Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Sailor Stars: Chaos Theory
Act 53: When the Light is Extinguished
By Sora Kazeno
"I don't know where the Starlight are." Minako answered Yui's question for the umpteenth time.
Yui tried to find them yesterday but was unsuccessful. She hated the idea they could be crucial to stopping Chaos.
Minako continues, "They weren't exactly treated the best the last time they were here." She looks over at Makoto or Rei for assistance to emphasize her point.
"We all have a lot to adjust to," Rei adds without elaborating. She is thinking more about the conversation she had with Mamoru yesterday than the location of the Three Lights. "Everyone was thrown into this at once without warning, some cope better than others."
Ami looks up from the minicomputer she has been on all morning. "How can Chaos be separated from a starseed when someone loses a starseed they disappear? Chibi Chibi was Sailor Galaxia's starseed, wasn't she?"
"The Starlights might know." Minako adds with a shrug.
Makoto looks at Ami, Rei, and Minako before speaking. "We have to move quickly, Chaos is collecting more starseeds every day. We don't have time to waste. I think it is time we start searching the city for them."
"You know them best," Yui adds trying to find a way out of looking for the Starlight again. "I'll stay behind and help Setsuna-san."
"Probably for the best," Rei retorts without thinking. "I mean, I don't think we all need to search for them. I'm sure Setsuna-san would appreciate the help."
Yaten is annoyed while he lies on the floor of the hotel room. They have barely done anything in twenty four hours other than find this hotel room, buy, and eat food. "I thought we would have received some kind of follow up instructions from the Princess by now." He jerks upright. "You don't think…"
Seiya interrupts. "It's safer for the Princess to not be here. Chaos would target her just like last time."
"But we might need her power to stop Chaos." Taiki adds glumly.
"Sailor Planet Attack!" All of the energy the four Inner Senshi built up and was released against the Sailor Starlights.
The Starlights quickly collected energy to try to block the senshi and Sailor Kakyuu added her own power but the Inner senshi were too powerful when their abilities were amplified by Chaos. The four were thrown back beaten up. The senshi slowly walked toward them.
Sailor Mars raised her wrists and bursts of golden energy erupted from the purple and green jewels. Nobody said anything. The Starlights saw everything occur in slow motion as they tried to move in front of their Princess to protect her.
Sailor Kakyuu raised her rod to try to shield her but she was not quick enough. As soon as the blasts hit her she dropped her rod on the floor. It took only seconds for her starseed to appear. It floated by her for a few seconds before it began to drift away.
"No…" said Sailor Star Healer as she finally found her voice again. Tears streamed down her face at the thought of her Princess disappearing again right before her eyes.
Sailor Maker turned away since the scene was too difficult for her to watch.
Sailor Star Fighter slowly made her way to Sailor Kakyuu as her body was quickly fading. She reached Sailor Kakyuu first. Sailor Star Healer and Sailor Star Maker were not far behind.
"Remember everything we discussed…" said Sailor Kakyuu as she struggled to breathe. She could feel her life slipping away from her as each second ticked by. She turned her head slightly to face Sailor Star Fighter before she spoke. "Fighter, you have to help Sailor Moon. You've started to give up and if you give up this galaxy will cease to exist. This planet will turn into what Kinmoku once was…" she gasped as her eyes closed one final time. Her body faded seconds later.
Sailor Cosmos stopped her fight against Tuxedo Kamen and Sailor Galaxia long enough to collect Sailor Kakyuu's starseed. "Such a bright shine…" she murmured as she looked at the starseed she held in her hand. With a gesture from her hand the starseed vanished.
Yaten's eyes widen as he recalls a memory from the previous timeline where Princess Kakyuu's starseed was taken. His eyes dart back and forth looking at Seiya and Taiki.
Taiki rubs his head. "I think I saw our Princess lose her starseed…"
"Sailor Mars took it and gave it to Sailor Cosmos," Seiya slowly finishes. The looks on the faces of the other two Lights in the room confirm they had the same memory just now. Everything became blurry in the room to Seiya as another memory flashes before his eyes.
Seiya sat down next to Hikaru in Mamoru's apartment. On a shelf behind Mamoru was a picture of him with Usagi. The picture was different than the one Seiya had seen at Usagi's house. She looked so happy in the picture with him. But then he thought about how miserable she felt when he was gone. He then thought about everything that happened in the past few weeks. He focused on getting his attention back to the problem at hand.
Yaten sat down next to Taiki on the couch. "Now that our Princess is gone, no one can purify Cosmos."
"Chaos is gaining more control over her," Hikaru explained. "At the beginning Chaos barely had control. I've been absent a lot completing research but I believe it has finally paid off. If we can have Sailor Moon in control for a short period of time, I can help her expel some part of Chaos. The only problem with this plan is that it will take time and I'm not sure how much time we have or how long Sailor Moon can remain in control."
"Then we have to bring Usako out," said Mamoru. "I'm just not sure how anymore. Last time she nearly took my starseed."
"Maybe you're trying to reach the wrong person. The Moon Princess was the last to appear," Hikaru said with a hand to her chin.
"Either way, we have to end this soon," said Taiki as he looked around the room at everyone. "We are the only ones left."
"It seems like we will need Galaxia's help," Taiki suddenly speaks up. He is oblivious to the other memory Seiya just experienced.
"Wait…" Seiya speaks up. "I just saw something else… a time when Sailor Galaxia told us we have to try to expel parts of Chaos from Sailor Cosmos when… Odango is in control…or the Moon Princess…" his voice trails off.
