[12:01:06 PM] Kyralih: The Cauldron is bright and warm, stretching out in all directions through a haze of pink clouds. Ami and Makoto appear there out of nowhere, detransformed, wearing simple short dresses of faded blue and green, respectively. 

They remember everything - the enemy, Aluminum Siren, her final attack, their deaths, and their lives leading up to that point, but what happens now?

Within the Cauldron begins
[12:21:30 PM] JupiterThunderCrash: Makoto recalls the searing pain, and then the strange  sensation of fading as she wakes up. Just what did Aluminum Siren do to her? Her eyes adjusted, and she stood up, realizing that her senshi uniform was gone. Only a simple dress remained. Was she in her own mind again? No...it wouldn't look all foggy like this. And there was no Guardian Jupiter trying to speak with her either. And then she remembered Usagi, and her eyes widened with panic. She was still on the rooftop with that weird senshi! What if they weren't defeated yet?

"Usagi-chan!" she finally said, snapping into full awareness. It echoed in the void a little, and then she noticed Ami beside her. Ami would know what was going on, right? Then they could find an exit or wake up or whatever they needed to do to get out of this place. "Ami-chan, you're okay, right?" she asked.
[12:24:12 PM] Aurae (Alice): Ami felt stunned, as if her life was suddenly moving in slow-motion or she had been frozen in time. She stared at Makoto for a minute, her mind unable to register the strange place they were in. Where were her friends? They were fighting... And then...
[12:24:27 PM] Aurae (Alice): "I... I don't know," she replied, hugging her arms across her chest.
[12:24:40 PM] Aurae (Alice): "What is this place?"
[12:26:47 PM] Aurae (Alice): But she knew in her heart what had happened.
[12:26:59 PM] Kyralih: Familiar voices snapped his eyes open wide, his posture straighten as if struck. He whipped around, looking through the pink-hued fog towards their source, and ran. Their continued conversation drew him in, faster and faster, his mind resonating with them above the quiet chorus of other voices, unable to think above the panic that their presence brought. He knew their tones, their lilt, their patterns of speech – Makoto and Ami were speaking, but who else was there?!

Finally he could see their shines ahead through the misty haze - not pinpoint bright but a softer, less defined glow of blue and green – but there was nothing else. No other hues. No one else had died.

He slowed down, caught his breath. He knew he was dead. He remembered the moment exactly; remembered making his promise to Usako, remembered the searing sensation in his chest, and the excruciating pain as his body just disappeared into nothing. His consciousness had drifted and he had suddenly appeared here, to this place filled with spirits in mourning, alone. At first he expected Usako to join him there, but when he realized just what this place was, he dreaded hearing her voice. He missed her. He missed her with all of his heart and soul, but if she were here that would mean she had died, and she didn’t deserve that. The universe didn’t deserve that. But now Makoto and Ami were here, and that only spelled more trouble for her, more heartbreak…

He stepped calmly through the last haze of clouds between himself and them. “She’s alright?” he asked softly, knowing they would understand who ‘she’ was.
[12:33:14 PM] JupiterThunderCrash: She didn't know what happened either? Well then they were both lost.... "I don't know, and I can't see anything but this endless fog," she said, frustrated. And then a voice interrupted them, and she froze, recognizing it.

It couldn't be... He was in America, right? Usagi had said so. "Mamoru...?" She looked at him with a mixture of shock and relief. "Y-yeah, she should be, but... what's going on? Why aren't you overseas?"
[12:35:33 PM] Aurae (Alice): Ami only looked at him, her blue eyes meeting his and sensing his sorrow and resulting relief. It confirmed her awful suspicions.
[12:35:51 PM] Aurae (Alice): "Usagi-chan... was protected. When we were hit." If she wasn't here now, that meant she was still alive.
[12:40:14 PM] Kyralih: Mamoru nodded to Ami, relieved that Usako was alive. "Good," he replied slowly, turning to look off into the surrounding mass of glittering clouds, "I never made it out of the airport," he said faintly, an even heavier weight pulling on his chest, his eyes turning back to them, "She didn't tell you?"
[12:42:15 PM] Kyralih: Rei and Minako appear in a place not too far away, dressed in short gowns of pale red and orange. They will be attracted by their teammates voices just as Mamoru had been - the people you loved in life are more in tune with your soul in death.
[12:43:09 PM] Aurae (Alice): Ami felt the tears collecting at the edge of her eyes, but she willed them back. Poor Usagi! She must have been so heartbroken, when Mamoru was... taken. No wonder he never returned her faithful letters.
[12:46:18 PM] JupiterThunderCrash: "What? You never made it out the-" Makoto just didn't get it. Why didn't Usagi tell them that mamor was taken? "We thought you were busy..." But he was trapped in here the entire time, like they were now. "Well....we can't just stand around! Usagi still needs us, right? Mamoru, did you find anything other than clouds while you were here?" Why did he and Ami sound so defeated?
[12:47:07 PM] ☼Mercury: Sailor Moon…!

