Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Sailor Stars: Chaos Theory
Act 58: When Darkness Awaits
Sora Kazeno
Usagi jumped to her feet as everything returned to normal in the room. Her finger felt warm, she glanced down and recognized a small pearl ring on her index finger. It was the same ring she wore as Sailor Cosmos.
Her actions and the glowing ring attracted the attention of others. An eight pointed star appeared on Usagi's forehead, the mark of Cosmos.
Usagi felt terrified by the experience she just endured. She didn't understand why she saw herself trapped inside a crystal. She grabbed her forehead, as she experienced multiple different emotions at once.
Everyone stood up and watched Usagi closely. They weren't sure how to handle Usagi.
Mamoru took a few steps forward, unsure of how Usagi would react. "Usako…" he murmured.
Seiya attempted to rush over to her to calm her. Princess Kakyuu stood in front of him to block his path. "Princess?" Seiya said in utter confusion. He didn't understand why she would prevent him from trying to help Usagi.
"I'm sorry, but it is not safe," explained Princess Kakyuu. Seiya gave her a quizzical look and she continued, "I believe a new ability of hers is emerging. I am not sure what the ability is or what will happen next. It is for her safety and yours."
Seiya let out a deep breath and nodded his head.
Princess Kakyuu's words hit everyone. They kept their distance; a few of them moved several steps back.
Princess Kakyuu walked toward Usagi and stood in front of Seiya. She knew if anything happened to him, Usagi would never be able to forgive herself. She had seen many senshi awaken in the past and not all of them survived the experience. Some awaken their powers all at once and others over time. Sailor Cosmos was a thankfully a gradual awakening. It would be too much for one person to handle at once. "Usagi-san… what happened?"" Her voice was calm, soothing. "We want to try to help you."
"… I don't think anyone can help me…." Usagi opened her eyes as a few tears began to fall. "I keep have images… memories as Princess Serenity. For days." She raised her head to look at Princess Kakyuu, "and now this morning, memories from the previous Sailor Cosmos."
"That's how you knew… about the past relationship…" Princess Kakyuu said slowly as she began to piece everything together. Her shoulders slumped. She was afraid she would develop some memories from a different past life.
Usagi turned toward Setsuna with fury in her eyes. "I don't understand how this is possible! We went to the future and there was no Crystal Tokyo…. why was I just trapped inside a crystal a few seconds ago?" Tears flowed freely down her face. Too often her anger and confusion was tied into Crystal Tokyo and what may have been.
The Inner Senshi and Mamoru gasped at her statement. They all remembered seeing Neo-Queen Serenity enclosed in a large crystal to protect her from an attack again the Black Moon.
"You never left the room… you were here with us the entire time. You were never enclosed in a crystal," explained Setsuna. She tried to make Usagi understand what she experienced was in her mind.
Rei tried a different approach with Usagi, "What did the crystal look like?" She knew Usagi had dreams lately about her future with Seiya. But anytime she heard discussion of a large crystal, she always thought back to their trip to the future, years ago.
"I… I don't know…" Usagi said. She began to feel some of the rage subside. She tried to recall everything she could from her recent experience. "It was a large, clear crystal… I was trapped." She turned away from the others. The light from her ring began to diminish. Usagi gradually began to stabilize emotionally. "I need to leave for a little while." She didn't speak another word or make a gesture while her clothes instantly transformed into Sailor Cosmos. The star on her forehead still dimly lit.
"Usagi, you need to stay… we need to figure this out," Rei tried to plead with her.
"Odango, we want to help you in any way that we can," said Seiya as he started to take a few steps to her. He was now next to Princess Kakyuu.
"I know there is an explanation to everything… we just don't understand it yet," added Setsuna with a firm expression.
"I know we can help you figure this out," added Mamoru, as he took a few steps closer to her. He was now the closest to her but still several feet away.
Sailor Cosmos sadly shook her head. "I am glad all of you are concerned about my wellbeing, but I need time to myself to sort things out." She closed her eyes for a moment before she added, "memories of three different lifetimes…." She took a few steps away from the others. She prepared her escape. She repeated herself again, "Three sets of memories from three completely different lifetimes."
Seiya couldn't sit on the sidelines anymore, "Odango… please…" he pleaded with her. He walked past Princess Kakyuu and began to close the gap.
Mamoru was silent while he processed everything in front of him. He finally began to understand the confusion she spoke of. She was essentially three different people now. She tried to balance everything. It was easy when she was Princess Serenity and Tsukino Usagi. But now, the rebirth of Sailor Cosmos changed her completely. Everything she thought she knew was turned upside. He knew what he had to do. He had to draw her back to former self, Princess Serenity, Sailor Moon and Tsukino Usagi. But he would not be able to accomplish this task in front of all the others. He felt a little relief as he felt he finally knew how to win her back.
Sailor Cosmos shook her head at Seiya. "I will be back." The crystal orb on her staff grew brightly for a moment as Sailor Cosmos began to disappear in a twinkle of small stars. As her body faded, a pale pink mist floated above the floor where she stood moments before.
Seiya sits up on the couch. He's not sure how long he was able to sleep. He pulls out the pearl rings that belong to Sailor Cosmos and stares at them for a few minutes. He gets up from the couch. After what he had seen, there is no way he will be able to go back to sleep. He walks over to the window to look out at the Tokyo skyline.
