Makoto Kino sat in an uncomfortable, red plastic chair and stared at the linoleum-covered floor of the principal's outer office. Her feet dangled over the edge of the chair but didn't quite reach the floor. Every few seconds, her muddy shoes swung into view like a pendulum, then disappeared back under the chair.
Despite her best efforts, she'd become very familiar with the principal of Hiroo Gakuen Junior High in recent weeks. She'd hoped that her enrollment here would be a fresh start after her time in the orphanage.
I guess not.
From the other side of a large, frosted glass door, she could hear her new court-appointed guardian, Chikara Ikuhara, argue with the school principal. The two men's raised voices carried through the outer office, but the walls muffled their words. It was impossible to tell what they were saying.
Instead, Makoto focused on counting the random brown flecks on the linoleum floor. She made it up to seventy-four when a loud bang rang out from the principal's office.
Makoto flinched and looked up. The principal's secretary, an older woman with severe eyes and a large mole on her chin, sat across the room behind an enormous oak desk. She looked at Makoto and wrinkled her nose.
Makoto realized how she must look. Her disheveled hair hung loose around her face; her new school uniform was in tatters. The throbbing in her lip was a painful reminder of the punch she'd taken to the face. Scuffs covered her knees and shins. Small smudges of dried blood from the other girl's nose covered her hands.
The door of the principal's inner office flew open with sudden force and Ikuhara stomped out of the room, red-faced and out of breath. The former boxer looked like he had just gone 12 rounds with a superior opponent.
He looked back over his shoulder and snarled.
"This isn't over!"
Makoto could hear the principal's voice from inside the office respond with equal venom.
"Yes, it is! Now get out of my school before I call security!"
Ikuhara slammed the door shut, then closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He ran his hand through his gray hair. When he opened his eyes, they locked onto Makoto. Her heart sank.
He strode across the office, his movements slow and deliberate because of his advanced age, and stood in front of Makoto. She looked up at him, unsure what to expect. After a moment, he sighed and rubbed his neck.
"I thought I told you to tie your hair back if you plan on getting into a fight," he said.
Makoto shrugged.
"Wasn't the plan."
Ikuhara snorted.
"It keeps happening, though. You're suspended. One week."
Makoto felt fresh heat rise on her face.
"What? That's not fair! She started it!"
Ikuhara's eyes narrowed.
"Yeah? How? Our friend, the principal, insists that you threw the first punch."
Tears stung the corners of Makoto's eyes. She wiped them away. Kaori once said only the weak shed tears.
"What did she say to you, Mako?" Ikuhara asked, his voice softening.
Makoto fell silent. She'd made a pact with the old boxer: she'd stay out of trouble, and in exchange, he would teach her how to take care of herself. Would he turn his back on her if she kept getting into these fights?
Just then, the principal's secretary cleared her throat.
"Sir, you and the child have been asked to leave," she said, her voice serious and much deeper than Makoto had expected.
Ikuhara glanced over his shoulder.
"Stop making a mountain out of a molehill," he said. "We'll leave in a moment."
He winked at Makoto and mouthed the word "molehill" while pointing at his chin. Makoto rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help herself; a small smile blossomed on her face.
After another moment, she relented.
"She said that my parents would rather be dead than spend another day with me."
Ikuhara frowned.
"A cruel child. Did you thrash her?"
Makoto nodded but said nothing.
"Felt good, too, I bet."
She nodded again. The memory of Makoto's fist wiping the stupid grin off that stupid girl's face was immensely satisfying.
Ikuhara shook his head.
"Yet, in the long run, you'll suffer more than her because of your actions."
He got down on one knee in front of her with some difficulty. He smelled of menthol and mint from the muscle rub he used almost every day. Makoto kind of liked the scent.
"You need to get that anger of yours under control, Mako. I'm not saying there's never a time to fight, but…knowing when to throw a punch and at who makes all the difference. Understand?"
Makoto shook her head, eyes wide.
Please, don't send me back to the orphanage.
Instead, Ikuhara gave her a world-weary smile.
"Someday you will," he said. "Now, let's go home."
Frosty morning air settled over the forest of the Boso Peninsula. The sun had begun to peek over the mountains and treetops, but only just so; its warmth still felt far away. The forest was silent. Only the occasional call of a greenfinch or a heron echoed through the trees. It was as if the animals, too, had decided it was too cold.
Usagi sat cross-legged on a large rock, her eyes closed, her black twin odango hanging loose over her shoulders. She tried to focus on her breathing, to mediate as Makoto had shown her, but she was failing miserably. The sound of the babbling stream nearby distracted her; the low temperatures chilled her to the bone. Even her warm, pink and grey jogging suit couldn't shield her from the unseasonable cold.
Usagi opened one eye and peeked at Makoto, who sat next to her, tall and proud, eyes closed and breaths even. She, too, wore a jogging suit; hers was grey and green. She seemed to have mastered focused meditation. The cold had no effect on her.
Usagi felt like a failure. She closed her eyes and redoubled her efforts, her lips extending in a pout. Instead of entering a meditative trance, however, she felt her teeth start to chatter. The loud noise pierced the serenity of the forest.
"Usagi." Makoto's voice had a stern edge.
"Sorry. Sorry."
Usagi swallowed hard and set her jaw. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, deliberately.
She tried to clear her mind, but her thoughts wandered. For a moment, she could almost hear Rei's voice.
No, see, that's what people get wrong all the time, Usagi. The body, the mind, the spirit; they're not separate. It's all one. It's all you.
Usagi shivered and took another deep breath. Instead of ignoring the cold, ignoring her body, she accepted it. The cold was a part of her body. So were her breaths. They set a slow, steady rhythm. She focused on that rhythm. The world fell away. The clutter of her mind cleared.
When it did, she sensed she was not alone. There was another presence buried deep inside of her, hiding. Curious, she reached out. Before she could touch the presence with her mind, it pushed her away with incredible force. Usagi's eyes flew open in surprise.
Then her teeth chattered again, louder this time.
Makoto sighed.
"This isn't working at all, is it?" she asked.
Usagi shook her head. She rubbed her legs to get the blood flowing and tried to shake off the sudden feeling of unease.
"I'm freezing my butt off here, Mako," she said.
Makoto laughed.
"You sound like one of those wind-up chattering teeth toys from old man Daichi's joke shop."
Usagi tried to giggle, but when she opened her mouth, the chattering sound just got louder. She slapped a hand over her mouth.
"Can we just go back to the cabin now?" she asked from behind her hand.
Makoto shook her head and grinned.
"Sure, Usagi. Let's go."
Makoto stood, then slid down the side of the rock with her usual grace, her brown ponytail swaying from side to side. She extended her hand and helped Usagi do the same. A moment later, they were idling along the narrow pathway toward the cabin.
Usagi glanced sideways at Makoto and noticed the tension in her jaw as she gritted her teeth. A moment ago, lost in meditation, she had seemed at peace. Although she had opened up somewhat to Usagi about her fears regarding Motoki's future illness, her defeat at the hands of Rubeus still gnawed at her.
She was considering how to broach the topic when Makoto cleared her throat.
"Usagi, can we talk about yesterday?"
Usagi flinched as if caught. Had Makoto read her mind?
"It's okay, Mako," she said, waving her friend off. "I'm not mad about our sparring match."
Makoto blushed, but continued to stare straight ahead. During a sparring session, Makoto had let her anger get the best of her. She had punched Usagi hard, then taunted her to transform.
"That's not what I meant," she said. "I actually wanted to talk about you."
Usagi's eyes widened.
"Me?"
Makoto turned to look at Usagi. Her hands tightened into fists, then loosened again.
"After our sparring match, when I tried to walk away, you called me back. Usagi, you didn't sound like yourself. You sounded like her ."
When Usagi and the others had first awakened as Guardians, each had recovered memories of their past lives. Usagi's memories of her life as Princess Serenity, however, had formed a separated personality that would take control of her in moments of stress. This "Princess Sailor Moon" proved herself ruthless and cold.
In the end, she had destroyed the world in her grief over Mamoru's death. Usagi had used the power of the Silver Crystal to undo the damage. The princess had faded away along with her memories of the Moon Kingdom.
Usagi thought back to the presence she had felt while meditating, then shook her head.
"That's impossible, Mako. She told me herself it was over."
Makoto seemed unconvinced.
"Well, I sure wouldn't mind having her help right now."
Usagi stopped dead in her tracks.