Minako’s hand was still outstretched when she appeared, when she realized something was very, very wrong.

Sailor Moon was not there. In fact… there didn’t seem to be anyone at all here. She clutched her chest, still aching with the echo of the immense pain she had just experienced, a pain unlike any other. It felt as if her heart had literally been ripped out, and then the rest of her body shattered too.

She turned hastily, and upon seeing Rei, grasped her hand. She noted that neither of them were in their fuku anymore, that they were in some hazy place in the middle of nowhere, and that she felt incomplete.

"Where's Usagi?" she asked - the only question that mattered.
[12:47:50 PM] Aurae (Alice): Ami felt the others even before she saw them. She turned, searching, and vaguely noticed their lights. Her heart felt even heavier.
[12:48:33 PM] ☼Tiana Ballard: Usagi was in her vision... and then she wasn't any more, only darkness.  Rei jumped awake, heart pounding, breath fast.  What was going, what happened? They were right there!  Now, she looked around and found herself in this realm of pink haze.  Before her thoughts went any further, she could hear familiar voices in the distance.  Voices she thought she wouldn't ever hear again, and then Minako was grabbing her hand.  That's right they were together when- "Hopefully not here... but I hear Ami, Makoto and Mamoru in the distance. Let's go find them."
[12:51:09 PM] *** Princess Moon joined. ***
[12:51:14 PM] *** Vivie (Guest) joined. ***
[12:55:46 PM | Edited 12:58:34 PM] ☼Mercury: Minako swayed on her feet, trying to catch up with what her brain was learning. She could hear familiar voices. Ami and Makoto. At first she thought, oh, good, they’d found those two. Were they wherever Jupiter and Mercury had been taken? But then she assessed everything this place had to offer and how she felt, the missing part, the pain… and she knew. She knew how they had failed. 

How? She had witnessed Sailor Moon vanquish Sailor Lead Crow. They were all going to be okay. Who had… done this to her and Rei?

All Minako wanted to do was crumple right there and give up. She had promised she would bring Ami and Makoto back, that they were all going to be okay. Instead now she and Rei were also…

Out of habit, she repressed the emotions, put on a brave face, and attempted to look like she knew what she was doing. “Okay. Let’s… find them and figure this out,” she told Rei as she began moving toward the lights.

But inside she wondered if there was still any point. 

She was dead. She was not Venus or the leader or even a senshi anymore. She was nothing.
[1:00:19 PM] Kyralih: Makoto didn't know. She wasn't letting herself understand; how could he say it? "They call this place the Galaxy Cauldron," he said, looking at her so she would not misunderstand his meaning, "It is the place where star seeds return when they die." He let the words hang there momentarily, before continuing, more for Ami's benefit than Makoto's. "Having possessed Sailor Crystals we are able to retain our forms, but not being in possession of them has left us unable to move on." While he spoke, he saw Minako and Rei appear from out of the fog, and his chest tightened, eyes straining to find her, but he saw neither her glow or felt her presence with them. she wasn't there.

"Usako?" he asked of them, the word heavy on his lips.
[1:01:49 PM] Aurae (Alice): Ami reached out for Makoto as Mamoru finally said what she could not, wondering how the other young woman would react. She felt only nervous anticipation waiting for the response from the newcomers.
[1:05:56 PM] ☼Tiana Ballard: Rei moved towards the voices, focused on the goal ahead, making sure that Minako was still with her.  She had to keep moving, she had to have an end game, a plan, she had to distract herself, because if she didn't... The pink haze took on a blue and green look and in a few more yards there they were.  Only a moment and Mamoru was asking about Usaig, of course.  But what could they say?  "She was alive... when we saw her last, that's all I know for sure."  She tried to keep her voice firm, strong, but she paused slightly as she spoke.
[1:07:02 PM] ☼Mercury: Minako couldn’t bring herself to answer Mamoru’s question, letting Rei be the one to do that. She just shook her head, indicating that Usagi was not here. At least… the last time she checked, Usagi was okay. And she would continue to be okay, because she was strong.

