Author's note: Might be taking a leaf out of Mel Odom's books which were a spin-off of the Left Behind series, where we literally see not just the human opposers in these events but the supernatural ones too. Plus a little extra the PGSM fans might enjoy.
The world is getting loads more dangerous and I'm not just talking about the increased hate crime rate, looks like we're getting invaders from the Dark side making their move by targeting our friends!
Does anyone truly know how difficult it is to take a leap of faith when the world says it's not smart?
But repressing emotions – and faith is not a good thing. Sooner or later, like the steam from a boiling kettle, they're bound to come out one way or another. Call it the voice of experience, stay tuned.
Everyone had other things on their mind other than Bruce's clear absence. Vicki had accompanied Chaya to her mother's funeral. Mrs. Stahley secretly revealed to Ryan that she was going to turn herself in, while Darrion was to go into hiding. No one had seen Judd all day. Mamoru had to return to his internship in a couple of days. Carpathia wanted Rayford back in New Babylon next week. And there was still the matter of Verna Zee's obtrusion.
And that same Sunday evening it was time for Sailor Venus to make a discreet visit. She followed Buck and Chloe to the magazine office. Basically Verna knew it was Tsion Ben-Judah at the service but Chloe had planted a little doubt in her mind, but then the woman called Loretta, who cleverly threw the meddler off the trail.
Here goes. Sailor Venus stepped right out of the shadows. "You seem awfully concerned with trying to find and endanger the life of a man brave enough to speak out only for his family to be murdered and he's framed for it."
"Sailor Venus!" Verna stood right to her feet and pointed at her.
"My contact, Ms. Aino, told me you wanted some answers, and I'm here to give them." Sailor Venus said, keeping her face stern and straight.
"You want to support law and order? You take off that short skirt and put on a uniform." Verna Zee snapped.
"And put innocent people in jail just because they don't follow Enigma Babylon?" The orange uniformed senshi folded her arms with a scoff. "No chance."
"What is your evidence for that accusation?"
"My comrades and I are eyewitnesses. And in case you've burying your head in the sand, people are already lashing out against new believers. Then when me, the Sailor senshi and our allies try to help them – the Global Community paints us as the villains."
Verna pursed her lips and folded her arms coldly. "Vigilantism is still crime last I checked."
"Only after Carpathia, that Matthews moron and the GC started to diabolize Christians and Jewish folks alike. That counts as fueling the fires of hate crimes. And if I recall, under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, people cannot be prosecuted simply for their beliefs. How does that make the attackers any better than the monsters they say all Judeo-Christians are? Tell me." Sailor Venus replied flatly. "Now do you want an exclusive or not?"
"What I also want to know is why are you all suddenly popping out in different parts of the world now?" Verna demanded. "What has changed?"
Sailor Venus replies. "Well, the disappearances is a no brainer and No. It's not aliens or anything scientific you can try to explain away. Regardless of what you believe, the increase on hate crimes is not something that should be ignored."
"You're Japanese and a Christian?"
"I took a leap of faith almost a year ago and I refuse to look back." Sailor Venus said, staring down the older woman. "I – well, actually my fellow sailors senshi and I made a promise to help and protect believers from persecution and that's what we're going to continue doing especially now that we're in the era of the foretold Tribulation."
Verna sat down resignedly. "You really believe this stuff, don't you?"
Buck tried to change the tone. He spoke sympathetically. "Verna, you've talked with Loretta and Amanda and Chloe and me. We've all shared our stories. You heard Rayford's story and our friends this morning. If we're all wacko, then we're all wacko. But were you not in the least impressed with some of the things that Bruce Barnes garnered from the Bible? Things that are coming true right now?"
Verna, at last, was silent for a moment. Finally she spoke. "It was kind of strange. Kind of impressive. But isn't it just like Nostradamus? Can't these prophecies be read into? Can't they mean anything you want them to mean?"
"I don't know how you could believe that," Chloe said. "You're smarter than that. Bruce said that if the treaty between the United Nations and Israel was the covenant referred to in the Bible, it would usher in the seven-year tribulation period Sailor Venus just mentioned."
Sailor Venus nods. "First there would be the seven Seal Judgments. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse would be the horse of peace—for eighteen months—the horse of war, the horse of plague and famine, and the horse of death."
"That's all symbolic, isn't it?" Verna said.
"Of course it is," Chloe said. "I haven't seen any horsemen. But I have seen a year and a half of peace. I have seen World War III break out. I've seen it result in plagues and famine with more to come. I've seen lots of people die, and more will. What will it take to convince you? You can't see the fifth Seal Judgment, the martyred saints under the altar in heaven. But did you hear what Rayford said Bruce believes is coming next?"
"An earthquake, yes, I know."
"Will that convince you?"
