Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Sailor Stars: Rebirth
Act 4: Letting go of the Past
Sora Kazeno
As the three enter the classroom, they could feel all eyes on them. Yaten, Taiki, and Seiya walked to the front by the teacher in their school uniforms. When the current school year started, the students remained in the same seats, some of them waiting for this day when the Three Lights would come back.
Minako smiled at them, excited to have Yaten sit next to her. She was going ask him lots of questions and ask him for help on her work and then if that didn't work she'd ask Taiki.
Makoto shifts in her seat. Seeing them in the classroom again was not something she had expected. Are they planning on staying longer? It will be easier to talk to them about yesterday. As well as other battles as they happen, assuming the three keep attending school.
Usagi blinks a few times. Was this real? It's like things were going back to how they were before they fought Galaxia, but with one significant difference. She has Mamo-chan beside her to encourage her. She's not worried sick how he is doing.
The Three Lights take their seats.
Yaten sighs as he sits down next to Minako. "Taiki and his bright ideas. He just wanted to find an excuse to go to school and learn."
Taiki overheard the comment since he was sitting nearby. "Furthering your education is a good thing for you."
"Odango, it looks like we are going to be classmates again," Seiya comments taking the vacant seat behind her.
Usagi sarcastically responds, "don't expect me to give you a tour of the school again or the after school actives."
Seiya smiles. "I think I can manage."
The teacher tries to resumes his lesson but after ten minutes he couldn't ignore the whispering of the other students in the classroom. Having those students back was too disruptive right before lunch. He glances at the clock, twenty minutes left. He gives them time to study before lunch instead of trying to continue his lesson. Normally he would not do this but he realized today he doesn't have the patience and just didn't want to deal with it. "We will begin immediately after lunch," he explains to them. He pauses. "We will also have a quiz tomorrow; make use of this extra time to study." He knows they won't but it is an acceptable reason to give them some free time for self-study.
The teacher walks out of the classroom to allow them to study.
As soon as the classroom door slides shut most of the students are on their feet crowding around the Three Lights.
Makoto, Minako, and Usagi remain in their seats, knowing it would be impossible to discuss any senshi related information for a while. Since each are seated near a Three Lights member, they can't even get up from their seat.
The Three Lights try to be polite and answer some of their classmate's questions.
"At this time we don't know what our future plans are." Seiya responds quickly. His answer is met with more questions and statements they should perform again.
Taiki takes a different approach. "We are here to learn and would appreciate being given time in the future to pursue it."
Yaten gave short yes or no responses.
Usagi places her arms on her desk and lays her head down. Maybe she could take a short nap. She is lacking any restful sleep in the past few days. With her eyes closed, it doesn't take long for her fall asleep nor does it take long until she sees Sailor Galaxia.
Sailor Star Maker and Sailor Star Healer ran in front of her to protect her from Sailor Galaxia's blade. They are struck by a golden energy and cry out in pain. "Healer! Maker!" She cries out to them as more tears threaten to fall.
Sailor Galaxia lightly laughs at the Starlights efforts. "Are you all going to jump before my blade and choose death?"
Sailor Star Healer smirks before responding, "You wouldn't get it."
"What?" The golden senshi stares at them confused.
Sailor Star Healer continues, "there's no way we'd let this girl's gentle light be extinguished!" Her voice cracks as she speaks.
"Who wants to see a world without hope?" Sailor Star Maker adds.
Sailor Moon has her hands around the lower half of her face, watching everything wide eyed. The Starlights are willing to risk everything to protect her. Even Maker and Healer; only a few weeks ago they didn't want her to be around them. "Healer! Maker!" She calls out to them again, trying to get them to stop.
"I loved your light, Sailor Moon…" Sailor Star Fighter stands next to her; she reaches her hand over and places it on Sailor Moon's for a moment.
"Fighter…?" Sailor Moon's hands are gripped tightly. The way Fighter was talking to her, it was like she was saying goodbye.
"We can leave all our hopes in your hands," Sailor Star Fighter finishes. She turns away from Sailor Moon to continue to fight Sailor Galaxia.
Usagi gasps loudly and bolts straight up, startling a few students around her. She can't stop seeing images of battling Galaxia in the past few days, it's tearing her apart. She gets up from her seat and pushes past a few students to run out of the room to the bathroom.
Minako is a few steps behind, moving around the students crowding Yaten to follow Usagi.
Makoto remains in her seat for now but watches after them, unable to hide the frown.
Taiki turns to look at Makoto, trying to understand what just happened.
"Later," Makoto mouths without saying a word.
Yaten looks over in Seiya's direction to find him staring at the door the two blondes ran out of.
Usagi leans against the sink counter, her hands gripping the edges tightly.
Minako checks the bathroom quickly to make sure they are alone first. "Usagi-chan, are you okay?"
