He… honestly hadn't expected consciousness. He figured the last thing he would ever experience was the gruesome sight of the Demiurge being ripped apart by their combined energy blast, or his crystal shattering into pieces in his hands, and while he would much have preferred a more peaceful end, the end he got meant everyone was safe and he had been satisfied with that. Thinking beyond that moment, though, and having the sensation of a body? He flexed his hand experimentally and raised it, still half expecting to see nothing and feel nothing, but there it was, illuminated by the soft white light surrounding him. There was no source, no shadows here, a room practically as opposite from where he had come from as could be imagined. Everything was quiet and still, the silence echoing in his head.

So, this was death.

Mamoru, just Mamoru, righted himself in this stark and empty field, noting the absence of his Elysion armor - he wore only the pajama bottoms he had woken up in that morning, though "that morning" felt more like years ago than hours. He took in a deep breath, examining the space around him with cautious curiosity, wondering if there was some way to guarantee what he had seen had been the truth: that they had defeated Demiurge, that the entity was gone, never to return to this plane of existence. Maybe he could see his friends, make sure that they were all right, but the space that surrounded him afforded him no insight. It saddened him, but he would just have to believe in it - he had done all he could. He had seen Demiurge defeated with his own eyes, but even if some small part had made it to Earth, he knew his friends would pull through, even without him.

Moments passed and he waited for something to happen, taking in calm breaths for the first time in what felt like days, trying to enjoy the peace that came with finally breathing easily both physically and metaphorically, but… he wished he knew what was going on, even if he couldn't be there. Regardless, if this were the afterlife, it was definitely peaceful, if lonely. He had not thought much about life after death, but this was better than what some would have him believe -

"Chiba Mamoru, " a voice called and he turned sharply, looking over his shoulder and then turning to fully look upon the form of the giant that had suddenly appeared with him in the otherwise empty space. The tall being seemed to shine from within, its expression curious and judging as he looked him over. Mamoru stood easily, confident and comfortable in himself, despite his lack of clothing and current position. Any attempt to change his outward appearance or feel would be seen through in a moment, anyway - or so he figured. The giant cocked his head to the side, then began to pace around Mamoru in a circle, eyes constantly on him as he spoke, the voice echoing despite a lack of surroundings. The judgement, and its potential repercussions, made him a little nervous, but he kept himself calm. " Keeper of the Golden Crystal of Earth, reincarnated by the power of the Crystal after you ended the world for losing your love. " Mamoru kept his attention forward, but his eyes fell slightly. What he had done had ended a lot of lives, left a hole in history. He knew his reasons, and knew how they would be seen, no matter how things ended after the fact. "Selfish, " the giant admonished, the word weighing him down regardless of how prepared he was to hear it. " Though," the figure continued thoughtfully from somewhere behind him, "in your current life you have risked yourself to fight evil when it appeared, in fact sacrificed yourself in the end to ensure it was defeated before it could do our world harm… " the giant trailed off, thoughtfully. " You have grown more in this life than you had in your last, Prince of Earth."

The figure came back into view on his right, still peering at him contemplatively. "You have affected lives. Have earned the love and loyalty of the Shitennou, the Heavenly Kings that mine own Kings have vetted and granted their Blessing. " He paused in front of him once more, " I ask you, Chiba Mamoru, what was your dream? To what ambition did you aspire?"

"I've had many dreams," Mamoru replied calmly, glancing only once up into the face of the giant that studied him, "Before all this, I wanted to be a doctor so that I could help people who needed it and be there for kids who found themselves in the position I found myself in when I was younger. After I became Cardinal King I still wanted to be a doctor, but… I wanted to be with my friends, too, to live peacefully with them, after everything had been resolved. No matter what else happened, I wanted to keep being friends with them and go through life by their sides, and them by mine. I wanted to marry her," he paused as his chest tightened at the thought of her and the loss he felt. He knew that this being would know whom he was talking about as he had known what had happened in the past and present, but he wanted to say her name anyway, to hear aloud the wish he had kept to himself, the idea that he was still far too young to bring up but felt with certainty nevertheless. He'd never get to ask her, but he would say it now. "I wanted to marry Usako, and be near her for as long as life would allow. I still do," he said, feeling it important to note that nothing had changed since his death. "I still want to marry her, I still want to be with them - and after everything that happened, I want to keep fighting to preserve the peace. I want to protect Earth, together with them."

