It was a rainy day in the Juuban household.
Usagi was walking down the stairs when she smelled something. The sweet scent of lemon.
"Oh, wow! I know that smell!" she cried.
She then rushed into the kitchen and, sure enough, on the table counter, she saw a plate of freshly made pie, which made her stomach growl with hunger.
"Oh, wow! That's Mom's famous homemade lemon meringue pie!"
She reached out to get herself a slice when Ikuko suddenly appeared, bopping Usagi's hand with a spoon, which made her yelp.
"Usagi, don't even think about eating that pie!" she said sternly. "It's something I made for everyone to share, so you'll have to wait until they get home."
"Aw, Mom," pouted Usagi. "I'm sure one little slice wouldn't hurt."
"Not when it comes to you, Usagi," said Ikuko. "If I let you have "one little slice," there would be nothing left but the crumbs."
Usagi couldn't even protest, knowing that her mom was right.
Then, Chibiusa and Shingo came into the kitchen and saw the pie.
"Oh, wow! Mom's lemon pie!" cried Chibiusa. "Is that for us?"
"Yes, it is," smiled Ikuko. "You both can have a slice just as soon as Harusuke gets home."
"All right!" said Shingo eagerly. But then, he realized something. "Wait, isn't Harusuke over at the gym right now?"
"Yeah, but he should be home in a few minutes," said Usagi. "He usually likes to say there for an hour or so at this time."
At that moment, the front door opened, and they heard Harusuke.
"I'm home."
Harusuke then walked past the kitchen, about to head upstairs.
"Hey, Harusuke. Mom made her lemon pie for us!" said Shingo. "You want a slice?"
"No, thank you," replied Harusuke. "I'm not feeling hungry at the moment. Plus, I'm trying to watch my junk food intake."
"Come on, Harusuke. You know you want to," Usagi teased. "Not even you can resist the charm of Mom's pie."
Harusuke was about to object, but then his stomach let out a tiny growl making his cheeks red.
"All right, you got me," he conceded. "I'll have one little slice."
Ikuko soon passed around the slices, and Tsukino siblings were munching on them happily.
"Man! Mom! How do you do it?!" Chibiusa hummed in delight. "You always make the best pies!"
"It's nothing special," smiled Ikuko. "Just the same recipe I always use. With a secret ingredient."
"What is the secret ingredient, Mommy Ikuko?" asked Chibiusa. "Is it some kind of spice?"
"If I told you, it wouldn't be a secret, now would it?" said Ikuko. "Maybe one day, I'll tell you."
Then, Ikuko noticed Harusuke was eating a bit slower than the others. "Harusuke, is something wrong?" she asked.
Harusuke looked up. "Oh! No, nothing's wrong, Mom. I'm fine," he replied. "I'm just a bit tired, is all."
Ikuko didn't seem so sure while Usagi and Chibiusa kept silent.
Not long after, Harusuke sat in his room staring up at the ceiling, still wondering about the current state of his powers and their cause, but he still couldn't think of any reason.
Then, he heard a quiet knocking on his door.
"Harusuke? It's me. May I come in?"
Harusuke sat up. "Sure. Come in."
The door opened, and Ikuko walked in.
"What's up, Mom?" asked Harusuke.
"I just came to check on you," said Ikuko. "After all, it's natural for a mom to worry when her son isn't acting like himself."
"But, Mom, I said I'm fine," said Harusuke. "There's no reason for you to be - ."
"Don't say it," Ikuko spoke a bit sternly.
Harusuke was slightly surprised as Ikuko sat on his bed.
"Listen, Harusuke, I know you're a teenage boy, and you've got problems you want to keep to yourself and deserve some privacy," she went on. "But that doesn't mean I won't stop worrying about you. So I want you to know if there's anything you want to talk about, please don't be afraid to talk to me. I'm not sure what I can do as your mother, but I'll try my best to help you, even if it's only a little bit."
Harusuke looked at his mother while remembering his past defeats at the hands of Tiger's Eye. While wanting to tell her everything, he knew that he couldn't/. However, he did feel grateful for his mother's concern.
He then smiled and hugged his mother. "Thanks, Mom. I appreciate that," said Harusuke. "And don't worry. If there's a problem that I can't handle, I'll say something."
Ikuko smiled and hugged her son back.
"Sorry, Mom," Harusuke spoke in his thoughts. "I'm open to telling you anything, but I'm afraid that this is something I can't tell to even you. But maybe - someday I will."
The next day, Usagi and the teens were at Fruits Parlor Crown having drinks together. As they enjoyed them, Harusuke told the girls what Ikuko said.
"So your Mom's starting to worry about you, huh?" said Rei. "You didn't tell her anything, did you?"
