UsAgI iS dEaD uSaGi Is DeAd HiP hIp HiP hOoRaY by DARK DAY FOR ANIME Diclaimer - Sailormoon is owned by Takeuchi Naoko and Bandai, so these characters really belong to them, except ones I made up. You know who they are! They're the ones that run around doing bad things to the original cast. ^_^ Well, most of them, anyway. This chapter suffered the amazing effects of MSCrash (tm) so it might be a bit patchy on bits where I've had to make repairs. Part Nineteen Acrobatic Feats of Madness Usako smiled, into infinity. Usashin was dead, but death was nothing to an Usagi. She knew this to be the case for a very long time. Usashin... Bring Hotaru back to me.... The circle began to close. Aoi opened her eyes, and saw herself staring back. Stand, she commanded to herself, as she reached out. Slowly, her body rose and into her hands floated a red glowing sphere. "I guess..." She looked at herself. "This is some kind of parting gift?" "Responsibility..." Her doppleganger replied. "It's what I've never had, and what you might learn." "Why should I be any more responsible than the conciousness I formed from?" She answered herself with silence. Usagi woke, sitting on the lounge chair in the darkness. She turned when she heard a noise. Nothing there. She turned back. Pluto watched. Usagi wiped her chin. Drooling. So tired. Sitting alone within the revival room in the Keep. Alone. Why did they leave her? Why? She remembered those few moments... Where Millenia had put her through the torment of experiencing the visions... Similar visions to those she had planted in the mind of Setsuna... She threatened Millenia with suicide if she continued. The woman stopped, and placed a knife in her hands, and told her to.... go ahead. She looked on the floor beside the chair. A mirror there. She saw herself. She wondered who she really was. What am I here for? Is there really any definite individual named Tsukino Usagi. Will this person who is me simply die to make way for the wonderful, all-knowing, all-loving Princess Serenity? Her hair was no longer gold. White. No, not white, silver. Pure silver strands, glimmering in what little light could be seen, done up in those wonderful odangos that everyone had come to know and love. She looked at the knife in her hand. It smiled at her. She lifted it and viciously detached the odangos from her head. She'd never cut her hair off with a knife before. Considering the pain she endured because of it, it wasn't likely to be an event she would repeat. Pluto winced. Usagi watched as silver hair fell to the floor, some marked with patches of skin and blood. If the senshi wanted her dead, then they could claim her. She no longer cared. She would have, more than willingly, given up her place as Princess, if it meant she could live as a normal girl. Had they asked for her to step down, she would have said yes, as long as the friendship stayed. Now she was, once more, sitting within limbo.... No, she was alive now. She had to remember that. Now she was alive yet dead, and faced the biggest choice of her life. Who is to live, and who is to die, on the planet Earth. The decision meant her life, or her death. Mamo-chan.... If you are alive, and can hear me.... Please take my existence and cast it to the wind. Death would be more than a blessing than to have to make a choice like that presented to me by Galaxia. "Usagi..." Minako turned to her, smiling, sitting at the card table with Ami and VesVes. "Why don't you come and join us. Its more fun playing cards when there are more people involved." "Ah, ignore her. She doesn't know whether she wants to be alive or dead, yet." VesVes muttered. "Just cos the Starlights ripped her out of Galaxia's limbo and hatcheted that Mistral guy..." "No..." Said Ami. "It was Arachne that hatcheted Mistral. She used that cat-paw gun she got off Sailor Tin Nyanko, and turned him into pate' on the lobby walls. He and the remaining executive staff of the motel, as well as the local Governor and his entourage. I guess she got upset when she found out they were planning to usurp her little empire." "They never found Mistral's body. And that's the problem. Nobody knows where he ended up." VesVes flicked through her cards. "Oh well. At least they've got Arachne doing something, now. Out looking for the Animates, now they've been revived." Minako sighed. "Still... Galaxia was really cross when she found out Millenia was using her spiritual pocket to hide the souls of those she needed for her games." "Those games included us." VesVes stared at her cards, sighing. "I raise you ten." "No, we weren't ever part of a game. Millenia likes to believe she's playing a game with others. But in truth, she has become nothing more than a tool to destiny. I'll match your ten and raise you ten more." Ami shuffled betting pieces in her direction. "And now, what is Galaxia going to do?" Minako looked from Ami to VesVes. They just stared at each other. "She's going to sacrifice a newly regained principle. She's going to kill every living senshi in the universe." Ami shrugged. "You don't say." Minako looked impressed. "I'll match your twenty and raise you fifty." "You're kidding me?" Ami splurted. She shook her head when she regained her composure. "Ah, why did we have to die?" "We each had a choice. We chose what we felt was the better option." VesVes sniffed. "Although madness would have felt a warm and comfortable destiny to pursue. I think Usagi is pursuing it right now." She pointed over to Usagi, who was leaning over the armrests of the chair, drooling. "Ugh! She's at it again." Minako shook her head, sadly. "I would never have allowed myself to become like that." "You didn't. One of the reasons you died." Ami shook her head. "I'm matching your bet." Usagi liked the darkness of these walls. Even as Gaea and Ascentia approached her with food, she continued to be mesmerised by the blackness. "It looks like she's used the knife Millenia had given her." Ascentia said, almost without emotion. He looked away, sadly. Gaea stood beside Usagi, proffering a bowl of steaming food. "Usagi. Eat this. It's not too bad." She looked hopeful, but Usagi did not see her. She took a breath and placed the bowl on the ground, next to the chair. "Whenever you feel like it, then." She looked at Ascentia, who shrugged, and the two of them walked away. Silence descended upon Usagi once more, in the dark and empty room. Usagi began to hum a tune to herself, without thinking about it. Her thoughts were on events that occured just over a year ago, now... When Mamoru proposed to her.... Her face slowly began to screw up with