Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Sailor Stars: Chaos Theory
Act 72: You Were Warned This Could Happen
By: Sora Kazeno
Mamoru, Ayumi, Michiru, Haruka, and Setsuna are wrapping up dinner at a restaurant near Harvard while Hotaru is at school. The three Outer Senshi are visiting him to check on how he's been and to get to know Ayumi better. Having another senshi from their star system is an adjustment for Haruka.
Haruka carefully watched Ayumi during the meal to gain a better understanding of who she is. In her eyes being from this star system and Mamoru's sister already made her less of threat versus the Starlights. Their initial encounter did not go well but that was expected since they did not know each other. She addresses Ayumi, "it was good to meet you." She pauses to look at Michiru and Setsuna. "We should do this again. I'm sure there is still a lot to catch up on."
The blonde addresses Mamoru. "Your bike and car are running fine. It's shame to have such a nice bike sitting there for so long."
Mamoru smiles, "I appreciate you taking them out now and then."
"Of course," Haruka nods with a grin. "It would be too suspicious if was you since you're studying abroad." She shrugs. "I don't know how you would explain that if someone recognized you."
"You seem to be adjusting well here," Michiru tries to sound encouraging.
"As best as expected…" He responds. A sigh escapes his lips. "If I was in Tokyo it would be a lot different… it's probably easier this way."
Haruka shakes her head side to side. "So that's it? You're really not going to fight for her anymore?" She looks down. "I don't believe it." She had promised Usagi she would not interfere unless she had a reason. Her plan was to talk some sense into Mamoru instead.
"Haruka," Michiru warns her partner. "You promised Usagi you would not interfere."
"Umm… well… I never said I wouldn't talk to Mamoru-san," Haruka responds in a lower voice after being scolded. Her plan was that easy to figure out.
"Things did not go well the last time I talked to her…about us." Mamoru thinks back to what Usagi revealed. He didn't need to hear it again or be reminded she was with someone else. The newspaper articles were more than enough.
Haruka is not going to back down that easily. If Mamoru doesn't try no one else is going to at this rate. Why isn't he fighting for her more? After the other timeline something should have changed inside Usagi, other than being angry at Pluto. "What happened?" As soon as she asks in her mind she can hear Usagi's voice stating, "I visited him last night. We had a long… discussion. I will always choose Seiya. I love him. I always have." She also hears, "How we spend time alone together is our choice."
Ayumi interjects to allow Mamoru to avoid answering the question. "She made her stance… rather clear." Her voice is firm to suggest they didn't to ask anything about the conversation.
Haruka's lip twitches and eyes narrow. If Seiya touched her like that, he will have one heck of greeting when she sees him again. No one will give her a straight answer. "What did she say?"
Setsuna clears her throat, a reminder to Haruka what they had previously discussed. "Perhaps somethings are better left a mystery to others."
Haruka frowns while glancing at Setsuna, thinking of their conversation and following the Queen's wishes. Her gut tells her there is something the Senshi of Time is not sharing. But she'll never know.
Pearl rings appear on all eight of her fingers, glowing brightly.
An eight pointed star glows on her forehead.
Without a word uttered, the crystal pendant around her neck activates and she becomes Sailor Cosmos.
Her eyes are closed tightly as so many emotions wash over her. But one is growing fast, uncontrollable rage.
Her eyes snap open and the Scarlet Palace begins to shake as the Guardian unleashes her pent up wrath. She can feel the ground shaking beneath her and the movement grounds her back to the present. It stops within seconds before serious damage is done throughout the palace. She can't release all of her excess power here. She won't ruin this kingdom after they worked so hard to restore it. Her room has seen better days. Cracks line the walls and floor, the bed supports are gone.
She assumes the rest of the medical wing might have been affected but she that is not her main concern right now. Large feather wings appear on her back.
Her body is no longer protesting a need to sleep. Her emotions are fueling the Ginzuishou and her powers right now. Rest will happen later. She needs to speak with Sailor Pluto.
Her rings flash brightly as a wave of energy surrounds her body and she instantly leaves the Scarlet Palace, Kinmoku, and seconds later the star system that is home to Kinmoku, traveling at a speed she didn't know is possible.
The only hint Sailor Cosmos was in that room is the destruction she left behind and a few partially scorched feathers with darkened tips.
As soon as the shaking begins in the palace, panic ensues. The tremor did not last long but it was powerful. There was no warning.
The Queen's Guards were with their Queen and leap to their feet transforming. An earthquake on Kinmoku at this magnitude is very rare. They activate the emergency protocols to have Queen Kakyuu taken to a secure location with a heavy guard presence before they disperse. If it was an attack, the Queen's Guard needs to be on the front line.
Sailor Star Striker, Sailor Star Crusher, and Sailor Star Saber find the Queen's Guard first. "Is the Queen safe?" Striker asks, worried about her Queen.
"She is secure," Destroyer immediately confirms. "Start on the southern side of the palace, we will go to the north. If you come across the other Starlights, have them begin emergency protocols and fan out more." She barks orders.
Crusher and Saber don't hesitate. It takes Striker a moment longer. She is still adjusting to not being the one to call the shots within the Starlights ranks. But it is no longer her position. The Queen's Guard are always younger senshi. It was not surprising Destroyer's team was chosen. Destroyer's unique gift and personality to stop at nothing makes her the perfect escort to be at the Queen's side during their rebuilding phase in Kinmoku.
The Queen's Guard rush to the living quarters of the other senshi. Even if a Starlight is on a mission for years abroad, as long as they serve the palace they will have a room within the palace until they no longer serve the kingdom.
The three turn the corner and nearly run directly into Sailor Star Maker, Sailor Star Healer, and Sailor Venus.
