Of Sunrays and Moonbeams

A Sailor Moon/Lord of the Rings fic

Author: Celestial DreamBlaze

Parting ways and new adventures
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::eyes are popped up:: WAI!!! ::tears form:: I broke hundred!! Thank you minna ::hugs reviewers::, you made my day.

I LOVE ALL OF YOU READERS 'SPECIALLY THE REVIEWERS!!!

I hope you like this chapter, some of you might be disappointed later.

Disclaimer: own squat

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The Hobbits and Usagi parted ways with Tom Bombadil at the borders of his country.

They continued towards Bree.

"I can't wait to get to the Prancing Pony, I'm starved," exclaimed Pippin.

Usagi giggled and shook her head. "Your always hungry," she giggled some more, it was weird for HER to be saying it to someone else, it was always the other way around.

"Well you are too," stated Pippin as if it was only too obvious.

"I am no..," stomach grumbles, she smiled sheepishly, "I guess I am."

"Then lets hurry," this came from Merry, the hobbit wasn't acting the way he was named, the opposite in fact.

"Quit bickering," said Frodo tiredly, he wanted to rest, "we're almost there."

The rest became quiet, obeying Frodo.

Usagi looked at her companions, there was more to them that met the eye.

Sure, she had never seen a hobbit before but she was pretty sure that the four stood out more than the rest. Especially Frodo.

There was something about him that made him special. Like, she mentally groaned, Destiny and Fate made a special tapestry just for him.

Who knows, she thought worriedly, maybe it was true.

They arrive to the entrance of Bree.

The gate was locked.

Behind the gate, there was a man sitting at the post.

After talking to the man, they were allowed in. For a minute there, the group thought they wouldn't be let in, the man seemed suspicious of them, and asked many questions they were uncomfortable to answer.

Even as they parted from the man, Frodo saw the man still looked at them, speculating why they were truly there.

As the man went back inside, Frodo faced forward heading towards the drinking hole.

What they didn't see was a mysterious figure go over the gate and disappear into darkness of the village street.

The five made their way to the Prancing Pony recommended by Tom.

As they reached their destination Usagi said, "You guys go in, I need to look around."

The Hobbits looked at her curiously, why would she go out after dark?

Seeing the Hobbits looked at her strangely, she gave them a small smile and disappeared into the alleys of Bree.

The hobbits looked at each other. "What was that all about?"

"I don't know Merry, maybe Usagi isn't as wholesome as we thought her to be," Frodo answered, unsure.

The others looked at each other uncomfortably, what if she was from the dark side? Had they just gone and traveled with their enemy? As much as they thought this, a part of them refused to believe that, but her actions were mysterious and Usagi offered no answer.

They didn't know anymore.

Usagi looked around, a dark cloak covering her form. She needed to find a secluded place.

She spotted an empty alley that seemed sufficient to hide in; she made sure no one saw her, before she entered.

A dark figure hidden behind the stairs of a house watched her creep around, following her actions, frowning all the while. The figure, after seeing her disappear into the alley, turned around and headed towards the Prancing Pony.

Usagi pulled down her hood, she sighed, "Pluto, please come forth."

She waited for a minute, till swirls of dark black and purple formed and a portal appears in front of her, Pluto stepped forward and bowed.

Sighing again, she said, "Please Puu, don't bow."

Pluto stood up. "What is it you wish Sere," she questioned.

Usagi seemed tired.

"How's Ru doing?"

Pluto smiled gently, Usagi's question sounded so desperate and sad. "She is doing alright your majesty."

Usagi shook her head. "No formalities Puu," she paused, with a look of uncertainty, she continued, "Is she mad at me?"

Usagi bowed her head awaiting the answer, Pluto replied, "No, just sad that you are gone."

Although she was glad that her baby wasn't mad, she was still depressed that she caused her to hurt.

"I miss her," Usagi quietly sniffled.

"I know you do princess," Pluto just smiled at Usagi when her princess's head shot up and scowled at her.

Sitting on a box of crates, she put her head in her hands she says, "I don't know what to do.

