I am such an idiot!
Makoto ran. Her body switched to autopilot as she dashed across the clearing outside of her cabin. It was a path she had run dozens of times, first as a child with her father, then as a young adult on her own. Never had she run it so fast or so hard; never had her life, the life of her closest friend, depended on it.
She felt like a fool. Anger had burned inside of her for years, ever since her parents had died. Ikuhara had taught her how to suppress it, to push it down and ignore it, but her near-death at the hands of Rubeus had stoked the flames. Petz had played her, provoked her, and used Makoto's outburst as a distraction from her attack.
This is all my fault. I'll never forgive myself if…
She shook her head. There was no time for self-pity. Instead, she picked up speed and dove into the thicket of the forest.
Usagi's weight, balanced on her shoulder, shifted with each step. She bounced up and down in a steady rhythm. At first, she'd fought Makoto, had tried to escape her grip and return to the cabin, but Makoto had refused to let go. Now, Usagi just lay across her shoulder and sobbed.
Makoto didn't have a choice. She was still the guardian of her princess. She had to protect Usagi.
Her shoulder screamed under the strain, but she ignored the pain. The uneven terrain proved challenging; rocks and fallen branches littered the forest floor like traps. Tree branches seemed to reach for her to slow her progress as they clung to her shirt. Still she pressed on, her lungs burning with the strain.
Without warning, the tree next to her exploded in a shower of splinters. Makoto dodged as best she could. Hot embers struck her arm; searing pain shot through her body.
She glanced over her shoulder and saw Petz in hot pursuit, running after them with almost superhuman speed. Black lightning crackled around her. She stretched out her hands and Makoto felt the hair on her neck rise.
Black lightning exploded through the woods. Makoto zagged at the last possible moment. Usagi made a croaking sound that could have been surprise or encouragement.
The discharge missed them
"Give it up, Jupiter!" Petz screamed, her voice shaking. "You can't stop me!"
Makoto huffed. If she had her powers, she'd put that loudmouth in her place. The anger bubbled in the pit of her stomach, but she pushed it down. She'd done enough damage already. Instead, she continued to run.
They crested a hill and looked down at a wide stream. Makoto groaned. There was no way she could carry Usagi across. Petz would be on top of them any moment.
She rushed down the hill and lowered Usagi to the ground next to the stream. Her eyes locked onto her friend's tear-stained face.
"Usagi, I know you're upset, but you've got to listen to me. Petz is coming. Can you speak? Can you transform?"
Usagi opened her mouth. The only sound that crossed her lips was a hoarse croak. She shook her head. Her eyes closed and her shoulders quaked.
She feels helpless. I know the feeling.
Makoto stood. Her hands balled into fists.
"It's okay, Usagi." She smiled at her friend. "No matter what happens next…it's okay."
She turned her back on Usagi and took on a fighting stance. Behind them, the stream babbled. Somewhere nearby, a bird chirped. Under normal circumstances, this would have been a peaceful moment.
Then Petz crested the hill. She looked down at Usagi and Makoto; a wicked smile spread over her face.
"No place left to run, Jupiter?"
Makoto said nothing. She'd faced her share of bullies over the years. It did no good to talk to them. They only understood one language.
She waved her hand, beckoning Petz to attack. Petz was all too happy to oblige.
Loud crashing sounds rattled Rei awake. Her eyes flew open. She pushed herself off the floor and rose into a kneeling position. The cabin spun around her. She took a deep breath, and willed the room steady. What she saw made her wish the room had kept spinning instead.
Two droids were wreaking havoc in the cabin's living room. They had overturned the couch, punched holes in the walls. Their bone-chilling screeches filled the air.
Rei had never seen a droid in person before. The sight of the mechanical monstrosities made her blood run cold. They were humanoid, but there was something unnatural about them. Pale, white skin stretched over their bald heads and faces. A pair of large black eyes sat on their otherwise empty faces like a couple of voids. Their foreheads bore the upside-down crescent moon of the Black Moon Clan.
Their arms and legs, even the fingers on their hands, were too long, too thin. Rei shuddered. Whoever had made these droids knew what they were doing. They stirred a deep discomfort inside of her.
Berthier stood across the room near Ami, who sat on the floor, struggling against the suppression collar clamped around her neck. One droid locked its gaze on Berthier. It shrieked. Its arms extended into a grotesque, elongated shape; its fingers stretched like long, thin daggers, ready to strike.
Rei watched Berthier. She could almost see her thoughts reflected on her face: the conflict between her loyalty to the Black Moon and her friendship with Sailor Mercury. Then Berthier's eyes narrowed; she had made her decision.
She glanced at Ami and gave her a small smile.
"Don't follow me, Mercury," she said. Then, with a new ferocity that sounded almost like her sister Petz, she turned her attention to the droid. "Come and get me!"
She spun on her heels and dove toward the living room window. In an instant, she crashed through the glass and disappeared. The droid screeched, then dove after her.
Rei glanced across the room at the other droid, still busy destroying the cabin.
Only one left. Without our powers, though, it might as well be one hundred.
Then Ami stood, her eyes darting around the cabin. Rei sensed a wave of emotions radiating off Ami, like heat off asphalt. Then she locked eyes with Rei, and Rei's heart sank.
Oh, no.
"Protect them!" Ami screamed over the remaining droid's ruckus.
Then, to Rei's horror, she leaped through the shattered window in pursuit of Berthier and the droid.
What is she thinking?!
Rei had no time to contemplate Ami's actions. The remaining droid let out another shriek, but this one sounded almost triumphant. It had found Sailor V, who lay unconscious on the floor. Petz's words echoed in Rei's mind: kill everybody in this cabin.
No!
Rei sprung to her feet and charged at the droid.
"Get away from her!"
The droid turned toward Rei, its blade-like fingers ready to tear her apart. Without hesitation, Rei reached into her pocket and pulled out a small slip of paper adorned with a few simple words. It was an ofuda, a paper talisman.
The droid screeched and raised its long, spindly fingers toward her. Rei didn't hesitate; she hurled the ofuda at the droid's face.
"Aku ryo taisan!"
In the split second it took for the ofuda to reach the droid, Rei wondered if it would even affect the mechanical creature, or if the droid would shred the paper and then Sailor V and Rei.
The ofuda landed across the droid's face, then stuck in place. The droid froze. It shuddered and shook as it fought against the binding power of the ofuda. It couldn't move, but Rei did not know how long it would hold.
She fell to her knees beside Sailor V.
"Minako!"
No response.
"Minako, wake up! I…I need you!"
Sailor V remained motionless, and to her horror, Rei realized this might be the end for both of them.
Tuxedo Mask peeked around the corner and through the open kitchen door into the cabin's living room. He had wrapped his cape around Chibiusa to keep her safe and hidden. Chibiusa looked up at him with wide eyes, but remained silent.
The living room lay in shambles; the two droids had destroyed everything. They had overturned the couch, and the small table lay destroyed. A half-broken tea cup rolled by; a bouquet of blue roses lay scattered on the floor in front of him.
"What a waste."
The voice startled Tuxedo Mask. He looked left and saw Motoki crawl toward him and Chibiusa, careful to remain out of sight of the rampaging droids. He glanced at the roses and frowned. Tuxedo Mask had a feeling that Motoki had brought them for his fiancée.
He nodded at Motoki.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice a low whisper.
Motoki gave a shrill laugh.
"Do I look alright? My fiancée just ran off with your wife!" He considered his words, then shook his head. "You know what I mean. We're gonna die here!"
There was a loud crash, and both men glanced back into the living room. One droid leapt out of the window. A moment later, Ami followed.
Tuxedo Mask turned his attention back to his friend.
"Take Chibiusa and get her out of here," he said. "Hide until this is over."
Motoki's eyes widened.
"What? How?"
Tuxedo Mask pointed over his shoulder with his thumb.
"There's a window back there. The two of you can climb through."
Motoki swallowed hard, then nodded.
"Okay. Okay. What are you going to do?"
