A lovely woman with long, blue hair and striking silver eyes sighed as she milled about her current predicament. She had just left a meeting with her fellow Zenshin, the Benevolent Gods, regarding the actions of their evil siblings, the Akujin. They had been planning something big for quite some time, and it seemed like they were beginning to put their plans into action. Large amounts of dark energy was sensed coming from planet Earth, the only remaining planet of the Milky Way Galaxy that sustained life. It was up to the woman and her Zenshin to stop them and keep the universe safe.

Thinking about this, the goddess began to pace in her quarters. How was she going to stop this new evil?

Suddenly, she fell to her knees. Clutching her head, the woman began to moan as the eye-shaped tattoo on her neck began to glow with a bright blue light. Her eyes opened, shining white as her mind was filled with prophetic images. Her Divine Light was prevailing again.

The door opened, and the Zenshin King rushed into the room. Two hands were placed on the goddess's shoulders, holding her upright as the vision ended and her body went limp.

"Goddess Kuria, what have you seen?" he asked, supporting her weight. The blue-haired goddess placed a pale hand to her forehead.

"I know what we must do."

~~~

Tears rolled down Usagi’s face as her soul mate held her in her arms.  She sniffled, and he looked down.

“Usako...why are you crying?” he asked, tilting her chin up so that their eyes met.  He used his thumb to wipe a tear off of her cheek.  She smiled up at him.

“I’m just glad everyone is okay,” she responded.  Mamoru smiled and hugged her again, rocking them side-to-side.  The sun was below the horizon, and the bright colors of sunset were fading to the dark shades of night.  Streetlights were humming to life, and the few cars on the streets were heading home to their families.  The couple stood in silence, gazing out at the lake before them.  Before they knew it, the full moon had risen to its place in the sky.

“It’s such a beautiful night...almost as if none of today ever happened,” Usagi said, her eyes reflecting the giant moon.

“I’m very proud of you, Usako,” Mamoru replied.  He kissed the top of her head, and she felt her stomach flip.  She had missed him so much, and now that he was back, it was like they were meeting for the first time in years.

She leaned into him, not realizing that her knees felt weak and she could hardly hold herself up.  Mamoru felt the sudden change in weight, and he stepped back so that he could hold onto Usagi.

“Usako, are you alright?” he asked, trying to keep her on her feet.  Usagi’s head began to pound, and her ears started ringing.  She groaned as she struggled to hold herself together, but it was too much for her.  She collapsed, falling into Mamoru’s arms.  A man with quick reflexes, Mamoru was able to scoop her up before she could slump to the ground.  He looked down at her unconscious face with concern, wondering what was wrong with her.  Nonetheless, he carried her out of the park and down a few blocks until they arrived at his apartment complex.  The desk manager gave him a weird look, but he ignored it and continued to the elevator.  The man operating the machine had a startled look on his face when Mamoru entered, but pressed the floor for Mamoru’s apartment without a word.

“Help me out, will you?” Mamoru said to the operator, nodding his head towards his pocket.  The operator understood, and reached for Mamoru’s keys.  The two men walked down the hall until they reached Mamoru’s door, where the operator unlocked it and put the keys back in Mamoru’s jacket pocket.

Mamoru quickly went into his bedroom, where he gently laid Usagi down on his bed.  She was motionless, locked in the peaceful world of dreams.  Holding her up with one hand, he removed her jacket and hung it in his closet before going into his bathroom to grab his medical kit.  With a thermometer in hand, he re-entered his room and put it in Usagi’s mouth, knowing that nothing would wake her up.  He waited for the familiar beep before pulling it out, reading the number on the tiny screen.  Her temperature was normal, so why did she pass out?  Could it be because of all of the energy she used during battle?

With these questions buzzing through his head, Mamoru put away the medical kit and grabbed Usagi a wet cloth and a glass of water.  He placed the cloth on her forehead and set the drink on the bedside table before kissing her cheek.  He was so glad to be with her again.  She had grown so much since they had first met, and the things she did that day were unbelievable.  The first day they met, he never would have guessed that she could save the world.  But now look - she had saved them all.  She was stronger than he could ever be.

Not wanting to make her uncomfortable, Mamoru decided to sleep on the couch that night.  His eyes closed, and he dozed off thinking about his blonde princess.

~~~

Two dark figures stood among a sea of unconscious people, looking at the anarchy they had caused.  Their laughs echoed around the lifeless clearing.  Who were they?  Why did they attack these innocent people?

The dream changed, and an army of dark beings were wreaking havoc upon the Earth.  Millions were being slaughtered, and there was nothing anyone could do to stop it.  But suddenly, there was a bright light, and all of Earth was turned into ice.  Nothing moved, and all was cold.

“Prepare yourself,” a gentle voice echoed.
Who had spoken?  She didn’t recognize the voice...could it be a new enemy?

Usagi shot up in bed, sweating and breathing heavily.  What was that dream about?

She looked around, realizing she wasn’t in her bedroom.  The room was familiar...could it be Mamoru’s?  What had happened the previous night?

She didn’t remember a thing, and while trying to do so, Mamoru emerged from his bathroom wearing only a towel.  He froze.

“Usako, you’re awake,” he said, walking over to his closet to grab clothing.  “Did you sleep well?”

Usagi blushed, averting her eyes from her boyfriend’s toned chest.  “Yeah, I did,” she lied, not wanting to worry him.  He came back out in a white t-shirt and regular jeans.  He studied her face, knowing that she was lying to him.  But he decided not to press the subject.

“What happened last night?” Usagi asked, rubbing her temples as she tried to remember.  Mamoru sighed and sat on the end of the bed.

“You really don’t remember?”

Usagi shook her head.

Mamoru ran his fingers through his hair.  “Well...you just...passed out.  Maybe it was because of the battle, or maybe it was something bigger, but the point is:  you’re okay now, and that’s what matters.”  He smiled at her, but she averted his gaze.  She didn’t feel right, for some reason.  It was like her brain was fuzzy, and there was something important she needed to do.

Suddenly, a high-pitched ring echoed in Usagi’s ears, and she shrieked before covering them.  Mamoru, startled, rushed to her aid.  “Usako, what’s wrong?” he asked, but she couldn’t hear him.  Her head was throbbing , and her pulse was racing.  What was happening?  Why was she feeling this pain?

The noise began to die, but it still remained as Usagi swung her legs off of the bed and headed towards the bedroom door.  “I…have to go,” she said, opening the door and walking to the front of the apartment.  Mamoru followed behind her, frantic and confused.

“Usako, wait, I-”

