There was a full moon out that night, but no one felt like admiring it. Considering the widespread destruction that surrounded them, a feeling of gloom was thick in the air.
“This is the future city of Crystal Tokyo…,” Sailor Moon murmured in stunned disbelief. The same expression was mirrored exactly on all present, except for Chibiusa, who already knew what to expect. For her, this was home.
“What happened here?” Mars exclaimed.
“It’s almost entirely frozen over…,” Jupiter observed.
“Where are all the people?” Venus wondered.
“They might not have survived, from the looks of it,” Mercury stated.
“Are we too late?” Knight murmured quietly as his gaze swept across the entire city.
Chibiusa stared at the lifeless city, in the direction of the palace, her expression becoming more and more desolate. “Mama…. Mama!” she cried out as she turned away from the destruction and ran down the slope of the hill that they were standing on.
“Chibiusa, come back!” Sailor Moon shouted after her as the young girl ran into the mists that were slowly beginning to rise. “Chibiusa!”
She ignored her as she disappeared into the fog.
“It’s dangerous!” Tuxedo Kamen called out urgently. “Don’t go off on your own!” He then took off running after her.
“We’ve got to catch her!” Sailor Moon shouted as she starting running after Chibiusa, followed by the other Scouts and the cats, calling out her name as they ran through the rising mist.
After running through the slowly thickening fog for a good ten minutes or so, the group came to a stop in some sort of courtyard. There was a paved path going further into the fog with broken columns lining either side. There was also a gazebo off to one side, which seemed to be somewhat intact. The columns lining the outside of the gazebo were similar to the ones lining the path, but these were still intact.
“Where could she have gone?” Mars asked as she and the others scanned the area for the missing girl.
“She’s so troublesome!” Sailor Moon muttered to herself, then paused as she noticed something within the fog down the path. At first, there was nothing there, but as she continued to stare, a figure slowly began to appear as it approached them.
“Who’s there?” she demanded as she shifted her body into a ready fighting stance. The figure did not reply as it continued to advance. The others began to shift into ready fighting stances as well.
“Wait,” Tuxedo Kamen said as he put a warning hand on Mars’ arm. “That’s….”
As the figure drew closer, Sailor Moon suddenly gasped as she began to realize who the figure was. The familiar-looking tuxedo and cape…. Even though the face was still covered in fog, she felt almost sure.
“Tuxedo Kamen-sama?”
The six Scouts all turned to look at Tuxedo Kamen at the same time, as if trying to make sure that he was still there and not currently approaching them from inside the fog. He was still there and staring at the tuxedo-clad figure walking toward them. But if Tuxedo Kamen was standing there….
“Two of Tuxedo Kamen-sama?” Sailor Moon said in disbelief.
The figure stepped out of the mists and stopped. Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen stared at the figure in shock. He looked almost exactly like Tuxedo Kamen, except that his face seemed slightly older. There was a short, scepter-like staff in his right hand that reminded Sailor Moon of the cane that Tuxedo Kamen occasionally fought with.
“You’ve finally made it to 30th century Crystal Tokyo,” he said as he smiled faintly.
Sailor Moon’s eyes widened in recognition. “That voice….”
She could still remember the voice from the nightmare. The one that drove Mamoru away from her. The nightmare that predicted their doom.
“Chiba Mamoru. Tsukino Usagi. If you two unite, then both the Earth and Tsukino Usagi… Princess Serenity of the Moon… will be doomed!”
“That’s right! You’re the one who made that eerie prediction!” she declared.
“Who are you!” Tuxedo Kamen demanded as he rushed forward as swung at the figure with his cane. His eyes widened as he watched his cane pass right through him as if he was a ghost. As his strike passed through him, he lost his balance and fell to the ground behind him.
“What’s going on?” Mars asked as the figure turned and glanced down at Tuxedo Kamen.
“Please don’t be upset,” he said as he turned toward Tuxedo Kamen. “I am King Endymion.”
Tuxedo Kamen could only stare up at him in pure astonishment.
“Yes. I am your future self.”
“What?!?” he exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock.
“The Tuxedo Kamen-sama of the future?” Venus said.
“Wait a minute!” Sailor Moon shouted. “Why does the future Mamo-chan plant dreams that try to break us apart?”
