Silence fell upon what had, just a moment ago, been a pitched and one-sided battle. The Sailor Senshi stood frozen, shock and disbelief painted on their faces. They could only stare as one of their own, Sailor Mercury, was dropped like a sack of potatoes to the decimated concrete at the feet of their current enemy. Jupiter's face began twisting in horror, as she shook her head viciously to, hopefully, dispel what had to be a horrid illusion.

Sailor Jupiter, also known as fresh high school graduate Kino Makoto, slammed her hands over her eyes. "It's not real. It can't be real. She can't be..." Her voice faltered as she shook her head furiously once more.

Ami, the brilliant strategist and Senshi of Mercury, had been slain by what she had concluded was a fusion of Youma and Daemon. The grotesque monster, what looked to be a hideous, vaguely feminine, shaped fusion of a half dead tree and what looked like a small SUV. Though she had been able to tell that it was a Youma Daemon fusion, the Mercury computer hadn't been able to tell them much more than that. They had designated the monster as a You-mon.

The nauseatingly gray creature threw it's head back and cackled gleefully. "That's one down." It said, it's grating voice dancing with delight.

Not far behind Jupiter's left side, Sailor Moon, their princess and dearest friend, Tsukino Usagi, was shaking her head in furious denial as tears streaked down her cheeks. She was trying her hardest to refute what they were seeing as an awful nightmare that they'd all wake from and Mercury wouldn't be laying on the ground, her once vibrant cerulean eyes, empty and lifeless.

Usagi choked back a sob. "Mercury… Ami… Stand up… please. You can't… you can't be..." her voice broke as her chest began heaving with sobs.

"This isn't real!" "This seriously can't be happening." "Demonic magic has to be at work here!" "We have to be hallucinating." "Tell me this isn't really happening!" "Why couldn't I foresee this?" The Senshi all chorused in disbelief and denial.

Jupiter's hands fell from her face as realization set in and her world shattered in that very moment. Silent tears ran from her eyes as they drifted up from Ami's lifeless form to look at the monster that had taken the life of their comrade. Her gaze drifted around to the other Senshi as they were all still trying to deny what was happening. Her body filled to the brim with an agonizing explosion of grief and loss. It was real. Ami, the quiet genius, was dead.

Her head fell back and she squeezed her eyes shut as her grief consumed her completely. "AAAAAAMMMIIIIIII !" Her anguished cry resonated throughout the entire ward of Minato, causing all who heard it to be filled with a deep, yet inexplicable sadness.

Venus staggered forward toward the body of Mercury, raising her hand as if to reach out to the slain Senshi. "This has to be some sort of nightmare." She murmured despondently.

A gout of flame sprung to life around Mars as she trembled with fury. "Ami..." She said soflty. Her violet irises flashed violently. Her voice became more of a growl with the ignition of her fury. "This freak is going to burn for this."

The hideous, giant maw of the monster opened with a massive and completely revolting smile. "You humans are all pathetic. Just a mass of frail and weak cattle for our superior race. You Senshi are the worst jokers of them all; A group of deluded cows that need to learn their place." It began cackling again, the sound similar to metal in a blender.

The monster's laugh was cut mercifully short this time as enormous bolt of supercharged emerald lightning smashed into it's chest, sending it skidding into the brick wall behind it. The other Senshi whipped their heads to see Jupiter's outstretched right hand, with arcs of emerald electricity crackling around it. As the power faded slightly, blood could be seen dripping from four crescent marks from her fingernails in her palm.

Her hand fell limply back to her side, but the electricity just continued, spreading across her whole form as she strode purposefully over to Mercury's body. She knelt next to the slain genius, and with a tenderness abnormal for her, stroked the cooling cheek of the de-transformed senshi with her left hand. The tears that had dried in the wake of her attack began flowing freely once again.

Makoto bit back a sob. "I have so many regrets, Ami." Her body shuddered with her stifled sobs. "I shouldn't have been scared to tell you everything. How much I need you. How much you mean to me. How much… how much I love you."

