"Are you kidding me?" Haruka scoffed. "You finally returned and you want to go back?"

"They need me. Crystal Tokyo is protected and safe. They have nothing," Usagi argued, then wondered why she was arguing at all. She was Queen, if she wanted to do something, she was going to do it. At least, if she could figure out how.

"Serenity, be reasonable. We need you here." The King squeezed her shoulder, but Usagi shrugged it off and stood, pulling her shoulders back and her head up. The others shrank with respect.

"If the city needs the crystal to survive, then I'll leave it behind, but I can't abandon them. Not again. Ami, please search through the old Moon Kingdom archives for information on creatures from the sun, especially any named Sphalerite."

"That would be your father?" Mercury clarified.

"Yes, I think so. I also need you to review the sun's activities on both the day I disappeared and today. Michiru, Mamo-chan, please assist her."

Neptune laced her arm through the King's and turned him towards the systems room.

"Wait," the King paused. "You can't go to a dangerous world alone."

"I wasn't alone. Not really." She didn't want to explain anymore and instead beckoned Saturn and Pluto to follow. Venus stepped up, but Usagi stopped her. "V-babe, please check with the people. Make sure there's no unrest or lingering effects of the crystal being off world."

"Yes, Queen."

"Take Makoto and Rei. I need to speak with Setsuna and Hotaru privately."

Venus nodded, her nod turning into a bow, then she collected the others. Haruka stood to the side with her arms crossed. Usagi led Pluto and Saturn from the room and wasn't surprised when Uranus joined.

"Haruka, I said I need to speak with them alone."

"I'm not letting you out of my sight."

"I love that you're so protective, but—"

"Do you?" Haruka stopped short, forcing Usagi to either ignore her, or stop as well. Usagi paused, then nodded at Pluto and Saturn to continue. Haruka waited until they were down the hall to speak. "I'm not only protective because you're my Queen."

Usagi could see what she was saying in those sky-blue eyes . "You don't mean that."

"Kitten."

A tingling rush erupted over Usagi's skin at the old nickname. It brought her images of the other Haruka a world away, and the Haruka she'd first met years ago. So similar. Were they really the same? How much was born to a person, and how much was learned?

Uranus held Usagi's hand. "I love you and Michiru both. I have since before we were reborn on this world. Just as Michiru loves both me and the King."

Suspecting and confirming were different, and Usagi felt the shock of reality deep in her bones. Even more so when she knew she was okay with Michiru and Mamoru's bond, because she, too, felt more for Haruka than she did for her other senshi. That was why Haruka drove her crazy, and why Usagi let her get away with impertinent behavior and improper suggestions. Haruka worked on her own set of rules.

"We seem connected no matter what world we're in. But you know I can't leave them there. I can't leave you there. I can heal their world. I know it. All I need is to understand the plasma."

"But we need you."

"And you'll always have me. I promise." Usagi curled into Haruka's arms and reveled in her warm gentle hold. "Let me save them."

To answer, Uranus kissed Usagi's forehead. There was so much weight in that kiss.

Usagi closed the door to the study behind her. Pluto and Saturn waited within, both quiet and straight backed. Two of her most proper senshi, and the two who would have to break all the rules.

"Neither of you are present in the other world. I need to know how I call you both out to save them."

Pluto mulled over the request. "At first, I could not leave the time door until you, the other you, sent me back to the past to be reborn."

"I don't plan to kill you just to release you from that duty," Usagi sighed impatiently.

"But if you want me to awaken," Saturn spoke up. "Then the talismans must be united."

"With their princess dead, the talismans should have resonated, no matter how far apart Uranus, Neptune, and myself are."

Usagi paced the room. "Then perhaps Saturn has awakened, but not yet been released. She would have been reborn like the others, like you had been, but when their princess was killed, Beryl and Metalia were already in power, and if you were killed in the process…" Usagi let the idea trail off.

Saturn nodded. "It's possible I'm no longer an option on that world. If it can't be destroyed and remade, then you, Queen, will have to heal it."

