AN: Thank you all for your continued words of encouragement. Here's the second to last chapter!

Chapter 26

"Even a love in mourning still had sparks in it."

― Olivia Waite, The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics

Mamoru had just promised Usagi he wouldn't skip school, and here he was racing across town to her. All while regretting ever letting her out of his sight for a second. Even with their bond, there was little he could do if she were miles away from him when attacked.

It was as dark as night, thick clouds covering and blocking the sun completely. They rumbled above every time he reached out for her and felt nothing. By the time he reached Usagi's school, students were filing out, all stumbling and looking confused. It took him a few moments, but he found others, Kun and Neph, with them. Zoi was a short distance away, talking with Ami heatedly.

"What happened?!"

The girls were either too weepy or agitated to acknowledge him, Kun taking up the task. "The enemy attacked. Somehow they found where Usagi-chan went to school and waited until the middle of the day when we all had our guard down."

Mamoru was pacing, unable to keep still. "I should have been here. I shouldn't have taken my eyes off of Usagi."

It was Rei that stopped him, hands on his shoulders that halted him in his tracks. "Calm down!"

She looked up, and he followed, clouds swirling dangerously above them. So instead of focusing his anger on the Earth, Mamoru focused it on the people he had foolishly trusted. "Where were you? You were supposed to protect her! Where the fuck were you?"

He mostly glared at Rei because she was the closest but said it to all of them—even if it wasn't fair. Whatever conversation Ami and Zoi were having; it came to a halt with his words, the Senshi of ice addressing him formally. "It was my fault. I failed to keep her safe."

"You are barely awakened; it isn't your fault," Zoi yelled.

"It is no one's fault! Blame doesn't matter; what matters is locating our Princess!"

While everyone hung their head, Minako showing her true colors as a leader, Mamoru tried, again and again, to feel anything from Usagi. "I can't feel her at all. They either blocked me from her somehow or…."

"Or she's not on this planet anymore." Everyone stared, Jad's words more shocking than his sudden appearance. "It's not as if the enemy is human."

"Don't be ridiculous." Rei spat.

"Actually," slowly, everyone turned their attention to the blue-haired genus, "I took a sample at the arcade after you were attacked there. Rei's attack left a little blood and, after analyzing it, I had no choice but to conclude that it wasn't from a human. It was mostly plant-based…."

"So, we're fighting a couple of pissed-off plants?" Neph softly raged.

Zoi had wrapped an arm of support around Ami, and it didn't seem as though she held any grudge. Just like the others, they fell into old habits and each other. Thunder rumbled again at the reminder, the one he fell into was missing.

"They're plant-based, but not actually plants," Ami added.

Kun shifted his weight. "What about their leaders? The creatures we've been fighting are answering to someone."

"I think the one that came here today, the one that attacked Usagi in the arcade, is the leader."

"No, the one that addressed us in the business park was a male." He interjected.

"Then there's two. The one that attacked is more powerful than the other creatures you've been fighting."

"Cardigans." Zoi supplied for his girlfriend.

Makoto was the one pacing now. "This is all great, but how does it help us find Usagi?"

"It doesn't."

Rain fell heavily at his words, soaking all of them and the world in seconds.

oOo

It was dark, and everything hurt. But it wasn't completely dark; Usagi could still see a little bit. And hear the two shadowy figures a short distance from her coming in loud and clear as they didn't bother with being quiet.

"You kidnapped her!"

"SO?! You wanted her, and I wanted her energy! What's the big deal?"

"The big deal? It's wrong, and you know it!"

"Ail, we've done far worse to others, and you didn't give a shit then!"

"This is different!"

Pushing off of… she wasn't sure what it was because although solid, it was soft as if made of pillows and sat up. The couple was yet to notice her movements, so Usagi took the time to get her bearings. As much as she could, that is.

