Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story but the idea and the title.
"This is bad."
Nine Senshi, three Shitennou, two cats, and one usually elegantly attired superhero stood together, trying to appear as nonchalant as a group of thirteen people and two felines could look loitering in front of an empty alley minutes before sundown. Kunzite, Zoisite, and Jadeite had all borrowed clothing from Mamoru, lending them a somewhat less conspicuous appearance than their soot gray uniforms, even if not everything fit perfectly. But even Kunzite paused in his desperate attempts to adjust the too tight jeans, and Minako dragged her eyes away these proceedings, to give Ami their full attention.
"Bad, like, how bad?" Minako asked.
The genius, standing at the very edge of the alley, gave a sad shrug, gesturing with her computer. "Very bad."
"Give us more to go on, Ami!" Makoto demanded sharply. "Is the world going to end? Is it going to eat us? Is something worse coming out of that thing?"
"I can't even figure out how that Creature got out of it in the first place! It shouldn't be possible!"
Zoisite leaned over her shoulder to study the screen. "You're right. If It got pulled in-"
"-It couldn't possibly have enough energy to break free!" Ami finished. "According to the laws of physics, this isn't possible!"
"And how come it hasn't done more damage? It should be ripping this building down!"
"Something is holding it back. But how?"
"Uh, guys?" Usagi interrupted. "Do you want to translate that?"
Ami looked to Zoisite, who looked back with an equally troubled gaze. Finally, the brilliant, blue haired girl said, "Well, I don't know how it's possible, but this portal is a black hole."
"NANI?" Mamoru shouted in alarm.
"It can't be!" Setsuna added, snatching the computer from Ami's hands.
"That's not possible!" Michiru and Haruka chorused.
"Hey, don't yell at her!" Zoisite snapped.
"I know, but look!" Ami cried, pointing almost accusingly to the screen.
Slowly, Makoto raised her hand. "Does someone want to tell the non-geniuses what's going on?"
"What's a black hole?" Usagi asked innocently.
"The physics are kind of complicated," Ami said slowly, "but I'll try to explain.
"You all know how everything is made up of matter, right? And all matter has mass. Mass is kind of like weight, but not exactly the same thing. You see-"
"Ami, keep it simple," Minako reminded her plaintively.
"Gomen. Well, anything with mass exerts and reacts with gravity. The more massive a body is, the more gravity it exerts. Because the sun is more massive than the Earth, the Earth is caught in the sun's gravity. Do you see?"
"Uh-huh," Kunzite, Jadeite, Usagi, Rei, Minako, Makoto, and Hotaru chorused uncertainly.
"Now stars are very massive. As a star gets older, it grows. Our own sun will one day become so large that it will swallow several of its planets. Then, after it has reached a certain point and can get no bigger, the pull of its own gravity makes it begin to collapse. As this happens, the star- Kyah!"
Ami tumbled sideways, Zoisite landing on top of her in an ungraceful heap. Most heads followed their flight in surprise, but Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna spun to where the pair had stood a moment before. The gasps of all three turned their companions back to their enemy.
Black hair tumbling down Its black gown, the Creature stood just within the safe darkness of the alley. Those dark, bottomless eyes flashed from one to another. Fingers flexed, and claws flashed as It hesitated before the last dying rays of the sun. Its gaze found Ami and Zoisite. Snarling in sinister silence, It lunged.
Makoto flung herself at the beast, catching It surprised in midair. They fell to the pavement, the tall Senshi landing on top of the petite monster. Within a heartbeat, Makoto flew against her will into the wall of the nearest apartment building. Her head smashed into the bricks, and she slumped quietly to the ground.
"INA!"
Something tall and dark, someone fierce with rage, slammed into the Creature, strong hands going around Its slender throat. Without pause, Kunzite and Jadeite leapt into the fray, grappling with the frenzied fiend. Zoisite lurched to his feet to join them. Black satin whispered through the air as Tuxedo Mask moved impossibly fast to his Shitennou, a rose in his fingers.
"Senshi!" Luna shouted, jumping with Artemis onto Makoto's chest to provide what little protection they could. "Transform!"
