Chapt Five: Zetsumei no Ni Senshi

Koban wa, minna. I have Chpt 5 out. It's a shorter one, but I love cliffhangers. This is a dark chapter, and possibly a bit angsty depending on how you read it. I don't know how many more chapters are coming, but I do have a final battle planned out just a bit. Sit back, relax, and do your best to enjoy. (Oh, look at the new quote I got for the story! from PSX's "Legend of Dragoon". I dove for a notebook adn pen to jot it down. ;;^^)

"A shadow is something that never shows itself; something without form, something shapeless... something not seen."

“Hold it!” Pluto called out again. Once everyone was quieted, she started again. “Thank you. Now, there is much that needs to be explained and said. And since the Time Streams have already been crushed to pieces, it hardly matters anymore what you know and don’t know. If it becomes an issue later… we’ll deal with it.” Pluto rubbed her temples, a headache coming on.

She looked up and then began her explanation, “Where you are, now, is a time a few years into your future. This was not the original future, but many events have so changed this time to be what it is now. We have defeated Beryl, Ail and Ann, the Dark Moon family,” Pluto nodded towards Tuxedo Kamen and Sailor Mars. “Mistress Nine,” she continued, nodding to Sailor Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter and to Sailor Neptune holding the baby Hotaru. “The Dead Moon Circus, and finally Galaxia and her anima-mates.” Pluto acknowledged the last of the past senshi.

“If you defeated her anima-mates, why are they here?” Star Healer demanded angrily, pointing towards Kashoko and the others.

“Whoa, Pluto,” Usagi moved forward, “you mean we have some senshi here who haven’t finished the Dark Moon Family?” The tall senshi motioned to Tuxedo Kamen and Mars. “Oh boy.” Usagi ran a hand through her hair. “Do you two know about Chibi-Usa yet? Or seen Crystal Tokyo?”

Super Sailor Moon motioned that she’d explain. “At least that question I can answer!” She turned to the two from the farthest back in the past before beginning. “Chibi-Usa is actually Small Lady Princess Serenity from Crystal Tokyo, in the 30th century. She also happens to be the future daughter of Endymion and Serenity.” She flushed slightly and added, “Or the future daughter of Mamo-chan and myself if you wish to look at it that way.”

“NANI!?!?!” Tuxedo Kamen, Mars, Star Fighter, Yaten, Seiya, and the anima-mates (sans Nezu and Neko) shouted in unison.

The Usagi from present times chewed on a thumb nail absently while studying Seiya, realizing for the first time that she had never let him know much more than that Chibi-Usa was from the future. She was startled when Seiya turned to her, eyes somehow dampened with sadness and some other emotions she couldn’t quite read. He stared into her eyes for just moments before turning away and focusing on anything but her.

“There’s still yet more, but that can wait after we get this current situation under control,” Pluto announced over the new confusion. “But first, we all need to cooperate, here. Uranus, the Lights are on our side so do not pick on them for the time being.” Super Sailor Uranus and Haruka both glowered at the time senshi. “Just until we finish this, you two, we can’t do it otherwise.”

“Maybe because we have twelve senshi from all sorts of time here? PLUS anima-mates, Lights, and all the other senshi from this time?” Minako sweat-dropped at the points Makoto brought up. Both nodded in agreement to what was said and then went back to listening to the main conversation.

Unfortunately, no one had an answer to that. The senshi from the ‘present’ timeline were exchanging weary glances and a few shrugs. Hotaru, amazingly, was the one to answer. In her soft voice, she spoke; “The enemies that the Lights and anima-mates have fought are Shadows. The Earth senshi have yet to be involved beyond Pluto. Now, not a single person can handle it alone. We’ll all be fighting the enemy unknown to us.”

“ ‘A shadow is something that never shows itself; something without form, something shapeless... something not seen’,” Taiki quoted. Everyone looked to him for an explanation. “It’s from an old story. But our enemies are shadows, with that power to go by invisible and unhindered by us. We have to be like them, to fight them.”

Seiya nodded solemnly, “Already these Shadows have killed too many. We must stop them before they take more innocent lives!”

Yaten turned to fully face Seiya, fists on hips and glaring angrily. “Don’t even think of getting back into battle!” he snapped. “You’re too hurt, from acting martyr again!”