A light from the kitchen reflects on the glass window. He turns around and walks over to the kitchen to find Setsuna making herself a cup of tea.
"Couldn't sleep?" She asks pulling out another tea mug.
Seiya shakes his head no. "I keep having memories of this other timeline… there was this one about learning the power of her rings…" He stops to look at her. "You were there." He sits down at the kitchen. Rubbing his forehead he apologies, "I'm sorry. This isn't something you probably want to hear about."
"It's alright, you've been through a lot and not many people can understand what happened." Setsuna uses this moment to pry. "What other memories have returned to you? Are any of them about the battle against Chaos?"
"No, nothing about that battle. I've remembered other battles and some of the other memories were rather… personal." Seiya slowly adds. He doesn't want to go into details with her.
Setsuna places two teacups on the table and pours hot water into them. She places the kettle back on the stove and brings over a tea chest. "You mean you had memories of you and Usagi-chan… together." She pulls out a two tea bags. "This herbal tea is supposed to help you sleep."
Seiya can feel a blush creep across his face. He focuses on the tea in front of him and places the bag in the water to seep. His face became serious. "None of this would have happened if you hadn't mettled with time."
Setsuna turns the tea bag in her cup. "I did not foresee any of this happening; her feelings for you are stronger than I ever anticipated."
"And they will only grow stronger over time." His tone is no longer pleasant. "I'm tired of having to prove myself to everyone. All of this could ha been avoided."
"Yes it could have," Setsuna stands up pushing in her chair. "If she chose differently." She picks up her tea cup. "Get some sleep." She leaves without another word.
Seiya picks up his tea and blows on it slightly to avoid burning his tongue but it is still too hot. He places it back on the table and stares at it, a slight smirk forming across his lips. He knows he is going to have an uphill battle when he returns to the other timeline. But he doesn't care, Odango is worth any hardship he will face.
It is early morning and the first rays of the sun appear over the eastern horizon of Tokyo. Mamoru is awake after a dream he assumes is related to the other timeline and the battle against Chaos.
He has countless questions in his mind. Why where Sailor Cosmos and Princess Serenity two separate people? He thought about those that were present in that moment. Did Galaxia or Seiya regain any memories from this battle? He frowns, if they had information to help them stop Chaos, he assumes they would have shared something so important.
He leans back in his chair. There are only two people with their memories from the other timeline fully intact. Usagi, who is still trying to fight off Chaos and Sailor Pluto who lost her starseed before the final battle.
Why was Sailor Cosmos reborn as Usa? He sighs. He knows the answer. She has the strongest heart of anyone he has known. The purest heart.
He tries to remember his dream for any clues to the past when a memory returns to him.
Sailor Cosmos overheard the exchange and burst out laughing. "This is too perfect!" Sailor Cosmos exclaimed between laughs. "You are fighting over the girl while Usagi can't make a decision between the two of you!"
Sailor Star Fighter's eyes widened at her remarks. She wasn't sure what Sailor Cosmos meant by that.
Endymion took a deep breath as he tried to calm his nerves. He tries to appear in control but his face displays a different emotion. One that conveys his anger.
Sailor Star Healer and Sailor Star Maker exchanged a confused look at each other.
"Usagi was the perfect vessel to select. A nudge here and there and she was in utter chaos," Sailor Cosmos said gleefully. "The feelings where there but Usagi never would have acted on them unless I pushed her to it. I was amazed by how the inner turmoil made it so easy to consume her body. All because she kissed Seiya!" Sailor Cosmos said as she laughed.
"Se… Seiya!" Sailor Star Healer exclaimed in disbelief.
Sailor Star Maker did not speak but now understood why Seiya had been acting so differently in the past few weeks.
Sailor Star Fighter didn't speak but rather took a step back. Her mind was racing when she thought about Sailor Cosmos' words. She had said the feelings were already there but Usagi never acted on them. This made her even more confused. Then she snapped back to reality and remembered her duty as a senshi to protect the galaxy. She could sort out everything later, after Chaos was defeated.
Endymion did not say anything but clenched his fist tightly. This was the last thing he wanted to hear Sailor Cosmos discuss. The information was still difficult for him to process.
Sailor Galaxia raised her eyebrow at Sailor Cosmos' remarks. Chaos is trying to cause as much friction as possible among them. She wanted to interrupt Sailor Cosmos but she thought it over and it would be best to listen to her since she might learn some valuable knowledge.
"Such indecisive over something so simple made my job very easy. She never stood a chance when the animates went after her starseed. I couldn't have planned it better if I tried," said Sailor Cosmos with an evil grin. Her grin faded as she continued, "if only the other senshi didn't get in the way. I would still have that starseed," she said while pointing at Princess Serenity with a menacing glare.
"Starseed?" Princess Serenity repeated confused by the term. She had heard the phrase several times but she wasn't entirely sure what they are.
"If you don't even know what it is then you don't have a need for it! Hand it over!" Sailor Cosmos yelled at her.
"No!" Princess Serenity shouted back at her.
"Fine," Sailor Cosmos said as she turned her attention to the Sailor Starlights, "I'll go after someone's starseed!" She then looked over at Endymion and then to Sailor Star Fighter. "One of you."
