Sailor Moon Aeons.
Book 2: Rebirth.
Act 13: The Return.
Episode 152: Crystal future.

By Razor Knight
Last update: February 18, 2019

Usagi looked at the city from atop the tower. She had decided to visit that place, even though it had been mostly left unused for months now. Maybe the peace was getting to her. Ten years ago she would have denied it, but she liked fighting. "Things have been peaceful for a long time." She looked around. The city was as busy as always, but for some reason, looking at it made her feel a bit sad.

But why could that be? She was living a peaceful life now, ever since the Dark Ones were defeated. She... No, something was wrong. She saw flashes, images. Her friends dying, fighting a strong evil. Was that some sort of premonition?

'Aww, don't tell me you don't remember what happened? Or rather, what won't happen?'

Usagi flinched as she heard that voice. A voice she knew, but how... 'Gin? Wait, what the hell...'

'You remember me. That's good. What about everything else?'

Usagi clutched her head, as memories of what 'happened' filled her mind. She remembered. Their struggle to find the artifacts. Her fight with Cygale. Her meeting with Gin... And what Aurite had done. "I... Remember. You mean this is-"

'This is not an alternate reality, this... The energy of three of 'me' clashing made reality unstable, and at the very last second... You did something, Usagi, even I didn't think we could do. You simply willed reality to 'forget' that battle. You wound back time to a point where things could still be changed.'

'But if I change history...'

'No, this is not like the time loops Chibiusa went through. You made it so your battle with that "alliance" never happened. You told the universe to forget about it. There is nothing impossible for you, as your group often says.'

'So now I can-'

'Incoming '

Usagi saw Setsuna and Saki appear near her. "Hi."

Saki looked at Usagi. "This is... Somehow, you suddenly have the aura of a Holy Senshi, and we can't see the future. That's too much of a coincidence."

"Yeah..." Usagi looked at them and smiled. "It's my fault. We fought an enemy we couldn't defeat. I was the last one standing, and all I could do was... I couldn't bring you all back even if I somehow managed to win, so I took a third option."

"What did you do?"

She looked at Setsuna. "I erased that timeline. I made it so it never happened. And since I know how we lost, I can make sure we win this time around."

"You... Erased a timeline? Do you realize how much of a risk you took? You could have-" Setsuna stopped as Usagi hugged her. "... Usagi?"

"I don't want to argue with you. I didn't even get to see you die, but everyone else... Even Chibiusa, she fought so hard and still..."

Saki sighed. "I don't understand. What was that enemy?"

Usagi looked at the city. "I'll tell you what 'happened' but I would rather only have to do it once." She summoned her communicator. "Guys, I have something very important to talk to you all about. This also means the Guardians and the Mooncats. Meet me at the tower as soon as you can."

Rei had been one of the first to arrive, but as the last of them appeared, she decided to mention something. "Usagi, I sense something different about you."

Usagi nodded. "Rei, how good is your shield at cloaking power?"

"I can cloak us all. Why?"

Usagi nodded. "Can you shield the whole tower?"

Rei chuckled. "Of course." And to prove her words, she did just that.

"Good, even if I let my full power out, they'll only see a small part of it."

"What do you mean your full-" Aiko started, but then gasped as Usagi's energy rose. "How the hell?"

Usagi smiled. "Moon Holy Power."

Hotaru sighed. "So, did you just call us to show off, or..."

Moon shook her head. "Let me tell you what happened."

'Maybe I could help?'

'How?'

'You're a Holy Senshi, and you managed to fuse two of me in you, so I'm kind of more awesome than normal.'

'Wait, I did what?'

Chibiusa saw her mother fall silent and frowned. "That almost looks like..."

"Like she's talking in her mind? Yeah."

Pluto saw the silver-haired woman standing near Moon, and paled. Those eyes, this being was ancient, even by her standards. "You... Who are you?"

"I am someone who has seen your fights, someone who's cried and laughed along with you. Someone who could not talk to you, but thanks to Usagi, now I..."

