Chapter 10: The Doom Tree

"Mamoru!" cried out Usagi. She ran over to him and turned him over. He appeared to still be breathing. "Thank you…" she whispered.

"She cares about him? Hmph! Let her stay in there! Let her wasted energy become ours!" declared Ail, slamming the door shut and locking it.

"What am I going to do?" Usagi wondered out loud. She tried to talk into her communicator, but didn't get any answer.

Then a voice spoke up. "Who's doing all that beeping?"

"Makoto! It's Usagi!"

"Stop that beeping!"

Usagi sighed. She studied her watch, seeing that it was cracked. Apparently the microphone was broken….but they could hear the beeps. In what was perhaps the most brilliant move she had ever thought of, Usagi began beeping in tone. Three long, three short, three long…

….

"I don't know who's doing that beeping, but I swear I'm going to kill her when I find her!" declared Rei. "Gah! Isn't there a way to turn this blasted thing off?"

Luna stood very still listening. "Oh my goodness. It's an SOS signal."

"A what?"

"Morse code. Quick, call the other scouts, see who is missing, and have them meet us here at the shrine."

Usagi was relieved when she heard the girls call each other and figure out it was Usagi who was missing. She was even more glad when they planned to meet and rescue her, though she was a bit miffed at Rei for complaining about all the beeping.

She was slowly beginning to figure things out. Obviously Ail and Ann were in cohorts with the people who were stealing energy…unless they were the two aliens! It would almost make sense, too…

I need to get out of here, Usagi thought desperately. I don't know if the scouts will come in time.

Just then, the tree behind her began to swell, growing rapidly and pushing the building apart.

Oh snap.

….

"Are you getting any unusual readings, Mercury?" asked Minako/Sailor Jupiter, staring at the little blue computer in the water senshi's hands.

"I'm scanning…it seems that there is a dark energy that is growing, just downtown," Mercury replied. "Usagi's communicator seems to be right next to it. It's interfering with my readings, though."

"I hope it's not Usagi playing a prank on us," declared Rei/Sailor Moon. "I hope it's an emergency."

"You had better not hope that," said Luna. "After all, if she is in danger, she could be killed—or worse."

Artemis just kept shaking his head. "I knew I should have gone with her. She said she was just going to hang out with Ail today…"

Sailor Mars/Makoto patted his head. "It's not your fault. You had no idea."

"I just hope she's okay…" he murmured.

"This way!" Sailor Mercury pointed.

….

"Mamoru. Mamoru, please wake up." Usagi tried to shake him awake, but he wasn't budging. Maybe he's having another dream about his Princess…just the thought that he dreamed about another girl tore her up. It did comfort her in a small way that he said the woman looked like her. But I'm no Princess…Maybe it was Rei after all that he dreamt about, and she had gotten jealous for no reason at all…

Just then, Ail and Ann walked into the room, this time with their red suits and colored green skin. "Hello, there, Usagi," greeted Ann, the pink-haired female alien. "Ready to become a source of our energy?"

…..

"Just a bit further…" Mercury said.

"Oh wow." Jupiter looked up at the apartment building before her. The tree limbs had grown so immense that they completely wrapped around the building.

"That's a big tree," stated Sailor Mars. "I love plants, but this is ridiculous."

"Come on, I've got a reading on Usagi's watch. She's on the eleventh floor." Mercury led them inside the building.

…..

"Just don't hurt Mamoru," pleaded Usagi.

Ann cocked an eyebrow. "And why do you care about what happens to him?"

"He..he's a friend, that's why."

Ail asked her, "Do you always try and rescue your friends from danger?"

Usagi straightened up. "In fact, I do…" She reached into her pocket for her henshin pin. "Venus Star Power! Make-up!" Stars surrounded her, transforming her school uniform into a sailor fuku.

Mamoru began stirring by this point. "Usagi?"

"In the name of the planet Venus, I will punish you! I fight for love and justice because I am Sailor V!" She held up her famous V for Victory sign.

"I can't believe it," replied Ail. "You're a senshi?"

"That's right. Prepare to be dusted! Venus Crescent Beam!" She shot a stream of light at Ail, but he managed to teleport before the attack hit him. "Hey! No fair!"

