A World without Flowers - Part Two - Falling
D-Chan

AN : As before "" means Author Notes are at the bottom. Just in case you didn't read the intro Out of Time draws from all SMMT source (except the musical... for now) meaning PGSM, the manga, and the anime. Important note: Current story line is going along the "Black moon" story line.
Makato Lita, Minako Mina, Rei Raye, Usagi Serena, Ami Amy, Chibi-Usa Rene, Mamoru Darien

-First Fall-
"There you go, Chibi Usa. Don't get your dress dirty when you are playing, all right?" Neo-Queen Serenity questioned, holding her daughter firmly between her hands. Chibi Usa nodded, looking up at her pretty white haired mother. She wanted to be just like her.

She took off out the door like a bullet, Luna-P ball floating fast behind. Sailor Mars, who had been watching the whole exchange, waited apprehensively by Serenity's side. Serenity stayed quiet, watching the door close. The sound seemed to knock her over as she fell back right into Mars's waiting arms. "Serenity. I'll take you to your room. You really need to rest."

Sailor Mercury slipped into the room and helped Mars at her mental calling. Together they took their heartbroken Queen back to her room. They watched her slip into a silent slumber as the sheets covered her frail body.

"There is nothing we can do, Ami-Chan, don't you dare suggest anything," Rei said, turning out of her sailor fuku. Ami stared back at her sadly, her princess dress taking the fuku's place.

"I know there is nothing. But to only see her smiling when Chibi Usa is around. All the energy she has left is in Chibi Usa! Even the people of Tokyo are noticing the slow decay of the crystals!" Ami cried.

"There is nothing we can do, Ami-Chan, Rei-Chan. As is fate, once again a glorious place will fall. Only this time, I don't think anything will rise from the ashes. Think of the Silver Millenium, Rome, even the World! Each had their chance in the great scheme of things and in the end each died. It was only a matter of time," Minako said, walking gracefully in.

Ami nodded, "I know. I just..."

"We want to hope that it isn't true," Rei chimed, "after all, I don't see any end. Not yet, anyway." Almost as if on cue, she swayed for a moment then halted.

Makoto entered, a frown on her face as well as she watched Rei stare off into nothing. Looking to Minako, she sent her worry to the Princess of Love.

"No. It- it's true," Rei sighed, dropped down to the floor almost gracefully head dropped down in regret.

"Of course it is. Endymion died long enough ago. Earth will follow," Uranus glared, appearing from the balcony.

Neptune, Pluto, and Saturn waited behind the curtains in the moonlight. Their fukus flapped in the night air, disrupting the silence.

"No! Not that! We will lose Usagi before the night is through. We will all fail and Usagi will die. USAGI-CHAN WILL DIE!" Rei screamed, tears coming to her eyes as she clutched her head.

Serenity lay unfazed by her scream, or even the noise as her soldiers took to the roofs and her comrades to the hallways in vigilance in hopes of saving her.

"No! No! You are not the King! The Harlot lied! Oh, my beautiful Serenity. And Crimson Rubeus has something to do with this! I know he did. He told me you were elsewhere." Princes Demand sighed, looking at the pretty blue dagger nestled between the Queen's ribs. Blood slowly leaked out.

"No! NNNNOOOOOOOO!" Uranus screamed, jumping on the balcony after hearing the voice.

"Blue Saphir!" Demand commanded.

Uranus gurgled as a sharp shard of black crystal was plunged into the back of her neck. Her eyes clouded over and foam formed at her mouth.

"Too bad we don't have the power to kill them," Saphir sighed, "the mind traps are so messy."

"Did you get the other three on the roof?" Demand questioned, climbing off the bed and taking one last sad look at the dead Queen.

"Of course, brother," Saphir nodded, frowning, "the one with the staff almost took my arm off. She sensed me before the other two did. I almost didn't get it on her."

"Well, as long as you suceeded, let us get the other four." Demand grinned, taking two stones in hand as they exited into the hallway.

Saphir watched as his brother was sent flying from a punch. A tall brunette was staring at his falling brother when he quickly acted, shoving the crystal into the woman's neck and straight into the spinal cord. The woman gave a strangled cry and fell the to the floor in a flutter of white and green.

