"Goodbye Usagi!" They were all waving and Usagi turned to wave back. This would be her last view of them for three years, she be eighteen when she returned and she wanted the memory to be perfect. Like a camera she filed the picture of them all waving into her memory so she could pull it out at any time. Before her eyes could fill with tears yet again she fled to the boarding gate holding out her ticket to the customer service agent who tore it and handed her back the stub. The line pressed her forward and she couldn't look again.

She'd done it. She'd managed to get ready early in the morning and without backing out had made it to the plane. She'd never flown before and her first step aboard the plane was hesitant but a very nice flight attendant took her ticket and led her to a seat. Somehow she managed to be the only one who had a seat to themselves as the two on each side around her were empty when the plane door shut so she switched to the window seat.

It was pitch dark outside so she just shut the blind and pulled out her communicator. Who should she give it to? Her thoughts flickered over each of the Sailor Soldiers before settling on a small pink headed figure. Maybe Chibi-Usa could use it. She knew who they were and they could track her if she were in trouble. It took a moments thought for Serenity to show her how to port it to Ami's. That done she settled back in the seat to watch a flight attendant show everyone the safety instructions first in Japanese then in English. To Usagi's surprise she understood both. Serenity's chuckle in her mind told her why.

The plane shuddered for a moment and Usagi looked out her window pulling up the blind and peaking out to see the lights of the runway roll by, but other than that she could see little so she shut it again and pulled her belt extra tight closing her eyes tight as she felt her stomach drop. Soon the captain was telling them small things like the time, temperature and length of the flight. Usagi felt the drag of sleep pulling at her mind, and after the brief fight this morning she didn't see the point to fighting it. She'd forgotten to bring a book to read. She laughed at that thought before dozing off.

Soft black hair, light and flowing trailed over her fingertips. Soft blue eyes looked into hers searching her soul as they had so many times before. The world disappeared around them and time stood still for just a moment. Then black lashes closed over the blue eyes and when they reopened they where cold and hard. She'd only seen them that one way before and that scared her to the core.

Usagi wake UP! Serenity yelled into her subconscious and gratefully Usagi fled from the dream. What's wrong? She asked without opening her eyes. The gentle rocking of the airplane that had lulled her to sleep a second time was more violent and Usagi could feel fear from the other passengers.

"This is the captain, I don't want to frighten anyone but we've seem to run into a sudden storm and there will soon be a lot of turbulence. Please everyone return to your seats and put your tray tables up. The Flight attendants will come around to pick up any food or beverages and give further instructions." The intercom crackled off . Usagi was fully awake now and she watched the flight attendants come down the isles picking up trays and the clear plastic cups they used. Usagi hadn't noticed before how young they were and although they hid it well she could see that they were scared.

Okay maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Usagi told herself not expecting an answer. Serenity sighed. When will you begin to trust me Usagi? She asked softly and Usagi shrugged not sure of an answer. A flight attendant, a woman of about twenty with a name tag reading Cindi, stopped by Usagi's seat to ask if she needed anything or needed anything tossed. Usagi told her no then stopped her when she went to move on.

"How often does this happen?" She asked trying not to seem alarmed. Cindi looked at her with wide doe eyes.

"I don't know, it's my first flight." She answered rather honestly. Usagi gave her a soft smile then turned facing front. The young woman moved on before she turned to look out her window. Angry black clouds were forming around them growing bigger by the moment and sparks of lightning, looking only like static electricity from here, flickered between the clouds. Usagi hated lightning.
We're gunna die aren't we? She asked closing her eyes to hold back the tears. Serenity, when she answered sounded sad. As it stands, yes we will. Usagi, sharp as ever caught on right away. As it stands, what am I supposed to do? The plane tilted wildly to the side making Usagi grasp onto the arm rests in a death grip. Hell she'd stopped a rogue asteroid once what was an airplane to that? But she'd died and this time there was no Prince to bring her back. What am I thinking? One life compared to a hundred? As if she had an option.

Wait until you have no other option Usagi. Serenity told her and Usagi agreed. If somehow they managed to pull out of this she wouldn't need to use the Crystal and she would rather not have to. The plane straitened for a moment then listed again this time in the other direction. Fear as Usagi had never known gripped her heart and she sent a silent prayer to whoever out there might be listening. Unfortunately the only one who could feel her fears was far to far away to do any good, and right know she knew that he could feel it.

If she concentrated she could feel his eyelashes on her cheek as if they where her own. Pressing a hand to her chest over her heart she could feel both his heartbeat and hers in matched rhythm both beating explosively with panic. He couldn't help but know she was in trouble, and so he must also know that there was no way to get to her. Desperation filled both their hearts.