The giant looked at him intently, the nodded. "And if I told you that the worst has yet to come? That Demiurge and his Archons and the danger they posed pales in comparison to an event on the horizon? Would you still wish to fight that evil?"

He tensed, his stomach flipping at those words. His friends - Usako - Rin . Was this what Rin was involved with?

"You shy away from it - "

"No," Mamoru denied, interrupting, "I just -" he paused, realizing what he had done and looked to the otherworldly being for a reaction to his faux pas, but the being just nodded, allowing him to continue. He took a breath, stating exactly what had given him concern: "I don't want them to face it alone. I know they can do it, but I want to be there for them and help them - what if one of them gets hurt? What if -" he cut himself off, not wanting to voice the concern, "Is there -" he stopped, not even sure the use of asking, but if there was something he could do he would do it. "Is there some way I can help them?" he asked, looking up into the eyes of the giant.

"There is."

He hadn't expected that answer, but he pressed forward, riding his luck - "Then, please, let me," he requested, his hands slightly out from his sides, offering anything for the opportunity to continue to help them in someway, no matter how small.

"Even if you would cease to exist here?"

Mamoru nodded immediately, even while he considered what that could mean - his afterlife. He would be giving away his afterlife, but if it was to help them? Kaito, Nero, Khalid and Yuu? Helios? Usako . "Yes," he said, nodding his head again. "Even so."

"Kneel, " he commanded, and Mamoru obeyed. The being approached, stopping just as his slippered feet came into Mamoru's view. " I am here for two reasons, Chiba Mamoru, bearer of the Golden Crystal of Earth: for the circumstance of your death, and at the request of my Shitennou through the prayers made to them by yours. I am Taishakuten, Lord of the Center, Commander of the Four Heavenly Kings, defender of both they and humanity against all that is evil - or I was, in a time long past. Where your Heavenly Kings now mirror mine in title as well as ability, my title has never been granted a human, possessor of the Golden Crystal or no, though your guardian was close in dubbing you King of the Cardinal Rose. Keep your title and your abilities, but I will bless you with two gifts."

Mamoru looked up, scarcely able to believe what he was hearing. Taishakuten?!

"Use them well," the spirit stated and, before explaining anything else, placed his hand on Mamoru's shoulder. Everything around him disappeared.

Atop the chest of the Prince of Earth, shards of the Golden Crystal twitched once, twice, and then silently shot together, knitting back into place by an unseen force. As soon as the Lotus form was complete, it disappeared, seeming to sink into the body beneath it. Of those gathered to mourn the loss of their friend, only one - Moegi Yuu - noticed this, and his expression softened, hard blue eyes and grim line of his mouth easing. He elbowed East King as he minutely scooted back, black pants scraping on the rooftop to give Mamoru room when he came-to; the brunet, with one gloved hand on the Moon Princess's back to offer what comfort he could, looked over at him, missing both South's backward motion and the twitch of Endymion's hand by his knee.

