Chapter 7

In a flash of flame energy, he appeared in the middle of the moon kingdom. Katsuro and the sailor Senshi were still watching the events unfolding. Guards began to run up to Katsuro's past self. "I need to speak with Queen Serenity! Please, its important!" He exclaimed as they blocked his way.

"You are an outsider from Earth! You break sacred law by being here, and especially being here unannounced. Go back now, or would you rather us take you in?" One guard sternly spoke.

"I'd like to see you even try to take me in…": He threatened back to the guard as they began to surround him. "Have it your way…" As they rushed in to take him, he began to strike them down, dodging blades and weapons. "I'm trying to help and warn the queen! Please, let me through!" He exclaimed, continuing to struggle against guards. "Fine, I guess I'll have to actually use force…" His fist blazed up with flames and energy. He then punched the ground, sending a shockwave that blew back the guards surrounding him as they slammed onto the ground. "Sorry again!" He then began running towards the palace.

"Queen Serenity! It seems there's an outsider from Earth trying to make his way to see you. We're trying to stop him but he's made it through the first wave of our soldiers!" One guard kneeled before her with his head bowed in respect to update her. "What should we do?" The guard asked as the elegant silver haired woman looked over to a mirror that revealed the events unfolding.

"That boy, that's the knight chosen by Suzaku is it not? The one that Princess Mars is courting is it not?" She questioned as she walked towards the image, gently touching the mirror.

"I believe so. He just showed up here and expected to be allowed to see you. He said something about trying to help and warn us. Its most likely a ploy or trick from an Earthling to get close and endanger you. They stop at nothing to make attempts on Silver Millenium." He scoffed

"A stranger, no, not even a stranger, a trusted ally risks breaking law and code to come give us a warning and the first thing he is greeted with is violence? This honestly brings me great sadness that we would treat any outsiders with such malice. I want guards to stop pursuing him immediately. Let him in here." She spoke.

"But Queen Serenity…yes your highness. I will tell them to stand down and show him in." He then stood to go towards the fighting taking place.

"Is all this real? A kingdom on the moon? And my past self actually came here? Your all princesses too?!" Katsuro asked as he and the others continued watching.

"Yes…that is my mother in a past life." Usagi quietly stated. It always left her in complete awe seeing the queen, her past biological mother. She was so beautiful and always so gentle and kind and understanding of people. She was everything Usagi strived to be.

"I can't believe your past self risked everything like this just coming to the moon kingdom. I see where you get your stubbornness from." Minako joked.

They caught a glimpse of Princess Serenity and Mars hiding to eavesdrop. They must have caught wind of what was going on and came to see what the commotion was about.

"Its so strange though, that we don't have any memory of these events…" Rei spoke quietly with confusion.

"Lay down your arms! Let him through!" The guard called out to the others as they gazed over dumbfounded. Why would there just suddenly be a change to let an outsider to the Queen? "B-But sir! He's attacked so many of us and broken laws. We can't just allow him to-"

"The queen has ordered us to stand down and allow him to come seek council with her! Now!" He demanded as they lowered their weapons and backed away from the phoenix knight.

"Thank you." He nodded before running to the throne room. Once there, he stopped to kneel. "Queen Serenity. I'm sorry for all the commotion I've caused. But this is very important, there's something I-"

"You break sacred law and set foot here without invitation. You also break codes and rules laid down by your own gods, jumping chain of command to come here on your own accord without even running it by your own superiors. You risk your own life even fighting our guards to try and make it into my throne room. Do you know how much trouble you would be in?" Her tone was quite stern and authoritative as she stared down at him.

"I'm sorry…I know what I've done is wrong. I'm willing to accept any punishment, but please, I-"

"Let me finish." She held her hand up to quiet him. "You do all of this, knowing the consequences, yet you still press on to give us some warning; to help us? Honestly, I am moved. You don't realize how happy this makes me, this shows me that there is indeed hope for peace between Silver Millenium and Earth." Her gentle smile returned to her face. "You show exemplary and noble qualities of a true knight. Suzaku chose well; as did Princess Mars it seems." She stated, knowing they were being watched by her daughter and Mars.

"Thank you…" The crimson haired knight blushed, his sapphire eyes looking up to her. "Yes, I believe something terrible is going to happen. I've tried to talk to my comrades, but I don't think they believe me. It's either that or they believe in waiting till we can all gather to discuss it. However, what I just witnessed, I fear its more serious and calls for sooner action." He began to explain to her.

