"Another meteor shower. Happens every day in this place..."

A woman with long hair, wearing a thin, white dress, watches as Usagi appears in her flowing white gown, and Mamoru in his lavender tuxedo.

She stares at the image of Earth in the large, glass ball before her.

"Beautiful light..." she says. "This is the light of the Silver Moon Crystal and the Golden Crystal. Soon this brilliance will be mine. Brilliance suitable for the victor standing at the zenith of the galaxy."

The alarm clock buzzes loudly. Half past eight. Usagi sits up in bed. On the wall behind her is a poster of three men in suits. Tears stream down her cheek.

"There's no excuse for crying. But still..." (She is crying because this is the day Mamoru must leave for America)

"Chibi-Usa-chaaan!" Hotaru calls. "Gooood morniiing!"

"Morning, Hotaru-chan!" says Chibi-Usa.

Usagi's mom waves as they and Usagi leave the house. Hotaru and Chibi Usa cry good-bye and the two run off ahead.

"So! About Kyusuke and Momo-chan..." (Momo-chan is a female who's another friend of Chibi Usa's) The two girls begin to gossip.

Usagi, who is feeling sorry for herself and already missing Mamochan stares at the ground and comments to the two younger girls: "You two are good friends..." she says. "Holding hands at this unearthly hour..."

Chibi-Usa and Hotaru stop and look back at her. "Well," says Hotaru. "Don't you hold hands with Mamo-chan?"

Usagi grits her teeth and charges past them, knocking them apart.

"Good morning!" Usagi calls as she gets to school.

"Usagi," says Minako. "We're playing volleyball in P.E. today!"

"Yep," says Makoto.

"Morning," says Ami. "You remembered to prepare for English and math, right?"

Haruka rides up to the school on a bicycle, with Michiru behind her.

"Waking up in the morning..." Haruka says. "Some life."

"Good morning, Michiru-senpai!"

"Morning, Kaiou-san!"

"Hi there!" says Michiru.

"Michiru," says Haruka. "That looks like so much fun."

"It is fun," she says.

"After a concert tour around the world and raising a child, high school life is fun?"

"We can sing the praises of youth again," Michiru says. "Could anything make me more happy!? Ah, my heart's fluttering. School life. About now, even Setsuna must be thinking that, at the Juuban Elementary nurse's office."

"It hurts..." the boy moans. "I'm going to die..."

"Don't be silly," says Setsuna. She pulls out the rock stuck to the boy's knee. "This is all it was. Now, hurry and get back to the classroom!"

"Setsuuuna-senseeei!" a voice calls.

"Another injured kid?"

"Hehe!" says Hotaru.

"Will you come home with us today?" says Chibi-Usa.

A bunch of kids crowd into the room. "Setsuna-sensei! Hotaru-chan said you were her mom!"

"They're all jealous," says Chibi-Usa.

"All right, all right," says Setsuna. "I'll take care of all of you. Hurry and return to class."

Usagi sits in class, staring at her pencil. A crumpled paper hits her on the head. She opens the paper up and reads it.

On the way home today, want to stop by the CD shop?
From Mina-P.

She writes a note back.
Today's no good. I have something important to do!

"Mamo-chan's send-off!?" Minako says. She stands in her P.E. uniform, spinning a volleyball on her finger.

"She said it was today. She looked depressed."

"Mamoru-san decided to study abroad in America all of a sudden," says Ami.

"Usagi's really taking it hard," says Makoto. "It's not like they're never going to see each other again."

"Oh, man..." says Minako. "I wanted to show her the Three Lights video I reserved."

"Another new idol group?" asks Haruka.

"Yep!" says Minako. She holds up a poster of three men in suits. "They're the big thing now. It's a three-person group, the Three Lights! The girlish and cute Yaten Kou, the adult-like Taiki Kou, and the coolest guy, Seiya Kou. They just debuted, and they've already got a fan club. They're so cool! Their singing is wonderful, and they dance good too. Oh, I want to go to one of their concerts!"

"Oh, those kids," says Michiru.

"Michiru-san, you're a fan too!?" says Minako.

"I have good news," Michiru says. "Their first live appearance is going to be at the Fantastic Music Hall in Shibuya."

"What!? Why!? How come!? How do you have info even the fan club doesn't know!?"

"Because I perform together with them at that music hall."

"No way!!"

"Haruka-senpaaai!" a girl calls. "We're all together!"

"All right!" says Haruka. "Shall we begin basic training?" (Haruka is in the track-and-field club.)

"Mako-chan-senpai!" calls a boy. "Be sure to show up at the gardening club today!"

Michiru: Swimming and music clubs.
Makoto: Gardening and cooking clubs.
Ami: Computer club.
Minako: Volleyball club.

"Well," says Makoto. "Shall we go to our clubs too?"

"Track-and-field and gardening clubs," says Ami. "I'm jealous. I joined the computer club I wanted to be in so much, but the boys are only into games. And I'm the only girl in the whole club."

"All right!" says Minako. "I'm gonna get tickets from Michiru-san! We'll all go see the Three Lights live!"

"You're at peace, Mina," says Makoto.

"What are you talking about," says Minako. "We are at peace again! We have to enjoy high school life!"

Setsuna looks up from her computer.

"Right..." she thinks. "Even though that peace may be brief..."

We are at the New Tokyo International Airport and this is a VERY VERY important scene.

"How long will you be over there?"

"Only a year," says Mamoru. "It might be a little longer."

"I see..." says Usagi. "A year, huh... Since your essay was chosen, you can achieve your dream of studying abroad at Harvard. That's really great, Mamo-chan. I should be happier... I'll laugh today. I was thinking of sending you off, but..."

"Usa." Mamoru hugs her. "I'll write," he says. "And I'll call you. Usa, write me lots of letters."

Usagi looks up at him with tears in her eyes. "I will," she says. "I'll write and call you a lot. Someday, come back to me."

"I will come back," he says. "I have to go now. Usa."

He pulls out a small box. "A present. Open it."

She opens the box, and inside she sees a shining ring with a heart on it.

"Mamo-chan...! This...! I'm so happy... Thank you, Mamo-chan...! Can I try it on?"

He takes the ring and slips it onto her finger.

He looks at her.

"I love you."

He holds her and kisses her deeply.

"Usa. When I return..."

He jerks back. His body begins to glow.

Usagi gasps.

The Golden Crystal appears outside his chest. It opens up, revealing a diamond-shaped crystal inside.

As his body fades away, a hand appears and grabs the crystal.

Usagi sees a woman in a golden, metallic sailor suit holding the crystal.

The woman disappears, leaving Usagi alone.

Usagi faints.

She falls into the arms of a man with black hair, tied back in a long ponytail.

"We're too late," he says. They have all JUST witnessed Mamoru being killed by the new villain, Sailor Galaxia. Mamoru's star seed - his Golden Crystal - is something every senshi has in order to be a soldier. He may not be a senshi but he is the soldier of the Earth and his star seed/Golden Crystal controls it. When that is taken from him, he dies.

