A/N: Once again, sorry for the delay! This chapter was a bit harder than the others, I changed my mind on what to write almost every ten seconds… Does that usually happen to any of you, when you get deeper and deeper in the development of a story?

Anyway, this chapter is dedicated to Mike Silva and James Jones a.k.a Luna's Meow, for their kind and supportive e-mails. (Trust me guys, if it hadn't been for you too, I don't know when I would have posted this, if I ever did…) Once again: Thank you both a lot.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of Sailor Moon or Dragon Ball/ Z/GT, and I'm not making any profit with this.

Chapter Six: The Battles we Fight

Last Time:

"It's them, Your Majesty… The Hollow Hunters… Sailor Palas, Vesta and Juno are fighting them right now…"

She let out a cry of pain before adding.

"…They are back…"

With that, she fainted.

-

They were back.

The Hollow Hunters...

Usagi swallowed hard, her lips tightly together, as she looked down at the limp form of Sailor Ceres, her daughter's former body guard and friend.

The moon crescent on her forehead shinned as she managed to heal the girl partially, with the same powers she had used to heal the unicorn before.

Goku was still at her side. Glancing from her to the girl in Serenity's arms, he was waiting for the blond queen to say something.

When she didn't, he decided to ask the question instead.

"Who are the 'Hollow Hunters'?"

Usagi could not even look at him.

"They're lost souls, summoned by Chaos, many of them from the Cursed World… One of the various legions in its demonic army of darkness… This means my Shield of Protection has finally been leaked through…"

So soon!

It can't be… Oh, Selene!

Goku frowned, preoccupied. He had heard some stories about the cursed world, or Dark Kingdom, when he was still in the Dragons' dimension, and what very little he had learned had been… disturbing.

Almost dreadful.

If that was just one of the kinds of antagonists they would be having, then these definitely weren't good news…

He turned to greet the paler face and fretted expression of the golden haired woman, whose soulful eyes were now filled with apprehension.

A flash of white washed over her entire body, as she turned into Sailor Cosmos. Then her star cosmos insignia blazed to life as she concentrated, and the limp form of Ceres faded away from her arms.

Goku figured out what she must have done when he felt the girl's Ki back inside the building they had just exited.

"I teleported her to safety within the Royal Castle" Cosmos confirmed the accuracy of his guess "In there, the presence of the Golden Crystal's aura will keep her safe… Relatively."

The now silver haired woman stood up slowly, with a dull look on her face that Goku decided he didn't like.

It was the same look she had had that time in the Eternal Realm.

Usagi hugged herself tightly as a wave of cold fear and guilt passed through her fragile form. The faces of Mamoru, ChibiUsa and the senshi, along with flashes of the ultimate destruction of Crystal Tokyo, rushed through her mind.

Not again…

She greeted her teeth.

I can't…

Her arms positioned at her sides. Her hands closed into fists, like every time she was overwhelmed.

I can't…

…I can't let it happen again!

Without another word she suddenly summoned her wings and took of flying.

Goku was immediately right behind her, though. He wasn't about to let happen anything like what almost had in the Dragon Realm.

Once again, he found himself chasing after her…

"Wait!" he shouted as he got to her side.

She's so bloody impulsive!

His massive palms got a firm grip on both of her arms, preventing her from going any further, and he turned her towards him.

"Serenity, are you planning on facing them by yourself!"

His black eyes searched hers, but she was refusing to turn her gaze to his.

"There's no time, let go of me!" she yelled at him angrily, annoyed by his intrusion "They're almost to Hope City!"

She tried teleporting away while right there in his grip, but for some reason she found that she couldn't.

"…Oh no you don't…"

Usagi looked up at Goku, and regarded him flabbergasted.

Never before had she been prevented by anyone, Chaos included, from using her Cosmos' powers of teleportation.

Yet, for some reason, this saiyajin had just been able to.

"I was right" she heard him say.

The saiyan saw the surprise and confusion in her.

"Even if I can't sense your Ki" he told her "I'd been suspecting for a while that it didn't necessarily mean you don't have one… You're just like a guy I met in the Eternal Realm; his Ki was suppressed and blended so much with the nature all around him, that it almost camouflaged, making him undetectable. It was a technique he had spent a hundred years perfecting… and yet you seem to do it naturally.

