Jade covered his face with his hands, slumping against the wall. Nolan huddled close beside him, reaching out an arm to scoop the other man into half of an embrace.

The four waited in darkness until the delicate footsteps faded.

Nolan took a careful breath, trying not to breathe in the foul smell that permeated the warm air.

"Jade, you alright?"

As soon as he released his friend, Jade fell to his knees and tried not to throw up.

Neph knelt beside him, rubbing his back.

"It's ok. Just let it go."

"That was - " Zoe began, his face white, then he haltingly wiped his forehead.

Silent as a still pool, Kon crept around the base of the cavernish room to peer out the door the young woman had exited through. He gingerly avoided the burnt mass that had once been Jadeite. Before their eyes, as they waited in the darkness, the past Rei had awakened to her powers as a senshi for the first time - and had promptly immolated Jadeite on the spot. Now that she had gone, it was the perfect moment to escape.

"We've got to go now," he told the others.

"Did you hear that?" Nolan got an arm under Jade's elbow and heaved him up off the floor.

"She killed me," Jade managed to say. His eyes betrayed shock.

"It wasn't you," Nolan answered, "Remember - they aren't really us."

"But it looked like you," Zoe blurted out.

Nolan shot him a dirty look.

"Give me a hand," he snapped and, chastened, Zoe moved to support Jade on the other side, helping him to walk out.

"I never worried about death," Jade muttered, "I mean, I've always felt prepared - but I never thought I'd see myself being killed -"

"Not you," Nolan reminded him, "Just a shadow of you."

"By - by - Rei."

"She didn't know who you were anyway," Zoe put in, "Although it was possibly the most disturbing thing I've ever seen."

Jade dropped out of their grasps to collapse on the floor.

"What are we doing?" he asked.

Concerned, Nolan stooped beside him and called softly to Konnor. The eldest shitennou walked quietly back to them and knelt in front of Jade.

"What the hell are we doing? This is pointless."

Jade shook his head.

"There's no way to get back. There's no point in going on - what does it matter if we know our past now? No one else knows - no one else cares here. And we can't get ourselves back. Don't you understand?" he asked, angrily, "We can't get back! We're trapped!"

Konnor put a hand on his shoulder, but Jade threw it off. Konnor tried again, and Jade nearly hit him - they scuffled for a moment, Nolan and Zoe looking on worriedly, until Konnor finally pinned Jade's arms to his side and hugged him. Jade resisted, even in that iron embrace, but Konnor only said, looking over Jade's shoulder at the others:

"Listen, all of you. I know that you're afraid, and confused, and you think there's no hope for us. I don't know how we can get back, or if there is a way. Maybe there isn't. Maybe we will be stuck here for the rest of our lives. But we still have a duty -"

"Duty," Jade spat, he was almost on the verge of tears.

"Yes," Konnor continued, unruffled, "a duty to Mamoru...and to ourselves."

He pulled away from Jade and released his arms, but Jade wasn't struggling anymore.

"How can we protect him when we aren't even in the same time?" Nolan asked.

"I don't know," Konnor answered, staring up at them. There was no fear in his eyes, just simple determination.

"It may be that we can find a way to protect him even here."

Zoe frowned.

"But we can't change anything," he said, "I mean, not anymore than we already have."

"Oh, hell," Jade snipped, "We should just go find Beryl and kill the spider while she's sleeping."

Konnor admonished him, "You remember what she was capable of the last time we met. "

"Nasty witch!" Zoe spat, "We should repay her for all the misery she's caused us. "

"Who knows what the consequences could be?" Nolan shook his head, "Even if we found the Mamoru of now and told him everything and protected him from our shadow selves and Beryl, we would be changing the events of history. We'd be creating causality violations."

"How do you even know that?" Jade wanted to know, "I thought I was the smart one."

"No, you're the mean one," Nolan countered, "Zoe's the smart one."

"I just do architecture," Zoe replied, raising his hands in the air.

"You once were proficient in mechanics, if you'll remember," Konnor put in, "But I suppose when it comes down to it I'm the smart one."

"Don't be too modest," Jade retorted.

Konnor ignored him.

"I'm just curious," Jade went on, "If I'm the mean one, and Konnor is the smart one, and Zoe is the pretty one -"

"Shut your face!"

