Episode 12 : SuperSailorsaturn's Sacrifice, the Return of
Chibi-usa
Hotaru walked apprehensively down the street. She could feel their presence watching her every move. For hours it seemed she had been trying to lose them through intricate routes and large crowds. However they were always on her heels. She shook her head sullenly as if she were waving a white flag, the imminent defeat was now becoming clear. Slowly she turned to meet her fate. Some rustling of the leaves of a bush and her inclinations were confirmed. She was weak, but she summoned all of her strength to make her voice boom and sound intimidating, "Tsukino Usagi, Aino Minakoko, Kino Makoto, Hino Rei, and Mizuno Ami, why are you following me?!"
The heads of five teenage girls popped out of the bushes giggling nervously, hoping to avoid the Soldier of Destruction's wrath. Ami's face was a beet red that created quite an amusing site when paired with her aqua colored hair.
"Well I tend to be protective of my friends that have some powerful wannabe-me trying to kill her," Usagi defended herself.
"Lets not forget this enemy is obviously insane...I mean she DOES want to be like Usagi after all,"
"Hey Rei! That wasn't very nice!"
"Oh yeah? Well..." Rei stuck her tongue out. Usagi retaliated in the same manner.
"You two! Please stop that, we have more important manners!" Ami delegated, but Rei and Usagi continued there tongue war until a pink beam of light opened up over the center of the park. The girls bolted, some quicker then others, toward the light that extended to the heavens. They found themselves in a clearing just in time to find a young flamingo haired girl plummet from the sky.
When the light vanished there was a collective gasp before the group called in unison, "Chibi-usa-chan!?" The young girl brought herself to her feet and dusted herself off. She looked up to the group and the crystal tears welling in her eyes were now visible. Her eyes and cheeks were red from crying.
"Chibi-usa-chan! Chibi-usa-chan!" Usagi called as she ran up to her future daughter and enveloped her in a big hug.
"Stop that Usagi!" Chibi-usa sniffed, "I'm not a crybaby!" she protested.
"I'll let you go when you tell me what's wrong," Usagi replied in a soothing tone.
Chibi-usa gave up on holding back her tears and began to sob and the crescent moon on her forehead began emitting a golden-yellow glow. "Its the future! Something's wrong! First Puu disappeared and it was almost as if she never existed...only I seemed to really know about her! And then-and then-these huge white tornados appeared and began to swallow up everyone! Mommy, Daddy, everyone! But it went right over me and Diana!" With Chibi-usa's burst of emotion, the group hadn't even noticed the unusually quiet tiny gray kitten that sat perched on the floating Luna-P. Diana wore a desolate expression that seemed out of place. Luna and Artemis ran over to console their broken-hearted future child as Chibi-usa cried into Usagi's shoulder.
"A temporal storm," everyone turned their attention to the resident genius, "what's happening now is creating an uncertain future, these temporal storms are remaking the future. Chibi-usa and Diana must have been unaffected because they have been outside time." Ami immediatly regretted the textbook sound of her voice as Chibi-usa began to wail, the intensity of the light from her crescent moon increasing with the intensity of her cries.
"But that means they'll still exist...right?" Ami saw the hope shining in Usagi's eyes and dreaded having to tell her the answer.
"I...don't...know. It means that the future is uncertain. However unless it is certain that they are not to exist, Chibi-usa-chan and Diana-chan will continue to exist due to the fact that they are time travelers."
"Well all right then, we'll just make sure we win this one!" Chibi-usa's head shot up as did everyone elses, they were awed by the determination and cheerfulness in Usagi's voice. Usagi gazed down at her future child, smiled, and brushed away a rolling tear from Chibi-usa's face, "Don't worry my little lady, everything will be okay." Chibi-usa smiled and prayed that Usagi was right, even if she came back in a different form, she couldn't be happy. Although she wouldn't like to admit it, she was as proud as can be to have Usagi as her mother, she could be content with no one else.
Hotaru watched the seen with a bittersweet smile. Although she was happy for her friend to have such a caring mother, it made her yearn for one of her own. She was about to sneak off, she knew if she was to face Dark SuperSailormoon that she would have to do it alone. The others would only hold her back. Hotaru knew that to stop Dark SuperSailormoon she would have to use the full extent of her power. She was far more powerful than Dark moon, but Dark moon was cunning and a superior fighter...not to mention tricky, literally. And if Dark Moon was able to defeat SuperSailorsun then.... Just as she made a move to get away, Chibi-usa noticed her and her russet eyes lit up.