She felt too ashamed to meet Mamoru’s eyes. She was supposed to protect Usagi. That was her job. She was supposed to die for Usagi, but not like this. Not when they hadn’t even faced the ultimate enemy yet…

Minako looked down as she joined the others, unable to hold anyone’s gaze. She didn’t deserve their allegiance anymore.
[1:11:41 PM] JupiterThunderCrash: Mamoru's words struck her almost as hard as Aluminum Siren had, and at first, she didn't speak. She couldn't. They weren't dead , they couldn't be. Dying was supposed to be peaceful, not this... foggy void where all she could do was blindly hope that Usagi didn't join them in this bright purgatory. 

She broke eye contact with him and looked at the ground, faintly noticing Ami's hand on her. She covered her mouth to catch the sob about to come out, blinking a few times. They didn't belong here! 

She saw Rei and Minako join them, and the realization that they were also dead finally sealed the deal for her. 

"D-damnit!" Her voice sounded rough as she tried to cover the sorrow with anger, but she was clearly crying now. "Usagi..."
[1:12:45 PM] Aurae (Alice): "Usagi... has the brightest light," Ami said, her voice almost a whisper. She couldn't make eye contact with anyone, or she knew she'd fail to hold back the tears she still felt. "She'll win."
[1:22:41 PM] Kyralih: "She has the others, still, as well. Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and Saturn - they will defend her and figure this out. They'll stay by her side," Mamoru stated, attempting to lighten their spirits, if marginally. He had faith in Usako, and he had faith in the others. He would not let himself doubt them. "We can't do much from in here, but..." his brows furrowed, his fist clenching. 'Much'? he thought to himself, unable to continue on. They couldn't do anything from in here! They couldn't help her, and this threat.... this enemy, had been all over the galaxy, destroying planets, leaving others barren, killing senshi and collecting their Sailor Crystals. Usako was facing an army of false sailor soldiers, and now as doing it with him, and without her guardians.

Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Saturn had to be enough. They had to.
[1:23:32 PM] Kyralih: Setsuna and Hotaru appear very near to them in a flash, their attire identical to the others but for their colors: soft garnet and pale purple.
[1:24:16 PM] Kyralih: Near immediately after came Haruka, and a breath later, Michiru, in soft shades of sky blue and teal.
[1:24:57 PM] Aurae (Alice): Ami looked away, trembling.
[1:26:57 PM | Edited 1:27:19 PM] ☼Tiana Ballard: Rei stared in shock as all four of the outer senshi joined them in this pink haze.  With all of them in here, then- "She's all alone now."  How could this happen? How could they fail, how could all of them have failed?
[1:27:57 PM | Edited 1:28:03 PM] Kyralih: Had he cursed them? Mamoru wondered darkly, his eyes moving mechanically from Michiru, the last to arrive, to the empty space in their group, just waiting for her to appear, despite fervently wishing she didn't. "She's alone?" Mamoru stated, his muted words coming at the same time as Rei's.
[1:28:25 PM] Aurae (Alice): "No. No, she's not alone. We're still with her," Ami said, straining to believe the words even as she voiced them.
[1:29:57 PM] JupiterThunderCrash: Makoto scrubbed at her eyes and forced herself to calm down. Mamoru was right, they'd just need to depend on the others to pick up their slack. The Outer senshi were powerful enough to- She stared in disbelief as Setsuna and Hotaru appeared, followed by Haruka and Michiru.

This couldn't be happening. She wanted to yell at them for failing, but she couldn't do any better either...

"I...I hate this!" she finally said. "We're just a glorified cheering squad now! She could be dying as we speak, or worse, and we wouldn't even know! I hate this..." she choked up again at the end.
[1:30:49 PM] ☼Mercury: Minako clung to Ami’s optimism, needing to believe it herself. Mamoru mentioned the Outer Senshi, and she knew he was right; they were strong, stronger sometimes, older, more experienced… and Pluto… Pluto surely would see this coming, right? And Saturn’s destructive powers…

As if on cue, four more lights appeared, revealing the very people they were now hanging their last hope on. Minako stared in disbelief. If even the Outer Senshi had fallen… Her faith swayed just a little bit—but no, Usagi was stronger than them, stronger than all of them combined—and she found it hard to stay focused.

