The twins stared sadly at the woman cased in silver. "Someone's in there." Artemis realised.
"We're home." Chibi-Usa whispered.
"Chibi-Usa, who are they?" Sailor Moon asked.
"This is Mummy, Neo-Queen Serenity."
"And that one's Mamma, Neo-Queen Gaia." Chibi-Kumi said, her eyes drifting to the gold structure.
"Kittens!" Topaz gasped. I looked down to see two kittens. One was a pale grey, with pink eyes and a crescent moon on it's forehead. The other, brown with orange patches of fur with one turquoise eye and one violet.
"Diana!" Chibi-Usa cheered.
"Amber!" Chibi-Kumi cried. "You're ok!" The kittens turned and meowed happily as a figure emerged from behind a curtain. This woman was tall, with blue eyes and black hair that seemed to go silver at the tips. She wore a Sailor Guardian outfit, but it was far more pristine than Venus', Sailor Moon's or my own. Her skirt was silver, which matched the one that tied her hair up and the cape that rested on her shoulders. Her ribbons were white, and they matched the main body of her suit. She wore silver heels like mine, that crossed over the foot and ankle to secure them. The cuffs of her elbow-length gloves were white as well. She held a long, pale grey staff that looked eerily similar to mine, with a golden heart topped with a little crown. However, hers had little wings sprouting from it's sides.
"Sailor...Earth?" Sailor Moon trailed off.
"Mamma!" The twins raced towards the pale figure. So...this was The Queen.
"Mamma?"
"Wait...what?" I muttered, glancing back at the gold structure. Chibi-Usa and Chibi-Kumi got close to The Queen, but instead of crashing into her legs as I suspected, they ran right through them.
"They went right through her." Venus gasped.
"Mamma?" Chibi-Kumi wondered, looking up at her with tear-filled eyes. "Why can't we hug you?" I could see a flash of pain cross The Queen's face. However, she formed a kind smile, turned to her daughters and knelt down.
"I'm glad you got home safe." The Queen whispered. She reached out and a ghostly hand caressed their cheeks. "But girls, travelling through Time was dangerous, you shouldn't have gone by yourselves, but...it was the right choice. I'm so proud of you two."
"Mamma…" Chibi-Usa muttered. The woman stood, her back straight and gripping her staff tight.
"Greetings, I welcome you to the Crystal Palace, and Thirtieth Century Crystal Tokyo." The Queen bowed respectfully. "I do apologise for your encounter when you arrived." The Queen said, straightening again. "I didn't realise that you'd be thrust into a battle the second you arrived. This future...it's not what I wanted anyone to see." I looked to the crystal wall, and noticed that the Queen had no reflection. "As you could have deciphered by now, at this stage, I am not a being of flesh and blood." The Queen explained. "As you can see…" The Queen looked over to the Golden Crystalline structure, "My physical body is incapacitated at the moment." The Queen turned back to us. "This form is something I created, sort of an astral projection, my spirit and my body split from one another."
"How are you able to project yourself and your wife can't?" Venus asked. The Queen gripped her staff.
"I am linked to the Earth itself. Due to my power, I willed the Earth to create this form so I could watch over my children. However, as My Wife is linked closer to the Moon, she was unable to do this herself."
"Who are you?" Tuxedo Mask questioned. The Queen smiled softly.
"I thought that you would at least recognise me, my own little brother." She laughed lightly. "I am Neo-Queen Gia."
"Neo-Queen Gia!" I gasped.
"You're a lot more surprised than I expected. But, yes, I am your future self Sailor Earth." Neo-Queen Gia turned to the two girls standing beside her. "Now, Usagi, Kumiko, have you properly introduced yourselves?" Chibi-Usa and Chibi-Kumi looked down, "I thought as much." Neo-Queen Gia didn't seem to be at all angry with the two, smiling down at them fondly. "Now is your chance to make a proper introduction. Come now, just as your Mother and I taught you too." Chibi-Usa and Chibi-Kumi looked at each other before clearing their throats and turning to us.
