I thank December Silentvale for helping me.
"Sailor V, I mean Sailor Venus..." Sailor Jupiter slipped up, but quickly corrected herself.
"Wait a minute, could you be the Moon Princess?" Sailor Moon asked.
"I'm not. But like all of you, I'm a Guardian dedicated to protecting the princess." Sailor Venus assured them.
"That's different from us." Sailor Gaea said as they all turned to look at Sailor Gaea's team. "We're the same in the fact we're all Sailor Guardians, however, my team has a slightly different mission. We're dedicated to protecting the Princess of Earth."
The others nodded as Sailor Moon when into fangirl mode. Her cheaks coated with a blush as she thought, 'I don't believe it! My hero, Sailor V, is right here in front of me!'
"It's really nice to meet you, all of you." Sailor Venus said as she offered her hand for the members of her team to shake.
"Nice to meet you!" Sailor Mercury greeted as she took the offered hand.
"Hi here!" Sailor Mars said as she placed her on top of theirs.
"Glad you're here." Sailor Jupiter following the other members example.
"This is great!" Sailor Moon cheered as she put her hand in last.
"Hey! Let us in too!" Sailor Notus yelled at them as they came over and began placing their hands in the pile. It was a little crowded, but they managed.
"Let this be proof to all those present, while our missions maybe be different, we will defeat the Dark Kingdom once and for all, together." Sailor Gaea announced.
Everyone agreed to that before the moment was broken by Artemis and they all let go of each others hands.
"While it is nice that all of you finally met, I need you to realize we're in the middle of an important investigation here. We'll share the details with you tomorrow night when we meet at the Hikawa Shrine. See you later, Luna." Artemis remined them.
"Right Artemis, see you then!" Luna said her farewell.
"Bye everyone! Later!" Sailor Venus said as she jumped off with her cat into the night.
"Well, there she goes." Sailor Mercury said.
"She sure doesn't waste any time." Sailor Mars said.
"Yeah, and she's so cool!" Sailor Moon fangirled.
Sailor Gaea sighed. They hadn't really meet Minako yet and while she seemed cool now, she was different than how she portraited herself in front of them. Sailor Gaea also wondered if she should tell them she knew who Tuxedo Mask really was, but decided against it. It wasn't her place to tell. She just hoped Mamoru would be okay.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Down in the depths of the Dark Kingdom, Kunzite and Zoisite stood before their queen. However, unlike all the other times, when they stood in the throne room. This time, they stood outside the chamber leading to the sleeping Queen Metalia. A black fog seeping out of the chamber and covering the floor of the entrance.
"Queen Beryl... " Kunzite began tentatively, hoping to avoid angering her or offending. "Why did you order us to retreat from battle?"
"We were so close to getting the Rainbow Crystals and finishing off Tuxedo Mask!" Zoisite bemoaned, irritated.
"Orders have been given from the Great Ruler." Queen Beryl informed them.
"And what are those orders?" Kunzite asked.
"You are not to kill Tuxedo Mask. Instead, you will bring him to me alive." Queen Beryl ordered.
"But why do that?!" Zoisite questioned, shocked he would have to go through the trouble of bringing a weak human that always got in his way to the great Dark Kingdom.
"I don't need to explain myself to you!" Queen Beryl simply answered. A threat hidden slightly in her calm words to not question her or their true queen.
Zoisite stood silent, but disgruntled with the situation.
After a moment of silence, Kunzite gave the only answer he could. "Understood."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Back in Tokyo, Mamoru Chiba had returned home safely. Though his injury reminded him of what he had been out doing. His apartment was clean and spacious. He hadn't turned on the lights yet. It had taken him so long to get home, he figured in would be sunrise soon. Leaning against the door, he fumed at himself of his stupidity and incompetence. Panting and slightly sweating from over exerting himself.
With his right hand, Mamoru punched the door he leaned against as his left braced his shoulder. "Damn it!" He growled as he gritted his teeth at the unneeded pain he inflicted on himself. "Why couldn't I protect her?! I failed her!" He chastised himself.
His thoughts going back to Sailor Moon and her companions when they were under the dome. The pain being inflicted on them. Stepping out into the open and revealing his location, what good was that going to do back then?! He wondered to himself. If it wasn't for the other Sailor Guardians and mostly Sailor Gaea, he would have been in worse shape than he was now. Possibly even dead. If it wasn't for the others, they all would have died and the enemy would have taken the Rainbow Crystals. But the hardest part of it all, was thought of failing to protect Sailor Moon.
"Sailor Moon..." He muttered. Over time, he had grown fond of the clumsy Sailor Guardian and always came to her rescue. This time he failed her. Looking up, he removed himself from the door, leaving an unnoticed blood stain that he would have to deal with later.
Walking across the room, he went over to his couch and with a grunt sat down and groaned as he laid back.
The silence was broken by none other than Zoisite. "You have a very lovely place..." He said through the TV.
Causing Mamoru to sit up and see the intruder of his TV. "How did you find me?!" He questioned him.
"Actually, finding you was quite an easy task! Once I learned your true identity." Zoisite admitted with a chuckle. "Mamoru..."
Hiding his pain and smirking, Mamoru tried to remain calm and collected, though inside he knew he was already in hot water.
"So what do you want?" Mamoru asked getting down to business.
"Hm! Well, now that we know each other, I think the timing's right for us to get things settled once and for all." Zoisite suggested as he played with a bit of his hair.
"Go on, I'm listening." Mamoru said as he let go of his shoulder and leaning a little put his hands together.
"Good. We both want possession of those Rainbow Crystals, so I suggest a battle between us with the winner taking all. How's that sound?" Zoisite asked still playing with his hair.
"Hmph! Sounds fair, I accept your challenge, Zoisite." Mamoru answered confidently.
The sunlight streaming through the windows.
