Sailor Moon S 'Rise of the Messiah'

by max333

Weeks after the Wiseman is defeated and the dark crystal destroyed, the lives of all that were there or involved have changed, and not all for the better. With the approach of a new enemy and two potential allies do the senshi have what it takes to come together once more? Why are the senshi now acting disorganized? And will Usa's dad ever accept Mamo? SEQUEL to 'Roses & Diamonds'

44. a stolen pure heart & choices to make

kera69love: well you'll find out for sure with this one.

Spike: I've been trying to get the time in to take a look at it online but I keep getting distracted by the 'new sailor moon' news I see. Lol

damonika2009: Witches was almost as bad as the generals were which I am debating on bringing back into the fold, what do you all think?

trish1573: Well this one will be very emotional. Hope you're ready for it.

Nicole7579: there is some amount of resolution coming up but not till the end.

Setsuna-Chan22: I noticed that to with the death buster witches. I like to think that when Mimet sabotaged the red head she nor the other witches were done with training per say so the other witches lacked the foresight that kept the red head going for so long…at least that's my theory. lol

LoveInTheBattleField: always.

This ch/ep is very emotional on some levels so I hope I did well with that and with getting the 'parental POV' out there as well. Let me know what you think. Please read and & review!

Sailor Moon S 'Rise of the Messiah' ch/ep.44

Already down within the corridor Uranus and Neptune walked forward, having received their own invite a couple minutes prior, upon infiltrating the Academy with Pluto. Only to have the Senshi of Time take off on her own and leave them with the duty of investigating the tunnel.

They were unknowing that the inner senshi were only a few minutes away from their own position. What greeted them at the end of the corridor was nothing short of a clip from any horror film ever seen in any country. Finding Tomoe grinning manically, as he stood over Chibi Moon's prone unconscious body, now stretched out on slab of cement. The room was filled with a solid sort of darkness that penetrated their souls.

The ominous aura to the room was practically demonic, it was alien and unnatural. All coming from the once seguing little girl now sitting primly upon her throne at the top of the dais as she surveyed them and her sacrifice with a silent, sinister smile.

The cold viciousness in her eyes caused the battle hardened Outer Senshi to shiver in fear.

Watching as a silent observer to this little girls coming sacrifice. Awaiting the 'messiah of silence' to gain enough strength, with what remained of Hotaru's body to come forth and take the precious pure heart for herself.

"You know sailor senshi you're very lucky to witness the ceremony today. The rise of the 'messiah of silence'." He glanced up, his round glasses shining as he took note of the two invited spies, hiding on outer rim of the Messiah's throne chamber.

Chibi Moon's body was pale and deathly still, dressed in her tattered battle fuku with her tiny hand clasped over her stomach. She looked to much like a corpse, the bleak prospect was breaking the Outer's hearts.

"Sailor Chibi Moon!" Both Uranus and Neptune yelled, feeling for the future of the royal moon line. They knew how important she was to the future and as such knew that she had to be saved, much like her mother did on occasion.

Uranus was to upset to care, she ran for the professor. She was intent on attacking and taking Chibi Moon from him at all costs. She may be annoying like her mother but like her moth she also knew Chibi Moon would die to defend those she loved the most. Only she was met with an incredibly powerful barrier. With a scream of agony she was repelled like a rocket back next to Neptune. "Damn! That's one powerful ass force field he's got up." Uranus grunted in anger, her fuku skirt smoking.

The dark portal had remained open, hovering just behind Neptune like a silent guard. Sinister currents and eddies of alien power swirled in the depths as it waited for the last of it traveler's to leave it's dimensional space. In a rush of footsteps, Moon and the others burst from the dark corridor. Freezing in horror at lay just beyond. Moon gasped as she found the professor looming over Chibi Moon.

Suddenly having a hard time breathing, the sight of her child laying on the cold stone, still and lifeless was quickly sending her into a panic. All the blood drained from her face, as started to tremble in both fear and rage. She could feel Tux stiffen behind her, his muscles straining to remain at her side. Vainly trying to control his temper, knowing that to lose his control now he would surely lose the battle.

Blindly attacking Tomoe wouldn't do Chibi Usa in any form any good. They needed to ascertain the situation down here first, strike fast and hard and get the little girl to safety before anything truly bad happened.

"Good, now you can all bear witness the grand event that's about to take place. Kaolinite I must thank you for retrieving this pure heart." Tomoe smiled proudly, inclining the child as he walked to the edge of the dais. In the deeper shadows just below, the red headed woman merely smiled, "Hai, anything for you professor." She crooned.

Moon was highly pissed off. She wouldn't stand for her future daughter, annoying or not to be some sacrifice for an evil being! "You're not going to touch her! Sailor Chibi Moon!" Moon was the first to crack, she ran forward screaming her daughter's name.

There was no logical thought, fear and desperation drove her. The knowledge that she needed to get her future daughter out of there as fast as possible before the enemy took her pure heart from her put her through the same hell Usagi felt when hers was taken. Her kamikaze attack spurned Tuxedo mask with absolutely no plan in mind. He ran with her, paying no heed to Uranus's panicked warning.

