Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to any of the characters in this fanfic, nor do I claim them. The idea, however, is mine.
AN - Here's the final part in this three-part chapter! Just a little warning; there's a bit of a spoiler towards the end, if you haven't seen DBZ past the Cell Saga. I don't reveal anything major, and it's something I think is probably common knowledge among most DBZ fans… Enjoy!
Whatever It Takes
Chapter 8: Revolutions, Part 3
"Sailor Saturn," Chibi-usa exclaimed, tears clouding her eyes. "Hotaru, you're back!" She lunged towards the girl, wrapping her arms around her waist in a tight hug. Gripping the silence glaive in her hand, Saturn brought up her free arm, returning Chibi-usa's hug.
"Thank you, Chibi-usa, for protecting me before," Saturn began. "It was brave of you, to oppose Uranus and Neptune by yourself. So now, let me protect you."
"But Hotaru," Chibi-usa protested as Saturn pushed her away slightly. "You can't fight! We were trying to prevent this from happening, and if you fight, you'll be undoing all we've done so far!"
Saturn closed her eyes in concentration briefly, opening them once again. "The dark presence is near my guardian planet as we speak," she stated. "There's not much time before I must face him."
"Please, don't do this," Usagi begged.
"All the events that have taken place have been leading up to this moment, Usagi-hime," Neptune stated. "It's our destiny to have this fight."
"No one is going to fight my daughter," 18 screamed, her ki engulfing her body as she charged towards Neptune and Uranus. Saturn jumped in front of the two Outers and leveled the glaive in 18's direction, causing the woman to stop short in front of its' blade.
"M-Masumi," Krillin exclaimed in shock and surprise.
"I've said it before," Saturn began, "I am no longer Masumi!"
"What are you talking about," 18 demanded, looking at Saturn strangely. "You are my child!"
Saturn looked at 18, sorrow expressed on her features. "This is my fight," she trailed, shaking her head. "…And I'm sorry, but…Oh…"
"Masumi," 18 exclaimed, catching Saturn as she fell forward. She cradled the girl in her arms as her henshin reversed, returning her to her civilian clothing. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Hotaru stated weakly. "I've just used up too much of my energy. That's all. I just need … rest." She wearily brought up her hand, touching 18's face before she passed out.
"Now's our chance to attack, while she's still weak," Uranus said to Neptune. "We can't allow that future to come to pass. We have to kill her now!"
"I won't let you do that," Goku stated, stepping forward with a frown set upon his face. "I don't want to hurt you, but I won't let any harm come to Masumi."
"No," Usagi exclaimed angrily. She looked at Goku, a determined frown on her face. "Please, Son Goku, don't hurt them."
"That aura," Goku thought, his eyebrows shooting up. "She's…" A small smile appeared on his face, and he nodded his head. "Okay, Usagi," he stated out loud, agreeing to the silent message passed between the two. She smiled at him, and then turned to face the two Outer Senshi.
"You've given me no other choice, Sailor Neptune, Sailor Uranus," she stated, grasping her broach and turning towards the others. "Senshi, henshin-yo!" Almost even before the words escaped Usagi's lips, Rei and Makoto had their henshin pens raised in the air.
"Mars Star Power!"
"Jupiter Star Power!"
"Moon Prism Power!"
"Moon Cosmic Power!"
"Make up," they yelled in unison. The remaining warriors, Chichi, and Bulma watched as Rei was surrounded by fire, as Makoto was surrounded by lightning, and as Usagi and Chibi-usa were surrounded by lights and ribbons.
"Sailor Mars!"
"Sailor Jupiter!"
"Sailor Chibi-moon!"
"And Sailor Moon," she finished, crossing her arms. "We'll fight you to the bitter end!"
"This … ki," Gohan stammered. "I've felt it before!"
"As have I," Piccolo stated, folding his arms across his chest. "So it was them, after all."
"Their power isn't very impressive," a masculine voice said from above Gohan and Piccolo. The figure landed next to them, his arms crossed in his normal stance. "So, those brats were the other Senshi we've heard so much about."
"Yeah, Vegeta," Gohan answered, not looking at him. "And Masumi has become Sailor Saturn. I don't know what's going to happen, now." Vegeta didn't respond, however looked at Hotaru with a raised eyebrow.
