WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR
The battle was not going well for the senshi. They had been fighting for quite some time, King Cano leading his elementals in the assault. The eleven senshi, bruised and tired after battling first Aquis then Sylphe, braced themselves against the assault of Gaius. The Master of Earth called to life an army of trees and Cano laughed as his enemies scattered.
The first wave of trees was destroyed by Sailor Moon, but a few broke free. Sailor Jupiter met one and the resulting battle left the tree demolished and Sailor Jupiter lying unconscious on the ground.
"Jupiter!" Sailor Venus exclaimed, running over to protect her friend from the second onslaught of trees.
Sailor Mercury followed close behind. Sailor Moon fell to her knees in exhaustion and Sailor Mars went to her. As she ran, another tree solider stepped in front of her and whipped a branch at her. Mars had no time to duck as the branch hit her face with a sickening crack, knocking her out cold. The tree then turned to the weakened Sailor Moon.
"Day Star Solar Ray Charge!" Sailor Sun yelled.
The tree was engulfed in fire and burned to ashes. Sailor Sun lifted Mars and placed her gently under an inanimate tree before going back to help Sailor Moon. Once they were both safely leaning against the tree, Sailor Sun placed herself in front of them to guard against the next wave. Sailors Neptune and Uranus stood in front of the inner senshi, glaring at Cano.
"Three down, five to go," Cano laughed. He turned to Gaius. "Kill them."
The green haired Master of Earth bowed and smiled at his enemies. He pointed at the senshi and the next wave of twenty trees advanced, splitting into three groups. Ten trees headed to Sailors Neptune and Uranus while five went to Sailors Venus and Mercury and five more to Sailor Sun. Sailor Moon could only watch in horror as her friends fought.
Sailor Uranus held her hand up high and stared defiantly at the ten tree warriors.
"World Shaking!" she called.
Three trees fell and were trampled by the rest of the advancing group. One lashed out at Uranus, who ducked and kicked. Her foot hit the hard bark and she inhaled sharply in pain. The tree didn't even flinch.
"Deep Submerge!" Sailor Neptune cried.
Two more trees disappeared under the tidal wave, leaving only five. They circled the two outer senshi who stood back to back, supporting each other as their energy gave out. Sailor Neptune reached down to squeeze Uranus' hand and Uranus smiled at her partner. Together, they drew out their talismans.
"Space Sword Blaster!" Uranus yelled.
"Submarine Reflection!" Neptune added.
The five remaining trees were engulfed in an explosion of white energy. Sailor Moon turned her head away against the glare. When she looked back, Neptune had collapsed in exhaustion and Uranus was swaying on her feet. Uranus gave Sailor Moon a weak smile before falling next to her partner.
"Uranus!" Sailor Moon gasped. "Neptune!"
A grunt of pain made Sailor Moon turn her attention to Venus and Mercury. They stood back to back with the unconscious form of Jupiter between them as the five trees had them surrounded. At once, the trees swarmed them and both senshi disappeared under a flurry of branches and leaves. Sailor Moon watched in fear, desperately willing her body to get up and help them.
"Crescent Beam Shower!"
The five trees flew backwards and lay still as Sailor Venus' power exploded from the center of their swarm. Mercury lay still, half on top of Jupiter with one arm thrown over Jupiter to protect her. Venus knelt beside her friends for a split second before her eyes rolled into her head and she fell over sideways.
"Mercury!" Moon called. "Venus! Oh no!"
"What's wrong?" Sailor Mars asked numbly, coming half-awake.
"They're gone," Moon said softly.
"I'm here," Mars told her, blinking against the pain in her head. "I'll stop them."
Sailor Moon put her hand on Mars' shoulder as the girl tried to stand. Mars winced in pain and sank back down, drifting in and out of consciousness. Sailor Moon turned her attention to the last five trees and Sailor Sun.
The trees were attacking in a cluster and Sailor Sun was doing her best to defend herself against them. She dodged their swipes, receiving mild blows. Sailor Moon winced every time her friend was struck. Finally Sailor Sun paused and pointed her ringed hand at the trees.
"Solar Sun Spot!" Sailor Sun cried.
Images of Sailor Sun surrounded the five trees. They turned around in confusion, wondering which one was real. Two trees struck images and were incinerated by a flash of fire. The remaining three trees chose more carefully, but two more were destroyed.
"Let me help," Mars said.
"Not a chance," Moon told her firmly. "You'd be more likely to fry Sailor Sun than the trees."
Mars muttered something angrily and dozed off again. Sailor Moon turned back to the multiple images of Sailor Sun in time to see the last tree chose. It thrust a branch into the midsection of a Sailor Sun and time seemed to freeze.
The images of the yellow senshi disappeared leaving the real one standing in shock, staring at the brown branch that protruded from her stomach. The tree withdrew the branch and Sailor Sun fell. Master Gaius waved his hand at the tree and it planted its roots, one branch still red from Sailor Sun's blood.
"Kami-chan!" Moon yelled. "No!"
King Cano, Gaius, and Sylphe advanced, walking slowly between the groups of unconscious senshi. They halted in front of Sailor Moon. She struggled to her feet, holding her rod at the ready. Cano laughed.
"Don't be foolish," he said. "We both know that if you use that, you'll die."
