A beautiful gaze locked onto her, a gaze untainted by the wind stirring around them. The look reflected the unpredictability of wind storms, but carried something stronger; a force invisible, but unending. Those pink lips twisted in motion, whispering something.
"Usagi-chan?"
A cool touch graced her cheek, with the full force of tornado winds, encircling her and pulling her closer. Though, it wasn't as if she were afraid of this power; no, there was no fear, just comfort.
"Usagi-chan?"
The eyes looked away, turning to the sound of the ocean, that rippled through everything. Following the sound, a goddess was revealed; drenched, with hair clinging to her cream cheeks. Everything became cold, while the ocean pulled the winds.
"U-sa-gi!" A couple of knocks caused Usagi to blink.
"What?" The girl blinked a couple of times; apparently she had been lost in thought.
"You were day dreaming, again." Ami noted softly. All of the girls looked at her, each sitting at a different corner of the table in Rei's room. Every last one of them looked concerned.
"Usagi…are you okay?" Rei asked softly, touching Usagi's shoulder with unmistakable ember warmth.
"Yeah." Usagi said, offering a tiny smile. None of them took it to heart.
"When is the last time you talked to Haruka-san?" Makoto asked.
"Well…" Usagi paused, "We've both been busy…"
"Usagi-chan, we just finished with exams, and only Rei-chan has a job…" Ami noted softly.
"Usagi-chan, you should go see her. Maybe it'll make you feel better." Minako said, offering a kind smile. Rei looked over at Minako, her violet eyes flaming with confusion. Minako looked back with confidence that extinguished the flames.
Usagi knocked on the butchered and bruised door three times; it appeared Haruka hadn't gotten a chance to fix it in the last two weeks. Most of it had been thrown together, with duct tape acting like bandages on the splintered wood.
After a few moments, the door groaned open, revealing a pale Haruka; her eyes looked glossy and her hair was abnormally stringy.
"'ruka-chan…" Usagi whispered, reaching forward and touching the taller woman's shoulder. Almost instantly, Haruka jolted back.
"You don't need to pity me." Haruka said, simply. Usagi became instantly tense, while coldness ran through her body.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you, it's just… you look ill." Usagi said, smiling gently. Her shoulders shook with nervousness, while her heart erratically pumped.
Haruka didn't respond, but looked off towards the street, "Why did you come here, kitten?" Her voice sounded worn.
"I wanted to see you." Usagi whispered delicately, brining a closed hand to her chest.
"Why?" Haruka asked, closing her eyes.
"Because you're an important person to me." Usagi said breathlessly. Haruka opened her eyes and looked down at this smaller girl; her sapphire eyes shined in both insecurities and hope, her shoulders shook in passion and fright, her whole spirit carried such warmth, it would melt Haruka. Haruka's lips parted.
The communicator went off in Usagi's pocket. Haruka's lips closed, and with a saddened look, Usagi reached into the pocket of her small white jacket.
"Usagi-chan! We need your help now!" Minako's voice cried through the communicator, while screams of pain from Ami could be heard in the background.
"Right! I'm on my way!" Usagi said firmly, as the connection was terminated. Her eyes slowly rose up to Haruka, who instantly looked away. Usagi looked down, and her smile faded.
"Take care, 'ruka-chan." Usagi said softly. She turned around and began to run.
Haruka watched the young, vibrant girl disappear into the distance. She punched the door frame, causing it to splinter even more. She punched it again, while her eyes lined with tears. Haruka clenched her teeth tightly, trying to shut out reality somehow.
"I was happy, Michiru." Haruka's voice came out coarse, raw from emotion. She began to feel weak, and without noticing, leaned against the door way. All that could be heard was the rushing of the ocean waves.
"I can feel you, still, Michiru…" Haruka whispered softly, "But I feel her within me, too." Her eyes opened, and she ran towards her car: Haruka would not let Usagi fight alone ever again.
Sailor Venus screamed in pain as her beam was reflected back at her. She rolled on the cement, scrapes forming on her already bruised thighs, and her uniform becoming more and more torn. Sadly, she was in the best of shape out of any of them. Luna and Artemis looked around worriedly at the soldiers.