"Honoured guests, welcome to our esteemed kingdom." The sisters chorused.
"I am Usagi 'Small Lady' Serenity." Chibi-Usa said.
"And I am Kumiko 'Small Lady' Gia." Chibi-Kumi continued.
"We are the Daughters of Neo-Queen Serenity and Neo-Queen Gia." The two continued. "We are Crown Princess and heirs to Silver Millennium and Golden Elysium. It is our pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"Ok…" Sailor Moon trailed off.
"That was very good girls, that was a very mature and respectful greeting." Neo-Queen Gia complimented. "I have every faith in you that one day, you will be as refined and elegant as your mother."
"Wait a second…" I muttered as the situation dawned on me. "No, don't tell me-"
"Usagi." The grey kitten interrupted, padding forward. "Kumiko."
"The Queen was worried about you." Another kitten, the one with a pale orange coat, added as she stepped up next to the grey one.
"She watched over you the whole time you were in the past."
"Diana, really?" Chibi-Usa asked as she and Chibi-Kumi picked up the felines.
"You mean it, Amber?" Chibi-Kumi echoed.
"I do apologise for the way that the Small Ladies were acting." Neo-Queen Gaia apologised. "They are the only children in the castle, so my daughters have been quite spoiled."
"I thought as much." I sighed.
"Did you say our daughter?" Sailor Moon clarified.
"Sailor Moon, Sailor Earth, these are your future daughters." Neo-Queen Gaia revealed.
"Chi-Chibi-Usa and Chibi-Kumi are my future daughters?!" Sailor Moon exclaimed. "Kumi and I are their mothers?! I-can't...I don't even...Huh!?" Sailor Moon slapped her hands on her cheeks to try and stop blushing. A deep blush spread across my cheeks as well.
"How is that even genetically possible?" I wondered. Sailor Moon and I looked at each other before looking away.
"That means…" Venus gasped. "The other Neo-Queen of the future...is…"
"Yes." Neo-Queen Gia said, gripping her staff even tighter. "My wife..." She looked directly at Sailor Moon. "Sailor Moon, Neo-Queen Serenity is your future self."
"Queen…" Sailor Moon trailed off, the two of us gazing at the large Crystalline structures behind Neo-Queen Gia "Me…? So...that is who I'll become in the thirtieth century…?"
"The Legendary Silver Crystal and the Legendary Gold Crystal seem to have expanded around the Queen's bodies." Topaz commented.
"But that only happens when they're in grave danger." Luna stated. "Neo-Queen Gaia, what occurred to make the Crystals do this?"
"I…" Neo-Queen Gaia closed her eyes, grimacing for a second before opening her eyes again. "Serenity and I...we don't go out together as often as we would like, but...but something that day made us leave the Palace. We were...flustered...panicking, but the reason escapes me. But I remember a large explosion. It decimated the Earth, but...our Palace was the only building left standing. We were attacked and...I remember the Golden Crystal expanding around me as the Silver Crystal grew around Serenity. The next thing I remember was the need to see if my daughters were ok, and I was granted this form. I watched, helpless as Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Venus and my brother, Prince Endymion, took the full force of the attack." Neo-Queen Gaia blinked tears from her eyes. "My daughters, along with Diana and Amber were lucky enough to have survived the blast, I know not how, and I don't care for the reason as long as they're safe. Since they were little, I loved telling Usagi and Kumiko stories of my past, about our lives as Sailor Guardians. They have both heard how invincible Sailor Moon was, and tales of her heroism and triumphs countless times. I am not surprised that their first instinct was to bring you here from the Past after the disaster occurred. As much as Diana and Amber wanted to be by my daughters' sides, they could not fathom the idea of being separated from their parents, so they decided to stay behind." Diana and Amber jumped out of their owner's arms and onto the floor by their feet.
"So nice to meet you all." The two kittens synchronised.
"My name Diana. I'm the daughter of Luna and Artemis." The grey cat introduced.
"And my name is Amber. I'm the daughter of Topaz and Malachite." The orange cat echoed.
