Chapter 28: The Prophecy

"We need to wash off the blood." Michiru said as Haruka carried Stephie-chan into a guestroom. She grabbed some towels out of the bathroom cupboards. Setsuna pulled the sheets form the bed back and Michiru lined the bed with the towels so no blood would stain the sheets. Haruka set her down.

Michiru waved her hand in the air and a ball of water formed into her hands. Setsuna handed her a wash cloth. She dampened the cloth and started to rub the blood off of Stephie-chan's neck and face. "The blood is coming from a cut on her head." She added.

"Just press down on it until the bleeding stops." Setsuna instructed. "It'll heal over time." She added.

"What about a bandage?" Haruka questioned. "We could just wrap it around her forehead and over her hair where the cut is. This way it won't get infected." She said.

"Good idea. I'll go and get them." Michiru stood up. "Keep pressing on her cut." She turned towards Haruka. She nodded slightly and gently started to add pressure. Setsuna studied Stephie-chan carefully as Haruka pressed onto the cloth. The two sat in silence.

"So why do you think she did it?" Haruka spoke up.

"Huh?" Setsuna questioned.

"Why do you think she stopped me from getting hurt?" she replied.

"Just incase I don't make it, I want you to hold my hand."

"Why did you do that?"

"Enemies or not... We're all fighting for the same thing."

"She's desperately trying to gain our trust." Setsuna shrugged. "Stephie-chan probably thought that sacrificing herself would help." She sent Haruka a knowing look.

"She's going to have to do more." Haruka muttered.

"She's trying hard Haruka." Setsuna shook her head. "Why is it so hard for you to see that?" she demanded. Haruka opened her mouth to answer but she quickly closed it when Michiru re-entered the room.

"Why do you have your mirror?" Haruka asked.

Michiru didn't answer. She just pointed it at Stephie-chan's face and waited for a couple of seconds until she turned it around and took a look. "She's pure." She answered. "There are no traces of darkness inside her." She explained while moving Haruka's hand out of the way and removed the cloth.

"Let me see it." She demanded. Michiru mentioned for Setsuna to help prop Stephie-chan up to place the bandaged around her head.

"Why don't you trust me?" Michiru tucked her mirror underneath the pillow away from the blond. Setsuna's eyes narrowed and she lowered her ear towards Stephie-chan's lips.

"I didn't say that." Haruka shook her head.

"But that's what you meant." Michiru glared.

"Shh..." Setsuna snapped. Michiru and Haruka turned away from each other and looked at their fellow senshi. "Listen." She added and backed away from Stephie-chan.

Stephie-chan's lips were moving as she was whispering something to herself. Michiru cocked her head to the side and leaned closer, trying to hear.

"What is she saying?" Haruka questioned. Stephie-chan opened her eyes and started to speak softly. "Is she awake?" she kneeled by the side of the bed.

"No, she's still unconscious." Setsuna shook her head. She reached out and opened up Stephie-chan's eye lids. "You see? Her eyes are empty." She explained and then slowly let go.

"She's reciting something." Michiru mentioned for them to stay quiet. Everyone leaned closer and tried to listen as Stephie-chan spoke softly.

The darkness has returned.

The moon has lost its power.

The elements of fire, water, love, and thunder

Will soon die out.

Darkness will jump ahead in time.

The moon and falling stars will be partners.

The Light of Hope will shine once more.

The ruler of the stars will be revealed.

The owner of the Ultimate Rainbow Crystal will be revealed.

Many sacrifices will be made,

A new element holder's life is in danger.

The true form of darkness will be looked in the eye,

The moon will be restored once more.

Only the moon and stars will prevail in destroying the darkness once and for all.

But for a great price.

Stephie-chan all of a sudden gasped and a shuddered breath left her mouth before she closed her eyes and slumped back.

"What was that about?" Haruka whispered.

"It sounded like a prophecy." Setsuna answered. She got up from the side of the bed and walked over to a bag near the door. "Is this her bag?" she asked while picking it up.

"Yeah, I took it and her guitar with us on our way back here." Michiru answered while wrapping some bandages around Stephie-chan's head. She kept clicking her tongue every time blood would seep through.

"Maybe there is something in here that can help explained everything." Setsuna suggested while tossing the backpack to Haruka. She moved out of the way and the back pack crashed to the floor. One of the zippers was opened and a book fell out.

"What's this?" Haruka cocked her head to the side and picked up the book from the ground. "The History behind the Stars and Kinmoku." She read aloud.

"This might help." Setsuna took the book out of her hands and sat back down near the bed again. "Oh look, there's a page marked." She flipped open to the page. She read the page aloud and gradually started to read it slower and softer as she finished.

Michiru paused what she was doing and let the words sink in. "Their mother was murdered? No wonder she gave into the darkness so easily." She whispered.

"Stephie-chan was just a child." Setsuna shook her head. "Demando probably fed her lies and she fell for them because she saw him as a father." She added.

"There's so much more to her that we don't understand." Michiru muttered and fastened the bandages with a small clip. She placed Stephie-chan back onto the bed and pulled the covers up to her neck.

"That's what we said about Sailor Saturn. But she came out just fine." Haruka climbed to her feet. Michiru and Setsuna watched in silence as their friend shook with anger. She clenched her hands into fists and looked down at the ground. "Is this how everything is supposed to be for us? Are we always going to disagree with a portion of our group, fight them, realize we were wrong, and then run away?" she demanded.

"You're upset." Michiru stood up and placed both of her hands on Haruka's shoulders. "Why don't you go and lie down?" she suggested. Haruka nodded softly and reached up to squeezed her partner's hands.

Michiru smiled and Haruka left the room. Setsuna got to her feet to and placed the book on the end of the bed. "I'm going to go and call Princess Kakyuu and tell them that Stephie-chan's alright." She said.

Michiru nodded and placed the book on the night stand. She walked around the bed and pulled her mirror out from beneath the pillow. Stephie-chan moved her arm and grabbed a hold of Michiru by the wrist.

Stephie-chan slowly opened her eyes but closed them again from the bright light shining in her face. She winced from the pain coming from the injuries on her body.

Michiru noticed her lips moving but she didn't hear anything. "What did you say?" she asked while leaning closer.

Stephie-chan groaned in pain. "...Thank you." She repeated. Michiru straightened back up and watched Stephie-chan release her grip and her arm went limp on the bed.