Alone. The word haunted her. Usagi could not be alone. If there was one thing Usagi could not handle, it was being alone!

“How could you have let this happened?!” she cried at the four who just arrived, lashing out at them in her anguish. “You’re supposed to be stronger! You were supposed to know better!” She directed this last bit at Pluto. “How could all of us have failed?!” she clutched her head, the tears finally brimming in her eyes. Usagi...
[1:34:52 PM] Addy: Haruka blinked slowly as her new surroundings came into focus. The last thing she remembered was entering her castle in order to check on the security system that hadn't been used since the Silver Millennium fallen. Looking around she spotted Setsuna, Hotaru and Michiru close by. Had they failed? None of them were wearing their senshi uniforms, instead they were all wearing soft flowing dresses. 

"Michiru." She looked at her lover, the shock, anger and sadness clear on her face. They had failed. Haruka's fist clenched as she attempted to suppress the anger she could feel bubbling to the surface. All she ever wanted to do was protect Usagi with her own two hands and she couldn't even do that. She had failed her duty. She could only hope that the inner senshi would be able to protect....

Her ears picked up the sound of Rei and Mamoru's voice, saying that she was alone. Their voices were quickly followed by Ami and Makotos and finally Minako's demanding to know how they had let this happen, that they were supposed to be stronger. 

"They were already in my castle when I arrived, I didn't even see them coming," she admitted, unable to look the senshi of love and beauty in the face. 

There was 8 guardians and Mamoru, how had they all failed?
[1:35:22 PM] ☼Tiana Ballard: It was like the last embers of a dying fire had just lost their light.  Rei knew there was nothing they could do, not now, not ever.  What would happen to Usagi? Even if she somehow won, she would be alone, and for her that was a fate worse than death.
[1:38:33 PM] Addy: "She'll be alright," Michiru said softly, "She's strong and she's always pulled through before. She'll defeat our latest enemy."
[1:39:40 PM] Aurae (Alice): Ami felt a glimmer of hope to hear her thoughts repeated by another person. There was too much hopelessness here. That was the last thing anyone needed.
[1:44:06 PM | Edited 1:44:18 PM] Kyralih: Suddenly their consciousnesses were ripped from that peaceful plane, their bodies reforming around them as they reappeared in the material world, but they could only watch passively as their forms followed every command given by a Sailor Senshi in a suit of gold. They were assembled in the doorway of an enormous castle, their darkest selves presented foremost, golden manacles tight on their wrists and could only watch as the enemy they had been ordered to fight came closer
Eternal Sailor Moon.
[1:46:12 PM] Aurae (Alice): Ami wanted to run to Usagi, so thankful to see her dear friend alive, but found that she couldn't move. She wasn't in charge. She wasn't in control. There was something else that pushed her forward. Her face... it scowled... her eyes... they narrowed at the winged sailor soldier that she had sworn to protect.
No. No. No-no-no-no-no.
Her body moved against her will. The bracelets on her wrists burned and squeezed, compelling her forward. Compelling her to fight.
[1:49:50 PM | Edited 2:34:15 PM] Addy: Why was she here? She could see Usagi in front of her, Eternal Sailor Moon. Something wasn't right. Haruka wanted to yell at the younger girl to run, leave, but she couldn't make her body listen. Golden bracelets on her wrists compelling her to fight her Princess. 

No, no, this couldn't be happening. No matter what she tried, she couldn't get her body to listen to her.
[1:50:28 PM] ☼Tiana Ballard: It was like watching the scene unfold from a screen, Rei was not in control here.
[1:54:16 PM] Aurae (Alice): Sailor Chibi Moon stared at the lineup in shock. Everyone? Everyone was here? Her mind still reeled from Kakyuu's death. What was going on?
[1:54:59 PM] JupiterThunderCrash: It took a moment to adjust to being whole again, and for a second, Makoto thought they'd been brought to life again. Usagi must have found a way to get them out, right? But then she realized how...off she felt. She was Sailor Jupiter, but she felt stiff and detached. The cold sensation of golden bracelets dug into her, and her Sailor Crystal felt distant despite being with her once more.

