Tsukino Ikuko was having a normal night out with her husband; it had been normal until her husband saw Sailor Moon run by and wanted to follow her. Tsukino Ikuko knew it was a bad idea, but she relented. If only she knew the truth, she'd learn when she did. When she saw Sailor Moon fall to the ground, unmoving after her brooch had been snatched. Her form had changed, and it wasn't Sailor Moon she was looking at anymore…it was Usagi. She froze, paralyzed with fear, unsure of what to do. Oh god, Usagi! Her daughter….

Tsukino Ikuko had been filled with so many conflicting emotions when she fled the scene, scared to look back on the truth she just saw.

_

Haruka stared down at Usagi, who lay on the ground motionless. She wasn't breathing…her Princess wasn't breathing. Haruka's hands shook, and she was panicking. Slowly, she looked towards Michiru, who had walked up and was also staring at their Princess. Haruka reached down and scooped her Princess into her arms, holding her limp body bridal style, the feeling of her Princess unmoving in her arms, her chest not rising or falling because she wasn't breathing. Usagi was unmoving, not breathing; she was completely still. Haruka was in shock. She didn't know what to do. Why? Why did this happen? Her sweet Princess didn't deserve this.

Laughter, sinister laughter broke Haruka out of her trance. Haruka slowly turned to the source of the laughter, the woman who had once been the girl named Tomoe Hotaru. This wasn't Sailor Saturn; no, this was something else.

"It's mine. At last! It's mine! The "Silver Crystal" is mine! Master Pharaoh 90! I have awakened!"

"Usagi!" Someone called, and Haruka turned her attention to Hotaru's new form and saw that Mercury and the other Senshi had approached them. Haruka held her Princess's now cold body in her arms. She didn't want to let go and leave her Princess here. How could she let this happen? This was all their fault; they should never have told the truth about Sailor Saturn! If they hadn't, this wouldn't have happened! If only they hadn't…then she'd still be able to see Usagi's smile. This was all their fault! Carefully and gently, Haruka passed Usagi's cold, unconscious body into the arms of Mercury before fleeing, disappearing into the night with Michiru and Setsuna following close behind.

As Haruka went from building to building, she clenched her fists. She'd stop this no matter what; they'd save Usagi no matter what! Killing Hotaru was nothing if it meant saving Usagi.

_

The beeping noise of the heart monitor that was continuously getting slower made the guilt weigh down heavily on Ami's heart; she was afraid. Surely Usagi would be okay? Who was she kidding? Ami wasn't stupid, and her mother was a doctor. Usagi wasn't breathing, indicating that Usagi didn't have much time left. No, she couldn't think like that Usagi would be alright. Surely, she'd be okay. Then the doctor came back in, and Ami noted the grim expression on his face; his expression only made Ami more worried, and Ami's heart started to beat faster.

"I'm sorry your friend has gone into full cardiac arrest. She's dying." The doctor said, and Ami's heart leapt out of her chest. No, no, nononononono, it couldn't be Usagi couldn't die.

"Please, can you leave us?" Ami vaguely heard Minako say, and her ears were ringing. Ami watched the doctor leave before her gaze turned back to Usagi. Why had this happened? How had this happened? Was it Sailor Saturn who did this? Did Sailor Saturn bring her to this state where Usagi, her Princess and her very first friend, was left on death's door?

"The Death Busters are targeting human hosts. What they are doing is taking souls." A voice came, and Ami flinched before she quickly turned on her heel to see Haruka, Michiru, and the woman who was Pluto standing in the doorway. Ami was confused; what was Michiru saying?

"Once they have taken the soul, they convert the body into a vessel. The Death Busters then seek to utilize the vessels by gathering all of the human remnants to be used by their leader."

Ami listened to what Michiru was saying, and she thought she understood. So was the Hotaru they saw not Sailor Saturn after all? Then when why did Usagi…?