“I’m sorry Mamo-chan, I just...have some things I need to take care of,” she cut him off.  He stood in the middle of the foyer, his mouth agape and his eyes wide as his girlfriend slipped her shoes on and left without another word.

~~~

Usagi walked as fast as she could to the Hikawa Shrine, clutching her head as the wretched headache continued.  She couldn’t think straight, all she knew was that she needed to see a friend.

As she climbed up the long staircase, Rei could hear her moans from her position in front of a tree.  She was in the middle of tying a charm around a branch when Usagi’s blonde hair appeared on the stairs.  Hearing the distressed sounds of her friend, Rei rushed to her aid
.  Usagi looked miserable, with her hair in disarray and her eyes red and puffy.  Her skin was pale, and tears streaked down her face.

“Usagi-chan, what’s wrong?!” Rei asked, placing both hands on her friend’s shoulders.  Usagi shook her head, in too much pain to respond.

Rei immediately took action, pulling her friend inside the shrine and laying her on a bed.  “Wait here,” Rei said.  She left the room and returned moments later with a tray full of strange objects.  With a gentle pry, Rei removed Usagi’s hands from her head and placed an ofuda scroll on her forehead.  Usagi froze, closing her eyes as the headache was cleared.  Only a dull throb remained when Rei removed the scroll, leaving Usagi in a dizzy state.

“What happened?” Rei asked, handing Usagi a glass of water.  Usagi took a drink before responding:

“I-I don’t know...I was at Mamoru’s apartment when my head started pounding and an unbearable screech sounded in my ears.  I couldn’t take it, so I left and came here.  I knew you would be able to help.  Thank you, Rei-chan,” Usagi said, hugging her friend.  Rei hugged back before pulling away, not one for physical contact.

“Wait,” Rei said, raising one eyebrow, “why were you at Mamoru’s apartment this early in the day?”

Usagi’s stomach dropped.  “I, um...I can explain it all, really,” she stammered.

Rei crossed her arms over her chest, waiting for the so-called explanation.

Usagi sighed and sat up.  “Last night, after you guys went home, Mamo-chan and I stayed at the park and watched the sun set.  I don’t remember what happened after that, but when I woke up this morning, I was sleeping in his bed.  He told me that I passed out, so he took me to his apartment.  Nothing happened.  I promise.”

Rei nodded, accepting the story.  “Fine, I’ll let this one slide.  But don’t you go off and have sex with him.  I know it’s been a while, but-”

“Stop stop stop!” Usagi shrieked, covering Rei’s mouth.  Both girls erupted in a fit of laughter.

When they calmed down, Usagi said, “Mamo-chan isn’t the type of guy to do stuff like that with me yet.  He has respect, you know.”  Rei nodded in agreement.

“I know, I know.  I was just warning you.”

There was a short silence before Usagi said, “I need some air.”

The two girls got up and went outside, both automatically shielding their eyes from the sun with their hands.

“Rei-chan...what am I going to do?  I don’t know what’s wrong with me...and I don’t want to fight another enemy.  I’m tired…I just can’t do it anymore,” Usagi said sadly.  Rei stared at her for a few moments.

“Hey, don’t talk like that!  As soon as you start telling yourself that you can’t, that’s when it starts coming true.  You are the most powerful girl in the Universe, don’t let that all go to waste!  What you did yesterday was something that I could never even dream of doing.  You are the savior this world needs, Usagi-chan.  Don’t give up on it.”

Usagi nodded and threw her arms around Rei for the second time that morning.  Rei awkwardly hugged back, trying not to show her discomfort.

“Thank you so much,” Usagi said.  She pulled away and smiled.  “I really appreciate your help, but I should be heading home.  Mama’s probably worried sick.”

Rei nodded, understanding completely.  Whenever she went out for more than two hours, Grandpa practically had a coronary.

Usagi looked out at the shrine’s landscape, breathing in the fresh air before she had to go.  She loved coming here.  Despite her energetic personality, it was nice to come to a place where everything was calm.

Suddenly, a strange ring floated through the air, gliding right past Usagi’s nose.  Startled, the blonde girl shrieked and stepped back, tripping over Rei and sending both of them tumbling to the ground.

“Usagi-chan!  Watch where you’re stepping!” Rei snapped, shoving Usagi off of her.

Usagi stood up and pulled Rei up, not knowing what happened.  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it!  There was something floating, I swear!” she said, searching for the mysterious object.

Rei looked at Usagi like she was crazy before heading back towards the tree she had been charming earlier.  “Why don’t you head home and get some rest?  You’re acting weird,” Rei remarked.  Usagi sighed and smoothed her hair before going back towards the shrine staircase.  She paused.

“Rei-chan?” she shouted.

“What?!”

“Thank-you.”

Rei sighed.  “You’re welcome.”

“Rei-chan?”

“What?!”

“If my mom calls, will you tell her I stayed at your place?”

Rei sighed again.  “Yes, Usagi-chan.”

“Thank you!”

Rei stood there, watching her friend descend the staircase until her blonde hair was out of sight.  This was one of those times when Rei regretted ever being mean to Usagi.  How could she be so harsh to such an innocent soul?

~~~

As Usagi walked, she felt alone.  The sidewalks were empty, and not even the sound of birds kept her company.  Hundreds of different thoughts were running through her head.

She had just defeated one of the biggest threats this Universe has ever had.  She saved millions of lives, not just on Earth, but all over the Universe.  She fought to the end, even when she was alone.  And now she was being threatened by something else.  She didn’t know what exactly, but she knew that these headaches wouldn’t occur for no reason.

Wanting to avert her thoughts from the thought of the previous battle, Usagi began to think about her mother, and what she would do when she returned home.  On a typical day, she would sit on the couch and watch TV while eating a tub of ice cream, but she just didn’t feel up to that today.  All morning, Usagi had a lingering feeling that there was something important she had to do.  But as she struggled to think of what this thing was, she found herself at a loss.

Usagi was so immersed in her thoughts she almost didn’t notice the same ring from earlier float in front of her face again.  She stopped short, her breath hitching in the back of her throat.  She stared at the strange object, wondering why in the world it was floating and why it was in front of her.  Was it malevolent?  Would it transform into a monster and attack?

Suddenly, the ring began to glow brightly, shining the golden color of the sun.

“Do not be alarmed, Serenity.  I will not harm you.”

Usagi turned, looking around for whoever spoke.  There was no one in sight.  She turned back to the ring, wondering if it was the source of the voice.  How did it know who she was?

“W-what do you want?” she said, taking a slight step backwards.  Her hand reached for her brooch, but the ring interrupted her:

“Listen to me, Serenity.  Take the ring and place it on your finger.  I am your friend.  You need to trust me.”

Usagi stared at the ring, contemplating what she should do.  The voice was so familiar, but she couldn’t remember where she had heard it before.  And for some reason, she felt like this voice, this ring, wouldn’t hurt her.

Without any further hesitation, Usagi slipped the ring on her finger, examining its beauty.  It had many small, intricate designs around the golden band, and a crescent moon encrusted with diamonds reflected the light of the sun.  Four other gemstones were arranged in a diamond pattern next to the crescent moon:  one ruby, one sapphire, one emerald, and one topaz.  Each gemstone was placed in the middle of a golden star.  Encrusted along the band was four more gemstones:  an amber, a fluorite, a garnet, and an aquamarine.  It wasn’t hard for Usagi to realize that each gemstone resembled her fellow senshi.  She waited for the ring to say something else, but it was silent.  With a shrug, Usagi continued her trek home.

As soon as Usagi opened her front door, Ikuko’s purple-haired head appeared from the kitchen doorway.  “Usagi-chan!  Where have you been?” the busy woman said.

Usagi suppressed a sigh.  “I stayed at Rei-chan’s house.  I’m sorry Mama, I forgot to call,” she replied.  Ikuko sighed and wiped a bead of sweat off of her brow.

“I’ll...be in my room,” Usagi sighed, heading up the stairs.  She didn’t want to face any further questioning, and she wanted to examine her ring more closely.  Ikuko stood there, appalled at her daughter’s strange behavior.  Before she could say anything, Usagi was already up the stairs.

Her room was just the way she’d left it.  Usagi was glad to be back home.  She plopped down on her bed and closed her eyes, feeling relaxed for the first time that week.

There was a shuffling noise coming from beneath her bed, and Usagi shot up.

“Usagi-chan?” a faint, yet familiar voice rose up from beneath the bed.  Usagi relaxed and flopped back onto her pillows.

“Luna, you scared me!” she breathed.  The black cat leaped onto the bed and made herself comfortable next to her charge.

“I’m very proud of you Usagi,” Luna said, after a few moments of silence.  “You did a marvelous job yesterday.”

Usagi smiled faintly.  “Thanks,” she said, her voice a monotone.  Luna immediately sensed the change of attitude in her princess.

“Is something wrong?” Luna asked.

