Sailor Moon: What If We Could Start Anew? By Ending Another? Chapter 7: Episode 7: Death and Misery, a sailor moon fanfic

Episode 7: Death and Misery

She could never tell them the horrible things she has done to protect them. Never. There was too much blood on her hands to stop now.

She didn't want the peacefulness to go away, the attention they gave her to falter for another. She was the only copy that would be allowed to exist.

The first one was the hardest. She was able to sense it and follow the trail. It was like a signal pinging in her mind. She knew exactly where they would land and when. It was like a cursed sixth sense. The first one being... Sailor Mars.

How could she forget the hatred she felt when the alternate Rei was found stumbling behind the shrine, rifle in hand.

Usagi? just happened to be cleaning around the back side of the Shrine, near the shed. She was raking some leaves when she heard a pained groaning coming from behind her.

It was Rei, but not her at the same time. This Rei was in her Sailor form, but it too was different. The uniform seemed more related to a soldiers uniform from the World Wars than a Sailor Guardian.

(Usagi?) Rei? Is that you?

The other Rei looked at her with bewilderment. Her eyes were wide, but not with fear, with frustration and hatred.

(Rei?) No... nononono this isn't possible.

She stared at her with wild eyes.

(Rei?) You... Ho ho... I finally found you, you stupid... fucking child.

(Rei) Trying to sell us out to the Allies? You really thought that destroying the great Japanese Empire would bring about peace and prosperity? No... No, your little plan won't work, even if you came back from the dead. But since your here, well... I might as well follow orders. "If you see Usagi Tsukino or Sailor Moon, kill them on sight. They are a traitor to you and all of Japan."

The other Rei tried to raise her rifle as she finished her sentence, but she was completely out of energy. Her uniform disappeared to reveal a fresh, clean, beige unform of the Japanese Empire from the Second World War.

The girl fell to the ground, she was unconscious. Her rifle lying beside her.

What was Usagi to do? This Rei wanted to kill her or the original Usagi, if left alive, but she didn't know if she had the heart for it.

(Rei) USAGI! Usagi wants us to run a few errands before the party.

Rei was probably in front of the Shrine right now. If she were to try and kill this other Rei, the original would hear and might see her as a threat, destroying the new life she had created for herself.

(Usagi?) OKAY! BE RIGHT THERE!

She had to think fast. If she left her here, she would be discovered and might put everyone at risk right alongside the original Usagi. She had to think of something and think of it quick.

She quietly went inside of the shed, looking for something. Luckily, there was a long, thick rope that seemed to have gone unused.

She tied up the girl and laid her inside the shed. She hid her rifle behind the shed, in a small space under a tree where she quickly dug a hole large enough for the rifle to barely stick out, but otherwise, be completely out of sight.

She left with Rei and came back to celebrate hers and Usagi's birthday.

Afterwards, when everyone left and it was just Rei and Usagi, she snuck out of her room and went back to the shed, the girl was awake and struggling against her bindings.

(Rei?) LET ME GO you little witch. FUCKING TRAITOR!

Usagi? dropped her usually calm and caring demeaner and tone as she glared and held a flat and cold tone.

(Usagi?) You need to calm down. There are people nearby that I don't need you to worry.

She waited outside of the shed, watching from afar as Rei and Usagi talked for a while. When Usagi finally left, Usagi? went back to her room, just in case Rei would come back, but all she did was say goodnight and go to bed.

(Rei?) I KNEW IT! YOU BETRAYED EVERYONE WE CARE ABOUT! HAHAAAA! YOU FINALLY SHOW YOUR TRUE COLORS YOU TWO FACED LIAR!

She dragged the other Rei out from the shed. But since she was still trying yell, Usagi swung the butt of rifle around and smacked her in the back of the head, a small crack was heard, but no bleeding. She used her ability of flight to go from the Shrine to the Port.

After finding some cinderblocks and more rope, she tied them to the other Rei.

But she faltered. She thought of Rei as the closest thing to family she had, and while looking at the alternate Rei, she didn't want her to suffer.

So, she used her strength to fly out a few miles from the port.

When she thought she was far enough, she held the unconscious girl by her long black hair and put the muzzle of the rifle to her head.

(Usagi?) I'm so sorry... Rei.

She prepared herself for the recoil and shot.

The recoil forced her to drop the girl in the depths of the ocean, never to be seen or heard of.

Usagi? dropped the gun into the ocean as well, washed herself off at home and laid in her bed, staring at the roof, thinking about the sin she had committed. But she now vowed to herself. That if anyone were to try and threaten her life or anyone in it... They would have to face her and kill her or die trying.

It was a little tougher and bloodier when she faced the alternate Haruka and Makoto, but as alternates, each of them heavily relied on the durability of their bodies to win. But it would not be so as they stood up to an alternative of Usagi, one who had experienced almost every type of abuse imaginable.

