Lights of Change (Part 7) By: Minako Kou and Makoto Kou Date started: July 2, 1998 Date finished: N/A Inspirational music: "Starlights Transformation Theme," "Route Venus," "Nagareboshi he," "Ginga Isshinbun Chigai na Kata Omoi," "Mayou Naka Hotori," "Todokanu Omoi," "Ai no Megami no," "Rashiku Ikimasho," "Kaze mo Sora mo Kitto," "Golden Queen Galaxia," "Ai o Shinjiteru (Believe in Love)," "My Only Love," "It's A New Day," "Call My Name (And I'll Be There)," "Sailor Stars Song," "We Believe You," "The Power of Love(You've Got to Believe)," "I am Sailor Moon," "Sailor Team no Theme," and "Moon Revenge" Chapter 1 "What?!" What do you mean mother?! You can't be serious!" Salla yelled. Kusso was too in shock to even think much of anything other than "Grandchildren?!" "Of course I'm serious!" Mako yelled back. "I want them now, so you two are going to take a break as of this moment. No, I'm putting my foot down! Now, you two are going to follow me. Ah-ah, no questions, just come." Then she dragged them out of the room by their arms. God, I hope this works, she thought. Sailor Moon cried softly, knowing that the daughters she was now pregnant with were going to die because of her. How can I do it? How can I bring two sweet, young girls into the world, and then take them out again? Tuxedo Kamen held and rock Sailor Moon to sleep, and he wept himself. Sailor Cosmos had control of the plane and it was headed to where they were needed, but he couldn't help but wonder why she allowed this all to happen in the first place. She could have easily changed things. But they did attempt to change things, but sending Comet and Ice back to their own time. If that stupid Salla hadn't showed up it would've worked too! They would still be alive! Sailor Cosmos sat in the cockpit and worried about how the senshi were taking this. She knew it was especially hard on Mamoru and Usagi, but she didn't know if this would be a blow to the morale of senshi. I should've had better control over the New Moon Senshi. It was plain and simple as that; I failed. Ai and Ashita sat in wait. When would Aunt Mako get here?! they thought. The fidgeted and paced nervously. Suddenly, Kirei snapped her fingers. Ai and Ashita's heads snapped up. "I've got it!" The twins looked at her in askance. "My mother's going about this all wrong! We can't just push them into this, it's going to take a lot of finessing to pull this one off..." Ai spoke up. "And just what do you propose? It's a little late in the game to be changing your strategy." "Get a little closer and listen up!" Kirei seemed suddenly full of energy. "As the old cliché goes, 'the walls have ears'." "Humph!" Seiya crossed his arms and paced back and forth. He hated waiting. This little of an amount of action could really bore a person to... death! he thought. "Oh, don't be so sour! It is Mako and Yaten's kids after all. If they want to handle most of the work, it's okay. We just have to 'wait it out and help them when necessary,'" Mina quoted Mako. "Why don't we spend out energy doing something a little more fun than just pacing back and forth? We can get our money's worth out of this hotel!" Seiya looked up at her. "What are you? A nut? This is a hotel? We're being held prisoner here, and we're not paying for this little excursion from daily life." Her walked over to the bed and took her hands in his own. "I know this is really trying on us, but you can't escape into some fantasy world because you're not having a good time." "Huh. I don't know what you mean. I'm not escaping at all. I'm just trying to make the best of a worse situation, that's all. If you don't want to at least try and have fun, well, then maybe you should go wait with your daughters." Mina paused when Seiya looked away with a hurt expression. "I love you. With all my heart and soul! But if you can't make love to your own wife when you have a few hours to spare, then what's the point?" "That's all? You just want sex." Seiya looked at her and laughed. "From the tone of your voice I could have sworn you wanted to play Scrabble or something!" Mina got a shocked look on her face. She couldn't believe that her husband thought that. But suddenly, she erupted in a fit of laughter. Seiya had her pinned to the bed and was tickling her! "Stop! Don't! NO!" She cried through her laughter. "You're getting what's coming to you!" Seiya yelled. Salla stopped. "Uh...mother, why are you so intent on having grandchildren right now?" Mako looked at her daughter. "Hun, I want them now so I can see what they look like now instead of waiting years to see them!" Salla got a real confused look on her face. "Huh?" Kusso took over. "I think see means she wants to know if the kids are ugly now instead of finding out they're ugly later." "MOTHER! You don't really-" "Of course not!!" Mako shouted. "Kusso darling son-in-law, I would never think that. Now enough talk. Where's that bedroom? Oh!" Mako looked around and saw a couch. "That should be good enough, it doesn't take that long to get pregnant dear. Now to the couch you two go. Don't worry, I'll close my eyes and turn around so you're not nervous." Kusso and Salla just stared horrified at Mako. "But-" they said at the same time. Mako interrupted. "Look, it's either the couch or the floor, I think the couch will be more comfortable than the floor...I should know... so get to it you two!" Mako shoved them over to the couch. "Aunt Mako!" Ai came bursting in with Ashita and Kirei in tow. "How could you! You know you can't just force them to do this!" Mako slinked over to Ai and whispered through gritted teeth, "What are doing? This is not part of the plan!" "But you're going about this all wrong mother!" Kirei stepped in. "Huh, I thought you thought it was a good idea!" "But that was before we sat down and rethought this, Aunt Mako," Ashita spoke up. "Okay, then what's the new plan?" Mako asked. Chapter 2 Mamoru walked into he cockpit, "Are you sure you know where you are going and what you're doing with this thing?" Sailor Cosmos glanced back at him, "Of course not! You think I'm all powerful or something? No, I'm just hoping this thing knows where it's going!" "Um, Sailor