Empire of the Dark Ami
by amiwakawaiidesu
(based on characters and situations from "Sailor Moon", created by Naoko Takeuchi and not owned by myself.
If anyone is curious about why this chapter seems a little different from the orignal version I wrote, I did go through and change several scenes (although the events of the chapter are still the same); I made the revisions because I felt the chapter lacked the emotional impact I wanted, and I'm still not entirely happy with it. But at this point I think I'll just try to move on to writing the next (and most likely last) chapter now. And as always, comments or suggestions are appreciated.)
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CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Meanwhile, in a darkened street in Minato-ku, a portal opened and six Sailor Senshi (and a cat) emerged, ready for battle. With their powers at the ready, Sailoruranus, Sailorneptune, Sailorpluto, Sailorsaturn, Sailormars, Sailorjupiter and Luna looked around themselves...but were surprised to see no sign of danger.
Though the neighborhood looked a bit beat-up--with many houses smashed and several street signs bent and twisted--at least one businessman was walking home nonchalantly, and a few civilian cars even passed by, causing the Senshi to step out of the way.
"It looks just like home," Sailormars said, looking around.
"Except for all the wreckage," Sailorjupiter offered.
Luna--who was carrying Ami's minicomputer attached to a cord around her neck--dipped her head to remove the computer, then used a paw to activate the device.
"Indeed," Luna agreed, "the nuclear resonance patterns of the matter here are identical to those in our own world; however, the position of the Moon, stars and planets is consistent with the current date Artemis2 gave us--August 19, A.D. 2000."
"Still," Sailoruranus said, "this looks like an awfully peaceful neighborhood. Are you sure this is where Usagi and Ami were taken?"
"This is the endpoint of one of the dimensional gateways created by Kuroiami," Luna confirmed, continuing her scanning, "but I'm not detecting any trace of the ginzuishou or the Mercury crystal nearby..."
"Perhaps they're..." Sailorneptune started to say, but she held her thought out of respect for Sailormars and Sailorjupiter.
"Dead?" Sailormars said. "You can say it. Jupiter and I have both died, several times."
"And it sounds like we died in this world too," Sailorjupiter observed, recalling what Artemis2 had said about the demise of the Black Senshi in this dimension. "You Outers killed us!"
"No," Sailoruranus corrected Sailorjupiter, "our *counterparts* here killed your counterparts here--or so the white rat said. Personally, I find it hard to imagine Sailorvenus leading a band of villains, here or anywhere else."
The Inner Senshi smiled, despite themselves.
"Actually," Sailormars said, "I think Minako got a kick out of that part of the story--her being a villain in this world."
"Yeah," Sailorjupiter agreed. "It's too bad we had to leave her behind."
"It was logical, though," Sailorpluto said. "Somebody had to watch Artemis2, and Minako was the logical choice since she knows our own Artemis so well."
"Why not just leave Artemis behind to watch Artemis2?" Sailorsaturn asked. "He's pretty dependable."
"It's better to be safe than sorry." Sailoruranus replied. "I just feel better knowing that Sailorvenus and Artemis are both on the job."
Suddenly, Luna turned to the Senshi.
"Minna," she said, "I think I've found them!"
"Where?" Sailormars asked.
"There," Luna replied, lifting her gaze to the waning moon overhead.
* * * * *
For a moment, Queen Galaxia stood poised with her hands above her head, summoning the energy to unleash her ultimate power at Kuroiami, who--defiant as ever--was standing on the edge of the giant holographic chessboard she had built in front of the Moon Palace, looking back at Galaxia. Around them, friends and foes alike stood transfixed--the Outer Senshi (all transformed save Hotaru, who was standing next to Hoshi), Sailormoon and Sailormercury, Luna, SailorChi, SailorPhi and myriad youma--all anticipating Galaxia's next move.
But something troubled Sailormercury; Sailormercury--who had played chess with Kuroiami many times--was well aware of Kuroiami's methodical tenacity, and knew she wouldn't invite annihilation without a backup plan.
I wonder... Sailormercury thought, bringing forth her VR visor.
Immediately, she realized the reason for Kuroiami's confidence.
"Queen Galaxia, no!" Sailormercury shouted, throwing herself at the queen. "It's a trap!"
The crowd gasped, but Galaxia cancelled the casting of her Super String.
"What do you mean?"
"The chessboard," Sailormercury said, pointing at the holographic chessboard Kuroiami was standing on. "I thought there was something peculiar about it earlier, but I only just figured it out. The chessboard is powered by a negative subspace field generator--opposite in polarity to the subspace field of your own Super String power. If you used your power anywhere near that field, it would be completely neutralized..."
"Indeed."
"But it's worse than that," Sailormercury continued, looking right at Kuroiami. "The subspace field is powered by a giant capacitor--deep underground--and I'm certain it's designed to store your energy so she can use it for herself."
Kuroiami's lip curled downward slightly in a way that was very familiar to Sailormercury; it was the same exasperated expression Kuroiami made whenever Sailormercury played her to a draw in chess.
"Mizuno Ami," Kuroiami said, "you are becoming increasingly annoying to me. I'm afraid I'm going to have to kill you."
Whereupon Kuroiami hurled a gigantic arc of black lightning directly at Sailormercury (and Galaxia). But even before the attack was cast, Sailorpluto and Sailorsaturn both leapt in front of Sailormercury--Sailorsaturn simultaneously transforming and hurling herself 50 meters through the air to do so--and deflected the lightning with a combination of their Garnet Ball and Silence Wall powers.
"Baka," Kuroiami scowled at her generals and youma; "kill them!"
But SailorChi and SailorPhi were faster than the generals; breaking free of their forcefields, SailorChi and SailorPhi swung their staves around with dazzling speed, sending Jadeite and Nephrite to the ground with blows to the gut, and knocking Zoisite and Kunzite aside with withering blows to their heads.
"Let's get 'em!" Sailoruranus yelled to Sailorneptune and Sailorpluto, seizing the initiative while the nearest youma were likewise stunned. But there were a *lot* of youma, and Kuroiami herself was still untouched; thus, a general melee soon erupted, with magic and elemental powers flying in all directions.
"Let's get cover!" Luna yelled to Sailormoon and Sailormercury.
"Hai!" Sailormoon agreed, grabbing Sailormercury by the forearm and diving for cover before they were pulverized in the crossfire.
"Wait a minute..." Sailormercury said, looking around from the cover of the palace steps; "where's Hoshi?"
"I don't know; he was with Hotaru a moment ago..."
"You've got to help me find him!"
"Good luck, in all that mess!"
Sailormercury figured on more than luck, though, since she still had her VR visor activated. Through the visor she could isolate a number of battle zones; nearest to her position, SailorChi and SailorPhi were circling around Galaxia protectively, while the Outer Senshi were wading into the thick of the youma with their typical courage and élan. Sailorsaturn wasn't with the Outer Senshi, though; wielding the Silence Glaive like a polearm, Sailorsaturn was hacking through the youma as she made her way toward Kuroiami, who presently was holding Hoshi by the neck and defying all his efforts to struggle free.
"Can you see him...?" Sailormoon asked, trying to make sense of the battle raging all around them.
"Yes, there he is!" Sailormercury said, showing Sailormoon and Luna.
"Do you want to help him?" Sailormoon asked.
Sailormoon nodded, and both Senshi prepared to go.
"I'll come with you..." Luna said.
"No, stay here," Sailormercury recommended. "The Outers might still need you."
