Title: Because of You
Author: Cheska
E-mail Address: Minnashime@aol.com
Rating: PG or PG-13
Chapter: 17

Disclaimer: *scrimmages around* Hmm..let's see. I have a few pennies, some used paper, and…*pulls out a broken protractor* No, I need that. *throws that away* *pulls out a broken ruler* Ah! Here! This could be worth a few cents. ^^;; Well here's something of value, right? *shows them* No? Well, it's either that or nothing. I'm not really worth suing, so you shouldn't bother. *sigh*

Author's Notes: blah, blah, blah.

******
Earth:
******
"Do you feel it?" Haruka gazed up towards the dark blue sky.
"Hai, I do…" nodded Michiru, her eyes softening and then slowing up as it hardened.
"The time stream is changing. Soon, the choice shall be decided. To see what path our hime shall take. Either way, this war will soon end," Setsuna stated in a sweet melodic voice. Both kind and both filled with the quiet tone that could be forever remembered to those who have listened to her words whenever they reflect back to the past after this event is over.
"I understand, Setsuna-mama that it's up to the hime. But is there anyway that we could help her?" Hotaru asked in a hushed whisper.
"I can not say, that is up to each and every one of us to decide for ourselves now. The question is, if we choose to do something about it, is there a chance to make it there in time?" Setsuna wondered out loud.
"You're the Guardian of Time, shouldn't you know the answer?" Haruka frowned.
"I am, but it is not in my power to use the Time Stop whenever I feel like it. Therefore, there must be another way to get to her instead of calling upon the powers of time!" lectured Setsuna.
"I'll-We'll do whatever we can to help the princess, you know that…" Michiru proclaimed.
"Indeed," Setsuna nodded her head and turned away from them as she began to head back down the green hill.
"Where are you going?" Haruka called out.
"Back to the Gates of Time," Setsuna, now Pluto, answered as a black portal appeared and the woman disappeared.
***********
Outer Space
***********
"What the fuck?!" Wufei cursed out loud as he gazed upon the horde of new Mobile Suits exiting the satellite station and towards the Gundams and fellow suits that fought in their side.
"There are thousands of them and still coming! Where do they come from?" Quatre questioned himself as well as his comrades as they reveled over the event that's transpiring before them.
"They must've saved up over the years since they started their organization till this day came up," Trowa guessed.
"And where's that braided baka?! He should be out here helping us!" Wufei growled as he sliced through the piles of suits.
"Still inside, he hasn't exited the vicinity," Quatre answered.
"Maxwell!!" Wufei cried out in outrage as he fed off his anger towards the Leos and Taurus that came at them.
**********
Inside the
Satellite:
**********
"Is this him?" a voice questioned from the shadows.
Duo heard the voice, it sounded familiar and yet foreign to his ears. Where has he heard that voice from before? Where? But despite the overwhelming need to know the owner of the voice, he couldn't let his guard down and so he fixed his indigo blue eyes on his opponent.
"It's one of them, he refuses to tell his name. He's only known as 02," Dachi informed his leader.
"02, come closer. Let me see your face," commanded the voice.
"Hmph, and have you let my guard down? I don't think so," snorted Duo.
"I promise you that I won't let harm befall you…yet," promised the voice.
"No thanks," Duo icily replied, still watching Dachi.
"I'd recommend you to follow my leader's request, if you know what's good for you," Dachi tsked.
"If you know what's good for you, you'd back out from this war before my side destroys yours," Duo rebuked.
"Hmph, shoot him," the voice ordered.
"As you wish," Dachi smirked as he pulled his finger on the trigger just as Duo kept his grip on his pistol as it was trained right towards Dachi, preparing to fire as well.
(Usa…)Duo's thoughts focused on the smiling face of his childhood friend.
***********
Outer space
***********
Usagi steered the ship over to the fighting area, her crystalline blue eyes glowing a deeper shade of color at the sight that met her eyes as disaster was the only thing that met her. Suit against suit. Leos against Mobile Suits created for the ones fighting in behalf of the soldiers of Earth and the Colonies.
Looking around she wondered where Duo or the others were. As the blond gazed from side to side and from time to time she glimpsed over at the monitors. Then suddenly a great red-orange explosion caught Usagi's interest and steered the ship to face the explosion. Near it floated a 54ft. 9in. Gundam armed with a Twin Buster Rifle and glowing green eyes. Immediately, Usagi knew who and what it was.
"Wing Zero…"Usagi whispered under her breath.
A com-link flashed in front of the screen that broke off her view of the Gundam.
"Hiiro…" Usagi blinked in surprise as she recognized the face that appeared before the screen.
Another vid popped up to show 04, 05, and 03.
"Usagi-san, what are you doing here?"
"Onna, you better get out of here now!"
"I advise you to leave."
"Where's Duo? Why isn't he here?" Usagi asked in a concerned tone, worry etched in her voice as her eyes wandered around.