Cosmos...?" Hinagiku spoke up. "Yes?!" She asked, sounding a little more than irritated. "Well, I've had this thought running around in my head since Salla was here..." "Spit it out already!" "Ooo, maybe I'll come back another time..." She started to leave. "No!" Mamoru stopped her, "We need as many sane thoughts as we can get." He glared at Cosmos. "Okay, Hina, I'm sorry," Cosmos apologized, "Go ahead." "Well, as I was saying... the New Moon Senshi answer to Salla right?" "Uh-huh." "Well," Hina continued, "I was beginning to wonder, who does Salla answer to? I mean other than Kusso. After all, Sailor Moon is our leader, but I haven't seen a New Moon Senshi Moon, have you?" "No of course not!" Cosmos said, "Sailor Moon continues to lead the New Moon Senshi. The Inner Senshi all stepped down to give the kids a chance, but Moon had to remain..." "That means..." Mamoru started. "That Salla has to listen to Usagi!" Hina finished. "Omigod!" Sailor Cosmos flipped out. "I should have known! She doesn't have to answer to me because I'm not a planetary Senshi, but because Sailor Moon never knew her power over Salla, she was able to do whatever she wanted!" "Uh-huh, uh-huh..." Mako listened. Kusso and Salla gave each other weird looks as the four women conversed. "Okay, I understand," Mako shook her head. She walked over to Kusso and Salla and apologized, as much as she hated to do it, for her behavior. Ai asked the pair to follow them. As the were leaving the throne room a guard moved to intercept them, but Kusso just waved him off. I can't believe this is working! Ai thought. The girls led them back to their own room, where everything was dimly lit with candles. A table sat in the middle with a rose, another candle and two place settings. Everybody but Mako dressed up as waiters or waitresses. Mako was of course the chef. Mako slinked over to Yaten and giggled, "I have to admit, I never thought I'd see ya like this!" she whispered, "Maybe we should take these outfits and have fun with them one night." Yaten turned bright red. Mina and Seiya walked up to Kusso and Salla. "Tonight," Mina started, "Your servers will be myself, Seiya, Taiki and Tenshi. Acting as your buss boys will be Ai, Ashita, and Kirei. And Chef Mako will be preparing your fabulous feast." Seiya spoke next, "What can we get you to drink? Would you like to start with appetizers?" Once again Kusso and Salla were taken off guard. "Well, um," Kusso fumbled, "May we see menus?" "Oh!" Mina jumped, "Well, actually there's no need. We can make whatever you want! So just tell us what you feel like and we'll get it for you." "Well okay," Kusso jumped into his role, "we'd like a bottle of your finest white wine. Boiled shrimp for an appetizer and King crab for the main course. We'll deal with dessert and after dinner drinks at that time." "Yes sir." Seiya said. He and Mina went to the kitchen of the palace, where Mako was set up to go. They told her the order, then took back a bottle of wine. Before they entered the room Mina injected something through the cork of the bottle. Mina pulled out the glasses and Seiya opened the bottle. They let Kusso taste of the wine to see if he approved, he nodded and they poured both glasses. Just then Taiki and Tenshi walked in carrying the plates of pink boiled shrimp. The four left the room, while the three girls remain to clean any mess. As they were walking down the hall Mina started giggling. She and Tenshi high fived and began to run back to the kitchen. When they got there Mako asked them what happened. Mina explained. "Well, I slipped a aphrodisiac into their wine, then Tenshi put a sedative in the shrimp! And because the aphrodisiac was slightly stronger and administered first, they'll only have enough time to get to the bed before they pass out!" They all started laughing. Later Mina and Mako had been alerted by their daughters that the plan worked. They began to walk back up stairs to the girls room when they were suddenly struck with a sense of déjà vu. "Mako..." "We've been here before Mina." "Maybe it's just the fact that we went through here earlier..." "I don't think so, Mina. I know where we are." "The Moon Palace." They said together. Chapter 3 "But wait a second! I thought the Moon Palace was destroyed," Kirei questioned. "It was," Mako explained, "so obviously it has ether been rebuilt, Kusso took it over in the past, or this is just a replica." "That's quite a few variables Mako," Seiya intoned. "Yes, it is. That's what we have to figure out." Tenshi finished for Mako. "Do you know what this means?!" Mina almost freaked out. "What?" Yaten asked. "This means that that void out there we were brought here to, could have been time itself! And when the girls mentioned being in the throne room, they said they noticed that Cosmos and the other senshi were trying to get here. Well, what if-" "I see where this is going Mina," Taiki cut in, "If they're trying to travel through time, but don't know how to get here... they may never get here!" "Well, we have to warn them!" Ai yelled. "I saw a way to communicate in the throne room," Kirei said and ran out. "Sailor Cosmos! Can you hear us!" Cosmos turned and saw the girls on the screen. "Where are you?" She asked. "Well, you're not going to believe this, but it's the Moon Palace." "What?!" "Well, Mako and Mina noticed that the place is just like the Moon Palace. We don't know how or why though." "What a second, back up. How are you talking to us?" Kirei explained it to her. She just slightly nodded. "It's awfully dark in that room... are you sure it's the Moon Palace? I thought it was a bright place." "Well, we've had some thoughts on that," Tenshi jumped in, "this is the New Moon Kingdom that we are dealing with here. If you were to consider the idea of the fact that the new moon comes when the side of the moon receiving sun is opposite the earth. And that this Palace could be on the dark side of the moon. In which case, we know it's the moon you need to get to Cosmos. We're not sure how, but there is probably an automatic signal that draws that plane back if you put it on automatic pilot." "Well, that would allow me to free my hands up a bit," she quipped. "The one snag is this," Mako started, "that big gray void in front of you..." "Ya..." "It's time." Chapter 4 "So what are you saying?! How am I supposed to get there??" Cosmos began throwing a fit. "Calm down!" Mina cried. "We need you to get here and help us!! We figure that as long as this place is in control of what's going on with the plane's direction, then we won't have to worry bought how to change times." "She's right," Seiya spoke up, "We've set the auto-pilot to return to here, and all you have to do is turn it on, then let things take their course. We just hope you can get here soon enough to help us with our prisoners. If not, we may have to do it ourselves." "Okay, okay. But there's something else we've figured out. Salla answers to only one person other than Kusso, and this person has more control over her than him. It's Sailor Moon, because she was the only senshi who did not relinquish her position-" "Wait a second!" Mako yelled. "I thought that one of Usako's daughters was the Neo-Sailor Moon..." "Yes, but she was technically only in training... she never had control over any of the senshi. Sailor Moon always was and always will be the leader of the senshi." "Oh that's great..." Rei's voice came sarcastically from behind Cosmos. "Shut up Rei..." Mina spoke up from behind Mako. "Anyway," Mako continued, "so what's the plan? We keep Kusso and Salla quiet and tied up until you get here? What if they wake up?" Cosmos thought for a second, "I can't help you with that one. I'll get Usagi there, but you have to deal with those two until then." "Here's the game plan," Mako said to Mina, "I want you to..." "Sailor Cosmos?" Usagi walked up to the cockpit, where Cosmos sat. "Yes Usako?" "What exactly are you wanting me to do?" Usagi looked worried. "Oh, not much... I just want you to stop Salla from harming the rest of our senshi, so they can take care of Kusso," Cosmos said off-handedly. "That sounds like a pretty tall order to me!!" Usagi cried out. Her shout brought Mamoru to her side. "Usako-chan, it will be quite easy. Don't worry. When the time comes you will know what to do." "How will I know what to do then, if I don't know what to do now? How could I possibly realize between now and then what to do?! For all we know we could be there in an hour!!" Usako began to get panicked. She began wringing her hands franticly. They stared at her for a second while she came close to tears. Suddenly all three of them were thrown violently towards the front of the cockpit. Mamoru and Usagi were slammed into Sailor Cosmos. "What the heck?!" Rei's shouts came from the cabin. The three in the cockpit managed to climb back into the cabin. All of the senshi who were not already buckled in were in the front of the room on the floor. "We seem to have crashed!" Ami explained. "Sailor Moon..." Hina began, "I do believe your time to figure things out has just been cut shorter than expected." "What?! No! This can't be happening!!" Usagi cried. "Well, it is Usako! So deal with it!" Rei shouted. "Ooo! You guys are so mean to me!! How am I supposed to deal with this now?? You expect me to just walk in there and tell Salla she can't do this???!" "Exactly!" Sailor Cosmos said. "Mako, do you really think he'll go for it? I mean... we practiced and all, but don't you think he'll think it's a trick when it happens?" "Of course he will! But we've practiced... as long as we don't go exactly by the script and we actually use the element of surprise... it'll look real! Now, you go downstairs to the thrown room and wait for your turn!" "Mako... what are you doing?" Tenshi asked. "I just figured you'd want some sleep... it's my watch now. Don't worry, nothing will happen to our little prisoners!" "Oh, I know I can trust you Mako, I'm just worried, they'll pull something." Mako opened the door and looked in the room. Kusso and Salla were tied together, with rags to prevent them from speaking, and they had absolutely no clothing on, in case they had previously been concealing weapons. Salla, her treacherous daughter, was still out from the drugs. But Kusso sat wide awake glaring malevolently at her. Mako smiled then shut the door again. "Oh, I wouldn't even worry about that," Mako said, "They won't get past me." "Okay, if you say so Mako," Tenshi before yawning, "I'm gonna go catch some sleep." When Tenshi had been gone for about an hour, Mako rose from the chair outside the room and went in. Salla was awake this time. Both lay tied up on the bed an glaring at her with pure hatred. Mako quickly walked over and began untying their feet. "What are you doing?!" Salla screamed as best she could through her rags. "Letting you go daughter dearest," She answered sarcastically. After Kusso's mouth had been uncovered he spoke, "Why?" "Because a few of us have realized you are right and we are wrong. Why fight for a lost cause if you're just going to die??" Kusso walked into the throne room and watched triumphantly as Mina's head snapped up in shock. He saw that she was talking with Sailor Cosmos over the airplane's intercom system. "How'd you get free?!" "My darling mother-in-law has set us free..." He said as he sat down in his dark and lurid throne. "Oh... I thought she didn't get the chance, and you got free yourself...this is much better." "What." "I was the one who pressured her into it. I made her see your way was better," Mina shrugged. "What." "Oh, I mean sure, we're the Sailor Senshi, and we're supposed to protect Earth and all that hubbub. But what's the point if we're going to lose anyway," She shrugged again. "If the future is not going to be as we want it, we must conform. So why not go with the winning side to at least insure that we'll get to see it?" "What." "Oh would you stop that already?! I'm serious here! We want to make sure that we and our children live, if it means that we have to turn ourselves and our kids evil, then you can sure as well bet I'm gonna do it! I'd rather live in slavery with those I love, than die free," She stamped her foot on the word free and spoke the word as if it were a curse for emphasis. "What?!" But this time the word did not come from Kusso. It came