"After what happened the last time, you still want to fight us," Uranus demanded. "We're stronger than you are!"
"It doesn't matter," Sailor Moon stated. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect Hotaru!"
"Then this is serious business," Neptune said. "Oppose us, and you're our enemy!"
"No one stands in our way! World Shaking," Uranus yelled out, sending the attack towards the Inners. They jumped into the air, out of the way of her attack.
"Deep Submerge," Neptune shouted, sending her attack towards the airborne Senshi. It struck Mars and Jupiter directly, sending them crashing to the ground, and the impact from the connection sent Sailor Moon and Chibi-moon falling towards the ground.
"Sailor Chibi-moon," Sailor Moon exclaimed, reaching her hand out. The younger girl grabbed her hand, and Sailor Moon pulled Chibi-moon to her. Then, using her momentum to flip around, she used her body to protect her future daughter, crying out as she crash-landed on her back into the ground.
"Thank you, Sailor Moon," Chibi-moon exclaimed as the older girl grimaced in pain. She stood up, summoning the Pink Sugar Heart Sceptre. "This time, it has to work!"
"Oh, not this again," Neptune said, smirking as she put her hand on the side of her face.
"Pink Sugar," Chibi-moon yelled, causing the jewel on the sceptre to flash and pulse with energy. "Heart … Attack!" Tiny pink hearts flew out towards Neptune, hitting her in the face. Taken completely by surprise, Neptune fell backwards, hitting the ground hard.
"Sailor Neptune," Uranus exclaimed, eyes narrowing. She summoned her sword, wielding it in Chibi-moon's direction. Mars and Jupiter slowly began to get up, looking in that direction.
"Chibi-moon, this isn't your fight," Jupiter screamed in alarm. "Get out of the way!"
"Space Sword … Blaster," Uranus yelled out. Sailor Chibi-moon watched in horror as the attack drew nearer to her; unable to move because she was paralyzed with fear.
"Sailor Chibi-moon," Mars exclaimed, running towards her and tackling the girl to the ground, out of the path of the attack.
"Damn you, Sailor Uranus," Jupiter growled. She screamed, charging at the other Senshi. She raised her fist, connecting with the side of Uranus' face. She reeled back, quickly regaining her foot. Uranus brought her hand up, wiping the corner of her bloodied lip. Smirking slightly, she charged at Sailor Jupiter.
"Why just watch?" Sailor Mars looked up to see Sailor Neptune. Gasping in surprise, she pushed Sailor Chibi-moon aside, taking the full brunt of the attack Neptune sent their way.
"Shouldn't we help them," Gohan asked, concern lacing his voice.
"They're weak," Vegeta sneered. "Why bother? There's no challenge in this fight."
"That's not the point," Gohan exclaimed. "Usagi and the others are trying to protect Masumi! We have to help!"
"No, Gohan," Goku stated, as the young half Saiya-jin began to make his way towards the Sailor Senshi.
"But, Dad," he protested.
"Usagi wants to do this on her own," Goku explained. "We have to respect that." Gohan frowned, and then ran to where Sailor Moon was still injured.
"Usagi," he exclaimed, holding her up into a sitting position. "You have to get up! The others need you." She opened her eyes, looking at Gohan and nodding her head in understanding. "Can you get up," he asked.
"Yes," Sailor Moon groaned. Her eyes watered as she slowly, painfully stood. Stepping away from Gohan, she raised her arms into the air, her hands cupped. As a light emanated from her hands, the other Senshi stopped momentarily.
"Odango, no," Mars exclaimed as she realized what she was doing. "You're injured, and don't have enough energy!" She and Jupiter ran towards Sailor Moon, to try to stop her. In the light, an object began to form, and the two Outer Senshi gasped.
"T-the Holy Grail," Neptune exclaimed, turning towards Uranus. "Can she still use it?" Uranus slowly nodded her head.
"And if she does, she'll overpower us," Uranus thought, her eyes narrowing. All present watched as the energy spread across her, enveloping her body in its' holy light. A strong wind seemed to explode out from her, knocking all the Senshi off their feet.