Sailor Star Protector scans them with her eyes briefly. "You alright?" They don't appear to have any injuries.
"We're fine," Sailor Star Maker confirms their status. She knows they need to help. "What can we do?
Sailor Star Destroyer searches frantically but she still doesn't see her. "Where is Fighter?" She has assumed she would be with them.
"She left the palace a few hours ago to be on her own," Sailor Star Healer explains briefly not wanting to waste any more time discussing Fighter's whereabouts.
"How could you let her leave given the state she is in?" Destroyer can only imagine the turmoil Fighter is in, or rather Seiya. Usagi had lost a child, his child. Only four people in the palace knew the truth about the child. The Queen's Guard was not given that information. The Queen was very vague on what transpired. It gives Destroyer a sinking feeling her stomach. Something is seriously wrong.
Sailor Venus changes the subject. "I have to check on Usagi-chan." Usagi might have wanted to be alone earlier but that wasn't happening anymore. She needs to ensure the safety of her own Queen.
Destroyer looks at Venus. She doesn't know the protocols like the others. "Go and check on her. Maker and Healer, I need you to secure the northeastern section of the palace and we will secure the northwestern section."
Since Sailor Star Destroyer has the red Kinmokian blossom on her upper arm, they don't question her. "Fine," Sailor Star Maker agrees quickly.
Sailor Star Healer turns to Venus, "do you know where Usagi-chan's room is?"
Sailor Venus nods her head. "I think I can find it on my own."
"Good. We will meet you there, it is on our rounds to check," Sailor Star Healer looks at her with a stern expression to try to convey the seriousness of current events.
Venus nods her head. "I'll stay with Usagi-chan until I see you." With that, she rushes off, running in the opposite direction of the other Starlights she was with.
Her white boots click on the marble floors as she tries to pick up speed. Her thoughts are on Usagi and she has to hurry to confirm her safety. It took her a little longer than she anticipated. Once she finally finds the medical hallway, she knows where to go. She mentally tells herself she needs to explore the palace to become more familiar with everything.
She stops in her tracks when she witnesses large cracks across the walls on the right side of the hall, the same side as Usagi's room. Her door is still closed. She flings it open and finds it an utter mess not fully processing the state of the room. "No…" She inhales sharply. The aura of the room doesn't seem right. The bed is empty; the sheets are jumbled together. She runs into the bathroom in vain hoping Usagi is in there. It is vacant. She moves the shower curtain and it is empty too. "Usagi-chan!?" She calls frantically. No response.
She inhales sharply, worried something happened to her. She looks around the room. That is when she really notices the room's appearance. Large cracks in the wall and on the floor lead in one direction. They point her in the path of the bed. Her heart skips a beat when she finds scattered feathers. What does all of this mean? It gives her an uneasy feeling. "Did… Usagi-chan… leave?" It's clear she is not in this room. Where could she have gone in the palace? She is supposed to be resting.
Panic is setting in. She doesn't know what to do. If Ami was here she could use her computer to search for Usagi. The others. She remembers Queen Kakyuu gave her a communicator. She is thankful the Queen showed her how to use it. She twists the heart slightly and punches in the code to reach Healer.
Less than ten seconds later she hears the Starlight. "What is going on?"
"Usagi-chan is gone!" Venus blurts out.
There is a pause for a moment from Sailor Star Healer as she digests this new information. "What do you mean she's gone?"
"Do you know where she might be?" Maker asks in an annoyed tone.
Venus shakes her head no, even though they can't see her because she set it for audio only. "I don't know and I'm really worried. She is supposed to be resting! How can she be missing at a time like this?" She pauses and lowers her voice. "Her room… looks like there was a fight."
"Stay there and we will meet you," Healer directs her. Seconds later the transmission ends.
While securing the hallways, Sailor Star Destroyer finds the doctor that treated Usagi earlier today. The doctor is unrelenting; she needs to check on Usagi due to her weakened state.
At first Destroyer didn't want to bother and get the doctor to safety but she was insistent in case Usagi needed help or was injured. Destroyer didn't have a choice anymore if anything happened to Usagi it would be disastrous for Queen Kakyuu. The two of them reach Usagi's room before the other Starlights. They find a distraught Sailor Venus.
"Where is Usagi-san?" The doctor asks as he looks around the room. "She should be resting."
Sailor Venus tries to keep it together. "She's not here. I don't know where she is."
The doctor is alarmed by the senshi's response. "It's dangerous for her to be moving around so soon in her condition."
Sailor Venus bit her lip. She hadn't seen Usagi since she was first taken to the medical wing. She woke up spoke to Queen Kakyuu, Seiya, and then requested to be left alone. "How is she? I know she's been struggling."
The doctor hesitates to give her any information.
"I can't protect My Queen if I don't know what is going on. I know she lost a child," Sailor Venus states softly. It still sounds so strange to say out loud.
The doctor examines her fuku for a moment, the senshi before her is clearly not from this star system. Before she has a chance to answer, Maker and Healer enter the room.
"Please tell us what is going on so we can help her." Venus still doesn't want to believe what Sailor Star Maker had told her earlier. Usagi was not that far along. That child had to be Seiya's.
She looks at the senshi before her and given the circumstances, they need to find her patient. "I last saw her when she was in here with Fighter. She seemed shocked to learn she was three months along and there seemed to be a lot of tension in the room so I left to allow them time to talk, cautioning her to rest for the next couple of days."
Sailor Venus takes a few steps back. She can't avoid it anymore. It is worse that she thought. Three months is too long of a period of time. "No…" She whispers. "That can't be right. Usagi-chan… is not that kind of person…"
Sailor Star Healer looks at Sailor Venus with a frown. She had hoped that information they were given by Taiki was wrong somehow. She doesn't know how she is going to deal with Fighter when she returns.
