*That light…it was so bright, how could they have…where is Bananu?*

Oranjiya opened his eyes to nothingness at first as he searched around for his friend. He found him staring at a vision in the distance.

“Bananu! What has happened? Are we dead?” Oranjiya called to him. Bananu didn’t answer him with many words but instead motioned to the scene in front of them, and hoarsely choked out a response.

“Oranjiya…do you recognize this place?”

Oranjiya only looked confused and took a look around him, which he somehow had been oblivious to. He gasped as soon as he saw the location, and his eyes grew large with fear and more confusion.

“I-is this our…h-home?” He stuttered out.

“Yes.” A voice called out of nowhere. They looked around for the owner of the voice, and found a familiar figure but older than the one they were used to seeing. The speaker was holding the crystal of light that had blown them away just minutes ago. Neo-Queen Serenity looked up at them from the only source of light in the current location they were in.

“This is a projection of what your home once was.” She continued. They looked at her in disbelief and shock, for they were not very often in the presence of the Queen from their own time.

“W-what do you mean?” They stammered out. She looked at them with a serious face touched with sadness.

“Watch.” She replied. Compelled with fear, they obeyed and turned their attention to the familiar scene that played around them.

“Little brother, race you to the temple over there!” a young, familiar voice called out to another smaller familiar figure with light blue hair with silvery purple streaks, that struggled to catch up to his big brother and his friends.

“Oranjiya, it’s…it’s us, isn’t it?” Bananu said more than questioned.

“Yes, I remember this place… and that’s Pupuran and Peruru is the little one trying to catch up to us. This was the last time we ever saw our parents…alive.” Oranjiya explained with eyes that grew misty as he thought of his mother and father. Bananu turned back to the queen.

“Why are you showing us this day of misery?! Do you take delight in our defeat and remind us of our sorrows?!” he yelled at her. To his surprise he turned to see tears silently flowing down the queen’s beautiful face. He then quieted his rage and gazed back at the scene. The younger versions of themselves had already run inside the temple with Peruru running behind them.

“Wait up for me, brother, I’m not as fast as you yet!” he panted after them.

Then the scene focused on the outside of the temple to a few yards away, focusing on the sky that had suddenly turned a recognizable pitch black. With a slow, fearful realization, Oranjiya barely whispered out:

“Badiyanu-sama…?”

Then Neo-Queen Serenity had tears that continued to flow down her face as other people outside the temple began to run in pandemonium, and they saw a painfully recognizable woman call out in vain, in hopes of finding her children. She had long, waist-length hair that was aqua with golden streaks in the front.

“Pupuran! Peruru! Come children, this is no time to play with your mother, we must take cover! Children, where are you?”

“Oranjiya! Oranjiya, come out now! We are being attacked!” another woman with shoulder length orange hair with a crimson braid on the side yelled out for her son.

“…Mama? Okaa-san?!” Oranjiya choked out with a tear running down his face. Bananu was the next one to be stunned. They saw yet another woman with medium-length violet hair with cerulean wisps on either side of her head fly from building to building screaming for her own child. He couldn’t form words and just gawked at his mother. His mother as well as Oranjiya’s mother was joined by two male fairies: one with shaggy crimson hair, with a silver wisp on the left side of his bangs, and the other with golden-orange hair pulled back into a small ponytail.

“Otou-san…?” he finally managed to speak out.

“Did you find the children?” The apparition of Oranjiya’s father asked.

“No, we have been searching everywhere and now it is too late! She’ll kill us all and destroy our home!” Oranjiya’s mother panicked. His father flew to her side to comfort her in her hysterics, softly kissing her hands and quieting her down to sob into his shoulder. Bananu saw his father also grab hold of his mother as she began to cry softly, but not as violently as Oranjiya’s mother. She began to murmur through her tears.

“We have failed our son, my husband and now we can’t even see them before we are—“

She was interrupted by his father kissing her lips, surprising her and calming her at the same time. He broke the kiss and looked into her emerald eyes, smiling faintly.

“Don’t say killed, we aren’t sure what Badiyanu’s intentions are, and besides, we know that she only feeds on Dream energy. We must keep faith and hope that our kids made it to the temple.” He told his wife as she stopped crying and looked back at her husband nodding in agreement. Pupuran and Peruru’s mother was alone and afraid and she cried for one of her loved ones to come to her, fearing that her family had already been killed, she fell to the ground with tears cascading down her delicate appearance.

Just then, a male fairy flew to her and picked up his wife. He looked worried and embraced her, asking her questions.

“Are you alright?! What happened? Did you find the children? I couldn’t find—“ He was interrupted as she threw her arms around his neck and cried into his chest.

“No, husband, I can’t find the children and I thought you were all dead and left me behind!” She cried. He took her in his arms and stared at her ruby eyes, which were red with tears.

“I’m sorry I made you worry…I couldn’t find them either. I was scared I lost you as well.”

She looked into her husband’s turquoise eyes and brushed his dark green hair with blue streaks out of his face, revealing a single tear fall guiltily down his cheek. She brushed that away as well. The sky above them cracked with thunder and an evil voice tore through the sky with her laughter.

