Author's Note:
Okay. I lied. Sailorpluto does make an appearance, but how can she not after the last chapter? I know I said Action/Adventure, and we are getting there… very slowly. Another anime-derived title! Oh, and thank you for the reviews! It slipped my mind last chapter – I posted it right before school. Hope this chapter clears up some confusion, and causes more.
Disclaimer: If I had a million dollars I'd buy me the rights to Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon. Too bad I'm broke. Naoko Takeuchi, however, has a million dollars.
A tall woman stood, frown caressing two lines on the surface of her darkened skin between her eyebrows as she fought with the concentration ebbing within the constraints of her mind. A key-shaped staff held its own equally in stature, a heart-shaped dome donning the top, a garnet orb residing purposefully with an ethereal glow, was held stiffly by a gloved hand. The uniform she wore flickered with each movement, as though unsure as to what loyalties it lay, however it was sure to be, in some fashion, a sailor suit of deep purples and reds. Before her, balanced idly within space, sat a green monitor, of sorts, iridescent lights of a rainbow of colors glistening occasionally, few moving from the sector of map over which they were spewed.
Several had glittered to a particular brightness, before fading in against the background unnaturally, leaving no mark of their presence. This had been the senshi of time's concern, for a particular light, of bright pink, had faded considerably in the time span of a few hours. Another, white, had disappeared completely, wreaking havoc over Sailorpluto's mind as sudden fear shadowed rational thinking, only to reappear once more, in the opposite sector from wince it came with two other, slightly darker orbs scant inches away. Several others had surpassed several boards to reappear and significantly brighten orbs of similar color and texture, all seeming more or less confused and disrupted.
Sailorpluto swore bitterly, lashing her tongue in spite, and in her concentration, had overlooked the slight movement of the doors behind her. Yet one more light flashed insistently, darkened momentarily, to lighten once more, as the senshi took in a sharp intake of breath, resisting the urge to prod the particular crystal within the time stream. Just as suddenly, her ever-changing sailor suit stabilized to it's oldest of states, silently jarring the soldier out of her reverie, as one of that particular time period had just broken the taboo. She scanned the screen, and chillingly found an arm outstretched over her shoulder, finger posed to gently nudge the darkest of spheres before disappearing just as stealthily.
Wide eyed, the senshi whirled about on her heel; staff outstretched before her as she spread her feet and lowered her center of gravity considerably. Slowly her jaw descended, for not a soul stood before her, yet none could escape with such haste as to leave not a mark of existence within the door's presence. Stiffening still more, Sailorpluto's eyes flickered from one side of the airy space to the next, before she dared turn her back once more, only to see no more sign of movement with the map's segments. "What's happening to the balance?" Sailorpluto murmured beneath her breath worriedly before a sharp strike of green energy erupted from the map's surface.
8 8 8 8 8
Usagi had managed to keep her eyes open throughout the class with as much effort as she willed to uphold, which was very little, as she had taken the chance to drift among her thoughts; not an overly friendly location, though now it was lunch. The senshi of her own time period were – she fought to admit – dead, she was no longer Sailormoon, Mamo-chan would have no memory of her, and Chibiusa's life had been ripped from her body… And yet she still held the accursed memories, with little idea as to what she was supposed to redo in the past, and an even lesser understanding as to how she was to fight this 'sixth war', nor did she know who proposed it.
What did she have? A heart broken in tenfold, a being she could only sense, Lu – No, the faithful cat had not been present that morning; Usagi took a sharp intake of breath. She had memories, but those gave her little comfort against the hard point of rock she had found herself pinned to – BEEP. Usagi jolted slightly, chin slipping from the cup she had formed between her two hands to hit painfully against the edge of the desk before her. She let out a sharp gasp of pain, though not a head turned, even as another cool BEEP lit the air. Turning, she came across Ami, bent low over her desk, whispering something hastily into an object held within one shaking hand.
A communicator, which could only have led to a senshi meeting, which, evidentially, led to Rei, Ami, Makoto, Luna, Artemis, and quite possibly, Minako - and, her mind chimed glaringly, whoever had taken her own place within the war. Mentally, she slowly turned the key keeping her emotions intact, locking them into the cool confinements of her heart, were they no longer could silently ambush her. Carefully, she leaned toward Ami, willing the words to her ears, "…Well Luna must be wrong. We just uncovered… What? …Fine, we'll meet outside Tokyo Tower." She sighed, closed her eyes in momentary concentration, and set the communicator watch inside her pocket. Usagi allowed herself a slow, careful smile.