emotion. Pluto watched. The Cauldron sees all, and knows all, because all of what it is within is what it is without. It foresaw everything, and planned for everything. No single aspect or attitude or thought shall dominate because of it. When they try it destroys, even if it is unfair. It plays with the hearts and minds of living being for they are no more than an extension of its own will. Its power of will shall rule. But one aspect to its will could not be controlled. The aspects born from its very heart... From the very source of its own creation. They were The Four. And for all time they have been playing... toying... with others, like the universe was their personal themepark. But mostly two.... Galaxia, Queen of the light, the fire, the day, gilden brilliance and positivity. And Millenia, the darkness, the ocean, the night, blue luminescence and negativity. For so long, they have fought to remain in antithesis of each other. One living forever within a single body, the other preferring the ethereal life of a wandering spirit. Sooner or later, their fight was going to effect all. The cauldron had to find a way to stop that fight. "Its...." "Beautiful?" Galaxia suggested. "No, its a different emotion I feel. Awe, tinged with fear." "You are frightened to return to it. To the place from which we all evolved." Galaxia stepped closer to the glow, reaching out her hands. beams of light danced around those hands, and both she and Naru smiled in delight. "Yes... one day. We shall all return..." "Why you've always been obsessed with this notion, I have no idea." For some reason, Galaxia didn't seem surprised by the voice that emerged from the light of the Cauldron. She merely stepped back, smiling. "If I were the only one obsessed with it, why am I not the one utilising its powers for my purposes." "One does not utilise its powers. It utilises us." Naru wondered who the voice might have been, but in her heart of hearts, she knew. Slowly, waves of light descended from the main body of the cauldron, forming four figures. Naiad stood, taking her hands off the prone forms of Astute and Setsuna. The senshi still appeared out of sorts, and stayed on the walkway, groaning. Astute, however, sat up, staring around him blearily. Before them all lay the body of Usagi. She was still, and unconcious... A body devoid of its spirit. Naru's eyes boggled, and even Galaxia was forced to raise an eyebrow. "Perhaps you'd like to explain why you have brought these three with you?" Naiad smiled. "This one I have been protecting." She gestured to Astute. "For reasons both you and I know. The Princess Serenity." She pointed down at Usagi. "For reasons both you and I also know. And for the Sol Senshi of Pluto." She looked at the woman. "For her, as a gift, from a master to her protege'." "Protege'?" Galaxia looked at Pluto, who was now attempting to sit up herself. Naiad leant down and held her as she did so. Setsuna looked back at Naiad, whose form shimmered, to be replaced by the heavier, more exotic features of Millenia. Naru let out a short gasp.... This was not the Millenia she had seen, twisted, embittered and insane, within the fantasy world of the pool, but Millenia as she must have been in her early years. Millenia, tempered by time, tempered by Naiad. "P..Protege'...?" Setsuna gasped as Millenia stroked her face softly, nodding. "For six lives, we have been sisters. Now the time has come for my leaving, of this plane of existence. Someone must replace me, as the next Millenia." "Your arrogance is immense." Galaxia sneered. Millenia turned to her, smiling as if the comment was meant as a compliment. "Thankyou, Galaxia. Maybe you're just insulted that I have chosen to move on rather than return to this?" She gestured to the Cauldron. Even as she did this, she could see Astute standing, staring at Naru. She smiled as the effeminate young man with long white hair strode forward, and questioning hand outstretched. In fact, she was suppressing a laugh. "Na... Naru-chan?" He asked, almost pleadingly. Naru stared at him, trying to work out how Astute, someone for whom she had only met within the fantasy world of the pool, would know her by name. Both Galaxia and Millenia followed with amusement Astute's steps towards her. "Naru-chan...?" "Ha... Hai." She looked at him questioningly, and a little frightened at his earnest expression. "Naru-chan... Its me..." He stood before her. "You've grown beautiful... I.. I can't believe this is happening." And then a thought struck her. "Umino?" "Hai, Naru-chan?" Millenia couldn't hold it back, anymore. She burst out laughing, dropping Setsuna and rolling on the ground. "One would have thought she'd see that coming." Galaxia stared at the heavens. The whole world spun for Naru, and she fainted clear away into Astute's arms.... IASFU OA FWSS IASFU OA FWSS GOO JUA GOO JIPEST and again UAAFI OS FESD ISSGU IA DWAS HOP JIA HOP JOPRSY and again ISSGU IA DWAS UAAFI OS FESD GIO HUP GIO HIOEAT A bit higher, a bit faster, a bit deader.... "Now, lets take a step back and pause for a moment to ponder the situation we now find ourselves in...." Starhealer smiled, wagging a finger at Usagi and Siren. "Do either of you have any idea, whatsoever, where we currently are?" "No." "No idea." She sighed. "Indeed, it would seem the both of you are as lost as one can possibly be. Dead, to say the least." "Well, I didn't expect to be up and kicking after the belting I received from Mercury." Usagi sniffed. "Did you know she buried me in the side of a building, and waited for me to peel off before finishing me for good?" "At least its more dramatic that being reduced to constituent materials because the only things keeping you alive have been torn from your wrists by an intergalactic psycho." Siren stuck her tongue out at Usagi. "Who's a psycho?" Starhealer blinked. "Galaxia, of course. Bloody bitch. I'd like to introduce her to a few walls, I can tell you." Siren punched a fist into her other hand. "Well, I don't suppose you'd like to accept her invitation back to life, now would you?" "EH?" Usagi and Siren stared at her. "That's why she sent us here. To collect you. Not that I entirely disagree with your perception of her." Starhealer smiled. Starmaker stepped into the room, staring around at the furnishings of the accomadation. "Whoo, nice for the price you paid. Pity none of it really exists. But then, neither does the money you used." She smiled as Starfighter stepped in after her, followed by Crow, Nyanko and Mouse. The three Animates looked thoughroughly chastised for some unknown reason. Usagi jumped up when she saw