New Character Alert: Meet my newest Original Character (OC). I won't tell you all the details now, because I'm mean, but I will tell you his name is Ine Minato-Asahi (Asahi for short). He has silver hair and azure eyes. That's all you're getting for the moment. You'll have to read to discover the rest. As always, more information on all of my OC's is located in my profile page!

Acknowledgements: My newest character would not have come about without some serious help from Astraearose-silvermoon, who brainstormed names with me and let me talk it out. She's an awesome writer, so you really should go check out her stories!

Author's Notes: We're getting close to the end on this story, and there is a lot to tell, so hold on to your hats. Also, in case you weren't already aware, I've recently updated the last two in this series, Alone Together and Timelines Altered. And just a warning... the next chapter is probably going to be rather emotional.

MUSIC SELECTIONS
Daughter of the Moon - Adriana Figueroa
Everything I Do - Bryan Adams
Lullaby of Woe - Ashley Serena
Yesterday - The Beatles
Who Will Save Your Soul - Jewel
Only Hope - Mandy Moore
Find You - Stan Walker

One Month
Timelines Altered

October 24
Hope

***Haruna's POV***

There were days when being a teacher didn't seem worth it. Days when she felt her students hated her, or worse, she wasn't getting through to them. Over the years she'd had many students who disrespected her, or ignored what she tried to teach. Other students had broken her heart because she couldn't help them. And then there were a few who had driven her nearly insane.

Tsukino Usagi had always been one who drove her crazy. It wasn't that the girl didn't try. She'd improved a lot, and she did better in school. But the girl tended to be late more than she was on time, talked louder than any other student she'd ever had, lost anything that wasn't food, ate so fast she spilled that food, and ran everywhere at a breakneck pace that was frightening to watch.

Perhaps that was why she was one of Haruna's all-time favorite students. Hiding the fact that she was amused while she disciplined the girl had become a full time job. And this school year wasn't the first time Usagi had been in her class. She'd been her homeroom teacher in eighth grade, and now, in tenth, she was again. She couldn't be happier about that.

It had been extremely difficult for Haruna when Usagi went missing. Unlike the students in her class (except for Naru and Umino) she didn't buy the art camp story, and the guilt written all over Minako's, Ami's and Makoto's faces had been enough to tell her Usagi was in trouble.

Now that she was back, Haruna had expected things to quiet down, especially considering the girl was married, and pregnant. Haruna still couldn't get over what the other girls had done to her. It was abhorrent. But she couldn't deny the obvious love Usagi had for Chiba Mamoru, or his absolute devotion to her.

But Usagi's life was anything but boring.

The day before Kenji had called in to let the school know that none of the kids would be there. Not Usagi or Mamoru, or Motoki, or the new boys, or any of the girls. He even called out Naru and Umino. When Haruna had called back to ask what was going on, he had explained about the project they were undertaking, and the time constraints they were working under.

Late in the afternoon she had gone to the principal and asked him if she could take some of her better behaved students on a field trip to help out. Approval was given instantly and those of her students who could not be trusted to behave were assigned to a teacher who had a free period.

Now Haruna pulled up in front of the school in the large bus and opened the door. A line of twenty students filed in, none wearing their uniforms. They were mostly quiet and respectful, but all of them were excited.

"Is that everyone?" she asked.

"Four more are coming," Bradley told her. He was an American, his parents working in Japan for several years, and was friendly with Umino. "I think they're seniors who wanted to help. The principal asked us to give them five minutes to change."

Haruna-sensei nodded. She glanced back. All of the students were wearing red t-shirts with the school name printed in large lettering on the back. Picking up her cell phone she called Kenji and let him know they would be there quickly. He thanked her and reminded her where to park before hanging up.

By the time she was done on the phone all the students had arrived. She took roll call, adding the names of the last four students to her list.

"Here are the rules," she said, standing and turning to the back of the bus. "No one leaves the property without permission from me. Please ask Tsukino-san which projects you will be involved in. He has a list of things that need to be done. You all know Usagi and the other girls. There are a few others with them, and one of them may ask you to do something. Please let me remind you that they are leaders in the project and they wont be asking just to tell you what to do."

She smiled at them. "I know you are all very excited, but please remember it is a construction site, and if everything is ready we will be helping with framing, putting up the fence, planting, sorting donations, or a number of other projects. Now, three of you are going with Ami to the side project. Raise your hands so I know who you are."

