In the Darkest Forest

Title: In the Darkest Forest
Author: kazeko
Show: Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
Rating: PG 13
Series: kinda part of CAS 5
Chapters: 1
Couples: Usagi/Mamoru, Haruka/Michiru, Urakaze/Masako, Asakaze/Rikuriko
Timeline: "The Last Sacrifice: The End of the Silver Millennium", "CAS 1: The Trouble with Love is the Lovers", "CAS 2: To Defy Destiny", "Every Cloud", "Crystal Shards", "CAS 3: Unwilling Accomplice", "Our Past 1: The Reason We Fight", "CAS 4: Princess of Light", "Our Past 2: The Reason We Still Fight", "Our Past 3: The Reason We Fought", "CAS 5: One Last Shining Star", "In the Darkest Forest", "Destiny or Duty", "Desperately Searching", "Kazeko", "Chronicles of the Star Senshi"
Time: Episode 200

---

In the depths of the darkest forest, feared by humans, the creatures inside worshipped by them, stood a very old, very wise willow tree, her bark scored by centuries of storms and Jaguarets, a secret hollow above her largest branch. One of the Jaguarets lounged there, amber eyes half-closed, thinking. Without warning, the half-human, half-feline stood and stretched, walking out onto the limb, the claws on her human-like back feet digging into the thin bark, the fur across her belly shifting with her strong muscles. She twitched her pointed ears, pushing her long brown hair over her shoulders. There was something she was supposed to do, something very important, but she couldn't remember.

Makoto jumped to the ground, slipping through the forest on four legs, tiny pink nose twitching, whiskers trembling. There was someone she should be looking for, someone she needed to protect, but she couldn't remember what. Hissing, she stopped by the side of the water and began to clean her russet-spotted fur. Pausing, she watched as an amphibious creature slipped onto the opposite bank, long, rudder-like tail shaking, eyes two deep orbs taking up most of her face. She was covered in shining skin, gills on her neck fluttering, staring at Makoto. "Who . . . Mako-chan?"

"Ami-chan? What are we doing here? Where are we?"

The former Water Senshi swam back to Makoto's bank, glancing at her webbed hands. "I don't know. I can't call my computer. What's the last thing you remember?"

"It wasn't being a cat! Let me think." Makoto closed her emerald eyes, trying to let her memories return to the last thing she did before waking up in that tree. "We were . . . the Starlights were fighting Galaxia and we rushed in to save those ungrateful women. But our powers were not strong enough . . . she killed us, Ami!" Makoto shot to her feet, spinning wildly, frantically searching for her princess. "We left Usagi all alone! We have to go back, we have to save her!"

"We can't, Mako-chan," Ami whispered. "She took our Star Seeds; we're dead. We can't do anything for Usagi. If she's still alive, it's up to her and the Outer Senshi to save the world."

"Don't forget the Starlights. Seiya-kun at least will help Usagi; he likes her." Ami slipped out of the water and stood up, water cascading off her smooth skin. "But maybe we can find the others."

"As half-animals? You must be joking. Ami-chan . . . I don't think you can walk that far. Maybe if we follow the river out of the forest, you can stay in the water."

Ami leaned over the water and held her palm over the still surface, watching as it changed, an image forming. Usagi was kneeling in front of Galaxia's throne, little Chibi Chibi in her arms, the Starlights behind her. Makoto found her eyes drawn to the Star Seeds floating in front of the evil queen, instantly knowing which one was hers. She looked away from the four new crystals, staring at the brilliant golden stone glowing in the center. The look on Usagi's face . . . Galaxia's evil laugh filling the room . . .

"Kami-sama," Makoto whispered, scattering the image with an angry slap of her long tail. "That bitch killed him."

"Killed who?" For once, the young genius was at a loss.

"Mamoru-kun. The golden one . . . that was his Star Seed."

"Poor Usagi . . . no wonder he never called her, never wrote back. He must have . . . she must have killed him not long after he left. Poor Usagi."

"We have to find him, Ami-chan. He's been here the longest; maybe he knows how to get back to her."

Ami shook her head as she slipped back into the water, heading downstream and out of the forest. If Mamoru knew how to get back to Usagi, he would have left already.

They emerged on an empty plain, the river dumping into a shallow lake. Ami and Makoto kid in the shadows of the trees as a woman, half gazelle, slipped into the grass, pale blue eyes searching for danger. With more grace than Minako had possessed as a human, the woman slipped into the grasses, tiny black horns poking out of her long golden hair, long, pointed ears pricked, listening for any danger.

