Black bolts of Dark Power snaked through the air overhead, booming ominously. The floor shook as the very top of the spire of Black Crystal rose steadily into the air. Directly above them, Black Lady floated, her grin menacing with a touch of madness.
“The time to destroy the Earth has come,” Wiseman said to himself as he watched the events between Black Lady and the Sailor Scouts unfold. “I am the Death Phantom. At last, my chance to plunge the world into Darkness has come!”
Dark Power surged through Wiseman’s hands and shot out through the spiraling dark cloud overhead, lashing out around the – now hexagonal – floating platform and crashing down around the black spire below.
From a couple of kilometers away, Luna and Artemis watched as the dark lightning cut through the sky.
“The Black Crystal’s power is growing quickly,” Artemis said.
“Is it too late for them to save Chibiusa-chan?” Luna worried.
“If the Black Gate opens and the Black Crystal’s energy comes through from the planet Nemesis, the Earth will be destroyed,” he replied apprehensively.
Luna turned back and raised her head to beseech the heavens. “Everyone… good luck!”
Black Lady threw her arms straight into the air and began to channel her energy toward the Black Gate above. A menacing violet glow materialized around her. “O, power of the Black Crystal!” she shouted as her dark energy began to manifest.
“Chibiusa!” Sailor Moon called out, but cut off as bolts of black lightning struck the six pillars ringing the altar-like platform they stood on, then converged from the pillars to Black Lady.
“Soon, the Black Gate will open,” she announced as she slowly rose higher into the air. “Wiseman, send through the power of the Black Crystal! I will receive it in my body and shatter this world!”
“Chibiusa-chan will…,” Mars gasped in complete shock.
“…receive the power of the Black Crystal in her body?” Mercury finished incredulously.
“Chibiusa, if you do that, you’ll die!” Sailor Moon yelled.
“I am not afraid to die,” she replied indifferently. “Darkness is everything in this world. The destruction of a world where no one loves me will be good.”
“You’re not alone!”
“Chibiusa!” Tuxedo Kamen also called out.
“What are you talking about?” Black Lady scoffed as she lowered back to the ground. “What do you know about it? How would you know how I feel?”
“Chibiusa, please understand. We are….”
“Shut up! Silence!” she screamed as she fired a pulse of concussive energy, knocking everyone on their backs. As Sailor Moon pushed herself up, she saw Black Lady hovering over her.
“You annoying, clumsy thing…,” she seethed. “I’ll kill you first!”
“Chibiusa-chan…,” Mars said dejectedly.
“Don’t!” Mercury shouted.
Black Lady smirked as she laughed wickedly.
“Chibiusa-chan!” Jupiter shouted.
“Stop!” Venus shouted.
“Kiddo!” Knight yelled.
“Die!!!”
A tremendous bolt of dark energy crashed down from above, aimed directly at Sailor Moon.
Her eyes widened as the bolt struck.
Tuxedo Kamen screamed as the dark energy coursed through his body. Sailor Moon and Black Lady both stared, utterly astonished, as he threw his body in the bolt’s path, taking the full force of the attack in Sailor Moon’s stead.
“Mamo-chan!” Sailor Moon called out as he fell to his knees and collapsed into her arms. “Mamo-chan! Hang on!”
Black Lady stared, completely flabbergasted at Tuxedo Kamen’s actions. “Impossible…,” she breathed as her arm lowered and she slowly backed away, all the while staring in disbelief. “How could he? To sacrifice himself for another?”
“You’re wrong!”
She turned toward Sailor Mars. “What?”
“She’s someone special.”
“That’s right,” Mercury asserted. “A very important friend.”
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
“You’re also a very important friend to us!” Venus insisted.
“We care very deeply about you, Chibiusa-chan!” Jupiter added firmly.
“And we would risk our lives to protect you,” Knight stated solemnly.
“An important friend…?”
“That’s right,” Sailor Moon confirmed. “An important friend that we can’t do without.”
“And you’re loved more than anybody else,” Tuxedo Kamen said, his voice strained from enduring Black Lady’s attack.
“Chibiusa-chan.”
“Kiddo.”
Each Sailor Scout called out to her in hopes of finally reaching her. She clutched her head in her hands as the dark control started to waver.
“Black Lady, do not listen to such folly. All truth lies in Darkness.”
The voice cut through all her confusion like a sharp knife. His voice.
Wiseman.
“Black Lady, receive this. I will send forth the powers of the Black Crystal.”
A column of Dark Power plummeted down from the center of the black vortex above and struck just behind Black Lady.
