(Version 1.2) Author's note : This story takes place after the Ann and Alan episodes... no Chibi Usa, no outer senshi, Usagi and Mamoru are together and happy for once... everything was simple. The original characters are, of course, not mine, credit goes to Ms. Naoko Takeuchi-sama, who I thank for giving to us such a glorious world. However a lot of new characters are my own creation. The topic may sound similar to a few things you've run into before (hey... nothing is 100% original anymore ^_- ), but... it's my story. Please don't steal any of it in any way. Thanks ^_^ SailorsPathfinder : Love and Without By : MJade – fanfic@mjade.com Episode 1 : Ripped Apart "And then the five senshi dove heroically into the fray! For love and justice they fought heroically. After only a moment of heroically fighting, the enemy was heroically vanquished for only those who are good will triumph because bad guys are mean." Rei sighed. "Can you believe this crap?" The five were all at Usagi's house having a sleepover. Mako looked up from the comic book she and Usagi had been pouring over. "Believe what?" Minako slid down from Usagi's bed. "Oh you mean that new novel about us?" She giggled, "I just loved my romantic scene with, oh what was his name... Oh, yes... Rowen!" Amy lifted her eyes from the advanced Calculus book she had casually been reading over, "Wha..?" "Oh, yeah!" Rei smiled, "Oh, Rowen -" she said, and then found herself laughing immediately altered the subject. "And I never realized how many men Usagi had romanced... Woo-hoo, quite the lover!" Usagi caught the last sentence and screamed, "What!" "Oh, yes Usagi, we all know about all of your men!" Rei taunted with a smirk. "My men!?!?!" She jumped up and grabbed for the book. Rei tossed it to Minako. Minako tossed it to Mako as Usagi dove at her. Mako tossed it at Ami, and pulled Usagi off of Minako. "Usagi, you can come read it with me, I want to see this, too" Rei, Mako, and Minako yelled at Ami as Usagi scrambled over to her and gave her a hug. "Thanks, Ami-chan!" They both leaned over the book and started reading. Rei sent one last scowl in Ami's direction. She then lay down on the floor and stared at the ceiling. "I can't figure out why all of the sudden there is so much Sailor Senshi Fan stuff out there. Sure, there has always been some stuff... cheesy comics and costumes. But in the past two months, there has been this unexpected surge of merchandise..." "That's easy," Minako said as she pulled herself back onto the bed. "They miss us" "Oh, wow," said Mako as she tossed the comic book away, "does somebody have an overabundance of ego building up or what?" Minako blushed as she tried to defend herself, "Well, we all know that we have fans... So, in the past two months we haven't been that active- -" "That active? We haven't even transformed!" Rei propped herself up with her elbows. "Well, see, there you go. The world has nothing to feed their Sailor Senshi need. So... ta-da! Instant way to earn some money... just wish we could get in on it." On that note both Mako and Rei would have agreed, except for the fact that Minako kept talking... as always... "Oh, and while we're talking about transformations, I saw the cutest thing on my way here today. This little girl had a little replica of Usagi's brooch, and she was holding it up and shouting ‘Moon Crystal Power!’ It was ssooo cute. Of course it would have been much cuter had she had a wand and been yelling "Venus Power", but hey you can't win them all..." Minako heard Rei groan just before she was smacked in the face with a pillow. Her attacker laughed over her, "Good thing she didn't... look at what a ditz she would have become. Now if she had said ‘Jupiter Power’, well then she would have—" Mako was cut off as she fell foreword from the sudden impact of a pillow on her back, "—been having the same problem." Rei finished for her, "If the poor thing wanted to get anywhere she would have naturally called upon ‘Mars—’" Two pillow projectiles silenced her as an all out war began. Ami, unlike her fellow reader, noticed this and tried to stop it, but only succeeded in getting smashed with a barrage of pillows. Feeling it was the only way to avenge herself, she grabbed a weapon and bashed her way into the fight. All of this chaos lasted only seconds before they were all cut off by a rather loud scream. They all looked up alert. Usagi looked up at them. "I can't believe this! I'm the cute one!" The four looked at one another. Then at Usagi. "Um, guys