Verna turned in her chair and stared out the window. "I suppose that would be pretty hard to argue with."
"I have some advice for you," Chloe said. "If that earthquake is as devastating as the Bible makes it sound, you may not have time to change your mind about all of this before your time is up."
Verna stood and walked slowly to the door. Holding it open, she said softly, "I still don't like the idea of Buck's pretending to Carpathia to be something he's not. Or that he's fraternizing with wanted vigilantes."
"Our private lives, our beliefs, are none of our employer's business," Buck said. "For instance, if I knew you were a lesbian, I wouldn't feel it necessary to tell your superiors."
Verna whirled to face him. "Who told you that? What business is that of yours? You tell anybody that and I'll—"
"Are you?" Sailor Venus blinked in surprise. "If everyone's tolerating almost everything, what's the big deal? Two of my comrades are a couple, they still became Christians and stuck to the promise about protecting and saving as many believers as we can."
"With what your religion says about homosexuals, are you kidding?"
"My Bible doesn't differentiate between homosexuals and heterosexuals," Buck said. "It may call practicing homosexuals sinners, but it also calls heterosexual sex outside of marriage sinful."
"Same with eating pork, and weird animals."
"Semantics. Semantics." Verna said to them.
Buck raised both hands. "Verna, your personal life is confidential with me. You don't have to worry that I'll ever say anything to anybody about that."
"There's nothing to tell!"
"My point exactly." Buck held the door open for Chloe.
"Just remember what I said, Verna. I don't want our personality conflict to get in the way of what's real and true. You were right when you said the outbreak of the war made our skirmishes petty. I'm willing to put those behind us."
In the parking lot, Verna said, "So we're agreed?"
"Agreed?" Sailor Venus said.
"That neither of us is going to say anything about the other's personal life?" Buck shrugged.
"Sounds fair to me."
"Buck! I had no idea Verna was a lesbian!" Chloe said.
"You had no idea? Neither did I!"
"Same here!" Sailor Venus shrugged. "I didn't see that coming."
"You're kidding!"
"I'm not. You think that little revelation was of God too?"
"I'd sooner think it was a wild coincidence, but you never know. That tidbit may have saved your life."
That would keep Verna quiet for the time being but there was still the matter of Mio's zealous investigation. Haruka and the outers had warned the rest to beware of Jenness, Verna and Mio alike.
Days later as the world was barely recovering, a lawyer had come knocking on the little house owned by the Outer senshi. He'd come to inform them that Dr. Souichi Tomoe is one of the casualties in the war, stating that his last will and testament was to leave Haruka and Michiru as legal guardians to Hotaru.
At her own request to keep a protective eye on their American friends, Hotaru was transferred to Nicolae high school where Vicki, Shelley, Mark and John attended. The Young Trib force was surprised but relieved to have another friend and ally with them.
When the Young Trib force returned to school, it turns out the appointment Lionel had in the office of Mrs. Jenness, was that there was alleged extended family looking to take him in. Naturally Lionel refused, since he preferred to remain with friends was and the fact that he knew nothing about this stranger that suddenly came to look for him all this time. However, he was informed that the man who came to fetch him, Nathan Sebring would have the right to petition the Global Community Social Services.
So it was with a heavy heart that Lionel had to tell the news to his friend in the force and to the Sailor senshi.
Lionel felt alone and he knew there wouldn't be much he could do about it. Bruce was dead. Judd was still missing. Mamoru had to return to his internship. Haruka and Michiru did not have the necessary paperwork to take him, Ryan and/or Vicki in without them. There was no drawing this out, he could fight it but eventually Lionel would be forced to go. It was a sad state of affairs. Michiru, however, is suspicious of the whole thing.
Poor Hotaru took the news the hardest, she ran off. Setsuna calmly offered to speak with and followed. Lionel quietly wonders if it was something he said.
Outside, Setsuna walked up to a crying Hotaru from behind and asks her what's wrong.
Hotaru assures her, "Nothing. Everything's fine."
Setsuna says "Hotaru...I know you all too well. Now what is the problem?"
Hotaru states "Isn't it obvious? My Papa is already gone, no thanks to that madman in power and now Lionel is leaving us", she sniffled. "I hate it when friends do that. Be here one minute and then just take off. It's like saying goodbye to Chibi-Usa all over again."
"But it's more than that with Lionel, isn't it?"
"What are you talking about?"
Setsuna looked at the younger girl directly. "I'm talking about your feelings for Lionel."
Hotaru blushed fervently. "Explain that?"
"When you first met Lionel...the two of you became very close friends, am I not right?"
"Of course."
"But somewhere along the way, during all this madness...your feelings for him changed."
"Changed?" Hotaru asked as she turned to face Setsuna.
"The 'I wish be more than just friends' change."