8 8 8 8 8
Usagi struggled with herself mentally and emotionally just beyond the borders of the tower, wringing her hands as slight shudders ran down her back. She'd fought with herself as to exactly where she stood in her past, and prayed defiantly that the 'Moon Princess' had been discovered, or Sailorvenus had yet to be revealed. She frowned before taking a hesitant step forward, suddenly feeling quite naked without the heavy comfort of her own guardian, and having no protection save reliance on the senshi. Usagi fumbled lightly, before breaking into a run toward Tokyo Tower, stopping only once she leaned against the first iron beam in the right hand, back corner.
She pressed herself against the beam, easily wider than she, at the first sign of a voice, only to discover one she didn't recall. Heart sinking, she realized that this must be 'Sailormoon'; she timidly cast a wary eye over her shoulder to meet a rather chillingly familiar sight. This girl had gained the appearance of Usagi, to height, proportion, and as the shadows allowed her face to clear, features, save the prominent odango Usagi now bore. Instead, the girl's hair had been tied hastily into two tails, equal in length to Usagi's own, red ribbon-like streaks trimming every few hundred strands. She too, wore the uniform of Juuban Junior High, and, with a slight pang, the brooch Usagi had worn four years prior. The girl had a high, chipper voice, much too happy, as she spoke to, another small assault, Minako, "It's kind of amazing, that V-chan, I mean, the princess, lives as an ordinary girl!"
Minako had muttered something in reply, though Usagi couldn't catch the voice, to her disappointment, having already straightened against the support once more. She took a sharp intake of breath as Rei's song-like voice broke through, having spoken quite more prominently than Minako, "You really are a scatterbrain, Sere. When you're not transformed, your intelligence level drops immediately. Quit saying things so appallingly to the princess. It's embarrassing." Sere, Usagi gulped lightly, clutching at the ends of her skirt, quite too high above her knees – something so close to her own true name, it stung, and bit into her unprotected heart, though it did little to turn the small key she'd locked her emotions into.
One had mumbled something about the time, followed by a small cry of sharp pain, recognition running through Usagi like a sword's tip. She knew exactly where she was. The 'Moon Princess' would make her appearance, as would her Endymion; Usagi collapsed to her knees and hugged her shoulders at what she would not become, "The lights!" Makoto shouted, and a sudden step dug through the gravel breaking the momentary silence as the lights shrouding Usagi burst with a sudden light before darkening. "No! Ami-chan, don't go near them! I sense it! A huge amount of energy flowed through those power lines in an instant!" A gasp ensued, and one prompted that they transform, Usagi's eyes opening wide.
"Moon Prism Power, Make Up!" She could suddenly hear nothing, and pushed herself up, stumbling through the dark to lean against the wire fence opposite. Usagi could see little more than a foot before her face, and her ears tweaked at every sound, attempting vainly to catch word of the senshi. A piece of her couldn't comprehend that the high pitched voice had been 'Sailormoon', the 'Moon Princess'… though a small section of her rational mind supposed she had been quite the same four years earlier. She held her breath as the familiar tap of shoe on gravel broke the night's air, followed by a leap, and the tapping continued against the iron of Tokyo Tower. Tuxedo Kamen – Usagi couldn't draw air, an overwhelming power working over her.
She had no power over the internal instinct to transform herself, stop the resurrection of the 'Moon Princess' – she would not accept the loss of Mamoru so passively. Nor would she consent to the lost life of Chibiusa, the friendship she'd failed – whoever had taken these, whether it be the strange being, Sere, a reborn Chaos… she'd take the power given her, and let it grow. It would be thrown back to wince it came; she'd save what had been taken from her, and spite the plot. Her heart would accept what had been done, but not the circumstances… she'd rescue the pieces torn away, she'd save Mamoru, the senshi, and Chibiusa. Usagi blacked out, as the first thought of the loneliness she would be forced to thrust against Sere crossed her mind, falling in against the fence.
8 8 8 8 8
"Ma…" Ma. That had taken him the better part of the day to recall, and essentially sent him further back from his goal. It was accompanied by an excess of blue light, and a sudden sadness, very close to him, followed by a warm light. Though even as Mamoru fought to recall the fragment, it would fade, and a sudden flurry of yellow and red replaced it forcefully. The other's were nothing save blurry patches within his memory, no color, sound, light, and were easily reinstated by clear visions of… something. He wasn't even sure of them to be 'memories', and not some opaque vision with little answer. Mamoru ran a hand through his black hair, frustrated, finding himself staring out to the top of Tokyo Tower wistfully through his bedroom window.