Chibiusa could feel a strange sensation in her mind. "... What's your name?"

"Thanks to Usagi, I have one now. You may call me Gin."

Ami saw the bewildered face Chibiusa had, and the smile in Moon's face, and could easily connect the dots. "You are... The Ginzuishou?"

"I am all the Ginzuishou that ever existed, and they are all me."

Hana looked at Terry and chuckled. "Some things don't change."

Ami noticed Terry staring at 'Gin' but there was something weird about his stare. "Terry?"

"Sorry. It's not just her looks, but her eyes... I won't even try flirting."

"Good," Gin said. "Anyways, Usagi still needs to tell you guys what happened, and me using this form eats up her energy, so I'll see you all later."

Chibiusa looked at her Ginzuishou as Gin vanished. "You mean she is also here?"

"Think of it like Aiko's clones."

"Right."

Moon sighed. "So, let me tell you what I went through..."

The story was rather difficult to tell for Usagi, but her friends listened through it all. As she finished, Chie was the first one to speak. "So if Aurite is really too powerful for us, then how-"

"She isn't, right now."

"I see."

Terry frowned. "I can almost guess your plan. You'll attack them now, before they can-"

"I don't need to go to them. They will come looking for us."

Rei saw what Usagi had just summoned. "Is that one of the stones?"

"Yeah. If even one of these were destroyed, then Cygale would never be brought back. The remaining shards could be used to power someone up, but their power doesn't come to a tenth of what Cygale had."

"How do we break it?" Ami asked.

"Can I try?" Mako joked.

Usagi smiled. "I can break one myself." She saw the looks her friends were giving them, and nodded. "Yes, I know it took the power of the First Serenity to create these, but destroying is always easier than creating."

"So, will you break that one now?"

"No, first we'll train, get you all to Holy level. I'll even train you three if you want."

Hana knew Usagi was looking at her and two others. "I can't remember the last time I trained with you. I could always use some help."

Aiko smiled. "I'll accept the offer too, and I don't think you even need to ask Yuki."

Yukiko wasn't bothering to hide her smile. "Hell yeah, training with Usagi again!"

Aiko frowned. "That kind of worries me."

Yuki kissed her. "You know I can behave."

"Yeah..." Aiko looked at Usagi. "Wait, if you train us all, won't the enemy notice our powers rising?"

"We'll train in a place they can't reach."

Ami knew what she meant. "But is Setsuna okay with-"

Saki shrugged. "I can guess that even if we didn't want to let her in, she could still go there."

Usagi smiled. "But I'll still ask, because I respect you both. Setsuna, Saki, will you allow me to use that place to train them?"

Setsuna frowned. "After hearing your story, I guess I can make an exception."

Moon leaned on a wall, catching her breath. True, at first she had very thoroughly beaten her friends around, but by now most of them could put up a fight. They were all up to Holy level now, and ChibiMoon, as expected, was almost as strong as her. "I had almost forgotten how good you are at fighting."

ChibiMoon nodded, then looked away. "But you know, I can only keep up with you with both my powers. Kind of unfair that you have two Ginzuishou."

"Technically, there's only one of me there."

Moon looked to the side. "Gin, why don't you help us-"

"I can't. I am no fighter. This 'body' is just a physical form for me, but it has no power of its own."

"Too bad."

Gin shrugged. "Don't worry, I've been helping you both fight for years. That's good enough to me. I don't really feel sad just for not being able to run around fighting."

Dragon Saturn walked by. "So, no Sailor Gin showing up to save the day? Too bad."

Gin shook her head. "He's never going to change, huh?"

ChibiMoon smiled. "Hope not. Sometimes even a clown can be helpful."

The group appeared right outside the tower, except for Setsuna and Saki, who were waiting in case the plan didn't work. "I'm surprised Setsuna let us come back seconds before we left."

Usagi shrugged. "The sooner we're done here, the sooner we can return to our peaceful lives."

