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

Warning: It would be advisable to bookmark this page before reading! Actaen, Mei-Chun, Rarias, Kyoko, Dai, Braxion, Pyrite, Bereos and all the other bad guys who feature in this (except Galaxia, Beryl, Rubeus and the Wiseman!) are copyrighted to me! Oh that includes Avalone as well!?!

"Tsukino!"

"Huh, who is that?"

"I am you!"

"What, I don't understand!"

"I am you!"

"How can you be me when I am me?"

"Logical thinking is not necessary in our part!"

"Our part?"

"Our blood, souls, bodies are one in minor differences!"

"I'm lost now, who are you?"

"I have told you, I am you!"

"TSUKINO!"

Serena awoke with a start and looked up at the red-faced teacher who loomed over her. "Yes sir?"

"Were you asleep again Ms. Tsukino?"

"No sir, I was looking out the window sir!"

"Really, then maybe you would like to explain to me what is so fascinating about what's outside the window?"

"Just the thought that the weather is constantly changing according to the suns level of gaseous reactions such as the miserable weather we are currently suffering from!"

"Well at you least you were listening, I suppose I could give you a bonus mark on your report sheet for use of physical explanations!"

Serena heaved a sigh of relief as the teacher returned to his desk. "That was close!"

The weather over Tokyo had been miserable for the past couple of days, with showers of rainwater obscuring the thought of a decent clothes-shopping trip to the mall.

"It's been nearly a year since Galaxia was defeated, I'm starting to feel like there's no one out there to battle with!"

The teachers' voice was drowned out by the memory of her battle against Galaxia, cruel and difficult, as it was without the other senshi to help her.

"Maybe there isn't anyone out there who isn't afraid of me, maybe there's no more bad guys to defeat!"

As she thought about it, the sky outside the window was lit up by several streaks of light.

"Hey, look at that?"

"What is that?"

"Is it the Northern Lights?"

"Now, lets all sit down and finish the lesson!"

Serena looked out the window and gasped.

Seventeen multi-coloured orbs were floating in the sky overhead.

"This doesn't look good, I hope the others can get over there to check it out!"

The orbs sped down towards the ground, a rumbling sound that could be heard all over the city before a blinding flash lit up the area, lightening reaching up out of the ground to touch the sky.

"This definitely NOT good!"

She looked up as another bolt shot down to the ground.

A bolt of fire, snaking through the sky, searching for something!

"Dai!"

An eye opened. A bright green eye. "Yes sir?"

"The day has come for you to descend to Serenity, go now and aid her hand where it is needed!"

"Yes sir!" The eye closed. "I am coming Serenity, and I will protect you as my future foretells me!"

"AAAAAaaaaargh!"

Lita dodged behind a tree as a bench exploded behind her. "Who are these guys and where's the others, I'm getting chased around like a mouse here!"

A tree infront of her exploded, knocking her backwards!

"Gaaarrgh, why is it I'm getting my ass kicked here and I haven't done anything?"

"Because you are a senshi, the senshi of Earth!"

"Who asked you to butt in?"

"I apologise, it is rude of me to not introduce myself!" bowing "I am Krilte, servant to Braxion, my leader!"

"Tell your leader he better leave!"

"Or else?"

Lita gritted her teeth together. "When Serena gets here, she'll give him something to send him packing!"

The man infront of her was tall, slim build, short blondy-brown hair in a crew cut and greeny-yellow eyes. His suit was smart, business-like in an Aquamarine blue coloration. "I must say, even though I'm suppose to dispose of you senshi, in different circumstances, I would like to get to know you!"

"I bet you would!"

"SOLAR FLARE!"

The area infront of Lita lit up as a ball of intense bright light exploded infront of her.

"Cover your eyes Earth senshi or you will become blinded forever!"

Lita did as she told and covered her eyes with her arms.

When the explosion died down, Krilte stood weakly against a tree.

"That was very sneaking but I know it wasn't you that did it!"

"How do you know it wasn't me?"

"Your powers are based upon the element of Earth, not Light and Fire!"

"So what are you trying to say?"

"You've got a companion more powerful helping you but I won't wait here to find out who, I've got a leader to report to!" He faded away, smiling as he did so.

"LITA!"

She looked up as Rei, Ami and Mina ran over to her. "What took you guys so long?"

"We got held up in the traffic!"

"Are you okay?"

"Who was that guy that disappeared?"

"I'm a lil battered as you can plainly see but as for the guy, I'm not really sure, all I got was his name!" holding herself up against a tree.

"What is his name?"

"Krilte!"

"Krilte?"

"What a bizarre name!"

"Not as bizarre as having exploding bolts of energy fired at you!"

Rei and Mina looked up at the sky as a fireball shot overhead.

Lita collapsed on the floor, exhausted and sore. "Not another one!"

"I am of no threat to you!"

Ami stood up from Litas' side. "Who is that?"

"I have no idea!"

"I wish we could see them!"

"I am above you!"

"The fireball?"

"Let me help you!"

"Huh?"

"Who are you?"

"I am Serenity!"

"Serena?"

"Is that…possible!"

Lita pulled herself to a weak stance, supporting herself against the tree with one arm. "Are you the one who saved me?"

Silence.

"Answer me!"

Again silence.

"ANSWER ME!"

Silence still.

A small breeze whipped around them despite the downpour of rainwater.

"I am…Serenity!"

"So you fought with an Inner senshi, with Jupiter?"

"Yes sire, I almost had her when I became dazed by a blinding light!"

"A blinding light?" leaning forward "Cast by this Jupiter?"

"By someone else Lord Braxion!"

Braxion looked at Krilte, his stone-cold grey eyes sending a spine-tingling chill through Kriltes body. Braxion was tall, strong, long black hair tied into a single braid and whitish-blue complexion. "A flare attack?"

"I believe so sire!"

Braxion sat back. "A Sun Guardian is operating in this area!"

"I have arrived as ordered, what do you want me to do now?"

"Find the Princess of the Moon, aid her, protect her and her friends with your very life!"

"And what about accommodation?"

"We have already sorted that out!"

"And my identity?"

"You have an interview at the Scientific Space Research Building in four days from tomorrow!"

"Thank you sir, I will do my best to locate Serenity!"

"Good luck to you!"

Haruka sighed as she held her coffee cup in one hand. "So some guy named Krilte attacked you when you arrived?"

"Pretty much, he even knew my powers element!"

"Really, that's weird, most baddies only know about that after they've been defeated!"

"The guy must be psychic or something!"

Lita stared into her cup, having drunk only half of it and left the other half to go cold. "I wonder whose voice that was!"

"Hey Lita, you okay?"

"Just thinking about that voice, that's all!"

"Yeah, that was weird in it's self!"

"Oh?" looking at them from the rim of her cup.

"A voice spoke to us!"

"What did it say?" sitting up straight.

"It said they were Serena!"

"But Serena's' in school, which reminds me, I need to ring up the reception!"

"Oh yeah, your interview at the Research Building tomorrow!"

The front door opened and a soaked Hotaru walked in with Setsuna behind her. "I'm really sorry Hotaru but I didn't expect the wind to blast the umbrella inside out!"

"At least we've reached somewhere warm and dry!"

"Hey!" standing up and walking over to the pair "did you guys forget to use an umbrella or something?"

"No, we both took a bath with our clothes on, what do you think Hikaru?"

"We did use an umbrella but it got turned inside out so we ran the rest of the way here!" placing her coat over a radiator to dry. She walked into the kitchen where Lita and the others were.

"Hi Hotaru, you want something to drink?"

"Warm most preferably!"

Hikaru smiled as Ami poured Hotaru a warm cup of cocoa. "How was she?"

Setsuna sighed. "Same as always, she got picked on again at the gates as I waited!"

"Those bullies really need to leave her alone, I wish there was something we could do but we can't deny she can't heal people!"

"I know, it's a really difficult situation for us to sort out!"

"Oh hey!" facing her "did you see Serena?"

"No, why?"

"Something very strange is going on, Lita and the others were in the park earlier when they heard a voice but there was no one around and the strange thing was…"

"What?"

"The voice claimed to be Serena but didn't sound anything like Serena!"

"That is weird!"

"Well, until Serena turns up, we better sit tight!"

The door knocked.

Setsuna opened the door. "Yes, can I help you?"

"Hi, I just came round to ask if you have any spare keys, I've just bought the house next door and I haven't got the master key yet!"

"Hikaru, there's a lady at the door for you!"

Hikaru stood in the doorway. "You just moved next door?"

"That's right!"

"You better come in or you'll get a cold!" holding the door open.

The lady stepped in and took her coat off. Blondy-orangey-red hair fell over her shoulders, bright green eyes reflecting the hallway light. "My name is Dai, Dai Hoshi!" holding her hand out.

"Please to meet you, I'm Hikaru Ten'oh and this is my friend Setsuna Meiou!"

"Pleased to meet you!"

"Would you like a cup of coffee or something?" walking into the kitchen.

"Coffee please!"

Dai followed her into the kitchen, secretly hiding a smile. Through her eyes, Hikaru and Setsuna glowed with energy, energy only found in senshi's. Her smile almost revealed itself when she saw Rei, Ami, Mina, Lita and Hotaru sat around in the kitchen, Hotaru sat on the work surface next to the sink.

Lita looked up as Dai walked in and gasped.

Dai was surrounded by a golden energy.

"Lita, it's rude to leave your mouth hanging open, close it please?"

"I'm sorry but there's something about that woman!"

"Oh?"

"Can't you see it?"

"See what?"

"Never mind!"

"Don't give up hope Lita, they'll see my energy sooner or later!"

"Huh, how do you know my name?"

"I'm the woman stood by Hikaru!"

Lita looked up at her again and found her gazing straight back at her. She smiled at her. Lita lowered her head again.

"Well, I better go, need to get my stuff sorted out and settled in!" putting her coat back on. She waved before leaving through the front door.

As soon as the door was closed, Lita placed her chin on the table. "That was stupid!"

"What was stupid?"

"You guys couldn't see it but I could!"

"See what Lita?"

"Didn't you see the energy surrounding her?"

"No, was your coffee too hot or something?"

"No!"

"Did you bash your head on something earlier?"

"No!"

"Are you sure?"

"YES, I `M POSITIVE AND NO, I DON'T NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR!"

Hotaru giggled. Lita very rarely lost her temper but when she did, it was rather funny to her. "I think Lita maybe telling the truth!"

"What do you mean Hotaru?"

"Well, Lita very rarely gets wound up about stuff unless it's true!"

"Let's just wait for Serena to get here, then we can sort this mess out" turning to Hotaru "and then you and Serena can do your homework together!"

Hotaru scowled in disapproaval before pushing herself off the work surface and walked into the living room to read quietly.

"I better go and keep an eye on her or she'll try and escape again!"

"That was some day at school!" walking through the pouring rain "strange as it felt when first a strange voice started talking to me, then seeing those rainbow coloured orbs in the sky!"

She continued walking by herself for eight blocks when the sky rumbled overhead. "Looks like thunder, I better find somewhere safe!"

"My, what is the Princess of the Moon doing out here all by herself?"

Serena looked up to see who it was.

"I am Actaen and I've got a job to do!"

Serena watched as she gracefully dropped from her perch on top of a lamppost and landed on her feet. "Well you better hope it has nothing to do with me!"

"On the contrary" lifting a whip up "YOU'RE the job or least the reason for it!"

The air cracked as Actaens whip wrapped around Serenas' ankle and, using all of her strength, pulled Serena to the floor. She then began pulling Serena towards her, pulling a long bladed dagger out of her sleeve.

Serena could see the blade and tried to reach her brooch but Actaen moved quickly and cut it loose from Serena's' uniform. "I'll take this for the time being" holding high above her head.

Serena struggled to keep the dagger away from her by restraining Acteans wrists as she tried to cut her.

Lightening flashed as the pair fought in rain, neither bothered by their wet clothes.

Actean jumped back, dagger in one hand, her whip in the other.

"Your strong, I'll give you that!"

"Your brave to not accept your fate!"

"And that is?"

"To dye for my Lord, Braxion!"

Rain water dripped off Actaens purple hair, her eyes flaring bright, blood red beacons.

Serena stood a fair distance from her, slightly annoyed at having her brooch taken from her but also frightened because without it, this Actaen could easily bring about her downfall. "If only I could reach Harukas', then the others could help!"

"You think your friends can help against me?"

"How did you do that?"

"How do you think?"

"You're psychic aren't you?"

"You're quick on picking up on peoples abilities but that won't save you from me!" raising the whip and dagger above her head "DARK RAGE!"

An invisible force struck Serena, sending her flying in a wall behind her.

"No one has survived my Dark Rage to tell others of it!" preparing to unleash another blast.

"Tsukino!"

Serena opened her eyes weakly. "Who are you?"

Actean looked puzzled. "You've forgotten my name already!"

"Get up Tsukino, get up now!"

Serena slowly stood up. "Who are you?"

"I'm getting tired of this game, I'm gonna end it right now!"

Actaen raised her arms again.

Serena stood and watched.

"DARK…"

Serena stilled watched Actaens facing, praying for something to happen.

"…RAGE!"

A lightening bolt shot down from the sky and struck Actean, cancelling out her attack.

Serena stared at the parched body, then jumped back as Actaen stood up.

"Well that was a surprise!" grinning at her "your friend Lita must be near!"

Serena looked around but there was no one in sight.

"Lets see how you like the taste of raw psychic energy!" focusing.

Serena's' mind exploded into oblivion as Actaen tore through it, ripping it to shreds, defiling, rearranging, destroying, gluing together parts of her mind and memory.

"I shall destroy you Moon Princess!"

"Not if I can help it!"

Actaen looked around. "Who's there?"

Silence.

Suddenly, Actaens mind was torn apart as someone else launched a psychic attack on her, more powerful than her own.

Both Actean and Serena collapsed on the floor, screaming in pain and terror as both of their minds were shredded to pieces.

"No more!"

Serena took her hands from her head and blinked as she looked at them.

"No more pain but how?"

"I took your pain and sent it back to her!"

"Who are you?"

"I am you, I have told you this already!"

"I don't understand…"

"Ask your friend Lita about me, then maybe you'll understand, now go, I'll punish this one myself!"

Serena climbed to her feet. "My brooch!"

Actaens hand opened, is if someone had wrenched it open, and Serenas' brooch floated over to her, a golden energy surrounding it. "Yours I believe!"

Serena took her brooch. "Thank you!" Then she turned and ran off up the street.

Actean looked up at the sky. "Is my life energy really worth losing because I failed my task?"

"No it isn't but I will spare your life but not your memory!"

There was a loud hissing sound as a symbol was burned into her hand left hand while Actaen clenched her fanged teeth together in pain.

"Go to Braxion, tell him my decree!"

"And that is?"

"That the day he knew has come again and this time she shall stop him at all costs!"

Actean climbed to her feet and, clenching her wrist with her other hand, looked up at the sky. "Forgive me my Lord but I shall comply with this strangers wishes!" fading away, just like Krilte.

Dai looked around her new home.

Before she had even arrived on Earth, the house where she was to live had been fully furnished to the edges. Pictures and mirrors adorned the walls whilst the usual electrical nessicities were in what would be considered appropriate places.

"A new home, same hidden agenda with a twist!" looking out a window at the bleak overcast.

"We hope it is acceptable your living quarters!"

"It will do sir!"

"Good, now to find the Moon and her friends…"

"No need sir, I believe I have already found the Moons' friends!"

"Oh?"

"Right next door are seven girls glowing with senshi energy, one of them named Lita could see my energy!"

"Then the Moon will go and see them at some point, keep watch and make sure they're safe until they know your real identity!"

"Yes sir, will do!"

A blond-haired girl walked past the window, slightly bedraggled from the rain but something else as she limped slightly.

"Hmmm…" watching her knock on the Hikarus' door.

Actean hung her head as Braxion kicked her again.

"You stupid bitch, you should never of come back here!"

His foot landed in her stomach again. Blood splattered onto the floor.

"Lord Braxion, I am pleading with you, please forgive my sister, she was forced to become this Guardians Messenger or else she would have died!"

"You have no saying in what Actaen should and shouldn't do Mei-Chun!"

Mei-Chun lowered her head in anger. Her beautiful white eyes became stained with glass tears that shattered when they hit the floor.

Angered by Actaens failure, he turned to face Mei-Chun. "SILENCE!" pointing at her "No one cries in my presence!"

"My Lord, she is my twin sister, I cannot stand by and watch her suffer in pain while I suffer in silence!"

"You are under my command, you will do as I order and I order you to be quiet whilst your dear sister is given her punishment!"

Mei-Chun stood there, watching as more blood spilled from her sisters' mouth, her long, white, wavy hair covering her face from Kriltes eyes.

"I can't take this…I must leave!" leaving.

"Tsk tsk, letting your sister suffer for failing to accomplish her task!"

"What do you want Krilte?"

"Only to point out that if the Moon was killed, then Lord Braxion might not punish you two so harshly!"

"Are you, Krilte, the one who was defeated by an unknown adversary, implying that I should go and take a piece out of the Moon for every piece that has been taken out of my sister?"

"Maybe, it's only a suggestion!"

She turned to face him, her eyes glaring menacingly.

"What?" holding his hands up in innocence.

"I will do whatever is necessary to restore the throne to my family but for the time being, will you please leave me alone!"

"Fine, whatever you say…" bowing.

She stormed into a room and slammed the door behind her.

"…Princess Mei-Chun Guthao!"

Serena stared at Lita. "What?"

"The voice you heard earlier, me, Rei, Ami and Mina heard it too!"

"And we believe we know who it was!"

"Who?"

Hikaru sighed as she leaned against the wall. "My new neighbour, according to Lita that is!"

"And they are?"

"A lady by the name of Hoshi, Dai Hoshi!"

"Dai Hoshi, what kind of name is that?"

"Dai means Great while Hoshi means Star!"

"So her name means Great Star, so what?"

"What else are stars referred to as?"

"Suns, why?"

Setsuna stepped forward. "Ever heard of Sun Guardians?"

"No, why?"

She took a deep breath. "Sun Guardians are thought to control natural balances in powers…"

"Like how our sun affects the weather?"

"Sort of, for you to use your ultimate power, Lita, Ami, Rei and Mina must focus their powers over you right?"

"Yeah!"

"Well, a Sun Guardian balances as well as distributes power!"

"Like our normal attack powers?"

"Precisely!"

"But I got told that Sun Guardians stay in the core of their designated sun!"

"That is true, but for some reason, one has been sent here!"

Serena frowned. "Could it be that the Guardian is here to help us or something else going to happen?"

"I am here to help you Moon Princess Serenity!"

Serena looked up and looked around her. "Who said that?"

"Said what?"

"Is it that voice again?"

The door knocked.

Ami looked out the window. "She's back!"

"Who?"

"Dai!"

Setsuna stepped into the hallway, followed by Haruka who prepared herself to attack, and opened the door.

"I wouldn't even try it senshi!" stepping inside.

"Tell me, if you know that, how much else do you know?"

"Enough"

"Tell us!"

Dai sighed and held a hand up.

Haruka was lifted into the air. Even when Serena and the others tried to pull her down, she wouldn't drop, not even a millimetre.

"Okay, so you've made your point, can you let me down now!"

Dai lowered her hand, lowering Haruka back to the ground.

"How did you do that?"

"It's one of my abilities!"

Serena looked at her. "No way, her hair looks just like…fire!"

"That's because it is!"

Serena jumped back, toppling backwards over a cushion on the floor and landed hard on her backside.

"Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine but I think my butts gonna be bruised for a while!"

Dai smiled. "At least I enjoy a good sense of humour!"

Hotaru walked in and looked up Dai. "You again?"

"Hotaru, don't be so rude!"

"Sorry Ami but there's something funny about her!"

"Maybe this will help!"

She closed her eyes and crossing her hands over her forehead, she moved them down and outwards. As she did so, her clothes morphed into some other clothing, more elaborate and sparkly. Gold! Her clothes were made of gold fabric!

"Wow!"

"Amazing!"

"Cool!"

"How did she do that?"

"I wonder if she's stronger than the rest of us?"

"I bet she knows loads!"

"Don't see what's so interesting, we do when we need to!"

Dai opened her fluorescent green eyes and looked at Rei, who stood there with her arms folded. "I actually wear this all the time but only senshi and Guardians can see it plus it's extremely helpful when surviving either temperatures as hot the sun or as cold as the planet Pluto!"

Hotaru and Ami stared at her. "NO WAY!"

Dai nodded. "It's true and don't even think of launching a fire-based attack at me as I'll be able to cancel it out before you even charge yourself for the attack!"

"Let's try it then!"

Dai sighed and looked at her. "I wouldn't!"

"FIRE SNIPER!"

Nothing happened. No fireball. Not even a spark to indicate that she had actually charged herself up for the attack!

"I told you not to!"

Rei frowned unhappily.

"Man, no one has managed to cancel out one of Reis' attacks before!"

"As Setsuna said, I distribute and balance out your powers, which means that I can also cancel out or counter an attack!"

Lita stepped forward. "So why are you helping us?"

Dai sighed. "This is gonna take some time so you better sit down for a while!"

Krilte looked, his cold, empty eyes softened by what he saw.

Mei-Chun lying on her bed, sleeping peacefully but occasionally shaking as another glass tear rolled out from underneath her eyes and gently slid down her cheek before making a soft landing on the cover. Another tear for Actaen, another part of a nightmare removed.

"Every day I see you and abide by Lord Braxions' orders but my feelings grow ever more with every tear you cry, hoping to one day catch the last one tear you may cry!"

Her lips parted as a gasp was heard. Another tear fell, landing right next to the first one.

"Poor girl, she dragged herself out here for her sister, she cries sweetened tears for her pain and yet has no one to comfort her!"

"You aren't watching her again are you?"

Krilte sighed. "It's none of your business what I do, you have your orders to carry out so get going!"

The girl stood next to him was small, no more than twelve or thirteen in appearance with crimson red hair tied into a Celtic braid and purpley-green eyes. Her skin was most unusual as it wasn't of one colour or tone. Her skin colour was constantly changing, a living human-like kaleidoscope. A dark blue jacket over a dark green sleeveless shirt and dark blue skirt. White cotton socks and black shoes adorned her feet. A mistress of disguise and deception complemented with the ability to morph into other people. A perfect assassin for a difficult task. Taking out the Moon Princess and her friends. For good!

"You know, I think you're in love with her…"

"And what gives you that idea Rarias?"

"The way you gaze at her, watch her as she sleeps, look away when she cries for Actaen!"

"Don't you pay any attention when others are punished?"

"Not really, I'm never there, I'm always trying to locate the Princesses friends so they can be eradicated easily!"

"Well here" handing a piece of paper into the little girls hands "this maybe of use then!"

A hand written description of Lita and Serena.

Rarias read it and smiled. "Now this will prove helpful, I just have to type in this description and my computer will create a visual image for me!"

She disappeared down the corridor, skipping along in delight as she went.

Krilte watched her turn a corner before resuming his watchful interest in Mei-Chun. "A calf in the care of a pride of lions, a diamond in the Roth and a vibrant flower growing in the coldest mountains, this is how I see you Mei-Chun!"

He walked away as she awoke, her eyes slightly red from crying while a small pile of glass bubbles lied next to her.

Evening had arrived as Dai finished telling Serena and the others about why she had sent to protect them.

"So basically, some council guy higher than yourself told you to come protect us?"

"Correct"

"But from what, you still haven't told us that part!"

"I've been sent because an enemy of myself and the council is trying to wipe us out!"

"What does that have to do with us?"

"Unbeknown to yourselves, this enemy has the ability to place people under their control and should they take control of Serena or even Messiah, they could totally alter the Universe as it is at the moment!"

"So there's' this person going around, capturing the most powerful people and using them as their servant to accomplish their plan?"

"Basically, yes"

"Do you know who this person is?"

"Yes!" quietly.

Something in Dais' tone told something a little deeper about this new enemy other than their name. A past probably. Micihru detected this quickly.

"Who is it then?"

"A guy by the name of Braxion!"

"Actaen mentioned that name but she called him Lord!"

"No surprises there, Actaen is a Princess in another galaxy and…"

"What?"

"She has an unidentical twin sister!"

"She's hiding something about this Braxion guy, I can sense it!"

"Michiru, is there something wrong?"

Dai looked Michiru in the eyes, bright green piercing her own eyes.

"No, nothings wrong!" standing up. She looked at her watch. "It's after seven, Hotaru, you better go get yourself cleaned up, I'll cook something for us all" walking into the kitchen.

Serena turned to Dai. "Will you stay and eat with us?"

"I'll stay but I don't need to eat to sustain myself!"

"Huh, I don't understand?"

"Me neither!"

Haruka, Ami and Setsuna began giggling.

"What's so funny you guys?"

"Yeah, come on, speak up!"

Dai was smiling by now.

Serena looked at the giggling trio, then at Lita, Rei and Mina before glancing back at Dai. Then it dawned on her.

"You guys, Dai doesn't need to eat because her energy are constantly being replenished by the energy of our sun!"

"Now I am confused!"

Lita and Mina stood. "We'll go and set everything out before our heads explode from scientific explanations of the energy cycle of the sun and how that affects Dai thank you!" The duo disappeared into the kitchen.

Hotaru was still sat on the floor next to Serena, clutching a cushion against her chest as she watched Rei punch Ami in the bottom jaw. Soon, Haruka, Ami, Rei and Setsuna were fuelled into a fight, fists flying left, right and centre.

"Hey, pack it in you guys!"

But they ignored her.

Dai sighed and, closing her eyes, began to concentrate on the fighting foursome.

Serena and Hotaru watched her in interest.

At first, nothing appeared to happen. Then something truly amusing did happen.

Rei and Ami were lifted into the air as they grew younger until they were both about six or seven! Haruka and Setsuna stopped as soon as the duo began to grow younger.

"ALWIGHT!"

"PUT US DOWN AND RESTORE US TO OUR PROPER AGE!"

"Only if you'll act your proper age instead of acting like children!"

Rei threw a funny looking scowl at Dai, who still had her eyes closed.

Lita and Mina returned and stopped dead in their tracks as they stared up at the younger versions of Rei and Ami. "What happened here?"

"What's going on out there?"

"Rei and Ami were fighting again!"

Michiru walked out of the kitchen.

"I would advise you to not…"

Too late!

Michiru stepped into the living room and, staring up at Rei and Ami, fainted.

"NOW LOOK WOT YOO DID!"

"WHAT I DID, WE'RE BOTH IN THE SAME BOAT OVER THIS THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND COULD YOU PLEASE SPEAK PROPERLY?"

"DON'T `AVE TOO IF I DON'T WANT TOO!"

Ami swung a fist at Rei, missing her by an inch.

"HAH, YOO MISSED ME!"

WHAM!

"WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT MISSING?"

"AMI, REI, BEHAVE YOURSELF RIGHT NOW!"

"SHE STARTED IT!"

"DID NOT!"

"DID!"

"NOT!"

"DID!"

"NOT!"

"I DON'T CARE WHO STARTED IT OR WHY OR HOW BUT I'M STOPPING IT RIGHT NOW!"

Hikaru, Setsuna, Hotaru, Serena and Lita stared at Mina. She'd never shouted at Ami about misbehaving but that's only because Ami normally behaves herself.

"Mei-Chun, stand before me my dear child!"

She stepped forward, her head held low, her hands hung in front of her as she passed those who stood around her. "Yes my Lord?"

"Closer!"

She stood at the bottom of the steps leading up to where Braxion sat. She did not look at him.

"You are to go Earth and escort Rarias to a school where she will be our spy!"

Mei-Chun glanced at him. "You place your trust in a child of blood-thirsty tendencies, is that a safe idea?"

"That is why you are going with her!"

Actaen limped out of the shadows. "My Lord, are you suggesting that my sister is to place a cloak of illusion around Rarias?"

"No, she will relay to us what Rarias will find out!"

Actaen glanced at her twin, a concerned frown crossing her face before resuming her place in the shadows.

As everyone left, Braxion stood up and watched them leave. Then he turned and left through another door.

"Hotaru, come on, it's time for you to get and get ready!"

She opened an eye and looked up at a scruffy Hikaru who wore a robe.

"What time is it?"

"Time you got a clock instead of depending on me to give you call!"

Hotaru smiled. Even though she wasn't a morning person at this very moment, Hikaru helped cheer her up ready for school.

"Come on, I want you to help me get ready for my interview!" leaving her room.

Five minutes later, Hotaru was spooning cereal into her mouth whilst Hikaru got all of her papers together. Michiru hadn't woken up yet so Hikaru spent most of her time stood trying to remember where she put most of them.

"The coffee table?"

"Tried that already!"

"What about the desk, I saw them there last night as we went to bed!"

She walked into the living room where Michirus' desk was and found her lost papers. As she walked away, something sparkled in the morning light on the coffee table.

"What's that?" picking it up.

It was a locket tied neatly with a red ribbon.

"Huh, this wasn't here last night!" looking at it "what's that etched into it?"

She looked at the curling lines and blinked.

It read:

Serena Tsukino

Keep your earliest but unknown memories

Close to your heart for as long as you may live

"That's really weird!" stepping into the kitchen.

"What's that you've got?"

"A locket, for Serena!"

"Lemme see!" looking at it as well.

"Hey, could you give it to Serena when you see her later, we've got to get going!"

"Oh right, hang on, let me just grab my bag!"

Hikaru closed the door behind them as they left.

Climbing onto Hikarus' bike, the pair sped off down the street, first to the school to drop Hotaru off, then to the Research Building for her interview.

"Hey look, it's the freak!"

Hotaru walked past, the locket in her hand. With her head down, she couldn't see the group of bullies waiting for her up ahead.

"Hey, watch where you're going!"

She looked up at the group of boys. "Could you please stand aside, I have to find someone!" trying to get past them.

"Not until you apologise!" crossing his arms and grinning.

She could tell what was about to happen. "Sorry"

"I can't hear you!"

"Sorry!"

"Still can't!"

"Look, I don't have time for this…" pushing past them.

One of them stuck his foot out, causing her to trip and fall, grazing her knee.

"Aaaaw, did the freak hurt herself, you really should lift your feet up off the floor!"

"HEY!"

The gang turned around.

A girl, about the same age as Hotaru, stood behind them. "Who the hell do you think you are?" walking up to them.

"This is none of your business so get lost!" pushing the girl backwards.

The girl back flipped and landed elegantly, a gymnast on a balancing beam. "That was a very dumb thing to do!"

"Oh yeah, and what are you gonna do about it?"

The girl bent down and, placing a hand on the concrete floor, growled a low tone at them.

Hotrau could see the girl from where she sat. "Her teeth…they're fangs, like cat teeth or something!"

The girl leapt straight at the leader and, putting all of her weight against him, knocked him to the floor before performing another back flip off his chest.

The boy crashed to the floor. "You'll pay for that, GET HER!!!"

The remaining boys tried to grab hold of the strange girl but with every attempted lunge, she simply side flipped, back flipped, forward flipped, rolled backwards, to either side and even forward. After ten minutes, she stood with a foot on top of the heap of tired bullies.

By now, the playground was filled with seniors and juniors, watching this new comer out-step the bullies.

As she walked towards the leader, kids and teenagers made a clear path to him.

"You EVER pick on anyone here, I promise you, being afraid will be like sweet candy to you!" grasping him by his collar before letting go.

The crowd departed as the girl walked over to Hotaru. "Here, take my hand!" offering to her.

Hotaru looked at her.

Purpley-green eyes glistened in the sunlight, crimson red hair flowing with vibrance whilst her tanned skin played tricks in the sunlight by casting fake shadows down her neck. She wore a dark blue jacket over a white shirt and dark blue skirt. Nothing like the standard issue of school uniform.

Hotaru reached up and took the girls hand.

With one pull, the girl pulled Hotaru onto her feet before noticing her graze. "Oh, you're hurt!"

"It's nothing…"

"Lemme heal it for you!"

"Honestly, it's nothing…."

Before she could do anything, the girl had bent down and licked the graze. As her tongue slid over the gritted wound, the wound seemed to disappear. Eventually, there was no sign of any graze, not even a scar.

"How did you do that?"

"It's just something I can do, I've been born with it!"

"Thank you…for helping me!"

"Hey, it's nothing, I do it all the time, helping other people who get picked on, I can't stand it!"

"I can't either but I can't deny what I am!"

The girl smiled. "I'm Rarias!"

"Hotaru!"

The bell rang.

"I've got to go, see you around sometime yeah?"

"See you around!"

Rarias watched the schoolchildren go inside before walking around the grounds, hungry. "Now to find some breakfast!"

"Thank you my friend, these girls really do need something to make them feel happy!" gazing at the sun.

A young man walked up to her and stood silently next to her.

"Does the council not trust me or something?"

"The council do trust you but we have information regarding another one of Braxions lackeys!"

"Oh?"

"A vicious killer by the name of Rarias, vampiric in her feasting of her targets and mistress of shape-shifting, disguise and deception, she lives only to kill and sustain herself!"

"Rarias, an unfortunate girl, I've heard about her!"

"Her father was a psychotic changeling while her mother was a ferral with blooded hunger for death and knowledge, the perfect pair to produce a perfect killing machine!" turning to face her "be very careful with this one, with every victim she makes, she can then become that person for as long as she wants!"

Dai turned to face her friend. "I will and I will tell the others!"

The man looked at her with concerned eyes, quartz yellow in the morning light.

"Take care Bereos" looking back at the sky.

He turned to leave.

"And give my love to Kyoko, I'm starting to miss her again!"

He looked back at her and smiled. "Will do Dai!"

He left her by the Parks Lake, sapphire ripples sparkling in the reflection of the suns rays.

"Serena, are you okay, you haven't touched your lunch!"

Serena looked at hamster-cheeked Lita who sat next to her. "I don't know!"

"Well unless you eat it, Artemis will eat it when we meet up with him and Lunar later!"

"Artemis will anything, even if it isn't suitable for animal consumption!"

"True, then he pays the price for it!"

Ami nodded.

After Mina shouted at her and Rei, the pair made friends again and Dai restored them to their proper age. After being turned eight years younger, the pair weren't planning on fighting for a long time while Dai was present.

"Serena!"

"Hi Hotaru!"

"Budge up Lita, I want to sit next to you guys!" sitting in between Lita and Serena.

"How's things so far this morning?"

"As usual, I got picked on but then this girl came and stood up for me!"

"A girl?"

"Tall, fairly tanned skin, crimson red hair, purpley-green eyes and a set fangs like Count Draculas' daughter!"

"I though vampires only came out during the night!" in between chewing her food.

Hotaru glanced at Mina. "I mean she had fangs exactly like T.V vampire ones!"

"That's nice, were you wearing a pair of funny-vision sunglasses or something?"

"No I wasn't, she even managed to beat up those bullies without laying a single finger on any of them!"

Rei stopped having a drink and looked at her over the rim. "Not one finger?"

Hotaru nodded. "She back flipped, front flipped, side flipped, mid-twist flipped, forward rolled, backward rolled, side rolled and even mid-twist rolled until they fell in a heap totally exhausted!" pulling out of her pocket the locket Hikaru had asked her to hand to Serena "Hikaru asked me to gives this to you Serena!"

She placed the locket in Serenas' hand.

"Why me?"

"Because it's got your name on it!"

Serena glanced down at it.

A small moon crescent infront of what appeared to be a symbol for the sun was etched into the back of it while the message was on the front.

"Where did it come from?"

"Don't know, Hikaru found it on the coffee table this morning…" looking out the window behind Mina.

Rarias was stood there, staring hungrily at the six friends. "This is too easy, I just have to time my feasting correctly and I'll be liked by Lord Braxion when I bring their bloodless bodies to him!"

"There, that's her!" pointing straight at Rarias.

The others looked in the direction Hotaru was pointing.

Sure enough, Rarias stood there, her stomach hungry for blood. Then she turned and left, searching for another meal. She had happily feasted off a dockworker that morning and had left his body in a fish crate covered in ice. The crate was then shipped onboard a cargo ship heading to America.

Now, she needed something sweet.

"Maybe I'll head to a mall and wait for a victim to turn up there!" making her way there. As she walked down the street, a gang of boys blocked her path.

"To pass through here, you need to pay the toll!"

Rarias looked up at him. "And how much as that?"

"That depends on how much you've got on you!"

Rarias smiled. "Okay, come and get from me!" stepping back.

The boys looked at each other and then laughed.

"You want one of us to take it from you?"

"That's the general idea!"

The tallest of them stepped forward. "I'll take it from her!" walking up to her.

Rarias smiled as he reached a hand towards her. She then leapt up into the air, partially turned around and kicked the guy in the back of the head.

He crashed to the ground.

"Hey who the hell are you, Sailor V's sidekick or something?"

"No, I'm just an incredibly talented and well adapted girl, now if you'll be sensible enough to move I side, I'll spare your lives!" stepping up to them.

They looked at her, then at each other, then back at her. "And if we don't?"

She growled angrily, her sharp fangs pearly white in the morning rays.

Dai stepped back and admired the work.

She had spent most of the morning after her meeting sorting out the tangled flowerbeds and, now that she ripped the weeds out and planted exotic flowers found no where on Earth, admired her green-finger work.

"You're very good at making beautiful things from destruction!"

"Thank you sir!"

"To more pressing matters though, we fear Rarias may have already struck but not any of the senshi luckily!"

"Oh?"

"A wairtairian reported seeing her feasting off a dockworker, then placing his body in a fish crate and covering it in ice before it was loaded on to a ship departing for America tonight!"

"Is the report validable?"

"We have sent someone to check it out, we will know by this evening on Earth!"

"Anything else?"

"We think she may of come into contact with one of the senshi already so be extremely wary!"

"I know everything I need to know about her sir!"

"Very well, I shall leave you to clean yourself up!"

Dai smiled. Even though she disliked what the council was telling her, she knew that it was nessicary to protect the universe. "Even the council members have someone higher than themselves, they've spent most of their life watching over the universe!"

Mei-Chun stood beside the lake, diamond sparkles as more tears fell, sinking to the bottom of the lake. "Avalone, I've been very stupid, I should never of left you like I did, how I wish I could feel your arms around me, holding me securely against you, lovingly as you stoke my hair!" Another tear fell.

"Why do you cry for your sister, it's sickening!"

"Because she's my twin sister Rarias, I care about her a lot!"

"So you drag yourself out here with her because you care about her, do you know how insane that sounds?"

"I came here for a different reason, I could have stayed behind but I wanted to have my sister by my side!"

Rarias looked at her confused, then burst out laughing. "You mean to tell me that you care so much about your dear sister that you'll cry for her rather than for yourself, how pitiful can you get!"

Mei-Chun glared at her. "You don't know anything about me or Actaen, our past or our family!"

Rarias slyly smiled at her. "But I could if I drank some of your blood!"

Mei-Chuns' eyes glowed brightly. "Don't even think about it you little bitch!"

"I already am!" preparing to pounce on her. She stopped. "You do know about my past don't you, about my psychotic father, my ferral mother, my life spent growing up in the wild only to enter a city or some other place with people to make a kill?"

Mei-Chun lowered her guard, her eyes dimmed.

"Twelve years of learning how to fend for myself, twelve years of isolation, I was an untameable killing machine, abandoned immediately after birth, cared for by various animals, by the time I was four I could kill a grown man with one hand on his back!"

Mei-Chun dropped to the ground.

Rarias scuttled over to her and, slipping a hand around the back of Mei-Chuns head, gentley kissed her on the lips, then on the cheek before finally a spot on her neck.

Mei-Chun closed her eyes as Rarias gentley bit into her neck and began drinking her blood, slowly so she didn't kill her. If Rarias did kill Mei-Chun accidentally, Actaen would have her head ripped from her body as soon as she found out, so she needed to be as gentle as possible.

Hikaru was stood in the kitchen waiting for the kettle to finish boiling, her mind going back to the interview. Everything had fine until she stepped into the room. Then everything began to go wrong.

Firstly, all of Hikarus' interviewees were male, which made her rather uncomfortable as they observed her as she entered.

Then, they asked her about her family history, which was made incredibly hard as she didn't really know her mother and her father died when she was younger and that she didn't know anything of aunts, uncles, grandparents or cousins.

And to finish it off, when asked her views on homosexuality, she caught sight of an anti-homosexuals unhappy look on his face as she told them her opinion on it.

Now that she was home again, she began to relax.

At least she didn't have to do it again…hopefully.

The door knocked.

"It's open you guys!"

The door opened and Serena and the others walked in, hanging their jackets up and placing their bags in the living room. "How did the interview go?"

"It was okay!"

"Okay?"

"I was a couple of uncomfortable questions but I kept my head up!"

"Great, is that coffee your making?"

"Sure, help yourselves, how was school?"

"Homework as usual!"

"Lita got hit by an apple on the back of her head at lunch!"

"She knocked out the guy who threw it when she threw it back at him!"

"And then started a food fight!"

"You guys aren't messy though!"

"We took cover underneath the table while peanuts and bananas were being used to hit other students!"

"Thank goodness, you don't know how hard it is to get tomato ketchup out of a white blouse!"

"Oh, and Hotaru may a friend now!"

"Oh, who is it?"

"Her name is Rarias, she made a mockery of those bullies!"

"How?"

"They tried to grab her but she kept jumping out of their way!"

"Sounds like a gymnast to me!"

Mei-Chun opened her eyes, diamond sparkles in the setting sun.

"Rarias…"

Rarias pulled her fangs out of Mei-Chuns neck. "Yes?"

"Have you finished yet?"

"Almost, a bit longer please?"

"Okay!"

Rarias re-inserted her fangs onto the puncture holes and resumed feeding.

A tear fell from Mei-Chuns eyes. "Forgive me…please!"

Rarias fed for another thirty minutes, comforted by the feeling of Mei-Chuns skin against her lips as the blood flowed into her mouth. "Sweet blood, innocent blood, blood filled with pain and hope, addictive blood!"

She finished, withdrawing her fangs as she did so. She then began to lick the puncture wound, healing it until it was gone. No scar to tell its story!