A rustling in the grass warned the three women of company as a long, sinuous, reptile slithered through the grass, rearing up just in front of the gazelle, Rei's red-tinted black hair hanging down her back, red scales glistening in the light. Minako stared, shocked, the sight of the miko bringing back her memories of life. Rei pulled back, both spinning to stare at Ami and Makoto. Then all four of them leapt into motion, crying and hugging each other, knowing without question that they were dead, that they had failed Usagi.

They sat in a small circle in the center of the field, silently reflecting on their deaths, wondering where they were, wondering how to save their princess. A humming sound caught their attention, and a very familiar girl approached the group, covered in tiny purple-black scales, long insect wings folded along her spine. Little Hotaru was crying, her sobs quieting as she let Rei embrace her. "They betrayed us," she whispered. "Haruka-papa and Michiru-mama killed Setsuna-mama and me." A soft sound in the trees announced the arrival of Setsuna, her human features delicately merged with that of a great horned owl, tufts of feathers peeking out from where her ears should be. She watched with soulful red eyes as the Inner Senshi surrounded Hotaru, embracing her, careful that their claws and hooves didn't injure the girl.

"Then all is lost." A beautiful red butterfly landed on the plain, the dead princess calm despite the crisis. The Senshi of Sol reigned in their emotions as the foreign princess landed, folding her wings. "We never found the Light of Hope, and now your princess has no protectors save my last three Senshi. But they are weary, afraid to fight Galaxia, all feeling that they failed me in some way. I can only hope that Uranus and Neptune see the error of their ways before the end."

"They did not betray us," Setsuna whispered, her voice reaching the Senshi as she landed beside them, hanging her head. Nudging the Inners away, the dead Senshi of Time brushed clear a patch of dirt with her long feathers, watching as it turned into a mirror back to the living world, all of the Senshi and the princess leaning forward to watch as Uranus and Neptune attacked Usagi and the Starlights again and again, no soul in their eyes, Galaxia's bracelets on their wrists. Rei clenched her fists, fury in her purple eyes, as a huge explosion colored the mirror red, the Starlights circling Usagi and little Chibi Chibi before they flew into the sky.

They couldn't hear what the senshi said as Usagi stood, staring at the pair that had once been her allies. As one, obeying Galaxia's command without question, Uranus and Neptune raised their arms, prepared to kill their princess, Eternal Sailor Moon. The Inners leaned forward, staring at their mutated hands, wishing they could do something to keep Usagi from joining them. "Please," Minako whispered, blue eyes closing, "please wake up, Haruka-san, Michiru-san. She is your princess, and I know you love her. She is not your enemy; Galaxia is."

Shocked, the Inners watched, breathless, as light entered Haruka and Michiru's eyes, as they regained control of their own bodies, as if they had heard Minako's plea. Knowing each other's thought as only such close lovers could, they turned and sent their attack at Galaxia, sacrificing their future in one last attempt to kill their enemy. But it didn't work. Galaxia had no star seed, and she laughed as she took her bracelets from the last two senshi's wrists. They fell together, whispering something to Eternal Sailor Moon and the Starlights, reaching for each other as they began to fade. Their fingers touched as they completely faded, together in death as they had tried to be in life.

"Kami-sama," Rei whispered, looking away. "They . . . they always fought like that. They never put their lives or their happiness above our princess and the survival of our world. But this time the enemy was too strong for them. They'll be here soon."

"Michiru-san will be half-fish," Ami whispered. "I'll go back to the lake and wait for her. Keep your eyes on the sky for Haruka-san." She slithered off, leaving the other Inners in silence.

Makoto twitched her ears, glancing into the clouds, green eyes shrunk to slits. "She's here," the half-jaguar hissed, tail swishing. All eyes turned toward the sky as a huge eagle broke through the clouds, landing only a few feet away, emerald eyes glaring at them as she folded her wings. Recognition dawned in the depths of those raptor eyes, and Haruka gasped, falling backwards as she attempted to fly away. "Haruka, wait!"

The eagle froze as Makoto sauntered up to her, embracing the taller woman. "What? Where am I? I thought I died."

"You did," Minako whispered, tears in her blue eyes as she embraced the wind senshi. "We saw what you did for our princess, and we're proud of you."

