Author's Notes at bottom - Enjoy!
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Forever More
Chapter Five
By: Bethany
Editor: Meara
Rated: PG
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I awoke the next morning only because Mamo-chan was nudging me awake. There was an unpleasant tingling in my right foot, as well as some pain in my back from where I had leaned up against the bar on the side of the hospital bed that just wasn't made for two. I felt Mamo-chan's lips on my eyelids as his hand gently caressed my back. "Wake up beautiful," he whispered softly, chuckling. "Come on Usako, you gotta wake up."
"Why?" I mumbled, leaning my face up towards his for a kiss.
He obliged instantly, pressing his soft lips to mine. He drew back slowly and I could nearly feel his smile. I smiled like a love struck teenager, my eyes still closed blissfully. "Better?" he asked.
"MmmHmmm," I drawled, still not ready to open my eyes and face the day. I knew the second I got up that reality would take a front seat, and quite frankly I would have liked to stay in his arms forever. "More?"
"As many as you want," he chuckled and again I felt his lips press down on mine.
"Um, excuse me," a voice said and Mamo-chan and I moved apart so quickly that I hit my head on the metal bar. Both of us red faced with blush, we looked towards the door and seen a tall man with a lab coat on, a clip board in his hand. Behind him was the nurse from the night before in the hall, her face in a wide grin as I hastily got up. I sat down in the seat beside Mamo-chan's bed, lacing my fingers through his tightly.
The doctor, momentarily speechless, managed to smile and gather his wits back about him. "I have the results from the tests we ran last night. There is nothing abnormal on any of the tests we ran," he concluded, but he didn't smile, nor did he look like he was finished. I found instead of being happy, my heart began thudding faster. Mamo-chan's fingers squeezed mine tighter, his eyes still staring at the doctor. "We also did several x-rays, and I'm afraid that something most peculiar has shown up in your chest x-ray."
The doctor nodded and the nurse to his right flipped the lights off as the doctor placed x-ray films on a small mount on the wall that lit up. I bit my lips so hard that the bitter sweet taste of blood was seeping into my mouth. I didn't have to listen to the doctor to know what he meant by 'peculiar' -- for certainly what showed up on that film was far from normal. And it was without a doubt frightening.
"If you'll notice in this area right here, in the left and right lung, there is a darkened area. It looks like a... a mass," he explained, searching for words. But I didn't hear anything else he said. I only heard Chibi-Usa's un-naturally serious and dark voice last night, over and over again in my mind.
A bad rose.... A beautiful garden, but one bad rose. It infected Ellison, it infected Pegasus... it infected Papa...
There on the screen x-ray was a black rose, it's shape undeniable, inside my soul-mate's chest. The doctor continued to speak, trying, I assumed, to give a scientific explanation of the shape, of the matter... but he wouldn't be able to. I already knew. Evil. Evil that came with being the protectors of Earth, and once more it was attacking my very being.
A bad rose.... it infected Papa... A bad rose.... Ellison... Pegasus... She knew-- but how? What was going on with my daughter? With my husband?
With Earth?
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Somehow I had managed to do it. Through everything that the doctor had said, through the look of concern on my husband's face, I hadn't shed a tear. I blocked out that part of my soul, for just a few hours. Long enough to get Mamo-chan home, to get the girls down for a nap. Somehow I had managed.
But I couldn't stand it any longer. I wasn't the strong one, Mamo-chan was. I didn't want to be strong; I wanted to wallow in my grief, scream to the heaven's about injustice that once more... once more my family would suffer because of my past, my destiny. I didn't want to be Sailor Moon, I didn't want to be a Princess. All I wanted was to be a wife, a mother -- nothing more.
Claiming I needed a long hot shower to relax my stiff muscles, I had went into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me, and turned the water on as hot as I could stand it. Hoping to clear my head, I got in. The steaming water beat down on my body, turning it red with heat, but I didn't care. I clutched my arms around my midsection, fighting the urge to cry. But I couldn't help it, couldn't stop the tears that filled my eyes and crept out. My head against the tile, I slowly down the wet wall and to sit on the bottom, releasing a river of pent up tears that mingled with the steamed water, blending until they were inseparable.
But it wasn't enough to hide from my soul-mate, to cry alone. He knew, always knew -- and would always know my every feeling. It was a curse and a blessing to have him so close to my heart. At this moment I wanted to be alone, and yet I heard the bathroom door open and felt the cold air pour into the room and knew he had felt my grief.
Large familiar hands reached in and shut the water off before pulling the curtain back. Even though I'm sure he knew what he would find, the shock of seeing me pitifully crying on the floor of our shower registered on his face. I tried to hide, too look the other direction, but it was no use. He bent down, pushing a sopping wet piece of hair away from my face. "Usako..." he breathed, the word alone filled with so much love that my heart ached more.
I felt a sob clutch my throat, but I determinedly kept it down. I wiped my hands across my face, blinking back the tears. "I'm okay," I whispered, feeling foolish for sitting in the bathtub, crying like a child Keri's age would. I reached up, pulling the towel off the rack on the wall and covering myself with it. Mamo-chan watched me, his heart seemingly in his eyes. I got out, wrapping the towel around my body, staring at myself in the mirror. As much as I tried, I couldn't help darting my gaze to his.
Soundlessly he stepped closer, wrapping his arms around my waist. I watched our reflection as he pressed his lips to my bare shoulder, his arms tightening. "I love you so much, Usako..." he whispered, his lips now near my ear. "You don't know how much it hurts me to see you upset..." his deep voice mumbled as his experienced hands pulled at my towel.
I didn't have the strength nor the will to object. There was a certain fire deep in my soul that came alive at his touch, a fire that hadn't been sparked much since we had a certain two year old causing havoc in our lives. "What about the kids...?"
"The girls can handle them if they wake," he replied before lifting me up in his arms. For a split second I wondered if that was true, but decided I'd rather worry about it later.
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The peaceful thumping of my own heart beating in time to Mamo-chan's and the rain beating steadily on the window outside was the only sounds in the room. Mamo-chan had fallen asleep, his arms tightly around me, but I couldn't sleep. I knew that Keri and Chibi-Usa both would sleep for another hour, and I was exhausted from sleeping so uncomfortably for those few hours I had slept last night. But I couldn't stop thinking about the enemy long enough to allow myself the escape that sleep would bring. Frustrated, I got up and pulled on shorts and a t-shirt.
Mamo-chan slept on as I quietly exited our room and shut the door behind me. Chibi-Usa and Keri were both still asleep, so I went into the living room, expecting to see everyone sitting around talking. Instead I was greeted with Minako laying across the couch, the remote in her hands as she flipped through the channels. She barely flicked her eyes up when I sat down in the chair across from her. "Where's minna?" I asked, glancing over at the pile of blankets folded next to the couch.
"Mako-chan had to go to work, Rei back to the temple, Hotaru is at school, Ami at work and everyone else went to get something to eat," the Senshi of Love answered, making a face at the television and flipping the channel again. "One hundred stations and not a thing on..."
"How come you didn't go with them?" I asked.
Minako rolled her eyes, sitting up and casting a longing look outside at the rain. "You know how mysterious Haruka and Michiru get when there's an enemy, I just didn't want to be in the middle of that. It amazes me how we all get along until something evil approaches, and then Haruka starts acting like she used to. Like they're better than us, or something."
I could see right away Minako wasn't in the mood to be thinking about how the Outer Senshi choose to deal with enemies. Sighing, I got up, intent on changing the subject or getting out of the line of fire, which ever was needed first. "I'm going to fix something to eat, you want something?"
When Minako didn't answer, I looked back towards her, only to find her staring at the television with this expression of shock on her face. Confused, I went over to stand beside the couch where I could see. On the television was an advertisement for a circus. "Dark Moon Circus," I read off the screen, watching the strange and downright weird creatures on the screen. "Hadn't heard of..."
"There, look!" Minako squealed, pointing at the television as the announcer spoke up again.
"Featuring the never before seen Pegasus!" said a deep, booming voice. "Two shows only, today at two and another show at seven. Don't miss it!" the announcer commanded and the commissarial clicked off.
"What?!" I gasped. Minako looked as shocked as I did, but was also messing with the remote. She clicked the play button and the commercial played again where she had recorded it. Again the announcer came on the screen and again it showed a picture of a white horse with wings and a golden horn. Minako paused it, shaking her head. "Can that be...?" I nearly whispered, sitting down on the couch.
"It sure looks like it," Minako responded, the remote still held out in front of her. "The guardian of Ellison, by day running around in Chibi-Usa's chest and by night doing circus acts?" Minako asked incredibly.
"I doubt it. It seems funny that this weird circus comes to town about the same time that Helios does, and now this...." I said, suspicious. "Like it might be more than just a circus..."
"You think it could be the enemy trying to lure Helios to them?"
"Could be." I sat back, still staring at the screen. "I think we should check this out," I told Minako, looking over at her for a confirmation.
"Hai. You want me to call everyone?" she asked.
I shook my head, standing up. "No, we don't know anything for sure yet. We'll go check it out, and if it's worth calling the Senshi, then we'll call them. I know it's hard for Mako-chan and Ami to find excuses to leave work so often. And Rei was saying she was behind on things at the temple." I nodded, convincing myself as well as Minako that I was right. "We'll be okay." Before she could reply, I quickly ran upstairs to change clothes. Mamo-chan was still sleeping when I closed the door again.
