Chapter 9

A Mother's Instinct

The Scouts were transformed when they felt a tug of power at the park. It was secluded which only meant one thing.

"I finally found you Rabbit." They distinctly heard a cold voice. Mars motioned them forward. There, by a small short dock was little Rini shaking in fright, unable to move and Rubeus with a smirk.

"Mars celestial fire surround." She wasted no time backing him away from her. Venus let loose her chain and grabbed Rini before Rubeus had time to recover.

"Get her away from here!" Mercury hollered. "Mercury bubbles blast!" Under the cover of the dense fog, the scouts made their get away with Rini tucked safely in Mars's arms. They ran as fast as they could until they felt it was safe to stop and catch their breaths.

"You can put me down now Raye." Rini said softly. There were silent gasps from all of them as Rini looked at each one of them with a solemn expression. "I already know who you guys are."

"How?" Mars frowned. Rini avoided eye contact.

"You just want the broach back don't you?" She shot, looking a little betrayed and unsure.

"Well, it would really help us protect you if you gave Serena back her broach." Jupiter began kneeling in front of the girl with a soft smile. "But even if you didn't have the broach, we would protect and rescue you no matter what."

"You just came to scold me didn't you?" She demanded with tears. Mars sighed and wrapped Rini in a comforting hug.

"That's not true. We were worried. Everyone is worried, especially Serena."

"She just left it one the bed." Rini sniffed, wiping her face on the front of her uniform.

"But it was safe wasn't it?" Venus asked gently. Rini was silent, sniffing here and there as she tried hard to reign in her tears. "Even if it seemed irresponsible of her."

"And she always came after you to rescue you didn't she?" Mercury asked gently. Rini turned away with an unreadable look on her face.

"It a lie!" She yelled. Mars frowned at the girl who was desperately trying to stay angry, to block out what they were saying. She knew if they pushed to hard, then she would clam up even more. "A lie!" She dashed away from them, running into traffic. They all watched her, stunned that she would put herself into such danger just to keep her mind focused. Angry voice from various drivers yelled at her as she disappeared into a dark ally.

"Wait!" Jupiter called but Mars held out her arm to stop her.

"The more we go after her, the more she'll pull away from us. Besides, she'll be safe. The crystal will protect her."

"Then we should just let her go run the city by herself? Night is almost here!" Jupiter protested. Mars turned to her friends.

"We have to tell Serena. Rini will open up more to her than to us. Maybe she went to go see Darien. Let's cover all our bases first and not panic okay?" She knew she was asking a lot, but something inside of her was blaring loudly inside of her telling her they had to keep their distance from her. Rubeus was hot on their trail.

XOXO

Serena was waiting tensely in the Juban shopping district with the guards when Raye and Ami came.

"Did you find her?" She demanded with hope almost bubbling over.

"No luck." Raye said in sadness. Her hope wilted like a flower in the sun. Tears were burning her eyes and she blinked them back.

"She had the silver crystal and that's what Rubeus is after." Ami said with Zoicite giving her a comforting squeeze on her shoulder. A little later, Mina and Lita came. Above her head, Serena heard the clock chime to ten and she felt even colder with worry.

"By this time children should be in bed." Nephrite commented with a low sigh. Damn, where could she be? In her pocket her cell phone ran, quickly she read Darien's name and she flipped it open.

"Is she there?"

"Yeah, I just gave her some dinner and she's in the living room drinking some warm milk." He said in a low tone. Serena hung up quickly and they all ran to Darien's place. When the whole group stood in front of his door, Serena barged in without so much of a knock.

"Where?" She breathed, looking frantically in ever inch of his apartment. She spotted him on the balcony looking down and she rushed to his side.

"Looks like you just missed her." He muttered his eyes narrowing as he watched her fall. Serena held her breath, watching her pull a parachute just in time. Damn! Damn!

"Don't even think about it! You don't have your crystal and I don't want to see you die." Raye snapped and transformed.

"Look!" Zoicite was by Darien's side, pointing. Serena looked too and saw a bright pink light floating above Rini's head. She was using the key! No sooner did she fall to the ground when a blue flash of dark magic appeared and with it, a huge spaceship.

