Act Thirteen - Truth
Blood red lips curled up into an evil smile as Jade stared into the mystical mirror standing in the corner of her bedroom. Everything was going evem better than she expected. Now that a child was conceived, Serenity would be completely devastated when she learned the news, for how could she ever forgive Endymion for fathering a child with another woman? Hate would fill her heart, making her vulnerable and helpless. Then, at her weakest moment, they would attack the silly little princess and steal the Silver Crystal, bringing forth the resurrection of the once great and powerful Dark Kingdom, her mother's kingdom and her birthright. Jade could practically taste the victory in her mouth. Revenge would indeed be sweet.
"Antaeus, I command you come forth!" she demanded, pointing toward the center of the room. A beam of black lightning emitted from her fingertip, and a few seconds later, the figure of a tall, muscular man appeared before her, his head almost brushing against the ceiling. Antaeus quickly kneeled before Jade and bowed his head in respect.
"You called, my queen?"
"Yes, Antaeus."
The darkly beautiful queen walked over to the full length mirror and chanted a short spell. The surface of the mirror changed until Antaeus could no longer see his reflection, but an image of two women. One was tall and smartly dressed with long hunter green hair and garnet-colored eyes that popped out against the darkness of her olive skin. The other girl was shorter, but just a beautiful as the first. She had sparkling blue eyes and silky blonde hair pulled back in an unusual hairstyle resembling meatballs. Jade pointed to the mirror.
"I want you to keep an eye on these two women, especially the blonde. In civilian form, her name is Tsukino Usagi, and she lives at the Juuban Apartment Complex. It shouldn't be hard to locate her. During the next couple of days, I expect the green-haired woman, one Meioh Setsuna, to visit Tsukino at the apartment and deliver some shocking news. You will wait until Meioh has left the building, then attack the blonde, also known as Sailor Moon, making sure to steal her transformation brooch and kill the little pest before her nosy little Sailor buddies of her make an appearance. However, if you do happen to run into some trouble with the Sailor Soldiers, I want them all dead, including the caped crusader. After you are done, bring the crystal, along with the bodies of the princess and her prince to me. Capisce?"
The muscle man stood up and bowed slightly. "Consider it done, my queen."
Jade waved her loyal subject away, watching Antaeus disappear in a cloud of smoke. It wouldn't be long now.
Michiru watched as tiny droplets of rain dripped down the length of the window pane, a frown on her face. The last few days had brought such nasty weather lately. It sent a chill down the elegant musician's spine. She could feel it, that overwhelming sense of dread and despair, washing over her. The seas were churning.
A few minutes later, a pair of familiar arms wrapped around her tiny waist, her lover's chin resting on her shoulder. Normally being in Haruka's arms made her feel relaxed and at peace, but this time Michiru couldn't conceal her tenseness. Haruka sighed.
"You feel it too, don't you?" the tomboy asked. "That something big is going to happen and soon."
The aqua-haired beauty slowly nodded her head, then held up her talisman, the Aqua Mirror, so that they could both look into the smooth clear surface. "I've been trying to get a reading on the strange feeling I've been having," Michiru admitted, "but something keeps clouding the mirror's reflection. It worries me, Haruka. I think it might have something to do with Setsuna. She's been acting so strangely lately, ever since her birthday a few days ago."
"I know, Michiru." Haruka lightly kissed the top of Michiru's head. "To be truthful, she hasn't really been herself at all these past few weeks. I wonder what's going on. Hotaru-chan said that Setsuna dropped by the hospital on her birthday. Do you think she may be sick or something?"
"I hope not."
The couple continued staring out at the dismal weather in quiet contemplation, not even noticing when the front door opened and their adopted daughter came in, dripping wet from head to toe despite wearing a purple raincoat over her candy striper's uniform. Hotaru took off her coat and dropped her umbrella in the bin beside the door before walking into the living room.