"Like I would even mention it," Harusuke sighed. "Even if I wanted to tell her, it's not like I can say: "Hey, Mom. I'm a superhero who fights evil to save the world and have been getting my butt kicked by a bunch of evil circus acts." She'll either not believe me or think I'm crazy."
"That's the trouble with having a secret identity," sighed Usagi. "The hardest part is not only trying not to tell anyone about it but also having to keep the pain of being a superhero to yourself."
"But still... I hate having to keep things from her," said Harusuke. "I mean, she's my mom. So I can't help but feel a bit guilty."
"I know it's hard, Harusuke, but there's nothing for you to feel bad about," said Ami. "Remember, it's to protect her and the rest of your family."
"I know," nodded Harusuke. "And believe me, I'll do whatever it takes to protect them."
"That goes for us, too," said Chibiusa. "Even if she's not my mommy, Mommy Ikuko is still my family, and I want to protect her too."
Everyone else answered with a nod.
Harusuke was still worried but felt a bit better and was burning with determination.
"I promise, Mom. I may not be able to tell you anything about being a guardian, but I swear I'll protect you - so I won't lose anyone else again."
In the Dead Moon Circus, Tiger's Eye, Fish' Eye, and Hawk's Eye were over at the bar deciding their next victim to search for Pegasus.
"Tiger's Eye, that's the fifth time you've failed and struck out with women, " said Fish's Eye. "And after all the trouble you went through with the last one."
"Don't remind me," Tiger's Eye huffed as he took a big swig from his cup. "Besides, it was Hawk's Eye's stupid idea to try and use that cage!"
"All right, all right. I made an error in judgment, and I apologize," said Hawk's Eye. "But now we know we can't capture Pegasus so easily, and it'll take much more than just a special cage to catch him."
He then looked through the photos dancing his fingers on them. Then, his fingers stopped on one of Ikuko walking home from a shopping trip.
"Ooh! I think this one's got my name written all over it," Hawk's Eye spoke with a grin. "If you make women turn against you, they can be pretty frightening. Deception with gentle words is the best way to go about it."
Tiger's Eye and Fish's Eye got closer to see the photo.
"Seriously? That one, Hawk's Eye?" Tiger's Eye spoke with a questioning raised brow.
"Well, you always did like older women," Fish's Eye smiled teasingly. "After all, you can be a bit of a momma's boy."
"You guys just don't get it," Hawk's Eye sighed wistfully. "Older women who are more understanding can be quite the playthings. Especially when it comes to their maternal instincts." He took a sip from his drink and licked his lips. "And so, let Hawk's Eye, known as the Madam Killer, show you how it's done."
He got up and was about to leave when Tiger's Eye called him.
"Hey, Hawk's Eye. Be careful with that confidence of yours. You won't feel as such once those guardians get in your way."
Hawk's Eye chuckled. "I'm not worried. Besides, I think it's high time I see what these kids are made of. In fact, I'm looking forward to meeting them."
Back at the house, Usagi, Harusuke, and Chibiusa had just gotten home from the cafe.
When they entered the living room, they saw Ikuko sitting on the floor. In front of her was a picture book with photographs scattered around.
"Whatcha doing, Mom?" asked Usagi.
"Are these all family photos?" wondered Chibiusa.
"That's right," replied Ikuko. "I thought I'd organize them a little since it's been a while."
Chibiusa then picked up a photo of a certain ordango blonde as a baby having a muddy face while playing in the sandbox. "This one looks pretty funny!" she laughed. "Who's this?"
Usagi gulped while growing pink with embarrassment. "Well, um, you see - " she stammered.
But Ikuko cut in. "That's Usagi when she was still a baby," she smiled. "Don't you recognize her?"
"Not with all that dirt on her!" laughed Chibiusa.
Usagi scowled. "Hey, watch it, kid!" she grumped.
Chibiusa then picked up another photo. This time it was the same ordango blonde, but she looked around five or six years old, wore a bunny outfit, and stood on stage with a few other costumed kids. "What about this one?" she inquired.
"Oh, I remember that one," Ikuko chuckled. "That was when Usagi dressed up as a bunny for her kindergarten play." She then picked up another photo. "Oh, and take a look at this one! This photo was taken on Usagi's first day of elementary school."
It was a photo of a slightly younger Ikuko in a pink business outfit and a little Usagi in a school uniform and backpack.
"Whoa. Usagi looks just like Chibiusa in this one!" observed Harusuke.
Usagi then looked through the photo and saw one that made her grin impishly. "Ooooh! Look at this one, Chibiusa!" she said. "I'd say this little guy looks pretty adorable in this one."
