The Last Moments Of Pharaoh 90, a sailor moon fanfic

"The Last Moments Of Pharaoh 90"
A Sailor Moon Fanfic
By Bill K.

This is a revised version of the original story. Only minor format and continuity changes have been made. The original story remains otherwise intact.

***SPOILER WARNING***

If you have not seen the English dub of Sailor Moon S that ran on The Cartoon Network or the Japanese original, DO NOT READ THIS STORY. It will give away the ending of that series.

Author's note: This story takes place between Episode 126 and 127.

Ami Mizuno put her school satchel down and put her feet into the slippers waiting for her by the door. It had been another wondrous day at school, filled with new facts and new discoveries. She'd already done half of her homework at lunch. Once she got the rest done, it would allow her to delve into the college level microbiology text she was reading on her own.

The rattle of pans in the kitchen and the aromas drifting out into the hall told Ami that her mother had been able to get off of her shift at a reasonable hour. Even better; Ami liked her mother's cooking as much as she liked Makoto's, as much for the time she would get to spend with her very busy parent as for the taste. She was about to announce her presence when she heard the phone ring. Her mother answered and began talking.

"I hope it's not the hospital," Ami thought. It was selfish, true, but she was jealous of the time with her mother the hospital took from her. Picking her satchel up, Ami headed for the living room of the penthouse apartment.

It had been a wondrous day, but Ami couldn't quite enjoy it. There was something about Usagi that bothered her. Something about her hadn't been right. She couldn't put her finger on it. Usagi seemed to act in the same dippy, distracted, juvenile manner as always, but something about it wasn't quite synchronous. Ever since the battle with Pharaoh 90, Usagi hadn't been right. At first Ami thought it was the girl's overwhelming concern for Hotaru's safety. Then there was the showdown with Uranus and Neptune. It was enough to put anybody off their stride, but things were back to normal now.

And Usagi somehow wasn't.

"Perhaps I should look at that text on restorative psychology tonight," mused Ami. She sighed, suddenly worn and drained. When Usagi wasn't right, she wasn't right either.

The doorbell rang. With her mother still on the phone, Ami moved to answer it. She found Rei at the door, still in the uniform of the private school she attended. Something was wrong. Rei never visited her unless there was trouble.

"Is something the matter?" Ami asked surreptitiously as she ushered the girl in.

"Um," Rei hesitated, looking away. She seemed to be searching for words, or perhaps searching for whether she should confide something. Rei was always close to the vest with secrets, often maddeningly so. She held onto her premonition of The Silence for weeks, letting it torture her rather than burden her fellow scouts with it. Ami was just about to prod her when Rei finally reached a decision. "How's Usagi been the last few days? You see her at school. How's she doing?"

"She seems fine," Ami replied. So Rei had sensed it, too. Given Rei's abilities, she might have sensed it first. "But there's something about her that's just not right. If you asked me for specifics, I couldn't give them to you. It just seems to me that - - I don't know how to express it."

"I knew it!" Rei scowled. She seemed on the verge of tears. "I've been getting bad vibes from her for almost a week now. I thought she was just still worried about where Hotaru was, but," and Rei cupped her hands to her mouth, momentarily biting softly into the thumb, "but it's something else. I don't know what, but I think it's eating at her."

"Do you think she senses some new enemy?"

"I don't think so. The vibes aren't there. Besides, I did a fire reading last night and didn't come up with anything."

"Perhaps it's some sort of carryover from the final showdown. We don't really know what happened in there. Haruka and Michiru are both gone and Usagi never did go into specifics about what those three and Hotaru faced in there."

Just then, Ami's mother walked into the room.

"Ami, I," she began, then stopped. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you had a guest."

"That's all right," Ami replied. "What is it, Mother?"

"Well, I just got off the phone with Mrs. Tsukino. She's very worried about Usagi. The girl has been very depressed and listless lately. She's not eating." Rei and Ami glanced at each other with mounting concern. "And last night she woke up in the middle of the night, screaming."

Rei couldn't stop a shuddering sob from escaping.

"Mrs. Tsukino asked me if I'd ask you if you knew anything Usagi might be having a problem with. You are one of her best friends. Now I realize young people don't like confiding in adults because you feel we won't understand or that you'll be punished. But if you do know something, please tell me, Ami. It sounds like your friend needs help."

"Honestly, Mother, I don't know what's going on," Ami said, her gentle voice taking on a harder edge. "But if it's all right with you, I'm going to go over there now and find out."

"I think that's a good idea, Ami," her mother replied. "Do you want me to drive you?"

"That's OK, ma'am," Rei spoke up. "I'll escort her over."

During the walk over to the Tsukino residence, both girls found their pace quickening consistently.

"What do you suppose it is?" fretted Rei. "The only time she ever goes off the deep end like this is when she's having problems with Mamoru. You think that's it?"

"I don't know," Ami answered, forcing herself to stay calm. "This is all useless speculation, anyway. We need to establish some facts first before we draw conclusions."

"Sorry, my scientific method's not that good, especially when my friends are concerned. But I'm telling you, Ami, if this is something trivial like her favorite anime got canceled or something, I'm going to knock . . ."

"Rei," Ami said sternly. "I don't think she's going to wake up in the middle of the night screaming over her favorite anime being canceled."

"You sure? This is Usagi we're talking about."

Ami glared at Rei.

"Hey, I'm just trying to lighten the mood a little. It's the only thing that keeping me from bursting into tears," Rei replied, choking on the last few words.

Interesting, thought Ami, how we all deal with stress. Rei engages in anger or gallows humor while I try to compartmentalize it and analyze it rationally. So how do you deal, Usagi? By screaming in the middle of the night?

By the time they arrived outside the walled-in Tsukino home, the sun was beginning to set. Ami went straight for the gate, but Rei held back. Ami turned questioningly.

"Maybe you better talk to her alone," Rei told her, the motivations for her statement clearly painful to her. "She's more likely to open up to you than to me. She probably thinks I'm too judgmental; don't know where she got that idea, huh? Besides, I'm the 'spooky psychic chick'. Not a lot of people like opening up around me."

"I understand," Ami nodded. Just then, Rei's sight was caught by something behind Ami. Ami turned and saw Makoto and Minako walking up.

"Did Usagi's mom call you, too?" Rei asked.

"No, Luna called me," Makoto answered. "That little cat's out of her head with worry. She said Usagi was screaming in her sleep last night?"

"She talked to Artemis, too," Minako added. "Usagi made her promise not to say anything to anybody, but Luna decided it was too important."

"Typical!" fumed Rei. "How dare that little air head think that we shouldn't worry about her!"

"So we're here to worm it out of her," Minako said. "I figure if you and Makoto hold her down, I'll tickle her until she talks."

The other three stared at Minako with disdainful disappointment.

"What?" asked Minako.

"How about I go in alone," Ami suggested. "I've known her the longest. She's more likely to open up to me."

"OK," nodded Minako grimly, then brightened up. "But if we don't hear from you in an hour, we're coming in after you."