from behind her, in the direction of the door. Mina spun around, recognizing the voice as her husband's. "You heard me you fool!" Mina shouted at him, she scowled with contempt. "Would you rather die most likely without even being able to touch me again, or go to Hell and back with me, and come out on top!?" Seiya stepped back with a hurt look, as if he'd been slapped. "You don't realize what you're saying... we've just been here too long..." "No! We've been here the perfect amount of time! I'm just now realizing what I've been giving up with my Senshi life... look at all that's around you!! If we just change sides.. it can all be ours too!!" Seiya walked forward to Mina with a smile on his face. For a second she thought he was going to agree with her, but as he got in front of her his face twisted into pain. Suddenly the sound of a slap resounded through the room. Mina cradled her cheek with an evil grin. "You're not my wife!" He said with conviction. "Ah," She finally spoke, "but I am...you just never knew me! I never told that Odango Atama that you loved her. I wanted you all for myself! I told her that you hated her for being so weak against Galaxia through most of the battle, I told her you lost your love for her then!" Seiya stumbled back as if struck by an attack. He finally caught hold of the window sill. Outside the window the gray expanse of a void stretched wide. He looked out he window with hopelessness and tears in his eyes. He couldn't believe what she was saying!!! Tears suddenly filled Mina's eyes and she ran up and hugged him. She forced her face into his chest and he wrapped his arms around her. "I'm so sorry Seiya! I'm so sorry..." She whispered to him. Then she stepped back a bit and he dropped his arms, "but I have to do this..." She ran forward and pushed him out the window will all her might. He yelled out and fell through it. Mina looked out the window, then she turned back to Kusso. "See, I'm convinced of my cause," She wiped the tears out of her eyes while she spoke. "I'm not as weak as you thought. When I believe in something, anyone, anyone, who gets in my way, will be destroyed." "I have to admit this was an unexpected turn of events..." Salla said as Mina, Mako and Yaten stood in front of her. They had all bent down on one knee and sworn allegiance to her and Kusso. They remained in this position until Kusso ordered them to stand. But he only did so after placing charms on them that bound them magically, so they could not betray him. "And what about your children... the ones who are full grown? And what of Tenshi and Taiki?" Kusso asked with raised eyebrows. "We will deal with them as you see fit Master," Mako spoke with her head lowered. "It was they who drugged you Mistress." "Good," Salla gave the orders. "Go find them and tie them up. When you have them all, return with them. We will dispose of them then." Chapter 5 "Hmmm..."Salla paced before the bodies on the floor. "What shall we do with them now? Torture seems fitting... but the sooner we get them out of our hair the better." One of Kusso's henchmen walked in right then. It was a youma by any standards, with it's many arms, two reptilian heads, green wart-filled skin, and it's exact sex undeterminable, if it had any at all. It walked up to Kusso and whispered something in his ear. Kusso looked a little pleased at first, then suddenly worried. "When did you notice this?!" "I came to you, Master, as soon as it was discovered." It hissed. "What is it?!" Salla shouted. Kusso didn't answer. Rather he walked over to his screens that displayed what was on the airplane. He switched to a different view. No bodies or people could be seen. He screamed as if in pain, before switching to an outside view of the palace, that showed the plane crashed not far from the grounds. He began yelling orders before anybody could realize what had happened. Salla walked over to him and asked, then demanded to know what had happened. The youma ran out of the room and relayed his orders. "They're here! Sailor Moon and the rest of the senshi are somewhere one the premises! You!!" He pointed at Mina. "You tricked me!!" "Master!! I cannot lie to you! I'm sworn to you! I had nothing to do with them getting free of that plane!" "And what about your husband? Hmm...? Did you realize it was the first floor window you pushed him out of?!" He was practically kicking himself for not realizing that fact sooner. "No, Master! I did not!!" Kusso paced for a second then sat back on his throne. He sat there for ten minutes thinking and scaring everyone. "Okay, I believe you. After all, you are bound to me and you cannot lie to me now..." He thought some more before continuing. "But what about you dear mother-in-law?" "Master?" Mako spoke. "Did you know about this?" "Yes Master..." She hung her head. "I did." "You did...? Explain." Mako wrung her hands not wanting to reveal the truth. She knew this would happen once she was bound to him. That if the subject came up, she would not be able to lie to him. It was a good thing she instructed Cosmos not to tell her their plans. And she didn't have to volunteer information. If he didn't ask, he wouldn't know. Kusso stood in front of her when she hesitated. "I told her that if he were to go against her that she should take drastic action in order to convince you." "There's more to this than that, isn't there?" "Yes Master," Mako was compelled to continue. "It was all a ruse..." "A ruse?" "Yes Master..." Shamefully she kept talking, while Kusso paced in front of her only stopping to ask a question. "It was practiced... but Seiya didn't know what Mina was going to say to him. He knew she was going to turn, and I told him to try and stop her. I told him to go over by the window if he wanted to look convincingly hurt by her actions. I also told Mina to say whatever was necessary to hurt him, strike him to the heart, then push him out the window. She didn't and he didn't know it was the ground floor." "So he is still alive?" "I believe so, Master. He couldn't have died from such a short fall." "And," Kusso stopped again and continued, "did he help the senshi out of the plane?" "That I do not know master. It