Chapter 1 - Death
Tsukino Usagi was a young 14-year-old girl with a great family and wonderful friends. To all who knew her, she was an unselfish person with the biggest and warmest heart, sacrificing anything she could for the happiness of others. Her friends did everything to try and preserve the gentle nature in her; they tried to slow her growing into the reality of a harsh uncaring, but realistic world, for they know that it would slaughter her chances of still being the big-hearted, carefree girl she was. Sooner or later they knew, that one day she would learn the reality and harshness of the real word. That day came too soon.
Ikuko was in the kitchen making roast beef for dinner, humming along to her favourite tune 'Fly Me to the Moon,' by Japan's very own Shiroh Sagiru. "Honey, turn off the TV and wash your hands for supper. Shingo, you too. Sigh Where is that darned girl?" Kenji and Shingo went off to the bathroom to wash up for supper while Ikuko set up their dinner. She placed a few candles on the kitchen counter as well as the dining room table to add a cozy touch. Kenji and Shingo sat down at the dinner table and the three of them started to eat in peace. Meanwhile, a candle had been knocked over, causing a domino effect with the other four candles. The leftover oil from preparing the food trailed off and the flames quickly caught it. Kenji caught the scent of the fire, but it was too late, as the fire consumed the kitchen, the house, and their lives.
"Mom, dad, Shingo, you idiot!" Usagi sobbed deeply as she looked sadly into the graves that held the members of her late family. "Why didn't you escape when you had the chance? If only I could have protected you better, if only I had been more aware.. if only I had known! But, it was too late, wasn't it? I ran home from the arcade, feeling a horrid agony in my heart that you guys were gone. As soon as I heard the news at the arcade, I rushed home, but-but.. everything was burned. Burned! And all I could find of your remains were your ashes.. Sob I cried and cried as if-if my tears would bring you back…I even tried using the Ginzuishou. But, it wouldn't bring you back! I lay there, trying to grasp your ashes as if they were my only chance of living. If only I knew about the fire earlier, if only I was home and not at the arcade, I could have saved you. But, hysterical laughter, me being me.. the stupid and klutzy Odango, I was at the arcade, wasting my money on stupid games. And-and, Setsuna wouldn't turn back time. No matter how much I begged, no matter how much I pleaded, she wouldn't indulge me. She wouldn't indulge me because your deaths were nat-natural. I even pulled rank on her as her current princess and future queen. But even still, she would not budge. I'm.. I'm so sorry… I failed you." Usagi spilled the last of her tears, tears that trickled ever-so-slowly down her porcelain pale face.
Two Years Later
'What can I do now? What can I do that will help me cope? It's already been two years and a half since you died. You paid the price of my stupidity with your lives. Now I ask myself, what do I live for? My destiny? Ha! Mamo.. Chiba has broken up with me for the last time several months ago, I am destined to rule the earth, destined to be Neo-Queen Serenity, destined to have Chibi-Usa, destined to marry Endymion, no Mamoru, destined to save the earth how many more times! How can my life turn out this way?' A forlorn and melancholy Usagi got up from her knees from the quiet cemetery and walked with her head held low, hands in her pocket, walking slowly towards her apartment.
As Usagi entered her small apartment, she took off her shoes and walked into her room. She went to her closet and pulled out two large boxes. Usagi slowly pulled out several photo albums of her family and flipped through them for what seemed like hours. Exhausted, she fell asleep on her large bed, unaware of what was happening while she was in her deep slumber.
All of the Sailor Senshi in their civilian forms, along with Luna, Artemis, and Mamoru were gathered in the room with the Sacred Fire at the Hiwaka Shrine to discuss their future. The fact that Mamoru was no longer with Usagi had been a big topic because the debate about who was to rule Earth came about and everyone taking sides (everyone on Usagi's side), and then… they felt it.