The man who was caught Usagi when she fainted carries her in his arms, and stands next to two other men, one with white hair and the other with brown hair, both wearing their hair in long ponytails.

A crowd surrounds them.

"The Three Lights!"

They run outside the airport and hail a cab.

"Seiya!"

"Taiki!"

"Yaten!"

"Seiya!"

The three men get into the cab, and it speeds off.

Usagi opens her eyes. "The scent of fragrant olives..." she thinks. She sees the man with black hair looking down at her. "Who's that?"

"We're in Shinagawa now," he says. "We'll be in Juuban shortly."

Usagi sits up. "I..." she says. "I have to get off..."

"Excuse me," says the man with white hair. "Driver, this is fine."

The cab stops and they get out. Usagi walks away.

"We brought her all the way here," says the white-haired man, "and she didn't even say thanks."

The man with black hair stares after her.

The alarm clock buzzes loudly.

Half past eight.

Usagi sits up in bed.

"Usagi!!" Minako calls. She grins. "How'd it go yesterday? Did Mamo-chan give you a nice long goodbye kiss?"

Usagi is silent.

"Usagi?"

"Oh my god!" says Makoto. "Usagi!! You're wearing a ring on your ring finger! Wow! Did Mamo-chan give that to you?"

"Yeah..." says Usagi. "He gave me this ring... Got on the plane... And made it to America safely."

What we learn is that Usagi has blocked the memory of Mamoru's death from her mind. Such a painful shock would absolutely kill her and her brain/body is dealing with it by blocking the memory of the death and she has convinced herself that Mamoru got onto the plane safely, and is alive and well.

"And so," says Chibi-Usa, "my Pink Moon Crystal appeared. I met Elios and Sailor Ceres and the others. I have to tell Mom about everything that's happened. I'm thinking of going back to the 30th century."

"I am eager to report on Small Lady's activities," says Diana. "The King and Queen must be worried."

"I think you should," says Michiru.

"They'll definitely be pleased to see you," says Setsuna.

"Chibi-Usa-chan," says Hotaru. "You're going back to your real home? It'll be boring."

"I'll be back soon," Chibi-Usa says. "Be waiting."

"Be careful."

"I will! Bye!"

She runs through the park, into the light, and disappears.

"Mamoru-san and Chibi-Usa-chan are suddenly gone," says Ami. "It'll be so lonely."

"It's not like that," says Usagi. "Chibi-Usa will be back soon. Mamo-chan said he would call and write. He said he would come back someday." There is a strange look in her eyes.

Michiru plays her violin onstage at the Fantastic Music Hall. Haruka plays the piano next to her. The crowd cheers. "It's Haruka-san!" says Makoto. "That's so cool!"

Three men in suits walk onto the stage. "The Three Lights!?" Minako cries. "No way! I had no idea they were going to do a joint performance!"

"So these are the Three Lights," says Rei. "They're cool."

"They're so far away," says Usagi. "You can't see their faces very well."

The man with brown hair tied in a ponytail holds out a flower.

"Kaiou Michiru-san," he says. "You were wonderful. I am Taiki Kou."

"I am Yaten Kou," says the man with white hair. "I have all your CDs and videos. Nice work."

"Thank you," says Michiru.

The man with black hair holds out his hand to Haruka.

"I am Seiya Kou," he says. "I like your style. It's like the wind. We carry the same things. I'd like to shake your hand."

Haruka shakes Seiya's hand.

"Three Lights!" calls the crowd. "Please give us an encore!"

Haruka stares at the three as they walk away.

"Haruka?" says Michiru.

"Starlights," she says. "Those three... Who are they?"

As the Three Lights go on stage, a girl watches from the back of the room.

"Ehehe..." she says. "I've found them. The ultimate starseeds. Carriers of the Sailor Crystals. I feel it. I feel it! I don't believe it! The ten pieces are here as well! Galaxia-sama will be pleased."

She jumps up.

"Ultimate starseeds of the Earth's surface! Sailor Crystals! I, Sailor Iron Mouse, have got you!" She shoots a blast of light at the stage.

The Three Lights jump out of the way. Electricity sparks on the equipment onstage.

"This is the emergency route," says a voice over the P.A. system. "Please obey these instructions and do not panic."

"What the-!?" says Usagi.

"What happened!?" says Rei.

"Hehe!" says Sailor Iron Mouse. "I finally found you, and now you expect me to let you escape? Now, come on out, carriers of the Sailor Crystals!"

"An enemy!?"

"Venus Crystal Power!"
"Mercury Crystal Power!"
"Jupiter Crystal Power!"
"Mars Crystal Power!"
"Make Up!!"

They transform. Makoto pushes all the people outside the room. Rei and Minako lock the door.

"The door won't open!" says a man. "Damnit!" says another. They pound on the door. "What the hell's going on!?"

"Silver Moon Crystal Power!" Usagi calls. "Make Up!!"

"I am Sailor Mercury!" "Mars!" "Jupiter!" "Venus!" "And I am Sailor Moon!"

"I've been waiting for you, sailor soldiers," says Sailor Iron Mouse. "Galactica Crunch!"

"Space Turbulence!" yells Haruka. "Submarine Violin Tide!" yells Michiru. The attacks are absorbed by a bracelet on Iron Mouse's wrist.

"Star Sensitive Inferno!" a voice calls. Iron Mouse is surrounded in light and destroyed. Her bracelet drops to the floor and vanishes.

"Who's there!?" says Michiru.

Three spotlights shine on the stage, showing three women standing there. They each wear tight black leather shorts, tops, and boots, with leather sailor collars around their necks. One with black hair, one with white hair, and one with brown hair.

The three women jump into the air and disappear.

The seven soldiers stare after them.

"Those three!?"

Volume 16: Act 44

"I love you... I love you, Mamo-chan."

"Usa."

"Mamo-chan!"

She runs to him.

"I'm so happy! Have you come back!?"

"Usa, I love you."

He kisses her.

"I've made it back safely," he says. "And so..."

His body melts away in her arms.

Usagi bolts upright in bed.

"It was... a dream," she thinks.

She gets dressed and goes downstairs.

"Where Harvard is," she thinks. "In Massachusetts, it's around dinnertime now. Yeah... And Chibi-Usa, too, has finally gone back to the 30th century. It's lonely..."

She goes outside.

"I'm leaving," she says.

She goes to the mailbox and opens it.

Empty.

"At this time in the morning," she says, "the mail must not have come yet." (She is trying to rationalize everything, her mind is doing everything to block itself of the pain she is feeling deep inside)

"I'll write," he said. "And I'll call you."

"Mamo-chan... Are you okay? How come you haven't written or called? I'll get mad."

Seiya watches Usagi as she walks away.

