Time Loop by: Paul Brusky

*Author's Note: Well, Time Loop was originally only going to be a three part

story, but when I had to make some changes to the story line, it split into

four parts.

I had wanted this to be the last and final chapter, but some more changes had

to be made and so there will be one more chapter after this one. But I won't

guarantee

it will be the last since I have an uncanny ability to jinx myself. Once

again, all flames

hate-mail, rave reviews, and other comments can be sent to PDBrusky@msn.com.

This story is mine, mine, mine. But the rest (character names, etc...) belong

to very

rich guys in Armani suits so please don't sue me!

It was silent by the lake. A cold breeze made Minako shiver. "Well,

sounds like a good plan to me. Question is, is it

possible?"

"Technically, yeah. But it sure won't be easy."

"But why do we only get one chance?"

"Because, Usagi," Rei explained. "To do this, we'll

have to go into the

material world as ghosts, and we'll be forging a link

with that person. It'd be like tying ourselves to them."

"So we can only choose one person."

"Right."

"But what happens if this thing doesn't work?"

"Since we'd be linked to them, if they die, we just... stop existing."

"Oh, yummy."

"So who are we gonna choose, guys?"

"How about Usagi?"

"Yeah, she doesn't have any memory blocks that might interfere like the

rest of us."

"Well, there's me too."

"Oh yeah, that's right. So it's either Mamoru or Usagi."

"That's OK. I defer. I already had my fair share of weird dreams to deal

with in the past. It's Usagi's turn."

"Oh, thanks so much!"

"No really, he's got a point. You'd be less likely to brush it off as

just another wierd dream than he would."

"So I guess it's settled then."

"Let's do it!"

Usagi was dreaming. She and Mamoru had just gotten married. Mmmmm. I

love this dream. Why can't it be real? He bent down to kiss her and...

something was tearing them apart. She tried to hold on to him but he was

ripped

from her grasp and her world became dark.

She was in a dark room, not really a room actually. There weren't any

walls or doors but she couldn't get out of this wierd place. And somehow, when

she had been brought to this god foresaken place, she had transformed into

Sailor Moon, although she didn't remember transforming.

"Ahem." Someone cleared their throat behind her to get her attention, and

when she turnes she saw the rest of the Senshi, Mamoru, the cats, and...

herself? Whoa, I definitly shouldn't have had that sixth slice of pizza

before I went to bed! She saw herself smile, elbow Mamoru. "Hello, Usagi."

"But, you're... you're me!"

Her smile only widened more. "Yeah, I know. Wierd, huh?"

"So this isn't just some dream I had because I

ate too much at before I went to bed?"

Rei rolled her eyes. "Oh shut up, Usagi. Not

you, her!" She finished lamely as Dream Usagi started

to get mad. "Just listen."

"No this isn't a dream, Usako." Then, they

formed a circle around her, each one of them laying

a hand on her shoulder. Even Luna and Artemis joined

in, placing a paw on her ankle. "We have something to show you." She had the

odd sensation of being all eight of them at once, and yet remaining herself,

she saw the events after Chibi Usa's arrival in the park unfold from eight

seperate points of view, saw the reason Mamoru was avoiding her. <i>That's

why!

He does still love me. She saw them going to the future and...

She woke up with a start and sat straight up, knocking a very startled

Luna off of the bed. Oh man! "Luna, I just had a seriously bad dream."

"I told you not to eat all that food, but did you listen?"

"No, silly! I mean like the kind that is making Mamoru... uh... the kind

Tuxedo Kamen had about the Moon Princess before he got his memory back."

Somehow, Luna raised a furry eyebrow at her. I didn't know cats could

do that. "Well, whatever it is, I'm sure it can wait until a reasonable

hour. Tomorrow - today I should say," she said with a quick glance at the as

yet

unused alarm-clock. "Is Sunday."

"Oh yeah!" Usagi was asleep again almost before her head hit the pillow.

"I really wish I could do that," Luna grumbled, lying back down and

trying

to get comfortable again.

Minako sat under a tree enjoying the warm spring morning. From where she

sat, she could see Rei pretending to sweep the steps but really watching for

Usagi.

"If she's gonna call a Senshi Meeting on a Sunday morning, she should at

least have the courtesy to show up on time."

"Hey, Rei?" Minako called out. "I think you should move on before you

sweep a hole in that stair."

"Oh be quiet!" Minako smiled as she saw Rei move up to the next one,

never taking her eyes off the sidewalk below.

"Hi, guys! Sorry I'm late, but someone couldn't get her furry butt

out of bed this morning."

"Only because you threw across the room last night."

"So why did you call the meeting?" Ami asked, somewhat nervously. "I

have those exams to study for."

Usagi instantly grew sober. "Well, last night I had a very strange

dream..."

It was at least two hours later when Usagi finally finished explaining

the dream. "So, could this just be coincidence or is this really bad news?"

Lita asked.

"I dunno. You tell me."

"Hey, Rei? Could you do a fire reading on this sort of thing?"

"Maybe." They all followed Rei as she went to the fire-reading room and

kindled a fire. "Oh great fire, show us the force between Usagi-chan's

dream." Six -no, eight- figures appeared in the flames. And one of them had

odangos... The image faded as Rei lost her concentration. "We are in serious

trouble."

Lady Esmeraude fairly stalked down the hall with her report, her jaw

aching from clenching her teeth and her vision turning red with anger. I

hate the Senshi! I hate them! My best droid... Seeing the black mood she was

in, the guard turned white and backed away from the door. She didn't know

it, but an ominous blue glow was forming around her hands. The only real

progress we've made is the capture of the rabbit. And she isn't even fully

under control yet.

In Dimando's study, she could hear two voices murmering. The first was

obviously Dimando's, but the second...Saffiru? It'd make sense. She

noticed he hastily hid something when she entered the room and looked a

little nervous before schooling his features into an expression of annoyance.

"Sir, I have the report on my teams progress as you requested."

"A little early, but none the less welcome. I'll get to it... some

time," he said with a sigh, gesturing to the sea of paperwork adorning his

desk.

"If you genlemen will excuse me." She left the room and hid herself

from view, curious to see what was too important to show her. A bottle of

very expensive wine and a small sack, undoubtedly money, were placed on the

desk.

"From the leader of the Blue faction." That's it? Everybody know's

Dimando accepts bribes! Saffiru's hand brushed idly against a pocket, started

to draw out a small dagger, but he hid it again as Dimando turned while

opening the wine. That snake!

<Majesty, don't drink that!> Mentally, she projected the image of

Saiffiru with the knife.

<Esmeraude?>>

<Look out!>

"Traitor!" Dimando snarled as he spun around. "Disgrace to our Family!"

He pointed and Saffiru was engulfed in magical flames.

"Not a brother I'd like to have."

Something was beeping, a real annoying beep. Her alarm clock? But since

when did she use that? Usagi really didn't want to go to school... But as

she became more alert, she remembered where and when she was and snatched

her wrist communicator off of the desk. "Sorry. I'm here. What's going on?"

"Get your butt out of bed, Usagi! Something's about to attack the

shield!"

Usagi swore some paint-blistering oaths and grabbed her transformation

wand. "Moon Star... Power!" Can't the negeverse ever attack at normal hours?

She didn't even wait for the transformation to finish as she ran for the door,

nearly tripping over one of the fancy chairs. The door to Tuxedo Mask's room

burst open as she ran by, nearly giving Sailor Moon a heart attack.

"A dragon. You know anything about this, Usagi?"

"How... should I... know?" she panted.

"I take it you don't remember anything like this."

"Don't be silly... this hasn't happened... before."

"So the future is already changing."

"But toward which end result?"

And then there was no more time for idle speculation anymore because

they had reached the shield and a green dragon was heading for them at

break-neck speed.

"We're going to have to double-team this thing, guys!"

"Way ahead of you Venus!"

"Venus Love Chain..."

"Jupiter Thunderclap..."

"Encircle!"

"Zap!"

Jupiter's thunder merged with Venus' chain and became

a rope of supercharged energy that flew staight for the

dragon. The dragon impacted with the shield

almost at the same time that it was hit by the

Senshi's attack and it screamed in pain and

fury before hurtling towards the ground. A

large cloud of dust arose that made them all

cough.

"Yeah!" Jupiter could see Usagi head

toward the dragon. She tried to warn her that

might not be the best of ideas, but she

couldn't seem to stop coughing.

"Aaaiii!" A pair of baleful red eyes stared at them as the dust cleared.

"Usagi!" Tuxedo Kamen snatched Usagi out of the dragon's reach as it

lunged.

"Mars Celestial Fire..."

"Mercury Ice Storm..."

"Surround!"

"Blast!"

The effect was even more interesting this time, and the ice

storm began to hurl a blast of ice and firey lighting at the

dragon. But the dragon just shrugged off the attack, and came

back with fire of it's own.

"I need some time, cover me," Mercury shouted over the noise of the mini-

explosions the battle was creating. She ducked behind a large piece of rubble

and began to scan the dragon with her visor and computer. "It's power source

is the tiara!"

"Sailor Moon, I think you know what we need to do." Tuxedo Kamen leapt

into action and hurled a rose at the beast's tiara. "Now!"

"Moon Scepter... Elimination!" The dragon crumbled into a pile of

green dust, and the Senshi leaned against various rocks to try and recoup what

energy they could.

"Look out!" Above Usagi's head, a familiar figure

appeared. Not him again!

"Ta ta, all. We have some buisness to attend to."

And he disappeared, taking Sailor Moon with him.

"You know," Sailor Mars said as they headed back

inside. "A gal could get really sick of this."

"Amen."

Tuxedo Kamen was the last to head back, he had

stayed a few moments longer, staring at the spot where Usagi had been beside

him. "What was it those Americans called this? Something like Murphy's Law..."

Wasn't that fun? Watch for the final chapter, "Crystals, Canes, and Roses"

Home | Prologue | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5