Both slammed full force into the force field. Moon screamed as the energy rippled over her skin, burning her flesh as it sought to repel her away. Tux roared his fury along with her, ignoring the agony the barrier was inflicting upon his body Stubbornly. Desperately Moon and Tux tried to push through it.

The force field was like pushing through electrified thick mud. It took an incredible amount of effort just to dent into it an inch of it. But they kept struggling, kept fighting it. Ignoring the pain as the energy crackled and howled around them, shoving them back with as much force as they were pushing through to get to Chibi Moon.

Their future child was laying on a marble counter like a pagan sacrifice ready to be offered up to the biggest and most powerful evil to date. Both were in an absorbent amount of pain trying to get closer to her. Calling out to their future child, pleading for her to wake up. Just to open her eyes. Anything for Chibi Moon to wake up and fight back.

Jupiter was prepared to rush the barrier herself, but Venus held her back. With tears in her eyes they watched her Princess and Prince fight with everything they had against the barrier. Any normal human would have fried half their brain cells by now. As it was Moon and Tux were in unimaginable pain just to get to Chibi Moon.

Mars was growling, her jaw clenching and releasing a searing glare focused on Kaolinite. Her hand balling and releasing as she held onto her building rage. Mercury was absorbed in her data pad, her visor alive over her eyes. Scanning the room, the barrier even the atmosphere behind the dais. They needed an edge, they need information before they could fight intelligently. Passion and guts only got one so far in an end of the world battle.

It was when Moon's gloved finger tips began to just barely reach through, screaming through the overwhelming pain her body was suffering that the senshi gasped at the progress. "Never get between a parent and their child." Mars felt a near need to cry at the scene. Chibi Usa was so loved by both of her parents that they were going through unimaginable pain just to get a heart beat closer to her.

But as if sensing this a blast of cosmic power was sent through the force field to prevent her progress any further. Both she and Tux were sent flying, into the arms of the inner senshi. "The force field is made up of that same cosmic dark energy, similar to the Heart Snatcher's. But this time it's concentrated into an incredible power. Any longer and it might have fried their nervous system." Mercury said, scanning the force field with her visor.

Both Tux and Moon's bodies were feeling numb, from being forced into constant contact with that power. Twitching and shivering in as their muscles spasmed in protest. Unable to co-ordinate their limbs to stand on their own. Mars and Venus helped the couple up. Moon sniffed and whimpered softly, as she wrapped an arm around Mars. Holding back her tears, as she felt absolutely helpless right then.

Her only daughter needed her yet she wasn't strong enough to reach her. Mar stared at her with heart-felt sympathy, she was just as worried and filled with as much anger for the young child currently helpless.

Venus kept a steadying hand on Tux's arm, as the man looked ready to spring back at the barrier for another round. He could feel his loves misery through their link. His own turmoil rippling back upon her as they were left to stare mournfully as the entity within Hotaru's body began emerge. With a purple pink glow, like spirit fire it pulsed and licked along the young girl's body with a sickening feel to it. As if a ghostly hand reached out from her chest.

Moon cried out in fright as the hand reached for her daughter, dashing forward again in utter desperation into the barrier. Screaming her rage, with tears running down her face. She was flattened against the barrier, then thrown back. She kept her feet this time, her body trembling from the shock of the barrier's defense and her daughter's tragedy to come. Moon was struggling to reign in her panic, with her stance balanced, hands balled into fists. Panting in strangled gasps, glaring at Tomoe, with blame and pity.

She wondered now from what Mamoru had told her about him. He had either been to proud, or to weak to protect his daughter from his experiments. For not thinking he might have been over reaching, beyond what a human man could control. Inadvertently drawing this evil being's attention to earth. Her body was already near the edge of it's stamina, knowing that she would be no good in the coming battle or to Chibi Moon if she were out cold.

She had no choice but to stand her ground in the coming ordeal. Feeling frustrated and franticly trying to figure out a way to bypass that field. Tux tried to throw roses at the field, only for them to implode on contact. Raining rose burnt petals down over the floor that dissolved into ash when they hit.

"The force field is just to strong." Mercury stated, her voice wavering. All the senshi were feeling for Moon but only Tux could feel the true extent of her pain, because it was the same as his own. The torture of feeling helpless to do anything. Moon pulled out her scepter only have Mercury stop her, "Anything you throw at the force field will just be repelled. It's too powerful for your regular transformation." Moon didn't want to believe her but knew the truth of Mercury's words.

The evil disembodied hands groped for Chibi Moon, like a starving wolf it moved desperately towards the only source of energy strong enough to keep it alive. Chibi Moon moaned as the icy finger's grazed over her stomach, another set brushing seductively over her broach sensing the Silver Crystal within. Her eyes fluttered open, still dazed and unfocused, only to scream in agony as the finger's sunk themselves like knives inside of her body.

Piercing her flesh, her soul, diving and digging inside her. Searching for that elusive purity that only she carried. Her cries fell silent, as the spirit hand tore the broach from her bow, as it's partner found it's prize deep inside her body. It clutched onto the glowing pink orb of her pure heart. The heart of a true friend…a sister…a fellow senshi.

She was able to find peace as she saw Hotaru smiling down at her through the shadows.

