Sailor Moon: The Order of Black

Chapter Thirty Seven - Denouement, Part One

Originally published 14/03/2016

"Mars Flame Sniper!" Sailor Mars unleashed her attack, waiting with bated breath as it closed in on 'Megumi'. The Huntress didn't even try to avoid it, though, and why would she? This was the Sailor Senshi's third shot at hitting her, and Mars was left bitterly disappointed once again. The flaming arrow hit an invisible shield of sorts and dissipated as harmlessly as her first two attacks. Somehow, maddeningly, Chaos was blocking everything she threw at it!

Fortunately, she wasn't alone; she had their tactician to draw upon. Sailors Mercury and Jupiter leapt from their hiding spot and launched their own attacks in quick succession.

"Shine Aqua Illusion!"

"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"

It was a sound plan, one they'd used to great success before; freeze their opponent in place and pepper them with hundreds of leaf-shaped shards. The ball of frozen slush struck the Huntress right in the chest, splashing around her to form a rapidly hardening shell of ice. Jupiter's barrage reached her a split second later, leaving the exposed pieces of her robe in tatters.

"Take that!" Mars crowed, unable to restrain herself after her earlier frustration.

The woman – Chaos, she reminded herself – actually laughed in response. "A sneak attack? If that's the best you can do, Senshi, you're in a lot of trouble!" All trace of mirth dropped from her voice in an instant. "Let me show you the depth of your folly..."

The Senshi regrouped as she drew a sword from beneath her robe. The blade glowed with a familiar violet energy, one Mars recognised from Megumi's last visit. "Scatter!" she cried. Sure enough, they were forced to dodge a ragged energy blast, looking on helplessly as it tore into the courtyard's ancient stonework. Mars was livid! "You bitch! Do you have any idea how old those are?!"

Jupiter tackled her to the ground as another blast sailed past in a narrow miss. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" She dragged her away kicking and screaming, Mercury trying to conceal their escape.

"Sabao Spray!"

"At least we know she, er, it's not as tough as it used to be," Jupiter remarked, pushing Mars against the wall of the shrine none too gently.

"What makes you say that?" Mercury whispered, sneaking over to join them.

She shrugged. "It took us all out with one shot last time."

Mars, having regained her composure, couldn't argue with her logic. "Maybe it's just toying with us?"

"Perhaps," Mercury said, already studying her palmtop. "Then again, it was possessing Sailor Galaxia, one of the most powerful Sailor Senshi in the galaxy. Its current host, this Megumi, is a Black Paladin. Hardly the pushovers we might have expected, but no Galaxia either."

"Oh, Ami," Their pursuer's eerie, disembodied voice echoed around them. "You'll hurt my feelings!"

The air beside them shimmered as she reappeared, driving a crackling fist into Mercury's side. Sailor Jupiter reacted quickly, swinging a roundhouse kick at her masked face, but she barely seemed to feel it at all. The blue-skirted Senshi hit the ground as Mars turned and tossed a charm at Chaos' mask. "Evil Spirit, Begone!"

'Megumi' disappeared in another flash of purple-black light, a mocking cackle lingering after her as the paper slip drifted harmlessly to the ground.

"Okay, maybe she is just playing with us," Jupiter agreed, hauling a dazed Mercury to her feet and beginning a retreat.

"You think?!" Mars snapped, scanning the darkened courtyard for any sign of the creature. It was no use; something like Chaos was beyond them alone. She raised her arm and opened her communicator. "We need Sailor Moon!"

"I don't believe this!"

Chibiusa raised her hands tentatively, trying to pacify her friend. "Easy, Hotaru. This isn't-"

"I've always defended Usagi to Haruka and Michiru - always! - and she still treats me like a little kid!" It was incredibly rare to see the once frail and sickly girl so fired up. "You're my best friend, and she just forgot about me entirely!"

"I know…" The admission came easily. "Usagi's not exactly the same as I remember either."

Hotaru's rant ended as abruptly as it had begun. "You know?"

"I was angry with her too," Chibiusa explained, wringing her hands anxiously. "She really would have done it, Hotaru. She would have killed people…to save me." She shook her head sadly, remembering how shocked she was by Minako's confession. "I couldn't believe it. How could Sailor Moon herself, the paragon of good and justice, bring herself to kill for me?"

Her now-younger friend was quiet, paler than usual too.