Ten dark-cloaked creatures appeared in the front of the courtyard of the Hiwaka Shrine; they burst into each room looking for something and as soon as they spotted the Senshi, the cats, and Mamoru, they surrounded them with long brittle sticks in their hands. Sticks? Minako grew wary as the figures drew closer. "Where is he? Where is the one who gave a large burst of power three years ago?" The one on the very right asked. As the unknown men assembled in the centre of the shrine, the Senshi and Mamoru stiffly stood up with their henshin sticks in hand.
"Now now Crabbe, have patience. We must ask them nicely, or they will not answer. However, note that if you do not answer, there will be dire consequences to pay. For the time being, we can play a little game." The dark figure with what seemed like the most power to the Senshi, in the center spoke.
Mina had counted the numbers. 'Ten-to-eight. Not including Mamoru of course. What can he do? "Sword-fight" with his cane, make corny speeches, and throw red roses?' Snort All of the Senshi slowly turned their heads towards her. 'Heh. My snort was out loud?' Minako quickly examined the men with the black cloaks. 'My goodness! Are those things jackets? Why in the world are they wearing black jackets in the middle of summer? Honestly! They have absolutely no fashion sense, whatsoever! Wait, then again… Mamoru's green jacket takes the cake. For a guy with decent looks, he sure dresses ugly.' The rest of the group turned to her with funny looks, especially Mamoru who looked embarrassed. 'Oh no, did I just say that without shielding my thoughts?' Mamoru just looked at her, slightly pink. 'I'm guessing I did.' 'Mamoru, I'm really sorr- Actually, you know what? I'm not! That green jacket is ugly! Never mind. Hahaha!' Mamoru turned red while the rest of the Senshi tried to muffle their laughter.
The shadowy figures were silent for a second as the one called Crabbe slowly thought up an appropriate answer.
"Of course, Malfoy. Whatever you say." The one called Crabbe replied with as much menace as the second voice. "Now, little kiddies, we will only ask you one more time. Where is the one with the great power? Where is he? The Dark Lord is in need for another, how would you say it.. what is the word.. host…?"
Mina quickly changed personalities from being a happy-go-lucky girl to a serious leader. Ami, Mamoru, Setsuna, Artemis, Minako, and Luna knowing the most English out of the group immediately understood what the men in black cloaks had been saying. Each member of the Sailor Senshi, including Mamoru, Luna, and Artemis had the ability of telepathy with each other. Ami, being the strategist and brains of most of their battles had quickly translated what they had said to the remainder of the Senshi who had no clue of what was going on. Usagi had given a large burst of energy a couple of years ago, the day that her family had died. She was so devastated by the fact that they were gone, a large burst of pure light energy came from within her and the charred remains of her house and her family members were cleared away. Anyone who saw or heard of the news had their memory wiped clear with the power of the Ginzuishou, and only the Senshi, Luna, Artemis, and Mamoru knew about what had happened. Usagi did not want anyone to know or pity her about what happened to her family. Only two questions remained in each of the Senshis' minds. Even with her power, why were they after Usagi? For what purpose?
'Rei, can you pinpoint where Usagi is right now? The most important thing right now is to tell her to stay away from the Shrine. Ami, can you tell how powerful these beings are? Can you calculate what our chances of winning are? Setsuna, have you foreseen this situation? Do you know what the outcome will be? And the rest of you, get your transformation pens ready. But don't transform until I give the command.' Minako, being second-in-command of the Senshi after Usagi, had quickly analyzed the current situation and had given prompt orders.
Rei hummed with the power of Mars as she used her priestess abilities to track down the Moon Princess. 'Where is she, where is she, where is she? Where is that darned Odango?' The Mars Senshi quickly got a lockdown on the bunny of the moon, who was nearing the, the…what? Some unknown force was blocking her from Usagi and her whereabouts as she attempted to communicate with her. 'Odango. Odango atama! Are you there? Usa? Sagi? Tsukino Usagi! Serenity! ODANGO! Answer me!' Rei mentally grumbled as Usagi didn't answer. 'Mina, Odango is not answering me. It's as if, as if something's stopping me from reaching her. I feel some force blocking her mind from mine. Our link's still there, but I can't communicate with her.'