Usagi takes a few deep breaths. She can't hide from the others she is still having nightmares, no matter how worried they become over her distress. She just had one in class, they all saw it. "I…. had another nightmare. I had one this morning which it why I woke up so early and why I'm so tired. I just had another in class." Usagi pauses, trying to determine how many details she wants to provide. "They're … different events that happened during the battle… sometimes its things that didn't happen."
Minako frowns slightly. "Usagi-chan… we want to help you, we can tell you are struggling. If it wasn't for the nightmare you just had in class, you were going to keep this to yourself, weren't you?" Minako is trying not to become angry with Usagi as she talks to her. But it is the same thing for the past year. Usagi has nightmares and doesn't want to talk about because she doesn't want to talk about Sailor Galaxia.
Usagi releases her hands from the counter to turn and face Minako. "I don't want to relive everything that happened by talking about it." Usagi explains wiping a few tears from her eyes.
"But you're reliving it without even talking about it." Minako again tries to get Usagi to open up and is unsuccessful.
"There were… so many times we got lucky and survived," Usagi finally states.
Minako nods her head. This is the closest Usagi has come to talking about the battle with anyone. "I want to help you but I don't how when you won't talk to us."
Usagi looks down for a moment; she can't look Minako in the eyes. "We should go back to class, it's getting late." Usagi doesn't give Minako a chance to respond and heads to the bathroom exit.
Minako watches her leave for a moment, sighing. She wishes Usagi wouldn't be so stubborn about this. What happened after the Inner's starseeds were lost?
Makoto looks at Minako after she enters the classroom after Usagi. Minako shakes her head no to signal she struck out again.
Usagi makes her way back to her seat and sits back down without a word.
A few minutes later the bell rings to begin lunch. The other students surrounding the Three Lights finally thin out as they gather their lunches.
Yaten is finally able to stand up without bumping into someone. "This part I did not miss."
Seiya turns to Yaten to give him a hard time. "You mean there were parts you missed?" He asks. Yaten had always been the one most anxious to return to Kinmoku on their previous mission.
Yaten doesn't verbally respond and shrugs as his answer.
Taiki smirks at the exchange. Those two will never change.
Makoto's eyes open wide. "Ami-chan doesn't realize the three of you are back yet."
Minako grabs Yaten and Taiki by the arm since they are closest to her. "Come on, let's go surprise her!" She pulled the two Three Lights members into the hallway. Her big mistake.
Members from the Three Lights fan club saw them. Screams and shouts began.
Seiya winces slightly listening to the commotion outside and thankful Minako couldn't drag him out at the same time too.
Usagi is still sitting at her desk, staring at the wood. It is just her and Seiya in the classroom. She doesn't look up when she speaks. "Do you ever… talk about what happened when you fought Galaxia?"
Seiya is surprised by her question at first, and then it clicks. She must have had a nightmare when she fell asleep. "Sometimes…I mean… we talked about what happened with our Princess and I think that was about it." Seiya responds and walks over to the front of the desk to face Usagi.
Usagi sighs. Even the Starlights were able to talk about what happened. "It's really hard to talk about it… there are so many gaps from what they missed. In a way they're lucky they didn't see everyone…" Usagi's voice trails off and she squeezes her eyes shut tightly, images of the Rei and the others losing their starseeds play in her mind.
Seiya sits down in the seat in front of Usagi's desk. "The other girls mentioned that you never talked about what happened to anyone." He studies her expression.
Usagi shakes her head no.
Seiya is surprised by her response. She must have talked to someone about it. "Not even your boyfriend?"
Usagi clenches her hands into tight fists. "It's too hard… I don't want to think about that night." She speaks softly. "I keep having nightmares. They happened a lot after the battle and then once in a while. But now… it's constant."
Seiya reaches over to lightly place his hand on top of Usagi's.
Usagi picks her head up to look at Seiya.
"We all had nightmares for a while. Eventually they began to go away… after we talked about them." Seiya explains, trying to find a way to help the struggling girl before him.
Makoto returns to the classroom and is about to retrieve Usagi when she sees Seiya with his hand on top of Usagi's and they are talking.
"What if the nightmares still don't go away after telling the others what happened when we fought Galaxia? At any second we all could have died." Usagi asks. Her voice sounds hopeless that nothing will help.
"You know I was not going to let that happen to you," Seiya tries to comfort her.
Usagi frowns. "I don't how many times you stood in a front of blast from Galaxia… or even Uranus or Neptune… It was dangerous."
"I told you I was going to protect you, and I did." Seiya immediately responds.
Makoto turns and walks away when she realizes what the two are discussing. Maybe talking to Seiya will help Usagi. If she interrupts them now, Usagi will change the topic. She goes back outside to find the others. She's frustrated. They have been her closest friends for years and in two lifetimes. Yet Usagi has no problem talking to Seiya about this. He's only been back for a day? What did Usagi mean by Uranus or Neptune? Did something else happen that Usagi didn't want them to know?
She finds Ami, Minako, Taiki, and Yaten sitting outside with lunch.