But Eternal Sailor Moon was here, and it made her feel better to at least see her alive and well. She wanted to smile at her, or say something, but it was impossible to do anything but stand here in a line with the others. Whenever she tried to think about doing something, the bracelets stifled her mind again.
[1:56:49 PM] ☼Mercury: She was a senshi again, but she also wasn’t herself. Minako could feel only horror as her body moved and talked without her consent. Sailor Moon! she cried on the inside, hoping desperately that it could reach Usagi. What she felt and what her body was doing were at complete odds, and though Venus was beyond happy to see Sailor Moon alive and well, she was also horrified by what the bracelets around her wrists were forcing her to do.
[1:59:23 PM | Removed 1:59:50 PM] Aurae (Alice): This message has been removed.
[2:22:07 PM] Princess Moon: "KAKYUUUU!"

With tears welling up in her eyes, Sailor Moon watched how her breath stopped, how her eyes were closing, how every tension flowing through her body...left this world entirely. Princess Kakyuu...one of the probably most powerful, most talented Senshi...was gone.

A loud scream left her throat, a scream, desperate and upset.

She didn't want to fight anymore, she didn't want to defeat Galaxia anymore. Just within a few seconds Shadow Galactica took her friends, no her family, from her, they took their lives, eradicated them from this world entirely.
She couldn't keep fighting like this anymore. Not without Mamoru. Not without her team. Not without her friends. Not without her family.

Sailor Moon was just about to surrender, to give in, to leave this world and to leave it without any trace to her very existence. She was tired of fighting.

"Die, and all these fights and all the suffering will come to an end. Die, so that we can rule this galaxy, no, this whole universe!"

Die? So that they could rule the whole universe?
Flabbergasted Sailor Moon looked up, empty eyes staring into the void before realizing what her opponent had just really said. Rule the whole universe? Give the Silver Crystal to Shadow Galactica?

No. This was no option.
This fight would never come to an end, no matter how many lives would be sacrificed. She had to be the winner in this fight. She had to stop them to finally put an end to the suffering, to finally put an end to this horrible tragedy.

"I won't give it to you." She said determined, the hope in her eyes back, yes, even stronger than it was ever before. "I'll show you how I'll end this fight, once and for all, with the Silver Moon Crystal! I believe in it!"

With a firm grip and a strong belief, not only visible in her eyes, but also deeply rooted in her heart and soul, Sailor Moon lifted the magical rod, directing it at her enemies, directing it at the people who caused so much suffering.

She would end this tragedy today. She would end this tragedy now.

Would she?
Suddenly the firm grip went loose, the determination went missing. No, it couldn't be!

"Venus! Mercury! Mars! Uranus! Neptune! Jupiter! Pluto! Saturn! Is it you?"
Hope was glimmering in her eyes, however, as fast as it came, as fast did it leave again. Galaxia's golden bracelets...
[2:22:54 PM] Kyralih: His body had been reformed, his Sailor Crystal returned to action, pulling his consciousness with it, but he was not in command. He could not help his actions, could not move, though he felt like part of him was responsible for what he was doing, like his memories, his knowledge, his sense of self was being twisted and used to another's end. He did not know what was going on, why he had been returned --

Until he heard Usako's voice calling out excitedly the names of her friends. 

No. 

He resisted with all of his willpower, pulling back, but his body moved forward to stand dramatically in the door, just where she could see him. 

His name on her lips, the shock in her voice, her excitement and hope as she ran forward --

He couldn't stop the words that slid from his mouth, dark and disgusting on his tongue. "Sailor Moon... Kill her! And grab that Silver Crystal of hers!"
[2:24:12 PM] Aurae (Alice): "We'll deal with you first!" she found herself saying, stepping forward with an evil gleam in her eyes. "MERCURY AQUA RHAPSODY!"
[2:25:14 PM | Edited 2:25:40 PM] ☼Tiana Ballard: Rei resisted with all her might, but it had no effect on the body now moving to take action, to kill Sailor Moon.  She looked and could see the others, twisted smiles on their face.  That's what Sailor Moon was seeing, that's what her own face was showing.  She felt the fire form before her, the bow in her hands, the arrow placed so perfectly, efficiently.  Her aim would be true, no matter how she wished otherwise.
[2:28:18 PM] Aurae (Alice): As the others attacked, Sailor Chibi Moon ran forward, wanting to lend her strength to Eternal Sailor Moon... but the red-headed child grabbed her hand. Visions filled her mind, terrible visions of the destruction of her dearest friends and family members. This fight... it was not one she could join in. All she could do was believe in Eternal Sailor Moon.
[2:29:27 PM] Kyralih: They were not in control, either. Maliciously their attacks and phrases flew - Mercury and Mars first, their attacks hitting and nearly defeating the -- the Asteroid Senshi?! Chibi Moon?! What was Chibi-Usa doing here?!  Jupiter's following attack knocked Usako down, Setsuna's threw her back. Stop! he wanted to scream, he wanted to run ahead of her, protect her from the energy that was thrown at her, but instead he stood in the doorway with a malicious gleam in his eye. 

