Mamoru stood in the fading light as he stood alone in the cold living room. He had returned to the house hoping against hope that Usagi had returned there, but it had proved just as foolish a thought as he had suspected. She was no where to be found. Mamoru sat down on the couch and sighed as he placed his face in his hands as he slouched forward.
"Usagi..." He whispered in fear. "Baka!" He shouted letting his hands fall. "Why didn't you tell me?" He asked, but his fear and worry pushed his anger to the side in an instant.
"Don't come near me!" Usagi had been genuinely afraid for their safety. Her eyes had revealed everything, and it scared Mamoru more than anything else.
"Baka!" He said again rubbing his forehead with his hand. "Baka..." His hands fell to his knees and then he stood up tall determined to continue his search. He stepped past the coffee table but then paused as he felt a coldness grow around him and an eerie feeling crawled up his back as if he were being watched. He turned his head slightly towards the couch and watched it in the corner of his eye. After a moment of nothing happening he turned away again and headed towards the door. He hesitated again as he stood in the doorway and turned to examine the room again cautiously. His chin lifted higher and his eyes hardened as he stood tall and regally. "Why are you here?" He demanded.
"You should know why, Master Endymion." A voice answered and Mamoru turned his attention to the right where a tall, dark figure now stood with his black and red cape flapped back behind his shoulder.
"The Silver Crystal has returned, its only natural we would as well." Another man in burgundy said entering the room at the other side of Mamoru and Mamoru glanced back and forth between the two Shitennou.
"And what do you plan on doing about it?" Mamoru demanded already feeling the tension growing between them. Kunzite stepped deeper into the room, but Nephrite remained towards the outside; not seeming completely convinced of his position on the matter.
"The Silver Crystal cannot remain on this planet." Kunzite answered strongly. "Its power only leads to destruction. Master, you of all people know this. That power will only lead to the planet's death once more. We cannot let that happen again."
"You will not touch Usagi." Mamoru ordered plainly closing his eyes.
"The Silver Crystal-" Mamoru lifted his hand to stop Kunzite's speech, and the Shitennou lowered his chin as a familiar gleam entered his eyes. The tension between the two men had never fully soothed over, but a respectful understanding had been made between the two of them.
"The Silver Crystal can be controlled. Usagi has proved that before." Mamoru countered. "It only leads to destruction if the wielder desires it. And last time it was only a danger because Metalia had found a way to connect herself to its power."
"In the wrong hands it could bring about the end of everything!" Kunzite said with his voice rising and he took a half step forward towards Mamoru.
"Or save it!" Mamoru countered stepping forward as well with as much strength.
"You should listen to Master Endymion." The three men turned towards the kitchen where Kunzite had first entered where Zoicite stood, and behind him to his right stood the much younger Jadeite. "The Moon Princess is now our mistress just as much as Endymion is our master." Zoicite argued.
"My only allegiance is to The Earth first, and then to Master Endymion." Kunzite said, and then he turned his gaze back to Mamoru. "The Princess destroyed this planet with the power of The Silver Crystal. She has never fully mastered it." Kunzite reminded them. "And even if she can learn to control it, we never did discover how Metalia linked herself to its power. Someone else could do the same thing if given the chance." Kunzite turned to face each of the other Shitennou slowly as he spoke, and then back towards Mamoru.
"I will help her." Mamoru told them. "She can control it with help. I just have to find her."
"And what happens when her emotions get the best of her or the power becomes too much?" Kunzite demanded calmly, and then he turned his face away from Mamoru and towards the silently fidgeting Nephrite. "Will we just sit back and let her destroy everything around us?" Kunzite turned his head to face Mamoru with a hard glare. "You would throw away the success you achieved in stopping Metalia? For her?"
"Usagi saved this world!" Mamoru said almost shouting. "Don't forget it..." The two men remained staring each other down for a moment. "I will not let The Earth be destroyed, and neither will Usagi." He said more calmly, and he kept his gaze eye to eye with Kunzite. There was a long pause before Kunzite turned away from Mamoru and began to walk towards Nephrite.
"Unfortunately, Master, I cannot take that chance. Even for you."
"Kunzite!" Zoicite said harshly stepping forward. Mamoru lifted his hand upwards again to halt Zoicite, but he kept his gaze firmly on Kunzite.
"You will not touch Usagi!" Mamoru ordered, but Kunzite shook his head as he turned his body again towards the center of the room as he stood beside Nephrite. Nephrite glanced nervously at Kunzite and Mamoru, but then he stepped closer towards Kunzite. Mamoru raced towards them, but Kunzite had already lifted his cape and with a swirl he and Nephrite disappeared with a red mist. Mamoru's fist curled angrily, but he found himself unable to completely blame them for thinking that way. He turned to the two remaining Shitennou. "We have to find her first!" Mamoru declared.