"You're alright...I am so glad." She whispered, so happy that her friend looked fine. Hotaru always had such dark, mysterious eyes. That held an inner power that could be overwhelming at times. Yet her eyes always seemed so lonely. This time, Chibi Moon saw true happiness shining back at her. She could only smile gratefully before the pure heart was ripped from her poor innocent body.

"NOOOO!" Moon screamed in misery, heart wrenching sobs shuddering through her body as she fell to her knees.

"Give them back! Give them back!" She pleaded, as her daughter collapsed to the alter. Her glittering life force, and her silver crystal stolen by the evil power that had possessed Hotaru. The ghostly hands cradled both precious objects to her breast.

Tux knelt behind her, pulling her to his chest as her broken sobs echoed through the darkness of the chamber. He swore that this was not the end for his little girl, that he would find a way to save her. His rage pounded inside of him, as he comforted Moon and himself. Holding her gave him a way of feeling comfort from her as well.

The senshi, both inner and outer stood in silent agony over the tragic outcome to Chibi Moon's fate. The future was now in jeopardy. The Inner's loved Chibi Usa a little sister, knowing who she was just made them all more protective of her in the field and in life. While Uranus swallowed her fury, unable to bear how completely broken Moon was. Neptune gripped her lover's hand, silent tears flowing down her face. This was not what they had wanted, this was not how things ended.

It was a heartbreaking scene, all the Senshi were soon in tears.

Lashing out in anger, Moon leaped to her feet, whipped her scepter back up, clutching it tight to her breast.

"I won't allow it!" She hissed, "I won't allow you to take her Pure Heart!" She raged and called on her powers once more. The intense yearning to free her daughter magnified her power. A silver glow rippled over her body, as all her Senshi strength surged from the very core of her being. She pushed as much energy as she could into the scepter, the rod began to heat like an iron pulled from a forge.

The staff began to groan under the pressure of the energy she was pushing into it. But it held strong in her hand, unwilling to give up, as stubborn and willful as it mistress. Moon promised herself, she would break the barrier. Screw what Mercury said, she would break through. She had to.

Tux lent her his powers through her mentally. Giving her scepter another boost. She threw everything she had at the barrier.

"Moon Spiral Heart Attack!" She pointed her staff towards the dais. Releasing a massive charge of power. It exploded against the barrier with no effect.

She refused to give in. "Moon Spiral Heart Attack!" She tried again, sending another beam of power towards the barrier. The invisible field absorbed her attack effortlessly. Moon grit her teeth, holding back her tears as lost her focus upon her grief.

Swinging her scepter back and forth, casting the last of her power towards the barrier in frantic bursts. Calling out her attack again and again in a fruitless effort to fight back.

Chibi Moon's powers evaporated, returning her Chibi Usa. Her transformation faded away, as her school uniform fluttered back into place. "Are you crazy?!" Uranus yelled.

Not at the senshi but at Tomoe. She hoped to reason with him.

"If Sailor Saturn, the messiah of silence awakens then it means nothing but death and silence for this world! There won't be a world left anymore! For anyone! Is that what you truly want? Nothingness?!" Uranus ranted.

It was Moon's strangely calm words that shocked them all, "If you let her take that pure heart in you'll lose your daughter as well. Do you want that?" Her question asked behind her Moon scepter that was waning in power.

"What do you mean?" Tomoe asked uncaring. It stunned the senshi but even more so had Moon confused. As she had expected him to react like a loving father. "I don't think he's her father. In body yes but not in spirit." Mars told her, her eyes narrowing as she sensed the dark inhuman aura his body carried. Moon felt horrible for Hotaru now. She had lost her mother when she was very young, and now it seemed her father had been taken by that same evil entity that had possessed her. She had been manipulated since the start.

This once sweet, innocent little girl who had felt cursed, unwanted and unloved her whole life, who had endured such hardships, and struggled valiantly every day to remain human had been manipulated. She had been so scared of what lurked deep inside her soul. Had only wanted to be happy, to have one true friend. It was all to heart breaking to take in.

"I finally have it the legendary silver crystal. The crystal who's power rival our own...Taorian Crystal." A cold, demonic voice whispered in the darkness.

Hotaru absorbed the pure heart eagerly, her eyes closing in rapture as Chibi Usa's life force invigorated her. Her body glowed with a blood red aura, pulsing and flaring as the little girl's soul was devoured.

The soul of Sailor Saturn screamed deep inside Hotaru. As a battle of wills began within the little girl's heart.

"I have awakened!" The dark ominous voice shouted, the utter wrath behind it's undertones vibrating throughout the room.

A shrill cackling issued from Hotaru's throat as she transformed. Her body elongating and maturing, her dark hair growing incredibly long. The long tendrils snapping in the power waves her body was giving off. Her childish dress reforming into something more refined and alluring for her mature figure. Now revealed as a woman, not a sailor senshi. But as something else, something truly malevolent. The power that the entity within Hotaru now possessed had multiplied dramatically.