"Nice. That's a good boy. Now as for where, how about that wonderful structure in the bay area, the Starlight Tower?" Zoisite suggested.
"Yeah, that'll work." Mamoru said.
"Very well, the Starlight Tower it is. I'll see you there today at 5 o'clock, until then Mamoru." Zoisite said, cutting off the message. Leaving Mamoru alone once again his apartment.
Mamoru held a serious look on his face as he grimaced in pain and looked out his window. He knew this wouldn't end well, but he had little choice. If he didn't, they could easily come to his house and just steal his crystals. A part of him wondered why they didn't just do that. As he looked out, his eyes were attracted to the tall structure in the distance. The Starlight Tower, ominous from it's position in the bay area. The place he would either win it all or lose it all.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
In the park, Ayame was walking around trying to calm herself and not to fret over Tuxedo Mask and everything else going wrong lately. With the crystals, trying to find the two princesses and the prince. And the matter of Zoisite and Kunzite.
"Ayame? Are you okay?" Jadeite asked as he walked beside her.
"In all honestly, Jadeite? No. Absolutely not. There's so many things going wrong right now. Part of the problem is Kunzite and Zoisite. I know what you said before, about what Zoisite was really like and how you want to save them but... It's like they don't want to be saved from the Dark Kingdom and that they like all the bad they're doing. I don't know much about Kunzite, but Zoisite doesn't seem to even regret any of the evil he's done before. He's rotten to the core! Maybe it'd selfish of me, even hypocritical considering I was able to get past all the things Nephrite had done and yourself, but a part of me can't help but think that Zoisite doesn't deserve a second chance. He might not even want to be saved and that he liked being this way, now.
The other sides of me feel that deep down, I pity what Zoisite has become. A part mourns for the version of Zoisite how he once was even though I have never seen that side of him. I try to keep in mind this is not really Zoisite. I try to keep in mind he was brainwashed and force to join the Dark Kingdom.
"I decided if I ever got the chance, I would try to save Zoisite. There was no guarantee, but I would at least try. But I can't help but feel conflicted about all of it and I don't know what to do!" Ayame released. It felt good to get it off her chest.
Jadeite gave her a sad smile and sighed. "Well, Ayame. If you had meet me before I became a cat, you would of felt the same about me. I remember everything I've done now and I regret all of it. I remember what I used to think about women. I'm not proud of it. If I know the others I like I think I do, they'll regret it too and repent as much as they can. I can see Zoisite groveling for your forgiveness." Jadeite said with a chuckle, just imagining it all.
"What did you used to think about women?" Ayame couldn't help but ask, curious.
"Um, heh-heh, well. Where do I start?" Jadeite said sheepishly as he looked anywhere but at Ayame.
Gulping, Jadeite resigned himself to the torcher that was telling Ayame all the negative thoughts he had while twisted, corrupted and brainwashed by the Dark Kingdom.
"One time, ugh. I told the others, Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury, and Sailor Mars during our last confrontation, and I quote, 'Your last hope, Tuxedo Mask, is now dead! Go on and cry! Do you need a man to do everything for you?! Women are such shallow, useless creatures!'" Jadeite said as he acted it out a little, adding emphasize to certain parts.
"Wow. You were really sexist, weren't you?" Ayame asked surprised.
He cringed at the end of his little squeal and at what Ayame said before nodding and continuing. "Yes, sadly. I would think and say stuff like that. Back then, I was nothing but an old-fashioned idiot, speaking nonsense. I degraded not just humans in general, but women in particular. Most of my plans involved women now that I think about it. I had a monster attack Mikan Shiratori and pose as her to target a mass of people."
"You mean you were behind that Cinderella Caravan?" Ayame asked having heard about it from the others ages ago.
"Yes, and the people disappearing at Dreamland and the cruise ship fiasco. I also worked at the Hikawa Shrine and sold charms to girls that basically possessed them so they would get on the bus and fall asleep so it was easy to capture them." Jadeite informed her.
Ayame thought about this for a moment and thought about how Nephrite or Masato at the time asked her about the cruise and was relived she wasn't a part of any of it. Now she knew why.
"What do you really think of women, then?" Ayame asked.
"I'll have you know that I have only the highest respect for women really. I honestly don't know why the brainwashing made me think otherwise. You are the others are proof woman can be strong. You girls are only at a thirteen-fourteen age range and you're taking on a secret organization bent on world conquest and the possible either enslavement or extinction of humanity. Back in the Silver Millennium, my knight title was Jadeite: knight of patience and harmony." He said with pride.
"That's amazing Jadeite." Ayame said as she picked him up and hugged him. Causing Jadeite to squirm a bit before relenting. "Thanks for listening to me and helping me think these things through."
"Don't mention it. Seriously, don't mention it. Nephrite already hates how much time I spend with you compared to him. We practically live together and I sleep in the same room with you and we're closer in physical age." Jadeite said.
"Oh? So Nephrite's jealous?" Ayame giggled at the thought. "Don't worry. I won't tell him." She said as she put him down. Looking at the time, she sighed.
After Sailor Venus left, the girls all agreed to meet at the shrine to talk things over between the two groups and share information. Possibly talk about how to find their own perspective royalty. Plus the fact about how to get back the Rainbow Crystals, though Ayame doubted they would be able to do so. They couldn't track them down anywhere in Tokyo with Ami's search engine.
"Do you want to go ahead and head over to the shrine? I know we're suppose to meet tonight, but since we're just walking around, I figured we could head over already." Ayame suggested.
"I don't see why not. I'll go on ahead and while I'm on the way, I'll stop by and make sure Nephrite knows what's going on." Jadeite offered.
"Thanks, Jadeite." Ayame said.
With a nod the two parted ways.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Walking down the street, Ayame was consumed in her worrisome thoughts. She feared that her vision, the last one she saw with Nephrite, would come true.