"He's still inside the station," Quatre answered calmly.
Without another word or thought, Usagi pressed several buttons of coordination to head over to the satellite station just north of her.
"Onna?! Where are you going?!" Wufei shouted out.
"To Duo!" Usagi answered, her eyes fixed in determination towards the floating structure in outer space.
"It's dangerous, Usagi-san," Quatre told her.
"I don't care, he's…my…best friend. He could be in danger right now, with no one to help him. That's why…I'm…going to him," Usagi answered in a soft voice.
"It's still…"Trowa began to say.
"You know very well that I won't change my mind," Usagi stated.
"Onna you are…"started Wufei.
"Very crazy. And that I'm weak and should be somewhere safe. I know, but he's still…my friend," Usagi interrupted him and gave a small smile, her eyes glowing with determination mixed with understanding.
Silence reigned in and Usagi reached over to close off the communication as she came closer to the approaching satellite station.
She leaned back on her chair as she came closer and closer but just as she reached the border, a dozen Leos and Taurus surrounded her ship.
"Kami, Duo…wait for me till I get to you…"Usagi whispered.
At that time four blasts hit the side of the ship, sending erupting blows all over.
*******
"That onna!!" Wufei shouted as he noticed the ship she was in get blasted by several enemy suits.
"Usagi-san!" Quatre cried out.
"…" Trowa was silent but his dark green eyes widened by a fraction.
"Usagi…" Hiiro's monotonic tone rumbled out quietly as he started to head over to the ship.
Seeing one of their team mates head over to help the girl out, each of them started forth as well. But along the way, all four of them got caught up as another set of enemy suits filed out of the station and surrounded them. The number of suits forced them back and away from aiding Usagi.
"Damn it!" Wufei cursed.
******
"What's that?" the voice stopped as a strong blast of light just occurred from outside the station.
Turning around the figure gazed at the explosion in front of the station.
Dachi and Duo's gaze fell from one other to the light, their eyes focused on the explosion. Wondering what happened and how come it was so close to the base.
Just before the light died down, Dachi realized his error and sought to redeem himself as he turned around to face his opponent. His grip on the trigger poised and ready, then he pulled on it.
Duo slowly regained his composure and turned around. But just as he did, a loud bang sounded out and he knew his error. He had let his guard down…
"Usa…" Duo whispered out before his indigo blue eyes widened and then his eyelids lowered as his grip on his gun dropped, sending it to drop on the floor with a loud sound.
(This feeling…) Duo thought deep inside himself as he fell down onto his knees.
******
Usagi closed her eyes tight, her grip on the chair was so tight that her knuckles turned white. A small scream came out from her throat from the strong amount of blasts that the ship accepted. Forcing her eyes open, she gazed at the controls. What could she do? Does the ship have something? Anything, to help protect this carrier from oncoming onslaughts? Desperately Usagi searched but found none that gave the slightest clue of what control it could be.
"Please, stop…stop this!" Usagi pleaded, but the blasts continued.
For several seconds, she could hear the crashing and she could almost feel the burden that the ship had as the blasts crashed onto the sides. Creaking, moaning, and groaning as the ship thrashed from side to side. Deep inside her heart she knew that it wouldn't last long.
Taking desperate measures, Usagi leaned forward on the controls and gripped at the necessary controls for steering. Opening her eyes, wide and keeping back the fear, it glowed with determination.
"I'll see you soon, Duo. Don't worry, you won't be alone…we'll definitely see each other again…"Usagi whispered as she pulled the throttle back and the carrier turned upwards.
As the carrier ship was directed upwards, the next blast exploded by itself as each attack fell upon each other. A bright, blinding light was created over itself. And the ship had managed to reach safety before it could fully break down.
Staring at the controls and monitors, Usagi knew that this ship won't last that much longer.
"Ship fuel: low. The sides are badly damaged, the hangar is broken loose. Oxygen tank is depleting. I have only three minutes before the oxygen is gone and the back up will…*sigh*…there is no backup…and the communications isn't working," Usagi sighed and shook her head.
Slowly, she steered the ship over to the front side of the station. The carrier groaned and wavered, the lights around the vehicle flashed on and off, sending an uncertain feeling about whether it would last much longer. But she shook it off and fixed herself into focusing on landing the ship successfully.
Fiddling with the controls, she set upon the task of using the grappling hooks to fix itself on the station but found that it didn't work anymore. Getting up, she checked the monitors first off on where the enemy ships were and was lucky to say that they got caught up in the last explosion. Smiling in relief, she hurriedly made her way to the dressing room near the back to see if there may be an extra suit.
"One minute left, there's pressure build up everywhere now…I don't have much time," Usagi ran to the back and opened up the closet.
Scanning the inside she saw one extra suit and put the helmet on first, followed by the rest in record time.
(I know I have the crystal to protect me…I could just…use it, but… something is holding me back. What could it be? As if…I have…a purpose here…that the crystal should be used in something else…something more important…)Usagi furrowed her brow and walked back to the control room.