The ground was still unknown, and (now that Usagi was looking around) the ceiling didn't look right either. It didn't seem like she was in a room, but there was no sun or sky—just endless black. And the air tasted strange; she couldn't put her finger on it, but Usagi knew she had breathed air like this before.

Where had she breathed air like this before?

"Oh great, she's awake." The female voice said with a tone Usagi also found familiar.

"Are you alright, Usagi-chan?"

She didn't like the familiarity the male voice had with her. Nor the familiarity she had of the voice itself. But when the pair stepped into the dim light, Usagi was met with the two humanoid Cardigans that attacked her and Mamoru. Their pink and blue skin -she had once thought was pretty- made her feel ill with the memory of all the people they killed the last time Usagi saw them.

The blue male took a step closer, and Usagi scooted back quickly on her butt. "We're not going to hurt you…."

"Speak for yourself." The female screeched.

"Ann!"

"Ail! We brought her here for her energy!"

The two were now facing one another again and ignoring Usagi. She kept reaching out with her bond to Mamoru but felt nothing. All she felt was cold and scared from her inability to feel him.

She scooted back a little, slowly to not draw attention. But then, Usagi's back hit something hard. Carefully, she turned her head to look, expecting a wall. But she was wrong. It wasn't a wall; it was a large root. The bark was gnarled and gray.

And it wasn't alone.

There were dozens of them, and they all led up to the biggest… tree Usagi had ever seen. The leaves were large enough to be a comforter on a queen-sized bed and heart-shaped. They had a pretty pink center and green edges, and if Usagi were completely naive, she would think it was beautiful. It was. But she knew better than to drop her guard.

"I... I don't want to kill her…."

Usagi turned her attention back to the couple. The female looked like she wasn't breathing; her face was so red. "Do you… have feelings for her?" The male was silent, and Usagi felt even more uncomfortable. "She doesn't care about you! She thinks you're scum; in both forms!"

The male frowned deeply back at the female. "Oh yeah? What about Mamoru? He can't stand the sight of you…."

"Because Usagi has tricked him or something!"

"The only one that tricks people is you!" The male screamed in the female's face.

Usagi was pressed as far and as hard as possible into the root that otherwise blocked her movement. She didn't know what to think of the pair, but they were both hurting. Maybe that was why they killed and hurt others? Usagi wasn't sure if she could forgive all they had done; it would be a struggle. So, for now, she just pitied them.

Something dinged, and a flash of red light could be seen across from them in the short distance.

"Who the hell is here?!"

The female's voice was very annoying, and it made Usagi's nerves tighten. Wait, that wasn't her nerves; something was actually tightening around her. It was rough and scratching up her skin. The male was close to her now, and Usagi couldn't do a thing about it. Her arms and legs were wrapped uptight. "Makai, do not drain her. Just hold her still and keep her quiet!"

A door of light opened, but Usagi couldn't do anything about it. Only watch as she was left alone in the dark.

oOo

"Mamoru!"

He stopped, letting the others go on without him. Ami had promised better results if she had access to the Central computer. And since Motoki already knew about them…

"Motoki, I don't have time right now…."

"I know," the blond said, looking around Mamoru to the group as they disappeared in the 'basement', "but this will be quick. First, I wanted to talk to you about Usagi."

"What about her?" He asked with a bit of bite that had nothing to do with Motoki.

"I want you to help me. I know Usagi won't do anything about the guy that attacked her, but I think if you help me, we can get her to press charges."

He had forgotten about that, and now it pressed on the back of his neck hard. "You mean that Ginja guy?"

This wasn't the time to remind Mamoru of transgressions towards his Usagi. The wind picked up outside, and thunder roared.

"Man, this weather is weird." Some kid said a few feet away.

"You know Usagi; she isn't going to want to cause trouble for anyone no matter how deserving. And even though it happened in my arcade, I still need her statement to make any charges stick."

Mamoru shifted his weight, hoping to dispel some of his rage. "Have you talked to Usagi about this?"