"Setsuna-mama, Haruka-papa, Michiru-mama, I'm home from the hospital…"
Her voice trailed off as she noticed her parents' worried faces as they looked out the window. That could only mean one thing. Something was wrong. Hotaru quietly walked over to the two lovers and coughed lightly, finally getting their attention.
"Hotaru-chan, you're home," Michiru said, gently wiggling out of Haruka's embrace. "We didn't hear you come in. How was work?"
The raven-haired teen shrugged her shoulders in indifference. "It was okay, I guess," she answered. "What's going on in here? You two looked so serious. Is Setsuna okay?"
"As far as we know, Setsuna's fine, but…"
Haruka didn't have to finish her thought. They all knew what she was referring to, Setsuna's secretive behavior during the last few days. The time guardian had barely spoken a word to any of them ever since she came back from wherever she went after lunch on her birthday. It seemed to be like she was avoiding them for some reason. In fact, Setsuna never came home after work last night. They assumed she decided to sleep in her office, but nobody would answer the phone when they called.
Worried about her mother, Hotaru plopped down in Haruka's favorite armchair as her other two parents took a seat beside each other on the couch. Two purple eyes darkened. "I suppose Setsuna still hasn't come home yet," Hotaru said, already knowing the statement was true.
Michiru shook her head. "No, she's not, and she hasn't even called. This isn't like her at all. Maybe we should call the boutique again…"
"That won't be necessary, Michiru," a familiar voice said.
The three women looked up, surprised to see the tall shadowed figure of a woman standing in the doorway. She had slipped in so quietly that nobody noticed.
Once she had everyone's attention, the visitor slowly walked into the room, revealing herself to be their missing family member. Hotaru immediately jumped up, placing her hands on her hips as she proceeded to scold her beloved mother.
"Meioh Setsuna, where in the name of Pluto have you been? We've all been worried sick about you. Don't you know it's not right just take off and disappear without telling us where you were going? What if something important happened and we needed to contact you? The least you could have done was call us and let us know you were alright! I thought something horrible had happened to you…"
The pretty teen choked back on the tears of anger and relief that threatened to fall from her eyes as Michiru stood up and took her upset daughter in her arms. On the couch, Haruka crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at the green-haired woman. "She's right, you know," the tomboy stated. "We've all been worried about you, Setsuna, and it's not just because of last night, either. What's going on with you?"
Setsuna sat down on the love seat, her head bowed in shame. "I'm sorry, everyone," she said softly. "I didn't mean to upset you, but I just felt like I needed some time to myself to think about…some things. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt you. I'm sorry…"
Hotaru gently pushed Michiru away and kneeled on the floor in front of Setsuna. She took her mother's hands in her own, surprised that they were actually shaking. Purple eyes met red as Setsuna raised her head. "Setsuna-mama, what things? Does this have something to do with why you were at the hospital on your birthday? Stop keeping secrets from us. We're your family. We love you, and we want to help you through whatever it is that's been bothering you. Just tell us!"
Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Setsuna pulled a hand away from Hotaru and rested it gently on her stomach. This was it. The time had come to tell her family the truth. It wasn't right to keep them in the dark any longer. They needed to know.
"I'm pregnant."
Michiru was the first to recover from the shock of the news, her face shifting from surprise to disbelief to joy in a matter of moments. The aqua-haired musician jumped up from her seat beside Haruka and ran over to embrace her friend in a tight hug. Hotaru joined her a few seconds later.
"Setsuna! That's wonderful news!" Michiru exclaimed. "Why were you keeping this from us?"
"I don't know. I guess… I don't know."
Hotaru smiled brightly and wiped away tears of happiness as she gave her mother another hug. "So, that's why you were at the hospital," she said. "I'm so glad. I thought you were sick with some horrible disease, but I should have figured it out when I saw you looking in the nursery. I wish Ami-chan would have told me instead of letting me drive myself crazy with worry."
