Ruthlessness

Hikawa Shrine...

'Thank you for coming.' said Chikane as all nine Sailors gathered at night. Reborn concealed his presence but he can still watch and listen. But what an odd crew, he thought.

Since absorbing the power Chikane gave him in order to help deal with her enemy, he was able to regain his body.

Several young ladies in similar sailor outfits, the only differences being their colors. There were also two young girls a bit younger than Chikane. Two wielded weapons as well. The purple one and the green-haired woman.

'You said you'll tell us about Nehellenia at long last.' said Tuxedo Mask. 'Who on earth is she?'

'It happened even back during the Silver Millennium. Princess Serenity was a child back then.' Chikane began, showing illusions. 'If the Silver Millennium was a world of light represented by the pearly full-moon, it's mirror world the Dark Moon can only exist in darkness. Thus these people can only see the outside world when an eclipse happens. After that, the world is shut for centuries. Hence the symbol of the Amazon Trio and Amazoness Quartet.' she said, showing the symbols on their foreheads.

'It's queen was Queen Helenia.' Chikane showed a young, beautiful girl. She has extremely long, flowing, dark blue hair. Her hair is mostly down apart from two buns and two ponytails coming from those buns. She has slim light blue eyes with slit shaped pupils. Her dress is black with puffy sleeves below her shoulders and longer skin tight sleeves going down to her wrists, her top only covers her breasts and the skirt is covered by a beige overskirt. She has a lavender cape that goes down to the floor and wears gold and black bracelets and a necklace with similar style. Her earrings and headpiece consist of three silver moons(one being golden) and she wears a black circular gem as a crown.

'Just like Queen Serenity, she ruled over her own kingdom of peace and harmony in which her subjects all adored her. She took great pride in the fact her subjects always complimented her of her great beauty that will soon cause her own downfall through her vanity and her subjects unwittingly caused it no less.' Chikane sighed as her illusions continued to tell the tale.

'Because Queen Helenia dreamed of staying young forever, she gazed at her reflection in the mirror to see her future, but instead saw herself as an ugly old woman. In turn, this caused her to become obsessed with remaining beautiful forever, and so she extracted the dream mirrors of her subjects and took the power of their dreams for herself and turned them into Remless, allowing her to stay young forever. Zirconia was then created from her fears of becoming ugly. Zirconia was in fact, herself whom she deliberately split from her in a bid to stay young forever by 'cutting off' her future of growing old and renamed herself Nehellenia.'

'She formed the Dead Moon Circus, but the Dark Moon wasn't nearly as nice a place to live as the Moon Kingdom, which she watched from the Dark Moon, so she wanted to take over the Moon Kingdom and take Queen Serenity's place as ruler of Silver Millennium and eventually Crystal Tokyo that she foresaw. When she learned of the Golden Crystal, she tried to get it from its guardian, Helios, but was unable to; due to her evil intentions, and was eventually sealed inside a mirror of darkness by Queen Serenity.'

'Queen Nehellenia was able to reawaken when the great power of Elysion weakened due to people giving up on their good dreams in this era, though she was still trapped inside a mirror.' Chikane continued. 'She then captured Helios and imprisoned his physical body inside Nehellenia's mirror, where she imprisoned him in spider-like threads in a red cage...but while she had the body, his spirit escaped with the much-coveted crystal and hid away...and I became his agent not long ago after he wandered for decades in search of a powerful dream to refuge in until he can get allies who can help us save Elysion, the Mirror World of Earth.'

'I approached you now and gave you more power because she's going to come, fed up with countless failures from the Amazon Trio and got impatient with the Amazoness Quartet who were disturbingly efficient with their job.' Chikane scowled, showing them an illusion of them using the circus, extracted mirrors en masse with even a girl sitting on a mountain of mirrors!

'How can you tell that she's coming, ojouchan?' Sailor Uranus frowned.

'She's sending out spider threads in her own effort to search. The threads she used to bind Helios' body.' said Chikane grimly. 'I had to avoid touching those and so should you. It's difficult to distinguish from a typical spider web through the naked eye...but Sailor Mercury and Sailor Neptune can help you out with that. We should go to the circus because it will be war soon...'

