstrous form of Mistress Nine screamed out as it rose high
rlm@0: above the Sailor Senshi. She was no longer under the constraints of
rlm@0: Hotaru’s body, what was left of it lying torn and shattered
rlm@0: underneath her. Now was the time she had waited so long for, the time
rlm@0: of their resurrection. And she could not allow these bothersome and
rlm@0: blind soldiers hinder her progress. The three Outer Senshi had gone
rlm@0: to the three main points of the Delta Area and had set up a barrier
rlm@0: with their remaining power, barely holding back her master. But she
rlm@0: knew it couldn’t last long. Gathering her strength, she lunged forward.
rlm@0: 	“What the hell is that thing?” Makoto asked in shock at what had
rlm@0: looked to be a human woman moments before she had left the bonds of
rlm@0: the body she had been inhabiting. “It sounds like it’s in pain.”
rlm@0: Glancing to Ami, she saw the blue haired senshi nod in agreement.
rlm@0: Makoto smiled briefly as she braced herself for the monster. She had
rlm@0: found her reason to fight. And in a way, that was much more important
rlm@0: than the fight itself. 
rlm@0: Usagi held up her wand, trying to concentrate on the demonic figure
rlm@0: heading towards her. Her mind was in so many places at once. She had
rlm@0: failed Hotaru. The Outers methods had disgusted her, but she had
rlm@0: proven inept at doing any better with her own way of doing things.
rlm@0: She had failed in saving the dark haired girl and quite possibly had
rlm@0: lost ChibiUsa in the process. Working up the strength to continue
rlm@0: onward was almost impossible. “Pink Sugar Heart Attack!!” came a
rlm@0: sweet voice from behind her. Energy shot out past her, forcing
rlm@0: Mistress Nine back before she could get any closer to Sailormoon.
rlm@0: “Chibimoon?” Blue eyes lanced around for the source of the voice and
rlm@0: finally latched onto the pink haired Sailor Senshi. Her eyes sparkled
rlm@0: as hope returned to her heart. “But... How?”
rlm@0: 	Swallowing the lump in her throat, ChibiUsa forced back the tears
rlm@0: that were still just under the surface. Strong. She had to be strong.
rlm@0: There would be time to cry later. Her returned life was a gift from
rlm@0: Hotaru. She couldn’t let it go to waste. Hotaru’s sacrifice wouldn’t
rlm@0: be in vain. “Hotaru-chan rescued me. She protected me in the
rlm@0: darkness. She gave her life for me.”
rlm@0: “Gave her life?” Usagi repeated. Then it was true. Hotaru was gone.
rlm@0: She hadn’t been able to save her after all. Maybe the Outers had been
rlm@0: right the entire time. But she had saved ChibiUsa. They were wrong
rlm@0: about killing her. “Arigato, Hotaru-chan,” she whispered. 
rlm@0: 	“What are you waiting for?” Tuxedo Kamen yelled over to Sailormoon,
rlm@0: still standing beside Chibimoon. “Hurry! You have to henshin into
rlm@0: Supersailormoon!”
rlm@0: 	“Tuxedo Kamen-sama!”
rlm@0: 	“If you don’t act quickly, the entire planet will die! Those three
rlm@0: are expending an enormous amount of power sustaining their barrier.
rlm@0: You have to hurry and defeat it, Sailormoon!” Tuxedo Kamen watched
rlm@0: the blonde girl intently. His faith was always with her. And
rlm@0: sometimes all he could offer was his belief in her. He hoped it would
rlm@0: be enough. Pulling out a rose, he tossed it to Sailormoon. “For all
rlm@0: it’s beauty, a rose is still painful to those who misuse it.
rlm@0: Sailormoon, show them that the same is true of the earth and it’s
rlm@0: pretty sailor suited protectors.”
rlm@0: 	Usagi nodded, holding the rose close to her heart. “For our
rlm@0: beautiful planet. I have to save everyone.” Determination coursed
rlm@0: through her as her hands reached up in the air. “Holy Grail! Please
rlm@0: appear before me! I need your help! Gather the sacred power of the
rlm@0: Holy soldiers to protect this planet!” The shining chalice appeared
rlm@0: above her, shimmering with light. The Inner Senshi held hands,
rlm@0: concentrating their power to the one they believed to be the Messiah. 
rlm@0: 	“Sailormoon... You really are everyone’s mother. Someday I’ll be
rlm@0: like you. I’ll be strong. I’ll protect everyone, too. Because
rlm@0: everyone needs a protector. There’s still hope for our world filled
rlm@0: with lonely hearts. If even for a moment our hearts can touch
rlm@0: another, we aren’t truly alone after all,” ChibiUsa said, watching
rlm@0: Usagi intently. Her heart burned fiercely as the thoughts raced
rlm@0: through her mind. She had learned so much in her short time back in
rlm@0: the past. There was so much pain that she had never known existed.
rlm@0: Her own loneliness in the future even made more sense now that she
rlm@0: had met Hotaru. But it had also taught her that there was hope. That
rlm@0: even in the darkness, even when surrounded by loneliness, there was a
rlm@0: heart shining out there, waiting. And she couldn’t let this world end
rlm@0: all of those hopes and dreams. A gasp escaped her lips as a golden
rlm@0: crescent moon began shining on her own head seconds after one lit up
rlm@0: on Usagi’s. The air shimmered in front of her as a chalice took
rlm@0: shape. “The Holy Grail? Two Holy Grails?!” 