"Jupiter!" someone shouted. Saphir laid in wait by the door, hoping whoever was out in the hallway didn't put two and two together. He didn't want that person to realize Demand could never have put the crystal in the back of the girl if he had been in the front. The person ignored Demand and dropped down to the floor by the woman. Saphir glared at the blonde as she looked up and noticed him. Demand took the moment for what it was and thrust one of his crystals into the woman's neck as well.

"Two more to go, brother," Saphir grinned, looking at the blonde lying dormant over her friend.

"Stop right there! Mars Flame SNIPER!" another female shouted. Demand turned to the flash of red as a stream of fire flared at him.

"Demand!" Saphir cried out. The flame engulfed his brother and he watched in horror, hoping that it would go away and everything would be okay.

The fire abruptly was cut off and Demand was not standing where he had been. Saphir rushed out into the hallway, looking right where the fire had come from. A girl with long raven locks lay staring off into space at Demand's feet, a black crystal protruding from her neck.

"Rei-chan! Minako-Chan! Makoto-Chan! USAGI-CHAN!" A woman wailed from the other end of the hallway. Demand and Saphir cried out as a large flood of water slammed them into the wall behind them. The barrage of water continued, both men gasping for what little air made it between the blast. Saphir clung to the final shard they had, hoping he could stick it harshly into the girl's neck.

Demand groaned, the pressure was getting strong and he was slowly being crushed. He felt as if he could take no more. The flood suddenly stopped. A blue haired girl knelt on the floor, a tatter of blue ribbons surrounding her. She was gasping for breath and Demand could see she had nearly killed herself trying to take their lives.

Saphir strutted up to her, looking down at her pretty face. She looked up at him with sad eyes, almost begging him to end her. He grinned, taking slow steps behind her. Raising his hand dramatically, he sent the crystal deep into her neck for what she had done.

She slumped to the floor, eyes closed, with a content smile. He wasn't happy.

"Venus-sama? Wake up Venus-sama!" A little girl pleaded shaking the blonde.

Demand hissed, "Get the bunny's child!"

"Right," Saphir nodded, running towards the girl.

The little girl reached for the crystal in the woman's neck. Saphir stopped and started to laugh as the girl's fingers wrapped around the evil object.

She cried out as brilliant orange electricity ran up arm, into her body.

Run, Chibi Usa! Run! She could hear Venus think, Use the time key! Escape, please, you are the last Princess we have! You can not die, Princess.

Chibi Usa let go of the crystal and looked up at the dreaded man in navy blue. She gave a cry and reached into her blouse. Pulling the key on a chain, she cried out, "Crystal key! Take me to Sailor Moon!"

Demand howled as the girl disappeared. Saphir turned sadly at his brother, they had failed.

-Falling Again-
Chibi Usa looked around curiously. This wasn't anywhere she knew. It was nothing but gray smoke and gray ground. She really wasn't sure what to do now. Nobody had told her what to do with the key, but they had certainly told her what not to do with it. Especially her mother and the lady Puu after she got the key on her birthday, over a century ago. But Venus had told her to escape, and the key had been the only thing she could think of. So then... it must have been okay, right?

She abandoned that line of thought, distracted by vague forms sliding in the gray fog. The more she stared, the more she thought she could discern pictures cast in the air, people playing. She tried to ignore the faces shifting into focus, none of which meant anything to her, and the odd feelings that crept over her as her eyes wandered into the foreboding darker areas.

To her astonishment, she thought she heard a voice cut through the fog... in fact, a very familiar voice. She ran towards that voice, crying "Puu!" Through the fog, she could dimly make out two figures: one elegant Pluto's, and another less distinct. Bright yellow comet tails came into focus through the fog, momentarily blinding her, but disappeared behind an elegant door standing wide open. She ran through it, arms in front of her trying in vain to stop, and fell out into the open sky.

Usagi was sitting calmly on a splintery park bench, waiting for her friends. She and her friends had planned to have a picnic here today, and boy would they be surprised that she'd gotten to the park before them! She looked down at the ground, swinging her feet absently, humming random notes.

She continued to watch her pastel-pink hued toenails going back and forth back and again when, out of the corner of her eye, she caught a flash of black boot.

She glanced at the staff grinding down into the earth next to the boots. Looking up, Usagi gawked at the sight of the menacing Senshi. Dark green hair and flashing red earrings seemed to be the most color full thing of the depressing looking senshi. "Sailor Moon. Come with me," the Senshi demanded.