A tiny grin appeared on Setsuna's face as she gently tousled her daughter's raven hair. They were taking the news better than she thought they would. "Don't blame Ami-chan, Hotaru-chan. I told her not to tell you because I wanted to be the one to break the news to you guys. I'm sorry I caused you to worry about me."
The only person who wasn't joining in their celebration was Haruka. The blonde tomboy sat on the couch, her face still literally frozen in shock. Noticing Haruka's reaction, Michiru came up behind her and rested her hands on her lover's shoulders, her blue eyes playful. She knew exactly what Haruka was thinking: Another rugrat in the house. Oh, boy.
"Haruka, don't you have something to say to Setsuna?" she asked.
Haruka shook her head in wonder. Who would have thought? Setsuna was the last person she would have suspected to get pregnant. She chuckled. Well, maybe not the last. There was no way on Earth she was ever going to get knocked up unless it was by a miracle of God. Still…
"A baby…" she breathed, letting out the breath that she didn't realize she was holding. Then her blue-green eyes widened in surprise once again as another thought hit her. "Is the baby… I mean…Is Yasashiku-kun…?"
The guardian of time quickly shook her head, putting that idea to rest right then and there. "No, Yasashiku-kun is not the father. Don't worry, Haruka. Your buddy can still keep on playing the role of the swinging bachelor."
"Then, who is? Who is the father of the baby, Setsuna?"
A light blush spread across her face as the garnet-eyed woman turned away from the questioning stares of her unusual family. "It's nobody," she finally answered.
"So, you're saying this was an immaculate conception?" Haruka quipped, rolling her eyes. The action earned her a slap on the back of the head by Michiru.
Setsuna bit her lip, wondering just how she was going to explain. Both she and Mamoru decided that it would be best that nobody except for them and Usagi to know the truth about the child's conception, feeling that it would only cause more rifts between the Sailor Soldiers, but she still hadn't come up with a proper cover story to explain her unexpected pregnancy. Sensing her reluctance to reveal the baby's father, Hotaru simply squeezed her hand.
"It's okay, Setsuna-mama," she said. "You don't have to tell us if you don't want. Right?"
Her other two parents nodded their heads, and Setsuna gave them each a grateful smile. They really were the best family she could have ever wished for. She should have known that they would support her through this.
Now sitting beside Haruka on the couch once again, Michiru reached over and took her lover's hand, that mischievous twinkle Haruka knew so well in her beautiful blue eyes. Even before she could open her mouth, the tomboy was already shaking her head, and Hotaru and Setsuna were snickering. "No, Michiru."
"But Haruka…"
"I said no. We are not having a baby, and that's final."
"But…"
In an unusual fit of childishness worthy of their princess, the normally elegant and mature violinist crossed her arms and sulked, provoking laughter all around. "You're so meeeaaaan, Haruka!"
It was classic Usagi, but their laughter quickly died down when Haruka felt a chill run down her spine. A quick glance into her partner's eyes revealed Michiru felt the exact same thing. The threat they felt earlier was still there, this time stronger than before.
But what was it? And how was Setsuna involved?
Outside the Juuban Apartment complex a few hours later, Setsuna paced, nervously biting on of her long, crimson fingertips. Her fifty dollar manicure was ruined, but that was the least of the time guardian's worries right now, for she had finally decided to tell Usagi about the baby. Though her family handled the news fairly well, she knew it wouldn't be as easy with her princess. If Usagi didn't hate her before, then the news that she was pregnant with Mamoru's child would surely do the trick.
Maybe I shouldn't be doing this, she thought to herself as she took a seat on a nearby bench. Maybe it would be better if she just went away for a while, at least until after the baby was born. Then she could put the child up for adoption, and Usagi would never have to know, giving the prince and princess the chance to reconcile. But deep in her heart, she knew that was the coward's way out, and Meioh Setsuna was anything but a coward. So, she took a deep breath and finally entered the building.