Hotaru, however, denies this as she turned her back to the woman.
"If you feel this way about Lionel, why don't you just tell him?"
Hotaru responded. "Lionel might not feel the same way about her. And even if I wanted to tell him, what does it matter? He'll be leaving soon to go stay with another one of his relatives. Besides, I'm not so sure this is the right time to be starting romantic relationships when the world is ending."
"I cannot argue with you there. Lionel is leaving...and it is the end of the world. But he hasn't gone anywhere yet...and the world is still standing at the moment. You still have time to let him know how you feel about him and you should."
Hotaru doesn't know if she can, but Setsuna assures her she can and she has to and warns her that if Lionel dies in the sixth seal disaster and she didn't at least tell him how she felt, she will blame herself. The time of people holding in their feelings and putting things off is over.
Hotaru agrees with Setsuna, as she's never felt this way before. Then again, she's never been in love before. The most she had was a crush on an athlete but that's about it.
What they didn't know was that Taylor Graham had somewhat convinced Judd not to involve the other in the search for important documents Maxwell Stahley had, furthermore that the GC were monitoring his house. However, Judd took it upon himself to let his friends know he was safe for the time being. Everyone is still discussing with Lionel about him leaving with another family member. Believing he's trying to run away from what's happened and what is happening in his life, Usagi gently warns him "At first we tried to move on from being Sailor Senshi by trying to return to their normal lives. But as you know, that didn't work, since it always followed us."
Lionel replies with an awkward shrug, "With all due respect, that's your life, not mine."
Usagi answers. "I'm not so sure about that."
"What do you want from me, Supergirl?!" Lionel snapped as he turned to face Usagi
Makoto snaps at him for snapping at Lionel for snapping at Usagi. Though the bun-headed girl let it slide, "You know how they say, 'No matter where you go, there you are?' This is one of those situations. The Sailor senshi and our allies want and need your help.
Speaking from her past few years as Sailor Moon, This may still be your life but the bottom line is this new enemy is gonna keep coming for you and everyone else.
Lionel says "So?"
Usagi adds, "So, I want you and your friends to help us stay one step ahead of Carpathia for the next five years."
Lionel raises his eyebrows. "You want me and my friends to help you-a bunch of true to life 'Super Friends' outwit a world leader?"
Usagi and the rest of the Sailor Senshi confirm. "Correct." "Yes." "Precisely."
Hotaru and Setsuna come back into the house, Ryan comments. "Wow, that was fast."
Rubbing her arm shyly, Hotaru speaks up. "Lionel...I understand we've only known each other for two years, but...I was wondering...if it's not too much trouble...maybe we could...go out sometime?"
"Are you asking me out on a date?" Lionel asked with a blush.
"Well...yes." Hotaru answered. "So how 'bout it? What do you say?"
"What do I say? I say yes." Lionel said.
"Yes?" Hotaru asked.
"Yes, I'll go out with you." Lionel nods, smiling.
"Good!" Hotaru said excitedly, then everyone else claps and cheers.
"Ha! Called it." Vicki giggled good-naturedly to Chaya was grinning.
There is then a knock at the door, everyone froze. Their guard was up, uncertain if it were foe or friend at the door. Usagi takes a deep breath and goes to check. She slowly opens it to see Mio standing on the other side, with an ingratiating smile on her face.
"Mio, Hi. Usagi greets. Would you like to come in?"
The other eight senshi were indignant. Vicki made a face, Chaya and Lionel were shaking their heads in refusal. Ryan mouthed. 'What?!'
"Hello Usagi, but no. I won't be for a minute." Mio replied, shuffling her feet on the doormat. "I just stopped by to invite you and your little friends to the carnival. It's going to be in town tomorrow and I wanted to invite you to help you get over losing Mr. Barnes. My treat."
Usagi gladly accepts, "Sure! We'll definitely be there."
Mio says "Well, praise the Lord. See you there." She then leaves and Usagi closes the door, then goes to share the news with the others.
"This is a bad idea." Ami said flatly.
"Yeah, there's something about her smile I don't trust." Chaya admits.
But we have to convince as many as we can about the truth. Maybe she's seen the light, she even said 'Praise the Lord.'
Lionel reminded. "Usagi, that's not a surefire guarantee."
But Usagi thinks that Mio has changed and is on their side.
The next day, all five of the Inner senshi, Setsuna, Hotaru and the Young Trib-force arrived at the carnival (mostly to find out what Mio's up to). Haruka and Michiru offered to try to start paperwork, trying to adopt Vicki, Ryan and/or Lionel, maybe they'd have a better chance at avoiding the GC's eyes if the youngsters could head for Japan.
However, when Ami went to pay for her ticket, the man in the ticket booth waved them off. All they just have to get their right hand stamped, much to their shock and confusion. Never-the-less, they get their right hands stamped with the letters DMS and enter the carnival.