"Go!Go!" She shrieked at her scouts and they all darted down. Mars reached Rini first.

"We'll go!" She heard the guards say and she spun to follow them outside, ignoring Darien's protest. They flew down the stairs, their footsteps echoing in the stairwell. Kunzite pushed the door open with a grunt and they all spilled out, rounding the corner and witnessing the Scouts being blasted back with a powerful dark attack. Mars and Mercury shielded Rini and when they recovered they commanded her to run. Serena ran to them, but an invisible shield blocked them.

"Prince!" Nephrite called to Darien. Serena didn't tear her eyes from the scene as the scouts tried a planet power attack. She knew it wouldn't work. Rubeus was desperate and he was using every ounce of power at his disposal. Tuxedo Mask managed to get to Rini before another attack, and by the time Rini was set next to her, the Scouts were screaming.

"AMI!" Zoicite's voice rang with alarm and he roughly pushed his way to the front. Serena watched in horror as her friends were taken into the belly of the ship.

"You guys!" She protested. She was blank for a while, just staring at the spaceship as it floated away with her friends, and then anger bubbled in her chest, anger at Rini for taking the only weapon she had to keep them safe and angry at herself for looking helplessly at the night sky. She wanted to scream, hit something…throw something. Anything! She felt a comforting hand on her shoulder and looked to see Darien, back in his normal clothes, giving her a steady gaze. She didn't want him to help her right now. It wasn't fair that he could be there for her when all this time he was being a cold hearted ass. She yanked her shoulder from him and roughly grabbed Rini's arm, kneeling so she could look the little girl in her face.

"This is what happens when you act irrationally. People who want to help you get screwed." She told her in a cold, warning voice and held out her hand. Tears were in the little girl's eyes and her little mouth trembled as she reached into her shirt pocket and pulled the broach from her. Serena snatched it away and left them without a word.

"Serena…" Darien began but she glared, silencing him. She had until three to come up with a plan.

XOXO

Darien never seen her so angry before. The whole group returned to his apartment in silence with Serena's hand clamped tightly around Rini's wrist. The group settled into a deep discussion, offering solutions and dismissing them the next minute. Serena sat stiffly in a chair, half listening and half thinking to herself. He wished he could do more, but she rejected his comfort and he bitterly curse himself some more. From the corner of his eye, he saw Rini sneak from his room and onto the balcony, clutching her Luna-P ball close to her. He followed her.

"I wonder why it didn't work." He heard her murmured to herself, looking at a little golden key on a delicate chain.

"If it had worked, you could have gone back to the future with the Silver Crystal right?" He startled her, looking pointedly, but gently. She stared at him with an astounding expression. "Rini, lets not keep secrets from each other." He tried to make his voice a bit tempered to get his point across. "What were you going to do after you got the crystal?" He leaned down, catching her eye. Rini stared for a moment.

"My mom," She began, clutching the key tightly in her hand. "I need the Silver Crystal to save my mom." That information was more like it, he thought.

"You need to tell me, what exactly happened in the future." She looked away.

"I don't know."

"Rini!" He exclaimed in frustration. Tears gathered in her eyes.

"But I really don't know! I just remember that those guys suddenly showed up." She hiccupped, trying to hold in her sobs. Darien studied her for a moment, before sighing and giving her a hug. It was a lot to ask of her, but she needed to trust them, it was the only way they could help her. He thought for a while, reflecting on his own thoughts, feeling like a hypocrite. Brief flashes of his tormenting dreams made him hold onto her tighter. "Come on," He said after a while. "Let's get you back to bed." He took her hand and returned back inside. After pulling the blankets up to her chin, he gave her a little kiss on the head and left with a soft nightlight glowing. In the living room, his guards were watching the news. Serena was no where in sight.

"Where—"

"Outside, getting some air." Jadeite said before he had time to finish. He looked at the billowing curtains dancing in a little breeze. He contemplated going out there, but a nagging feeling made him give in. It was a little colder as he pushed the sliding doors open more to get out. On the balcony, there was dead silence, and no Serena. Panic flared because he felt her transform.