“That’s right. I will not be fooled.”
“Chibiusa, do not be influenced by evil,” Tuxedo Kamen shouted.
She ignored him. “Soon, this world will fall into darkness. Anyone who gets in my way will not live!” To fit actions to words, she lashed out with a burst of dark energy like a gust of wind. The Scouts braced themselves and threw their arms over their faces. Tuxedo Kamen shielded Sailor Moon with his body and cape.
You two will have great ordeals ahead. King Endymion’s words returned to Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen as they gathered their strength. To win through them, your love must also have strength. If the two of you do not keep a strong bond between you, there will be no chance of you defeating the enemy.
Tuxedo Kamen’s hand closed around Sailor Moon’s.
“I’ll fill this whole world in darkness!” Black Lady declared, laughing.
“I’m going to save Chibiusa,” said determinedly. “I absolutely will.”
“Sailor Moon, we must win through this ordeal with our strength,” Tuxedo Kamen said with equal determination.
“Mamo-chan….”
As one, the two stood up together, their hands still clasped together.
“Chibiusa, we are going to save you!” Sailor Moon vowed. “I’ll disperse the evil energy that has possessed you!” She stepped away from Tuxedo Kamen and held her hands around her transformation brooch. The top opened and disappeared, revealing the Silver Crystal underneath.
“I won’t lose against the Silver Crystal’s power!” Black Lady sneered as she redoubled her black wind attack.
“Moon crystal power!”
A globe of white light emanated from the Silver Crystal that she now held in her hands overhead and quickly began to grow. As the globe drew closer to Black Lady, it slowed down its approach as it fought against the pressure of the dark energy.
“What?” she gasped as the light from the globe of Silver Crystal energy intensified until it threatened to blind her.
Back in the 30th century, the crystal around the dormant queen of Crystal Tokyo began to glow with a white light….
When Black Lady lowered her arms, she started at seeing Neo-Queen Serenity hovering before her.
“That’s…,” Venus gasped. “Sailor Moon has become Neo-Queen Serenity!”
“What…?” Black Lady murmured as she stared at her.
Neo-Queen Serenity opened her eyes and turned her gaze toward Black Lady. “Small Lady, you must remember your childhood.” The crescent moon symbol on her forehead began to flicker until the black, inverted symbol on Black Lady’s forehead began to flicker as well. She clutched her head once again as images began to flood in….
Her memory of her parents standing coldly before her after she slipped and fell, refusing to help her up, replayed in her mind.
“Don’t cry.”
“Mama, I hate you! Papa, please pick me up!”
“Stand up yourself.”
“Do you know why we did not help you that time?
“We wanted you to learn to stand on your own. That’s what all parents want for their children.”
“Papa and mama were….”
Black Lady lowered her hands from her head and stared at the queen and Tuxedo Kamen, who was just standing up.
“My love-starved child, do not listen to their sweet talk,” Wiseman’s voice warned just before the column of Dark Power expanded outward faster than anyone could react, engulfing Black Lady, Tuxedo Kamen, and Neo-Queen Serenity.
“Usagi-chan!” Jupiter and Venus shouted.
“Mamoru-san!” Mercury, Mars and Knight shouted.
The Scouts were cut off with no way to help their friends. The rest was up to Tuxedo Kamen and Neo-Queen Serenity.
“Don’t trust anyone,” Wiseman warned fiercely. “Humans are born alone and die alone. This whole world is nothing but loneliness and darkness.”
Black Lady gazed overhead at the single point of light glimmering overhead. “One is born alone and dies alone…,” she murmured in dull monotone.
The images of her parents once again faded from her mind.
Papa! Mama! Please don’t leave me!
The light glimmered again. “You were always on your own.”
“Yes, I was always on my own.”
“That is an illusion!” Neo-Queen Serenity shouted.
“Don’t be deceived!” Tuxedo Kamen yelled.
“I was always alone,” Black Lady said coldly. Her eyes began to flicker with an inhuman red glow. “Always alone!” She flung bolts of black lightning at Tuxedo Kamen and Neo-Queen Serenity, making their scream out in pain. “Always alone!”
“Small Lady, you must leave this place!” the queen cried out through her pain. “This place is dangerous! Not only will you be emotionally harmed, but you will also be killed!”
She refused to let up. “If you stay here, you will die, too. Hurry, leave this place.”
“My life doesn’t matter,” she replied earnestly. “As long as you are safe, I’m content.” Black Lady stared at her, unconvinced.