Sailor Galaxia didn't hesitate any longer. She fired a blast at Sailor Cosmos while she was distracted.
Sailor Cosmos used her staff to block the attack. "Oh? A real challenge?" She exclaimed gleefully as she returned the fire.
The others watched silently as the two began to battle. No one wanted to be caught in the crossfire or be in Sailor Galaxia's way. Sailor Galaxia seemed to be matching Sailor Cosmos' power for the time being. But it was only a matter of time.
"Is this all you have?" Sailor Cosmos taunted her as she easily dodged Sailor Galaxia's attack. "You are going to have to try better than that," she said as she released another blast from her staff.
Sailor Galaxia was knocked back in the direction of Princess Serenity, Sailor Star Maker and Sailor Star Healer. It was clear Sailor Cosmos still had the upper hand. Sailor Star Maker and Sailor Star Healer helped Sailor Galaxia to her feet.
Sailor Galaxia slowly rose and was blinded by a pale lavender light. It took her a moment to try and register what had just happened.
"Taiki!" Sailor Star Fighter exclaimed as she rushed over to Sailor Star Maker's side. But she was too late.
Mamoru sits in silence as he thinks about the part of the battle he just remembered. Unfortunately it was memories of more senshi losing their starseeds rather than how to defeat Chaos, something he needed to see.
The sun is rising higher in the sky. He gets up and heads over to the kitchen to make himself coffee and a small meal. He needs to eat something to prepare him for the difficult day ahead.
Mamoru arrived around 8:30 the following morning at Setsuna's apartment. Usa never showed up last night or this morning. He arrives early to allow extra time to discuss in further detail any last minute changes. It was decided Seiya and Princess Kakyuu will draw Sailor Cosmos out. Sailor Galaxia will remain hidden with the others. Everyone was ready by the time he arrived.
As much as Seiya hates it, he agreed it would be the fastest way to draw attention; he has to appear in public to be recognized by more people which would mean Usagi would find them sooner.
Around 9am, Seiya and Princess Kakyuu, wearing a borrowed orange dress from Setsuna, set off from the apartment. Seiya wears his sunglasses but is not hiding under a hat or any bulky clothes to hide his appearance.
Fifteen minutes later, fans have begun to yell and recognize Seiya of the Three Lights. He is stopped for pictures and autographs on the street. Seiya puts on his best smile and complies with their requests. He spends the entire time looking around for Usagi. The minutes seem to drag on.
Princess Kakyuu stands a short distance away from him, trying to not to be caught in the mob of fans. She tries to blend in a bit and watch for Sailor Cosmos. When Seiya glances in her direction she shakes her head to signal no, she hasn't found Usagi.
Haruka, Setsuna, Hikaru, and Mamoru remain in the distance hidden off the main walking path in Arisugawa no Miya Park. Setsuna and Hikaru are quietly scanning the area for Sailor Cosmos.
Haruka watches Seiya carefully. "He is either really enjoying being with his fans or really good at pretending." She smirks. "Michiru always hated this part."
"We'll get her back soon," Setsuna encourages Haruka. "We'll get everyone back and this battle will be behind us." She wanted to add it would only be a memory but the others will never remember this place or this time.
Mamoru watches Seiya carefully, really studying him for the first time. Seiya looks so smug talking to the fans and signing his name. This is who Usa chose in the other timeline? There has to more to him than this. But then again, it will make everything easier for Mamoru to win her back.
Seiya greets all of the fans until they disperse. Princess Kakyuu walks over to him. "We should keep moving while we can." She plays the role flawlessly, displaying an urgency to move on when in reality they need as much exposure as possible.
"But your biggest fan just arrived."
They both turn around when they hear her voice. Usagi is standing a few feet from them; her cold eyes staring at them intently. "I'm surprised you are this out in the open and your Princess… almost as if you wanted me to find you."
She laughs lightly and taps the crystal pendant on her neck; her pale pink dress instantly becoming her sailor fuku.
Princess Kakyuu tenses up next to Seiya.
"I just want to talk to you Odango…" He struggles with forming the words when he knows everyone else is listening to everything nearby.
She smiles at him coyly. "I want to do more than just talk. You have my rings and I want them back." Before she is able to do anything else she is attacked.
"Uranus Space Turbulence!"
"Pluto Chronos Typhoon!"
Sailor Cosmos is knocked onto the ground. Their surprise attack didn't allow her any time to try to defend herself. The two Outer Senshi appear out of nowhere. She picks up her head and glares at the senshi. She never sensed their presence. She was too focused on Seiya and Princess Kakyuu's starseed to notice theirs nearby. She rises to her feet. She doesn't understand how but their powers seem to have grown stronger since their last encounter.
Her body feels exhausted and she realizes the truth. They haven't become stronger, she has become weaker. Her body never recovered from Saturn's attack. She is becoming weaker every day and after the incident with the gas she is now realizing it. This body is slowing dying.
Seiya is fighting the urge to run over and help her. He thought he would have had more time to talk to her before they interfered. How is he supposed to draw Odango out if the others never given him a chance? He pushes the thoughts to the side as he transforms. "Fighter Star Power, Make Up!"