"We will. We are already tracking her power signature." Zoicite promised stepping into the room, but Jadeite hung back uncertainly. "But, Master..." Zoicite paused for a moment. "Even if we can protect her from Kunzite and Nephrite we might not be able to protect her from herself." Zoicite reasoned. "If she cannot control the power then she may very well die... and everything else with it."
...
The warm steam rose up all around her as Chibiusa remained with her mouth and nose submerged in the almost scolding hot water. She tilted her head a bit upwards in order to give her nose access to the thick air around her. She breathed in deeply as she remained thinking with her eyes closed. "I'd do anything... anything at all." She opened her eyes as she breathed out and her breath created ripples in the thin layer of white, soapy film that had formed across the top of the water. After a moment she glanced upwards towards the edge of the tub where the small, golden key lay.
"Small Lady, are you willing to travel through time... to save your mother?" Chibiusa leaned forward reaching up to grab hold of it and sat up in the water as she continued to observe it in the palm of her hand. The rushing emotions and adrenaline from the day before had finally settled down and left her empty and tired. Her mind was still having difficulty making much sense of Setsuna's words in the light of day. They hadn't made any sense the night before; leaving her confused and uncertain as Setsuna had left and Mamoru had returned, and her heart had been in total chaos.
She flipped the key over to view the other side, but the key still appeared small and ordinary. Setsuna had held the key out to her and Chibiusa had felt time seemingly stop all around her as she had watched the key glimmer in the growing moonlight filling the dark hospital room. "Will you do the impossible for her and everyone else you love?" Chibiusa had been frightened, but her hand had risen and grasped the small key without another thought. She would! Even if she didn't understand how... She would do it! Chibiusa coiled her fingers around the wet key and she pulled it closer to her chest as she lifted her head upwards and pulled herself up into a standing position. She kicked the plug up with her toes and the hot water began to swirl around her feet. Opening her fingers enough to stare at the key once more, Setsuna's explanation played through her mind. "Your mother's life is being threatened, but not at this time. But in the past..." Chibiusa stepped out of the tub and set the key down blindly while reaching for a towel. Her eyes drifted back towards the key again as she wrung her black hair out, and steam rose up all around her covering the outside of the mirror's glass. It was all too unbelievable, but she had no other choice then to believe it. Everything depended on her believing it. That was what Setsuna had said and it petrified Chibiusa. She didn't... couldn't believe it. She lowered the towel again and hugged it close as she tilted her head to the side watching the seemingly ordinary key with a glazed over expression.
"Then why is she collapsing now? This isn't making sense!" Setsuna had smiled softly, but her eyes had retained her sorrowful expression deep within them.
"The past and present are linked at this very instant. It all depends on what you decide." Setsuna had leaned forward giving the sense that she begging something of Chibiusa, and she really had been. "It's all up to you."
"Me?" Chibiusa asked in a whisper as she remained standing in the bathroom, but also sitting in the hospital room again as she still found the idea frightening. "Why me?" Chibiusa let the towel fall onto the ground and she grabbed hold of the key once more for the millionth time since the night before as she pondered the mystery. "How am I suppose to save her? What can I do?"
"Your mother is dying in the past and the effects are rippling into this future because of the link and if something is not done to alter the course of history, that history will result in this future's undoing." Chibiusa shook her head again in disbelief and she held the key between her two hands.
"Time travel?" She asked in a hushed voice for a millionth time as her mind tried to believe it. She could make out her face's shadow in the gold of the key and she continued to stare uncertainly at it. A knock came from the bathroom door and Chibiusa jumped in surprise. Chibiusa's head jerked towards the expectantly and she tightened her grip on the key.
"Small Lady-sama, Mama wants to know if you would like her to make you anything to drink before bed." Diana spoke innocently from behind the door. Chibiusa's shoulders slacked as she exhaled and she began to grow cold with her wet hair. Another knock came on the door after a half minute. "Small Lady-sama?" Diana asked in concern, and Chibiusa smiled weakly and lifted her head.
"I'm alright." Chibiusa lied. "But thank you." There was silence from the doorway and Chibiusa began to get dress as she assumed the girl had left.
"Are you sure?" Diana inquired after almost a minute. "A good cup of warm milk and a bit of honey always makes me feel..." Diana didn't finish her statement but Chibiusa could fill in the blanks. It always made her feel better. Chibiusa pulled her head through her nightshirt and glanced back towards the door.
