Author's Note: Thanks to those who reviewed, but I didn't get a chance to really check lately. School six days a week and some other stuff. And sorry for not updating so long. Anyway, on with the chapter. And just a reminder, Eternal Sailor Moon cannot use Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss. Hmn, I wonder what'll happen to Usagi and Ran now...but first, Hotaru...

Rainbow

By: Sailor Moonac

Chapter Ten: Loss Times Two

"Huh?!" Hotaru spun around and looked at the roof of her mansion. "I guess I imagined it...but I could have swore someone was there."

Two shadows could be seen behind Hotaru...

...A staff was raised but it reflected off the moonlight, catching Hotaru's eyes...the staff swung down—

"Ah!" Hotaru jumped away from the attack and rolled to her feet. "Who are you two?!"

"Damn, I missed." Sailor Phi stood beside a smirking Sailor Chi. Both of their eyes seemed to glow under the red moon. "I am Sailor Phi, one of the loyal followers of Master Sailor Galaxia."

"In other words, you are the one that killed the Inner Soldiers!"

"Actually," Sailor Chi stepped beside her twin sister. "That was me. But Sailor Phi is going to finish the rest off. I've had my share of fun."

"How dare you—Saturn Crystal Power, MAKE-UP!!" The Silence Glaive reflected the moonlight as she held it up against Sailor Phi and Sailor Chi.

"I'll leave you to deal with this one Phi." Sailor Chi stepped backwards and disappeared in a storm.

"Shall we begin?" asked Phi whose eyes had lost the glowing demonic quality. Instead, she looked slightly insane.

Without waiting for any answer from Saturn, Phi charged at Saturn and made a swipe at her with her staff. Instead of dodging as Phi had predicted, Saturn used her glaive to block the attack. Saturn threw Phi away from her and brought her glaive down swinging at Phi's head. Phi herself turned her staff sideways to block it. Continuously, the two soldiers exchanged blow for blow. Either attacking or blocking each other's attack. The clang of metal on metal sounded into the night as a storm seemed to brew overhead.

Both of their weapons struck each other and held each other in place. Saturn's twin blade was holding the top of Phi's sun staff. "You're pretty good compared to the other soldiers my sister fought. And you look so young as well." Phi gave a strong shove to try to free her staff from the twin blade's grasp to no avail.

Saturn continued to shift her weapon around in order to continue to ensnare Phi's staff. "The Outer Soldiers of this star system are undoubtedly stronger than that of the Inner Soldiers. I am an exception by being stronger than both the other Inners and Outers. I am not an Outer Soldier but rather more the Forbidden Soldier of Saturn—"

"That's nice, so will you let go off my staff! Galatica Plant Blizzard!!" Vine like energy shot from the sun on the staff and blew Saturn backwards. Saturn slammed the tip of her glaive into the ground to prevent her from being blown to far back.

Saturn looked up and glared at Phi but saw her attack continuing to approach. "Silence Wall!!" The attack this time deflected off a semi-transparent barrier and raised the ground around Saturn's barrier.

The blood red moon disappeared behind the gathering clouds and it started to rain.

Saturn struggled to hold up her barrier and her feet were sliding on the ground from the force. "Saturn...Silence Glaive Surprise!!" Saturn brought her glaive swinging in front of her as her barrier shattered. The two attacks collided and negated each other just as Sailor Moon's own attack had done.

The smoke cleared quickly from the rain and both Phi and Saturn were at a stand still. They were even. Both could neither kill nor take down the other.

"Round two." With that, Phi slammed the tip of her staff into the ground in front of her with her sun head of her staff shoulder level with herself. "Galatica Plant Blizzard!!" Energy shot out of the ground and Saturn jumped up to dodge it. The vines broke through the surface and followed her into the air. It ensnared Saturn's leg and dragged her crashing to the ground. Phi took the chance and fired two golden energy attacks at the fallen Saturn.

Saturn used her glaive and sliced the vines off quickly. She dodged the first attack as it crashed into the ground where she was not even longer than a second ago. The second attack she sliced in half while she was in the air. Half of it shoot through the clouds and created a lightning effect in the sky. The other half struck a tree and blew its top off. Saturn stood to face off Phi once again.