"You don't mean that. Serenity was powerful, but she was all rage and pain." Her eyes locked onto Makoto's profile. "That kind of anger can destroy a person. It destroyed her."
Makoto stopped and smiled. It didn't quite reach her eyes, though.
"Usagi, I won't deny that I'm angry, but you don't have to worry about me," she said. Then she looked at the cabin ahead. Her eyes turned dark. "My anger will only destroy Rubeus and those who serve him."
They resumed their walk and Usagi fell silent as she studied her friend's face. It was a face like thunder. She shuddered.
"Uh…Usagi…did you forget to close the front door this morning?" Makoto asked out of the blue.
Usagi's head snapped forward, and she took in the cabin ahead. The front door stood open. Usagi was certain she had closed it behind her.
"Chibiusa!"
Her daughter's name burst from her lips as she broke into a sprint. She could feel the stiff wind pinch her cheeks as she ran toward the cabin, but she paid it no mind. Her heart pounded in her chest like a jackhammer.
They found us!
She could hear Makoto keep pace behind her, and together they closed the distance to the cabin. Usagi burst through the front door and into the cozy living room of the cabin, Makoto close behind.
"Chibiusa?"
Her eyes landed on the couch, and her blood turned cold. There sat Berthier of the Black Moon Clan, dressed in a blue body suit, her ankles crossed, her hands in her lap. Her long white braid hung over one shoulder. A small smile played over her lips.
Chibiusa sat next to her, still wearing her nightgown, eyes wide.
"Hello, princess," Berthier said. "It's so nice of you to join us."
Usagi sensed Makoto coil like a spring next to her.
"You," she said, her voice a low growl.
Without hesitation, Makoto launched herself at Berthier. Before Usagi could react, Berthier stretched out one hand, and a bolt of black energy lifted Makoto off her feet and hurled her back toward the door.
Usagi threw herself to the right to avoid a collision with Makoto's flying body, rolled over her shoulder and leapt back to her feet. She raised her ringed hand in the air.
"Moon Light Power! Make…!"
"Stop!" Berthier's voice cut her off as she placed one hand on Chibiusa's shoulder. Usagi froze.
"Thank you, princess," Berthier said. "Believe it or not, I haven't come to fight." Her smile faded. "I have a proposal for you."
A long time ago. The Silver Millenium.
The courtyard of the Moon Palace was a marvel of Silver Millennium architecture. A circular moat filled with crystal clear water surrounded the cobblestone yard. A smattering of trees grew all over the vast space in a symmetrical pattern. Two large flower beds filled with fragrant moon lilies lent it a cheerful atmosphere.
Sailor Venus crossed one of a dozen small bridges that stretched across the moat and entered the courtyard. Her Mauan adviser, Artemis, walked next to her with his typical smooth feline gait, his white fur glistening. It felt like a lifetime ago that they had last stood in the palace's shadow. It was good to be home. She spotted her fellow Sailor Guardians near a group of trees and picked up her pace.
Sailor Mercury was reading a book she no doubt had borrowed from the palace library. Her brow was wrinkled, her eyes open wide as she concentrated on the words in front of her. Mercury absorbed knowledge like a sponge, craved it like flowers craved water.
Ever the florist, Sailor Jupiter knelt near a flower bed and examined the moon lilies with fascination. Her hands caressed the petals of one of the closed flowers. She smiled with delight as it slowly opened.
Sailor Mars sat on the cobblestones, legs crossed, lost in meditation. Her long, black hair waved in the gentle breeze. Venus tried not to stare. Mars possessed a regal beauty that ensnared the eyes.
As Venus approached, Mars' eyes opened and locked onto hers. Venus felt heat rising on her face. Those big, dark eyes always set her heart aflutter.
She cleared her throat. Mercury lowered her book and smiled.
"Venus! It's good to see you again."
Jupiter stood and brushed the dirt off her bare knees.
"You're a sight for sore eyes, Venus," she said, grinning. "Do you know why the queen summoned us from our posts?"
Venus took a deep breath.
"It's about the princess."
Mars stood.
"What did she do this time?"
Mercury gasped.
"Mars!" she said. "The princess is a lovely person with a kind heart."
Mars scoffed.
"She's also a spoiled trouble-maker." She sighed. "I love the princess, too, but sometimes I think she'll be the death of us."
Silence fell over the group. Nobody wanted to admit it, including Venus, but Mars had a point.
"This time," Venus said at last, "the queen fears somebody may try to kill the princess. So, for now, we will remain on the moon to guard her."
"I don't like it," Jupiter said. "What if an enemy invades our solar system? We're needed at our posts."
Venus nodded. The thought had crossed her mind.
"The queen assures me that protectors stationed on the outer planets should catch any invaders before they reach us."
Mercury fidgeted with her book, her eyes wide and curious.
"Do we know who threatens the princess?"
Venus shook her head.
"We have an audience with the queen later today. She'll give us the full details then."
A heavy silence fell over the quartet once more. After a moment, Venus cleared her throat.
"Well, since we'll be fighting alongside each other for the foreseeable future, I thought it might be wise for us to train together again."
Mars raised one hand in front of her face. A smile played over her lips as a small flame ignited around her fingers.
"Are you sure? Last time we trained together, things got…heated."
Venus' face flushed. Mercury's gaze shifted from Mars to Venus, then back. She cleared her throat.
"Douse yourself, Mars. What did you have in mind, Venus?"
Venus tried to regain her composure. She nodded at the plush cat standing next to her.
"Artemis has devised something that would make our training sessions…unique."
Artemis stepped forward. The crescent moon on his forehead glowed, then projected a beam of light onto the ground in front of him. A small, round device materialized in the beam.
"This is a suppression collar," he said. "Whoever wears it cannot access their Guardian powers."
The collar was striking in its simplicity. Made from a single piece of brushed alloy, it was perfectly circular. Its surface was smooth and reflective, but sleek circuits covered the interior of the band. The circuitry pulsed with a gentle blue light. At the back, the collar featured a small, tamper-proof clasp.
Jupiter punched her palm with her fist. Her eyes sparkled.
"Sparring without our powers would be interesting," she said.
Mercury blinked.
"Are you sure that's wise? If that device fell into enemy hands…"
"We'll just have to make sure that doesn't happen," Venus said. "Look, we've all grown into our powers, but we can't depend on them. We have to fulfill our duties, even without powers."
Mars stared at her. Something unspoken passed between them, and not for the first time, Venus wondered about this connection she felt whenever they were together. They were so different, but she also felt complete when she was with Mars.
"She's right," Mars said at last.
Venus gave her a small nod.
"Alright, we still have some time before our audience with the queen," Venus said. "Who wants to wear the collar first?"
Now.
Sailor V was unprepared for the ferocity of Petz's attack.
They faced off on the rooftop of an apartment building. Their shadows stretched long and spindly across the cracked concrete in the early morning sun. Petz let out a low growl that sent a chill down her spine, then lunged forward.
Sailor V braced for an energy attack to deflect or perhaps a swift kick to dodge. Instead, Petz threw her whole body against Sailor V and slammed her to the ground. The impact forced the air from her lungs. Stars danced in front of her eyes.
Sailor V writhed on the ground and gasped for air. Petz stood over her with a grin.
"Without your powers, you're no match for me," she said.
Sailor V's heart pounded in her chest. Petz was right. She took a deep breath and forced herself to focus. Her vision cleared.
"Is that…all you've got?"
Before she could respond, Sailor V swept the legs out from under her and sent Petz crashing to the ground. Sailor V seized the opportunity to leap back to her feet and perform a backwards handspring away from her opponent. She landed dangerously close to the edge of the roof. For a moment, she teetered on the edge before regaining her balance.
Petz scrambled to her feet; her nostrils flared.
"You're just delaying the inevitable, Venus. Tell me what I want to know, and maybe I won't hurt you too much."
Sailor V's mind raced. She had to stall for time.
"I'll never give up my princess. As for your sister Berthier…Sailor Mercury kicked her butt and she ran away like a coward." She gave Petz a little smile. "I guess failure runs in the family."
Petz's eyes narrowed. Without warning, she unleashed a bolt of black lightning. Instead of dodging, Sailor V brought up her Crescent Moon Cutter and deflected the attack into the sky.
"Guess I hit a nerve," she said.
Petz retaliated with a flurry of black lightning bolts. Sailor V felt her eyes widen; there were too many to deflect. She launched into another back handspring and avoided the incoming hail of attacks.
