Act 10: Moon

The five of them stared at Luna, not sure of what to say or do, or if they should even believe Luna.

"Right!" Luna said, "Now that we've decided on that, there is some preparation I need to do. We can't all travel there until the next full moon, so we have to wait until tomorrow night."

"Luna," Ami spoke up, "How do you expect us to get there? It's not like we can go to the United States and hop on the space shuttle. Do you have some kind of rocket we don't know about?"

Luna laughed, "Don't be ridiculous. I need to go to the arcade, is anyone coming with me?"

Usagi gave her mother a much needed hug before setting out with her friends. Ami was still fretting about the moon trip, and started reciting facts as she walked, "The mass of the moon is 1/80 of Earth, the surface gravity is 1/6 of the Earth, and it's diameter is ΒΌ of Earth's. The Moon is the only natural satellite of Earth, taking approximately twenty-eight days to complete one revolution. The escape velocity for the Earth..."

"What are you doing?" Minako asked.

"Oh," Ami blinked, "Whenever I get nervous, I start remembering facts. It calms me down."

"I'm sure there's nothing to worry about," Makoto said, nodding at the cat that was walking far ahead of them, "Luna knows what she's doing, we're in good hands. Or paws, I guess."

"But how are we going to breathe?" Ami asked, "Are we going to wear space suits? Plus, do you know all the training that astronauts perform to prepare their bodies for zero gravity? It takes them months, and the next full moon is tomorrow!"

Usagi stayed silent, hanging back a little from the group. She still felt so depressed about everything, and her past life memories played over and over in her head. But she smiled when she entered the arcade and saw Naru and Umino playing each other on a race car game. When Naru spotted her friend, she called out, "Jump in for me, Umino is crushing me!"

She dashed into the drivers seat, and was soon laughing over her friendly racing rivalry with Umino. Ami smiled as she watched the scene, "I'm glad Usagi-chan is cheering up."

"Right," Makoto agreed, "She can't be depressed. After all, we're going to the moon!"

That night, Usagi couldn't stop staring up at the moon. It was hard to believe that she used to live up there, and that tomorrow she would be returning there. It seemed so far away, and yet so close to her. Her heart began to race. She wanted to go right now, and learn everything she could about her past life, the rebellion, the Silver Millennium... and any clues that would help them rescue Mamoru.

"Usagi!" her Dad called from downstairs, "Dinner!"

"Coming!" she jumped up from her bedroom window. Since she hadn't wanted to eat for the past few days, she was now starving. After she dashed downstairs, her father held out a velvet bag, and removed a necklace from it, "I had that stone you got made into a pendant, just like you asked."

"It's beautiful!" Usagi reached out to hold her new Silver Crystal necklace. It now had a silver bell cap attached to it, which was threaded with a graceful silver chain. She held the crystal up to a light, watching some tiny rainbows dance across its surface.

"I can tell you've been taking good care of that stone," Kenji said, a little nervous, "Did you get it from a boy?"

"Yeah," she couldn't hide her grin.

"What?" he nearly yelled, "Excuse me? Explain."

Usagi clasped the necklace around her neck, "It's sort of like that," she said in Serenity's misty voice, and she made her way to the dinner table.

Kenji was a bit off put at his daughter's sudden personality change. She had gone from locking herself in her room for days and crying to magically acting like she was floating on air. He didn't bring it up with his wife until after dinner. Usagi and Shingo were playing a fighting game on their PlayStation, frantically mashing buttons and yelling while their avatars tried to kill each other. Luna had walked in after sunset, looking exhausted, and curled up in Ikuko's lap to sleep.

"So, honey," Kenji finally began to say.

"Yes, dear?" his wife answered as she scratched behind Luna's ears.

"Is it just me, or does Usagi seem like a different person?" he asked, "I feel like she's starting to become a woman very suddenly, and we're going to lose her."

Ikuko shook her head, "Don't be so silly! Usagi is going to always be our little girl," she nodded toward Usagi, who was yelling at her brother while she frantically played her video game.

Luna sighed, feeling worried and anxious.