She grinned manically down at them, slowly rising to her feet and raising a hand. Sending a massive energy wave out over the room, like a sonic boom it knocked the remaining columns over, shattering them against the floor. As it threw back Moon and Tux, Moon had no time to cry out as she slammed into Venus. While Tux ended up flattening Jupiter to the floor, the Senshi of Thunder could only grunt in pain as the man collided. He quickly picked himself off of Jupiter. He didn't bother with apologies nor did Moon. No was not the time for polite, pleasantries.

"No!" Uranus yelled out. They knew what was about to happen.

"That's NOT sailor Saturn!" Neptune stated bitter. They knew Hotaru was possessed, their last meeting that this awakening could go either way. It seemed that the Senshi of destruction had lost the battle.

"What the hell!" Uranus gulped wondering who the hell had come out of Hotaru's body.

"Is that Sailor Saturn?" Moon gasped, frown uncertainly.

"I wanted to kill her, to seal Sailor Saturn away. This is far worse." Uranus uttered, Neptune agreed.

"Then who the hell is that?" Mars demanded, "Sailor Saturn could never hope to be as dark as I. I am the Messiah of Silence, Mistress Nine." she announced herself.

"Great so we've been fighting for them to not kill an obvious enemy?" Mars questioned, "Hotaru - chan is still in there." Moon snapped. "She is innocent, that thing...needs to die. There's got to be a way to expel her from Hotaru - chan's body." Moon stated.

"This is great work Kaolinite." Professor Tomoe praised. She looked to him with fond eyes, basking the simple kindness he bestowed upon her. All her hard work, all her patience and forthright words of adoration had finally won her his approval. Her moment of true happiness only lasted a second, before she got hit with a power blast from the top of the dais. Screaming in burning pain, her face twisted in confusion she was sent reeling into the darkness the dull impact of her body was heard a second later as she hit the wall.

Hotaru started to laugh, "How pathetic...to think you believed to have earned a rightful place at our glorious master's side." Her eyes flashed with murderous intent, the long tendrils of her hair snapped as if alive and shot into the darkness. Binding Kaolinite's arms and legs pinning them together, as another lock of hair wrapped itself around her neck and squeezed hard. Kaolinite choked and gasped as Mistress nine began to strangle her.

Picking her up and sent slammed her into the force field. Kaolinite had only enough time to whimper in fright, as the impact knocked her unconscious. Mistress Nine held her against the barrier, as it crackled and surged washing over Kaolinite's fragile human body and quickly disintegrated her. It was a brutal and merciless killing that left the Senshi and Tux a bit stunned at the ease of it.

The professor never once looked back in remorse, striding up the steps and taking Mistress Nines hand reverently. "Her job is now over. We must start phase two of our plans." Mistress Nine ordered, glancing back at the cold body of Chibi Usa. A dark flash of light engulfed them, leaving the dais empty in it's wake. Without it's Mistress to channel it's energy the barrier dissipated entirely.

Moon bolted for the alter with Tux on her heels.

"Chibi Usa!" She wailed, dashing into the marble table at full force.

Clutching the hard edges, staring down at her daughter so distraught and overcome with grief she could barely breathe.

"Chibi Usa!" She called desperately, as Tux pulled the little girl into his arms. Staring down at her pleadingly for any sign of life.

"Her body is so cold..." he muttered. "She isn't breathing!" he gasped in terror.

Grabbing Chibi Usa from Tux, Moon raced from the room her vision blurred by a rush of tears that she didn't care to control. She was frantic, her heart pounding in her ears unable grasp just yet that her daughter was now dead. The room began to tremor and cracks formed along the walls. She charged up the stairs, the internal quakes within the building becoming stronger and stronger. Bursting out of the sub-basement fire exit door into a back hall, charging away with Tux and the Senshi on her heels.

By the time she carried her outside, she had firm grip on her grief again. Holding the stiffening child against her, as she burst through the entry doors.

The sky above the tower was a solid obsidian, the swirling clouds looked angry and cold. As if hail was about explode down from the sky. The atmosphere around the school had become deadly all around.

Refusing to let go of her future daughter, her motherly instincts taking over, wanting to protect her body at least from future harm. "We have got to leave now! This whole place will crumble on top of us!" Uranus warned. Moon agreed and the outer and inner senshi left out.

They made it only a few steps before incredible power erupted from the top of Mugen, pillars of dark light irrupted into the sky from five different points along the peak of the tower before exploding the roof top completely, huge chunks of concrete and wood beams came raining down on top of them.

Tux not liking the scene picked up speed, grasping Moon under her knees and around her back securely before leaping into the air. Clearing the main gate effortlessly, while the Senshi dashed through the gate.

Luna and Artemis were waiting with Pluto out beyond the Mugen gate. Having already gotten the dazed and frightened students out of the area they had been waiting to see the outcome of this latest battle.

Tux had barely landed, setting Moon down gently when Luna bounded over to them. "Chibi Usa?!" Luna screeched. The future of the royal moon line looked dead. Pluto ducked her head in shame, tears threatening. Uranus and Neptune moved silently to her side to offer comfort.

"We need to get her to a hospital." Moon commanded as Mercury approached her and Chibi Usa's lifeless looking form cautiously. She had her data pad in hand and visor in place. Taking readings of Chibi Usa's condition. She hoped for the sake of not only the future kingdoms royal lines but also for Usagi and Mamoru. If Chibi Usa were to die in this time there would be telling what both of the parents past, present or future would do to the people who killed their child. She wouldn't know what to do in this case, only to seek justice for such an innocent life.

