In The Shadow, a sailor moon fanfic

Rated: M (Includes Horror and possible smut)
Genre: Horror; Mystery; Hurt/Comfort; Romance
Warnings: Non-character death, talk of suicide (non-graphic), romantic themes (no smut)
Word Count: 7,670
Blurb: A vague feeling of uneasiness haunts the Senshi and their friends. When people begin talking about shadows walking, our heroes decide to investigate. What they discover will change everything forever. Not only are shadows walking, they are killing. What is in the shadow and why does it want one of the Senshi? Can the Shitennou save their soulmates, or will they forever suffer losing them? Darker One Shots, Halloween Challenge 2020.
Enemies: The Shadow
Setting: Between the Battle with Galaxia and Crystal Tokyo; Set in Usagi's first few months of college.
Main Characters (by age):
Shingo, Hotaru - 15
Usagi, Minako, Makoto, Rei, Ami, Naru, Umino - 18
Haruka, Michiru, Jadeite - 19
Zoicite, Nephrite, Setsuna - 20
Mamoru, Kunzite, Motoki, Reika, Haruki - 21
Theme Song: Come Little Children (Nightcore version)

Author's Note: There is a little surprise in this chapter that ties in with some of my other stories. I'm hoping if you've read some of those, you will recognize it. Please, please, please review. I really enjoyed working on this challenge and I am excited to share it with you.

Please look at the end of the chapter for a list of other authors and the names of their stories so you can find them and have some good Halloween thrills and chills. I tried about a dozen times to do the links, as they are FanFiction links, but it wouldn't let me.

Also... please, be safe out there. If you plan to go trick or treating, wear your mask under any actual Halloween mask, maintain social distancing, and do not eat any of the candy until it is home, has been cleaned, and is verified to be safe. Normal trick or treating rules apply! Check the candy. There are still jerks out there. Also, if you have small children and feel unsafe going out in the midst of the pandemic, you can use each door in your house as a trick-or-treating station with different candy and different themes. And don't forget there are some great Halloween movies out there too. Search online for dozens of other ideas!

Have fun, and stay safe.

Sailor Silver Ladybug,
Tori

Darker One Shots, Halloween Challenge 2020

In The Shadow

***Usagi's POV***

Usagi smiled as Shingo mimed talking on the phone behind their father's back. He had been on the phone more and more in the past few weeks, following a story about people suddenly disappearing from locations all over the city. Many of his reporters were searching for clues, and Kenji had been feeling the stress.

Ikuko came into the room and sent a glare at Shingo as she set the tea cups on the table. "Don't," she ordered silently.

Shingo looked chastened. Usagi felt guilty as well, but she smiled at Shingo and patted his arm. Haruki, who hadn't been paying any attention at all, as he had been mooning over Setsuna, shook himself out of his stupor and sat up to reach for a cup.

"Thanks Auntie Kuko," he murmured, glancing up at her, then across the table to where Kenji was holding the bridge of his nose as though fighting off a headache. "Everything alright?" he asked.

"I don't know," Ikuko murmured, brushing her long lavender blue hair over one shoulder so she could sit. "He's been on the phone about an hour, and he's been getting more and more upset."

"That's not good," Shingo said, adjusting the steak knife sticking into his temple with a sigh. Usagi stood and moved behind him, retying the strap, which had been done up crookedly. "Usagi, how come you aren't dressed yet."

"I'm using the Luna disguise pen," Usagi reminded him. "I don't need to get ready yet."

"I still say you shouldn't go as an angel," Shingo teased. "You should go as a kick-ass warrior, like Xena."

Usagi snorted. They had found old episodes of Xena online, and had been watching them for years. Usagi didn't much feel like a warrior most of the time though. In fact, sometimes she felt like a little kid compared to the others.

"I think it's perfect she go as an angel," Ikuko argued.

"Don't go any further!" Kenji suddenly ordered. "Get the hell out of there and call the police." There was a moment of silence as he listened to a response from the other end of the call. "Toshi!" he yelled suddenly. A look of horror crossed his face and he turned to the youngsters in the room and pressed the speaker symbol on the screen.

Screams could be heard.

Instantly Usagi pressed the call-all on her communicator and pointed her wrist toward the screen of the phone. For long seconds they listened to Toshi scream, and then there was silence on the other end. A moment later, the call ended just as quietly. Someone had to have picked up the phone and turned it off.

"What just happened?" Usagi asked, staring at the silent phone still lit up in her father's hand.

"I don't know," Haruki said, his face even more pale than normal. "But whatever the hell just happened, I'm sure it's our sort of thing."

Ami's voice came through the communicator. "We'll all be there soon," she said, her voice higher than normal. Usagi swallowed and nodded as she peered at the blue-haired genius, whose face had gone pale.

"I don't want you going out there," Kenji said, his eyes filled with the knowledge that they would indeed be going into danger.