She moved her hand from Ami's cheek to her eyes, closing them with a gentle touch. She maneuvered her arms under Ami's body, lifting her into a bridal carry, and walked her over to Sailor Moon, placing her at Usagi's feet. She stood again and turned to face the monster as it glared at her balefully once it dug itself out of the wall.

Makoto returned the monster's glare with one just as fierce. The electricity that had been arcing over her body grew in intensity and brightness. Orbs of pure electrical energy began forming in her palms and grew rapidly in size. She lifted her now healed right hand, brandishing the orb in her upturned palm like a volleyball.

Her furious gaze narrowed and she snarled at the monster. "Your first mistake was stealing energy and the heart crystals from the innocent!" She fired the orb from her left hand into the creature's chest. "Then you challenge and openly mock us, the Sailor Senshi, bad move." The orb from the right hand slammed in, cracking it's armor.

The You-mon moved to return fire, but was stopped short by a near white hot arrow of flame to it's face.

The now unstoppable Senshi of Jupiter continued, undaunted. "As if your desire to conquer the world wasn't evil enough, you commit the biggest mistake of them all; you killed the woman I loved!" She slammed her hands together the pair of orbs fusing, becoming denser and larger, about the size of a medium watermelon, which the rocketed from her hands, into the same exact spot she'd been hitting before, then through it's torso, and into the already badly damaged wall, where it detonated in a brilliant flash of green.

The monster stared at the Jovian Senshi in shock as arcs of emerald electricity began dancing over it's carapace, which set off it's disintegration process.

Makoto glared at the disintegrating creature with loathing. "Have fun in hell, you unholy abomination." At her parting statement, the clouds above them rumbled angrily. She had slain the vile monster that had slain her love, but her grief and anguish roiled in her chest, unabated by it's demise. The tumultuous outpouring of pain from her heart fed the still lingering corona of power. Her agony of her loss provided an uncontrolled power source for the arcs of emerald lightning that began encompassing her whole body.

The other Sailor Senshi watched their grieving compatriot with worry filled eyes. They glanced at each other, hoping someone had an idea of what they should do. Helplessly, they witnessed as Jupiter became cocooned in magical lightning fed by her emotions.

As if responding to the Senshi of Jupiter's grief, the skies opened up and a downpour began. Lightning began strike repeatedly, as if angry. Then, as if guided by some divine will, a gargantuan lightning bolt thundered against the corona of magical electricity surrounding Jupiter. A deafening boom and enormous shock wave sent the Senshi sprawling.

Groaning, the senshi lifted themselves off the ground. Venus moaned as she rubbed her now thoroughly bruised ass. "That certain delivered a wallop."

"Mina, that's 'packed a wallop'." Rei grumbled irritably as she cradled her aching left arm.

Hotaru shook her head to stop her ears ringing. "My headache's got a headache Haruka-papa."

Usagi whimpered as her abused shins throbbed angrily. "Is everyone okay?"

Haruka grunted, her now extra sore back kept her from moving much. "Alive. I'm going be feeling that until tomorrow."

Michiru groaned loudly. "My hips could be better."

Setsuna chuckled weakly. "No worries here, princess."

Another peal of thunder turned their attention back to the now visible Jupiter. What the were witnessing once they did, however, unhinged their jaws. The sudden and violent meeting of magical and natural electricity had served to unlock a power that had been dormant in Makoto since her reincarnation in this millennium. What the other Senshi were witnessing was the Re-establishment of the final Senshi form.

The bodysuit darkened a shade, gaining a metallic sheen as magically woven metal fibers replaced the enchanted ones. The skirt doubled in length darkening as well, while also changing to a denser material with the same magic metal fibers woven into it. Over top, lightweight plates of metal formed a cover layer for the skirt.

The waist ribbon and bow were replaced by a lighter green sash which a pair of ornate gauntlets were attached. The sailor collar changed into a half breastplate made with metal identical to the skirt. Her tiara transformed into a circlet with a perfectly clear bouncy ball sized emerald with a symbol of Jupiter of lightning dancing in the center.

Her elbow length gloves shortened to mid forearm ending in a band of the metal matching the breastplate and skirt. Her boots lengthened to just below her knee with plates of the same metal around the back and over the top of the foot. In the center of the breast plate was an emerald identical to the one in her circlet, except it was the size of a golf ball.