"It's okay, Diana. I'm okay right now. Thank you." Chibiusa said. Chibiusa heard Diana shift uncomfortably and Chibiusa walked over to the door and opened it. Diana jumped in surprise and her wide eyes stared up at Chibiusa as the teenager offered the six-year-old a warm, but forced, tired smile. The morning sunlight shone through the flimsy curtains, and Diana stood in her school uniform, and her briefcase in hand; a red ribbon and bell wrapped around her neck. "I just need some sleep." Chibiusa admitted. She had slept very little the night before at the hospital, and Mamoru had ordered Luna to take her home to get some rest with the promise that if anything were to develop Chibiusa would be the first to know. Chibiusa had only agreed because she had needed more space and privacy to maul over the Time Key's mystery. Diana took a step out of Chibiusa's way as the teenager walked past and sat on the guest bed as she began to brush her wet hair. Diana looked to the clock on the wall and she leaned forward onto the tips of her toes and then fell back onto her heels as she bit her lip uncertain of what to do. It was obvious she didn't want to leave. Chibiusa lowered the brush to her knees as she watched the girl curiously. "Diana, you really should be getting to school. You'll be late." Diana's fingers fiddled with her case's handle and then nodded forcefully, but she made no move to the doorway. Chibiusa smiled again this time involuntarily. "I'll be alright, Diana." Chibiusa promised. Chibiusa threw back the covers of the bed and placed the brush on the night stand as she settled down into the bed hoping it would encourage the girl to get going. Diana nodded again and then she made her way towards the door. She glanced back and Chibiusa waived her hand at Diana as if to push her out the door. "Go on." Diana disappeared out the door and Chibiusa sat back against the headboard making sure no she would not come back. She lifted her clenched hand out in front of her and she opened her fingers to reveal the heart-shaped gold top of the key. This little key had the power to take her back into the past? She slid downward and rested her head against the pillow with her wet hair trying to cling to her cheeks.
"Usagi will die and so will everyone else that you hold dear. The entire planet will fall into silence as the last fifteen years fall away and it would be as if it had never happened." Chibiusa's fingers curled around tightly around the key and the edges of the key dug into her skin painfully as she pressed her eyes closed and rested her hands against her forehead. "It is up to you to decide: to go back to the past, or to leave it to me. Just know... you are your mother's best chance."
"Okay, say that I believe in the time travel part..." Chibiusa thought. "What can I do? How can I..." She let out an exasperated breath as she gave up and turned over onto her side with her hands falling carelessly to the side. Her eyes opened and her fingers parted slightly to reveal the glint of gold. She sighed and placed the key on the night stand and turned over into the middle of the bed. Her eyes closed again as her muscles relaxed and she fought to find sleep. "When I wake up... I'll decide then... Its been too long of a night, and I'm so, so tired..." Yet that had been what she had thought last night: that she would decide in the morning. She let out another deep breath and began to find success in letting her mind slip into sleep. Chibiusa didn't know how to respond to her disbelief. Not really disbelief in what Setsuna had said, but the fact that she was the one who was suppose to stop it. She had never done anything important before. How was she the one to have an answer to this crisis? Chibiusa's eyes opened partway for a final time as she remained just as dazed and confused as she had been the entire night before in the hospital room. "Mama..." She closed her eyes tightly. "What am I suppose to do?"
...
Usagi's eyes opened and she tilted her head back as she sat against the tree in the darkness. Her chest still burned with the Silver Crystal's power but it had died down considerably. Her hand rose and she rubbed against it as if the contact would make the pain fade away and the power vanish. She was just too tired and she was tempted to lay down there in the grass and sleep there for the night. In the morning, she decided, she would contact the others, but for the night she just needed to calm down and make sure the power wasn't too much for her to control. It pulsed through her veins at an astonishing speed and whether or not she would be able to do the impossible by morning she did not know, but she had her doubts and fears.
"Mamoru..." Usagi whispered. She should have told them, and she knew it. Now there was no taking it back. She had wanted to spare them pain and worry and it had only backfired to cause them even more grief. She hadn't even stayed to get their help, but she knew she had done the right thing at the time. The amount of power unlocking in her was frightening and she had no explanation for it.
"Good evening, Princess." Usagi's eyes opened with a sharp gasp and she looked ahead of her to see two figures standing in the shadows, but she recognized them instantly. "It wasn't too difficult to find you."
"Kunzite, Nephrite." She said in surprise. Her muscles tensed in fear. "Is Mamoru with you?" She asked. Kunzite unsheathed his sword and the blade glimmered in the moonlight above them that was filtering through the trees. Usagi shrunk back in shock, and she used the trunk of the tree to help her to her feet. "What are you doing?" She asked fearfully.