"I have no hope in finding Ro, it's been seventy four years he is an old man or maybe…" Usagi cringed, "…dead. What would it feel like if your sister who had been missing for seven decades appeared again not having aged as much as she should have," bitter smile, "he'd probably have a heart attack.

"I wish I could see him again."

As Pluto listened to Usagi's rant, she smiled mysteriously; at least her princess would have one joy out of this dangerous task.

"Sometimes I wish I could go back to Crystal Tokyo, as much as I find happiness in returning to Middle Earth my heart aches at being apart from Ru."

Pluto smiled more, maybe, if she had anything to do with it, Usagi could see Hotaru sooner than Usagi wished.

Usagi got up from the crate she'd been sitting on. "I guess I better go, I need to find directions on how to get to Gondor.

"As much as I dread going back there, I feel that is the only place I will get the proper information of the dark deeds the Dark Lord is expelling on Middle Earth."

Usagi hugged Pluto. "Thanks for seeing me Puu, I was getting kind of lonely," she said into the senshi's shoulder, "tell Ru I love her."

Pluto said, "Good luck princess, and I will."

The Time Guardian entered through her portal and left Usagi alone.

Trudging back to the Prancing Pony, she returned upon seeing the Hobbits have gone. Smiling sadly, regretful that she wasn't able to say goodbye to her little friends, she asks the owner of the establishment for rooming.

Usagi got to her room and fell asleep, today was a tiring day.

Her dream returned to her, offering no escape to the darkness that seeped through.

~~~

Dark.

It was black everywhere. The flames of evil burned and scorched her. Running across the halls of open fire, Usagi sought freedom for light. She ran through the halls, as an unseeing foe chased her, the black flames licked like ice and scorched her like flames. The blackness was closing in, at one desperate attempt she enters a room that exuded evil, engulfed by a raging inferno. There, in the center of the room, held by a great dais, is a golden ring.

A ring of fire and power.

She walked up to it, transfixed at its beauty in such a sinister place. Unharmed, the untarnished ring gleamed with a unique smoothness that called out to her. She touched the ring, forgetting the evil that surrounded her. She screamed. Images of pain, death, famine, darkness, fear, invaded her thoughts that of a hundred times stronger than the room.

A dark creature, taller than she, encompassed her vision; he stretched its bloodied and charred hands toward her and grabbed the ring.

As he does so, the pain intensified as the dark figure's power swelled to newer and evil heights.

Usagi thought she would wake after this but no, it did not, the pain increased, the dark figure, she now identified as Sauron, the Dark Ring-lord, grabbed her. Enclosing her in his icy hands, his blood torched her skin and burned through her soul. Letting her go, she fell to the ground with a dull thud.

Sauron, satisfied that he had his ring back, gazed at her with a fiercely burning intensity; he grabbed hold of her again. The moment he touched her an earth-shattering scream filled the room. So delusional that she didn't realize it was her own scream.

~~~

Usagi gasped sweat beading down, she squints her eyes, it was morning. The dream lasted through the night, over and over, in a nightmarish hell.

Grabbing her head in pain, she moaned, as the fire that encompassed the room would not leave her. Kami, let it stop! Tears started to trail her face; it was too much, the pain hurt too much.

After about ten minutes, the searing pain stopped, regaining her strength, she shivered. Something wasn't right. Darkness had passed through while she had slept.

Getting dressed and fixing her hair she went downstairs to the main hall. Everything, on the surface, seemed all right, but the owner, Barliman Butterbur and his assistant Nob, seemed stressed and tired.

"Excuse me sir." she hesitated not wanting to bother the poor man. "But could you tell me what's wrong."

Barliman Butterbur frowned. "The horses and ponies have all gone, there is not one available in Bree and my customers are upset."

This news deeply unsettled Usagi, how was she going to get to Gondor now?

Usagi stayed for a couple of days, searching for people in Bree who'd be willing to part with their horses, if not, she'd have to walk it.

A few days later, an old man came to the Prancing Pony, she was curious, the old man; she now assumed was a wizard, seemed a little angry at Butterbur.