Henshin wands fell into seven hands. A delicate finger went to touch a bejeweled broach. Eight voices rose to call on the power of their guardian planets.
"VENUS-"
"MERCURY-"
"MARS-"
"SATURN-"
"URANUS-"
"NEPTUNE-
"PLUTO-"
"CRYSTAL POWER!"
"MOON ETERNAL MAKEUP!"
Beautiful, pure light exploded from the Sailor Soldiers.
The Creature screamed, a terrible high shriek that drove the men away, hands over their ears. The sound rang through the street, a cry of unspeakable pain, and unbearable loss. It fell to Its knees, slashing Its claws uselessly at the pavement in Its rage.
The light faded, and the Scouts stared at It in shock. Though they now stood in infinitely more powerful forms than human bodies, they found themselves suddenly arrested by the terrible sound. Even Uranus could not make her voice work as the Creature lifted Its face to them, the face of one they all loved, streaked with misery and pain.
"Who are you?" Mercury whispered.
"SILENCE!"
The deep, resonating voice of the Creature startled them all, and actually drove the Senshi back a step. The black eyes blazed with hate, and It sprang to Its feet.
"YOU KNOW NOTHING! BE SILENT!"
"I will show you Silence!"
With a flash of silver, Saturn stepped forward and swung her glaive. The wicked blade split the air as it moved for the Creature's beautiful face. Fast, too fast for the eye to follow, It spun past the tiniest Sailor Soldier. Scarlet followed in Its wake, and Saturn gasped. Her weapon fell from useless fingers, her arm hanging limp at her side.
"Damn you!" Uranus shouted. "URANUS WORLD SHAKING!"
"NEPTUNE DEEP SUBMERGE!"
"PLUTO DEAD SCREAM."
All three attacks flew together at the monster, brilliant blue and gold and purple globes merging into one awesome force. The Creature leapt straight up, over the flashing lights. The threefold attack smashed into the apartment building, gouging a hole just above Makoto's head. Bricks exploded into the air.
"Oh, no!" Neptune cried. "Mako-chan!"
"Jupiter!"
Nephrite threw himself across Makoto, Luna, and Artemis. His arms covered the unconscious young girl's head instead of his own. Broken pieces of the building showered down, and he, too, fell limp.
"MERCURY SHINE AQUA ILLU-!"
The attack burst, unfinished, in midair. The force of the Creature's blow sent Mercury reeling to the pavement. It grasped her by the back of the neck, yanking her to her feet. Proving Its immense strength, It lifted her off the ground with one hand.
"BE SILENT!" It repeated in a voice suffused with rage, shaking Mercury viciously by the neck.
"Let her go!"
A single red rose pierced the Creature's hand. It snarled, dropping Its victim to the ground and hastening to back away. Moaning weakly in pain, Mercury tried once to raise her head. Then she fell, her forehead cradled on her arms, a soft sob sounding deep in her throat. It advanced on her again, only to leap back from the wild swing of a dagger.
"Demon!" Zoisite yelled, stationing himself in front of the fallen girl. "Leave her be!"
"Go back where you came from, monster!" Tuxedo Mask roared.
"NEVER!"
Claws carved through his left shoulder before anyone even saw It move. Much to the Creature's surprise, Tuxedo Mask did not fall back under the assault. He let It pass, then seized It from behind, his good arm locking across Its throat, bending Its head back at a painful angle. Kunzite caught Its wrists, holding Its claws away from his master.
The fiend was too strong. Kunzite soared backwards, hitting the pavement hard. It twisted Its arms impossibly back, grasping Tuxedo Mask by the throat. A fling sent him over Its head and down beside his friend.
"VENUS LOVE ME CHAIN!"
The golden chain flared, encircling the Creature and binding Its arms to Its side. It struggled, flinching from the light, gnashing Its teeth in the air. Venus yanked her chain tight, the strain of holding It showing in her face.
"It's going to break free!"
"Hang on, Venus!" Jadeite shouted, leaping to help. His dagger appeared from under his sweatshirt. "Just hold it for a moment!"
It was a moment too long.
Hissing, Its jaws unhinged like a snake's. From deep within the cavern of Its mouth came the long, black whip of Its tongue. One strike shattered the chain. Power flashed back into Venus, knocking her off her feet.