Looking up she noticed, Usagi running ahead of her. 'Shouldn't she have already been at the shrine?' Further up ahead, she saw Mamoru. Watching him walk, Ayame could tell his injury was getting to him. She hoped the idiotic guy had at least gone to a hospital or was on his way to one. Ayame groaned as she watched Usagi sneak up behind him and yelled you, "Hey there! How ya doin' guy?!" as she slapped her hand on his back. Making even Ayame wince. That could not be good for his injury.
She watched as he grunted and staggered forward a bit.
Usagi saw this and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Oh hey, Bun-head. You're sure cheerful today..." Mamoru said, masking his pain and trying to act normal.
His words only served to peeve Usagi as she retorted, "Well excuse me then! It just so happens that I'm a cheerful person all the time!" As she pulled down her lower eye lid and stuck her tongue out childishly at him.
Mamoru chuckled at her antics and told her, "I hope you'll always be that way. Take care, okay?"
"Huh?" Usagi said, cut off guard with his less antagonistic behavior than usual to her. Her tongue still sticking out at him.
Smiling at Usagi and without another word, Mamoru continued on his travels.
"Whoa. What's with him? He isn't acting like himself." Usagi said bemused. Looking down at her hand, she gasp. "Blood? How'd that get there?!"
"Wait a sec... Could he be hurt in some way?" Usagi asked as she watched him walk down the street.
Ayame, having watched this from afar came over behind her friend, placed her hand on Usagi's shoulder, and in a dark voice questioned, "Usagi? You're not doing what I think you're doing, are you? After all, my dear friend would never ever be trying to give Mamoru a hard time, would you?"
"GAH!" Usagi jumped and whirled around to face her friend. "Ayame! I was not! I think something's wrong with him. I think he's hurt. Look." Usagi said as she held up her hand for Ayame to see the traces of blood.
Ayame looked at it and scowled at the boy in the distance. He hadn't gone to the hospital. "Come on!" She said as she grabbed Usagi's hand despite the blonde's sound of complaint. "That idiot is up to something and what he needs right now is medical attention. We're going after him and make sure he doesn't get himself hurt even worse!"
"What about the others?" Usagi asked.
"This is more important! The meeting isn't until nighttime anyway. We have all day to kill. Now stop struggling and help me follow Mamoru! That guy better be heading to the hospital or I will make sure he does!"
Following Mamoru, the two girls watched as Ayame noticed the direction he was going in, and it sure wasn't a hospital. They had been following him for hours and it was nearly sunset. If blood was seeping through his clothes earlier, then it made Ayame sick just thinking about how much blood he might have loss by now. Even if he didn't go before, she at least hoped he managed to bandage it a little.
She noticed, as they walked they were heading towards the bay area, and more specifically the Starlight Tower that was constructed not too long ago. She could hear ship's whistles toot in the distance. In front of them, Mamoru had stopped and watched as a truck when by. Using the opportunity, the girls got closer to him as Usagi reached our her hand to gently get his attention. As soon as he felt it, he whipped around startling all three of them.
"Ahhh!" Usagi yelled.
Mamoru stopped the moment he recognized them and saw they weren't a threat. But that didn't mean he wasn't confused. "Bun-head?! Ayame?!" He questioned.
"What was that about?!" Usagi demanded to know.
"You startled me. What are you up to?" Mamoru asked.
"I dunno, I just got really worried about you, so I decide to follow you." Usagi answered.
"Worried about me?" Mamoru asked, probably wondering why.
"We know that you're hurt! You need to go see a doctor before it gets even worse!" Usagi told him.
"Blood is seeping through your shirt and your jacket! You've been walking around all day. You'll only put more unneeded stress on it and yourself. I hope you've at least tried to bandage it, even if you haven't seen a professional about it! It could get infected and who knows what could happen to your arm! You're lucky you haven't collapsed due to blood loss!" Ayame yelled at him.
"Hmph. Look that's none of your business." Mamoru told them.
This only infuriated Ayame. "It is our business now. We're involved!"
"Well, maybe not, but..." Usagi trailed off.
"So just bug off!" Mamoru yelled.
Silencing Ayame and Usagi as he walked away.
"Stop trying to push us away when you need help!" Ayame yelled at him.
"Well you didn't have to be so rude about it! Hey, wait! We need to have a talk!" Usagi yelled at him, but he just ignored them. With an annoyed sigh, the two girls continued to follow him.
As they walked, Ayame couldn't help but wonder, 'Tuxedo Mask. Just what are you up to?'
Leaving the more industrial area, they walked towards a park area that was part of the grounds of the Starlight Tower. Ayame wondered why he was going here of all places. She didn't really know the company who owned it or whoever owned it did. She was getting a bad feeling about this the closer and closer they got to it.
Inside the tower, Zoisite knew Mamoru had arrived. "It's show time."
The area around them glowed red as it startled Mamoru with a grunt. "Zoisite!" He said, knowing only one person capable of all this.
"Shoot!" Ayame yelled as she knew they walked into something disastrous.
"Oh no, what's happening?!" Usagi yelled, clueless.
"Huh?" Mamoru said turning around to see the girls.
"It's all red!" Usagi yelled as she looked around them.
Ayame braced herself of anything.
"You idiots! Why did you follow me?!" Mamoru yelled at them as he came closer.
"I'm sorry!" Usagi yelled.
"We came here because you're a fool that doesn't watch his back and makes it easy to be followed! You didn't even check to see if we had stopped. We followed because we care! You can't do everything on your own! You're walking right into a trap!" Ayame defended herself and scolded him.