Starfighter. "Seiya!" She cried out. Starfighter smiled as Usagi threw her arms around her neck. The Animates stuck their tongue out at her as they stepped past. "Traitor." Nyanko muttered. Usagi turned to her and stuck her tongue out back at them. She noticed Starfighter was holding on to a rope, and lifted up the hand holding it. "What's this?" She looked at him questioningly. The followed the length of the rope out through the door with her eyes. "This?" Starfighter looked down at the rope. "Ah, well..." She gave the rope a tug, and there were complaining grunts from the other side of the doorway. Slowly, a woman stepped through the doorway, the rope tied around her neck. "No need to pull so hard. I'm walking, okay?" "Well, I just needed to make sure, 'Madame Scorpia'." Starfighter chuckled. Usagi stared at the woman. "THIS is Madame Scorpia?" "Yep." Starmaker dropped her hand on the woman's shoulder. "She was running amok through her hotel, using one of Nyanko's guns against her senior staff and the entourage of the local Governor. Not a pretty sight." "I told you. I have my scruples. I don't like slave- trading." Scorpia looked aside, darkly as Starmaker snorted. "Yeah, but killing a few hundred people don't seem to matter much to you." "Better to die on your feet than live on your knees." Scorpia leered in Starmaker's direction. "Hey, guess what? I came up with that line! Cool, ne? Everyone's been claiming credit for it since." Starfighter sighed and turned to Usagi, handing Starmaker the rope. "Odango, will you come with me for a moment?" She put out her hand. Usagi nodded and the pair of them stepped through the door, watched by the rest. Starmaker turned to the Animates. "Now, as for you guys, since Galaxia is one of those who plan ahead, your real bodies are scattered to the four winds.... In short, your homeworlds. You're going to have to be woken by someone." Starmaker turned to Scorpia. "I wonder who, 'Madame Scorpia'? Or should I call you the Lady Arachne?" She smiled as Arachne growled at her. "You can't escape the decision, Serenity. The world shall end within minutes. It is only the differential of time on this world that gives you the opportunity to think about it." Galaxia said to Usagi as she hung her head over the side of the chair. "But time is time, Usagi. As Princess of that world, you must decide." "Too many people to decide for. Too many I care for." "Do you wish to die again? For good this time. The only way you can continue to live is by making that decision. I cannot maintain the lifeforce required to keep both yourself and your body together." "Thinking about it." "Don't think for too long. Time is not an infinite resource that can be abused by all." Mamo-chan.... Pluto watched, and thought. Hotaru sat in the rear seat of the Ayakashi sister's truck, arms folded around the sleeping bodies of the young Setsuna and Umi, who lay over her lap. There was a distant expression in her eyes as she watched them. Cooan and Beruche had helped her into the truck. Had it not been for them, Hotaru may very well have remained in a catatonic state, sitting on what remained of the road that ran past the opening of what remained of the valley. The pair had managed to get a few words out of her, but little else. Karaberas suggested that she and the girls be deposited at the medical centre when they reached the next town. However, Hotaru was less than enthusiastic about this idea, saying something about there being people who would chase them to get the girls back. Cooan had checked the girls over, when she'd managed to pry them from Hotaru's grasp after a bit of convincing on Beruche's part that no harm would come to them. Despite their torn and bloodied clothing, they were totally unmarked. Yet, for some reason, she knew the blood was theirs, their state of slumber as much brought on as an automatic response to shock and stress. It was only after Beruche had guided Hotaru into the car that she informed them that she was Black Saturn. Petz had to hold Karaberas from taking off. Karaberas didn't like the concept of getting into senshi business again, especially THIS senshi. And then they were attacked. Two combat-equipped choppers flew over and started firing away at them. It was more luck than anything else that they managed to get into their truck and take off. Cooan and Beruche looked through the rear window... Their vision partially obscured by the trailer, but the choppers were still back there, keeping a distant watch on their movements. Had they still had the powers bestowed upon them by the Family, they might have been able to do something about it. They wished Hotaru would try and do something about it, but she was gone for all money. They needed help. Arachne looked up from the main street in the capital of Chuu. her companions followed her vision as an Interplanetary shuttle took off from the city's spaceport, destined for one of the navigational stations. Arachne had spent some time on Chuu, as per the order of Starmaker. Since the world had resumed a kind of peace, it had been a pleasurable experience. Well, for everyone except Nyanko, who seemed to go into strange mewling fits every time a Chuukian would walk past. Since this was the main street, she was in a right state. Siren muttered to Crow something about the psychological fragility of those who originated from Mau. Of course, the order originated from Galaxia... To collect the four Animates from their homeworlds, then to make their way back to Earth using snail transport. Not for them the pleasures of Sailor Teleport. She didn't know why, but she did know something was about to happen there of great import. She closed her eyes as visions of her kind dying en masse ran through her mind. "Arachne-sama?" Mouse tugged at the sleeve of her Miko gown. Arachne turned to her, smiling. "What is it?" "You look kinda weird. Is anything wrong?" "No, I'm just thinking of the dead." Jupiter thought she'd run enough to get away from the Youma. She stopped and bent down, resting her hands on her knees, puffing heavily. For some reason, she didn't think the Youma was following her, but it was worth the effort to make sure. She stood and closed her eyes. Her head was still hurting, and she reached back to touch what remained of the wound inflicted upon her by the Youma. Nothing. Nothing at all. It was as if the Youma's energy bolt had never existed. It was as if the horrifying sensation that she'd been brain-damaged was her imagination. The sudden loss of control, the creeping blackness.... She gritted her teeth, trying to put it from a mind that had