"How do we do that?" Taiki asks his focus now on Seiya. "And in a way that will not jeopardize our Princess?"
"It sounds like we need Sailor Galaxia's help more than ever but how are we supposed to reach her? We left so abruptly." Yaten adds glumly.
Seiya sighs. He knows what Yaten and Taiki are implying. "The three of can't do much." He hates to admit it out loud no matter how accurate of a statement it is. "The three of us are clearly targets."
"We would be even bigger targets on the street," Taiki interjects.
Seiya shakes his head in disagreement. "A lot of people by now know that we are back. It is clear that Chaos isn't only targeting us."
"And sitting here won't help us try to stop Chaos. How many starseeds do you think Chaos has now while we've remained here? What happens when Chaos finds all of the starseeds, then what? How would we stop it then?" Yaten vents the frustration he has felt during the past twenty four hours.
"I'm not going to sit around here to wait and find out. We need to find her. Find a way to stop this madness. Even try to work together with the others. This danger will not pass if we are passive." Seiya stands up walking toward the door to emphasize his point.
Taiki stands up. His first instinct is to challenge Seiya but decides against it. "We haven't made any process in here."
Yaten shrugs and stands up. They haven't come up with anything else. Maybe the other senshi finally calmed down.
Mamoru barely slept last night since Sailor Cosmos left and Setsuna's visit. Ayumi ended up leaving with Setsuna last night citing she had a lot to talk to Setsuna about but he believes it was because they wanted to give him time alone after everything that happened.
He sips on his now lukewarm coffee. Yesterday's events constantly replay in his mind. All he can think about is how to stop Chaos. Unfortunately each time he ends up with nothing. It is the story of his life, not remembering things that are important.
Staring into his coffee a memory returns to him.
"This isn't you Usako," said Tuxedo Kamen as he tried to help Usagi break through Chaos' control.
Sailor Cosmos glared at him. "You keep saying that yet you don't realize that I have freed Usagi. She has always weighted down by you and now she isn't." Sailor Cosmos raised her staff as it began to glow. She fires one shot at Tuxedo Kamen.
Tuxedo Kamen easily dodged the attack. He couldn't believe he was actually going to have to fight her. "I don't want to fight you Usako." Tuxedo Kamen said with a lot of hurt in his voice.
"That's funny because I want to fight you!" Sailor Cosmos said as she blasted him again. "Do you have any idea how much pain you put Usagi through? Not having your memories… not once but twice! Breaking up with her because your future self said so! Not spending time with her unless she pulled her grades up and the best one yet was to abandon her and go to another country! How can you expect her not to be angry? She would never take her frustrations out on you though," said Sailor Cosmos at she glared at the man in front of her. "Good thing I'm not her!" Sailor Cosmos was about to attack again but she paused for a moment.
The crescent moon symbol flickered on Sailor Cosmo's forehead for a moment. She shook her head as if trying to clear her thoughts. The crescent moon was replaced by the eight pointed star. "Why you are still struggle so much is beyond me," murmured Sailor Cosmos. "You're that afraid I'm going to hurt him?" She laughed and turned her attention back to Tuxedo Kamen. "You have a starseed I wish to collect." She raised the bracelets on her wrists and fired energy from them at Tuxedo Kamen.
The attack never reached him since it was deflected by an aqua colored ball of energy. Sailor Neptune arrived.
His head snaps up as the memory ends. There was such anger in her voice directed at him, it gives him chills. Was that her true feelings? Was she that upset with him at one point in their lives? He gulps down the rest of the coffee.
Usa is out there somewhere, he thinks to himself. With the sun climbing in the sky, he leaves his apartment to speak to the others. His gut tells him recalling these memories are the key to stopping Chaos. But based on some of the memories he has recalled, he's not sure if he wants to remember everything.
Ayumi blows on her tea, trying to process everything Setsuna and told her regarding the history of the senshi since the Silver Millennium. She filled in many gaps Mamoru did not want to discuss with her the other night. "This is a lot to take in at once." She places the tea on the table. Her emerald eyes meeting Setsuna's as she continues, "if I was Chaos, I would pick everyone off one by one; if not individually then in small groups." She sighs in frustration. "This is actually what we are doing right now. We're making it easier for her. We have to stick together, work together. There has to be a way to stop this." She emphasizes her next words. "Stop Serenity."
Ayumi bites her tongue from adding anything else. Once again Serenity is at the heart of this creating all of the problems. First it was her kingdom Endymion wanted to save rather than protect the Earth. In a twist of events, they now have to protect the Earth from Serenity. She inhales deeply to calm her rising anger; trying to follow her own advice of putting differences to the side to work together as one team.
Haruka isn't as willing to go along with Ayumi's words. "What are we going to do with those outsiders? This is our issue and not theirs," her voice full of venom.
Michiru places a hand on Haruka's arm in gesture to silence her. "Haruka that is incorrect. As much as I hate to say it, Sailor Cosmos power is from their star system. You've seen how powerful Sailor Cosmos can be. We need their help if we want to survive."
"Without them we cannot seal Chaos," Setsuna adds, trying to help Haruka understand the need for as much assistance as possible. "We also need Sailor Galaxia and the Starlights Princess, Princess Kakyuu. I don't know what we can do to stop Chaos without their assistance. And we do not have a method to contact them."
Yui sits with her hands folded on the table, annoyed at Setsuna for wanting to rely on the Starlights so much. But given what is at stake, it can't be helped.