"There's the opening…I could almost see Duo's Gundam," Usagi faintly whispered as she steered the ship sideways, parallel to the station.
After successfully attempting it, she walked over to the side doors of the carrier. It was broken here and there, it was a miracle that she survived in the cockpit. Opening the doors with a crowbar, she held onto the sides tightly from being pulled out to outer space and then threw a rope over to the other side with the end tied into a small hoop. Catching the edge of a protruding metal, she held it in place.
Staring forward, Usagi grabbed a hold of the rope and then jumped off the ship. Using the rope, she went straight ahead toward the other end.
"Don't look down…you're in outer space. You just float on over, just float on…There is no ground nor ceiling…okay, that's not really a good thought but…that's how it is. *phew* Come on Tsukino, you can do this. You were and are Sailor Moon, you're a fighter. A warrior. A Queen and princess! Just a few more to go," Usagi stated over and over to herself as she inched closer to the other end.
"Yes! Made it!" Usagi cheered as she swung her legs over and rolled over to the side of the platform. Fixing her footing, she gripped the handle of a small door attached to the larger version and pushed it open and slipped inside.
Her eyes slowly adjusted to the dimly lit room and stared around. Duo's Gundam was right next to the exit, currently not operating. Two dark hallways were on the other side and a shadowy figure was in the left hall. Near that same hallway was a man she never have met before and a kneeling figure with a long brown braid. Immediately she knew who it was and feared for its life.
"Duo!" Usagi cried out and ran toward the young teenager.
"Well Dachi, you now know who your opponent's name was," the voice stated.
"It seems that way," Dachi nodded with a smirk.
Throwing aside her helmet, Usagi had a better view of her child hood friend who knelt on the cold floor. Her gloved hand was cast aside as well and tilted Duo's chin up.
"Duo, it's me. Come on, get up…for me?" Usagi murmured, giving a strained smile with watery tears in her eyes.
"Usa?" Duo whispered faintly as he cracked open one of his indigo eyes up at her.
"Yes, it's me…come on, let's get you out of here."
"I can't, I have to…fight this guy," Duo protested as he pulled himself up and staggered.
"It seems that Duo here is still able to fight," the voice stated in an off-hand manner.
"Guess I'll have to finish him off," Dachi grinned.
Placing his hand back on the trigger of his gun, Duo steadied himself as he breathed in and out slowly as he cleared his mind. He will win this fight. He will!
"Duo…don't. Please, don't," Usagi pleaded.
"You shouldn't have followed me, Usa…it's dangerous," Duo lectured, not looking at her.
"Yes Usagi, you shouldn't have followed him. It's been a long time, hasn't it?" the voice said.
"A long time?" Usagi gave a quizzical look over to the shadowed figure.
"You already forgot about me?" the voice gave a light laugh as the voice moved toward the light to show off her figure.
As the light bathed the figure, it showed its appearance to the two guests: Duo and Usagi.
"It's you…"Usagi gasped.
*Flashback*
Usagi was roughly pulled awake by a young girl a few years older than herself. Her dull blond hair, and brown eyes glaring at her.
"Get up!" she barked.
"Huh?"
"Did you hear me?! I said get up!"
Usagi was immediately thrown onto the floor, scrambling to get her footing and finally realizing where she was.
"New girl! Don't you know what time it is?" demanded the dull blond.
"Iie.." stammered Usagi.
"Speak up! What gibberish are you talking about? This is the L2 Colony! We don't speak that nonsense!"
"I...I.."
"If you don't do what I say around here, you'll find yourself in big trouble. Do you understand?!"
"H-Yes, yes ma'am…" Usagi cowered at the blazing fire that the young girl saw in the dull blond's brown eyes. Fire that thirsted, needed to fuel up and blaze. Fire that she knew, that if she got too close, she'd burn. Burn badly.
"Good! Now get up and go downstairs to do the chores! Now!" she barked.
At that mere command, Usagi scrambled up and ran away. Almost forgetting to change in the process.
*More Flashback*
A tear fell down her eyes and onto the silver pot that she washed.
"Crying, little girl?" the familiar sound of her 'superior' drawled.
Usagi didn't reply and continued on with her task.
"There's no use in crying, 'girl'. No one cares. Why else were you put into this orphanage? Huh? Tell me that?" she taunted.
"Someone does care! My mother! She'll come for me! You'll see!" Usagi whirled around and answered back, her voice rising with every word that left her mouth.
"Hmph. Your mother left you. She won't come back, you'll see..."and
with that the girl left.
*Another Flashback*
Sister Mary came in with a look of surprise on her face at finding Usagi in the kitchen.
"My dear, what are you doing here?" Sister Mary scooted herself inside and by Usagi's side.
"Another girl came in, waking me up. She said I had to do all these chores..."Usagi rambled in between sniffs and tears.