"The Silver Crystal must not remain on this planet." Nephrite spoke for the two of them, and Usagi's eyes opened wider in fear.
"As someone who has fought to protect this planet, you must understand. History cannot be repeated again, and as long as The Silver Crystal exists there is always that chance." Kunzite informed her. Usagi took a step back away from the tree, and Kunzite's eyes followed her with a serious gleam as Nephrite followed his lead and unsheathed his sword.
Minako sat in the back of her car with her phone glued to her ear as she fought bitterly with her manager at the other end, and Ami turned the car as they continued to scan the area around them for any signs of Usagi. Night had fallen upon the city and they were no where closer to finding their friend.
"I'm not leaving until this personal crisis is over. Send them my apologies, but at this rate there is no chance I will be able to make it to the set." Minako spoke, and Artemis lifted his head to view her with a concerned expression. Minako had been anticipating this filming for months, and had struggled to get the part as her manager had promised it would give her the experience she needed to push her career forward in a way she hadn't thought possible with her recent international success.
"Minako-chan, if you push it you may not be able to keep the contract." Her manager tried at the other end of the phone. Minako's eyes were hard and Ami risked a glance over to her.
"This is more important then anything else." Minako said calmly. "Send my apologies." Minako repeated. "I have made my decision, and nothing could drag me away from Japan at this moment."
"Minako-chan, what's happened?" Her manager asked. Minako turned her head to view the out the window.
"I'm not sure, but its a crisis I cannot leave." Minako said. "Something from my past..." There was silence on the other end, and Ami quickly turned her attention away from Minako timidly as the young woman shifted forward as she peered out the front window. Ami could no longer make out the manager's words as they were no longer shouts and Minako nodded quickly. "Arigato." She said lowering the phone from her ear and flipping it shut. "Well that's taken care of for now." She informed them.
"Minako, do you think we'll be able to find her?" Artemis asked in concern. Minako nodded.
"Mm." She answered. "We have to."
"If only there was some way to track her power signature. With The Silver Crystal it should be easy, but only if we had the equipment." Ami stated. "Perhaps Rei-chan and Mako-chan had more success, or Luna." Minako bit her lip. She doubted it.
"They would have contacted us." Artemis spoke Minako's doubts aloud. Ami nodded slowly. She had only been thinking hopefully though she had known it not to be true. Ami stopped the car and their eyes scanned the nearby park, but it was of no use. They had no idea as to where to look, and they had no special abilities to assist them. All they had to go on was the instruction Luna had given them saying Usagi had been headed out towards the outskirts of the city, but Tokyo and Juban were large area... It would take a miracle or a radiant sign to show them where Usagi had headed.
Usagi raced through the trees away from Kunzite and Nephrite. She spun and rested her back against another tree and peaked back over her shoulder towards the direction she had run, but the two Shitennou were nowhere to be seen.
"Huh?" Usagi turned and rested her hands on the tree trunk as she tried to catch her breath, and a chilling sensation crawled up her back like a warning. She spun around and the glint of metal swooping down upon her caused her to scream as she dropped to the ground out of its path. Nephrite's sword imbedded into the trunk's soft wood and Usagi tried to scamper away from him only to have his boot slam into her chest, and he pinned her against the tree. She tilted her head upwards as she watched him rip the blade out of the wood and looked down at her with an uncertain and almost pitying, regretful even, look in his wild blue eyes.
"There is no other way." Nephrite said out loud and he lifted the sword above his head fully intending to cut her through.
"No!" Usagi shouted closing her eyes waiting for the pain to rip through her, but as she screamed the Silver Crystal's power broke free and a bright light and energy erupted from her chest and the pressure on her chest disappeared as Nephrite found himself thrown violently back onto the ground, and the light intensified while it expanded all around her.
Rei stood with her eyes closed as she breathed in deeply, but she could feel nothing except a foreboding pressure that was creeping up her back. Makoto stood looking up towards the sky a few yards behind her, and then she took a few steps away as she peered out into the park with her hands on her hips. Se had even less of a chance at feeling anything then Rei, but she had to try. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes as a cool breeze blew her ponytail to the side.
"Please!" She begged. "Where is Usagi?!" The trees around her rustled, and her eyes opened as her heart raced more quickly. She could feel nothing,
"Rei-chan! Makoto!" The two women turned around quickly to see Luna racing towards them still in Senshi form.
"Did you find anything?" Makoto asked quickly. Luna shook her head, and Makoto could see tears in the back of the Senshi's eyes, but she was successful in keeping them in check. Rei's eyes closed again and her head tilted back.
"I can't..." Luna admitted. "I just... I'm uncertain how to track her. I can't seem to sense The Silver Crystal's power correctly..." Luna bit her lip and her shoulders arched back.