"Yes, that's why I'm coming to you. Usagi goes to school with the prick too…."

"He goes to her school?"

Motoki was taken aback by Mamoru's anger. Even without the whole story, Motoki should understand his malice towards the guy that tried to touch his Usagi. But that wasn't all; the guy had some strange magic. Weird, unknown magic. Alien.

"Do you have his address?"

"Uh," Motoki hesitated because Mamoru had a fire in his eyes, "yeah, they live on the west side of town. I had to have it for the restraining order…."

"Send it to me," Mamoru stated, heading for the door, "and tell the others where I'm going. Right now, Motoki!"

The blond shivered and fumbled a little but got right on it. Mamoru was already out the door and running by the time Motoki sent him the address. It would be faster as Tux, but he didn't have proof other than his gut, and if he showed up looking for a fight, it could cause more trouble than he needed right now.

It still felt like an eternity before he reached the address Motoki sent him. A stone dropped into his belly when he still felt nothing from Usagi. Did he have the wrong place? Was he wrong, and the kid was just weird? Either way, he still owed the guy a punch in the face or something—anything to keep him away from Usagi since she wasn't likely to file a report.

He rang the doorbell and felt like a fool, wasting his time. That is until he felt it.

It was faint and quick, but he was sure. He had felt Usagi's strands try to reach out to him. They touched him faintly and then disappeared again as if a door was slammed shut on them.

Usagi was inside this apartment.

The door opened, and he didn't wait to be invited in, shoving past the annoying girl and into the living room. "Where is she?!"

She was here, Mamoru was sure, but he couldn't feel her again. "Who?"

The girl was playing dumb while the boy -the one that had touched his Usako- stood off to the side. Silent. If they were the creatures that had been attacking them, Mamoru knew one way to get his answer. So he grabbed the boy by his neck and lifted him off the ground. The kid grabbed his wrist with his hands and tried to pull it off, but Mamoru wasn't playing around. It was why he felt no remorse when he slammed the boy's head into the wall behind them.

Flying around, the girl grabbed onto Mamoru too. "What are you doing?! Let my… brother go!"

"Tell me where Usagi is!" Mamoru punctuated his question with the boy's head against the wall again. A few more wacks, and they would be washing brain matter off their wall. "Tell me!"

The girl was looking at him like he was crazy. But he wasn't, Usagi was here, and they had her. And the only reason for them to take her was to kill her. Mamoru wasn't about to allow Usagi to die again, so he was willing to do whatever it took, even if he had to kill the boy (his conscience wouldn't suffer in the slightest either after what he had done to Usagi) to keep her alive.

When the girl remained silent, Mamoru slammed the kid into the wall again, glaring at her while her attention was wide-eyed on her brother. He pulled him out of the wall, ready to slam him into it again, when the girl held up her hands and ran. Mamoru followed her with his eyes as she went to a door. A metal door. One that didn't belong in an apartment.

"You want Usagi? She's in here!"

"An!" The boy cried as best he could in his condition.

The girl said nothing, just pressed a button, and the doors opened. Mamoru was flooded with Usagi, her silvery cords nearly knocking him back as they rushed into him. Even though it was a trap, he fell into it greedily, running past the pair and into the dark room. The only natural light source was behind him, and he knew they would cut it off any second now. He had to find Usagi before they did, searching around.

"Mamo…"

It came from above him, his breath catching as dim light flowed over his eyes. Usagi was above him… in a tree.

He ran, ramming his fist into the rough, gray bark. Mamoru commanded the tree to let Usagi go, to give her back to him, but it didn't listen. This tree wasn't from Earth.

"Meet the Makai tree. It's from our planet and hungry." The boy yelled, back on his feet -barely- and pissed. "Makai, take him!"

"What? No!"

The girl shouted, but the tree didn't listen, picking Mamoru up and lifting him high off the ground. It had him close to Usagi, so he reached out to her. She did the same, wanting to touch him just as badly as he wanted to touch her.

