He got distracted from his sorrow when suddenly, he saw something moving between the trees. Something blue and watery...
"Chaos?"
A few days have passed, and everything seemed to have normalized. Usagi and her friends were going to school again, Tails was working on his new invention, Knuckles and Rei were guarding the Master Emerald and Sonic was taking a nap somewhere.
Chibiusa, who had just arrived in this time, was once again staying with the Tsukino family, together with Diana. Usagi's Mom was once again believing she was Usagi's 'cousin'.
For some reason, neither Eggman or one of his robots has bothered them again. Metal Sonic, who the Senshi previously had met almost every week, didn't show up anymore. And no one knew what happened to Hotaru... but Tails sadly suspected that Eggman had her grounded.
Rouge forgave Minako for abandoning her. Her task of finding the Chaos Emeralds turned out to have no success, as she just couldn't find a single trace of the emeralds. GUN troops were still patrolling the streets in search of the thief, though.
Amy Rose and Chibiusa became good friends, and so Amy became another regular guest at the Tsukino household. After a few visits, Ikuko began adoring the energetic, female hedgehog who looked so much like her 'niece'.
Big and Froggy had returned to the jungle, where they continued living their lazy ways of fishing, eating and sleeping. Cream, after coming home, had asked her mother to adopt a few more Chao, and her mother Vanilla simply couldn't say no to her sweet little daughter. So they went to the agency of homeless Chao and promised the manager to take good care of the little guys. Cream was especially fond of a chocolate brown Chao she called Chocola. He and Cheese quickly became something similar to brothers.
Rei and Knuckles agreed to take turns watching over the Master Emerald. Also, Rei promised never to be late again. And to her birthday, her grandfather bought her a brand-new cell phone, so she could always stay in touch with him.
Almost one week after their glorious return from the Egg Carrier, Knuckles was once again sitting in front of the Master Emerald shrine, meditating. Behind him lay the Chaos Emeralds he had brought back with him.
Rei and Grandfather Hino were coming out of their hut. "Knuckles, we're leaving for town. We have some shopping to do," Rei said.
Knuckles nodded. "All right! I got it under control. See you later."
And after the other echidnas had left, he let out a deep breath. Since their adventure, he had been thinking of the visions he and Rei had. He realized they were not the only ones, as Tails, Chibiusa and Sonic told him about their own visions. Tails also explained the others his time travel theory, while Sonic told them of the murals he had seen in the ruins.
And that strange verse Tikal had said... he couldn't stop thinking about it. Why did they all have these visions? Was it a warning? A glimpse of the past? Or did they really travel through time, as Tails said? Chibiusa's time key, as well as the Time Stones, proved it: Time travel was possible.
Knuckles was that deep in thought that he didn't realize a man stumbling closer to him. Only when that person collapsed, Knuckles recognized him. "Dr. Eggman?" Knuckles shouted. "What happened to you?"
Eggman barely had the strength to speak. "This is terrible... Ch-Chaos is..." He didn't continue.
"Is what?" Knuckles asked impatiently. He didn't notice the puddle of water approaching him from behind.
After Rei and her grandfather returned home, they couldn't find a trace of Knuckles. "Strange," Rei murmured. "Normally, he takes his job as a guardian pretty serious. So where could he be?"
"Over there," Hino shouted and pointed towards two bodies that were lying on the ground.
They put down their shopping bags and hurried over to them. "Knuckles," Rei shouted. "And Eggman? What happened here?"
Knuckles groaned and got up from the ground... "Rei... he took the Chaos Emeralds... and Chaos... he's still alive!"
Rei gasped. Eggman angrily stood up and rubbed his head. "Aaaah, he's not gonna get away with this," he shouted. "I'll show him..."
"Hey doctor, wait up..." Rei shouted, but the scientist already left.
"We have to be careful," Knuckles said. "Chaos is a fearsome beasts... and who knows what he's going to do with the emeralds' powers..."
Professor Tomoe looked at the many heart crystals stored in various glass containers. "Very good, Tellu," he said. "Your idea of stealing the hearts using those plants of yours really was a stroke of genius."