Watching from across the room, she saw Butterbur make a timid explanation and the wizard seemed to light up like a light bulb…

Going up to the old man she asked, "anno.. Um would you happen to have a horse you'd be willing to sell."

The wizard looks at her with sharp calculating eyes, then the eyes seemed to melt to kindness, "I'm sorry miss, I have none."

Gandalf watched the girl, his answer made the girl positively pitiful. He had the sudden urge to find out much about her and help her all he could.

This puzzled him so.

"May I ask what is your name child."

Usagi looks at the wizard, he seemed nice enough and trusting, "My name is Usagi, mister.... Err. Um.. May I ask what is yours?"

She giggled nervously.

Gandalf smiled at her, Usagi seemed like a delightful child and there was something he couldn't deny about her.

"I am known as Gandalf the Grey."

Usagi's eyes bulged out and turn to wonder, she heard of this wizard. So long had he been alive: filled with knowledge and wisdom, this man was good and did everything he could to help Middle Earth.

She was lucky to meet him.

"I am honored to meet you Gandalf." she bowed.

Gandalf was a bit puzzled; usually humans would look at him in fear and dislike. His powers were that of the 'unnatural' kind, or so the human's thought.

An idea formulated in Usagi's mind, if she asked Gandalf, for she knew he knew what was going on, then she wouldn't have to go to Gondor.

This greatly pleased her; she wouldn't have to travel all that way just to get information.

"Master Gandalf," she started in respect, "I have just arrived on Middle Earth, it seems to be in much turmoil, could you tell me what goes on?"

Gandalf shook his head. "Alas dear child, it is not a tale a person like you should know."

"But master I must know what ills the earth."

Gandalf looked at Usagi curiously, how could a human know what the earth holds?

"I am sorry child, the tale is too long and I must make haste and leave Bree."

Gandalf began to bid Usagi goodbye, but she interrupted before he could.

"Master Gandalf, would you humble me upon allowance to accompany you to your journey?"

Again, Gandalf's calculating eye studied and inspected Usagi, discerning whether or not she was really someone he could truly trust.

"Very well."

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Frodo walked deep in thought, they had reached a place called Weathertop, they were journeying towards Rivendell and it was a tiring job to do. He couldn't help but feel guilty that they had not brought Usagi with him; he actually felt he should have. Looking at Strider, he couldn't help but admire the man for helping them. Then again, there was something to Strider that radiated sadness, he wondered why. Thinking back, Usagi too, had that same feeling. He thought back to the day they left, he wished he at least said good-bye to the girl.

~~Flashback~~

The Hobbits had just taken a look from the room they were going to sleep in, but at the suggestion of Strider slept somewhere else, the beds were slashed and feathers were strewn around. It was fortunate for them that they followed Strider's advice for it saved their skin.

After they had gotten ready to leave, Strider said he would take them to Rivendell.

While they ate, Pippin asked, "What about Usagi? Shall she come with us too?"

This question had also been on Frodo's mind, and wished she could, "Let's bring he.."

"No."

The Hobbits looked to the person who answered. "I do not trust her," he continued.

Frodo frowned, "but Strider, she is a charming person, I am sure she would do us no harm."

Strider just shook his head. "There is something about her that I don't trust about her." He frowned once more, not knowing the words to describe her. "There is an aura about her I cannot identify. We cannot risk bringing someone that could be a threat to us."

Frodo didn't reply, guilty that they couldn't bring her. He looked at the remaining hobbits, the others looked saddened also, Usagi had been a fun person to travel with, and enjoyed her company.

~~End Flashback

Strider looked at Frodo, he somewhat admired Frodo's courage to bear the ring. The halfling didn't realize how hazardous his task was.

Thinking back to the mysterious companion of the Hobbits, Strider frowned. There was something about her, not only her unidentifiable aura, but there was something familiar...

No, he shook his head; it can't be her. She's probably dead, he thought sadly, or far away. She couldn't be young, not after four and seventy years. She did not have the ability to age slower as he had. He wished she did, alas it couldn't be, too many years have gone and he had lost hope of ever finding her.