Ami shook her head and passed through the gate. The other two scowled at Minako.

"What?" asked Minako.

Ikuko Tsukino seemed almost relieved to see Ami. The girl was gratefully ushered into the house and given leave to go up to Usagi's room and stay as long as she liked. Shingo was in the other room and he cast a worried, but hopeful glance Ami's way.

"Things are worse than I thought if Shingo's worried," Ami thought as she mounted the stairs. She looked up and saw Chibi-Usa clutching the top banister.

"Are you here to see Usagi?" the little pink-coifed girl asked, her eyes moist.

"Yes," Ami smiled, trying to reassure her.

"What's wrong with her?" Chibi-Usa asked, unspoken fear in her words. "She's in such pain. Who hurt her, Ami?"

"Hush, Chibi-Usa," whispered Luna, appearing in the doorway to Usagi's room. "Please try to be strong for Usagi or you'll upset her even more."

"I'll try," whimpered the girl and she slunk off.

"Thank goodness you're here, Ami," Luna sighed with a heavy heart. "Perhaps she'll talk to you. I've done all I can to try to coax it out of her. She's just so very stubborn sometimes," and the black cat's voice trailed off with tremors of emotion.

Ami entered the room. Usagi was sitting on her bed, her legs crossed under her, still in her school uniform. Her back was to Ami and her shoulders seemed slumped with the weight of the world atop them. But she sensed Ami's presence and straightened up. When she turned, the standard Usagi smile decorated her face, but the blue in her eyes wasn't quite so blue.

"Hi, Ami!" Usagi said with perkiness that almost seemed forced. "What are you doing here? We didn't have a study date, did we? I hope you came to tell me about some hunky new boy you're interested in!"

Ami felt her cheeks flush reflexively, as they did whenever the subject of her non-existent love life came up. She studied Usagi for a moment. If she didn't already have so much evidence to the contrary, she'd think nothing was wrong. How to approach this, though?

"I understand you haven't been feeling well the last few days," Ami said, leading cautiously.

"Well," shrugged Usagi evasively, "I might have been a little preoccupied. School still sucks and, well, high school exams are coming up and I just know I'll fail and be totally humiliated. And I am still kind of worried about Hotaru, even though Haruka and Michiru said she was fine."

"Nothing else?"

"No."

"Then why did you wake up screaming last night?"

"Ohhhh! Luna, you big mouth rat!" raged Usagi. "You promised!"

"That's big mouth CAT, IF you don't mind," Luna replied, standing her ground, "and promises made under duress are not legally binding!"

"She's just worried about you, Usagi," Ami mediated. "We're all worried about you."

"Don't," Usagi replied, looking away in shame. "You have enough burdens in your life. I'm . . . just being silly old Usagi again."

"Screaming in the middle of the night is not being silly old Usagi. Are you having nightmares about the final battle with Pharaoh 90?"

Usagi's shoulders slumped. She faced her friend and stared in wonderment, helpless before a superior intellect.

"Ami," she gasped, "is there anything you DON'T know?"

"A few things," Ami replied, flashing her friend a wry smile. "But I'm working on it. Am I right?"

Usagi looked down. She seemed torn by whether to confess or to suppress. Her eyelids squeezed shut again and her shoulders began to shudder from a new round of silent sobs. Instantly Ami was next to her. She folded her arms around Usagi and the frail little blonde jumped to her like metal filings to a magnet, wrapping her arms around her friend and clinging to her. Over Usagi's shoulder, Ami focused on Luna.

"Get the others," she mouthed silently.

Luna nodded and was off, out Usagi's bedroom window. She leaped to the branch of a nearby tree and scampered down it with little concern for her own safety. From the main trunk, she leaped to the top of the wall and ran over to the gate. The other three, waiting impatiently at the gate, looked up to her.

"Come up to the room," Luna said. "Usagi's having nightmares about the battle with Pharaoh 90."

The three girls raced into the house and up the stairs, barely pausing to leave their shoes at the door. They came to a screeching halt at Usagi's bedroom door, then cautiously entered. Usagi heard the door and peeked at them over her shoulder.

"Oh, I'm sorry they dragged you all down here," whined Usagi.

"Don't even go there, girl," Makoto said, trying to stay upbeat. "You're having trouble and we're here for you."

"Luna said you're having nightmares about Pharaoh 90?" Rei said, sitting down so Usagi was sandwiched between her and Ami.

"Oh, it's just so silly," Usagi tried to laugh it off. "You'll probably yell at me if I tell you."

"I'll yell at you if you don't!" Rei cried. "We want to help you!"

"Maybe it'll help if you tell us just what happened," Minako offered. "We're still kind of in the dark about what went down. If you fill us in, maybe we can see something that'll help you."

"But if you'd rather not," began Ami cautiously.

"No. I'll try," Usagi said half-heartedly. "Phar. . . it . . . arrived on Earth. It struck down Mistress 9. She was possessing Hotaru. It would have killed Hotaru and Dr. Tomoe, too, but I was able to protect them. I . . . tried to stop . . . it . . . but my Heart Attack was too weak. Neptune was saying it was the end of the world. Uranus said it was my fault."

"Bitch," whispered Makoto angrily. The others looked at her. It was the first time they could recall her ever cursing.

"Then Hotaru began to change into Sailor Saturn. She said she could destroy it, but that it would probably kill her, too. She said I could have protected her if I could become Super Sailor Moon." Usagi sniffed back a guilty tear. "I begged her not to go, but I couldn't stop her.

"Then I tried to become Super Sailor Moon. I could hear them fighting in

there and . . . and I had to do something! And somehow I did."

"I remember," Minako said. "I was lying there in the rubble, half out of it, and I heard you call."

"We all did," Makoto added. "I just surrendered to your call and all of a sudden I felt myself connect with you."

"What happened next?" Minako asked.

"When I became Super Sailor Moon, the first thing I thought to do was go into the energy field and rescue Hotaru. I went in . . ."

Usagi just stared for a few moments as her friends waited anxiously. Then her eyes widened from a horror only she saw and her hands flew to cover her mouth. Tears streamed anew.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh!" she gasped.

"Honey, what is it?" cried Makoto, wrapping her arms around Usagi from behind. "You're safe now! Don't be scared!"

"Hotaru was almost dead! Her life energy was dwindling to nothing! I could sense it was dying, too! I went to her, to try to protect her, to try to keep the last of her life energy from fading away! And I, and I did it! I got her and I clutched her to my chest and held onto her as hard as I could!"

"You did," Rei whispered. "You saved her. You said it yourself, you held her in your arms and felt her warmth."

But Usagi broke down into the most mournful, dreadful sobs any of them could remember hearing.

"What is it, Usagi? What?" Minako pleaded, kneeling before her, her hands folded around Usagi's. "We can't help you if you don't tell us what it is!"

