Episode 2
Early in the morning, Luna was forced awake as she saw her charge stirring in her sleep. Usagi turned be and forth, mumbling some things that Luna couldn't make out. "No," the girl whined, "The Silver Crystal…light…I'm still Sailor Moon…" Usagi woke up, out of breath.
"Usagi, what's wrong?" Luna asked.
"The Silver Crystal. I had a dream it lost its light and I couldn't become Sailor Moon."
"Well, it was just a dream. I don't it's anything to worry about," Luna said, while Usagi reached for her broach. She found the broach and opened it, hoping that her fears could be put to rest.
"It wasn't a dream Luna," Usagi said, dejectedly. Luna looked at the crystal and saw that the crystal did not radiate the same light it had before. "Luna, if I can't become Sailor Moon, does that mean that I can't be a Senshi anymore?"
Luna smiled, "Don't worry, I'm sure everything will be alright".
Usagi still did not feel any better. She continued looking at the crystal. If she couldn't become Sailor Moon, then she wouldn't be able to help her friends fight this new enemy. Then again, thinking about the last battle she thought of how useless she was when she was Sailor Moon. She was powerless to stop the Daimon from hurting Rei, and Rei could've died if they weren't saved by the unknown duo. Now she felt even more worthless.
Luna knew that her words weren't reaching Usagi. The feline had an idea.
"Say, why don't you talk with Mamoru."
Usagi looked at Luna. The cat felt relieved seeing the bright glimmer in Usagi's eyes whenever she thought of Mamoru. "I'm sure that he will tell you that there is nothing to be concerned of".
Usagi felt a little better thinking of seeing Mamoru today. He usually made her feel better when she felt down. She got up to get dress to meet him.
Usagi sat on a bench, finishing telling Mamoru about her dream. "Mamo-chan, I don't know what will happen if I can't be Sailor Moon anymore. There's this new enemy, and when they attack…I can't just stand back and watch my friends fight battles".
Mamoru hated seeing his girlfriend depress. A sad face just did not look right on Usagi. He suddenly had an idea how he could cheer her up.
"C'mon Usako," he said, standing up, offering his hand, "I'd like to show you something".
She took his hand and let him guide her. They went down a block and went down an ally where they both went through a hole in a outer wall of a condemned house. "Mamo-chan, why are we here?" Usagi asked, "What do you have to show me?"
"You'll see," he said reassuringly. They stopped outside the building.
"Now Usako, close your eyes"
Usagi closed her eyes, wondering what Mamoru could be planning. She felt a little tinkle on her nose. She opened her eyes and was face to face with a cute little brown kitten, presented to her by her boyfriend. She grabbed the kitty and cuddled and tickled it. "Aww, she is so cute," Usagi said, "Thanks Mamo-chan. So this is what you wanted to show me?"
Mamoru smiled, "Yep. Many stray cats make their home here".
The little kitten escaped her grasp and the couple chased it into the house. There they found a little girl feeding the cats.
"Hey," Usagi said cheerfully, "I see you enjoy taking care of these cute kitties". The girl smiled and nodded.
"Pets aren't allowed in my building, so I come here every day to spend time with them". The girl frowned, "Sadly, this building will be torn down and these cats will be homeless. I just wish I could help them".
"You are very kind," Usagi said.
"Yes, and a beautiful heart", a hidden observer from upstairs whispered.
She summoned a daimon egg into her hand. "There's your target," she whispered to it looking at the girl, "Find your form and take her heart." The egg flew out of her hand and the girl disappeared before she was noticed.
Usagi gathered the girls at Rei's temple and told the girls about her day and how she will help the cats. "OK, so I have a plan," she said in her jolly tone, "So I think that we can all give them homes. Each of us can adopt four of them".
Usagi's friends gave her a doubtful look. Each of them gave an excuse as to why they couldn't adopt a cat.
Usagi looked down in disappointment, "I just want them to have a good home. I have to help them somehow".
The girls were surprised how hard Usagi was taking their answers. Ami spoke up, "We could find people who might take care of them".
"Alright, we can each get some food for the cats and we can meet up at the mansion," Usagi said with new found energy. Artemis whispered to Luna, "What's going on with Usagi"
"She just being whimsical."
The Senshi arrived later that day and played with the cats. "A little girl was here earlier today to feed the cats. I guess she went home".
"Aww," Rei said to the kitten in her hands, "They are cute. I wish I could take one home".