His eyes opened slowly, brows furrowing as his mind worked through what was going on; above his head was a sky dulled by light pollution, but the brightest stars still shone through. Sensations returned to him slowly - the hard ground beneath him, the warm weight on his chest, left arm and right shoulder, a wetness about his collar. Beyond the stars, in his periphery, were familiar faces. His lungs burned, and as he sucked in a deep breath he realized at that exact moment what Taishakuten's first gift had been. Usako pushed off his chest as his lungs expanded. The sight of her was the single most beautiful sight he had ever beheld, and she was real . He was back. They had been given a third chance. A grin stole across his lips and he quickly sat up, arms wrapping around her to pull her into his lap, holding her close as the shock of realization of what Taishakuten had given him dawned - the impossibility of it all, the absolute miracle of returning from the dead to continue living with them. He laughed. He loosened his hold on her and she leaned back to look at him, her eyes wide with cautious belief. He kept her gaze, reassuring her even as he indulged himself, and when his hand cupped her cheek she reached up to hold his hand in place, her answering smile making his heart beat faster. She started to laugh and he joined her; she kissed him lightly, joyfully, around their laughter and then threw her arms around his neck with such enthusiasm he rocked backward, and only then did his friends start in with exclamations of " Don't do that! " and " You had me going! ", their hands ruffling his hair with rough affection or lightly shoving his shoulder to further rock him.

The laughter felt so good . With Usako in his arms and the sound of his friends, here and with him and happy , he felt like this moment couldn't be more perfect or more needed after everything they had gone through in the past week. He reached out and grabbed the front of Yuu's new uniform shirt, pulling him into the hug, and Nero enthusiastically joined in, practically shoving Kaito onto the pile before wrapping them all tightly and calling back for Khalid. With extreme effort to move past the pile of people he cared most for in the world, he freed one arm and turned to find for the last two pieces of the puzzle - Khalid and Helios - reaching out for them to join in -

Only, instead of Khalid and Helios, the moment he turned to find his friends it was Rin who ran in, the little kid tearing his hand from Khalid's to rush in and crash into the pile, fitting himself into the space Mamoru had freed to get his arm out, red hair pressing against Mamoru's face as small arms wrapped tightly around his neck and shoulder, Rin's voice still wet with tears as he heartbreakingly sobbed, " Papa! "

That… definitely changed the mood. Everyone backed up, giving them room as Rin continued to cry, but Usako, still dressed as Princess Serenity, stayed in his lap, keeping close. Mamoru curled his arm around Rin, looking down at his red hair and then over him at Kaito, who returned his flabbergasted expression. Khalid approached, standing just behind where North knelt, cautious silver eyes on the child. Rin, shaking his head against his breastplate, continued crying into his shirt, his apologies heart wrenching, heavy with guilt and remorse as he forced them out. "I'm sorry! It's all my fault, I'm so sorry, Papa! It's my fault!"

"Rin," he called calmly, but the moment he spoke the kid's crying intensified, his hold on his neck tightening. He felt for him - if what just happened reminded him this strongly of what happened to his father, he was working through some tough stuff - stuff that he shouldn't blame himself for. Mamoru tried again, his voice calm but insistent enough to be heard through Rin's crying. "Rin, it's not your fault . Whatever happened, you aren't to blame -"

Rin pushed back against him, his red-eyed stare insistent, his hand releasing his neck to wipe the tears off his face as he short-of-breath insisted, "Am, too! I arrived too early - I didn't mean to, but I did, and Papa - you -!" he dissolved into tears, hugging him tight again.

"What happened to your Papa, Rin?" Nero tried quietly, reaching over to hesitantly, awkwardly, place two fingers of one hand lightly on Rin's shoulder in an attempt at being comforting without being intrusive, "Maybe we can help -"

Rin just shook his head. Mamoru just held him, feeling like they wouldn't get any actual answer out of him while he was in this state, but that didn't stop Kaito from asking curtly - "Where are you from, Mamo-rin?" - Again Rin shook his head and held tighter.

"I think," Khalid stated, drawing the attention of everyone but the child crying in his arms, though his silver eyes were for Rin and Mamoru alone, "he's from here but not from now , and I think that whatever process he used to get to now from thenmalfunctioned, bringing him earlier than he had meant to come." Mamoru's brows furrowed, understanding what Khalid meant but not quite believing it. Time travel? He scarcely noticed how still Rin had become as Khalid spoke, his mind racing with the possibility of what he suggested. And Khalid wasn't done yet. "I think he believes this malfunction led to the crisis that just occurred, making him responsible for everything that just transpired, including the untimely death of his father."