He decided to congratulate her.

"You lunarians are a very interesting race"

Usagi didn't pay attention to his last words, but almost blinked, momentarily ceasing her struggling and forgetting the Hollow Hunters.

"Ki?"

"They say it's a living being's life force…" he responded "Once I figured that out, it wasn't that difficult to find your Ki and bind it to mine, stopping that little disappearing act of yours…" he looked at her in triumph "and the best of it is that from now on I'll probably be able to use my Instant Transmission on you!"

He couldn't keep the naughty grin off his face.

The woman in his arms had stopped her struggle and stared at him perplexed for some seconds, but then scowled at him in response, not the least amused.

"I don't care at this precise moment, let go of me!" she tried pushing against his chest with her palms "Don't you see I have to get to the city!"

Goku's eyes narrowed, but he didn't let go.

"If there are really cursed folk down there, you're not going alone. Luna and the others will never recover if the enemy gets your star seed also"

Usagi seemed surprised at first, but when the words set in, her gaze hardened.

"I have to take the risk. If I don't go there immediately, the people in the city will perish."

Seeing that he wasn't relenting; tormented by the memory of his comforting embrace, moments ago, and embarrassed by the heat she felt at, once again, being so involuntary close; she nailed him to coax him into letting go.

"I didn't know the legendary saiyajin Son Goku to be a coward! I thought he fought for good and innocents!"

The accusation slapped him in the face.

"Can't you see? Serenity, you won't achieve anything if you rush in there without thinking! You must think your options before acting!" he almost cried, frustrated.

She glared at him menacingly.

"You're thoroughly mistaken if you think you're anywhere nearentitled to tell me what to do" she hissed. "Stay away from this… and for the last time, release me right now!"

"I was trying to tell you before, I'm here because I want to help…" His voice softened, pleading with her. "You don't have to fight alone"

She scowled again, deeper.

"I didn't ask for your help"

"Even if you didn't" he said stubbornly "I still want to give it"

She glared at him in anger for another moment, and then, without warning, her gaze lowered to the side, her facial expression turning from aggravated to one of gloom and foreboding, taking Goku by surprise.

"What does it matter, anyway?" she swallowed hard "I still can't accept it…I'm sorry. As the Queen of Earth, it's my duty to make sacrifices when the well being for my people is jeopardized… And as Cosmos, I must see to it that Chaos doesn't completely erase all life in the universe… It's a burden I must carry solely on my own."

"Why?"

"You can't help me… no one can…"

It had been not more than a whisper, and Goku knew better than to misinterpret it.

No, one look into her averted silver eyes, directed anywhere but towards him, told him all he needed to know…

She had given up.

Suddenly, he was furious at her.

His grip tightened on her arms, almost painfully, and the Silver Senshi winced.

"Fine" he answered coldly "If that's how things are, Serenity, then I'll be the one to take care of this…"

Usagi's look was short from one of puzzlement.

"…I think you should stay here" he said in a definite tone.

Confusion mixed with indignation once again washed over her features at the sight of his utter resolve, but, when she saw him lift a hand towards her neck, she suddenly realized what he was about to do.

He was gonna knock her unconscious.

He was a chief martial artist, of course she wouldn't be able to stop him if she fought him physically!

And, considering she couldn't teleport, he was gonna succeed.

"You don't understand!" she exclaimed desperately "I'm the one they want!"

She tried to free herself from his grasp, failing miserably. Though using all her strength, she still couldn't make his arm budge…

…Not the tiniest bit.

"Please!" her troubled eyes met his, stopping his hand in mid-motion.

Her voice broke.

"If I surrender my star seed to Chaos, then may be it and its demons won't take any more lives!"

However spell bound by her seas of silver, he resisted the urge to give in, to concentrate on the more urging need to protect their owner.

"Bull shit"

She held her breath at the harshness in his tone.

Goku pulled her closer, till their faces were inches apart.

"You know sacrificing your soul is not gonna save those people" his usually gentler voice was now laced with steel, and he felt her tremble in his arms.

