"Uranus World Shaking!!" The rumble of earth filled Usagi's small bedroom as the ball of glowing energy left Uranus' palm.
Draco brushed it aside as though it were a summer breeze. "That's all you have to offer me? Pathetic." He turned to look at the young woman who would soon command him, and the contempt turned to an odd sort of pride. "Come to me, little one. You know how much you want this. Imagine the power you will control." His voice was smooth, seductive. "You will never have to fear again, never have to hurt. Galaxies will fall at your feet. Anything you desire, it will be yours with a single order."
The hypnotic words rolled over Usagi's frozen body. He makes it sound so simple. As Sailor Moon, there will be battles, pain . . . Why do I not want what he offers? Stifling her tears, she looked over at Tuxedo Kamen. His deep blue eyes met hers, and for a moment, Usagi felt as though she could reach out and touch his soul. That's why. I love Mamoru, and he loves me. Me. Usagi. Not some all-powerful being. The sudden realization gave her strength, and she glared up at Draco, uttering one, simple little word.
"Never."
Rage filled Draco's face. "Fine. I tried the easy way." Whipping out a hand, he pointed at Tuxedo Kamen and the other Senshi. As one, they fell to the floor, crying out in pain. "Look at my strength, Princess. Without a word, I can kill those you hold dear. I already have the timekeeper in my possession. Shall these go to join her? They mean nothing to me now, or to my lord. Within days, they will mean nothing to you as well. Come to me now, or I will kill them."
"No!!" Usagi threw out one trembling hand, trying desperately to focus her power. But there was nothing. Pluto. He means that he captured Pluto. Is she hurt? Dead? Oh, please, no. If I do as he says, there is a chance she and the others will live. Perhaps, they will be able to defeat me. Probably not save me, but defeat me. Looking into her beloved's eyes, she spoke in a whisper. "Please, don't hurt them. I'll come with you."
* * *

"Usako, no!" Mamoru threw off his paralysis just long enough to deny her assenting.
"Yes!" Draco threw his head back and roared in triumph. Reaching out, he caressed Usagi's face. "The One was Chosen, and the darkness planted, nurtured. Now, She has come of her own free will. Master! Come take what is rightfully yours, and reign once and for all over this world!"
There was a titanic lurch- not quite an earthquake. Perhaps, the best term would instead be a skyquake, for the heavens gave an unholy roar and shattered. Looking up, Mamoru was certain that a similar phenomenon was occurring all over the world. Indeed, the Earth, the planet he was bound to, that he had sworn to protect, gave a scream of pain and terror.
"Well done, my strongest of vassals." A section of wall disappeared, becoming a black hole. From that empty void, a figure emerged and crossed to Draco.
"Lord Daemon." Draco dropped to one knee.
Here was a true vampire. Tall and pale, his eyes were those of a serpent. Scales glistened along the sides of his neck, and he bore talons in place of normal hands. The rest of his body was enveloped in a black velvet robe, although the hood had been thrown back for this occasion. The man crossed the room to peer out the window. "However, we are three days early; the moon still clings to her white purity. But it would be such a pity to deny our . . ." he glanced at the Senshi, "guests . . . the opportunity of seeing their Princess achieve her greatest transformation yet, don't you agree?" The look in his eyes was one of pure glee.
Pointing toward the former Moon Kingdom, Lord Daemon uttered a short phrase.
"What did he say, Mercury?" Neptune struggled to lift her head and turn to her teammate, who could only shake her head in ignorance.
"Mine is an ancient language, old when your Earth was still a babe. The sacred language of my kind. Although you could not possibly understand it, you should become accustomed to hearing it." The wind began to howl, and the sky turned to black.
Usagi began to moan. "No . . . no! Stop, please! You're hurting her!"
The moon began to bleed.
A crimson flood crept over its pure white surface, filling the craters and shadows, turning its radiant light to a macabre glow.
"Stop it!" Usagi held her hands over her ears, twisting in agony. "She's screaming! It hurts, oh, it hurts!"
"You're going to kill her!" Tuxedo Kamen cried. To watch his only love in such pain, and be unable to help her, in any way . . . it was tearing him apart.
"Enough!" Daemon turned back to Usagi. "Come to me, Princess. Come to me, my Queen."
Awareness fled Usagi's eyes, and she ceased her thrashing, standing up and crossing to the vampire. He placed one scaled hand over her forehead, with the first and last of his four talons over her unseeing blue eyes. Daemon began to speak in that strange language again.
"Isn't there anything we can do?" Tuxedo Kamen gasped to Saturn. "He's hurting her!"
Saturn shook her head in desperation. "Even with my power, I can barely move! Maybe if Pluto were here . . ." But she wasn't. And Saturn knew she might never see the third of her guardians again.