Sister Mary's eyes twinkled in mild amusement and disappointment at the news. Lightly touching the girl's arm, she led her down the stool she stepped on and out the back door from the kitchen.
"You listen here, don't mind that girl Terry. She's just a bully around here and those chores she set for you? Those were her's as punishment. Thought she could get out of them, did she? Well I'll have a word with her. Now run along dear," Sister Mary pushed Usagi out the door and into the light.
*End of Flashbacks*
"Terry, it's you," Usagi whispered in a shocked tone.
"Terry?" Duo echoed as he turned around to face the girl.
"Hahaha, yes, it's me," Terry chuckled, throwing aside her dull blond hair over her shoulders.
"What? What are you doing here? How'd you get here?" Usagi questioned.
"Hmph, stupid question, really," Terry rolled her eyes.
"Actually, I'd like to know myself," Duo protested.
"High commander, do you want me to kill them both right now?" Dachi asked, confused at this turn of events.
"No, that's alright, Dachi. We'll let them live…for now," Terry waved the lieutenant off.
"High commander? You really rose up in the world," Duo gave a quizzical look over her way.
"I suppose I have, it's been so long since I was just a normal child. Even longer since I had a family I could call my own," sighed Terry as she took a step closer to them.
Her fiery brown eyes, observing the two teenagers that she hasn't seen for so long. She was taller now than before, and her hair grew longer to reach up to her just her waist line. She wore a navy blue uniform with silver embroiders at the shoulders and a silver belt. A matching hat adorned her head with a T at the center. And black leather gloves were placed over her hands with the sign of the Tetra force of a T at the center of each glove.
"How have you been, Terry? What happened since I left the orphanage?" Usagi asked.
"Just fine, actually. It's been such a long time since you left all those years ago. Just a few months after you left, I met a young man named Darlionire who was already creating a new organization. He took me in and promised me so many things and I accepted. After a few days after meeting that man, I heard that Oz was coming into Colony L2. I told Darlionire about this and he gave me an assignment. If I did this assignment I would inherit everything he had, including the organization and money," Terry told the two.
"You…you were behind it," Duo said in a deathly whisper.
Terry smirked, her brown eyes twinkling.
"No, you couldn't have?! Why would you, when the orphanage was where you practically grew up and knew as a family?! The Sister, the Father, and…our friends," Usagi cried out, tears beginning to form in her eyes from the memories.
"I knew all of that, but the reminder of money and power…isn't that what helps us survive in the world? Besides, I was left alone before I saw the orphanage. I figured I might as well spare myself the pain, of having someone else destroy the orphanage by having it destroyed myself," Terry said in an uncaring tone.
"How did you do it?" Duo asked.
"Should I even bother?" scoffed the high commander, placing a hand on her hip.
"Let me take a guess. Darlionire ordered you to become his double agent. Having you go over to Oz and offer your service there and told them something that would interest them. It would cause them to go over and steal it, manipulate the people, or destroy the area and leaving no witnesses," Usagi guessed.
"Exactly," smirked Terry.
"How could you?" Duo frowned, his eyes growing hard with hatred.
"Easy, as I have said before, it's because of money and power," Terry simply stated.
"You're just a mean-hearted bastard," Duo growled, whipping out his gun and aiming it straight for Terry's heart.
"What happened to Darlionire then?" Usagi asked.
"Dead. Like he said to me, he'd leave me with all his possessions after he died. So…I killed him," Terry grinned.
"You were just a bully in the past and now…you're even worse. You're a killer and the leader of this…organization. And for what? What would you do with Earth and the colonies if you did win this war?! Tell me!" Usagi demanded.
"I may be all that you say I am…but there is still a reason as to why I'm doing all this. There is still more to me…" Terry softly stated, placing a hand over her heart.
"Oh and what would it be that wouldn't have me shoot you right here and right now?" Duo asked, his voice icy cold.
"Darlionire explained to me his life's goal. That he was creating this organization to try to make a better life. Something much more stable and fulfilling, that would make Earth and the Colonies more prosperous than what was existing right now. Oz wanted something along those lines as well, but he said it wouldn't work and the people would hate them. Once he had his army and troops, he'd wait it out after a few years after the war between Oz and the others. We gathered information about the new Gundams. Even received the identities of each pilot, and who they were linked to. Yes, we even know about the inventors and colleagues. We even know about the Preventors and the link you have with the Vice Foreign Minister.
For years we have dug through until we were satisfied with what we had. And now we can say that we are…but don't be afraid about what happens after the war that is happening now. In outer space and on Earth," Terry said.
"What's happening on Earth?" Usagi asked, fear gripping her heart at the mention of Earth.
"You don't know? Well, it just so happens that the Tetra Organization has allies on Earth. Several countries, in fact, that oppose the Sanq Kingdom. Therefore, the countries are at war with each other. It won't end until one of the sides win. Either Earth and the Colonies or Tetra and its allies.