"But…" Shingo, whose blue eyes were huge and shimmering, looked ready to argue, but unable to get the words out. "There has to be something we can do."

Kenji sat heavily across from Usagi and Shingo. Ikuko moved immediately to his side, rubbing his shoulder with one hand and fiddling with the tablecloth with the other. It was obvious she was nearly as upset as Kenji. Usagi knew Toshi was young, and a bit bullheaded. He didn't always think before he acted.

"I need to call the police," Kenji muttered.

"Wait," Usagi said, lifting her hand up to stop him. "Tell me about it dad," she begged, her eyes pleading.

"We, I mean most of us in the news business, think that some new gang is trying to make themselves known in Tokyo. People have been disappearing. People in positions of power mostly. Only, it doesn't all make sense. There are rumors of this shadow around each of the disappearance sites. No one has been able to record the shadow either. I thought it must be some gang member, but this didn't sound…" he trailed off, his eyes wide as he stared into the distance.

"I didn't hear a gun, or anyone speaking," Ikuko murmured. "Just Toshi screaming."

A moment passed while silence lay heavily on the room, until a small voice near Usagi's feet broke in. "I think the Senshi should check it out," Luna said, her red eyes locked on her charge's father, who sighed and nodded.

Usagi nodded and stood immediately. "We can find him daddy," she tried to reassure her father.

Kenji shook his head. "I still don't know if it's safe," he murmured.

Usagi rolled her eyes. "It's not like I'm fourteen anymore daddy," she reminded him. "I've learned a lot. You remember what it was like when we had enemies to fight every week."

"But there hasn't been an enemy in over a year," Ikuko argued. "Are you even sure you can fight this one, or if it is one of the sort you even face?"

As Usagi tried to understand the panicked question, she turned to look at Luna, who nodded her head. "We've got this mom," Usagi reassured her nervous mother. "We never stopped training. We know there is at least one more enemy to face before the Calamity, whatever that is. Trust us." Ikuko and Kenji didn't look completely convinced, but they both nodded.

To be fair, they hadn't really known Usagi and the others had powers until the battle with Galaxia. In a surprise twist of fate, Usagi's cousin and brother had also manifested powers, just when Usagi had found herself alone and facing the twisted Senshi, whose battle with the darkness had twisted her mind. Their appearance had enabled Usagi to face Galaxia while they stole back the others' Crystals and also brought the Crystals of the Shitennou to be healed in the Cauldron.

Usagi's parents hadn't been thrilled to learn she and the others had been out battling monsters, but they were supportive, and that was what mattered. Now Usagi, who was in her first year of college, hurried to her parents and gave them each a kiss and a hug before she ran out the door, Shingo and Haruki only steps behind her.

"Where are the others meeting us?" Haruki asked.

"They're here," Usagi whispered, pointing to the communicator on her wrist. "Or most of them are." Usagi grunted as Luna landed on her shoulder, and turned to look at Haruki. "I think Ami is creating a map right now. It should be on our communicators in just a moment. The rest can meet us along the way."

Ami, with Zoicite and Artemis, had done a lot to improve their technology over the past two years. Zo was a wiz with computers and seemed to enjoy the fiddling. He was taking computer classes in college and had even built a computer for Shingo to play his games and work on his inventions.

Ami and Zo stepped out of the shadows to meet them. Makoto and Nephrite weren't far behind. Haruki led the way into the back yard and up into the trees. Usagi and Shingo followed easily, their abilities helping to make each tiny jump into a leap Olympians would stare at wide-eyed. Before they had reached the end of the street Usagi caught a glimpse of Setsuna and Hotaru running along the alley.

"Come on," she urged. "We need to transform."

Haruki jumped down into the alley first, his arms wrapping around Setsuna so fast that both of them stumbled. Hotaru slammed into Shingo just as quickly, giving him a hard hug. Usagi peered up at the rooftops in time to see Mamoru jump across the alley and then onto one of the fire escapes.

Usagi lifted her arms just in time to be scooped into his. She kissed him fiercely and held on tight for a long moment before he settled her feet back on the ground. She gave him a tight smile, hoping he couldn't tell just how nervous she was through their bond.

"Henshin yo," Minako said from the mouth of the alley. Kunzite stood beside her, peering out onto the street. On the other end Makoto and Nephrite were looking out. Rei and Jadeite had also arrived, and were moving closer.

"Girls first," Usagi said, pointing to the place where the alley separated off into an L shaped area hidden from the street. She moved into the hiding place, listening to the crunch of footsteps behind her as the other girls followed. As soon as she was hidden, Usagi closed her eyes, lifted her hand to her locket, and transformed. She no longer needed to speak for the transformation to take her, but she heard the other girls whispering their own phrases.

When everyone had transformed they took to the rooftops. Sailor Moon followed Mercury's map, staying at the front of the group with Tuxedo Kamen, who was nearly as fast as she was. Behind them, Sailor Moon could hear the faint sounds of footfalls on the rooftops.

