*sigh* Delay again….sorry about that. I remember getting new chapters out for "Donuts make the world go round" like EVERY week! *sigh* I suck…I know.
Kei-chan, thanks so much for taking your time, editing, and giving me support.
Not much going on in this chapter, things will also shift around, present/future jumps and stuff. I already did an outline for the next chapter, and things will start moving real soon. Been a bit depressed lately and just can't get myself to write anything, although story is all there in my head from the beginning to the very end. The privilege to be a fan fiction writer! Heh. Anyway, enjoy!
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"Are you okay?" Umino looked with worry at Usagi's pale face. The blonde nodded slowly, pulling on the tight collar of her uniform.
"Usagi…do…do you know that woman?" Umino nervously licked his lips. Usagi had pulled quite a stunt back there. Seeds crewmembers helped his friend to her feet and were about to call security for help. Usagi almost blew her cover. She managed to convince everyone that she was all right, just hadn't had breakfast that morning. Smiling weakly, the blonde firmly reassured them that as soon as her work with Umino was done, she was going to have a lunch break.
"No…." Usagi sadly shook her head. "I never met Rem, Umino…. I…it's just everything is so messed up now."
Usagi wasn't sure if she'd done the right thing. Walking out from the Space Center was the hardest thing to do. But what could she have done? Run to Rem and told her that she was supposed to die in a few months saving Seeds ships? And she, Usagi, knew that because…?
Usagi shook her blonde locks. And then what? Let's say she would make Rem stay on Earth. Kidnap the woman and hide her, somewhere…. Then what? Who would save infant Vash and Knives when the Seeds crew found them in space? Rem was responsible for that. If not for her, then both babies would be dead.
'I'm sorry, Vash….' Usagi let out a muffled sob. 'I couldn't save her…. Please forgive me…. You are so important to me…. I wish there was a way to save everyone, I wish there was a way for Rem to survive…. But I can't, I can't change the future and I won't change it. I want you to live….'
They would have to wait until the first few Seeds ships, with Rem on board, left the Earth. Then she would put the planet to sleep. That would work out fine. People from the Seeds ships would wonder why their signals for help never reached the Earth. It would be because there was no one awake there to answer them. Life would continue on the Planet Gunsmoke and Usagi would work on purifying the Earth.
Just how exactly she was supposed to do that?
Usagi brutally crushed that last thought. Almost automatically she used her Luna pen in the bathroom. Her uniform now looked exactly like Rem's. The blonde ignored Umino's open mouth and big-as-saucers eyes. "We'll tell them at the security check that you're taking one of the Seeds crew girls out for lunch in the city. And close your mouth, Umino—you look stupid. They'll never believe that I'm going out with you if you look like that"
Usagi dropped her purse and keys on the floor and went straight to the bedroom. She flopped herself on the bed and buried her face in the pillow. She stiffened when she felt another presence in the room.
"So…what in the hell is going on, Setsuna? Did I screw up somewhere along the way or is the world going nuts around me on its own?"
The Guardian on Time chuckled. "I can't answer that, Princess. I can't see the future anymore. All I can say is that all of us, including me, got tricked somehow. I can tell you that much. I thought I was invincible, but then I was killed and brought back to life during the war with Chaos. I never knew this would happen. I've learned to realize that it doesn't matter what the future holds; we have to live our lives step by step, not count on the fantasy."
Usagi jerked up from the bed. "What are you saying, Setsuna? Do you mean that Crystal Tokyo is a fantasy? It doesn't exist anymore?"
Setsuna scowled at the blonde woman in front of her. "I never said that. It's up to you to decide. You were shown the future, but it does not necessarily mean that it will be that way or another. It's for you to live and see what will become of it. You were shown only one path, Usagi."
"You've changed, Setsuna…." Usagi looked worriedly at the older woman.
Setsuna nervously got up from her seat. "What are you going to do now, Usagi? I think you need to tell other senshi what you know about Project Seeds. That means you will also have to share your recent dreams with them."
Usagi paled. "How do you know about my dreams? I never told anyone!"
Setsuna smiled sadly. "There are still a few things that I CAN see, Usagi…. But it looks like Earth is on its last legs and it's happening a few hundred years before I thought it would. Another trick of the future, my dear. Beware…. I am afraid that because it's happening so early and you still have not mastered the Jewel, we will have to use all of our strength to do what has to be done. I am just not sure if we are all ready for that yet."
"Oh well…." Usagi frowned. "From what I've heard, the first batch of Seeds ships is leaving in a month of two. People who will board the ships are now undergoing a special medical program that will prepare them for the long sleep in space."
Usagi let out a sob. "Some of them will never wake up." The vision of the Seeds ships crashing into the Planet Gunsmoke flashed before her eyes.
The blonde wiped her tears and faced the Time Guardian. "We don't have much time. We can't let any more ships leave the Earth. I will put the planet to sleep in a month."
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"Usagi."
Usagi stretched her arms and turned on the other side.
"Usagi, you have to get up…."
"No, Mom, just a little longer, please…."
"Usagi, there is no time to waste…."
"Just five more minutes…. I'm begging you…."
"Princess…."
"Huh?" Usagi bolted up in bed. "What? Where I am? How long did I sleep?"
Sailor Pluto smiled faintly. "Maybe a few hours. The Crystal almost completely drained your energy…."
"WHAT? WHY DID YOU WAKE ME UP! COME BACK IN A HUNDRED YEARS!"
Usagi grunted and fell on the bed, her back to Setsuna.
"Princess…it's time. We've got a lot of work to do. Crystal Tokyo is waiting for you. Waiting for its Queen."
Usagi sobbed. "Why me? Why! I don't want to get up, I don't want to do anything…. I thought I would sleep for a few hundred years, then wake up with humongous magic powers, then BAM, create Crystal Tokyo and live happily ever after…."
Pluto chuckled. "You do know that you sound like an eight-year-old, Usagi. It won't happen overnight, you have those few hundred years to work on purifying the Earth and creating Crystal Tokyo. You have all this time to perfect your magic powers, to master your Crystal and use its power to build, cleanse, and make the Earth a better place. And to be its rightful ruler."
Usagi continued sobbing. "I don't know what to do! I have no clue how to do it, where to start—I don't want to! I don't know how to be a rightful ruler! I slept through my politics classes. I hate studying. I just want to be normal!"
Setsuna solemnly stood next to her future Queen. "It has to be done, Usagi, you will know what to do."
Usagi got off the bed and looked around. "A cave? What in the hell I am doing sleeping in some cave?" She looked at Setsuna, terrified.
"You don't remember, Usagi?"
Usagi ran around the place in circles, pulling on her hair. "No! I don't remember and I don't want to remember, I want to get OUT! NOW!"
Setsuna frowned, watching Usagi's sudden attack of claustrophobia. The blonde was punching the walls, crying and trying to get out. Setsuna sighed, opened the panel with the controls, and pushed some buttons. The wall to Usagi's right slid open.
"I wouldn't recommend going outside without being transformed, Princess."
Usagi ignored the older women and ran to the exit. "I just want a breath of fresh air! I hate this place!"
"There is no air."
Setsuna was a minute too late…. Usagi stumbled backwards, clasping her throat. Before she blacked out, she saw a gray world outside, lifeless and empty.
The planet was dead.