"You made it!" Mio hurried up to greet them. She explained didn't have to get her hand stamped because she's a VIP with the Global Community.
Rei shares her thoughts, "I got a bad feeling about this."
Minako exchanged dark looks with Vicki, Shelly and Chaya. Past experiences proves that if something that's literally free (unless it's love or kindness) or too good to be true, there's usually trouble afoot.
Mio was dismissive, "Don't worry, I found this invite online and checked it out. It's legit."
"Why doesn't that make me feel better?" Rei asked.
"C'mon, Rei loosen up! Let's have some fun while we can!" Usagi insisted, willing to give Mio a chance.
Rei agrees...but she don't like it. Usagi is just excited that Rei's loosened up.
And so for the whole day, the group starts to enjoy the carnival. The more daring ones (Makoto, Minako, Vicki, Ryan and Chaya) took a chance on the crazier rides such as the Booster, the Cliffhanger, the Ali Baba, the Condor and the Enterprise.
Lionel and Hotaru enjoyed the Ferris Wheel, getting an amazing view of the landscape. They and the calmer ones enjoyed the more light-hearted rides like the Alpine Slide, the Balloon Race, the Bayern Kurve and the classical ones: the Bumper Cars and the carousel.
And they had fun at the game-booths. Makoto won cute Care Bears for Shelley and Vicki, after the two failed to knock over the bottles.
During the whole time, however, Setsuna also starts getting a bad vibe from it. Rei was right. Something about this whole entire place just felt off.
Later in the afternoon, they go to the food-stands. The Young Trib force is amazed to see just how much food Usagi is able to eat and still look slim. With all the fries, burgers and chicken-strips, with cotton-candy, candy apples and funnel-cakes for desert.
"Where does she put it all?" Chaya asked in amazement, watching as the older girl devour beignets, a corn dog, and a three-scoop ice cream cone.
"We've known her for five entire years and we still haven't got a clue." Ami shrugged sheepishly.
Next, Mio invites them to the circus, which Usagi gladly accepts – one that appeared to be in the very center of the Carnival. Once inside, they're amazed at how big it was, and are greeted by a male clown, who welcomes them to the circus and encourages them to enjoy the show.
Rei and Setsuna get a dark feeling from the clown (in the former's case, it felt a little too much like back whent eh Dead Moon circus first arrived to Earth before their reformation). Almost like a sense of déjà vu, but what was it?
They takes their seat in the stands with the rest of the audience, then Mio rudely sitting down between Usagi and Mamoru with Hotaru sitting next to Lionel. Everyone enjoys the circus performance. They the tiger jumping through the ring of fire, the lion tamer show, the trapeze artists, etc.
Later, the tent's lights dimmed and the ring-master comes out and greets the audience, addressing them as people of Chicago. "I hope you've all been liking the show so far, because it's only gonna get better from here on out."
Rei and Setsuna get the exact same bad vibe from the ring-master, who let's the crowd know next up is the star of the entire show, then tells the people to please welcome the clowns.
A clown car then comes out on stage, the driver door opens, and several clowns, male and female, come out with drums doing a drumroll. As they do, several elephants arrive, and soon the main elephant arrives, with a pale purple feather-covered howdah on it's back. The clowns then stop playing the drums allowing the ring-master to speak, "For over hundreds of years, we have wondered if we are alone in the universe and have been looking for proof of alien life in outer space."
Some of the young trib force rolled their eyes until they looked at the sheepish or self-conscious sailor senshi with the exception of Setsuna who was listening shrewdly. What's with them?
"Well...look no further, I tell you. All the way from outer space...give it up for Queen Nehelenia!"
The whole crowd cheers except for the Senshi and the kids Trib-force, as they are shocked that Nehelenia is a part of the circus. The feathers then open up, revealing 'Nehelenia' sitting in the howdah, looking exactly like she did when she ruled the Dead Moon Circus, including wearing the same dress and her hair being in the same style.
The crowd cheers for Nehelenia, but the Senshi are stunned that she looks exactly like she did when she was their enemy.
Ami shook her head. "But that's not possible. We got them passports, Captain Steele and his wife were gracious enough escorted her and some of her court to the airport where they could catch the next plane to Japan and start a new humbler life."
"Yes, by this time they all ought to be suffering jet lag from the trip." Hotaru confirmed.
Correct. It wasn't the true Nehelenia, for it was morning where the former Queen was. She was out in Tokyo, getting her bearings in the city and clearing her head. A lot has happened it feels so jumbled up. First, all the young ones under thirteen had disappeared and much like Rei, a deceased loved one had been taken in the Rapture. Her husband's tomb was empty, leaving only his uniform and the wedding ring he'd worn in life.