We are not taken to Ichinohashi Park where flash of light appears in the sky. A small girl floats down from above, holding an umbrella over her head. Her red hair is tied into two heart-shaped balls, with ribbons of hair coming out. As she reaches the ground, flower petals sprinkle down on her. She climbs up to a walkway above, and sees a woman with a red and silver dress and long, red hair lying on the ground. (The woman on the ground is Princess Kakyuu - the Princess the Sailor Starlights protect and whom they are searching for. The small girl is Chibi Chibi who we shall learn is another form of a woman named Sailor Cosmos - the last and ultimate form of Sailor Moon/Usagi)

"All right," says Usagi's mom. "I've finished washing the dishes. Now I can get to the cleaning and the laundry. Maybe I'll go to the supermarket, too. What shall we have for dinner tonight..."She picks up a cup with the name 'Chibi-Usa' scrawled on it, with a drawing of a bunny. "This cup..." she says. "I wonder whose it was..." (With Chibi Usa gone, her existence has been wiped from Usagi's mom's memory)

The doorbell rings. She goes to the door and opens it. "Chibi-Usa-chan!?" she cries. She stares out the door. "Chibi... Chibi...?"

The small girl looks up at her. "Chibi chibi?" (thus she is named Chibi Chibi)

The soldiers gather at the command center below the arcade.

"They say when a genius forgets, it comes back to haunt you," says Minako.

"That proverb doesn't fit this situation," says Artemis. "Besides, that's the wrong kanji."

"Shut up."

[The correct saying would be, 'When you forget destiny, it comes back to haunt you.']

"After we defeated the Dead Moon," says Luna, "I thought we finally had peace, but... It seems another new enemy has appeared."

"She called us the sailor soldiers," says Ami. "And the carriers of the Sailor Crystals."

"Well, we're famous people now," says Minako. "Anyone who hasn't heard of us must be living under a rock."

"If they know us..." says Makoto, "could they also carry the fate of our previous lives?"

"Not only that," says Haruka. "The heavens are spacious."

"Enemies from another star!?" says Rei.

"Perhaps," says Setsuna. "We think so."

"And those idols..." says Haruka. "The Three Lights, too."

Minako gasps.

"I don't know for what purpose they've become idols," Haruka says, "but... I'm not mistaken. I felt the power of stars in them. They are not of this solar system. Whether they're enemies or allies, they saved us..."

"Enemies have appeared again," thinks Usagi. "Even though Mamo-chan and Chibi-Usa have gone away... We don't have peace at all."

"Princess," says Michiru. "This is our responsibility. We'll take care of it."

"Leave it to us," says Setsuna.

"Right, Usagi!" says Minako. "Don't worry, leave everything to us!"

Usagi smiles.

They leave the command center.

"Later."

"See you at school tomorrow. Bye-bye!"

"I'm home!" Usagi calls. She sees a small pair of shoes at the doorway. "Whose shoes are these?" she thinks.

"Welcome back!" says her mom.

"Baaack!" says the small girl.

Usagi's eyes widen.

"Wh- Who is that!?"

"Now, now, Usagi," her mom says. "You haven't forgotten your little sister, Chibi-Chibi-chan, have you?"

"Chan have you??" says the girl.

"What the-!?" Minako cries. "Another one!?"

"Usagi's little sister?" says Rei.

"It can't be," says Usagi.

"Chibi-Usa's little sister?" says Ami.

"Maybe."

"Or Usagi's second child," says Haruka.

"I don't know!"

"Maybe Chibi-Usa's daughter," says Setsuna.

Minako sits down by the girl. "So Chibi-Chibi is your name?" she asks.

"Is your name?" the girl says.

"Copycat!" says Minako.

"Copycat!" says the girl.

"What a brat..." says Minako.

"What a brat..." says the girl.

"Whatever you ask her," Usagi says, "that's what she does. Just like when Chibi-Usa came, this could be telling of a crisis to come."

"Crisis to come!" says the girl.

Usagi's mom comes over and picks the girl up. "Chibi-Chibi-chan," she says. "It's your bedtime. Since all of you have school tomorrow, you should be going home soon, too."

The girls leave.

"Could Chibi-Usa have send back her little sister, thinking that Ikuko-mama and Usagi would be lonely?" says Minako.

"Or maybe after hearing all of her big sister's exciting stories, she came here by herself," says Makoto.

Usagi sits in bed. "That kid..." she thinks. "If she's Chibi-Usa's little sister, that means she's the second child of me and Mamo-chan!"

"Usagi..." says Luna. "Usagi."

Usagi sees the little girl peering in at the door to her room.

"Want to come sleep with me?" Usagi asks.

The girl kneels down and puts something on the floor.

"Huh?" says Usagi. "What are you doing?"

The pot on the ground fills the air with scents.

"That smells good," says Usagi. "Is it incense? Did you get that from Mom and Dad's room?"

Usagi breathes in the air.

"Ah..." she thinks. "This... The sweet scent of fragrant olives... This scent... Somewhere, before...?"

Usagi falls asleep with the small girl in bed next to her.

Usagi opens the mailbox. She sees a envelope inside with blue and red striping around the edges.

"Air mail!" she says. She grabs it. "From America! Mamo-chan!?"

She opens the envelope and takes out the card inside. "A postcard... Of the faint orange glow of sunset...?" She turns it over.

"Huh? That's it? There's nothing written on the card! No letter, no message, nothing!?" She looks at the card. "Oh... That Mamo-chan..."

She continues on her way to school. "But still, I'm happy. I just know something good is going to happen today. Ehehe."

As she reaches the school, she sees a crowd gathering around three boys.

"Usagi!" Minako calls. "Big news! Big news! The Three Lights have transferred to our school!!"

The three boys stand at the front of the classroom.

"My name is Taiki Kou," says the brown-haired one. "My hobbies are reciting poetry and using computers."

"I'm Yaten Kou!" says the white-haired one. "My hobby is photography. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Seiya Kou," says the black-haired one. "I'm thinking of joining the football team."

"I don't believe it!" Minako and Usagi say. "Those three are in our class!?"

Seiya sits down at the desk next to Usagi's.

"Hi there," he says.

"Ah-" Usagi stutters.

His eyes meet with hers.

"How do you do."

Usagi smiles.

"I'm Tsukino Usagi. Nice to meet you."

A crowd mobs the three Lights as they walk out of class.

"Jeez. I should have known," Minako says, "but it's impossible to get near them."

"Those three are weird," says Makoto. "Why would they want to come to our ordinary school?"

"It couldn't be..." thinks Haruka. "To contact us...?"

"Say, where's Usagi?" asks Michiru.

"On the roof," says Makoto. "She's writing a love letter."

Usagi lies on the floor, scribbling a letter on a piece of paper.

"Umm..." she says. "'It was very lovely. I put it on my notebook, like a charm. Next time tell me what it's like studying over there. Call me, too.'"

Yaten walks out onto the roof.

"Oh... This is too much..." he says. "Let's give up already. Going to school is exhausting."

"Learning is fun," says Taiki.

"Only for you," says Yaten.

Seiya looks past them.

"What are you doing?" he asks.

Usagi gasps.

"What!?" she thinks. "The Three Lights!"