“Now you’re not! You mustn’t fight, Seiya!” Usagi pleaded, moving over to stand closer to him. “You’re much to hurt too fight; and it’s all account of me. I’m so sorry.”

“Tch,” Yaten crossed his arms and turned his head away. “Don’t apologize to him. He’s the one with the blindness problem. He’s just an idiot.”

“Big news!” the present-day Luna came charging out of the temple with Artemis and Diana in tow. The white cat was carrying along a small radio that was sounding off bits of news. “Listen!” Artemis set the radio down and everyone gathered about to pay attention to the announcement.

“…adding thirty more murders within 18 hours! Authorities are still completely baffled as to what has been going on. Not to fear, however, they are saying that they’re beginning to get better leads. The last victim was by the Crown gaming center…”

The next bits of news flashed in and out of their minds. Makoto was the one who begain dashing away from the rest of the group. “Crown’s! Motoki, is he okay?” Startled, the others realized the news finally and ran after Makoto.

Pluto paused anyone in senshi form. “Stay here with me. They,” she motioned back to the group already fading down the steps, “can find out for us. We will stay guard here and listen for more information.”

“There, up ahead!” Minako pointed. The large group had slowed to a fast walk as they approached the crowded area full with gawking bystanders and police. Men with uniforms on were doing their best to block the scene and move people away, yet some still managed to remain.

Pushing through the crowd, Mamoru reached one of the officers. “Excuse me, sir?” Once he knew he was being listened to, he asked, “May I ask who the victim was?”

“Erm… let’s see ‘ere,” the officer trailed off and glanced through his notes. Looking to Mamoru he answered, “Says here it was one of the workers, the workers’ ID only gave Motoki, so we don’t know the family name yet…” He stopped when Mamoru stepped back, paled. “Oh…”

Usagi began crying and gripped tightly to Mamoru’s arm. Chibi-Usa ran to Hotaru for some comfort as she too shed tears with the inner senshi. Even Michiru and Haruka looked a bit distracted with hints of grief coming through on their usually stoic masks.

They managed to move away from the crowd, not wanting to be there anymore. Mamoru murmured, deathly soft, “We’ve got to end this.”

Ami whispered, “Yes… we must…” She reached up a delicate finger and flicked away tears that were still falling.

“Look out!” Jupiter shoved Neptune and the baby Hotaru to the ground, all three narrowly missing a beam of light. The baby began screaming and squirming, giving Neptune a hard time.

A form jumped high above the trees and spun in the air before dropping to land before the senshi. “Aa, you have all gathered to alter your destiny, ne?” He stood and bowed, smiling rather kindly. The others were thrown off and blinked as he introduced himself. “I am Anubis of the Void. I know who you are, so you need not introduce yourselves.”

Pluto was outraged and thoroughly devastated at the turn of events. She betrayed her usual calm and screamed out, “DEAD SCREAM!” Anubis leaned to one side, the attack missing him completely. He stared at her coolly, then glanced sidelong at the dead senshi body a few feet away. The outer senshi couldn’t help it, her eyes also followed. Her heart clenched up painfully, this time, when she looked upon Venus’ still body for the second time.

“Minako! Minako-chan! Please, please! Minako!” Mercury was in hysterics, crying while shaking her friend’s bleeding body. Jupiter was preparing her attack.

“Jupiter… Oak… EVOLUTION!” Pluto was surprised to see the senshi of the past using the present Jupiter’s attack, and at such a high level of skill.

Anubis obviously had not been expecting that, for he did not move quickly enough and had the sleeve of his kimono burned away. He floated into the air, tilting his head childishly too look at everyone. “Let’s see… pick another, pick another… whom shall I choose?” He held out his hand, and a long silver staff appeared in his hands. On the end, a curved blade of a scythe grew out long and deadly.

None of the attacks did any damage. “Aa!” Anubis smiled, obviously decided. He gripped his hand better on the scythe before plummeting down towards the ground and sweeping through the group of two senshi.

There was a painfully long silence. Soon following came the sound of the scythe being pulled away and then the sickening sound of vomiting.

“NO!” cried Fighter, pushing herself to stand and rushing back to Healer’s side. “Healer! Why…?! Na… ze…?” Tears fell steadily off her face as she sobbed; Healer’s bloody form in her lap.

Sailor Pluto couldn’t even force herself to stand anymore. She fell to her knees and hung her head. “I have failed… as Time Guardian…” she whispered.

