AN: This chapter comes with a warning (but don't worry, it's nothing we haven't seen before in the anime/manga :) ).

Chapter XVI-Aftermath

When Sailor Pluto opened her eyes again, she eyed the former battle scene. The ruins were still as ever, and no passer-by could have guessed what had just transpired. The other Senshi were recovering from the long fight—they were all still panting from the effort, while sweat trickled down their temples. They had finished the battle by destroying the last two intruders who had escaped her surprising attack. Now, they all eyed her in concern mixed with shock.

The adrenaline rush was starting to wear off, and the aftereffects of her actions were catching up.

She had forced her transformation, drawing on an energy that was now rapidly ebbing. She could feel her knees weakening, as her forces dwindled. The loud pounding in her ears dulled the alarmed voices of her friends. She looked up at the night sky. The contours of the white moon faded, as her vision darkened. She was distantly aware of someone supporting her entire weight, that her body could no longer keep up.

Then, the thumping in her ears died down, and the voices stopped, and she could hear no more than the distant notes of a fading tune.

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"Puu!" Sailor Uranus watched the child rush to her friend's side. "What's wrong…?"

The blonde shook her head, as an unwelcome surge of panic swept through her.

"What is this…" From behind the blue-screened visor, Mercury gave them a troubled look. "Her energy is being depleted for no apparent reason!"

Neptune came closer to her partner.

"Wake up…!" came Chibi Moon's plaintive voice.

Pluto's lips formed a small smile. She opened her eyes slowly, and noticed the young princess knelt beside her on the ground, while Uranus and Neptune stood above the two of them.

"Small Lady…"

Her brow furrowed, as she recalled something. She swallowed hard, and spoke in a low whisper:

"Small Lady…I'm sorry. For my earlier words…I wish you hadn't heard them."

The child lowered her eyes. The memory of Setsuna's harshness towards the botanist was still fresh in her memory.

"I know you didn't mean it…"

The green-haired warrior shook her head. She took another deep breath, and felt, with a beginning of panic, that her tired lungs could not get enough air.

"I hope you can believe that…"

She hesitated for a moment, before speaking the next words.

"Because…I was hoping…you could apologize in my stead…"

Uranus and Neptune blanched visibly as they heard the request. Yet, Chibi Moon misinterpreted the words; she nodded eagerly.

"I'll talk to Tsumbono-san…he knows you didn't mean it…we'll both go…" For the first time, a deeper meaning seemed to cross her mind, but the child quickly dismissed it. "Right…?"

Pluto pushed herself upwards to a more comfortable position, leaning against a fallen tree-trunk. She shuddered as she realized how much effort it took to do that.

"Haruka…"

"I don't want to hear it" the blonde said curtly, ignoring the outraged glances she received from the Sailor Team. "Just…shut up, alright? Save your energy or…something…"

"Haruka" Pluto repeated, intentionally calling her friend by her name, "stop being pigheaded…"

She smiled at the Uranus' expression. Then she lowered her tone so that no one but the three of them—and Chibi Moon, who had not moved—could hear. Her voice came out in irregular breaths.

"You'll have to be there for Hotaru…when her powers awaken…be strong enough to keep them in check at first…"

Uranus had half-kneeled on the ground, to look her friend levelly in the eyes. Wordlessly, the warrior of Wind nodded. Neptune turned her face away, as a solitary tear ran down her cheek.

"Michiru…this will teach me…to ever doubt the powers of your mirror again…"

The aqua-haired warrior tried to form a small, quiet laughter, but it came out a muted sob.

Pluto watched them both with a tinge of sadness. There was so much more to say…

"Don't leave the Princess's side...you have to—"

"No!"

Chibi Moon's cry interrupted her. The pink-haired girl had witnessed the exchange in silence—until her childish innocence wore off, allowing for the true meaning of Sailor Pluto's words to reach her.

"Stop talking like that! Everything is over, see? The creatures are all gone…!"