"Oh, Professor, you're making me blush," the green-haired witch giggled. "I'm just doing my job..."
In a corner of the room, Mimete was standing and snarling. How dared that little bi... witch, making the Professor forget about her? She would have to come up with an even more ingenious plan than the little vegetable freak.
Professor Tomoe held up the yellow Chaos Emerald. "Together with this pretty little thing, we will soon have enough energy to summon our great master to earth... and then, the loss of Mistress 9 just won't matter anymore!" He giggled.
Just then, a surprised shout of "Ghaaaagh!" came out of the bathroom. They all turned around. Witch Viluy came stumbling out of the door. A strong jet of water came shooting out of the room. Viluy was completely drenched.
"Professor, the wash basin, it... it simply exploded, and all that water came shooting out of the wall."
Suddenly, a similar cry of "GYYAAAAAAHH!" came from the laboratory. Cyprine came running in, similar drenched as Viluy. "Oh god! A giant jet of water just destroyed the daimon eggs! And the room is being flooded, there's just no end to the water."
Then they all had to step aside as water jets also came shooting out of the walls... exactly where the water pipes were situated.
Professor Tomoe didn't find that amusing. "What's happening here?" he angrily shouted. "Who dares attacking the future rulers of the universe?"
A thundering roar was the answer, as the water shooting out of the washroom suddenly took shape, and a monstrous face glared at them with green gleaming eyes...
Tomoe and the witches couldn't help but shudder. That wasn't a daimon... This creature was more dangerous than anything they had ever seen before.
The green eyes looked around the room, then got fixated on the yellow emerald in the professor's hand. Chaos snarled.
And then the room turned into a chaotic vortex of water, bodies and magical attacks being shot by the witches. But it was to no avail... Chaos was pouring more and more water into the room, and, one after another, the almighty Witches 5 vanished under the flood.
Professor Tomoe was the last one, sitting on a table, when the water had almost reached the ceiling. "I have failed..." he muttered, as it reached his chin. "Forgive me... Master Black Doom!"
The people of Station Square weren't suspecting anything evil, as they just did their daily duties. Pedestrians were entering and exiting various shops, and cars were driving through the city.
When suddenly, a manhole cover was being catapulted into the air, as a massive burst of water shot up from the sewer. Another jet of water shot up from another manhole, then another, and another, and another. Finally, cracks appeared in the street, as the water was pressing against the underside of the streets with a powerful force.
In every household, the wash basins, bath tubs, washing machines and similar devices exploded, as the water shot out of the water pipes. The massive floods poured out of the windows, creating at least dozens of enormous waterfalls flowing down onto the streets. And slowly, the water coming from above and below turned the whole town into an ocean of destruction.
After half an hour or so, everything seemed to have calmed down a little... only that the city now was resembling a nightmarish version of Venice. But suddenly, the windows of the biggest skyscraper in town exploded, as another massive burst of water shot out of the building. But instead of flowing down like before, the water surrounded the building's top like a big bubble. And slowly... it began forming itself into a new, monstrous form...
And when the transformation was complete, the monster's head was resembling some sort of giant sea serpent, with a large mouth and extremely long and powerful jaws. The monster opened its slitted, green-yellow eyes and let out a deafening roar.
Perfect Chaos was reborn...
Alpha was chuckling to herself as she jumped from roof to roof. "Well, I gotta say... this Chaos sure knows how to spread chaos. Now, perhaps that makes it easier for me to find some yummy heart crystals." She giggled while standing on the top of City Hall. "They surely won't escape that easily now. I knew it was a better idea to take sides with Chaos, not with Eggman. I mean, without my help, he still wouldn't have known where the last emerald was."
Alpha closed her eyes and sniffed. Then she smiled. "That smell... it's the smell of a pure heart... a smell I know well!" And she grinned and jumped over the flooded plaza.
"C'mon, Mom, I got you!" Usagi pulled with all her might and helped her mother climb out of her room's window, and up on the roof. Shingo, Chibiusa, Luna and Diana were crouching behind them.
