PG -- Offensive language, violence

Una Salas Victus -- By Ravyn Knyght

As the evening drew to a close, everyone came out and took up spots on the high school's sportsfield to watch a fireworks display. As they all waited for it to begin something was screaming in Millennium's head that something was about to happen. He tried to ignore it so not to worry the young girls, but not even he knew that tonight would end on a far different note. "Look at that sky!" Lita remarked as Ken wrapped his arms around her and gazed at the stars with her. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the warm night air as they all turned their eyes upwards as the fireworks started. Raye and Chad were sitting in the bleachers as she glanced around to see everyone enjoying themselves. Lita was cuddling with Ken. Amy was trying to keep Greg's hands from taking to many liberties. Serena and Darien weren't paying attention to the fireworks display -- only to each other as they passionately kissed. Raye settled herself into her man's arms and watched the beautiful explosions fan out across the star filled heavens.

Millennium and Mina sat a few rows above Raye and Chad. Mina was dividing her time between admiring the colourful flashes, watching the two love birds below snuggle together, and wishing she had someone to do that with. Although he had feeling for Millennium, what he told her earlier on caused feelings of guilt to be mixed with feelings of love. She could help but feel that she would be betraying her former friend by getting involved with her husband. 'Well she's been dead for a while now...technically they're still married but that ended when she died...Just my luck! Some cute guy from my past is just a good friend!...Oh Mina just go for it!' she fought within herself. Holding her breath she hooked her arm in his and rested her head on his shoulder. She paused for a few moments, to see if he objected. 'Good! No objections!' she thought as she planned her next move. Millennium looked down at her and smiled as he freed his arm and put it around her pulling her close to him. She blushed a little as their eyes met and both of their thoughts wandered. A loud explosion snapped them back to reality.

They sat watching the display. Mina resting contentedly in his arms. Just then another powerful surge of dark energy made Millennium sit up and start actively scanning the crowds. The energy didn't go away this time. Mina saw the look on his face and got worried. "They're here. Find your friends and tell them to clear everyone out. I don't know what they're planning." he told her as he got up and searched for his three targets. Mina quickly found the others who also went searching for the remaining Shadows. "Here he comes." Norkai said. "Let's do it!" the three stated in unison. Millennium found them down on the track field. He quickly changed into his black attire and drew his sword. He sensed something dark and familiar about them. Some of the spectators noticed the group and wondered what was going on.

The scouts quickly gathered and tried to figure out a way to get everyone to leave. That problem was soon solved for them as Millennium and the Shadows started fighting. A huge ground shaking blast went off in front of the crowds. Several people were injured by the blast while others were hurt when they got trampled on by others trying to get away. Another series of powerful blasts went off as the four were now completely engaged. Millennium couldn't understand it as he struck Scortase point blank with a powerful engery blast that made the ground shake. The resulting blast waves shattered windows in the school and cars in the parking lot. The scouts got separtaed by the crazed students trying to escape the battle. Through the resulting dust clouds, Scortase charged through and knocked Millennium down as he took to the air and let loose with several devestating energy beams that tore up the ground. After the dust settled Millennium was crouched in the center of a crater that used to be the tracks' starting line and surrounding area.

Millennium was beside himself trying to understand how those three got so powerful. Within seconds the four were engaged in close combat, disregarding the well being of others around them. Finally Millennium got the better of Raamil and destroyed him with his Omni-Cresent attack. Millennium couldn't believe it took his second most powerful attack to destroy one of them. 'How is this possible! How did they get so strong!?' he wondered as Scortase and Norkai grabbed him and slammed him hard to the ground. While they fought, the scouts quickly transformed and headed out to the field to assist him.

"Get out of here!" he roared at them. His tone made them stop dead in their tracks. "Just get everyone out of here!" he said as he tried to deflect a combined energy blast from the two remaining fighters. The blast pushed him back as he dug his feet into the ground and reflected the awesome bolt of energy upwards. The scouts did as he asked and helped some of the ones that were hurt escape. "We've got to help him!" Venus cried wanting to do more than just watch. "We can't!" Sailor Moon told her, "I hate to say it but those guys are fighting in a league of their own!". They all lost their footing when another blast went off that seemed to shake the planet itself.

"Omni-Cresent-Ultima!" Millennium called as he summoned up all his power into the most devastaing attack he had taking aim at Norkai and Scortase. The attack hit them both and destroyed them. Millennium collapsed to the ground exhausted from the fight, but something was screaming inside of him that this battle was far from over. Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and the two dogs showed up to help with the evacuation. Dischord and Malice rushed to Millennium as did Venus and Sailor Moon. "Are you all right?" they asked but Millennium didn't answer. 'This isn't right! Something worse is on it's way!', "Get out of here now!" he yelled at them both. His enraged state scared them. "But the fight's over. You beat them!" Sailor Moon said with a smile as the two blondes congratulated him. He pushed them away and demanded they leave now. His actions confused them.

Where the three warriors once stood were three Dark Crystal heart crystals. Each one emanating a dark, powerful evil concious. Then Millennium looked in horror at his own Dark Crystal shard to see that it had turned into a complete heart crystal. It flew from his hands and joined the other three. In a blinding flash, the four became one super Dark Crystal heart crystal. That presence Millennium felt earlier in battle was now stronger than ever. "Valshir!" he stammered as he glared at the floating crystal. Soon, black clouds covered the clear skies as a severe thunder storm broke out. Mars screamed as she fell over clutching her head in her hands. The dark power that was building was too much for her to take and she fell unconcious as Jupiter caught her. Pluto spoke up. "Listen! We have to get out of here now!" and ordered the other scouts to leave with her. Dischord and Malice stood ready by their handler. "He's gonna need time to build his power up!" Dischord shouted, "We have to hold him off until then!" Malice added.

They all stood and stared at what happened next. A body was slowly being constructed around the heart crystal. "Attack the heart crystal now!" Millennium ordered the two dogs and they did so. Their attacks were futile as the body kept rebuilding itself. The scouts stared in disbelief at a large skeletal structure that stood before them. Soon internal organs were forming and and next the muscular structure. Within a matter of minutes a grotesque creature was towering over them all. "My God..." Uranus gasped at the savage creature standing before them. Huge bone-like horns protuding from the sides of his head. Another formed above the beast's mouth. like a rhino horn. Dark brown skin covered an impressive muscle structure. The beast had monsterous hands and cloven hoof-like feet. A pair of the blackest wings emerged from his back and stretched out towards the darkened skies. As they flapped they caused large gusts of wind that almost knocked the scouts over. Blood dripped from his spear like teeth as he let out a blood curdling growl as a long reptile-like tail whipped around.

Millennium stared with disgust at the beast before him, as it checked over its body. Although still severely weakened from his recent battle, Millennium rose to his feet and prepared to attack. "Hang back for a while! You're not ready!" Dischord pleaded sensing Millennium's power was greatly depleated. He didn't listen as he charged forward with sword drawn only to be knocked back with a powerful tail swipe from Valshir. "Come on!" Venus cried rushing towards the beast only to be restrained by Pluto and Neptune. "Damn it! We have to help him!" she screamed trying to break free. "We can't! If we do we'll be killed!" Neptune told her. All they could do was watch.

Another failed attempt by Millennium sent him hard to the ground. The two dogs took up position in front of him and sent two powerful blasts towards Valshir who easily deflected them. Valshir flapped his massive wings again and the resulting gust knocked the two dogs back. Millennium rose up again to attack. This time Valshir grabbed Millennium from the air in one of his massive hands and started squeezing the immortal. All the scouts shuddered as Millennium screamed in pain as Valshir squeezed and twisted his body. A cold cruel smile appeared on Valshir's face as he heard Millennium's bones break. Calling on all of his remaining power, Millennium failed to free himself from his torturer's grasp. He slammed Millennium into the ground then followed up with several heavy punches that embedded Millennium in the ground.

Valshir then tossed Millennium's battered body into the air and as he plummeted to the earth he was impaled on Valshir's facial horn. Everyone looked away from the sight of Millennium's lifeless body hanging from the beast's horn. Valshir flung Millennium off and to the ground. Not able to stand the sight of his master being torn apart anymore, Malice charged forward. "Malice! No!" screamed Dischord. "You can't do that to the boss!" Malice roared as he lunged at Valshir only to be snatched from the air and crushed in Valshir's hands. His crumpled, broken body fell to the ground as Vashir turned his attention back to the unconcious Millennium. He stalked his way towards his helpless victim and continued his assault. Over and over again Valshir's hoof stomped Millennium's body further into the ground. Jupiter and Uranus winced with each blow, Venus and Mercury turned away not able to watch the barbaric assault. Sailor Moon stared with tears streamaing down her face unable to say a word, unable to move, Tuxedo Mask then turned her away from the sadistic scene. Neptune was helping Mars into their car, anything to keep herself from watching what was going on.

When the beast was satisfied with what he had done he stretched his wings out once more and flew off into the night. Pluto rushed out to where Millennium was laying but quickly looked away fighting the urge to vomit at the sight of Millennium's shredded body. Nearby, Dischord tried to comfort a crippled Malice. "Somebody help!" she cried out as Uranus came over. "He's dying! Quick, load him up in your car and head back to the mansion! Hotaru is the only one who can save him now!" the terrified dog pleaded and Uranus complied. Tuxedo Mask made his way over to the grave-like crater that Millennium lay in. He took his cape off and covered the battered mess that used to be the Negaverse prince. "He'll be fine. He's regenerating his wounds as we speak. We should get him out of here to a safer location. It will take some time for these injuries to heal." Pluto told him as they carefully lifted Millennium's lifeless body out of his shallow grave.

After avoiding the arriving police, the scouts quickly made they're way back to the Tomoe mansion. Amara broke speed records as she raced through the streets while a battered and bloody Malice was stretched across Michelle and Raye's laps. His breaths were getting shorter and shallower, and the two women wondered if they would make it in time for Hotaru to do anything. Michelle looked down at the battered mess and wondered if Hotaru would be of any use considering Malice's state. Elsewhere the other scouts were in a state of shock over the current events. None of them could rid themselves of the horrifiying scene they had just witnessed. After transforming, their dates picked them up and at their request drove them home. When they were dropped off they converged on the Tomoe Mansion.

"REENY! HOTARU!" Dischord shrieked as she ran through the mansion trying to find them. Hearing the comotion they came out of Hotaru's bedroom and met the emotionally unhinged animal. "Quick! Come downstairs! Malice needs help!" she cried and sped off with them close behind. When they reached the main hallway Reeny screamed at the sight of Malice lying in a pool of his own blood. "What happened!" she demanded as Dischord lead a frightened Hotaru to Malice. "Hey stupid! Hang in there! You'll be as good as new in no time! Just don't die, okay?" Dischord comforted the dying animal. "Hotaru do as we taught you on how to heal something that's hurt. Okay!" Dischord said in a panick. Suddenly Hotaru couldn't move. The sight of Malice scared her into a state of shock. Dischord nipped the child on the arm snapping her back to reality. "DO IT NOW!" the dog screamed at the child. Dischord's tone and the sight of Malice was upsetting her greatly. Hotaru held her trembling hands over Malice's prone body and soon a silver-white light was surrounding him. "That's it! Now try to sense where he hurt's the most and concentrate on those areas first!" Dischord's voice softened as she instructed Hotaru in what to do.

After twenty minutes the majority of Malice's wounds were healed, the rest he could manage on his own. The healing drained Hotaru greatly and she collapsed unconcious into Michelle's arms. By then all the other scouts had arrived at the mansion. Michelle carried Hotaru back to her room and put her to bed and told Reeny to stay with her. Amara moved Malice to an empty guest room and placed the unconcious animal on the bed with Dischord staying close by him. The scouts gathered in the den to discuss what they would do next.

"It was such a sharp contrast. Millennium defeated Neo Ravyn so easily, even when she tried to use the Dark Crystal she was no match. But Raamil, Norkai and Scortase were just as strong as Millennium. How could they do what they did without using the Dark Crystal? Millennium said that he was immune to it but tonight..." Amy said aloud thinking of the gruesome battle that just took place. "They weren't using the Dark Crystal. The Dark Crystal was using them." Trista's words were always cryptic, but no one had the time to think about what she meant. "Quit the cryptic mumbo jumbo! Tell us what happened!" Serena demanded the mysterious woman to clarify her statement. "Raamil, Norkai and Scortase removed their own heart crytals and replaced them with their Dark Crystal shards. The shards reformed themselves into heart crystals by feeding off of them. Each one represented a Valshir. Once they joined it was like four Valshirs becoming one, making himself four times stronger." Trista explained her previous answer.

"This is a serious problem!" Luna stated. She knew tht the scouts didn't stand a chance against such a powerful monster as Valshir even if he was running on one quarter of his new found power. "We were saving these until you really needed them. It looks like that time has come." Artemis said as he produced a set of new transformation wands for the scouts. Each one had both their respective planets and symbols on them. The girls looked at them while counting. "There's eight wands but only seven of us." Serena stated picking up the last wand after everyone took theirs. "I know it's not mine..." then a thought hit her, Hotaru. She looked at her gaurdian. "Luna, why did you and Artemis take out Hotaru's wand? She's far too young to be involved in this." she questioned the cat. "In case you can't stop this creature then it may be necessary to activate the Sailor of Destruction." the cat stated remorsefully. "But she's just a child!" Michelle spoke up afraid Hotaru might get hurt. "She's a Sailor Scout first, everything else comes last." Amara's own words hurt her, she didn't want Hotaru involved either but if it came down to it she wouldn't interfere.

Reeny listened outside the door, almost in tears. She didn't want her best friend to be involved in this battle. She decided then and there to take drastic measures. She quickly ran back to Hotaru's room before the others noticed her eaves dropping. As she watched Hotaru sleep, her mind was racing a mile a minute. She thought that when Serena figured it all out then that would change the future. Instead, it looked like it would still be set in stone for Hotaru to kill Millennium. 'I've got to do something!' she screamed to herself. She laid down next to Hotaru and put her arm around her, 'I won't let it happen! I can't let it hapen!' she thought to herself and drifted off to sleep. Before leaving Serena stopped in to check on her. She and Darien watched the two sleeping girls, "I hope they don't have to get involved. They deserve a life free of all this chaos." Serena sadly said remembering the last time Hotaru used her rebirth attack. Reeny was so depressed not being able to play with Hotaru the way she did before. Darien put his arms around her trying to comfort her. This was hard on him too. He thought about how happy Hotaru was. He hoped that she'd never be needed in that way again but the situation was beyond his control. The two feared for Reeny's safety as well, losing her was something neither of them could live with.

As the days went on the scouts did their best but even with their new powers, Valshir was a vile creature with surreal powers greater then their own. During one battle, Valshir shed a little light on a mystery no one ever thought about. "Mars-Flaming-Phoenix!" Mars's attack flew out engulfing the beast. "Jupiter-Chain-Lightning!" Jupiter's devastating attack joined her friend's. Even with their combined power, it barely made Valshir flinch. He stood before them roaring in laughter, their attacks did nothing to him. "Weak and pathetic. Like that worthless fool of a son of mine. You'll fall just like him!" Valshir gave a demonic laugh. The scouts were confused by his statement. 'What son?' Sailor Moon said as she prepared to use her Silver Crystal. Valshir saw the confused looks on their faces and laughed to himself. "I guess Millennium left that little skeleton buried deep in his closet from the looks on your faces! Didn't you ever stop to wonder why he took it upon himself to fight me alone?". The scouts stopped fighting and listened to his words.

"So he never mentioned I am his father?" Valshir laughed, "I'm hurt. Really I am. If it wasn't for me he wouldn't be here at all, and how does that ungrateful boy repay the one who gave him life and his life a purpose? He tries to kill me! I can't be too mad though. For in that he's like me, if only he'd come to his senses and join me. Who knows? Maybe I would have spared his whore's life!". A look of disgust and revolt came over the faces of the scouts. 'Beryl let this thing knock her up?' Jupiter thought while trying to keep from getting a mental image of the two. "I don't believe you!" Sailor Moon shouted defiantly and let a blast of energy fly out from her crystal. The huge creature roared out in pain. Everyone's eyes lit up when they saw that the Silver Crystal wounded him. Although he quickly recovered, the scouts knew now that Valshir could be hurt. Sailor Moon increased the power of the next energy blast and it sent Valshir back several steps. 'Damn that hurts!' Valshir thought as he retreated. Glad that the beast called it quits for now, the worn out scouts headed back to the Tomoe mansion. They had more than a few questions for the wounded prince.

Back at the mansion, Reeny slipped quietly into the room where Millennium was. He was still unconcious as he recovered slowly from his battle with Valshir. Reeny moved around quietly in case he would wake up, and found what was left of his coat. She rooted through the pockets until she found what she was looking for. "What are you doing in here?" Trista asked. Her sudden appearance startled her as she quickly stuffed her find into a back pocket. "I just wanted to see how Millennium was doing. That's all." she lied, Trista knew it. "I thought you were going to the park with Hotaru?" Trista asked giving Reeny a stern look. Reeny gave her one back, "We are. I just wanted to check up on him before I left." she stated innocently. Well get going then." Trista told her and Reeny quickly moved out of the room.

The scouts returned to the mansion to check up on Millennium to see if he was awake yet. To their disappointment he was still out cold. "When he wakes up he'll have some explaining to do." Amara said in a threatening tone. "If he let us help from the beginning this wouldn't have happened!" Michelle followed up. As everyone took turns berating him, Mina just looked at him lying in bed. She sat down next to him and took his hand in hers, her eyes never leaving his face. He looked so calm and relaxed, she never saw that look on his face before, she thought it suited him better than his usual demeanor. After some more harsh words were said, Mina decided that was enough. She shot up off the bed and started in on them. "Why don't you just back off!" she roared out at them, they all stood and stared with shock. "Standing around stipping him of his pride when he can't even defend himself against you all!" Mina's anger was boiling over. "This beast is here now because of him! This is his fault! He probably planned this whole thing from the start as far as I'm concerned. He didn't want us involved at all." Amara shot back, Mina went straight for her. "How dare you say such a thing! He had to watch that thing kill his wife for God's sake! Why would he want anything to do with that creature!? Besides, where the Hell were you all this time? Hmm? Playing with your little cars. I don't know why you and your little friend here went along with him in the first place. You've never taken orders from anyone but yourselves. Why didn't you two go out on your own for the Dark Crystal?" she said while shoving Amara. Michelle and Lita had to get between the two of them.

"Yeah, well, I didn't see you doing anything, except prance around him like a cheap slut!" Amara yelled. Mina lunged at Amara only to be held back by Lita. "All right! Enough!" Serena yelled trying to put an end to the fighting but Mina was far from finished, "And what about everybody else? Where were all of you?" she turned to her friends. "I didn't see any of you doing anything either! But you'll all stand around and take it out on him! Put all the blame on Millennium!" pointing to the man lying in bed. Trista stood silently during all of this until she had enough and ordered everyone out of the room. "I'm going to tell you all something here and now." Trista started, "Millennium didn't know that this was going to happen. I wasn't sure myself until the last minute. Not even I knew that the crystals could be used in such a way. Me, the Gaurdian of Time, didn't know. So how could Millennium?" she said hoping that this would calm everyone down.

While the scouts planned their next move for when Valshir would show up, Reeny was taking Hotaru, Dischord and Malice to the park. Malice was running this way and that, just grateful that he was alive after almost being crushed to death in Valshir's hands. Hotaru was also glad to see the dog running around, and although she didn't admit it, Dischord was glad to have her partner back as well. "Throw the ball! Throw the ball!" Malice demanded bouncing up and down in front of the two girls. Hotaru giggled at Malice's enthusiasm as Reeny teased him with the ball. "She threw the ball!" Malice cried as he charged across the field after it. Dischord groaned at how simple minded he acted at times, but she'd gladly put up with his antics. At least she knew he was alive, as she decided to try to take the ball away from him. While the two dogs fought over the ball, Reeny sat down on a bench with Hotaru.

As the two girls watched the dogs, Reeny pulled out a picture and studied it. Hotaru was curious as to what the older girl was looking at and looked too. "Who's that?" she asked Reeny. She'd be in trouble if Trista found out but she didn't care. "That's your mama." she told the little girl. "Auntie Michelle said she died after I was born." Hotaru said sadly. "Why did mommy and daddy have to die? Why did they leave me?" Hotaru asked, Reeny didn't know how to answer. "They didn't want to leave you, Hotaru. I'm sure of it. Sometimes things happen that you don't understand. When you're older you will understand things like this." Reeny told the child, Hotaru just sat quietly staring at the old photo. While the two dogs continued to fight, Reeny started telling Hotaru everything she knew about her mother.

A few days later Millennium recovered and was being berated by Amara and Michelle for his failure. Mina came over that day and saw what they were putting him through. Millennium wasn't even trying to defend himself, he just stood there hanging his head shamefully agreeing with everything Amara and Michelle were saying about him. Mina had had enough of those two. "You don't have to take that!" she snapped as the two women turned to see her coming in. She quickly took him by the arm and started leading him away. "Come on! You can stay at my place for now! It's got to be better then here!" she said giving cold looks to the two older women. "Why don't the two of you get a life instead of living off of other people's money!" Mina shot at them, 'Yeah! That was a good one!' she thought to herself as she dragged the depressed man along.

"They're right you know. This was my fault." he said as they walked along. Mina shook her head. "No. They're not! You did everything you could back there. You didn't know that was going to happen." she assured him. Right now Millennium was doubting why he ever started this insane quest to save his people, because right now it seemed hopeless. "You're awfully quiet. What are you thinking?" Mina asked him. "That I never should have tried to rid my people of Valshir's control." he said thinking of how messed up things have been since the start. "Don't talk like that! What you are doing is very important. You are giving your people a chance at freedom. A life free of hate and evil. Don't stop because of a few set backs. Right now you are their only hope!" he looked at the woman. "A few set backs?" he questioned, "Ever since I started, I've done nothing but make one mess after another. I failed at everything I set out to do."

Mina grabbed him by the arm and turned to face her. "That is a lie! You haven't failed at anything!" she tried to convince him that he was wrong in his line of thinking. "Yes I have! If I sided with Valshir over a thousand years ago none of this would be happening! Azura would be alive. I chose my foolish little crusade over the lives of my own wife and child!" Mina interupted his pity party for one. "If you did fail, Hotaru wouldn't be here, Queen Serenity would have never defeated Beryl. None of us would be here either! We'd all be dead now! We owe our lives to you! If you didn't defeat the Valshir from a thousand years ago Earth wouldn't exist as we know it now. Because you chose to fight him, Beryl and her generals did not have Valshir's dark power to draw on to be victorious. So what if you got there too late to prevent the attack. At least you gave everyone a window of opportunity, a chance at survival." she hoped what she was telling him wasn't falling on deaf ears.

Millennium listened and thought about what Mina said, it all sounded good at the time but he still wasn't sure of himself, of his abilities. He wasn't sure if he had the heart to go on with the battle. He'd been fighting for too long and was now loosing his fire, his passion for doing what he thought was right. He found himself listening to people like Amara and Michelle and believing what they said about him. Maybe they were right? He kept them all out of the loop because he thought he was doing the right thing. Now he was no longer sure what the right thing was anymore. He looked at Mina and saw someone that believed in him, but just her believe wasn't enough. "Sometimes survival isn't enough. I don't know what's right anymore. I don't know if I can go on with this." he told her. Mina could see the look of defeat in his eyes, his voice and on his face. He was giving up. After everything he suffered, he was giving up the fight and letting Valshir defeat him.

Mina was outraged. "So that's it? You're just going to walk out on everyone? Tell me where are you going to walk out to? No matter where you go this will follow you! Just run away and not bother to clean up your little mess, is that it? Leave it for someone else? Let it be someone else's problem? To Hell with the world! It's not my problem anymore!" Mina berated him. "I'm tired." was his weak reply. Mina slapped him. "You're a coward! That's what you are!" she raged, this struck a nerve within Millennium. "How dare you call me that! I've been in battles that would make the bravest of men piss themselves!" he shot back as his anger got the better of him. 'Good! Get mad! Fight! Fight me, fight yourself, fight Valshir! Just fight! Don't give up!' Mina thought as she continued her attack. "That's the only name for someone who would abandon their only child and leave her for dead!" she snapped. This pushed Millennium over the edge. He grabbed her by her arm and started in on her. "I gave her up so she'd have a chance at a normal life! So she wouldn't be dragged into my battles. Everything I did was to protect her! Everything I did was for her!" he roared out, his tone intimidated Mina a little but she continued. "If you walk out now Azura's death will be for nothing! If you walk out now then everything you've done for Hotaru will be for nothing! She'll get dragged into this, be forced to use her rebirth attack and be forced to start all over again. But what if there's no one here for her when that happens? Who will care for her then?"

Mina was making him rethink his earlier decision to give up. She was right, about everything. If he walked away now it would just get worse. He'd be letting Azura's memory down by letting their daughter face Valshir alone. He would not walk out on his only child, if it came to it he would be there for her if no one else was left in the end. He released his grip on the angry blonde. "I told you before! Stay out of this! Valshir is my problem, no one else's!". With that he left to find Valshir. Although she almost had her arm ripped off mina was happy with herself and what she accomplished. As she rubbed her arm she heard a clapping sound from behind her. She turned to find Trista standing there giving her a one person standing ovation. "You'll make one helluvan actress! I didn't think anyone could pull him out of that fall." a blushing Mina accepted Trista's praise for a job well done. "We have a meeting to attend." she said and the two headed off to the Cherry Hill temple.

"We've analysed the data Amy gathered during your fights with Valshir and both Artemis and I believe we have no choice to to activate Sailor Saturn." The cats words outraged Amara and Michelle who feared for the girl's safety. "But you can't send a four year old to fight something like that!" Lita pleaded afraid what Valshir would do to Hotaru. "Isn't there any other way Luna?" Serena asked hoping that there were still a few options to run out. The cat shook her head, "Even with your new powers, you are not enough to defeat him. Both you and Reeny using your Silver Crystals would drain you both too much and may even kill you." the cat sadly reported. "If Saturn cannot defeat Valshir, at least she'll weaken him enough for us to possibly defeat him." There was a lack of optimism in Luna's voice. "Sailor Pluto will use her time advance technique to age Hotaru to sixteen years of age. We've told Dischord and Malice to step up her training once the aging process is finished. We think that if we build up Hotaru's power then she'll be an equal match for Valshir." Artemis stated. No one liked this plan of action. They were treating Hotaru as if she was a disposable person. "Use her and forget her. Is that what we are supposed to do?" Serena said bitterly thinking how much this was going to upset Reeny.

Raye turned to Amy who was quiet, even for her standards. "What are you thinking?" she asked her friend. Amy thought for a moment then replied, "Una salas victus.". Her words completely baffled everyone. "Amy are you feeling all right?" Serena asked feeling her forehead. "You must really be sick or something! We didn't understand a word you just said!". Many things Amy said would always fly over Serena's head but this time everyone was looking up as well as Amy's words went sailing over their heads. Amy blushed her embarassment. She knew the girls didn't like her using phrases that they didn't understand, especially Serena. "I was thinking about what Serena said about Hotaru. Una salas victus is a latin phrase that means - The one hope of the doomed is not a hope for safety." Serena still had a hard time grasping the concept so Amy broke it down further for her. "I don't think it would be a good idea to start off our fight with our big guns. If Hotaru isn't enough, we'll be leaving ourselves wide open." Serena understood that. So did everyone else, who quickly agreed with Amy's statement. But at the present they had no real choice.

No one noticed, but outside the meeting room Reeny listened in on their entire conversation. She silently fought back her tears as she desparately tried to figure a way to keep Hotaru safe. Hotaru was listening with Reeny but couldn't hear much of what was being said. "Reeny. What were they talking about?" she asked her friend. Reeny said nothing, just wiped away a few tears. "Why are you crying?" was Hotaru's next question. "It's nothing for you to worry about." she forced the words out. She lied to the little girl not wanting her to worry. As hard as she tried, Reeny realized that nothing she could do now would make a difference. All she could do was stand by and watch it happen all over again. She quickly and quietly lead Hotaru away so the others wouldn't see them hanging around.



--End of Part Four--

--Coming soon, Finale: Faith Of The Heart--

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