"Just a little further…."

"I can't… reach…." She cried in their minds.

"Shhh.. It's okay, it's okay Usako…"

"Mamo… you shouldn't have come…."

"Stop right there."

She listened, knowing it was a pointless argument. Because he did come for her, and he didn't regret it one bit. "Ail, stop!"

"I need to heal thanks to that asshole. Which means we need energy. A hit for a hit."

Mamoru directed his attention back to the two only to find them gone and the creatures that attacked them in the arcade in their place. Now he felt even less guilty for his actions. They weren't puppets or brainwashed; they were the monsters attacking and killing people. His only regret was not hitting the boy harder and killing him then.

"You can't drain Mamoru!" The girl screamed.

"Why not?!"

"Because I…" The girl hesitated while the boy finished it for her.

"You love him? Seriously? We've been on this planet too long; you've lost your damn mind!"

Mamoru glanced over at Usagi, tears running down her face. He didn't need to listen to her thoughts to know; she was worried about him and pitying the poor female that was dumb enough to fall for him. Usagi knew he would never love anyone but her. Ever.

"Usako."

She looked his way and forced on a smile, shaking her head in understanding. It was killing him to watch her cry instead of hold her and wipe away her tears.

"It's okay, Mamo."

That was hardly any reassurance for him, but he had no choice. He pointed his hard focus on the couple who was still arguing over which one of them to kill.

"We should drain Usagi."

"Why? She hasn't done anything to us; she doesn't deserve to die!"

"Doesn't she? She tricked you and Mamoru into loving her! That's the cruelest thing I've ever seen a creature do!"

"I wasn't tricked!"

"Weren't you? And you said she deflected your powers. She's not normal!"

The male stumbled, and the female grabbed him. "We don't have time for this. I need to heal."

"Fine… we'll… we'll take from both of them. So it'll be even, and it won't kill."

The female caudled the male, gently leading him to the base of the tree. Mamoru watched as a large leaf rolled over and lifted the male like a gurney. Then he felt it, like a pulling on his soul. They were draining his life force.

Now he looked at Usagi. She could block the pull, and yet, she was letting them take from her without struggle. "What are you doing?! Block it!"

"If I do that, then they'll take it all from you."

"You need your energy to fight!"

"So do you!"

The drain stopped, and their argument along with it. He felt tired, as if he had run a few miles. It took his breath away. These monsters said they wouldn't take much, but it felt as if they took more than half his strength. Usagi's eyes were still on his and looked glassy. They took a lot from her too.

"Usako, stay with me."

She smiled weakly back at him. "As long as you stay with me."

Mamoru fought against the vine-like branch around his body, trying in vain to get free again. He wanted to hold Usagi, kiss her, run his fingers through her hair and promise her that everything would be okay.

"I know, Mamo, I want to too. Save your strength."

Where were the others? They should be here by now! He didn't know that for sure though, he had given Ami an address, but the others would want confirmation before rushing off as he had.

He felt around inside Usagi, assessing her, and she did the same to him. They were trying to figure out just how much energy was stolen from them. Just then, the male popped up from the leaf and twirled around.

"Oh my god, An, they are delicious."

The female looked at Usagi with interest. "Which one?"

"How should I know? The tree gave me some from both."

They didn't even know how to control energies? The pair had no way of knowing who gave them what; they just ate what was given to them like a pair of hogs. Usagi's energy was completely different from his!

Mamoru didn't like how the female was eyeing Usagi, but luckily the male distracted her. "Hey, An, I'm feeling really… energized."

"Really?" She said with a lift in her voice but then turned from the male. "Then I guess you should use it on Usagi since you're in love with her."

Mamoru would pop a blood vessel if they kept talking about his Usako like a piece of meat. The male ignored the female's jab and started rubbing the female's shoulders. "But… you're the one I want to share this energy with. Don't you want some of Mamoru's energy inside you?"