"So Hotaru…" Ami started to speak but didn't finish, but it seemed like the three Outer Senshi knew what she was asking because Pluto spoke,

"The Talismans haven't activated yet. So that wasn't Sailor Saturn who awakened."

So had the Death Busters vessalized Hotaru then? Is that what happened then? So why was Usagi like this?

"I hadn't considered this situation occurring. That the enemy would have already utilized Hotaru; she's no longer Hotaru; she's an enemy! When she stole the Silver Crystal from Usagi, she wasn't only taking it, she also took Usagi's soul." Haruka spoke, and Ami's lip quivered. Her soul? Usagi's soul was stolen? So what would happen to Usagi, and what would happen to Hotaru?

"What about Usagi and Hotaru?" Ami heard Makoto ask, and Ami's ears were still ringing.

Haruka sighed before she started to speak,

"The souls of the humans who undergo utilization still live on, but they do it through the 'vessel' they are implanted in. If the utilization is a success, they will soon turn into Daimons. Once that happens, nothing can be done, and nothing can save them.

Ami's head reeled, so the Witches 5 those Daimons they had fought had once been human? There is no way to save them? So, there is no way to save Hotaru? Ami knew how upset that would make Usagi if she were awake to hear it.

"It seems the enemy has already claimed Hotaru. She'll suffer and be destroyed by them soon enough. However, we can kill her and give her a quick and painless death."

Quick and painless death? Usagi wouldn't want that. Usagi wouldn't want Hotaru to be killed.

"You can't do that! That's not what Usagi would want!" Ami shouted; all the while, her ears continued to ring.

It seems she hit a nerve because Haruka glared at her coldly.

"She has taken both the Silver Crystal and Usagi's soul. What else do you want us to do? If you want to save Usagi, you have to fight back! If we don't, Usagi will die, and we'll be killed as well! Even if Sailor Saturn doesn't awaken at this rate, we'll all be destroyed anyway! It's kill or killed; you need to choose." Haruka's voice was cold and hard.

"We're going to stop them, even if we must kill Hotaru. Not just for Usagi's sake but everyone's." Michiru spoke, and with those words, the three Outer Senshi left the room.

That's right, Ami. She needed to make a choice. They needed to fight, but what about Usagi? Who could make sure Usagi stayed alive?

"If you or the other Senshi need help, just call."

Ami remembered those words, and she knew who to call for help.

"Let's go to my apartment." Ami heard Makoto say, and Ami agreed.

_

Mistress 9 stood in her vessel bedroom, where shattered glass was scattered across the floor. She ripped some of the dark purple hair out of her head, and much to her dismay, it just grew back in seconds. Mistress 9 scoffed,

"This vessel is limited an inconvenient. Annoying, are all human bodies this way? Like when I cut this hair, it just grows back in seconds." Mistress 9 disliked this vessel. It was a waste in her mind. Luckily for her, she probably wouldn't need to deal with it for much longer as it was nearly time for the Master's vesselization of the planet.

"Mistress 9!" Two voices called, and Mistress 9 turned to see a man and a woman, both wearing white, run into the room and kneel before her. They must be fellow vesselized humans, she supposed.

"Mistress 9, we have been eagerly waiting for your awakening! It was long ago when I implanted your egg into my daughter Hotaru's body, but it never seemed to fuse for the longest time. We were worried you'd never awaken." The man in white, who wore gaudy glasses, spoke.

Oh…is that so…

A voice echoed in Mistress 9's head. What was that? Had she been hearing things? She could have sworn she heard something. Mistress 9 quickly shook her head; she must have been hearing things. Then she turned her head towards the woman and smiled.

"I have been watching you for a while, Kaolinite. You have put much effort into your mission, but I am the Master's partner from the old world. From now on, your duties that you previously had will go to me."

Mistress 9 watched Kaolinite bite her lip, and she knew from that alone that these orders annoyed Kaolinite, but at least she seemed smart enough to speak out about it.

