A Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Fanfic:
"A Promise of Forever"
by: s16thunderjet
Chapter 4:
I Believe You
Centuries ago, when the gods and goddesses held dominion over the lands, there existed a kingdom. Found on the surface of the White Moon, this kingdom was called the Moon Kingdom.
With the power of the Legendary Silver Crystal, the Moon Kindgom was created by the goddess Selene, who later left governance of the land to her descendants, the women of the White Moon.
Over time, citizens of the nearby kingdoms learned of the infinite power possessed by the Silver Crystal and the women of the White Moon, most especially their ruler, Queen Serenity.
Knowledge of the Silver Crystal's power spread all over the Silver Millennium, and one by one, rulers of the neighboring monarchies plotted against the Moon Kingdom in order to seize the Legendary Silver Crystal.
Numerous sneak attacks and assassination plots were uncovered and stopped by the warriors of the White Moon, forcing the monarchs of the rival kingdoms to resort to more drastic means.
Some kingdoms allied themselves with each other and joined forces in an effort to overthrow the current sovereignty and destroy the Moon Kingdom, and ultimately, get their hands on the Silver Crystal.
When all of their attacks failed, the allied monarchs turned on one another and destroyed each other's kingdoms, along with what little chance they had of succeeding.
The battle for the Legendary Silver Crystal and absolute dominion over the entire Silver Millennium later escalated into a full scale war that lasted for over a century.
Queen Serenity could only watch as millions of innocent civilians died as a result of the never ending conflict between the kingdoms that battled each other for a prize that was not even theirs to claim.
It was the goddess Selene herself who intervened, punishing those consumed by their greed for power and saving the people who wanted an end to all the fighting.
The war destroyed majority of the Silver Millennium, leaving the Moon Kingdom as the only Great House completely intact along with a small number of member Houses from the original hundred.
House Saturn suffered most of the damage. The royal family was killed along with the annihilation of their entire kingdom, leaving the sole heir to the throne, a young Princess, as the only survivor.
A disheartened Selene knew that she was partly to blame for all the devastation and decided that the temptation must be removed to ensure that the war will never happen again.
The citizens of the Silver Millennium all begged the goddess to reconsider, asking instead to grant the Moon Kingdom power over all the other kingdoms, and Queen Serenity, absolute sovereignty.
Though filled with uncertainty, the goddess granted their pleas on the condition that the other nine member Houses each send a daughter to a life of servitude on the Moon.
The Great Houses complied without question, clearly demonstrating the people's sincere desire to live in peace and prosperity under Queen Serenity's rule.
Seven of the remaining nine member Houses immediately sent their daughters to fulfill their part of the bargain, with the Princess of Saturn already taking up residence in the Moon Kingdom Palace.
At that time, House Gaia had lost its only Princess to the war, so the Royal Family was forced to offer someone else in her stead. That person was the crown Prince and sole surviving heir.
The goddess took pity on House Gaia, allowing the young Prince to remain with his kingdom and lead his people in the place of his departed father and sister and his ailing mother.
The young Prince thanked the goddess for her generosity, and vowed to send his future daughter to serve the Moon Kingdom's Royal Family in order to fulfill his people's obligation.
Once the pact with the goddess had been sealed, the people slowly began to rebuild the fallen kingdoms. House Saturn was left the way it was, a barren wasteland utterly destroyed by those who once claimed it as their home.
So that no one would ever forget the tragedy that had almost destroyed them all, the citizens of the Silver Millennium celebrated the anniversary of the end of the Great War every year.
Over the years, the entire kingdom was blessed with happiness, abundance and serenity. And on the eve of its millenial anniversary, the people were given another reason to celebrate.
"Your Majesty?"
Her Royal Highness, the Crown Princess, Serenity of the White Moon, sole heir to the throne of the Silver Millennium, turned to face her most trusted adviser and closest friend.
The melancholy blonde gazed at her lover for what could be the last time. She studied the other woman's features, her dark green hair that glowed in the moonlight and her ruby eyes that shone with unconditional love.
"You're leaving, then?" Serenity asked, her quite voice devoid of all emotion.
"The Queen has granted me until midnight... but yes, I am leaving."
Serenity nodded almost mechanically at the response, her lips curling upward into a horrendously forced smile, the light in her eyes dying with every second that passed.
"I see. Congratulations on your... promotion. I'm sure the Council is most proud to have you as the Guardian of the Gates of Time."
The Princess of Pluto remained nonchalant in the wake of the other woman's insinuation. Anger radiated off of Serenity in waves, the blonde clearly feeling betrayed by the person she loved the most.
"Silent as always. Well, if you have nothing else to say, you might as well..."
A pair of strong arms wrapped around her from behind, eliciting a surprised gasp from the young Princess. Her words forgotten, Serenity sagged backwards, cherishing the feel of her lover's arms.
"I'm sorry, Serene... but this is the only way." she uttered with a slight quiver in her voice.
Serenity turned her head slightly to lay a gentle kiss on her love's cheek, then settled back in the comfort of those arms. They had both chosen duty over love, life and survival over the other's certain death.
Even with that knowledge, however, neither felt that they had done the right thing.
"Should we have told everyone? Should we have gone against my mother and fought against the Council once they had found out?" Serenity asked, her voice a mere whisper.
"Not at the cost of your life." Pluto replied almost instantly, her grip on her Princess tightening ever so slightly.
Freeing herself from the other woman's arms, the blonde whirled to take in the resigned look on her lover's face, her hands fisting at the cloths within her grasp in frustration.
"What about yours? Eternity is a long time. Loneliness would consume even a heart as strong as yours." she uttered, almost choking on her own tears as she buried her face in her love's chest.
"I won't be alone. You'll always be in my heart... and that's enough to last me until my dying days."
The world stood still for a moment, as though the gods were taking pity on the soon to be separated lovers, the silence of the night allowing them to hear nothing but the beating of their hearts.
Sadly, even eternity seemed to have an ending, as the two reluctantly broke what could be their final embrace, their hands touching gentler than usual, their fingertips lingering far longer than needed.
They looked into each other's eyes, their gazes boring into each of their souls, finding a love that is as unconditional as it is unending, but as destined as it is doomed.
"This really is it, isn't it? I will never see you again." Serenity whispered, her fingers tracing an invisible line towards Pluto's lips, her gaze turning from melancholy to bold to passionate.
"We'll still see each other. The Queen has granted me passage during special celebrations." Pluto replied almost mechanically, the Senshi of Time doing everything in her power to distract herself.
The blonde only nodded in response, her fingertips parting her lover's lips ever so slightly, her eyes staring hungrily at that delectable mouth as her own tongue darted out to wet her own lips in anticipation.
