Hi guys! Here is the third installment to my story.

Special note: Hi Damia-chan! You wanted to know why Hotaru did not remember Usagi or her scouts. Well, Hotaru grew up without seeing Usagi, and Pluto did not give her the memories back yet. And so, she doesn't remember Usagi!

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Makoto was frustrated. She was floating in the empty space of nothingness, trying to look for a way back to reality. She had fought for her body back, fought hard, but the other being, the one that had taken her over, had said that it was to protect her mind from OZ, the diabolical demons sent from hell. Now, she was stuck in the empty space of her mind, random thoughts floating in and out. Sometimes, when the other being felt like it, she would be able to see what was going on. But it was always after OZ hurt her body, after they tortured and raped her. She felt bad for the other being, having to go through so much pain and ache so that she might be safe. But Makoto had only one thing on her mind. To save Usagi from the pain. But, that, of course, was impossible when she was a prisoner in her own mind. Makoto sighed and went through the Door of Memories. The silvery green door held her memories, and inside it were thousands of more doors. Most were locked, but the few that were open, she treasured.

The Hall of Memories consisted of the happy and sad times Makoto had been through, both with and without her scouts. A smile appeared on Makoto's face as she went into her favorite memory. How she and Usagi had met in their third lifetime together.

FLASHBACK

Makoto sighed as she lounged peacefully on the beach. The day was beautiful, the skies clear, the waters blue. She pulled her shades over her eyes, sitting back and falling asleep. A few moments later, something hit her face, and she gasped as she sat up, eyes wild as she looked for the object that had dared to disturb her sleep. It was a beach volleyball. Makoto growled angrily and she stood up, drawing herself to her full 13-year-old 5' 9". A small blonde, at around 5' 2', cowered under her, apologizing profusely. Makoto softened at the younger girl. She didn't mean to frighten people, she just did. Because of her rough nature, she had no friends.

"It's fine, really," Makoto offered an unsure smile. The blonde grinned from ear to ear, instantly brightening up.

"Well, hi! I'm Usagi!" she said cheerfully, sticking out a hand. Makoto laughed as she shook it, and introduced herself. Thus, they became friends.

END FLASHBACK

Makoto smiled as she went out of the room and closed the door behind her.

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"Well, Makoto's the last one," Usagi said tiredly as she moved in to heal the senshi of storm. Putting her hands on either one of Makoto's cheeks, Usagi channeled pure white energy into the brunette. Makoto groaned softly as Usagi removed her hands. "I can only heal their physical wounds, though. Their mental wounds… I can't do anything about that."

"Let's just wait and see," Haruka said, catching Usagi as she fell backwards. She set the blonde down on a comfy, oversized armchair. "Do you need to sleep?"

"No, I'm fine. We have to wait and see what happens."

"Are you sure?" Michiru asked.

"Yes, I'm sure. Now, where's Hotaru? I'd like to meet her."

"She was out a bit late and decided to sleepover at a friend's house."

"Wow, she's older than me now, isn't she?"

"You're sixteen, and she's seventeen, so yeah, she is older than you."

Usagi sighed, gazing at Rei's face. Her eyes flitted to Minako, then Ami, and finally Makoto.

"I just hope they are alright," Usagi closed her eyes, leaning her head back in the seat. Michiru smiled sadly and put a hand on the blonde's shoulder.

"I think you need to sleep. Healing four people takes a lot out of a person."

"I'm fine, really. I just need… to… sit…" Usagi fell asleep as she said her last words. Haruka, realizing that Usagi had fallen asleep, brought a blanket over and tucked in the princess of the moon.

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Makoto resumed her floating in the depths of her mind. She went from thought to thought, gazing at the infinite darkness of ideas. Suddenly, she felt as if she weren't alone anymore and wildly looked around her.

"Wh-who's there!?" Makoto called out. A silvery green mist appeared. "You!"

