Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.

A/N: Sorry for the long delay, life got in the way again...

Chapter 16: Dark Mars

-Eighteen Years Earlier-

Minako stared up at the imposing stone steps. Even after all these years, it still took a moment to work up the drive to climb up to the shrine. It was early afternoon and a light breeze played through her hair as she trudged up the steps. She paused at the top, taking in the peaceful courtyard and rustling cherry trees. The smell reminded her of days long past. How many nights had they lain together under those trees, talking until dawn? She could see Rei's teasing smile as she picked a stray blossom out of Minako's hair. Her eyes so full of love that she didn't need to speak for Minako to know what she meant to the other woman.

She sighed. It had been a long time since she'd seen Rei smile.

She turned away from the courtyard to follow the stone path to the fire room where she knew her wife would be. Sure enough, she could feel the warmth before she even opened the door. Inside, Rei was kneeling before the sacred fire, which was burning with a wild rage that was unusual for the peaceful space. Rei's back was soaked with sweat and her hands were clenched into fists where they rested on her thighs.

Minako hesitated in the doorway. Usually, Rei knew she was there but lately… She took a few steps closer and, when that had no effect, she knelt down beside her.

"Rei?" she touched her shoulder lightly. Rei took a shuddering breath and sat back. She blinked several times before focusing on Minako.

She frowned at her as she scooted away from the fire and turned to face her. "Minako, what are you doing here? Is something wrong?"

Minako shook her head, trying to smile even as Rei's expression darkened. "No, everything's fine." That was a lie and she was sure they both knew it. But still Rei nodded and her eyes drifted back toward the fire. "I was wondering if we could talk." Minako slid her hand down her arm to twine their fingers together. She hoped the physical contact would be enough to keep Rei here with her, at least for a little while.

Rei's eyes dropped down to their joined hands before returning to the fire in front of her. "Now's not really a good time," she murmured. She started to pull away but Minako tightened her grip. Rei sighed. "Mina."

"You've been doing this for months." Minako gestured to the fire with her free hand.

Rei shook her head. "I haven't-"

"You have." Minako interrupted. "Every morning I wake up and you're gone. You're here every day, Rei, looking for something that isn't there."

Rei frowned at her, jerking her hand away. "There's something," she insisted. "I felt it. There's something coming." She turned away to kneel in front of the fire again. "It's just a shadow now, but I have to keep trying."

Minako grabbed her shoulder, turning her forcefully back to face her. "Rei, you're chasing a phantom. It's consuming you." Her anger faded, replaced by a deep sadness. "It's like finding this shadow is the only thing that matters to you."

Rei's expression softened. Minako felt a tear slide down her cheek and her wife reached up to catch it before it fell. "I miss you, Reiko." She said softly.

"I'm sorry," Rei whispered. Again, her eyes slid toward the fire. "I just want to keep you safe."

"I don't need you to protect me, Rei." Minako cupped her cheek and gently turned her face so their eyes met. "I just need you."

Rei's shoulders sagged and she let out a heavy sigh. "What do you want me to say, Mina?"

Minako smiled at her, letting her hand slide back into thick raven hair. "Say you'll meet me tonight." Rei nodded, hesitantly returning her smile. "Come to the theater tonight at sundown. We can go out to dinner or take a walk, whatever you want."

"Mina…"

Minako leaned forward, stopping her words with a soft kiss. "I love you, Rei," she said quietly as she pulled back. "I need to know you still love me back. Promise me?"

After a moment, Rei nodded. "I promise."

Minako grinned at her and gave her a quick kiss before standing. At the door, she turned to look back at her and wave. "I'll see you tonight."

"She's probably already on her way to the palace," Makoto huffed as she mounted the last few steps leading to the shrine.

"You know she's not," Ami replied breathlessly. "Setsuna called over an hour ago."

Makoto groaned as she stopped at the top, glancing back down the path in distaste. The courtyard ahead of them was dark, but she could see flickering light shining through the crack of the shrine door. Of course, she thought, where else would she be.