As the energy around Makoto faded, Usagi felt a sudden surge of magic from the Ginzuishou fill her, followed by a sharp pain in her forehead. It passed quickly, and was immediately forgotten in the wake of Jupiter's new Fuku. She approached the strongest of her personal senshi with mild trepidation. "Jupiter? Mako-chan?"

Makoto looked at Usagi staright in the eye, then dropped to one knee. "Forgive me Serenity-hime." She lowered her head so that she was facing the ground. "I have failed you."

Usagi eyed her senshi worriedly. "What do you mean, Mako-chan."

Jupiter's head remained facing the ground. "I was unable to defeat that You-mon abomination before it killed Mercury. I was inadequate. It shall not happen again."

Usagi's eyes hardened slightly and her posture changed to match. She was in full Serenity mode. "You are wrong, Jupiter." Her tone was firm and brooked no argument. "You have not failed anything. We had nothing to prepare us for the strength of this enemy. Even Mercury and her computer couldn't find anything conclusive about that monster. We all did our best, but in reality, I failed to protect my precious friend. Please don't blame yourself, Mako-chan."

Makoto rose form her kneeling position and looked directly into her princess' eyes. "I can't help but blame myself, Usagi. She's gone and now that I've awakened my true power as the Senshi of Jupiter, I feel like I'd been so complacent since we came back from fighting Galaxia. I had the power to save her all along, if only I had wished for it! I've been such a fool."

Usagi returned to herself and stared sadly at her distraught friend. "Mako-chan..." She felt lost because she had failed to save Mercury, and Jupiter was punishing herself for not being strong enough until it was too late.

Jupiter's gaze became fierce, angry. "No," she interjected harshly. "You may be right, Serenity-hime. But my guilt is real and won't be placated by your kindness. I'm sorry, but for now, I must take my leave."

Jupiter turned from the others, and with her parting words said, she leapt off onto the nearest rooftop. With a grace and ease that the senshi hadn't seen before, Makoto disappeared into the city via the roofs. The other senshi looked at each other worriedly. Not only was one of them dead, another had parted ways. Even if Jupiter wasn't going to stay gone, is was a blow to morale and their strngth as a group.

Venus sighed and stepped in front of the group. "Well, we need to prepare for that things companions." Her face fell in defeat. "Without Jupiter, this is going to be even tougher on us."

Saturn walked over to Moon and looked at her imploringly. "What are we going to do, Usagi?" She asked, her voice trembling with sadness and worry.

Moon shook her head. "I don't know, Hotaru." She began wringing her hands nervously. "Can you tell us anything, Setsuna?"

Pluto cast an apologetic glance to their leader. "I'm sorry, Princess. I don't know what is going on at all. The Gates are blind right now."

Mars blew out a frustrated sigh. "My fire readings have been garbled lately as well." She clenched and unclenched her hands in vexation.

Neptune hmmed worriedly. "My mirror's been clouded as well." She shook her head and continued. "The Gates are blind, and neither Rei nor myself are unable to use our precognition whatsoever. I don't like this. It feels like we're being blocked somehow."

Uranus folded her arms under her bust. "Michi's right. It seems that whoever we're up against now wants us uninformed. They want to keep blindsiding us."

Venus moved forward to take command. "Without any sort of info to work with, we're at a disadvantage whenever and wherever these things strike next." She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "And now we've lost our best shot at figuring out how to fight these things. I don't like it. Was taking out Ami a part of their plan as well?"

Usagi shook her head vehemently. "Mina-chan, we can't think like that!" She looked at everyone earnestly. "We'll beat tthis like we have evvrything else! As long as we fight together, we won't let something like this happen again!"

The other senshi nodded hesitantly. They all gathered around Ami's body, knowing that what they had to do next would be extremely unpleasant, but they didn't have a choice. Haruka offered her services in carrying the body to her car and driving them all to the hospital where Ami's mom was a doctor.

To their surprise, Tuxedo Kamen landed in front of them as they turned to go to Haruka's car. "Sorry I'm late." He apologized, his brething ragged. "I came as fast as I could, but I seem to be too late. Ami, what happened to her?"