Usagi rolled her eyes and turned over.  “I don’t want to talk right now, Luna,” she said.

“Usagi, talk to me,” the cat pried.

“The Sailor Senshi save the world yet again, and does anyone thank us?  Do we get any time to relax and be rewarded?” Usagi snapped.

Luna sat there, shocked.  Usagi had never been one to desire praise for doing the right thing.  Luna was about to speak when Usagi interrupted:

“I’d like to be left alone, please,” Usagi said.  Luna sighed and left through the window, worrying about her beloved Usagi.

Usagi felt her body heat as she thought of everything that had been going on.  Her eyes welled up with tears.  All she wanted was to be a normal girl, for once.  Every time she defeated one threat, there was always another one ready for her.  She was tired, and sick of the stress.

She brought her hand up to wipe the tears off of her face when she suddenly remembered the ring.  It was still silent, as if it had never spoken at all.  Usagi rubbed the crescent moon, hoping that maybe it worked like the Genie’s lamp, but nothing happened.  She let her hand fall back down in defeat.

She was alone.  No one could help her with this - no one understood her.  Not even her boyfriend or her closest friends knew what was going on inside Usagi’s head.  Was she destined to be this miserable?  To roll around in sadness and despair until the day she died?  Why did she always end up alone?

Usagi depressing thoughts were interrupted by the voice of the ring:

“This is no time for self-pity, Serenity.”

“What do you know about pity?” Usagi snapped, not in the mood to be scolded.

“That is beside the point.  I have very important, life-altering information for you.  This Earth depends on you.  It is your duty to stay strong and never give up, for you are the only one capable of protecting this planet.”

Usagi sighed.  “What’s the threat this time?  A big, ugly monster attacking Tokyo Tower?  A giant band of outcasts who discovered black magic and are plotting against the city?  Please, humor me.”

“Princess, this is a very serious matter.  You and Endymion…”

Usagi froze.  What did this ring know about her beloved?

“W-what about him?” Usagi asked.

“You need to be married.”

“WHAAAAAAAT?!” Usagi squealed.  The sudden outburst caused her to slip off the edge of her bed and fall to the floor with a thump.

“I shall start at the beginning.”

The ring suddenly began to shine, and Usagi closed her eyes to protect them from the bright light.  When she opened them again, she realized she was no longer in her bedroom.  She was floating in space, passing hundreds of tiny stars as she went.  Looking down, she found herself dressed as Neo Queen Serenity, the woman she was destined to become in the 30th century.

“I must apologize, for I have not introduced myself,” the ring said.  “I am the goddess Kuria, the Sailor Goddess, the first Sailor Senshi and the one who created the rest.  I am a Zenshin, one of the many Benevolent Gods.  For millennia, the Benevolent Ones and I have fought against the Malevolent Gods, the Akujin.  Because of the power of Chaos and other factors, the Akujin have grown to be very strong, and the Zenshin and I must hide in forms such as this ring.  This is the only way I may communicate with you, Princess.”

Usagi stared at the ring, trying to process all it had told her.  “Why have you come to me?” she said, slightly startled by the deep maturity of her voice.

"There is a woman on the side of evil that has manipulated what remains of Chaos.  This woman is called Lilith, and she is filled with hatred for the Zenshin.  She has created Seven Sins, warriors of evil that want nothing but oblivion.  To the Akujin, oblivion is the fate of all things.  You must protect Earth from the incoming threats from Lilith, and keep the Universe safe."

Usagi understood and nodded her head.  "What must I do?"

The ring glowed slightly, and projected a small hologram into the air.  Usagi narrowed her eyes, immediately recognizing her future daughter.

"The Imperium Silver Crystal grows stronger as the lineage of the Moon continues.  Your daughter, Princess Small Lady, will be the strongest yet.  She is the key to saving this Universe.  That is why you must marry Endymion," the ring explained.

"I see," Usagi said, staring at the image of her daughter.  Was innocent Chibiusa really destined for such a task?

The hologram faded, and the ring began to shine brightly yet again.  Usagi shielded her eyes, and when the light faded, she was back in her bedroom.  Luna was sitting on her stomach, staring at Usagi curiously.  "Did you have a nice nap?" the adviser asked.  Usagi didn't answer and placed a hand on her forehead.  Was what she just saw a dream?

Usagi stared at the ring, and a part of her knew that what she saw was true.  But another part of her wished it wasn't.

A nervous Mamoru approached the front door of the Tsukino household, taking a deep breath as he clutched Usagi’s jacket in his hand.  Sending a silent prayer begging for Usagi’s father not to be home, Mamoru knocked on the door and braced himself for the worst.  A few seconds later, Shingo Tsukino opened the door.  He had to look up to see Mamoru’s nervous face.

“She’s upstairs,” Shingo grumbled, in a bad mood because his mother wouldn’t allow him to have ice cream before dinner.  Mamoru thanked him and entered the house, stopping when Ikuko’s head popped out from the kitchen.  She smiled widely upon laying eyes on the tall man.

“Mamoru-kun!  You’ve returned!” Ikuko rushed to hug the man, always the one to extend a warm welcome to her guests.  “It’s so great to see your handsome face again!”

“It’s good to see you too, Tsukino-san,” Mamoru said with a smile.

“Have you been eating properly?  You look thin, sweetheart.  Can I interest you with some donburi?  It should be ready here in about an hour, if you’d be willing to stay for dinner.  Oh, and don’t worry, my husband is on a business trip and won’t be home until tomorrow.”

With a chuckle, Mamoru scratched the back of his head.  “The cheapest foods they have in America that are simple enough for a busy college student is instant ramen and pizza rolls.”  Mamoru hadn’t eaten either of those things in America, nor had he even been to America, but he had done his research.

Ikuko laughed and placed a hand on Mamoru’s shoulder.  “Well, it’s great to have you back dear.  I’ve been so busy with -”

Shingo stepped between the two adults and began to push his mother back into the kitchen.  “Mama, leave the guy alone!  We both know the real reason he’s here,” he grumbled.  Ikuko winked at Darien and pointed to the stairs, showing him where his girlfriend was.  Mamoru chuckled to himself before heading up to Usagi’s room.

Mamoru was overwhelmed by the exuberant welcome he had received from Usagi’s mother.  But at the same time, he felt his heart warm up.  Ikuko had always treated him like he was her own child, and she was always making sure he was taking care of himself and staying healthy.  It was nice to finally have a mother figure.  It was just another beautiful gift Usagi had blessed him with.

Still holding Usagi’s jacket, Mamoru lightly rapped on her bedroom door.  He heard hushed voices, and then a scuffling sound before his blonde princess opened the door.  She looked up at him, and he immediately noticed the puffiness of her eyes and the paleness of her skin.  Had she been crying?

“Usako, I…”

Mamoru found himself at a loss for words as he stared at Usagi, losing himself in her beauty.  Even in her distressed state, she still was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.  He had missed everything about her - the walks through the park, the daily cravings for ice cream, her laugh, her eyes, her smile, the feel of her silky blonde hair between his fingers, every little detail...he missed.

The sound of a clattering pot from downstairs snapped Mamoru out of his stupor, and he immediately spoke:

“You forgot your jacket.”  He held out the white piece of clothing for her to take. Usagi simply stared at it before looking up at him, then back at the jacket.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, she threw her arms around his waist and began to sob in his chest.  Surprised and confused, Mamoru wrapped his arms around Usagi and gently pushed her backwards so that they were in her room.  Using his foot, Mamoru shut her bedroom door quietly and brought her over to the small bed, pulling her into his lap as he dropped the jacket on the floor.  Her arms were around his neck as she sobbed uncontrollably.  Her body shook and her eyes were overflowing with tears, soaking his white t-shirt.  As Mamoru held her, rocking them back and forth, he felt his heart break into a million pieces.  The last time he had seen Usagi this worked up was when he had broken up with her years before, and it killed him inside to see her like that again.