"Makoto, the worst is over," the mist said in a whispery, silver voice. "You are safe. When you take your body over again, you must not tell Usagi what happened. The pieces of the puzzle of Fate are being rearranged to fit better. The loom of Destiny is disentangling and setting itself right. You cannot interfere with the mention of me. The others, I'm afraid two did not let their protectors take over their body. They fought and won. The other one… her guardian took over. They will not wake until fourteen days has passed, maybe they will be in a coma for longer. But they will get up. As for who I am… it was wonderful to see you again, dear daughter."

"Mother!" Makoto cried out, lunging for the mist, but it disappeared quickly. Suddenly, Makoto felt a tugging motion at the very center of her soul, and she was pulled back into the controls of her mind.

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Usagi groaned as she woke up. She gasped and bolted upright. It was night, and her inner scouts were asleep. All of them…. except for Makoto. Usagi's eyes widened and she realized what this meant. Getting up quickly, Usagi sped out the door and into the hallway, calling the name of her strongest inner scout.

"Makoto! You're awake! Where'd you go?!?" Usagi shouted as loud as she could and skidded into the kitchen, where Haruka and Michiru were seated, holding a cup of tea in their hands. Across from them sat a skinny, ghastly woman with stringy brown hair and pale skin. But her emerald eyes still held the same sparkle and shine.

"Makoto!" Usagi screeched, hugging the brunette as tightly as possible. "You're ok!!!"

"Usagi, I need to breathe!" Makoto choked out.

"Sorry. But you're ok!"

"Of course I'm ok. After all, I'm the strongest inner for a reason. How are you? I barely recognize you!"

"I'm good. It's just… the times weren't good," Usagi's face darkened as she remembered the torture. "They injected me with hormones to make me taller and more agile. And, they cut my hair… I tried so hard to grow it like Serenity's…"

"Oh, Usagi. It's ok now. After all, we're alive aren't we? We should be grateful for that," Makoto smiled.

"But what did they do to you?"

"I don't remember," Makoto lied, turning her face away. Usagi understood and didn't press into the matter. "The others will wake up in two or more weeks."

"How do you know?"

"One of those dreams that tell the future," Makoto murmured, staring into her coffee cup. "You've changed a lot, Usagi. You aren't crying because we've united once again… your eyes aren't so pure and innocent anymore."

"We've all changed," Usagi replied. She turned to leave, but was stopped.

"Listen, we're expecting aguest later today," Michiru called out. "Just warning you."

"Ok," Usagi replied as she made her way to the bathroom. She gazed at her reflection. Her eyes did sparkle, but not as much as they used to. Her skin was tan; they had lost their pallor due to the hours spent training in the sun. She was taller, much taller. She should have been petite, at a height of 5' 2". But now, she stood at 5' 7". Her hair was still blonde and shiny, but was cut down to her shoulder blades. Otherwise, she looked the same.

"Usagi?" Makoto quietly knocked on the door. Usagi opened it.

"Makoto, it was horrible there. Look what they did to me," Usagi averted her gaze to the ground. "Look at my hair… my skin, my body. They raped me, they beat me."

"We're ok now, Usagi, and that's all that matters," Makoto hugged the girl, tears forming in her closed eyes. Usagi pulled away abruptly. Makoto didn't show it, but she was hurt.

"I'm sorry Makoto," Usagi notice the brief flash of hurt in Makoto's eyes. "I-I just can't. It's awkward, you know? Like when I hugged you back in the kitchen. I felt weird having my arms around you."

"I understand," Makoto replied, offering a half-hearted smile.

"Do you think we'll be able to go back to normal?" Usagi asked, eyes filled with deep sorrow as she led Makoto to her bedroom. "Do you think we can return to high school and pretend that nothing's ever happened? Can we go back to our superhero selves?"

"No," Makoto sighed. "We can't."

"I miss it. I miss the days we'd spend together. I thought that becoming Sailor Moon was hell, but I couldn't even dream up the conditions we were in the past two years. It's my fault this entire thing had happened. If I hadn't called you guys, you wouldn't have been caught."

"Don't you ever say that again!" Makoto took a hold of Usagi's shoulders and spun her around, their eyes meeting. "Don't you ever say that damned sentence ever again. It. Is. Not. Your. Fault." Usagi wrenched herself free of Makoto's grip.