Ikuko moaned as she sat down. "Good thing that your father isn't in town this week... he would have had a crying fit if he would only think about the repair bill..."
Shingo wrapped his black-white tail around himself and shivered. "What are we gonna do, Mom? We are safe for now, but we still are trapped on the roof."
Luna looked up at Usagi in worry. The blonde hedgehog sighed and looked over to the building where Chaos' monstrous face was sticking out.
'I somehow have to turn into Sailor Moon to save them all,' she thought. 'But how? Mom and Shingo will see it.'
Suddenly, a cackling laughter came from above. On the neighbor house, the menacing form of Alpha was standing. "Looky-look, what have we here? Some yummy hearts!" She licked her lips. "And the yummiest of them all..." She glared at Chibiusa.
Chibiusa backed off nervously, when the daimon got ready to jump.
Ikuko and Shingo cowered in fear. "Oh no," the skunk-boy mumbled. "It's gonna kill us, it's gonna kill us..."
Usagi stood up. "Usagi, what are you doing?" her mother shouted. But her daughter didn't listen.
'It doesn't matter if they know of my identity. It's not like Mom would stop me from saving the city, right? And I have to save them...'
She raised her locket. "Moon Cosmic Power, Make Up!"
And her mother and brother could only stare as she twirled through the air, glowing ribbons and all.
Sailor Moon raised her Moon Rod. "Stop right there, daimon! I won't let you take the heart from those I love! In the name of the moon, I'm gonna kick your butt!"
Ikuko gaped. "Usagi...?" She couldn't believe it. Her daughter was the sailor suited Senshi that always saved the day?
Alpha grinned. "Wonderful! You've beaten me before, but... take a look around! This time, you're completely alone!"
"That's not true!" Chibiusa stood up. "She has me!" And she raised her locket as well.
"Moon Prism Power! Make Up!"
And she turned into Sailor Chibimoon.
"What?" Shingo yelled. "You TOO?"
His 'cousin' grinned. "Well, gotta go! Have to save you from that bad, bad monster!"
Usagi giggled while her brother fumed. It seemed to bother him greatly to let himself being saved by his little cousin.
"So there's two of you," Alpha huffed. "No big deal! I can take care of you!"
"Don't be too sure about that," Chibiusa shouted. "I may be small, but I'm always ready to fight for my friends and family."
"Go get him, Chibimoon," Diana yelled. Ikuko looked like she was ready to faint.
Chibimoon raised her cat-shaped ball. "Luna-P!"
And it transformed into a BIG squirt gun.
Alpha sweat-dropped. "What... is that?"
Chibiusa smirked. "That is the new Super Soaker 2006 XXXL, Luna-P edition. It can shoot out the strongest jet of water ever seen with a squirt gun."
"Gaaah," Usagi screamed. "Surreptitious advertising alert!!"
Alpha snickered. Then she laughed loudly. "Bwahahahahah! The little squirt tries to defeat me with a squirt gun. Hahahahaha! Oh, put that toy away, little girl, or I'll laugh myself to death..."
Chibiusa grinned. "Laugh while you can!" And she pulled the trigger.
And as Alpha was hit by the powerful jet of water, she hit the wall of the next house with such a force, that several cracks were appearing around her twitching form.
"Good work," Luna shouted. "Now finish her off, Sailor Moon!"
Sailor Moon nodded and raised her rod.
"Moon... Spiral... Heart... ATTACK!"
"NOOOOOOOOO!" Alpha screamed as she was being hit by the attack. "Not AGAIN!!"
And as she got obliterated, the bent shape of a green robot could be seen for a moment, before it fell down into the water.
But, just for a moment, Usagi could have sworn that she saw a cloud of some sparkling lights floating away...
"Good job," Luna cheered.
Ikuko looked down at the black feline. "You better have a good explanation for this, or I fear I'll have to send you to the vet..."
"EEEP!" Luna's fur bristled after hearing that. Diana giggled. Poor Mom...
