This story is rated PG-13. It contains material that, while not sexual in nature, may be too intense for more sensitive readers. Caution is advised. A huge Little Rhody thanks to Masked Maiden for her beta work on this chapter. I appreciate the gift of her time, talents and her generous heart. Thanks to every one who has taken the time to write me about this story. You may be few, but your kindness is very much appreciated. You can send me comments, critiques or commitment papers at Mearari@aol.com. Standard Disclaimer: I do not claim to own Sailor Moon, or any of the attendant characters. Rest assured I’m not making a cent from their use here, although I could surely use it. “Moonfall” By Meara Chapter Three Usagi was trapped in the dream again. The creature was large, dark and serpentine. Like the snake it resembled, it struck for her loved ones as she stood by, frozen and unable to move. Her mind shouted at her hand to reach for the henshin locket, but her hand could not do it. “I’m coming for them and you can’t stop me, Usagi.” The harsh, guttural, whisper seemed to be everywhere. “It’s only a matter of time before this happens. Never relax your guard, even for a second, because I’m waiting.” She watched helpless as one by one, the Senshi suffered and died. As Mamoru’s turn came she could bear no more. Her friends looked at her with silent eyes that begged her heal them. She raised the Silver Crystal high and screamed aloud as she took their deaths into herself. Usagi felt herself shattered under the strain. Her heart was made of broken, jagged glass that cut at her. The anguish and fear were so intense, so total and encompassing that death would have been a relief. Then the voice came again and offered to stop the pain forever. “There’s only one way out, Serenity.” Usagi looked down and saw that she was wearing the white dress that signified her past as the last Princess of the Silver Millenium. “Only one way out.” Her salvation appeared before her. But it wasn’t the headlights of a car; it was something different this time. Usagi tried to see past the agony that begged for an end. Just as the promised way out came into focus she was overcome by a wave of revulsion that set her screaming. Usagi sat up in the futon with a start. She cursed softly as she grabbed at still sore ribs. “Use the breathing I taught you, Usagi.” Came Rei’s voice from behind her. Usagi dutifully huffed slowly as she let Rei’s voice fill her mind. “That’s right, slowly, slowly. Focus; clear your mind of other thoughts. Ascend the three stairs to sanctuary.” Rei came up behind her friend and placed a calming hand on Usagi’s shoulder. “Feel the cool wood beneath your feet. See the door before you.” And, surprising enough, Usagi could see it as she closed her eyes and concentrated. The door had fine, stained glass panels in the shape of a crescent moon at its center. She could actually feel the crystal glass of the doorknob as she turned it. There was bird song audible as she stepped through the door and into the refuge she’d built in her mind.” Usagi’s voice chanted in unison with Rei’s. “I am safe here. No one may enter unless I allow it. This is my sanctuary, my quiet place.” There was complete silence only for a moment before Usagi added, “But there’s nothing to eat in here and I’m hungry.” Rei gave her friend a gentle thump on the back of her head. “That’s not the way it goes.” She laughed. “You’re being way too nice to me Rei.” Said Usagi as she rolled to her feet ungracefully. “Hit me again, harder please, so I know you still care.” It wasn’t easy to move in a way that didn’t seem to aggravate her already sore legs. The paper door of the guesthouse rolled back to reveal visitors. “I’m going to tell your Grandfather you’re beating up sick people again, Rei.” Makoto said with a smile. Mina and Ami were with her and they took off their shoes before entering. “We came by to see if nap time was finished.” Said Mina. “Would you two like to go to the park and get ice cream?” Usagi leaned on Rei and blinked her large blue eyes in what she hoped was an innocent manner. “Oh please Mommy! I’ve been a good girl all day. I took my nap and the disgusting medicine that mean old doctor gave me.” She gave Rei a cheesy smile. “Pleeeease?” “Yeah Mommy Rei,” laughed Mina. “Can Usagi-chan come out and play with us?” Putting one hand on her hip, the raven-haired priestess appeared to be considering the proposal. “Well, if you promise to do your centering exercises later, without complaining that they’re boring, I suppose we could…” “Oh yes, sweet chocolate triple fudge, here I come.” Usagi couldn’t have been happier if you told her that she’d won the lottery. After changing into a pair of Capri pants (to hide the bruises Usagi explained), the fivesome headed out into a perfect