"Sacrifices must be made," Sailor Moon told him.
Cano clucked his tongue against the top of his mouth and shook one finger in front of Sailor Moon's face.
"Why kill yourself and spoil my fun?" he asked.
Sailor Moon closed her eyes and thought about her friends. She hated that they would die because of her. She wanted to somehow spare them that cruel fate.
I wish I never was Sailor Moon she thought.
From behind a nearby tree, a figure bathed in shadow heard Sailor Moon's thought. It vanished without a trace.
At the Gates of Time, Sailor Pluto stood guard like she had for over a millennia. Mists swirled around her feet and she could tell by their slight shift that someone else had entered her realm. She held her staff more tightly, the garnet orb talisman on the top glowing in anticipation.
"None shall pass through the Gates of Time," Pluto announced.
The mist swirled again. Pluto's eyes searched for the intruder.
"I do not wish to pass through," a voice told her.
Pluto blinked in confusion. She could not see the person who had appeared uninvited.
"Why are you here?" Pluto asked.
Instead of an answer, a sphere of black energy engulfed her. Pluto gasped and tried to break free but nothing happened.
"Dead Scream," she said.
The power of the garnet orb was absorbed into the sphere. Through the hazy blackness, Pluto saw a shadowy figure pulling the orb deeper into the mists.
The Gates of Time stood undefended.
Usagi woke up with a muffled scream and sat up. She was breathing hard and her heart was pounding in her chest. She blinked in confusion and looked around. She was in her bed, in her room. Soft sunlight was pouring through her window and she could hear her mother in the kitchen below. Usagi exhaled. It appeared as if the battle last night had been just a dream, although Usagi knew it wasn't.
Usagi got out of bed and dressed in a pink jumper. How had she been spared? Had Tuxedo Mask saved her? Had Sailor Mars? Usagi slipped her transformation broach into her pocket and looked around for the one person who could answer some of her questions.
"Luna?" Usagi called, looking under her bed. "Where are you?"
The black cat didn't show herself. Usagi shrugged, assuming the cat was already downstairs eating breakfast. She headed to the kitchen herself.
Shingo was watching cartoons as Usagi headed through the family room on her way to the kitchen. Usagi paused to watch for a minute.
"Hey, sit down," Shingo invited. "The show just started."
"Have you seen Luna?" Usagi asked.
"Who?" Shingo said, his eyes never leaving the TV.
"Our cat," Usagi explained. "Black with a crescent moon on her forehead?"
Shingo shuddered. "I hate cats and that one sounds particularly ugly."
Usagi sighed and headed into the kitchen. Her mother was cooking breakfast while her father read the paper. Usagi looked around for Luna but couldn't find a trace of her.
"Hey Mom," Usagi said, "have you seen Luna?"
"Who's that, dear?" her mother asked. "One of your friends?"
"You should invite her over for dinner," her father added. "We like to meet your friends, Usagi."
Usagi shook her head. "No! Luna is our cat!"
"We don't have a cat," her father said. "Shingo hates them."
"Are you okay, dear?" her mother asked, her voice full of concern.
"I'm fine," Usagi muttered, sitting down to eat.
Usagi wolfed down her food to the amazement of her family. They watched her with wide eyes as she downed her juice and leapt to her feet.
"Bye! I'm going to see Rei!" Usagi called as she ran out the door.
Her parents watched her go then exchanged confused looks.
"Who's Rei?" her mother asked.
Usagi ran to the Shrine, eager to see Rei. She hoped that since she had been spared Cano's killing blow, maybe the same thing happened to Rei. Usagi slowed to a halt as an unpleasant thought struck her. What if Rei hadn't been spared? What if whoever had rescued Usagi had been too late for her friends? Tears came to her eyes as she once again saw Sailor Sun being stabbed by the tree. She shook her head to clear the image and was quickly brought back to reality as a familiar face appeared on a television screen on display in a store.
Usagi turned to watch and gasped. It was Queen Beryl! She was saying something but the sound on the display televisions was turned down so Usagi couldn't tell what it was. A hundred more questions came into Usagi's already crowded mind. What was Beryl doing alive? What was she doing on television? Usagi began to run again and this time she didn't stop until she was at the stairs leading up to the shrine.
Usagi saw Rei sweeping the path that lead to the shrine. Her two crows, Phobos and Eros(?) were pecking at the seeds Rei swept aside. They looked up and cawed sharply as Usagi approached. Rei turned as well and Usagi ran to embrace her friend.
"Welcome to the – " Rei began. Usagi had her in a tight hug before she could finish her sentence.
"Rei-chan!" Usagi exclaimed. "I'm so happy you're safe!"
Rei gently pried herself loose. "Who are you?"
Usagi blinked. "It's me, Usagi. Don't you remember me?"
"I'm afraid you must have me confused with someone else," Rei said with a sad smile. "I've never met you before."
Usagi stared in shock. She slowly realized that the shrine was different – it was the old shrine, before Cano had burned it down. Shock slowly faded to horror as Rei continued to watch Usagi.
"Are you all right?" Rei asked at last.
"Fine," Usagi muttered.
Rei eyed her warily and went back to work. Usagi turned slowly and was about to leave when another familiar form came running up the steps, directly to Rei.
