Sable absently twined a lock of cotton-candy pink hair around a finger. She looked at the terrified boy that was bound and gagged in a chair. He watched her with wide open eyes. A smile twitched her lips. "My, but do I have some amazing surprises in store for you, Sammy!" she gloated. "It's rather nice to be able to tell you about my wonderful plans." She cocked her head. "I was getting tired of talking to myself-some people look askance at that, you know." She twirled her finger out of the lock of hair and stood up. She strode over to Sammy and stood over him. "I think it's time we paid your dear sister, Serena, a visit, don't you think?" She knelt and picked him up off the chair. "Yes, I think it's time."
*****
Cerulean watched with interest as the two girls split up. It would be much easier to defeat them one at a time. He decided to follow the blonde-he was sure she was Sailor Moon. He rubbed his hands together in anticipation as he thought of the welcome he'd receive at home when he finally succeeded in defeating the Scouts.
*****
Rei stopped in front of Darien's apartment building. She'd never completely gotten over her crush on Darien, but he and Serena were so right for each other, she knew they belonged together, and she knew she'd never really had a chance with Darien. She walked up the stairs and knocked on his door. He opened it instantly. He looked a little haggard. "Yes, Rei? Is everything all right? I had a feeling you guys could've used a little help, but the feeling left before I could do anything about it. Is Serena all right?"
Rei nodded. "Yes, she's fine, but her family-Sable got them. She nearly fell apart. I think you should go see her-she needs someone, and since Serena and I don't always get along so great..." Rei shrugged. Darien nodded.
"Thanks for letting me know. I'll go see her right now. Is she at her house?"
"That's where she said she was heading." Rei suddenly doubled over with a gasp. Darien knelt at her side.
"What's wrong?" he asked concerned, when it suddenly hit him to.
"Oh..." he groaned. "Serena's in trouble!" Rei nodded in agreement. "Let's go!"
*****
Serena sat down on the park bench for a while, trying to keep up her own spirits. She needed to be alone for a while, and this nearly abandoned park was perfect. A shadow obscured the sun. She peered up into the face of some man she didn't know. He had an odd-looking white lock in his hair. She scooted over to the far side of the bench and didn't say anything, but he didn't move to sit down. She looked up in irritation. "Yes?" she asked. He smiled, and a faint shimmer of energy formed around him as he transformed into Cerulean. Serena gasped, and in a panic scrambled over the back of the bench. "What are you doing here?" she stammered.
"Serena!"
Serena's head jerked up. "Sammy!" she cried, and then she saw Sable behind her younger brother. Cerulean turned and saw Sable as well.
"Well, Sable, hello. So it's been you that has been taking down the Sailor Scouts one by one," Cerulean said. Serena desperately tried to think of some way to get out of this mess. She couldn't let Sammy know who she was! "Thank you. You've helped us. I'll remember that when I rule the Earth and the Negaverse," Cerulean smirked.
Sable tossed her head angrily. "I am also the one that revealed your plan to those poor helpless children."
"You! Why?"
"You abandoned me to those Scouts! I was barely able to escape with my life! I want to take you both down! The Scouts are almost gone, and now, so are you!" While the two aliens argued Serena tried to back away from them, but Sable spotted her ploy. "Stop!" she thundered, "Or you little brother is dead!" Serena froze.
"I am Sailor Mars, defender of the people of Earth in the name of the planet Mars!" Mars jumped between Serena and the aliens. "I want you to leave these people alone now, nega-trash!" Sable stepped behind Sammy, and Mars was forced to concentrate on Cerulean. "Burning Mandala!" Rings of fire singed Cerulean, but he jumped out of the way of major harm. Sable reached over Sammy's shoulder and blasted Mars to the ground. With a leap she jumped to Mars' side and knelt down. She reached out toward Mars' forehead.
"No!" Serena screamed at the top of her lungs, and she lunged toward Mars.
"Be careful, Serena!" Sammy cried, and Sable's hand fell on Mars.
A brief light flared around Sable's hand, and she stood up with a satisfied smile.
"Now for you, Serena!" she said greedily.