"Why take one when you could have them all," Usagi said.
"Now Usagi," Makoto said, "This isn't a bargain at the supermarket".
"I guess you're right," Usagi accepted.
The cats suddenly panicked and ran into the house. The girls chased after the cats and saw them attack a humanoid cat-like Daimon. The Daimon easily swiped them away easily and started the process of removing the pure heart crystal of the little girl from earlier.
Usagi looked at the girl that she needed to save. Looking at her broach, she prayed that it would work. Raising the broach, she shouted, "Moon Crystal Power Make-Up!" The silver crystal failed to shine, preventing Usagi from transforming. She collapsed in defeat, not knowing why she would expect anything different.
The other Senshi transformed and sent attacks at the Daimon. The Daimon easily deflected the attacks and whipped the Senshi and Usagi, preventing them from interfering as she continued the extraction. The pure heart finally was extracted, and the Daimon took it. "Excellent work," said a mysterious girl in the shadows. The girl had blue hair tied in a single odango tying off a braid on her right and wore a blue and black dress. "Now let me see it."
"Yes Mistress Cyprine."
The Daimon was approaching her, until two bright blasts hit the Daimon, shattering it into puzzle pieces.
"What," Cyprine shouted and looked to the source of the blasts at two figures. They jumped from the window ledge, to the crystal heart. "Get away from that. The talisman is mine" she shouted.
"I'm afraid you failed," one of them said moving the pure heart back into the girl, "That was not a talisman. I guess your skills aren't as reliable as we thought."
The witch's anger grew. Summoning a staff, she fired and energy blast at the duo. When the smoke cleared, the duo were nowhere to be seen. She screeched in anger, and noticed the Daimon begin to reform. "Well," she said looking at the Senshi, "It looks like your companions fled. I guess my Daimon will just have to settle for playing with you."
By the time the Daimon reformed, the girl vanished. The Daimon began throwing the Senshi around the room mercilessly. She used her tail and started choking Usagi. The tail fell apart into pieces and Usagi saw the rose that broke the tail. She looked up and saw Tuxedo Mask. "Usako, you have to run", he begged, jumping in front of her. He struggled fighting it off with his cane, and the Daimon was able to use its claws to tear through his arms.
"Run," he ordered her.
"No I can't leave you"
"Please, you must leave."
"I can't. I want to protect everyone. I want to protect you Mamo-chan"
He looked at her as she locked her hands in his. They closed their eyes as they started feeling energy building up, moving to their interlocking hands. As the Daimon was about to strike, the energy was released, pushing it away. In front of the couple was a heart shaped staff that formed.
"Our power form…," Usagi began.
"The legendary Spiral Moon Heart Rod," Mamoru finished
Usagi and Mamoru saw her compact and the crystal started glowing brightly. The compact became heart shaped and gave the crystal a pink appearance. They both grabbed the newly formed Spiral Moon Heart Rod. They stared into each other's eyes lovingly until they heard the Daimon screaming to them, breaking their gaze.
With new found confidence, Usagi raised the new compact, shouting, "Moon Cosmic Power, Make-up". The crystal glowed, and Usagi was once more Sailor Moon. The Daimon charged at Sailor Moon, and she raised the Spiral Moon Heart Rod at it and shouted, "Moon Spiral Heart Attack!"
The blast went straight at the Daimon, and it screamed in anguish, destroying it, leaving behind a puzzle of a cat and a broken Daimon egg.
She cheered in joy as Tuxedo Mask and the Senshi praised her for her work.
They waited for the girl to regain conscious as they continued their discussion about the cats. Finally, they agreed to give the cats to the "Animal Kingdom" shelter where that would take care of them until they were adopted.
By the end of the day, Mamoru walked Usagi back to her home. They thought about the battle and how they were able to destroy the Daimon. "I knew you would find a way, Usako. You always do".
"I could not do it without you, Mamo-chan".
"I only gave you some confidence. You're the one with true power to cause miracles. Half the time, I'm a burden."
Usagi stopped in her tracks, still holding Mamoru's hand. "Now listen here Mamoru Chiba. I have never seen you as a burden. In fact, you give me the power to continue fighting. So put that awful thought out of your mind".
Mamoru stared at her, with a mix of surprise and admiration. He smiled and gave her a quick kiss. "You're right. As long as we stick together, nothing will defeat us". She smiled and they continued walking, though a little slower now.