"What about Mamoru-san?" Minako asked, throwing the keys to me as we started out the door.
I looked forward, not wanting Minako to see how guilty I felt for what I was about to do. I had left only a note on my pillow saying I would be back later and I knew he would be angry I didn't call the other Senshi if he knew where I was going. "Staying with the kids," I mumbled, dismissing the subject.
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I hadn't noticed it before, what with all that had happened in the last week, but in the center of the city was a large... well, balloon was the only way to put it. Or at least, that is what it looked like until we approached it. Upon closer inspection, it resembled a massive ship with a large black hot air balloon on top. There were cars everywhere of people who had came to the two o'clock show; I couldn't even find a place to park for ten minutes.
Finally we parked and went up to this circus. I could tell immediately that something just didn't feel right, and from the way Minako walked, her eyes searching all around her constantly, I could tell she felt it, too. Something was here. Something evil.
Instead of going in, we walked around the back of the ship, searching for anything out of the ordinary. We circled around, but found nothing. I started up the front to the doors when suddenly Minako grabbed me, yanking me behind some crates just off to the left. "Shhh," she whispered, pointing. I looked out from behind our hiding spot, watching as four young girls walked out of the ship.
They looked to all be the same age, young; perhaps thirteen. Their appearances were far from ordinary children, however. And I mean that literally. The girl in the front was wearing what looked like a bikini top that was tied up around her neck and white pants with green trim and sandals. And her hair! It was pulled back, one large piece up above her head and two others hanging from the sides. She stopped not too far from the three girls behind her, crossing her arms. "Well, that was a waste of our time," she stated harshly.
"Yeah, but you can't tell that stupid Zirconia it wouldn't work. She don't listen to us," the second girl answered. She was also wearing next to no clothing, this time red. And while her hair wasn't as... different, for lack of a better word, than the first girl's, she had spikes on her shoulders that more than made up for it.
There were two more girls that brought up the back, one in pink and the other in blue. These two also had strange hairstyles, but at least more clothes on than the first too-- though not by far. I took a quick glance over at Minako to see her face wearing the same dumbfounded expression I did.
The girl in blue was holding something in her hands, and I couldn't really tell from where I was, but it looked like a doll. She was making it dance through the air roughly, it's legs dangling. Suddenly she threw it down, stomping her foot on it. "Para Para hates this. She wants to play."
"Oh grow up, will you?!" the girl in red demanded. It took me a moment to realize that the girl in blue was talking about herself in third person.
Para Para's eyes filled with tears as she stared at the person in front of her. The girl in question threw her hands up and stalked past them all. "I'm so sick of listening to that old hag in there."
"I think we should ask Nephelienia-sama about it," said the girl in pink thoughtfully. "She would let us find the Golden Mirror of Dreams, I know she would."
"Un! Un!" Para Para nodded her head, her hands clasped in front of her. She turned on her heel, running back into the ship, giggling. "Ne, minna! Para Para wants to find Nephelienia-sama!"
As the four girls once more took off inside the ship, Minako and I stood up, looking at each other thoughtfully. "What do you think?" the Senshi of Love finally asked, her eyes watching the entrance to the ship closely.
I looked around to be sure we were alone and once more started up the ramp into the ship. "I think we go have a closer look around." Minako looked as if she was about to say something, but thought better of it and ran to catch up with me. Keeping to the shadows, we crept inside the ship and started down the hall.
It seemed we were getting nowhere, or at least not anytime soon. There was no rooms, no doors: nothing but the long expansion of hall before us. Just about the time I was ready to give up and turn back, the hall around us vanished. One second it was there; the next we were standing in the middle of a large room that remotely looked like a circus tent. I felt Minako grab my arm like she was about to pull me back when suddenly the landing we were standing on shot up in the air. Minako and I both screamed as it rose a good fifty feet up and then stopped so abruptly that I nearly lost my footing.
"What's going on?!" Minako gasped, looking about.
Suddenly the entire place was flooded with light, showing about twenty or more pillars around us. Each of them held a different creature, some so weird and outrageous looking there was no doubt in my mind it was evil. Minako pressed herself to my side, her eyes wide. There was a giggle, but it seemed to be coming from all around us. I glanced towards the ceiling just as a swing lowered itself down. Sitting on it was the young girl we had seen outside earlier, the one in the pink. She smiled as she rocked back and forth on it.
"Do you know why the little children scream in their sleep?" she asked, her legs still swinging back and forth.
Another voice giggled, this time a large column rising up beside us. The young girl in red was sitting on the back of what looked like a cross between a tiger and an elephant; that's how big it was. She was sitting on it's shoulder blades, her hands gripping the spiked collar around it's neck. "And the mothers see dream things in the middle of the day?"
My heart pounding, I whipped my head around just as the girl in green was coming towards us from the hall we had came from. She jumped up in the air, doing a summersault before landing on the swing with the first girl. "Dreams are reality, reality are dreams. Those who grow up loose their way, and those who haven't will die anyway..."
I swallowed, painfully aware of how tight Minako was holding onto my arm. I tried to take a deep breath, but couldn't. The feeling I had when we first arrived --of evil-- was intensified ten times over in here. I could feel it creeping on me, just like yesterday during the eclipse. I tried to shake it off, but it was strong. Minako and I both gasped as a large blue ball suddenly rose up in front of us, Para Para sitting on top of it. "Never, never be suspicious of the dreams within the dreams of dreaming kids...." she chanted in a stiff voice so unlike that one she used not to shortly before.
"Enough!" roared a voice. I had this sickening feeling are situation had just went from bad to worse. My suspicions were proven correct as the lights all moved to shine on this one.... youma? Yeah, I'd say that summoned it up nicely. And without a doubt the ugliest one I had ever seen. Her face was deformed, gray skin hanging off her face and a white bizarre looking hat and cloak covered the rest of her body. It wasn't just an ugly sight, this creature was without a doubt the most un-humanly disgusting thing I had ever laid my eyes on. At it's side it held a tall staff with what looked like an eyeball on top--with wings, no less.
It's voice came to us in a raspy deep, but booming voice that made the hairs on my arms stand on end. "Intruders, I see," she said, pointing to us. "Your curiosity will bring you terrible consequences."
Minako, still holding tightly onto my arm, glanced around nervously. "Eh, gomen. We were... lost? Trying to find the circus..." Suddenly her voice faltered and with a shaking hand, she discreetly motioned for me to look down. As Minako continued to try and explain that we were nothing more than innocent bystanders, I looked down to the floor below where we stood and seen bodies. They were everywhere, slumped over each other, unconscious -- or, I feared, dead. "So we'll just be going now!" Minako squeaked, smiling in a saccadic way.
She turned on her heel, pulling me along with her, but the column we stood on didn't move. The four girls were now standing behind us, each staring at us with murderous intent. I gulped, taking a step back just as Minako did. "Who are you?" I asked, trying to keep them at bay while I searched longingly for a way out of this mess.
"Magician of bouncing balls, Para Para!" squeaked the girl in blue.
The girl next to her, in green, shrugged her shoulders indifferently. "Magician of acrobatic feats, JunJun," she said, moving her hands so that a green ball formed, stilling in the air between her hands.
"Magician of flowers, CereCere," announced the third girl, her hands on her hips like she expected a round of applause.
The final girl was staring at the other three incredibly. Shaking her head, she, too, produced a ball between her hands; a red one. "Magician of Beasts, VesVes."
I just stared dumbly. I know I had asked who they are, but who would have thought they would have not only told us, but went into description about it? My hand began tingling as Minako continued to squeeze unmercifully. There was a stretch of silence that passed over us that was suddenly broken by JunJun pulling a pool queue out of thin air and aiming it at her ball. "A nice shot," she said, her eyes twinkling evilly. Before I had time to register what was happening, the ball was shot into the air behind us, hitting against a column and then coming straight for us.
"What out!" Minako yelled, ducking down and pulling me with her. The ball shot through the air where I had stood, flying back over into JunJun's hand.
"Damn," she spat, her eyes seeming to glow with the evil radiated in them. "Stand still, why don't you? I just want to know if you have a golden mirror of dreams."
"A golden mirror of--oof!" Minako once more pulled us both to the side as another ball, this one red, shot through the air at us. The girls in front of us cackled, save for VesVes who was red faced with anger that her ball had missed.
And as if things weren't bad enough, all four girls now had pool cues and were aiming their balls. I swallowed, stepping back. But there was nothing but a fifty foot drop behind us, and four evil little girls in front. No escape. My heart began beating madly as panic let loose through my body. Why hadn't I called the Senshi?
"A nice shot," they chorused and four balls went flying through the air, bouncing off the ceiling, columns and walls, only to come flying towards us. Minako finally let go of my arm so that I jumped one way and she the other. But unlike before, the balls only hit off another surface and came back again, the girls cheering them on. There was no where to run, nowhere to escape to.
I dodged another ball and slid across the floor, nearly falling off the side. Just as I gathered my footing about me again, a yellow and blue ball came at me from both directions. I ducked, feeling the air on the top of my head as they zoomed by. "Usagi-chan, watch out!" Minako screamed.
I looked up just in time to dodge another ball, but I wasn't fast enough to warn Minako as the red ball hit her square in the back and came out through her chest. Her eyes were wide and solid blue before she fell straight to the ground. "Minako!" I screamed, dodging another ball as I ran across the ten feet between us. There was a large pink framed mirror floating above her body.
