Usagi awoke with a start, sweat beading on her forehead. Her long blonde locks were matted and covered her face. She quickly threw the blankets off of herself and walked into the bathroom. She reached over and turned on the light, letting the water run, and then splashing the cold water on her face.
She sighed and reached her hand out for a towel, and when she found one, quickly brought it to her face and blotted it dry.
She opened her blue eyes slowly and stared into the mirror, looking at her expression.
"Everything is fine, Usagi!" She said aloud to herself. "It was just a dream, everything is fine. Even if something did happen, Mamo-chan would protect you!" She shook her finger at her reflection, bad thoughts still tugging at the corner of her mind.
She set the towel down onto the sink corner and then turned off the light and walked back into her room and sat down on her bed.
She reached onto her bedside table and picked up a small picture of herself and her boyfriend, Chiba Mamoru. She stared at the picture a moment, deep in thought. With a nod, she placed the picture face down on her bedside table, and then took a brush and started the tedious job of brushing her blonde hair straight again.
Once it was all brushed, it seemed to gleam in the moonlight. Usagi set the brush down and then sat at the edge of her bed, peering out the window at the clear starry night. Her eyes scanned the stars that she could see from her bed a moment, and then she sighed and climbed back underneath her covers. With a loud sigh, she closed her eyes and drifted back off to sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~
Usagi awoke from the sound of her alarm, something she rarely did. She quickly turned it off and rolling over and sighing, climbed out of her bed and quickly got dressed in her school uniform. Usagi sat at her mirror and carefully pulled her hair into two round clumps of hair, two odangoes, as they were so commonly called, and she smiled at her reflection.
Usagi reached into one of her drawers and clasped a gold locket. It was heart shaped with little wings, and she quickly fastened it to the center of the bow on her uniform.
A small black cat quickly jumped onto her vanity, her tail swishing playfully.
"Up already, Usagi-chan?" The cat asked; a moon symbol on her forehead glinting in the sunshine of the morning.
"Yeah, for once." Usagi sweat dropped.
"Well, maybe it means you're growing up." The cat smiled.
Usagi nodded slowly as a grin spread across her face. "Maybe I'll become a refined queen and you won't even recognize me!" She smiled.
The cat stifled a laugh for a moment.
"Luna!" Usagi scowled. "Fine," She stood up, clutching her small briefcase with her schoolbooks in it. "I'll just go down stairs where I'm appreciated!" And with a huff, the blonde haired girl walked down the stairs.
"Usagi, I didn't mean it!" The cat laughed and walked after her, hoping her own breakfast was ready.
Usagi ignored the black cat and walked into the kitchen.
"Awake so early?" Her mother smiled, spotting her daughter in the doorway.
"Hai, Oka-san!" Usagi smiled.
"Well, your breakfast is ready." The woman turned around and saw that her daughter had wasted no time getting started. The woman sighed and shook her head, her purple hair spilling out of the messy ponytail she had pulled it into to allow her to cook easier.
Usagi stood up, after quickly downing her breakfast and smiled. "Arigato, Oka-san." She bowed. "I guess I'll be going now!" She smiled and started out the door.
"Your lunch!" Her mother caught her in the hallway, handing Usagi a bag with her name on it and placing a small kiss on her daughter's head. "Have a good day!"
Usagi nodded and slid on her shoes and left the house, walking down the street a little way until she heard a voice.
"Koneko-chan!" The hauntingly familiar voice reached her ears. Usagi spun around and spotted Haruka leaning up against the passenger side of a bright red sports car. "Want a lift?" The masculine blonde's eyes gleamed.
Usagi nodded and quickly got into the car, and Haruka hopped into the driver's seat and the two sped off down the street.
"Not so fast!" Usagi's eyes grew wide as the trees and buildings were a blur.
"Fine," Haruka laughed. "Wouldn't want you to get a heart attack or anything." She smiled and slowed the car down, adjusting with traffic.
"Ne, Haruka-chan," Usagi looked at her companion. "Is there any reason you picked me up today?" Usagi's eyes sparkled with question.
Haruka smiled. "Iie, Hime." She addressed Usagi formally. "I just thought you would like a ride to school, that's all." She smiled and the two were quiet for a moment.
Haruka cleared her throat and then her eyes drifted over to Usagi.
"Usagi-chan, has everything been okay between you and Mamoru?" She was rather blunt and forthright.
Usagi blushed a moment, and her gaze drifted back towards the window. "Everything is fine." Her response made Haruka think it was automatic.
"Are you sure?" Haruka felt a little uneasy, and that feeling was reflected in the car speeding up.
"Would I lie to you, Haruka-chan?" Usagi turned towards Haruka, her eyes shimmering with innocence.
Haruka nodded. "I guess not." She shrugged and the car slowed down as they approached Usagi's school.
Haruka shut off the car and started walking Usagi to the school.
Usagi blushed, stopped and looked at Haruka. "I'm not a baby." She informed her.
"I know that." Haruka smiled and ruffled Usagi's bangs. "But you're still my Koneko-chan and," she was interrupted by a scream, and Haruka's eyes looked worried.