Now he was going to be sick. The thought of his energy inside anyone other than Usagi made him want to hurl.

"Try not to think about it. I know you didn't give it to anyone freely. I didn't either."

Usagi's voice cooed in his mind -trying to calm him- but it only reminded him that Usagi's energy was inside that prick right now. The female purred as the male rubbed down her back. Then she spun back to her mate and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him. Mamoru looked over at Usagi -confused- while Usagi just looked shocked. Weren't they supposed to be siblings?

When the male grabbed the female's ass and lifted her, Mamoru looked at Usagi instead while she looked back at him. They both heard the female as she spoke to the male, though. "I want them to watch while we share their energy, Ail."

oOo

Usagi kept her attention on Mamoru even as the pair of creatures undulated below. Every moan from one of them had her cheeks flooding with hot blood as she was very uncomfortable with what was going on. She was so new to sex and only understood and appreciated the lovemaking she and Mamoru did. No one else. And now, she had no escape from the scene below her except to look at Mamoru. But even that was hard as animalistic sounds echoed all around them.

Sounds the two of them had made but in the privacy of Mamoru's bedroom.

"There is something wrong with those creatures," Mamoru said, trying to lighten the mood.

"They're in love."

"That's not love."

"It doesn't… seem any different than when you and I…."

"It is different, Usako, very different."

"I guess I don't know enough about sex to know…."

"I don't either, but I do know I would never share you like this. You're mine, and no one else can have even the smallest ounce of you. We're not… exhibitionists."

He was right. Usagi would never want anyone to see her and Mamoru like… that. And not just for herself; she didn't want anyone else seeing that side of Mamoru.

"No one else ever will, love."

She smiled back at him with her cheeks on fire. But then, there was another loud moan from below, and Usagi needed to talk about something else. "How are we going to get out of here?"

"The others will be here soon."

"They could be stuck. We don't know what kind of defenses they have here." Mamoru smiled with pride at her thinking, but she pushed on. "The last time we were stuck like this, transforming got me free. Maybe we should try it?"

"We transform in front of them, that's it. We have to kill them, or they will never stop coming after us. After your friends and family."

Mamoru was right, but she still didn't like it. "They're… distracted. If we do it now, maybe we can get away with it?"

"They might be dumb enough, but Usako, I'm not risking it. Their lives end tonight—regardless. Because they came for you and took you from me. Do you know how terrifying that was for me? I couldn't even feel you!"

"I know."

"You don't have to do anything. I'll be the one to kill them."

He was growling in her head, and his eyes had darkened. It made the sparks of lightning inside them brighter. "I don't want you to change, Mamo. I don't want this to taint you!"

"It won't." He turned, looking her dead in the eyes with his stormy ones. "I will feel no regret keeping you safe, Usako. Nor for killing the monsters that have killed so many with no remorse. They deserve death, and I will give it to them."

Mamoru wasn't speaking to her anymore. It was Endymion. He had taken over, and that scared her.

"Don't be scared, my love," Endymion said with a smirk. "No matter who I am, I will protect you."

"I don't like it…."

"No time. We have to go now."

He was right. The pair had already been at it for… a while. Usagi and Mamoru went longer than this, but that was them. There was no guarantee how much longer they would last…

"I love how embarrassed you get just thinking about it. We would outlast them no problem." Mamoru said with a wink, making her boil over.

So instead, she focused on her transformation. Before, when she transformed, it caused the vine around her to go limp. But this time, it caused the vine to crack. Like glass, it popped, and spidery seams grew all around her. The last of her energy flashed, leaving her in her fuku with an ashen branch wrapped around. A grunt beside her caught her attention; Tuxedo Kamen was hammering the last of his branch with his fists to get free. She pulled at her arms and the branch crumbled away. Just as she got her torso free, Tux was holding onto her, his arms around Sailor Moon while his feet kicked away the rest of her cage.