Ami marched up to the door but hesitated before opening it. She looked up at Makoto questioningly. Makoto shook her head, her face grim, and reached in front of Ami to slide the door open. As expected, Rei was kneeling in front of a blazing fire. Sweat stained the back of her shirt and her hands trembled where they rested against her thighs. Ami guessed she'd been at it for most of the day. Again.

"Rei?" Makoto hesitantly moved into the room and laid a hand on her shoulder.

Rei twitched as though waking up and twisted to gaze up at her. "Makoto, what are you doing here?" She sounded annoyed but Makoto didn't care. This wasn't the first time Rei had blown off something important for this.

"Setsuna's been calling," she replied, matching Rei's tone. "We were supposed to have a meeting an hour ago."

"Sorry," Rei murmured, getting stiffly to her feet. "I guess I lost track of time."

Ami moved closer to them, laying a hand on Makoto's wrist. Taking the hint, Makoto stepped back and tried to relax her aggressive posture. "Where's Minako? She hasn't been answering her communicator either."

"I don't know," Rei replied. She stretched her shoulders and absently turned back toward the fire. "She was here a little bit ago."

Ami caught her shoulder so Rei was facing them again. "We haven't seen her since this afternoon. How long ago was she here?"

Rei seemed confused as she looked between them. "Not long," she said slowly. "We were going to meet later for dinner."

Ami shared a glance with Makoto. "Rei, it's almost ten thirty. Are you sure?"

Rei frowned. "It can't be. She was just…" She trailed off as her eyes slid past them to the open door. Ami and Makoto turned as well and found Minako silhouetted against the night sky. As she stepped into the flickering light of the room, Ami saw that her cheeks were streaked with makeup and her eyes were red.

"Minako, are you alright?" Makoto asked, taking a half step toward her.

"We tried to call you." Ami added.

Minako pushed past them both and stood facing a bewildered Rei. "Mina?"

"Don't" she whispered. She took Rei's hand and placed something in her palm before turning away.

Rei looked down at it before her head jerked back up to her wife. "Mina, wait!"

Minako paused in the doorway of the shrine. Her eyes swept over the three of them before stopping on Rei. She shook her head sadly as fresh tears trailed down her cheeks. "I have my answer. I'm going."

Without another word, she strode out and disappeared into the growing darkness.

Ami stared after her for a long moment before turning back to Rei. She didn't know what to say. Rei slowly sank to her knees and turned back to the fire. Her hand went slack and a small gold ring tumbled from her fingers to the floor. Minako's wedding ring.

Makoto gave Ami a stricken look before kneeling beside their friend. "Rei, you should go after her."

Rei shook her head, not taking her eyes off of the flames. "It doesn't matter. She's gone."

Ami caught Makoto's hand tightly and laid the other on Rei's shoulder. Rei simply shrugged her off and leaned closer to the fire.

"I can't see anything," she murmured. "There's nothing. It's all gone dark."

-Distant Future: Mars-

Hotaru tried to find her voice as she stared at the woman before her. Rei was watching her expectantly, arms crossed and one eyebrow raised in faint annoyance. If not for the black pits of her eyes, she would have said nothing had changed. "Rei…"

After another beat of silence, Rei turned away from her to the two still kneeling by her feet. With a smile, she touched them each on the shoulder. "You can go back to your duties," she said gently.

The Captain lifted her head enough to frown at Hotaru. "Ma'am, perhaps I should stay nearby in case…" she trailed off as Rei shook her head. She straightened and gave a crisp salute. "It was an honor to meet you, Ma'am." She threw one last scowl in the direction of the others before striding back toward the temple.

The acolyte slowly got to her feet and picked up her basket, holding it out in shaking hands. "F-from the people, High Priestess." Hotaru noted a small stack of folded papers like the one the woman had tried to give her. Beneath that were wrapped parcels that she guessed were food and small trinkets for the woman they worshipped. Rei glanced over her shoulder and one of her ravens fluttered down. She grasped the handle in her claws and flew off with the basket toward the shrine.