Usagi stares out into the darkness in dismay. How did it come to this again? Chaos was sealed, an issue of the past. Everyone moved on and the Earth was mostly at peace. What happened to the dirt creatures in Boston? Where they lost in time?
"It's all your fault Usagi."
The voice is cold and angry, different than anything Usagi had heard before. She whips around to see Princess Serenity with her arms crossed against her chest glaring at her.
"No it's not!" Usagi argues back. She is tired of everyone telling her it is her fault because she chose Seiya and not Mamoru. "If Sailor Pluto never changed the timeline Chaos would still be sealed."
"Hmph." Princess Serenity interjects. "The Guardian of Time never would have needed to change the timeline if you didn't lose your mind and chose Seiya. You are destined to be with Endymion." She uncrosses her arms and takes a step closer to the imprisoned Usagi. "Your. Decisions. Have. Consequences." She emphasizes each word, her eyes narrowing.
Usagi glares at Princess Serenity. "Didn't you tell me once to follow my heart?"
"I did. And it should have led you to Endymion, not another man."
Usagi's shoulders slump. It was always the same. "I was past this. I decided on Seiya when I followed my heart. I was happy!"
Princess Serenity can no longer contain her anger at Usagi. "Look at what that relationship has cost!"
"It didn't cost me anything!" Usagi shouts back. "The future you expected went out the window when Chaos was unleased." She lowers her voice and speaks softer realizing yelling at her other self will not accomplish anything. "My future is with Seiya." She looks up to meet the Princess's eyes. "I've already seen my future with Seiya."
She stares at Usagi in shock. When the feeling passes a new wave of anger washes over her, stronger than ever before. "You would be happier with Endymion! Don't you remember Crystal Tokyo! Everything you have ever done in your life leads you to him!"
"No!" Usagi cuts her off. "You would be happier with Endymion."
Princess Serenity hands shake but she can't respond back. She disappears into the darkness and Usagi is once more alone.
She slumps back down to the ground. Usagi is becoming used to being alone here. She tries to focus on remembering how she was freed from this imprisonment last time but some of her memories are blurred from when she was controlled by Chaos. How did she get out of here last time?
Usagi's head jerks up when she realizes she would need Princess Serenity's help. The same person that is furious with her. Until then, she is trapped.
Sailor Cosmos watches Ami and Makoto as they leave Makoto's apartment. It is still early in the day, limiting the number of people out. She debates for a moment whom she should go after next and decides on Ami. Her intellect could cause a problem. Sailor Pluto and Sailor Charon will have to wait and will likely be surrounded by other senshi.
Cosmos is frustrated she wasn't able to take Endymion's starseed last night. Serenity is more powerful than she and anticipated and anytime it involves Endymion, her power magnifies. She will do anything to protect him.
Sailor Cosmos knows she must find a way to deal with Serenity before she pushes herself to the surface to gain control of this body for periods of time. She will need to find a way to seal her like Chaos was sealed. She smirks. Or she just needs to tell Serenity what she wants to hear as another plan emerges.
Shaking her head, she redirects her attention to Ami and Makoto waiting for the light to change to a cross street. They are watching their surroundings carefully, searching for someone. Probably her. She smiles. All they have to do is look up. She disappears from the sky.
Reappearing behind them, Sailor Cosmos smiles with her bracelets raised. Without uttering another word, she unleashes golden energy from the bracelets at Ami.
The energy slams into Ami's back. Ami screams at the sudden pain she feels from behind.
Makoto's head whips around to Ami, disbelief in her expression.
The shock begins to wear off when she realizes what will happen next. An orange flower appears from her chest. The flower opens revealing a blue starseed. She collapses to the ground.
"No…" Makoto murmurs at first. "No!" She cries out as a few tears escape her eyes. She leans forward trying to catch the starseed to somehow return it to Ami.
The starseed does not cooperate and floats over to Sailor Cosmos. She smiles watching the sparkle of the starseed.
Makoto realizes she is too late and powerless to do anything. She kneels down next to Ami's rapidly disappearing body.
"Don't give up Mako-chan. Find a way to save Usagi-chan. I know you and the others are strong enough to stop Chaos." Ami coughs a few times and closes her eyes a final time. Her body vanishes.
Makoto looks up and glares at Sailor Cosmos.
Sailor Cosmos smiles at Makoto. "You're next." With a flick of her wrist, the starseed vanishes.
Makoto tries to be strong but is she alone against Sailor Cosmos; a senshi that took the starseed of one of their oldest friends. She darts into an alley to give her more time; time to contact the others and time to come up with some kind of plan to stay alive. Taking out her communicator she notifies the others. "Usagi-chan just took Ami-chan's starseed right by my apartment. I need help." A few seconds later, she hears responses help is on the way. She takes shelter in a small store and heads to the back of the store away from windows.
For the time being, she is safe. Usagi would not endanger others when she is the only target. Untying her ponytail, she ponders any other quick changes she can make to blend in with everyone else in the store. She hopes the others will arrive soon. She is no match for Sailor Cosmos on her own. It would be suicide to try.
Sailor Mars runs as fast as she can with Sailor Phobos, Sailor Callisto, Sailor Triton, and Sailor Umbriel. They were the only ones at the shrine at this time. She prays they are enough to stop Chaos and they will reach Makoto in time. She tries to push images out of her mind of Sailor Jupiter losing her starseed to Sailor Cosmos because she could not reach her. The panic forces Sailor Mars to run faster around the corner making a sharp turn crashing into someone hard.
Sailor Mars is met with an angry shout while she fell back into the Moon Senshi. Mentally she berates herself for this delay, every second matters to Makoto.