been regenerated. She turned when she heard something. "USAKO! GET DOWN FROM THERE!" It was Aosagi's voice. The Usagi ninja was tiredly climbing up a pile of stones which had once been a multi-storey building before the Destroyers had taken to it. At the top of the pile, she could see Usako, reaching upwards. And above her, the tendrils of the Eternal City, reaching down. What the hell was that girl doing? Jupiter took a few steps forward, when she suddenly felt them no longer biting ground. She looked down to see a gaping hole underneath her, leading to a swirling vortex. After a few abortive attempts to fly by flapping her arms, she fell into the vortex, crying for her life.... "Even now, without you realising it, Serenity, you are choosing the fates of those closest to you." Millenia leaned forward, staring into her face. The woman's long, dark hair and deep blue eyes contributed to her being like a shadow, draining all light from Usagi. Behind Millenia, Galaxia, Gaea and Ascentia stood, watching. "Leave me alone." Usagi curled up into a ball, frightened by the closeness of the woman. Millenia stood back and shrugged. "You have the knife. You can make things worse by using it on yourself. I'm not going to let you drain the lifeforce of the four of us for much longer." Pluto thought. She no longer wanted to be a pawn to these four. But what could she do? Unagi sat on the ground, her face covered with drying tears. Maisagi and Sae rested hands on her shoulders. "We were together ever since we were created.... And then one day she just up and left me.... I dunno why. I guess I might have teased her once too often.... But it was.... She didn't deserve to die that way." Unagi's face dropped, and Maisagi sighed. "Look, I'm sorry for what happened to Lina, but we can't sit here forever. if what you say is going to happen is true, then we have to do something. Find shelter of some description...." Maisagi looked around. They were up against a fence on the side of a school oval. "You said something about some guy with a basement he was going to give shelter to a pack of us Usagis." "Yeah. Dunno where he is now. He took off with that dumb Ushayla girl who latched onto me when we fell into this place." Maisagi nodded. "Very well... We'll try to find him, then." Maisagi reached forward and took Unagi by the arm to help her up when she noticed Sae was staring at something. "Sae? What is it?" Sae pointed behind Maisagi. "Th..th...th...th..." She couldn't get the words out. Maisagi and Unagi turned to see a kind of portal... A doorway. As they got to their feet, they could see a desolate valley, covered in saltbush. Running across the saltbush was a single dirt track. In the distance a vehicle was kicking up dust. Without thinking about it, they stepped through the portal, and found themselves in another time.... "Give me back Naru and Umino!" Usagi watched as Galaxia consulted with Gaea and Ascentia. Millenia, skulking some distance away, burst out in laughter. "You can't have them back, Serenity. Not after all I've been through to retrieve Gaea and Ascentia." The two in question stepped forward. Gaea spoke. "I'm sorry, Usagi. I'm afraid I've accepted my past. Perhaps you would like to accept yours?" "Why? Why have you so meekly accepted? What have you seen... experienced... to make you want to accept?" "The truth." Ascentia said, simply. "Millenia spent several of her namesake searching for us. Now she has finally caught up with our spirits... Surely, you aren't going to take away from her the prize that she most seeks?" "What control does she have over the two of you?" "None at all." Gaea snapped. "We have seen within the Cauldron. We now know why we have taken this journey through these lives, and why, Usagi... Serenity... Why we were once friends, and why I had to become involved... in your death." Pluto closed her eyes and shivered, then came to a decision, waiting for the quartet to leave the stunned Usagi alone. Setsuna watched as Millenia ran her hands through the light of the Cauldron. Slowly, its mist swirled around them all. Setsuna had been within its depths, as had Astute... Umino, of all people. Even she had not expected that to be the case. But then, her future vision, ever since these events began, had been shafted by the one who called her her sister. The light surrounded them all, as Astute and Naru watched it approach with fear. She already felt the sensation of pleasure, warmth and safety that existed within. And she despised those traps. The desire to return to this womb was only an allusion to a desire for death. But the Cauldron already knew this, and told her so, when it explained to her what must be done, its energies curing her of her wounds. And that was nothing compared to what it did to Naru and Umino. Mamoru held Chibiusa's hand as the two raced through the streets.... It was obvious that the Youma was on their heels. There were buildings collapsing behind them... And Mamoru began to wonder if there was anyone left within the city capable of being injured by the Youma's monumental irresponsibility. "Mamo-chan... I can't... go much... further..." Chibiusa managed to get out. It was obvious to him that her control over the 4P Eternal Sailormoon body was less than optimal right at this time. He wondered what was wrong.... The event of not long ago where it seemed the body was rejecting her.... Chibiusa staggered, and fell to the ground, letting go of Mamoru's hand. Misagi had, somehow, managed to lift the injured Jadeite to his feet, aided by Mars who, despite her newfound blindness, still seemed to be in relatively good physical shape. The mind was a different story. "Turn left here." Misagi said as they reached a corner. She had searched for somewhere where they could shelter. The sky was a deep, dark red, and looked as if it were about to fall on top of them. Despite her earlier feelings about not caring whether she lived or died, she thought it might be better to put on a show of trying to survive. Jadeite seemed particularly enamoured of this concept. "The library..." He coughed. "It has... a basement. I know. I used it... as a base of... operations... once. Should do us... as a shelter." Misagi nodded as he half pointed to the building. She looked over at Mars, who was sightlessly staring, drooling from the corners of her mouth. Her mind had had all it could take. Slowly, they made their way across the empty road, into the courtyard in front of the library, when Mars stopped, almost causing Jadeite to fall. She dropped to her knees, holding her throat. "Mars?" Misagi and Jadeite watched