As she leapt along the edge of the roof, her luck ran out at last. Her foot slipped and time slowed as she felt her balance shift. Her body weight pulled her over the edge of the roof and toward a fall that would no doubt kill her.
Instinct kicked in and she reached out with her free hand. Her fingers grasped the ledge just in time. She felt a hard jolt as her arm suddenly had to hold the weight of her whole body and she yelped in pain.
As she hung down the side of the building, she heard Petz's footsteps approach and her heart skipped a beat. Then Petz looked down over the roof's edge and smiled.
"My, my, that's quite a predicament you're in, Venus. I think I've changed my mind. Killing you would be simpler."
Sailor V closed her eyes. This was it. She had failed and now she would pay for it with her life. Thoughts of Rei filled her mind; she remembered their last argument. She wished…well; it was too late for that now.
I'm so sorry, Rei.
"Mina!"
Artemis?
Her plush cat companion came out of nowhere and leapt into Petz's face. Petz screamed and stumbled backward as she clawed at the hissing bundle of fur. Artemis refused to let go.
Sailor V shoved her Crescent Moon Cutter into her hair bow. With both hands free now, she pulled herself up from the ledge and back onto the roof. The hair on her arms lifted as she looked back over the edge. She'd come too close to death.
Petz pulled Artemis off her face and threw him across the roof. Her cat companion twisted mid-air and landed on his feet next to her.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
She smiled at him.
"Better now," she said. "Thanks for having my back."
He smiled up at her.
"I'm not the only one."
The roof access door behind Petz burst open and there stood Tuxedo Mask. He brandished his cane at Petz.
"That's enough," he said, his tone commanding. "You're finished."
Petz looked from Sailor V to Tuxedo Mask, then back again. Then she burst into laughter.
"This must be a joke," she said. "You set a trap for me? You think you can beat me? Two powerless humans and a Mauan?"
Sailor V reached for her hair bow and pulled out her Crescent Moon Cutter.
"Your arrogance will be your doom, Petz. I've been preparing for a fight like this since before my rebirth."
Petz feinted toward Sailor V, then lunged at Tuxedo Mask instead. He brandished his cane like a sword and swung it at her in a wide arc. She knocked it aside and landed a punch in his face that sent him staggering.
"You're Endymion," she said, recognition in her eyes. "Who decided you deserved to be reborn?"
Sailor V had seen enough. She leapt at Petz and kicked her hard from behind. Petz stumbled toward Tuxedo Mask, who punched her in the face. Petz sank down to one knee between them.
She laughed once more.
"You think you outnumber me, but you forget…I have powers, and you don't."
Dark energy crackled around her. A bolt of black lightning shot from her hands and struck down Tuxedo Mask. Another flew toward Sailor V, who threw herself to the side, then rolled over her shoulder and ended in a crouching position.
"Mina, now!" Artemis bellowed.
Sailor V brought up her Crescent Moon Cutter and aimed it at Petz.
"Crescent Moon Beam!"
A burst of blinding light erupted from the Cutter and struck Petz square in the chest. She stumbled backwards, eyes wide.
"How…?"
Sailor V gave her no time to recover.
"Crescent! Moon! Beam!"
A second volley of radiant energy burst from the Cutter and hit Petz in the face. She howled in pain, then collapsed onto the rooftop.
Artemis hurried over to Sailor V.
"Is it over?"
Sailor V allowed herself a moment to catch her breath.
"It better be. The Crescent Moon Cutter needs to recharge." She smiled down at him. "Thanks for the upgrade."
Before he could respond, Petz let out a low moan. Sailor V took on a fighting stance.
"I…have had it…with you, Venus," Petz said through gritted teeth. "You'll pay for that."
She pulled herself up onto her feet and glared at Sailor V. Black energy seemed to ooze from every pore of her body.
Without warning, Tuxedo Mask came up behind her and put a small, metal object around her neck. It locked into place with a loud click, then glowed with a blue sheen. In an instant, the dark energy surrounding Petz evaporated.
Petz's eyes widened.
"What…what did you do to me?!" she asked, her voice shaking with disbelief.
She clawed at the device around her neck, but it would not budge. Tuxedo Mask smirked.
"It's a suppression collar. As long as you wear it, you have no powers."
Petz's cheeks flushed, her eyes bulged. She released a scream of pure rage and charged at Sailor V.
In a heartbeat, Sailor V sidestepped and swung her fist. A loud crack echoed across the rooftop as it made contact with Petz's face. Petz crumbled to the floor, unconscious.
Tuxedo Mask gave a low whistle.
"Nice hit."
Sailor V nodded.
"Thanks."
They stood over Petz for a moment in silence. Tuxedo Mask shook his head.
"I can't believe this worked."
Sailor V said nothing. It had been her plan, but she was as surprised as he was.
Artemis jumped on to Petz's limp body and sat down.
"Now what?" he asked.
Sailor V ran her hand through her hair and tucked it behind her ear.
"We take her somewhere out of the way, somewhere private, where we can interrogate her."
After a moment, Tuxedo Mask cleared his throat.
"I know a place," he said. "Motoki told me about it. We'll need a car."
Sailor V smiled.
"No problem."
She looked down at Petz and wondered how far they would have to go to get her to talk. She wondered how far she would go to protect those she loved…and if she would lose a part of herself in the process.
Ami stood on the sidewalk outside of Hikawa Shrine and sighed. Her long black hair waved in the gentle morning breeze as she adjusted her glasses. Although an unseasonable cold had kicked off the day, the rising sun had spread its customary warmth. Tokyo was heading for a warm fall day.
She took a step forward, then hesitated when a sharp pain shot through the side of her abdomen. She wrapped one arm around her belly and pressed her hand against the source of the pain. Stars danced in front of her eyes. One deep breath later, and the pain faded.
"Ami?"
She looked up and spotted Rei standing beneath the tori of Hikawa Shrine. She was not wearing her usual miko outfit. Instead, she wore a pair of snug jeans, black boots, and a red sweater. In an unusual sight, she had pinned her long dark hair up in a messy bun.
"Hello, Rei."
Rei stepped toward Ami and grabbed her arm to steady her.
"Are you feeling okay? You're pale."
Ami smiled at her friend.
"I'm fine," she said. "I was on my way to talk to you."
Rei returned her smile.
"I was heading out to do some shopping. Want to come along?"
Ami shook her head.
"I think we'd better talk here," she said. "At the shrine."
Rei raised an eyebrow, and Ami couldn't blame her. Ami was a scientist first; if she was looking for spiritual guidance, Rei knew things were serious.
"Of course," Rei said after a pause. "What did you have in mind?"
Ami took a deep breath. This next part was hard to say out loud.
"Now that my powers are back, I want to know if I'm still going to…die." She hesitated. "I thought maybe you could help me get an omikuji?"
Rei nodded, her face serious.
"I can probably do better than that, but sure."
Together, they walked beneath the tori and into Hikawa Shrine. Rei led Ami across the courtyard and past the main building to a small alcove. There rested a wooden table. Behind it stood a shelf with dozens of small wooden drawers. A cylindrical container lay on top of the table.
Rei stood next to the table and crossed her arms. Ami blinked.
"What?"
Rei pointed at a sign that read "Fortunes for 100 yen offering". Ami shook her head and smiled. She fished 100 yen out of her pocket and put it in the offering box.
Rei grinned and picked up the cylindrical container. She shook it once, twice, three times. A small stick slid out. She caught it in her free hand and considered it.
"It looks like your lucky number is eight," she said.
Ami looked at the tiny drawers and found the one labeled with the number eight. She glanced back at Rei, who nodded. Ami opened the drawer and retrieved a slip of paper. She studied it for a while. Kyo. Misfortune. She didn't even bother to read the rest.
Rei fidgeted.
"Well?" she asked.
Ami handed her the paper and sighed.
"See for yourself."
Rei took the paper and glanced at it.
"Well, I've never put too much stock in omikuji, anyway," she said. "They're just a way for the shrine to make some money."
She grabbed Ami's hand and closed her eyes. The hair on Ami's arm rose and stood at attention as she felt Rei probe her with her spiritual powers. After a moment, she opened her eyes and looked at her friend with great sadness.
"Ami…I'm sorry, but…"
Ami withdrew her hand and shook her head.
"It's okay. I had a feeling that nothing had changed."
They were quiet for a moment. Then Rei handed the paper back to Ami.
"Come," she said. "Let's get rid of your bad fortune."