"Who are you?" Usagi asked, suspicious, inching towards the end of the bench.

The senshi made a step towards the end of the bench, "Sailor Moon, I am Sailor Pluto. It is urgent you come with me now, please."

"More Planet Senshi- how?" Usagi said, standing up slowly.

"Please, Sailor Moon. I need you to come with me now. People are in danger. Your friends will die if you can't help them," Sailor Pluto urged, reaching out to her.

Usagi looked at the imposing senshi and her long, garnet-topped staff. She didn't trust her, the senshi had come off as being far too imposing, but her friends needed her!

She looked around to make sure no one was in the immediate area. "Moon Crystal Power, MAKE UP!" In a flash of light, Sailor Moon stood in Usagi's place. The heroine looked determinedly at Sailor Pluto and nodded, "Show me how I can help."

Sailor Pluto looked quickly up at the sky in worry. She rested a hand onto Sailor Moon's shoulder, slamming her staff forcefully on the ground, and they both disappeared in a flash of crimson light.

Just as the senshi disappeared, Chibi Usa appeared in the sky, falling through an open door seemingly hanging in a cloud.

She cried out as a tree broke her fall. She looked around frantically her heart pounding as she took in the greenery of the tree. Tears of fear welded up in her eyes even as she tried to calm down. She was okay.

Still, she didn't understand. Why this was happening? This must all be a dream, she thought, as she swung upside-down in the tree. Well, since this was a dream, she would wake up any second.

"Usagi? Usagi! What are you doing in that tree!" someone hissed. Chibi Usa looked down at a cheery blonde who returned the stare.

"Stupid! Minako! That's not Usagi... that's... someone. Not Usagi, but someone," Makoto laughed, pointing to the two pigtails of pink hair hanging in front of them.

"Ahhhh! My hair! It's so long!" Chibi Usa gasped, looking down. It had to be a dream! No way was her hair this long!

"You are both idiots! Help her down!" Rei hissed, reaching out to the pink-haired girl. Chibi Usa dropped her arms down and out to the violet-haired girl, and was thankful when the other two helped her out of the tree.

"Where is Usagi?" Ami asked. Mamoru was standing behind her, picnic basket in hand, looking around worriedly for his blonde love.

-Falling Faith-
"So your name is Chibi Usa?" Ami questioned taking a delicate bite into a sandwich.

The girl nodded, "Yes. I was wondering..." Paused looking at the sight. Four girls and one man that reminded her of someone- they all looked familiar and friendly. It couldn't hurt to ask even though history pegged the twentith century as a savage and vile place.

"Do any of you know Sailor Moon?" Chibi Usa innocently.

Instantly all of them tensed up. From the carefree looking blonde to the strong willed brunette and Chibi Usa regretted speaking. "Well of course everyone knows Sailor Moon," Ami said with a tight smile, "she is the Champion of Love and Justice for Tokyo. She protects us all. Don't you know her?"

Chibi Usa nodded, "Yes! Of course I do! My dad use to tell me stories all the time of her bravery. She was a great soldier. I wanted to know if I could meet her!"

Suddenly the tense moment faded everyone began to laugh. Mamoru spoke up this time, "Chibi Usa you really are funny. The only way that will happen is if some bad guy came out of no where and you were it's target. Then Sailor Moon would appear."

Chibi Usa nodded blushing slightly. They were laughing at her. Oh she felt so stupid. Of course she would only come when needed. It's just the way her father had once... her father! That's it! Taking a second look at the man she saw that he resemble her father closely. Save her father had been taller, had more of an air of maturity around him, and his hair had turned a dark purple in later years.

"Mamoru!" She gasped.

He stared at her because of her exclamation, "Yes? What about me?"

"You... you are... I... Oh dear..." She mummered. Where was Sailor Moon? She needed Sailor Moon now! She needed to find Sailor Moon and tell her to stay by her father's side so he would never leave her! Sailor Moon would protect him! He was going to be an important person one-day! It would be worth all the time Sailor Moon would have to spend watching him! It would be!

"Princess... there you are. They told me you went back in time you bad little rabbit." A wicked voice called out. Chibi Usa looked up just in time to see a green haired woman with an upside down black moon on her forehead break into laughter. "I am Green Esmeraude of the Black Moon Clan. I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to come with me Princess."