If Tetra wins, we'll merely transform things back as it once was. Where everything was controlled by a diplomat who heard both sides first before making a decision. Not like right now, where things are done through democracy or aristocracy. And we would turn back to focusing on industrialization while at the same time fixing the trouble with pollution. Working through industries and inventions to get a device that would end pollution. That was his dream and my dream. But I wanted the credit for it. I wanted to be that diplomat who would make it possible. That leader," Terry stated with so much determination.
"It's still not good enough for me. Everything is fine as it is now, and that's how we like it!" Duo cried out, pulling on the trigger only to find out that he was being pushed aside by a large body.
"Duo!" Usagi cried out in shock, at seeing Dachi throw himself at Duo, trying to stop the Gundam Pilot from killing his leader.
"Just in time, wouldn't you say?" Terry smirked.
"You got yourself a loyal man along your path to victory," Usagi commented," but he's killing my friend!"
"*sigh* After all these years, Usagi. You haven't gotten into a deeper relationship with that boy?! What's wrong with you two?" Terry cried out in exasperation.
"What do you mean?"
"Look, you and Duo have been friends for so many years. Yet, you two haven't tried stepping it up into a more intimate level," Terry calmly told her.
"We just…don't feel the same way like that. Besides, I already have a boyfriend whom…"Usagi began.
"Who you claim to love? Somehow I don't believe that, Usagi. You and Duo know each other so much that you know each other inside and out," Terry argued.
"We haven't seen each other in so many years after the destruction of the orphanage Terry. We haven't even contacted each other! We have changed. Our priorities have changed as well from the time the Sister and the Father have died," Usagi claimed.
"I guess that means you have changed as well. Tell me, 'girl', have you even seen your birth mother?" Terry asked, stressing out her old nickname for Usagi.
"Actually, I have," Usagi grinned.
"…really?" Terry's tone softened.
"…yes, but it wasn't how I would've wanted it to be," Usagi murmured.
"…"
"…I hoped that…me and her…could've met one another in a different way. Not like how it was," Usagi trailed off, her mind drifting off.
"Usagi! Kill her!" Duo shouted from the side as Dachi tried to punch him in the face but dodged.
"Huh?" Usagi snapped off her little daydream of endless possibilities.
"Kill her before she kills you!" Duo cried out as he rolled over with Dachi, each one trying to gain the advantage over the other.
Looking in front of her, Usagi saw Terry carrying a pistol in her hand and had it trained in front of Usagi.
"I always thought of you as the easiest to manipulate in the orphanage, I even had you side tracked," smirked the girl.
"Terry…"
"It's also been awhile since someone called me by that name…'Terry'" the high commander sighed and clicked off the safety switch.
"You don't want to do this," Usagi said.
"And what do you know about me that would make me so weak as to not want to kill such a cry baby?" Terry scoffed.
"Usagi!" Duo cried out as he positioned himself over Dachi who was straining to try and overpower the braided pilot.
"Duo…"
(Duo, I asked you to be careful…to try and survive through this…if I die…if we die…) Usagi began in her thoughts.
"Say good-bye," Terry grinned and fired.
(Iie, never good-bye…not yet. I don't believe it is that time.) Usagi thought as her eyes softened and she managed to move quickly with all the training she received as a scout.
"What? You dodged a bullet?!" Terry cried out in indignation.
"People change, both physically and mentally," Usagi reminded her.
Another bullet rang out in the dimly lit place, whipping her head to the side she saw two bodies collapse.
"Duo!" Usagi shouted out and ran over to him while Terry stayed in her place.
"Duo, wake up. You can't die," Usagi whispered to him.
Cracking an eye open, Duo let out a small grin up at her and weakly had the palm of his hand touch her right cheek.
"Hey, don't you go and cry. Remember? I don't like seeing a babe like you…cry. Smiles suit you better," Duo gave her a strained smile before lowering it again.
"Good job, Dachi," Terry commented the collapsed soldier near Duo and Usagi.
Walking over to him, she bent down and saw that he didn't reply to her comment.
Curiosity washed over her as she reached out a gloved hand to feel his pulse but found a weak one and that was when she noticed blood pooling around his left side.
"It seems that both soldiers fell down. I suppose that instead of one bullet, there were two," Terry murmured more to herself than to Usagi as well.
Usagi chose to ignore it and raised Duo up and walked him over to his Gundam before Terry could notice. The high commander was still in silent shock at the turn of events. Just a few moments ago, she was winning with the help of her prized soldier who was having the better advantage in the fight. And now, in just a few seconds her favorite was dying.
"Don't worry, Duo…everything will be just fine. You deserve a rest," Usagi whispered in his ear.
Before Usagi could back away from the cockpit of the Gundam, Duo groaned and reached over to grab her hand.
"Huh?" Usagi stared at his hand over hers with curiosity.
"Usa…"
"What is it, Duo?"
"Our strength…is like the tree we had as little kids. Don't you remember the picture I gave you? I still have it…I have a…copy. We were so happy…"Duo began, coughing in between with small specks of blood.
