Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Eclipse Saga: Confrontations ❯ Eclipse Saga: Confrontations ( One-Shot )

Serena Tsukino opened her eyes and looked out the window.

Tokyos' skyline was majestic, illuminated shadows against the reddy-orange shape of the sun as it rose slowly above the horizon. Summer had finally arrived, dismissing the misery of spring. The season of Dais' death!

That's how the senshi will remember her death. And not just the senshi will remember!

Dais' daughter, Kyoko, still grieved for her mother despite her attempt to continue her duty. Her duty as a Sun Guardian!

Pulling back the covers, Serena threw her dressing gown on and headed downstairs, not as sleepy as she had been in the past! With help from the Shadow Blade, Serena had been increasing her bodies sleeping clock so she went to bed early and rose in time to see the sun rising in the morning. She had also been training hard, perfecting her ability to change into Eclipse.

Eclipse was one of two powerful senshi recorded in every universe known to the Shadow Blade, even in the Negaverse, where to whisper the name Eclipse would bring the people there in complete horror. Only one other person can rival Eclipses power. But no one knows who they are or what they look like.

Reaching the kitchen, Serena looked at what was available.

Sugar- coated cereal or fibre rich cereal with banana slices on top?

Reaching for a banana, she peeled and sliced it before pouring some of each cereal into a bowl and added the milk. Placing the slices neatly on top, she then found herself a clean spoon and, taking her breakfast with, went and stood outside.

"The sun is so beautiful at this time of year!" as she ate her cereal.

That was another thing Serena had learnt. To respect yourself and everything around. If you respect your body or someone, then treat them right. If you respect your body well, then treat it well. Give it the correct amounts and it won't let you down! Give it too little or too much and things will fall apart! The same applies to people.

"Oh well, I better get ready and then go meet the others!" heading back inside.

"Your Highness, the invitations for the Tournament are ready to be sent!"

The young woman he was talking to turned to face him. Soft pink eyes with silver-white hair. At least twenty-five or twenty-six in age.

Yet she was older than she looked!

"Send them immediately!"

"Do you wish for Kyoko to deliver the princess's invite Your Highness?"

"Yes!"

"As you command Your Highness!" bowing before he left.

The woman sighed in sadness.

"HEY, WAIT FOR ME!!!"

Hotaru gasped as she skidded to a halt.

The others looked at her while laughing.

"You'll get there Hotaru, don't worry!" Haruka patted her on the head in a friendly gesture.

"Very…funny!" in between breathes.

Setsuna smiled.

Hotaru hadn't quite turned fourteen yet! But she was determined to prove to the others that she was just as able as they were.

"We better keep going, it's not far now!"

The group walked along for a while, making they're way to Tokyos' Docks where, once they got there, they watched the sun rise, waiting for Kyoko to arrive.

"Hey, you made it!"

They turned to face her as she approached, Bereos following a short distance behind.

"It's good to see you again!"

"I'll say!"

"So what news do you have regarding Braxion?"

"None I'm afraid, we lost all reports on him recently, I'm really sorry!"

"That's okay!"

Bereos nudged Kyoko.

"Oh right, I was ordered to deliver this to you Serena!" She pulled out the small envelope and held it out to her.

Taking the envelope from Kyoko, Serena carefully opened it and pulled the letter inside the envelope out.

"What does it say?"

"Read it Serena!"

"Moon Princess Serena Tsukino…" She looked at Kyoko.

"Keep going, I want to know as much they do!"

Serena smiled. "You have been entered into a Tournament for senshi only…"

"A Tournament only for senshi?"

"…after your recent battle against the senshi-eating demon…"

"Must we remember that?"

"Let her finish!"

"…which has resulted in you and only you being entered!"

"Is that it?"

"No there's more listen!"

"The Tournament is being hosted by High Queen Uni, ruler of this universe, you will be pitted against other senshi, male and female, human, animal or half and halfs'!"

"Male senshi?"

"You have to go!"

"But why?"

"So you can prove how scary you are while we're checking out the guys!"

"Read on Serena and tell us what the prize is!"

"…the overall winner, the Tournaments Champion, will be named as the heir/heiress to High Queen Unis' throne!" She closed the letter.

"Well, what's your decision?"

"What about Mei-Chuns' wedding?"

"Oh yeah, I nearly forgot about that!"

"What a bummer we can't go to both!"

Bereos thought for a moment. "Kyoko, what's the date the Tournament starts?"

"The day after Mei-Chuns' wedding!"

The senshi looked at her. "AFTER?"

"That's right, and it's on Mei-Chuns home world!"

"Well, what are we waiting for?"

"Yeah lets go now so we get there early!"

"Hold your horses!" holding her hands up "aren't you suppose to let her now that you are going?"

"She already knows!"