“Badiyanu!” Bananu’s father glared at the direction of the cruel laughter. The others soon followed his gaze. Oranjiya’s father was the first one to speak after the brief pause that followed.

“Leave our home alone, you witch!!”

The thunder cracked and lightning struck out at them, missing them all by bare inches.

“Who are you to tell me what to do?!” The voice spat hatefully at them.

“Badiyanu-sama?!” Bananu whispered this time. In the scene, his father was the next to speak.

“You can take our planet, but we won’t go so easily!”

“HA! What do I care if you defy me or not? You will still end up feeding me your dream energy, you fools!!” Badiyanu cackled. Pupuran and Peruru’s father and mother then spoke up.

“You may win now but you won’t remain victorious forever.”

“You will be defeated one day, witch!”

Badiyanu scoffed. “Too bad you won’t be around to see that day!”

“Husband? What about the children?” Pupuran and Peruru’s mother said looking up at her husband, with her tear-stained, yet beautiful face. He grasped his wife’s hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it softly.

“We must hope that they decided to play in the temple to escape this storm…I am sorry that I can’t be certain, but we must keep hoping or all is lost.”

“I know husband, I know.” She replied with a brave smile, hoping to encourage him not to blame himself. They then witnessed the desecration of their home and Oranjiya couldn’t help but grow angry and Bananu yelled out in frustration. Once the major damage was done, they saw their younger versions step timidly out of the temple.

“Onee-chan, what happened? Where are mama and papa?”

“I don’t know yet, but it is so quiet here, and everything is torn up. Stay behind me, Peruru.”

“Hey Bananu, Pupuran, look up at the sky. It’s so dark.”

“Oranjiya, hurry up, we don’t want to get separated.” Bananu’s younger version warned him. Just then, a huge voice called out to them and a woman appeared.

“Children, you were all lucky to have survived the terrible storm. I’m afraid you four are the only survivors…”

“What?! NOO!! I want mama and papa! I want mama and papa!”

“Shh…Peruru, I know, but…we’re too late…” Young Pupuran said trying to comfort his little brother who cried uncontrollably. He too trembled slightly at her words, but tried to keep firm for his family and friends.

“I can give you four a home with me but you must first promise me one thing…” Badiyanu began,” You must help me protect children’s dreams so they can be happy and never have to face such a tragedy as this one. Help me create a world where they don’t have to grow up and be miserable. If we can protect them, we may be able to save this world by collecting dream energy from the children on earth in the past…”

The scene then blacked out and the flashback ended, leaving them in an empty void with the queen. Bananu slammed his fist into his hand and Oranjiya yelled out in fury.

“I can’t believe she had tricked us all this time!!”

“Your majesty, Sailor Moon, please forgive us. We never knew the truth about our past until now. Thank you for showing us the truth.”

She only looked up at them and smiled.

“You have already been forgiven.”

They looked back at her and they too began to smile. Bananu looked down and shuffled his feet. Oranjiya spoke up to offer the queen something.

“Please, take some of our life energy to restore the children’s lives, we wish to return to our home to see if the spell Badiyanu cast has been lifted and if our families still live.”

Neo-Queen Serenity nodded and two small spheres of life slowly materialized out in front of Oranjiya and Bananu. The spheres hovered over to the Silver Crystal and disappeared into it.

They stood up and looked at her doubtfully but nodded and smiled. A bubble formed around them and they began to float out towards space.

“Thank you, both,” She said as they ascended further. Bananu and Oranjiya looked down at her.

"No, your majesty, thank you.”

It was the last thing they said as they departed from earth.

* * * * * *

[Meanwhile]

The Sailor Senshi had already descended back down to the platform they were all standing on, (though invisible as it was) looking up at the still descending Queen who had seemed to be in a trance with Oranjiya and Bananu, who just broke away and were floating off into space. They seemed relieved and hopeful as they both left, looking down upon them all.

*I wonder where they will go…and if our conflict has come to an end… * Tuxedo Kamen thought to himself, glancing up from his daughter’s hand that he held firmly in his grip to keep her alive. However, the golden aura that had been bright before was now diminishing. Pupuran grew desperate and Tuxedo Kamen became worried. Their energy combined was failing and they were growing exhausted. The children grew pale and finally the glow faded away, completely.

“NOOOOO!! WAKE UP!” Pupuran sobbed in despair. Sailor Venus began to weep quietly, covering her mouth to suppress a loud cry of sorrow. She couldn’t bear to see the children grow pale with death and to see Pupuran like this. Tuxedo Kamen refused to give up. He concentrated harder, but nothing happened.

“Chibiusa…?” He whispered with a tear forming behind his mask. The energy he had left was ineffective…

The Senshi became frustrated and scared. Sailor Uranus looked down at Sailor Neptune who cried into her shoulder, trying to comfort her while hiding her own tears, which almost no one ever saw. Sailor Mercury, however, cried out loud not caring who saw her. Sailor Jupiter looked furious as a tear escaped her eye, rolling down her face.

“This…can’t happen…NO!” She yelled angry because she couldn’t do anything.

Sailor Pluto couldn’t speak. She pleaded silently, with thoughts of Chibiusa running through her mind.

*Small-lady…no…you can’t…no…*

Sailor Mars couldn’t speak either, but she just stared in shock. She tried not to cry because she wanted to be strong for the others, but even she couldn’t remain so stiff, and she eventually broke down.

The Queen reverted back into Sailor Moon as she reached the group. She walked towards them slowly, so as not to damage the crystal she still held with the light of life inside of it. The others turned slowly to look at her; they had no idea what to do. Pupuran couldn’t even bring himself to look at her, though, and remained kneeling over the children with his teardrops falling onto them.

“W-we are too late. I have failed them…” He said as his shoulders convulsed in trying to keep from sobbing out loud again.

“You have failed no one.” Sailor Moon reassured him comfortingly.

Pupuran looked at her, confused, as she walked past him towards the children.

“But…?” He started. Sailor Venus helped him up to make way for Sailor Moon. He turned to her, curiously, waiting for an explanation.

“Sailor Moon knows what she is doing, please, you must have faith in her. Please, just give her a chance.” She pleaded, holding his arm. He glanced questioningly at her gloved hand with her fingers wrapped closely around his own. She noticed his staring and quickly dropped her hold on him. He was surprised that she could have so much compassion for him and even more surprised that he kind of liked the feeling of her hands on his. He almost nervously took her hand back in his, and looked at her face as she blushed, unknowingly to the other Senshi. He wasn’t sure what he was going to say or just why he suddenly retrieved her hand. His hand just sort of took over on it’s own command.

“I h-hope.” He managed to stutter out. He looked away form her suddenly, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

He glanced slightly at her and noticed her blushing as well, and a smile decided to crawl onto his face. They returned their attention to the children as Sailor Moon knelt down beside them, still holding the Crystal with care. She closed her eyes and the light that gleamed inside of it like a pair of fireflies, slowly began to emerge from the crystal and hovered above the hearts of Sailor Chibimoon and Peruru. It descended into their bodies and the light burst from both of them as they began to breathe again. They remained unconscious, but Chibimoon gasped out as if suppressing pain.

“…P-Peruru…?” she barely whispered as if trying to escape from a nightmare. His face was twisted as if he was also in a nightmare but he didn’t reply. Instead, his hand reached out for hers and gently intertwined his fingers with hers. Chibimoon’s face became clear as if she had just passed out of the nightmare into a heaven and everyone sighed with relief. Sailor Neptune wiped away her tears, smiling and laughing shakily. Sailor Uranus chuckled slightly and held her close. Sailor Pluto gently walked towards them and knelt beside Sailor Chibimoon, smiling with a few tears that escaped from her eyes. Sailor Mercury stopped crying and smiled with red cheeks.

Sailor Moon sighed and collapsed onto her knees with exhaustion and smiled shakily and Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Mars grabbed Sailor Moon by the shoulders in a hug.

“You did it.” Sailor Mars said beaming.

“We knew you would.” Sailor Jupiter said with a grin. Tuxedo Kamen was the next one to embrace her lovingly.

“Usako…” He smiled at her, making her blush. Pupuran looked over at all of them and almost collapsed with exhaustion and relief to have his brother alive, but he forgot that Sailor Venus still had him in her grasp. She picked him up as he began to wobble unsteadily and held him until he regained his balance.

“Are you okay?” She asked worriedly, believing he had fallen ill suddenly. He nodded and grinned awkwardly; a little discomfited at the way he was behaving. She closed her eyes and the worry lifted from her face and she smiled back at him.

“I’m glad.”

He didn’t know what to do but blush like a schoolboy that had been caught kissing a girl under the slide. He looked down to keep everyone else from seeing.

*Either she has more magic than she is aware of or I am an idiot.*

Suddenly he was nudged from the side and looked back at Sailor Venus. She motioned towards the children and he looked at them and couldn’t help but smile, seeing how happy his brother looked next to Chibimoon.

*Heheh…cute…I’m going to have to watch him more carefully now.*

Pupuran chuckled to himself thinking of how he would probably find his brother trying to sneak off in the middle of the night to see her in the near future. He glanced around at everyone and saw the same look of adoration that he had.

“Sailor Moon…maybe we should get them to bed, it’s almost 5:30 in the morning.” Sailor Mercury said, breaking the silence.

“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea to me.” Sailor Uranus yawned with a wink at Sailor Neptune, making her grow pink in her cheeks and mock annoyance with Sailor Uranus, until Sailor Uranus wrapped her arms around Sailor Neptune’s waist. Tuxedo Kamen carefully picked up Peruru and turned to Pupuran.

“You and your brother will stay with me tonight and we can figure out an arrangement when we wake up.” He said with a warm smile (getcha mind outta the gutta! :p) Pupuran didn’t argue because he found that he was too tired.

Sailor Jupiter picked up Sailor Chibimoon and the inner senshi performed one more Sailor Teleport while the outer senshi, Tuxedo Kamen and Pupuran squeezed into Sailor Uranus’s helicopter, which she had somehow managed to land in the thick clouds that hid it before, and they went home.

* * * * * *