The next morning, Naru and her mother were eating breakfast with the TV tuned to the morning news. Naru was only half-listening until one story caught her attention. "Several astronomers and other scientists in various locations around the northern hemisphere have noted something very unusual and puzzling," the anchorman said. "Although the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, was almost four weeks ago, the nights have continued to get longer. At first the difference was only noticeable to those with access to the super-accurate clocks used at such scientific facilities, but already, scientists say, the nights have become at least ten minutes longer than they were at the start of winter. None of the scientists who have noted this unusual occurrence have any theories about what is causing it. A thorough inspection of the world's scientific and government timekeeping systems is being undertaken.

"In an unrelated development, a freak snowstorm in Fiji sent vacationers fleeing from the beaches to seek warmth in hotels. The tropical nation is asking for assistance in the form of blankets and other cold weather necessities."

Naru looked at her mother. "Those aren't unrelated."

"Is this the kind of thing you were talking about last night?"

"The bad things that are going to start happening? I think so. We know that the Earth is supposed to go through some sort of change. The change is supposed to be a normal thing, but Sailor Moon needs to help it happen successfully. Unless we're able to help her, she won't be able to do it. And then, I guess, the Earth will keep getting darker and colder until no one can survive."

"This all sounds so crazy," Midori said. "But, that news report, and the fire in your hand... I have to believe it. I can't explain it away." She picked up her toast to take another bite, set it down, fidgeted with her napkin. Her mother was scared, Naru realized.

"Don't worry, Mama. Nephrite and I and the others have a plan to make sure everything turns out the way it's supposed to." She tried to smile reassuringly, and Midori returned the smile with a weak smile of her own.

When Nephrite picked her up to go the Crystal Sky Gallery, Naru asked, "Did you hear any news this morning?"

"The lengthening nights and the snowstorm in Fiji?"

Naru nodded. "What do you think?"

"I think we'd better start making some progress on getting the Crystals soon."

* * * * * * * *

Once they reached the Takara tower, Naru and Nephrite waited in Nephrite's car to keep an eye on Mamoru as he arrived. Jadeite was concealed near the doorway. If Usagi was becoming as paranoid as she seemed to be, it was reasonable to expect that she would send someone to follow her husband. But Mamoru arrived and entered the building without incident. The other three followed him inside. Riding up in the elevator, Mamoru and Jadeite gave each other polite nods - Naru had been told that the last time they saw each other they were trying to kill each other and nearly succeeded - but said nothing.

Having been safely escorted into the Crystal Sky Gallery, Mamoru sat at the table across from Yumemi, who had a blank canvas sitting on her easel nearby. "What can I do for you?" he asked. "It sounded urgent, but I couldn't get any details, not with Usagi right there."

"My Seeing of Elysion wasn’t good enough, and Zoisite and Kunzite are trapped there," Yumemi explained. "We need to reach your daughter in the future. You said she was very fond of Helios; perhaps he told her more about Elysion than the rest of you. I need you to tell me as much as you can about her and the future she came from."

"Okay." Mamoru began to describe the Tokyo of the future, Crystal Tokyo, from the glimpses and visions he had had in the past. He described the beautiful palace where he would live with Neo-Queen Serenity and their daughter, a lively little girl with pink ponytails. Yumemi painted the scene as he described it; frequently he would stop her to correct a detail or two. Naru got the feeling that to him it wasn't just a painting; it was a representation of his dearest dreams - dreams that were now in danger of never coming true. Another reason, she thought, for them to do everything they could to save Usagi.

Finally the painting was done. Mamoru couldn't think of anything to add to it. Yumemi moved the painting to the table. "Are you ready?" she asked.

"Chiba-san. Endymion," Nephrite said. “I think that as your Guardians, Jadeite and I should go with you. If Jadeite agrees, of course."

Jadeite nodded, then Mamoru also nodded. "Thank you."

Naru clutched Nephrite's sleeve. "Don't get stuck in there."

He patted her hand. "Don't worry. Zoisite and Kunzite went to a place where there was a corrupted crystal. It isn't possible for these tainted crystals to be in the future." Because if they remain tainted, there won't be a future, Naru filled in the unspoken words.

"I know," she said. "But I'll worry anyway."

"It'll be okay." He kissed her quickly then sat down next to Mamoru in front of the painting. Jadeite joined them and glanced at Thetis, who said, "I'm not coming in after you if you get stuck, I hope you know that."

The three men rested their hands lightly on the picture, gazing at it in deep concentration. Slowly, Mamoru going first, they faded from sight. Naru kept her eyes fixed on where Nephrite had been, her heart pounding.

It might only have been a minute or so, but it seemed like hours before the three of them shimmered back into the room. Mamoru had a bleak look on his face. "She wasn't there. The palace was there, everything was just as I described it, but it was dark and empty. Serenity and Little Usa weren't there." He put his elbows on the table and dropped his face into his hands.