"Hotaru!" Chibi-usa called jubilantly. Usagi broke away and let Chibi-usa run to her friend, "Hotaru!"
"Konnichiwa Chibi-usa," Hotaru greeted warmly, trying her hardest not to look guilty.
"Oh Hotaru I've missed you so much!"
"I've missed you to Chibi-usa."
"'kassan?" Chibi-usa turned around to face Usagi, who was still crouched on the ground. This was a good thing because Usagi would have surely fallen over at that word. Usagi nodded in response, "may I go get ice cream with Hotaru?"
"Umm...yeah-sure." Usagi managed.
"Great!" Chibi-usa skipped over to Usagi and masterfully snatched some money from Usagi, "thanks for paying!" She called as she and Hotaru ran off giggling.
"Back to her old self...good," Usagi smiled after the two friends. Then she turned to the other girls who were just as stunned at the turn of events as she, but they were even more shocked by Usagi's next statement. "Chibi-usa-chan will contact us if they get into trouble, we better find Mamoru and catch him up on whats going on. Then Usagi marched purposely off, the other girls scrambling behind.
"Here you go Hotaru," Hotaru snapped out of her reverrie and realized that Chibi-usa had already bought their ice cream and come back.
Hotaru took the ice cream cone from Chibi-usa, "arigato."
"Oh, no problem!" Chibi-usa frowned, Hotaru seemed distant. "So...any ideas as to what is causing the problems in my time?" Chibi-usa inquired. Hotaru became even paler than usual and averted her eyes.
"Well, you see these two sailor senshi from long ago have been resurrected and they have been 'helping' us fight this new enemy whose objective seems to be to enslave souls. Well recently Setsuna-momma disappeared, followed by Haruka-papa and Michiru-mama. Finally one of the resurrected senshi, SuperSailoruniverse. Shortly after it was revealed that the kidnapper is another senshi of the past...the original Sailormoon," Chibi-usa's eyes widened, she wanted to ask questions but she decided it best to let Hotaru continue. "So then 'Dark" SuperSailormoon as she is now called fought with the other resurrected sailor, SuperSailorsun. Sun-mama was also captured. Now we think that I will be her next target because I am the last one she would have a grudge against." Saturn let out a long sigh, she was suddenly feeling very weak.
"No! I won't let that happen to you! And we'll get back Puu and all the rest to! You'll see," Chibi-usa declared.
Hotaru smiled weakly at her best friend, Chibi-usa had already lost so much, and although she tried to hide it, Hotaru knew Chibi-usa was terrified. "Yeah," Hotaru tried to sound as enthusiastic as she could, but she was doubtful.
"Konichiwa Momo-chan!" Chibi-usa waved to someone behind Hotaru.
Hotaru looked behind her and saw a girl about Chibi-usa's age. Her hair was up in a bun and she was wearing a short red dress. The girl smiled and waved back as she walked over. "Konichiwa Chibi-usa-chan! Who's your friend?" she asked.
"Oh this is Tomoe Hotaru, she's my best friend in the whole world!" Hotaru smiled at Chibi-usa's enthusiam, but she suddenly felt uncomfortable. Unlike Chibi-usa who was cheerful and outgoing, Hotaru had always had troubles making friends.
"Konichiwa Hotaru-san, I'm Momoko, it's nice to meet you!"
"Konichiwa," Hotaru replied shyly.
"Sit with us Momo-chan!" Chibi-usa motioned to the empty seat at the table. Momoko complyed.
"So when did you get back Chibi-usa-chan? Are you going to be in town for long?" Momoko inquired.
"Well, I don't know," Chibi-usa did her best to remain cheerful, but her facade was beginning to slip. Momoko noticed that both girls seemed to be upset by something, but since it was obvious they didn't want to talk about it, she let it go.
Hotaru was suprised and relieved by Momoko's attitude towards her. Momoko was friendly and even laughed at one of Hotaru's jokes! The trio of girls were giggling when a shadow appeared over them.
"Well, if it isn't the little rabbit!"
"Kyusuke-kun!" Chibi-usa exclaimed. Hotaru looked up to see a young boy with bright green hair. Kyusuke pulled a chair up to the table and sat down.
"How are you Chibi-usa-chan?" he asked.
"I'm good, have you met my friend?" Chibi-usa motioned to Hotaru.