Both would fall before her, but she felt guilty after Haruka?. She had brutalized her body and only realized it after the girl was dead and laying in a pool of her own blood. She wished that they would stop coming, but they didn't she had to continue reinforcing her resolve, to protect the life and the people she cared about.

She also wanted to make sure that they never found out about any of it. The alternates, the fighting, the brutality, the death, any of it, because if things went the wrong way, she would be next to die...

She was sure of it; it was the only natural course she could think of. Here, there was no serious in-fighting. There was no isolation, and, in the end, everyone stayed together as friends. If they ever found out that other versions of themselves were coming to this world, even without knowing their true intentions, all of them would fight her, but they would try to bring her to justice instead of killing her, which wouldn't work, so the only alternative would

But she was also deeply bothered by something. Was each reality's Usagi inherently... evil?

All of the alternate Sailor Guardians had a target for Usagi's head. Rei was from a reality where everyone was born during the second world war and Usagi seemed to be wanted for treason.

She wanted to kill Usagi for betrayal.

The alternate Makoto was the second, and much more difficult.

The alternative Makoto came from an ancient past where, The Silver Millenium had not fallen to Nehellenia's influence, but, from what Usagi? could tell, from a revolution from the Golden kingdom against their oppressors, the Silver Millenium, ruled by the successor to Queen Serenity, but her daughter, Princess Serenity, who had used the force of the Sailor Guardians to strongarm the Golden Kingdom to do the Silver Millenium's bidding. From what she was able to learn from her fight, Prince Endymion assisted Princess Serenity in the transfer of power in exchange for immunity due to his relationship with the princess. That was, until, along with the Sailor Guardians, the people of the Golden Kingdom assassinated Prince Endymion on Earth and went straight for Silver Millenium in a strategic plan coordinated with the Sailor Guardians. But it was right after the people had announced the death of Princess Serenity and celebrations began, that this alternate Makoto was brought to this world.

She fell right in front of Motoki's cafe when she was transported to this world.

July 15th, 1996, 12:00 A.M. New Moon, One month after Usagi(?) Arrived in Minato.

Minato City, in front of the cafe favored by the guardians.

A dull thud is heard in front of the cafe and an alternate Sailor Jupiter is seen looking around at the deserted street. The only sound she hears is the wind in the air and the buzz of electricity coming from the lights overhead.

She begins to walk down the empty street, confused.

(Makoto?) Where... am I?

She sees grassy hills and hears the ocean in the distance.

(Makoto?) Am I... ON EARTH!? This is incredible, I've always wondered what this experience would be like! Oh, if only the others could see...this.

(Makoto?) Wait? How... AM I here? I was in the Silver Millenium and then... I... can't remember. And this place. I knew the conditions were rough down here, but... I thought they were more advanced than this. Maybe I can find someone to answer my questions.

In another part of Minato, July 15th, 1996, New Moon, Hikawa Shrine 12:00 A.M.

(Usagi?) Hm...? What...?

Usagi? was woken up by a strange feeling, one she knew...

(Usagi?) What the...

Then it dawned on her. This was the same EXACT feeling as when the Alternate Rei was here. But she felt something else too, a feeling of how far away the girl was, like a radar.

Usagi? sobered up, slightly afraid, but secretly went out to see if the feeling was true.

The two would encounter each other where the town ended and the suburbs began, a small area where there was greenery and a flowing river.

(Usagi?) Stop! Who are you and what do you want!?

The alternate Makoto froze in her footsteps. She was so scared, that she began to shake and tear up.

(Makoto?) No... NO IT CAN'T BE! The revolutionaries... they said you... but how?

(Usagi?) Look, I'm not YOUR Usagi. I'm from an alternate world. And this is a different reality from both of ours.

Makoto drew a longsword that whooshed in the air when she swung it around.

(Makoto?) NO! I'm done with your petty excuses and lies. You've held your grip over these two kingdoms for long enough, I won't let all those deaths be for NOTHING.

(Usagi?) Listen to ME! THEY. DON'T. EXIST. None of what you know ever happened here. In this reality, the Silver Millenium fell eons ago! The Silver Millenium never held a grip on the Earth and Princess Serenity died with Prince Endymion before she could ascend to the Throne!

After Usagi? finished her sentence, the Makoto held her sword over her shoulder.

(Makoto?) I'm sorry... but I don't believe you for one second. But you do seem different from the princess. Your Aura feels different, and the primitive technology did seem odd. So, I propose this.

(Makoto?) A duel. Use whatever you want, and we will fight somewhere more private. As it seems, I don't want to cause unnecessary blood. Do you accept?

(Usagi?) Are you sure we can't be more peaceful about this? Isn't there something we can do to resolve this peacefully?

(Makoto?) No, I do not trust you and that is why I propose the duel. Do you accept or do you wish for a quick death?

(Usagi?) Ugh... I accept.

(Makoto?) Good. Now transform and we will fight on the Earth beach that is nearby for complete Isolation and zero possibility of interference.

The two walked to the beach together. To each of them, it felt like they were walking to an execution.