So much for their last idea for rescuing Zoisite and Kunzite and getting the Golden Crystal, along with Helios to help them. And what did it mean, Naru wondered, that the Palace of the future existed but Serenity and her daughter weren't there?

"Well," Yumemi said, her usual mild, dispassionate tone not quite hiding her disappointment. Naru remembered that she loved Helios, who was also trapped in the realm controlled by the tainted Golden Crystal. "As they say, back to the drawing board."

Mamoru made an effort to compose himself. "I'm sorry. I told you as much as I could, maybe I was missing some important details, something like that..." He trailed off, unconvinced by his own explanation. "I'd better be getting back to work, getting a new business off the ground, I can't afford to take too much time off..."

"Of course," Yumemi said. "We'll let you know if there's anything else you can help us with, and of course you tell us if there's anything you need help with, or if you learn anything else."

Mamoru nodded his thanks and stood, putting on his heavy coat. Even for the depths of winter, the extremely cold weather was unusually persistent and getting worse by the day.

Mamoru left the building and headed for the bus stop. Nephrite, Naru, and Jadeite stood in the doorway watching him. "Come on," Nephrite said. "We'd better follow him." The others nodded and they trailed after Mamoru at a distance. The young man turned the corner, then Sailor Moon's voice cried out, "Traitor! You betrayed me, your beloved wife, by talking to my enemies, and now I'm going to punish you!!"

Naru and the two Guardians ran after Mamoru. They rounded the corner to see Sailor Moon, with the four Inner Senshi standing to either side of her, preparing to attack. "Moon Prin -" Naru shot an arc of flame towards Sailor Moon. " - cess Hala -" The invocation ended with a cry of pain. Sailor Moon's scepter went flying as she snatched her burned hand to her chest. She glared at Naru. The other four Senshi began their attacks; Naru countered with another arc of flame that drove them back. "Usagi, you don't know what you're doing!" Naru shouted. "This is Mamoru - you don't want to hurt him!

"He betrayed me!" There was something rough and alien in Usagi's voice.

"Usa-chan, listen to me!" Mamoru pled. "I've seen the future - our daughter will never be born if things keep going this way! You have to let Naru and the others help you!"

"If our daughter is never born, it's because you won't do your duty! I'm your queen, you have to obey me instead of running off to help my enemies steal my crystal from me!"

"Usa-chan, please listen -"

"She isn't your Usa-chan right now," Naru said. "Get out of here before you get hurt."

"No. I know you're going to do what you have to do, but I won't leave her."

Naru was still keeping the Senshi at bay with bursts of flame from her hand. The little training she had had with Nephrite was already paying off - she didn't even have to try to summon the flame, she just had to concentrate on her aim and her goal of protecting Mamoru. She was starting to get tired, though. She hadn't had time to build up her stamina yet. Nephrite was helping by shooting bursts of star power into the sidewalk, shattering the concrete at the Senshis' feet. Off to the side, in the street, Naru noticed a parked delivery truck beginning to move; a glance at Jadeite showed him concentrating as he used the power of his mind and hands to move the truck towards the Senshi.

Sailor Mars also noticed. "Mars Flame Sniper!" A huge bow and arrow of flame appeared in her hands, aimed at Jadeite. Immediately Naru shot flame at Sailor Mars; at the same instant Nephrite fired a star power attack. The two attacks merged into a blinding blast in the center of the battle. Pain jarred through Naru as her back slammed into the sidewalk.

When the light and noise faded, Naru saw that everyone else was also down. Usagi lay curled around her burned hand, moaning, the edges of her fuku singed. Naru couldn't tell if anyone else was even conscious. Quickly, she crawled toward her friend and gathered her in her arms. "Usagi, are you ok?"

Usagi looked up at her. A glimpse of blue shone through the darkness that had filled her eyes. Tears shimmered at the corners of her eyes. "Naru-chan," she said, barely able to get words out. "Help me... help..."

The other four Senshi, also looking somewhat singed and battered, gathered around. The darkness filled Usagi's eyes again as Sailor Jupiter scooped her up. "You win, for now," Sailor Venus snarled, sounding nothing like the sunny blonde woman Naru had met at Usagi's wedding. The five Senshi disappeared.

"Naru-chan." Nephrite dropped to his knees beside her, looking as battered and tired as any of them. "Are you all right?"

Choked with sudden tears for her friend, Naru nodded. "Maybe we'd better practice that attack. I think we overdid it a little."

Jadeite and Mamoru gathered around them. Beyond the little group, Naru could see a larger ring of onlookers. Police sirens sounded in the distance, drawing nearer. "We'd better get out of here," Nephrite said.

"Wait," Mamoru said. "What did she say to you, Naru?"

"She asked me to help her."

Nephrite picked Naru up, and Jadeite grasped Mamoru by the arm and the four of them teleported just as the sirens turned on to the street.