Chibiusa winced at that, and knew Hotaru, at least, had noticed it. "Mom, there is something I haven't told anyone yet, something that's been bothering me lately. From what I read of this era, back when I was in Crystal Tokyo, well... That city should already be here."

Usagi looked at her. "So, you mean in this fight I should have turned into Serenity? Was that what I messed up?"

"I don't know. Your future selves never spoke of this era. Maybe what it means is... Maybe there will never be a Crystal Tokyo."

"But if that future doesn't exist, you-"

She looked at Hotaru. "Maybe the future I came from is now in some other 'timeline.' The multiverse is hard to figure out."

Usagi smiled. "Let's just take care of the enemy. We'll figure out what to do later. Get ready, guys."

As the Senshi and friends transformed, Usagi frowned. She summoned her comm and noticed who the person was. "Hello, Emi."

"Usagi, you're all together and transformed. Another war coming?"

"Yes. Tell your side to stay out of it. And since I know you got her 'number,' tell Cuprite to also stay back."

"What the hell, Usagi?"

"Can't explain right now. Just trust me on this one, please."

Emi looked quite ready to shout at her for a few seconds, but then sighed. "Fine, I'll... Good luck."

"Thanks."

ChibiMoon looked around. "We should leave."

Moon nodded. "Let me handle that."

Onara looked at the data his sensors were giving him. "This is... Wrong. The Senshi have suddenly appeared near their base, and from my readings, they are all at 'Holy' level. Also, Moon has one fragment or Cygale's soul."

"What the hell-"Aurite growled. "I guess this means we'll have to modify our plans."

Luna blinked and looked around. She had taken them all to the ocean, dozens of miles away from Tokyo. "I see. Just in case?"

Moon shrugged. "A stray shot from me could blow up Tokyo. So, yeah, 'just in case.'"

Phase looked up. "I can see several entities heading our way."

Moon smiled. "Time to break their toy." She looked at the stone in her hand, which suddenly cracked and exploded into dust. Her crystal shone for a second and she sighed. "Done."

'That tasted horrible.'

'Sorry, Gin.'

'I don't mind. It was less disgusting than Beryl's soul.'

Aurite's group flew in right then. "You... How did you know?"

Moon smiled. "You won't believe it if I tell you, and it doesn't matter if you know. Let's just say I learn from my mistakes."

Black Lady winced. "Wait, is time travel involved in this?"

"Not exactly. I didn't go back in time, I just made it so some things never happened."

Aurite glared at her. "You... Where is the fragment?"

Moon returned her glare as two more stones appeared in her hand. "I made sure your plan fails."

Onara saw the stones crack and vanish. "Impossible."

"And yet, I did it. Cygale is no more. Your group lost this time."

"This time?" Black Lady repeated.

"Yes. Aurite's plan worked. She had me fight Cygale, and kill it, and you all grew stroger. But when she saw we could win, she killed the few of you still around, just so she could use your power. She killed all my friends, too. But I learnt a few more things about the Ginzuishou. I managed to erase that battle, to bring us all back so I could try again."

"So, you cheated destiny."

Moon looked at Aurite. "That word again. I wish you would stop using it."

"Damn it, I will not let this-" She felt something and looked down, to see a hand coming out of her chest. "You traitor."

Moon saw Black Lady pull her hand out of Aurite's chest. "Saw that coming."

Black Lady chuckled as Aurite fell. "You moron, I have a Ginzuishou of my own now. I don't need you. I was only follwing your plan because it looked like it could work. Also, much despite myself, I know Moon isn't lying. What better way to stop someone from betraying me than killing them before they can?"

Rubeus glared at the Senshi. "I won't let you win!"

The way Moon looked at him, and the remaining villains, made them all take a step back. "Looking back, I should have made sure. I believed shooting you while you were already burning and weakened would be wrong. I never checked to see if Aurite was really dead. I didn't bother with Kaorinite, even, or even Boa and Lynx. But I've lived through a lot, and learnt a lot. I know some people stay evil, even if you let them choose. And not making sure you were gone is what let you kill everyone, so... I'm not letting any of you go."

