Sailor Moon Aeons.
Book 2: Rebirth.
Act 11: Tales of another world.
Episode 141: Twilight future.

By Razor Knight
Last update: March 24, 2017
Last edited: June 19, 2017

Goshenite smiled. The four Eternal Senshi fighting her were strong, but she was stronger. The other Senshi were weak enough for her bodyguards. "Give up. You could resurrect them a hundred times and you would still lose."

Moon saw Mercury-beta about to snap back at their foe, but she beat her to it. "I see you're as self-centered and clueless as the one we defeated before."

"What-"

"Try thinking things through. We show up with most of us in Guardian form and looking much older than the ones you killed, and there's even two Mercuries fighting you. The Goshenite I fought before would have figured it out."

"... What, are you going to tell me you're from an alternate universe now?"

"Yes. I defeated your mother. I killed Metallia. And while it wasn't me who killed you, you still lost because you were alone. I know even these youma obey you out of fear. That was what doomed you."

"Shut up!"

Moon saw the blast coming her way, and got ready to deflect it, but a wall of light blocked it. No, not quite light, she realized. "Thanks."

ChibiMoon smiled as she run to them, followed by Saturn. "Got bored of cutting henchmen down. And I missed killing this creep last time."

Goshenite glared at the girl. "I don't rember a pink Senshi."

"Not surprising. I am Sailor ChibiMoon, Sailor Moon's daughter."

Goshenite made the connection quite quickly. "So you also have a-"

"A Ginzuishou? Yeah. I also have something else. Earth Guardian Power!"

Goshenite flinched. "Oh joy. A Dual Senshi."

Mercury-beta was scanning the pink-haired Senshi. "Amazing. Despite being a Guardian Senshi, her power is almost on par with us."

Goshenite looked at Saturn. "You, weakling, shouldn't be here."

Saturn smiled coldly at her. "I'm not going to fight you. I'll just help Chibi kick your rear."

Moon could 'see' what Saturn was doing - using several buff spells on her girlfriend. "Goshenite, you won't win."

Goshenite looked at ChibiMoon. "So, kid, here to give me a rant on destiny? You Senshi love that."

ChibiMoon glared at her foe as her hands lit up. "Here's your rant: Lunar Rock!"

Goshenite chuckled. "Lunar Rock, reall-" She looked up as the area around her darkened, and noticed the large, silvery boulder above her head. "Oh darkne-"

ChibiMoon sighed as the rock fell on Goshenite. "Not dead yet? Good, you'd be a lousy final boss if you were."

The youma queen snarled furiously at her. "Oh, I'm going to kick the snarky bitch out of you." She was knocked back by two different blasts, one of darkness, the other of water. "What the-"

Moon shrugged. "The Sailor Moon killed by Beryl believed in fighting fair. I remember being like that. Fortunately, we grew out of that phase."

Mercury nodded. "We weren't just waiting for our turn. We were waiting for you to be distracted."

"I'll still kill you all."

Moon smirked. "That threat won't work on me. I already died twice."

Back in the other reality, a familiar group of villains were gathering. "Good thing you backed yourself up, right?"

Onara looked at Rubeus. "Indeed. This body needs some improvements but-"

"You can discuss that later with Rubeus and the catboy," Aurite said. "If you're wondering what the meeting is about, I have good news and bad news."

"Let's hear them," Black Lady said.

"I've found something that might help us defeat the Senshi. I think you, Lady, might remember the name Cygale."

"... I- Rember something about a very powerful alien who fought the First Senshi."

"From the legends, this 'First Serenity' had a power similar to Sailor Cosmos. And Cygale was equally matched with her."

"The history lesson is nice, but what does it have to do with our plans?"

Aurite looked at Lynx. "That Serenity couldn't destroy Cygale, so she captured its soul in a device, which she then split into pieces, and threw them away with enough force, some say, that the pieces fell all over the Earth."

Boa rose an eyebrow. "If we could gather all the fragments, maybe we'll find a way to revert the process."

"Problem is, the legend gives no clues on where the fragments are, or how many fragments there are. It could take us years to find them all."

"Are they even real?"

Aurite summoned a small, metallic sphere. "Yes."

Black Lady frowned. "Where did you find that?"

"Right under our base, so to speak. The computer detected faint energy readings and I decided to investigate. Turns out there's some large caverns down there, and in one of them I found this thing."

"That Serenity was strong, then, to throw it all the way here."

"So let's look for the rest of these fragments," Kaorinite said, "Even if it takes us a decade, a creature that strong could be a powerful ally."