"Is Usagi-chan okay? She's not with you…" Ami's voice trails off.
Makoto sits down and lowers her voice. "She is talking to Seiya-kun… about when they fought Galaxia."
Minako's eyes widen. She also feels hurt. She was just talking to Usagi about the need to open up and instead of speaking to her, she's talking to Seiya. "She needs to talk about it… I just wish she would talk to us about it. We've been friends forever..." She's clearly hurt she is being left out.
"Some people don't cope well and have a hard time talking about difficult things," Taiki comments as he eats rice from his bento box.
Yaten shakes his head. "Seiya was the same way." He looks over at Taiki. "If he doesn't hurry up soon he is going to miss to chance to eat before the rest of the school hounds us."
Taiki sighs in response. "I underestimated the fans at this school." He just wanted to learn and keep an eye on the others to fulfill their mission.
Minako's mood shifts slightly. "It's never dull being an idol is it?"
"Did you ever follow up after you won that contest?" Yaten asks out of the blue.
Minako's right eyebrow arcs upward. "Well…" She tries to think of what she should say. She can't talk about her insecurities of her singing; they'll only say she's great at singing. "I think I'm going to wait until I'm closer to being done with school." She looks over at Ami and Makoto. "Now doesn't seem to be the best time."
Makoto can't hold it back anymore. She looks at Taiki and Yaten; this might be their only chance. "Could you tell us what happened during the battle? Part of it? Something? Anything. We can't help Usagi-chan if we are kept in the dark." She needs to know what is going on. After what she overheard she has so many more questions that need answers.
Taiki and Yaten exchange glances. It's a topic they still don't like to discuss but the girls should know.
"The short version," Taiki eventually responds.
"You will never know if it helps to talk about it until you actually talk about it." Seiya pulls his hand away. He had reacted out on instinct trying to comfort her.
Usagi sighs. "I know I should tell them but it's so hard…" She repeats herself again. She had become used to this as her response whenever someone asks.
"It will become easier eventually…" Seiya leans back into the desk behind him slightly. His voice is quieter. "It wasn't easy for me either." He hates talking about this topic as well but Usagi needs to hear it.
Usagi's eyes widen as she waits for him to continue.
"I tried to bottle it all up. I thought it was for the best." His eyes lower. "But that was a mistake; I ended up doing some stupid things." He hesitates, "really stupid things." He can't tell her the entire truth. He burdened her enough last time, and besides she's happy with her boyfriend. A small part of him acting out was due to Galaxia, but the fact that he would probably never see her again was the worst part of being back on Kinmoku. "Talking seemed to be the best thing that worked." He smiles slightly. "I just wish I could have figured that part out sooner." He admits.
Usagi looks at the ground. Her shoe poking at the tile, "I know you're right but…"
Seiya cuts her off. "What happened to the girl that didn't avoid doing things just because it was hard?"
Usagi stares at him when she recalls similar words from Fighter after Uranus and Neptune disappeared when they were unsuccessful at getting Sailor Galaxia's starseed.
"That's why they placed their hopes in you…" Fighter spoke slowly at first. She turns to look at Sailor Moon kneeling on the ground with Chibi Chibi. Her voice stern, "Want to try surrendering to Galaxia?" Her voice grows softer. "Things will defiantly be easier."
Sailor Moon hangs her head slightly, knowing Sailor Star Fighter is right. "No."
"I knew you would say that." Sailor Star Fighter responds.
Usagi looks up at Seiya. "I hate it when you're right."
"That tends to happen a lot. I'm usually right!" Seiya boasts.
The arrogant look on his face riles her up. "Seiya! You're the same as ever!" She places her hands around her chest. She intends to give him an annoyed look but her stomach growls. She teardrops instead.
Seiya laughs.
Ami, Makoto, and Minako stare at Taiki and Yaten after the part they were just told.
"I can't believe Haruka-san and Michiru-san would go to that length." Makoto struggles to find the right words after hearing Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune swore their allegiance to Galaxia only to later try to steal her starseed. This must have been what Usagi meant earlier.
"I'm not that surprised," comments Ami staring at her half eaten egg salad sandwich.
Minako and Makoto gasp at the blue haired girl's remarks.
"Remember when they were looking for the Messiah of Silence?" Ami reminds them. "They were ruthless then, doing what they thought was best to save the Earth."
Minako wants to ask what happened next but stops. "Usagi-chan and Seiya-kun are walking over to join us." She pouts slightly. She might not get another chance for a while to finally hear the rest.
"Thank you for telling us, we won't mention anything to Usagi-chan," Makoto quickly tells Taiki and Yaten. She picks up an onagri to resume eating.
"Sorry it took a while," Usagi apologizes as she sits down next to Makoto and Minako.
"You didn't miss much," Minako winks as she starts eating a yakisoba sandwich.