"I SAW IT!" wailed Usagi, wrenching the words from her bosom. "P-Pharaoh 90! I LOOKED RIGHT AT IT! I TOUCHED IT!" She began keening on the bed and Rei and Makoto held on tighter. "IT HAD NO SOUL! NOTHING! JUST. . . EVIL! SO COLD AND DARK AND. . .INHUMAN! I thought Beryl was bad! I thought I'd met the worst person ever when I fought Wise Man! BUT THIS! UH HUH HUH HUH HUH HUH HUH HUH HUH HUH!"

"Aw, it's OK, Usagi," moaned Makoto, on the verge of tears for her friend. "He's gone now. You beat him. You don't have to worry about him anymore."

"NO!" cried Usagi. "You don't understand! I-I can still feel it! The horrible, suffocating evil! How do you know it can die? If . . . if something like that can be possible . . . Who says it can't come back? What if it can be born again? WHAT IF THERE'S MORE THAN ONE?!"

"Usagi, calm down, please," begged Ami. "You're becoming hysterical! You're going to hurt yourself if you keep up like this!"

"We're not safe! None of us are safe! IF THAT KIND OF EVIL CAN EXIST IN THE UNIVERSE . . .!"

Suddenly Rei's hand was pressed to Usagi's forehead. She pulled it away slowly, leaving one of her mystic wards pressed onto the girl. Usagi froze, her mind a momentary blank. Then she let out a trembling sigh of relief and went limp. Rei held her by the shoulders and gently eased her to the bed.

"What did you do?" Minako asked, amazed.

"It's a ward to drive off evil thoughts," whispered Rei. "I wish it could last forever, but at least it'll let her sleep peacefully for a few hours."

Once Usagi was safely in bed, Rei got up and walked off into the far corner of the room, her arms over her chest and her hands folded over one another under her chin.

"Well now we know what's bugging her," said Minako, her brow knit. She glanced up at Rei. "Are you going to be all right?"

"She didn't want to worry us," Rei said, huddled in the corner of the room, her back to the others and her head bowed. "She's been holding in something this traumatic for a week now because SHE didn't want to worry us."

"You know how she is," Makoto shrugged.

"When I had my premonition about The Silence," Rei whispered, "my mind just brushed up against it and I was messed up for weeks. She looked it right in the eye! Who knows what she's been going through!"

"OK," Minako said firmly, "so how do we help her? Ami?"

"Well," Ami hesitated. "I'm not a doctor. She really should see a professional. But it looks like she's suffering from post-traumatic stress. She needs counseling at the very least and possibly psychiatric treatment."

"This is all going to be kind of hard to explain to a psychiatrist, don't you think?" Minako said.

"Why? You mean the Sailor Senshi thing? Screw the whole identity thing!" snapped Makoto. "That's not important! What's important is Usagi needs help!"

"I know that," bristled Minako. "But somebody has to think of these things."

"Please," hissed Ami. "We don't need to be fighting, now of all times. Maybe talking it out did her some good. We won't know until she wakes up. But I do think one of us should stay with her tonight."

"I'll do it," Minako volunteered, briefly flashing a faint grin. "I'd only be studying and who wants to do that?"

"Well I'm not leaving," Makoto replied.

"You'd have to drag me out," mumbled Rei.

Ami smiled. "Hmm. It's going to be pretty cramped in here with all four of us. I'll call my mother and tell her I'm staying over. I'll also - - make up some story to tell Mrs. Tsukino."

"Sure you can handle it?" Makoto jabbed. "You never could lie worth a damn."

Ami's cheeks flushed again. "Then I guess I'll just have to edit the truth."

As Ami left the room, Luna hopped up on the bed. She padded over to Usagi and rubbed her forehead on the back of the girl's hand.

"Oh, do get well, Usagi," Luna whispered.

Outside the bedroom, Ami found Chibi-Usa curled up in the hall next to the door.

"Were you listening the whole time?" Ami asked. Chibi-Usa looked up to her.

"Is Usagi going to be all right?" the little girl asked.

"We're going to try our best," Ami replied gently. "Don't worry. You know Tuxedo Mask shows up whenever she's in danger, don't you?" Chibi-Usa nodded skeptically. "Well he's not here, so the danger must not be that bad. Usagi just has to get over something that scared her. When she does that, she'll be fine. She's sleeping now. Why don't you go to sleep, too."

"He didn't show up when she faced Pharaoh 90, either," Chibi-Usa said glumly, "did he?"

Reluctantly Chibi-Usa went up to the attic that had recently been converted for her use as a bedroom. Ami went downstairs. Ikuko Tsukino was waiting for her there.

"Did you find out anything?" she asked hopefully. Ami steeled herself for the task ahead.

"Usagi saw . . . a criminal. He was trying to . . . kill a little girl."

"Oh, gracious!" Ikuko gasped. "Is he still out there?"

"No. He was . . . killed by the authorities."

"Oh my, no wonder she's having nightmares. Usagi always was sensitive to that sort of thing. I remember when she was seven, we found a bird in the garden that had fallen out of its nest and died. She was inconsolable for days. Usagi always has had such a reverence for life. And to witness something that violent and depraved . . .!"

"If it's all right with you, the others and I are going to stay the night with her."

"Yes, of course. Thank you. She really has some great friends in you four."

"She's a great friend to us. We couldn't do anything else but stand by her."

The four settled in for the night in Usagi's room. Minako quickly staked out the chair at Usagi's desk, so the other three made do with sitting on the floor or pacing. Luna seemed to have the most sense of all of them. She picked a perch on top of Usagi's dresser, curled up and went to sleep.

As they waited, Ami would occasionally glance at Usagi. The girl continued to sleep soundly. She was so peaceful and delicate she conjured up visions of Sleeping Beauty. But Ami's thorough eye could see the dark circles under her eyes and the lines in her face that weren't there last week. This ordeal was taking its toll on her. The evidence was there if you thought to look for it.

Rei was the first one to drift off. She lasted about an hour before succumbing to the stillness of the night and the emotional drain of pacifying Usagi with the ward. Minako was next. Her head fell forward several times, then snapped back up. The final time it didn't snap back. The last thing Ami remembered was seeing Makoto bent over Usagi, studying the girl's face for signs of trouble.

The next thing Ami knew, there was sun peeking through the curtains. Her back was stiff from leaning against the wall. Ami stretched, smelled food cooking, and noticed Makoto missing. After a quick check found Usagi still sleeping peacefully, she went down to the kitchen. There she found Makoto cooking. The clock on the wall said six thirty-two.

"Were you up all night?" Ami asked.

"I wanted to," Makoto replied. "But the old body wouldn't cooperate. I think I drifted off a little bit after you did. She still sleeping?"

"Yes, and very peacefully, too. It can only help. Pancakes?"

Makoto grinned self-consciously. "I figured the best way to get her to eat would be to seduce her with her favorite." Suddenly Makoto's cheery countenance clouded over and her lip quivered. "I never thought we'd ever have to seduce her into eating."

"It's hard seeing her this way, I know. She's important to all of us."

"Ami," Makoto started to say, then stopped. "I feel so frustrated. It's just like when . . . when Mom and Dad . . . you know, died. I just want to go out and hit something. Why couldn't it have been me?"