Yaten gets up from the ground, ready to yell at whoever tried to run him over. He opens his mouth but stops when he realizes he ran into senshi that are in a hurry. It can only mean one thing. "Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"Sailor Cosmos is attacking Mako-chan and she already took Ami-chan's starseed. We need your help," Sailor Mars pleads with them, the more the better. Silently she hopes Seiya could talk some sense into Usagi. Something. Anything. She just wants this nightmare to end.
"Where is she?" Seiya asks his heart beginning to race at the thought of seeing her again.
"It's not too far, just another five or six blocks up the street," Sailor Mars quickly explains. "We have to go." She walks past them and breaks into a run. Getting to Makoto is her priority. The other Moon Senshi follow behind her.
Taiki doesn't waste time finding a secluded area for them to transform into the Starlights. Within less than a minute they are on their way. The other senshi are three or four block ahead already.
Sailor Star Fighter watches them closely, making sure they don't miss a turn trying to follow them.
Makoto waits until what she believes is enough time passed for the others to arrive soon. Once she is completely alone, she transforms. "Jupiter Eternal, Make Up!" When the lighting energy fades, Sailor Jupiter emerges. If she is going to come across Sailor Cosmos she has to be transformed if she wants to stand a chance.
She estimates it has been ten minutes since she called the others for help. They should be here any moment. Now she needs to find Sailor Cosmos. If she remained where she was she would probably be safe but the others would never find her. A part of her feels terrified, an emotion she rarely feels. What is they are unable to defeat Chaos? What if they are able to stop Chaos but Usagi is never the same afterward? A wave of anxiety washes over her when she realizes nothing will ever be the same. Everyone was too complacent with the future they believed was set in stone. Perhaps nothing is set in stone.
Summoning her courage, she searches for Sailor Cosmos. It is eerily quiet. She stops several times when she hears noise but each time she doesn't find the Guardian. Maybe Usagi left?
Sailor Jupiter contacts the others on her communicator to tell them she doesn't know where Sailor Cosmos is.
"She's with us…" Mars frantically responds before the connection is lost.
Sailor Jupiter clenches her fist. They are in danger because or her. She darts off in the direction of the shrine, the path they would have taken to reach her. Listening for any sounds that would signify a battle is in the area.
Sailor Cosmos smiles at the red starseed floating between her hands. The shine is a little stronger that she anticipated for this senshi. "I guess I should thank Mako-chan for calling for help. With a flick of her wrist she sends the starseed away. She turns her attention to the remaining senshi in front of her.
Sailor Callisto, Sailor Triton, Sailor Umbriel, and Sailor Mars try to keep their emotions in check. Sailor Phoebos is no longer with them.
"We have to stay strong," Sailor Callisto tries to encourage the others to stay strong. But Chaos' powers seem to grow stronger with each passing day.
"Stay strong?" Sailor Cosmos rolls her eyes. "How do you stay strong? None of you are a match for me." She begins to gather energy in her staff. "Perhaps you need another demonstration." She is getting close to unleashing her attack when a flash of light barely misses her. She dodged it just in time. The energy source told her who had arrived without needing to look up.
"You're not going to take anyone else's starseeds Chaos." Her voice softens as she addresses the other person Chaos has imprisoned. "Snap out of it Odango." She pleads with her.
Hearing the voice of Sailor Star Fighter, Sailor Cosmos's expression softens and she directs her next statement to the Starlight. "I was wondering how long it would take for you to come to her."
Sailor Star Fighter is surprised by the response but continues. "I will always help you." She takes a few steps forward, hesitating on what she should do next. She wants more than anything to wrap her arms around her and assure her everything will be okay. But Usagi isn't her normal self. It would also be easier to express herself if they were alone. Her feelings for her have only deepened as more memories emerge showing glimpses of the relationship they had in the other timeline.
Sailor Mars uses the moment to pull out a paper scroll while Sailor Cosmos is distracted. She utters a few phrases before running up to Sailor Cosmos shouting, "Akuryo Taisan!" After the scroll is placed on her forehead, Mars moves to the side.
Sailor Cosmos is frozen in place, unable to move, giving the senshi a rare opportunity to attack her while she is defenseless.
"It won't hold her long but it will buy us some time," Sailor Mars tells the others.
"So now what?" Sailor Star Healer asks Sailor Mars, waiting to hear her plan.
Sailor Callisto scrambles for a plan. She wishes this is something they would have discussed with the others prior to this battle. Chaos will likely not be trapped again falling for the same tactic in the future. An idea hits her. "The bracelets, we need to remove them so she can't collect any more starseeds."
"That won't make a difference, she can create more bracelets anytime she wishes," Sailor Star Maker immediately shoots down recalling the time Sailor Cosmos materialized the bracelets for the first time on the asteroid.
Sailor Star Fighter realizes they don't have a plan. She is disappointed but takes matters into her own hands. She uses the time that is left to pull the staff out of Sailor Cosmos's hands. "Her power sources comes from this staff," she sounds confident in her plan. She stares at the staff in her hand, not sure what to do next. The staff flashes slightly in her hands as another memory washes over her. It was the last training session on Kinmoku.
Sailor Cosmos stood before Sailor Galaxia once more after a days rest. She feel refreshed and ready to take on whatever Galaxia had in store for her. She looked around the training area and noticed several targets. It was clear to her Sailor Galaxia wanted to focus on offensive attacks today.
Seiya stood in the distance of the training grounds. Even though Usagi assured him she was fine; he continued to be very protective of her. He promised not to intervene unless something was wrong.
