Sailor Neptune looked around the ruins of Silver Millenium. She moved towards the crystal palace, with Sailor Pluto trailing her. "What are we looking for?" Pluto did not realize she had spoken out loud. "A clue, a confirmation." Neptune answered. She felt a little lost without her mirror, so strongly had she come to rely on her Talisman. Being separated from it was damaging her body, as well. she could feel her strength running out of her, as it had when Eudial had taken her Talisman away. But this time it wasn't Eudial who was killing her. It was Haruka. She shook that thought away as she approached the Crystal Palace. Pluto walked through the ruined gardens. Unshed tears glimmered in her eyes. "It was all so beautiful," she whispered. She passed down the garden paths into the main part of the palace. Neptune was nowhere in sight. Hurrying now, Pluto followed the path that Neptune would have to have taken. She couldn't hear any sound coming from the rooms ahead. Pluto broke into a run. Coming around the corner of the passage, Pluto came to a halt as she found Neptune collapsed on the floor. "Neptune!" Pluto screamed. Neptune clutched her chest, shaking. Pluto lifted Neptune off the floor, holding her in her arms. "Neptune!" Neptune looked at her. "I can't be here, Pluto. I'm here somewhere already." She fell back limp and unconscious. Pluto lifted her up and carried her to a settee along one wall. "Neptune don't die," she pleaded, "Haruka will kill me if you die." She laughed bitterly. "Damn you Haruka." Neptune opened her eyes and smiled. "She always was the most stubborn of us. Don't blame her, Pluto. She has her own destiny to follow." Neptune's eyes closed again. Pluto felt for a pulse. It was weak, but it was there. "Hold on Michiru. Just hold on." Pluto laid Neptune's head on a cushion and ran off down the hallway. " 'I'm here somewhere already,' " she said." Pluto gripped her staff. "I have to find her." ********** Uranus looked out into the swirling mists. She saw two feet in front of her. Looking up, she could see dark eyes glowing with hate, glaring down at her. "Get up!" Titania demanded. Uranus didn't move. "Get up!" her once-lieutenant screamed. Uranus got to her knees. Pains wracked her body, but she ignored them and stood, looking her assistant in the eyes. "Titania, what is this about? Have I done something to wrong you?" Uranus's voice shook, but it was cold, angry. Titania laughed. "What have you done? You have abandoned me! You have left me to freeze here, unloved, unnoticed on this barren place. Why did you call me?" She grabbed Uranus by the collar. "Why did you bring me into understanding just to abandon me?" Titania shook the weakened Senshi. Uranus stared, aghast. "What?" "You made me to love you and you never even looked at me!" Titania spat into Uranus's face. "I did what?" Uranus was finding it hard to concentrate around the pain. "What are you doing to me?" "I'm doing to you what you did to me." Titania hissed. "I'm drawing all the life out of you, out of your planet. I'll stop when you and this micro-kingdom of yours is lifeless and cold. Like me." Her voice lowered and cracked with emotion. Uranus blinked, trying to focus. "Oberon loves you..." she managed. Titania threw Uranus down to the ground. "Oberon loves you! They all do! And you too obsessed with your precious Neptune to see it. You leave us alone here to do your work, while you go visit her. You leave me...alone!" Uranus was fighting for breath now. "I'm so sorry, Titania. I didn't know...I...this won't get you my love..." she gasped. Titania sneered. "I don't want it anymore. All I want from you is your death!" She drew an arm back and screamed with rage. Uranus tensed herself to feel the impact of the attack. "Deep Submerge!" the cry echoed in the fog. Titania reeled back as the attack hit her. Uranus felt herself being lifted up. She took a deep breath and stood on her own. As Titania staggered, she sould feel the pain ease. Uranus lifted an arm. "World Shaking!" The blast sent Titania backwards. Uranus bent over double, regaining her breath. Neptune leaned down quickly. "I was watching you in the mirror.... Can you handle her?" she asked. "Yes," Uranus answered. "I'll get help" Neptune said and disappeared. Titania stood and faced Uranus. The Senshi felt power returning as Titania's will was broken, her intent turned from taking the energy of the planet. "Titania...don't do this." Uranus straightened to her full height. Titania looked at her, despair and hatred written plainly on her face. "Go ahead. Do it. Kill me." Titania laughed coldly. Uranus shook her head. "Not even that. Well then...." she lifted her arm and hurling an attack at Uranus, rushed her. Without realizing how, Uranus found herself holding her sword, Titania bearing down on her. Titania threw herself on Uranus's sword and slid down, crashing to her knees. "It's not enough," she said, and died.
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