Usagi's apartment was located on the ground floor, at the end of a long and narrow hallway. As she slowly walked down the corridor, Setsuna couldn't help feeling like some criminal on death row being lead to the execution chamber. She even started to turn back a couple of times and leave, but grudgingly continued forward until she reached Usagi's apartment and rang the doorbell with a shaky finger.
There was no answer. Thinking that Usagi might still be asleep, despite the fact that it was already six o'clock in the evening, Setsuna rang the doorbell again. Her finger stayed on the button until she was sure that even the tenants on the top floor heard, but still, Usagi didn't come to the door.
Wondering if maybe she had gone out, Setsuna placed her ear against the door and heard the distinct sounds of a television set. It was obvious that Usagi was home and was just ignoring the doorbell. The time guardian sighed and tried again, determined that she wasn't going to leave until she told Usagi what she needed to say. "Usagi-chan, I know you're in there," she said when the blonde still refused to answer. "Please open the door. It's me, Setsuna. We need to talk."
She held her breath until she finally heard the sound of footsteps walking toward the door. Usagi reluctantly unlocked the door, but hesitated opening it.
"What do you want from me, Setsuna-san?" she asked from the other side of the door, wiping her nose with the handkerchief in her hand. "Haven't you done enough harm already?"
"I know I'm probably the last person you want to see right now, and I don't blame you one bit, but I want to tell you something before you hear it from someone else. Just please let me in. Ten minutes is all I'm asking, and after that, I can be out of your life forever if that's what you want. Please, Usagi-chan…"
After a couple more seconds of deliberation, Usagi slowly opened the door and showed her guest inside. Setsuna was surprised to see that the blonde was still in her pajamas and appeared to have put on a little bit of weight.
Usagi sat back down on the couch and turned off the TV, but didn't offer the time guardian a seat, so Setsuna continued standing by the door, her heart pounding against her ribcage. The two women were clouded in an uncomfortable silence until Usagi finally turned to face her former friend.
"So, what is it, Setsuna-san?" she asked. "I don't have all day."
Funny, she looked like she had all the time in the world, but Setsuna wisely didn't comment. Instead, she looked around the small, but comfortable, apartment, making sure they were alone. "Is Luna here?"
Usagi shook her head. "She's out with Artemis."
Assured that they were alone, Setsuna took a deep breath and licked her suddenly dry lips. "I know you hate me, Usagi-chan, and I can't say I blame you," she said, her gaze lowered. Usagi remained unemotional. "I won't lie to you. What I'm about to tell you will probably make you hate me more and this is by far the most difficult thing I've ever had to do in my life, but you need to know…"
The blonde waved her hand in a circle motion, urging her to hurry up. "Just get to the point. Card Captor Sakura is going to start in less than ten minutes."
"I'm pregnant. It's Mamoru-san's child."
At first, Usagi didn't say anything, too shocked for words. An unbelievable pain entered her heart, filling her not necessarily with anger, but with sadness -- sadness that the man she used to love, no, still loved, was having a child with another woman. It reminded her of the fact that not only had she lost Mamoru, but she had lost Chibi-Usa as well. She turned away from Setsuna, not wanting her to see the tears in her eyes. "Go away, Setsuna-san," she whispered, afraid that her voice would betray her emotions.
But she didn't go. Instead, the expectant mother sat down beside Usagi on the couch and squeezed a clenched fist. "Usagi-chan, you cannot know how deeply sorry I am," she said sincerely. "We didn't mean for this to happen, but there's something else I have to tell you before I go."
Her princess didn't react, which Setsuna took to be permission to continue. "Mamoru-san loves you, Usagi-san, and he never did stop loving you. Never."
When Usagi didn't say anything, Setsuna sighed and walked to the door, taking one final glance at her princess before leaving the apartment. Once Setsuna left, Usagi released the tears she had fought to hide into her pillow.