is possible though." "Find them!!" He shouted at Salla. She hurried out the door. "Now... you can no longer trick me. So the question is, how do I put you to work?" Yaten looked up hopefully. Kusso acknowledged him and gave him permission to speak. "Master, I do believe we are strong enough to defeat Sailor Moon, the three of us together. If you keep our kids tied up, and you use all your efforts to occupy the rest of the senshi..." All three went down on their knees again, lowered their heads, and raised their right hands to their chests, in a show of devotion. "...we will destroy her for you, our Master." "Sailor Moon..." Seiya spoke, with his head lowered. They were hiding together in the palace. The senshi were spread out in twos all over the place. "Yes Seiya?" She looked at him. "You know you can call me Usako..." He looked up at her, kind of shocked. Then he found his voice again. "I just wanted you to know... what Mina said to you after I left wasn't true... I did believe in you in the battle against Galaxia, and most of all I didn't think you were weak at all." "What are you talking about? Seiya... that's not what she told me! She told me... she told me you loved me." Usagi looked away quickly. Seiya looked even more shocked. Then he realized what was going on. "Mina! She just told me that to hurt me!! She wanted to get me out of the palace... that's why she apologized before she...Oh no!! Mina!! She tried to trick Kusso! If he finds out he could kill her! We have to get in there and save them!!" "Seiya," Usagi grabbed him hard by the arms, surprising him with her strength. "There is something you must realize. You remember when Salla showed up? How she hand them charmed anklets to bind people to her will?" "Yes..." he said dumbly. "Well, she got those from Kusso. The others were probably all planning on this. But he will bind them to him in some way. They will not be able to turn on him. He learned well... from Galaxia. She allowed Haruka and Michiru to turn on her. He will not make the same mistake. They are doomed to fight against us to the death, if what you say is true. We can save them only by destroying Kusso. But in order to do that, we will probably have to fight them first. We do not know how many of them tried to swear allegiance to him. It could be all, or Mina could be the only one, in any case... the ones who did not turn with her, are probably in his custody now. We'll find no help from them either. If necessary, we may have to kill them too. They wouldn't want to live under Kusso's rule for eternity if he does win..." Seiya laughed. "Since when have you been so wise?" "Oh, haven't you noticed? I always seem to wizen up and become less klutzy during these intense final battles..." And then she waved it away with her hand as if not important. I think she's possessed!! Seiya though and would have laughed had this not been so serious. Suddenly Sailor Moon got a look on her face that confused Seiya. She looked like she had figured something out, but the answer was not what she desired. "What is it Sailor Moon?" He asked with a worried look. "I just saw the future..." "What?! How could you have-" "The future is never destined... it's just predictable. The course of action of one singular person during his life is fairly cut and dry, but buy no means, unable to change. The more people you involve, and the further ahead it is, the more difficult it becomes. "Well, we sure have a heck of a lot of people," she continued, "but very little time, so once again it equals out to probability of actions...if you also factor in how many times we've all been in situations such as this, our actions will become determinable within certain bounds..." Seiya looked confused again, "...in other words... there's no way around it... the senshi will die once again." Chapter 6 Mina and Mako were walking through the palace looking for the others. Yaten was still in the throne room with Kusso, being compelled to tell all about the weaknesses of his siblings. Mina was earnestly searching a bedroom, when Mako called out to her. Mina went out into the hallway only to see Mako holding Hinagiku and Jeremy by their uniforms collars. Their feet weren't even touching the ground. "Look who I found trying to slip by." "Good work Mako. Kusso will want you to take them to him. I'll keep looking for others," Mina went into the next room. Mina walked into the kitchen and checked the pantry area. She looked around at in a few dark corners, figuring that some weren't necessary. She grabbed a piece of leftovers from lunch that sat wrapped up on the shelf. Slowly she turned to walk out of the room, but was hit with a feeling of apprehension. When Mina looked to the doorway, there Usagi stood, bigger than life, with a glare that almost frightened Mina. Mina let out a little scream and backed up. She knew she had betrayed Usagi and that she deserved to die for it... she wanted to die for it!!! She never should have listened to Mako! But even as she thought it, the charms Kusso had placed on her took over. She was filled with anger, rage, and the ability to fight her best friend... the only person she loved other than Seiya. Suddenly Mina was tackled to the ground. Somebody had jumped her from behind, and she was being tied up at the very moment. Mina howled in rage and struggled to fight. Then she saw who it was... Seiya. Mina cried out with defeat and went limp at the sight of him. She let a tear fall from her eye as she apologized once more to him for what she had done. But less than seconds later she was spitting and howling with rage again, and throwing more lies and profanities at her lover. The last thing Mina saw was Seiya raise his hand, then she heard the deafening crack that brought the silence and the black. Seiya stood over her and watched as her eyes rolled up into her head and she just fell backwards. Mako brought her captives into Kusso's throne room and tossed them roughly to the floor. Hinagiku and Jeremy fell, but looked up at Kusso, who stood before them. Yaten was standing in the shadows, off to the side, just observing. "What have you brought me, Mother?" Kusso walked over to