He placed one hand on the back of her head, smoothing her hair as her sobs began to die down.  “Everything will be okay, Usako,” he said lovingly, kissing the top of her forehead.  Wanting desperately to believe what he said, Usagi sniffled a few times before pulling her head off of Mamoru’s chest.

“Thank you…” she whispered, trying to stop the tears from falling down her face.  It was all too much for her, and seeing Mamoru in front of her made her lose control.  She needed to be in his arms.  She hated feeling alone, and she knew that Mamoru understood her better than anyone else.

“Do you want to talk about what’s bothering you?” Mamoru said, lifting her chin and wiping a tear off of her cheek.  Usagi nodded and took a shaky breath, preparing herself to tell him all she had learned about the new enemy.

As soon as Usagi opened her mouth, she was interrupted by a bright light spreading from the ring on her finger.  Instinctively, Mamoru took Usagi’s hand as the light enveloped them.  “What’s going on?” he asked.  Usagi pulled her hand out of Mamoru’s grasp and showed him the ring, biting her lip as the light began to fade.  The room was back to normal, and Mamoru was staring, dumbfounded, at the beautiful piece of jewelry.

“Where...did you get that?” he asked, holding her hand closer to his face so he could examine the ring more closely.  It didn’t take him long to realize that the ring resembled Usagi and her senshi.

Usagi bit her lip and pulled her hand away, standing up and pacing around the room.  She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to sort out everything that had happened.

“Well, I...when I left your apartment, I went to the temple.  I talked with Rei-chan for a while, and then on my way home this ring just appeared out of nowhere.  It spoke to me...telling me to take it and that it wouldn’t harm me.  I don’t know why I did it...but something told me that it was a harmless object.  So then I-”

Mamoru stood, interrupting her.  “Wait, so you’re telling me that a ring appeared in front of you, told you to put it on, and you listened?  Usako, are you crazy?!  It could have been a mind-control device!  It could have brainwashed you, or even killed you!  You put your life and the future of this world in jeopardy!  How could you be so thoughtless?”

Usagi placed her hands on her hips and huffed impatiently.  “Don’t you think I know that?!” she snapped.  “Do you honestly think that, after everything that happened yesterday, I would carelessly do such a stupid thing?  I know it sounds crazy, but I knew the ring wasn’t going to hurt me.  I could feel it.”

Mamoru sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.  “Okay, continue,” he urged.

“So when I came home, the ring started glowing and -”

Usagi was interrupted for the second time by the sound of the front door opening and closing.  The hair on her arms stood on end, and even Mamoru felt his stomach flip.

“I’m home!”

Both Usagi and Mamoru’s mouths dropped open as the cheerful voice of Kenji Tsukino reached their ears.

“I thought he wasn’t supposed to be home?!” Mamoru hissed.

“Shhhhhhh!” Usagi said, waving her hands chaotically.  She shoved him towards her balcony, glancing worriedly at her bedroom door.  “You need to go, now,” she whispered, opening the balcony doors and pushing Mamoru out.  Mamoru tried to speak, but Usagi put a finger to his lips to silence him.  “You’d better be gone in ten seconds.”

She kissed him on the cheek before going back into her room, shutting the balcony doors and pulling the curtains over them.  At that exact moment, her bedroom door swung open.

“I’m home, Usagi!” Kenji Tsukino said, coming into the room.  His lips were spread wide into a cheerful smile.

“Papa!  What are you doing here?  I thought you wouldn’t be home until tomorrow?” Usagi said, rushing to hug her father as she tried to hide her nervousness.

“We got done early.  But tell me, did I hear voices in here a minute ago?” Kenji asked, looking behind Usagi for a sign of any people.  Luna emerged from beneath Usagi’s bed and meowed lazily.

“Oh no, um, that was just me talking to Luna!” Usagi said, laughing nervously.  Kenji eyed her suspiciously before further entering Usagi’s room.

“You aren’t hiding any boys in here, are you?”

“No, why would I -”

Usagi froze when Kenji opened her balcony doors.

“What in the…?” Kenji said, walking out.  Usagi squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her fists, knowing that Mamoru had been caught.

“Papa, I can expla-”

“What is this doing out here?” Kenji asked, coming back into the room with a red rose in his hand.  Usagi opened her eyes and let out an exhale of relief at the sight of her boyfriend’s trademark flower.  So her father hadn’t caught him.

Covering up her almost-slip-up, Usagi shrugged and took the rose out of her father’s hand.  “I don’t know, but it sure is pretty!” she said, spinning it around between her fingers.  Kenji raised his eyebrows, considering asking her more questions when Ikuko came to the rescue.

“Dinner!” the cheerful woman shouted up the staircase.  Usagi and Kenji’s stomach began to rumble, and both father and daughter began to laugh.

“We’re coming!” they yelled in unison.  Usagi followed him down the stairs, pausing when her mother grabbed her arm before she could enter the kitchen.

“Did he get out okay?” Ikuko whispered.  Usagi nodded and the two girls shared a knowing smile as they sat down for dinner.  Shingo, on the other hand, was more confused than ever.  He didn’t care too much, though, for he was still mad about the ice cream.

~~~

Sitting around the floor of Rei’s bedroom at the Hikawa Shrine were all of the Sailor Senshi, excluding Usagi.  Rei had called a secret meeting after Usagi had left, and all of the senshi had shown up in a matter of minutes.  They had all been drinking tea and eating dumplings for around fifteen minutes as they waited for their hostess.  Rei had gone to serve dinner for her grandfather, and had yet to return.

Setsuna set down her teacup and cleared her throat.  “Has anyone seen Usagi since yesterday?” she asked, gaining the attention of the other senshi.  The girls all exchanged glances, slowly shaking their heads.

“Not since we headed home last night,” Ami said, placing a finger on her chin.

“I’m sure she’s taking today to rest up after that battle.  The poor kid - she must be exhausted,” Michiru said sadly.

Minako smirked.  “I bet Mamoru took her home, if you know what I mean,” she said, whispering the last part.  Haruka threw a pillow at her, glaring.  Minako giggled and covered her mouth, forgetting that Hotaru was in the room.  The poor soldier of silence was beyond confused.

“I wonder if she’s doing okay…” Makoto said aloud.

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you guys about.”

Rei entered the room, her eyelids heavy as she flopped onto her bed.  She was tired from working at the temple all day, and worrying about Usagi only added to her exhaustion.

“What’s going on, Rei-chan?” Minako asked, sitting at a more attentive position.

All of the senshi were silent as they waited for Rei’s response.  Rei, on the other hand, was thinking of how she could explain what happened that morning to the girls.  With a deep breath, she let it out:

“Usagi came by this morning.  She was in tears and looking like she had just woken up.  I calmed her down, and she told me about how she was at Mamoru’s apartment - “

Rei was interrupted by a snicker from Minako, which was answered with a glare.

“ - and how she suddenly got this really bad headache.  I felt so helpless, seeing her in so much pain.  I used a charm to make it go away, but I’m worried about her.  She kept going on about how she was tired, and how she didn’t want to fight anymore.  I did my best to help her, but I knew that she was still upset.  I didn’t know what else to do.  She left before the conversation could really go any further.  I’m so worried…”

Rei covered her face with her hands, letting a few tears fall from her eyes.  She cared about Usagi like she was her sister, and knowing that she was in pain killed her.  If there was one thing Rei Hino hated more than anything else, it would be loss of control.  And this situation had definitely spun out of control.

Hotaru immediately sensed the tension in Rei’s demeanor and stood, approaching the bed and placing a hand on Rei’s shoulder.  Rei brought her hands away from her face and stared at the young girl, managing to form a half smile.

“You’re a good friend, Rei-chan,” Hotaru said kindly.  Rei’s smile grew and she nodded, silently thanking Hotaru for her support.

The room was silent for a few moments when Ami spoke up:

“Our Usagi is falling apart.”

Everyone was quiet as Ami’s words sank in.  They all wished it wasn’t true, but they couldn’t deny the truth.  Usagi had been falling apart for months now, and even with Mamoru back, she was still slowly crumbling away.

Their thoughts were interrupted when a thump was heard outside.  Everyone sat up straight, staring at the door.  It slowly slid open, revealing…

Nothing?

There wasn’t anyone at the door, and it continued to slide open.  But suddenly, a silent meow reached the girls’ ears.  Minako rushed to the door, gasping when she saw Artemis - collapsed on the floor.  She scooped him up and brought him into Rei’s room, placing him gently on a pillow.

“Artemis, what happened?!” Minako said, her voice wavering at the sight of her guardian.  His fur was colored red in many spots, and he looked exhausted.  His body rose and fell in sharp breaths as he coughed repeatedly.

Everyone gathered around the injured cat, gasping at his condition.  One particular area that caught everyone’s attention was his left hind leg.  It was cut badly, but instead of bleeding, it was surrounded by a sick green color.  It looked as if it had been infected by a horrible virus.

“Ami, can you take a look at this?” Minako asked, worried for her feline.  Ami nodded and pulled her data computer out of her pocket, typing furiously as she scanned Artemis’s leg.  Everyone watched her, waiting for the results.

Ami froze, staring at her screen.  Her mouth was slightly open as she took in the combination of letters and numbers that had formed.  Michiru, curious to know what Ami was so worked up about, kneeled beside the bluenette and read what was on her computer.

Michiru tensed and stood up straight, taking a deep breath and smoothing her shirt.  All eyes were on her.

“Everyone,” she began.  She glanced at Ami, who was staring up at her.  The girls shared a nod, confirming that what they had read was indeed factual.

“I’m sorry to say this, but our job as Sailor Senshi is far from over.”

