Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Sailor Stars: Chaos Theory
Act 57: Fading Stars from Kinmoku
Sora Kazeno
"Damn it!" Sailor Uranus hits the wall in anger. She slowly moves her hand when she realizes where she hit made a hollow sound. After staring at the wall for a moment she walks closer to the wall and taps on the wall with her knuckles to confirm the hallow sound.
Sailor Pluto is standing next to her instantly. She helps Sailor Uranus track the hallow sound from the wall.
After carefully searching the wall, they find a latch behind a pile of books to reveal a hidden door. After exchanging a glance at each other, they open the door to find several vials of a substance.
Sailor Pluto reaches in first and examines it letting out a deep breath. "I think this is it. The coloring looks similar."
Sailor Uranus lets out a deep breath. "I hope this works. If not she's going to be even angrier and we don't have another plan."
Sailor Pluto nods her head. "Life always has a way of finding ways to challenge us."
They search around the lab one last time for anything that could help them. When they find nothing they leave Nemesis.
Seiya, Yaten, and Taiki leave the apartment to pick up food and look for Usagi the following day. They were unsuccessful in their search for her yesterday. Though Taiki and Yaten would never admit it out loud, they are glad to finally step outside out of the hotel for a little while.
Yaten inhales the fresh air deeply before stating, "I hope they come back soon. All of this waiting around is annoying."
"But are you ready for the difficult battle that will follow?" Taiki counters. "This is similar to the calm before the storm. Or in this case, the main battle."
Yaten responds by shrugging his shoulders.
"We still need to gather more of the rings first. I want the battle to end as fast as possible." Seiya adds, trying to change their focus on what they can do in the present.
"I can battle you right now if makes you feel better," Sailor Cosmos appears in front of them.
The Three Lights instinctively takes a few steps back for her, watching her every moment.
Sailor Cosmos glares at them. "Venus and Mars were more welcoming at first… but they are no longer an issue. Their starseeds belong to me now and yours will soon as well."
A lump forms in Seiya's throat at her words. He takes a moment before he is ready to address her. "You took the starseeds of some of your closest friends. Odango, we can end this if you fight against Chaos."
Sailor Cosmos interrupts him by laughing. "Usagi gave up fighting a while ago. It's kind of pathetic."
"I don't believe that. If you really gave up, why are so many of your rings missing?" His is voice no longer hesitant.
She looks down at her fingers and sees three are all she has left. Her eyes narrow at him. "I assume you think you can just take more of them?"
Seiya boldly takes a step forward. "You already gave me three."
"Seiya…" Taiki's voice is meant as a warning not to push it as Sailor Cosmos intensifies her glare at Seiya. He places his hand in his pocket over his transformation headset. It is only a matter of time until they will need to transformation and defend themselves.
Yaten watches everything closely to assess the situation. Transforming too soon could escalate the tense situation in front of him.
Sailor Cosmos looks around and frowns. "You're still hiding Sailor Galaxia." She turns her focus to Seiya again. "I can understand protecting Princess Kakyuu but
Sailor Galaxia, the same person that destroyed your home planet?"
"The same person that helped us rebuild it," Seiya immediately counters back, trying to remain in control of his emotions.
Sailor Cosmos pushes her lips together in a half pout. She is getting nowhere with this banter. She tightens her grip on her staff. She wants to collect their starseeds but it is as if her arms won't work to let her complete this task. It is the same problem she encountered when she tried to take Mamoru's starseed. Usagi is fighting back against Chaos again. She inhales deeply forcing her arms to respond to her command. A few sparks emit from the purple jewel of her bracelet.
"Odango…" Seiya raises his hands slightly closer to his head. "I know you don't want to do this." He tries to stall her. He thinks back to a recent memory he recalled. "Remember that time the Black Moon attacked us to lure out the Guardian and you would not allow the Black Moon to hurt anyone?"
Taiki and Yaten look at each in confusion not knowing what Seiya is referring to.
Sailor Cosmos' jaw drops. It takes her a few moments to regain her composure. She stares at his eyes. "Just how many memories do you have from the other timeline?"
Seiya hesitates trying to choose his words carefully. "Enough to know I can't wait for this to be over and the timeline goes back to what it was…" he speaks softly for her to hear. "So we can be together."
Sailor Cosmos' stance shifts and a few tears trickle down her cheek. She shakes her head to the side a few times to push any emotions to the side. "That is not going to save you this time." Her voice cracks as she says this.
Yaten and Taiki take a few steps back realizing this is more of a conversation for Seiya and Usagi.
Sailor Cosmos turns her head to the side just in time to see a bright ball of orange energy race at her. In an instant she leaps up in the air, feather wings appearing on her back. Everyone looks in the direction of where the blast came from.
Sailor Uranus and Sailor Pluto emerge and slowly making their way to the group.