"There are kids out," Blue Moon Knight, Shingo's alternate identity, informed them as he peered over the edges when they leaped.

"We'll be careful," Saturn said, rubbing his shoulder as they continued onward.

Usagi wasn't sure how long they were actually running across Tokyo, but soon a large X filled the screen of the communicator. They had arrived at the warehouse where Toshi had disappeared. Sailor Neptune and Sailor Saturn stood across from them, on the roof of another building. Moon motioned for her brother, Blue Moon Knight, and Saturn to stay with them, but sent Haruki, who was Sun Knight and Pluto across.

Nephrite, who had taken the name East Knight, and Jupiter went to the left side with Mars and Jadeite, now West Knight. Zoicite, or South Knight, went to the right with Mercury, followed quickly by Kunzite, now North Knight, and Venus, who gave a longing glance back at Sailor Moon, who she didn't like parting from.

The group was using a formation they had perfected over the past year. The men being added to their number had simplified things. Sailor Moon took a deep breath and took her wand from her subspace pocket, closing her eyes to transform it into the longer length of a staff. She might need that for balance.

A rose suddenly appeared in the center of the warehouse roof. It was the agreed-upon signal to begin. Sailor Moon pulled the staff across her belly and flipped off the roof, landing lightly on her feet just in front of a broken window. The warehouse was old, and there were several windows broken along it's length. Sailor Moon saw a shadow flutter just inside the long room and shuddered.

"There's something there," she informed the others.

"Whatever it is, we can beat it," Blue Moon Knight said, just behind her. Sailor Moon closed her eyes and prayed for the Kami to protect her little brother, and Saturn as well. They were the youngest of the group, and had less experience.

"Stay close," Tuxedo Kamen ordered. He took a step forward and reached for the wide door, swinging it quickly open.

As they stepped inside the dim warehouse, Sailor Moon heard the sound of someone screaming. It was a woman, she thought, and probably older. The voice cut off abruptly and she wished she knew if the person was alright. She hated not knowing.

Saturn and Blue Moon Knight moved out on either side of them. Across the warehouse, Moon could see her cousin and the others stepping inside. To the left and right those groups entered too, all prepared for whatever was coming. There were sections closed off in each corner. The middle of the room was filled with heavy machinery that she didn't know the use of. The place appeared long abandoned, but when she looked down, she saw a cell phone she knew had come out only weeks before.

Swallowing heavily, she took another step, and then another. She wouldn't let fear get the best of her. Then she took another step and the world around her caught fire. Everything was burning. The smoke was thick and choking. Behind her were screams. She turned. Her brother had lost his transformation.

Instead of Blue Moon Knight, Shingo was curled up on the floor, his arms over his head as he writhed in what looked to be terrible pain. A shadow moved through the flames and swallowed him up. The sound of crunching bones and blood spattering on the floor sickened her. Bile rose in her throat as she saw the remains. Saturn threw herself at the remnants of what had been her soulmate, and was cut in half.

Tuxedo Kamen threw himself at Sailor Moon, but before he could reach her he caught on fire, his cape billowing upward as flames lifted it into the air. Moon screamed in absolute agony. Her spirit was crushed as she watched helplessly as her own soulmate died right before her eyes, turning to ash and floating away.

Usagi fell to the floor, her transformation gone. She was unable to move, even to lift her arms and cover her face with her hands. She was forced to watch helplessly as the others all died in wreaths of flame.

Closing her eyes, Usagi waited for the flames to take her too. Instead, time seemed to rewind and she found herself where she had been only moments before.

This time Sailor Moon watched in horror, but did not fall to the ground in despair. She struggled to free herself from whatever was happening. If it was a time loop, she would have to find a way to stop it. She couldn't let the others die.

***Minako's POV***

Sailor Venus knew something was wrong the moment she stepped into the warehouse. A shadow lay over the whole building. A shadow that moved and changed, writhing and swirling like mist and smoke. It curled around her ankles and wrapped around her body before she could move or even blink. Her arms and legs were tugged together and held tight.

"YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE!" The voice boomed off stone walls and reverberated back to Minako, who found herself untransformed on the floor. She opened her eyes and looked around at the other girls, all but Usagi. "CHOOSE WHO DIES. ONE OF YOU WILL PERISH OR I WILL KILL ALL OF YOU. CHOOSE!"

The voice pierced her skull like an ax, hurting her so much she thought she might vomit. She stared helplessly at the others, who were all as unmoving as she was. She didn't know how they could escape. Less than an hour before, Minako had been getting ready for Motoki's party, and now she and the others were trapped, away from their princess, and she didn't know if they would survive.

Hotaru looked terrified, but determined. "It should be me," she said softly. "Shingo and I haven't Bonded yet," she added, blushing.