rlm@0: 	“Crisis Make Up!!” Usagi and ChibiUsa shouted in unison. The two
rlm@0: Sailor Senshi carried with them the love and courage of the present
rlm@0: as well as the hopes and dreams of the future. Ribbons of light
rlm@0: surrounded the two of them as their Sailor Fukus shifted into their
rlm@0: super forms. 
rlm@0: 	“Supersailorchibimoon,” Mamoru whispered as he watched the two.
rlm@0: Something had happened to ChibiUsa in those moments after she had
rlm@0: awoken. She was stronger now, truly a Sailor Senshi as opposed to the
rlm@0: Senshi in training she had been. A memory of Usagi stabbing him
rlm@0: before stabbing herself with his sword back in the fight against the
rlm@0: Dark Kingdom while he was brainwashed ran through his mind. ChibiUsa
rlm@0: truly was her daughter. The pain of losing a loved one brought out
rlm@0: the strength in their hearts and the will to fight.
rlm@0: 	Usagi and ChibiUsa looked at each other for a long moment before
rlm@0: crossing their moon rods together. They both knew that they had to
rlm@0: end this now. This pain couldn’t be allowed to continue any longer.
rlm@0: “Let’s go, Supersailorchibimoon! We have to join our power together!”
rlm@0: Usagi yelled out as they flew towards the monstrous form of Mistress
rlm@0: Nine. 
rlm@0: Mistress Nine watched the two as they sped towards her. The power
rlm@0: was incredible. And that soul of the pink haired one was the same
rlm@0: that had been protecting the Ginzuishou when she had possessed it.
rlm@0: Why did they insist on stopping the beautiful Fate that lie in wait
rlm@0: for their world?
rlm@0: 	“Rainbow Double Moon Heartache!!” The two Senshi of the Moon yelled
rlm@0: in unison. Energy lashed out from their entwined moon rods at
rlm@0: Mistress Nine. ChibiUsa felt a twinge of regret as she poured herself
rlm@0: into the attack. She knew that they had to protect the future, her
rlm@0: future, but she could still remember Mistress Nine’s soothing words
rlm@0: while she had been protecting the Ginzuishou. But she had to stop
rlm@0: her. For Hotaru’s sacrifice. For her mother. For all of the lonely
rlm@0: hearts that had yet to meet the one who would release them from their
rlm@0: cold prison. ‘Thank you, Hotaru-chan... You saved me in more ways
rlm@0: than you know.’
rlm@0: 	On their three separate buildings, energy surrounding them as they
rlm@0: continued to hold up their barrier despite the onslaught of power
rlm@0: against it, Setsuna, Michiru, and Haruka held up their Talismans. The
rlm@0: monster that had been Mistress Nine grew larger as Chibimoon and
rlm@0: Sailormoon continued to attack it. “No! It’s being exposed to the
rlm@0: light of both the Ginzuishou of the present and of the future and
rlm@0: it’s still growing! It’s not working!” Setsuna yelled in frustration.
rlm@0: Her heart had been relieved to see the ‘young’ princess again, but
rlm@0: she didn’t want to see her get hurt against the Enemy. Nothing seemed
rlm@0: to be working. What would it take to stop them?
rlm@0: 	“More power! We need to hit it with enough to shatter it!” Minako
rlm@0: called out. There had to be something they could do. She refused to
rlm@0: sit back and watch as her world was torn asunder around her. Her
rlm@0: entire being would go into this. ‘I guess this might be the last time
rlm@0: Sailor V is in action, Natsuna-san. I hope you’re watching. This will
rlm@0: be my finest performance,’ she promised mentally to a certain police
rlm@0: chief. “We’ll do it, too! We have to stop that thing’s growth! We’ll
rlm@0: defend this planet till our dying breaths! Venus Wink Chain Sword!!”
rlm@0: 	“We’ve come so far. We’ve fought through so much. Our world’s dream
rlm@0: isn’t ready to end. Mars Snake Fire!!” Rei shouted as she
rlm@0: concentrated her energy.
rlm@0: 	“Jupiter Coconut Cyclone!!”
rlm@0: 	“Mercury Aqua Mirage!!” 
rlm@0: 	The two attacks came at the same time, almost a counterpoint to the
rlm@0: other. The fight was far from over for them. Even if they lost, they
rlm@0: would know that they had fought to the end for their own special
rlm@0: reasons. The girls symbolizing Jupiter and Mercury couldn’t see each
rlm@0: other through the haze of battle, but knowing the other was their
rlm@0: bolstered them to throw everything into their attacks. This couldn’t
rlm@0: be the end. It was just the beginning for them.
rlm@0: 	“Tukishido La Smoking Bamba!!” Mamoru yelled out, his heart and
rlm@0: mind focussed on the two girls that were fighting for the life of the
rlm@0: planet. They were both incredibly important to him. He would do his
rlm@0: best to help.
rlm@0: 	Mistress Nine bathed in the power that was being focussed on her.
rlm@0: Silly humans. They had no idea what they were doing. This power was
rlm@0: only helping her to grow stronger. But what better way for them to
rlm@0: continue their struggle than to actually help bring about the new
rlm@0: world that awaited them? “Mmmm... This energy, it’s the power of the
rlm@0: carriers of the planets’ protection! Such wonderful, glorious power!
rlm@0: Give me all of your power! Open up the gateway for me!”
rlm@0: 	Minako gasped in shock. “It’s not affected? No...” Her spirits
rlm@0: dropped as the realization hit her. ‘I’m sorry, Natsuna-san. I tried.
rlm@0: I really did. It looks like this really is Sailor V’s last adventure.’