Seiya is angry. "Why did you attack her? She wasn't doing anything… I was just starting to reach her…" His voice tails off when he realizes what it means the two senshi have returned and the next phase will continue; one that will work or make everything worse. May he'll get his wish and this will be over with soon. His stomach feels uneasy knowing what is about to happen to Usagi.
Sailor Cosmos watches Sailor Uranus and Sailor Pluto as they approach. "What took you so long to return?" She is more cautious after seeing the Outer Senshi in front of her. Their starseeds are stronger than most of the other senshi she collected. There are five strong starseeds in front of her.
Seiya turns to look at Yaten and Taiki, they nod their heads at him. Seiya is reluctant but there is nothing else he can do. From this moment on, the time to talk was over. "Fighter Star Power, Make Up!"
"Healer Star Power, Make Up!"
"Maker Star Power, Make Up!"
Sailor Pluto gestures at the Starlights to take a step back with her eyes.
Sailor Star Fighter clenches her fist tightly knowing is powerless to stop it what Usagi is about to experience. Standing back and doing nothing to prevent harm from Usagi goes against every fiber in her being. She tells herself this needs to happen to save her from Chaos. Usagi isn't as responsive. Chaos is gaining more control over her. She has to put her feelings aside to save Sailor Cosmo by any means necessary.
Sailor Pluto watches Sailor Cosmos closely for any signs of an attack. The other senshi are waiting for her to make her own move. "Pluto Chronos Typhoon!"
"Uranus Space Turbulence!"
Sailor Cosmos barely dodges the attacks and is about to prepare her own attack.
"Star Gentle Uterus!"
"Star Sensitive Inferno!"
Sailor Cosmos is hit from behind. She hadn't anticipated the attacks from the Starlights. When did they start working together? This is a new development. The attacks cause her to fall from the sky landing hard on the guard. Her feather wings disappear.
Fighter uses all of her self-control to not run over and help her. But it is not part of the plan and she has to follow the plan regardless of her personal feelings. They have to keep her busy until Sailor Pluto can use the gas. At some point Fighter knows she will probably have to attack Sailor Cosmos if their plan is going to work.
Sailor Cosmos slowly stands up, her staff poised for an attack. The Starlights were the ones that hit her and will the ones to suffer her vengeance. "Starlight Breaker!" She chose this attack on purpose, one she knows will overpower the Starlights.
The three Starlights dodge the attack with ease. Avoiding the attacks means they had to move closer to the Outer Senshi. Making it easier for Cosmos to attack all of them.
Sailor Cosmos smiles.
Sailor Uranus can see Sailor Pluto needs more time. She needs to give her as much as she can. "World Shaking!"
"Star Sensitive Inferno!"
"Star Gentle Uterus!"
Sailor Cosmos uses her staff to collect the energy from the attacks. This process takes longer than it had in the past without her rings to assist her.
Sailor Star Fighter looks over at Sailor Pluto. She isn't sure what the Guardian of Time is doing and what is taking her so long but she is not ready to use the gas on Usagi.
Sailor Pluto's eyes plead with Sailor Star Fighter to stop the attack Sailor Cosmos is preparing; the Starlight is the only one that can stop Sailor Cosmos at this moment.
She doesn't have a choice. "I'm sorry Odango." She whispers. Looking over at the Guardian, she is adding her own energy to the attacks of the three other senshi and when it hits them it will knock them all back. She doesn't hold back anything in her attack. It is the only way. She knew it could always come down to this. "Star Serious Laser!"
The attack hits Sailor Cosmos and she cries out in surprise and pain. She loses control of the energy she had collected from the other senshi's attacks and is hit by four attacks at once. She staggers backward. All she can feel is pain.
This gave Sailor Pluto enough time. She freed the vial from the canister and is now only holding the glass tube that will break easily when dropped.
Sailor Pluto rushes forward while Sailor Cosmos is dazed. She mashes the vial on the ground releasing the gas and takes a few steps back.
Sailor Cosmos coughs a little as the vapors begin to rise. Her legs feel wobbly as she ingests more of the gas. She has a coughing fit and collapses to her knees. She struggles to breathe. She starts gasping for air.
Sailor Star Fighter can't take it anymore. This is too dangerous; Odango is going to die if she can't breathe. She rushes forward to help her beloved but is stopped by Sailor Star Healer and Sailor Star Maker arms, holding her back.
"This is the only way," Sailor Star Maker pushes back against Sailor Star Fighter's attempts to help Sailor Cosmos.
"You know this has to happen if we want to stop Chaos." Sailor Star Healer adds struggling to keep Fighter back.
"No! This is not what I agreed to. You're practically killing her!" Tears stream down Sailor Star Fighter's cheeks as she feels as helpless as did when Sailor Galaxia took Sailor Moon's starseed when all she should do is watch in horror. Then senshi struggles against her teammates but she realizes she will not be able to break free of their grasp.