They fell, and Tux was the one to land first, holding her off the ground for a few seconds before lowering her the rest of the way. The pair was shrieking in confusion and terror.

"The tree!"

"What the hell happened?!"

They had pulled it off; the two had no clue they had transformed. Tux still had his arm around her waist and pulled them both behind a massive root. Sailor Moon's back against it, Tux pressed himself against her, pinning her gently, her body with his and her mouth with his lips. His fingers curled around her cheeks and jaw over and over again as he reassured himself that she was safe. Then, even though he didn't need to, he released her mouth to speak, pressing his forehead against hers while continuing to caress her face.

"You're alright?" He asked while moving his hands lower to check the rest of her body.

She would have scolded him for it, but she found herself doing the same to him. "I'm alright. You?"

They didn't need to do this. Their ribbons of energy were flowing freely between each other, assessing one another for damage. And yet, they couldn't stop.

"I'm alright. We need a plan."

"Should we just run or fight?" Usagi asked, no longer sure of either option.

"Usako, they came for you at school. They know you and attacked you. There's no running, not anymore."

There was no arguing with Mamoru on it; he was going to end this today. She didn't doubt that the two of them were strong enough, but that wasn't what worried her.

Usagi didn't want to kill them.

Mamoru was still busy running his hands over her to address her continued hesitation. But they still needed a plan. "We should split them up. One on one." She was so happy that Mamoru wasn't suggesting he take them both on by himself that she hugged him hard. He chuckled, his breath hot and soothing against her neck. "I've learned my lesson, and I also know I can't do this without you. I need you, Usako." He pulled her back and gave her a stern look. "That doesn't mean I won't do all I can to protect you."

"Same here."

He peeked over the tall root (too tall for her to look over) and quickly shot back down. "They're looking for us. With their clothes on, thank God." She giggled, and he pressed a hard, fast kiss to her mouth. "On three, we jump out and split them up. You go right, and I'll go left."

A nod from her, and they both crouched to jump. "One."

"Two…"

"Three!" They said in tandem.

Springing up, she went right while Tux went left. Either the pair had moved since Tux set the plan, or he hadn't cared because it had Sailor Moon pairing off with the male. He had a long strange flute-looking weapon that he used like a sword, swinging it at Sailor Moon's head and neck. She was forced to block it with her scepter and cringed every time the two hit. It didn't hurt, but it created bright sparks that hurt her eyes.

"Where the hell did you come from, Sailor Moon?" So they still hadn't figured it out? These Aliens weren't bright at all. "Did you take Usagi somewhere? You're more powerful than I thought!"

They clashed weapons and held firm, trying to overpower one another. "The others will be here soon. You're outnumbered."

The creature laughed in her face. "Even if they could find us, they'll never get to you or your Tux freak. You can only come in through the door, and one of us has to open it…." She watched in horror as the light bulb went off in his brain. He stepped back and lowered his weapon. "It's you… you're Sailor Moon?!"

Mamoru assured her that this was the end, but she still couldn't bring herself to admit it to a stranger. "If you think we're dumb enough not to find our way in here, then you're underestimating us greatly!"

He struggled, deciding whether or not to believe her—then sneered. "Doesn't matter. Whether you're Usagi or not, I'm going to suck you dry now. I was foolish to think you'd ever love me!"

Sprinting, he tried to catch her off guard. She blocked him at the last second, bringing up her scepter to keep from getting her head bashed in. "You're a monster, of course; I don't love you!" He swung again, and she blocked. "But you… can change! You can… be better!"

"I don't want to be BETTER!"

Extending his hand, he hit her with a blast of pure light. It caught her off guard and flying.

oOo

Dammit, he meant to take the male creature! But now, fighting with this witch of a beast, he was glad Sailor Moon had the male. Her nails weren't just for show and razor-sharp. He wasn't sure if his staff could take many more hits from them. This wasn't why he was glad he had the female.