"Give them my thanks," Rei said, smiling at her before pulling her hood up again. "I must return to my shrine." The acolyte bowed and backed away, watching her in awe.

Hotaru glanced at Chibi-Usa, unsure of how to proceed. She seemed to be at a loss for words. Rei stopped a few steps inside the wall and turned back to them. "Well?" Her earlier warmth had vanished, and her mouth was set in a tight line. Hotaru hesitantly stepped toward her and, when nothing tried to stop her, made her way toward the stairs after Rei.

No one spoke until they were inside the shrine. Rei shrugged off her robes, leaving her in plain black pants and a tank top. Then she walked to an empty metal grate in the middle of the room and began carefully stacking wood inside it.

On either side of Hotaru, Ami and Makoto stepped forward. "Rei," Ami began hesitantly, "How… are you?"

She cringed and glanced at Makoto for help. "We'd like to talk to you about something," Makoto tried, frowning at her back. She didn't respond to either of them. With a quick glance at each other, they inched closer to her.

When she turned back around, everyone in the room flinched back. She didn't seem angry however, she just looked at each of them for a moment. "I knew you would turn up sooner or later." She looked past them, frowning. "Minako's not with you."

Ami sighed softly. "We were going to find her next."

"Find her?" Rei smiled, turning back to the grate. She lifted a hand in a casual wave, causing the stacked logs to ignite. "She's probably at her theatre."

Ami's eyebrows lifted in surprise and she glanced up at Makoto. "The theatre?" she whispered.

Makoto shrugged. "In Crystal Tokyo, I guess."

Chibi-Usa moved past them and, after a moment of hesitation, laid a hand on Rei's arm. "Rei, she left a long time ago. You remember, don't you?"

Rei's eyebrows drew together for a moment before she shook her head. "I think you're confused, Serenity."

Chibi-Usa's hand jerked away as if it had been burned. "Rei, it's me. It's Chibi-Usa." Rei tilted her head in confusion, looking her up and down. Chibi-Usa felt herself blush at the scrutiny and took a half step back. "I know I look different. It's a long story."

Rei lifted a hand to her head, seeming almost in pain for a moment. She turned to stare into the crackling flames. "She left. I forgot." She dropped to her knees and settled in front of the fire. "So many lives… It's all blurred together," she murmured.

Chibi-Usa retreated to Hotaru's side. "What do we do?" Hotaru shook her head helplessly. They watched as Makoto approached her with Ami close on her heels.

"Rei," she said firmly, crouching down beside her. "We need you to come back to Crystal Tokyo with us. Serenity is sick and she needs us back."

Rei shook her head, not looking at her. "That can't be right. I would have seen."

Ami made an impatient sound behind her and Makoto twisted to shoot her a reproachful look. Ami threw her hands up. "This is exactly how she was acting before she left. We couldn't get through to her then, so what makes you think now will be any different."

Makoto started to snarl a reply but almost immediately her shoulders sagged and she stood back up. "You're probably right," she said heavily. She looked back at the princess. "Do you want to try the crystal?"

Chibi-Usa shook her head, edging a little behind Hotaru. "I can't," she said in a small voice. "It won't work."

"You got it to work before," Makoto reminded her. "Twice."

"That was different," Ami pointed out. "She didn't consciously use it either time."

Well then, what do you suggest?" Makoto snapped, feeling her impatience grow. "We have to try something."

"You're angry."

They both turned to Rei as she spoke. "Of course, I'm angry," Makoto ground out. Rei nodded but continued to watch the fire. When she didn't respond, Makoto let out a hard breath. "Will you come with us or not?"

"You don't know what's making her sick?" Rei mused. "That's not like you, Ami."

Ami crossed her arms tightly. "She's not sick. It's some sort of darkness that's infected the whole city.

Rei shook her head stubbornly. "That can't be," she said again. "I would have seen it." She gestured toward the fire.

