Interlude: Mamoru POV

It was a quiet evening in the Juuban district of the Minato Ward.

There had been no crime, no rumors of unusual circumstances, not a single blip of supernatural activity for almost two weeks now. Two weeks in which Nephrite had returned, and Usagi had not.

A near deafening silence of one week and four days since she disappeared.

At the dining table, Mamoru continued to fiddle with the open back of a clock, using the tools he'd purchased earlier that day in an attempt to get the damned thing working. He should have just taken it to a repair shop, to someone with more expertise in clockwork. Or, better yet, he simply shouldn't have bought a broken clock from an antique shop. He should've just gone to one of the countless respectable shops in Juuban Square and purchased a nice, working clock. What was so wrong with new? New things lasted longer; there was no need to worry about previous wear and tear.

Only, nothing in this house seemed to have been bought new.

Usagi, for whatever reason, had seen fit to furnish the place with older, used, pieces. Maybe, probably, it was the only thing she could afford. Mamoru had a sneaking suspicion, however, that she liked these sorts of things; especially given the amount of comments she'd made regarding his monochromatic, minimalist taste. He'd seen the old leather chairs and half assembled bookcase in the downstairs room, the scuffed up coffee table — now in the garage, completely sanded down and ready for a new layer of paint and finish, whenever Mamoru got back around to it — and what he assumed she would call a gently worn couch in the living area. The furniture she bought was sturdy, old; nothing like the modern trends of convenient, easily assembled items on the market today.

Undoubtedly, Usagi had chosen these things because she thought they had character.

It was exactly the kind of thing he would have teased her for- That he will. When she came back.

Because she was coming back, even if Kunzite speculated otherwise.

The time key could move between centuries, certainly, but it wasn't an exact science, and moreover, Usagi was hardly an expert in wielding it. Kunzite was correct in his theory that returning to the exact moment she left would have been the optimal outcome for Usagi — hardly any time for the Order to stew in their anger, and angry they were — but her failure to return thus far did not equate to the possibility of her never reappearing. Kunzite failed to take into account that the best solutions were not always the ones readily available. Despite her cleverness, Usagi couldn't be expected to learn how to properly operate the key in one try, and the rest of them couldn't be expected to understand how her mind worked. Her optimal solution might be beyond what they could reasonably assume possible.

Perhaps she'd only been in the future for a few hours and was on her way back now, having accidentally made it so that her return would be weeks and weeks later. Or, maybe time was passing in a linear fashion, and she was still at work; entirely plausible given her deadline wasn't yet up. No activity from the Black Moon Clan had to mean something. Was Usagi keeping them busy? Had she already defeated them?

Or been seriously injured?

She'd brought one of them along, after all. There was no telling what might have happened, provided anything had.

Mamoru wasn't thinking about that though, he wasn't thinking about anything but this house and his newest project, the clock. It was a hideous thing, one of those western wooden clocks shaped like a house, with a bird that should have cuckooed every hour. He thought she'd like it, and planned to put it up in the little foyer next to those empty — honestly, they were blank, of all things Usagi had hung blank canvases, why were they blank — paintings. A small, vindictive part of him hoped the damned clock woke her up in the middle of the night. Payment for his troubles.

From the front of the house the clicking of a lock echoed, followed by the squeak of the front door.

Mamoru paid it little heed. He'd just gotten one of the small cogs back into place.

Though he hardly cared who had come by — very few of the Order had returned since their initial examination of the house. Actually, scratch that, it was solely Matsuo that had deemed to stop by in the wake of Usagi's escape, and only ever to brood around the house until Mamoru coaxed him into doing work — the clicking of expensive shoes against wood flooring had become familiar enough to recognize their owner. A pause, plastic crinkling in the living room before the footsteps resumed, now coming in his direction.

Behind him, Harumi-san said, "Well, what a surprise. I am truly shocked to see you here. again. For the third time this week. Don't you have school and exams coming up?"

Mamoru shrugged, fixed another piece into the clock. "I've been studying."

School was… easy, compared to everything else. His test scores had been nearly perfect throughout the entirety of high school, and the entrance exams to his top three universities had all gone smoothly. Missing a few days due to 'sickness' wasn't going to affect his future. Class time left too many moments to think and worry and stress. At least here he could lose himself in these projects, if only for a little while. The amount of time Mamoru spent in this house had allowed him to become more than acquainted with Usagi's boss. Harumi-san came by often to check on things, sometimes with his brother. They had also been adding to the house here and there, having used the notebook Usagi had left to ascertain what household items she hadn't gotten around to buying.

"I saw the mattresses and bedframes upstairs yesterday. You've certainly been quite the busy little bee, haven't you?"

"Beds aren't something you should buy used." The bigger cog, once cleaned and returned, fell neatly into the divots of the smaller one. Almost done now. "She had pretty much everything. I'm only adding a few things."

"Like a new dish set?"

"The old one was chipped." He replied without a beat. Two plates and a cup. Usagi didn't need half broken kitchenware. "And before you say anything, that fridge Usagi obtained was in poor condition. It would have needed replacing in a few years anyway."

"And what's your excuse for the new TV?" Harumi-san cooed. Mamoru frowned. He'd been browsing in a department store for linen — another item which he refused to buy used — when he'd come across the television sets and realized she hadn't had one. That realization led to another, that it was likely a luxury she couldn't yet afford, and before he knew it Mamoru was speaking with the salesman about having the largest one delivered. He couldn't exactly say that though and they both knew it. Harumi-san circled around the table, into his line of sight and sat at one of the empty chairs with a lavish sigh. "It's almost mind boggling, how hard that girl works when she has such a nice, well-off boy like you to help out. Usagi-chan isn't the type to ask though, is she? Stubborn girl."

Mamoru slid him an unimpressed look, and the older man continued, features straightening, "I know it bothers you, that feeling of helplessness. Usagi isn't one to… rely on others. I feel the same way you do, but all these… projects, of yours, they aren't going to change that. All we can do is wait for her to come back."

Wait… God, how he despised that word.

It seemed like she always kept him waiting. From the very first day, Usagi had been a presence he could never quite keep hold of, always slipping between his fingers, always just beyond his reach. Even when he hadn't understood, when there had been nothing save for the slightest feeling that she, a perfect stranger, had been someone he was supposed to know; then, and now, she kept him waiting.