Setsuna shook her head. The pounding in her ears had returned; it gradually drowned out the sounds and visions of the outside world. She could still hear Small Lady's plaintive voice:

"Please, hold on…!"

Her garnet eyes closed for a second, but shot open again almost instantly. A tinge of fear surfaced from their depths; almost immediately, it was replaced by a tranquil acceptance.

"It will be alright, my Small Lady…"

"No…it won't, how can you say that?"

"Because I know a secret…Time is on our side. It's really…the ultimate optimist…if left alone, it will—rest assured!—choose the best path for everyone…if untampered with…it will make everyone happy. So this may be the best way for everyone really…"

"NO! NO! No, do something!" Chibi Moon turned a beseeching look to the blonde leader. "You can help her! You have to be able to! I know you can!"

Sailor Moon forced back the tears, and joined her hands in a silent prayer.

"Please, Silver Crystal, lend me your power! Help Pluto!"

The brooch on her chest glowed bright, and she felt warm energy pouring into the Crystal. Such power… The effort to concentrate all her strength into the healing almost drowned out the others' alarmed shouts that urged her to stop. I know what price I could pay…I'll make it through… please help her…!

Chibi Moon's red eyes grew wide with sorrow, as her heart felt torn between two choices. Should she wait and hope for the best? Usagi had used that energy before, and lived through it…but could they take the chance? She felt she could stop Sailor Moon's effort, and possibly save her life…but at the cost of the life of her dear friend.

As the light from the Silver Crystal grew brighter, the young princess made her choice.

Yet, before she could act on it, an even more intense light shone brilliantly on the Sailor Warriors. No! In Sailor Moon's hands, the crystal returned to its normal state under her bewildered gaze. Outlined against the night sky, a translucent figure appeared.

"Queen Serenity…"

The figure spoke, her gentle voice resounding among the Senshi:

"I'm sorry, Sailor Moon. The Silver Crystal at this moment cannot help you, and I can't allow you to throw away your life trying to achieve the impossible."

Tears streamed across the blonde warrior's face; her fists clenched in protest.

"There has to be something to do…! Things weren't supposed to turn out like this!"

Behind her, the others held their breaths, clinging onto that last hope. They regarded Serenity's specter with entreating gazes.

The former Queen's eyes fixed on Sailor Pluto's face.

"My dearest friend…I wish I didn't have to make this choice." Her silhouette bent over the fallen Senshi's limp body, and reached a hand as if to touch her face. "I am betraying you to avoid any risks…"

Silence fell for a long moment, punctuated only by stifled sobs the Sailors could not repress.

"I'll do it!" Chibi Moon's distressed cry broke the quiet. "I can wield the Crystal, I know I can, I did it before! I'm less important that Sailor Moon, it can't be such a great risk…" Even as she spoke, she realized the futility of her effort, and her words were tainted by tears. "Please, let me do it… this can't end like this…I don't want Puu to die…please, let me…" Sailor Moon moved to comfort her, and the child sought solace in the older girl's warm embrace. "Please…"

Serenity's gaze moved from the young princess's tear-stained face, to Pluto's closed eyes, to the sorrowful expressions on everyone's faces. She shook her head almost violently.

"No…No!"

The Queen of the Silver Millenium stood tall once more, her transparent figure towering over the others.

"Sailor Moon…little one…please, trust that I am doing the right thing. Even though it might hurt more."

She gave all of them one last, affectionate look, then closed her eyes. Between her hands, a phantom image of the Silver Crystal glowed bright, eliciting a faint echo from the real crystal.

"It is done…" she whispered, just as Pluto's body was enveloped by a golden shimmer, and slowly faded from sight. With it, the Queen's specter vanished, leaving behind an amalgam of heartbroken sobs and bitter tears.

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AN: If any of you feels particular enmity towards me at this moment…err, I understand. But please don't hate me yet! There's an epilogue coming up, so this story is not over yet. However, I do need to see some opinions before I get to the next (and last) chapter. Thank you for staying with the story this far! Please review!

Myosotis