Bittersweet Goodbyes.

Chapter 25: Hotaru's perspective

PM me if there's any questions/concerns. I will try to update at lease every Sunday, those are my free days, and you might get surprise updates. Reviews, thanks for them.

XxXIxLovexSpidermanXxX

I frowned. The aura of dark power was rising, soon enough it'd be stronger than the light. I need to get my princess ready. She was in dire need to transform and become Cosmos. Telepathically, I sent word to the scout for a group meeting. We were all connected in times of danger.

Setsuna looked at me; her dark red eyes were deep in thought. She got my message. We didn't have time to play games. Our eyes met, and she realized what I wanted her to do. She agreed. She transformed and waved her garnet rod, she was going to teleport.

I was sending her on a mission to gather Sailor Galaxia and Princess Kakyuu and their Senshi. We needed everyone we could get. All princesses of higher blood had great power. Mine had the divine light and healing, my princess was the purest of all power. Galaxia had the gift to absorb powers, something that was rare among us, they called her the strongest because of it, but in truth she had a limit. Unlike my princess, she had horrible judgment that had cost us our lives before. Princess Kakyuu had the ultimate power of protection. The three were the strongest on our side.

But I had a mission too. I wanted to bring back a couple of people from the dead. I was the solider of rebirth, and this was my duty. My gifts could bring us fallen allies. I had access to star seeds. I was bringing back Jadeite, Zoisite, Nephrite, and Kunzite, and Prince Demand. We had powers, but we needed protection in our civilian forms.

Their crystals weren't as bright as scouts, but they weren't as dim as a normal person. I resurrected them quickly. I restored all of them with full memory so we wouldn't have a problem.

Pluto returned with the scouts I wanted. They all stood ready to fight. The inner and outer scouts and Mamoru and Usagi came. They were all transformed.

"There is only one person that can save us." I sighed. I pointed at Eternal Sailor Moon. "Princess Serenity will become the legendary Sailor Cosmos. The black crystal followers will try to stop us. And we need to band together for once and for all to end this war." I stated.

"Jadeite, protect the princess of Mars. Kunzite you will watch over Venus, Nephrite go with Jupiter, and Zoisite take on Mercury. This is the most important mission of our lives. Prince Demand you'll watch over the princess." I grinned. No one can take care of anyone like a man in love. "You are not to try anything; I just feel you'll protect her with your life. Star fighter will stay with our princesses and Mamoru. Starmaker stay with me, Starhealer watch over Uranus. Galaxia go with Starfighter, the princesses will need as much protection as possible. Sailor Aluminum Siren stay with Pluto. Sailor Lead Crow go with Neptune."

Pluto sighed. "In order to revive Cosmos we'll need to find crystals. There are eleven, each representing a power she'll possess."

Princess Kakyuu nodded, "So the plan is we split up and find them?" Her red eyes were full of fire, and her red hair seemed to be in flames as she spoke. She was a peaceful woman. But I knew she'd do what it took.

"Yes."

"We need more information, we cannot go in blind." Venus said. She ranked above me in leadership position, but I agreed. I had already come up with my plan. Venus had always confused me; it was like she had split personalities. She could be fun but other times more serious than even I.

"Faith, the first power of Cosmos, she is supposed to be all powerful because of faith. Mars and Jadeite, this is your mission." Pluto said. Mars nodded quickly.

"Where and how?" Jadeite asked.

Mars already knew. "We need to make the people we're protecting believe in us. This is how the new kingdom will rise, isn't it?" I gave her a wicked smile, she sighed. We never wanted to give up the chances of a normal life. Mars never, not even in her past life wanted to be a fighter. She realized there was a reason it had to be her.

"That could cause chaos around this world. I don't know if they can handle the truth." Jadeite argued.

I rolled my eyes. "But this is what we have to do to save them,"

"There isn't another option. We either die, or die fighting." The purple eyes of Mars burned into his. Her aura sparked red. "I'm not willing to do that. I didn't fight all those people to give up now."

"Heart, the second, she is loved by all. Venus and Kunzite should be able to find it." I teased. Venus blushed.

"That shouldn't be too much of a challenge" Venus winked her blue eye.

"The question is where we find this crystal." Kunzite agreed. Venus and he shared a look.

Pluto sat down. "They are all tests. No one can know for sure. But my keys should be able to start the tests." She smiled. "Why do you think the old queen was so strict with me? These keys," She pointed towards her chain of keys on her hip, "Unlock way more than time." She flipped her dark green hair, and her red eyes were amused.

"Strength." I sighed, "Jupiter and Nephrite are physically the strongest, and this should be an easy task."

"I can take on anyone." Jupiter grinned.

"You'll have to be faster than me, darling." Nephrite rolled his eyes.