Sailor Cosmos cringes as all of the sudden she feels even weaker. She turns to her right to find Prince Endymion and Sailor Galaxia with the cauldron. Her eyes narrow at the object in Sailor Galaxia's hands. "You're trying to steal my powers again. You can try to take as much as you want but you still can't stop me." She rushes at Sailor Galaxia to take the cauldron and reclaim her power.
Prince Endymion throws a rose in her path. Sailor Cosmos freezes at the sight of the rose. She slowly raises her head and glares at Endymion. "You dare throw a rose at me?"
"I'm doing this to help you Usa. We all want to help you." He gestures to everyone around him.
"I don't need your pity, just your starseed!" She raises her bracelets to attack again, but this time she is stopped by Princess Kakyuu.
A stream of red energy in the shape of fireflies form a vine around Sailor Cosmos's arms holding her in place. The confinement allows Sailor Galaxia a chance to use the cauldron to collect more energy from Chaos.
Princess Kakyuu struggles to hold her in place and is only successful for a minute at best before Sailor Cosmos breaks free.
Sailor Cosmos launches energy at Princess Kakyuu and in the blink of eye; the Princess screams as her starseed is taken. It slowly floats over to Sailor Cosmos. The Guardian smiles at the starseed. She now has three from the Kinmoku star system. The Princess is the second strongest.
"Princess!" Fighter screams rushing to her side. She holds the Princess' hands as her body immediately begins to fade.
Princess Kakyuu uses her remaining time to encourage Sailor Star Fighter not to give up. "I know you can save Usagi-san." She smiles slightly at the Starlight as her body fades away.
Sailor Cosmos smiles as she looks at the starseed. "I've been waiting for a starseed with such a shine for a while." She gestures to the side and the starseed disappears. She spins around to look at the others pondering out loud, "Which starseed should I take next?" She stumbles with her footing. Her eyes narrow more. "Usagi seems to have gotten a little stronger but she is still too weak to stop me." She laughs and disappears in a flash of bright light.
Sailor Galaxia sighs. "We gathered a little more energy but it is nowhere near enough. She frowns. "At this rate, we won't make it in time. However, Chaos is growing weaker. Chaos was very careful to avoid fighting all of us at once because Chaos knows it can't win if we are all together."
Sailor Uranus frowns. "But now Chaos is going to expect an ambush from us every time and be ready for it."
"That won't stop Chaos. It wants our starseeds too much," Sailor Pluto counters back. She hides her frustration of losing the Starlights Princess, a powerful alley in this battle. It is now up to Galaxia to stop Chaos. A battle she has won and lost in the past.
Sailor Cosmos collapses when she reaches the Silver Millennium. If she kept fighting the other senshi she would have lost. There were too many and they drained more of her power. She can't let them see how weak she has become. She must keep taking their starseeds one at a time.
She freezes when she looks around. The palace has still not been restored since the last time she was here. Elements from the other timeline have begun to appear in this one; however, the Silver Millennium remains the same.
She curses her tiredness from the day before preventing her from reaching Mamoru's apartment and taking his starseed. She vows to take his starseed next but she must rest first.
Any time Sailor Galaxia takes her energy it is difficult for her to continue to fight on. She needs to end the rest of this battle quickly before Sailor Galaxia takes more of her energy and she will be too weak to stop them. If she removes the obstacles of Mamoru and Seiya, Chaos will have completed control of Usagi.
Seiya is upset by their lack of progress and thought the plan would have worked out better if they senshi weren't in such a hurry to attack. "You attacked her too soon," he argues with Haruka and Setsuna now that they are back in their apartment.
Hikaru fires back, "We made more process than you think. Every time we gather energy from Chaos, the weaker she will become. We just have to find a way to keep her occupied long enough to gather a more significant amount." She looks around at the others. "There are five of us left and we only have a few days at best to seal Chaos and return everyone's starseeds."
Seiya replays all of his encounters with Sailor Cosmos trying to figure out if there was anything he could have done differently. Princess Kakyuu's starseed was taken suddenly and he wasn't fast enough to react. His attention shifts back to the others as they try to form their next plan.
Mamoru abruptly changes the topic of discussion. "One of the things I have started to recall from the other timeline is from our final battle against Chaos."
No one speaks as they wait for him to continue.
"Usa didn't have her starseed anymore and somehow that starseed became Princess Serenity. Those that were left tried to stop her… it was pretty much the same people in this room."
"Was there anything else that you remember?" Setsuna asks hoping for some sort of clue. "No matter how small the detail; anything may help."
Mamoru turns his head to the side and then looks down at the ground. "I wish there was more."
Seiya notices the look Mamoru gave him when he looked around the room. The older man definitely remembered more than he was willing to talk about with the others.
Sailor Cosmos opens her eyes feeling somewhat rested. She doesn't waste any time returning to Earth but finds herself winded as soon as she arrives. She needs to find a place to rest nearby. She needs to stay closer to the others so she doesn't waste so much energy traveling back and forth but is unsure where she can go.
She doubts they will be a Rei's shrine. She stops there to rest while she plans her next move.
Sailor Pluto could easily hide everyone in the time streams preventing her from finding anyone. She can no longer enter the time streams without her ring. It was her ring that acted like a time key that permitted her entrance. After a short break she will move on to her next target, Mamoru. Who happens to live not very far from her current location.