"Well, then pack some fun stuff and we'll get going!"

The young woman gazed out of a window. Her eyes were sad.

A door opened and the servant boy from earlier entered.

"Yes?"

"Your Highness, the invites have been delivered!"

"Then await further orders!"

"Yes Your Highness!" He left.

"Soon, I can rest assured that this universe will be safe when I go!"

Mei-Chun glanced up from repairing the little doll in her lap as a girl aged three ran into the room. "She's almost done!"

"Yaaay!" climbing onto the bed and sat next to her "Can I watch?"

"Of course you can, then when you grow up, you can do this for another little girl!"

The little girl carefully leaned over to see what she did and where she did it. She watched as she slipped the thin fibrous spines through the cloth before dabbing small drops of honey onto the fibre ends. She then picked out fibrous snake- creatures that ate the honey before eating the rest of the spines and closing up the hole by acting as threading. Biting onto each other's tails, the creatures made themselves into one snake-creature.

"There, all done!" handing the girl her doll.

The little girl slipped off the bed and hugged her doll. "Thank you mummy!"

Mei-Chun smiled as the little girl led her out the door.

The journey didn't take long. With Bereos and Kyoko amping up Harukas' space powers, they reached Mei-Chuns home world shortly after leaving Earth.

They didn't stop to look around at the stalls. They made their way straight towards to the palace where they were greeted by rough-looking guards.

"State ur business!"

Rei turned to Ami. "See, I'm still not talking like that!"

Ami giggled.

"Wot's so funny?" leaning towards Ami with a frightening grin on his face.

"Nothing, something my friend said, that's all!"

"Really?"

"Look, we're here to see Mei-Chun!" exclaimed Haruka. She stamped her foot on the floor in discomfort.

"Princess Mei-Chun you meen!"

"Yes, she invited us all to her wedding!"

"Oh roight, pleeze accept my apologises, wedding guests weren't mentioned to us!"

"Well that's nice, now will you let us in?"

"Of course!" He banged on the door.

Another guard appeared in the Gate Tower. "WHAT?"

"WEDDING GUESTS!"

"ARE YOU SURE?"

Kyoko floated up to the Guard Tower to confront the guard.

He jumped backwards as she landed on the platform flooring. "Whatdoyouwant?"

"Just open the gates and let my friends inside!"

"Yesma'am!" He pulled a lever to unlock the door before pulling on a heavy rope, pulling the doors open.

"U can enter now!" bowing as they walked past.

Inside another guard waited to escort them. "Can I have your names please so I may go and inform of Mei-Chun of your arrival?"

"Just tell her that Kyoko and the senshi are here!"

"Yes Ma'am!" bowing. He then began walking through the garden that sprawled in front of them.

A large fountain stood in front them, cool crystal water being sprayed upwards before landing in a ceramic dish dug slightly into the floor.

"This garden is beautiful…"

"And it's so big!"

They stopped as they stepped through a hedgeway and stared.

Birds flew from tree to tree, all different colours and shapes. Insects that looked like butterflies and dragonflies flitted over the flowers. Scents like honey, vanilla, strawberries and other sweet or soothing smells wafted past them.

In the far side was a set of marble stairs leading up into what was the palace. A small girl appeared, running down the stairs and straight towards them.

"Hi!" she piped up "Are you mummies friends?"

"That depends on who your mother is!"

"Princess Mei-Chun is my mummy!"

Mei-Chun appeared at the top of the stairs with two young men, one holding her arm while the other walked along side her.

"Serena!"

The senshi looked up as she approached.

"It's good to see you all!"

"Same here, where's Actaen?"

"She's preparing a surprise for me!"

"That sounds nice!"

"Hey, who's this?"

"Senshi, Guardians, this is my fiance Avalone!"

Avalone greeted them with a warm and charming smile. Long purple hair with purple eyes and a delicate, almost feminine face. Medium build.

"He's handsome!"

Avalone chuckled while Mei-Chun smiled. "You're right, he is!" She kissed his cheek.

Hotaru turned to the other young man and stared at him. "You look…"

Mei-Chun turned to the young man. "Oh, this is Avalones younger brother, Savna!"

The other senshi turned and stared at him.

He looked exactly like Haruka! Only with longer hair and a male!

"As a tradition, we've brought gifts with us for all of you!"

"Gifts?"

"Yes, tradition in Avalone and Savnas' home says that anyone who aids a bride in her quest whilst engaged to the man she is to marry are to receive gifts when they go to see them again!"

Savna bent down and picked up a neatly packaged box that had been placed by him along with a couple of others by a servant.

The boxes were neatly wrapped in rainbow coloured prints.

Each also an animal on the top. An animal to represent whoever receives that box particular.