"What?" Sailor Moon, Tuxedo Mask, Venus and myself gasped. The four in question, on the other hand, had large blushes covering their faces.
"Y-Your our daughters?!" Luna and Topaz asked hysterically.
"Yes!" The two kittens said simply.
"Neo-Queen, Gaia, back up a minute." Tuxedo Mask said. "If it's been over nine centuries, why haven't you aged? You don't appear to be much older than Sailor Earth is now."
"The Royal Family's lifespan, on average, is one thousand years." Neo-Queen Gaia stated.
"A thousand years?" Sailor Moon gasped.
"From my understanding, members of the Silver Millennium family grow and mature as regular humans, that is, until they reach adulthood. When Serenity was twenty-two, and I twenty-five, we ascended to our respective thrones and married. Shortly thereafter, Serenity gave birth to our daughters, and since then, neither of us have aged a day. It's the powers of the Legendary Crystals that allow us to live extended lives and granted us eternal youth. Using some of the Legendary Golden Crystal's powers, I bestowed the same life onto my brother. As selfish as it sounds, I didn't want to live without him. And it wasn't just us who were blessed by the Legendary Crystals. Once we began our reign, the citizens of Crystal Tokyo gained long lifespans as well, and now, everyone on Earth lives long, healthy lives well into their tenth-century without becoming old or frail. Earth soon entered an age of great prosperity, one which we believed would last eternity, but we were gravely mistaken. The black Monolith you see outside appeared seconds after the explosion. It's been sucking in any energy it can find, and soon space itself began to warp around it. And what's worse, the people who managed to survive the blast, they started to disappear...I could feel their lifeforce slipping away...and now no one is left. With the rate things are going, I think my home is facing total destruction."
"Is there no hope?" Sailor Moon asked.
"The only thing that could even be remotely close to saving the Earth are the Legendary Crystals. Unfortunately, because Serenity and I are incapacitated, we can't use them and there's no waking us. There are no more options."
"Neo-Queen Gaia, I'm sure the Black Moon is behind the catastrophe." Venus stated. "Do you know who they really are?" Neo-Queen Gaia nodded.
"All of you, follow me." Neo-Queen Gaia ordered. The transparent woman turned and started to lead our group through the halls of the Crystal Palace. She navigated the halls with ease and brought us to a large room with multiple screens. Neo-Queen Gaia waved the end of her staff over a panel, and the screen in front of us flickered. It sped through a rapid succession of planets before settling on one. A black and red planet that seemed to emanate Evil.
"What's that?" Sailor Moon asked.
"This is the planet Nemesis."
"Nemesis…" Sailor Moon trailed off.
"This planet hides in our very own Solar System. Due to it's nature, it went undetected for many years. A couple centuries ago, a human committed the most horrid acts on his fellow man, and the Earth, was banished to this planet as opposed to facing execution. The entire planet was quarantined and left alone for decades. The planet soon became forbidden. A team of our trusted scientists noticed an outpour of negative energy emitting from Nemesis. They wished to study this new energy, but they were not able to. The Black Moon somehow managed to hijack the planet. The Black Moon are a group of anarchists who, after learning of our past, rejected the blessings the Legendary Crystals bestowed upon us. They refused to live peacefully on Earth. They are guilty of unthinkable crimes, terrorism, treason, mass murder. After gaining control over the Dark Planet, they abandoned Earth and formed a new base of operations on Nemesis. After that, they began their full-scale assault on the Earth. I fear their plans are to overthrow us, steal the Legendary Crystals and lay claim to Earth." Neo-Queen Gaia waved her staff over the panel again, and the large black crystal outside the palace appeared in place of the planet.
"The black monolith…" Tuxedo Mask realised.
"The one that destroyed Crystal Tokyo?" Venus clarified. Neo-Queen Gaia nodded.
"Wait a second…" Topaz muttered. "That massive thing might be a huge chunk of Malefic Black Crystal." Neo-Queen Gaia's eyes widened as she gazed down at the past version of her feline companion.
"You're familiar with the stone?" She questioned.