"It's funny, but it was Corey of all people who reminded me that Usagi was just scared, and not really thinking straight." A sad smile tugged at the corners of Chibiusa's mouth. "Yes, she's supposed to be better than that, but it proves she's as human as the rest of us. That's why she didn't call you, 'Taru. Not out of spite, or neglect, or any other malicious reason…but because it just didn't occur to her." A quiet sigh slipped from her lips. "I'm just glad Corey stopped her before anyone actually died."

"Oh, Chibiusa…" A sniffle punctuated Hotaru's pause. "People have died!" She sank onto her bed, an expression of self-loathing on her face. "We attacked the Order of Black, before you came back. Before I knew about it, anyway. Uranus was attacked by one of their Hunters, and…" Her hair fell across most of her face as she hung her head. "I killed him…"

Chibiusa felt her heart skip a beat. "What…?"

"It was an accident," the girl said quickly, her eyes widening. "I just wanted him to stop hurting her, and my Glaive...it just..." She wrung her hands guiltily in her lap. "I didn't mean it! At least, I don't think I-"

"Of course you didn't!" The pink-haired girl pulled her into a tight hug. "I know you, Hotaru. It isn't in your nature to intentionally kill anyone!"

"A fact I've endeavoured to remind her of myself."

Chibiusa glanced over her shoulder and found Setsuna leaning against the doorframe. Hotaru wiped her tears away with a wordless nod.

"Now then," the older woman said, "I need to return to the Space-Time Door and see what kind of damage the Order of Black has caused. I can return you to Crystal Tokyo from there."

"No!"

"No?" Setsuna raised an eyebrow at her adamant refusal. "Now, see here-"

"I am not going," she said firmly. "My friends are in danger and I will not abandon them." She folded her arms across her chest and glared pointedly at 'Puu'. "I am Usagi Small Lady Serenity, daughter of Neo-Queen Serenity, heir to the throne of Crystal Tokyo...and I will decide when I'm returning home."

The Guardian of Time met her fiery gaze head-on for several long seconds…but finally sighed. "It seems you really have grown up, haven't you? You're stubborn too, just like your mother."

"Not stubborn!" Chibiusa protested gamely. "Just…strong-willed."

Hotaru blinked. "Aren't they the same thing?"

She shook her head in response. "Helping or hurting, 'Taru?"

Setsuna straightened up. "Very well, Small Lady, I won't force you to return home." She lowered her voice to an irritated grumble. "I doubt I could even if I tried."

Chibiusa hesitated a moment, surprised by her victory, before clearing her throat awkwardly. She'd had an idea of sorts. "Actually, since you are going back anyway…"

"This is much better," Artemis declared, from his newfound perch atop Corey's shoulders.

And everything was going so well, Minako thought sourly. A nice dinner, a romantic, moonlit walk home; the turmoil of the past two days seemed like a distant memory. This was a perfect evening…until the most annoying cat in the world opened his big, fat mouth! She resolved to do what she could to ignore him, letting her head fall against Corey's arm.

"Careful!" the cat snapped, clearly displeased. "I don't need you throwing Corey's balance off!"

"Oh, please," she muttered. "As if someone my size could throw his balance off." You are so going in the laundry hamper when we get home!

"I suppose you're right," he admitted, blue eyes sparkling with mischief. "I'm certainly much safer up here, though. Secure and stable, unlike your shoulders."

Minako just rolled her eyes. "I'm not that unstable."

He snickered in response. "That's just too easy."

Her eyebrow twitched, before the obvious occurred to her and she nudged Corey. "Hey, he's right! That was too easy." She peered up at him suspiciously. "Where's your obligatory 'crazy Minako' joke of the day?"

He shrugged indifferently. "Guess I missed it."

"You, miss it? I don't think so!" Minako pulled him to a stop just outside their building. "You've been quiet all day, even through dinner. What gives, Corey?"

"Nothing gives," he protested, shaking her loose and pulling open the door. "I've just got a lot on my mind."

She squeezed past him and turned, effectively blocking his path. "Such as?"

Artemis rolled his eyes and tapped the American on the side of the head. "Just tell her, Corey. She's not going to give up and you know it."

Her eyebrow twitched again. "You talked to Artemis before me?"

Corey paled just a little. "Uh…"

Minako planted her hands on her hips and leaned in. "What's going on?"

A long, heavy sigh was his response as he ducked around her and headed for the stairs. "Just...don't get mad, okay?"

"Why am I going to get mad?" she asked, hot on his heels.

"That's not how this works! You're just supposed to agree to not get mad."

"That makes no sense!" Minako countered. "Why would I agree to not get mad when I don't know what I'm agreeing to not get mad about in the first place?"

"Selene help me…" Artemis groaned, burying his head in his paws.

