SailorStar9: Well, now that Chapter 11 is out, this is Chapter 12 and a look back in Japan after Ami left. Read and review. Come on guys; is it so hard for you to leave a review, rather than just putting this in your favorites? Disclaimers: I own nothing, except the plot and the pairings.

Chapter 12: Interlude: Usagi's Awakening, The Ruthlessness of the White Moon

"Usagi is too soft." Artemis sighed. "How is she supposed to bring about the glory of the White Moon when she's so naïve?"

Luna shook her head, "Doesn't she know that she must seal Mercury's memories and kill the Senshi to absorb their and the Golden Crystal's powers into the Ginzuishou so that she can finally rule Earth and the entire Solar System just as Queen Selenity wanted?"

"Wait," Artemis blinked. "So the promise to Terra; that if Sailor Earth was never to be reincarnated, the Queen would leave Earth alone…"

"What," Luna looked at her male counterpart in disdain. "You think the Queen intended to keep her promise? Not a chance; not when the protector of Earth was so easily removed." She sneered.

"Even if it is at the expense of the lives of the other girls?" Artemis echoed. "It won't be fair to them; they had dreams, they still have normal lives that would have to be left behind!" he argued. "They never asked to be Senshi! They aren't some Goddess or some all-powerful ruler, like Usagi."

"It doesn't matter if it's unfair to the others! The Senshi aren't meant to be happy; when Queen Selenity took the throne, not one moment did she regret her decision to kill off her Senshi for their powers, nor did she miss any of them." Luna cut his tirade off. "Usagi will get her just reward. She would be Queen of Earth, just as Queen Selenity intended. The White Moon will rule all! Isn't this what the both of us were sent to the future for, Artemis; to ensure Queen Selenity's legacy continues on Earth?"

"Yes, it is…" Artemis sighed in resignation.

"Then, you must know what we must do." Luna passively reminded the white Mau feline.

"Usagi," Luna voiced, the two Mau cats jumped onto the Moon Princess' bed. "There's one side of the White Moon royalty that you didn't know."

"A darker side." Artemis added. "Now that you've defeated Chaos, it's time for you to awake that aspect of your heritage."

"But I don't want…" Usagi's protest was cut off when the two Mau felines shot a concentrated beam of moonlight on her forehead.

"Now do you know what you must do?" Luna asked, once the darker facet of the White Moon royalty awoke within Usagi.

"Yes," the pig-tailed blond smiled deviously, her innocent demeanor had vanished. "The Senshi's lives and powers are mine to take, and so is the power of the Golden Crystal. I will do what my mother failed to do and rule over the Solar System."

The two Moon cats smiled at each other.

SailorStar9: Phew, this chapter is done. Read and review.