The flames crackled violently in the small shrine lighting the walls with a soft red glow. The flames lent a orange hue to the pale miko with raven hair as she sat quietly meditating.
Sweat began to form on her brow as her focus intensified. Her fire reading was becoming more clear the longer she sat and focused all her energy. She began to chant as the reading began to approach its apex.
"Rin, Pyou, Tou, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen!"
At last her vision came fully into focus and she gasped as it played out. Chibi-usa was drawn down into a black hole, she fought trying to reach out for a hand but the hand couldn't hold on and she was pulled all the way through. The voice of someone she didn't recognize was screaming out for Chibi-usa to no avail. An image of the silver crystal appeared. It took on it's lotus shape and slowly began to turn black. Her vision ended with a man yelling out for Serenity. She could make out the symbol of a sideways moon on his head but she could not recall ever seeing it before.
Rei opened her eyes, gasping a bit and trying to bring her heart rate down. She needed to talk to the others, she made a call with her communicator and they all agreed to meet at the temple after school the next day.
"Hey everyone!" Usagi waved wildly as she crested the top of the shrine entrance. "I'm here!" Usagi stopped at her group of friends and cats and then bent over gasping for air.
"About time Usagi. Where have you been?" Rei asked in a scolding manner.
"Sorry I got hung up in detention" Usagi bowed her head in embarrassment.
"And where's Chibi-usa?"Luna asked from her spot on Ami's shoulder.
"She asked to go over to a classmates house. Was she supposed to come with me?"
"No it's ok. She's the reason we're getting together anyways." Rei answered. Everyone turned their attention to Rei as she began to explain her premonition.
Everyone sat wide eyed at the events that they knew would eventually happen. They would try their best to protect Chibi-usa but without key information there was no way of knowing when this would take place.
"Luna, Artemis have you ever heard of the silver crystal turning black? That's really concerning." Minako asked with her finger resting on her chin as she pondered.
"Well" Luna started "I've never heard of it turning black, however I do remember Queen Serenity telling us before she passed that if the crystal was used by someone with a pure heart it can bring about peace but if it's used by someone with a dark and evil heart it can become a terrifying weapon and bring about chaos and destruction."
"What about this sideways moon Luna? Does it have any affiliation with the Moon Kingdom?" Makoto asked.
"Not that I know of." Luna looked to Artemis. "What is it Artemis?"
"I feel like it does but the memory just won't come." He said flustered.
"Maybe it's a memory that hasn't been recovered yet." Ami offered.
"Possible." He replied.
"Hey Sota I have to get going soon!" Chibi-usa called out as she put her shoes on at the door.
"Already? How about one more game?" He asked.
"Ok. What did you have in mind?"
"How about hide and seek?"
Chibi-usa looked at him with a thoughtful glance.
"No?" Sota asked.
"Sure,' She replied "but let's make it interesting. Loser has to bring lunch for the other to school tomorrow!"
"Alright you've got yourself a deal." Sota replied holding his hand out. "Let's shake on it."
"Ok. You go hide first." Chibi-usa said. Sota nodded and headed out the door. She counted to 100 then headed out to find him.
First she checked the perimeter of the house including any nearby shrubbery but he wasn't there. She stood for a minute and thought to herself that they really should've set some boundaries. The grounds of the shrine seemed pretty big. She immediately dismissed the shrine itself. She was pretty sure Sota wouldn't hide inside. Her next stop was the storage shed. She slowly slid the door open and peeked inside. Nothing seemed out of place. She began to look around when she heard the sound of a bucket falling over outside.
"Gotcha." She whispered to herself as she turned around to head out the door. An old mirror caught her attention for a second. She studied it but dismissed the feeling she got from it and headed outside. Sota let out a sigh when she shut the door. That was close. He thought to himself as he wiggled out of his spot to head to another spot outside.
Chibi-usa traveled outside and rounded the corner to head down a small set of steps. The bucket came into view.
"Buyo! I thought you were Sota." Chibi-usa said to a non-impressed Buyo. He meowed at her and then walked away. Where could Sota be? She thought to herself. Then she heard it. The well house door creaking. She knew she had him now.
She stealthily made her way to the well house not realizing Sota was behind her and ready to scare her the moment she reached the bottom of the steps next to the well.
She opened the well house door and made her descent.
"Care to give yourself up Sota?" She asked as she made her way down the steps. The still air in the well house was filled with quiet giggles. The hair on the back of Chibi-usa neck began to stand on end. "Sota?" She asked again but was again met with more quiet giggles. "Ok Sota this isn't funny. Answer me!" She demanded as she reached the bottom of the stairs. Still nothing. She heard a step creaked behind her and whirled around to find Sota staring at her. She let out an audible scream.
"Gosh you don't have to scare me like that!" She scolded as she leaned against the well. She looked up at him to see him wide eyed.
"Are you ok Sota?" She asked concerned. Then she felt a breath of air on her neck and a hand touch her own. She gasped as the well began to glow behind her and something wrapped around her waist.
"Sota!" She cried out. "Help me!"
Sota ran down the steps grabbing a hold of Chibi-usa's hand.
"Hang on." He pleaded to her as he fought to keep a hold of her. What ever was pulling on her was strong. He wouldn't be able to hold on much longer.
"Please Sota, don't let go!" She begged. Tears welling up in her eyes.
"I won't." He promised her.
She was going deeper into the well. If he wasn't careful he'd fall in too. No matter what he tried he couldn't get any leverage. With one more pull her hand broke free from his and he grasped at her grabbing at whatever he could. He got a hold of her necklace but the delicate chain broke under the pressure.
"Sota!" She cried as she disappeared into the light.
"Chibi-usa!" He cried back as he fell into the well. He hit the bottom hard and tried to get his bearings to stand but couldn't. He passed out as the light faded into the ground and all he could see was her necklace in his hand. It was a golden key that was shaped like a heart and it was all he had left of her. Chibi-usa was gone.
This is my first cross-over story and any feed back is appreciated. Let me know what you think! Thanks for reading!