Run away.
All Chibiusa could do was run away. She didn’t know how long she had been running, but she knew she couldn’t stop. She was still being pursued and the fear of being caught drove her like lash whipping at her back.
As she dared to glance behind her, the dark gleaming of a black crystal lashed out at her; her fear driving her with renewed intensity. As she pushed harder, trying to put as much distance between her and her pursuer as possible, a light emanating from beneath the surface halted her.
It was too late. He had caught her.
She gazed up uneasily at the robed and masked figure, hovering over her and wielding a scythe in his left hand. The very sight of him brought to mind an image of the Grim Reaper, which made her even more fearful.
“I’m glad to see you, Rabbit,” he said in a gravelly voice as he laughed.
“I don’t know you!” she yelled back as fiercely as she could. “Who are you?”
“You know me very well,” the figure replied. “Now, I’ll take you to see your mother.” He then opened his robe, revealing a small black crystal hovering in darkness.
Chibiusa used quickly closed her eyes and turned away, screaming as the sensation of falling overtook her.
‘Mama, I’m scared….’
The image of a large crystal structure filled her vision.…
‘They’re coming again…. The ones with the Black Crystal….’
A light began to glow from within the structure. It grew in intensity until it threatened to consume the entire structure.…
‘Help me! Help me!!! MAMA!!!’
An explosion of light burst from within the structure and blinded her, encompassing her vision in a world of white nothingness… then slowly faded away.…
Inside Diamond’s throne room, the prince sat, gazing down contemplatively into his wineglass. Behind him, a huge plume of black energy burst into the air in a large cloud-like cylinder. After the discharge ceased, he looked up at the two people in attendance.
“Our Black Crystal’s energy is spreading into every corner,” he announced, gesturing with his wineglass.
‘Prince Diamond-sama is so wonderful,’ Emerald thought with an expression of admiration spread on her face. ‘His every word sounds like a beautiful poem.…’
Diamond’s expression fell as he glanced toward the other person in attendance. “Sapphire, is something wrong?”
“Brother, why are you still targeting the worthless twentieth century?” Sapphire asked.
Diamond turned away to thoughtfully examine his wineglass again. “It has some value,” he said cryptically.
“But….”
“I’m in charge of that, now,” Emerald interjected. “Not Rubeus. I will not fail like he did.” She then laughed mockingly at the memory of Rubeus’ failures.
“Emerald, your laugh is a bit too loud,” Diamond said with slight irritation.
She immediately cut off her laughter and blushed behind her fan as she flipped it open in front of her face. “I’m sorry,” she murmured in chagrin.
Sapphire turned his gaze back to his brother. “We don’t have to go after the Silver Crystal or the Rabbit,” he argued. “Our Black Crystal is all-powerful! I oppose the wasting of time and energy by going back into the past.”
Diamond nodded slightly, as if showing that he had heard what Sapphire had to say. “Wiseman!” he called out loudly. Instantly, the hooded figure appeared with his crystal ball.
“As long as the Silver Crystal exists, our Black Crystal will never be all-powerful. We must obtain the Silver Crystal and destroy it.”
Sapphire’s expression fell at hearing those words, since it meant that Diamond would continue with his plans for the twentieth century. Diamond stood up from his throne and walked around to stand beside it. His left hand rested on the top of his throne as he stared into the glass chamber behind the throne. Another plume of black energy erupted from underneath the floor and gushed up through the chamber and through the ceiling above.
“The energy of our Black Crystal spreads out as far as our ambition,” he said with an eager grin on his face.
At the Tsukino residence, Usagi and her friends were gathered around Chibiusa’s bed as the young girl lay asleep in it. She had fallen into a deep sleep for almost a week now and could not be awakened, no matter how hard they tried. On one side of the bed, Makoto, Rei, and Ami sat watching over her. Usagi, Minako and Ryoku sat on the other side, with Luna and Artemis sitting on the table behind them, all watching over Chibiusa with grave concern.