"I won't give in to you!" Serena cried, and backed away slowly as Sable approached.
"What can you do? Do you want your brother to know the truth about you?"
Serena looked over at Sammy, and then her determination firmed. "If I have to let him find out I will!" Her chin lifted defiantly. She lifted her brooch. "Moon Crystal Power... Make Up!" she shouted, and she looked over at her confused brother for the split-second before the transformation took over.
*****
"Be careful, Serena!" Sammy cried, and then to his horror he saw the pink haired woman do something to Sailor Mars. Now what? He and his sister were doomed. He just couldn't figure out what this person wanted with Serena.
"I won't give in to you!" Serena cried, and Sammy was astonished.
His sister, Serena, standing up to these powerful creatures? What was she thinking!?
"What can you do?" the pink haired woman-wasn't her name Sable?- shot back. "Do you want your brother to know the truth about you?" Sammy looked at Serena, wondering what this creature was talking about. Evidently there was something, because Serena looked a little frightened.
Then she got a stubborn look in her eyes. "If I have to let him find out, I will!" She reached for that brooch she always wore and held it into the air. Sammy shook his head. She was crazy if she thought that would do anything. His sister had always been weird, but not insane. "Moon Crystal Power... Make Up!" Sammy's eyes widened. That clinched it. She was nuts!
But wait! What was happening. Sammy gasped as he saw his sister float into the air a little ways. She looked at him apologetically, as if she was sorry for something, and then she became somehow translucent. His chin dropped as he watched her slowly transform into... Sailor Moon! "I don't believe it!" he mumbled, shocked.
Sable shook her head. "I can't believe she'd do it." She made as if she was rolling up her sleeves. "No matter, I can still defeat her."
Cerulean looked at Sailor Moon angrily. "You are all alone now. All of your friends have been defeated-and I can take you down alone now! I'll make you pay for ruining my plans!"
Sailor Moon-Serena!-looked past Cerulean at Sable. She pulled off her tiara and it began to glow. "Let go of my brother, Sable. Your problem's with me, so let's fight it out-alone!"
Sable smiled, and it looked like she was going to let Sammy leave. Then she laughed and said, "I have all the advantages. Why should I give them up?"
"Moon Tiara Magic!" Sailor Moon shot the tiara at her so quickly that though Sable had time to jump out of the way, but she had to leave Sammy behind. With a triumphant cry Sailor Moon ran to Sammy's side. "Are you all right? Has she hurt you at all?"
Sammy looked with wide eyes at his sister. "You're Sailor Moon? You're my sister!" Sailor Moon smiled sadly.
"I am." She grasped his hand. "C'mon, both of these aliens are too much for me to take on alone. Run!" As they ran Sailor Moon reached up and snatched her returning tiara out of the air. Sable let out an outraged shriek and ran after them. Sammy's mind raced as he tried to piece things together.
"Lita and Amy and Mina and Rei... They're the other Scouts, aren't they?" His sister's head bobbed.
"Yes, they were, but now-I don't know how much longer they can stay alive. I need you to hide." Sammy's eyes were bright with excitement, Sailor Moon's with tears of worry.
"Sure thing, Sis. Wow, my sister, a superhero!" He looked up at her, and was about to go find someplace to hide when Sable appeared in the air above them.
"How cute-a family reunion. Look at him carefully Serena! He's the last family you have left, and you won't have him for long!" She held both of her outstretched palms out. A blast left them, and Sailor Moon and Sammy gasped as it sped at them.
*****
Sailor Moon jumped in front of Sammy, hoping she could at least spare him, when something grabbed her, and dragged her out of the concussion's path. She looked up.
"Tuxedo Mask! Thank goodness. Oh! Sammy?! Where's Sammy?!" She frantically looked around. Tuxedo Mask smiled, and Sailor Moon looked. Tuxedo Mask had scooped up her little brother with his other arm, and had gotten them both out of harm's way. Sammy's eyes looked like they were permanently widened with all the shocks he'd received in the last few minutes. She looked at him. "Run away, Sammy. This is dangerous." He nodded absently, but seemed to be mesmerized by all the excitement. Sailor Moon didn't have time to make him leave, since Sable and Cerulean were already stalking toward her and Tuxedo Mask. Tuxedo Mask stood in front of her protectively. Her mind raced, but without the other Scouts, she and Tuxedo Mask didn't stand a chance. She shuddered with fear at what she was about to do, but she was determined. She closed her eyes and her hands went toward the Crystal encased in her brooch. Tuxedo Mask turned and saw what she was considering.