How excruciating it was to be the one waiting.

"…She didn't tell me." He murmured after a moment. "About the house, about anything. All this time she's been working to make a home for Serenity, all on her own, and we didn't even realize. I didn't notice."

Usagi had always acted so… protective, of Serenity. Of the conversations they supposedly had, of their shared history and the future they had so clearly envisioned. Whether she understood or not, the very existence of this house spoke of her feelings on the matter. Why hadn't it occurred to any of them that she might be preparing for Princess Serenity's return? Why hadn't they thought to make preparations themselves?

Why couldn't she have just asked for help?

"Serenity, huh." Harumi mused. "You know, I still don't know very much about her. Is she anything like Usagi?"

Mamoru laughed. "No, not at all. Serenity was… so gentle, sweet. She spent her life living in a far kinder world than I think Usagi did."

"Not for very long, though, from what I hear."

Mamoru's gaze fell back to the clock, that old ache returning to him, rubbing raw at wounds he wished would fully fade. Investigating the Moon Palace in Usagi's wake had only aggravated those scars.

"No, not for long at all."

Mamoru arrived to the Order meeting that night with oil staining his jeans and a slight sense of accomplishment.

It wasn't satisfaction, exactly, but something close enough to sooth his nerves. The clock was finished, and now adorned one of the walls near the stairway where, hopefully, it would continue to work correctly for years to come. Before having to leave he'd also been able to unscrew the kitchen cabinet doors and haul them to the garage. Tomorrow he could finish the coffee table and start on them, though he'd have to pick up some more wood stain as the one he had now was a dark, richer color than Mamoru wanted for the cabinets. The kitchen received decent light exposure, so a lighter brown was sure to brighten it up better.

Or, at least that's what Harumi-san had explained, right before insisting that Mamoru would need to buy a minimum of nine different wood stains (varnish, not oil, varnish) to compare against the overall feel of the house. Now, Mamoru wanted to scoff and brush the man off, really, he did; however, he'd been to The Fabler many times and could say with absolute certainty that Harumi-san was an artist, a true craftsman of his trade, and any man with common sense knew never to question an artist in their element. That was why, despite having earlier been lectured for his various projects around Usagi's house, Mamoru said nothing upon his departure when he saw Harumi-san beginning to add a tile backsplash to the kitchen despite the late hour. He had also dutifully ignored the gallons of paint and rollers next to the coat rack on his way out the door.

Harumi-san was clearly trying to distract himself.

Then again, Mamoru mused, scanning those gathered at the conference table, aren't we all?

Some simply did better than others.

In the aftermath of their trip to the Moon Kingdom — a trip Mamoru decidedly regretted — half of the Order had turned to training as a new means of distraction. Rei, for example, had thrown herself into her work and training with a singlemindedness that was somehow both impressive and frightening at the same time.

They'd gone to the Moon Palace in hopes of finding clues at Nephrite's behest, and had returned with more than they'd bargained for. The Sword of the Silver Crystal, an exact replica of the one Minako possessed, and some parting gifts from the soul of Queen Serenity. Mamoru had never really understood before that moment, because as a child he'd heard nothing but praise for the Moon Kingdom, but Queen Serenity… that woman had a darkness in her, when it came to Usagi. Even without the details, he could see why Usagi had fought them so fervently, after hearing the Queen's final command.

But she had gifted each Sailor Scout with an upgrade, each General, and even Matsuo, with a greater power, and they had all welcomed the change with open arms, even if the accompanied words had left everyone unsettled.

Rei in particular had taken to her upgrade with a vicious determination to master it. She was closer to Usagi than the other girls were, had been the first in on their investigation, so the desire to not think of what she had done must have been strong. It appeared that only Rei and himself harbored any hope that Usagi had not gone to Crystal Tokyo and ended up giving the Black Moon Clan an advantage against them. Even Matsuo, who had grown quiet in the past days, no longer defended Usagi to the rest. He didn't do much but brood silently in his own musings, or train his newfound and alarming abilities.

Really, Mamoru hadn't known what to expect when his friend had taken that concoction from the Queen, but he supposed the fact that Matsuo was still alive and kicking was good enough Hopefully, Usagi saw it that way as well, and didn't murder Mamoru for having stayed out of it. Makoto wasn't upset, but that was likely because she no longer had to worry about her very normal boyfriend dying in Order business.

At the head of the table, Minako called the meeting into session, and Mamoru focused back in as she asked for a status report.

It was the same every night.

"No detection of dark energy or sign of supernatural phenomena." Ami opened with, just as she had the prior eight nights. "I'm working on an update for the supercomputer, a new algorithm to hopefully expand the depth of our range and pick up whatever smaller bits of activity might have been slipping through the cracks… Naru's mother is doing well. She's going to be released soon to return home. It appears that Usagi's healing capabilities are stronger than we previously thought; while physical therapy will still be necessary, the muscle atrophy is minimal, her weight loss doesn't appear to be effecting her health, and whatever brain damage that might have occurred during those seven months is simply… gone. Healed. She remembers nothing of the attack itself."

There was a pause, where all eyes swept past the two empty seats at Ami's left.

Makoto shifted, arms tucked into Rini at her lap, and said, "It's wonderful that she's going home but… well, isn't it too soon? Naru was stuck in the hospital for two weeks after waking, and she had spent far less time comatose."

"It's because there's been some… trouble, with the media. Her recovery was all over the news, as expected; this time, however, there appears to be an even greater uproar over the situation. Two women of the same family falling into comas doctors can't explain, after an attack the police couldn't solve, and then suddenly waking, bodies almost entirely recovered from the symptoms of being comatose? They're calling them the Osaka Miracles. It isn't just reporters camped outside the hospital, trying to sneak past the staff; medical experts from all over Japan, even outside it, are making offers to study them, and Naru's mother can't be expected to rest in that environment." With resignation, Ami continued, "We're doing what we can in terms of damage control, but there's only so much we can do. Eventually, the hype will die down as it did with Naru."

True, it hadn't gone on too long the last time. Mamoru recalled seeing the headlines in the papers, but eventually the public found other things to occupy their attention. It was only a matter of time. Still, he wondered how she and her mother were fairing with the publicity. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to give her a call in the morning.