Ami's father was in town, and since she hadn't seen him much since her parent's divorce, she was going to spend the night with him. The other three, however, realized that they didn't have anywhere to be, and decided to have a slumber party at Makoto's apartment. They went to Makoto's nearest market to get ingredients for dinner, and made a final stop at the vending machine in Makoto's building.

"I'll take an oolong tea," Minako asked.

"Got it," Makoto said, putting in her coins.

"And I'll take plum juice," Rei said, "It's good for my complexion."

"Is that one of your beauty secrets?" Minako asked her, "You're going to have to tell me your whole routine, you know."

"Mina-chan," Makoto said, "tell us about yourself. Basically all I really knew about you was that you were the princess, and then it turns out you're not even that."

"Well, I'm on the volleyball team at school. I really love it. But my real passion is singing. I've wanted to be a pop star since I was really little. And trust me, I'm super talented," she grinned a little arrogantly, "And I live, actually, only a few blocks from Usagi-chan. I live with my Mom, my parents are in the same situation as Ami-chan's. My Dad moved back to the United States after the divorce, so I've been to America a couple of times and I'm fluent in English. And..." she thought about anything else to say, and blushed a little as she said, "I really love boys."

Makoto giggled, "Oh, totally! Have you seen the guy at the arcade?"

"Really?" Minako seemed a little put-off, "He's kinda old. Isn't he in college?"

"So?" Makoto said, "That doesn't mean he's not cute!"

"You guys are gross," Rei made a face, "I can't believe you waste your time and energy over boys."

"Rei-chan," Minako confronted her, "There is nothing better to waste time on than boys. Nothing! Don't tell me you've never had a crush!"

Rei was quiet.

"Aha!" Makoto said, "Dish. Tell us everything."

"Well," Rei said, and spoke quickly, "My Dad is a politician, he practically lives at his work, so when my Mom died I went to live with my Grandpa. But there's this guy that works for my Dad..." her voice trailed off.

Makoto grinned, "Wow Rei-chan, you're not just into older guys, you're into really older guys!"

"Stop!" Rei blushed, "He's married and all that, so it's not like I have a chance. It's just, you know," she shrugged, "I don't go fawning over every boy I see."

"You're missing out!" Minako nodded wisely, "You don't even know."

While Makoto unlocked her door, Rei asked, "How is it that you live by yourself at age fourteen anyway? Where are your parents, Mako-chan?"

She looked down and shrugged, "Airplane crash."

Rei gasped. Minako put a hand on Makoto's shoulder, "I'm so sorry."

She smiled at her friends, "It was a year ago, I'm fine. I don't have any other family, and I proved to the welfare system that I'm capable of living on my own, so I get sent checks every month from the government to survive off of. Plus, the inheritance my parents left me helps a lot too. It was a little rough at first, but nowadays, having my very own place is pretty sweet."

Moonlight was shining into Makoto's dark apartment, and she glanced at her communicator watch, "This time tomorrow, we're gonna be on the moon."

"Let's not think about that until tomorrow," Rei said, and turned to Minako, "You do know that you owe us like a million Sailor V stories."

"Oh my gosh, you guys don't even," Minako grinned as she opened her can of tea and began to tell her story.

It was time. The five girls met outside of the arcade, staring nervously up at the full moon. Luna grinned as she exited the control room, "All the preparations are set. Is everybody feeling their best?"

They quietly mumbled affirmatively.

"Good, let's go to the park."

Usagi froze up inside as they walked along the dark streets. She clearly remembered the last time she was at the park. Mamoru was there, and he had promised to give her something when they saw each other again. How could he have known that that would be the last time they would meet like that, before everything changed? When they arrived, she could practically feel his presence there. If only he would suddenly run into her now, like he always did whenever she was out. She deeply regretted how she acted toward him every time. They didn't have one decent conversation before she knew he was Tuxedo Kamen. It was such a waste. But now that she looked back, she could honestly say that she was excited to see him every time. Even though he teased her, he was still gorgeous and rugged and charming. Her heart always raced whenever they crossed paths. She recalled the first time she saw him in his school uniform, and had noticed just how handsome he looked that day.

She touched her pocket, feeling his watch. She made a silent vow that she would see him again, because she made a promise to return his watch. They just had to rescue him.