His father ? But he had been the one to die in an 'untimely' manner, and he… But -

"Mamoru?! " Nero exclaimed incredulously. "Mamoru's his father?! What kind of -" he broke off, sputtering, "Did you hit your head ?! "

Khalid held up one white-gloved hand for silence, and Nero, now rocked back on his heels, quieted, waiting for whatever explanation West had. "When Mamoru was -" he stopped, rephrasing, "Before the Golden Crystal reformed -" so when he was dead , Mamoru mentally corrected; he didn't mind them saying it, he was only out for… well obviously he wasn't out for a very long time or anything, but the minute way that Usako shifted her weight made him immediately rescinded his mental correction, grateful that Khalid had chosen another phrase. "Rin was in an… odd state. His body had started to fade, his hand solid one moment and less so the next, as though he was there and yet not there at the same time. The second Mamoru awoke that double state ceased and Rin was as solid as he is now. That, alongside his recent admissions of a guilty conscience, the visions Mamoru experienced having no place in the past and apparently no connection to the Archons, Rin's self-proclaimed connection with Usagi-chan, and the somewhat obvious resemblance if you forgive hair and eye color, I think I've got the right of it. What do you say, Rin? Am I close?"

There yet not there - a double state while his own life hung in the balance; if he hadn't come back, if Taishakuten hadn't given him those gifts, would Rin and his future have simply disappeared? Wouldn't that have created - he pushed thoughts of paradoxes aside, considering instead how terrifying that must have been for Rin. That, and everything else - that vision he had seen, was that why Rin had come to the past? To stop that before it could happen?

Rin swallowed hard, taking in a deep breath before he let Mamoru go, stepping back from him and Usagi and everyone else until he was back beside Khalid. He nodded at West King, and then the redhead looked over at Helios, who stood on Khalid's other side, and he straightened his back, standing taller, and then bowed in the style of medieval Europe. "My name is Prince Mamoru Lord Endymion, son of King Endymion and Neo Queen Serenity, heir of Crystal Tokyo," he straightened, his hands balled in little nervous fists by his side, and started kicking his toe into the pavement as he added quietly, "But I like 'Rin'."

Son of King Endymion and Neo Queen Serenity ? That - he -

He glanced at Usako the same instant she glanced at him and they both blushed furiously and averted their gazes. His heart beat furiously, simultaneously embarrassed to have that, uh, information out there ((and Nero's leaning in to make two suggestive clicking noises only magnified that bit)) and excited by what that meant in regards to his dream of marrying her -

And then a little less excited than confused for what the rest of that meant. King and Queen? Crystal Tokyo?

"Crystal Tokyo?" Kaito repeated, apparently on exactly the same page. "So he's less your 'father ' than your ancestor, then?"

Rin shook his head but offered no elaboration.

"Can you tell us more, Rin?" Yuu asked, his tone less sarcastic than frank, "About where you come from or why you came here?"

"Or what we can do to help?" Khalid added solemnly.

The kid scuffed his shoe some more, quietly saying, "I don't want to cause any more trouble. I just…" his movements became jerkier, nervous anxiety practically radiating off his small form as he glanced up and then back at his shoes, holding his hands behind him as he said, "I need you to do something, and then I'll go back."

Usako made to stand; he offered her his hands for support and once she was up he and the others followed suit. Still in the guise of Princess Serenity, long white dress pooling around her, she stepped in front of him and asked quietly, "What do you need us to do, Rin?"

"Awaken the Sailor Senshi," Rin said, now looking at them as he continued earnestly, adding "please." He bowed again, repeating "Please awaken the Sailor Senshi."