Naru hadn't been back to headquarters since that night, and no one save for Ami and Nephrite had really gotten the chance to see her. From what he heard, she was in good spirits; positive in regards to her mother's recovery, more than willing to help ease the woman back into the world. Nephrite spent a good portion of time with the two between school — which he had all but given up on, having little interest in furthering himself outside of secondary education — and Order work. He was absent now, off running errands for the Osaka family.

Minako nodded and flipped through the papers in front of her. "What of the swords?"

"Nothing new." Ami ran a few fingers down her temple. "Analysis shows a substantial difference in age and care, but other than that… they are indeed the same sword. I would still advise against using either one for the time being, especially when it isn't necessary. I really hadn't believed it when Nephrite told us, even after going to the Moon Palace. Even Queen Serenity hadn't been able to help us there."

A stilted pause settled on the room at her words, and Ami cringed slightly in regret.

Eight days, and still Queen Serenity's words continued to echo in their minds.

"Sailor Moon has sworn herself to Princess Serenity, but that girl has caused her downfall before. Should she fail in her duties as a guardian, should she ever falter or turn her back again, I expect each of you to do your duty." As one, the Sailor Scouts remained kneeled before her, new pens at their feet. Behind them, Matsuo and the generals stood at attention, each with a crystal vial in hand.

Off to the side, Mamoru watched on, vaguely unsettled. Luna and Artemis recognized the liquid. It was perfectly safe, he knew. Yet knowing did little to quell the urge he felt to rush forward and knock those vials out of their hands. His father had taken it though, the Queen had informed him. It was how he'd gained the power to defeat the four kings of earth, and establish the Golden Kingdom.

Milk of Gladiolus Lilium, an elixir that awakened the alleged Star Seed within. He still didn't understand what that meant, what a Star Seed even was, only that, according to Queen Serenity, he, like the Sailor Scouts, had been born with his awakened.

Queen Serenity continued, "I have given you the power to oversee this task, as protectors of the Moon Kingdom and the Crown Princess Serenity. Sailor Moon cannot be trusted to keep her word. If she becomes a traitor of the Moon Kingdom, you are to carry out her execution."

Each of them stilled.

Jadeite cleared his throat. "Speaking of the moon palace, I've been thinking that perhaps there might be some merit in beginning patrols there. Should Usagi return, it's likely she may attempt to lay low for a while; what better place than the Moon Palace, if she was trying to remain hidden?"

Mamoru tried not to bristle at the insinuation that Usagi may not come back. At his left, Minako snorted quietly, and then cleared her expression at Jadeite's affronted look. "Apologies, that was rude of me. I'm afraid between the amount of energy necessary to initiate the teleport and the ever growing number of absentee members, we don't have the manpower to spare."

"And that's amusing, how?" Jadeite quirked a brow.

Minako stalled, smoothing out her stack of papers. "We all know Usagi." She grinned fondly, sadly. "…Given her tendency to steamroll through all manners of life with little regard as to the opinions of others and what is or isn't possible, I sincerely doubt she would care to hide from us, especially if she truly did go to Crystal Tokyo for Princess Serenity. Usagi understands the consequences of her actions; I can't imagine she would flinch away from facing us upon her return."

"She's been known to run before." Matsuo countered, much to everyone's surprise.

"…That's true, but even if she did decide to hide out there, Usagi knows the Moon Palace well enough to evade most, if not all, of the Order." She shrugged. "Patrols up there would be futile, at this point. If the Black Moon Clan attacks — and we can't guarantee that they won't — we need to be ready, not at half power and scattered trying to take on too much at once."

"Then what happens when she returns?" Matsuo asked, turning his gaze to stare down each member present. "How do we proceed when all is said and done?"

"You wish to know how Usagi shall be sentenced for her misdeeds." Kunzite stated. He folded his hands on the table. "That will depend on her defense, of course, but no matter what story or reason she gives, the fact remains that she disobeyed the rules. The Order of Elysion cannot allow such transgressions — no matter how pure the original intent — to go unpunished; As Minako has stated, Usagi is aware her actions will have consequences."

"And what of the consequences of Queen Serenity's actions?" Matsuo spat, lips curling into a sneer. "Do you expect Usagi to pay for that as well? That woman wants her dead, regardless of any and all reason, and the supposed gifts she imparted on each of us were nothing more than a guise to distract from that fact. It was blood money."

Kunzite leaned forward, gaze hard. "It was a necessity, and past our vows to guard Princess Serenity no verbal agreement was made-"

"Do you really think the Queen would have given anything to us if she wasn't certain at least one would follow through?" Matsuo interjected. "Do you truly believe that you, or Minako, or any of us were clever enough to fool her?"

"That is beside the point." Falling back into his chair, Kunzite rested his cheek against his fist. "It is treason to betray the Order. If we do not enforce the rules then there is no point in having them and we devolve into common savages."

Matsuo's expression twisted, but he said nothing. Usagi had to face some kind of punishment, and they all knew it. Tensions were simply high because Queen Serenity's harsher sense of… justice, had left a lingering impression. Usagi had committed a wrongdoing, certainly, but it was nowhere near severe enough to justify what the Queen seemed to want and they all knew it. Matsuo seemed to sense him and turned, their eyes meeting.

Neither would allow Queen Serenity to have her way.

"So, uh, back to the subject at hand," Jadeite murmured. "Perhaps there is another solution here. Ami's supercomputer is originally intended to detect throughout our solar system, is it not?"

The girl in question blinked, brow furrowing. "That's correct. I've been redirecting the system to focus on Tokyo, as overseeing it has been our primary goal, but it's still coded to detect outside of Earth."

"Wonderful." Jadeite grinned. "So what if rather than dark energy, the supercomputer was fine tuned to detect all supernatural energy."

Ami looked at him for a moment, not saying anything. "You have no idea how computers work, do you?"

"It's alien technology." He scoffed. "I cannot pretend to understand the ways of you otherworldly beings."

With a smile, Zoisite chimed in, "Oh, it isn't all that difficult Jadeite, provided you have a brain."