When they arrived at the beach, it was completely dark, only lit up by Usagi's(?) transformation.

(Makoto) Ready?

Usagi? nodded.

(Makoto?) Begin!

The two ran at each other fearlessly. Makoto tried to slam her longsword down on Usagi, but Usagi was able to avoid it by jumping to the side. The two clashed for hours, each blow between their weapons creating a small flash of light in the darkness of night. Usagi may have been a little faster than Makoto, but one blow from Makoto's longsword would easily be able to cleanly slice her in half. The battle seemed to be going on forever, each side not showing any signs of slowing down. That was, until Usagi found an opening behind Makoto, where her knees were. there were no thick armor plates protecting them. Usagi continued for a little while before going right up to Makoto's face.

Makoto's blood ran cold when, as Usagi passed her, she whispered in her ear.

(Usagi?) I'm sorry Makoto, but I can't allow you to live under these circumstances. I'm sorry we couldn't solve this peacefully.

Usagi? went behind Makoto? and used her dagger to cut the soft fabric that covered the back of Makoto's knees and cut deeply into the fabric with each leg in quick succession.

Makoto let out a short cry and she fell to her knees, dropping her heavy longsword in the process as it hit the sand with a soft, metallic thud on the dry sand.

As Usagi? went back to being in front of her, Makoto began to laugh.

(Usagi?) How is this funny? You could be facing death right now, and... you laugh?

(Makoto) Well, it's because... you may not look like her, but you sure as hell fight like her... And another thing, nice job taking out my legs, but... there isn't anything else you can cut through with that little dagger.

(Usagi?) I see...

Usagi eyed the longsword.

(Usagi?) I guess this will have to do then.

(Makoto?) Good luck with that... That sword is made of a dense and heavy material. It's extremely powerful, but only when wielded by someone strong enough to use it-

With ease, Usagi picked up the longsword and aimed.

Makoto's laugher was silenced, as she immediately began to plead for her life.

(Makoto?) W-W-What!? That's impossible! NO ONE should be able to wield that sword! Not even you!

(Usagi?) I'm sorry Makoto, but with your intentions, there's no guarantee that you won't try to kill the original Usagi. And...

(Usagi?) I like being the only copy living here.

Usagi? wore a twisted smile as she hacked away at Makoto's armor. Makoto pleaded and begged for Usagi to stop and just end her quickly.

(Usagi) Oh but Makoto, I have to hide your body! And I can't do that efficiently if you're in two pieces!

Her pleads turned into painful screams as Usagi swung the sword until the tough armor gave out and she began to swing into the soft and weak flesh of the Alternate Sailor Guardian.

It took her three hours to get through the armor and another half hour to get Makoto's broken body out of the suit of armor.

She threw the large, broken pieces out to sea with the sword and did the same thing she did with Rei's body to Makoto. She dumped the body in roughly the same place as Rei. Her deep cuts and broken bones were horrific to even look at. Since Usagi had to physically break her armor with nothing but a sword, some of the armor would cave in and in turn break the alternate Makoto's bones. But, for Usagi?, it was a slight bonus since it made getting her out of the suit much easier.

Similar to the last time, she went home to wash the blood off of herself, but this time, she found that she wasn't as sad about killing another Sailor Guardian, not only that, but she even felt good about it. She felt like she was getting revenge for everything the Sailor Guardians did to her in her original reality.

She was afraid at first, but stopped thinking about it because it scared her. Since the alternates came from realities where Sailor Moon was evil, she knew that she could never become someone that enjoyed death, or else... she would be no better than the people she killed.

The last of the three, the one before the alternative Ami, was the alternative Haruka. But this one... well... she was different from the rest. She was from the alternate Usagi's reality.

When she arrived, it was yet another, New Moon on September 12th, 1996, 2:46 A.M.

This time, when Usagi woke up, she felt the presence and direction, but something was different. This aura... she knew it better than both of the others she had encountered. Even more, she felt a small tinge of fear crawl up her back as she walked out and flew to when the next girl was.

Usagi? flew until she was in the center of the metropolitan area of Tokyo.

It was almost a foreboding feeling. The darkness, all light hidden behind dark clouds, the surrounding buildings that towered over her, the emptiness of the streets.

She landed in the middle of the street, the small light offered by the one of few streetlights that lined the road.

(Usagi?) You can come out now. There's no avoiding this.

A tall, blonde, muscular woman walks out of the shadows and under another streetlamp a few feet away, wearing the Sailor Uniform of Sailor Uranus.

(Haruka?) I can't fuckin believe this... of all the faces I could've run into, I run into you? The failure of a Moon Princess and a FAILURE of a leader!? So... where am I you little shit?

(Usagi?) Wait... are you... from the same reality as me?

(Haruka?) No shit you idiot!

(Usagi?) Thats Impossible! I... I watched all of you die!

(Haruka?) Die? What, did your stupid ass get us into another fight and we were defeated?

(Usagi?) Wait... Why do I even care? I don't need you anymore. So for all I care... you can rot in Hell... you narcissistic bitch.