Sailor Cosmos collapses the rest of the way to the ground and isn't moving.
Sailor Pluto and Sailor Uranus rush over to the fallen senshi. Sailor Pluto observes her chest rising and falling. Sailor Uranus rips the three remaining rings off her fingers.
Sailor Star Fighter uses everything she has to push past Sailor Star Healer and Sailor Star Maker and is successful this time. She falls to the ground next to Sailor Cosmos making sure she is alright.
"She is okay," Sailor Pluto reassures Sailor Star Fighter. "But we need to move her to where the cauldron is. The faster Sailor Galaxia can draw out the energy from Chaos, the better. I'm not sure how long the gas will keep her unconscious." She gives her next instructions to Sailor Uranus. "Give Fighter the other three rings."
"Why give the rings to Fighter?" Sailor Uranus is enraged and doesn't understand why Pluto would want to give the rings to the Starlight.
"Uranus, if this doesn't work, Fighter is likely to be the only one to reach Usagi-chan. When she wakes up she is going to go after our starseeds next," Sailor Pluto explains to Sailor Uranus.
Sailor Uranus glares at Sailor Pluto but doesn't argue with the logic. She hates when Pluto is correct. She turns to Sailor Star Fighter, "Here." She passes her the rings, glaring at the Starlight the entire time.
Sailor Star Maker and Sailor Star Healer are standing behind Sailor Star Fighter. "Our hotel is not far from here and Hikaru-san is ready with the cauldron."
Chaos yells at Usagi. "What kind of friends do you have that would attack you so viciously? Willing to nearly kill you?"
"They are senshi and will do anything to complete their mission. I don't expect anything less from them." Usagi explains with a smile. She is somewhat surprised they followed through with her suggestion and is glad they are doing everything they can to stop Chaos while she is confined here.
"But I guess I can't complain too much. After all they just made their biggest mistake taking me to the cauldron." He laughs and vanishes.
Usagi's shoulders slump at Chaos' glee. What will happen when Chaos is near the cauldron? If the senshi are able to draw out Chaos' power she might be able to break free.
Sailor Pluto hangs up the phone in the hotel room. Mamoru was livid when he heard what happened. She turns back to the others. "Mamoru-san is on his way. I should go and call the others as well." She picked up the phone to call Rei next.
"This is everyone… that is left. Rei-chan and the others… are gone." Sailor Star Maker explains. "I didn't realize just how small the group has become until we came back here." As she looks around the room, she feels regret hiding in the hotel room while the other senshi gradually disappeared. If they would have attacked Sailor Cosmos with a united front from the beginning they wouldn't have struggled as much. However, no one was willing to fight Sailor Cosmos seriously at the beginning or work with the Starlights.
Sailor Pluto's eyes lower and she puts the phone receiver back on the table. She looks at those gathered in the room. Sailor Cosmos is laying on one of the beds. Sailor Galaxia is next to her with the cauldron in her hands.
Sailor Galaxia has her eyes closed, focusing all of her energy trying to remove Chaos' presence from Sailor Cosmos. "Chaos is stronger than I remember. Very resistant. There is a lot of dark energy around her starseed. I will gather as much as I can but this will take longer than I originally anticipated." She pales at the realization. "I have never seen such a darkness."
No one speaks as they watch Sailor Galaxia hoping this plan works. This is their trump card. The group is not sure how much longer that can continue to battle Sailor Cosmos before time runs out.
Mamoru rushes over to his motorcycle, his heart hammering in his chest the entire way. His mind is full of worry and what will happen to Usagi. He feels anger they kept the entire plan from him. What else are they keeping him in the dark from? What if they injured Usagi in some way during this process?
He slams on the breaks suddenly. He was lost in his thoughts and nearly missed the streetlight changing to red. He takes a few deep breathes and pushes everything else to the side to ensure he reaches his destination ten minutes later.
He parks his motorcycle and freezes as a memory comes to his mind.
Mamoru walked out of the shrine in frustration. He needed to speak to Usagi again, yet the girls continue to stay and chat. It quickly became awkward for him to remain. He decided to cut his losses and leave for the night. He knew he would have another opportunity soon. He quietly exited the shrine and gently closed the door behind him.
"You need to stay away from Odango."
"Funny, I remember telling you the same," Mamoru shot back as he turned to face the younger man. He was surprised to see him still at the shrine. He assumed he left with his comrades ten minutes ago.
Seiya took a step forward out of the shadows to glare at Mamoru. "You need to let her go."
"That is for her to decide, not you," Mamoru's tone was no longer neutral as his anger began to rise. For days he had wanted to confront Seiya but he knew nothing positive would come from it. He wasn't holding anything back. "You don't understand our relationship."