August afternoon. They were less than a block from the temple before Usagi asked the question that was screaming in her head. “So,” she said in as nonchalant a voice as she could manage, “How are you guys today?” Ami wasn’t fooled. She reached over and put a gentle hand on her best friend’s arm. “We’re all safe Usagi.” Usagi hung her head and groaned. “Am I that obvious?” Ami had explained to the others that Usagi had to learn to control the thoughts and feelings that sometimes ran wild in her mind. “Triggers” – a word or a phrase that started the downward cycle set off these thoughts. Usagi’s almost obsessive concern for their well being and safety was the chief culprit. They had all agreed to help her learn to stop doing it by making her change mental “gears” each time she asked if they were “safe”. Mina came up beside Usagi and Ami. “It’s okay Usagi-chan. But remember our deal? When you ask if we’re all safe, we get to ask you a question you don’t want to answer,” Mina said as she stole a glance at Rei. “So, tell us the truth. Does Rei-chan snore?” “I do not snore!” The fiery senshi of Mars was such fun to tease, Mina decided. She swore there were times when you could actually see the smoke rising from her ears. “Usako!” Usagi gave a delighted grin as Mamoru came across the park toward them. “Mamo-chan! What are you doing here?” She stopped and shot a quick look at Ami, “And that was not an ‘are you safe’ question!” “Coming to see you might like to go for a stroll, but it looks like the girls beat me to it.” He leaned down and gave Usagi a tender kiss. “My last class was cancelled this afternoon so I thought we might spend a little time together.” Usagi laced an arm into his as they walked toward the ice cream stand. She relaxed a little and enjoyed the warmth of his love. This day might not turn out so bad after all. “Only if I can buy the ice cream for you.” She said with a smile. Then the screams started. It all happened so fast as to seem instantaneous. The thing appeared from out of nowhere. It was large, dark and serpentine. As it materialized, an ebony wall rose to separate them from the people who ran in all directions seeking escape. Like the snake it resembled, it turned to strike at Usagi with a bolt of black lightning. The malevolent force held her frozen and unable to move. As the Senshi yelled out their henshin phrases, Usagi’s mind screamed at her hand to reach for her locket but to no avail. Mamoru grabbed at her, shouting her name. Tuxedo Kamen shimmered to life as he continued to call to her, but Usagi couldn’t hear him. The focus of her entire world narrowed to the scene unfolding before her. It was one of the dreams that had haunted her for months. She watched as her nightmare began to happen. “Burning Mandala!” Sailor Mars attacked the monster with fire that surrounded it. It turned from Usagi and paused for a moment as if confused by the resistance it encountered. Them with an irritated snap of its head, it extinguished the flames and lunged for the Senshi. “I could use some help!” Mars dodged to one side but the monster was unnaturally fast. “Chabon Spray!” Mercury tried to hide them within a dense fog, but with another toss if it’s reptilian head, the vapor dispersed. The monster continued its pursuit of Rei. “Hey ugly, over here” Sailor Jupiter shouted as she summoned her attack, “Sparkling Wide Pressure!” The nightmare shape ignored the blast as it continued to go after Mars with single-minded intent. “Move it Rei, faster!” called Mina as she lifted her hand to summon the power that was hers to command. ”Oh shimatta!” mumbled Rei as she raised her hands for her flame sniper. With precise discipline, she focused on powering up her attack, not the thing that was looming over her. “Mars Flame Sni….” Before Rei could finished the shadowy serpent opened its mouth and descended to envelop her. When it rose again, Mars was gone. A lightning fast sweep of its undulating body tossed the remaining Senshi through the air like dolls. The snake stopped and gave an evil smile. It swung its head around, looking for something or someone. It stopped as Usagi came into its line of sight. Tuxedo Kamen placed himself between his beloved and the creature that sought her. The serpent ignored the dagger sharp roses that punctured it in a dozen places. The large, blunt head darted downward at Tuxedo Kamen and sent him sailing through the air to land hard well across the enclosed area. Although stunned, he tried to get to feet as he saw the monster shift its attention to Usagi. The head came down closer to her. It’s mouth opened again and a vile, hissing whisper came from it. “It’s time for it to start all over again. I’ve come for them, Usagi and you can’t stop me. Mars was just the first.” The black energy that held Usagi seemed