In a dark clearing, three persons were standing. A human, an echidna and a hedgehog. All female.
"Well, here she is," Pluto said in an impatient voice. "Now, hurry up with your story!"
Tikal nodded. "All right... you did a good job and you deserve to know." She turned to face Hotaru. "Sailor Saturn... are you willing to help the Senshi fight the forces of evil?"
Saturn nodded. "Definitely! But don't expect me to fight my own father, okay?"
Tikal smiled. "No, of course not! The threat you are going to face is more dangerous than all of your father's robot troops can ever be."
Saturn gasped. "That powerful?" Tikal nodded. "But, it's still time until that evil force appears. But you have to train your powers, so you are ready when the time comes."
"I'm going to do my best," Saturn said with determination.
Tikal nodded. "Now, Pluto... it's time you know about your own powers."
"What about my powers?" Pluto asked. "I know them. I got them from the Chaos Emeralds, and Professor Gerald created me in a way so I could absorb their powers. That's why I can use Chaos Control without carrying an emerald."
"But that's not the whole story," Tikal said. She smiled. "Do you remember something called 'Crystal Tokyo'?"
Pluto frowned. She was pretty sure she hadn't heard that word in all of the 50 years of her life. Now, why did that word sound so familiar?
"Let me explain..." Tikal started. "50 years and a few weeks ago... you didn't even exist in this world."
"I know," Pluto said. "Professor Gerald created me, after all."
"No, I mean, you existed, but not in this world or this timeline... You see, originally, the Senshi wouldn't even exist in this world."
"Now you talk nonsense," Pluto murmured.
Tikal shook her head. "No, Pluto! It's the truth! This universe has been merged with another one. In the universe the Senshi originally came from, they were humans. You all were humans, because humanoid animals didn't exist there. And you... didn't you realize just why the Professor named you 'Pluto'?"
"I guess because he likes that tiny rock of a planet?" Pluto huffed. "How am I supposed to know?"
"It was, because in your previous life... you have been Sailor Pluto, the guardian of time!"
"No no NO!!" Pluto pressed her hands on her ears. "It's not true, it's not true..."
Tikal smiled sadly. "But it is. I had to put you into this role myself, as you were about to let something terrible happen... Setsuna!"
Pluto gasped and opened her eyes wide. Within a nanosecond, her brain was being filled with images, with memories from a previous life. It was an experience one person rarely went through without going insane. Only Pluto's strong will and her abilities prevented her from having a mental breakdown.
"I'm... I'm..." She panted heavily and leaned against a tree. Then, she turned around to face Tikal. "You... You're..."
Tikal looked at her. "Now do you see, Pluto? Crystal Tokyo... it would mean the death of billions of people. And before you say it, yes, it would be possible to make an Utopia without everyone having to die. But it simply wouldn't be THE Crystal Tokyo you're yearning for. It would be a paradise where EVERYONE would be alive and happy. And that is something even harder to achieve then just putting a few survivors under the rule of a queen."
Pluto glared at the echidna girl. "You... practically STOLE my life from me!"
Tikal looked down. "I'm sorry, Setsuna... I'm really, really sorry about that. But... it was the only way. Do you remember how we first met? You simply wouldn't listen to reason. And... it was not my choice alone. Someone... applied me to merge the two universes. You know, the threat of the Great Freeze still is there, but now... when the heroes of the two universe work together, they can prevent it. And afterwards, Sailor Moon can try her best to work on a world, where everyone is happy."
"How is she going to do that?" Pluto snarled. "Mamoru... isn't even on our side anymore... Is that also a part of your plan? Turning him into a vicious killing machine?"
Tikal sighed. "It's not entirely in my power to determine what role everyone is getting in the new world. I had to use most of my powers when I concentrated on you. The corruption of Mamoru... is something I'll never forgive myself for. But, you know..." She smiled. "All hope is not lost! Deep inside that metal shell, Mamoru still exists, together with his love for Usagi. He just burrowed it under a thick coat of anger, sorrow and denial. You must have felt something when you fought alongside him that night, did you?"