Haruka? seemed to be a mix of two things. She seemed surprised, but also furious. Her eyes narrowed and she flashed Usagi? a nasty grin.

(Haruka?) Well now! Aren't we ballsy tonight! Back then, you would be trying to cling to my side for help, but this is so much better!

The alternate Haruka summoned a holy sword.

(Haruka?) I get to destroy EVERYTHING, that this world has built you up to be. I get to destroy the strength and confidence that, whoever did, give you in the first place. And I'm gonna enjoy it, even better than getting to kill the Sailor Guardians.

There was a silence in Usagi's(?) mind.

(Usagi?) What did you do?

(Haruka?) Y'know that enemy we had, the one where everyone thought that you were just, OH SO IMPORTANT? Well... After you were gone, the enemy offered each of us protection if we let them have the Earth. Everyone so Nobley declined, but me? I saw which side was losing and switched sides. They told me to butcher the rest of them to prove my loyalty, so... I started with my former lover. Heh! You should've seen her face, she was as white as a ghost when she realized I was about to execute her.

(Haruka?) After her, I quickly went through with the rest of them, but after thinking I finished... I saw something. I saw your precious protector trying to crawl away.

The alternative Haruka laughed loudly, coughing after she went on for too long.

(Haruka?) Can you believe it? She's supposed to be the protector from Mercury, but she was running away from the enemy.

(Usagi?) No... you didn't...

(Haruka?) Oh no, I savored the moment. I walked slowly as she tried to crawl away faster. It was so pitiful. She was once one of our strongest, but here she was, crawling away from battle, and at my mercy. So, to stop her from embarrassing me any further, I stabbed her legs, but she kept. on. going. So I just said, "You know what, I'm done with this shit.". So I stabbed her in her non-vital areas to get a little reaction out of her. It wasn't the greatest, but her screams and swirming did make it a little more fun.

Usagi? stood motionless. In that world, Rei was her only real ally. Minako, Michiru, Makoto, they treated her like crap. Ever since Luna told them that they were her protecters for as long as she was Sailor Moon and Queen of the Silver Millenium, they hated her, they felt like their lives were expendable compared to hers. But Rei wasn't like them, and Ami would secretly befriend her behind closed doors, but Rei didn't care. Rei was fine with her position and didn't care that she would serve under Usagi. She just saw Usagi and that was it. If the others ever went too far with their harassment and bullying, Rei would stick up for Usagi, even if she got hurt in the process, but she didn't care. To Rei Usagi may be their leader, and ruler, but that shouldn't have overshadowed who she was as a person. She was just a teenager like the rest of them, but it seems that only Rei understood that. Usagi(?) had many good memories with Usagi?, even after their identities as Sailor Guardians were revealed to the public. Heck, Rei was the one to give her a place to stay when her own family abandoned her after the media presence had ruined their perfectly normal lives.

Hearing that Rei had been killed so mercilessly, Usagi? had no control over herself. She just... sprang into motion.

With her dagger already out, she began to clash with Haruka?.

(Haruka?) And you even hold your dagger against me!? This just gets better and better.

(Haruka?) Now die. You pathetic worm.

As their blades held against each other, Haruka freed one hand and gut punched Usagi several feet away.

But as quickly as Usagi? got knocked down, she was already up and trading blows with Haruka's holy sword.

(Haruka?) C'mon, is this all you got?

After retracting their blades and preparing to clash again, instead of raising her blade, Haruka grabbed the hand that Usagi held her blade in, and headbutt her as hard as she could.

Slightly dazed, Usagi quickly shook of the weariness and continued to fight.

Haruka? continued to block and defend with ease. She taunted the girl, yawning as she defended herself from Usagi's dagger and laughing a little as she pushed away Usagi's attempted punches and kicks.

After a few rounds of blocking and parrying attacks, Haruka felt that the fight had gone on longer than she had cared and wished to end things.

(Haruka?) I think this fight's just about over. You can't even touch me, let alone hurt me. So I'm just gonna end things here and then who knows? Maybe I'll go after this worlds Rei and-

There was a sound. Of something flying through the air, then a puncture.

Haruka? looked down. Usagi had thrown her dagger at Haruka, and it went straight into her stomach.

(Haruka?) C'mon now Usagi... really? You think this is gonna-

Haruka? looked up just in time to see a flash of blue light come up to her and kick her hard in the chest while retrieving the dagger.

(Haruka?) Huh...? What the hell? You can still fight? Fine then, bring it-

Usagi quickly returned to right in front of Haruka in another flash of blue light. But she didn't stop there.

Haruka was wide open and Usagi? too advantage of that.

Using her increased speed, Usagi took her dagger, and started slicing the alternate Haruka's perfect skin, blood leaking out of the flesh wounds, but after slicing open some skin, Usagi wanted more.

She began cutting deeper but did her best to avoid arteries, as if it mattered.