"Grace, powerful and a motherly figure is, what you call it, the Tiger!" He handed the first box to Michiru.

"Stealthy, strong and swift is the Black Leopard…" handing the next box to Lita.

"Beautiful, challenging skills and a smooth walker is the Peacock…" handing Mina her box.

"Powerful, protective and defensive of those younger than themselves is the Grizzly Bear!" handing Haruka a box.

"Hot headed, a challenge to defeat and yet a firework to see in flight is the Phoenix!" handing a box to Rei.

A swan for Hotaru, a dolphin for Ami and an Admiral butterfly for Setsuna.

"And last but not least…small, loveable, friendly, fast footed and a fast learner is the Rabbit!" He handed Serena her box as she smiled.

"We would like you all to join us for a banquet later tonight!"

"We would love to!"

Hotaru looked up as another figure appeared next to Mei-Chun.

Tall, tanned skin. Red eyes revealed beneath the flowing white waves of hair that seemed to surge forwards only to then be pulled back behind long, pointed ears, the left side pierced with three green-gold studs, each encrusted with sapphires, zirconias and topazes'.

"I see they have arrived!" Her voice was light. Soft in tone and feeling, and yet it was also exotic!

"Yes, Atalantia dear, will you go with your daddy and uncle, I wish to speak with my friends in person!"

Atalantia gave her mother a frown as she scraped her foot across the floor in a semicircle. "Why?"

"I want to talk to my friends alone, you wouldn't understand what we're talking about!"

"But what can I do with Daddy and Uncle Sav-Sav that I can't do with you?"

"Boron Riding, you know I can't stay on those things for very long!"

Atalantia giggled as Mei-Chun gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek before taking her fathers and uncles hand and was led away.

"She's a lovely little girl, you should be proud!"

"I am!"

"So her father is Avalone?"

"That's right!"

"So who are you?" Serena had turned to face the tall woman.

The woman laughed as she bowed. "You do not recognise me now do you?"

"Recognise you?"

The woman held up her left wrist and spreaded her fingers out.

An armoured silk ribbon was attached to her wrist while a small ring sat neatly on her little finger.

Kyoko stared at the two garments.

"Guys, that's' the stuff that Actaen and that guy, Sav'aana, gave to Rarias when she died!"

"Hey, she's right!"

"Did you steal that stuff?" Rei clenched her hand into a fist.

Mei-Chun wrapped her hand around Reis' fist and pushed it down to her side. "Let me explain!"

Rei growled in discontent.

"Two months ago, she came to my palace, I couldn't believe who they were or who they were claiming to be until she showed me the ring and the ribbon!"

"A month earlier, I had been recuperating after I nearly died, if hadn't been for the council members who found me and summoned me back, I wouldn't be here now!"

"The council had been helping to heal the extensive damage and blood loss but due the techniques used they also speeded up how fast my body aged until I arrived at Mei-Chuns' home!"

"Two months ago, she was only sixteen but things haven't totally stopped so now she looks like she's twenty-seven!"

"You're telling us!"

"So…you're Rarias?"

She nodded as she smiled. Her fangs elongated themselves until they sat neatly against her lips. Pearl white and crystal sparkling in the sunlight!

Her eyes, Haruka found, were most spectacular. Ruby red with several sparkles going off all at once.

The long, lavender purple dress she wore swept just above the ground, not dragging whatsoever. A whitish-blue sleeveless jacket worn over the top with gold-laced patterns of vines with flowers. A sabretooth tiger with phoenix type wings sat in the centre at the back of the jacket.

"I have learned a few things during my time here but there is still more for me to know!"

"There is never enough for one person alone to know!"

"Dai?"

"As a hologram and advisor!"

"There is far too much for one person to know but never enough time to learn it all!"

"You are wiser than I believed than I first discovered!"

"Wisdom does come with age but it also comes with a price!"

"Everything comes with a price!"

Mei-Chun and Rarias smiled as they led the way into the palace.

The interior was elaborately decorated with plants and flowers blending into the variant coloration's of the walls. Lilac red. Mountain white. Even Cloud blue adorned them, making the place feel bigger than it already was.

"You'll be sleeping the in the same wing as Rarias, Actaen and Atalantia!"

"If you wish so, a few maids and bardens could look after you while you stay!"

"We insist you at least take on one to look after your rooms while you aren't using them!"

"Thank you…"

"This is a beautiful home, how did your father manage to build this place?"

"This palace is centuries old, trading is this planets way of life, no fighting, no petty squabbles, everyone is capable of feeding their families through what is grown here, we even make our own wines!"

"A completely peaceful planet!"

"Wish ours was like that!"

Mei-Chun turned to face Hotaru. "Your planet argues because some people believe they are better than others and that is what starts the fighting!"

Hotaru thought for a moment, then smiled.