Usagi doesn't pull out her own bento box right away. She's nervous. After talking with Seiya, she knows he is right. The girls are right. Everyone was right all along. She needs to talk about what happened. "Can we change our plans after school?" Usagi hesitatingly asks her best friends.
Makoto stops eating, alarmed by Usagi's request. "Usagi-chan, did something happen?"
"Umm…" Usagi fumbles with her words, "I want to spend time with Mamo-chan later." She pauses. "I think…" After inhaling a deep breath, she rushes through the rest. "I should try talking about what happened against Galaxia."
There is a long awkward pause in the air. Ami, Makoto, and Minako are visibly shocked by Usagi's declaration. It has taken so many months for her to reach this point.
When no one responds, Usagi feels like she needs to continue to speaking to remove the tension. "I'm sorry I haven't been ready to talk about it with everyone. Tomorrow after school?"
"Whenever you're ready," Ami encourages the blonde. Deep down she is happy Usagi is finally ready to talk about it. They can hear the rest of what happened from where Taiki and Yaten left off.
Minako and Makoto nod their heads in agreement. "We'll talk to Rei-chan later and sort it out so you can speak with Mamoru-san later."
Usagi smiles and opens the lid to her bento box. She picks up her chopsticks and is about to start eating when she pauses to ask a question to the Three Lights. "How has rebuilding everything going?" As soon as she finishes the question, with lighting speed, she uses her chopsticks to shove food in her mouth as if nothing was bothering her.
The six of them stare at Usagi with blinking eyes.
"I can't believe they are back," Haruka repeats again to her companions. She had assumed the Starlights returned home, it would far into the future before they ever saw them again.
"It does seem odd." Michiru echoes while sitting on a couch in their apartment.
Setsuna is sitting across for her fellow senshi. "More than odd." She frowns before sipping her hot black tea.
Haruka's posture becomes more rigid by the response. "What do you mean?"
Setsuna sets her tea cup and saucer onto the table in front of her. "I have an uneasy feeling on what awaits us." She meets their eyes. "Something is going to happen that is not supposed to."
"We have to keep a close eye on the Princess," Haruka immediately vows. "I want to believe the Starlights don't mean her any harm but here we are with a new threat right as they show up. It's just like last time."
Michiru disagrees with Haruka. She does not see the Starlights as a threat at this time. In her eyes, the three had proven themselves. "They are here to help us. You saw how they protected the Princess… from us." The last two words are spoken quietly. She regrets taking Pluto and Saturn's starseeds but she didn't see any other option at the time to stop Galaxia.
Haruka clenches her right fist slightly at the reminder of what they had done in the previous battle. She needs to redirect the focus. "What time are you meeting with Ami-chan?"
Michiru checks her watch. "In a few hours. I want to hear what else she has to say." She looks at Haruka and Setsuna. "Ideally we can stop this battle before it truly begins."
Mamoru is surprised when he opens the door to see Usagi standing there. "Usako, is everything alright? I thought you were going to spend the day with the girls."
"Everything is fine, we switched things to tomorrow." Usagi explains as she enters the apartment and takes off her shoes to replace them with the slippers she leaves at his apartment. "I want to talk to you about something important." She hesitates for a moment before she continues, "something I wasn't ready to talk about before."
This didn't sound like Usako. "What is going on?" He asks her as he leads her over the couch to sit down and talk.
Usagi fidgets with hem on the skirt of her uniform. "I think I'm finally ready to talk about the final battle." She rushes the next section. "I told you everything leading up to it but I never mentioned what happened when Galaxia and the Animates interrupted the Three Lights' final concert."
"Usako are you sure?" He had tried so many times in the past to get her to open up and was unsuccessful. It wasn't like her to keep secrets, especially from him. He knows how difficult this will be for her.
Usagi nods her head and continues. "It's something I've been avoiding for too long and I'm hoping talking about it will help. I need these nightmares to end." She is betting everything on this. She doesn't know what she will do if the nightmares persist after she tells Mamoru and the Inner Senshi what happened. She stiffens. She needs to tell the Outer Senshi too.
She takes a deep breath trying to steady her nerves. She began to describe Sailor Tin Nyanko and how when she lost her remaining bracelet, she disappeared.
"Hello Michiru-san," Ami bows slightly when she greets the slightly older woman.
Michiru waves in response as she closes the distance between them. "Ready for a swim?"
The pair swims several laps together, matching their pace to the person next to them. After ten laps were completed they took a break at the edge of the pool in the shallow section, each breathing hard.
Michiru puts her plan into motion. "The other day you started to mention a place to search for Queen Beryl and Jadeite."
Ami frowns. This is the not the conversion she was expecting with Michiru. They usually catch up and typically do not discuss senshi matters at the pool. It was an unspoken rule.
Michiru continues. "We want to help the Princess and this seems difficult for her."
"We fought Queen Beryl at D Point last time. It is located at the North Pole." Ami explains to the aqua haired senshi.