This one had a blood lust, and it simmered in her eyes.

"What did you do with Mamoru? Did you release him somehow? Steal him away from me? Why do people keep stealing him from me?!"

She was raging and crazy. So he had to poke the bear. "Can't steal something from someone if it doesn't belong to them."

Screaming, she charged at him, slashing the air in an attempt to tear him to pieces. He dodged each one -barely- and jumped up on the large root behind him instead of getting trapped by her rage. He watched on in awe as she continued to tear into the tree, the tree that had sucked the energy out of him and Usagi and gave it to the wounded one. Was she that careless? This tree appeared to be their lifeline, and yet she was cutting deep into its roots.

Another scream caught his attention. Because it didn't come from the she-devil. It was from Usagi. "Sailor Moon?!"

"She's dead. If not now, soon. But don't worry, I won't keep the two of you apart. I'm not cruel; I don't rip loved ones away." Jumping and using her extraterrestrial powers, the female joined him on his root and continued attacking. He was more powerful than her, but she had blind anger on her side, causing him to trip up and get a claw to his side. "WHERE IS HE?!"

Blood seeped through his gloves, and he couldn't help but laugh. "I didn't do anything with Mamoru."

Looking back at her instead of his wound, he was met with wide, wild eyes. So he laughed again and pulled off his mask, removing his glamour at the same time. Now she tripped, stepping back quickly without thinking and slipping on the rough surface of the root.

"But you did something to him. And it hurts." Mamoru said with a groan for effect. It caused the female to rush up to him and into Mamoru's grip, lifting his arm at the last second to catch her by her neck just as he had the boy earlier. "You should probably call off your lover now. If he hurts Usako, I'm going to make both your deaths slow and painful."

She squealed and scratched, trying to get her freedom from his grip, but he just squeezed tighter. "Ail!"

Her cry was answered by another, the male catching on to the situation. Mamoru glanced their way, searching Usagi's body for injuries. She wasn't hurt too badly, but even that was enough to make his blood boil.

"I'm fine, Mamo. Just a few scratches."

"You shouldn't even have that much!"

"I don't want to kill them!"

If she did, Usagi could have killed both of them easily hours ago. So he already knew she was going to fight him on this. "Remember the park? All those dead bodies moving to attack us?" He didn't want to remind her, but he had no choice, summoning up the memory for her to see in his head. It lasted a few seconds, but that was long enough for her to block him out. "Sailor Moon!"

"I won't kill them!"

The one in his hold was turning from pink to blue, matching her partner. But he was watching Sailor Moon as she fought off the male again. It seemed the two slept with one another but didn't care if the other lived or not.

"Please… Mamoru…"

The female calling his name did nothing to his resolve. He was ready to snap her neck and be done with this.

"Mamo…"

He could feel her tears. They were for the creatures as well as for him. She didn't want him to have the dark stain of death on his soul. Usagi thought it would make him a murderer. But it wasn't murder; it was justice.

None of it mattered because the thoughts between them distracted Sailor Moon, giving the male the upper hand as he wrapped his arms around her, his long staff across her neck.

oOo

She had messed up, gotten distracted in battle, and now she was struggling to breathe. Mamoru was close to breaking the female's neck, and now the male was close to crushing her neck. "Let her go!"

The male yelled over at Tux. "Usako…"

She couldn't say anything. Not with her mouth or her mind. There wasn't enough oxygen in her body, and she still didn't know what to do. If Mamoru let go of his prisoner, this creature would kill her. And then Mamoru would kill them both for sure. If Mamoru didn't let go, this guy would kill her. There was no way to win, and it was all because of her stupidity.

Mamoru looked between her and her capture. His eyes changed, darkening like before and turning into storms. She couldn't say anything, so instead, she shook her head at him. Then the male started to laugh.