Pluto stood up immediately and got in Jupiter's face. "'This isn't going to be easy. Don't get cocky. Cosmos hasn't been awakened since the old queen. This is nearly impossible." Jupiter's emerald eyes widened.

"We'll obtain our eternal forms?" she questioned. The topic had never been brought up.

"The strongest form for us, our next highest would be our princess forms." Pluto grinned.

I grinned. "We'll need an upgrade too, if we want to be any use."

"Intelligence, Mercury and Zoisite." Pluto said.

"Not really my thing, but Mercury should be able to find it." Zoisite smiled. Ami blushed a little at his flirting. I didn't realize I was playing matchmaker today. I didn't express my annoyance though; I knew I could trust in Mercury to finish the mission.

"Patience, Pluto and Siren."

Pluto rolled her eyes at the blue haired scout. Siren and Pluto were complete opposites.

"A true challenge." Pluto rolled her ruby eyes. Her annoyance was evident. Sailor Aluminum Siren was a total airhead. She made Moon and Venus look like Einstein.

"Truth, Crow and Neptune."

"Easy." they both had determined eyes.

They would be competing naturally. They both had it in their eyes. I could sense Neptune wasn't too happy about not being paired with Uranus. But I ignored it, now wasn't the time.

"Courage, Uranus and Starhealer."

"We're your girls." Uranus smirked.

This was a pairing I'd like to see. Starhealer wasn't keen on working together ever, or lifting a finger. But duty called.

"Doom." I looked at Starmaker, "That will be us."

She was very peaceful. She looked scared, but I was excited, it was my element. She didn't seem to happy about this.

"Unity." "Starfighter, Demand, Mamoru, Kakyuu, Galaxia and Usagi."

"Perhaps a royal Unity?" Galaxia laughed. She tossed her blonde hair casually.

"We're going to have to work together, despite our differences." Prince Demand nodded.

"We paired you six together because this is the hardest one. You'll need all the help you can get." Pluto sighed. "I wish you luck. Unity isn't easy."

"We'll be a strong team to defeat." Starfighter smiled.

"Almost invisible." Tuxedo Kamen stated. "We'll need to be careful."

"Sacrifice," Everyone got stiff. I sighed. "We will need to all lend her our power. When we get all the crystals, it'll be more power than you can imagine. She'll be purified. But it's taboo. If she dies in the fight, we'll lose our power forever. And Usagi," Her blue eyes met mine. "If you win, you will never be able to be a Senshi again. Sailor Cosmos will be your ultimate power. You can only transform into Cosmos in times of great danger. But if we win this, you'll become a queen. When you become queen you won't be able to use your fighting powers. You'll only have the power of the silver crystal and moon gifts much like your mother. A queen cannot fight; a true queen is a power house. Think of Cosmos as your coronation."

"No more sailor moon?" Uranus awed.

"Is there another way?" Starfighter gasped.

"She won't need them anyways. She'll have Chibiusa." Mercury said coolly. We all looked at her. "This is the final battle for us together. If Usagi can't be a scout after we'll just have to enjoy this one. We have a greater good. She'll still be our Sailor Moon. She will always be our light no matter what."

"Chibiusa will take on her role as Sailor Moon. That's why she was sent to us in the first place, she was to train. Usagi will be an all powerful queen anyways. She just won't be able to fight. Then it will be her turn to lend us our power." Pluto nodded.

Usagi looked down at her broach. "This is all I've ever known in this life..." Tears fell down. I felt bad. Being a princess wasn't as fun as being a soldier. When you were a Senshi you had a deeper connection. Usagi was never meant to get her Senshi powers and now that she went so far in it, it would be hard to let go. "I'll always be me. I'm finishing my mission to protect this galaxy. It doesn't matter." She sighed.

"Usagi..." Mamoru frowned. We all knew she was trying to be strong.

"No Mamo-chan, I won't lose, I won't waste your powers just to keep mine. It's too selfish. Aiko would have wanted this. I didn't lose my baby for nothing. Hell, he might be safer in heaven than here. I can't not do this." She smiled sadly. "I'll be queen or whatever, it doesn't matter."

"You'll always be Odango." Mars smiled.

"Our kitten," Uranus and Neptune smiled.

"Usagi, Sailor Moon, or Serenity, it's you who we love and fight for. We don't care." Venus cried a little. "We have the pleasure of fighting with you, now you'll fight for us. And later we'll protect you."

"Thanks you guys." Usagi smiled.

"And the eleventh?" Galaxia asked.

"Life. Only Usagi can do it."

We all gulped. No one knew what that meant, not even me. I just had to believe that we'd be alright.

Pluto started handing people little keys. "They'll glow when it's time for your tests. They'll take you. You can't lose them."