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**DISCLAIMER: All characters from Sailor Moon are the property of Naoko
Takeuchi, Pioneer, Cloverway and any other companies holding rights.
All other characters are the property of the authors of this story and
may not be used or reproduced without consent.**
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Fallen Stars
by
Lady Archanna & Archmage

~~~~~~~~~~
Part 4
Chapter 2
~~~~~~~~~~


Chibi-Usa sat in front of large, ebony framed mirror gently brushing out her
hair, her eyes shining with a dark light. Looking at herself, she could see
the power that seemed to radiate from her and she loved it. She loved the
feel of knowing that nothing could touch her unless she wanted it to,
nothing could harm her.

'Reignfire wouldn't let that happen.' she thought happily to herself,
briefly recalling her last session with him. Suddenly her hand stopped
in mid-stroke, the air rippling with a sudden crackle of energy. Rolling
her eyes, Chibi resumed tending to her hair without turning away from the
mirror when she spoke. "What do you want, Siren?"

Amber eyes narrowed as Siren stepped away from the far wall, her arms
crossed. "I was just coming to see how your latest training session went."
Her voice was calm, though her eyes told of hidden concern.

"Not that it's any of your business, but it went fine." Chibi replied,
looking at the woman in the mirror and smiling as a flash of anger passed
over her normally unaffected features.

Siren bit back the annoyance that rose, forcing herself to relax. "I'm
please to hear that," Siren replied, an icy smile fixed on lips as she
moved forward and placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Reignfire is a
good teacher."

Chibi-Usa nodded, feeling Siren's mind reaching towards hers, looking for
information. "Indeed he is," she said, her eyes glittering with cruel
intent as she intentionally recalled her final moments with their lord.
Images of her in his arms, soft words whispered in her ears all flashed
across her mind.

Siren drew a breath, her grip tightening on the girl's shoulder as the
memories were literally shoved in her face. Amber eyes flared golden,
flashing with undisguised anger. "Don't get used to that, small one."
she hissed, her eyes meeting Chibi-Usa's in the mirror.

Chibi-Usa winced as Siren's nails dug into her skin, knowing she'd
pushed farther than was wise. 'Screw her...' Chibi-Usa scowled,
throwing the woman's hand off of her and standing. "Don't worry,
I won't." Chibi-Usa said mockingly. "I know things can only get
better."

Siren laughed, stepping back and folding her arms across her chest,
regarding the girl with obvious amusement. "You truly are a deluded
little fool aren't you?" Siren stepped forward, roughly grabbing
Chibi-Usa's face so she had to meet her gaze. "Reignfire will never
give you what it is you're after, small one."

Chibi-Usa met Siren's gaze, a wicked smile playing on her lips.
"Oh, and what makes you think he hasn't already?"

Siren laughed, taking a step back from the defiant child that stood
before her. "Because, to him, you're nothing more than a powerful
new toy." Siren shook her head, smiling. "Besides, you could never
offer him what it is he wants."

"Oh, couldn't I?" Chibi-Usa asked, tilting her head to the side,
eyes narrowing. "And just how confident are you in that?"

Siren stopped laughing, her eyes getting hard, her tone pulsing with
hidden power. "I'd be willing to stake your life on it, Princess."

There was a deliberately loud hiss of robes on the floor as a figure
stepped out of the shadows and walked towards the two figures in the
center of the room. Red eyes glistened, unreadable as the mind behind
them as a darkness so potent as to fill the very air around him stepped
forward toward his servants. "Good evening, ladies. I trust you are
enjoying each others' company?"

Siren's gaze snapped up, turning away from Chibi-Usa to look at
Reignfire. Immediately the fire was gone from her eyes, and when
she spoke her tone was calm. "Of course we are, Lord. I was just
here to see how her latest training session went."

Reignfire nodded, eyes level and voice casually calm. "I was most
impressed with the progress." His eyes shifted to Chibi-Usa, taking
her in at a glance. "I hope you enjoyed it, servant."

Chibi-Usa smiled to herself, feeling his eyes on her. "I enjoyed it
immensely, Lord. I can't wait for the next one."

Siren scowled at the girl, picking up easily on the emotions drifting
through Chibi-Usa's mind. Stepping closer to Reignfire, she smiled at
him once more. "Perhaps I can take part in the next session; offer her
some of my expertise."

Reignfire gave her a cordial look that lost none of its firmness for
being polite. "I'm sure you have better uses for your time, my lady."

Siren's smile faltered, a stifled laugh from Chibi-Usa not escaping
her ears. "Of course, my Lord," she replied, her tone flat. "I just
know how tiring it can be training our new servants."

"As his servant, I think he should be the one in charge of my training,"
Chibi-Usa cut Siren off, a mocking smile on her face.

'What you think isn't relevant.' Siren replied silently, knowing better
than to speak aloud.

Reignfire's eyes flickered, and his sense cooled just enough to let her
know he'd heard her. "I think, my lady, that your duties in Crystal Tokyo
are far more deserving of your attention than my training of my apprentice."
Without a break, Reignfire turned to Chibi-Usa and gave her a long look that
vibrated with warm concern. "Are you quite comfortable, servant?"

Siren's lips tightened into a thin smile as she took a step away from
Reignfire, her hands tightening into fists at her sides. Amber eyes
narrowed, watching Chibi-Usa's face light up as he turned his full
attention on her.

Chibi-Usa didn't notice Siren's glare, all she was aware of was her
lord's gaze, his eyes on her and the apparent concern in his voice.
She'd never heard that before, not even when he spoke to Siren. "Of
course I am, Lord. You've made sure I'm well provided for, and I
thank you for it."

Reignfire's sense stroked her mind, warm as a lover's smile. "I'll
be back soon for your next training session. First, I have a few
other matters to attend to. Will you be ready?"

Chibi-Usa shuddered slightly as she felt his mind touching hers,
a feeling beyond that of simple respect blossoming within her. "I'm
always ready for you, my Lord."

Siren bit back a scream of frustration as she watched the two
interact, reading Chibi-Usa's mind with ease. There was no doubt
in her mind what the girl's intentions were, and there was no way
Siren would allow her to get it. Reignfire turned, gesturing to
Siren casually. "If you'll excuse us, the lady Siren and I have
some business to deal with concerning her work in Crystal Tokyo."
He reached out, giving Chibi-Usa's pleasure centers a long mental
stroke for good measure. "I'll be back, my servant."

Chibi-Usa nodded mutely, her mind reeling from the sensations
Reignfire sent through her. When she spoke, her voice was a
breathless whisper. "I'll be waiting, my lord."

Siren gritted her teeth, amber eyes flaring with anger. Without
tearing her gaze from Chibi-Usa, she moved toward Reignfire.
"Shall we be going, my Lord?" she asked, her tone icy, eyes still
fixed on the girl.

Reignfire nodded. "Of course. Duty calls." With a slow turn, he
strolled casually from the room. As soon as the door closed behind
him, Reignfire's walk sped to a long-limbed stalk that silently
carried him to the door of his quarters. Without a word, he threw
open the door and entered the room like the heart of a gathering
storm.

Siren's head snapped around just in time to see Reignfire disappear
through the doorway. 'He left me?' she thought to herself, her head
shaking slightly. 'No, he wouldn't...' Her hands were shaking at her
sides. She turned once more, tossing a burning glare at Chibi-Usa and
quickly took her leave. "What the hell?" she muttered to herself, her
mind racing as she tried to make sense of what Reignfire doing. "I
know he needs to set the little monster's mind at ease..." She felt
hot tears burning her eyes as she approached his door. Taking a
moment to wipe them away, she entered his chambers with a tight
smile fixed on her lips.