A familiar power emitted from it, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand, and a sudden urgency took him over. That had been something always apparent, the unfading drive to find his past, the Phantom Silver Crystal required; something not yet revealed. He leaned a hand against the window sill, and fell forward against the glass until his forehead was pinned against the chill, and he clenched his jaw momentarily. This one fault dragged him until he was affiliated with the Dark Kingdom, general crime, and the sailor senshi, of which there were, as of the unfortunate day before, five. They, in themselves, had complicated the little he knew to be solid, particularly Sailormoon, who'd taken every opportunity to obscure what should have been simple… nonetheless…
Eventually, he gave up on morals, and walked out the door to the iron frame of Tokyo Tower, the dying sun shining ominously before him.
8 8 8 8 8
The senshi stood atop a platform of Tokyo Tower, all having just transformed to face Kunzite, following the path moonlight had given them. Sailorvenus was uncomfortably aware of the height, though she let no emotion cross her face, trying vainly to put about a brave face as was befitting of a Moon Princess. She knew quite well that she was nothing more than one of the Moon Princess' guardians, though Artemis had grudgingly refused to admit that not even he knew the Moon Princess' identity. Though now, as Sailormoon took initiative, Sailorvenus took time to contemplate the coincidence that was 'Moon' Princess and Sailor 'moon'. The current situation didn't give her enough time, as Sailormoon broke into her speech.
Just as in Sailorvenus' short-called memory, Sailormoon had always appeared the same, long yellow-red tails falling gracefully from the base of her neck. The tiara had been the same from her initial transformation, simple just as the others, red jewel set in its center. Blue collar, and skirt, red knee-high boots, and bow; the white wings set in her hair, the only decoration set atop her head, and of course the transformation brooch, four gems set about it's edge, star sitting center… forever unchanged. Sailorvenus stepped back, until she stood in line with Sailormars, Sailorjupiter, and Sailormercury.
"The sailor-suited pretty soldier of love and justice, Sailormoon, is here! In the name of the moon, we'll punish you! Moon Healing! Escalation!" Just as her gloved hand stretched upward the Moon Stick appeared; crescent moon sitting atop a pink and gold stick. Suddenly, Kunzite raised a hand parrallel to the floor as though to stop the oncoming attack, before sending out a hot spike of energy toward Sailormoon. She was set off kilter, and each senshi ran toward her as she teetered on a heel to fall backward into open air, "Oh no! I'm falling…!" She cried as she fell, each senshi holding their collective breaths, arms hanging limply as they watched in horror.
"Sailormoon!" Sailorvenus called out shrilly, paying little attention toward Kunzite, hovering menacingly at their backs, though he too seemed intrigued at the turn of events, smiling lightly as the senshi of the moon fell. Sailorvenus' eyes widened as Sailormoon's sudden path to destruction was stopped by hovering silver light, a black spot, quite obviously Tuxedo Kamen, below it. The light dropped slightly, before shooting upward, a shocked Sailormoon lying in the middle of it, clutching at the air. As it reached the platform on which the other's stood, each senshi stepped back in turn, the light dimmed into the black night's sky as the power restored just as suddenly, lights flickering once more, Sailormoon stepped lightly to her feet to turned to stare at the woman now visible. Kunzite frowned suddenly, fading out of view, save this new senshi decide to attack him.
Sailorvenus' first instinct was to bow at the regal air before her, though she stood in awe as the being spoke, "I… am Sailorcosmos." The senshi had an eight pointed star residing in the middle of her forehead, the center of her white chocker, the middle of her chest, and at the point where her nonexistent skirt should have begun. Instead, her sailor suit consisted of one piece of continuous white fabric, ending mid-thigh, an array of collars just below the last of the crystals. Wings were set within her hair, below a set of jeweled heart-shaped odango, as well beside the two brooches and off the gold shoulder guards she wore. As Sailorvenus took the senshi's appearance in, she realized that she also bore two wings guarding the heels of her silver-clad shoes, and a cape continued from Sailorcosmos' white collar, a pearl set between each finger, her silver hair fluttered about her feet.
