The Eternity of the Moon

By: *~*Princess Twinkles*~*

-Chapter 3-

::woosh:: ::thump:: Sailor Mars and Lantillyte had been fighting. The entire store was filled with smoke and
ashes. The world seemed to freeze as the two fought; one evil; one goodness. Sailor Mars had just been thrown across
the room. Her powers weren't working, but she wasn't giving up. Lantillyte just laughed through the smoke and grinned,
"Sailor Mars, just give it up. You know I'll win. " Sailor Mars staggerly stood up. Her fuku had been torn. Her hair had been
blown and frizzed. Her arms and legs showed bruises. Her face, twisted with anger. She raised her arms, "Planet Fire Ball!"
The rush of the red fire ball was thrown from her hands but just bounced off into the wall.

"I am Sailor Moon! In the name of the moon, I shall punish you!" Sailor Moon appeared with the other Sailor
Scouts behind her. Sailor Mars turned towards the Sailors. "I can take care of her Sailors! Please, just leave!!" Sailor
Venus stood forward. "What are you talking about? No way! Let's do this!" Sailor Mars grimaced, "No. I can do it!!"
Sailor Jupiter crossed her path, "Mars, you can't do it by yourself. Lets just do this. Together." Sailor Mars quickly replied,
"No! Just leave me! I can do it!!" Sailor Moon stood there in the dark, wondering why Sailor Mars wouldn't take her friends'
advice. Sailor Mercury joined Jupiter and Venus to persuade Sailor Mars. Mars just kept disagreeing. She wouldn't give up.
Sailor Jupiter took Mercury and Venus by the shoulder. "If she wants it that way, just leave it to her. But we're going to help
her if she gets in big time." Venus was shocked, "What?! She's already in big time!!" Sailor Mars just looked at them. "I can do it.
Leave. Now. " With that she went back to battle with Lantillyte. Sailor Moon stood there, watching Sailor Mars get beat. She
turned towards Jupiter, "Why did you say that? I'm going to help her." She started forward, but a white and green glove held her.
Sailor Moon looked at Jupiter, but Jupiter's eyes were glued onto the battle in front of her. Sailor Moon asked, "Wha..?" Just then
a blast of black was thrown at Sailor Mars. Sailor Mars fell to the ground.

The Sailors ran towards her, as Sailor Mars laid on the ground; motionless. Sailor Moon started shaking Mars; but
there was no movement from her. Lantillyte came forward, "I see I've gotten her. She was strong, but not enough for the Dark
Moon." Tears dropped from Sailor Moon, "Why did you do this?!?" Lantillyte crossed her arms. "You see Sailors, the Dark
Moon has a job; to rule the world. Unfortunatly you and your pathetic soldiers have been getting in the way." She raised her staff.
"Now, I've got to leave. If you need me, wait, we'll meet later. Count on it." She left, taking Sailor Mars with her.

Sailor Moon collapsed, as a tear fell. She turned towards the Sailors, "Why?" The Sailors had their faces down, feeling
sorrow and guilt, finally after a moments silence Sailor Jupiter raised her head saying one final thing, "I'm sorry."

-------------------------------------------------

The next day at lunch during school, Usagi was picking at her food with her fork. Ami said, "Usagi-Chan, you haven't eaten
anything today." Usagi kept her face down and kept picking at her food. Minako, who was sitting next to her, touched Usagi's shoulder,
"Usagi, we feel as bad as you do, but grieving and blaming ourselves isn't going to fix anything. We're a team, we're going to kick the
Negaverse's butt, and get Raye back. Right?" Usagi for once looked up, she looked at her friends, at Makoto, Minako, and Ami, and
wondered if Minako was right. With a small word she broke the silence, "right."

-----------------------------------------------------

"Usagi!! Phone!!" Usagi ran out of her room and ran down the stairs. She hurried in the kitchen where her mother was holding
onto the cordless phone. Usagi took the phone and gave her mother a questioning look. "It's Mamoru, dear." Usagi smiled happily and
took the phone upstairs to her room where she fell onto her bed. "Hello?" Mamoru's voice came, "Hey the Odango-tama. How are you?"
Usagi smiled, it felt like years since she'd been called Odango-tama. "I'm fine, thanks, how bout you?" Mamoru replied, "Fine. So how's
everyone?" Usagi had been looking around her room, and when Mamoru had said 'everyone', her eyes fell onto her picture frame that
held the picture from last year's Tokyo Festival. It was a picture of Usagi, Minako, Ami, Makoto, Raye, and Mamoru dressed up in kimonos
and Usagi had made a funny face, and Raye had been scowling at her. Usagi sighed, "Oh Mamo-Chan..." Mamoru quickly responded,
"Usagi, everything okay?"

-----------------------------------------------------