Malachite released a series of laughs, "It's no wonder you all fell so easily in the Silver Millennium, it's only a shame you didn't ever bless yourselves with our Queen's power! Perhaps then you would've had potential, Sailor Soldiers." Malachite raised his hand above his head, as a collection of black energy crackled above it.
"Stop right now!" A voice screeched through the air. Startled, Malachite dropped his arm and looked to the left: Sailor moon stood, her arms crossed over her chest.
"Sailor Moon." Sailor Jupiter said, smiling gently.
"I won't ever let anyone get away with hurting my friends, or anyone else. Standing for love and justice, I am the pretty soldier Sailor Moon. And, in honor of the moon, you'll be punished!" Sailor Moon called out, walking towards Malachite. Malachite in turn laughed at the small girl. Sailor Moon's arms fell to her sides.
"What will the little princess do without her soldiers? Throw a tiara at me?" Malachite taunted.
In the distance, screeching tires could be heard, and the rapidly approaching sound of a revving engine. ''ruka-chan?' Usagi wondered to herself.
"Malachite, you can still return to us. You served under Endymion, and he wanted nothing more than peace. Don't you want to fulfill your prince's wish?" Sailor Moon asked, raising a hand to her chest.
Malachite laughed, "My loyalty is somewhere else now, princess." A car stopped behind him. Malachite tossed an unconcerned look at it. Out of the car stepped Haruka. Malachite raised an eyebrow, realizing exactly who it was; Malachite could feel the warmth of hope erupt from Sailor Moon; He knew instantly that Haruka had to die.
"Usagi, I believe in you." Haruka said bravely, and kneeled to the ground. Sailor Moon's lips parted, while her body filled with confidence and strength.
"Another useless soldier." Malachite raised his hand above his head again. Energy swirled and crackled around his hand at an alarming rate. It grew in fractions of seconds, doubling in size constantly.
Sailor Moon stared at Malachite, "No!" She screamed, her eyes fell closed. Her hand extended up in the air and was quickly filled with the moon stick, completed by the silver crystal. It shined in a pure white light, flashing in healing powers. Malachite's elbow bent out of its rigid position and his whole body shuddered as the pulsing light washed over.
Sailor Moon continued to walk closer. "I won't let you harm anyone anymore, Malachite. I won't allow anymore violence, any more death or lost loves. I will stop the suffering." The flashes became more frequent, filling the whole world, or so it seemed; Haruka shielded her eyes, while Malachite was mortified in place.
Malachite could feel his flesh burning from the purity. "Moon healing escalation!" Sailor Moon cried, pointing the stick at Malachite. Its power quickly washed over him, purifying him into dust. As his ashes fell, a dark green stone fell on top; it pulsed in a series of light, before it faded into black.
Without warning the stone sank into itself, forming a black hole. It sucked all the girls, as well as Artemis and Luna in it before disappearing. The street, streaked with damage, remained empty. A strange coldness filled the air, a coldness atypical for even Tokyo's winter.
It felt as if the ground was melting beneath her. There was no warmth, in fact most of her skin felt frigid, 'Where's Rei-chan? She's always warm…' the thought drifted through her mind, until Minako felt water drip on her back. Her eyes popped open, and she looked around: a tossed aside Luna was a foot away from her, while Haruka and Usagi laid crumpled on the ground a couple yards away. Minako shivered and rubbed her chilled arms; "Where are we?" She questioned out loud. The only color she could see was white; it was unclear where the ground ended and where the sky began.
In the distance, more snow was approaching, which only blurred the possible horizon.
"What happened to the others? That hole…had it teleported them somewhere?" Minako stood, her feet drenched and her body equally soaked in bruises and water. The snow had melted easily beneath her, but there was an endless amount still left. A pained meow drew Minako's attention to her right. Luna's eyes pulled open slowly. "Luna, I'm glad you're awake," Minako smiled gently.
Luna's eyes filled with shock, "Minako-chan!" She sounded so startled.
"What is it, Luna?" Minako asked, watching as Luna's wet fur stood on edge, chunks of snow still clinging to it.