rlm@0: 	“She’s absorbing our power! It’s only making her stronger!” Ami
rlm@0: yelled out, her eyes wide. Why hadn’t she seen it before? The Death
rlm@0: Busters had been trying to gather power to bring about the
rlm@0: assimilation the entire time. Now Mistress Nine was using the very
rlm@0: power they were attempting to use against her. 
rlm@0: 	“You will all be assimilated along with the planet. You will be
rlm@0: reborn along with it. Don’t you understand? You have no reason to
rlm@0: blow me apart. You should welcome my Master with open arms,” Mistress
rlm@0: Nine explained. Things seemed to be going very well indeed. Soon
rlm@0: enough it would all be... “What?! I can’t move! The barrier...!!”
rlm@0: 	“We won’t let you outside the Delta!” Michiru called out, her eyes
rlm@0: focussed on the floating Daimon. After all she had been through, it
rlm@0: came down to this. All of the sacrifices, all of the hard work. All
rlm@0: of the blood and tears. Now was the time when she would see the
rlm@0: results of all she had strived for. She didn’t even regret getting
rlm@0: Haruka involved in all this anymore. She could ask for no better
rlm@0: partner. If she was to die, then so be it. But she wasn’t about to go
rlm@0: alone and let these invaders take away all that she had fought so
rlm@0: hard for.
rlm@0: 	“This will be your graveyard!” Haruka added, brilliant gold light
rlm@0: outlining her as she continued to pour her energy into the barrier.
rlm@0: The blonde tomboy had come a long way in the short time she had been
rlm@0: a Sailor Senshi. It had eaten her up for so long, knowing the dark
rlm@0: path she had to travel. But with such a traveling companion, even the
rlm@0: darkest roads of hell had seemed cheerful enough. ‘I’ll always follow
rlm@0: you, Michi. No matter where you lead.’
rlm@0: 	The sky above began to fade and swirl, black gathering through the
rlm@0: shadows. Pinpricks of stars shone through to the Senshi below. 
rlm@0: 	Ami recognized the layout of the stars immediately from her run in
rlm@0: with Viluy Yuri of the Witches 5. “The Tau Star System!! The gateway
rlm@0: is opening!”
rlm@0: 	Mistress Nine watched the stars with a mix of nostalgia and hope.
rlm@0: “The long forgotten distant mother stars, the Tau Star System! After
rlm@0: all of this time, this planet will finally be our second home! Our
rlm@0: society will be revived! For all of those wandering souls, their
rlm@0: homecoming is nigh.”
rlm@0: 	“I can’t allow you to do that! I won’t let you have this planet!”
rlm@0: Usagi clutched her moon rod tighter, unsure of how to stop the
rlm@0: catastrophe that was approaching, but unwilling to give up.
rlm@0: 	“I can’t...” ChibiUsa whispered, her crimson eyes fluttering as she
rlm@0: tried to concentrate. She felt weak, tired. Unconsciousness was
rlm@0: beginning to pray on her mind, defeating every attempt she made to
rlm@0: fight it off. Her power was waning quickly, the strain too much for
rlm@0: her. As her Super Sailor Fuku disappeared, she plummeted from the sky.
rlm@0: 	“ChibiUsa!!!” Mamoru barely managed to catch the pink haired
rlm@0: soldier. She was already passed out. 
rlm@0: 	“Master Pharaoh 90! I will be your partner! I will do all I can for
rlm@0: this planet, the master, and the utilization!” Mistress Nine shouted,
rlm@0: the light of her home world spurring her forward. Her heart beat for
rlm@0: her master. She would not fail him. And they would be together for
rlm@0: all eternity. Darkness burst out of her forehead as she fell from the
rlm@0: sky, crashing down amongst the rubble below. “Wha..? What happened to
rlm@0: me... my body.. I can’t... No, not now...”
rlm@0: 	Setsuna wobbled precariously, dropping her staff as she collapsed
rlm@0: to her knees. Michiru and Haruka quickly followed suit, clattering to
rlm@0: the floor themselves, their Talismans dropping from their fingers.
rlm@0: The light from the barrier above flickered and shattered into a
rlm@0: million slivers of light, quickly fading away. . 
rlm@0: 	“Their force field.. It’s gone!” Usagi watched in horror as the
rlm@0: only thing keeping back the gateway disappeared. “Uranus! Neptune!
rlm@0: Pluto!”
rlm@0: 	“No... I can’t put out anymore power... I don’t have anything
rlm@0: left..” Setsuna said as she gasped for breath. Her eyes closed, pain
rlm@0: tearing at her. She had given up her previous life as a college
rlm@0: student to protect the world as Sailorpluto and she had failed. She
rlm@0: had thought that she could make a difference. “I’m sorry, Small Lady.”
rlm@0: 	“Damnit!” Haruka beat her fist into the concrete under her. “We’ve
rlm@0: come too far to lose now... This can’t be the end...”
rlm@0: 	The shining light of stars from a far away system loomed over the
rlm@0: Sailor Senshi, sparkling above them hauntingly. “The earth, it’s
rlm@0: dying... Will this be the new home to the Enemies?! No!! I won’t let
rlm@0: you take away our home! You’re uninvited visitors! Get out!! Rainbow
rlm@0: Moon Heartache!!” Usagi focussed her power again, fighting till the
rlm@0: end. Her four Sailor Senshi attacked along with her, throwing
rlm@0: themselves fully behind her. All of their power swirled into the vast
rlm@0: darkness that was building. 