Michiru is persistent. "If you give us the coordinates we can investigate it tomorrow morning, before the enemy's power grows too strong. We will let you know what we find."
Ami is hesitant at this plan. "Won't it be dangerous for the three of you?"
"Being a senshi is always dangerous," Michiru counters back. "Right now we have to learn about the enemy. If we happen to defeat her while we're there…well…" Michiru smiles.
Ami looks at Michiru and laughs at her comment meant to lighten the mood. "It might be better this way actually," she ponders out loud. "Usagi-chan seems like she is finally starting to open up about the battle against Sailor Galaxia and will talk to us about it tomorrow after school.
Michiru's eyes narrow slightly. The Inner's will learn about their betrayal. "Where is she now?"
"With Mamoru-san. She is telling him everything first tonight. I hope everything works out." Ami wishes Usagi wasn't struggling so much.
Michiru nods her head and then gestures to the water behind her. "How about we swim for a bit more?"
"Well at least she had a good reason for not showing up today," Rei responds after listening to why Usagi is absent today. She sits at their usual table at Crown with Minako and Makoto.
Minako sips from her tea. "We didn't tell you the exciting part yet! The Three Lights are in our class again."
"Seriously?" Rei is bewildered by this development. "It doesn't make sense."
Before Rei could ponder any further, they are interrupted by a scream.
Makoto stands up first. "They've been too quiet. I was wondering what happened to them." Her pink transformation wand with green crystal appears in her hand, she looks at Rei and Minako.
Both girls are holding their respective wands and rush outside with her.
Ami taps on her minicomputer, a few more times and provides Michiru with the coordinates for D Point. Michiru repeats the coordinates back to her to confirm the location. Ami nods her head. Before she can say anything else to Michiru; Ami's communicator beeps from the chair behind them. She has an incoming message from the others.
"There is an attack outside of Crown," Sailor Jupiter informs Ami.
"I'm on my way," Ami quickly responds, throwing the rest of her belongings in her bag.
Michiru has her communicator open relaying the same information to Haruka.
"Mercury Crystal Power, Make Up!"
"Neptune Crystal Power, Make Up!"
Usagi broke down and started crying several times as she discussed the deaths of everyone she witnessed. She had to stop several times.
"Are you sure you want to continue Usako, I know this is hard to for you." Mamoru's arms are wrapped tightly around his fiancée. He hates seeing her like this.
Usagi shook her head no. "I need to finish." She had just discussed the deaths of Sailor Pluto and Sailor Saturn. She continues, "we realized after they were gone, Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune took their starseeds and were wearing the golden bracelets that meant they serve Galaxia."
Mamoru's eyes widen in surprise. "Why would they…" He stops. Of course they would. They would do anything to stop Galaxia, much like how they would have done anything to stop the Messiah of Silence even if it meant killing Hotaru. He listens to Usako as she continues; each part more horrific than before.
When she is done explaining everything, she is sobbing into Mamoru's shirt by the time she finally reached the part where Galaxia was freed from Chaos. She cries for several minutes before she is able to speak again. "I'm sorry Mamo-chan…" she finally manages to stutter. "I should have told you sooner but I wasn't strong enough." Her voice lowers. "I'm never strong enough and because of it everyone is always in danger. Because of me."
Mamoru pulls away from her to sternly look her in the eyes. "Don't ever think that Usako. We put you in danger because we are not strong enough to protect you." He hates to admit this. "We are the ones that burden you."
Usagi looks at Mamoru surprised. How could he think they are a burden to her? "No one is a burden to me." Usagi quickly responds. She doesn't want anyone to feel that way.
"All of the different evils we have faced, you defeated all of them. None of us we were strong enough to stop it for you." Mamoru tries to explain how it is a struggle for the others when they feel powerless to help her. The last thing he wants is for her to feel like she is the burden.
Usagi shakes her head no. "But I didn't defeat them all alone. Everyone was there to help me." Her eyes lower as she continues, "Everyone was hurt trying to protect me." Usagi inhales sharply. The recent nightmare she had repays in her mind for the Inner Senshi losing their starseeds, and the Three Starlights vowing to protect her from Sailor Galaxia even though she was not their Princess. Her eyes narrow for a moment as she considers everything. It is fair for her that the others always rely on her to stop the enemy?
"Usako?" Mamoru calls her name after seeing the far off look on her face.
His voice snaps her back to the present. She shakes her head slightly to the side, gathering her thoughts. "Sorry. It's just a lot to handle at once."
Mamoru closes the distant between them, wrapping his arms around her. "Whatever evil awaits us, we will stop it. You won't be alone again. I never want to see that happen to you Usako." He wipes the remaining tears from her eyes and kisses her.
Sailor Mars stares at Jadeite in disbelief. She heard Mamoru tell them the General had returned. But it's something else to see him face to face again after he tried to run them over with airplanes at Haneda airport. "I don't believe it… we stopped you."