"Members of the Black Moon use that substance as an energy source to power their attacks." Luna explained. "Even small fragments are very dangerous."
"So that's it…" Neo-Queen Gaia realised. "The Black Moon don't just want to conquer Earth and change the future, they want to go back in time to use this thing to change the past, re-writing history itself."
"Are you sure?" Tuxedo Mask demanded. From the corner of my eye, Sailor Moon started to sway.
"Usako?" I muttered, reaching out and holding her arm up to keep her stable. "Are you ok?"
"I'm alright." Sailor Moon said. "I just felt a little dizzy all of a sudden, that's all."
"Usagi's turning invisible!" Luna exclaimed. I looked down at Sailor Moon's legs, and saw that they were disappearing.
"My hands too! What's going on?"
"Kumiko!" Tuxedo Mask gasped, putting his hand on my shoulder. "Your arms!" I looked at my own arms and was alarmed to see that they too had started to fade away.
"Quick! You both must return to the past at once!" Neo-Queen Gaia ordered. "Otherwise you'll disappear forever! Or you could cause a major disruption in the Space-Time Continuum. You both being in such close proximity with your future selves is creating a paradox that could very well tear the very fabric of time."
"That's terrible." Sailor Moon stated.
"I am so sorry, I shouldn't have allowed you to stay here for as long as you have."
"Don't apologise, you gave us valuable information we've been needing."
"We're in your debt." I said.
"Now, hopefully, we might be able to save Mars, Mercury and Jupiter."
"They're prisoners of the Black Moon, as such, they're likely being held on Nemesis." Neo-Queen Gaia informed.
"You really think so?" Neo-Queen Gaia nodded.
"I can assist in their rescue, if you'll allow me to, in return for your help. But that can wait, now you must leave the Thirtieth Century."
"Thank you." Venus said. "We'll be back very soon." Neo-Queen Gaia put her holographic sceptre on the floor and placed a transparent hand on each of her daughter's heads.
"Usagi, Kumiko, I am so sorry I'm unable to protect you in this form. So please, return to the past as well."
"Mamma?" Chibi-Usa muttered.
"Please, both of you, promise me that you'll keep yourselves safe. And if you can, help, but stay out of danger."
"Of course, Mamma." Chibi-Kumi promised. I stepped forward, kneeling in between the twins.
"Neo-Queen Gaia." I started. I placed a hand on both my future daughter's shoulders. "I swear to you, I will protect Usagi and Kumiko with my life." Both Neo-Queen Gaia and I stood.
"I must admit, talking with my younger self is an experience that I won't forget, it's quite strange." Neo-Queen Gaia admitted.
"Of course it would, I feel the same way talking to you."
"Please take care of my daughters."
"You forget, they're my daughters too. I'll protect them with my life."
"Now, hurry, to the Doors of Space and Time, there's a shortcut through the Palace." Neo-Queen Gaia, followed by our group from the past, traversed the halls of the Crystal Palace once more to reach the door.
"Neo-Queen Gaia, about Sailor Pluto, if she's s Sailor Guardian like we are, then why were we not allowed to know she even existed?" Venus wondered.
"Yes, Sailor Pluto does hold the title of Sailor Guardian, but her mission is separate from yours, she is unlike any other Sailor Guardian in existence. She is the daughter of the god of Time, Kronos, she is the solitary guardian of the Doors of Space and Time. She guards the final sacred domain. She has been the only guardian of that door for Melania." As we neared the doors, they opened on their own accord. Pluto turned and gasped slightly.
"Neo-Queen Gaia!" She greeted.
"Pluto." Neo-Queen Gaia replied. "I know I am breaking the most sacred law by entering your domain, but I ask to use a Space-Time Key, it is urgent."
"Of course." Pluto un-clipped a key from her belt and held it towards Sailor Moon.
"By having this key, no matter where or when you are, you will find Sailor Pluto once more. If you pray to this key, a Time Warp will be created."
"Ok." Sailor Moon said.