The red glow thicken around them, creating a red orb barrier around them and lifted them off the ground. In the blink of an eye, they disappeared.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Meanwhile, back at the Hikawa Shrine, both groups were getting restless at the lack of their leaders appearance. Jing, Nanami, Hiroko, Taura, and Jadeite were all together and worried. Minako or Sailor Venus and Artemis had yet to arrive, while Rei, Ami, Makoto, and Luna worried about Usagi.
"Usagi always shows up late, but this is way too late." Rei said concerned.
"Be as it may for Usagi, it's not like Ayame to be late for anything." Hiroko said.
"Any idea where she could be, Jadeite? You were the last to see her." Taura asked.
"No. When we parted ways, she said she was coming here. She should have gotten here before me. All things considered, she should have been early." Jadeite answered.
"Well, the meeting isn't suppose to take place until dark, maybe that's why she's not here yet?" Jing asked.
"That still doesn't explain why she's not answering any of our calls. Her parents haven't seen her since this morning. Nephrite doesn't know where she is either." Nanami pointed out.
"Hmm." The team hummed as they thought it over.
"I called Usagi, but she's not at home." Ami stated.
"She wasn't at school, either." Makoto pointed out.
"Something's wrong. She's not answering her communicator, either." Luna added.
"I don't have a good feeling about this." Rei said ominously.
"Me either, let's split up and find her." Ami suggested.
"They're at the Starlight Tower." Minako's voice answered the question everyone had been asking.
"Huh?!" The girls turned to look. Ayame's team smiling as they saw the blonde haired girl arrive. Already knowing who she was.
She seemed to have a thing for dramatic entrances as the wind swept through her hair. Artemis was standing right beside her.
"Who are you?" Rei asked as her group seemed to get a little defensive.
"Who are we? Have you already forgotten us?" Artemis asked.
"Artemis! Then you must be... Sailor Venus?" Ami connected the dots.
"Yes, my real name is Minako Aino." Minako introduced herself.
"Hi Minako!" The Ayame's group greeted.
"Wait! You know her already?" Makoto asked.
"Yeah, Ayame saw her yesterday and followed her. She found out who she was, and then we came over to help. So we already met." Hiroko answered.
"Based on what we've been able to figure, the enemy's involved in some activity at the Starlight Tower." Artemis continued, addressing the purpose of the meeting and why Ayame and Usagi could be there.
"The fact that we can't reach Usagi and Ayame's communicators proves it. They must of somehow figured out the enemy's plan and gone after them alone, at Starlight Tower." Minako explained as Rei shook her head, Ami sweat dropped, and Makoto looked shocked Minako would think so highly of Usagi.
Ayame's team just grew worried. While it did seem like a stretch for Usagi to have found out about the enemy at the Starlight Tower, it wasn't that much of one for Ayame. However, it wasn't like her to go into something dangerous without telling them or asking for back up. Something was wrong.
"If Usagi were as good as you say, my job sure would be much easier." Luna muttered.
Turning around Minako said, "C'mon. We've got to help them by getting to the Starlight Tower!"
"Right." Ami answered as the rest of them nodded.
"If our leader is in trouble, you can count on us. We're all Sailor Guardians fighting for the same cause. All for one and one for all!" Taura yelled as she raced down the stairs. The others hurrying to catch up.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Back at the Starlight Tower, Zoisite stood in front of huge windows from the floor to the ceiling. Before him, the glowing orb transporting Mamoru, Usagi, and Ayame appeared. Usagi was laying down, out cold for the moment. Ayame was still awake along with Mamoru as he kneeled on the floor.
Ayame's eyes widen as she noticed where they were and saw Zoisite. Zoisite saw her and glared. Inside, Ayame was cursing Mamoru's stupidity, he was going to get himself killed. Fighting Zoisite alone and with his injury, he wasn't going to win this fight.
"Welcome..." Zoisite greeted as he tossed his crystals into the air and caught them again. Walking closer to them. Mamoru glared at him furious. Zoisite stopped two squares away from them and placed the crystals down. "I'll place the Rainbow Crystals that I have right here. Now let's see yours." He said as he backed away.
"Before I do that, you need to let these girls go." Mamoru tried to negotiate.
"Only if you put your crystals with mine, first." Zoisite answered.
Ayame could see this was a bad idea. "You can't trust him. He never keeps his word." She whispered to him.
"What do you know? This is my business alone. Don't butt in!" Mamoru whispered back. Turning his attention to Zoisite again. "Fine!"
'Fool!' Ayame thought as she watched Mamoru step forward and placed the last two crystals with the other. The set finally complete. Dread filled Ayame. She feared this would happen. They were in enemy territory with no escape routes insight. Ayame just hoped she could steal them back somehow or that the girls knew something was wrong and were coming to find her and Usagi.
Beside her, Usagi was stirring. As Mamoru backed off, Zoisite began hysterically laughing. The dread growing tenfold in the pit of her stomach.
"What's so funny?!" Mamoru demanded to know.
"You are, I'm laughing at how foolish you actually are!" Zoisite yelled as Kunzite appeared right beside the crystals.
"Kunzite!" Mamoru yelled.
Kunzite frowned as he opened his palm and the crystals floated up towards it, as they floated just above his palm, the crystals disappeared. "Now all the Rainbow Crystals are ours!"
"You-You lied to me!" Mamoru said shocked and upset.
"I told you he never keeps his word!" Ayame snapped at him.
"Ah-ah, better stay where you are Mamoru, or your cute friends will be turned to ashes." Zoisite warned. Looking at Ayame specifically as he said ashes.
"Zoisite, you handle the rest." Kunzite told his protégé.
"Sure..." Zoisite agreed.
Enraged, Mamoru threw one of his roses at Kunzite and Zoisite. Kunzite saw it coming and since his part was done, he vanished. Leaving the rose to go straight for Zoisite and scratch his cheek.
Usagi was finally waking up and groggily asked. "Uh, Zoisite?! Why's Mamoru fighting Zoisite?"