"I don't think you can," Ami said slowly. "It's inside of you, too."

Rei's only response was to lean a little closer to the fire.

Makoto groaned in frustration. She grasped Rei's shoulder and turned her forcibly toward them. "Don't you have anything to say?"

If the move surprised Rei, she gave no sign. Slowly she got to her feet and faced her former friends. "You're still angry at me."

Makoto's mouth snapped shut on her first response. Instead, she took a measured breath before saying, "Why do you think that?"

Rei jerked her head toward the fire. "I saw what happened. It's not my fault you weren't enough for her."

Makoto let out a snarl of rage and shoved her back, calling her staff as she charged forward. Ami just managed to catch her arm, throwing her whole weight into pulling her back. "Makoto, don't do this. We don't have to fight."

"It's not true," Makoto whispered. She stopped struggling but her whole body was trembling and her knuckles were white on her staff.

Rei looked at them coldly. "Yes, it is. I can show you."

Flames erupted behind them, cutting them off from Hotaru and Chibi-Usa. Ami pressed close to Makoto, looking around wildly for an escape. She called her knives, letting the icy cold of them push back the heat of the inferno around them. Before she could do more, however, voices began to sound through the roar of the flames.

Makoto gasped softly as an image of herself began to form in front of her, wavering as if it were projected directly onto the wall of fire. It was years ago and she saw enough to recognize the royal suite in the Crystal Palace. She saw herself moving hesitantly through the room to the balcony doors on the far side. Through the glass, she could see Serenity with her arms crossed on the railing, staring at the sky.

She stepped out to join her and placed her hands on the rail beside her. "What are you doing out here?" Makoto asked gently. "The party is about to start."

"I don't think I can go," Serenity said sadly. "I can't bear to face everyone, it's too soon."

"She's been gone for over a year," Makoto reminded her, stepping back and wrapping her arms protectively around herself.

"I can't believe she left. What is she going to find on Mars that she didn't have here?" She dropped her head to her crossed arms. "I just feel so alone."

Makoto and Ami moved closer together as they watched the scene replay. The image of Makoto in the flames dropped her head sadly. "Ami and I…" she began, but turned away without finishing the sentence. As she walked away, she slammed the balcony door hard enough to crack the glass. She seemed surprised and turned with an apologetic look on her face but Serenity hadn't moved at all.

The real Makoto felt tears sting her eyes as the vision began to fade. "That was a long time ago," Ami said as she caught her hand. "That was the darkness talking, not her."

Makoto looked down at her, ignoring the swirling flames and focusing on the steady azure gaze. "Are you sure?"

"She's always sure," Rei cut in. "No matter what, right Ami?"

Ami released Makoto's hand and called her long knife back. Rei's eyes followed the movement and her lip curled. "Rei, you don't have to do this," she tried again. "We can help you."

Rei laughed at that. "I've seen what you consider helping people."

Ami felt her chest tighten as voices began again in the flames. A new image flickered into existence around them, this one seemed to be her old laboratory.

Ami shook her head as an image of herself walked into view. She paused in front of a cot, looking down at the occupant without comment. Her visor was in place across her eyes and she typed rapidly before putting her computer away with a snap. The person on the cot had obviously had a painful death. Dried blood crusted around his eyes and trailed down to pool in a brown stain around his head. Shaking her head, she pulled the sheet over his face and turned away. "Subject three seven three was a failure," she said calmly. "Get me another one."

Rei watched the scene play out before looking at the real Ami. Ami felt her knives melt between her fingers as more memories began to flood her consciousness. Each instance of cruelty, every sacrifice in the name of progress, began to play out in the flames in a nightmarish jumble.

Makoto banished her staff and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Ami, listen to me. That wasn't you."

"Do you really believe that?" Rei demanded. She raised her arms, pulling the wall of fire closer to them. "Does she?"

"It was," Ami choked out. She pushed Makoto away from her, feeling hot tears spill down her face. "You know it was. This darkness didn't change us, it just brought out the worst parts of us."

