A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favorited and followed this story. I am glad you are enjoying it and now here's chapter two. I do want to say that this story is Usagi/Mamoru, but with a lot of Demando mind-weirdness/manipulation. In the next couple chapters, this story becomes quite dark, and I will have to up the rating.

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon is owned by Naoko Takeuchi and Toei Animation. No profit is being made from this story, and I am writing this purely for personal enjoyment.

VXIXV

Night was approaching rapidly, and Usagi's search for Chibi-Usa became more frantic as time progressed. Not only was the sun descending beneath the horizon, but a murky layer of clouds had begun to form and the air became thick and humid, signaling a coming storm. If there was one thing Usagi hated more than the Black Moon, it was thunder. Her fear as irrational, as she well knew, but the sudden shocking boom of thunder always made her heart stop and stomach leap into her throat. "Chibi-Usa, where are you?!" She called again frantically but received no response. More concerned than ever before, Usagi pulled out her communicator and signaled her friends. The device beeped for a few seconds and then established a connection with the rest of the Guardians. "Has anyone seen her yet?"

"So far nothing," Makoto responded promptly.

"Same here, and it looks like a storm is coming," Rei chimed in. "We need to hurry and find her before she releases her energy!"

Usagi nodded, knowing Chibi-Usa hated thunder and lightning just as much as she. The enemy was still out there, and it wasn't safe for the little girl. "Everyone, stay in touch and report in if anyone finds her," she said and ended the connection. Surveying the sky, it had darkened considerably in just a few moments and with renewed vigor, Usagi continued her search. Where could the little brat have fun off to? She traversed from the Crown Arcade all the way to Juban Park, searching every nook and cranny and not a sign of Chibi-Usa!

Suddenly, the sky lit up and a large explosion of thunder echoed above Tokyo, catching Usagi completely off guard. She cried out, covering her head with her hands and cowered for a moment. Her pulse raced like a rabbit, and she closed her eyes, as if trying to escape her present situation. For a moment, Usagi's mind wandered back to Mamoru, wishing desperately that he were with her. She wouldn't be so afraid of he was at her side, shielding her with his strong arms.

However, Usagi's attention was quickly called to a large burst of energy that had erupted within a few meters of her location, originating from a small playground. It was brightly illuminated and emanating from a small child that was curled up beneath in a swing set. Chibi-Usa has released her energy again, and now it was only a matter of time before the enemy found her. Usagi knew that if she had seen the energy, so had Ami, Rei, Makoto and Minako and they would be on their way. Taking a moment to collect herself, she quickly rose from her position and began make her way towards the playground.

"I should thank you for saving me the trouble of searching for you," a high pitched voice said, as if out of thin air. Pausing in her steps, Usagi retreated to a small alcove of bushes, providing her with some cover. Maintaining eyesight on Chibi-Usa, she watched as a woman, clad in a tight black dress with long free-flowing hair materialized in the air directly above the child. On the woman's forehead was a small upside-down crescent. It was the Black Moon! Usagi had never seen this woman before, but there was no denying she was an associate of the enemy. Chibi-Usa, realizing that she was not alone, leaped up and stared up at the mysterious woman.

"You!" the pink haired girl cried out, as if she recognized her. "You were one of the bad guys who attacked my mama," she shrieked.

"That's right you little brat, and now you are going to meet with the same end," the high-pitched woman emitted a shrieking laugh, so shrill that even Usagi had to cover her ears.

Peering around, to be completely sure she was alone, Usagi reached for her broach and quietly called out her transformation phrase. She was quickly enveloped in a warm soft light that encased her figure, transforming into what would be her Sailor fuku. When her metamorphosis was complete, Usagi' was filled with anger. She had spent her entire day searching for Chibi-Usa and now there was a new member of the Black Moon to contend with! "Not today," she muttered and made a mad dash from the safety of her hiding spot towards the playground.

Esmeraulde reared back, her fan generating a large dark ball of energy, which was aimed point blank at Chibi-Usa. The small child was paralyzed with fear, her legs became lead, and even her breathing slowed to a halt. The world seemed to slow to a stop as the burst of energy honed in on her. Closing her eyes tightly, she waited for the attack to hit her when she felt a familiar pair of arms scooped her up. The little girl clung to her savior for dear life, burrowing her head in their chest. Opening her eyes, she peaked up to see a familiar face and she cried out in relief, "Sailor Moon!"