Mamoru swallowed, placing his hand on Usagi's shoulder supportively. His friends stayed quiet, leaving the explanation up to them, and he left it up to her to decide. It was true that, if the four of them could reawaken as Senshi, their assistance this week would have been more than welcome, and, maybe, if they had been able to contact Luna to ask how awaken them earlier that day they would have, but Earth had survived without reawakening them into danger -

Taishakuten's warning echoed eerily in his mind: "And if I told you that the worst has yet to come? That Demiurge and his Archons and the danger they posed pales in comparison to an event on the horizon? Would you still wish to fight that evil?" … They were stronger now. They could handle it on their own - they were the Guardians of Earth, they could do it.

Usagi waited a moment, collecting her thoughts, and then replied, "Rin, I'm not sure what you know about the Sailor Senshi, but not long ago something really bad happened to them. They were manipulated, they were used and made to do things they would not have done if they had known what was going on, and they suffered for it. They got another chance at a normal life, one without fighting, without memory of their pasts, the ancient one and the more recent one, and I don't want to make them remember all of that. I don't want to bring them back into a life of fighting, if at all possible. They're my friends," her voice broke with emotion, but she kept pushing through with conviction, "and they deserve to be happy and live in peace."

Rin's drive seemed to collapse, his bow failing as he straightened, looking only at Usagi with a desperate expression. "But -!" Mamoru was ready to back her up, to break in easily, to let him down gently and support Usagi's decision, but he didn't get the chance.

Behind Khalid the roof access door burst open and flew clear across the roof. West spun around to face the threat as North maneuvered to block he and Usagi from whatever had just decided to make its entrance; behind him East and South spread out, spear and trident appearing simultaneously, East moving up to cover Rin. He pulled Usako close, reaching with his free hand for the sword that should be sheathed at his side, ready to defend her and his friends, heart pounding, Taishakuten's warning setting his nerves aflame - so soon?!

"Supreme - " Hair on the back of his neck stood on end.

Usako's shoulder tensed beneath his grip - "Wait!"

"Stop right there!" another voice commanded, clear and unignorable, demanding their attention. Standing in front of the roof access, her right index finger touching the gem of her tiara and her left outstretched to aim acutely at Khalid, the Senshi of Love and Beauty had ice in her gaze as she stared down the leader of the Heavenly Kings. "Return the Crescent Wand and live to answer why you have it." To her left was Mercury, her visor active and small computer held in one hand. To her right was Mars, and if looks could spontaneously set someone on fire, he should be lighting up any minute. With her power set, he didn't exactly put it beyond her, but he wasn't going to break contact with Usako until she initiated it. A glance towards the edge of the roof across from the now open roof access revealed Jupiter, her arms crossing her chest as lightning crackled around the antennae that sprouted from her tiara.

"Venus," Usagi identified quietly, and he squeezed his shoulder gently, acknowledging the sadness in her tone.

West held up both hands placatingly, holding Usagi's pink-and-gold wand between thumb and forefinger as he slowly backed up and, still facing Venus, offered it to Usagi. She accepted it, and as Khalid stepped aside to make sure that each of the gathered Senshi had seen the act. Venus glanced over at her, the look in her eyes changing from murderous to worry, and, attack still primed, called out, "Are you alright, Serenity?"

"I'm fine!" she called back, a little annoyance creeping in. She dismissed her wand, the weapon disappearing in a sparkle of moonlight, and continued, "Now could you stand down, please?"

Venus tilted her head towards Mercury, who reported, "All show elevated heart rates and high energy levels, potentially consistent with -"

"Well, yeah we have elevated heart rates - you scared the bejeezus out of us!" East interrupted, trying to keep Rin from working around him to get closer to the girls. "We just busted our way out of a UFO, were attacked by weird ghost things and saved the world, but this little guy 's still got shapeshifting monsters chasing after him and you guys decide it'd be a great idea to go kicking down doors - what do you expect?!"

"Shapeshifting -" North repeated with alarm as East finished, glancing pointedly at West, who, one white-glove hand still raised, slowly reached into his black jacket and removed a small clear blue gem as Venus asked her question.

"Why did you disarm her?" Venus called back in a challenge.

