"What's up guys? What's happening?," Usagi asked.
Haruka stood wide eyed. "I don't think there's any way the others could hide this from you now, Usagi. Queen Bellona is broadcasting a message everywhere. Smart phones, tv, radio… everywhere. Setsuna raised the volume.
"Today at noon, somewhere in the city… come find me Sailor Moon and the great five youmas. Or a great many lives will be lost."
"Where will she be, we have to warn people?" Usagi questioned.
"We don't know," replied Sestsuna. "The message was so vague."
"Well, maybe we can evacuate the city… especially places that have many people present."
Haruka bowed her head… "Usagi we can't… it's almost 11am now. You slept in. Didn't you know?"
"What?! But we are almost an hour away from the city. We have to go now…" said Usagi frantically.
"Exactly!" Replied Michiru. "Everyone… you have 2 minutes. Gather what you need and let's go."
Usagi had thankfully slept in her odangos and bathed the previous night. She splashed her face with water, brushed and smoothed down her hair and got dressed. On the way over she contacted Mamoru and Ami who said they were already at headquarters searching for all possible highly populated locations in the city. The rest of the inners were placing calls and trying to find a channel of their own to broadcast their own message to the city. They finally managed to find a small studio with the capacity and let their famous scout "Sailor V" take to the screen for the role of a lifetime for their budding star Minako.
"Citizens, the city is in danger. Please — leave large venues and go home. Sailor Moon and the others will take care of the threat. Stay Safe," said Sailor V.
Short but sweet. And to the point. But was it enough? The broadcast went out at 11:50. Five minutes later… Queen Bellona appeared again.
Queen Bellona said. "Nice try Sailor V. Though I probably forgot to mention, I already have hostages. Henchin Stadium. 5000 souls. You have 5 minutes before the stadium ends up like that hospital did. Those poor children."
Her words pierced Usagi's heart like a dagger. Her whole being wanted to protect everyone. Now that they had a location she and the outers hopped out of their vehicle, transformed and took to flying and jumping towards their destination at quick speeds. Usagi transformed also trailing behind, desperate to keep up but also realizing that expending so much energy would surely give her away. And she was also afraid she wouldn't be able to fight if she kept this up much longer.
Sailor Uranus caught a glance of her lagging behind and came back for her, dragging her behind. "Better keep up, Kitten… I'm surprised. Usually your the only one who can keep up with me. Feeling ok?"
Usagi's stomach turned inside… it seemed her farce was slowly beginning to unravel.
"I'm dazed is all. This all feels so surreal. I'm afraid for those people. Uranus - we have to get there quickly and end this," said Sailor Moon.
Sailor Moon picked up speed in an effort to show Sailor Uranus up. She accepted the challenge and they raced to the stadium. Once they arrived all the other guardians, Desert Sol, and Tuxedo Mask were already there. Sailor Mercury had her computer out taking in all the data she could.
Tuxedo Mask came forward pulling Sailor Moon into an embrace and Desert Sol stood close by protectively, his full of worry. Tuxedo Mask couldn't help but notice and squeezed Sailor Moon a little tighter.
"It seems we need to talk," he whispered into Sailor Moon's ear.
Sailor Moon nodded. "We will - soon, I promise," she whispered back giving him a squeeze. "Let's take of this first, my love. Ok?"
"Sailor Mercury," said Sailor Moon, in as commanding voice as she could muster trying to hide the quiver and slight shortness of breath she was dealing with. "Status report. What are we dealing with here?"
Sailor Mercury nodded responding. "The stadium audience is being held hostage in suspended animation in some type of green miasma. I can't tell where it's coming from so I have no idea how to stop it. There are five youmas forming a pentagon around the field. They haven't attacked us yet. I have no idea why.
Sailor Moon stared around at the youmas. They looked still as statues, and yet each of them looked deadly in their own right. Sailor Moon could see inside each of them held a glowing green light at differing points in their bodies.
"What's with the green lights in their bodies?," asked Sailor Moon.
Sailor Mercury looked confused. "I don't see anything, and neither does my computer. Where do you see those?"
It seemed the time for talking was over when the youmas suddenly began attacking the scouts. The guardians were able to easily dodge each attack, but Mercury's computers began beeping with each attack.
"Guys, we have a problem. Those green lights Usagi was mentioning. They must be tied to these monsters and the audience. Each time they release an attack it hurts the people out there. Their vitals - they are all over the place and dropping fast. They can't take much more of this."