"Usagi-chan," Makoto put an arm around her friend when she noticed how distressed she was. Suddenly receiving comfort make Usagi tear up, and she put her hands over her face, and moaned, "I just need to know if he's okay, that's all."

"We're your soldiers," Makoto said soothingly, "We're going to get him back, and he will be just fine, and you will both live happily ever after. I promise you."

Ami stared up at the full moon, "Our satellite has reached the fifteenth day of its revolution. The visible side is completely illuminated by the sun. And there's not even a cloud in the sky. Perfect conditions."

"It's beautiful," Rei said, "You know that a partial moon is associated with hatred and fighting, and a new moon means death and destruction. But it you want a vision of the future, you need the full moon. Right now it's extremely powerful."

"So, Luna," Minako said, "I assume we're going to use our transforming powers to teleport us?"

"Yes," Luna said, "Artemis is programming your coordinates into the moon's database right now. So you should arrive safely. All of you, join hands," Luna began reciting in the ancient Silver Millennium language, and a glowing circle appeared on the ground. The five soldiers, holding hands, stepped inside of it. Once she was done chanting, Luna explained, "Your powers will create a sphere that will sustain you in space, and because of your bloodlines, you can breathe without it as long as your feet are touching the surface of the moon. Now, transform!"

Without hesitation, they began.

"Moon Prism Power..."

"Mercury Power..."

"Mars Power..."

"Jupiter Power..."

"Venus Power..."

And all at once, they cried out, "MAKE UP!"

Energy swirled inside their circle, and a bright beam of light shone down from the moon, surrounding them. And the next thing they knew, they were hovering in a sphere in space, staring in awe at planet Earth.

They were silent as their sphere took them farther and farther away from Earth. It was more magnificent than they could have expected. Each of them felt extremely small at that moment, dwarfed by the size of their home planet.

"It's so beautiful," Makoto finally whispered.

"Look, Mako-chan," Minako touched her shoulder, and pointed to a spot on the dark side of Earth that was flashing with light, "It's lightning."

"That's awesome," Makoto grinned, "Can you guys believe that we were down there just a moment ago?"

"You guys," Ami said quietly. She had turned around to see their destination, and they all gasped when they saw the Moon looming up in front of them. Ami smiled, "Look at all of those craters. It looks like Mercury. Where exactly on the Moon are we going, Luna?"

"Mare Serenitatis," Luna replied, "The Sea of Serenity."

Usagi's heart leaped, eager to get back to her old home. Once they finally landed on the surface, their sphere disappeared, and... there was nothing.

No sound, no wind, no sign of life... there was no other silence that could possibly exist that similar. Minako put her hands over her ears, since the silence was making them ring. When any of them took the tiniest step, shuffling their feet in the ground, the sound seemed twice as loud.

"Well," Makoto tried to find something to smile about in this place, and put her arm around Usagi again, "now you're really Usagi Tsukino, the 'rabbit of the moon'!" she sniggered, pointing out the pun in Usagi's name.

"Ha ha," Usagi faked laughter, "Very funny, Mako-chan. What's that over there?"

She pointed to some pillars nearby, and upon closer inspection, they noticed that they weren't moon rocks, but actual man-made columns. They walked closer to find themselves in a place very similar to Greek ruins. A massive building used to be there.

"This must have been where the palace was," Ami said, shivering in the cold.

"Yes," Luna trod carefully around the crumbling stones, "This was our Moon Castle. And right here," she stopped on a crumbling stone floor, "This used to be the prayer room, that only the Queen could enter. You see that pillar?" she nodded ahead, and the girls saw a crumbling clear obelisk, "That was the Crystal Tower, the most sacred place on the Moon. That was where the Queen would pray."

"There's something in the ground," Usagi said, pointing near the ruined Crystal Tower. They looked closer, and saw that the hilt of a sword was sticking out of the tile floor.

"Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, pull that sword out," Luna ordered.

The four girls tried, using all their strength at once, but the sword was stuck. Even Makoto, the strongest, couldn't budge it.

"Keep trying," Luna urged, "You must be the ones to remove it."

They were about to give when Minako gave it a go. She gasped when she felt it loosen, and the sword slid out from the ground. Sailor Venus just stared at it, as it was unlike any sword she had ever seen. Instead of shiny metal, the blade was made of a grayish stone, with four gems at the point in the colors of the four soldiers: blue, red, green and yellow.