The blonde haired male turns his nose up at her. "Another failed attempt. Just like this one will be." He turns to Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Venus. Two more senshi he did not recognize. "How many of you are there?"
Sailor Jupiter cracks her knuckles. "Enough to stop your attacks."
Sailor Venus uses the moment he is distracted to attack. "Venus Love and Beauty Shock!"
He dodges the attack easily and yawns. "You are going to have to try a lot harder than that." Without a word, he attacks the three senshi with his psychic abilities making them think he is gone.
"Where did he go?" Sailor Jupiter is looking straight ahead where he is standing.
Sailor Mars can still sense his presence. "He's here. I can feel it."
Jadeite smirks; summoning dark energy he attacks the three senshi. Without knowing where the attack is coming from until the last minute they are unable to block.
Sailor Mars, Sailor Venus, and Sailor Jupiter are knocked to the pavement.
Polaris appears a short distance in front of them. Seconds later, Jadeite begins to come into view again.
"They are weak," Polaris mocks the senshi. "It's only a matter of time until the Queen's powers are restored stronger than ever. This city is full of so much energy." Twirling her index finger around in the air she summons red vines to steal energy from the senshi. Their energy gave the Queen a needed boost last time. It's only fitting to feed off the energy of her enemies.
Sailor Mars sensed the vines approaching her this time. She will not allow herself to be caught off guard again. "Mars Flame Sniper!" A burning arrow lights the vines ablaze.
Mars actions catch Polaris' attention. "At least you seem like a worthy adversary versus what I've been fighting for the past few hundred years."
Sailor Mars studies Polaris closely, trying to understand her this time. She was too distracted their previous encounter due to the return of the Starlights. There is definitely something different about her. "What are you used to?" She asks, fishing for any information that can be used to their advantage.
Polaris smiles, taunting her, "wouldn't you like to know?" She laughs at the senshi. "But you've still have a long way to go if you want to be considered a challenge." Shifting her attention to the right she speaks to Jadeite. "I've collected a lot of energy for the Queen while you've had them distracted." She flaunts she leagues above them once more. Without another word, she vanishes.
Sailor Jupiter's eyes widen. How could they have missed something so obvious? "This was just a diversion?" She clenches her fights tightly in anger as the antenna comes up her tiara ready to take out her aggression on the enemy.
"Oh we're not done." Jadeite assures him. He summons three youma. "They will keep you busy while I collect more energy." As the youma charge at the senshi, Jadeite disappears.
Sailor Venus dodges an energy blast from a youma as it continues to run at her.
A large pair of claws attempt to slash Sailor Jupiter from another youma.
Sailor Mars barely misses the energy blast from the last youma.
Seiya is irritated as he speaks to Taiki and Yaten. "I don't like it. We were watching them constantly until they were attacked and now we just sit back? What is the point in all of this?" He doesn't understand what Yaten and Taiki are thinking but right now he is out numbered.
Yaten barely looks up at Seiya towering over him in front of the couch. "We had to confirm the prophecy first. That was always the main goal."
Seiya shakes his head in frustration. "We did that! We should be out there protecting them and not sitting around here!"
Taiki turns away from the computer. "We can't properly protect them until we know what we are up against." He returns back to the computer to resume skimming an article from a few years ago.
Seiya is now pacing the floor behind him, his impatience growing.
Yaten ignores Seiya.
Taiki sighs and turns around again. "I found an article that could be related to the previous battle when they fought Queen Beryl regarding global disturbances. This might provide a clue until we can speak with them again tomorrow. We know that some of them are rather busy tonight." He alludes to the declaration Usagi made earlier about visiting Mamoru.
Seiya stops dead in his tracks. He didn't know Taiki was researching the problem. A small smile escapes the corner of his mouth. Of course Taiki would be researching and gathering information subtly.
Taiki turns completely to face Seiya. "Perhaps you can learn some more information from Tsukino-san since she will talk to you the most." His eyes narrow as he gives Seiya warning. "But don't get too close to her. Our stay on Earth is temporary."
Seiya sighs. "I know we are here to help them and then return home," he looks away. He knows this; they don't have to keep reminding him. He walks out of the main room and into his bedroom. He hates to admit it but is probably easier for him not to be here. Odango looked happy with her boyfriend. But there was still so much sadness in her eyes. Just what had the battle against Chaos done to her? He removes his hair tie reflecting how much harder it was for him to be here than he thought.
Sailor Jupiter looks over at her fellow senshi. "These youma are tougher than the youma I remember."
"They are stronger than the ones from the other day too," Sailor Venus confirms, breathing heavily.
The youma are over powering them, backing them into a corner. They keep the senshi moving, preventing them from a much needed moment to regroup.
"I think all of the youma are going to be like this but we can't keep relying on Usagi right now. We have to be strong enough to stop them on our own." Sailor Mars' voice waivers, "especially when she doesn't have her tiare. We might not have been able to stop Galaxia but we should be able to handle these youma!" Sailor Mars tries to give her fellow senshi confidence.