Saturn's glare looked a bit hallow as she raised her glaive in front of her. "Round three." Saturn charged at Sailor Phi and swung at her horizontally, catching her staff arm slightly and drawing blood. Phi used her other arm and blasted a continuous attack of the golden energy as Saturn either blocked them, dodged them, or destroyed them. Saturn herself took to the offensive as she slowly edged her way around the various attacks to Sailor Phi. Upon her glaive distant, Saturn jumped into the air over the attacks and swung down on Phi.

Phi directed her staff towards Saturn. "Galatica Plant Blizzard!!" The attack struck a barrier around Saturn as she continued to descend on Phi. "How—?!"

"Silence Glaive...SURPRISE!!" Saturn raised the staff over her head at striking distant and swung down hard. Phi herself used her staff to create a barrier just as Saturn's glaive struck. The attack collided against the barrier and blew up rubble from beneath them. Both soldier struggled to hold their energies high but eventually, Phi's barrier shattered and Saturn's attack was negated.

Once again, they were standing facing each other, both severely out of breath. 'Damn it, this girl as just a kid and she can block each and every one of my attacks.' Phi's gaze shifted over to her wound just above her bracelet. 'And she even managed to draw blood. Chi never had this much trouble taking on four soldiers all at once.' Phi lowered her staff back to her side. "What makes you so powerful? Even Eternal Sailor Moon couldn't do this much."

"Sailor Moon can, but she is no fighter. We are her guardians and have the duty to protect her. She never learned how to fight unlike me who has kept the memories from my past existence."

Phi smirked. "But why protect someone so weak when you can do so much on your on?"

Saturn glared at her, her eyes still hallow looking. "What are you saying?"

"Why don't you join me and serve Sailor Galaxia. With your strength, the universe will not stand a chance!" Lightning struck behind Saturn hiding her face for a moment. When it faded, Phi could clearly see that she was smirking. "Sounds like a good idea doesn't it Saturn?"

"Actually, I was thinking it was a pathetic idea. Just because you can't match up to me and kill me, you don't want to face the wrath of your master when you return with nothing. So, you decide to bring the entire soldier to your master and let her do the work." Saturn flipped her glaive out in front of her in an offensive position. "And trust me when I say this. I haven't even used my full power yet."

Phi smirked herself. "Is that so? Well you're wrong. I just wanted to offer a chance for you to live, but it looks like you refuse. So, die! Galatica Plant Blizzard!!" Once again, the vines shot out of her staff towards Saturn.

"Same old thing, let me show you something new..." Saturn's smirk disappeared and her eyes seemed to glow. Saturn brought her glaive to her side and swung it horizontally even before Phi's attack came close enough. A silence wave flowed with Saturn's glaive and silenced the entire area...Phi's attack disappeared into the silence. Phi opened her mouth but no noise came out from it. Saturn took a step forward with her glaive at her side. The ground rippled slightly as a thump was heard. Then another, and another, all in sync with Saturn's footsteps. Apparently the only person that could make any sound was Saturn herself.

'What is this?' Phi looked up in fear as Saturn approached. Saturn's image seemed to shift, she looked older and taller and her uniform seemed different. 'I have to get out of here!' Vines came out of the ground and wrapped around Sailor Phi. The vines opened up and she was gone.

Saturn closed her eyes and glowed slightly, shifting back to Hotaru Tomoe. Hotaru looked up the moon, which was now visible again. "Usagi, please be careful. I promise to protect you forever..."

Usagi stirred slightly from her sleep and woke up. She was still leaning against Ran at the foot of her bed. Her Eternal Tier was gone and Ran was asleep himself. Chibi-Chibi wasn't in the room. Usagi looked over to her clock and saw that it was a little past midnight.

"I promise to protect you forever..."

'Who was that? It sounded like Hotaru...' Usagi gently placed Ran's arms to his sides and got up. She reached over to her bed and pulled off the covers to wrap around Ran. Usagi leaned down to kiss Ran on his forehead and went and picked up her broach that was on the table from earlier. Usagi looked at Ran and blushed slightly but frowned at herself. 'I can't do this...I can't do this to Mamoru.' Usagi walked over to her window and pushed it open. She clutched her broach to her chest and jumped out the window. Barely landing on her feet, Usagi ran to the front gate and opened it softly, letting herself out and then closing it.