"If you wish to buy things from the market then I will take you there and be your currency changer!"

"If everything revolves around trade then would we need to know the currency?"

"Here!" picking up three fruits. She threw one to Haruka.

It was like a pear only it smelt a lot sweeter.

"If you wanted to buy my two fruits, you would give me your fruit in exchange!"

"So one fruit can buy two different fruits?"

"That's right, the sweeter the crop of fruit you want to exchange, the more fruit you could get from the exchange!"

"It's just like baseball cards, the rarer ones can get you more cards per every rare card you have!"

"If you wish to use that as an example then yes!"

"It's been a while!" Hotaru spun around in front of the mirror, admiring the dress she had been given. It was made of pure white silk with a metallic black swan brooch in the centre of the neckline. She loved it. The swan was the representation of her as Saturn after she became `9'. The tale of the ugly duckling who grew up into a beautiful swan.

"Since you felt special or since you wore a dress?" stepping into the room. Setsunas' dress was divided into two colours, black along the edge lacing while the rest was a blend of red and orange. A butterfly brooch, encrusted with rubies and amber's, was also in line with the neckline.

The only difference visible between the two other than the colours was the fact that Setsunas' was shoulder-cut while Hotarus' came up to the base of her neck, both front and back.

"Is it almost time to go?"

"Pretty much, we better go and meet with the others!" She turned and left.

Hotaru took one last look in the mirror, swept her hair back into a short tail before following Setsuna down the corridor into another room.

Inside, Kyoko was almost finished getting ready while the others waited for her patiently. Upon the entrance of their other two friends, they smiled at them.

Bluey-green with a Peacock for Mina. A mixture of red, orange and yellow with the symbol of the Phoenix for Rei. A mixture of light and dark blue with a dolphin for Ami. A creamy yellow with a rabbit for Serena. A mixture of orange and black with a Tiger for Michru. Black silk with a white metallic panther for Lita.

Only Haruka didn't wear a dress even though she was a female too. Instead she wore a sleeveless jacket, similar to Rarias's, on top of a yellow shirt and a matching pair of trousers. The jacket and trousers were an auburn brown with yellowy-golden lining and matching lace colour.

"If you wore dresses more often Hotaru, you would really prove popular with the guys!"

"I can see why guys like girls in dresses!"

They laughed.

"I feel so happy in this!" spinning around again.

"And you look really pretty in it too!"

Hotaru continued spinning back and forth for a while until Lita interrupted her.

"Hotaru, can you please stop spinning, you're making my head go all giddy watching you do that!"

"Sorry Lita but I feel so happy!"

"I know but could you ease up on the spinning please?"

"Sure!"

"Okay, I'm ready!"

The others stared as Kyoko appeared from the other room.

"You look really pretty!"

"Thank you Mina, Lita, Rei, please close your mouths!"

Kyoko wore a sky blue dress that began at the base of her neck and went down to her knees. A small section cut out from the front revealed a small section of her mid-rift while two slits in the sides to allow her to walk more easily.

"Mother would kill me if she caught me wearing this!"

"Kyoko, your mothers' a hologram, she can't hurt you now!"

"Yeah I know, I just miss her badly so much I do things that she would kill me about!"

"Sounds like any other mother to me!"

"Shall we get going, Bereos, Savna, Rarias and Atalantia will meet us half way down!"

Two figures moved in the shadows around the Tournament preparation tents while the main arena was being built. Listening in on each tent, they hunted down the one they were looking for. Slipping inside undetected, they began quietly to search through the various documents lying around.

"Have you found it yet?"

"No, you?"

"No!"

CRUNCH!

"AAAARRRGGHH!?!"

"Ssssh, you'll attract attention to us!"

"I need attention to my knee thank you very much!"

"Let's' just find the damn box, find out who's entering and then get the hell out of here!"

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

The pair continued to sift through all of the documents and furniture until they cam across a locked desk drawer.

"Let me spring that lock?"

"Go ahead, just don't make too much noise!"

The figure stepped in front of the desk and pointed a finger at the lock.

"Amora!"

The drawer clicked and slid open.

Inside was a small wooden box with a key lock on it.

"They must be inside here!"

"Amora!"

The key lock undid itself and the lid lifted open slowly. Inside was four neat piles of invites.

The pair began going through them, writing the names down a small handheld device before putting them back in a neat pile.

"We've got we came for, now lets' go!"

Before completely leaving, the figure who had opened the drawer and box pointed her finger at one of the workers sleeping tents. "Tenta Ignitao!"

The tent erupted into a fireworks of sparks, awakening the surrounding workers and causing enough noise to hide the sound of Boron's' riding off into the evening sunset.

"So…you girls are entering the Tournament?"

"Only Serena Your Highness!"

"Only Serena?"

