"Hotaru. . .will you marry me?"
"Oh, Mark. . .Hotaru felt tears escape each eye to fall down her face. "Of course I will!" Hotaru brought her face down to Mark's upturned lips to give him a deep, heartfelt kiss. As she pulled away she heard him mutter something and strained her ears to hear what he was saying.
"I will always love you, Hotaru. Hotaru. . .Hotaru. . ."
Suddenly everything began to shake, as if she were in an earthquake.
"Hotaru! Hotaru! Wake up, Hotaru!"
Everything began to blur. . .
"Hotaru! C'mon! Wake UP!"
"Wha. . .?" Hotaru's eyes blinked open and she looked around in confusion to regain her bearings. Oh, yes. She was back in Mako-chan's villa. And there was a very tired Mako-chan, desperately trying to wake her up. "What is it, Makoto? What's going on?"
"There was another assault on the palace. They almost got through and Serenity put up a shield around the throne room to keep us alive." Hotaru listened avidly to Mako-chan's explanation but she began to notice the world around her. The sky was still dark, but it had an ominous orange tint to it, as if the city were aflame. And what was that wailing? Sirens. . .? "All of us except Endymion and Serenity were down, by that point. The shield repelled the oily creatures, but it had an unexpected consequence--the creature went out from the palace and ravaged the surrounding city." Mako-chan looked away. "I'm relieved to see you safe. After what I've seen in other houses. . ." Hotaru struggled out of the bed as Makoto continued her story. "When we woke up the creatures were gone. From what we could gather, whoever sent them pulled them out after a few minutes, but by then it was already too late. The city was-" Mako-chan stopped with a strange choking sound and gestured toward the window. Hotaru was finally standing, and she quickly padded over to place her hands on the cool sill and lean out. She gasped in horror at what she saw.
The gate and the fence surrounding Makoto's property had kept it safe. The creatures must have gone after easier prey. Houses and mansions near her were damaged, windows and doors broken and gouged, and one house actually had part of a wall torn out. Hotaru brought her hand to her mouth in horror as she saw the limp shapes of bodies in a few places.
"All--" Hotaru's voice came out as a squeak. She cleared her throat and began again. "All of this happened in a few minutes?"
"Yes." Mako-chan had walked up behind her to gaze sadly down on the wreckage of Crystal Tokyo. "It appears as if the fires were started by desperate people trying to keep the creatures away." She shook her head. "It appears to have saved some people from the monsters, but the fires are much more dangerous right now. We can't seem to get a handle on them. Mercury's out there now, trying to use her powers to help. I don't know how she's doing it. I'm just so exhausted." Hotaru heard Makoto give a strangely weak gasp, and whirled to catch her as her knees collapsed. Hotaru gritted her teeth and tried desperately to keep Makoto from falling to the hard floor--she was just so tall. It made her horribly heavy. Hotaru struggled to bring Mako-chan to her bed. Makoto seemed to wake up enough to put her feet back under herself and help Hotaru pull her toward the bed, then she collapsed into it with a sigh. Hotaru pulled the covers over her as best she could and held up her transformation pen. It definitely sounded as if they could use Sailor Saturn's help. Everyone else must be exhausted! As Hotaru transformed she felt a bit of guilt overcome her. She'd spent a wonderful evening with Mark and slept like a baby while the senshi and the Royal Family had been desperately fighting for their lives!
As she was stepping out of the room Mako-chan grunted and tried to make herself sit up. Saturn turned to her and gently pushed her back down. "Shh. . .you were already hurt before tonight. You won't do anyone any good if you collapse again. Rest, then maybe you'll feel well enough to help out tomorrow."
"But. . ." Mako struggled for a moment more, "Usagi--iie, Queen Serenity--she needs me!" Saturn felt a twinge of worry even as she smiled at Mako-chan's loyalty to Serenity.
"I'll watch out for our queen, Mako-chan. I just have one question." Makoto collapsed back to the bed at Saturn's reassurance, but waited for Saturn's query. "You said everyone but Endymion and Serenity were unconscious. How--how's Usagi?"
"The Small Lady's all right. She's as tired as the rest of us, but from what I heard, she was the last to fall. When she went down Serenity was forced to raise the shield." Makoto's voice trailed off and her head turned as her eyes closed. For a second Hotaru was worried, then she heard a small snore escape Makoto's mouth, and she smiled gently and loped out of the room. She was careful not to be seen on her way out of the fenced-in grounds and ran to the palace. If Mercury was out fighting the fires, only Venus and Uranus were left to guard the Moon family. She should get there in case this powerful new enemy tried anything else tonight, while they were weak. She burst into the palace with a sense of relief that dissipated as she found red stains scattered throughout the corridors. The halls were silent--nothing echoed down their marble-sheathed lengths--and Saturn began to feel very worried indeed. She'd stopped running once she'd reached the palace, but now her discomfort made her pick up the pace again, even though she was already winded. There weren't guards posted at the entrances, and the usual traffic of servants and officials, busy even in the dark hours of the night, was non-existent. She swallowed. Mako-chan had said the shield Serenity-sama had erected had only protected the throne room. Did that mean. . .? Saturn choked back a worried cry and began to run in earnest again, gulping in what air she could as the hard heels of her boots pounded down the cold stone corridors of the palace. Surely not. . .surely. . .they couldn't have. . .
