With two more of their strongest warriors down, Serenity's demeanor changed ever so slowly. She closed her eyes and could feel the tears build up behind the closed lids. The only sound that was of any comfort was the constant steady beat of the heart monitors that the bodies were hooked too.

Upon opening her eyes, the teary monarch stared at her friends and comrades in arms. With each name she said, her eyes would focus in on them. Haruka…Michiru...Rei…Setsuna...and Hotaru… All of them had their crystals taken. And…it was that girl's entire fault! If she hadn't interfered then …then…
"Minna…" She whispered and rubbed her eyes her face turning slightly red, " I will get your crystals back one way or another. I swear it!"

Usa was in her room hugging her pillow as she sniffled. Her best friends in the world were lying downstairs in a hospital beds. Why? Why did this have to happen? Why were they stealing the Sailor crystals of those that she held dear.
"Why did she hesitate?" The pink haired girl whispered brokenly to her guardian cat, Diana. "Why didn't she help us stop them?"
The gray cat looked up at her mistress with the sad reddish eyes, " I don't know." She answered and tried to cheer her charge up, " Why don't we go visit them?"
Usa rubbed her eyes and nodded, "Alright."

Elysion was staring up at the 'sky' in the palace garden. What should she do? She didn't know what she could've done. Still, the young woman turns on her side staring at the grass now suddenly unsure of her future. When they had returned, no one would look at her or even speak to her except for Terran.
Oh Terran…ever by her side. He had always been there for her even as a child. He helped her so many times, but this time she didn't think that he could help her with this. No, this was something she had to do herself or…or she would never be able to do anything like this ever again.
"Elysion?" the person of her thoughts trots in his wolf form towards her and nuzzles her cheek, "You still have studies to do." He was really worried about her- more so to leave her alone in this place with potential enemies. Namely the Queen. It wasn't just his hatred for the woman; it was because he sensed something dangerous about her that could harm his charge. The others may not see it, but he could see it as if it was bright as day.

And that's when she came in. The regal queen of the moon and earth strolled in there with an aura of purpose around her. The tiny voice in the back of her head whispered, 'She's a traitor by her actions. She deserves death- is that not the penalty for it?'
The queen didn't reply to the thoughts as she watched the girl rose to her feet staring at her.
"Your Majesty," Elysion says primly though her face seemed more guarded now. "What do I owe for the pleasure of your visit?"
Serenity didn't say anything for a while. She was already on the thin line of wanting to hurt this child-she had long gotten used to the sensation- and stares down at her with unreadable blue eyes. "Tell me, Elysion." She says in that soft gentle voice walking by the girl and the wolf. " Do you know what your mother and Jamil are planning?"
Elysion looked startled by this question and already had an instant denial forming on her lips when the queen hushed her.
"I mean after all…. they are your family aren't they? Wouldn't they share secrets with you?" She tilts her head with mock-innocence.
Unknown to the three of them, the King and the remaining warriors were walking down that hallway still a little shaken by what had happened. They paused by the door listening. Lately, Endymion had become increasingly worried about his wife. There was something…. something wrong…with her.
"I think I figured it out, Elysion." She says and turns towards them, " You came here as a scout to get to know the layout of the Palace and to lull us into a false sense of security... and what's more, you have the motivation for it since it seems your people do not take kindly to us…'aliens' being closely linked to the throne of Earth."
"That's a lie and you know it!" Elysion glares at her with her hands in fists by her side. "I…My mother and I aren't like that!" She took a threatening step towards the pale queen, " Terran is not like that either! How –dare- you even insinuate that!"
Terran was growling at her, "After all she's done you –still- won't accept her?" He bares his teeth, "I should rip your throat out."

'We should probably stop this before it gets out of hand.' Ami thought biting her lower lip as they made a move towards the reflecting pool.

"You're only upset because you know I speak the truth." The moon queen told him, her eyes switching to Elysion's face. "After all, if they're successful in getting rid of us- they have a legitimate heir to the Earth throne." She walked towards the young girl and took a hold of her chin making her look up at the Queen's face. "Tell me, Elysion…how long did it take you and that whore of a mother of yours and her insane brother to come up with this?"
Elysion glared at her but made no reply only allowing the silence to grow between them.
"After all," Serenity went on, unconsciously increasing the pressure on the girl's chin. "You wish to take the throne, haven't you? Take something that doesn't belong to you." She calmed herself a bit as she added, "Before you came…before you stepped foot on this soil, we were happy. Did you know that? There weren't as many big problems as there are now –because- you came here!"
The queen pushed the girl away, her emotions seemed to be running amuck at the moment, "It's your fault that Setsuna, Hotaru- everyone down there in the hospital beds…it's your fault Elysion. You hesitated! You stopped me from doing my job! And we have to pay for it." She glances down, " Do you think for one second…that I want you here? After all the problem's you've caused us?"
Elysion said nothing watching the woman as she rubbed her jaw.
Serenity was shaken by now and looked at her, "Do you?" She demanded before lashing out at the child.