They strolled across the courtyard in silence. Ami became lost in thought. She'd hoped the return of her powers meant she could protect herself against whatever would take her life. Once again, she'd been wrong.
"Can I ask you a question?" Rei asked, tearing Ami out of her thoughts.
Ami nodded.
"If you get hurt, couldn't you use the Healing Waters on yourself?"
Ami shook her head.
"I don't think I should use them at all anymore," she said. "The Healing Waters are dangerous. I think they could kill me."
Rei's eyes widened.
"What do you mean?"
Ami hesitated. She'd kept too many secrets these past few days. Best to put it all out into the open.
"When I healed Makoto, I took on some of her injury, some of her pain. It's still there. It hurts every day. I'm not sure how long it will take to fade, or if it ever will. I don't know if my body can handle using the Healing Waters again."
She looked up at the sky and sighed.
"The future has made quite a mess of my life."
Rei stared at her for a long moment.
"Mine, too," she said, her voice little more than a whisper.
Ami stopped, then looked at Rei.
"Why? What's going on?"
Rei avoided Ami's gaze and shuffled her feet.
"Chibiusa…she told Minako and I that…in the future…we're married. To each other."
Ami blinked.
"Oh."
Rei rubbed her neck.
"It's just made our entire relationship so complicated. Before we could talk, but now? There's this thing just hanging over us all the time."
They resumed their stroll in silence.
"Can I ask you a question?" Ami asked after a moment.
Rei nodded.
"Do you have feelings for Minako?"
Rei stared at Ami, eyes wide. It occurred to Ami that nobody had ever point-blank asked Rei that question.
"I think I do," Rei said at last.
Ami smiled at her.
"I'm no expert, but…maybe worry less about the future and more about the here and now. If there's something between you two, it might be worth exploring."
They arrived at a tall pine tree. A red wooden scaffold stood around the tree trunk. Countless visitors to the shrine had tied their bad fortune slips to this scaffold. The tiny slips of paper danced in the light breeze.
Ami knew what to do. Without another word, she stepped forward and tied her fortune to the scaffold alongside the other bad fortunes. With a little luck, the bad fortune would stay here, in the shade of this pine tree, instead of following her home.
She looked at Rei and smiled.
"Thanks, Rei," she said. "I feel a little better now."
Rei put her hands on Ami's shoulders and locked eyes with her.
"Ami, we can change the future. We'll save you. I promise."
Ami opened her mouth to respond when her phone rang. Her eyes widened. It wasn't her regular cell phone. It was her Sailor Guardian communicator.
She pulled the phone out of her pocket and flipped it open.
"Hello? Usagi? What?! Okay, I'm coming."
She flipped the phone shut and looked at Rei.
"Usagi and Makoto are staying at a cabin on the Boso Peninsula. Berthier is there. She wants to make a deal, but she'll only talk to me."
Rei's mouth fell open.
"What are we waiting for?" she asked. "Let's go!"
Makoto leaned against the wall near the door and seethed. The scene in front of her gave her tunnel vision. She could feel her heart pounding in her ears and gritted her teeth.
Berthier, the woman who had tried to kill her, was sitting on her couch, in her cabin, as if she were an honored guest. Her long white braid rested on her shoulder; she had crossed her feet at the ankles. Chibiusa sat beside her in her pink, bunny-covered nightgown, eyes wide, hands shaking.
Usagi camped out across from them in a small chair she had brought from the kitchen. Her hands lay in her lap, but her eyes never left her future daughter. The tension in the air was so thick, Makoto could have sliced it with a knife, fried it up, and served it with a side of rice.
Usagi cleared her throat.
"So…Berthier…would you like a drink? Some tea?"
Berthier opened her mouth to respond, but Makoto didn't want to hear it.
"Usagi!"
Her friend's head whipped around.
"Can I talk to you for a moment?" Makoto asked, trying in vain to keep her voice from shaking.
Usagi rose from her chair and strode over to Makoto. Her eyes never left Chibiusa.
"What is it, Mako?"
Makoto forced herself to whisper.
"Have you lost your mind? That woman tried to kill me and you're offering her tea?"
Usagi's eyes left Chibiusa long enough to lock onto Makoto's.
"She's got Chibiusa," she said in a flat voice. "Besides, if Ami can convince her to change sides, we can get some answers about the Black Moon Clan."
Makoto shook her head.
"That woman doesn't deserve a second chance," she said with a hiss. "She deserves a beating."
Usagi held her gaze.
"This is not the time to strike, Sailor Jupiter," she said, her voice taking on a regal edge.
Makoto wanted to respond but came up empty. Usagi was right. She nodded her agreement, and Usagi turned her attention back to Berthier.
"So, Berthier," she said. "Tea?"
Berthier flashed her the fakest, most insincere smile Makoto had seen since she'd parted ways with her childhood friend Kaori.
"Tea would be lovely, princess."
Usagi returned the smile.
"Chibiusa, why don't you come help me make tea for our guest?"
Chibiusa tried to get up, but Berthier placed a hand on her shoulder.
"No need to put the child to work," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "Besides, I like the company."
Usagi hesitated, then winked at Chibiusa before walking into the kitchen. Berthier glanced at Makoto.
"I won't harm her, Jupiter, as long as you don't give me a reason."
Makoto scoffed.
"Harm one hair on her head and I swear you won't see another sunrise," she said.
Berthier gave her a small smile but said nothing. A moment later, Usagi returned with a dark brown cup covered with an ornate flower pattern. Steam rose from the cup. She handed it to Berthier with a smile.
"There you go," she said. "Can I get you anything else while we wait for Ami?"
Berthier took the cup. She looked at the tea for a moment, then locked eyes with Usagi.
"I loathe you with every fiber of my being, princess. You know that, right?"
Usagi took a step back, and her eyes widened. Makoto's hands tightened into fists. She bit her tongue. Usagi could handle herself.
"When we fought, you said this was all my fault," Usagi said after a moment's hesitation. "I don't know what that means. Maybe you can explain it to me."
Berthier laughed. It was a hearty, belly-laugh that made the tea in her hand shake and almost spill from its cup. She wiped away a tear of laughter.
"That's the real joke. I can't discuss what happened."
Usagi sank back into her seat. Chibiusa glanced up at Berthier before looking toward Usagi and cocking an eyebrow. Makoto couldn't help but smile. The girl was terrified, but still couldn't help but signal she thought Berthier had lost her mind.
Usagi ignored her daughter's unspoken judgement and focused on Berthier.
"Why is that?" she asked.
Berthier's mouth fell open. She hadn't expected Usagi to ask.
"My prince believes knowledge is power. He does not give up an advantage. Should any of us try to reveal too much, an unbearable pain will seize our bodies."
Usagi gasped.
"That's horrible," she said. "I'm so sorry."
Berthier stared at Usagi as if evaluating her.
"You've changed," she said finally.
Before she could say more, there was a knock at the door. Usagi jumped, then glanced at Makoto, who raised her eyebrows in response. Ami couldn't have reached the Boso Peninsula from Tokyo so quickly.
Makoto opened the door, and there stood Motoki. She felt her eyes widen in surprise and her heart beat faster. She slipped out of the cabin and closed the door behind her.
Motoki had put on one of his best outfits: a pair of slacks, a white button-up shirt, and a dark jacket. Over his jacket, he wore the scarf Makoto had made for him all those years ago, before they first started dating. He had attempted to tame his unruly black hair, but it once again stood at odd angles. In his hand, he held a bouquet of blue roses.
"Motoki…" Makoto began.
He held up his free hand to stop her.
"Makoto, listen, please," he said. "I know you said you didn't want me here, but I couldn't stay away any longer. You're going through something right now, and as your fiancé, it's my duty to be by your side. So, please, let me be here for you."
Makoto stared at her fiance, slack-jawed. Motoki was not the most assertive guy, but still he came, even after she had done everything she could to keep him at arm's length.
"Motoki, I…"
He grinned.
"I almost forgot," he said. "These are for you."
He extended the bouquet of blue roses toward her. Makoto reached for the flowers. Her hands moved as if in slow motion as she took the bouquet. Blue roses symbolized achieving the impossible. Even his flower choice was supportive.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
"Thank you," she said in a hoarse whisper.
She leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. He flashed her a radiant smile.
"Can I come in, or is Usagi cooking breakfast?"
He made a face of abject horror and Makoto smiled. She stepped aside, clutching her roses, and allowed Motoki access to the door. He stepped past her, opened the door, and entered the cabin.