Saturn was still running full tilt toward the throne room when she heard an ominous shout.
"Stop! Stop right there, or I'll blast you out of existence right there!" Uranus. Saturn tried to skid to a halt in time, but Uranus' nerves must have been stretched way too tight by the horrible events of the night. "World Shaking!" The golden orb of energy came rushing toward Saturn.
"Shit!" Saturn jumped as high as she could to escape the attack and found time to send a brief, thankful prayer to whatever god might be listening that the hallways in the palace were tall enough for her to escape the explosion that followed the orb's collision with the floor. The blast pushed Saturn's balance off enough that she landed on the cracked and pitted floor in an undignified sprawl, though. She slowly began to pick herself up off the floor with a wince. Despite the tough night, Uranus' attack was as strong as ever. She looked up with surprise as a gloved hand was held out to her with an offer of help.
"Sorry about that, Saturn. Are you okay?" Saturn nodded and Uranus hurried with her explanation. "There's been another attack on the palace and I just couldn't let anybody through. I didn't know who you were and you were coming too fast for me to take a chance."
Saturn waved off her apology and took a few breaths to calm down. "Makoto stopped by to get me. I left her there--she was barely able to remain conscious. She had enough time to give the bare bones of what happened." Saturn cleared her throat. "I noticed that the halls are empty, and I saw the--the marks on the walls. . . Did those creatures. . .?" Saturn couldn't quite force the words out. Uranus looked at her sadly and nodded.
"Yes. They left everyone in locked rooms pretty much alone--they seemed to be in a hurry--but anyone in the halls, especially the guards, was found dead." Uranus began to lead Saturn back to the entrance into the throne room. "They weren't killed on the monsters' way in, so I think the creatures must have been gated in." Uranus shook her head. "We cleaned the palace up first. Serenity's taking this all very hard, and we didn't want her disturbed with such grisly sights. Outside the palace those beyond help are ignored so we can get to those that need us more quickly."
"I saw. I had to run here, through the streets. If Makoto hadn't had that formidable fence installed, I might not. . ." Saturn shuddered. "Well, I'm fine. What can I do for you?"
"Venus is with Serenity right now, trying to calm her down, but she should be out directing rescue efforts and the like, being commander of the garrison and all. I don't know where Mercury is-"
"Makoto said she was using her powers to help fight the fires."
"Hmph. It's good to know her powers are good for something. Well, I'm going to keep guarding here for awhile, so if you could free up Venus to take care of things in the city, that would help us immensely." Uranus slammed her hand into her open palm. "Damn! This is so frustrating! We can't get a handle on this guy, and he's taking us out one by one! If only we could actually fight him and stop this nonsense!" Her voice throbbed with frustration. Saturn laid a calming hand on her shoulder.
"Why don't you go get some sleep-" She held up her hand to forestall any argument from Uranus. "Makoto is sleeping right now, and I'm rested up enough to take over for you and Venus both. In a little while both Venus and Mercury will be useless with exhaustion, and if you don't get some rest, you will be too. Then where will we be if we're attacked? Get some rest. I'll wake you if there's any need." Uranus opened her mouth to protest again, then stopped and thought. Finally she sighed, nodded, and turned to go.
"You're right, Saturn. Thanks, I needed that. I wasn't really expecting to get such a speech from you, though. You seem to be changing a bit. Maturing."
Saturn pushed Uranus gently in the direction of her room. "Well, it's about time I get a backbone, isn't it? Don't worry, now. Sleep. I can tell you're barely able to walk anymore."
Saturn stood for a second, a small smile on her face at the irony of her putting Uranus to bed. Neptune's words echoed again in her head as she watched Uranus stumble off.
She made her way into the battered throne room. Serenity was collapsed in sea of frothy white satin and lace. Venus was trying to calm her tears, and Endymion simply held her in a comforting hug.
Saturn's eyes sought out Usagi. She sat a small distance apart, her eyes glazed over as she held herself in a tight hug. Venus seemed to be tired, but other than that she appeared to be in good shape. Usagi was still in her senshi uniform, but the usually bright pink of her Super Sailor Moon uniform was pale and sickly, and multiple tears and rips marred the cloth. She didn't appear to physically harmed but the shocked expression on her face cried out for comfort. Saturn hurried over to her and knelt by her side.
"Chibi Usa? Small Lady? Are you all right?"
"Huh?" Usagi blinked and her eyes slowly focused on Saturn's face. "Who. . .Ho-Hotaru?" Saturn simply nodded and Usagi clutched at her with a sob and buried her face in Saturn's uniform. "Oh, I'm so glad you're all right. When I heard what happened out in the city I was so afraid you were-you were. . ." Her sobs made it impossible for her to speak any more and she simply cried out her fears. Saturn simply held her tight, much like Endymion held Serenity, and whispered comforting nonsense into her young friend's ear. Finally Usagi calmed down a bit. Saturn gently lifted her head and began to question her.
"How are you? Makoto said you went down in that fight. Are you okay?"