"Ami-chan," Usagi whispered as the blue haired girl ran right past her.
"Rei-chan," Ami said. "We have trouble downtown."
"Shhh!" Rei hissed, gesturing with her head to where Usagi stood.
Ami turned around and smiled at the other girl. "Hi! I'm Mizuno Ami. How do you do?"
"You don't know me either?" Usagi asked, her eyes filling with tears.
Ami looked ashamed. "Wait! I do know you. You go to my school. You're friends with Naru and Umino, right?"
"Yeah," Usagi said, "right."
Rei grabbed Ami's arm and lead her toward the stairs.
"It was nice to meet you, Usagi," Rei called. "Come visit again!"
Usagi watched as her two closest friends left her behind. Suddenly, she drew herself up and took a deep breath.
"Okay," she told herself. "So no one knows you. You still have your broach and you can still help them. Maybe it will jog their memories."
With that, Usagi left the shrine to follow Rei and Ami.
Rei and Ami headed into a deserted area of downtown Crossroads. Usagi was amazed at how her town had changed. The area they had just entered was once the most prosperous district, full of shops and restaurants. This place was a desolate waste, with only tattered signs to remind people of its former glory. Usagi ducked between two buildings as Rei and Ami stopped and looked around. Ahead were five forms dodging the attacks of a large half crab, half-human monster.
"Mercury Star Power, Make Up!" Ami cried.
"Mars Star Power, Make Up!" Rei echoed.
The two senshi ran to join the fight. Usagi snuck closer, hiding behind an abandoned car. From her vantage point, she could see Sailors Venus and Jupiter clearly while Neptune and Uranus fought on the other side. Leading them was a tall figure wearing black armor and a red cape. Usagi gasped as she made out his features. It was Mamoru!
Mars and Mercury headed into battle and Usagi settled in to watch her friends at work. Usagi immediately noticed how weak and uncoordinated their attacks were. The monster barely felt the damage being done to it as the senshi hammered away on all sides. Mamoru as Prince Endymion shouted orders, trying to organize the senshi. Usagi almost felt ashamed to be a senshi as blow after blow missed the crab. Finally, Sailor Uranus managed to get in a luck shot and the creature was destroyed.
"All okay?" Endymion called.
The senshi muttered answers, indicating they were at least alive if not okay. A black tear appeared above their heads and a figure materialized. Usagi bit her lip to keep from crying out loud.
"Well," the Dark Scout said. "Here we are again. Are you ready to join the winning side?"
Endymion glared at her defiantly. The Dark Scout slowly lowered herself until she was standing on the ground.
"Queen Beryl's offer still stands, Prince Endymion," the Dark Scout told him. "If you join her now, your precious senshi won't be killed."
"Never," Endymion snapped. "Earth is ours."
"Earth was yours," the Dark Scout corrected. "Any hope you had of reclaiming it died a long time ago, with your Princess."
Usagi blinked. I'm dead? she wondered.
Endymion drew his sword and pointed it at the Dark Scout. She laughed at him and rose back into the air.
"Another time, Earth Prince," she promised and disappeared.
The senshi gathered together around Endymion. From a side alley, two cats joined them. Usagi smiled, happy to see Luna was safe.
"We'll get her," Mars told Endymion.
The Prince said nothing. Sailor Neptune looked up sharply, her eyes scanning the area. Usagi ducked down farther behind the car, hoping she wasn't seen. When she looked back, Neptune was still in the circle of senshi, but Uranus was gone.
"What's our next move?" Jupiter asked.
Luna sighed. "I hate to admit it, but without the Princess, I don't know if we have a next move."
"Maybe she was lying," Mercury suggested. "Just telling us the Princess was dead so we'd lose hope."
Endymion shook his head. "She's gone. I can feel it."
"And the Crystal still hasn't formed," Artemis added.
Usagi fished around in her pocket and drew out her broach after hearing Artemis' comment. With trembling fingers, she opened it to find the Imperial Silver Crystal gone.
"I don't understand it," Luna said in frustration. "The Crystal should have appeared by now."
Usagi wanted to run to the cat and tell her everything would be fine. She wanted to be able to join the discussion. As she turned back to watch some more, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning, she saw the angry face of Sailor Uranus and knew that least one of her wishes would come true.
Uranus threw her roughly into the circle of assembled senshi. She cried out as she hit the asphalt and unsteadily rose to her feet.
"Who are you?" Endymion demanded.
Usagi's heart broke as she heard her beloved say those words.
"Tsukino Usagi," she replied.
"What are you doing here?" Neptune asked.
"Usagi!" Mars gasped.
"You know her?" Venus wondered, turning to Mars.
"She visited me at the shrine today," Mars said. "She was convinced she knew me."
"I do know you, Rei-chan," Usagi said. "I know all of you!"
The senshi gasped. Endymion grabbed her arm roughly, nearly lifting her off the ground.
"Are you a Negaverse spy?" he demanded. "What do you want!"
Usagi cried out in pain as Endymion squeezed her arm.
"You're hurting her!" Jupiter cried. "Let her go!"
"I'm not a spy!" Usagi said. "I'm Sailor Moon."
Endymion let her go as the other senshi stared at her in shock. Finally, Uranus started to laugh.
"The Moon Kingdom didn't have a senshi guardian," Endymion told Usagi. "There is no Sailor Moon."