"If they have any hope left" he continued, his face grave, "that hope resides in you… You're the only one that can keep away this menace"

She shook her head in fierce denial.

"What good am I, huh! I was supposed to protect them and I failed! They have trespassed my shield, and I had created that shield with all of my power!" she exclaimed, filled with remorse. "Can't you see? I'm not like you, Son Goku! It's no use no matter how much I fight for them… I wasn't strong enough even to keep my own loved ones safe"

Usagi was still staring hard at the ground, her eyes hazy.

"That's the reason I wanted to set you free… I thought you would make a better protector than me; after all, you've saved this universe before… You're not like I am, Goku, you're a true warrior. You went through so much in your life and never gave up…"

She sighed.

"I thought I could do it too, that I could handle this heavy weigh on my shoulders… but I can't…"

Goku frowned as her voice quivered.

"I think it's time to accept my weakness…"

The look of utter hopelessness had fully returned on her face. Goku pressed his brains to say something… anything… to bring her out of that desolate state.

She must regain her self confidence… Other way Hope City… may be this galaxy will be at this evil's mercy…

And, truthfully, I know nothing about this being.

"Stop feeling sorry for yourself" he blurted out sharply.

Serenity's haunted eyes bored into his immediately.

His eyes softened.

"You're not weak… Your people say you're strong and that you'll pull your way through this" he murmured "How can they ever be wrong when they so firmly believe in you? Did you know they named their city after their Kibou no Hikari?"

Usagi's eyes widened as she straightened up.

She had been so immersed in her own grief, her problems and preoccupations; she had never stopped to think…

She bit her lip until it hurt.

"I'm not strong enough, though…" her eyes became teary for the third time that day "I tried so many times, I fought so hard… and yet I still couldn't defeat Chaos!"

The vice grip on her arms, that had been loosening gradually, turned now into a slight caress.

He understood her feeling, the despair of being cornered in a never ending war…

Cause that was the same kind of feeling Goku had sensed already in someone else before.

In Mirai no Trunks.

The words that came next were so softly spoken that she barely registered them.

"Then please… let me help you"

She looked up, and this time, it was she who felt herself drawn towards the coal black orbs staring at her so intently.

"You don't have to be alone"

And she found herself remembering how the love of her loved ones, and her own love for them back, had always been her pillar of strength and faith.

I almost want to believe in what you say… that everything's gonna be okay…

His eyes were almost drowning her into their warm.

Once again, Selene's words echoed in her mind.

…You will love again…

…you will love him…

…But the thought made her scared.

You make me feel so safe… But I know, deep down, it can only be an illusion…

"I can't"

She pulled away from him.

Goku opted to finally let go, but floated towards Serenity anyway, still holding her gaze.

He felt a bit kind of empty, now that he was no longer holding her.

His chest ached again.

Why does she affect me so?

"You can't..?" he started.

"…Or you won't..?"

He had to know.

She froze, uncertain, staring at him as if trying to read through his features what he meant with that question.

"Why are you doing this!"

She finally had had it.

"What do I have to do to tell you to stay away from me!" she yelled, exhausted from so much fighting, so much loss and suffering. "This is not your world, not your war, not your business! I can't get you involved, it was wrong of me to ever try…"

She paused to take a breath.

"Why did you even come here!"

Her sudden demand was met by an expression she could not read.

"Because you want to die…" he answered finally, truthfully.

"…and I won't be able live with myself if I let you"

-

Emerald green eyes glanced the scene in front of her: a horde of shadowy demons, one of the many kinds among the Hollow Hunters, was advancing through the forests, covering them whole like a thicken black mist, while trying to make their way towards the sole standing enclave for the refugees of Earth.

Sailor Juno stopped and kneeled on the ground, exhausted, gashes covering her legs and arms. She was hoping to regain enough strength to re- enter the battle, if she remained immobile for a while.

It sounded ludicrous, but the truth was they were currently fighting in front of the gates of the very last human city…

She gazed to her right, where her fellow scouts Pallas and Vesta were still at it against the creatures.

"Vestal Hearth Fire Blaze!" she heard the ginger scout's pearcing scream.