As soon as she had marked them down, she smiled again, feeling happy to be involved.

"Does anyone have any questions?" she asked.

"We don't have to talk to the reporters if we don't want to, right?" Lily asked. She was Bradley's sister and didn't like a lot of attention.

"Absolutely. You're here to help. No one can make you talk to them if you don't want to. On the other side of that, all of you are minors, so you would need your parents permission to talk to them anyways."

There were a few nods and she turned to sit back down, but there was another question.

"Is it true the homeless population has really doubled?" asked one of the seniors.

"Unfortunately, according to the numbers, it has more than doubled," she said.

"How come none of us knew about it before?"

Haruna-sensei sighed. "I don't know. In some countries there is more notice of homeless and those who are unemployed or underemployed. Here though, I think people don't want to think about it, maybe because they're afraid it could happen to them."

One of the girls in the back was crying silently. "It's so unfair," she whispered.

"It is," Haruna agreed. "It really is."

A few minutes later she was pulling out of the parking lot and into traffic, feeling hopeful, and very thankful she had a student like Usagi. Her father had confessed the idea was actually hers but that she didn't want anyone to know, so she planned to keep the secret. After all, she was keeping other secrets for the girl. It wouldn't be a hardship to add one more.

***Asahi's POV***

Waiting and watching with no hope was tearing Asahi apart. He knew she was out there, somewhere, but hadn't seen a trace of her. He wasn't sure what to do. He settled back into his seat, looking through a list of possible places and times where he might be able to find her. He knew she was here, in this time, somewhere.

With a sigh, he stared up at the ceiling of the coffee shop and imagined what she might look like now. They said her hair and eyes were an exact match to her father's, and her skin and face were nearly identical to her mother, though she had three freckles across her nose. Would she be tall? Short? Thin or heavy? How old would she be now? Another heavy sigh escaped.

"You alright son?" a middle aged man asked as he came over with a pot of coffee to replenish his cup.

"Yes," just frustrated, he answered, somewhat truthfully.

He didn't say his heart had been broken nine years before and he hadn't been the same since. He didn't say that without his soulmate he felt empty and alone. He didn't say he was starting to lose hope of ever finding her. Over the past nine years there had been a lot of things he didn't say.

Now, sitting in an American Style diner in the more tourist friendly section of Tokyo Japan, he looked up and met the eyes of a stranger. There was so much he could say. He could say he would search every time, every place for the girl he was hoping to find. He could say he would never give up on her. He could say he had loved her the moment he laid eyes on her, five hours after her birth. He shook his head. No one in this time would know, or care.

"Well, I hope you find what you're looking for son," the older man said. He poured more coffee into the mug and went back behind the counter. Ren vinyl covered the stools on the other side. Pictures of vintage cars covered the walls. An American diner in Tokyo. Silly thing, but he had needed to smile.

He stared into his coffee cup for a long time, not sure what move to make next. Then the chair across from him pulled back and a man sat down. He had long black hair with white streaks at his temples. There was a mark on his forehead, but Asahi couldn't see it clearly.

"You wont find her sitting around her young man," he said in a quiet voice.

Surprise filled him and he looked into the eyes of the stranger. "Who are you?" he asked.

"The only person who knows where she is right now."

"How?"

The man sighed. "The others, your parents and their friends, barely realize she exists," he explained. "They think she's the one working against them right now and though they have plans to save Agate, they don't know the girl is a prisoner too."

"A prisoner?" Asahi asked, anger making his face hot. "Where?"

The man nodded. "You'll do," he said. "You're supposed to be her mate," he said. "You need to be part of the group that goes into the Negaverse. The self-proclaimed queen who kidnapped her realized a few years ago that she couldn't keep her filled with dark energy. She gave up and locked her in the Endless Slumber. Heliodor and Agate are both awake, and aware that time is passing them by, but if you don't go with the others, they won't find her."

"How will I get them to take me with them?"

The man laughed. "That is easy enough," he said. "Two of them are your parents. You know enough about them to prove who you are. There are complications however. I am not the only one of my kind that was made. Helios made me in this reality, but in others it was the queen, or Agate, or someone else who found the plans and warped them. There are two, just like me, but with a twisted purpose, meddling with this timeline. You absolutely cannot let yourself, or any of the others be swayed by them. You must save Heliodor. Your parents and hers must go with you as well as Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen. The others need to stay behind to protect the city."

"How do you know all this?"