"Never said I played fair, Venus."

Just then, the other senshi burst through the door. "Stop right there! In the name of the Moon…" Sailor Moon started to say.

"Yeah, yeah, we know, you'll punish us. We're pretty aware of who you are and what you want. But even you girls aren't going to stop us from gaining energy!" Ail declared. "Doom Tree, attack them!" Limbs came out and flung the four girls against another wall.

"Senshi!" Venus cried out. She noticed Mamoru stirring behind her. "Mamoru, are you all right?"

"Yeah…are you really Usagi?" he asked.

"Um, this really isn't the best place to talk about that…."

"But you promise to explain?"

"Yes—"

Interrupting her was a white-cloaked figure, robes billowing in mysterious wind. "I am the Moonlight Knight. I shall not allow you to wreck this world with your overgrown tree. Stop stealing energy from the people of this Earth and I will let you go."

"And if we don't ?" asked Ann.

"Then…" The Knight threw a dozen white roses at her. One of them cut her cheek. "Why, you…"

"Mercury Aqua Mist!" A fog filled the room, blinding everyone in the room.

Venus felt a hand squeeze hers. She whispered, "Mamoru?"

"I know I'm safe with you," he said softly.

Venus was grateful for the fog so he couldn't see her cheeks blush. "Just stay down," she muttered.

"I can solve this," declared Ail. He did something that no one could see, being that it was foggy, but whatever he did dissolved the fog. He and Ann stood triumphantly on top of their tree.

"Ann, Ail, why do you want to steal people's energies?" asked Sailor Venus/Usagi. The other girls gasped upon hearing who the aliens were.

"I don't know, Usagi, why do you and the scouts always try and save the day?" retorted Ail.

Sailor Moon asked Venus, "They know who you are?"

"I didn't really have a choice."

Ail replied, "You did. You could have surrendered."

"Never! Never will I surrender to you or anyone else!"

"That's the spirit!" cheered the Knight.

"I'm tired of all this talking," said Ann. "Tree, take her energy!"

"But I liked her!" argued Ail.

"Yeah, liked. Now you know where her heart lies. Let's take her energy!"

Ail pointed a finger at Mamoru. "No, take his energy! He's the one that you're so attracted to!"

"No! I want him to myself!"

Mamoru raised an eyebrow and looked at Sailor Venus. "Do all of your enemies act this stupid?" he inquired.

"Sometimes," she answered.

The tree seemed to be rather frustrated and aimed for both Mamoru and Sailor Venus. "Hang on!" Venus called out to Mamoru. With all of the force in her body, she pulled him away from where the limbs were attacking. One by one, limbs attacked the wall right behind her. If she slowed down for a mere second, she would have been seriously hurt.

Seeing the danger their teammate was in, the rest of the senshi started to attack. "Mars Fire Blast!"

"Jupiter Supreme Thunder!"

"Mercury Aqua Illusion!"

"Moon Tiara Attack!"

All of the attacks combined and distracted the tree long enough for Sailor V and Mamoru to catch their breath. Mamoru admired Usagi/Sailor V for her strength. Sure, she was a ditz, but who knew she had such good power?

"I don't have the patience for this!" Ann swooped down in front of Mamoru and Sailor Venus. "Tree, end this!"

Suddenly, the room began to shake. A tree branch fell off and hit Ann, knocking her to the floor. When the dust cleared, her body was crushed under the giant limb.

"Ann!" Ail cried out in terror. "Oh, Ann…please, you've been with me all this time…" He began to sob. "No! I won't allow this…Ann come back! Come back! Oh Ann…" The senshi looked on in pity. Sure it was their enemy, but they had not wanted anyone to die.

The tree then began to speak. "All of you….stop this fighting. I have little strength left, for I am dying. Listen, before it is too late…Long ago, there was only the ocean and me. I lived alone once upon a time. I changed that one, say, giving birth to my little children. I was the Tree of Life. It was a happy time, filled with joy and peace. My children…so many of them…all lived in harmony. That was until the Negaverse interfered. They began to talk of this energy and turned against me. They lived in fear and hatred. Still, I thought patience would reward me if I hung on. However, the evil became so great, they destroyed themselves and the world which we lived in. Soon, only Ail and Ann were left, small children who had never known love."