Mamo-chan…
Antaeus, dressed in a well-cut business suit, watched Meioh Setsuna exit the building from the comfort of a nearby bench with his dark orange eyes. Finally, it was time for some action. The giant had been growing quite bored of just stalking the two women, especially since Tsukino's day was mostly spent in her apartment, watching TV and eating ice cream, while the other girl did little more than work at her stupid boutique. Even watching paint dry would be more exciting than the lives of his two prey.
But now he would be free to do what he did best: fight. Antaeus was not completely in the dark concerning Sailor Moon's abilities, but in a purely physical battle, he knew he had the upper hand. So, once he was sure no one was watching, he snapped his fingers and teleported inside the building, a confident grin on his face. She didn't have a prayer.
Usagi still couldn't bring herself to believe it. Setsuna was carrying Mamoru's child. It was like something out of her worse nightmare. How could they do this to her? Her fingers dug deeply into the damp fabric of her pillow as she tried hopelessly to control her emotions, but failing miserably. All she wanted to do was cry.
However, the sudden appearance of a seven foot, well-built man in the middle of her living room startled Usagi from her tears. She gasped loudly, her blue eyes widening noticeably as she stood up. A youma?!
"Who are you?" she demanded, slowly backing over to the table against the wall where she knew her brooch was sitting. Though she appeared calm on the surface, inside, her heart was pounding as she fumbled around the desk, knocking things over until she finally put her hands around the heart-shaped brooch. "How did you get in my apartment?"
The man laughed as he ripped off his jacket and flexed his muscles. "I am Antaeus," he replied, introducing himself to the pretty blonde, "the strongest fighter of the Dark Kingdom."
Usagi almost dropped the brooch in her hand in surprise. What was he talking about? She and the others destroyed the Dark Kingdom years ago. Her eyes narrowed. "Liar! You can't be from the Dark Kingdom. Beryl and Metalia are dead!"
There was a look of amusement in Antaeus' orange eyes. She might talk brave, but he didn't fail to notice her shaky knees or ragged breath. "True, my dear Sailor Moon," he said, slowly walking over and lifting her chin so he could better see the fear in her bottomless blue eyes, "but the heir to the kingdom, the beautiful and powerful Queen Jade, lives on."
She gasped once again, but quickly regained her focus. This was no time to worry about Jade, whoever she was. It was time to fight. Lifting her brooch high in the air, she called out the words that had remained silent for so long, MOON ETER-.
However, Antaeus easily knocked the brooch out of Usagi's hand before she finished calling out her transformation phrase, causing her to yelp in pain. She grabbed her injured wrist as she helplessly watched the giant bend over and pick up the small object, examining the golden finish in satisfaction.
"That's mine!" she yelled, kicking him in the shins. Her assault did little good, however. Antaeus put the brooch in the pocket of his pants, then roughly tossed her aside. She collided hard into the table, causing a hand-painted heirloom vase to come crashing on the floor in thousands of tiny pieces. Usagi cringed. Her mother was going to kill her. That is, if the giant didn't beat Ikuko to it.
"No, I believe it's now mine," he said matter-of-factly.
Antaeus then strolled over to her prone body, standing over her with a cocky look in his now blood red eyes. Black lightning crackled between his large, manly hands. She was more pathetic than he thought. This job was going to be a piece of cake. As the blonde tightly shut her eyes, he let out an evil laugh.
"Die, Princess! Die for your sins!"
With those words, he released the fatal attack.
She felt it, the familiar feeling of danger that had remained dormant for so long, flowing throughout her body. Where is it coming from? she wondered. Setsuna stopped in her tracks and turned back around, looking toward the Juuban Apartment Complex, which she had just left no more than five minutes ago. Immediately, she knew.
Ignoring the curious stares of passing pedestrians, Setsuna broke into a fast sprint toward the building, hoping against hope that she could make it to the apartment in time. Usagi, her beloved princess, was in danger. She sped up noticeably as she ran down the empty first floor corridor, her heartbeat racing.