Luna frowned, but agreed.
"Just be careful," Luna said. "Need I remind you, Kuroiami is full of surprises?"
"No," Sailormercury said, setting off with Sailormoon, "you don't have to remind us..."
* * * * *
*What do you...hope to gain...?"* Hoshi gasped, fighting his mother's grip on his neck.
"I grow annoyed with your first-mother," Kuroiami replied, ignoring the chaos all around her; "I had thought we could come to an agreement--perhaps even share power in this world. Did I not spare her pathetic life, time and again, and show her every courtesy in my own home? For her treachery, no forgiveness is possible..."
Hoshi continued struggling, but Kuroiami only seemed to snap out of her reverie when she saw the Silence Glaive approaching.
"Clearly," Kuroiami said, "she and her spawn are both expendable. Please don't take this personally, Hoshi, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to kill you...again."
Kuroiami then tightened her grip, Hoshi's eyes bugged outward, and his entire body disintegrated in a shower of cherry blossoms. Then, as Kuroiami closed her eyes, the storm of petals flowed into her body.
"Hoshi!" Sailorsaturn exclaimed, finally breaking through the youma perimeter. But Hoshi was already gone, consumed by the same woman who had given second birth to him just three days earlier.
"Silence Glaive Surprise...!" Sailorsaturn exclaimed, lifting her weapon.
But Sailorsaturn stopped herself short of unleashing her power. Even if Hoshi was gone, the essence of what he was remained inside Kuroiami; she had no choice but to lower the Silence Glaive.
"Young fool," Kuroiami said to Sailorsaturn; "the game is mine. Behold my power!"
Then--before Sailorsaturn's stunned eyes--Kuroiami began to grow physically larger; at first the growth was slow...1 centimeter, 2 centimeters, 3...but soon the growth was exponential. She grew and grew and grew, until her shadow blocked out the sun and her legs spanned the width of the giant chessboard, dwarfing the holographic pieces at her feet. All battle ceased--suddenly and universally--as Senshi and youma alike looked up at the towering queen in black.
"Holy--!" Sailormoon exclaimed.
"Shimatta...!" Sailormercury gasped, scanning Kuroiami with her visor; "she must be 15 meters tall!"
"It's just like Queen Beryl," Sailormoon said, feeling a chill run down her spine, "when she absorbed Metallia!"
"Quite so," said Kuroiami, speaking now with a voice like thunder. "I have held the soul of the great queen within myself lo these many centuries...waiting for the energy that would bring her back to life. I had thought to take that energy from Galaxia--and take Galaxia's throne for the one true ruler of the cosmos--but that was not to be..."
Sailormercury gulped, acutely aware of Kuroiami's baleful stare bearing down on her.
"...but no matter. Sailormercury has given me a son, and that son has given me the power TO DESTROY ALL LIFE IN THE COSMOS!"
At this, black arcs of lightning poured forth from Kuroiami--a hundred times more powerful than the arc she had hurled at Sailormercury earlier--and youma were tossed like leaves in the wind as the arcs first danced among them, then tore at the Moon Palace, disintegrating walls and shattering windows and columns. All fell back before the lightning--youma and Senshi alike--save one: Sailorsaturn.
The time has come, spoke a voice from deep inside Sailorsaturn; unleash my power!
No! Sailorsaturn thought back; Hoshi is still alive...!
Fool! I have had enough of your nonsense! Now is the dawn of Silence!
Sailorsaturn tried to scream, but the sound was lost in the roar of destruction all around her; then--as if the shadow cast by Kuroiami had grown even darker--Sailorsaturn's form was lost in darkness, then a new form emerged where the Senshi had stood, tall and dark, with jet-black hair of impossible length.
"This isn't good," said Sailormoon.
"Who the hell is that?" asked Sailoruranus.
"Mistress Nine," Sailormercury replied. "The gatekeeper of Pharaoh 90."
"Would you challenge me?" Kuroiami thundered down at Mistress Nine. "Insect?"
"This insect has a sting," replied Mistress Nine, "as you will soon see..."
Rather than attacking Kuroiami, though, Mistress Nine turned to Sailormoon and Sailormercury, and a thick strand of hair flew--fast as thought--to grab Sailormercury by the neck.
"I am not as patient as Hotaru," Mistress Nine said to Sailormoon. "Bring forth the Holy Grail or I shall kill your friend."
"Leave them alone!" Sailorpluto said. "They don't possess the Holy Grail, for we have not yet summoned it!"
Suddenly, two more strands of hair flew forth to grab Sailoruranus and Sailorneptune as well.
"Then bring forth the Holy Grail," Mistress Nine said to Sailorpluto, "or I shall kill your friends as well."
*"This is unacceptable,"* Queen Galaxia whispered to SailorChi and SailorPhi. *"Destroy the power supply for the chessboard, so I may use my power freely!"*
SailorChi and SailorPhi both nodded, took two steps away from Galaxia in opposite directions, then jabbed their golden staves into the loosely-packed lunar soil. Both Senshi then discharged their energy into the ground, destroying the capacitor that powered the negative subspace field of the chessboard.
This naturally peeved Kuroiami--who saw the holographically-projected chess pieces fade away around her feet--but more importantly, it freed Galaxia to use her power.
"Galactica Super String...!" Galaxia began to say, planning to send both Mistress Nine and Kuroiami headlong into the oblivion they so richly deserved. But once again she stayed her power as Sailormercury cried out to her.
"No!" Sailormercury exclaimed--even as she was being strangled--"Please don't hurt Hotaru!"
"Oh, bother," Kuroiami muttered. "If you won't kill this pest, then I will!"
Kuroiami then stepped forward--shaking the ground as she did so--and made as if to step on Mistress Nine, aiming to flatten her foe underneath a high-heeled sandal the size of small car. But then, even as Kuroiami was bringing her right foot forward to step on Mistress Nine, Mistress Nine sent forth another strand of hair which wrapped around both of Kuroiami's ankles, causing the giant queen to stumble and fall toward the ground. Taller than a 5-story building, Kuroiami caught several youma in her path off-guard and promptly crushed them when she hit the ground. The whole moon seemed to shake from the impact--itself sufficient to knock down youma hundreds of meters away--and a vast cloud dust immediately blasted outward from the point of impact, covering the palace and everything in sight.
For Sailormoon--who had just decided to 'heal' Mistress Nine--the dust was a real nuisance; even as she summoned her Eternal Tier and struck a dramatic pose in preparation for her speech and attack, the cloud of dust completely blinded her, making any attack at all impossible.
But Mistress Nine was not so impaired herself since she could still feel the location of most of her foes through the hair she had wrapped around their necks.
I'd better kill that bitch Kuroiami while I have the chance... Mistress Nine thought, forming still more of her hair into a spike and aiming it straight at Kuroiami's heart.
No! Sailorsaturn shouted, from deep inside Mistress Nine. I will not allow you to hurt my Hoshi!
You fool! Mistress Nine replied. Victory is in our grasp...!
But Sailorsaturn's wrath would not be contained; even as Mistress Nine attempted to contain Sailorsaturn, Sailorsaturn's power rose up inside her and annihilated both of them.
*KA-BOOM!!!*
The titanic blast shook the palace and every combatant around it, though none so much as the Outer Senshi—who felt Sailorsaturn's death like a knife in the heart, even as Mistress Nine's hair loosened around their necks.
"Oh no!" Sailorneptune exclaimed.
"Hotaru!" Sailoruranus cried, falling to her knees.