Rarias stood up first, savouring the sweetened taste that lingered on her tongue.

"Rarias…could you help me…. please?"

She reached down and lifted Mei-Chun to her feet

With her blood having been drained, Mei-Chun could not stand on her own, weakened by Rarias's feasting of her own life supply.

"Lean on me Mei-Chun, I will help you back!" wrapping an arm around the back of her neck.

The pair walked quietly out of the park, covered by a veil of illusion set up by Mei-Chun.

"Addictive blood, blood that draws it's consumer back to the bloods host again and again, I will wait until Mei-Chuns supply is sufficient again, then I will feast from her again, until then, I must satisfy my hunger with the blood of these humans!"

Dai sipped her tea and smiled. "To think, all my life all I've ever drank was water from the universe!"

"There's water in the universe?"

"The particles that make water, fuse them together and you get water!"

"How old are you anyway?"

"Older than Michiru, I'll say that!"

"Yeah but how old?"

"Put this way Ami, I'm older than this planet!"

"No way!"

"Believe it kid, I've known about you guys since you were born!"

"Unbelievable!"

"And I know about everything that has happened to you as well!"

"Everything?"

"From when Ami took her first step to now!"

"Huh?"

Ami blushed. "No need to ask about that, it would be a waste of time!" trying to throw them off.

"Really?"

"Anybody want more tea, I'll go and make some more!" running into the kitchen before anyone could say anything.

Rei looked at Dai. "What's up with her?"

Dai lowered her cup. "I guess she doesn't want you guys to know that she was walking and talking three months before she turned two!"

"I HEARD THAT!"

"At least it's true!"

Ami leaned out of the kitchen doorway, an unhappy look on her face.

Serena finished drinking her cup and put it down on the table. "So what's new on the Guardian front?"

"Another bad guy or least, should I say, a bad girl!"

"A bad girl?"

"By the name of Rarias"

"Rarias!"

"We saw her earlier, at lunch, she was looking at us through a window!"

Hotaru had sat silently during the conversation but now was starting to feel very upset. The one girl who saved her, helped her, even healed her, may be a baddie.

"How can she be a baddie if she helped me?"

"That's how she gets close to her target, she makes friends with them, then she drains of their blood quickly so as to kill them painlessly!"

"She drains them of their blood?"

"Vampiric, she even has the fangs to do it!"

Hotaru stood up. "Excuse me, I wish to go lie down!" stepping over Lita. She then climbed upstairs.

Setsuna watched her as she headed to her room. "Poor girl!" taking her place again "she's never had a permanent friend and when she does, their taken away from her!"

"I agree, it's not fair on her!"

"She still has us though, we'll always be there if she needs us!"

"Yeah but we're not there for her in her lessons are we?"

"I guess you're right Michiru, she really needs someone who can keep on an eye her during her lessons!"

"Well, Rarias as a threat takes priority now that she has seen you Inner senshi!"

"Why?"

"Well, unlike you're typical fiction-based vampire, Rarias doesn't need to be invited into a home, she can come and go as she pleases!"

"She gets hurt by crosses and holy water right?"

Dai shook her head. "None of that stuff hurts her!"

Serena and Mina gulped.

"She isn't picky about the sex of her victim or whether their hetrosexual or homosexual either!"

Hikaru and Michiru glanced at each other.

"So what can beat her, if anything?"

"An aggressive attack but even then it's pot-luck!"

"Why?"

"She can heal herself!"

Dai stood and went to leave. "Oh and she enjoys sweet blood a lot so I suggest you guys lay off the chocolates and things until she's gone!" The door closed behind her.

"No chocolate?"

"No candy or mints?"

"Not even toffees, soda, milkshakes or ice cream?"

"Basically, nothing with sugar or sweeteners or sugary additives!"

They sighed in disbelief and unhappiness.

Mei-Chun opened her eyes slowly.

"How are you feeling?"

Actaen and Krilte were stood by the side of her bed.

"Tired, please leave me!"

The pair left, closing the door behind them.

For a while, she was by herself. Then a foot scraped some where in the shadows.

"Who's there?"

Rarias stepped out of the shadows. She had been watching Mei-Chun from her hidden place, remaining silent when Actaen and Krilte entered. She had enjoyed the taste of her blood and had been reliving the sensation as the blood had flowed down her throat, rich and full-bodied from the mature body that it been drawn from. She now looked up to Mei-Chun as an emergency feast but there was something else, something she couldn't pinpoint. As she now looked at her delicately modelled face and diamond eyes set into her sockets, something stirred inside her, something unknown, unfamiliar. She forced herself to look at the floor but after awhile, she found herself gazing straight into Mei-Chuns eyes. "Why can't I focus on something else in this room without having to look into Mei-Chuns eyes and what is it that burns my veins, is it something that I was deprived off during my isolated years?"

"What's wrong Rarias, are you still hungry?"

"No, your blood has saturated my hunger for now!"

"Then why are you here?"

"I'm not sure to be honest, something told me to come here!"

"How long have you been in the shadows?"

"Since I placed you on the bed and let you rest!"

"How long have I rested?"

"Five hours, almost six!"

"Braxion will want to see me!" sitting up. She tried to stand up but ended up back on the bed.

"You are too weak to move around" coming round the side of the bed. She lifted Mei-Chuns feet onto the bed. "Stay here, rest up and I will go see Lord Braxion!" smiling. She leaned over her and stopped. She wanted to kiss her again but instead kissed her cheek, having to contented with the touch for the time being. Standing upright, she looked at Mei-Chun and smiled.

"You better go, he has a rather short temper!"

Rarias smiled again as she walked towards the door. She looked back as she opened the door and sighed. Closing the door behind her, she made her way towards the main chamber where Braxion patiently waited.

"Mei-Chun, I'm gonna find you!"

"No you won't!"

"Here I come!"

Actaen peeped around one side of the statue while Mei-Chun held her breath as she stood with her back pressed against the statue.

She then looked around the side before moving down one side. "Where are you?"

Mei-Chun placed a hand over her mouth as she tried not to laugh.

Actaen walked around the side and looked around.

Mei-Chun leapt onto the back of her sister and the pair fell to the floor screaming with laughter.

That was thirteen years ago.

"Mei-Chun, I don't want to spend the rest of my life without seeing you!"

"What are you trying to say Avalone?"

"Mei-Chun, I'm gonna give you a ring and I want you to wear it if you understand what I am saying when I give it to you!"

He pulled out a small cloth bundle and unwrapped it. A ring, engravings and encrusted jewels revealing it's beauty. "Will you wear it?" holding it out to her.

Tears rolled down her cheeks and landed in Avalones hand as he caught them before them smashed on the floor. "I…don't know, I'm not sure if it would be wise…"

"Is anything wise, a wise old man can only tell us what he has learnt, not what he will learn!"

Mei-Chun looked at him, stars bouncing off her eyes creating a light show for only him to see. She looked at the ring as she picked it up and turned to view it in the light of the two moons.

He came up behind her and, wrapping his arms around her waist, kissed her shoulder. "It is only a token, a representation, of the affections I have for you, accept it and I will never leave you alone in the darkness!"

"Then I accept!" slipping it on. She turned and looked into his eyes, pulling his face closer to hers until their lips met.

Four years ago on that night, she became engaged to Avalone, a prince from neighbouring planet who had fallen for her and, in time, she fell for him.

"Right, you two better get upstairs to bed, I'll camp down here for the night!"

"But why?"

"In case that Rarias comes here tonight!"

"Yeah but why?"

"If she comes in, she'll have to get past me first in which by that time, you two will be down here!"

Hikaru sighed. She really didn't want to have to sleep by herself. Especially if there was a lethal killer like Rarias around.

"Come on Hikaru, there's no way we'll manage to persuade Michiru otherwise!" climbing up the stairs.

"Goodnight Michiru!" following Hotaru upstairs.

Rarias stood just of view of the lamppost. "I'm gonna make my first attack to night!"

"Don't be so pushy about making the first strike!"

"I'm gonna pick each of Hotaru's friends off one by one, then I'm gonna pick her off!"

"So what are we doing here?"

"I'm waiting for it to get darker, then I'll start my hunting!"

Mei-Chun sighed. She was still weak from Rarias's feasting earlier but she was feeling stronger by now so she was able to move around with little aid.

The sky darkened as they waited. When they heard the church bells ringing, they began walking towards Hotaru's home. Once at the bottom of the targets street, Mei-Chun looked at her. "Be careful and good luck hunting!"

Before she knew it, Rarias had her lips on Mei-Chuns before she broke away and walked up the street.

Mei-Chun then walked across the street, covering herself with a cloak of illusion, walking past the gangs of thugs undetected.

Michiru slept peacefully, unaware of Rarias's presence in the room.

She walked over to the sofa where Michiru slept and, with one hand, ripped the backing off, giving her easier access to Michiru's neck.

Hikaru woke up. It was the middle of the night.

Something wasn't right. She could sense it. Climbing out of bed and pulling on her robe, she walked across the landing to Hotarus room. Peeking in, she saw her youngest friend asleep. No vampire creatures bent over her, sucking her blood dry.

Quietly closing the door so as to not disturb her, Hikaru then went downstairs to check on Michiru. Stepping into the doorway, she froze.

A human figure was bent over Michirus' neck. It stood up when Hikaru stepped into the doorway and faced her. A girl! With vampire fangs and pointed ears! Something was dripping from her mouth.

The girl roared.

Something splattered against Hikarus face. Pressing her fingers against her cheek, she looked at the substance. It was black in the shadows but smelt very familiar. She sniffed it. "It smells like…BLOOD!" She looked at the girl. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm hungry, I must appease my hunger with blood!" The girl stepped into the lamplight from outside.

"You must be Rarias, we were told about you!"

"And what are you planning on doing about it?" More blood dripped from her fangs.

Hikaru took up a defense stance, knowing that she may not be able to fend off Rarias. "I won't let you take one of my friends without fighting you first!"

Rarias smiled, her fangs elongating themselves. "Then I'll quench my hunger with your blood!" She lunged at Hikaru, knocking her to floor.

Hikaru struggled to keep Rarias's fangs away from her neck by forcing one hand underneath her chin while Rarias turned her head with one hand, her fangs growing longer so as to kill instantly.

For a few minutes, Hikaru was pinned to the floor. Reaching for something, she grasped Hotarus school bag and, with her remaining strength, swung it at Rarias, knocking her off.

Rarias rolled to the side and, keeping her knees bent, tackled Hikaru, slamming her against a wall.

Hikaru slammed her elbow onto Rarias's back, then slammed her kneecap into Rarias's chin, causing her to bite her lip.

Staggering back, Rarias summed up her opponent, blood trickling down her chin. "I would heal my lip but the fire of my hunger was grown, burning wildly, prepare to die senshi!" preparing to pounce. She leapt at her.

Hikaru dodged to one side.

Rarias landed her feet on the wall and ricocheted off it. Raising her elbow, she smashed Hikaru across the face, cutting her cheek and eye and tearing her lip.

Rarias landed on another wall and ricocheted off that one. This time, she stretched her arms out and opened her mouth.

With blood obscuring her view, Hikaru almost fell victim to Rarias.

"SOLAR FLARE!"

Another blast of intense light filled the room.

When it died down, Rarias was leaning against a wall, a hand over her eyes.

"Who did that?"

"I did!"

Through her blooded vision, Hikaru made out the glistening clothes of Dai. "Dai…"

She kneeled down to next to her battered neighbour. "Don't say a thing, I'll take care of this girl, then I'll get you and Michiru to a hospital!" standing up. She looked around.

Rarias was gone!

Mei-Chun looked up as Rarias approached her attention on the blood flowing from her lip. "What happened?"

"One of Hotarus friends tried to better herself against me!" sitting on the grass.

Mei-Chun knelt down next to her and pushed some loose strands out Rarias's face. "Did you succeed?"

Rarias smiled. "There was one asleep on a sofa so I drank some of her blood!"

"Was it the one who attacked you?"

Rarias shook her head. "It was another one who attacked me but I beated her up real hard!"

"Not enough to kill her though?"

"Someone blinded me with a blast, I managed to escape before they touched me!" looking into Mei-Chuns eyes. The feeling returned. "I'm still hungry though!"

Mei-Chun looked at her, then pulled her hair to one side and sat close to her. "Feed off me then!"

"No" shaking her head "I've fed off you already, if I was to feed again so soon, I would kill you". She looked up at the stars. "I will wait before I feed off you again!" still gazing up at the stars.

Mei-Chun looked out across the lake, diamonds in the moonlight.

"How can a beautiful girl be so consumed with pain!" looking into the corner of her eye "She offers her blood without hesitation, is it because she cares about those who know her?"

Without a single warning, Rarias reached over and kissed Mei-Chun again, only for a bit longer!

When she broke away, she looked into Mei-Chuns eyes.

She wasn't startled or disgusted or anything. In fact, she looked calm about it all. It was as if she didn't mind being kissed by someone younger than herself who, unlike her, didn't understand the need or desire to kiss someone, even if they were female as well!

"You better heal your lip before we go back!"

Rarias smiled as she looked down. She extended her tongue as far she could and licked the cut. Eventually, it disappeared. She looked at Mei-Chun. "You better wash that blood off your lips!" indicating with her finger.

Mei-Chun stepped down to the lake and, dipping her cupped hands in, washed the blood off. She then dipped her hands in again and had a drink, not noticing the fish taste in it!

The phone rang, waking Serena.

"Who's calling at this time of the night?" plodding downstairs. She picked up the phone. "Hello…yawn…Tsukino residence"

"Serena, it's Hotaru!"

"Hotaru, do you know what time it is?"

"I'm fully well aware of the time but this is urgent!"

"So is getting some sleep!"

"Serena, Michiru and Hikaru have been taken to hospital!"

"Why…yawn…what happened to them?"

"Put it this way, Michiru has two puncture holes in her neck and Hikaru is bleeding pretty badly down one side of her face!"

"Rarias?"

"According to Dai, yes!"

"Dai was there?"

"She stopped Rarias from killing Hikaru!"

"Where are you?"

"At the hospital, why?"

"I'll call the others, then we'll meet you there!"

"Okay Serena!"

She put the phone down.

Serena dialled a number. "Hello Mina, yeah, I know it's nearly one o'clock in the morning, listen, Hotaru's just rang me, Hikaru and Michiru are in hospital, ring Ami and Lita and tell them to meet at the hospital, I'll give Rei a call!"

"Hello, Lita speaking!"

"Lita, it's Mina!"

"Hello Mina, unless this is really urgent I'm gonna hang up!"

"Listen, Serena says to go to the hospital, something's happened!"

"What's happened?"

"Michiru and Hikaru have been attacked!"

"Right, I'll be there!"

"Rei speaking!"

"Rei, it's Serena!"

"What do you want at this time of the morning?"

"Michiru and Hikaru are in hospital, meet me there!"

She put the phone.

"Well that was the shortest conversation I`ve had with Serena!" getting dressed.

"Who was that Rei?"

"A friend of mine, look Grandfather, something's happened and I've got to go and meet up with someone!" running out the door.

"Take care Rei!" waving after her.

Serena and Rei stood by the double doors when Mina, Lita, Ami and Setsuna arrived.

"Where's Hotaru?"

"Is she okay?"

"Hotaru's inside waiting for us!" walking ahead.

The group walked into the reception.

"Wait here, I'll see if we can find someone!" walking over to the reception desk.

The lady sat behind it looked up at Setsuna. "Can I help you?"

"I've been told two friends of mine have been brought in!"

"Names?"

"Haruka Ten'oh and Michiru!"

"I'll just send for a doctor, if you'll take a seat, someone will be with you shortly!" smiling.

Setsuna walked back to the others. "They're sending someone over to see us!"

A few minutes later, a nurse appeared.

"Are you friends?"

"Yes!"

"Follow me, Dr. Dactao is currently speaking with a young girl!"

The nurse led the group down a corridor and into the Intensive Care Unit.

Hotaru was stood giving details to a doctor.

"Is that all for now?"

"Yes, that's all I know"

"Thank you very much!" walking past the group.

Hotaru looked up at her friends and shook her head.

"What is it Hotaru?"

"How bad are they?"

Hotaru turned and pointed at the observation window.

They looked at where she was pointing.

Michciru was lying on a bed, a ventilator feeding her oxygen while a blood pouch hung on a thin metal pole, refilling her body with the stolen pints.

Hikaru lied on a bed next to her, one side of her face and forehead bandaged up to cover the cuts. She also had a bandage over her mouth while a small plastic pipe stuck out between the layers.

"Your friends took some heavy damage from whatever it was that attacked them!"

"What's with the pipe piece?"

"It's so her lips can heal without gluing themselves together!"

The nurse left them alone in the room.

For a few minutes, they sat or stood in silence. Rei was the first to break the silence.

"First she tries to kill Michiru, then nearly kills Hikaru!"

"This just goes to prove how deadly she is!"

"Hikaru is pretty strong and pretty fast, how could she got so close to cause so much damage?"

"According to Dai, she ricocheted off the walls!"

"How does she know that?"

"Because she left her footprints on the wall, that's how I know!"

"DAI!" standing upright.

Hotaru ran over to her and wrapped her arms around her waist. "Thank you!"

"Hey, it's my job!"

"Your job?"

"My job is to protect you guys until this new threat goes away…"

Serena felt something move in her pocket. She looked down. Her pocket was glowing a bright silver colour. "What on earth…"

"What is it Serena?"

"Hey!" spotting the glowing pocket "her pocket's glowing!"

Serena reached in and found the hard edge of the locket. "The locket!"

Dai smiled. "Time for you to know something about your past that nobody will have ever guessed!" raising her hand.

As she raised her hand, the locket floated out of Serena's' pocket and into her hand.

"Open it!"

"Yeah, let's see what's inside!"

The locket continued to glow as it opened by itself.

Inside was a small engraving opposite a picture.

The picture was of a young woman holding a baby, a baby with blond hair. Stood next to the woman was a child, about three years old. The small girl and the woman had hair just like Dai's.

Serena looked harder at the picture and gasped. "The woman…it's…"

"It's me in that picture, the young woman is me!"

"You?" looking up at her, then back at the picture.

"If that's you, who's the little girl stood next to you?"

"That's my daughter, she was six when that picture was taken!"

"You have a daughter?"

"She only looks three in the picture!"

"Sun Guardians don't grow very quickly, our bodies follow a cycle of ageing with the sun that we grow up in!"

"What's your daughters name?"

"Kyoko, Kyoko Hoshi, she's the first and only child I've had!"

Serena was still looking at the baby. "That baby reminds me of someone but I can't think who!"

"Who's the baby?"

Dai smiled. "I'll give you a clue, she's in this room!"

Serena and Mina looked up at her. "Here? In this very room?"

"Well the baby in the picture has blond hair so it can't be me, Lita, Ami, Setsuna and Hotaru!"

"There's no way it's Michiru `cause she's next door!"

"That leaves Mina and Serena!"

"Hikaru doesn't count `cause she's next door with Michiru!"

"Can you give us anymore clues?"

"Only one!"

"Oh?"

"Tell us!"

Dai lowered her head and, placing three fingers on her forehead, began chanting.

"What's she doing?"

"She's chanting so be quiet!"

At first nothing happened. Then something did happen.

A moon crest began to glow on Serenas' forehead.

Another crest began glowing on Dais' forehead. When she lifted her head up, the others stared first at her, then at Serena. Dai had a crest that looked like a sun on her forehead.

"Serena Tsukino, fate has depicted that this new evil will consume all that we know and will return the universe to its original state, to a universe before this one as you know it!"

"It will?"

"Yes, unless two sources of supreme power and force unite into one body, one soul, one mind, to become a being of unmeasurable superiority, beyond even the title of super!"

"Beyond super?"

"Would you be prepared to go to the ends of time, space and physical limitations to protect those you know and the time that you know as it stands?"

"I don't understand…I don't know what you mean!"

Dai nodded. "You're not ready yet!" The crest disappeared from view.

During the conversation, Rei and the others had remained silent, concentrating on what Dai what was saying.

"Well now, that is baffling!"

"I know I'm smart but I'm not that smart!"

Dai looked at them. "Only a Sun Guardian can understand what I've said!" She turned to Hotaru. "Hotaru, we'll go back to the house with you so can collect some belongings and your school stuff, you can choose which of us you want to stay with until Michiru and Hikaru are well enough to leave!"

Hotaru smiled as she nodded. At least if she stayed with another of her friends, she stood a good chance against Rarias should she try to kill her.

"Let's go, we've got school tomorrow!"

"Mei-Chun, wake up Mei-Chun!"

She opened her eyes and blinked. "What time is it?"

"In Earth time or your time?"

"Earth time!"

"0700 hours Tokyo time!"

Mei-Chun frowned before sitting upright. "Thank you Liu!"

The little girl bowed and walked out the door.

Even though Liu looked like a three-year-old child, Mei-Chun could see her for her true age. At twenty-one, Mei-Chun respected the child looking being as she could see the twenty-five year old woman that Liu should be. But because of a genetic condition, Liu has remained trapped inside the body of an infant. But that doesn't stop her from defeating people. A trained dark socceress, Liu fools everyone who she goes to defeat with her child-like image before unleashing a wall or blanket of fire, rocks, water or wind, catching her opponents off guard and crushing them to death.

