LUNAR ECLIPSE
Chaos was frustrated. It sat alone in the demolished throne room of the illusionary planet it had created for its former host. Times had been nicer then, back when it thought it would finally get its revenge. It had held the power of the Sun in its grasp, that combined with its own growing powers would have been enough to destroy Order once and for all. The plan had been perfect - if the senshi had not interrupted. The Cosmic Child had been easily swayed to their cause and from the first moment its Queen Olivine had been shadowed with doubts, Chaos had known its days were numbered.
Chaos smiled. Truly it was indebted to the foolish senshi who had thought by killing the host, the disease would disappear. Deruku Kami had been powerful, but hardly necessary.
Or was she?
Now, reincarnated as the ghostly Sailor Mirage, Chaos knew it had found its match. A part of Chaos was looking forward to their final meeting, when only one would arise triumphant. A part of Chaos remained attached to the Phantom Senshi and a part feared her. The powers of Order were strong in her now that she had shed off her mortal coil. Perhaps that tie was what Chaos needed to regain the upper hand.
Chaos' smile widened as a plan emerged in its mind. Yes, the days of Deruku Kami as the Cosmic Child were over, but her Light soul would not so easily lose its shadowy half.
*******
"Deep Submerge!" Sailor Neptune called.
The monster hissed in anger and snapped its alligator-like mouth at the aquamarine haired senshi. Neptune leapt clear and looked up to find her partner. Sailor Uranus was untying the alligator creature's latest victim - a six year old girl who had been abducted on her way home from school.
"Uranus!" Neptune cried, narrowly escaping the creature's jaws.
They fought at the deserted docks near the ocean as the moon shone its limited light. The girl was tied up on top of one of the warehouses and Neptune distracted the guard as her partner quickly freed the victim.
"One more minute," Uranus replied, her fingers working quickly on the complicated knots.
Neptune took a deep breath and drew out her mirror. The alligator monster prepared to lunge again, but suddenly stopped. Neptune blinked in confusion as her enemy meekly retreated to the shadows of a large building and another form stepped out. The woman resembled Neptune in many ways, but its hair was jet black and its eyes dead.
"Chaos," Neptune snarled, her grip tightening around her mirror.
"Sailor Neptune," Chaos said in a emotionless voice. "Trying to stop me again?"
"Always," Neptune replied. She held out her mirror. "Submarine Reflection!"
Chaos laughed as the attack struck it. The alligator monster, however, was not so fortunate. As the power of the Aqua Mirror passed Chaos, it consumed the creature behind Chaos and killed it.
Sailor Uranus got the last of the intricate knots undone and the sobbing girl collapsed gratefully into her arms. Uranus rose with the girl in her arms and nodded to Neptune.
"Maybe next time, Chaos," Neptune said as she watched Uranus disappear into the night.
"Maybe," Chaos purred, "or maybe you are what I need to lead me to the Child."
Neptune jumped, only to find she was incased in a black energy shield of some sort. Chaos laughed as the imprisoned senshi fought in vain to free herself.
"Soon your Sailor Moon will come running to rescue you," Chaos told its prisoner. "Then I will have the tool I need to find the Child."
Neptune glared at her captor but Chaos merely smiled. Suddenly, a cloud passed in front of the full moon, cloaking the world in shadow.
Never again
Chaos looked up in surprise as a soft voice echoed through its mind. Neptune heard it as well and a small flame of hope ignited in her chest.
"Show yourself," Chaos spat.
From the darkness between the trapped senshi and Chaos, a form materialized. It was a senshi with silver hair wearing a pale blue uniform.
"Sailor Mirage!" Neptune called. "It's a trap!"
Chaos smiled grimly. "Yes, listen to your friend, phantom."
Your thoughts are clear to me, Chaos, but your power over me is gone, Mirage reminded it. I have no mortal body for you to injure and you have no other bargaining chips.
Chaos said nothing, but pointed at Mirage and muttered a few strange words. A darkness deeper than the night surrounded Mirage and, in response, she began to glow with a pale silver light.
"What are you doing?" Neptune demanded.
Mirage looked down at her glowing self in shock and turned to Neptune.
It is some kind of dimensional barrier, Mirage said. I can't break through!
"Submarine Reflection!" Sailor Neptune called, concentrating on the beam of energy that created a barrier between the Phantom Senshi and the living world. Chaos growled in anger at the senshi's interference and intensified its barrier.