“Wait, Sailor Moon,” Mercury said, grabbing onto her arm. “He’s not real.”
“That’s correct, Sailor Mercury,” King Endymion agreed as he turned around. “My body is in a different place.”
“A projection, or a sort of hologram?” Knight surmised.
“It is time to tell you everything,” King Endymion told them. “Please come with me.” He then turned around and started walking back the way he came.
“Wait!” Sailor Moon called after him. “We have to find Chibiusa!”
“She is under my protection,” he told them as he glanced back at them over his shoulder. “Now….” With that, he continued on his way.
“But…,” Sailor Moon continued.
“Let’s go,” Jupiter suggested. “Now’s not the time to be confused.”
“We are about to learn the answers to most of our questions, Sailor Moon,” Knight added. “Don’t worry about kiddo; he says that she is all right, and I believe that he is trustworthy.”
“Right,” Venus agreed. “Let’s go.”
Sailor Moon nodded determinedly and set off after King Endymion with everyone else following.
Prince Diamond stared up at the image of Sailor Moon and the others as they walked down the path that the projection of King Endymion was leading them down. Slowly, the image began to focus and zoom in on Sailor Moon.
“All of them are here in Crystal Tokyo!” Saffire stated urgently as he and Emerald also stared up at the image being projected by the device they were all gathered around in the center of the room.
Look, Prince Diamond thought to himself as he gazed at her. She resembles the omnipotent ruler of Crystal Tokyo, Neo-Queen Serenity, who I have desired since I first saw her. She resembles the one who sleeps within the Crystal Palace.
While his gaze continued to linger on Sailor Moon, both Saffire and Emerald turned their gazes toward their ruler.
“Brother…,” Saffire murmured concernedly as he frowned.
Emerald scowled fiercely behind her fan, but it was not directed at Prince Diamond. Prince Diamond-sama is interested in Sailor Moon after all, she mentally seethed.
“Emerald!” Saffire shouted, snapping her out of her anger. “The Sailor Soldiers have reached Crystal Tokyo! This is your fault!”
She flinched and growled angrily behind her fan. “I’ll go and take care of them at once!” she said, then turned to leave.
“There’s no need for that,” Prince Diamond said, halting her. “I will go.”
“Brother!” Saffire called out, hoping to convince him not to go.
“Saffire, Emerald, you will find the Rabbit.”
“Yes,” they both acknowledged with some reluctance as he turned to leave. He took a couple of steps and was gone.
Emerald turned toward the projection of Sailor Moon and angrily flung her closed fan at it. The fan hit the image, short-circuiting the projection machine in the process. Once the image disappeared, the fan dropped straight down and clattered to the floor in front of the machine. Saffire merely watched Emerald as she continued to stare balefully at where Sailor Moon’s image once was.
For stealing Prince Diamond-sama’s heart, I won’t forgive you! she mentally declared.
“This is…,” Tuxedo Kamen said as he, the Sailor Scouts, and the cats followed King Endymion into a tall, empty cylindrical chamber. Inside, columns like those they had seen on their way here, were lined up around the walls, making the chamber seem almost like an observatory. At the top of each column was a carving of a crescent moon.
“This place was once our base,” King Endymion explained. “The enemy will not be able to enter here.”
Knight glanced suspiciously around the room. “I take it there are hidden defenses in the area.”
“Yes, in a matter of speaking,” he replied as he nodded.
“Where is Chibiusa?” Sailor Moon asked.
“Do not worry. I am keeping her safe.”
“I would feel more at ease if I knew for certain where she was, but knowing that she’s safe is good as well,” Knight said as he folded his arms. “When do we get to see her?”
“Soon,” King Endymion told him. “First, I want you to hear what I have to say.” He raised his staff up, activating a projection mechanism within the chamber. Instantly, the walls were gone, replaced by a star-filled sky, while the floor beneath them glowed softly. Between King Endymion and the others, a glowing pentagram suddenly flickered to life. They all stared up at the projections and marveled in awe.
“Long ago,” Kind Endymion continued, “the Earth underwent a tremendous environmental change. The entire Earth underwent a state of “Cold Sleep” and all living things fell into a deep, deep slumber.” As he continued his narration, everyone watched as images appeared and played out above the glowing pentagram on the floor.
