So I have been working really hard on this chapter trying my best to get it out as soon as possible especially for Sailormoonforever. I loved your review, thanks so much for taking the time to write it! Sorry it took so long to get this up here; this story isn't exactly easy to write. But anyway I am trying to make sure I update once a week. Hope you all like it and thank you SO much for the reviews and the favorites. Your guys are great. Here ya go…enjoy.
Thanks so much to my beta Chimichurri-you are amazing! And another special thanks to SailorMoonForever who read the chapter beforehand.
Chapter 8
His eyes opened and closed as the light penetrated through the slits of his lids. As voices, familiar voices, echoed around him-concerned and angry. "He's waking up, quick go get me a warm wash cloth" he leisurely opened his eyes to find the source of the motherly tone. Slowly sitting up he placed his right palm on his forehead trying to calm the throbbing. "Lay back down Mamoru-kun" Ikuko slowly pushed the raven haired doctor back onto the pillow. Unable to keep the weight of his head, he allowed it to fall. The all too recognizable scent of vanilla and jasmine filled the air around him satisfying his every sense.
It was that scent, however; that caused him to ask "where am I?"
"You're at our home, we brought you here after…" she trailed off her voice cracking
At that moment images came flooding back to him, without a second thought Mamoru jumped out of bed. He looked around frantically-bunnies, moons…pink walls and that all too intoxicating smell-yep there was no doubt about it…he was in his Usako's room.
"Sorry, we didn't have any other rooms open…beside's Chibi-"she stopped herself tears coming to her eyes
"I understand" he replied solemnly. Leaning against the wall Mamoru allowed his body to slide down till his knees were at his chest. "I lost my family"
"You haven't lost anything yet" Mamoru looked up to come face to face with Tsukino Kenji. "If you truly love my daughter the way you say, than you can't think negatively" he stood
The mask hero stared into the older man's brown eyes filled with so much pain and anger, but there was determination as well. Determination that his precious child would be brought home safe and sound. Mamoru nodded understanding more than the words that he spoke. "Take these, they'll help with the pain" he handed Mamoru two aspirins and a glass of water
After gulping down the cold liquid Mamoru looked to the people around him "Why do I feel as if someone knocked me upside the head with a bat?"
Shingo laughed a bit "it wasn't a bat, that's for sure" the teen silenced however; as his mother sent a stern look-telling the once happy go lucky teen that this was no laughing matter.
Ikuko shook her head turning her attention to the raven haired prince "before you could stop them from taking Usagi…you were" she looked up at her husband
"Knocked out" Kenji finished
Mamoru's eyes went wide, who would knock him out? His eyes turned to the Tsukino family "What? Why would you do that to me?!" slowly, feelings of rage started to take over his thoughts, the thought that his beloveds own parents stopping him from saving their only daughter angered him.
"It wasn't us" Shingo responded handing the wounded hero a sandwich. "It was a sailor Senshi"
Mamoru let out a breath of relief. "A Senshi?" he whispered, the only Senshi missing from this mess of a situation was…"Where is she?!" he demanded getting ready to stand, but was stopped as Ikuko pulled him down
"She left shortly after" the mother said calmly "but she did say she would be back soon"
"I want to be informed the moment she arrives!" the family stared at the man in front of them. Even though they had never met his former self, Prince Endymion, they could tell he was the one giving the order…
Down stairs Motoki worked diligently on dinner. A home cooked meal would help calm everyone down, at least he hoped. Stirring the soup that simmered in the large pot Motoki couldn't help the tears that fell from his sorrowful eyes. The images of the small pink haired girl swam though his mind like an old movie.
"Motoki-oji" the pink headed child sat happily in front of his clean counter "one chocolate milk shakes please" in no time she was sipping away at her confectionary drink, humming a toon as she kicked her chubby legs back and forth.
Motoki smiled at the child, shaking his head "Now Chibi-chan you know you shouldn't be here without your parents" he leaned forward "there are rules for a reason little one"
A pout adorn her adorable little face, her fingers playing with the colorful straw "I know" she whispered sadly "I just get so lonely" her crimson eyes staring up at the arcade owner, tears swimming around them ready to descent at any moment "Everyone's always busy…papa and mama never have time for me"
With a breath the adult walked around the counter scooping the small six year old in to his arms "how about this" he whispered "we call your parents, let them know you're here with me…and then…I'll get Una-chan to take over my shift" Motoki smiled brightly at the look of excitement that displayed its self on the young princesses face. Feelings of unconditional love and understanding filled him. This little girl was more like his own child, than his favorite little niece; he knew the girls felt the same for the cheery little spawn of Chiba Usagi. She was their light, their hope and their world.
