…The Fall of the Silver Millennium…

Beth watched grimly as the Negaverse forces hovered near her home planet. They were visible only by the unusual light they gave off. No dust or ash moved; the wind on Proteus had stilled, as if sensing what was about to happen.

Beth's second-in-command, a man named Toru, came to her side. "Guardian Proteus, what should we do?"

The woman sighed. Everyone called her Guardian Proteus, even when she wasn't in Senshi form. "Get the troops ready. We have ships coming from all over the solar system with refugees. Those from Pluto arrived a while ago, and we have some from Neptune and Uranus, too. A Saturnian ship is coming in, working on avoiding being seen by the Dark Kingdom. The refugees from the Inner part of the System have already arrived, and are in the forts on the other satellites. The Terrestrials of Earth are too thick-headed to realize what is happening."

Toru nodded in agreement. "They are a bit daft." He said. "I'll start gathering those that are going to the Home Planet. The soldiers that are staying here are meeting in the mess hall and some of them are helping refugees settle in the bunkers. Food supplies are good, and our underground crops are doing well."

"Take half of those that are leaving onto the Jovian battle craft Thunder-strike. I'll follow with the rest in the Sea-breeze." Beth said. She turned to see the Guardian of Proteus, Deathdancer. "Yes?"

"The Dark Kingdom forces are in position, and they are demanding that the ruling families of Neptune and Uranus be turned over." The winged horse said.

"Over my dead body."

***

"Queen Beryl." Jadeite stood in front of the ruler of the Negaverse, Queen Beryl. "Are forces are ready to attack at your command."

"Not yet." Beryl said, deep in thought. "I want the royal families of Uranus and Neptune brought here first."

"We have ordered that they be turned over, but the Uranians and Neptunians are refusing to comply." Jadeite said. "Some of the men just want to destroy them and get it over with so we can get to the Moon Kingdom faster."

Beryl smiled evilly. "But where's the fun in that? I want the rulers of Uranus and Neptune to watch their precious planets destroyed, then I'll kill their children, then the old ones last." She drummed her fingers on the armrest of her throne. "If you must, go and capture them."

"Yes, Queen Beryl." Jadeite bowed, then quickly left the room.

***

Sailor Proteus, Deathdancer, and a baby Gurlox that Proteus had affectionately named Wrenion watched as the Jovian battleship Thunder-strike lifted of the surface of the satellite and was piloted towards the Home Planet, Neptune. "Well." Proteus said with a sigh. "I guess this will decide the future, eh?"

Wrenion squeaked, tail twitching wildly. She was obviously anxious; Proteus had discovered that most members of the Gurlox race become extremely violent at some point in their baby stage, and can at times be as dangerous as an adult Gurlox. Fortunately, since Proteus had raised Wrenion from an egg, she and anyone close to her were in no danger. The hatchling new who to attack, and apparently she was very ready to go.

Dancer laughed. "The little pip squeak is ready to go, so I suppose I am as well. I need to watch from the security room."

Proteus nodded. She bent down to Wrenion's eye level, which was just above her waist. "Listen to me, now, little one." Proteus said. Wrenion paid close attention. "If anything goes wrong on Neptune, I want you to turn tail and get back here, alright? Other Gurlox's are already living near the other satellite forts, and this group here on Proteus may need your help. Until then, you show those Dark Soldiers how sharp a Gurlox's teeth really are, alright?" Proteus was rewarded with a toothy grin and eager stomps. "It's settled, then. Let's get to the Sea-breeze."

***

"Give it up!" Jadeite bellowed as he and Neflyte chased after a young girl with long green hair. The girl screamed as she was seized by the wrists, and Neflyte held her tightly.

"Let my sister go!" A yell came as Sailor Neptune jumped from above and delivered a kick to Neflyte's jaw. The man cursed as blood poured out of his split lip. His grip loosened on Michiru's younger sister, and the girl squirmed free. "Run, Sarah!" Neptune yelled as she lashed out at Jadeite. Sarah turned and fled down the hall, disappearing through a door.

Jadeite ducked the attack, then came back with a blast of dark energy. The blast hit Neptune in the chest, knocking her back and against the wall. "I'll kill you, you little wretch." He hissed.

"Stand in line, Jadeite." Neflyte muttered. "I want to thank her for this bloody mouth." He grabbed Neptune by her hair and slammed her head into the wall. Neptune cringed, holding her bruised head in her hands.

"Leave her alone!" A furious shout came. "URANUS WORLD SHAKING!" A ball of yellow energy flew through the air, narrowly missing Neflyte. Sailor Uranus stood before them, scowling, as she raised her Space Sword into the air. "SPACE SWORD BLASTER!" The energy blast hit Neflyte in the gut, knocking the breath out of him.

Suddenly, a chirping sound was heard down the hall. The four fighters turned to see a white and brown baby Gurlox, about a meter tall. The build was definitely feminine, but the females were the ones to be scared of. "What the hell…" Jadeite stared at the creature. "What is that thing?"

"It's a Gurlox." A voice replied. "They're very vicious creatures, really. This one's only a few months old, and they come from eggs the size of a chicken's." Sailor Proteus stepped out from behind a pillar. "I raised this one from an egg. The baby's are just as deadly as the adults, if someone manages to raise one correctly. Wrenion here seems to be pretty irked that you've tried to hurt the royal family. I guess you'll have to run pretty fast."

Neflyte gulped, glancing at Wrenion's sharp claws and teeth. Wrenion grinned toothily, revealing even more of the sharp points. The dark general backed up a few steps, then spun around and ran the opposite direction. Wrenion glanced up at Proteus, and with a nod from her 'mother', the Gurlox took off after him, jumping onto the wall and running on all fours along it like an insect. "Did I mention they can climb like spiders?" Proteus called after the man as he ran for all he was worth.

Proteus shook her head, then knelt down beside Neptune. "Let me see." Proteus said, gingerly removing Neptune's hands from her head. Uranus knelt next to them to see the wound for herself. A small trickle of blood ran down the side of Michiru's face from under her hair. "It's only slight." Proteus said. "It should clot in a moment. It will be sore, though."

"Fooled me…" Neptune groaned. Proteus just rolled her eyes, then kissed her friend on the forehead while Uranus grinned a very familiar grin.

The sound of a man clearing his throat caused the three to look up. "That was a rather touching moment, seeing as how you three care for one another so much, but I must break up this little party."

"Who are you to think you can tell us what to do?" Proteus spat, standing up.

"I am Jadeite, and I've been ordered to capture the royal families of Uranus and Neptune." Jadeite said. "And I believe that would include Sailor Uranus and Neptune."

Proteus stared at Jadeite for a moment before her eyes narrowed. "I know you… You're the man who murdered my father."

"Who?" Jadeite asked, raising an eyebrow before noticing the striking resemblance between Proteus and William Timberlin. "Oh… Willy Timberlin was your father? Hmm, you do resemble him a bit. You are his daughter, perhaps?"

"His only child." Proteus growled. She took out her Kama and stood to face him. "You murdered my father and took away my family. I won't let you get away with that."

Jadeite smirked. "Of course, girl. Tell you what. Give me Sailor Uranus and Neptune, and I'll let you take a couple swings at me, hm?"

Proteus stared at him for a moment, then spat at his feet. "I'll be dead before I do that. I'll kill you myself!" She lunged at Jadeite, her Kama blades flashing through the air. Jadeite drew his sword in time to block the attack, and returned it with his own. "Uranus! Neptune! Get out of here!" Proteus yelled as she swung again.

Uranus looked between the fight and her lover, then quickly picked up Neptune. "No! Proteus!" Neptune screamed as Uranus carried her away as fast as she could.

I'm sorry, my Princess. Proteus thought as she attacked Jadeite with her Demon Gale attack. I don't want you to see me when I die. And I know I will die.

***

The planets of Uranus and Neptune had been conquered, and the planets themselves were slowly crumbling and turning to gas. The majority of the royal families had been captured, and only a few were still alive and free.

Beth was on her back, blood pouring from her stomach. Jadeite, after receiving a rather nasty gash, had thrust his sword into Proteus' gut, and twisted it. The fatal wound was releasing blood, and Beth knew she wouldn't last much longer.

A soft chirp caused Beth to turn her head slightly. Wrenion was crouched next to her, nudging her with her snout, trying to get her up. "No, small one." Beth whispered hoarsly. "I cannot leave. I know I have failed, and the Outer Planets have fallen… I could not protect my Princesses…" Tears streamed from her eyes, but she made no sound.

Wrenion squeaked sadly, and nudged Beth again. "No… you must get back to Proteus. Make sure Dancer knows what happened." Beth murmured. She had begun to lose feeling in her body. She knew it wouldn't be much longer.

"Proteus… Beth." A new voice caught Beth's attention. Beth and Wrenion looked to see Uranus carrying the limp body of Sailor Neptune.

"Neptune… Princess." Beth gasped. "No…"

"She's alive, just unconscious." Uranus said. She sat down next to Beth, showing her that Michiru was still breathing. "We managed to chase off Jadeite and Neflyte. Wrenion left quite a mark on Neflyte." She chuckled, then coughed. She spat a stream of dark blood from her mouth before continuing. "When I saw Jadeite was there, Neptune and I knew… we knew you had lost…"

Neptune stirred slightly. "Uranus? Proteus?" She slowly opened her eyes, and saw the hole in Beth's stomach. "Oh god…" She tried to move, and Uranus helped so that the three of them were sitting or laying next to one another, depending on the other's state. Wrenion whined, then curled up next to Beth and Uranus.

"Wrenion, go back to Proteus." Beth ordered. Wrenion shook her head, firmly against leaving her family.

The soft clicking of hooves on the stone floor alerted the four. They looked up to see Dancer, slightly battered wings folded close to his body. "Lady Proteus… Neptune, Uranus…" He panted. "Beth, the force fields around the forts are active. Nothing will get past them." Beth opened her mouth to say something, but was quickly interrupted by the Pegasus. "No, I know what you are going to say." He said, laying down behind the three women, furling a wing around them. "I won't leave."

Beth sighed, defeated. "I didn't want anyone to see me die…"

Neptune grasped Uranus' hand in one of hers, and Beth's in her free one. "We're all going to die. We might as well be together when we do."

"We did our best." Uranus said as the ground began to shake. "Let us hope that the Moon Kingdom will be safe.

A blue gas had begun to cloud the area, starting at the ceiling and working its way down. Dancer furled his wings tighter around those around him, and tucked his head against Uranus' stomach. Wrenion scooted closer to the women, and Neptune held Beth and Uranus tight as the gas surrounded them, choking off their oxygen. None of them choked or coughed, refusing to give in to the fumes. One by one, their life forces left their bodies, pulled by the power of the ginzuisho, the Silver Imperium Crystal. And one by one, their eyes closed. Each and every one of them still sat there, huddled together. Even their bodies refused to relax and leave the others.

And there they died. Princess Haruka of Uranus, Princess Michiru of Neptune, Deathdancer the Pegasus, Wrenion the Gurlox, and the Guardian Senshi Beth of Proteus left their bodies, called by the ginzuisho.

They left to be reborn into the future, on the planet Earth.