Mars nodded. "Let's get them."

Black Lady sighed and summoned her crystal. "Let me help you with that."

Moon saw all the villains, except for Black Lady, fall down to the ocean. "What-"

'She absorbed their souls.'

Black Lady laughed as a dark aura surrounded her. "Yes, this feels great. I have more than enough power now. I'll destroy you all!"

ChibiMoon frowned. "Earth Holy Power!"

"Chibi..."

"Don't worry, I'll be done with that clone in a minute."

Moon was about to tag along, but then frowned. No, she knew her daughter wanted to do it alone. And she could do it.

'Are you not going to help?'

'She needs this fight, she's feeling guilty for not making sure back then.'

Saturn saw a few of her friends were worried. "Guys, let her fight that moron. She can do it."

Earth frowned. "But we-"

"She never stopped training. I helped her with that, so I know she can win."

Black Lady wasn't worried. She didn't need to know her opponent, she could just copy their attacks and fighting style. She was dodging every kick, every punch. However, she wasn't hitting her foe either.

"So that's what you do. You just copy others. I expected my clone to have something more impressive than that."

"I have a Ginzuishou. I'm a Serenity."

"You copied even that, huh? But you're no Serenity. Gin doesn't like you."

"Gin?"

"Nothing you need to know, clone."

"Give up, if you're looking to tire me down, I have far more energy than you."

"Oh, I can sense that. But I have one more trick to show you."

Moon saw ChibiMoon summon Saturn's glaive, and looked at Saturn. "Is that safe?"

"As I said, she never stopped training. She can't revive people with that, but... Well, just watch."

Black Lady dodged a glaive slash and laughed. "Really, being a dual Senshi wasn't enough for you, you want to be a triple Senshi?"

For some reason, ChibiMoon felt like she had heard that before. "No, I don't come even close to Hotaru's power, but every little thing helps. I can't use her power much, and I know she worries whenever I do, so try to die quickly, okay? Saturn Guardian Power!"

Jupiter gasped as ChibMoon's suit changed slightly, her skirt growing longer and with a purple trim. "Why only Guardian?"

"She's stacking her Earth powers on top of her Moon powers. That already drains her fast. But adding my power on top of that? She only tried to use them at Eternal level once, and I almost had to bring her back."

Black Lady was shocked. Despite what she thought, adding that third power made her foe many times stronger, and faster. She could sense her energy dropping fast, but even then, she wasn't sure she would be able to live through it. "Damn, you and your mother, always cheating."

"Says the one who can mimic things that takes others years to learn. But I can't waste time chatting."

Moon had to admit she was impressed. Her daughter had rushed forwards, her body wrapped in death energy, and Black Lady had no time to dodge. However, as the evil woman fell to her knees, ChibiMoon fell face-first on the water. "Chibi!"

Black Lady couldn't believe it. That girl... "Damn it."

Saturn flew next to ChibiMoon. "Don't go to sleep yet, Chibi."

ChibiMoon rolled on her back and sighed. "Damn it, that didn't kill her."

Moon floated to Black Lady. "But she's barely alive."

Black Lady smiled weakly. "Hey, Usagi... You still haven't learnt to kill your enemies before they do something you'll regret."

Moon heard that just as an explosion filled the horizon. "You MONSTER!"

Mercury was looking at her glove. "She... Destroyed Tokyo."

The other Senshi were too shocked to speak, but Moon wasn't letting shock stop her. She picked Black Lady up by the neck and glared at her. "You didn't have a reason to do that."

"Pissing you off is good enough, oh mighty Senshi Queen. You lost your precious city because you were too slow."

'Can you feel it, Usagi?'

Moon smiled. "Yeah. It is time."

"Time for what?" Black Lady asked. She was surprised Moon hadn't finished her off yet. She had no power left to fight. She noticed Moon was floating towards the place where Tokyo once was, dragging her along. "Hey, what are you-"

"I just want to show you something." She looked back at her friends. "Guys, come on, let's go home."