"Proud? It didn't work! We wasted everything, killed Setsuna and Hotaru, attacked our princess, and Galaxia killed us."

"She hasn't won yet," Kakyuu pointed out. "As long as Sailor Moon lives, there is some hope for your world."

"Not enough," a bitter voice growled from the edge of the dark forest. Rei, Setsuna, and Hotaru were at the water's edge, the adults helping Ami lift the mermaid as Hotaru hugged her mother and assured her that she was forgiven. All activity ceased at the voice, eyes turning to its source. Haruka flapped her wings twice and landed by Ami's side, pulling Michiru into her arms as the other Senshi gathered around them. "She is strong, and she has gotten stronger with her new powers, but she is not powerful enough to defeat Galaxia," the voice continued, two dark blue eyes glowing from the forest. "She does not see it, of course. She was always so naïve, so innocent, so pure, and she will never believe that she can't win. She will fight until her last breath fades, then she will fall to Galaxia's hand. When Usako dies, the earth is doomed."

"Mamoru-kun," Minako whispered as a half-wolf emerged from the grasses. "You . . . how long have you been here?"

"A very long time. She killed me long ago, and I have explored this place forever, but I always come back here. And I was hoping that none of you would ever come, but now you all failed her, now you are here, dead, with me."

"She was too strong," Haruka whispered, shaking her head. "There was nothing we could do. All we can do is watch her die."

Mamoru growled, slamming his fists into the grass. "I can't believe that! After all these years, after all the enemies we fought, this one, the one that none of us saw coming, is the one that kills my beautiful Usako."

"There is one thing you can do." A bright light appeared in the center of the field, fading to reveal three forms that Haruka and Michiru recognized immediately.

"Urakaze-kun," Michiru breathed. "Asakaze-san, Rikuriko-san! I . . . we never thought we would see you again."

"And you wouldn't have," the leader of the three admitted, crossing his arms over his chest. He no longer wore the blue sash of the Omicron Cupids, instead wearing gold and red that identified him as a minor God, watching over the entire world with his father, grandfather, and great-grandmother. "However, the loss of Star Seeds throughout the galaxy has worried the gods." He gestured toward Asakaze and Rikuriko, smiling despite the current crisis. "All of the Cupids are in Tokyo, waiting for our signal to send all of the power that they possess into Sailor Moon, giving her enough love power to free the tyrant from the evil and save the world. However, we need your help."

"Our help? Urakaze-kun, you're a god. What do you need from us?"

"Your love. Your love for each other and for your princess. You have to give it all to us, to her, but you have to relinquish your guilt for that." Urakaze pointed at the animal features all of the senshi wore, waving his hand to create a mirror to the living world in the air, watching as Sailor Moon fought Galaxia/Chaos with a silver sword.

"Our guilt?"

"Yes, Mamoru," Asakaze smiled. "You and Usagi are my charge, you know. I brought you together, so long ago. I know that you feel guilty that you let her down. All I can tell you is that there was nothing more you could do. Usagi needs you now, free of doubt. As for the rest of you, I'm not your Cupid, but I do know that you love her and you want to save her from everything. Try to remember that she will be a queen one day and save this world from countless threats. She is strong, but she does not like to fight alone. Don't make her face Galaxia without you."

Urakaze wrapped one wing around Haruka's shoulders as the other senshi gathered in a circle near Asakaze and Rikuriko. "Look, I know what you're thinking. Sure, the others have nothing to be ashamed of, but you two actually betrayed Usagi, turned on her, killed your daughter and your best friend, and failed to destroy the monster." He placed a hand on Michiru's cheek, forcing the mermaid to look up at him. "You had already seen the Inners fall; you knew that Galaxia could destroy you with a thought, so you devised a better plan. You had to try everything, even if it meant betraying your princess."

"We should have learned from last time that betraying her never works," Haruka whispered, fanning her feathered tail in agitation. "Usagi is always right."

"Maybe, but your plan would have worked if Galaxia had a Star Seed. We are proud of you for trying, for sacrificing yourselves to save Usagi. Now she needs you again, and all you have to do is embrace the love you feel for each other, embrace the love you give her so freely, and she will succeed. You can only save the world by trusting in the power of your princess."

Haruka glanced at Michiru. "What do you think, Michi?"

"I think she can do it, Ruka. Let's try." Urakaze nodded and led the pair to the small group of Senshi, glancing at the mirror.

