Chapter 28-The Betrayal

People have always talked about their defining moments. Moments that made them who they were. Moments that made them good or evil. Mine was when I picked up the Neptune transformation pen. That was when I had enough power to save people, but also to kill. Blood had soiled my hands long before I met Haruka and long before the Silence battle. There were many regrets and years of guilt to get over.

That night, as the outer Senshi marched to Galaxia's headquarters, I thought of my parents. I remembered my mom teaching me how to play the violin. I remembered my father teaching me how to paint. I wished I was young and innocent again, just so that I could run into their embraces.

Then I thought of the family I built. Haruka and Hotaru. They had filled the hole in my heart and made me believe in love again. Sailor Neptune was slowly erasing my identity but they made me Michiru again. Life wasn't just about fighting evil. Life was waking up next to your partner. Life was holding your child in your arms. Life was making and collecting little happy moments.

Thunder continued to roar as we walked. While people were running away from the source of the evil, the four of us walked toward it. Finally, we reached our destination.

The building was surrounded by an energy field. Sailor Pluto was able to use her Garnet orb to create an opening, allowing all of us to walked in safely. When we entered, the dark hallways were thick with evil. The building seemed empty and hollow.

We came across the broadcast room. Most of the screens were static except one. Galaxia sat on a gold throne and she was torturing the Starlights. She sent out weaker attacks and was laughing with joy as she watched the sailors suffered. Seiya and the others were flung around like bugs. Their counter attacks were getting weaker and weaker.

Just then, a red glowing orb appeared. When it dissipated, it was Sailor Chibi Chibi moon and the rest of the scouts. They got to the room before us.

I was about to race to them when Sailor Pluto grabbed my hand and stopped me. "We can't all show up at once. Right now they have become the first line of defense. We need to fall back and be the second line, in case…" She looked down, unable to finish her sentence.

I turned my attention back to the screen. If we were to be the second line, then we need to learn more about Galaxia.

Then we watched in horror as the next scene unfolded. Galaxia was getting tired of just talking to Sailor Moon. She powered up and sent out multiple attacks, straight toward the princess. Without a moment of hesitation, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Venus jumped in front of Sailor Moon and used their bodies as shields. Four brilliant star seeds were ripped out and the scouts were no more. Their fight was over.

Gloating, Galaxia showed Sailor Moon all of the star seeds she had collected. Sailor Pluto gasped as she recognized one of them. "The golden star seed! King Endymion!" So just like we speculated, Mamoru was killed by her. I clenched my fists, as I felt my fury gaining momentum. Let the ocean be angry. Let the destructive waves come. I needed the power.

All of a sudden, the same red orb appeared and Sailor Moon and the Starlights disappeared. "They are still in the building. Follow me." I pulled out my mirror and started running. Sailor Moon was all alone now. We need to save her.

We found them in an abandoned office. Exhausted, Sailor Chibi Chibi Moon was sleeping on the floor. Sailor Moon and the starlights were passed out.

"Was I dreaming?" Sailor Moon woke and she looked around the room in confusion. We all looked down, unable to meet her sorrowful eyes. "It was all a dream, right? Mamo-chan is not dead. My friends are not dead. Right?" She started shaking uncontrollably as she realized it wasn't a dream. The reality hit her like a tsunami and drowned her hope.

"Sailor Neptune, let's go!" Uranus turned and left the room. I watched as Uranus started punching the wall in the hallway. I put my arms around her and rested my head on her back.

"There has to be a way! She must have a weakness. We just have to find it." I said as I continued to hold her tightly.

"Michiru. I love you." Haruka turned and held my face in her hands.

"That sounded like a goodbye. It's too soon." I teased. "Haruka, I love you too." I ran my hand through her blonde hair and pulled her in for one last kiss. The world was burning but I needed one second. One second of pure bliss, so that we would have the courage to walk through the fire of hell.

"Deep Submerge!" I called upon the stormy sea and sent out my fury along with the waves. Galaxia waved it aside with a smirk on her face.

Uranus ran straight toward her with her space sword. Galaxia stopped it with one hand. She held on to the sword and squeezed. The sword cracked and broke.

"The sword must be becoming dull." Uranus couldn't help but joke inappropriately. This was our routine. Joking and laughing while staring Death in the face.

"Are you blaming your sword?" I teased back.

"I don't think I've lost my edge." Uranus winked. I rolled my eyes at the sky soldier.

Just then, Galaxia fired two more shots at us. We were getting ready to counter attack when we heard a familiar voice yelled "Silent Wall". Our daughter had just entered the war room.

"I am Sailor Saturn, soldier of destruction and rebirth. Sailor Galaxia, leave this planet right now! Otherwise, we will destroy you." Saturn swung her Silent Glave and pointed it at the enemy. Sailor Pluto stood behind her and swung her Garnet Orb.

