SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 2 out, this is Chapter 3 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and my OC.

Chapter 3: Rise of Eternal Chaos Moon: Usagi's Descend into Darkness

"The Holy Grail…" Ami pulled out her 'Cosmos Mercury' transformation talisman. "Its power was not only strong enough to force Eternal Chaos Moon to retreat, it also upped the Senshi's powers to 'Eternal'."

Flashback

"The Messiah…" Eternal Sailor Uranus was stunned, as the transformed Mercury floated down to the ground, the Holy Grail cupped within her hands.

"So, it wasn't Sailor Moon, but Sailor Mercury all along?" even Eternal Sailor Neptune was shocked, the Sacred Cup entering Eternal Sailor Mercury's body, the ice Senshi suffering from no aftereffects from the out-surge of pure energies.

"Usagi…" Ami muttered, struck by a sudden vision when she was visiting Senna's grave the next day. "If we had known… If you had told us… We could have prevented it… Or is it because the lure of darkness was too great for you to resist?"

Vision

It had been days after Chaos' defeat, Usagi had roused from her restless sleep, her thoughts wondering of to her precious Mamo-chan. She had often wondered what really held them together. Before the revelation of their past lives, they had fought like mortal enemies. She was the clumsy, whiny junior high student, and he was the arrogant, stuck up college student who saw fit to make fun of her at every turn. They had never seen eye to eye, until they had found out who they truly were. Sometimes, it bothered her to know the only reason he might love her is because she was Princess Serenity, and not because she was Usagi.

Ever since Chaos had been sent to where it belonged, Usagi felt like there was a blackness inside of her, a dark corner of her heart she had never known had existed. At first it came in sarcastic comments, isolation and lessening smiles. After a while, she stopped hanging out with her friends, and no longer went to their usual spot in Crown. Even her demeanor towards Mamoru had changed, turning down dates and avoiding his phone calls, saying she preferred to stay inside. Whispers from within spread through her heart, speaking of malicious intent, forcing her to subconsciously feel them to the point where she couldn't tell if it was her own feelings or something else's.

That's right. Chaos jeered within her. They don't understand you. No one does. Not even your so called friends. They were supposed to protect you but it was always you protecting them because they were so weak. And did they ever once thank you? Has anyone ever just thanked you? Without you, they're nothing. They don't deserve you Princess... Their lives will end because of you. You will rule this world and Universe in my name. I have waited a thousand years for this moment, to finish what I began.

"What do you mean 'what you began'?" Usagi demanded in a harsh whisper.

You have no idea do you? Chaos scoffed. No one ever showed you that part of your past, have they? What you really are. You are not the pure maiden they believe. They believe you will save this world. That you are their Messiah of Peace, when it should have been Mercury. When you are really the true Messiah of Silence, the one who will bring about the end.

"No…" Usagi panicked. "No, that's not true…"

Oh, but it is. And now that I once again have control of your body, there's nothing you can do to stop me. Chaos taunted. You think you can escape me? I'm apart of you now. It doesn't matter how far you run.

You should have kept shining softly in the darkness. Princess Serenity appeared before Usagi in her dreamscape several nights later. Why try to escape the darkness and shine more brightly? Disgusting, your light is disgusting. What makes you think you could rule the world? If you didn't exist, the world could have spent its days in quiet peacefulness. Face your sin and be punished, here, within the darkness of your heart. Do you think yourself innocent? With a one wish from our mother, the Queen, you were given everything the Senshi were denied of. You were raised by a full set of family, all to enhance your light's power. And then, you used that power exactly as you wanted; re-creating the Silver Millennium. What is so bad about the world now that you have to lead it towards destruction? You claim you wish to stop the suffering that spreads across the world by initiating the 'Great Purification', but it was caused by none other than you. Your existence has harmed many! Why do you think your Senshi didn't power up to 'Eternal'? It's because you keep draining them of their powers!

Now, do you understand your sin? Chaos took over. At its centre, the world is darkness. A light that is too strong does naught but bring pain. So, sink into the darkness of your heart. Forever. With that, it engulfed the quivering blonde.

Don't you understand that your light is a sinner's light? Princess Serenity pressed. That it brings nothing but disaster? Let your darkness burn. And it will make you stronger; strong enough to absorb the Senshi's Star Seeds and rule over the Universe! Now, awaken your true power.

"The brighter the light, the greater the darkness." Shun reminded, helping his wife to her feet. "Light cannot exist without the darkness. The 'Great Purification' in itself is an abomination, leaving the people with no will of their own. Perhaps, it is better this way."

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.