what's wrooOOOOOAAAAAAGGGGHHH!!" She was cut off by her own yell as they all dove on her at once, pillows flailing. * * * They finally woke Usagi at eleven. She still yelled at them. They made her get dressed, gave her a box of Cheerio’s, and pulled her out the door, heading towards the mall. She finally woke up when she heard that word -- Mall. They had fun at the mall—they always did. As the time slowly drew near four, Usagi nonchalantly commented on what a nice day it was and how it would be fun to go to the park. They all stopped and stared at her. "Alright, Usagi. What's going on at the park? They giving out free hot dogs or something?" Mako laughed. "No! I just think it would be fun..." "Wait a minute... what time is it Ami-chan?" Rei asked, glaring, annoyed, at Usagi. Ami looked down at her watch. "Um, almost—" "Four, right?" Rei answered with certainty, eyes still holding on Usagi as the other girl began to bite her lip. "Yeah..." Ami answered slowly. "Well it just so happens that Mamoru goes on a jog around this time and most of it takes place in—" "—the Park." Mako finished as they all looked at Usagi. "Well, a walk would be nice..." she looked at her feet as they all groaned and started walking away. She looked up and ran after them, "Wait! C'mon! It'ed be fun!!!" * * * Rei shook her head in disbelief as they entered the park. How had she dragged them all here again? Usagi suddenly became alert, scanning in all directions. "Now where is he..." She quickly ran off. Rei turned to the others, "You guys want to go look at the gardens?" The other three all nodded and slowly walked towards the flowers, leaving Usagi to her search. Inside, Rei was glad they had left Usagi, she didn't want to see her all over Mamoru. She glanced at a rose, remembering a time when she would have searched the park for him... But that seemed a lifetime ago. He was a friend, now. Nothing more, nothing less... just a good friend... She sighed and walked on. * * * Usagi scanned the park once again, where was he? She had looked everywhere. She sighed, well, maybe he didn't go on a jog today-- Her thoughts ended abruptly as someone grabbed her around the waist and pulled her backwards. She yelped and struggled, then looked up and behind her... only to see Mamoru. "Hey odango atama, scare ya'?" He grinned. "Yes! That wasn't funny at all!" She tried to sound huffy, but she was too glad to see him. "Aw, I'm sorry," he said sarcastically as he spun her around to face him. He looked in her eyes for a moment before releasing her. "What brings you to the park?" she thought instantly... But said, "We thought it might be fun to come here after a long day at the mall." "We?" he asked as he took her hand and resumed walking the trail, pulling her with him. "Yeah, Minako, Mako, Rei, Ami, and I." "And exactly where are they?" "Um..." she glanced around, suddenly realizing she had totally ditched her friends... "Well... I think I heard something about the gardens, maybe... but they could be at the lake... or..." He smiled, "The gardens are on the other end of the park!" She thought fast... "Well, uh, I uh, got lost..." He looked at her, straight faced, even though there was a smile in his eyes, "But you've been to this park hundreds of times..." "Oh, well, I, um... I think I have really been studying too much, yeah... that’s it... I mean, my memory is just only so big, you know..." He laughed outright. She looked up at him, "What exactly is so funny?" He pulled her to him, "You, my dear..." and kissed her. She should have yelled at that but... aw, it could wait... * * * The couple finally met up with the girls by the lake nearly an hour and a half later. Rei immediately started in, "Well, did you have a nice walk in the park Usagi? I thought the plan was to go together, huh? What happened, you get lost or something?" They were all startled as Mamoru burst out laughing and Usagi punched him in the arm. Minako shook her head, "I don't want to know. Uh, Rei maybe you should just leave it at that." "Um, speaking of leaving," Ami started, "I need to get home..." "Me, too," said Minako. "Yeah, tomorrow is Monday, and I still need to do my homework... and study" Mako sighed, "I hate Chemistry..." Rei nodded, "So do I, but I hate English even more, all those conjugations... whomever invented that language should’ve been drug out into the street and shot. And I need to finish a report...” she trailed off. Ami turned to Usagi, "You coming Usagi?" "Um, well I... I'm gonna stay