"I can cross timelines, and go backward and forward in whatever timeline I am in," the man explained. "I've seen dozens of attempts to rescue them. It must be as I said. If not, she will die, or you will, or her mother, or the city will be ravaged. There are too many possibilities to explain right now. Do you remember who should go?"

"Me, my mom and dad, her mom and dad, and Moon and Kamen," Asahi answered, frowning. "When?"

"That can change. I've seen three possibilities. Tonight, just after dark, tomorrow just after sunrise, or tomorrow just before midnight. If you do then, and take exactly who I've said, then she will be saved, as will Agate. If not, then she will die, or many others will. Warn them, there are two who meddle. Warn them not to trust the one with a stone that is blue and black or blue and red. Do you see my stone? Red and Green. Those are her parent's colors."

Asahi nodded his head. "Okay. I'll tell them. Can you tell me anything else?"

"If you get into trouble, say my name. Dragon Fire Opal. It must be exactly that, and I will come."

Asahi nodded. Before he could say another word, the man vanished. He gasped in shock. He hadn't been expecting a sudden disappearance. He stood, taking a last gulp of coffee. At the very least he knew where his parents were today.

***Usagi's POV***

Usagi couldn't help the very loud squeal that popped out of her mouth when she saw her favorite teacher. "Haruna-sensei!" she yelled, waving wildly. She looked around to make sure she wouldn't interfere with anyone before she dashed toward her teacher and the other students.

Just as she was getting close, she tripped, and only the strong arms of her Soul-Bonded saved her from a fall. She blushed and stared up at him. "Careful Usako," he warned, setting her carefully on her feet. Brushing a kiss over her forehead, he clasped her hand, intertwining their fingers, before he led her closer to the teacher.

"Usagi-chan! You need to be more careful," Haruna-sensei scolded, pulling her into a hug. "Especially while pregnant," she added in a whispered.

Habit made Usagi apologize to her teacher, one toe digging into the dirt as she looked down. A snort made her look back up and she could see the affection the sensei had for her.

"So," Haruna-sensei began. "Do you have our assignments?"

Usagi nodded and pulled a list out of the back pocket of her jeans. "I guess late last night we got a whole bunch of food delivered. I mean so much it should last this place a year," she added. "Some of it is perishable though. Anyways, the group that is going to be living here is coming over this afternoon to help and we were hoping four of you could make up bags. Then Ami asked for three or four volunteers who are good on the phone and with computers to help her and my mom. Five more are on fence duty. We have to get it put up and painted today."

She paused, staring down at the list. "We need the strongest to help put up the framework of the building and the rest are going to be working on the garden." She stared at the other students. "There are other projects, so if you have to stop what you're working on for any reason, just find my dad," she pointed to her father, who had a tool belt slung around his waist and was working with two contractors as well as Kunzite and the other guys to build the frames. Or you can come to me, Mamoru, or Setsuna or Haruki." She pointed out her cousin and his soulmate. "All of us have copies of the list and we know where everything is."

Mamoru took over. "I know it feels rather chilly now, but the sun can get pretty hot in the afternoon when you're working. We are asking you to take at least two fifteen minute breaks as well as a longer break for lunch. You're only here until three-thirty, but a lot can happen in that time. If any of you sees anything dangerous, let one of the contractors know, or my father-in-law. Or come to me. We'll make sure it's sorted. There's no electricity for you to charge your phones, and no running water yet, but if you look right across the street there is a store that has offered to let us use their restrooms. Check in before you go and if you leave the site, use the buddy system just in case."

"Where do we go if we'd like to join Ami?" Lily asked. "I'm good with computers and phones."

Usagi grinned. "That's my mom, right over there, with the long blue hair. She's going to drive everyone over. She can take three or four, but that's it. She's really nice, and she made cookies," Usagi added, grinning. There was a clamor of girls volunteering to help her mother and Ami after that. Usagi laughed.

She watched as the group divided themselves into teams to work on the various projects, then turned to Haruna-sensei. "Would you be willing to come and help me for a bit?" she asked.

"What are you working on?"

Usagi nodded to the two storage units that had been placed at the edge of the site. "We've had some deliveries of food, books, clothing, and all sorts of other things. I need help figuring out what categories to sort them into and I was hoping you could teach me to use a label maker."

"I can do that," her teacher said.

Mamoru caught her hand and turned her back to him, placing a chaste kiss on her lips. "Be careful. I don't want you getting hurt."