Pluto looked at Uranus and then nodded. "Dead Scream." "World shaking!" They both yelled out their attacks and combined their powers. A giant energy ball hurled straight at Galaxia. Poof! Galaxia deflected the attack easily.

Then my heart broke when I saw Saturns' expression changed. She swung her Glave and said, "in that case, I will erase you from the solar system by sacrificing myself."

Evil laughter erupted from Galaxia. "I woke you up early so you could mature in time. It was me that broke Nehelenia's seal and sent her vengeance straight to you. Knowing you would wake in order to protect your precious princess, I wanted you to mature quickly. Now that you are of age, I can collect your star seed." Galaxia held up her bracelets. "Do you really think you can defeat me?"

A moment of hesitation from Saturn was all she needed. Galaxia shot out four attacks, knocking all of us to the ground. Saturn's Glave and Pluto's Garnet Orb lay broken next to the already broken space sword.

"Galaxia is too powerful. She was strong enough to control the entire galaxy." Uranus commented. I frowned at the odd comment from her. The tone of her voice almost sounded like a compliment.

"After I take your star seed, you will disappear completely." Galaxia laughed. "But there is another way…" She paused and looked at Uranus.

"I am glad to hear it," said Uranus.

Puzzled, I look at Uranus. What was she doing? Uranus was flashing her handsome smile back at Galaxia. Was she flirting? Unbelievable.

"Work for me. Surrender your star seeds and swear faith to me. If you wear these bracelets, you will accept my power and you can live without your star seed. Now choose, surrender or die?" Galaxia said to us but she was staring only at Uranus.

"Sounds interesting. If I wear those bracelets, I can live, right?" Uranus asked.

That was when I realized Uranus's plan. The bracelets were the source of Galaxia's power. If we surrender, we would have access to her power. Also, Galaxia was a Sailor too. She was born of stars and planets too.

Uranus turned and looked at me. "If I can be with you, I won't hesitate to sell my soul to the devil." Her eyes were trying hard not to look at Pluto and Saturn. They were looking at her with disbelief and anger.

I looked at Pluto and Saturn and then I said a silent sorry to the rest of my family. I looked back at Uranus and smiled. We both stood up and faced Galaxia. Our arms were down, showing our compliance.

"Did you forget our mission? To protect Earth and the princess?" Saturn looked at us with her sad purple eyes. Shocked and hurt, Saturn tried to grabbed Uranus's hand. That was her last effort to save her parents.

"Shut Up!" Uranus yelled and flung Saturn's hand away. Haruka-papa, who was always gentle with Hotaru, just yelled at her for the first time. In the most painful way imaginable. I looked away, unable to bear the look on Hotaru's face.

So we walked up to Galaxia and spread our arms. We surrendered, like cowards, in front of our daughter. I turned to my lover and I was momentarily comforted by the fact that even in death, we would be together.

Uranus turned and winked at me. "See you in hell, my love."

When the energy balls hit my chest, the pain was indescribable. A burning sensation that spread and escalated in seconds. It felt like all the energy from each and every one of my molecules were sucked dry. Then our arms shot up involuntarily and Galaxia's bracelets clasped on. Like cattle, we were branded. Galaxia's power flooded through our bodies and evil coursed through our blood. Hatred and thirst for vengeance roared inside me.

"Now, your first job is to collect the star seeds from Pluto and Saturn." Galaxia sat back and watched. She watched us like it was no more than a show.

Uranus and I looked at each other and shared a knowing look. The moment we failed to defeat Galaxia with our powers was the moment we failed to protect our family. Now, we had to kill Pluto and Saturn in order to carry on with our mission. "The mission is what matters." I silently said to myself, preparing myself for what I was about to do.

Hotaru, my baby girl. She stared at us, silently calling out "mama, papa." We were her whole world and now we would end it. There was no return at this point. I felt her pain as I watched her star seed got ripped out. The sea wailed and wept, as I watched Pluto and Saturn disappeared.

"You were always a killer. You killed your first girlfriend. You killed your parents and all the people on that cruise. You were willing to kill Hotaru the first time and now, you have finally killed her. That was your defining moment. Sailor Neptune the murderer. Don't resist. This is who you are. Galaxia's power is great and she will make you invincible. Accept the power." Evil thoughts drilled through my skull.

As the evil started to invade my mind, I kept my thoughts on Hotaru. In the far corner of my mind, I saw myself holding baby Hotaru, singing to her as I rocked her gently to sleep. I saw her first step. I remembered the first time she called me mama.

Galaxia would never see this coming. It was ironic really. By asking us to kill our own daughter had helped us resist the mind control. Our love for Hotaru was our own light of hope. That tiny flickering light amidst the evil darkness….