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I had no idea what I was doing.

Motoki and I were still sitting there, reminiscing about old times, and it was nice to talk about the senshi with someone who could remember the good things that had happened. My milkshake was long gone and he was reminding me about the time that Minako had gotten so crazed over the racing game that he actually had to kick her out when I heard a very familiar sound. Screaming. I lurched to my feet instinctively, my hand flying to my pocket and the weight of my locket inside. I hadn't been able to face Rubeus as Sailor Moon last time but this time I was determined to make sure that he knew I wouldn't let him do whatever he pleased. I froze, however, suddenly remembering that Motoki was still beside me. When I looked at him he was watching me with a fond smile.

"Go ahead," he said with a soft, sad laugh. "I can't stop you. This is your job and I came to terms with that a long time ago, Usagi-chan." He stood up and leaned down, kissing me on the forehead. "I wish that I could protect you in Mamoru's stead but I know that I can't. I'll stay back here and pretend I don't know what's going on. But..."

"What?" I asked, torn between running out to intercept the screaming and staying to hear what he had to say. The sound of breaking glass made me jump and I turned, then stopped.

"I just want to see." He nodded towards my locket. "Can I?"

I had only ever transformed in front of the senshi and Mamoru unless I absolutely had to. I couldn't recall willingly transforming in front of a civilian. But I also knew that if I could trust anyone, it was Motoki. He had kept my secret so far and I knew that he would never tell anyone. That was why I didn't hesitate to throw my hand in the air and call out, "Moon Eternal, Make-Up!"

Magic tingled briefly against my skin. I threw out my arms and spread my wings and opened my eyes. Motoki had an awed look on his face. I flushed, a little embarrassed at knowing that my clothing disappeared when I transformed, but I tried to cover it up with a smile. I hoped he would keep his promise to stay back where it was safe. I nodded to him and hurried out the door, making my way towards the front of the store. As soon as I emerged into the main area I could see that something – or someone – was attacking the people out on the road. Even as I ran forward I saw a familiar bunch of energy balls being tossed around. I didn't see the Starlights but that didn't stop me from heading out the door to confront him.

"Stop right there!" I yelled, the familiar words tumbling easily out of my mouth. "How dare you attack a peaceful street full of innocent people! In the name of love and justice, I am the beautiful sailor soldier Sailor Moon and I won't let you do this!"

"Hmm." Rubeus appeared above me, hovering about twenty feet off the ground. He cocked his head and made a big show of looking me over. "You look different," he observed.

The last time he had seen me transformed I'd still been wearing my original blue and red senshi fuku. I spread my legs a little and squared my shoulders. "You're not the only one who has gotten stronger," I said. I was half hoping that he would take that as an indication to leave, but no such luck. Rubeus had never been someone who was easily intimidated and he just laughed.

"Foolish little princess," he said and threw his hands up in the air. I knew what was coming a split second before it actually happened and I darted to the side, not daring to look behind me as the ground where I'd been standing exploded. Shards of concrete struck my body, opening up thin lines of burning pain, and I winced as Rubeus chuckled again. He was enjoying this. He liked it when we tried to fight.

I wanted to challenge him. I wanted to take out my Tier and throw every bit of magic I possessed in his face. But I couldn't. Chaos had destroyed my Tier during the battle and I had no way of getting it back. There weren't many weapons left in my arsenal. I put two fingers to my forehead on either side of the crescent moon mark. "Moon Tiara!" I shouted, pulling my fingers away. I felt a weird feeling passing over my forehead, like a little shiver of wind, and then a glowing gold disc followed my hand away. "Magic!"

Unlike the enemies I'd grown up facing, Rubeus was strong enough to fight against the minor compulsion bound into my tiara's magic, and he dodged the attack easily. "Is that all you've got?" he called out, looking very amused. "My my, how the strong warrior has fallen. Where's your sceptre, Princess?"

"None of your business," I said through gritted teeth, wishing very much that I could throw something at his head that would actually hit him. My options were limited. I could keep using my tiara in the hopes that at some point it would hit him but there was a good chance that he would hit me first. I could use the ginzuishou in an all out attack but that could kill me and I didn't think Rubeus was weak enough for that to destroy him. Neither one seemed like it would do me much good.