"Sailor Pluto is older than all of us combined. She has watched the era's pass before her and holds the wisdom of all that she has learned. In my absence, I put forth Sailor Pluto. I trust her judgment. So too, you can trust her."
"Yes, I will." Pluto promised.
"Sure, we'll take all the help we can get." Sailor Moon stated, holding her hand out for the emerald-haired woman. Pluto nodded, and shook hands with Sailor Moon.
"I wish you all safe travels." Neo-Queen Gaia bowed to us. Pluto knelt as Neo-Queen Gaia walked through the mist, Diana and Amber bounding after her.
"Goodbye Diana." Luna said.
"We'll see you and Amber soon." Malachite added. Sailor Moon lifted the Space-Time key, and in a flash, we disappeared.
TIMESKIP
It wasn't long before the six of us (plus four cats), landed back in our time in the middle of the night. I groaned at the weight on top of me. "Oh, awesome!" Venus commented. "It looks like we're right back in the park where we started! Lucky break."
"Get off me Venus." Sailor Moon groaned. After realising, she was on top of her Princess, Venus started to freak out. Once Venus was off me, I turned to the twins.
"Are you two ok?" I asked softly. Chibi-Kumi nodded.
"Yeah." Chibi-Usa agreed. "But she was kinda heavy."
"Hey, Usako?" I looked up to Sailor Moon. "I'm gonna take the girls home and get them to bed, it's been a long night."
"Why you?" Sailor Moon asked. "Give me one good reason why they can't come home with me like aways."
"I promised Neo-Queen Gaia that I would. Plus, we all need our rest."
"Why do you have to look after them on your own? Don't you think they should have both their parents with them?" I stood.
"Usako, you're more than welcome to-"
"No, I understand." Sailor Moon interrupted. "Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, the future, none of that matters to you." Sailor Moon turned away from me. "And I don't matter to you either! All you care about is Chibi-Usa and Chibi-Kumi!"
"That's not true-"
"I don't believe you!" Sailor Moon then bolted, running out of the park.
"Usagi!" Venus called.
"Usako!" I shouted after the retreating blonde. I felt my heart tear in two as Sailor Moon ran off.
TIMESKIP
I tucked Chibi-Usa and Chibi-Kumi into bed with Malachite and Topaz curled at the foot of the bed to keep an eye on them. I closed the door slightly as I retreated into the living room. "Goodnight Kumi." Mamoru said, standing in his doorframe. I turned to him slightly.
" 'Night Mamo." I muttered. Mamoru pursed his lips and entered his room. I walked to the large window that looked out on Tokyo, taking my hair out of it's bow and letting it spill down my back. Wrapping my arms around myself, I wondered if Usagi could forgive me. I never meant for her to feel like this, I'm only doing what I think is right."
TIMESKIP
The next morning, I woke to the sunlight in my eyes. Yawning, I stretched my arms over my head and blearily blinked my eyes. "It's so bright!" I complained. I pulled myself up from my position leaving against the couch and popped my spine. I turned to my bedroom door, and my eyes narrowed as it was wide open. I walked over and gasped, the bed was empty. "Chibi-Usa!" I called, turning to the rest of the apartment. "Chibi-Kumi!"
"What's with all the yelling?" Mamoru groaned, walking out of his room.
"The twins, Mamo, they're gone!" I whipped out my communicator and dialled Usagi. I know she probably didn't want to talk to me right now, but our daughters were missing.
"Hello?" Usagi's tired voice said through the watch.
"Usako! The twins. They're missing!"
"They went back to Crystal Tokyo." Mamo revealed, showing me a piece of paper that was on the coffee table.
"They're in Crystal Tokyo." I snatched my transformation broach off the kitchen counter. "Mamo, Malachite, Topaz and I are heading to the park right now, call Minako, we have to go get them!"
"Ok." Usagi said, and hung up. I sighed. I could tell she was still mad at me. Out the corner of my eye, I saw Mamoru pull his cape over his shoulders. Malachite and Topaz lept onto the couch.
"Let's head out." Mamoru said. I nodded, lifting my broach.