"Same goes for you mister," she said, smiling up at the love of her life.

Taking her teacher's hand, she led her to the first unit. The doors had been propped open. Most of what was inside was furniture, both used and new, including beds, desks, couches, and a couple tables. Her teacher let out a low whistle.

"How did you pay for all this Usagi-chan?"

"We didn't Sensei. These are all donations. You should see what our lawyer is dealing with," she added. "Everyone and their brother has been calling and offering us help. I think people have wanted to do something for a long time. They just didn't know how."

"Well I'm glad they have a way now. I got so excited when I heard about the project I had to get involved." She sorted through a box of supplies for the label maker, showing Usagi how to insert the tape and press what she wanted printed.

"Sensei?" Usagi asked. "You've always seemed to know things," she fiddled with the strings on a lamp. "I mean, you seem like you can sense things about all of us. Your students."

"Hie. I can usually tell who needs help and how," the Sensei said, slightly distracted. "Why, did you need something."

"How many times have you been involved in an attack by Youma?" she asked instead.

"I don't know. There was the radio show program, and then the gym," the sensei said, shuddering. "There were several you saved me from before the other girls arrived, but it's gotten less and less lately. Why?"

"Well, when we went to Elysion, we learned that those who have been involved in multiple attacks tend to have some sort of extra ability. It could be a sense of what is about to happen, empathic abilities, reading the history of an object, sensing the powers of others and a whole bunch of things I can't remember."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"The priest wanted to meet all of you. Help if he can. Naru and Umino have already begun training, not just to learn about their powers, but so that they can protect themselves until help arrives if they do get attacked again. That reminds me," Usagi pulled a bracelet out of her pocket. It had a symbol of the crescent moon etched on it. "Here. If you're ever in trouble, press the moon and we'll find you."

She helped her teacher attach it to her wrist before she continued. "Motoki will probably start when Reika gets here this weekend. But I was wondering if you would be willing to come and meet the priest in Elysion soon. You don't have to stay very long, and even if you did, time moves differently there. Slower. And it's the most beautiful place I've ever seen."

"What is Elysion?" Haruna-sensei asked, frowning as they began the task of labeling items that were destined to stay in the house or to be given to the people who were sheltered there.

"It's sort of a pocket dimension. It's where the protectors of dreams and Heart Wishes live. The priest and priestess and their children are amazing. There's no meat, but there is bread and honey and the best tasting fruits ever, and milk and juice and the water is cold and refreshing." Usagi let out a laugh. "And every time I go there, little Tentomushi calls all the ladbugs to her."

"Tentomushi? You've already chosen a name?"

"We have. It was the day Mamo-chan proposed to me. It was so perfect. I was laying down and the baby made my belly glow and there was this swarm of red. The ladybugs flocked to me. It was awesome. And I just knew that was her name."

"So if I go to this place, I can come back quickly?"

Usagi nodded her head. "Yes. When Naru and Umino went for a weekend it was a month there. Yume can reach Mamoru and let him know you want to come back if we have to go fight or anything."

"Is it safe?'

"Safest place in the Solar System as far as I can tell," Usagi told her.

"Then I'll go this weekend when the others do."

***Minako's POV***

She was struggling to hold up one of the fence panels when a teenager came and stood beside her. He reached out and took the panel, holding it in place, and grinned at her. He had silver-blonde hair and light blue eyes and seemed incredibly strong.

"Thanks," she said, wiping the back of her hand over her forehead. "It's not even ten yet and I'm already getting tired."

The boy shrugged. "It happens," he said. Then he grinned again. "I actually wanted to talk to you," he continued. He glanced around. "Where's my dad," he said, almost under his breath.

Minako shook her head. "I don't know who he is, so I don't know where he is." She watched as he set the piece in the proper place against the posts and she moved in with the screw gun to lock it into place. Once the screws were in they both checked it to make sure it was holding tight.

The boy turned to her. "Anyways, I wanted to talk to you and Chiba Kunzite," he said. "Do you know where he is?"

Minako turned and pointed to the team doing the framing of one of the side walls for the building. "He's right over there. Give me a second to grab him."

The boy sighed, "Just call him over here," he said.

"I don't have my phone on me," Minako explained, a little exasperated. The boy was being awfully bossy. He reminded her a bit of Kunzite.

"You don't need your phone," he said, crinkling his brows in a very familiar way. "Please, just tell him to come over."

:: Mina, you okay? :: Kunzite's voice sounded concerned in her head.