"How are you this morning?" leaning in through the door, smiling.

"I feel better thank you Krilte!"

He looked a lot neater than when she last spoke to him!

"Lord Braxion wants me to go to Earth with Liu, you've to go with Rarias!"

Mei-Chun sighed. Although she didn't mind, she held nothing against these senshi and didn't want to be directly or indirectly connected to them being harmed, in any shape or form. "Very well!" climbing off the bed.

"HEY SERENA, YOU READY YET?"

Serena bolted down the stairs and skidded to a halt at the front door. "I'm ready, let's go!"

"Are you always doing this?"

"Sometimes, not all the time!"

"See you girls later!"

"Bye Mrs. Tsukino!"

The pair began walking along the street.

"It's really strange to walk to school!"

"Huh?"

"I mean, since living with Hikaru and Michiru, I've never had to walk, Hikaru always gave me a lift to school!"

"I guess that's what you get for living with a tomboy who rides around on a motorbike!"

Liu stood next to Krilte, clutching his hand, as they watched Serena and Hotaru walk along on he opposite side.

"Let's ambush them now while they don't expect it!"

"We wait until they're a certain distance, then we follow them!"

"I hate having to wait to attack someone!" looking up at him.

"Rarias and Mei-Chun are ahead of them so as to stop them, when they do that, we join in!"

When the pair reached a corner, Krilte and Liu followed them, crossing the street.

As the two girls crossed the road, the crescent on Serenas forehead began to go as they approached the area where Rarias and Mei-Chun were waiting for them.

"Serena, you're crest is glowing!" in a fierce whisper.

"Huh?" reaching into her bag and pulled out her pocket mirror. She stared at the glowing crest before putting the mirror away. "I hope no else can see it!"

Hotaru stopped in her tracks. "Serena, look!"

"What is it?"

"That guy, wasn't he reported dead on the news last night?"

"Hey your right!"

Sure enough, the dockworker that Rarias had killed was leaning against a wall, chatting to a young woman with long white wavy hair. They seemed to be laughing about something. The woman turned and, spotting the pair, indicated to the dockworker.

"What's going on?"

The woman and the worker walked up to them. The worker smiled.

"Yes, can we help you?"

"You must be Serenity, your crest is glowing!"

"How do you know that?"

"Only the moon is born with the crest of the moon!"

Hotaru turned as Krilte and Liu trapped them. "It's a trap!"

The worker stepped forward and cracked his knuckles. "Ah'm gonna enjoy squishing you two!"

"MOON PRISM POWER!"

"SATURN PLANET POWER!"

"Oh please, do you honestly think you're going to beat the four of us when there's only two of you?"

"We prefer to try our best!"

"Well then, let's see how well you do against us!"

Mei-Chun spread her arms out. "HALLUSION!"

The world around Hotaru and Serena seemed to bend and melt.

"What, what's going on?"

"I don't know!"

Suddenly, Beryl, Galaxia, Rubeus, The Wiseman and all the other enemies of Serenas' past appeared before her.

"I…I don't understand, I defeated you all, you shouldn't be here!"

"You can't defeat us Moon Princess, we'll always keep coming back to haunt you!" reaching out for her.

They all seemed to be trying grabbing her but always missing, just out of reach.

"No, please, leave me alone!"

Hotaru fell to her knees, one hand over her eyes while the other one held her supported her on the floor. Her body shook.

"Please, leave me and my father alone, we haven't done anything to you!"

"What's going on, what's she doing to us, it's like she's casting our worst fears or memories around us!"

Hotaru's arm buckled and she bent over, placing both her hands on her head. Consumed with the memory of her encounter with Pharaoh 90.

"Stop this Mei-Chun!"

The world returned to normal.

"Who are you?"

"I'm these two's guardian!"

Mei-Chun stepped back as Dai landed in front of Hotaru and Serena. "You have nothing against these girls so why are you attacking them?"

" I'm doing as I'm ordered so step aside!"

"Even if your actions will result in you never returning to your home?"

Mei-Chun stepped back and covered herself and Rarias in a cloak of illusion, allowing the pair to escape.

Dai turned to face Krilte and Liu but they had disappeared as well. "Hang on you guys, I'll get you two to school on time!"

Mei-Chun sighed. "That woman was right, I have nothing against those girls but until I break his hold of my sister, I will do whatever is needed!"

The door opened and Rarias stepped in.

Mei-Chun looked up as she entered. "Was he angry?"

"Upset about the intrusion by that woman so no, we're not in trouble!" sitting on the bed next to her. She gently brushed some of Mei-Chuns hair away from her neck and kissed her shoulder.

"You're hungry aren't you?"

"Yes, those lost children we found in the mall haven't really filled me up!"

"Why don't you go to Krilte or Sin and ask them?"

"They're men, they would rather bite my neck rather than let me bite their necks!" whispering into her ear.

Mei-Chun nodded and relaxed her muscles.

Rarias bit gently so as to not cause any pain and proceeded to feed from her, her left hand gently holding Mei-Chuns hair out of the way while the other held her back so as to anchor herself close to her body.

For several hours, they remained still, Mei-Chun turning paler and paler with every pint taken from her, Rarias moaning from the taste of the sweet mature red substance as it flowed down her throat.

Krilte was walking past when he heard Rarias's moans and took a look in. His face fell apart when he saw Rarias's head by Mei-Chuns neck. At first, he was upset but as he watched and listened, he found himself enjoying the spectacle.

"Hey Krilte, what you watching?"

"Take a look!"

Sin looked through the open door and stared. "What is going on?"

"What do you think is going on?"

"It looks like to me…well you know…"

"I didn't know Mei-Chun preferred female company!"

"Maybe she didn't want to tell anyone!"

"Well she's still my interest!"

"Krilte, don't you know?"

"Know what?"

"All of us are interested in Mei-Chun, at least us guys and Rarias!" walking away.

Krilte smiled and continued to watch for a few minutes. Then he continued walking down the corridor.

Rarias gently removed her fangs and healed the wound again, her hunger saturated for the time being. "I would never of guessed that you left someone behind when you came out here!" looking into her eyes.

"It's a major sacrifice should I not return home!"

"Avalone sounds like a nice guy!" sitting upright on the bed. She wanted to hear about him.

"You know?"

"I can find out stuff from people when I drink their blood!"

"I don't understand how that works…"

"A persons memory or knowledge about stuff is stored in their brain and blood helps to keep the brain going so when blood passes around the brain, it picks up that persons memory and carries it around the body!"

"So when you drink peoples blood, you take in their memories?"

"Sort of, I don't take in all of they're memories, only ones that maybe relevant for battles against a person that a victim knew!"

"Like the senshi?"

"Yep, that Michiru is one strange girl!"

"Oh?"

"Kissing another senshi?"

"It might be her taste or something!"

"Well, her blood was pretty mature but not as mature as yours!"

"Twenty-one years!"

"Oh!" looking away "no wonder!"

Mei-Chun turned Rarias's head towards her with her hand. "What is it?"

Rarias had tears forming, sea blue tears. "Twelve years of isolation, a long time in which most beings learn about the bigger things like relationships!" looking away "I missed out on it all, I didn't know what sugar was until I drank the blood of that Michiru, I don't even understand what this word love is!"

Mei-Chun wiped a tear from her face. "No one can ever understand what it is exactly, we can only understand what it does to us!"

Rarias looked at her and saw what Krilte and the other guys wanted to see. Diamonds of understanding nature. "You're lucky though, you've had Actaen all your life, I've had no one!"

"I had my sister until our people revolted and forced us out, that's when Barxion came and tried to put a spell on me and Actaen!"

"Why?"

"Actaen is a fearsome fighter, she isn't afraid if dying if it means she has to take her opponent with her, me, you know that already don't you?"

"You create illusions and make people hallucinate!"

"I'm also immune to hallucinogens and illusions!"

"So what happened when he casted this spell?"

"It didn't affect me but caught Actaen so I came out here pretending that I was also caught hoping to break her free"

"You sacrificed the security of yourself and your future to free Actaen?"

"That's right"

Rarias looked away. "All people seem to think when they see me with my fangs and ears is that I kill out of sheer blindness but I'm also curious about lots of things!"

"Is that the other reason why you feed of people?"

"To expand my small minded knowledge?" looking at the ceiling "yes, it is!"

Mei-Chun looked away this time, understanding how much there is for Rarias to learn but also how little of what there is that she has learnt or can learn.

"I better go now, I have to update the data system!" climbing off the bed. She began walking towards the door, then stopped and turned around. "Thank you for listening to me!"

Mei-Chun smiled. "At least your story is now known to someone else!"

Rarias smiled, a warm and charming look to her smile complemented by her long fangs frightening as they looked on her fine, young face.

She then turned away and left.

"A lonely child searching for her favourite doll or pet, wandering around by herself in a dark, grim place that has only one name…Isolation!"

Serena sighed. She couldn't tell the teacher that she and Hotaru were trapped by a bunch of new baddies, one of which some how made them both hallucinate and bring about their worst fears as the hallucinations. Nor could she tell the teacher about her and Hotaru flying through the air to reach school on time with the help of a Sun Guardian. She was just going to have to do the one thing she always found difficult to do since the teachers know all of her stories. Lie to them!

"Well you see sir, I saw someone who looked like that dock worker that was found dead the other day and went to investigate!" blushing a little.

Hotaru sighed.

As the pair of them had ran into the school after being dropped off by Dai, they had accidentally knocked the papers out of a teachers hands and were sent to the head teachers' office.

"Really Ms. Tsukino?"

"That's right, you can ask Hotaru…"

"I'll question her later" standing up. He opened the door. "You may go now Tsukino, Tomoe, stay here!"

Serena stepped out the door and looked at Hotaru, who had slumped her shoulders and lowered her head.

"Well?"

"Huh, Oh right, see you later Hotaru!"

Hotaru looked up and smiled. "See you Serena!"

The door closed.

"I feel really bad about being forced to leave Hotaru in the Heads Office!"

"Don't worry, Artemis and Lunar are outside the window, listening to hear what has to be said!"

"You sent them?"

"Of course, do you think I'm just going to leave her uncared for?"

"Of course, Rarias!"

"Precisely!"

Serena walked down the corridor and made her way to her first class.

"So what exactly are we suppose to be listening out for?"

"Anything that might incline a possible bad guy linked to that Rarias!"

"Man, that Rarias sure sounds dangerous and savage!"

"If she managed to ricocheted off two walls and beat Haruka up pretty well, then the word dangerous shouldn't be used!"

"Hey listen!"

The two leaned forward from their position in a tree right next to the window.

"So nothing unusual happened like a fight?"

"No sir!"

The head teacher was new. Tall, slim build, brown hair with a white fringing from where it stuck out at the front. Blue eyes, cloud blue eyes, almost white, looked straight at Hotarus face, a smile cracking at the edges of his lips. "All right, you can stop hiding" looking away "Messiah!"

Hotaru looked straight at him as he put a hand over his eyes.

Pulling his hand away, he smiled as she stared at his eyes. His quatrz yellow eyes.

"Who are you?"

"I am Pyrite!"

Lunar and Artemis looked at each before continuing their watch.

"Look Messiah, look at the eyes of your fate!"

Hotaru stared straight into his eyes as he looked straight into hers.

"Sleepy Messiah, sleep peacefully and awaken to my commanding hand!"

Hotarus' eyes began to close as he hypnotised her.

He smiled evilly. "Awaken child of God, follow only my voice!"

Hotarus' eyes jerked open. "Your bidding is mine to perform!"

"Artemis, go and find Serena and the others!"

"What should I tell them to tell their teachers?"

"That they may have become infected with a flu virus or something!"

"And what will you do?"

"Try and stop whatever he's doing or done to Hotaru!" leaping to the floor.

Artemis followed suit and sprinted off to find an open window elsewhere.

Lunar leapt onto the windowsill and meowed.

"What?" glancing at Lunar "Hello my feline friend, come to investigate, well I don't have anything for you today!"

Lunar hissed and leapt onto his face, digging her claws into his face.

"Get this wretched vermin off me!"

Hotaru stood up and, clutching Lunar by her stomach, pulled her off easily. She then went and threw her out the window.

"You don't get rid off me that easily!" leaping in through the window.

Pyrite yelled more as Lunar attacked him again every time Hotaru threw her out the window.

Artemis looked around, hoping no one would spot him, before leaping up to an open window. By chance, it was empty so he leapt to the floor and trotted over to the door. He tried to open it by pawing the side but it wouldn't open.

"Guess I'll have to do some acrobatics to open the door!" climbing onto a bookshelf. He put his paws together, ready to jump. He jumped.

As he leapt for the door handle, a girl on the other side opened the door and stepped inside.

WHAM!

"Huh?" looking behind her "oh you poor kitty, where you trying to get out?" She scooped Artemis up in her arms and stroked him. "Were you looking for something?"

Artemis purred.

"Do you want some food, if you do, I can get you some, my mum works in the cafeteria!" carrying him out.

"Do I ever!"

As the girl walked along, Artemis looked through the windows of the classroom doors, trying to spot the others.

Rei! Artemis leapt out of the girls' arms and walked over to the door. He mewed.

"Is there someone in there who you were looking for?"

Artemis meowed loudly.

On the other side of the door, the class stopped when they heard Artemis.

The door opened.

"Yes?"

"Does anyone here own this cat?"

Rei looked down at the floor as Artemis walked in. "Artemis, what are you doing here?"

"Hotaru's in trouble!"

"Rei, do you own this cat?"

"It's my grandfathers cat miss, may I take him home?"

"Only if you remember to come back!"

"I will!" scooping Artemis up in her arms. She stepped out door and, closing it behind her, walked down the corridor. "What's going on?"

"Hotaru has been put under some kind of spell or something!"

"Where's Lunar?"

"She's keeping the bad guy and Hotaru busy!"

"We better go and fetch the others!" running down the corridor, Artemis running along side her.

"I'll stop you from getting in vermin!" shutting the window as Lunar leapt for the 20th time at Pyrite.

THUMP!

"Where is Artemis?" sliding down the window and landing on the floor.

"Now, where was I, ah yes, go Messiah, find and defeat the senshi, then go to the park where an accomplice will meet you!" holding the door open.

"Yes sir!" walking out the door. She turned and began walking towards where Serena and the others were coming from.

"Twice now, twice that interfering Guardian has stopped my people!" slamming his fist on the arm of his chair "No more will they get in my way!"

He stood up and looked at the two men stood before him. "Go, bring me information on this unidentified adversary and do not return until you do!" pointing to them.

The pair bowed and left.

Braxion sat down again. "Now the shadows around this new adversary will depart and reveal themselves to me!"

CRASH!

A window shattered as Rei was thrown through it, landing on the concrete outside. She looked up as Hotaru forward flipped through the broken window, a metal pole in her hands.

"God damn it, what the hell has happened to her?" rolling to the side as the pole descended, cracking the concrete where she was.

Hotaru stood upright and looked blankly at her adversary. She was then knocked over as Lita leapt through the window and, wrapping her arms around Hotarus' waist, tackled her to the floor where she pinned her down.

"Hotaru!"

She looked blankly at her friend, her memory of who she was exactly was removed.

"What's happened to her?"

WHACK!

Lita fell backwards as Hotaru sat up from chinning Lita with her knee. She stood up and, reaching down for the metal pole, raised it over Lita's head. "I have been ordered to dispose of you senshi and that is what I will do!"

She brought the pole down.

CLASH!

A shield had deflected the pole, sending Hotaru spinning backwards from the impact.

Lita looked up.

Someone was crouched over her with a shield protecting them.

She looked closer.

Red eyes. Blood red eyes!

"Huh?"

"Move, I'll get her out of that trance!" stepping over Litas' body.

Without questioning the stranger as to who they were, Lita ran over to where a bruised Rei was sat with her back leaning against a wall.

"Who is that?"

"Is it Dai?"

"No, it's someone else!"

Reis' mind flashed back to the picture inside the locket. The small girl stood by Dais' side. A little girl with firey-red hair and red eyes. Just like the stranger who was now stood over Hotarus' body after striking her across the face with the shield.

"Lita, I think that's Kyoko!"

"Kyoko?"

"You remember, the little girl stood beside Dai?"

"That's Kyoko?" looking at the stranger.

The stranger picked up Hotarus' unconscious body and, placing a hand over her forehead, began to remove the hypnosis. She then carried her body back to the two friends. "A friend of yours, I can tell!" lying the body down "she'll wake up in a minute so don't worry!" The stranger went to leave.

"WAIT!" standing up. Rei ran over to them despite a pain in her ankle.

The stranger stopped and turned to face her. "Yes?"

"Are you Kyoko Hoshi, Dais daughter?"

The stranger was silent for a while. Then smiled. "Looks you already you know about my existence!"

Rei smiled. Then collapsed on the floor as the pain in her ankle took over her.

"You're hurt!"

"I must of broken it when I landed after being thrown through the window!" clenching her teeth between words.

"Let me have a look at it!" She gently lifted Reis foot off the ground and took her shoe and sock off. She held her hand one centimetre from the skin and held it there for a while as her fingers glowed.

"Huh?"

"You've definitely broken your ankle, unfortunately I've left all my gear at Dais' house, can you limp on it?" picking up Hotaru in her arms.

"I think so!"

Lita walked over and helped her friend up. She let go as Rei tried to walk but caught her as she nearly fell down.

"Could you help her along, we'll go back to my mums where we'll sort that busted bone the Hoshi way!" walking ahead.

Lita and Rei looked at each other, then followed suit.

Pyrite watched them leave, taking their unconscious companion with them. "Who's the stranger, is she the one that we're suppose to report on?" following them to the gate. He watched them walk down the street and disappear around a corner.

Rarias snapped as Krilte tried to grab her. "BACK OFF!"

"And if I don't?" throwing an explosive ball of energy at her.

She leapt out of its path, an eagle leaving its perch. Diving into a forward roll, she then back flipped towards him. Landing on his shoulders, she smashed him in the nose with a tightly clenched fist whilst holding his head back by having hold of his hair in the other hand. "I'LL SUCK THE FUCKIN' LAST DROP OF BLOOD FROM YOUR WORTHLESS SHITPILE OF A BODY!" hissing in his face.

"KRILTE, RARIAS!"

The duelling duo looked at Mei-Chun as she dropped to the floor from her post in a tree branch.

"Rarias, calm down, Krilte, let her feed from you!"

Rarias growled in a low tone as she leapt off his shoulders.

"Why must she feed from me, why won't you let her go hunt down her own food?"

"It's too risky with all these people around, now, let her feed off you!"

Krilte sighed as he removed his jacket.

Mei-Chun shook her head. "And the shirt!" indicating with her finger.

He moaned before taking his shirt off. He sat down on the grass while Rarias scuttled round to the back of him.

Lowering her head to his neck, she opened her mouth just wide enough to insert her fangs through his flesh and into his vein.

Mei-Chun glanced out across the lakes surface, her encounter with Dai slightly re-awaking her real reason for following Lord Braxion to this point in the universe. "I hold nothing against Uni's granddaughter so why don't I help her?"

She looked back at Rarias and Krilte.

Krilte had his eyes closed and was breathing slowly so that the blood flowed more freely into Rarias's mouth and down her throat.

"If Braxion found out about her feeding off us, he would kill her himself!" stepping next to her.

"It's harder to find a victim during the hours of daylight, you should know that!" not looking at Sin.

Sin looked down at the floor, tempted to ask about her relationship with Rarias.

"What's wrong Sin?" looking at his face.

"Well uh…you see…"

"Well what?"

"I saw you and Rarias together…"

"Where?"

"In your room!"

Mei-Chun glared at him, her eyes glowing. "What EXACTLY did you see?"

"All I saw was Rarias's head by your neck, it looked like she was…uh…"

"She was what?"

"Kissing your neck!"

Rarias stopped feeding and lifted her head.

Krilte opened his eyes and looked at Mei-Chun, whose eyes weren't glowing anymore.

She laughed. "She was feeding off me, I let her!"

Sin looked embarrassed at the thought. "Sorry, but from where I was standing, I couldn't see very well!"

SMACK!

"HEY, WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?"

"For spying on us!"

Rarias put a hand over her mouth as blood accidentally spilled out of her mouth as she giggled at Sin being slapped.

Krilte was smiling about it too.

Although Sin was a real a gentleman when came to being nice to fellow bad girls, he was a sucker when it came to apologies and being forgiven. With sapphire eyes, lightly tanned skin and purple hair with emerald green streaks, he was hardly non-desirable nor was he the type to fit into a group of people unless they were punks or rockers. Yet he was likeable to a degree!

"Try getting your facts straight next time or I'll send you straight to Hell!"

"I'm afraid Hell doesn't scare me because you see…I've already been there!" grinning. It was true that Hell wasn't considered as a torturous place to him. Beaten. Hung. Slain. Frozen. Burnt. Poisoned. All manner of deaths had been exposed to him in an attempt to kill him but his body would not be harmed nor show any effects of his tortures.

"Bastard!" hissing at him. She sprung back up into the branches of her tree and stayed there.

"Can't we talk about this?"

Silence.

Krilte grinned. "You won't win that way Sin!"

He glared at him. "Oh shut the fuck up Krilte, you're in no position to argue with me!" pointing at him.

"I'm not arguing, I'm just pointing out a fact to you!"

Rarias had finished cleaning the wound and had taken a seat on a park bench, away from the two hormones-flaring-madly male members of their reconnaissance team, waiting for Pyrite to arrive. "Darkened memories…an empty soul with no meaning of happiness or joy or excitement…an adult deprived of their childhood…a child deprived of a loving and safe home with parents who ensure that their offspring only learn what they need to know with every stage of them growing up!"

"What is it that lightens the spirit of a dark, hate-filled soul?"

"Why don't they understand my need to learn…to be a part of them?"

"Mei-chun is so popular even though she cannot actively harm an opponent that Lord Braxion may even favour her!"

"I can't stand this, I can't stand around here taking in the innocent scent that surrounds both Rarias and Mei-chun!"

Mei-chun glanced down from her treetop position as Pyrite approached before swinging off the branch and landing infront of him.

Rarias and Krilte stood up, acknowledging his presence with a slight inclination of the head.

"What happened?"

"Yeah, where is this senshi you promised?"

"I did hypnotise one of them, not the Moon herself but her friend that was with her!"

"And?"

"I sent her to destroy her friends but there was an interloper!"

"An interloper?"

"Yes, she protected two of the other senshi from their lost friend, then she took her out and possibly removed the trance from her mind before leaving with the other two and their unconscious friend!"

"The Guardian?"

"Possibly, I couldn't see from the distance between me and them!"

"At least we can go by what Rarias has learnt!" looking in her direction.

Rarias nodded, her face solemn and blank like a statue.

"You two stay here then and prepare to launch another attack, We'll go back and report to Lord Braxion!"

Krilte, Sin and Pyrite faded away, leaving Mei-chun and Rarias to get ready for nightfall.

Lita closed the door behind her and sighed.

Rei had busted her ankle and had to be put to bed until Kyoko could do something.

BANG! CLATTER! CRASH!

"I know it's in here somewhere, I remember packing it in with the rest of my gear now where is it!"

CRASH! CLATTER! SMASH! WHAM!

"Hey, do you want to be a bit quieter?"

"Sorry, I'm just trying to find something for her ankle or least something that can heal it!" reaching into a box "could you hold onto my ankles for me?"

Lita peered into the box and stared.

It was like an entire galaxy inside a standard packing box.

Kyoko leaned in more. "I can see it but I can't reach it, get a hold of my ankles and push me in further!"

Lita grabbed her ankles firmly and lifted her further into the box.

"Closer!"

She moved forward a step.

"Closer!"

Another step.

"CLOSER!"

"IF I PUSH YOU IN ANY FURTHER YOU'LL FALL IN!" gritting her teeth.

"THIS IS MY BOX, WHY WOULD I FALL IN?"

"BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT AN ENTIRE GALAXY IN THERE!"

"GOT IT, PULL ME OUT QUICK BEFORE I GET HIT BY A COMET!"

Lita yanked her out of the box and landed on her backside.

"Thanks!" holding her hand out.

She pulled Lita to her feet.

"What is that?"

"Oh this?" holding the slender object up "It's my moms sceptre!"

"Dai has a sceptre?"

Kyoko nodded. "Uh-huh, the Sun Sceptre, only my mom has the right to unleash it's full power but I can use it to heal people!" heading upstairs. She opened the bedroom door and entered, followed closely by Lita who was keen to see what the sceptre could do.

"What's with all the noise downstairs" opening one eye.

"I apologise about that, I only just got here so I haven't had the chance to unpack yet!"

"Oh right, what's that in your hand?" spotting the sceptre.

"It's Dais' sceptre Rei, Kyoko's going to heal your ankle with it!"

Rei stared at the strange object.

It was about arms' length with a golden sun on the end. At the head point, there was a circular shaped gemstone set into the middle of an array of long sharp points. The handle was majestic in design with crimson red padded satin wrapped around a solid gold bar with a gold ball at the end. Four silk ribbons cascaded from the handle to Kyokos' lap, wrapping around her wrist for extra grip. A small opal, encrusted into the end, gave off a warm, milky reflection through the small shafts of light that entered the bedroom window after breaking through the dull clouds. The storm clouds were passing now, leaving a trail of warm air currents behind it.

"This won't take long!" holding the sceptre over the broken ankle.

For a couple of seconds, the sceptre glowed dimly, registering the injured bone and Reis' genetic code. Then the glow intensified as it began healing the bone.

Rei grounded her teeth as the bone twisted, snapped, twisted again and crunched as the broken ends were slotted together as easily as two correct pieces of a jigsaw.

"Damn that hurt!"

"It does but it would hurt more if it was left for a bit longer!"

Rei swung her legs off the bed and, slowly, stood up.

No pain. Not even a slight uncomfortable or unusual feeling.

Her ankle was completely healed.

"Hey, this is really healed, not just wiped away the pain but the broken bone as well!"

"That's what I can do with it!"

Rei looked at her. "You can heal people with it!"

Kyoko nodded.

Tall, firey hair, a standard flesh complexion. She looked like any other girl except for her eyes. Her red eyes. Blood red eyes. Tiny clouds swirled within them, induced with some kind of mystical or cosmic powers.

"Hey, it's almost lunchtime, we better get back!" walking out the door.

Rei followed.

"I'll come with you in case there's more trouble enroute!" walking behind them.

"You don't have to…"

"We can take care ourselves…"

Kyoko leaned against a wall. "I'm not asking you if I can or cannot!"

The pair stopped and turned to face her. "What do you mean?"

Kyoko stood up straight and approached them. "I have my orders to follow through as directed!"

Rei and Lita stared at her. "Orders?"

"I'll explain on the way, we better get going!" opening the door and leaving.

Rei followed, followed closely Lita who closed the door behind them.

Pyrite smashed against a wall, his face badly cut. Blood seeped down his face as he struggled to stand up.

"GAAAAAAARRGGHHH!!!!" grabbing Pyrites hair and smashing his face against the wall several times.

"Sire, listen to us please!"

Braxion let go of his hair and turned to face Krilte. "He failed me though!"

"But he did partly accomplish his orders, he did hypnotise one of them and carry out part of his orders!"

Braxion stood silent, his anger dying down. "Continue!"

"If he was to confront them with Mei-chun, Sin and Lin at his side, he could easily hypnotise all of them!"

Braxion thought for a moment, then smiled. "It would be hard to avoid him if the world around them became warped"

Pyrite weakly lifted his head. "You're going to let me try again?"

"Yes, and this time…don't fail me!"

"I can't believe how easily we're getting beaten here!"

Mina and Ami nodded.

While Rei and Lita battled to restrain Hotaru, Serena and the others had gone to locate Luna.

"We don't even know how that guy managed to hypnotise Hotaru!"

Luna sighed. "All I know about what he did was tell her to look into his eyes and discover her fate!"

"You don't think he hypnotised her when she looked into his eyes do you?"

"That's impossible, he would have needed something to distract her while he did it!"

"Well he knows she's the Messiah!"

"First Rarias, now this Pyrite guy, who'll we encounter next?"

"HEY!"

They looked up as Lita and Rei approached, followed by Kyoko.

"Are you okay, Artemis told us what happened!"

"We're fine!"

"Our pride is a bit bruised but our gratitude for help is in top condition thanks to Kyoko here!"

They looked up at the towering, eighteen-year old-looking girl. With a black and white short top with a black heart on it, denim shorts and pink boots that came up just past her knees, she wouldn't really stand out in a shopping mall or at a gig but in a school playground, she stuck out the sore thumb for all to see.

"You're Kyoko?"

"Yep, and I've got a similar task to my moms!"

"That is?"

"Not for you to know I'm afraid!"

They sighed. Ever since this whole thing started, Dai kept stuff from them. Secrets that they shouldn't know just yet.

"I thought you were injured Rei!"

"I was…until Kyoko healed me!"

"Healed you?"

Rei nodded. "She used some kind of sceptre, similar to Serenas'!"

They looked first at Rei, then at Kyoko.

"You're kidding right?"

"Nope!"

"She's right, I was there when Kyoko used it to mend Reis' broken ankle!"

"So where exactly are you from Kyoko?"

"A place far from here that's for sure!" sitting down next to them.

"Well tell us!"

"Please Kyoko?"

"Yeah, we want to know as much about you as possible!"

There was a chorus of `Yeah' as they sat down on the grass around her.

Kyoko smiled. "Oh alright, as you already know, Dai is my mother, I don't know who my father was, all I know is that he was a Sun Guardian like my mom, they met one day, fell in love and I was conceived!"

"You know nothing about your father other than he was a Sun Guardian?"

Kyoko nodded. "For most of my life, Dai looked after me, took me everywhere with her, even to the birth of Serenity and her royal baptism!"

Serena stared at her. "You were both present?"

"That's right, it's tradition for the Sun Guardian in that system to be present for the birth and baptism of a prince or princess!"

"A tradition?"

Kyoko smiled. "This is gonna take a long time to explain!"

Rarias wiped her mouth as she discarded the body of a private school girl.

Mei-chun stood with her back against a wall as Rarias buried the body against a pile of rubbish bags.

"Innocence is such a temptation for people like me!" licking her hands clean.

Mei-chun sighed before pushing herself away from the wall and started walking ahead.

"Hey, where you going?"

"To find something to eat, I don't drink blood like you do!"

Rarias ran after her. "I don't just have blood to keep me alive, I need something to drink as well you know!"

"Well at least you're nearly like these humans!"

Rarias stepped in front of her, blocking her path. "Are you implying I have no form of humanity in me?"

"You feed and drink when you need to on a daily basis but you kill when ordered to, these humans do the exact same thing!"

Rarias looked away as Mei-chuns' eyes glared angrily at her. "Sorry!"

"I forget sometimes that you are unable to understand some things that others say!" as her eyes returned to normal.

Rarias nodded. "Isolation is a cruel fate for a child like myself…"

"You are not a child…"

"But I'm not an adult!" Tears rolled down her cheeks.

Mei-chun lifted a finger against her cheek and caught them. She then pulled it close to her face and concentrated.

For an instant, nothing happened. Then some thing did happen.

The tear turned into a tiny ball of light blue fire, dancing off the surface of Mei-chuns' finger. Then it changed into a light blue bird made of fire.

"A phoenix!"

"You know about them?"

"From I what I gathered from Michiru!"

"A phoenix can never really die, when one is killed in combat, it is reborn from the flames that ignite its ashes!"

"There is never Death nor Life, we constantly reincarnate ourselves as other people so we know nothing of our past selves but we have our memories of our past selves!"

The phoenix disappeared as the fire turned back into a tear.

"Do you understand a bit more now?"

"Yes, I understand a bit more now!"

Mei-chun placed a hand on her shoulder. "Shall we find some thing to drink?"

Rarias smiled as she nodded.

For the first time in her life, Rarias had someone who cared about her as a friend. A real friend. One who she would do anything to keep as a friend!

Pyrite watched as Serena and the others returned to the classrooms before approaching Kyoko, who stood up when he came into view.

"You think I'm the one who's being a thorn in Braxions' side?"

"Why of course, you did remove my trance from Messiah!"

"So what if I did?"

"My master punished me for not taking her back but he's given me another chance, one which I must repay to you for getting in my way!"

Kyoko smiled as she held up three fingers in front of her face. She then pulled her hand above her head and created a ribbon of light.

The ribbon wrapped itself all around her body, transforming her clothes.

Gold! White gold clothing replaced her casual wear.

"A Sun Guardian, just as we suspected!" clicking his fingers.

Three more men appeared.

Krilte leaned against the corner of a wall while the other two approached, one holding a purple rose in his fingers while the other flicked a coin into the air. These two were the identical twins, Sin and Lin.

"Let us take of care of this trouble-maker gentlemen!"

The four of them encircled her, cutting off her chances of escape.

"I could take care of these guys with a single blast but I risk exposing my identity to the schoolchildren inside!"

"What's wrong, are you frightened of us?"

"Like I would be afraid of an asshole like you!"

Krilte charged at her, slamming his shoulder against her stomach and tackling her to the ground.

"Hold her there Krilte, I want to have some fun with her!" pulling out a double-edge knife. He knelt down next to her face and ran the flat side of the knife over her cheek, lightly slashing the skin.

"Bastard!"

"You are in no position to call me that!" running the blade over her lips.

"Why don't you just kill her now so we can leave!"

"No, I want the senshi to watch her die so we'll keep her alive for a while!"

"If only I could get this Krilte guy off me…"

"HEY!"

They looked in the direction of the voice.

A woman dressed a white jacket and trousers stood away from them.

Long red hair tied back into a french plait with light brown eyes. A delicate and fragile figure with finely chiselled features.

Three young men stood along side her.

"Who are you?"

Pyrite sneered at the woman. "This is none of your business so get lost!"

"Well we're making it our business mister!"

"Watashi gozen ato san kanshisha!" <I am a Sun Guardian! >

"Nan temae tsukai korede?" <What are you doing here? >

"Purotekuto Serenity!" <Protecting Serenity! >

"Izuko anokata?" <Where is she? >

"Anokata naimen!" <She's inside!"

The woman stepped forward. "I suggest you leave right now!"

Sin and Lin stepped up to her.

"Why?"

"You are trespassing on public property for a start!"

"And?"

"Secondly, it is our duty to defend our friends and the friends of our friends!"

Sin rolled the rose across his lips, savouring its poisonous scent.

Lin flicked his coin into the air before throwing another one at the woman.

But the woman stepped to one side, avoiding the explosion when the coin struck the floor behind her.

Pyrite turned back to Kyoko and ran the blade over her other cheek, slashing that one as well. "Look upon your fate my dear child!" wavering the blooded edge over her eyes.

"Hurry up and kill her!"

The strange boy's eyes narrowed as Sin and Lin advanced upon the woman.

"Keep away from her!" moving towards them.

The pair stopped and looked at them over their shoulders. "Or else what kid?"

"STAR FIGHTER POWER!"

"STAR MAKER POWER!"

"STAR HEALER POWER!"

Sin and Lins' face fell apart as the three boys transformed into three girls.

"They did warn you!" calmly.

"Three girls or three boys or three whatevertheyares aren't gonna stop us!"

Sin threw a handful of purple roses, catching one of them on the arm.

"Is that suppose to hurt or something…"

The girl fell over, convulsioning with poison.

"Healer!"

A coin exploded, knocking the remaining two to the ground.

"I told you three girls won't stop us!"

The woman sighed and closed her eyes. "KINMOKU STAR POWER!"

"More senshi?"

"This is getting better and better my brother!"

Lin nodded. "We need the practice…"

"SPEAR STRIKE!"

A shower of intense spear-like lights flew at Krilte and Pyrite, penetrating their shoulders and leg.

Sin and Lin looked around.

A foot smashed into Lins' face, blood spurting from his nose.

"You bastard, you'll pay for that…"

WHAM! CRACK! THOWK!

Sin fell backwards as Dai straightened herself up, his face bloody and bruised.

"Merushi san kanshisha!" <Thank you Sun Guardian! >

"Watashi gozen dake tsukai mai jobu!" <I am just doing my job! >

Kyoko scraped herself up off the floor and took up an offensive stance, ready to battle Krilte and Pyrite.

But the two of them had disappeared, escaping from a similar wrath at the hands of the two Guardians like Sin and Lin.

"I guess they were chickens!"

"You mean they flew the coop?"

Dai laughed before turning to face the three girls on the floor.

"You didn't have to help us, we could have taken them ourselves…"

"I wouldn't be so sure about that Fighter, these are new enemies and are fully well aware of all senshi in this half of the universe!"

Rarias smiled. "I've never tasted anything so delicious as soda!"

"You've been use to blood and water most of your life!"

"I know but I like to try new things!"

The pair were sat on the grass over looking the Park Lake as the sun began to dip below the horizon. A warm gentle breeze brushed past them, catching the ends of their hair and flagging it behind them.

All the time they had been together, waiting to start another attack, Rarias had realised what was wrong with herself. Or what was right. She really wasn't sure if was acceptable to fall in love with someone. "It maybe alright to fall for a guy if you're female, but is right for a guy to fall for a guy or a girl to fall for a girl?"

"Rarias…"

"Yes?"

"Are you okay, you look a little troubled?"

"No, I'm fine!"

"Are you sure?"

"Honest!"

Mei-chun sighed, memories of hot summer days in the palace gardens playing with her sister and the local children danced through her mind. Soaking wet clothes from playing underneath the fountains. Cold honeycombs that had been frozen by the cook the night before.

"Mei-chun?"

"Yes?"

"Tell me…about your home, your city, planet!"

Mei-chun looked at her. "You want to know about my home world?"

"Please, from your memories, it sounds so nice, so peaceful, cheerful!"

"A place that you wish to see one day?"

Rarias nodded.

"My home, Naebulo, is a lush, green planet…"

"Like Earth?"

"A bit!"

"Go on then!"

Mei-chun gazed across the lakes surface. "My fathers kingdom was rich, prosperous, no one was ever richer or poorer than the next person, merchants would travel the distance just to trade clothes and gold for gems, powders and food that was cultivated there!"

"What kind of food was there?"

"Meat, vegetables, a wide variety of fruit and wines available, whenever there was a festival or celebration, my father would host the biggest banquet ever known, tables would line every single street and everyone would help out dishing up food and providing food and drink!"

Rarias watched her face, intrigued by this story.

"The feast would go long into the night, children and young maids such as my self and Actaen would dance along the tables in time to the music that would be playing, joyful happy tunes to keep our feet moving…"

The hand drums patted with every beat. One! One-two! Two and three and one and then back to the beginning again!

The filvante players plucked and slung the strings in long, quick meddlies.

Crystals feverishly enlightened the atmosphere, their warm rainbow-coloured lights and soft, scale-sliding sounds keeping the most romantic of young men and women at each other's side.

"I sat a little further away from my father, talking happily to the servants and enjoying the sights and sounds, then my father would stand up and make a speech!"

The music stopped as everyone's' attention was drawn to the king.

"Tonight, we feast gloriously as a thank you for the excellent trading that has been going on in the past couple of weeks, we owe our hard labours to produce the finest food and wine to everyone, we also owe thanks to the merchants who spread word of our glorious planet and it's healthy trade markets!"

Everyone cheered, raising goblets and glasses.

"It was at one of the feasts that I met Avalone, he was sat next to his father who had come to visit the planet that survived purely on trade and had never been involved in a war, I was talking to my mother about an evil feeling that had been bothering me for several months, my ability to sense good and evil was never really taken into consideration!"

"Tell me more!"

Mei-chun smiled. "As me and Actaen stood to dance, Avalone and his brother, Savna, approached us and asked if they could dance with us, we replied `only if you can keep up!', oh how we danced that night, spirits set free to walk on solid ground again!"

The sun had disappeared beneath the horizon by now, the sky illuminated by the stars over head.

"After that, Avalone came and visited, spending a lot of his time talking to my father, over dinner though, he would gaze at me from across the table, lost in his own affections!" reflecting the image through her eyes "Then one night, he came to see me, he told me how he felt about me, that he would give up everything just to be by my side, to hold me when I fell, to care for me if I fell ill!"

"He would have done anything for you?"

"Yes, even sacrifice himself to save me!"

"It's almost time, let's go!" standing up.

Mei-chun sighed as she followed Rarias out of the park and towards their next target. Fire hearted, fire eyes! Though the temper is short with the Moons' untidiness, the fire spirals in complete calmness and tranquillity!

Rei yawned. "I can't stay awake any longer, I need to go to sleep but I've also got this homework to get finished, oh heck, I'll do it in the morning!"

She closed her books and stood up to leave the room.

"Rei?"

"Yes grandfather?"

"Are you going to bed now?"

"Yes, why?"

"Remember to lock the front door will you?"

"Yes grandfather!"

Leaving her books on the table, she went to lock the door.

Something snapped outside as she pulled it to close it.

"Who's there?"

Silence.

"I know there's someone out there!"

Silence still.

Rei closed the door and locked it.

Outside, two blood-red eyes glowed from the shadows nearby. Wild, bloodthirsty eyes. Through red gauze, they could see Rei picking up her books and walking into her room where she changed into her bedtime clothing and climbed into bed.

"Red clothes to match red blood, a stream of precious rubies to the jewel thief!" running silently around the side of the building.

Climbing through an open window panel, she stealthily made her way to Reis' room where, once inside, she gently turned her head upwards and ripped the clothing around her shoulders, exposing the soft skin of her neck.

Lifting her head and body so she rested against hers, she indicated for Rarias to come over.

Rarias stepped out of the shadows of the room and moved over to the relaxed couple where, seating herself into a kneeling position, she held her head over the unfortunate Reis' neck, locating the precious mineral that ravelled beneath the surface. She then began.

Biting gently into the flesh, nicking it to create a small opening before piercing the vessel with her fangs, she began mining the precious jewel from its source.