Usagi walked softly down the barren streets towards the Hikawa shrine, even though she knew one was there to greet her.

"Chibi?"

Usagi turned around and saw Chibi-Chibi following her. Usagi smiled slightly and took her hand into her own. "Hi Chibi-Chibi. Can I tell you a secret?"

Chibi-Chibi cocked her head to the side and looked at her questioningly. "Earlier while Ran was taking care of my wounds, he kissed me." Chibi-Chibi's expression changed slightly into a slightly shocked one. "Yes, but my mind seems to be continuously on Mamoru." After that, they walked in silence to the Hikawa Shrine and eventually were standing at the center of the shrine.

"It's barren now. There's no one to protect it." All traces of the battle had disappeared only leaving emptiness. There was no wind that night and not a sound anywhere. It was too quiet for Usagi.

"Come to reminisce about your fallen soldiers, Sailor Moon?"

Usagi turned around and faced Sailor Chi on the Torii gate. Usagi pushed Chibi-Chibi behind her and grabbed her broach. "What do you want?"

Sailor Chi jumped down nonchalantly and faced Usagi. "Oh nothing really. I'm just here to watch you suffer—"

"How dare you—Moon Eternal MAKE-UP!!" Behind Eternal Sailor Moon, Chibi-Chibi had transformed as well. Sailor Moon charged at Sailor Chi and summoned her Eternal Tier, its staff extending to the ground. "Starlight Honeymoon Therapy KISS!!"

Sailor Chi seemed to yawn and pointed her staff at Sailor Moon. "Galatica Storm!!" Both attacks collided and this time, it seemed Sailor Moon had the upper hand. 'How?! Last time we were even!'

"I'll make you pay for what you did to my friends!" Eternal Sailor Moon pushed even more energy into her attack and it charged back at Sailor Chi.

'Her emotions powers her attacks—?!'

"Galatica Plant Blizzard!!" Sailor Phi shot her attack to the middle of the other two attacks and it exploded. "Chi, we don't have time for this! We have to report back now!"

Chi glared at Eternal Sailor Moon before following her sister back to Shadow Galatica.

"What was that about?"

Galaxia sat at her throne un-transformed and looked at the two bowing soldiers. "So basically Phi, you could not kill Saturn"

"Yes please forgive me. She was more powerful than I thought—"

"You realize it is futile to go after Sailor Saturn first. She is undoubtedly one of the strongest soldiers in the universe. Her only real reason for awakening is to destroy. But..." Galaxia stood up and went to look out into the Star Gardens. "But you must know that I was the one that awoke Saturn. Awakening her was the only way to get her Sailor Crystal." Galaxia turned to face the twin soldiers again. "Take care of the other Outer Soldiers first. If need be, you both can team up to take down Saturn."

"As you wish." The twins disappeared into the shadows.

"Master Sailor Galaxia. May I go to Earth?" A appeared in a swirl of ribbons and bowed before Galaxia. In his hands was a golden Starseed.

"Go to Earth?"

"Yes, to see my brother."

Galaxia smiled slightly. "Now I thought you don't akin yourself to him anymore. You may go, but you may not kill him."

A smiled a hallow smile. "I have no intentions to. I just want to have some fun..."

"Go then." A disappeared with a swirl of ribbons leaving Sailor Galaxia alone.

"To achieve ultimate power, one must have all the destined stars of the universe. Without them, no one can succeed. Find the stars of destined Soldiers. Find them and unite them with the Cauldron. To achieve ultimate power..."

Galaxia touched her Sapphire Crystal. "I remember. I remember..."

"C...C wake up." Ran stirred slightly and opened his eyes. Ran looked around and saw that Usagi and her broach was gone.

"C."

"A?!" Ran spun around to the open window and saw A floating there, looking exactly as he was the last time he saw him. "A, what do you want?" Ran stood up and faced A. The curtain was slightly covering A's face as he floated there.

"C. Surely is this is the life you wanted?"

"What are you talking about?" Ran's brows furrowed in as he looked at his brother.

"To be left alone constantly, to live without me. But that's all right with me. At least I'm not alone like you."

"I'm not alone A. I have Usagi—"

"Who isn't here. You know brother, you should really join me. You might live longer than now."

"Why suddenly concern about my life when you said you wanted to take it yourself?"