Then she remembered what was waiting for them inside the cabin.
"Listen, Motoki, there's something you should know…"
She heard Motoki's breath catch; then he inhaled sharply.
"What is she doing here?!"
Makoto stepped into the cabin behind Motoki. Berthier was still sitting on the couch holding her cup of tea, Chibiusa next to her. She looked at Motoki with a wicked little smile.
"Well, if it isn't the boyfriend," she said with insincere sweetness. She took a sip from her cup. "Tea? It's very good."
Sailor V, Tuxedo Mask, and Artemis found themselves once again in a narrow alleyway to avoid prying eyes. An unconscious Petz lay over Tuxedo Mask's shoulder. His face was turning red; beads of sweat ran over his forehead and down his cheeks.
Artemis chuckled.
"Is the lady getting too heavy for you, Mamoru?"
Tuxedo Mask glared at the plush cat.
"Yeah, she is. Why don't you carry her for a while?"
He started to lower Petz toward Artemis, whose eyes widened.
"Now, wait just a minute…" he stammered.
Sailor V sighed and shook her head.
"Boys, would you please stop picking at each other for five minutes?"
Tuxedo Mask straightened and gave her a pout that put Sailor V in mind of Usagi.
"He started it!"
I swear, Usagi is rubbing off on him!
Tuxedo Mask pointed at the ripped red duffle bag Sailor V carried across her shoulder.
"Why are you still hanging on to that thing, anyway?" he asked.
Sailor V looked down at it. The day before, they had used the bag in a fake jewelry heist. She had sliced open the bag during a staged fight with Tuxedo Mask, causing the stolen jewelry to fall to the ground.
She huffed.
"I like this bag. Maybe I can fix it."
Tuxedo Mask chuckled.
"I doubt it."
Sailor V looked at the bag again.
"Are you sure there's no jewelry left in here? I swear it feels like there's something in there."
Before he could respond, a car pulled up to the entrance of the alley. The car, a black luxury model, sparkled in the morning sun. It looked like it had just pulled out of a car lot. It stopped for a moment, turned, then backed into the alleyway.
The driver's door opened and Sugao Saitou stepped out. The president of Minako Aino's management company looked as flamboyant as ever. He wore a pair of black slacks, a white button-up shirt, and a bright-red blazer. A large, white earring stuck out from his right ear. He had styled his black hair with an excessive amount of gel.
Saitou looked around and wrinkled his nose. Sailor V smiled. Under normal circumstances, her manager wouldn't be caught dead in this part of town.
She got out her cell phone and dialed his number. A moment later, Saitou's phone rang. She watched from her hiding spot as he fished his phone from his inside jacket pocket and flipped it open.
"Minako, darling!" he said in his gregarious way. "I brought the car, just like you asked. Where are you?"
She shook her head and smiled. Saitou was an excellent manager, and a good friend.
"I'm nearby. Can you please leave the keys in the car? I'll be there in a moment."
He looked around, trying to spot her.
"Are you sure you don't need me to stay?" he asked. "What are you doing in this part of town, anyway?"
She wondered how he would react if he knew she'd been playing vigilante all night. She stifled a giggle.
"I'm fine. Just leave the car, and I'll get myself home."
She watched as he shook his head.
"Alright, alright. If you get yourself in trouble, you'll tell me, okay?"
She sighed.
"Yes, Shachou."
That seemed to satisfy him.
"Listen, Mina, we do need to talk about your album. The label is asking questions. They want to hear what you've written so far."
Sailor V froze. Her tensions with Rei and the arrival of the Black Moon Clan had taken all of her time and attention. She had not written a single song yet.
"Sure," she said, her voice shaking. "We'll talk."
Saitou raised his voice.
"I know that tone! Don't brush me off, Mina!" He fell quiet for a moment. "The label is worried. Even a star as big as Minako Aino can lose her contract."
She sighed.
"I know."
He hesitated.
"There's something else I'd like to talk to you about. Something personal."
In her hiding place, Sailor V nodded to herself.
"Of course. We'll have dinner. I'll call you."
She watched as he closed the car door and stepped away from it.
"Alright. I'm going. Stay out of trouble, Minako. And call me."
He glanced down the alley one more time, then stepped out onto the main sidewalk and disappeared.
They waited for a moment to make sure he was gone, then snuck out of their hiding place and approached the car. Tuxedo Mask opened the trunk and dropped the unconscious Petz into the large space. He glanced over at Artemis.
"You gonna get in there with her?"
Artemis scoffed.
"What? Why?"
Tuxedo Mask shrugged.
"Maybe somebody should guard her in case she wakes up."
Artemis laughed.
"Then you get in there with her," he said and walked away with a flick of his tail.
Sailor V decided it was best to ignore their bickering. She got into the driver's seat of the car and took off her mask. She glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror. Dark rings had formed under her eyes. It had been a long night.
A moment later, the passenger door opened and Tuxedo Mask sat down next to her. He removed his mask as well. Artemis leapt onto his lap, then crawled past him into the back seat.
"Alright, where are we headed?" Minako asked.
Mamoru smiled.
"The Boso Peninsula."
Rei and Ami pulled up to the picturesque cabin in Ami's powder-blue compact vehicle. It was a car, Rei thought, that fit her friend's personality well: small, unassuming, and with more power under the hood than one would suspect.
"I think this is it," Ami said from behind the steering wheel as she adjusted her glasses.
Rei nodded and forced her mind back to the present. She had spent most of the drive to the Boso Peninsula lost in thought. Ami's words at Hikawa Shrine had given her plenty to think about.
Maybe worry less about the future and more about the here and now. If there's something between you two, it might be worth exploring.
Rei shook her head. There was a time and a place to worry about Minako, but this wasn't it. She needed her spiritual senses at full alert and could afford no distractions. She nodded at Ami.
"Alright, let's go," she said.
They exited the vehicle and approached the cabin with caution. It was old, but beautiful. Made of wood, with a pointed roof, it sat nestled in a thicket of black pine trees. The sun was standing high in the sky now and gave the scene a radiant glow. Somewhere nearby, a white-eye sang its sweet song. On the surface, it all felt so peaceful. Rei's spiritual senses, however, were on high alert. Something felt very wrong.
The front door opened and Motoki stepped out.
"I'm glad you're here," he said, his eyes wide. "Things in there are…weird."
Ami and Rei glanced at each other. Motoki stepped aside and allowed them to enter.
Rei had to agree with Motoki. The scene in front of her was, at the very least, surreal. The door led into a small living room. Its furnishings were sparse but cozy: a couch, a tiny table, some plants, and a propane fireplace. A bouquet of fresh blue roses stood on the table.
There, sitting on the small couch, was Berthier, sipping on a cup of tea. Chibiusa sat next to her in a pink nightgown, as if frozen in place.
Across from them sat Usagi, perched on a kitchen chair and munching on a cookie. She took a large bite and chewed with almost panicked fervor. Her eyes never left Chibiusa. Rei had seen Usagi upset plenty of times, but never so…lost?
She wants her daughter back. I can't blame her.
Makoto leaned against the wall near the door that led into the kitchen, her arms crossed. Anger radiated off her aura like heat. She looked like she wanted to lunge at Berthier and beat her senseless with her own teacup. She gave Rei and Ami a nod but remained silent.
The cabin was so thick with tension, Rei could almost see it like a haze in the air.
There was more. Usagi felt…different. Rei tried to reach out with her spiritual senses, but the impression proved elusive.
What struck Rei most, however, was the palpable sense of evil that permeated the cabin. A dark presence of pure malice spread across the space. Rei's senses brushed against it. Emotions flooded her senses. Dread. Despair. Hatred. She stumbled backward.
Ami turned toward her.
"Are you alright?"
Rei leaned in close and whispered into her ear.
"I sense an evil aura."
Ami's eyes widened.
"Berthier is misguided, but I don't think she's evil."
Rei grabbed Ami's arm.
"Just be careful."
Ami gave her a reassuring nod, then turned her attention to the job at hand.
"Hello, Berthier."
Berthier turned toward Ami, and her face lit up with a big smile.
"Mercury! What took you so long?"
Ami tilted her head.
"You said you wanted to talk, so here I am," she said. "But first, let Chibiusa go."
Berthier frowned.
"My enemies surround me, Mercury. The girl is my…insurance."
Ami shook her head.
"You told Usagi you're not here to fight, so we won't fight. You have my word."
