Author's Note: The villains belong to me, Chihiro Kannuki belongs to me, and so does Princess. Well, in a sense. Tsukino Usagi still belong to Naoko Takeuchi. Sailor Cosmos also belongs to Naoko Takeuchi. The whole point of Sailormoon is Naoko Takeuchi's. I am in no way stealing Sailormoon away from her.

As Inertia slowly raised the dagger above Usagi's motionless body, a red rose zipped by, causing a long red scratch to form on her hand, also stopping the dagger's path.

"Who's there?" Inertia said angrily.

"How dare you attack an innocent!" a male voice said strongly. "By doing so, you have made an enemy! I am Tuxedo Kamen, destined protector of the Moon Princess!" Inertia gasped when she saw Tuxedo Kamen's face.

"Prince Endymion!" Inertia cried. "What are you doing here? Princess Naoko has been searching for you!" Inertia narrowed her eyes. "Wait a minute, you are here to protect Princess Serenity, aren't you? It is useless, Prince Endymion! Princess Serenity will die! Just like she should have so many years ago!"

"Princess Serenity has been dead for five years!" Tuxedo Kamen shouted. "You're wasting your time! And mine!" Pause. "Now let the girl go!"

"You are lying to me!" Inertia said deadly. "If Serenity was dead, we would know it! She is somewhere in Tokyo, and I have a feeling that you know exactly where she is!"

"Usako is alive?!" Tuxedo Kamen whispered to himself.<.p>

I knew it! he thought to himself. I knew that Ami-san and the others were wrong! Usako's alive! She's alive! But wait a second, then why hasn't she come find us? And what about Princess? No, it can't be! Usako's dead, she's never coming back!

Tuxedo Kamen looked at Inertia with defiant eyes.

"You're lying! Princess Serenity is dead! She's never coming back!" Inertia smirked.

"Then you are a fool." Pause. "I know that Princess Naoko thought the world of you, but anyone who loves Princess Serenity more than Princess Naoko deserves to die! Why don't you join the other Senshi!" Inertia crossed her hands in front of her face.

"The other Senshi?" Tuxedo Kamen questioned. "Who are you talk--"

"Dark Fire. . . "

Inertia started to form a blazing ball of fire.

"Annihilate!!"

The fire flew out of her hands toward Tuxedo Kamen, but was interrupted by another voice.

"Venus Love Me Chain!"

The heart link chain swept the ball of fire to one side.

"Shining Aqua Illusion!"

A ribbon on water destroyed the fireball.

"Who dares to try to stop Inertia?" Inertia said dangerously.

"We are the Sailor Senshi! I am the gorgeous sailor-suited solider of fire, Sailor Mars!"

"The beautiful sailor-suited soldier of water, Sailor Mercury!"

"The beautiful sailor-suited soldier of love and beauty, Sailor Venus!"

"The beautiful sailor-suited soldier of thunder, Sailor Jupiter!"

"In the name of. . ."

"Mars!"

"Mercury!"

"Venus!"

"And Jupiter!"

"We shall punish you!"

"How amusing," Inertia said dryly. "Let me guess, you must be the powerful guardians that are suppose to protect Princess Serenity. Wow."

"Watch what you're saying!" Mars said angrily. "We could easily floor you!"

"Be careful, Sailor Mars," Mercury said quietly. "She is much more powerful than our last enemies." Inertia smiled.

"Why Sailor Mercury, you are precisely correct!" Inertia casually raised her right hand, and a stream of dark, icy water shot out.

"Dark Tormenting Ice. . .Impose!"

Mercury screamed as the water hit her and trapped her in an icy prison. She had a horrified expression on her face.

"Sailor Mercury!!" Mars screamed. Jupiter and Venus both had a panic-stricken look on their faces. Mars prepared to melt the ice prison that trapped Mercury.

"Fire. . ."

"If you do that," Inertia said casually, "you'll just end up burning Sailor Mercury to a pile of dust." Mars immediately stopped her incantation.