Minako swallowed and closed her eyes, the sacrifice of her friend making her proud, though she would never let it come to that. "No," she said, her voice strong and filled with power. "I am your leader. If anyone dies, it will be me. It is for me to die in place of our princess."

Arguments rang out all over the room, and Minako knew she had an uphill battle if she was to convince any of the others. Ami had tears pouring down her cheeks and looked like she would be shaking her head if she could move. Makoto glared daggers at the shadows. Michiru stared silently at Haruka, as though they were having a silent conversation, which they probably were.

Minako wanted to shake herself for not thinking of reaching for her own soulmate sooner. She reached out mentally for Kunzite. And found nothing. She could feel him. He was determined and angry. But Minako couldn't talk to him. It was the first time their Bond had failed her. The Soul-Bond was a magical connection of two souls for eternity. Nothing could break it entirely. But something was definitely interfering.

"I can't reach Kun," she told the others, causing another uproar as the others tried to reach their own Bonded.

"What do we do?" Rei asked. "I won't let anyone die. Not one of us, or any of the others. So lets figure out how to break free and destroy this shadow."

Minako wasn't sure what to tell them, but she wasn't giving up. Not by a long-shot. There had to be something they could do.

***Usagi's POV***

Usagi stepped forward.

***Mamoru's POV***

Mamoru found himself in his lonely old apartment. It was quiet and sad. Only one picture sat on his shelf. He was alone. Forever alone. There would never be anyone that loved him. There would never be anything for him except a lonely life. He would never meet his goals, never become a doctor. He was nothing. He was worthless.

A bottle appeared in his hands. On the front was a skull and cross-bones.

"Drink this and the pain ends," a voice whispered in his ear. "You won't be alone anymore. The dead will be with you." Suddenly the lid on the bottle was gone and Mamoru watched in horror as his hand lifted the bottle to his lips. "Drink."

***Usagi's POV***

Usagi wasn't sure how many times she had watched the same scene play out over and over. Each time she had tried to do something to prevent the others from dying, but she was trapped each time until the vision, or whatever it was, had ended. Only then could she take a single step.

Usagi straightened her spine and took another step forward.

***Kunzite's POV***

"Where are we?" Shingo asked, his voice small as he looked around the room, which was cut from black stone. Haruki stood beside him, one hand on the younger teen's shoulder.

Kunzite sighed and turned in a circle. They had entered the warehouse and instantly found themselves in this strange black room with no light, but somehow able to see one another and the room around them. "I don't know. We have to get out of here and find the others. Where are they?"

Suddenly there was a sound, like a nearly silent whistle, right behind him. Years of battle training from his last life, and his time in the Dark Kingdom, made Kunzite pull his sword as he both turned and stepped back. "Fight!" he yelled as he found himself face to face with a man of shadow swinging what looked like a mace, also made of shadow, at his head.

The clang of metal hitting metal filled the room, the noise penetrating his skull like a blade. The reverberations hurt, making it harder to focus on the fight. He had to keep going, had to rescue his prince, wherever he was. He had to find his soulmate.

***Usagi's POV***

Usagi stepped forward one last time and found herself facing a man made of shadow. His eyes were black holes of darkness and despair and she found herself shaking, her limbs trembling from fear and exhaustion. But Usagi was determined, and she wasn't willing to lose any of her friends.

***Minako's POV***

It had been several long minutes since the argument began. She watched in sadness and anger as Michiru and Haruka argued angrily with Hotaru. They insisted it should be them to make the sacrifice, while Hotaru said repeatedly that it was she who should die. Minako had had enough.

"Stop this!" she yelled, putting a royal touch of command in her tone that she never used. She hated pulling on her kinship with the royal family of the Moon, but it needed to be done. She couldn't take another minute. "None of us are going to die," she said, just as angry as they all were. "Not a single one of us. Even having the argument means you've already given up!"

That silenced the others. People had disappeared, others might have died, and here they all were, just giving up. Minako wouldn't let that happen. Not while she had a single breath left in her body. Somewhere Usagi needed her. Kunzite seemed to be extremely focused and slightly nervous, which meant Shingo was probably saying the same things Hotaru had been saying.

"All right," Minako said when the rest had silenced. All of them looked at her, a mix of hope and pain clear on their faces. "We need to break free and find our way out of here. The question is, what fights the shadow?"

"Light," Ami answered automatically. "Rei!"

Rei nodded and closed her eyes. For a long moment Minako watched hopefully. As the moments passed and nothing happened, her optimism faded. Rei had a look of strain about her face, her brows drawn together as she stared at nothing.

Minako closed her eyes. Rei wasn't the only one with access to light. Minako's own power was drawn from the healing power of love, and many of her attacks were forms of light. She could access the light of Venus, and the light of love and hope. It was inside her. She knew it was there, in the Crystal she carried in her heart.