"I understand enough to know that you pushed her away and hurt her," retorted Seiya as he took a few steps closer to Mamoru. "You were supposed to protect her and not hurt her." There was only one other time in recent memory he felt this level of anger. It was during the final battle against Sailor Galaxia when Sailor Uranus told Sailor Star Fighter, she couldn't protect her Princess and it was why she was dead.
Mamoru narrowed his eyes at him. "You don't know what you're talking about." It was Mamoru's turn to walk a few steps closer to Seiya. The other man's words infuriated him. Seiya doesn't even know him. Although there was some truth to his words, he didn't need to be reminded of his past mistakes he tried to atone with Usagi.
Seiya took Mamoru's movements as a challenge, his stance became more ridged. "I know how much you hurt her. She told me all about it on Kinmoku. For someone that is supposed to love her so much, you've acted like a jerk." Seiya took a few steps forward, closing the distance between himself and Mamoru. They were now only a few feet apart and tempers are rising.
"A jerk?" Mamoru repeated in a confused tone, "I seem to remember her telling you, you were a just friend when you left. When… I was not myself; you didn't waste any time pursuing her. How it is any different than what you've done?" Mamoru snapped. He wanted to point out to Seiya how hypocritical he acted.
Both men were barely a foot a part. Tension continued to build. Their eyes were locked on each other; they waited for the other person to make the first move.
The sound of an object landing on the floor distracted them. They took a step back from each other, increasing the distance between them. They both turned to the doorway and found a broom on the floor by several pairs of feet. They looked up and witnessed Usagi wide eyed with her hands covering her mouth. Her eyes told them she couldn't believe how they were acting toward each other and it hurt her. Minako and Makoto stood behind her.
"Stop this!" Usagi yelled at them when she finally found her voice. A few tears escaped her eyes. "It is my choice to make…" Her voice became softer as she began to understand the torment she has created between the two men in her life. "I can't have you fighting like this!" Usagi rushed forward into a sprint and ran between the two of them.
Mamoru glares up at the hotel knowing the Starlights are inside. Including the one that is causing him all of his pain. He pauses for a moment when a bright light catches his eyes. The moonlight reflected off his wedding band. He rushes up the stairs.
The room becomes out of focus to Sailor Star Fighter as a memory returns to her of time similar to her present situation.
"I was so afraid I lost you yesterday," Usagi said between tears. Seiya held her close to him and she cried into his shirt.
"Odango," Seiya said, as he gently pushed her away from him to allow him to look into her eyes. "You'll never lose me," he reassured her. He wiped a few tears from her eyes and kissed her on the forehead.
Such a simple act helped put Usagi at ease. "I never want to experience that again. There is so much I still need to tell you..."
His eyes became downcast as he was about to discuss something rather unpleasant. "Odango the other day at the shrine…"
Usagi cut him off, "I think I understand Seiya. I just don't want it to happen again. I can't have everyone fighting each other." She smiled warmly at him.
Seiya was amazed at how much her demeanor changed in the past twenty hours. "What did you want to talk about?"
"I haven't been completely honest with you about the dreams I've had of the future."
Seiya gave her a skeptical look, "In what way?"
"I never told you the second half. The one that… Chibi Usa turned into a different young girl with silver hair… the same shade as mine when I am Sailor Cosmos. She is running to me calling me mother and telling me her father is looking for her." Usagi hesitated, she knew once she told Seiya this, it would change things forever. "A man enters the gardens and the little girl runs to him calling him her father. Seiya… that man is you."
Seiya's jaw dropped slightly. He didn't know what to say.
"And another time… Sailor Uranus tried to attack you because… she couldn't accept you as the Consort to the Queen…" Usagi continued, once she began to tell him about her dreams, everything spilled out.
"Okay, I could see her trying to punch me," Seiya teased, trying to cut the tension. "But… wow. I understand why you've been quiet… but Odango… are these dreams or premonitions?"
Usagi looked up at Seiya and bit her lip. "I don't know." He hadn't responded yet to her confession. She began to doubt herself for telling him.
Seiya placed his hands on her shoulders. Usagi looked up into his eyes once more. "Either way… it doesn't sound so bad."
"…Seiya…" Usagi murmured. She could feel herself being drawn into his eyes.
He leaned over and kissed her deeply.
Usagi was hit with a whirlwind of emotions. His kisses were so different than the countless one she shared with Mamoru… but different in a good way. He didn't hold back. She realized at this moment that he was more passionate. When their lips parted, he left her breathless.
He pushed a few strands of her hair to the side. She seemed so different than how she acted just days ago. "There was something else I wanted to ask you about Odango… " His voice turned serious, "you mentioned in the meeting yesterday, you remembered things from the previous Sailor Cosmos."
"Hmmm?" Usagi vaguely responded, still distracted by the kiss.
Seiya smiled at her reactions and repeated his question.