Tuxedo Mask sighed.
"I need to help Rei and Minako in there, then find Usagi." He looked down at Chibiusa, who clung to him, terrified. "Will you please go with Motoki, Chibiusa?"
She looked up at him with wide eyes.
"Please don't die, Mamoru!"
He smiled.
"What, me? Never."
He realized, of course, that somewhere in the future, he was lying on an apartment floor, injured. He hoped Chibiusa wouldn't think about that right now.
Motoki offered the little girl his hand. She hesitated, then took it. They took one more look at Tuxedo Mask, then crawled deeper into the kitchen, where a window could provide them a route to freedom.
From inside the living room, Rei's voice echoed with fierce authority.
"Aku ryo taisan!"
Tuxedo Mask watched as the droid froze in place. He could see how it fought against whatever Rei had done to it; this would not last.
"Artemis!" Tuxedo Mask's voice carried through the cabin.
Artemis appeared behind him.
"What is it?"
Tuxedo Mask jumped.
"Could you maybe not sneak up on me?"
Artemis grinned.
"If the situation wasn't so serious, I'd have enjoyed that."
Tuxedo Mask shook his head.
"I need you to buy me some time, Artemis. When that droid breaks free, you need to distract it."
Artemis laughed.
"What? No way. You go distract it! You know what one of those things did to Luna."
Tuxedo Mask sighed.
"Artemis, I can save them, but I need more time. I need you to trust me!"
The plush cat stared at him for a long moment. Tuxedo Mask knew Artemis blamed him, at least in part, for what had happened to Luna. In fact, he didn't like him all that much. Still, the two had been through a lot together over the last twenty-four hours.
At last, Artemis nodded.
"Okay," he said. "You have my trust."
Without another word, he leapt into the living room and ran toward the droid. Tuxedo Mask shook his head.
I hope you did not misplace your trust, my little friend.
His eyes landed on the bouquet of roses sprawled out on the floor in front of him. He knew what he had to do; he just hoped he could pull it off this time.
Ami leapt through the window, then rolled over her shoulder on the ground outside. Some shards dug into her back and shoulder as she rolled through the shattered window fragments on the soft ground outside.
She came to rest in a crouching position. Her hand came up to her face to adjust her glasses, but they were gone, lost somewhere along the way. The suppression collar continued to pulse a bright blue around her neck.
She spotted Berthier battling the droid not too far from the cabin. Berthier fired a volley of black energy at the droid, but the machine dodged the attack, then slashed at her with long fingers as sharp as razors.
Berthier howled in pain as the fingers sliced into her shoulder. Ami sprung into action without a second thought. She ran across the clearing, then catapulted herself at Berthier, knocking her out of the way of a follow-up attack. The droid's hand sliced through the air above their heads. They rolled across the ground, then came to rest side-by-side.
Berthier sat up and looked at Ami, eyes wide.
"What are you doing?"
Ami sat up and smiled.
"Saving your life."
She grabbed Berthier's hand and pulled her along. Together, the two crouched-walked and slipped between Ami's powder-blue compact car and a dark luxury vehicle she'd never seen before.
They sat down, their backs against Ami's car. Ami pressed her index finger to her lips.
Berthier shook her head.
"We're not friends, Mercury," she whispered. "This was a mistake. I belong with the Black Moon."
Ami stared at her. Why was Berthier backing out, especially now that Ami had remembered their friendship?
"No, you don't," she said. "Let me help you."
Berthier peeked around the front of the car and spotted the droid heading their way, searching for its missing prey.
Ami took a moment to catch her breath and inhaled the earthy scent of the forest, of pine and earth and leaves.
"I can't abandon my sisters anymore than you can abandon yours," Berthier said.
Black energy crackled around her hand when she turned back to Ami. Her eyes narrowed and Ami felt her pulse quicken.
She won't harm me. We're friends, no matter how much she wants to deny it.
She held her breath.
Berthier reached for the collar around Ami's neck, and the black energy sparked around it. With a loud click, the mechanism unlocked and the suppression collar fell to the ground.
Ami exhaled.
"Thank you."
Berthier shrugged.
"Don't thank me. I have to go help my sister." She gazed into Ami's eyes. Ami saw sadness there. "I will do my duty. Now you can do yours."
Berthier went to stand, but Ami seized her arm.
"Don't let her hurt Usagi. Please."
Berthier shook her head.
"You've been reborn, Mercury. You're free of what came before. She's not your princess, or your duty, anymore."
Ami smiled.
"You're right," she said. "She's so much more than that."
Berthier stared at her for a moment, tilting her head and pursing her lips. Then she rose and ran into the woods. The droid screeched and turned to pursue her.
Ami stood.
"Oh, no, you don't." She raised her ringed hand into the air. "Mercury Light Power! Make up!"
This time, no suppression collar stood in her way. Thousands of tiny droplets of blue light caressed her skin and transformed Ami Mizuno into Sailor Mercury.
The light of her transformation caught the droid's attention. It turned to face her. That would be his last mistake.
Ami raised her hand and felt her water-powers focus and coalesce in its palm.
"Mercury Ice Dagger!"
A sharp blade of ice formed in the air, then flew toward the droid. Before it could react, the dagger cut a hole through the center of the droid's expressionless face. It stood there for a moment, as if confused about what just had happened, then crumbled into a thick, black dust.
Sailor Mercury watched as the light breeze caught hold of the droid's remains and scattered them across the clearing.
Then she ran into the woods, determined to save her friends. All of them.
Chibiusa jumped through the open window and into Motoki's outstretched arms. He put her down on the soft ground outside of the cabin and ruffled her hair.
"Let's find a safe place to hide," he said.
She took a moment to straighten her hair and nodded.
It was odd seeing Uncle Motoki so healthy, so full of life. He could crawl through a window and even catch her. In the future, his illness would cause him a lot of pain, make him weak, and limit his movements. Chibiusa was glad she had the chance to meet him like this. She'd always liked him, but free from pain, he was downright lovable.
Together, they ran around the cabin and to the front of the building. Suddenly, a loud scream echoed through the woods.
Was that Makoto?
She glanced at Motoki. All the color had drained from his face. He looked around for a moment, then his eyes fell on a luxury car parked nearby.
"Chibiusa, I need to hide in that car over there. Crawl into the back seat and keep your head down."
She looked at the car, then back at Uncle Motoki.
"Aren't you coming with me?"
He shook his head.
"Makoto is out there, and she has no powers. I'm not much, but I have to help her."
Chibiusa hesitated for a moment, then wrapped her arms around his legs in a tight embrace.
"Be careful, Uncle Motoki."
He smiled down at her.
"You, too, kid," he said. "Don't do anything stupid like your dad."
With that, he turned and ran across the clearing. A moment later, he disappeared into the woods.
An eerie silence settled over the clearing outside the cabin. A bird chirped and Chibiusa almost jumped out of her skin.
She hurried to the car Uncle Motoki had pointed out to her. She tried the back doors, but found them both locked. When she tried the passenger door, it opened. She jumped into the car and closed the door, then crawled into the back seat and lay down flat so nobody could see her.
As she lay there, her thoughts were with Usagi. Her future mother had written "I love you" on a note. Worry had filled her eyes while Chibiusa had to sit next to Berthier. Now it was Chibiusa's turn to worry. Usagi couldn't transform. Who would protect her now?
She shifted on the seat and noticed she was lying on something hard. Her hand reached behind her back and pulled out a tattered red duffle back. She remembered seeing Aunt Mina use a similar bag, but this one was ruined. It felt like there was something in it.
Chibiusa reached into the bag, and her hand closed around a smooth, hard object. With a quick yank, she pulled it free, then gasped. It was a gun.
She stared at the gun for a long moment.
If Usagi can't protect herself…then maybe I have to protect her.
Her eyes narrowed.
The rose was beautiful. Tuxedo Mask reached out with a gloved hand and picked it out from among the scattered flowers on the floor.
