Well, here it is, the end of the year and the last Senshi. I would like to thank all you amazing readers for sticking with me this year, for all the follows and favorites, and for all the wonderful comments. My year has been a rollercoaster, and I suspect that will continue into 2020. However, I will do my best to continue my bi-weekly updates for as long as I'm able to until this beast is completed.

A special thanks to Malevolent Dark Reflection, phillynz, Krys7, RougueAlly, Sailor Saiyan007, and Ghost Man. Y'all brighten my day with your comments every time.

So readers, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Yule, or whatever seasonal holiday you celebrate, and a very happy New Years! Here's to the a new roaring 20s!

XXX

Sailor Moon X by Starling Sinclair

Chapter 20: Sailor Mercury

12/17/2019

Sunrise at Cherry Hill Shrine was entrancing. Warm pink and orange rays stretched across the stone and greenery like spilled watercolors. The magic of the weather-worn statues returned, coating them in the paint of magic hour. As much as Usagi hated these early mornings, they were beautiful. After her conversation with Ryo, the idea that he'd spent his whole life in fear missing these beautiful little moments, broke her heart.

She was surprisingly early to training. Mamoru had spent the night at his place after his emergency surgery, so she'd had no interruptions that morning. As she walked up, she saw Minako and Makoto doing morning yoga stretches in the courtyard while Rei straightened the wooden ema. Birds chirped as the dark-haired Senshi hummed a hymn. Usagi's scowled; she hated yoga.

She quietly joined Rei, who didn't comment on the blonde's lack of participation and helped the Shrine Maiden with the display. The girls finished their yoga in silence and only greeted Usagi once completed.

"What's got you so glum?" Makoto asked.

"I met a Rainbow Crystal Carrier," Usagi said.

"Did you get the Crystal," Minako sniped.

Usagi shook her head. "He was still human. Do you know how to extract a crystal and haven't told me?"

The other blonde was silent.

"Maybe we can ask Luna," Rei suggested. "Otherwise, we'll always be waiting for the Dark Kingdom to move."

"How did you even know he was a carrier?" Minako asked.

"Because he told me."

"What do you mean he told you?"

"Give her a chance," Makoto mediated. "I'm sure she can explain."

"His name is Ryo. He's friends with Mamoru's partner, and he told me at dinner," the Senshi of the Moon explained.

Minako opened her mouth, probably to question every word that Usagi had just said when Rei interrupted. "Why did he tell you?"

"He's psychic, and apparently knew I was Sailor Moon before I did," she answered.

"A psychic?" Rei asked in follow up.

Minako ignored her second-in-command and barrelled through with her own questions. "What about the rest of us? Have you compromised our identities?"

"Well, if he could divine Usagi's abilities, he probably knows all of ours," Rei answered. "Not that Usagi could do anything about it."

"I don't know," Usagi answered. "I mean, probably, but he didn't mention anything about it to me."

"So what do we do?" Makoto asked, trying to bring the conversation back on a civil track.

Usagi shrugged. "He seemed pretty convinced that the Dark Kingdom was coming for him. He didn't have any suggestions about us acting first."

"Perhaps," Luna interjected, lifting her head from the thick stone railing she'd been lounging on, "I can investigate at Central. The Dark Kingdom can't be the only way we can extract crystals."

"I'll get Artemis to help," Minako added. "In the meantime, let's get to work."

Usagi groaned. She'd had secretly hoped that the information would have gotten her a morning reprieve, but she should have known better. Dejected, she took off her sweater and got to work.

XXX

She had hoped that there would have been more time to prepare. Ryo had mentioned that he didn't know the exact timeframe of his vision, just that it was coming soon. So it shouldn't have surprised her when she groggily woke to her phone buzzing on the nightstand the next morning. Mamoru stirred beside her. Lifting her phone and squinting her eyes, she saw that it was 5:30 am and that the person calling was Ryo.

That woke her up faster than cold water. She answered the phone, in a slight panic. Carefully, she extracted herself from the bed before scurrying into her bathroom without even turning on the lights.

"Hello? Where are you?"

"Near Tokyo Tower. Hurry. I can't keep Ami safe much longer," he said, then the phone went dead.