Usagi pushes again at the door confining her. She has pushed against the bars, the door, everything. But it seems the only place she has made process is when she pushes against the door. It moves slightly now as if it is not completed bolted in place. Chaos seems to be weaker. She keeps pushing against it but it will not open any further. Whatever the others have done it is starting to work. But how much time do they have left? Do they have the strength to end this?
Princess Serenity appears before her on the side. A question has bugged Usagi ever since she woke up here that she needed to ask. "Why are you on that side and not confined in here?"
Princess Serenity shrugs in response. "I guess Chaos has more use for me than you?"
"Why are you helping him? Don't you realize he is killing everyone and will do the same to Mamo-chan too?"
The Princess sighs at Usagi. "We've been over this. Endymion is safe but the others are not."
"When will realize you no one is safe as long as Chaos is free?"
Hours later, Haruka walks to Mamoru's apartment as the sun is setting. He had left a few hours ago and she needed a break from everyone. She wanted to check in on him and to talk. There are things she needs to discuss with him that she cannot say in front of the rest of the group. She loathes having Seiya stay the apartment.
As she walks down the street, she notices how happy everyone appears. It's moments like this she misses Michiru. Michiru was the one that made her happy when everything seemed like it was falling apart in the world.
She forces herself forward knowing the moment she gives up Michiru's starseed will never be returned. It drives her onward.
Mamoru looks at the number calling him, Motoki. He watches the phone as it rings but he doesn't pick up. He doesn't want to talk to anyone that doesn't know what happened. There is no way he could explain it all. For what? Everything is about to change anyway. Motoki would never understand.
The sound of a key slowly turning in the lock at the front door changes his focus of attention from the phone to the door. He inhales a sharp breath when Usagi enters the apartment in a pale blue dress and closes the door behind her.
She turns around and is startled to find Mamoru there staring back at her. She smiles at him. "Hi Mamo-chan."
Seeing her like this makes Mamoru believe for a moment she has come back to him and things are how they used to be. He desperately wanted to believe it but he knows better.
"Why are you looking at me like that Mamo-chan? Don't you want me here?" She pouts at him before she turns away from him.
Mamoru's eyes widen at her response. "Of course I want you here… I just wish things could go back to the way they were before Chaos."
Her back turned to him she smirks saying quietly to herself, "I don't think things will ever go back to how they were." She spins around to face him, smiling brightly. "You can't go backwards, you can only go forward."
Mamoru walks forward toward her. "Usa, is it over? Is Chaos gone?" He asks. Something about her seems different.
Usagi's eyes are lighter. "Why don't you come over here and find out?" She takes a few hesitant steps in his direction with her left hand behind her back. A few golden sparkles appear around her left hand as it takes the shape of a bracelet. Waiting for the perfect moment when he wasn't expecting it. She will collect his starseed and end any resistance Chaos encounters with Princess Serenity. Serenity will be too heartbroken to do anything.
Mamoru follows Usagi's cue and moves closer to her. Studying her face closely trying to find a sign this nightmare is over. He studies her eyes; they are missing that icy glare from earlier today. They are only a feet apart now. A small smile forms at the corners of his mouth.
He hesitantly reaches a hand out to caress her cheek. She doesn't pull back from him. She closes her eyes and smiles at him.
He closes the remaining distance and sweeps her into an embrace. They stay like that for a few minutes and are interrupted by a loud knock on the door.
"Mamoru-san?" Haruka is on the other side of the door.
Mamoru reluctantly pulls his arms away from Usagi to open the door. His back is now facing his wife.
Usagi's eyes narrow into slits as a golden bracelet appears on her right hand. She knows this is her chance.
Mamoru opens the door to greet Haruka. "Hi."
Haruka is about to respond when she sees over Mamoru's shoulder, Usagi with golden bracelets around her wrists raised up in a familiar stance. One she takes right before she unleashes golden energy to take a starseed.
Things seem to move in slow motion for Haruka, all she can manage to shout as a warning, "Mamoru-san!"
He looks confused at her and watches Haruka as she runs to the other side of him. He begins to put the pieces together as he sees golden energy erupt from Usagi's bracelets.
Haruka pushes Mamoru out of the way at the last moment and cries out in pain as the energy hits her. Seconds later her starseed is taken. She collapses onto the ground in front of Mamoru. Haruka can't help but smile softly knowing she is about to be reunited with Michiru. Her body fades away.
Mamoru stares at the scene in front of him wide eyed. He was seconds away from losing his own starseed by Chaos' hand.
Usagi is annoyed as the navy blue starseed floats over to Usagi. "Not the starseed I was after, but her shine is a lot brighter than yours."
"Usa what has gotten into you? I thought you were here to…" he can't finish the sentence.
Usagi bursts into laugher. "You were so convinced everything was over just like that? I can't believe how gullible you are when it comes to Usagi. How desperate you are to have her back." Her expression becomes serious. "But enough of that, I think it's time I collect what I came here for."
Mamoru's stance changes. He watches her movements.
"Don't tell me you're actually going to defend yourself this time?" She raises her right wrist as a tease.
Mamoru summons a rose in his hand. He's not sure if he needs to throw it to buy him some time or he'll use it to transform.
Usagi shakes her head at him. "You always hide behind a rose."
"I remember a time when you used to be happy to be saved by a rose."