"If you find Usagi-san, please let me know so I can check on her. I'll go to my assigned location during emergencies," the doctor responds softly before she leaves the room. She isn't sure why everyone is acting so strangely but it is clear she is not privileged to that information right now. It's a common feeling in the Scarlet Palace.
Sailor Star Destroyer looks at the three senshi before her. Something isn't adding up. Why is this a big deal? "What does this mean? What does this have to do with not finding Usagi-san?"
Sailor Star Maker pauses. It is no secret Destroyer had feelings for Seiya at one point but so much time had passed, surely she is past any feelings she had by now the Starlight assumes. Queen Kakyuu did not tell the Queen's Guard earlier because they did not have all of the information. After speaking with the doctor, everything is confirmed without a doubt. Her mouth forms a slight frown. "The child Usagi-chan lost was not Seiya's."
Destroyer's jaw dropped and her eyes widen at this information. She never assumed the child would be anyone but Seiya's. It takes her a few moments to regain her composure. "No wonder Fighter left." She can only imagine the pain Seiya is in. For the first time in a while she feels a little hope. Maybe this is the second chance she needs to have a relationship with him.
Sailor Star Healer looks around the room for any other clues and pauses when she sees the darkened feathers on the bed. "Why are there feathers here?"
Sailor Star Maker walks over to the bed to examine them. She finds a few feathers on the side of the bed and a few scatter ones around the room. "She might have left as Sailor Cosmos."
Sailor Venus sighs loudly. "I was afraid of that." If Usagi left in her senshi form she could vanish in seconds.
Sailor Star Healer's eyes widen for a moment as she turns to the brunette Starlight next to her. "You don't think… the palace shook because couldn't control her powers because she was upset?"
Sailor Star Maker nods her head in agreement. "It is possible. If she left rather quickly, the shaking would stop suddenly as well."
Sailor Venus focuses on where her Queen is. "Where do you think she might have gone?"
Healer shrugs her shoulders. "She could be anywhere by now. You've seen how fast she can travel…or if she is even in this time."
Destroyer refocuses her thoughts to the present. She'll speak with Fighter when she returns. "Do you have any way to contact Sailor Cosmos?"
Sailor Venus gasps as she pulls out her communicator, the same one she had used to contact Healer earlier. "I'm going to see if I can reach her."
Sailor Star Destroyer rushes over to Sailor Venus in disbelief at the type of communicator in her hands. "How did you get that?" She examines the center sees it has a heart instead of star along with her planetary symbol.
"Queen Kakyuu gave this to me recently in case I ever I needed to reach Usagi-chan," Sailor Venus explains as she turns it on. She types in the code for Sailor Cosmos. She stares intently at the object hoping for a reaction. The seconds tick by and she is eventually rewarded with sound, static.
Destroyer stares at the communicator. Queen Kakyuu also gave one to Sailor Cosmos. It was unheard of for anyone but a Starlight to possess such a communicator and a direct line to the Queen.
Minutes tick by without a response.
Sailor Star Maker grimaces. "Which location is Queen Kakyuu at? This could be really serious if we can't find Sailor Cosmos."
Sailor Star Fighter is deep in a mountain range hours away from the palace, isolated from everyone and the events occurring at the Scarlet Palace. She teleported to this precise location because it is hard to reach by foot and knew it would be vacant.
Her throat feels raw from screaming out of anger. Potential damage to her vocal cords is the last thing on her mind. She bottled it up for too long inside the palace and she is finally able let all of her emotions out. This is not the first time she has been here for feeling overwhelmed and needing to blow off steam.
But this is the first time it has been this painful. Her heart is broken. She needed to leave the palace before she said or did anything else. She tried so hard to find a way to make it make sense because she doesn't want to face her current reality.
Her mind races and she falls to her knees, defeated. "How could you do this Odango," she whispers. Usagi had told her as Fighter and as Seiya, she was the one the blonde Queen wanted.
Her gloved hands claw at the ground as her fingers close in to tight fights. Yet Usagi was carrying someone else's child, Mamoru's child. Usagi's former lover… no her current lover.
She stands up from the ground as anger consumes her again, running over to a nearby tree and hitting it with her fist as hard as she can muster. She doesn't care how much it stings. The tree trunk cracks under the pressure.
Fighter leans her hand on the tree to steady herself. She can't think straight. The same nagging thoughts won't leave her alone. Usagi was never going to tell her she was with Mamoru and she was going to continue on like nothing happened.
Her molars grind against each other. "How could you keep this from me?" Usagi had questioned her about having insecurities in their relationship. Given this revelation, Fighter had every right to feel that way.
Sailor Star Fighter's shoulders shake as some of the anger starts to melt into sadness and depression; she slowly drops back to the ground. This time the tears fall from her eyes. This is the worst pain she ever experienced in her life.
It was worse than seeing her home destroyed by Galaxia. It was worse than seeing Galaxia kill Princess Kakyuu in front of her.
She never expected Usagi to betray her like this. That is what wounded her the most. The person she loves the most was with someone else. All of those nights they spent together on tour… Usagi was already pregnant by another man. She inhales sharply; didn't their relationship mean anything to Usagi?
It's been years since Fighter wept uncontrollably.
Sailor Cosmos stands on the grounds of the Silver Millennium, glaring at the Earth before her. She should be absolutely exhausted after this journey but anger propels her forward. Rest will come later. She has to find Sailor Pluto. If she is not at her apartment she doesn't know where else to look. If only she had an ability like Mamoru to locate someone on Earth. There are too many starseeds in Japan and she can't tell them apart from so far away. She can only sense their presence from here but that is it. She can't waste energy going starseed to starseed.