“AAAH!!!” Minako tripped to the ground, crying out in pain. She twisted about on the ground, her sobs filling the air.

“Minako-chan? What’s wrong! Minako!” Ami was kneeling by her friend’s side and tried to get her to stay still.

Usagi gripped one of Minako’s hands within her own tightly. “Please, Minako! Hold on! Ami, use your computer!” Ami didn’t bother to answer, hurriedly pulling out the tiny computer and typing away furiously for some answer.

Ami let out a scream. Everyone’s attention riveted to her and the next cry that broke the air was, “Minako-chan!!!”

The Starlight stared numbly with blurred sight at her fallen companion. Healer’s white hair was matted with the maroon of blood. Her uniform was torn and cut. Her once beautiful, smooth stomach was marred with the gaping hole left by the deadly, slim blade of the scythe.

She raised her gloved hand to touch the cooling skin but pulled back last second and buried her face in her bloodstained gloves. A strangled cry escaped her as she wept. ‘Healer!’

“You have most certainly proved your efficiency, Anubis,” the voice commented, sounding in a mixture of amusement and acceptance.

“I have done as you asked, I hope,” he replied, still in his bowed position. A pale, white hand motioned for him to stop and he did so.

“Now, now, you did just fine. You will wait until the end to help again. My turn to play is coming up!” There was definitely a grin in that voice. The sound of a cracking whip echoed in the void and slowly faded out. “Let us see who will be the players in this next Act.”

“WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!” Rei shouted through her tears before they even reached the very top of the shrine steps. ‘Yaten… Minako!’

There was a dead silence that fell over everything. The weight of the air pressed in that it made it hard to even breath.

Sailor Mercury and Jupiter were still attempting to ‘wake’ Venus up, not accepting that she was gone. Fighter was not moving at all, staring dumbly into the ground just beyond where Healer lay in her lap.

Seiya swallowed hard and shakily sat on a stone. Haruka was the only one to find her voice and the courage to speak first. “What happened…?”

Sailor Neptune raised her eyes very slowly, arms clutched tightly about the tiny child in her arms. “An… attack… by Anubis… he was undefeatable. We could do nothing.” She hung her head forward, shutting her eyes tightly.

“Minako… Minako…” Jupiter’s voice began rising until she began to sob, wrapping her arms about herself. “I’ll kill that bastard! I hate him! Why?!”

Pluto closed her eyes and painfully pulled herself to her feet. She stepped, one foot at a time, towards the still silent Fighter. She knelt down and put aside her time staff. “Fighter.” There was no response. “You must realize what has happened and fight to stop this from continuing.” She rested her hand on the Starlight’s shoulder and pulled back in surprise to find how cold it was. “Fighter?” Silent tears pushed their way down the stone still face. “Get a grip! Fighter!”

“Excuse me,” Seiya moved Pluto out of the way and tilted up Fighter’s head. The eyes stared dully back at him, unrecognizing. “Wake up! Healer is dead! Understood?!” When no response was given, he slapped the younger form of himself.

Fighter let her head stay turned away as she finally let her eyes close in pain and her face contort. Seiya sighed and knelt down. Gently he lifted Healer’s body away from the other and moved her over a bit. He left the body on its front, not wanting to see the sight surely there. He looked down at his hands and realized that blood was now dried on them a mixture from moving Healer and slapping Fighter.

The Starlight had curled herself up, resting her cheek on her knees. More blood smeared across her face, making her look like a victim of violence. Seiya sighed and just sat beside her, not knowing what he was supposed to do with his younger self. It was awkward. And also painful. Healer… Yaten… was lost, now, throughout much of the timeline he knew of. ‘Healer…’

“Wait? WAIT?! Are you INSANE?!” Jupiter hissed, jumping to her feet and running to the older senshi. “What do you mean?!”

“We have no power! Do you understand that?!” Pluto demanded, slamming her staff down. “Can you understand our situation?! None of us can do anything at all. We are powerless.”

The questions ran on and on. Pluto felt dizzy from all the demands and felt underlying accusations piercing her within her heart. “ENOUGH!!” She screamed out her torture. She was on her knees again, gripping her staff so tightly that her knuckles whitened.

“Pluto…” Taiki murmured. He looked away and over to Seiya and Fighter. Both were sitting silently and staring sadly at Pluto. So, they understood too.