Harusuke looked at the photo, and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. It was of him as a toddler in his birthday suit playing in the bathtub with a bubble beard and hair.
"Gah! Usagi! Don't show her that!" he cried.
But Chibiusa had already taken the photo and couldn't help but laugh when she saw it. "Oh, wow! This guy has to be you, Harusuke! You look so silly!"
"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up," Harusuke spoke while rolling his eyes. "I'll admit I do look pretty silly."
"And take a look at this one," said Ikuko. "This photo was when Harusuke took part in a sports event in the second grade."
She then showed a photo of Harusuke as a kid wearing PE clothes, running while carrying a baton.
"Oh, yeah! I remember that day!" Harusuke realized. "I managed to get second place in that!"
Chibiusa felt happy seeing the photos, but she realized something.
"There's a lot of photos of Usagi and Uncle Sunny," she thought sadly. "But there isn't a single one of me."
Then, Ikuko spoke up. "You know, seeing these photos makes me see a dream coming true," she said with nostalgia.
Usagi, Harusuke, and Chibiusa looked at their mother.
"Your dream?" repeated Harusuke.
"Yes, these photos are a record of a dream I've always had," Ikuko smiled. "Of everyone in the Tsukino family growing up healthy and happy. And out of all the photos I've taken -" She held up another photo. "I have to say this one's my current favorite."
Usagi, Chibiusa, and Harusuke looked at it, and they were surprised to see that it was a photo of the entire family. Ikuko, Kenji, Usagi, Harusuke, Shingo, and even Chibiusa. All of which were smiling happily.
"You know what?" said Usagi. "I think that this photo's my favorite too."
"Same here," agreed Harusuke. "It's a good one."
"Me too," concurred Chibiusa.
"And one day, I hope to take photos of Chibiusa and Usagi, all grown up, going up the aisle in their wedding dresses," Ikuko continued, her eyes twinkling with passion. "And Harusuke and Shingo in their tuxes, waiting for their brides up the aisle too. That's my biggest dream now."
The three Tsukinos could only stare at their mom smiling in admiration. The three Tsukinos then each embraced their mother in a hug.
"Thank you for telling us your dream, Mom," said Usagi. "It's a wonderful dream to have."
"Yeah, and we all hope it comes true for you," said Harusuke.
Ikuko smiled and hugged her children back. Then, she realized something. "Oh! That reminds me! I was going to go to the store and get some things before it closed for the day! Does anyone want to come with me?"
"I do! I do!" Chibiusa said eagerly.
"So, do I!" concurred Usagi.
"Yeah. Why not?" said Harusuke.
A little while later, the party had done their grocery shopping and were now walking home together carrying bags.
"Wow, you sure bought a lot of lemons, Mom!" said Chibiusa. "You got enough in here to make lots of lemonade!"
"Well, yes, but I was thinking I bake some more lemon meringue pies," said Ikuko. "And you can invite your friends over for tea."
"That's a great idea!" Usagi cried happily. "I can invite Mamo over, too!"
"And I'm sure the others would love to try your pie," said Harusuke. "It'll be more like a party rather than tea."
As they went through Juuban Park, Hawk's Eye was watching them from behind some bushes wearing civilian clothes.
"So she's got some kids with her, eh?" he said to himself. "Well, that's OK. Might make it even better."
He snapped his fingers, and immediately, the bottom of the bag burst open. Lemons fell and rolled everywhere.
Then, as everyone picked them up, Hawk's Eye came out of the bushes and rushed over to them. "Here! Let me help you!" he said.
"Thank you," said Ikuko. "You're very kind."
As she reached out for a lemon, Hawk's Eye happened to reach for the same one, causing their hands to touch.
Hawk's Eye looked up, and his eyes went wide, feigning surprise. "No! It can't be!" he gasped.
"What is it?" asked Ikuko.
Hawk's Eye pretended that he was about to cry as he held Ikuko's hand tightly. "Mommy!" he spoke dramatically.
All of the Tsukinos could not believe their ears.
Hawk's Eye then relented as he started to weep. "Oh! Please forgive me," he apologized. "It's just that you looked so much like my long-lost mother for a moment, I-."
"Your mother?" repeated Ikuko. "You mean to say that you've lost her?"
Hawk's Eye dug into his pocket and made a necklace appear inside it, presenting it to them. "Yes. I have one picture of her that was taken long ago," he said. "It's the only image of her that I have."
He opened the locket showing them the picture inside. When everyone inspected the photo, the Tsukinos were surprised to see that picture was of a woman that looked eerily similar to Ikuko.
"No way! She looks just like you, Mom!" gasped Harusuke.