Rei could almost see the gears turning behind Berthier's eyes as she considered Ami's words. A moment later, she shrugged.
"Very well. Go on to your mother, small lady."
Chibiusa didn't have to be told twice. She leapt off the couch and into Usagi's lap. Usagi wrapped her arms around her and cradled her future daughter. The tension drained from her face.
Usagi glanced at Ami, tears in her eyes.
"Thank you."
To Rei's surprise, Berthier's face softened, as well.
"I would never have harmed her, anyway," she said. "The girl is innocent in all of this."
Ami sat down on the couch next to Berthier.
"What is all of this?" she asked. "We don't even know why the Black Moon Clan has attacked us."
Berthier sighed.
"I can't tell you. My powers…they flow from my prince. If I try to divulge his secrets, they will turn against me. The pain will be…excruciating."
Rei considered this. If Ami was right, if Berthier wasn't evil, then perhaps it was the power from this prince she sensed in the cabin.
Ami raised her hand to cover a gasp.
"That's awful!" She thought for a moment. "Okay, what can you tell me without causing yourself any pain?"
Berthier considered this.
"There are things you have already guessed," she said. "We knew each other a long time ago, during the Silver Millennium. Something happened and…we were exiled, condemned to wander the stars."
She gazed at the ceiling, her eyes glazed over.
"Those were dark times for my people," she said. "Out there, in the depths of space, we found something…someone. A wise man pointed the way to a great power. It gave us the strength to return and exact our revenge. It is…"
Before she could continue, black energy surged through her body. Berthier convulsed and screamed in agony. Ami's eyes widened.
"Berthier!"
She reached out toward the suffering woman. When her hand made contact with Berthier's shoulder, the black energy enveloped them both.
Rei sensed pure hatred course through their bodies. A scream of pain escaped Ami's throat…then Ami and Berthier both lost consciousness.
Rei surged forward.
"Ami!"
Ami did not respond. Worse, Rei could no longer sense her presence.
The library of the Moon Palace is so vast, it's almost overwhelming. The immense chamber is four stories tall, each level filled to the brim with bookshelves. Starlight shines in through the stained-glass windows and the domed ceiling. It is the largest collection of books in the solar system. The amount of knowledge gathered here is staggering.
She snuggles into the large plush chair and turns the page in the massive tome of Mercurian poetry. Some poems gathered here she has never read before. The words caress her like a gentle breeze on a warm summer day.
She closes her eyes and hugs the open book to her chest. She never wants to leave the library again.
"Hello."
She looks up and sees a young woman stand before her. The woman has blue eyes that radiate a nervous energy and long white hair held together in a braid that lays over her shoulder. A black crescent moon marks her forehead. In her hands, she holds a leather-bound book.
"Do you mind if I join you?"
She points to the seat across from her and smiles at the young woman.
"Of course not. Please, be my guest."
The young woman takes a seat and opens her book. After a moment, she glances up from the pages.
"I'm Berthier, by the way. What's your name?"
She smiles at Berthier.
"Well, with a little luck, my name will soon be Sailor Mercury."
Berthier's smile falters.
"You're at the palace for the selection? So am I."
Her smile widens into a grin.
"That's wonderful!"
Berthier raises her eyebrows.
"Are you sure? I thought…well, I thought you wouldn't appreciate the competition."
She laughs. It's a pretty, melodious sound.
"Berthier, the selection process is about picking the best, most qualified Sailor Guardians. If that is you, then you deserve to win."
Berthier seems unconvinced.
"Even though I'm…" Berthier points to the black mark on her forehead.
She waves her hand at Berthier in a dismissive gesture.
"That doesn't matter to me. I'm an excellent judge of character, you know. I think you'd make a wonderful Sailor Guardian."
Berthier looks at her for a long moment, stunned.
"You're an interesting person, maybe-soon-to-be Sailor Mercury."
She laughs again.
"Thank you. So are you, Berthier. What are you reading?"
Berthier raises her book. Golden letters engraved on the leather-bound cover read "A History of the Early Silver Millenium". She gives a low whistle.
"That is some heavy reading. Maybe we can talk about it over lunch?"
Berthier smiles.
"I'd like that very much."
She winks at Berthier.
"I think you and I will get along just fine, Berthier."
They both turn their attention back to their books and get lost in their reading. Berthier glances up now and then to look at her, and she always smiles back. There is something comforting about enjoying another person's company in silence.
Then a warm hand grasps her shoulder. She looks up into the dark eyes of a beautiful young woman with long, dark hair.
"Ami, you need to wake up," Rei says.
Ami shakes her head.
"I don't want to. I like it here, in the library."
Rei kneels down in front of her.
"You're hurt and we can't wake you up. You need to wake yourself up."
Ami tries to turn her attention back to her book, but Rei grasps both sides of her face and cradles it in her hands.
"Wake up, Ami! Now!"
Makoto hovered over Usagi, who sat on the floor of the living room and cradled Ami in her lap. The pit of Makoto's stomach felt like hot lava; once again, Ami's life was in danger because of Berthier. She gritted her teeth.
Rei knelt on the ground next to Usagi. Her hands rested on Ami's face; her eyes were closed and her brow furrowed in concentration. Chibiusa stood next to Makoto and wrung her hands. Behind them, Motoki paced pack and forth, his eyes locked on Berthier, who lay unconscious on the couch.
Chibiusa looked up at Makoto, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Will Ami be okay?"
Makoto put a hand on her shoulder.
"I don't know." Her eyes narrowed as she glanced toward Berthier. "If not, somebody's going to pay."
Just then, Ami groaned. Her eyes fluttered, then opened.
"Ami?" Usagi's voice trembled. Her hands combed through her friend's hair in gentle strokes. Ami smiled up at her.
"I'm alright, Usagi…I think."
Usagi glanced at Rei.
"Is she?" she asked.
Rei shrugged, then wiped the sweat from her forehead. Makoto hadn't seen Rei push her spiritual powers so hard before; it had taken a toll.
"I think so," Rei said. "The shock must have caused her to retreat deep into her own mind. She was hiding inside some kind of memory."
Ami jumped up into a sitting position.
"That's right! I remembered!"
Usagi raised her eyebrows.
"Remembered? What?"
A voice behind groaned, then coughed.
"I'm fine, too, by the way," Berthier said. "Thanks for asking."
Motoki jumped away from the couch with a surprising amount of dexterity.
"She's awake!" he shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Berthier.
Berthier chuckled as she pulled herself up into a sitting position. Her face was pale.
"Astute observation. Got yourself a real winner there, Jupiter."
Makoto balled her hands into fists. Her cabin had become a pressure cooker; she wasn't sure how much longer she could handle the pressure.
"I've just about had it with you!" she said through gritted teeth.
She felt Ami's hand on her arm and looked down at her friend.
"Please," Ami said. "Don't."
Makoto shook her head. She didn't understand Ami's willingness to give Berthier so much leeway, or Usagi's hope to bring her to the side of good. Berthier was the enemy. The Black Moon Clan was the enemy.
She took a deep breath. She'd have to trust her friends' judgement…for now.
"Okay," Makoto said and extended her hand toward Ami, who grasped it and pulled herself up off the floor. Ami staggered for a moment, then regained her balance. She gave Makoto a small nod, then turned toward Berthier.
"I remember you, Berthier," she said.
The sarcastic sneer vanished from Berthier's face. Her eyes widened.
"You remember me?" Her voice trembled. "What is it you think you remember?"
Ami took a step toward Berthier.
"The library in the Moon Palace," she said. "The day before the selection started. You were reading An Early History of the Silver Millenium ."
Berthier bit her lip.
"And you were reading…?"
Ami smiled and took another step toward Berthier.
"A book of Mercurian poetry."
Berthier's hand came up to her mouth as she stifled a sob. Tears welled up in her eyes. She leapt off the couch and toward Ami. On instinct, Makoto took on a fighting stance. To her surprise, Berthier threw her hands around Ami and pulled her into a tight embrace.
Ami's eyes widened. After a moment's hesitation, she wrapped her arms around Berthier in return.
"It's okay," she said. "It's okay."
Rei and Usagi looked at each other, mouths open and eyes wide. Rei regained her composure first, shrugged, and they turned their attention back to the two women.
After a long moment, Berthier separated herself from Ami.
"You don't understand," she said. "That somebody remembers me the way I was…before all of this…"
Ami nodded.
"I liked you right away," she said.
Berthier chuckled and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"You remember little else, do you?" She shook her head. "You were a good friend, Mercury."
