Hey guys! Some explanations are now in order for some of you who have not read the manga (Remember, I borrowed from both the anime and the manga):

In the manga, when Minako arrives she says that she's the Tsuki no Hime (Princess of the Moon) and even has a crescent moon on her forehead. Of course it's all a big ruse to distract from the real princess (Usagi). That's why I was so confused when people were reviewing and asking if the princess was really Minako.

In this chapter, Luna tells about the Silver Millennium a little more. She'll mention communication between the Moon and the Earth being forbidden because they say something to that effect in the manga which raises some interesting questions as to why that is but that's for a different fanfic.

Ami mentions a ball going on when the Terrans invaded the Moon, that's in the anime. I don't know what was going on when they attacked in the manga.

Kunzite refers to the generals as the 'Shittenou' which translates to 'four kings' meaning Jadeite, Nephrite, Zoicite, and Kunzite. For any of you who might be confused.

As for those aces…well, you'll get an explanation soon.

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon. (But I found the coolest etymology site for Sailor Moon; this person REALLY looked into the names. It was crazy.)

Warnings: Angst. (Never an angst-less moment around here).

Close Your Eyes

Chapter Fourteen

Ami rubbed her eyes as she continued to type into her computer. She thought eventually she would figure this out. People do not just disappear like that. There had to be energy traces, anything!

You can't find what isn't there…

There's something to this different dimension theory.

But it seems so impossible.

For someone who says a magical phrase and turns into a soldier who wears a sailor fuku, should we really be questioning what's possible?

But to not know what exactly had transpired was driving Ami crazy. If she couldn't do this one task, what good was she? She wasn't the natural leader like Minako or the pillar of strength that was Makoto. She wasn't the protector of a very powerful weapon or able to see glimpses of the future like Rei. This was the only thing she could do.

She loved to sift through information and books. When she was five years old her mother would always find her in their library trying to understand the large words in the huge medical texts her mother had. She had learned to read at a young age but was also born with a thirst for seeing just how far she could push her mind.

Luna jumped up into her lap, startling her. Even though Luna was Usagi's cat, she would go to Ami sometimes and now, when they needed information, someone had to be there to keep Ami company.

"If you need to take a break, you can." Luna told the blue-haired teenager who only shook herself and re-adjusted her glasses.

"No, I'm fine." Ami gave the black cat a semi-smile. "There was a different dimension but there's no telling how to get there or where it originated from. How is it able to touch our world?"

"We never really knew. Artemis and I lived on the Moon and…communication between the Lunarians and the Terrans was forbidden." Luna finished slowly.

"But Endymion and Serenity fell in love." Ami chewed on her pen. Sometimes it helped to chew on her pen, even though she knew it wasn't a good habit to get into. Whenever she needed to think things through, she would chew on her pen, hoping the answers would come to her. "Which must have been completely out of the question…"

"It was." Luna nodded. "It was a secret that few knew. The Earth and the Moon were always teetering on the brink of war. We should have taken them seriously but…well, it's hard to explain but I suppose we always felt above the Terrans, like they were ants and we didn't have to worry."

"So that's why we were having a ball the day they attacked." Ami could recall that detail, the lavish decorations, Serenity dancing gracefully with a young man who was wearing a mask…

"Yes. We were a very proud people." Luna looked down at her paws. "We had heard of battles happening on the Earth but never bothered to investigate. We thought it was petty skirmishes."

"It sounds like the only person who could tell us anything would be Endymion and he's disappeared." Ami rubbed her temples with her fingers telling herself that she might kill the prince herself if he didn't have a good explanation for this one. "Did the enemy plan it that way?"

"I don't know." Luna answered truthfully. "When Beryl and Metallia attacked everyone was massacred. They knew to strike us unaware and not give us any time to strategize."

"Who was Beryl?" Ami tried to think. "I know that you told us Metallia is the evil force behind the Dark Kingdom but Beryl was a person, right?"

"I think so." Luna tried to remember. "I remember Endymion mentioning Beryl once when he was speaking to Serenity."

