1

Venus felt tears streaming down her face. She reached her hand out to the flickering image of Sailor Mars, her Rei.

The youma had attacked when they'd least expected it and the Senshi had furiously scrambled to destroy it. But they'd failed.

This youma though was stronger than most of the youmas they'd fought and it caught them all off guard. Even Sailor Pluto and Saturn were helpless in the shadow of its power.

Venus had shot a love me chain at it and was shocked as the youma caught it and yanked her towards it. Then its claws were reaching for her throat but were stopped by a stream of fire that tore through its inky black arm.

The youma dropped Venus and turned its glowing yellow eyes to Mars. Mars growled and another stream of fire shot from her hands. The youma screamed a terrible caterwauling scream and lunged at her.

"Mars!" Venus cried out as the youma tore through Mars' body like paper and the fire Senshi fell to the ground, a giant hole in her abdomen gushing blood. Sailor Moon, their princess screamed. Venus tore her gaze from the wound and focused on her lover's face.

"Rei," she called out "please don't die. No, you can't die!" Tears streamed down her face as the light faded from those amethyst eyes she would so often get lost in. "Mina...run away...get away from here and leave." Rei choked out. Venus looked at her through her tears in confusion.

"What?" she asked. "Run away now, before you all—" Rei's scream was interrupted by a fit of bloody coughs. "Rei!" Venus grabbed Mars' shoulders and shook them. Her eyes were closed. "Rei!"

Die. Get out of here before you all die. That's what Rei had meant. There was no hope in them defeating the youma and she knew it. Venus stood up. No, she wouldn't run. Even if she were to die she wouldn't run, she would die beside her lover, soul-mate, best friend, true love.

The other Senshi stood beside her, their faces grim masks of determination. "We will fight until there is no fight left and we are defeated or victorious." Venus said. They charged the beast, running into their certain death.