Another idea hits her. She smiles a little. She can make Pluto come to her.
The ring on her right pinky finger flashes as her body is surrounded by a pink mist. She's going to meet Sailor Pluto in the place where it all started.
Sailor Pluto, Sailor Neptune, and Sailor Uranus are transformed and about to return to Tokyo when Sailor Pluto grips her staff tightly. Her body becomes stiff, as she feels a sense of dread rush through her being. "… Sailor Cosmos…" she gasps as she realizes what is happening.
"Is she okay?" Sailor Uranus is alarmed by Pluto's body posture.
The garnet orb flashes as purple doors appear in front of Sailor Pluto. She runs to the doors as they open before her. They close behind her as soon as she passes.
Ayumi looks at the others asking out loud the same questions on all their minds. "Didn't Sailor Cosmos go to Kinmoku? What would she be doing in the Time Steams?"
Mamoru's eyes narrows. Something is off.
Sailor Cosmos stands in the Time Streams waiting for Sailor Pluto. As the seconds pass her anger builds. She turns to the side when pale purple doors appear; seconds later they open and Sailor Pluto walks out.
Sailor Cosmos forms a straight line with her mouth. She is going to figure out what Pluto knows first. Her eyes glare at the senshi.
The look she receives from her Queen is not a pleasant one. The sight puts Sailor Pluto on guard.
"You said everything was the same when I returned to this timeline a few weeks ago," Sailor Cosmos begins.
Sailor Pluto slowly nods her head. "Yes… I haven't come across any changes. Did something happen?" The older senshi feels nervous under Cosmos' gaze. Her mind focuses on the last conversation she had with Usagi in Crown. Usagi explicitly told her she did not want to have to talk about the other timeline again.
Sailor Cosmos wants more information. "How did you decide what time to send me to?" Her patience is growing thinner.
"I searched for a future where you were married to Mamoru-san and made it possible for Crystal Tokyo to exist." Pluto looks at her cautiously. To be suddenly asked this line of questioning, something is terribly wrong.
"So… you wanted to make sure we were married… anything else?" Sailor Cosmos can feel her rings start to burn. Did she send her to a timeline where she was pregnant on purpose?
Sailor Pluto shakes her head no. "That was the only criteria I used." Her heart is beating faster. The way her Queen is staring at her is concerning.
Sailor Cosmos is losing her control. She was sent to a timeline where was already pregnant by chance? She was sent to a timeline she never should have experienced. She should never feel this grief. She doesn't believe the emerald haired woman. The little control she has left is fading fast.
She lashes out at Sailor Pluto. "How could you do that? You don't even know what you've done! The pain you've caused!" Fresh tears are on the verge of falling.
"I'm sorry… I thought we discussed this before you left for Kinmoku." Sailor Pluto pauses to ask, "Did something change since we last spoke?"
"Everything," Sailor Cosmos can't hold it back any more.
The Guardian's staff glows and expels energy at Sailor Pluto knocking her backwards into the doors behind her; forcing her out of the Time Streams and back to her entrance point.
Mamoru stares at the doors leading to the Time Streams. "Something doesn't seem right." He looks at the others and they are all on edge. "I hate how we can't follow to make sure everything is okay."
"For her to leave Kinmoku so soon … something must have happened," Sailor Uranus whispers to Sailor Neptune.
"We have no way to contact or check on them," Neptune responds as she looks at her mirror for any sign danger is approaching.
Sailor Uranus clicks her teeth in annoyance. "It is just like before… but the doors are still here. I don't like it."
Seconds later the purple doors are flung open as Sailor Pluto is blasted out of the Time Streams and onto the pavement. Her body rolls a few times before it comes to a halt near the feet of Uranus and Neptune.
"Earth Crystal Power, Make Up!" Ayumi raises her transformation wand to the air, preparing for the worst. The symbol of Earth appears in the crystal in front of a stone cut like a diamond. Her body is surrounded by olive green light. The elemental power associated with her is rock. Straight lines of energy twist around her before they form into ribbons that soon take the shape of her fuku. She strikes a final pose; her right hand near her brooch and her left a short distance in front of her in a fighting stance.
Mamoru is already next to Sailor Pluto to check on her injuries.
"Keep an eye on her," Sailor Uranus directs. She and Sailor Neptune advance waiting for the person that attacked Sailor Pluto to appear.
They hear their opponent before they see her. Her heels clicking loudly as she approaches the Gates of Time. Sailor Cosmos appears out of the gates and they slam shut after her. She is glaring at Sailor Pluto, ignoring the looks from the others present. Her vision tunneled on only one senshi, that one that caused all of this.
Mamoru subconsciously tightens his grip on right Pluto's arm when he sees the expression on Sailor Cosmos' face. It reminded him of the first time she became Sailor Cosmos consumed by Chaos.
"Not everything went back to exactly how it was!" Cosmos screams at Sailor Pluto, no longer able to keep herself in check. "Don't you know what you've done? Everything changed in the past few days!" Her staff glows brightly as another energy discharge is imminent. A few tears fall down her face out of anger. She is still trying to come to terms with her next statement, "you ruined everything with Seiya!" The built up energy from her staff is released in Sailor Pluto's direction.
Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune act quickly to try to deflect the energy.
"Neptune Violin Tide!"
"Uranus Space Turbulence!"
Their energy clashes with Sailor Cosmos' attack.
This gives Mamoru, now in the form of King Endymion a chance to move himself and Sailor Pluto out of the way. He barely had any time to asses her injuries as he picks her up in his arms and leaps out of the way, landing a short distance away, placing the senshi back down.
Sailor Pluto groans slightly as pain races through her left arm.