Eyes wide he looked around "What was that?" he whispered his hands going to his chest, Pain echoing though his heart.
"It's a memory"
Motoki turned quickly "Y-you're a Senshi" he stumbled over his words as he stared in shock as the last planetary solider entered the kitchen.
She nodded "I am Sailor Pluto, guardian of time"
Motoki's shocked expression quickly vanished, replaced with a look of resentment "Where have you been?!" he hissed taking a step closer "If you're a Senshi then why weren't you here to help them?! To save…to save her"
Choosing not to answer Pluto walked around the blonde arcade owner "Motoki-kun" the man in question fallowed her with his eyes "do you wish for me to tell you why you had such a memory? A memory in which you haven't yet lived?"
Motoki stilled, eyes wide "how did you know about that?" the pain echoing in his heart once more
Pluto smiled sadly "You were one of her favorite people" she ran her finger over the cold granite counter tops "She would contently sneak out of the palace just to visit with you" Pluto shook her head "it was a pain, always making sure she was being followed"
"The palace?" he asked "what palace?"
Pluto turned facing the confused man "you had a memory from your future self."
"But…how? How can I have a memory of a moment I haven't lived yet?"
"I gave it to you" she whispered "Motoki, there are things…things that are going to happen. Moments, situations that will determine how the future will play out. The time line is changed for eternity…and there is no going back." She turned her eyes away from him taking a deep breath "Endymion must make the right decisions during these critical times. You must keep him safe…at all cost. You see if Endymion is to fall…" she shook her head "the earth as we know it will be lost forever."
Motoki gasped "What am I suppose to do? I don't even have any powers! I'm just…just me" he ran his hand though his hair in a panicked fashion "I mean I'm talkative, goofy, and have a strange and unnatural love of turtles!" he looked up in to her stern jade eyes "I can't protect him! He's the freaking prince of earth for crying out loud!" Pluto couldn't help the laughter that left her lips "You find this funny?! You tell me I need to help a man who controls a powerful crystal and you're laughing?!"
She whipped a tear away from her eyes "Oh I see why small lady and Neo-Queen Serenity love you so"
"Neo-Queen Serenity? You mean Usagi-chan is okay?!" The Senshi of time remained quiet "why aren't you answering me?" Motoki watched the Senshi "Look at me" their eyes made contact, the annoyed look on Motoki's face was gone as he stared at the Senshi in front of him.
Pluto looked away quickly as the tears fell from her jade orbs. "I'm sorry Motoki" she whispered "there is only so much I can tell you"
Understanding her words he took a seat at the kitchen table "I'm listening"
Looking at the situation at hand, there will be those who blame the Senshi of time for not aiding her fellow comrades when they were in need of her assistance. However; to Motoki he saw a woman stuck, unable to do what she wanted…he could see it in her eyes, how much she was hurting-the pain of knowing she couldn't run to her princess…she was fallowing orders, but from who? That was the question. So for now, the young arcade owner sat down waiting and wanting to listen to whatever the dark haired Senshi needed to say.
---Shingo pushed the door to his sister's room open "Mamoru-Kun…there's a green haired Senshi down stairs…"
Mamoru looked up from his hands and glared darkly "Pluto"
Without a second thought the prince of earth stormed down the steps and into the living room, the Tsukino's close behind. Before anyone could react Mamoru grabbed the guardian of time by the neck slamming her body into the wall. "You BITCH!" he seethed "You knew didn't you?! You fucking KNEW!"
"I-I'm sor-"
"You're sorry?! You're FUCKING SORRY?!" Mamoru tightened his grip on the olive haired woman "You could have prevented ALL OF THIS!"
"Mamoru let her go!" Motoki yelled as he pulled the angered prince away from the Senshi of time "we understand your anger, but if you kill her Usagi would never forgive you"
Mamoru pulled out of his grip as Pluto fell to the ground holding her throat "she would forgive me, she would understand" his cold eyes stared at Pluto as she stood shakily
"I never meant for things to get so out of hand, I thought that if I was to send small lady here…that she would be able to stop what was happening"
"You sent her here?!" Mamoru's fist tightened and without another word he swung hitting the Senshi of time across the face, Her body falling to the ground, blood pouring from her now broken nose "YOU SENT HER HERE?! When you knew"he shook his head taking a step toward her "you knewwhat was going to happen and you still sent her here?!" he was seething, he had never been this angry in his life "Did you even tell Serenity or Endymion what was happening?!"
Pluto simply shook her head as Motoki ran to her side, only to have her push him away "Is this true?!" Ikuko screamed from behind Mamoru, Pluto simply nodded "How could you?!"