Yaten grabs the paper from her hands.

"'To my loving Mamo-chan,'" he reads. "'Thanks for that wonderful sunset postcard.'... Your kanji stinks."

"Gi- Give me that!!" Usagi yells. She grabs the paper. "That's not a very nice thing to say!"

He smiles. "Sorry, sorry."

The three boys look off the roof over the city.

"What's with them..." Usagi thinks. "They're not like the boys in class at all. They're really... cool!"

"That's a nice ring," Taiki says to her. "Did your sweetheart give it to you?"

"Huh?" she says. "Well, kind of..."

"Tsukino Usagi, right? And he... Where is he now?"

"Now Mamo-chan's in America..."

Usagi grabs her head in pain and doubles over.

"Ouch!" she thinks. "It's like my head is splitting...!"

"Get away from Usagi!"

Haruka runs to Usagi and holds her away from the three boys.

"What did you do to her!?"

"Nothing," they say.

The three boys leave.

"I'm all right, Haruka-san," says Usagi. "Just got a little headache. We were only talking."

"I don't know what they did," says Haruka. "Don't go near them by yourself again."

"Did those three use some power on me?" Usagi thinks. "No, it wasn't that. When I thought of Mamo-chan being in America, suddenly..." (What happened was she got filled with intense physical and emotional pain - poor Usagi-chan - heck poor Mamochan! Just as he was to tll Usagi that he wanted to marry her Galaxia goes and kills him)

Taiki walks into the computer club room. "Hello," he says. "I'd like to join." He sits down at one of the computers and logs on to an online service, as a group of girls crowd around him.

- The test results are posted on the wall. "Wow! That idol beat out Mizuno-san for first place!"

- Girls cheer wildly on the sidelines as Seiya scores a touchdown. "He can't be thinking of anything except challenging us one by one!" says Haruka.

- Michiru puts on lipstick in her mirror.

"That's an awful color!" says Yaten. "Can't you find a color to match yourself better?"

He walks past her with a crowd of girls around him.

"Yaten-kun!" a girl cries. "And you do modeling too? You just have to show me how to do my makeup!"

Michiru snaps her lipstick in two.

"Haruka," she says. "Without us even knowing who they are, they're going to come in here and disrupt us and get rid of us! Oh, where's Makoto?"

Makoto is talking in the garden with Taiki, smiling. She leaves and joins the others "Taiki-kun joined the gardening club," she says. "That's all I need to know. Nobody who likes flowers is a bad person."

"Right," says Usagi, together with Minako. "Such cool guys don't look like bad people."

Minako pulls out Three Lights concert tickets. "Of course, these are for peace," she says. "Since the recent enemy attack was at a concert..."

Minako, Usagi, and Makoto cheer in the crowd at the concert.

"Since we want peace," Minako says, "we can't leave the concert, right?"

The three boys walk onto the stage, and the audience cheers.

"And now," says Seiya, "next is the Three Lights debut single. Please enjoy 'Nagareboshi he'."

He begins to sing - this next song is sung for the Princess Kakyuu - who by now we know Seiya had feelings for. Seiya also believes Usagi might be Kakyuu which is why he looks at Usagi as he sings this song.

Your strong scent, I'm always
Searching for it

He stares into Usagi's eyes.

Where are you now
My lovely princess
Answer me

Minako looks over. "Usagi?"

Usagi stares at Seiya. "It's like my eyes just met with his..." she thinks. "Such a moving song..."

A woman with a hood over her head stands among the cheering crowd, smiling evilly.

Usagi opens the mailbox. She pulls out the letter inside. "Air mail!" she thinks. "Mamo-chan!?" She opens it and takes out the postcard. "A picture of a star this time..."

The sun is setting as Usagi walks out onto the roof of the school. She looks at the postcard.

"A faint orange star in the center," she says. "I wonder what its name is..."

"It's a man-made satellite."

Usagi turns.

Seiya points to a light in the sky.

"Wow," Usagi says. "It's so bright, you can see it. Do you like stars?"

"Yes," he says. "I do."

"Did you escape here from all your fans again? It must be tough, being mobbed even at school. I wouldn't think idols would have time to go to school. They'd be so busy."

"Anything, as long as we can sing..." he says.

"I feel... like I've met you somewhere before..." says Usagi.

"O- Oops," she thinks. "I shouldn't have said that, not to such a famous person."

"I- I..." she says. "I really like your Three Lights debut single. It's so moving... The song is pretty, and I still feel it in my heart."

"Your saying that," says Seiya, "makes me very happy. We wanted to sing this song, so we became singers."

He begins to sing on the rooftop.(The strong scent is of OLIVES which is what Princess Kakyuu and all whom come from her planet smell like)

Your strong scent, I'm always
Searching for it
Can you hear my voice calling out
I love you so

"Seiya-kun..." Usagi thinks. "Who is he singing that for?"

- Taiki's head jerks up from the computer. He runs out the door, Ami staring after him.

The hooded woman chuckles

- Seiya walks toward Usagi.

Where are you now
My lovely princess

- "That voice..." thinks Makoto. "Such power!"

- "I felt the power of stars in them," Haruka said.

"I see it," Usagi thinks. "I feel it now. The star aura surrounding him."

"Who on earth are you...?" she says.

"Seiya you fool!!"

Yaten and Taiki burst onto the roof.

"Your power has come out without protection! They've sensed you!!"

The hooded woman floats up to the roof.

"Hahahaha," she says. "I am Sailor Aluminum Siren!!"

"Sailor Aluminum Siren!?" Usagi thinks.

"Galactica Tsunami!!"

The three Lights dash between her and Usagi.

Makoto and Ami jump in front of them, shielding them from the attack.

"Haha," the woman says. "You won't beat me."

Makoto turns to the three boys. "Did you call an enemy!? I won't let you! Get away from Usagi! If you want, we'll settle this now!"

"No!" Usagi says. "They aren't enemies! The aura surrounding Seiya-kun, Jupiter, Mercury, it's the same as yours! Shining brightly with pride, protected by the stars! Silver Moon Crystal Power! Make Up!!"

As she transforms, Sailor Aluminum Siren's hair whips out and wraps around Ami and Makoto's arms and necks, strangling them.

"Hahahaha!"

"Mercury! Jupiter!"

"Space Turbulence!!" Haruka yells.

The attack bounces off harmlessly.

"It was repelled!?"

"Uranus! Neptune! Venus!" Usagi calls.

"I am also a sailor soldier carrying a Sailor Crystal!" says Aluminum Siren.

"What!?"

"I won't blow it like Sailor Iron Mouse did!" she says. "For Galaxia-sama, I will take the Sailor Crystals!"

"Starlight Honeymoon Therapy..."

The hair pulls taut against Ami and Makoto's throats, choking the air from them.

Their bodies are torn apart as they clutch their chests.

The other soldiers gasp in horror.

"Jupiter!! Mercury!?"

All that remains are two lights, which float into Aluminum Siren's hand.