Pluto took a deep breath, trying to calm. “I… I can never apologize for all that I have done wrong. I have… failed my duty and promise. I have destroyed everything but not doing my job. I may never expect you to forgive me; but try and accept my apologies. I’m sorry, I’m so very sorry. There is nothing I can do. No one has enough power.”


	Lionna's Corner of Anime Fanfiction \| home Chpt One: Old Faces and New Light! \| Chpt Two: Mysterious Concert \| Chpt Three: Yumewomiru Zetsubou \| Chapt Four: Abune! Dare de?! Senshi Mix-Up! \| Chapt Five: Zetsumei no Ni Senshi \| Chpt Six: Anubis’ Victory with a Price; Welcome in Eternity Fighter \| Chapt Seven: The End or The Beginning \| Chapt Eight: Yumemiru Umi mo Chapt Five: Zetsumei no Ni Senshi Koban wa, minna. I have Chpt 5 out. It's a shorter one, but I love cliffhangers. This is a dark chapter, and possibly a bit angsty depending on how you read it. I don't know how many more chapters are coming, but I do have a final battle planned out just a bit. Sit back, relax, and do your best to enjoy. (Oh, look at the new quote I got for the story! from PSX's "Legend of Dragoon". I dove for a notebook adn pen to jot it down. ;;^^) "A shadow is something that never shows itself; something without form, something shapeless... something not seen." [From "Wrath of the Ninja: The Yotoden Movie"] “You are free to sever the chains of fate that bind you.” [Legend of Dragoon opening] CHAPTER FIVE: Zetsumei no Ni Senshi {Death of Two Senshi} Started: October 18, 2000 Completed: October 29, 2000 “Hold it!” Pluto called out again. Once everyone was quieted, she started again. “Thank you. Now, there is much that needs to be explained and said. And since the Time Streams have already been crushed to pieces, it hardly matters anymore what you know and don’t know. If it becomes an issue later… we’ll deal with it.” Pluto rubbed her temples, a headache coming on. “Puu?” Chibi-Usa asked. Pluto waved her off gently. “I’m okay Chibi-Usa-chan.” She looked up and then began her explanation, “Where you are, now, is a time a few years into your future. This was not the original future, but many events have so changed this time to be what it is now. We have defeated Beryl, Ail and Ann, the Dark Moon family,” Pluto nodded towards Tuxedo Kamen and Sailor Mars. “Mistress Nine,” she continued, nodding to Sailor Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter and to Sailor Neptune holding the baby Hotaru. “The Dead Moon Circus, and finally Galaxia and her anima-mates.” Pluto acknowledged the last of the past senshi. “If you defeated her anima-mates, why are they here?” Star Healer demanded angrily, pointing towards Kashoko and the others. “They’ve been resurrected since their star seeds were taken just like everyone else’s,” Taiki replied. Yaten leaned over to Seiya and whispered, “Was I that impulsive?” “Yeah, and you still are,” Seiya murmured back. Yaten glared. “Whoa, Pluto,” Usagi moved forward, “you mean we have some senshi here who haven’t finished the Dark Moon Family?” The tall senshi motioned to Tuxedo Kamen and Mars. “Oh boy.” Usagi ran a hand through her hair. “Do you two know about Chibi-Usa yet? Or seen Crystal Tokyo?” Sailor Mars looked at her blankly, “What do you mean by that?” Super Sailor Moon motioned that she’d explain. “At least that question I can answer!” She turned to the two from the farthest back in the past before beginning. “Chibi-Usa is actually Small Lady Princess Serenity from Crystal Tokyo, in the 30th century. She also happens to be the future daughter of Endymion and Serenity.” She flushed slightly and added, “Or the future daughter of Mamo-chan and myself if you wish to look at it that way.” “NANI!?!?!” Tuxedo Kamen, Mars, Star Fighter, Yaten, Seiya, and the anima-mates (sans Nezu and Neko) shouted in unison. The Usagi from present times chewed on a thumb nail absently while studying Seiya, realizing for the first time that she had never let him know much more than that Chibi-Usa was from the future. She was startled when Seiya turned to her, eyes somehow dampened with sadness and some other emotions she couldn’t quite read. He stared into her eyes for just moments before turning away and focusing on anything but her. ‘But… what’s wrong…?’ she wondered. “There’s still yet more, but that can wait after we get this current situation under control,” Pluto announced over the new confusion. “But first, we all need to cooperate, here. Uranus, the Lights are on our side so do not pick on them for the time being.” Super Sailor Uranus and Haruka both glowered at the time senshi. “Just until we finish this, you two, we can’t do it otherwise.” “Fine,” Haruka grunted, “they don’t get in the way and I’ll leave them be.” Super Sailor Uranus said nothing, just crossed her arms and turned away from the two Starlights. “Why do I have the feeling this is going to be complicated?” Minako complained. “Maybe because we have twelve senshi from all sorts of time here? PLUS anima-mates, Lights, and all the other senshi from this time?” Minako sweat-dropped at the points Makoto brought up. Both nodded in agreement to what was said and then went back to listening to the main conversation. “What are we fighting against?” Mercury inquired, looking rather unsure of everything. Unfortunately, no one had an answer to that. The senshi from the ‘present’ timeline were exchanging weary glances and a few shrugs. Hotaru, amazingly, was the one to answer. In her soft voice, she spoke; “The enemies that the Lights and anima-mates have fought are Shadows. The Earth senshi have yet to be involved beyond Pluto. Now, not a single person can handle it alone. We’ll all be fighting the enemy unknown to us.” Neptune murmured, “An unknown enemy…?” “ ‘A shadow is something that never shows itself; something without form, something shapeless... something not seen’,” Taiki quoted. Everyone looked to him for an explanation. “It’s from an old story. But our enemies are shadows, with that power to go by invisible and unhindered by us. We have to be like them, to fight them.” Seiya nodded solemnly, “Already these Shadows have killed too many. We must stop them before they take more innocent lives!” Yaten turned to fully face Seiya, fists on hips and glaring angrily. “Don’t even think of getting back into battle!” he snapped. “You’re too hurt, from acting martyr again!” “Cut it out Yaten, I’m fine,” Seiya replied back, brushing him off. “Now you’re not! You mustn’t fight, Seiya!” Usagi pleaded, moving over to stand closer to him. “You’re much to hurt too fight; and it’s all account of me. I’m so sorry.” “Tch,” Yaten crossed his arms and turned his head away. “Don’t apologize to him. He’s the one with the blindness problem. He’s just an idiot.” Usagi frowned and Seiya just glared, yet no one commented. “Big news!” the present-day Luna came charging out of the temple with Artemis and Diana in tow. The white cat was carrying along a small radio that was sounding off bits of news. “Listen!” Artemis set the radio down and everyone gathered about to pay attention to the announcement. “…adding thirty more murders within 18 hours! Authorities are still completely baffled as to what has been going on. Not to fear, however, they are saying that they’re beginning to get better leads. The last victim was by the Crown gaming center…” The next bits of news flashed in and out of their minds. Makoto was the one who begain dashing away from the rest of the group. “Crown’s! Motoki, is he okay?” Startled, the others realized the news finally and ran after Makoto. Pluto paused anyone in senshi form. “Stay here with me. They,” she motioned back to the group already fading down the steps, “can find out for us. We will stay guard here and listen for more information.” “Oh… all right…” Sailor Venus stuttered, she was rather worried. *** “There, up ahead!” Minako pointed. The large group had slowed to a fast walk as they approached the crowded area full with gawking bystanders and police. Men with uniforms on were doing their best to block the scene and move people away, yet some still managed to remain. Pushing through the crowd, Mamoru reached one of the officers. “Excuse me, sir?” Once he knew he was being listened to, he asked, “May I ask who the victim was?” “Erm… let’s see ‘ere,” the officer trailed off and glanced through his notes. Looking to Mamoru he answered, “Says here it was one of the workers, the workers’ ID only gave Motoki, so we don’t know the family name yet…” He stopped when Mamoru stepped back, paled. “Oh…” Usagi began crying and gripped tightly to Mamoru’s arm. Chibi-Usa ran to Hotaru for some comfort as she too shed tears with the inner senshi. Even Michiru and Haruka looked a bit distracted with hints of grief coming through on their usually stoic masks. They managed to move away from the crowd, not wanting to be there anymore. Mamoru murmured, deathly soft, “We’ve got to end this.” Ami whispered, “Yes… we must…” She reached up a delicate finger and flicked away tears that were still falling. *** “The wind brings in a foul smell,” Super Sailor Uranus commented, eyes narrowing. She glanced into the air. A little ways off, Sailor