Haruka started making a strange chanting noise. Michiru's voice picked up next, singing a melody rather than any words. The deep tones of Haruka's beat blended with Michiru's song until it was all Minako could focus on. The song and the light. Then Ami added her voice, making a swishing sound that sounded much like waves. The three of them continued the chant and as they did Minako went further inside herself, focusing on her Crystal.

"Help me," she whispered, hoping the ancient kings and queens of the Silver Millennium would hear and grant her help.

It was like a blossom opening. Minako found the light inside and it filled her completely before spreading out through her skin. The shadow holding her screamed and disappeared. Minako found herself back in the warehouse. The other women were huddled on the floor, looking as though they had passed out. Minako pulled on the light and burned the shadows holding them. She had to get to her Princess.

***Usagi's POV***

"There is no one to help you, child," the shadow whispered. The voice was low and soothing.

Usagi felt herself wanting to believe, and to give him whatever he desired. She shook her head and glared. "No?" she asked. "Have you never heard of the Senshi?"

The shadow man cocked his head. "Senshi?" He laughed. "A bunch of half-trained children meddling in the affairs of their betters."

"The Senshi are the protectors of our planet. Our universe," she corrected a moment later, thinking of Galaxia and the other Senshi out there worlds away.

"Pathetic children," the shadow hissed. A chair appeared behind him, made of skulls and he settled into the seat and stared at her, his eyes swirling vortexes that stole the light. "Worthless and nearing the end of your power."

***Kunzite's POV***

All of them were wounded. Kunzite held a hand to his side, where blood seeped through to drip on the floor with barely audible plops when they hit. He had pulled Shingo and Haruki to the left, the others moving to the right, and with the Shadows between them, they had overcome.

Now they stood, still in darkness. Where was the light? What could they do to find their prince and princess? To find their soulmates?

Shingo stumbled, falling to his knees on the floor. Haruki crashed to his knees beside the younger boy, putting his hand on Shingo's forehead. Light seeped from him as he healed his cousin. "You're okay," he whispered. "You're alright."

Shingo shook off his overprotective cousin, his eyes wide. "We're fighting shadows," he said, looking excited suddenly.

Kunzite was worried. Shingo wasn't making sense. "What are you talking about?" he asked.

"Shadows. What fights shadows? Light!" He pointed to Haruki. "We have Sun Knight," he moved to point at his own chest, "and Blue Moon Knight." He looked back up at Kunzite. "You all have some sort of attack involving light, right?"

Kunzite himself grew excited. "We do," he confirmed, ready for anything now. With the sun and the moon on their side, the shadow would never win.

***Usagi's POV***

"Already your mate has faltered," the shadow claimed. "He took his own life the moment I offered the poison. He could not handle a life of loneliness."

For a second Usagi almost believed him. Then she shook her head. Mamoru would never take his life so long as their Bond remained whole. Like her, he might succumb to sadness eventually if she were to die, but the Bond kept them strong. She would know the second of his death. Nothing would stop that. This Shadow person might think he had blocked the Bond, but she could feel Mamoru. Depressed, but not dead.

"Give it up," Usagi said, wishing she was transformed so she could defeat him. She couldn't pull her transformation back, but she knew she could still access her Crystal. "I don't believe you."

The shadow chuckled as though it knew some secret, but Usagi refused to believe. She knew Mamoru. Even if they had never met, there wasn't an ounce of quit in him. He would find a way back to her. And even if he had died, she would save the others, or die trying.

Sounds of scuffling reached Usagi's ears, but she didn't take her eyes off the Shadow. She wished she had Minako at her right hand, and the others arrayed behind them, as they had been in so many battles. She could almost feel the presence of the other Senshi.

"We're here Usagi," Minako's familiar voice came from her right.

Usagi didn't turn her head. She couldn't take her eyes from the Shadow for a second, or it would all be over. "I'm glad," she whispered. "The others?"

"I don't know," Minako answered.

"Here," Kunzite's voice came from her left, where Mamoru would normally stand. "We've just broken free," he added. "It was some kind of illusion made from shadows," he explained.

"You see?" Usagi asked. "Your shadows can't stop the light."

"I eat light," the shadow chuckled, his eyes seeming to expand.

Usagi felt more than saw the others moving into a semi-circle behind her. She wasn't sure what they were doing, but a moment later light was fighting against the shadow. The light pushed the darkness back and away.

The man made of shadow stood, laughing, and took a step closer to them. "Even should you defeat me, I will return. I've already won. I've destroyed the Prince of this planet. It is mine!"

"Never," Usagi said, she reached out with her left hand, picturing Mamoru's hand in her own. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was alive. Warmth curled around her fingers. She knew Mamoru's hand was wrapped around hers. She didn't know how, but she felt as though she had pulled him back into existence.

The light grew more and more fierce, filling the old warehouse until Usagi could make out the individual grains of wood. Her eyes adjusted quickly. It was the light of hope, and could not hurt her. This was from the Crystals of her friends and protectors, and it was strong. It felt like a wall, protecting them.