as she shivered and choked. She then got to her feet and tried to run away. Jadeite fought Misagi off and staggered after her. Mars didn't get very far, running into a wall. She fell backwards, her back arched. Misagi noticed, with some concern, that little flames were flickering on the edge of her hair, fingers and toes. Jadeite knelt beside her, trying to lift her up. "Get away from me..." She hissed, angrily. Jadeite stared at her in shock. "Mars..." He stammered. "What's wro..." That was all he could say before the pair were enveloped in a fireball. In a fraction of a second, all of Mars's fire energies escaped her body in a concentrated explosion. Misagi felt no heat as the flame died away in a second. On the ground lay nothing more than a small collection of dust where the pair had been. Bummer, thought Misagi. She didn't think about it for long as portions of the sky really started to fall. She looked up to see the Eternal City was breaking away from its footholds within the alternate universe. Immediately, she made her way to the front entrance of the library. Pluto shivered as she felt the wailing spirit of Jadeite lose touch with Mars.... Not for the first time in many existences. Usagi was alone again, noticing, at the card table, that Rei had joined her compatriots in their little card game. Pluto appeared, and she looked up at her. "P...Pluto?" "I'm sorry about this, Princess." She smiled, and held out the Time Key to Usagi. She stared at it for a few moments. "Why are you..." "I said to you before, when I brought you back to life, that there was only one person capable of dealing with the Youma. They think, that by allowing events to go ahead as they are, they will succeed. But they are wrong. Both Galaxia and Millenia have misplanned everything. The Youma is not that weak." She chuckled. "Their mistake, I'm afraid. They're playing off each other rather than thinking things through, clearly. Galaxia reckons that, by doing something horrible, she can force Millenia to do the right thing and fix the situation she created." "What must I do?" "Use the Time Key. Transport the Ginzuishou here. It is the source of the Youma's powers. Without it, the Youma shall die." She smiled at Usagi, then shook her head, sadly. "Millenia... Naiad... In the end, even if she regarded me as her protege', or her sister, depending on your point of view, she only really needed me as a cog in the machinery of her plans... I failed to protect you, and instead killed you. I won't be able to live with that kind of guilt." Pluto leaned down, pressing the Time Key into Usagi's lap, kissing her on the forehead. Then she stood, leaving the staff behind. For a few moments, Usagi looked down at the Time Key, wondering what she could do with it, when she noticed the knife she had been holding was missing. She looked up to see Pluto smiling at her, holding the knife to her throat. "Pluto... DON'T!" Usagi tried to stand, but it was too late. Pluto closed her eyes and plunged the knife into the right side of her throat, tearing downwards into the left side of her chest. Blood spewed over Usagi as Pluto slowly collapsed backwards. But even before she hit the ground, her body evaporated, into a fine mist that floated through the air. The blood that covered Usagi did likewise. "Pluto..." She muttered. "You're a fool. Why did you leave me alone, here, with them...." "Hmm... Interesting." Mused Minako. "I put my money on Galaxia." She turned to her three partners. "What do you think?" "I think Usagi might have a few tricks up her sleeve, yet." Rei shrugged. Ami shook her head. "You're both wrong. It's Millenia who is arranging all of this." VesVes stopped making castles out of her cards. "Ah well, whatever the case may be, the Cauldron always wins.... Why, even now, the future is shaping up to be rather interesting." Petz stared at the trio of Usagis, unable to believe her eyes. "Where in hell did they come from? They're in our bloody way!" She hit the brakes as Unagi and Maisagi stood on the road, holding out their hands in an arrogant gesture to stop the truck. Sae, for her part, was hiding behind them, praying for dear life. The truck ground to a halt only feet away from them, and Petz stuck her head out of the window, her face red in anger. "We don't have time for this bullshit, you stupid bimbos. Get outta our way or we'll all be dogmeat." Unagi and Maisagi stared at each other. "Well of all the nerve." Maisagi sniffed. "All we wanted was a lift, and some idea where we might be." Unagi huffed and looked aside. At that point, the choppers roared over, making Sae pull her wide-brimmed witch's hat hard over her head and whimper. "Oh Kami. That's bad news. I can see it now. They're not here to give us a friendly welcome, I can see it now." She muttered as Unagi and Maisagi turned, the choppers rotating to face them. They were black and unmarked, with darkened windows, and were lined with high-explosive head gattling guns. Unagi, unimpressed, turned to Petz as Karaberas began to pray for divine intervention, and Cooan and Beruche ducked beneath the back seat, dragging Hotaru and the two girls with them. "Is this all you are worried about?" Unagi began to laugh. Everyone cowered from the hideously evil strains. Petz watched with facefaulted surprise as the two choppers began circling wildly, exclamations of shock and horror at Unagi's mirth coming from within. Eventually, they struck each other, the rotor blades slicing into one another. They fell to the ground and exploded. "BAH!" Unagi put her hands on her hips. "Take that, you villainous fiends, for I am Unagi the Serpent. My laugh comes from total confidence in my ability to dominate all. Mere machines of war are nothing against me." And she began to laugh again, shortly before Maisagi started to throttle her. "I see what you mean." Ami nodded, and stood. "But I think things need to be pushed along, slightly, don't you?" Rei, Minako and VesVes hmmmed, and Ami disappeared. "Chibiusa! Get up! Chibiusa!" Mamoru tried to lift Chibiusa from the ground, but the girl had started sobbing uncontrollably. "What the hell is wrong with you? Get UP!" "..Can't, anymore..." She began to choke on her own sobs. "What is wrong with you?" "I'm sorry, Mamo-chan. All this... Its all our fault." "What is?" "We killed her... It was we who killed Usagi..." He stared at her for a moment, not knowing what to say or believe. "When the Youma said... When she said you had..." "We did it. We killed her because she was going to kill us. And... And for other reasons, I came back through time to make sure it happened." He