When the memory fades, the room returns to normal around her. Fighter has to look away from the others. She can't show her emotions in front of the others. They wouldn't understand. She frowns slightly. Out of all people Sailor Pluto would probably be the only one that would understand since she has memories of the other timeline. But Sailor Pluto has had her opinion very clear on who Usagi should be with.
A single phrase keeps echoing in the Starlight's mind she can't ignore. Usagi had said, "A man enters the garden and the little girl runs up to him calling her father. Seiya that man is you." A shiver runs up her spine. She has so many questions for Usagi that needs to be answered but Usagi is in no condition to answer them. Her thoughts are interrupted by a loud knocking on the door.
Sailor Uranus is closest to the door. After checking through the peephole, she lets Mamoru inside.
"Hi," Mamoru barely greets her. He doesn't say anything else to anyone in the room. He passes by Sailor Star Fighter and gives her a hard look and he walks over to Sailor Cosmos.
Sailor Star Fighter is a taken aback by the greeting making her wonder what kind of memories Mamoru remembered from the other timeline. They are most likely unpleasant for him. They had barely interacted in this timeline.
"Something isn't right," Sailor Galaxia speaks up. She notices the energy she was collecting sharply decreased. Her words caused everyone to stare at her and Sailor Cosmos. Sailor Galaxia stares carefully at Sailor Cosmos while she tries to gather more energy.
Sailor Star Maker and Sailor Star Healer remain standing on either side of the bed. Their eyes now focused on Sailor Cosmos for any change and what has caused Sailor Galaxia to be uneasy.
Sailor Star Fighter and Princess Kakyuu remain near the other end of the room by the doorway. Fighter has her eyes closed trying to reign in her emotions of the memory she recalled.
Sailor Cosmos' eyes snap open and she jumps up. Sailor Star Healer and Sailor Star Maker don't have enough time to react as golden energy erupt from Sailor Cosmos' bracelets hitting the two Starlights. They didn't have to scream.
"No!" Princess Kakyuu cries out when she witnesses the orange flowers appear from Sailor Star Maker and Sailor Star Healer's chests.
Sailor Galaxia clutches the cauldron closer to her body. She can't let Sailor Cosmos get the cauldron and the Chaos energy collected within would return Chaos back to full strength. All of their efforts would be for nothing.
Sailor Uranus lowers her hands to her sides in defeat. It was similar to the time she and Neptune scarified everything to take Galaxia's starseed and were left empty handed.
Sailor Pluto's eyes are downcast. They were not as successful as she had hoped they would be. The gas didn't buy them as much times as she expected.
Mamoru could not do anything but watch as the two starseeds appear. Sailor Cosmos was right; their shine was brighter than of the others he had seen. He snaps back to reality and realizes any of them could be next. He transforms into Endymion, the form that tends to reach Usagi more.
Sailor Star Maker and Sailor Star Healer collapse to the ground, their bodies quickly disappearing.
"You have to end this," Sailor Star Maker tells Sailor Star Fighter as she closes her eyes.
Sailor Star Healer turns her attention to Princess Kakyuu, "We're sorry we can't be there to protect you." Their bodies disappear.
Sailor Cosmos stares at the starseeds in her hands for a moment before they disappear in a few sparkles of light. She turns to look at the others and smiles. "Such a bright shine as expected." She takes a few wobbly steps forward and realizes she is much weaker than she felt.
Sailor Galaxia immediately catches on. They made progress, her strength was taken. All is not lost.
Sailor Cosmos glares at Galaxia. "You have taken some of my power but it is still enough to defeat all of you-" She stops midsentence when her eyes land on Prince Endymion and Sailor Star Fighter. They soften for a moment before she finishes. "Tomorrow." She tries to regain her composure and takes a step back from the others. If they attack her now, they might be able to defeat her.
She realizes her rings are gone. She turns to Sailor Star Fighter. "I will be seeing you soon to take back what is mine." Sailor Cosmos gradually fades away.
Sailor Pluto lets out a deep breath of relief. "Her powers have weakened. We must be on the right track."
Sailor Star Fighter stands silently by Princess Kakyuu trying to process the loss of Sailor Star Maker and Sailor Star Healer.
Endymion tries not to glare at Sailor Star Fighter. He is trying to figure out what Sailor Cosmos meant when she said she was going to back what is hers from Sailor Star Fighter.
Sailor Uranus looks at Sailor Pluto and Sailor Galaxia. "At least all of her rings are gone."
Princes Endymion realizes there are only six people in the room. "Is this… everyone?" He doesn't want to believe Usagi took everyone else's starseeds already. He slowly looks around the room at the others for confirmation.
Sailor Pluto nods her head slowly in agreement. She turns her attention back to those from Kinmoku. "You can't remain here. She knows where you are and will stop at nothing to go after Sailor Galaxia and the cauldron."
Sailor Star Fighter shakes her head back in forth in disgust. "What good is the cauldron if Chaos is still inside her?"
