Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Sailor Stars: Chaos Theory
Act 49: The Calm before the Storm
By: Sora Kazeno
The clouds grew darker, the storm is coming. Officials are now predicting a strong typhoon, one more powerful and dangerous than the great typhoon of 1959. The city prepares for the worst.
Usagi knows when the clouds become purple, the storm is almost here. She feels powerless waiting for the storm like everyone else in the city. She and Mamoru already purchased extra supplies. Mamoru will be called to the hospital to help after the storm passes. They will need all of the extra help they can take.
"I'm sorry I doubted you earlier, it looks like this isn't going to be just another storm." Mamoru hands a mail package to Usagi. "I think it finally came in."
"Oh?" Usagi is unsure what he was referring to. She rips open the package. Several documents and a rubber stamp fall out. She looks at the paperwork and realizes they are government documents acknowledging her marriage and her new name as Chiba Usagi. "Wow," she takes a deep breath. "It just looks weird to see it on paper." A part of her is ecstatic to see the documents so she can move forward with her life with Mamoru and a part of her feels despair that she will never be Sailor Cosmos again and return to her timeline.
Usagi stares at the document, processing the two conflicting emotions she is experiencing at once. Her desire to move forward is slightly stronger now than returning to her old timeline at the moment. It fills her with a new sense of dread. Subconsciously is she already giving up? Preparing to move on? Without her crystal pendant she can't do anything.
"We can go get your new id now," Mamoru offers. He knew how important it was to her to be able to use her new name. She was so excited when they completed the paperwork when they were first married. He is shocked by her next comment.
"We can go at the end of next week or so after the typhoon. I've already waited this long and I don't want to risk anything happening to the paperwork and a have longer delay in processing." She wasn't ready to change her name just yet; it was like she was saying she was fine with never being Sailor Cosmos again.
"Sure…" He slowly agrees. There is a hint of disappoint in his voice. "The government is probably swamped preparing for the storm any way. It's supposed to hit later tonight." He walks a few steps forward to her and holds her hands in his. "Usa, are you happy we are married? Lately I'm not so sure."
Usagi gasps at his question and looks up at him. "Of course Mamo-chan," she squeezes his hands tightly to reassure him. "I married you for a reason. I love you." The words spilled out without thinking. She did love him, she always will.
Mamoru leans over and kisses her several times on the lips. When they part, it leaves her breathless.
"Mamo-chan," she whispers in awe. This was the Mamoru she had longed to see in her previous timeline when they were together. If he been this affectionate from the beginning, would she have ever chosen Seiya? She didn't have time to think about it further as Mamoru kisses her again.
A few hours later, Usagi feels guilty. She kissed Mamoru and it almost went a lot further but she stopped anything from progressing. Is this the end of the line? Are her actions a sign she has given up on her past and is accepting this one?
She needs to make a final decision, again. She wasn't any closer to returning back to her time. She didn't know how or have any clues. She has to try again after the storm. But what if it is too late and her memoires are gone? She shakes her head to dismiss those thoughts. She needs a sign to point her in the right direction.
She sighs. She thought she won't have to make a decision again but it keeps becoming a choice between Mamoru and Seiya. But what about this timeline's version of Seiya? She guesses it didn't matter since she would not see this timelines Seiya. She wonders what he is doing right now. Probably on Kinmoku… training, restoring the planet, maybe even writing songs. She hopes he is happy but she knows realistically he is miserable. The happiest she has ever seen Seiya in this timeline was when they found Princess Kakyuu on Earth. But it didn't last long. Even when the Starlights were with Princess Kakyuu, Sailor Star Fighter always looked at her. Seiya was even happier when they first began dating in her timeline. They had some arguments, ups and downs but that was always common with the beginning of every relationship. Though he didn't break up with due to dreams he received from his future self to test the bond of their relationship.
She shakes her head. Both Mamoru and Seiya were happiest when she was with them but she can't be with both of them. She thought she was past all of this but it keeps being thrown in her face as if it was some sick joke the universe was playing on her. Why can't she just be happy? She was happy before Chaos returned. She was happy after the Black Moon was defeated.
She takes another deep breath and tries to push everything to the side. She needs to focus. She needs to determine if there is some way she could return back to her previous time otherwise everything was a moot point. Without a way back, this timeline would be her home. Is she missing something that could help her return back? She had nothing, no new ideas.