Makoto reached out to her. "Maybe that's true," she admitted, "but it doesn't change who you are now either. You faced your darkness. We both did."

Ami choked back a sob. "What if that's not enough?"

Makoto stepped closer and, when Ami didn't resist, wrapped her arms around her. "It's enough for me."

Ami gazed up at her, meeting her eyes through a blur of tears. Slowly she returned the embrace, pulling their bodies closer. It was enough, she realized. She couldn't change the past but she could stop letting it haunt her. The oppressive heat began to cool around her and the images faded as she used her power to push the fire back. An icy wind enveloped them both and she pushed onto her toes, meeting Makoto's lips in a soft kiss.

Makoto grinned when they parted, wiping tears from her own eyes. "I'm sorry for everything I put you through."

Ami nodded. "Me, too."

A bright purple light began to grow in the center of the flames and a moment later an opening appeared. Hotaru stepped through, one hand up to hold the barrier and the other clutching her glaive.

"That's enough, Rei," she said firmly. "We came here to bring you home. Help us get rid of this darkness so we can."

Rei's eyes narrowed and she dropped her arms, letting the wall of fire die. "Is that really what you want?" She turned her head to stare into the smaller fire in the grate beside her.

Hotaru tensed, raising her glaive as she moved closer. "Rei, whatever you're seeing, it's not-"

"You came here to kill me."

Hotaru shook her head. "I don't want to."

"You don't think you can save me…" Rei's eyes widened and she leaned closer. "Minako," she breathed.

Hotaru felt sweat begin to trickle down her back as the temperature in the small room began to rise. She slowly slipped off her jacket, keeping her eyes on the Fire Senshi as she tossed it behind her. Whatever she was seeing, her breathing was increasing and her teeth were bared in a snarl.

"Rei?" Ami moved close to Hotaru's side, knives held at the ready. Makoto moved to her other side, watching the woman as she stared at something none of them could see.

Hotaru felt a hand on her back and turned to see Chibi-Usa watching Rei with a worried expression. "I'm going to try to use the crystal," she whispered.

Hotaru bit her lip but the princess had moved past her before she could argue. Chibi-Usa let her hand fall lightly on Rei's shoulder, but the latter didn't seem to notice. She shook her head, mouth moving soundlessly. Chibi-Usa closed her eyes and tried to search inside herself for the power to heal her. She tried to close out all other thought than wanting to help Rei, to bring her home.

She felt Rei shift, breaking her concentration. She opened her eyes and found the woman staring at her with an enraged expression. "They're going to kill her, too."

Chibi-Usa gasped, backing up as she realized what Rei seemed to be thinking. "Rei, you know we would never hurt you or Minako-"

"I saw them!" Flames erupted in her fists, forming a sword and knife. Rei dropped into a fighting crouch and faced her.

Chibi-Usa held up her empty hands. "What did you see Rei? Are you sure you didn't misunderstand?"

Rei shook her head. "They didn't tell you. You're too pure, you wouldn't understand." Her voice shook as she spoke. "Just like your mother."

Chibi-Usa looked at Hotaru but her friend wouldn't meet her gaze. "Taru, tell her that's not true." Her eyes darted to Ami and then Makoto, but she could see the truth in their faces. "How could you keep something like that from me?" she asked, forgetting Rei for a moment as she stared at her best friend.

"I…" Hotaru's shoulders dropped in defeat and her glaive faded and vanished as she stepped toward her. "I had to. I'm sorry."

Chibi-Usa stood rooted to the spot, waiting for something more.

"Get out of here," Rei growled, shifting so she faced the other three. Chibi-Usa backed away from them but steeled herself before shaking her head and calling her staff. Rei waved a hand at her almost dismissively, shooting a spray of flame in her direction. She threw herself backward out of the way and landed hard a few feet away. She struggled to a sitting position, gasping as she tried to catch her breath.