~~~

Mamoru wiped a bead of sweat off of his forehead as he walked down the street towards his apartment.  He had just barely escaped the wrath of Usagi's father, and he was trying to sort his thoughts as he walked past numerous houses.

His thoughts were interrupted when he noticed a fairly large group heading his way, composed entirely of females.  It was obviously the senshi, but why were they all heading towards Usagi's?

They met a few seconds later, stopping across from each other.  Mamoru had his hands in his pockets, not knowing what to say as the girls stared at him with curious eyes.  Makoto was the first to speak:

"Mamoru, it's good to see you.  Where's Usagi-chan?" she asked.

Mamoru turned slightly, nodding towards Usagi's house.  "She's back home, getting ready to eat dinner.  I just barely escaped her father," he said with a nervous laugh.  Haruka chuckled, having experienced the wrath of Mr. Tsukino herself.

Mamoru could feel someone giving him a stare-down, and he quickly examined each girl's face before pinpointing who it was.

"Something the matter, Rei?" Mamoru asked, slightly tilting his head.  He knew almost immediately that she had figured him out. She knew something had happened that he was hiding.  But at the same time, Mamoru knew that the senshi were hiding something, too.

All eyes were switching between the two black-haired individuals before Minako spoke up:

"Listen, I'm sure we'd all love to stay and watch you two count the number of pores on each other's faces, but we have something to do, so we really need to be going," she said, taking Rei's arm and pulling her forward.  Rei pulled Minako to a stop and grabbed a fistful of Mamoru's t-shirt.

"He's coming," the priestess said.  "He knows something."

Everyone was silent as they stared at Mamoru.  He shuffled his feet, clearly uncomfortable under these women's eyes.

"We don't have time for this!  Just go!" Hotaru exclaimed, throwing her hands up and marching forward.  Setsuna placed a hand to her head and followed the child, leaving the remaining people to follow behind.

~~~

There was a knock on Usagi’s bedroom door, shortly after she had finished eating dinner.  She had been pacing when the knock caused her to pause.  Before she could ask who it was, the door opened.

“Shingo?” Usagi said, tilting her head to the side.  Her brother rarely ever came to talk to her.  They were close, but not that close.

The brown-haired boy stepped into the room, shuffling his feet.  “Hey, Usagi...I was just wondering...is everything okay?  You seemed...different at dinner.”  Shingo wouldn’t meet her eyes as he spoke, for he was embarrassed to be confronting his sister like this.

Usagi’s gaze softened at her brother’s demeanor.  “Yeah, I’m okay,” she lied.  Shingo looked up at her then, scrutinizing her facial expression.  He knew she wasn’t telling the truth, and he looked at her in a way that showed how worried he was about her.

Usagi couldn’t contain her emotions any longer - she let the tears fall as she threw her arms around her brother.  He was almost her height, and was able to comfort her in an adult manner.  Without saying a word, the confused boy wrapped his arms around his sister, hugging her tightly.  They rarely had this kind of physical contact - only when they really needed it.

Usagi was about to pull away and apologize when the doorbell rang.  The two siblings looked at each other questioningly before heading down the stairs to see who was at their house so late.  Usagi opened the door, revealing all eight of her senshi, along with Mamoru in the back.  The blonde blinked in surprise, wondering why everyone was at her door.

“Everyone?  What are you doing here?” she asked, looking at all of them in turn.  Ami was about to answer, when Ikuko came into the foyer.

“Ah, if it isn’t Usagi’s friends!  It’s nice to see you all,” the cheerful woman said, earning smiles and greetings from the large group.  Usagi turned to her mother.

“Mama, would it be okay if I went out for a little bit?” she asked.  Ikuko smiled.

“Of course sweetheart.  But let me know if you’re staying anywhere this time, alright?”

Usagi nodded and hugged her mother good-bye before heading out with her friends.  She was confused as to why they all came to her house so late, considering they never really hung out all together.

“So, what’s going on?” Usagi asked, as they emerged onto the sidewalk.

“Usagi, we know you have been hiding something from us, and you need to tell us everything,” Rei said, getting straight to the point.  Makoto pinched her, trying to let her know that she was being too harsh.  But Rei ignored it.

Usagi bit her lip and looked down at her moving feet.

“What Rei-chan means, is that she is worried about you, as is the rest of us.  As your friends and guardians, we want you to know that we love and support you, and we need you to talk to us when you’re having problems,” Ami said, shooting a glare at Rei.

Usagi sighed, blowing her bangs away from her eyes.  She knew Ami was right...but she didn’t know how to explain everything to them.  They arrived at Juuban Park, where Usagi finally decided to tell them all.

Each senshi (including Mamoru) listened intently to Usagi’s explanation, drinking in every little detail.  She told them of the goddess Kuria, and of the Zenshin and the Akujin.  Lilith, the Seven Sins, and the history of the Imperium Silver Crystal were all explained.  There was only one detail Usagi left out, one that she was saving for last.

She took a deep breath.  “And...to defeat the Seven Sins...we need the Silver Crystal to be at its strongest ability.  To do that...Chibiusa needs to be born, and...we need to be married,” Usagi said, staring straight at Mamoru.  His mouth dropped open in shock as he stared into the eyes of his beloved.  Her words echoed in his mind, not quite registering with his sense of reality yet.  Everyone was quiet as they sorted all of the information Usagi had just given them.

Minako stepped in front of the others, revealing the sickly Artemis cradled in her arms.  “Whatever we need to do, we need to do it fast, because I’m pretty sure the battle has already begun.”

~~~

As the girls conversed over their plan, Mamoru snuck out of the park and towards Tokyo Tower.  He needed some time to think and be alone.