"T-that ki," Piccolo said in surprise, as he and the others shielded their eyes from the brilliant light that followed, looking back when it faded away. The Z-Senshi gaped in surprise as they felt the drastic change in Sailor Moon's power level.
"She's … so much stronger," Vegeta thought; totally bewildered as he tried to keep his aloof exterior about him. He narrowed his eyes, looking in the direction of the Sailor Senshi.
"Super Sailor Moon," Uranus exclaimed.
"Leave now," super Sailor Moon began, taking a few, shaky steps towards the two Outers. "Go back home!"
"Sailor Neptune," Uranus exclaimed, ignoring the girl.
"Right," Neptune replied.
"World Shaking!"
"Deep Submerge!" As the two Senshi sent their attack towards her, super Sailor Moon frowned, summoning her sceptre.
"Moon Rainbow Heart Ache," she yelled, using her own attack. The attacks met and an explosion occurred upon impact, causing the ground underneath to give way. A cloud of dust filled the air, and when it cleared, Sailor Neptune and Uranus were gone.
"Sailor Moon," Chibi-moon exclaimed, running over towards her. Sailor Moon turned in her direction, the sceptre she held slipping out of her hand. It disappeared before it touched the ground, and Sailor Moon fell to her knees, her henshin reversing. Breathing hard, she clenched shut her shaking hands.
"Odango atama…" Usagi looked up to see Sailor Mars and Jupiter supporting each other as they walked towards her. "Usagi-baka," Mars continued, frowning good-naturedly. "Next time, try not to hit us!"
"Sorry Rei-chan, Mako-chan," Usagi exclaimed, sweatdropping. She tried to stand, soon discovering that she was still too weak. Sailor Chibi-moon rolled her eyes as her henshin reversed, and she moved to help Usagi stand.
"You're heavy, Odango," Chibi-usa complained. She gave a small gasp as she felt Usagi begin to fall over again, and Usagi looked up as she felt an arm go around her waist.
"I've got her, Chibi-usa," 18 spoke, looking into the widened eyes of Usagi. "Can you walk?"
"A… a little," Usagi stammered. "Thank you, 18." Her gaze shifted over to where Hotaru still lay unconscious, in Krillin's arms. "Does this mean you trust us now?"
A small smile turned up the corner of 18's mouth. "If that's what you'd like to think," she stated. "But I want to know what's going on."
"I suppose we do owe you all that much," Usagi stated. The group made their way towards the house, save for Bulma, who took in the surroundings of her yard.
"Kami-sama," she moaned, " why do they always make such a mess?" She heaved a heavy sigh, and then turned to go into the house as well.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Oh dear," Bulma's mother exclaimed upon seeing the battered and bruised Sailor Senshi, as the group entered the house. "What happened to these girls, Bulma?"
"Mom, could you go get the first aid kit," Bulma asked.
"Don't you have any senzu beans, Bulma-san," Gohan questioned.
"No," Bulma replied. "Not that I know of. They'll just have to heal the old-fashioned way."
"It's really not that bad," Sailor Mars stated, as she and Jupiter concentrated, reversing their henshins. "Our Senshi powers help heal minor injuries. We'll be okay in a couple of hours."
"Alright, then, dear," Bulma's mother stated cheerfully. "I'll go and make tea for everyone!" Smiling brightly, she headed off for the kitchen, as the group made their way into the family room, sitting down on a couch or standing around the room. Usagi cleared her throat nervously, as the Z-senshi, Bulma, and Chichi looked at her expectantly.
"Where to begin," Usagi mumbled.
"Why don't you tell us who you really are," Krillin suggested. "And how come you look so different than what you looked like before?"
"We are who we said we are, but we're also the Inner Sailor Senshi. We're not from this world," Usagi began, pulling an object from her pocket. "And we used this pen to change our appearance. It's a magical pen, that can transform us into anything I want."
"So how many of you are there," Gohan asked.
"There are ten of us; eleven if you count Tuxedo Kamen," Usagi answered. "There's us, the Inner Sailor Senshi; Sailor Moon and Sailor Chibi-moon, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Venus, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, and Tuxedo Kamen."