Usagi held the girl tightly in her grasp, glaring at Esmeraulde who was smirking widely. "How dare you threaten an innocent child who is afraid of rain and thunder! I am the Pretty Guardian in a sailor suit of love and justice, Sailor Moon! In the name of the moon, I will punish you!"

"Only one of you, I am disappointed. I guess I need to put in a little more effort," the woman said nonchalantly, and in a flash she charged another attack and hurled it towards Usagi. Caught off guard, Usagi whirled on her feet and leapt out of the way, losing her balance and falling to the ground. Fortunately, she landed on her backside, and Chibi-Usa was still safely cradled on her arms. The energy blast instead hit the swing set she had been standing next to, incinerating it instantly in a cloud of smoke. Two more attacks were thrown her way, and Usagi successfully managed to evade both of them, but with Chibi-Usa it was too dangerous to fight back. All she could do was run. This new enemy was much more powerful than any of the other members of the Black Moon Clan she had faced, and was far more visceral in her attacks. Rubeus had used a power magnifier, and the Ayakashi sisters relied on their earrings for their energy, but this woman at a distance seemingly had neither, not that Usagi had a clear opportunity to investigate. It was taking all her concentration to not get hit. Two more pieces of playground equipment exploded around her, each with a large boom that engulfed the area.

Not paying attention, Usagi quickly realized that she was cornered, with three fires on either side of her and Esmeraulde in front of her. There was no place to run to, and Chibi-Usa began weeping against her chest. A rush of affection washed over her, knowing that her safety came first, at all costs. Esmeraulde began to charge another attack, seeing her foe's predicament, this volley far stronger than the previous ones and launched it straight at Usagi. Instinctively Usagi turned her back, shielding the pink-haired girl and braced herself for the eminent blow.

"Shine Aqua Illusion!"

"Burning Mandala!"

"Sparkling Wide Pressure!"

"Venus Love-Me Chain!"

A barrage of attacks flew at Esmeraulde, completely blind siding her, at least one of which made a direct hit on her face. Seeing her opportunity, Usagi joined her fellow Guardians who surrounded her an all sides. Looking down she placed Chibi-Usa on the ground. "Listen to me, I need you to run and find a place to hide. Hurry and stay out of sight," she whispered to her. Chibi-Usa nodded in understanding and quickly scurried off in the direction of the same bushes Usagi had taken cover in.

Not one to wait around for the enemy to recover, Sailor Mars readied herself for another attack, using her divine flames to generate another round of rings, poised and ready for the enemy. "Who are you?" the soldier of fire demanded. The other Guardians followed suit with Jupiter's sparks and the girdle of Venus ready to engage.

Taking only a few moments to regroup, the shrill woman spoke. "You impudent little girls, I am Esmeraulde, third in command of the Black Moon Clan, and the most beautiful woman on this planet," she boasted, fanning herself as it to reiterate the statement.

Sailor Mercury, seizing the advance of the information Esmeraulde divulged, "Why are you here?" she questioned.

The beautiful woman scoffed, running a finger through her long tresses. "It's quite simple, really. We are the rightful rulers of this planet, banished by your ascendants. You stole this planet from us, exiled us to live in destitution and now, we're reclaiming what is rightfully ours!" Another ball of energy lurched towards the Guardians, which was countered by Jupiter's lightning, exploding in another bright plume of smoke. "And now, you are going to pay," Esmeraulde exclaimed, snapping her red fan in two, each becoming a large glowing pulsating light.

Mercury's eyes widened in realization what was in Esmeraulde's hands. "Everyone, stay back. Those are plasma bombs, don't let them touch you," she revealed.

Taking the initiative, Sailor Venus threw her Love-Me chain in Esmeraulde's direction, in an attempt to knock the plasma out of her hands. However, the attack was easily evaded, and the pair of plasma bombs were propelled towards the Sailor Guardians. "Watch out!" Sailor Mercury yelled, leaping out of the line of fire.