Even Sailorpluto was shaken, leaning on the Staff of Time for support, though her sorrow was only slightly more wrenching than that of Sailormercury and Sailormoon; though they were neither Outer Senshi, nor of this dimension, they likewise felt the knifelike pain strike at their hearts.
"Poor Hotaru..." Sailormoon said, crying openly as she helped Sailormercury to her feet; "I hoped we wouldn't lose her like that, like we did in our own world...
"Are you all right, Ami-chan?"
"I'm all right," Sailormercury said. "But we can't let Hotaru's sacrifice be in vain--or Hoshi's; we have to stop Kuroiami..."
Sailormoon nodded, glancing into the dust in the direction Kuroiami had fallen.
"You're right," Sailormoon said, taking a firm grip on the Eternal Tier, "but you need your rest; I'll take care of it."
"No, wait--!" Sailormercury said, but Sailormoon was already gone, departing into the dust.
I could wait for Mercury, Sailormoon thought, but she's already done so much for me. And besides, no ordinary Senshi powers are going to stop Metallia; only I can do this...
Even as she thought that, though, Sailormoon was overwhelmed by the magnitude of what she was undertaking; back in her own world, Sailormoon was nearly overmastered by the power of Beryl and Metallia, and there was every reason to believe that the combination of Kuroiami and Metallia was vastly more powerful still.
"I just wish I knew what to do," Sailormoon said aloud, pausing to check her bearings in the settling dust.
But even as she stood there, a gentle hand touched her forearm, and Sailormoon was stunned as she turned to face...
Herself!
"Princess Serenity?"
"Sailormoon," the princess replied, "I'm so glad we have a chance to meet at last."
"We thought you were dead!" Sailormoon exclaimed. "Or at least I thought you were dead. Where have you been?"
"Just watching," the princess said cryptically, "from a distance. My friend Ami wanted me to dream so she could use my power without interference, but I found I could dream no longer."
"Don't you mean 'Kuroiami'?" Sailormoon asked--still trying to overcome her shock at meeting her virtual twin, dressed in a white princess gown of the Moon Kingdom.
"No," the princess replied, "that is only a name that others gave her. And Ami really isn't as bad as people say; deep down--in her heart--she is still the friend I once knew: gentle, selfless and good."
"You sound like you're talking about *my* Ami-chan," Sailormoon said, with a smile. "But what about Metallia? How can we defeat her?"
"With love," the princess replied. "Is that not our way?"
"Yes," Sailormoon said, with a smile. "That is our way."
* * * * *
"Stupid sandals," Kuroiami muttered, pushing herself upright into a sitting position, then reaching backward to unbuckle her ankle straps. "From now on, I'm sticking to sensible shoes..."
For want of a better target upon which to vent her irritation--with the battlefield still choked with dust--Kuroiami then threw her left shoe at the central dome of the Moon Palace, knocking loose most of the stones and plaster on one side. Then she threw her right shoe to finish the job, causing the rest of the dome to fall over and send up yet another cloud of dust to obscure the battlefield.
But even as Kuroiami pushed herself to her feet--satisfied with this minor exercise in destruction--a strange light caught her eye, glinting through the dust, and she turned to face this new irritation.
"Impossible..!" Kuroiami said.
But sure enough, as the dust parted, Kuroiami beheld her old friend Usagi--still dressed as the Moon Princess--marching forward alongside Sailormoon. Clearly neither dead nor abducted, the princess was also clearly not unconscious, though Kuroiami had held her enthralled with the strongest of magic.
"Ami-chan," the princess said to Kuroiami, "the battle is over; it is time to come home."
"Stay back!" Kuroiami said. "Stay back, I'm warning you!"
But it was Kuroiami herself who fell back, seized by a sudden terror in her heart as the princess and Sailormoon advanced. The two ginzuishou--whose power Kuroiami had coveted for so long--shone now with a brilliant light, though their power was no longer Kuroiami's to control.
"Don't be afraid," the princess said. "We are your friends."
"I have no friends!" Kuroiami replied--stumbling to a halt as she ran into a hill only slightly shorter than herself. Only then did she unleash her black lightning power once more, though the arcs of lightning passed through both Usagi's without apparent effect.
"You are a true friend," the princess said to Kuroiami; "you protected me, and cared for me during this time of trial. But now it is time to rest, and begin your life anew..."
The light of the ginzuishou then intensified until it banished all darkness, all shadows, all places where evil, deceit and hate might hide.
"NOOOO...!!!" Kuroiami exclaimed, but there was no longer any place to run. The whole universe seemed to fill with light, and there was nowhere she could possibly go to escape it.
* * * * *
Amidst the swirling dust, a young woman awoke with eyes full of wonder. Somehow she knew this place; from the jet-black sky overhead, speckled with stars like glittering diamonds, and the fine regolithic dust she lay upon, this was almost certainly Luna--the Earth's moon.
How extraordinary! she thought; but how did I get here...?
Pushing herself upright to a sitting position, she felt dizzy for a moment. But her dizziness passed, and she looked down at her body.
And why am I wearing this? she thought, studying the strapless black gown clinging closely to her body. This isn't like me at all!
The young woman was distracted from looking at herself, though, as she caught a glimpse of movement nearby--two figures approaching through the cloud of dust surrounding her.
"Usagi...?" she said. "*And* Sailormoon...?"
"Ami-chan!" Usagi2 said, making no effort to hide her tears as she shuffled forward to embrace her friend. "Thank goodness you're all right!"
"Yes, I'm all right," she said, returning her friend's embrace. "But what am I doing here? And why are we dressed so formally...?
"And where are all of our friends?"
Usagi2 smiled sympathetically, glancing back at Sailormoon before responding.
"I'm sure they're all nearby," Usagi2 said, holding her friend tenderly. "I'm sure we'll see them all again soon."
* * * * *
Meanwhile--a short distance away--the Outer Senshi (and Luna) had taken Kuroiami's four generals prisoner, though the generals offered no resistance. Still smarting from the loss of Sailorsaturn, Sailoruranus, Sailorneptune and Sailorpluto were almost looking forward to a fight so they could take their anger out on someone, but the generals were strangely passive now that Kuroiami was defeated.
A similar condition was also affecting Kuroiami's remaining youma; bereft of their leader, the youma began changing into human beings who then wandered about the battlefield confused, utterly mystified at how they had come to be on the Moon, a thousand years removed from the homes they remembered on Earth.
Like Ami2--who was just now waking up from the long dream of her life as Kuroiami--these people had no memory of their life as monsters; but their loss of identity was far more profound, since they had been in their state for over a thousand years.
"I don't think they're faking it," Sailormercury said to SailorGalaxia, after scanning the generals and youma with her minicomputer. "They really are suffering from profound memory loss."
"Their memories will be easy enough to restore," Galaxia said, "but they may have difficulty adjusting to life on the modern Earth. Technology on Earth has advanced in the last thousand years, has it not?"
"Yes," Sailormercury said, with a slight smile, "somewhat."
"Very well, then," Galaxia said, turning to SailorChi and SailorPhi. "Please locate a world where these Earthfolk can be rehabilitated and prepared for return to Earth, if they so desire."
"Yes Majesty."
Not for the first time, Sailormercury was impressed by Galaxia's graciousness, truly befitting the queen of the galaxy. But neither Hotaru nor Hoshi had lived to see this victory, so it hardly felt like a victory at all.
"Your Majesty," Sailormercury said, "if you'll excuse me, I'd like to go check on Sailormoon..."