"Damn, that's not it either," I heard JunJun mutter angrily.
"What have you done to her?" I screamed, bending down at her body. Her breathing was shallow and her eyes rolled back in her head. "Minako-chan!" I screamed, but received no response. I looked back up at the mirror again, horrified to see a ball rushing towards it. I jerked it down and out of the way, pushing it at Minako. Suddenly it re-entered her body and the Senshi of Venus' eyes fluttered open.
"Usagi-chan, look--!" I glanced up, rushing at me was one of the billiard balls. Instinctually I knew I didn't have time to move out of the way. I closed my eyes, praying that Minako would know to put the mirror back in me.
The impact never came, however. Instead I felt someone pick me up and move out of the way just as the ball whizzed by my head. I peeked one eye open, eternally grateful to see my husband's face, eyes covered in a familiar domino mask, looking straight ahead. He jumped down from the column, landing us on the floor a little more roughly than normal. It didn't take long to find out why. He put me down, one hand clutching his chest as he fell to one knee. "Mamo-chan?!" I gasped, getting on my knees in front of him.
He shook his head, looking past me. Just behind us Haruka landed, carrying Minako. She put the blonde down, glancing over to see if we had made it safely. I couldn't take my eyes of Mamo-chan, though. There was an intense look of pain on his face that he was trying unsuccessfully to hide. "Mamo-chan..!" I gasped as he took in a ragged breath.
"Usa...Usako...," he breathed and fell to both knees, struggling to keep his breathing normal. I couldn't think of anything but getting out of here, getting him out of here. This was my fault.
My fault.
"Usagi, we gotta move!" Sailor Uranus said urgently, putting one of Mamo-chan's arms over her shoulder and helping him to stand up. "Go, now!" she barked. I bit my lip, wanting to stay and help.
Sailor Jupiter came up on my other side, helping Uranus with Mamo-chan just as Sailor Mars grabbed my arm, yanking me forward as another ball whizzed by our head. "Usagi, come on!" Mars hissed. "We're all in big trouble if we don't get out of here!" I didn't have time to think about why we were running away, why we didn't fight. I could only think about Mamo-chan's face and the stinging sensation in my feet as my thin tennis shoes slapped on the hard floor as we ran.
Ahead of us I seen the large opening that lead outside and with a gasp of panic realized we were rising into the air. Neptune came skidding to a halt, throwing her hands forward to regain her balance and not fall through the door. "Shimatta-- we're too late!" she turned to us, her eyes darting beyond for any sign of the four girls.
"Quick!" Pluto commanded. "Sailor Teleport, now!"
I don't know how we managed it without me being transformed, but somehow in a few seconds time we were back at my house. I vaguely seen Hotaru running into the kitchen worriedly, biting her nail as Haruka and Mako-chan practically carried Mamo-chan into our bedroom and laid him on the bed. With tears splashing down my face and neck, and Rei holding one arm in front of me, I watched as Setsuna and Ami checked my husband over. And all I could think was that this was all my fault for having left in the first place; for not calling the Senshi.
Rei lead me into the living room where I sat down on the couch and curled my legs up underneath me, staring blankly ahead. I made no attempt to wipe at the tears on my face. Rei, obviously not knowing what to say, sat beside me just as quietly.
About ten minutes later Haruka returned to the living room, running a hand through her short blonde hair. I looked up at her expectantly, but she only scowled. "Why didn't you call us before you went over there?" she demanded, her eyes boring into mine.
"Now's hardly the time for--" Rei began, but Haruka cut her off shortly with a stern wave of her hand.
"That was without a doubt one of the stupidest things you've done! And I know you to have done some stupid ones!" I recoiled back from her harsh words; each were knives directed at my soul and they hit with point black accuracy. Her next words only confirmed what I had been thinking all along. "It's your fault the Prince is laying in there gasping for his next breath! Your irresponsible actions! You never think, do you?"
I pushed myself back, trying to sink into the couch cushions and disappear. She was right - I was stupid. A lousy Princess and even worse, now I had gotten Mamo-chan hurt. I felt my bottom lip quiver with a sob when unrepentantly Rei stood up, one hand on her hip as she pointed her finger at Haruka. "Shut UP!" she screamed, her eyes alit with fire. "Just shut the hell up!"
Haruka blanched, her mouth hanging open, but no words coming out. She took a moment to recover herself and noticed Makoto standing beside her, looking fit to kill. Makoto suddenly crossed her arms, stepping forward so that Haruka was forced to look at her. "I think you'd better leave, Haruka," she said lowly. "Rei-chan is right, now is not the time to discuss this."
Again I thought Haruka would say something when a hand reached out from behind her, touching her arm gently. Michiru stepped forward, shaking her head. I watched in silent amazement as Haruka, giving one last glare our direction, turned and slammed out the front door. Michiru turned to us, a look of mixed emotions on her face before she followed her life-mate.
I hiccupped, the tears still freely running down my face. All I could think was Haruka was right; and while it was only natural for the Senshi to take up for me, it *was* my fault. My fault Mamo-chan was there, getting me out of harm's way--only to place himself in it. My fault he is hurting now more than he was already. I buried my face in my hands, trying to control the sobs that tore loose from my chest, but I couldn't. I could hear the Senshi talking around me in quiet tones, and at that moment I never felt I had disappointed them more.
There was voices in the hall growing louder, Hotaru and another voice: Chibi-Usa. I could see Hotaru trying to hold her back, but she was fighting her fiercely. "I want my Mama and Papa!" she screamed, pushing her hands in Hotaru's face. "I want my Mama! Let go of me Hotaru-chan, let go of me!" Suddenly Chibi-Usa stepped on Hotaru's foot, whether intentional or not, I couldn't tell, and came running into the living room, looking around wildly. "Mama!"
"Chibi-Usa, you shouldn't have--" I started to tell her, wiping my eyes quickly.
But she wasn't listening to me, shaking her head she began pulling on my hand. "Come on, Mama! He wants to see Papa--Helios, he wants to see him! Come on!"
"What?" But instead of talking, Chibi-Usa yanked on my arm as hard as she could and it was either get up or be drug into the floor. I stood up, half running up the steps as Chibi-Usa tugged on my hand. We entered my bedroom where Mamo-chan was laying flat on his back on the bed. His face turned to me as I came in and he smiled. I felt my heart break. "Chibi-Usa, what is all this?" I asked my daughter, not even looking down, least I would have known she wasn't in the room.
But she was back a second later, her eyes wide with excitement. I heard Ami, Makoto, Rei, Minako and Setsuna talking behind me, but I couldn't speak. Just as Chibi-Usa entered the room, the lights went out and we were draped in shadows. The sun was nearly all the way beyond the horizon now, and left a lot to be desired light wise. Then a spark flashed on the other side of the bed, growing larger and larger until suddenly it took the outline shape of a horse.
Chibi-Usa, looking more excited than I had seen her in days, reached up and grasped my hand tightly, her face in a broad grin. In silent fascination, I watched as the horse materialized in my room. It's brilliant white coat gleamed in the partial sun rays shining in the room, a long golden horn protruded proudly from it's forehead. It pawed the floor for a moment, whining lowly. Then, as if there was a string pulling it from above, it shot up on it's hind feet, spreading it's magnificent wings out on both sides.
Before my already stunned eyes, the figure began to shrink until it took the shape of a boy. A boy with a golden horn protruding out of his head. My mouth fell open.
He had long shimmering white hair, the color of the horse's mane, and a white pants and shirt, lightly accented with pale blue and gold. He looked serene; the perfect picture of calmness and gentleness. My heart that had been pounding so painfully before now slowed as a wave of calmness over took my senses. The Priest Helios stepped forward, bending to one knee as he placed one hand over his heart. "My Prince," he said.
Mamo-chan had watched all of this as I had, but he didn't look nearly as surprised by it. In fact, he smiled at Helios like he was a long lost friend. "Helios, please don't bow," Mamo-chan said to him, grinning slightly. As he said this, though, I could see the strain on his face and his hand unconsciously reached for his chest.
From the way Helios' eyes narrowed, I could tell he seen it, too. "My Prince, I'm afraid this is my fault. I could not properly protect Ellison, and because of this, I couldn't protect you. I have failed to do my job, I have failed to protect those innocents of this world."
Chibi-Usa still squeezing herself to my side, I came forward and sat on the bed beside my husband. Helios seemed to know me, for he smiled gently, his eyes full of pleasure. "Princess Serenity," he said, confirming my suspicions. I couldn't remember ever meeting him, but unfortunately, I wouldn't have time to ponder this. At that precise moment the horn on Helios' head flashed blindingly. I reached up to cover my eyes and felt a falling sensation, all around I could see nothing but white light.
Then, just as suddenly as it started, it stopped. I blinked, sitting up. Laying next to me was Chibi-Usa and to my other side, Mamo-chan. "Where are we?" I asked, getting to my feet. Surprisingly, when I turned to help Mamo-chan up, he was already standing. The color in his face was back to normal, and his breathing regular. I felt my heart skip a beat as I watched him look around with that familiar curiosity that meant he was pondering something. And best of all, he didn't seem to be in any pain whatsoever.
"Mama," Chibi-Usa whispered, looking around in awe. "I think we are in Helios' home!"
We had found ourselves on a white marble sidewalk that lead up to a large temple. There was trees and bushes everywhere, golden and silver leaves dangling lazily from their branches. Lush fountains shot up in the air, the water making calming humming noises as they flowed along. About fifty feet in front of us was a river, not very wide, flowing alongside rows and rows of rose bushes.
Mamo-chan, apparently feeling more stronger than he had in days, scooped Chibi-Usa up and grabbed my hand with his free one. "Come on, let's go see what's around here."
With nothing else to do about our situation, I allowed him to entwine his fingers with mine and the three of us walked towards the river. It was breathtakingly beautiful everywhere I looked. The roses were all either buds, in the stage of blooming or beautifully full grown, but never dying. I drank in the scene, yearning to touch one perfect petal, but not daring. Everything looked too perfect to touch, to serene. Chibi-Usa squirmed out of Mamo-chan's arms, running up ahead of us to look at all the flowers.
"Where are we?" I whispered to my husband as soon as our daughter was out of ear shot. "It doesn't look like any place for an enemy. Is Chibi-Usa right? Could we be in Helios' land?"
"I know this place," Mamo-chan said, squeezing my hand tighter in his as he looked around. "But I can't remember where... it's so familiar."
"IIE*!"
I whipped my head around towards where I had seen Chibi-Usa last. Mamo-chan took off in a run, leaving me to follow close behind. Not too far from us Chibi-Usa was standing, staring at a rose bush, tears falling down her eyes. She looked horrified. "Chibi-Usa? What's wrong?" I gasped, falling to my knees beside her and turning her towards me. She wouldn't stop looking at something and slowly I drew my gaze away from her crying form and to where she pointed.
There, in the middle of a large bush of perfect roses, was an angry looking black rose. It's thorns were razor sharp and the contrast to the pure white of the other flowers was devastating. I gasped, looking up at Mamo-chan in question as Chibi-Usa continued to cry. "What does it mean?" I wondered a loud, drawing Chibi-Usa to my chest.
Mamo-chan again scanned the area, his eyes now narrowed. I could tell he was trying to remember where he knew this place from, but still couldn't place it. I picked Chibi-Usa up, rising to stand next to him and look out across the land. "Mamo-chan?"
My soul mate blinked, giving me a small smile and placing his palm on Chibi-Usa's back in a calming measure. "Come on, let's go back to the temple and see what we can find there."
I nodded, following him back through the garden and up the marble walkway to the temple. It rose up, gleaming white columns shining in the sun. Carefully we walked up the dozen steps that lead to the wide hall beyond. Chibi-Usa stopped crying and squirmed down, still grasping her father's hand tightly. I looked at her questionably, but she only leaned herself against his arm and looked around with wide blue eyes exactly like Mamo-chan's.
"What's that?" I mumbled, squinting at what looked like a cage in the distance. If possible, I seen Chibi-Usa draw herself closer to Mamo-chan. I was about to question what it was she seemed so scared of when something flashed near the cage.
We approached it carefully, and indeed it was a cage. A large cage... with a winged horse laying pitifully inside. I gasped, covering my mouth with my hands as Mamo-chan and Chibi-Usa stopped next to me, staring in disbelief. "We... we have to get him out!" Chibi-Usa suddenly screamed, reaching towards the cage.
"No, Chibi-Usa!" I nearly screamed, grabbing Chibi-Usa and pulling her closer to me to keep her from reaching out. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I did not want her touching that cage.
Unfortunately, I didn't think about stopping my husband from doing exactly what Chibi-Usa wanted. Before I could stop him, he reached forward with both hands and grabbed onto the bars, trying to pry them open. A brilliant light blasted out from the cage almost immediately; we were thrown backwards against the marble ground roughly. Everything in the temple started to shake, like the ground beneath us was trying to split apart to swallow us.
Mamo-chan grabbed a shocked Chibi-Usa out of my arms, took my hand and nearly dragged me out of the temple and down the steps. I gasped at the scene that now played before me. The beautiful land was crumbling, the tree leaves died and fell to the ground in a matter of seconds, roses died, the river dried up and everywhere I looked seemed to be covered in spider webs that was blocking out the sun. Everything was becoming darker... and darker... Mamo-chan put his arm protectively around me, still holding Chibi-Usa as we watched the gorgeous world around us destroyed.
Just as suddenly as it started, everything stopped. It was deathly quiet without the sound of the fountains, the breeze or the river winding past. Our breathes seemed echoed, our footsteps like gunshots ringing through the dark. I felt fear clutch at my heart and... evil. It was here. It destroyed this land.
"Prince Endymion."
I whipped around, seeing the young boy whom had appeared from the Pegasus only a short time ago in my home. He was bent to one knee, his right hand over his chest as he bowed to us. After a short pause, he looked back up slowly and a smile rose to his lips as the hollow winds played in his white hair. "Welcome back, Prince."
"Helios," Mamo-chan whispered, putting Chibi-Usa down even though she stubbornly clutched his hand. "My God, are we in Ellison?"
Helios' eyes flashed around the devastated land and he seemed to sigh inwardly; sadly. His serene blue eyes looked as lost and shadowed as the land around us. Slowly his gaze traveled back to Mamo-chan's and he nodded slowly. "I'm afraid so. What you seen when you first arrived is what this land had looked like since the beginning of time, but now... now it is destroyed. I failed to protect it."
"Protect it from what?" I whispered, shivering as another cold wind sliced through the air. It chilled me to the very soul. Mamo-chan put his arm around me, but still I couldn't shake the cold from my body.
"From the evil that came here and cast the darkness. Two weeks before the eclipse a lady appeared here one day, the Dark Queen from long ago. She wanted this land, she wanted the golden crystal; but I refused her. She tried to capture me, but I took on the Pegasus form and fled into a pure dream before she could. In my Pegasus form she can't detect me, but it's draining for me to stay that way long. I was fearful that she would find me hidden in your daughter's dream, so I tried to leave her. On the day of the eclipse I returned to Ellison, but as I feared, she found me and captured my body.
"As the moon passed over the sun, she attacked this land, destroying everything in her path. I sent my essence back to Chibi-Usa, but I was so weak that I couldn't help Endymion except to bring you all back here."
Mamo-chan and I exchanged looks, and then looked down at our daughter who was still holding frantically to Mamo-chan's hand. "Why--What does this have to do with what happened to me?" my husband asked slowly.
"You are part of this land, as it's protector. Whatever happens to it, reflects in you. Shadows rule this land, blocking out the light -- so darkness is in you, I'm afraid. I prayed for your wellness, but I can only do so much. If the enemy isn't defeated soon, you will begin to weaken as the Earth does until..."
His voice drifted off into the wind, but I felt like he had said the words. Pronounced them so that they were engraved in my mind. Chibi-Usa looked horrified, her blue eyes huge and unblinking.
Suddenly the wind around us picked up. Mamo-chan's arm tightened around me as the wind lashed at our bodies unmercifully. As suddenly as we had landed in this strange, yet once beautiful land, we left it. It felt like we were being spun around, the wind thrashed against my body from every angle. My head began pounding as I spun faster and faster and then with a thud everything stopped.
"Ugh..." I mumbled, trying to focus my eyes. I could feel something warm and soft laying against one side of my face. Slowly I blinked back the burning in my eyes and everything cleared. "Mamo-chan?"
"It's okay, Usako," Mamo-chan said soothingly, pushing my hair from my face. I found myself laying on the bed beside Mamo-chan, my face buried in the feather pillow. Mamo-chan was sitting beside me and Chibi-Usa was laying on my other side.
"Is she awake?" I heard someone say. I blinked again and seen Ami coming in the door. Mamo-chan nodded and Ami came over to lean over Chibi-Usa and feel of her skin. "She should be awake shortly," she concluded, standing again.
"What happened?" I asked, sitting up slowly to keep the room from spinning again. My head was pounding.
I suspected that Mamo-chan had been awake quite awhile longer than me, because Ami was ready with a glass of water and two aspirin as I sat up. I took them thankfully as she sat down in a chair across from us and crossed her legs. "You traveled to Ellison with Helios. Ellison is a strange place, between times, so to speak. It is protected from the normal human man finding it, but that makes it rather difficult to travel to. Your heading is hurting because of the shock your body received from making that journey. But you'll be okay in a couple of hours."
"What about Chibi-Usa?" I mumbled, looking down at my still sleeping daughter.
"She's just sleeping the effects off. She'll be okay," Ami said with confidence, so I let it go. If she was sure, then I could feel better about it. "Ho--"
Ami's words dropped off, interrupted by the sudden appearance of Minako in the room. She looked out of breath, her eyes wide. "Minako-chan?" I asked worriedly.
She shook her head, her blonde hair fanning out around her. "I--We--" she gasped for air and immediately I became more concerned.
I sat up on the side of the bed, Mamo-chan already on his feet. "Minako, what's wrong?!"
Her blue eyes still wide with shock and confusion, Minako's voice came to me in a whisper. "There's an attack at the temple.... Rei's grandfather... he's dead."
--End Chapter 5.
I'm soooo sorry that took so long! Really, I am! Now that I'm not too interested in my Sailor Moon fiction anymore, it's hard to write something that you all won't throw pots and pans at ^^;;
If anyone reading this is a Harry Potter fan, make sure to check out my story "Lily Evans; A History" and the story I'm co-writing with Fleur: "Sirius Trouble". I promise they get updated more than this story does ^^;
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon or any of those characters, I do own this story line, please don't snag it or I'll be forced to beat you into a plup. ^-^
3 Bethany
02.16.03
@--------
Forever More
Chapter Five
By: Bethany
Editor: Meara
Rated: PG
@--------
I awoke the next morning only because Mamo-chan was nudging me awake. There was an unpleasant tingling in my right foot, as well as some pain in my back from where I had leaned up against the bar on the side of the hospital bed that just wasn't made for two. I felt Mamo-chan's lips on my eyelids as his hand gently caressed my back. "Wake up beautiful," he whispered softly, chuckling. "Come on Usako, you gotta wake up."