grabbed her by the collar and lifted her up. "How... How could you do that? Why would she try to kill you?" "Mamo-chan..." Chibiusa stared into Mamoru's eyes, frightened. "We saw it, in visions. Puu showed us... She killed us all, one by one.... It was.. It was.." "Don't make excuses with me." Mamoru gritted his teeth and threw Chibiusa on the ground. "Are you trying to beg me for forgiveness?" He thought for a few moments. "Pluto brought her back to life, didn't she?" He growled at her, threatening an answer. "I don't know... It..." Mamoru had had enough, shaking his head. "Shutup! I have nothing more to say to you. I must find Usagi-chan before it is too late." Chibiusa stared at him. "What did you say to me?" "You heard me. Fend for yourself. You might be my daughter, but that doesn't mean I'll forgive you for this." Chibiusa gritted her teeth, angrily. "You understand nothing. You don't understand WHY I came back. You don't know what I was told by Mama!" She managed to get to her feet. "Too right I understand nothing. If you killed Usagi, then what am I supposed to do, cheer her passing?" He put on a mock cheerful voice. "Usagi is dead, Usagi is dead, hip hip hip hooray!" He spat contemptuously. "I worried about you. I cared for you. I loved you, because you were my daughter to be, and you repay me by doing this... Wait a moment, if you kill Usagi, then who the hell is your mother?" Chibiusa's face ran with tears. "Usagi isn't my mother." Mamoru stared at her. "Tuxedo Kamen-sama!" He turned to the voice, realising that it was Uranus's. Over a small hillock in an adjoining park, he could see her racing towards him, followed by the three remaining Asteroid senshi and Neptune. "Were they involved, too?" He stared at Chibiusa. "What do you think, Mister Perfect? You who were trapped for five years, according to your time, in another world." "Dreaming only of GETTING BACK!" They both heard a cry and turned back to the approaching senshi. Neptune had fallen to her knees, clutching at her throat, looking fearfully around her. Uranus came to a dead halt, looking back. "Neptune?" She slowly made to backtrack, as Neptune reached out to her, her arm quivering. "Uranus...." She gasped. "H... Help me..." To everyones' shock, Neptune exploded in a spray of water, which flowed over the ground, seeping into the soil. Uranus let out a strangulated cry as she ran to where Neptune had been standing. "Hell... Now the elemental laws governing the two dimensions are collapsing." Ceres gritted her teeth. "If we don't do something, quick, we'll all end up like that." There was a gasping noise beside Ceres, and she turned to Juno, who had placed a hand on her chest. Uranus tore at the ground, where Neptune had been, tears running from her eyes. "Where is she, what has happened to her?" She tried to cup what water she could find from the ground. "Michiru..." Juno grabbed hold of Ceres, staring at her in fear. Pallas stood back, shaking her head. "No no no..." Juno exploded in a blast of earth and sand. Ceres fell back as the particles struck her. Pallas also fell back, trying to scrabble away from what remained of her comrade as if it would save her. "J... Juno!" She rasped. Mamoru stepped away from Chibiusa, disbelievingly. "What the hell is going on?" "They're dying!" Chibiusa shouted at him. "Everyone is dying. Don't you get it? One way or another, this is Usagi's fault. Don't you get it? Everything began with her dying! Now she is getting back at us all." "Shutup! Usagi is dead." "No she isn't! She's out there, somewhere. If not in the Youma, then in spirit. She's taking her revenge out on us all. She'll kill you, too." "SHUTUP!" Uranus stared at the muddied waters in her hands, slowly allowing it to run between her fingers. "Michiru." She said, softly. "Gomen..." She fell onto her face, holding the lawn in her hands. Ceres tried to stand, watching Pallas who was now clutching at her chest in fear. "Oh Kami, we're all gonna die..." Pallas tried to stand, but began to cough and choke. Haruka also started to cough and hack. Ceres looked from one to the next, wondering why she hadn't started, yet. She reached for the ground underneath her, to push herself up, but felt nothing. For a few seconds, she panicked, wondering why she wasn't falling, as she stared down into a swirling vortex. A hole had opened up beneath her, and she was only just perched on the sides. Slowly, she tried to lever herself up, when there was an explosion of rushing air as Uranus disappeared. The blast dislodged Ceres foothold, and she fell, screaming, into the vortex, the hole closing behind her. "Ceres!" Pallas reached forward, clutching onto her chest. She got to her feet and stepped over to where Ceres had been. She knelt and scrabbled on the ground, trying to find her comrade. Nothing. But ground. Mamoru ran forward to where Pallas was sprawled, on her hands and knees, when he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand. He turned and looked behind Chibiusa. Not too far a distance away stood the Youma, staring down from the top of a damaged building at the unfolding events. But there was no smile on her face. She was panting heavily, her face glistening with sweat. He knew, instinctively, why. "The Ginzuishou...." She reached forward. "Give it back... to me...." Her right arm began to quiver. Millenia frowned as she stepped up to Usagi, noticing the girl was now holding the Time Key. "Where is Pluto?" She asked simply. Galaxia, Gaea and Ascentia stood behind her. "What's wrong? Is this not part of your great and holy plan?" Galaxia chuckled. Millenia turned to her, eyes burning with blue- hot hatred. Usagi clutched the Time Key, sinking deeper into her chair, staring up at Millenia. Starfighter and Usagi stepped through a portal and found themselves in the Revival Room. Off to one side sat Aoi. The pair of them stepped up to her, as there didn't seem to be anyone else. In her hand, she was clutching a red sphere. Starfighter looked down at the sphere, then up at Aoi, who was looking off into space. "Where is Galaxia?" She demanded. "Right here." They both turned, to see Galaxia standing in the doorway to the room, flanked by Millenia, Gaea and Ascentia. Behind them, Pluto watched. Galaxia stepped up to Usagi, and it was then that Usagi realised she was naked. "Iyaa! Galaxia no ecchi!" Usagi fell to the floor, covering important areas of her body with her hands. "Well, I think you can say we've successfully planted her soul into her body. But for how long remains a question to be answered." She looked up at Starfighter. "Now, my fine