"Then what does that make you?" he looked up at Nolan.

"The nice one, of course."

"It must be nice in your parallel universe."

"I like to think so."

Zoe took in a sharp breath. His eyes suddenly opened wide.

Even Jade raised his head to look at the youngest shitennou.

"What is it?"

"We have to change history." Zoe said.

"What are you talking about?"

"I just told you," Nolan began.

"I know, I know," Zoe waved him away, "I meant what if we changed something small?"

"Why would that matter? I don't understand," Jade argued.

"I think," Zoe said slowly, "If one of us could leave a message or something - with someone - then maybe years from now, they'll remember and tell Pluto and she can bring us back home."

They stared at him. Nolan and Jade raised their hands to slap him but Konnor stopped them by clearing his throat.

"You mean, " he said, "that we should leave a clue for the future?"

"Like a message in a bottle."

"Those don't have the best record of being found," Jade began.

"No, wait, he's right -" Nolan interrupted, "It could actually work if we made sure it got to the right person."

"Who would we tell?"

They considered in silence.

"Mizuno-san," Nolan concluded.

"Ami?" Zoe asked, surprised.

"Why? -"

"Of course," Konnor nodded, "Sailor Mercury would understand without extended explanation. She would likely only need a small hint to figure it out."

"That's my Ami-chan," Zoe commented, though he still seemed a bit behind the others.

"So, you think by hinting to Ami that we are not supposed to be trapped in the past, she will somehow miraculously work it out and tell Pluto to come back for us in the future?"Jade asked.

"I admit, it's a bit far fetched," Konnor began.

"You don't know Ami-chan," Zoe cut in, "She can figure out anything. She can do this! I know it. It's the power of our love!"

Jade and Nolan rolled their eyes.

"How will we find her, "Konnor continued, "that's the question. And once we do, how can we make sure to win her trust? The Mercury of now is our enemy. And how can we give her enough of a hint without possibly destroying the future?"

"This is crazy, but," Jade said, "if Ami really is as smart as you say -"

"She is!"

"Then maybe I can tell her."

They stared at him.

"Why you?" Zoe asked, suspiciously.

Konnor thrust out a lazy hand and grabbed Zoe by the scruff of the neck of his shirt.

"Gentlemen, I know we're all short on sleep and tempers are flaring, but if there's a possibility that I can get back to my quiet, normal life within the next six years or so -"

"Point taken," Zoe mumbled. Konnor dropped him and turned to look at Jade.

"Well?"

"I can tell her because I'm already dead, as far as she knows."

"Oh, I see," Nolan replied, nodding, "She might believe you since she'll know, as soon as Hino-san tells her, that you are supposed to be dead. She'll have to know something extraordinary is going on."

"It might work."

"But how do we find her?" Zoe reminded them.

Konnor cleared his throat.

"I think I have a plan."

"Uh-oh." Zoe said, "You have that look on your face."

"This is going to involve something bad, isn't it?" Nolan guessed.

Their leader almost smiled.

"It's odd you should put it that way. In fact I was thinking we might impersonate ourselves. Stage a scene, as it were."

"You want us to pretend to be the bad us?" Jade stated, flatly.

"Yes."

"In order to get the senshi's attention?"

"We will not engage in combat," Konnor continued, "We won't even speak. I think it will be enough if the see us."

"And once they start to attack?"

"We retreat. Creating an oportunity for Jade to make contact with Mizuno-san. Her powers are generally defensive. She will likely remain behind while we draw off the others."

"Ok."

They looked around at each other. They were beginning to get a bit excited.

"So what do we tell her?"

"Zoe, you know her best," Nolan said, "What would give her a hint in the future?"

Zoe shrugged.

"I love her," he said, "Don't get me wrong. But the mystery that is Ami Mizuno's mind is like the inner workings of the Universe."

"That's not helpful at all."

"You're the psychologist, "Konnor mused, "Any ideas, Jade?"

Jade rested his head against the cold, hard surface of the rock wall. He closed his eyes and tried to imagine himself back in his own apartment, in his own bed, his head on his pillow, and Rei perhaps beside him, singing that song she had been singing only two days ago while she swept the temple yard - then he snapped out of it.

"I might have an idea," he said.