Her desire to return back to her previous time seems to fluctuate, making everything that much more difficult.
Usagi stares at the hints of purple clouds as the rain begins to come down in a heavy downpour, worse than the past two days. The intensity has picked up greatly. She watches the wind rip through the city. It was only a matter of time before the winds would loosen roofs, hurting, and trapping people. Why should she stand here and do nothing?
Mamoru walks up from behind Usagi and holds her tightly in his arms. "Everything will be fine Usa," He tries to reassure her. "We've survived a lot of other typhoons in the past."
"But none of them were this dangerous. Mamo-chan, as senshi, aren't we supposed to protect this city? What if everyone needs help?" She waits for a response. "We know there are massive waves approaching. What if they destroy the bridges?"
"No one is on any of the bridges, they have been closed since this morning and most of the city has moved to higher ground. You need to stay inside where it is safe." Mamoru tries to change her mind. He worries what will happen to Usagi if she goes out into this storm.
"But if we have the ability to help others, we have to Mamo-chan. We are the protectors of this planet and when it is in danger we have to act." Her voice becomes louder and breaks the embrace. She spins around to face him. "I don't understand why you don't want to help protect the Earth."
"It's not that Usa. What can we do against a storm this strong?"
"We have to try. It might not be a villain attempting to take over, but it will still cause harm and hurt others. I don't want to sit back and do nothing." Usagi argues with him. Her voice becomes softer, "I have to know if I am strong enough to save everyone."
"Usa, you've always been strong enough to save everyone."
"When I have the help of everyone to assist me." She adds softly. "I can't explain it, but I have to know. I have to be able to do something." Usagi turns and heads towards toward their bedroom to retrieve her eternal brooch. She has to know if Sailor Moon can save the city.
Mamoru rushes behind her. "Usa, you can't be serious." He has to talk her out of going outside in this weather. It is madness. He doesn't understand where this is coming from.
She picks up her brooch. "I have to know going forward if I'm strong enough. I just need to do this one last thing." Usagi pleads with him before she raises her brooch. "Moon Eternal, Make Up!" Feathers and an array of prism lights surround Usagi and as feels a familiar burst of energy throughout her body.
Mamoru stands there in disbelief. It became obvious to him at this moment that she was going to out into the storm no matter what. All he can do is assist her.
"I'm going to call the others." Mamoru goes back to the other room to grab the phone. "Don't leave without me Usa, I'm coming with you."
Sailor Moon smiles, "I'll wait for you Mamo-chan."
"Is she insane?" Rei yells into the phone at Mamoru after listening to him.
"I don't know what has gotten into Usa but I can't talk her out of it. She wants to try to stop the typhoon from hitting the city and wants everyone there." He pleads with her. "Meet us near the bay. I don't know what else to do. I'm afraid of what will happen to her if she goes out there alone." Mamoru feels powerless. He wants to support Usa but he doesn't want her out there in the storm. She's being stubborn and will not back down.
Rei lets out a deep breath. "She can be so stubborn at times! I'll call Minako-chan; we can't have her out there alone."
"She said something that she has to know if she is strong enough to save everyone," Mamoru tries to explain to Setsuna.
"I understand Mamoru-san; I will meet you with the others." She abruptly hangs up. Setsuna stares at the phone for a moment processing the conversation she had. Usagi told her something similar weeks ago after the initial adjustment to the timeline.
Is this her attempt to make peace with this timeline by seeing if she is powerful enough to save everyone? She can't miss this. After this Usagi should finally understand everything will turn out fine without any issues in this timeline and the unpleasantness of her previous mistakes will finally be behind her. Setsuna can't help but smile for a moment. The future is almost on track and within a few days everything will finally be as it should.
Sailor Moon stands with the Outer Senshi, Tuxedo Kamen, Sailor Venus and Sailor Mars near the Rainbow Bridge. Sailor Jupiter was still in another town and did not have a way to travel to Tokyo quickly. The trains were shut down in preparation of the storm. Sailor Mercury was still in Europe studying.
The wind is howling and the rain is a light drizzle. It is only a matter of time until the rain picks up again and the winds became more deadly.
"Usagi, what do you expect us to do?" Sailor Mars asks, still not sure what Sailor Moon is planning. She thought it is ridiculous for them to be out here but she couldn't just walk away from Sailor Moon when she asks for help.
