Racing Against Time: Save the King and Queen!

[Crystal Sailor Pluto]

Setsuna became more nervous the longer they were out there. What could have happened? Could something have happened to Small Lady? Were some of her concerns coming true? Was that the real Helios or was he an imposter sent by Mila to come and harm them?

She tried to calm herself and be patient, for it was normally one of her strong suits. She placed the small stone on the armrest and leaned her head back against the sofa. She felt a sudden movement from the children, and she placed her hands on her abdomen beneath the blanket, softly rubbing it in circular motions. "All will be fine, babies." She spoke to them quietly, relaxing a bit more to know that they were still with her.

She listened closely to see when someone would return, and hopefully it would be soon.


* *

 

[Crystal_Sailor_Jupiter]

Pegasus lowered his eyes. "Makoto-San, are you still able to transform into Sailor Jupiter?"

Queen Makoto blinked at the sudden question. "Helios?"

Pegasus looked at her. "I fear there may not be much time left. Mila is merely using Small Lady and I as bait for Neo-Sailor Moon. She wants to lure her out and try to kill her. But you just said you know where she has taken us, correct? If you can still transform..."

Queen Makoto shook her head. "I cannot. The rest of my powers as well as the ability to transform was lost when Miaka was born. I am no longer Sailor Jupiter. The others all lost their powers too. I'm afraid there's nothing I can do to help but to send someone else in our stead to rescue you both."

"I'll go."

Pegasus and Queen Makoto looked over as Rina got up and turned to them, a determined look on her face. "I'll go to D-Point. I swear on my life that I will save you Papa!"  

[GS Tiger Eye]

"Not without me your not." He came up behind Rina and touched her shoulder. "I'm going too, kid."  

[Crystal Sailor Pluto]

Setsuna couldn't stand it any longer, for in a rage of hormones, her normal patience was no longer present. She took a couple of tries, gripping the arm rest first with one arm, failing to pull herself out of the cushion that she'd sunk into. She used both arms, manuvering around her swollen abdomen to finally pull herself to the edge, then push herself up with a few uncomfortable groans.

She stood there for a moment, brushing the back of her hand over her forehead, ruffling her bangs. She picked up the blanket, then draped it over her shoulders. She then remembered Miaka's green stone, and looked to see where it had gone. She had knocked it onto the floor, and this made her sick, for she knew that Miaka's precious soul was encased within.

She hastily glanced around before spotting it upon the carpet below. She held her belly with one hand, slowly inching towards the floor to pick the stone up with the other. By this time, she was perspiring again, but she did not let it phase her as she scooped up the stone. "I'm so sorry Miaka. I almost lost you." She regained her standing position, holding the stone close as she clasped the blanket around her.

She slowly walked out of the room, then turned to come to the large front doors, which luckily, were wide open, and she could see everyone.She only caught the tail-end of what Tiger was saying, and she spoke up. "Going?" She stood in the doorway, looking at the vision of Helios, only now noticing that he too was not the real thing, but a projection of his own energy, much like Miaka had been from her stone.


* *

 

[Crystal_Sailor_Jupiter]

Rina shook her head at Tiger. "No. You need to stay here with Setsuna-Sama. She needs you more than I do." She looks over to see Setsuna in the doorway. "I think she's worried about you. Besides, you don't even know where to go."

Queen Makoto looked at Rina. "You don't know where to go either. You can't go alone, Rina. You're not strong enough to face Mila by yourself."

Rina lowered her head. "Miaka....no. Sailor Evolution. You can hear us, right?"

The little crystal glowed, and Sailor Evolution's image appeared, bowing down to Rina. "Yes, Princess. What can I do for you?"

Rina turned. "You are connected to Mila, correct? So you'd know exactly where D-Point is, won't you?"

Sailor Evolution's image nodded. "That's correct. Though at this point, guiding you is about all I can do for you, Princess."  

[Crystal Sailor Pluto]

"No! I want Tiger to go with Rina." She insisted, giving her husband a glance. "Please. I wish for him to be with you. I can't bear for you to be out there on your own, Rina." Her eyes lingered on Tiger for a moment, noticing now that he was still wearing that ridiculous loin cloth, and spoke to him firmly as though she were addressing one of her children. "Tiger. Please get dressed. Remember the suitcases in the GChron."