"No, Serena, don't!"
She looked up at him. "We can't stop them without it." She shook her head. "I don't see any way out, especially without the other Scouts." She closed her eyes and felt a swirl of energy caress her. Her blue pleated skirt stretched out down past her ankles and bleached to an ivory white froth, and her body armor became a lacy bodice. Pearls swirled around her hair and her tiara disappeared in a sweep of sparkles to reveal the golden crescent moon on her forehead. She looked over at her brother, who still hadn't left the battle scene. He was watching her with something akin to awe in his eyes. She sighed to think of how all of this would change her life. Then she turned her eyes to Sable and Cerulean.
"It won't do any good Serena-I hold the Scout's energy, and they aren't able to link up with you. Even with the Crystal, you are helpless," Sable laughed triumphantly. Serenity stopped, uncertain.
Cerulean looked at Princess Serenity with amusement, then turned to Sable. "Congratulations, Sable. I will see that you are given credit for your help in defeating the Sailor Scouts."
Sable twirled around to face him, and her eyes glowed red with rage. "And what makes you think that I would share my victory with you?!" she bellowed "I have defeated the Scouts alone, and I will defeat you as well. Then I alone will rule."
"Fight me at your peril, Sable," Cerulean warned, frightened by her anger. "Mother has given me leave to draw energy from the family. You can't compete with that."
Sable threw back her head and laughed with scorn. Suddenly she teleported over to Sammy.
"No!" Serenity began to run for Sammy, but she was too late, Sable drained him, and he dropped to the ground, unconscious. She stopped short and her throat closed around a forlorn sob that struggled to escape. She put her clenched fists to her lips to hold in her cry of pain. Tuxedo Mask walked over to her and enclosed her in his arms. She gripped the front of his coat and cried silently as she buried her face in his chest. Sable talked on to Cerulean, ignoring Serenity and Tuxedo Mask.
"You may have the family's energy, but I have the Sailor Scouts' and Serena's family. And you are running short of reserves. You have no idea how much energy these humans possess." She began to concentrate, and her whole body was suffused in an eerie pink glow. Cerulean backed off, obviously disconcerted by her display of energy. His eyes went blank and he stared off into space, and then he began to glow a pale blue.
Princess Serenity lifted her head to watch the fight, and Tuxedo Mask tenderly wiped the tears off her face. "There's hope," he whispered. "They'll weaken themselves fighting each other. We can still win." His eyes turned to the aliens as well.
"Sable seems to be stronger than Cerulean," Serenity commented as she compared the intensity of their glowing auras. Tuxedo Mask nodded.
"Don't drop your guard, Serena," he said, "Be ready to fight whoever's left when this is over." She nodded.
Sable and Cerulean seemed to throw energy around at random, and they formed shields of energy to stave off blows. Every once in a while they'd teleport out of the path of the other's attack. The noise was nearly deafening as they alternately flew and ran and teleported, and concussions shook the ground so hard that it brought Serenity and Tuxedo Mask to their knees.
"I'm surprised, Cerulean. You're actually holding up rather well," Sable remarked, slightly out of breath. "By the way, I love your new hairstyle. Life been a little stressful for you lately?" she taunted.
Cerulean's response was a particularly fierce attack, and the battle started again in earnest.
*****
One by one the Mistress' Crimson Guards dropped as Cerulean drew more and more energy. "What is that boy doing?!" the Mistress bellowed. All of the creatures in her domain were dying except children of the tree and her children. Suddenly she felt energy drain from her. "Stop, Cerulean!" she cried as she felt herself begin to die, "I trusted you!" her final cry was transmitted to her battling agent as she and all the others in her kingdom dropped dead, completely drained.