"A youma?" Usagi's eyes looked scared.
"I don't know." Haruka quickly took a fighting stance and held her transformation wand that allowed her to transform into Sailor Uranus.
"Come on!" Haruka grabbed Usagi's hand and they quickly secreted themselves in a small grove of trees near the school. Haruka leaned out around the trees and saw a woman attacking some of the students.
"We need to protect them!" Haruka gripped her wand tightly and was about to throw it into the air to call upon her powers when she felt a tug from Usagi. Haruka turned and looked at Usagi, whose blue eyes were filled with tears.
"I can't fight, Haruka-chan." She whispered. "Not anymore."
"Nani?" Haruka looked surprised as she heard another scream from the students.
"AQUA RHAPSODY!" Haruka looked out and saw that Sailor Mercury had already entered the scene.
"It's a good thing she always gets here on time." Haruka muttered under her breath as she stared at the blue haired Senshi. Haruka's gaze was quickly turned back towards her princess. "You need to help them." Haruka said, worried that maybe her princess had gone soft after the last major battle with Sailor Galaxia.
"I can't." Usagi whispered, looking at the ground.
"You need to!" Haruka threw her stick into the air. "Uranus Crystal Power, Make-Up!" She called as she was quickly transformed into the Senshi of the planet of Uranus. Quickly turning towards Usagi, she nodded slowly. "Come when you need to, we'll do the fighting!" And with that, she ran off towards Sailor Mercury.
Usagi stood, clutching her locket in one hand, looking on worriedly.
"WORLD SHAKING!" Sailor Uranus sent an attack at the youma, temporarily weakening it. "Now, Sailor Moon!" Sailor Uranus called.
Usagi nodded slowly and threw her locket into the air. "Moon Eternal, Make-up!" She called and quickly was transformed into Eternal Sailor Moon.
As she ran onto the scene, she quickly pulled out her Moon tier and called upon her powers. "SILVER MOON CRYSTAL POWER KISS!" She shouted and the youma was promptly turned back into a teacher and fell to the ground, unharmed.
Sailor Mercury and Sailor Uranus stood, looking at Eternal Sailor Moon, their eyes transfixed on her fuku.
Eternal Sailor Moon slowly lowered her tier down, and her eyes slowly lowered to the ground as she saw her companions looking at her.
"Your wings . . ." Sailor Mercury blurted.
Eternal Sailor Moon looked up at Sailor Mercury sadly, nodding slowly. Where Eternal Sailor Moon usually had long beautiful white wings, the wings were tattered and torn, barely hanging onto her back by a thin thread. The wings looked bloodied, and Sailor Moon let a few tears fall down her face, as she turned and ran back towards the small grove of trees, de-transforming and collapsing under a tree as she did such.
Sailor Mercury and Sailor Uranus looked at each other, and nodded, quickly hurrying into the grove of trees and de-transforming when they were out of sight.
"Usagi-chan?" The Senshi of Mercury quickly went to Usagi's side, her blue hair messy, and her blue eyes concerned for the welfare of her friend.
Usagi sat under the tree, sobbing quietly.
Haruka stood near the tree, worriedly looking upon the scene. "Do you think she'll be okay, Ami?" Haruka asked.
"What happened to you, Usagi-chan?" Ami asked gently, touching Usagi on the shoulder.
Usagi looked up at her friend, tears staining her face. "Nothing happened, Ami-chan. I . . .just . . .can't fight anymore." She whispered as she slowly lowered her head onto her arms, which were resting on her knees.
Haruka sighed and ran her hand through her hair, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a communicator. She pressed a button and Michiru's face quickly popped onto the screen.
"Anything wrong, Haruka?" Michiru looked a little worried.
"I don't think Hime is feeling well, so I'll be bringing her home with me, today." Haruka said quietly.
Michiru nodded and smiled. "Well, I'll have something ready for her to eat."
Haruka nodded and turned off the screen and then looked back at Usagi.
"Usagi-chan, don't cry, you're okay." Ami patted her on her shoulder.
Haruka touched Ami on the shoulder and Ami turned towards her. "I'm going to take her home . . .it isn't safe for her to be here." Haruka said quietly, and Ami nodded.
Haruka reached down and helped Usagi to stand up. "Come on, Koneko-chan." Haruka said quietly. "I'm going to take you home with me, so we can talk for a while, okay?"
Usagi nodded slowly, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. They both went back to Haruka's car, and Ami stood nervously next to the car door. Haruka let Usagi in and then turned towards Ami.
"Call a meeting, I doubt Hime will be in any condition to go home tonight."
Ami nodded. "Do you think she'll be okay?"
Haruka shrugged. "I wouldn't count on it." She looked through the car window and then back at Ami. "We'll keep you informed." Haruka nodded and got into the car, and Ami looked on watching as the car left.
~~~~~~~~~~
Haruka brought Usagi into the house, and her crying had slowed down. As she brought Usagi into the house, Hotaru walked out of her room and watched with wide eyes as her princess was brought onto the couch.