"Serena is a Princess too father!"

"Really, that's very interesting, Princess of what?"

"Princess of the Moon Your Highness!"

"A Moon Princess?"

"That's correct Sir!"

"We get a lot of Moon Princes travelling through theses parts but you're the first Moon Princess we've met!"

"There were a few but they moved else where and married kings!"

"Why kings?"

"Kings provide more stability in these parts, they are a lot wiser when it comes to the next generation of rulers, their first children, grand-children…"

"We prefer to leave our children with a proper future where there is very little for them to worry about!"

Serena became lost in her memories. Her memory of why Rini went back in time to find her parents and to get help in defeating the Wiseman.

"A safe present day means a safe future…don't you agree Hotaru?"

"Yes, I think we all know what you mean!"

"Where these senshi come from their planet is almost always fighting with itself!"

"Please, tell us more about these fights your planet has!"

"It's more to do with our countries, some believe that they should have no military presence while others believe that it is the only way to keep peace!"

"There are big fights that we call wars, many people suffer and die because of them!"

"There are fights against many things, peoples health, aiding other people…"

"There even fights to save our planet but many parts aren't' protected so industrialists, people who build cities, destroy them by building cities and factories!"

"So you aren't happy with what goes on?"

"Pretty much and there isn't really anything we can do if even though we are senshi…"

"Except to protect those who fight against one another?"

"That's right!"

"How did you know?"

"There is a story about a queen who built a sword to protect her people from creatures of sinister powers, the story foretells of her struggle to keep her only daughter away the fights!"

"What happened to her?"

"She died, apparently…"

"But some say she is reborn now and is suppose to bring peace to this universe the same way she kept peace in her original universe!"

"How can that be?"

"Let me show!" Rarias closed her eyes as she took a deep breath. She then tightly closed her eyes.

"What is she doing?"

"She's forcing herself to cry!"

"!?!"

A light blue drop appeared on the edge of her cheek before Mei-Chun caught it with her finger. Holding her finger out in front of her, Mei-Chun slowed the rhythm of her breathing so as to not spill it.

Rarias opened her eyes and looked at the tear, concentrating on it so hard that she appeared to become a living statue.

The tear wobbled, then it became a line of fire. The fire grew bigger as it floated off Mei-Chuns' finger and high into the air. Then it changed again, this time in to a phoenix.

"Whoa…"

"Amazing!"

"That's incredible…"

"It's so wonderful…"

The phoenix flew around the over hanging chandelier before diving down to table and slalomed between the senshi before it rose again, performing a spiral as it did so. At the peak of its' ascent, the phoenix stopped and exploded into a shower of blue rainwater, stopping before it hit those below, where it transformed into a single line of fire and returned to Mei-Chuns' finger. It then returned to its' original state as a single tear drop. Then, it evaporated into thin air.

"Everything lives in a cycle of rebirth, fire is reborn as water, a single drop is reborn as a shower, the same goes for all living creatures!"

"So everything is reborn in its opposite form?"

"Yes, a king who dies is reborn as a queen, a prince is reborn as a princess and vice versa!"

"Is that possible?"

"In most cases, no!"

"Why not?"

"Because everyone has an opposite copy!"

"Like Savna and Haruka?"

"Yes, very good Hotaru, you are learning about this very quickly!"

Hotaru smiled as she blushed.

Haruka turned to face the king and queen. "Hotaru is a very determined girl Your Highnesses, she doesn't like to give in when it comes to learning about new things!"

"We can tell!"

"And we can also tell she is very troubled!"

Hotaru stopped blushing as she stared at the king, who was now holding a fine-cut glass in his hand.

"Difference is what separates us all!"

"Some think that some people aren't different from them and those they consider different become targets!"

"We call it bullying Your Highness!"

The remainder of the conservation was dominated by planetary explanations and how long various kingdoms have survived treacherous times. Even Serena and Haruka spoke of what they knew of the Moon Kingdom, much to the enjoyment of the King and Queen.

"A troublesome kingdom by the sounds of things and one that is rich in cosmic energies!"

"Troublesome isn't the word Your Highness!"

"Oh, then what word would you use to describe it?"

"I don't know…chaotic maybe!"

"The eye of a storm?"

"That would be one way to put it…"

The door to the dinning room opened and four armed guards marched in.

"Captain, what brings you to disturb our conversation?"

"My apologies Your Highness but I bring grave news!"

King casually waved his hand to proceed.

"There has been…an incident at the Tournament encampment!"

"Oh?"

"The desk of the Tournament Guard was unlocked and the list of participants names were found lying open on the desk top, it's believed someone was trying to find a particular person who may of entered the Tournament!"

"Any clues?"

"Only that the fire that destroyed one of the workers tents was actually a form of firework…"

"What kind of firework?"

