The sound of shattered glass ripped through the apartment. Usagi bolted out of the bedroom. All she had wanted was a couple of minutes to process the truth, that Chibiusa was her daughter. Time wasn’t on her side.

  The living room was in shambles. Ami lay crumpled against the wall. A creature loomed over her; it wore black, had pale skin and unnatural, void-like eyes. A black crescent moon marked its forehead.

  Oh no, it found us!

  “Chibiusa!”

  Usagi’s heart hammered in her chest. The little girl peeked out from behind the couch. Her eyes were wide with terror.

  “Usagi!”

  The creature turned and locked onto the little girl. Usagi readied herself, prepared to go into battle despite her lack of powers.

  “Usagi, stay back!”

  Ami struggled to her feet. The creature’s attack had torn her lab coat; blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. She wiped the blood on her white sleeve, then lunged at the creature. It swatted her aside like a rag doll. Ami hit the floor hard and didn’t move.

  “No!”

  Usagi dashed forward. Fury and fear filled every fiber of her body. She leaped at the creature and landed a solid kick to its side. It staggered for a moment, then backhanded her with a force that sent her flying into the kitchen table. The impact of her body collapsed the table.

  Pain shot through her ribs. She tried to push herself up, but the room spun out of control. She struggled to regain her balance, then fell back down to her knees.

  “Usagi, look out!”

  Luna appeared out of nowhere. She leapt into the creature’s face, claws and teeth exposed. The creature screeched, seized the plush cat and threw her across the room. She twisted in mid-air and landed on her paws.

  Many years ago, Luna had bathed in the light of the Silver Crystal. Since then, she had taken on human form to fight alongside Sailor Moon. Now, a glowing energy surrounded her as she prepared to do exactly that.

  The creature never gave her the chance. He charged at Luna. Before she could shift into human form, its hand expanded and wrapped the plush cat into a cocoon of darkness. She howled in pain as it squeezed the life out of her.

  “That’s enough!”

  Mamoru’s voice rang out as he charged into the room. No, not Mamoru. It was Tuxedo Mask. His tuxedo was different, a little sleeker with a crimson-lined cape. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Usagi smiled.

  Tuxedo Mask saves the day…

  His cane slashed through the air and landed a solid blow on the creature’s head. It dropped Luna to defend itself. She fell to the ground and didn’t move.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Tuxedo Mask followed up his first hit with a series of precise strikes to the creature’s body. It screeched under the constant assault. For a moment, Usagi thought he might drive the creature off this time. Then the creature reared back and struck Tuxedo Mask hard in the face. Still suffering from a concussion, he crumbled to the floor.

  The creature stepped over broken furniture and shattered glass as it made its way toward Chibiusa. Usagi again tried to struggle to her feet. The room continued to spin. Her mind reeled. Images formed in front of her eyes, unbidden, in the kaleidoscope of swirling colors.

  Chibiusa sits in her lap in the clothing store and looks up at her with terrified eyes. Mamoru’s voice echoes, “Do you think it might be time for us to have a child?” Chibiusa cries and collapses against Mamoru. Luna stands on the table at Crown Karaoke. “She sleeps an awful lot like Usagi.”

  Chibiusa stands in the kitchen and sticks out her tongue at Usagi. She picks carrots from her hair and groans. She sits at the kitchen table and looks up from her plate, curry and rice stuck to the corner of her mouth. Ami’s voice echoes, “Chibiusa is your daughter”.

  The creature’s elongated hands stretched out toward Chibiusa and, finally, after a whole day of pursuit, it captured its prey. Its long, slender fingers curled around her throat. Chibiusa kicked and clawed at its hand as it lifted her up into the air.

  Usagi snapped.

  “Get! Away! From! My! Daughter!”

  Her voice erupted, raw and furious. A light bloomed around her, golden and radiant. It wasn’t the cold, harsh light of the Silver Crystal. This was different, warm, intimate. It was hers alone. She bathed in the light and smiled as she rose to her feet.

  She stared at her hands as the light spread. Her wedding ring got caught in the glow. A crescent moon appeared and wrapped itself around the diamond.

  At last, she understood. She had found her inner light, the true source of her power: her love for her husband and her daughter. Instinctively, she knew what she needed to do. She raised her ringed hand into the air.

  “Moon Light Powers! Make Up!”

  The light engulfed her and wrapped her in its embrace. Ribbons of pure energy coalesced around her like a cocoon. When the light faded, she stood transformed. Sailor Moon was reborn.

  Her sailor suit shimmered with elements of Princess Serenity’s suit: the white boots, the ruffled skirt. Her odango had returned as well. A white mask covered her eyes.

  There was no time to ponder these changes. She charged at the creature, determined to save Chibiusa.

  This time, her strikes landed with precision and power. Startled, the creature dropped its prey. Chibiusa scampered out of the way, shock etched on her face. Tuxedo Mask appeared and wrapped her in his cape.

  Usagi ducked under the creature’s clawed hands and delivered a sharp punch to its torso. She followed it up with a kick to its face. When it lashed out, she evaded the attack with a graceful somersault.

  As she landed, her hand moved to her chest. Instead of her Crescent Moon Wand, a new weapon materialized in her grasp: Princess Serenity’s Harp Sword. It gleamed with raw power.

  What does this mean? Why do I have her weapon?

  She would have to seek answers later. Instead, she raised the sword high, then slashed it through the air in a downward strike.

  “Moon! Light! Slash!”

  A brilliant arc of light burst from the blade, slicing through the droid. It screeched, its form crumbling into black dust. The apartment fell silent, save for the sound of Sailor Moon’s labored breaths.

  Ami stirred and pulled herself back up onto her feet. She winced, but managed a smile.

  “You’ve awakened your powers, Usagi!”

  Mamoru knelt nearby. He still shielded Chibiusa with his cape. His eyes met Usagi’s as he gazed at her with pride.

  “Welcome back, Sailor Moon.”

  Chibiusa stared at Usagi with wide eyes.

  “My mama...is Sailor Moon?!”

  She could say no more. For once, the girl was speechless.

  Usagi turned to search the carnage for her most faithful companion.

  “Luna? Luna?!”

  Finally, she spotted the plush cat. She dropped to her knees and gently picked her up. She cradled her old friend in her arms.

  “Please, Luna, open your eyes!”

  Luna’s eyes, however, remained shut.