When he reached the top of the tower, he stared up at the sky, which was beginning to take on the vibrancy of sunset.  He was the only one at the tower, which was perfect for his mind to focus.

This isn’t how it was supposed to be - they were supposed to wait until they were both older and out of college, and then Mamoru would propose in a grand gesture of love and dedication.  They would have a beautiful wedding, and get a nice apartment together until the time came to assume the throne.  He had it all planned out.

But now that he thought about it, how exactly was he going to acquire a throne that didn’t exist?  Maybe...this was a gateway opportunity for their future?

As Mamoru pondered over the situation, he almost didn’t notice a ring floating past him, shining brightly.  He took a surprised step back, staring at the ring.  He felt a sense of deja vu as he examined the glowing object, remembering how Usagi’s ring had glowed earlier that day.  He knew that the ring was harmless, and reached out to grab it.  As soon as his fingers clasped onto the ring, there was a bright white light that consumed him.

When the light faded, Mamoru found himself floating among the stars in space.  He was surrounded by black, with the Moon shining in the distance.  Looking down, he discovered that he was no longer in his t-shirt and jeans, but in the royal clothing of Prince Endymion.

“You must understand, Endymion,” a heavenly voice echoed around him.  He searched for the source, knowing that the voice was coming from the goddess Usagi had mentioned.  But she was nowhere to be seen.

All of a sudden, a flood of images raced through Endymion’s head, confirming everything Usagi had told him earlier.

The threat was here.  It was time to take action.

After Mamoru left, the senshi explained to Usagi what had happened with Artemis.  The girls were still discussing how to find and defeat the Seven Sins when Mamoru returned, looking frantic and disheveled.  Usagi, who had been worrying about him during his absence, ran to him once she saw him.  “Mamo-chan, where have you-”

Usagi was interrupted as her hands joined with Mamoru’s, causing the rings on their fingers to shine brightly.  Usagi looked down, surprised to see that Mamoru also had a ring.

Everyone shielded their eyes as a bright beam of light shot into the sky, spreading apart to create shapes and designs.  Everyone stared up, wondering what the light had formed.

“What in the world is it?” Hotaru asked, placing a finger on her chin.

“It’s a map of the city,” Haruka observed.

“And that,” Michiru continued, pointing at a red star on the map, “is a pinpoint of some kind.”

Artemis, who had been relaxing in Minako’s embrace, looked up at the map.  His eyes widened as he saw the red star, recognizing the destination is marked.  “That’s where I was attacked!” he exclaimed, coughing afterwards.

Usagi took a confident step forward, pulling her Eternal Moon Article out of her pocket.  “Then let’s go!”

Everyone shouted their transformation phrases and ran after Sailor Venus, who was holding Artemis as he directed where to go.  Sailor Moon held Tuxedo Mask's hand as they ran, staying that way for a few blocks until an explosion from in the distance caused their hands to pull apart.  Wrought with worry for the civilians of Tokyo, Sailor Moon sprints ahead of the group, surprising them all.  She was always the slowest.

Sailor Moon turns the corner, freezing as she laid eyes upon the scene in front of her.  Multiple people were lying unconscious on the ground, each covered with green mucus on a certain part of their body.

Sailor Mercury presses her left earring, causing her visor to appear in front of her eyes.  With her data computer in hand, she scans the nearest victim.  The others walk around, seeing if anyone is conscious.

"Everyone!  The acidity of the mucus is off the charts!  We need to find the source before it eats away these people's organs!" Mercury shouted.  Venus gasped and looked down at Artemis, who looked even worse than he did five minutes ago.  He was running out of time.

Another explosion sounded, this time happening just a few yards away from Sailor Moon.  She flew backwards, smashing into Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Saturn.  The three fell to the ground, scrambling to get back to their feet.  The other senshi were standing defensively, glaring at the monster that had just appeared.

Eager to battle, Sailor Venus led Luna and Artemis to an alley, where she set the shaking Artemis onto the ground.  "Take care of him," she told Luna.  The black cat nodded and nuzzled Artemis's head with hers, confirming that she would guard him with her life.

Venus returned to the battle to find Sailor Moon charging toward the hideous monster.  It stood ten feet tall, with green skin that was covered in green spores. Two large horns protruded from its head, and tentacle-like brown hair went to the monster's shoulders. His large, round mouth was lined with shark-like teeth.  He was definitely hard on the eyes.

Sailor Moon launched herself in the air at the exact moment when the monster spat a stream of green mucus.  Right when the mucus was about to come in contact with the winged soldier, Tuxedo Mask shot into the air and tackled Sailor Moon out of the way.  He shielded her body with his own as they landed on the asphalt.

"Thanks," Sailor Moon breathed, getting to her feet.

The others were preoccupied with trying to dodge the streams of mucus the monster kept shooting at them.  It was incredibly fast, and didn't seem to need any time to recharge.

"Don't attack until I get an analysis on this thing!" Sailor Mercury shouted.  At the same time, Sailor Neptune was using her Deep Aqua Mirror to try and find the creature's weakness.  It was hard for the both of them to continue their tasks while dodging projectiles during the process.

"I've got it!" Mercury shouts.  During her temporary moment of triump, the monster managed to hit her leg with its slimy mucus.  The soldier of water fell to the ground, yelping in pain.  Sailor Jupiter ran to her aid, holding her head up as the others focused on distracting the monster.  Sailor Mercury was unconscious, so Jupiter carried her into the alley that Luna and Artemis were taking refuge in.

"She's out, guys!  Protect Neptune!" Sailor Uranus shouted, throwing a rock at the monster to distract it.  Both Sailors Mars and Pluto assisted Sailor Uranus, throwing whatever they could find from different angles around the monster.

"I've found its weakness!" Sailor Neptune shouted, her eyes glued to her mirror.  "It's-"

The monster turned at the sound of Neptune's voice, not hesitating to spit another round of mucus at the aqua-haired woman.

"Silence Wall!"

Sailor Saturn jumped it at precisely the right moment, using her glaive to form a forcefield around her adopted mother.  Neptune smiled and thanked her before continuing her sentence:

"Its weakness is on its left wrist, where there aren't any spores!"

Sailor Mars and Sailor Pluto were struck down by the mucus, carried off by Sailors Jupiter and Uranus.  It was up to Venus, Neptune, Saturn, Sailor Moon, and Tuxedo Mask to finish the monster off.  It was about to fire another round of mucus when Tuxedo Mask threw a red rose, nailing the monster in the eye.  It screeched in pain, shattering the windows of nearby buildings and forcing the senshi to cover their ears.

“Hurry!” Tuxedo Mask yelled.  The senshi nodded and began shouting their attack phrases:

“Venus Love and Beauty Shock!”

“Neptune Deep Submerge!”

“Silence Wall!”

Sailors Venus and Neptune shot their powerful attacks towards the enemy while Sailor Saturn protected Sailor Moon, who was preparing her Moon Power Tiare for the final attack.

The monster roared, thrashing in its blind rage.  It was weakened, but it would take a lot of power to defeat it, and everyone knew it.

“Sailor Moon, believe in yourself!  You can beat it!” Tuxedo Mask yelled, encouraging his beloved.  Sailor Moon looked back and nodded, confidently taking a step forward and raising her tiare in the air.

“Silver Moon Crystal Power!”

A bright burst of light burst from the tiare, shooting straight for the weak point of the wretched creature.  Sailor Moon didn’t let her knees falter as she struggled to hold the tiare up.  More and more power beamed from the weapon, hitting the monster endlessly.  It only took a few more seconds for the monster to give one final screech before disintegrating into black dust.  The smell of sulfur filled the air and the light radiated by Sailor Moon’s tiare faded, and all was silent.