"Oh? I see, if something has you so worried about it, then it must be a serious matter. Then what is it that troubles you so?" She asked.

"It's Zeo, your majesty, our leader. Since gaining our powers, he's always poked around and spoke of having more power and authority, even over the gods. That we should be the ones to lead and not be following them as a higher power. He believes in his own form of absolute justice. Just now, I spoke with him and there was darkness about him. It was something that ran so much deeper than what filled him before. He went on speaking about controlling Silver Millenium and being able to rule himself. He spoke of another presence that 'she' said I and others would react negatively to his ideals. I think there's a darker power at work controlling him…

"Metalia…" She whispered with a gasp. "I see, yes, this is most certainly a pressing matter. I know well of her evil. She wants the silver crystal for herself to reign supreme with her darkness. "It does seem that your comrade has been further tainted by her. You were right in your decision to come here.

"METALIA?!" Usagi exclaimed gasping with her hands over her mouth as they watched. "No, no, no, no no no." She squatted to the ground, her hands on her face with shock. Her eyes began to tear up. It still caused her great traumatic stress to even hear that name and remember what her hand her friends went through.

"That can't be!" Makoto's eyes widened with fear.

"She's involved in all of this too?! Katsuro! Do you know who that is?! She almost consumed the world years ago when we first awakened! Sh-She killed us." Rei turned to him, her violet eyes tearing up as well. "She's involved in all of this?!" She grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.

"I-I don't know who that is! I don't know anything! I'm so sorry!" He began to apologize, with confusion and even fear seeing how they were all reacting. Just what has he gotten into? Was he the cause of some greater evil coming back?

"Rei, please let him go. He doesn't know anything. He's just as lost and confused as we are, lets continue to watch, maybe we can learn more?" Ami pleaded, being as calm and collective as she could. She had to, for everyone's sake, there had to be one of them at least to keep herself together.

Usagi stood back up, her eyes closed as she took in a deep breath, trying to calm herself down for her friends. "Rei, Ami's right. Katsuro doesn't know anything. Right now it seems he's as much a victim as ourselves." She gently placed her hand on Rei's shoulder. "Let's just trust in him right now and see what we can learn from this vision alright?" She questioned with her gentle and loving smile.

"Usagi, I…Katsuro, I'm sorry…I got carried away. Its just-"

"No, I understand Rei. This Metalia, she must have put you all through something terrible. You say she killed all of you once? I get it then. That's definitely something you'd never fully recover from." He gently grasped her hands together from his collar, holding them gently in his. "I'm just as in the dark as all of you on this. Usagi is right, lets see what we can learn from this." He state as Rei nodded slowly, her eyes glancing away. Once he let her hands go, they all turned to continue to witness everything.

"Metalia? I see, yes whoever this is, she seems to have a strong hold or control over Zeo. I'd say she turned him to her side, but I'm afraid there was already a darkness there." His body tensed, his blue eyes glanced down to the floor in shame. To think, one of them, knights chosen to protect peace on Earth desired power so much they'd sell their soul and heart to darkness to become stronger. "I'm so disgusted. He can't even rely on his own strength or power. He would rather turn on his fellow man and take from such an evil. I should have seen it sooner. I should have acted sooner. I could have stopped it…"

"Warrior of Suzaku, please, do not blame yourself. Metalia has a way of corrupting minds to get her way. This is not your fault." She gently spoke to him.

"It may not be my fault, but I can do something about it." He stood up slowly. "I wanted to make sure you knew what was going on in case I fall, or we fall so you and your kingdom could make preparations. Zeo is one of us. I shall take it upon myself to handle this." He gripped a tight fist.

Princess Serenity and Mars watched from the shadows, Mars tried to walk out to him but was held back by Princess Serenity as she shook her head, no, to keep her back so they could watch.

"So, you intend on taking on this evil by yourself?" the Queen quirked an eyebrow.

"If I have to, yes. If the others don't listen to me. I'll do what it takes to keep everyone safe here…to keep Mars safe…" He trailed off.

"Mars? I see, so you do carry feelings fer her as well?" She questioned.

"Yes. I would do anything to keep her happy. To keep her safe. I'm going to go put an end to this before it goes too far and-"Just then his armor became transparent for a second. "What was that?" He asked, looking over his body as it yet again began to seem to fade in and out. "Something's wrong…"

"Are you alright…?" The Queen asked, taking a slight step in his direction.