Sailor Galaxia had several poster boards with target circle on them set up in various locations. "I would like you to find a target and try to hit it in the center."
Sailor Cosmos nodded her head as she turned to the target to the left of her. All she had to do was use a fraction of her power and hit the target. She raised her staff and pointed it in the direction of the target. She took a deep breath and summoned her powers. A small white beam shot out of her staff and clipped the side of the target area.
"We will have to work on your aim," said Sailor Galaxia as she examined the target closely. "Accuracy is very important. In difficult situations it can mean the difference between life and death."
Sailor Galaxia had her try again and Sailor Cosmos was closer to the center of the target but still to the side of it. After the next try, Sailor Cosmos finally hit part of the center of the circle.
Sailor Cosmos began to feel a little faint after she barely used her powers. She brushed it off. She told herself there was no way she could feel so faint after using a small fraction of her power. She was breathing heavy and relied on her staff to keep her steady.
Sailor Galaxia directed her to another set of targets to her right. There were three close to each other. "Try to see how many you can hit at once."
Seiya watched Sailor Cosmos closely. Something seemed off. He began to take a few steps forward.
Sailor Cosmos nodded her head and pointed her staff at the center object. She was going to try to split the energy beam three ways for each target. She knew it would be difficult but it was something she had to master. She tried the first attempt and nicked the center target and the one to the right. She was only able to summon two beams.
"Try again," directed Sailor Galaxia as she watched Sailor Cosmos struggle with the training exercise.
Sailor Cosmos still feel a little faint but she knew she could handle this. She cast aside the warnings her body gave her and tried again. She was able to hit both targets but still lacked the ability to produce a third beam on the last target.
"You're improving quickly," Sailor Galaxia commented her at her progress. "I'm sure if you try again you will succeed."
Sailor Cosmos began to feel more confident in her abilities and pushed herself harder. She raised her staff at the targets again and released three beams of white energy at the targets. The world around her spun in circles and she felt herself slip into darkness once more. Her staff was outstretched in her hand and quickly fell.
The sound terrified Seiya as he recalled what happened the last time she dropped her staff during a training session. He began to run toward her.
Sailor Cosmos crumpled to the ground. Her fuku faded and she reverted back to Usagi.
"Odango!" He screamed as he ran to her side. He couldn't go through this again. Something was seriously wrong. He couldn't understand why this continued to happen.
"I will find a doctor immediately!" said Sailor Galaxia as she ran toward the palace to find help.
Seiya looked around and realized no one else was around. He fumbled around her wrist for a pulse as he thought about the comment she had told him earlier, that she had died many times. He never learned how exactly she survived each time. He felt a little relieved when he found a pulse. It was weak.
Footsteps caused him to look up and he saw the same doctor that seen her a few days before and calmed it was fatigue. He bent down to exam her. He also checked her pulse and found a heartbeat. He relaxed when he found each. "I don't know what happened yet, but can you take her to her quarters? I need to talk to my colleagues and inform Princess Kakyuu."
"You have to figure out what is wrong with her," said Seiya as he scooped up Usagi in his arms. He held her close to him as he carried her back to her room to rest. By the time Seiya arrived at her room Princess Kakyuu already stood there.
"I heard what happened…" said Princess Kakyuu as she looked over at Usagi as she hoped to see a sign as to what could be done to help her.
Seiya placed Usagi in her bed and collapsed in a chair in the corner near the bed. "What is going on?" Seiya asked his Princess.
Princess Kakyuu was taken aback by the emotions she saw in his eyes. He was terrified of what was wrong with Usagi. It was at that moment she knew without a doubt Usagi had his heart. It was time for him to move on from being a Sailor Starlight so he could remain with her. "The doctors will do everything they can for her. I will be back in a little while. Please rest here." She gave a small smile and left.
Sailor Star Fighter snaps back to the present, shaking her head, trying to clear her thoughts but is too late. Sailor Cosmos recovered.
Sailor Cosmos regains control of her limbs and rips off the scroll from her forehead. She laughs at their effort. "It wasn't too bad of plan even though it wasn't well thought out." Her gaze falls on Sailor Star Fighter clutching the staff. "Based on your facial expression, the staff sparked another memory for you." She smiles. "I wonder what you saw this time."
Sailor Star Fighter cannot place her thoughts into words. What other memories are still locked away from her? Her frustration builds; convinced somewhere within these memories is the key to freeing Usagi from Chaos.
Sailor Cosmos stares at Sailor Star Fighter for a moment before continuing. "It was a good idea to take the staff. But if you remembered everything, you would remember these amplify all of my powers." She holds up the eight pearl rings around her fingers. A bright white flash is emitted from a few of the rings as she disappears.
Only to reappear behind Sailor Star Fighter, whispering in the Starlight's ear, "I hope you remember everything soon. It will be that much more fun to take your starseed once you remember how important you truly are to Usagi. I can't wait to see the look in your eyes the moment Usagi betrays you." She kisses Fighter on the cheek, using the distraction to effortlessly grab her staff from the senshi's hands. She vanishes temporality only to reappear in front of the senshi a short distance away.
Sailor Star Fighter stands there unmoving, trying to comprehend what just happened. What did Chaos meaning Usagi betraying her?
Sailor Jupiter no longer hesitates as she had earlier. She attacks Sailor Cosmos from behind. "Sparking Wide Pressure!"
The attack catches the Guardian off guard. She whips around to the side, the energy cutting her arm. The middle ring on her left hand glows softly. A golden light washes over the cut on her arm. The size of the cut begins to diminish.