But her rage and bloodlust were still unsatisfied, so she cut as deep as she could. She used her strength to cut right into bones, leaving the head alone so she could still hear Haruka's screams.

But after she finished cutting and slicing, she still felt dissatisfied.

Looking down at Haruka's bleeding body, she wanted to make her suffer as much as she could possibly could.

She dragged the bloody body through the streets and into the port. Here, she put away the dagger and used her hands to beat the life out of the alternate. As it seemed that Usagi didn't have too much time before Haruka fainted, she began wriggling her hands under Haruka's skin, and breaking the bones by hand. It didn't matter to her that people were waking up from the wretched screams of pain and cries for help, it didn't matter, that with every snap, that Haruka became fainter and fainter, she needed to pay for what she did to her friend and ally. She may have butchered them, but she was gonna feel their pain, all the way down to very pits of hell.

After Haruka's body went limp, Usagi quickly put together the cinderblocks and rope to tie down the body.

Following her usual routine, she flew a few miles out and dropped the body into the water.

Back to the present. October 23rd, 1996, 6:47 P.M. Hikawa Shrine.

Usagi? and Rei were eatin dinner together as per their usual evenings together.

(Rei) So... do you have any plans on Halloween?

(Usagi?) Um... no.. why?

(Rei) Would you be able to do me a HUGE favor?

(Usagi?) Um, what is it Rei?

(Rei) So every year, Usagi and Mamoru throw a Halloween party at his apartment near the college campus. She invites all of us girls to go, but there's always a few weirdo boys who only think of doing "stuff" to girls, like we're playthings.

(Usagi?) And... you want me to go with you guys?

(Rei) Yeah, but we'll have to get a pair of costumes since it's a costume party.

(Usagi?) So we have... 8 days... to get costumes in time for the party?

(Rei) Yup.

(Usagi?) And you waited until now to ask me and get costumes?

(Rei) Yeah...

(Usagi?) Okay, I'll do it! It sounds fun anyway, I've never been to a Halloween Party before!

(Rei) Thanks, SO MUCH! It's crazy, Makoto and Usagi usually end up being our bodyguards for the night since Minako and Usagi stand out, Ami gets flustered really easy and girls try to hit on Mamoru.

(Usagi?) That's crazy! I wonder why she does it every year?

(Rei) Beats me, but, we end up having a good time in the end regardless, so it usually turns out for the better.

(Usagi?) I see.

Dinner goes on pretty quietly until the next morning.

When the two are outside, waiting for people to enter the Shrine, Usagi turns to Rei.

(Usagi?) So... you've trained to be a Head Priestess for the Hikawa Shrine since you were a kid right?

(Rei) That's correct.

(Usagi?) So that means you understand Shinto pretty well right?

(Rei) You could say that.

(Usagi?) So I have a question for you personally.

(Rei) Shoot.

(Usagi?) Ok. What do you believe about something like murder?

Rei turned to Usagi, nervous.

(Rei) Uh, what the-?! Murder? Where did that come from?

(Usagi?) Well, I was thinking about it the other night. Murder, like a lot of things has it's black and white areas, but it also had a large grey area. I was wondering, you being who you are, what is your opinion on it?

(Rei) Okay... well, simply, I would say that it is wrong. Period. Sure, you can try and justify it however you want, it is still wrong. You could have the noblest reason and still it would be wrong.

(Usagi?) Oh... I see.

(Rei) But, when I say that, I do include everything the Sailor Guardians have done. Over the course of our time as Guardians, we've slain countless numbers of enemies who threatened our peace... our world and even our lives. But still, we are impure because of that, but that is not the end. Through our actions afterwards, we are able to become pure beings and bring harmony and balance to nature through pure deeds.

(Usagi?) So... you're saying that... if we do good after we have done bad, we can still redeem ourselves?

(Rei) Yes. Let's say you commit a murder out of self-defense. If you do it, but continue to harm others for a cause, then you remain impure. But if after the murder, you choose to do good and continue on, then you can become pure once again.

(Usagi?) Huh... never thought of it like that before.

(Rei) Does, that answer your question?

(Usagi?) Yeah.

It was strange for the other Usagi. Here she was, killing alternative versions of her friends during the night, and by day, she was laughing with the originals.

NOVEMBER 10th, 1996, 9:36 P.M. Minato City

On this Autumn night, a person fell from the sky and into the emptiness of the Tokyo Metropolitan area. She fell into a shrub to break her fall.

(?) Where... am... I...

The girl began to panic.

(?) I don't belong here. Where is everyone? Where am I?

The girl heard something to her right and she quickly jumped and prepared for an attack.

(?) Who goes there!? Who are you and where are we!

(Setsuna) Young Girl come with me. It's extremely dangerous for you to stay out here alone. Especially after coming out of your reality like this.

(?) What?

(Usagi) Setsuna, is this really another being from another reality?

(Setsuna) I'm positive. And there were more, but... I don't know what happened to them, they're signals vanished almost as soon as they came.