"Or a powerful tool," Aurite noted.

The Senshi not facing Goshenite had a relatively easy time against the few youma near her. Most fights had moved outside the castle, but it was clear Pluto's gamble had paid off, as few other youma joined the fray.

However, the enemy proved craftier than expected. Once the last yoima fell, two new enemies appeared. One was Morganite, Goshenite's brother, but the other was a fully powered Hissatsu.

Venus cringed. Most of her friends were down, it was only her and Mars left, with Dragon Saturn trying to heal everyone. "This bug is strong."

"Who are you calling a bug?" Hissatsu snapped.

"Was talking about that guy next to you, but you're ugly too."

"Say what you want, weaklings, but a bunch of Guardian Senshi is no threat for me," Morganite said. "That crystal we got from that weak princess of yours is quite useful. It let us bring Hissatsu back, and gave us quite the power boost."

Dragon Saturn was observing the fight. It was obvious Hissatsu and the youma prince knew Mars and Venus were stalling for time. He noticed Jupiter staggering up and smiled. "Welcome back."

Jupiter walked to the others. "Let's beat those losers."

The Dragon decided to tell them something he had noticed. "You can do it, girls. You've kept on training for months. You'll figure out how to beat them."

Mars sighed. Pep talks were fine and all, but- No, he was right. They had trained, they were already much stronger than when they unlocked their Guardian form. Looking to the side, she could tell Jupiter and Venus had also figured it out. "To defeat these foes, we have to get stronger. Mars Eternal Power!"

"Yeah, time to stop lagging behind. Jupiter Eternal Power!"

"I already killed that Hissatsu creep, but I don't mind doing it again. Venus Eternal Power!"

Morganite shrugged. "Even three of you won't be enough."

"Then make it four! Nemesis Eternal Power!"

Hissatsu didn't wait for them to attack first, he tried to tackle Jupiter, who was closest to him. However, his charge was stopped by a fire wall appearing in front of the Lightning Senshi. Before he could figure out what had happened, Jupiter leapt right through the flames, delivering a flying kick that sent the creature flying back, crashing through three buildings before he could stop.

Nemesis looked at the youma as it staggered up. "Girls, I'll take care of the pretty princess, you go get the real threat."

Morganite glared at her. "You think you can face me alone? You overconfident fool, I'll show you-"

Nemesis rushed him with a kick, and smiled as the prince was knocked back. "I don't give a damn about your rant, so let's get to the part where I win."

Morganite saw Nemesis vanish. "What in Darkness..."

"Don't talk about darkness so lightly."

He felt something holding his arms from behind, and then energy washing over him. The pain was almost too much to bear, and he could not see a thing. "No... I won't let it end like this!"

Nemesis was knocked out of Morganite's shadow, but she realized something. He had used the energy of the Ginzuishou, but it had been weak. The crystal wasn't anywhere near its full power. This 'war' was as good as done, but she still needed to beat the foe in front of her. "You can barely move. Give up."

Morganite shot at Nemesis, but saw her body become shadow-like, his attack passing through her."What-"

Again, Nemesis caused Morganite's shadow to ensare him. However, unlike last time, he had no energy left to fight back.

"Well, that's one down," Nemesis muttered to herself as the youma prince fell, before focusing on the one other battle near her. Yes, those three were giving Hissatsu a beating, but better safe than sorry.

Mars was upset. Hissatsu moved too fast for something that big, and had avoided their attacks easily. Venus could hit him, but wasn't causing any damage. "Damn it, that thing is too fast."

"It's stalling, keeping us from helping Usagi."

Jupiter tried to kick him again, but he dodged. Her kick brought a building down. "I can't land a hit."

"He's not fast enough to dodge me," Venus said, then gasped. "Wait, that's it! Rei, you can put that shield around anyone, right?"

"Yeah."

"Can you make it stop thing from getting out of it?"

"Yes, but why would- Oh. Minako, you can be a genius sometimes."

Hissatsu saw flames appear around him. He realized what this was, and tried to rush right through it. The flames stopped him and he growled. "What cheap trick is this?"

"I don't have a fancy name for it. It just works the way I will it to. For example, it can let those I choose go in and out of it."

Hissatsu wondered what that meant for a split second, but then felt something on his shoulder. "What-"

"Hi," Jupiter said before punching him down. As he fell, she phased under him, delivering a series of punches and kicks to his back, each sending him crashing on the 'roof'of the fire dome.

"Can I play too?"