Its petals were a bit crumpled, but its beauty remained. It was the color of rich azure. As he lifted it off the ground, he caught a whiff of its intoxicating scent. Even through his gloves, he could almost feel the life force within it.
It was hurt, but alive.
Tuxedo Mask marveled at the rose's strength, its raw power. He felt a strange connection to it. Here it lay, scattered and stepped on, yet it clung to life.
He thought back to his conversation with the spirit of his dead friend, Zoisite. He'd claimed that Mamoru had powers, that as the reborn prince of Earth, all he had to do was ask nature for help. Here was a piece of nature; would it serve him if he asked?
A loud gasp shook him from his reverie. He gazed into the cabin's living room and saw Rei's ofuda fall from the droid's face. It screeched, free at last, then advanced on Rei, who tried to shield an unconscious Minako with her body.
Then Artemis attacked. He landed on the droid's back and hissed. The droid shrieked and reached back to remove the attacker. Its arms flailed around in vain; he couldn't reach Artemis.
Tuxedo Mask looked back at the rose. It was now or never.
I need your help. My friends are in danger. Please help me.
The rose gave no sign it understood. Still, Tuxedo Mask was out of time. He stood and threw the rose at the droid with all his might.
Time seemed to slow, and Tuxedo Mask held his breath. Everything depended on him. The rose hit the droid, then fell to the ground harmlessly. The droid stopped flailing and turned to look at Tuxedo Mask. Hanging from the droid's back, Artemis did the same.
"That was your grand plan?" he asked. "Did you just throw a rose at it? What was that going to do?"
The droid screeched again, then started moving toward Tuxedo Mask.
Oh, no.
In desperation, he picked up another rose and focused on it.
I am the prince of Earth! You will obey me! Harden!
He threw the rose, and time seemed to slow once more. The rose flew toward the droid, stem first, but the droid just kept coming, unconcerned. Then the rose hit it in the chest.
The stem penetrated the droid's chest; its thorns dug into its metal skin. Then it exited, unharmed, out of its back. It flew across the room until it hit a wall and got stuck there.
The droid staggered back, then looked down at the hole in its chest in apparent confusion.
"What?!" Artemis bellowed.
Tuxedo Mask grinned. It wasn't much, but it might be enough. Emboldened, he picked up three more roses and threw them in quick succession. Each knocked another hole through the droid's chest and drove it further back.
Artemis leapt off the droid and ran to Tuxedo Mask's side. The cat had a begrudging respect etched on his face.
"So, what happens when you run out of roses?"
Tuxedo Mask's grin fell. He hadn't considered that.
"Crescent Moon Beam!"
A bright beam of light cut through the cabin and struck the droid. It collapsed. Behind it stood Rei, Sailor V's Crescent Moon Cutter in her hands. Her expression was grim.
"I guess it's done recharging," she said, then pointed the Cutter toward the door. "You two need to go. Save Usagi. I'll take care of Minako."
Tuxedo Mask nodded.
"Thanks."
He leaned down and scooped up Artemis, then placed him on his shoulder.
"Let's go, furball."
Artemis sighed.
"Won't I ever be free of you?"
Makoto and Petz collided in a flurry of punches and kicks; the sounds of their fight disrupted the ambience of the surrounding forest. Petz fired black lightning at Makoto, but Makoto closed the distance between them, giving her no room to breathe, much less direct her powers.
The lightning grazed Makoto's shoulder and struck a nearby tree. She screamed in pain, then bit her tongue and pressed her attack.
Makoto tried to suppress the fire burning in the pit of her stomach, to let herself get lost in the hypnotic rhythm of the fight. She couldn't. Again and again, her mind returned to her last fight with a member of the Black Moon, when Rubeus had almost killed her.
I can't lose focus! I have to protect Usagi!
Petz took an uppercut to the jaw and stumbled backward. Again, she brought up her hand and tried to fire a bolt of black lightning. Makoto charged at her, knocked her hand away with her forearm and landed a punch in her gut. The dark energy discharged into the air and struck the crown of a tree. Several branches fell to the forest floor around them.
Petz went down on one knee, but only for a moment. She catapulted back upward at Makoto, both fists stretched out in front of her. There was no time to react; she struck Makoto in the face and sent her stumbling backward. Makoto fell and landed hard on her back.
Petz stood over her and grinned.
"You don't remember this, Jupiter, but once, a long time ago, somebody judged me inferior to you," she said. "I wonder what she would think now?"
She raised her hands, black energy crackling around them once more, and dazed, Makoto braced for the worst.
Then a cloud of dirt flew past Makoto's head and struck Petz in the eyes, blinding her for a moment. Makoto turned and saw Usagi stand next to her in a fighting stance.
Usagi charged forward and shoved Petz to the ground with a shoulder check. It was a maneuver Makoto had used against Usagi in their sparring match just yesterday.
Petz hit the ground hard, but Usagi wasted no time on her opponent. She turned and offered her hand to Makoto. With great reluctance, Makoto took it and let Usagi pull her to her feet.
"You shouldn't get involved, Usagi," Makoto said. "Petz wants you dead."
Still unable to speak, Usagi shrugged. She turned back toward Petz and took on a fighting stance once more. Makoto sighed.
"Together then."
Petz rose to her feet and wiped the dirt from her eyes.
"There's the Serenity I remember," she said with a snarl. "Any dirty trick to get what you want."
Then she unleashed a volley of black lightning at Usagi. Makoto had to trust that she could take care of herself and charged toward Petz. Usagi launched into a back handspring and dodged the attack. Before Petz could redirect her attack, Makoto punched her in the face.
The two began trading punches and kicks once more. Then Usagi joined in. Within seconds, their combined assault was gaining the upper hand over Petz, who was now on the defensive.
Usagi landed a powerful kick on Petz's midsection just as Makoto landed another uppercut on her jaw. Petz howled in both pain and frustration as she crumbled to the forest floor.
Makoto took a moment to catch her breath. A grin spread across her lips as she glanced at Usagi. Her friend had come a long way; even without powers, she had turned the tide in this battle.
She opened her mouth to say as much when, without warning, Petz's body erupted in pure dark energy. Black lightning exploded forth from her along with a primal scream that knocked both Usagi and Makoto violently to the ground.
Makoto tried to stand, but the world was spinning. She fell back, unable to maintain her balance. Through blurred vision, she saw Petz approach Usagi. Black energy enveloped her entire body like a cocoon.
"You think I would let you stop me?! You took everything from me! Never again! Today, I will finally end you, Serenity!"
Warm tears streamed down Makoto's face as she realized there was nothing she could do. There was no time; she had failed.
Then a small voice called out.
"Get away from my mama!"
Petz, Makoto and Usagi all turned. As if through a haze, Makoto saw Chibiusa standing there. In her hand, she held a gun. She was aiming it at Petz. Her finger hovered over the trigger.
"Step away right now, or I will shoot!"
Rei stood in the wreckage of Makoto's cabin and stared down at the droid's remains. The blast from the Crescent Moon Cutter had shattered the machine into several large parts. There lay the head, separated from the arms and legs. The torso lay split in half nearby.
Her hand tightened around the Cutter. It wasn't the first time she had clung to one of Mina's weapons. She took a strange comfort from it.
Rei turned her back on the broken droid.
Good riddance.
She knelt down next to Minako, who remained unconscious, and examined her. She had some burn marks on her arms and legs from Petz's energy attack, but otherwise seemed unharmed. Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. Rei breathed a sigh of relief.
It was surreal to see Mina dressed as Sailor V again. One glance at her, and Rei was 14 years old again and trying to unravel the mystery of Minako Aino. All these years later, it felt like she was still trying.
She reached out and touched Minako's shoulder. There was an undeniable spark between them; touching her felt electric. Rei felt heat rise on her face.
"Mina, you need to wake up."
For a moment, Rei thought she heard a faint scratching noise behind her. She turned and glanced around the living room. Nothing. She shook her head. Her imagination was getting the best of her.
She shook Minako as gently as she could.
"Minako, wake up. We need to go help Usagi and the others."