"If it had been you instead of her, Usagi would still be in pain. So don't think like that again."

"Yeah, I guess so. But I hate being so helpless like this. I want to help her, Ami. I owe her so much. She was the only one to take a chance on me. I was so lonely and bitter, just lashing out everywhere. And she saw something in me and brought it out. She brought the sun back into my world. And she needs me now and I can't do anything!" Makoto pounded her fists into the counter top.

"We all owe her, Makoto," Ami said, gripping her friend gently on the shoulder and around the wrist. "And we'll help her to the depth of our ability. But you have to accept the fact that there are some things Planet Power just can't fix. If all we can do is support her and make her time in professional therapy as painless as possible, it's what we must do. You can't flail yourself for not being able to do more."

"Her breakfast is almost ready," Makoto commented, not sounding convinced. "Could you pour her some juice?" Ami nodded.

Usagi turned over in bed. Her eyelids opened, but it was a moment before she was aware of what she saw. Standing over her were her four dear friends, plus Luna and Chibi-Usa off to the side of the bed. They were all smiling encouragingly and Makoto held a tray with covered dishes.

"How do you feel?" Minako asked.

"Supremely embarrassed," Usagi moaned, draping her arm over her eyes. "I am so sorry for putting you guys through last night."

"Shhh," Makoto whispered. "Not another word about that. Feel like some breakfast?"

"Not really," Usagi groaned, her arm still hiding her eyes.

"I made it myself."

"You did?" Usagi asked, peeking up from under the arm.

"It's pancakes."

"It is?"

"A big old stack, just for you."

"Mmmmmm," Usagi groaned with temptation. Her eyes were uncovered and she was clearly wavering.

"Take a sniff," and Makoto removed the cover. That was the last straw.

"You talked me into it," Usagi gulped, scooting up into a sitting position in bed.

"Good," Makoto said, laying the tray in Usagi's lap, "Otherwise I was going to sit on your chest and stuff them down your throat."

"Mako-chan, you wouldn't!" gasped Usagi, eyes bulging. Makoto only stared at her calmly while the others struggled to keep from breaking up. "I'm eating, I'm eating!"

Usagi devoured breakfast with nearly normal zest. It was good to see, but the others knew things weren't back to normal yet. While they watched her eat, Artemis appeared at the window.

"When Minako didn't come home last night, I figured she was over here," Artemis said to Luna, who met him on the sill. "How's Usagi doing?"

"We've made a little progress, but it's still too soon to tell," Luna told him.

"Umf, were you guys here all night?" Usagi gasped in mid gulp. "Oh I wish you hadn't put yourselves out like that for me."

"Don't be stupid," scowled Rei, lightly rapping Usagi's shin with her fist. "You're in trouble. Where else are we supposed to be?"

The fork fell to the plate. Usagi bit her lip and looked down, her eyes watering over. Makoto and Ami both glared at Rei impatiently.

"Hey, don't take it like that!" pleaded Rei.

"She's worried about you, Usagi," Chibi-Usa piped up. "Don't be sad!"

"I can't help it," murmured Usagi. "I didn't want this to happen and here it is! I just can't seem to escape it. I put you all through so much. I try and I try, but I can't stop being poor dumb little Usagi who everybody has to help and protect and lead around by the hand!" Tears sprouted from her eyes and she jammed her hand to her mouth to smother a sob.

"Don't!" snapped Rei. "Don't do this to yourself! You're suffering enough as it is, don't you dare for one minute think that you're a burden to us!"

"I am!" Usagi sobbed. Rei was about to respond, but Makoto pulled her away.

"Since when is friendship a burden?" Minako asked. Usagi didn't respond. "How many things have you done for us? How many times did you help me when I was in a rough way? How many times have you kept me sane when I wanted to run screaming into the night because this whole world is a total loony bin? Do you think friendship is a one-way street; you give and we take? Can't you see how many lives you've touched? And you think you're a burden?"

"Yeah, give yourself some credit for once, Usagi!" huffed Rei.

"Usagi," Chibi-Usa piped up, scowling, "someone once told me that it's easier to solve a problem by working together than by trying to tough it out alone. I never understood that for the longest time, but I do now. You should listen to it."

"Chibi-Usa?" Ami asked, smiling as if she recognized the quote. "Who told you that?"

"Mama," Chibi-Usa replied. "When she wasn't sneaking chocolates."

The scouts glanced at Usagi and saw her face flush very red.

"Good advice," Ami offered.

"Now I'm embarrassed," mumbled Usagi, eyes downcast.

Shaking her head, Rei leaned over, cupped her hands over Usagi's ears and kissed her on the top of the head before the startled girl could move.

"WHAT WAS THAT FOR?" gasped Usagi.

"That is for guaranteeing that my life is never, ever going to be normal again," Rei sighed with a cynical grin.

"Yeah," shrugged Minako, grinning herself. "Who wants normal? Normal's boring."

Their merriment died off though when they saw the melancholy expression on Usagi's face.

"Are you still thinking about what happened?" Ami asked.

"Uh huh," Usagi nodded. "I try not to. B-But I can't get it out of my mind."

"All right, calm down," warned Ami, stroking Usagi's arm. "Usagi, what would you think about seeing someone about this, like a counselor or psychiatrist perhaps?"

Usagi looked away. She resembled a trapped animal.

"Would it help?" she squeaked.

"It could. A professional could help you find a way to deal with what you saw."

"Oh yeah," muttered Usagi. "Hey, Doctor, I just looked into the face of Hell and I'm having a little trouble dealing with it. He's either going to lock me up or run screaming himself."

"Not necessarily," Ami persisted. "And you can't go on like this."

"Why doesn't she just use the crystal?" Chibi-Usa asked.

Everyone looked at her, stunned.

"What do you mean by 'the crystal'?" Minako asked.

"The Silver Crystal," she replied. "What other crystal is there?"

"The crystal can cure mental problems?" Ami asked.

"Sure. It took care of all sorts of people possessed by youma, remember?" Chibi-Usa said. "And Mama . . . um, I mean Usagi . . . well, I mean . . . oh, you know who I mean! In Crystal Tokyo, she'd use it all the time. It can help you if you've got a broken leg or something, but if someone was having troubled thoughts and stuff, she helped them with that, too. She did it all the time. Well, when she wasn't sneaking chocolates, anyway."

"All right, enough about the chocolates already!" bellowed Usagi.

"Wait a minute," Makoto said. "I thought it was dangerous to use the Silver Crystal. That Usagi could die from using it."

"It depends on what you're trying to do," Luna offered. "The Silver Crystal draws its energy from the person using it and amplifies it many times over. The danger comes if the person using it is not yet mature enough to provide the necessary energy for the task required." She looked over to Artemis. "What do you think, Artemis?"

"Well, the Silver Crystal is very powerful," Artemis said, pondering. "But in Usagi's hands its energy is primarily restorative. She's restored dozens of other people with no ill effects on her, so I suppose. But can she use it on herself?"