Sailor Moon had heard enough. Time for her to take action. "Listen up scouts, we can't let them release any more attacks. Here's the plan. Desert Sol… Tuxedo Mask you're with me. Keep them off me while I used my moon rod to down each enemy. Scouts join up and tag team a monster. Whatever you do, don't let them release their attacks. We can't lose anymore innocent lives. Ok? Does everyone understand their jobs?"
Everyone nodded and took off towards their respective monsters.
Desert Sol said, "Sis… are you sure you can do this? Tuxedo Mask's face went white. "Usako, what aren't you telling me?
Sailor Moon looked away from Tuxedo Mask not bearing the look on his face right now. "I… I'm sick Mamo… it's my heart. But I can do this, my Sailor Moon form is strong. And besides… look at these people. We don't have a choice right now."
"But what if I choose you?," replied Tuxedo Mask.
Sailor Moon smiled and touched his heart. "But look at these people, listen to your heart. You're like me… is that really what you choose?"
Tuxedo Mask couldn't deny he felt something more like Sailor Moon mentioned, but it felt like the ultimate betrayal to his beloved. "Do the minimum… ok. Let's dust these monsters and get you home and get you whatever help you need. No expense will be spared. Ok? Promise me?"
"I promise I'll always be with you no matter where I am," replied Usagi reluctant to make promises she couldn't keep.
Tuxedo Mask wasn't satisfied with her answer but looking at the fight evolving before them he realized he didn't have much choice. Mercury had left her computer open. The life force energy remaining for the audience was at 42%. Tuxedo Mask gasped at what he saw.
Sailor Moon noticed what Tuxedo Mask just saw and couldn't believe she hadn't sprung into motion sooner. She targeted one the monsters at the place it shown brightly with green light.
"Silver Moon, Crystal Power Kiss."
The first youma evaporated soon after she cast her spell. She also saw that the green miasma disappear that had enveloped 1/5 of the audience and the people in that zone began to run screaming out of the stadium.
"Look! When the monster dies, the people in that zone are freed. This is great only 4 more," said Sailor Moon who took a knee to take in some deep breaths.
"Take it slow and easy Sailor Moon," said Tuxedo Mask.
Desert Sol shielded her from a rogue blast. "You heard the man, Sis. Slow and steady wins the race, ok?"
But Sailor Moon stood up swaying dizzily a stern look of determination on her face. "Not according to Mercury's computer. Their ife force has dropped to 28%. At this rate, I'll never finish in time… I need to do them all at once. Tuxedo Mask, will you help me. I always feel stronger in your arms."
"Are you sure, Sailor Moon?," asked Tuxedo Mask. "I… eh.." He growled. "I'm for you… lean into me. Whatever you need."
Tuxedo Mask helped Sailor Moon plant her feet and stood behind her embracing her shoulders and tiny waist. When had it gotten so tiny? he asked himself. Sailor Moon settled into a deep lunge and swung her moon rod around side to side. The crescent moon on her forehead lit up silver. Desert Sol grabbed her hand and their hands lit up in lights of silver and gold entwined with one another. Sailor Moon felt her energy doubled at her twin's touch, and another beam of golden light shone from her crescent moon mark spiraling together. Her sailor moon fuku faded as she took her princess serenity form and Endymion also appeared. Sailor Moon felt like she could release all her magic now.
Rather than use her usual "Silver Moon, Crystal Power Kiss." She encanted a new spell.
"By the light of Neo-Queen Serenity I banish thee from this world, and send you to the far side of the moon."
Her light engulfed all the youmas picking them up along with the other scouts and the middle section of the stadium. They all shot up in the sky past the ozone layer into outer space and onto the far side of the moon as she had mentioned. Upon arrival all the youmas shone gold and silver brighter and brighter until they exploded from the inside.
"Well, that was new," said Uranus when it was all over. "That was one hell of a power up Usagi."
Usagi nodded weakly falling to her knees.
"Usako - you ok," asked Tuxedo Mask tenderly.
"Yea, I am," she replied. Usagi felt weak but no more than usual after a fight. Perhaps she'd been worried for nothing.
Tuxedo Mask touched her face, "I'm so glad."
Sailor Mercury checked her computer. "Looks like everyone back on earth is ok, no sign of any youmas or Queen Bellona."
"Thank goodness," said Sailor Venus. "Let's go home everyone. Anyone hungry?"
Usagi tummy grumbled. "I sure am, takoyaki anyone?" Usagi said standing up. But as soon as she stood her legs betrayed her as she fell into a pair of strong arms.