Usagi shook her head. "The Silver Crystal doesn't work outside of this time and place. It was nothing more than a rock there. The only power I had was the heat and light of the sun, and I don't think that's nurturing like my moon heritage."

A knock at the door. Michiru, Haruka, and Mamoru strolled in. Usagi felt herself warm at being in the same room as them, but swallowed her thoughts and asked for a report.

"Ami is still researching Sphalerite, but the day you and Haruka tried to leave, there was a massive solar today, a smaller flare." Neptune took a seat next to Pluto.

"So it seems I was sent to that other world, and then returned." Usagi swore. She needed to get back, but she wasn't in control.

Mamoru took Usagi's hand. "It's better that you can't return. We can't risk losing you again."

Usagi leaned into her husband. "I was sent there for a reason, Mamo-chan."

"There could be countless versions of this world out there. You can't save them all."

Usagi didn't speak. She had all this power, more now than she'd ever had before, and yet she couldn't save everyone. There would always be death. Always be destruction. But there didn't have to be suffering.

"Pluto, Saturn. Could you give us four the room?"

Respectfully, they nodded and left, though Usagi could have sworn they gave the four of them a slight smile from their eyes.

With the room left to Michiru, Haruka, and Mamoru, Usagi stood to her full height. "We need to discuss us." Quizzical brows met her, so she continued. "Between the four of us are feelings beyond friendship."

"Queen, I—" Neptune began, but Usagi cut her off.

"Mamoru, you feel for Michiru. I've seen your intimate smiles and exchanges."

Mamo-chan cast his gaze away. Usagi smiled.

"Now isn't the time for this," Uranus said.

"I think it's wonderful." A small part of Usagi longed to remember the jealous passion she and Mamo-chan had had in their youth. But there was nothing to be jealous of anymore. "I love you, Mamo-chan. And I know you love me, too. Spending time with Michiru won't change any of that."

"Nor will you spending time with Haruka." He half smiled. Usagi laughed.

"Then there's no problem, and we can focus on the issue at hand. If my abilities can lead me back to the other world, then I have to try."

Neptune turned to Uranus. "What just happened?"

"I think we just got permission to swing."

Mamoru choked and coughed. Usagi palmed her face.

No matter where Usagi went, she wasn't alone. In the dining room, Makoto—back in her modest civilian dress—presented Usagi with a samping of new recipes. With her appetite sated, Usagi went to the courtyard. Rei practiced her archery with a physical bow and arrow there. In the library, Ami sat surrounded by paper and electronic books. Even in Usagi's personal chambers she was tailed by the King.

Making excuses, Usagi climbed the tallest spire and stood on the seldom used balcony, taking in her city. Crystal Tokyo seemed so simple after the dark chaos of the other world. It was easy to be too comfortable here. To let herself be lulled into a deep rest, just as she had for the last fifteen years. She'd become soft.

"My Queen, are you in need of anything?" Setsuna's rich voice met Usagi's ears, but she kept looking out over the city. So bright, so peaceful.

"I suppose solitude is too much to ask," Usagi mumbled.

"I apologize. Your court is concerned about you. They're protective out of fear of losing you again."

"I wasn't lost," Usagi felt along the smooth crystal banister. "I was where I needed to be."

"But without control."

Usagi sighed and turned to face one of her wisest advisors. "And with no guarantee Sphalerite won't transport me again against my will."

"And now you see why we are all staying so close at hand, but I've spoken with Ami and Michiru. We have an idea." Setsuna approached and presented Usagi with a lavender time key. "This key is coded for only members of the Silver Millennium to contact me. No matter where you are, if there's a version of me, I'll find this key. Pray to it, like you have for the others."

"Thank you."

Setsuna turned to leave, then paused. "Queen, may I ask a personal question?"

"Always."

"I understand Michiru expressed her admiration for the King at your blessing. Might I, also, be allowed a special fondness for King Endymion?" Setsuna's cheeks lit with color as she struggled to maintain eye contact.