Mei-chun held the sleeping girl in an upright-sitting position while Rarias drank from her, the cloak that changed her eye colour had now disappeared, restoring them to their white coloration.

The process lasted three hours as Rarias drank slowly, so as to not kill her for now. When she finished, she cleaned up the wound and left via the window.

Mei-chun followed shortly after placing Rei back into a sleeping position.

The pair walked away silently, using the shadows to hide them as much as possible.

But Mamoru had seen them leave Reis' room through the window and followed them to the park.

Haruka opened her eye.

"Where am I, what happened?"

She sat up slightly and looked herself over.

An IV drip line fed into her arm, providing her body with essential nutrients to help it recover.

She lifted her hands to the bandages that covered her face.

"What happened to me, why am I here?"

Her memory of her battle against Rarias flashed in front of her eyes. "A girl…feeding off Michiru…I…battled her…a woman rescued me…spoke to me!"

Her head ached as she tried to remember. As she turned her head in pain, she saw someone lying on a bed next to hers.

Michiru!

"R…Rarias…she did this…"

Her strength disappeared as she struggled to remember what exactly what happened that night, causing her to fall back against the hospital pillow.

"I'll have to wait until morning, hopefully I'll get to see the others and find out what's happened!"

"You're kidding right?"

"No way Serena, Rei was attacked last night!"

"How do you know?"

"I saw two female figures climb out of Reis' bedroom window!"

Serena frowned. "Two?"

"That's right, one was taller than the other, wavy hair, the other had straight hair and pointed deformed ears!"

"Deformed ears!"

She turned to Hotaru. "Did Dai describe what Rarias looked like?"

"No, why?"

Serena turned back to the phone. "Then we're lost on that one!"

"Maybe you guys could go over and make sure everything is alright with her, I've got to go, I'll catch up with you guys later okay?"

"Okay, bye!"

She put the phone down and, turning around, leaned against the wall.

"What's wrong?"

"Rei was attacked last night!"

Hotaru gulped the mouthful of cereal down in one go. "Rei, but why?"

"Mamoru doesn't know but all we can go by is that Rei is very weak, very pale and part of her clothing was ripped!"

"Ripped?"

"From around her shoulders!"

Hotaru stared at her. "You don't think…"

Serena looked at her and nodded.

Hotaru lowered her head. "Why is she doing this?"

"I don't know!" quietly.

Suddenly, Hotaru slammed her fist on the table, knocking her cereal on the floor. She lowered her head against her arm and began shaking.

"She hasn't got the rest of us and I'm going to make sure she doesn't get the rest of us!"

Hotaru looked up at her, tears streaming. "You have a plan?"

"Not really!"

"Then what good are we against Rarias if we don't have a plan!"

"Hey, we're senshi aren't we?"

Hotaru nodded.

"So we put our heads together and come up with a plan together!"

Haruka opened her eye and looked around.

A nurse was stood beside Michiru, studying her chart before replacing the empty blood pouch with a new one.

"Excuse me…"

The nurse turned and smiled. "You're awake now!"

"Where am I?"

"Tokyo Central Hospital!"

"Which area?"

"Intensive Care, no surprises though!"

"I'll say!"

The nurse walked over to her and swept the only visible part of her fringe to one side. "I bet you'll be hungry for something solid instead of the drip now!"

"I guess so!" looking over at Michiru "How is she?"

"She's doing fine, she should be waking up any day soon, we've had to replenish the blood she lost from donors!"

Haruka smiled.

"I better get you sorted out, the doctor will be round to see how you are!" reaching into the small cupboard beside Harukas bed and pulled out a metal dish and rag towel "I'll just get some warm water and some soap and then we'll scrub you up and sort your hair out for you!"

She left the room.

Haruka sighed. "How long have I been unconscious?"

"Two…three days!"

"Who's that?"

"It's me, Dai!"

"You made me jump!"

"I apologise about that but telepathy is the safest way to speak you and the others without causing suspicion!"

"I see, what's happened while I've been in here?"

"Hotaru has been hypnotised and beated the living daylights out of Rei and Lita…"

"Is she okay now?"

"She's fine although Rei was attacked last night while she slept…"

"What pervert would attack a girl while she slept?"

"Haruka…"

"When I get my hands on them, I'll…"

"It was Rarias again!"

"Rarias?"

"Yes, she's being very careful about her attacks!"

"Why's that?"

"Hotaru is staying with Serena until one of you come out of hospital!"

"Thank goodness!"

"Rarias seems to be pushing you guys to stay at each others homes!"

"Why's that?"

"Try a sequel to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre!"

The nurse returned.

"The nurse has arrived, you best leave for now!"

"I will contact you later!"

She set the dish down on the cupboard. "Right, lets get you cleaned up quickly!" squeezing the excess water out of the towel.

"I say we capture one of these bad guys and force them to tell us where Braxion is!"

Serena and the others had headed straight over to Dais' house after school later that day, lucky to have not been involved in another incident!

Kyoko and Dai sighed as they shook their heads. "That wouldn't be of any use!"

"Why not?"

"Because if we did that, Braxion would send someone to stop them from telling us!"

"You mean kill them?"

"Yes and besides we don't need to do that…"

Kyoko went silent as Dai glared at her. "I'll shut up now!"

"Why don't we need to do that?"

"I'm sorry but that's confidential information…"

"Look, we need to know as much as possible before we go in anywhere guns blazing understand?"

"I understand Mina but I'm not permitted to tell you anything that the Council has told us!"

"That sucks!"

"I know I sound harsh here but if I breach my code of honour, I stand a good chance of being banished to the Negaverse!!!!"

"But the Negaverse doesn't exist anymore!"

"That's what you think!"

Mina jumped to her feet and stood challengingly infront of Dai. "Serena defeated Beryl…"

"And without her, the Negaverse should have disappeared!"

"What do you mean should have?"

"You'll find out some other time!"

Hotaru had sat silent during the heated debate, her thoughts reflecting on her encounter with Pyrite. "All I did was look in to his eyes, then I wake up in Dais' house!"

"Hotaru, are you okay?"

"I'm just thinking about that Pyrite guy!"

Lita and Rei stared at her. "You're a lil' young to be falling for guys Hotaru…"

"Not like that, I mean about how he hypnotised me!"

"Oh right!"

"All I did was look into his eyes…"

Kyoko thought for a while before turning to Dai. "What colour eyes did she say he had?"

"Quartz yellow, why?"

"Maybe Bereos knows, he has quartz yellow eyes as well!"

"Maybe, ask him when he arrives!"

"He's coming here?"

"Council have told him to bring a package for you!"

Kyoko let her mind leap back to when she contacted him before he was sent else where.

Bereos had devoted himself to her aid since he was first allied with her. He kept his affections for her hidden from view as they aided senshi on his home planet. Eventually, she sussed him out.

She had invited him out on a patrol after an incident aimed directly at her had occurred.

He did not speak to her but his thoughts raced madly, bouncing off the inside of his skull until they nearly cracked it open. "Strong…cautious…swift…agile…incredible sense of danger from miles and yet all this is stored in a female body, fragile, delicate and almost carved from the rarest mineral by the most skilled craftsman ever known!"

"Is something troubling you Bereos?"

"What…oh it's nothing…"

"Your eyes are soft and your voice a gentle breeze on a hot day!"

Her voice was being poetic, a skill taught to her by her mother.

He could not keep his affections towards her hidden when she speaks so affectionately about how his eyes look and his voice sounds. He had to tell her!

Stopping in the natural light of the four moons he opened his heart and prepared to have it ripped out.

"Kyoko…"

"Yes?"

"My blood is burning my veins at this very moment!"

"Are you ill?"

"Sick if this affliction is caused by such as a contagious condition!"

"And that is?"

He glanced at the corner of her eye as his heart rate increased dramatically.

Her eyes glowed a warm, soothing red in the reflection of the moons light. Turning to face him, he stared at the ruby encrusted face as she leaned towards him and, placing a hand behind his head, kissed him on the lips.

This took him by surprise but he accepted it and embraced her in a secure and loving hold.

"Kyoko!"

"Huh?" awaking from the memory "did I miss something?"

"An entire conversation more to the point!"

"I'm sorry, I was reliving a memory!"

Setsuna looked at her, almost entranced by the swirling red clouds. "Why does that happen?"

"What happens?"

"That swirling in your eyes, it's not in Dais' but it's in yours!"

Dai sighed as she lowered her head. "It's genetic…"

The others looked at her, puzzled by this.

"What do you mean it's genetic?"

"The swirling comes from her fathers side…"

"You know who her father is?"

Dai nodded silently.

"Well?"

Silence.

"Who's my father?"

Silence still.

"She has a right to know…"

The room began to warp around them.

Dai looked up as Pyrite crashed through the front window of her home, knocking Mina to the ground as well as smashing the table in front her.

Sin and Lin followed, preparing to throw roses and coins at them.

"GET DOWN!"

The senshi dropped to the floor as explosions destroyed desks, seating and other furniture.

A purple rose landed next to Ami, who went to touch it.

"DON'T TOUCH THAT!"

Ami pulled her arm back.

Pyrite walked into the hallway and unlocked the door, letting Rarias and Mei-Chun inside.

Sin knelt down and, grabbing Mina by the scruff of her clothing, lifted her clear off the ground. He looked at her unconciencious face before sneering. "This one's out for the count!" tossing her limp body at the feet of Rarias.

Rarias bent down and sniffed the body. "Young…a senshi smell that mixes with an emotional power…still innocent!" pulling some hair away from her neck.

Serena watched with mortify as Rarias's fangs elongated, preparing to kill the first of their group in front of them.

"LEAVE HER ALONE!" Rei shouted angrily. She clenched her fists as Lin stepped in front of her.

"Either you wait your turn or you take her place!"

Nobody had noticed Kyoko, Lunar and Artemis slipping out of the room during the ruckus so as to launch an attack on the intruders. Watching Lin tying the senshi up with strong, power draining vines, Kyoko quickly formulated a plan in her head. One involving Artemis and Lunar. In their human forms!

Moving slowly into the hallway opposite where Rarias and Mei-Chun were stood, Artemis and Lunar ran up to Rarias just her fangs were about to break Minas' skin and, leaping at her, dug their claws into her face, skull and back before running into the kitchen where, with a small ball of energy created by Kyoko, they transformed into their human forms.

Angered by the cats' actions, Rarias chased after them only to skid to a halt at the chest of Artemis.

"You better back down…"

"Where are they?"

"Where are who?"

"The two cats, the cats that ran in here!"

"There have been no cats in here!"

Lunar walked up to Rarias and scowled at her.

Forcing her back into the hallway, Lunar and Artemis kicked her in the face, sending her crashing to the ground.

But with a single push of the hand, Rarias was back on her feet and leaping straight at the pair.

And missed!

Lunar and Artemis had taken a single step away from each other, allowing Rarias to pass between the two.

With Rarias occupied, Dai took the opportunity to take care of Sin and Lin. Rolling onto her backside from a kneeling position, she swung both her legs to the left, striking the side of their knees and forcing them to fall.

"PLANET JUIPITER POWER!"

With a single strain of her wrist muscles, Lita snapped the vines off her wrist and ripped Dais' off.

Pyrite, seeking some way of stopping them, took Minas' body hostage. "As long as your friend here is still alive and I have her, you can't harm me with your special attacks!"

By now, Serena and the others had reverted to their Sailor Scout forms.

But he was right!

As long as he had Mina as his hostage, they couldn't risk harming her to get him.

But Kyoko was a step ahead of him. And stood behind him.

"Excuse me…" tapping him on the shoulder.

He turned to see who it was.

CRACK!!!

His grip loosened as the blow to his face knocked him backwards.

"…that's my senshi and I would like her back thank you!" catching Mina before she hit the ground.

Pyrite climbed to his feet, his nose missing from his face. "You bitch, you'll pay for that!"

A hand landed on his shoulder. He turned and looked at the angered faces of Serena, Lita, Rei, Ami, Setsuna and Hotaru.

"We think not mister!" remarked Rei, Lita and Hotaru, cracking their knuckles together.

Pyrite gulped.

"This…is for hypnotising me!"

A fist smashed into both his eyes, blackening them.

"This…is for making me break my ankle!"

A heel cracked into his chest, knocking him to the floor.

He looked up through swollen eyes as Lita stood over him, her foot raised above his head.

"And this…is for trying to kill us!"

"STOP!"

They looked up.

Bereos stood there, a large box sat snug against his chest. "Leave him alone!"

"Why?"

"Because he's my brother!"

They stared at him in complete surprise.

"Pyrite is my older brother under Braxions control!"

Pyrite began to fade away unnoticed as he lay on the floor.

"Hey!"

Lita reached down to grab him.

And caught air!

"He's gone!"

Kyoko walked into the room. Accompanied by Mei-Chun!

"Why's she still here?"

"I wish to apologise…"

"And why should we believe you?"

"Because she holds nothing against you guys!"

"Then why is she helping those guys?"

"Because I have no choice!"

Serena glared at her angrily. "What do you mean you have no choice?"

Before she could say anything, she began to fade away. "I'm sorry, I will contact you sometime soon hopefully!" She completely disappeared.

"Now what are we going to do?"

Dai lowered her head. "I don't know…"

Rarias growled at Sin and Lin. "LEAVE ME ALONE!"

"We only want to play!" trying to grab her but he missed.

Rarias side-flipped onto a cabinet. "WELL I'M NOT IN A PLAYFUL MOOD!!!"

"We all fucked up tonight so don't feel so bad about it!" reaching for her ankle again.

She moved her foot out of the way before slamming it on top of his fingers.

Lin yelled as he stumbled backwards, holding his trodden-on fingers in his other hand. "YOU BITCH!"

Rarias positioned herself in a crouching pose and growled at the pair.

"You can't keep yourself safe from us or Pyrite for much longer, the spell must be wareing off already!"

She looked him in the eyes and saw something she didn't understand.

Fire!

Burning all around her!

Engulfing her in its heated touch!

Lin and Sin left the room as Mei-Chun entered, her curiosity about why the pair were bothering Rarias leading her to investigate.

"What's going on?"

"They wanted me to play a game with them!"

"What game?"

"I don't know, they didn't tell me what is was called!"

Mei-Chun noticed her complexion being slightly paler than normal even though her skin colour kept changing. "You didn't get the chance to feed earlier!"

Rarias nodded as she slipped off the cabinet.

Taking her hand, Mei-Chun led her over to her bed and sat herself down.

Rarias wanted to feed from her but found herself kissing her instead.

Her skin was warm and soft to touch as Rarias ran a hand down the side of her neck while she placed her other hand on the back of Mei-Chuns lungs, between the shoulder blades. She pulled herself closer. So close their bodies touched.

Mei-Chun raised her head slightly as Rarias moved down to her neck, kissing her skin as she went. She felt the strap of her top sliding down her arm before she felt Rarias's lips on her shoulder.

Feasting off the precious fluid, draining it from Mei-Chuns body, Rarias felt something stir within her. A feeling of being stronger. Dominant over Mei-Chun. Controlling how much she could move while being in Rarias's grasp.

Pushing against Mei-Chun, Rarias forced her to lie back on the bed while she fed, forcing her to accept Rarias's dominance for the time being.

Slowly, she feasted from her. During that time, she removed her jacket and had moved her hands so one held onto her neck while the other held her wrist in a gentle grasp.

For a couple of hours, their actions went unnoticed.

Until Krilte walked into Rarias's room unexpectedly!

Upon seeing the two together, Krilte found himself staring at the scene.

Rarias opened her eyes when she smelt his scent and up-righted herself.

Mei-Chun, weakly, sat up. Blood trickled from her shoulder down the front of her chest, staining her top slightly.

Upon seeing Mei-Chuns shoulder, blood trickled from Kriltes' nose.

"What?"

Krilte turned to Rarias, who stood there angrily.

"Lord Braxion has ordered everyone to attend the banqueting hall in one hour Earth time!"

Rarias nodded.

Krilte turned and walked out of the room. Once outside, he sighed in relief. "That was close!" walking off.

"That was too close!" turning to face Mei-Chun.

"Rarias, you forgot to do something!" holding her hand over the wound. Blood was still seeping out through her fingers.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I totally forgot!" She walked over to the bed and, leaning over Mei-Chuns shoulder, began to heal the wound up completely.

"I just don't want to die by bleeding, any other way I don't mind but not by bleeding from a feeding mark!" pushing herself up off the bed.

Wiping blood from her lips, Rarias left for the banqueting hall, followed by Mei-Chun who had put on cloak of silk and positioned it so it hid where Rarias had fed from her.

Haruka opened her eyes to see a half-saddened Hotaru and friends stood by Michirus' bed.

It was nearly evening. Since visiting time varied on different wards, some visitors could stay longer than others or arrive shortly after the other wards had finished visiting times. The Intensive Care Unit was open early in the morning until late at night, allowing friends and family to visit after finishing work.

"It's been nearly a week since Rarias did this!"

"After her attempt at killing me earlier, it would seem that she's being selective about her kills!"

Haruka sat herself up and listened.

"Well when she strikes again, we'll be ready for her!!!"

"You guys seem to be shaken up about Rarias!"

They turned to see their conscious companion awake and well.

"HARUKA!"

Hotaru flung her arms around Harukas' neck, crying with happiness at the sight of her closet person to her family.

"Hey, if those tears are for me, then save them for me for some other time!" laughing.

Hotaru smiled as she pulled away and sat on the side of her bed.

"So…what kind of beatings have been going on and who have you guys defeated while I've been in here?"

"Well…we've encountered more bad guys working alongside Rarias…"

"A guy named Pyrite who hypnotised Hotaru…"

"Two creeps named Sin and Lin who throw poisonous roses and explosive coins…"

"And we haven't really defeated any of them!"

"Made them retreat but not kick their butts goodbye forever!"

"Sounds like a real bunch of tough nuts…"

"You're telling us!"

Haruka looked up as Dai and Kyoko stepped into view.

"I'm glad to see your awake now friend!"

"Hello Dai, who's that stood by you?"

"This is my daughter, Kyoko!"

Haruka stared at her, taking her strong and powerful posture. She was strong for sure but powerful? She couldn't tell how powerful exactly but she was certain her abilities would be similar to her mothers.

"We'll tell you everything!"

Rarias sat still as she waited for her meal to be brought out. She had been told it would be fresh and that she could chase it first, then feast from it.

She watched as the servants placed bowls of steaming hot meat joints in front of krilte and two other women while Mei-Chun, Liu and Actaen tasted exotic fruits and bread coated in different soups with a glass of wine to wash it down.

Pyrite, Sin, Lin and a man named Sav'ana consumed balls of dark energy.

She looked at where Braxion sat, watching him observe the others as they ate before he noticed her looking at him. He nodded at her.

She looked around the room, patiently waiting for her food. She drunk some of the warm honey and liquidated meat mixture that had been made for her.

Braxion watched her drink his darkened thoughts at the possibility of turning her into the ultimate warrior for his mistress's final attack on the senshi! Raising a hand, her indicated to his servants to bring in Rarias's food.

A large door creaked open as a cage was rolled into the room, a young boy tensely clutching one side of the cage. Two servants dressed in black and carrying dark spears opened the door to the cage and forced the boy out of it.

Rarias's eyes opened wide.

It was one of the bullies she out-stepped in the school playground!

Braxion stood up. "LET THE FEASTTING BEGIN!!" opening his arms wide apart.

At the clap of his hands, Rarias stood up. If she didn't feast in front of him, he'd kill her for no real reason.

Throwing her jacket on the floor, she jumped over the table and landed in front of the bully. "Make this a challenge and run!" hissing in his face.

The bully stared at her before running to the other side of the hall.

Rarias chased after him when he reached the table opposite her.

For several minutes she chased him, wearing him down, frightening him with guttural snarls as she closed in on his heels. She eventually caught him!

As he made an attempt to clear the table where she sat, she grabbed his ankle and slammed him down on the tabletop. Climbing on top of him, pinning him down by his waist, she roared in his face before elongating her fangs until they were both as long as her middle finger and penetrating his artery, punching holes in his oesophagus, slowly killing him by decompression and suffocation of his lungs.

Blood dripped onto the floor as it stained the tablecloth.

Running! Angry shouts! Cries of anger and hatred! I'm frightened of these people who chase me! What have I done wrong that has them so angry with me! I see a dead body lying on the floor just behind me! Did I kill them? I…I can't remember! What has happened to me? Why can't I remember this? Why…why can't I do anything right? Am I destined to do things wrong? Wait! I see something else but I don't like the look of it! I can see Mei-Chun…and the senshi with the two Guardians standing around a young girls' body! Mei-Chun is holding her in her arms! She's crying! The senshi and the Guardians look saddened and are saying something but I can't hear what they're saying! The Moon is placing a hand on Mei-Chuns shoulders and is speaking with no sound! I can see the dead girls' face! It's…it's me! Is this my destiny? Am I destined to die…to save them?

Serena awoke in a light sweat. It was still dark outside.

After visiting Haruka, Kyoko went off to patrol the city while Dai and the senshi went home and went to bed. But Serena had only been asleep for three hours and awoke from a nightmare. In it, she saw herself battling two different senshi who had some how resurrected Beryl. Who the two senshi were she did not know. This made her feel uncomfortable.