:: I don't know, :: she admitted. :: This boy wants to talk to both of us. ::

Minako felt Kunzite drawing closer.

"Thanks," the boy said. "I know you don't know me yet, but I promise, one day you'll love me." He winked, and she wanted to smack him. The nerve of some people.

Kunzite hurried over, probably sensing her irritation and distress. "What's going on?" he asked, his stance defensive as he moved just in front of her.

"Thank the kami. Can we please go somewhere and talk? Just for a couple minutes?"

Kunzite stared at the boy for a long minute. Minako watched them both. The boy looked a bit like him and she wondered if Kunzite had a younger brother. Then Kunzite wrapped his arm around her waist and led her to a tree where they all sat down. There was a little patch of grass Mamoru had grown to make sure they would be comfortable when they took their breaks and Minako was grateful for it. She was exhausted already.

Once they were seated, she leaned her head against Kunzite's shoulder.

"First," the boy said, "my name is Chiba Minato-Asahi." He took in a gulp of air. "I've come from the future to save my soulmate and I need your help."

They all sat in silence as Minako and Kunzite mulled over the information.

"I need more information," Kunzite said after a long moment. "Why are you asking us, who is your soulmate, why does she need to be saved, where is she, and how can we help you?"

The boy breathed a heavy sigh of relief. "Um, I came to you because you're my parents."

"Oh, kami, that's what you meant," Minako squeaked. Her heart thudded in her chest. "We're your parents? When were you born? How old are you now? Are we good parents?"

"Mina, wait," Kunzite said. "How do we know this is true?" he asked.

Asahi sighed, "okay, facts, facts. Alright... You went into the orphanage when you were eight and met my uncles there. Jadeite, Nephrite, and Zoicite. Um, Mamoru was also there, and you hung out, but he left before Agate kidnapped you. Um... In your last life you and mom got Soul-Bonded on Venus in a ceremony with all my aunts and uncles. Um... mom, you have a scar where your appendix was removed when you were ten and you hate it. You kidnapped Usagi and Mamoru with the girls and uncle Toki and trapped them on an island. And if my timing is right the two of you have only been Soul-Bonded a couple of days."

"So you're really our son?" Minako asked.

Asahi nodded. "Yeah. I wasn't going to ask for help. You guys kept telling me that it would all work out, but you wouldn't tell me how you knew, and I was so lonely and worried, I just couldn't stop thinking about her, and wondering if she would ever come back home. I really did plan to do it on my own, but then I found out that Beryl put her into the Eternal Sleep along with Agate and since you're planning on rescuing him... I hoped..."

"Queen Beryl took your soulmate?" Kunzite asked, his voice growing angrier. Minako rubbed her hand up and down his arm. She knew how horribly his own capture still affected him.

Asahi's fists were clenched. "Yes. She was only six months old at the time. For me it was nine years ago, but for her I have no idea how much time has passed. I only had rumors to go on. There were a couple stories about a female dark general, though no one ever saw her, so I came looking."

"Who is she?" Minako asked, sensing something he hadn't said.

"That's the other hard part." He looked over at the other teens who were working and then back at them. "Heliodor is the youngest daughter of Haruki and Setsuna."

"The youngest of how many exactly? Is it the baby she's pregnant with now?"

Asahi shook his head. "No. They have three daughters and two sons. I count Yuzuki in that though. They've never made a distinction except to take her out when her biological parents died."

"Oh wow," Minako said, her eyes tearing up. "And you?"

Asahi frowned. "I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say. Sets told me to be very careful how much I tell. I mean I'm sure you already know you're pregnant with the girls, but..."

Suddenly Minako found herself on lying on the grass, Kunzite hovering over her with a concerned look on his face. "Mina? Come back sweetheart."

"Did he say twins?"

"I think so," Kunzite said, giving her a lopsided smile.

"Okay," Minako closed her eyes for a moment. "Help me up." When she was sitting, this time in Kunzite's lap, she stared at the boy. "Exactly how many brothers and sisters do you have?" she asked.

Asahi looked away, blinking rapidly. "I don't know if I should tell you," he whispered. "I've never made you faint before." He looked upset.

"I'm okay," she promised.

"Sure," he said, rolling his eyes.

"Asahi..." she glared at him.

"Dad?" he asked, obviously hoping for some kind of reprieve.

Kunzite laughed. "You're on your own kid. When she gets that tone I don't argue."