rlm@0: 	“Our power... Drawn into the darkness... It’s all gone..” Minako
rlm@0: stated weakly before she and the other three collapsed. 
rlm@0: 	“Everyone...” Usagi looked over the battlefield. The three Outer
rlm@0: Senshi could barely move, her own Inner Senshi too weak to go on.
rlm@0: Mamoru held onto Chibimoon’s limp body. She looked pale from Usagi’s
rlm@0: viewpoint. Everyone was falling. They had given their all and it
rlm@0: still wasn’t enough. When would they wake up from this nightmare?
rlm@0: “They all pushed themselves past their limits. They have no power
rlm@0: left to fight anymore. No... That’s not true. There’s still some
rlm@0: left. Everyone’s power is still inside me as Supersailormoon. It was
rlm@0: all of them together that gave me this strength. So I will fight on
rlm@0: for them. I’ll show their power to the fullest extent. I can fight
rlm@0: with their dreams in my heart. Sleep well, my friends. I’ll carry
rlm@0: your dreams with me until you wake up. Only me. Alone. No, with your
rlm@0: dreams in my heart, I will never fight alone! With the Ginzuishou and
rlm@0: the Holy Grail, I’ll keep fighting! Holy Grail, please lend me more
rlm@0: strength. Fill me with the final power of the nine Sailor Senshi!”
rlm@0: 	Mamoru watched Sailormoon up above as she gathered up all the power
rlm@0: she could. He held onto ChibiUsa’s unconscious form as the wind
rlm@0: whipped past him. "Usako, what are you planning on?!”
rlm@0: 	Usagi smiled in reply, clutching the Holy Grail in front of her.
rlm@0: Pure white light was lashing around her, illuminating her in the dark
rlm@0: sky. Dropping from the sky, she headed for the ruins below.
rlm@0: 	“Usako!!” Mamoru watched in horror as he finally understood what
rlm@0: she was doing. The nine Sailor Senshi watched on helplessly. 
rlm@0: 	Falling through the air, Usagi smiled softly. “There’s only one
rlm@0: chance left. I’m going to show it the true power we have to offer.
rlm@0: I’m going to open the full power of the Ginzuishou and the Holy Grail
rlm@0: inside that thing!”
rlm@0: 	“Usako!!!!” Mamoru screamed as he watched her plummet towards the
rlm@0: gathering darkness. This couldn’t be happening. After all that they
rlm@0: had fought through, she couldn’t sacrifice herself for this. She was
rlm@0: the world’s only hope, but his world would still be lost if she was
rlm@0: gone.  
rlm@0: ChibiUsa gasped in Mamoru’s grip as she watched, finally regaining
rlm@0: consciousness only to see Sailormoon’s last ditch effort. Why did
rlm@0: their have to be so many sacrifices? Why did so many have to pay for
rlm@0: things with their lives? Hotaru had paid for ChibiUsa’s life with her
rlm@0: own and now Usagi was going to give herself for the planet. Why was
rlm@0: the price always so high? With a grim thought, ChibiUsa realized that
rlm@0: she would be sacrificed as well. If Usagi died, she would never be
rlm@0: born. But it was all right. If she had to die for the sake of the
rlm@0: planet and all the lonely souls on it, then she would gladly be down
rlm@0: there with Usagi. Some things were worth sacrificing for. ‘I guess
rlm@0: I’ll see you soon, Hotaru-chan.’ A small smile crossed her lips. 
rlm@0: Darkness enveloped Usagi as she plunged deeper into the blackness.
rlm@0: The light flowing around her exploded in a tremendously bright shower. 
rlm@0: Up above with the three Senshi of the Outer system, the Deep Aqua
rlm@0: Mirror, Garnet Orb, and Space Sword began to flash, reacting to
rlm@0: something. “The Talismans?!” Michiru said in shock. The three objects
rlm@0: lifted into the air, glowing brighter. 
rlm@0: A hole tore open through Mistress Nine down in the darkness. A
rlm@0: sphere of light lifted into the air. Inside lay a beautiful Sailor
rlm@0: Senshi lying on her back. The storm seemed to stop in the immediate
rlm@0: vincinity around her. The entire area was covered in silence for a
rlm@0: breathless moment. 
rlm@0: “That’s...”
rlm@0: “Oh my God...”
rlm@0: The Sailor Senshi stood up in the air, her eyes slowly opening as
rlm@0: she took in the scene around her. The Saturn symbol flashed on her
rlm@0: forehead. There was a serene calm about her, as if she knew exactly
rlm@0: what she was here to do and it was no more of a chore than washing
rlm@0: the clothes. She held a long staff in her left hand, the end curving
rlm@0: into a wicked looking blade. “I am the messenger from the depths of
rlm@0: death. I come from far off to set right what has been led terribly
rlm@0: astray. I am carrier of the protection of the planet of ruin, Saturn.
rlm@0: The Senshi of Silence. Sailorsaturn.”
rlm@0: “She’s awakened...” Michiru said in horror. 
rlm@0: “Sailor Saturn!” Haruka shook her head. If only they had killed
rlm@0: Hotaru before! No, wait... Hotaru was already dead. Saturn had still
rlm@0: come even then. Was there no way to stop this even worse monster than
rlm@0: the Enemy they were fighting? 
rlm@0: 	“Then... This is the end, isn’t it?” Setsuna asked after a moment.
rlm@0: Of course, this meant it was all over. They had failed.
rlm@0: 	Rei looked up at the figure. “Does that mean.. Is Sailormoon... Is
rlm@0: she dead?!”