Corey paused at the first floor landing and turned, his jaw set. "Fine. I…" He brushed a hand through his unkempt brown hair, something Minako recognised as a nervous habit. "I've been thinking about going home. Back to Iowa."

The blonde froze in her tracks, nearly tripping up the stairs. What?!

"Remember Dawkins? I told you how he left me the Forge, right?" His anxious fidgeting wasn't at all like him; she was used to a far more confident Corey. "I'd always planned on rebuilding it, you know. Fixing it up and turning it into something he could be proud of, the way he always wanted."

Artemis' snarky taunts were long gone. He appeared almost sympathetic, his tail twitching nervously behind Corey's head.

"You…" Minako struggled to find her voice, caught entirely by surprise. "Is this because of Usagi and the others?"

"No," he assured her, "though, if I'm honest, that makes it a lot easier to consider." That seemed like a completely inadequate descriptor for the infighting that had plagued their team, but Corey did have a talent for understatement. He shrugged in an overt display of hopelessness. "I just feel like I need some time away from everyone else, so I can decompress and get my head straight again. I can't do that here."

She wandered past him in silence, continuing up towards their apartment. Her head was spinning; it hardly seemed real. "I get the Forge, I do, but why can't you figure things out here…with me?"

Corey seized her wrist gently, pulling her to a halt again. "You know why."

Her head dipped forward in a reluctant nod. "I guess so."

He thrust his hands into his pockets. "You, uh…you could always come with me?"

Minako sighed. "I'd like that, I really would, but...my place is here. Especially with Chaos, and the Order of Black. You know that."

It was his turn to sigh. "Yeah."

She began ambling down the hall towards their door, pausing again just before reaching it. "This sucks."

Corey reached for her, but stopped just short of touching her shoulder. "I just…I really feel like I need this." His eyes turned to the ceiling. "I can't keep pretending I'm happy just going to classes every day, learning about mechanical engineering."

"Worst cover story ever," she agreed quietly. Who did he think he was fooling with that?

"It took me a while to figure out who I really am, but this is it…and this is what I want to do." He let a faint smile form. "You could even say it's my dream."

Oh, damn it. Minako knew exactly how it felt to dream…and what it meant to have the support of your loved ones. If I try to force Corey to give up his dream for me, what kind of girlfriend would I be? It won't be easy…but it's what I have to do. She sighed a final time, then turned and nodded. "Okay."

"I mean, it's not like I've made up my mind yet, and I can blink back whenever you-" He froze, staring down at her in a sort of confused suspicion. "Okay? Just like that?"

She nodded again. "I love you, Corey, and I want you to be happy. If that means you need to do this, then…" She took one last deep breath. "You have my support."

Corey pulled her in close. "Thank you." They held each other in a comfortable and even intimate silence. Then…

"Who are you, and what have you done with the real Minako?"

She reached up and smooshed Artemis' face without a second thought, sending him tumbling to the floor. "You should be more supportive of my new direction in life!"

He glared up at her, the fur on his tail and back bristling. "I'm not convinced you have one after that little display!"

Corey smiled almost sadly. "And I thought Titus and I had a dysfunctional relationship." It gave way to a frown as he patted down his pockets. "Damn. Forgot my keys."

"You really are distracted, aren't you?" Minako teased, allowing herself a giggle. "Don't worry, I have mine." She reached into her 'space pocket' - ignoring Artemis' reproachful 'tsk, tsk' for good measure- and produced a large, crystal love heart. Several keys hung from it in a haphazard arrangement; it took her several attempts to locate the right one. "Here we are."

The key slid into the lock with a familiar click…just as Minako's well-trained eyes caught an odd flash around the edges of the door. She sprang back, instinctively bringing her arms up to protect her face as it exploded, showering her with splinters. The force of the blast propelled her into the far wall, an intense pain shooting up her spine as her once-broken back protested the impact. No Senshi powers to cushion that one!

It took a few moments for her to realise her ears were ringing, and a few more after that for her to finally lift her head. She was slumped against the wall, hair in her face, with several pieces of their former door scattered around her. "Ow…"

A meaty 'thwack' roused Minako from her daze. She glanced up to see Corey struggling against a tall, black-robed figure; a Hunter of the Order of Black. Her boyfriend slapped the assassin's arm out of the way and punched him in the side of the head, but they weren't so easily discouraged.

"Mina!" Artemis cried, nuzzling her arm. "Are you alright?"

She began to move, trying to clear the cobwebs from her head, when a second figure emerged from their darkened apartment; another Hunter. Her eyes darted to the dagger in his hand as he strode towards her with purpose.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice softer than she'd expected, "but you've seen too much. It's most regrettable, but you must be silenced...for the good of the Black."