Usagi was taken aback. Setsuna had feelings for him as well? She tried not to stumble over her words. "You may express any feelings as you wish. Endymion and I are tied together through love and fate, and if he finds joy in time with you, then I'll thank you for bringing him happiness." Usagi knew she and Mamo-chan would always be together, regardless of outside favor. "Setsuna, would you send for the King to join me here? It seems he and I may want to discuss his popularity," as Usagi said it, she smiled and Setsuna bowed.

Twenty minutes later, Mamo-chan slipped a hand onto the small of Usagi's back. She stood and stepped into his full embrace, then mentioned Setsuna.

"I think having you as one of the only men here might backfire."

"Setsuna still remembers the future King Endymion we met years ago. He and I are not yet one." He brushed back a stray bit of Usagi's hair.

"I'm not upset that she likes you. She has good taste, but you and I are unbreakable. Any shared affection outside of that—"

"Is human, and inconsequential to our marriage."

"Yes," Usagi sighed in relief, her shoulders rounding. "No matter what. If I'm a hundred worlds away or gone forever, you and I will always share something untouchable."

In response, Mamoru kissed her. The sun began to set, the rays lengthening into the final touches of warmth to the day. A deep orange changed the landscape and appeared to set the palace on fire. Their kiss made Usagi warm and safe. She reveled in it, and then turned back to the view. With her husband at her side and her senshi safe, she wanted to feel at ease, but instead she felt dishonest.

This was her world, her roots, and the foundation that led her to become who she was today. But she hadn't earned that title by sitting on a throne. She'd fought for it. She'd sacrificed for it, saved it, and she'd save them too. Queen by title perhaps, but in Usagi's core she was a fighter, a healer, and a lover. She was a senshi, and most importantly, she wanted to be one.

Out there just beyond her reach were worlds suffering, while they sat in comfort and peace. She squeezed Mamoru's hand, then descended the crystal spire.

As Usagi moved through the palace to the courtyard, she asked Rei to deliver a message to the others for her, and then worked quickly. The Silver Crystal created the palace organically. When she and Mamoru had been crowned, it grew in response to their new title and strength. Now, she needed it to grow again.

With everyone distracted, Usagi stood in the center of the silent courtyard. Holding the crystal tight, she poured herself into it, letting her heart ache with desperation—with hope. The ground shifted, cracking and grinding as new crystal sprouted. The circular base surrounded Usagi and soon reached over her head. As the gap above narrowed, the senshi rushed the courtyard and surrounded the structure.

"Queen!"

Several of them shouted at once, but as the dome closed, their voices became muffled. Uranus approached the glass-like structure and pound on the side. Usagi turned away and let the filtered sunlight refract around the circle and fill the space.

"Sphalerite. You sent me there for a reason. Send me back. Let me heal them."

"Serenity, no!" Mamo-chan's voice rumbled through, but the dome kept him out.

Usagi reached for the light, pulling the heat into herself and imagining it stoking a fire deep within her. Warmth spread along her fingers, her toes. Up her back and down her front. Slick plasma coated her fingers and burned away her gown. The power touched the Silver Crystal and it erupted into the sharp points of a star. It rest on the chain between her breasts next to the lavender key. Usagi called for more fire, more heat, more passion to save her friends.

"Idiot! We have nothing without you!" Uranus's voice, sharp, but also afraid.

New clothing wrapped around Usagi as the sunlight in the dome intensified. She spun to face her senshi. They stopped, some with hands over their mouths, others like Uranus took half a step back. Yes, this was her new power, and just like with the Silver Crystal is separated her from her friends. It always had.

"I love you all. I can't let you suffer anywhere." Usagi felt the pull of the light and heard a voice so deep it rumbled through her body.

"You're beginning to see," It said. Then the light blinded them all and Usagi felt the pull of being yanked into another world. She prayed it would be the same world, the one she could fix.

It wasn't until she landed, back in a new slouched sweater and fresh black tights that she made sense of the reflection in the dome moments before being whisked away.

She'd been in a senshi uniform—one she'd recognized from a vision at the mouth of Chaos. One that had been worn by someone else.

Sailor Cosmos.