"I never meant for any harm to come to the little princess, I swear I thought it would help things!" Pluto knew she had made the biggest mistake of her life.
"Did you even get permission from her parents?!" Shingo hissed "do they know that their only child is dead?!"
Pluto stayed quiet for a moment before answering "I-I thought that it would work…there wasn't any time to inform their majesties…I haven't been back to tell them the sad news" it was Ikuko this time who slapped the Senshi
"You killed my grandbaby! You caused her death!" the older woman cried
Standing once again Pluto looked to the ground tears falling down her face
"She's dead" Mamoru hissed glaring at the sorrowful Senshi "SHES DEAD!" silence took over the room, his voice bouncing off the walls. Mamoru stood seething in anger as Sailor Pluto took a step back "And now Usako could be with her! Your job was to protect them! PROTECT THEM!" he was breathing heavily. Mamoru never knew he could hate someone, actually hate someone as much as he hated the woman before him.
"Mamoru" Motoki tired as he laid a hand on his friend's shoulder, only to have it pushed away.
"No" he growled "NO! My family is dead, my f-family…my family" he fell to the ground hands covering his face as he sobbed, brokenheartedly
"I think you should leave" Ikuko whispered as she knelt down beside her broken 'son-in-law'
With a small nod she whispered in response "I'm sorry…I never wanted any of this to happen" and with that the Senshi of time disappeared
---Blood, there was so much blood. Usagi watched helplessly as Chibiusa's body fell to the ground with a thud unmoving. Her bright crimson eyes opened wide, staring at her…haunting her.
Reaching out she trailed the lines of her future daughters mouth, the mouth that use to tease her so relentlessly…that mouth that would eat her slice of lemon pie…a soft painful laugh left Usagi's lips as she stared at those crimson eye, those eyes that emitted so much love…oh her sweet child.
She allowed her hand to touch her future daughter's cheek jerking it away as if the coldness of her flesh shocked her. "Why did you come back?" the question lingered as she shook her head "you shouldn't of been here" tears ran down her face, dripping into the puddle of blood pooled around her daughters lifeless body "was I that careless as to send my own child to the past, knowing the danger that awaited?"
No, she knew that this wasn't her doing. She brushed a piece of pink hair from the small princesses face "I'm so sorry" she whispered as she laid one last kiss on the small child's cheek.
Slowly opening her eyes she sat up quickly, her blue eyes taking in the room around her. "How did I get here?" she whispered she looked to the foot of her bed "a dream?" she shook her head "there's no way…it was too real…" but yet here she was sitting in her own bed, in her comfy pajamas…looking to the end of the bed once more she tried to find the small lump that normally occupied that potion of her mattress. Not seeing her adviser she knew…this wasn't real…
"Oh Luna" Usagi moaned as tears came to her eyes "Why am I here?"
"Princess" Usagi jumped as she heard the familiar voice, looking into the shadow of her bedroom Usagi breathe a sigh of relief "Pluto"
The Senshi of time stayed in her kneeling position, her eyes staring at the carpet "Forgive me for intruding"
"Intruding? Pluto what is going on?" Usagi looked around again before her blue eyes landed on her oldest friend
"For intruding your dreams, but it was the only way for me to contact you"
Usagi shook her head "I thought this was a dream…so what I saw with Chibiusa" Pluto nodded, with a mouthful of air Usagi looked to her Senshi, a small smile on her lips "well then your intrusion was most appreciated…that nightmare…" she shook her head "I never want to relive that moment again…" she looked to the window tears filling her eyes. It was weird being in this dream like place she felt…oddly calm. The pain that was in her heart lifted…it was a welcoming feeling.
"Princess"
"Why did you send her here?" This made the Senshi of time look up, both shocked and saddened. Usagi slowly turned her head toward her oldest Senshi "why did you send her to this time knowing what would happen?"
Tears came to the quiet Senshi "I never meant for her to be harmed…"
"That's putting it lightly" Usagi whispered "she was killed Setsuna…I need to understand why?" Her voice was neither angry nor syndical, confusion was the tone…pure and utter confusion mixed with desperation. She was desperate she needed to understand why?
"This wasn't supposed to happen, in none of the time lines had this come up…"
"Chibiusa's death?"
Pluto shook her head "Daitaro" Usagi looked to her confused "the man you met today…h-he wasn't suppose to appear, I swear to you princess the time lines never showed him…that is until…"
"Until?" Usagi pushed
"Until he took Rei…it was then that I started to see changes" she stared at Usagi "When I saw the time line start to change, I became concerned. It was then that I was visited by a…"
"Who? Pluto who came to see you?"