The youma work surprisingly well together. Each youma blasts the three senshi with different energy attacks knocking them to the ground. Sailor Mars' motivational speech is short lived. The senshi struggle back to their feet. This battle isn't over yet.
"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"
"Crescent Beam!"
"Burning Mandala!"
The attacks slow the youma down but not enough to do any lasting damage.
"If only there were two of them. We could overpower them without a problem!" Sailor Mars tries to find a way to stop them but they keep coming.
"Venus Love and Beauty Shock!" The orange shaped heart hardly slows the youma down. "We're barely staying ahead of them at best. I hope the others arrive soon."
"Sparkling Wide Pressure!"
The attack causes the youma to stagger as it approaches them. They are finally making progress. The youma is attacked from the side by a large ball of golden energy and turns to dust.
The three senshi look toward the sunset and see Sailor Uranus.
"I heard you needed some help," Sailor Uranus winks that them.
"Excellent timing!" Sailor Venus is thrilled to see another senshi to help them defeat the youma.
The youma with claws rushes at Sailor Uranus.
Waves of water hit the youma follow by an aqua ball of energy with the force of a tidal wave. The second youma is washed away.
Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Venus, and Sailor Mars can finally attack as one and hit the final youma, turning it into dust. The three girls smile at each other now that it is finally over.
"Thank you for helping us," Sailor Mars walks over to Sailor Uranus, Sailor Neptune, and Sailor Mercury.
Sailor Mercury has a solemn expression on her face when she delivers the news. "I gave Michiru-san the coordinates for D Point so she, Uranus, and Pluto can investigate tomorrow morning."
Sailor Mars, Sailor Venus, and Sailor Jupiter look at Sailor Mercury wide eyed.
"Are you sure it's a good idea to go back there? It's not safe," Sailor Venus comments first. She doesn't need to be reminded of a battle in which she and her fellow senshi failed to protect their Princess.
"We will investigate it and report anything we find back to you," Sailor Neptune explains. "This should be kept from the Princess."
"I don't like hiding something so serious from Usagi-chan," Sailor Jupiter vetoes the plan. It's not like them to keep secrets from Usagi when it involves senshi duties.
"She is too fragile and needs to get her confidence back before the final confrontation," Sailor Neptune tries to explain their perspective. "The Princess cannot handle this at the moment."
Before any of the other senshi could object, Sailor Uranus weights in. "Queen Beryl must be punished for what she has done to the Princess in both lifetimes. I'm sure you can agree with that." She looks over at Sailor Neptune. "We are telling you our plan so you can keep the Princess busy tomorrow until we return."
Sailor Mars exhales a deep breathe. She might not always like the Outers approach on how they handle things but they always have Usagi's best interest in mind. "Normally I wouldn't want to keep this from Usagi but she has been struggling so much lately." She looks over to Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter for confirmation.
Sailor Jupiter reluctantly nods her head.
"I never would have given them the coordinates unless I thought it was a good idea," Sailor Mercury looks at her teammates.
Sailor Venus shrugs her shoulders. She is going to go along with the group consensus.
Sailor Mars realizes the one issue with their plan. "Usagi is supposed to be with us tomorrow. That could cause a problem when you return." She pauses, reflecting on the conversation she will hear tomorrow. "She is finally ready to talk to us about what happened against Galaxia and what is bothering her."
Sailor Uranus' eyes narrow and she turns away. She can't look at the others; her eyes are on the ground. "We did what we thought was needed to stop Galaxia and protect the Princess."
"What are talking about?" Sailor Mars questions. She missed the discussion Taiki and Yaten had with the other girls during lunch earlier today.
"We know some of what happened…" Sailor Mercury tries to ease some of the tension in the air surrounding the Outer Senshi. "Taiki-san and Yaten-kun told us some of what happened earlier while Usagi-chan was talking to Seiya-kun at school."
Sailor Uranus whips around after hearing their names. When did they return to their school? Better yet why are they at the school? She stops and smirks slightly. She did the same. To keep an eye on the Mugen Academy they enrolled as students. The Starlights are keeping an eye on the girls while they are at school.
"They are back at school with you?" Sailor Neptune asks genuinely surprised.
"Yes," Sailor Jupiter answers. "It's probably better this way."
"I understand they are doing that to protect our Princess…" Sailor Uranus tries to put her thoughts into words. This entire situation has her uncomfortable. "As long as they return to where they came from when this is all over." She shares a quick glance with Sailor Neptune.
The teal haired senshi nods her head slightly agreeing with her partner. The mere presence of the Starlights seems to have Sailor Pluto uneasy. She is rarely anxious about anything.
"Haruka-san you're not being fair to them. They are here to help us," Sailor Jupiter interrupts Sailor Uranus before she can continue. "We know they are not our enemy and I don't see why we have to have this conversation again."
