Chibiusa looked up at the house where Kousagi lived. She tried to think of a good excuse of why a complete stranger wanted to see her to give to her foster mother but her mind was a clean slate.
⌠How long are we going to wait?■ Usagi asked finally.
⌠Patience is not one of your better qualities, is it?■ Little Rei asked with a smirk.
⌠No, sadly, it▓s not,■ Older Rei responded with a low sigh.
⌠Let▓s go!■ The four younger girls chorused as they moved toward the front. They fought over who should knock as Usagi reached between them and knocked for them.
The entire cast was there, even Luna and Artemis though they opted for the back to protect their feet.
⌠Yes?■ Kousagi▓s foster mother opened the door. ⌠Can I help you?■ She looked a touch apprehensively; after all, there was a big group in front of her house and only one of her.
⌠May we see Kousagi?■ Chibiusa asked brightly.
⌠Umm... may I ask who you are?■ She asked nervously.
⌠We▓re school chums!■ Mina said brightly. ⌠We wanted to talk to her about some homework. We were supposed to meet at the Crown Parlor but she didn▓t show!■
⌠Oh, well, let me get her.■
⌠That was smooth,■ Mako smirked.
⌠Yea, I was thinking about it for a long time!■ Mina beamed.
⌠Takes you that long to come up with a plan?■ Ami smirked. Mina glared at her friend. ⌠Hey, I call them as I see them!■
⌠Yes...■ Kousagi peeked out and paled, seeing so many people in front of her house. ⌠I▓m... busy.■
⌠Kousagi! We have to talk!■ Mina pressed forward insistently. ⌠Please!■
The four girls pressed into the screen door, begging for her to come out. Kousagi was staring over them, right in Chibiusa▓s direction. She reached out slowly, hesitantly, opening it as she stepped out.
The girls parted as she neared to Chibiusa who blinked at her wide-eyed. She felt a sense of deja vu, Chibiusa did, and she realized there was something about this girl that was important to her.
It was an instinct, nothing more. She wondered if ever Usagi felt like this, seeing something she wouldn▓t have seen until that time came but it was a sudden change in plans.
⌠Kousagi..■ Chibiusa tried the word around her mouth, her lips moving slowly.
Kousagi was quiet as her finger reached out, her eyes welling with tears. ⌠I completely forgot everyone,■ Kousagi whispered thickly. ⌠It was an accident.. I just wanted to find Chaos...■
⌠What?■ Chibiusa muttered, confusing blossoming.
⌠Chaos! I was told to.. told to..■ She grasped her head tightly, her tears spilling. ⌠I can▓t remember it! That white-haired lady and then I was ready, I thought I was ready but this, this isn▓t the real me, is it?■
Chibiusa let out her breath. ⌠You are who you are, who you believe in.■
⌠I always believed in you..■ Kousagi▓s whisper startled even her. ⌠I.. I want to go home now. I can▓t believe I...■
It was a sudden shock of electricity in the air before the blackness from their shadows threw up into the air, grasping all of them down into an eternal abyss.
⌠Finally!■ Phobetor smirked. ⌠Our plan is finally succeeding, thanks to me, by the way,■ he hissed to Icelus.
⌠I thought Icelus came up with this,■ Phantasos said weakly.
⌠Shut up!■ Phobetor▓ face tinted red. ⌠We are the Oneiroi, here for the energy source!■
⌠What energy source?■ Ami asked confused, her light blue blinking with a frown across her looks.
⌠One of you suckers has what it takes to revive our brother! Who dies today?■ Phobetor howled.
⌠You can▓t just kill us!■ Minako cried out.
⌠Everyone!■ Usagi shouted to her team.
⌠Silver Moon Crystal Power, Make Up!■
⌠Mercury Crystal Power, Make Up!■
⌠Mars Crystal Power, Make Up!■
⌠Jupiter Crystal Power, Make Up!■
⌠Venus Crystal Power, Make Up!■
⌠Pluto Crystal Power, Make Up!■
⌠Uranus Crystal Power, Make Up!■
⌠Neptune Crystal Power, Make Up!■
⌠We are the Sailor Senshi and in the name of the Moon, we▓ll punish you!■ They shouted in unison.
⌠Wow.. I hope we get that good together,■ Ami said finally.
⌠Me too, I wanna talk in unison with everyone,■ Rei said sarcastically.
Kousagi was holding her pendant, wondering if she should transform.
⌠Don▓t worry,■ Chibiusa said to her gently. ⌠They▓re the best!■
⌠We just need one of you!■ Phobetor began.
⌠Not a chance! Mars Flame Sniper!■ Eternal Sailor Mars shouted.
⌠Venus Love and Beauty Shock!■ Eternal Sailor Venus added, the two attacks combining. It sent Phobetor to the back, howling in rage.
He staggered and spread his hands outward. ⌠ONEIROI! I summon you!■
Beasts, monstrous creatures rose from the cast shadows and lunged at them.
⌠Space Turbulence!■ Eternal Sailor Uranus attacked those closest to her.
⌠Icelus! Which one is it?■
⌠I can▓t focus! There▓s too many!■ He held his head in apparent pain. ⌠Too much energy..■ he fell on his knees.
⌠Brother!■ Phantasos turned and watched the senshi, skimming them wildly. ⌠One of them.. one of them has just enough... just enough to wake up our brother!■
His gaze landed on Chibiusa and he formed a long sword in his slender fingers. ⌠Forgive us but we must do what we swore!■
He lunged, faster than even his brothers could fathom.
⌠Chibiusa!■ Voices bombarded the dark area as the sword swung forward in slow motion.
There was a glint as the sword swung in a mist, delving into the body to thrust out a lilac crystal, blossoming into a beautiful lotus flower.
Kousagi stood in front of Chibiusa, her eyes blanked out. A single ⌠oh..■ came from her lax lips.
⌠No...■ The four girls breathed.
⌠You bastard!■ Rei lunged. ⌠Give it back! Give it back!■ She screamed. The others jumped with her and he fell backwards, the flower fleeing from his fingers to shatter on the floor.
There was an absolute silence before the ground began to vibrate in lilac hued energy. Each throb was a heartbeat as the men turned toward the darkest area.
⌠Brother!■ The three cried out in relief.
A cloaked figure came out slowly, his hands pulling back the black cover to reveal stunning white hair cast around his face, with nearly pale blue eyes. He moved almost like a zombie, his eyes dead.
⌠Brother..■ Icelus▓s smile faded. ⌠Brother... what is..■
⌠What▓s wrong?■ Phantasos cried out. ⌠That▓s not him!■
⌠No.. we weren▓t supposed to, were we?■ Icelus whispered, turning to see the fallen girl. ⌠We... we▓re murderers.. we tried to just save him but now.. what is there to save!■
Phobetor said to Icelus. ⌠Appear to him! Maybe he▓s still sleeping!■
⌠He wasn▓t sleeping!■ Icelus shouted angrily.
⌠Kousagi... Kousagi!■ The girls and Lune were around the lifeless girl. ⌠We can▓t go back.. .without you,■ Mako▓s head fell forward.
⌠We failed.. we should▓ve just kidnapped her and explained later!■ Mina howled.
Their pain reflected upon their gaze, their bodies as Morpheus turned slowly toward them, something glittering his eyes before it dulled out.
⌠We have to destroy the flowers,■ Phobetor was desperately grasping at straws, begging with Icelus to join him in doing so.
⌠I thought... I don▓t understand. Our world was blackening, we needed a way to survive. Why didn▓t I offer instead!■ Icelus▓s eyes closed painfully. ⌠We▓ve been so stupid, so foolish, hurting others for our own pain.. We should▓ve just let him go..■
⌠Brothers!■ Came Phantasos▓s voice in the cavern. The men followed as the senshi were huddling around Kousagi. Chibiusa▓s hand was on her breast, desperate for a heartbeat but there was nothing.
▒If you cared..▓ the voice was quiet, soft as it echoed in the room. ▒Please.. kill me..▓
They turned as Morpheus▓s eyes glittered before dulling.
⌠Is he... talking to us?■ Sailor Saturn asked, confused.
▒I am the one.. who can create dreams.. but I must be asleep for eternity... in each life, I will sleep by my twenty-first birthday.▓
⌠I don▓t understand... they said something about their world..■ Sailor Mercury began.
▒I am tied... just like you, to my star. I am my star...I have been ill for a long time and I need to sleep.. please... let me sleep for eternity..▓
His eyes closed slowly in a careful blink. ▒I can create her dreams...her essence by this...▓
⌠Sacrifice.. this is what you▓ve been doing all this time?■ Icelus▓s voice was thick, his brothers behind him. ⌠Once you die.. our world will be saved? You▓re sacrificing your own powers, your own self just to save it all? Even this.. human?■
▒I must... I made a promise...▓
⌠To who!?■ Phobetor shouted angrily. ⌠What about us?■
▒Please.. if you loved me.. if you valued my life and all others, you would help me..▓ his voice was getting tired. ▒If I don▓t sleep soon, she will no longer be near enough to save..▓
⌠I won▓t have you saving someone!■ Phobetor screamed. ⌠You▓ve always helped people! How come no one can save you!?■
▒I am never alone...in each life,▓ his voice was getting weaker. ▒I was always with those I loved.. that I knew that they could be strong.. let me go... please... just let me die..▓
Phobetor opened his mouth but Phantasos▓s spoke before him. ⌠We▓ll see you still again, right?■
▒I don▓t.. know...▓
⌠But I don▓t want you to go alone..■ Phobetor moved forward, his fingers grasping his brother▓s hands. ⌠So cold.. is this what it▓s like, to be a live spirit in a dead body? Even if we had that energy.. you wouldn▓t wake up, would you?■
Icelus hit the cavern wall, groaning. ⌠We should▓ve known that!■
▒Grief.. will... warp the mind.. but it will.. also reveal the truth..▓
⌠Brothers..■ Phantasos stared at the fallen girl, at Chibiusa, and the girls. ⌠We must set things right.. not just here but those lives we▓ve taken before. Just because we tied him here.■
⌠How the hell did we..■
⌠I▓m sorry,■ Phantasos▓s cried. ⌠Those poppy flowers.. I tied it into him, to fuel him. It was my fault, I bound you here!■
▒Please... set me free.. brothers..▓ Morpheus▓s eyes opened, now completely white with energy as his gaze shot up, his mouth opening to add to the barrels of energy.
⌠What the hell is he doing?■ Sailor Uranus shouted.
⌠He▓s trying to tear the place in half,■ Sailor Pluto said grimly.
⌠We need to leave!■ Sailor Neptune turned but was halted by Eternal Moon and the group huddled around the girl. ⌠Damn it!■
▒Please..▓ The voice was so dim, it was nearly inaudible.
⌠Mars Flame Sniper!■
⌠Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!■
⌠Jupiter Oak Evolution!■
⌠Venus Love and Beauty Shock!■
⌠Space Turbulence!■
⌠Submarine Violin Tide!■
⌠Garnet Orb Cannon!■
⌠Silence Glaive Surprise!■
⌠Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!■
The attacks combined into a powerful orb that struck, full force. Morpheus▓s body ravaged, his clothes torn as the revealed skin melted, molded as he began to change into a nightmarish monster, his pale skin turning to black crystal, his still white eyes blazing as his mouth elongated, his canines biting out viciously.
⌠No..■ Sailor Moon breathed, painfully.
Phantasos turned to his brothers. ⌠Icelus... we have to.. or else how else would we see him again?■
⌠Brother?■ Icelus turned to Phobetor.
⌠We must do.. as he wants,■ Phobetor gulped. ⌠But let▓s not let him go alone..■
They held their arms in unison, their eyes closing. Their bodies decayed, leaving behind three shining stars that flew forward, entering Morpheus▓s now monstrous form.
His body surged to and fro, visibly fighting against the new additions in him before his body turned to dust, now four stars shining brilliantly. They began to dance together, in a woven circle, faster and faster until it was nothing but a blur of hot white energy.
Light began to pull inward, forming into a simple starseed before it shone in bright violet, lingering to a shimmering lilac as it blossomed into a lotus flower. It floated back to Kousagi, melding into her effortlessly.