Again, she heard a sound behind her, louder this time. Rei stood and looked around. She saw nobody, but her spiritual senses were on high alert. She was missing something.
The first thing she noticed was the smell. It was faint, but pungent. The scent was fresh; she hadn't noticed it before. It reminded her of rotten eggs. Then it clicked into place.
Propane?
She looked at where the shattered droid lay. There was the head, the split torso, the legs.
Wait…where are the arms?
Without warning, something gripped her ankle like a vise. She looked down and saw one of the droid's arms, its hand wrapped around her ankle. Small tendrils had grown out of the other side of the arm and anchored it to the floor. She tried to move her leg, but she was stuck.
Petz's last command to the droid rang in her ears.
Kill everybody in this cabin, then burn it to the ground.
At last, Rei understood. The other arm was in the kitchen, flooding the cabin with propane from the stove. Mina was unconscious and Rei was stuck. One spark and they would die in a horrible fire.
Panic set it. She turned her attention back to Minako.
"Mina! Wake up! Mina!"
No matter how much she yelled and pleaded, Minako remained still. Rei reached down and yanked at her leg as hard as she could. She tried to pry the droid's hand open. Nothing worked.
Then they were out of time. Rei heard a loud click from the kitchen as the droid's arm turned on a stove burner. The spark ignited the gas that had spread throughout the cabin. From one moment to the next, the air turned into a burning inferno.
Rei crouched down low as the air above her lit up. Within seconds, the cabin was ablaze. Thick smoke filled the air. The irony was not lost on Rei. The Guardian of Mars, master of the flame, would die in a fire, unable to save Minako.
She looked across the room toward Minako, hoping to catch one last glimpse of her radiant face, but the smoke was too thick.
Tears filled Rei's eyes. She had so many regrets, especially with Minako. She wished with all her heart that it didn't have to end this way.
"La Smoking Bomber!"
A burst of wind swept through the cabin and extinguished most of the flames. The droid's hand loosened its grip on Rei's ankle. Her eyes widened. With a quick tug, she broke free.
She searched for the source of the voice that had shouted such a strange attack phrase. There, standing in the kitchen's doorway, was the silhouette of a man. The smoke in the cabin was too thick; Rei couldn't make out his face.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
He pointed a slender, elegant hand at Minako.
"Get her out of here," he said. "Protect her."
Then he turned away and disappeared.
Rei didn't hesitate. She ran to Minako, lifted her upper body, and dragged her across the living room. With great effort, she pushed open the front door of the burning cabin and dragged Minako out into the clearing.
When she felt she had put enough distance between them and the cabin, she laid down Minako gently on the ground, then sat down next to her. She coughed, sucked in a deep breath of fresh air, then coughed some more.
Rei knew that this wasn't over yet. Petz was on the loose. Who knew what had happened to Ami or the other droid? Still, she allowed herself a moment to clear her lungs, to breathe in the clear forest air, and watch Makoto's childhood cabin burn.
Makoto will be furious.
Next to her, Minako stirred, then coughed. Rei felt her heartbeat pick up its pace.
"Mina?"
Minako's eyes fluttered for a moment, then opened. She sat up slowly and looked around.
"Rei? What happened?"
Rei had no words. A warmth radiated throughout her body just from seeing Minako alive and well. She threw her hands around her neck and locked her into a fierce embrace.
She could feel Minako stiffen for a moment, no doubt thinking about their argument, about the harsh words Rei had thrown in her face the last time they spoke. Then her posture softened, and she wrapped her arms around Rei in return.
They sat there for a long time, silent, their embrace saying more than words ever could.
Tuxedo Mask ran through the forest, his cape fluttering behind him. His breath came in ragged bursts. Artemis clung to his shoulder, his eyes wide in an expression that would have been comical under normal circumstances.
Tuxedo Mask was terrified. Makoto had swept Usagi out of the cabin to protect her from Petz, but right now, neither could transform. If Petz found them without their powers…he didn't even want to consider what might happen.
Out of nowhere, a figure appeared in front of him. Startled, Tuxedo Mask tried to swerve to the right, but it was too late. He collided with the figure and they tumbled to the ground, a tangle of limbs and curses.
"Motoki? What in the world are you doing?" His eyes narrowed. "Where's Chibiusa?"
They untangled from each other and sat among the leaves and branches. Motoki rubbed his sore shoulder.
"She's hiding in that luxury car outside of the cabin," he said. "I'm looking for Makoto, but I think I'm lost."
Tuxedo Mask shook his head. Impossibly, Artemis had managed to hang on to his shoulder during their minor collision. He muttered under his breath, his eyes even bigger than before.
"What are you planning to do when you find her?" Tuxedo Mask asked.
Motoki's face became serious, more serious than Mamoru had ever seen his affable friend.
"Whatever it takes to protect her."
Tuxedo Mask nodded. He stood, then extended his hand to Motoki.
"Alright, then. Let's go."
Motoki smiled and took his hand. Together, they ran through the forest in search of the women they loved.
They crested a hill and came to a clearing with a large stream. Tuxedo Mask had prepared for many nightmare scenarios, but what he saw was beyond any of his expectations.
Makoto and Usagi lay on the ground, defeated. Petz stood over Usagi, the threat of black lightning dancing around her entire body. It was Chibiusa, however, that put the scene before him over the top. She was aiming a gun at Petz.
Next to Tuxedo Mask, Motoki's jaw dropped in disbelief.
"Who gave the nine-year-old a nine millimeter?"
Tuxedo Mask bit his tongue. It wasn't a nine millimeter. It was a Nambu Model 60, a standard-issue revolver for police officers. He'd taken one from the security guard during the fake jewelry heist with Minako and stashed it in her red duffle bag.
His eyes widened. He left the duffle bag in the back of the car where Motoki had stashed Chibiusa. This was his fault.
"Chibiusa!" he called out. "Put the gun down!"
Chibiusa ignored him. Her eyes never left Petz.
"I told you to back away from my mama," she said. "Last chance."
Petz gave her a small, wicked smile.
"You're cute, kid, but I don't think some nine-year-old will shoot me," she said.
Chibiusa's face hardened, and Tuxedo Mask held his breath. He knew that expression; he'd seen it in the mirror more than once.
"Actually, I'm eight," Chibiusa said.
Then she pulled the trigger.
The bullet whistled past Petz's head, and her eyes widened. Chibiusa frowned and pulled the trigger again. This time, Petz was ready. Black energy intercepted the bullet and melted it mid-air. Molten metal dripped to the forest floor.
Before Chibiusa could fire again, Petz directed her black lightning at the girl. The impact lifted her off her feet and catapulted her through the air. Tuxedo Mask sprung into action. With lightning-fast reflexes, he plucked Chibiusa out of the air and held her safely in his arms.
Dazed, she looked up at him with tears in her eyes.
"I tried, daddy."
He hugged her to his chest.
"Never do anything like that ever again, Chibiusa," he said, his voice trembling.
He placed Chibiusa gently on the ground, then looked toward Petz just in time to see Makoto tackle her. Despite the black lightning, she wrapped her arms around Petz from behind and restrained her. Her face turned into a mask of pain, but she refused to let go.
"Stay away from them, Petz!"
Petz giggled.
"You again? You're just a nuisance now, Jupiter. Be gone."
She reached behind her and tossed Makoto over her shoulder with all her might. Makoto sailed through the air and vanished deeper into the forest.
"Makoto!" Motoki shouted and ran toward where she had disappeared.
Petz turned her attention back to Usagi, who struggled to sit up on her knees.
"At last, Serenity, it's just you and me," she said.
Tuxedo Mask reached into his inside pocket and pulled out a blue rose. He threw it toward Petz as hard as he could. It strafed across her face, leaving a wide cut on her cheek, before getting stuck in a nearby tree.
Her eyes gleamed like embers as they locked on to Tuxedo Mask.
"You!"
He pushed Chibiusa behind him and raised his cane at Petz. Artemis, still perched on his shoulder, leapt down to the forest floor and took a defensive posture in front of Chibiusa.