"No, Duo. Don't try to talk anymore, you need to see a doctor. I'm going to operate your Gundam in automatic to take you to the closest carrier with a doctor in there to see you," Usagi said in a more pleading tone of anxiousness, fearful for his life.
"I have to tell you something…in case I don't…"Duo started.
"Please Duo, no, we'll have more time after you get better," Usagi refused to hear anymore.
"I…love…"Duo started but Usagi shook her head with dripping tears as she pushed him back into the seat and closed the door of the cockpit of the Gundam and went back down.
After a couple of seconds, Usagi reached the ground just in front of the Gundam.
"Oh no it won't!" Terry shouted from just behind Usagi.
"It's too late, Shinigami is leaving," Usagi smirked.
"No, it won't," Terry grinned, her hand holding onto some sort of device.
"What is that?" Usagi asked.
"This? It's just a little device I have connected to that Gundam called Shinigami. You see, I had Dachi put a small bomb just on the exterior of that Gundam while I chatted with you two. With a mere press of my hand on this button, it will explode," Terry smiled.
"Give me it," Usagi demanded.
"I don't think so. See ya, and don't try to follow or else," Terry smiled a sweet one and left her by herself.
"Should I…follow her?" Usagi asked herself but shook her head.
"I can't, she'll…destroy that Gundam and I'm nearby. Who knows how strong that bomb is? It could explode the whole…space station," Usagi whispered the last thoughts out.
Sighing she climbed back up the Gundam and opened the hatch to see a passed out Duo. Stooping low, she groaned at the effort of trying to pull him out of the Gundam but was stopped by a protesting hand on her shoulder.
"Don't, I heard the whole thing…from the communicator in here. Save yourself, I'll steer the Gundam out of here…"Duo murmured in her ear.
"No, I won't leave you to die!" Usagi protested.
"I'm already dying, Usa…can't you see?" Duo whispered to her ear.
"You're still breathing, your heart beat is still beating, and you're still speaking…you're not dead," Usagi cried out.
"Leave me, I'm staying in my Gundam. If I die, I'll die with Shinigami. It's my Gundam and I want to die with it…grant me this request, please," Duo murmured in her ear.
"Duo, I had you promise that you'd come back to me. We'd find each other again. You've been my best, true friend throughout my life. It's because of you I've been so happy, that I wasn't as down and depressed throughout my existence. It's because of you that I am myself, right now. Right here. And it's because of you, that I am not giving up. You wouldn't give up on me, so why should I with you? I just can't leave you, because…I need you," Usagi pleaded.
"Usa…"
Duo's hands were placed on each side of Usagi's shoulder blades. He opened his indigo blue eyes and stared at her crystalline blue eyes. His determined eyes facing her pleading ones filled with so many tears. Without another thought, Duo captured her lips into a searing kiss.
******
Mamoru drove his suit all around the dark, endless amount of space. Destroying any enemy suits that comes his way. Beads of sweat already trickled down his jaw line and his bangs stuck to his forehead. It was only a short time ago since he came to the fighting sector around the station, but he already endured a lot of pain and used up a lot of his effort in the battles that horded around him.
"Hey Motoki, any more suits around there?" Mamoru contacted his companion.
"Not around here, have you seen any of the Gundams?" Motoki asked.
"No, they must've gone farther off. You saw what happened when they exited the station. All those suits surrounded them and forced them back," Mamoru reminded.
"True, but I would've thought that they have defeated them by now," he shrugged.
"Hey, you two! Get some work done out there!" the lieutenant scolded from the vid-com.
"Sorry, ma'am!" Motoki and Mamoru said in unison.
As the screen clicked shut, Mamoru gripped the handle firmly and gazed around outer space. His ocean blue eyes focusing on the Earth and then back at the moon.
*Flashback*
The Moon Kingdom.
Outer space.
Earth.
Fireworks and parties every night with social delegates who traveled all around the solar system to attend. A beautiful princess dressed in a white gown with crystalline blue eyes that shined with so much hope and innocence walking down the marble stair case. A prince from Earth sees the princess for the first time since his arrival from Earth.
Ocean blue eyes locks in a silent gaze with the princess.
*Flashback*
The garden in the Moon Kingdom of the Silver Millennium.
The same princess dressed in the formal white gown is on her knees in front of a ground full of white flowers. Her silver hair is done up in the royal hair-style of two meatballs and the ends trail around in her back to the ground below. Her small hands hold a simple, yet elegant white flower.
She lowers the flower to her side and gives a simple sigh and then turns her attention to the planet Earth.
"It's beautiful…if only I could go down there," she whispers," but it's impossible for a Lunarian to travel to Earth. I want to see their culture and the environment they live in aside from the text books I have been taught. Especially, the roses I have heard so much about."
"Here," a deep voice whispered to her ear as a red rose was offered right in front of her eyes.
Turning around, she locks into another gaze with the person who has ocean blue eyes.