Kyusuke smiled at Hotaru, and Hotaru could feel her cheeks turn red, "Konichiwa, I'm Kyusuke. What's your name?"
"Hotaru," she whispered in reply.
Momoko glanced at the clock and gasped. "I have to go!" she exclaimed, "well I'll tell the others your here and we can get together, you to Hotaru," Hotaru's heart leapt for joy, "and I hope we can hang out even after Chibi-usa leaves." Momoko added and grinned.
Kysuke sighed, " yeah I've got to go to. See you later Chibi-usa-chan, Hotaru-san, okay?"
"Uh...Sure!" Hotaru replied.
Momoko smiled, "Ja ne!" Momoko and Kyusuke took off.
"Ja ne Momo-chan, Ja Kyusuke-kun!" Chibi-usa and Hotaru called. The two young senshi in disguise went on with their gabbing, when a strange chanting coming from the park.
"Come on Hotaru, lets go check this out!"
"Okay," Hotaru replied hesitantly, she had an omnimous feeling.
As the two neared the source, the chanting became more distinct, "we bow before the feet of our omnipitent master, we give our every breathe to his cause. We bow before the feet of..." what was most disturbing was the fact that the chanting sounded like it was coming from children. They found themselves returning back to the clearing where Chibi-usa had arrived. As they were making their way they passed several other childrem who seemed to be marching for the same place. The children appeared to be in a trance and were repeating the same chant.
//I don't see her.// Dark SuperSailormoon scanned the crowd for one who was not under her spell. //She'll be here, the spell won't affect her, shes too powerful, but I'm certain that she'll follow one of her friends here. I will capture you SuperSailorsaturn.// As time passed more children began to gather in the clearing, //The master will have me steal their souls, but I must wait until Saturn comes, besides I have every child under 13 in Tokyo coming, I should be polite and not leave them out of the fun.// Dark Moon smirked and continued to search for the child unaffected by the spell.
Hotaru and Chibi-usa crouched behind some bushes that formed the perimeter around the clearing, "That's Dark SuperSailormoon," Hotaru whispered, gesturing to the sailor clad young woman that hovered at the opposite end of the clearing. A black aura surrounded her, signifying the spell she was casting. Chibi-usa nodded. "Back in the Silver Millenium, she was known for her magical powers. Sorcery, witchcraft, voodoo, you name it, she could do it," Hotaru added.
The two girls observed the children. "There must be thousands of them!" Chibi-usa said in awe.
"She's looking for me," Hotaru sighed.
"Well we'll just have to make sure she doesn't find you, you won't do any fighting," Chibi-usa's tone left no room for arguement as she pulled out her communicator. Usagi's face was the first to appear.
"Chibi-usa-chan! Chibi-usa-chan! What's going on? are you okay? Where's Hotaru-chan? She hasn't been captured has she?! Oh no! This is all my fault!..." Usagi's words came out so quickly one could barely tell where one ended and another began.
"Usagi! We're fine, but Dark SuperSailormoon is here and she's hypnotized all the kids in Tokyo! We don't seem to be affected, but hurry!"
"Okay I will, I'll contact the others to, but you are not to fight until we get there, understand?"
"Hai," Chibi-usa switched off her communicator, and gave a reassuring smile to her friend, but Hotaru's eyes were locked on the children in the clearing. Chibi-usa glanced oover and found that Saturn was looking at two people in specific. Chibi-usa's eyes widened when she saw that Momoko and Kyusuke were there, as was. "Momo-chan Kyusuke-kun!" Chibi-usa screamed as she ran from the bushes.
"No Chibi-usa-chan!" Hotaru tried to stop her but it was too late.
Chibi-usa ran up to her friends and began to shake them, but there was no response. Suddenly she felt someone tap her shoulder. She spun around and Dark SuperSailormoon grabbed her. "Well hello SuperSailorsaturn, I must say I'm surprised by your pink hair...I thought u would have better taste then that. It seems you have fallen into my trap."
Chibi-usa glared at the raven haired senshi, she hated it when people made fun of her hair, "Not quite," she growled and then she spat in Dark SuperSailormoon's face.
"Aaah!" Dark SuperSailormoon screeched as she dropped Chibi-usa.