Several things happened within that moment: Elysion's arms rose to defend herself from the attack; Terran leapt to attack the white queen for even thinking of hurting his mistress.
Only a streak of crimson light stopped them for a second, allowing ample time for Endymion to grab hold of his wife's wrist, and for Makoto and Minako to grab hold of the oversized wolf. Ami was positioned in front of the girl to protect her.
All this in a blink of an eye.
Which was the scene Usa was treated to when she found them. For a long while, she couldn't understand what happened. Her father and her mother's demeanor was different, the Senshi's position and…that look on her mother's face.
Luna walked in cautiously with Artemis by her side.
"What in the name of the moon has happened here?" the black cat asked the group, her crystal blue eyes were round with confusion as she tried to figure it out.
Terran growls and moves away from them over to Elysion. His spring green eyes looked dark and very dangerous now as he answered the cat.
" Your 'beloved' queen was about to strike Elysion, cat." He says with a growl. "Your queen accused my princess of things…and her mother as well, of things they would've –never- done!" He paces slightly- restlessly. "See how your oh so pure queen really is! Attacking a defenseless girl. Is that how she gets her kicks, hm?"

Usa shook her head, "That isn't true…is it…?" Her crimson gaze went to each face, fearing what she would read there. No, this couldn't be right. It couldn't be! Her mother was the kindest and sweetest person she ever knew. They had to be wrong. They had to be. The pink princess turned her earnest gaze towards her mother running over to her and clinging to her like she was five again. "It's not true, is it Mama? Tell me…they're lying aren't they?"
Endymion, having long ago letting go of his wife's wrist, awaited her answer. To tell you the truth, his mind was still reeling from what she had accused his…his daughter of. Though he couldn't ignore the doubt she had sown there. Could it be…that Kritra and Jamil had been working together from the start and little Elysion was in on it?
He couldn't help but glance at the silent girl who, like the others, was watching the scene unfold before them. It was possible…yet, he didn't believe it- more like he didn't want to believe this. He knew that logically it was a good assumption and could not be ignored. Later, later he would question the dark child about this and see if he could get the truth out of it.
"Well, Usagi..." Luna crept forward staring at the queen, "is it true?"

Serenity looks at them, having not the heart to look at her daughter's face choosing instead to stare over her head, and stated, "It's her fault. The others…if it wasn't for her and that wretched woman, Setsuna and Hotaru… they would still be here!"
The once regal woman glares at the child that was still seated behind Ami on the ground. "She is the cause of this. Before she even came here we were happy. We could've defeated Jamil and Kritra easily if she hadn't stood in the way."
More like if Kritra hadn't blocked her attack they would've been taken care of. Serenity didn't want to think that this woman, this woman had the power to block her magic. It made something inside twist uncomfortably. Was it because she lost her own warriors that she was becoming weak?

Through all this, Elysion remained mute. For lack of better things to say then for want, she couldn't speak at all because…because she believed it. That it was her fault. Her fault that they were in those hospital beds hooked up to all sorts of machinery to keep them alive til their crystals could be returned. Bowing her head she listened still as Usa came in and begged of her mother to disprove what she had done. Her braided hair fell in front of her face, the seashells clattered softly.
Again, she listened still and wanted the earth to swallow her up so she would disappear. Silently, she stood and turns to leave. Trouble, that's all she was. She was only trouble.

"Elysion where are you going?" Makoto asked looking at the girl's back. "We need you to help us figure out their weaknesses."

"So you would destroy the last bit of my family?" The girl asked with her back towards them. "Your queen has made it ample clear of where I should be, haven't you Serenity?" omitting both the queen's title and using her name so casually was outright disrespect no matter what culture you're from. "After all, aren't I a traitor- or rather she has branded me so." She shook her head still not looking at them as she started to walk away, "You do it your way I'll do it mine."

"Are you going to be a drone again?" this was from Usa who was becoming tired of all this. This tension and her family slowly being torn apart by all this fighting and unspoken things. "Why don't you just help us? It's the least you could do."
Her hands dropped and she looks down at the ground, "Why? Why did you stand in the way?" She looks up at her, " Mama was only trying to help them. Why?"

It was Terran who answered, " You're mother's intentions are as tarnished as silver." He snorts looking at her, "She had no intentions on 'saving' anyone. As to be expected from an alien." The shaggy gray wolf trotted over to Elysion's side, "To think otherwise is foolishness, Pink Princess."
With that the two left their company. Endymion turns to look at his wife, only to find that she was moving forward to leave.
" Usako…" He breathed softly watching her go.

Minako glances around at the remaining group and said, "It's dinner time, lets see if we can get something to eat."
The others nodded and slowly left, only Minako stayed behind to look at Endymion saying, "Tend to them, please, Mamoru. I think they'll listen to you. We'll see what we can do about our enemy."

Endymion nods giving her a brief smile, "Thank you Minako."
The blonde laughs softly, "Hey, all for three and three for four!"
"Minako..." Artemis sighs, "It's all for one and one for all."
She rubs the back of her head, "Oh yeah…that's right…"

I do hope this is better. Again, I don't own a thing other then my characters and the situations.

Please Read and reveiw.