As Usagi watched Chibiusa stir with an obvious expression of fear and pain on her face, it was enough to have her break into tears.
“What’ll we do, Minako-chan?” she wailed as she grabbed her friend’s shoulders and shook them, her eyes begging her for an answer. “Chibiusa might be dying!”
“Usagi-chan…,” Minako said consolingly as she felt a hand touch Usagi’s on top of her shoulder. She glanced over to see Ryoku’s hand holding Usagi’s, giving her comfort with his silent, yet calm expression.
“Usagi,” Rei said softly, causing her to turn to look at her. “Stay calm.”
“Right,” Ryoku said quietly as he stared worriedly down at Chibiusa. “She has a strong spirit. She will pull through.”
“How can you be so sure?” Usagi cried. “Even the doctor doesn’t know the reason behind this….”
“Help me…,” Chibiusa murmured in her sleep. Everyone’s gazes quickly snapped to her as they hoped that she would finally awaken. “Help me…,” she called out again.
“Hang on, Chibiusa!” Usagi urged.
“Stay strong, kiddo,” Ryoku murmured quietly.
“The Black Crystal…,” she whispered weakly. “They…. They’re coming….”
Everyone gasped simultaneously as they heard those words. They had thought that they were finished when Rubeus had died, but now….
“Help me…. Help me…. Help me, Puu!”
At her cry, the Luna Sphere’s eyes lit up with a strange blue glow. Luna and Artemis’ eyes widened in surprise as they watched the ball move towards them by itself. They followed it with their eyes as it hovered into the air, between Usagi and Minako. By now, everyone else had noticed the ball’s peculiar behavior and was now watching as it floated over to hover above Chibiusa and look down at her with its glowing eyes. Luna and Artemis quickly leaped onto the bed and gazed up at the Luna Sphere while wondering what the ball was doing.
Suddenly, the ball began to glow with a brilliant white light. The light slowly faded away, revealing a kneeling figure with her head bowed, wearing a sailor uniform almost identical to the ones they wore, but her colors were dark green with dark red bows. Also, her uniform was sleeveless. In her hands, she held a strange key-shaped staff.
“Who are you?” Minako gasped.
“Don’t be alarmed,” the figure said as she looked up. “I am Sailor Pluto, the guardian of the Gate of Time.” She stood up from her kneeling position, but still held her key staff in front of her.
“Sailor Pluto?” Usagi repeated questioningly. “So, you’re the one Chibiusa calls, ‘Puu’?”
Luna frowned in thought. “Sailor Pluto…,” she murmured to herself as Artemis turned to look at her. “I think I’ve heard that name before.”
“Please, help Small Lady,” Pluto pleaded with great concern in her voice.
“Small Lady?” Usagi repeated questioningly.
“She means Chibiusa-chan,” Minako explained with a smile.
“Hmm…,” Ryoku said thoughtfully to himself. “That name seems to fit her in a way….”
“Small Lady’s mind has been invaded by the energies of the Black Crystal,” Pluto explained. “If it continues, her mind… and her soul will fall into pieces.”
“That cannot be allowed to happen,” Ryoku said with a hard edge to his voice. “What can we do to save her, Pluto?”
“The only way to save her is to enter her inner world and destroy the evil presence. But, it is very risky.”
“But, that means we can save her, right?” Usagi asked hopefully. In reply, Pluto nodded silently, which Usagi answered with a determined nod of her own.
“Let’s go!” Makoto seconded fervently.
“Yes, let’s go!” Rei added.
“We’ll save Chibiusa-chan!” Ami added as well.
“Everyone…,” Usagi said gratefully with a huge smile.
“It’s our turn to save her, isn’t it?” Minako asked Usagi with a gentle smile.
“We’re coming for you, kiddo,” Ryoku added, placing his hand where Chibiusa’s right foot was lying down. “You’ll be safe again.”
