Stars in a New Sky

Chapter 29: Failure

Failure had never tasted so bitter as it did the night the Sailor Guardians returned from the Dark Kingdom. They collapsed to the ground the second they teleported into the training room at HQ. A funereal pall had fallen over the five girls as the night's events weighed heavy on their hearts. Usagi's stricken face was wet with tears. They streamed down her face in glistening rivulets. She stared at her shaking hands, hands that only moments ago held Mamoru.

She squeezed her eyes shut as memories of his smiling face and teasing laughter filled her thoughts. A strangled cry erupted from her throat as she covered her face with her hands and sobbed. She could feel warm arms wrap comfortingly around her. She was grateful she had the girls with her, but it wasn't the same. It felt as if there was a hole deep inside her. A black hole that threatened to swallow all light.

"We'll get him back." Minako murmured as she rubbed Usagi's back. "I promise." 

Usagi nodded weakly as the physical and emotional exhaustion finally caught up with her. She went limp in their arms as unconsciousness claimed her. Mako lifted Usagi in her arms, preparing to take her to the infirmary until she woke up. She paused as Nyx slipped into the room.

Her impassive face was impossible to read. Her black eyes took stock of their number, narrowing when she noted who was missing. "I take it things did not go according plan."

" 'According to plan'? No, it did not go according to plan!!" Rei shrieked, sorrow and fury warring in her face. She rose, fists clenched at her sides. "Takeshi is dead and Mamoru was taken! Things did NOT go according to plan! I'm starting to think you don't have a damn plan at all!"

"Rei." Ami reached out a restraining hand for Rei's arm.

Rei jerked her arm loose. "No! We've been training and following everything these so called goddesses have been telling us and where has it gotten us?! Usagi almost died, Mamoru is missing, and Takeshi...Take-shi..." Her voice broke as tears spilled down her face.

Nyx stared unwaveringly at the Sailor Guardian's outburst. "This is war. Death is the risk you run in battle." She folded her arms over her chest, hating herself even as she continued. "Has it not occurred to you that some of you might not survive?"

"How can you be so heartless?" Mako snapped, brow furrowed with outrage. 

Minako sighed. "But she's right."

"How can you side with her?!" Mako demanded.

"I'm not siding with her." She replied coolly. "I despise the position we're in, playing the longest game of catch-up. But she is right. Last time we faced the Dark Kingdom, none of us survived. We barely made it out alive ourselves this time. The next time we face Metalia we need to be prepared to lay down our lives...whatever it takes to give Usagi a shot at taking her down once and for all."

"Then we'll just have to be ready when we face her again." Ami interrupted calmly. Though she still looked pale from their ordeal, there was a firmness in her voice. "We're not going to let Mamoru suffer in darkness, are we?"

Minako gave a small smile. "No, we're not. Our princess wouldn't allow it."

*** 

"How is she?"

Nyx glanced down as Luna's sleek body wound past her legs. She wasn't surprised at the familiar's presence at HQ. The Sailor Guardians had spent nearly every day they weren't fighting Metalia's demons training in the underground facility. She had never seen five young women fight so hard. Even their joyful, care-free princess had gained a new intensity. Although, nothing could hide the dark shadows under her eyes.

"As well as can be expected. This doesn't happen often, so I don't know how long she has left." The erstwhile Goddess of the Moon lay still as if she were asleep. She was alive, but only just. After Takeshi activated her power in the Dark Kingdom, Selene had fallen into a deep sleep. She could vanish at any moment or sleep for eternity. Selene's very existence depended upon the moon. As long as is silver light shone in the night sky, there was chance Selene wouldn't vanish entirely.