"Possibly," Ami commented. "Perhaps if she's Super Sailor Moon, she'll have enough mental control of the crystal energy to heal herself."

"It's worth a shot," continued Artemis.

"There's just one problem," Usagi said glumly. "I can't become Super Sailor Moon anymore. The Sacred Cup was destroyed by Mistress 9."

The room sagged.

"Can't you still try it?" asked Makoto. "Even if you're not Super Sailor Moon, you can at least give it a shot, can't you?"

"Wait," Ami said, her brow furrowed. "When did Mistress 9 destroy the cup?"

"You mean what time?" Usagi asked.

"Was it before or after Hotaru went after Phar. . . um, it?"

"Before. Hotaru said I could have helped her as . . ."

"Usagi, you did help her," Minako said, the light going on above her. "You became Super Sailor Moon after the cup was gone."

"Yes, when your sub-conscious reached out to us for help," deduced Ami. "You can become Super Sailor Moon again - - with our help."

"Do you think it's possible?" Usagi asked doubtfully.

"Won't hurt to try," Rei smiled. "Though, if we're going to transform, maybe we better do it at the shrine. It's a little more private."

"I'm coming, too!" Chibi-Usa added adamantly.

"Well, naturally," grinned Minako. "After all, you're our technical advisor."

"Oh dear," gasped Ami softly, glancing at her watch. "School will start soon."

"Well I'm not going in," Makoto declared. "This is more important. But if you feel you have to go in, we'll wait for you before trying this."

"Mother would insist," Ami said, clearly torn. She struggled with the decision for a few tense moments. Then she glanced warmly at Usagi. "I guess I just won't tell her."

"Ami's going to cut school?" goggled Minako. "It IS the end of the world!"

"Shut up, you," scowled Makoto, playfully shoving the girl. "You'll make her change her mind."

"Ami-chan," Usagi said reverently. "Thank you. I know how much of a sacrifice this is for you. I . . ."

"I know, Usagi," Ami smiled. Then she grew anxious. "But let's go before I do change my mind."

"Your mom got something in the kitchen we can grab on the way out?" Minako asked. "Playing nurse for you makes a girl hungry."

"Are you kidding?" Chibi-Usa grinned cynically. "The cabinet's full of stuff. It's the only way to keep the 'Usagi Hunger Emergency Siren' from going off."

"Ohhhh!" huffed Usagi. "You are such a brat!"

Six young ladies and two cats arrived at Hikawa Shrine. The shrine seemed deserted; however, as they reached the top step, Rei's grandfather popped up out of thin air.

"Hello, ladies!" he beamed.

"Hi, Grampa," the girls sighed in unison.

"The shrine and all in it are grateful to be once again blessed with such beauty. Anything I can do for any of you?"

"Oh, he's such a phony," muttered Luna.

"Uh, Grandpa," Rei said, leaning in close. "Usagi's having some problems. We all kind of need to be alone for a little while. Could you do us a big favor and keep Yuuichiro busy for a few hours so he doesn't disturb us?"

Her grandfather leaned over to one side and examined Usagi up and down. As he did, his beaming moon face grew serious.

"Yes. Her aura's very troubled. You can count on me, Rei. And good fortune to your efforts." He walked over to Usagi and gravely cupped her hands in his. "Good fortune to you, young lady. I'll be praying for you to regain your shine."

"T-Thank you, sir," Usagi grinned.

Alone inside the shrine, the five Senshi transformed. Once they were ready, the other four formed a circle around Sailor Moon. While Chibi-Usa and the cats looked on, the four Senshi joined hands.

"Mercury Star Power!" called out Sailor Mercury.

"Mars Star Power!"

"Jupiter Star Power!"

"Venus Star Power!"

The jewels on their tiaras began to glow with unearthly light. The lights coalesced and enveloped Sailor Moon. Her head tilted back slightly and she closed her eyes, feeling the mental bond with her four friends.

"Crisis Make-up!" called out Sailor Moon.

The energy flared around Sailor Moon to a brilliant silver-white and the sight of her was momentarily obscured. When it dimmed back to a lower level, the costume of Sailor Moon was replaced by that of Super Sailor Moon.

Concentrating, Super Sailor Moon's hands cupped around her transformation brooch in the center of the costume's bow. Without touching it, she deftly warped space and brought the Silver Crystal forth with a grace that belied the usual perception of Usagi. The crystal suspended between her cupped hands, Super Sailor Moon extended her arms out before her.

"Sailor Moon, wait!" Artemis bellowed suddenly. "Don't do anything else!"

Shaken from her concentration, Usagi struggled to maintain her Super Sailor Moon guise. The costume wavered for a few moments, then settled back in place. With some difficulty, the four scouts glanced over at the little white cat while maintaining the glow of their tiara jewels.

"What is it, Artemis?" gasped Luna.

"Look at the crystal!" he hissed.

Super Sailor Moon and the others focused on the crystal for the first time. Normally the Silver Crystal resembled a bloomed rose shaped from silver crystalline. This was different. The crystal was misshapen and ugly fissures lined it. It seemed like the slightest pressure would shatter the crystal into razor shards.

The horror in Super Sailor Moon's face was mirrored in the others as well. She sank to her knees in shock. The crystal returned unbidden to the brooch and the costume faded like mist, leaving Usagi behind.

"What happened?" demanded Jupiter.

"The crystal's reflecting Usagi's consciousness," Luna replied, numbed by shock. "This is more than just some psychological trauma. Usagi's actually been infected by some aspect of Pharaoh 90!"

"Oh no!" gasped Mars in dismay.

"Does this mean she can't use her power?" Jupiter asked.

"She must be able to," Venus said. "What else did she blast Uranus and Neptune with?"

"She can use it," Artemis told Venus. "She just can't control it."

The senshi looked at the cats questioningly.

"With the crystal impaired, her power is impaired, too," Luna explained. "Obviously she can still manifest her power, but without the refined facets of the crystal, that power becomes scattered and unfocused."

"I wondered why," mumbled Usagi. The others turned to her. "I didn't mean to blast Uranus and Neptune. It was supposed to be a shield. I thought I'd just messed up - - got too excited by the moment." Usagi sucked in air, struggling to maintain composure. "I could have hurt them!"

"But you didn't," Luna reassured her.

"So now what?" asked Jupiter.

"I don't know," Artemis replied. "If the crystal was intact, I'd say it could remove the aspect of Pharaoh 90 from her mind. But - - she just doesn't have enough control now. Not to use the crystal on herself in its current shape."

A pall of shock and despair hung over the room. No one spoke. No one could summon the courage to speak.

"Well," whispered Usagi finally, her words a poor cover for the deep melancholy she felt. "We tried."

"We'll keep trying, too," Venus said forcefully. "We're not going to give up until we've found a way to help you."

"Thank you," Usagi said softly, giving Venus a sad smile.

"Usagi," Mars said, struggling to retain her composure. "You can't give up, either!"