"You seem to be enjoying the Princess as much as I was, Lord."
Siren's voice shook slightly, her tone razor sharp. "One would
almost think you care for the child."

Reignfire's eyes locked onto hers, hot with an anger that seemed
to reverberate through the room. His voice was cold as ice when
he spoke, tightly controlled anger boiling under the surface.
"You jealous, petty, visionless little woman. Do you have any
idea how dangerous your interference is?"

Siren winced, taking a step away from him, each word stinging
like a physical blow. She'd rarely seen him this angry. "I-I..."
she grasped for words, her eyes dropping to the floor. "I'm sorry,
my Lord. I shouldn't have been so ... so..." Siren's voice trailed
off into silence, not wanting to chance angering him more than he
already was.

Reignfire stood utterly still for a long moment, his rage seeming
to reach into the very core of the world around them before it slowly
subsided. When he spoke again, the fury was gone from his voice. "Love,
you realize what I intend for Chibi-Usa?"

Siren's eyes rose to meet his, her arms folding across her chest.
"I thought I did," she said, speaking barely above a whisper as her
eyes dropped away from his once more.

His voice was soft, gently soothing. "I'm going to use her as a weapon,
and I'm going to drive that weapon into the heart of Crystal Tokyo. To
do that, I have to control her. Not only do I have to rule her, she has
to want me to rule her. You see?"

Siren was silent for a moment, Reignfire's words not something new to her.
She'd known of his plan from the beginning, she just hadn't planned on it
hurting so much. "I understand, Lord," she replied finally, her voice
dropping to a whisper. "Doesn't mean I have to like it."

His arms slid around her without warning, gently drawing her into
his robes. "It's a lie, love. You know me well enough to recognize
that." Red eyes gleamed in the darkness of the room. "When did you
last hear me ask anyone if they would obey?"

Siren did not protest as he drew her close to him, breathing deeply
as his arms went around her. Smiling a little, she spoke as her voice
took on its normal tone once more. "Never, my Lord." Siren laughed
softly. "I should know better, but something in the way she looked
at you and what I saw in her mind..." Siren shook her head slightly,
resting it against Reignfire's chest. "I'll try and do better, Lord."

Reignfire's mind slid around hers, an all-encompassing embrace. "I
know you will."

Siren's eyes rose, searching the folds of the cloak, amber eyes
seeking out red ones. She opened her mouth to speak once more,
but a gloved hand reached and gently silenced her. They stood for
a moment, minds touching, wrapping around one another, sinking
deeply into the other's gaze. Then there was a rustle of cloth
as Reignfire's mind captured hers, a silent wind sweeping through
the room and plunging them into the sweet embrace of darkness.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dark blue eyes focused intently on the computer screen in front
of them, a map of Crystal Tokyo upon it. Ami reached up, brushing
a strand of navy hair out of her face as she tried to gather
something from the data she'd managed to collect. For the past
several weeks she'd had cameras and surveillance systems going
non-stop throughout the city, in hopes of gaining something she
could bring to the Queen as a solution. Thus far, her queries had
produced nothing.

"There has to be something!" she muttered, sitting back in her chair,
running her fingers through her hair. "I refuse to believe anyone
could be this perfect..."

With a sigh, she leaned forward again, focusing in on another portion
of the map, hoping the electronic cameras might have picked up
something she could use. 'All I need is a word, a movement, something
to give me some idea what's coming next,' she thought to herself as she
once again immersed herself in the videos that flashed across the monitor.

Hands lightly touched her shoulders, long fingers running gently at tight
muscle knots. Ami sighed, closing her eyes for a moment, relishing the
magic being worked on her tired shoulders.

"Thanks, love..." She said, tilting her head up to smile at Alexis. "I
needed that."

Bending down to gently kiss his wife, icy blue eyes sparkled with concern.
"How long have you been doing this?"

Ami looked up at him, smiling slightly. "I lost track somewhere around
lunch time." She sighed, shaking her head. "There's just so much to go
through, and I don't even know what I should be looking for. It's so
frustrating."

Alexis let his lips brush hers, long white hair tumbling down around her
face. 'Maybe you should take a break.'

Ami reached up, gently returning the kiss, meeting her husbands worried
gaze. "I wish I could ... But the enemy doesn't seem to be taking a break,
so how can I?" Ami shook her head, her gaze traveling back to the computer
screen. "Just one thing, that's all I'm after. One clue, and then maybe
I'll think about taking a break..."

'You won't do any good worn out, heart.' Alexis slid his arms around her
waist, holding her gently against him.

Ami sighed, suddenly realizing how blurry the images on the screen looked.
Squeezing her eyes shut, she nodded. "You're right, of course..." she
whispered, pulling away from him and pushing her chair away from the desk.
Stretching sore limbs she stood, turning to look at him. "Happy now?"

Alexis's eyes gleamed, sliding his arms around her waist and looking down
at her. "Almost."

Ami blushed slightly as Alexis pulled her closer to him, his eyes focused
on her. Dropping her gaze, she leaned her head against his chest and closed
her eyes. "I wish I could say the same," she whispered, listening to the
soothing rhythm of his heartbeat. "But I feel so lost right now."

Reaching up, he ran his fingers through the short blue hair he loved so
much. "Oh heart...."

Ami felt a tear escape her closed eyes, sliding slowly down her pale
cheek. "They're all counting on me to find an answer. A solution." Her
voice wavered slightly as she tried to fight down anger and frustration
that rose within her. "And I'm truly beginning to think there isn't one
to be found."

Alexis's arms tightened slightly, pressing her to him. "It'll come.
He can't be perfect. Eventually he'll slip up somewhere."

"Until then we have to sit by and wait ... While he has his way with
the city?" Ami bit her lip, her frustration showing in her voice. "What
if by the time he does slip up, there's nothing left to save?"

Alexis flinched, but didn't let her go. "Then we beat him and start over."

Ami's mouth tightened as she pushed out of his embrace, stepping away
from him. She looked at him for a moment, her eyes shimmering with
unspoken fears, then she turned her back on him. "I don't want to
start over!" She said sharply, her hands covering her face. "I don't
want things to end yet again, leaving us to pick up the pieces!"

His hands touched her gently. "We've done it before, my love. We'll do
it again, if we have to."

She pulled away from him, wrapping her arms around herself tightly trying
to fight back the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. When she
spoke again, her voice was flat. "I guess so. Its not like we have much
of a choice."

He lifted her face to his, wrapping her in his arms and kissing her
passionately as he pulled her pain into his own heart. 'Oh gods, love.'

Ami resisted the kiss at first, her mind telling her this was neither
the time nor the place for this, but as she felt Alexis's love embracing
her she allowed herself to relax. 'I'm just so tired...' she said quietly
into his mind, her lips lingering on his, not wanting to pull away just
yet.

Memory flowed up in him, pulsing between them as he held her in the kiss;
the first time they'd met, the first time they'd kissed on a lonely building
top on a night of war when neither of them expected to see the dawn, her
blue eyes looking up at him as they'd held each other in the night. Memories
beyond counting, and the promise of so many more to come that he ached at
the thought of not being able to share every one with her. His lips pressed
tighter on hers as he gently tangled his fingers in her hair. 'I love you,
Ami-chan. Gods, but I love you.'