"Thank you. My name is Serenity of the Moon Kingdom."
"It's nice to finally have a name on the face that has caught my attention, Serenity of the Moon Kingdom. I am Endymion of Earth."
Then a smile lit up on her flawless face.
*End of Flashback*
"It was so long ago, but I can still remember that day we first met on the moon," Mamoru muttered to himself. Shaking his head and wiping the sweat off his brow, he drove his mobile suit off closer to the approaching enemy suits.
"Hey!" a former comrade shouted from a distance as two mobile suits chased it all around.
"Over here!"
Thousands of bullets and missiles flew off towards the enemies, creating explosion upon explosion. Suits were blown into pieces while others just disappeared from sight.
"Motoki! Where are you? Motoki?" Mamoru shouted into the communicator.
"…"
"Motoki!"
"Ma…Mamoru…"
"Hey, where are you?"
"I don't know, everything is so dark,"
"Stay there, I'm going to get you."
"No, don't…you don't have to…wait! *static* Ahhh!"
"Motoki?! Motoki!!" Mamoru's eyes enlarged at the scream that erupted.
"Iie!"
(Motoki, my best friend…) Mamoru whispered to himself as his fist met the controls, his eyes snapped shut.
*****
Usagi broke off the kiss, her mind in a jumble and confusion struck her. She could still feel his lips on hers, feel the warmth they had shared. She still wanted his lips on hers, but she can't. It was wrong, so very wrong.
"Usa…"
"Duo, when you said our friendship is like the tree that stands in Colony L2. The one that we used to play around at…"
"Yes, that's how strong it is. It'll be there for as long as we have each other," Duo's eyes softened.
"It can't be. It just can't be, Duo. We can't be together the way you want us to be together…" Usagi told him.
(The way I want us together…)Usagi added in her mind.
"…I see…"Duo lowered his gaze, not wanting to hear anymore as he slowly pulled himself together and back to his cockpit.
"Duo, please don't go back in there. You can't…leave…"
"And why not?"
"Because…that tree fell. And as you have said, that's how strong our friendship is. What now Duo? Our tree has fallen, where is our friendship based on now?" Usagi asked him.
"Even more the reason I should go…"
"Duo, that's not it. We can't base our friendship on a tree where it could be cut down and used as some ornament or furniture in a house. We may not be able to be together but we still can be friends as we were before…isn't that what we've always been? Can't that still be what we are?" Usagi asked him.
Duo still had his head lowered, still silent.
"Is that how you really feel, Usagi? Tell me the truth…is that all you want us to be? Just friends? After all the years we've shared. After everything we've done together and the promises and secrets we have had shared together. Is that all you see me-us as? Because, I've realized not too long ago that I wanted us to be something else. Something much more than just friendship. I wanted us to be together…"Duo whispered, his tone serious.
"Duo…"
"Usa, I love you…" Duo raised his eyes to level with hers. Searching to see if there was any hint of feeling that could match with his. Usagi's eyes glowed softly in the dim light. Her crystalline blue eyes sparkling with so many emotions, that Duo wasn't sure what to make of it.
"Just answer that simple question for me." Duo whispered.
*************
Earth: Tokyo
*************
"So close…you could feel the turbulence of the sea…" Michiru stated.
"And the howl of the wind…" Haruka added.
"We should tell the others…" Michiru suggested.
"Hai, we should…" Haruka nodded.
"Wait!" a small voice shouted.
"What is it?" Michiru and Haruka turned their head over to the youngest of the group.
"Something tells me, that we hold no part of the fight in this. This is all up to the hime, we can't do anything…" Hotaru told them.
"Can't…do…"
"Anything?"
"Hai, this is all up to the princess. It is her fight. It is her future that she must decide in, whatever course she takes…" Hotaru nodded her head, the tone she used was evident enough that she wasn't making this up at all.
"What do we do then?"
"Just wait, I suppose…"
************
Satellite
Station:
************
The cockpit of the dark Gundam closed, leaving a young teenager alone in the dimly lit area. A tear fell from her eye as she watched the Gundam leave. For a moment she stood there, her arms around herself as she watched the mecha leave the place. But then she couldn't contain herself any longer and fell to her knees with her head downcast. Tears rolling by themselves, endlessly.
"I hate this…I hate all of this…" Usagi whispered bitterly.
She could feel her heart beat, as if it was a loud drum.
*beating*
"Does life itself hate me? To leave me with this pain? With all these problems? Fate, destiny, life…and oh Selene! Mother! Why? Why?!" Usagi cried.
*beating*
"My heart hurts, mother…it really hurts…I'm so confused."
*beating*
"I don't know what to do…do I really have a choice?"
*A loud explosion occurs in the distance, sending a faint glow into the place she's at*
Usagi sees the faint light, but tears still fall.
*************
Earth: Tokyo
*************
"Turn the television on," Ririna advised as she came into the living room. Dorothy shrugged and turned on the screen to the news section. A woman sat there with papers in hand.