Something's wrong, Mirage said to Neptune alone. I - I don't think I can fight it much longer. Please, tell Usagi I'm sorry.
Neptune blinked and stood, preparing to hit the energy shield that trapped her with all her strength. Instead, Sailor Mirage pointed to Neptune and smiled sadly.
Mirage Fade! the ghostly senshi cried.
The last thing Sailor Neptune saw as she vanished was the blackness consume Sailor Mirage. It reminded her all-too well of the possession of Kami.
*******
Usagi sat outside Rei's shrine the next morning staring dumbly at Michiru. Minako and Ami exchanged worried looks while Rei set out a bowl of cakes. Makoto, Luna, and Artemis waited expectantly, but Usagi didn't touch the goodies.
"Not again," Usagi whispered, her eyes falling to her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
"I'm sorry," Michiru said for the fifth time. She hadn't expected Usagi to take the news so hard.
"We'll get her back," Makoto said encouragingly.
Usagi shook her head. "No, she's gone. I have to realize it and move on."
The senshi exchanged confused looks. Ami moved next to Usagi and put an arm around her shoulder.
"We're talking about Sailor Mirage," Ami reminded her friend, "not Kami-chan."
Tears started to form in the corners of Usagi's eyes. She shrugged off Ami's arm and stood.
"It doesn't matter!" Usagi blurted in anger. "She's dead. Kami, Mirage, Sailor Sun - they're all dead!"
The senshi stared in shock. Usagi wiped her eyes and noticed the silver sun-shaped ring on her finger. In frustration, she ripped the ring from her finger and threw it to the ground.
"I'm done with this!" Usagi said. "Kami was gone, then she was back, and now she's gone again. I don't know what to do anymore. I - I just don't know."
Usagi paused for a moment before turning and leaving her friends behind at the shrine. Luna threw a look of concern over her shoulder and followed Usagi home. The others watched her go in silence.
"That didn't go as well as I expected," Michiru commented.
"Do you think she'll be all right?" Ami asked.
"Luna will look after her," Minako said, but her voice wasn't as confident as it could have been.
Haruka picked up the sun shaped ring and looked in the direction of Usagi.
"That's not like her at all," Makoto commented low enough for only Haruka to hear.
Haruka nodded. The two had patched up their differences after the appearance of Sailor Mirage. Although they were not close, they had a mutual respect for each other.
"Something's not quite right," Haruka muttered, her fist closing around the ring.
*******
Chaos smiled into the mirror. On the other side, Sailor Mirage watched with hatred in her eyes. The dimensional barrier had effectively sealed the Phantom Senshi between the Afterworld and the mortal world, leaving her to Chaos' pleasure. The dark half of the soul of Deruku Kami mockingly arranged its hair in the mirror and Mirage found herself doing the same thing.
"Stop fighting it," Chaos told its prisoner. "We are not so different that we can't be rejoined."
We lack a host, Mirage said. You know that. Without the Cosmic Child to contain us, we cannot become whole again. Release me.
Chaos waved a finger at her. "Not so fast. We are one already, if you would welcome me as you once did. It was destiny that brought us together."
It was Queen Serenity of the Moon Kingdom who brought us together, Mirage corrected her darker self. Had the Queen known what the Sun already held, she would not have been so quick to trap you there.
Chaos recoiled as if stung. "Harsh words, phantom. I would have been placed elsewhere had I not been put there and we would still be having this conversation, only in different forms."
Mirage said nothing. Chaos took hold of the sides of the mirror and drew it closer to its face. Mirage winced away in spite of herself.
"Yes," Chaos whispered. "I know your true form. You have always been my opposite, my equal, the one who would undo me. But the tables have turned, my little phantom. Now I am on the upside of Creation while you dwell below."
You will never succeed, Mirage said. As long as there are Sailor Senshi to protect the galaxy, Chaos will never triumph.
"But what if there weren't any senshi?" Chaos asked. "Even now my shadow grows in the mind of your precious Sailor Moon. You thought the ring that held you was free of my influence? Your mistake will cost the galaxy its protectors."
You may stop one, but never them all, Mirage replied.
"But Sailor Moon is the one who unites them," Chaos returned. "Without her, your senshi are undone. I have won already."
Mirage said nothing and turned her back on the black form of Chaos. Chaos snarled and banged the glass with one hand, but Mirage would not turn. It took a moment to regain itself and began to walk away.