Hissatsu knew the voice, and though he couldn't see her, he felt the chain wrapping around him, before it slammed him into the ground. "Damn it, how can this be? I am Hissatsu, the strongest youma ever created!"

"Hey now," Venus said, "we have some youma allies back home and I'm sure they're not this weak."

"Youma, allied with Senshi? That's a lie."

Nemesis appeared besides Venus, and put a hand on the chain. "It's no lie, but you and your masters were too blind to see there could be peace."

Jupiter saw dark mana flowing through the chain and hitting Hissatsu. She saw the creature was quite weakened. A few more hits and... Yeah, that should work. "Eat lightning, creep!" She swung her fists randomly, not hitting Hissatsu, but each fake blow created a small sphere of electricity.

Hissatsu smiled weakly as the orbs all missed him. "You missed."

Jupiter's smile said otherwise. "No," she said, then slapped the air. Hissatsu had enough time to notice the orbs all around him before each of them shot him with electricity. He howled in pain before vanishing. "I think the shock was too much for him."

Mars banished her 'shield.' "Let's go help Usagi."

Dragon Saturn had been watching them while he healed the others, and he was quite impressed. Impressed, but not surprised. "Go ahead, we'll be there soon."

Moon hated to admit it, but this Goshenite was far stronger than her. Mercury and the two 'Beta' Senshi had been knocked out - not killed, apparently their foe was doing the whole 'let them live long enough to see everyone else die' thing. ChibiMoon was now trying to fight while she recovered, and Moon knew both girls were at their limit, but would not give up.

Goshenite blocked a kick and chuckled. "You're slowing down, and you aren't even using magic anymore. You're just a stubborn fool who doesn't know when she's beaten. Like mother, like daughter."

"Are you so tired you are reduced to insults? Pitiful."

Goshenite phased right behind her foe, who was too exhausted to move out of the way. As she stabbed the pink-haired Senshi through, she chuckled. "Just die, your mommy will be with you soon."

Moon was about to jump in and try to help, but saw the look in ChibiMoon's face. "Chibi, what-"

ChibiMoon looked past her, to Hotaru. "Sorry. Earth Guardian Power! Lunar Requiem!"

Goshenite guessed what the atrack would be, and leapt away from her foe, but not fast enough. A column of lunar magic shot up from the ground, bright enough to blind the others. When the light dimmed, Moon saw ChibiMoon lying on the ground - barely alive - and Goshenite was... The left half of her body was charred, and her left arm was gone.

"You bastard, I will destroy you! Saturn Eternal Power!"

Moon phased nex to Saturn. "Hotaru, go heal her."

"No, I will kill that-"

"Damn it, Chibi is still alive, is fighting more important to you than saving her life?"

Saturn flinched. "I- Sorry, Usagi."

"Go save my daughter, I'll teach that bitch some manners."

Goahenite was shocked. That kid was just a Guardian Senshi, how could she be that strong? She saw Moon walking to her and glared at her. "Your kid died for naught, I'm still alive."

Moon shrugged. "She's alive, but that doesn't mean I'll let you live."

Goshenite saw Moon was holding a Ginzuishou in each hand. "No... How did you-"

"My daughter is Sailor Moon too. A Serenity. I know doing this is risky but I can't pull any punches."

Goshenite had seen the beam shot and phased away, but then saw the beam had somehow curved and was still heading to her. She didn't have time to dodge it a second time.

"It's over, Goshenite."

The youma queen staggered up. "Over? Not at all. My youma will help me."

Moon saw energy flowing to Goshenite, from all directions. "What-"

"Just die!"

Pluto appeared in front of Moon, using her staff to absorb Goshenite's blast. "You will die today, Goshenite. It is your destiny."

Moon saw their foe was fully healed. "How-"

"She absorbed the souls of all youma. The Ginzuishou can be a frightening tool, even polluted by evil as hers is."

The two 'Beta' Senshi had woken up in time to see that. "Goshenite absorbed them?"

Pluto nodded. "A heartless witch who will do anything she can to get what she wants. Like mother, like daughter."

Mars-beta glared at the pink-haired youma. "You selfish monster... You don't even care about your own race?"

Mercury-beta looked at her friend. "Can you feel it, Rei?"

"Yes. Let's show this creep our true power. Mars Holy Power!"

"This isn't about revenge anymore. It's about saving mankind from your selfish greed. Mercury Holy Power!"

Moon saw them transform and smiled. They could do it, they could stop that woman for good.