Usagi leapt into his chest. "Mamo-chan, it was horrible." she bawled. "It was some kinda super powerful combined youma daemon monster. He killed her and no of us could stop him. Jupiter unlocked a new power and destroyed him, but she was so upset that Ami died that she took of on her own. I couldn't stop her!"

Mamoru looked at his future wife sadly, her heart was just too big. "It'll be aalright Usako." He whispered comfortingly. "She'll come back, we all know that. She's hurting too, I imagine. She was really close to Ami."

Venus coughed into her hand. "We should get going, min'na. We have to tell Doctor Mizuno about this. You coming along, Tuxedo Kamen?"

Mamoru nodded and offered to drive some of them as his car was nearby as well. They split into to groups, The Outers with Ami's body in Haruka's sports sedan, and the Inners in Mamoru's car. The drive to Minato General was silent and somber, as they were lost in thought about how they were going to explain to Doctor Mizuno that Ami had died trying to protect innocent lives.

They entered the hospital, Haruka carrying Ami, their heads bowed. They asked for Doctor Mizuno and explained that they'd need privacy with her to explain the circumstances behind Ami's death. Ushered into a large, private room, Ami was placed on the hospital bed and they all waited nervously for Saeko Mizuno. Michiru had offered to do the talking, but Usagi had said that she was responsible for Ami and should be the one.

Immediately upon seeing her daughter lying on the bed, lifeless she broke down. "Dr. Mizuno," Usagi started timidly. "We're going to have to explain a lot of things tonight. But first, I'm so sorry I couldn't save Ami!"

They explained that they were the Sailor Senshi and that Ami was one of them and had died in battle with a powerful monster that they weren't able to defeat until it was too late. They all apologized for their failure in allowing for Ami to be killed, but Saeko wouldn't have any of it. She had been suspicious for some time of their secret, but told them she understood what they were doing and that dying was a very real risk in doing it.

The senshi left the hospital, the Outers headed back to their mansion, while the Inners broke into smaller groups. Rei and Minako headed for Hikawa Jinja, and Usagi went with Mamoru to his apartment, not wanting to be alone.

Jupiter snuck into the hospital morgue later that night. She had to act quickly otherwise her plan would be for naught. She found Ami quickly, her soul drawn to the weakening soul of her beloved. She connected her power to Ami's Star Seed and began performing the task she came to do. She healed all of the wounds, thankful that Saeko had opted to skip the autopsy. After completing her task of keeping Ami's soul and Start Seed attached to her body, she placed a gentle, forlorn kiss on the lips of her love to make sure that she was done saying farewell if things didn't go according to plan.

"I'll be back for you, Ami, my love." She whispered sadly. "For now I have to go, but if I can pull it off, thanks to my memories, I'll have a chance to really tell you my feelings. I miss you so much already."

With regret and a little bit of hope in her heart, Makoto teleported to the ruins of her senshi castle, on Titan, one of her planet's moons.

A long week later, the Senshi, Rei's grandfather, Yuuichirou, Naru, Umino, and Saeko were gathered at Hikawa Jinja for Ami's funeral. The air was quiet and somber as Grandpa Hino preformed the funeral rites for their friend, daughter, and brave Sailor Senshi that Ami had been. They were in the main shrine as it had not truly stopped raining since the day Ami had died.

Hidden from view was another attendee. Cloaked by her newfound power, Jupiter watched the proceedings with a heavy heart. She had come, feeling obligated to attend for the sake of her love. She did not weep however, she had done much of that in her castle and had sworn that she'd cried enough and it was time to start her plan. She gazed at her friends and felt a pang of guilt at not being with them as Makoto to share in their grief as a group, but she was resolute in her mission.

After Grandpa Hino finished the funeral rites, Makoto gave her princess a look of pure determination. "I'm sorry min'na, Serenity-hime, but I have to do this alone. I plan on succeeding as well. I will see all of you again soon." With her promise made, she returned to Titan Castle to begin her mission. Failure wasn't an option, because if she failed, Ami would be gone forever.