"What…?" Usagi turned slowly on the spot, confused beyond measure to find herself standing in the courtyard of the Hikawa Shrine. "How did I get here?"

"Your own poor decision-making."

Her head snapped up; Corey was standing right in front of her. "Corey?"

"Your mother warned you," he muttered, shaking his head in disgust, "but you ignored me the same way she did."

Her face fell. "No, I didn't, I just…I needed to save Chibiusa-"

"Don't ever make me choose between you and justice again," he said coldly, "because it'll be justice every time." He turned his back on her, walking away without another word.

Usagi felt an inexorable urge to defend herself, just as she had before. "What else was I supposed to do, Corey? I'm still waiting on that magical third option!"

A sarcastic laugh came from behind her. "Third option?"

Usagi span around to find none other than Sailor V sitting on the shrine's front steps. "V-chan? No, wait, that's stupid. Minako?"

She reached up and adjusted her distinctive red glasses with a derisive snort. "You like to talk about 'third options', Usagi, but this is hardly the first time you've considered killing someone."

"What?! When else have I ever done that?!"

"Katarina," the original Sailor Senshi said flatly. "You were all set to kill her, and for what? 'Stealing' Alan from me when he was never even mine to begin with? I had to beg you to try and save her!" It was odd to see her former hero roll her eyes behind her glasses. "And people call me overly dramatic!"

"I wasn't…I mean, she…"

'V' rose to her feet, shaking her head. "Love and justice, Usagi. They used to mean something to you too, remember?"

"V. Minako. You have to know I didn't want to kill anyone!" Her chest actually hurt, an odd tightness that clamped down on her heart. "I just wanted to keep Chibiusa safe. I-"

"You knew what would happen."

The voice, once again, came from behind her…and it was disturbingly familiar. More so than Corey and Minako; Usagi was afraid to hear from her most of all.

"You can lie to everyone else, Usagi, but not me. Never me."

The ponytailed blonde turned slowly, fearfully, to look upon her fourteen-year-old self.

"After all, I am you." The younger Usagi ambled around her and sank carefully onto the steps of the shrine. "What happened to you? How did you become so cold that you could seriously consider that many deaths?"

"You're not real…" Usagi took a step back, looking for any escape. The shrine had changed, though, an out of place stone wall rising around the courtyard to block her escape.

"When did you stop looking for another way? A better way? When you were me-"

It all erupted at once. "You're right, I was you, and what did that get me? A whole lot of criticism and dead friends." She glared fiercly at her younger self as she recoiled. "I was too naive, too innocent, and now I'm too heavy-handed, too cold! What does it take to please everyone?!"

"Pleasing everyone is impossible. That's something Mother knew all too well."

It hit Usagi like a punch to the stomach. Mother. She chose injustice repeatedly because it was harder to take a stand against it. Am I…am I falling into the same trap now?

Younger Usagi studied her curiously. "Is it really worth it?"

"Is what really worth it?" she asked bitterly.

"Being prepared for the future. Is being a strong, decisive Queen really worth losing yourself?" A lone tear slid down her fourteen-year-old self's cheek. "Is it worth losing Chibiusa's respect? What about everyone else's?"

All I wanted to do was avoid Mother's mistakes, Usagi thought sombrely. Have I stumbled right into the same trap by doing so?

"Love and justice," Younger Usagi said quietly. "That's what Minako said. They meant something to you too, once upon a time." Her eyes narrowed, and she was now older; Usagi's mirror image. "Well, Usagi? Is that still the case, or have you chosen a different path?"

"Usagi?"

She sat up with a start and glanced about. Michiru and Haruka's bedroom. The far-too-comfortable chair beneath her felt solid enough, and the still-sleeping Michiru on the bed beside her made more sense than an encounter with her younger self. It was a dream. Of course it was. The tightness remained in her chest, however; an unpleasant reminder of it all the same.

"Usagi?" Luna repeated her call. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," she replied quietly, sitting up and rubbing at her tired eyes. "Just a bad dream, that's all."

The cat's eyes tightened suspiciously. "You've been suffering through a lot of those lately. When was the last time you got a good night's sleep?"

"I honestly don't know anymore. Before all of this started, at least." Usagi sat forward, clutching her hands tightly in her lap. One question burned in her mind above anything else. "What happened to me, Luna?"

"I'm sorry?" Her ears perked up quizzically. "In what sense?"