"I'm not," she said, looking down, resembling a china doll about to shatter. "I'm just trying to be brave about this, like you'd expect me to be. Brave about the dreams, about the way I can . . . can constantly feel its cold, inhuman hand caressing my mind, about not being able to be Sailor Moon anymore."

"Who says you can't?" Venus demanded.

"What if I hurt someone unintentionally?" Usagi asked, locking eyes with Venus. "I won't take the risk. If I'm a danger to people because I can't control my power, I won't use it." She looked down again, her moment of conviction spent. Then she pushed herself to her feet. "I'm going to go home now." Usagi started to leave, but paused at the door. "Can I . . . um, may I ask one thing? If I can never be Sailor Moon again, can we still be friends?"

The four girls looked at her with infinite sympathy.

"Always," Jupiter said.

"You don't get rid of us that easily," Venus smiled.

"For life," Mercury replied.

"And beyond," Mars added.

Usagi smiled that wide, beaming, deliriously happy grin that so endeared her to everyone. Then, in an instant, it clouded over again and she disappeared through the door.

"She's going to need someone to be with her," Luna said. Turning to the others, she appealed, "The rest of you, please try to brainstorm some solution to this. I'm going to - - to try to lift her spirits somehow. Call us if you get anything." With that, the black cat scampered out of the room.

"Well?" Venus asked the gathered, fading back to Minako as she did. "Anyone have any ideas?"

No one replied.

"Does it," Luna began to ask, then paused self-consciously, "hurt?"

"Does what hurt?" Usagi asked blankly, wandering down the empty side street.

"The thing," Luna continued delicately, "in your head."

"The thing?"

"Pharaoh 90! Honestly, Usagi, would you focus, please!"

"I know what you meant," Usagi grinned. "I just missed you yelling at me. It kind of makes me feel normal again."

"You are impossible," huffed Luna.

"It doesn't hurt, Luna," Usagi said sadly. "It's sort of like someone really creepy is watching every move I make, you know? And the minute I let my guard down, it'll get me."

"You poor girl."

"It's the worst at night. I'm afraid to sleep. Afraid that - - that I won't wake up as me. That it'll take me over when I sleep." Usagi folded her arms over her breast. "And it's even worse now. Now I know there's something actually inside of me, that it's not my imagination."

"You should have told us sooner," Luna said sympathetically.

"I didn't think anybody would understand."

Luna walked along for a few paces. Suddenly she noticed Usagi wasn't beside her. She looked back and saw the girl cowering behind a tree.

"Usagi, what is it?" asked Luna.

"I saw Mamo-chan up ahead," she squeaked fearfully.

"And?"

"Luna, I don't want him to see me like this!" she gasped, on the verge of hysterics once more.

"He'll understand. He of all people will understand."

"No, Luna, no! I don't want him to see me like this!"

"Well, with all the distress vibrations you're throwing off, he's not going to have much choice. He's bound to notice you even if he doesn't see you."

The shadow of the tree was joined by another tall, thin shadow. Usagi jammed her eyes shut and wished to any power that would listen to allow her to vanish at that moment.

"What's the matter, Usagi, did you lose something? Or did you trip and fall again?" Mamoru joked.

Usagi looked up at him, her misery shouting out from her pitiful expression at one hundred fifty decibels.

"Usako," gasped Mamoru, her pain chilling him to the marrow as he knelt down to her. "What is it?"

She responded by burying herself in Mamoru's chest, crying like a little baby while she clung to his strength as she would a life preserver. Luna looked on helplessly as Mamoru cradled the fragile girl and listened to the entire story tumble out in between gasping sobs.

"What if Chibi-Usa goes into the future," Minako proposed to the weary, frustrated group, "gets Queen Serenity, brings her back into the past and Serenity uses her crystal to cure Usagi?"

"Because Usagi IS Serenity," sighed Artemis, rolling his eyes in exasperation.

"Yeah? So?"

"You can't have the same person in the same time from two different periods of their life without risking major time paradoxes!"

"No, this will work," insisted Minako.

"No, it won't, Mina," Artemis replied through clenched teeth. "Until Usagi's cured, the entire time line is affected. If Usagi's crystal is corrupted, Serenity can't come from the future to cure her because it's the same crystal and it'll be corrupted, too!"

"What do you know? You're just a cat."

"I know I could get better than a thirty-seven on a ninth grade math exam," grumbled the cat.

"That - - was a low blow," glared Minako.

"He's right, Minako," Ami said. "It won't work, and for more than just the reasons he gave."

"So you say," the blonde challenged.

"Would you like me to quote you the temporal physics calculations?" bristled Ami.

"Maybe if I'm having trouble sleeping," scowled Minako.

"Hey, you two," sighed Makoto. "Stop fighting and focus on our mission."

"Boy, when Ami's ready to fight and Makoto's playing peacemaker, you know it's time for a break," Rei said, heaving a sigh. "How about I make some tea and see if Yuuichiro left us any of Grandpa's cakes?"

"That sounds good," Ami replied, stretching as she rose. "Although I'd prefer carrot sticks if you have them."

"I prefer the cakes, thank you," Minako said.

"You had cakes at Usagi's house this morning," Ami commented. "Minako, you can't live on cakes."

"Who says? I've been doing it for fourteen years."

"Well that explains a lot," replied Ami. Minako responded by sticking out her tongue and pulling down her eyelid. As they left the room, Makoto cuffed Minako across the back of the head to get her to stop. Left alone in the room were Chibi-Usa and Artemis.

"I could operate the crystal," Chibi-Usa said glumly. "I wish they'd let me try."

"You're too young, Chibi-Usa," Artemis told her. "The Silver Crystal is a powerful force and can't be used lightly. You're just not strong enough to handle it. Remember what happened the last time you tried to handle it."

"I know! I wish everyone would quit beating me up over it!" grumbled Chibi-Usa. Then she softened with the sadness she felt. "I just want to help Usagi. I can't stand to see her suffer like this!" The little girl looked at the floor. "Don't tell her I said that, huh?"

"Your secret's safe," grinned Artemis.

"I wish I could help her," Chibi-Usa continued, her hands clasped tightly and thrust to the floor between her legs. "I wish I could help her more than anything else in the world!"

"Usako," whispered Mamoru sympathetically as he cradled Usagi in the grass beneath the tree, "why didn't you tell me?"

"Because," Usagi replied, absently tracing patterns on his chest with her finger, "it would hurt you, and I never want to see you hurt by anything."

"So you suffer in silence. How noble you are, my Usako. And how silly."

"Hmm?"

"Do you think I don't hurt worse now, seeing you like this? Don't you think my pain is greater because your pain is greater? If you'd told me right off, it would have hurt a little, but it would have been forgotten when I tried to help you through this. By trying to protect me, you only made it worse for both of us."

"I'm sorry."

"I know," Mamoru whispered, kissing her on the top of the head. "It's done. Don't dwell on it. The important thing is that I will do everything I can to make you whole again."

"You're too good to me."

"You're my precious jewel. Nothing's too good for you."