“Small Lady, all people experience hardship and sadness. They may even want to die because of it. Even so, they must overcome it and live on.
“You know the warmth of people’s hearts. Try to remember it!”
The light from the Silver Crystal began to grow again, enveloping Black Lady. More images began to flood into her mind.
Having ice cream with Ami.…
Performing jazz dance with Rei.…
“All the fun times you’ve had with everyone….”
Receiving one of Makoto’s delicious lunches.…
Acting as an assistant nurse for Minako.…
“All those wonderful memories you have….”
Learning how to play a wooden reed flute that Ryoku made for her.…
Riding piggyback on Mamoru’s shoulders.…
Watching Usagi try to make curry.…
“Those can’t all have been an illusion!”
“Chibiusa.”
Chibiusa turned around to se Usagi smiling at her.
“You’re not alone.”
The brief image of Usagi turned back into Neo-Queen Serenity. Black Lady floated down toward Tuxedo Kamen and Neo-Queen Serenity, her arms cautiously stretched out in front of her, reaching out tentatively. As the distance between them closed, the queen gently took her hands in her own.
“It’s warm…,” she realized.
“What you are feeling now is the warmth of love,” the queen told her.
“Why do you care what happens to me?” she asked, still unsure.
“Because I love you, Chibiusa.” Tuxedo Kamen nodded silently, quietly echoing everything she said.
Her eyes closed. “You all love me?” she said as she hugged Neo-Queen Serenity, while Tuxedo Kamen hugged them both.
Outside, the column of dark energy narrowed rapidly, then extinguished, leaving only Neo-Queen Serenity, Tuxedo Kamen, and Chibiusa enveloped in a bubble of white light. Chibiusa looked as though she was peacefully asleep in the queen’s arms as the three slowly descended to the ground. Before settling to the ground, Neo-Queen Serenity reverted back into Sailor Moon once again.
“Chibiusa-chan!” Mars called out happily.
“She’s back to normal!” Mercury observed.
“Welcome back, kiddo,” Knight said with a fond half-smile.
“You did it!” Jupiter said warmly.
“Thank goodness,” Venus said with great relief.
“Chibiusa,” Sailor Moon said as she held her worriedly in her arms. The young girl hadn’t awakened yet, even after she lightly shook her after landing. “Chibiusa!” She shook her again, growing more concerned. All of the Scouts and Tuxedo Kamen gathered around them, watching and waiting for Chibiusa to open her eyes again. “Hang on, Chibiusa!”
Finally, Chibiusa opened her eyes. “Sailor Moon…,” she called out weakly as her eyes began to focus. She turned her head to look at the others. “Everyone, thank you. Now I know I’m not alone. You’re all with me. When I realized that, I felt so warm.”
“Neo-Queen Serenity thinks of you more than anyone else,” Sailor Moon told her.
“Yes,” Chibiusa nodded.
“I’m so glad…,” she said and fainted. Tuxedo Kamen quickly reached out and caught her.
“Sailor Moon!” all the Scouts shouted at once.
“Are you all right?” Tuxedo Kamen asked.
“Yes…,” she answered tiredly.
“Sailor Moon, it’s because you used the Silver Crystal too much…,” Chibiusa began.
“Don’t worry,” Sailor Moon replied reassuringly.
The altar-like platform suddenly began to shake hard. The Scouts tensed, watching for danger as more black lightning roared through the air and crashed down upon the surrounding pillars once again.
“This…,” Tuxedo Kamen said as his gaze searched the sky above them.
“Even though I have lost Black Lady, the Black Gate has already opened,” Wiseman announced as he appeared overhead.
“What?”
“Wiseman!” Knight growled as he and Tuxedo Kamen both whirled toward the hovering menace.
“Soon, the great energy from the Black Crystal shall arrive,” Wiseman proclaimed. “At that moment, the Earth will shatter.” He laughed eagerly. “This world will be destroyed.”
“The Earth will be destroyed?” Mars repeated disbelievingly.
Wiseman laughed as he raised his crystal ball, gathering all the Dark Power stored in the six pillars surrounding the altar-like platform. “You shall all die along with the rest of the world!” he bellowed as he flung down several bolts of Dark Power at the group. Everyone screamed in pain as the dark lightning bolts continuously rained down upon them.
More and more streaks of dark lightning filled the air, slamming down around the base of the mammoth black spire sitting in the middle of Azabu Juuban. The number of lightning flashes continued in frequency and intensity until they coalesced into a column of light surrounding the spire. The darkness was so intense that it seemed to take in the darkness of its surroundings, drinking in the shadows and the night until the buildings were bathed in a faux light. The anti-shadow spread gradually from the spire, winding its way outward slowly, but steadily.