Usagi took her transformation broach out of her pocket and show it to him. He took it from her and put it on the ground so Luna and Artemis could look.
"It does look like a transformation devise," Luna said. "And it has the crescent moon on it, like the Royal House of the Moon."
"Where did you get it?" Endymion yelled.
Usagi snatched it up, tears brimming in her eyes. "It's mine! Luna gave it to me."
All eyes turned to the black cat. She shook her head. "I admit I searched for a long time for the Moon Princess, hoping to give her a broach like that, but I never found her."
Endymion sighed. "So, what do we do with her?"
"She knows too much," Uranus said.
"We can't just let her walk around, free to tell whoever she wants about us," Jupiter agreed.
"We can't lock her up," Venus protested.
"I'll look after her," Luna volunteered. "Leave it to me."
The senshi agreed reluctantly. Luna left the circle and looked back at Usagi.
"Come on, Tsukino Usagi," she said.
"Just Usagi, please," the girl replied, following the cat.
Luna rode on Usagi's shoulder, like in old times. Usagi nearly forgot that she was no longer a senshi as she walked the familiar route home. There were images of Queen Beryl everywhere that she had not noticed on her frantic dash to the shrine. Every television had her picture on it and radios were airing commercials telling everyone how great she was.
"Luna," Usagi whispered, "why are there images of Queen Beryl everywhere?"
The cat looked at her strangely. "When the mission to find the Moon Princess failed, we were powerless to stop her assault. She and her generals took over the planet, staring with Tokyo."
The cat gestured behind them to a dark building rising above the skyline.
"That's her castle," Luna said.
Usagi stared at its imposing black walls. A crackle of black lightning seemed to leap from tower to tower.
"It's protected by a thick shield of Negaverse energy," Luna continued. "We haven't been able to figure out a way through it."
"Didn't the Earth fight back against the assault?" Usagi asked.
"Of course they did," Luna replied, "but most of the Earth's armies were too busy fighting with each other to put up much of a resistance. Endymion faced Beryl, but she sent the Dark Scout against him. He barely escaped with his life."
"All because the Moon Princess never appeared," Usagi mused.
They continued walking in silence for a while until they left the downtown behind and were rounding the corner to Usagi's house.
"Where are you from?" Luna asked suddenly. "You can't be from here and not know about all this."
"I'm not sure," Usagi replied. "Maybe I'm from a different time. None of this happened in my world."
"Really?" Luna asked. "It must be peaceful there."
Usagi nodded, only half listening. "What about the senshi?" she asked. "Don't the people fight with them?"
Luna sighed. "Most of the people are too afraid of Queen Beryl to try and stop her. The senshi are mostly made fun of for even trying. That's why we have to protect ourselves so much."
"That would explain Haruka's reaction when I told her I knew about her," Usagi agreed. "Still, I wish I could do something."
"Just stay out of our way and keep quiet," Luna advised. "That way none of us will be killed."
Usagi said nothing, but entered her house and quickly went upstairs to hide Luna from her family. It had taken her forever to get them to accept her the first time and she wasn't planning on staying in this time long enough to do it again.
The next morning, Luna brought Usagi to the shrine for the senshi meeting. They left early in the morning, taking the long route there so they wouldn't attract any attention. Finally, they made it to the shrine. Rei was outside to greet them.
"Welcome to the Shrine," she said with a bow. "Prayer groups are inside."
Usagi thanked her and went into the building. She made her way to Rei's bedroom where the other senshi were already gathered. A few minutes later, Rei appeared.
"What's she doing here?" Haruka demanded.
"I couldn't leave her alone," Luna replied.
"She's harmless," Rei said. "Relax a bit."
"Do that," Michiru said, "and we'll all be dead. We can't afford to lower our guard even for an instant."
Usagi said nothing but sat in the corner. Mamoru glared at her with mistrust and Usagi nearly broke into tears. It was tearing her apart inside to have him dislike her after all the time they'd spent together.
"Why doesn't Artemis show her around the shrine?" Minako suggested.
"Why me?" the white cat protested.
Usagi felt even more hurt by that innocent remark.
"Go on," Ami said. "If you need us, just yell."
Artemis headed for the door, grumbling under his breath. Usagi took one more look at the assembly of friends she was being forced to leave and followed him. The door slid shut behind her.
"Well," Artemis asked, "what do you want to see?"
Usagi looked down at the cat. "The Rainbow Crystals."
Usagi pushed the large cabinet to one side and peered through the small door. Artemis stood nervously by her side, his eyes going from Usagi to the door. Carefully, Usagi stepped through.
"If Endymion finds out I let you in here," Artemis began.
"Come on, scaredy cat," Usagi called. "I won't tell him."
"You better not," Artemis replied. "He'd skin me alive."
The room hidden behind the cabinet was small but tall enough for Usagi to stand. She looked around until her eyes rested on a small pillow in the back of the room. On the pillow were seven shining crystals, each a different colour. Usagi stepped forward for a closer look.
"Don't touch them!" Artemis warned.
Usagi obediently put her hands by her sides, but her eyes continued to gaze at them. She could faintly see the black Shadow Warriors imprisoned within and remembered when each of her friends had sacrificed themselves to destroy the Shadows. A tear came to her eye and fell from her cheek to the pillow.