"No! I have to find Sailor Moon!" Chibi Usa cried out standing up getting readying to run just as Venus had told her to.

"Sailor Moon? You are looking for Sailor Moon... Not good." Esmeraude frown. She instantly shrugged off this idea and turned back to the picnicking group in the park. Too many people here to unleash just one droid. "Jaamanen! Danburu! Nipasu! Parukamon! Giwaaku! ATTACK!" She shouted throwing out her little Esmeraude shaped crystals. She had enough to spare to make the Dark Henge later, but she needed the little Rabbit now.

The scouts looked at each other. They would have to transform in front of Chibi Usa. There was no hope of saving the park people who were starting to run from the fast forming droids otherwise.

"Mars Po-" Rei was cut short when Chibi Usa screamed.

"STAY AWAY," She cried out light shooting from her forehead. Esmeraude screamed as the light struck her square in the chest, trying to purify every little tainted part of her.

"No! No! NO!" She screamed pain racking her body her black moon trying to fade away but could not. "You're hurting me!" She cried out trying to make the girl stop! If she had known this would happen... she wouldn't have charged at the Princess!

Chibi Usa stopped when she could no longer hear Esmeraude screaming. She relaxed her tense muscle and shot nerves only to see the green haired lady on her knees. She knelt right in front of her with her now gray moon tattoo on her forehead. Her eyes were dull and she looked rather pale, "Prince Demand we will fail..." She whispered and fell to the floor. The tattoo fainted once more to white and then disappeared to white leaving to trace at all that she had been part of a bloondline of power.

Minako gasped in shock looking at the woman's glassy eyes. Chibi Usa had done that from the light on her forehead! On her forehead! "Her forehead!"

Ami nodded, "Right! She has a moons symbol, but I can't tell if it's the same as the other woman or not, are they enemies?"

Chibi Usa stopped looking at the fallen villian and turned to face the four senshi. She caught Makato's eyes. The strong fighter's eyes told her to run. Run fast and hard and to get away now because she didn't want to question her, that the innocence she had seen, she wanted to believe was still there.

Chibi Usa nodded and turned to run.

TBC

Return

Author's Notes: - Yes! This chapter is necessary! Serenity was the only one to die in her weakened state. Please don't take this to much into consideration because it's not that important to the whole story, just important to further the plotline.
Endymion has been dead for century but my beta suggested not even to mention the time, but I told her I had to because Serenity can't start falling physically apart after a day of death. So that's where the vague long time came from.
The entire Out of Time series is about the rise and fall of everything or rather that's the running theme. That was the idea I came up with in December but I never really addressed it in the original version. I pondered, "What if Neo-Tokyo were destroyed? What would come after that?"
Also! Minako is so serious, in the actual anime she couldn't take anything but gym extremely serious. In PGSM Minako is so serious about the past life and being a Sailor Senshi she is killing herself pretty much because of it. This is what I meant by drawing on the different sources in the introduction.

Author's Notes: - Wow. I loved writing this chapter that I sat down and had it in less then an hour. So I read over it myself. And with this chapter you can actually see I have a beta reader who will come at me with an ax if I ask her. It's much more crisp then the last four so I'll have to strike a deal with her and see if she'll go back and check the other four for me. I think I have a new beta that I can absolutely love for once!

Anyway, about the chapter- there really isn't much to say except even when I rewrote the plot line. I was so use to the outer scouts that I put them in the story as already having been there for a while. When I started last month I realized my mistake. With a quick NANI? I scratched out two lines on my paper and was thankful that I had forgotten to work Saturn into the plot. Pluto I had to figure out how to throw in because... looks up to beginning of chapter yeah. So this seemed the best scenario. My beta reader just looked at me and stated something like, "How did Usagi survive the old candy and a stranger in the car routine?"

But that's pretty much it. I'm really enjoying writing in the Sailor Moon fandom again- I kind of missed it. Thanks for reading.

Author Notes:- This chapter was hard to do. Really. I wanted to show that the scouts were the same, but that since Chibi Usa was clearly different due to the altered time line that things would clearly be different but the scouts wouldn't change. And that Chibi Usa is still an innocent child stuck in a teenager's body.