Usagi watched, careful to evade the incoming blows, however, in the heat of the moment, her clumsiness reared its ugly head the most inopportune moment, and caught her boot on a piece of rubble, sending her plummeting to the ground, right in the path of the plasma. Why did she have to be so clumsy?! Turning her head away, she braced for impact, closing her eyes, tensing her entire body. She could feel the incoming heat, knowing that any second she was going to get hit. Panic set in and her mind could only focus on one thing…'Mamo-chan,' she thought internally.

And suddenly he was there, as if on cue, Tuxedo Kamen appeared, whisking her away from danger. A mixture of embarrassment and affection, her cheeks flushed pink, and almost involuntarily she snuggled into his arms, forgetting the imminent danger they were both in. "Tuxedo Kamen," she said softly, "thank you for saving me." Beneath her, she could feel his body stiffen. It was subtle, unnoticeable to anyone but herself, but she got the message. This was business, pure and simple. The Sailor Guardians couldn't afford to have their Princess and the wielder of the Ginzuishou harmed. He still didn't love her anymore. Usagi wished she wasn't so weak, so clumsy and maybe he'd still have feelings for her again. She cursed herself mentally, but quick returned her attention to the battle at hand.

Tuxedo Kamen found an opening, landed there and relented his grip on Usagi. Finding her footing, Usagi craned her head towards the sky, finding Esmeraulde. In an attempt to redeem herself in front of Mamoru, she called out to her team makes. "Everyone, on three," she cried. The Sailor Guardians nodded in understanding, running into place, surrounding the woman in the sky, who watched them in confusion. "One…two…THREE!"

"Venus Love-Me Chain!"

"Shine Aqua Illusion!"

"Burning Mandala!"

"Sparkling Wide Pressure!"

"Moon Princess…"

Tuxedo Kamen reached into his jacked and released a battery or roses, heading straight towards Esmeraulde. She was surrounded on all sides, with no place to go.

"HALATION!"

Thunder, Water, Fire, Light, and Flora all hit in perfect sync, resulting in a powerful surge of power that engulfed Esmeraulde. The duration of the attack lasted for just under a minute as each burst began to fizzle off. Usagi surveyed the sky. By all means she was not the perfect warrior, in fact, she wasn't even a good one, but she was determined to not to disappoint her Guardians. They laid down their lives for her time and again, and she owed it to them. The light generated by their group attack finally subsided entirely. Esmeraulde was gone, apparently able to procure the means to escape. "How…" trailed Usagi.

"Fools, you think that would defeat me! You have no idea who you're dealing with," Esmeraulde said, reappearing before them, still smirking. "I'm done playing with you for now, but be warned, you haven't seen the last of me." She roared with laughter again before vanishing.

A somber silence loomed over the Guardians. The sky above continued to roll with thunder and a light drizzle began falling as tiny droplets of water patted Usagi on the head. 'At least there isn't lightning,' she mused to herself. Thunder was bad enough, but lightning made it ten times worse. "Chibi-Usa, you can come out now," she called towards the thick grove of bushes. The leaves rustled and in a few moments a head of bright pink hair emerged, making her way towards Tuxedo Kamen.

"Mamo-chan," Chibi-Usa whined, and embraced him, gripping his legs tightly. Mamoru leaned down and hugged her protectively, uttering soft words of soothing to the youth.

"Chibi-Usa, who was that? You said that she attacked your mama? Is she also from the 30th century?" Usagi questioned, her mind thinking back to the exchange before she transformed. By this time, the child's tears were rolling down her cheeks as she burrowed even deeper into Mamoru's arms, weeping softly.

"I don't know! I don't remember!" Chibi-Usa exclaimed. "I told you everything I remember, baka Usagi!"

The insult, as juvenile as it was, stung Usagi, especially in the aftermath of yet another battle, which would never have happened if she hadn't run off. Biting her tongue, Usagi continued to press her, "We can't help you if you don't tell us the truth."

The sobbing increased, and this time it was Mamoru who responded. "That's enough, Sailor Moon. Let her be," he said harshly, meeting her eyes. "She's just a child, what can you expect," he scolded her. Turning his attention to the child, he continued, "You can tell us when you're ready, okay Chibi-Usa."