Setsuna found herself shaking, holding the crystal from which Miaka's image appeared once again. She did not want Rina to do this, for what she could read of the girl's aura, there was no way she would stand a chance against Mila in her present state. This was considering that Rina didn't have some unlocked, hidden power within her, which was also entirely possible. Still, this deeply worried Setsuna, shaking her to the core, for she had already lost Small Lady, and Rina was the last piece of her she had left.

"Please, Rina. Don't just run off without considering your options. Sometimes we must stop and think." She wanted to do anything she could to help Rina, but she feared that in her present state she sounded much more like a scolding mother rather than sounding helpful. With this in mind, she shut her mouth, carefully walking down the steps to hand Miaka's stone to Rina. "Here you are." She said simply, stepping back from her as she continued to hold the blanket draped over her shoulders.

* *

 

[GS Tiger Eye]

"Ok ok." He held up his hands in defeat and went over to their vehicle and got in and changed. He came out now wearing black slacks with shined black boots and a faded red button up shirt looking very sexy. "So." He went to Setsuna. "You want me to go? You sure?" He looked down at her and put his arm around her.  

[Crystal_Sailor_Jupiter]

"She won't be going alone."

Rina looked over as Ayami emerged in the doorway, gently brushing past Setsuna and walking over to Rina, who stare as Ayami bowed to her.

"Aya-Chan?"

Ayami stood, and a bright light enveloped her before she appeared again as a sailor senshi in blue and white. Rina smiled as Ayami took her place by her side and addressed Pegasus.

"Your Majesty, allow me to accompany Neo-Sailor Moon in Tiger-Sama's stead. He is needed here, with Setsuna-Sama. I swear on my life and on my duty as one of her guardians, I will protect her at all costs! I will make sure we save you and Her Majesty!"

Pegasus looked at Ayami. "And what of Miaka? Will you save her as well? He looked over to Sailor Evolution's image.

Sailor Evolution shook her head. "There is no need to ask that of her, Your Majesty. That responsibility does not lie with her, nor with Neo-Sailor Moon. I will find a way to rid my body of Mila's presence."  

[Crystal Sailor Pluto]

Setsuna was about to speak, but she stopped at the sudden warmth of Tiger's closeness. It never ceased to amaze her how warm Tiger would stay, while she was naturally more cold natured herself. "By the gods..." She exclaimed slightly breathless as she drew herself closer to him, not realizing just how cold she had been.

She buried her face against his shirt, warming her face for a moment as she listened to the conversation. She felt much calmer now, and she noticed that the babies seemed to relax as well, save the occasional nudge to the rib. She looked up to notice Ayami appear, brushing past her, and reveal her senshi form before them.

She turned her attention back to Tiger, answering his question. "Yes. I would like for you to go." She stepped forward, speaking to her friends once more. "Please. If I cannot go and protect you, my Tiger sure can." She clasped her hands together, taking a deep, calm sigh. "It isn't as though I don't believe in you girls, but you're both still so young. To face a foe such as this...is a death sentence."

She couldn't help but think about the foes that the original inner senshi had faced years ago when they were first starting out. Whether or not they were ready for them was irrelevant, for they all had faced them together, and had faced the burden as a team. There were only two of them there on earth...not counting Miaka. They needed as much help as she could give them. "Please take my Tiger with you."

* *

 

[GS Tiger Eye]

"Setsu..." He kept a close eye on her but didnt know what to do. "You know I'll do anything you ask." He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck and ruffled his hair. "Its just....uh....who's gonna take care of you? I mean...you are full of cubs." He didnt know he had a blush on his face.  

[Crystal_Sailor_Jupiter]

"I'll take care of her, Tiger. She and your cubs will be safe with me."

Queen Makoto stepped over to Setsuna's side, putting an arm around her shoulders.

Rina transforms into Neo-Sailor Moon and looks over at Sailor Snow (Ayami). They nod to each other.

"It looks like we don't have a choice." Neo-Sailor Moon goes up to Setsuna and hugs her. "Take care, Setsuna-Sama. We'll be back soon with Mama and Papa."

She nods at Tiger and walks back to Sailor Snow. Sailor Evolution's image disappeared as the two senshi smiled and looked back at everyone.

"Now!" Rina exclaimed.

A staff appeared in Sailor Snow's hand. She raised it in the air and clouds formed in the sky.

"Blizzard!"

A sudden blinding snowstorm envelopes everyone, strong enough to obscure a person's vision, then disappears. Sailor Snow and Neo-Sailor Moon are gone.  