Sailor Moon, Mirage thought, Usagi-chan. Forgive me for the danger I have placed you in.
Back on Earth, the small sun-shaped ring began to glow.
*******
Haruka looked down at her hand in surprise. Michiru looked up from her drink and watched her partner's curious expression. The meeting of the senshi at Rei's shrine had ended rather abruptly after Usagi had stormed away and, as usual, the two outer senshi had decided to plan the next course of action without the inner senshi.
"What is it?" Michiru asked.
Slowly, Haruka opened her hand. The sun-shaped ring she had picked up after Usagi had discarded it was glowing with an intense yellow light. It was so bright that people from other tables were starting to turn and look.
"Let's go," Haruka said, leaping to her feet.
Michiru was quick to follow, after leaving some money on the table to pay for the unfinished drinks. She caught up with Haruka easily and walked beside her.
"Where are we going?" Michiru asked.
"To Ami," Haruka answered. "If anyone will be able to answer this question, she will."
Michiru nodded, fighting down a sense of dread. The sea was restless again and something told her the battles would begin again.
*******
Ami poured over her computer, the ring sitting beside her on the desk. It had stopped glowing before Haruka and Michiru had arrived at Ami's apartment but they gave it to her nonetheless. Now, the outer senshi waited patiently as the genius senshi worked.
Michiru felt a wave of nausea pass through her and she put a hand to her head. Haruka watched, her eyes filled with concern. Images flooded through Michiru's mind, a mirror of some kind and wicked laughter. They roared through her head and Michiru almost heard a faint call before it left as quickly as it had come.
Haruka's hand tightened on her own. Michiru fought off the dizziness and smiled reassuringly at her partner. Haruka smiled back but didn't seem convinced.
"There are vast amounts of negative energy in this ring," Ami said suddenly, breaking the silence. "I'm surprised I didn't read it before."
"Chaos," Haruka said.
Ami nodded. "The energy readings from Chaos' attacks are nearly identical to this energy, but I don't know what it means. Further more, I don't understand why its starting now."
"How is it different?" Michiru asked.
Ami turned her computer screen to face the outer senshi. On it were two wave patterns, one with much larger and more frequent peaks than the other. The second wave pattern was more round and flowing.
"When I split the energy reading, these are the patterns I get," Ami explained. "The top is identical to Chaos' power, but it is overlaid with this bottom pattern."
"What is the bottom pattern?" Haruka asked.
Ami sighed. "I don't know. It is possible that it is the power of Mirage, but the ring doesn't contain her, it only calls her."
"Maybe she's calling us," Michiru remarked to herself.
Ami and Haruka turned to look at the other girl. Michiru absently twisted a strand of hair around her finger as she thought.
"Why do you say that?" Ami asked curiously.
Michiru shrugged and smiled, trying to make light of the situation. "I don't know," she replied. "Call it intuition."
Haruka's eyebrows raised in alarm. She knew better than to doubt her partner's intuition. Michiru said nothing more on the matter as Ami gave the ring back to Haruka.
"You should keep this away from everyone," Ami advised. "There is so much negative energy in it, I don't think it would be safe to be in contact with it."
Haruka nodded and closed her hand around the ring. "Thank you for your help, Ami."
Ami stood and bowed. "My pleasure, Haruka-san."
Haruka and Michiru rose as well. "You will tell us if Usagi is feeling better?" Michiru asked.
Ami smiled. "Of course."
Waving, the two outer senshi left Ami's apartment and stepped back onto the cool night streets.
*******
Chibiusa sat in her room, playing with her Luna-P. Usagi had been acting very strange lately and Chibiusa was starting to get worried. Luna had assured her that it was just grief over the loss of Sailor Mirage, but Chibiusa felt it was something more. For the first time since she had arrived at this time, Usagi had been mean to her - not the usual teasing they exchanged, but actual hostility. It had frightened Chibiusa.
The pink haired girl picked up her Luna-P and looked it right in the eyes. As usual, it smiled back at her. She sighed.
"I'm confused," Chibiusa told it, poking absently at its nose. "Something is wrong."
Luna-P's eyes flickered and a familiar face appeared. Chibiusa smiled in delight as the image of Sailor Pluto became visible.
"Puu!" Chibiusa exclaimed.
"Small Lady," Sailor Pluto replied with a hint of a smile. "You have grown since we last spoke."
Chibiusa's smile faded. "Puu, Usagi is worrying me. She's not herself."