"He didn't disarm me -" Usako interrupted, stepping forward and gesticulating wildly; he dropped his arm to his side, letting her go, trusting that, at the very least, they wouldn't hurt her . "I - well okay he disarmed me, but I let him take it! Now stand down!"

To his side, West covertly put the gem to his eye and then tucked it back away, reporting quietly, "They are who they appear to be." Mamoru had no idea what West just did, but he knew they were who they appeared to be - he could practically feel their power gems humming through his boots; his lessons with psychometry and psylocation having finally hit home.

"Not until we're sure! " Venus snapped back, and everyone fell quiet. To her credit, Venus's aim stayed steady and true, even through the pain and shame that escaped her voice. When she spoke again it was with careful control: "We've failed you twice now and we won't let that happen again."

Usako took two shocked steps towards her, and then ran the rest of the way, throwing her arms around Venus's neck in a hug that almost knocked the Senshi over, exclaiming tearfully, "You haven't failed me at all! " Venus, dropping her attack pose, returned the embrace, her long blonde hair falling over Serenity's bare shoulder as she held her close. Serenity reached for Mars, and the hair on the back of Mamoru's neck finally fell as Jupiter powered down and ran over, putting her hand on top of Serenity's head and joining in their tearful group hug.

Mamoru looked away, giving them their privacy, and to his surprise found Helios at full height behind him. Wryly, he quietly teased, "Are you trying to look menacing? "

"I am menacing, thank you very much, " Helios replied, tossing his mane carefully as he minded where his golden horn pointed. After a brief moment, Helios nosed him. " I'm glad you're okay. "

"Yeah, I bet you are," Mamoru returned playfully, attempting to keep things light on their end, "Whom would you boss around if not me?"

"Ha, " the unisus laughed without humor, "Please, if I had any control over you , you wouldn't've been fighting in that form. " Mamoru opened his mouth to point out the obvious as South and East rounded back to join them, Rin in tow, but Helios rolled his garnet-colored eyes, " Yes, I know , it was necessary and everything ended up alright in the end, etcetera, etcetera, no one listen to the Royal Advisor, he's a worrywort. " Mamoru smiled up at him and the unisus fluffed his wing feathers, glancing behind Mamoru's shoulder once before he started shrinking back to a more manageable size for him. "However, if you don't mind, there's absolutely no reason for you to be in that form any more; can you…? "

He hadn't really given it much thought since he had come back; before he was certain that dismissing his Endymion form would kill him, but now? … he still didn't feel any strain. He nodded once to ease Helios's worry - and Kaito's, as the blond was staring hard at him, too - and then closed his eyes and released the power that wrapped him like a shroud, and what felt like a second skin just melted away. " Hey~! " Nero called, and he opened his eyes only to have East King lightly shove him, the others looking pleased, "Lookin' good, Cardinal King ."

Cardinal King?! But his pendant had cracked - it was destroyed, he had no way of transforming that way anymore - and yet, even as he thought those thoughts, he looked down to examine himself and found a new, black uniform on in place of the old blue-grey, the accents gold colored, with a new pendant pinning the asymmetrical coat in place over his right breast. Rather than pure pyrite, it was made of circular black jade set with a golden lotus blossom in its center. Surrounding it was set of small circular stones: green above, red below, orange to one side and blue to the other, mirroring the modified accent colors found on his friend's uniforms. The center… this was Taishakuten's second gift.

"Now we all match," Khalid commented quietly, something soft in his tone.

"Did you have to fight your way out of a dream, too?" Yuu commented dryly, crossing his arms but keeping a positive expression.

"No," Mamoru replied, experimenting with the half cape hanging off his left shoulder and wondering if it would expand or just flare out or something to counteract accelerations. "I - wait, what ?" he dropped his arm, looking up in surprise to find that the statement hadn't been odd to anyone else's ears.

"Long story," Kaito wrote off, waving his hand absently, "Tell us what happened to you -"

"You're only saying that because you already know what happened on your end," he cut in, "It could make more sense chronologically - you tell me and I'll tell you."