Mina too, tried contacting Usagi, but her telepathic skills were not as refined or great as the miko of Mars. 'Usa. Are you there? Usagi? Usagi? What's happening? It's as if something is blocking her from the rest of us. I wonder what. Even still, she can't come here! We have to protect her and take these guys down. Even if it takes our lives.' 'Everyone! Pay attention! Ami, Setsuna?' Minako looked expectantly at both of them.
Ami looked at each of the figures through the spaces between each of the Senshi. She promptly twisted her three blue sphere-like earrings on her left ear which caused her Mercury visor to appear along with her Mercury mini-computer. 'Okay, figures radiating with.. auras of death. These beings have a higher power called the Dark Lord. They are after our hime, which is always the case.' Pressing buttons on her mini-computer, the Senshi of Ice calculated where each of them came from just recently and where there power sources came from. 'Everyone, these beings are pure evil…corrupt! They reek of death. Not like the Nega-Verse evil or anything we've ever faced, but far far worse! The little sticks in their hands emanate the dark feeling we're all receiving. This Dark Lord they speak of, must be their higher master. And if these guys are this powerful.. we're in big trouble.' Everyone looked at each other with fierce protectiveness for Usagi, their best friend, princess, leader, future queen, ex-girlfriend, adoptive mother, and most of all, the glue that stuck them all together.
'Setsuna, have you foreseen this?' Minako inquired demandingly and worriedly. Setsuna simply looked straight into the Venusian Princess' eyes and winced inside, as she had to tell everyone of the grave news. 'Minako, I have seen this in the Gates of Time and as the Guardian of the Time Gates, I am unfortunately sworn to the secrets of the future.' As soon as the Senshi of Pluto said this, the Senshi looked at each other with feelings of dread.
Setsuna was caught in her thoughts. 'I know how this will turn out. And I know how this will end. I am ever so sorry…for what could have been. I am terribly sorry Senshi.. But know this, I will fight. I will fight for my princess. I will fight for the only person who has ever shown me her light and kindness. And I will fight until the end.'
The dark figures did not take too kindly to being ignored by the group of Japanese people. And so, the one in the center called Malfoy spoke. "Well, little ones, it seems as if your time has run out. As have ours. We warned you. Prepare for the consequences of ignoring us. And so, we must take this time to-- " The man was cut off as another interrupted.
"But Malfoy, the Dark Lord said we have a sufficient amount of time to finish this mission!" One from the left exclaimed.
"Goyle! You incessant moron! Why don't you just listen for once in your goddamned life?" The man called Crabbe yelled angrily.
The Senshi just gripped onto their transformation pens harder as Ami once again translated what the evil men had said, and they got ready to transform. The man in the center who seemed to be the leader in the little mission as they called it grabbed the stick in his right hand and pointed it at them, and the rest of them followed. Minako gave a quick nod and they transformed.
"Venus Eternal Power!"
"Mercury Eternal Power!"
"Jupiter Eternal Power!"
"Mars Eternal Power!"
"Uranus Eternal Power!"
"Neptune Eternal Power!"
"Pluto Eternal Power!"
"Saturn Eternal Power!"
The famous Sailor Senshi of Japan stood in front of the mysterious men in all their glory, where normal citizens of Japan once stood; they all stood with their assortment of weapons - Mercury with her Harp, Venus with her Love Chain, Mars with her Fire Bow, Jupiter with her Deadly Leaves, Uranus with her Space Sword, Neptune with her Mirror, Pluto with her Garnet Orb, and Saturn with her Glaive.
The dark figures each pointed their sticks at the famous Planetary Senshi in awe and amazement. These people were the legendary Sailor Senshi?
Venus spoke, "Luna, Artemis, get back and make sure that they don't see you. It's vital that they don't see you. Okay, there's going to be one for each of us. Mamoru, I guess you're in. But that still leaves one guy left. We're going to have to watch out for the last one. Everyone pick one of them to cover, and let's go!"
Each Senshi fought bravely with their attacks and weapons, but it was no use against the powerful sticks. They held great but dark power. And one by one, they all fell. Mercury fell first, and then came Tuxedo Mask, then Mars, then Neptune, then Saturn, then Venus, and Pluto was the last to fall.