"Hahahaha!" she says. "Got them! The Sailor Crystals!!"

The Three Lights look at each other.

"Maker Star Power!" shouts Taiki.

"Fighter Star Power!" shouts Seiya.

"Sailor Star Power!" shouts Yaten.

"Make Up!!"

They change into three women wearing tight black leather outfits.

"Star Serious Laser!!" yells Seiya.

"Star Gentle Uterus!" yells Taiki.

Sailor Aluminum Siren is destroyed.

"You three!?" the soldiers say. "Those forms...!"

"The place where the stars drift..."

"Holding three infinite lights..."

"Sailor Star Healer," says Yaten.

"Sailor Star Fighter," says Seiya.

"Sailor Star Maker," says Taiki.

"We are the Sailor Starlights!"

Volume 16: Act 45

Rei gasps.

Her necklace breaks, and the pendant falls to the floor.

She drops her set of cards on the ground.

Crows fly into the air, cawing.

Ami and Makoto's bodies are torn apart as they clutch their chests.

Hotaru runs to Setsuna's arms.

All that remains are two lights.

"Mercury!? Jupiter!?"

"Sailor Starlights!?" says Haruka. "Sailor soldiers!? It can't be!!"

"That's it!" cries Minako. "You took them, didn't you! Where did you take them!? Give those two back!! Where are they!?"

Usagi stares ahead blankly. "Mercury!! Jupiter!!"

Michiru grabs her.

"Sailor Moon! Get a hold of yourself!"

Haruka smacks Minako across the face.

"Venus!"

"Look," says Yaten. "Sailor Mercury and Sailor Jupiter's bodies have been destroyed."

"The source of their power, in their hearts," says Seiya, "their sailor crystals have been stolen."

"Their bodies... have been destroyed!?" the soldiers think. "The sailor crystals...! The sailor crystals, together with their hearts... Stolen!?"

Seiya steps forward. "Sailor Moon. We..."

"Don't come any closer!" says Haruka, standing in front of Usagi. She pulls out her space sword. "If you want to get to her, you'll have to kill me first! Who are you, and what do you want!?"

"I understand how hurt you must feel," says Taiki. "But if you're as lacking in composure and confused as you are now, you won't be able to win against the Shadow Galactica where Sailor Galaxia rules."

"Sailor Galaxia!?" thinks Usagi. "Shadow Galactica!?"

"They will attack you without mercy," says Seiya. "You don't have time to worry about us. Seriously, you must fight them! If you don't..."

The three Starlights jump off the roof of the school.

"Wait!" Michiru calls. "Are Mercury and Jupiter really..."

They run to the edge, and see the three turn into balls of light, and disappear.

"Sailor Starlights..." says Rei. "The Three Lights are sailor soldiers...!"

"The ones who attacked us at the concert, and then today," says Michiru. "They also had sailor soldier names. Said they were sailor soldiers, carrying sailor crystals... and that they wanted our sailor crystals!"

"The Shadow Galactica where Sailor Galaxia rules," says Setsuna. "That is the new enemy...!"

"The enemy this time," says Haruka, "is a sailor soldier...?"

"The Sailor Starlights," thinks Usagi. "They're sailor soldiers...! And the the enemy, too!? No! In the moment when I was attacked by Sailor Aluminum Siren, they guarded me. It seems like everyone is protecting me..."

"The Shadow Galactica!" says Minako. "Mercury and Jupiter are there! They must be alive there! We have to go save them!"

"Mercury, Jupiter..." thinks Usagi. "Torn to pieces, right before our eyes... But, they shouldn't have been able to be killed so easily!"

"Just what is this Shadow Galactica!?" says Artemis. "When did they invade this planet? I'm checking all the invasion routes. Invaders from outside, after the Dead Moon..."

"Last month there was an enormous meteor shower," says Luna.

"They could have been Sagittarius Alpha shooting stars," says Artemis. "But there is also evidence of real shooting stars."

"The invaders are nothing but shooting stars," says Luna. "Making sure of everything is only the routes of outer space."

"There is no distortion in the space-time continuum," says Setsuna. "They are not invaders from outer space."

"So, those shooting stars are the invaders," says Haruka. "They have come to Earth as stars."

"Well," says Michiru. "I'm going to take Usagi home. Call if anything happens. You too, Rei."

"Right."

"Be careful."

"I'll continue keeping an eye on those three," says Haruka.

"I'll look for the enemies' invasion route and headquarters with Luna and Artemis," says Setsuna.

They all leave.

Rei grabs Minako.

"Mina!" she says. "Tomorrow I'm going to Juuban High. Together we'll contact the Three Lights."

"What!?" says Minako.

"Shh!" Rei says. "We're going to find out if those three are really sailor soldiers."

"And what if they're enemies?" says Minako. "There's no smoke without fire. If the Three Lights are, we'll have to fight them."

"If they are enemies, we'll fight them and find the location of the Shadow Galactica! Mercury and Jupiter can't be dead! They're together with the crystals in the Shadow Galactica! We'll recover the crystals and rescue them! And then, we'll protect Usagi and this planet."

"My body's heavy..." thinks Usagi. "It's like there's a fog before my eyes. Going ahead is scary... Why do I feel that way?"

She looks up.

"I just remembered a promise I made."

"Usagi?" says Michiru.

"I'm just meeting a friend of Mamo-chan's. I'll contact you if anything happens."

"Huh?" Asanuma says. "The telephone number of Mamoru-senpai's apartment in America? I don't know it. It's been nearly a month since he went over there. I call him senpai, but he hasn't even called or written. Usagi-senpai, have you gotten a letter or anything? If so..."

"He hasn't written me," says Usagi. "I've only gotten a postcard from him by airmail, but there was nothing on it... No message, no address, no phone number, not even the sender's name."

"I'll go to the university tomorrow and ask his friends," says Asanuma. "Mamoru-senpai isn't heartless, he'll contact you. He's probably just busy studying."

"Thanks, Asanuma-kun."

Michiru watches the two from a distance.

"Usagi...!" It is painfilly obvious how lonely and sad Usagi is feeling ay this time of her life. It is definitely one of the most darkest periods of her time.

Usagi picks up the phone at home and dials it.

"Calling Mamo-chan's place..." she thinks. "I know it won't pick up, but... I'm forgetting something important. I just can't remember what. I'm confused... I'm afraid... that if I go out for a walk, everything will disappear..." (she is slowly remembering)

A hand pulls at her skirt.

Usagi looks down and sees the small girl with red hair.

"Chibi-Chibi... Are you coming to cheer me up?" She hugs her. (Usagi does not not how true her words are)

"Mercury! Jupiter!" Usagi stares out from atop the roof of the school.

"It's all right, Usagi!" she thinks to herself. "If you get back their crystals, they'll be okay!"

She looks at the ring on her finger.

"Right, Mamo-chan...? I want to see you. Hug me tightly and call my name... Mamo-chan!"

"Seriously, you must fight them! If you don't..."