"I've been traveling thousands of miles for many years searching desperately for my dear beloved mother," continued Hawk's Eye. "And just when I thought I've found a ray of hope."
Usagi's eyes were overflowing with tears. "How awful!" she sniffed with empathy. "You poor thing!"
Ikuko felt bad too and wanted to help. "If you don't mind my asking," she said. "What was your mother's name?"
"Ikuko," replied Hawk's Eye. "Ikuko Nikolaevic D. Blavatsky."
Everyone blinked and stared blankly at Hawk's Eye, confused.
"Just what country are you from anyway?" wondered Chibiusa wryly.
"Maybe Russia or some other exotic country?" suggested Harusuke.
"I'm very sorry, but I think you've got the wrong person," said Ikuko.
Hawk's Eye sadly smiled. "I see that now. How could I have thought that someone as beautiful and young as you could have been her? Just forget it, OK. I think that I'll-."
He was about to stand up and leave when his legs suddenly gave out, and he collapsed to the ground surprising the Tsukinos.
"What's wrong?! Are you all right?!" Ikuko asked in alarm.
"I - I haven't eaten in days," Hawk's Eye spoke weakly. "How I wish I could eat my dear Mommy's pickled radish, one last time..."
"Oh, you poor thing!" gasped Ikuko. "We need to get you some food, but we don't have any pickled radish!"
"We'll go back to the store and buy some!" said Chibiusa. "Maybe there are some stores that are still open!"
"Then, let's split up and search!" said Usagi. "We'll go look Downtown and buy some!"
"Are you going to be OK by yourself, Mom?" asked Harusuke.
"Don't worry. I'll be fine," reassured Ikuko. "I'll stay with him."
Usagi, Chibiusa, and Harusuke then ran off while Hawk's Eye smirked to himself triumphantly. His chance had now come.
Ikuko helped Hawk's Eye sit up. "Here, does this help a little?"
"Yes, it does. Thank you," said Hawk's Eye. "You know, you're as kindhearted as you are beautiful. I've always admired women for that."
He gently held the woman's hand as he spoke, getting up to his knees like he was proposing.
"Our meeting like this had to have been more than a coincidence," he continued with a longing look. "A kind and beautiful woman like you surely must have beautiful dreams."
Ikuko felt flustered and a bit uncomfortable. "Um, I-I don't think it is!" she stammered. "What are you talking about?"
Hawk's Eye leaned in closer, appearing to go for a kiss, but then, Ikuko retracted her hand and pushed him away, much to his surprise.
"Now, see here, young man!" she said firmly. "I don't know if you're delirious from hunger, but I'm a married woman, and I will not tolerate such behavior!"
Hawk's Eye stared. Then, a malicious smile crossed his face, dropping his act. "Oh, well. So much for doing things the easy way," he said. "And here I was hoping to get something out of this."
With a snap of his fingers, he shed his disguise, surprising Ikuko, but before she could react, a slab sprang up from behind her, metal clamps closed around her wrists and ankles, and her dream mirror sprang out from his chest.
At that moment, Usagi, Harusuke, and Chibiusa returned, and when they saw this sight, they gasped.
"Oh, no! Mommy Ikuko!" cried Chibiusa.
"She's being targeted for her dream mirror!" exclaimed Usagi.
"Come on! We got to help her!" yelled Harusuke.
The three Tsukinos quickly hid so they wouldn't be seen and transformed.
"MOON CRISIS, MAKE-UP!"
"SOLARIS CRYSTAL POWER, SHINE ON!"
Transformation Sequence: Usagi and Chibiusa.
Both Usagi's Crisis Moon Compact and Chibiusa's Chibi Moon Compact open and their crystals inside of them. They both begin to flash until they erupt with pink light. While enveloped in light with their compacts affixed to the middle of their chests, Usagi and Chibiusa stand side by side as pink ribbons made of light burst from their brooches, trailing and flapping in the wind like capes. First, as she turns around, they wrap around Usagi, forming her leotard, and the same happens to Chibiusa. Next, the two stood back-to-back, bending backward elegantly as their skirt, boots, and ribbons materialized. Then, as they move around face-to-face, Chibiusa kisses Usagi's cheek, and as she pulls away, her tiara and other accessories appear along with Usagi's. The two then open their eyes, their transformations completed; they turn one and strike their signature poses while a yellow moon with pink roses on the side appears in the background.