The Crystals began to glow in response.
Usagi remembered how they had formed the first time, when one of her tears had joined them together to form the Imperial Silver Crystal. She suddenly realized what needed to be done.
Not yet, she thought to the Rainbow Crystals. Very soon.
Usagi turned to leave the room. Artemis stood at the doorway, waiting. As Usagi past him, he wondered if the glow he had seen had been from the crystals or just his imagination.
Usagi and Luna left a short while after she and Artemis returned. Rei asked politely how she had enjoyed the tour and Usagi and replied enthusiastically that she had enjoyed it immensely. Artemis remained silent. After the other senshi had left, Mamoru was walking down the steps to catch the bus back to his apartment when Artemis came out of the bushes in front of him. Mamoru stopped.
"Aren't you supposed to be with Minako-chan?" he asked with a smile.
"I had to speak with you alone, Endymion-sama," Artemis replied.
Mamoru tensed at the use of his formal name and knelt to speak quietly with the white cat. "What is it?"
"That girl," Artemis began, "Tsukino Usagi. I – well, I took her to see the Rainbow Crystals."
"You did WHAT?" Mamoru exclaimed. "What if she does work for the Negaverse?"
Artemis shook his head. "I'm convinced she doesn't. The crystals reacted to her. They began to glow. Maybe she is a senshi."
Mamoru shook his head. "She's too weak to be a senshi, and you shouldn't have taken her to see the crystals. I don't want her anywhere near us ever again. Understand?"
Artemis nodded.
"Go tell Luna to go home," Mamoru continued.
"But what if she talks?" Artemis asked.
"It doesn't matter anymore. She knows where the crystals are. If she wants to talk, I don't think Luna could stop her anymore," Mamoru told him.
Artemis nodded, feeling foolish for what he had done. Mamoru stood and walked away, leaving the white cat to find Luna and tell her everything. Once Artemis was gone from view, Mamoru doubled back and ran up the stairs to the shrine.
Luna left Usagi sitting on a park bench when she saw Artemis frantically signaling her to come over. Minutes later, the black cat returned to her ward with a sad look on her face. She jumped onto the bench and sat next to Usagi.
"Luna," the girl asked, "what's wrong?"
"Mamoru-san has told me to leave you alone," Luna replied. "Now that you know where the Rainbow Crystals are, it doesn't matter if you tell anyone."
"I'm not going to tell anyone anything," Usagi protested.
Luna looked up at her and said the nicest thing Usagi had heard since ending up in this strange time. "I believe you."
Luna jumped to the ground again. "Mamoru-san also wants you to stay away from the senshi. All of them."
"How can I, with so much at stake?" Usagi asked. "I want to help."
"The only way you can help," Luna replied, "is to steer clear of us. Pretend you never knew us. Go back to your life."
The black cat disappeared into some foliage, leaving Usagi alone again.
Usagi hid in the trees outside the Shrine. She had seen several of the senshi enter the building and was determined to help them – whether they wanted it or not. She hated this time, being normal and forced to live under the thumb of Queen Beryl. She wanted her old life back, but she couldn't figure out how to return. But she did know how to help.
Hours later, the senshi left the Shrine in small groups. Usagi watched them go, first Haruka, Michiru, Makoto, and Minako followed a few minutes later by Mamoru, Rei, Ami, Luna, and Artemis. Careful not to be seen, Usagi walked a safe distance behind them until she realized where they were headed.
Only a short, thin alley stood between the senshi and the gates of Queen Beryl's castle. Usagi watched the team transform and Endymion led the assault on the gates. Black lightning cracked on the ground, narrowly missing the advancing senshi. Usagi could almost see the two-foot thick shield surrounding the black stone walls.
"It's protected by a thick shield of Negaverse energy," Luna had told her. "We haven't been able to figure out a way through it."
The black cat's words came to her unbidden as the senshi lined up to charge the gate. From the deep shadows, several sets of yellow eyes blinked to life. Usagi saw them, but she wondered if the senshi were as perceptive.
The shadows advanced, moving quickly through a small opening in the shield to meet the senshi. Usagi guessed there were at least fifty of them and she knew her friends wouldn't be able to win this fight.
Endymion charged, his silver sword held high. With three easy sweeps, he destroyed five of the advancing shadows. The senshi scattered and prepared to battle the remaining forty-five. Usagi clenched her broach, wishing that she could transform and help.
The ground shook and several warriors were swallowed in the blast. Usagi wondered why the two outer senshi didn't use their talismans, then realized that they probably hadn't discovered them yet. The threat of Queen Beryl had been enough to wake them and persuade them to join the fight.
That means the Silence never happened, Usagi thought. And if that didn't happen, Sailor Saturn was never saved from her fate as Mistress 9.
Endymion was surrounded on all sides by the shadows. He was so close to Usagi's hiding spot that she crouched down lower to make sure she wasn't seen. The other senshi, too preoccupied in their own battles, didn't even notice their prince was in trouble. Usagi bit her lip, wondering how her darling Mamo-chan could be spared.