Ami smiled.
"I remember one more thing. You were there for the selection. You were in the running to become Sailor Mercury, too."
Makoto, Rei, and Usagi reacted in unison.
"What?!"
Ami turned to face them.
"There was a selection process, a competition, to choose the Guardians," she said. "Talented young women from across the Silver Millennium took part. Berthier was one of them. She, like me, has an affinity for water."
She glanced at Berthier.
"Why didn't you use your affinity for water against me in battle?"
Berthier chuckled.
"It just felt wrong, somehow."
Silence settled over the cabin. After a moment, Berthier cleared her throat.
"Mercury…Ami…I came today because I want to get rid of this dark influence on my heart and be that person again, the one you met in the library so long ago. Will you help me?"
Before Ami could answer, Makoto interrupted.
"We can't trust her, Ami. You know that, right?" Makoto's voice shook. She could feel her face flush and her hands tremble. "She tried to kill me!"
Rei cleared her throat.
"Ami, I know you want to believe her, but Makoto is right," she said. "We can't trust her."
Ami's face fell. She looked to her princess, her best friend.
"Usagi?"
Usagi, still kneeling on the floor, looked at Berthier for a long time. At last, she stood and approached Berthier.
"You tried to kill two of my best friends," she said. "You threatened my daughter. Still…if we're not willing to break the cycle of hate, then we're no better than the Black Moon."
She smiled.
"If you really want to change, then I will do everything I can to help you."
Makoto felt the heat in her stomach rise into her chest. The pressure inside of her was about to explode.
"Usagi…"
Before she could say more, the door of the cabin flew open. Everybody assembled turned to face the door.
Standing in the doorway were Tuxedo Mask, Sailor V, and Artemis. Laying backward over Tuxedo Mask's shoulder was a woman dressed in green.
For a moment, everybody just stood there and stared at each other. Then Berthier broke the silence in a low and menacing voice.
"What have you done to my sister?"
Usagi dashed toward Mamoru and placed her hands on her hips. Rei rolled her eyes. A marital spat was the last thing they needed right now.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice rising.
Mamoru, still dressed in his signature tuxedo but without the mask, threw his free hand into the air in a gesture of exasperation.
"What am I doing here? What are you doing here?" He pointed at Berthier. "Better yet, what is she doing here?"
Berthier glowered at him, but Ami put a hand on her shoulder. Usagi extended her lips in a pout.
"At least I'm not carrying some strange man on my shoulders."
Mamoru rolled his eyes.
"It's not like that. Minako and I captured a member of the Black Moon."
Usagi crossed her arms and turned her back to Mamoru.
"Oh yeah? Then why is your hand on her butt?"
Mamoru glanced sideways at Petz, who was hanging backwards over his shoulder. Sure enough, he was steadying her with one hand on her rear. His face turned fire red as he shifted his hand downward.
Chibiusa, who had recovered from her traumatic morning, cleared her throat.
"Instead of arguing, can we take a moment and figure out what's happening right now?" She extended her lips in a pout and transformed into the spitting image of her mother. "Besides, I'd still like to be born someday."
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Rei had to suppress a smile. She still wasn't comfortable with the whole "Aunt Rei" thing, but the girl was growing on her. She had spunk.
There was a long pause. Mamoru sighed, pushed past Usagi and lowered Petz onto the kitchen chair standing in the middle of the room. Then he turned his attention to Usagi and Chibiusa.
Minako, maskless but dressed in her Sailor V uniform, tied her rope around Petz. Rei hesitated. The last time she and Minako had been in the same room, they'd fought.
"What happened?" she finally asked. "Did your powers return?"
Minako scoffed. She refused to face Rei.
"No, they haven't," she said. "Lucky for us, I don't need powers to do what needs to be done. Mamoru posed as a criminal and I stopped him as Sailor V. We drew enough attention to cause Petz here to come after us. That's when we sprung our trap."
Rei raised an eyebrow.
"Trap?"
Minako pointed at Petz's neck, where a thin metal band pulsed a bright blue.
"Suppression collar. Artemis helped make it. During the Silver Millenium, we used one like it to train without our powers."
Rei shook her head. She had no memory of that. Then again, all of their memories of the past life were spotty, at best. She reached out and placed a gentle hand on Minako's shoulder.
"You took a tremendous risk without your powers, Mina."
Minako shrugged off her hand and shot her a sharp look.
"It's my life to risk," she said, then turned back to Petz and double-checked her knots.
Rei sighed and turned away. It would be difficult to mend what she'd broken. A loud pop startled Rei from her thoughts. She turned back and watched in shock as Minako slapped Petz hard across the face.
"Wake up!" she shouted.
She pulled her hand back to slap Petz once more, but Rei caught her arm.
"What are you doing?"
Minako wrestled her arm out of Rei's grip.
"Doing what I came here to do," she said, gritting her teeth. "I'm going to interrogate Petz and learn the truth about our enemy."
The two women locked eyes and Rei realized she had wounded Minako much deeper than she had suspected.
"This isn't you, Mina."
Across the room, Ami spoke to Berthier in hushed tones, trying to persuade her to let Rei handle the situation. Berthier's face was flushed. Not too far away, Usagi and Mamoru argued under their breaths, while Chibiusa tried to play peacemaker. Makoto stood nearby and stared at Petz like a predator evaluating its prey; Motoki hovered behind her and fidgeted with his hands.
The small cabin had become entirely too crowded. It was a powder keg, and Rei wasn't sure she could defuse it.
Without warning, Artemis jumped up into Petz's lap and sat down.
"Rei, you need to let Mina do what needs to be done," he said.
Rei couldn't believe her ears.
"You, too, Artemis? What has gotten into you?"
In a rare display of aggression, Artemis bared his teeth.
"These Black Moon people hurt Luna," he sneered. "They deserve to pay."
Rei turned her attention back to Minako, who had pressed her lips together into a thin line. She stepped closer and lowered her voice.
"Hurting her won't make you feel better, you know?" Rei said.
Minako rolled her eyes.
"This has nothing to do with us."
Rei leaned closer until their noses almost touched.
"Doesn't it?"
Suddenly, a sinister laugh echoed through the small living room. It started as a murmur, then built into a crescendo that seemed to envelop the entire cabin. The hushed conversations fell silent as everybody turned to confront the source of the unsettling sound: Petz.
She raised her head. Her eyes opened and came to rest on Artemis.
"You want a piece of me, Mauan?" she asked. "Come on, give me your best shot."
Artemis held her gaze.
"You don't scare me," he said. "I made sure you have no power here."
Petz laughed again.
"Such a brave little kitty." She glanced around the room. "My, my, it's a Silver Millennium reunion! Look who all came to see little old me."
Her eyes locked onto Berthier.
"Traitor! I should have known you couldn't stay away from your precious Sailor Mercury."
Berthier reeled as if someone had struck her across the face. Her face turned pale.
"Petz, you don't understand…" she stammered.
Petz laughed again, an ugly, mocking sound.
"Oh, I understand." Her voice became low and dangerous. "You'll pay for this betrayal, Berthier."
Minako took a step toward Petz, violence in her eyes. Rei had seen enough. She grabbed Minako's shoulder.
"Don't," she said. "You can't force the truth out of her. Their leader has embedded triggers in the powers. If they reveal any secrets, they'll suffer."
Minako hesitated. Petz's eyes flashed.
"Come now, Venus. Try it. I'm sure you can make me talk."
Minako hesitated. Petz remained undeterred.
"Are you all so weak in this new life? Mercury? Mars?" Her eyes found Usagi. "What about you, princess? After all you've done to us, what's a little light torture?"
Usagi stepped toward Petz.
"I will not lash out at you with hate in my heart," she said. "Anger and hate, they can only destroy. Only love can save us."
Petz giggled.
"You've gone soft, Serenity." Finally, she spotted Makoto, whose eyes were almost bulging out of their sockets. "Oh, Jupiter. Rubeus told me about your fight, you know. He told me how you begged for your life. Begged!"
Rei felt a psychic shockwave and knew Makoto had snapped before she knew herself. Worse, she felt not fear but smug satisfaction radiating from Petz. Rei realized what was happening, and fear gripped her heart.
She tried to move toward Makoto, to calm her, but even with the head start, there was just not enough time.
Makoto released a primal scream, the anger that had been building since Rubeus' attack, perhaps even since her childhood, boiling over at last. She leapt across the couch and raised her fist to strike Petz. She would not get the chance. Black lightning exploded out of Petz and tossed Makoto across the room. She crashed onto the floor and didn't move anymore.