"Pluto Deadly Scream!"
"Imperio!"
"Mars, watch out for the guy behind you!"
"Crucio!"
"Ahhhhh! That blonde-haired witch got me!"
"Venus Love and Beauty Shock!"
"Impedementia!"
"Mercury, use your fog to blind them for a while!"
"Mercury Bubbles Blast!"
"Crabbe, Goyle, everyone! Just use the killing curse!"
"Avada Kedavra!" (times ten)
Although the Sailor Senshi were defeated, they were able to inflict much damage on the opposition as well. Six of the figures in dark cloaks were down and the other four were barely alive and conscious. However, they each held enough power to "disappear."
"No! Makoto, Ami, Rei, Mina, Haruka, Michiru, Hotaru, Setsuna, Luna, Artemis, Mamoru… No! Don't leave me too! Don't go…" Usagi murmured in her sleep as she slept uneasily and suddenly woke up. She rubbed her eyes sleepily. 'I'd better go and check up on them.' Usagi ran with all the strength she had and jumped up the stairs to the Hiwaka Shrine. 'Don't let anything have happened while I was asleep…please please please!' Usagi prayed fervently as she opened the broken doors and searched with apprehension and dread. As she reached the room with the Sacred Fire, she received visions of what had happened just minutes ago. She cried as she saw the mangled and mutilated bodies of her former Senshi, advisors, and ex-lover. She sobbed for hours and she shook them all, trying to wake them from a deep sleep. "Setsuna! You knew this was going to happen, didn't you? How could this have happened? How could this have happened!" The hole in Usagi's heart from her family's death grew larger as barriers as hard as ice were built, surrounding it. Usagi was consumed with guilt as she fell unconscious on the floor with a slump, stained in the blood of her friends.
'Am I…dreaming? Is this real?' Usagi thought as she was in a meadow of flowers with bright sunshine shining upon her. She looked down at herself and she was in the same clothes she was in. The flowers and the sun began to disappear as darkness and shadows consumed her. She was about to fall into a deep sleep again until..
"Odango! Odango Atama! Wake up! Sheesh. I feel hurt. Don't you even want to see us! Excuuuuse me! Hellooooo! It's us, your bestest friends in the whole wide world."
"Rei, hush! She's been through a lot. I believe her brain waves are sending ou—"
"Arghhh! Ami! No more with the big words!"
"Minako! You need to get a brain!"
"Oh, Mako! Not you too! I'm not that bad!"
Snort "That's what you think, m'dear."
Usagi slowly opened her eyes as the darkness and shadows shrouding her began to disappear. Everyone was surrounding her with smiles on their faces. Rei all of a sudden tackled her. "Rei? REI? I missed you all so much! I'm so sorry. It was my entire fault. I should have been there to save you all! I let you all down!" Guilt dominated her heart and her mind, as tears began to fill her large cerulean eyes. Sobs racked her small body and she covered her face with her hands. The Senshi looked at each other sadly and surrounded her, placing their hands on her, and spoke with gentleness, warmth, and love.
"Princess, it was not your fault. I had foreseen this in the Time Gates. This was supposed to happen."
"Then, you'll all be reborn?"
"No, I'm afraid not. Well, I'll be brought back to watch the Time Gates…" with a sad glint in her eyes, "but the rest of the Senshis' star seeds were destroyed permanently."
"Aww…Setsuna-Mama gets to be reborn with Mama? That's so not fair! Why can't we be brought back too?"
"Really? We won't be reborn to protect Usa!"
"That's what she said, stupid!"
"Don't call me stupid, you-you, boy-crazy freak!"
"Hey! You can't say that!"
"Too bad, 'cause I already did! Nyahh! Whatcha' gonna do about it! Huh? Huh?"
"Take that back! You..!"