"Mamo-chan," Chibi-Usa managed to say between sobs.

"I'll take her home with me for the night, and give you five a break," Tuxedo Kamen said. His voice was gentle, but firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

Usagi felt like she had just been slapped, and by the person she loved most no-less. Why couldn't they take care of Chibi-Usa together?! Why did everything have to be about her?! She didn't understand, but made no argument, knowing full well it would be futile. Where Chibi-Usa was concerned, Mamoru wouldn't budge. The logical side of her brain knew that it was to protect the small girl, but Usagi couldn't ignore the jealousy that bubbled up inside.

"In any case," Sailor Mars interrupted, eager to avoid an unnecessary tension, "we know nothing about this Esmeraulde. Tomorrow after school, let's all meet at the Shrine to discuss this." All five Guardians nodded and each proceeded to leave, heading home.

Tuxedo Kamen, with Chibi-Usa in hand, leapt away, as if the wind itself was carrying him, in the direction of his condo, leaving Usagi by herself. The rain continued to fall, soaking her hair and dampening her fuku. She knew that all the noise would draw attention from civilians and that she should leave before being discovered, but in that moment, the only thing Usagi could think about was Mamoru. Alone, tears began to form at her eyes, and fell slowly down her cheeks. If she hadn't been so clumsy, if she hadn't gotten herself cornered, or if she hadn't pushed Chibi-Usa so hard then maybe Mamoru would still love her. But no, she was Baka Usagi, slow, stupid and clumsy. Good for nothing but being the butt of a joke to her much more gifted friends. She often believed that if she weren't Princess Serenity then her friends would have no interest in her. Ami was so smart and caring, while Rei was beautiful and strong. Makoto was a living juxtaposition, stronger than the prince and more delicate than a princess. Minako could sing, dance and was the original Sailor V to boot. And she was just Usagi, a clumsy crybaby with bad grades. No wonder Mamoru broke up with her. Why would he want to be tethered to such a weak girl? The tears were falling freely, and in that instant Usagi made a mad dash in Mamoru's direction.

Clumsy as she may be, Usagi was a fast runner, thanks to her mad dashes to school every morning, and it did not take long for her to catch up to Mamoru. His pace had slowed, most likely so as to not disturb the sleeping child in his arms. "Mamo-chan," she called out. "Please, Mamo-chan wait," Usagi begged.

To her surprise, Mamoru's pace slowed to a halt and he turned around to face Usagi. Beneath his mask, he glared at her coldly. "What?"

Panting, Usagi stopped in her tracks and pleaded. "Please, tell me, what did I do wrong?" The rain continued to fall, increasing from a mild drizzle to a full downpour. Her hair was a mess, she knew, and her face was red, eyes glassy, and fuku torn from battle. But she didn't care.

Mamoru turned his back to her again, purposefully avoiding her eyes. "I don't like weak women," he said stoically.

"But you always save me. Why do you help me if you don't love me," Usagi said in-between sobs.

"My personal feelings and duty have nothing to do with one another. I save you for the same reason I aid the others, to protect this planet and maintain peace," he replied curtly. His body language had shifted to a distant demeanor, maintaining his distance from her. If Usagi had seen his face, she'd have noticed he was trembling, but wrapped in his black cape in the middle of a rainstorm, all she could see was his silhouette. "Now, stop bothering me! don't love you anymore, and never will." Mamoru resumed his original course, purposefully quickening his pace to keep her at bay.

Usagi, still as Sailor Moon, stood in place, unable to restrain the sobs that were escaping her. So that was it. She was weak, and that's why the only man she had ever loved rejected. The rain continued to intensify, and volleys of thunder crashed behind her, pulling her back into the moment. 'I hate thunder,' she thought viciously.

Not wanting to return home and face her family as well as Luna, Usagi wandered the park aimlessly with no real direction in mind, her mind reeling at Mamoru's revelations. What was the point if the one she loved didn't love her back? Yes, she had her duties as the leader of the Sailor Guardians and the protector of the Ginzuishou, but even those responsibilities she was ill fitted to meet. In her mind, Rei was the one most suitable to being the Princess. Rei was so beautiful, graceful and a strong warrior, much stronger than her.

