Chapter 12

It was pin drop silent as both Ami and Makoto stared at Luna with disbelief in their eyes.

"I am sorry…could you repeat that?" Makoto asked as she looked at the cat with incredulity. Did she hear that right? She threw a gaze at Ami who also appeared baffled.

Luna though wasn't surprised by the reaction, she sighed and looked at them with understanding in her eyes.

"Usagi is the Moon Princess. In the Silver Millennium there was no Sailor Moon because Usagi was the Moon Princess. I…the memory of Usagi being the princess came too late. I had felt a bond with Usagi but I didn't remember her being the princess so I assumed that she had been a senshi so I made her one. But only few days ago I remembered that she was the princess. But I realized that right now, until we find the silver crystal, her being Sailor Moon is the best protection. Without the crystal Usagi is vulnerable and a sitting duck. So I am keeping her being princess under the wrap until we find the crystal. This is her best disguise to protect herself even if it was a mistake I made" Luna stated it outloud with a sigh.

She looked at the senshis expecting distrust and hurt and that's exactly what she saw. Both Ami and Makoto were digesting the facts she stated but now they also looked hurt.

"That's fine…but why didn't you tell us that Usagi is the princess as soon as you found out?" Ami wondered outloud, looking at her intently as she waited for the reply. She felt hurt but her rational side was trying to tell her something. She suspected a specific reason for Luna to keep it under wraps from them but she wanted to hear it from Luna herself.

"Yeah. We are her protectors, why on Earth did you not tell us about her?" Makoto asked.

"At first it was just too keep her safe so you don't slip. But to be honest…the real reason I wanted to hide it from you all is because of the way Mars has been treating Usagi" Luna stated as she looked at the inner senshis. Immediately a grimace painted their face and they nodded understandably. Oh yes, they knew that Raye was treating Usagi very horribly lately.

"She is already jealous of Usagi, if she finds out about her being the princess I can imagine her acting worse…" Makoto whispered thoughtfully.

"That's why, I want to reveal her identity to Mars after we have the silver crystal. Then there won't be any doubt and well…Mars would have to obey and protect Usagi. When Queen Serenity came into coronation she used the silver crystal to create a bond of loyalty with all the senshis and Serenity so they could feel her wherever she is and protect her. You cannot betray a bond like that. A thousand years and reincarnation have made it mild but once the silver crystal emerges that bond will solidify. Mars is unstable and untrustworthy now so until we have the silver crystal we can't tell her because I don't trust her. Something is wrong with her and we cannot find or cure that without the crystal" Luna stated considerately.

"I have been sensing a darkness in Raye…" Ami started "Do you think that the silver crystal can cure that out of Raye? I feel that she used to think of Usagi as a true friend once. But lately it has been swallowed in this odd darkness."

"The silver crystal can do anything, so yes it would" Luna said it before she shook her head "But that's a talk for another day. Ami can you track Usagi down? She is gonna be very vulnerable and in immense pain. We need to find her and keep her safe so no one can take advantage of her weakened state!"

Ami immediately got her mercury laptop out and started to type in it without any question though Makoto had a question still lingering in her mind.

"Even if we find Usagi…we don't know who her soulmate is so she is gonna suffer. And you say that this pain will carry on until she bonds with her soulmate. So what should we do with that?" Makoto asked while looking at Luna.

"I told you, both sides can feel the bond. I say we find and keep Usagi safe, the soulmate should feel the bond and come to find her." Luna stated as she looked at them. Makoto sighed in relief at that and looked at Ami patiently. Both of them waited for Ami to give them Usagi's location. But time went by and Ami did not give a location. 5 minutes passed and now both were frowning. Usually Ami found her things quickly so why couldn't she now?

"Ami?" Makoto called her friends name but her friend simply looked panicked.

"I-I can't track Usagi…" Ami replied, panic in her voice as her eyes widened. This time both Luna and Makoto's eyes widened as horror started to set in.

"What do you mean you cant!" both screamed as Luna jumped to look at the screen.

"I-it is registering her signature but it won't let me track it. Something is stopping it, an odd barrier" Ami stated as she worriedly looked. Makoto looked horrified but Luna froze. Both noticed Luna's reaction and turned to look at her. Makoto raised her eyebrows and tilted her head towards Luna.

"Do you know why?" Makoto asked.

Luna simply felt numb as she was unsure. She sighed and sat down.

"She's protected by the crimson moon now…the moon must have it's barrier around her." Luna spoke wearily.

"But I thought you said she would be in pain and weak! Why didn't you mention this protective moon barrier? That just disputes what you just told us!" Ami shouted as she looked at Luna in confusion.

Luna then stiffly looked up at the girls.

"You don't understand. If Usagi was by herself then yes she wouldn't have a barrier around her. She would be weak and vulnerable. But, if her soulmate manages to find her, the barrier would go up to protect the two until the bond is complete and stable…" Luna spoke faintly as she looked at the moon now.

"So…Usagi's soulmate found her?" Makoto spoke as she registered what she said.

"Yes evidently. Now we won't be able to track her down until morning" Luna whispered.

Both girls were silent as they comprehended their thoughts. Both looked at the unnatural moon quietly…all they could do was wait.