Usagi nodded. "They all worked so hard to protect me. The shot that knocked Venus out was aimed at me. I tried so hard to pull my own weight, but I can't help feeling that I didn't do enough. I'm Sailor Moon! I should be able to do more!" She clenched her hands into tight, determined fists and Saturn smiled and wiped the drying tears off Usagi's resolute face.
"I'm so proud of you, Usagi." she said softly.
Usagi faced her with wide red eyes. "Why? What did I do? I failed! Mother had to use Ginzuishou!"
"I'm proud that you can face this difficult fight like you did. Now you're acting like Sailor Moon, not Chibi Moon." Saturn looked down at the ground. "I'm sorry I had to speak to you that way after our first battle, but I couldn't allow you to wallow in you fear like that. I was trying to get you to think about the fight the way you did tonight. I hope our friendship won't be ruined by that."
Usagi sniffed and the faint ghost of a smile tugged at her lips. "No. I'm sorry I treated you so mean afterward, too. Friends?" She held out a grubby hand, and Saturn took it with a smile of her own.
"Friends." She looked over her shoulder at a slightly calmer Serenity. "When did this attack start, anyway?"
Usagi was watching her mother as well. "A little after midnight. I was in a sound sleep when Mercury burst into my room while trying to hold off those creatures. I transformed and we fought our way back to the throne room so we could all stick together." Usagi shivered a bit. "It was so frightening." Saturn squeezed her shoulder in what she hoped was comforting gesture as her own thoughts whirled.
"You did well. I have to go help Venus now, Small Lady. Excuse me." She left Usagi's side and knelt down next to Venus. "Venus. Venus!" She tried to get her attention gently, but gave up after a few attempt and pulled Venus' shoulder back. "Minako!" Venus turned to face her and Saturn bit back a shocked gasp. There were dark bags of exhaustion under the senshi's eyes, but energy still danced in her eyes as she faced Saturn.
"What is it?"
"Uranus suggested that you should supervise things out in the city, since you're the garrison commander. I'll take care of things here."
Venus opened her mouth to protest, but Saturn settled her face into an obstinate expression, and Venus nodded and closed her mouth again. She slowly rose to her feet and Saturn noticed with surprise that her hair was down, not tied back with a bright red ribbon. Venus noted the direction of her gaze and gave her a lopsided smile.
"I didn't even have time to pull it back. I was forced to wake up from a very sound sleep." She turned and was about to leave when she shot a piercing look over her shoulder. "You seem to have changed, Hotaru. You're much more. . .forceful." Her eyes twinkled wickedly behind her tired mask of a face. "I like it. Take good care of her. Ja!" Venus disappeared with a flash of blonde hair, and Saturn turned to Serenity.
"I killed them! I killed them! No matter what you tell me, I caused their deaths!" Serenity was still nearly hysterical. It seemed she was quieting down because she was tiring, not because she was calming down. Saturn reached out to touch Serenity.
"Your Majesty, if you hadn't put the shield up to protect yourself and the senshi the monsters would have killed you, and then gone on to do what they did anyway. This way we're still alive to fight this monster. You did all you were able to do."
Serenity jerked her head up and looked at Saturn in surprise. Tears still ran down her face as her expression twisted with pain and self-loathing. "Who are you to tell me that? You weren't even here!"
Saturn fell back from Serenity with a gasp. She felt as if she'd been slapped. She saw Usagi bring shocked hands up to cover her mouth at her mother's words, and Endymion pulled back from his wife a bit to stare down at her with a dumfounded look on his face, but Serenity's accusation rang in her ears, deafening her to everything else. Serenity's tear-reddened eyes widened as she realized what she'd said. She slowly reached out toward Saturn. "G-gomen! Gomen! I didn't mean-"
"No, you're right. While you were busy fighting for your lives, and while the city was being ravaged, I was sleeping sound in my bed."
"I'm not right!" Serenity tried to touch her, but Saturn backed away.
"She's not." Endymion's deep voice cut through Saturn's self-pity. "She didn't mean it Saturn. She's just tired, and worried."
Serenity got to her knees and pulled Saturn down to sit by her side. "Yes. We're all tired. Saturn. . .I'm so sorry. I just feel so guilty. All those guards and servants dead." She restrained her tears and looked up at Saturn. "You walked through the city. What was it like?"
"I was staying in Mako-chan's house in the city. I walked through the noblemen's area of Crystal Tokyo, near the palace." Saturn looked down, images of destroyed homes and dead bodies flashing through her mind's eye. "It wasn't good. If Mako-chan didn't have that fence around her property, I may not have come here tonight."
Serenity's tears began flowing again at Saturn's words, but she held back her self-recriminating cries. Saturn simply looked off into the distance, staring at nothing and wondering frantically if Mark was all right. Usagi strode up to her mother with her new won determination wrapped around her like a cloak. "Don't worry, Mother. We'll stop him. We can't lose." Serenity smiled through her tears and reached out to engulf her daughter in a fervent hug.
Saturn looked past the royal family, wrapped up in their own grief and solidarity, to the tall windows that looked out on the still burning city. "We'll stop him. Or die trying."
*****