Tuxedo Mask couldn't shake the feeling this would not end well for him. Still, was there any choice? The love of his life was about to die.
"Stay away from my wife," he said. "Face me."
Makoto groaned as she found herself once more facedown in the dirt. Leaves and small twigs were stuck in her hair; dirt covered her cheeks. Above her in the forest canopy, a bird chirped a happy tune; to Makoto, it sounded like mocking laughter. Her body cried out for relief, for rest, but as long as Usagi was in danger, there would be neither.
As she pushed up from the ground, two warm hands wrapped around her shoulders to steady her. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Motoki, his eyebrows raised, his eyes wide.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
She shook her head and stood.
"Doesn't matter. I have to help Usagi."
She turned to walk away, to return to the fight, when Motoki's hand landed on her shoulder once more.
"Stop."
She hesitated. Motoki was a gentle soul. More often than not, he let every opportunity to be assertive pass by. She turned to face him.
"What?"
Motoki's eyes narrowed.
"You're no good in a fight right now," he said. "She doesn't need Makoto. She needs Sailor Jupiter. It's time to transform."
She clenched her fists, the heat in her stomach rising once more.
"You think I don't know that? I can't transform!"
He took a step toward her, got into her personal space. Under normal circumstances, having him so close, breathing in his scent, would be soothing.
"Why not? What's holding you back?" When she didn't answer, he pushed harder. "You need to figure this out right here, right now, or we all could die, Makoto."
She turned her back on him and stalked away, her feet stomping through the leaves.
"I have no time for a therapy session with you!"
She didn't make it far.
"I heard what you said to Rei," Motoki said. "About your duty to Usagi. About how you would choose her over me."
Makoto froze. Her heart pounded in her chest. She'd almost forgotten about that conversation in her flower shop. She couldn't face her fiancé, couldn't even move.
"You heard that?" she asked, her voice cracking.
She could hear Motoki's footsteps rustle the leaves as he walked toward her. He laid both hands on her shoulders.
"It's okay," he said. "I understand. Your past lives bind the five of you together. I'm not mad or jealous. I'm just glad I get to be a part of your life."
She whirled around to face him. She swallowed hard, then wiped the tears away that had run down her cheeks.
"I saw the future," she said. "It…scared me."
He tilted his head and raised his eyebrows.
"Do we get a divorce?"
She shook her head.
"Do you die? Do I die?"
She opened her mouth to speak, but he held up a hand to stop her.
"You know what? I don't want to know." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Whatever happens, I need you to understand something, Makoto. I will always be grateful that you chose me. My life felt…empty before we met. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me. That will never change."
Everybody underestimated Motoki Furuhata. He was incredible. She wrapped her arms around him. They embraced for just a moment, but it nourished her soul all the same.
When they separated, Makoto wiped the last tears from her eyes.
"I don't know how to beat her," she said. "I try to push aside my anger, but it just won't die."
Motoki frowned.
"You have every right to be angry, Makoto," he said. "Stop trying to get rid of your anger. Use it. Unleash it. Just don't let it control you."
She stared at him. Then a smile blossomed on Makoto's face. She leaned toward him, and they kissed. She felt a warmth spread inside her chest, so different from the angry heat in the pit of her stomach.
She broke away from Motoki and grinned.
"I love you," she said.
He returned her grin.
"That's what makes me the luckiest guy on Earth."
She punched her open palm with her fist and felt tiny sparks of electricity between her hands. Something had awakened inside of her.
She turned away and ran back toward the fight, toward Petz. It was time to settle a score. Behind her, she could hear Motoki mumble under his breath.
"Sailor Jupiter to the rescue."
Usagi heard the clash between Tuxedo Mask and Petz. She heard the crackle of the lightning discharges as Petz unleashed her powers, heard Tuxedo Mask's ragged breaths and grunts of exertion as he struggled to dodge, to fight back. Usagi even felt the heat, the static, of Petz's attacks in the air. She just couldn't see the fight; her vision remained blurred.
Mamoru.
She tried to bring her blurred vision into focus, but Petz's last attack had hit her hard. Usagi's body felt like a giant bruise. She heard her husband yelp in pain, a sound so unlike him, it caused her blood to run cold.
Mamoru!
On instinct, Usagi closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She accepted the pain; it was a part of her. Her breathing steadied. She focused on her breaths and let the outside world fall away. Then, with great caution, she reached out to the presence she had felt hiding deep inside of her subconscious earlier that day.
Serenity, if that's you, lend me your strength!
Nothing happened. Usagi fought the panic that threatened to disrupt her concentration.
She'll kill him! She'll kill Endymion!
As if someone had flipped a switch, her eyes flew open, and her vision cleared. New strength flooded into her muscles. Her body felt refreshed and ready to continue the fight. She rose from the ground. Her eyes narrowed.
Standing across the forest clearing was Petz, hovering over a felled Tuxedo Mask. His cane lay out of reach, and several blue roses lay scattered on the surrounding ground. He had wrapped one arm around his abdomen; his face was a grimace of pain.
She picked up a rock and threw it hard at Petz. It hit her square between the shoulder blades. Petz turned and her eyes, so filled with rage and hate and pain, locked onto Usagi.
"At last!"
She swirled her right hand through the air, tracing small circles of crackling energy in its wake. The circles of energy coalesced and solidified into a long, pointed bolt of lightning. Petz wrapped her hand around the bolt and smiled.
"Die, Serenity."
She hurled the lightning bolt at Usagi with all of her might. Usagi bent her knees and prepared to dodge the incoming attack.
"Mama!"
Chibiusa's cry of panic drew her attention. Usagi glanced to the side and saw her cowering behind a nearby tree, eyes wide, tears streaming down her face. Artemis crouched beside her, his fur standing on end. The distraction lasted just a split second, but that was already too long.
As if in slow motion, Usagi turned her head back toward the incoming lightning bolt and realized her time to dodge the attack had passed. It was over. She closed her eyes.
Time normalized, and Usagi felt herself thrown to the ground. A heavy weight landed on top of her and forced the air from her lungs. She opened her eyes and gasped. To her shock, Berthier lay across her chest.
She rolled the young woman off of her and onto the forest floor. Had her voice worked at that moment, Usagi would have screamed. The bolt of lightning, still crackling with black energy, stuck out of Berthier's chest. She had dived in front of it and saved Usagi's life.
Usagi lifted Berthier's head and cradled it in her lap. Berthier's eyes flew open. A violent cough shook her body.
"You're wondering why…" she said with great effort.
Usagi nodded, tears streaming down her face.
Berthier smiled.
"I don't want to live like this anymore," she said. "And because…because Mercury…Ami…she can't live without you."
Across the clearing, Petz screamed in anguish.
"What did you do?! What did you do?!"
Usagi looked up at Petz, eyes wide. She shook her head, wishing with every fiber of her being that she could speak, that she could tell Petz that it was her hate that had caused this.
"You'll die for that, Serenity!" Petz shouted. "You'll pay for taking my sister from me!"
She raised her hand, ready to discharge another electric attack, when a blue rose flew into view. The stem penetrated her palm; the rose got stuck there like a dagger. Petz yelped in pain.
Tuxedo Mask stood across the clearing, still cradling his abdomen with one arm.
"I told you to stay away from my wife, Petz."
Then another voice called out.
"Stay back!"
Makoto strode into the clearing. She punched her open palm and sparks flew. Her eyes locked onto Petz.
"She's mine."
Then.
Chikara Ikuhara stood in the center of the boxing ring and savored the moment. He had missed this. It felt good to lace up his gloves, to face an opponent again.
If only my opponent wasn't a 12-year-old.
It was another busy day at his gym. The sound of punches striking heavy bags echoed; the smell of sweat hung heavy in the air. Several of the boxers stole glances at the ring, curious why Ikuhara was facing off against a child.
Ikuhara ignored them. He looked across the ring at Makoto and shook his head. She had tied her hair back in a ponytail, just as he had instructed, and put on a white tank top and green boxing shorts. Her boxing gloves, however, were pink.