Pluto took a deep breath. "Okay... I guess it's too late to turn things back the way they were, right?"
"That's true."
"And there's still a way to save everyone... Mamoru, the planet, the people... right?"
"Yes, definitely!"
"Okay!" Pluto stared at Tikal with determination. "I'll help you on your stupid quest. But remember one thing: I may have been Setsuna Meioh, once upon a time... But now, I am only Pluto the Hedgehog, the world's Ultimate Life Form, First Version! And I will never be anything else again? Got it?"
Tikal nodded. "I understand."
"Good. Now, what should we do?"
"First, we have to return to Station Square... we have to save a lost soul that is about to do something awful. Saturn, even if this is not the evil you were destined to fight, would you help us?"
Hotaru nodded. "Sure."
"Then let's hurry, there's not much time left." And Tikal transformed back into a ball of light and led the two girls out of the forest.
Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Amy were standing on a broken part of the highway that rose out of the waters. Together, they were watching the monster that watched over the destruction.
"If I didn't see it with my own eyes..." Sonic muttered. "That monster is a real menace!"
Amy shivered. "How are we gonna defeat something THAT big?"
Suddenly, five figures were landing next to them. They were Sailor Moon and the Sailor Senshi.
"Hey there," Moon greeted her friends. "Good to see you're all right!"
"Well it had been a close call," Tails explained. "But we made it."
Amy looked around. "Where's Chibiusa? Isn't she coming as well?"
Moon smiled. "She stayed back to protect my family. But I really wonder what we can do against a monster that big."
Mars nodded. "Even the Makaiju wasn't THAT big. And if you consider what it can do with its powers..."
Then, Venus pointed to a building next to the one Chaos was sticking out. "Look there!" Two figures had appeared, a cheetah wielding a curved sword and a dolphin carrying an elegant mirror.
"Neptune and Uranus," Mercury murmured. "What are they doing?"
"That's it," Uranus said. "If we finish this, our job will be done, and we can concentrate on protecting the princess."
"Yes," Neptune nodded. "So let's do our best!" She raised her mirror.
Chaos had already seen the two Senshi and separated his long, snake-like water body from the building.
Neptune shouted: "Submarine Reflection!" The beam of light shout out of the mirror and hit Chaos directly in his eye. The water demon screamed in pain, then turned around to face the two intruders.
Uranus jumped up, bounced off the remains of some building and raised her sword. "Space Sword Blaster!"
But sadly, the energy wave cut through Chaos' body as it was only water...
Snarling, Uranus twisted her body around. She planned to bounce off Chaos' snout to jump back to Neptune.
But she broke through the creature's skin like through the surface of a lake... and instantly sank down.
Neptune gasped. "She's gonna drown!" And the elegant dolphin girl jumped into the water, twisting her body as she swum rapidly towards Chaos' body. THIS is what her body was for. Swimming was her specialty, as she was not only a dolphin, but the Senshi of the oceans.
She entered the watery body of Perfect Chaos from below, swimming upwards to grab her partner. Then, with a mighty flip of her tail fin, she catapulted the two of them out of Chaos' body.
She put down Uranus down on the roof. The cheetah coughed and spit out some water.
"Are you all right?" the dolphin asked worriedly. Uranus nodded. "Well, we did our part. Now it's their turn."
And on the other side of Chaos, on another building, two other Senshi appeared. One was a human girl, carrying a long weapon, the Silence Glaive. The other one was a dark green hedgehog girl, carrying a key-like staff that was tipped with a shimmering, red ball... the Garnet Orb.
The third talisman.
Uranus smiled. "When she appeared at our place and revealed herself to be the final talisman's holder, I simply couldn't believe my ears."
Neptune hugged her. "Well, I think that has to do something with the fact that she kicked your butt once."
Saturn raised her glaive. "Silence Glaive Surprise!"
Pluto spun around her staff. "Chaos Scream!" Fired by the Garnet Rod, the magical sphere was even more powerful than before.