The spot where the sword used to be flickered, generating a small light. A tiny, see-through figure appeared there, like a hologram. It came into focus and they saw it was a woman, who resembled Usagi in many ways. She had the same hair style, two buns with very long, silver pigtails, the same shape of face and eyes, an identical crescent moon on her forehead, and a kind smile. Her dress was white and skin tight, and she knelt before all of them, "Good work, Sailor Venus. That is the legendary holy sword that protects the princess. Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, it belongs to you four. And Luna, you have done a wonderful job to bring everyone here."

The woman looked at the girls bewildered faces, smiled, and continued, "On Earth I am known as Selene, the goddess of the moon. But I really am the former queen of the Silver Millennium, Queen Serenity."

Usagi gasped, and knelt down to look more closely at the image of her past mother.

"My dear," the queen smiled as she looked up at Sailor Moon, "You look beautiful, Serenity. It has been so long since I've seen you."

"Wow, that's not a recording," Ami gasped, "It's interactive."

"Yes, Mercury, I am still intelligent and thinking," the Queen explained, "This image is generated by the Moon's mainframe, and what you see here is based off of old recordings of me. Even though I died, I was able to preserve my will in the Moon's database. I was the one who put Luna and Artemis into their deep sleep, and woke them up when the time was right. I felt like I waited an eternity for that moment. I couldn't wait for you all to be reborn and return to your castle."

Queen Serenity glanced around at the ruins, "Even though it's all destroyed, do you remember it? My Moon Castle was a beautiful place. Serenity, I remember your favorite spot was the Green Dome, where we had trees and plants and even wind. But you yearned for real nature, and real wind, so you went to Earth. And there, you found love."

Usagi closed her eyes. She could practically feel the artificial wind of the Green Dome on her face again. She recalled the last time she was there, and the scene played in her mind like a movie.

She had just returned from Earth. She had been there for a long time, so she quickly made her way to the Green Dome. She was going to pretend that she had fallen asleep there in a hiding place. But as she went through the doors, her four soldiers were already searching for her there.

"Princess!" Jupiter crossed her arms, "Where have you been?"

"Don't tell me," Venus sighed, "You went down to Earth again, didn't you?"

Serenity tried not to blush, "Maybe."

"How many times do I have to tell you?" Mars sighed, "You aren't supposed to be in contact with the Earth prince! You are a goddess to those people, and you need to remain so. It's the oldest law in the book."

"Well," Serenity grinned, "you have no right to talk. I know yesterday you went to Earth to go on a date with one of Endymion's generals. Which one was it? Jadeite?"

"What? I..." Mars hesitated, and looked to Venus for guidance, since their own leader was in an open relationship with Endymion's main adviser, Kunzite.

"That's different!" Mercury said, "If you read the laws carefully, anyone from the Silver Millennium, including us, can go to Earth when we please. And the Earth people can come to the Moon, as long as they don't enter the palace. If you had finished your daily studies today, you would have known that!"

"Oh Mercury," Serenity laughed, "Won't you ever stop talking about books and learning? Endymion says..."

"Here she goes again," Jupiter grinned, "All day and all night it's 'Endymion said this' and 'Endymion does that.' Enough already!" she was trying to be serious, but she couldn't keep down her smile, and soon, all five girls were laughing.

Usagi opened her eyes, smiling. Yes, of course she remembered those happy moments. She wished she had never forgotten them in the first place. But her happy memories on the Moon paled in comparison to the times she had on Earth with Endymion. Even though the Moon had been her home, it was Earth that was in her heart.

The queen continued, "Since we were people of the Moon, we were born with longer lifespans than the Earth people. It was all because of the Legendary Silver Crystal, which was passed down from our ancestors, Serenity, generation to generation. Our jobs, as queen and princess, were to watch over the people of Earth and use the crystal to ensure peace and prosperity to her people. Our job was not to interfere with the kings of Earth, just the happiness of their subjects, so long ago our ancestor and Endymion's ancestor agreed to never communicate, and just coexist peacefully. And everything did go peacefully, for a very long time. It was called the Silver Millennium, but it lasted for far longer than that.