The image of Sailor Pluto flickered. "The tides of time are changing, Small Lady. I don't know what is causing them, but it is not good. You must warn the sailor senshi."
"But Usagi has locked herself in her room," Chibiusa protested. "She won't even listen to Luna!"
"Order is unraveling," Pluto continued. "Whatever Chaos is planning will succeed unless you warn the others. Please, Small Lady."
"I will, Puu," Chibiusa said. "I'll warn them all right now."
Sailor Pluto smiled. "I miss your visits. Please, hurry."
The image of Pluto disappeared and the vacant eyes of the Luna-P ball returned. Dropping the ball, Chibiusa headed down the stairs to find Luna. Obediently, Luna-P followed.
*******
"It is almost time," Chaos said. "You are weakening and soon we will be one."
Never, Mirage said.
Chaos laughed at the mirror which contained the phantom senshi. It knew the longer Mirage was away from the Afterworld, the weaker she would grow. The face of Chaos, identical to that of Mirage, smiled wickedly.
"Our rejoining will fulfill both our destinies," Chaos continued. "Together, we will find the Cosmic Child and inhabit the body like we did before. Our energies will become one and we will destroy Order once and for all."
You don't even know where to begin looking for the Child, Mirage said.
"Really?" Chaos said. "I think you're wrong, phantom. I have been searching for the one with the double soul, able to be good and evil. I failed in that quest, but I have developed a way to cheat the system."
Mirage's eyes widened in shock. You can't be serious. You can't cheat Fate!
Chaos nodded slowly. "If the Cosmic Child will not reveal itself to me, I will create my own. My Child will control the greatest power in the galaxy - the Imperial Silver Crystal."
Chaos ignored the cries of protest that came from the mirror prison and turned to survey the planet Earth. Somewhere, on a small island nation, a girl was sitting all by herself, finally realizing her true destiny.
*******
Usagi sat alone. Luna had given up in her attempts to enter, after pleading and scratching at the door, she had abandoned her charge. Abandoned her like all her other friend's had. Now she was truly alone.
"This must be the only way," Usagi said to herself. "Luna isn't here, I hear Chibiusa leave a few minutes ago and no one else has come. They must not care any more."
Usagi looked over at her desk where a picture of her and Kami sat next to a charred stuffed bear. Kami had been one of the firsts to leave her, but then again, she hadn't really been here to begin with. Usagi thought back to the constant, futile battles she had fought to win back Kami's soul and bring her peace. The battle had been pointless and now, Kami was dead.
Mirage had promised to stay with Usagi, to always be here if she was needed, but now even the ghost of her dear friend was gone.
Usagi was very much alone.
Your friends don't care
"My friends don't care about me," Usagi whispered, voicing the sudden thought that had entered her mind.
You don't care
"I don't care about them either," she continued.
All those battles, all that time
"Wasted," Usagi finished. "For every battle finished"
another one has started. You should just
"Give up."
*******
The senshi, without Usagi, met at the shrine. Chibiusa, Haruka, Michiru, and Ami filled Makoto, Minako, Rei, and the cats in on their latest discoveries.
"So, we have to stop whatever Chaos is planning," Makoto said. "Easy enough. We just have to find it and take it out."
"I don't think it's that easy, Mako-chan," Ami corrected.
"Whatever the plan is, it's affecting Usagi-chan," Rei said, her voice filled with concern. "I felt an evil presence yesterday when she stormed off."
"And now she won't come out of her room," Luna said. "Not even to eat."
"Now that is definitely cause for concern," Minako said with a laugh.
"But what is Chaos doing?" Chibiusa asked.
The assembled senshi fell silent. Chibiusa played absently with her Luna-P, her mind full of concern for Usagi. Haruka and Michiru stood off to one side as usual, but Michiru seemed more preoccupied that normal. Haruka noticed it, but said nothing.
"We should talk to Mirage," Minako sighed.
"She's gone," Michiru reminded them. "I saw her disappear."
"We could try," Makoto said. "Maybe the combined power of the senshi will be enough to break whatever's holding her."
Haruka shrugged. "We really don't have any other options right now."
The senshi nodded in agreement and transformed. They headed into the shrine itself and darkened the room. Joining hands, they placed the sun-shaped ring on the floor and circled it.
"Concentrate," Uranus told the others.
Sailor Neptune raised her head, eyes closed. "Mirage! We summon you!"
A blinding light erupted from the ring and the senshi looked away, careful not to break the circle. As the light died down, a mirror became visible floating in the light. Inside the mirror, however, was the face of Sailor Mirage.
"Mirage!" Sailor Venus said.
Senshi, Mirage said in a voice so weak it was barely audible. I cannot stay for long. Even now, Chaos waits to rejoin with me and seek out the Cosmic Child.
"What is Chaos planning?" Mars asked. "We don't know what to do!"
Be strong, senshi, Mirage said as the image of the mirror began to fade. Guard the Princess well. It is she who Chaos is after.
As the light vanished, the senshi stared in shock. Mars turned on the lights and the assembled soldiers began to discuss their newest piece of information. Uranus scooped up the ring and held it tightly in her hand.
"I was right," Chibi Moon said. "Usagi is acting strange."
"But what exactly is Chaos doing to Usagi?" Mercury wondered. "It hasn't tried to attack."
"Unless it is attacking her right now," Jupiter exclaimed. "Come on, we better move!"
The senshi darted from the shrine, with Luna and Artemis hot on their heels.
*******
The seven girls and the two cats arrived at the Tsukino residence in no time. Chibiusa led the way to Usagi's room and knocked politely on the door. A few seconds later, Usagi opened it.
"What do you want?" she asked.
The senshi said nothing for a moment as they stared at their friend in shock. Usagi's face was pale and her eyes ringed with shadow. Her usually cheerful mouth was in a frown and her hair was listless. She kept her eyes down, avoiding looking at anyone directly. The girls hardly recognized their friend. Makoto was the first to break the silence.
"We're worried about you, Usagi-chan," she said. "You left very suddenly."
"How are you feeling?" Minako asked.
"Like you really care," Usagi huffed, closing her door. "Leave me alone."
As the door shut, both Rei and Michiru's heads came up quickly. They inhaled sharply, looking first at the door, then at each other.
"I felt it, too," Rei said. "A darkness engulfing the entire bedroom."
"Usagi-chan!" Luna called. "Open the door! Please!"
"Usagi-chan!" the others echoed, banging the door.
"Move," Haruka ordered.
Barely giving them time to move, Haruka kicked open the door and the girls poured in.
"Oh no," Artemis gasped.
The far wall of Usagi's bedroom had turned into a massive, dark portal. Winds swirled around the room, scattering paper and objects. Usagi stood alone in the center, untouched by the maelstrom around her. Her back was to her friends and she stared without fear into the portal.
Ami punched a few buttons on her computer. "It's just like the portal Kami used to return to the planet."
"Chaos," Haruka muttered. "It's got Usagi."
"No!" Rei cried out. "Usagi-chan! Snap out of it!"
"Princess!" Michiru added.
"Usagi!" Luna called.
Usagi turned once to look over her shoulder. Her face was expressionless and entirely not her own. From the portal, a pair of eyes and a mouth appeared and it smiled down on the senshi, it's eyes full of malice.
"Chaos," Makoto growled. "Release her!"
The face opened its mouth to laugh soundlessly and Usagi began to slowly walk toward the portal. Makoto jumped forward to stop her only to be knocked back by Usagi's flying desk. The other senshi were dodging furniture as the fought in vain to reach Usagi. Rei stood behind the others, her eyes closed in concentration.
"Evil spirits, begone!" she called.
Nothing happened and Rei stared in shock.
"Chaos is too strong," Michiru said to her. "It must have begun to join with Mirage."
"Usagi!" Chibiusa cried one last time as the blond girl disappeared into the portal.
The winds continued for another few seconds until the furniture dropped to the ground. The seven soldiers stood motionless, letting the situation sink in.
"What do we do now?" Chibiusa asked in a small voice.
"We go after her," Makoto said with a wink.
She drew out her power stick and the other senshi did the same. Chibiusa held up her broach, her face filled with determination.
"For Usagi!" she called. "Moon Prism Power, Make-Up!"
"Jupiter Star Power, Make-Up!"
"Venus Star Power, Make-Up!"
"Mars Star Power, Make-Up!"
"Mercury Star Power, Make-Up!"
"Uranus Planet Power, Make-Up!"
"Neptune Planet Power, Make-Up!"
The senshi stood transformed in Usagi's devastated bedroom. Luna and Artemis watched from the corner. Luna sat with her head down, her eyes filled with tears and Artemis sat close to her, comforting her as best he could.
"Good luck," Artemis told them.