"The mission you have been entrusted must be completed! You must eliminate these outsiders! I will not tolerate any failure!"

_

Mistress 9 stared at the glowing eyes in the pitch-black darkness with a cruel smile. Ah, to be in the presence of the Master again!

Mistress 9 opened the brooch that contained the Silver Crystal and let the power flow out of it,

"Master Pharaoh 90!" Mistress 9 called out pure adoration in her voice. It was wonderful to be in the Master's presence again and to be able to offer him such a mighty power.

Mistress 9! You have only just awakened and are already bringing me such power! What is this power? Is it from the body of a host?

Mistress 9 laughed,

"No, Master Pharaoh 90, this is the power of the Silver Crystal, and the guardians of this planet held it. I have obtained it for you!"

It was strange, though the light of Silver Crystal was similar to the Taioron Crystal from their home nebula, just far stronger. There was also something else inside it, something hidden away. Something that Mistress 9 could not identify.

But, of course, it does, as it was protected by a girl with such a pure and beautiful soul.

There! It was that voice again? Who was that?

"Who's there?" Mistress 9 called out into the dark halls. Only to get no response. Who was that? Who did that voice belong to? It must be the because of her spirit, but she had no to fear. Even if it wanted to take the power of the Silver Crystal from her, she had nothing to fear because she held the Silver Crystal.

_

The principal's official of Mugen Academy was dark and eerie, and in the middle was a white table; in front of the table was Kaolinite, a cruel and vicious smile on her face. In her hand, Kaolinite held a melting candle. She laughed,

"I shall revive the Witches 5 and place a curse on them, the Sailor Senshi, a curse that shall never be broken!"

_

Haruka cut through the vines surrounding the building of Mugen Academy for what seemed like the billionth time. No matter how many times she cut them, they kept growing back. Haruka had a bad feeling, but they desperately needed to get there to save the world…to save Usagi!"

"Uranus! Pluto!" Haruka heard Michiru call, and she saw Michiru staring into her mirror. Haruka looked into the mirror and saw its vision, and her eyes widened. There, the Inner Guardians were trapped in what looked like a wax pillar. They needed to get inside now!

"Space Sword Blaster!"

"Chronos Typhoon!" Both Haruka and Setsuna called, and luckily for them, their attacks broke through the vines and glass doors of Mugen's entrance.

Running inside, Haruka also saw those Daimons, the Witches 5, standing there, and she was confused for a moment because these monsters were supposed to be dead. Whatever! She didn't have time for this! She had to hurry, or Usagi would be…Usagi would be…

"Space Sword Blaster!" Haruka called, holding out her Talisman her sword, and letting the charged attack fly at the Witches 5. They were dead in an instant. The wax pillar collapsed, and Haruka watched the Inner Senshi fall to the floor, and slowly, although quicker than Haruka expected, they got up. She really didn't have time to see if they were okay, though, because she needed to stop this! To the principal's office, that's where she felt a high concentration of energy! Haruka ran in the direction of her destination; she had to hurry for Usagi's sake.

Kaolinite only laughed when the seven Sailor Senshi burst into the principal's office. So what if they had broken her curse? Coming here would be their end. They had just willingly walked into their doom! How fortunate for Kaolinite! Kaolinite continued to laugh as she bid goodbye to this pitiful human vessel. The human body was torn to shreds in seconds as her true form was revealed. A truly monstrous form that was huge and terrifying that any human being would be petrified at the sight. There was no way the Sailor Senshi could beat this!

"Submarine Reflection!"

"Space Sword Blaster!"

"Venus Wink Chain Sword!"

Three Senshi unleashed their attacks, and as a charged orb of energy, violent waves, and a chain and sword came rushing, her Kaolinite was confident she could take these puny attacks. But that, in fact, was not the case. As the attacks collided with her and her body was about to implode, it dawned on Kaolinite that she was too weak, but she could do nothing about it because as her body imploded, Kaolinite was dead.

