Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.

The Dead Moon Circus

"Rini, hold on," Sailor Moon told her unconscious daughter, while trying, once again, to untie her. "Guys, I can't get the ropes untied." Sailor Moon started to cry- real heart wrenching tears this time, not hysteric wailing.

"What are we gonna do?"

"If we use our attacks, Rini will get hurt," Mercury pointed out.

Luna and Artemis jumped onto Rini, using their claws and teeth to cut through the rope.

"That'll work," Venus said as the ropes slid off of Rini.

"Wake up, honey, please. Rini, wake up," Sailor Moon desperately tried to wake the child. "Where's Tuxedo Mask? He's the only one that can keep her stable. Darien? Where are you?"

Sailor Moon was remembering the time, a while back, when Darien had used his own energy in order to keep Rini alive after her heart crystal had been stolen. Without his help, she wouldn't have lasted until Saturn was able to bring her crystal back. Thinking of that horrible time, when she'd also been scared to death for Rini's life caused more tears to slide down the Moon Princess' face.

"Yah!" an attack was thrown, seemingly from the cave's mist, toward Sailor Moon and Rini. Moon turned her back on it, shielding the smaller girl. When the attack hit her, she screeched in pain.

"Serena!" the Scouts screamed.

"Got ya!" Tiger's Eye laughed. Behind the blond man stood another guy in a purple toga and a blue-haired girl, both smirking. The Amazon Trio, part of the Dead Moon Circus the girls had only recently destroyed, had once been after dream mirrors. They'd been searching for a Pegasus, the Protector of Dreams. He'd eventually been found in Rini's Golden Mirror of Dreams, but the Trio hadn't been the ones to steal him. They'd discovered true human tendencies and, with the mythical unicorn's help, had started life anew, holding in their hearts real dreams.

"Why, You! Venus Love Chain Encircle!" Sailor Venus' chain swung around Tiger's Eye, Fish Eye, and Hawk's Eye, effectively trapping them.

"Hey, what's the big idea?" Fish Eye panicked, her eyes swinging wildly around. She didn't turn evil again only to die.

"Let us go!" Hawk's Eye yelled, his pinkish hair standing up on his head even more.

"I don't think so," Venus pulled her chain tighter. "Venus Love 'n' Beauty Shock!" Sailor Venus threw a shocking kiss, eliminating the Amazon Trio.

"Who's next?" she yelled. Sailor Venus wanted to end this absurd battle, get Rini help, and get the heck out of here. And, she wanted to do it now.

"That would be us," shouted Besu Besu, coming out of the darkness, along with the other ¾ of the Amazon Quartet. They'd taken over the search for Pegasus after the Trio's failure. But, they too had become good and set out for a new life in the ways of good. The four young girls had even helped the Sailor Scouts to save the world from their former leaders, Zurconia and Nehelenia.

"I'll show you," Jupiter punched Jun Jun, the green-clad Amazon girl. If she doesn't want to be good anymore, then I'll teach her what happens to those who choose evil, Jupiter thought. Though, she was a bit saddened; she and the other Scouts had actually formed a special bond with these girls.

"Ow, ow. That hurt, Dummy!"

"Aaah!" Cele Cele, the Flower Master, fired an attack at Venus using her pool stick and Magic Eight Ball.

Venus dodged the attack and threw one of her own. "Venus Meteor Shower!"

Cele Cele went up in a blaze of lights.

Para Para, the baby of the group, yelled at Venus, "You'll pay for that!"

"Mercury Ice Bubbles Freeze!"

Para Para was frozen on the spot.

"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"

As Para Para was destroyed, Jun Jun started an attack.

"Sparkling Wide Pressure!" Jupiter's lightening finished off the girl.

"Guess it's up to me," Besu Besu whispered to herself. Aloud she shouted, "You're going down!"

"Mars Celestial Fire Surround!"

"Now, who's going down?" Mars chuckled. Then, she sobered, becoming aware of Sailor Moon's softer crying. "Hey, Sailor Moon, how's Rini doing?"

But she didn't need to answer; Mars could see for herself how badly the child was faring. In frustration, she yelled toward the sky, hoping he would somehow hear. Tuxedo Mask had never let the Scouts down before, so why would he start now? And, in such a crucial position, too. "Darien! Where are you! Rini's in serious trouble!"

"He's not coming," whispered Sailor Moon.