"Shut it, you feminine jerk." Jadeite didn't even glance his way, continuing, "So can you make it happen then? Because that would save us a world of trouble in the future."

Mamoru considered that, not quite able to follow his friend's chain of thought. "How so?"

"Well, think about it. We do patrols and investigate based on rumors and detection of dark energy, but dark energy itself isn't a natural occurrence. From what we've seen thus far, it is born from the corruption of any individual with supernatural ability." Jadeite ticked off his fingers as he said, "Queen Beryl, the siblings Ail and An, the Black Moon Clan, and even us Generals; willing or otherwise, we each fell to the corruption of dark energy, thus allowing it to grow within ourselves. What would the world have become, if instead of Queen, Beryl was only ever a sorceress; it would be a drastically different world, wouldn't it? Now, imagine for a moment that the Order had a way to locate gifted people within the confines of our territory."

Minako jumped in, tone awed. "We could get to them before they become corrupted. Provide assistance somehow, win them over to our side before our enemies even have a chance to manipulate them. We could start a sanctuary, a place for people like ourselves… it's brilliant."

Ami opened her mouth to speak only to cut off prematurely as a golden light split the room behind her, revealing a figure. Within moments, the Order was battle ready, gathered to the opposite side of the table as the light faded enough to make sense of the new arrival.

She wore the uniform of a Sailor Scout, but even with Mamoru's previous memories he did not recognize here. Nor, it seemed, did anyone else. The woman's gaze fell on Rini, huddled in Makoto's arms, and smiling she stepped forward. "Greetings, little princess. I believe I have something that belongs to you."

To the utter disbelief of everyone in the room, the woman withdrew a necklace, Rini's necklace.

Makoto shifted, shielding Rini. "Who are you?"

"Not as quick on the uptake as your comrade, I see. I suppose that's to be expected." She moved past the table, towering over most of them. "I am the Keeper of the Doors of Space and Time, Guardian of the Underworld. I am Sailor Pluto."

Makoto ignored the insult. "And how is it that you came to hold this key, Sailor Pluto?"

"Have I not said? Your comrade gave it to me, a token of goodwill on her way to Crystal Tokyo. I am merely returning it to its rightful owner." Sailor Pluto peered past Makoto, extending her arm to Rini. "Please take more care with it this time, little princess."

Flushing, Rini wiggled out of Makoto's arms. "It's okay, everyone. Sailor Pluto is my friend."

As Rini took the key, Sailor Pluto brushed a hand over her hair affectionately, before turning to address Minako. "If you wish to find Sailor Moon, now is the time. I suggest you make haste; things are about to turn ugly."

Minako watched her thoughtfully.

"I can only assume she figured it out then, whatever role you play. The gold light gave you away, and I doubt she didn't realize it, yet she handed that key over to you anyway…" She paused. "Why have you been sending those notes, and why did you give Rei the Sword of the Silver Crystal?"

"That is not for me to say."

Minako narrowed her gaze in response. "I see. Tell me, Sailor Pluto: what is so special about this moment in time, that you have chosen it to be the one in which to allow us access to the future?"

Sailor Pluto hummed, and turned away. Only once she had stepped through the portal did she give one final look over her shoulder. "I am the keeper of time and space. I may only observe, and follow the duties assigned to me. Do not stray from the path."

And then she was gone, the air whole as though it had never been split apart to begin with. While the others processed what had just occurred, Mamoru turned his sights on Minako. This was what they'd been hoping for; a way to join Usagi and the Black Moon Clan in the future. A way to join the fight.

Minako spun, stalking towards her office, and shouted, "Someone call in Nephrite. Ami, get my sword. I want everyone mission ready in an hour."

Main POV

The morning began in much the same routine as the ones before it. A breakfast of rations from 1995 eaten in the kitchens, a short walk to stretch the legs, and then a solid six hours of self-loathing whilst skimming through every book of possible importance in what seemed to be a near endless library. It was certainly the most impressive one I'd ever come by; four stories of soft pearl walls and arching crystal windows, between which thousands upon thousands of texts in countless languages had been arranged. Divots in the walls created small nooks with small armchairs, where one could tuck themselves away with a few good books and lose track of the day. The first floor held rows of tables closer to the entrance, one of which I had secured for myself not long upon my arrival into the palace.

It was truly a remarkably wondrous place. I might have even enjoyed it, had I not been spending nearly every waking hour here. Reading hurt me, it hurt my very soul. I was so, so tired of books. Berthier was tired of books.

Yet the search continued.

"Is it possible that the information you seek isn't within the Crystal palace?" Berthier asked once again.

"It's here." I closed another book, slid it across the table before reaching for the next one atop the stack at my side. At some point the headaches that pained me had become a constant companion. Perusing through both English and Japanese texts, I hardly noticed anymore. "It has to be here. There is no way it isn't here."

It had to be here, because Serenity was here. Or her body was, at least.

That had been an unpleasant discovery, despite having known to expect it.

A great hall, absolutely teeming with seals and crystalline coffins. Each bore frosted glass making it difficult to make out anything more than the outline of each person, and yet there had been so, so many. From Serenity, at the center, each coffin fanned out in two curves, creating a sort of spiraling pattern. I had counted; one coffin for Serenity, one for Mamoru, one of each Sailor Scout and General, perhaps even one for Matsuo and Naru… but that was only twelve people.

The coffins numbered eighteen.

I pushed those thoughts aside. The fact was, Serenity couldn't be alive unless I had figured out how to bring her back, and in order to discover that, I had needed to come here. Serenity knew I'd be coming. She would have prepared, because that's what I was expecting. Therefore, the information had to be here in the Crystal Palace. Or she wouldn't be here. And Rini wouldn't be alive. And I wouldn't have come.

It was here. Everything made perfect sense.

Berthier shuffled her feet. "Perhaps we are looking in the wrong place then. You said you think it's a book, not that you're sure."

"It's written information, and the Queen would have left it for me." Maybe it wasn't a book, but I was hoping it would be, mostly out of convenience. "The first place I'd look is the library, so she's likely to have left it here."

"Why would the Queen have left- she knew you would come?"

"At some point, certainly."