Ikuhara snorted. Makoto raised her eyebrows in response.
"What?"
He pointed at her get-up.
"That's quite a color combo you picked there."
She shrugged.
"I like it," she said. "Feels right."
He returned her shrug.
"Alright, then." He popped his neck, bending his head first to one side, then the other, then rotated his shoulders. "The first thing you need to do is to stand the right way."
He modeled the traditional boxer's stance for her: feet shoulder-width apart, lead foot forward, knees bent, torso forward from the waist. Next, he showed her how to hold her hands; lead hand at eye level, ready to jab or defend, rear hand close to the chin to protect the jaw, elbows tucked in to protect the ribs.
Makoto was a natural. She took to the ring the way a fish takes to water.
Next, Ikuhara showed her how to throw some basic punches: the jab, the cross, the hook, and the uppercut. He saw a small smile on her face as she took to his lessons. A smile from Makoto was rare. It made what had to come next that much more difficult.
"Alright, Mako, come at me," he said.
Her eyes widened. Ikuhara extended his gloved hand and waved it in a 'come get me' gesture.
"I'm not joking," he said. "Show me how you would fight those girls."
Makoto hesitated for a moment, then went on the attack. He watched her closely and brought his own gloved hands up to defend himself. She threw her punches hard, but without finesse. Worse, her eyes looked glazed over. Anger and rage had taken hold.
It was as Ikuhara had suspected. Life had handed the girl a raw deal. Her parents died. She escaped from the orphanage. Fell in with the wrong crowd. Her friends abandoned her. She was all alone.
Now she walked through life filled with rage. Given even the smallest opportunity, it burst forth. It was a sad existence for one so young.
He deflected her wild punches, then reached out and shoved her hard to the canvas. She looked up at him with flared nostrils.
"Well, what are you going to do about it?" he asked.
She jumped back up and unleashed another volley of punches on him. He'd never admit it to her, but with proper training, she could beat him. Her footwork was remarkable, considering she had just learned how to stand in the ring. She was a born fighter.
He knocked her gloves out of the way and shoved her. She hit the canvas hard, then lay there and looked up at him. Tears collected in the corners of her eyes. These were not tears of sadness or fear; they were tears of impotent rage.
"Are you crying?" he asked. "There's no crying in boxing, little girl!"
She stood up and raised her gloves once more. Then she hesitated.
"Why can't I land a punch on you, old man?"
There it is. Asking questions at last.
His eyes narrowed.
"You're running on raw anger. It's clouding your judgement. You need to get it out of your head. Push it down into your stomach. Watch me. Pick your moment, then strike."
She nodded, then took a deep breath.
"Okay."
They danced around each other, and for the first time, Makoto didn't charge toward him. She pivoted and took measure of him. He threw a jab, and she blocked it.
"Good."
He threw another, and she pivoted back; his fist connected only with empty air.
"Very good."
He took a step toward her and opened himself up, testing if she'd see her chance. She did.
Makoto swung her fist…
…and it connected with Petz's face with a loud crack. White sparks flew from Makoto's hands. Anger flowed through her veins, but it didn't control her. She was in control at last.
Petz stumbled backward, then reached for the rose stuck in her hand and pulled it out with a quick yank. Her face contorted into a grimace.
"This has got to be the most ridiculous day of my life," she said, panting.
Makoto nodded.
"Tell me about it."
Petz discharged a volley of black lightning at her. Makoto took measure of the lightning, then reached out and smacked it aside with her bare hand. Clean, white sparks flew from her hands once more. Petz's eyes widened.
"Impossible!"
Makoto smiled.
"You've seen nothing yet." She waved her hand at Petz in a come get me gesture. "Let's end this."
Petz charged forward. Makoto felt the anger in the pit of her stomach, but that wasn't all. There was love for Motoki, and gratitude. He accepted her loyalty to Usagi, her anger, her imperfection; he accepted her , not as she should be, but as she was. Motoki was her light, and even though she feared losing him, he was here now , and that was enough.
Makoto ducked under Petz's strike and landed a hard uppercut. When her fist connected with Petz's jaw, a bright green light erupted around Makoto. A comforting warmth enveloped her. Petz crumbled to the ground and groaned.
Makoto watched as the glow spread to surround her entire body. As it reached her hands, the light hardened around her engagement ring; the stone in it turned green. She smiled.
It's about time.
She raised her ringed hand into the air, and a sense of triumph flooded her body.
"Jupiter Light Power! Make up!"
The heavens above rumbled once, twice, three times, each successive thunderclap louder than the last. Then lightning poured out of the clear skies and enveloped her in pure electricity. It transformed her, dancing across her body, each spark revealing her true self. When the blinding light faded, she was Sailor Jupiter once more.
Her uniform was different, much like Sailor Moon and Sailor Mercury. The color green now dominated her suit, and white stockings covered her legs. The differences didn't matter to her; she was back at last.
Petz rose to her feet.
"You think this makes a difference?" she asked, her voice a panicked shout. "You'll never beat me!"
Sailor Jupiter dropped to one knee.
"I already have."
She punched the ground hard.
"Lightning Flash!"
A bolt of lightning came crashing out of the sky and struck the ground in front of Petz. She leapt back, her eyes wide.
Sailor Jupiter stretched her hands out in front of her and clapped them together as hard as she could.
"Thunder Strike!"
The sound of her hands echoed through the forest like thunder. A shockwave emanated from them and threw Petz across the forest. Her body struck a tree, then sunk to the ground.
Fueled by her own rage, Petz rose back to her feet once more. Sailor Jupiter shook her head. There stood her own dark reflection, everything she could have become if she let anger rule her life. She thanked her lucky star that she had people whose love prevented her from letting it consume her.
She snapped with both of her hands, creating a spark of lightning that crackled around her fingers. With a grand gesture, she swept her hands through the air, tracing a large oval shape in front of her. The lightning hovered there like paint on a canvas.
Then she splayed her fingers and swiped them across the oval; one hand horizontally, the other vertically. The pattern that emerged looked a lot like a turtle shell.
Finally, Makoto took on a fighting stance and struck the shaped lightning with her open palm.
"Turtle Shell Shock!"
The net of energy raced toward Petz at incredible speed. Her eyes widened; there was no escape. Pure lightning enveloped her body. Petz screamed in agony. When the lightning dissipated, she fell to the ground, unconscious. Small wafts of smoke rose from her singed hair.
It was over. Sailor Jupiter allowed herself a small smile.
Then she turned her attention to Usagi, who cradled a dying Berthier in her lap. Usagi spilled bitter tears over her fallen enemy. Her compassion knew no limits.
To her surprise, Makoto found herself filled with regret that this was how Berthier's story would end.
She tried to kill me…but she also saved Usagi in the end.
Suddenly, Sailor Mercury's voice rang out as she charged through a line of trees toward them.
"Sailor Jupiter! Usagi!"
Then her eyes landed on her friend from a previous life and, in a trembling voice, she added one last name.
"Berthier?"
Sailor Mercury fell to her knees next to Usagi and felt the warm, leaf-covered ground beneath her. Berthier was resting, her head cradled in Usagi's lap. Her breathing came in labored bursts, her eyes were closed. There was a jagged, lightning bolt-shaped blade sticking out of her chest.
Usagi looked at Sailor Mercury, tears streaming down her face, her eyes wide. Sailor Mercury let her training take control. She raised her hand to her temple, and her visor appeared. She scanned Berthier. Information about her physical condition streamed across the inside of the visor.
Sailor Mercury's shoulders sank. There was nothing she could do; the damage was too extensive.
Without warning, Berthier's eyes flew open.
"Mercury?"
Sailor Mercury leaned over Berthier's face and smiled.
"I'm here."
Berthier coughed, then returned her smile.
"I saved her," she said. "I saved her for you."
Sailor Mercury felt tears sting the corners of her eyes.
"I know. Thank you."
