"Listen, please Beryl! You can't do this to me. I…I don't know what I would do. Please spare their lives and take mine! Please…I beg of you!" Sailor Moon cried as she pleaded on her knees to the evil queen.
After 2 years of endless fighting, the queen had come back for one final battle. It felt as if it had been so long fighting evil. First it was Beryl, and then it was Allan and then the doom and gloom girls. Then the scouts had to fight the Witches 5, the Dead Moon circus and then finally….Galaxia. Even Nehelenia had made a come back. But after so many years, Sailor Moon and the other senshi were finally ready to lead a normal life…they were all ready to forget about how much pain Queen Beryl had caused them.
It had all started about last month when weird things started to happen again. It was about five months after Yaten, Taiki, Seiya, and Princess Fireball had left and Usagi was really starting to think that all the youma in the world were gone. Since Galaxia never let Mamoru land in New York, he had left again and Usagi wasn't doing well. Little shopping trips arranged by her friends didn't help at all to Usagi and all she ever thought about was Mamoru.
The Past (like a month ago)
One day after school Makoto, Ami, Minako, and Usagi were walking to go pick Rei up from school and go to a concert that Michuru was having. When they arrived at the school they all gathered and walked through a dark secluded park to get to the concert stage. Apparently, Makoto said that she knew the beaten path that they were walking through as a short cut to the concert stage. But something didn't have a right feel to it according to Rei.
"Hey guys. I think Rei sensed something." Minako said when she saw Rei stop suddenly and start to look aimlessly at her location.
"What's wrong Rei? Having second thoughts and just realized how boring this concert might actually be?" Minako said as she looked on at Rei as did the others.
"Be nice Mina-chan. Michuru is an intellectual….I'm sure she will keep us entertained." Ami said softly scolding Minako. Soon they were all bickering about this and that. But not Rei she stood focused. Something about the air that night hadn't seemed right to her.
Usagi had seemed serious these past couple of weeks because she was often sad so she was the only one really worried about how tense this situation might be. Rei gets really focused when she senses something really, really bad. Usagi walked over to Rei's side and placed a hand on her Rei's shoulder.
"Rei…what's going on?" Usagi said as she looked at her friend.
"Usagi, I…..I only have ever had this kind of feeling when….when we fought Beryl. But that can't be because you….you killed her. But it's not like when we fought her Generals and it's not like when we fought her youma….but it's like when it was you and her on the battle grounds. Just you and her. That kind of horrible feeling. The feeling of fear but overall the feeling….of hate." Rei said as she explained to Usagi the truth of the matter.
"Why? Why now? I need him. I…I don't think I can do this without him. I…I miss him so much, Rei. I want my Mamo-chan back. She was dead. She was DEAD!" Usagi cried in anguish as she dropped to the ground.
Usagi shrill cry caught the attention of her bickering friends. Makoto looked at Usagi and bent over next to her consoling her. Ami searched for a face cloth in her purse while Minako looked at Rei.
"What is it?" Minako asked nervously.
"Someone's back…..strong." Rei said "And this time she's after no one but her." Rei looked at Usagi and then heard rapid running coming from the direction of the concert. Haruka appeared breathless carrying a crying Hotaru in her arms.
"She just…I don't know. Fainted or had a heart…oh my god. Oh my god. What am I going to do?" Haruka yelled as she placed Hotaru down.
"Whoa! What happened, Haruka?" Makoto said picking up a still crying Hotaru and looked into Haruka's eyes.
"Oh my god, Mako. Michuru was in the middle of her second song when….she just dropped. I have no idea what's going on." Haruka said. Everyone seamed amazed, as they had never ever seen this side of Haruka. She seemed hurt and she seemed….shocked.
"I'm assuming that Sestuna's is with her." Ami said putting a hand on Haruka's back.
"Yeah….we need an ambulance." Haruka said calming down a little. Usagi knew that Michuru has perfect health. She never ate junk food and always ate fruits. Could this be an act of Beryl? As Sailor Neptune…Michuru had never even met Beryl. Why would the queen go through her to get to Usagi?
Minako and Rei glanced at each other and then back at the girls. "Uh...Minako and I will go get someone. Makoto you should take Hotaru to Usagi's house. She'll be safe with Chibi-usa and Tsukino-san. Ami go with Haruka to see how Michuru's doing. And Usagi….go to Mamo-chan's apartment." Rei said with authority as everyone did as they were told. Usually in any time of panic, it was Rei who called the shots any way.
"But Rei…….Mamo-chan is in New Yo-" Usagi started. "Just do it. You have a key…don't you?" Minako said looking at Usagi.
"Yes. But why do I-" Usagi said to be interrupted by Minako again. " Usagi…..just do it, please." Minako said as her and Rei turned around and began to run toward the city.
Minako and Rei:
"Rei?" Minako asked as she ran along side her friend. "Why did you tell Usagi to go….there?"
"Minako. This is more serious than you think. I think that Beryl might be back. If that's true we will know where she is at all times."
Minako stopped running as soon as she heard the name. Bad thoughts came back into her head. Horrible memories of the past. All of which she also….had tried to forget.
"Listen Minako! This is no time to be panicking. We must go!" Rei shouted to her friend. Minako shook her head free of negative thoughts and began to run again.
"Why didn't you just tell her to go with Hotaru then?"
"She needs to be in that apartment, Mina-chan. And also because if we fight….I know someone will die."
"Why would you ever talk that way Rei!" Minako said yelling at her friend with anger. She well knew that this power may be strong enough to kill someone but she wouldn't believe that she could ever let any of her friends die.
"This we cannot help. In order to keep Queen Serenity and Chibi-usa safe they must be as far away from battle fields as possible." Rei said as they slowed down, approaching the Azubu-Jubann Hospital.
"I…I don't understand Rei-chan." Minako said worried that once Rei explained it would equate to something awful.
"Minako…If Usagi dies….Chibi-usa will die. Don't you remember when we fought Nehelenia? If either Mamoru or Usagi-chan dies….Chibi-usa will cease to exist. If you don't remember…here's a news flash…..she's from the 31st century." Rei said swinging open the door of the hospital and running up to the front desk.
Minako stood at the entrance thinking about what would happen if they let the Neo-Queen Serenity die. Not only would Chibi-Usa die. So would every one else. Minako figured that no one could bear the pain of letting go of there dearest friend. Mostly……Mamoru.
Minako walked up to Rei and tried to get the subject out of her head. "Is someone going to go help Michuru?" Minako asked.
"Right away." Rei said turning around as she started to walk back to the concert to check up on her friends.
"Rei, you do know that we have to let Mamoru know what's going on." Minako said upping her pace.
" We don't even know if this was Beryl. I might have sensed wrong. You know…the death I sensed might have been Michuru's. But, we don't need him. We are perfectly capable of fighting anyone….on...our...own."Rei said with fury.
"This is no time to start holding grudges against men. Usagi needs him! Just because you think we're better than them gives you no right to take away Usagi's love for a certain man!" Minako said answering back.
"Again…..I don't even know if it was Beryl." Rei said angrily.
"Well then, you better find out!" Minako said walking ahead and leaving Rei behind. Rei walked slower and realized how selfish she had been. But still she knew that it was no time to be assuming the worst. Instead….hoping for the best.