"There isn't a Sailor Earth," Bulma interrupted.
Usagi smiled. "No," she replied. "Tuxedo Kamen is the protector of Earth." She paused, her voice trailing. "And he protects us, too. Together, we protect the Earth from evil."
"Then there are the Outer Sailor Senshi, who protect the entire solar system from outside invasion," Rei continued quickly, so that no one would ask any more questions. "They are Sailor Uranus, Sailor Neptune, Sailor Pluto …"
"And me, Sailor Saturn," Hotaru stated suddenly.
"Why would the other Outer Senshi be trying to kill Sailor Saturn, if she's one of them," Bulma asked. "That doesn't make any sense."
"They fear me," Hotaru stated quietly. "Within my power, I have control over life and death."
"They say she's a threat to our future," Chibi-usa said, moving next to Hotaru and taking her hand in her own. "But Hotaru isn't anything they say she is!"
"The Outers take their mission to the extreme," Makoto stated angrily. "Together under the leadership of Usagi, we could protect the princess and the solar system as a team. But they'd rather do it alone, and leave Usagi's care in our hands."
"You really are a princess, Usagi," Goku exclaimed, a childish glint in his eyes.
"Yes," Usagi answered with a sigh. "I am the reincarnation of Princess Serenity, and I will become Neo-Queen Serenity." And so, she recounted her history; from the time she was Princess Serenity during the Silver Millenium, up until the present and what the future was to hold for her and her Senshi.
"So you think that Masumi is this Hotaru," 18 asked.
"She is Hotaru," Usagi insisted. "I know you don't want to hear it, but it's the truth. I don't know why she came here, or what brought her here … But now, she must return with us."
Goku frowned. "Because of the premonition Sailor Pluto had." It was more of a statement, than a question.
"We'll fight alongside you, Usagi," Krillin stated. "You can't take Masumi away from us. Even if you say she's Hotaru, she's our daughter!"
"We're warriors, too," Goku began, recounting the history of their own fights. Hotaru had already heard the stories, however as Usagi, Rei, Makoto, and Chibi-usa listened, their eyes widened in shock from what they heard.
"You've been through so much," Usagi began, close to tears. "I can't even begin to imagine what that must have been like…"
"That's why I must face him," Hotaru stated. "If any of you fight him, you'll die. He'll be after me, not any of you."
"I won't let a mere, weak human child say I'm not strong enough to face this Babidi," Vegeta sneered. "I look forward to the challenge."
"But she's right," Sailor Pluto stated, appearing suddenly once again.
"Puu," Chibi-usa exclaimed.
"Setsuna-san," Usagi, Rei, and Makoto echoed.
"Babidi is, in fact, an enemy you will face in this dimension, not ours," Pluto continued. "The appearance of Sailor Saturn in this dimension only triggered the events that were supposed to happen nearly six years into the future, from this day."
"We have some of the strongest fighters in the universe living on this planet," Krillin protested.
"That may be, but it took the deaths of the highest deities, the Kaioushins, to trap Majin Buu, the entity which Babidi wishes to awaken," Pluto explained. "Only Kaioushin-sama remains, and he is the last of his kind. If he is killed or absorbed by Majin Buu, Babidi will reign supreme over the universe."
"Kaioushin," Piccolo thought, something stirring in the recesses of his mind. He frowned, crossing his arms as he spoke. "There's nothing that can be done to stop this?"
"There is one thing I can do, to prevent this from happening at present," Pluto answered. "However, these events will come to pass, no matter what is done." She turned to Usagi, bowing down in respect. "Usagi-hime, prepare to leave this world tomorrow. It's time for me to take you all back."
"Setsuna, wait," Usagi called out as the woman began to disappear. "Isn't there another way? Don't take Hotaru from here! Setsuna!"
However, Pluto did not heed her words, and she was gone. The room grew silent quickly afterwards. Usagi turned towards 18 to say something, however the woman turned away from her, burying her face in her hands. And, for the first time anyone in the room had ever seen, 18 cried.
To Be Continued . . .
Well, there's the nicer, softer side to 18 that some of you were wondering about. She was OOC some, but for the situation, it fits! ^_^
Please review!