Neptune nodded. “Aa… the waves of the ocean are in turmoil.” “Look out!” Jupiter shoved Neptune and the baby Hotaru to the ground, all three narrowly missing a beam of light. The baby began screaming and squirming, giving Neptune a hard time. “Who’s there?” Sailor Mars demanded, taking battle positions with the others. “No one you’d care to know,” a plain voice stated just as another bout of ki blasts filled the area. “Dead… Scream!” “Shine Aqua Illusion!” “Venus Love Me Chain!” A form jumped high above the trees and spun in the air before dropping to land before the senshi. “Aa, you have all gathered to alter your destiny, ne?” He stood and bowed, smiling rather kindly. The others were thrown off and blinked as he introduced himself. “I am Anubis of the Void. I know who you are, so you need not introduce yourselves.” “Um…” Venus blinked some more, utterly confused. “Er… excuse me… but, aren’t you our enemy…?” The smile on his face turned sardonic. “So correct, Venus!” A flash of light; a short, sharp scream; and the sound of a body hitting the ground. “OH KAMI-SAMA!” Pluto was outraged and thoroughly devastated at the turn of events. She betrayed her usual calm and screamed out, “DEAD SCREAM!” Anubis leaned to one side, the attack missing him completely. He stared at her coolly, then glanced sidelong at the dead senshi body a few feet away. The outer senshi couldn’t help it, her eyes also followed. Her heart clenched up painfully, this time, when she looked upon Venus’ still body for the second time. “Minako! Minako-chan! Please, please! Minako!” Mercury was in hysterics, crying while shaking her friend’s bleeding body. Jupiter was preparing her attack. “Jupiter… Oak… EVOLUTION!” Pluto was surprised to see the senshi of the past using the present Jupiter’s attack, and at such a high level of skill. Anubis obviously had not been expecting that, for he did not move quickly enough and had the sleeve of his kimono burned away. He floated into the air, tilting his head childishly too look at everyone. “Let’s see… pick another, pick another… whom shall I choose?” He held out his hand, and a long silver staff appeared in his hands. On the end, a curved blade of a scythe grew out long and deadly. The group stared up at him, a bit helpless. “Aw hell…” Uranus shook her head, then prepared. “Space Sword Blaster!” “Star Serious Laser!” “Burning Mandala!” “Shine Aqua Illusion!” “Sparkling Wide Pressure!” None of the attacks did any damage. “Aa!” Anubis smiled, obviously decided. He gripped his hand better on the scythe before plummeting down towards the ground and sweeping through the group of two senshi. “Move!” There was a painfully long silence. Soon following came the sound of the scythe being pulled away and then the sickening sound of vomiting. Anubis stood straighter and flashed out of sight, making no comment. “NO!” cried Fighter, pushing herself to stand and rushing back to Healer’s side. “Healer! Why…?! Na… ze…?” Tears fell steadily off her face as she sobbed; Healer’s bloody form in her lap. Sailor Pluto couldn’t even force herself to stand anymore. She fell to her knees and hung her head. “I have failed… as Time Guardian…” she whispered. ***** “AAAH!!!” Minako tripped to the ground, crying out in pain. She twisted about on the ground, her sobs filling the air. “Minako-chan? What’s wrong! Minako!” Ami was kneeling by her friend’s side and tried to get her to stay still. “Itai! Itai! My soul…” she clutched at her chest painfully. “My soul… my heart… it hurts!” Usagi gripped one of Minako’s hands within her own tightly. “Please, Minako! Hold on! Ami, use your computer!” Ami didn’t bother to answer, hurriedly pulling out the tiny computer and typing away furiously for some answer. “…Something’s… wrong…” Yaten gasped, gripping painfully tight into Taiki’s arm. “Yaten…?” Seiya questioned in wide-eyed horror. “Yaten?!” Ami let out a scream. Everyone’s attention riveted to her and the next cry that broke the air was, “Minako-chan!!!” “YATEN?!” ***** The Starlight stared numbly with blurred sight at her fallen companion. Healer’s white hair was matted with the maroon of blood. Her uniform was torn and cut. Her once beautiful, smooth stomach was marred with the gaping hole left by the deadly, slim blade of the scythe. Healer… Her lips moved, but she could not speak her friend’s name. Healer… come… come back… She raised her gloved hand to touch the cooling skin but pulled back last second and buried her face in her bloodstained gloves. A strangled cry escaped her as she wept. ‘Healer!’ *** “You have most certainly proved your efficiency, Anubis,” the voice commented, sounding in a mixture of amusement and acceptance. “I have done as you asked, I hope,” he replied, still in his bowed position. A pale, white hand motioned for him to stop and he did so. “Now, now, you did just fine. You will wait until the end to help again. My turn to play is coming up!” There was definitely a grin in that voice. The sound of a cracking whip echoed in the void and slowly faded out. “Let us see who will be the players in this next Act.” *** “WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!” Rei shouted through her tears before they even reached the very top of the shrine steps. ‘Yaten… Minako!’ There was a dead silence that fell over everything. The weight of the air pressed in that it made it hard to even breath. “Blood…” Neko murmured. “Oh Kami-sama,” Nezu whispered with tears choking her. Sailor Mercury and Jupiter were still attempting to ‘wake’ Venus up, not accepting that she was gone. Fighter was not moving at all, staring dumbly into the ground just beyond where Healer lay in her lap. “Oh no! No, no, no, no…” Usagi repeated over and over as she buried herself into Mamoru’s arms. Seiya swallowed hard and shakily sat on a stone. Haruka was the only one to find her voice and the courage to speak first. “What happened…?” Sailor Neptune raised her eyes very slowly, arms clutched tightly about the tiny child in her arms. “An… attack… by Anubis… he was undefeatable. We could do nothing.” She hung her head forward, shutting her eyes tightly. “Minako… Minako…” Jupiter’s voice began rising until she began to sob, wrapping her arms about herself. “I’ll kill that bastard! I hate him! Why?!” Pluto closed her eyes and painfully pulled herself to her feet. She stepped, one foot at a time, towards the still silent Fighter. She knelt down and put aside her time staff. “Fighter.” There was no response. “You must realize what has happened and fight to stop this from continuing.” She rested her hand on the Starlight’s shoulder and pulled back in surprise to find how cold it was. “Fighter?” Silent tears pushed their way down the stone still face. “Get a grip! Fighter!” “Excuse me,” Seiya moved Pluto out of the way and tilted up Fighter’s head. The eyes stared dully back at him, unrecognizing. “Wake up! Healer is dead! Understood?!” When no response was given, he slapped the younger form of himself. Fighter let her head stay turned away as she finally let her eyes close in pain and her face contort. Seiya sighed and knelt down. Gently he lifted Healer’s body away from the other and moved her over a bit. He left the body on its front, not wanting to see the sight surely there. He looked down at his hands and realized that blood was now dried on them a mixture from moving Healer and slapping Fighter. The Starlight had curled herself up, resting her cheek on her knees. More blood smeared across her face, making her look like a victim of violence. Seiya sighed and just sat beside her, not knowing what he was supposed to do with his younger self. It was awkward. And also painful. Healer… Yaten… was lost, now, throughout much of the timeline he knew of. ‘Healer…’ “What are we going to do?” Michiru asked in a deep voice. “We wait,” Pluto murmured. “Wait? WAIT?! Are you INSANE?!” Jupiter hissed, jumping to her feet and running to the older senshi. “What do you mean?!” “Really, what are you thinking?” Rei demanded, upset. “We have no power! Do you understand that?!” Pluto demanded, slamming her staff down. “Can you understand our situation?! None of us can do anything at all. We are powerless.” “How can you say such things?!” “Why do you give up on Minako and Yaten?! On us! On this world! Are you so disbelieving?!” “Pluto, what’s wrong? We’ve still everyone here, is that not enough power?” The questions ran on and on. Pluto felt dizzy from all the demands and felt underlying accusations piercing her within her heart. “ENOUGH!!” She screamed out her torture. She was on her knees again, gripping her staff so tightly that her knuckles whitened. “Pluto…” Taiki murmured. He looked away and over to Seiya and Fighter. Both were sitting silently and staring sadly at Pluto. So, they understood too. Pluto took a deep breath, trying to calm. “I… I can never apologize for all that I have done wrong. I have… failed my duty and promise. I have destroyed everything but not doing my job. I may never expect you to forgive me; but try and accept my apologies. I’m sorry, I’m so very sorry. There is nothing I can do. No one has enough power.” “Might I…?” All heads turned to the voice. *****