Okay so I got bored and decided to post again. It's late and a Saturday so you guys prolly won't see this till tomorrow. Just for your info it's 1:39 am. Hubby doesn't get off from work till 3 am so I'm a bit of a night owl now.

I have noticed recently that the way the system shows the reviews is a bit strange. It says it's by date but there are some that I missed cause they put them before old reviews. I wanted to give my condolences to familychibatsukino. I just saw your review about losing someone close to you. I would like to dedicate this chapter to you and your loss. If you ever want to talk, about anything, I'm here for you. That goes for any of my reviewers of course! I would love to help any of you just like you have helped me.

I really put myself out there with this fic and you guys have been so nice and supportive. I'm so glad you guys are liking my work. For you guys, I will keep writing.

The Truth About Tragedy

Ch. 19

"To spare oneself from grief at all cost can be achieved only at the price of total detachment, which excludes the ability to experience happiness." - Erich Fromm

The fire inside her melted the ice that had Queen Beryl had placed around her head and her heart. The pain slowly ebbed away till it was pleasurable as the fire that Mamoru spurred in her was all that remained. His lips remained on hers as she returned to the world. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him deeper into the kiss. Just like he always did, he saved her. Their bodies melted together as their fire blazed between them. They only pulled away when a few laughs and a some clearing throats caught their attention.

"Uh, could you guys get a room?"

"We are in a room Rei." She spat at her annoyingly.

The girls soon rushed her, tackling her to the floor as they held her tight. Just like when she entered the arcade earlier that day. Getting off of her and helping her stand they stared at her appearance.

"Usagi! What are you wearing?" Luna screeched.

She had forgotten about the dress the enemy had dressed her in. She tried in vain to cover herself when Mamoru placed his coat over her shoulders and placed a kiss on her cheek bringing out another blush.

"Now can you tell us what happened? Do you remember?"

"I remember waking up in the enemy's base but I don't remember how I got there. I can't get us back."

"Kunzite took you," she turned to Minako whose face was filled with guilt, "We tried to stop him but we were too late. I'm so sorry Princess, we failed you."

She looked at all their sad faces as tears began to return, "Guys, I'm fine. Besides, you don't have to protect me anymore. I don't expect any of you to. That was the moon kingdom, this is now. You don't owe me anything. I just bring trouble to your lives."

"Of course we are going to protect you Usagi!"

Everyone was shocked at Ami's outburst but they quickly recovered returning their attention back to her.

"Yeah Usagi. Princess or not, you are precious to each of us. Even in the past, we protected you because we loved you, not because it was our job. I speak for all of us when I say that, duty or not, we will protect you better than during the moon kingdom."

Minako got nods in agreement from all the other Scouts. Rei, who was never much for affection, pulled her into a hug.

"You are our dearest friend and we will always protect you. We love you Usagi."

As she pulled away from Rei, a gust of wind swirled around them. Appearing before them was Queen Beryl.

"Serenity, this is all lies. They are still trying to trick you!"

She studied her face carefully. It was clear that Beryl had no idea that she had regained all her memories. Including the one where she tried to brainwash her. Beryl thought she had only had a slight lapse in judgment. But central was still destroyed. They would never find their base now, unless. She ripped Rei's communicator off her wrist and then shoved her hard back into the others.

"Yes, of course my Queen. Thank you for saving me once again."

She turned her back to Beryl. She quickly flashed the communicator to the group waiting for their shocked faces to understand, then slipped into the folds of her dress. Mamoru was the first to react, reaching out for her. Beryl put a hand on her shoulder and the last thing she heard was his screams for her before disappearing into nothing.

She was dizzy and weak when she woke up. They had arrived back at the horrible place that served as Beryl's base and she had been forced to lie down for a while. They must have pumped more negative energy into her while she slept. She sat on the table and regained control of her anger before leaving the creepy room. Beryl had almost let her destroy everything she held dear. She probably would have returned her memories to her once she had killed them all and let her die of despair. She quickly found the throne room, but paused outside the door as a heated conversation took place.

"I guess I under estimated the hold Tuxedo Kamen has on her. Kunzite, have you found a way to use the silver crystal yet?

"My Queen, it would seem that only the Princess can use it, but as it is the crystal may not be much use to us. A small piece went into Tuxedo Kamen and it hasn't reacted since."

That's right, she used the crystal to save Mamoru. Is that why it hasn't reacted since then? She reached to touch the crystal she found it still around her neck. They must have taken it while she was sleeping, testing it to see what kind of power it held and if they could use it for themselves. She reached into her hiding spot in the dress and gripped Rei's communicator. She flicked it open and turned it on making it easier to track her. Ami would just have to type it into her computer and they would be here any minute. Till then, they could listen in and get as many clues as they could. When the conversation seemed to be over, she strutted into the room.

"Ah Serenity, you are awake."

"Yes, my Queen."

"How do you feel?"

If she told her the truth, she would know that her spell had been broken.