"This is…this is close to where we found the highest concentration of their power. We are near Metalia, we're near Beryl," Luna whispered
Minako was silent for several moments, "Are we ready for this?"
"I don't think we have a choice anymore, Minako-chan. You've been a great leader, I'm," Luna paused, and looked down, choking on the words that never followed. Minako placed a single finger over Luna's mouth.
"Don't talk like that. We'll win this, we'll come back. We have to, Valentine's day is just a couple days away. And…we have to give our chocolates to those special people." Minako blushed lightly. Luna offered a small, hopeful meow.
Beryl looked out into the bare purple stone center, the area best lit, the area everyone was afraid to be seen in. Most of those who claimed to be useful were already slaughtered for use of their energy, in fact it seemed as if only a hand full were left. Michiru stood beside Beryl.
"DD ladies, present yourselves," Beryl requested, extending her grey tinted hand out in front of her, palm up. The five ladies appeared in front of Beryl, the sisters each a different hue but clearly related. "You're my elite soldiers, I want you to make history for yourselves: Eliminate them and present me with the Silver Crystal."
"Gladly, my queen," one of the ladies whispered, she stepped forward and bowed, her sandy blond hair falling from behind her shoulder. The other four behind her giggled to themselves, before instantly disappearing; their speed was near impossible to match.
Michiru's eyes flickered for a moment, waves of knowledge washing through her mind. 'Haruka…' her mind whispered. Her necklace sparkled in deep amethyst lights, 'Please, don't be with them, Haruka…' Her mind pleaded.
"Ami-chan? Ami-chan!" Rei yelped, shaking her friend's shoulders vigorously. Ami's eyes sprang open, fell closed and then popped open again, in a series of blinks. She shivered, the warmest parts of her were where Rei was touching.
"It's so cold…" Ami whispered, still observing the environment: so much snow, it was so flat. By the looks of the horizon and how the clouds swirled, they had to be extremely far up north.
"We should transform," Makoto said. She kneeled above the other two, looking around. Ami stood up and placed a gentle hand on Makoto's cheek. Makoto in turn blushed.
"You had a cut on your cheek, I guess Usagi's power healed us as well," Ami said with a gentle smile, never moving her hand. Makoto's blush deepened, while she placed a cool hand on top of Ami's and returned the smile. Rei looked on, her lips slipping in surprise; she had never noticed her friends had found love within each other; had they seen it in her and Minako? No, now was not the time for such questions.
"Mars Power, Make Up!" Rei called out, triggering the girls to also transform.
They stood, pretty sailor soldiers, and looked around for their next queue. An icy gust stirred the powdery top layer snow.
"Mars, Jupiter, combine your attacks and aim at the sky." Mercury said, after the extended pause.
"Why?" Jupiter asked, clearly confused.
"If we were teleported here, then chances are so did the others. If we create a signal then we can find each other easier," Sailor Mercury explained with a gentle smile.
Sailor Mars giggled happily, "You're brilliant, Ami-chan!"
Mercury giggled in return.
"Alright," Sailor Mars prepared herself, as did Jupiter, "Fire Soul!" Mars launched her attack straight into the air.
"Supreme Thunder!" Sailor Jupiter followed, her lightning wrapped around the fire.
"Hey! Minako-chan! 'ruka-chan! Look over there!" Usagi yelped, pointing off to the far left. Minako sighed, at this rate they'd make no progress.
"Usagi-chan, I'm sure it's just a—" Minako paused as she turned to her left to look back at Usagi. Her jaw hung open and her eyes widened.
"Usagi-chan! That's them! They're signaling for us!" Minako clasped Usagi's hands and together they jumped up and down repeatedly together, almost delirious with happiness. Haruka smirked watching the two girls.
"Let's get to them, otherwise I'll have to warm you both up by myself…" Haruka winked playfully. Minako turned a deep red and laughed nervously, while Usagi's cheeks matched in rosiness, but she leaned into Haruka.
AN: Sorry for the super delayed update, everyone! ;_; I hope it was worth the wait, though. There should be another update before too much longer—almost done with university applications, which means I'll be able to dedicate a lot more time to writing! YAY! Let me know what you guys think so far, what you like, what you'd like to see more of! Thanks, everyone!