Unable to resist any longer, Pluto gently caught the questing digit in between her teeth, sucking on it with all her pent up desire, letting her tongue lavish and envelop it in a warm caress.
"It won't be the same as having you near me like this." Serenity breathed, nuzzling at the other woman's lips before pulling her finger free and replacing it with her mouth.
They kissed each other with a passion that neither of them knew they possessed, eyes closed and arms wrapped around each other in a fierce embrace, hands touching just about anywhere possible.
Tongues battled as they poured their love for each other into that kiss, hands pulling and clawing at the pieces of clothing keeping their bodies from touching, warm skin on warm skin.
"Setsuna..." Serenity whispered as they pulled back from the kiss, both breathing in some much needed air before devouring each other once more.
It was at that moment that some semblance of sanity reasserted itself amidst the sea of love, passion and desire. Princess Pluto took a step back from the blonde, a disbelieving look on her face.
"Serenity... we can't do this. You're getting married tomorrow." she uttered, her head bowed part in shame and part in avoidance.
The Princess of the White Moon understood all too well what her lover was thinking. She stepped forward until their bodies were mere centimeters from each other, one hand reaching to lift her love's face to hers.
Pluto's breath caught in her throat as she looked into those heartbreakingly beautiful blue eyes, the ruby eyed Senshi seeing for the first time the intensity of her Princess' love.
"Tomorrow, I will bind myself to man that I do not love. I will bear a child for the kingdom and live an eternity of longing for the one person that I cannot have. Tomorrow, I will become someone else's wife."
A slender finger was placed on Pluto's lips, effectively silencing her before she could make any reply. Serenity then began moving a few steps backwards, their eyes never breaking contact.
"Tonight, however... I am giving myself to you."
The dark green haired Senshi could only watch as Serenity's hands reached up to the straps holding up her dress, pausing at the apex, before sliding them off her shoulders and letting the dress fall to the ground.
She then walked towards her lover until there was practically nothing between them, both hands reaching for one of Pluto's, pulling it upwards and laying it on her breast.
Amazed by the softness of her flesh compared to her own, the Senshi of Time could not help but squeeze gently, eliciting a soft moan from the blonde Princess.
Thinking that she had gone a little too far, Pluto pulled back her hand as if burned, ready to kneel down and apologize for her lack of respect and loss of control.
"Serenity... I..."
The rest of her apology was smothered by Serenity's lips on hers and her Princess' fingers interlacing with her own, guiding her hand back toward the blonde's breast, as if granting her permission to touch the heated flesh.
The clear display of absolute trust brought tears to Pluto's eyes, the warm droplets falling onto both of their cheeks. Serenity pulled back to wipe the tears, her thumbs caressing her love's skin.
A tender smile adorned the blonde Princess' face as she stared into those ruby eyes, her own blues carrying a promise that would bind their hearts and souls until the end of forever.
"We may only have until midnight, but know that I am yours for all eternity." Serenity whispered, before sealing the vow with a kiss.
I love you, Serene.
I love you, too... Setsuna.
They spent the night exploring each other's bodies, learning about their sensitive spots, feeling the other's skin rubbing against their own, and just plain loving each other past the point of exhaustion.
As the clock struck midnight, Princess Pluto bid a silent farewell to her still sleeping blonde Princess. She headed for the Gates of Time knowing in her heart that everything would turn out all right.
Even as she watched her soulmate get married to another man later that day, she took solace in the fact that Serenity loved her with every fiber of her being, and that the newly crowned Queen would love only her.
The Senshi of Time could only hope that no one else would suffer the same fate as her and Serenity. Her prayers were for naught, however, because history was already destined to repeat itself.
"It can't be..." Eternal Sailor Moon whispered, her shaking hands coming up to cover her eyes, as though it would keep the reality of the situation from sinking in.
"Hello Serenity." Sailor Mars replied with a smirk as youma began to appear behind her, all hungry and raring to attack.
The Outer Senshi reformed their line without hesitation, all four holding their respective weapons upfront, ready to defend their Princess even from their now former comrade.
The Inner Senshi stood a ways behind them, doubt and disbelief lingering in their minds as they completed the semi-circle between Eternal Sailor Moon and their friend-turned-enemy.
"Well now... is that any way to greet a friend?" Sailor Mars quipped, her smirk widening ever so slightly.
"You're no friend! You're a traitor!" Sailor Uranus growled, the Space Sword gripped tightly in one hand.
"Is that what I'm called these days? Truly an appalling term, don't you agree?" Sailor Mars retorted as she took a step forward, her gaze directed solely at the blonde Princess.
"Come any closer and I'll kill you." Sailor Saturn uttered as she came into view, the promise of death echoing in her voice.
The Senshi of Fire and War raised a very elegant eyebrow in reply, her lips pursing slightly in amusement. She stared down the younger Senshi, Sailor Saturn holding her ground as the two engaged in a glaring match of epic proportions.
"Is that so?" Sailor Mars drawled out, tilting her head to the side as if contemplating how to dismantle the younger girl.
She caught Eternal Sailor Moon carefully making her way forwards, her expression equal parts despair, disbelief and anguish, the sight of her tears bringing a delicious thrill down Sailor Mars spine.
Drawing her gaze back to the dark violet eyed Senshi still watching her like a hawk, she ran her tongue over and around her slightly bared teeth, her smirk turning into a devious grin.
"Why don't you come here and make good on that promise?"
Having laid down the challenge, Sailor Mars watched with absolute delight as the Senshi of Destruction and Rebirth fought off the urge to come at her and take her head off with the Silence Glaive.
Though consumed by animosity, the Senshi of Saturn still had some semblance of control, especially since she could hear her Princess sniffling quietly behind her.
She would not let the challenge go unanswered however, as she adopted a relatively complacent and relaxed stance, her Silence Glaive now held loosely to one side.
"No need. I can kill you from where I'm standing."
The mocking smile vanished from the Senshi of Fire's lips as the other girl's words sunk in. A menacing glare dripping with disdain and madness decorated her features as she crossed her arms tightly across her chest.
"Kill them. Kill them all."
The Senshi reinforced their two tiered semi-circle protecting Eternal Sailor Moon, the Inner Senshi moving to cover the spaces in between the Outer Senshi to form a practically impenetrable shield.
From her perch atop a tree some distance from the scene, Chibiusa closed her eyes and leaned back on the bark behind her for support, the pink haired Princess already knowing the outcome.
Tightening her hold on the Time Key, she prayed to any and all who would listen for strength to keep her self from interfering. Everything needed to happen the way it should for her plan to work.
She only hoped that her conversation with Rei earlier that evening was enough.
Sailor Mars sprinted through the trees as she followed the sounds of battle and flares of power from the other Senshi, a worried grimace plastered on her face.
As promised, Chibusa had brought her close to where Usagi was and the raven haired priestess was extremely grateful for that. She could still have been searching on the other side of the city without the younger girl's help.
Being dropped off at the exact spot would've been nice, too. She grumbled as she sped up, the feeling of helplessness slowly creeping in.
Sailor Mars had faith in her comrades' abilities to protect their Princess and in Eternal Sailor Moon herself, but she would feel a lot better if she was physically there to defend Usagi.
She was mere minutes away from the clearing when a group of youma suddenly appeared from out of nowhere. The Senshi of Fire skidded to a stop as she surveyed the situation through narrowed eyes.
At least three, no, four of them. She gritted her teeth, scanning the area for any more that might be hiding.
Before she could figure out just how many were scattered around the bushes and trees surrounding her, the Senshi of War found herself evading a series of attacks.
Dammit! I have to be more careful.
Seeing her on the defensive, the youma began to converge on her, throwing a flurry of punches and kicks, clawing and slashing at her from all conceivable directions.
Sailor Mars fought back with her considerable might, hoping to create some distance between herself and the youma long enough for her to launch an attack.
Wounds and bruises slowly began to decorate her body as a number of attacks managed to get through her defenses. One of them became a little too eager and moved as if to grab her, and that gave her the perfect opportunity.
Allowing the youma to close in on her, the raven haired Senshi feigned just enough weakness and fear to reel her attacker in. The youma then found itself airborne as Sailor Mars threw him over her shoulder.
"Mars! Flame Sniper!" she cried, piercing the youma through where the heart would be if it had one and pinning it to the tree behind it.
It managed a guttural scream of agony before the flames burned its body to a cinder. Turning her back on the charred mass of flesh, Sailor Mars spun right into an attack that sent her crashing to the ground.
Shaking her head as if to clear the cobwebs, she was barely up on all fours when she was lifted off the ground with a kick to the stomach, sending her a few feet into the air, then slamming back down.
The breath knocked out of her, she could not resist when she was flipped onto her back. Opening her eyes, she willed her body to roll sideways just as a large foot descended to where her head used to be.
Realizing that the youma's foot had gotten buried in the ground by the sheer force of the attack, she reached out and grabbed it with both hands, holding onto it with all her might.
"Fire... Soul!"
The youma suddenly found itself completely on fire as the flames spread like wildfire from its foot to the rest of its body. Sailor Mars jumped as far away as her legs allowed her to, her eyes narrowed at the remaining youma.
Just a couple more. She thought, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps.
"Supreme Thunder!" Sailor Jupiter growled as lightning bolts blasted through the youma surrounding them.
Behind her, she could hear her blue haired comrade typing mercilessly at her small computer, the genius Senshi desperately trying to find a way to give her comrades the upper hand against their enemies.
Sailor Mercury had a bigger responsibility however, as she was entrusted with keeping their Princess from entering the fray and ultimately getting within striking distance of their former comrade.
It pained her to be the one to keep the two best friends from meeting and having the chance to figure out where things had gone wrong, but she could not take any chances, not when lives were at stake.
Further back and seemingly unable to free herself from her two defenders, Eternal Sailor Moon could only watch, helpless, as her friends once again risked their lives to protect her.
Bodies began to pile up all around them, and the blonde Princess could do nothing but pray that none of them belonged to her friends, most especially her best friend who was now in a heated battle with a fellow Senshi.
"Mercury! Aqua Mirage!"
Small spears made of water whisked past Eternal Sailor Moon's surprised features, landing squarely on the youma that had managed to break through her Senshi's defenses.
"Are you OK?" Sailor Mercury breathed as she checked for injuries.
"Yeah. I was just... surprised." Eternal Sailor Moon replied, smiling weakly at the other girl.
A spherical ball of electricity flew past the two Senshi and slammed into the fallen youma before it could recover. Smoke rose from its still convulsing body as the Thunder Senshi approached.
"How are you guys doing?" Sailor Jupiter asked, a tired smile etched on her face.
Before either girl could utter a reply, an explosion rocked their part of the woods, throwing all three sprawling to the ground with debris flying all over the place.
Coughing to clear her throat, Eternal Sailor Moon gingerly pushed herself off the ground, the blonde waving at the dust-filled air to regain some semblance of visibility.
"Mercury? Jupiter?" she called, squinting at the clearing smoke around her.
"I'm here." Sailor Jupiter replied rather hoarsely as she crawled over to her Princess.
"Mercury?" she called again, worry gnawing viciously at her.
When the Senshi of Water and Wisdom did not answer a second time, a sense of urgency filled both blonde and brunette as they quickly began searching for their friend.
Crawling on all fours to see closer to the ground, it was Eternal Sailor Moon who stumbled upon the unconscious Senshi, a thick trail of blood flowing down the side of her head.
"Ami-chan!" the blonde cried out her friend's real name without thinking as she carefully turned the blue haired girl on her back.
Sailor Jupiter scrambled to her side in an instant, the Senshi of Protection silently berating herself for not being able to protect the one person she loved more than anything.
"Ami-chan? Can you hear me?" she whispered, the brunette reluctant to touch the other girl for fear of aggravating her injury.
Slowly, the Water Senshi began to stir, her eyes blinking open as she focused on her surroundings. A small smile appeared on her lips once she recognized two of the most important people in her life.
"Oh, Ami-chan! Thank goodness you're awake." Eternal Sailor Moon wept in relief, tears streaming down her face as her and Sailor Jupiter helped the other girl to sit up.
"Don't cry, Eternal Sailor Moon. I'm fine, really. I must've bumped my head when that blast hit." Sailor Mercury uttered, truly touched with her Princess' kindness.
"Sure you're alright?" Sailor Jupiter asked rather meekly, something the blue haired genius picked up on almost instantaneously.
"It wasn't your fault, so don't go blaming yourself, OK?" Sailor Mercury whispered, hoping to relieve the other girl of whatever guilt she was feeling.
The Senshi of Thunder could only nod in acquiescence, the understanding evident in those breathtakingly beautiful blue eyes warming her heart to its very core.
Smiling through the pain, the Senshi of Wisdom turned on her visor as she was helped up by Sailor Jupiter, scanning the area for any sign of the others.
"I'm picking up Venus and Saturn nearby. Pluto and Neptune are a bit farther, but they seem to be OK. Uranus and Mars are..." she trailed off before sagging backwards and onto the brunette's chest.
"Mercury!"
"I'm fine, guys. Just a little tired." she admitted, pointing towards the blood decorating the side of her face.
"Then rest for now. You stay with her Jupiter." Eternal Sailor Moon said as they lowered their injured friend to the ground.
"Where are you going?" Sailor Jupiter asked, the slight shaking of her hands betraying the calmness in her voice.
"I'm going... to put a stop to this madness." Eternal Sailor Moon replied as she began walking towards the still ongoing fight.
"Don't do it Usagi-chan! She's the enemy now. You could get killed trying to protect her." the brunette argued vehemently as Sailor Mercury's weight kept her from physically stopping the other girl.
Eternal Sailor Moon slowed to a stop, much to the Senshi of Protection's relief. One Senshi had already gotten hurt on her watch, she was not about to let another one suffer the same fate.
Losing her life was the least of the Moon Princess' concerns at that exact moment as she whirled around to face her friend, fierce determination engraved in her hardened features.
"The two people fighting right now are both Senshi. They're both my friends. I'm not just gonna stand by and watch them kill each other." she countered, eyes blazing with a fury she seemed incapable of feeling.
Driven by her desire to protect her Princess no matter what, Sailor Jupiter mustered up all the courage she possessed, the brunette prepared to accept any and all consequences of what she was about to say.
"She's turned! The Rei Hino we all know doesn't exist anymore!" she growled, her heart breaking at the sight of tears falling from her beloved Princess' eyes.
"She exists here! The Rei-chan that I know... the Rei-chan that I love exists here." Eternal Sailor Moon uttered, her palms resting atop her chest and over her madly beating heart.
Sailor Jupiter found herself rendered utterly speechless at the other girl's declaration. In her arms, Sailor Mercury chose to remain a spectator, the blue haired Senshi refusing to take any sides.
Unable to stand her Senshi's pain, Eternal Sailor Moon carefully knelt in front of the taller girl, silently telling her friend that she understands as she is seeking understanding herself.
"Believe, Mako-chan."
Those words, coupled with the warm smile on her face seemed to have allowed the blonde to finally get through to her Senshi. The Moon Princess then stood, leaving a deflated Sailor Jupiter in her wake.
Once the other girl was far enough, the Senshi of Thunder buried her fist into the ground beside her in frustration. Pulling out, she would have slammed it again had a strong grip not stopped her.
"Stop it! Hurting yourself isn't going to change Eternal Sailor Moon's mind!" Sailor Mercury chided, the still injured girl doing everything in her power to keep the brunette from harming herself further.
"Why won't she listen? Why does she insist on putting herself in danger for someone who has so obviously betrayed her?" Sailor Jupiter cried indignantly, tears of helplessness streaming down her face.
A sympathetic smile formed on Sailor Mercury's lips, the Water Senshi knowing how her friend was feeling because she once shared the exact same sentiments.
Reaching forwards with both hands, she gently guided the emerald eyed girl to face her. Her fingertips tenderly caressed the other girl's cheeks, wiping away the warm tears that continued to flow.
"Haven't you learned by now, Mako-chan? Usagi-chan would gladly give her life to protect those she believes are worth protecting, to save those she believes are worth saving."
Brows furrowed and lips pursed in a stubborn frown, the Thunder Senshi glared in every direction but forwards, refusing to look at the blue haired genius for fear of caving in.
Never one to give up so easily, the Senshi of Wisdom gently but firmly pulled the taller girl's face towards her, hoping that she could somehow make the other girl understand.
"She has defended those who were once her enemies, beings and entities who once tried to kill her and destroy everything she's worked so hard to protect."
There was a flicker of indecision in the brunette Senshi's eyes, her features softening slightly as Sailor Mercury's words slowly began to break down the wall of stubbornness she had erected around herself.
Sensing the change in Sailor Jupiter's demeanor almost instantly, the blue haired Senshi went for the jugular, knowing that the other girl was beginning to see the truth in her words.
"Do you think she would think twice in trying to save her own best friend... someone she cares for... someone she loves?"
Glistening emerald eyes finally focused on her as the Senshi of Protection resigned herself to the magnitude of their Princess' love. A smile slowly broke out on the brunette's face, much to the genius' delight.
"You're right. As always." Sailor Jupiter admitted, gentle laughter replacing the quiet sniffles.
"Of course I'm right. Never question the Senshi of Wisdom." she said somewhat jokingly, crossing her arms over her chest and raising her chin in an attempt to look boastful.
"Smug aren't we? Are you sure you're really Ami-chan? The Ami-chan I know never brags." the brunette replied, causing the blue haired girl to blush redder than a tomato.
"I... I wasn't..." Sailor Mercury uttered, hands covering her face in embarrassment.
"H-hey, I was only kidding!" Sailor Jupiter almost fumbled with her words as she tried to get the other girl to calm down.
Realizing that she had just been outsmarted, the Senshi of Water's eyes narrowed in feigned anger as she gently punched the taller girl on the shoulder before turning away, a small smile on her face.
The act did not have its desired effect, however, as the brunette's heartfelt chuckles echoed in her ears, her laughter seemingly louder than the sound of her own thunderbolts.
"Awww, you're so cute when you blush." Sailor Jupiter added, tearing off a piece of her skirt to carefully wipe the blood on the side of her friend's head.
Whether her sudden light-headedness was caused by too much loss of blood or the Senshi of Protection's close proximity, Sailor Mercury did not know and frankly, she was not sure that she wanted to find out.
Heart thumping wildly in her chest, the blue haired Senshi slowly rose from her perch atop the Thunder Senshi's lap, managing to steady herself despite her injury.
"Ami-chan? Are you alright?" Sailor Jupiter asked as she stood to support the smaller girl, worry evident in her voice.
"Uh... yeah. Don't worry about me." Sailor Mercury replied, a wan smile on her face.
Sailor Jupiter studied her with unsure eyes, a series of apologies poised at her lips. She was about to open her mouth to voice said sentiments when the Water Senshi spoke again.
"How do you think the others are doing?" Sailor Mercury asked, turning her back on the brunette as if to evade the other Senshi's probing gaze.
Choosing to ignore the numbing pain in her heart, the Senshi of Thunder pretended not to see the blue haired girl's obvious avoidance and instead focused on the battle brewing between Sailor Uranus and Sailor Mars.
"I'm not sure, but I think we're gonna find out." Sailor Jupiter replied as they both raced towards the rest of their friends.
"Burning Mandala!"
A flurry of fiery rings slashed all over the youma's entire body, the wounds created flaring up almost instantly. The sound of wailing could be heard a few moments later as the youma bid farewell to the mortal realm.
Dropping to one badly injured knee, Sailor Mars glared at the last remaining youma through blood covered eyes, the horrendous gash on her forehead continuing to blur her vision red.
Damned blood. When the fuck did I get hit anyway?
Caught up in the mystery, the Fire Senshi looked up just in time to block the youma's attack, the knifelike claws slashing her left arm instead of her face.
Cursing her own carelessness, she kicked at the youma with all of her considerable might, creating enough separation for her to launch an attack of her own.
"Mars! Flame Sniper!" she cried, firing as much of her flaming arrows as her wounded arm allowed her to.
Two of her arrows made contact, one a through and through, leaving a burning hole on the youma's stomach. The other fiery shaft penetrated the junction between its left arm and neck, effectively tearing off the limb.
Sailor Mars let out a low groan as she pushed herself upright with her good arm, the raven haired Senshi shaking her head as if to drive away the dark haze beginning to cloud her vision.
Fuck. I've lost too much blood. Gotta get to Usagi quickly. She thought, forcing her legs to work.
After what seemed like an eternity of dragging her unwilling body to finish a repulsive task, the Senshi of Fire finally reached the still twitching form of the seemingly dead youma.
Utterly satisfied that she had gotten the last one, she turned around to continue her journey towards her Princess. Behind her, the 'dead' youma slowly stood up and braved itself for one final charge.
Barely managing to stand upright, let alone walk, the Senshi of Mars suddenly found her midsection being ripped open by a set of claws. She fell to her knees, one hand clutching at the gaping wound.
"That was for my arm, you bitch." the youma spat venomously, looking down at the bloodied Senshi at his feet.
"Thought I was dead, huh?" the youma gloated, straddling the Fire Senshi to get a closer look.
Raising its claws to finally sever the Fire Senshi's head from the rest of her body, the youma unexpectedly found itself being thrown backwards by a giant ball of fire.
"Aren't you?" she whispered, squinting her eyes as the flames engulfed the youma.
Sailor Mars sighed in relief as she rested on the ground, her injured body refusing to follow her commands. Taking a brief respite, she stared at the evening sky to find the white moon shining down on her.
I'm coming, Usagi. I'll protect you no matter what. She vowed to her Princess' namesake, hoping against hope that she would be given a chance to fulfill it.
Sailor Mars fell to one injured knee, her breathing haggard and her vision blurred as she stared down the blonde Senshi of Uranus with all the animosity she could muster.
Opposite her and feeling just as angry and exhausted, Sailor Uranus held her Space Sword tightly in one hand, glaring at the Senshi of Fire who just would not die.
Realizing that frustration was beginning to get the better of the Senshi of Flight, the Fire Senshi drew herself up to her full height, ignoring the numbing pain coming from her protesting limbs.
"Is that the best you can do oh mighty Prince, I meant, Princess of Uranus?" she taunted, smiling in satisfaction at the expression on the other girl's face.
"I mean, you're using your talisman while fighting a barehanded me and I'm still here. Maybe you'd like one of the other Senshi to help you?" she added, the maniacal grin never leaving her face.
"Don't let her get to you, Uranus. She's just trying to bait you into doing something stupid!" Sailor Neptune said, worried, knowing her partner well enough to know that the other girl was getting impatient.
"Well now... even the missus doesn't think you can take me. How encouraging." she spat, earning her a withering glare from more than one of the Senshi present.
A low growl began to emanate from Sailor Uranus' throat, her fangs bared as she dropped her weapon to the ground and charged at the raven haired Senshi with all her considerable might.
"Uranus!"
Gotcha. Sailor Mars grinned, practically welcoming the raging Senshi with open arms, taking all that was thrown at her with a smile.
Sailor Uranus attacked like a woman possessed, pounding on the defenseless girl with reckless abandon, the Senshi of Wind's anger fueled by the taunting smile on the other girl's face.
Not even pretending to defend herself, the Senshi of War allowed her body to be beaten to within an inch of death, provoking the blonde with timely insults and hurtful barbs.
Looking past Sailor Uranus and behind the other Senshi watching, Sailor Mars' grin widened even further as she saw Eternal Sailor Moon running towards them.
Perfect.
Thrown into the air by one of the blonde Senshi's kicks, she let herself sail backwards and onto the unforgiving ground, the last of her intact ribs shattering at the contact.
Squirming like she was being electrocuted, the raven haired girl curled into herself in an effort to lessen the pain brought about by her latest set of injuries.
"Stop it Uranus! You're going to kill her!" Eternal Sailor Moon cried as she rushed into the clearing, the blonde Princess almost reaching her target had the other Senshi not stopped her.
"You don't understand. Uranus was just trying to..." Sailor Saturn began, only to be interrupted by the weeping blonde.
"Trying to what? Beat her to death!" Eternal Sailor Moon spat, anger she seemed incapable of feeling radiating off of her in waves.
"Eternal Sailor Moon... I..." The Senshi of Flight tried to reason with the hysterical Princess but was reduced to silence by the tortured look in those blue eyes.
"She can't even defend herself. And yet, all of you..." the Moon Princess trailed off, desperately wanting, but clearly unable to understand just why they were hell-bent on killing the raven haired Senshi.
Even with all the courage each of her Senshi possessed, none of them could look their Princess in the eyes and explain that they were not at fault, that it was all part of an elaborate scheme by the Senshi of Fire.
"Usagi... help me... please..." Sailor Mars groaned through the pain, tears of agony forming at the edges of her pleading eyes.
"Rei-chan!" Eternal Sailor Moon turned to run to her best friend, only to find the Leader of All the Senshi standing in her way.
"Don't, Usagi-chan."
"Minako-chan... you, too?" the blonde uttered in disbelief.
"I love Rei-chan like a sister... you know that. But I can't let my emotions keep me from doing what I should to protect you." Sailor Venus uttered, hoping to get her Princess to understand.
"So you're just going to let her die, is that it?" Eternal Sailor Moon whispered, practically daring her Senshi to answer.
"If that's what it takes..." Sailor Venus replied without a trace of uncertainty in her voice.
Rendered speechless by what her Senshi had just said, the Princess of the White Moon could do nothing but stare in disbelief at what was happening right in front of her.
On the verge of falling apart, the blonde clasped her hands over her ears and hunched into herself, hoping to block the taunting voices echoing from just about anywhere.
None of the Senshi made a move to even go to their Princess, each knowing that there was nothing they could say or do to ease the blonde's anguish.
Now's my chance. Sailor Mars thought as studied the preoccupied Senshi, pushing off the ground with all her remaining strength and dashing towards the nearest cluster of trees.
"Don't you dare run away!" Sailor Uranus growled, raising her fist in the air as she attacked.
The golden ball of energy hovered over the ground towards the Senshi of Fire, hitting the raven haired girl just below the ribs, ripping her already gaping wound almost completely apart.
Hobbled by her injury and too much loss of blood, Sailor Mars forced herself off the bloodied soil, sparing a spiteful glare at the blonde Senshi before disappearing into the grove of trees.
"How can she..." the Senshi of Flight mumbled in disbelief, picking up the Space Sword a couple of feet from her before speeding after the fleeing girl.
Bordering on the brink of madness and insanity, Eternal Sailor Moon shoved her way through Sailor Venus and Sailor Saturn with just sheer force of will, effectively knocking down the pair to the ground.
Choosing to ignore the cries and footsteps behind her, the Princess of the White Moon ran as though her life depended on it, hoping and praying that both of her friends were still alive.
Reaching a small clearing, she found Sailor Uranus and a de-transformed Rei at a standstill. Stepping through the bushes, she found herself on the receiving end of two gazes, one murderous, the other relieved.
"Usagi! Thank God, you're alright." Rei uttered, forcing her battered body to take a step forward.
"World Shaking!" Sailor Uranus cried, sending her attack towards the unsuspecting Senshi.
Her reflexes already shot to hell, Rei barely managed to evade the golden ball of enery headed straight for her. She ducked to her left, effectively aggravating her injured ribs as the attack sailed just above her head.
"What the hell's the matter with you! It's me! I'm not the enemy!" Rei growled, gritting her teeth as blood began to seep out the hand covering her wound.
"What the fuck are you playing at Hino! Do you think we're stupid!" Sailor Uranus spat, incredulity written all over her face.
Forcing herself to sit up, Rei was glad to see that the other Senshi had arrived and hoped that someone could explain to her what was going on. The betrayal in each of their eyes, however, told her otherwise.
"What are you..." she began, gingerly taking a step towards them when another attack, this time an aqua colored energy ball, stopped her in her tracks.
"Stay the hell away or so God help me I will kill you where you stand." Sailor Neptune uttered, her expression grave and unforgiving.
"Why are you attacking me? I didn't do anything!" the Fire Senshi cried, confusion written all over her face.
"Are you saying that it wasn't you who just commanded over fifty youma to attack us?" Sailor Jupiter called from behind the two Outer Senshi, the look of betrayal evident in her eyes.
"It really wasn't me. I have no idea what you're talking about!"
"Yeah. Sure. Maybe it was the other Sailor Mars..." Sailor Uranus muttered, her words dripping with sarcasm.
Rei bit her lip in an effort to prevent herself from saying something that she could regret. She had no idea what was going on, but she was not about to let herself lose control and end up hurting one of her friends.
Across from her and standing somewhat to the side, Sailor Pluto studied the events unfolding before her eyes, a silent observer biding her time, waiting for just the right moment to intervene.
Taking in the Senshi of War's inability to even keep herself upright and the Wind Senshi's rapid loss of temper, the ruby eyed Senshi decided that that time had already come.
"If it really wasn't you, then why do you have the same wound as the one we just fought?" Sailor Pluto interjected, choosing her words carefully so as not to invoke any other negative emotions.
Inwardly thanking the Senshi of Time for stepping in, the raven haired priestess took the chance to explain her side, hoping that her friends would listen to and believe her.
"I got intercepted by four youma on my way here. The last one got a parting shot in before I killed it. I got a little careless and I..."
"Liar! I was the one who attacked you... and everyone here saw it." Sailor Uranus growled, the Senshi of Flight absolutely livid at the other girl's audacity to lie.
With those words, the Senshi of Fire saw what little hope she had of making everyone believe dissipate like burnt ash caught up in a massive whirlwind.
Gathering whatever ounce of strength she had left, she looked at the people she will always consider as friends, her eyes pleading for understanding and faith.
"I really didn't do anything. You have to believe me..."
One Senshi bowed down while another turned away, both unable to even meet her gaze. Two other Senshi stared impassively while the remaining three looked about ready to condemn her on the spot.
Tears came unbidden to those amethyst eyes as Rei took in their verdict, a rueful smile forming at her lips. She then turned to her Princess, a sense of finality filling her entire being.
"Usagi..."
Their gazes met across the battlefield, one begging to be believed, the other desperately wanting to. Strengthened by the glimmer of hope in her Princess' eyes, Rei stepped forward even as an attack barely missed her.
"One more step Hino." Sailor Uranus warned, the blonde poised to go for the kill.
"Go ahead and kill me! You won't believe anything I say anyway." Rei cried, tears falling down her cheeks as she willed her legs to work.
Vision blurred and body aching past the point any human could handle, the raven haired girl strove forward to her blonde Princess, knowing full well that the others were raring to kill her any second.
Rei wanted to see it for herself. She needed to see whether her Princess still had an ounce of faith in her or if she was just too delirious to distinguish illusion from reality.
She had to see with her own eyes that her best friend and one true love did not care about her anymore. She thought that if she saw it, then she could gladly accept death with open arms.
Hand raised for one final attack, Sailor Uranus grimaced as their former comrade approached without any regard for her own safety, the Senshi of Fire focused solely on reaching their Princess.
Unable to make good on her own promise, the Senshi of Flight pulled back her arm instead and delivered a blow to the other girl's abdomen, sending the nearly lifeless girl flying backwards.
Landing on the ground with a loud thud and a very audible crack, Rei could only manage a soft whimper as she pushed off the ground with one functioning arm, the ground beneath her becoming reddish in hue.
The last of her strength finally leaving her, she slumped face first onto the bloodied soil, her sight turning darker by the second, her hearing already garbled, her breathing labored and about ready to cease.
She could hear people screaming, but she could not understand the words. She could feel the moist ground shifting slightly under someone's weight, but she could not open her eyes to see who was going to end her life.
Barely alive and able to feel anything but pain, the raven haired girl found herself being pulled into someone's lap, gentle arms wrapping around her like a warm blanket.
Forcing her eyes open, she found her Princess smiling down at her, tears streaming down the blonde's beautiful face as she laid a soft kiss on her forehead.
"I believe you..." Usagi uttered, drawing gasps of disbelief the rest of the Senshi.
"U... sagi?"
Unsure whether she was still alive or already drifting off to the heavens, Rei lifted her hand in an effort to touch her Princess, the blonde meeting her halfway and letting her know that this was real.
Setting their interlaced fingers onto her cheek, Usagi leaned into Rei's touch as though her life depended on it, the blonde placing meaningful kisses along the side of their joined hands.
"If you say you didn't do it... I believe you."
Warm tears falling from her eyes, Rei could only nod in response, the grateful smile never leaving her face even as she drifted off into a well deserved slumber.
Pulling back, Usagi gazed down at her best friend, thanking whoever was watching that the raven haired girl was finally back, finally safe in her arms.
Around them, confusion ran rampant amongst her Senshi. She could sense the questions that each of them wanted to ask, could feel the chaotic emotions in each of their hearts.
Later, she would answer all of those questions one by one, ease the confusion and those conflicting emotions, one tumultous feeling at a time.
Right now though, Usagi just wanted to be with her best friend. At this point in time, it was the only thing that mattered.
Chibiusa had to cover her mouth with both hands to muffle her sobs, the pink haired Princess of Crystal Tokyo completely overcome by mixed feelings and raging emotions.
Though she has heard the story more times than she could remember and from all the parties concerned, the young girl did not realize how painful an experience it truly was until now.
Mama...
Gazing up at the white moon hovering in the sky, she prayed to the one person she could think of for guidance and courage, not realizing that that person was currently in need of the same thing and much, much more.
Sailor Saturn suddenly whirled around to look at the trees behind them, a tingling feeling at the back of her spine telling her that somebody was watching.
Squinting into the darkness, she studied their surroundings carefully, her grip on the Silence Glaive tightening ever so slightly.
"Saturn?" Sailor Pluto asked, wondering what had alarmed her surrogate daughter.
Taking one final look at the labyrinth of trees in front of her, the Senshi of Rebirth turned to the older Senshi, a small smile gracing her lips.
"I'm OK. I thought I felt someone out there. It must've been my imagination." Sailor Saturn explained, squeezing the other Senshi's arm reassuringly before walking closer to the others.
The Senshi of Revolution could only nodded in reply, the ruby eyed woman knowing full well that someone was indeed watching them and just who that someone was.
A voice at the back of her mind stopped her from saying anything, her duty as the Guardian of the Gates of Time preventing her from uttering a single word.
She could only stand there, helpless, as the Princess she loved like daughter struggled with the bonds of the past while the Princess she loved like a granddaughter battled to change a desolate future.
Altered Space,
where time does not rule.
"Graaah!" the figure growled its fury into the abyss, dark tendrils of energy crawling all over its pale skin, ebony black orbs glowing with the madness from within.
It wanted to throttle something, anything to stem the anger that radiated off its being like flames. It found nothing, however, and that just added to its frustration.
Snarling at the scene unfolding between the Sailor Senshi, the figure turned its back and focused on another image, one that brought about a wicked smile on its lips.
The figure may have lost its stranglehold on the Senshi of Fire, but all is not lost. It still had one more ace up its sleeve and that ace was just about primed and ready for the picking.
"No matter..." it whispered, the wicked smile slowly turning into an evil grin.
From out of nowhere, the sound of a ringing telephone could be heard.
The living room door slid slowly on its hinges, allowing the blue haired genius to enter, her lips pursed into a small frown as she walked past the other Senshi.
Coming to a stop near the table occupying the center of the small room, she carefully lowered herself to the floor, noting the curious and worried glances being sent her way.
"She's stable. Usagi-chan's using the Ginzuishou's power to heal her injuries and restore her..."
"Oh, for the love of..."
"Haruka-papa, please..." Hotaru uttered, effectively reducing the her surrogate mother to her muted rantings.
"I checked Usagi-chan's vitals and made sure that the Ginzuishou would not drain her life force. There's really no need for us to worry." Ami explained almost a little too scientifically.
Beside her, Makoto could only nod in agreement with the other Senshi, the auburn haired girl more worried about Ami than anything else at the moment.
There was something eerily unnerving about the indifference in the Senshi of Wisdom's voice, the almost uncaring expression in her face sending chills down Makoto's spine.
She's probably feeling guilty about what happened... just like I am. She thought, mentally reminding herself to talk to the other girl in private.
"Am I the only one who thinks this is wrong? Rei was trying to kill us earlier and now the Princess is in there, risking her own life and the future of this planet just to save her!"
"Haruka, stop it!" Michiru practically yelled at her lover, the aqua haired girl glaring at the irate blonde.
"Why should I when no one here is willing to say it?" Haruka growled back in frustration, her accusation directed to all the Senshi present.
Silenced by the truth in the other girl's words, Michiru closed her eyes in contemplation, knowing that not even she could calm the rage consuming her beloved Haruka.
Minako remained silent as she watched the argument unfold. She cursed herself for her inability to take control of the situation, the blonde almost ruing the day she became the Leader of All the Senshi.
Beside her, Setsuna was just as silent, the dark green haired woman playing her role with utmost perfection. She only intervened when she needed to and she knew that now was not one of those times.
Infuriated by everyone's refusal to act, Haruka angrily pushed off the wooden floor, the Senshi of Flight determined to put a stop to all the madness.
"'I trust her in the same way I trust all of you.'" Ami began, drawing everyone's attention back to her.
"What did you say?" Haruka snapped, pausing at the threshold.
"That's what Usagi-chan said. 'I have faith in all of you. It's the one thing that's keeping me sane in this crazy world.'" she paused, swallowing past the lump that had formed in her throat.
"'It's the one thing that I will always have and will never truly lose.'"
The Senshi of Wind found herself rooted to her spot, a whirlwind of emotions wreaking havoc on her psyche. Part of her desperately wanted to believe while the other desired to protect her Princess at any cost.
Not wanting to show weakness in front of the others, Haruka ran out of the room as if her life depended on it, Michiru and Hotaru hot on her heels.
Standing from her quiet perch in one part of the room, Setsuna took a moment to bow apologetically before following after her currently disconcerted family.
Left to their own devices, the three Inner Senshi remained silent, each of them thinking of what they could have done differently to prevent what was happening right now.
Drawn together by a single unifying emotion, they found themselves staring at each other, jumbled thoughts and chaotic feelings temporarily set aside as they all came to the same conclusion.
"We should've believed in her." Makoto began, breaking the silence.
"But we didn't... and there's nothing we can do to change that." Minako replied rather bitterly, the blonde more angry at herself than anything else.
"We can try making up for it somehow." Ami uttered, drawing nods of agreement from the pair sitting across from her.
"Let's do that tomorrow. We need to get some rest if we want to stay ahead of our real enemy. We can't be caught flatfooted." Minako said, the leader in her determined to make things right.
She watched as the pair settled themselves in opposite corners of the room, noting the slight hesitation in Makoto's form and the almost indifferent look in Ami's eyes.
Dammit. First the Outers and now this.
Lips pursed in a rigid frown, Minako glared at the absurdity of it all, the blonde clearly at her wit's end. Eyes closed, she raised her head towards the heavens in silent prayer.
Goddess... please protect all of them... I don't think I can...
"He... hello?"
"Ami-san! Finally! I've been calling everyone for hours. What's happening over there?" Mamoru cried, his voice a mixture of relief and worry.
"Mamoru-san? Thank God you called!"
"What? Ami-san, what's wrong?" he asked, the tone of Ami's voice making the warning bells in his head go off.
"I-it's... it's Usagi-chan a-and... Rei-chan..."
"What? What about them? Did they get injured in a fight? I felt Usako transform into Eternal Sailor Moon. What happened?" he rambled, anxiety getting the better of him.
"Rei-chan... she's... and Usagi-chan..."
"What is it? Dammit Ami! Tell me!" he demanded, his voice echoing althroughout the apartment.
Ami was silent for a long time, her labored breathing the only indication that she was still on the line. Something dawned on Mamoru at that moment, and the Prince of Earth hoped to hell that he was wrong.
"Wait a minute... does this have anything to do with Setsuna-san's vision?" Mamoru asked, tightening his grip on the phone.
"Rei-chan... she was the new enemy all along. Setsuna-san's vision was right, Mamoru-san. And now, she's got Usagi-chan hostage."
"No... it can't be..." he breathed in absolute disbelief.
No matter how much the two of them argued and claimed that they hated the other, everyone knew that Rei and Usagi were really the best of friends, and that they loved each other very much.
There was no one that you could trust more with Usagi's life, and Mamoru was sure that he was not the only one who believed that of the Senshi of Fire.
Rei would never truly hurt Usagi. The raven haired priestess loved her Princess so much that she would rather die than bring even one iota of sadness to those beautiful sapphire orbs.
"There has to be a mistake. This is Rei-san we're talking about! Rei-san!" Mamoru cried.
"It's true! We were all shocked when we found out. Rei-chan's gone crazy! She's got Usagi-chan locked up inside Hikawa Jinja, probably torturing her... and doing God knows what else..."
Ami's hysterical cries destroyed the last of Mamoru's faith in the Fire Senshi. He could see Usagi bound, crying and suffering in the hands of her best friend and Senshi, who vowed to protect her no matter what.
A muscle twitched dangerously in his cheek as his eyes turned into slits. A low growl erupted from his throat as he glared menacingly at the image of Rei his mind had conjured up.
"I'll be on the first flight back."
Mamoru put the phone down without waiting for a reply. He grabbed his wallet and his passport from the bed side table, then rushed out of the apartment.
If anything happens to Usako, pray that your gods can save you, Rei Hino.
Altered Space,
where time does not rule.
The monotonous busy tone resonated in the gloom as dark amethyst eyes shone mischievously with undisguised mirth. Baneful laughter erupted moments later as the eerie sound faded into the void.
"Yes... Run to your precious 'Usako,' my dear Prince Endymion." the figure spat the name venomously, its eyes turning into slits.
The image of a hurrying Mamoru floated in the darkness, signaling the return of the final piece of the puzzle and the beginning of what could be the final act in the story that is the Sailor Senshi's lives.
Reaching out with willowy fingers, the figure grasped at the image of the man who had benefited from its suffering, clawing at him with all the pent up fury residing in what was left of its heart.
"Not you... never you."
Mamoru's image slowly began to dissipate until it was replaced by that of the blonde Princess who has haunted the solitary figure for the entirety of its existence.
That smile... her musical laughter... and the love that shines in those beautiful eyes...
"It should've been me... and it will be... I swear it."
End of Chapter 4
Author's Notes:
1. The entire opening sequence about the history of the Moon Kingdom was created by me. Right now, my memory of the Sailor Moon anime is kinda blurry, so I can't remember if there was an episode that discussed the origins of the Moon Kingdom. I know that bits about the Moon Kingdom and the Silver Millennium was shown and discussed in the manga, but since I'm not using the manga as a basis for my fanfic, I don't want to use any of those.
Instead, I have created an entirely different story about the history and origins of the Moon Kingdom. If there is already an existing anime episode or manga volume that is even remotely close to my theory, then I apologize for overstepping any boundaries. There was no infringement intended on my part.
2. The Silver Crystal is actually called 'Maboroshii no Ginzuishou' in the manga, which literally means 'Legendary Silver Crystal.' I opted to use that translation because it's the correct one, instead of 'Imperium/Imperial Silver Crystal,' which is more widely used. In terms of uniformity, I realize that I had Usagi refer to the 'Legendary Silver Crystal' as the 'Ginzuishou' in chapter 3. I'm only going to use the 'Ginzuishou' for the dialogue but will use 'Legendary Silver Crystal' for the rest.
3. In case you're confused, Serene is actually Usagi's mother in the past. Which means that in my story, Setsuna/Sailor Pluto actually had a relationship with Queen Serenity. Why, you ask? Well, from my perspective, Setsuna and Hotaru are probably the only two Senshi who do not have any romantic feelings for Usagi. I mean, they obviously love their Princess, but probably not in the same way the other Senshi do. Hotaru is so very smitten with Chibiusa and Setsuna has not really shown any romantic interest with any of the other girls, or anyone else for that matter. Seems to me like she's holding out for someone, and I think that someone is Queen Serenity. That's just my point of view anyway, feel free to comment.
Also, in case you're wondering, that scene was the first time the two women actually made love. That is why Serenity's act of 'giving herself to Setsuna' is more powerful and more meaningful because she made love for the first (and last) time to the one (and only) person she will ever truly love.
4. Hmmm... Tell me, did I make Mamoru overreact? I'm thinking that his reaction was perfectly normal for someone who just found out what he did. Even though he trusted Rei with Usagi's life, and still wanted to believe in Rei despite what he was hearing, he knew that Ami-chan would never lie to him, not even in jest, and especially not about something as serious as that. He was scared for Usagi's life, he felt stupid about the wrong judgement he made about Rei's character, and he was feeling betrayed by someone he trusted very much. So that makes his reaction justifiable, doesn't it?
Not that any review or reaction from anyone would make me change what I wrote. I dunno. I'm just curious, and I would appreciate hearing what you guys make of it.
5. Ami Mizuno fans, don't kill me please? I had the enemy pretend to be Ami because she's the most believable/truthful/a-matter-of-fact Senshi. Ami rarely lies, rarely makes a mistake, and would never joke about something that serious. It just isn't in her nature to lie about anything, and anyone would believe anything she says simply because she is Ami. I mean, if I were Mamoru, I'd probably believe her, too. Of course, I wouldn't react as violently as he did, but I'm not in love with Usagi either.
6. Fight scenes in general are not my cup of tea, so I would really appreciate it if you guys didn't insult or flame me for it. You can tell me how predictable the fight scenes were or how boring or whatever, just please don't use words that are too negative. I already know that my fight scenes aren't too good so there's really no need to rub it in. Some constructive criticism, however, is very much welcome.
All comments, suggestions, criticisms and the like, please click the 'Review' button below.
All Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon characters copyright to Naoko Takeuchi. They are used without permission. Please do not sue me, I don't have money.
©2006 Shirley Joy Gadia, all other characters used in the fanfic and the story itself, all rights reserved.
Thank you!