“Chibiusa,” Usagi said softly as she bent over the sleeping girl’s head, “we promise we’ll save you.” She straightened up with a serious expression on her face. “Let’s go!” she told them.
“Right!” everyone agreed at once.
“Thank you all,” Pluto said gratefully. “Please take care of Small Lady.” As she made that request of them, she lifted her staff above her head. A light shone from the orb in the handle-like part of her staff, filling the whole room with a blinding light.
Usagi was the first one to wake. She opened her eyes and immediately found herself lying down on the ground of what seemed to be a ruin of some sort. Her friends were lying around her, still unconscious. She slowly pushed herself up, then stood up and started walking toward a small cluster of broken pillars near a ruined balustrade. She wanted to see exactly where they had ended up.
“Is this the world in Chibiusa’s mind?” Usagi heard Rei ask as she gazed out at the desolate world they had arrived in. She turned around to see that the others had all woken up as well and were staring out where she was gazing at as well. “It looks so desolate.”
Usagi nodded then glanced up into the sky. “The Moon looks so big,” she noted.
Ryoku nodded as he noticed it as well. “It definitely fills up a good deal of the sky,” he replied thoughtfully. “Does this mean that the Moon has grown larger… or closer…?”
“This is probably the future city of Crystal Tokyo,” Ami supposed.
“This is Crystal Tokyo?” Ryoku asked, frowning.
“It’s a dark future, isn’t it?” Makoto remarked grimly.
“This world in Chibiusa-chan’s mind is probably colored by her fear,” Rei told her. “So, I doubt it’s really like this.”
“Mama…,” Chibiusa’s voice called out weakly from somewhere in the city. “Mama….”
“Chibiusa!” Usagi said with deep concern as she scanned the city for her.
“We’d better start looking for her,” Ryoku suggested as he leaped up onto the balustrade. “Coming?” he asked without looking over his shoulder as he leaped off and started in the direction of Chibiusa’s voice with the others right behind him.
“Mama…,” Chibiusa moaned fearfully as she started at the wall, her body curled up into a little ball as she quivered. “I’m so scared, Mama….”
Behind her, she heard the creaking of a door slowly opening. Light began to pour in as the crack between door and frame slowly widened, allowing more and more light to shine in. She whirled around, trying to see who was entering the room. She hoped it wasn’t him again. She was growing tired of running.
When the door fully opened, she didn’t see the familiar hooded figure that had been harrying her. Instead, there were six figures; five girls and a boy. “Chibiusa?” one of the girls called out to her.
“Who are you guys?” Chibiusa demanded with a frown.
“Chibiusa?” Usagi called out again, stepping toward her.
The young girl scowled. “Chibiusa, Chibiusa…,” she snapped. “Don’t call me that! What rude people! I’m Small Lady!”
Usagi stopped in surprise. “What are you saying?” she asked in confusion. “It’s me, Usagi!”
“Chibiusa-chan?” the others called out hopefully.
“I don’t know any of you!” she screamed fiercely. “Who are you anyway?!?”
Usagi’s expression became hurt. “Chibiusa… why…?”
“Wait,” Ami interrupted. “She might be the Chibiusa-chan she used to be before she met any of us.”
“You mean, Chibiusa-chan is dreaming of the time before we met her?” Rei asked.
“This could make things difficult,” Ryoku remarked.
“What are you all talking about?!?” Chibiusa demanded angrily, then ran off.
“Wait, Chibiusa!” Usagi called after her, but she didn’t even seem to hear her. Everyone quickly ran after her.
“I didn’t know that there were enemies here besides him,” Chibiusa said to herself as she ran. “I have to be careful….” She darted around a wall in order to hide and catch her breath. As she rested, a shadow slowly fell over her face. When she opened her eyes, she spotted the hooded figure looming overhead with his scythe in his hands.
“So, Rabbit,” he said darkly, “let’s end this game of hide-and-seek.” He raised his scythe over his head and brought the blade down towards her. “Now, you can’t escape!”