The green mucus that covered the bodies of the surrounding civilians and Artemis faded, leaving them all back in their regular, healthy state.  Sailors Mercury, Mars, and Pluto were conscious again, and the entire team was reorganizing back in the middle of the street.  Sailor Moon began to take a step towards the rest of the senshi when her legs gave out, causing her to fall to the ground.  She was already unconscious by the time Tuxedo Mask caught her in his arms.  He gently laid her on the asphalt, holding her head in his lap.  The senshi rushed to her aid, surrounding the two of them.

“What happened?” Luna asked, nudging Usagi’s hand with her head.  Sailor Pluto kneeled down and took Usagi’s wrist, feeling her pulse.

“Her energy level is very low.  What did she do?” the Guardian of Time asked.

Sailor Venus knelt on the opposite side, sighing in exhaustion.  “She used the Moon Power Tiare.”

Sailor Mars cursed under her breath.

“Stupid Usagi,” Sailor Uranus hissed, pounding her fist against a nearby car.

“I’ve never seen an attack that powerful,” Sailor Saturn speculated quietly.  Everyone stared at her.  “I mean, Sailor Moon has done some pretty impressive things, but a regular attack?  They’ve never been that strong.  Did something happen?”

Mamoru glanced down at the ring on Sailor Moon’s finger, watching as it glimmered slightly before Sailor Moon’s transformation faded.  Usagi now lay in his arms, sleeping soundly.

“We will discuss this tomorrow.  For now, I think all of us should go get some rest,” Luna said, jumping onto Sailor Mercury’s shoulder.  The rest of the senshi agreed, de-transforming and heading their separate ways.  Tuxedo Mask remained in his tuxedo, lifting Usagi up and carrying her towards her home before the civilians awoke.

~~~

Usagi awoke to the sun beating down on her face through her balcony window.  She opened her eyes, blinking a few times before sitting up.  Raising her arms above her head, she let out a small squeak as she stretched her tired limbs.  Her body felt heavy and ponderous, weighted by a lack of energy.  The smell of green tea and pancakes pulled Usagi out of her sleepy haze and down the stairs, where her mother was busy cooking breakfast.

“Good morning, Mama,” Usagi said, taking her usual seat at the table.  Ikuko gasped and dropped the spoon she was using to mix more pancake batter.

“Usagi!  You’re awake!” she said, rushing to her daughter.  Ikuko took Usagi’s face in her hands, staring into her eyes and making sure she was okay.

“Um...yeah.  What’s going on?” she asked, pulling away slightly.  Ikuko stood up straight, shocked.

“Sweetheart, you slept all through yesterday.  You didn’t even wake up to eat or go to the bathroom.  Your father and I have been very worried, and your friends have been coming to check up on you often.  Mamoru has been incredibly worried, I’m afraid.  Are you feeling alright?”

Ikuko’s hand pressed against Usagi’s forehead, which was at a moderate temperature.  “All day?!” Usagi shrieked, shocked.  She felt like she had only been sleeping for a few hours.

Suddenly, memories of the battle with the mucus-monster flashed through her mind, and she suddenly remembered what had happened to all of her friends.  “Artemis!” she said aloud, suddenly remembering the dangerous state of her fellow guardian.  She shot out of her chair, heading back towards the stairs.  “I’m sorry Mama, but there’s really somewhere I have to be!” she yelled as she re-entered her room.

Luna was nowhere to be seen as Usagi put on a rose pink blouse and black shorts, slipping on some tennis shoes before running out the door.  Her hair was a little messier than usual, but it still maintained its odango fashion.

She arrived at the Hikawa Shrine in a matter of minutes, breathing heavily as she knocked on the door to Rei’s bedroom.  Seconds later, the door opened revealing Rei, with all of the senshi sitting in the room behind her.  Everyone stared in shock at Usagi, mouths open and eyes wide.

“Usagi!” Rei breathed, surprised.  Ami stood up from her position on Rei’s floor and walked to the door, grabbing Usagi’s wrist and pulling her inside.

“Are you alright?  How are you feeling?” Ami said, pulling out her data computer and scanning the confused blonde.

“I-I’m fine, but where’s Artemis?” Usagi stammered, trying to focus on everyone at once.

The room was silent.

“Where is he?!” Usagi repeated, getting impatient.

“I’m right here,” a voice from behind her sounded.  Usagi turned around to find a bandaged Artemis standing next to Luna, looking chipper and healthy.  The blonde heaved a sigh of relief, falling to her knees and scooping Artemis into a bone-crushing hug.

“Erm, thanks for your concern, but I’m good as new,” Artemis grumbled, not liking so much physical contact.  Usagi giggled and smiled at her friends.

“So, what are you all doing here?” Usagi asked, heading to her regular seat on Rei’s bed.

Ami was showing Setsuna something on her computer screen, which attracted the attention of everyone in the room.

“What is it?” Luna asked, jumping onto Ami’s shoulder.

“Usagi, your energy level is still low.  You’re at fifty percent, which means you should probably go back home and rest some more,” Ami said kindly.  Usagi pouted, crossing her arms over her chest.

“No way.  With this new threat running around, there’s no time to be snoozing.  I’ve missed enough as it is,” Usagi said defiantly.  Haruka slammed her fist against Rei’s bedside table, turning on Usagi with a look of pure anger and irritation.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve put us through these last few days?!” the tall woman snapped.  “We have all been worried sick about you, Usagi, and we can’t afford to have you running around on no energy!  You’ve been out of it for months - what kind of queen are you going to be if you are constantly doing stupid things like using the crystal?!  We can’t have a Crystal Tokyo if the queen is dead!  What were you thinking?!  All you had to do was wait for Makoto and me to return, and we could have beat the damned thing without you using up all of your strength!”

Haruka’s voice had increased in volume as she ranted, taking everyone by surprise.  Before she could go on any further, Michiru put a hand on her arm.  “Haruka...there’s no need to be so harsh,” the gentle woman said.  Haruka leaned back and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.

“We’re leaving,” she suddenly said, standing and taking Michiru’s hand.  Hotaru looked up at Haruka, surprised at the sudden statement.

“But, Papa I -”

“Let’s go, Hotaru,” Haruka demanded.  The child closed her mouth and sighed, giving the girls a parting wave before following her parents outside.  Setsuna stood and rubbed her temples.

“I should be going as well.  Don’t let Haruka get to you, Usagi-chan.  She only wants what’s best for you.  I am glad you are up and feeling better.  Have a good day, all of you.”

All of the outer senshi were gone, leaving only the inners and the two felines remaining.

Usagi tried to swallow the lump in her throat.  Minako reached out to comfort her, but her effort went unnoticed when Usagi stood.  “I should...get going,” Usagi said quietly.  “I’m glad you’re feeling better, Artemis.”

Without another word, she was gone.

~~~

Shortly after Usagi left, the phone in Rei’s bedroom started to ring.  All four senshi paused their conversation to stare at the jingling object.  Rei groaned and crawled over to the phone, picking it up and bringing it to her ear.

“Hikawa Shrine, this is Hino Rei.”

There was a lot of chattering on the other end.

“Yeah, she was here a little while ago.  I would check the arcade first.”

Rei placed her hand on the mouthpiece and whispered, “Mamoru,” to the others.  Everyone nodded in understanding as Rei went back to the conversation.

“Sure thing, I’ll let you know.  Bye.”

Rei hung up and sighed, brushing through her long hair with her fingers.  “What are we going to do about all of this?” she whined.