Usagi is annoyed. "That was a long time ago. A time when Usagi was really weak and thought she needed you to save her. You made her weak. She began to depend on you instead of relying on her own power. A power that far exceeds yours." She takes a few steps forward and somehow manages to trip over her feet in true Usagi fashion.
Mamoru's first instinct is to help her but realizes this might be his only chance to leave. He doesn't wait any longer.
Usagi stands up and finds Mamoru is gone. She stares at the spot where he stood. Surprised he would just leave the apartment like that.
"He must realize he doesn't stand a chance." An idea occurs to her. She uses the time to search the apartment for the three pearl rings.
She can't find them an hour later. He still hasn't come back. She sits down on the couch to rest and waits for his return.
Mamoru looks behind him again, surprised to not see Usagi following him. His pace finally slows down a bit. He's not sure what do next. He comes to a halt when he asks himself why did Haruka show up at the apartment? What did she need to tell him? He has no way of knowing.
With these questions lingering in his mind he decisions on a destination, Setsuna's apartment.
Seiya stands outside of the Outer's apartment on the balcony watching the stars slowly appear in the sky. When everything is in turmoil, watching the stars has always had a calming effect. He feels like he let Princes Kakyuu down today. He sighs.
Ever since Sailor Cosmos lost her remaining rings she is quick to disappear as soon as she obtains a starseed making it more difficult to try to talk to her. If only he could talk to her longer, he could reach her. How much time was left before the other timeline returns? His mind wanders to a few of the memories of him and Usagi he recalled the past few days.
He looks down over the balcony and sees Mamoru in his green blazer heading to the entrance of the building. He looks at up at the stars one more moment before he turns around and walks back inside.
He finds Setsuna pouring tea for Hikaru and herself. "I'm pretty sure Mamoru-san just entered the apartment building and he seemed in a hurry."
Setsuna set the tea kettle down. "Odd. Haruka-kun went over to visit him. Was she with him?"
"I didn't see her," Seiya responds slowly, not liking where the conversation was leading.
Hikaru looks at Setsuna without exchanging a word.
Setsuna's eyes focus on the tea cup in front of her. She has asked Haruka to remain in the apartment earlier but Haruka could not be persuaded to stay.
A few minutes later there is a loud knock at the door. Setsuna slowly gets up and makes her way to the door. "Hello Mamoru-san," she greets him when she opens the door.
As soon as he is inside he tells them what happened. "Usa came to the apartment to… talk to me. She was there for a few minutes until Haruka-kun arrived. She came into the apartment and at that moment Usa attacked her and took her starseed." He wishes he could have done more. "I was able to leave the apartment before she took my starseed. I slowly made my way here and I made sure she wasn't following me. I came here to let you know."
Hikaru lets out a large sigh. "It's just the four of us now against Chaos. I'm not sure how much of Chaos is still within Sailor Cosmos. It seems trying to distract her long enough to finish sealing Chaos will be difficult if not next to impossible as this point."
"Tomorrow we have to find a way to end this. Do what we have to… to save her." Seiya looks at the others, trying to hide the despair he feels.
"You make it sound so easy," Mamoru takes out some of his anger and frustration of recent events out on Seiya. "What do you think we've been doing since this first happened?"
"Not enough." Seiya cuts off Mamoru. "Or this would already be over. Very few of you are willing to do what it takes! If everyone worked together from the beginning we would all be better off! Back then she couldn't over power all of us, now we can't stop her from taking more starseeds."
"We have all of her rings. Chaos' power has diminished," Mamoru argues back with Seiya.
"After most of the senshi are gone! We lost so many to get to this point. We have to whatever it takes to stop Chaos," Seiya repeats to Mamoru trying to make him understand the time to be passive has ended.
Mamoru lowers his voice. "So you don't care if Usa gets hurts?
Seiya glares at Mamoru. "You know that's a lie. I want her safe just like everyone else in the room. Part of keeping her safe is defeating Chaos. She will never be safe until Chaos is defeated and sealed in the cauldron."
Setsuna interjects before their argument could progress. "The world will not be safe as long as Chaos is free."
"Then how do we end this?" Mamoru asks, he can't handle much more of this.
"By working together and coming up with a plan Chaos will not see coming," Hikaru suggests. She looks at Mamoru and Seiya. "Arguing amongst yourselves will not solve anything. The four us will work together or Chaos will win."
Usagi continues to wait for Mamoru until she eventually dozes off. When she wakes up she is unsure how long she was asleep.
She gets up slowly and walks around the apartment again to search for the rings making sure she didn't miss anything from earlier. Once again she is empty handed. Her anger starts to boil over. She wasted too much time here and needs to finish collecting the starseeds. She will save her energy and make them come to her.
She hesitates for a moment when she sees the wedding photo. She walks over to the photo and stares at the happy couple. "If only Haruka-san didn't get in the way, I would already have your starseed." She continues to look at Mamoru's face as she speaks. "But Haruka-san has a more powerful one… no mater. Soon I will have them all." She drops the photo onto the couch.
Usagi knows Mamoru is not returning to the apartment. She is about to leave her former home for the last time. She pauses to grab a sheet of paper and a pen. She smiles as she writes.
Usagi looks at Princess Serenity in disbelief. "You know Chaos will never agree to spare Mamo-chan. He wants all of the starseeds. If Haruka-san didn't show up at the apartment he would be gone." Usagi repeats it again. "Endymion would have been gone."
Princess Serenity shakes her head disagreeing with her statements. "That was a ploy."
Usagi can't hold back her anger and yells at Princes Serenity. "What will it take for you to finally come around? Does Endymion have to lose his starseed?"
"All of this could have ended a long time ago but for some reason you keep on wanting Seiya not your true love, Endymion. I don't understand why this is so hard for you." Princess Serenity spats back. "How many times have we needed to go over this?"
"As long as it takes for you to understand. You keep insisting I just give up on the person I love."
"You keep insisting I give up on the person I love and you love in two different timelines." Princess Serenity storms off not giving Usagi a chance to respond.
Usagi sighs. She wants to find a peaceful resolution for this but knows the other side of soul, Serenity will always be angry she will not be Endymion and is something Usagi will have to learn to be okay with. She has already given up so much and does not want to give up on her own happiness for someone else. Serenity is a large part of her but Serenity represents her past. A small voice tells her Sailor Cosmos is also her past, a distant past. Usagi shakes her head to stop these thoughts that she went over time and time again in her head before she decided she wanted to be Seiya. She is not going to go down that road again. She refuses.
Now that she is alone again she pushed at the door. It's a little looser than the last time she tried but the change is nowhere near enough to allow her to escape her confinement.
The group talks late into the night. It was decided it would be best Mamoru remained there since Usagi could easily show up at the apartment and make another attempt on his starseed. He was offered Haruka and Michiru's room to rest.
He tried to sleep but every time he closed his eyes he is back in his apartment and Usagi is telling him it is over in the other timeline. When those images fade he sees images of married life. After many hours of tossing and turning he finally falls asleep.
Seiya and Hikaru are still up talking late into the morning. Neither could sleep, too much is depending on sealing Chaos. "Will it work?" Seiya asks, trying to find any missing details in the plan.
"It has to," Hikaru states, she tries to reassure him and herself at the same time. "Otherwise it's over. I just wish any of us could remember how we stopped Chaos. Something to give us an edge."
"Yeah…" Seiya agrees. "The battles I remember are not from Chaos but battles that took place afterward. It's almost like those memories are blocked out." Seiya sighs in frustration. "I just wish all of this was over."
"I do as well." There is a long awkward pause. "I'm sorry you have go through this…it seems that this other timeline was very different for you…It sounds like a timeline you could be very happy in."
Seiya tries to flash a confident smile but it fades. "Yeah…" Seiya looks at the clock on the wall and realizes how late it is. "After we stop Chaos and save the other senshi the timeline will go back to what it was… and all this will be behind us."
"I'm hoping by this time tomorrow, it will become a reality." Hikaru smiles slightly.
Seiya leaves the room to return to the couch to sleep for a few hours. He lies down trying to sleep but he ends up staring at the ceiling in an effort to clear his mind but it fills with more thoughts of stopping Chaos and how different everything will be in the other timeline. He tries to piece together the memories he has recalled into some kind of order that makes sense. How do all of them fit together?
He can't take it anymore and gets up to pace around the room for a little bit. He tries to focus on the battles but so many of his memories involve time he spent with Usagi, memories that can't help but leave a smile on his face. Eventually he is able to go to sleep for a few hours.
As the first rays of the sun start to creep into the apartment he remembers an entirely different memory. One that is new and what he tried so hard to recall to help them defeat Chaos.
Just when Sailor Cosmos had the upper hand she let out a scream of agony as she fell from the sky to the ground below.
"That would be the cue," said Sailor Galaxia as she rushed forward with the cauldron. Sailor Star Fighter and Endymion were close behind her each worried about Usagi.
Sailor Cosmos slowly props herself up to a sitting position. She gradually raised her head up and glared at Princess Serenity. The eight pointed star had vanished from her forehead which had been replaced by a crescent moon. "What… what have you done?" Sailor Cosmos asked Princess Serenity with hatred in her eyes.
"I've freed Usagi," Princess Serenity stated as she walked closer to her. She turned to face Sailor Galaxia and nodded her head. Princes Serenity's starseed glowed again and Sailor Cosmos led out a blood curling scream as black energy began to leave her body.
It only took Sailor Cosmos a few seconds to snap out of it. She grabbed her staff and lunged at the Princess. She was unsuccessful.
Princess Serenity used her wings and easily dodged the attack. "You've already lost."
"Impossible!" Sailor Cosmos retorted.
Princess Serenity did not say a word but pointed to the staff Sailor Cosmos held in her right hand.
Sailor Cosmos turned her head to look at the staff and discovered it began to emit the same white light as the Princess' starseed.
Sailor Galaxia frowned. She was only able to collect a small portion of Chaos' power and realized she needed to be patient.
'Come on Odango!' Sailor Star Fighter thought to herself. She hoped the nightmare would end soon.
Endymion closed his eyes; he had a hard time watching the events before him.
The staff Sailor Cosmos held began to emit a brighter light. As the crystal grows brighter at the top of the staff, it also became warmer to a point it began to burn. Sailor Cosmos yelled as she dropped the staff to ground. As soon as the staff hit the ground a few feathers emerged from it. The staff rolled over to Princess Serenity. Sailor Cosmos looked down at her hand which was now bright red.