"Moon Cosmic Dream Action!" Chibi-usa cried mid-fall. By the time she landed she was fully transformed. Dark SuperSailormoon wiped the spit from her face and sent a look of seething anger towards the young girl who she thought was SuperSailorsaturn. This look quickly changed to suprise when she found that the girl had transformed into a Sailor Senshi that she had never seen before. Satisfied with the priceless look on Dark Moon's face, SuperSailorchibimoon began her intro speech, "There's only one person that can be Sailormoon, and thats my okassan! For your blasphemy you will be punished! Fighter for Love and Justice , I am Sailorchibimoon! And In the name of the future Moon, I will punish you!"
Sailor Dark Moon stared in disguist at the very pink senshi, "Oh my kami! She bred!"
SuperSailorchibimoon scowled, "You will pay for insulting my mommy and my hair!" Chibi-usa pulled out her wand, "Pink Sugar heart attack!" A stream of pink hearts came out of the wand, but only the first few hit Dark SuperSailormoon, The rest were disapated by an invisible shield that Dark Moon put around herself.
"Pitiful!" Dark Moon scoffed, "Your attacks are so pathetic! Who I am really looking for is SuperSailorSaturn, but as weak as you are, you are a Sailor Senshi nonetheless. I guess you'll just have to do...let me show you how to really use a wand." Dark SuperSailormoon pulled her Heart Soul Void Sceptor and launched her attack, "Soul Void Entrap!" The emptiness sucked in SuperSailorchibimoon before she even had time to scream.
"Noooooooooooo!" Dark SuperSailormoon turned and saw Hotaru jump up from behind the bushes with a determined expression, "Saturn Crystal Power!" With a flash of purple, SuperSailorsaturn appeared.
"Well, well looks like little Miss Saturn decided to make an appearance." Dark SuperSailormoon plopped the black marble containing SuperSailorminimoon into her velvet black pouch.
"Give her back!" SuperSailorsaturn demanded fiercly.
"Ummm...how about no. But you can join her."
"You won't get the chance to kill me! I will destroy myself and destroy you!"
Dark SuperSailormoon began to look nervous, although she knew that even SuperSailorsaturn's ultimate attack wouldn't KILL her, but she also knew that with all the pain it would cause, death would seem like an attractive prospect. Suddenly an idea came to her, "But to destroy me, you'd have to destroy your friend. But I know you will not be captured against your will, you'd rather die than serve the master, but if you let me capture you I will release your friend."
SuperSailorsaturn appeared thoughtful for a moment, "Why should I believe you?" Saturn interogated.
"You know me well enough to know that I may be a traitor, but I am no liar."
SuperSailorsaturn nodded, "And you will leave her alone."
"Fine, I will."
SuperSailorsaturn glanced over at Momoko and Kyusuke, "include the other children and we have a deal."
"Deal." SuperSailorsaturn relaxed from her position and her glaive disappeared. Dark SuperSailormoon once again pulled out her sceptor and cried, "Soul Void entrap!"
EternalSailormoon, Tuxedo Kamen, and the other senshi arrived just in time to see SuperSailorsaturn get sucked into the void. The black, purple-tinted marble floated back up to Dark SuperSailormoon, "SuperSailorsaturn! Iie! Give her back!" Moon cried.
Dark SuperSailormoon spotted The group and smiled evily, "Gomen but I think I'm going to hold onto SuperSailorSaturn, but as part of the deal that I made with the melancholy soldier, here's someone else you might be interested. in." Dark Moon opened her velvet pouch and deposited Saturn's marble. Then she pulled out a pink tinted black marble and tossed it to the ground. There was a pink puff a smoke and SuperSailorchibimoon appeared, looking very weary. "SuperSailorchibimoon!" everyone cried in unison and EternalSailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen ran to support their future child.
"We'll have to do this again, see ya around, tata!" Dark SuperSailormoon tapped one of the beads on her bracelet, opening a portal through which she disappeared into. As soon as she was gone the children came out of their trance and looked around them dazed and confused.
"It's all my fault," SuperSailorchibimoon stated in shock.
"No its mine!" EternalSailormoon wailed, "I shouldn't have left you two alone!"
"Look," SuperSailorvenus spoke, "we're all partially to blame, but where the blame really belongs is with Dark SuperSailormoon. We'll just have to be more careful and work together to defeat her. No one is to EVER be some place alone, okay. We'll get the others back!"
"Yeah!" the others rallied, except SuperSailorchibimoon.
SuperSailorchibimoon simply nodded in agreement, for the only thing she could think was, //It's all my fault.//