Sailor Pluto grips her staff tightly. Based on what she heard on the telephone from Mamoru, Usagi has to see if she is strong enough to save the city. She can assume Usagi wants to know if she can still save everyone without being Sailor Cosmos. If she can, will she finally accept this as her future? It is only logical. She waits to see what she can do to assist; she has to make sure the Princess succeeds if she ever wants things to become normal again and see Crystal Tokyo.
"How long we going to stand here?" Sailor Uranus grumbles to Sailor Neptune beside her. "We are just standing here waiting near the bay. The bridge would be the first place for the storm to hit but it is a few kilometers away."
"Something will happen here soon. I am not sure but my instincts tell me it is important for us to be present to witness it. The sea is raging, the waves are approaching." Sailor Neptune speaks softly to her partner. "If Sailor Pluto wants us to be here, same as our Princess, then so be it."
Sailor Uranus nods. "This is not a normal storm. The winds are too erratic."
Sailor Moon is not sure what she can do. The rain is beginning to pick up again. The first wave of the storm is moving closer to land. She rests her hand on her brooch, her tier would be useless in this fight, it grants the power to heal. There was no one to heal. She needs to use her raw power. The Ginzuishou. How would she use the crystal to save everyone? So far it is only raining and very windy. Not very dangerous yet.
"It's coming!" Sailor Neptune suddenly chimes in. "The wages are roaring toward the shore. We don't have much time. If we are going to do something, we have to do it soon before we are hit with powerful waves. They well send us back far into the city."
"Stay here. I'm going to try to stop it on my own," Sailor Moon turns around to instruct the other senshi.
"Usagi-chan, you need our help," Sailor Venus argues. "Stopping a giant wave on your own might be impossible. We are here to help you! That is why we are here!"
"If I can't stop it, I have to know you guys are ready behind me," Sailor Moon tries to explain to the other senshi.
Several of the senshi tried to argue with Sailor Moon to let them her help or rethink her plan. Sailor Moon questions if they should even be out here for this. What if they are injured because of her? She pushes her doubts to the side. She raises her hands in front of her in a gesture to have them stop so she can continue to speak. "This is something I have to try on my own first. In the not too distance future, I'm going to have to wake up everyone on Earth and stop the Black Moon. I…. I have to test myself. I have to make sure I am ready for that."
"We're stronger together as a team," Sailor Uranus counters. She ignores the fact that the Outer Senshi often try to resolve things on their own, in the shadows.
"If it is something you need to test for yourself, go ahead Princess. We will be right behind you, supporting you. But you have to hurry; you don't have a lot of time left." Sailor Pluto jumps in to be supportive of Sailor Moon. She hopes after this, things will be as they should. It is one last hurdle to overcome. Let the Princess see she can still protect everyone without being Sailor Cosmos.
Sailor Moon turns around to face the Rainbow Bridge. She needs to get there as quickly as she can. Her small wings transform into her full feather wings. Without the other senshi having their eternal powers they do not possess wings to accompany her. She flaps her feather wings twice before she raises from the ground. A strong gust of wind nearly knocks her over as she struggles to reach her destination. She persists and arrives on the side of the bridge. She rests her hands on her knees and leans over trying to catch her breath. She's winded as she makes a mental note to not try that again.
In the distance she can see something moving, she assumes it is the giant wave Sailor Neptune predicted. This was the moment of truth. Is she strong enough to stop the approaching wave? She takes a deep breath to center herself. She knows Sailor Moon can't save them. Her brooch opens and the Ginzuishou emerges with a few bright flashes of light. Her fuku melts away to become the gown of Princess Serenity. The Ginzuishou floats between her hands. It reminds her of so many other times standing before an adversary in the final battle to stop whatever evil threatens the Earth.
She smiles slightly. This time the Earth is threatened by a natural disaster, not a battle between good and evil. She had decided earlier today, if she can stop the coming storm, a power different than anything she faced before, she would give up trying to go back to her correct time. She realizes she could learn to be happy here with Mamoru. Setsuna told her, her memories would fade over time. If they disappear then she would not have to endure the pain any more. She could focus on the present and finally be happy. She could be able to see Chibi Usa again, a thought that she looked forward to in this timeline. She knew Sailor Cosmos could eliminate the threat of this typhoon with a few gestures with her staff. She sighs. Sailor Cosmos is not an option unless she can unlock those powers. If she cannot summon those abilities after tonight, she will accept her fate.