Chibiusa quickly ducked and dodged the attacks as she tried to get away. The hooded figure merely laughed as he stared balefully down at her.
Before he could strike again, Usagi and the others arrived in time to find the young girl under attack. “Chibiusa!” Usagi gasped.
“Everyone, transform!” Luna shouted.
“You must protect Chibiusa!” Artemis added urgently. The others nodded as they reached for their transformation items.
“Moon crystal power, make up!”
“Mars star power, make up!”
“Mercury star power, make up!”
“Jupiter star power, make up!”
“Venus star power, make up!”
“Knight star sword power!”
Chibiusa continued to stare back at the hooded figure overhead, watching for his next attack. “Stop!” a voice suddenly ordered, causing both the hooded figure and herself to turn in the direction of the voice.
“If you enter into someone else’s dreams, then you should at least act with courtesy!” the same voice ordered. From the top of a deteriorated building, six figures stood with the Moon framed behind them. “I’m the Sailor Warrior fighting for love and justice, Sailor Moon! On behalf of the Moon, I’ll punish you!”
The hooded figure snorted derisively as his red eyes glimmered for a second. “How impudent!” he growled. “Die!” He leaned back and flung his scythe at the Sailor Scouts as hard as he could, but they all leaped away, leaving the weapon to strike just brick and stone.
“Burning mandala!”
“Venus love-me chain!”
“Avalanche barrage!”
The three attacks all struck the hooded figure at once, but the combined attack had no effect on him.
“What?” Mars, Venus and Knight exclaimed simultaneously. “No way!”
The six Sailor Scouts quickly jumped in front of Chibiusa as the hooded figure merely laughed at them.
“What’s going on?” Sailor Moon exclaimed in astonishment.
“The Rabbit knows the reason,” he explained cryptically in an amused voice. At once, the Sailor Scouts all glanced back at Chibiusa, who was still staring blankly out in front of her in fear. Seeing her chance to escape, she got up and started to run again.
“Chibiusa!” Sailor Moon shouted after her, but she didn’t slow down.
“Sailor Moon,” Mars said to her over her shoulder, “you go take care of Chibiusa.”
“We’ll handle him,” Knight added as well, as he brought out his Star Sword.
“Okay,” she agreed as she ran after Chibiusa.
“We’ll take care of you,” Mars told the hooded figure as he stared down at them from overhead.
“Sounds interesting,” he replied in a dark tone of voice as he laughed softly in anticipation.
Chibiusa ran as fast as she could, trying to put as much distance between herself and all those people who were after her. She knew that hooded figure meant her harm, but she was still uncertain about those others. As she ran out from another alleyway into the streets, she stopped in her tracks.
The leader of the other group of people was standing right in front of her.
“Chibiusa…,” the girl called out to her again.
Chibiusa frowned at the familiarity that the girl used in her voice. She sure didn’t know the girl, so how could the girl know her? She slowly started to back away when the girl held up her hand; her expression pleading with her.
“Wait! Please listen to what I have to say.”
“No, I won’t!” she retorted fiercely.
“We came here to save you,” the girl told her.
“What are you talking about?” Chibiusa demanded. “You destroyed Crystal Tokyo!”
The girl was taken aback. “What do you mean?”
“You’re part of that evil family from the Black Moon!” Chibiusa accused. “You destroyed Crystal Tokyo and attacked my mama!”
“You’re wrong!” the girl told her. “We’re not with them!”
“Liar!” Chibiusa spat as she turned away from her.
“It’s true!” she insisted as she walked up to her and took her hands in hers. “We came here to protect you from them.”
Chibiusa turned back to look back at her curiously. “Protect… me?”
“Believe me. We’re the Sailor Warriors of justice. We’re inside you. You went through a time-warp from this era to the twentieth century and made friends with us.”
“Friends?” she asked, her expression blank as she tried to take all that in. She then frowned as she pulled her hands from the girl’s. “What are you talking about?” she retorted. “That’s ridiculous!” She angrily whirled around with her back to the girl.