rlm@0: 	Saturn turned to look at them, her silver eyes cold. Her pale skin
rlm@0: and curved weapon made her look dangerously similar to images of
rlm@0: Death itself. "I was called by the pulled trigger long ago. It
rlm@0: doesn't seem that it's been that long yet. I seem like an invited
rlm@0: guest. I slowly met accidents one after another, and disturbing
rlm@0: occurrences were brought about. Suddenly history seemed to have gone
rlm@0: a bit wrong." 
rlm@0: 	“Hotaru-chan?!” ChibiUsa asked, pulling away from Mamoru. “Hotaru-
rlm@0: chan!! No... Sailorsaturn... Please, tell me what’s going on!!”
rlm@0: Chibimoon ran forward towards the apparition, tears spilling down her
rlm@0: cheeks. Saturn stood like a statue, her silver eyes watching her
rlm@0: intently. “Hotaru-chan...” ChibiUsa sniffled as she reached the
rlm@0: silent soldier. “It’s you, isn’t it? It is you, Hotaru-chan.. It has
rlm@0: to be...” She lunged forward grabbing onto the dark haired Sailor
rlm@0: Senshi. Clutching on tightly, she let loose a sob, shaking against
rlm@0: the taller girl.
rlm@0: 	“Small Lady!! Get away from her! Now!!” Setsuna screamed to the
rlm@0: future princess. Her heart lurched as she watched the two Senshi. The
rlm@0: princess was going to die and there was nothing she could do about
rlm@0: it. ChibiUsa hardly seemed to hear her and she had no power left to
rlm@0: get to her in time, let alone to fend off the final soldier. 
rlm@0: 	ChibiUsa was wracked with sobs as she held onto Sailorsaturn.
rlm@0: Saturn shifted slightly in her grasp. The future princess felt arms
rlm@0: encircling her, holding her close. A gloved hand gently brushed past
rlm@0: her cheek before running through her hair. She looked up at the
rlm@0: taller girl, sniffling. Gloved fingers wiped her tears away. Saturn
rlm@0: was looking down at her gently, following the contours of the smaller
rlm@0: Senshi’s face. “Hotaru-chan...”
rlm@0: 	Saturn shook her head slowly, still holding on to the pink haired
rlm@0: princess. “Through an accident here in the Infinity Zone, the one I
rlm@0: was supposed to sleep eternally inside, Hotaru, began to live life as
rlm@0: a cyborg. In that girl’s body, I was never supposed to awaken. It was
rlm@0: a shock to my soul and an enormous strain living inside of her after
rlm@0: that. Then another came to live inside that body. Mistress Nine.
rlm@0: Professor Tomoe’s twisted mind had summoned those from a far off
rlm@0: world and had given them the body of the girl I was inhabiting. But
rlm@0: there was nothing I could do. I was immersed in darkness, only able
rlm@0: to watch sleepily as time marched forward. But now, I have been
rlm@0: called forth. We were all drawn here. The passage of the other world
rlm@0: opened here. This land was chosen for this final battle. All of the
rlm@0: power has gathered here. Everything began to descend to ruin,
rlm@0: foretelling my awakening. It was all set up by fate.” One arm
rlm@0: continued to hold ChibiUsa close while her right hand rested on the
rlm@0: princess’s cheek. ChibiUsa just looked into her eyes, unsure of what
rlm@0: to say, her arms around Saturn’s shoulders. “All of it. Even my
rlm@0: meeting you, ChibiUsa-chan.” The cold look faded for a second, a
rlm@0: smile similar to the one Hotaru had given her before she had
rlm@0: disappeared on her face. “Thank you, ChibiUsa-chan. I’ll be waiting
rlm@0: for you when my job is finished. Don’t be afraid of death. I’ll be
rlm@0: waiting to lead you through when it greets you.” Leaning down, she
rlm@0: kissed the pink haired girl softly. ChibiUsa stood on her tiptoes,
rlm@0: holding on tighter as she returned the kiss. It was bittersweet, a
rlm@0: final kiss before the end. Saturn pulled away slowly, her fingers
rlm@0: trailing on ChibiUsa’s cheek for a few lingering seconds as her cold
rlm@0: exterior returned. Clutching the Silence Glaive, she turned away from
rlm@0: her princess. ChibiUsa slumped to her knees behind her. Leaping
rlm@0: forward, the Senshi of Death and Rebirth stabbed into the blackness
rlm@0: with her Silence Glaive. 
rlm@0: 	“I can’t move!? No!!! My power... It’s all being soaked up!”
rlm@0: Mistress Nine screamed as she tried to struggle against Saturn. It
rlm@0: was useless. All of the power she had gathered was being torn from
rlm@0: her. Her dreams shattered as she felt the icy cold hand of death
rlm@0: waiting just behind the dark haired girl.
rlm@0: 	“Now that I’ve awakened, I must bring down the Silence Glaive,”
rlm@0: Saturn explained, gripping it tighter.
rlm@0: 	“The Silence Glaive.. That’s the scythe of the Goddess of Death.”
rlm@0: Michiru had drawn it before in a dark painting she had done. A
rlm@0: beautiful goddess dressed only in what amounted to a white sheet. And
rlm@0: wielding that same deadly weapon. Haruka had wondered why she would
rlm@0: draw such a beautiful girl with such a dangerous looking weapon
rlm@0: surrounded by bodies in a macabre painting, but this seemed to be the
rlm@0: same celestial embodiment of Death. 