Oh Serenity I love him so much, I'll never see him again now, of that I am sure. Usagi whispered to the dark recess of her mind where she knew her princess self was feeling as she did. A well of hope rose from there filling Usagi's mind. How many lifetimes have you felt the same thing Serenity, the princess called Usagi by her real name. You know as well as I that this lifetime will be different. All will be well, just trust in your heart and in me. That was easy for her to say, but hope was in Usagi's nature and she held onto the offering with her entire being.

CRASH!!! Thunder boomed right outside the plane and Usagi's panic rose to unimagined heights. She thought her heart would explode with it's rapid beating but it didn't as deafness filled her ears. Lightning flashed again with the almost instantaneous boom following it. She was almost thoughtless with fright but somehow she managed to notice when orange and blue flames flickered outside her window. Somehow she released her death grip on the armrest to peer outside.

Didn't they always say that lightning never really struck airplanes? She remembered hearing that somewhere, some TV movie or something but they always said that no matter what lightning never struck planes. Well lightning had struck the plane. The furthest of the two engines on the right wing had wind swept flames trying to erupt from it. Billows of black smoke matched the darkness of the clouds around it. Planes could fly with lest that four engines. Wasn't the limit two?

Power in the cabin flickered before going out the only lights now were from a few red and green lights in the cockpit and the blinding flashes outside. Usagi leaned out in the isle to look towards the cockpit. She saw more red lights than green ones. The plane dropped suddenly righting itself after a few minutes then dropped again. This time when it leveled off she heard the crackle of the intercom.

"This is the captain. Now I want everyone to listen before moving or doing anything. We've lost three engines now, one to fire and the other two due to electronic failure. We can still fly with one engine but it's going to be a hell of a bumpy ride. We're going to try an emergency landing in Honolulu but it's still an hour away. Follow the instructions the flight attendants give and try to remain calm." The intercom crackled back off and the said flight attendants appeared trying to help people who were beginning to panic.
Usagi looked across the isle for the first time and discovered that there was a little girl there, a little older than Chibi-Usa. She had a little pouch on a string around her neck meaning that she was traveling alone. Usagi now realized that she was why the attendant had been by so often. The little girl's green eyes were as wide as silver dollars and Usagi could have sworn that her fingernails where permanently imbedded in the armrest. Without a second thought she waited for the plane to right itself then unbuckling her seat belt made a mad dash for the chair next to the girl. She made it just in time before the plane started to roll again.
"Hi, I'm Usagi." She whispered in the girls ear trying to break through her terror. The girl just kept staring strait ahead. Usagi tried again in Japanese. "I'm Usagi. What's your name?" She asked louder as there was a roar coming from the side of the plane she had just vacated. She got a blink that time. Maybe there was a way to shock her out of her terror. She leaned in close so no one else would here.

"I'm Sailor Moon." She told the girl who blinked rapidly then looked at Usagi closely. She was doubtful. "What's your name?" She asked quickly before she lost the girl again.

"Sakura." Was the shaky answer. "Are you really Sailor Moon?" She asked pleadingly. Usagi nodded with a grin. The girl smiled weakly. "Are you going to save us?" She asked tears in her eyes. Usagi was amazed the girl hadn't started crying long before now. Usagi sure would have.

"If the last engine fails, then yes. I don't want to give away my secret till then. Right?" She tried to sound consortial and must have managed it cause the girl winked. Usagi pried one of her hands from the arm rest and twined Sakura's fingers with her own. The girl had a pretty strong grip for a girl of maybe eight and Usagi winced as she was subjected to it. Unfortunately the lightning chose that moment to strike so close Usagi thought she could smell the burned ozone. She cringed, holding onto the girls hand as much as the girl was holding onto her. She recovered quicker than the girl, it wouldn't do for a super heroine to be scared of lightning.

Someone in the front of the plane cursed loudly and an attendant came out and began showing the crash landing procedures. Usagi knew it was now or never. With the tow of her foot she looped her foot around the strap of her bag under her seat and pulled it over to them. She found a pen and paper and quickly scribbled a note then tucked it inside an envelope. Then she scrawled a name and address on it. She found one more making this letter a little bit longer as it was addressed to five people. After that one she pulled out a last sheet of paper tears forming in her eyes as she wrote this one. She sealed it quickly then looked at the girl. She had a cute pink backpack under the seat in front of her. Usagi pulled it out and showed it to the girl.

"I'm going to give you these letters, and when you get home I want you to ask your parents to take you to the addresses and give the letters to the people on the front okay?" The girl looked lost. "These are my friends. I just want them to have something to remember me by okay? I know this is a big job do you think you can do it? As a favor for Sailor Moon?" The girls eyes got big but she nodded. Usagi stuffed them in the backpack. "Okay there's one more thing I need you to do." The girl looked at her and nodded. Usagi pulled her moon scepter and showed it to the girl. "This is my moon scepter, I'm sure you've heard of it." The girl nodded. "There's a guy, His name is on one of the letters, give this to him, but don't let anyone else see it okay?" The girl looked then at the scepter. "You think you can do that Sakura?" Usagi asked. The girl nodded and Usagi covered it with a shawl from her bag before sticking it in the girls backpack. It barely fit but she managed it. Then she slipped the backpack over the girls arms so that the pouch portion of it was against her chest.