The group held their breathes as a moment passed then her eyes twitched before slowly opening, her blue eyes hazy before she blinked rapidly, staggering to her feet, helped by the others.
They turned as the world of blackness began to chip away. ⌠Where is this place?■ Sailor Jupiter breathed.
It was a familiar place to Eternal Sailor Moon as she looked around. ⌠They were.. on the Moon?■
It was the ruins of the Moon Kingdom. They were right in front of the Prayer room, the pillar still standing.
⌠I remember..■ Kousagi whispered thickly. She moved toward a fallen pedestal. ⌠The sword was here.. I was upset because I was lost and scared. And then she came... she saw me and told me things.■
⌠Where we▓re from, we▓re going to have trouble. She left to protect us but also to give us a chance. To discover in ourselves, the power of a sailor senshi, to help protect the world she loved.■
⌠Sailor Cosmos entrusted us to help save not our world, but the whole universe..■
And as finally, the memory finally fully surfaced, her skin cracked above her forehead as a golden light flashed, forming into a crescent moon. ⌠We▓re the hope for our future.. we are those who, once all is saved, to rebuild and keep our future protected. Everyone..■
She held out her arms. ⌠Let▓s go home..■
⌠Sailor Pluto?■ The girls turned to her as she nodded and held up her Time Staff.
⌠Wait!■ Chibiusa held out her hand. ⌠Why.. why was it me to change your mind? In the beginning?■ She asked weakly.
The door was swirling behind them, the others disappearing into the corridor.
Kousagi was quiet. ⌠All this time I▓ve been here, I▓ve missed something so much that I could never explain. It wasn▓t a home, it wasn▓t where I was from. It was from who I was from..■
⌠I missed my family.. my sister, my father.. and my mother..■ She looked up, her eyes tearing. ⌠I▓ll see you soon..■
She turned before turning slowly toward Eternal Sailor Moon, her eyes sad. ⌠I know.. that maybe your future will be bleak.. but you▓ve always had hope for our future. I hope it lives forever. I▓ve never got a chance to meet you before, only a hologram.. I was glad to meet you... I know where my light comes from..■
She turned and jumped headlong into the door, as it swung closed.
The area turned to blinding white as the girls disappeared into nothing.
It was morning when all of them woke up, as if from a dream and none of them save for two ever remembered what had happened. After all, this was something not to have existed and to know too much could and would do so much damage.
But Setsuna knew how to keep a secret and Chibiusa returned home, a feeling deep in her heart that sung. She knew that she would have what she always wanted, to be just the woman she idolized, a family and love all of her own.
The girls landed simultaneously, walking forward. Kousagi looked around, the Earth to the side, shining brilliantly.
⌠I was glad to go there.. I always wanted to,■ Kousagi grinned at her friends. ⌠I can▓t believe I forgot everything..■
⌠Kousa-chan! Kousa-chan!■ A familiar voice was heard shouted. She turned and saw her sister, only two years younger, her golden hair falling behind her. ⌠Tendouko!■ She screamed, a feeling in infinite happiness that erupted upon her fallen sight.
It grew still, upon seeing her parents. Mirai Queen Serenity and King Helios stood still for a moment, their eyes wide with disbelief and that same wild happiness.
⌠Momma, Papa!■ She shouted, taking a run. ⌠Oh god.. I never realized how much I▓d miss you!■
She wasn▓t the only one to run. Mirai Queen Serenity had begun but Kousagi leapt and the four family members crashed together.
⌠Oh.. it▓s so nice to be home again..■
⌠Don▓t ever, ever leave us again!■
⌠Tell me what happened! I wanna know!■
⌠My child, where have you been!?■
⌠I▓ve been looking for home, even when I couldn▓t remember!■ Kousagi laughed. ⌠Oh, it▓s so wonderful, this feeling. I won▓t ever do something that stupid again!■
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A wind brought across the plains of the Prayer room, a set of footprints leading toward it as a lone woman stood in front. She held her hands together before she turned slowly.
▒I nearly gave up against Chaos and could▓ve rewritten history..▓ Sailor Cosmos thought. ▒But that decision has always been out of my hands. What matters now is our future. I hope that all of those I▓ve found will be strong enough to hold on until I return..▓