Sailor Earth isn't sure what she should do. The last time she tried to attack the white haired senshi, Endymion had stopped her. This is different; they were defending a senshi from being attacked by Sailor Cosmos. And she didn't even know why.
Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune are clipped by some of the energy.
Uranus stares at her Queen cautiously. "She's attacking for real. She isn't holding anything back against Pluto." She tries to swallow the lump forming in her throat. How is she supposed to protect the Queen when she is the one attacking? "She attacked with more force than when I tried to attack Fighter at the Silver Millennium right before the palace was restored."
Neptune exchanges a weary glance with her partner. She turns to address Sailor Cosmos trying to make sense of what has caused this. "What happened Usagi? What can we do to help?" Neptune hopes she can get her to talk.
Sailor Cosmos snickers. "You, help? This is exactly what you wanted from the beginning. All of you!" For all she knew they could have been in on it. None of them were fans of her decision. Her rings glow.
Sailor Earth tries to assess the situation. She positions herself halfway between King Endymion and the other two senshi. Her confusion prevents her from acting. She's never felt this out of place before. She glances at her brother to find him speaking to Sailor Pluto in a hushed voice.
"What happened?" King Endymion asks the emerald haired senshi.
Sailor Pluto clutches her injured arm. "I don't know. She asked if everything was the same." She pauses to reflect. "Something must have triggered this." She looks up at the King, worry on face. "Something must have changed between the two timelines. But I don't know what… unless she tells us. I have sensed no change nor has Sailor Charon."
Sailor Cosmos raises her staff again. She is not done with Sailor Pluto, far from it. She looks at the three senshi in her way. With a quick wave of her staff they are hit with energy and pushed to the side knocking them to the ground several meters away. "This doesn't concern you."
The commotion ends the conversation between the King and Sailor Pluto. He turns his full attention to the Sailor Cosmos only a short distance away from them.
King Endymion stands up to address the Queen. "Usako, stop this!" He pleads with her trying to make her come to her senses. He stands in front of Sailor Pluto. He knows if he moves, Cosmos will attack her in an instant.
Sailor Cosmos' eyes hardened as he steps in front of the Senshi of Time. "Move aside Mamo-chan." Her voice full of fury directed at the woman behind him.
"No," King Endymion challenges back. Hoping she will open up. "Not until you tell us what happened. We want… I want to help you." He looks into her eyes and sees pain like he's never seen before.
Sailor Cosmos shakes her head side to side slowly. "It's too late... there is nothing you can do to help me. The past can't be changed." Her body shakes a little from anger; she is trying to keep it together. The loss she feels is because of Sailor Pluto. She lost a child, then she lost Seiya, followed by learning the child was Chibi Usa. It was too much to bear in such a short period of time. "What Sailor Pluto has done is unforgiveable." Her shoulders heave up and down as her breaths becomes shorter. Her heart is racing; she is on the verge of a panic attack.
"What is it that can't be changed?" King Endymion keeps pushing. He needs to find a way to reach her.
She can't tell him. "This is between me and my senshi Endymion." She tries to sound firm but her voice wavers. Her staff glows brightly, another attack will be unleashed soon.
Cosmos is losing patience. "I had warned you already Sailor Pluto there would be consequences…" Her eyes dart back to King Endymion. "Move aside or you might be hurt."
"No," King Endymion boldly answers. He has to prevent this from continuing even if he is no match for her powers.
Sailor Cosmos sighs. She will have to split her attack in order for it to move around King Endymion at the last second. She is not going to let him prevent her from attacking Sailor Pluto. "Cosmos Twilight Flash!"
"Nooo..." Sailor Uranus rushes to her feet along with Neptune and Sailor Earth but they are too far away to reach any of them in time.
King Endymion takes a step back. If only he had been able to harness the power of the Golden Crystal. He would find a way to stop this. As if the crystal hears his wish, it flashes for a moment. In his mind he can hear an attack phrase. One that will stop Cosmos' attack from hitting them, he doesn't hesitate. "Tuxedo La Smoking Bomber!" A blast of white energy erupts from his outstretched palm ramming into Sailor Cosmos' attack before she had a change to split the energy into two separate attacks.
Sailor Uranus, Sailor Neptune, Sailor Pluto, and Sailor Earth stare in absolute shock at King Endymion. They never knew he had an attack like that.
Sailor Cosmos was too stunned by the attack to defend herself as part of the energy hits the left side of body. Her arm is bleeding from several cuts. She looks at her injured arm to King Endymion in disbelief. "How could you defend her?" The tears stream down her cheeks. Everyone has turned against her. Even Endymion. "Because of her…I …" she can't bring herself to say she lost Chibi Usa out loud. It hurts too much. She tries to suppress a sob but is unable. She spins around away from everyone else. Her teleportation ring is activated, vanishing in a flash of white light.
King Endymion looks down at his gloved hands, trying to comprehend where the sudden surge of power came from. He looks up from his hands to the spot where he had last seen Sailor Cosmos.
Sailor Earth lowers herself to the ground to try to find Sailor Cosmos. Her planetary symbol is flashing. She concentrates and determines Cosmos is not nearby. "Endymion, I can't find her."
He's worried about Usako. He lowers himself to the ground, placing his right hand onto the pavement. The symbol of Earth glows on his forehead and he uses his ability to try to locate Usako. He can't find her anywhere on Earth. He strains himself rechecking Tokyo. Still nothing. Where could she have gone? He's frustrated. He can't leave things like this between them.
Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus kneel down besides Sailor Pluto. Now that they are this close to her they are finally seeing the extent of her injuries. Part of her fuku is tattered near her collar. Most of the front bow covering her chest is gone. She has cuts and scrapes all over her arms, legs, and face. Her left arm has a large gash covering most of her arm from her elbow to her shoulder. The left sleeve of her fuku is gone and part of her glove. A few contusions are near her shoulder.