Uranus called on Galaxia's powers to aide her, and Chibi Moon stood where he would have been, bearing the brunt of the attack. 

Usako was trying to get to them, pleading with them to come back, not knowing that was what they wanted, too. They couldn't stop this, no matter how much she wanted them to.
[2:31:46 PM] JupiterThunderCrash: Jupiter tried to dig her heels in as she heard Mamoru command them to kill Sailor Moon, and Mercury and Mars struck first. No, she wouldn't let this Galaxia person make her do this! But all the stubbornness in the world couldn't make her own body disobey when the shackles on her wrists pulled her forward. 

"I'm next!" She was cursing and screaming in her head even as she charged up her own strike, ignoring the Asteroid Senshi and Chibiusa in favor of Usagi. 

"Jupiter Oak Evolution!" A storm of electrified leaves rained down on her.
[2:34:26 PM] Addy: Unable to stop herself from attacking, she attacked her Princess, "galactica space turbulence"
[2:34:52 PM] Kyralih: The way Usagi and Chibi-Usa hugged each other in the face of Hotaru's attack destroyed him - he screamed and yelled, but nothing happened externally, nothing but his face contorting in shock as Saturn's attack was negated by the small senshi's heart-shaped wand. Neptune attacked, but Usako was able to thrust this barrage aside.

Saturn and Pluto attacked together, knocking the mysterious tiny senshi back; Usako made the mistake of watching where she landed, and then Venus --
[2:35:49 PM] ☼Mercury: It was odd. She could feel herself crying, but no tears came. As her friends attacked one by one, Venus followed suit, her face wearing an impossible grin of elation as she cried, "Venus Love and Galactica Shock!"
[2:39:02 PM] Kyralih: As Usako negated this as well, he turned away, his body fleeing within the cathedral, leading Usako further. He wanted to cheer at how she had done against the latest attacks, but wanted to scream at her for following him into a trap, hearing her footsteps on stone following him in. As he turned he felt his face turning into a smile, noting the Guardian Senshi in the open door, watched them work together to throw an attack, his heart beating erratically ---

But she pressed it away! 

He scowled as his consciousness cheered, cried "No!" while exalting, Yes! And with words from Chibi-Usa urging her on, Usako was finally doing it - finally trying to defeat them!
[2:40:47 PM | Edited 2:42:24 PM] Aurae (Alice): "If you kill each other... who will protect the Earth?" Chibi Moon cried from her place on the floor, witness to the horror.
[2:41:06 PM | Edited 2:42:45 PM] ☼Mercury: As Sailor Moon unleashed her attack once more, Venus let out a condescending laugh, holding her power at bay with one hand. " This is the power of the greatest Sailor Guardian’s Sailor Crystal in the Milky Way? It’s like a gentle dancing breeze.”
[2:42:17 PM] ☼Mercury: Functioning like the leader again, Venus commanded the others, and joined their powers, her every being feeling like it was ripped apart, but unable to do anything. "Galactica Planet Attack!!"
[2:42:41 PM] Aurae (Alice): Sailor Mercury would have given anything to not join in, to not send that power towards her dearest friend... Usagi.
[2:43:02 PM] Kyralih: With that last attack, Usako fell backwards. Her wand broke in two, her wings were stripped from her back. He approached slowly to her barely-breathing form, and he was intensely afraid of what his body would do. "Got your wings ripped of eh?" he said, chuckling.
[2:43:58 PM] Aurae (Alice): Chibi Moon wanted to help. She wanted to stop this horrific event. She wanted to do something... but Chibi Chibi halted her actions. It was all up to Eternal Sailor Moon.
[2:44:37 PM] Kyralih: She was barely picking herself up off the ground, his eyes dead on her as he smiled and made the command, "Strike the finishing blow."
[2:45:18 PM] Aurae (Alice): "Sailor Moon!" Chibi Moon called, praying that she would have the strength to fight back.
[2:48:24 PM] Princess Moon: Defeated she lay on the ground, injured, exhausted, the rod broken and all her attacks apparently ineffective. Was it really going to be her end now? Was it really going to be everyone's end now?