inspect the prostrate guests. "Mina and I found them hidden in one of the unused bedrooms, Master," Mako looked down as she spoke. "Great... first she hits me with a plate, then she turns me over to the 'bad guy'..." Jeremy spat. "Oh... but you should have more respect for our dear Mako..." Kusso spoke as Jeremy sat up. All Jeremy did was sit the glare malevolently at him. Suddenly the back of Kusso hand connected with his right cheek. Hina caught Jeremy as he fell towards her. She just looked at Mako. "What should I do with them, Master?" "Take them to the room we set aside and tie them up, Mako... but do a better job than was done with myself and your daughter. If you hadn't come and let us go, we would have been gone in an hour anyway." Mako bowed her head again, "Yes, Master." When Mina awoke she wasn't quite sure what was happening. She had a tremendously pounding headache and was tied up in a dark room. Suddenly a light went on in the corner of the small dark place. Mina looked up to see Seiya, Sailor Moon, And Sailor Cosmos, looking down on her. "Well, I'm glad you brought her here," Sailor Cosmos's voice filled the cramped place, "Maybe we can get Sailor Mercury in here to analyze and see what can be done about that charm she's wearing." Mina's head began to throb even more as she felt her body being taken over again. Next thing she knew, she was struggling in her bounds to the point of ripping her skin, and shouting at the others about how they'd be caught and killed eventually. Seiya just watched her with a sad expression. Then he spoke: "Mina... why did you do this? Why did you push me out the window, and turn on all of us?" Mina just squinted at him, then turned her head to the side and looked away... she couldn't answer, but she wouldn't allow herself to say anything that might be a lie either. Sailor Cosmos watched a single tear fall from her eye before she turned back and glared once more at the group. "What do you want me to say?! That it was all a hoax, and we can go off and live happily ever after... or that I really meant every word I said, and that I don't love..." She trailed off and her voice left her as she began sobbing. "Why did you lie to me?!" Seiya started crying, "Do you still love me?" "I... I can't answer your questions..." Sailor Cosmos spoke up. "She can't answer because the charm won't allow her to say anything that might be against Kusso, but she will not allow herself to lie either... therefore, silence is all that remains." Finally Sailor Moon spoke, "Mina... my best friend. Stop crying. We know the truth, and we know what you cannot tell us. But we're here to help you. Though you may not want that help because of that stupid charm, we will eventually get you free. Hold hope in your secret heart of hearts, for to even think it would let Kusso know you have betrayed him." Seiya walked the short distance back to the opposite wall and leaned against it, still watching Mina. "What shall we do, Cosmos?" "First of all, Seiya, you must leave for a moment-" "What?!" "No! Don't argue! We must see what we can do for Mina, but it may bring her pain. Then second, we will let her go back to Kusso..." "You can't be serious!?" Seiya walked back over to face Cosmos again. "She is, Seiya," Sailor Moon spoke again, "you must go. The only way to convince Kusso that nothing is wrong is to let Mina return. If she does not come back, he will worry, if he isn't already watching us and worried as it is." "Fine, but for the record... I don't like this one bit!" "No one said you had to..." Sailor Cosmos put her arm on his shoulder and walked him out of the small room. Now three remained. Mako had just finished tying up Jeremy and Hinagiku, when Mina walked into the room. Mako looked up and saw something different in Mina's expression. "Where have you been? What happened... report now!" "I... I saw Sailor Moon and Seiya, but they got away. I couldn't capture them both on my own. Seiya hit me over the head when I had Sailor Moon, and they left while I was out." Mako walked over to Mina and felt the bump on her head. When Mako realized there was no way it could have been self-inflicted, she accepted Mina's story. "Okay then, let's go back to the throne room and check in. Then Kusso will tell us where to search next." Chapter 7 Yaten stepped out of the shadows shortly before Mina and Mako returned. He approached Kusso, who was sitting watching his monitors all over the palace, and knelt in a gesture of asking for permission to speak. "Yes?" Kusso looked up. "Master, something is up with Mina. You will probably note this when she returns, but I just wanted to inform you that I noted a disturbance in our links." "Thank you." Kusso looked back to his monitors, as Yaten walked back to his dark corner. Mina and Mako walked in a moment later and were smiling. "Master, our captives are bound well in the room," Mako spoke as she knelt with Mina. "And how did your search go, Mina?" Kusso didn't even acknowledge Mako. Mina kept looking down as she spoke, "Master, I managed to happen upon the hiding place of Sailor Moon and Seiya and Sailor Cosmos, but was unable to catch them all." Mako glanced sharply up at Mina, but Kusso spoke before she could. "And why did you not at least bring me one of them?" "Master, I tried, but either Seiya or Sailor Cosmos hit me over the head, while I held Sailor Moon. I felt she was top priority, but they all got away when I was knocked out." Mako listened to Mina speak and noticed that her story had changed some. Something was up. But if she could help it, she wasn't going to bring this to light, maybe Mina was no longer under his influence... "Thank you, you may go now, and keep searching in the west wing... I have a feeling that more senshi are hiding there, including your daughters." Mina's head started to rise at the mention of her daughters, but instead she followed Mako's lead, by bowing out of the room slowly. Mako and Mina walked to there destination, and Mako kept looking over at Mina. Something was definitely different. Mako couldn't quite put her finger on it though. If Mina was actually lying, wouldn't she know it? Mina just kept walking and