Transformation Sequence: Harusuke (Post Crystal)
Harusuke's hand waves over the Sunstone Crystal and begins to pulse with light until it shines brightly. Harusuke, now shrouded in light, holds his hand with the Sunstone Crystal up high, throws his fist to the floor, and his symbol appears beneath him. Light encases his legs up to his hips, and his boots, belt, and additional armor on his thighs materialize in a burst of light. Then his right encompasses his right arm from hand to shoulder, and his gloves, along with some armor, appear, and the same happens to his left hand. Harusuke then punches his fists together, creating a spark of light, and crosses his arms as his chest gets wrapped in light. Harusuke then throws his arms out, and his chest plate appears, the symbol in the middle glowing brightly. Finally, his helmet appears on his head, covering up his entire head, leaving his face exposed. Harusuke opens his eyes smiling with confidence, his transformation now complete, and assumes his signature pose, with the sun appearing in the background while his symbol overlaps it.
Hawk's Eye smugly chuckled as he took hold of Ikuko's dream mirror. "Now, let's see what's inside that beautiful dream of yours."
He was about to stick his head inside it when a pair of voices shouted.
"SOLARIS NOVA FLARE!"
"MOON TIARA ACTION!"
Hearing them, Hawk's Eye looked up to see a white beam and a disc shooting straight at him, forcing him to jump back to dodge. As he looked up, Super Sailor Moon, Super Sailor Chibi Moon, and Solaris came to the rescue.
"Hold it right there, you creep!" shouted Super Sailor Moon. "How dare you try and seduce a busy mother who devotes her time to her motherly duties?!"
"And to also take advantage of her gracious nature just to mess with her beautiful dreams!" added Solaris.
"We're the Guardians who fight for love and justice!"
"I'm Sailor Moon!"
"I'm Sailor Chibi Moon!"
"And I'm Solaris!"
"And in the name of the moon, we'll punish you!" the three finished.
"So, you're those Guardians that's been giving my associate so much trouble," mused Hawk's Eye. "I have to say; I can see why he would call you bumpkins." He then bowed. "Since we're doing introductions, allow me to introduce myself. The name's Hawk's Eye, and this is my Lemures. Now, come forth, Ms. Do Kanko, the Human Cannon!"
At his command, Hawk's Eye's shadow lifted itself from the ground, stood up, and morphed into the Lemures, Do Kanko.
She had white skin and yellow hair tied in multiple balls; her outfit was a blue leotard with red diamonds in the middle, black armor on her knees, hips, and breasts, and a pointy metal hat that matched her leotard. As she appeared, a cannon sprang up next to her.
The guardians each took a stance, ready to fight, but then the Lemures whipped out a giant puffy brush and began cleaning the cannon's insides.
The three couldn't help but be perplexed, wondering what she was doing, but then the Lemures took out a lighter, lit the cannon's fuse, and jumped inside it.
Solaris then shouted. "Oh, crap! Look out!"
But his warning came too late as the Cannon fired, sending Do Kanko hurling straight towards them. But before it was too late to react, a familiar chain of hearts made of light wrapped around the three and yanked them out of the way as Da Kanko hit the ground with a boom.
Then, Sailors Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Venus, who had used her Love-Me Chain, arrived.
"Are you guys OK?" asked Sailor Venus.
"Yeah," Super Sailor Moon, Chibi Moon, and Solaris replied.
Hawk's Eye clicked his tongue. "Damn it. Didn't think there'd be this many Guardians!" he huffed. "No matter. Do Kanko! Blow them all to smithereens!"
Do Kanko quickly raced back to her cannon, lighting the fuse and loading herself in it. It fired with a bang launching her towards the Guardians again.
Sailor Jupiter, Mars, and Mercury retaliated with their attacks.
"JUPITER COCONUT CYCLONE!"
"MARS SNAKE FIRE!"
"MERCURY AQUA MIRAGE!"
But much to their shock, their attacks bounced off the Lemrures as she continued her path toward them.
"Everyone, scatter!" yelled Solaris.
The Guardians then split up in different directions as Do Kanko crashed into the ground with another explosion.
The Lemures then snapped indignantly. "Why do you people keep dodging?! Would it kill you to stay still?!"
The Guardians stared at her blankly.
"Does she even need to ask that?" Sailor Mars spoke flatly.
Hawk's Eye was scowling, but then he had an idea. "Then, how about I make things a bit easier for you?" he said with a smirk. "Nightmare Lemureses, arise!"
With another snap of his finger, several Nightmare Lemures emerged from the ground and attacked the guardians. The Guardians tried to shoo them away, but they were too many of them as they released a discharge of negative energy, shocking them.
While they were distracted, Do Kando hopped into her cannon again while Hawk's Eye refocused his attention on Ikuko's dream mirror.
"Now, let's get on with the show, shall we?" he smirked as he grabbed the mirror.
"No! Stay away from her!" yelled Super Sailor Chibi Moon as she rushed towards them.