Princes Kakyuu places her hand on Sailor Star Fighter's shoulder. "Today did not go as anticipated." She tries to console the Starlight. "But we weakened Chaos. It's the first step to stopping her. The situation is not hopeless." After a long pause she adds, "I agree with Sailor Pluto, it is time for us to move on to another place."
"Stay with us," Sailor Pluto interjects ignoring the look she received from Sailor Uranus. "It will help put this behind us. We are all that is left… it was my mistake to not work with you in the beginning but it doesn't need to continue to be that way." She pauses. "She would never look for you there."
Sailor Uranus is about to protest but stops when she knows Setsuna is correct. Sailor Cosmos would never expect them at the apartment. Another thought hits her. Why hasn't Cosmos attacked them at their home?
Sailor Star Fighter doesn't want to look at Sailor Pluto, she feels anger toward the senshi. If she never tried to change the timeline, they would never be in this situation. She keeps her comment to herself. Her comment would not solve anything and only start another altercation. They need to come together, even if it is temporary to defeat Chaos.
"Agreed." Sailor Galaxia quickly accepts. "We need to regroup as it is. I don't think we can use the same tactic on her again."
"I'll find a way to draw her out, distract her…" Endymion's voice trails off for a moment. "Find a way to bring her back." His voice is full pain. The longer this is drawn out, the longer it will take for him to win her back.
Sailor Galaxia looks at Sailor Star Fighter and Princess Kakyuu for confirmation. She wonders how well everyone will be able to work together given the adversary relationship between some of them in the room.
"That would be great," Princess Kakyuu accepts the offer. "I'm sure we can all agree the sooner we end this the better it will be for everyone."
Sailor Cosmos is not able to travel far with her powers limited. She didn't realize how much her powers diminished due to the gas and Galaxia sealing more of Chaos' power. The power Sailor Saturn took never returned. Instead she is weaker than ever.
She barely made it to a rooftop a few buildings over after leaving the hotel room of the Three Lights. If she would have remained, she would have been defeated. Her body is at its limits. She isn't sure where she can go. She finds some outdoor furniture on the terrace and collapses onto the couch. The material is not soft but she is too tired to care.
Her breathing is uneven. She closes her eyes as the world around her is spinning. It doesn't take long until she falls asleep from utter exhaustion.
Usagi looks over at Princess Serenity. "This is our chance. Chaos is weakened and we can finally beat him." When Princess Serenity doesn't respond, Usagi continues. "This is our chance to win." Usagi pleads with her.
"Not until you agree to choose Endymion."
"Then you will doom us all?" Usagi asks in disbelief at Serenity's insistence for things to remain the same despite the changes that happened.
"You are dooming everyone! Return to your first love, your true love and this will be all over."
"So you're willing to work with Chaos?" Usagi asks slowly trying to make Princess Serenity understand the harm she is creating by letting Chaos continue to take everyone's starseeds.
"If that is what it takes for me to be with Endymion then yes. You're forgetting I've already followed him into death once. You are underestimating my love for him."
"So you're saying you will side with Chaos if that is what it will take?"
"Or you chose Endymion and this will all be over sooner."
"Chaos wants to take his starseed, then what?" Usagi asks the Princess. "Chaos is going to take everyone's starseed, no one is safe."
Princess Serenity smirks at Usagi. "Chaos will take Seiya's starseed first. He has already agreed to spare Endymion's."
Usagi's eyes widen as she gasps. Serenity is working with Chaos. Has the Princess been working with Chaos this entire time?
They all arrive at Setsuna's and Haruka's apartment. As soon as they walk in Setsuna states, "I would like to speak with Mamoru-san and Seiya-kun privately."
"I'll show you were you can rest," Haruka tells Princess Kakyuu and Hikaru as she leads them down a hall to guest bedroom. She doesn't walk too fast; she wants to hear as much as she can.
Setsuna waits until the three are down the hall before she addresses the two men in the sitting room of the apartment. "I know you both have your differences but you both care about her. This battle against Chaos will only become more complicated from here." She pauses to look at each of them, her eyes stern. "You both ended up fighting each other in the other timeline… that can't happen here. It is the six of us to stop Chaos. I want both of you; no I need both of you, to remember this. Right now, as long as one of you can reach her, we stand a chance. If one of you reach each her… the other person must stand aside for the time being… I know I am asking a lot of both of you but time is almost up. If we don't stop Chaos soon, we will not have another chance to fix this. There will be no timeline where she is with either one of you." Setsuna emphasizes her point by standing up and leaving.
Haruka waits for her at the end of the hallway. "Are you sure you did the right thing leaving them like that? They could kill each other."
"They won't. They each love Usagi-chan too much. They know I'm right. The bigger picture is saving her right now." Setsuna watches them for a few moments. "If they are going to fight, it is better for it to happen now rather than on the battle field when so much is at stake."