"She's ready. All of you, clear your minds and think of nothing but your princess and the love you have for her, for each other, for this planet. Let go of your guilt, your anger, your frustration, your fear, your despair . . . the Cupids only need your love."

Haruka closed her eyes, letting her thoughts rest on that one moment when she first knew that Usagi was the princess, when she first bowed to Sailor Moon, and she felt an itching cover her body. Ignoring it, she focused on that image of Usagi, glowing, slipping free of Michiru's grasp. A golden glow covered her body as her feathers began to fade, her fuku returning as the symbol of Uranus glowed from her forehead. Michiru's single fin split in a burst of aqua blue, the symbol of Neptune on her forehead. One-by-one, the other Senshi also returned to their human forms, the symbol of their planet on their forehead, Princess Kakyuu the last woman to send her love to the blonde princess. Mamoru closed his eyes, searched, but found nothing, no love, nothing but dark despair. He failed her, he left her alone, and he had nothing left to give.

"You do," Asakaze whispered. "I want you to remember when you went away, the day you left, when you gave Usagi that ring. Do you remember the joy in her eyes?"

"Yes. I love her, but I can't . . ."

"Remember her face, remember that kiss, the love she gave you. She'll love you forever, Mamoru, and if you never came back, she wouldn't have cared. She'd love you anyway. And the last thing you said before you died, Mamoru, what was it?"

"Usako . . ."

---

Masako shook her head, the young Cupid too tired to fight anymore, the last of her arrows spent. "We have nothing left to fight with. Chaos has won, Urakaze."

"She hasn't, my love. Here is the power of the Senshi and Usagi's prince. Send it to her, give her the power to break Chaos's spell."

Masako watched as a brilliant white light filled her hands, and she rose higher, tired wings finding just a little more strength. "CUPIDS! Everything you have, send it into Galaxia. We must break Chaos's hold! Now!" With that, thousands of invisible Cupid arrows assaulting the bat-winged woman, Masako threw all of the power she held at Usagi, watching as the princess's Star Seed glowed silver, the light becoming a white too brilliant to look at. As the light reached its brightest, Usagi's hand touched Galaxia's outstretched fingers, and the power holding the legendary strongest senshi shattered.

---

Galaxia flew away, the star seeds following her, and Usagi watched them leave. She sighed and looked away, alone in the sky, the four Cupids hovering near her in the air invisible to herbsad blue eyes. "Everyone, I hung in there," she whispered, "but I'm lonely. I'm not that strong! I'm alone, min'na!"

"Not for long," Urakaze whispered, waving his hand. Ten Star Seeds surrounded the floating princess, and Rei's loving voice filled the sky.

"You're not alone!"

"Min'na!"

"You're not alone, Usagi!" Eight of the Star Seeds resolved themselves into Senshi, gathered in front of and beside the princess as Mars repeated her assurance.

"Everyone is around you!"

"Rei-chan! Ami-chan!"

"We believed . . ."

". . . that you could do it, Usagi-chan!"

"Minako-chan! Mako-chan! Is this a dream?"

"It's not a dream," Uranus smiled. "You saved this world . . ."

". . . with your belief!"

"Haruka-san! Michiru-san!"

"Thank you, Usagi," Saturn grinned, glad to be free of that place.

"You did really well," Pluto added, amazed that Serenity could be so powerful.

"Hotaru-san! Setsuna-san! Min'na! I'm so happy!"

Urakaze waved his hand, releasing the last two Star Seeds as the Cupids leaned back and watched the scene unfold. "Usako."

"Chibi!"

Usagi froze, blue eyes wide, and she spun around, staring as her boyfriend and the little girl she had cared for so long materialized, Mamoru dressed in the suit of Prince Endymion. He continued, smiling. "This little girl guided me to you, Usagi."

"Mamo-chan . . ." Her voice was barely louder than a whisper.

"You did great, Usako!"

"Mamo-chan!" She flew into his arms, and the watching Cupids cheered, raising glasses of wine to toast the pair.

"Well, that went better than I expected."

Masako laughed. "Urakaze! I'm ashamed! To pretend like you planned all of this! We're lucky they were able to release their love to her."

"It wasn't luck, Masako," Eros's grandson whispered, eyes returning to the scene as Kakyuu rejoined her senshi. "The bond of love that joins them to her is beyond our comprehension. Perhaps Aphrodite might be able to predict the power of those hearts, but I never could. As long as they have each other, this world will be forever safe."

"I'll drink to that."

---

Owari