"You're really stupid; you know that? I couldn't care less if you killed An. But you'd care A LOT if I killed Sailor Moon. So why don't you just go ahead? Rip her heart out for all I care!"

Usagi turned as much as she could to give the male a fearful look. He had no idea what he had just done.

"Okay." And then Endymion plunged his fist into the female's chest.

In shock, the male dropped his hold on Sailor Moon, and she shoved him back, running to Endymion's side. She put her hands on his arm and tried to remove his hand gently. "Endymion, I'm safe. Please don't kill her."

He looked at her, lightning sparking in his irises. "He was going to kill you no matter what I did…."

"I know. I know that." With his free hand, he traced the bruise on her neck then flooded her with his golden strands, taking the bruise away instantly. "He's not going to kill me now, so please don't kill her."

Sailor Moon didn't dare take her eyes off Endymion's, not even when the female moaned and the male cried. "You told me to 'rip her heart out'. Don't tell me you're having second thoughts now?"

Endymion was taunting the male, who was practically a puddle on the ground. Sailor Moon grabbed his face in her hands and held him still. "Endymion, please."

"I could crush it. It's right here in my palm as we speak." He whispered in her brain.

"Don't do that."

"Why not? They want to kill you. Because I love you, they want to kill you to crush me. And you could crush them, easily. Why won't you protect yourself and your people, Serenity?"

"This isn't protection. It's murder."

"Oh my god!"

"Is his hand in her chest?!"

She was still trying to talk Endymion down, his hand still wrapped around the female's heart. So she ignored the voices of their friends even though they were all horror-struck.

"This is what happens when you threaten Serenity." Kun's voice boomed over the rest.

Endymion was searching her eyes, searching her mind, and she was screaming at him to pull his hand out of the woman's chest.

"Is that a huge tree?" Zoi asked.

She could hear Ami typing. "I'm looking into it now."

"It's called the Makai Tree. And it will be your doom."

The male had rallied and slapped the base of the tree. Then, everything started moving, including the root they were standing on. Before Endymion had a chance, she grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand off the heart. He cursed angrily in her head but still wrapped his arms around her and leaped from the root, leaving the female's body behind. Usagi glanced back to see the female get absorbed by the tree.

"Oh my god, it ate her!"

Several feet back, Endymion dropped to the floor but didn't let Sailor Moon go. "Where the hell have you guys been?!"

He roared at the others, and they all shook. Probably due to the blood on his clothes. Neph was the only one with an answer. "Do you even know where you guys are? This is an alternate dimension! Even with the address, it was hell getting in here! It would have been easier to go to the moon!"

The others moved to fight, and she tried to join, but Endymion held her firm. "Endymion…"

"It's their job, not yours, to fight."

She needed Mamoru back. At least he let her fight. "Really? You want Mamoru instead of me?"

Endymion was purring in her ear while she was trying to watch out for her friends. The large tree was moving, swinging its massive roots and branches at the Senshi and Shitennou. She was about to smack Endymion (when he started nibbling on her ear) when the roots stretched out and towards them.

"Mamoru!"

He pushed her away hard, sending her sliding on her belly while the root crashed into him. There was a sickening thud as it hit him and a scream caught in her throat. Hands were on her, grabbing her up and pulling her to her feet. "Usagi, we have to move!"

"He's fine, he's fine, we've got him," Jed screamed as the Shitennou chased after their Prince.

Meanwhile, she was having flashbacks to every fight they'd ever been in—because Mamoru had died in every single one. Usagi struggled against her Senshi's hold, fighting them. "Let me go! Let me go to him!"

"Usagi! You have to live!" Mars shouted at her.

"We're not going to lose you again!" Jupiter screamed.

Venus was blasting back tree parts as they got close. "He has his guard protecting him. He'll be fine."

Usagi didn't believe them. Because they had been in this situation too many times before, and it had yet to work out the way she wanted it to.