"I'm not going to give up on my wife." Mamoru emphasizes the word wife to Seiya.
Seiya stares at Mamoru for a moment not sure how to best respond to his statement. Once the boldness of Mamoru's statement wears of he responds. "I'm not giving up on her either."
Mamoru glares at him. "Even though she has a husband?"
"Isn't it her choice who she wants to be with? I believe she already made a different choice once before," Seiya counters hinting at the other timeline. He doesn't want to argue with Mamoru but he is making his stance clear. He too is not about to give up on the woman he loves.
Mamoru narrows his eyes sharply at Seiya. "You have a lot of nerve if you think you're going to waltz in here and try to break up a happy marriage." The memory from several days ago still stings in his mind, the moment when Usagi wanted to end their relationship.
Seiya had enough of this. "She can't be that happy if she wants to leave."
Images of the past month flood Mamoru's mind at how unhappy she has been prior to awakening her abilities as Sailor Cosmos in this timeline, despite her being so happy the month prior. He is about to make a retort back to Seiya but instead he gets up and starts to walks off. He doesn't have time to argue with the younger man.
Seiya sighs and sits back in the chair. He hears footsteps approaching him and realizes Mamoru did not completely leave the room.
"This is far from over. Usa is coming with me."
Seiya smirks a little. "Somehow I don't think she is going to choose that. You know what the timeline will become."
"There is no guarantee everything will be exactly the same. I will make sure of it." Mamoru challenges Seiya. He needs to make Seiya understand he is not going to move to the side and just watch his wife leave with someone else.
"I understand you don't want to give her up but she isn't going to choose you," Seiya can't hide the annoyance in his voice. After all the memories he received and the limited interactions he had with Sailor Cosmos during this timeline, their relationship changed. Sailor Cosmos made it clear Usagi chose him and not Mamoru.
Mamoru takes a few steps closer to him. "What makes you so sure?" He continues not giving Seiya chance to answer. "I have already seen my future with Usa and met our future daughter."
Seiya is silent listening to his words. He could tell Mamoru there is another timeline with a different ending for both of them. Instead he takes the more blunt approach. He tilts his face to the side so Mamoru can see his face clearly. "Didn't all of this start, Sailor Cosmos and battling Chaos because Sailor Pluto was trying to change the timeline because she didn't like Odango's choice?"
Mamoru doesn't verbally respond as his jaw clenches tightly.
Seiya continues, "regardless of what happened or what may happen, if we don't stop Chaos, none of this matters." Seiya points out using all of his self-control he can muster to not yell at Mamoru for not protecting her. He hides his anger behind an air of confidence. But he isn't sure how long he will be able to keep up this façade.
"Setsuna-san tried to fix a grave mistake," Mamoru finally responds. He walks out of the room before Seiya could say anything else.
Twenty minutes later, Haruka is drinking from a coffee cup in the kitchen with Setsuna. She places the mug on the counter. "I was hoping Mamoru-san was going to hit him."
"That would only cause more problems that we don't need," Setsuna comments as she takes a sip from her tea. She frowns. "I hate it when Seiya-kun is right… it is my fault Chaos returned. If I never tried to change the timeline this never would have happened."
Haruka turns to her. "I still don't understand how she chose him. I know you mentioned it before… but everything time I hear it, it just sounds wrong."
Setsuna nods her head in agreement. "I'm not sure if there is a way to change it… unless Usagi-chan changes her mind." She walks out of the kitchen leaving Haruka alone with her thoughts.
Haruka's eyes stare at the counter. No matter how many times she heard it, she still struggles to accept this different reality. Usagi choosing the outsider. That is not supposed to happen in any timeline. How could she do that to Mamoru-san? She vows to find a way to make Usagi change her mind and come to her senses.
Hikaru and Princess Kakyuu are in another room talking quietly with the door open. The guest room has two full size beds. They sit across from each other on opposite beds. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to do more and now two of the Starlights were lost because of this. I had hoped this would have ended today. Chaos should have been sealed with the cauldron by now. If only I realized how much stronger Chaos' powers had grown."
"Chaos is stronger this time because it is using the power of Sailor Cosmos. If we would have acted on our suspicions Usagi-san was Sailor Cosmos the first time we were on Earth, we could have removed Chaos from her body then. Chaos never would have stood a chance." Princess Kakyuu sighs as her shoulders slump. "This is very difficult for Fighter."
"I didn't realize the feelings she has for Sailor Cosmos are that strong and based on what we have been told of this alternative timeline. Those feelings will only continue to grow stronger as Fighter recalls more of those memories."
Princes Kakyuu nods her head in agreement. "I have noticed the change. It is like nothing I have seen before in Fighter. Fighter is the key to stopping Chaos and we must protect her, or rather Seiya's starseed at all cost."
They are interrupted by a knock on the door, Setsuna is standing there. "I overhead what you saying and I agree." She looks down the hallway to make sure the others were not nearby. "I had hoped Mamoru-san would have been able to draw the Princess out more but I was mistaken." She asks her next question to Hikaru directly. "How can we draw out the rest of Chaos energy and trap it in the cauldron?"
Hikaru shakes her head and shrugs her shoulders to signify she wasn't sure. "We can try some of the methods we used before but I'm not sure using the gas again would be successful. She might be expecting it."
"Perhaps during a time Usagi-san is in control? She might be able to help expel more of the energy?" Princes Kakyuu suggests.
Hikaru looks thoughtful at the idea. "It might work but the timing will be extremely difficult. I would have to stay with the group the entire time and keep the cauldron with me at every moment."
"We already know you are a target of Usagi-chan." Setsuna adds solemnly. They remain silent for a few moments. "But if we don't take any chances, we can't move forward. We know Sailor Cosmos wants her rings back. Perhaps tomorrow we can have Seiya-kun out in public. We can follow at a safe distance?" Her voice trails off now sure the logistics would work. She knows what she is asking Princess Kakyuu is difficult, purposely putting one of her senshi at risk. Yet she knows Seiya will do anything to help Usagi, and that it something she has to take advantage of.
"I'm sure Fighter will agree…" Princess Kakyuu looks down with her eyes. She is worried whom will lose their starseed next.
Usagi stares at the same bars over and over again. No matter how many times she tries, she is still imprisoned in the same place with no way out. Each day more time passes until it eventually runs out.
What will happen to the senshi if their starseeds are not returned in time? She leans the back of her head against the bars. It is her fault she couldn't stay in control when Chaos emerged. Her emotions were all over the place to finally have her powers back as Sailor Cosmos. She was too impatient at the time to return to what it was.
What if the remaining senshi are unable to stop Chaos? She would never forgive herself.
She sighs loudly. She can't feel sorry for herself when she still needs to get out of here. But she needs help. She can't do this alone. Her strength has always come from her friends. Friends Chaos is gradually taking away.
Seiya stares at them in disbelief after listening to their plan. So many times in the past he want to try to help and they kept telling him no. He needs to stay in the hotel room away from Chaos. Now they want to use him as bait. His voice lowers. "Something like that is not going to work."
"Why not? Afraid of losing your starseed?" Haruka sneers at him.
Seiya glares at her, his eyes narrowing at her remark. "She would be expecting something like that."
"You have ventured out on your own in the past, this wouldn't be any different." Hikaru adds, trying to figure how to initiate the plan with as few problems as possible.
"Fighter is right," Princess Kakyuu speaks up. Another idea occurs to her. "Perhaps if we," she gestures to Hikaru and Seiya, "make it look like we are searching for other accommodations and it appears we don't notice her."
"But Chaos is after your starseeds too." Seiya shakes his head in disagreement. "Is Hikaru-san going to walk around with a cauldron the entire time?"
"We will follow the three of you with the cauldron out of sight. Just a slight change of plans," Haruka interjects trying to smooth out the plan.
Setsuna looks at the others in the room for a moment before she comments. "This is a better plan. We know how much she wants Princess Kakyuu and Sailor Galaxia's starseeds, along with her pearl rings returned. If Chaos sees the three of you together it will be impossible to resist."
Silence fills the room. "What do you want me to do?" Mamoru asks. He can't help but notice he was not assigned a role in this plan.
Setsuna turns to face him, "Usagi-chan has returned to your apartment multiple times."
Mamoru nods his head in agreement. "It is likely she would return home again." He places emphasis on the word home, where she belongs with him.
Haruka plays along trying to irritate Seiya further, "It makes sense since she would return to her residence." There is a pause between everyone.
Setsuna can see the tension building in the air. "Then it's agreed. Mamoru-san will return home for the night. We will leave here early tomorrow morning and try to seal Chaos."
Sailor Cosmos slowly opens her eyes. She stretches and yawns trying to figure out her surroundings. It takes a few moments before the memories flood back to her. She looks down at her fingers and confirms all of her rings are still missing.
She can only travel short distances throughout Tokyo quickly. Everywhere else will take her longer to travel and more energy she doesn't have.
She returns to the hotel room that housed the Three Lights. A quick search of the room and it is empty. She frowns, confirming they have moved on. She walks over to the window and sees the Moon emerging from behind the clouds realizing how late in the day it has become. She reverts back to Tsukino Usagi to conserve her energy with one destination in mind.
Japan was amazing. I saw so many places from the anime/manga and even places I wrote out in this story. Inspirational for the next arc! Can't wait to go back in a few years to see more of the country.
Where is Usagi going? Will their plan work to steal Chaos? Find out next on 12/17! Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Sailor Stars: Chaos Theory Act 58: When Darkness Awaits