Mars followed her along with the others, but noticed something strange. Was Moon's suit shining?

ChibiMoon had a good guess on what was going on. "I get it. She's right. It's time."

Everyone was expecting to see a smoking crater when they were close enough to see the city, but instead... Everyone could see roads and buildings slowly forming all around the area, but they were made of a strange, translucent crystal. As a large spire begun rising from the place their base had been, most of them had figured out what was happening. And as they stopped outside the city, they saw Moon's suit had changed. No, this wasn't just Sailor Moon.

Mars was the first to recover. "Queen Serenity..."

Serenity looked around, still holding Black Lady by the neck. "Guys, come on, it's still me!"

Black Lady glared at her. "Damn you..."

Serenity looked at her, and the smile she gave her was quite unnerving. "It's thanks to you. If you hadn't destroyed this city, killed everyone, I would have no reason to improve it before bringing everyone back."

The pink-haired woman gasped. Was she saying she could revive millions just like that?

Serenity's face turned serious. "However, I can't let you live."

The others had to close their eyes as Black Lady's body was swallowed by light. As the light faded, nothing was left of her. "Wow..."

ChibiMoon looked at the others, most of them were looking at Serenity in awe. "Really, guys?"

Dragon Earth smiled. "She's still the same beautiful woman I love."

Serenity smiled back. "Thanks." She looked around. "I guess the civilians will have a lot of questions for us."

Jupiter shrugged. "I have a lot of questions, myself."

Pluto appeared right then. "Serenity."

The Queen saw Pluto's stare and grimaced. "Okay, I should have expected that from you."

Phase suddenly summoned a 'screen' in mid air, and everyone could see General Rakurai there. "Hi, General."

Rakurai stared at Serenity. "That suit is..."

Serenity smiled. "Yes, our enemy blew up Tokyo. Yes, that made me reach a level where I could rebuild the city and revive everyone in it. And yes, I'm still just Usagi for my friends."

"But why is the city-"

"Ever heard about Crystal Tokyo?"

Rakurai's face quickly went through several emotions. "... I have. So, what happens to the city, to the people?"

"We'll be addressing the citizens soon," Serenity said, "but for now..." her gown reverted to her civilian clothes as she said that. "For now, I want a few minutes to rest."

"Understood. We'll be waiting for you, Serenity... No, Usagi."

As the screen vanished, Usagi looked at the others, who had also changed back to nornal. "Let's go home, guys."

Terry looked at the palace, and its tallest spire. "Wow, I didn't remember it being so tall."

"I did," Chibiusa said, a tear rolling down her cheek.

Hotaru noticed that and put an arm around her shoulders. "Welcome home, I guess?"

Usagi smiled at that. "And hopefully, we'll have a few decades of peace."

Just as she was done saying that, a bike-sized, cube-like vehicle crash-landed near them. A small, dog-like creature leapt out of it, noticing the 'natives' and barking at them.

Ami shrugged. "He says he's from the Kanis empire, and that this planet belongs to them now."

Mako frowned, then looked at Usagi. "Can I give him our answer?"

Usagi nodded. "Sure."

Mako walked to the creature - who carried no weapon and had no magic - and rather unceremoniously stuffed him back into his ship, before picking it up and flinging it up with all her might. "Thanks for coming, come back never!"

Aiko looked up in shock. "The ship is about to exit our atmosphere. And unless it hits anything, it should exit our system, eventually."

Mako chuckled "I did get a bit stronger when I reached Holy level..."

Usagi shook her head at the whole thing. "Right. That's what I get for taunting the universe." As they flew towards the palace, Usagi was thinking about the past, about all they had gone through. And also, about the future. Would things happen like her daughter saw them? Or was the 'loop' broken? They would have to wait and see. But she didn't mind waiting, she had friends to share that future with.

A/N: That's Tokyo for you. Even if the heroes make it so it never exploded, it still ends up exploding.

What's next? This story continues in book 3, telling the stories of a thousand years of stuff blowing up.