"What's going on here?"

"Are you okay Serena?"

"I'm…fine, just had a nightmare that's all!"

"If you're sure…"

"I'll be fine, honestly!"

"Well, if you need someone to talk to, just call out my name in your mind!"

"I will if I need to!"

"Sleep well Princess!"

"Sleep well Dai!" lying back down. She slowly closed her eyes as the clouds moved out of the way, allowing the moon to cast its' light over Serenas' face. As a reaction to the moonlight, the hidden crest on Serenas' head began to glow, absorbing the moonlight and turning it into a secret storage of energy.

Rarias stared at the stars in front of her. Out there, some where in the great expanse of dense molecules, was her home. Not the place where she grew up or where her parents were. But a planet where she could be accepted for who she was, not what she looked like. Somewhere where people would praise her for her good side and scowl at her when she did something wrong.

"I just want to be cared about, maybe even loved!" slipping back into her bed.

As she drifted off to sleep, she did not sense Pyrites presence. Nor did she feel his hand as it brushed against her cheek. Or his body against hers as he slipped into bed with her.

Serena awoke reluctantly.

"Hey, are you gonna get up or not?"

"I'm awake…" She fell backwards as sleep caught her eyes.

"Serena, come on, wake up!" shaking her shoulder roughly.

Serena opened her eyes and stared up at Hotaru. "What time is it?"

"Eight o'clock, Mina rang, her and the others are going to the park for a picnic and asked if me and you wanted to go as well!"

"I'm tired, gimme another hour!" pulling the covers over her head.

"Mamorus' going as well!"

Serena leapt out of bed and hurried to get dressed. "Well, what we are waiting for!"

Hotaru giggled. "Serena, you've put your jeans on back to front!"

"Huh?" looking at herself in the mirror. Sure enough, she had put her jeans on back to front so the button and zip were behind her.

"I'll start packing some food while you sort your jeans out!" walking out the door.

Rarias awoke. Her abdomen was aching for some reason. Pulling back the covers, she climbed out of bed and washed herself before getting dressed.

She did not notice the blood on the mattress cover as she tidied the bed or the blood that clung to the inside of her legs as she washed.

Upon entering the main hall where Braxion stood, she went and stood in her allocated place. Her abdomen ached still. And something felt wrong.

Everyone else entered the hall and took their places.

When everyone was present, Braxion began giving his orders.

"Everyone is to go to Earth and launch an attack on the senshi, you will leave in two hours so prepare yourselves well!"

"Yes sir!" in unison.

"Dismissed!"

Everyone left to prepare. Except for Mei-Chun!

She went back to her room and, checking to make sure no one was nearby, began to send a message.

"Master Fertah, can you hear me?"

"I receive you Mei-Chun!"

"I have more information!"

"Tell me child what you have heard!"

"Everyone except Braxion is to launch an attack on the senshi in two hours, we will have to find them first!"

"Everyone there?"

"Yes, everyone!"

"Thank you Mei-Chun, I will let the council know of this!"

Dai watched as the surviving senshi laughed and enjoyed themselves despite yesterday's attack.

Kyoko and Bereos had taken up residence in trees on either side of the senshi, ensuring both observation of up to twelve feet in radius and a powerful blow to any enemy who attacks from the tree branches.

For a while, everything was well. Then Serenas' crest glowed, more brightly than it had before.

"Everyone get ready!" taking up an offensive stance.

Serena and the others activated their powers and created a circle of defence by standing back-to-back. Even Mamoru took to the trees, readying himself to launch an attack.

For a while, no one came. Then the firefight began.

"DEAD SOUL!" A Grim Reaper type creature appeared from the floor and raised its' sickle to strike the senshi.

"SILENCE GLAIVE!"

Hotarus' sickle attack cancelled out the strike and killed the creature in one blow.

"Prepare to die Moon Princess!"

Serena turned to face Actaen as her whip end whizzed past her shoulder, slightly grazing her neck from the burn it created.

Actaen pulled the whip handle back, bringing the rest of it to her feet. She then snapped the whip again, this time catching Serenas' neck in a tight grip. With a single yank, Actaen pulled Serena to her knees'.

The other senshi were too busy trying to stay alive while Dai, Kyoko and Bereos were deflecting attack after attack. Being no one was able to help Serena. Not even Mamoru could help her as he had become wrapped up in a giant vine plant that had him tied to one of trees' with one of it's twenty vines.

Serena grappled with the whip, trying to free herself from it's suffocating grip.

Actaen pulled it tighter.

The pain in her neck intensified, causing her to cry out loud.

Dai looked up when she heard her. "SERENA!" She began running towards her, jump kicking her way past the enemies, freeing the others of large numbers.

Actaen saw Dai approaching and threw her dagger at her.

Dai dodged it, letting it land in the back of one of the other two female baddies.

"You think I'm going to let her go!"

"No, but I know she'll end up being freed long before this battle is over!" ducking as one of Reis' snipers flew over head.

"Such cockiness will cost you your life energy!"

"I think not Actaen!" raising her hands so they crossed her face. Her fingers began to glow.

Actaen pulled the weakening Serena towards her and, pulling out another dagger, held it against Serenas' throat. "Don't even try it!"

CRUNCH!

Actaen fell forward, revealing a branch-wielding Kyoko behind her. Most of the bad guys had been destroyed by now. Those that hadn't had fled the battle.

Loosening the whip from Serenas' blacked out body, Dai gently picked her up and carried her over to the lakes edge. Carefully, she stepped into the water and lifted her head towards the sun.

The sky turned dark as the lakes water began to rage, splashing against the edges, waves crashing on the shore rocks.

Suddenly, a column of water raised Dai high into the air. A young woman with emerald green hair stood in front of the pair.

"Is that…Michiru?"

"It looks like it but I can't tell from this distance!"

"It is, look!" pointing at the woman.

She was holding a key about as long as her height in her hands.

"What's she doing?"

"I don't know!"

Dai smiled at Michiru. "I am happy to see that you have pulled through!"

"It wasn't for you and Haruka, I wouldn't be able to help you now in restoring our friend!"

"True, shall we begin?"

Michiru nodded and held the key over Serenas' body. For a while, silence hung in the air as the others watched from the ground. Then it happened!

The crest on Serenas' head began glow gently before a blast of moonlight struck the key. Lightening shot out the key, electrifying the water below them and causing it to glow a luminous greeny-blue colour!

"The key must be bringing Serenas' unconscious body to the point where it'll awaken!"

"Huh?"

"The key is Michirus' tool that allows her to go back and forward in time!"

"Yeah, we know that already!"

"With a Sun Guardian present, the key can take a persons' mind back and forward through without sending the body with it!"

"So if Serenas' mind is sent back to the point before she passed out, she'll awaken!"

"That's right!" stepping up behind them. It was Haruka in her senshi form!

For several minutes, Michiru and Dai concentrated to awaken Serena, focusing their mental thoughts at the key which was glowing the same colour as the water.

Then they stopped.

Serenas' lips parted as she took a deep breath before opening her eyes and blinked.

Dai gently put her down but kept a hold of her elbow. "Welcome back!"

Serena looked at Michiru who was smiling as well. "Hey, are you feeling?"

"A little light-headed if that's what you mean!"

"It'll wear off eventually so don't worry about that!"

Serena looked around and spotted the others. "How come the others are all the way down there!"

"Well, you see" placing a hand behind her head "we're actually really high up!"

Serena looked down at the lake before jumping onto Dais' arms. "Can you please put us down?"

Michiru nodded at Dai who closed her eyes as she smiled.

Slowly and gently, the column shrunk until it blended into the lakes surface. The sky turned blue again as the clouds dispersed and the lakes surface returned to it's calm self.

As Dai, carrying Serena, walked through water, followed by Michiru, the water returned to its' sparkly blue colour. It was completely restored to its' original coloration as soon as Dai stepped out of the water and onto dry land, her clothes remaining dry through the whole thing.

Michirus' boots were the only wet piece of her uniform from walking through the lake. Pulling them off as soon as she reached dry land, she handed them to Kyoko who blasted them with a hot air current, drying them instantly, before handing them back.

Smiling at her friends, Michiru hugged Hotaru, who was in tears in seeing her alive.

"I've missed you so much!"

"I've missed you too!"

Turning to face Haruka, she smiled as they hugged. "Thank you…for watching over me!"

"That's okay, you'd do the same for me!"

"I think it's time these guys knew…" facing Kyoko and Dai.

They nodded.

"Know about what?"

"Our task, our order…if you will!"

"Go on then!"

Dai sighed. "It is written that long ago there was a sword, a powerful sword, forged with the blood of nine female senshi to combat an evil that exists now in the Negaverse and will continue to exist…"

"…one of those senshi had a daughter who now rules all of this universe…"

"…after her mother and the other eight died fleeing a battle, she had the sword hidden away until she summoned me…"

"…many thousands of millennia's' passed before she summoned my mother…"

"…it was in the very same room that I stood in that I received half of the sword…"

"…the sword split itself into two parts, both of them sceptres…"

"…my sceptre, the Sun Sceptre, is the swords power and life…" She pulled out her sceptre and held it in front of everyone.

"If you have one half of it, where's the other half?"

"Tranquillity has it!"

"Tranquillity?"

Dai nodded and placed three fingers against her forehead. Her crest appeared and produced a holographic image from it.

"I…"

"It's impossible…"

"There's no way…"

"Can there be…"

"She looks just like…"

"Is she related…"

"How can she look like…"

"I must seeing things!" rubbing her eyes.

"How can she be…"

The holographic image was of a young woman, about twenty-five. With long yellow hair done up in two bunches on either side of her head, blue eyes and pale skin covered in elaborately decorated clothing. She looked exactly like Serena.

She was in fact Serena, reborn that is with no memory of her previous life.

Slowly, Serena pulled out her sceptre, the Moon Sceptre, and held it out in front of her.

Both of the sceptres glowed before dimming down again. Then the floor beneath them exploded as a shaft of rainbow colours shot forth, tossing the senshi and the Guardians up into the air.

Everyone watched as the two sceptres merged together. As soon as the sceptres became one, the shaft disappeared, dropping the senshi and the Guardians so they all landed hard on the floor.

Dai looked up as a glint in the sky caught her eye. She looked up, then looked at Serena who was trying to sit upright but was in too much pain to do so.

Whatever it was, it falling straight down to where Serena was sat!

"SERENA!" lunging across from where she had landed.

Wrapping an arm around Serenas stomach, she forced her backwards as a large shard of black metal landed, missing Serena, right between her legs.

Looking up, Serena almost fainted at the sight of the black metal object. Her face froze over in horror at the realisation of what could have happened to her had Dai not pulled her backwards.

"Serena are you okay?"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN AM I OKAY, I ALMOST GOT IMPALED BY A SWORD!!!"

"Almost but didn't!" smiling as she stood up. Dai offered her hand to her and pulled her to her feet.

They all turned to the strange metallic object that jutted up out of the ground, its energy glowing as a reflection of its power.

"Is that the sword you were on about?"

Dai nodded. "I saw it on day it split and have been waiting for the day to reawaken its power, now that day has come and its power will be used to put your worst nightmares about your worst enemies to rest for good!" stepping up to it. She ran her hand over its' hilt. "Hello friend!"

"Dai, is it you that reawakens me?"

"Yes my friend, along with Tranquillity here!" pointing in Serenas' direction.

The sword shook as it registered the others presence. "It is Tranquillity!"

Dai held her hand out to Serena. "Come and see what your oldest ancestor created with her own bare hands!"

Serena slowly stepped up to the sword, cautious at its size.

It was impressive to see close up!

A black metal blade, about the same in length as in Serenas' height, with a dark red handle and two hand-guards protruding either side of the point where the blade connected to the handle and a small black ball on the end with a diamond set into it.

"Serena, this is your sword, your blade, may I introduce you to…the Shadow Blade!"

"This is mine but how?"

"Before Child Universe, this universe as you know it, you ruled half of a universe, Mother Universe, by the name of Queen Tranquillity!"

"But I know nothing of this Tranquillity or Mother Universe!"

"Ah, then Uni recreated her mother as you but without the memories!"

Serena placed both of her hands on it. It felt like her sceptre. Only it wasn't! Her sceptre had become something more powerful, something she had no memory of or any knowledge of. But it clearly remembered her. Or least her original self, not her reborn self! "Would I be able to lift you out of the ground?"

"I'm afraid not, I have become to powerful for anyone but two people to lift!"

"Let me try?"

"You won't be able to!"

"What if all of us tried?"

"Maybe but I am positive that only two people can wield me now!"

Serena waved for the other senshi to come over. "Let's try and lift this sword together!"

"What for?"

"To see if can't be wielded!"

They shrugged and positioned themselves around the sword. Wrapping they're hands around the handle and the hand-guard, they prepared to lift it.

"On three!"

They nodded.

"One…Two…THREE!"

They strained and sweated. But the sword wouldn't budge.

Even when Dai, Kyoko, Bereos and Mamoru joined in, the sword wouldn't budge. Not even half an inch!

"I told you…"

"We don't give up that easily!" clenching one of her fists.

Ami staggered next to her and put a hand on Reis' shoulders. "But in this case…I'm willing to make an exception!" in between breathes.

"We all…should…for…the time…being!" sitting on the floor.

Serena glanced at the blade and blinked. What the…! Did I just see a ghost in the blades reflection or was it in the blade itself? She glanced around her. Nothing.

"We better head back, We're going to need our rest!"

"You'll also need me!"

Everyone looked up as Mei-Chun dropped from the trees' over head and landed gracefully, just as Actaen did on Serenas' first encounter against her.

"Who's' that?"

"My name is Mei-Chun…"

"You're the one who's with that Rarias!"

"Listen to me please!"

"Why should we?" Rei snapped at her.

"Because I'm the only one who can get you to Braxion, that's why!" snapping back.

Rei clenched both her fists in anger. How dare she! How dare she come before us expecting us to believe her!

"Rei!"

She looked at Haruka and Michiru, who gave her a stern and disapproving look.

"Let her speak before you go bashing her lights out!"

Rei loosened her grip and hung her head. "Fine!"

Dai nodded at Mei-Chun, who bowed to the senshi.

"You consider me to be your enemy when in fact I am your ally!"

Hotaru and Mina looked at each other in confusion.

"As you already know, Braxion has amassed an army designed to counter you senshi whether you are on your own or in your groups…"

"Like those who attacked us just now?"

"Yes, except as you wouldn't have noticed, Rarias and myself weren't here when it happened!"

"She…wasn't?"

"No, everyone of those people who attacked you just now have a spell on them, a spell that makes them dangerous and obey every one of Braxions orders!"

"But what makes you so different?"

"I can create illusions and make people hallucinate…"

"Like what you did to me and Serena?"

"Yes, but I am also immune to illusions and hallucinogens!"

"Hallucinogens?"

"Things that make you hallucinate!"

"So, because of your immunity, Braxions spell didn't affect you when he casted it upon you?"

"That's right!"

Serena looked at Ami who was deep in thought.

"But the spell affected Actaen?"

"Yes!"

"So you're hoping to break the spell?"

Mei-Chun nodded. "As soon as the spell breaks or begins to wear off, we can return home to reclaim our family throne!"

"Your both princess's?"

"That's right, I'm the brains and Actaen is the brawn!"

"Looks like she's borrowed some brains from somewhere!"

"What about Rarias?"

Mei-Chun knelt down on the floor and sighed. "She is innocent in all of this!"

"Huh?" puzzled "why is she innocent?"

"Rarias has no knowledge of her parents, no knowledge of what females her age do or know, she only knows how to survive!"

"She can morph into other people?"

"Yes but she doesn't need to kill them to be able to do it, she only has to taste their blood to gain a copy of their DNA!"

Rei looked at Serena and the others as she put a hand to her neck. She could feel it aching at the thought of having to battle herself. She then noticed Michiru doing the same thing.

"So she really is innocent in all of it!"

"I don't understand…"

Dai stepped forward. "Her father was a psychotic changeling and her mother was a ferral with a thirst for knowledge and blood…"

"A perfect killing machine…"

Serena and the others began to feel sorry for Rarias.

"…abandoned as soon as she was born…"

Hotaru felt bad for Rarias.

"…raised by wild animals…the only thing important to her is to survive!"

"And learn by doing so!"

"She knows so little compared to me or Actaen or you guys but has so much to learn that I fear she may not learn everything she needs to know before she is killed!"

"Why?"

"Why do you think she will die?"

Mei-Chun shook her head. "The spell is wearing off her too fast, her body has built an immunity to the spell and is breaking its' hold on her!"

"But why do you think she'll die?"

"I have become her friend and mother…"

"So her loyalty to you will lead to her protecting you?"

Mei-Chun nodded.

When she looked up, the others stared.

She was crying. But when her tears fell, they didn't splash! Instead, they thudded and bounced away.

Dai bent down and picked one of them up. She held it in the palm of her hand and studied it. "Glass!"

"What?"

"Mei-Chun cries glass tears!"

The senshi moved over to Dai to see the tear for themselves.

"With every tear I cry, I lose part of a nightmare, hopefully, one day, I'll cry for one last time and all my nightmares will be gone!"

"Wish I could cry glass tears!"

"Why's that Serena?"

"Because then I lose all those nightmares about Beryl and Rubeus and The Wiseman…"

"And Galaxia?"

"Especially her!"

"You can put your fears to rest with my help!"

Serena looked at the sword. "What do you mean?"

"I can take the soul and spirit of any being and it will remain trapped inside of me!"

"Huh?"

"As long as the soul and spirit of your enemies are free, they can be resurrected to unleash their revenge on whoever it was that defeated them originally!"

The senshis' faces turned to horror as the blade said this, the prospect of taking on their worst fears becoming true through the blades words.

"Unless I trap their souls and spirits, they will walk this Universe again…and Beryls' people are preparing to bring the Negaverse into this Universe!"

"But how?"

"That…you will discover for yourself Princess of the Moon!"

Rarias lied on her bed. The pain in her abdomen had become worse, resulting in feverish effect on the rest of her.

Liu dabbed a damp cloth on her forehead before turning to Braxion. "She is reacting to something, reacting very badly to whatever it is!"

Pyrite and the others who managed to escape had gathered in the doorway. They watched as her skin prickled and the colours of her skin flashed a lot faster than normal.

Pyrite did not reveal his dark smile. Some day, she will come to me, asking for my help! A pain shot across his back. He groaned in agony. During their battle against the senshi, he had been hit across the back by one of Litas' lightening bolts as he battled Mina, causing him to be spun in Reis' direction. She then hit him with two of her fire snipers, resulting in the third going astray and very closely hitting Dai in the back of the head.

Actaen had been watching him since that morning. From across the hall, she picked up his thoughts from the instant Rarias had stepped into the room. From then on she had secretly read his mind, silently sifting through his memory for something. What is it he smiles about deep down? There has to be something here he knows! She then found it! What on earth…? He slipped into bed with her and then he…!?!?! The fuckin' bastard!! I'll kill him for that!?!

Braxion turned to face them. "Leave, she needs rest!"

Actaen followed Pyrite out the door and towards the main hall. What she needs is someone is to go back in time and stop him from what he did to her! That or kill the bastard slowly, first by castrating him a tablespoon!!!

As soon she was in the hall, she grabbed Pyrite, slammed him against one of the stone pillars. She then turned him around and, grabbing the front of his hair, began smashing his face against the pillar. Once she finished, she threw across the room. There was an ear-splitting CRACK as he hit the stone flooring hard, forcing the ball of shoulder joint into the socket, splintering it! She walked over to him and, pulling her dagger out, grabbed is fringe again and placed the sharp double-edged blade against his throat. "She didn't do anything to you did she?"

"UUUNNGH, NO!"

"So why the FUCK did you rape her?"

"UUUUUUUUNNNGGGHHH, SHE FUCKIN' NEEDED TO LEARN TO GROW UP!!!"

"So let her grow up normally you FUCKIN' ASSHOLE!!" slamming his face against the floor.

Krilte and Sav'aana stared at the duo. "What's going on over there?"

"HEY"

Actaen glared at Krilte, her eyes glowing an eery-blood red coloration. "WHAT?"

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Teaching this MOTHER FUCKER a lesson in growing up!"

"Why?"

"Because HE RAPED RARIAS!!"

Krilte and Sav'aana stared at the bloody faced Pyrite as Actaen threw him to their feet.

Sin and Lin had stopped their musing when they heard what Actaen shouted and walked over to him.

Pyrite stared at the ring of five angry faces and knew he wasn't going to survive their anger.

Sin and Krilte picked him up off the floor and dragged him over to the two largest pillars in the room. Propping him up against one of them, they ripped some of the long silken fabric from around the room and tied it to his wrists and ankles. They then tied the other ends to the two large pillars, spreading his arms and legs apart.

Pyrite watched as Actaen handed Lin her other dagger before they began walking towards him, dagger in one hand each.

Actaen made the first strike, plunging her dagger into his right lung.

A mixture of dark blue and red blood spilled as she pulled the blooded dagger out.

Lin then took his turn, plunging his into Pyrites' pancreas.