Moon watched her expectantly but would not release her daughter, not even relax her grip on the small child as Mercury ran a scan with her pad up and down the girl's prone body. The findings were grim, her temperature was falling by the minute and her heartbeat had flat lined. Clinically she was dead…deceased. It would NOT be easy to tell that to either Usagi or Mamoru. At one point she knew when she became a doctor that when she became a doctor she would have no choice but to do the same for a patient lost…but this was different.

This was her best friend…this was her best friends child. A young girl they all knew and loved like a little cousin. A young girl with her mother's features and street smarts, with her father's book smarts and personality. It would be a hard pill to swallow if she couldn't be returned to life to her parents.

Mercury swallowed the knot in her throat, unsure how to proceed. How to tell her leader her little girl was dead. She wondered how her mother did it when she lost a patient on those rare occasions. Chibi Usa was their baby girl and now she had to deliver this heart wrenching news to the parents.

How her mother was able to detach her emotions from her patients and give people such tragic news she'd have to ask one day. Her heart was thundering, and felt nauseous. Deactivating her visor and mutely watching her pad shimmer away. She was oddly disgusted by how sweaty her palms were. Licking her bottom lip she tucked some stray strands of dark hair behind an ear as a way of distracting herself.

She swallowed and refused to look up at her leader's expectant faces. She was stalling...like a coward. She mentally berated herself for it.

"Mercury..." Moon coaxed with a plaintive moan.

"Her heart isn't beating..." She whispered, finally having the courage to look up. Finding Moon was holding together better then earlier. Her face was deathly white, her wide crystal blue eyes wet as she held back her tears. She whimpered, cuddled Chibi Usa to her breast. She wanted to scream, to blame Hotaru for killing her only child. But she quickly reigned in her illogical anger, this wasn't Hotaru's fault. Sailor Saturn was in just as much trouble as Hotaru's soul was.

Tux was just as pale, standing stoic and silent beside her. Staring down at his daughter in disbelief, tears finally threatening to fall. His discovery of his family in the form of Usagi and Chibi Usa had been such a blessing months back. They spent time as family and all he could think about was how happy he was to get to know that feeling. He couldn't have been happier to finally have one.

So long he spent being ice cold and stoney to everyone but Motoki, then one day Usagi came in and his world changed. Now it seemed to be falling away. He felt like the useless little boy all over again when he lost his parents in that car crash. Why couldn't he save them? It was the same now…why couldn't he save his future daughter?

"With her pure heart removed and her crystal taken her chances of revival are slim." Uranus sighed in sadness.

"These beings cannot survive in our reality. They remove what they call 'pure hearts' from their victims. Which is essentially their souls. Then they take over the victim's body. But even that isn't a permeation solution. In the end the vessels they inhabit start to deteriorate and they revert back to Daimon form." Neptune explained, her face was cool and unreadable.

"Sailor Saturn hasn't awakened fully yet. But with Mistress Nine becoming the dominate entity in Hotaru's body it is only a matter of time before she devours not only Hotaru's soul but also that of Saturn as well." Pluto sighed.

"So when we had our pure hearts removed, the Heart Snatcher's were wanting to make us empty vessels for a Daimon to inhabit?" Venus was putting the final pieces in place.

"At that point our Senshi Souls had to make a choice, they did not want to be devoured by these beings so they abandoned us. Sacrificing their current incarnation to make sure these Heart Snatcher's didn't have access to their powers. A very smart and logical move." Mars concluded, agreeing with what her own soul did to survive.

"What we have been fighting so far...The Death Buster's...the Witches. They are all human-hybrids of these daimon's." Uranus added. "When they start to devolve back into Daimon form the human part is lost. At that point they can't be saved."

"But Saturn is to weak, she hasn't even awakened yet. So she is trapped inside Hotaru. If Mistress Nine devours her soul as well as Chibi Usa's and gains access to the Silver Crystal…" Neptune mused. It wasn't an option for anyone to let that happen.

"Both of their souls are now trapped inside Mistress Nine. They will start to suffer and slowly be destroyed. In time Chibi Usa and Hotaru – chan will be nothing more." Pluto scrubbed a hand down her face in frustration.

"But that makes it easier for us." Uranus smiled grimly. "We will kill her before she gains full access to the Silver Crystal."

"You can't!" Moon screamed. "Our daughter and the Silver Crystal are in her hands now. If you kill her, then you will kill Chibi Usa and Hotaru - chan too! I know you don't care about Hotaru – chan but don't you care at all about Chibi Usa?" She glared at Uranus, a deep hurt and betrayal shimmering beneath her tears.

"If you want to save her, then you need to fight! You need to take her crystal back! If we don't defeat her now, then it won't matter if Saturn is awakened or not. Mistress Nine will destroy this world! She will do whatever she wants with it!" Uranus shouted back, her heart hurt and lashed out at the most convenient target...her princess.

Moon gasped at the venom and wrath she felt in Uranus's voice.

"At this point its kill or be killed, there is more on the line now then just Chibi Usa Usagi. We have to think about all of human kind now." She growled, and turned her back on them. Neptune followed in Uranus's furious shadow as stormed off ahead of the rest. While Pluto remained behind, staring mournfully at their backs. This was a crossroads, a point is which the future may fork. The next few hours would determine how or if Crystal Tokyo could become a reality. It was a long road to look down.

"Let's bring her back to my place." Tux offered, he had just discovered his healing abilities earlier this year. He had barely explored that part of his Senshi persona, but keeping his daughter alive would be the greatest test to his ability to heal. He resolved to give her all that he had, he would never let her go! He'd never let either Usagi or Chibi Usa go.

"At this point her blood will stop circulating. She will die for real then." He gently took Chibi Usa from Moon. Who reluctantly let go.

"She is so cold and stiff..." she moaned.

He gave her a reassuring if weak smile, holding the child close and taking one of her tiny hands in his. Starting to form a link between his body and hers. He didn't know if he could use his power's in this way but he had to try. He wanted to use his own body like a life support system for his child.

He felt he had some expertise in these matter's. Having mastered the use of linking himself to Usagi so they could speak mind to mind, he had also be exploring his healing powers. He hoped to use both sides of these powers and keep Chibi Usa alive. It was currently the only option he – they had to help Chibi Usa. As much as he wants to yell at her for going in when she shouldn't have, to tell her she was being rash he couldn't even begin to care about that. All he could think about was keeping her alive.

Pluto walked beside Tux. Casting the man pained, sympathetic looks. She was near tears herself, suffering the crushing weight of her feelings of failure. In the end she had been helpless to protect her little princess.

It had been a stifling trip back but once back at Mamoru's place the senshi de – transformed and found places to sit. Scattered over the couch, the stools at the island and by the coffee table. No one cared about 'safe spots' from Usagi or Mamoru only at the grin future they were cast in front of now. Their faces grim and downcast consumed over their worry over Chibi Usa and the fate of the planet as Luna and Artemis silently leaped up onto the island.

Mamoru took Chibi Usa to his bedroom and laid her down. Sitting beside her, never breaking contact as he held her hand. The Mau followed after Usagi as she headed down the hall. Her house shoes lay forgotten in their place by the door. Right now she could care less about manners or etiquette to the guests, only that her daughter now needed to be linked to her lover in order to live. It was breaking her heart that her daughter was in such a position.

"You should have gone to school you baka…" Usagi mourned softly to her daughter. Luna didn't bother making a response. She held no ide on what to say or even how to console her. As it was she was looking at a mother in loose of her child. She briefly recalled how Queen Serenity took it when Princess Serenity died next to her prince. It was heartbreak, devastating. The Queen had been nearly inconsolable.

It was only the thought of using the silver crystal to save her daughter did she finally manage to pull herself together once everything was lost. Her palace was in ruins, her army destroyed by the hordes under Queen Beryl's control, but what had broken her was the image of her lifeless daughter after Metalia killed her. Luna watched the Queen helplessly mourn her child before taking action and giving her a new life elsewhere.

Now it seemed Usagi was being placed in a similar situation with her own child, granted from the future, in play. As an advisor she could pull herself from the situation but as she had been a motherly figure to Usagi during her trials as Sailor Moon she felt closer than within the moon kingdom. There she had had her own moon mother that was well aware of her daughters destiny, here her earth mother while kind and sweet wasn't someone she could go to. She had been it for the longer time.

Now things were changing. Worst yet was the fact that she knew more pain and suffering would come before the light at the end of the tunnel showed itself and she couldn't physically do anything about it. She felt as stuck as she had on the moon, only now it was her charge and the future of the royal moon line in the firing range. She only knew things would get worse before they would get better.

"What are you doing?" Usagi asked softly, as she entered the bedroom.

"I've formed a link between our bodies. I am keeping her alive." Mamoru responded back.

"But the burden you will putting your body under, Mamoru-kun?" Luna inquired.

"It's alright, I can handle it. I am strong enough to keep this small body alive." Mamoru advised with a warm smile. He felt better to do this, to at least be able to do something now was giving him a chance to think with a clear head. Now he could focus not only on the link and life force but on what to do next. He was no longer in immense panic over potentially loosing his future daughter. He had bought them all time. It would have to do for now.

"It's the only solution for now. But we must get her pure heart back. She cannot survive without it for long." Luna warned. She didn't want Mamoru or Usagi to think on this for longer than necessary. Didn't want them to have false hope over the situation. As her position as advisor she was to give them the reality of it all. But she herself had to pull herself emotionally back form the situation to be able to think with a clear head.

Usagi and Mamoru needed to hear the truth and not some half brained, emotionally charged response from someone they trusted to give them good advice on. The future depended on her job as well as their abilities to shift the tides, the outcomes of good and evil to their side to keep forging onward.

Usagi knelt beside the bed, hand folded before her mouth. Gazing mournfully down at her daughter, lost in thought. She looked so stricken and conflicted. The burden of command falling heavier upon her shoulder's now more than ever before.

A choice...I am left with having to choose, Hotaru...Chibi Usa or the people of this planet. Is this the only ones we are given? Are we trapped to follow this path to destruction? I refuse to abandon anyone!

Mamoru had listened into his true loves mental debate.

We are in no condition to make any kind of choices right now.

Usagi was valiantly trying not to cry, as she slowly, softly picked up her daughters hand and pressed it to her cheek.

A pulse echoed from her hand, a strong steady heart beat she knew more intimately than anyone else would ever. She smiled sadly, it was Mamoru's heart pulsing through her little girl's tiny hand. It was almost as if she truly was still alive. Tears finally spilled from her eyes as she overwhelmed by all the tragedy and horrible choices that were her's to decide.

I can't do it...I can't choose. What am I supposed to do?

Mamoru couldn't handle seeing her this way, so tortured and conflicted. It felt it as if it were his own they were so connected. It was breaking his heart to feel her, but he wouldn't have their connection any other way. He reached for her and pulled her up into a passionate kiss, seeking to soothe her worries with his love. When the kiss ended she nuzzled herself into the hallow of his throat, tears still streaming down her cheeks.

She was basking in his security and warmth not wanting to let go but knowing she had to or else she would not want to leave. She knew she had to go so they could all go and begin the fight for Chibi Usa and Hotaru. When she felt strong enough, she pulled away from his embrace to confront him with her decision. She knew he'd approve but she still felt the need to confide in him, get his take on it.

"We'll get the Silver crystal back, save Chibi Usa and Hotaru - chan. no one will suffer anymore. Without abandoning hope." I promised. As Setsuna came in, "Uranus, Neptune and I are going to Mugen to take down and destroy Mistress Nine." I turned to her sharply, "While I understand why, Mistress Nine needs to go down that's without question, however I don't agree that you should kill an innocent child to do so."

She looked to me, "If you want to save your future daughter..." She looked to Chibi Usa, "There will be sacrifices to make." I narrowed my eyes, "I'd sacrifice my life for my own child." She stiffened. Maybe she knew, saw something in the future I wasn't aware of yet. Who knew, but I knew Mamoru didn't see the shift in her stance. I would have felt his response to it. As it was I knew she knew far more about our futures than any of us.

She knew the outcome but held no choice for obvious reasons other than to fight alongside. To say something more than she could we knew could result in a warped future. We couldn't have that, "You've seen the time lines enough to know what I'd sacrifice and what I have sacrificed." She held my gaze, "If there was another way to save Hotaru - chan don't you think it would have happened by now?" She pleaded, I held her gaze.

I couldn't deny her that she held a valid point but I had my own, "Maybe it hasn't happened yet. Maybe all of these events are allowing for a new type of future to happen. One where Chibi Usa lives and goes back to her parents, where Sailor Saturn is a force of good against enemy lines when she grows up, and where Crystal Tokyo flourishes with a better knowledge of its enemies." It was a stretch but hey that's what I do, I make impossible things happen. We all do.

"It's a possibility…but not likely. I'd rather have visual proof in the future to reflect on before I agree to act against what I know is truth." Setsuna told me. I hated to admit it but I could understand her, didn't mean I had to like it. "I understand your position I do, but sometimes you have to go with your gut to know what to do. It's how I've survived this long, how we all have." Her shoulder sagged.

"You know you've seen it. It's what we do. We let our emotions aid in guiding us, how else would we have defeated the Wiseman? Or An and El? Or Queen Beryl? Mamo – chan was taken by that evil bitch and I fought to get him back. And I did, I didn't give up on him! An and El were two misguided souls that I used my power on to help cleanse them. The dark moon family is now living happily amongst us as regular people. Their starting their own businesses and families, they have regular lives that they always wanted." I tell her compassionately.

She gave me a sad smirk as if she really didn't want to say her next words but had to, "Hai, all true…but now your future daughter lay in your princes arms holding on for dear life while her friend has become taken over by an entity so powerful it took over the body that even Sailor Saturn possesses." Her words were cutting, "Sailor Saturn was dormant. It could have just as easily taken over mine or any of the other girls in here before I turned into Sailor Moon." I retorted. I wanted her to know of the possibilities.

"Agreed. To an extent. Being dormant leaves a person vulnerable…but not completely indisposed. Sailor Saturn had to have been dormant for a LONG time and incredibly weak for it to have happened." Realizing her own words as Hotaru had been a weak child and Saturn had been dormant for years she instead stated, "I think right now our focus needs to be on the enemy." I did agree to that.

She left out without another word. "We need to be strong Usako...we need to remember what we're fighting for. Not just Chibi Usa, not just Hotaru - chan, not just for the city but for earth itself. If this gets past us there is no other true defense this world has. It'll be a blood bath that will rage out of control. Earth can't combat this war. It's why we've been in the shadows as much as possible when it comes to getting police and military involved." I agreed.

Any of earths defenses would falter far to quickly and Mistress Nine would just take the wounded or near dead and feed herself pure hearts all around. "We need to fight for our future, for the earth and for the surrounding planets that could be effected. For what we believe in." He words sought to fortify my resolve and strengthen my will. I nodded in gratitude, giving him my best cheerful smile.

Leaning down I placed a gentle kiss on Chibi Usa's forehead, trying hard not to let a tear fall on her sweet person, "Be safe my little pink spore...Chibi Usa..." I cringed momentarily hoping that she would be okay. Looking up I saw the determination on Mamo - chan's face, "I will fight for us, our daughter, our friends, our family, our city...our world….I will fight for all of it my love." I promised.

He leaned forward and kissed me, crushing his lips against mine. I held his face in my hands as I deepened it a little bit. I made sure to avoid making it into or feel in any way like it was a goodbye kiss. It wasn't goodbye, it never would be, not with us. "Be safe my Usako..." he whispered against my lips." I love you...you're my family Mamo - chan...you both are..." I walked out of the room not wanting to look back and break down at the sight our future daughter laying so limp and lifeless upon his bed.)

Mamoru for his part felt tears stinging his eyes. His future daughter's life rested in the balance between life and death. The only way the connection had been possible was due to his healing abilities. He was only ever thankful as anything that his powers had been steadily increasing or else he wasn't sure it would have been made possible. He looked down at her young innocent form, hanging onto life by a thin thread.

"I don't think this is the type of thing your parents had in mind when they sent you back here." he chuckled, trying to laugh. But his voice sound lifeless and bitter.

"I hate to say this but Ikuko will be wondering where she is this evening if we don't do something." Artemis stated, as he padded into the room. "I'll go fix that." Luna answered and left. Artemis came up on the bed where Mamoru sat, "Listen I can't imagine what you're going through..." he began, seeing the bond of father and daughter clear in Mamoru's eyes, "But if you lose faith Usagi will feel it to. And shutting off the link would be the worst thing for her right now. She needs reassurance that you both are fine and safe." Mamoru nodded.

"Can I tell you something and you not to say anything to anyone?" Mamoru asked him. Artemis nodded knowing that in the past he and Endymion had shared a few manly secrets s no one else but Endymion's guards were around. And they at first were certainly not open to him seeing the moon princess. Artemis was all he had at first till his guards accepted it along with his parents as his guards had also decidedly noticed Serenity's guardians.

In truth Endymion's guards were while as ease a fun loving group of men that the princess's guardians fell head over heels for. However in battle as he had seen some of the training grounds on visits all the men had an intuitive tactical sense that hade them the warriors they were. They had complimented the senshi perfectly. But as much as Artemis wanted to go down memory lane this wasn't the time nor the place for that with what was going on.

"All these events that are happening it makes me wonder how far Usako will go to protect those that she loves. She's died before for everyone. It was only by a wish she made on the silver crystal that we were all brought back to life. I still remember waking up in that hospital, within no memory of Usako or of what had happened to get me there. I think someone even told me I was found by the side of the road somewhere. Hit my head." He mused. He was still unsure of where he was found.

"When in reality Usako when she made that wish decimated all of Queen Beryl's kingdom, wiped out everything evil up there and sent all of our bodies back here in random places or random for me at least, I don't know about her or the other girls." Now he was curious. "Either way Usako made that possible, a new chance to start over with our lives. And I still fell head over heels in love with her."

Artemis looked to him in question, wondering where his train of thoughts were going, "Usagi would do anything to protect those that she loved."

"I know...but if she dies…" he tried hard not to let the tears that were beginning to for fall, "That means Chibi Usa dies anyways...I don't know if I can handle that." Artemis placed a paw in front of Mamoru's face getting his attention, "Usagi is much stronger than she was back then. She's not only grown as a person but her powers have to. She beat out the Wiseman with everyone's help. We all know how powerful he was in comparison to Queen Beryl."

Mamoru nodded knowing the truth of it, "She can defeat this enemy. With the senshi there she will beat it back. Have faith. And don't worry, when Chibi Usa's pure heart is returned which it will be, we'll watch her so you can go fight alongside Usagi."

Mamoru thanked the cat in return. "You know it's always the big time crisis's that make one wonder if they'd be speeding things up to much by asking a loved one to marry them to early on." He looked a bit to serious for Artemis's opinion.

Artemis's eye brows - if he had any - shot up as he heard the words from the earth prince. He knew that with the way things had been going that would be the next logical step to take…in a few years but not right now. "I ah...nani?!" he sputtered. Mamoru merely laughed it off, "Nothing. I was just thinking out loud about a few things." he went back to ensuring the energy pouring into Chibi Usa would be enough.

He didn't want Artemis to think he was serious about it when in truth he was partially serious but knew how early it was and how the timing was just way off. Usagi had more important things to think about rather than him asking her to marry him when their future daughter's life laid in the balance between life and death.

When Usagi and girls headed back to Mugen academy they left a pair of felines to think and mull things over as Mamoru continued to give Chibi Usa his life energy. The connection she had to her beloved aided in her resolve to take down Mistress Nine and save both her daughter and Hotaru's pure hearts…their souls. Walking as civilians to the looming structure, that seemed to stand like a threatening edifice of coming destruction. They moved briskly through the cold fog, strong and determined. Resolute in what they must do, they felt more alive than ever.

"It's time to end this. We won't go down without a fight and if we do…let us go down with our hearts and souls intact. And with Chibi Usa and Hotaru – chan's free." Usagi didn't care of what would happen to her, she'd survive it and she'd go through another round when the next enemy came up. It's what she did.