As four warriors held him down, a fifth wrestled the prince's sword from his hands and held it over its head. A wicked glint came to the shadow's yellow eye as he prepared to end the fight with one quick blow. Endymion's eyes were wide with fear, but his expression remained hard and brave. Usagi desperately wanted to turn away, to not witness the death of her beloved, but found she couldn't tear her eyes off him.
The sword started coming down.
Usagi screamed and rushed through the fray to Endymion. She threw herself over him, much to his surprise. The sword continued its descent and tears streamed down Usagi's face, landing on Endymion's chest.
Suddenly, a white light enveloped them, instantly destroying the shadow warriors. The senshi stared in shock as the seven Rainbow Crystals flew free of Endymion's belt and hovered in a circle around Usagi. The Earth Prince blinked as he watched the girl he had condemned as a Negaverse spy suddenly transform in front of him.
A pinkish light tore away Usagi's jumper, replacing it with the flowing white dress of the Moon Princess. A shimmering yellow crescent moon appeared on Usagi's forehead and she held one hand above her head. The Rainbow Crystals all converged on her open palm and melted into the Silver Imperial Crystal.
"I don't believe it," Luna gasped. "Usagi is the Moon Princess!"
"I thought she was dead," Artemis said, tears streaming down his face.
"Princess Serenity!" Mars said, "and the Imperial Silver Crystal!"
"She's come back to us," Neptune remarked.
"We're saved!" Uranus added.
The light faded and Princess Serenity stood in front of a shocked Prince Endymion, the Silver Crystals cupped in one hand. She smiled at him and he took a hesitant step forward.
"Endymion!" Serenity cried.
The two embraced and it was as if nothing had changed since their final parting on the Moon Kingdom a thousand years before.
"How?" Endymion asked. "I thought you were dead!"
"Perhaps I was," Serenity replied, "and I am just now reborn."
"We better get out of here," Jupiter said. "Any second now Queen Beryl will come out here with her entire army."
"Then we should spare her the effort and go in to meet her," Serenity said.
"Are you sure?" Venus asked. "You just blasted fifty shadow warriors. Are you strong enough to face Beryl?"
Serenity looked at the faces of her friends. "With all of you near me, there is no way I could fail."
Princess Serenity turned and held up the Silver Crystal. A beam of white light shot out and destroyed the black shield. Holding the Crystal in front of her, the Moon Princess led the way into the castle, followed closely behind by Prince Endymion and the Sailor Senshi.
"They're coming," the Dark Scout remarked.
Queen Beryl nodded, looking into her dark orb. She witnessed the return of the Moon Princess, the same girl she had killed a millennium ago. She smiled to herself. If the Moon Princess were to die again, so quickly after being found, the senshi would lose all hope and would be easily destroyed. The Earth – and Endymion – would be completely hers.
"Go meet them," Beryl commanded. "Make sure the Princess doesn't live to meet me."
The Dark Scout bowed. "Yes, Majesty."
She disappeared and Beryl turned her attention once more to the orb, waiting to see the outcome of the next battle.
The sailor senshi fanned out, checking the area for more shadow monsters. They were in a giant hall, the walls black and unadorned. The floor was sleek and shiny, amplifying the weak light that shone from somewhere in the ceiling. The entire place was eerie and made all the senshi feel uneasy. Endymion kept Serenity close to him, shielding her from possible harm. Serenity looked around, still holding the Crystal in her cupped hand, looking for Beryl.
"Welcome," a sinister voice echoed through the hall.
The senshi froze where they stood, each searching for the source of the sound.
The air directly in front of Endymion and Serenity shimmered and the Dark Scout appeared, floating a few feet above the ground.
"Welcome home, Prince," she said with a slight bow. "Your Queen is waiting."
"Never," Endymion said, gathering Serenity into one arm.
The Dark Scout noticed the motion and shook her head sadly. She floated gently to the ground and looked the Princess up and down.
"You've found her again, I see," the Dark Scout remarked. "Pity. We'll just have to destroy her again."
Serenity brushed past Endymion to stand before her enemy. "I can help you," she said.
The Dark Scout's face filled with a bemused expression. "You? Help me?"
Serenity held out the Crystal. The Dark Scout took a step backwards as its light intensified, holding up her hands to shield her face. Serenity stepped forward.
"You are not evil," Serenity said. "I know you. I know what you can become."
The Dark Scout floated upwards to be free of the light. "You don't know what you're talking about. I am the Dark Scout, Queen Beryl's general in Tokyo, and I will destroy you!"
She pointed to Serenity and a beam of black energy shot from her finger. Sailor Uranus ran to the Princess and pushed her aside as the beam struck the ground, forming a small crater where Serenity had been standing. Uranus leapt to her feet, placing herself between Serenity and the Dark Scout. The Moon Princess calmly stepped past her protector to face the Dark Scout again.
"Moon Healing Escalation!" Serenity called.
A sparkling white light surrounded the Dark Scout and she frantically tried to brush it off. Finally, it engulfed the Dark Scout and she let out a scream of pain and frustration. When the light disappeared, a figure dressed in yellow floated for a split second where the Dark Scout had been before dropping to the ground. Sailor Jupiter raced forward and caught her before she hit.
"Another senshi?" she asked, looking down at the unconscious form.
Jupiter lay her on the ground for the others to see. Endymion went to Serenity, holding her up as her legs gave out. She smiled up at her prince and the two of them went to join the others.
"What planet is she from?" Venus wondered. "Saturn?"
"Maybe Pluto," Mercury added. "I don't think there are any other planets left."
"She is not from a planet," Serenity said. "She is from a star."
"Sailor Star?" Mars said, making a face.
Serenity shook her head. "Sailor Sun."
The senshi watched as their new member slowly regained consciousness. She looked around at everyone's faces, her eyes finally resting on Serenity's.
"Thank you," she said. "I was trapped in that form for so long, I had forgotten what it felt like to be normal."
"Welcome to the team," Jupiter said, "Sailor Sun."
Neptune held out a hand and Sailor Sun rose to her feet, looking over her uniform. "I'm a senshi?" she asked.
"So much for being normal," Uranus laughed, holding out her hand. "Welcome to the team."
Sailor Sun accepted the offered hand and they shook like friends. Serenity wondered to herself why it wasn't this easy in her own time.
The room spun and Serenity fainted, Endymion catching her just in time. The Crystal fell to the ground to be picked up seconds later by Neptune.
"Princess!" Uranus gasped.
"Is she hurt?" Mars asked, her eyes filled with worry.
"I think she's exhausted her power," Endymion replied.
"What about Beryl?" Venus said. "We can't face her alone!"
Sailor Sun stepped forward. "Allow me."
She held her ringed hand over her head. "Solar Recharge Radiation!"
As the pale yellow light descended over the Princess, she moaned slightly and opened her eyes. The senshi breathed a collective sigh of relief. Serenity freed herself from Endymion's embrace and smiled at Sailor Sun. Neptune wordlessly handed back the Crystal.
"Thank you," she said. "Now, let us go win back our world."
"Damn," Beryl said, casting her orb aside.
She stood up from her throne and headed into a back room where only she was permitted to enter. The senshi had discovered the Dark Scout's secret and had healed her. Now she faced the powers of all the senshi, the Moon Princess, and the Solar Senshi. Beryl was not pleased.
"Empress Metallia," Beryl spoke to her mistress, "give me the power to defeat the senshi once and for all!"
Dark Negaverse energy churned within a small globe and a voice rang out through the chamber. "Very well, Beryl, but if you do not succeed –"
The voice left the threat hanging as it infused Queen Beryl with the remaining dark energy. The queen felt herself growing, her power increasing. She smiled.
"Thank you, Empress," Beryl said with a bow. "I shall not lose."
The senshi entered the throne room to find Queen Beryl waiting for them. She smiled calmly as Endymion and Serenity advanced. She held out a beckoning hand.
"Last chance, my prince," Beryl said. "I hate to kill you."
Endymion said nothing. Behind them, the senshi all held hand and knelt on the floor. The Moon Princess and Earth Prince faced the queen expectantly. Beryl's smile faded.
"Fools," she spat. "Die!"
Beryl lashed out at them with all her energy, a massive sphere of blackness moving to engulf the royal couple. Serenity used the power of the Crystal to keep it at bay, but slowly it advanced.
Please, she thought to her friends, lend me your power.
"Mercury Star Power!"
"Mars Star Power!"
"Jupiter Star Power!"
"Venus Star Power!"
"Uranus Planet Power!"
"Neptune Planet Power!"
"Solar Ring Power!"
The Moon Princess faced her enemy. Endymion put his hand around hers, lending his strength as well. The Imperial Silver Crystal glowed with new found strength.
"Moon Cosmic Power!" Serenity cried.
All the light in the room converged on the royal duo in an implosion of power. The black sphere advanced and Beryl laughed to herself, thinking the battle won. Suddenly, the light exploded in a massive sphere of white light. Beryl's eyes widened in shock and she opened her mouth to cry out, but no sound came as the white sphere consumed her. Seconds later, it was over and the queen was no more.
Serenity fell to her knees, her power finally spent. Without another word, she tumbled into a deep sleep.
Usagi opened her eyes to nothingness. She turned her head, looking around and found that she was floating in a gray void. Occasionally, she would see a tiny spark of light flicker around her, but it would last only a second before it was gone.
She wondered where her friends had gone, whether or not they had been successful in defeating Beryl once more. Had she died in the fight? Was this the after life?
No, a voice echoed through the grayness. You are very much alive, Sailor Moon.
"Who are you?" Usagi asked, speaking to the gray void.
A form materialized in front of her. Usagi gasped in shock. It was Aquis, the white haired Mistress of Water.
"I thought to grant your wish," Aquis explained. "A way of keeping you from us as we exacted our revenge."
"Wish?" Usagi asked.
Aquis waved her hand. Usagi turned and saw herself, as Sailor Moon, leaning weakly against a tree. The still form of Sailor Sun lay to her left and the unconscious Sailor Mars at her feet. She held the Moon Rod at the ready against King Cano. As he lowered his sword, Sailor Moon closed her eyes.
I wish I never was Sailor Moon
The thought echoed through the void. Usagi blinked in surprise.
"The Senshi of Time was more powerful than I thought," Aquis continued. "Before I could safely tuck you away in an alternate future, she broke free. You were already on your way, so she somehow gave you your memories of the past so you could fight with the senshi of whatever time you ended up in."
"What do you want from me now?" Usagi asked.
Aquis smiled wickedly. "I suppose I'll have to get rid of you the old fashioned way."
