Chapter 7
They stepped into a dark, misty tunnel, which sloped neither up nor down, but seemed to stretch forward indefinitely. The light was hazy, objects indistinct, but they were still able to see. At first they tried walking side by side, but soon Sailor Moon was forced to walk behind Tuxedo Kamen. She held onto his hand, afraid that Queen Mab would somehow separate them.
"Do you see light up ahead?" he asked quietly.
"Yes, and it's not too far away," she relied.
He stopped and turned to her. "I love you, Usagi, don't ever forget that. I'd willingly die before I hurt you. And I will fight all the powers that oppose us to keep you safe."
"Oh, Mamo-chan." Her eyes shimmered in the dim light. "I love you, too. Let's get this over with."
He bent down and quickly kissed her mouth. "Your wish, my lady."
They continued and soon entered a large cavern. Instead of rock, however, above them were immense panels of glass, and a magnificent view of a starry sky met their bewildered gaze. Obviously a throne room, the floor gently sloped and forced the eye to follow it up towards an oversized chair.
Black obsidian, it absorbed the light around it. Sitting in its black magnificence was a tall blond woman. Her beautiful face was out of context – the surroundings were too dark to house such delicacy. Her midnight blue dress seemed to glow with the light of the stars shining through the ceiling. Before her sat a huge crystal ball, its smooth surface showing nothing to the newcomers.
"Welcome, Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen." Her sweet voice filled the cavern. "You have come to visit me? I'm charmed!"
Tuxedo Kamen and Sailor Moon both felt the anxiety of this meeting melt away. What had they been so worried about?
"Come, let me offer you some refreshment. Something to drink, perhaps? What would you like?"
Slowly they approached her side table, and slowly reached for the drinks they were offered.
~~~
Luna and Artemis watched Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen walk to the door, pause at the threshold, then both simply fell to the ground. Separated by five feet of empty space, they had never looked so alone or vulnerable. The door noiselessly disappeared, leaving the to unconscious where they lay.
"I don't like this," Artemis said. "Luna?"
"Oh, this isn't good at all!" she wailed.
The guardians, alone now with the sleeping couple, stood guard and tried to decide what to do.
~~~
A stranger looking in would have thought it a pleasant party in progress. Tuxedo Kamen, so proper, had removed his hat and cape. Sailor Moon, regal in her own right, quietly sipped the tea she had been given.
Queen Mab stood. She started to chuckle, and suddenly began to laugh.
"Children! You are too easy, nothing but children!" Her voice, so sweet a moment before, seemed to roughen and become more evil. Her beauty remained, but her voice told all.
"Tuxedo Kamen!" she called.
He blinked and slowly came to himself. Looking around, he saw he was alone. Usagi was gone!
"Sailor Moon! Where is she, Mab? What have you done with her?"
"Oh, stop! I've got her somewhere around here… let's see… ha ha ha! You'll get her back soon enough. Remember, though, be careful what you wish for!"
She stepped closer to him. They stood eye to eye. Tall woman, indeed.
"It's taken me 1000 years to regain enough strength to come back for the two of you. And I finally made it, stronger than ever! You will suffer for my exile, oh yes, you will pay dearly!"
Tuxedo Kamen tied to move, but he found he couldn't.
"Ma~~~~mo~~~~ruuuuuu…" she whispered, the seductive voice of his dream weaving in his brain. "Oh, yes. Mmmm. You're quite handsome, Mamoru. You could stay with me, rule with me. Be my prince, my king."
Her cool white hand touched his face – and he shuddered. She may be seductive, yes, but he was filled with revulsion. He watched in dawning horror as her face approached his.
"Don't touch me!" he snarled. He broke free of her spell and stepped back. "I am not yours to play with, Queen Mab. We came to end this with you. Damn it, you should have stayed away."
~~~
"Sailor Moon!" Queen Mab called.
She blinked and slowly came to herself. Looking around she saw she was alone. Mamoru was gone!
"Tuxedo Kamen! Where is he? What have you done?"
"You two are so cute. Children playing adult games. You both sound so much alike!" She laughed. "You know, I've been in his dreams lately." Her laughter deepened, became something coarse and ugly. She circled Sailor Moon, tauntingly. "Oh, yes my dear. You play quite a dominant role in his dreams."
"Stop this!" Sailor Moon suddenly realized she was no longer afraid. She was, however, mad as hell! "What game are you playing with us? What have we ever done to you? A millennium has passed since Queen Selenity, her daughter and the Prince of the Earth sent you away. I'm not that person, and neither is Tuxedo Kamen! Now get over it, let my friends go and leave us alone!"
"Oh, yes. Your friends. Are you worried about them? Let's see how everyone is doing, shall we? They are all around here somewhere, all except for Mamoru – you needn't be so formal when talking about him – I know who you all are! Anyway, I've saved something quite special for him. Shall we see how he is doing in my crystal?"
Usagi followed Mab to her crystal, where she watched Mamoru standing with Queen Mab. He was obviously disturbed and agitated – she could only imagine his feelings as he faced his nightmare.
"How…?"
"Oh, it's quite easy. We're basically having the same conversation, and Night Mare is with him to keep things edgy. It's all so marvelous! Your Mamoru made the same speech as you! But the outcome will be different."
Four pillars around the room suddenly lit up – Makoto, Minako, Rei and Ami slumped silently inside.
"You asked about your friends?"
"No!" Usagi cried, running towards the closest. "Oh, Makoto! Wake up!"
"She can't hear you, dear," Mab snickered. "They are in isolation – but see what they see!"
The crystal dimmed, and the image of Mamoru was replaced with an image of the four senshi, fighting hard with Night Mare.
"Why?" Usagi asked, swallowing hard against the pain and guilt she felt.
"Why? Because you opposed me then, and you will oppose me now. I must destroy you so I can once again claim my rightful place as the Queen of Dreams!"
Usagi leaned against a dark pillar and began to sob, unable to take her eyes off the images playing in the crystal. The girls fought hard, but Night Mare kept blasting. One after another the girls fell. The crystal grew dark, and the scene changed. Once again the senshi stood, looking battle weary but ready, and Night Mare engaged them again.
"Over and over and over and over…" Mab whispered nest to Usagi. "They've been at it since they got here." She moved in front of her. "So, Sailor Moon, what's your nightmare?"
Usagi's eyes shot to Mab's leering face, and she suddenly stopped crying. "No," she whimpered, shaking her head from side to side. She turned and hid her face against the dark pillar.
"Oh, no, not for you, my dear. Your nightmare has become his."
The pillar she leaned against instantly gleamed with light. Slowly opening her eyes, Usagi found herself face to face with…
"Mamoru!"
~~~
Mamoru stood with Queen Mab, surrounded by lit pillars, each containing a senshi.
"Usagi?" he asked. "Where is she?"
"Oh, yes. You want to see her? Let's see, Tuxedo Kamen. Bottom line, what is it you want from me? Oh, yes, you want me to go away, to leave you and the princess, or Sailor Moon, to live your lives." She paused and seemed to consider. "I offer you this: fight my chosen warrior. Fight and win, and I will give you what you want. I will let you all go, I will return to oblivion, and all's well that ends well."
"And if I lose?"
"If you lose, I keep you all just as I have your friends, imprisoned and tortured. Eventually, you realize, they will die. They say when you die in your dream, you really die. Well, these girls can tell you, I think, that that's not true. They've been living their deaths over and over. But eventually they will wear out; even their strong spirits will not be enough to sustain life. Think of this. Because you and Sailor Moon have such strong and pure energy, you two could last like this for years."
"Why have you chosen me to fight? I'm not the warrior of this group. Jupiter would provide you with more entertainment."
"Don't sell yourself short, Mamoru. You have everything I need to entertain me! You have so much to learn about your own special powers. Besides, I thought I heard just a little while ago, someone say: 'I will fight all the powers that oppose us…' Wasn't that you? Well, ta da! I am a power that opposes you! You have such an ingrained sense of honor and duty to the princess and her friends." Mab spit the words as if they tasted foul in her mouth. She smiled suddenly and looked closely in Mamoru's eyes. He snarled and she laughed. "You are stronger than you think. And you will do anything, I think, for the woman you love.
"Why you and not Jupiter? She would fight well, but I wouldn't enjoy watching her quite as much as I will enjoy watching you. Those are my reasons for choosing you."
She smirked at him. "So? Do you need more time to think about the offer? O won't make another."
"I'll fight," Mamoru said. "But can I see Usagi first? Just in the crystal? I need to know she's safe."
"And you trust me to be honest with you?" she laughed. "You are so innocent. But this time I will be honest. You will see her before the fight begins."
"Bring it on, then. I'd like to get home before it gets too late."
"Very well." Mab clapped her hands twice. Instantly Night Mare appeared. He bowed low to Queen Mab.
"Yes, your majesty?"
"Bring in the warrior."
"Yes, your majesty," he said as he bowed again and melted into the shadows.
"Tuxedo Kamen, look in the crystal."
He looked and saw Usagi. She was arguing with Mab, her beloved face tearstained and brave. She appeared angry and defiant. He felt strength for the battle ahead flow into his body. Blowing her a kiss he turned away.
Closing his eyes he swallowed. She had saved him so many times. She had saved them all. It was his turn. He could do this. He held his walking stick tightly and waited, refusing to look in the crystal again. "Be strong, my love," he thought.
A door opened and light streamed into the room, striking his face. He opened his eyes and squinted in the glare. A back-lit figure stood motionless in the doorway. Mamoru moaned and closed his eyes again, an electric thrill of panic zinging down his spine.
"Sailor Moon?"