Disclaimer: I think you would know by now, ne?

P.S. Read my ending AN notes. Important.

"Where do I begin?

by Chiisana Anisa

"Flawless plan"

So she could easily say that everything went according to plan. Or that it is going according to it. But somehow, for no real reason she knew it wouldn't in the end. It was doomed to be messed up. How? She didn't know. When? She didn't know that either.

But... it was ok, if just for now. She decided for it to be this way...

Usagi only hoped Chibi-Usa was well off and presumably safe. She knew that right now, the little girl was in the future she herself escaped out off. And knowing Chibi-Usa like a mother only could her child, she found herself trusting the kid to do her part of the plan. Knowing her... A big smile plastered itself on her face, only by remembering Chibi-Usa's own when she told her the plan. Neo-Queen-Serenity seemed to heard her, but chose not to comment. For the part and the sake of her it was better that way.

It did seem simple. Then, for the love of everything holy, WHY it didn't now?!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think I slipped the net,

But I cut myself free,

I'm not losing yet,

So don't forget me.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Feeling frustrated, Usagi tugged at her own hair, little to hard causing herself to let out a nice, big yelp of pain. At that very instant, Minako turned around, perplexed at what was she doing now.

"You ok?"

Usagi frowned at her, some of her old self appearing - wishing to smack her blonde friend, but just remembering her plan, opted differently. Waving her hand in dis-mission, she sighed, turning to look at the place they came to. "It's time for you to go back, Minako."

The other girl sighed also, but a little heavier, a sad look entering her eyes. "Does it really have to be this way? You know that you aren't accomplishing nothing by this, do you?"

"Yes. But, I need to know if I can lean on you Minako." - she converted, her eyes strongly fixed on her friend.

"I already told you, yes, Usagi..." - she was interrupted.

"Good. Nice to know." - Usagi approached the pedestal in the middle of the room.

It was a rather large room, with no windows on the side-walls, just one big on the healing, like a cupola in church. Rays of light broke trough it, falling down right on the spot of the pedestal. The spot itself was a big circle on the floor, little lifted of the ground, with an old pentagram imprinted on it. The room was, with an exception of that, bare and had nothing else in it. You could say - empty space.

Usagi stepped on it, then reached out, holding her hand in an inviting position towards Minako. "Come."

Minako nodded and stepped on it too, grasping Usagi's hand in the process. "How can you be sure that you won't go with me?"

Again, a smile showed upon Usagi's face, politely. "Because I mastered working with the Crystal and I know just how much exactly power I need to use to transfer only you."

"Oh."

They looked at each other, and although Minako knew this was not the last time she was seeing Usagi, something tugged at the bottom of her heart, almost as a warning. Harshly she reached out, lashing her arms around the smaller girl. Usagi at first, stunned, just stood there before returning the embrace.

"Don't worry. I gave you my promise everything will turn out good, as long as I'm concerned."

"I know... Just take care." - a small sob could be heard in the quietness of the room.

"I will Mina-chan. Ready?"

Not really giving an answer, Minako let Usagi go and nodded, waiting for her to begin. Usagi took out the Crystal, holding it between her hands, at first letting some energy pour in it. It glowed with white light, losing some of that black colour that it gained trough the past year. It seemed something good and secret was in Usagi, but hidden well and deep within the walls of her inner being. Only the Crystal recognised it and it let the light rule over him, as if feeling safe again in her small hands. With that done, she closed her eyes, before only taking one brief glimpse of her loyal friend and started the incantation.

"What is here needs to be returned,

let the time melt, let it be burned."

With that words, blinding light filled the room, casting more life over it then it was there to begin with when they entered, revealing writings on the wall for just a second, before dyeing down.

Usagi slowly opened her eyes, now staring at the empty spot in front of her, her mind telling her she the task was completed. Slight shiver ran trough her body, as it always did after using the Crystal, and she couldn't help herself not to tremble.

Shaking a bit, she raised her head at the window over her, one ray of light hitting her directly in the eyes. Her blue eyes, filled with determination, narrowed suspiciously as a thought ran trough her head.

For just a second she asked herself if she really send Minako to the right time... And if she did - could she trust her? Then tearing her gaze of the glass window, she stepped down and took her movements out of the room, her final thoughts telling her that from this point on . . . there was no way to return.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll say it, we play it, and try tomorrow

I'll say it, we play it, and live with the sorrow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A woman, sitting coldly in the massive chair, flipped her hair behind her, taking just one reddish lock of it between her fingers, twirling it back and up. Her stoic mask settled on her pale face when she addressed one of her underlings.

"Everything ready?"

The man with long brown, slightly curly hair, nodded his head shortly. "Yes."

"Good. I take this means we are set to go."

Again . . . "Yes."