Ayame was sweating at the intense situation going on as she remembered what Nephrite had told her. Smirking with confidence and praying she was right, Ayame did something that would probably come back to bite her later, she goaded the Four King of Heaven member.
"You look so confident and smug, Zoisite. You may have all the Rainbow Crystals, but you'll never form them into the Silver Crystal. I bet you don't even remember what it really looks like!" Ayame taunted.
Zoisite glowered at her before noticing the cut on his cheek and scowling. "Ugh! How dare you do this to my face, you worm. I'll get you yet!" He declared as he teleported elsewhere.
"Mamoru Chiba! If you want to get the Rainbow Crystals back, come to the top floor observation deck!" Zoisite's voice echoed thru the chamber they were in.
Getting up off the floor, Usagi wondered, 'The Rainbow Crystals? What would Mamoru want with the Rainbow Crystals?'
Ayame noticed to confusion on her friends face and though she hated revealing it, she thought Usagi should know. "Usagi, about Mamoru-" Before she could go further, a cold breeze blew as ice began to form on the floor, walls and ceiling.
"Ahh, allow me to give you an icy cold taste of fear." Zoisite's voice told them.
Seeing the huge icicles falling down to impale them, Mamoru tackled Usagi out of the way. "Watch out!" Ayame saw it coming and moved out of the way. As her two friends got up, Mamoru shouted, "Keep running!"
The ice shards were twice their size as they ran with the ice falling at their heels.
As they ran Usagi noticed Mamoru clutching his shoulder. 'His shoulder's hurt! Tuxedo Mask had his shoulder hurt yesterday too! No, it couldn't be!' she shook the thought away.
As they ran a humongous stalactite of ice fell down and slammed down into the floor and rupture it. Causing Usagi to gasp.
"I can't take anymore of this! It's making me crazy!" Usagi yelled, whining.
"We've gotta get to that elevator!" Mamoru yelled.
"You two have a bad history with elevators!" Ayame yelled. 'This guy was filled with brilliant ideas today, note the heavy sarcasm!' She thought as they ran, but she went along with it since they didn't have much choice and there wasn't any stairs from the look of things.
"Oh c'mon! Open! Open!" Usagi yelled, desperately pressing the button to go up.
'Don't go up! Go Down!' Ayame thought. 'We need to get out of here! Staying in the enemy territory will get us killed.' She thought, though a part of her knew Zoisite wouldn't let them get away that easily.
The elevator dinged and as the doors slid open, the three of them ran in as the ground behind them collapsed.
"Whew! We're safe now!" Usagi sighed in relief.
Ayame didn't say anything as she caught her breath. She knew it wouldn't be that easy. She just hoped Zoisite wouldn't pull a Nephrite and send the elevator to the top and send it crashing to the basement.
Mamoru seemed to agree with these thoughts as he spoke, "I wouldn't count on it."
"Huh?" Usagi questioned.
"Seriously, Usagi? Have you forgotten what happened with Sailor Moon and the love letter fiasco?" Ayame reminded her. Though from Mamoru's stiffening, she just reminded him too. "Elevators are dangerous places. Zoisite could kill us right now if he wanted. We're also going up, not down. That means we're only going deeper into enemy territory. Whatever happens, this won't be an elevator ride to forget." Ayame told them.
She hated to be a pessimist, but she was being realistic and had a better grasp of the situation than Usagi did. Looking at the walls, they transformed into more plant-like features.
"Ew, gross! What is all this?!" Usagi asked grossed out.
Behind them, the door disappeared and was covered in the foliage as the rest of the walls. The elevator jolted and soon, they began their accenting up into whatever Zoisite had in store for them. Out the window, the sun had set and night took it's rightful place in the sky, Ayame hoped the girls knew something was wrong by now and were looking for them.
Walking towards the window, Mamoru spoke. "It's no use, we're trapped in this thing..."
"Really? What was you're first clue sherlock!?" Ayame said sarcastically.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ayame's prayers were answered as the rest of the Sailor Guardians arrived outside the building of doom.
"So this is the Starlight Tower, huh?" Sailor Mars asked.
"Wow, that's one huge building." Sailor Jupiter commented.
"I don't care how big or impressive it is! If Ayame and Usagi are here, then we need to find them. If the enemy had this building created, then after we get them out, we smash this building. The bigger they are, the harder they fall." Sailor Boreas said, punching her fist into her open palm.
Sailor Mercury ignored the commentary as she switched on her visor and began checking out the tower with a gasp. "Usagi, Ayame and Mamoru are all trapped in the elevator!" She informed both teams.
"What?!" Sailor Venus questioned.
"Mamoru Chiba?!" Jadeite asked.
"They're trapped up there?!" Sailor Mars asked, unhappy her boyfriend was trapped with Usagi and Ayame.
Sailor Mercury continued her search as she informed them about the rest of the building. "Not good! All the doors are sealed shut!"
"You mean there's no way to get inside?" Luna asked distressed.
"What now?" Artemis asked.
"Jupiter, my guardian planet! Bring forth a storm! Summon the clouds! And bring down your thunder! Supreme Thunder!" Sailor Jupiter attacked the doors. Blasting them wide open. The members of her team were slightly 'shocked' at this while Jadeite and his group just grinned.
"That's one way to make an entrance. Since it's the enemies door, there's no need to be considerate of property damage!" Sailor Notus chuckled.
"We'll force our way in! C'mon!" Sailor Jupiter answered Artemis question
"Uh, right!" Her team answered as they got over their surprise and headed in. Jadeite and his group right on their tails.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
However, this intrusion wasn't unnoticed. Floors above them, Kunzite and Zoisite watched them enter.
"Hmph! Pesky ants." Kunzite insulted them.