"A few years ago I never could have conceived of any of this, but now? Our team is fractured, on the very brink of collapse…and it's all my fault." She watched as Luna froze up, all but confirming it. "If you're truly my friend, Luna, you'll be honest with me now. You think I was wrong too, don't you?"

The cat paced uncomfortably. "Not wrong, per se, just…caught up in the circumstances. You made a rash decision based on emotion, one that may have led to disastrous consequences-"

"And nobody said anything!" Usagi found herself angry. "Minako disagreed with me the whole time, but she didn't say anything until pressed. Now, you?" She lowered her voice quickly, concerned that Michiru might wake prematurely. "Nobody had the courage to stand up and tell me how they really felt. Nobody but Corey!"

"It's not easy to criticise those you care for, Usagi, because you don't want to hurt them." Luna hung her head guiltily. "I faced the same struggle with your mother, and I fear I failed you the same way I failed her. I'm supposed to provide you with guidance, but I held off for fear of derailing your recent development, your newfound confidence as future Queen-"

"I'm no Queen," Usagi muttered bitterly, "and I don't want a bunch of sycophants, Luna, I want my friends! The friends who are supposed to be honest with me!" She shook her head, feeling more than betrayed in that moment. "If this is what the future holds, I'm even more certain than ever that I want no part of it!"

A hint of desperation entered Luna's voice. "Usagi, please, you can't start regressing now! If-"

An urgent beeping cut her off; Usagi's communicator. She flipped it open with an irritable sigh. "I'm a little busy, Rei."

"Usagi!" Her flawless skin was marred with soot, her eyes wide with adrenaline. "Chaos is here, at the shrine. She-"

A woman's voice erupted from the tiny speaker. "Found you!"

There was a flash of light, a startled shriek and, with a final burst of static, the screen went dark. The ponytailed blonde gasped as her heart leapt into her throat. "Rei? Rei?!"

Michiru sat bolt upright beside her, still groggy. "What? What's happening?"

There was little time to respond; two pairs of footsteps rushed down the hall and Chibiusa burst into the room, followed quickly by Hotaru. "I heard you shout. What's wrong?"

Usagi was struggling not to panic. Between her still-recent dream, her moral quandary and now this, it wasn't as easy as she would have liked. "I have to get to the shrine, Chibiusa, they need me!"

"Who needs you?"

Michiru's eyes widened, losing some of their glassiness. "What's happened, Usagi?"

"Rei and Ami, maybe Mako too! Chaos is…I mean, it's…they're in trouble!" She glanced up at Hotaru. "You're mad at me right now, I get that, and I am sorry I didn't call you, but-"

Hotaru quickly cut her off with a curt nod. "I'm with you."

Michiru swung her legs off the bed and, with Chibiusa's help, managed to stand. "I'll see if I can wake Haruka."

"No! If you're still-"

"We'll be fine," the aqua-haired woman said firmly. "If Chaos is really here, it's going to take all of us to stop it, trust me."

Luna cringed as she looked up at Usagi. "I don't like it either, but Michiru has a point."

Hotaru nodded her agreement as Chibiusa pouted, abruptly glum. "Without my broach, I'm useless."

Usagi hesitated, already halfway out the door. "I'm sorry, Chibiusa, but if you were to come, without your powers…"

"I'd only get in the way." The pink-haired girl hung her head. "I know…and I won't make that mistake again. Ever again."

"I don't…" A thought occurred as Hotaru joined Usagi in the doorway. "Wait, where's Setsuna? Sailor Pluto would come in really handy right about now."

"She returned to the Space-Time Door," Hotaru explained quietly.

"And she didn't say how long she'd be." Chibiusa's tone was apologetic.

Usagi considered that, then nodded quickly to Hotaru. "You and I will have to do then. Let's go!" She rushed off with the dark-haired girl in hot pursuit…leaving Chibiusa sitting with Michiru and Luna.

"Be safe…"

"It's most regrettable, but you must be silenced...for the good of the Black."

Minako's back ached following the impact, but there was little time to dwell on that now. The blade in his hand gleamed in the dull light of the corridor as he closed in. At this range, she could even see his eyes beneath his mask; sad, hazel eyes. Human eyes. Still, she decided, I have no intention of letting him kill me, no matter how bad he might feel about it later!

She thrust her hands into the floor and pushed off, ignoring the protests from her spine. The dagger descended…and she flipped into the air, kicking him square in the jaw before coming back down on her feet. Minako pinwheeled her arms, struggling to stay upright, and wound up pressing a hand to her back in pain. "That really, really hurt!"