No! No one said that this was going to be the end! No one said that I had to give in now!

"Silver Moon Crystal Power Therapy Kiss!"
With determination in her eyes and the energy collecting in her hands, a new, even more powerful, rod appeared in front of her, probably even powerful enough to finally release her friends from the endless suffering, from the horrible curse.

Yes, she could feel it - this would be everyone's salvation.
[2:51:56 PM] Kyralih: But as they prepared their attack, she picked herself up off the ground, summoned a new staff, and struck back, the immense power she released striking the bodies of their friends and causing them to disintegrate, revealing their Sailor Crystals. He had been spared from the blast, and now ran as they rejoined with a great blue gem - the Sappir Crystal.

Usako followed their Sailor Crystals into the cathedral again, and met with Sailor Galaxia. As they spoke he kept to the shadows, until by some unbidden command, he emerged from the shadows and kissed Galaxia's lips. The hurt in Usako's expression buried him as his body continued to move of its own accord, kissing Galaxia's brooch... then her boot...

Usako screamed for him to stop, but he had no control, even as she kicked his face, sending him flying backwards, and thrust her stiletto heels into the back of his hand.

He was being used as a catalyst to get Usako to fight, and he hated every moment of it, for Galaxia's plan worked, and Usako started her own attack.
[2:54:43 PM] Kyralih: Eventually, faced with the supreme power that was Usagi, Galaxia fled, and he with her. They stood on a precipice that looked over an enormous swirling nebula, the Galaxy Cauldron. Again Galaxia instigated an attack, and again Usako answered, but he would not see how their battle ended, as Galaxia used him once again in an attempt to make Usako hate her by throwing him over the cliff, into the swirling mess below.

... and then he was back in the Cauldron again.
[2:55:32 PM] Aurae (Alice): Chibi Moon watched Mamoru fall, saw Usagi scream... and felt her body disappear. She turned, reaching out. Reaching out for Sailor Moon. But it was too late.
[2:56:28 PM] Kyralih: Chibi-Usa appears in the Cauldron with the rest of the Senshi (sans Mamoru, who fell in at a different spot), her dress a soft pink.
[2:56:41 PM] Aurae (Alice): Back in the Cauldron, after that awful temporary resurrection to fight her Princess... Ami felt numb. She could barely react. What had she done?
[2:56:45 PM] ☼Tiana Ballard: They were in the pink haze again.  After having attacked her, tried to kill her.  Though she wasn't in control of her body, Rei still felt horrified by her actions.  But Usagi was strong, she defeated all of them, at least now they couldn't hurt her here.
[2:57:19 PM] ☼Mercury: They were back. Dead again. But at least her body was her own once more. Minako fell to the ground, utterly shaken. Usagi had killed them - no, freed them - and now they could only hope she could finish this battle. And when she did, that she would forgive them for their sins.
[2:57:37 PM] Addy: Not only had she failed to protect her Princess but she had attacked her. She felt ashamed. Part of her was glad she was back in the cauldron, at least here she couldn't hurt her anymore. Would Usagi ever be able to forgive her?
[2:58:00 PM | Removed 3:00:08 PM] Aurae (Alice): This message has been removed.
[2:58:24 PM] ☼Tiana Ballard: Would her friends attacking her, be the last memory Usagi had of them?
[2:58:24 PM] JupiterThunderCrash: Makoto gasped as she woke up again, once more back in the Galaxy Cauldron. Usagi had fought and released them, and least. It would have killed her all over again if they had cause her death. "She just....used us like her personal tools..." She felt so dirty.
[2:59:08 PM] Aurae (Alice): Ami opened her mouth to speak, but only choked back a stifled sob. "Usagi..."
[3:02:51 PM] Kyralih: As his body dissolved around him he was finally in control of himself again. He waited, looking up, watching the battle through the haze. He couldn't make out what was happening, but so long as the lights continued, he knew she was still alive, and that the universe still had a chance. As an explosion rocked what he could make out of the room around him, crystals started appearing all around him, sinking into the pink masses of clouds. Before him, his golden crystal hovered, and then reformed into its lotus shape before sinking back into his chest.