“The 30th century came and, through the powers of the Silver Crystal and Neo-Queen Serenity, the Earth awakened from its long sleep. Under the rule of Neo-Queen Serenity, with Crystal Tokyo as its capital, the Earth once again began to flourish. However, evil forces appeared, wanting to take over this peaceful world.
“We fought many great battles, and in the end, we succeeded in defeating them. But, many fled in fear of the cleansing by the Silver Crystal, and escaped into space. Crystal Tokyo once again flourished and people lived in peace… until the planet Nemesis….”
“The planet Nemesis?” Jupiter repeated questioningly.
“It is the tenth planet from the sun,” he explained.
“The tenth planet?” Luna asked.
“Its orbit was incalculable, therefore its existence was not known for a long time. It is the Dark Planet of Illusions.”
“Dark Planet?” Sailor Moon asked.
“We discovered that it was emitting powerful negative energy, so its existence became known to us.”
“That’s the destination where the evil people who fled the Earth went?” Artemis inquired as an image of a black rock-like planet appeared overhead. Green specks of light dotted the rock everywhere while twin rings of smoke-like black energy circled the planet vertically.
“As you say,” King Endymion confirmed. “The inhabitants of this planet had acquired evil supernatural powers. They are the dark clan, Black Moon.
“From Nemesis, they fired huge blasts of negative energy at Crystal Tokyo in a surprise attack. Many of our warriors lost their lives and the city was completely destroyed. In the end, only the Crystal Palace was spared. Since then, there has been noting left… but silence. The five Guardians of this city – Sailor Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Knight – even now use their energy to protect the palace.”
“Warriors with the same names as us?” Mars observed.
“What does this mean?” Sailor Moon asked.
“They are your future selves.”
“Eh?!?” all five exclaimed simultaneously.
“They are locked in a stalemate with the Dark Power and can never move again until it is defeated,” King Endymion continued. “I have been severely wounded and am in a useless state. I can only appear in this projection. The only thing that can save us from the Dark Power is the Silver Crystal. But the only one who can use it, Neo-Queen Serenity, has also been injured and is in a deep sleep. I have tried everything to awaken her, but failed. Without her, there is no other way.” He bowed his head while his grip on his staff tightened in frustration… and despair.
“Only Neo-Queen Serenity can use the Silver Crystal…,” Sailor Moon said contemplatively, then paused as a sudden realization hit her. “That’s…. It can’t be…!”
King Endymion glanced over at Sailor Moon and smiled. “Yes. She is your future self, Sailor Moon.”
“No way!” she exclaimed in pure disbelief. “I’m the 30th century’s Neo-Queen Serenity?!?” She glanced up at Tuxedo Kamen, but saw that he was just as mystified as she was over the whole thing.
Then, the concept fully sank in.
“NO WAY!!!”
An image of the slumbering queen surrounded by crystal appeared before everyone above the glowing pentagram. Sailor Moon stared at the image thoughtfully.
Neo-Queen Serenity, the queen of 30th century Crystal Tokyo. This is me in the future? No, it can’t be.…
“King, what is the substance that envelops the queen’s body?” Mercury asked.
“It can’t be…,” Artemis exclaimed.
“The Silver Crystal?” Luna asked.
“No,” King Endymion stated. “It is not. When the enemy attacked her, the Sailor Soldiers encased the queen’s body in crystal, saving her life. Since then, she has slept without waking.
“And our daughter – the daughter of the Queen and me, King Endymion – Small Lady….”
As he trailed off, the projected image and the glowing pentagram disappeared as a trapdoor in the floor slid away. A small altar-like platform rose up from underneath the floor, carrying with it both the Luna Sphere and Chibiusa, who was still sleeping as it rose.
“Chibiusa!” Sailor Moon exclaimed in relief as the platform stopped just a couple of centimeters below the floor. She stepped forward and knelt down as she picked up the slumbering girl in her arms. “You’re here,” she murmured softly as she looked down at the girl lying in her arms.
“Sailor Moon, Tuxedo Kamen,” King Endymion said as the two glanced up at him in response to their names, “that child is your daughter.”