Her opponent was less than impressed by her acrobatics. Those same hazel eyes that had widened a split second before tightened coldly. "Senshi." He all but spat the word with impressive vitriol, and it was truly terrifying how quickly his entire demeanour changed. Any trace of sympathy was gone, and she was reminded of a wild animal, a predator stalking its prey. Evocative of the nickname for these masked assassins. Hunters.

She gulped as he stepped forward. Uh, oh.

Mars ducked to the side as 'Megumi' flung another violet blast from her sword. She had the distinct impression Chaos was just toying with them now. It had half-heartedly targeted her, but left Jupiter and Mercury alone for the most part. They'd retreated into the trees surrounding the shrine, hoping the cover would allow them to regroup, but it had found them with little difficulty.

"Sailor Moon's on her way, right?" Mercury called, dropping from the trees above. Her communicator was a wreck, sparking from a deep gouge in the 'watch face'. An angry, red welt rose from the skin under her torn glove, perfectly in line with the damaged device. "I couldn't reach Justice or Venus."

"Of all the times to go offline," Mars snarled, cursing their stubbornness. "They're-" She was silenced by another blast from the darkness. It tore into her thigh and span her painfully to the ground.

"Mars!" Jupiter dropped to her knees, trying in vain to lift the miko back to her feet. She screamed in agony as a second blast struck her, wrapping her in violet flame.

Mercury backed up, scanning the courtyard frantically. "I…I don't see her!" She was hit just a second later, a third bolt tearing into her shoulder and knocking her down.

Mars managed to roll to her side and inch across the tiles, trying to reach her downed friends. She froze as a low, ominous chuckle fluttered towards her, chilling her to the core.

"This is just too easy." Chaos, still in Megumi's guise, drifted out of the shadows. "It's almost enough to make me reconsider…but I do love killing Sailor Senshi."

The raven-haired Senshi managed to make it to her feet, wincing at the pain shooting up her leg. So, it really was toying with us this whole time.

"You'll be first, Rei." The masked woman extended her hand slowly. "Your death will cause Usagi immeasurable pain-"

"Hold it right there!"

Mars let out the breath she hadn't realised she was holding. "Sailor Moon!"

The blonde Senshi dropped to the ground at the edge of the courtyard, behind Chaos. "You want to kill someone? Try killing me!" Sailor Saturn landed beside her, Silence Glaive held tightly in her grip.

Something odd happened; 'Megumi' lowered her hand. She turned slowly, her mask betraying no emotion, but there was a near-breathless quality to her voice. "It's really you."

"What?" Moon's brow wrinkled, belying her confusion. "Of course it's really me!"

"After all this time…" The masked woman bowed deeply, her robe adding an odd, amorphous touch to her appearance. "There was barely time to look at you in London, no room for proper greetings."

Mars frowned, supremely unsettled. She, I mean, it almost sounds affectionate!

"Look at you. You haven't changed a bit, even after more than two years; still the same in every little way." Her mask shifted slowly, its seemingly empty sockets briefly flashing red as they locked on the dark-haired girl beside her. "And you brought me Hotaru. How sweet…"

Moon stepped in front of the younger Senshi. "I dispersed you. How did you recover so quickly?"

Mars knew her friend well enough to spot the cracks in her façade. She's putting on a brave face, but she's terrified!

"I didn't." Smugness practically dripped from the Huntress' voice. "I've been here for a long time. Far longer than any of you. Since the days of the old Golden Kingdom, in fact."

"But…" Sailor Moon took a step back, clearly caught off-guard. "But you say that you know me…"

"Indeed I do, Usagi." Her eyes flashed again as she took a step forward. "Now, I-" She paused, a low, rumbling drone echoing across the courtyard from the distance.

Jupiter winced as she got to her feet, her fuku scorched and torn. "That doesn't sound good."

Saturn's eyes flashed with recognition. "Oh, no…"

The blonde Senshi beside her wasn't quite as quick. Her head darted back and forth as she searched for the source. "What? What's wrong now?"

Chaos turned, staring off at the Tokyo skyline. "Fools…" Her fist clenched slowly into a tight fist. "You were told to wait!"

Mercury joined Mars and Jupiter beside Sailor Moon. "Helicopters. Four of them."

Saturn was facing the rapidly-approaching din as well, now recognisable as turbines and rotors. "I know that sound. It's the Order of Black!"

Mars blanched. "Here?!" Her thoughts turned immediately to the shrine. If those bastards cause any more damage…

The Huntress sighed irritably. "It would seem our reunion has been interrupted yet again, Sailor Moon. Fear not, however; this will all be over soon…one way or another." She disappeared in a black and purple flash, leaving the Senshi alone.