"You've been lying to everyone, haven't you?" Rei accused, black eyes narrowed to slits as she glared at Hotaru. "Just like Setsuna." She swept the hand that held the knife across her body, pulling a wave of fire from the grate. Hotaru called her glaive back, throwing the weapon up to block her, but Rei didn't attack. Instead, the flames formed a wall behind her and an image of Hotaru and Setsuna appeared.

Hotaru's jaw clenched as she watched the two of them sitting in the basement together only a few short months ago. She glanced behind her to Ami and Makoto, who were watching the scene in silence. Reluctantly, she shifted her gaze to Chibi-Usa. The princess was sitting on the floor in a daze, shaking her head as she watched the conversation.

"I won't let that happen," she heard herself say firmly. "I'll do whatever I have to if it will keep all of you safe."

"Whatever it takes," Rei repeated, banishing the image in a whirl of flame. "Even if it means sacrificing all of us."

Hotaru tore her gaze from Chibi-Usa, facing the fire Senshi again. "Only if there's no other way," she said softly. "You can still fight this. Help us get rid of the darkness in you."

"You had your chance to stop this," Rei snarled back, raising her sword again. "But she didn't believe me. She let this happen."

"She didn't know what was coming," Hotaru reminded her. "And even if she did, you know she couldn't stop it."

"She knew something was coming," Rei insisted. She looked past her to the others. "You both know what I'm talking about. She could have done more. If she had then, Minako… she wouldn't have…" Rei shook her head. "It doesn't matter now." She dropped her hands, letting her weapons disappear in a puff of smoke. "Leave. I can't help you."

Hotaru lowered her weapon, unsure how to proceed from here. Chibi-Usa touched her hand gently before moving past her to Rei. She had returned to her previous position in front of the fire.

"Rei," she said softly, kneeling beside her. "Please, we need you."

Rei shook her head and didn't answer.

Hesitantly, Chibi-Usa held out her hand. "See for yourself."

Rei glared at her before grabbing her wrist roughly and leaping to her feet. She pulled the fire into a giant blaze in front of them. "Fine," she growled, squeezing the princess's wrist tightly. "Show me."

Hotaru felt Ami and Makoto crowd closer to her as an image of Serenity appeared. It was the last time she'd spoken to them, lying on her bed with Mamoru and Chibi-Usa on either side of her. Rei frowned as she watched the small group talking and laughing over the book held between them.

Ami laughed softly. "I remember those cards," she murmured. She caught Makoto's hand and squeezed lightly.

"What is this?" Rei asked, the anger draining from her expression as she watched. "I thought you said-"

She trailed off as everyone moved away from the queen. Her eyes widened as they watched Setsuna place her hand on Serenity's forehead. Tears began to leak from Rei's eyes as the silver crystal lifted from Serenity's chest and entered Chibi-Usa.

Her head whipped around to the younger girl. She released her and the image disappeared. "You have her crystal. That means she's…"

"Rei-"

"It's all my fault," she whispered, stepping back from them. "I saw the darkness coming and I didn't stop it. Just like last time."

Chibi-Usa moved closer to her, lifting a hand to try and calm her. Rei shook her head in mute denial. "We can still save her," she tried, but the fire Senshi didn't seem to hear her. The room was heating up again as the fire behind her grew. Sweat began to trickle down her face, mixing with the tears.

"I didn't stop it," Rei repeated, backing further from them. "I could have saved her. I could have saved them both."

"It's not too late," Hotaru said, inching closer to her.

"Yes, it it."

Rei lunged forward, grabbing Hotaru's hand and pulling her closer. As soon as they touched, a new image appeared in the fire. Hotaru stared, transfixed, as they saw a shadowy version of the Crystal Palace. The courtyard was a smoking ruin and bodies littered the ground. It was too dark to make out any of their faces.