"Yes, of course," Galaxia replied.
In fact, Sailormercury only wanted a moment alone to herself, but she happened to meet Sailormercury walking in the opposite direction a moment later.
"Ami-chan," Sailomoon said; "I was just looking for you."
"I saw you with the princess--and Kuroiami," Sailormercury replied. "Does she remember anything?"
"No," Sailormoon replied, "at least about her life as Kuroiami. Usagi--I mean, *this* world's Usagi--believes she's back to the way she was before all this happened to her."
"I imagine she's going to have a shock later, though," Sailormercury speculated, "when she finds out she took over the world, slept with all of Beryl's generals and killed three of her best friends."
"I would say it's justice, except..."
"Except it's hardly Ami's fault that all this happened. Beryl and Metallia used her, but now Ami has to live with the guilt of what she did."
Sailormoon sighed.
"It doesn't seem fair, does it?"
"No," Sailormercury said, shaking her head and thinking of Hotaru and Hoshi. "It's not fair."
Sailormoon put her arm around her friend's shoulders, and they stood there a long moment not saying anything.
"At least I still have you," Sailormercury said, managing a weak smile. "I just never imagined I'd hurt this much after I got you back; I thought I'd feel good, but I just feel like crap."
Sailormoon smiled, cradling Sailormercury's head against her shoulder.
"Ami-chan...
"I don't know if it makes you feel any better, but I do love you. You're one of my four best friends--and my best friend in this world."
"Thank you, Usagi-chan. I love you too."
* * * * *
Although the sun continued to shine over the Sea of Serenity, Sailormoon and Sailormercury were used to Tokyo Time, and their bodies told them it was well past midnight by the time the battle was over. Before returning to Earth, though, the two friends took a moment to return to the least-damaged wing of the palace; Sailormercury knew the palace would soon collapse, but both Senshi wanted to appreciate this last vestige of the ancient Moon Kingdom while it was still intact.
"Are you sure it's safe to be in here?" Luna asked Sailormercury.
"Structural collapse is imminent," Sailormercury replied, "but not for a while yet. Just give us a few minutes to look around, then we'll join you and the others for the trip back to Earth."
"All right," Luna said, walking away to leave the Senshi alone.
"Well," Sailormoon said to Sailormercury, "this was quite an adventure, wasn't it?"
"It's still not over, though," Sailormercury replied. "We still don't know how to get back to our own dimension. We could be stuck here the rest of our lives."
"That would be weird. Do you think this world can stand having two Usagi's?"
Sailormercury shrugged, trying to think of a diplomatic answer to that question.
"Of course we would have to share this world's Mamoru..." Sailormoon continued.
"Oh no!" Sailormercury gasped, "I thought you knew! Mamoru was killed in this world."
"He was? How terrible!"
"I'm sorry. Although I guess I should actually be saying that to the other Usagi..."
"So there won't be a Chibi-Usa in this world...?"
"Apparently not. This world is already different from ours in many ways; there are scars here that will never heal."
Sailormoon sighed, sitting down on a knocked-over pedestal underneath a painting of Queen Serenity. Sailormercury then moved to join her, looking up at a gaping hole in the ceiling made by Kuroiami.
It was only then that Sailormercury noticed a strange light glinting in the sky, moving erratically like a speck of dust borne on the wind; at first she thought it might be a piece of debris thrown skyward during the battle, but it was definitely drawing closer. Sailormoon noticed it too, and both of them watched in wonder as the light floated down from the sky to hover before them, then coalesce into a gleaming golden gem, held in a pair of white gloves facing palms-up.
"Hotaru!" the Senshi exclaimed, looking up at Sailorsaturn.
"My friends," Sailorsaturn replied, "hello. I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to say good-bye earlier."
Only then did the Senshi see that Sailorsaturn was transparent, like a ghost.
"Are you dead?" Sailormoon asked.
"Now that I've used my ultimate power," Sailorsaturn replied, "I can no longer remain in this world. However, there is something I wanted to give Ami before I go..."
Sailorsaturn spread her hands and the gleaming gem flew to Sailormercury. Then--before Sailormercury's astonished eyes--the gem transformed into a sleeping, blue-haired baby boy.
"This is Hoshi," Sailorsaturn said, "your son--whom I love. But it isn't yet his time to join me. Please take him back to your own world, to the home where he belongs."
Too stunned to speak, Sailormercury and Sailormoon could only look up from their pedestal as Sailorsaturn began to fade away.
"Wait!" Sailormercury said, cradling Hoshi with one hand and reaching out to Sailorsaturn with the other; "how *do* we get back home again--?"
But Sailorsaturn was already gone; only Hoshi--now waking and looking up at Sailormoon with surprise--was proof she had ever been there at all.
"Oh, he's so cute!" Sailormoon said.
"Usagi, focus please...? How are we going to explain this to the others?"
"Oh yeah; this is a little peculiar..."
"Our problems just never seem to end," Sailormercury said, looking down at Hoshi, "...although he is very cute...
"Give me a hand up, will you, Usagi? Then we'll tell the others about Hoshi, and Hotaru..."
"Sure thing, Ami-chan," Sailormoon said, helping Sailormercury up to her feet while Sailormercury continued holding Hoshi.
"I didn't expect to be looking after a baby," Sailormercury said, cradling Hoshi, "but maybe Michiru can help, since she took care of the infant Hotaru in our world."
"That seems sensible," agreed Sailormoon, making googly-eyes and baby-talk for Hoshi (who giggled), then preceding Sailormercury out the back of the palace.
Even as Sailormoon turned to the right, though--heading toward the front of the palace--a sudden flash of light stunned the Senshi and caused them to turn away instinctively. When they turned back, six ferocious-looking Sailor Senshi (and one cat) were stepping out of a Sailor Teleport with powers at the ready.
"Sailormoon!" Sailormars exclaimed, "and Sailormercury! You're alive!"
Too stunned to speak, Sailormercury and Sailormoon simply stood there stunned as Sailormars and Sailorjupiter rushed forward to embrace them.
"I take it we missed the battle," Sailoruranus said, sounding more than a little disappointed as she deactivated her Space Sword.
"I'm sorry," Sailormoon said, "but we're still glad to see you! How did you find us?"
"A little white rat helped us out," Luna said, stepping forward, "the Artemis from this dimension. With his help, I was able to open a gateway to this dimension, then we teleported here once we realized you were on the Moon."
Luna paused, only then seeming to notice the baby in Sailormercury's arms; now that Hoshi was awake--looking up at the Senshi with his big blue eyes--his resemblence to Ami was even more striking.
"If you don't mind me asking, though," Luna continued, "just exactly what have you been *doing* in this dimension?"
Sailormercury blushed a deep crimson red.
"This isn't my baby!" Sailormercury said. "I swear! Well, actually, it is my baby in a sense...but I don't even know who the father is...!"
All the Senshi were shocked; even Sailorpluto lifted an eyebrow.
"Oh my God!" Sailorjupiter said. "Our poor Ami had a baby out of wedlock, and she doesn't even know who the father is!"
"No, wait," Sailormercury said, "you don't understand..."
But a sudden clamor of voices drowned out Sailormercury's attempt to explain--mostly Sailormars and Sailorjupiter assuring her that they would try to be supportive, together with Sailormoon trying ineffectively to explain the real situation. Clearly, Sailormercury would have her work cut out for her explaining this one...