'I love you too, Alex.' Ami sighed into his mind, the memories washing over
to her, bringing her to the one place she'd ever felt it was okay not to be
in charge, not to have the answers. That's the one thing Alexis had always
brought to her life, from the first moment they'd met; questions that didn't
always have straight answers, and the ability not to care that they didn't.
For all their seriousness and all their studies, when they were alone,
together, thinking was always optional, and she thanked him for that
each day.

As she pressed herself closer to him, draping her arms around his neck as
they continued to kiss, she felt the fog that had settled over her mind
clearing, and things began to look a little less hopeless. 'Thank you love...'

The door creaked as it swung open, and a sudden, embarrassed cough from
the doorway broke the moment. The man in lab uniform shifted uncomfortably,
holding the large envelope in front of him with a nervous smile. "Excuse me.
Didn't mean to interrupt, Lady Mercury, you just asked to have those pictures
brought up when we finished developing them..."

Aim froze in place, her eyes going wide as the messenger entered the room.
She felt her face turning crimson even as she moved away from Alexis,
turning to the door. "T-Thank you ..." She stuttered, avoiding the intruding
man's gaze, holding on to her husband's arm tightly.

Alex reached out and took the envelope from the man, giving him a calm smile.
"Thank you. You can go now, if you like...."

Ami's grasp on Alexis's arm tightened, her fingers digging into his arm as
she shot him a warning glance, the crimson on her cheeks deepening further.
"What my husband meant to say was you're free to go..." Ami's voice cracked
slightly. "I'll call you if I need anything else."

As the door slid shut behind the retreating messenger, Alexis gave her an
innocent smile and an arched eyebrow. "What's this?"

Ami frowned at him, taking the envelop from his hands. "These are from the
attack at the hospital ... When that news reporter died..." Ami said quietly,
looking at the envelop carefully, almost afraid to open it. "There's little
chance of there being anything in here we can use ... " She said quietly,
her voice trailing off.

Alexis slipped it open, almost casually pulling the enlarged photos out
and glancing at them. "Can't be anything too bad....." His voice died
in his throat, eyes widening suddenly. "Oh gods...."

Ami immediately turned to Alexis. "What is it?" She asked, moving beside
him to look at the photographs. "What ..." Blue eyes widened in disbelief
at the silver and pink image captured on the film. "It .. can't be.."

"It is." Alexis's guts clenched into a tight ball at the sight of the
malicious pleasure in his Princess's face. "It is. Gods help us."

"How .. How ..." Ami shook her head slowly, stepping away from Alexis,
away from the pictures, away from the proof she'd been searching so
diligently for. The back of her knees came into contact with her desk,
and she unsteadily lowered herself onto it, her eyes meeting Alexis's.
"How am I going to tell the Queen?"

Alexis's lips tightened. "That, love, is going to be the least of our
problems."

Ami looked at him silently for a moment, then shook her head. "It may
be the least ... But it's going to be the hardest..." Ami's voice wavered
as her fingers dug into the edge of the desk. "And I'm going to have to be
the one to tell her..."

Ice blue eyes held hers. "Let me help you."

"I ... I can't." Ami took a deep breath, choking back a sob. "If this has
to come from anyone ... It should come from someone close ..." Ami smiled
a little. "I've been with her from the start ... I've helped her rebuild
her life, her world more times than I can remember ... I should be the one
to tell her the one thing that could bring it crashing down around her
once more ... At least that way I'm close by to help pick up the pieces..."

Gently he put his arms around her. When he spoke, his voice was soft.
"Let's go see the King."

"Okay ..." Ami leaned heavily against him, closing her eyes she fought
back the tears that threatened to fall. Her arms wrapped tightly around
him as she struggled not to give into the overwhelming grief that washed
over her.

Gently guiding his wife, Lord Mercury began the long climb toward the
Royal quarters
with a heavy heart.

The light tap on the door brought the King's head up from the paperwork
he'd been entering with a sudden sense of dread. Unexpected news was
something he'd once enjoyed; right now, unexpected news was almost
never good. "Come."

Slowly Ami pushed the door opened, amazed at how heavy it seemed as
she stepped into the King's office. Her eyes concentrated on the ground,
the envelope clasped tightly in her hands. "Good evening, Endymion." She
said quietly, her heartbeat echoing in her ears.

Endymion pushed himself up from his chair and walked to her, gently
taking her hand. "Ami! News? Why so downcast?"

There was a slight cough, and Alexis spoke up from just outside the door.
"We have some hard news, my King."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The sun was setting outside, casting a reddish glow over the city as it
fell into the temporary peace night seemed to bring. Inside the palace,
the somber atmosphere seemed to dull everything it touched, sometimes so
heavy it was hard to catch one's breath.

Magenta eyes showed the weight on the shoulders of the Time Senshi as
she sat, focused on a series of images that played before her in the
center of a crystal globe. As the smiling face of a young girl with
Cotton candy pink hair appeared, Setsuna's pale hand reached out,
resting on the smooth glass surface.

"Small Lady..." She whispered softly, her voice echoing off the walls
of the empty chamber.

"Set ... What are you doing in here?" Serenity's voice tore the time
senshi from her thoughts, her eyes flashing to the doorway.

"Your Majesty..." Setsuna stumbled, getting to her feet, her eyes not
meeting the Queen's. "I'm sorry .. I shouldn't be in here..."

Serenity's eyes softened as she entered the Princess's room, her
heart aching at how much of the girl she saw in everything. "Its
okay, Sets. You're allowed..."

Pluto looked up, her eyes meeting the crystal blue gaze of the one
woman she respected above all else, her heart breaking at the great
sadness she saw in them. "Thank you, Majesty." She said softly,
slowly closing the wooden case that held the globe she'd presented
to Chibi-Usa for her birthday.

Serenity nodded, moving into the room and sitting carefully on the
bed, picking up a small stuffed rabbit that leaned against the pillows.
"Gods .. I can still remember when Chibi-Usa got this ..." Serenity's
voice wavered slightly as she clutched the small stuffed animal to her
chest. "She'd never go anywhere without it ..."

Setsuna's expression remained blank, not sure what to say to her grieving
Queen. 'Especially when I know I have nothing comforting to tell her...'

Just then, the Queen's soft sobs reached the time guardian's ears, and
magenta eyes softened once again. With a heavy sigh, Setsuna moved to
the bed, sitting beside Serenity, putting her arms gently around her.

"I just want my little girl back, Sets ..." Serenity whispered as she
felt Setsuna's arms wrapping around her. "I'd give up anything right
now ... Just to get her back ..."

Setsuna swallowed hard, gently stroking Serenity's fine silver hair.
"I know you would ..." She said, wanting to calm the Queen's fears,
but knowing she couldn't. 'So would I ...' She added silently.

Boot heels clicked softly on the floor behind them, and there was a
soft hiss of cloth as Endymion's cape settled around him. His voice
was quiet, ragged. "I need to speak with both of you."

Serenity's head snapped up when she heard her husband's voice, and
immediately she felt Setsuna's arms disappear from around her, but
felt the Time Senshi gently take her hand. "What .. What is it,
love?" She asked, her voice quiet, her eyes searching Endymion's.

His eyes were dark, the blue clouded by a grim pain like nothing
she'd seen in them before. He walked toward her as though every
step was a labor, face chiseled like carved basalt. When he spoke,
pain laced his voice. "It's about Chibi-Usa."

Setsuna's grip on the Queen's hand tightened when she heard her
sharp intake of breath, magenta eyes turning hard, knowing what
was coming.

"Chibi-Usa?" Serenity's heart skipped a beat, a rush of fear
and hope slamming into her at the same time. "What have you
found out?" She asked, moving to stand, but feeling Setsuna
pulling her gently back down. She turned a questioning glance
at the green-haired woman and then fixed her eyes back on her
husband. "What is it?"