"How could she… Oh." It appeared to dawn on her then, as it had me prior to this trip. Rini had said, after all, it was not in the Queen's nature to spare those that would bring harm to the kingdom. The Black Moon Clan had been allowed to form, to plan and attack as they had. Their success thus far had only ever been at the Queen's, Serenity's, grace.

What had they been, in the end?

Without her, what had their sacrifices, their hard work, truly amounted to?

The Dark Moon Clan… they were almost pitiable. Almost.

After a moment, Berthier gathered herself. "This library has always been open to the public. I can't imagine the Queen leaving anything for you here, in a place so easy found."

I blew air through my cheeks. She wasn't wrong. "Fine, lets reconsider the possibilities, shall we?"

I'd seen most of the palace already. It was, quite literally, one giant crystal, settled in a small portion of Tokyo. It was difficult to say where, exactly, as everything outside the palace had been completely obliterated, leaving nothing but a wasteland of dust and blackened earth each time you glanced out a window. Hard to believe that this land had once been one of the most peaceful civilizations to grace the earth. An entire planet ruled by one person… Insane to think, and yet it had been done before.

The Golden Kingdom's reach had extended to every corner of the earth, millennia ago. It had been, for all intents and purposes, a simpler time. Peaceful.

Still creepy though.

A few hours went by as we wandered through the palace, checking out places I mused to be of importance to this Serenity. Private studies, the throne room, a council chamber, and still we found nothing. In fact, there was a suspicious lack of documentation to be seen in the places we looked, almost as though it had been moved before the attack. Perhaps it had.

Had the tables been turned, I'd have been cautious about allowing anyone from the past to glimpse parts of the future. It would be best to simply work through the issues of building and running a kingdom as they came up rather than worry and plan in anticipation. However, that didn't explain why Serenity felt the need to hide things from me, given that I wasn't supposed to live long enough to affect much of Crystal Tokyo. Maybe it was simple concern for what I might've pieced together… but there was no guarantee that I'd even tell my Serenity. Some things, I'd learned, were better left alone; you know, like the fact that this was more than a stealth mission. Serenity didn't need to know that. I could keep my mouth shut.

So why hide everything, when I had no intentions of telling anyone?

I chewed on that thought as we made yet another circle around the palace. Our third walk along the main wing of the Crystal Palace came to a pause when, without warning, Berthier came to a sudden halt. "Sailor Moon, we have visitors."

I followed her gaze out the crystalline glass. "Huh. Took them long enough."

I'd been leaving signs for a week now. Honestly, it shouldn't have taken so long for us to have been noticed. A heathy distance from the front gate a reasonably large group had gathered; I counted six, one of which was familiar to me, even from the third floor. Unfortunately, Berthier also zeroed in on her. With alarming determination, she spun on me. "Koan is there. She's so close, we must retrieve her."

"What?" I looked between her and our arrivals. "There's six of them down there. Six. And you're still struggling to fully access your powers."

The mark of the Black Moon Clan had fully faded the first day here, leaving only the silver crescent, and though Berthier's ice magic had reappeared, she was nowhere near full power. She had said it was like having to relearn her abilities all over again, which didn't bode well for us now.

"You swore." She said, fingers wrapping around my wrists. "You gave me your word, Sailor Moon. I've helped you search this palace from top to bottom, given you every bit of intel on the Black Moon Clan I had; now its time to hold up your end of the bargain. We go out there, distract them, and when the time is right, we strike. Koan will come to our side so long as you use that- that healing ability to strip the darkness as you did with me. She could be an asset!"

I leaned away attempting to create distance. "I see your point, but consider this: there is six of them, and one of me. We had a plan. One where Koan comes after dealing with the Black Moon Clan. This goes against it. And, most importantly, I'm not a fan of those odds." Plus, I was the kinda girl that fought to avoid the fight; deadly situations weren't my cup of tea, it was just that no one seemed to get that yet.

She shook her head, grinning for the first time in our acquaintanceship, and brought me face to face with the glass. "Look closer. Two of those six aren't human."

I looked. Shuddered. Koan had brought her creepy skinwalker abominations.

"Listen," Berthier released her hold, "I have enough power to take out those two. Koan will be easy to deal with, two of the others are my older sisters, and the last… well, Rubeus is no push over, but I've told you about each of their skills. Surely the Destroyer can turn this to her advantage."

There was that damned epithet again. I examined the group, stalling.

Berthier, like any soldier, respected strength greater than her own. She was compliant now, had in fact been not only amiable, but incredibly useful as well. However, if I shied away from this confrontation? If I failed, or showed weakness? What guarantee did I have that she wouldn't abandon me? If she was captured before I had Koan, and I proved myself to be less competent than the famed Destroyer, what was to stop her from changing her allegiance?

Our partnership was young, still in the making. In this endeavor, Berthier was destined to be either my greatest ally or my very downfall. I could not afford to falter now, lest it come back to bite me. Berthier wanted Koan. I wanted to cripple their ability to time travel.

So… how did I turn this to my advantage?

They numbered eleven.

She turned the key, and the fabric of reality split, creating for the second time an opening in the warehouse, a portal home where Crystal Tokyo, Sailor Moon, salvation, awaited.

They numbered eleven. The Order of Elysion was on its way.

The Black Crystal is the source of the Black Moon Clan's power.

A gem of immense strength, its power grows by taking in negative energy from those that wield it, thus enhancing their own abilities. In order to truly use the crystal, one must succumb to the darkness within themselves. The Black Crystal, having been fed for an unknown amount of time, held immeasurable power. That was how they had destroyed Crystal Tokyo, how they traveled between the twentieth and thirtieth centuries.

Purify enough of the Black Crystal, and the Black Moon Clan has no path to the past.

Regrettably, the core of that crystal remained far, far away on the planet of Nemesis, home base of the Black Moon Clan, and undoubtedly guarded to high heaven. It was the damned dim kingdom all over again.

This time, however, I had come prepared. All that remained was a simple matter of adjusting the plan to fit Berthier's ultimatum. So as we made our way downstairs, I adjusted. I could make this work.

Beside me, Berthier was remarkably peppy, likely feeling rewarded for her efforts. That was good; I wanted her to see that she had much more to gain standing with me than she could ever hope for with the Black Moon Clan. Of course, in order to do that, I had to first succeed in this little hiccup.