But at least we're together again, Sailormercury thought. Thank God, we're together again!
by amiwakawaiidesu
(based on characters and situations from "Sailor Moon", created by Naoko Takeuchi and not owned by myself.
If anyone is curious about why this chapter seems a little different from the orignal version I wrote, I did go through and change several scenes (although the events of the chapter are still the same); I made the revisions because I felt the chapter lacked the emotional impact I wanted, and I'm still not entirely happy with it. But at this point I think I'll just try to move on to writing the next (and most likely last) chapter now. And as always, comments or suggestions are appreciated.)
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CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Meanwhile, in a darkened street in Minato-ku, a portal opened and six Sailor Senshi (and a cat) emerged, ready for battle. With their powers at the ready, Sailoruranus, Sailorneptune, Sailorpluto, Sailorsaturn, Sailormars, Sailorjupiter and Luna looked around themselves...but were surprised to see no sign of danger.
Though the neighborhood looked a bit beat-up--with many houses smashed and several street signs bent and twisted--at least one businessman was walking home nonchalantly, and a few civilian cars even passed by, causing the Senshi to step out of the way.
"It looks just like home," Sailormars said, looking around.
"Except for all the wreckage," Sailorjupiter offered.
Luna--who was carrying Ami's minicomputer attached to a cord around her neck--dipped her head to remove the computer, then used a paw to activate the device.
"Indeed," Luna agreed, "the nuclear resonance patterns of the matter here are identical to those in our own world; however, the position of the Moon, stars and planets is consistent with the current date Artemis2 gave us--August 19, A.D. 2000."
"Still," Sailoruranus said, "this looks like an awfully peaceful neighborhood. Are you sure this is where Usagi and Ami were taken?"
"This is the endpoint of one of the dimensional gateways created by Kuroiami," Luna confirmed, continuing her scanning, "but I'm not detecting any trace of the ginzuishou or the Mercury crystal nearby..."
"Perhaps they're..." Sailorneptune started to say, but she held her thought out of respect for Sailormars and Sailorjupiter.
"Dead?" Sailormars said. "You can say it. Jupiter and I have both died, several times."
"And it sounds like we died in this world too," Sailorjupiter observed, recalling what Artemis2 had said about the demise of the Black Senshi in this dimension. "You Outers killed us!"
"No," Sailoruranus corrected Sailorjupiter, "our *counterparts* here killed your counterparts here--or so the white rat said. Personally, I find it hard to imagine Sailorvenus leading a band of villains, here or anywhere else."
The Inner Senshi smiled, despite themselves.
"Actually," Sailormars said, "I think Minako got a kick out of that part of the story--her being a villain in this world."
"Yeah," Sailorjupiter agreed. "It's too bad we had to leave her behind."
"It was logical, though," Sailorpluto said. "Somebody had to watch Artemis2, and Minako was the logical choice since she knows our own Artemis so well."
"Why not just leave Artemis behind to watch Artemis2?" Sailorsaturn asked. "He's pretty dependable."
"It's better to be safe than sorry." Sailoruranus replied. "I just feel better knowing that Sailorvenus and Artemis are both on the job."
Suddenly, Luna turned to the Senshi.
"Minna," she said, "I think I've found them!"
"Where?" Sailormars asked.
"There," Luna replied, lifting her gaze to the waning moon overhead.
* * * * *
For a moment, Queen Galaxia stood poised with her hands above her head, summoning the energy to unleash her ultimate power at Kuroiami, who--defiant as ever--was standing on the edge of the giant holographic chessboard she had built in front of the Moon Palace, looking back at Galaxia. Around them, friends and foes alike stood transfixed--the Outer Senshi (all transformed save Hotaru, who was standing next to Hoshi), Sailormoon and Sailormercury, Luna, SailorChi, SailorPhi and myriad youma--all anticipating Galaxia's next move.
But something troubled Sailormercury; Sailormercury--who had played chess with Kuroiami many times--was well aware of Kuroiami's methodical tenacity, and knew she wouldn't invite annihilation without a backup plan.
I wonder... Sailormercury thought, bringing forth her VR visor.
Immediately, she realized the reason for Kuroiami's confidence.
"Queen Galaxia, no!" Sailormercury shouted, throwing herself at the queen. "It's a trap!"
The crowd gasped, but Galaxia cancelled the casting of her Super String.
"What do you mean?"
"The chessboard," Sailormercury said, pointing at the holographic chessboard Kuroiami was standing on. "I thought there was something peculiar about it earlier, but I only just figured it out. The chessboard is powered by a negative subspace field generator--opposite in polarity to the subspace field of your own Super String power. If you used your power anywhere near that field, it would be completely neutralized..."
"Indeed."
"But it's worse than that," Sailormercury continued, looking right at Kuroiami. "The subspace field is powered by a giant capacitor--deep underground--and I'm certain it's designed to store your energy so she can use it for herself."
Kuroiami's lip curled downward slightly in a way that was very familiar to Sailormercury; it was the same exasperated expression Kuroiami made whenever Sailormercury played her to a draw in chess.
"Mizuno Ami," Kuroiami said, "you are becoming increasingly annoying to me. I'm afraid I'm going to have to kill you."
Whereupon Kuroiami hurled a gigantic arc of black lightning directly at Sailormercury (and Galaxia). But even before the attack was cast, Sailorpluto and Sailorsaturn both leapt in front of Sailormercury--Sailorsaturn simultaneously transforming and hurling herself 50 meters through the air to do so--and deflected the lightning with a combination of their Garnet Ball and Silence Wall powers.
"Baka," Kuroiami scowled at her generals and youma; "kill them!"
But SailorChi and SailorPhi were faster than the generals; breaking free of their forcefields, SailorChi and SailorPhi swung their staves around with dazzling speed, sending Jadeite and Nephrite to the ground with blows to the gut, and knocking Zoisite and Kunzite aside with withering blows to their heads.
"Let's get 'em!" Sailoruranus yelled to Sailorneptune and Sailorpluto, seizing the initiative while the nearest youma were likewise stunned. But there were a *lot* of youma, and Kuroiami herself was still untouched; thus, a general melee soon erupted, with magic and elemental powers flying in all directions.
"Let's get cover!" Luna yelled to Sailormoon and Sailormercury.
"Hai!" Sailormoon agreed, grabbing Sailormercury by the forearm and diving for cover before they were pulverized in the crossfire.
"Wait a minute..." Sailormercury said, looking around from the cover of the palace steps; "where's Hoshi?"
"I don't know; he was with Hotaru a moment ago..."
"You've got to help me find him!"
"Good luck, in all that mess!"
Sailormercury figured on more than luck, though, since she still had her VR visor activated. Through the visor she could isolate a number of battle zones; nearest to her position, SailorChi and SailorPhi were circling around Galaxia protectively, while the Outer Senshi were wading into the thick of the youma with their typical courage and élan. Sailorsaturn wasn't with the Outer Senshi, though; wielding the Silence Glaive like a polearm, Sailorsaturn was hacking through the youma as she made her way toward Kuroiami, who presently was holding Hoshi by the neck and defying all his efforts to struggle free.
"Can you see him...?" Sailormoon asked, trying to make sense of the battle raging all around them.
"Yes, there he is!" Sailormercury said, showing Sailormoon and Luna.
"Do you want to help him?" Sailormoon asked.
Sailormoon nodded, and both Senshi prepared to go.
"I'll come with you..." Luna said.
"No, stay here," Sailormercury recommended. "The Outers might still need you."
Luna frowned, but agreed.