"It's because I don't want to see you die such a painful death—"

"He's not going to die a painful death because I'll be here to protect him." The Eternal Tier was pointed at A's head by Eternal Sailor Moon and Sailor Chibi-Chibi Moon who was behind her.

"Eternal Sailor Moon." A turned to face her. "I have something of yours."

"And I have a message for your master. Tell her that I will get my friends Starseeds back even if it is the last thing I do."

"Well then, I'll have to tell you that it is the last thing you'll do." A started to disappear with his ribbons again. "And I think you should keep an eye on the Outer Soldiers..."

"What do you mean?!" But A was already gone.

"Usagi?" Ran moved to the window and looked at her. Chibi-Chibi de-transformed and flew into Ran's arms. Sailor Moon continued to stare off into space not taking any notice of Ran.

"Usagi, please talk to me." Ran set Chibi-Chibi down on Usagi's bed and climbed up onto the windowsill. Ran jumped into the air and summoned his metallic wings. He settled into the air beside Sailor Moon and stared at her face. She looked really sad and in deep thought. "Usagi." Ran placed his arms around her.

Sailor Moon snapped out of her daze then and looked at him with a solemn expression. "I'm sorry Ran. I wasn't paying any bit of attention."

"That's all right. Tell me what is on your mind."

Sailor Moon sighed and moved to cling to Ran, wrapping her arm around his neck. She then de-transformed. Ran wrapped his arms around her securely to hold her since she didn't have any wings now. "I think the outer soldiers are in danger. And usually I can't reach them. I awoke tonight because I sensed a tremendous power. I think it was Saturn, but I don't know of she's okay or not."

"I think it'll be all right." Ran flew back to the window and landed softly. "You should sleep, you have school tomorrow." Ran helped Usagi and Chibi-Chibi to bed and tucked them in. 'Usagi's wounds are gone. Her bandages as well. How odd.' Ran left Usagi's room and went to his own to sleep for the night.

Somewhere from a distance, A was watching him. "Soon you and Sailor Moon will die. You're not allowed to love anyone else but me. I'll make sure of that..."

"I can't even seem to reach the Sailor Power Guardians of the Inner Soldiers. They truly have been destroyed." Sailor Pluto sat down in front of the computer monitor at Charon Castle. She rubbed her forehead in frustration and turned on the communicator to contact Uranus at Miranda Castle. "Uranus, are you there?"

"Go ahead Setsuna."

Pluto leaned in closer to the monitor and closed her eyes slightly. "Did you sense Saturn's Power coming from Earth?"

"Yes I did. But Saturn's star is still shinning brightly. That must means that she is still alive."

"That's good. I try to foresee something of the future, but I can't even concentrate. This isn't a good omen."

"Keep trying Setsuna. I'll contact you later. I just hope Hotaru can still protect the princess on her own."

"Usagi still has Ran."

"I doubt Ran will be able to do much. Most likely, he'll get himself killed soon."

"Don't say things like that Haruka!"

"But it is true."

"Most likely, yes. I should go, maybe I'll be able to concentrate more." Pluto closed the link and leaned back against her chair. "Guardian Pluto." A miniature Sailor Pluto appeared over the console. "If anything were to happen to me, tell Sailor Moon as soon as you can. Being the guardian of time means you have a better chance of living longer than the other Sailor Power Guardians."

"Don't say such morbid things. However, I will do as you wish if anything were to happen."

"Thank you. I have a feeling I won't be living much longer..."

Sailor Neptune paced around her throne room on Triton Castle with a visible worried expression on her face. She stopped and peered into her Submarine mirror. It appeared clouded but cleared up to show two shadowy twin figures...

"So they are here—"The door to the throne room was blown open as Sailor Phi stepped in. Sailor Chi could be seen behind her. "You were the ones that killed the Inner Soldiers."

"Actually, my sister did. But I'll kill you." Sailor Phi charged at Sailor Neptune and tried to punch her. Neptune blocked it and tried to counter with a kick of her own. Phi used her staff to block it and Neptune held her mirror to Phi's face.