rlm@0: 	“Id she brings down the Silence Glaive, then everything will end!
rlm@0: Sailorsaturn, don’t do this!” Setsuna yelled out. She was shocked at
rlm@0: the display with the princess, but the reprieve of not killing
rlm@0: ChibiUsa then would only mean that she would die with the rest of
rlm@0: them in moments.
rlm@0: 	“Damnit!! Why would Fate bring about all of this? It can’t be! This
rlm@0: can’t be the Fate of our world! Sailorsaturn, stop!!” Haruka clutched
rlm@0: onto Michiru. 
rlm@0: 	ChibiUsa’s crimson eyes followed Saturn as she stayed on her knees,
rlm@0: the rubble biting into her skin. “Hotaru-chan.. Does this mean
rlm@0: there’s no future for us? Is this the end?” She didn’t have the
rlm@0: strength to get up. She was so thrilled to see Hotaru again, but she
rlm@0: hadn’t expected her to turn out to be Death. Her mind was still
rlm@0: swirling in confusion. All she could do was watch.
rlm@0: 	“Death Reborn Revolution!!” Saturn yelled out, still calm amidst
rlm@0: the destruction around her. Ribbons surrounded her as she lifted up
rlm@0: the Silence Glaive above her head. She briefly wondered if she should
rlm@0: have hurried along ChibiUsa’s death so that she wouldn’t have to
rlm@0: witness the destruction to come, but decided that it was too late to
rlm@0: worry about such things. The pink haired girl would be dead soon
rlm@0: enough, along with everything else. And she would be there to escort
rlm@0: her once it was all over.
rlm@0: 	“No!! All of my power.. It’s being pulled away from me!! I’m losing
rlm@0: all that I’ve gained.. Master, I’m so sorry! It was all for you! This
rlm@0: negative aura is soaking up everything I had! No, it can’t be!! She
rlm@0: can’t have awakened! Is this the true Silent Messiah?! She will guide
rlm@0: everything to ruin!” Mistress Nine’s struggles became weaker and
rlm@0: weaker as Saturn’s power grew. Her thoughts began slipping from the
rlm@0: mission she had tried so hard to accomplish, focussing instead on her
rlm@0: reason behind it all, her master, the one she loved.
rlm@0: 	The gathering darkness became entangled in ribbons. The ribbons
rlm@0: seemed to sap away the darkness, drawing it away as it forced it all
rlm@0: up into the sky and towards the Tau Star System that could be seen up
rlm@0: above. “You, who has already lost your world, already know the pain
rlm@0: of losing everything. Soon this planet will join your own, for it’s
rlm@0: death is soon. But you, abominable creature, will die first. Invader!
rlm@0: Return to the dead! Then death will befall this world as well!” Power
rlm@0: surrounded her as more ribbons began flowing from her. Darkness and
rlm@0: energy began to build up around her, ripping through the rubble
rlm@0: underneath her.
rlm@0: 	“It’s over! We can’t stop it anymore! We’ve finally reached the
rlm@0: end,” Mamoru shook his head, defeat starting to seep through his
rlm@0: weary body. 
rlm@0: 	Haruka staggered to her feet, wincing in pain as she got closer to
rlm@0: the ledge of the building for a better look. “She’s going to bring
rlm@0: down the Silence Glaive! She’s going to kill this world along with
rlm@0: that Daimon!!” 
rlm@0: 	As the Silence Glaive began it’s slow descent towards the ground,
rlm@0: the ribbons and darkness and energy lashed out. The city began
rlm@0: tearing itself apart, buildings shattering and collapsing, the ground
rlm@0: ripping open. Mamoru covered the still confused ChibiUsa as debris
rlm@0: fell past them. Buildings were ripped to pieces in seconds. 
rlm@0: 	“Everyone.. Everything, it’s all disappearing,” ChibiUsa whispered
rlm@0: softly, the world falling apart around her. The wind picked up,
rlm@0: shrieking fiercely. Waves crashed nearby as the earth shook. For a
rlm@0: moment, ChibiUsa regretted coming back to the past to train. This was
rlm@0: too much for her. But she had to. She didn’t regret all that they’d
rlm@0: done up till now. She didn’t regret meeting Hotaru. But did it have
rlm@0: to end now?
rlm@0: 	Mamoru dropped to his knees beside his future daughter, his cane
rlm@0: dropping next to him. “Usa... Usako!! Only you kept me alive all this
rlm@0: time! And I couldn’t even protect you!” His eyes followed a trace of
rlm@0: red. The wind brought one of the red petals closer. The rose he’d
rlm@0: given Usagi.. The beautiful rose was crushed. “Usako...” Tears
rlm@0: dropped to the rubble underneath them.
rlm@0: 	Watching Mamoru clutch onto the flower petal, ChibiUsa looked back
rlm@0: towards the receding darkness that Usagi had plunged into.
rlm@0: “Sailormoon... Mama.. You can’t be gone.” 
rlm@0: 	“Damn,” Haruka mutters, tossing a chunk of concrete across the
rlm@0: ruined battlefield. “Isn’t there anything we can do?! Are we
rlm@0: completely helpless? Everything will be destroyed if this isn’t
rlm@0: stopped. I... I just wanted to protect that girl! That was all! I
rlm@0: didn’t care for any of this!” Michiru took her hand as they watched
rlm@0: the destruction.
rlm@0: 	“Haruka-san!” a voice called out. “Haruka-san!”
rlm@0: 	“Sailorsaturn..!” ChibiUsa said as she got up, stumbling towards
rlm@0: the Senshi of Silence. She had to get to her. There had to be
rlm@0: something she could do. She knew Hotaru the best. Hotaru trusted her.