friend. What to do next...." "Saturn..." Hotaru raised her head to the soft voice. She seemed to be alone with the two girls in the back of the truck, now. The others were picking over the remains of the choppers. She held on to the sleeping girls protectively and closed her eyes. "Saturn, listen to me..." "Who is there?" In her mind, she saw Usashin appear. The samurai Usagi smiled at her. "We meet again." "Under very different circumstances. Did both Kaorusagi and yourself know you were about to die?" Usashin shrugged. "With my lifestyle, anything was possible." She smiled. "I have something to tell you. Something that is VERY important." The Youma staggered forward, brushing past Chibiusa, her quivering right arm flailing in the air as Mamoru stepped back from her. "The Ginzuishou.... Give it to me." "You're going to have to fight for it, you imposter." The Youma snarled, drooling. Usako felt herself grabbed by Aosagi. The ninja Usagi stared up at her, pleadingly. "Do you know what will happen if you touch it?" Aosagi said, breathlessly. Usako looked down at her. "It is the only way." At the base of the rubble they stood on, Hotaru flashed into existence. "Where the hell am I now?" She stared at her surroundings, then noticed she was no longer carrying the Time Key. Nor was she in Pluto's colours, anymore. "Hoi, I'm Saturn again." "So it would appear." She heard the voice to her left, turning to face Usashin, who stood, looking up at the summit of the mount. she turned and followed her gaze. "What on Earth is happening? Why are they up there?" "Usako is attempting to make contact with the City." "But that'll create a link between the two dimensions..." "Indeed." Usashin turned to her, grimly. Hotaru jumped on the spot. "Pluto... I've got to find her. I was with her only seconds ago..." "You might not have the opportunity." Just at that moment, millions of figures appeared, surrounding the city of Tokyo. Senshi, Miko and others from almost as many worlds. And they began to chant, and pray, floating in a perfect circle, their energies folding inward and outward. Amongst them, the three Starlights, doing as they were bidded, even if it were against their will. Galaxia was about to commit her atrocity. Millenia wasn't going to stand for it. Usagi watched as the three Starlights were dispatched to who knows where.... And she had a sneaking suspicion why. Galaxia smiled as Sentinel found her a gown which to wear. "There, do we feel better, now?" "What have you done with them?" Usagi stared at her. Galaxia smiled as Millenia studied Aoi, in the corner of the room. Aoi shrank away from Millenia, surprising the woman. "I have sent them to where they shall be needed." "You forced them to. You took over their minds and forced them to go." "Well, sometimes we have to make sacrifices." Galaxia smiled. Millenia turned to her, frowning, then looked at Pluto. The senshi was staring through a window at the millions of revived senshi and miko, who were disappearing in flashes of light, being transported to Kami knows where. So, Galaxia, she thought to herself. Going to try to play my game against me, are you? She reached forward, towards Pluto, and whispered a soft chant. Let the game commence.... Millenia stood to one side, staring into space as Galaxia laughed at her. "What is wrong, Millenia? Did one of your plans not quite turn out the way you expected?" Galaxia patted Usagi on the head as the girl gripped the Time Key harder between her hands. Without the others realising it, she had closed her eyes and was whispering. Millenia stared at Galaxia. "I don't expect you to understand the feelings I held for Pluto. Six lives, we have been sisters. I made those six lives occur because I wanted to know what it felt like to describe someone as 'family'." "Then, Millenia, I dare suggest your protege' learnt altogether too much from you." Millenia turned away, smiling. "Yes, perhaps she did. And you might be surprised by how effective she was in her final moments." Galaxia frowned, cocking her head to one side. The Youma closed in on Mamoru as he stepped up onto the grass rise, next to Pallas, who was holding onto her left arm as it slowly seeped away into a puddle on the ground. He staggered slightly, and the Ginzuishou fell from the pocket within his cloak and rolled down towards the Youma. Mamoru saw this, and leapt forwards, grabbing it, just as the Youma made for it. For a second, they stared eye to eye. There was a desperate expression in her eyes... And Mamoru began to understand the sense of betrayal she must have felt. "Mamo-chan... Come to me..." He heard, in his mind. Usagi's voice. Usagi's REAL voice. He pushed the Youma back and turned to the sky. "Usa..." And then he vanished, along with the Ginzuishou, into thin air. The Youma blinked, then let out a loud cry of frustration. Hotaru managed to leap up the side of the mount, holding Usashin, who appeared exhausted by her efforts in escaping the Youma. And then she slipped and fell, about three quarters the way up. Something had just flashed into her mind.... Usashin grabbed hold of one of the rocks and watched with sickened futility the sight of Saturn thumping against the rocks on her way down, as if unconcious. Hotaru watched herself hitting the ground, wincing. "Hey, I remember this..." She turned to Usashin in surprise. The spirit of the samurai Usagi shook her head. "There was nothing I could do. I'm sorry." "Don't be. It was more or less my fault for choosing to communicate with myself at this point." Hotaru sprawled on the ground, groaning. "Oww... Get out of my head, whoever you are...." "Now now now, lets not be hasty about this." "Who are you?" "You, you wally." Hotaru raised her head, painfully. "Why do I have a sense of deja vu about this?" Hotaru laughed at herself. "It hasn't happened to you, yet. That's about five years away, or ten, by your calendar." "What do you mean, by my calendar?" "Now listen." Hotaru paused. "Any moment now, you're going to have a visitor who shall try to kill Usako. You must NOT let it happen. Usako must succeed in making contact with the City." "What do you mean? If she does that...." "If she does that, she'll make a contact point with the two dimensions, I know.... But the contact shall not destroy as is expected to happen." "What will happen then?" "Listen, you 14 year old brat, just do as I tell you! The future of both the Kingdom and the Human race depends on it." "How do I know you are who you say you are?" "Would you like me to recount the story about the electric toothbrush?" Hotaru decided she'd heard enough. "Very well. What