"And then one year... Father Sun seemed terribly active. The solar flares were gigantic. Nobody had ever seen such activity like that before. But it was just that creature, creating a diversion so it could slip into Earth unnoticed. That grotesque being wanted Earth for itself. It was simply made of pure evil, the enemy of all people... no, the enemy of everything. And it didn't just want that beautiful, blue gem called Earth, but also the holy stone of the Moon, containing the most mysterious and unlimited powers, the Legendary Silver Crystal. It used people, manipulating the darkness in their hearts. It made the Earth's people attack the moon. The only person who wasn't deceived was the strong, handsome Prince Endymion, and he did his best to keep his people from doing harm. But it was far too late.

"Do you remember, Serenity? He died, bleeding to death, in your arms. And in your grief, you took his sword and stabbed yourself. Do you remember that?"

Usagi, with tears in her eyes, nodded.

Queen Serenity closed her eyes and continued, "By the time I sealed away that evil, this castle had crumbled. All the people of the Moon and the Earth died, and humans were extinct, and the planet had to begin its evolution all over again. And that is what happened to this place. It is a sad story, but it must be remembered. However, that demon has been resurrected."

The queen wrung her hands, worried, "I don't know where on Earth it is, but it is there, stirring and preparing to take over again. When I went to seal it away, my heart was still full of the grief of losing my daughter. I had a very confused and frail heart when I used the Silver Crystal to create the seal. Therefore, I could not use it to its full potential, so the seal was imperfect. This time, when it is sealed away for good, it must be with the full power of the Silver Crystal. And Princess Serenity," she looked up at her daughter, pleadingly, "You must be the one to do that."

Usagi trembled, remembering the bright light it emitted when it formed from her tear. That, most likely, wasn't even close to its full power. What would it look like when it would finally be used to its fullest extent?

"Queen!" Minako spoke up, "There's something wrong with the crystal. Its power was absorbed into Prince Endymion's body, and it hasn't been able to do anything since."

"It's power was absorbed?" the queen repeated, and she was evidently thrown off, "It... it must be... Princess Serenity, you were trying to save him, were you not? Your will forced the crystal to act," then she smiled tenderly, "I can see the worry in your tearful eyes, Serenity. It's alright. I'm certain he's alive. You don't have to worry."

Those were the words that Usagi was waiting for: someone else saying that he was truly going to be alright. She wasn't saying it out of pity or comfort, she spoke knowingly. Usagi felt a genuine smile on her face, and she wiped away tears of joy.

"But," the queen continued, "Princess Serenity, please remember this. The Silver Crystal works in tune with your heart. You must have a strong faith in yourself, a strong will in your body, and deep love in your soul in order to wipe out that demon. Without those, all will be lost. Please, be proud and confident that you are a princess and the solider of love and justice, Sailor Moon. But not only that, be strong in the fact that you are a girl, a beautiful young woman. That is more powerful than anything; therein lies the real reason you were reborn. Don't..."

She tried to continue, but her image began to flicker. All the girls knelt beside her, leaning in close in case they missed one word.

The small hologram of Queen Serenity looked at each of them as she flickered, "Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, work together to help the princess, and restore this kingdom and its castle..." she was flickering more frequently now, and her voice was full of static. She grew smaller and quieter as she said, "I'm running out of power, I don't have much time left with you. Serenity, may you find happiness..."

As she faded, Usagi finally had the courage to speak to her, "Wait! Queen! If you need power, I have the crystal!" she untucked her necklace from her uniform and took it off her neck, but by the time she held out the crystal, the hologram was gone, and they were swallowed by the silence of the Moon once again.

Frustrated, Usagi felt like throwing the crystal away. She put a hand over her eyes and started to cry. She hated that stupid crystal. It never did anything when she wanted it to. It was worthless. She felt she would never be able to use the crystal to its full potential, even if it was in tune with her heart.

"We should get going," Luna said, looking up at the Earth, "It's nearly dawn in Tokyo."

They teleported back into the park, and they were met with a rush of the sounds of dawn. Birds were singing, the breeze was blowing through the trees, and people were beginning their commute. It was almost deafening. And the light from the rising sun was blinding after spending a night on the dark moon. Usagi took a whiff of the morning air, realizing that Earth had scent as well, and it was beautiful. No wonder she and her ancestors had protected this place with all their might. It would be impossible to find a place more beautiful anywhere else in the universe.