"Now hold onto this, it will keep you safe no matter what all right?" The girl crossed her arms over her chest holding on tight. Usagi sat back in her own chair to prepare. The girl leaned over to look in her face.

"Sailor Moon?" She asked. Usagi looked at her nodding. "Aren't you going to go home with us?" She asked innocently. Usagi smiled sadly shaking her head.

"No Sakura I'm not. When all this is over I'll be in a beautiful place with my mother, but I won't be going home with you. I'm sorry." She apologized as tears formed in the girl's eyes. Usagi reached over and gave her a one armed hug. The girl sniffed and tried to be brave.

"Thank you Sailor Moon." She whispered leaning in towards Usagi and planted a kiss on her cheek. Usagi was never more sure of anything in her life then at that moment. Yes she would willingly give her life to save this life.

"Your welcome Sakura. Now do what I said and give those letters to the people, and the scepter. Be brave." She used Chibi-usa's saying to give the girl heart. She nodded and looked back out the window. They were lowering fast but at least the plane was somewhat level for now. The Flight attendant was once again going over ocean crash procedures. Usagi gave her a quick look and leaned back in her chair. Her moon brooch fell in her lap when she summoned it.

She looked at it one last time, the people around her, then at Sakura's fearful face before closing her eyes. The image of the broach and it's contents where burned on the back of her eyelids and she could see what was going on around her without paying attention. Serenity, I don't want to die, but I'm willing to. She told herself and the crystal rising from the brooch. Serenity didn't say anything but Usagi knew she understood.

With that last thought she put all of her will into the crystal wishing with not only her heart but her soul that the plane be stopped and set on an island where they could be rescued. She focused and tightened her mind to that one wish impressing it upon the crystal till she knew of nothing else.

White light pulsed out from the crystal surrounding first Usagi, then Sakura and soon the entire plane. The descent slowed to practically nothing but they continued to move forward. Somehow, no one was sure how, they managed to land in the water just off an island. The plane did break apart and rubble was strewn down across the sea but the cabin of the plane for the most part stayed intact. Sections were missing including the few seats where Usagi was supposed to be sitting.

        Official Report: The unexplained phenomena saved all passengers aboard save one Usagi Tsukino who's row in the plane was completely lost. Passengers swam to the island where twelve hours later they were rescued. No one was hospitalized. Phenomena still unexplained.

        Young Sakura had waited to save this last letter till the end. The first two had been hard, but she knew this would be the worst. Something about how her friend had written the letter and looked so sad told her this. Even so she knocked on the door. A promise was a promise. Her parents stood besides her radiating encouragement. They hadn't been happy when their daughter undertook this endeavor but from what Sakura had told them of the young woman Usagi they understood how much it would mean for friends and family to receive one last word from someone they loved. They were just happy for having gotten their daughter back.

The door opened and a haggard young man looked warily at them all. Sakura stepped up and he focused his attention on her.
"Are you Mamoru Chiba?" She asked eyes wide. He nodded faintly his blue eyes trying to bore holes through her. "A friend of mine asked me to give these to you before she left." She said in a soft voice fishing first the letter then the wrapped scepter out of her backpack. The scepter was still wrapped in the soft pink shawl and he looked to it before even considering the letter. With trembling hands he took the scepter from her slowly taking the shawl off and revealing the beautiful Scepter that had belonged to his only love.
"Usako." He whispered gazing at it then holding it close. He then took the letter but didn't open it before the people. "Thank you for doing this. You've no idea what it means to me." He told the girl and her parents. Sakura smiled at him innocence beaming from her eyes. Mamoru set the letter and the scepter inside and shook out the shawl looking at Sakura before settling it about her shoulders. The soft fuzzy pinkness framed her face perfectly.

"I think she would have liked you to have this." He leaned down and hugged the girl before her parents gathered her up and left. Quietly he shut his door taking the scepter and letter further into his apartment where he could sit and read it.

        "Mamo-chan I haven't much time to write this for the plane is crashing as we speak. I just wanted you to know that I love you and no matter where I end up I will always love you. I need you to protect the scouts, and Chibi-usa so don't try anything foolish. Till the next lifetime. Remember me with love.

Usako"

        The letters squirmed before his eyes and the letter fell to the floor before he could get his tears on it. Shaky hands covered his face tears spilling through his fingers. The scepter fell to the floor to lay next to her letter with the same thunk it had made that day on the grass.