Sailor Uranus is shocked as she asks, "she did this to you…?"
Sailor Pluto nods her head trying to understand what happened.
Neptune looks at the others. "If we weren't here…" She swallows. "She could have… killed you…" Her words send a shiver down everyone's spine.
King Endymion stands up. "I can't find her anywhere on Earth."
"Damn it!" Sailor Uranus curses. The state Cosmos is in is dangerous. "What the hell happened over there? This isn't like her." She turns to look at Neptune, Pluto, and King Endymion. "Are we able to contact Venus?"
Sailor Neptune shakes her head no. "She is too far away. Our communicators will never reach her." She turns to her partner. "Maybe it's a good thing she left for now. We have no way to know what happened on Kinmoku…" She drops her voice a little lower. "Or between her… and Fighter."
"It sounds like it ended…" Sailor Uranus doesn't finish the rest of the statement. She can only hope things are over but only time will tell.
King Endymion and Sailor Earth are finally able to properly assess Sailor Pluto's injuries. He looks at his sister before turning his full attention to Sailor Pluto. "We can try to heal some of the injuries but you still might need a doctor for the gash on your arm."
Sailor Pluto nods her head slowly. The movement irritates her neck.
"Heal injuries…?" Sailor Uranus looks at Sailor Earth and King Endymion unaware of the rest of their abilities.
"Yes… my abilities are limited as I am still learning how to use them," King Endymion explains.
Sailor Earth examines Pluto's arm. "We need to mend her arm as much as possible. The cut looks rather deep. She lightly places her hand toward the bottom of the cut near Pluto's elbow, her hand starting to glow with golden energy.
King Endymion gently places his hand on the top portion of the cut. His hand also begins to glow gold as energy leaves his fingertips.
Sailor Pluto can feel a warm energy flowing into her. She smiles slightly as the energy gives her a feeling of relaxation. The sensation continues for the next couple of minutes before Endymion and Sailor Earth withdraw. It is all they can do for now.
Sailor Earth pauses to look at the King. "Your powers have grown…" She turns to Sailor Pluto, "the cut isn't as deep as before but it still needs medical attention."
"I don't believe it…" Sailor Neptune whispers. She wonders how much his powers will continue to advance as he learns how to use them.
"I never knew how much hidden power you have…" Sailor Uranus looks at him in awe.
"I have a long way to go… "King Endymion responds reflecting on all the years he felt so powerless. His thoughts return to Usako. "If you hear anything let me know. I'm worried about Usako and what all of this means."
Sailor Pluto tries to stand up but she is still shaken. King Endymion offers her a hand to steady her. She can feel her cheeks flush a little as she looks away. "Thank you," she murmurs before walking the short distance to Uranus and Neptune. "It's probably best we return to Tokyo."
Uranus notices the slight blush on Sailor Pluto's face and is confused why it is there. She brushes it off. "Lean on us on the journey back," She suggests to the injured senshi. She and Neptune are in a better physical state.
"We'll teleport slower to make it easier," Sailor Neptune suggests as her brooch starts to flash with aqua energy. Uranus and Pluto's brooch start to glow in their respective colors. Seconds later the three Outer Senshi depart.
Sailor Earth stands close to the King. "What happened between Usagi-chan and Seiya-kun… it seems serious." She smiles a little. Although she wanted to attack Serenity when she saw the Queen, it is clear how deep her brother's feeling run. "Maybe this is the chance you need."
King Endymion does not appear as hopeful as Sailor Earth. "I don't know… something doesn't feel right about this." He thinks of the pain he witnessed in Sailor Cosmos' eyes. "I have a bad feeling."
Queen Kakyuu ends the transmission in frustration, looking at the Starlights and Sailor Venus. "I'm not able to reach her either." She turns to Sailor Venus, "please keep trying throughout the day. I suspect out of all of us, she would be most willing to speak with you."
Sailor Venus nods her head in acknowledgement. "Of course. I'm worried about Usagi-chan and where she could have gone." Her eyes look downward. "This isn't like her."
Destroyer suppresses a smirk. She's heard that phase a lot today regarding Sailor Cosmos. She's not like that; she won't do that, etc. It makes her question how well some of them really know her.
She's anxious for Fighter to return. She is worried about the Starlight and what frame of mind she will be in after learning about the child. Destroyer is determined to be there for Fighter during her time of need. Just like she was there for her last time she returned from Earth. Only this time, things are going to end up very differently.
After hovering over Tokyo for a while, Sailor Cosmos finally descends into the city. She didn't know where to go and she didn't want Mamoru to find her. She's fatigued after using so much energy to travel to Earth, enter the Time Streams, attack Pluto, and teleport here. The adrenaline she felt is replaced by exhaustion. She doesn't have the strength to go back to the Silver Millennium so she goes to the one other place she can think of that won't draw too much attention.
Rei is sweeping the stone steps near the main building of the shrine grounds while wearing her miko robes lost in thought. A bright flash causes her to look up. The broom drops from her hands when she realizes it is Sailor Cosmos.
The Guardian drops to her knees out of breath as her transformation fades.
"Usagi!" Rei shouts rushing to aid her best friend. As soon as she is next to her on the ground she asks, "Are you okay?" Only a few days had passed since Usagi had departed for Kinmoku. Looking around, Rei confirms the others are not with her. Her body tenses slightly before she asks the next question. "Why did you leave Kinmoku?" Was there an attack?
Usagi looks at Rei and tries to explain but all is able to communicate is, "Seiya ended things…" before she begins to sob uncontrollably. She isn't ready to talk about the miscarriage just yet. She is still coming to terms with it.