"Friend" Usagi looked unsatisfied "I'm sorry princess but I am not at liberty to share with you my friend's identity." Usagi nodded in understanding "In this new time line I saw…I saw the death of the prince"
All that was heard was the gasp coming from the blonde fallowed by a "Show me" hesitatively Pluto nods placing her hands on either side of Usagi's face
Usagi looked around making eye contact with Mamoru, who nodded. She turned her attention back toDaitaro"Regardless of what may have happened between your family and me, this still doesn't give you the right to do what you have done. We have done nothing but protect this planet" She took a breath "but if this is what they want than…so be it"
"Very wiseprincess"
Usagi closed her eyes allowing the crystal to float out of her and into her hands. Its warmth washing over her, it was then that she felt a familiar change "no" she whispered "don't"
"She's transforming!" yelled a bystander
"Please stop" she pleaded with the crystal but it only continued turning her into the super hero she was "Usako!" she heard her lover's voice cry and then it happened.
It sounded like thunder as the sounds echoed though out the city, parents and children watched as Mamoru's body fell to the ground. Letting out a gut reaching cry Usagi fell to her knees holding the body of her dying prince. "I-I love you" he managed to choke out as the blood filled his mouth "No" Sailor Moon cried "No, please I can save you I can use the crystal and you'll live" she whispered but Mamoru only shook his head
"I-I love you" his eyes slid close, face turning into her chest as his bangs fell over his now closed eyes. It was then that the earth began to cry, feeling the lost of their king their protector. The ground began to shake, building began to fall. The streets were lined with dead bodies, people running for their lives…but sailor Moon sat motionless, holding onto the love she once had…her Mamo-chan.
The earth was ending…along with its king it too died.
Usagi stared at her Senshi, eyes watering "that's why she had to die?" Pluto did not respond "but why?" she understood that a sacrifice needed to be made but still…why Chibiusa? Why her?
"Without Mamoru-san…and without a successor…the golden crystal dies, as does the earth. If you were to die, then all hope for our world is lost. The silver crystal is the only power that can beat this new enemy"
Usagi glared at her locket-which was now in her hands "so until Chibiusa is born neither of us can die…" she looked up at her friend "in the end our child must give up her life…so that we can continue to live?"
"I'm sorry princess"
"And there's no other way?" she pleaded "there's no other option? Chibiusa has to die for this battle to be won?" again Pluto nodded; Usagi could tell that this was just as hard for Pluto to accept as it was for Usagi.
"I have been dreading this since the time lines changed, numerous times I have tried to find other ways around this…other options…but sadly there isn't"
This was insane…Usagi understood the need for revenge; she understood why Daitaro would come after her. But taking an innocent life in the process? No she couldn't forgive this. He needed to be stopped and she was just the person to do it. "Who is he?" Usagi thought for a second "he said something about me destroying his family, his royal blood line…"
"He's the son of two people you faced…" Pluto turned her gaze to the moon hovering outside Usagi's window "Demando and Esmeraude…"
Usagi gasped "but…how?"
"Before Demando's obsession with your future self, he and Esmeraude were a couple. A year into their relationship she gave birth to their son Daitaro. At the age of 10, he watched as his father laid eyes on Neo-Queen Serenity for the first time…" Usagi shivered "it was then that his father's obsession with the Neo-Queen began…He watched as his father ignored him and his mother, throwing them to the side. Daitaro was present threw out the entire dark moon battle…"
"Then he had to of seen his father, his father scarified himself to save his uncle Saphir"
Pluto took a breath "yes, but he was only a child at the time…and with that only saw you as the cause of his father's death… After the death of Demando he was quickly sent back to Crystal Tokyo by one of his father's loyal subjects. He hid his dark moon sigil and was later found by a woman who owned an orphanage near the palace. His hatred for the Queen and her past self grew as he watched small lady laugh and play joyously with both his majesty and yourself"
"So this is why he's causing us such pain…" a tear fell as Usagi looked up at the moon "this is why he killed her"
Pluto nodded "and for my hand in the small princess's death, I must once again leave this time…never to be seen again"
Usagi turned to Pluto, wide eyed "what are you talking about? Where are you going?!" she asked frantically. "You can't leave me; you're the only Senshi left!"
"Do not fear princess, this is my punishment for betraying the family I hold so dear…" a small tear fell from the senshi's emerald eyes as she smiled at a weeping Usagi "When you awake the pain of small ladies death will unfortunately impact your emotions greatly…Remember your heart Usagi…" the blonde stared at her long time friend in disbelief, the olive haired woman never addressed her as Usagi, Pluto smiled at her surprise "One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can't utter." Holding her goblet in her hand she handed it over to Usagi. "Always remember" she whispered placing the glowing violet orb in Usagi's shaking hands "The heart has reasons that reason does not understand." And with that the Senshi of Pluto disappeared. Usagi watched in horror as the violet orb disappeared into her chest.