here a little while longer...You guys just go on without me." The four looked at her for a moment then collectively exchanged glances, said good-bye to both Usagi and Mamoru, and walked off in a cluster. "Are you sure they won't be mad at you?" Mamoru asked her. She opened her mouth to say no, when Rei's voice drifted towards them, "—and how dare she, all this time she blows us off and now she's gonna stay even longer—" "Um, well, ah..." He simply laughed and took her hand, pulling her back towards the trail. * * * Mamoru sighed. His life lately had been perfect. He found that his classes were easy, and he was making good marks. The Dark Kingdom seemed to be gone for good; it had been two months since Ann and Alan had happily gone on their way... so the world was safe. And Usagi loved him. He smiled; that alone was enough. He would never be alone again. He had found someone, someone whom he knew he could, and would spend the rest of his life with. They had walked around the park for hours. Now they were laying on the grass amongst the trees, staring up into the night sky, her head on his chest. Yes, everything was perfect. Almost too— "Mamo-chan?" her questioning voice brought him away from his thoughts. "Mmm?" "Do you ever wonder if it would have been better up there?" "Up there?" "During the Silver Milennium, living within the Moon Kingdom, being a Prince, if Beryl had never attacked... would we have had a better life? You know, without all of the violence, the killing, we could have lived in happiness." her voice sounded distant, her thoughts far away. He thought for a moment, "I don't know... I don’t really think about it. Why?" "I was just thinking about how it would have been, how we would have been... well, and I was just wondering what you thought... Do you remember much about that time... do you remember what I was like? Did I change? I know I'm not as courageous... or as graceful, and well... I was thinking that maybe..." He had moved out from under her and now looked into her eyes, "Usagi, what's wrong?" She looked back for a moment, as if seaching for something, then broke the gaze and sat up. "Do you love me?" He looked at her both stunned and hurt, "How could you ask that? Of course I love you, I couldn't live—" "No, do you love ME?" He was now confused on top of everything else, "Tsukino Usagi, I love you more than I believe any person could love another... How can you... I thought—" "Are you sure of that, that you are in love with me and not Princess Serenity?" Realization flooded into him... Oh Usagi... "Usagi, Prince Endymion was in love with Princess Serenity... in another time, in another place, that is over and gone, and will never return. But here... now, Chiba Mamoru is in love with Tsukino Usagi... forever" She looked relieved, "And I love you." He put his arms around her and held her. He heard her whisper, "Thank you" as she put her arms around him. * * * They were standing a few yards from her house, making sure they were out of the front window's line of sight. "Thank you for a nice evening, Mamo-chan." He kissed her goodnight and watched her walk to the door. She waved and went inside. He sighed, put his hands in his pockets and turned towards home. He smiled. * * * A crystal shattered and Usagi was screaming. He called out for her, but even he could not hear his own voice. He saw the senshi attacking --- something, and he wanted to help but all he could think of was Usagi as she screamed in pain, in agony, in - With a gasp Mamoru sat up in bed. Sweat drenched him. He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head, trying to shake off the dream. It wouldn't leave him. He put his head in his hands and tried to slow his breathing. Was it only a dream? It had to be, but... The process only took him a moment. Throwing the bedcovers aside, he clambered out of bed and hurriedly put on a pair of jeans and a T- Shirt. He grabbed his keys and ran out the door, forgetting to lock it behind him. In seconds his motorcycle was speeding towards her house. * * * Minako woke from a dreamless sleep. She wondered for a moment what had awakened her, and then she heard a motorcycle speeding past on the road. She jumped to the window just in time to catch a glimpse of it's driver. "Mamoru?" She wondered about it only for a second. Activating her communicator she shouted into it, "Mako, call Rei and I'll call Ami, then get yourself over to Usagi's house. Mamoru just sped by my house towards there, and it's a little too