“That’s…,” Luna breathed.
“The Black Gate has opened!” Artemis exclaimed fearfully.
“Everyone….”
Wiseman continued his relentless dark lightning storm as he laughed maliciously.
“If this continues, the Earth will be in ruins,” Tuxedo Kamen said, his voice strained.
“Wiseman will have killed us way before then,” Knight seethed as he struggled to push himself up. “We can’t let that happen!”
“I won’t let that happen.”
Everyone turned to look at Sailor Moon. Her eyes were closed and her expression was suddenly calm and serene, as if Wiseman’s dark assault wasn’t even happening. The Silver Crystal on her brooch flashed as it sent out a pulse of energy, dispelling Wiseman’s dark energy attack. Everyone else went limp from the strain of enduring the attack, while Sailor Moon remained upright.
“I won’t let that happen!”
“What?!?”
Sailor Moon stood. “I don’t want to lose this beautiful planet and all of my friends.” She strode forward, past Tuxedo Kamen, past Chibiusa, past the Scouts. “Let all the memories this Earth holds disappear? Let all the people here die?
“I won’t allow it!”
Sailor Moon reached up and removed the Silver Crystal from her brooch and held it in both hands in front of her.
“You’re already drained!” Mercury warned. “Don’t use the Silver Crystal!”
“Usagi!” Mars shouted.
“Please stop!” Tuxedo Kamen pleaded.
“Usagi-chan!” Jupiter called out.
“Don’t!” Venus yelled.
“Please! Rethink what you are about to do!” Knight cautioned.
“I will not be defeated by the Silver Crystal’s power!” Wiseman sneered as he raised his crystal ball once again. Another huge column of Dark Power plummeted down from the center of the black cloud – similar to the one that had appeared behind Black Lady – and struck Sailor Moon.
However, mere moments after the column of Dark Power struck, it was quickly dispelled as Neo-Queen Serenity once again appeared in place of Sailor Moon.
A tense stillness passed over everyone present for a brief, endless moment.
Then she opened her eyes.
The two opponents raised their crystals heavenward, summoning their energy. A maelstrom of Dark Power hammered at the shield that Neo-Queen Serenity threw up to protect herself and the others behind her. The extreme force of the assault almost overwhelmed her, but she managed to rally her energy and push back with equal force.
“Now that the Black Gate has opened, the Silver Crystal is powerless,” Wiseman said derisively as his assault grew stronger, pushing her back once again. She strained against the force of the attack, but managed to hold up her defenses.
“Usagi-chan!”
“Usagi!”
“Usako!”
Chibiusa watched from her vantage point near Tuxedo Kamen as Neo-Queen Serenity just barely held Wiseman at bay. And as she watched, her guilty fear began to rise up again.
“It’s my fault!” She turned and threw her arms around Tuxedo Kamen and wretchedly buried her face into his chest. “It was all because of me!”
“Chibiusa….”
“It’s my fault everyone…. Usagi….” A tear slowly rolled down her cheek and fell into her hands.
And formed into the Silver Crystal.
Chibiusa stared at the glowing crystal in her hands, utterly stupefied. “This….”
The memory of the Silver Crystal’s disappearance replayed in her mind.
That time.… The Silver Crystal went into me!
Everything became clear. Now she knew what had to be done.
“Chibiusa,” Tuxedo Kamen said as she stood up with the second Silver Crystal in her hands.
She turned back and smiled. “Mamo-chan, I’m going to protect everyone with this Silver Crystal.”
“Chibiusa, if you use that Silver Crystal…,” he warned.
“You all risked your lives to protect me many times,” she told him.
“Chibiusa….”
She smiled and nodded at him, then turned back toward the battle.
“You’re right,” he agreed as he stood up. “We won’t give up.”
“Now everyone must gather their strength and fight as one,” Knight agreed as he stood up as well.
“Yes, we won’t lose!” Mercury stood up.
“For the sake of this beautiful Earth!” Mars stood up.
“For the sake of the people who live here!” Jupiter stood up.
“For the sake of everyone’s future!” Venus stood up.
“What a useless effort,” Wiseman jeered as he increased the intensity of his attack. Neo-Queen Serenity strained even harder, but was beginning to show signs that she was about to falter.
Behind her, everyone gathered their powers in preparation to aid their queen.