"No…damn it Serena no!" He yelled. The guards rushed to his side. "She left!" He cried and then another horrible thought came and he ran back to his room. The doors to his bedroom balcony were open as well and the bed was empty.

"That stubborn, reckless girl!" Kunzite bellowed. "Both of them!"

"I swear, they think too much alike!" Zoicite retorted and pulled Darien from his shock.

"Come on!" He exclaimed.

XOXO

Serena stood at the meeting point with a swarm of butterflies in her stomach and crawling flesh. It didn't take long for Rubeus to arrive.

"It was good of you to come, Sailor Moon and Rabbit." Rabbit? Serena whirled and saw Rini standing with her.

"Rini! You idiot!" She had no time to push her out of the way because a beam encased them and lifted them up. She was a bit groggy when she landed on a cold surface. She saw brown boots wobbling in front of her face.

"Welcome Sailor Moon." She blinked away her weakness and pushed herself to her knees to stare at his haughty face. Now that she was here, she was second guessing her plan. Behind him, each of her scouts were plastered on a crystal cross, their heads hanging limply to their chests.

"Rini, go and find some where safe to go for now." She told the little girl. Rini hesitated, but complied. When she was out of harms way she stood.

"Let's do this." He smirked and they began. He was much faster than she realized and it wasn't long until she was knocked to the ground. She summoned her princess wand and aimed an attack at him, but he blocked it and she felt her whole body weaken, like gravity was so heavy, she couldn't stand. He reversed the power and she was floating in the air. Through a large window, she saw the earth floating. Did he actually take them into space? How was she going to get home now?

"I see you have noticed." Rubeus commented. From her place in the air, she saw Rini running to the scouts. But there was a shield around them and her crescent moon exploded into light to protect her. Rubeus was amused, commenting on how reckless she was. Rini tried again, but again she was knocked back.

"Rini!" Serena yelled. Rubeus's attention was back on her.

"Now, it's about time to get rid of you." His voice was soft, full of anticipation and he reversed the gravitation, making her slam painfully on the floor. She felt like she was going to pop like a grape at any time. Her muscles quivered when she tried to get up under the immense pressure. No, she couldn't…not like this. Caleb's happy little giggle invaded her mind, and then Rini's tears and her desperation. She promised too, Serena promised to protect her, and her friends, the guards coming from America to be with them…and Darien, beautiful, loving…confusing Darien. She couldn't die like this. With all the strength she could muster, she gritted her teeth and forced her muscles to work. Staggering to her feet, she saw him look at her in dread and shock.

"Impossible!" He recovered and came at her with all he had. The power of her scepter clashed with his in a blinding light. Her power wasn't enough for his desperation and she hit the wall with a crack. She recovered and saw Rubeus hovering above Rini, who was trying to pull a thick jagged power source. Her motherly outrage bit into her resolve and she aimed another attack to bring his attention back to her. He barely had enough time to shield himself, but the distraction helped Rini and with all her strength, the little girl managed to pull the crystal from the ship's plug, it shattered when Rini stumbled back. His power waned and her attack hit him full in the face. Just then, the ship began to wobble and the Scouts were free and landed gracefully on their feet.

"Where are we?" Venus asked in alarm. Serena was glad that they were safe, but she hurried to Rini's side to check on her.

"You think you've won? This ship will go out of control and explode!" As if to punctuate his remark, a fire seeped through the crystal floors and surrounded them.

"We need to get out of here!" Mars exclaimed and ducked with something shattered in the distance. "I don't want to die with him!"

"There is only one thing." Mercury said.

"The Sailor Teleport!" Venus chimed.

"There is no way! Sailor Moon already exhausted her energy and we have Rini with us!" Mars protested.

"It's the only way!" Mercury shot back.

"I'll be fine. Rini," Serena grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. "You can help us." Her face was smeared in black soot, but her eyes were determined.

"I'll try."

"I'll give you something good when we get back." Serena said with a smile.

"Pancakes!" Rini exclaimed brightly. Together, they all managed to get back to Earth safely. The night sky was lit up with the explosion and when the light died down, they all let out a sigh of relief.