"Its everywhere..." Rei said. "So strong." Makoto's eyes widened in horror as Luna nodded.
"I can't pinpoint it. The readings are too large for me to figure out with my Moonlight Stick. If I had something, some sort of instrument to narrow it down... I..."
"It's alright Luna." Makoto said leaning down and touching her shoulder. "We'll find you something. Let's go back to The Crown, and we can figure this out." Luna tightened her grip on The Moonlight Stick, and then nodded fiercely, but her head remained downcast.
"But how did this happen?" Rei asked, and the other two turned to face her in confusion. Rei's eyes opened and she meet their gaze. "How did The Silver Crystal return to begin with?" Makoto frowned, and Luna's head lifted and her eyes reflected a pensive look.
"Perhaps..." She hesitated. "Maybe that mystery can be solved rather easily." Makoto turned her frown towards Luna, but she was drawn back to Rei as the woman turned sharply towards the other end of the park and the city limits.
"Rei? Are you alright?" Makoto asked, and Luna stepped forward with her ears perking up as she looked in the same direction with a gasp. "Lu-" Makoto halted as the wind rustled around her and she closed her eyes as she tilted her head in the same direction as Rei and Luna. She could feel it; the whisper of the trees. "Usagi..." Her eyes opened wide and she looked upwards with Rei and Luna as a bright light filled the sky.
"The Silver Crystal!" Luna shouted in fear as she took a half step forward.
"Usagi!" Makoto shouted. Rei's eyes cast downward towards the loudlyhorizon and immediately began to run towards Makoto's car again, and the road.
"We have to follow it to its source!" Rei demand, and Makoto's legs pushed her forward after Rei without a thought for her own safety.
"Usagi!" Makoto's heart whispered in fear. Luna was already a blur of purple and yellow as she ran past them and she was jumping upwards to the top of the streetlamp nearby. She placed her hand over her eyes and peered out into the distance.
"We need to head west!" She shouted down towards them; taking her eyes off of the bright light for a moment. Makoto looked up at her as Rei put her hands on the door of the car. The power filled the sky and was upon them in a matter of seconds. Luna turned back towards the light just as it reached them and she screamed as she lifted her arms protectively over her face. Rei and Makoto shielded their eyes as well with a gasp as Luna began to lose her balance on the top of the pole.
"Luna!" Makoto screamed as she peered up at her tilting figure, and Luna fell backwards off of the pole. Luna collapsed onto the ground after initially landing on her feet. Instantly she was again trying to stand up, but cringed as the pain shot up her legs again, and she fell to her hands and knees again. Luna looked up with gritted teeth as The Silver Crystal's power continue to shake the Tokyo Area apart.
Usagi pressed her hand hard against her chest as she breathed in deeply and tried to subdue her panic. "Silver Crystal! Onegai!" She begged. The power suddenly reduced and Usagi gasped loudly in relief, and a soft glow continued to flicker on her chest. She sank to her knees as she tried to regain her breath, and she rotated her head back and forth as she took in everything around her. A yard or two away Nephrite lay on his back and he moaned as his head tilted to the side, but his eyes remained closed. Usagi pressed her hand against the ground and began to lift herself up, and head turned sharply in surprise as a whizzing sound rushed past her ear and the glint of metal caught her eye while she screamed in shock.
...