"Perhaps they knew each other…" Ami wished she had more time or didn't feel the pressure that she did. It was like a test that she hadn't studied for at all. "How's Usagi doing?"

"Not so well." Luna seemed sad. "I…I can't face her. I feel like a failure as her guardian. She was the princess all along and I never knew. When Artemis gave me back my memories when Minako told him what happened, I felt like I should have known. It was my duty, the last task the queen ever gave me…"

"She needs you Luna." Ami tried to think of the cheerful blonde being miserable and it made her sad. "She needs us all. But I should keep working."

"Ami-chan!" Minako came into her room. "Your mom told me that you were up early this morning. Tell me you slept."

"Well, no." Ami admitted. "I thought I'd try to find out anything I can."

"Am-i!" Minako whined. "How are you supposed to be on your toes if you don't get any rest?"

"I'm fine; really, I'm used to only getting a little sleep." Ami thought about how many nights she had stayed up far too late studying or reading. The responsible, mature side of her always felt guilty but she couldn't help it. Besides, her studies were far more important than sleep in her mind. What if she fell behind? "What are you doing here?"

"Wanted to see what you were up to." Minako sat down on Ami's bed, next to Ami's desk. "And well, I've just been to see Rei and Makoto."

"What are they doing?" Ami cocked her head to one side curiously.

"Rei hasn't gotten any sleep either because she's been up all night trying to find things out from the fire." Minako took a deep breath. "And Makoto's been worried but she says she managed to get a few hours in. I slept for what felt like twenty minutes but…I just can't sleep when Usagi's like this. I know what she must be feeling like…"

"Maybe we should all go visit her. She probably needs to be cheered up." Ami spoke thoughtfully. "I haven't found a single thing…but I hate having to say that to her."

"Don't worry about it; I'm sure she'll understand." Minako looked far away. "If there's one thing I remember being the same in both lives it's that she accepts our limits. She can't accept that she has limits, but she accepts ours."

"Usagi's got a big heart." Ami said wisely.

"Ami…do you think…do you think Usagi thinks I'm a good guardian?" Minako looked worried when she said this, more worried than Ami had ever seen her. It occurred to Ami that Minako being the leader probably had its repercussions on the normally carefree girl. "All these things happened and I feel like I'm the one to blame. Did I tell Serenity not to visit Earth? No, I went with her. Did I tell her that she was the princess when she hated the princess? When it was making her and Mamoru so unhappy? I never said anything and I…"

"You feel guilty." Ami finished solemnly. "Usagi doesn't just become friends with people; she cares about them very deeply. She's always more concerned with others than herself. Minako, you are only human. Albeit a human with super powers but a human all the same. Usagi knows these things. She'll very unconditional with her love so don't think she'll hate you or that you failed her." Ami was surprised that Minako had come to her with this. After all, Ami wasn't the emotional person in the group. She was the logical one. Maybe that's why Minako was there, she needed some logic.

"Thanks Ami." Minako's face lit up in a smile. "Why don't we gather everybody together and go to Usagi's house? I think we'll all feel better when we've visited her."

"I think so as well." Ami agreed. That's what they needed. They needed reassurance and validation from the one person that could give it to them.

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"I'm glad you girls decided to visit. Usagi didn't come down for breakfast and I went up there but she said she wasn't hungry at all. I'm afraid she might be sick." Ikuko bit her lip. "Did something happen to her? Or to Mamoru-san?"

"Everything's fine Tsukino-san." Rei bowed politely towards Usagi's mother. "She's just having a hard time."

"I suppose we all go through that phase when we're teenagers, don't we?" Ikuko looked reassured for the moment. The four teenage girls gave each other small smiles at her words.

Not this phase…

It's unique.

Luna was with them as was Artemis. They came in with them and as they all made their way upstairs, Minako felt worry well up in her. What would Usagi say? How would she be feeling?

They opened the door to see Usagi wearing a pair of shorts and a cute peasant shirt but her hair had grown from the last time they had seen it. It was now way past her feet and all over the ground.

"Konnichiwa." Usagi didn't seem as though she had any of her old energy in her. "My hair…"

"Wow, when did that happen?" Minako blinked.