"You remember what you promised me!" Rini spoke. Serena paled. "And you have to make them from scratch."

"What? Well, the thing is…" She backed away. Aunt Jemima was the only thing she could make. All you had to do was add water!

"Are you sure you want her to make them for you? Serena is the worst cook…" Mars snickered.

"Then I guess I don't want them." Rini folded her arms.

"Hey! Just for that. I'm going to make a big batch and everyone has to eat them!"

"But I didn't do anything!" Venus whined. "Why are we being punished?"

Serena humped with an evil smile. "Blame Raye."

XOXO

Caleb was standing in front of Diamond's throne. Behind him, a pillar of purple energy shot from the ground like a fire hydrant. It was blinding, and amazing.

"Today the evil black crystal is emitting energy as if it were hunting." He swirled a thin glass of blood red wine. "Sapphire, what do you think about it?"

"Never mind that Diamond. Do you still plan to target the worthless twenty-first century?" Diamond stared blankly at him and turned to a dancing flame of black magic.

"It has value in its own way."

"But—" He gritted his teeth when stupid Esmeralde interrupted him.

"In place of Rubeus, I will take command." Caleb smirked at her, noticing the flush of her cheeks and how she still had her eye on Diamond to gage his reaction to her offer. "I will not fail like Rubeus did." She let out a cackling hyena laugh that made him wince.

"Esmeralde, you are too loud." Diamond was a bit irked. She flushed with embarrassment. Caleb glowered at her for a moment.

"I don't think we need to go after the Silver Crystal or the Rabbit." He hated that name for his little sister. "Our black crystal is invincible. We're wasting our time and energy going back in time." Caleb waited.

"Wiseman." The small hairs on the back of his neck stood on end when Wiseman was summoned. He hated that man with a passion. It was because of him that so many people were dead and why his mother was in that incubation. Wiseman had something up his sleeve and Diamond was just a pawn. But Caleb knew he couldn't say anything like that, not without jeopardizing his place and the safety of his remaining people.

"As long as the Silver Crystal still exists, our Black Crystal cannot be invincible." Wiseman's gurgling smoking voice sounded like acid to his ears. Obtain the crystal that hinders us and shatter it." Caleb hid a smirk. They thought that that was so easy. Shattering the Silver Crystal was damn near impossible. There was no way Diamond and the others knew the true extent of the crystals power, and he planned to keep it that way.

XOXO

Serena, Darien, the Scouts and Guards were all at Lita's apartment, in Serena's room. On her bed, tucked tightly in her warm bunny blankets was Rini. Her face was flushed, her hands cold, her breathing ragged. It all happened last night, when she finally had put Caleb to sleep. Rini wanted to sleep with her and Serena agreed. In the middle of the night, she noticed that Rini was murmuring things in her sleep, tossing and turning so much it made the whole bed shake. She tried to get her up, tried to wake her, but Rini wouldn't open her eyes.

"She's been like that since?" Darien asked her. Serena nodded sagely, gently caressed Rini's burning forehead. Tears dripped on her lap and she turned to Mina who was sitting by her.

"What should I do? Rini's going to die!" She cried.

"Serena. Calm down." Raye's voice was thick with emotion.

"I can't!" She wiped furiously at her tears. "Even the doctor doesn't know what's wrong with her."

"Help me…help…me…" Rini's strangled voice was a mere whisper. Serena leaned down and placed her cool cheek on Rini's head, gently stroking her sweaty hair.

"Hang in there." Her motherly instincts were frazzled, like the time Caleb had the flu. Night after night, she and Darien walked the floors with him as he cried. He cried so much that his voice became crackly and hoarse. For three weeks, he held a temperature, and they couldn't get him to eat, and when he did managed to swallow some food, most of the time he threw it up. She didn't know what to do. Neither of them did and every night when he would sleep for those precious two hours she would cry and beg God to help her, to make him better. She would watch him all night, breathing in and out mourning the rattle in his chest.