"A ball of sparking light!"

"We call those Catherine Wheels after their maker!"

"Is that all?"

"Yes Your Highness!" bowing. The Captain led his men out of the room.

Savna sat on the edge of his balcony. In his hands was a thin, pipe-like instrument made of white gold and magenta purple.

He sighed.

The stars sparkled over head, illuminating the garden below.

Shades of silver and black danced along the surface of the pools and fountains, the plants and trees turning into silver statues neatly carved with intricate flowers hanging downwards.

"How heavenly the stars are tonight!"

A sound crept into his ears as he turned to see Hotaru step out onto the balcony attached to her room.

A gentle breeze blew past them both, the rustle of trees accompanying it in the background.

Long, black strands weaved in and out of the breeze, silver lined by the stars.

Hotaru stared blankly at the diamond sky as she thought back to when she was with her father. She was happy then. Before Pharaoh 90 appeared. Before she became 9, the opposite of who she was. After the discovery that she was the last senshi, Saturn, she soon found out that the others were like her. Hiding what they could really do from those around them. It was only when she was around Serena and the others that she felt at ease, relaxed...safe even!

"Beautiful tonight!"

Hotaru looked at Savna. "The stars?"

"Everything, silver gives everything a delicate and crystalline feel!"

"I wouldn't really know" looking back at the sky "I don't really pay much attention!"

Savna smiled as he lifted the pipe instrument to his mouth. Gently blowing into the mouthpiece, he began to play.

The notes danced and swam away into the darkened shadows as the melody flowed over the garden. Warm, soothing and kind. It reminded Hotaru of what it's like to be nice and snug in a bed as an infant.

For only a few minutes, the song could be heard by all.

Serena and the other senshi stopped what they doing and listened, enchanted by the sound that flowed past their ears.

When he stopped, he pulled the pipe instrument away from his lips and smiled at Hotaru.

"That was beautiful!"

"I play it every night to remind myself of my mother!"

Hotaru looked at him with a question-type look on her face.

"My mother died when I was only two, Avalone was eight…"

"How awful!"

"She had contracted a fever-like disease, one that wasn't native to our planet so we couldn't cure her…"

Hotaru lowered her head. She didn't know who her mother was so she didn't know what it was like to a mother.

"She died eventually, slowly and painfully, unable to eat, barely able to drink!"

"I'm not sure who I should feel sorry for…you or your mother!"

Savna laughed.

"What, what's so funny?"

"As long as I play her lullaby I know she isn't suffering!"

"That song is…your mothers lullaby?"

"Avalone taught me how to play it, he kept telling me that mother sang it to both of us, sending us off to sleep!"

"I…never knew my mother, I was raised by my father, he was a scientist!"

"Did he spend a lot of time with you, keeping you entertained while he worked?"

Hotaru nodded in silence.

"He was your mother as well as your father!"

"I don't understand…"

"Fathers work while mothers spend most of their time with their children, your father did both so he could see you everyday as well as making sure you had a stable environment to live in!"

Hotaru looked at Savna as his words made sense to her. Whenever her father was hard at work in the lab, he always made time to play with her and keep her happy.

"You seem to know a lot about parenthood!"

"I learnt from my father and I'm hoping to put my knowledge to good use…"

"You use it well with Atalantia!"

"As my niece I want her to have a secure future but that is currently uncertain!"

"You mean Braxion?"

Savna nodded.

"WHERE'S THE PERFORMERS?"

"HAS ANYONE SEEN THE FOOD GUARDS?"

"HEY WATCH IT!"

"YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE STANDING THERE!"

"I'M TRYING TO GET THESE BUNCHES ATTACHED TO THE PILLARS!"

Haruka, Michiru and Rei walked into the main hall and watched as the palace servants rushed back and forth, arranging everything for the wedding.

The days after the senshis' arrival had flown by. Tours of the cities. Helping to collect food and wine from the various shops and farms. Gathering flowers to represent themselves in terms of colours.

Serena, Ami, Hotaru and Setsuna were in the garden helping Rarias to organise the tables for the feast later that night.

CRASH! CLANG! WHAM!

"Watch it with the golden wear!"

"Sorry!"

"Hey guys, how's everything on the garden front?" Haruka watched as Mina and Lita chased after Atalantia, trying to catch hold of her.

"Fine although Mina and Lita seem to be having problems themselves, maybe we should help them!"

"They volunteered to dress Atalantia in her bridesmaid clothes so leave it to them!"

"BUT I DON'T WANT TO GET DRESSED UP JUST YET!"

"WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT FITS!"

"YOU ARE STILL GROWING ATALANTIA SO WE HAVE TO SEE IF IT DOES STILL FIT YOU!"

"BUT WHY NOW?"