"NO!" Usagi jumped from her bed landing hard on the spot where her longest Senshi sat
A voice fluttered past her ears "Usagi" she looked up there was nothing "Usagi" she heard it again looking around the room standing slowly "Who's there?" she asked a bit uncertain
"Usagi!" the voice was so familiar "Rei?" Usagi asked as the world around began to grow dark
"Usagi?" Rei whispered as her blonde friend lay on the chilly ground.
After being rushed to the hospital and nearly dying the doctors worked tirelessly on the Senshi of the moon, with help from her crystal Usagi was left unconscious, but alive.
Daitaro, once receiving the news ordered that the blonde be moved to his location so that he may keep a close eye on the 'criminal'
Once back at the castle he had his men throw her body roughly into the cell, which held her friends.
They all were frantic over their fallen princess, noticing the blood that stained her clothes. Ami rushed removing the solid garments and checking the nearly healed bullet wound that sat on her chest.
"What the hell happened?!" Haruka yelled
Minako held the soiled garments in her trembling hands "Ami is she alright?"
"She's okay, just unconscious" the blue haired Senshi clarified as Rei and herself redressed the young blonde in a white jump suit similar to theirs.
It was only a couple of minutes before the blonde princess opened her eyes. With help from Rei, Usagi leaned her body against the cold cell wall.
"Usagi?" Rei whispered touching her friends shoulder, blue eyes meeting violet, a whimper left Usagi's lips as she stared at her hot headed friend.
"Chibiusa's dead" the words came trembling out of her lips "She-She's dead" tears fell from her azure eyes as the group gasped, those who were standing fell to their knees. Pluto was right…the emotions were hitting her ten folds
"No" Rei whispered, her own tears cascading down her now pale skin.
"What do you mean she's dead?!" Michiru all but panicked
"He killed her" Usagi whispered "Daitaro killed my daughter"
----Knelling down beside his broken companion, Motoki whispered "we don't know if Usagi is dead Mamoru, she could be fine…that agent guy looked pretty determined to save her life" there was no answer "besides didn't Chibiusa serve that fight with Galaxia?"
Mamoru turned and glared darkly at his friend "This isn't like the fight with Galaxia Motoki! Did you not see the blood?! Did you not see me holding her limp lifeless body?!"
"Mamoru there's got to be-"
"There isn'ta way Motoki! Chibiusa is dead she gone…she didn't disappear she died" he stood up a dark look in his eyes "I won't rest till the man who started this, the one who took everything from me, is dead…even if I have to pull out his heart with my bear hands"
Motoki took a breath standing beside his friend "Then I think there's something we need to discuss"
--Hours had past, tears were dried a feeling of numbness fell over Usagi as she explained who their new enemy was any why he was after them. It took longer to explain since Haruka and Michiru hadn't a clue who Diamond or Esmeraude were. After explaining-in great detail- about the dark moon clan and calming down Haruka, who did not take the obsession nor the kidnapping too well…castration and rusty nails were a few of the torturous words that were heard from the wind goddess, as the sandy haired Senshi cracked her knuckles.
"They're dead Haruka-chan there's no need to be upset" Rei laughed at Haruka crossed her arms over her chest. Man was she protective of her little Koneko-chan.
Minako on the other hand couldn't get over the paternity of their new resident Charles Manson "Diamond and Esmeraude had a son?!" Minako screeched "that's just disgusting!"
Makoto shivered "well at least we know why he's so interested in you Usagi-chan"
"Like father like son" Ami shook her head
"It looks like the Apple doesn't fall far from the apple sauce"
"Minako-chan…I believe you mean 'the apple doesn't fall far from the tree'" Ami corrected as Rei rubbed her temples
"We need to figure out a plan" Michiru added looking to the group "Usagi-chan what do you think?" she asked softly
Usagi ran her hands though her long pig tales "I don't care" she muttered
"What?" the girls gasped
"It doesn't matter anymore "she whispered brokenly."He's already taken my heart"
Rei wrapped her arms around her broken friend "Usagi-chan, I know you're hurting…believe me we all loved Chibiusa" the others nodded kneeling in front of the fallen blonde "but we can't lose hope" she shook her head "not now, we have to fight"
"For Chibiusa" Minako added holding Usagi's free hand
To be continued….
Okay all that's it for chapter 8 hope you liked it. Review let me know what you think.
~chichiforever.