"It just kept growing." Usagi told them.

"Let's take care of that." Rei took charge of the situation and before too long they were all gathered around her. Makoto helped cut it to pretty much the same length it had been before they had found out Usagi was the princess. Minako helped put it up as Rei handed her pins. Ami wasn't much good with hair and so decided to just watch.

Usagi looked so grateful, her eyes shining with thanks so brightly that Rei thought she might start crying.

"Arigatou." Usagi smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror. "Arigatou." She turned to look at them. "You guys don't look like you've slept at all!" They all laughed at this.

"We were worried about you." Makoto confessed.

"I kept looking into my fire for answers but none came." Rei looked down as though ashamed of this.

"I haven't gotten any clues from my computer." Ami decided she might as well say it now. "I'll keep trying though."

"It's okay…" Usagi's voice made them all look up at her, her face shining with happiness. "I understand. You guys are trying as hard as you can. I'm just happy…I'm just so happy you're all here." And with that she hugged Minako who was startled by this but hugged her back as Usagi started to cry into her shoulder. "I don't know what I would do without you all."

"We're here; we'll always be here for you Usagi. Whenever you need us." Minako promised.

"And even when you don't." Rei added one with a smile.

"I brought you some baked goods." Makoto held up the bag she had brought with her. "Your mom said you hadn't eaten anything. We could pack a basket up and go take a picnic. It's not good for you to stay inside all day."

"You guys!" Usagi threw herself at them, wailing all over again. She was so glad they were there that she couldn't even put it into words for them. It was like all of her was there.

Except one piece.

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Kunzite watched the evil energy that was being siphoned into Prince Endymion with a strange expressionless face. Part of him didn't understand why Queen Beryl would save this young man. Sure, he would be a good weapon against the Sailor Senshi but he had been the enemy.

The enemy that had killed the other members of the Shittenou.

But then there was another part of him. A part that had awoken when the light of the Ginzuishou had washed over him. He had seen a different life that he had led. He saw the senshi of Venus giggling and blushing as she spoke to him, he saw Endymion in love with his Tsuki no Hime. He saw himself protecting the prince at all costs.

He had lived a life before this darkness. He had been someone else. And now he was confused, what had caused this change? Did they pour evil energy into him until he was tainted beyond repair? Was he brainwashed as surely as they were brainwashing Endymion?

If that was so, why did he continue to do what Beryl wanted? He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out three stones. His fallen comrades. Zoicite's vibrant green eyes, Jadeite's carefree smirk, and Nephrite's determined face swam through his memories. They were just gone. They had been used to betray those who they had served and now they were dead.

Did I make this choice?

Am I damned by my own hand or by someone else's?

But the part of him that hated Endymion and the Sailor Senshi and wanted nothing but to serve Queen Beryl was stronger. Every moment he saw those memories fading slowly and he couldn't hold onto them. But the Ginzuishou had shown him these things.

"Kunzite, what you are doing here?" Beryl asked, her voice cool with a strange dark tinge to it. She truly was Metallia's creature.

"I wanted to see our prisoner and make sure he wasn't escaping." Kunzite had lied to the Queen. He couldn't tell her about the memories. It was possible that she knew about them. For some reason when he thought of Beryl, he saw not the red-haired young woman before him but a dark-haired woman with strange gray eyes.

"You will go attack the Sailor Senshi. I haven't quite forgiven you for allowing the Tsuki no Hime to appear." Beryl was all power and ambition now, her eyes hard. "They will be weak now."

It was a suicide mission. He knew it was. Beryl was sending him to die. And he would. He couldn't tell her no. He nodded his head and Beryl walked on. Kunzite looked at Endymion's body one last time and walked over. He didn't know why he did it but he put the stones in Endymion's jacket pocket. Endymion's face seized in pain for a few moments and then his face relaxed.

Kunzite was about to leave when Endymion spoke to him.

"Kunzite…it was my fault…" Endymion's eyes weren't open and he had murmured it in such a way that the silver-haired general wondered if he was dreaming.

Now was not the time for any sort of sentimentality. He was about to die.

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