Please, Princess, be okay! Setsuna prayed as she called out her transformation phrase.
PLUTO CRYSTAL POWER!
Realizing that it would be useless to put up a fight against Antaeus in her civilian form, Usagi tightly closed her beautiful blue eyes and braced herself for the oncoming attack. What did it matter anyway? She might as well be dead, for there was nothing left to live for. In reality, she had already died the day she found Mamoru in Setsuna's embrace. Antaeus would only kill her body. Her soul was already dead.
So, she laid there still as a statue, welcoming death with open arms. But death did not come as she expected. Before the giant's attack reached her body, Usagi heard a low voice whisper a familiar battle phrase, coming from the direction of the open door, and she knew a purple sphere of energy had blasted forth against her enemy's black lightning.
The giant let out a loud growl of pain and anger toward the unexpected visitor as Usagi slowly opened her eyes and focused on Sailor Pluto's tall figure, standing in the doorway of the apartment. She never thought she would be so grateful to see Mamoru's lover again. Carefully, the blonde pulled herself from off the floor, using the table for support. "Pluto, you came…" she whispered, letting out a small moan of pain.
Pluto bowed. "Of course, I did, my princess. It is my sworn duty to protect you, no matter what. Nothing will ever change that."
By that time, Antaeus had recovered from Pluto's attack and sent another blast of dark lightning toward the tall woman, hitting her full force. Usagi screamed, tears streaking down her face, as Pluto fell to the ground. She ran toward the motionless body, not caring that she was putting herself in danger, and shook Pluto until she finally opened her dark red eyes.
"Usagi-chanan…"
The blonde wiped her arm across her watery eyes. "Pluto, just get out of here," she pleaded as the soldier carefully sat up. "Don't worry about me. You have to protect the baby…Mamoru-san's child. It's too dangerous!"
Pluto shook her head as she shakily stood up. "It'll be okay… It's my duty…"
Antaeus laughed at the sight, preparing to send another lightning attack toward the green-haired woman. He had to admit that the Sailor Soldier was nothing but determined to save the life of her princess. It was admirable, in a way, but also incredibly stupid. One more hit, and Sailor Pluto would undoubtedly be dead. With a loud battle cry, the giant sent the blast toward the tall soldier, but instead of hitting the target, it rammed into Usagi, who had jumped in front of the oncoming attack. The blonde collapsed on the floor, unconscious.
"Usagi-chan!" Pluto screamed. She positioned herself between Antaeus and Usagi's motionless body, holding up her Time Key toward the giant. Her crimson eyes were filled with determination as Antaeus prepared another attack.
"Get out of the way, Pluto!" he ordered. "I'll deal with you after I kill your little friend."
"Never!" she shouted. "I won't let you hurt her. Take me instead."
The giant rubbed his chin as if he was seriously considering Pluto's offer, but then laughed. "Forget it! I have my orders. Now get out of the way and let me finish my job."
"I'm not leaving. If you want to get to Usagi-chan, you'll have to kill me first!"
"That can be arranged."
Pluto watched the black lightning between his hands grow stronger, and she prepared to attack, knowing there was a very good chance that she wouldn't survive another assault. She was still too weak from the first one. Still, she firmly stood her ground. Silently, the two opponents stared at each other in a battle of wills, neither willing to admit defeat, but neither wanting to make the first move. There was no telling how long they would have stood there if it wasn't for the appearance of a single red rose thrown between them.
A red rose? Setsuna gasped, then looked over at the open door, a feeling of relief washing over her.
"Blessed by the planet of water, I am the soldier of wisdom, Sailor Mercury!"
"Blessed by the planet of fire, I am the soldier of war, Sailor Mars!"
"Blessed by the planet of thunder, I am the soldier of protection, Sailor Jupiter!"
"Blessed by the planet of beauty, I am the soldier of love, Sailor Venus!"
"And I am Tuxedo Kamen!"
"The Pretty-Suited Sailor Soldiers are here!"