Kunzite was staring at what used to be the tombs of his companions. The glass had been smashed by the power of the Silver Crystal, and their stones were settled inside their destroyed caskets. He picked each one up, staring at them individually. There was the translucent green jadeite stone, the opaque colors of the nephrite, and the bright blue of the zoisite. He wondered if he could easily be turned into a small stone as well, into a tiny, brown spodumene kunzite. It was unfair that Beryl did this to them, just because they had regained their memories. If only they could see their prince one more time.

He rushed into the next chamber, where Prince Endymion's body rested, his heart quietly beating. Kunzite bowed, and silently swore his allegiance back to his true leader, the prince of Earth.

There were footsteps outside the door. The only other inhabitant in the castle that could walk around was Queen Beryl, so Kunzite leaped to his feet, not wanting to be seen. But she passed by, not looking his way. Curious, he began to follow her. He quietly tracked her down some stairs and through a stone maze, leading to a massive doorway that she opened with the old language. The air was rotten with the smell of decay and evil, making his head swim. It made him hard to believe what he was seeing at first as he peeked through the doors. It could only be the great ruler.

The mass was shaped more like a human, with tentacles coming from its head and body. There was a face, a wide mouth and ferocious white eyes. On its forehead was a dark spot, blacker than the rest of it. It emitted waves of dread, horror, and destruction. Nauseous, Kunzite ran from the door, hoping that he would reach his chambers before throwing up.

Queen Beryl knelt before her master, "Queen Metallia. I can only conclude that the power of the Silver Crystal that went into Tuxedo Kamen has faded. I cannot sense a trace of it anymore."

"Then he is just a corpse," Queen Metallia said, "The princess is the one with the true crystal."

"But," Queen Beryl smiled at her own genius, "There is still a way we can use his body to our advantage. Besides, Kunzite isn't going to last much longer."

"Beryl, I need more energy," Queen Metallia growled, "Or else I cannot conquer this planet. We should not waste any more time, now that the princess has awakened. Bring me more energy, and kill those who oppose us! And deliver me the Silver Crystal!"

Queen Metallia vanished, and Beryl went to look at Prince Endymion. She ran a hand across his handsome face, and she grinned at the sight of his attractive features. Yes, she would enjoy this plan she had concocted.

Kunzite entered the chamber, still feeling uneasy and uncomfortable around Beryl, "My queen, you once told me that the Silver Crystal would bring my comrades back to life. Could..."

She grinned maliciously, "It cannot be done, given their current condition."

Kunzite clenched his jaw, feeling betrayed. He remembered the day, so long ago, when Beryl charged Prince Endymion with her sword, fatally wounding him. He and his companions stared in horror as the princess sobbed over his dead body. Beryl had destroyed his life once again. He tried to speak with a steady voice, "What are you going to do with Prince Endymion's body?"

Beryl knew that he was too far gone. She raised her hand, and used her powers to activate the stone buried in his forehead. His face glazed over, and Beryl said hypnotically, "Never forget that you swore allegiance to our great ruler, and you gave your body to me. It doesn't matter how many times you are reborn, you and your comrades will always be my slaves. Now go, Kunzite! I will not allow failure this time. Attack the humans and take their energy. When you do, the princess will appear, and you will take her crystal."

Kunzite, now thoroughly brainwashed, grinned. He had suddenly come up with a wonderful plan to please his queen and great ruler. He went to Tokyo, marveled for a minute at the large ocean, and began to use his telekinesis to create a giant wave to wash over the city. But it wasn't just any wave, it was so cold that it froze whatever it touched, and that ice would take away the energy of the humans it petrified. Kunzite laughed as he hovered over the city, hummed along to the tune of the tsunami alarm, and watched the destruction unfold.

The sailor soldiers and their cats had been in the control room all evening, trying to pinpoint the location of the Dark Kingdom. Luna finally spoke up, "So, everyone, I've been analyzing the tectonic plates. There is a lot of unusual activity near the North Pole, and according to these readings, there is an unusual heat source near that location. But it's only happening underground. This might be connected to the Dark Kingdom, but..."