rlm@0: Even if Saturn was a bit different, she had to try. Mamoru grabbed
rlm@0: her arm, pulling her back. “Mamo-chan, I have to!” she argued, trying
rlm@0: to pull from his grasp. Up ahead, a bright light began shining near
rlm@0: Saturn. It lifted up into the air, clearing the troubled sky around
rlm@0: it. A figure emerged from the light, butterflies fluttering
rlm@0: everywhere around her, mixing with the fireflies that had begun to
rlm@0: take flight shortly after Saturn’s arrival. “Sailormoon?
rlm@0: Supersailormoon?!”
rlm@0: 	Usagi’s eyes opened as the crescent moon on her forehead lit up.
rlm@0: She blinked curiously as she looked around at the battlefield. The
rlm@0: other senshi were all staring up at her.
rlm@0: 	“Usako!!” Mamoru called out. 
rlm@0: 	Mistress Nine saw the slight distraction as her last chance. These
rlm@0: Sailor Senshi had nearly ruined all of their plans. She had to stop
rlm@0: them now. “I’ll take you with me! Back to the Tau Star System! The
rlm@0: gravity will pull you through to the darkness of our graveyard! Our
rlm@0: dead home, the Tau Star System!” There was still hope. If she could
rlm@0: pull them through, Master Pharaoh 90 could stop them. Then this world
rlm@0: might still be reborn as their new home.
rlm@0: 	Saturn looked up, her glaive nearly touching the floor. Her silver
rlm@0: eyes watched with little concern at Mistress Nine’s attempt at
rlm@0: salvaging the situation. A slight smile crossed her thin lips as she
rlm@0: looked up. “It’s beautiful, the suffering at the moment of
rlm@0: destruction. If you’re so eager, then let’s hurry! Right away! The
rlm@0: guide to death, Sailorsaturn, will lead to the world of the dead!”
rlm@0: 	“Saturn!? No!! We’ll all be drawn out into space together! We’ll
rlm@0: all die!” Usagi clenched her fists, looking to Saturn concernedly.
rlm@0: “You can’t let this happen! Everyone will die!”
rlm@0: 	Saturn shrugged off Usagi’s outburst. It hardly seemed to matter
rlm@0: now. Her full power was very nearly ready to be unleashed. “I don’t
rlm@0: feel despair. Along with death, there is always hope and rebirth.”
rlm@0: Her silver eyes caught ChibiUsa’s crimson eyes. She held her gaze for
rlm@0: a few seconds, as if speaking directly to her. “If you remember that,
rlm@0: then death is nothing to fear.”
rlm@0: 	“Sailorsaturn?” Usagi asked, confused.
rlm@0: 	“Sailormoon, because you have opened the power of the Holy Grail
rlm@0: and the Ginzuishou, you still have a chance to save this planet.
rlm@0: Perhaps now is not the time that has been fated for me to bring
rlm@0: everything to ruin. Soon, this land will be the new Tokyo that you
rlm@0: will bring about. For now, I must stop the outsiders from getting a
rlm@0: grip in this world.” Saturn’s cold gaze fell upon Setsuna.
rlm@0: “Sailorpluto! Close the gateway to the other world for eternity!”
rlm@0: Pushing off the ground, Saturn drifted into the darkness, following
rlm@0: Mistress Nine towards the Tau System. That was where she was needed
rlm@0: now, to finally put the long dead system to sleep. 
rlm@0: 	Setsuna paused, pulling up her staff. She could see the pain in the
rlm@0: princess’s eyes as they followed the dark haired senshi’s ascent. She
rlm@0: was so tired of all of this fighting and pain. “Saturn!!”
rlm@0: 	“Hurry!!” Saturn yelled back, her energy building as she closed the
rlm@0: distance. She could feel Pharaoh 90 on the other side. He would be
rlm@0: dead soon enough when she released the power building within her. Her
rlm@0: Silence Glaive would drop today after all.
rlm@0: 	Pluto nodded, closing her eyes as she began chanting. Her Garnet
rlm@0: Orb began to glow. “Great guardian deity of time and space! My
rlm@0: father, Chronos! Give me power! Close the door of the broken law!
rlm@0: Dark Dome Close!” 
rlm@0: ChibiUsa watched up overhead as the space-time door began sucking in
rlm@0: energy, sealing off the gateway. Sailorsaturn smiled down at her one
rlm@0: last time before fading into it. The door slammed shut behind her.
rlm@0: “Hotaru-chan..” ChibiUsa whispered, wiping at her eyes. Hotaru had
rlm@0: sacrificed herself again, this time saving the entire planet and
rlm@0: ChibiUsa’s future. But she couldn’t appreciate the victory knowing
rlm@0: the price that had to be paid. Just when she had seen her again, she
rlm@0: had been torn from her. How could love hurt so much? It wasn’t
rlm@0: supposed to be this way.
rlm@0: “Small Lady, Hotaru-chan wouldn’t want to see you crying. After all
rlm@0: she gave up, she would want you to be happy with the new future she
rlm@0: has ensured you,” Pluto explained, helping ChibiUsa to her feet. She
rlm@0: smiled gently, brushing some of the dirt from ChibiUsa’s face. 
rlm@0: 	Nodding weakly, ChibiUsa slumped against the tall Guardian of Time.
rlm@0: “Hai, you’re right, Puu. I know. I just miss her already. My heart
rlm@0: feels like it’s shattered.”