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"MAMA!!"

The scream tore the quiet palace.

Hotaru sat gasping for breath, her mother was in trouble.

She had just witnessed the dream Usagi had just experienced only moments ago, only in a different place.

The dream… It was terrible. Hotaru thought, it was evil. Much stronger than Chaos, she reflected worriedly. She remembered Chaos, remembered the pain her mother went through when she was left alone in the end.

Then the senshi came back to her mother, all except her. She sensed, as she watched them, feelings of hurt that they she did not come back.

Especially her mama and the Outers.

She remembered the tears they'd cry in the solitude of their lives. She watched, as her 'parents' from her old life as Tomoe Hotaru and her current one as Tsukino Hotaru, continued to live with her disappearance.

She watched her mother cry in sorrow for no apparent reason.

Know she knew.

Her mother longed for home, her real home, in Middle Earth.

She had no problems with her mother going back, she just wanted to be with her.

Usagi was different from all her other parents in her other lives. She did not fear her like the Outers had done in the beginning, they had not kept her in an eternal sleep like the Royals of Saturn had done, again in fear, and she did not treat her differently and shelter her for her 'frailty' like her father in her previous life had done.

Usagi, her mother, treated her as an equal.

And yet, no one could amount as much as her mother. She had a pure heart: forgiving, loving, caring, understanding, wise, everything she wanted to be when she grew up.

As much as she wished to grow, she didn't want to if that meant being without her mother.

She wanted to be with her.

Now

As she finished that last thought, a bright white light encompasses her with shades of lavender and violet bursting forth.

She disappeared.

~~

Hotaru shivered and looked around, she been here, in her other life, but she remembered this place.

The Time Gates.

A chill of cold wind flowed out of nowhere, Hotaru wrapped her arms around herself in attempt for warmth.

She was in the Time Gates, in her nightgown no less!

What was she doing here?

"Hello Hime-chan," only a few called her that, and rightfully guessing her location, she gathered the speaker was Setsuna-mama or Pluto.

She turned around.

She was right.

Standing in front of her stood the ominous Time Guardian Pluto in all her glory, the domain in which she ruled was hers and hers alone, no one could get pass her.

Confused, she watched as the Time Guardian walked up to her, with a point of her staff, Hotaru was dressed in Elven robes with colors of violet, and lavender with a cloak of white.

"Why am I dressed like this?"

"Don't you want to see your mother?"

Hotaru's eyes widened, joy seeped through every single part of her body. Smiling giddily Hotaru jumped into Pluto's arms and hugged her. "Thank you Setsuna-mama!!"

Pluto just chuckled, she was glad for Hotaru.

She knew that she'd be taking Hotaru to a dangerous place, but she knew that Usagi would succeed more with having someone's love in Middle Earth*.

Usagi will protect Hotaru there better than anywhere else in the Cosmos.

"Sweetie, the place you'll be at is where your mother will soon turn up, so you must wait," Pluto informed Hotaru.

Hotaru nodded, eager to see her mother again.

"Until then, the occupants of the city will take care of you. Do not fear them. And be your cheerful self okay."

Another nod, she wanted to go already!

Chuckling at Hotaru's anxiousness, the two, hand in hand, step into the gates of Cherry Hill and into Middle Earth.


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*If you guys got confused about that part, I'll try to explain here. See, I've always thought that Usagi did better because she had people she knew that loved her and vise versa. She shined best when not alone. Having Hotaru there, a person she knows that loves her, will boost Usagi's confidence she has in herself and make her want to do better for her loves. Of course, Hotaru won't be the only one ^.~

This was it, I know your waiting for the reunion, it'll be in the next chapter. What better place to meet your long lost sibling at, probably, the most beautiful place on Middle Earth. Rivendell is mystical, there reunion, if I make it so, will make it seem all the more magical for them.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter.... And again, Domo to everyone who reviewed.

Please review, I love it when you review^^

Until the next chapter... Bai bai
~~DreamBlaze

xxxangel_dreamer@hotmail.com

Aim: Artcblaze