Usagi just stared down at her hands in horror. They won't be reborn. Not a single one of them. Only Setsuna, and she was destined to watch the Time Gates forever…they wouldn't come back. They weren't going to come back. Ami hugged her and the rest of them surrounded her with light and warmth. "Don't worry Mama! We'll always be here in your heart!" Hotaru gave Usagi a big hug and Usagi slowly responded. "Taru, thank you."
"Oooh! Oooh! Don't forget! We all want to give you our Planetary Powers to help protect you better and as our final gift to you." Usagi shook her head passionately.
"No! I want you to keep them. I wouldn't feel comfortable taking them from you.."
"We want to give you our powers. And we definitely won't take a 'no' from you! So, just, shh!"
"Man, Ames, for a genius, all you can say is 'shh!'? Bahahaha!"
"You guys.. Wait, where's Mamoru?"
"Uh, well, uh, you know how we're in 'heavenly limbo'?" Usagi nodded yet again. "Well, er, Mamoru is in the 'limbo of hell.' Usagi just stared at everyone in astonishment and shock. "Yeah, we were shocked too, but kitten, think about it. He deserved it! That no good basta--" With a hard nudge from Michiru, Haruka stopped ranting. "You know darling, there are children present!"
"But Michi! You know he deserves it! He hurt our hime! My neko! That retarded piece of sh—"
"Don't you dare think of 'But Michi!' me! One more remark from you and you're sleeping on the couch for a year! Got me? A whole entire year!" Haruka quickly shut up as the rest of the Senshi stifled their giggles.
Minako whispered to Rei, "She's not even a he and she's totally whipped!" Rei nodded and they all shook with laughter as they heard her comment.
"Now, people people, remember our gifts?"
"Oh yeah! Ami! Good job for remembering. Ahem Me first."
"No, me first!"
"I'm her very best friend, so I get to go first!"
"What? No, I'm her best friend! She is my cousin after all!"
"You dork, that was in the Silver Millennium!"
"Oh. Sooo! We are the reincarnations of our previous selves!" Silence.
"Wow Mina, that was the most intellectual thing I have EVER heard you say!" Sweatdrops surrounded the heads of everyone excluding Ami.
"So, me first, right?"
"No! Me!"
"I'm the strongest! I should get the privilege of going first!"
"As if, blondie!"
"Shut up! Let's see what you can do, huh!"
"That it! Do you want to go? Let's go! Right now!"
"Fine! You know, I bet I can take you down anytime any da --"
"SILENCE! That is enough! My head hurts from hearing you all bicker about childish little things. Ahem So, I have decided to go first!" Silence ensued once again as the Princess of Pluto took the stage. The rest of the Senshi just stared at Setsuna in open surprise as she spoke, but then they glared at her as they realized she got to go first. "I, Princess of Pluto, Guardian of the Gates of Time, Ruler of the Other Realm, Senshi of the Planet Pluto, descendant of the God Hades, grant you the powers of the Planet Pluto, the Garnet Orb, the Gates of Time, and the Pluto Crystal!" A dark green light and the assortment of items faded from her and entered Usagi. Usagi flared with a dark green aura as the symbol of Pluto appeared on her forehead. The collection went into her sub-space pocket.
"I, Princess of Mars, High Miko of my home planet, Senshi of Mars, descendant of Ares, grant you the powers of the Planet Mars, the Fire Bow, the scrolls of Mars, and the Mars Crystal!" A bright red light and the collection of items faded from her and entered Usagi. Usagi shone with a bright red aura as the symbol of Mars appeared on her forehead. The collection went into her sub-space pocket.
"I, Princess of Mercury, High Mage of Mercury, Senshi of Mercury, descendant of Athena, grant you the powers of the Planet Mercury, the Mercury visor, the Mercury mini-computer, the harp of Mercury, and the Mercury Crystal!" A frosty blue light and the array of items faded from her and entered Usagi. Usagi shimmered with a pale blue aura as the symbol of Mercury appeared on her forehead. The collection also went into her sub-space pocket.