"We now possess all the Rainbow Crystals and we've got Mamoru as well. If we can destroy the Sailor Guardians while they're here..." Zoisite trailed off, chuckling. It was easy to assume what he had in mind. With all their enemies gathered together in their home turf, it would be easy to finish them off. And it would please their queen as well. There would be no one to stop them.
"Don't forget. Nephrite's little pet is here as well. You can take out your aggravation for that cut on your cheek with her. Among other things." Kunzite reminded him.
"Yes. I'll enjoy that, quite a bit." Zoisite said as he chuckled, until it grew into malicious laughter.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Back in the elevator, the three of them watched the outside world as they rose up. Mamoru and Usagi were closest to the window as Ayame sat down on the floor near the door. If there was going to be a fight at the top, she would preserve as much energy as she could. Instead of wasting it just standing around.
"This elevator sure is taking its time. Feels like we've been here for days." Usagi whined. "Say, I was wondering, why do you want those crystals?" Realizing it might have been a sensitive question she backpedaled. "Oh! Sorry! I understand if you don't want to talk about it."
Ayame couldn't help but wonder that too. She remembered what he had said back at the MS mall that he was searching for something. Was what he was searching the Silver Crystal? But why? What was the connection between Tuxedo Mask, Sailor Moon, and Sailor Gaea? He said he felt like he knew them, but how? She remembered Jadeite's words from back then, 'I have a feeling he will have a major part to play in the future.' What did it all mean? Though another thing she wondered was why Usagi didn't question how he got them to begin with, though thinking back, Usagi must have been asleep for that.
Mamoru was silent for a moment before, to their surprise, he answered, "It's got to do with my past."
"Huh?" Usagi asked.
Mamoru sighed before he went into further detail. "If I have all those Rainbow Crystals, they'll help me find the Legendary Silver Crystal. Then I can figure out my past once and for all."
'He even knows about the Silver Crystal?!' Usagi thought alarmed.
"When I was six, my parents and I were in a bad car accident, and I lost them. I've never been able to remember what happened. Since then, I've having the same dream over and over." Mamoru explained.
"What's the dream?" Ayame asked.
"When the dream starts, I'm surrounded in fog. There's this palace of some sort, and there's a girl there. In the beginning, I couldn't see her face, but as time went on I began to see her clearer and clearer. She wears this white flowing dress and has long hair. I get this feeling she's a princess. She begs me over and over to find the Legendary Silver Crystal." Mamoru explained.
Ayame's eyes widen at this. She remembered how he had been interested in finding out about the princess that time at the mall. Was the Moon Princess behind this? Did the princess have to power to contact people through dreams? If so, why would she contact a regular guy from age six to now to find the Silver Crystal for her? Why not Luna, Artemis, or the Sailor Guardians chosen to protect her? Was Mamoru a part of the Silver Millennium? But how could that happen? He wasn't sealed away like Jadeite. But none of this explained why he felt Sailor Moon or Sailor Gaea were familiar to him. They didn't exist back then and she was in Italy for the majority of her life. There was no way they could have met before. Just who did they remind him of?
"I want to have my memories back. And I know the Silver Crystal will help." Mamoru continued. Looking out the window he sighed and chuckled at himself. "I don't know why I told you all of that."
Turning away, Usagi blushed as she spoke. "You know what? Before, I used to think you were the worst person in the whole wide world."
"Hm?" Mamoru questioned.
"But not anymore... Now you're the second worst." Usagi teased with a smile.
Mamoru chuckled at her and glancing at her from the corner of his eye said, "Thank you."
"Huh?!" Usagi gasped as she blushed. 'Tuxedo Mask? No, he can't be him! That's just impossible!'
Ayame looked at what caught Usagi's attention and noticed the angle he was in was a similar stance to what he did as Tuxedo Mask. Smirking she looked at Usagi. 'Perhaps she's figuring it out on her own? Even Usagi has her moments of being preceptive.' She thought sighing, she wonders if she should try to tell Usagi, Mamoru was in fact Tuxedo Mask. But, it would be funny to see the look on her face if and when he did reveal the secret himself.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Above them, Kunzite was watching the lights of the city through the windows. How he hated the lights humans used to make themselves feel safe from the darkness. Soon, he would take it all way and with the Sailor Guardians gone, there would be no one to save them or the light.
"Yes, Sailor Guardians. This will be the perfect place for you to die." Kunzite said to himself. It was high time to show the world the true face of the building. Something worthy of the Dark Kingdom. A monument to the death of the Sailor Guardians and the place all seven of the Rainbow Crystals were brought together.
Using his powers, his cape flowed behind him and his eyes glowed light blue. All power in Tokyo was being drained as he plunged the city into darkness. The only source of light was the Starlight Tower as the building began to transform.
As the Sailor Guardians climbed the stairs they too noticed the changing interior and exterior of the building.
"Huh?!" Sailor Mars questioned as she felt the shift in evil energy.
"What's going on?!" Sailor Mercury questioned.
"Sailor Venus!" Sailor Jupiter questioned her fellow teammate, seeing she had more experience and might know what was going on.
The wind began to blow harder and harder around the building as a whirlwind encompassed the building, transforming it into a ghastly building that reeked of the Dark Kingdom.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
In the elevator, it suddenly stopped.
"Why'd it stop?" Usagi questioned.
Ayame stood up and looked around. She had a bad feeling about this.
Above the elevator shaft that lead to the top floor which was their destination, Zoisite looked down upon his prey. Wind going through his hair as he emitted an evil chuckle. Raising his hands, fire flared from one had to the other, with a wicked smile, he said his farewells to the people within the elevator. "Goodbye, you three."
Flaring up high, the flames reached for the ceiling before they swooped down and coiled around the caple holding up the elevator without touching it or even a hint of burning it. Closer and closer the intended targets.
Looing up and seeing the light, Usagi asked, "What's that?!" Quickly realizing what it was.