"Just be careful," Luna said. "Need I remind you, Kuroiami is full of surprises?"
"No," Sailormercury said, setting off with Sailormoon, "you don't have to remind us..."
* * * * *
*What do you...hope to gain...?"* Hoshi gasped, fighting his mother's grip on his neck.
"I grow annoyed with your first-mother," Kuroiami replied, ignoring the chaos all around her; "I had thought we could come to an agreement--perhaps even share power in this world. Did I not spare her pathetic life, time and again, and show her every courtesy in my own home? For her treachery, no forgiveness is possible..."
Hoshi continued struggling, but Kuroiami only seemed to snap out of her reverie when she saw the Silence Glaive approaching.
"Clearly," Kuroiami said, "she and her spawn are both expendable. Please don't take this personally, Hoshi, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to kill you...again."
Kuroiami then tightened her grip, Hoshi's eyes bugged outward, and his entire body disintegrated in a shower of cherry blossoms. Then, as Kuroiami closed her eyes, the storm of petals flowed into her body.
"Hoshi!" Sailorsaturn exclaimed, finally breaking through the youma perimeter. But Hoshi was already gone, consumed by the same woman who had given second birth to him just three days earlier.
"Silence Glaive Surprise...!" Sailorsaturn exclaimed, lifting her weapon.
But Sailorsaturn stopped herself short of unleashing her power. Even if Hoshi was gone, the essence of what he was remained inside Kuroiami; she had no choice but to lower the Silence Glaive.
"Young fool," Kuroiami said to Sailorsaturn; "the game is mine. Behold my power!"
Then--before Sailorsaturn's stunned eyes--Kuroiami began to grow physically larger; at first the growth was slow...1 centimeter, 2 centimeters, 3...but soon the growth was exponential. She grew and grew and grew, until her shadow blocked out the sun and her legs spanned the width of the giant chessboard, dwarfing the holographic pieces at her feet. All battle ceased--suddenly and universally--as Senshi and youma alike looked up at the towering queen in black.
"Holy--!" Sailormoon exclaimed.
"Shimatta...!" Sailormercury gasped, scanning Kuroiami with her visor; "she must be 15 meters tall!"
"It's just like Queen Beryl," Sailormoon said, feeling a chill run down her spine, "when she absorbed Metallia!"
"Quite so," said Kuroiami, speaking now with a voice like thunder. "I have held the soul of the great queen within myself lo these many centuries...waiting for the energy that would bring her back to life. I had thought to take that energy from Galaxia--and take Galaxia's throne for the one true ruler of the cosmos--but that was not to be..."
Sailormercury gulped, acutely aware of Kuroiami's baleful stare bearing down on her.
"...but no matter. Sailormercury has given me a son, and that son has given me the power TO DESTROY ALL LIFE IN THE COSMOS!"
At this, black arcs of lightning poured forth from Kuroiami--a hundred times more powerful than the arc she had hurled at Sailormercury earlier--and youma were tossed like leaves in the wind as the arcs first danced among them, then tore at the Moon Palace, disintegrating walls and shattering windows and columns. All fell back before the lightning--youma and Senshi alike--save one: Sailorsaturn.
The time has come, spoke a voice from deep inside Sailorsaturn; unleash my power!
No! Sailorsaturn thought back; Hoshi is still alive...!
Fool! I have had enough of your nonsense! Now is the dawn of Silence!
Sailorsaturn tried to scream, but the sound was lost in the roar of destruction all around her; then--as if the shadow cast by Kuroiami had grown even darker--Sailorsaturn's form was lost in darkness, then a new form emerged where the Senshi had stood, tall and dark, with jet-black hair of impossible length.
"This isn't good," said Sailormoon.
"Who the hell is that?" asked Sailoruranus.
"Mistress Nine," Sailormercury replied. "The gatekeeper of Pharaoh 90."
"Would you challenge me?" Kuroiami thundered down at Mistress Nine. "Insect?"
"This insect has a sting," replied Mistress Nine, "as you will soon see..."
Rather than attacking Kuroiami, though, Mistress Nine turned to Sailormoon and Sailormercury, and a thick strand of hair flew--fast as thought--to grab Sailormercury by the neck.
"I am not as patient as Hotaru," Mistress Nine said to Sailormoon. "Bring forth the Holy Grail or I shall kill your friend."
"Leave them alone!" Sailorpluto said. "They don't possess the Holy Grail, for we have not yet summoned it!"
Suddenly, two more strands of hair flew forth to grab Sailoruranus and Sailorneptune as well.
"Then bring forth the Holy Grail," Mistress Nine said to Sailorpluto, "or I shall kill your friends as well."
*"This is unacceptable,"* Queen Galaxia whispered to SailorChi and SailorPhi. *"Destroy the power supply for the chessboard, so I may use my power freely!"*
SailorChi and SailorPhi both nodded, took two steps away from Galaxia in opposite directions, then jabbed their golden staves into the loosely-packed lunar soil. Both Senshi then discharged their energy into the ground, destroying the capacitor that powered the negative subspace field of the chessboard.
This naturally peeved Kuroiami--who saw the holographically-projected chess pieces fade away around her feet--but more importantly, it freed Galaxia to use her power.
"Galactica Super String...!" Galaxia began to say, planning to send both Mistress Nine and Kuroiami headlong into the oblivion they so richly deserved. But once again she stayed her power as Sailormercury cried out to her.
"No!" Sailormercury exclaimed--even as she was being strangled--"Please don't hurt Hotaru!"
"Oh, bother," Kuroiami muttered. "If you won't kill this pest, then I will!"
Kuroiami then stepped forward--shaking the ground as she did so--and made as if to step on Mistress Nine, aiming to flatten her foe underneath a high-heeled sandal the size of small car. But then, even as Kuroiami was bringing her right foot forward to step on Mistress Nine, Mistress Nine sent forth another strand of hair which wrapped around both of Kuroiami's ankles, causing the giant queen to stumble and fall toward the ground. Taller than a 5-story building, Kuroiami caught several youma in her path off-guard and promptly crushed them when she hit the ground. The whole moon seemed to shake from the impact--itself sufficient to knock down youma hundreds of meters away--and a vast cloud dust immediately blasted outward from the point of impact, covering the palace and everything in sight.
For Sailormoon--who had just decided to 'heal' Mistress Nine--the dust was a real nuisance; even as she summoned her Eternal Tier and struck a dramatic pose in preparation for her speech and attack, the cloud of dust completely blinded her, making any attack at all impossible.
But Mistress Nine was not so impaired herself since she could still feel the location of most of her foes through the hair she had wrapped around their necks.
I'd better kill that bitch Kuroiami while I have the chance... Mistress Nine thought, forming still more of her hair into a spike and aiming it straight at Kuroiami's heart.
No! Sailorsaturn shouted, from deep inside Mistress Nine. I will not allow you to hurt my Hoshi!
You fool! Mistress Nine replied. Victory is in our grasp...!
But Sailorsaturn's wrath would not be contained; even as Mistress Nine attempted to contain Sailorsaturn, Sailorsaturn's power rose up inside her and annihilated both of them.
*KA-BOOM!!!*
The titanic blast shook the palace and every combatant around it, though none so much as the Outer Senshi—who felt Sailorsaturn's death like a knife in the heart, even as Mistress Nine's hair loosened around their necks.
"Oh no!" Sailorneptune exclaimed.
"Hotaru!" Sailoruranus cried, falling to her knees.