Usagi clamored out of the bathroom, searching for pants, and underwear, and a shirt would probably be good too. Using her phone, she mapped out if she could make it by foot to Tokyo Tower from Mamoru's apartment. (And where she could transform on her way.)

Mamoru sat up bleary-eyed, resting on his forearms. "What's wrong?" he asked.

Usagi looked over at him and froze. Shit. What could she say? That she had to flee for urgent Senshi business? A pit formed in her stomach at the thought of lying to him, but she couldn't just tell him the truth.

"A friend of mine is in trouble," she said. "I need to go help." There, it wasn't a lie.

"I'll come with you," he said, starting to get up.

"NO!" she exclaimed, more forcibly than she intended. "No. It's… it's a girl thing. I can handle it. Go back to bed."

She fiddled with her hair, hastily throwing it into two sloppy buns with the hair ties she could find on his dresser. Hopefully, she was dressed enough to at least make it to the fire escape without Mamoru's neighbors wondering what the hell she was doing so early in the morning. Or think she was fleeing the walk of shame.

"You sure? I could drive if you needed…" he offered, looking on the ground and grabbing his shirt.

Usagi climbed in the bed and kissed him. That seemed to soothe him. "I'll see you later," she said softly, cupping his chin. "I love you."

"I love you too."

As she walked to the bedroom door she felt her heart crack as she looked at her boyfriend laying back down. How many nights would she disappear in their future? How long could she hide this double life? She closed her eyes and pushed the thoughts away. Now wasn't the time to dwell on such things. Ryo needed her.

XXX

She ran as she'd never run before. Her feet pounded the pavement as she darted with a record that would have put her high school, mad-dash tardy runs to shame. She was so absorbed in reaching her destination that she almost forgot to call the other Senshi.

As she neared the tower, she slipped into an alley to transform. Her running fatigue instantly vanished and she cursed her own stupidity for not thinking of that sooner. Bounding to the top of a nearby building, she scanned the horizon for any traces of Ryo and Ami. The strange light show near the park gave her some direction. Before jumping into action, she texted the others with clearer directions.

They were cowering behind a trash bin when she found them. Ami frantically trying to help Ryo, who clutched his chest, his breath coming in tiny gasps. Sailor Moon knew it was taking everything in him not to submit to the Great Youma inside.

The click of her boots on the path caused him to look up, relief flooding his face as if he could finally let go. "You came," he said.

She touched his shoulder, keeping eye contact with him as she did. "Of course."

"Sailor Moon?" Ami asked confused. "We have to get him to a hospital. Someone attacked us, and he's having some sort of cardiac arrest."

Moon glanced up at Ami, pity in her eyes, as she knelt beside him. "What can I do?" she asked Ryo.

"We have to get him…" Ami started before being cut off by a distant taunt.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Zoisite's voice echoed across the park. "You can't resist your calling forever!"

Panic flitted across Ryo's face, but Moon looked into his eyes. "Focus on me," she said, summoning her wand. It had healing powers, surely it could help? It glowed, pulsing with a silver light. A companion light pulsed in Ryo's chest. That probably meant something, but what? She wished the others would get there sooner. They had to have some clue of what to do. Maybe Luna had uncovered some answers.

However, they weren't here. It was up to her to save the day. Sailor Moon closed her eyes and wished because she couldn't think of anything better. She prayed to the wand that she could take the crystal without releasing the darkness in Ryo.

"I think it's working," Ryo muttered. Moon's eyes fluttered open to see the yellow crystal slipping from his heart. Ryo tried to keep it in, but he couldn't contain the scream.

If only the general hadn't been there. If only Sailor Moon had realized she'd had this power sooner. She would berate herself over and over again later. Ryo's scream attracted Zoisite, and before she even knew what was happening, something slammed into her. The crystal clinked as it hit the ground.

Zoisite pinned her to the ground. The strawberry blond general sneered as his hand's pressed into her shoulders, keeping her pinned to the ground. Her eyes glanced towards the crystal rolling towards Ami's feet. The blue-haired woman looked on in shock, her arms still around Ryo.