---

Mamoru ran through the darkened streets, following that sixth sense that always led him straight to her.

He jumped the broken park gate - a jump that would have impressed any college track coach - and skidded to a halt in front of the largest black shadow he'd ever seen. It's glowing red eyes and mouth raged about in a blind chaos as it plunged repeatedly at the ground.

"Bunny!" he yelled, "What the heck are you doing!"

Moon dodged another attack while Pluto distracted the queen's attention toward her with a well-aimed blast.

"What are you doing here?" Moon shouted.

"That's my line."

They stopped, inches from each other.

"You are not supposed to be anywhere near that thing!"

"I can't just leave my friends to die!"

"What if something happens to you? Did you ever consider that we are all here because -"

Moon pushed him down as a shadowy tentacle swiped the air over their heads.

"Mamo-chan," Moon said, "I love you. But, shut up."

With that, she shoved herself up and turned to attack the shadow. Mamoru lay on the ground for a moment, a bit stunned.

"If you'd like to be helpful..."

He found Pluto regarding him.

"You could give those healing hands something to do."

She nodded her head toward the trees where Mamoru could just see the glint of a familiar red stiletto.

"Right," he nodded and transformed.

Trying his best to ignore the fact that Pluto and Moon were battling a huge monster by themselves while he was relegated to the role of battle-field medic, Mamoru reached the small clump of trees where Pluto had managed to somewhat hide the severely wounded senshi. He reached Makoto first and grimaced at what he saw.

"Broken for sure," he muttered as he gingerly felt her right arm. She gave a slight moan of pain but did not regain consciousness. He checked her pulse; despite being battered, her heart pumped strongly.

Mamoru placed his hands on her forehead and arm and closed his eyes, allowing his powers to do their work in healing her arm, reconnecting the tissues, re-knitting the bones.

With a gasp, Mako opened her eyes. He let her come to herself, only pausing on his way to Ami to give Mako a reassuring touch on her shoulder. Ami was in a dead faint, her face pale and her leg bruised and swelling.

He healed her as quickly as he could and only checked to make sure that her breathing was steady before crouching beside Mars. Of all the senshi, she was the only one with enough of a grasp on her consciousness to remain in her fuku. As he touched her face, her eye fluttered open, searching frantically.

"It's alright," he murmured, "Just relax."

He thought he caught some muttered words, but wasn't sure what she'd said - only that she looked intensely relieved to see him. Her wounds were easier to heal than the others - most of her weakness was due to blood loss from several lacerations. As the color returned to her cheeks, she placed her hand over his and pressed it.

"Moon?" she whispered.

"She's fine," he lied. It wasn't the time to tell her senshi that Sailor Moon was fighting a frantic battle with a deranged goddess with only Pluto to help her. Mars nodded and put her head back on the ground.

Mamoru finally made his way to Mina, who was lying like a broken doll, her limbs utterly limp. He felt for a pulse and had to feel several times before he found it, beating very faintly. She had no broken bones or deep cuts, but he suspected that there was serious internal damage - if he didn't act quickly, there would be little chance of saving her.

His own heart beating fast, he closed his eyes and pulled on all his power - willing it out in cooling, healing tendrils into her veins and tissues, infusing them with life.

After a long moment, Mina finally took a deep breath. Mamoru opened his eyes and released the breath he'd been holding.

"How is she?"

He turned to see Ami, now Sailor Mercury once more, peering over his shoulder.

"She was in a bad state," he replied, "But I think I've managed to stop all the internal bleeding - her organs have taken a lot of stress, but they are mending. Her pulse is getting stronger."

Mercury nodded, and moved to check Mina's wrist.

"We thought we could handle her ourselves," she continued, watching Mina, "We underestimated our enemy, I'm afraid."

"Moon is fighting with Pluto - I don't know how long they'll hold out. I need to go help her."

"It's likely that Sailor Moon's attacks are the only offensive measure we have," Mercury mused, "If, as I suspect, the goddess of fate is really possessed by Chaos, herself. The only thing that has ever been effective against her is the power of the crystal."

"You think this is Chaos?" Mamoru stared hard at the black shadow and the small white figure that danced at its feet.

"I'm almost sure. That's why she knows our weaknesses so well. And why our powers are virtually ineffective. She absorbs the energy we expend in attacking her and she uses it. She feeds off of our frustration. And our hate."

"Hate?"

Mamoru looked at the quiet senshi in some surprise. Mercury turned away.

"Where are my Shitennou?"

Mamoru felt the emptiness he'd been ignoring begin to crowd in on him again. He felt icy fingers of fear at his neck.

"Chaos summoned Pluto to send them back and," Mercury swallowed, "She did."

Mamoru felt the blood drain from his face.

"How could she do that?"

"She had to," Mercury answered, searching his face with her large, doleful eyes.

"Don't blame her. She had no choice."

Mamoru didn't reply. Suddenly he slammed the ground with his fist - so hard he almost broke his own hand. Mercury didn't flinch.

"Take care of them," he muttered, "Don't let them enter the fight."

Mercury shook her head.

"You need us."

"No," Mamoru turned, "You can't help if you're half-dead. When Usagi needs you, you'll be ready. Rest until then."

"Do you think she has a plan?" Mercury asked, a bit skeptically.

"I have faith in her."

---

Jade rushed to the shadows where the other three shitennou from the future were taking refuge from the senshi of the past.

"Do you think it worked?" Nolan asked, panting.

Jade shook his head, remembering the shocked look on the Ice Senshi's face when he'd suddenly appeared. Had she believed him?

"I guess we'll find out."

---

Pluto spun her key, warding off the swipe of the shadow's poisoned arm.

"This isn't working," she told Moon.

"She doesn't respond to any of my attacks - all I can do is continue to defend you and distract her. Your powers are the only thing she's weak against."

"I know," Moon heaved a huge breath, running away from the swollen mass of darkness as it looped back toward her.

"She doesn't tire," Pluto added, "You'll run out of energy soon and she will claim you. I have to do it now."

"No."

Mamoru and Moon's voices rang out sharply together.

"You are not going to sacrifice yourself," Mamoru said, flipping his cape in front of Moon to protect her from another blob of black energy.

"We'll find another way."

"What other way?" Pluto demanded, "We need the power of the senshi. But even if they all give their energy to Sailor Moon, it still may not be enough."

"Then you give her your energy," Mamoru countered.

"And if it isn't enough?"

"I'm coming, Sailor Moon!"

The three turned as one to see Hotaru running as fast as her short legs would carry her. She held her henshin wand above her head and as she sprinted the last ten feet to them, she shouted her phrase and transformed. As soon as the light of her transformation faded the black shadow gave out a fierce yell of delight. Faster than thought, it swooped down upon her.

"Saturn, no!" Moon screamed. She threw herself after the girl as the mass of shadow engulfed them.

"She has them!" Pluto yelled, "I have to do something now!"

She raised her staff.

"Don't!" Mamoru thundered, but Pluto raised it anyway.

"Pluto!"

Pluto halted, mid swing as Sailor Mercury nearly collided with her.

"I can't miss this chance," Pluto snarled, throwing the other girl off of her, "if I don't stop time now, the Phantom Queen will unite the three guardians and destroy everything!"

"Go back," Mercury managed to pant.

"What are you talking about?"

"Go back and get the Shitennou."

"What!" Mamoru and Pluto stared at her.

"Bring them back. Together we can defeat her - I don't have time to explain!"

"I can't bring them back," Pluto argued, "It wouldn't be allowed."

"Just trust me!" Mercury shouted, losing her temper.

"But it won't -"

"Pluto, try it," Mamoru urged, "I don't know why she wants you to, but if Mercury says -"

"Do it now, Setsuna!"

Pluto shook her head. It was crazy. She knew at that moment that she was throwing away the universe to do something that wouldn't work. She knew, even as she opened the portal to that time, that she would not be allowed to travel through it - the law would stop her, knowing her purpose. She took the inevitable step forward -

She opened her eyes.

"It's not closing," she gasped.

Mercury, smiling with tears on her cheeks, gave her a push on the shoulder.

"Go!" she shouted, "Go bring them back!"

Pluto hesitated, the black shadow pulsed in a whirlwind rage around the figures of Moon and Saturn.

"Setsuna, go!"

Not understanding, but trusting that Mercury was right, she closed her eyes and stepped through.