As the others shouted and tried to catch her, It flung Itself into the safety of the dark alley. It swung Its head towards the enemy still coming, heedless of the danger. Writhing like a living thing, Its long black tongue lashed forward and caressed his face.
Jadeite crumbled.
"BITCH!" Mars screamed. "MARSFLAME SNIPER!"
Flames appeared, contorting into a bow. A single, golden-red arrow of blessed fire flew towards the monster's face. It dodged, spinning away. The missile flared, then twisted and vanished into the rip in reality.
Shrieks, laughter, roars filled the air. A sound more terrible than even the Creature's scream made the buildings tremble. The powerful beast cowered, fleeing from the voices of Its prison as they devoured Mars' flame, pushing against the barrier with stolen power. A single black wind, carrying the words of the Abyss, blast through the alley, wailing with evil up into the night.
"SILVER MOON CRYSTAL KISS!"
Light shot straight up into the sky. Faster than the foul wind, it slammed into the evil. Both exploded in a rain of black and silver, streaking back down towards the Earth. The shards flashed, then faded away.
"Good work," Tuxedo Mask said, holding his shoulder and breathing hard.
"Oh, Mamo-chan!" Sailor Moon flung herself onto her knees, her arms gathering him gently against her.
"I'm alright," he promised her.
She looked up, turning her head to all her friends. Kunzite lay beside them, gasping through his teeth in pain. Pluto sat on the ground, Saturn in her lap, trying to staunch the flow of blood from her arm. Shoving bricks aside, Uranus almost had Nephrite, Makoto, Luna, and Artemis uncovered. Mars knelt beside Jadeite, tenderly touching where the Creature's tongue struck him. A muffled groan drew Sailor Moon's eyes to Zoisite, supporting Mercury against his shoulder. Nearby, Neptune stood with her arms around Venus, holding her as she swayed, her eyes unfocused and cloudy.
"Minna," Sailor Moon breathed.
"It's gone," Kunzite said suddenly. "That monster is gone."
Mars looked up from Jadeite's face, purple eyes frightened. "Good."
"Good!" Uranus repeated, shocked. "That thing is loose on Tokyo!"
"We couldn't defeat it!" Mars reminded her harshly. "What good will we do Tokyo if we are dead?"
The older Senshi fell silent, tossing the last of the debris off Nephrite's back. She bent to touch the side of his neck, and nodded once. "He's alive. So is Makoto."
"Princess," Zoisite spoke up. "Can't you…?"
One arm still around Tuxedo Mask, Sailor Moon raised the other to touch her broach again.
"MOON HEALING ESCALATION!"
A soft, silver glow surrounded them all. Mercury and Venus straightened with new strength. Nephrite stirred, raising his head to look around, then turning to meet Makoto's shocked gaze. Both cats leapt from their awkward embrace. Kunzite relaxed, sighed, then moved to his knees. Stretching, Saturn tested her arm, and smiled at the unmarred flesh. Tuxedo Mask sat up, returning his beloved's grip on him. Jadeite's head moved under Mars' hand, and his eyes opened briefly, only to close again.
"Jadeite!" Mars cried in alarm as the light faded. "Usagi! He's still unconscious!"
Kunzite swiftly moved to her side, touching his friend's shoulder. "He's ice cold. We need to get him somewhere safe."
"Back to my apartment," Tuxedo Mask ordered. "Kunzite, Zoisite, can you carry him?"
Zoisite only paused to make sure Mercury could stand alone, then rose to obey. Her eyes lingered on him for a long moment as she climbed to her feet, her gaze thoughtful.
"What about that thing?" Sailor Moon asked, helping Tuxedo Mask to his feet.
"Tomorrow night, we'll try again."
A/N: For those of you who actually want a full explanation of what a black hole really is, check out Isaac Assimov's Collapsing Universe. It was my main source of information for this story.
Also, I apologize for using Star Power instead of Crystal Power in an earlier chapter. Oops.
One last thing. My Japanese is shakey, but I'm ninety-nine percent certain Ina, which Nephrite yells when Makoto is struck, means "No!"