Princess Serenity carefully picked up the staff and the crystal grew brighter. She was using the crystal to magnify the power of the starseed. "It's time I break the binds of Chaos," she said softly.
Sailor Cosmos bracelets began to glow. For a moment Sailor Cosmos appeared as Sailor Moon but she quickly revered back. "No!" Sailor Cosmos screamed at her. "You can't have Usagi back! She is mine to control!" A crack formed in her bracelets.
"You've already lost control of your staff," Princess Serenity said as she looked down at Sailor Cosmos. "It is time for you to be sealed, forever." Princess Serenity turned her body to look at Sailor Galaxia. "This is it," she said.
Sailor Galaxia stepped forward as more black energy left Sailor Cosmos's body. The caldron began to fill quicker. For the first time in weeks Sailor Galaxia felt like Chaos could be defeated.
Princess Serenity's starseed returned to the inside of her body as the crystal on top of the staff continued to glow. "Moon Healing Escalation!" An outline of the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou appeared within the crystal orb as the orb grew brighter. Princess Serenity had invoked the power of the crystal against Chaos.
Sailor Cosmos was bathed in pure white light. She could slowly feel her body rising up from the ground. Her bracelets shattered into small pieces. For a few moments an image of Sailor Moon had merged with Sailor Cosmos once more. It was almost over.
The wings on Princess Serenity's back disappeared in a flurry of feathers. She slowly walked toward Sailor Cosmos. She hesitated for a moment when she was only inches away from her. She sighed as her shoulders slumped a little. She knew nothing would ever be the same once Usagi opened her eyes and regained control of her body. She turned her head to look at Endymion one final time. Princess Serenity's body began to fade as she walked forward and phased into Sailor Cosmos' body. Sailor Cosmos screamed once more. She was now holding the staff in the same hand that was burned earlier. Black energy poured out of her body at a quick pace.
The dark energy was funneled into the caldron Sailor Galaxia held in her hands.
The dark energy that emitted from Sailor Cosmos gradually changed to a bright golden color. The energy began to dim and Sailor Cosmos slowly opened her eyes. Her eyes were once again a clear shade of blue. She was speechless as she looked at everyone. Tears began to well up in her eyes. She was struggling to breathe as she found her voice, "what have I done…" she said in a terrified voice.
Seiya bolts upright, wide awake. He trips over a blanket in his rush to get off the couch.
The loud thud creates a flurry of footsteps as everyone rushes toward the sound of the noise.
"It's only Seiya-kun," Setsuna said with relief to not find Sailor Cosmos in the front room.
Hikaru and Mamoru are behind her. They turn to leave to go back to breakfast.
"Wait," Seiya's voice his hoarse from just waking up. "I just remembered how we defeated Chaos last time." His sentence stops everyone in their tracks. They slowly turn to face him.
"How?" Setsuna finds her voice first with a sense of urgency.
Seiya relays what he can but he doesn't understand how Sailor Cosmos and Princess Serenity were separated into two people prior to sealing Chaos.
"We have to draw Usa out, it's the only way. When she's in control we can seal Chaos. She can help expel Chaos." Mamoru turns to Hikaru, "it's a better plan than attacking her and hoping for the best."
Hikaru is not as optimistic. "We have no guarantee it will work."
Setsuna counters back. "What guarantee do we have any of your plans will work?"
"The only guarantee we have is our starseeds will be taken unless we stop Chaos." Seiya interjects.
The others glare at Seiya for a moment without a word. They know he is right.
Setsuna looks at Mamoru and then Seiya. "It doesn't matter who succeeds in drawing Usagi-chan out. This ends today."
The group searches for Usagi as they go to Mamoru's apartment. They believe it is their best chance to find her. When they arrive they search each room and find it empty.
Seiya's stomach drops when he sees a picture of the happily wedded couple. He reminds himself that this was the original timeline he was never a part of. He tries to not let the picture bother him by reminding himself everything is about to change. For a moment he can understand Mamoru's anger from before. If Seiya was in his position about to lose Usagi, he would be upset too.
Mamoru nearly misses the paper on the counter. He scoops it up and recognizes the handwriting. He reads it but doesn't understand what it means. Staring at the paper he tries to make sense of it but the symbols don't mean anything. "It doesn't make sense." Mamoru speaks up after looking over the letter again.
"Can I see it?" Setsuna asks walking over to him.
Mamoru places the letter on the counter and slides in the center of counter allowing Hikaru and Seiya to read it as well. They need to find her as soon as possible.
Seiya shrugs his shoulders.
Hikaru shakes her head no.
Setsuna's eyes narrow as she reads it. She hesitates for a moment before reading, "Meet me where we first met".
Mamoru looks at Setsuna confused. "How did you come up with that? It's just a bunch of random symbols."
"No. She wrote it in Lunarian, the language of the Silver Millennium."
Princess Serenity walks down the large corridor leading to the now restored palace. She walks down another long hallway and pauses for a moment before she enters the throne room. She walks to the end of the room and sits on the throne. With a flick of her wrist starseeds appear around her. She smiles at their shine as their light reflects off the jewels on her golden bracelets and laughs.
Title is a variation from a line in Initial U from Sailor Uranus' image song from Stars.
This is it! How are they going to stop Chaos? Next part on 12/24! Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Sailor Stars: Chaos Theory Act 59: The Darkness of Nights