"Don't even think about it, little sailor slut," Zoisite whispered as he tried to figure out how to keep her pin and go for the crystal at the same time.

Sailor Moon wasn't going to let him win. With all the force she could muster, she lifted her thigh into his crotch, effectively kneeing him in the balls. With a wail, he rolled off of her. Pushing herself up, she scrambled to her feet. Zoisite's hand gripped her ankle, knocking her down once again. Groaning, she reached her hand towards the crystal and wished. It flew to her hand.

"Neat little trick," the Zoicite growled, "But don't think…"

He didn't finish his statement as Ami kicked the side of his head. The villain released Moon's foot, and she stood up, trying to get her bearings. Ryo was crumbled on the ground, while Ami continued to kick Zoisite. In Moon's hand was the crystal. She opened her mouth to call to Ryo when dark energy surrounded him. Swallowing, she took a step back.

As the energy faded, a large green and white armored monster stood in Ryo's place. Targets and bullseyes decorated its armor-like exterior with a strange swiss-army knife-like arm currently positioned to scissors.

Behind her, Zoisite and Ami continued to grapple. "Oh hell no, you obnoxious human."

Moon braced herself for the attack that the monster Ryo had turned into was sure to throw at her, when it lept over her head, crashing into Zoisite behind her. Ami screamed.

Blinking, Moon counted her blessing and rushed to Ami's aide. Gripping the woman's arms to steady her, Moon asked, "Are you okay?"

"Ryo," Ami whispered, looking past Moon at the two monsters battling behind them. "I have to do something." There was such conviction in her voice, that the very air around her seemed to vibrate.

Moon's eyes widened. The sigil of Mercury glowed on Ami's head, just like Makoto's had on the boat the month before.

"Ami," Sailor Moon whispered. "You're a Senshi."

Ami's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

A beam of light hit Youma Ryo in his back, and Moon turned to see Minako arriving on the scene, a black and white cat flanking her.

"Luna!" Usagi called. "She's a Senshi! Help her!"

The cat didn't hesitate, flipping in the air, magic sparking off of her. She caught a blue pen in her mouth, then bounded over to Ami.

"Take this," Luna said to the shocked woman. "And say Mercury Power Make-Up."

Ami looked at the cat in disbelief as if a talking cat was the most bizarre thing she'd seen that night. Hesitantly, she bent over and picked up the item in the animal's mouth.

"Do it," Sailor Moon reassured. "It's the only way we can help Ryo."

With determination, Ami nodded and called out the Henshin phrase. The air chilled as water, mist, and bubbles surrounded the girl, leaving a blue-suited Senshi in its wake. Striking a power pose, Sailor Mercury looked at Moon.

The two Senshi finally took in the battle happening behind them. Venus didn't seem sure of who to target, alternating between hitting Ryo and Zoisite. The Youma didn't seem pleased with this turn of events, and it gave Zoisite a chance to funnel more dark energy into Ryo.

"We have to help Ryo," Mercury said, her eyes locked on the beast that Ryo had turned into.

Sailor Moon nodded. How did they help? They needed a moment to regroup, strategize, and give Ryo a break. "We need a distraction."

Mercury nodded. Her arms crossed in front of her and she channeled her own energy. "Shabon Spray," she cried and a thick mist settled over them.

"What the hell is this?" Moon heard Zoisite yell as the mist settled over them. Though the fog she could see Venus and Mercury clearly, though the golden Senshi seemed shocked to have lost her targets.

Grabbing Mercury's hand, she rushed over to Venus.

The first thing out of Venus's mouth was, "Did you get the crystal?" Sailor Moon wanted to roll her eyes. Of course, that would be the first thing her Senshi leader would say. However, it wasn't worth delaying, so Moon held her hand out, yellow crystal resting in her palm.

"Finally," Venus said.

"What is that?" Mercury asked, peering over Moon's shoulder. The blue Senshi had missed the whole transformation, which may have been for the best.

"I'll explain later," Sailor Moon said. "Now, we need to save Ryo."

"But how?" Mercury asked.

"By getting him away from Zoisite," Moon answered.

"It's too late for him," Venus said. "Getting the crystal to safety is..."