The other senshi watch Sailor Cosmos in surprise at her ability to heal herself so easily after an injury.
"It looks like you're no longer hesitating," Sailor Cosmos directs her comment at Sailor Jupiter. "It will be that much more rewarding when I take your starseed in-" She stops midsentence. Time is ticking forward at a slightly faster rate than before. It's not normal. She had slowed it down to give her more time to collect all of the starseeds she needs. Glaring at the senshi, she cannot waste any more time here with them. Their starseeds will have to wait for another day. If she runs out of time, collecting starseeds becomes futile.
Usagi is also delaying the collection of starseeds. She doesn't want to see her friends hurt. Sailor Cosmos, she can always hurt some of her friends before she leaves. "Divine Stardust!" She launches an attack at Sailor Mars.
The energy never reaches the senshi of flames as the attack is deflected by orange energy. "Venus Rolling Hear Vibration!" The heart knocks the energy off course and into a nearby tree.
Sailor Cosmos surveys the area. There are now nine sailor senshi present, too many to contend with at once. The senshi begin to surround her.
"Morning Star!"
"Tidal Wave!"
The energy never reaches Sailor Cosmos as she disappears from sight.
The senshi stare quietly at the spot Sailor Cosmos once stood. Another attempt to stop Chaos was unsuccessful.
Sailor Jupiter breaks the silence. "We lost Ami-chan."
"We lost Ayane-san too," Sailor Mars adds in frustration. Anger is stronger than any of the other emotions she is feeling. She turns to the Sailor Starlights. "If you haven't shown up, I'm sure she would have taken more starseeds. Thank you."
Sailor Star Maker nods her head in acknowledgement. "It has become clear now more than ever that we need a plan that involves us working together if we want to survive."
"You make it sound like…" Sailor Venus stops speaking when she realizes she doesn't want to finish the rest of the sentence she started. She knows Sailor Star Maker is correct. "Sailor Cosmos, no Chaos will not stop until she has all of our starseeds." There is an awkward silence for a moment.
Sailor Callisto breaks the silence. "I agree with Sailor Star Maker. If we don't regroup Chaos will continue to walk over us." She looks at Sailor Mars, "we all need a place where we can freely talk."
Sailor Mars slows nods in her head in agreement. The shrine has become the easiest way for them to talk without interruption. "We should all head back to the shrine and once we are there we can contact everyone else." She isn't sure how Mamoru would react to being in the same room with Seiya after their last conversation. But everyone needs to brainstorm ideas.
The group slowly walks back to the shrine. The Three Lights walk behind the rest of the group.
Seiya walks behind Taiki and Yaten lost in his own thoughts. He touches his cheek were Sailor Cosmos kissed him. He lets out a sigh and stops when he recalls a memory of him and Usagi on Kinmoku in his room.
They broke the embrace and Seiya led Usagi into his room. His room was in utter disarray. There were clothes everywhere, crumpled pieces of paper, open drawers with its contents dumped on the floor. Usagi stared at everything wide eyed.
Seiya noticed her expression and laughed. "I'm in the middle of trying to find a song I started the last time I was home."
"A song?" Usagi asked, surprised that he continued song writing even after the Three Lights were disbanded. "What is the song about?"
"…" Seiya hesitated as a blush began to creep over his cheeks, "you."
"I've love to hear it," said Usagi as she looked around at the mess. "If you can find it…" She teased him back. "I wonder what your fans would think if they knew you lived like this?"
Seiya laughed at her quick remark. "Well… creative genius' usually have messy rooms."
Usagi smirks and shakes her head. "Maybe I can help you find it?" Usagi offered as she looked around at all the papers on the floor near her feet.
"Sure," said Seiya and he returned to one of his drawers and continued to dump more objects on the floor. "I thought I put it in here." He spoke to himself. "Oh wait!" He exclaimed as he pulled out a sheet of paper. "This is it!" He exclaimed triumphantly. "It's not done though."
"Can I read it?" Usagi said as she tried to peer over his shoulder.
Seiya paused as he looked at the lyrics. He thought about it for a moment. He had the girl now and it explained a lot about how he felt leaving the last time. "Sure."
Usagi unfolded the sheet of paper and read. "It's beautiful…"Usagi as she finished reading the lyrics… "It was really hard for you to leave Earth last time… I could only imagine what it would have been like if you had to do that again… without me."
"I never want to have to find out," Seiya said as he leaned over and kissed her on the lips.
Seiya can't help but smile as the memory fades. Is this what he has to look forward to when the timelines shifts back to the alternative? A new sense of purpose fills him. Along with stopping Chaos, he needs to make sure the timeline changes to this one. One where he can be happy with the woman he loves. He can finally see some light in the darkness.
Rei, Minako, and Makoto walk in silence for a few moments, until they recall an entirely different battle.
Each girl was surrounded by ribbons of various colors as they transformed into their respective sailor fukus. What they did not expect, Varuna was ready to attack them as soon as their transformation sequences ended. They were caught off guard.
Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Mercury, and Sailor Venus were blasted backward onto the ground. Sailor Mars quickly moved in front of Sailor Moon to protect her as summoned her own attack. "Mars Snake Fire!"
Varuna extinguished the fire with a water attack. "That's it?" He taunted them.
The other three senshi slowly rose to their feet.
Rei, Makoto, and Minako look at each other trying to figure where the memory was from and who they were fighting. It was against a man they have never seen. Makoto looks at the other girls, they have a similar expression. They all saw the same thing.