She showed them this:

From the point of view through Helios' body, Chikane was able to 'see' into the enemy as well. 'It was risky getting this much...but you must see this.'

It was inside a dark mirror where they saw the Queen herself.

'Helios...exactly whose dream are you hiding inside?' was the impatient, cold voice of the queen. 'Your body has fallen into my hands...and you have no means to go against me and yet...so irritating!' she shook. 'This is the only chance I get once every several centuries! I no longer have any time to waste and yet!' she turned to the outside. 'ZIRCONIA!' the younger sailors winced at her outburst. 'When exactly are you going to find the Golden Mirror?!'

'U-uhm...'

'I can't leave it in your hands any longer!' Nehellenia shouted angrily as she touched the surface of the mirror and tried to get out...but as soon as the light touched her hands, it burned her.

The image is gone.

'Light...burned her?' Sailor Moon gasped out in astonishment.

'How did you get that without getting caught?' Neptune asked, astonished.

'In order, the Dark Moon isn't a nice place to live. It's a world of perpetual darkness that its people can't stand light. Not even the light from the very moon they lived on.' Chikane explained. 'And I used Helios' body as a Trojan Horse with his permission. She's definitely coming...which is why while she'll use up a chunk of her power to get out somehow, we strike while the iron's hot.'

'But who did Helios hide in?' Chibi Moon asked Chikane who looked awkward. 'We need to protect that person too!'

'Erm, can't say or the Golden Crystal is at risk...if she gets it, Helios dies and Elysion's destroyed for good and Earth will soon follow seconds later, you know.' the girls froze at that.

'She's right.' Sailor Pluto agreed. 'That's a risk we can't take. They'll use us to figure it out, unwittingly luring the enemy to that person as well. Its best that we fight while NOT doing what they expect us to do.'

'Yes, that is often the best course of action.' said Sailor Neptune as Chikane granted herself a Sailor Outfit. Basically still a nightgown but with butterfly sleeves, gift-wrap style ribbon, and a balloon skirt, and stockings. Her long hair tied into three ringlet ponytails.

She earned incredulous looks.

'Er, aren't you a little cold in that?' Sailor Venus squeaked.

'Hi Ms. Pot, I'm Kettle.' all of them sweatdropped.

'A-anyway, let's go...it went dark now and I'm getting massive readings...' said Sailor Mercury, wanting to change the topic. 'And someone's coming!'

'You seriously think you can leave me behind?' a haze of indigo fire appeared and out came a rather good-looking, tall and lanky teenage boy in dark clothes.

'Mukuro-san!' Chikane squeaked. It was Mukuro, one of the boys she rescued.

'I woke up from a boring afternoon nap and saw my brother and the streets in spider webs! The whole town is gone!' Mukuro cried, repeatedly jabbing her on the forehead with a finger and his words shocked the girls. 'I'm coming with you!'

'But...'

'No buts and what's the point of having my family back if some delusional woman on a cosmetic vanity trip will take it away anyway?'

'I'm coming as well because this is war.' said Reborn, showing up. Mukuro glared at him, full force and shielding Chikane with himself. His behavior was akin to territorial protectiveness. 'As for you, her future is inevitable. Had things gone differently, you need not worry but her sole misfortune is her blood. But rest assured I will do right by her.'

"...have they forgotten we're here?" the Sailors and Tuxedo Mask thought.

xxx

Running for the Circus, they had to deal with the four girls who quickly fled due to being outnumbered and two, the mafioso and the Outer Senshi were ruthless!

'I'm having a hard time believing those girls are our enemies...' Sailor Moon choked out.

'Well believe that now.' said Mukuro wryly before Tuxedo Mask cried in pain.

'Tuxedo Mask!'

'E-ever since those spider webs appeared...my heart hurts...'

'It can't be helped...you are Earth itself. Your soul is synchronized with Earth. This attack using evil powers on Elysion is an attack on Earth as well.' said Chikane. 'Prince Endymion. What hurts you hurts Helios, and what hurts Helios will hurt you too.'

Reborn and Mukuro took note of that.

They knew this guy cannot die no matter what.

'Is this the effect of Mirror Counterparting?' Sailor Mercury asked her.