"I have to stay strong! But, I feel it. Because of the dear existence of Mamo-chan and everyone, I know. I sense Jupiter and Mercury. I'm uneasy... The same discomfort... as when Mamo-chan..."

"Watch out!!"

A hand grabs her as she leans out over the railing.

She turns around.

"Seiya-kun!"

Haruka and Michiru run up the stairs to the roof.

Taiki and Yaten stand at the door.

"You two!?" Haruka says. "What the--"

Taiki holds out a card, and energy envelops them.

"I... I can't move my body!? What... There's something on the card. That's...!"

The picture shows Mamoru holding his suitcase at the airport.

"Remember!" Seiya says. "We don't have time! You have to hold on, or you'll lose this battle! Remember what happened to Jupiter and Mercury! What happened to your Mamoru!"

"Mamo-chan..."

The card shows Mamoru's body glowing.

"No!" Usagi cries. "I don't want to see that!" Usagi sobs with wide eyes as pain and shock once again envelopes her.

Seiya pulls her close and kisses her. (sheesh - what a moment to take advantage of a girl and kiss her *roll eyes*)

Mamoru's body disappears, leaving a ball of light.

"Prince!?" Haruka thinks.

"I'm sorry," Seiya says. "I didn't want to hurt you..."

As his body fades away, a hand appears and grabs the Golden Crystal. The hand of a woman in a golden, metallic sailor suit.

"That woman!?" thinks Haruka.

"This is Sailor Galaxia," says Taiki.

Usagi comes running through the door. She charges past them down the stairs.

"Usagi!!" (she is overhwhelmed by her memory of Mamoru's death that Seiya is making her remember)

The Three Lights disappear, leaving the card lying on the ground.

"Sailor Galaxia...!"

Usagi runs through the street, breathing hard.

"Remember."

Tears well up in her eyes.

"What happened to your Mamoru!"

"Mamoru!"

"Quit it!" she cries, holding her head. "It's stuck in my ears... Seiya-kun's low voice... The pupils that seem to draw me in... I remember. He looks like... Mamo-chan."

"Why do you care about that girl?" Yaten asks.

"Because," says Seiya. "She reminds me of her..." (the her he is reffering to is his Princess Kakyuu thus showing that he has been caring for Usagi because she reminds Seiya of his Princess - so then the song, the way she/he stared into Usagi's eyes all now makes sense)

Usagi opens the mailbox and sees an envelope addressed to her.

"Airmail from Mamo-chan! It's come again!"

She holds it.

"Mamo-chan? There is never a return address on the letter. Is it really from Mamo-chan?"

She opens it, and takes out the postcard inside. It has a picture of the Milky Way.

"The galaxy..." Usagi thinks. "Shadow Galactica... The shadow of the galaxy..."

A woman kneels on the steps of the palace, before the golden-suited woman standing underneath a large crystal held in the air.

"Galaxia-sama," the kneeling woman says. "Sailor Aluminum Siren has failed just as Sailor Iron Mouse did. I request your forgiveness. I will take all of the responsibility for this."

"But she did obtain two of the sailor crystals," says the woman in the golden sailor suit. "She has done well in that."

"Galaxia-sama, give the assignment to your underling, Sailor Anima Mates," says the kneeling woman. "And I will get the remaining sailor crystals as well."

"Heh heh," says Galaxia. "It is obvious that you, Sailor Anima Mates, are not the enemy of the Sailor Starlights and the sailor soldiers of the solar system."

"Galaxia-sama, you can take as much pleasure as you like in this highest climax."

"Before they truly step up into the battle ring," says Galaxia, "we must have the rest of the sailor crystals! If we cling to the fragile starseeds as humans, carrying the unparalleled sailor crystals, the starseeds of the humans will be like dust in the wind."

Another woman approaches them, with dark hair and wings arching from her back.

"Galaxia-sama," she says. "I am the third soldier of Sailor Anima Mates, Sailor Lead Crow. I will drag Sailor Moon out to our beautiful stage."

A flock of crows storm up into the air.

Hotaru stares into the sky.

"We might not be able to stop it anymore..."

"Hotaru?" says Setsuna

Rei walks up to Juuban High, wearing a white and blue Juuban uniform.

"Rei-chaaan!" says Minako. "That looks good on you! Reminds me of the time I snuck into T-A Girls School."

"Where's Usagi?"

"She's having lunch with Naru-chan and Haruka-san," says Minako. "Kind of like she's pretending to feel all right."

"So, what about those idols everyone's talking about?"

Minako thrusts out a memo pad.

"What's this?" says Rei.

"My super-private Three Lights notebook!"

Minako looks through it. "Since it's not Wednesday when they have P.E., they must be eating lunch on the roof of the main building. This is top-secret data! Let's go!"

"Well?" Rei says.

Minako looks around at the empty roof.

"But--! Why is nobody here!?"

"Well, lunch has just started," says Rei, "so let's wait."

"Damnit," says Minako. "I'm hungry! What will I do without lunch? They better show up soon!"

"It would have been nice if I had picked Juuban High, too," says Rei. "If I did that, I could live high school life together with all of you, but..."

"What?" Minako asks. "All of a sudden?"

"I was using the tarot cards this morning, and I drew this one..."

She holds out the card of Death.

"I know," Rei says. "This is not like our battles of before. There's no turning back..."

"Stop," says Minako. She presses her finger to Rei's lips. "We promised that we would rescue those two. For us, it is always the same... Save our friends! Defeat the enemies! Protect those important to us! It's the same this time. They must be alive, and they will come home! Then we'll return to high school life! We'll get boyfriends! Those are the rules!"

Rei grimaces.

"That's right, boys!" continues Minako. "In junior high, too, we couldn't get along by ourselves! We didn't have time for that! So this time, we'll get hot sweethearts like the Three Lights! We'll work as hard as we can to get dates to go on, like ordinary high school girls! That's our ultimate dream! Nothing but that!"

"You're fooling yourself," a voice says.

Minako and Rei turn to it, startled.

"There is someone following their heart," says Yaten. "You have decided to live for that person."

"You know... I guess that's it," says Minako. "You're right. There has always been just one person to whom we have devoted our lives..."

"Mina...!" says Rei.

They think of Usagi.

"That's right. We don't need boys. Is that wrong?"

"No," says Yaten.

"We are the true sailor soldiers!!" says Rei. "So, who are you!?"

"Well," Yaten says, "what if we were impostors?"

"That would make you our enemies!!" says Minako. "We defeat our enemies!! Venus Crystal Power!"

"Mars Crystal Power!"

"Make Up!!"

They transform into their super sailor suits.

"We don't intend to pick fights indiscriminately!" they say. "We just want to know who you really are. If you have sailor soldier names, transform right here and show us! Come on, now!"

Yaten, Seiya, and Taiki each hold up a winged star emblem.

"Healer Star Power!"

"Fighter Star Power!"

"Maker Star Power!"

"Make Up!!"

Rei and Minako stare at the flash of bright light.