Then after finding what they truly needed, their home had been destroyed and the human man who been their guide in finding their faith in the true Messiah had been killed in the ensuing war. However there was a great suspicion that the Deceiver must've ordered his death. And as such, just by remaining loyal to Christ, she and those close to her would be moving targets for the next five years.
So here she was, walking the streets early in the morning and reached the little café Saki was now running.
"First come first serve. What'll it be?" Saki waved stoically from behind the main table.
"Might I have a breve coffee with extra honey, if you please." The former Queen requested.
"Coming right up."
"If you don't mind me asking, you seem quite young to be in charge here."
"The folks who took me in were among those who raptured." Saki replied bluntly, as if daring the older woman to contradict her.
"My late husband is gone too." The woman replied with a sigh.
Saki's face softened. "Oh, guess we have something in common, huh?"
Nehelenia suddenly sneezed. Someone had to be talking about her.
Usagi also does not believe this is the Nehelenia they knew and neither does Mamoru, since this one gave far darker, otherworldly vibe.
"That's what she supposedly looked like before she repented?" Vicki shivered.
Ryan grabbed his arms, feeling goosebumps, "Talk about spooky."
The false Nehelenia floats out of the howdah, flies over to the ring-master, then descends down onto the ground beside him. "Greetings, humans of Earth, welcome to the Dead Moon Circus!"
Delighted, the audience cheered. Bewildered, the Senshi look at the three letters stamped on their right hands and figure out that DMS stands for Dead Moon Circus.
'Nehelenia' continued addressing the audience. "Thank you for coming out to see us today, because this is the day Chicago will never forget. Would you like to see a magic trick?"
The crowd cheers, whistles and applauds. As Mio applauds, she shouts "Yes, Queen!"
'Nehelenia' decides to get this party started. But first she needed a volunteer from the audience. She took her time to examine the crowd, looking for the right volunteer. Then she spots Ryan, she chooses him and orders him to come down here.
Ryan becomes fearful and doesn't move. The false Nehelenia repeats herself and uses her right hand to levitate Ryan up off the stands, which shocks the crowd, the Senshi and the Young Trib-force. They were definitely getting bad vibes!
'Nehelenia' gestures with her right hand and makes Ryan fly down from the stands and stop at the ring, floating right in front of her.
The crowd cheers, applauds and whistles, but the Senshi and the Young Trib-force were terribly afraid for Ryan.
Nehelenia then lowers him down onto the floor on his feet, "Hello, little boy. Face the audience and tell the people who you are."
Ryan nervously introduces himself to the crowd, with a fearful expression on his face. The ring-master thanks Ryan for volunteering, assuring him that this won't hurt a bit.
The youngster is reluctantly on the verge of tears and barely manages to keep calm. 'Nehelenia' turns Ryan to face her and order him to look into her eyes, which he does. Her eyes then glow an eerie red with green mist which appear to go into Ryan's eyes, making him reply "Yes, my Queen."
She turns Ryan back to face the crowd. Mamoru wonders why Ryan has gone stiff as a board. Vicki doesn't know. Lionel's says, "Ya got me". Shelly doesn't know either. Neither does Chaya.
Minako points "If I didn't know any better, I'd say he's in some kind of trance".
The false Nehelenia orders the elephants to stand in line and grab ahold of each other's tails, which they do, followed by her asking one of the male clowns to bring her a unicycle. A male clown leaves to retrieve a unicycle and returns with one at the false Queen's side. She then orders Ryan to get on the unicycle, which he does, then she orders him to ride it on the elephants. Ryan then rides the unicycle up the first elephant's trunk and onto it, followed by riding it on the elephants. The crowd cheers at the sight of this, but the kids Trib-force are quite baffled.
Lionel was flummoxed. "I didn't know Ryan could ride a unicycle."
"That's because he must've been entranced!" Setsuna noted grimly.
"But then how do we snap him out of it?" Vicki questioned as they continued watching the false Nehelenia command Ryan to lift a heavy-weight (Makoto suspects it's made of something else).
The crowd cheers and applauds. 'Nehelenia' orders Ryan to drop the bent weight, which he does. She then informs to crowd to get ready for her other trick. She stretches out her hands and purple smoke comes out of them, filling the whole tent, and everyone in the crowd starts coughing as they choke on the purple smoke, which smells like sweet purple cotton candy.
As they cough, the Senshi, Mio, Mamoru and the Young Trib-force see Ryan collapse in the ring as pass out. As they all start to become drowsy, Usagi tires to warn them not to breathe in the smoke before she collapses. They soon all pass out with the rest of the crowd.
Later, Usagi soon wakes up and finds herself and the rest of the unconscious Senshi in an unknown room of the tent. Usagi alerts them and they wonder what happened and where they are.