An alarm went off. Ami jumped to the emergency computer, "Everyone, look at this! The city is covered in ice!"

Everyone gasped as they looked at the camera view outside.

"It's the enemy!" Luna cried out, "Girls, transform and get out there!"

Once the team was ready for battle, they rushed out of the arcade and nearly slipped and fell on their faces. Everything around them was covered in freezing ice. The only sound outside was the tsunami alarm and the clinking of settling ice.

"Where is the enemy?" Sailor Mars asked.

"Let's head toward the ocean," Sailor Mercury said, "If the enemy created a wave of ice and set off the tsunami alarm, then..."

"There you are, Sailor Moon! Or should I say, princess?" came a man's voice from the roof of a building, "You're a bit too late, aren't you?"

Usagi felt faint. It was the same enemy that had taken Tuxedo Kamen's body. Angry, she yelled, "Are you trying to turn Tokyo into the North Pole?"

He laughed, "Of course! It will be perfect for the arrival of our great ruler!"

"Then I won't let you!" she held up the Moon Stick and cried out, "Moon Healing Escalation!"

The ice vanished, the alarm turned off, and the world continued as if nothing had happened. Sailor Moon smiled, glad that this spell wasn't so taxing on her body anymore. In fact, it made her feel warm, at right about her chest. She looked down to see that the Silver Crystal had slipped out and was faintly glowing.

Kunzite saw it too. He jumped from the building, using a transport sphere to reach her. Instead, Sailor Moon activated her own sphere and flew up and away from him, trying to get too high for him to reach. But he kept following her, and the soldiers stayed on his tail, and they traveled higher, and higher, and higher...

If I go any higher... Usagi thought, and sure enough, she had traveled so far up that she was once again in outer space, beyond the atmosphere of Earth. She stopped, knowing that if she didn't, she would end up flying through half of space to get rid of him. She turned around, and Kunzite grinned at her.

"Where did you take Tuxedo Kamen?" she ordered, "You had better return him unharmed!"

"We should trade," Kunzite smirked, "You give me the Silver Crystal, and I will give you Tuxedo Kamen... as a corpse!"

His words stung her heart. She knew it couldn't be true, but they still hurt her, deeply.

The sailor soldiers had caught up with them. Kunzite smirked, "Will your attacks work in the vacuum of space? I hope not, that way you can be defenseless as you watch me kill your princess."

"It's too bad for you," Sailor Venus countered, "We've been in space before!" she turned to her team and ordered, "Everyone, we will use the power of our planets to form one giant attack. Direct it at him. Now! Venus Power!"

"Mercury Power!"

"Mars Power!"
"Jupiter Power!"

Venus quickly turned to her princess, "Make a protective shield with the Moon Stick!"

"No, wait!" Sailor Moon cried out, "What about Tuxedo Kamen?"

But it was too late. With their powers activated, the sailor soldiers cried out, "Sailor Planet Attack!" and directed it straight at Kunzite. He was hit with the full blast, and his body shriveled up until he was only a small, brown stone. It disappeared with his transport sphere.

"Sailor Moon?" Sailor Venus cried out, "Are you alright?"

She wasn't. She was near tears yet again. They had been face to face with the person who had kidnapped Tuxedo Kamen, and now he was gone. Now they were even farther off from their plan. She clutched the crystal, wishing with all her might that he was safe and sound.

Queen Beryl rolled the final stone through her hand, grinning, "Poor, pitiful Kunzite. Now all four of you have turned to stone."

She tossed the rock aside and stood next to Tuxedo Kamen, and prepared to use one of her most powerful spells, "My great ruler, Queen Metallia, grant me the power of awakening!"

Tuxedo Kamen opened his eyes.

Queen Beryl couldn't help but smile. She watched him rise. The cheerful, calm look in his eyes was replaced with a cold, dead one. He was beautiful. She stepped forward and touched him, caressing his face, "My Prince Endymion, you are finally my little puppet."

He didn't react. Instead, he was staring at the stone on the ground.

She gave him his orders, "You will go to the surface. You will destroy the princess of the Moon Kingdom and take her Silver Crystal."

Nodding, he obeyed.