"Mamo-chan . . . I love . . . love . . ."

"Usako?"

"MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Usagi groaned, her face twisting in pain.

"Usako!"

"It's . . . Ohhhhhh, it's growing!" she cried in agony.

"What is?"

"It's trying to take me over!" she wailed, her body writhing in torment.

"It's Pharaoh 90!" Luna shrieked. "Get her to the shrine! Perhaps Rei's wards can help her fend it off!"

Not wasting time with words, Mamoru scooped Usagi up in his arms. As he rose to his feet, he transformed into Tuxedo Mask. Using the extraordinary abilities of that identity, he bounded off with the stricken blonde. Luna followed, desperately trying as best she could to keep up. As she ran, she radioed ahead to Artemis and informed him of the situation.

"Rei!" Tuxedo Mask called out ominously as he flung open the door to the shrine. Usagi was still clutched to him. She clung to him, feverish and wracked with pain. "Where are you?"

"Bring her in here!" Rei called out from the doorway to the inner room they'd been in. Seeing Usagi in such distress made tears well in the eyes of the raven-tressed priestess. "It's worse," she whispered in terror. "I can feel it in her now!"

Tuxedo Mask set Usagi down on a long table as the others gathered around. Usagi's eyes were jammed shut and tremors shook her body.

"Usagi?" whimpered Makoto.

"It wants the Silver Crystal!" Usagi gasped, thrashing around on the table as if she were at war with herself. "It sensed the power when I tried to use it earlier!" She let out a mournful wail. "Help me, Mamo-chan! I can't hold it off forever!"

Tuxedo Mask looked to Rei, who was already deep in prayer, the ward pressed to her own forehead.

"Chibi-Usa!" gulped Usagi. "Where's Chibi-Usa?"

"Out in the garden, I think," responded Ami.

"Keep her away! Don't let her get near me! I don't want her to risk being infected, too!"

The ward whipped away from Rei's forehead and came down toward Usagi. But mere inches away from her, the ward burst into flame and was consumed in a single second. Rei recoiled in horror, struck by the psychic feedback, and clutched her head with her free hand.

"Mnnn!" she winced. "It's too strong! I can't drive it back!"

"Don't . . . feel bad, Rei-chan," Usagi said through clenched teeth. She turned to Tuxedo Mask, the strain nearly forcing one eye closed. "I'm trying, Mamo-chan. I'm trying to be strong."

"You are strong, Usako," whispered Tuxedo Mask, his gloved hand grasping hers tightly. "You're stronger than any of us. Stronger than all of us."

"If you believe that," she said, forcing a smile onto her quivering mouth, "then I believe it, too."

Ami was already transformed to Sailor Mercury and had her computer out scanning Usagi.

"We've got to do something!" Makoto said desperately. "Ami?"

"I don't know," Mercury said, fear in her voice as her fingers danced over the keys of the computer. "My scans aren't showing anything! If it's there, I can't pick it up! And I can't form any plan of attack without information!"

"It's there," Rei said, the waves from Usagi battering her senses. "I can feel it."

"So what do we do?" Makoto pleaded.

"I don't know," Rei replied helplessly.

"Transform, everyone!" Minako barked. "Lend her your strength! We'll get her through this or die trying!"

The three girls joined Mercury as Sailor Senshi. They formed a protective circle around Usagi and began concentrating, trying to establish a mental link with their princess in order to funnel their energy to her and provide her with a means to beat back Pharaoh 90.

"Behind you!" screamed Luna, just now making the doorway.

As one, the gathered turned and saw a cloud of billowing pinkish-red smoke expand from a pinpoint warp in space. The smoke swirled until it reached the floor, then dissipated. Revealed within the smoke was a woman. She was nearly forty and had Usagi's face, but with a mischievous grin that Usagi never wore. A flowing, floor-length gown of white, cut low at the bodice and held to her shoulders with puffy white sleeves adorned her very tall, very voluptuous body. The giveaway, though, was the thick pink hair done up in twin buns that resembled rabbit's ears with the rest flowing down her back in cascading twin trails.

Without a second thought, Jupiter and Venus leaped to place themselves between her and Usagi. But she responded only with a sentimental smile.

"Aunt Makoto," she bowed politely. "Aunt Minako. It's good to see you both again."

"C-Chibi-Usa?" gasped Tuxedo Mask, voicing the thoughts of the entire stunned room.

"Yeah, Pop, it's me," she replied, her warm smile painted with the faintest hint of melancholy. "Your little girl all grown up." A low moan from Usagi brought the woman back to reality. "Maybe we'd better leave the questions for later, huh? Mom needs my help." She turned to the others. "Sailor Senshi, please reform the circle around Mom and lend her your strength."

The girls obeyed instantly.

She then closed her eyes and tilted her head back. Her pink hair began blowing from a breeze no one could feel. Cupping her hands about a foot apart and a foot from her chest, the woman formed a small warp in space. From there, the Silver Crystal appeared. It hovered equidistant from her hands and her chest, filling the room with a silver radiance.

Usagi's hand came up, to her own shock and revulsion, because it was not of her own volition. It began to glow a sickly deep gray, then spat a blast of indigo energy at the crystal. Usagi screamed, more in terror than from any pain she felt.

But the energy was stopped dead by the radiance of the Silver Crystal. It pulsed impotently in the silver containment it was trapped in, then dissipated as if swallowed.

"Mister, you don't know who you're messing with," the woman said, allowing herself a dark smile of satisfaction as pink strands of hair blew in her face.

Her eyes closed again and her face took on a serene calm. The crystal seemed to glow even brighter until it threatened to engulf the room in silver light. Then the light narrowed until only Usagi was engulfed. Usagi went limp, lolling back in Tuxedo Mask's arms, and everyone heard her gasp in surprise, followed by a very faint sigh of utter contentment. Then the room was filled with a sound just barely audible to them, though Luna and Artemis both buried their heads under their paws in pain. It sounded almost like a scream, but the sound was far too low to tell for sure. The silver light died away and the woman's hair and gown stopped billowing.

"Usako?" Tuxedo Mask asked hopefully, cradling Usagi's head and torso in his arms. She looked up at him, her eyes barely opened, small rivulets of tears tumbling down either side of her head.

"I'm free," she smiled happily, her voice tremulous from the strain.

"You'll be all right now, Mom," the woman said, gliding to rest next to her on the table, opposite from Tuxedo Mask. "Although you'll always remember what happened, the actual memory of Pharaoh 90 will become hazy enough to deal with."

"Thank you, Chibi-Usa," whispered Usagi happily. She brought her hand up and touched the mature woman's cheek. The woman responded by folding her hand over Usagi's.

"Then you really are the grown up version of Chibi-Usa," Mercury asked curiously, "from the future?"

"Yes, Aunt Ami. You can all call me Serenity if you like. Everyone does. Although," and she glanced back at Usagi, "as far as I'm concerned, there really only ever was one Serenity. As for why I came, well, the obvious answer is my Mom needed me. But I'm also granting a wish that a young girl made a long, long time ago."