Rini moaned. "…black crystal…mommy, they're coming after me…" She whispered fervently. "Help me…Puu…" When the last word came from her mouth, her strange ball rolled from the foot of the bed. Its eyes were glowing. Everyone watched as the ball began to glow and an image appeared. Someone kneeling with a long rod in her arms.

"Who's that?" Lita asked for everyone.

"I am no one suspicious. I am Sailor Pluto a warrior that protects the Gates of Time and Space." She raised her head, her eyes connecting with Serena's.

"Sailor Pluto…" Serena faintly remembered her from the past. Her expression softened. "Are you the one Rini calls Puu?"

Sailor Pluto nodded. "Please, help Small Lady. The Black Crystal is slowly invading her mind and unless we do something, it will destroy it. There is only one way to save her. You will need to enter the world inside of her mind. It is a very dangerous task." Serena ignored that part.

"But you're saying that we'll be able to save her." Sailor Pluto nodded and raised her rod.

"Only the Scouts may enter." She said to the rest of the party. Kunzite was about to protest, but Mina placed a hand on his chest.

"Please, I need someone to watch over me on the outside." She kissed him gently on his chin. He didn't seem too happy about it, but nodded.

"Fine." He grunted. Serena turned back to the ball.

"I'm ready." Light encompassed them, a gentle and warm light. When she opened her eyes, she was staring at a bleak ground, chipped and dirty. Standing up, she took in the scene. Ruined walls of marble and limestone. Cracked pillars and a deathly cold breeze made her shiver. So this is the world inside Rini's mind?

"It a rather oppressive place." Raye remarked sadly. Serena gazed up to the sky.

"The moon looks so big." She absently commented.

"This is probably Crystal Tokyo in the future." Ami said, scanning the horizon.

"It's…a very dark future." Lita frowned.

"Well, it's a world inside Rini's mind so maybe the future isn't so dark." Raye offered, not really believing her own words. Mom…mom…in the distance Serena heard Rini's sad calls. She and the Scouts followed her voice. It didn't take them long to find her, kneeling by a broken wall.

"Rini?" Serena took a step forward. Rini scowled.

"How dare you call me by my first name. My name is Small Lady."

"What are you saying? It's me Serena!" Serena didn't like this.

"I don't know any of you! Leave me alone!" She yelled indigently.

"Humm…" Ami hummed. "Maybe in her mind, she's the Rini before she met us."

"So, she's dreaming of a time before she came to the past?" Raye asked.

"What are you babbling about?" Rini demanded hotly, no use to being left out of the conversation. She was a Princess, and she demanded respect! She ran from them. Man, Serena thought and began after her. What was up with Rini always running away? Where did she know where to go? Rini's scream broke through the silent world. They transformed right away. Mars and Venus let loose an attack, but it didn't faze the yomen one bit. They all surrounded Rini. The yomen laughed as if someone told a joke, mocking their attempts.

"Why?" Mars was astounded.

"The Rabbit know the reason better than anyone." It remarked. They all looked expectantly at Rini, but she remained quiet and dashed away.

"Sailor Moon, go. We'll deal with this." Mars said. Serena left them to it and followed Rini.

"Stop!" She commanded. Rini skidded to a halt.

"Go away! You're the one who did this! You destroyed Crystal Tokyo…and my mom." Her voice faltered.

"You're wrong. We're here to help you. You're supposed to travel to the past and become our friends. We'll protect you." She took Rini's hands and gave them a little squeeze.

"Protect?" For a moment, Serena thought that she had gained some ground with her, but Rini shook her hands free. "That's stupid!" She said in a haughty tone. Serena bit her lip to keep from smiling. "But since you're so insistent, I'll let you protect me if you save my mom." Serena frowned, feeling a bit jealous and not knowing why.

"Your mom?" Rini motioned her to follow. They stopped in a clearing, and Serena looked in amazement at the beautiful building in front of her. "It's so pretty."

"It's the Crystal Palace. My mom is sleeping inside of there." Serena started forward, but Rini stopped her.

"Wait." She picked up a rock and threw it. It collided with an invisible shield. "It's the power of the Black Crystal. My mom told me that they can control the power of the Black Crystal at will." Serena hesitated. "You're scared aren't you?" A rumbling in the distance made Serena flinch. The Scouts must be taking a beating.