Even Sailorpluto was shaken, leaning on the Staff of Time for support, though her sorrow was only slightly more wrenching than that of Sailormercury and Sailormoon; though they were neither Outer Senshi, nor of this dimension, they likewise felt the knifelike pain strike at their hearts.
"Poor Hotaru..." Sailormoon said, crying openly as she helped Sailormercury to her feet; "I hoped we wouldn't lose her like that, like we did in our own world...
"Are you all right, Ami-chan?"
"I'm all right," Sailormercury said. "But we can't let Hotaru's sacrifice be in vain--or Hoshi's; we have to stop Kuroiami..."
Sailormoon nodded, glancing into the dust in the direction Kuroiami had fallen.
"You're right," Sailormoon said, taking a firm grip on the Eternal Tier, "but you need your rest; I'll take care of it."
"No, wait--!" Sailormercury said, but Sailormoon was already gone, departing into the dust.
I could wait for Mercury, Sailormoon thought, but she's already done so much for me. And besides, no ordinary Senshi powers are going to stop Metallia; only I can do this...
Even as she thought that, though, Sailormoon was overwhelmed by the magnitude of what she was undertaking; back in her own world, Sailormoon was nearly overmastered by the power of Beryl and Metallia, and there was every reason to believe that the combination of Kuroiami and Metallia was vastly more powerful still.
"I just wish I knew what to do," Sailormoon said aloud, pausing to check her bearings in the settling dust.
But even as she stood there, a gentle hand touched her forearm, and Sailormoon was stunned as she turned to face...
Herself!
"Princess Serenity?"
"Sailormoon," the princess replied, "I'm so glad we have a chance to meet at last."
"We thought you were dead!" Sailormoon exclaimed. "Or at least I thought you were dead. Where have you been?"
"Just watching," the princess said cryptically, "from a distance. My friend Ami wanted me to dream so she could use my power without interference, but I found I could dream no longer."
"Don't you mean 'Kuroiami'?" Sailormoon asked--still trying to overcome her shock at meeting her virtual twin, dressed in a white princess gown of the Moon Kingdom.
"No," the princess replied, "that is only a name that others gave her. And Ami really isn't as bad as people say; deep down--in her heart--she is still the friend I once knew: gentle, selfless and good."
"You sound like you're talking about *my* Ami-chan," Sailormoon said, with a smile. "But what about Metallia? How can we defeat her?"
"With love," the princess replied. "Is that not our way?"
"Yes," Sailormoon said, with a smile. "That is our way."
* * * * *
"Stupid sandals," Kuroiami muttered, pushing herself upright into a sitting position, then reaching backward to unbuckle her ankle straps. "From now on, I'm sticking to sensible shoes..."
For want of a better target upon which to vent her irritation--with the battlefield still choked with dust--Kuroiami then threw her left shoe at the central dome of the Moon Palace, knocking loose most of the stones and plaster on one side. Then she threw her right shoe to finish the job, causing the rest of the dome to fall over and send up yet another cloud of dust to obscure the battlefield.
But even as Kuroiami pushed herself to her feet--satisfied with this minor exercise in destruction--a strange light caught her eye, glinting through the dust, and she turned to face this new irritation.
"Impossible..!" Kuroiami said.
But sure enough, as the dust parted, Kuroiami beheld her old friend Usagi--still dressed as the Moon Princess--marching forward alongside Sailormoon. Clearly neither dead nor abducted, the princess was also clearly not unconscious, though Kuroiami had held her enthralled with the strongest of magic.
"Ami-chan," the princess said to Kuroiami, "the battle is over; it is time to come home."
"Stay back!" Kuroiami said. "Stay back, I'm warning you!"
But it was Kuroiami herself who fell back, seized by a sudden terror in her heart as the princess and Sailormoon advanced. The two ginzuishou--whose power Kuroiami had coveted for so long--shone now with a brilliant light, though their power was no longer Kuroiami's to control.
"Don't be afraid," the princess said. "We are your friends."
"I have no friends!" Kuroiami replied--stumbling to a halt as she ran into a hill only slightly shorter than herself. Only then did she unleash her black lightning power once more, though the arcs of lightning passed through both Usagi's without apparent effect.
"You are a true friend," the princess said to Kuroiami; "you protected me, and cared for me during this time of trial. But now it is time to rest, and begin your life anew..."
The light of the ginzuishou then intensified until it banished all darkness, all shadows, all places where evil, deceit and hate might hide.
"NOOOO...!!!" Kuroiami exclaimed, but there was no longer any place to run. The whole universe seemed to fill with light, and there was nowhere she could possibly go to escape it.
* * * * *
Amidst the swirling dust, a young woman awoke with eyes full of wonder. Somehow she knew this place; from the jet-black sky overhead, speckled with stars like glittering diamonds, and the fine regolithic dust she lay upon, this was almost certainly Luna--the Earth's moon.
How extraordinary! she thought; but how did I get here...?
Pushing herself upright to a sitting position, she felt dizzy for a moment. But her dizziness passed, and she looked down at her body.
And why am I wearing this? she thought, studying the strapless black gown clinging closely to her body. This isn't like me at all!
The young woman was distracted from looking at herself, though, as she caught a glimpse of movement nearby--two figures approaching through the cloud of dust surrounding her.
"Usagi...?" she said. "*And* Sailormoon...?"
"Ami-chan!" Usagi2 said, making no effort to hide her tears as she shuffled forward to embrace her friend. "Thank goodness you're all right!"
"Yes, I'm all right," she said, returning her friend's embrace. "But what am I doing here? And why are we dressed so formally...?
"And where are all of our friends?"
Usagi2 smiled sympathetically, glancing back at Sailormoon before responding.
"I'm sure they're all nearby," Usagi2 said, holding her friend tenderly. "I'm sure we'll see them all again soon."
* * * * *
Meanwhile--a short distance away--the Outer Senshi (and Luna) had taken Kuroiami's four generals prisoner, though the generals offered no resistance. Still smarting from the loss of Sailorsaturn, Sailoruranus, Sailorneptune and Sailorpluto were almost looking forward to a fight so they could take their anger out on someone, but the generals were strangely passive now that Kuroiami was defeated.
A similar condition was also affecting Kuroiami's remaining youma; bereft of their leader, the youma began changing into human beings who then wandered about the battlefield confused, utterly mystified at how they had come to be on the Moon, a thousand years removed from the homes they remembered on Earth.
Like Ami2--who was just now waking up from the long dream of her life as Kuroiami--these people had no memory of their life as monsters; but their loss of identity was far more profound, since they had been in their state for over a thousand years.
"I don't think they're faking it," Sailormercury said to SailorGalaxia, after scanning the generals and youma with her minicomputer. "They really are suffering from profound memory loss."
"Their memories will be easy enough to restore," Galaxia said, "but they may have difficulty adjusting to life on the modern Earth. Technology on Earth has advanced in the last thousand years, has it not?"
"Yes," Sailormercury said, with a slight smile, "somewhat."
"Very well, then," Galaxia said, turning to SailorChi and SailorPhi. "Please locate a world where these Earthfolk can be rehabilitated and prepared for return to Earth, if they so desire."
"Yes Majesty."
Not for the first time, Sailormercury was impressed by Galaxia's graciousness, truly befitting the queen of the galaxy. But neither Hotaru nor Hoshi had lived to see this victory, so it hardly felt like a victory at all.
"Your Majesty," Sailormercury said, "if you'll excuse me, I'd like to go check on Sailormoon..."