looking straight forward. Occasionally she felt Mako's eyes upon her, but she did nothing, didn't even act like she had noticed. Seiya sat and looked at Cosmos and the de-henshined Sailor Moon. He sat and wondered for the longest time what they had done to Mina. They sat there and looked back at him, but gave not even a hint away. They were continuing to hide from the searches being made, but there wasn't much to do when sitting in a small room that was barely lit. Finally Seiya spoke up, "So what do we do now?" "Sit," was all Cosmos said. Usagi just looked away. Kusso sat watching his monitors, and thinking. Eventually he motioned for Yaten to come back towards him. "What exactly do you think is up with Minako?" he asked. Kusso had not noticed a disturbance, nor felt that she wasn't being truthful. Yaten thought for a moment. "Maybe they did something to her when they knocked her out. Maybe Sailor Cosmos had the ability to change her memories, so that she would not believe she was lying to you. But the initial disturbance I felt was not there when she spoke to you..." Kusso and Yaten both thought some more, before they finally switched a monitor to observe Mina's behavior. She was looking around a bedroom in much the same way she had been earlier. Suddenly though, she stopped and grabbed onto the bed, like the room was spinning. She reached up and touched her head and a little amount of blood came away on her fingers. At first Kusso was alarmed, but Yaten quieted him. "My brother must have been pretty mad at her. He hit her really hard, and right where she'd been hit once before, not too long ago." "You mean, she already had a head injury before this?" Yaten counted back a bit. "It was quite a while ago. She should have been fully healed by now." "No!" Kusso jumped up from his throne and began to pace. "What is it my Master?" "Kusso thought some more. "Damn Cosmos! She knew... she knew that was the one problem with my charms!" "Master?" Kusso's head snapped up and he explained to Yaten: "A person who is not in their right mind, or has had a major head injury within the last year, cannot be trusted when they make the oath...Sailor Cosmos figured that out, and brought back her head injury, in order to disrupt Minako's oath!" Kusso snapped his fingers. "She certainly is diabolical. We can no longer trust Minako with our missions. Bring her back immediately and we'll tie her up with our other captives." Then Kusso walked back over to his throne and sat down with the finality of his orders. Yaten turned and walked out of the room without a moment's hesitation. I'm sorry Mina, he thought though. Yaten made his way to part of the palace Mina had been last spotted in and began to search for her. First he went into the room she's last been seen and looked around for any clues. Mina's blood had dripped in a few places on the carpet, but it was hard to tell if it had been on her way in or out. He left the room and began a systematic search of all rooms in the hall. At one point he did come across Mako. "Have you seen Mina? Kusso wants to speak with her." Mako looked up and smiled at Yaten, but then suddenly frowned. "No I haven't. We split up so we could cover more ground, and planned to call to each other if we found anyone." "Are you certain she didn't leave this corridor?" "Yes, we said we'd meet up and leave together." "Thank you... continue your work." Then he turned to leave. "Yaten...?" He turned back around when Mako spoke. "Yes?" he asked shortly. "What's wrong? Why does he want to talk to her?" "Just let me know the moment you see her." Then he left. Mina found herself suddenly compelled to go into a certain room in a different part of the palace. She walked around as if in a dream, through secret passage ways and around twists and turns. If she had wanted to find her way back, she didn't know that she could have. Suddenly, she woke from the dream and stood staring at a sleeping Seiya. She began ripping and tearing at the charm, and it fell away harmlessly with a little yellow flash. She started to cry softly, then knelt down beside Seiya and wrapped her arms around him. He awoke from his light sleep with a start. When he saw her with his groggy eyes, he began to cry too. He hugged her and held onto her more tightly than ever before. Usagi and Cosmos just sat and watched all this. They had retrieved one member of their defected senshi. Chapter 8 "Well, why can't we just hit Mako and Yaten over the head as well?" Mina asked timidly. She continued to hold onto Seiya for dear life. "Because they didn't have pre-existing head injuries like you. They will not be as easy to win over. We could be looking at another Haruka and Michiru situation here," Usagi explained. "Except for one big difference," Cosmos jumped in, "They cannot turn on Kusso." All the senshi except Yaten and Mako, and the few captured senshi, were gathered in a small room. They quietly discussed what to do next. Rei spoke up loudly, "I say we go in there blasting away! Who cares who gets in the way?! When they defected they knew this would happen. Losses are necessary for a win!" Mina spoke up next, "Well, she's right about one thing, we knew this would happen. But I think she is forgetting that myself, Seiya, Taiki, Tenshi, and the Neo-Starlights cannot henshin. Kusso took that away from us. But he will surely give the ability back to Mako and Yaten." "Hmmm." Cosmos thought, and everyone was silent. "I think I know a way around that." "How?" Sailor Moon asked. "Usagi, have you noticed that you cannot stay Eternal Sailor Moon as long anymore?" "Yes I have..." Usagi thought for a second. Sailor Cosmos produced a new pendant. "Take this, and say 'Moon Galaxy Power, Make Up!'" Usagi gently took the pendant and looked it over. It was a beautiful crescent moon with jewels placed on it. She looked at the center jewel, shaped like a heart, and felt herself begin to fall into it. She was suddenly looking down on a galaxy. Out in the middle of space, she saw herself moving towards a little planet near the rim. She did not go to this planet, but rather to a satellite of that planet, that she knew to be the moon. She landed in