Rei inhales sharply. She couldn't have heard that right. Everything was going so well for them other than fight they had on the tour. "Let's go inside and you can tell me all about it." She helps Usagi to her feet. As they walk to her room, she tries to cheer up the blonde, "I have some of those cookies that you like. And some herbal tea?"
"Hmmm," Usagi responds, trying to wipe the tears from her eyes.
Rei helps Usagi to the chabudai in her room. She grabs the box of tissues from her dresser and passes them to Usagi. "I'll be back in a few minutes, okay?"
Usagi grabs a few tissues to wipe her eyes and blow her nose. She lowers her arms to the table, resting her forehead in her arms.
Rei heats up water in a tea kettle. She couldn't have heard Usagi right. Seiya ended things? What could have caused that? He was distressed when the two of them fought in Brazil. She frowns. Was this related to that fight? She vaguely remembers the fight had to do with someone from Seiya's past.
She pulls out a box of cookies from the cupboard. Normally she would place them on a tray to serve along with the tea but she has a feeling Usagi is going to want to eat all of them. She pulls out another box. Leaning against the counter she waits for the kettle to whistle.
When it finally does she pours the hot water into the mugs and drops a teabag into each. Grabbing the boxes of cookies she places them on the tray and heads back to her room.
Rei can hear Usagi sobbing from the down the hallway. She pauses at the entranceway of her room. Usagi's shoulders are heaving up and down as she cries. Rei's eyes soften. This is a lot different than their fight in Brazil. The last time she witnessed Usagi this distraught was when Mamoru broke up with her.
She is going to have to address Usagi carefully. She rephrases her questions from earlier. "What happened since I last saw you?" She sets down the tray a little to the side of Usagi and she sits down on a cushion nearby.
Usagi slowly picks up her head, her eyes red as tears keep falling. She sniffles a few times reaching for more tissues. She wipes her nose a few times. She needed to talk to someone and right now Rei would understand best. She reaches for a box of cookies and opens them, quickly throwing a chocolate chip one in her mouth. Her shoulders lump a little as she begins. She summarizes her arrival on Kinmoku and meeting with Queen Kakyuu.
Rei listens intently waiting to see where the problems began.
Usagi discusses the training session… and the premonition she had on the airplane.
"Usagi? Why didn't you tell us?" Rei questions in disbelief.
"I was afraid you would have tried to stop me from going to Kinmoku. But I knew I had to be there. I couldn't explain it…" Usagi looks down at her stomach. "But it might have been better if I didn't go there after all." She would still be pregnant with Chibi Usa. But how would she explain that to everyone? She stiffens.
Rei nods her head. "Okay." She could tell there was still a lot more to the story. "What happened after the training session?"
Usagi reaches for a teacup, her fingers gripping the porcelain tightly. She explains how Seiya was taken away for the Council Meeting.
"What law did he break?" Rei looks at her quizzically.
"… our relationship is forbidden… was forbidden on Kinmoku," Usagi looks at her mug.
Rei frowns. "So… is that why things ended? Why is it forbidden?" Something isn't adding up.
Usagi explains the laws as she understands them governing the Starlights. After she explains she pauses. "The reason Seiya and I fought in Brazil was partially because of this and he didn't tell me about it. But the main reason was because of Shiori-chan."
Rei racks her brain trying to remember who that was. "I heard that name before. Did we meet her on Kinmoku?"
Usagi nods her head. "She helped protect the Earth when everyone looked for me on Nemesis. She is Sailor Star Destroyer." She sips from her tea. "Shortly before the Starlights returned to Earth to help against Queen Beryl… they all had a celebration over the progress they've made in the past year. Seiya…. didn't take it well since he was missing me and drank too much."
Rei's eyes widen as she can start to image what Usagi is going to say next.
"Things… got out of hand and the law was almost broken." Usagi places her teacup down not wanting to elaborate. "Taiki-kun and Yaten-kun don't know about this and I was worried Seiya could get into trouble if they knew about it. I couldn't tell Minako-chan because I knew she would have told Yaten-kun. I'm sorry." Usagi looks at Rei hoping she can understand why she kept it a secret from her.
"I understand." Rei readjusts herself on the cushion beneath her. "But how did Kinmoku find out about you and Seiya-kun if … the two of you were together on Earth?"
"Taiki-kun and Yaten-kun. They still believe in following the rules of Kinmoku on Earth… well Taiki-kun more than Yaten-kun."
"What about Minako-chan?" Rei's eyes widen.
"They didn't cross the line…" Usagi responds and for the first time starts to regrets some of her decisions. Maybe she shouldn't have escalated things between her and Seiya and when she returned from the other timeline. She dismisses the thought. To be loved like that… she didn't have the words. Her eyes focus on the table trying to push aside the memories of the last time they were intimate together at the Scarlet Palace.
"But it doesn't matter anymore," Usagi continues. "The Council changed the rules for Fighter, Healer, and Maker. They don't have to follow the same rules as the other Starlights since they are living here now." Her voice cracks. Are they still going to live here? It's no secret they are here because of the relationship she has… had with Seiya. It seems wrong to think of everything in past tense. She wasn't ready to talk to him after the things he said to her. The things he accused her of. For a few seconds her rings appear and vanish.
Rei examines her Queen in front of her. She is even more unsure regarding what caused the fight between Usagi and Seiya. Was this Shiori person to blame? "What happened after the Council Meeting?"
Usagi briefly explains the Galaxy Cauldron. "I came back from the cauldron with Galaxia…" Her voice trails off. "Everything fell apart…"She tries to continue but her voice is choked with emotion as the tears return. She isn't ready to speak of the miscarriage yet after all. She can't explain her fight with Seiya without discussing losing Chibi Usa. She's not ready.