"I think I'll be fine, Haruka-chan." Usagi sniffed and wiped her eyes with a tissue that Haruka had handed her. "I'm just a little shaky after that battle, I guess." She sighed and smiled.
Setsuna walked into the room and leaned against the doorway.
Hotaru walked into the room and sat down next to Usagi, letting her hand gently pat Usagi's shoulder.
"Are you feeling okay, Hime?" Hotaru asked, her dark eyes concerned.
Usagi laughed. "Don't look so down, Hotaru-chan, I'm fine." She grinned.
Michiru walked into the room, a book in her hand, and she hovered near the TV.
"I don't think you're fine, Usagi." Haruka sighed.
"Demo…I am!" Usagi looked a little angry.
"Can you transform and show Setsuna what we saw?" Haruka crossed her arms.
Usagi looked down at the ground for a moment, her eyes filling with tears. "I don't want to." She whispered. "I feel so . . .vulnerable."
"We'll protect you, Hime!" Hotaru smiled. "I promise!" She put out her pinky and Usagi laughed and wiped her eyes.
"Fine, okay, Hotaru-chan." Usagi took off her compact and held it in the air as she stood up. "Moon Eternal Make-up!" She yelled, and soon she was dressed as Eternal Sailor Moon, the wings on her back, still bloodied and barely hanging onto her fuku.
"Sailor Moon!" Michiru gasped, putting her hands to her mouth.
Hotaru looked away sadly, and wiped away a stray tear.
"It's not that bad, really!" Eternal Sailor Moon tried to smile. "I mean, I can still use my tier, and I still have my powers!"
"Oh, Sailor Moon, why didn't you tell us sooner?" Setsuna asked, looking at her Princess with sadness.
Eternal Sailor Moon looked down at the ground, and de-transformed. "I just thought that Mamo-chan would protect me, so I shouldn't bother you." She said quietly, as she sat herself back onto the couch. "I didn't want to worry you." She sighed and looked up at her companions.
"Why would you think something like that?" Hotaru asked, setting her hand on Usagi's shoulder. "We care deeply for you, and want you to be safe!"
Usagi turned toward the young girl and smiled. "I know you care about me, I care about you all too. So don't you see I was trying to protect you?"
"Protect us?" Haruka went on alert, as if Usagi was trying to hide something from them.
"Well, I don't mean protect you, exactly . . ." Usagi noticed Haruka's change in expression and tried to remedy the situation. "Oh, you know me, using weird words." She laughed.
"What would you try and protect us from, Hime?" Haruka asked, now worried that Usagi was hiding something from her Senshi.
Usagi sighed and looked at the floor. "Just that my wings . . .are shattered." She sighed.
"But if you don't tell us something like this, how can we protect you if you are in danger?" Michiru asked, worried.
"Oh," Usagi smiled. "I wouldn't be in any danger anyway, with the galaxies at peace and all." She smiled. "And I always have Mamo-chan to protect me . . ."
"He doesn't do a good job of it." Haruka sighed, looking away.
"What did you mean by that?" Usagi started to get angry.
"All she means is that he isn't very powerful." Michiru placed her hand on Haruka's shoulder. "He can't protect you as well as we would be able to, as a team." She smiled and saw Usagi relax.
"I guess you're right, I mean," She searched for words, "You all are pretty strong together." She smiled.
"Hai!" Hotaru grinned and did a small victory sign. "Sailor Senshi are unbeatable."
"Although," Setsuna sighed, placing her hand onto her chin. "I think that you being here is a risk, not just to you, but to our future." Setsuna shook her head. "I'm not sure if you'll be safe."
"What do you mean?" Usagi looked worried.
"I'm worried that you are going to be a target . . ." Setsuna sighed and walked to the window, looking outside.
"A target? Who would target me? I thought that the galaxies are at peace!" Usagi felt tears start to well up in her eyes.
"They may be at peace right now," Michiru said quietly. "But any small threat could be heightened if you are weak!"
Usagi nodded slowly, taking in all of the information her Outer Senshi had given her.
"Then . . .what should I do?" Usagi looked up, asking for advice from her friends.
"You need to go somewhere where you can be safe and protected." Hotaru started, an eerie presence filling her again. "It needs to be in secret, and we need to go right away . . .otherwise, you are in danger, my Hime. " Hotaru's face went back to normal, and she blinked a few times in confusion.
"Hotaru said something like that last night as well." Haruka nodded, thinking deeply.
"So . . .does that mean I have to go away?" Usagi asked.
The Outer Senshi nodded slowly.
"I can arrange it, and we can transport you tonight, Hime. It must be under secret though, and no one must know you are gone." Setsuna looked at Usagi.
"We're going to need some extra help with this," Michiru nodded, looking at Setsuna as a plan started formulating in her head.
***
[Author's Note: Well, I guess I'm kind of surprised that I actually got reviews! *laughs* I mean, I barely did any advertising for this fic . . .^_^;;;; Maybe I just have a cult following? O.O *gets worried as she sees people following her with candles* Uhm . . .yeah. Well, remember that I don't own Sailor Moon and I'm just borrowing the characters for my own devious wants! ^_^ Please review and tell me what you think!]