Princess Serenity raises her head and sees a darkness approaching. This is it. She raises her arms slightly, the Ginzuishou flashes brightly as it prepares to release its energy. The wind picks up, as does the rain. She doesn't dare to turn around for even a moment to try to see the others but she knows they are behind her, supporting her. She knows how crazy this plan is but she can't turn away. She has to go forward.
The first wave approaches and light erupts out of the crystal, the energy tries to push back the first wave. It is a giant wall of water. Initially this sounded like a simple plan, one that wouldn't be as impossible as it seems. The water continues to push against the barrier she created. Was the barrier strong enough to push the wave back or was it barely enough to stop the wave from advancing?
She dismisses those thoughts and focuses all of her concentration on the wave. She has to stop it to protect the city. It doesn't take long for the danger to escalate. She begins to feel herself being forced back by the overwhelming power of the rushing water leading her to question this plan. She is starting to comprehend just how bad of an idea this is but it is too late, the storm's path is heading this way. She pushes forward. She could feel some drops of salty water landing on her skin through some invisible cracks in the barrier. This can't be it already. She hasn't done much and is already at her limit. The Ginzuishou is supposed to be more powerful than this. It stopped a meteor from hitting the Earth. She sighs; she had the help of her friends then.
The water is confirming what she knew all along, she is nowhere near as strong as she was as Sailor Cosmos. Only a fraction of what she used to be. She needs to be Sailor Cosmos if she wants any chance of saving the city. A few tears escape her eyes as the hopelessness sets in. Maybe if Neo Queen Serenity was here, this madness would end. But thinking like that would not help her save Tokyo. She tries to focus her energy on the task at hand.
She can't give up. This storm is predicted to be worse than the deadly Isewan Typhoon that killed around five thousand people. She can't risk losing that many people without doing anything to try to stop it.
Another strong gust of wind threatens to knock her back. Closing her eyes tightly, she is nearly knocked over. There has to be a way to stop this. She is running out of time. If she stops, the water will throw her back and head directly for the senshi standing behind her. After the water knocks them back there is nothing to stop it from ravishing Tokyo. The destruction would be enormous. All because she failed to protect everyone.
"Please Ginzuishou, help me find a way to save everyone and protect this city," she pleads with the crystal. "Help me…" She uses all of her strength and the crystal's power to make one last effort to stop the water. It is not enough.
Princess Serenity is thrown backward by the massive wave, the crystal clutched tightly in hand. It is only a matter of time before the wave will hit the other senshi. She is angry at her failure. She wasn't good enough. Those words echoed in her mind and made her think of Seiya that day in the rain on top of the school roof.
There has to be away to save the others. She has to be good enough. Her eyes burn; unsure if it is from tears or the salt water stinging her eyes. It is becoming difficult to see. She supposes it won't matter soon. Everything up until now was for nothing.
She can't speak, she can barely breath as the water pushes her back. She pleads with the crystal one final time in her mind for a way to save everyone. Anything. This time the crystal hears her prayer. It flashes brightly. She feels the warmth of the crystal radiating in her hand. The crystal becomes too hot and she had to let go otherwise it would burn her. The crystal hovers in front of her and begins to take another shape. A clear orb surrounds the crystal and small wings with pearls adorn the bottom. In the center of the orb is an eight pointed star.
The crystal presents her with a choice. Don't take the object and the city could be destroyed since she is not powerful enough and throw away any hope she has of seeing Seiya again and become Queen of Crystal Tokyo. Or take the object, stop the storm and return to her previous life. She feels conflicted. She thought this would be easy since this was all she thought she wanted for the past month. She wants to return to Seiya and needs to save everyone. The price is Chibi Usa and her present relationship with Mamoru. That future is being torn away from her once more. It is as if the old wounds were ripped open to re-experience the same pain. She feels anguish as she reaches forward for the object. "Forgive me Chibi Usa." As soon as her fingertips touch the object, she is surrounding in a bright white light and all of her past memories return. It is as if a part of her soul returned to her. She can finally breathe. The light fades into small white particles resembling snow as they fall onto her body forming a familiar fuku.
"She wasn't able to stop the water," Sailor Neptune comments, moments before Princess Serenity is engulfed in the waves. This was it. "We have to try to stop the water from reaching Tokyo but I don't know how."
