Alone
Tuxedo Kamen looked away from the monster he fought, from his perch atop the Tokyo buildings, the screams diverting his attention to a middle aged woman falling limply to the ground.
His eyes widened as he recognized the figure.
Ikuko.
Whacking the monster atop the head with his cane, he dodged left before falling to the ground gracefully.
A small black form ran past him and he looked over in surprise to see a young girl with dark black eyes rush towards the fallen woman. Turning her over so she faced the sky.
"Tsukino-san! Tsukino-san!"
He watched with a detached fashion as a monster appeared to recognize her. Could this girl be the enemy? But if she was, why was she trying to awaken her enemy?
"Please wake up!"
Usako had by not torn free of the monster and was looking for the crystal. But the monsters were already gone. Having flown off in the distance to deliver the prize.
"Damn," cursed the outer Senshi, each looking at the other with an odd look. Mamoru knew that look could mean nothing good.
He turned his face from them to the inners, tears leaking down their abused faces. They fell to their knees in despair.
"Momma..." whispered Usako, her hands holding the limp woman. "Please momma, please wake up. Please..."
He shut his eyes at the tearful words, but opened them instantly when a scream reached his ears.
Looking up, he saw a monster from the fight, the cat to be exact, capture the little girl in it's arms and haul her up into the sky.
Usako screamed and jumped to grab her. But it was useless.
The cat was to fast and she fell to the ground, the cat fading off in the distance.
Mamoru couldn't help the biting in his stomach at the lost look on his Usako's face. How could she care more for some stranger than him? Her prince in shinning armor?
He blew it off as being her bad mindset. Besides, he was well aware that the princess of his dreams loved him. Those outer Senshi had simply brain washed her.
He looked back at them, slitting his eyes into a suitable glare at the blonde. The look the teal woman gave him, however, wiped the expression from his face immediately.
He sighed and shook his head. Walking forward he gathered the older woman in his arms and carried her off to his apartment. He would keep her alive with his life energy. Usako loved her, and he loved Usako. Besides, tears didn't suit his princess at all.
Not at all.
She fought the blackness. The terrible powers that drowned her in their corruption. But her nails were growing long. Her hair expanding. And her father stood their, laughing that terrible laugh.
She wished Usagi would save her.
She need her light. But it was dimmed by the shadows surrounding her, eating her alive. She was dying, was fading from existence.
And then, swallowing Tsukino-san crystal reluctantly.
Darkness over rode her vision and a searing pain overtook her.
Then she knew no more.
Tears laced bright eyes.
She let loose a large explosion of light.
The Senshi all silently stood on their feet. Fully healed.
Pulling herself to her feet, she transformed to her normal Senshi form, glancing towards the outers. But they were leaving. She didn't know where, but at the moment didn't care.
The enemy had hurt her mother.
Had hurt Hotaru-chan.
They would not go unpunished.
She looked towards her court. They were all glowing softly. She stared for a moment before four wands appeared in their hands.
"Mercury Crystal Power, Make Up!"
"Mars Crystal Power, Make Up!"
"Jupiter Crystal Power, Make Up!"
"Venus Crystal Power, Make Up!"
The Senshi that stood before her were different, they seemed more... more united. As though the raging souls within were at peace. Were merged.
She nodded to them and they walked silently towards Mugen Academy. Towards a building exploding with a terrible light. She walked regally towards it, her form flickering softly with that of her alter ego, Princess Serenity.
She was going to get her mother. And Hotaru.
She would bring the, back safely.
Looking at the soft moon overhead in the daylight, she saw only hope.
Setsuna sat quietly in the back seat as the chopper flew over the city. Her mind wandering to the events about to unfold.
She could no longer predict what would or would not happen. The time stream had encircled itself so oddly, twisting here and turning their. It was like a knotted river, and the ripples in it were great.
She stared down at the key in her hand.
Still one thing was the same. She shut her eyes and prayed to her father Chronos that things worked out in the end. Without Chibi-Usa, she wasn't sure how. But their princess was quite resourceful.
Hopefully the end would be the same.
Hopefully.
"What's that!" screamed Sailor Uranus, she looked over to see the large pink heads riveting towards them. Slicing through the metal and breaking through the glass. She gave a tired sigh stood up. The explosion ringing in her ears.
This would be her end.
"Garnet Orb Interlude!"
She whispered the words softly, quieter than even the wind could hear. Amused, she watched her partners prepare for death. And then the look of surprise when they realized they were still alive.
"What..."
"How..."
"I have stopped time," she spoke, her voice echoing in the still world. She held her staff tightly in her gloved hands. The cold metal freezing against her gloves. One of the reasons no other person could ever touch it.
"But-"
"Go now, time will resume soon."
"If you have this power, why have you never used it?"
Sad eyes stared at them, "I am forbidden."
Green and tealeyes widened suddenly. She smiled sadly. Time was running short, ironically.
"What will happen to you?"
She grimaced at the thoughts that burned through her mind. Images of her punishmentand did not reply for a moment before whispering the words she knew they needed to know.
"If I can see the true Messiah..."
She shut her eyes, already knowing they were about to argue with her. But they were gone. And time had resumed once more.
The cold staff burned with power. With resentment.
The glass and metal cut through her, breaking her skin. Agony greater than any she'd ever felt ripped her apart. While fires burned her skin, burned her eyes. Melted her.
A small tear ran down her cheek, but it evaporated in the unrelenting heat.
She fell to pieces in pain. No screams passing her lips. Just the cold burn of her staff breaking through her gloves.
And with that she died. But only for awhile.
She was the princess of death. The guardian of time.
And with that, she faded into oblivion.
The Senshi arrived outside the large building, eyes fuzzy at the large forcefield around it. Pink heads bobbled with smirks of annoyance and grins that spoke defeat.
Sailor Mars glared angrily.
"Burning Mandala!"
The attack was powerful, and she couldn't help but stare.
Not even a dent.
She clenched her fist and prepared to scream curses when the heads all fisted out and attacked them. She opened her eyes wide.
"Shiny Aqua Illusion!"
"Burning Mandala!"
"Sparkling Wide Pressure!"
"Venus Love Me Chain!"
Their attacks were useless, and Sailor Moon was to busy dodging the heads to do anything. Then came their opening.
"Moon Spiral Heart Attack!"
A pink heart wiped away all the monsters and they all gasped in unison. The Mercurial Princess typing quickly on a small computer, a blue window over her left eye.
"Mercury!" screamed their leader. Aphrodite. Her eyes hardened by battle. They surrounded their princess.
"We have enough time to teleport during-"
"Venus Love Me Chain!"
"The princess's next attack!"
"Sparkling Wide Pressure!"
The Senshi of fire wiped out the oncoming monsters with a heavy heart. Something wasn't right. It should be this easy... There was something wrong with this...
A moment later she knew why.
"Moon Spiral Heart Attack!"
The area cleared and the all turned to the princess, but as they approached a large hand appeared out of no where, grabbing Sailor Moon by the neck.
Rushing forward, she held tightly to her princess. But it wasn't enough. None of them were. The odd colored monsters swallowed them before throwing them against the cement. Their princess disappearing through the whole.
She felt tears leak from her eyes.
Once more, they were to weak to protect their princess. Once more, to useless to save their friend.
Their leader slammed her fist against the ground. And she knew that the emotions ragging through her would be great.
"Damn it all! Serenity... Not Serenity..."
She looked down at the ground, watching it blur.
They'd lost her again... They'd lost their Serenity...