"Submarine Reflection!!" An energy attack shot Phi directly in the face and blew her away from Neptune. Neptune did a jump kick at the fallen Phi but Phi rolled away barely in time. Neptune aimed a roundhouse kick to Phi's face and got her. Phi slid back a few feet and Neptune raised her hand into the air. "Deep Submerge!!" Phi smacked the energy attack away into the throne with her staff and fired two golden energy balls. Neptune dodged the first one and deflected the second one with her mirror.

"Galatica Plant Blizzard!!" Phi's attack grabbed Neptune's left leg as she tried to jump away and slammed her to the ground. Phi jumped up above Neptune and used her staff end to try to stab Neptune.

Neptune held her mirror in front of her. "Neptune Violent Tide!!" A torrent of water shot out of her mirror and blew Phi away before she could stab her. However, when the water touched the vines, it seemed to spring to life further and completely constricted Neptune.

Phi got up off the ground and blasted two energy attacks at Neptune. Neptune used her mirror to block the two attacks but Phi kept on shooting energy attacks. After about five attacks, the mirror started to crack and eventually burst. An array of energy attacks pounded into Neptune and blew the vines away, as well as her Sailor Crystal. Neptune's body fell lifeless onto her throne and her body disappeared.

"Sister, it looks like you could use some help." Sailor Chi walked beside Sailor Phi and helped her to her feet.

"Yeah, you had it easy. So, who do you want to take? Uranus or Pluto?"

"I'll take Uranus. You rest a bit and take care of Pluto. Right now, I'll go finish off Uranus."

"Hmph, you had it easy with the Inner Soldiers. And if I hadn't come, Eternal Sailor Moon would have finished you off."

"Yes, and I thank you for that. Why don't you go take that Sailor Crystal to Sailor Galaxia now?"

"Right." Sailor Phi disappeared shortly followed by Sailor Chi, their destinations different.

"Michiru, Michiru, are you there?!" Sailor Uranus stood by her console and tried to contact Neptune. "Damn it, why won't you answer me?!"

"Maybe it's because my sister just killed her."

Uranus spun around and saw that Sailor Chi had her sun end of her staff pointing at her throat. "My sister was never to good with surprise attacks. She would rather face an opponent head on."

"And I'm not one to be surprised easily!" Uranus summoned her Space Sword and knocked Chi's staff away before she could do anything. Chi jumped backwards and Uranus jumped to the opposite side.

"Not bad, definitely better than the Inner Soldiers—"

"Shut up!" Uranus held her sword over her head and swung it down. "Space Sword Blaster!!" A crescent blade the shape of her sword flew towards Chi who flew to the side to dodge it. Chi charged at Uranus with her staff in front of her and the two weapons clashed against each other. Uranus's sword was glowing with energy, as with Chi's staff.

Uranus threw Chi off and tried to slice at Chi's head. Chi ducked the attack and spun around, using her sun end of her staff to smash into Uranus's skull. Uranus quickly summoned her attack and threw it at a charging Chi. Chi was thrown into the wall opposite Uranus just as Uranus herself smashed into the wall from the hit.

Chi got up with the help of her staff and wiped the blood from her lip. "Definitely better than the Inners. I had less trouble with two of them than with you."

Uranus got up and spit out some blood. "Then I must feel sorry for the person who had fought Sailor Saturn."

"So you know about it huh?"

"Saturn's destructive power really sticks out badly. It's hard not to notice. So who was it, you or your sister that was beaten by Saturn. But then again, you probably ran away in fear—"

"Shut up!" Chi blasted a barrage of golden energy attacks at Uranus with her hand. Uranus held her sword above her head as it glowed with even more fury.

"Uranus Space Turbulence!!" Uranus brought it down and the attacks collided against each other.

Chi smirked at Uranus even though their attacks were just about even. Chi pointed her staff with her opposite hand at Uranus's direction and fired. "Galatica Storm!!" With the combine attacks, it overpowered Uranus and blew her into the wall. Uranus's navy blue Starseed flew out of her body. Uranus's lifeless body slid down the wall and disappeared.

"I'm beginning to really do feel sorry for Phi for taking on Saturn. If I had this much trouble with one Outer, imagine her." Chi disappeared and headed back to Shadow Galatica.

Sailor Pluto stood on the surface of the frigid planet of Pluto waiting and staring at the direction of the sun. A click in the rubble could be heard. "I've been waiting for you." Pluto turned around sharply to face Sailor Phi.