“Chibiusa…,” the girl began again, only sounding a little hurt.
“If you insist,” she said grudgingly as she glanced back at her over her shoulder, “I think I can believe you.”
The girl’s expression brightened. “Really?”
“But, only if you save my mama,” Chibiusa added.
“Your mama?”
Chibiusa nodded and started walking as she beckoned her to follow. After walking for a while, she led the girl to a huge structure standing in the middle of Crystal Tokyo.
“How beautiful!” she breathed in awe.
Chibiusa nodded unconsciously as she also looked up. “This is the Crystal Palace,” she explained. “Mama is sleeping inside.”
“I understand,” the girl said as she started for the palace.
“Wait a moment!” she shouted, then bent down to pick up a stone. The stone flew through the air until it struck an invisible barrier, which destroyed the stone in a flash of black energy.
The girl stared at the place where the stone was destroyed then turned back to Chibiusa. “What was that?”
“That is the power of the Black Crystal,” she explained with a distraught expression on her face. “Mama told me that the enemy can control the power of the Black Crystal freely.
“Now, go and save my mama!” she demanded. “Or, are you scared?” she taunted when she saw the girl hesitate. Her expression fell to one of disappointment. “Then, you shouldn’t call yourself my friend.”
Behind them, the sound of a large structure collapsing caused them to turn around to see one of the crystal pillars tumbling to the ground. “What?!?” the girl exclaimed in surprise.
“Sailor Moon!” a female voice shouted as the two cats that had accompanied the girl quickly ran up to them.
“The others are in trouble!” the white cat told them.
“Okay,” Sailor Moon replied. “I’ll go help.” She turned to Chibiusa with a determined look on her face. “Chibiusa, we will save your mama,” she promised. She turned back to the two cats. “Luna, Artemis, please take care of Chibiusa.”
Chibiusa watched as the girl ran off to assist her friends. She had promised that she would help her save her mother, but could such a thing really be done? Could she really save her mother?
“Sailor Moon….”
After the smoke from the last volley of attacks faded away, the hooded figure remained unscratched. The Sailor Scouts scowled fiercely in ire as he laughed down at them.
“Everyone!” Sailor Moon shouted as she ran over to join them.
“Sailor Moon!” Mars responded as they all turned to see her arrive.
“Where’s kiddo?” Knight asked.
“Everyone listen,” Sailor Moon said urgently as she turned her gaze back the way she came. “Chibiusa’s mama is being held prisoner in that palace!”
“What?!?” the others exclaimed as they turned to stare at the Crystal Palace.
“If we save her, will Chibiusa overcome her illness?” Venus asked. Sailor Moon nodded.
“Let’s go save her!” Mars suggested.
“But, there’s a barrier around the palace,” Sailor Moon added.
“I see…,” Knight said with a small frown. “Well, we should’ve known they wouldn’t have made it too easy.”
The hooded figure’s mocking laughter brought their attention back to him. “I bet it’s his doing,” Mars stated.
“So, we have to defeat him,” Sailor Moon added as the hooded figure continued to laugh mockingly.
“Be careful,” Knight warned as he brought out his sword. “He’s stronger than he looks.”
“Our attacks don’t seem to work here,” Venus added.
“So, how do we defeat him?” Jupiter asked.
“That’s a good question,” Knight replied.
Meanwhile, a short distance away, Chibiusa carefully crept up closer to where the Sailor Scouts were facing off against the one who had been chasing her for so long. The two cats, Luna and Artemis, were sticking close by her, watching for any sign of danger.
Chibiusa gasped as she saw the hooded figure fling his scythe at the Sailor Scouts. Sailor Knight rushed forward with his sword raised to deflect the scythe, but instead, he was knocked backward amongst the others as it continued on its path. The scythe struck each of the Scouts, knocking them off their feet and scattering them.
Sailor Moon was the first one to push herself back off the ground. “Not yet…,” she breathed resolutely.