(Usagi) Well come on. We can get you somewhere safe and a place to sleep until we know how we can get you back home, okay.

(?) I see.

(?) Okay! I'll go with you, for now.

(Usagi) Great, lets go.

The three vanished into the night back to Setsuna's apartment.

Meanwhile... around the same time...

Usagi(?) was prepared to go out again. She was about to exit the building when suddenly, the signal vanished. She tried going out into the general area of the person's signal, but nothing came of it. The signal was gone and dead.

She was confused. Did someone else kill this girl? Or did they die by their own hands?

She went back to sleep surprisingly easy, but still wondered the next day about what had happened.

At Setsuna's apartment...

(Setsuna) Okay, have a seat, we're gonna ask you a few questions and...

After Setsuna had turned the lights on and looked at Usagi, she stopped talking and looked at Usagi next to the girl with a shocked look.

(Setsuna) Usagi... look at her.

Usagi looked and in the light, she could now see that it was another mirror image of herself, but she wore a snow white gown that seemed to be from the ancient Moon Kingdom and she had platinum blonde hair, the exact same way as Usagi.

(Setsuna) Are you... Queen Serenity?

(?) No, I am not a Queen, but my name is Serenity. I am to take my father's place as the heir to the throne of the Silver Millenium.

(Usagi) Wait, so wouldn't that mean...

(Serenity) What? What is it?

(Usagi) Um... Serenity? I don't really know how to put this simply, but I'll try. I'm your daughter that died on the Moon with you after the fall of the Silver Millenium in this reality, and got reincarnated on the Earth as what you see now.

Serenity looked like she had blown a fuse. She struggled to form words from her confused and shocked state.

(Serenity) Y-Your my what!? And the Silver Millenium f-f-falls!? What is happening!?

(Setsuna) Usagi! I know you didn't have much time with the queen, but you need to calm down! And Serenity, my apologies. I'll brew some tea and I can explain the situation.

Serenity seemed to calm down a bit, even as Usagi kept flashing glances at her.

(Serenity) That... sounds good.

Setsuna went on to explain the timeline of this reality. Starting from the Silver Millenium, all the way to this very moment.

It took a few hours, but to her and Usagi's surprise, she listened intently the entire time, not so much as changing her expression for the entirely to the explanation.

(Setsuna) I'm sure you must have some questions for us, so please, feel free to ask us anything.

Serenity shifted in her chair.

(Serenity) So I understand that you are all reincarnations, but why is it that the Prince and Princess of their respective kingdoms fell in love? Or even how? There's such a divide between the two, that I can't imagine that this reality's Queen was in support of it.

(Usagi) Actually, you didn't even mind.

(Serenity) What!?

(Usagi) Yeah, all of the Sailor Guardians reported our relationship to the Queen, but she didn't mind. She was happy for us, right until the Black Moon Clan attacked us.

(Serenity) I understand. But now it is my turn to tell you about my reality.

(Serenity)

In my reality, the kingdoms lived separately. After their creation, trade was common between the kingdoms. The Silver Millenium would send advanced technology to Earth, while the Golden Kingdom would send the Silver Millenium natural resources not found on the Moon.

Generations past, and after millennia of coexistence, the leaders from the Golden Kingdom grew greedy. They wanted more for less. They wanted access to vital resources on the Moon, but we would never give.

In a few generations, resentment grew from both sides. The people of the Silver Millenium resented the Golden Kingdom for trying to make us their slaves, and the people of the Golden Kingdom resented to Silver Millenium for "hording it's technology and resources". At least, that's what their leaders told them.

After thousands of years, the Golden Kingdom of Earth cut ties with the Silver Millenium entirely. Anyone that was from the Silver Millenium was sent back to the Silver Millenium from Earth immediately with threats of violence, the Silver Millenium did the same, but with kindness and sincerity.

Since the two cut ties. The Silver Millenium used its resources to create a sustainable food source along with a recyclable water system. A few thousand years after that, after many hardheaded rulers went through the throne, one of their leaders reached out to the Silver Millenium for the first time in tens of thousands of years.

Afterwards, the rulers of both kingdoms came together to sign a peace treaty. It was marvelous... the people of both kingdoms had dreamed of a day they would be able to meet someone from the other side, or go to the places their ancestors talked and wrote about.

The peace lasted for a long time... but not long enough. The few that held generational hatred for the Silver Millenium tried to assassinate my parents when they first ascended the throne. They tried using high-powered, pinpoint, plasma rifles to shoot through their escort, but since their transmissions and steps had all been tracked, they were killed before they could get to their desired positions.

This event spiraled out of control after my birth. People were calling the protective forces around my parents, "murderers", without knowing what had taken place. For a short duration, people were worried if they would have to cut ties with the Silver Millenium again.

And that was my current timeline. I was studying to become the next Queen of the Silver Millenium, even with the spiraling chaos outside. And now I'm here.

(Setsuna) Wow... I can't believe that's how thing was at the time. My mother told me about the conflicts, but when I became a Sailor Guardian, I never could've guessed how bad things were.