Rei is unsure what to say at first. She finally settles on, "we just have to make it to the timeline shift Setsuna-san mentioned than Chaos will be gone. She tries to reassure the other girls that everything will be that simple at the same time she tries to reassure herself.
Haruka is flabbergasted at Setsuna for a moment which quickly turns to anger. "What you're saying is you don't know how to stop Chaos this time around? You stopped Chaos last time why won't that work?"
Setsuna shakes her head. "We can't use the same tactics as before. The circumstances are different. Even Chaos is taking a different approach. One thing that remains the same, we need Sailor Galaxia's help to seal Chaos, or we keep Chaos at bay long enough for the timeline to revert back to what it was."
Michiru tries a different approach. "Can't we just speed up time then? The faster it returns to a time without Chaos the better." Though she prefers it to be a time when the Princess is with Mamoru. However, that seems easier to correct at the moment. Her lips pout slightly when she recalls Setsuna tried to change time because of Usagi's decision. Perhaps this is a no win situation, but rather what will do the least harm?
"I wish it was that simple, but time is currently too unstable to try anything that could cause more problems," Setsuna hesitates sharing the last piece of information.
Yui is more forthcoming with the last piece. "We also need to return the starseeds that were taken by Sailor Cosmos. If the starseeds are not returned, those senshi could be lost in time… and not exist in either timeline."
Haruka glares at Yui and Setsuna over this new information. "If you never would have tried to change the timeline, this never would have happened."
Setsuna cut her off, "If Chaos never emerged the timeline was back on track. Usagi-chan was with Mamoru-san. We had no way of knowing Chaos would return. It is something we never considered or imagined."
Michiru sighs. "The Princess doesn't belong with an outsider, I agree with that. But right now that isn't what is important at the moment. First we have to defeat Chaos, than we address the problem with the Princess."
Haruka tries to interrupt Michiru but the aqua haired senshi does not give her a chance to say much.
"Then we deal with the Princess' poor choice. If time isn't restored her choice won't matter. We need to focus on gathering those starseeds and prevent her from taking more."
Setsuna nods her head in agreement. "We have to put out one fire at a time."
Yui focuses on another task. "How were the starseeds returned last time?"
"After Chaos was sealed, Sailor Cosmos was able to summon the starseeds back and restore their bodies," Setsuna explains to the group. "But we cannot seal Chaos without Galaxia or the Starlights." She faces Haruka and Michiru. "I know you are angry at them, I am too. And as much as I hate to admit it, they are our best hope to stopping this evil."
Haruka's eyes are downcast. "You mentioned several times we need Galaxia to seal Chaos. How do we find or contact her? If she is that essential, we need to move the process along."
Ayumi had left the shrine a while ago and while walking around Tokyo, she ran into Mamoru who was on his way to the shrine. Ayumi wasn't ready to return back just yet. "What are you going to do?"
"I don't know what the next step is or even where to find or how to find her." Mamoru vents out his frustration. Somehow it is easier to speak to Ayumi about this than the others.
"Have you ever had this problem before?"
"No. I never had. She is usually easy to figure out but since she became Sailor Cosmos, she is a completely different person."
"Hmm," Ayumi thinks for a moment. "She might be different in a lot of ways, but she is still the same person in a lot of ways too." She glances down the street to make sure Sailor Cosmos isn't going to randomly appear out of the blue. "Perhaps, try a few places she is most likely to visit? Otherwise it sounds like you don't have a plan."
They walk in silence for a block. "What are you going to do when you find her?"
"I'm going to talk her, she will listen to me."
"What if that doesn't work?
"Then she's going to collect everyone's starseeds."
Ayumi almost wishes she didn't ask Mamoru after his response. This version of her brother is not as upbeat as the one she remembered. She changes the subject. It turns into small talk about Harvard; campus life, trying to determine if they had any of the same teachers, and some of the local eateries.
There is a lull in the conversion and Ayumi changes it to a topic she has wanted an answer for too many years to count. "Why didn't you listen to us and stay on Earth? We could have used your help to stop Beryl. Mom and Dad pleaded for you to stay."
"I don't have many memories from my past life. I barely remember the night the Silver Millennium was attacked. I'm sorry. I don't have any of the answers that you seek." Mamoru tries to explain to his sister the limited knowledge and information he has.
Ayumi frowns. She wanted to be able to yell at him for his past rash decisions that sped up the destruction of their home. But she can't yell at him for something that he doesn't remember. She takes a different approach. She wanted to learned more about him and Usagi. The woman he was willing and is still willing to risk everything for. "How did the two of you meet in this lifetime?"
She listens quietly while Mamoru discussed their story. While she listens they continue to walk around Juban.
Mamoru pauses several times, checking previous locations where he and Usagi had met or had a significant event happen. There is one place he hasn't tried yet, a location that completely changed their lives.
The Inner Senshi, Moon Senshi, and Three Lights arrive at the Hikawa Shrine without a word. They follow Rei inside one of the side buildings with a stock pile of cushions. The Inners grab cushions since they are used to his. The old follows their actions. Everyone sits on a cushion around a large, long wooden tea table, looking at each other. Waiting for someone to start.
Minako breaks the silence. "I'm glad we all agree we need to work together but what can we do? Chaos is so powerful… and it is Usagi-chan. I want to help her without hurting her. It's all so confusing."
Rei and Makoto nod their heads in agreement.
"Chaos is slowing picking us off one by one. We have to stick together, but all of us can't be together every waking moment," Akari reflects on some of the struggles she has encountered.