“Eh?!?” Sailor Moon gasped, both hers and Tuxedo Kamen’s eyes widening as far as they could go. “Chibiusa is my daughter?” They both glanced down at her as if they had never seen her before. Then, they glanced back at each other. Then, at Chibiusa again. “Me and… Mamo-chan’s….” When the full implications of that statement hit them, both of their faces turned a very bright red.
“Chibiusa is…,” Jupiter said in surprise.
“…Sailor Moon and…,” Mercury added.
“…Tuxedo Kamen’s daughter?” Venus concluded.
“What year, what month, and what day did this happen?!?” Mars exclaimed. She glanced back at Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen, who were both still red from extreme mortification.
“But I’m still curious about one thing,” Knight added. “How come she has pink hair and red eyes if her mother has blonde hair and blue eyes, and her father has black hair and blue eyes?” Everyone turned to look at him with a bewildered look on their faces. “What?”
“Please forgive my daughter for all the inconveniences she may have caused,” King Endymion said. “She was trying so hard to help. I always used to tell her stories about Sailor Moon. The legendary Sailor Warrior, Sailor Moon. That is why she went to the past for help.
“The Black Moon family seeks to capture the Silver Crystal and rule this world. They know that they cannot penetrate the Crystal Palace, so they have been trying to destroy the world in the past.”
“If they destroyed the world in the past…,” Luna reasoned.
“This world would never come to be,” Artemis concluded.
“We want you to protect your world at any cost,” King Endymion told them.
“Yes,” everyone replied. “We promise.”
“Sailor Moon, Tuxedo Kamen, you must be angry with me for planting such dark thoughts and dreams,” he said penitently. “However, we cannot win this war unless your love is true. Without a deep and true love, we cannot overcome the obstacles that we must face. So, I had to test the strength of your love.”
“The strength of our love?” Sailor Moon murmured as she glanced at Tuxedo Kamen.
“You must believe in each other no matter what happens.” He glided up to Sailor Moon and gazed down at Chibiusa. “Sailor Moon, Tuxedo Kamen, I beg of you, please protect Small Lady.” He raised one hand and gently touched Chibiusa’s face. “I cannot be by her side. I cannot protect her.”
“King,” Tuxedo Kamen said as he placed his hand over his, although his hand passed through it and rested on Chibiusa’s head. “On my life, I will protect her.”
King Endymion dropped his hand and gave Tuxedo Kamen an appraising look. “It’s a strange feeling, talking face to face with one’s past self,” he remarked. “I will leave my daughter to you.” With that, his projection disappeared.
As soon as his image vanished, a black wind began to blow within the chamber. “What’s happening?” Knight exclaimed as the wind grew stronger.
“So, here is where you were hiding,” Prince Diamond said as he appeared above them. “But, it’s all in vain now.”
“Who are you?” Sailor Moon demanded.
Those are the same eyes I beheld then…, he thought as he stared down at her. The memory of the last time he saw Neo-Queen Serenity played back in his mind. Those beautiful eyes.…
The black crescent moon on his forehead changed into a third eye. From that eye, a bright flash emitted, shining directly into Sailor Moon’s eyes and stunning her. “I’d like for you to come with me,” he called out to her.
The light from his third eye was having a paralyzing effect on everyone present. None of the other Sailor Scouts or Tuxedo Kamen could move.
“Burning…,” Mars gasped, but couldn’t finish the attack as she sank to one knee.
“Shine aqua…,” Mercury gasped.
“Avalanche…,” Knight gasped.
“It’s useless,” Jupiter gasped. “Our powers are fading.”
Prince Diamond laughed at their helplessness. “Come!” he ordered to Sailor Moon, then used his power to pull her up through the air toward him. Sailor Moon struggled to fight the pull, but couldn’t break free.
“Usako!” Tuxedo Kamen exclaimed as he broke free of the hold Prince Diamond had on him and flung his staff at him. Prince Diamond had to throw up an arm to keep the staff from striking his head, but the distraction broke the hold he had on everybody. The sudden stop was enough to cause Sailor Moon to lose her grip on Chibiusa as she dropped her.
“Look out!” Mars shouted as Tuxedo Kamen caught Chibiusa in his arms.