*****
Sable aimed a blast at Cerulean, and he tried to bring forth a shield. Suddenly he heard a despairing wail. "Stop, Cerulean! I trusted you!" he gasped. He'd used up the last of his reserves without realizing it. The blast hit him with its full force, and he went down. Sable managed to stay standing, but she was visibly weakened from her fight as well.
"I don't believe it," she gasped. "He drained everyone." She took a deep breath. "Ah, yes." She opened her eyes. "I must say, you Sailor Scouts have a lot of energy." She stood straight, infused with new energy drained from the Scouts.
Serenity gazed up into Tuxedo Mask's eyes, and then looked over at Sable with a glare. "We have so much energy because we understand what love is. Human love each other, and that's how we create our reserves of energy. All you can do is steal it, because you don't love. Where else do you think the Doom Tree got its energy, but from its love for you and yours for it?" Princess Serenity pushed herself upright and stood straight. She pointed an accusing finger at Sable. Her white dress stood out against the dark backdrop of the trees and forest shadow, and she looked like an avenging angel. "You will never be able to live a real life until you learn to love, and can stop causing pain and misery for others by stealing the energy of their love!"
Sable was stunned by the certainty in Serenity's voice. She thought back to the wonderful feeling she'd had when Serena had been kind to Erin, and called her a friend. She'd felt stronger then, and happier. Maybe there was something to what Serena was saying.
Cerulean had struggled back to his feet while Serenity had been talking. "Ha!" he scoffed, "That's just the sort of excuse I'd expect from weak humans. We have the power to take what you have, and that's all that counts. Might makes right. That is the ultimate truth."
Princess Serenity closed her eyes and concentrated on the Silver Crystal. She sent a desperate thought out, and used the Crystal to amplify it. "Doom Tree! Doom Tree! We need you! Please come and help us!" She kept her eyes closed for a few seconds, but she felt no response. She opened them hopelessly and looked at Tuxedo Mask. "I tried to get Ann and Alan through the Doom Tree, but I don't think they heard me. We'll have to fight this out."
Tuxedo Mask looked down at the ground in concentration and a ring of light went down his body, replacing his costume with the uniform of Prince Darien. Then he walked back up to her. "You know I'm here with you," he said. She smiled and nodded.
While they talked Cerulean was talking earnestly to Sable. "You can't believe that garbage she was spewing out, Sable. We're so much more powerful than her-what she says can't be true."
"But I've felt what friendship can do. I think she has a point..."
"Think?! Think? Don't you think that if what she said was true, you would know? The rest of the family is gone, and if we're going to have anyplace to stand in the Negaverse, we have to get rid of her!" He grasped her shoulders and shook her, and she began to agree with him. Some of her anger at being defeated resurfaced. "We'll rule a domain in the Negaverse together- all we have to do is destroy Sailor Moon."
Sable shook off the last of her doubt. "All right, I guess you're right."
Cerulean nodded, satisfied, then they both turned to face Princess Serenity.
She held out the Silver Crystal and felt Darien's supporting presence lending her his strength. She began to call forth the raging power of the Silver Crystal, and as she struggled to hold the energy within her with her will her nerves were rubbed raw with the sheer might she grasped. She could feel Cerulean's hatred of human emotion, Sable's suppressed doubt, and Darien's deep fear for her safety as she prepared to let loose the energy of the Silver Crystal in a last desperate attempt to save Earth, and her friends and family. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the battle to come...
*****
Darien was so worried for Serenity, he almost didn't want to support her in this, but he knew that their first responsibility was to save Earth. He felt the muscles in her shoulder tense as she took the power of the Silver Crystal into herself. He himself tensed with worry as the battle was about to join. An aura of bright energy formed around the crystal, and he looked over at the aliens, and they were suffused in a bright nimbus of light as well. He waited for a cataclysmic clash when-
"STOP!" a voice echoed in everyone's head, and it was so commanding it was impossible to ignore. Princess Serenity and Darien looked up.
"The Doom Tree!" Serenity gasped in relief. "Doom Tree, thank you for answering my call. Can you help?" She scanned the sky for the source of the familiar telepathic voice. A dark spot in the sky slowly grew. Cerulean turned to Sable.