As they watched, a lone figure walked through the fog and stood in the center of the carnage. She was illuminated as light flared in her lifted hands and Hotaru's face was revealed in the light of her glaive. She looked around dispassionately before lifting her face to the sky. They could see that her eyes were black and tears reflected in the purple glow around her. Silently, she held her glaive in front of her with the point facing down. Then she drove it into the ground in front of her. A shockwave of light exploded around her and an instant later everything went dark.

"No!" Hotaru jerked her hand out of Rei's grip. The scene disappeared, but it was already burned into her memory. "I don't know what that was, but it wasn't real." She looked desperately at the others. "There's nothing that would make me use that power again."

Rei stared into the flames. "Nothing?" she said grimly. Her black eyes locked onto the younger girl. "Are you sure? What about last time?"

Hotaru shook her head. "That was different. I didn't have a choice."

Chibi-Usa moved close beside her, catching her hand and holding it tightly. "It's not real, Taru. We won't let that happen."

"It could be real," Rei insisted, moving closer to her. "Don't you think we thought the same in our last life? When I saw the palace burning down, overrun by shadows, we still thought we could stop it."

"We can," Hotaru replied, but even to her own ears, her voice sounded weak and unsure.

"Who are you willing to lose to stop it?" Rei snarled, advancing on her. Hotaru stumbled back. She felt Chibi-Usa's hand slip away. The room seemed to be closing in on her, the oppressive heat making it hard to breathe. "What if it takes us? Or the queen?" Rei glanced over, a cruel smile forming. "What about her?"

Hotaru followed her gaze to the princess. The moment she looked away, Rei closed the distance between them. She grabbed her wrist and yanked her forward so they were face to face.

"Tell me the truth," Rei growled. "If you lost her, would the world still be worth saving?"

Hotaru's vision began to blur with tears. Light flared beside her as a flaming sword formed in Rei's free hand. "I…" The vision Rei had shown her choked off the rest of her words. What if she was right? What if the princess was among those bodies, would she still fight?

Rei raised her sword and Hotaru let her own weapon fall. She closed her eyes.

A wave of icy water cascaded over them, breaking her daze. She fell back, pushing Rei away from her. A bolt of lightning arced past her, hitting Rei in the chest and throwing her across the room. She felt hands under her arms, pulling her back to her feet. As her vision began to clear, Ami and Makoto's faces came into focus.

"Are you alright?" Makoto asked, squeezing her shoulder.

"None of that was real," Ami added. "It's the darkness working through her. Don't listen to it, it's not her."

Hotaru looked across the room to where Rei was struggling to get up from her hands and knees. Then Chibi-Usa stepped between them, facing her. "We won't let it happen, Taru. Together, we can stop it."

Her confident tone and sure smile brought a lump to Hotaru's throat. "How do you know." She whispered. "You all know what I'm capable of, what I could do."

Chibi-Usa pulled her into a hug. "Because I know you."

The last of her resolve broke and Hotaru let out a sob. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you." She clung to her friend, burying her face against her shoulder. "I didn't want it to be true. I couldn't face…"

"Shh…" Chibi-Usa tightened her grip on her. "I understand."

Hotaru pulled away, trying to calm her breathing. She started to speak but stopped as a sound reached her from outside. There were raised voices getting closer to them.

Ami raised her eyebrows before gesturing to Makoto to join her. The two of them went cautiously toward the door of the shrine. Ami pulled the door open enough to see a crowd making their way up the hill toward them. She recognized the soldier from the bar and the acolyte from the temple in the lead. The mob was armed and every one of them had black eyes just like Rei.

She slammed the door shut and looked over her shoulder. Rei was on her knees with her eyes closed and waves of black energy were rolling off of her. "She's done something to them," Ami said sharply. "She's controlling them somehow."

Rei got stiffly to her feet and stood to face them. "I know what you're planning," she said softly. "I won't let you hurt her." She held out her hands, reforming her sword and knife in a flash of fire.

Hotaru looked over at the others before calling her glaive. "Keep those people back." She moved into the middle of the room to face the Senshi of fire. Her eyes met black pools and she smiled grimly. "You and I can finish this."