Berthier coughed again. She was so pale, her skin almost seemed to blend in with her white hair. Her eyes wandered to Usagi.
"You know, you really have changed," she said. "If you'd been like this in your old life, who knows?"
She chuckled.
"I didn't make the cut to become Sailor Mercury ages ago…but in the end, I was your guardian, after all…"
Her hand reached out and wrapped around Sailor Mercury's hand.
"Mercury…Ami…my sisters are not evil. They're in pain. Please…save them…"
Sailor Mercury nodded. She didn't know what else to do.
"I'll do my best."
Berthier's eyes fell shut. Ami's chest tightened; the tears now flowed freely down her face. She tried to catch her breath, but sobbed instead. There was so much she couldn't remember about their friendship, but of one thing she was certain: Berthier deserved better than to die in the dirt.
Sudden desperation seized her heart. She looked at Usagi.
"Please…I need your help," she said between sobs. "She deserves…"
Usagi wiped the tears from her own face and nodded. She placed Berthier's head gently onto the forest floor, then stood. She closed her eyes for a moment. Her lips twitched as if she were trying to speak. Then she raised her ringed finger into the air, opened her eyes and choked out the words that could be Berthier's salvation.
"Moon…Light…Power…Make…up…"
Ribbons of pure energy wrapped around her like a cocoon. Within seconds, she stood transformed into Sailor Moon. She adjusted her sleek white mask, then brought her hand to her chest and summoned her Harp Sword.
Usagi twirled it once around her hand, and the sword transformed into its harp form. She shot Ami a look filled with doubt, but nodded once more. Her fingers danced over the strings. The melody was as sad as Ami's heart.
"Moon Healing Escalation!" she called out, her voice mended thanks to her transformation.
A bright light surrounded Berthier. The frozen bolt of lighting jittered for a moment, then shattered. Black energy oozed from Berthier's body and drifted up toward the sky like smoke. To Sailor Mercury, it looked as if Sailor Moon's light was drawing out a poison.
Sailor Moon continued to play the harp, but after a moment, the black smoke slowed down to a trickle. Sweat beaded her forehead.
"It's not enough," she shouted. "I can't hold it."
Sailor Mercury stood. She had no choice. She raised her hands and aimed them at Berthier's lifeless form.
"Mercury Healing Waters!"
Clean fresh water erupted from her hands and doused Berthier's glowing form. The black smoke oozed from her body once more and drifted up toward the forest canopy.
Sailor Moon and Sailor Mercury locked eyes. Sailor Mercury didn't know if this would work or what the consequences would be for them.
All they could do was hold on tight and face whatever happened next together.
Chibiusa and Artemis stepped out from behind the tree they'd used to stay out of sight. She glanced down at the plush cat, unsure, but he gave her a nod. The coast was clear. Together, they walked across the clearing and stood next to Tuxedo Mask, Motoki, and Sailor Jupiter. They had gathered to watch the display of power as Sailor Moon and Sailor Mercury attempted to save Berthier.
Petz lay motionless nearby. Chibiusa shot her a glance, worried she might jump up and attack. She shuddered at the thought. As if reading her mind, Sailor Jupiter placed a hand on her shoulder.
"She can't hurt you, Chibiusa," she said. "I won't let her."
Chibiusa nodded. Another Guardian had reawakened her powers. Sailor Jupiter was back. Her mission in the past was a success.
Then a sound of rustling leaves nearby drew her attention. Chibiusa's breath caught in her throat. Instead of a droid or another servant of the Black Moon however, Rei and Sailor V emerged from the woods. Rei was supporting Sailor V, who moved gingerly.
Rei spotted Sailor Mercury and Sailor Moon, and her eyes widened.
"What are they doing?" she asked.
Tuxedo Mask nodded at Sailor V, an unspoken question in the gesture. Sailor V nodded back, as if telling him she was alright.
Chibiusa frowned. In the future, her father and Aunt Mina had little to do with each other. Here, now, they seemed on the cusp of a new friendship. Things were changing. Not for the first time, she wondered if her presence in the past wasn't too disruptive. What kind of future would she return to someday?
"Berthier saved Usagi from Petz's attack," Tuxedo Mask said. "She's dying. They're trying to save her."
The color drained from Rei's face.
"No!" she said, her voice cracking. "Ami told me that her body has to take on at least some of the other person's injury and pain when she uses the healing waters. It could kill her!"
Sailor Jupiter gasped. Ami had used that power to save her life.
"We have to stop her!" she said.
Chibiusa felt tears gather in her eyes and her vision blurred. In the future, Ami was dead. Chibiusa never had the chance to know her until she travelled to the past. Now, she didn't want to lose her.
Is this how Ami dies? Trying to save somebody's life?
She wished with all of her heart that she could help. The thought filled her mind, consumed her thoughts, until there was no room for anything else.
I need to do something!
A strange warmth spread across her chest. It started faint but grew stronger quickly. Then, without warning, a glowing light erupted around her.
Chibiusa didn't understand. She wasn't a Sailor Guardian. Where was this light coming from? She reached inside her nightgown and pulled out the key her mother had given her in the future, the key that had opened the portal to the past. Ever since arriving in the past, she had worn it on a chain around her neck, kept it hidden and safe. Now, it radiated an intense green and purple light.
Tuxedo Mask dropped to one knee beside her.
"Chibiusa, what is happening?"
Chibiusa heard his voice as if from far away. Another voice, ancient and powerful, drowned out her future father. The key seemed to speak to her, to beckon her.
Invoke her name. Pray for aid.
Another piece of the puzzle fell into place. The day her mother had sent her to the past, she had mumbled something under her breath. Chibiusa thought she had said something like "major sumo", but that made no sense. Now, the key told her the truth, told her who could help.
As if in a trance, she stepped toward Sailor Moon and Sailor Mercury. She stood between them, then raised the key into the air.
"Sailor Pluto, hear my prayer!"
The key erupted in blinding light. The radiant colors mixed with the energy from Moon Healing Escalation and Mercury Healing Waters.
Sailor Mercury glanced at Chibiusa, sweat coating her forehead.
"What is happening?!"
Sailor Moon strummed her harp and gritted her teeth.
"Just don't stop, Mercury!"
The light flashed like a silent explosion. Chibiusa tried to shield her eyes. The searing light was overpowering; it felt like a physical blow.
Then the light faded. Sailor Moon and Sailor Mercury fell to their knees, their powers exhausted at last. The others rushed forward to tend to their friends. Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Jupiter checked on Sailor Moon, while Sailor V and Rei checked on Sailor Mercury.
Chibiusa stood between them and stared at Berthier.
"You guys," she said. "Look."
Sailor Mercury pushed herself to her feet and walked over to Berthier. She leaned over her former friend and gasped.
The others gathered around Berthier, too stunned to speak.
Berthier lay before them, unconscious but alive. Her wounds had healed, but more than that, she had transformed. Her clothing had changed. She now wore a black skirt with dark brown leggings and a yellow sweater. A small black purse lay next to her on the ground. The black moon on her forehead had vanished.
"What…what does it mean?" Sailor Mercury asked.
Sailor Moon shook her head.
"I have no idea."
Chibiusa looked at the key in her hand, eyes wide. What had she just done? Who was Sailor Pluto?
Berthier groaned and opened her eyes. She looked up at the gathered group staring down at her, and her eyes widened. Then she spotted Sailor Mercury.
"Ami? What happened?"
In the future, Sailor Moon stood in the center of her shattered apartment and continued to shield Earth against a powerful onslaught. Pure energy poured out of her body and toward the heavens. Mamoru remained unconscious on the floor nearby.
Chibiusa had altered the timeline and reawakened her powers as Sailor Moon. Since then, she felt invigorated, but the attack on Earth was pushing her powers to their limits. She feared she might not hold much longer.
She heard a sound near the shattered door of her apartment, but she didn't dare turn around and disrupt her concentration.
"Is somebody there?"
The voice that answered warmed her heart.
"Usagi?"
Makoto!
"I'm in the living room, Mako!"