"BECAUSE THERE WON'T BE TIME LATER!"

The others watched as Lita carried Atalantia over her shoulder, followed by Mina who threw funny faces back at Atalantia who threw faces at her.

"So she is going then?"

"Her name is on the list!"

"No doubt the other senshi will go with her as well!"

"Excellent, now I shall have my revenge!"

"WE will have our revenge Mother!"

"Of course, that's what I meant!"

"We'll go and prepare to make our moves!"

"But make sure no-one tries to interfere…"

"Because other wise they'll be torched to death by us two!"

"Clever my daughters, now go!"

Serena awoke to find her hand-servant sewing something.

"Princess Serenity, you are awake now?"

"Yes…no…maybe, not sure!" groggy with sleep.

"You need to leave soon…"

"At Mid-day!"

"Today is the day of the Tournament Opening!"

Serena sprang up out of bed and began to quickly get dressed.

"Since you were going to attend the opening, I figured you might need something to show who you are as a princess so I spent most of the night sewing this together!" She held up the costume for Serena to see.

Silver satin with black and white sparkly stripes running around the edge of the neckline and down the skirting.

"Simple but sparkly!"

"It's wonder ful!" taking it from the maids hand. She looked at in finer detail.

There were small white outlines of the Moon and the occasional rabbit embroided into it. The stitching was better than Serena had seen anyone done. You couldn't tell where the lines were due to the intricate network of fabric layers.

"I best help you pack, the others are ready and waiting to go!"

Within a couple of minutes, Serena and the others were stood by the gates, saying their goodbyes and thanks yous'.

Lita and Mina bent down to face Atalantia. "You be good now!"

"I want you to have something!" She pulled her hands out from behind her back and thrusted the presents at them. Flowers! Small, pretty flowers arranged in a way so they could be worn in the hair!

"I'm sorry if I was a pain yesterday, I was just so excited about mummy and daddy getting married!"

"Hey that's' okay!"

"Yeah, even we behave sometimes like that when we get excited about stuff!" Mina took her small bunch and, fiddling around with her hair, managed to attach it.

Lita took hers and allowed Hotaru to place it on the side of her hair.

"Will you come back after the Tournament?"

"I don't see why not!"

"Then we'll arrange another feast for your return!"

"You don't have to…"

"We want to Kyoko, Serena, as our way of saying thank you for coming!"

"I guess we can't argue with that!"

"Now go before the Tournament starts without you!"

Everyone waved goodbye as Serena and the others began walking towards the region where the Tournament was being held.

"Whoa, look at this place!"

They stopped at the edge of several tents and looked at the mountain-high building infront of them.

"We better get Serena registered…" She began walking towards a young woman where clothes that marked her as a Tournament Aid.

Serena and the others followed her, looking around them as they went.

"Tsukino…Red block…Tents thirty to thirty-nine!" pointing in the direction of their block.

Other female senshi were stood around, chatting to one another in happy tones, while the males tried to out do each other in terms of muscle size and vanity.

"There are so many senshi here…"

"Why does that surprise you?"

"I thought we were the only senshi, besides Kakyou and the Starlights!"

"Bear in mind that only one person knows exactly how big this universe, do you think you could defend the whole of the universe by yourselves?"

"She has a point…"

A female senshi stopped in their path and smiled at them.

"Excuse us, we would like to get past so we can get to our tents!"

The senshi grinned. "Unless you got lost trying to find your way to the PeeWee Tournament, I suggest you go back home!"

"Huh?"

"There are rules about children coming to the Tournament!"

"Hey we ain't children!"

The senshi smirked as she folded her arms. "Prove it!"

The senshi was tall, about Harukas' age, with gold hair and red eyes. White streaks ran down her hair. Her uniform was similar to Serenas' and the others but with one difference. Instead of a bow, she had a sailor sash running from her brooch to her waist where it became a belt by wrapping itself around her waist. Fluorescent yellow and gold were the colours of the sashing, skirt and gloves.

"I'll show you children!" Rei stood infront of the offending senshi, positioning herself so she was ready to attack.

"Claos, pack it in!"

"No way, I want some fun with these infants!"

"Hey!"

"Watch who you're calling infants!"

"Or else what?"

"Or else we'll make you sorry!"

A crowd had gathered around Rei and the offensive senshi, cutting the others away from them.

"GET HER CLAOS!"

"SHOW THEM WHAT TO EXPECT!"

The sky darkened over head as a voice was heard over the cheering crowd.

"ENOUGH!"

The crowd parted to reveal a dark skinned woman with yellow cat-like eyes and long, wavy purple hair. A leotard type costume covered her upper torso while long dark purple trousers covered her legs. A cloak covered her left arm, black and dark blue against the light blue top. Metal covered the edges of her face, including the bottom of her lower jaw.