I glanced her way. "I can't spare them, you know."

Berthier faltered, but managed to even out her pace once again. Gaze set forward, she said, "I know."

I turned my attention back to the hall. Chewed on that.

"Why is it okay to save on sister, and forsake the others?" I had tried, but the thought process was beyond me. "How does one make that decision?"

"…It's not that I don't care for them." She murmured after a moment. "We all used to be quite close, you know; before the Black Moon Clan. I don't think there's much sisterly love left between us now though. The Black Crystal… it stripped those feelings over time. Even now I remember our time at Nemesis far more vividly than what came before it. Each of us would have seen the others dead if it meant obtaining the thing we cherished most. Koan is still so young, feisty certainly, but not mean; the rest of us… we were horrid. Being the baby of the family has its advantages, I think. It allowed her to be overlooked, while the three of us quarreled."

I thought back to the few interactions I'd had with Koan. "So, compared to the three of you, Koan is supposed to be the nice one. That's… lovely."

She hummed in agreement.

Still, the closer we got, the more my muscles began to loosen in anticipation. We'd been locked up in this palace for longer than I would've liked, without a hit of progress no less. I had a deadline coming up, and nothing to show for it. At least this was going to be one thing off my list, even if it wasn't in the order I wanted. I looked at Berthier. "When we go out, I expect you to play your part well. I'll get our invitation and your sister, so be mindful not to mess the plan up any further than you already have."

Berthier nodded, but as we rounded the corner her reply seemed to catch in her throat, and what came out instead was a strained sound. I saw it only a moment later. A figure blocking the main door. He turned, and my heart skipped.

Mamoru smiled. "Hello, Usagi."

I stared, uncomprehending. Without breaking my gaze, I leaned toward Berthier and asked, "Do you… see him too?"

She made the same strained sound. Okay.

He was… older, taller, than I expected. The outfit he wore was somewhere between a suit and a knight's uniform; armor covering shoulders, knees, and sternum in a dark silver that went well with the deep blues of his jacket and cape, and the white of his shirt. In place of a bowtie he wore a lighter silver tie tucked into a white vest. Somehow both a prince of ages past and the tuxedoed vigilante of my present. Mamoru looked… well, like a man, standing proudly with a confidence I'd never seen from him. Oddly different from the eighteen year old I'd left in 1995.

Upon closer inspection, I realized the form we saw wasn't fully corporeal. I cleared my throat. "Mamoru… you're looking rather ghostly."

He laughed softly, fondly. "Yes, astral projection tends to have such an effect, as you'll soon discover. Tell me, has it been eleven days yet? I'm afraid I lost track."

"It's- yeah." I paused, dissecting his words. "Wait. What do you mean as I'll discover? And why have you been keeping track? How long have you been… projecting?"

"A while." He admitted. "It takes more energy than you'd think. She told me but I hadn't listened well enough, I suppose. You should know I've been waiting some time; nearly thought you might never come."

"You were waiting for me." The words were flat.

Mamoru gave me a pointed look. "You've figured most of it out by now. Surely, Usagi, you can puzzle out the remaining pieces."

I considered him.

The Black Moon Clan, the Legendary Sword, the timing of each letter… all carefully manipulated. All part of a greater scheme. I'd been lured back to Tokyo, to the Order, and now here. "Do you know who sent the letters?"

"Yes."

I nodded, more to myself. It wasn't Mamoru. He was simply yet another messenger. The third party… it had to be her, but what the hell was she up to? I sensed that even if I asked, he wouldn't have an answer. I focused my efforts in a more productive direction. "I assume, then, that you have something for me? After all, we both know why I'm here."

"Ah, yes. I nearly forgot." With more amusement than I felt warranted the situation, he gestured to a long wooden table settled beneath a painting of… well, I didn't know, exactly. It was a large, grand building, but I couldn't recall ever seeing it before. The architecture was reminiscent of the moon palace, but I could say with certainty that it wasn't part of the place. I'd have seen it otherwise.

There was nothing on top of the table. Adorning it, however, were about a million drawers and cabinets. I sent Mamoru a scathing look, and his smile grew. "Check under it, darling."

Dropping to my knees, I did spot a small box shoved back toward the wall. It too was wooden, and upon pulling it out, slightly too small to hold a book; not a big one, anyway. I opened the box. The largest item was a thick wad of parchment, at least five or six pieces rolled up and tied with a golden ribbon. Next to it sat a small fabric pouch, a red whistle and, of all things, a rubber duck. It honked softly upon my squish. I looked back to Mamoru. "What — and I mean this sincerely — the hell do you think you're playing at, Boy Scout? Tell me Serenity did not wait a thousand years to leave me a box of random crap."

His amusement only grew. "That woman has a particular sense of humor. The answer you've sought is there, however."

"Thanks. You guys are the worst." I stood and handed the box to Berthier. She glanced at the contents before setting it down. As great as the urge to tear into him was, we simply didn't have time. "Well, I'm about to go out there and cause some trouble. Wanna tell me how it goes?"

At that Mamoru's features cleared. "You know I cannot do that. Just… have faith."

"Do I definitely have to, or can I just go back to my time?"

"Faith, Usagi."

Alrighty then. Couldn't say I was very good at having faith. I placed Berthier in front of me, fixing her hair so that it cover the silver crescent, and summoned the moon scepter. Just before we left, I found myself pausing one last time to ask over my shoulder, "Why eleven days? What happens on the eleventh day?"

"The true battle begins."

I opened the door, those words settling between us with finality. Almost, I pondered, like the final nail in a coffin. Yet he made no move to stop me, and as the door shut behind us, I had to wonder what that itself meant.

Inaction was a double edged sword, and somehow it seemed he wielded it far better than I.

Dirt crunch beneath our feet as we made our way through the outer courtyard, and it was only at the gates that I was able to get a good look at the outside world.

Crystal Tokyo was a sanctuary for the supernatural of earth, its infamous tower overshadowed by the brilliance of the Crystal Palace and all that it signified. Crime was at its lowest in the capitol of the Crystal Empire, where every individual retained a given right to education, housing, and work. Perhaps it was because I was in the dark regarding the exact details that the peace of Crystal Tokyo seemed so easily achieved. The Silver Crystal, in Serenity's hands, had served to lengthen the lifespans of every citizen, strengthen their health, and cleansed the pollution on earth. Crystal Tokyo was a utopia no matter which angle you perceived it from.