Please, Silver Crystal, Chibiusa prayed, give me the strength to protect everyone! Her clothes slowly faded away, to be replaced by a smaller replica of Neo-Queen Serenity’s regal gown. The golden symbol of the Moon Kingdom appeared on her forehead once again as her own Silver Crystal shined overhead.
“What?!?” Wiseman exclaimed, finally noticing the others. “Two Silver Crystals?!?”
Neo-Queen Serenity’s eyes widened as she glanced over her shoulder. Yes, Chibiusa also had a Silver Crystal. “Chibiusa!” she called out, scared over what might happen should she try to use it.
“The power to protect everyone!” Chibiusa intoned as she opened her eyes and threw her own power against Wiseman’s.
“Mercury star power!”
“Mars star power!”
“Jupiter star power!”
“Venus star power!”
“Knight star sword power!”
The five Scouts also threw their combined power against Wiseman. The gems on their tiaras and necklace all shone with their own light as their power combined with that of the two Silver Crystals.
“Moon crystal power!” both Neo-Queen Serenity and Chibiusa shouted together, sending forth their combined final stroke against Wiseman. The two rose up into the air as blue, red, green, orange, and silver light all converged into the space between the two crystals.
“I will not be defeated by the Silver Crystal!” Wiseman asserted as he threw all the power he could gather at them. But, it wasn’t enough. A sphere of white light grew rapidly from the two Silver Crystals, heading straight for Wiseman.
“Force of Evil…,” Neo-Queen Serenity intoned regally.
“…begone from this place!” Chibiusa finished.
“My Black Gate!” Wiseman roared as the dark cloud overhead was forcefully dispersed. The light from the Silver Crystals impacted with his body, causing it to crumble away and disintegrate. “How can it be… that I, the Death Phantom… have been destroyed….” The light descended upon the altar-like platform, breaking it up as well.
From their vantage point on a rooftop several kilometers away, Luna and Artemis watched as the huge spire of Black Crystal began to crumble and fade away. The portentous anti-shadow that had spread from the Black Gate was now retreating. The Dark Power that was drawn through the open Black Gate had been banished. The evil, swirling cloud overhead had completely dispersed in time to welcome the morning sunrise.
“The Dark Power of the Black Crystal has disappeared!” Artemis exclaimed excitedly. “Both the Earth and Nemesis have been saved.”
“Thank goodness!” Luna breathed and shared a smile with Artemis.
It was finally over.
Sailor Moon and Chibiusa found themselves floating in the middle of a sea of light, similar to the light they used to banish Wiseman and the Black Gate. Nothing else seemed to exist except for them and the light, not even the others. Just them.
“Are we dead?” Sailor Moon asked. Her voice seemed to echo, as if they were in a large, empty room. “But, we saved everyone, so I guess it’s okay, right Chibiusa?”
“Yes.”
“You are not dead.”
They opened their eyes, but they could not find the source of the voice. However, they knew who was speaking.
“The power of the two Silver Crystals and your wish to save everyone has brought forth a miracle.”
“Mama….”
“Now, everyone is waiting for you,” Neo-Queen Serenity’s voice told them. “Go home.”
The light faded….
“Usako! Usako!!”
“Kiddo! Wake up, damn it!! Wake up!!!”
The Scouts were all gathered around the motionless bodies of Sailor Moon and Chibiusa. The altar-like platform they had stood upon had been completely devastated by the combined power of the two Silver Crystals, but enough had remained for them to stand upon.
Tuxedo Kamen was close to tears as he held his beloved, but Knight was almost the opposite. He was growing more and more frustrated and angry as he cradled Chibiusa in his arms.
“Usako….”
“Damn it…. Kiddo….”
Slowly, Sailor Moon’s eyes fluttered open. “Mamo-chan….”
Tuxedo Kamen’s expression softened immediately. “Thank goodness.”
She turned toward the others who were also watching her with great relief. “Everyone….” Her gaze then fell on Chibiusa, who was still motionless in Knight’s arms. “Oh! Chibiusa!”
Knight glanced down at Chibiusa and was about to shake his head and set her down, but noticed that her eyes were beginning to flutter as well. “Kiddo?”
Her eyes opened and settled on Knight. “Ryo-oniichan….” He half-smiled and nodded silently, his eyes full of relief. She turned her head and glanced around at the others. “Everyone….”
Sailor Moon held out her arms toward Chibiusa and held her as Knight handed her over. “Thank goodness! Chibiusa!”
She embraced the young pink-haired girl as the remnant of the platform slowly descended back down to Earth.