"Sailor Chibi Moon, wait!" shouted Super Sailor Moon. "You can't fight him on alone!"
But as she tried to go after her, Do Kando's cannon fired as Do Kanko shot at them a third time. This time, she crashed close to where they were, the force of the explosion sending them flying as they took damage.
As Sailor Moon and the others recovered, and while determined to save Ikuko, the tiny guardian summoned her Chibi Moon Kaleidoscope and unleashed her signature attack.
"MOON GORGEOUS MEDITATION!"
She unleashed a mighty blast of rainbow shards, and Hawk's Eye quickly jumped back to avoid it.
"Get away from her!" Super Sailor Chibi Moon ordered bravely. "I won't let you lay a finger on her or her dreams!"
Hawk's Eye scowled angrily. "Annoying little runt!" he snarled as he brought his arm back, preparing to strike her.
Then, Solaris and Super Sailor Moon intercepted, tackling him simultaneously and knocking him to the ground.
"We got your back, Chibi Moon!" shouted Super Sailor Moon. "We'll save Mom together!"
Hawk's Eye flipped back up to his feet, even more annoyed, but his fight wasn't over yet. Solaris then shot forward, summoning his Astral Nimbus Blade, and attacked, swinging and slashing. Hawk's Eye quickly dodged, parried the blows, and jumped back to gain some distance.
"Well, well. You must be Solaris," Hawk's eye spoke while dodging. "I've heard quite a bit about you from Tiger's Eye. Personally, not impressed."
"Like I care what you think!" Solaris barked. "Just stay away from that woman or else!"
He swung his blade with all his strength, only for Hawk's Eye to repeatedly backflip, gaining some distance.
"Or else what?" Hawk's Eye inquired with a mocking smirk. "You're not exactly in a position to be making that threat. You're too weak to be making any threat at all."
Solaris scowled. "What was that?!" he growled.
"I think you heard me," said Hawk's Eye. "Or are you as deaf as you are stubborn?"
Solaris angrily glared as his crystal began to release black sparks.
"Calm down, Solaris!" said Super Sailor Moon. "He's trying to get under your skin!"
Hawk's Eye laughed. "Why even bother doing that when it's a fact?" he said with a shrug. "After all, Solaris couldn't beat Tiger's Eye, and he's beat him down quite a few times, so how could he hope to beat me? Not unless he relies on his friends to fight his battles for him."
At that statement, Solaris snapped, rage seizing his emotions as his crystal sparked a bit more. "Shut your mouth!" he roared as he launched himself at Hawk's Eye.
"Solaris! Don't!" yelled Sailor Mercury. "You can't beat him alone!"
"Stay out of this!" Hawk's Eye shot back as he snapped his fingers and Nightmare Lemures appeared.
Every one of them blocked their way and attacked the Guardians shocking them once again and sapping their energy.
Super Sailor Moon summoned her Moon Kaleidoscope, and she and Chibi Moon prepared to use Moon Gorgeous Meditation. However, they overlooked Do Kanko, who once again blasted herself from her cannon and struck her targets with a mighty explosion.
Meanwhile, Solaris' was swinging his sword wildly as he tried to get one hit on Hawk's Eye, while the latter dodged and weaved with ease. Then, while gripping his sword tightly, Solaris drew a circle, his blade glowing white as he put every ounce of weight and energy into it, and raised it above his head and gave it a mighty slash while letting out another roar.
Hawk's Eye smirked with confidence as Solaris closed in. Then, just before the blade could touch him, he raised his hand and caught it. As Solaris' eyes widened in shock, Hawk's Eye chuckled and effortlessly snapped his sword in two.
Hawk's Eye then summoned a torch with his hand.
"My turn."
With a single blow of his breath, he unleashed an enormous torrent of flames blasting Solaris with them. The golden guardian screamed in agony as the fire scorched his body and sent him slamming to the ground.
Seeing that all the Guardians were sprawled on the ground, unable to fight, Hawk's Eye went over to Ikuko and her dream mirror.
"Finally, I can continue without any interruptions."
He then stuck his head inside the dream mirror and looked around inside Ikuko's dreams. However, much to his annoyance, he didn't see any sign of his target.
"Well, that's disappointing. Pegasus isn't in there either," he huffed. "Just dreams about obnoxiously happy children and couples getting married." He then turned to his Lemures. "Do Kanko! Go on and finish them off, starting with this one!"
Solaris heard this and watched as Do Kanko aimed her cannon in Ikuko's direction. "N-no! D-Don't do it!" he begged as he struggled to get up.