Yet all that remained was dust.

A blackened, barren wasteland as far as the eye could see, utterly void of life.

Serenity had allowed this.

I stuffed that thought far, far away into the depths of my mind, along with the words dancing on the edge of my tongue, aching to be spoken. Now was not the time. We stepped past the gates, one hand on Berthier's braid, the other pressing the moon scepter to her neck. I could do this.

We stopped twelve meters away. I examined each person, before turning my sights on the one called Rubeus. "Greetings, Black Moon Clan. My name is Sailor Moon, and I've come to bargain. Is your leader among you?"

Rubeus grinned wildly. "The legendary Destroyer. I admit, I had not thought much of you so early into your beginnings. Now I find myself itching to get a taste of your measure."

"I wouldn't suggest it." I cocked my head. Teleportation, fire, and flying abilities enhanced by the Black Crystal he wore. This one would have to go first. "Now, I've come a great distance to converse with the leader of the Black Moon Clan, and I sense that it is not you. Call your leader. I guarantee he will be interested in what I have to say."

"Is that so?" Amusement colored his tone.

Behind Rubeus, one of the women sneered.

It was only when my gaze flickered over to her that I felt it: a heavier weight, as though her presence was more… polluted, than her sisters. Berthier had spoken of her, the eldest sister Petz. A quick scan showed no more Black Crystal on her other than the uniform earrings. Had she always been that way, or had something changed, because Berthier had made no mention of her having more Black Crystal than her sisters. Perhaps Petz had buried herself too deep.

Perhaps she had more darkness than the rest- ah, she'd caught me looking.

I arched a brow, and slid my gaze away, past the second sister to land on Koan. She grimaced.

"Hello, Koan dear. I see you're still alive." I paused, smiling coyly as she tensed in anticipation. "Oh, no need to fret just yet. I haven't come to spill your blood… yet. You see, I've found myself in a rather inconvenient position at the moment, and Berthier here was kind enough to lend me some advice." I moved the edge of the moon scepter a few inches from her neck. "Go on, tell them."

All eyes were on Berthier now, narrowed in suspicion. She swallowed.

"Sailor Moon has come to broker an alliance, in exchange for her safety."

"Lies." Hissed Petz. She stepped up to Rubeus, who now looked at us with a bit more curiosity than bloodlust, and placed a hand to his arm. "Do not believe them, Rubeus. Sailor Moon was the loyal protector of the Queen for years; she would not turn her back so easily. Berthier was weak enough to get captured and now she has brought her captor to our century. Her words cannot be trusted."

Rubeus shook her off, gaze never leaving me.

Little regard for his subordinates. That was interesting. Even more intriguing, the expressions of her sisters seemed to sour briefly when Petz had reached for Rubeus.

I saw my opening in his silence, and pushed Berthier forward, closing a few meters between our parties. "You make a fair point. Sailor Moon has always been the protector of Princess Serenity, going back to childhood, even. However, you seem to missing valuable information, so allow me to remedy that." We gained another few feet. I could attack from here, if need be. "Princess Serenity has not walked the earth in thousands upon thousands of years. She has been lost since the fall of the Moon Kingdom."

Shock flashed across Rubeus' face, and he wasn't quite quick enough to mask it in time. Still, the news appeared to have grounded him, and almost without thought he moved closer. Five meters, a mere fifteen feet between us. "You mean to tell me the Queen is deceased?"

"Not deceased, no… It's much more complicated than that, I'm afraid. Serenity is neither dead nor alive, from what I gather. She remains trapped, lost somewhere out of time." That was technically true, too; the Silver Crystal was an existence unmarred by the idles of time, and she did not have the power to escape. "Now, as unfortunate as it is, Serenity has not yet returned to the twentieth century in order to stake her claim and build… well, whatever the hell this land had been. Ergo, she has not had the chance to earn my allegiance — and I assure you, it is a loyalty one must earn, not something carelessly handed out. The Order of Elysion never had my allegiance, so it wasn't a difficult decision for me to betray them. I struck a bargain with Berthier; her release and the return of her powers in exchange for an audience with your leader."

"Why?"

"Because I refuse to die as the rumors imply."

His breath caught, realization dawning.

I continued, "Sailor Moon supposedly dies from serving her queen. At the moment I have no queen, no ties to the Order, nothing save for my own desire to live and I have found that I prefer it this way. Why should I spend both lives laboring under the orders of a queen I don't even want to serve? Believe me or don't, I hardly care. You can have your girl back, though. I have a far better bargaining chip than her." I released Berthier, letting her stumble her way to their side. Only Koan seemed the slightest tolerant — likely from having the misfortune to face me in battle — catching Berthier by the shoulders to steady her as their sisters stared down in severe disapproval. That was fine though. Berthier was exactly where she needed to be.

Rubeus, ensnared, didn't look away for a second as I pulled the chain around my neck, revealing the very prize they'd sought. "You see, I wield the Silver Crystal."

His gaze locked on it, and then, after a moment, traced up to meet my own. Calculating, excitement, and then his expression cleared, lips perking up in a half grin.

"I will retrieve him at once."

There had been some minor argument as to Rubeus' departure, quickly and firmly squashed by the withering look he sent the Ayakashi Sisters before disappearing.

As I suspected, he wasn't simply going to call in or send one of his minions to relay the news. No, Rubeus had just been handed the kind of opportunity that led to recognition, promotions and rewards; he would take his findings directly to the man in charge.

Which gave us time.

I eyed Koan for a few minutes, fingers clicking against the scepter. Though she tried not to, every couple of seconds her gaze would flicker to me, arms crossed tightly, defensively. I had the excuse ready. Berthier had placed herself between Koan and her sisters, and the ground Koan's toys stood over had slowly become ice, creeping up their ankles.

The blessing wouldn't take until those earrings were disposed of, and I couldn't exactly walk over and remove them. Decisive action, then.