"Neftra…"

"CLAOS!"

Claos looked up at the woman, a child in her fathers' shadow.

"LEAVE THEM ALONE!"

"But they're kids…"

"THEY ARE SENSHI!"

"But they're too young to enter!"

"ONLY ONE OF THEM IS ENTERING!"

Claos looked at the cut-off group in disapproval.

"TSUKINO!"

Serena walked up to Neftra and bowed.

Neftra bowed as well. Unlike the other senshi, Neftra was the giant of the senshi forces standing at a staggering ten feet eleven inches so when she bowed, she didn't reach down far enough.

"Boy are you tall!"

"THANK YOU!"

"Must you shout?"

"I'M SORRY, HANG ON A MINUTE!"

Serena watched as Neftra shrunk to about Harukas' height before continuing with the introduction.

"Is this better?"

"A lot better thank you!"

"My name is Neftra Brafgoxes!"

"Serena Tsukino but you knew that already!"

Neftra smiled.

"So this is Red Block!"

"This block is the for the strongest, fastest and most vicious senshi entering the Tournament!"

"I'm not vicious…"

"No, but you're powerful!" leading Serena to her tent.

"How do you know?"

"I just do, do you know Mina…"

"I'm Mina!"

Neftra looked at her before smiling. "You've grown since you started fighting!"

"Is that a compliment or a point?"

"You still have your smooth edge!"

"Yeah, it's good to see you too Neftra!" She went and hugged Neftra.

Serena and the others stare at the pair, a look of confusion crossing their faces.

"You…know this woman Mina?"

"Uh-huh, she's my older senshi sister!"

"Older senshi sister?"

"Me and Mina fought the Negaverse together until Beryl tried to bring the Negaverse into our Universe!"

"It was Neftra who sent me and Artemis to Earth!"

"So what kind of senshi are you Neftra!"

"Omega!"

"OMEGA?"

Neftra nodded before looking up at the Aid approaching her.

"Neftra, you're next to battle!"

"Okay, I'll be there now, will you come and watch?"

"Of course!"

"I have a feeling this will be worth watching!"

Neftra smiled.

The crowd roared as a male senshi crunched on the floor.

"Gohya won't be forgetting this battle to quickly!"

Neftra stood over the battered young man. "Is that it?"

"Not…even…my…best…shot!" scraping himself up off the floor before turning to face her.

Neftra had kept her human size purely to entertain everyone with her actions. Now poised, ready for his best attack, she focused on him and him alone.

"SHADOW SPIKE!"

Several black, sharp, spear-like objects flew at Neftra.

But she deflected them up into the air before they landed around the opposing senshi, creating a cage around.

"Nova wins with a wave of her hand Ladies and Gentlemen!"

As Nova took her bows, Kyoko noticed the young woman sat in a box high up.

Silver haired, soft green eyes, healthy complexion. The woman held her head well as she clapped with the rest of the arena.

Following the stream of spectators as they left the auditorium to take rests, Kyoko thought back to something her mother told her when she was a little girl. A story about a girl similar in appearance to the young woman she had just seen.

"Who is she momma?"

"She's the ruler of the Universe now!"

"Why is she ruling the Universe, where's her momma?"

"She doesn't have a momma now Kyoko!"

"So she's all alone?"

"In a way yes and in a way no!"

"I tired now, I'm going to bed momma!"

"Goodnight Kyoko!"

"Goodnight momma!"

"KYYYYYYYYYYYYOOOOOOOKOOOOOOOOOOO!?!"

"HEEEELLLLLOOOOOO!?!"

"ANYONE HOME?"

Kyoko shook her head as she blinked and looked at Lita, who was holding her face so close it looked like she was about to kiss her!

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah you looked distant!"

"I'm fine, I was just remembering something my mother told me!"

As she walked alongside Serena, she became aware of someone watching her up ahead. Looking forward, Kyoko saw who was watching her.

Another senshi who looked exactly like Claos was chatting to an Aid. As Kyoko and the others approached she stepped in their way when the Aid walked off.

"What do you want now?"

"Yeah, just leave us alone!"

The senshi stared at them in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"Claos, leave us alone!"

"I'm not Claos!"

"But you look exactly like her!"

"That's because me and Claos are twin sisters!" grinning at them.

Something in her voice was being hidden from the group. Kyoko and Bereos sensed it immediately.

"Claos is the rude and ignorant one between us, she prefers to introduce herself by fighting new comers!"

"And you are?"

"I'm Ferando or Ultra Sailor Firecracker!" She held her hand out in a friendly gesture.

Kyoko watched as Serena and the other senshi carefully shook Ferandos' hand. Something about this senshi just wasn't right. She was pretending to be nice and friendly to mask some dark secret she had!