"Very good." She stood up, grabbing a staff almost her height and stepped down. Walking past him, she caught a glimpse of satisfaction in his features, and one cold smile grazed her face.

As she walked, the power in her surged around the hall they were in, making her hair flow a little in the mid air and some things even trembled affected by it. Behind her walked the man with the brown hair, but now three more accompanied him. They all strode after her secure in their steps, and the others to follow shivered by the power they felt coming from the five combined.

It was primal, raw power, strong... but primal none the least. It brought dark thoughts with it, shivers down the spines... and evil. Nothing but pure evil. For that's what it was.

Evil.

Suddenly the woman laughed out loud, causing her underlings to look at her doubtfully. She repeated the words from before, and added something else in an icy voice, completely ridden of any kind of emotions. Maybe just some satifaction... or rather evilness.

"Very good. Then... Let's start a war."

And along with her army stepped outside releasing that primal evil free...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You'd think I'd learn by now,

There's never an easy way,

I get through somehow,

I'm on my knees to pray

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back on Earth, the gang prepared them self for the trip back to Past.

Rei, warily looked at the others with her sixth sense telling her not to go. But they needed to. Ami put back her mini-com, turning around looking for Makoto. When her eyes found her, she didn't even stop to closely look at her like so many times before, no, she rather searched further for Minako. Not finding her, she called out, her voice carrying a note of frustration in it.

"Minako, where are you?!"

The blonde girl appeared, running from the shrine, breathing heavily when she joined her friends. "Sorry... I forgot something." She breathed, putting a dumb look on her face, she was sure they would buy.

Ami frowned at her, ready to give her another lesson of responsibility, but then sighed. "I won't even ask." Turning her head just a bit, her gaze rested on Mamoru. "All set?"

Knowing she meant him, he approached the circle the girls were now forming and stepped inside of it. "Yes. You sure it will work?"

Rei, who was sick of that kind of questions, hearing them for the most of the day, answered him bitterly. "Yes it will work! But we need to hurry!"

Luna stepped by her, nudging her leg a little. "Calm down. Fighting won't get you anywhere. Well, good thing you're already transformed. According to Ami's calculations you'll arrive at the beginning of the battle with Queen Beryl. So, I can only imagine you'll arrive ready to defend yourselves if necessary. Be careful, and bring Usagi back no mater what."

Rei nodded shortly, muttering a silent apology to Mamoru, who only blinked at her in apprehension.

The Senshi gathered their powers, building them up in a light ball around them as the earth beneath them started to raise from it. From all the commotion, their shout-out's weren't heard clearly and Luna, together with Artemis could only catch the last word before they disappeared in a flash of light.

".... NOW!!"

The cats looked at the sky, as if expecting it to tell them if the girls and Mamoru made it. But that didn't happen. Artemis turned to Luna, with an apologetic smile and a words of reassurance.

"They will come back. All of them."

Luna smiled in thanks, before answering him. "I know. Although all we can do know is hope."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

You'd think I'd learn by now,

There's never an easy way,

I get through somehow,

I'm on my knees.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Knowing there was some time yet till the major event, Usagi took her turn back to her Mother's quarters. She needed to have another confident conversation with her, and to listen what her Mother would say. She couldn't do that with Minako there standing just an hour ago, it would ruin the plan.

Gracefully, nothing like her past self, Usagi grabbed the door knock and entered, not even thinking it would be polite to announce her presence. She was a Princess, right? Was it necessary for her to do just that? No, she slid inside and walked right over to the study she would find her Mother in.

Hearing her come, the Queen raised immediately, scowling at her daughter. "What possessed you to barge in like that, Usagi? Where are your manners?"

A blind look sent her the answer. "I never had them to begin Mother. And I really don't think manners are important right now." With that she dropped into chair near the work table her Mother was sitting at. She didn't even flinch at the rustling the dress she was wearing made, as she said - she didn't have manners.

The Queen shook her head at Usagi's behaviour. There was no help for her, but somehow she wouldn't change her for anything in the world. "What made you come here again?"

"Lets say I decided to tell you my real reason for making your and my life as it is for the past year now."

With an raised eyebrow, the Queen sat back down, leaning comfortably. "Finally. Although I knew you would."

A look of pure surprise showed on Usagi's face.

"Oh, come on, my dear. Did you forget so much about me? You know I can read people very well." A self-inflicted smirk appeared.

"Yes, by reading people's minds. You didn't do that though?"

"No, lets just say that I know you very well."

"Indeed." A laugh spread in the room, two women laughing at each other. Usagi brought a hand to her mouth, silencing her giggles, the Queen mimicking her movements in the exact same manner.

"So... are you going to tell me or not?"

Taking some of the fabric in her hands, Usagi squirmed a bit. "Yes, but I just needed one good laugh. It's been to long..."