She shot a bolt of dark power at Usagi. The girl leapt clear, barely avoiding the blow. She grasped her broach only to find the Silver Crystal still missing.
"You're between realities," Aquis told her. "The Crystal doesn't exist here. You're powerless."
A pale purple ball of energy slammed into the Mistress of Water, knocking her aside. A shimmer of light appeared in the grayness and Sailor Pluto stepped through, holding her staff.
"Sailor Moon may be powerless here," Pluto said, "but I am not."
Aquis hissed angrily and shot another ball of energy at the Senshi of Time. Pluto dodged it easily.
"Dead Scream," Pluto said calmly.
Usagi watched as another attack hit Aquis. She glared angrily at Pluto, but disappeared knowing the battle had been lost. Usagi ran over to where Pluto stood.
"Am I ever glad to see you!" Usagi said. "Thank you."
Pluto smiled. "You are welcome, Princess. Now you see that a world without you is a world of hopelessness. You are very important."
Usagi blushed. "I know that now. I only wanted to save the others."
Pluto nodded wisely. "It may not be too late for them, Usagi-chan."
She pointed her staff at Usagi, the Garnet Orb glowing faintly in the dim light. Usagi smiled and Pluto sent her back to her time. Alone again, Sailor Pluto caused another rip of light to appear and stepped through, returning to her eternal position at the Gates of Time.
Sailor Moon watched her friends drop like flies. She saw Sailor Sun staring at the branch that protruded from her mid section before falling to the ground.
"Kami-chan!" Sailor Moon yelled. "No!"
King Cano, Gaius, and Sylphe advanced, walking slowly between the groups of unconscious senshi. They halted in front of Sailor Moon. She struggled to her feet, holding her rod at the ready. Cano laughed.
"Don't be foolish," he said. "We both know that if you use that, you'll die."
"Sacrifices must be made," Sailor Moon told him.
Cano clucked his tongue against the top of his mouth and shook one finger in front of Sailor Moon's face.
"Why kill yourself and spoil my fun?" he asked.
Sailor Moon closed her eyes and thought about her friends. She hated that they would die because of her. She wanted to somehow spare them that cruel fate.
I wish she thought.
A red rose neatly sliced Cano's sword in two. As the severed blade fell to the ground, Sailor Moon opened her eyes and turned her head.
"Tuxedo Kamen-sama!" she cried happily.
Her masked and cloaked protector leapt down from a high tree. He opened his cape and a small senshi dressed in pink stepped out.
"And Sailor Chibi Moon!" she exclaimed.
The small pink senshi stepped between Sailor Moon and Cano, pointing her tiny rod at the evil king. Cano smiled in amusement.
"Pink Sugar Heart Attack!" Chibi Moon cried.
A fury of small hearts shot out at the king. They were nothing more than pinpricks, but were very annoying.
"Ow!" Cano said, holding up one arm to block the attack. "Stop that!"
Behind him, his elementals exchanged confused looks and disappeared. Cano glared once more at Chibi Moon and Tuxedo Kamen and left with them. Sailor Moon gratefully collapsed into Tuxedo Kamen's arms.
"I'm so glad to see you!" she said.
He smiled down at her. "I missed you too, Usako."
"Hey!" Chibi Moon cried. "Since when do we have a yellow senshi? She's pretty badly hurt."
Sailor Moon left to join Chibi Moon at Sailor Sun's side. The eleventh senshi was alive, but barely. Her breathing was shallow and her pulse faint.
"Heal her, Sailor Moon," Chibi Moon pleaded.
Sailor Moon took a deep breath. "Help me, Chibiusa."
Together, the two senshi of the Moon held the Imperial Silver Crystal over Sailor Sun.
"Moon Healing Escalation!" they called as one.
A pale light descended on Sailor Sun and the gaping hole in her middle slowly began to close. As Tuxedo Kamen woke up the other senshi, they made their way to the fallen senshi and lent Sailor Moon their power.
Sailor Sun blinked and opened her eyes. Tears ran down Sailor Moon's face as the yellow senshi sat up, staring in amazement at her healed midsection. Sailor Moon's eyes rolled into her head and she fell forward into Sailor Sun's and Chibi Moon's arms.
Usagi woke up in her bed at home. She sat up, looking around in wonder. Soft sunlight gently floated in through her window and she could hear her mother cooking in the kitchen.
"Luna?" Usagi called, fear rising into her throat. "Luna!"
The door creaked open and the black cat came in, a smile on her face. "You're awake," she remarked.
Usagi jumped from her bed and enfolded the cat in a huge hug.
"I'm so happy to see you," she said.
"Usagi-chan," Luna gasped, "you're crushing me!"
"Sorry," Usagi said, letting the cat go.
"What's gotten into you?" Luna demanded.
Usagi smiled. "Let's just say I had a bad dream. Maybe I'll tell you about it some time."
"Usagi!" Chibiusa called from downstairs. "Mom made me pancakes! If you hurry, maybe I'll let you have one!"
"Pancakes?" Usagi exclaimed.
She took off out of the room, nearly trampling Luna in the process. The cat watched her go, shaking her head in confusion.
"I'll never understand her," Luna said to herself.
The black cat went downstairs to join her family for breakfast.