“Now, I’ll put you to rest,” he growled as he descended to a lower height. Sailor Moon slowly got to her feet as she prepared to fight again.
Chibiusa and the cats watched worriedly. “Please, Chibiusa!” Luna said pleadingly. “Please open your mind to them!”
The young girl looked over at Sailor Moon hesitantly. I don’t know…. What if she’s not strong enough to win…?
Sailor Moon ran at the hooded figure and leapt at him. When he moved to intercept her, she brought out her scepter and swung it at him with both hands like a club. The scepter and scythe met in midair with a loud, resounding clash. Before she could do anything else, he spun around her and shoved her down to the ground with the handle part of his scythe.
“Sailor Moon!” Chibiusa screamed in deep concern as she smashed into the ground. She then looked up to see the hooded figure descending down towards her.
“So, there you are, Rabbit,” he said triumphantly.
Sailor Moon quickly put herself between him and the young girl. “Run, Chibiusa!”
“Now, let’s go home!” he shouted as he swung down his scythe into the ground. The ground divided where it struck and started splitting toward where Chibiusa and Sailor Moon were standing.
“Sailor Moon…,” Jupiter called out weakly as she and the others began to rouse.
“Sailor Moon…,” Mars also called out.
“Chibiusa-chan!” Venus shouted.
“Kiddo!” Knight shouted.
Sailor Moon watched as the divide drew closer. However, it wasn’t her that the split was heading towards….
“Chibiusa!” she screamed as she whirled around in time to see the young girl screaming in fright as the ground split open underneath her. Luna and Artemis were able to leap to safety, but she wasn’t able to leap far enough. Sailor Moon quickly lunged out toward the falling girl, her hand outstretched in order to grab onto her, while Chibiusa did the same. Although she stretched out as far as she could, she missed Chibiusa’s hand by mere centimeters.
“Sailor Moon!” Chibiusa screamed as she fell down towards the dark abyss.
However, Sailor Moon managed to grab onto her with her other arm.
Chibiusa looked up from the darkness to see Sailor Moon kneeling down at the very edge of the crevasse; the toes of her left boot just barely peeking over the edge.
“Sailor Moon…,” Chibiusa breathed in relief and gratitude.
“Chibiusa, are you alright?” she asked, her expression showing how hard she was straining to keep her from falling.
Chibiusa’s expression turned sad and confused. “Why help me?” she asked.
Sailor Moon smiled down at her. “We’re your friends, of course.” Her hold on Chibiusa faltered slightly as she fell down a short distance before pulling her back up to where she was. No matter how much she pulled, she couldn’t seem to lift her up the entire way.
“It’s all right,” Chibiusa told her. “You don’t have to hold on. You can let go of my hand.”
Sailor Moon’s soft smile never wavered. “No, I can’t,” she replied. “We came here to save you.”
Chibiusa gasped in surprise as small bits of memories played back through her mind.
“The Sailor Soldiers will help you,” Sailor Pluto told her. “Don’t cry, Small Lady.”
“Hey, Tuxedo Kamen,” she asked the small Tuxedo Kamen doll that Mamoru held in his hand, “is Sailor Moon strong?”
“Yes,” Mamoru replied. “She has no equal.”
“Sailor Moon…,” she asked earnestly, “…are you without equal?”
“Only if you open up your mind and believe in me, Chibiusa,” she replied sincerely.
“Now, Rabbit,” the hooded figure shouted as he appeared over Sailor Moon’s head with his scythe raised, “let’s go see your mama!”
In that moment, she made her decision. “Save me, Sailor Moon!”
The scythe came down, only to be met by Sailor Moon’s scepter. He tried to bear down on her, but he was blasted away by the energy she had gathered into the hand holding her scepter. A violet light glowed around Sailor Moon as she stood up and released Chibiusa’s hand. Instead of falling, Chibiusa found herself floating up out of the chasm and onto the ground.