Faster than they were able to react, I summoned a burst of energy and swung the Moon Scepter, muttering the words for healing purification. Having rarely, if ever, used the technique, I could only focus on one of them at a time, and so with a small gasp, Koan stumbled back as her earrings shattered apart. I was already stalking forward, using my advantage as she fumbled to respond in a way that would not bring Rubeus' wrath down on her. Berthier held a hand to block them as her sisters sprang forward to interfere.

"You do not want to do that." She muttered. My knee met Koan's stomach and she fell to her knees. Berthier didn't even flinch. "This is Koan's punishment to bear, not ours."

And before either girl could make up her mind, I placed my kiss to Koan's brow, nails digging vindictively into the skin of her cheeks. The entire affair had taken four seconds. She shrieked, clawing at her forehead. Soon though the sounds turn to whimpers, before eventually going quiet as she fell into unconsciousness.

"How dare you…" Petz seethed. However, she did not move. "We are members of the Black Moon Clan. Rubeus will not take kindly to an assault against us."

I grinned, pivoting to face her. "You know, I don't think he'll mind all that much. Besides, Koan and I had a score to settle. I'm not interested in soiling my hands with the likes of you… Patrice, was it?"

Her sneer turned into a growl. Without breaking her stare, I said, "Berthier, you still owe me one final favor in order to get your powers back. Be a dear and drop Koan off at the Crystal Palace for me. I need to see penance before she can be forgiven and I'd like to keep her close until I can be sure these naughty girls will behave."

With a snarl Petz began to lunge at me, only to stop as I acquainted her with the sharp edge of the Moon scepter, the playfulness gone from my expression. "Test me even once, and I'll not hesitate to gut you."

"You can't-"

"But I can." I interjected, taking another step closer, voice lowered. "You see, there's a difference between us; I'm worth a hundred of you, and right now I answer to no one. You knew that though, didn't you, Patrice. It's why you hesitated, why you won't do a damned thing as Koan disappears into the Crystal Palace. My value far outweighs your own."

I was banking on it.

Berthier moved with speed, picking up her younger sister and bringing her back through the gates, into the Crystal Palace where no member of the Black Moon Clan could follow. Berthier must not have taken her far, as she returned shortly thereafter, soothing the part of me that had worried she would not come back. Two objectives met in one day, and only two more to go. Easy peasy.

Then, suddenly, something in me shifted, and it was as though the lights cut out within. My breath caught. The power of Sailor Moon that had coursed through my veins for the past few days shuddered, the Silver Crystal becoming a weakening pulse. My limbs ached at the sudden, unwilling absence. The earth tilted ever so slightly.

"Sailor Moon?" Berthier grabbed my arm, steadying me. Alarm rang through her voice. "What is it? What's happening?"

"Something's wrong." I spun toward the Crystal Palace, sensing a presence, a thrumming.

The Silver Crystal went numb. Time seemed to pause as the power in me stuttered into the faintest trickle of energy, my hairs standing on end. There was a… hole, in my chest; a hollowed spot where that soft, nearly unperceivable hum — the one that had been my companion for months and months and months — had nestled. A sharpness sliced through me as I realized it was Serenity's hum, and it was gone, she was gone, I couldn't feel her, I couldn't feel her presence anymore.

The sudden absence left nothing but the thrumming to fill my ears.

A hand shot out towards my chest, where the Silver Crystal lay.

It was instinct, the way my own hand intercepted the movement, taking hold, twisting until bones cracked. Reality caught up with me. The other sister, Calaveras, was crouched on the ground before me, a scream escaping behind clenched teeth. I couldn't seem to summon enough energy to perform another blessing, or channel power through the Moon Scepter; it was like there was nothing left, only that which kept me in this form. From the corner of my eye I saw Petz move to attack and in my panic, I fell back on my most basic instinct; self-preservation.

The base of the scepter slammed into Calaveras' skull, then spun as my hand shifted down its form just enough to bring it around in a swing that sliced Petz from collarbone to chin. My breathing had picked up at some point, becoming rapid. Petz fell to her knees, hands clenched at her throat in an attempt to keep the blood in. My eyes skimmed past the animatronic creatures, frozen to the ground, and met Berthier's. The plan was done for.

Of course, that was the moment Rubeus appeared, with another man in tow.

He was tall and lean, likely only a few inches from Matsuo's height. His hair, pale as Kunzite's, fell softly around his face, framing both it and the black, inverted crescent moon at his forehead. His eyes burned a hole through my head, staring more intensely than seemed reasonable, even given the situation.

Scanning the scene before him, Rubeus snarled. "What is the meaning of this?"

I opened my mouth, — to say what, I didn't know — only to close it as spikes of ice shot past me to where they stood.

I pivoted on my heel and ran, chasing after Berthier whom had already moved into a dead sprint as though her life depended on it, which it did. I pumped my legs, struggling to keep up. The distance widened between us as my stomach began to sink. Part of me knew, even before it happened, what would come next.

I was ready when Rubeus appeared before me, striking out the moment I saw him in a move he wasn't quick enough to fully evade. As the lobe of his ear, earring attached, fell to the ground I had already swung the base back toward his head. He jumped back, just out of range and out of my way, but it didn't matter by then. It didn't matter, because on my other side stood Prince Demande. I could not fight them both. My gaze flicked between them and the gate. Berthier had made it past, had paused to look back.

I wasn't going to make it, we both knew that.

But Serenity had to. She had to.

She couldn't fall into enemy hands.

The chain broke from my neck easily. I summoned what little energy I had left, dropped the scepter, and threw. The Silver Crystal sailed in an arc over the walls, where they could not follow in time, and through the gate entrance, I watched as Berthier backed up, hands extending as she caught it. She spared one last look, but understood what she had to do. The palace doors shut behind her with finality.

Serenity was safe.

And I was not.

Demande grabbed me by the fabric of my top, and jerked me to face him. His eyes razed over my features, fascinated, angry, thrilled. "You."

I met his gaze head on.

"You have her eyes."

A/N

It's Christmas somewhere. Like, in an alternate dimension.

I forgot to mention before, but Queen Serenity being the catalyst of Usagi's second life was actually from the original writer, and I didn't see any reason to change that when I adopted the story. Also, someone apparently posted my story in spanish, so if I ever get the link I'll forward it to anyone interested enough in the translation to PM me.

Thoughts? Questions?

Please Review!