late to come calling." "I'm on my way" was the only reply as the communicator reverted to static. * * * As he made the last turn onto Usagi's street, Mamoru stopped the bike. His thoughts had been going through what he would do when he arrived at her house, and if his dream had been just that, a dream, he didn't want anyone, especially her parents, to be awakened late in the night by Tuxedo Mask. He left the bike parked on the side of the road and transformed as he made his way silently to her house. He crept into the yard and found her window. As far as he could see, she was sleeping soundly. He sighed, relieved... only to feel a slight electrical shock resound through his body. He cried out as he spun around, rose in hand. Sailor Jupiter stood with her hands on her hips. "Excuse us, but wouldja mind explaining what you're doing here at two am?" Tuxedo Mask sighed. "Jupiter, you don't have to shock people, the traditional tapping works nicely." He then noticed that all four senshi were there, looking at him warily. "And what are you all doing here?" "You first," Jupiter asserted. Sighing once more, Tuxedo Mask made them move away from the window and then told them of his dream. As he did, Jupiter's hands fell from her hips. "-and so i came as fast as I could, checked on her, and had the living whatever scared out of me by some psychotic girl in green." Mars started "I told you all..." she stopped as she glanced at Venus, and just smiled in satisfaction. Mercury stepped up to Tuxedo Mask. "We're sorry. Minako woke up to the sound of your motorcycle and decided that you were coming here, Mars and I thought you were going after some monster, that you had felt her pain, or heard her call for you... we can only tell if she transforms or calls us, you know. But Minako and Mako, they thought maybe there was going to be— Well... not really, I mean, they’re just really overprotective and, you know..." "I get the picture," he rubbed his eyes, "I just thought you all knew me better than that." Jupiter started, "I'm sorry, I do know you better than that. I guess I'm just really tired. And still a little wary about the whole day." "Me too. I guess that after today and you guys spending all that time—I'm sorry;" Venus said in a small voice, as her face noticably reddened even in the darkness, "and now that I'm totally embarrassed and am feeling really bad about myself... can I please leave?" Tuxedo Mask looked at both Jupiter and Venus. Both looked genuinely embarrassed and sorry. He managed a smile. "Okay, you're forgiven." Venus looked relieved and Jupiter clapped her hands, "Alright. Now, can we break this little meeting up?" she yawned, then continued, "I'm exhausted and I've got a big Chem. test tomorrow." Both Mercury and Venus stifled their own yawns as Mars went on, "Yeah, I have a report to finish still..." She trailed off as everyone looked at her, "Well I'm sure ONE of you has pulled an all-nighter before- -" she stopped suddenly as a haunted look flashed into her eyes. She gasped. Jupiter grabbed her arm. "Mars, what's wrong?" "Tuxedo Mask - did you say a crystal shattered? In your dream, you said a crystal shattered-- right, right?!?" "Yes.?..." "Um.., well did it look like that" she pointed into the sky. He spun around as the other senshi looked skyward, and all eyes met the sight of an immense crystal hovering not so far off in the sky. It cast an eerie glow as the moonlight shown through it. While they all stared, Mercury whipped out her computer and was already scanning it with her visor. "I can't get much from it other than what it appears to be, unknown substance, unknown origin... hmmm... it seems to have a void inside of it...hmmm..." she trailed off as her hands flew over the keyboard. Tuxedo Mask looked back at her, "Void? As in negative space?" Mercury didn't even pause, "Mmm, uh, yes... guys... I'm scanning a power build up, unknown energy origin..." she was cut off abruptly as Venus yelled. "It's coming straight for us!" Tuxedo Mask spun back around as the crystal fell... but it wasn't coming at them... Mercury cried "No it's not coming at us, It's going to crash into Usa—" That was all Tuxedo Mask heard as he sprinted towards her window and dove through it. Landing on the floor in a shower of glass, he got up and lunged for her bed, hearing her cry as he through himself over her. Seconds later, the crystal dove through the roof. He braced himself for pain... but none came. He dared look over his shoulder. The crystal spun