Their suits had changed, the skirts becoming longer, with their planet symbols drawn on each side, in gold. Their gloves now matched their skirt color, and went almost up to their armpits. Their bows were smaller, too, and had a golden lining. To complete the attire, they now had three pairs of wings on their backs, flame wings for Mars, ice wings for Mercury.

"Those suits look hot. Can't wait to get mine."

Moon saw her daughter was standing right next to her, and hugged her. "You know, it's not just Hotaru who will be sad if you die."

"Sorry."

Saturn flinched. "The power those two have..."

Pluto nodded. "They're stronger than me."

"Why is their suit different?" Moon asked, then saw Pluto's suit change into one like the two alternates had, with transparent, nearly invisible wings. "... How?"

ChibiMoon smiled. "Senshi can use lower level suits. Helps keeping the enemy from knowing your true power."

Goshenite had been too shocked to move while the two transformed. That much power, they were stronger than her? That wasn't possible!

Mars-beta gave her a cold smile. "That face. That fear you're showing. That's all youma ever felt for your mother, and for you."

"You fools, I will destroy you both!" Goshenite run straight to Mercury-beta, and tried to punch her with a mana-charged fist, but her foe simply caught her fist, and then bent her arm backwards.

Mercury-beta glared at the youma queen as the telltale noise of bones cracking could be heard. "You already lost, Goshenite."

The youma screamed in pain. Those two, their physical power was also impossibly high. "Damn it... I can't let it- I won't let it end like this!"

Mercury-beta sighed. "Kindly shut the hell up, youma. Glacial Surge." A small blast of ice hit Goshenite, who turned a deep blue as all the liquids in her body froze.

Mars-beta looked at the frozen youma for a second before raising one arm. "Good riddance, youma queen. Hell Storm."

Saturn had walked to the others while the two alternates finished the fight. "That's a nasty way to go."

Moon walked to the two Holy Senshi. "Guess you did it."

"We all did it," Mercury-beta said. As if on cue, the rest of the Senshi teleported in. "Without your help we could have never won. I know we started off with the wrong foot but I apologize for my behavior."

"You were feeling hopeless," Moon said, "I've felt that way, too, and almost become what I hated the most."

"Wonder how things will go in this reality?" Dragon Venus pondered.

"A few foes we faced will not be around. For example, the Dark Moon, or the Hunters," Pluto said.

Mercury-beta sighed. "We won, but I still feel... What now? What do we do without our friends?"

Mercury looked at Pluto, who seemed to understand what she was thinking. Seeing Pluto nod, she turned to her 'clone' and smiled. "I don't want to give you false hopes, but there's records from the Silver Millennium and before, which tell of Senshi other than Sailor Moon being able to use the Ginzuishou. Maybe you could use it to bring the others back."

"How?"

"We still don't know how, sorry."

Mars-beta smiled. "No need to apologize, you gave us a chance to fight on. We will protect the Earth, and maybe we will find a way to bring them back."

Mercury-beta looked to the side. "Even if we can't bring them back, we will protect this world. It's what they died for."

Moon looked at Pluto. "I think we should leave. This Earth is in good hands."

"Farewell, and thanks for everything."

'Good luck," Moon said before the Senshi all vanished.

Mercury-beta looked to the north. "So, shall we go home?"

Mars-beta smiled. "Yeah."

They both realized something right then - their teleporters were gone. "Think Pluto did it?"

"Good riddance to those things. We don't need them."

The future ahead of them wasn't bright, but it was no longer dark and hopeless, either. It was a twilight future.

"It's good to be back."

Aiko looked at the group. "So, you won."

Moon nodded. "We got a few more Eternal Senshi from that mess."

"Anything interesting happened while we were away?"

Aiko smiled at Mercury. "Nothing much. We killed a Gale, stopped a youma rebel group and killed Onara."

"Oh, I see- Wait, you killed Onara?"

"He... Made himself a cyborg. Quite literally so. He wanted to fight you guys, but since he lost against us, he obviously was overestimating himself."

The Senshi, except for Pluto, all went back to normal. Usagi opened a window on the tower's side and looked through. "I hope we get a break."

Pluto smiled. "You'll get a break, indeed."

Usagi turned to see Pluto had done the usual. "That's a bad habit she has."

Minako sighed. "Let's just enjoy the customary three days of wait until our next foes arrive."

A/N: Arcs keep getting shorter. Next one will be a one-chapter arc.

Jokes aside, there's relatively few episodes left for this book. I'm already writing bits and pieces of the Crystal Tokyo era, so I may have a couple episodes of that ready by the time I finish Book 2.