"It knows my name," Moon murmured, swallowing visibly.

"Which means the Order of Black might know it too," Jupiter reminded her, tearing off a piece of her damaged chest bow.

Several beeps accompanied Mercury's furious typing on her computer. "At this rate, they'll be on us in less than a minute."

The tall brunette to her left cracked her knuckles. "How do you want to play this, Sailor Moon? Fight or flee?"

"I…I don't know," she admitted, spreading her hands helplessly. "Things are different now. With that monster on their side-"

"I'm not sure it is on their side," Saturn said quickly, interrupting her thought. "Back in Brussels, with Uranus and Neptune, the Black Paladins had us pinned down...and Chaos stayed hidden, out of sight. It didn't chase us, and the Hunters that came with it were Constructs, not humans."

Mercury cocked her head to one side. "So, the Order may not know that Chaos is masquerading as one of its soldiers?"

Sailor Moon rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Maybe not." She remained silent for a few more seconds before summoning her Tiare. "That settles it. We're staying."

"We are?" Mars asked warily.

Her blonde friend nodded. "I nearly made a terrible mistake yesterday, but that's not the path I want to follow. Maybe we can still reach these Paladins, talk them down and convince them of the threat Chaos poses?"

It was Jupiter's turn to swallow nervously. "I hope you know what you're doing, Usagi."

"So do I, Mako."

Mars placed her hand on Moon's shoulder and squeezed. "We're with you though. No matter what."

The blonde smiled in return. "I know."

The first of the helicopters surged overhead with a deafening roar, jerking to a stop over the courtyard as armour-clad soldiers began their descent. The Order of Black had arrived.

Corey looked on, relieved immeasurably by Minako's acrobatics. His heart skipped a beat when the door exploded in her face, but if she was pulling off moves like that she was probably okay. That left him free to focus on his own opponent. He'd already delivered two heavy blows to the man's head, but it seemed Hunters were made of sterner stuff.

First, he avoided two quick cuts from the robed man's dagger. A barely perceptible pause before the third strike let him block it, deflecting the Hunter's arm with his own. Corey followed with a quick jab that staggered him, and that left him with an opening. He ducked under the retaliatory swing, took a hold of his opponent's arm, and readied himself…

The plastic knife in Corey's hand felt strange. Wrong. He was used to Justiciar, a blade over three feet long; this practice blade was far too light and malleable.

The grizzled older man in front of him gestured impatiently. "Come on, kid, stab me already!"

He rolled his eyes. "I have a name, Dawkins."

"Maybe so, but here, in my gym? You're 'kid' until I decide otherwise. Now, get your whiney ass over here and try to kill me!"

The sixteen-year-old lunged, thrusting at the older man's torso with the unfamiliar weapon. In one, fluid motion, Dawkins side-stepped his attack, seized his arm, pulled it taut…and drove his palm up into Corey's elbow. It was just a light tap, but it was enough to send pain shooting up his arm. The knife hit the floor as he pulled away, holding his arm protectively. "Jesus, what the hell was that?!"

"Boxing is all well and good," Dawkins said, deadly serious now, "but when you're going up against someone with a weapon, you will lose sooner or later. Disarm them quick and put them down hard; it's your only real chance."

It was a lesson Corey took to heart right away…and it was time to use it. He drove his palm into the Hunter's elbow as hard as he could, and was rewarded with a sickening crunch as it gave out. There was no scream of pain, only a strange, hissed grunt. He followed up with a forearm right to the back of his head, driving the masked man face first to the floor.

He turned his attention to Minako. She was dodging her own opponent's attacks, but seemed to be holding her own. Artemis readied himself to leap, his hindquarters wriggling in a tell-tale sign of preparation. Cold fear twisted his stomach into knots for reasons he couldn't quite explain…

Titus howled in agony as arc after arc of negative energy coursed through his tiny body. Thick, acrid smoke curled into the air as his fur burned, his limbs twitching sporadically…

"Artemis, don't!" The cry erupted from Corey's throat before he even realised it, but it worked; the cat froze, then retreated. The Guardian Knight began heading for Minako instead, but she took matters into her own hands. In a manner of speaking…

"Sai-" She hesitated a moment, reconsidering her words, then… "Minako Whirling Heel Kick Special!" She span in the air, swinging her foot into the Hunter's temple.

He staggered back, taken by surprise, and Corey took advantage, first shoving his masked face through the plaster of the wall, and then into the floor with just enough force to leave him motionless.

Artemis rushed over, his ears pricking up. "I hear two heartbeats."