For ten minutes, the pair punctured holes in him before making the final blows.

Placing her hands on either side of his head, Actaen performed a stand, twisted mid-air and landed behind him having snapped his neck.

Lin then cut his chest open, breaking the chest cavity. Then, he carefully cut Pyrites heart open into four parts as well as cutting his lungs open.

Standing before the slowly dying man, Lin and Actaen then scissor slashed him across the stomach, spilling his stomach, liver, pancreas and small intestines on the floor.

When Braxion walked in to find out what his people were up to, he looked at the surgically killed body of Pyrite. "WHO DID THIS?"

Actaen, Krilte, Sin and Lin stepped out from behind the body. "We did!"

"WHY?"

"Because he was the one who put Rarias in that feverish state!"

"HOW?"

"He raped her!"

Braxion stared angrily at the dead corpse that hung before him.

Actaen stepped up to Braxion and, reaching into her pocket, pulled out a small box covered in dark purple silk and velvet. She presented it to him. "We saved these from him before he completely died!"

Braxion took the little box and opened it.

Inside was Pyrites eyes and tongue.

He closed it and placed it in his pocket. "I'll use this as a warning to the next bunch of male recruits!"

"Might as well take a picture of the body, that will really get the idea out of their skulls!"

"So exactly how do we access the fortress?"

"Since the fortress is actually suspended in space, Haruka will have to combine her powers with Dai to be able to float you guys over to it, the southern wing is abandoned and unguarded so you can get in that way!"

"What about your sister and the other enemies?"

"With Kyokos' help, I should be able to remove the spell from my sisters body and mind!"

"The other enemies may run when outnumbered, otherwise, they should be easy to take down!"

Dai clenched her glove hand. "Me and Serena will need to do something if we're to defeat Braxion!"

Kyokos' wrist clicked as she fitted the shield to her arm. "Whatever you need to do, you'll have to wait until we get there first!"

"Well, what are we waiting for?"

"Yeah lets get going!"

Rarias sneaked along the corridor, trying to avoid being caught. When she reached Mei-Chuns room, she stopped and looked at the letter she had found written by Mei-Chun. Stupid! Stupid woman! She'll be killed if Barxion finds out about this! She opened the door and stepped inside. Once inside, she barricaded the door and went and sat on the bed, waiting for someone to come and try and get her. I'll take this secret to my grave if my must! eating the letter so there was evidence of Mei-Chuns' betrayal.

"Now where?" staring down the many corridors.

Mei-Chun glanced around before selecting a corridor. "This way" moving ahead of the group.

"Are you sure this is the correct way?" following her.

"I'm just going on a guess!"

"What good is that?"

"It's good because then it means that it's harder for Actaen and the others to find us!"

"We'll lose them by getting ourselves lost!"

"That's the general idea so keep up!"

Braxion yelled. "THE SENSHI ARE HERE IN THE FORTRESS!!!"

Actaen, Krilte, Sin and Lin cowered before him.

"WHERE'S MEI-CHUN AND RARIAS?"

"We…we don't know sir!"

"FIND THEM, BRING THEM TO ME!!!"

Actaen, Krilte, Sin and Lin ran out of the main hall and split up to find the two female supposed-to-be members of their force.

Reaching the door to Mei-Chuns room, they tried to open the door. But it wouldn't budge.

"OPEN THIS DOOR!" banging his fist on it.

"NO, I WON'T LET YOU TAKE ME EASILY!!!"

"ARE YOU THE ONE WHO BETRAYED US?"

Rarias reflected on everything she had done or said to Mei-Chun. She had become a real friend to her and she wasn't about to let her friend die unless she fought to protect to her. Harukas' words from her first encounter made her realise just how much she valued that friendship. Just as she was about to try and escape, the door was shattered into splinters by Actaens Dark Rage. She was dragged from the room and taken down the corridor, back to the main hall.

"RARIAS?"

Mei-Chun rushed over to the broken door and peered inside.

"What is it?"

"She's gone!"

"What do you mean `gone'?"

"I left her a letter telling her to barricade herself in my room until I arrived!"

"Then they must have found her and taken her away!"

"I pray she destroyed the letter!" She began walking down the corridor leading towards the main hall.

Dai stopped Serena by placing a hand on her shoulder. "It's time!"

Serena looked at her. "Time?" giving her a confused look "Time for what?"

"Time to wield the Shadow Blade!"

Serena looked at her with a puzzled expression on her face.

"Remember the crest?"

"Yes!"

"What happens when the moon crosses in front of the sun?"

"An eclipse occurs!"

Dai nodded as she looked deep into Serenas' eyes. "Are you willing to cause an eclipse within these walls?"

"You mean…"

"Are you prepared to merge with me?"

Mei-Chun stopped and turned to see why the others weren't following her.

"Follow everything I do!"

Serena nodded.

Dai, holding up her sceptre, created a circle before holding her right hand out in front of her. Streaks of light emanated from her fingers. They spreaded out and formed elongated triangles around the edge of the circle.

Serena copied Dais' circle, minus the triangles.

"Copy everything I say!"

Serena nodded again.

"You, the moon, are my brother…"

"I, the moon, am your brother…"

"When you are hit, I bruise…"

"When I am hit, you bruise…"

"When you cry, I bleed…"

"When I cry, you bleed…"

"Our power combined…"

"Our power combined…"

"Can only be rivalled…"

"Can only be rivalled…"

"By the explosion of a Super Nova…"

"By the explosion of a Super Nova…"

"We are…"

"We are…"

"ECLIPSE!" at the same time together.

The circles darkened with a small ball of light emitting from one side.

Black and gold streaks entwined themselves around the pair, merging them into one body and one mind. A short sleeved black top with a gold and black striped V-shaped collar covered the upper torso. Black with a single gold line running up the side of the trousers adorned the legs, tight fitting for extra moveability. Black and gold boots and gloves finished the costume off. A golden tiara with a black pearl encrusted into it finished off the entire. Even the pearl was encrusted with a diamond!

When the new figure stood upright and opened her eyes, everyone stared.

The top half of the eye colour was gold while the bottom half was silver!

"This is so strange!"

"Serena?"

The figure smiled. "I am Serena and Dai!"

"This is getting nuts!"

"Confused?" still smiling "I don't blame you!" Reaching behind her, the figure pulled out the Shadow Blade. She lifted it clear off the floor and swung it around for a bit.

"This is definently nuts!"

"How on earth…"

The figure stopped. "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Eclipse, Omega Sailor Eclipse!"

"OMEGA?"

"That's right and if I remember correctly, we're suppose to be looking for someone!" stepping up to Mei-Chun "Lead on!"

Rarias yelled as Braxion threw her against a wall, face first.

"TELL ME NOW!"

"I…I…won't!" struggling to stand up. She slowly climbed to her feet. Her face was cut all over and, as a result, bloody. Her body was taken some minor damage in terms of bruising.

Braxions eyes glared madly as three large spinning discs appeared and shot towards Rarias, creating sparks as they cut along the floor.

Jumping to avoid them, Rarias cleared the first two but, with Braxion controlling them, was hit by the third one. It cut clean through her right foot.

Rarias roared in pain as she landed on all fours.

Blood flowed from her wound as she crawled along the floor.

The whirring sound of the discs grew louder as they sped towards her.

With the pain becoming unbearable, Rarias collapsed on her side, skimmed by the discs as they shot past.

They turned around, preparing for another strike.

Mustering the last of her depleting strength, Rarias limped as fast as she could towards one of the pillars, the discs closing in on her. Dodging behind one of the pillars, she watched as the discs destroyed themselves by shattering on the wall she faced.

"YOU CAN'T HIDE FROM ME RARIAS!!!" walking down the stairs.

Rarias glanced around, the last of her strength disappearing quickly. I…I…must…escape…and…find…Mei̷ 0;-Chun! Mustering her remaining reserves of strength, intellect and energy, she made a sprinting limp towards the nearest door. Once outside, she limped all the way the corridors, turning left and right in a bid to lose Braxion. After several minutes, she stopped and leaned against a wall. Her skin was turning pale very quickly, dangerously quickly. Unable to support herself anymore, she collapsed onto the floor. Blood was still flowing from her amputated leg wound. But because she couldn't reach that far, she couldn't heal it. Is…this…what…my…dream…was…trying& #8230;to…warn…me…about? She closed her eyes as she felt all the energy in her body leave her.

Sin, Lin and Krilte lay face down, lifeless from their battle against Eclipse, as Kyoko and Mei-Chun worked to remove the spell from Actaen and Sav'aana.

When it was broken, the pair stared at those around them.

"Where are we?"

"Actaen!"

Actaen looked at her sister and smiled. "Mei-Chun!" She embraced her lost sister in a warm and heart-wrenching hug.

Mei-Chun cried with joy at the sight of having her sister back.

"Excuse me, can some one tell me what's going?"

"You can go home now Sav'aana!"

"Home, I would like to know where I am first of all!"

"Far from home but we can help you get there!"

"What happened any way and what is this place?"

"Look" Haruka said calmly "we're trying to defeat someone who put a spell on you!"

"And the sooner we catch up with him, the sooner we can defeat him!" exclaimed Mina.

"Well, I may be able to provide some back-up, you see, I'm a Waertaerinian!"

"A what-what?"

"Waertaerinian, we're were-cats who, when we take on human forms, can be male or female or a combination of both!"

"Were-cat?"

"A bit like your Earthen Werewolves, except ours are cats!"

"And I can provide psychic shielding, protecting you from mental attacks!"

"Well we better get going then!" walking ahead. Eclipse began walking down the corridor. The others looked at one another before running after her to catch up.

Rarias opened her eyes weakly as she heard voices approaching. Female voices. She went to try and move but couldn't even lift her head. "Help!" softly she spoke.

"Did you just hear something?"

"Help…me!" softly again.

"It's coming from around the corner!"

The was a rush of feet as the senshi, Mei-Chun, Actaen, Sav'aana, Kyoko and Bereos appeared from around the corner.

"Rarias!" Mei-Chun fell down by her side as everyone else formed a ring around her.

Actaen and Sav'aana scouted on ahead as Eclipse splitted back into Serena and Dai.

"What happened?"

"I…I…kept…your…betrayal…secret! "

"But why?"

"For a while, I couldn't understand what was wrong with me but now I understand, thanks to Rei and Michiru!"

"You're too weak, rest, don't speak!"

"It's too late for me…" She took a deep breath.

"What do you mean it's too late, you'll be alright, Kyoko and Dai are here!" She looked at Kyoko, who had began examining the wound.

Kyoko shook her head as she stood up. "I'm sorry…"

"Listen to me carefully!"

Mei-Chun looked at her face, tears threatening.

"All my life, I never had someone who cared about me or loved me or looked out for me…until I met you!"

The senshi began to feel sad again, taking refuge on each other's shoulders. Even Kyoko had tears beginning to fall.

"Everything I never had when I was younger you have taught me about!"

"The Phoenix?"

"And the soda!" smiling weakly.

Tears rolled down Mei-Chuns cheeks.

"There is one thing I won't know about now that I'm going to die!"

"And what is that?"

"What it's like to be a mother, to have children of my own!" The light in her eyes began to fade. Weakly, she lifted a hand to Mei-Chuns cheek and caught the tear. "Goodbye Mei-Chun and…I love you!" Her hand fell to the ground, the tear trapped within her iron-clenched fist. The light disappeared.

Rarias was dead.

Tears shattered on the stone floor as Mei-Chun wept.

Every one of the senshi were crying as well!

"She really was an innocent girl in all of this!"

"She didn't deserve this kind of fate!"

"She won't able to fulfil her last wish!"

"To be a mother?"

Hotaru nodded. Her cheeks were red from crying.

Bereos walked over to Mei-Chun. "If you want, the council could arrange a ceremonial passing for her so she can remain at rest!"

"She didn't deserve this Bereos!"

"People can be cruel when controlled by dark forces!"

Dai looked up as Actaen and Sav'aana returned.

At the sight of Rarias's lifeless body and everyone in tears, they went and stood by Mei-Chun.

Actaen pulled one her pride rings off her rings and placed it in Rarias's lap. "We are proud to call you our friend and so remember us by taking this ring with you!"

Sav'aana pulled a long piece of armoured velvet off his arm and, wrapping it around Rarias's left wrist, tied it down. "A good noble warrior born from bad blooded parents!"

Serena was quietly thinking to her self when the Shadow Blade spoke to her.

"Braxion will do the same again if we let him escape!"

"You're right!"

Serena faced the others. "We need to get going or Braxion will get away!"

"He did this to Rarias so we might as well kill him for her!"

"Then lets go!" Serena sprinted ahead of everyone.

"SERENA!" Dai chased after her, the others lagging behind.

Serena and Dai reached the main hall having accidentally lost the other senshi.

"WHY THE HELL DID YOU RUN AHEAD?"

"SO WE COULD CATCH UP WITH HIM FASTER!"

"That kind of stupidity could cost you your life you do know?" crossing her arms in anger. Her eyes were glowing bright green, frightening Serena quite a bit.

Suddenly, their crests began glowing madly.

"Dai Hoshi, what a pleasant surprise!" Braxion stepped out of the shadows and began walking towards them.

"STAY RIGHT THERE!"

A blast of extremely hot air sent Braxion flying backwards into a pillar.

Dai pulled out her sceptre and held it like it was a sword.

A blade shot out of the sun symbol. Double edged. Long and sharp.

She charged over to him and, raising the sword above her head, went to strike him with it.

But he rolled out of the way and, grabbing her ankle, pulled her to the floor. Casting the sceptre over to the low set of stairs, Braxion pinned Dai to the floor before he went to strike her with his fist.

Serena hurled herself at him, knocking him off of Dai and onto the floor. She then retreated a few paces as Dai and Braxion stood up.

"You shouldn't have done that Moon Princess, now I'll have to kill you!"

He held his hands above his head and began summoning a large ball of energy. Purple lightening flashed inside it as darkish blue clouds swirled.

"A VORTEX BOLT!"

Braxion fired it, aiming it straight at Serena!

"NO!" Dai leapt in front of Serena as the ball hurled towards her.

Serena screamed it terror as the ball struck Dai.

For several minutes, she watched as Dai was electrocuted before her body was dropped to the floor.

There Dai lied, clutching her sides in agony. She opened one eye and looked at Serena. "Get…out…go!"

Before Serena could even do anything, Dai screamed as a pair of black and red demonic wings tore out of her back.

Demon claws replaced her hands as a long, whip-like tail grew from her spine. Her teeth grew bigger and became more fang-like.

"gO…BeFoRe…I…KiLl…you!"

Serena was by now too terrified leave. She fell to her knees and began to cry again.

Kyoko and the other senshi turned up in time to see the demon that had been born from Dais' body, blood and pulp being the only remains of Dai now.

"Serena!" running over to her "are you okay, where's Dai?"

"She took a bolt meant for me…she…she…" She broke down.

Braxion, during the transformation, had sneaked out of the way and escaped.

"Serena, where's my mother?"

Serena pointed at the demon that was looking at them with hunger in it's tiny, black eyes. "She turned into that thing after taking a bolt meant for me!"

Kyoko stared at the creature, then turned to the others. "GET OUT OF HERE NOW!?!"

"Why?"

"Because that demon eats guys and girls like you!"

"Eats guys and girls like us?"

"It eats senshi!"

"You're telling us to leave?"

"Yes, now do it!"

"What about you?"

Kyoko began walking towards it. "I'm going to take care of it myself!"

But she didn't get very far before it lashed out at her, cutting her across the forehead. Grabbing her by the shoulder, it slammed her down on the stairs backwards before trying to slash her open.

But she managed to roll forwards, resulting in her clothes being ripped.

But the demon kept up with her speed and, wrapping it's tail around one of her ankles, tossed her to the ground, resulting her being knocked out after smacking her head on the stone floor.

The demon roared when she didn't get up, believing she was unable to help the others. It began walking towards the senshi, tongue flicking.

"Serena!"

She sat silent.

"SERENA!"

Silent still.

"SERENA, WE NEED YOU!"

She looked up at them. What can I do?"

"You can try fighting that thing along side us!"

"But that thing defeated Kyoko easily!"

"And?"

"And it'll eat us if we lose to it!"

"Well, there is that to think about!"

"Well I'm not planning on being an easy meal!"

"How shall we do this?"

Serena spotted the sceptre, which was behind the demon. "I need Dais' sceptre!"

"What for?"

Serena looked at them before facing the demon.

"She isn't…"

"She is!"

"Lita, Rei, we'll get the sceptre, everyone else, keep that thing occupied!" running out in front.

Lita and Rei followed Haruka while the others began hitting the demon with their attacks.

Jumping up onto its shoulders, they began running down its back before jumping to the ground. Haruka snatched up the sceptre.

"Rei, you take the left, Lita, you take the right!" indicating where she wanted them "I'll take the middle!"

"Why?"

"We're gonna play some American Football!"

Rei and Lita nodded.

"LETS PLAY BALL!" running towards the demons legs.

Rei and Lita ran parallel to Haruka, watching her in case she passed the sceptre to one of them.

The demon spotted Haruka running out from underneath and went to grab her.

"HARUKA!"

She looked behind her as the claw crashed to the floor before tossing it to Lita. Haruka leapt clear of the flying debris. But then she stopped with a jerk and found herself watching Lita and Rei continuing, running parallel to one another.

The demons face appeared in front of her as it sniffed her face. It then sneezed.

"Gross, demon bogeys!" pulling the orange sticky substance from her face and shoulders.

"SILENT GLAIVE!"

The blow caused the demon to let go of Haruka and attempted to catch Hotaru, who kept playing hide and seek between the pillars.

"HARUKA!"

A dark shadow shot out from behind the group, catching Haruka mid-air and took her high out of the demons reach by placing her on a stone beam supporting the ceiling. The shadow then zipped down to where Hotaru had her back pressed against a pillar, picked her up and took her back to the group.

Rei and Lita has managed to get back to the group by now and had given Serena the sceptre.

Holding her sceptre in one hand and Dais' in the other, she performed the same technique to gain the Shadow Blade. With it, she will be able to defeat the demon.

"You summon me for battle yet you are unable to wield me!"

"Dai is dead!"

"Not quite, her soul and spirit are trapped inside that demon!"

"How can I become Eclipse if her soul and spirit are trapped inside that thing?"

"You will need to think like Dai, think like Dai in time to your thoughts and you can become Eclipse that way but it is difficult to do!"

Serena glared at the creature and began to think like Dai. Strength. Pride. Will of steel. Quick thinking. Serena closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, she had become Eclipse and was holding the Shadow Blade in her hands.

She began charging towards the demon who had managed to grab one of the others.

"PUT THEM DOWN NOW!" jumping up to head height with the demon.

SLASH!

She cut across the chest.

SQUELCH!

She stuck the Blade into its heart.

SLASH!

It's head crashed to the floor before its body did.

Eclipse landed on two feet, the Shadow Blade held low to one side in both hands.

Setsuna struggled to try and free herself from its clenched claws. "CAN I HAVE SOME HELP HERE PLEASE?"

Eclipse walked over and hacked its claws to pieces, not hitting Setsuna at all. "There you go, you're free now!"

"THERE WAS NO NEED TO HACK ME OUT OF THERE!"

Mei-Chun bowed. "It was nice to know you all!"

"Anytime, and thank you for helping us!"

"I got my sister back, that's all that matters to me except for going home!"

Serena smiled. "That's okay and if you're ever in our system, don't hesitate to stop by and say hello!"

"I'll bear that in mind!" smiling back.

Actaen stood next to Bereos as he prepared to transport them home.

"Oh, wait, I forgot to give you guys these!" handing them each a small scroll tied neatly a silk ribbon in the colours of their senshi uniform.

"What are they?" opening them.

"They're invitations!"

"To what?"

"My wedding!"

The senshi looked at her. "You're getting married?"

"Yes, to my fiancé Avalone, oh well, I better go!"

"See you soon Mei-Chun, Actaen!"

Actaen smiled at them as she saluted them the American way.

The senshi saluted her back.

When the trio disappeared, the senshi walked back inside Harukas' home.

"Who would of guessed that we would get invited to a wedding?"

"Shame Dai won't be able to go!"

Serena giggled. "I wouldn't be too sure about that!"

"What do you mean?"

"Follow me!" walking into the living room.

The Shadow Blade floated there above the table, acknowledging their entrance with a warm glow. "What do you ask of me Moon Princess Serenity?"

"An audience with Dai!"

"Ah yes, she has been waiting for you!" The Shadow Blade began to gently glow as a holographic image appeared before them.

"I have been waiting to see you girls again!"

"But how…"

"Remember, the Shadow Blade captures the souls and spirits of those it strikes, my soul and spirit was trapped inside that demon that Serena defeated!"

"So now your trapped inside the Shadow Blade?"

"I'm afraid so but at least through the Shadow Blade I can offer you advise and tips on battling enemies more effectively and using less energy!"

The senshi smiled at her. "So you can come to Mei-Chuns' wedding with us?"

"Yes but I'll be wearing the Shadow Blade!"

They all laughed, even the Shadow Blade itself laughed!

The End……….for now!