"Refreshed, thank you. I have rid myself of all those pathetic thoughts they tried to fill me with."

"I'm glad. Clearly it was a mistake to send you so soon after your return."

She fell for it. This was too easy, wasn't it?

"Now leave my sight. I will call you when I have need for you again."

She stiffly bowed and hastily left. When she had been alone for several minutes, a small voice rang out.

"Usagi? Usagi-chan can you hear me?"

She ducked into the mirror room and pulled out the communicator to see Makoto's frantic face.

"Usagi! Are you alright?"

"Yes I'm fine. I'm a little weak, they keep pumping me with negative energy. Where are you guys?"

"We are close..."

Suddenly Rei's face pushed onto the screen.

"USAGI! What were you thinking! How dare you do something this stupid!"

"Yes, I agree. It was very stupid."

She looked up to see her reflection changed into Beryl. All the mirrors suddenly reflected Beryl as she laughed at her. She looked back at the screen.

"You guys better hurry up!" And snapped it shut before a wave of darkness overtook her.

The glass in the mirror in front of her began to bend and pull from it's center till a large shimmering hand reached out. It grabbed her and pulled her into the mirror. It was like being under water, just like her nightmare as the darkness bubbled around her making it impossible to breath. Waves tossed her, spinning her till she didn't know up from down. Soon she splashed onto the hard throne room floor. She was sputtering and coughing the strange water from her lungs when she pulled up into the air by Kunzite who glared at her. Looking around, Beryl was on where in sight. She laughed at his obvious hatred for her.

"You know, I have to give you props Kunzite. You've lasted a lot longer than those other guys!"

He growled and then tossed her across the room. She hit the ground again hard, cracking her head against the floor. She really wished she could transform to take some of the edge off. He was just about to stomp her ribs when an explosion rang out and the room shook. His foot frozen above her, she took the opportunity to grab his foot and shove hard. The unexpected force caught him off guard and he fell onto his back.

"You little bitch!"

He scrambled to his feet towards her as the doors were blown open. A flood of monsters where being pushed back into the room and she could hear the girls calling out their attacks. An arm wrapped around her throat, pulling her roughly to her feet. She could barely breath as Kunzite held her like a human shield to his body. Soon the monsters were cleared and she had a clear view of the four Senshi and Tuxedo Kamen. But when they saw her they stopped.

"Move and the girl dies!"

His voice boomed, deafening in her ear. They looked around, probably for more monsters or Beryl. Except for Tuxedo Kamen, he kept his eyes on her. She gave him a weak smile which only seemed o enrage him. She caught Makoto's stare. She kept mouthing something to her but she couldn't quite make it out. She finally gave up and yelled out, "it's just like we practiced"! What they had practiced? They had never done any training were she was a hostage. What the hell was she talking about? But then she remembered, Makoto had given her a few self defense lessons a long time ago. One of them was getting lose from a rapist's hold. She had thought the lessons were stupid and didn't take many but that was one she had taken.

She raised her elbow and dug it into Kunzite's ribs as hard as she could. He bent over in pain, loosening his hold a little but not a lot. Then she took the heel of her shoe and dug it deep into his foot and twisted. It was their own fault, they were the ones that put her in the high heels. The pain made him forgetful or he was so pissed he didn't care, so he backhanded her hard sending her sliding across the floor. Tuxedo Kamen picked her up before she could move and held her protectively against him. Suddenly remembering his need to hold her close, Kunzite's face turned ashen as the girls each fired an attack at him. Hitting him at the same time, he let out a scream as his last moments were that of pain.

It was the six of them alone in the dark throne room. Ami began scanning with her computer while the other three searched the room. She moved to help but Tuxedo Kamen wouldn't let her move. Looking up, she could see through his mask that he was angry. It's funny how for so long she wanted to rip that mask off so she could see his face but now she found she didn't need to. Now he was the open book.

"How could you be so careless Usagi? You could have been killed with that stunt you pulled."

"If I didn't do it, we would still be looking for their base. Plus Beryl would have killed us all if I didn't go back with her."

He finally looked at her, "So you just sacrificed yourself? That is not how this works!"

His voice rose with anger but she stayed cool, "And I'm suppose to let you and the people I love sacrifice themselves for me over and over again?"

"Yes."

"I will sacrifice myself for you and my friends just as any of you would for me!"

Angry, she pulled away from his embrace only to be pulled back in. His anger was gone and now he smiled at her.

"You are so stubborn."

"Look whose talking!."

His kissed her chastely and finally let her go to search the room. Her eyes scanned the dark walls, falling on the mirror that had swept her here. Standing before it, she strained looking deep into it but only found her reflection.

"Ami. Can you scan this mirror? I know there is more to it. Maybe there is a way to use it to get to Beryl."

Ami soon stood next to her and began typing away. The others stood behind them, looking at their reflections in the large mirror, when the glass suddenly bended into a silvery mass. It quickly swept all of them up and pulled them into the mirror and into darkness.