What happened next was utter chaos.
Usagi gasped as Makoto twisted around in mid-air, then hit the ground. Every head in the room turned toward the sickening thud. Motoki moved toward Makoto, fear in his eyes. The impact diverted their attention for the blink of an eye, but it gave Petz the opening she needed.
What happened next took mere seconds, but to Usagi, they felt like a lifetime.
Petz's black lightning burned through her restraints. Artemis jumped out of her lap and ran for his life, his eyes wide. Petz leapt from the chair and charged at Usagi, a snarl on her lips. Mamoru seized Chibiusa and shielded her with his body, then dashed out of the way.
"At last, you're mine," Petz said with a sneer.
Usagi's hands trembled as she raised her ringed hand.
"Moon Light Powers! Make…!"
She never got the chance to finish her transformation phrase. Petz rammed the edge of her hand into her throat. Instead of the last word, Usagi released a choking, gargling sound and fell to her knees.
"We'll have none of that, Serenity," she said.
Usagi gasped for air and watched helplessly as Petz dashed toward Ami with superhuman speed. Ami knew what was coming. Her ringed hand was already in the air.
"Mercury Light Powers! Make Up!"
Radiant blue energy exploded around her like millions of water droplets as her transformation into Sailor Mercury began. Petz, however, had other plans.
She ripped the suppression collar from her neck with little effort and, with a grin, locked it around Ami's neck. The collar snapped into place with a loud click. In an instant, the surrounding light faded. Her transformation stopped.
Petz punched a stunned Ami in the face. She collapsed onto the floor and looked up at her attacker in shock. Petz raised both of her hands into the air and let black lightning crackle around them.
"Time to die, Mercury."
No! Not Ami! Not now! Please!
Berthier stepped in front of Ami and locked eyes with her sister.
"No."
Petz hesitated. Usagi hoped with every fiber of her being that Berthier could deter Petz. Right now, there was nothing she could do to stop any of this.
Petz shrugged.
"Fine. I'm not here for her, anyway. It's Serenity I want dead."
She turned her attention back toward Usagi…and Sailor V and Rei stepped in front of her.
"Over my dead body," Sailor V said, her mask now back in place.
Petz smiled.
"I'd hoped you would say that."
Sailor V raised her Crescent Moon Cutter and aimed it at Petz.
"Crescent Moon Beam!"
A faint light enveloped the Cutter for a moment, then faded an instant later. Sailor V looked down at her weapon and her shoulders dropped.
"Still charging," she said in a low, monotone voice.
Without warning, Petz was between them. She seized Rei and threw her across the room, then grabbed Sailor V around the throat.
"Rei!" Sailor V called.
"Such arrogance," she said through gritted teeth. "You thought your little toy could suppress the power of the Black Moon Clan? You're a fool. I tricked you and you led me right to your princess."
She took a deep breath and squeezed. Sailor V choked and sputtered. She tried to pry Petz's hands off her throat, but they wouldn't budge.
"Still, you've hurt me today," Petz said. "I'm going to enjoy this."
Black lightning crackled around her hand once more and enveloped Sailor V. A bone-chilling scream of agony escaped Sailor V's lips. Hot tears welled up in Usagi's eyes as one of her closest friends suffered and she was powerless to stop it.
Usagi tried to stand and fell back to her knees. She tried to call out Minako's name, but only a raspy gargle escaped her throat. Petz had left her speechless.
Then two firm hands grabbed her shoulders and pulled her up to her feet. It was Makoto. An enormous bruise had formed on the side of her face.
"Usagi, we have to go!"
Usagi shook her head, tears streaming down her face. Her family was here; she couldn't abandon them. She had to stay and fight, somehow.
Makoto didn't give her a choice. She picked up Usagi and threw her over her shoulder.
"She wants you dead," Makoto said. "We have to get you out of here now!"
She charged toward the door. Usagi hung backward over her shoulder, forced to survey the once peaceful cabin. Ami lay on the ground, the blue-glowing suppression collar locked around her neck, as Berthier tended to her. Rei lay unconscious nearby. Motoki cowered behind the couch, careful to stay out of sight. Through the kitchen door, Usagi could see Mamoru hiding and shielding Chibiusa with his cape.
Petz spotted Makoto's attempted escape with Usagi. Her eyes bulged, her nostril flared. She dropped Sailor V, who lay there, motionless.
"Droids!" Petz shouted.
Two droids teleported into the cabin in a swirl of black energy.
"Kill everybody in this cabin, then burn it to the ground," she said to the first droid. Then she turned to the second droid. "You, make sure that you capture the traitor Berthier and return her to the Black Moon Clan. She must be…re-educated."
The last thing Usagi saw before Makoto ran through the door and out into the wilderness was Petz's wild, murderous eyes locked onto her.
"There's no escape, Serenity! Today you'll pay!"
Then.
Chikara Ikuhara paced back and forth as he watched the action in the ring at the center of his boxing gym. The two boxers, young and hungry, exchanged blows before withdrawing from each other, each man trying to get the measure of the other.
Ikuhara felt his right hand twitch as he bared his teeth. It was easy to get lost in the violence. He hated to admit it, but he missed his time in the ring. He'd held the Featherweight Championship for such a short time before injury took him out of the game. It often felt as if he had more fight left in him, but no way to get it out.
He shook his head. That was the past; it was time to focus on the future. He considered the two boxers in the ring. Dai was a clean cut kid; the others had taken to calling him "the gentleman". He made up for his limited reach with ferocity and a keen tactical mind.
Minato on the right was a different breed. Tall and spindly, he had long arms that allowed no escape. He had styled his hair into a small mohawk. He enjoyed violence; Ikuhara wondered if, perhaps, he enjoyed it too much.
Something outside of the ring caught Dai's attention. He dropped his gloved hands to his side, then pointed toward the gym door with his chin. Minato cocked his head, then turned to look at the door as well. He raised one gloved hand and pointed.
"Hey, coach," he said, glancing at Ikuhara. "I think you have a visitor."
Ikuhara followed the boxer's glove, and his eyes came to rest on Makoto. She stood in the doorway and he could tell right away she'd been fighting again. Her hair was up in a ponytail and revealed a bruised face. A small trickle of dried blood stuck to her upper lip. She had torn her school uniform and scraped her knees.
She looked across the gym at her mentor and guardian, her eyes like burning embers.
Ikuhara sighed.
"Take five."
He strode across the gym toward Makoto. As he got closer, he could see her wet cheeks. She'd been crying.
Great. Crying girls are not exactly my specialty.
He dropped to one knee in front of her. It was an uncomfortable position for a man of his age, but he found she responded better when they were on equal footing.
"What happened?" he asked.
Makoto rubbed her arm, embarrassed.
"The girl from before…she and a couple of her friends were waiting for me after school."
Ikuhara ran his hand across his face.
"Did they jump you?" he asked.
He had a feeling he already knew the answer. Makoto shook her head, confirming his suspicions.
"No. They said some things. I got mad and…." She trailed off.
Ikuhara stared at the girl, unsure how to proceed.
She's so angry. She'll self-destruct if she doesn't get it under control.
"Did you meditate this morning, like I showed you?"
She nodded.
"Still mad?"
She nodded again.
"All the time," she said.
Ikuhara rubbed his chin. Maybe he'd been going about this all wrong.
"Alright, Mako, let's get you cleaned up," he said. "Tomorrow, your lessons begin."
She raised an eyebrow. The corners of her mouth drew downward in a frown.
"More meditation?"
Ikuhara shook his head.
"Not this time." He pointed at the ring. "I'm gonna teach you how to fight."
Makoto's eyes widened.
"Really?"
He nodded.
"Oh, yes," he said. "There's something you need to understand, Makoto. Knowing how to fight is about more than just winning. It's about knowing when not to fight."
She looked at him with skepticism.
"What does that even mean, old man?"
He chuckled.
"You'll see, little girl. You'll see."
...to be contined...
Next Time on Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: Black Moon
"Give it up, Jupiter! You can't stop me!" - Petz
"Aku ryo taisan!" - Rei Hino
"This was a mistake. I belong with the Black Moon." - Berthier
"Did you just throw a rose at it? What was that going to do?" - Artemis
"Step away right now, or I will shoot!" - Chibiusa
"I don't know how to beat her. I try to push aside my anger, but it just won't die." - Makoto Kino