"I can feel it..." Rei says. "The power of stars. There's no mistaking it, those are crystals with star power! There's no mistaking it, it's the same sailor make up as our crystal powers!"

The Sailor Starlights stand before them.

"We, and the enemy sailor soldiers," says Seiya. "We are not just impostors, sailor soldiers in name only."

"But!" says Minako. "If you're real sailor soldiers...!"

"Sailor Mars," says Taiki, lifting a tarot card from Rei's blouse. "The card after Death!"

The three Starlights jump from the roof of the school.

Rei stares at the tarot card.

"The Milky Way...!"

Minako runs to the edge of the roof and looks down. "The Sailor Starlights!!"

The three, in their school uniforms, walk calmly away from the building, soon attracting a crowd of admirers.

"Did you come from the Milky Way!?" thinks Rei. "Are there other sailor soldiers besides us in this galaxy...!?"

A strong wind blows through the air, and crows soar in the sky.

"Such a torrent of evil spirit...! That direction... Toward the Hikawa Shrine!?"

Rei's grandpa lies unconscious on the ground as crows flock overhead.

"The light of your starseeds is nearly mine," says Sailor Lead Crow. "What if you were to show yourselves to me? Phobos! Deimos!"

Two crows transform into raven-haired sprites and descend to the ground.

"Phobos, Deimos, it's been a while, hasn't it."

"Lead Crow...!"

"Phobos, Deimos," she says. "The divine, radiant princess of Mars in this solar system of the Milky Way was chosen for that power. She was given that name and the planet to go with it. You lucky twins became the princess' partners. You were training soldiers, watching each other dream. But it's not like that anymore! I am Sailor Lead Crow, a sailor soldier!"

"A sailor soldier!?"

"Living things in this galaxy all carry a starseed," Lead Crow says. "And among them are chosen starseeds. Those with sailor crystals can take the name of a sailor soldier!"

"Someone has become a sailor soldier on the planet Coronis," Phobos and Deimos say, "and taken the protection of our planet Coronis, and that's Sailor Coronis!"

"Galactica Tornado!"

The two sprites dodge out of the way, as a blast shoots past them and destroys the Hikawa Shrine.

"That power!?"

"Heh heh heh! Yes!" says Lead Crow. "I have obtained the power of a sailor crystal from Galaxia-sama! And in exchange for the crystals of this solar system's sailor soldiers, I will become a real sailor soldier, and be resurrected! Galaxia-sama has promised that I will have a planet all to myself! I swear my loyalty to Galaxia-sama!"

"You've betrayed our mother star and our allies, and Sailor Coronis!?"

"Our allies and Sailor Coronis are no more! Our mother star is no more!"

She thrusts her arm out, and Phobos and Deimos are disintegrated.

"Phobos! Deimos!" Rei calls.

She rushes toward the shrine with Minako.

"Mars Flame Sniper!!"

Lead Crow takes the two crystals from the sprites, and counters Rei's attack. She grabs Rei around the throat.

"Mars!!" Minako calls.

"Hold it!" yells Lead Crow. "If you move, I'll be sending her to join Phobos and Deimos! Ahahaha!"

The two crystals vanish.

"Damnit!" Minako says. "Sailor Moon!!"

Usagi looks up from her book at school. "Venus!?" When her soldiers call her name, Usagi always hears it.

"Shall I take it from the princess of Mars first..." says Lead Crow. "Or how about the princess of Venus?"

"No!" says Usagi. "You're next! Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!!"

Lead Crow is destroyed.

"Sailor Moon!!" Rei and Minako say.

They run toward Usagi.

A bright light flashes between them.

Galaxia appears through the light.

Rei and Minako's bodies are torn apart.

Usagi stares ahead blankly.

Ami and Makoto's bodies are torn apart as they clutch their chests.

"Usa," says Mamoru. "I love you."

He jerks back. His body begins to glow.

Seiya, Yaten, and Taiki look up.

Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna gasp as they reach the shrine.

"Heh heh heh..." says Galaxia, holding two more sailor crystals.

She fades away.

"Ahahahaha!"

Usagi reaches out.

"Venus...? Mars? Jupiter... Mercury... Mamo-chan...!

She loses consciousness and falls backwards.

"Sailor Moon!!"

The placid lake reflects the moonlight from the clear sky onto the Crystal Palace.

"A toast!"

"A toast to Princess Small-Lady Selenity!"

"Welcome home, Princess!"

Chibi-Usa stands in a white gown holding a glass, with Diana sitting on her shoulder.

"Small Lady," says King Endymion, holding out a bouquet of flowers. "The heroine at tonight's party is you."

"Welcome back, wondrous Princess," says Neo-Queen Selenity.

"Thanks, mom, dad!"

Lightning strikes outside.

"Thunderclouds? It was clear until a moment ago..."

Chibi-Usa sits on her bed, staring outside.

"Since I returned to the 30th century," she thinks, "the sky has been unstable."

She looks at the flowers sitting in vase beside her.

"I know. Tomorrow I'll take these flowers to Pluto. I'll ask her and see if nothing's changed..."

She carries the flowers through the halls of the palace. She approaches a door. She peeks through it.

"Space-time is beginning to distort!?" says Neo-Queen Selenity.

"Very far away in space-time," says Pluto, "an enormous maelstrom is emitting power. Disturbances are occurring in the past. If things continue like this... history might change!"

"What is happening in the past?" asks the Queen.

"I'm afraid that..."

They hear a noise and turn to the door, and see Chibi-Usa running away.

"Disturbances in the past!?" Chibi-Usa thinks. "History might change!? When in the past!? Oh no, has something happened to Sailor Moon and the others...!? Are they okay? Do they know? I have to go back to them!"

- "Small Lady," says the Queen. "Your training has been completed. You gave the space-time key back to Pluto. Now you must study many things here in the 30th century."

"But-!"

"Now, good night. Tomorrow you will begin your curriculum of education at the remote palace on the moon."

"Yes, mom," Chibi-Usa says.

Her mother leaves.

"But!" she thinks. "Can't I go back to the past anymore!? An enormous maelstrom!? What is it? An enemy!? Just what is happening in the past!? What did she mean by 'change history'!? I want to go back to them. I have a bad feeling about this."

"Small Lady..." thinks Diana.

"I want to go back!"

Usagi lies in bed.

"Let's go back to our castles," says Haruka. "We'll put up a shield inside the solar system."

"With just our power, a shield would be useless!" says Michiru.

"There's a risk it might break down the balance of the star system!" says Setsuna.

"We'll borrow the power of the sailor power guardians. That's all we can do to keep out any more invaders. And let's get the cooperation of the Sailor Starlights. We'll get data on the sailor soldiers throughout the galaxy. We will find out what's going on. The next battle will show how strong we really are. Luna, Artemis, take care of Hotaru and the Princess for a little while."

Hotaru holds the two cats. "Be careful."

Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna disappear.

"Now, this way," Usagi's mom says. She shows Seiya, Yaten, and Taiki into the house. "I think she'll be awake soon. I wonder what's wrong with her. She fell ill quite suddenly."