"I know. I was there to watch it."

This time only silence met them in return. If you could touch the essence in the air or feel it you could say it was mourn-full and full of regret. It came from both of them, each one with their own reasons. Would they ever get rid of it?

"Well the main reason is love."

~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll admit I'm wrong,

But I'm getting on track,

I've been here too long,

I'm under attack.

~~~~~~~~~~

Now that eyebrow was back up, in an questioning manner.

"Hm... let me start from the beginning. I woke up from a really bad dream. The dream if self wasn't shear pleasure, more of a nightmare. I saw Beryl ruling the world, and me back in the corner being accused by everyone. The Senshi and Mamoru too. Woken up I felt as tough I've fallen through black hole with one-way ticket in my hand. It didn't help me either when my nightmare started to come true." Here she stopped, her thoughts swirling in the hat of memories, bad ones.

"I don't have to repeat that precise part to you again. So I made a plan. I wished I could make everything better, and the only way doing that was to get rid of Beryl way before my time. I asked myself - Where can I do that?; and got my answer in a matter of seconds. In the Past. So searching a bit, I found out that I could come back here and take the role of the Princess. It could be done. All I had to do was to get here earlier to make it work."

The Queen raised up from her position a bit, stopping Usagi. "Tell me something. You planed to change the Past?"

Slight laugh escaped her daughter's lips. "No. I PLAN to change the Past."

Now the Queen stood up abruptly, and with a voice of accusement addressed Usagi. "But you know very well you can't do that! That would change the flew of time. Ask Pluto..."

"Oh, Mother, just let me finish. And please, do sit back down." Usagi insisted tiredly looking at the Queen. How would she accept the whole truth?

"And leave Pluto out of this."

"Very well, I'll listen to you but do not expect me not to judge your actions later."

A firm nod met the Queen as she sat down, for the second time.

"Well, to continue. I decided to come back one year earlier. I acquired some spells and learned how to apply them. One is the "Time Spell". It works in a way that if you set your mind to change something in history that event won't have significant effect in the future. In another words... After I beat Beryl here, she won't show up in my time, but the time in the middle will pass as it did now. No effects. I hope you can follow me."

Short nod.

"The second spell is "Self-defence". It would grant me an ability to learn more, get some strenght, wisdom, grace... you know. As it goes together only with the "Time Spell" it can be only used in the same time with prior. That is the reason why I took defence classes here, why I decided so abruptly to learn astrology, to learn healing... and to let myself experience the full power of the Crystal."

"You didn't..."

"Yes I did. Not to worry, as long as the spell works nothing will happen. That's the second reason for that spell. As I already told you, although I shouldn't, when you used it's full potential, you died. This spell blocks that kind of an effect. I intend to use the Crystal against Beryl when she comes, soon, and that won't kill me."

A big leap of air was taken in her lungs and she prepared to speak again, but her Mother intercepted her. "You're sure it won't kill you? What after? And what in the Heaven's name has Prince Endymion has to do with that plan?!"

"Relax. The only flaw of that spell is that in the second when I defeat Beryl, "Time Spell" will stop working and therefor the "Self-defence" spell will too. That would mean, I would go back to my time, the Princess staying her, with a little bit of puzzled memory, nothing you can't handle, Beryl out of our way. The Past won't be ruined, and the Future won't be changed."

Again, her lungs demanded an air supply, and stopping because of that, Usagi let her mind wonder a bit. Really was that all in need to be done? Yes. The future, her future was at stake now, and she can be damned if she doesn't go trough with it!

"Prince Endymion is only concerned because of the love between us, we could say. I will not die in the attack, right after him, leaving the Prince and the Princess a chance of a life together. That's about it. But all in all . . . love is the point here. What went well in the Past can't go wrong in the Future."

The Queen sadly shook her head at the situation her daughter put herself in. How wrong her dear child was!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I face it, replace it, and try to change,

I face it, replace it, and rearrange.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Listen to me Usagi, and listen well. First did you come to think that with that kind of the Past there would be no disappearance of the Moon Kingdom? That by saving 'your' and Prince's life you would enable the treaty between the two biggest Planets in the Galaxy? That would cause some changes. You would marry Prince Endymion and live happily ever after. There would be no you because you couldn't be reincarnated..."

With a cough Usagi slipped in. "It seems Mother that you forget - I wasn't reincarnated. I merely slept through it all."

The Queen frowned in thought. She was right. But what good would it do anyway?

"Don't bother." Usagi said.

"What?"

"I said, don't bother. I thought it out perfectly. No, there would be no treaty. I would destroy Beryl, but not the army. And with the power of the Crystal already used, there would be no chance for you to properly defend yourselves. So you could say I'm going to leave you to die, again, but you could also say that I would make it sure for the Past to happen as it did. With minor glitches, of course."