'Yes...his pain will get worse and worse. He cannot come with us now.' Chikane then sent him home. 'His pain is nothing medicine can cure. What can heal him is we drive away the evil taking root on Earth.'

'We better hurry then!' Sailor Moon cried.

'Look!' Sailor Venus cried as an Eclipse was happening fast. Way too fast!

'That's...not normal.' Reborn shook. 'Solar Eclipses takes a while to fully occur...not only that, it should've occurred way later than this!'

'This must be what those girls are talking about.' said Chibi Moon. 'Eclipse...Dead Moon...'

'Get ready! Something's coming out!' Sailor Mercury burst out as they braced themselves.

It was a lot of Remless.

'Welcome! Welcome to the Dead Moon Circus!' they greeted in a dissonant, cheery voice that sounded creepy.

'Dreams at night are fleeting, but Nightmares here are always open!' balloon woman cooed.

'Take a look at the extreme,' said a blue two-faced woman. 'Once you look, you won't stop laughing!'

'You'll laugh so hard...' said a firebreathing juggler as he opened his legs for a clown to peek out from between, '...you'll look like a mule...' and a goblin appeared under the clown. 'And we won't care!'

Reborn twitched and started firing mercilessly using two hand guns.

'Eek!'

'Kyaa!'

'Hey, can't you take a joke?!'

Mukuro took example, materializing his trident and started slaying his way through as well that the Outers joined in.

'H-hey, you guys...' Sailor Moon squeaked.

'It's war little lady! Can't stand around like a still target!' Reborn told her. 'And don't forget we have that man to worry about. Each time they spread, the worse his Heart Attacks gets! Think of this as a little medical treatment!'

'That's a rather cold way of putting it.' said Sailor Uranus with a grin. 'But I agree!' so the Inner Senshi joined in as well, fighting their way into the Circus.

'This is a rather gloomy circus...I remember Circuses in Europe looking far cheerful than this.' Reborn snarked out snidely.

'Well sorry to disappoint...but we DO give good shows!' the girls are back...

'And here we come!'

'Leave these brats to me!' Mukuro grinned. 'Go!' the others proceeded without him.

'Someone's over confident!' CereCere frowned.

'And I have good reason to.' Mukuro smirked. 'How confident are you with nightmares...compared to mine?'

His ominous words didn't do their mellow well...

xxx

Nehellenia watched as Helios' body glowed.

"His hideout...is approaching?" she observed.

xxx

'You've done well to make it this far.' Zirconia greeted in the Mirror Room. 'Welcome. I am Zirconia, the Ringmaster of the Dead Moon Circus.'

They know to be careful as this was the other half of Nehellenia herself, the future she cast off.

'Now then...he is close by...his body resonates with his soul!' Reborn tried shooting at her but his shots are blocked by a barrier. 'No use. I am far stronger.' she said as she, with a mere flick of her wrist, blasted him aside.

'Gah!'

'Ojisan!' Chikane gasped out, rushing to his side. This caused the others to attack Zirconia as well, but only Sailor Saturn managed to lay a hand on Zirconia so it was up to her, but Zirconia fled after taking major hurt.

'We're not done yet, she got away!' Uranus growled. 'We get her we get the other too!'

'You guys go on ahead! I'll catch up with you with Mukuro and ojisan!' the girls left them behind at that. 'Ojisan...'

'I'll be fine. As long as I believe, this, is nothing.' and he was instantly healed. 'Dreams are wishes. This is a neat power eh?' he said as he got up, dusting himself.

'Mukuro doesn't have the same blessing, we should pick him up!' Chikane fretted as they went back the way they came from to get to the entrance to pick up Mukuro who was quite, banged up. But he did his job.

'Mukuro!' Chikane squeaked as she was quick on healing him.

'Haah...when the world got darker, they got a bit strong.' said Mukuro with a wince. 'So I had to get more...ruthless.'

'That's a weird way of putting it.' said Reborn wryly. Mukuro felt better in seconds and a bit, warmer. A comfortable warmth. 'We better hurry. The Arcobaleno are probably in a snit...'