"Rini, we'll help you save your mom, but first, I need to free my Scouts from the yomen. I can't do it on my own." Serena pulled Rini with her. Together they made their way to the battle. Serena settled the little girl a safe distance from the fight.

XOXO

Rini watched from behind the large fallen beam. The Scouts fell under the power of the yomen. Sailor Moon stood on shaky legs as the yomen raised his weapon again.

"You have to open your heart to them little sister." Rini gasped and turned eagerly to the voice.

"Caleb?" He was dressed in a dark blue uniform shirt and white pants. His warm blue eyes twinkled as he kneeled. "Where were you? I was getting scared." She sailed into his arms.

"I'm sorry you have to face this all alone. But even though you can't see me, I'm always watching over you." He stroked her hair.

"Mom is trapped in the Palace and I can't get to her. I miss her so much!" She cried.

"I know. I miss her too." There was a clash and the siblings turned to the battle. Sailor Moon and the yomen were in a heated battle but the yomen overpowered her and slammed her into the ground.

"Sailor Moon!" She screamed, but Caleb pulled her back. The yomen hissed.

"So there you were Rabbit. Oh? What are you doing here?" It addressed Caleb.

"Rini! Run!" Sailor Moon was back on her feet, placing herself in front of them. For a moment, her eyes lingered on Caleb, but the yomen brought his scythe down hard and the ground cracked in two. Rini was jarred from her brother's arms. A huge hole opened beneath her and just when she was about to fall, Sailor Moon grabbed her wrist.

"Sailor Moon…" She struggled to stay still as Sailor Moon tried to haul her up.

"Come on, you can do it." Sailor Moon urged.

"The Sailor Warrior will surely save you, so please don't cry." She heard Caleb tell her. She remembered so long ago, when she was in her room getting ready for bed and her Daddy told her the stories of Sailor Moon. How come she had forgotten them?

"Is Sailor Moon strong?" She asked him.

"Yes, she's invincible." He told her with a warm smile. Rini looked at the hero, hovering just above her.

"Sailor Moon, are you invincible?" She asked. Sailor Moon only smiled.

"Now Rabbit…" The yomen raised his scythe above his head.

"Kill him Sailor Moon!" She yelled. Caleb had jumped from the other side of the gorge and grasped her other arm. The yomen brought his weapon down with a cry, but Sailor Moon blocked herself with her scepter. She distinctly saw Caleb glow dark blue and Sailor Moon was glowing pink with power. With a cry, Caleb managed to pull her up.

"Enough is enough! I won't let you do what ever you want any more!" She blasted the yomen with an attack and it disintegrated into moon dust. When it was over, Sailor Moon went to the scouts to see if they were alright.

"I better go." Caleb kneeled. Rini frowned and took his hand.

"To find Dad?" She asked. Caleb smiled and hugged her.

"No. It's not time for me to find Dad yet." He stood up. "Remember what I said Rini. I'm always there for you, even if you can't see me okay?" Rini studied her brother. There was so many things that she wanted to ask him, but it could wait. When she saw her mom, things would be alright.

"Okay." She said and watched him disappear in a puff of black smoke.

"Who was that?" She heard Sailor Moon ask.

"My angel." Rini murmured with a smile.

"So, are you ready?" She asked. Rini bighted and eagerly nodded her head. Together they all made their way back to the palace. The barrier was down. They entered a room where a still stone alter was covered in see-through crystals stood.

"So that's you mom?" Sailor Moon asked. Rini let her hand go.

"I'm okay now." She said, suddenly feeling really sleepy. "Thank you everyone. I'm okay now." The room began to turn pink, sparking, warm pink and Sailor Moon and the Scouts were fading from her.

"We're always with you Rini." Sailor Moon' soft voice reminded her of her mom.

"Yeah." She yawned and fell into a peaceful slumber, snuggled warmly in Serena's arms.

XOXO

AN: Trying to keep my promise and update as soon as I can. Hope school and work are going well for all of you. Review! Kisses :muh: