Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or Sailor Moon Crystal or anything to do with Sailor Moon for that matter. All rights belong to Naoko Takeuchi.
I do however own my own OC characters and Story :-)
Act Six – Clash
Venus was struggling internally throughout the battle. Here she was fighting her own Sailor Senshi. This wasn't right, this was so wrong on so many levels. Venus easily dodged a kick from Makoto followed by a jab from Rei. Kunzite was fighting his own comrades which Venus knew he hated. She didn't have to look at him to know the truth of it, Kunzite was hurting inside. His comrades were mocking him but they couldn't land a single blow on him, he was their leader for a good reason just like Venus was the leader of the Inner Senshi. They were the best at what they did.
Eternal Sailor Moon was trying to reason with Mamoru but clearly her words had no effect on him. Venus remembered the times Mamoru had been brainwashed and how much Usagi had struggled without him. To see him like this all over again, so close to him and yet so far away Venus couldn't imagine the pain, she didn't want to imagine it. But as the guardian of Love she did understand the inner turmoil and of course, her Princess would be in pain fighting her true love and her best friends.
Then Venus worried about those three girls fighting Painite and Arata. They were good but clearly in need of training. Haru fought with great heart and spirit whereas Izumi directed her blows to where it should land more affectively. Ayaka seemed to just blend in with the girls and they fought as one. The realisation or rather confirmation that the three girls had been killed by the Sailor Starlights had been a shock. But deep down Venus knew why they did it. Venus had no doubt that during the Silver Millennium; she would have done the same thing to protect her Princess.
Kicking Rei to the ground and throwing a punch into Makoto's stomach, Venus bought herself some breathing space for a little while until Ami attacked. Venus had nearly been caught off guard but she blocked Ami's attack and then wrapped her chain around her friend throwing her towards Rei and Makoto.
"What are we going to do? We have to free them somehow" Venus yelled at Kunzite.
"I don't know Venus, I am more concerned about stopping this fight, the press is painting a really bad image of them in their civilian forms" Kunzite yelled back as he dodged a punch from Fumio.
Eternal Sailor Moon understood Kunzite's words. This was bad, really bad. She didn't see the Outer Senshi anywhere so that was something at least, but she was sure their identities had also been reported on from their last attack at the mall. She had to dodge another attack from Mamoru, he was quick and quite powerful. She needed to do something, this battle had to end and end now, the damage had already been done with her friends identities, there was no going back for them now.
The Silver Crystal.
She didn't really want to use it but she knew she had too. She had to get them all out of this battle. Cleansing all her friends in one go would be impossible so she had to time it well. Mamoru was still very much brainwashed but she had noticed Ami falter a few times. Fumio also looked as if he was suffering an internal struggle fighting against his former leader. Well, her mind was made up. Summoning her rod Eternal Sailor Moon called upon a blinding light. Its power brought everyone to their knees.
"Grab Ami and Zosite!" Eternal Sailor Moon commanded. It was a hard decision, it went against her own heart as she so desperately wanted Mamoru but she wasn't strong enough to help him. Venus and Kunzite did as they were commanded grabbing a now unconscious Ami and Fumio.
"Haru, Izumi, Ayaka! Leave now, you know where to meet us" Eternal Sailor moon ordered. Haru nodded speaking for her group of friends and they left. Eternal Sailor Moon then looked at Mamoru tearfully.
"I promise to set you free Mamo-chan" her soft voice reached his heart and he froze as Eternal Sailor Moon disappeared in a blinding flash of light.
They hadn't woken up yet. Minako kept walking backwards and forwards as Kunzite watched her, honestly he was starting to get a headache.
"They'll be fine, Usagi used the Silver Crystal on them" Kunzite said trying to calm Minako down. It didn't work.
"Usagi shouldn't have done that, we weren't prepared for her to use her Crystal. She's been blaming the thing for the past two years; there was a good chance it wouldn't work. She put herself in danger Kunzite. Damn it doesn't she understand how frightened I get when she just goes ahead without consulting me!" Minako yelled out as Kunzite wrapped his arms around Minako.
"I know Minako-chan, I know but Usagi can make these decisions if she wants to, she is your Princess. Our duty is just to protect her as best we can. She wants to bring our friends back, we have two of them, we'll get the rest" Kunzite said warmly.
"What life will they have Kunzite, they can't return as citizens. What's Ami and Zoisite going to do now?" Minako asked in a sad voice.
"Well, we'll just have to wait and see. Think about it, once all our friends are back then the people will seek Usagi out, they're all still seeking a new leader for Earth and the leaders of Earth are all in agreement that they need a power greater than their own. They want Sailor Moon, maybe Crystal Tokyo could still happen but differently" Kunzite said trying to be hopeful. Minako backed away and looked up at Kunzite.
"I love you, do you know that?" she said softly before burrowing her head in his broad chest.
"I love you too Venus and always will" Kunzite said.
Usagi woke up groggily on the couch. Minako had stayed next to her waiting for her Princess to get up. Usagi could feel a lecture coming on but was surprised when Minako simply smiled at her.
"I know all you wanted to do was save them but please, next time give me a little warning, I was really worried" Minako said trying her best to keep her smile up even though she was still slightly shaking. Usagi wrapped her arms around Minako and pulled her in for a tight hug.
"I am so lucky to have you Minak-chan, please remember that" Usagi said quietly. Minako blushed a little but then wrapped her own arms around Usagi.
"Usagi-chan?" Usagi and Minako both looked up to see a tearful Ami holding her head.
"I…I am so….so sorry, I….couldn't stop myself…..oh…Usagi-chan!" Ami cried as Usagi and Minako pulled their friend in for a big hug. Kunzite sat alone with Fumio discussing what happened. It was clear Fumio was still in shock and very upset that he had been brainwashed yet again.
"Don't cry Ami-chan, it's not your fault" Usagi said comfortingly as Ami shook from the sheer ferocity of her emotions. She had tried to hurt her friend, her Princess, how could she ever forgive herself.
"We have to save the others, that's our mission now" Usagi added as they all broke apart.
"We want to help" Usagi spun around to see Haru standing there with Izumi and Ayaka. Before Usagi could respond Minako stepped in.
"What makes you think you can help? You need training and a lot of it" Minako said snappishly. She then shook her head and sighed.
"Sorry about that, just feeling a little tired. We'll need to train you because the next time we face them, I have a feeling the battle will be a lot harder. Painite has just lost two of his team, he will not want to lose the rest" Minako said before closing her eyes.
"I don't want to fight our friends again Usagi-chan, it hurts too much to see them like that" Minako said quietly. Usagi nodded whilst Ami receded into her thoughts.
"It's funny, now you can see what I have seen when I had to fight against you guys" Usagi said sadly making Minako flinch.
"I am sorry but I had to say it. I have faced all of you alone before. I have had to fight against Mamo-chan at least three times and even against my own daughter. We can't waver Minako-chan, I need you to be strong, I know you want to save them and we will, together" Usagi said in a strong voice. Minako looked at Usagi warmly.
"You know, for someone who doesn't want to be Queen, you're sure acting like one now Usa" Minako said in a calm voice as she looked back at the three girls leaving Usagi stunned.
"Ok, we will begin training immediately and guess what, you have two of the best task masters training you!" Minako said giving off her trademark Sailor-V sign and winking at the three girls. Haru was exicted whilst Izumi and Ayaka were both scared.
Ami couldn't help but notice how close Usagi and Minako had become. Their relationship had definitiely changed and although she could sense there was a strain in their relationship, it was more out of frustrations and disappointments rather than hostility or anger. They were both pushing each other and honestly the dynamic was something Ami had never seen before. Minako was firmly in charge whilst Usagi simply followed most of the time. There were times when Usagi would put her foot down and express herself which surprised Ami. Fumio wasn't sure what to make of it as he watched his master take orders from Usagi. Kunzite behaved much in the same manner he had behaved with their former Prince. Two years had passed and that was enough time for a large amount of change to happen.
Ami and Fumio had to walk out in disguises to see how much Earth had changed. There was no clear leader as people were constantly fighting each other. What was clear was the fact that they were seeking Sailor Moon and Sailor Venus.
"They're teaching about me?" Ami had asked incredulously as Minako nodded her head enthusiastically.
"Yeah, Usagi is the best at teaching about us though, she always has those kids so captivated" Minako said proudly making Ami smile at Usagi. The Earth was still clearly recovering from such a traumatic event. People were still searching for missing loved ones and now they all had a new focus, the return of Sailor Moon. Ami had been surprised by Usagi's adamant attitude that she wanted nothing to do with being Queen. As they walked about Ami could clearly see that Earth needed Usagi, it was desperate for her to bring it back to life but Minako had warned Ami.
"I have tried Ami-chan but Usa will have none of it, she has to come to the decision on her own. All we can do is support her" Minako had said. Ami noticed how wise Minako had become and she found it strange. Their deaths had really had an effect on them and now Ami was wondering, could they develop the relationships they had once had. Usagi and Minako were clearly close which to a point made Ami slightly jealous. Shaking the thoughts out of her head she looked up towards the sky, who was she to be jealous anyway, Minako had simply done her duty, something any of them would have done given the situation. But Minako was different. Minako had worked alone before so she was more than capable, probably the most capable.
Walking away from Ami, Fumio and Kunzite, Minako and Usagi started to separate from them. Minako was worried about her Princess, very worried. She could feel that Usagi was keeping something from her and she didn't like it. It seemed Minako had developed a sixth sense with Usagi easily sensing her emotions.
"Usa, I know you have stuff on your mind and you don't have to tell me, I just wish you would to stop me worrying" Minako said walking at a steady pace with her Princess. Usagi sighed and looked towards the ground.
"If I told you what I was really thinking you would worry more Minako-chan" Usagi said quietly noting that Minako had stopped walking and was now seriously staring at her Princess.
"Usa?" Minako asked questioningly.
"Just forget about it for now, I promise once we free our friends I will tell you" Usagi said. Minako wanted to push more but opted not to, she knew that look Usagi was giving her, it was a look that told you to stop asking anymore questions and be patient.