Chibiusa's eyes opened with a gasp as her heart skipped a beat and she felt as if she were falling. Her muscles tensed up as her eyes darted around her to assure her she was fine, but her heart continued to race away uncontrollably. "Usagi..." Her fingernails dug into the palm of her hands and she struggled to breath as a warm sensation spread over her chest. "She's in danger!" The thought came clearly into her mind and her eyes darted upwards towards the phone resting beside the guest bed. "No. They would be calling. They promised!" She felt another wave of fear and she sat up in a panic as she breathed heavily as she placed her feet onto the ground and something fell from the bed. Chibiusa paused and stared at the small, grey cat plushy that had she had kicked off of the bed. It lay on its stomach and she bent down to pick it up. She held it out in front of her and stared at its red eyes, and then the small red bell around its neck before pulling it closer and hugging it as she struggled to gain control of herself. "Diana... she must have put it there to comfort me." She thought and she held it more tightly against her chest as she closed her eyes and a small smile attempted to form at the edge of her lips. "She probably was late to school then... doing that." Her eyes opened and she looked at the toy's eyes again and then the small red ribbon. "It kind of looks like her." Chibiusa said with her smile breaking through. Her smile vanished again as she returned to her worried expression. The fear tightened around her heart and so did her muscles. "What am I going to do?" She asked herself out loud. She sighed as she lay the toy down on the bed beside her and her head turned back towards the phone where the golden key lay beside it on the end table; her eyes wide, but uncertain. "I can't just sit here." Chibiusa's fingers curled around the key and she lifted her head as she held the key to her chest. "But what can I do? What kind of threat can I advert... She didn't tell me anything..." Chibiusa tilted her head back as she stared at the ceiling fan that rotated slowly and a gentle breeze came from the window. Chibiusa looked back at the window not remembering it being open before going to sleep. "Linked... time..." Chibiusa whispered turning her attention back to the key. "What does that even mean?" She put her hands out the side and onto the bed as she stared up at the fan. "Does that mean it is happening right now? In this instant?" Chibiusa's eyes widened in horror and her back straightened firmly as fear took her breath away. "Is that where she is in danger?" Chibiusa felt another wave of panic in her heart and this time it was not from any dream, but a clear warning within her. "What am I suppose to do?!" Chibiusa asked in a more panicked whisper as the emotions of the day before flooded her system. "Go into the past?" As if to answer she felt a surge of power and another panicked warning that Usagi was in danger. Chibiusa stood up with the key in hand and her eyes wide in panic as she gasped. "She's in danger!" The key shimmered with light as it reacted to Chibiusa's thoughts and fears. "Mama... I will save you!" She said taking the key in both hands. "Just... How? What am I suppose to do once I get there?"
"Everything must work perfectly." Chibiusa's breathing began to become rapid again. She had wasted so much time deciding, and the warning was growing in strength! "Everything depends on how much you listen to my words right now, and how much of it you are willing to believe it." Chibiusa threw the key onto the bed beside the grey cat toy, and raced to the base of the bed. She grabbed hold of her backpack that she had sat there before her shower and placed it on top of the covers. Once unzipped several changes of clothes lay before her: the clothes Luna had gotten for her from her house that morning. She raced into the bathroom and threw off the night shirt not even caring to pick it up as it fell to the ground and she raced to get her hair up in her casual dangos. There was no more time to waste!
"I will save you!" Chibiusa opened the door of the bathroom and raced to the bed to grab the zipped-up backpack and she slid it onto her back. She glanced down at her bare feet and looking the room over she found her slippers halfway underneath the bed. "They'll have to do..." She couldn't let Luna see her leave, and so she couldn't risk getting her shoes from the doorway. Chibiusa turned to face the bed and her eyes hardened as she forced herself to feel determined, but in truth the fear overshadowed her. "Mama... I will try... I promise... I will!" Chibiusa said and she picked the key up once more. "I will!" She lifted the key upwards in her right hand and her left hand balled into a tight fist as she began to shake. "Time Key..." She said as loudly as she dared. "Take me back! Let me save her! Onegai!" The key let off a soft, red, glow and Chibiusa's eyes widened from determination to simple, pure fear. Her grip tightened as she stood on her tiptoes as the piercing fear and panic returned with the warning. She couldn't wait any longer! A real lady didn't put things off until the morning! "Let me become a real lady!" She said letting her voice grow louder along with the panic. "Let me save Mama!" She shouted closing her eyes and tilting her head downward as the red light shone brightly and spread out to shine in the entire room, and soon it enveloped Chibiusa. "Let me save Usagi!" Luna opened the door to the room and Chibiusa looked over her shoulder and backpack at her with wide eyes.
"Chibiusa-chan!" Luna shouted in a high-pitched voice as she reached out to her. The sight of her hand reaching out to Chibiusa disappeared and Chibiusa's stomach plummeted sickly as her feet found nothing to support her and she was really falling within the red light.
"KYAHHH!" Chibiusa hadn't been prepared for this part, and her fear for Usagi transformed into a more immediate fear for herself and her situation. "I'm going to die!" She brought the key downwards towards her chest and she closed her eyes tightly as she began to spiral out of control as she fell and she continued to scream at the back of her throat as she clenched her teeth together. "Time Key! Please!" She curled up into a small ball as she continued to fall and tucked her feet inward. "Somebody! Save me! Mama! Papa!" A strong gust of wind surged upwards from underneath her and she let out a loud squeal as it jerked her upwards and forced her to pop open like a child on a trampoline. She fell forward as she let out a helpless squeal and she threatened to tumble forward. Her left slipper fell below her and Chibiusa gripped the Time Key determined to not lose it, and a loud explosion ripped through the air as suddenly the red turned to black and the cool air blasted her face as she exited the Time Vortex. "Iiieee!" She held her hands outwards in front of her and as she did so her center of balance shifted and she turned slightly to the side bracing herself for whatever would come next.
Usagi's entire vision was taken up by the hilt of the blade, and she heard a loud grunt to the side of her as Kunzite struggled to pick himself up, and continue his attack. Usagi took a step back and Kunzite lifted another throwing blade. Usagi gasped and dashed through the trees away from the two Shitennou and towards where she had left the bike. Kunzite stood up entirely, but he froze and staggered backwards as a flash of white mist swirled before him brightly and it melted away to reveal Zoictie, Jadeite, and Mamoru behind them; dressed to the nines in his princely attire. Kunzite furrowed his eyebrows and he lunged forward to get through, but both Zoicite and Jadeite lifted their swords out towards his chest. The other man paused, and the three Shitennou remained glaring at each other.
"Where is Usagi?!" Mamoru demanded. Kunzite's eyes flickered involuntarily in the direction Usagi had escaped, and Mamoru followed his gaze before racing in the same direction.
"You're making a mistake!" Kunzite yelled after Mamoru as he ran. "She can't control it!" Mamoru broke through the tree line and raced towards the road where he could see the lights of his scooter flickering to life.
"No! Usagi!" The scooter raced away and Mamoru slowed to a walk and then stopped all together as he stood by the road; helpless. "USAGI!" Mamoru cursed under his breath and his hand went to his forehead and rested in his hair as his mind raced trying to figure out what to do. He turned back towards the forest and as he stepped forward something slammed hard onto the top of his head with force. "Ouch!" His hand returned to his head as he cringed and the object fell onto the ground in front of him carelessly. He frowned as he stared at it in confusion. "A slipper?" He questioned.
*Shhhboom!*
The loud thunder-like explosion erupted above him, and he jerked his head upwards in surprise as he reached for his sword at his side. Yet, before he could succeed someone was crushing down upon him. Mamoru's eyes opened wide in surprise as a pair of hot lips pressed upon his before the person's full weight sent him falling backwards onto the ground and the pain shot up his back. The person let out a shrill squeal after their lips parted and it revealed the pain they were also experiencing from the collision and shocking kiss. The ground stopped Mamoru's fall, but his attacker continued to fly forward off of him, and Mamoru heard a female gasp as she slammed onto the ground as well on her back; the backpack proving to cause more damage then prevent. Mamoru sat up with a grunt as he watched her continue to roll, and after a yard and a half or so she stopped halfway in her roll and then returned to her stomach. Mamoru froze in anticipation as the woman, no, girl, pressed her hands down against the hard earth and loose gravel as she breathed in sharply. Chibiusa's hands screamed in pain as loose rocks pierced into her skin and her entire body ached from the collision and she struggled to get the air back into her lungs after having it completely knocked out of her. She lifted herself up, but after another sharp, pained, gasp she collapsed onto the ground; the pain telling her all she needed to know at that moment; that she was still alive. Her eyes drooped in exhaustion and her shoulders slacked as her arms slid outwards and she began to slip in and out of consciousness.
"Mama... I will..." Her eyes closed completely and let out a soft sigh as everything faded to black.
Usagi collapsed beside the bike as she breathed in deeply, and she shook in both fear and exhaustion. She was sleep deprived, and in shock. The Shitennou were after her? She lifted her head and looked ahead of her towards the rocky area ahead of her. She could hide here for the meantime... until she figured something out. She pushed against the ground with her hands in order to assist herself up. As she walked towards her chosen hiding place her hands wrung together fearfully as her mind raced with a million thoughts per second. She just needed to make it to morning. In the morning she would figure it out. She slumped back down into the rocks and she breathed out as her shoulders slacked forward and her eyes drooped tiredly, but her fears were too much to allow her any real relaxation. The Shitennou were after her, but... She curled up into a tight ball as the fearful thought entered into her...
"Mamoru..." She whispered fearfully. What was he thinking about all of this? He wouldn't think the same as them, would he? Her heart beat raced away and with it she felt the burning power of The Silver Crystal slowly growing inside her again as it started to build up; ready for her next outburst. She lifted her head as fear remained tight in her muscles. If it was still like this in the morning she wouldn't be able to risk returning to the city. She had to figure this out on her own. She closed her eyes tightly as she pressed her hand against her chest as the pain increased for a moment and Usagi cringed as she let out a sharp gasp. "Someone... Help me!" She thought suddenly, but after the pain died she breathed in deeply and opened her eyes. No she had to deal with this herself. Who could there possibly to help her now?
...
"Chibiusa!" Luna ran forward reaching out for the girl, but as her fingers reached the red light it disappeared and Luna fell forward onto her hands and knees. She looked up to see the bedroom back to normal and she breathed out fearfully as her eyes widened with the realization Chibiusa was gone. Her throat constricted as she stared in disbelief. "Chibi...usa?"