"Why?" I mumbled, leaning my face up towards his for a kiss.
He obliged instantly, pressing his soft lips to mine. He drew back slowly and I could nearly feel his smile. I smiled like a love struck teenager, my eyes still closed blissfully. "Better?" he asked.
"MmmHmmm," I drawled, still not ready to open my eyes and face the day. I knew the second I got up that reality would take a front seat, and quite frankly I would have liked to stay in his arms forever. "More?"
"As many as you want," he chuckled and again I felt his lips press down on mine.
"Um, excuse me," a voice said and Mamo-chan and I moved apart so quickly that I hit my head on the metal bar. Both of us red faced with blush, we looked towards the door and seen a tall man with a lab coat on, a clip board in his hand. Behind him was the nurse from the night before in the hall, her face in a wide grin as I hastily got up. I sat down in the seat beside Mamo-chan's bed, lacing my fingers through his tightly.
The doctor, momentarily speechless, managed to smile and gather his wits back about him. "I have the results from the tests we ran last night. There is nothing abnormal on any of the tests we ran," he concluded, but he didn't smile, nor did he look like he was finished. I found instead of being happy, my heart began thudding faster. Mamo-chan's fingers squeezed mine tighter, his eyes still staring at the doctor. "We also did several x-rays, and I'm afraid that something most peculiar has shown up in your chest x-ray."
The doctor nodded and the nurse to his right flipped the lights off as the doctor placed x-ray films on a small mount on the wall that lit up. I bit my lips so hard that the bitter sweet taste of blood was seeping into my mouth. I didn't have to listen to the doctor to know what he meant by 'peculiar' -- for certainly what showed up on that film was far from normal. And it was without a doubt frightening.
"If you'll notice in this area right here, in the left and right lung, there is a darkened area. It looks like a... a mass," he explained, searching for words. But I didn't hear anything else he said. I only heard Chibi-Usa's un-naturally serious and dark voice last night, over and over again in my mind.
A bad rose.... A beautiful garden, but one bad rose. It infected Ellison, it infected Pegasus... it infected Papa...
There on the screen x-ray was a black rose, it's shape undeniable, inside my soul-mate's chest. The doctor continued to speak, trying, I assumed, to give a scientific explanation of the shape, of the matter... but he wouldn't be able to. I already knew. Evil. Evil that came with being the protectors of Earth, and once more it was attacking my very being.
A bad rose.... it infected Papa... A bad rose.... Ellison... Pegasus... She knew-- but how? What was going on with my daughter? With my husband?
With Earth?
@--------
Somehow I had managed to do it. Through everything that the doctor had said, through the look of concern on my husband's face, I hadn't shed a tear. I blocked out that part of my soul, for just a few hours. Long enough to get Mamo-chan home, to get the girls down for a nap. Somehow I had managed.
But I couldn't stand it any longer. I wasn't the strong one, Mamo-chan was. I didn't want to be strong; I wanted to wallow in my grief, scream to the heaven's about injustice that once more... once more my family would suffer because of my past, my destiny. I didn't want to be Sailor Moon, I didn't want to be a Princess. All I wanted was to be a wife, a mother -- nothing more.
Claiming I needed a long hot shower to relax my stiff muscles, I had went into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me, and turned the water on as hot as I could stand it. Hoping to clear my head, I got in. The steaming water beat down on my body, turning it red with heat, but I didn't care. I clutched my arms around my midsection, fighting the urge to cry. But I couldn't help it, couldn't stop the tears that filled my eyes and crept out. My head against the tile, I slowly down the wet wall and to sit on the bottom, releasing a river of pent up tears that mingled with the steamed water, blending until they were inseparable.
But it wasn't enough to hide from my soul-mate, to cry alone. He knew, always knew -- and would always know my every feeling. It was a curse and a blessing to have him so close to my heart. At this moment I wanted to be alone, and yet I heard the bathroom door open and felt the cold air pour into the room and knew he had felt my grief.
Large familiar hands reached in and shut the water off before pulling the curtain back. Even though I'm sure he knew what he would find, the shock of seeing me pitifully crying on the floor of our shower registered on his face. I tried to hide, too look the other direction, but it was no use. He bent down, pushing a sopping wet piece of hair away from my face. "Usako..." he breathed, the word alone filled with so much love that my heart ached more.
I felt a sob clutch my throat, but I determinedly kept it down. I wiped my hands across my face, blinking back the tears. "I'm okay," I whispered, feeling foolish for sitting in the bathtub, crying like a child Keri's age would. I reached up, pulling the towel off the rack on the wall and covering myself with it. Mamo-chan watched me, his heart seemingly in his eyes. I got out, wrapping the towel around my body, staring at myself in the mirror. As much as I tried, I couldn't help darting my gaze to his.
Soundlessly he stepped closer, wrapping his arms around my waist. I watched our reflection as he pressed his lips to my bare shoulder, his arms tightening. "I love you so much, Usako..." he whispered, his lips now near my ear. "You don't know how much it hurts me to see you upset..." his deep voice mumbled as his experienced hands pulled at my towel.
I didn't have the strength nor the will to object. There was a certain fire deep in my soul that came alive at his touch, a fire that hadn't been sparked much since we had a certain two year old causing havoc in our lives. "What about the kids...?"
"The girls can handle them if they wake," he replied before lifting me up in his arms. For a split second I wondered if that was true, but decided I'd rather worry about it later.
@--------
The peaceful thumping of my own heart beating in time to Mamo-chan's and the rain beating steadily on the window outside was the only sounds in the room. Mamo-chan had fallen asleep, his arms tightly around me, but I couldn't sleep. I knew that Keri and Chibi-Usa both would sleep for another hour, and I was exhausted from sleeping so uncomfortably for those few hours I had slept last night. But I couldn't stop thinking about the enemy long enough to allow myself the escape that sleep would bring. Frustrated, I got up and pulled on shorts and a t-shirt.
Mamo-chan slept on as I quietly exited our room and shut the door behind me. Chibi-Usa and Keri were both still asleep, so I went into the living room, expecting to see everyone sitting around talking. Instead I was greeted with Minako laying across the couch, the remote in her hands as she flipped through the channels. She barely flicked her eyes up when I sat down in the chair across from her. "Where's minna?" I asked, glancing over at the pile of blankets folded next to the couch.
"Mako-chan had to go to work, Rei back to the temple, Hotaru is at school, Ami at work and everyone else went to get something to eat," the Senshi of Love answered, making a face at the television and flipping the channel again. "One hundred stations and not a thing on..."
"How come you didn't go with them?" I asked.
Minako rolled her eyes, sitting up and casting a longing look outside at the rain. "You know how mysterious Haruka and Michiru get when there's an enemy, I just didn't want to be in the middle of that. It amazes me how we all get along until something evil approaches, and then Haruka starts acting like she used to. Like they're better than us, or something."
I could see right away Minako wasn't in the mood to be thinking about how the Outer Senshi choose to deal with enemies. Sighing, I got up, intent on changing the subject or getting out of the line of fire, which ever was needed first. "I'm going to fix something to eat, you want something?"
When Minako didn't answer, I looked back towards her, only to find her staring at the television with this expression of shock on her face. Confused, I went over to stand beside the couch where I could see. On the television was an advertisement for a circus. "Dark Moon Circus," I read off the screen, watching the strange and downright weird creatures on the screen. "Hadn't heard of..."
"There, look!" Minako squealed, pointing at the television as the announcer spoke up again.
"Featuring the never before seen Pegasus!" said a deep, booming voice. "Two shows only, today at two and another show at seven. Don't miss it!" the announcer commanded and the commissarial clicked off.
"What?!" I gasped. Minako looked as shocked as I did, but was also messing with the remote. She clicked the play button and the commercial played again where she had recorded it. Again the announcer came on the screen and again it showed a picture of a white horse with wings and a golden horn. Minako paused it, shaking her head. "Can that be...?" I nearly whispered, sitting down on the couch.
"It sure looks like it," Minako responded, the remote still held out in front of her. "The guardian of Ellison, by day running around in Chibi-Usa's chest and by night doing circus acts?" Minako asked incredibly.
"I doubt it. It seems funny that this weird circus comes to town about the same time that Helios does, and now this...." I said, suspicious. "Like it might be more than just a circus..."
"You think it could be the enemy trying to lure Helios to them?"
"Could be." I sat back, still staring at the screen. "I think we should check this out," I told Minako, looking over at her for a confirmation.
"Hai. You want me to call everyone?" she asked.
I shook my head, standing up. "No, we don't know anything for sure yet. We'll go check it out, and if it's worth calling the Senshi, then we'll call them. I know it's hard for Mako-chan and Ami to find excuses to leave work so often. And Rei was saying she was behind on things at the temple." I nodded, convincing myself as well as Minako that I was right. "We'll be okay." Before she could reply, I quickly ran upstairs to change clothes. Mamo-chan was still sleeping when I closed the door again.
"What about Mamoru-san?" Minako asked, throwing the keys to me as we started out the door.
I looked forward, not wanting Minako to see how guilty I felt for what I was about to do. I had left only a note on my pillow saying I would be back later and I knew he would be angry I didn't call the other Senshi if he knew where I was going. "Staying with the kids," I mumbled, dismissing the subject.
@--------
I hadn't noticed it before, what with all that had happened in the last week, but in the center of the city was a large... well, balloon was the only way to put it. Or at least, that is what it looked like until we approached it. Upon closer inspection, it resembled a massive ship with a large black hot air balloon on top. There were cars everywhere of people who had came to the two o'clock show; I couldn't even find a place to park for ten minutes.
Finally we parked and went up to this circus. I could tell immediately that something just didn't feel right, and from the way Minako walked, her eyes searching all around her constantly, I could tell she felt it, too. Something was here. Something evil.
Instead of going in, we walked around the back of the ship, searching for anything out of the ordinary. We circled around, but found nothing. I started up the front to the doors when suddenly Minako grabbed me, yanking me behind some crates just off to the left. "Shhh," she whispered, pointing. I looked out from behind our hiding spot, watching as four young girls walked out of the ship.
They looked to all be the same age, young; perhaps thirteen. Their appearances were far from ordinary children, however. And I mean that literally. The girl in the front was wearing what looked like a bikini top that was tied up around her neck and white pants with green trim and sandals. And her hair! It was pulled back, one large piece up above her head and two others hanging from the sides. She stopped not too far from the three girls behind her, crossing her arms. "Well, that was a waste of our time," she stated harshly.
"Yeah, but you can't tell that stupid Zirconia it wouldn't work. She don't listen to us," the second girl answered. She was also wearing next to no clothing, this time red. And while her hair wasn't as... different, for lack of a better word, than the first girl's, she had spikes on her shoulders that more than made up for it.
There were two more girls that brought up the back, one in pink and the other in blue. These two also had strange hairstyles, but at least more clothes on than the first too-- though not by far. I took a quick glance over at Minako to see her face wearing the same dumbfounded expression I did.
The girl in blue was holding something in her hands, and I couldn't really tell from where I was, but it looked like a doll. She was making it dance through the air roughly, it's legs dangling. Suddenly she threw it down, stomping her foot on it. "Para Para hates this. She wants to play."
"Oh grow up, will you?!" the girl in red demanded. It took me a moment to realize that the girl in blue was talking about herself in third person.
Para Para's eyes filled with tears as she stared at the person in front of her. The girl in question threw her hands up and stalked past them all. "I'm so sick of listening to that old hag in there."
"I think we should ask Nephelienia-sama about it," said the girl in pink thoughtfully. "She would let us find the Golden Mirror of Dreams, I know she would."
"Un! Un!" Para Para nodded her head, her hands clasped in front of her. She turned on her heel, running back into the ship, giggling. "Ne, minna! Para Para wants to find Nephelienia-sama!"
As the four girls once more took off inside the ship, Minako and I stood up, looking at each other thoughtfully. "What do you think?" the Senshi of Love finally asked, her eyes watching the entrance to the ship closely.
I looked around to be sure we were alone and once more started up the ramp into the ship. "I think we go have a closer look around." Minako looked as if she was about to say something, but thought better of it and ran to catch up with me. Keeping to the shadows, we crept inside the ship and started down the hall.
It seemed we were getting nowhere, or at least not anytime soon. There was no rooms, no doors: nothing but the long expansion of hall before us. Just about the time I was ready to give up and turn back, the hall around us vanished. One second it was there; the next we were standing in the middle of a large room that remotely looked like a circus tent. I felt Minako grab my arm like she was about to pull me back when suddenly the landing we were standing on shot up in the air. Minako and I both screamed as it rose a good fifty feet up and then stopped so abruptly that I nearly lost my footing.
"What's going on?!" Minako gasped, looking about.
Suddenly the entire place was flooded with light, showing about twenty or more pillars around us. Each of them held a different creature, some so weird and outrageous looking there was no doubt in my mind it was evil. Minako pressed herself to my side, her eyes wide. There was a giggle, but it seemed to be coming from all around us. I glanced towards the ceiling just as a swing lowered itself down. Sitting on it was the young girl we had seen outside earlier, the one in the pink. She smiled as she rocked back and forth on it.
"Do you know why the little children scream in their sleep?" she asked, her legs still swinging back and forth.
Another voice giggled, this time a large column rising up beside us. The young girl in red was sitting on the back of what looked like a cross between a tiger and an elephant; that's how big it was. She was sitting on it's shoulder blades, her hands gripping the spiked collar around it's neck. "And the mothers see dream things in the middle of the day?"
My heart pounding, I whipped my head around just as the girl in green was coming towards us from the hall we had came from. She jumped up in the air, doing a summersault before landing on the swing with the first girl. "Dreams are reality, reality are dreams. Those who grow up loose their way, and those who haven't will die anyway..."
I swallowed, painfully aware of how tight Minako was holding onto my arm. I tried to take a deep breath, but couldn't. The feeling I had when we first arrived --of evil-- was intensified ten times over in here. I could feel it creeping on me, just like yesterday during the eclipse. I tried to shake it off, but it was strong. Minako and I both gasped as a large blue ball suddenly rose up in front of us, Para Para sitting on top of it. "Never, never be suspicious of the dreams within the dreams of dreaming kids...." she chanted in a stiff voice so unlike that one she used not to shortly before.
"Enough!" roared a voice. I had this sickening feeling are situation had just went from bad to worse. My suspicions were proven correct as the lights all moved to shine on this one.... youma? Yeah, I'd say that summoned it up nicely. And without a doubt the ugliest one I had ever seen. Her face was deformed, gray skin hanging off her face and a white bizarre looking hat and cloak covered the rest of her body. It wasn't just an ugly sight, this creature was without a doubt the most un-humanly disgusting thing I had ever laid my eyes on. At it's side it held a tall staff with what looked like an eyeball on top--with wings, no less.
It's voice came to us in a raspy deep, but booming voice that made the hairs on my arms stand on end. "Intruders, I see," she said, pointing to us. "Your curiosity will bring you terrible consequences."
Minako, still holding tightly onto my arm, glanced around nervously. "Eh, gomen. We were... lost? Trying to find the circus..." Suddenly her voice faltered and with a shaking hand, she discreetly motioned for me to look down. As Minako continued to try and explain that we were nothing more than innocent bystanders, I looked down to the floor below where we stood and seen bodies. They were everywhere, slumped over each other, unconscious -- or, I feared, dead. "So we'll just be going now!" Minako squeaked, smiling in a saccadic way.
She turned on her heel, pulling me along with her, but the column we stood on didn't move. The four girls were now standing behind us, each staring at us with murderous intent. I gulped, taking a step back just as Minako did. "Who are you?" I asked, trying to keep them at bay while I searched longingly for a way out of this mess.
"Magician of bouncing balls, Para Para!" squeaked the girl in blue.
The girl next to her, in green, shrugged her shoulders indifferently. "Magician of acrobatic feats, JunJun," she said, moving her hands so that a green ball formed, stilling in the air between her hands.
"Magician of flowers, CereCere," announced the third girl, her hands on her hips like she expected a round of applause.
The final girl was staring at the other three incredibly. Shaking her head, she, too, produced a ball between her hands; a red one. "Magician of Beasts, VesVes."
I just stared dumbly. I know I had asked who they are, but who would have thought they would have not only told us, but went into description about it? My hand began tingling as Minako continued to squeeze unmercifully. There was a stretch of silence that passed over us that was suddenly broken by JunJun pulling a pool queue out of thin air and aiming it at her ball. "A nice shot," she said, her eyes twinkling evilly. Before I had time to register what was happening, the ball was shot into the air behind us, hitting against a column and then coming straight for us.
"What out!" Minako yelled, ducking down and pulling me with her. The ball shot through the air where I had stood, flying back over into JunJun's hand.
"Damn," she spat, her eyes seeming to glow with the evil radiated in them. "Stand still, why don't you? I just want to know if you have a golden mirror of dreams."
"A golden mirror of--oof!" Minako once more pulled us both to the side as another ball, this one red, shot through the air at us. The girls in front of us cackled, save for VesVes who was red faced with anger that her ball had missed.
And as if things weren't bad enough, all four girls now had pool cues and were aiming their balls. I swallowed, stepping back. But there was nothing but a fifty foot drop behind us, and four evil little girls in front. No escape. My heart began beating madly as panic let loose through my body. Why hadn't I called the Senshi?
"A nice shot," they chorused and four balls went flying through the air, bouncing off the ceiling, columns and walls, only to come flying towards us. Minako finally let go of my arm so that I jumped one way and she the other. But unlike before, the balls only hit off another surface and came back again, the girls cheering them on. There was no where to run, nowhere to escape to.
I dodged another ball and slid across the floor, nearly falling off the side. Just as I gathered my footing about me again, a yellow and blue ball came at me from both directions. I ducked, feeling the air on the top of my head as they zoomed by. "Usagi-chan, watch out!" Minako screamed.
I looked up just in time to dodge another ball, but I wasn't fast enough to warn Minako as the red ball hit her square in the back and came out through her chest. Her eyes were wide and solid blue before she fell straight to the ground. "Minako!" I screamed, dodging another ball as I ran across the ten feet between us. There was a large pink framed mirror floating above her body.
"Damn, that's not it either," I heard JunJun mutter angrily.
"What have you done to her?" I screamed, bending down at her body. Her breathing was shallow and her eyes rolled back in her head. "Minako-chan!" I screamed, but received no response. I looked back up at the mirror again, horrified to see a ball rushing towards it. I jerked it down and out of the way, pushing it at Minako. Suddenly it re-entered her body and the Senshi of Venus' eyes fluttered open.
"Usagi-chan, look--!" I glanced up, rushing at me was one of the billiard balls. Instinctually I knew I didn't have time to move out of the way. I closed my eyes, praying that Minako would know to put the mirror back in me.
The impact never came, however. Instead I felt someone pick me up and move out of the way just as the ball whizzed by my head. I peeked one eye open, eternally grateful to see my husband's face, eyes covered in a familiar domino mask, looking straight ahead. He jumped down from the column, landing us on the floor a little more roughly than normal. It didn't take long to find out why. He put me down, one hand clutching his chest as he fell to one knee. "Mamo-chan?!" I gasped, getting on my knees in front of him.
He shook his head, looking past me. Just behind us Haruka landed, carrying Minako. She put the blonde down, glancing over to see if we had made it safely. I couldn't take my eyes of Mamo-chan, though. There was an intense look of pain on his face that he was trying unsuccessfully to hide. "Mamo-chan..!" I gasped as he took in a ragged breath.
"Usa...Usako...," he breathed and fell to both knees, struggling to keep his breathing normal. I couldn't think of anything but getting out of here, getting him out of here. This was my fault.
My fault.
"Usagi, we gotta move!" Sailor Uranus said urgently, putting one of Mamo-chan's arms over her shoulder and helping him to stand up. "Go, now!" she barked. I bit my lip, wanting to stay and help.
Sailor Jupiter came up on my other side, helping Uranus with Mamo-chan just as Sailor Mars grabbed my arm, yanking me forward as another ball whizzed by our head. "Usagi, come on!" Mars hissed. "We're all in big trouble if we don't get out of here!" I didn't have time to think about why we were running away, why we didn't fight. I could only think about Mamo-chan's face and the stinging sensation in my feet as my thin tennis shoes slapped on the hard floor as we ran.
Ahead of us I seen the large opening that lead outside and with a gasp of panic realized we were rising into the air. Neptune came skidding to a halt, throwing her hands forward to regain her balance and not fall through the door. "Shimatta-- we're too late!" she turned to us, her eyes darting beyond for any sign of the four girls.
"Quick!" Pluto commanded. "Sailor Teleport, now!"
I don't know how we managed it without me being transformed, but somehow in a few seconds time we were back at my house. I vaguely seen Hotaru running into the kitchen worriedly, biting her nail as Haruka and Mako-chan practically carried Mamo-chan into our bedroom and laid him on the bed. With tears splashing down my face and neck, and Rei holding one arm in front of me, I watched as Setsuna and Ami checked my husband over. And all I could think was that this was all my fault for having left in the first place; for not calling the Senshi.
Rei lead me into the living room where I sat down on the couch and curled my legs up underneath me, staring blankly ahead. I made no attempt to wipe at the tears on my face. Rei, obviously not knowing what to say, sat beside me just as quietly.
About ten minutes later Haruka returned to the living room, running a hand through her short blonde hair. I looked up at her expectantly, but she only scowled. "Why didn't you call us before you went over there?" she demanded, her eyes boring into mine.
"Now's hardly the time for--" Rei began, but Haruka cut her off shortly with a stern wave of her hand.
"That was without a doubt one of the stupidest things you've done! And I know you to have done some stupid ones!" I recoiled back from her harsh words; each were knives directed at my soul and they hit with point black accuracy. Her next words only confirmed what I had been thinking all along. "It's your fault the Prince is laying in there gasping for his next breath! Your irresponsible actions! You never think, do you?"
I pushed myself back, trying to sink into the couch cushions and disappear. She was right - I was stupid. A lousy Princess and even worse, now I had gotten Mamo-chan hurt. I felt my bottom lip quiver with a sob when unrepentantly Rei stood up, one hand on her hip as she pointed her finger at Haruka. "Shut UP!" she screamed, her eyes alit with fire. "Just shut the hell up!"
Haruka blanched, her mouth hanging open, but no words coming out. She took a moment to recover herself and noticed Makoto standing beside her, looking fit to kill. Makoto suddenly crossed her arms, stepping forward so that Haruka was forced to look at her. "I think you'd better leave, Haruka," she said lowly. "Rei-chan is right, now is not the time to discuss this."
Again I thought Haruka would say something when a hand reached out from behind her, touching her arm gently. Michiru stepped forward, shaking her head. I watched in silent amazement as Haruka, giving one last glare our direction, turned and slammed out the front door. Michiru turned to us, a look of mixed emotions on her face before she followed her life-mate.
I hiccupped, the tears still freely running down my face. All I could think was Haruka was right; and while it was only natural for the Senshi to take up for me, it *was* my fault. My fault Mamo-chan was there, getting me out of harm's way--only to place himself in it. My fault he is hurting now more than he was already. I buried my face in my hands, trying to control the sobs that tore loose from my chest, but I couldn't. I could hear the Senshi talking around me in quiet tones, and at that moment I never felt I had disappointed them more.
There was voices in the hall growing louder, Hotaru and another voice: Chibi-Usa. I could see Hotaru trying to hold her back, but she was fighting her fiercely. "I want my Mama and Papa!" she screamed, pushing her hands in Hotaru's face. "I want my Mama! Let go of me Hotaru-chan, let go of me!" Suddenly Chibi-Usa stepped on Hotaru's foot, whether intentional or not, I couldn't tell, and came running into the living room, looking around wildly. "Mama!"
"Chibi-Usa, you shouldn't have--" I started to tell her, wiping my eyes quickly.
But she wasn't listening to me, shaking her head she began pulling on my hand. "Come on, Mama! He wants to see Papa--Helios, he wants to see him! Come on!"
"What?" But instead of talking, Chibi-Usa yanked on my arm as hard as she could and it was either get up or be drug into the floor. I stood up, half running up the steps as Chibi-Usa tugged on my hand. We entered my bedroom where Mamo-chan was laying flat on his back on the bed. His face turned to me as I came in and he smiled. I felt my heart break. "Chibi-Usa, what is all this?" I asked my daughter, not even looking down, least I would have known she wasn't in the room.
But she was back a second later, her eyes wide with excitement. I heard Ami, Makoto, Rei, Minako and Setsuna talking behind me, but I couldn't speak. Just as Chibi-Usa entered the room, the lights went out and we were draped in shadows. The sun was nearly all the way beyond the horizon now, and left a lot to be desired light wise. Then a spark flashed on the other side of the bed, growing larger and larger until suddenly it took the outline shape of a horse.
Chibi-Usa, looking more excited than I had seen her in days, reached up and grasped my hand tightly, her face in a broad grin. In silent fascination, I watched as the horse materialized in my room. It's brilliant white coat gleamed in the partial sun rays shining in the room, a long golden horn protruded proudly from it's forehead. It pawed the floor for a moment, whining lowly. Then, as if there was a string pulling it from above, it shot up on it's hind feet, spreading it's magnificent wings out on both sides.
Before my already stunned eyes, the figure began to shrink until it took the shape of a boy. A boy with a golden horn protruding out of his head. My mouth fell open.
He had long shimmering white hair, the color of the horse's mane, and a white pants and shirt, lightly accented with pale blue and gold. He looked serene; the perfect picture of calmness and gentleness. My heart that had been pounding so painfully before now slowed as a wave of calmness over took my senses. The Priest Helios stepped forward, bending to one knee as he placed one hand over his heart. "My Prince," he said.
Mamo-chan had watched all of this as I had, but he didn't look nearly as surprised by it. In fact, he smiled at Helios like he was a long lost friend. "Helios, please don't bow," Mamo-chan said to him, grinning slightly. As he said this, though, I could see the strain on his face and his hand unconsciously reached for his chest.
From the way Helios' eyes narrowed, I could tell he seen it, too. "My Prince, I'm afraid this is my fault. I could not properly protect Ellison, and because of this, I couldn't protect you. I have failed to do my job, I have failed to protect those innocents of this world."
Chibi-Usa still squeezing herself to my side, I came forward and sat on the bed beside my husband. Helios seemed to know me, for he smiled gently, his eyes full of pleasure. "Princess Serenity," he said, confirming my suspicions. I couldn't remember ever meeting him, but unfortunately, I wouldn't have time to ponder this. At that precise moment the horn on Helios' head flashed blindingly. I reached up to cover my eyes and felt a falling sensation, all around I could see nothing but white light.
Then, just as suddenly as it started, it stopped. I blinked, sitting up. Laying next to me was Chibi-Usa and to my other side, Mamo-chan. "Where are we?" I asked, getting to my feet. Surprisingly, when I turned to help Mamo-chan up, he was already standing. The color in his face was back to normal, and his breathing regular. I felt my heart skip a beat as I watched him look around with that familiar curiosity that meant he was pondering something. And best of all, he didn't seem to be in any pain whatsoever.
"Mama," Chibi-Usa whispered, looking around in awe. "I think we are in Helios' home!"
We had found ourselves on a white marble sidewalk that lead up to a large temple. There was trees and bushes everywhere, golden and silver leaves dangling lazily from their branches. Lush fountains shot up in the air, the water making calming humming noises as they flowed along. About fifty feet in front of us was a river, not very wide, flowing alongside rows and rows of rose bushes.
Mamo-chan, apparently feeling more stronger than he had in days, scooped Chibi-Usa up and grabbed my hand with his free one. "Come on, let's go see what's around here."
With nothing else to do about our situation, I allowed him to entwine his fingers with mine and the three of us walked towards the river. It was breathtakingly beautiful everywhere I looked. The roses were all either buds, in the stage of blooming or beautifully full grown, but never dying. I drank in the scene, yearning to touch one perfect petal, but not daring. Everything looked too perfect to touch, to serene. Chibi-Usa squirmed out of Mamo-chan's arms, running up ahead of us to look at all the flowers.
"Where are we?" I whispered to my husband as soon as our daughter was out of ear shot. "It doesn't look like any place for an enemy. Is Chibi-Usa right? Could we be in Helios' land?"
"I know this place," Mamo-chan said, squeezing my hand tighter in his as he looked around. "But I can't remember where... it's so familiar."
"IIE*!"
I whipped my head around towards where I had seen Chibi-Usa last. Mamo-chan took off in a run, leaving me to follow close behind. Not too far from us Chibi-Usa was standing, staring at a rose bush, tears falling down her eyes. She looked horrified. "Chibi-Usa? What's wrong?" I gasped, falling to my knees beside her and turning her towards me. She wouldn't stop looking at something and slowly I drew my gaze away from her crying form and to where she pointed.
There, in the middle of a large bush of perfect roses, was an angry looking black rose. It's thorns were razor sharp and the contrast to the pure white of the other flowers was devastating. I gasped, looking up at Mamo-chan in question as Chibi-Usa continued to cry. "What does it mean?" I wondered a loud, drawing Chibi-Usa to my chest.
Mamo-chan again scanned the area, his eyes now narrowed. I could tell he was trying to remember where he knew this place from, but still couldn't place it. I picked Chibi-Usa up, rising to stand next to him and look out across the land. "Mamo-chan?"
My soul mate blinked, giving me a small smile and placing his palm on Chibi-Usa's back in a calming measure. "Come on, let's go back to the temple and see what we can find there."
I nodded, following him back through the garden and up the marble walkway to the temple. It rose up, gleaming white columns shining in the sun. Carefully we walked up the dozen steps that lead to the wide hall beyond. Chibi-Usa stopped crying and squirmed down, still grasping her father's hand tightly. I looked at her questionably, but she only leaned herself against his arm and looked around with wide blue eyes exactly like Mamo-chan's.
"What's that?" I mumbled, squinting at what looked like a cage in the distance. If possible, I seen Chibi-Usa draw herself closer to Mamo-chan. I was about to question what it was she seemed so scared of when something flashed near the cage.
We approached it carefully, and indeed it was a cage. A large cage... with a winged horse laying pitifully inside. I gasped, covering my mouth with my hands as Mamo-chan and Chibi-Usa stopped next to me, staring in disbelief. "We... we have to get him out!" Chibi-Usa suddenly screamed, reaching towards the cage.
"No, Chibi-Usa!" I nearly screamed, grabbing Chibi-Usa and pulling her closer to me to keep her from reaching out. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I did not want her touching that cage.
Unfortunately, I didn't think about stopping my husband from doing exactly what Chibi-Usa wanted. Before I could stop him, he reached forward with both hands and grabbed onto the bars, trying to pry them open. A brilliant light blasted out from the cage almost immediately; we were thrown backwards against the marble ground roughly. Everything in the temple started to shake, like the ground beneath us was trying to split apart to swallow us.
Mamo-chan grabbed a shocked Chibi-Usa out of my arms, took my hand and nearly dragged me out of the temple and down the steps. I gasped at the scene that now played before me. The beautiful land was crumbling, the tree leaves died and fell to the ground in a matter of seconds, roses died, the river dried up and everywhere I looked seemed to be covered in spider webs that was blocking out the sun. Everything was becoming darker... and darker... Mamo-chan put his arm protectively around me, still holding Chibi-Usa as we watched the gorgeous world around us destroyed.
Just as suddenly as it started, everything stopped. It was deathly quiet without the sound of the fountains, the breeze or the river winding past. Our breathes seemed echoed, our footsteps like gunshots ringing through the dark. I felt fear clutch at my heart and... evil. It was here. It destroyed this land.
"Prince Endymion."
I whipped around, seeing the young boy whom had appeared from the Pegasus only a short time ago in my home. He was bent to one knee, his right hand over his chest as he bowed to us. After a short pause, he looked back up slowly and a smile rose to his lips as the hollow winds played in his white hair. "Welcome back, Prince."
"Helios," Mamo-chan whispered, putting Chibi-Usa down even though she stubbornly clutched his hand. "My God, are we in Ellison?"
Helios' eyes flashed around the devastated land and he seemed to sigh inwardly; sadly. His serene blue eyes looked as lost and shadowed as the land around us. Slowly his gaze traveled back to Mamo-chan's and he nodded slowly. "I'm afraid so. What you seen when you first arrived is what this land had looked like since the beginning of time, but now... now it is destroyed. I failed to protect it."
"Protect it from what?" I whispered, shivering as another cold wind sliced through the air. It chilled me to the very soul. Mamo-chan put his arm around me, but still I couldn't shake the cold from my body.
"From the evil that came here and cast the darkness. Two weeks before the eclipse a lady appeared here one day, the Dark Queen from long ago. She wanted this land, she wanted the golden crystal; but I refused her. She tried to capture me, but I took on the Pegasus form and fled into a pure dream before she could. In my Pegasus form she can't detect me, but it's draining for me to stay that way long. I was fearful that she would find me hidden in your daughter's dream, so I tried to leave her. On the day of the eclipse I returned to Ellison, but as I feared, she found me and captured my body.
"As the moon passed over the sun, she attacked this land, destroying everything in her path. I sent my essence back to Chibi-Usa, but I was so weak that I couldn't help Endymion except to bring you all back here."
Mamo-chan and I exchanged looks, and then looked down at our daughter who was still holding frantically to Mamo-chan's hand. "Why--What does this have to do with what happened to me?" my husband asked slowly.
"You are part of this land, as it's protector. Whatever happens to it, reflects in you. Shadows rule this land, blocking out the light -- so darkness is in you, I'm afraid. I prayed for your wellness, but I can only do so much. If the enemy isn't defeated soon, you will begin to weaken as the Earth does until..."
His voice drifted off into the wind, but I felt like he had said the words. Pronounced them so that they were engraved in my mind. Chibi-Usa looked horrified, her blue eyes huge and unblinking.
Suddenly the wind around us picked up. Mamo-chan's arm tightened around me as the wind lashed at our bodies unmercifully. As suddenly as we had landed in this strange, yet once beautiful land, we left it. It felt like we were being spun around, the wind thrashed against my body from every angle. My head began pounding as I spun faster and faster and then with a thud everything stopped.
"Ugh..." I mumbled, trying to focus my eyes. I could feel something warm and soft laying against one side of my face. Slowly I blinked back the burning in my eyes and everything cleared. "Mamo-chan?"
"It's okay, Usako," Mamo-chan said soothingly, pushing my hair from my face. I found myself laying on the bed beside Mamo-chan, my face buried in the feather pillow. Mamo-chan was sitting beside me and Chibi-Usa was laying on my other side.
"Is she awake?" I heard someone say. I blinked again and seen Ami coming in the door. Mamo-chan nodded and Ami came over to lean over Chibi-Usa and feel of her skin. "She should be awake shortly," she concluded, standing again.
"What happened?" I asked, sitting up slowly to keep the room from spinning again. My head was pounding.
I suspected that Mamo-chan had been awake quite awhile longer than me, because Ami was ready with a glass of water and two aspirin as I sat up. I took them thankfully as she sat down in a chair across from us and crossed her legs. "You traveled to Ellison with Helios. Ellison is a strange place, between times, so to speak. It is protected from the normal human man finding it, but that makes it rather difficult to travel to. Your heading is hurting because of the shock your body received from making that journey. But you'll be okay in a couple of hours."
"What about Chibi-Usa?" I mumbled, looking down at my still sleeping daughter.
"She's just sleeping the effects off. She'll be okay," Ami said with confidence, so I let it go. If she was sure, then I could feel better about it. "Ho--"
Ami's words dropped off, interrupted by the sudden appearance of Minako in the room. She looked out of breath, her eyes wide. "Minako-chan?" I asked worriedly.
She shook her head, her blonde hair fanning out around her. "I--We--" she gasped for air and immediately I became more concerned.
I sat up on the side of the bed, Mamo-chan already on his feet. "Minako, what's wrong?!"
Her blue eyes still wide with shock and confusion, Minako's voice came to me in a whisper. "There's an attack at the temple.... Rei's grandfather... he's dead."
--End Chapter 5.
I'm soooo sorry that took so long! Really, I am! Now that I'm not too interested in my Sailor Moon fiction anymore, it's hard to write something that you all won't throw pots and pans at ^^;;
If anyone reading this is a Harry Potter fan, make sure to check out my story "Lily Evans; A History" and the story I'm co-writing with Fleur: "Sirius Trouble". I promise they get updated more than this story does ^^;
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon or any of those characters, I do own this story line, please don't snag it or I'll be forced to beat you into a plup. ^-^
3 Bethany
02.16.03