"I, Princess of Jupiter, Ruler of the Weather, Senshi of Jupiter, descendant of Zeus, grant you the powers of the Planet Jupiter, the Jupiter wreath, the Lightning bolts, Jupiter Tiara, and the Jupiter Crystal!" A forest green light the variety of items faded away and entered Usagi. Usagi sparkled with a forest green aura as the symbol of Jupiter appeared on her forehead. The collection went into Usagi's sub-space pocket.
"I, Princess of Venus, Ruler of Love, Senshi of Venus, descendant of Aphrodite, grant you the powers of the Planet Venus, the Love-me Chain of Venus, The Sword of Artemis, the Powers to tell the love connection of anyone except your own, and the Venus Crystal!" A dazzling orange light and the bundle of items faded away and entered Usagi. Usagi beamed with a dazzling orange aura as the symbol of Venus appeared on her forehead. The collection went into her sub-space pocket.
"I, Princess of Neptune, Ruler of the Waters, Senshi of Neptune, descendant of Poseidon, grant you the powers of the Planet Neptune, the Neptune Mirror, and the Neptune Crystal!" A gorgeous teal light and the medley of items faded away and entered Usagi. Usagi twinkled with a flashy teal aura as the symbol of Neptune appeared on her forehead. The collection also went into her sub-space pocket.
"I, Princess of Uranus, Ruler of the Skies and Winds, Senshi of Uranus, General of the Soldiers of Uranus, descendant of Ouranus, grant you the powers of the Planet Uranus, the Uranus Space Sword, and the Uranus Crystal!" A glitzy golden light and the accumulation of items faded away and entered Usagi. Usagi blazed with a golden light as the symbol of Uranus appeared on her forehead. The collection also went into her sub-space pocket.
"I, Princess of Saturn, Ruler of the Underworld, Senshi of Saturn, Queen of the Dead, descendant of Saturn, grant you the powers of the Planet Saturn, the Glaive of Saturn, the Ribbons of Death, and the Saturn Crystal!" A dark blackish purple light and the assembly of items faded away and entered Usagi. Usagi blazed with a blackish purple light as the symbol of Saturn appeared on her forehead. The collection also went into her sub-space pocket.
Usagi was filled with gratitude and happiness for having such great guardians and friends. They had a great time talking and sharing their memories, when all of a sudden, a golden light appeared in front of Usagi. "Is this what I think it is?"
"Yes, it appears to be the Golden Crystal. It seems that Mamoru is no longer worthy as soon as he appeared in the "limbo of hell"." Setsuna remarked. As soon as Setsuna said those words, Usagi started becoming transparent. "What's happening to me?"
"Do not worry Mama, you are merely awakening. Just remember that we are always with you. You are our light; please don't fade away. Please. We love you so much."
Everyone hugged her one last time. "I love you all! Don't forget me!"
Usagi woke up and found that everything was the way it was when she fell unconscious. With her newfound powers, she buried them with the exception of Setsuna who was brought back shortly after she woke up, with everlasting spells so that they could never be dug up. She encased each of them with the crystals of their planets and made their bodies so that they would appear to never age. She fixed the Hiwaka Shrine and bought it so that Rei could always have peace. The Senshis' families were all dead, so she had no one to tell of their terrible deaths. 'Now, what can I do? Where can I go?' As she was lost in her thoughts, something in another part of the world was happening.
"You have failed me! I told you to bring me the person with great power! They could have been an ally to us against Dumbledore and the Ministry of Magic. You have let me down again. Crucio!" A dark man cast upon an unforgivable spell on four Death Eaters.
"Master, you don't understand. You see, we were met with great powers! But against all of us, they stood no chance."
"Silence, you fool! I don't understand? I don't understand what! I sent TEN of my BEST men, and only four remain. Terribly wounded, and bleeding on my floor!"
"But-but, Master, we have killed them! We-- "
"This will teach you to defy me! Avada Kedavra!" A green light filled the air and a Death Eater slumped over. The three remaining Death Eaters shook with fear, but stayed kneeling on the ground. The dark man that just killed the Death Eater calmed himself down. "Now, you shall try again. When you have gained your strength, look for this man with the great power. This is your last chance Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. Pettigrew! Nagini! Come to me.