The shadow man growled angrily. "Face my minions then!" he shouted, then disappeared. The shadows went with him, but he left behind a book on the chair where he had been sitting. A silent wind blew the cover open and in seconds an assortment of strange creatures began to escape the pages.

There were witches, werewolves, goblins, trolls, and a crazy mix of characters from Halloween movies or scary movies she had seen throughout her life. She shuddered in revulsion as a man with claws attached to his hand scraped them across the wall. He wore a stiped shirt and a black hat, and his face was scarred.

"What is this?" Mamoru asked, turning to pull Usagi behind him protectively.

"It's a Halloween battle," Kunzite said, looking at the creatures with a mix of confusion and excitement. A ghost sped toward him, but he hit it with his sword. "They aren't real. Just some manifestation of the Shadow. If we beat that, we can beat this."

"Hai," Usagi agreed. "Henshin yo." She let her own transformation take her. It came easily now, and Usagi wondered why it had been so difficult in the face of the shadow. As the others henshined around her, Usagi could feel their spirit.

Soon, Sailor Moon was facing what looked like the three witches from the movie Hocus Pocus. Their oddly shaped lips and wild hair made them look nearly insane, and the youngest of the three, with her long blonde hair swaying about her, was starting to sing. "Come Little Children, I'll take thee away…"

Saturn and Blue Moon Knight seemed entranced by the witch, and neither noticed the monster with horrible claws creeping up behind them. Sailor Moon lifted the Moon Wand and yelled "Silver Moon Crystal Eternal Power!" It was, by far, her strongest attack, harnessing the brilliance of a full moon. She released it on the witches, letting the silver light spread throughout the warehouse.

"Golden Earth Crystal Eternal Power!" Tuxedo Kamen yelled, his attack disintegrating the clawed monster even as the witches drifted away in puffs of ash.

The battle lasted only minutes, and before long, they were panting and swaying on their feet. Sailor Moon peered around, looking for any survivors. There had been so many who went missing, surely someone had to have survived.

"Fan out," Venus ordered, catching Usagi's anxiety. "Search those rooms. People have been disappearing for weeks. Someone has to be here."

A shout from Mars brought the entire group. Lying in a pile on the floor were dozens and dozens of bodies of men and women. Moon fell to her knees, staring in horror. It was awful. She wasn't sure how many were there, but it had to be more than fifty.

"How could anyone do something so terrible?" Mercury asked, her voice shaking. South Knight moved to wrap his arms around her and she tucked herself into his chest.

Feeling similarly moved, Sailor Moon hid her face in the lapels of Tuxedo Kamen's suit. "Why?" she asked. There was a horrible stench throughout the room and she tried not to breathe deeply.

"Can't we just heal them?" Shingo asked, looking confused. "You said you brought everyone back to life after you defeated Metalia." He had released his henshin and was holding hands with Hotaru, who was still and silent as she stared at the bodies."

"It's not that simple Shin," Moon explained. "Some of these people have been dead for weeks, and their souls would have moved on quickly. They only held star seeds, not the Crystals we carry. When I brought people back after Metalia only hours had passed. I don't know if any of these people would survive even if I managed to bring them back," she added. She didn't want to point out the horrid smell, or the grey and red blotches where the bodies had started to decompose.

"Toshi!" Sun Knight yelled. He fell to his knees beside the newest of the corpses. There were three who looked as though they might only be sleeping if their faces weren't twisted in horror and their eyes weren't staring into nothingness. Turning to look at Sailor Moon, eyes pleading, he asked, "could you save them?"

"I don't know," Moon whispered. "I don't have a connection with the dead. Maybe if Sets helps me."

Sailor Pluto moved forward and knelt beside Haruki. Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen moved to kneel across from them. Pulling on the power of the Silver Crystal, Usagi wove a fine net of moonlight around the three bodies. She felt touches of light from Kamen, who wove a golden net. Shingo approached and knelt at Toshi's feet, resting his hand on the young man's leg. They had known him for two years and his youthful enthusiasm had won their hearts.

Sun Knight pushed the light of the sun into the net and then Moon could feel the others behind her, using their own Crystals to send energy and light and healing. With all of them helping, first an older woman, then Toshi, and then a middle-aged man all opened their eyes and took a breath… and started screaming.

It took a few moments to calm the ones they had saved, but once it was done, they helped them up and out of the room. Mercury pulled Sailor Moon to the side. "I've called the first responders," she said sadly. "I didn't know what else to do. We can't save them, but they didn't deserve this."

"No, they didn't," Moon sighed. "That won't be the last time we fight this Shadow Man, I think. I just hope we can protect others from something like this." She couldn't fight her feelings of guilt. If only they had been watching more closely, they might have saved most, if not all, of the people. That guilt wouldn't go away any time soon.

***Minako's POV***

"You're going to the party," Minako insisted, turning Usagi to look at her. "Remember, the light fights the darkness. You can't just sit here and wallow in misery. We have to live our lives if we want to stay strong enough to face what's coming."