...
"Master!" Jadeite, Zoicite, and Kunzite burst through the tree line with swords drawn a few moments later as Mamoru struggled to pick himself up off of the ground. His eyes remained fixed upon the girl's still figure. Zoicite rushed to his side and helped him stand up and Jadeite followed, but was stopped when he noticed the girl on the ground as well.
"Who is that?" Kunzite asked as he began to walk calmly in their direction. Mamoru shook off Zoicite and knelt down beside the girl and began to examine her for any serious injury. He turned her over afterwards and her head fell to the side as she remained unconscious. Mamoru's muscles tensed as he saw her face and his hand moved to her cheek involuntarily.
"This girl..." Mamoru's face remained blank and unreadable as his mind struggled to pinpoint where he had perhaps seen this girl before. There was something about her... Something familiar... He turned her head gently and she let out a soft moan, but her eyes remained firmly closed.
"Master?" Mamoru looked up at the two expectant men, and Kunzite who hung back with that same serious gleam in his eye.
"Master... She cannot control the power of The Silver Crystal." Kunzite said. "You must see that we have to destroy it." Mamoru's eyes narrowed as he glared at Kunzite.
"She can learn to control it." He said sternly. "I know it. She just needs time." Mamoru said as he turned towards the girl and after another brief inspection for serious injury he began to slide his arms underneath her shoulder and forced her into a sitting position. "And without someone pushing her into a panicked state!" Mamoru nearly shouted as he turned his head towards Kunzite with the same fierce glare. Kunzite's features contorted angrily, but he did not speak. The girl in Mamoru's arms stirred and Mamoru turned his attention to her as her rolled back and forth. Mamoru shifted her in his arms in order to get a better grip on her and her head rested on his chest, and he stood up with her. Once she was still again he looked back at Kunzite. "Just leave it to me." He ordered. "Do you trust me enough to just give me time?" He asked. Kunzite turned to the side as he growled uncertainly.
"What happens when she can't do anything to stop her own power?" Kunzite asked. "What will you do then?"
"I will not let it get to that." Mamoru told him. "Just trust me." Mamoru pleaded. "You used to, and I suspect you still do. Why else would you come to my house first versus simply going after Usagi?" Kunzite's hand wrung around the hilt of his sword as he fumed silently. "Give me at least three days." Kunzite remained silently tense for a moment and then he growled again at having given in.
"Two days." Kunzite told him shortly. "I'll stay back two days." He promised. "Two days or until she becomes too unstable. If she breaks, I will surely be there to end it." Kunzite promised turning back to Mamoru. Mamoru's lips pressed together tightly and then he nodded. It was better then nothing.
"I will make sure it does not come to that." Mamoru promised again. Kunzite still appeared angry as he turned back towards the trees.
"I'll go check on Nephrite." He said bitterly, and Mamoru looked down at the teenage girl. Her face seemed a few years older then Luna, but Mamoru could carry her easily. Perhaps she was small for her age. Her face still seemed familiar to him, and he looked up at the top of her head where two loose dangos barely remained together. The hairstyle itself was enough to remind him of Usagi and his mission.
"Master, what happened? Who is she?" Zoicite asked. Mamoru shook his head.
"I don't know. She fell out of nowhere on top of me." Mamoru explained.
"That loud explosion?" Jadeite asked. Mamoru shook his head.
"Not The Silver Crystal, but what I don't know." Mamoru admitted.
"The girl doesn't matter." Zoicite broke in, and for some reason the comment sparked a bit of anger in Mamoru's heart. "We have to keep our sights on finding The Princess." Mamoru opened his mouth to ridicule him, but then he paused as he realized he was right. The mystery involving this girl had nothing to do with finding Usagi, and in no way could be more important. "We have to get going." Mamoru looked down at her face as she remained sleeping soundly against his chest and he nodded. Chibiusa could feel the warmth of someone holding her close as she floated in between sleep and wakefulness.
"We'll leave her somewhere safe." She heard a deep voice rumble against her ear, and she let herself relax in the person's arms.
"So warm... Like Papa..." She thought through her dreams and she sighed outward as her head tilted forward and she let the peace come over her; forgetting why she had been so afraid to begin with.
Notes: Also, I was asked why I had put Jadeite with Zoicite and Nephrite with Kunzite. "I would not have done the opposite". Well... I did a lot of thinking when outlining this story as to who would be on whose side. Kunzite and Zoicite were easy, but the other two I did a lot of thinking and was something I went back and forth with. In the end I chose the sides for two reasons but hopefully that is something I can reveal to you in-story versus with notes. :)