"Let her go!" Jupiter demanded.

"Sailor Jupiter," Inertia said quietly, "you talk a lot, don't you?" Jupiter was taken aback.

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"Sailor Jupiter, eat this!" Inertia used the same attack on Jupiter that she had used on Usagi.

"Dark Ice. . .Thunder!"

Thunder came from the sky, but instead of burning Jupiter, it chained her to the ground. Jupiter struggled, but could not get free.

"Sailor Jupiter!" Venus cried in anguish. She glared at Inertia with hatred. "Let them go!"

"And if I don't?"

"Then you will deal with me, the goddess of love and beauty, Sailor V!"

"Well then, check this out!" Inertia covered her face with her hands.

"Dark Beauty. . .Terrify!"

Venus watched in horror as a dark cloud surrounded her.

Then, voices started talking.

"Sailor Venus, you're so pathetic!" the voice of Sailor Mars said. "You're worse than a 3-year old! Always thinking about food! You're going to get fat and kill yourself one day!"

"No kidding!" Sailor Jupiter said. " 'I'm so gorgeous, I once fought the forces of evil all by myself! Ha ha! I'm the all mighty Sailor V!' Quick! Someone get me a gag bag!"

"Sailor Venus," Sailor Mercury said, "you're such an airhead! Always thinking about boys, boys, and more boys! No wonder you scare them all off!"

"You'll never measure up to me, Sailor Venus!" Sailormoon said heartlessly. "I'm the true princess! You can dream if you want, but you'll never make it as a true royal!"

"NO!!" Sailor Venus cried. "I may not be Sailormoon, but I'm a good person! I'm a good person!!" She crouched in terror.

"Sailor Venus!" Mars cried desperately. She looked at Inertia uneasily. For the first time in her life, Mars was afraid.

"So, you're all alone now, aren't you, Sailor Mars?" Inertia taunted. "I thought you could easily floor me! Well, bring it on!"

Believe in yourself, Sailor Mars!" Tuxedo Kamen called out. He had been watching Inertia beat the Sailor Senshi, but was unable to help them, for he had been watching over Princess. He didn't know why, but a part of him felt that if Princess died, he would die too.

"Release my friends," Mars said softly.

"I'm sorry, but I can't." Inertia said sadly. A smile then broke out on her face. "What am I talking about? Of course I'm not sorry! I love this! I don't think I've ever had such an easy victory!" Pause. "Besides, if I capture all of you, killing Princess Serenity would be so much easier."

"Princess Serenity is dead!!" Mars screamed. Usagi began to wake up, but since Tuxedo Kamen was watching the scene before him intently, he did not notice her.

"Rei-chan?" Usagi whispered. She then paled at the sight of the other Senshi. "Ami-chan, Mako-chan, Minako-chan! Oh no! How can this be?" Pause. "I must save them! But, I can't! Oh someone please help them!"

A tear slid down Usagi's face, and suddenly, she found herself standing in front of the Moon Kingdom.

"Don't cry, my beautiful daughter," a serene voice said.

"Mother!" Princess Serenity cried. "Please! Help me save my friends!"

"Do you really want to, Princess Serenity?"

"Of course I want to!" Princess Serenity said desperately. "They're my friends!"

"But even after the way they treated you, you still believe them to be your friends?"

"Yes, I do." Princess Serenity said softly. "Even though they failed to believe in me, and even though they were eager to replace me after I left, I still know that they really care about me. I know I still care about them."

"Oh princess," Queen Serenity said happily, "I knew that you would forgive them one day! I'm just glad that it has happened faster than I anticipated it would be!"

"What? I don't understand."

"In order to fight for love and justice, you must first believe in it yourself. When your anger overpowered your love, you were unable to transform yourself. That is why your Moon Locket disappeared. Now that you have finally understood your true feelings for your friends, you are even more stronger than before!" Queen Serenity then placed a snowy white compact with a gold star on it in Princess Serenity's hands.

"It's beautiful," Princess Serenity breathed.

"Use this to aid you in your fight for justice," Queen Serenity advised, "and then you will be able to save your friends from Princess Iniquity."

A question popped up in Princess Serenity's mind at the mention of Princess Iniquity's name.

"Mother," Princess Serenity began, "who is Princess Iniquity?"

"I am sorry, my daughter," Queen Serenity said from the distance, "but that is a question you must find yourself. Good luck, my princess! I love you."

"Mother! Wait! Don't go! Mother!"

Princess Serenity opened her eyes and found herself on the street again.

She looked down at the compact that Queen Serenity had given her and studied it for a moment. Suddenly, a new power came over her, triggering the words she already knew in her heart.

"Cosmos Universal Power. . .Make Up!"

There were flashes of white and gold light, followed by a luminous light, and standing in Princess Serenity's spot was no longer her, but Sailor Cosmos, the final reincarnation of Sailormoon.

"Wow," Sailor Cosmos breathed, "I'm beautiful, if I do say so myself!"

And indeed she was.

A goddess of pure white and gold, Sailor Cosmos held in her right hand a staff that symbolized the universe. Her eyes no longer held a vibrant sapphire blue, but a soft violet color.

Sailor Cosmos emerged from behind a tree to hear Inertia call forth her final power.

"Dark Fiery Sphere. . . Corrupt!"

Fire surrounded Sailor Mars, imprisoning her. Sailor Cosmos glanced at Tuxedo Kamen and saw that he was already injured.

"Gee," Sailor Cosmos muttered, "once Princess got out of the way, someone sure didn't hesitate to be Prince Charming to Sailor Mars."

"Well then, Sailor Mars," Inertia mocked, "looks like I win! I may not have Princess Serenity, but I have you, the other Senshi, and Prince Endymion! I'm pretty sure that has never happened before!" Inertia laughed ruthlessly.

"I can't believe this!" Mars whispered painfully, "I've failed everyone! Usagi-chan may have been a klutz and a crybaby, but at least she has never failed us before! I'm no good as a leader!" A tear slid down her face.

"Time to collect my reward!" Inertia said happily.

"Stop right there!" a voice shouted. "I do believe that you still have me to deal with!" Mars and Inertia looked in the direction of the voice.

"Another one?!" Inertia groaned. "Just how many Sailor Senshi are there, anyway?"

"Like the moon in the sky, I will always be there! I am like the stars which radiate beauty! I am the ruler of the universe, Sailor Cosmos!" Sailor Cosmos stepped out from the shadows, revealing herself in the soft moonlight.

Sailor Mars visibly paled when she saw Sailor Cosmos. Tuxedo Kamen's reaction wasn't much different.

"Sailor Cosmos?" Inertia narrowed her eyes. "Never heard of you before."

"Well, I guess it's time you did," Sailor Cosmos said smugly. "You have two choices, Inertia. You can either let the Senshi go and surrender, or you can let me beat you first, and then surrender. Take your pick."

"That sounds a lot like something Sailor Mars was spouting off earlier, and take a look at her. Empty threats will serve you no purpose, Sailor Cosmos." Inertia warned.

"True," Sailor Cosmos murmured thoughtfully, "but who says it's an empty threat?"

"You will regret ever crossing my path, Sailor Cosmos!" Inertia growled.

"Dark Flaming Thunder Balls. . .Ignite!"

Several pellets of thunder flew toward Sailor Cosmos.

"Be careful, Sailor Cosmos!" Tuxedo Kamen cried. Sailor Cosmos easily dodged the deadly pellets.

"I do believe it's my turn now," Sailor Cosmos said sweetly. She raised her staff high in the air.

"Cosmos Blazing Flames. . .Devour!"

A ribbon of energy formed and wounded Inertia.

"Oops!" Sailor Cosmos said with false concern. "Did I get you?"

"You win this time, Sailor Cosmos!" Inertia said angrily. "But next time I will reign!" Inertia disappeared and along with her went the spells that were imprisoning the Sailor Senshi.

"Thank you Sailor Cosmos," Sailor Mars said quietly, "if it wasn't for your help, we would have been captured."

"No need to say anything, Sailor Mars," Sailor Cosmos said curtly, "just be more careful next time. Inertia will be back for revenge."

"Where do you come from, Sailor Cosmos?" Mercury asked.

"Why haven't we seen you before?" Jupiter inquired.

"When you had Sailormoon, you were always able to stop the enemy. But now you are powerless, and Inertia sensed it the moment she saw you." Pause. "Guard your leader carefully, Sailor Senshi. You cannot lose your princess." Pause. "That is, if she is the real one." Sailor Cosmos disappeared in a cloud of smoke, but they could still hear her voice. "If you need me Sailor Senshi, I'll be there."

"I wonder who she is," Venus said thoughtfully, but Mars was thinking of what Sailor Cosmos had said.

Guard your leader carefully, Sailor Senshi. You cannot lose your princess. That is, if she is the real one.

"It's as if she knew that I am not the destined leader. But how?"

"Princess!" Kannuki exclaimed, when Usagi walked into his office. "Where have you been? I've been looking for you ever since you wandered off with Mamoru-san!"

"I was tortured, almost killed, and then I became Sailor Cosmos and I scared off a new enemy," came Usagi's simple reply.

"What?!"

Usagi spent the next hour describing the latest chain of events.

"I wonder who Inertia is," Kannuki said thoughtfully.

"I don't know, but she is very determined to capture me. And destroy the Senshi while she's at it."

"You'll have to watch your back from now on, Princess." Kannuki said seriously. "She'll turn up when you least expect it."

"But since I'm already expecting the unexpected, I don't really have a problem now, do I?"

"No, but you still have to be careful."

"I'm a big girl now, Kannuki, I can take care of myself."

"I know, but--"

"Don't worry about it. I'll handle it." Usagi said reassuringly. "Well, I'm tired. I'm going home now. Bye bye!"

"But Princess!"

"See 'ya, Kannuki!" Usagi walked out the door without a backward glance. Kannuki sighed to himself.

"She's never going to change," Kannuki said to his empty office.

"I'm glad."

The next morning, Mamoru was at the temple with the other girls. They were discussing their new enemy and Sailor Cosmos.

"Did you see the similarities between Sailor Cosmos and Sailormoon?" Makoto asked. "They could have been the exact same person!"

"Yes, except that Sailor Cosmos seems more mature and wiser than Usagi-chan could ever be." Rei said.

"But she's just as powerful as Sailormoon," Minako argued.

"Have you ever heard of her, Luna?" Ami asked.

"Even back during the Moon Kingdom, I have never heard of another soldier by the name of Sailor Cosmos," Luna said. "Judging by her description though, she could either be a descendant of Sailormoon or an ancestor."

"Could it be Usako in another form?" Mamoru asked.

"I don't think so," Artemis said. "Sailormoon's essence is strong, but it does not yet have the ability to transform herself into another being. If it were possible though, someone else would have to help Sailormoon."

"So it can't be Usagi-chan then," Rei said.

"It's highly unlikely," Luna said, "but it's also very possible. If it is Usagi-chan though, she probably won't remember her life as Sailormoon." Pause. "Which could also be a blessing itself."

Everyone looked at the ground. Each person were ashamed of their past actions toward Usagi, and hoped that if Usagi had indeed forgotten, then her pain would be less great.

Mamoru got up and walked toward the window, staring outside. He sighed deeply.

"What's the matter, Mamoru-san?" Luna asked with concern.

"I was thinking about Princess. I saw her this morning when I came over, and she seemed incredibly healthy. I was just wondering how she got better so fast," Mamoru answered.

"Who is Princess?" Ami questioned.

"Just a new employee at Kashi Corporations," Mamoru said quickly. Even though there was nothing to hide, Mamoru still felt uncomfortable talking about Princess. His discomfort was obvious to Ami.

"Mamoru?" Ami said hesitantly.

"It's just that I was wondering why Inertia attacked Princess," Mamoru hurried on. "Energy wasn't what she was after, so it must be something else."

"Did she say anything to you at all before we arrived?" Minako asked.

"Nothing that was really important. Just that she was seeking revenge for a Princess Naoko, and that I would join--" Mamoru stopped when he remembered something else that Inertia had also said to him.

"Mamoru-san?" Luna said worriedly.

"The other Senshi," Mamoru finished, in a daze.

"What?!" The others exclaimed.

"She was referring to Princess," Mamoru said, shocked.

"How can that be?" Makoto asked no one in particular.

"Do you think Princess could be Sailor Cosmos?" Rei asked Luna and Artemis.

"There's quite a possibility," Luna said.

"You guys," Ami reasoned, "it could all just be a coincidence."

"That much of a coincidence?" Makoto said dubiously. "I don't think so, Ami-chan. I think Inertia was onto something."

"Mamoru-san," Minako suggested, "why don't you go talk to Princess?"

"What? I can't!" Mamoru said strongly.

"Why not?" Minako asked innocently.

"Um. . .because, well, first of all, we don't know for sure that Princess is Sailor Cosmos, and second of all, what makes you think she'll tell me anything?"

"He does have a point," Artemis pointed out.

"He can't just go up and ask her point blank if she's really Sailor Cosmos in disguise," Luna said. "It'd be like someone asking one of you guys if you're really a Sailor Senshi. You wouldn't tell them the truth, right?"

Everyone murmured their agreement.

"What should we do then?" Ami asked.

"We wait," Luna said, "and see what happens next. Inertia is bound to strike again."

"That's exactly what Sailor Cosmos said," Minako said, surprised.

"You probably should have been her guardian cat instead of Sailormoon's, Luna," Makoto joked.

Luna's eyes filled with pain, and everyone cleared their throats nervously.

Rei elbowed Makoto in the arm.

"Owe!" Makoto protested. "That hurt, Rei-chan!"

"Shh!" Rei whispered fiercely. "Can't you see you're hurting Luna?" Makoto looked at Luna's sad expression and saw that everyone else was glaring at her.

"I'm so sorry, Luna," Makoto apologized.

Luna smiled sadly.

"That's okay, Mako-chan," Luna said softly, "it's hard not to forget. Sometimes I wish that we could all just forget." Silence. "I think I'll go out for a breather. It's getting kind of hot in here, don't you think?" Luna quietly walked away.

"I think I'll follow the black kitty," Artemis added, as he too, walked out of the room.

"Um, I'm going outside for some fresh air too," Mamoru said nervously. "I'll leave you Super Girls to your work." Mamoru walked out and quietly slid the door close.

What's happening to me? Mamoru thought to himself. I know that Usako and I was destined to be together, but how is it possible that I could fall for another girl? Princess is so different from Usako, but she also has a good heart too. I wish that I could just pretend that this is nothing but a silly attraction. It's only because I miss Usako so much that I'm falling head over heels for anyone who even remotely resembles her. But the thing is, they're just like night and day. How can I say I love Usako and still feel the same way about another woman? How can I?

A tear slid down Mamoru's face and fell on the pathway.

I miss you so much Usako! I wish you were still here with me, so I could just hold you close! Usako

"What an interesting turn of events," Princess Iniquity said to herself. "Not only is Prince Endymion here with the other Sailor Senshi, but a new soldier has also appeared." Pause. "Sailor Cosmos will prove to be a worthy opponent. I will enjoy destroying her and watching her suffer with the rest of them! No one will stop me from fulfilling my revenge! I will have Princess Serenity, and I will make her pay for what she has done to me!"

Back to Chapter Six
Chapter Eight