Usagi answered. "That's what I'd like to know." Shen then remembered, "Wait! Where's Mamo-chan? The kids! And Mio?"
Ami looks around. "I don't see them either."
Makoto says, "They were with us in the stands. But now they're gone."
"I wonder what happened to them?" Minako looked around.
Hotaru had begun trying to contact the kids with the communicator but there's no reply. "They've just disappeared...along with the rest of the crowd. "
"What's going on here?" Rei suspects. "Whatever it is, you can bet that this circus is behind it."
"I concur." Setsuna agrees "We must find everyone and get out of here as soon as possible."
Usagi and the rest of the Senshi transform. Sailor Moon devises a split up to find everyone and once they have done that, they'll re-group. The rest of the Senshi agree and they take off by themselves.
Sailor Jupiter is walking on her own, calling out for the Trib-force, Mamoru and Mio, but no one answers. She soon hears the sound of a whip cracking and follows the sound and finds Shelley in a cage with a Lion, holding a whip and chair and dressed in a Lion tamer outfit.
Her eyes are similar to what they'd witnessed earlier: blank with no irises or pupils only venomous green.
Sailor Jupiter figures out she's in a trance and tries snap her out of it to no avail. "I really don't wanna do this… Supreme Thunder!"
Of course she held back but it still shocked the girl to her senses and to her civilian clothes. "Huh? Sailor Jupiter, where am I?"
Then she looks at the hungry Lion and opens her mouth to scream, but Sailor Jupiter warns her not to. "Just back away very slowly, but keep your eyes on him."
Shelley backs right up until she's against the door. Sailor Jupiter slowly opens it, allowing the younger girl to exit out just as the Lion roars and lunges forward to attack. Only for the door to be slammed shut, and the Lion crashes up against the door and growls in frustration that it's meal got away.
Shakily, the teen thanks Sailor Jupiter, and she says "Sure. No problem."
Elsewhere in the tent, Sailor Venus is calling for the other, but there's no reply. Her guard is up and she is being very cautious, as she knows that she is in a circus tent and that any animal could be loose. A Lion, a Tiger, a Bear. Anything. She soon hears the sound of an elephant and follows the sound, leading her into a room where she sees Vicki riding on an elephant and dressed in a circus showgirl costume, with high heel shoes and feathers on her head. She too must be in a trance.
Sailor Venus tries to get Vicki to snap out of it by reminding her who she is and who's she is, but she doesn't listen. Sometimes it's better to be seen and not heard.
"Venus love and beauty shock!"
The heart shaped energy orb knocks Vicki right off the elephant and into a tub of water.
"Hey!" The teenager must've snapped out of it.
Sailor Venus runs over to Vicki, "Are you okay?"
When Vicki got out of the tub, she was back in the clothes she'd worn earlier that day. "What? How'd I get here and why am I in this?"
Sailor Venus answers, "It's a long story, really. Let's just say we all got separated and we need to find each other again."
Venus then has Vicki contact Sailor Moon on her wrist-watch communicator and let her know Sailor Venus found her.
Somewhere else, Sailor Saturn is searching for her missing friends, calling for them, and soon finds Lionel tight-rope walking, shirtless and wearing tight pants and flat slip-on shoes with foot-straps.
Sailor Saturn tries to get Lionel to come around by reminding him of who he is, but it doesn't work. She then thinks of something that just might snap him out of it. But it's a huge risk. Without warning. The sailor of destruction jumps onto the rope in front of Lionel and kisses him on the lips. This caused the boy to stop, and for his clothes to change back.
The boy groaned then looked around. "Whoa, where am I? And where'd everyone go?" He then looks down and sees he and Sailor Saturn are up high on a tight-rope and panics.
"Calm down." Sailor Saturn places her glaive into her back ribbons before picking Lionel up in her arms and jumps down from the rope, landing on her feet, and she sets Lionel down.
"Thanks."
"It was nothing. Now come on, let's get out of here." Sailor Saturn urged. "We must find the others."
Lionel suddenly says, "Wait. Was it just me or did you kiss me a minute ago?"
Saturn blushes but attempted to remain stoic. "We'll talk about it later."
Lionel says "But-"
"Later." Sailor Saturn says, cutting him off. "Contact Sailor Moon let her know I've found you."
"I copy that." Lionel held up his communicator. "Yo, Sailor Moon. Lionel here, I'm with Sailor Saturn."
In another area of the tent, while looking for her missing friends, Sailor Mars comes across Ryan lifting weights with both hands.
"He's still in that trance," Sailor Mars deducted. "Ryan, it's me! Sailor Mars." She tries to remind him that his parents are dead, the Rapture has happened, that the Tribulation is happening, that he's a Christian.
"But the most important hing is that Jesus will be returning in five years. And we're all going to meet him and everyone in Heaven, remember?"