"Okeanos Whirlpool Centripetal Spiral!" Pallas yelled at the same time, as she too launched her attack.

Not far away, the green haired disciple of the late Sailor Jupiter could also distinguish the silhouettes of their other three Dead Moon Circus fellow ex-recruits:

Thrusting her arms forward, a curly long aqua haired woman was reciting her assault.

"Derceto's Tangled Net Trap!"

In accord with those words, a glowing blue large fishing net materialized on Fish Eye's hands. It was as strong, solid and real as the old Love Chain of Sailor Venus' early years; Fish Eye quickly threw the opposite end atop a good amount of demons, successfully hindering their advance.

Soon enough, Hawk Eye and Tiger Eye's own voices followed.

"Horus Sword Beheading!"

"Shiva's Dance Rapture!"

They were using their non-senshi, though still magical powers, to try to keep the demons at bay.

Juno had to smile in spite of herself. Even when the blows used by the former Amazon Trio were nowhere near as powerful and effective as any of the scouts', they still were trying their hardest to aid them in this predicament.

That, she reflected, was a valid enough reason for the Asteroid Senshi to give it their best along with them, until Sailor Ceres finally arrived with Neo Queen Serenity, the only person they knewn capable of purifying this awfully gloomy youmas.

Since the death of the older senshi and the terrible loss of their darling princess, the Asteroid Quartet had had found a way to keep believing in the taking upon themselves of the purpose to help Sailor Cosmos protect the Earth survivors as much as they could, swearing to be at their Queen's side, and guard her against the adversity, as their beloved teachers would have done.

So she ignored the pain struck running all through her spine as she summed her own contribution to the efforts of her comrades.

"Hera's Peacock Feather Iridescence!"

She observed as a brightly multi-colored fan of light opened itself from her palm, sending millions of electric sparks that flew away from the ethereal object in her out stretched hand, to meld in a single powerful blast sailing towards a bunch of fast approaching cursed.

She returned her five friends' tired smiles of approval for being so early back in the team as she went to them, but their contented exchange was cut short when they were surrounded by a mob of hissing demons.

Sailor Pallas couldn't contain a whimper as she clung to Fish Eye's arm for all that she was worth, shivering noticeably at the prospect of being energy- drained to death, while the two males present, Tiger Eye and Hawk Eye, valiantly positioned themselves in front of the girls in a protective gesture. However, they too felt the cold breath of fear on the back of their necks, and took a couple of steps back, when they saw the beings start to close in on them, backing them all six up against one another…

"Proserpine Flower Spring Symphony!" was the only resonating scream heard as what looked remarkably like a huge storm of pollen swept over the Hollow Hunters, creating a big furrow that tore the prefect circle of growling menacing demons.

"Cere-Cere!" Pallas exclaimed, happily relieved.

The pink haired senshi in the tattered uniform went to join them in a slow but steady pace. She was instantaneously surrounded by the other three Asteroids, who were ecstatic to find themselves finaly reunited with their partner.

Vesta smirked as she asked.

"The Queen healed you, right?"

Ceres nodded, fatigued.

"Let's take care of this nasty youmas" she breathed.

Sailor Juno was eager to agree. "Let's show them what we got…"

END TO THE SIXTH CHAPTER

2nd A/N: Woa, another cliffhanger! I'm pretty sure some of you are whishing to strangle me right now… But, hey! It's finally getting interesting! Besides, this chapter alone gave e a lot of work… and I was very happy to at last put an end to it.

Now, the reason Fish Eye is a she instead of a he, like in the original series, is something that will be told later on… So don't go and review trying to correct me about that "mistake"!

As for the new attacks: yes… they're made up. Go easy on me, please… I actually burned my brains out trying to think of some that made sense. I actually had no idea what the Asteroid Senshi attacks were beside their collective "Amazon Jungle Arrow"… AND, being sixteen years old now, they wouldn't be using the same attacks they did when they were younger… would they? On the other hand, I also had to make up some blasts for the Amazon Trio absolutely out of nowhere … Here's the deal: if you can guess the reasons behind any attack in particular, I'll dedicate the next chapter to you… 

Once more, please don't forget to review!

Jay.