Her body protests the need for rest. "Can we talk more later… I'm really tired." Usagi hopes sleep will make things better.
Rei pushes her lips together. She still doesn't completely understand what happened to Usagi but she doesn't want to push. "Sure…" She gets up from the table. "Go ahead and use my bed." She realizes Usagi might want to be alone for a bit too. "I still have some chores to finish around the shrine. I'll come back and check on you later, okay?"
Usagi nods her head gratefully. "Thanks Rei-chan. You're the best." She stands up and hugs her tightly.
Rei embraces her back, worry crossing her face. She is not used to seeing Usagi like this, so broken. Usagi was always the strong one no matter what was thrown at her. How much did Usagi change since she returned from the timeline?
Three hours later, Rei returns to her room to check on Usagi. She finds her sound asleep. A constant beeping catches her attention. It's not the same tone as their communicator. Usagi had borrowed a pair of pajamas from Rei and her clothes were to the side. She walks over to the clothing; the racket seems to be coming from her skirt. How long has this been going on? She wants to stop the noise and digs around in the skirt pocket until she retrieves the source of the sound. She gasps. It has a gold eight pointed star with red wings. It reminds her of the Three Light's Change Star brooches.
She grabs the device and heads outside of the shrine sitting down on the engawa section of the building. She didn't want to disturb Usagi. Starting at the object for a bit, she starts tapping it in random places, it finally stops beeping when she pushes down on the center of the star. A transparent screen pops with a blurry image.
"Oh Usagi-chan! I'm glad you picked up! I've been trying to reach you all day!"
Rei recognizes Venus' voice before her image sharpens.
Sailor Venus blinks a few times as she realizes she didn't reach Usagi but rather Rei. "Rei-chan?" It takes her a few moments to process this. "If you have Usagi-chan's communicator… she must have gone to Earth!" Over Venus' shoulders Maker and Healer come into view on the screen. She asks the next question. "Why did she leave Kinmoku?"
Rei stares at them. "You don't know….?" What the heck is going over there? "Usagi showed up at the shrine and she started to tell me a bit about Kinmoku from when you guys arrived. A training session, Council Meeting, and the Galaxy Cauldron. She tried to explain what happened afterward but she… she broke down." Her voice is firm. "She also said Seiya-kun ended things with her?"
"We're not sure," Sailor Star Healer immediately responds. It does appear that way to her as well but she needs to talk to Fighter when she comes back. Fighter would die for Usagi and just like that it's over? She studies Rei for a moment. The raven haired girl didn't mention a miscarriage, she might not know yet. "We're still trying to figure it all out."
Rei looks up when she hears footsteps and inhales sharply when she sees a very familiar figure wearing a green jacket.
"Where is Usako? I know she's here," he calls out as he moves forward. He needs answers.
"Mamoru-san?" Rei responds in confusion.
"Eh? Rei-chan what are you talking about?" Sailor Venus asks. They can only hear her side of the conversation on the communicator.
He jumps right into his next question. "I need to know why she attacked Sailor Pluto." He hesitates before he adds, "she could have killed her." He needs to convey the seriousness of what transpired.
"Usagi… attacked Sailor Pluto?" Rei repeats slowly putting down the communication on the wooden surface next to her. She stands up to approach Mamoru. She couldn't have heard that right.
The transmission from the communicator ends seconds after Rei's statement. "No wait!" Venus shouts at the device. She frantically taps the communicator to bring back the picture but nothing is working. She turns around to the Starlights behind her. "How do I get it back?"
Maker shakes her head. "You can't. It is a security measure that activates when you're talking and step out line of sight of the device."
Healer looks thoughtfully at Venus and Maker. "So she went to Earth…at least we know where she is."
"It sounds like Rei-chan repeated what Mamoru-san told her…. Usagi-chan attacked Sailor Pluto? Why would she do that?" Venus tries to piece everything together.
Maker's jaw drops as she recalls the conversation with Seiya before he confirmed the child was not his. He had said there was no other logical explanation than Usagi was with someone else. He quickly gains Minako's attention. "Minako-chan… how long was Usagi-chan in that other timeline?"
"Huh?" Sailor Venus is surprised but the sudden random question. "I'm not sure… maybe a month, why?"
Maker frowns. That wasn't enough time. "And Fighter isn't here. She would know."
Healer throws her cousin a confused glance. "Why does that matter? They just had a huge fight."
Maker continues her train of thought out loud. "Is it possible that Sailor Cosmos went to Earth on purpose to attack Sailor Pluto?" After receiving questioning glances she continues. "We only know some of what transpired in that timeline. Seiya would know more."
Sailor Venus frowns after hearing his name. "I can't believe how he acted toward Usagi-chan."
Sailor Star Healer takes a step back from Venus to look at her with a flabbergasted expression. "He was hurt. Anyone would be!" She lowers her voice a little. "He's also a hot head. I mean I don't blame him. I know I would…" her voice trails off as she turns to Maker with wide eyes. "You don't think?"
Maker nods his head. "We need to talk to Seiya as soon as he's back. If she was in the timeline longer than Minako's guess it is possible."
Sailor Venus is about to ask them what they mean but never gets the chance. Guards arrive; Queen Kakyuu wants to speak with them.
So I realized I wrote future scenes in the Scarlet Palace… so the palace needed to be mostly intact which is why it ended up with minor damage, minus the medical wing
The rest of the snippets have appeared! Finally!
For the longest time I was trying to figure out when Tuxedo La Smoking Bomber would appear after he became King. It needed to be unexpected.
Taiki and Yaten are starting to put the pieces together. Wait until they tell Seiya the other logical explanation to be posted on 8/24. Teaser will be on my Tumblr on 8/17.
See you for Act 73: To Be without You