Disclaimer: I don't own Sailormoon

"Usako"

"Usagi"

Tuxedo-Kamen ran toward the fallen Sailor Moon who had reverted back to her civilian form. 'Please be okay,' Tuxedo-Kamen chanted over and over as he felt his heart plummet from his fear for Usagi's condition.

He kneeled down and cradled Usagi in his arms as he checked her pulse. Once he found her pulse, he noticed the rise and fall of her chest telling him she's still breathing. He gave a sigh of relief when he realized that both her heart rate and breathing rates are normal. 'What did he do to you Usako?'

"Saphir! Demando!"

The sudden yell of the senshis caused Tuxedo-Kamen to look up fearing perhaps the danger was still not over. He looked at Saphir and Demando in confusion when he could see nothing wrong until he realized the two were becoming more transparent by the second. Cradling Usagi tightly, he got up and headed over to the others.

"What's happening to us," Demando questioned, staring at Saphir's transparent hands in horror.

"I don't know, but my readings indicate that this palace is becoming unstable as well," Mercury exclaimed.

"What do you," But Mars was unable to finish her question when she noticed the palace was also becoming transparent.

"What's happening," Tuxedo-Kamen asked once he caught up to the group.

"I wish we knew," Venus replied, then looked at Usagi, "How is she?"

"Her breathing and heart rates seem to be normal, but we need to have Mercury check on her to be sure."

But before he could ask Mercury, she exclaimed, "You guys it's not just the palace that's unstable, this whole time period seems to be on the verge of disappearing!"

As each of them tried to take in the news, a sudden flash of purple light shone behind the disappearing forms of Demando and Saphir. Lowering his cape that he had used to block the blinding light, Tuxedo-Kamen recognized it to be the time senshi. "What are you doing here Pluto? Don't you have to guard the time gate?"

"The time gate is in no danger at the moment. You need not worry prince," she replied before noticing her princess to be in his arms.

Tuxedo-Kamen wondered if it was his imagination, but he swore he had seen Pluto's worried expression for a moment before it was quickly replaced by her usual serious look. It brought great fear to the Prince of Earth knowing that the time senshi maybe worrying for his love. 'Does she know what Kurayami did to Usako?'

Pluto raised a hand to stop the questions the senshis were about to ask. "There isn't anytime for questions right now. As you can see this time is unstable and may collapse at any moment. You guys must follow me back to the time gate. There I'll answer whatever questions I can."

Pluto raised her key staff, creating a portal showing the time gate on the other side. "Wait, what about Demando and Saphir? We can't just leave them here," Mars said causing Tuxedo-Kamen, who had been approaching the portal, to halt.

"I'm afraid there is nothing we can do for them at the moment," Pluto said softly, "It would do them no good if all of you vanish along with this time."

"Go on senshis. If you stay her, there will be no one left to save this time from whatever is causing it to collapse," Demando said when he noticed how they were still reluctant to leave them behind.

Knowing he spoke the truth, the senshis nodded and entered the portal with heavy hearts. After the senshis and Tuxedo-Kamen with Usagi in his arms had passed through the portal, Pluto turned to Demando with a soft expression.

"Thank you," she said before entering the portal herself, leaving a surprised and confused Demando wondering why the time senshi had thanked him.

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At the Time Gate

"Pluto why is the future vanishing? Does this have anything to do with Kurayami's so call 'parting gift'," Jupiter asked frantically.

"Calm yourself Jupiter. To answer your second question, Kurayami is to blame, but he had done this indirectly."

"This has something to do with what Kurayami did to Usagi-chan doesn't it," Mercury stated more than asked to which Pluto nodded.

Hugging Usagi closer to him, a thought suddenly struck him. "Pluto what about Chibi-usa?"

With sorrowful eyes, Pluto's grip on her staff tightened for a moment. "Small Lady is connected to her time, so as her time collapses, she will eventually disappear along with it."

At her reply, Tuxedo-Kamen felt a sense of cold terror fill his entire being. 'If Chibi-usa is disappearing, does this mean Usako's dying!'

"Pluto, you still have not answered our first question. Why is all this happening," Mars asked with impatience.

"Yes, what has Kurayami done to cause this," Venus added.

"I can only tell you that Kurayami had used the dark energy that was inside the princess at the last second when she was already completely exhausted from defeating him," Pluto replied.

"And what exactly has he done to Usako," Tuxedo-Kamen demanded feeling rage from the time senshi's incomplete answers.

"You will find out on your own soon. All you need to know is what Kurayami did to the princess is not irreversible," then with a more apologetic and sad look, "There is so much more I wish I could say, but my hands are tied. I do not want to test fate by doing something that will cause the future to become even more uncertain than it is already. Forgive me."

Seeing her defeated look, the others felt guilty for having lost their patience. They knew it must be so hard on the time senshi to observe those she cares about go through harsh trials without the chance to aid them herself. 'She is so strong to be able to endure all this stress. I doubt I could last for so long,' each of them thought.

"We understand Pluto. We should have been more considerate of your feelings," Mercury said.

"I understand as well. I'm just glad there are no hard feelings between us," Pluto replied, returning a smile to the others, "Now I must send you all back to your time. Oh, and do not worry about Luna and Artemis. I have already sent them back to your time."

Raising her staff, another portal suddenly appeared. "Please take good care of the princess as I am unable to."

"We will," the others chorused.

As they entered the portal, they heard Pluto's final words to them, "The road ahead will be stressful for each of you. This time it will be each of you that will need to reopen the princess's heart as she had done for each of you."

A/N: the more I got into this chapter, the more I felt sorry for Pluto. This chapter really made me thought about how sad her job must be. I mean in the series they continue to mention her loneliness, but I haven't really gave much thought to how frustrating it must be not being able to help those she care about. Man the guilt would probably kill anyone. Anywho, I hope u guys like this chapter. You'll find out what exactly Kurayami did to Usagi in the next one, but most of you probably have guesses already and it be nice to know what they are =). 'Til next time.