"Sailorcosmos? Could you be the Moon Princess?" Sailormoon asked cautiously, bowing her head in thanks, before quickly bringing it back up, blue orbs looking into shades of violet. Quietly, as she neared Sailorcosmos, she toppled over, eyes closed in faintness as she fell in against Sailormars, "W-What…" She managed faintly before falling limp into the other's arms as Sailormercury ran to her side, taking off her glove to press a hand to the senshi's forehead. Sailorcosmos' eyes flashed from each senshi in question, catching Sailorvenus' a second too long, as the senshi responded by allowing her eyes to linger as Sailorcosmos turned to leave.
In defensive response, Sailorvenus moved to the front of Sailormoon's fallen form as she watched Sailorcosmos calmly approach the stairs. Tuxedo Kamen came jolting up the same flight of stairs, and stopped abruptly at the senshi's form near the top, Sailorvenus' eyes never leaving the scene unfolding. Silently, she drew a finger down Tuxedo Kamen's jawbone as soon as he was at level with her, still inches above her own head, "My… Mamo-chan." She grabbed at his wrist and dragged him backward, back down the stairs trancelike, "I won't let her… awaken you… just yet." Her voice was dying and scattered, and she fought to keep her balance. Finally, the heart-shaped odango ducked out of view.
8 8 8 8 8
Usagi slowly opened her eyes, fearing blindness until the first starlight registered within her mind, greeted by the night sky. She had fallen over her stationary post against the fence; she lay against the gravel flooring, faintly wondering how she'd managed to get there. She shifted lightly, reassuring herself of the ability of body before standing up, grasping the top of the fence as though it were a lifeline. Abruptly, a familiar weight situated itself between her shoulder blades and around her neck, whiskers running casually down one cheek. Turning, she came face to face with Luna, crescent moon blinking feebly in response to the softening in Usagi's eyes, "Are you our enemy? Our ally? You cannot hide the ability of a senshi. You are Sailorcosmos."
"Luna… how did it come to be that you ask me such questions?" Usagi asked in response, giving the cat a light scratch behind the ear farthest from her person. She brushed the other questions off, and the brief statement of Cosmos away and instead put her energies into other fantasies. She could not remember what had happened before her brief faint spell, though she knew it was something important, "I am your enemy as you are mine. You are my ally as I am yours. Please… please tell Minako-chan, Ami-chan, Rei-chan, and Mako-chan that I miss them… I miss you too, Luna." She knew she could say nothing of Mamoru, for he was considered enemy by any save… 'Sailormoon'. If history had played out as it ought to have.
The reds of Luna's eyes narrowed suspiciously, and she did little to shift her position, "What have you done with Tuxedo Kamen?" However, Usagi had broken into a run as the first voices of the senshi had broken the night's reverie, taking the cat into her arms and hugging her briefly. She stopped just short of the highway, setting the cat down and running off once more.
8 8 8 8 8
Mamoru awoke lying against the couch in his apartment, the senshi who had dragged him away sitting in a chair opposite, staring out the window forlornly. He could vaguely recall reaching the bottom of the staircase once more, before the mysterious senshi had placed two fingers to his forehead, causing him to black out. Yet here he was, still wearing the tuxedo, though his hat had been removed, as had his mask. "Who are you?" He managed, the senshi having her hands folded within her lap placidly, reacting only to look in his general direction. As he saw the subtleness in her face he realized she could be no older than he, though she looked filled with so much sorrow. "Mamo—"
"I evaded death for you, equivocated temptation; now you shall do the same, my Mamo-chan." She stood, though her image flickered lightly, and for the first time, Mamoru realized that she'd draped her cape over him. He could see all behind her through her, and as she neared, the reflection grew weaker, as did her voice, "I am Sailorcosmos. I can save your memories, for I carry them with your future, something Sailormoon cannot do. I am a senshi doomed to accept. Come find me, save me, my Mamo-chan. For I cannot find you – it is something I must accept. I do no more than intervene. Please… please my Mamo-chan… remember me." With that, she faded away.
If I miss some crucial detail, I'd appreciate your telling me (I am perfectly aware that in the manga Usagi's tiara changes) – I remember reading one story, where everything had been plotted out perfectly, and just as ETERNAL Sailormoon lost her scepter, she pulled off her TIARA to attack – just a tiny mix-up, but it certainly woke me up! Naoko-hime did that herself a few weeks ago, Eternal Sailormoon with a tiara… on the Sailormoon Channel . I'll state this out right, Usagi is not Sailorcosmos, and vice versa.