She opens the door to Usagi's room.

Chibi-Chibi is sitting on her knees at Usagi's bedside.

She turns to them.

Seiya's eyes meet with hers.

"Oh, Chibi-Chibi-chan," says Ikuko. "You were in Usagi's room. Want a snack?"

"All right!"

She gets up and runs to Ikuko.

"That girl...?" Seiya thinks.

Usagi slowly opens her eyes.

The three approach her.

"I remember," she says. "At the airport, Mamo-chan, right before my eyes... I didn't want to believe it, my- my own memory... That woman, she smiled, as Mamo-chan... Venus and Mars... So that's Galaxia?"

"Yes, it is," says Seiya. "She is your strongest enemy."

"Where is she?"

Seiya pauses.

"Is she a sailor soldier too?" Usagi asks. "If she's a sailor soldier, why is she attacking us!? Does she want a fight!?"

"It's not only you," says Taiki. "Galaxia is attacking all the sailor soldiers in the galaxy. Perhaps to stand at the top of all sailor soldiers."

"All the sailor soldiers in the galaxy? There are sailor soldiers besides us in the galaxy?"

"Yes. Like us. And on our planet, too, our princess has been attacked by Galaxia."

"Attacked..." says Usagi. "Tell me, are Mamo-chan, Venus and the others, are all their bodies destroyed? What's going on?"

"...Death, as a human," says Yaten.

"Death? They're dead...?"

"Only their flesh is destroyed, Sailor Moon. All that is a sailor soldier is inside the sailor crystals. The crystals of unknown power, the sailor crystals, won't disappear! And so, Galaxia is only coming after the sailor crystals!"

"That's enough for now," says Luna. "You should be going home."

The three go to leave Usagi's room.

As Seiya reaches the door, he notices an incense burner on Usagi's dresser.

"Sailor Moon."

He tosses a tarot card to her.

"Galaxia is in there." They leave.

Usagi looks at the picture on the card.

"Looks like a large, blazing star. Is this... the galaxy? The center of the galaxy...? The cards I've been getting, they weren't Mamo-chan, they were Seiya-kun...?"

The three stare at Usagi's house from outside.

"Are you certain?"

"There was a faint remnant of fragrant olive scent..." says Seiya. "And that incense burner. I'm certain."

"I'm taking roll," the teacher says. "Aikawa!"

"Here."

"Aino!"

Usagi gasps.

"Aino?"

"Sh- she's absent!" Usagi says.

"I see. Iida!"

"Here!"

Usagi looks down. "Mina-P... Ami-chan...! Mako-chan...! Rei-chan...!"

"I know it's sudden," says the teacher, "but I have a transfer student to introduce. She's from Libya."

"I'm Suzu Nyanko!" says the girl with two points of black hair shaped like cat ears. "Nice to meet you all!"

"Transfer student?" thinks Seiya.

"Suzu lived for three years in Libya at a foreign trader's. Please tell her all about this school and our classes."

The girl runs over to Usagi.

"Hey! Hey!" she says. "That dumpling head is cute! I'd like to have that too, mew. You've got to tell me how to braid that sometime, Usagi-chan."

"Uh... Sure, okay."

She sees all the girls gathering around Seiya, Yaten, and Taiki.

"What the-? They're loud, meeew."

"Don't you know?" one of the girls says. "They're the Three Lights! They're mega-popular idols. You must have just transferred here recently."

"Hmph."

"Hey there, Suzu-san," says a boy. "Nyanko, that's a cute name! Do you like cats?"

She turns away from him coolly.

"The only ones you can believe in are your fellow girls, I think," she says to Usagi. "But, Usagi-chan..."

She glances at the Three Lights.

"Those who wear boys clothes despite being girls... You shouldn't trust what they say, mew."

"Suzu-san?"

"That transfer student," says Seiya. "She smells strong of alien pheromones."

"So they've even slipped into the school," says Taiki.

"Well then," says Seiya.

"Right!" says Yaten.

"Let's go!" says Taiki.

They disappear.

The three outer soldiers descend to their castles, orbiting their respective planets.

"This brings back memories," Setsuna says. "The day has come that I've come again to Charon Castle. Slipping from this solar system, the ruler of the Silver Millennium, Queen Selenity, gave us at the time of our birth these castles."

A miniature version of herself appears in a ball of light.

"I have been waiting, Princess Pluto."

"Guardian Pluto," says Setsuna.

"A call from Princess Uranus has arrived."

They go to a large viewscreen.

"Pluto, we'll prepare the shield soon," says Haruka.

"Wait," says Setsuna. "I want to investigate the meteor data."

"Meteors?"

"For several months, meteors have been raining hard on Earth. That abnormal Sagittarius Alpha meteor shower." She begins typing into the computer. "All the meteors have exceeded escape speed from the solar system. The power of these stars, it's power not of this solar system. It can't be... Stars from space far beyond our solar system? Then... They're invading Earth posing as meteor showers...!"

"So, Pluto?" says Haruka. "Where are the soldiers of the Shadow Galactica from?"

"The Milky Way," says Setsuna. "From the Milky Way."

Galaxia appears behind Setsuna.

"Who's there!?"

Setsuna fades away.

"Princess!?" Guardian Pluto calls.

She disappears.

Haruka stares at the blank viewscreen.

"Pluto!?"

Chibi-Chibi plays in the sand with Hotaru and Luna.

Hotaru gets up, and vanishes.

"Hotaru!?" says Luna. "Has something happened to Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto!?"

Usagi stares out from the roof of Juuban High.

"Death, as a human."

"They're dead," she thinks. "Mamo-chan, Ami-chan, Mako-chan, Rei-chan, Mina-P... I can't believe it."

"Only their flesh is destroyed."

"Does death call so quickly and abruptly?

"All that is a sailor soldier is inside the sailor crystals," Yaten said.

"Were bodies not essential for us? I'm scared... What's going to happen to us now...?"

The two cats rush to the school.

"Artemis!"

"Luna...!"

"I feel it. It can't be, but... Why would someone with the same power as us be here?"

"Usaaagi-chan!" Nyanko says, hugging her tightly.

"Nyanko-chan?"

"Say, today let's go to your place. I want to go hang out with you, mew. Sparrows would be nice for dinner, mew..."

"No!!" call the two cats.

"Artemis!? Luna!?"

"Show your true form! You fake cat!"

Chibi-Chibi sleeps by the table.

"Give us that incense burner."

She looks up and sees the Three Lights appear.

"Come on," says Seiya.

Chibi-Chibi stands up between them and the burner and holds her arms out.

"No!" she says. "No! No! Nooo!"

Mist begins to seep out from the incense burner, and a woman appears, veiled in the mist.

"It's all right, Chibi-Chibi-chan," the woman says. "These people are my special friends."

She becomes solid, wearing an exotic red dress and a silver headpiece. A red flower shape appears on her forehead beneath her red hair.

The Three Lights gasp.

"Princess!"

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