"Yes, of course," Galaxia replied.
In fact, Sailormercury only wanted a moment alone to herself, but she happened to meet Sailormercury walking in the opposite direction a moment later.
"Ami-chan," Sailomoon said; "I was just looking for you."
"I saw you with the princess--and Kuroiami," Sailormercury replied. "Does she remember anything?"
"No," Sailormoon replied, "at least about her life as Kuroiami. Usagi--I mean, *this* world's Usagi--believes she's back to the way she was before all this happened to her."
"I imagine she's going to have a shock later, though," Sailormercury speculated, "when she finds out she took over the world, slept with all of Beryl's generals and killed three of her best friends."
"I would say it's justice, except..."
"Except it's hardly Ami's fault that all this happened. Beryl and Metallia used her, but now Ami has to live with the guilt of what she did."
Sailormoon sighed.
"It doesn't seem fair, does it?"
"No," Sailormercury said, shaking her head and thinking of Hotaru and Hoshi. "It's not fair."
Sailormoon put her arm around her friend's shoulders, and they stood there a long moment not saying anything.
"At least I still have you," Sailormercury said, managing a weak smile. "I just never imagined I'd hurt this much after I got you back; I thought I'd feel good, but I just feel like crap."
Sailormoon smiled, cradling Sailormercury's head against her shoulder.
"Ami-chan...
"I don't know if it makes you feel any better, but I do love you. You're one of my four best friends--and my best friend in this world."
"Thank you, Usagi-chan. I love you too."
* * * * *
Although the sun continued to shine over the Sea of Serenity, Sailormoon and Sailormercury were used to Tokyo Time, and their bodies told them it was well past midnight by the time the battle was over. Before returning to Earth, though, the two friends took a moment to return to the least-damaged wing of the palace; Sailormercury knew the palace would soon collapse, but both Senshi wanted to appreciate this last vestige of the ancient Moon Kingdom while it was still intact.
"Are you sure it's safe to be in here?" Luna asked Sailormercury.
"Structural collapse is imminent," Sailormercury replied, "but not for a while yet. Just give us a few minutes to look around, then we'll join you and the others for the trip back to Earth."
"All right," Luna said, walking away to leave the Senshi alone.
"Well," Sailormoon said to Sailormercury, "this was quite an adventure, wasn't it?"
"It's still not over, though," Sailormercury replied. "We still don't know how to get back to our own dimension. We could be stuck here the rest of our lives."
"That would be weird. Do you think this world can stand having two Usagi's?"
Sailormercury shrugged, trying to think of a diplomatic answer to that question.
"Of course we would have to share this world's Mamoru..." Sailormoon continued.
"Oh no!" Sailormercury gasped, "I thought you knew! Mamoru was killed in this world."
"He was? How terrible!"
"I'm sorry. Although I guess I should actually be saying that to the other Usagi..."
"So there won't be a Chibi-Usa in this world...?"
"Apparently not. This world is already different from ours in many ways; there are scars here that will never heal."
Sailormoon sighed, sitting down on a knocked-over pedestal underneath a painting of Queen Serenity. Sailormercury then moved to join her, looking up at a gaping hole in the ceiling made by Kuroiami.
It was only then that Sailormercury noticed a strange light glinting in the sky, moving erratically like a speck of dust borne on the wind; at first she thought it might be a piece of debris thrown skyward during the battle, but it was definitely drawing closer. Sailormoon noticed it too, and both of them watched in wonder as the light floated down from the sky to hover before them, then coalesce into a gleaming golden gem, held in a pair of white gloves facing palms-up.
"Hotaru!" the Senshi exclaimed, looking up at Sailorsaturn.
"My friends," Sailorsaturn replied, "hello. I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to say good-bye earlier."
Only then did the Senshi see that Sailorsaturn was transparent, like a ghost.
"Are you dead?" Sailormoon asked.
"Now that I've used my ultimate power," Sailorsaturn replied, "I can no longer remain in this world. However, there is something I wanted to give Ami before I go..."
Sailorsaturn spread her hands and the gleaming gem flew to Sailormercury. Then--before Sailormercury's astonished eyes--the gem transformed into a sleeping, blue-haired baby boy.
"This is Hoshi," Sailorsaturn said, "your son--whom I love. But it isn't yet his time to join me. Please take him back to your own world, to the home where he belongs."
Too stunned to speak, Sailormercury and Sailormoon could only look up from their pedestal as Sailorsaturn began to fade away.
"Wait!" Sailormercury said, cradling Hoshi with one hand and reaching out to Sailorsaturn with the other; "how *do* we get back home again--?"
But Sailorsaturn was already gone; only Hoshi--now waking and looking up at Sailormoon with surprise--was proof she had ever been there at all.
"Oh, he's so cute!" Sailormoon said.
"Usagi, focus please...? How are we going to explain this to the others?"
"Oh yeah; this is a little peculiar..."
"Our problems just never seem to end," Sailormercury said, looking down at Hoshi, "...although he is very cute...
"Give me a hand up, will you, Usagi? Then we'll tell the others about Hoshi, and Hotaru..."
"Sure thing, Ami-chan," Sailormoon said, helping Sailormercury up to her feet while Sailormercury continued holding Hoshi.
"I didn't expect to be looking after a baby," Sailormercury said, cradling Hoshi, "but maybe Michiru can help, since she took care of the infant Hotaru in our world."
"That seems sensible," agreed Sailormoon, making googly-eyes and baby-talk for Hoshi (who giggled), then preceding Sailormercury out the back of the palace.
Even as Sailormoon turned to the right, though--heading toward the front of the palace--a sudden flash of light stunned the Senshi and caused them to turn away instinctively. When they turned back, six ferocious-looking Sailor Senshi (and one cat) were stepping out of a Sailor Teleport with powers at the ready.
"Sailormoon!" Sailormars exclaimed, "and Sailormercury! You're alive!"
Too stunned to speak, Sailormercury and Sailormoon simply stood there stunned as Sailormars and Sailorjupiter rushed forward to embrace them.
"I take it we missed the battle," Sailoruranus said, sounding more than a little disappointed as she deactivated her Space Sword.
"I'm sorry," Sailormoon said, "but we're still glad to see you! How did you find us?"
"A little white rat helped us out," Luna said, stepping forward, "the Artemis from this dimension. With his help, I was able to open a gateway to this dimension, then we teleported here once we realized you were on the Moon."
Luna paused, only then seeming to notice the baby in Sailormercury's arms; now that Hoshi was awake--looking up at the Senshi with his big blue eyes--his resemblence to Ami was even more striking.
"If you don't mind me asking, though," Luna continued, "just exactly what have you been *doing* in this dimension?"
Sailormercury blushed a deep crimson red.
"This isn't my baby!" Sailormercury said. "I swear! Well, actually, it is my baby in a sense...but I don't even know who the father is...!"
All the Senshi were shocked; even Sailorpluto lifted an eyebrow.
"Oh my God!" Sailorjupiter said. "Our poor Ami had a baby out of wedlock, and she doesn't even know who the father is!"
"No, wait," Sailormercury said, "you don't understand..."
But a sudden clamor of voices drowned out Sailormercury's attempt to explain--mostly Sailormars and Sailorjupiter assuring her that they would try to be supportive, together with Sailormoon trying ineffectively to explain the real situation. Clearly, Sailormercury would have her work cut out for her explaining this one...
But at least we're together again, Sailormercury thought. Thank God, we're together again!