"Why didn't you say something before?" demanded Ail.

"Ah, Ail…I was too weak. I wanted to tell you everything for so long…and only now do I have the energy to do so. You see, senshi, we have traveled many planets, trying to find a place to live our lives in peace. You see, also, we have not succeeded. I need love, a positive energy, not hatred and deceit, a negative energy. Without me, they would not live. I hope now, Ail, through your power of love for Ann, I can live in positive energy once again."

"That's such a sad story," remarked Sailor Jupiter.

"It is indeed. I have a favor to ask, Moon senshi."

"Yes?" Sailor Moon stepped forward.

"Find a way to restore me."

"Of course." She turned to Luna. "What do I do? I can't use the tiara…"

Luna replied, "Senshi, send your energy to Sailor Moon. With your powers combined, a new power shall arise…"

Each senshi concentrated on their power and sending it to Rei/Moon. Sailor Moon held out her right arm, and a Moon rod appeared, golden with a red ball on top. "Wow," she said in awe. "Now what?"

"Call out Moon Scepter Illumination!"

"Moon Scepter Illumination!" repeated Sailor Moon, aiming at the tree. In a flash of white light, the tree disappeared, leaving only a sprig seedling.

"Our tree…" Ail cried out. He turned to Ann. The limb on top of her had disappeared and her eyes fluttered open.

"Ail?" she whispered.

"Oh, Ann, you're going to be all right!" Ail exclaimed happily.

"What happened to our tree?" she asked.

"Sailor Moon healed it. Look! We can start over with the seedling."

"Oh, Ail…how wonderful. I'm so sorry for being a jerk lately."

"Me too. Let's go, Ann. Let's start a new life for ourselves." Ail rose, holding Ann in his arms, who held the plant in her hands. "Thank you, sailor senshi. We are sorry to have caused you so much trouble."

"No problem," replied Sailor Mars. "Just don't do it again."

"Of course," said Ail, bowing his head. "'Til next time…" He rose, and with his love and life in his arms, flew off into the distance.

"Well, wasn't that nice," remarked Luna.

Mamoru turned to Sailor Venus. "Now, don't you have some explaining to do?"

"Actually," the Moonlight Knight interrupted, "I think there is some you have to do."

"What are you talking about?" asked Mamoru.

The Knight flew down to Mamoru's level. "I need you to accept my spirit."

"What are you talking about?" repeated Mamoru.

"Trust me. Trust…yourself."

"Okay." Mamoru stood very still, while the spirit of the Knight entered his body. Mamoru's eyes changed to a lighter color, and he pulled out a rose from inside his shirt. Holding it out, he transformed into Tuxedo Mask.

The senshis stared in surprise. "So this is the Tuxedo Mask we have been looking for…" stated Artemis.

Venus was distraught. She knew that now Mamoru would never be hers.

Sailor Moon walked over to Tuxedo Mask. "Mamoru?"

"Princess?" The masked man held out his arm and produced a sword. Holding the sword down and bending to one knee, he bowed before her, transforming into Prince Endymion, full armor and all.

"Do you remember?" she asked.

"I remember a love…a love so deep and true that nothing would stop it. I remember Serenity…her silver hair in the wind…the kiss of moonlight…my spirit wanted to save you still, even though I myself could not remember you. That was the Knight. I have, and will always be, loyal to you."

"Oh Mamoru," gushed Sailor Moon happily. She bent down and hugged him. "We will never be apart again. I won't allow it! We will face our destiny together!"

The two leaned forward and shared a very intimate kiss. Usagi/Venus looked away, feeling the very strings of her heart tearing themselves apart. It wasn't fair…she had protected him all this time, and he was meant for her…She shared a glance with Sailor Mars, the only person in the room who fully understood her emotions right now. Well, except for Artemis. He walked over to Venus. "You all right?"

"I will be…I hope…" she answered. She wiped away the tears that were beginning to fall. She couldn't be weak now. Not here, anyway.