Usagi's cerulean eyes were filled with tears when she looked up at her friend. "I couldn't save them," she whispered, visibly distraught.

"No, you couldn't Minako agreed. But now that we know about the shadow man, we can protect other people against him. If we're going to have any chance at all, we have to keep living our lives the best way we know how."

"She's right Usako," Mamoru said, walking into the room. He scooped up Usagi as though she weighed nothing and sat on the edge of the couch with her curled up in his lap. "As much as we all want to sit here and wonder why, and as much as I know you are thinking of training just as hard as I am, we owe it not just to ourselves, but to the friends and family that have supported us, to keep living our lives. That's how we will win Usako. We love these people. That love gives us strength. It is where our power truly comes from."

Minako had never heard Mamoru speak in such a way before, and she realized that Usagi's influence had done a lot to change the once surely teen, who was now a young man in medical school. She watched him calm Usagi, and even get her to smile, and turned back to the doorway where Kunzite waited. "Ready?" she asked.

"Ready," Kunzite said, holding out his hand. They were dressed and ready to leave for the party as soon as they could get Usagi to put on her own costume.

"I've got this, you two go on ahead."

"Not a chance," Minako snorted. "But we'll go talk to Ikuko-mama for a few minutes. No one goes out alone," she added as she left the room. They had a new enemy to face. Now that they were in college, things would be different. She wondered how it would affect their ability to fight whatever monsters the enemy threw their way, but it was a problem for the morning. Tonight was a time to be with their friends and family.

***Mamoru's POV***

"You know," Mamoru said softly as Minako and Kunzite left, "if you don't hurry up and get dressed your mother will start to worry."

"She's probably still at the hospital with dad and Toshi," Usagi argued mulishly. "Besides, I think we should be out there protecting Tokyo." She was stubborn, that was for sure. Once she got an idea into her head it was hard to convince her of anything else. But she was so kind and loving that normally wasn't a problem.

"We will all take turns doing just that," Mamoru promised. "In fact, Sets and Haruki are going to be on first watch. Come on, it's time to get dressed. Motoki needs us."

That did it. Motoki, who had been depressed all through the month-long did Reika had gone to Egypt for, would be alone if they didn't appear. Usagi had promised she would make sure he wasn't alone. She had given her word, and clumsy as she was, her word was one thing Usagi never broke.

"Fine," Usagi muttered, standing so suddenly that Mamoru felt bereft. "I'll get dressed." She pulled out the disguise pen, which didn't look perfectly pink as it once had, and held it up over her head. "Luna Pen, turn me into an angel," she said softly.

Mamoru watched in fascinated delight as Usagi's jeans and sweater disappeared, suddenly replaced with a fuku-like outfit similar to her Senshi uniform, though the skirt fell just past her knees and was made entirely of sparkling light. Her wings spread from her back, edged in silver, and nearly took one of the pictures off the wall. He had seen her wings before, plenty of times, but as she stood now, staring at him with wide eyes and small silver halo over her brow, Mamoru stared in awe. She was no longer simply the moon Senshi. She was an angel. His angel.

A flash of memory hit Mamoru and he remembered his mother and father letting out a shout of fear. His mother had turned in her seat, holding out her arm to keep Mamoru safe in his own. And then the door had opened and Mamoru had found himself face to face with an angel, who pulled him from the car, held him close, and promised he would never be alone. Usagi was the angel who had saved his life.

LIST OF AUTHORS AND STORIES IN THE DARKER ONE SHOTS HALLOWEEN CHALLENGE

Day 1:

Vivisection, by TheBadIdeaBears for Ao No Exorcist/Blue Exorcist; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 2.210

Day 2:

Deliverance, by Caldera Valhallis for Fate: Stay Night; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 11.281

Day 3:

The Beating Heart, by Ferith12 for The Silmarillion; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 1.356

Day 4:

Paradise Lost, by Potashiamu for Death Note; Theme: Kinktober, Word Count: 7.634

Day 5:

Redemption Astray, by Kakashi97 for Naruto; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 10.336

Nyctophilia, by Rhearenee for Naruto; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 6.000

Indrajit, by Tartarun for Naruto; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 19.257

Day 6:

Monsters, by Alastair for One Piece; Theme: Horror & Kinktober, Word Count: 18.443

Whips and Chains, by Iceburg-sanCPX for One Piece; Theme: Kinktober, Word Count: 5.352

There Is Light In Even The Darkest of Times... by Kittyface27 for One Piece; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 6.331

Day 7:

Ishbalan Halloween, by Silirt for FullMetal Alchemist; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 3.234

Day 8:

The Green Dreamer, by Kamil the Awesome for A Song of Fire and Ice/Game of Thrones; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 8.342

Day 9:

The Soldier, by Nazaki-Sama for Marvel Cinematic Universe; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 19.854