the middle of the old moon palace, and her mother was standing before her. "Ah, so you return my darling daughter," Queen Serenity spoke. "Mother? Why am I here?" "Because Sailor Cosmos, your ultimate protector, has sent you. This new power will guide you to victory, if you use it well. Use the knowledge you have gained in the past, and act with proper accord." "But how do I do that Mother?" Usagi felt tears well in her eyes. Her mother, and her friends were counting on her, but she did not know what to do. "Do as Cosmos advises..." Then the dream faded, and Usagi was staring at the pendant again. She looked up at her senshi with tears in her eyes. They didn't know how long her journey had taken, only that she looked at the pendant and began to cry. But suddenly she felt something strange inside her take over and give her the necessary confidence. She raised the pendant high in the air and shouted: "Moon Galaxy Power, Make Up!" Everyone watched in awe, as she henshined the image of a butterfly appearing behind her. And suddenly, she stood there, in her new fuku. She was an image of confidence and regality in one. Then Cosmos gave all the senshi their new pendants. "Yaten and Mako will not have the new powers that you do. Trust in yourselves and in Sailor Moon, and victory will be ours. The universe will remain good." Then Sailor Cosmos walked around, handing out pens to all the present senshi, except for Seiya, Taiki, Ai, Ashita and Kirei. Then she gave them their instructions and spoke: "Henshin yo!" Everybody exchanged glances then nodded. "Venus Galaxy Power, Make Up!" "Mercury Galaxy Power, Make Up!" "Mars Galaxy Power, Make Up!" "Uranus Galaxy Power, Make Up!" "Pluto Galaxy Power, Make Up!" "Neo-Saturn Galaxy Power, Make Up!" The senshi stood there in fuku similar to Sailor Moon's, but in colors representing their planets. The two remaining Starlights and the Neo-Starlights stood watching in awe. The looked once more to Sailor Cosmos. "You don't happen to have anything for us, do you?" Seiya quipped. "Actually," Cosmos nodded, "I do." She then took out five pendants, similar to the old Starlight's pendants, but each one a different color. She passed them to each; Seiya received the gold, Taiki the silver, and Yaten would have gotten bronze. She handed the green to Kirei, the orange to Ai, and the blue to Ashita. Then she repeated: "Henshin yo!" "Fighter Nova Star Power, Make Up!" "Maker Nova Star Power, Make Up!" "Lover Nova Star Power, Make Up!" "Mover Nova Star Power, Make Up!" "Shaker Nova Star Power, Make Up!" When the finished transforming, all the senshi manifest were in shock. The Starlight's fuku were drastically different! They were all a golden white color, with trim the color of their pendants. Where there had once been shorts there was now something similar to bikini bottoms. Their boots looked about the same in design, but the tops of their fuku were slightly different in design. The wings were the color of their pendants, which now stood upon their breasts. And the flap in the back was lengthened into a short cape reaching to the lower part of the middle of their backs. When they saw each other, the were awe struck. Fighter looked on approvingly though. "I think Kakyuu will want the name of your tailor Cosmos," she joked. Cosmos just smiled as she herself looked at their fuku. Then she spoke again. "As Sailor Mars said... let's go in there blasting away! We'll go down fighting if we have to go down at all!" Kusso watched as the senshi transformed on his screens. Uh-huh, he thought, well two can play at that game! He called over Mako and Yaten before the senshi even finished talking. "Our battle is at hand. You two need your powers, but I'm not about to give you the old ones. We're up against new fire power here." Mako and Yaten just nodded. "Now, I want you two to take these and use them to henshin." He handed Mako a transformation pen. It was dark green, with a crescent moon at the top. It had a dark glitter to it when she turned it over in the light. To Yaten he handed a pendant similar to the new ones the Starlights possessed, but it was also a dark green color like Mako's pen. They both stood there for a moment. "Well?? What are you waiting for?!" Kusso almost yelled. "Nothing!" they said in unison. "Jupiter!...Dark Moon Galaxy Power!...Make UP!" "Healer!...Black Hole Power!...Make Up!" When they finished with their henshin, they noticed how similar but different their fuku were. Jupiter's was just like the new fuku for the rest of the senshi, but it was black instead of white... much in the way her daughter's had been. And Healer's was exactly like the new Starlight's fuku, but dark instead of light. Suddenly, Salla walked into the room. When she saw her parents, she almost screamed. Then she realized what was going on and calmed herself quickly. Then she found herself to be jealous. She strut forward and looked Kusso in the eye. "Where's mine?" He produced a pen similar to her mother's but slightly smaller and jeweled. She smiled and almost squealed with delight when she saw it. She took it from him and quickly used it to henshin. "Shadowhawk!...Dark Moon Galaxy Power! Make UP!" Then she stood there, looking like a smaller version of her mother. Kusso smiled and nodded approvingly on his wife. "Now," he spoke again. "You will receive new powers too. But I will not know them until you do. You will not know until battle. Salla, I want you to go get every prisoner we have and bring them here. They have become a liability and must be killed at once." "But why do I have to bring them back?" She whined. "Can't I just kill them and be done with it?" "No... I want to see for myself, and be sure they are dead. Healer and Jupiter, you two will remain with me, should the senshi show up early." Then Kusso stood up and tossed his flowing cloak aside. Suddenly, by the power of his own will, he was standing there in full battle armor, similar to Price Endymion's. Salla left the room to do her task. Then they heard the sounds of battle in a far off corner in the palace. It was obviously the senshi fighting Kusso's minions. "Now, we wait for the fighting to come to us..."