"So you do remember this incident from your childhood?" Mercury persisted. "Then you have to know that your other self is still in this time."

"I know." Serenity II leaned in conspiratorially to Mercury. "In fact, take a look at the door. Notice it's opened a crack? Right now I'm peeking through that crack in the door, eavesdropping on us." She smirked with amusement. "It was Aunt Minako's idea that I remembered. It stayed with me for years until I gained enough wisdom and enough control of the crystal to come back in time and face Pharaoh 90."

"But the paradoxes. . ." Mercury began.

"Aunt Ami," Serenity II said patiently. "I have a distinct memory from my childhood of my Mom being saved on this day at this time by a tall, pink-haired, VERY BEAUTIFUL woman in a lovely white gown who looked a little like Mom. And I held onto that memory for years and years, and I talked it over with Mom and with Pop and the rest of you until I understood just what happened. And then I worked and planned and studied until the day came that I was sure I could defeat Pharaoh 90 without risking either hurting myself or anything else with the Silver Crystal. Then I came here to fulfill my destiny. So where's the paradox?"

"But I thought your time had rules about time-travel."

"They do, Aunt Ami." She shrugged. "I've never been much of a rule-follower. And Mom once told me 'never let a rule keep you from doing what you think is right'. It's one of the things I live by."

"I'm sorry, I just can't see. . ."

Serenity II gently placed her hands on Mercury's shoulders. "Aunt Ami," she said. "You're very dear to me and you were a great help to me when I was growing up. But you think too much. Just accept it." Mercury's cheeks flushed and she averted her eyes as Serenity II's megawatt smile, a smile obviously inherited from her mother, shone in her face.

"Oh, Chibi-Usa," sighed Usagi, admiring the daughter that was twice her age and more. "You've grown up so well. I'm so happy to see how you've turned out."

"I'm glad you're pleased with me," grinned the woman, sitting back down next to Usagi. "I worked hard enough." Serenity II playfully poked a finger into Usagi's middle. "And speaking of work, maybe you could do a little more and lay off the meat buns?"

"Well I see some things haven't changed," scowled Usagi. "You're still a brat."

Serenity II suppressed a giggle. "You never could stand to be teased. I think that's why Aunt Rei enjoyed it so much."

Usagi stared up into her daughter's eyes, mature eyes that had seen so much more than she had and from the look of it, not all of it good.

"What's your life like?" Usagi asked suddenly. "Are you happy? Have you found someone? Does he love you?"

Serenity's face took on a pained expression.

"I can't tell you, Mom," she smiled wistfully. "You know too much about the future already." Usagi looked disappointed and it broke Serenity's heart.

Pulling away, Serenity II rose to her feet. Then she faltered. She sat back down and flung her arms around Usagi, hugging the girl tightly. Usagi responded and for the longest time neither one wanted to let go. Finally Serenity broke the clench and pulled back.

"There is one thing I can tell you," she said. "Believe in yourself. The universe will gasp in amazement at what you can do when you finally believe in yourself." She leaned over and hugged Tuxedo Mask. "Good-bye, Pop. Love you."

Refusing to face the pair lest she weaken, Serenity II walked to the far part of the room.

"I'm ready, Diana," she called out. Immediately, a mature gray feline appeared next to her. She wore a small bell around her neck held by a ribbon collar. A yellow crescent moon decorated her forehead. She glanced over at Artemis and Luna with a stare that seemed to encompass them both and examine their deepest, darkest secrets. The cat held their gaze for a few moments, then returned her attention to Serenity, the barest hint of a smile curling her mouth.

"Wow," Artemis mumbled, his eyes locked on the gray feline. "She's cute."

"She's not that cute," sniffed Luna imperiously. "Although, I suppose a cat like that is your type."

"I'd say. She looks a little like you."

"She does not!" huffed Luna.

"We're ready to return, your majesty," the gray cat replied in a low, throaty voice that made Artemis' tail straighten. Serenity stooped and gathered the feline up in her arms. The cat's eyes closed and her head eased back. Then she jiggled her neck and the bell on her collar tinkled a particular rhythm. The pair vanished in a billowing cloud of green smoke.

"You can come in now, Chibi-Usa," Mamoru said, his guise of Tuxedo Mask fading with the crisis. The little girl wandered in, eyes wide.

"Was that," she murmured in amazement, "Was that me?"

"That was you," Usagi said, still stunned herself. "I guess you don't drive me to killing you after all."

"So are you all right?" Makoto asked, her hand on Usagi's shoulder.

"Yeah," nodded Usagi. "It feels like a hundred pound weight has been lifted off of my head. Thank you, everybody, for everything you've done for me. I really, really appreciate it." She paused for a moment. "Is anybody else hungry?"

"She's back to normal all right," Rei said, rolling her eyes.

"Yeah, why don't we all go grab something to eat at The Crown!" beamed Minako. "Mamoru's treat!"

"Um," Mamoru started to protest, but he was too late.

"That's a great idea!" squealed Usagi. Instantly, Minako had Mamoru by one arm, Makoto by the other and Rei and Usagi were pushing from behind while Chibi-Usa tugged at his jacket and Ami looked supremely embarrassed. Artemis and Luna watched the procession and shook their heads.

"It's a good thing they're resilient," Artemis commented. He glanced at Luna. "Want to come back to my place? I've got some cat-nip stashed there."

"Lead on," replied Luna in exasperation. "After what I've just gone through, I think I could down an entire box by myself."

Ami closed the door to the penthouse apartment and doffed her shoes. As she put her slippers on, concerns continued to nag at her. Did she think too much? Or had Serenity II inherited her mother's lack of regard for details and consequences? Ami hoped it was the former, because she didn't relish going through something like this again for a long, long time.

She felt tired, so tired that she wasn't even in the mood for studying. Right now, she needed a nice warm bubble bath and something to renew her sense of security. Seeing Usagi go through what she'd gone through was draining and depressing. Then a scent caught her nose. Her mother was home and cooking dinner for the second night in a row.

Hopefully she'd have the good fortune to enjoy her mother's company this time.

"Is that you, Ami?" her mother asked, coming into the room. "I noticed your satchel was here when I got home. Didn't you go to school today?"

Ami's heart sunk through the floor. However, she knew better than to try to lie her way out of it.

"No, Mother, I didn't," Ami replied, her eyes downcast. "Usagi still needed me."

"I see. How's she doing?"

"She seems to be over the worst of it. I think she'll be fine now."

"That's good to hear. So how does it feel to help someone who's ailing?"

Ami blushed. "Draining. But it's - - also very gratifying. Is that how you feel when you do it?"

"Yes," her mother smiled. "Well, given the circumstances, I don't think missing a day of school will do anyone any harm." Ami's smile widened. "Dinner's just about ready. Are you hungry?"

"I'm always hungry when you cook, Mother," grinned Ami. Her mother draped her arm over Ami's shoulder and gently pulled the girl to her. Ami's arm snaked around her mother's waist and they walked into the kitchen together.

THE END