“Sailor Moon!” the other Scouts shouted in astonishment.
“Stop this!” Sailor Moon ordered as she held onto Chibiusa’s hands with one hand and her scepter in the other. “I won’t allow you to do as you please!”
“What?!?” the hooded figure said in an incensed growl.
“Moon princess halation!” Sailor Moon shouted as a burst of energy issued forth from her scepter, destroying him and leaving nothing but a dark crystal, which quickly disintegrated away into nothing.
Chibiusa stared disbelievingly at where the hooded figure once existed. I almost can’t believe it. He’s… gone. She did it, just like she said she would. She smiled up at Sailor Moon when she felt her hand touch her shoulder. Just like I knew she would.
With the hooded figure destroyed, the barrier surrounding the Crystal Palace was no more. Chibiusa took the opportunity to lead the Sailor Scouts to the palace, toward where her mother slept.
When they reached the chamber where her mother rested, they all stopped. Ahead, an altar-like structure with a crescent moon carved into it stood, with a crystal formation covering the top. It seemed like there was something, or rather, someone encased inside the crystal, but the crystal itself was translucent and it was hard to be absolutely sure. As they came closer, they could see that there was someone inside the crystal, but her features were blurred by the crystal.
“Is that your mama, Chibiusa?” Sailor Moon asked, still staring at the sleeping figure.
“Sailor Moon…,” Chibiusa said as she smiled up at her. She was still holding her hand. “Thank you.” She slipped her hand out from Sailor Moon’s and ran over to stand in front of the altar. “Thank you, everyone. I’m all right, now.”
A warm light slowly appeared, taking in everything except for themselves and Chibiusa. “We’re always with you, Chibiusa,” Sailor Moon told her by way of a farewell. Chibiusa’s answering smile was visible only for a few moments before the light completely filled their vision.
Usagi’s eyes opened. She was back in her room; her head resting next to Chibiusa’s. The young girl was still asleep, but it seemed to be a more peaceful and less disturbing one. Slowly, she pushed herself off the bed and sat up.
“We’re back?” she asked of Sailor Pluto, who was still floating over Chibiusa from within the small glowing sphere.
“Thank you, Sailor Moon,” Pluto said appreciatively. “Thank you, everyone,” she added as the others woke up.
“Is Chibiusa okay?” Usagi asked. In reply, Pluto silently nodded.
Chibiusa stirred as she slowly woke up. “What a good rest,” she murmured as she blinked then sat up.
“Thank goodness!” Usagi shouted joyfully as she hugged her. “You’re all right!”
Chibiusa’s eyes widened in surprise. What’s with her? I only woke up. That’s when she noticed the image of Sailor Pluto hovering over her. “Puu?” The image hovered closer until it was within her reach. She slowly reached out until she could put her hands on the glowing sphere. “Puu, I want to go back home to the future.”
“Right now, that’s impossible, Small Lady,” Pluto explained. “The enemy is going to return to this time with a new plan. To protect this era is to protect the future.
“Sailor Soldiers, please take care of Small Lady,” Pluto asked as she turned to them.
“Always,” Ryoku answered, followed by the simultaneous nodding of the girls’ heads in agreement.
“Never give up the Silver Crystal!” she said as her image slowly faded away.
“Wait!” Usagi beckoned. “Who are you…?”
“Puu!” Chibiusa cried out.
But, it was too late. Chibiusa hugged the glowing sphere as it changed back into the Luna Sphere again.
“Puu…,” Chibiusa moaned sadly as she began to quietly sob.
“Chibiusa…,” Usagi began, but stopped when she grabbed onto her and started crying in earnest. Usagi responded by holding the young girl comfortingly.
I’ll protect you, Chibiusa…, she thought to herself as she exchanged meaningful glances with each of the others. Everyone’s expression was the same; she knew they were all sworn in their hearts to defend this young girl from the future. I’ll protect you, the Silver Crystal and the future as well!
To Chapter 75: Baking Up Trouble