Mistress 9 screamed in rage, darn those Sailor Senshi! Killing Kaolinite so easily, and curse Kaolinite for failing so quickly! Mistress 9 stopped and breathed; no, it was fine. This was fine. She was fine. Everything was fine as long as she had the Silver Crystal. A cruel, twisted smile grew on Mistress 9's face; it was fine she would just take more energy from the Silver Crystal.

Mistress 9's smile grew as the Silver Crystal's energy filled up inside her—such powerful, delicious energy. Mistress 9 licked her lips; such delicious indeed.

Mistress 9 could hear Master Pharaoh 90's laughter,

With this power, we shall surely make this planet our second homeworld!

Mamoru clasped the hand of his ex-lover, who was cold. No, Serenity couldn't die like this! He'd keep her alive! Serenity was strong and had many people who loved her and people she loved, and Serenity needed to survive so she could see them again. He'd keep Serenity alive because that was all Mercury had asked of him. He would keep Serenity alive because even if she didn't love him anymore, he still loved her with all his heart. It hurt that Serenity no longer loved him, but it didn't matter as long as she was happy. So even if it took his life, Mamoru swore he'd keep Serenity alive.

Mamoru stopped and paused and looked down at Serenity hopefully, but to his dismay, she was still cold and unbreathing; however, he could have sworn that for just a moment, he felt a pulse.

Mistress 9 screamed again, but this time in pain. She didn't know what this pain was; it was almost like something inside her was rejecting the Silver Crystal. Mistress was hunched over, clutching her chest, and that's when she heard it.

No! I won't let you! The power of the Silver Crystal can't be allowed to be used for Extermination!

There it was! That damm voice again! Mistress 9 continued to scream,

"My forehead is splitting!"

Something inside me is trying to control me! Something inside her was forming to escape. What was it? Who would dare do this to her? If she could, she'd abandon this vessel right now, but she couldn't; she had to hold on for Master Pharaoh 90's sake! She was going to rule this world alongside the master. She wouldn't let something like this stop her! Inside her head, she heard it again, that voice.

I won't let you!

It was dark; Usagi didn't know where she was. All she knew was she was in this pitch-black darkness, and she was scared. She was afraid to look behind her because she knew something was there, something that was after her. She was all alone. She didn't like this being all alone; she wanted the comfort of somebody. Like the comfort that Michiru and Haruka always gave her, but she didn't have that because she was all alone. Usagi was afraid and terrified; she wanted to cry until someone came to comfort her. Like that one time, Michiru had comforted her on a bench in Tokyo. She didn't know why she was here; she didn't know why she was all alone. What had happened? Where did everyone go? What about Sailor Saturn or Hotaru? Why wasn't anyone coming for her?

Usagi!

Usagi turned; she had heard someone call her name. Who was there? Had someone come for her after all? Light, a blinding light, is what she saw? Usagi squinted, trying to make out the source of the light. That's when she recognized it; she knew that light, that warmth. It was the Silver Crystal. Usagi sighed in relief, so that's where it was. The Silver Crystal floated into her hands, and Usagi held it close. Usagi had gotten so used to protecting the Silver Crystal she didn't know what she would do without it. Usagi let her eyes close as she held the Silver Crystal close to her; she felt so warm.

That's right. The Silver Crystal is part of you; it has synced itself with your heart and mind. That's why you shouldn't be separated from it or tell others about it, as it is what protects your heart.

That voice was so familiar to Usagi it sounded like Hotaru, but Usagi wasn't sure who it was. All Usagi knew was that she felt so warm and safe. This warmth reminded her of the people she fell in love with; It reminded her of Haruka and Michiru. It made her wonder if this is what it would feel like to be kissed by them. Usagi wondered if they were all alright. Usagi hoped she'd see them again soon.

It's alright. I will protect you. I won't let them take your beautiful, pure soul or your 'Silver Crystal.' I will save you, Usagi.