Ryan then puts the weight down and his eyes, body, clothes and shoes revert.
"Ryan!" Mars run up to the young boy. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, hey where'd everyone go?" He looked around in confusion.
"We'll explain later, we have to find the others. Contact Sailor Moon, let her know I found you."
"Gotcha. Sailor Moon, it's me Ryan! Sailor Mars just found me."
From the communicator Sailor Moon lets them know that Jupiter, Venus and Saturn have found Shelley, Vicki and Lionel as well. That just left Chaya, Mio and Mamoru.
Mercury has come across Chaya and sees her riding on a unicycle, dressed in a pink sleeveless and shoulder less tutu, pink stockings and pink flat shoes.
"Chaya, it's me! Sailor Mercury!" Mercury tires to bring the younger girl back to her senses. "You're Chaya Stein!"
But it doesn't work. With a gulp, Sailor Mercury uses a low-key technique. "Bubble spray!"
The cold little bubbles knock the girl off the unicycle, making it fall to the floor.
Chaya then sits up back in her civilian clothes and looking confused. Mercury smiles, glad to see Shelly back to her old self. She looks up at the ceiling, "Thank you."
Elsewhere, Sailor Moon is walking around, looking for her remaining missing friends when the ring-master, 'Nehelenia' and Mamoru soon appear in the room, with Mamoru staring blankly ahead.
"Greetings Little White Moon Princess, enjoying the show so far?" The False Nehelenia waved.
Sailor Moon answered back. "No! Frankly I'm not!"
The ring-master says, "Well, too bad."
Sailor Moon demands, "What did you do to my other friends? The teenagers who accompanied us to the carnival, tell me right now!"
A bunch of voices then shout: "Sailor Moon!"
Sailor Moon turns around and sees the Inner Senshi, Outer Senshi and the kids Trib-force rush into the room, much to her relief.
The false Nehelenia didn't look too bothered. "Oh, swell. The gang's all here. Now I can eliminate all of you right here and now all at once." she shoots black electricity out of her fingers that hits Sailor Moon, the Senshi and the Young Trib-force, injuring them and send them fall to the floor.
The clowns then appear in the room, surrounding the gang. An injured Sailor Moon stands up sternly. "Who are you?!"
"I am Nehelenia, of course."
"No, you're not! You can't fool me, she's miles away!" Sailor Moon snapped. "I order you to reveal yourself right now, in the name of Jesus Christ!"
The false Queen lets out a blood-curdling scream and transforms into a woman-like creature with red draconic wings and a red tail. She has grey blue snake-eyes, wears a red head-band with horns, red lipstick, red eye-shadow, a red short shoulder less shirt that exposes her stomach and has long sleeves, she wears a very short red skirt, red stockings that cover most of her legs, she has long red sharp finger-nails, and she wears red high heel shoes. The woman-like creature sneered "Why did you have to go and speak his name?"
"Oh no, not another one!" Sailor Mercury trembled.
"What do you mean another one?!" Ryan yelled.
Sailor Moon's heart hammered in her rib-cage, but folded her arms. "I demanded to know who you are!"
The creature introduces herself as Dark Lillith. She was one of the fallen ones that rebelled alongside her master against he who sits on the throne in Heaven.
This shocks the kids Trib-force, they couldn't believe they were actually looking at a demon.
Sailor Moon and the rest of the Senshi have seen and dealt with many horrors in their years as super heroes. However, this felt like repeat of the day Mio had gone with Usagi alone to the park – where not only did the new singer weave a falsehood regarding their friend – but confirmed that the dark forces were also hard at work trying to lure more humans away from the Truth.
"Why are you doing this? " Sailor Moon demanded.
"I was sent by my Master to annihilate you little friends, or should I refer to them as the Young Trib force? They can all have the honor of being our first victims. After this, we'll move on to the next town and lure more people into our carnival. Some of them are bound to be Christians. But that shouldn't be hard, since the Martyrs have already started."
Sailor Moon warned, "We won't let them die so easily. We are warriors."
Lillith lets out an evil laugh mixed with that of a woman's and a deep monster's voice that sends chills down their spines. "Brave warriors. Then save humanity."
Sailor Saturn answers coolly. "We can't, because everyone doesn't believe what's really going on."
Lillith laughs with her female/monster voice again. Sailor Moon demands to know what's so funny about that.
"No one believes in Heaven anymore."
Sailor Moon says "That's not true! You're lying!"
"Foolish daughter of Queen Serenity, don't you know anything about today's world? It's the age of science and technology. Every part...every device of it...is a piece of the dreams and hope's mankind. Therefore...it's generation of vipers cannot be saved."
"Then why is Carpathia the Deceiver here?"