"Earth Crystal Power! Make Up!" Vines wrapped around my torso, feet and arms to create my Sailor Uniform, heels and gloves. The planetary symbol for the Earth appeared on my forehead shining green. It changed into my golden tiara with a green gem in the centre. My skirt and cape were brown, whereas the bow's on my skirt and chest are green as well as the cuffs of my gloves and choker. I was also wearing green heels that crossed over the front of my feet and over my ankles. My green bow kept my hair in its high ponytail, letting it fall down my back. My staff appeared in my hand and I gripped it tight. Picking up Malachite, I lept out of our apartment window, Tuxedo Mask grabbing Topaz as he followed. We raced to Juuban Park, where we met up with Sailor Moon, Sailor Venus and their feline companions. Sailor Moon had her Space-Time Key tight in her grasp. Sailor Moon and I nodded to each other, our disagreement could wait, we had to save the girls first.
TIMESKIP
"Chibi-Usa!" Sailor Moon called as we raced through the desolate landscape. "Chibi-Kumi! We're coming!"
"5Hang on girls!" Topaz added. Esmeraude was holding both girls up with a weird limb that seemed to be made out of clay, while the other was reaching out with her Malefic Black Crystal Earrings.
"Venus Love-Me Chain!" Venus shouted, sending her attack straight at Esmeraude, knocking the green-haired woman back. The attack caused Esmeraude to drop the twins. Tuxedo Mask and I put on a burst of speed, racing forward. I caught Chibi-Usa, holding her tight as I landed.
"We've got you." I said. There was an explosion, causing Sailor Moon and Venus to leap out of the way and in front of where Tuxedo Mask and I had the twins.
"Moon Princess Halation!" Sailor Moon shouted. However, nothing happened.
"Can't attack?" Esmeraude crooned. "Aww...that's too bad." Four of Esmeraude's limbs shot forward, each latching onto our necks and lifting us up. I could feel my power slipping away. "I'll destroy you all without breaking a sweat. Are you watching us with your Evil Sight? Can you see me Prince Demand? Who's your favorite now?"
"I feel...so weak…" Venus admitted.
"She's sucking out all our energy…" Sailor Moon added.
"No…" I breathed, my vision going blurry. I shakily lifted my staff. "Leaf...Storm…" Nothing happened, and my arm fell, weak. No...I can't not have power! I heard Chibi-Usa's words ringing in my head. The Legendary Crystals from the past have no power except in the past. But what about yesterday? When I broke the structure? Was that me or the Crystal? The questions faded from my mind as black spots dotted my vision.
"Tuxedo La Smoking Bomber!" Tuxedo Mask shouted. Esmeraude was destroyed, and dropped us. I fell to my knees, coughing. I stared at my staff, hopeless. I closed my eyes, I felt utterly useless, I can't protect my daughters?
"I'm surprised they got the best of Esmeraude with one shot." A voice spoke.
"They did indeed." Another added. "However it would seem that the Legendary Crystals aren't as powerful as I once thought." My head snapped up and I glared at the two figures in front of us. One was a man wearing all silver, with a cape and white hair cut to his shoulders. He had an upside-down black crescent moon on his forehead. The next figure was starkly different, shrouded in darkness with gnarled green hands encasing a crystal ball.
"What do you think Sailor Moon?" The silver-haired man asked. "Sailor Venus? Tuxedo Mask? Sailor Earth?" He seemed to spit my name. "Do you like this apocalyptic version of the Thirtieth Century? If it isn't horrible enough, there's still time to make it worse."
"I know who you are!" Sailor Moon declared. "You must be the leader of the Black Moon. Why did you destroy this planet? What have you done with the Guardians you took? What do you want? Why are you doing all this?" The man was silent for a moment, before his crescent moon changed and became a demonic red eye in the middle of his forehead.
"Don't look into his eye!" I shouted at everyone. The eye shone a bright red, causing me to avert my eyes for a moment. When I looked back, I saw Sailor Moon being encased in a red sphere.
"Usagi!" Venus cried. My heart stopped. No...