Wordlessly, he extended two small sheets of plastic to her.
Taking a deep breath, he managed to speak. "These were taken
three days ago, by a reporter killed in an attack on one of our
hospitals."

Serenity looked at the pictures, almost afraid to touch them.
Looking up at Endymion, she caught a sudden wave of anguish pulsing
from him, causing her to wince. Without taking her eyes off of his,
she reached out, taking the photographs carefully in her hand.

"What are...." Serenity's words died in her throat, the stuffed rabbit
falling from grasp and landing with a silent thud on the floor as her
eyes focused on the images presented to her. "No ..." She croaked,
her hands suddenly beginning to shake.

Setsuna quietly looked at the photographs, immediately recognizing
the unique hair of her Princess, even if there was little else that
connected her to the smiling image she'd been looking at just moments
before. "Small Lady ..." She whispered, her eyes losing all signs of emotion.

Endymion sagged to the bed beside her, gathering the strength to put
his arms around her as grief shuddered through his body. "Usako...."

Serenity's head shook as she forced herself to focus on the pictures,
her mind telling her what she was seeing couldn't possibly be real.
"This .. This can't be ..." She breathed, her voice cracking as tears
fell from her eyes. "This is a trick .. A lie .. This can't be real!"
She cried, flinging the pictures violently to the ground.

Setsuna silently released Serenity's hand, standing soberly and
picking up the pictures, holding them in steady hands. All she could
do was stand there silently, waiting; for once not having any predictions
to make, no enigmatic promises to give.

Endymion's eyes rose to Setsuna's, tracking the movement of the photographs
and burning into her face. "You didn't know, did you, Sets?" Aching hope was
in his voice, desperate disbelief. "You didn't know this had happened, did you?"

Serenity suddenly looked up at Endymion, her eyes narrowing. "She couldn't have..."
She said aloud, looking from him to the Setsuna. "You wouldn't have ..." Serenity's
voice pleaded with Setsuna, pleaded for the answer she needed to hear.

The Time Senshi stood there before her King and Queen, and felt the inescapable
weight of their eyes on her. "I .. I wish to the gods above I could say otherwise,
you Majesty ... But I can't ..." Setsuna's voice was flat as she spoke, her
gaze dropping to her feet.

Endymion's eyes slowly closed, his breathing shallow. "We've lost her, haven't
we?"

"Don't you DARE think that!" Serenity suddenly yelled, pushing herself out of
Endymion's grasp and staggering to her feet. She stood between the two, her
eyes moving from the King to the senshi. "She's not lost! I don't care what
those pictures show! We haven't lost her!"

Setsuna winced, taking a step away from the Queen, every word digging into
her heart like a dagger. "Yes." She said quietly, the single syllable
echoing through the room as if it had been screamed.

"You're .. You're lying...." Serenity gasped, her knees suddenly giving
way beneath her as she sunk to the floor. "You're both lying ..."

Endymion pulled himself to his knees, breathing ragged as though something
tore at his chest. "Love......"

The King's words seeped through the fog of confusion that had suddenly
descended over her mind. Blue eyes suddenly focused on his, her hands
trembling as she reached out for his. "She can't be gone ..." She said
quietly, shaking her head.

He sagged forward into her arms, control snapping like an axed cord as
sobs shook his frame. 'Beloved, our daughter......'

Serenity forced her eyes closed as she wrapped her arms around her husband,
holding him tightly against her. 'I'm sorry my love ...' Her eyes opened
suddenly, fixing on the Time Senshi who stood silently by the door, tears
sparkling in her magenta eyes.

'Get out ...' Setsuna winced as the Queen's voice rang in her ears. With
a silent nod, and thousands of unspoken apologies rushing through her heart,
the time Senshi took her leave. As she stepped out into the empty hallway,
Setsuna felt her resolve quickly break, and found the cool marble of the
wall against her back as she slid to the floor. "I'm so sorry Usagi ..
So sorry..." She repeated, drawing her knees up to her chest and burying
her face in her hands. And around her the walls of the palace suddenly
rocked as though struck a low blow.

"What the hell..?" Setsuna's head snapped up, her ears ringing from the
sound of the explosion. "Majesties?" She gasped, struggling to her feet
and rushing back into the bedroom. The King and Queen were just starting
to get to their feet, looks of shock on their faces.

"What was that?" Serenity croaked, grabbing onto Endymion's arm for support
as he stood.

"I'm not sure..." Setsuna said as she brushed passed them, moving to the
large window that overlooked the city. "My gods ..." Setsuna gasped when
her eyes fell on the scene outside. A massive crowd surged against a thin
line of guards, pushing steadily toward the palace gates. Animal fury contorted
rank upon rank of faces as they hurled themselves forward.

Endymion's eyes flashed, tracking over the crowd. "It's like something's driving
them.... see how they're moving as a mass?"

Serenity moved up next to the window, her hand moving to her mouth to stifle
a gasp. "There are so many ..."

Setsuna nodded grimly, her eyes scanning the situation. "And it looks like there
are more coming." Setsuna's eyes fell upon the line of palace guards separating
the growing mob from the gates. "And if we don't get down there soon and help,
they're going to break through the guards."

Something flickered below them .. and then a scream tore through the air and a
spray of blood erupted over the crowd. The mass stepped back a pace, stunned,
and into the gap a whirling dance of long steel blades spun with devastating
effect.

'Mark!' Setsuna gasped, seeing the Queen out of the corner of her eye take
a step back. "We need to get down there, NOW." Setsuna said firmly, and an
instant later she'd disappeared from the room.

"He just .. killed ..." Serenity stammered, her mind trying desperately
to grasp all that was being thrown at it.

Endymion looked down, face hardening, and was suddenly gone in a blast of
golden light. Energy burst over the crowd like a bomb blast as the King
materialized in mid-air above the heart of the line, golden light streaming
around his staff as he slammed it into the ground. "Enough!"

The King's voice echoed through the air, bringing everything to a momentary
standstill as wild-eyes citizens glanced up at him. Then, as if a switch
had been flipped, chaos once again ensued.

"Dammit ..." Setsuna cursed, taking position behind the guards, taking a
moment to process what was going on.

"What the hell are we supposed to do?" She heard a voice cry out, and her
eyes moved to the left, falling upon Sailor Mars and Sailor Jupiter, each
busy trying to hold off a group of angry citizens.

Mark sidestepped an oncoming woman and slammed the flat of a glaive blade
into her head, laying her flat. "Look for a controller; someone's
influencing this crowd. Until then, whatever it takes." With a hard
snap-kick, he sent a man sprawling into a clot of women who promptly
trampled him.

"He can't be serious ..." Jupiter hissed.

"He sure as hell can be!" Uranus's voice assured her, the blonde
senshi appearing beside her, sword in hand. "You want to survive,
you're going to have to get your hands dirty..." As she said that,
Uranus lunged forward, bringing a man to his knees with a sharp blow
to the back of his neck.

Endymion threw a blast of energy into the crowd, knocking a wave of
them to their knees. "Rei, see anything?"

The raven-haired senshi's head snapped up, a handful of charms ready
to launch into the crowd. "I ..." Rei shook her head, moving just in
time to avoid being knocked to the ground by a large man, barreling
through the crowd. "There's so much going on out there .. I can't pick
out anything.."

Endymion grimaced, eyeing the line of guards. "We're holding, but if we
don't put a wrap on this soon there are gonna be a lot of dead bodies."