"You don't understand," Usagi said coldly, shutting the door in Makoto's face. She plopped onto her bed and glared out the window. Growling in frustration, she threw her pillow so hard at the window that it went right through, the glass shattering and tinkling to the floor. Usagi was now glaring at the glass lying on the floor and the pillow that had landed on a security guard's head.

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Usagi pushed herself away from the table; her food was untouched. Michiru sat in front of her, watching.

"Not hungry?" Michiru asked. Usagi shook her head. "You used to eat so much. Always brightening at the mention of food."

"I'm different now," Usagi smiled. "All for the better, I guess. I mean, Oz's 'top soldier' can't get fat, now can she?" Usagi's voice grew bitter.

"Those days are over," Michiru replied. She stood abruptly when the telephone rang. "Oh, hi, Hotaru. Yes. But… Aren't you even going to drop by? Ok, fine, you can go, but I want you back by the end of the month, understood? I understand that you're all grown up, but you're not old enough to be living alone. That's final. Got it? Good." Michiru put the phone down slowly.

"Trouble?" Usagi raised an eyebrow.

"She's such a rebel. Now, she's going with her friends out of the colony."

"You've eased up, I see."

"I guess I've been giving her too much slack.. She thinks she's old enough to take care of herself."

"Let her live her own life. Sailor Saturn is not needed. The least we can do is giving her something she can control."

"What about you?"

"Forget me. I have enough trouble as it is," Usagi looked out the window, a frown on her face. "All I ever wanted was to live a normal life. That is all I ever asked for. Weird where I ended up, huh?"

"Usagi, I –"

"Michiru, you and Haruka go out," Usagi suddenly didn't want to hear condolences for what she knew were her mistakes. "I'll take care of the inners. Go out for dinner. Please."

"No, Usagi, I can't do that," Michiru shook her head. "Not with guests coming."

"I'll take care of them."

"You won't be able to," Michiru said firmly. "I'm not going out and leaving you alone."

"Michiru, don't you talk to me about being alone. These past two years, I've been more alone than I ever have been in my entire life. We all make mistakes, but getting my scouts into the entire mess is the biggest mistake I've ever made in my entire life. Now, I want you to go out. You and Haruka deserve something special."

"Oh, Usagi, you're still putting others before you. When are you going to treat yourself to something special?"

"When the world is at peace," Usagi replied. She looked down at her hands. "The world can never be at peace, which means that others will always come before me. It is my duty and my destiny. It cannot be evaded."

"Usagi, you are not bound to destiny. Your life is in your own hands. You do not have to do this."

"It is an obligation. I must," Usagi stood and took Michiru's hands in her own. "Michiru, I love you guys too much to let you get hurt. I don't want you throw your own lives away. I don't care what happens to me as long as you are fine. Understand this."

"Fine, we'll take a trip to a restaurant. Haruka, though, is on a diet."

"Good. She can eat a salad," Usagi smiled. "And maybe a little cheesecake."

"Goodness, Usagi," Michiru laughed. "That 'little cheesecake' will make her puff up like a balloon."

"Even better. It'll just make me look skinnier," Usagi laughed along with Michiru. "Well, go on and get ready. I'll be waiting here."

"Alright," Michiru made her way out the kitchen and to her room, where Haruka was taking a nap. Usagi sighed as Michiru's aqua hair disappeared. Her imperfections caused this entire mess. And yet, as Oz's 'perfect soldier', her imperfections were still there. She was much less of a klutz, but that didn't erase her clumsiness. She had learned to take a life without throwing up, but that didn't mean she'd save someone who should've died. She could fight with her life, but she would die anyways. It was her imperfections, her flaws that had tangled the yarns of Destiny's loom of life.

Thank you to all of my reviewers!!! I just want you guys to vote if she should go to a military academy and stay there, if she should get recaptured by OZ, or if she should join the preventors, or if you want all three combined. By she, I mean Usagi. I'll be focusing on the other scouts as well, but Usagi will be the bigger character here.... sry!!!! Please review!!! Constructive criticism is ALWAYS welcome!!!!!