His phone rang. 'Speaking...hello?' he answered his phone. 'Ah our situation? The Epicenter is Azabu-Juuban, Tokyo and I'm dealing with it. It'll take a while but me and my party members will change the world back. I'll explain later. Ja.' he put it away after muting his phone. 'That was Aria, the Sky Arcobaleno. I'll have explaining to do later for this. We gotta go. Chikane, what do you see right now?' Chikane conjured a mirror to spy on the soldiers.

'Oh my god...Chibiusa's mistaken for the host just because she's young!' Chikane paled. 'We have to hurry, we have to aid the others!'

The truth was, she's afraid she'd be next. But that's OK. She made herself bait as well other than Chibiusa. No matter the cost, Earth will not fall! Not on her watch!

She caught up to the other Sailors and quickly restored their health. 'Where's Chibiusa?!' she was with them earlier!

'Nehellenia took her.' said Sailormoon. 'As a hostage! We have to get her back without giving up the Crystal somehow...but how?!' Chikane ran to Sailor Saturn.

'Saturn, I will fuse with you so you can safely use the Silence Glaive without making the Earth go boom.' that, was what the outers were fearing months ago... 'But to bust this place, you must believe. Dreams are wishes. You can do this! You can destroy the circus and its powers within without harming us, Helios' body and Chibiusa. That way we can get to Chibiusa sooner and safer while avoiding traps!' she encouraged.

'A-alright...' Chikane went inside Saturn's body, granting her a powerful form that made her look something out of princess mahou shoujo in white and purple colors with her short hair growing floor-length, but the power she wields, is no joke. They could feel how powerful Saturn is, unrestrained.

Saturn dropped her glaive...and the effect was instantaneous.

The circus shook, cracking all over the place as it oozed out dark powers, unleashing strong winds.

It was destroyed, and they quickly found Nehellenia and Chibiusa.

'You...!' Nehellenia growled. 'How dare you!'

'How dare us?!' Sailormoon sputtered. 'How dare YOU!' she cried, indignant while frantic as Chibiusa was taken and Tuxedo Mask is on borrowed time as Saturn created a powerful barrier to keep them all in. But what came next, was shocking. Mukuro stabbed Nehellenia in the heart. 'Mukuro!'

'You...how...dare...you...do this...to me...?' Nehellenia wheezed out. The sight horrified the inners while the outers were just chill since they were willing to do just as much!

'Do remember that I'm not a nice person.' Mukuro grinned viciously as he twisted his bloodied trident and yanked it out roughly. 'And you just about nearly took away what I care for so yes, how dare me for enacting my revenge, bitch.' he said coldly. 'Sailormoon! Hurry! Purify her so Earth will be restored and all our families will be saved!'

'Get Chibiusa out, I need her!' Sailormoon looked really queasy by this point. 'But was that necessary?'

'What is one life, compared to billions in this world?' Reborn told Sailormoon. 'You are unable to do it so leave it to us to do what you cannot bring yourself to do. There are what we call necessary evil for the sake of the bigger picture. But right now, we need your and Chibiusa's power to purify this woman and Earth. We can't let humans exposed to dark powers for too long. And don't forget Helios' counterpart.'

Sailormoon shook as Chibiusa ran to her.

'Sailormoon!'

'Let's pool our powers together...all of us.' said Sailormoon. 'All this happened because people stopped dreaming...we must spark the light of dreams back in everyone!' she said, taking out her silver crystal from her brooch and raised her arms, causing her to float as the sailors gathered around her in a circle, joining hands together as Chikane unfused with Saturn...and she has the Golden Crystal all along! She has it in her hands as she came out of Saturn, restoring her original form. Chikane was behind Usagi, holding her crystal in the same manner after freeing Helios' body, and Helios left Stallion Reve to go back to his body.

'SILVER/GOLDEN CRYSTAL POWER!' the girls all invoked. Their clothes and tiaras glowed white, forming a link to Sailormoon. Chikane merged her power with Sailormoon's to restore the living and the dream world, and restoring lost sparks of dreams...and restored light onto the planet, after banishing the darkness, and Nehellenia.

After that, Sailormoon and Chikane are understandably spent.

While Sailormoon was exhausted, Chikane however...

'Chikane, no!' Helios cried in alarm as Chikane threw up blood and looked dangerously pale, collapsing.

'SOMNIO KORI/CHIKANE!'