"I-I don't know. Something feels…wrong. I feel…weak." His armor became transparent again as he fell to one knee. He gripped his fists, and in a flash, his armor disappeared from his body. "My powers?! They're…gone….?" His eyes went wide with fear. Something had happened on Earth. Something has happened to Suzaku.

Queen Serenity stood up slowly, her eyes widened. "Something horrible has become of the gods?" She questioned, her hand covering her mouth as she witnessed his powers slowly fade a way.

"If something has happened to them then…my comrades…no." He was shook to his very core with fear and worry. "It's Zeo, he's made his move…I have to go now. I have to do something now." However, without his powers, he could no longer teleport or transport himself back to Earth. "Queen Serenity, please, I need you to send me there now. Before it's to late, I have to do what I can to save them." He pleaded.

"You would rush into danger, with no powers at all to protect your friends? To fight with this evil? You know you may not come out alive, correct?" She asked.

"If I don't go, then his next move will be to attack here. And I can't let you or your people be placed in any danger. So yes, send me now. I'll deal with whatever may come my way." He stood determined and ready.

"NO! Don't!" Princess Mars exclaimed from the shadows, rushing out to him. Princess Serenity tried to grasp her hand to stop her, but fell short of being able to reach out to her. "You can't go like this! You'll die! I can't lose you!" She embraced him tightly, pleading with him. She gazed up into his eyes, her violet eyes filled with tears. "It's too dangerous. Please, stay here."

"Mars, I can't. I have to go. The others may still be alive and in danger. I know I don't have power, but there still has to be something I can do. I have to try. He's going to come for all of you next, and I can't let you be placed in danger." He tried to explain to her.

Queen Serenity stood quietly, watching the two, then glanced to her daughter who watched with worry as well. "Mars does have a point. If you go, there is a very large possibility you won't make it back. The odds are quite stacked against you as it is. You have no way of fighting back in your current state." She explained.

"I have to try though. I…I wont sit back and let him do whatever he wants. I can't let them just face that terror alone!" Mars gasped then" slowly looked away. She knew he was right. Hell, if it were the other guardians or princesses, she would do the same thing and be determined.

"There's no way I can talk you out of it is there…?" Her voice now solemn and quiet, she stepped back with her eyes glancing to the ground.

"I'm sorry, but no. I have to go help them, but also make sure you are safe." He grasped her hands together in his. "Because, I lo-"

She cut him off mid sentence, kissing deep into his lips and embracing him tightly. As they kissed, her body began to glow red. The light began to slowly moved through her kiss and into him. His eyes widened then slowly closed, returning the kiss. His body began to glow red as well. She broke the kiss and gazed into his eyes, placing her finger to his lips. "Don't say that, please. You can tell me that only if you come back, alive." She stated.

"What was that? What did you just do?" He asked quietly, still in awe from their kiss.

"If I can't stop you, then I will not let you go into danger unarmed. I've given you just a small bit of power. It's not a lot, but it should help you." She explained.

"Mars…I don't know what to say,"
"Just please come back to me. Then you can tell me those words. Alright?" She looked lovingly into his eyes.

He knew there was an unlikely chance of making it out alive, but he would set her mind at ease for now. "I will. Don't worry about me." With her hands in his, he stroked them gently with his thumbs.

"Ka..tsu…ro…?" She asked, looking to him as they continued to watch the past.

"I don't remember any of this either…I don't remember those feelings or anything." Katsuro explained as the group looked to the two then back to the memory. "Suzaku, why do we not have any of our memories from this? They at least should remember since their pasts have completely been unlocked for them?" He questioned.

"All will be revealed soon." Was all the voice from the jewel spoke.

"So then you still wish to return to Earth to face whatever may come?" Queen Serenity asked.

He glanced to Mars as she nodded to him. He nodded back then looked to the queen. "Yes. I'm ready to return." He slowly released Princess Mars's hands as she moved to stand next to him. "Let's do this."

"Please, my brave knight. Be careful. And may my power protect you." Princess Mars placed her hand gently to his cheek, kissing him once more.

"Ok Zordon." Katsuro tried joking as Rei jabbed him in the side.

"Shut it. Watch." She glared at him.

"Very well, I shall teleport you down to where Zeo is. Good luck, and be careful." Queen Serenity grasped a scepter, pointing it to him as a bright white pillar of light came down upon him, within seconds, he was gone.

They now watched back on Earth as the pillar of white light brought him back. He stood tall and strong, full of determination. He didn't know what he would be arriving to, but he was ready to face whatever may come.