"-Arranock zingliena vampiel!" Daemon finished his chant with a roaring flourish. Ribbons of dark energy rolled from his body into Usagi's.
And something horrible began to happen.
Usagi's body began to lengthen. Her fingers stretched, becoming sharper, becoming claws. Her hair lost the last of its golden sheen, and shone the silver of her future self. Wings unfurled from her back, but these weren't the beautiful, pure wings of Eternal Sailor Moon. No, these wings were the color of midnight, black and glossy. With a final glow, her clothes disappeared, and were replaced by a black costume. The Imperial Crystal rose from her brooch, and changed. When it floated into Usagi's outstretched claw, it now held the form of a lethal-looking spear.
Daemon spoke again. "Awaken, my Queen, host of our eternal Master. Awaken and view the world that shall be yours."
Usagi, or who-ever she had become, stepped away from him and turned to face her Senshi. Her eyes were identical to Daemon's: the whites clear, and the irises now green and slit. She opened her mouth.
"I have returned."
* * *

Chibi Moon watched helplessly as her future mother was . . . possessed by a thing of unspeakable horror. Usagi . . . Sailor Moon . . . Mama! No! Come back to me! Although they still bickered, the two young women had become the closest of friends. Chibi knew that, once Mamoru proposed to Usagi, she'd have to return to her future. But now . . . what would happen?
If we can't bring Usagi back, I'll never even be born! And what will happen to everyone else? Puu's gone already. Did they kill her? No, I can't think that way. Pluto's already died once, because of me. She's given up far too much for this team.
"Fight it, Usagi! You can't leave me! Leave us! I love you too much!"
Usagi opened her mouth, but what emerged wasn't her usual melodious voice. Now, there was an added tone, one dark, hoarse, and evil. "Your princess is gone, Senshi. I have returned to claim what is mine." It lifted an arm and flexed its claws. "The sheer power in this body . . . amazing. With it, no one can defeat me."
"Who . . . who are you?" Mercury whispered.
"I have come to your world before. I took the bodies of powerful, dark-hearted men. The last time I came, the man I inhabited was called Vlad the Destroyer. Amusing little nickname. He reveled in pain and death, and welcomed me with open arms."
"Dracula." Chibi glanced over at Uranus, who gazed at their enemy with a look of disgust upon her face. "We destroyed you. I thought you were merely an Earthling with unusually dark power." Neptune gasped.
"Yes, that is what they called me. But he was too weak. You little mice were able to kill him and drive me back to my prison. No longer. This body . . . I believe I shall find her very amusing. She dislikes any sort of pain or destruction. Such a gentle soul. Twisting that purity will be an enjoyable experience."
"You can't!" Tuxedo Kamen fought against the bonds that held them, struggling to his knees.
The creature crossed slowly to him. "Strange. This body yearns for you. She loves you-"
Mamochan. For an instant, Usagi's clear voice rang through their heads. Yes, I do love you. Please, I can't hold this demon off for long. If I can regain my body, maybe I can find Pluto and free her. I know you can win, Senshi . . . I know-
She was cut off, and her eyes flashed, and Chibi realized the monster was back.
It tilted Usagi's head toward Daemon. "This body was insufficiently prepared. She fights against me still."
Daemon bowed his head. "I apologize, Master, but I believed there was little time to be wasted. Still, there will be ample time now for your conquest. Shall we return to our lair?" He gestured toward the swirling vortex on Usagi's bedroom wall. "I am sure you must be exhausted and hungry."
"Very well."
* * *
As soon as the roiling hole closed, the invisible bonds holding the Senshi vanished. "Usako!" Tuxedo Kamen, too drained to maintain his armor, returned to Mamoru and stumbled to a chair. "She's gone. And there wasn't a single damn thing we could do!" He bent his head, and the thick black hair fell over his eyes. His fists clenched tightly. "There wasn't a thing I could do."
Jupiter crossed to him slowly, and placed her hands lightly over his shoulders. "Please, Mamoru. Usagi . . . Sailor Moon is strong, very strong. She's always beaten the odds, no matter how powerful our enemies were. We have to believe in her. Mercury," she glanced over at the ice warrior, "It's Usagi's body. Can you trace her?" Mercury gritted her teeth and whipped out the little computer.
"Chibi." Chibi wiped the tears from her eyes and blinked over at Mamoru. "Do you still have your time key? You haven't lost it?"
"Of . . . of course." Confused by such a question at this time, the youngest Senshi concentrated, and the elaborate silver key, a miniature copy of Pluto's staff, materialized in her open palm.
"Good." A light gleamed in the young man's eyes. It burned the heart of each girl in the room, giving them a sudden hope. "Pluto must have found something awfully important for them to have captured her." He smiled, a feral grin. "We're going to visit the Door of Time."
* * *