Day 10:

Cuervo La Sombra, by HisagiKirigakure for Bleach; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 2.062

The Demon on the Mountain, by Phoenixreal for Bleach; Theme: Horror & Kinktober, Word Count: 4.917

Dark Side of the Moon, by SesshomaruFreak for Bleach; Theme: Kinktober, Word Count: 3.206

Day 11:

Ghosting Reality, by Yemi Hikari for Stardew Valley/My Time At Portia (Crossover); Theme: Horror, Word Count: 9.507

Day 12:

The Fear I Promised You, by Seth's Kiss for Death Note; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 44.465

Day 13:

Boo On You, by SerenaJones585 for Yu-Gi-Oh; Theme: Horror & Kinktober, Word Count: 5.797

Disorder, by The Token for Yu-Gi-Oh! Theme: Kinktober, Word Count: 5.058

Day 14:

Eleven Miles, by Shnuggletea for Inu-Yasha; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 23.421

Day 15:

Who's Watching You? by Wrath of Vajra for RWBY/Predators 2010 Movie (Crossover); Theme: Horror, Word Count: 9k

Day 16:

Little Bit Of Poison In Me, by SereneCalamity for Mortal Instruments; Theme: Kinktober, Word Count: 6.709

Day 17:

Paris's Dark Halloween, by DemonShippingQueen for Miraculous Ladybug; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 8.681

Day 18:

Electric Bone, by Nissa Fox for Pokémon Theme: Horror, Word Count: 3.613

Day 19:

Eclipse, by Spunky0ne for Yuri On Ice; Theme: Kinktober, Word Count: 3.527

Day 20:

The Red Wolfe, by Brenna76 for Boku no Hero Academia/My Hero Academia; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 7.435

Monster in Disguise, by DemonoftheFridge for Boku no Hero Academia/My Hero Academia; Theme: Horror & Kinktober, Word Count: 15.199

Live. Die. Repeat, by Karkatsbabe for Boku no Hero Academia/My Hero Academia; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 24.369

Trick and Treat, by SensiblyTainted for Boku no Hero Academia/My Hero Academia; Theme: Horror & Kinktober, Word Count: 10.524

Day 21:

The Kitsune's Trap, by CrimsonRaine87 for Ikemen Sengoku; Theme: Kinktober, Word Count: 40.520

Day 22:

Out of this World, by Silverstar for Thunderbirds; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 43.712

Day 23:

Read the Fine Print, by DancesWithSeatbelts for Fairy Tail; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 1.184

The Vault, by Desna for Fairy Tail; Theme: Kinktober, Word Count: 6.858

Sweet Dreams, by FrejaBee for Fairy Tail; Theme: Horror & Kinktober, Word Count: 6.026

Day 24:

Her Professor, by Drawingdownthemoon for Naruto; Theme: Kinktober, Word Count: 12.036

Aftertaste, by Elleurs for Naruto; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 4.278

SleepWalker, by KurohimeHaruko for Naruto; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 6.034

Taken, by TsukikoUchu for Naruto; Theme: Horror & Kinktober, Word Count: 8.129

To Do or to Die, by WhatIEternallyDesire for Naruto; Theme: Horror & Kinktober, Word Count: 5k

PAROXETINE, by Yatsu Narurasuke for Naruto; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 26.268

Day 25:

Name Your Price, by Babyvfan for Harry Potter; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 10.484

Harry Potter and the High Jinx Hotel, by Xache for Harry Potter; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 14.473

Day 26:

Blue Moon Massacre, by Jadeile for Hazbin Hotel; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 9.410

Day 27:

Stuck in Hell, by NekoPantera for Bleach; Theme: Horror & Kinktober, Word Count: 13.856

Curse of the Ishida Estate, by Sigan for Bleach; Theme: Horror & Kinktober, Word Count: 12.246

Day 28:

Torment, by Bewdofchaos for Yu-Gi-Oh! Theme: Horror, Word Count: 3.665

A Yu-Gi-Oh! Nightmare, by RayeMoon for Yu-Gi-Oh! Theme: Horror, Word Count: 7.402

Day 29:

The Somnambulist, by ArgentNoelle for Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler; Theme: Horror & Kinktober, Word Count: 13.725

What True Fear Shows, by AsgardianHobbit98 for Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler ; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 5.513

Against your Nature, by PhantomGypsy for Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 32.537

Merely a Simple Conversation, by HoshisamaValmor for Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 9.381

Butler and Master: Damask Honeymoon, by Starfire93 for Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler; Theme: Horror & Kinktober, Word Count: 5.713

Day 30:

The Vampire of Yuggoth, by Count Morningstar for Sailor Moon; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 21.665

Decorating for Halloween, by Max333 for Sailor Moon; Theme: Kinktober, Word Count: 7k

In the Shadow, by Sailor Silver Ladybug for Sailor Moon; Theme: Horror, Word Count: 6k