The boy let out a small huff. "Um... so far seven."

"Seven!" Minako shrieked, slightly terrified. Kunzite covered her mouth with his hand. Instinctively she licked it, making him pull away. She stuck her tongue out at him and crossed her arms over her chest in irritation.

"So far?" Kunzite asked. "No, don't answer. Sorry. We're really off topic. So, we have to save Heliodor, who is Sets' and Haruki's youngest daughter, am I remembering this right?"

"Yes. And according to my source it has to be done very carefully to avoid disaster. There are three times we can get in, and only seven of us can go."

"Which seven?" Minako asked, certain she already knew.

"The three of us, her mom and dad, and Mamoru and Usagi. The others have to stay and protect the city from an attack."

"There's going to be an attack?" Kunzite asked.

"Yes, but I don't remember which Youma, or when. Hold on." Asahi pulled a notepad out of his pocket. "If we go just after dark tonight it will be a candy Youma of some sort. Um, if we go tomorrow first thing in the morning it will be a replicating Youma that throws flames. And if we go tomorrow around midnight it will be a replicating Youma that throws energy."

"Tonight," Minako and Kunzite said together. They both knew Sailor Moon was their best fighter against replicating Youma.

"Wow, you guys do that already." Asahi shook his head. "So weird."

"Um, should I go get the others?" Minako asked.

Kunzite shook his head. "No, you sit. You just fainted and if we're going to sneak into the Negaverse you need to rest. I'll get them." He slid her off his lap and onto the grass, kissed her forehead, and hurried away.

"Um, mom?" Asahi said, sounding worried.

"Hmm?" Minako asked, feeling a bit weirded out by a teenager calling her mom.

"I just wanted to answer your question. You guys are absolutely the best parents ever."

Minako felt her whole body warm from the compliment. Looking at the boy she could see Kunzite written all over his face. Even the silver hair was Kunzite's. But the boy had her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered.

***Haruki's POV***

He was still reeling from what he'd learned a short time ago. He and Setsuna would have a daughter at some point in the future and she would be kidnapped by Beryl and eventually put into the Eternal Slumber. From what had been described to him, that seemed like the worst sort of torture imaginable. Knowing time was passing you by, unable to move or fight or free yourself.

Sitting on the front bumper of his car, Setsuna's hand clasped tightly in his own, her head on his shoulder, all Haruki could think about was what the poor child must have gone through. He didn't know how old she was, or what she really looked like, or what her personality was like. How could he have a daughter who was trapped by the Negaverse and not even know it? Shouldn't he have sensed something?

Setsuna let out a heavy sigh and he turned his head to kiss her temple. "We'll get her back home," he swore.

"What if she hates us?" Setsuna asked. "What if she never forgives us for not finding her and bringing her home? And if we know about it now, why didn't we rescue her the day she was taken in the future? Screw time. She's supposed to be our baby."

Haruki frowned. He didn't understand much about time, but her words sounded nothing like the woman he had grown to love, not once, but twice. "Sets..." he wasn't sure what to say. "I don't have any answers for you. I just don't. But we'll figure it out."

She sniffled and Haruki could only pull her tighter against his side. "Do you think... do you think we really can save her?" she asked in a small voice.

"We can and we will," Usagi said, having approached unheard. "We wont give up until both of them are safe," she continued. "Then we can send her home and you guys will be overjoyed."

He felt Setsuna nod her head, but she didn't speak.

"Usagi," he cleared his throat, "why wouldn't we have come back to the past to save her?"

"I don't know." She sighed. "From what I understand there are three of these Youma thingies trying to mess with the timeline. What if your future selves are afraid of unraveling it altogether? Something Yume said to me once was that it's a strain. On reality itself. He told me in some timelines we go too early to Elysion. In some Mamoru and I don't become heroes until adulthood, or we meet in some weird places. Apparently we meet in prison in one, though I don't even want to know what we did to get put there."

"Prison?" Haruki asked, unable to imagine it.

Usagi nodded her head. "Anyways, imagine that all of these realities are sort of clumped together. Can they overlap? What if one reality got pulled into another? Would everyone in both disappear? Would they all be in the same one? It's scary to think about. And if there are so many versions of this reality, the only thing I can think is you were afraid of doing more harm than good."

"It makes sense," Setsuna said, "but I don't have to like it."

"I don't like it one little bit," Usagi said. "That little girl has been through something awful. She could be nine years old, or fifteen, or any age at all really. We don't know what we're going to find. I want you both to prepare yourselves, but also to be hopeful. We'll get you through this."