Prince Diamond scowled as he resumed his attack. Sailor Moon tried to pull away from him, but he reached out and caught her left arm. “I’d like to have killed two birds with one stone, but if I can take you, I’ll be satisfied.”
I can’t move…, Sailor Moon thought anxiously as she struggled against the mental onslaught. I can’t even look away.… Her eyelids began to droop, then finally closed shut as she lost consciousness. Once she was out, Prince Diamond vanished, taking her with him.
“Sailor Moon!” the Scouts and cats called out at once.
“Usako!” Tuxedo Kamen shouted, then turned to the Scouts. “Protect Small Lady!” he told them. However, before he could give Chibiusa to the nearest Scout and go off after Sailor Moon, King Endymion reappeared.
“Do not panic, Tuxedo Kamen,” he said firmly. “I know where the enemy has taken her.” Tuxedo Kamen grimaced, but relented. It was better to stop and learn where to find Sailor Moon, rather than to recklessly charge off and search blindly. He would bide his time, then go after her. He would take her back.
Usagi slowly began to regain consciousness. The first thing that she could feel was the pounding of her head. My head hurts…, she thought as she opened her eyes and raised a hand up to her forehead. What happened to me? She sat up as she tried to figure out what had happened since she had lost consciousness. She could see that she was now in a strange room and that she was seated on a bed. However, the two biggest differences she noticed were about herself. For one, she was no longer Sailor Moon. And secondly….
“These clothes!” she said as she looked down at herself. They weren’t what she was wearing before she had transformed.
Wait.
She quickly placed a hand over her chest where her transformation brooch usually sat. It wasn’t there. “My brooch!” she exclaimed anxiously. The hand that wasn’t over her chest frantically felt at the bed, searching for her brooch. When her fingers brushed against a familiar metal object, she clasped it within her hand and squeezed tightly, as if she was afraid she’d lose it if she let go of it.
As she grabbed her brooch in her hand, she tried to push herself up off of the bed, but found that she could do no more than keep herself from lying back on the bed.
I have no strength…, she realized as she shook with the effort of trying to move. Where am I? She gazed around her surroundings, trying to figure out where she was. Her gaze halted with a start as she noticed Prince Diamond standing at the entrance to the room, watching her.
“Awake so soon after feeling the full strength of the Black Crystal?” he asked. “Very impressive. This palace may be somewhat uncomfortable for you.”
“Who are you?” she asked.
“I am Prince Diamond. Welcome to our front line base, Sailor Moon.” He paused for a moment. “No. Future Neo-Queen Serenity. That may be more appropriate. Now,” he said as he raised an arm toward her, “we shall have a long talk.”
As a light flashed around him, Usagi could feel herself being dragged up into the air again. She quickly raised her brooch into the air and spoke the words that would transform her into Sailor Moon.
“Moon crystal power, make up!”
Nothing happened.
I can’t transform! she thought, shocked.
“The Silver Crystal loses its power under the influence of the Black Crystal,” he explained. He then vanished and reappeared in front of her.
“The Black Crystal?” she repeated quizzically.
“This room is filled with the Black Crystal’s power. All other powers are suppressed. Even that of your Silver Crystal.” He reached out to place a hand on her shoulder, but she pulled his hand off of her just as he touched her shoulder.
“No!” she exclaimed and glowered fiercely at him.
Prince Diamond smiled hungrily at her. “Those eyes… future Neo-Queen Serenity….” His eyes flashed, causing a paralyzing jolt to run through her body. She let out a small yelp as a small spasm shook her body for a second. He then reached out and cupped her head in his hand underneath her chin and pulled her closer to him.
“Get used to this room, Sailor Moon,” he told her, “because you will remain here for the rest of your life.”
Usagi struggled to get away from him, but could only move her head. “Tell me,” she said, attempting to stall him. “Why do you want to destroy all that we have?”
“As long as we have the Black Crystal, time, energy, anything can be controlled,” he told her. “Any world, any dimension can be ours.”
At the top of the Crystal Palace, Tuxedo Kamen raised the hang glider that King Endymion had supplied him with and jumped off. It wasn’t long before it caught a wind current and began to glide toward his destination.
Usako…, he thought as the large crystal spire that was his destination began to grow larger as he descended further toward it.
“Those who possess the greatest power will possess this beautiful world,” Prince Diamond told her. “It is only logical.”