Nathan and Rod tore into the crowd around Rei, clearing a space around
her through sheer brute strength. Slamming a man across the chest with
the butt of his spear, Nathan braced himself for the next rush. "Rei,
focus on finding our friends who are pulling the strings."

Mars nodded, closing her eyes and using the precious seconds the
Knights gave her to search the crowd, looking for the source of the
danger. Every mind she touched seemed to be writhing with tendrils
of negative energy, but none of them were the root of it. Suddenly,
Rei winced, her mind coming up against a wall of energies so great
there was no mistaking them.

"They're behind this mob.." She whispered, grimacing in pain as her
mind recovered from the encounter.

Mark spun hard back from a small woman, then dropped into a foot-sweep
that laid her flat. "Then let's take them. Think the guards can hold for
a minute?"

Jupiter eyed the guards, shaking her head in frustration. "We're going to
have to hope they can ..."

"Maybe I can help." Jupiter turned her head to see Sailor Mercury
standing beside her, visor already scanning the crowd. Before the
brunette could respond, the air was suddenly filled with a dense,
icy fog. "That should slow them down some ..."

Alexis slammed his staff down, and a shimmering barrier of ice
slammed up in the center of the crowd. "And if that doesn't, then
mine may. Let's move."

Venus nodded, taking a step toward Mars, wincing slightly as her
ankle protested the movement. "Let's do this carefully, people..."
She called out, before blinking out of existence, reappearing at the
back of the crowd. Venus crouched behind a fallen pillar, listening
and watching as the rest of the senshi appeared, holding her breath
in anticipation. 'Gods ... please let this work.'

Endymion crackled into place on her left, moving with a stately grace
as he raised a challenge. "Enough hiding. Stand and fight!"

Venus looked up at Endymion, surprised by the sheer anger in his voice.
Before she had time to consider it, she felt the arrival of the other
senshi. Looking to her right she saw Jupiter and Mercury appear, the
water senshi's visor scanning the area. Standing, she quickly located
Uranus and Neptune, Saturn standing solemnly beside them, her glaive
glinting in the setting sun. She saw a flash of green and black and
knew that Pluto and Mark were there, waiting in the shadows. Finally,
beyond the figure of the king, she saw Mars, hard violet eyes meeting
hers.

'At least we're all here..'

Raw laughter erupted over the ruins, a crackle of light shimmering as
three figures stepped into view from the psychic wall that had concealed
them. The central figure, long blond hair flowing over his shoulders,
smiled mockingly at the Senshi. "I hope you all like the little show
we've put on........"

"Some show," Uranus growled, her fingers flexing around the hilt of
her sword.

"Watch it, love." Neptune hissed, grabbing the blonde's arm and
holding her still.

A deep rumbling laugh from Veros filled the air, long claws clicking
quietly. "Its been most entertaining."

Mark stepped forward, blade shimmering in the dying sunlight. "Party's
over. Who wants to die first?"

"As if you stood a chance." Avarice's eyes glowed a deep purple, burning
with amusement. "We'll have the city burning around you before nightfall."

"Not a chance," Jupiter's voice rose, the air around her crackling with
electricity as she eyed Avarice. "You will not be allowed to continue
using the people of this city as puppets."

Violet eyes darted quickly to the brunette before the fire senshi stepped
forward. "The games end here."

Dameon's eyes flashed. "Not unless you have a taste for corpses, dear
girl." As if as one, the entire crowd behind them turned and charged
toward the Senshi.

'Dammit!' Venus thought, turning on her heels to see a wall of contorted,
angry faces rushing toward her. Bracing herself for the on-coming assault,
she was caught off guard as a wall of water rushed past her, only moments
later to be frozen into a nearly impenetrable wall of ice. "What the...?"
She turned to see Neptune holding the Aqua Mirror before her and Mercury
lowering her hands.

"Now you'll have to face us without your toys," Uranus' voice rose, filled
with bitter contempt. "Unless that's too much for you..."

Veros growled, massive shoulders shifting dangerously. "If you insist..."
The creature seemed to blur into the air, and there was a hideous cracking
sound as Rod was suddenly grabbed up and thrown full through the ice wall.
Energy lashed out, striking for the Senshi, Veros and Dameon letting lose
with a volley of heavy energy fire.

Endymion threw himself sideways, cursing violently as energy blew past him.
"Alex, Nathan, help Rod! He'll need it against that crowd..."

Jupiter winced, her heart screaming for her to go make sure Rod was okay,
but a low flying attack from their targets brought silenced the protests.
She'd have to let the Knights make sure her husband was okay, she had help
the other's neutralize the threat.

"Mercury! Saturn! Go see if you can help them ..." Venus said quickly into
her communicator as she rolled across the ground, the heat of a blast brushing
dangerously close to her face. "Everyone else ... Let's take care of this
trash..."

Endymion stiffened in sudden alarm, his gut tingling. 'Usako! In a flash of
gold, he was gone.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

From the safety of the palace, Serenity watched in stunned silence as her
Senshi tried desperately to fend off what looked to be half the city, all
enraged beyond reason. She felt her stomach tighten as she watched them
try and fight off the mob, having to chose between getting themselves killed
or attacking the people of Crystal Tokyo.

Helplessly, she watched as the Senshi disappeared, no doubt trying to find
the source of the madness driving the attack on the palace. "Please let
them be safe.." She whispered, wincing as screams rose from below. Part
of her was screaming that she needed to get out there and help, but she
couldn't fight against her own people. "I need to protect them ... Not
fight them."

The child's toys at the edge of her vision seemed to shift uneasily,
twisting with shadows that just barely touched them. The window seemed
to darken slowly, eventually becoming almost mirror-like so that her own
image stared back at her from in front of a field of shifting shadows.

"What...?" Serenity gasped, stepping away from the window, her hand
instinctively moving toward the golden brooch on her bodice. She
shivered, her eyes moving between the shadows that seemed to have
risen out of nowhere and the shifting darkness beyond the window.
"Who's there?"

Red eyes gleamed out of the window-flung darkness before her. "Why,
little queen, its only me."

Serenity's breath caught in her throat, the voice sending daggers of
fear and anger through her. "Reignfire!" She hissed, taking another
shaky step back.

The eyes seemed to float closer, a shadowy figure distinctly moving
against the darkness. The voice was low and soft, sliding over her ears
like vipers on soft sand. "You have such a commendable love for the
sanctity of your subjects."

The queen's feet came to a halt, eyes like blue marbles fixing on the
glowing red orbs. "I've given all I have for them, and I will do it a
thousand times over if that's what it takes for them to live in peace."

Reignfire laughed, a rolling sound that filled the room. Reaching down,
he almost casually plucked a rabbit toy into his hand without reaching
past her. "All, little queen? You haven't given quite all to them..."

Serenity's heart stopped, his voice suddenly rising behind her. Grasping
her brooch tightly in her hand she turned slowly, her eyes falling on a
vision that had been haunting her sleep. "I've given them all I've ever
had to give..." Her words died in her throat as her eyes fell on the object
he held in his hand, and suddenly she felt like she'd been plunged back
into the middle of one of her seemingly endless nightmares. "Put that down!"

He laughed softly, an adder's hiss, gloved black hand raising the toy
carelessly. "This? She'll have no further need of such trinkets, little
queen." Glancing down at it almost contemptuously, he smiled as the small
rabbit slowly ignited and burned down to a mass of ashes. "She's moved
beyond such things now."

Serenity's mouth opened in silent protest as the toy disintegrated in
his hands, her eyes following as the remains fluttered to the floor.
Her gaze then rose, fire burning within her crystal eyes. "Where is
she?" She demanded, her hands trembling with barely contained anger.
"Tell me, or gods help me I'll..."

