Didn't realize looked like an elitist community, but any reader should know that I'm posting this Sailor Moon fan fiction for fun and for anyone who does happen to find it worth reading. Critiques are welcome, and I won't be butt hurt if they're negative. I would just prefer to make it known that I may not entirely follow every guideline within the Sailor Moon universe. If this prelude becomes confusing, feel free to PM me.

- V

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"Don't be ridiculous, Mars! It would be a pointless sacrifice - you know I can do this!" God damn this tart body! Gabe hissed in irritation at his current feminine state.

Rei felt Orion's grip wince slightly about her elbow, as she struggled to keep her from slipping into the heated crevice below them. To keep her voice within reason, she cleared her throat and spoke above the clamor that surrounded them, "Gabe!"

Orion's frustration faded to the sound of her human name. For an instant she saw her as the hotheaded Rei, instead of a Goddess of Fire.

"Gabe," she repeated, mustering a smile to the best of her ability. "Do you remember how we first met? As senshi?"

A wave of confusion came over Orion's face at her query, "Yes?"

"Be that soldier again," she continued. "Look at you – your strength has receded. It's faded. It's painfully obvious you're weakening—"

"Rei, I don't give a shit about that! You, Usagi, and I… we'll make it. Help me lift you, you don't need to – to…" Orion trailed off, trying her damnedest to avoid the thought of the inevitable.

Rei's brows arched as she breathed, already feeling her body weakening from ignoring own her own life by not holding to Orion's arm.

"You can not risk saving me and disregard our other senshi at the same time." She cleared her throat, clenching her eyes close for a moment in remembrance of Minako. "It's undoubtedly selfish, Orion." She looked up at Orion, not as a beloved, but as a fellow soldier, a warrior. "With choice comes sacrifice. What comes of sacrifice is the greater good."

Having Mars long been disengaged from Orion's hold, her weight now hung solely upon Orion's strength that was becoming weaker by the second. Having known this by now, Orion's eyes narrowed as she tried with all her might to keep the burning tears from flooding her eyes. Silence fell between the pair; their eyes gazing for a last moment.

"I told you to stop eating so much imoyokan…" Orion spoke gently, with a feeble grin exposing grit teeth.

Mars felt the tears flow through her ashen cheeks as she mustered a small laugh. "You are just as guilty."

Orion's body then jerked forward as the above ground rumbled, immediately causing her to snatch Mars' hand as she lost grasp of her arm. Mars refused to budge and for seconds, it felt like, that the pair had left until Orion would lose her grasp.

"Mars!" she yelled, knowing damn well what was to come for certain. And still, Mars refrained from panic and attempted to remain at ease, while her eyes said otherwise.

Stubborn as always.

"The Princess," she spoke as her last words. "For the Princess."

And gone in an instant.

The weight that once held Mars, was both Orion's treasured comrade and Gabe's dearly beloved. Reminiscence settled in, recollected memories that were either too much to forget or of too little worth to disregard. As hard as Orion tried to keep this very moment from happening, it did come, and there was little he could do about it, but to simply wait once again…

And forget.