[Tsun-Magical]

Usagi had stayed a few more moments with Endymion after their talk with Ayami. She was still working out her feelings, her emotions on edge with all that had happened. All in one day she had angered Ayami who is like a daughter to her and lost Chibi-usa and Helios. It was all too much, and even as Ayami seemed to finally understand, she was having problems forgiving herself for ever letting this happen. Taking in a deep breath, she moves to wipe away the tears that had began to glisten in her bright blue eyes. "Sorry, I suppose we should get back to the others." She says this to Mamoru, moving to unfold her arms from across her chest as she had been hugging them around herself. She moves to adjust her long flowing white dress before turning to give her husband a smile, or at least the best one she can manage. "I want to really make sure Ayami is alright, and that Rina is dealing well. I," She pauses, not speaking any further as to avoid upsetting herself again, instead she just breaths in and turns to leave to go back to the sitting room where they had left the others.

Arriving in the room, and finding no one, she is a bit confused. Her long silver ponytails sweep the floor as she looks around, her eyes finally falling on the doors leading to outside. She barely catches the clouds forming, then the two young senshi disappearing. Her eyes go large as she hurries to the doors, running out to stand with Setsuna and Makoto. "No, where are they going? What is going on?" The Queen looks to her friends, her heart feeling as though it is breaking again as she has not the slightest idea as to where they are going and why. She felt horribly out of the loop and confused, her mind swirling from today's events.

 

[Crystal Sailor Pluto]

For a moment, Setsuna was comforted by Makoto's willingness to be with her, especially if Tiger was going to be away. It eased her mind to think that Mako-chan still cared for her after all that had transpired. She soon found herself distracted by her husband's words though.

"Full of cubs???" Setsuna did not know what came over her, but she suddenly felt a rage of anger well up within her, boiling over in a mixture of hormones and hunger. "It feels like an entire litter." She fumed at him, pointing her finger in his face then poking him hard in the middle of his chest with it. "Do you have any idea what it's like to carry your cubs?" Her tanned cheeks were hot and red with fury as she glared at him, unceasing as she continued to poke him. "Hmmm? Hmmmmm?"

She could not continue her rant, for the two young senshi had promptly said their goodbyes and disappeared in a gust of powerful wind and snow. Before she could blink, they were both gone. She soon found herself more concerned for them, for they were still so young with such a heavy burden upon their shoulders to undertake such a mission. In her pondering, Setsuna did not even notice Neo Queen Serenity had joined them at this point, and returned to her previous enraged mood for a few more moments.

Ashamed at her own feelings, Setsuna stepped back from her husband, taking a deep breath before turning her cherry eyes up to him in sorrow. "I'm sorry Tiger. I don't know what came over me." She took a deep sigh, gently pulling away from Makoto's grasp to embrace Tiger, slowly burying her face against his generous warmth, for the leftover cold from Ayami's blizzard left her shivering once again.

She had to admit that having him here with her was good, but she silently scolded herself for thinking so selfishly, for what if the girls needed his help? There was nothing that could be done now.



* *

 

[GS Tiger Eye]

He smiled uneasily and held his hands up like he was being arrested. "I give I give!" At first he didnt know why the girls didnt take him along but he noticed Setsuna prolly needed him more right now. "It's ok Setsu." He wrapped his arms around her and squished her against him but he was careful not to squeeze too hard for the cubs. He nuzzled his face against her hair.  

[Crystal_Sailor_Jupiter]

"RINA!!!! AYAMI!!!" Queen Makoto held out a hand towards the girls as the blizzard suddenly swarmed them. She closed her eyes and covered her face until it passed. When she opened their eyes, they were gone.

"Girls....why?" Makoto's hands fisted on her dress.


Sailor Evolution's image appeared in front of them.

"Do not worry, everyone. I will protect them at all costs. I promise we'll all come back safe." She disappeared as quickly as she came.



The two senshi found themselves standing in what seemed to be a deserted winter abyss. The only thing that could be seen for miles around was just snow-covered terrain with mountains off in the distance. No trees, no houses; only the sound of the wind kept them company as they looked around.

"Where are we, Sailor Snow?" Neo Sailor Moon asked.


Sailor Snow holds out her hand and a small blue compact appeared in her hand. The symbol was that of Sailor Mercury's. Neo Sailor Moon gasped.

"Is...Is that?!"

Sailor Snow nodded. "Queen Ami of the planet Mercury gave this to me for my 10th birthday. She said I would have need for it someday."

She began typing into it, paused for a moment until the compact beeped. "D-Point is 50 miles to the north of here. She pointed to their right. "Let's go, Neo Sailor Moon."