"We need to remove Chaos from Tsukino-san's starseed but I don't think any of us have that ability," Taiki begins to explain as he reflects past conversions he had with Princess Kakyuu about Chaos.
"Then we need to find someone that can," Akari adds. "I'm assuming there is someone that can?"
"But Usagi is still in there. What if that method injures her or harms her? There has to be a way we can draw Usagi out. It has happened a few times." Rei pleads her case, worried what kind of permanent damage will happen to Usagi emotionally and physically from this event.
Makoto shakes her head in disagreement. "It's not that simple. Usagi-chan is so different," she explains to everyone while she reflects on her actions earlier today. "She seems to enjoy taking everyone's starseed…"
Minako slams her hand down on the table in front of her to emphasize her point. "Then what else we do? We've been sitting around too much trying to figure out what to do and senshi are disappearing." Her voice becomes softer. "If only it wasn't Usagi-chan. She has the power to stop Chaos. Remember how she purified everyone's starseeds? That is why we need to reach Usagi-chan. We can't just sit around and do nothing."
Yaten listens to the back forth conversions of the other girls. He was hoping they had more a plan than his. It was like he was sitting back in the hotel room again going back and forth with Taiki and Seiya but nothing was decided upon. "Why can't we?" The other girls stare at him in disbelief. "Once the timelines changes back to whatever it was before, this won't really matter will it?" He pauses when he remembers one important fact. "Unless she gets all of our starseeds." He sighs. They are nowhere closer to figuring anything out.
Seiya is silent, looking down at the table in front of him. He tries to listen to what they are discussing regarding Usagi but his thoughts are preoccupied with the two different memories he recently recalled. Usagi trained on Kinmoku and when she visited him in his room. The thought of a future where he is with Usagi is hard to just to put to the side. It was all he could hope for during the past six years.
Setsuna, Michiru, Haruka, and Yui walked by and pause at the doorway. "I'm glad you are all here. There are a few things you need to hear. This situation has become more complicated than we originally imagined." Her words draw everyone's attention in the room. They entered the room and retrieve a few cushions, sitting near the doorway since there is no more room at the table.
"Yui-chan and I recently discovered another… complication that needs to be resolved before the timeline reverts back to its previous state." Setsuna hesitates while she tries to determine the best way to break the news to them. "We must retrieve the starseeds Chaos has already taken. If we fail to restore the starseeds before the timeline shifts, if we are unsuccessful, they will be lost in time."
Taiki eyes narrowed. "Why are you now informing us of something so important?"
"Because we didn't know until a little while ago," Yui immediately snaps back at Taiki. "Don't you think we would have shared something this important right away? Maybe if you have stayed around longer our situation would be better."
Taiki eyebrows twitches slightly. "Those you keep company with… tend not be so easy to work with."
"Taiki we don't have time for this," Seiya finally speaks up. "The time for fighting among ourselves is past. We all have the same goal we are working toward." He tries his best to bring the senshi together at this moment. "Think of how she would feel if she saw her best friends couldn't work together."
"We have to find a way for Chaos to return the starseeds," Haruka echoes the thoughts other discussed earlier. She adds a few of her own; purposely saying her next comment in front of Seiya but without looking at him directly. "Perhaps Mamoru-san would have the best chance of reaching his wife."
Seiya's eyes are focused on the table in from of him. He knows what Haruka is doing and for now he is going to play the game. In this current timeline things are different he reminds himself. Based on everything that happened he shouldn't be surprised Usagi and Mamoru are married… Usagi would be giving up so much if they were together. But in the other timeline, Usagi was not with Mamoru and they were never married. The same timeline he has received some memories from. All of these thoughts at once are bit overwhelming and he tries to push them to the side.
"Where is Mamoru-san?" Rei asks, noticing he is missing.
Mamoru and Ayumi arrive at a familiar dock in the park. The same one where Chibi Usa first appeared so many years ago, changing their view on everything. From this same spot, they traveled to the future and learned what their future destinies would become. This is also the same spot where they last seen Chibi Usa when she returned home to the future.
Mamoru sighs. He was so hopeful and sure this is where Usagi would be. He turns to face Ayumi, "I really thought she would have been here."
Ayumi can sense his disappointment. "We should probably try to meet up with the others. Figure out a way to help her, save her." It is easy for her to see he is really upset by her not being here.
Mamoru nods, looking out at the water one last time. They turn around and see Sailor Cosmos standing there, watching them wordlessly.
When she realizes both sets of eyes are on her, she smiles. "Normally I would have just taken both of your starseeds, but it seems it will have to wait. There are some very important guests that will be arriving soon." Sailor Cosmos enjoys the look of confusion on their faces.
"Who is arriving?" Ayumi asks, unaware of why these guests would be so important.
She smirks at them. "By the time you run to the shrine to tell the others, the Starlight's Princess will have lost her starseed…. And your best shot at stopping me."
Mamoru can feel a sense of dread wash over him. What he remembered, Usagi had told him about Princess Kakyuu in the past, she has similar abilities to herself.
Sailor Cosmos laughs at them, a laugh similar to the one Sailor Galaxia had when controlled by Chaos. "Time to prepare the kingdom." She disappears in a blinding flash of light, shooting upward to the stars.
Thank you for the all the comments and reviews! I am currently plotting out yet another arc after this one. Any thought on what you think is next for our characters?
Hopefully the senshi will start working together and finally figure out a way they can stop Chaos before it is too late! Stay tuned for Act 54: Everyone has a Shining Star