Moon interrupted her leader. "I'm not going to them have him. I promised to save him, damn it."

Mercury's eyes burned with curiosity at Moon's statement, probably eager for answers to how the Senshi of the Moon knew her boyfriend.

Movement in the fog grabbed her attention, and she saw a flash of greenish scale. Ryo was trying to retreat from the fog. Without hesitating, she rushed over and grabbed Ryo's scissor hand, pulling him farther from the fog. After a short jog, they broke through. Venus and Mercury on her heels.

Monster Ryo looked at her, struggling for control. He lost. He swiped at the Senshi. She clumsily dodged, his blade knicking her arm. She took a step back, and the monster roared.

"I am Bunbo!" it screeched.

"Not for long," Moon retorted. Yellow crystal in one hand, her wand in the other, she let instinct take over. She moved her hands and body, making the sigil in the air that she had the night of the Embassy Ball. Power flowed through her and she cried, "Moon Healing Escalation!"

The youma formally known as Ryo screamed as the power washed over him, purifying him of the Great Youma's evil. "Refresh!" it cried as the light engulfed him, and he returned to his human form.

"Ryo!" Mercury cried, rushing to her boyfriend's side. She cradled him in her lap, and he took her hand, smiling up at her.

He fought to stay conscious and looked over at Moon. Smiling he said, "thank you."

Moon nodded, confidence filling her. She'd done it. She'd saved Ryo just like she promised. And she'd even scored a Rainbow Crystal.

The mist finally faded, and Zoicite was gone. His loss of the crystal and the arrival of more Senshi must have scared him off. Moon beamed with pride. They'd finally won. She'd gotten a crystal, saved Ryo's life, and found a Senshi! She was ready to jump for joy.

As the final mist cleared, she noticed a tuxedo and a cape fluttering in the distance. Her heart fell as he walked towards the Senshi.

"Congratulations, Sailor Moon," he greeted.

She looked away shyly, both happy for the recognition, and fearful of what he was about to ask.

"What are you doing here?" Venus commented. He ignored her, his focus entirely on Sailor Moon.

"I believe you owe me something," he continued.

"What are you talking about," the golden Senshi scoffed.

Sailor Moon smiled bitterly. "You're right. I promised to return your crystal, but all I have is this one." She held out the yellow crystal in the palm of her hand. "A deal is a deal."

"Sailor Moon, what are you doing?!"

"Fulfilling my promise," she answered.

He hesitated just a moment, then took the crystal from her hand. She felt the missing weight of it immediately, and her heart cracked a little bit more. All sense of victory washed away in just a second.

"Thank you, Sailor Moon," Tuxedo Kamen said with a tip of his hat. "It'll be safe with me." Then, before Venus could fully react, with a swish of his cape, he bounded away.

Venus was fuming. If she had been a cartoon character, Moon was sure that steam would have been coming out of her ears. Still, the Senshi of the Moon stood a little bit straighter and stared her leader down. Mercury, meanwhile, looked between everyone as if they'd all grown a second head.

"Don't tell me I missed all the fun?" Jupiter said, walking up to the group.

"I can't even stand to look at you right now," Sailor Venus said. "There will be consequences for this.".

"What's going on?" Jupiter asked, shifting closer to Sailor Moon.

"Sailor Moon betrayed us," Venus spat out. "I can't... Luna, keep an eye on Moon. She can't be trusted."

Jupiter furrowed her brow. "V, what are you going on about?"

"Why don't you ask her? She's the one that gave a Rainbow Crystal to our enemy."

"It was the right thing to do," Moon defended.

"Everyone, please calm down," Mercury spoke up suddenly. "I am particularly confused and would really appreciate it if someone would take the time to explain to me what's going on? And maybe get Ryo to a hospital?"

"I'll be fine," Ryo said. "Don't worry about me."

Venus was nearly shaking with anger. She looked at Moon and said, "I assume you can get her up to speed without turning her traitor as well?"

Moon nodded solemnly, and with that Venus turned on her heel and fled into the dawn.

"Mako," Moon started. "Do you think you could make us breakfast? This is going to be a long morning."