(Serenity) Yes, and it is hard for me to believe that, the Golden Kingdom spawns someone that could capture the heart of the Moon Princess.

The three talked some more.

(Setsuna) It's getting late. Serenity, you take the bed room, I'll sleep on the couch until we can get something situated.

(Serenity) Thank you. You are too kind.

(Usagi) I gotta go too. If my parents find out that I snuck out past midnight, they might just try to kill me. But I'll be back to see you Serenity.

(Serenity) I look forward to it.

Usagi ran back home and flew into her window, slowly closing it and going to bed, thinking about how it was like going back in time to see Queen Serenity when she was young... Who would've thought that she would look like a twin to Usagi.

The next day, Usagi went to work and hung out with the girls, but she didn't say so much as a word about Serenity.

If what Setsuna said was to be taken seriously, it meant that someone in their group was going out and doing something to the alternatives that appeared in this reality. Usagi hated the idea if it. That any one of her friends could be a cold-blooded murderer. She didn't know how she would figure it out, but Setsuna had an idea. She felt the girls' signals when they landed in this world. She hypothesized that the killer could feel them too. So the next time she felt a signal, they would grab the girl that was being hunted, while also figuring out the identity of the killer at the same time. But it seems they either got Serenity out of the area too quickly for the possible killer to react, or the killer was watching them, but it was pretty unlikely.

The worst part of the entire ordeal? There was no way for her to root out the killer without possibly tipping the person off. She couldn't even go to Haruka, Michiru or even Hotaru since they too were suspects.

She hated it. For as long as she's known these girls, she always been able to tell them if something was up, but not this time. This time, she would have to act like someone's life depended on it.

Life became somewhat... draining at this point. Sure, she worked with Haruka, hung out with the girls and spent time with her family like always, but when she went to see Serenity, the guilty feeling she held in her heart renewed itself.

On one such visit, she couldn't help it anymore. She couldn't keep up the facade of the smiling girl that everyone loved and that never hid anything from anyone. So, she walked into the apartment, a dull tone in her voice and tired eyes put on display as she stared at the ceiling as Serenity read one of Setsuna's many encyclopedias that Setsuna had bought her so that she would have something to do since she couldn't risk being out and about with the possible killer still walked among them.

Serenity looked up from the white pages at her daughter from another reality and another life.

(Serenity) So, what is bothering you Usagi?

Her regal tone deeper voice snap Usagi out of her thoughts.

(Usagi) Huh...?

(Serenity) I asked what's wrong. You seem troubled by something since you don't seem like your usual self.

(Usagi) It's... nothing. I'm fine. Just... tired at the moment.

(Serenity) Tired of what?

(Usagi) Well... I don't want to sound rude, but I'm tired of keeping you a secret.

(Serenity) None taken at all. But I do want you to continue telling me what is bothering you.

Usagi slowly rolled her head to look at Serenity with a raised eyebrow, as if to say "Are you sure about that?"

In response, Serenity looks at her and smiles as she nods her head.

(Sernity) I'll make tea.

After tea was served, Usagi took a sip and began talking.

(Usagi) So... on the night we brought you here, I was elated. I wanted to tell everyone about you since there was another alternative version of someone other than me.

(Serenity) There is another one here that came across space and time?

(Usagi) Yeah. She looks exactly like me, but she was a little broken when she got here. Apparently, in her world, she was belittled by most of the Sailors, except for a few, and was disowned by her family after someone leaked their real identities to the public. After a while, she came to be one of us and now, she's a lot more like how I usually am. If anyone ever questions our similarity, we say that we're a rare set of twins from different families. We even had to get her a real identity to live here. And it wasn't easy, trust me.

(Usagi) But a few days ago, Setsuna contacted me, saying that she needed me for something and that I couldn't tell the others. So I went, thinking nothing of it and turns out, it wasn't nothing.

(Usagi) She told me that she had been feeling some sort of signal every full Moon since July. She told me that the signals would come, then quickly vanish without a trace. And to that, she wanted me to come look at one of these "signals" and that's when we found you.

(Usagi) Setsuna told me that she suspected that others like you and her were coming on every Full Moon, and someone, other than her, was feeling the signals, going out, and murdering whoever came through. And now? I have to suspect all of my friends and allies for a single one of them that might be a killer.

(Serenity) So... that's what has been bothering you... I see. It must be difficult to not even be able to trust your friends.

(Usagi) It is. Every single day, I have to put on my best performance and pretend that everything is okay, that there's nothing wrong with the world. I just...

As Usagi began to break down, Serenity held Usagi, reminiscent of what her own Mother used to do for her when she was a little girl. She knew that this girl wasn't her own from her own reality, but she wanted her to feel the warmth from the same person, as if her mother from this reality was really her, comforting her in a time of need.

(Serenity) It's interesting Usagi. I once had a similar situation like yours.

(Usagi) R-Really...?