Reignfire cut her off with casual amusement. "You'll what, little
queen? Call your precious Senshi who are fighting your own people?
Bring in your guard, who are being mobbed? What exactly will you do
if I don't tell you?"

"I'll find a way to force you to tell me ..." Serenity shot back,
her eyes narrowing. "And then I'll be sure you pay for every evil
deed you've committed, for each and every life you've stolen ...
Every innocent you've destroyed."

"Such vengeance." Reignfire's eyes gleamed with silent laughter.
"I suppose you're not so forgiving and kind, in the end."

"What?" Serenity's voice rose in disbelief, shaking her head slowly.
"Don't you dare tell me what I am and am not ... I doubt you even
have the slightest concept of what those words truly mean."

Dark robes hissed as her tormenter drew closer to her, red eyes
burning into hers. "Of course I do. One must always understand
the enemy."

The queen drew back in partial disgust and partial anger as
Reignfire moved closer. "If you understood me one bit, you'd
know that I won't give up until everything is as it should be,
and that you have no chance of succeeding."

Reignfire threw back his head and laughed, his mirth resonating
through the entire room. "Now, little queen, you show only your
own ignorance of what you face." In a single stride, he was inches
from her with a hand resting lightly on her shoulder and his eyes
blazing into hers. "I am death, destruction, chaos, havoc. I am more
powerful than any enemy you have ever known, and I know you better
even then your allies. You have no conception." Suddenly he was no
longer in front of her, standing instead beside a bookshelf that
Chibi-Usa had used for her studies. "And your daughter knows far
better than you what it is you struggle against."

Serenity staggered back again, feeling the hard ledge of the window
pressing into her lower back, terror suddenly gripping her heart
full force, memories of her daughter's face, contorted in hateful
amusement flashing across her mind. "What have you done to her?"

Reignfire's eyes held hers, empty and cold. "I? I've done nothing
to her, little queen. She has chosen her own path; I have merely
provided her the tools to do so."

"You're lying!" Serenity cried out, her hands gripping the windowsill
tightly. "She wouldn't choose that path. Not of her own free will!"

Reignfire's mind stabbed out, and she found herself confronted by
dozens of images: Chibi-Usa's training, her torture of the man in
the throne room, amusements so sadistic as to defy description carried
out with a zeal that could only originate from within.

Serenity suddenly felt her chest contracting, finding it a struggle to
draw a breath, closing her eyes, trying to shut out the images Reignfire
threw at her, only to find them still there, even in the darkness. "No..
Gods NO!" Serenity screamed, the moon sigil on her forehead flaring to
life, blue eyes snapping open, shimmering with tears. "That's not my
little girl..." She whispered, gasping for air. "That's not her mind!
That's not her heart! That's not her soul! That's ... That's a shell..."
Serenity's words trailed off, her heart aching with indescribable pain.
"That's not my daughter."

Reignfire's eyes shimmered with quiet triumph. "I'm sure she will be
overjoyed to hear you say so."

Reignfire's words drew Serenity back from the brink of losing it like
a slap across the face. Her eyes suddenly fixed on him, the blue orbs
not quite as bright as they had been moments ago. Fighting to regain
control of her breathing, Serenity's hands clasped into tight fists
at her side. When she felt able to speak again, her voice was flat
and cold. "You may have twisted her mind beyond recognition, but I
WILL get my daughter back. I WILL find a way to bring her back to me.
Back to the light. Back to the path that you've torn her away from.
I will heal her ... even if I must die trying."

Reignfire slipped towards the door, laughing softly. "Oh, little queen,
you're not going to die yet. Not until I've torn your petty little
kingdom to shreds around you."

A blast of golden energy from the entrance tore through the shadows and
cut him off, spattering hard against a suddenly summoned shield. King
Endymion stalked into the room ablaze with light, golden power streaming
around the head of his staff like a burning torch. "I think not. This is
our city, and no petty tyrant is going to tear it or our daughter from us."
Serenity felt Endymion's presence even before the blast tore into the room.
She let out a gasp as it collided with the shield, wincing at the explosion.
Suddenly the haze that had surrounded her lifted as she stood straighter,
taking a step toward Reignfire.

"When this is all done ... When you're nothing more than a horrid nightmare,"
Serenity's voice rose, a soft silver glow enveloping her. "My city will be
standing, and my daughter will be back where she belongs .. I promise you
that."

Reignfire laughed, voice mocking. "I wouldn't make that promise, little
queen. We'd hate for you to start being unable to keep them."

Golden energy slammed hard into Reignfire's shield again, and the black
clad man turned slowly to face the man who continued to pound away at
him. "King Endymion, didn't anyone ever teach you that some things aren't
best solved by persistence?"

A blaze of blue fire erupted from Reignfire's hands, and the sheer force
of the blast was enough to throw Endymion hard into the opposite wall even
as his shield absorbed most of the blast and reflected it onto the burning
toys beside him.

"Endymion!" Serenity cried, her eyes moving from Endymion to Reignfire. "Get
OUT!" She screamed, her voice echoing off the walls, a pulse of silvery-white
light hurling toward him; a blinding flash filling the room as it struck home.

Silver energy pulsed over the dark magic shield, shivering it but not penetrating.
Reignfire's laughter echoed in the room. "I will go when I please, Serenity. Will
you try to force me?"

Serenity's eyes narrowed, the crystal rising slowly between her outstretched
palms. "I will not have to, Reignfire. This is not your place. You are not
welcomed within this palace, within this city. You do not belong. I will ask
once more. Leave, or so help me I will destroy you where you stand."

Reignfire smiled, eyes a blazing challenge. "I think you underestimate me,
dear queen.

Endymion rolled to his knees, struggling to re-orient himself as the world
spun steadily. 'What in the seven hells?"

"Endymion....?" Serenity' caught his staggered movements, her gaze falling
upon his face.

Serenity caught Endymion's movement out of the corner of her eye, and she
slowly turned her head to look him. 'Love?' She ventured, seeing the
confusing on his face.

Almost casually, Reignfire made a contemptuous gesture toward Endymion
that lifted him into the air and threw him hard against the wall. "Pathetic.
I can tell who depends on whom for protection in this family."

Serenity felt something within her snap as her lover's body was flung once
more into the wall like nothing more than a rag doll. "NO!" Blue eyes blazed
to life with a fire unlike anything ever seen within their depths. It burned
bright and it burned hot, and worst of all, there was something akin to hatred
within the fiery gaze. "Leave this place NOW!" Serenity called, the silver
crystal blazing to life in her hands as she called forth its power. "And do
not return." With that, an incinerating blast of white-hot silver crystal
energy shot toward Reignfire, engulfing him completely.

Silver energy pulsed in a whirling ball, blazing out to shatter the wall
behind where Reignfire had stood and setting the very crystal itself aflame
with the fury of its heat. The energy went on and on and on and on, burning
everything it touched into oblivion until it finally faded to nothing.

Breathing hard, Serenity's eyes opened once more, the fire within them
having burned itself out just as quickly as it had arisen.

Slowly a dark form took shape among the wreckage, still standing exactly
as he had been before. Red eyes glowed with quiet amusement as he lifted
a hand towards her and laughed softly. "A very impressive little light
show, Serenity."

The Queen felt the crystal return to the brooch, and she staggered back
as if struck by a blow as Reignfire's voice rose. "You can't still be
alive...." She whispered, staring at him in utter, horrified disbelief.
'The crystal .. I used the crystal..' she told herself, trying to force
what had to be a figment of her imagination to disappear. "You can't be...!"