Sailor Neptune tries to lighten the mood. "Haruka still doesn't like popular men."
The girls blink a few times looking at Sailor Neptune trying to understand her comment. After a few moments, the girls begin laughing, recalling the night all of them were at Usagi's house.
"We know you are protective of Usagi-chan and we are grateful for that but our Princess trusts the Starlights completely and we should all do the same. Without them, this Earth would have perished." Sailor Mercury tries to smooth over any lingering resentment the Outer Senshi may still have regarding the Starlights origin.
Sailor Uranus realizes continuing on is futile. "Until they give me a reason not to trust them."
Sailor Neptune raises an eyebrow looking at Sailor Uranus. "I'm sure you will look for one but we must be going. We have a lot to discuss with Setsuna-san tonight."
Usagi doesn't want to leave Mamoru's apartment yet. Just being around him gives her a feeling of security. Some of the weight was lifted off her shoulders after sharing with him what happened. A part of her wishes she would have spoken to him sooner.
Mamoru is washing dishes after they ate the food that was delivered.
Usagi gets up from the couch and watches him. She offered to help him numerous times but each time he politely declined telling her to rest since she had a difficult day.
Mamoru finishes scrubbing the last dish and places it on the drying rack. He turns around and finds Usako staring at him. "Is something wrong?"
"I um… do you think I can stay a little longer?" Usagi asks shyly. "I just want to be able to spend a little more time together."
He sees the pleading look in her eyes. He sighs slightly. She's still a high school student. "Do you have an exam tomorrow?"
Usagi shakes her head no. "I don't have an exam tomorrow and this Saturday is a no school day. So I only have tomorrow left for this week." She can see Mamoru debate her request in his head.
He reluctantly agrees. "We can watch television for a little bit?" He wants to do something to take her mind off everything she has been thorough lately with the nightmares and make her feel more at ease.
They sit down on the couch and Usagi leans her head again his arm, letting out a content sigh.
Mamoru flips through the channels until he reaches the news. The picture on the screen is of the Sailor Senshi and it catches their attention. It's an older silhouette photo of the Sailor Moon and the Inner Senshi. It is one of the few pictures of the senshi in their fukus. A lot of people tried to take pictures of them over the years but they keep coming out blurry and distorted thanks to the magic associated with their transformation items.
A middle age newscaster is discussing a breaking story from earlier. "There was some kind of disturbance in Juuban earlier this evening. There were up to six sailor senshi sighted battling against some red creatures. The fight didn't last long as our city's protectors were successful defeating the enemy."
The screen changes to a picture of the Three Lights, and a female anchorwoman moves onto the next topic. "It's been confirmed the Three Lights have returned to Tokyo within the past few days. There is speculation as to whether they will resume their music career. There are also rumors they will be returning to their old school. Does this mean they will be here for a while?"
The broadcast shifts to a commercial break.
Usagi and Mamoru stare at the screen. There was an attack in Juuban this afternoon and no one told them.
Mamoru stands up and walks over to the phone. He dials the telephone number for the Outer Senshi's apartment.
After several rings, Haruka picks up. "Moshi moshi."
"Did something happen today in Juuban?" He doesn't even bother with pleasantries. He wants direct answers. If they were excluding them now on smaller matters, it is likely they will be left out of more in the future.
Haruka downplays the events as much as she can. "It was just a few youma. Nothing we couldn't handle on our own."
Mamoru inhales sharply. "Why didn't you let us know there was danger?"
"We didn't need to involve the Princess today. She doesn't need to fight every battle. It's better this way. Besides, I understand she had a lot to talk to you about." She pauses for a moment before she rushes the last part. "We'll be in touch tomorrow." She hangs up without giving Mamoru a chance to respond.
They are up to something Mamoru realizes as he stares at the phone in his hand. With a sigh of frustration he puts the phone back on the hook. The three of them can be very stubborn and Haruka said she will reach out tomorrow. He has no choice but to wait until then. He turns his focus back to Usako.
"Wasn't that a bit harsh?" Michiru eyes Haruka suspiciously.
"Mamoru-san should know by now we will do anything to keep the Princess safe. We were keeping her safe this afternoon and we still have a lot to finish discussing before we leave tomorrow." Haruka's expression becomes distant. "We can't risk him telling her anything about our plans."
Setsuna looks up from the map sprawled out on the kitchen table. "Based on the coordinates we need to go here." She points to a location on the map.
"I'm coming too," Hotaru states as she walks into the kitchen. "It's my duty as an Outer Senshi to do anything in my power to help protect the Princess."
The three older women want to protest but stop as they see the determination in Hotaru's eyes. The three nod their heads in agreement.
Usagi is finally opening up about the battle she faced against Sailor Galaxia. Is that all it will take in order for her nightmares to go away? Is it really that simple? Things have never been that simple for Usagi and things are about to get a lot worse.
What will the Outer Senshi find when they go to the North Pole on June 20th? Find out in Act 5: D Point