Hawk's Eye chuckled. "Don't worry. Once Do Kanko's done with her, you'll be joining her soon after," he said. "And by the way, here's an interesting question for you. Do you know what happens when a person's Dream Mirror is shattered?" He paused for a bit before sadistically smiling. "The answer's simple. They die."
Solaris's eyes widened in horror upon hearing this, as did the other guardians.
"That's right. Once the dream mirror is destroyed, its host will also be destroyed, unable to wake up again," continued Hawk's Eye. "But don't worry too much. Once this one's finished, you'll be next. And I think I'll start with Super Sailor Moon."
The guardians struggled to get up as Do Kanko got ready to light her cannon's fuse as she hopped inside it, desperate to stop her.
Time seemed to go in slow motion as Solaris' eyes stayed wide, his heartbeat ringing in his ears and his body growing cold. In addition, memories of past deaths he witnessed began playing out in his mind; Nephrite, Saphir, Demande, Queen Serenity, his friends, and even Usagi as Princess Serenity.
The memories alone made two overwhelming feelings seize his heart and mind.
Rage from being openly mocked for being weak and unable to protect someone he loved, and powerlessness for being weak and unable to save them as they died. The same two feelings that he repeatedly experienced throughout all of them.
He slowly got up, managing to stand, and stayed ominously silent as a strange dark aura shrouded his body as his crystal crackled and sparked wildly. Then, finally, there was an audible pulse from his crystal as it turned a deep shade of black.
Then, Solaris let out a scream filled with rage and desperation as he transformed.
Transformation: Solaris
Solaris stands as a strange black entity appears behind him with giant hands that clasp around him, encasing his entire body in a cocoon of darkness. The cocoon briefly glows purple for a moment, then explodes into flames. From them, his right hand emerges, then his left, right leg, left leg, and lastly, his head, his armor now colored black with purple lines with red gems. Finally, he opens his eyes, which are now glowing bright yellow, and a pair of lenses and a faceplate close around his face, hiding it from view. His corrupted transformation completed, Solaris crosses his arms while spinning, raises them over his head, and throws himself into a powerup pose while several flashes of black lightning crackle and boom in the background.
Super Sailor Moon and the other guardians couldn't believe their eyes as Solaris stood in a familiar form while radiating an evil aura.
"N-No way! That transformation!" gasped Sailor Venus.
"Is that - Dark Nova?" wondered Super Sailor Moon in worry.
"It can't be! I thought Solaris became that way because Chibiusa was Black Lady!" exclaimed Sailor Jupiter.
Hawk's Eye was more interested than he was surprised. "Well, this is unexpected," he said. "Tiger's Eye mentioned that you had a color-changing trick. But no matter what color you become, you still won't stand a chance."
The Guardian stayed silent and as still as a statue.
Hawk's Eye rose a brow. "Are you even listening to me?" he asked. "Or are you going to keep giving me the silent treatment?"
Solaris still didn't make a sound, nor did he move.
"Fine then. Let's see how quiet you can be with this!" said Hawk's Eye as he snapped his fingers. "Nightmare Lemures! Attack him!"
The Nightmare Lemures turned their attention to Solaris, and all attacked at once, quickly overwhelming him with their numerous and shocking him with their power.
Suddenly, they were all blown away by a powerful blast of darkness that dispelled them instantly.
"What just happened?" Super Sailor Chibi Moon wondered.
"They... they were blown away," replied Super Sailor Moon.
Hawk's Eye, now growing annoyed, barked at his Lemures remaining. "Do Kanko! Aim for Solaris and wipe him out!"
Do Kanko's got herself ready as the cannon aimed towards the guardian, and she lit the fuse. However, Solaris still didn't move.
The cannon fired, blasting Do Kanko straight at her enemy like a torpedo. But just when she could hit her target, Solaris raised an arm and blocked Do Kanko by the nose of her hat. The force from the Lemures made him move back a bit, but Solaris remained unfazed as he eventually came to a stop.
"What?!" Hawk's Eye exclaimed in shock.
"H-He stopped her with just one hand!" cried Super Sailor Moon.
"Hey! Let go of me!" cried Do Kanko as she struggled to get free. "That's my hat, you know!"
Solaris finally looked toward the Lemures' direction, his tinted eyes ominously glowing. Then, he uttered one single word in a low and stoic voice.
"Vanish."
A powerful bolt of black lightning engulfed the Lemures' body, making her shrilly scream in pain and agony as it heavily shocked her.
In seconds, Do Kanko's body shattered, reverting into a shadow on the ground that eventually disappeared.
Everyone could not believe what they had seen, wholly speechless and unnerved.
"I-Impossible!" cried Hawk's Eye.
"After all the trouble we went through to take out that thing, Solaris did it instantly!" gasped Sailor Jupiter.