Haruki nodded, staring thankfully at his cousin. He'd always tried to be the strong one, but everything she'd been through had made her incredibly strong, brave, and hardworking. She and Mamoru together could do just about anything.

"Okay," Minako said, hurrying to the car. "Everyone else knows we're going to be gone. This candy Youma thing should appear right after we leave and Nephrite and Jupiter, Ami and Zoicite have all promised to be right there in the shopping district when it does. As for us, we're leaving shortly to go back home and get ready. The students are gone, and everything is set to close up for the night. Are you ready?"

Haruki stared at Minako. He nodded, unable to really speak. He hated leaving Yuzuki without himself or Sets, but Rei and Jadeite were taking her to play for a bit with Takeo. He stood and went to open the passenger door, helping Setsuna sit. She stared off into space so he grabbed the belt and buckled her in. Then he went to the driver's side door and climbed in himself, waiting for the others to get in and buckle. Mamoru had his car as well and Usagi would be going with him, so there was enough room in the back seat for the others.

He frowned. He'd just learned he had a daughter and already she was the soulmate to some boy he'd only met a short time ago. It seemed so wrong. He should have gotten time to raise her.

***Kunzite's POV***

Being back in the Negaverse, even on a rescue mission, made his chest ache. His heart was racing and his palms were sweaty. He knew, intellectually, that he couldn't be turned again. That didn't erase the fear. They'd had to teleport into D Point in the Arctic Circle while the queen was busy watching the attack in the ball on the top of her staff. That was the only reason they hadn't yet been attacked.

He wished there was another way to do this.

He had Minako and Asahi to protect, a little girl his future son loved to rescue, and he didn't know if he was up to any of it.

In henshin as North Knight, he took up the vanguard position, though they were all strung in a line, holding hands. Sailor Moon had come up with an impressive idea. She could use the disguise pen to create clothing and even the base knowledge of certain professions, to hide themselves and Yuzuki in plain sight. Why not make them invisible? When she'd said it Minako had laughed and clapped her hands.

Now, Sailor Venus, and his son... his SON... Morning Light Knight were both directly behind him as they crept through barely remembered passageways. With Sun Knight and Sailor Pluto between his family and Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen, they made a chain and walked slowly and silently.

They didn't see a single Youma. Didn't sense hide or hair of a dark general of any sort, and they were not attacked at all. He thought perhaps it was too quiet. He said nothing of his fears however, and simply kept moving. He knew these passageways enough to turn to the left and follow a smaller tunnel. As they progressed deeper into the Negaverse it continued to shrink. The ceiling ended closer above their heads, the walls could be reached by stretching out his arms to either side.

Finally they reached the place they'd been searching for and he carefully walked through the archway and into a room where there were four chambers, all standing upright. Each had someone, or something, inside. Two he thought were people, the other two had glass so fogged he couldn't see anything but a shadow.

"Lets do this and get out," Tuxedo Kamen said, hurrying past him. "Be prepared, just in case," he added.

The rush of footsteps was followed by the growth of four thick vines. They were sent towards the chambers and as Kunzite watched, each began to spread open slightly. In the closest chamber to the left he glimpsed and elderly man with a beard nearly to his waist. The second on that side held a young man with bright green hair who seemed to be holding his hands up in defense. On the right the first chamber held Agate and the second another man with purple hair. There was no girl.

North Night felt his son let go of him and start moving further into the room. "I feel her," he said. "She's here." He followed the boy and found another chamber hidden in a recessed area between two pillars of stone.

"Come quick," he urged, turning back to the others.

All of them were visible now and he realized Sailor Moon must have let the disguise go so that no one was left behind. He looked down at his communicator. It was just after midnight. They had been in the tunnels for nearly four hours. Uncaught. That had to be a miracle.

She hurried over to him first, quickly followed by Tuxedo Kamen and the others. He sent several vines out and the chamber opened to reveal a girl who could count perhaps thirteen or fourteen years with bright auburn hair and incredibly vivid eyes. She blinked at them as the chamber opened, her mouth dropping as she caught sight of Sun Knight.

"Moonlit Lullaby," Sailor Moon whispered.

Morning Light Knight picked up the girl and carried her back to where the other four were now laying in a row in the center of the room.

They surrounded the sleeping men and Mamoru led the teleport away from the dark kingdom to the only place of hope.