"So you foresaw your own death?"

Pluto didn't answer and showed no signs of an answer to that question. "I foresaw you coming."

"Hmph, I'm actually getting tired of this. So I'm going to make this quick. Galatica Plant Blizz—"

"Oh no you don't, Chronos Typhoon!!" An energy attack that seemed to slow even time charged at Sailor Phi before she could even finish her attack. It struck her and blasted her off the planet. Phi flipped over into the air and finished her attack.

"—Blizzard!!" The vines spiraled at Pluto who held up the Garnet Rod to create a barrier. The vines dug under the planet and out of sight. Phi used her staff to strike at Pluto's barrier, which collapsed upon contact. Pluto jumped away from the attack as Phi used her hand this time to summon what appears to be black lightning. "A little gift from Master Sailor Galaxia." Instead of shooting the black lightning at Pluto, she instead smashed it into the ground.

Electricity circulated throughout the entire area of the ground as the lightning moved in jagged patterns. Pluto's eyes opened wide. 'The vines?!' The said item blasted out of the ground and grabbed Pluto, electrocuting her in the process.

"Die!" Phi shot a golden energy attack at Pluto and blasted out a dark gray-purple Sailor Crystal. The vines dropped the dissipating body of Sailor Pluto. "All that is left now is Sailor Saturn." Phi disappeared back to Shadow Galatica.

For the first time in days, Ran had actually woke up Usagi and sat with her for breakfast before school started. Usagi acted completely normal around her family and smiled cheerfully when she left for school. Ran could see it was an act.

At school, only Naru was around and everyone was curious as to where Ami, Makoto, and Minako had gone. Usagi felt obligated to make up excuses for them as to their whereabouts.

At lunch, Usagi sat by herself until the Three Lights came over. "Usagi." Seiya sat beside Usagi as the other two sat down in front of her. "The others, they're gone right...?" Seiya had already known the answer but wanted an answer from Usagi.

"Yes..."

"Listen Usagi." Yaten gently took Usagi's hand, which surprised her. "Last night, I could sense the deaths of three stars. I think the Outer Soldiers of this star system is dead."

"Three...?" Usagi's eyes watered and she reached for her broach. It opened up and revealed the star-shaped Ginzuishou. "Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. They're gone..." Usagi closed her broach and started crying. "Why is it that, I can't find anyway to protect them?! First Mamoru, then Luna, Artemis, Phoebes, Deimos, Rei, Ami, Minako, and Makoto; and now Haruka, Setsuna, and Michiru. I just can't take this anymore!"

Seiya pulled Usagi into his arms as she cried into his chest.

"Usagi." Taiki shifted uncomfortably with Usagi's tears. "There is only two more stars in this star system left alive."

"Hotaru!" Usagi pulled away from Seiya and looked at Taiki. "Hotaru and me. They won't stop until they have us..."

"Then, we'll protect you Usagi." Seiya looked over to the other two members of the Three Lights and they all nodded.

"Thank you, but Hotaru is still in danger."

"Let's go to her after school then." Yaten looked up to the sun as he shielded his eyes. "The Princess would also like to come. And when the time comes, we will have to go to Shadow Galatica."

"Where is that Yaten?"

Yaten took out a card and showed it to Usagi. "Seiya already gave you this. It's the Sagittarius Zero Star. That's where Shadow Galatica is."

'Seiya didn't know I was Sailor Moon then, so why did he give all of those cards to me. "This is Sagittarius Zero Star. All of your answers lie there. And all of my dreams lie there as well." That's what Seiya told me...' Usagi handed back the card to Yaten. "Seiya, if you didn't know I was Sailor Moon then, why did you give me those cards?"

Seiya looked taken back by the question. "Well, it's true I didn't know consciously. I had a subconscious feeling that I should give you those cards. I remember seeing you at the airport that day. I just knew from the moment I saw you."

Usagi nodded accepting the answer. "All right then. I'll meet you at the school gates this afternoon to go to Hotaru's mansion."

The Three Lights nodded in unison and left Usagi to be alone.