Hawk's Eye then made to use his torch to attack. But then, Solaris looked in his direction, and the Amazon froze in his tracks.
From his eyes, he could see an ominous fog enveloping the guardian's body with a pair of red eyes glaring at him from behind. He also saw visions of himself dead on the ground with Solaris standing over his dead body.
"What - What is this overwhelming presence?!" Hawk's Eye thought. "It's like a mass of malice that'll kill me if I attack him!"
"This aura! I'm sensing overwhelming intent!" Sailor Mars thought. "It's even stronger than before!"
It wasn't just them that sensed this either. While not having senses like Sailor Mars or Hawk's Eye, the other guardians could feel it too, and they were spooked.
A few tense seconds passed, then Hawk's Eye put away his torch and summoned a wormhole made of feathers.
"I'm out of here," he said hastily. "I'm not about to risk my neck for this!"
Solaris raised a hand and fired another black bolt of lightning, but Hawk's Eye managed to jump inside of the portal and was gone. At the same time, the slab and clamps that trapped Ikuko faded away, making her fall to the ground, still unconscious.
"Mommy Ikuko!" Sailor Chibi Moon cried, and she rushed over to try and help her.
"No, Sailor Chibi Moon!" yelled Super Sailor Moon. "Don't move!"
But immediately, Solaris suddenly appeared, standing in front of the tiny guardian. Super Sailor Chibi Moon stepped back as she stared into the glowing eyes of the black guardian as they stared at her.
"Is this... is this what Uncle Sunny was like when I was controlling him as Black Lady?" wondered Super Sailor Chibi Moon in her thoughts. "He looks so scary! I can't even move!"
At that moment, the glowing in his eyes flickered and slowly dimmed. Then, in a flash of black, his malevolent aura disappeared, and the armor returned to its golden luster as he collapsed to the ground.
"He's - back to normal!" said Sailor Mercury.
Super Sailor Moon quickly rushed over. "Solaris! Are you all right?!"
Solaris slowly opened his eyes as he woke up. "What? Sailor Moon? Sailor Chibi Moon?"
"Thank goodness! You're back to normal, Uncle Sunny!" Super Sailor Chibi Moon sighed with relief.
"Wait, what are you talking about?" wondered Solaris. "What happened to me?"
"You mean - you don't remember anything?" asked Super Sailor Chibi Moon.
Solaris shook his head. "Well, I remember lying on the ground, and that Lemures was about to shoot itself into Mom," he replied. "After that, I don't remember."
Super Sailor Moon and the other guardians could only stay silent, relieved that their comrade was himself again but still unnerved.
A few days later, everyone came for tea at the Tsukinos place. Ikuko had just brought a fresh pie, and everyone couldn't help but marvel at the sight of it.
"I hope you all enjoy it," smiled Ikuko. "I put a lot of effort into making it."
Then, as everyone was served the pie, Usagi couldn't help but notice something about Chibiusa's slice.
"Hey, Chibiusa! Your piece looks bigger than mine!" she complained. "Let's switch!"
"No way!" objected Chibiusa. "Why do we have to switch?!"
"Because I'm in the middle of a growth spurt!" Usagi huffed. "A growing girl has to get her food!"
"Oh, yeah? And by a growth spurt, do you mean growing wider?" Chibiusa countered cheekily.
Usagi growled crossly. "Hey! Is that any way to speak to your senior?!" she snapped. "Also, I'm bigger than you, so you better watch it!"
"Oh, yeah?! A bigger idiot's more like it!" Chibiusa snapped back. "You're more a glutton than you are of a senior!"
"Come on, you two, knock it off," sighed Harusuke. "You're arguing over food."
"Yeah, and there's a lot of us, so some pieces are bound to be bigger than others," pointed out Makoto.
"I agree," said Mamoru. "Cutting ten equal slices is harder than you think."
"But Mamoru, it's three hundred sixty degrees divided by ten," Ami spoke importantly. "So, if you cut each slice at an angle of thirty-six degrees, then -."
"Ami, please stop," Minako interrupted, groaning. "No math while we're eating."
All the girls started talking while Mamoru and Harusuke stayed quiet, neither daring to get involved.
Then, Ikuko took a breath and shouted firmly.
"QUIET!"
Everyone immediately went silent.
"Now, why don't you eat the pie and tell me how it tastes?"
Everyone took a bite of their slices, and their faces lit up.
"It's delicious!" they all said.
Ikuko smiled as she laughed. "That's better."
And everyone continued to enjoy their snack and tea.
But outside the Tsukino house, a shadow stood on top of the gate wearing a familiar coat with a hat, silently watching.