"Everything? " Kaito prompted, and after a quick and probably unnecessary deal, they started to exchange experiences, deciding to start off summarizing what happened after Yuu was taken so he wasn't out of the loop on anything. As they spoke, Helios taking a moment to clarify details, Mamoru glanced over his shoulder to see how the girls were doing, and found them grouped up similarly, Usagi's laugh travelling clearly across the rooftop space between them. He turned back to his own conversation, heart a little lighter for her, Rin's red hair caught his attention. The kid had been right with them, looking up and listening to their retelling with no small amount of interest to find out everything they had attempted to hide from him; occasionally Mamoru had even caught him staring, and recalling what had been said earlier, about how Rin wasn't just some lost kid they needed to help but his future son , the staring was a little off-putting but only natural, he supposed. He hadn't had a father in this life, and memories of his father from his last were a little hazy and disjointed; he supposed if he had gone to the past, met him when he was younger, found out that he was a superhero that died and came back from the dead , he probably would have stared, too. But now Rin was standing apart from them, holding a small golden object to the sky -

"Time Guardian! " the kid intoned, his voice projecting across the rooftop. " Tear apart the sky, and open the space-time door to me!"

Space-time door?! He was going back right now ?! But his - well, he supposed his mission was complete now, but they hadn't - he hadn't gotten to say goodbye. They hadn't talked a lot, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to miss him and didn't care about him, and Rin should know that - especially with whatever was going on in the future - their future! " Rin !" he called out.

"I call the true name of the almighty god of time, the time guardian's father! Chronos! Reveal to me the path of light!"

A beam of golden light shot out of the object in Rin's hand, jumping into the nighttime sky; clouds erupted around it from out of nowhere, curling from the upper atmosphere and whirling down at amazing speeds towards him. Rin watched it coming, and then looked over at him, and then to Usagi.

"Rin!" Usako yelled, rushing in, her white dress blown back in the wind created by whatever incantation Rin had begun. She cupped her hands around her mouth and called, "Take care of yourself! Everything's going to be okay!"

"Mamoru! " Helios's warning shot through his mind and he turned just in time to catch sight of the Doom and Bloom girls - all four of them - racing towards them on dragonfly wings, their demonic faces wide-eyed, sharp toothed, and clawed hands reaching out for the kid.

"Oh Little Red~ !"

"RIN!" he shouted and tore forward to intercept them, to reach Rin first and block him from their attack.

"Mamoru! "

"Serenity! "

He skid to his knees as he reached Rin, pulling him into a protective embrace half a second before Usako was there, blocking him from another angle. Their friends rushed towards them from behind, the shapeshifting monsters from above, and the cloud swirled down upon them in a roaring cacophony of sound and energy, enveloping them in deep maroon mist.

When the disappeared, the spell ending as suddenly as it had begun, the rooftop was empty.

Cardinal King: Arc Two - Architects of a New World

End.

Thank you all for reading through Arc Two! xD I'm sorry it took SO LONG to happen! ((I blame life xD)) BUT ANYWAY~

Honestly, thank you. ^^ I really liked putting these pieces together, especially incorporating the true Heavenly Kings and this isn't even their final forms! mwahahahahahaaa. Pluto dun messed up, and Rin coming back to the past when he did really messed up the timeline, creating a whole new world~ for their future! ... well, not Rin's. Not at the moment anyway. .-. like canon material, whatever happens in the now apparently doesn't super affect what happens in the future until it, idk, cures or something XD SEE ETERNAL TRANSFORMATION AT END OF STARS AND CHIBIUSA MENTIONING HOW 'SUPER SAILOR MOON' WAS THE STRONGEST FORM OF SAILOR MOON. But we'll deal with that xD

Rin's original past was a lot simpler than what these poor babus went through with the Archons and will go through next. = I'm excited.

See you next time in Cardinal King: Arc Three! Looking towards a Bright Future~