Chibi-Usa and Hotaru finally arrived outside the temple as the sun was starting to set, and they collapsed on the steps. They dropped all their parcels and caught their breaths before continuing to the temple.
"Do you still think they're following us?" Hotaru asked, sitting on a bench. She looked around for signs of anyone else, but found none. She sighed with relief and leaned back against the wall behind her, and stared out to the sunset as it reflected off the lake.
"Nope… I think we're in the clear." Chibi-Usa said, relaxing a little. Chibi-Usa looked over at Hotaru, who was looking unnerved. "What's wrong?" she inquired tentatively.
"Huh?" she stared at her blankly for a second. "Oh, nothing. Just a little worried… What if the others are in trouble? I feel bad having to leave then alone." She stared down at her hands, which she folded and unfolded repeatedly.
"Don't be worried." She said as she put her hand on Hotaru's shoulder. "I'm sure they're fine. With all of them together, they probably kicked their butts without even breaking a sweat. No prob, right?" She said, trying to comfort her friend.
"Yeah… you're right. They're probably fine. The youmas probably ran away scared when they saw them, and they didn't have to fight at all." Hotaru said, plastering a false smile on her face and turning to Chibi-Usa.
"Exactically! I bet they're on their way here right now, with Rei fighting with Usagi about something trivial. Any second now, they're gonna turn around that corner and tell us how easy the battle was." Chibi-Usa said humorously.
"Spoil my fun… I was trying to sneak up and scare you…"
said a voice behind them. They whirled around and gasped when they saw Mistress
9 appearing from a swirling black and red portal behind her.
"No…"' Chibi-Usa heard Hotaru whisper in a low voice. 'The others… they're…of course not…' Chibi-Usa thought as she stared up at the dark lady.
*****
I froze after I heard what Mistress 9 said. The others? No, they can't be dead… can they? No, of course not… I would have felt it, I would know if they were dead. But… was she lying? Maybe this was just a ruse, to get me to drop my guard. Yeah, that's it. She must be lying. I looked at Chibi-Usa. She looked back, and in her eyes, I saw that she was thinking the same thing. But her eyes… they still looked brave, like she absolutely knew that it was a lie.
"No… you're lying! They're not dead! I would know, you don't have enough power to destroy them. You never did, and you sure as hell don't now!" Chibi-Usa said, glaring back at Mistress 9.
"Oh really? That's too bad, I guess I'll just have to prove it to you." She glowered back at us. With a wave of her hand, she brought out a small object and threw it to our feet. It was a small red garnet pendant, hanging on a silver chain. The pendant had the symbol of Pluto engraved into it, in silver. Chibi-Usa and I both couldn't stifle our gasps as we recognized the necklace laying on the ground. It was the Christmas present that both Chibi-Usa and myself had bought for Setsuna. She loved the necklace, and had never taken it off. But if Mistress 9 had it… Then she must be telling the truth. I felt my heard shatter as I stared at the necklace, and heard the tall lady laugh a heart-wrenching laughter, one that chilled you to the bone and filled you with fear. Chibi-Usa and I slowly backed away, me pulling her close in a hug around her shoulders. I could feel her moving for her transformation wand, and whispered 'NO' to her. I knew if we went against her now, we would lose. She's using mind games to weaken us… but what are we gonna do? Setsuna…
"So what do you think now, eh? Now, I just have to destroy you two, and my job will be complete! The Master will be ready to invade your puny time dimension and rule!" She laughed malevolently, as she formed a large disk of energy.
"CHIBI-USA! HOTARU!" We both turned our heads to see where the voices came from.
*****
The scouts ran down the street to the temple, just as the sun disappeared behind the trees. It took them longer that they originally thought to get to the temple, and hurried there as they lost daylight.
"Guys, the sea's in great turmoil… dangerous forces are nearby…" Neptune said as she ran faster towards the shrine.
"I feel it too." Mars said as she dodged a lamppost and turned the corner to the shrine. They ran up the steps, and turned the corner as everyone suddenly stopped when they saw. Mistress 9 had Chibi-Usa and Hotaru backed up against a wall, and they stared back at her as she brought out an object and threw it to their feet.
"Hey! That's my necklace!" Pluto said, as she brought her hand to her neck and noticed it was gone. Mistress 9 laughed as she raised her hand to propel a disc of black energy towards the duo.
"CHIBI-USA! HOTARU!" Sailor Moon yelled out in warning. They all turned to see the scouts, alive and well, standing defensively, preparing their attacks. The two young girls looked at first frightened, then relieved to see the scouts, but Mistress 9 scowled at them, angry that her bluff had been revealed.
"World Shaking!" Uranus yelled out in a commanding voice, and a great sphere of energy formed at her fingertips. She released it towards Mistress 9, who was caught off guard and took the blast full on. The sheer kinetic energy pushed her backwards, and she slammed into the wall of the temple, but she regained her composure quickly, the attack not leaving a mark on her.
"Well, that was entertaining, but I really don't have time for all this… She turned back to Hotaru and Chibi-Usa, who still hadn't left their spot, but were ecstatic at seeing the Senshi alive. "We'll finish this, just you and I, Saturn. And I'll finish off your friends, too. Be sure of that." And with a flash of light, she disappeared.
Hotaru dropped down to her knees, silently trying to digest this new threat, and the other soldiers ran up to them. Usagi threw her arms around Chibi-Usa, and Michiru, Setsuna and Haruka crowded around Hotaru. Hotaru looked up at them, then threw her arms around Setsuna.
"Shhhh… what happened?" Setsuna asked gently, returning the hug. Michiru looked at Haruka, who just shrugged and looked to the others, who surrounded Chibi-Usa.
"Mistress 9… she said you guys were dead… said she killed
you…"
"What?!?" Haruka said, disgust washing over her. Her fists trembled in rage. "She said what??? I can't believe her!…" Michiru placed her hand on Haruka's arm.
"I'm sorry… I didn't want to believe her… but she had your necklace… and…" Hotaru sobbed as she gripped Setsuna tighter and tucked her head down.
"Don't worry… we're right here. She's gone, and won't come back." Rei said to her as she crouched beside her. Hotaru peered up from Setsuna's shoulder and held Rei's gaze,
"But that's just it… she is coming back… she said so herself." Hotaru looked down to the ground and wiped a tear from her cheek.
"She won't get anywhere close to you… we promise." Rei replied as she put her hand on her shoulder and gave it a light squeeze.
'Yeah… I wish I could believe that.' Hotaru thought solemnly.