"Be careful," Luna added.
The senshi joined hand in a circle and closed their eyes in concentration. Their tiara gems lit up and a breeze began to lift them.
"Sailor Teleport!" Chibi Moon cried.
In a flash of light and colour, the soldiers were gone.
*******
They reappeared in a world of mist. Without breaking the circle, they looked around in confusion. The air was heavy with the fog, but the place was illuminated surprisingly well.
"Where are we?" Mars asked. "This doesn't look like the planet."
"It's not," Chibi Moon said with a smile.
"Small Lady," a kindly, new voice said from within the mist.
Chibi Moon broke the circle and ran into the mist, the others a step behind her. Soon, an enormous door loomed before them and standing in front of it was a familiar figure.
"Puu!" Chibi Moon exclaimed.
The small, pink senshi ran into the other's embrace and Pluto held the girl tightly for a moment. The others stood a few steps away, watching the tender scene. Finally, Pluto stood and looked at the others.
"Chaos and Sailor Mirage are one again," Pluto said. "Order is beginning to unravel as Chaos exercises its newfound power. Usagi is only the first target it seeks to destroy. If Chaos is successful and Usagi becomes the Cosmic Child, all of Order will be undone."
"What does that mean?" Mercury asked.
Pluto shrugged. "As the Guardian of Time, I can see both past and future. This fate has not yet happened and is therefore unclear to me. It is enough to be said that a galaxy of Chaos would not be very good."
"Then what are we doing here?" Jupiter demanded.
"The power of Small Lady's Silver Crystal is not enough to take you to the planet and once there, it is not enough to destroy Chaos. I am sorry, but you cannot rescue Usagi yet," Pluto answered.
The senshi growled in frustration.
"If we don't save Usagi now, Chaos will join with her too, and we'll be defeated," Uranus protested. "Why wait?"
"Usagi is not the Cosmic Child," Pluto said. "Her heart is too pure. It will take time for Chaos to completely control her. Until then, we must find the true Cosmic Child. Only the Child will have the power to defeat Chaos for good."
"But who is the Child?" Neptune asked, "and how will we keep Chaos from corrupting him or her?"
Pluto turned to Chibi Moon. "Small Lady, may I see your Crystal?"
Chibi Moon nodded and held out her broach. Sailor Pluto took it and held her garnet Orb over it. A thin stream of silver light from the Orb quickly joined with a similar pink stream from the Crystal and a small object was formed between them. Pluto took the object and handed it to Chibi Moon along with her broach.
"That ring is the Key," Pluto said. "When you are near the Cosmic Child, it will tell you."
Chibi Moon turned over the ring in her hands. It was gold with a small pink heart on it that sparkled with a rainbow of light.
"What about Mirage?" Venus asked.
"Mirage was just that - a mirage," Pluto answered. "She was nothing more than the lighter half of Deruku Kami's soul. By joining with Chaos, she has remained unchanged. Do not worry about her, senshi."
The senshi nodded and Pluto held up her staff.
"I will join you when the time comes for Chaos to be fought. Until then, seek out the Child and keep Usagi often in your thoughts. You are tied to her in ways beyond imagining and she will need your love and strength to resist Chaos," Pluto told them. "Until we meet again, sailor senshi, farewell!"
Sailor Pluto and the Gates of Time disappeared in a flash of light and the senshi found themselves standing once more in Usagi's bedroom.
*******
"What happened?" Luna demanded. "Where's Usagi?"
Chibiusa quickly filled the two cats in on what had happened at the Gates of Time. Luna's eyes filled with sadness, but she nodded in understanding.
"What do we do now?" Minako asked.
"We start looking," Haruka told her. "We find the Child as fast as we can and head back to the planet."
"I just hope Usagi-chan is strong enough to face off against Chaos until we do," Ami said worriedly.
"Of course she is," Makoto said with a smile. "Just keep thinking pleasant thoughts to her and she'll be fine."
*******
Mirage looked out at the world through a new set of eyes. She fought against the joining that was tearing her to pieces, struggled to hold onto the memories of her life. Chaos was slowly overwhelming her, but she fought on, using the power of Light that Chaos could never touch to give her strength.
The Phantom senshi looked through Chaos' eyes as the doors of the throne room. They slowly opened and a figure came through, head down and arms hanging lifelessly at her sides. Mirage gasped as she recognized who it was.
Chaos laughed. "Welcome home, my Child."