“Your logic is all wrong,” Usagi retorted.
He chuckled softly as he pulled her face closer to his. She continued to struggle, but she remained helpless against his power. “I want to have you by any means,” he stated as his third eye appeared again and flashed with its subjugating light. “Neo-Queen Serenity,” he murmured as he pulled her face closer, “finally, you are mine.”
Outside, Tuxedo Kamen landed on one of the balconies of the black spire. He abandoned the hang glider and dashed through the entryway. “Usako!”
Mamo-chan! her mind shouted fearfully, as if she could hear him calling out to her. It’s too far…, she lamented as her expression fell. My voice won’t reach him.… I’m scared.
I can’t transform.… I’m all alone.…
She could feel herself being pulled closer still. There was almost nothing she could do to break free.
Mamo-chan, I want to see you.…
Mamo-chan, I don’t want anyone else to kiss me.…
A small tear rolled down her cheek as Prince Diamond bent his head down to kiss her.
Suddenly, a rose flew through the narrow space between them, causing him to release his hold on her. “What?” he exclaimed as Usagi plummeted down and landed on the bed below.
“Who are you?” he demanded as he glanced up toward the source of the attack.
“Tuxedo Kamen-sama!” Usagi exclaimed in relief.
“You are a demon who uses his powers to force a woman to become his own,” Tuxedo Kamen declared from the ledge of one of the higher windows. A hole was broken in the thick glass of the window behind him. “It cannot be forgiven!”
“Don’t be arrogant!” Prince Diamond retorted as he revealed his third eye and fired a blast of light at Tuxedo Kamen, who blocked the attack by covering his face with his cape. He chuckled as he began to advance on him, but a sudden gust of black wind halted him. “What?” he exclaimed in surprise as he quickly shut his third eye.
Tuxedo Kamen took the opportunity to bring out his staff and point it toward Usagi. “Now, Usako!” he prompted as he extended his staff down toward the bed she was lying on. She quickly pushed herself up and grabbed onto the staff. Once she had a firm hold on the staff, he retracted it, pulling her up with it. Once she was able to stand on her own, she quickly embraced him. As Prince Diamond continued to cover his face to protect his eyes, Tuxedo Kamen and Usagi made their escape.
“Wait!” Prince Diamond shouted, but it was too late.
As Tuxedo Kamen retrieved his hang glider and made his escape from the black spire with Usagi, Emerald watched from one of the balconies with her arms folded.
“Emerald,” Saffire said as he appeared behind her while she was watching the glider descend toward the Crystal Palace. She flinched slightly in surprise as she glanced toward him with a startled expression on her face. “Surely you didn’t disturb my brother just to help them escape?”
She gave him an astonished look, then grinned smugly behind her fan. “Help the enemy escape? Why would I want to do that?”
“A woman can become a dangerous creature when stricken with jealousy,” he replied flatly. “You must be pleased to see Sailor Moon escaping from my brother.”
Emerald laughed. “I have taken an oath of loyalty to Prince Diamond-sama,” she replied. “I would never betray him.”
Saffire continued to give her a flat look, then smirked knowingly. “Do you think I don’t understand how you feel?” he asked her.
“Eh?” she said, blinking in confusion.
“I hate Sailor Moon as well,” he said as he clenched his right hand into a fist.
She grinned behind her fan. “Indeed? So, we think alike.” She turned around and stared at the Crystal Palace, content to let Sailor Moon escape… for the time being.
When the hang glider finally landed in the courtyard of the Crystal Palace, Tuxedo Kamen let Usagi off first before getting off and letting the glider fall to the ground. Once he stepped away from it and turned back toward Usagi, she quickly embraced him again.
“Tuxedo Kamen-sama…,” she breathed as she moved back to look him in the face. All around her, the crystal encased surroundings gave the scenery a cold, icy, almost emotionless appearance, but none of it mattered now that she was with him again.
“King Endymion said that from now on we will be facing the real test,” he told her. “Our battles have only just begun.”
Usagi nodded as she smiled lovingly at him. “No matter what happens, we….” She trailed off as they came together in a kiss.
They broke the kiss as a strong, icy wind began to blow, delivering a small flurry of cold snow….