Makoto shook her head and said, “The best thing we can do is be there for Usagi.  It’s a long road ahead of us.”

~~~

Usagi trudged to the arcade, entering through the sliding glass doors and plopping into a booth.  She was so tired - a milkshake would be the perfect thing to lift her spirits.

Motoki’s younger sister, Unazuki, approached Usagi’s table.

“Usagi-chan!  What’s the matter?  You’re not your usual self today,” Unazuki pointed out, pulling her pad and pencil out of her apron pocket.

Usagi looked up and smiled slightly.  “I’m just tired.  I’ll take a chocolate milkshake, please,” she replied.

Unazuki scribbled on her notepad.  “The usual toppings?”

The blonde nodded, and the waitress was off.

As Usagi stared at the pattern on the table, she thought about what Haruka had said.  Had she really been that transparent?  She had been trying to put on a brave face for her friends, but what if they saw through it all along?  Ashamed and embarrassed, Usagi put her head in her hands, not noticing the milkshake being placed in front of her.

“Order up!” a voice that wasn’t Unazuki’s rang.

Usagi’s head snapped up, and she was surprised to see Mamoru sliding into the opposite side of the booth.  “M-Mamo-chan, what are you doing here?” Usagi asked, pulling her milkshake towards her.

“Rei told me you would be here, so this is where I came.”

“You called her?”

“I was worried sick, Usako.  You’ve been sleeping for over twenty-four hours, and suddenly you wake up and disappear.  You can imagine what went through my head when I went to your room to check on you.”

Usagi’s face turned red.  “You...were checking on me?”

“Of course.  I knew your dad wouldn’t let me in, so the only way I could make sure you were alright was by going through your balcony.”

Usagi looked down and took a sip of her milkshake.

“What’s on your mind?” he asked, breaking the silence.

“Nothing,” Usagi replied bluntly.

“Come on, I know better.”

“It’s nothing - I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Usako I swear, if you keep bottling things in like this, we are going to have some serious issues.”  The tone in Mamoru’s voice was both agitated and worried.  Usagi looked up, getting caught in his deep blue eyes.

She wanted to cry, but at the same time wanted to show him that she was stronger than he thought.

~~~

Haruka, Michiru, Setsuna, and Hotaru relaxed in the sitting room of the Tomoe mansion, drinking tea and eating cakes Michiru had made.  For the last hour, they had been discussing the topic of their princess and how she was faring, and whether or not she would be able to face the new enemy.

“You shouldn’t have went off on her like that,” Hotaru mumbled, scowling at Haruka.

“She’s in a very fragile state right now,” Michiru added.  Haruka groaned and ran her fingers through her sandy blonde hair.

“I know, I know.  I just lost it.  She is constantly putting herself in danger, and we are supposed to be the ones protecting her.  But I wasn’t there when I could have been - I left her.  She could have gotten hurt, and then what?  We lose our princess, our queen, our reason to fight,” Haruka said, gazing out the window.

Setsuna placed a hand on Haruka’s shoulder.  “She’s unpredictable, that’s for sure, but she is strong.  You needn’t worry about her so much - her time to rise to the throne is growing near.”

Hotaru gasped.  “You mean…?”

Setsuna nodded.

“This will be exciting,” Michiru said with a smile.

Their conversation was interrupted by a violin ensemble coming from Haruka’s cell phone.  Michiru cocked an eyebrow at the recognition of her original work, causing Haruka’s cheeks to flare as she answered the phone.

“Tenou.”

“Haruka-san, we need you all at the park as soon as possible.  I’ve finished the full analysis of Artemis’s wound, and there’s a major problem,” Ami’s voice carried through the phone.  Haruka had it on speaker, so the others could hear.

“We’ll be right there,” Haruka said, hanging up the phone and replacing it in her pocket.

The outers stood up and exited the large estate, preparing themselves for what was to come.

~~~

All of the senshi, including Mamoru, were standing in a circle surrounding Ami, who was sitting on the edge of a large stone fountain.  Usagi would not bring herself to look at the outers, Haruka especially.  They all stared at her impatiently as she made a few calculations on her computer, finalizing her newest discovery.  Snapping it shut, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before beginning her explanation:

“After taking quite some time to analyze Artemis’s wound and insert every bit of data I know, I’ve finally discovered when the next mass attack will be.”

Everyone raised their eyebrows, desperately wanting to hear this information.

“Two years.”

Gasps sounded around the clearing as everyone’s mouths dropped open.

“Two years?” Makoto said, shocked.

Ami nodded.  “The virus that infected his body was a strange one.  I was able to get a sample, and insert it into the database of Luna’s super computer.  I didn’t find much at first, but after while I discovered a strange pattern in the atom formation.  I noted the pH levels and the different elements within the virus, and did some research.  The last time an epidemic like this happened was in Europe, where a strange illness had taken the lives of at least twenty people.  No one knew what it was - and after about a week, it disappeared.  The same thing happened two years before that in Australia, and two years before that in South America.  This time, it came here, and a new threat will take its place in two years’ time.  I don’t know what this one will be or how it will attack, but we had best prepare and be on our guard.  Who knows what could happen between now and then.”

Rei smirked and flipped her hair over her shoulder.  “Then let’s get started.”

~~~

After the team of warriors spent the entire evening discussing strategies and battle plans, everyone finally went their separate ways.  It had been around midnight when the outers arrived back at their mansion.  Setsuna, Haruka, and Michiru sat beside the pool in the backyard, leaning back in their chairs and staring up at the stars.  Hotaru was tucked safely in bed, sleeping soundly.

They had been sitting in silence for quite some time, when Setsuna spoke up:

“There is something I must tell you,” she said, sitting up straight.  The two other girls turned their heads toward their older friend, sitting up once they saw the serious look in her eyes.

“What is it?” Michiru asked, concerned.

Setsuna sighed.  “I have been...feigning intelligence,” she confessed.  “I am afraid that I do not know what will happen in this new timeline.”

Both Haruka and Michiru’s eyes widened.  “You mean,” Haruka started, “this is a different timeline than the one we were supposed to take?”

Setsuna shook her head.  “It’s not as bad as you think.  From what I’ve seen during my time at the Gate, this new threat was never supposed to appear.  Our lives were supposed to be peaceful up until Usagi and Mamoru were married, many years from now.  But something has changed.  This enemy...they were not predicted in the original timeline.  Because of my absence from my post, I have no idea what will happen next.  Our future is undetermined as of yet.”

Haruka and Michiru were silent as they took in Setsuna’s information.  So much had happened in just one day, and it was beginning to pile up in their brains.

Michiru decided to break the silence:

“I think we need to -”

She was interrupted by a strange roaring in her ears.  The sea was twisting and turning, spiraling in a typhoon of anger and despair.  Haruka, recognizing this change in attitude immediately, placed a hand on Michiru’s arm.

“Michiru, what is it?”

Haruka froze as a strong gust of wind blew past her face, blowing her hair into all different directions.

Both women said in unison:

“Hotaru.”

All three of them shot up and sprinted inside, heading up the marble staircase and down the hall to Hotaru’s room.  Haruka threw the door opening, gasping at what she saw.

Hotaru was floating above her bed, her body surrounded in a dark purple glow.  Her arms and legs hung limply, signifying that she was still asleep.

“Hotaru!” Michiru shrieked, running to grab her adopted daughter.

“Michiru, wait!”

Setsuna’s warning came a split second too late, for as soon as Michiru’s fingertips touched Hotaru’s body, she was sent flying backwards into a vanity, shattering the mirror attached to it.  Glass flew all around her as she fell to the ground, grunting in pain.

“Michiru!” Haruka yelled, running to the aid of her lover.  Setsuna remained in the doorway, watching her fellow senshi with wide, scared eyes.

Michiru and Haruka both froze as Hotaru’s body moved, going into an upright position.  Her eyes were open, but they were completely black.  No emotion showed on her face.

Her mouth opened, and three horrifying words escaped her lips:

“Destruction is near.”