After a moment, Makoto stood in front of her.
"I should have known you'd be the one creating this energy barrier," she said. "How did you get your powers back?"
Sailor Moon smiled.
"It's a long story."
Makoto glanced at Mamoru, her eyes wide.
"Is Mamoru…?"
Sailor Moon shook her head.
"I've been using my powers to keep him alive, but I'm running out of steam." She raised her eyebrows. "What's it like out there?"
Makoto shuddered.
"Not good. There are robots running wild in the city, destroying everything in their sight. The electricity is out. People are dying." She hesitated. "They…they got Motoki."
Sailor Moon felt a fresh pain pierce her chest.
"Oh, Makoto. I'm so sorry."
Before she could say another word, the surrounding air began to shimmer. Sailor Moon realized that the timeline was correcting itself once more. Something had changed in the past.
Before her, Makoto's clothes seemed to distort. Then lightning crackled around her and she was no longer Makoto. She was Sailor Jupiter.
"My powers are back? How?"
Sailor Moon smiled.
"I'll explain everything, Sailor Jupiter, but right now, I could use your help."
Sailor Jupiter nodded.
"Of course."
She took her place at Sailor Moon's side and raised her hands. Pure white lightning joined Sailor Moon's powers, and the barrier strengthened.
Together, they would protect the planet, thanks to Chibiusa's bravery in the past. Sailor Moon fought the urge to shed a tear. She missed her daughter so much.
The gym door swung open with a loud creak and Makoto led Motoki inside. She watched as he glanced around the gym, taking it all in: the distinct aroma of sweat and leather, the harsh fluorescent lights, the cracked concrete floor, the rhythmic sound of gloves striking heavy bags. It was a world, a part of her, she'd never shared with him. Until now.
Makoto looked around for a moment, then spotted Chikara Ikuhara standing near the boxing ring, his back toward her, helping one of the young boxers tape up his hands. She reached back, grabbed Motoki's hand, and gave it a squeeze.
"He's right over there," she said.
She strode across the gym with big, confident steps, dragging her more timid fiancé along behind her. As she got closer, the young boxer looked up, then whispered something to Ikuhara. She could see Ikuhara nod, but he continued his task without turning around.
Finally, she stood behind him. She waited a moment, then cleared her throat.
"Yes, yes, I know you're there," he said. "Give me a moment."
He finished taping the young boxer's hand in silence. Motoki looked pale. She could feel the sweat pool in his palm and gave him a reassuring smile.
"That'll hold," Ikuhara said at last. "Get in there and show him what you've got."
The young boxer nodded and climbed into the ring. Ikuhara grabbed his cane, which was leaning against the ring, and turned. Makoto suppressed a gasp. A large, dark bruise had formed across the bridge of his nose where Makoto, in a rage, had accidentally punched him just a few days ago.
"So, you've come back," he said, his eyes narrowing. "And you brought a visitor."
She ignored the implied question.
"How's your nose?" she asked.
He chuckled.
"I've been hit worse, Makoto." He turned his attention to Motoki. "Who's the sweaty fellow?"
Makoto laughed.
"This is Motoki Furuhata." She paused for dramatic effect. "My fiancé."
Ikuhara's eyebrows shot up to his hairline. Motoki bowed.
"It's nice to meet you, sir," he said. "Makoto has told me a lot about you."
Ikuhara blinked.
"Did she now?"
They stood there in awkward silence for a long moment. Motoki squirmed under Ikuhara's intense stare. After a while, Makoto sighed.
"Motoki, could you give us a moment?"
Relief washed over Motoki's features.
"Sure. Absolutely. I'll wait outside."
He bowed again, then hurried toward the door.
"I make him uncomfortable," Ikuhara said.
Makoto glared at him.
"You could've said something," she said. "He was terrified you were going to hit him."
Ikuhara laughed, a hearty belly laugh that jostled his jowls.
"I like him," he said. "Not a fighter. A nice guy. I bet he's good to you."
Makoto smiled.
"He is. We've been engaged for a little while, but I think it's time for us to set a date for the wedding." She hesitated. "I'd like for you to be there."
Ikuhara's jaw dropped and Makoto took some measure of pride that she'd been able to surprise him twice in one day. The man was unflappable.
"I did not expect that," he said. "What happened to never wanting to see me again?"
Makoto rubbed her neck and looked up at the ceiling for a moment. Then her eyes returned to Ikuhara.
"I'm angry at you," she said. "Some part of me always will be. You should have taken me in, old man, not put me up in an apartment all alone to fend for myself. I was a child, and I needed you."
He opened his mouth to speak, but she raised her hand to stop him.
"That's not all. I'm done swallowing my anger. I'm owning it and dealing with it on my own terms. My anger is not your problem."
Tears welled up in her eyes.
"The truth is, you also saved me when I was all alone in the world, when nobody else cared what happened to me," she said. "And for that…for that, I love you."
Then she did something that surprised even herself. She stepped toward him and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace. Ikuhara stood there for a moment, too stunned to move. Then she heard his cane hit the floor, and he wrapped his arms around her in return.
They stood there like that for a moment, sharing a hug for the first time. When they separated, Ikuhara cleared his throat and wiped at his eyes.
"Alight, alright, I'll come to your wedding," he said. "You didn't have to put it on so thick, you know?"
She laughed and shook her head.
"I've gotta go, old man. Motoki and I have something we need to do. If you don't mind, I'll be in later this week to do some training."
He nodded.
"I'd like that."
She flashed him one last smile, then turned and walked away. Her mind, her heart, felt more at ease than they had in years. Before she was out of earshot, she heard Ikuhara mutter under his breath.
"Love you, too, little girl."
Petz shuffled down the grand corridor of the Moon Palace. Her body felt raw; burns covered her arms and legs. Her low heels scraped against the marble floors as she approached the arched double-doors that led to the palace's throne room.
She'd gotten lucky. The Sailor Guardians and their friends got distracted in the woods, and she had managed to slip away undetected. Who knows what they would have done to her if they had captured her?
She glanced at the intricate carving of Queen Serenity on the double-doors and scoffed.
"I'll get your daughter next time, Serenity."
She pushed open the doors and dragged her wounded body inside.
The vast space was as splendid as ever, but Petz had no time for its grandeur. Who cared about white columns and crystal thrones at a time like this?
Demande sat on the throne, his eyes closed in meditation. He muttered under his breath, as if speaking to some unseen individual. Saphir was nowhere in sight.
"Not yet…soon…very soon…" he said.
Petz cleared her throat.
"My prince?"
Demande's eyes flew open and locked onto her. For a moment, his face seemed distorted, monstrous. She blinked, and it returned to normal.
My injuries must be worse than I thought.
"Petz," Demande said in a booming voice. "What happened to you?"
Petz chose her words with care.
"It was a trap, my prince. The Sailor Guardians attacked me. Sailor Mercury and Sailor Jupiter have reclaimed their powers. Berthier…" she hesitated, thinking back to what she witnessed in the forest. "Berthier is dead."
Demande stood, and his eyes turned black.
"What?"
Petz cowered in front of him.
"There's more," she said. "The child…she has a Time Key."
The anger disappeared from Demande's face and his eyes returned to normal. He stroked his chin.
"A Time Key?" he asked. "That changes everything. With a key, we can widen the door to the future whenever we want. We could bring as many reinforcements to the past as we please. We could complete our conquest of Earth here and now instead of in the future."
A wicked smile played over his lips.
"Bring me Rubeus! Bring me Koan and Calaveras! I want that key…and you will get it for me!"
...to be continued...
Next Time on Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: Black Moon
"Unless you deliver a new song soon, the label will drop you, Mina." - Sugao Saitou
"I think there's something wrong with Naru." - Gurio Umino
"This wedding is an absolute disaster." - Makoto Kino
"Usagi, are you…drunk?" - Rei Hino
"Rei, I think Minako's new song…it's about you." - Ami Mizuno
"Don't go! I love you!" - Minako Aino
"They've got Chibiusa!" - Mamoru Chiba