Unware of how much time had passed, Usagi continued to meander with no destination. By this point, her fuku had completely soaked through and she was chilled to the bone. Glancing around she sought some form of shelter, finding refuge beneath gazebo that was nestled between a grove of trees. She wasn't worried about someone finding her either; the sun had fully set and what limited visibility remained was dampened by the storm. Furthermore, most people would be remaining in their homes, warm and dry. When she was fully confident she was alone, Usagi let loose the tears she had been holding back, her resolve gone.

Her body heaved as she cried continuously for an unknown amount of time. She didn't care. 'That's it, just keep at it like the cry baby you are,' her mind taunted her. Alone with her own thoughts, the tears seemed never ending, and for the first time since her awakening as Sailor Moon, she unabashedly wept until there were no more tears. Sure, could turn on the waterworks when it suited her in the beginning to produce the results she wanted from people, but her almost cowardly attitude about life had died that day, and she promised to meet her destiny as best she could, in spite of her short comings. But now, in the rain, rejected by Mamoru, she felt defeated, in a way that no youma could ever create.

A bright bolt of lightning crashed not too far away from her, and the accompanying boom of thunder filled her ears. Usagi squealed, covering her ears tightly.

"Poor thing," a voice said, steering Usagi's thoughts back to the present moment. Eyes red and runny, she wiped them off with her glove.

"Whose there?!" she demanded, voice hoarse and crackling.

The air suddenly became thick and heavy, an anomaly unrelated to the storm. Her lungs struggled to draw breath and she felt weak from head to toe. Visibility being as poor as it was, Usagi struggled to see who was around her. Whoever had spoken to her was not a normal human. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, as if energies from the storm. Her subconscious was screaming at her to get away.

The voice, a smooth low tenor lulled softly, "What a fool Endymion is."

The name of Mamoru's past self immediately jerked Usagi to high alert. She jumped to her feet. "Who are you?" she commanded unwaveringly, now angry. Her eyes narrowed as she surveyed her surroundings. "How do you know about Tuxedo Kamen?!" He may not have had feelings for her anymore, but she remained devoted to him; no one could insult him except her.

That voice laughed callously, "You are most definitely her, alright."

She didn't like this, not one little bit. Her mind yelled at her to get away, call for help, something. Usagi was alone, unguarded and vulnerable, However, when she attempted to run, her body felt heavier than a ton of bricks as she struggled to move even an inch. Her eyes darted frantically to and fro, searching for whoever was with her. It was another member of the Black Moon, she knew, but her intuition told her that this was not another Droid. No, this was someone far more powerful. The air continued to thicken, becoming akin a toxic miasma that leeched what power she had from her, rendering her immobile and helpless.

A dark figure materialized in front of here, inches from her face. Usagi inhaled sharply, too startled to make a noise, and lurched her head back instinctively, but was reminded that she couldn't move. The figure's features eventually fell into focus revealing a man, tall and muscular, garbed entirely in while and violet with skin so ghostly pale that Usagi wondered if he was even human. A pair of hands reached out, as if to touch her face, and Usagi panicked, "No, don't touch me!" A closer inspection revealed that this man bore the same inky inverted crescent on his forehead as Esmeraulde. She was in trouble, and she knew it.

The man cackled again, "I don't think you are in a position to make demands, Serenity." His voice was rolled softly into her ears as he approached closer. Physically unable to resist, Usagi grimaced as his hands brushed against her chin, forcing her head upwards to meet his icy violaceous eyes. She willed every fiber in her body to move, but was thoroughly paralyzed from head to toe. "You have the same eyes, stubborn, defiant," he commented, more to himself than to her.

He knew her past life, as well as Mamoru's. Who was this, someone else from her past, like Queen Beryl or the Shitennou. The only freedom Usagi retained was her ability to speak, "What are you talking about?" she repeated, putting on her best bluff. She never had much of a poker face, but this was the only ploy she could think of. "How do you know who I am?" If he knew her as Serenity and Mamoru as Endymion, then there was no reason to deny her identity.