(Serenity) Yes... I had a communications channel linked with one on Earth, communicating with a boy and his friends that I had met through a chance encounter as our signals connected. I spent years with them, teaching them about the Moon and them teaching me about the Earth. We chatted about other things, but we always compared the ways of which each planet operated. From the daily routine of our parents to the way people acted in public, we were enthralled in each other's stories. But then, something happened...

(Serenity) I... fell in love.

(Usagi)Really... and what happened?

(Serenity) Whenever the boys friends left to do other things, me and the boy, Roshi, would communicate for hours. We fell in love and kept it a secret from the others.

(Serenity) But one day, when I opened the channel to communicate with them, face to face as per usual, Roshi was missing and only two of them remained, one of the boys and one of the girls.

(Serenity) They... had told me that the others, including Roshi, were enlisted to the Golden Kingdom's army through a draft. They told me that, they too were drafted and that, they would've be able to talk to me anymore, and said goodbye.

(Serenity) They closed the channel for the last time and I never heard from them again. That was, until I was in class one day and I was told that I had received a transmission from Earth.

(Serenity) I was so excited! I thought that, maybe everyone had come home, and we could be friends again. As I logged in, I saw that, I did indeed have a transmission. But it wasn't from Roshi or any of our friends. It was from the Golden Army's Office of Communications.

(Serenity) As I opened the transmission, it was a letter addressed to me.

(Serenity) It read...

_Dear Recipient,

_After reading through his will, it was found that you were among the few to receive this news from us. As of yesterday, it is with deep sorrow and with our deepest sincerity that we inform you that, Roshi XXXXX, has perished in ll

_battle after sustaining life-threatening injuries during a fight with a terrorist group in the northern part of Western Europe. We feel that you should know that her fought valiantly for the Royal Army of the Golden Kingdom

_feel that it is important for everyone that knew him to know that he will be remembered throughout our ranks as someone who defended everything that the Golden Kingdom stands for, and for that we salute him.

_ Sincerely,

_The Royal Army of The Golden Kingdom

(Serenity) I read the message, over and over again, making sure that what I read was true and real. And it wasn't even the worst part. The same letter came through the same transmission for each of our friends. But the thing was, I couldn't openly grieve for them. No one in my family or in my group of friends in the Silver Millenium knew about my Earth friends since it was almost taboo to speak with someone from Earth due to the rising tensions. And I couldn't even tell anyone since my parents were the King and Queen of the Silver Millenium. If word had gotten out that their daughter was communicating in secret with the people of Earth, then we would become outcast and all of those that supported my parents as their rulers, would probably cause riots and a revolution against them.

(Serenity) So, I had to grieve in private while still looking happy and regal with everyone on the Moon, even with the pain in my heart. But I still remember, for each of the letters I received, informing me about the deaths of my friends, I received another one, this time, a recruitment letter, saying I should join their ranks in order to avenge the fallen or to finish what they had started.

(Serenity) I was so angry, that my mother nearly found out after I had opened them and yelled at the letters, for using the deaths of my friends as a reason to recruit another innocent person on Earth, just to use them until their deaths and repeating the cycle.

(Usagi) That's... horrible... What did you do after that?

(Serenity) Nothing. I did nothing because there was nothing I could do. I couldn't go back in time and warn them, no. But, not you. You can still catch whoever is killing these alternatives and bring them to justice.

(Usagi) But how? I tried with you, but I failed! How will I know that I won't fail again next time?

(Serenity) Because there IS a next time. And even if you fail again this time, there is still another chance after that! But you will fail every single time if you continue doing one thing.

(Usagi) And that is...?

(Serenity) Thinking that you're gonna fail! If you keep worrying that failure is the only outcome, then that is what will happen every time! Or else, how would you have gotten this far if failure was all you thought about?

Serenity inspired Usagi for a little longer, and by the time she left, she was more determined and back to her usual self. Who ended up going home and passing out after working all day.

(Setsuna) Thanks Serenity. I think she needed that to keep going...

(Serenity) Now you too? Sit!

Serenity patted the seat next to her, telling Setsuna to sit.

(Setsuna) It's not that I'm sad, it's just... She's been through so much and at such a young age... I worry for her. She's been through some terrible things. She's died and come back to life... She's watched the love of her life be brainwashed, turned against her, break up with her, and even die. She's seen her own friends die before her very eyes... Hell, she's even seen herself in the future where she nearly died... the list goes on and on. But here she is... still shining brightly after everything she's been through.

(Serenity) I see. It's everyone around her that keeps her alive. Her friends, her relationships, her family... they all give her the strength to keep going.

(Setsuna) Yup. But in turn, she inspires all of us to keep going as well, to shine as brightly as she does.

(Serenity) And now I wonder... How will she fare against an enemy, that is also her friend?

End of Episode 7: Death and Misery

P.S.: Will the person that leaves reviews as a guest PLEASE create an account? I wanna send you messages in response to your reviews, but can't because your a guest. Thanks!

Emerymiles2004