Uranus and Neptune were ready for round two, and so the four Outer Senshi kept Chaos busy, while Tikal was heading for the only person that was able to truly defeat it.
After seeing Neptune using her Submarine Reflection, Usagi shook her head. "They won't be able to defeat him. We have to go and help them."
Suddenly, a ball of light descended from above. Rei gasped. "It's you... the one who had sent us back in time, right? Tikal..."
The light turned into the orange-furred echidna girl.
"My heart has always been inside the Master Emerald, along with Chaos'," Tikal explained. "Right after the emerald's destruction, a powerful being recruited me for an important job, and I travelled between time and space... But afterwards, I returned, and provided all of you with these informations... by sending you back to the past... to MY past!"
"But why?" Knuckles asked. "Is it because of that strange verse? Does it contain the answer to all our problems?"
"You're right," Tikal nodded. "The Servers are the seven Chaos. Chaos is Power. Power enriched by the heart. The Controller is the one that unifies the Chaos! It simply means one thing. Look!"
They turned around to see the two new Senshi.
"Hotaru?" murmured Tails, while Sonic murmured: "Pluto..."
After their combined attack, the Chaos Emeralds were being ejected out of Chaos' body. He didn't turn back, but the emeralds floated down on the platform Sonic and the others were standing on.
But the emeralds now were black and without any power.
"See?" Tikal said. "Chaos has absorbed the emerald's powers. But, you can fill them with a new power, the power of your love and friendship. And you are the only one that can do it, Sonic... you are the guardian of the Chaos Emeralds, just as the echidnas are the guardians of the Master Emerald."
"M-me?" Sonic stuttered.
"That must be it," Tails excitedly said. "Remember all those times we found the Chaos Emeralds before, Sonic: You were the one that could feel them, and you were the only one that used them to turn into a super form. Remember how you defeated Eggman when he stole the Master Emerald."
"As much as I hate to admit it," Knuckles added. "Tails is right. You are the only one that can do this."
"Use the powers of your feelings towards your friends," Tikal said. "And you can transform into your super form."
"And I can take that beast apart," Sonic nodded. "I got it!"
"No, you mustn't harm him," Tikal explained. "He is not evil. He is just filled with anger and sorrow. Let me show you what happened to him..." And a light surrounded the blue hedgehog...
Sonic looked around. He was once again in the shrine valley, and the woods were burning. "Hey, there's no time for this now," he shouted. "Chaos will destroy the city."
"Don't worry," Tikal's voice echoed to his ears. "When you return, no time will have passed. Look at what happened..."
Sonic approached the shrine. A large number of echidna soldiers was standing in front of the shrine, lead by their chief, Tikal's father.
Tikal was standing in front of them, arms spread. "Father, please don't!"
Her father was angry. "Tikal, we need those emeralds for our survival. It's power for the people! And they're your people, too!"
"Greed is our enemy," Tikal exclaimed.
"I won't listen to the words of a child," the chief snapped. "Out of the way!"
"I won't obey!"
"Bah! Get ready, men... charge!"
The echidnas were running towards the shrine, not caring about the young girl or the Chao that were in the way.
"Father!"
Pushed aside by the soldiers, Tikal fell to the ground. The Chao were just batted away by the echidnas' strong fists.
Tikal just watched them as they approached the shrine. But suddenly, it's guardian rose out of the water basin... it was Chaos, in his original form!
"Aaaaah, it's a monster," one of the echidnas yelled.
And Chaos let out a loud scream.
Sonic couldn't see what happened next, because he closed his eyes. But the screams and sounds of death were showing him exactly what was happening.
Then, it was over. Sonic looked up. The dead bodies of the echidnas were lying along with the unconscious bodies of the Chao. Chaos was gone. But Sonic could hear his roar coming from the village.
Tikal was standing in front of the Master Emerald. She sobbed. "The controller is the one that unifies the chaos... please, if you can do anything... please, stop this!"
And the Master Emerald began shining in a green light.
And then, Sonic disappeared.