While I was standing there debating, Rubeus lost interest in taunting me. He threw more of the balls at me and again I threw myself aside. He was destroying the road, though at least all of the citizens had long since fled, and I was running out of places to run. I wondered again where the Starlights had gone. Surely they must have heard the sounds of battle? Why hadn't they come to help me? There had to be something keep them away and I was seized with the fear that maybe Rubeus had dealt with them first, that they could already be dead and I wouldn't even know. The idea was terrifying and I stumbled, my boot catching in a crack on the sidewalk.

Rubeus shouted in triumph and I threw my hands over my face, fully expecting to feel agony that never came. A familiar, soothing power swept over me and I dropped my hands to see that someone was standing in front of me. No, make that something: by squinting against the bright light of clashing magic, I could see the hazy silhouette of a winged horse. The wings were stretched out protectively in front of me and I gasped, instantly recognizing who it was. I'd never expected to see him again, certainly not now that Crystal Tokyo and Mamo-chan were both gone.

"Pegasus!" I cried out.

"What is this?" Rubeus yelled, cutting off his power. He was infuriated. "I see there is no end to the friends you have to come to your aid," he said to me. "Don't think that they will be able to protect you forever, Sailor Moon. Sooner or later you will be the one who has to face me and I guarantee that encounter will not end in your favour."

I shielded my eyes as he disappeared in a flash of brilliant light. The horse made a low sound of contentment and lets his wings drop. A pale glow of magic surrounded him and he shifted, his form becoming more human in shape. By the time it was done, Helios was standing before me. He dropped to one knee and bowed. "Your highness, I have been searching for you," he said.

"Helios," I said wonderingly. I hadn't seen him since the day he'd said good-bye to Chibi-Usa in the park. She'd been so upset that he was leaving, even though she'd done a good job of trying to hide it. He looked exactly the way I remembered him, eternally young in a way that made me feel old even though I was only sixteen. "I can't believe this. What are you doing here? How did you know that I was in danger?"

"Perhaps it would be safer if we went somewhere more secluded to talk," he suggested. That same glow came around him and he transformed back into Pegasus. He ducked his head and twisted around so that his body was presented to me in a clear invitation.

I came back to myself with a start, realizing that we were still standing in the middle of the street. It was empty and devoid of anyone but us for the moment but I didn't think that would last long. People would start coming back once they realized that the battle was over. I still wasn't sure what had happened to the Starlights but I could call them on the phone once we were somewhere safe. "Let's go," I agreed. It was awkward trying to climb on his back – I would never win an award for being graceful – but Pegasus was patient and finally I was seated, my knees tucked up just behind his wings.

I'd never ridden a horse before, much less a flying one. My body rocked back and forth as he galloped down the road before spreading his wings and taking off. I tangled my hands into his mane and held on. It was nothing like flying under my own power. I was very aware of the fact that Pegasus was the one in control. I trusted him not to drop me but it was still comforting to know that if I fell I had my own wings with which to fly. Still, I was glad that our flight wasn't all that long. He took me to the park where we'd said good-bye to him. I clung to him as we landed and his hoofs impacted the ground, galloping for a short period before he came to a stop. He bowed his head and I realized that he was waiting for me to climb off.

"Helios, you saved me," I said once I was standing. "Thank you."

For the third time, that glow surrounded him and he became Helios once more. "It was no problem, your highness," he said. "As I said, I have been searching for you for some time now. We know about the prince's death. Elysian has fallen into a state of disrepair. I have been monitoring the situation and hoped that it would resolve itself but it seems that is not to be the case." He glanced up at me. "Recently, however, things have become a little better. Flowers are growing again and the trees are no longer dying. The power of the golden crystal has returned. Do you know why?"

"Mamo-chan is dead," I admitted. This was something else I had not thought to question and it galled me. "I don't know why Elysian would be repairing itself all of a sudden. I can't imagine he has been reborn so soon. Unless..." I touched my belly. Chibi-Usa did have Earth magic in her, even though she was very much a moon princess. She was Mamoru's daughter. Was her presence enough to stabilize Elysian in Mamoru's absence, especially considering that the golden crystal would remember Chibi-Usa? "Helios, you know that Chibi-Usa is dead, right? Only I believe there's a chance that I may be pregnant with her."

It was almost painful to watch his face as the words sank in: the hope that bloomed in his expression made me realize how Elysian wasn't the only one that had been suffering during the past few weeks. That's why I didn't move to push his hand away when he reached out and touched my stomach, fingers spread out across my belly, just about over where I thought my uterus would be. He had such a look of wonderment on his face that it made my throat go tight. He was the first person who had actually been excited my news. I put my hand over his and squeezed it gently.

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