Reignfire threw back his head and laughed mockingly, slowly gliding
across the space between them. "Can't I?"

Serenity staggered back another step, feeling the world around her
tilt dangerously, threatening to throw her to the floor. Closing her
eyes tightly, she struggled to regain control, tried to regain the
precious energy she'd expended ... in vain. "What are you...?" She
hissed, falling back into the wall, wincing as the sharp corner of
the windowsill dug into her thigh. "What the hell are you?" She
demanded once again, feeling fear taking hold of her heart and mind
as she peered into the hellish depths that were his eyes.

Red eyes burned down into her soul with overwhelming power. "Wouldn't
you like to know?" Almost casually, he reached out and touched her
forehead. Images exploded in her mind, visions of worlds slowly torn
apart with the relentless efficiency that was becoming all too familiar.
Dying peoples, collapsing cities, corruption beyond description, and in
the center of the storm a single dark figure with glowing red eyes.

'Gods no...' Serenity cried silently, her body suddenly frozen beneath
the monster's acidic touch, her mind at his mercy. 'No...' Tears shimmered
and then began to fall from slowly darkening sapphire eyes, streaking down
pale cheeks as she witnessed what evil Reignfire was capable of; and for the
first time, things seemed to grow dark around and within her. 'So strong...'

Beside the glowing red eyes, a second face rose in her mind. Pale porcelain
skin, surrounded by a cascade of soft, pink hair slowly came into focus.
Once bright, loving eyes; eyes that had looked at the world with both
child-like wonder and a wisdom that could only have been gained by
centuries of life, now met Serenity's. The light was gone, replaced
with a darkness unimagined, a darkness into which Serenity could feel
her mind, her heart, her very soul sinking into.

'Chibi-Usa....' She gasped, tears falling from her eyes like rain, her
entire body trembling in fear and despair.

Reignfire's voice in her mind was ice cold. 'She is mine, as your world
will be. It is inevitable.' With a final mental impression of a
devastated Crystal Tokyo, Reignfire broke contact and strolled casually
towards the door.

Serenity felt him release her and suddenly she saw the floor rushing up
to meet her as she collapsed to her knees, staring blankly at Reignfire
as he move toward the door. Suddenly she heard her voice rise once
more, though she did not recognize the sound as her own, but rather that
of someone much older, much wiser, much more powerful. "Even if Crystal
Tokyo no longer stands, even if I lay dying at your feet, the fates will
find a way to right the paths. They will find a way to erase your mark
and make sure you're remembered as nothing more than a nightmare. The
darkness cannot overpower the light, it can only neutralize it until the
light once again blazes brightly, shoving the blackness back to the shadows
where it belongs. You may win the battle, Reignfire ... But you cannot win
the war."

Reignfire spun towards her, eyes burning with the echoes of a debate so
ancient that no other still living remembered it but he. "Think so if
you like, Serenity. Perhaps you will enjoy the cold comfort of that
belief when you fall, dying among the ashes of your people." The
universe seemed to warp around him, and he was gone.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The air was filled with the resounding echoes of explosions as the
senshi battled for their city and for their lives. There was a crackle
of electricity as Jupiter hurled another attack at the trio, her eyes
fixing on the blonde that glared at her with amused distaste. Even as
she released the attack, the ground suddenly buckled beneath her feet,
sending her falling to the ground, landing awkwardly on an already
bruised shoulder.

"Shimatta!" She cursed, getting to one knee, emerald eyes turning to
where the blast had come, finding nothing there. Catching her breath,
she took a moment to look over her fellow warriors. They were holding out
well, combined determination and individual issues driving each to extremes
never before reached. True, they were facing some of the strongest enemies
they'd ever experienced, but they were also fighting with more power and
determination than ever before.

Just then she heard movement behind her, and Jupiter rolled out of
the way just seconds before an attack slammed into the ground to her
right. Her eyes snapped around and found Dameon standing just a few
feet away, staring down at her.

"Don't you know how to fight fair?" She hissed, getting quickly to
her feet, facing off with the man. "Or didn't they teach you that in
what ever hellhole you crawled out of?"

Dameon sneered, rainbow energy pulsing around him as he sent a spray
of fire at her feet. "Fairness isn't a terribly efficient way to fight,
Senshi." His eyes sparkled as he wove a mental web of distraction and
desire around several of the female Senshi. "That might explain why you
can't seem to pull off a victory."

Jupiter jumped back, struggling as she suddenly felt her mind fog over.
"I don't think so!" She hissed, and with that, launched a volley of
lightning bolts at him, each strong enough to take down a building
in a single blow. "No mind games!" She hissed, using the attacks as
cover and rushing toward him, prepared to take him down with a blow to the
knees.

Dameon dodged back, keeping the area between them hot with energy bolts.
"Why not, Senshi? Can't handle the heat?" Lips twisting in a deliberate
sneer, he grabbed hold of her mind and sent her hormones rocketing
straight through the roof with all the power he could muster.

Jupiter suddenly felt her mind cloud over completely, coherent thought
suddenly taking a back seat to more primal urges. Falling to her knees,
she grabbed her head, trying to force the images that rose out. 'This is
not the time for this!' She screamed to herself, fantasies long since
forgotten suddenly surging to the front of her mind, blocking out nearly
everything else.

Across the battlefield, the other senshi were not much better off. As
if on cue, the other two minions struck out, a whirlwind of conflicting
and overwhelming emotions swirling about the Senshi, bringing most of
them to their knees. Even Sailor Pluto found herself crouching down,
fighting off the sudden urge to lash out at the person nearest her,
magenta eyes refusing to focus on the dark-haired head of Sailor Saturn
that stood just feet from her.

'Can't give in...' She gasped, needing all her concentration to fight
the battle with her own mind, leaving none for the battle outside.

Dameon stepped forward towards Jupiter, eyes cold. "So much for fair."
Extending a hand, he focused his power and readied a blast that would
part the Senshi from her comrades permanently.

Suddenly the image of Rod's face filled her mind, the image of him
being slammed through the wall of ice, the sickening sound as his
body hit. 'I can't let him down...' She gritted her teeth, pooling
all her power to push Dameon's influence clear of her mind. Then, and
instant later, she was surrounded by a ball of crackling electricity
which pulsed out from her, striking Dameon from nearly point-blank range.

Dameon smashed to the ground, the energy shield around him the only
thing that saved him from instant incineration. Struggling to his knees,
he started to pull himself back together.

"Stay down," Jupiter said, rising slowly to her knees, emerald green eye
fixed on Dameon as he attempted to rise once more. When she saw he was
almost to his feet again, and felt the sudden rise of energy around him,
Jupiter realized she had no other choice. Crossing her arms before her,
she launched a final, intense ball of energy at Dameon, knowing it would
be the last thing he saw before he died.

"No." The simple word cut through the chaotic symphony of blasts that
filled the air, and a sudden flare of light flared like a super nova
as Jupiter's attack came into contact with an impossibly strong shield.
The ground shook and the brunette once again found herself on the ground,
shaking her head, scrambling to her knees as quickly as possible.

"What the ..." Jupiter's eyes rose slowly, the figure of a black and silver
clad warrior revealing itself to her. "Who are ..?" The question died in her
throat as she found herself looking into the face of the Princess.

"Miss me?" Chibi-Usa's voice rang with unbridled contempt and disgust as
she looked over the senshi that littered the battlegrounds. "Pathetic..."
She whispered, shaking her head slowly. "Utterly pathetic."

Mark hit the ground hard, rolling to his feet as another blast from Veros
almost took his head off. He turned, scanning the field, and his eyes
locked suddenly on the figure of Chibi-Usa standing over the fallen Makoto.
'Gods, no. Please let my eyes be wrong.' Breaking into a run, Mark began
forcing and dodging his way across the battlefield towards the two women.

A black-gloved hand rose in Mark's direction. "No." Chibi-Usa`s voice resonated
with unseen power as she sent a blast at Mark, immobilizing him completely. "I
don't want to play with you." With a sweep of her hand the magic swept over the
battlegrounds, holding down the Senshi's limbs with invisible weights.

"Chibi-Usa?" Saturn's strained voice floated across the distance between the
once best friends. The pale senshi was down on one knee, the Silence Glaive
held tightly as she leaned on it for support, her head shaking in disbelief.

"I used to be known by that name," Red eyes met violet ones, filled with
lust, anger and hatred. "Back when I was weak. When I was being blindly
lead down a path not of my choosing; but I'VE been allowed to see the light.
The truth. That person of which you speak no longer exists, my dear
Hotaru-chan."

The silvery blade of Saturn's staff teetered dangerously as her mind
reeled, her heart shattering with each cold word that slipped past her
most trusted friend's lips. "I ... I don't believe you..."

"Believe what you like, dear senshi..." The pink head turned slowly,
glowing eyes carefully regarding each fuku-clad warrior. "But if you
must address me, you will do it using my real name. Nightfall."

"Small Lady...." Setsuna whispered, rising slowly to her feet, a dome
of the garnet orb's power freeing her from Chibi-Usa's spell. Magenta
eyes fixed on the back of the Princess's head. Across the field she
saw Hotaru look at her, a question in the girl's eyes. Setsuna shook
her head slowly, not wanting Chibi-Usa to turn around.

"What have they done to you, Princess?" Venus whispered, her hands
trembling as she tried to get to her knees. "What have they done?"

"They've freed me, Venus." Nightfall's gaze quickly fixed on the
blonde haired senshi, a cruel smile on her lips. "Something you
wouldn't know anything about."

Venus let out a cry of pain as she felt herself being forced back
down to her knees, an invisible hand pressing down on her. "Stop it!"

Jupiter's eyes widened as she watched Venus grimace in pain. Emerald
eyes turned to look up at the pink-haired woman that stood over her,
and what she saw there utterly terrified her. In what had been loving,
caring and warm eyes an animal lust burned. The girl spoke truth;
Chibi-Usa was no longer the girl they'd all known. The weapon before
them had no purpose but killing.

Nightfall threw her head back in amusement as the senshi of love crumbled
under her assault. "Now who's the one that needs protection, huh, Minako?
Where's the mighty Sailor V now?"

"Stop it!" Jupiter screamed, suddenly finding the strength to wrestle
free of Nightfall's spell, launching herself at the woman, planning on
knocking her to the ground.

Suddenly, things seemed to move in slow motion for Setsuna, only a few
feet behind Nightfall. She stopped when she heard Jupiter's cry, and
she opened her mouth in warning as she watched a staff appear in
Nightfall's waiting hand, a deadly silver blade aimed directly for
the senshi's stomach. All she needed do was whisper a single phrase
and the threat would be gone. All she had to do was use the power of
her Time Staff and Jupiter would not meet up with the end of that
blade. All she needed do was use her strongest attack on the one
person that had loved her and brought such light into her life. Magenta
eyes suddenly darkened, red lips moving to form the words even as Setsuna
felt her heart shattering.

"I don't think so, Puu." Suddenly things sped up again. Before the words
could leave the Time Senshi's lips she was thrown back into a crumbling
wall, her time staff falling to the ground as she sank to her knees. Pluto's
vision still spun with lights when she heard the sickening sound tearing of
flesh as Nightfall's weapon made contact with Jupiter's abdomen, slicing
cleanly through to jut out of her back.

Emerald eyes grew wide, Jupiter's mouth opening to scream in pain and
surprise, but all that came was a low gurgling noise as blood seeped
past her lips. White-gloved hands reached down, locking around the
handle of the staff, her head shaking slowly.

Rod screamed, collapsing to his knees like a puppet with his strings
cut as the shock of his soulmate's wound tore through him. Shock,
horror and despair rippled through the Senshi... and Mark kept running,
glaive sparkling in his hands as he moved.

Suddenly red eyes turned, noticing the man running toward her, glaive
held ready to attack. "Didn't I already tell you I didn't want to play?"
Chibi-Usa's eyes narrowed and an intense blast of black energy roared
toward Mark, hitting him dead on and hurling him to the ground.

"Why?" Makoto whispered, feeling her lungs filling with blood, the edges
of her vision growing dark.

"Because..." Nightfall yanked her blade back, watching with a cruel smile
as Sailor Jupiter sank to her knees, blood pouring from the gaping wound.
"Because I felt like it." There was blaze of fire within those red eyes as
Nightfall lifted her staff and in one smooth sweep, separated Sailor
Jupiter's head from her body.

"No!" Venus screamed, falling to her hands and knees, tears filling her eyes
as she watched her friend's body slump lifelessly to the ground.

"Jupiter!" Mars gasped, feeling her stomach lurch as the brunette's head
rolled to a stop, blind eyes seeming to stare directly at the fire Senshi.

"Gods..." Uranus croaked, feeling the spell weakening. Hazel eyes looked
at the scene with disgust, and had she the strength, she might have done
something about it.

The moment Neptune could move she dropped down at Saturn's side,
wrapping her arms around the small girl's shoulders, aqua eyes
fixed on the look of pleasure on the former princess's face.
"You're a monster..."

"No..." Saturn whispered, shaking her head from side to side, her glaive
having long before fallen uselessly to the ground before her.

Mercury staggered over to where Rod had fallen, her legs shaking beneath
her. Carefully she checked his vital signs, afraid that the unimaginable
blow he'd just been dealt had injured him far worse than any attack could
ever have. 'Please...' She prayed, feeling his heart beat; irregular but
present. Looking down into his face, she saw it twisted in a look of utter
terror and pain.

Across the battle field, still staring at the back of Chibi-Usa's head,
Pluto simply knelt there, her hands trembling. She'd tried to pick up the
Time Key, tried to use it to rise to her feet, tried to take a stand, to do
what was needed; but she couldn't. For once in her life, the Time Senshi
shirked her responsibility as a Senshi, her duty to protect the world from
all forms of evil. Instead she sat there silently, while inside she screamed
as she felt her heart being torn to shreds with each note of bitter laughter
that rose from Nightfall's lips.

Suddenly the woman turned, red eyes meeting Pluto's, regarding her silently
for a moment. "Be sure to tell those pathetic creatures I once called my
parents what I'VE done here, how powerful I'VE become. How poised and mature
I'VE gotten. I'M sure my mother will be pleased." She sneered, contempt and
sarcasm woven into each word.

"Come you three..." Chibi-Usa's tone was one that demanded respect from the
three terrors. "We're done playing." With that, she, Veros, Avarice and
Dameon disappeared from the scene, leaving the Senshi to pick up the
shattered pieces of their hearts, minds and souls that lay scattered among
the rubble.

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As always, special thanks go out to all those that made this possible and who
encouraged a very tired, frustrated author to continue on.

Fallen Stars has been a year in the making, hopefully it lives up to all expectations.
Feel free to contact me with any praise, comments, moans, groans or suggestions.
Feedback is a good thing. ^_^

Email: fallen_star715@yahoo.com
AIM sn: FallenStar715