'What should I do?! If I transform into Sailor Moon now, he'll know who I am! But if I don't, we're all going to die!' Usagi wondered.
"I guess I've got no other choice!"
"Don't forget I'm here to help too!" Ayame said as she prepared to transform. She knew what Usagi was thinking and they would both need to be ready to fight and get out of this elevator.
"Moon Prism Power! Make Up!"
"Gaea Founding Power! Make Up!"
Mamoru gasped as he witness the transformations right before his eyes. "Huh?! Sailor Moon?! Sailor Gaea?!"
As the transformations were completed, the fire reached them, exploding in the shaft as rubble leaded at Zoisite's feet.
Satisfied with his work, Zoisite turned and walked away. "Mm-hm! I'll report to Queen Beryl that Mamoru Chiba perished in an accident. Too bad I didn't get to toy with Nephrite's little pet. Oh, well." He thought, happy to be rid of the two pests.
"You call that an accident?!" Sailor Moon yelled from the smoke and dust cloud.
"Well here's what I think! You're going to pay big time for all the suffering you've caused, especially for trying to kill us with your dirty tricks! I am Sailor Moon! And in the name of the moon, I'll punish you!" Sailor Moon warned him with her catchphrase.
"What is it with you bad guys and trying to kill people while they're in elevators? You cheating jerk! Fight fair for once in your evil life! You will pay for what you tried to do to us and what you did to Nephrite!" Sailor Gaea yelled at him.
"Hmph! Well Sailor Moon, Sailor Gaea, I'll get rid of you and Tuxedo Mask!" Zoisite said, not feeling particularly threatened by them.
"What are you saying? What do you mean Tuxedo Mask? He's not even here!" Sailor Moon said in a huff.
"Yes, I am!" Mamoru declared behind them.
Sailor Gaea crossed her arms and smirked at Sailor Moon's stiffening posture. "Um, Sailor Moon? What I've been trying to tell you is that Mamoru is Tuxedo Mask. I didn't want to tell you at first because it wasn't my place to reveal it. During the fight yesterday, his mask came off and I knew who he was. Since he knows who we are, I think it's fair to say it now."
Sailor Moon slowly turned her head to look at Mamoru, 'It can't be?!' she thought. From out of his coat, Mamoru pulled out a single rose. Causing Sailor Moon to gasp in shock.
Raising the rose into the air, his own transformation sequence began. His tuxedo and cape appearing out of nowhere as he threw his hat and it somehow came back like a boomerang and landed perfectly on his head. It wasn't as flashy as her own or the other Sailor Guardians, but it was cool in it's own right.
"Uh, no way!" Sailor Moon muttered in shock as she blushed. Memories of the times she spent time with both Mamoru and Tuxedo Mask flashing through her mind. 'You really are Tuxedo Mask.' She thought.
"So what will you do now? Keep being a stubborn brat and continue to hate him? Your crush is the guy you hate." Sailor Gaea teased, her smirk not leaving her face. She was glad she didn't say anything before, this was priceless.
"You were very brave today, Sailor Moon. Now you can leave the rest to me." Tuxedo Mask informed them.
Sailor Gaea frowned at this. Was the fool trying to get himself killed, all for some dream of a princess and a few childhood memories?
"You can't! I know you're hurt! Please! Get out of here, quickly!" Sailor Moon begged.
"Sailor Moon, I will protect you." Tuxedo Mask swore.
For some reason, this hurt Sailor Gaea. He was always risking himself for Sailor Moon without hesitation. He never looked after himself properly. Weren't there friends or other distant family members that would worry about him if something happened to him?
"Oh, Tuxedo Mask..." Sailor Moon trailed off blushing.
"Playtime is over, children. Now we will finally settle this, Tuxedo Mask." Zoisite said across the room, he was done waiting. His left hand hidden behind him.
"Very well, but first you most promise me that you'll leave Sailor Moon and Sailor Gaea out of all this." Tuxedo Mask said as he walked past the two Sailor Guardians.
Sailor Gaea growled at him. "Not again! You mean you haven't learned your lesson the last time?! He just tried to kill us! We're his enemy! Do you really think he would just let us go!?"
"Why of course. We'll do this fair and square." Zoisite ignored her and answered Tuxedo Mask, agreeing to his terms.
Unknown to the girls and Tuxedo Mask, Zoisite preparing to strike them from behind. Aimed at Sailor Moon, an ice shard withdrew itself from the floor. An evil chuckle leaving his lips as he repeated himself as the shard positioned itself. "All fair and square."
"Die!" Zoisite whispered.
Tuxedo Mask realized his fatal mistake and with a fearful gasp, he rushed to protect the one dearest to him. Seeing something amiss, Sailor Moon turned to look behind her. But it was too late for her to move out of the way. Time slowed down for Sailor Gaea as she watched, her body frozen at the sight before her eyes and the sound of flesh being pierced.
Somehow, Tuxedo Mask had moved fast enough to stand right in the path of the ice shard. Impaling itself into his torso as the room went silent. Dead as a nail, until he let out a painful grunt. The pain unbearable as he fell backwards on to his back.
Sailor Gaea was shocked. Completely and utterly shocked. She wanted to scream, she wanted to yell, she wanted to rip Zoisite limb from limb! Yet all she could do was stand there. She felt as if she was a prisoner in her own body. A mere observer as she watched the events unfold around her. Her body felt numb and her heart a raging sea of emotions churning so fast she had know idea what she was feeling.
Sailor Moon was shocked as she gasped at what Tuxedo Mask did. "No! Don't die!" She cried as tears formed in her eyes. As Tuxedo Mask fell, Sailor Moon rushed to his side and helped him up a bit off the floor. His hat and mask falling off.