Now, thinking about it, the Queen finally begin to comprehend the wisdom of the child-woman before her. The girl sitting there, in her angelic appearance was in fact a dangerous being. She knew too much and suffered too much. She was a threat. But not to her or the Past or the Future. No, a threat to herself.

"I see. You really thought of it all. But your reasons are rather silly. Love? What love?" - she asked, hoping she would learn something more of her so called daughter, because for now this girl amazed her.

"A love is, Mother, the most powerful thing in the Universe. I think you agree with me on that, to some point. But it needs some help to grow, to heal and to bloom. That's what I'm doing. Yes, the Prince and the Princess of the Moon, the real one would die. They would not come to term of having that love as they should. But their love itself made me happy for some time in the Future. But Beryl butted in, to express myself like that. And everything went downhill from there."

"So, as far as I can see it - NO Beryl, NO problems. I know, that sounds propostrous, selfish, call it what you want. As I said, it is the most powerful thing in the Universe and it makes you do things you would never think yourself capable off. That's what I'm doing now."

"But Usagi you can't just walk in the Past, determined to change one detail, do it and go back as it was! That's forbidden!!" The Queen had it lightly enough of this. Yes, everything seemed well thought out, every detail cautiously explained and carried out, everything just fine and set to work. But somehow this kind of things always bound to go wrong. So, naturally she feared that would happen as well.

"You know, that after all that you said now, I should send you to prison for even thinking of that?"

Usagi sighed, looking at her 'Mother' warily. Didn't she get it? There was no flaw in it. Sure she would go back as that was the flaw of the spell, but the PLAN had no mistakes in it!

"Mother, you don't understand! You can prison me right now, but it would do no good. The plan is already in role and it can't be stopped. THAT would change something, and only then we would have a problem on our hands."

She got up and stretched her legs, fixing the dress, trying to make it straight again. Done with that, she looked the Queen straight in the eyes, searching for something. Found it or not, she spoke again. "There is no reason to worry, not yet. Minako will do her part, I will do mine, the plan will work and that's it."

She turned around and started walking out of the study room when a rather cold voice reached her ears. "You can't be that sure." Usagi detected it was giving a feeling of coldness only because the owner of the voice held fear somewhere inside. She turned her head back to look at her Mother standing almost desperately at the table, clutching some papers in her delicate hands.

"Oh, but I can. Or did you forget Mother that you yourself told me my powers all in all will overcome your won? It seems you did. So let me tell you one more thing." Now she faced the Queen fully, with a sort of gentle smile flying across her face, and a pure energy pouring out of every fibre of her being.

"I know you will think of me as reckless. You won't be the first. Some will even say I'm ruthless by letting all that happen again. With minor adjustments. Some will praise me, some will hate me, as they already do. But... That day when I had that awful nightmare I decided to let the world know real me and my power be shown. And if I fail, for whatever reason, I'll be damned if I don't try it again and again till I succeed."

Putting a melodramatic pause in her speech, Usagi spoon to go, pushing the doors open, one final sentence crossing her lips.

"This girl is bound to never give up upon better life for everyone, and at least herself."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You'd think I learned by now,

There's never an easy way,

I'll get through somehow...

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The End of Chapter 5

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AN: OK, I meant to write a whole lot of stuff in here but it turned out to be too long. So now I BEG of you to forgive me for not updating as I promised. There is no real reason, I won't lie to you. Maybe a slight case of writer's block, which did happen in fact, because after all this time, I wrote this chapter in two nights!

Some kind of power surged trough me and I said to myself - Lets write!! And I did.

So much for that, if you can forgive me fine, if not, I really don't care. People who want to read this story will read it and continue on reading it making me very happy. But people who chose not... I won't blame them. Even I don't read ALL the stories. Enough.

To explain this chapter:

As you can see (read) there is a LOT of talking in the end. Usagi decided to tell the whole story. If you didn't get it (I really tried to tell everything) or you think I missed something tell me to repair my mistake. I have it all in my head and in it - it works perfectly. SO IF I REALLY DID SCREW IT UP TELL ME!!!! Only that will help!

The real action starts in the next chapter. The Senshi arrive, and Mamoru in tow... And Beryl of course. Now, every plan is bound to have SOME flaw so you'll get to see what happens to this one in the next chapter.

I have already worked out to details what happens, I only have to write it down. I WON'T promise when I'll update. I believe that my Author's alert is active so if you really want to know when the next chapter is out go put me on it. (if you really WANT to know)

All the love and thanks I send to all my readers, and reviewers. You and only you are making me write this still. Thanks for all the kind words and all the support.

For the song in this chapter I don't have credits, but I also don't know who's it. Sorry.

Well, that's all for now.

Lots of love,

Chiisana Anisa