Corey sagged, abruptly exhausted. He was still far weaker than he liked to admit.

Minako joined him, her blue eyes wide. "That was unexpected."

"Are you okay?" He doubled over in a sudden, painful coughing fit as everything caught up with him. "Shit..."

"Never mind me," she cried, clearly alarmed. "What about you?"

"I'm…fine," he croaked, reaching up to finger his chest and finding blood on his shirt. The strenuous activity had torn his stitches, reopening the wound he'd suffered at Chaos' hands.

Artemis grimaced. "Corey-"

"I'll manage," he snapped. "As for you, don't you dare try something like that again, you hear me? You don't get involved, ever!"

The cat recoiled, blinking rapidly. "Yes, fine, I hear you!" He cleared his throat hurriedly and meowed loudly as a door just down the hall opened.

A white-haired old lady poked her head out; Mrs. Kasagawa, their elderly neighbour. "What the devil is going on out here?!"

Minako span quickly with an awkward, forced laugh. "Oh, uh, nothing to worry about, obaasan, just a couple of…" She gestured helplessly and finally gave up with a sigh. "Assassins..."

There was an extremely short pause. "Would you like me to call the police, dear?"

The blonde glanced at Corey in confusion, and shrugged when he did. "Uh, sure, that would be...nice?"

The old woman disappeared inside her own apartment again, and they seized upon the chance to get out of sight themselves. Corey investigated their living room carefully, not trusting the quiet. "I really hope this place isn't about to explode. I can't afford to lose another security deposit."

"I'm more concerned by the fact that they knew who you were," Minako murmured, tossing her bag onto the couch.

"Yet they weren't expecting you," Artemis observed, his tail twitching slowly from side to side. "That Hunter actually seemed sorry he had to kill you...until he worked out who you really were."

"I guess it proves Rinjerko's point," she admitted, cracking her back with a grimace. "They're not all bad, at least not in a 'grrr, evil' kind of way. Still, killing a beautiful young university student-"

The cat rolled his eyes. "Completely unnecessary."

"-just because she saw their masks seems a little over the top, don't you think?" She frowned as her communicator beeped, then gasped loudly. "Oh, no!"

"What is it?" Corey asked quickly, still struggling to get his breathing under control.

"We missed an emergency call in the struggle. Emergency code, trouble at the shrine!"

"Chaos?" Artemis asked nervously. "Or the Order of Black?"

Corey felt his expression darken. "Or both?"

Minako looked him over concernedly, pointing out his blood-stained shirt. "Can you even handle another fight right now?"

"That doesn't matter," he answered, summoning Justiciar with a thought. "I have to handle it."

She nodded reluctantly as she produced her wand, uttering her transformation phrase very quietly. "Venus Crystal Power…Make Up." It was odd hearing it spoken so softly, but with Mrs. Kasagawa in close proximity, not to mention the fallen Hunters, she was wise to be cautious.

Corey held out his arm expectantly as his armour appeared around him. "Ready?"

Sailor Venus let out a groan. "My poor stomach…"

Justice slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her in close. Then, focusing on the shrine…they vanished in a flash of golden light.

AN: Somewhat surprisingly, I don't have a lot to say about this one. I tend to focus on my endings pretty heavily, writing out detailed descriptions before I even begin a fic, so I sort of knew what was going to happen this time out. I only hope I managed to strike a balance between comedy, drama and action without turning some scenes frivolous.

Yes, I used another dream/hallucination fake out - a staple of mine if you've been reading since Last Guardian Knight Act I! - but it seemed like a fun way to show Usagi in the midst of a crisis of confidence. The visual of a jaded Sailor V mocking her was too much fun to pass up, as was fourteen-year-old Usagi chewing out her older self!

Aside from that, my only other fear is that 'Megumi' came across as kind of pointless. Chaos one-shot the Guardian Senshi in Stars - don't get me started on that scene! - so I wanted to avoid that...but the thing is she probably COULD have done just that. Having her mock the girls and prolong their suffering seemed pretty in-character though, and the Order of Black unintentionally saved the day...only to make things very bad for the Senshi next time out?

Anyhoo, thanks to those who reviewed last time out. I was really starting to wonder at the lack of feedback the previous couple of times, but knowing there are at least a few of you still reading helped me finally knuckle down and smash this instalment out. I suspect, unless something changes drastically, Chapter 38 will be the finale. At this stage, Order of Black is the first part of two, with the second tentatively titled "Rise of the Exalted Knights". So, yeah...one more chapter to go guys. I hope you find it entertaining!

Lisseas