rlm@0: 	Setsuna sweatdropped. So the princess had already fallen in love as
rlm@0: she’d thought. “She’s still watching you, Small Lady.”
rlm@0: 	“Along with death.. Hope and rebirth begin,” Usagi whispered,
rlm@0: repeating Saturn’s words. Her Sailor Fuku dissolved into her white
rlm@0: princess gown, flowing regally around her. Raising her moon rod,
rlm@0: light began to flash through the city. The destruction began to
rlm@0: vanish as the dead began to get up, returned from their slumber
rlm@0: before they could continue on their path to the afterlife. 
rlm@0: 	“Neo Queen Serenity,” Setsuna said quietly as she saw Usagi
rlm@0: standing atop a pillar, holding up her rod.
rlm@0: 	A baby’s cry broke the silence, coming from somewhere nearby. “A
rlm@0: baby?” ChibiUsa asked in surprise. What would a baby be doing there
rlm@0: after the battle? How had it gotten there?
rlm@0: 	Michiru ran to the sound, quickly spotting the tiny baby. It was a
rlm@0: little girl with ivory skin and short, dark hair. The Saturn symbol
rlm@0: was glowing on her forehead. “Hotaru-chan?” 
rlm@0: 	“She was reincarnated?” Haruka asked as she reached Michiru’s side.
rlm@0: The blonde looked at the baby girl, shocked to see the girl that had
rlm@0: nearly destroyed the world and had ultimately saved it.  
rlm@0: 	“She must be all alone,” Michiru said sadly, holding the baby
rlm@0: close. “Let’s raise her ourselves.” A smile played out across her
rlm@0: lips as she looked over at Haruka. The serious look of Sailor Neptune
rlm@0: was gone, replaced by an earnest joy in her heart at being alive and
rlm@0: having the chance to raise the lonely girl.
rlm@0: 	“The three of us as parents?” Haruka asked skeptically. 
rlm@0: 	“It’s the least we can do after trying to kill her,” Setsuna added,
rlm@0: taking Hotaru’s small hand with her finger. 
rlm@0: 	“What? You don’t think you’d make a good mommy, Haruka?” Michiru
rlm@0: asked teasingly.
rlm@0: 	“Uranus! Neptune! Pluto!” Usagi ran up to the three, catching her
rlm@0: breath. “That baby...?”
rlm@0: 	The three women turned to look at the blonde girl. “We’ll be going
rlm@0: now. We’ve been given a new mission to complete now,” Haruka explained.
rlm@0: 	“You’re going?” ChibiUsa asked sadly, looking from the three of
rlm@0: them to the baby in Michiru’s arms. “Where?”
rlm@0: 	Setsuna shrugged. “You never know, Small Lady. Perhaps we’ll be far
rlm@0: off. Or maybe we’ll be closer to you than you’ll know. But we’re
rlm@0: allies, Sailorchibimoon. We’ll surely meet again. You can count on
rlm@0: it.” The darkly tanned woman smiled softly to the young Sailor Senshi.
rlm@0: 	Michiru nodded in agreement. “Hai. We’re allies. So we’ll meet
rlm@0: again soon. Small princess, we love you. We will return to you again
rlm@0: soon.” She held out her mirror to ChibiUsa. The princess took it
rlm@0: slowly. “A sign of our promise. Keep looking into this mirror. Until
rlm@0: we meet again, grow up to be a stronger, more beautiful soldier and
rlm@0: princess. ”
rlm@0: 	“Neptune!” ChibiUsa held the mirror close for a moment. “I promise!
rlm@0: I will!” She paused for a moment, looking down. “Ummm.. Can I see
rlm@0: Hotaru-chan before you go? Please?” Michiru smiled and held the baby
rlm@0: carefully out to Chibimoon. ChibiUsa held onto her shifting slightly.
rlm@0: “I’m really gonna miss you, Hotaru-chan. Thank you so much for
rlm@0: everything. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had. Thanks for coming
rlm@0: back to me. I promise I’ll wait for you, not matter how long it
rlm@0: takes.” She blushed slightly as she kissed the baby’s forehead. “I
rlm@0: love you, Hotaru-chan.” Her heart skipped a beat as she gave baby
rlm@0: Hotaru back to Michiru. Again Hotaru was leaving her. But this time,
rlm@0: there was hope. Hotaru would still be out there. And she would grow
rlm@0: up all over again. This time she prayed that Hotaru would be much
rlm@0: happier. And she would be waiting for the dark haired girl. That was
rlm@0: her promise. When they met again... “I love you,” she whispered
rlm@0: again. “Here, please give her this.” ChibiUsa held out the Luna-P to
rlm@0: Setsuna. “I want her to have it. Maybe when she’s older...” the
rlm@0: princess trailed off. 
rlm@0: 	Setsuna took the gift and nodded. “Take care of yourself for us,
rlm@0: Small Lady!” With that, the three women turned and left with the
rlm@0: baby, disappearing swiftly.
rlm@0: 	“Uranus! Neptune! Pluto!” Usagi called after the three, but they
rlm@0: were already gone. “Uranus! Neptune! Pluto!”
rlm@0: 	ChibiUsa hugged the mirror close to her heart, watching where they
rlm@0: had last been. A small smile crossed her lips. “We will surely meet
rlm@0: again someday. Haruka-san. Michiru-san. Puu. And Hotaru-chan. I’ll be
rlm@0: waiting for you. Grow up to be a happy girl. We’ll see each other
rlm@0: again. I promise.”
rlm@0: