Chapter 19: Dead Scream

*Endo*

As they stood in the meadow, trying again to make the energy blast shoot from the staff. It was difficult to say the least. Endo was quite perplexed. During the battle with Sikana he'd had no problems using it this way. But practicing with Usa-chan had proven much harder. Setsuna could see the young prince was becoming frustrated and so she stood with her garnet rod and walked over to where the two of them stood, "You have to see it as a part of yourself. Do not try and force it young ones, let it come from within you naturally."

Endo nodded, "Thank you Setsuna. It was a matter of survival back home. I just don't understand what we're doing wrong." He was certain it wasn't Usa-chan. His cousin had been working very diligently to develop her abilities since his mother had helped her awaken them.

Looking at him seriously, Setsuna said, "Exactly. It was driven by your heart, your will to survive. You cannot force it." Endymion and Usa-chan nodded and tried again, clearing their minds. They were successful, a blast of energy shooting into the air. The two were so happy, but then the ground below shook, a large booming sound coming from nearby. Setsuna looked back toward the Crystal Palace, "It wasn't supposed to happen this soon!"

A moment later Setsuna's communication device beeped, when she opened it Michiru's image appeared, shouting, "We're under attack! All Senshi report to the south side of the Crystal Palace! Now!"

She looked at the two children before her, "Come quickly, you two must seek shelter within the castle."

Endo and Usa-chan exchanged a look and he gripped his mother's staff tightly, "No! We want to fight, to help! My mother is not here. I must stand in her place!"

Setsuna was not surprised by the young prince's sentiment. She considered what he said momentarily and told him, "You're right Prince Endymion, but this will be a terrible battle. Are you ready?" She locked eyes with him, realizing how much he reminded her of the late King that it hurt.

And just as his grandfather would've said, "I'm ready. Let's go. There's no time to waste!" Usa-chan nodded and gripped her cousin's arm.

"Alright," Setsuna said firmly. Then she turned toward Usa-chan, "When we reach the Crystal Palace, you must go to the young prince's chambers and retrieve a wooden box with a moon on it. Do you understand? It's essential." Usa-chan nodded and the three of them set off, running as quickly as they could.

*Haruka*

That Botan was smart… She sent those phages right at them. Never stopping for long speeches, not wasting a moment. The most surprising sight of it all was looking up and seeing her wearing a darker image of Sailor Moon's Fuku. But everything else, everything else was what a smart predator would do. She'd pick off the youngest of the pack, the Asteroids in this case, and she'd aligned herself with a powerful hunting partner. Haruka slammed into another phage with her space sword, shattering it entirely. Another smart move, using them as cannon fodder. But looking at Botan now, there was no doubt in Haruka's mind that Botan was Usagi's sister. However, she was the enemy… Therefore Haruka would show her no mercy!

A moment later the others started showing up, Ami and Minako were the first to take up the fight. The looks of betrayal on their faces when they saw the Asteroids with Botan and her partner spoke legions! Haruka shouted over them, "Remember our mission! Fight!"

Minako and Ami both nodded. But in that moment of hesitation, of shock they lost an advantage…. One that the Sailor Asteroids did not hesitate to capitalize on. It was Sailor Pallas who made the move, launching Freezing arrow! Straight at Sailor Mercury, piercing into her chest. Never losing that shocked look, she collapsed, the life draining from her body.

"NO! Mercury," vibrated throughout the area as Serenity, Rei, and Helios came running. She dropped to her knees at Mercury's side as the others kept fending off the attacks of the phages. It seemed the Asteroids weren't so quick to return the attacks now. Serenity knew her life was gone when she saw the starseed rise from her body. Grasping it quickly she looked to Helios, "Take it to the temple! When this is over, we will make it right!" Seeing a look of hesitation in her husband the priest who believed in the cycle of rebirth, Serenity shouted, "NOW!"

Helios nodded, gingerly taking it and ran as quickly as his feet would carry him. His destination, the underground chamber, which is the only place it could be kept.

Looking around, Haruka saw Serenity's worst nightmare come to life, war on her homeland. She wondered for a split second if this was what Kiyoko had been having nightmares about. A moment later Makoto and Hotaru made the scene, taking a second to spare a grief stricken look for Ami, then channeling that grief into anger and charging head on into the troop of phages before them.

Haruka heard Serenity shout into the air, "Ceres, Pallas, Vesta, Juno…. Why would you betray me… Your people!"

None of them spoke, however Botan replied, "Now, now little queen…. They are merely puppets in this war! And lifetimes ago… They would've been mine anyway…. Long before they were yours. Now prepare to fight!" She lifted a moon rod that looked like one that had belonged to her mother, only much darker and launched an energy blast at Serenity.

However, before it would reach her it was headed off by the arrival of Pluto, Endo, and Usa-chan; Pluto launching her Dead Scream with a whisper and redirecting the blast into the phages.

But somehow when Haruka looked at Setsuna, her vision blurred and a pain struck her mind… Threatening to rip her in two. Michiru was at her side in a flash, fending off the phages that went after her with ease.

What was going on, it was like everything was going dark. No! Haruka thought to herself, not now! I have to protect them! But the pain got worse, drawing her into a vision…. Something from long ago… Sitting in a tiny room…. There was a song…. It took Haruka a moment to recognize that song…. It was the lullaby that Kiyoko sang to Endo and Ruka…. But this setting, it made no sense… Until she looked up and saw Kiyoko standing there, her hair down and her crescent covered… But Haruka had no doubt that it was her…. Now she understood... Why their bond was silent, why Kiyoko hadn't come back… She was in the past… But she wouldn't have run away…. Botan…. That man with her…. They were responsible and they would pay!

Despite the staggering pain, Haruka manage to launch her Space Sword Blaster straight at the creature that floated next to Botan! But it shattered when it hit an invisible force field in front of him. She screamed out, "You bastard! This is all your fault!"

Bugendai cocked his head to the side, momentarily distracted by the blonde Senshi's words, "What is my fault Senshi?" He peered sharply at Haruka and then smiled, "I forgot…. You are one of the ones bonded to the golden queen…. The barer of that vexing moon…" Then he laughed, the kind of laugh that made most anyone shiver, "Did you finally figure out where she is?"

At that moment, Usagi and Seiya appeared from the castle, Usa-chan and young Ruka running behind them. Seiya had vehemence written all over her face as she demanded, "You vile creature! What have you done with my wife?!" But she was so blinded by her anger that she didn't even give Bugendai time to respond before launching Star Serious Laser at him. Haruka would've shaken her head if it didn't hurt so much. She was angry, filled with rage, but they couldn't let that cloud their judgement in battle, not this time…. This battle was different….

Haruka heard Usa-chan run over to Setsuna and whisper, "Here's the box. What now?" What was Setsuna up to? Michiru was still fending off phages the same as everyone else, even young Endo with Kiyoko's staff and Ruka or Sailor Starbright with her own blade.

Setsuna opened her mouth to speak, but then she looked back toward the castle… And that is when it returned, the feeling of Kiyoko in Haruka's mind. She glanced at Seiya and knew that she felt it too. Then she heard Setsuna, "Go princess, stay behind Prince Endymion… If he appears to lose ground, give him the box and tell him to open it." Then she turned and sent out another Dead Scream, clearing the phages in front of her.

So distracted was Haruka that she didn't see the creature's anger rise, sensing Kiyoko's return as well… He sent a spear of dark energy straight at Haruka… Heedless of her own safety her beloved Michiru blocked the spear… With her own body….. Crumpling to the ground, she whispered, "Keep fighting Haruka…. Always…" And in a blink of an eye Haruka saw the life of her partner snuffed out… Her starseed rising from her body… Haruka let out a scream so fierce and so frightening that it would shake anyone to their very core….