"It turns out that the war in outer space has been going fairly well with the Gundams coming into view," the woman reported.
"That's good," Dorothy applauded.
"And as you can see, we've managed to have a live taping on what's going on at the moment in the war."
The screen of the woman switched the endless expanse of space. Thousands of explosions erupted outside with mobile suits being destroyed. On the far side were the Gundams who were busy fighting off the horde that still surrounded them. When one Leo or Tarus died, another took its place.
Then the screen was focused on the station and what was going on around there. Just then a loud rumbling erupted from the station and then a loud, bright explosion followed by two things that left the place. A ship and a Gundam.
"What happened?" Ririna wondered out loud.
"I don't know…"
*******
A plate fell and crashed onto the marble floor. Followed by Rei who fell on her knees while clutching her head, her eyes tightly shut as she bit her lips.
"Rei-chan!"
"Rei-chan!"
"Rei-san!"
Footsteps ran into the room and gazed at the fallen girl on her knees.
"What happened? What's wrong?" Ririna wondered out loud as she cautiously approached the girl.
"I don't know," Minako shook her head.
"One minute we were drying the dishes, the next thing you know…Rei was like this," Makoto waved at the girl.
"Are you okay?" Ririna asked the girl.
"Usa…"Rei whispered while collapsing, unconscious.
"Usagi…her premonition…I suppose," Ami whispered, unnoticed by Dorothy and Ririna but not with the other girls.
"Could it be? That she's going to be dreaming about what's going on right now?" Minako asked.
"Quite possibly, but who knows? Only Rei herself can answer that question now," Ami shrugged and bent down next to the raven haired girl.
~.~.~.~~.~.
Rei's Dream
~.~.~.~.~.~
Darkness, the vast amount of space. Shots fired against one another. Explosions erupting now and again.
(More fighting…why can't it stop? Please, onegai, make it stop!) a sweet melodic voice cried out in the dream.
"That dream…again…it's her…" Rei murmured within her mind.
(There's been enough blood that has been shed. Please, make it stop. Make it all go away!)
"The dream is still repeating itself…Usagi," Rei wondered.
Suddenly the voice stopped and the battle continued on ceaselessly. The Gundams were only mere dots in the view, away from the familiar scenery and as Rei focused her attention somewhere else she saw a satellite station in front of Earth. Surrounding that area were more enemy ships fighting against their own enemies from Earth.
"The satellite, is that where you are now, Usagi?" Rei whispered to herself.
As soon as she said this, a bright explosion occurred and two figures blasted out of there. As the light died down, a Gundam lay in ruins at the very edge of the boarding dock. The two other figures were a ship and a Gundam that had escaped the explosion.
(No more fighting…please, no more fighting.)the voice was weaker now than before but still pleaded.
(But what can I do? What can I do?)
"Usa-chan…I hope you escaped the blast, "Rei muttered.
(All I can do to help them is probably by fighting them…)
(I don't want to fight but I don't want them to die. No more deaths, no more
suffering.)
Beams of light, the fighting gets more intense.
(No more.)
Explosions occur and a tear falls and floats out in space.
(I don't want anyone else to die. I'm sorry, my friend....I'm sorry...)
Clashes of beams form together and a white light occurs from the impact.
(Okaa-san....my friends...and...)
The last thought was silenced and a pure white glow erupts in outer space, being viewed by everything. Its intense brightness engulfing everything on sight and reflects off of Earth.
~.~.~.~~.~.~
End of Dream
~.~.~.~.~.~.

Rei gasped and opened up her eyes. Her dark eyes widening as she sat up and gazed around her surrounding. Beads of sweat formed around the corners of her temples and her clothes were soaked.
"Rei! Are you alright?" her friends asked in unison as worry crossed over their faces.
"Yes, thank you for worrying. But I'm okay, I'm sorry if I worried you though," Rei smiled wanely.
"I'm glad," Ririna smiled and then left the room with Dorothy in tow.
Closing the door shut, after making sure that the two girls left the area, Ami locked the door and then faced the priestess.
"What did you see this time?" Makoto asked.
"The same thing I have seen every night since Usa's departure. But I believe that this is the last time I'll see that dream…" Rei murmured.
"What do you mean by that?" Minako asked with confusion and doubt in her face.
"What I mean is…I heard the news when Ririna-sama watched it today before I fainted. That was exactly the time my dream was set on…whatever happened in my dream has now occurred," Rei stated.
"And…what was our princess's path?" Ami asked in a hushed whisper.
"Her last thoughts were of us…before a white glow erupted," Rei stated.
At that time, a pure white glow with intense brightness engulfed everything around them.

To be continued…
***************
Well there you have it, Chapter 17 and almost drawing to a close. Hope you enjoyed it…whatever is left of all of you…
I'm very sorry for the errors in here like those annoying block break lines or whatever they're called. I don't know how to get rid of them. So like yeah, that's how it came to be in the end. .