to melt away in a flash of quicksilver fire. Usagi looked towards the monster and screamed at the obscenity that had taken her friend. “Noooo! Bring her back!” The reptile gave a hideous laugh and turned from her. “Who shall it be next – perhaps the little, blue one.” The snake moved towards where Ami lay, stunned. Even as Usagi launched herself at the thing, she blurred and changed. Stunned as she was, Ami gasped as she realized that Usagi had transformed with using her henshin phrase - which shouldn’t be possible! The snake shrugged Eternal Sailor Moon away as if she was nothing more than a nuisance. Ami stumbled to her feet. Gathering her power, Mercury called to the water in the air around her. “Shine Aqua – Illusion!” The monstrosity was slowed, but not stopped by the piledriver wave that crashed into it. It continued to pursue Mercury in the same single-minded way it had Mars. “Jupiter!” Called Ami as she dodged the massive head again, “Now – hit it while it’s still wet!” Mako immediately knew what Ami wanted and furrowed her brow in a mixture of anger and concentration. “Time to fry, you horror movie reject. Supreme Thunder!” There was a gratifying sound, like water being dropped into hot oil and the reptile shuddered with a bellow. “That hurt!” A bolt of black light hit Jupiter squarely in the chest. She went flying, landing yards away, stunned. Tuxedo Kamen leapt into to grab Mako and pull her away just as the massive head, fangs extended, snapped at her. “It’s weakened,” He called, “Finish it now Sailor Moon!” Usagi extended her hand and found that her old Moon Scepter came to her call. There was no time to wonder why it had suddenly reappeared as she powered up and began to call out the words to release the energy in the ornate weapon. “Moon Princess Halation!” Nothing happened. Usagi looked at the scepter, dumbfounded. “Venus Love Me Chain!” Called Mina as she attempted to distract the creature from its pursuit of Mercury. The monster was too agile and slithered free of the golden restraint. Things were not right, Ami’s mind shouted at her. If she only had a moment to think she could figure it all out. But she didn’t have a minute as she suddenly saw she was boxed in. The snake reared, gathering itself for the strike that would take Mercury. Usagi gave a tortured wail. Between one blink of an eye and the next, Sailor Moon was gone and Serenity, last princess of the Silver Millenium had taken her place. With an inarticulate howl of pain she raise a lone hand over her head. The Silver Crystal came at her calling and hovered over the outstretched hand. A burst of rainbow light rushed into it. Serenity faced the black snake that was beginning a fatal strike for Ami. She screamed with a rage and despair so strong that Mamoru actually heard her frantic thought ringing across the bond they shared. Closing her fist, she released the immense power. A bolt of silver light more intense than the sun sprang from the gem and slammed into the monster. It gave an unearthly shriek and exploded into ebony dust. The dust lingered on the wind for a moment. Then it seemed to draw back in on itself, gathering into a cloud. The blackness undulated and changed form. A veiled figure became visible within it and spoke in the same voice they had all heard before. “At last. I’ve been waiting for you to show up Serenity.” “Where is Mars?” Usagi, still in the form of Serenity, asked with a clipped and precise voice. The Silver Crystal floated between her cupped hands. There was an implied threat in her tone as she said, “Bring her back.” The laugh that came from the shadowy figure was unpleasant. “Of course you may have her back. I am finished with her – for now.” He held out one hand and a bubble of dark energy floated from it. “...Right now! Do you hear me, right now! When I get ahold of you, you overgrown reptile; it’s barbecue time! And then we’ll find out if snake really does taste like chicken!” The booming tones of the battered and very agitated Senshi of Mars filled the air as the darkness faded. A surprised Rei materialized in back of Serenity. “But, you, my dear Serenity,” came the Shadowlord’s harsh voice, “I have not even begun with you. He gave a curt gesture with one hand and the world around them exploded. The ground opened beneath them and they all began to fall. “It’s time, Serenity! Time for you to feel them die!” The Shadowlord’s voice was audible even over the thunder of the chaos he caused.” His insane laughter followed them as they fell into an abyss. “Time for my revenge!” ******************** Next: Chapter Four – The Shadowlord pulls out all the stops to get what he wants. It’s Usagi’s worst nightmare come to life. Can she save the Senshi and herself? Ami holds the key to their salvation, but can she figure it all out in time?