slowly in the center of the room. "Tuxedo Mask?" he heard Usagi's muffled voice from beneath him. She moved to look over his shoulder and gasped. With a cry, she quickly laced her arms behind his back and pulled herself to him, squeezing her eyes shut. He continued to stare at the crystal when out of the corner of his eye he saw the senshi at the window. Jupiter's tiara was humming and she let lose a volley of electricity; "SUPREME THUNDER!!!" It wrapped around the crystal and a blinding green light shrouded the room. Suddenly, the door of Usagi’s room, amazingly still intact, flew open then as her family came into the room. Her mother instantly fainted and her father and brother stood shocked at the sight. "Usagi -" was all her father managed to say, however, before the crystal thrummed and the green light slammed double strength back into him and his son. Venus on seeing this, stood and fired; "CRESCENT BEAM!!!" The orange beam streaked towards the crystal... and did not impact. Instead, it split into infinite streams of light and surrounded the crystal. The energy bucked and twisted, and then recondensed, flowing with twice the energy as the initial blast, and flew in a horizontal line at the senshi. They were all unconscious in a heart beat. What can I do? Tuxedo Mask's mind swam with confused thoughts. Anything that hits it returns in double the force-- His train of thought jolted to a stop as Usagi moved. He looked down at her. She was looking out across her room. He saw agony in her eyes as they panned over her friend's bodies and when she saw her family... the agony turned to anger. She reached for her brooch... He grabbed her hand to stop her. "No, whenever it comes in contact with energy, it sends it right back... your transformation would kill you." "But... what can we do..." her question ended as she began to gape at the crystal. He jerked his head back around and looked up at it. An image now appeared on the largest of the crystal's many facets. A dark haired girl stared at Tuxedo Mask and Usagi. She looked strangely familiar. An eerie voice rippled from the crystal to accompany the image's movements. "It's her, after all our searching... finally... Quickly, snare her!" A suction noise filled the room as part of the crystal opened up and the void within pulled in the air. Tuxedo Mask quickly dove back over Usagi and found hand holds on the metal bars lining the bottom of her bed as the crystal began to pull on her... Shock hit him as he realized it was pulling her, not him, nor any thing else in the room, towards it. Usagi screamed and held onto him. For what seemed like forever the two held on for all their strength. From the crystal the voice could be heard again, "Interesting, he is very strong... much more courageous... Quickly pull him in, maybe if she still holds on, we'll get her too!" Tuxedo Mask understood the words a moment before the crystal began pulling him. His feet were pulled towards it and his hands, aching, gripped harder on the metal. Usagi tried to pull him down, but only came up with him. She screamed his name over and over. The voice began again, "Pull harder!" Tuxedo Mask felt himself being pulled even more towards the crystal as the bed began to come off the floor. He could think of only one way to try and save her. "Usako, let go of me!" She looked into his eyes with stunned disbelief, "Never! I love you!" He kissed her, and then, before she could stop him he had let go of the bed with one hand and had violently tore her arms from him. "I love you" he whispered, and then let go of the bed with his other hand. He heard her screaming as the reality hit him. His dream had been real, the senshi had fought. Usagi had been screaming, in pain, in agony - for him. He called out "Usagi!" but he couldn't hear his voice. He realized he was inside the crystal... the crystal that was supposed to shatter... * * * Usagi watched in horror as Tuxedo Mask was sucked into the crystal. It shimmered for a moment, then to her utter despair, it shattered across the room. There was a glow for a moment and then nothing. She looked around. Her friends and her family lay motionless on the floor. "Tuxedo Mask? ... Mamo-chan?" Silence reigned. She shook her head in disbelief. "No...". Her throat choked with a sob "MAMO-CHAN?" . . . "NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" * * * Ep. One. End (Version 1.2) Sailor Moon is ©Naoko Takeuchi But I © this to me, ©1996 MJade Productions … And I truly hope she doesn’t mind …