Opening his eyes, Tuxedo Mask smiled up at Sailor Moon, "Are you all right, Sailor Moon?" He asked her as he shakily reached his hand up as if to wipe away her tears. "Stop looking like you're about to cry. I'm so glad that you're safe." His arm falling to his side as he seemed to have fainted from the pain.
"Tuxedo Mask! Tuxedo Mask!" Sailor Moon yelled.
"Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha!" Zoisite maliciously laughed at the display. "He's done for! But don't worry you'll be joining him soon. Just think Sailor Gaea, you'll be reunited with him and Nephrite soon. Now, it's time for the same to apply to you! " Zoisite yelled as his sword formed and he rushed to attack Sailor Gaea.
'I...remember this...' Sailor Gaea thought as she could only watch as Zoisite charged at her. 'It was just like this...The smell of blood...The scene of our parents...their bodies laying on the ground...the blood in the air was theirs...along with our people...Father...was on the floor...Mother...had died holding his corpse...Big brother looks just like father...That's why...seeing him...on the floor now brings up...the memory... What was big brother's name...? Isn't that...Mamoru...? Why is he...big brother...? Where was he...? Shouldn't he have been there helping defend their kingdom…?' She thought groggily through a haze. Unsure what was going on anymore.
"No..." Sailor Gaea muttered. "No...! I don't want to. I don't want to remember...I don't want to!" Tears steaming out her eyes as she gripped her hair. Trying to stop the images from overlapping before her eyes.
She watched as Zoisite charged at her. 'Why were Mother and Father dead...? That's right... They were slain...with a sword...just like the one charging at me now... It was...' She thought before her eyes widen. 'It was...It wasn't Zoisite...It was...Nephrite...He...He...killed them! He...took...his sword...it was coated in their blood...he...run me through...with his own sword...HE...KILLED...ME! HE RAN ME THROUGH WITH HIS SWORD! HE LAUGHED IN MY FACE! THE...LAST...WORDS...HE SPOKE...WAS...HE NEVER...LOVED ME...'
"NO!" Sailor Gaea yelled as she fell to her knees. Her head pressed against them. A blinding light emitted from her body, blinding Zoisite and forcing him back.
"What?!" He asked, shocked by this development. The light grew stronger and dimed. Fluctuating with Sailor Gaea's wails and they echoed.
Climbing up the stairs, the others arrived.
"We're too late." Sailor Venus said.
"No! Not Tuxedo Mask!" Sailor Mars she cried. His true identity shown to all of them.
Jadeite look at the scene before him and somehow paled through his fur "No! This can't be happening! Not now! She isn't ready! I've failed her and him!" He said, ashamed.
"What's going on with Sailor Gaea!?" Sailor Zephyrus questioned.
Sailor Moon was oblivious to all of this as she whispered. "Tuxedo Mask." From her eyes, a single tear began to fall. For a long time, it wasn't unusual for Sailor Moon to cry. This time was different. Sailor Gaea's glow had dimmed down as Sailor Moon's tear began to glow in it's place.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Back with Kunzite, as he watched over the Rainbow Crystals, they began to glow brighter and floated out of the slots of the dish created for them "Hm?" He muttered. This wasn't suppose to happen. Before he could do anything, the crystals flew away, out of reach and disappeared out of his sight. "Wha?!"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Raining down from above, the Rainbow Crystals came down over Sailor Moon and Mamoru. One by one, they shrunk and became one with Sailor Moon's tear. The red, followed by the blue, the violet, the green, the yellow, the indigo, and last the orange. All causing it to glow and grow. Forming a round crystal, the Legendary Silver Crystal.
Surprised gasp came from the Sailor Guardians. Even Zoisite was shocked.
"The Silver Crystal!" Artemis cried out. Recognizing it easily.
"It is! The Legendary Silver Crystal!" Luna confirmed.
Somehow, the Moon Stick appeared out of thin air and the Silver Crystal latched itself on to it. As it glowed, Sailor Gaea began glowing brighter as she began to change. Raising up, Sailor Moon gently put Mamoru down and began her own change.
"Sailor Moon!" Sailor Venus yelled.
"Sailor Gaea!" Sailor Eurus called out to her leader.
"Wha-What's going on?" Sailor Mercury continued to question.
On the two leaders foreheads, a symbol appeared. Their tiaras disappeared as on Sailor Moon's forehead a golden crescent moon appeared. Lifting her head up from her kneeling position, raising her head up as the tears continued to flow from her eyes. The Earth symbol, the same as the one on Jadeite's forehead, appeared on Sailor Gaea's. Both of their eyes, blank and unseeing.
Sailor Moon's clothes transformed so she was wearing a white Empire Silhouette gown having a heavily decorated bodice. She wears golden earrings and had a beaded bracelet on her right wrist. In her hair were three little pearls on each side.
Sailor Gaea's uniform changed into a beautiful dress. As the others beheld her form, the dress resembled a simple medieval dress. It was a light shade of lavender with light brown russet, gold, and light green decorating the bodice. One part forming an Iris at the top. The bottom skirt flowed and touched the ground, hiding her feet. The shoulder had a cold-shoulder design and the rest of the sleeves were thin and veil-like in a royal blue flowing to her wrist. Around her waist was a white belt with the symbol of earth embordered on it in gold and the four cardinal directing as well. In her ears were chrysocolla in quartz earrings shaped in teardrops with an star and iris carved in fine detail in it. Around her neck was a choker necklace with perfect pearls and gold chains, the pendant was a large piece of nephrite jade made to look like the symbol of earth.
"It's her! The Moon Princess!" Luna announced.
"It's no use keeping it hidden now. The Prince of Earth has been found. And the Princess of Earth, Princess Iris has awakened." Jadeite spoke aloud.
"They have awaken." Artemis murmured in awe.
The Princesses had awakened as their eyes cleared, one in happiness, the other in horror and sorrow.