"Quick!" he shouted, "We have to defeat her now, before reinforcements get here!" Sable nodded and the intense glow reappeared around their joined hands. Ann and Alan appeared between Serenity and Darien and the aliens. Sable and Cerulean sent an attack at Ann and Alan. With a negligent glance they extinguished it. Sable gasped.
"Where did you get such power?" she asked with awe. Ann and Alan didn't answer but looked up into the sky as if they were waiting for something. Serenity and Darien looked up as well. The small dark spot in the sky slowly grew until it was close enough to be distinguishable.
"Look!" Princess Serenity pointed happily. "The Doom Tree has grown! It's almost four feet tall!" She turned to Ann and Alan. "How are you doing?"
Ann and Alan smiled back at her. "We've been getting along well. Since we rediscovered love, we've grown stronger and closer." Ann smiled. Serenity did too.
"I'm glad things have worked well for you."
"AND I'M SORRY SOME MORE OF MY CHILDREN HAVE CAUSED YOU GRIEF, SAILOR MOON." The tree landed on the ground. "I WILL ATTEMPT TO SET THEM BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN TRULY WARPED, NOT JUST NEGLECTED." Sable and Cerulean went to their knees with cries of pain and clutched their heads. It seemed as if the Doom Tree was talking privately to them. Sable began to sob.
"I glimpsed some of that through Sailor Moon," she cried, "but I thought it was weakness, not strength to love someone, and depend on them like that." She was silent for a few moments, as if someone else was talking. Then she started to speak again through her tears. "I'd like to try to have a life like that-I'm willing to try for more than a glimpse." A bright smile transformed her face. "Thank you! I will!"
She stood up and walked over to Serenity. Ann and Alan looked as if they were going to stop her advance, but then their gaze became abstracted and they nodded as if at an order and let Sable pass. She stopped and looked at Princess Serenity with a hint of moisture still in her eyes. "I-I want to apologize for all the pain I put you through. I've seen your capacity for love and friendship, so I can only imagine what your suffering must have been like through all of this. I'm-I'm releasing your friends and family from the energy drain, and they should be recovered in a few days." She looked down. "I'm sorry for what I've done."
Serenity grasped her hand with a bright smile. "Thank for letting them go. And I'm glad you can see the joy in life, not just the struggle." Sable nodded and walked over to stand by Ann and Alan. Through all of this Cerulean said nothing, but watched everything that happened. As Sable walked over to Ann and Alan he cried out in rage.
"No! I won't be defeated!" With a roar he stood up, as if tearing out of bonds that held him to the ground. Sable fell to her knees with a gasp. Ann and Alan rushed over to her side. "We're still linked, and if you're not willing to use the humans' energy, then I will! Yah!" He aimed an angry blast at Tuxedo Mask, and Alan jumped up in an effort to stop the blow, but he didn't move fast enough.
"No!" Princess Serenity threw herself in front of Darien. "I won't let you hurt him too!" She spread her arms and absorbed the full impact of the blow, then she fell backwards into Darien's arms.
Darien knelt and lowered her gently to the ground. "Serena!" He brushed her bangs out of her face, and whispered to her. Cerulean stood shocked, watching.
"Why would she do that? It wouldn't have hurt her if she'd stayed out of its way! It's just like I've said, love is stupid. Without it she'd be just fine!"
Alan stood up, and his face was darkened with anger. "Isn't there anyone in your whole misbegotten life that you would save like that?" he asked, outraged.
"Of course not, unless my life depended on them. And I make sure that I depend on no one." Cerulean tossed his head. Ann looked up from where she was supporting Sable.
"Then if you have so little capacity for kindness, we will have little capacity for mercy." She began to stand up. She and Alan moved toward Cerulean threateningly, but her was riveted, watching Serenity and Darien.
"Serena, please answer!" Darien shook her desperately, and tried to remain gentle despite his desperate worry about her. "Serena!"
Her eyelashes fluttered. "Ohhhh... Darien? Are you okay?"
"How can you ask that? You're the one that got hurt! Don't ever do that! You could have been killed!" He hugged her tightly.