She had freed the Sailor Crystals.

Sailor Crystals are back!
[3:04:19 PM] Aurae (Alice): Ami blinked, watching her Sailor Crystal appear and absorb into her body. She felt a surge of power, reuniting this form of her body with her soul.
[3:04:38 PM] Aurae (Alice): "Usagi!" she gasped, now the tears those of joy. "She... she did it!"
[3:05:20 PM] ☼Tiana Ballard: Rei watched the battle above them, wondering how it would end. When an explosion sent their crystals back to them.  She watched as her crystal that was deep red sink into her chest, now she was whole.  Did this mean?
[3:06:45 PM] JupiterThunderCrash: Makoto looked up at the explosion, and her own diamond shaped crystal fell towards her, reabsorbing itself. The empty feeling in her core was gone, replaced with actual power. And this time, there were no golden shackles impeding her. "Usagi-chan..." She smiled slightly. She had saved them again.
[3:08:00 PM] Kyralih: She won, she must have. But chaos was still reigning - something was still happening up there, all the way up until...

She was falling. No, flying - heading down towards the Cauldron, her arms outstretched, reaching... At once he both wanted to tell her to go back, to ward her away, and welcome her; the closer she got, the more he understood what was going on, and as her body dissolved around her he was waiting to catch her in his arms, but she disappeared. 

He went deeper in the cauldron, racing after her; she had saved the world - not just the world, but the entire universe. She had given it all up - she couldn't've known they were in here, and yet she did it anyway. By the time he found her, picking herself up off the ground, he could hardly wait, and yet... he couldn't touch her just yet. 

"Usako," he called gently, reaching out for her. She turned, and as the confusion and anxiety melted from her face at seeing his true form, all of the tension melted away. No matter what happened now, they were safe, and together, and with the brightest shining star in the entire galaxy at home within her breast, her friends were sure to find them soon.
[3:08:59 PM] Aurae (Alice): Ami followed Mamoru. She saw what he had seen. She knew that what she had hoped was true.
[3:09:50 PM] Addy: Was she really here? Had she won? Haruka followed Mamoru as he reached out for their Princess.
[3:10:18 PM] ☼Tiana Ballard: No thought ran through her mind, only a direction.  Rei ran after Mamoru, deeper into the cauldron, after what she hoped could only be one person.
[3:10:40 PM] Aurae (Alice): She was there. She was there! Usagi was there! They were together!
[3:10:54 PM] ☼Mercury: "USAGI!" Minako screamed when she saw her friend, tears flowing down her cheeks. “I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! We’re all sorry you had to be alone, that we couldn’t protect you!" She was unable to hold herself back any longer, and practically barreled into Usagi, embracing her tightly with both arms as if afraid if she ever let go, her best friend would vanish again.
[3:12:02 PM] Aurae (Alice): "Thank you for calling out to us!" Ami chimed in, tearful.
[3:12:31 PM] ☼Tiana Ballard: Rei stood, watching Usagi and Mamoru, then Minako jumping right in.  It was real, she was here, they were together.  Her eyes began to water as she jumped into the fray that was hugging Usagi.
[3:14:08 PM] Kyralih: They had interlaced their fingers when the rest of them arrived, but he wasn't ready to share her just yet. He pulled her close, hugging her tightly, as she exclaimed about seeing them again. As they separated, he took one of her hands in his and kissed it tenderly, thanking her for what she had done, how she had saved them with her power, knowing now that it was her who had let them keep their corporeal forms in here for such a long time, not allowing them to fade into the cosmic dust surrounding them. It was only then, as Minako swooped in and Usako leapt towards her that Mamoru let her go.
[3:15:00 PM] Aurae (Alice): Small hands reached forward, from behind Usagi, as though to cover her eyes. When she turned, Chibi Usa hovered, there, wings extended. She smiled down at the blonde. Again, Sailor Moon had done the impossible. "Usagi... I'll be waiting in the 30th century... okay?"
[3:15:15 PM] JupiterThunderCrash: Makoto got to her feet again and raced behind Mamoru, determined to see Usagi herself. She caught up just to witness Mamoru and Minako meet up with her. Minako was already hugging her, and Makoto was right after Rei, somehow managing to squeeze Usagi and everyone else at the same time.
[3:16:26 PM] Kyralih: They were together, and, somehow, everything was going to be alright.

The End