"The Rabbit hasn't told you I gather. But don't worry, you'll figure it out in due time," he dismissed casually, clearly unintimidated by her. He had the upper hand and they both knew it. Usagi's mind reeled frantically on his last comment. Chibi-Usa? What did she have to do with him, and what did she know that she wasn't tell? The man's grip on her tightened as she tried to pull away, to no avail. "I was hoping to kill two birds with one stone and find the Rabbit, but you are the real prize," he said salaciously.

"Let me go," she squealed, the full gravity of her situation beginning to dawn on her. Her heart was racing and adrenaline rushed through her body, if only she could move! This can't be happening to her; why did she run off like that, feeling more the fool with every passing second.

Obviously humored, the man laughed, relishing in her panic. "No, I don't think I will. I like you right where you are," he finished. Usagi neck was still forced upward, gaze firmly locked to his. She gasped as a third eye appeared on his forehead. Red and angry it glared at her, ensnaring her, making her completely unable to look away. In an instant, her body became numb, almost weightless. IT was almost as if her brain were floating on cloud nine, free of any care in the world.

"Relax and close your eyes," the man's voice cooed in her mind. Usagi forced her will against it, thinking of something, anything, to resist the increasingly urge to just go to sleep. Her mind continued to spin, and before long she lost her balance, falling forward into the white-haired man, unable to control herself. He braced her fall, all the while maintaining eye contact. "That's it, just do what I tell you."

'No' Usagi's psyche thought back. 'Don't do it, you can't give in.'

/

Demando was surprised at her willpower. Most people lacked the ability to withstand his Evil Eye, but he should have expected the past form of Neo-Queen Serenity to resist his mind control. He planned his pursuit well, secluding himself in the shadows as Esmeraulde launched her attack, diligently following his orders and luring the Guardians out. He had no intention of fighting them directly, instead he had studied them, their actions, strengths and weaknesses. They were indeed the four guardians of the 30th century, only without the thousands of years of hardened resolve deriving from the protection of Earth. Mars, Mercury, Jupiter and Venus he was already familiar with, knowing the extent and specialization of their powers as well as their attack patterns and formations. It had been Sailor Moon that had surprised him the most. He knew very little of the Queen, and would never have guessed her to have been a warrior prior to her tenure as the ruling Monarch of Crystal Tokyo. Sailor Moon was not as skilled a fighter the rest of her guardians were. No, if he was comparing apples to apples, he'd observed her to be ill suited to any form of combat. But she had leaped head first into a battle against an enemy that was completely unknown to her, all for the sake of a bratty little girl who refused to tell her the truth. Demando also saw the beginning of what was to be her command, as she lead the Sailor Guardians into what would have been a dangers blow to Esmeraulde. He himself had been the one to shield Esmeraulde from it, ordering her to retreat, while he remained behind. It became quite clear that Sailor Moon was the glue that kept the Sailor Guardians together.

Additionally, he spied upon the interactions between Sailor Moon and Endymion, utterly blown aback at the Earth Prince's dismissal of her. Truly, Endymion was a fool to leave such a beautiful creature alone and unprotected, especially when she had pleaded with him so desperately. In his mind, he felt almost validated by Kami himself, to have witnessed Endymion's dismissive treatment. When Sailor Moon ran off, alone and unprotected, Demando couldn't believe his luck. She was alone, vulnerable and in such a state that he would have a much easier time probing in to her mind.

As the White Prince continued to coax her into a state of unconsciousness, he couldn't help himself as he examined her inner-most thoughts, the internal dialog that was running through her mind. Surely, she must have felt him doing so, because he noticed her eyes become glassy. Demando was unable to contain a small chuckle. The indomitable Neo-Queen Serenity was crying in front of him.

'Go on, fall asleep. Sweet, soft, care-free sleep," he continued to cajole.

'No, Usagi you can't! Stay awake!' her mind insisted.

But it was already too late. If he had struck at any other moment, her determination would have overcome him, but wrought with emotion and exhausted from a battle, she was succumbing more and more to his influence, until finally, with a wide grin on Demando's face, her bright blue eyes closed and her frame became limp as she passed out.

VXIXV

End chapter two. Again, I really hope everyone enjoyed. Would you lovely readers like to hear more from Demando's point of view or not?