She smiled weakly. "How do you think I feel when you jump in front of danger for me? I'm just glad you're okay. It would have been as worse then death for me if you had been hurt." She reached up weakly to lightly touch his cheek with a finger. Cerulean trembled as he watched them.
"I wouldn't have done that for anyone," he whispered, barely audibly, "but I want-I want to feel that way about something other than myself-it's so beautiful." Ann and Alan exchanged looks.
"Let go of the energy you're stealing from the humans. The first step to understanding love is not hurting anything for your own gain," Alan urged. Cerulean looked at him.
"You'd be willing to give me a chance after everything that I've done?"
Alan nodded, and waited. Cerulean closed his eyes. "It's done. They should all recover, in a while."
Ann walked over to Serenity and Darien. "Are you all right, Serena? We can heal you, if you need it." Serenity looked up.
"No, I'll be fine. I'm already feeling better, my strength is returning." She struggled to her feet and transformed back into Serena. She swayed once or twice, the gained a firm footing before Darien-transformed back to normal as well, could hold out a steadying hand. "You guys had better get going. It looks like you have your work cut out for you with those two."
Ann smiled. "Yes, it looks like we do, but I think there's a lot of hope. But it's true, we have to get going." She reached out and clasped one of Serena's hands. "I'm glad we were able to help you." She cocked her head in a listening manner. "And the Doom Tree is glad it could repay you as well. We may meet again. If you ever need help again, just call." She walked back over to Alan, Sable, Cerulean and the Doom Tree. They all floated away in a flashing translucent bubble, and with a final wave they were gone.
Serena walked over to Mars' side and shook her. "Mars, wake up. Are you going to be okay?"
Mars' eyes were moving slightly underneath her eyelids, and her eyes cracked open. "Serena? What happened? Is everything all right?"
"Everything's fine. We're all safe now. Let's get home."
*****
"Serena?" The doctor stuck his head in the door. "Your brother just woke up. You should see him. He's over in that room." The doctor pointed to a room a little way down the hall. Serena smiled her thanks at him and walked slowly toward her brother's room. This was something she'd been dreading for a while. She walked into his room. He turned to her with a smile.
"Hey, Serena," he said quietly.
"Sammy," Serena started right off, nervous and desperate to get everything worked out before anyone else talked to him, "I know it won't be easy, but I was hoping you wouldn't tell anybody about what you saw," she started.
"What do you mean, Sis? I don't know what you're talking about. I remember something weird about this girl with pink hair, and it's all really wild, but I already told the doctors about it. They said it was probably just some odd dreams I had while I was unconscious." Sammy shrugged.
Serena shot him an uncertain look and wondered if he was trying to trick her, but he seemed to really mean it. "Oh, well, never mind, then," she said with a smile, much relieved.
*****
"I wish I could remember what made me start attacking, Serena, but for some reason I can't remember the last few hours before I was attacked. It's really odd." Lita shook her head. "I don't like this feeling."
"Everyone's saying that," Serena said, "It must be a normal side effect of whatever Sable did."
"That sounded like a tough battle. Sorry I wasn't there to help," Lita apologized.
"Everything worked out, that's what's important, I guess." Mina looked around at the rest of the Scouts.
Serena looked at Rei. "Things got pretty bad for a while, there, Rei, and you were a great friend. Thanks. I had a rough time there." She looked down and twiddled her thumbs.
Rei looked away, trying to be haughty, but she just came off as being embarrassed. "Anyone else would have done the same," she protested.
Serena smiled. "But they weren't there, and they couldn't. You did."
Rei relented and smiled sweetly at Serena. "Any friend would."
Serena widened her eyes. "You're my friend?" she asked, pretending shock.
Rei stuck out her tongue. "Well of course I'm you friend, numskull! Why else would I be so nice to you all the time?"
Serena pounded the side of her head as if she thought her ears were clogged. "Excuse me, did I hear `all the time'? Is that what I heard?"
"I'll have you know, Serena, that I am the best friend-" Rei started in heatedly.
Amy shot an amused glance at Lita and Mina. Luna looked over at Artemis.
"At least they're feeling better, right?"