Hotaru walked home from school quietly with a pokerfaced expression. Upon reaching her mansion, she noticed someone was inside among the rubble from last night. Hotaru opened the gate and let herself in, noticing her father was not home. Hotaru set her book bag by the gate and walked up to the person. Red and gold reflected in the sun as white ruffled around the stranger. Hotaru walked to within three feet of the person. "So you must be Sailor Galaxia." Hotaru's voice was icy cold and completely even. With no doubt, this was not Hotaru Tomoe.

"Yes, I am. Sailor Saturn." With that, Hotaru transformed into Sailor Saturn and had her glaive at Galaxia's neck. "Are you going to kill me?"

"Yes."

"I'd like to see you try." Galaxia used the sword from behind her back to knock Saturn's glaive away. Saturn recharged at her and swung grandly, missing when Galaxia jumped into the air and did a back flip. Galaxia didn't even bother to transform. Galaxia charged up to meet Saturn as both of their weapons clashed against each other. "You're very strong Saturn. But you won't be able to kill me."

"I can if I release my true power."

"You wouldn't be able to!" Galaxia shoved Saturn away and raised her sword over her head. "Galatica Inflation!!" A huge attack came down with Galaxia's swing and Saturn erected a barrier in an attempt to block it.

Saturn struggled to hold off the attack and eventually her barrier caved in. Saturn was hit with the attack and was brought to her knees. She struggled to get back up and had to use her glaive for support. "Silence Glaive Surprise!!"

Galaxia smirked as Saturn's attack charged at her. She calmly held out her a hand to block it. Saturn's attack struck a barrier and Galaxia had to use both of her hands to hold it back on contact. 'More powerful than I thought.' In a flash, Galaxia transformed to Sailor Galaxia. "Galatica Super String!!" Galaxia retaliated with her own attack which blew Saturn away. Saturn's body was disintegrated leaving only her purple Sailor Crystal.

"Master Sailor Galaxia. Can you see now why I struggled to kill her." Phi bowed down to Galaxia.

"She's more powerful than you are. But you could have tried harder. Go back to Shadow Galatica. It won't be long now."

"As you wish." Phi disappeared with her swirl of vines.

Galaxia turned around to face the entrance of the front gates. Five figures could be seen running up to the gates. "Sailor Starlights, Princess Kakyuu, and Sailor Moon." Usagi led the way to the mansion and pulled opened the gate. She noticed Hotaru's bag leaning against the gates.

"Where's Hotaru?!"

Galaxia held out her hand and showed Usagi and the others Saturn's Sailor Crystal. "No...Hotaru!!"

Galaxia smirked at the crying Usagi. The Three Lights jumped in front of Usagi and pulled her back. They all transformed at once.

"Fighter Star Power..."

"Maker Star Power..."

"Healer Star Power..."

"MAKE-UP!!"

"Star Serious Laser!!"

"Star Gentle Uterus!!"

"Star Blazing Inferno!!"

All three attacks combined together and charged at Galaxia. Galaxia used her sword and held it in front of her to block the attack. Using both hands, Galaxia threw the attack back at the Starlights with her sword. The Starlights were blasted into the barrier Princess Kakyuu erected. "Starlights, are you all right?"

Usagi pushed away through the barrier to be in front of the Sailor Starlights. "Moon Eternal MAKE-UP!!"

"Stop!" Sailor Galaxia threw her sword in front of Eternal Sailor Moon to prevent her from going any further. "Sailor Moon. I'm not here to fight you yet. I rather fight you at Shadow Galatica."

"Shadow Galatica?"

"Where your dreams will be destroyed and yet where all your answers lie." Galaxia walked over to Sailor Moon and grabbed her sword. "Everything will be judged at the Cauldron. Sailor Moon, I invite you along with the other Sailor Starlights and their Princess." Galaxia de-transformed and walked away. "I shall be waiting for your appearance." Leaves invaded Sailor Moon's line of vision as Galaxia faded away.

"Sailor Moon!" A small image could be seen forming by Sailor Moon's feet.

"Guardian Pluto?!"

Guardian Pluto could barely be seen as she floated up to meet Sailor Moon's eye level. "The Outer Soldiers have all been destroyed by Galaxia. You are the only one left to stop her!"

"I know, and I will do my best."

"Good luck Princess..." Guardian Pluto completely faded then.

"Sailor Moon." Princess Kakyuu walked up beside her and showed her four broken glass balls.

"Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and Saturn..." Sailor Moon took them into her hands and clutch them like when she had the Inners, the cats, and birds. Sailor Moon turned around to the rising moon.

"To Shadow Galatica..."

"What do you mean Usagi?" Ran sat on Usagi's bed as Usagi stared out the window of her room. Princess Kakyuu, the Three Lights, and Chibi-Chibi were just outside her gate.

"I have to leave Ran. And I might not survive it. I say it as I mean it." Usagi turned around to face Ran. "Chibi-Chibi is probably the only one left to go with me other than the Starlights."

"Where are you going?"

Usagi walked over to her night stand and took out the Sagittarius Zero Star card. Usagi handed it to Ran. "I never had a chance to let you analyze it. The rest of the cards are in there as well."

"The only reason I never got to analyze it is because I was being stupid—"

Usagi had placed her finger on Ran's mouth. "I have to go. You know that." Usagi removed her finger and smiled at Ran.

"Then...then I'll go with you." Ran placed the card back on the night stand and stood up. "I don't want you to do this alone—"

"But I'm not going to be alone. I have the Starlights and their Princess, as well as Chibi-Chibi. And I have you." Usagi placed a hand on her broach. "And I still have everyone. Even though they are gone physically. They are still here in my heart. As long as their memory stays with me, I will never be alone."

"But will their memory be enough to protect you?"

"And will being a Three-leaf Clover be enough to protect you from the enemy—"

"But if that is so, then I can't stay here by myself!"

"—and the depths of outer space."

Ran looked liked he was going to cry. "So I'll die once I set foot off the Earth...but I guess I'll still die being on Earth. How unfair."

"No, you won't die on Earth Ran. Because I will protect you." Usagi started walking towards the window, her hands still on her broach.

"But how will you protect me if I'm on Earth and you're in space."

Usagi turned around. "Because you promised, no matter what, you would return to me. I expect you to keep that promise. Regardless of what happens. I still expect you to return to me." Usagi turned to the window once again. 'If I turn around now. I'll never be able to leave again. And besides, I still have to save the person I love...'

"Usagi—"

"Ran if you make me turn around once more. I'm afraid I will not be able to leave this room. And you know I can't possibly have that." Usagi felt Ran's hand on hers'.

"Then close your eyes, that way you won't have to see me."

"Ran—"Ran's hand had covered her eyes and turned her around gently. "Are your eyes closed?"

"...Yes..."

Ran removed his hands and looked at her. She had no tears on her face and her expression didn't seem to show that she was going to cry anytime soon. She was truly determined to fight strong and without tears. Ran reached up to his own face and brushed the few fallen tears from his own face. Ran used his hand to tilt Usagi's chin up slightly and took her hand in his other hand. He squeezed her hand slightly as if to reassure her that he was still there. He leaned in and captured her lips with his own. It was a simple kiss as with the first one. Barely a few moments later, Ran pulled back and noticed that Usagi still did have her eyes closed. Ran stepped backwards and slowly dropped her hand.

Usagi turned around without opening her eyes and lifted her broach over her head. "Moon Eternal MAKE-UP!!"

Ran watched Eternal fly down to the pavement with the other Soldiers. A feather brushed passed Ran's eyes, clinging to his tear. Ran removed the feather and saw that all of them below had transformed. They all also had feathery wings similar to Eternal Sailor Moons'. Ran watched them all take flight and disappear into the night sky, their feathers casting a snowy effect over the houses.

'She truly wasn't holding back this time. She's going to fight until she either dies or wins. Usagi, I believe in you.' Unconsciously, Ran reached up and touched his lips.

"I'll see you again someday Usagi. I promised you that. I'll wait for you, even if I have to wait to the end of time."

Done! Wow, that was an action packed chapter. Five battles for Saturn, a verbal and battle of wills with Saturn, a battle for Moon, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. I hope this chapter makes up for not updating much. And I kind of notice I made the Inner Soldiers kind of weak the last chapter. I'll make it up to them somehow. However, this is a really Outer Soldier chapter for the fans. Especially Saturn.

Also, I really need help on attacks of Sailor Lethe and Sailor Mnemosyn. Other attack names I can translate all right, but I can't figure out theirs too well. But every attack in this chapter has occured at one point or another in the Manga.

Until my next update next month, thanks!

Please Review!

-Sailor Moonac