must I do against this... visitor?" "D...Dammit all! Why does everything go wrong for me?" The Youma clenched her fists and her face dropped. "Everything's going wrong. I came back to kill them all. Why are they dying without my help?" She started to bang her head against the ground. "Perhaps it's because you deserved it." Chibiusa growled. "You lived up to every single fear we had. You tried to kill us. Why did you think we killed you?" "Did you say something, bitch?" The Youma turned and looked back at Chibiusa. "What's with that body, anyway? Why are you trying to look like me?" "Because I am Tsukino Usagi. That is my name. My proper name. What you will never be. You are nothing more than a pathetic mixture of spirits, all of which you aren't." After several moments of trying to work out what Chibiusa meant, the Youma stood. "I am Tsukino Usagi... The original... I am... Serenity... No... I am... Met... Met... tal..." Chibiusa sneered. "Yesss.... You're pathetic. Don't play games with me. You're facing the Real McCoy this time. The genuine article." The Youma shivered, then laughed. "Come on then, Ms Real McCoy, show me what a REAL Moon Princess is capable of." Chibiusa wiggled the fingers of her right hand for a few seconds, and a small wand with a heart-shaped head appeared in it. "Alright, then. You want to see? I'll show you." Chibiusa made arm gestures, and waved the wand about. "PINK SUGAR HEART ATTACK!" The Youma cacked herself laughing as nothing happened for several seconds. "Hah! You call that worth my time? What a pissweak excuse for an atta...." Before the Youma could finish her sentence, a small concentrated beam of plasma with the energy of a supernova and the shape of a pink heart fired from the wand and blew her clear across the city. Chibiusa stared in disbelief at her handiwork for several moments, then at the wand, and performed a little dance on the spot. "Hoo, yeah. I love this body." She promptly fell to her knees as all her energy faded away. Several miles away, Hotaru only just avoided getting struck by a pink heart shaped beam of energy and a righteously miffed Youma as she hauled herself up the side of the mound. The blast knocked Usashin, Aosagi and Usako over, just as Usako was within reaching distance of the City's tendrils. The Youma, who had ricocheted off the side of the mount, stood, holding on to her bleeding chest. It was not healing, as it did before, and that worried her. The first thing she saw was Usako, getting to her feet. "Not p..possible..." She said. Memories of the future flowed through her mind. "How could SHE be HERE?" Chibiusa staggered over to Pallas, whose arm was now no more than a watery stump. "Guess I showed that Youma a thing or two, eh?" Pallas nodded sickly. "Y..yeah. Now... how about.. d.. doing something for... me..." Chibiusa sighed and knelt down to Pallas. Just as she was about to place energy into the unfortunate Asteroid Senshi, her body arched with flashes of plasma, and she fell back against the ground, her body rolling down the rise. "Bummer..." Pallas shook her head, and dropped to the ground. her body evaporated in a spray of water, which drained into the soil, unseen. "Mind if I join you people in your little game?" PalaPala looked around the now sizeable group sitting at the card table. "Yeah, sit down." Haruka gestured to a seat which had appeared. "We're waiting for Ami to get back." "What is she up to?" PalaPala scratched her head. "She's dealing with an errant Princess." Hotaru had managed to reach the summit. Both Aosagi and Usashin had fallen aside when the Youma had struck, and Usako was now a clear target for the Youma if she so much as wished to attack. "What the hell ARE you?" The Youma stared up at Usako, who looked back at her. "What are you?" She replied, simply. "You look like Serenity. You SMELL like Serenity." "Who knows. Perhaps I am." Usako turned away and looked up. "The circle that began with Tsukino Usagi's death is about to end. If you wish to stop it, then go ahead and try." "Circle?" Both Hotaru and the Youma stared at her, questioningly. Hotaru stared up at the tendrils of the city. Usako reached up, to touch the nearest tendril. The Youma raised her hand, an energy bolt forming. "Touch it and you die." "Why?" Usako looked down at her. "What are you afraid of?" "I am Tsukino Usagi. There is no circle that needs to be closed." She sneered. "Perhaps you're scared that the circle shall close on you!" The Youma snarled. She fired off an energy bolt, stopped only by a deflection from the Silence Glaive. Saturn held out the weapon, pointing the blade at the Youma. The Youma paused for a few moments. Both Usako and Hotaru had been alive in the future.... If she killed them here, now, then that future would not occur.... Usashin lifted her head, to see Aosagi sitting beside her. "The creature that mocks the image of Tsukino Usagi is under the control of various opposing forces. I can feel it within me." "Wh.. what are you intending to do?" "If Usako succeeds in making contact with the City, a great purge shall occur. That beast shall be destroyed." She turned to Usashin. "I guess one of us shall have to distract it so Usako can complete what she has begun." "What do you mean, distract?" Aosagi smiled, then leapt. "Hayaaaaa!" The Youma was shaken from her musings as Aosagi flew at her, dagger held outwards. "Aosagi!" Usashin shouted. Hotaru lowered her Glaive as she watched the ninja Usagi land on the Youma's front. There was a blast of energy. The Youma's right arm was ripped off by Aosagi's blade. Usako turned and touched the City. Aosagi fell to the ground, her chest missing. Usashin scrabbled up beside Hotaru as the Youma screamed, clutching on to the stump of her arm. The arm itself flailed on the ground, like it had some grisly form of life itself. She turned to see Usako, glowing, an energy radiating slowly outwards. "O....ONORE!" The Youma held up her left hand and sent a blast of elemental energy at the trio. Hotaru held up the blade of the Glaive, and split the energy in two. The energy spun around and behind them. Hotaru and Usashin watched as the energy created a shield, mixing in with the strange energies being created as Usako and the City began to fuse. In a fraction of a second, the City disappeared, and all three were enveloped in a flash. The Youma stared up at the wall of energy as it flowed towards her. "Shit." She said simply, and was vapourised as it flew past. IASFU OA FWSS IASFU OA FWSS GOO JUA GOO JIPEST and again IASFU OA FWSS IASFU OA FWSS GOO JUA GOO JIPEST END OF PART 19 TO BE CONCLUDED....