Notes: Episode 149, "Mirror of Dreams! Amazon's Final Stage". Or, "The one where Usagi's dream mirror shatters."

Episode 149

I'm running.

I've transformed and I'm running before I even realize what's happened.

There've only been a few times in this life when I've been scared. REALLY scared. Not "I forgot there was a test today" scared, I'm talking the real thing. The stuff that stops your breathing and freezes your heart.

I felt it when I was little and knew I'd fall out of the tree (and did! I was a clever kid). I felt it when Artemis introduced me to my first real monster. I felt it before and during D-Point (I probably would've felt it after, too, but I was dead, what else was gonna happen?). I felt it when we began to lose the barrier around Mugen. And I'm feeling it now.

Something's happened to Usagi.

As I run, almost blind because I can't get a fix on her, I try to feel what's wrong. She's not dead, and thank god for that. Still, there's something …

Her dreams.

The loss hits me so hard I actually stumble. I bounce off a wall and swear as the pain shoots down my arm. That's going to bruise.

Let it.

Usagi's dreams are gone.

I hear footsteps behind me, gaining and then matching my pace. I recognize them instantly. Mars and I run together without a word. We don't need them. One glance at her face tells me that she feels it too. She takes a corner and I follow, letting her higher senses guide the way.

How had I never realized until now how much Usagi's dreams filled me? How much I'd made them mine? Not replacing my own dreams, but enhancing them. Giving them texture. Since Usagi entered my life, my dreams had become full-technicolour 3D movies with a live orchestra soundtrack. Now they were flat charcoal sketches with smudged lines.

I've lost the future. It had shone in the distance, Usagi's promise to us all. When I reach for it now, all I grab are shadows.

Panic flares, quickly followed by rage, and I force both away. Shove them out and lock the door. No time for that. That's for later, if we fail.

We won't fail.

Someone has dared take my princess's dreams, and I will NOT fail.

There's a flash of movement from above, and Mercury lands next to Mars. "I can't find Usagi-chan," she says as we run. She tries to cover it, but I can hear the tightness in her voice. "My scans aren't picking her up at all."

I really don't want to say it. Saying it makes it too real. The one thing you don't keep from Ami is information, though. "It's her dreams. She's lost them."

Mercury's eyes widen and she immediately begins typing on her computer. I'd asked her once to show me how it worked. Five minutes later, I was just glad Artemis had never tried giving it to ME.

"We're getting close." Mars is terse, and I can see how hard she's concentrating. Then something changes. She looks shocked, and I'm about to ask what's wrong when I feel it too.

She's back. Usagi's dreams wash over me and it's like I've been drenched by a rainbow. In that moment, I feel everything. My own dreams, reinflating and growing alongside hers. I see the Tsukinos and Naru. I see Luna and Artemis and Diana. I see Haruka and Michiru, Setsuna and Hotaru. I see Mamoru and Chibi-Usa. I see Rei and Ami and Mako and me, happy and safe and together. I see the world in greens and blues and have to resist the urge to hug it. The force of Usagi's dreams nearly overwhelms me, even as they fade to normal. My entire body is left tingling and I can't help but laugh.

"Geez, Usagi, was all that really necessary?" Mars grumbles, and again I have to fight the urge to hug something.

We round the corner and there's Jupiter running toward us. The gang's all here. I flash her a smile but she doesn't return it. Mako's PISSED, and that sobers me. Usagi's okay now, but I still feel what it was like when she wasn't. The stuff that must've stirred up for Mako-chan? Her payback will be a thing to see.

I feel the familiar tug of Usagi transforming into Sailor Moon. Good, she's easier to track this way. We're closer than I'd dared hope. As one, we turn left toward that concrete park. I can see her now, and I only just manage to hold in a sob of relief. It's one thing to feel her, but I'm a visual girl. Looks are important. Nothing can compare to seeing her standing tall, ALIVE, and …

Fighting an evil clown?

What is WITH these enemies?

Rei's already attacking it – good ol' Rei – and suddenly the clown reminds me of her grandpa. That'd probably make her angry. Mental note: bring this up later.

I yell something at the monster, I don't even know what. It doesn't matter. We're here now, and as always, I'm buoyed by our shared purpose. We're here and nothing is hurting her again.

Our dreams, these maiden's dreams, are too precious to be toys for these jerks.

This ends tonight. The Sailor Team is here, and we will punish them.