"Anyone else have any ideas?" Sailor Venus asks the group in a panicking voice. Time is running out. She had assumed Princess Serenity would be able to stop the threat as always. The water is rushing out of the bay and any second it will reach the shore where they stand.
"Wait," Sailor Uranus shouts, pointing at a bright light within the water.
Sailor Pluto watches the light carefully. It isn't time for her to become Neo Queen Serenity. A typhoon was not part of the original timeline. She knew there would be some differences. It would not be perfect but the end result was the same, Neo Queen Serenity and King Endymion ruling together.
The light flashes brightly and reaches them within a matter of seconds. A pulse of intense energy passes through them. Their brooches change from heart shaped to star. The light dims slightly but the water is still rushing toward them. Whatever the light was, it did not stop the water.
Sailor Pluto grips her staff tightly, not sure what will happen next. Why did her brooch suddenly change?
The sounds of the rushing water fades away for a few moments to hear a voice whisper, "Brilliant Barricade."
The color drains from Sailor Pluto's face hearing those words. Only one senshi uses that phrase. The same senshi she tried to remove from existence. She grimaces knowing what will happen next. She lost and is about to face a very angry Sailor Cosmos.
A wall of pure white light appears before all of the senshi, shielding them from the water. The water crashes into the barrier but it is not phased. The water splashes around and then falls back into the bay. The calm after the storm. The winds are dying down, a faint drizzle falls down upon them. It was as if a force stopped the storm dead in its tracks.
After the remaining water dissipates, a lone figure stands before the senshi by the shoreline. They assume it is Princess Serenity but it is hard to make out who is standing before them.
Sailor Pluto tries to remain calm; she knows she will soon be on the defensive. It was time to let the others know what happened. She has to make the other senshi look wrong for her decisions which left them to this current predicament.
Sailor Mars squints her eyes trying to get a better look. The silhouette wore heart shaped odangos, like the one standing behind Usagi in the Great Fire image. "It's you…" Sailor Mars softly speaks. "You're the one I saw in the vision. Who are you?"
"Sailor Cosmos." There is great sadness in her voice. She didn't look like Usagi with heart shaped odangos and white hair to the others but it was her voice. She sees the look of confusion on all of their faces, except Sailor Pluto, who refuses to look at her.
"Usa…" Tuxedo Kamen takes a few steps forward his wife, trying to understand the transformation. She seems different, like a stranger before him. Her eyes are full of hurt.
She doesn't respond to Mamoru. There is one person she wants to speak with. She walks over to the Guardian of Time. She can feel everyone's eyes on her, watching her every move. She ignores this. "How could you?" She asks Sailor Pluto in anger. "How could you do that to me?" She is now shouting, only a foot away from her.
The other senshi exchange glances at each other, lost on what was playing out before them. No one responds or asks what is happening. They don't understand why Usagi would be shouting at Sailor Pluto, nearly screaming at her after appearing as this new senshi
Sailor Pluto's body stiffens. "I don't answer to Sailor Cosmos." She says in a confident voice.
Sailor Pluto's response enrages Sailor Cosmos. She grips her staff tightly trying to figure out how to obtain the answer she wants. "If you won't answer to Sailor Cosmos, then you will answer to your Queen!" She shouts the second half of her statement to Sailor Pluto. She emphasizes her point by transforming into Neo Queen Serenity.
The other senshi stand there stunned. No one expected Usagi to transform into Neo Queen Serenity. The Queen stands before them; they have so many questions they did not have answers to. They waited for a response from Sailor Pluto, wondering why Sailor Cosmos was being so short with her and so angry.
"I'm waiting," Neo Queen Serenity voice is hostile. She glares at the Guardian of Time, impatiently awaiting a response.
"I did what was needed." Sailor Pluto's answer is short. "I had to fix the timeline you destroyed."
Neo Queen Serenity laughs for a moment; the sound is eerie to everyone. "There was nothing wrong with the timeline. Sometimes things work out for the better. I've already stopped the Black Moon from rising. The Death Phantom is gone. My abilities as Cosmos allow me to protect everyone." There is a sound of arrogance in her voice.
"I had to stop you from making a mistake that would ruin everything."
"It was not a mistake."
"Then why don't you explain to everyone behind me how you chose the Starlight over Prince Endymion."
Sailor Cosmos has returned so everything is going to go back exactly to how it was, right? What could possibly go wrong? Find out what is instore for Usagi next on 10/22 in Act 50: The Guardian Returns