"Humans have begun to fall away from the faith...and they've gladly forgotten about he who sits on the throne in Heaven because they don't think He can benefit them or validate their little whims...and so they turn to world leaders for help instead of him. So the Dark One and the Tribulation have come.
Sailor Moon questioned. "Who is the Dark one? "
"He is the son of her master and was born for this very purpose to rule over this un-believing world that seeks it's own way. He is like the initiator of the apocalypse, we've been helping him."
"Why?"
"People without faith, hope or beliefs...are so easy to control. And whoever has the control...has the power. Don't you think the world has been ready for him for a while? The world has been filled with people who seek power and control over others since the beginning of time. Such as abusive/controlling husbands/boyfriends, abusive parents, controlling leaders. The way I sees it, the Earth has been heading for a disaster like this for a long time. The master has been waiting for this time for mor than 2000 years."
Sailor Moon scowled. "Then it's time I make different kind of believer out of you. Come at us!"
"No. I will not be doing the killing. Attack!"
The clowns' eyes glow red and Sailor Mars realizes they're demons – albeit lesser ones, which horrifies the kids. The clowns charge forward to attack, but the Senshi all use their attacks on the clowns, destroying them one by one, barely keeping their friends safe. The Sailor senshi soon manage to destroy all of the clowns, but are too tired out from the fight to battle Lillith.
Lillith, however, isn't fazed by this. "But I still have one consolation prize: Endymion. The prince of Earth." She leaned in as if about to kiss him.
Sailor Moon snaps, "Don't touch him!"
Lilith looks at Sailor Moon and watches as the latter enveloped in a bright light and transforms into Princess Sailor Moon with cold black eyes and a big sword in her right hand.
The Senshi and the kids Trib-force are in awe.
"Is this a new thing or…?" Shelley questioned.
"It's a whole new ballgame all together." Sailor Venus confirmed. "Though I could've sworn her eyes were supposed to be blue."
Lilith then says, "What is this?!" Then she fires a red energy-ball at Princess Sailor Moon, hitting it's target and causing an explosion. Lilith laughs evilly, but soon stops when Princess Sailor Moon walks out of the flames without a scratch, which stuns Lilith. Lilith fires more and more red energy balls at Princess Sailor Moon, but she knocks them away with her sword, then she stops in her tracks, draws a star with her sword and then fires it at a screaming Lilith, hitting it's target and exploding, killing her instantly.
Mamoru's eyes return to their deep blue color and he looks to see Princess Sailor Moon, addressing her as Usa-ko.
"Hey, thanks for the save!" Ryan runs up to her from behind, only to be sent flying back and landing on the floor. He was unhurt, but he got up looking disoriented.
Lionel ran to him. "Hey, you alright?"
"Well yeah but, what's the deal? It's like someone put up a big invisible brick wall!"
The whole tent then starts shaking and Princess Sailor Moon turns to face the group and her sword disappears.
Sailor Mercury deduces that Sailor Moon is making the tent shake and is trying to destroy it with them still in it. Each of the Senshi and each of the kids try to get Princess Sailor Moon to stop, but nothing works. So Mamoru runs up to her, turns her to face him. He then kisses her and she passes out, collapsing in his arms and reverting back to Eternal Sailor Moon.
Noticing that the whole tent is gonna collapse, the entire group rushes off, with Mamoru carrying Sailor Moon in his arms bridal style. They soon rush out of the tent just as it collapses and they see that the entire carnival is in chaos and flames around them, with people screaming and running for their lives.
Sailor Venus glanced around wildly, "How are we gonna get out here without drawing attention to us and the kids?"
Then Sailor Pluto struck the end of her staff to the ground, transporting herself and everyone out of the carnival, and they re-appear in the forest of Chicago.
Lionel says, "Nice save, Sailor P."
Sailor Pluto responded. "Thank you. But do not expect what happened at the carnival not to be reported by the Global Community. No doubt this event will hit the News and the Dark One will try to pin it on the Sailor Senshi to turn the world against us even more. And we must be ready when that happens."
Sailor Moon then wakes up, her eyes a royal blue again, "Where are we? And how'd we get here?"
"Sailor Pluto teleported us right outta the carnival then things started getting chaotic after you went crazy."
"Crazy?"
"Do you not remember?" Sailor Pluto inquired.
Sailor Moon looks at her with confusion, "I have no idea." The gang just looks at Sailor Moon and figure out that she has no recollection of what she did.
Meanwhile, outside the chaotic, burning carnival, Mio is watching the scene unfold and smiles evilly. It had all gone exactly as planned. "Those Sailor girls are in so much trouble now."
Her cellphone then rings and she reaches into her purse and answers it and greets the caller, who reveals himself as Nicolae.
"How goes the circus scheme in Chicago?"
Mio states, "All according to plan." She then laughs evilly. "All according to plan."
To be continued….
