Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The New Queen- Part One Princess ❯ The Dark Moon Family ( Chapter 2 )

 

Hello. This is short, but then it's also introduction into next part of this fic. Yah!

Yes, kids, this fic will continue and we are going into the Dark Moon Series. Now I am not a fan of the anime and I have a list of reasons as to why but my number three major complaint on said list is the break up of Usagi and Mamoru. Now if you like the break up, this is not the fic for you. If you like Diamond or any other members of the Dark Moon family please remember that I like the manga. If you are a fan of Wicked Lady, she will not be making an appearance (and this is where I deviate from the manga.)

 

NO FLAMES. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THIS THEN DON'T READ IT.

 

I don't own Sailor Moon; I'm just a fan.

 

Sean

 

 

 

Part II

 

The Dark Moon Family

 

 

 

 

One

 

 

After three weeks the biggest news in the country still and internationally, was the gigantic blob that had attacked the suburb of Juuban, the city of Tokyo, and the strange phenomena that over took the moon that same night. Scientist and other experts were at a lost when they tried to explain the events of that night. Three satellites were destroyed while in orbit over the Japanese islands; therefore all recorded data of the attack had been lost. Yet what had survived was the image of the Sailor Girls being killed after they attacked and failed to destroy the blob. An idiot with a video camera had caught the entire even the explosion that “killed” the young warriors.

More so, a vast majority of populace remembered either dying or watching other people die throughout the city. There were no explanations for what had happened that night, modern medicine was a lost for what had occurred and science was baffled as more people came forward claiming to have died during the destruction. With no logical answers for the how or the why, the people decided to think of it as a miracle, a final act from the Sailor Girls and their compatriots. However, the nation just could not caulk this up to mystical powers and science demanded some sort of answers, because Tokyo and Japan had not been the only countries to have been affected by what had happened.

Places in as far away as the Americas and the Poles reported seeing bright lights and other strange phenomena and the moon was still behaving strangely. The day after the attack was a hard one. Just as the nation and the city was turning to their morning news shows or picking up the paper they realized it had not been a nightmare. Officials had rushed about Tokyo looking for evidence of the attack and destruction, but came up empty with physical evidence. All that remained was now prized “Sailor Girl” video.

The Minister of the Interior set up a taskforce to investigate the events of August 3 while the Prime Minister of declared that the nation of Japan was in official mourning for the rest of the month. It was their way of honoring the brave Sailor Girls and remembering their sacrifice to defend to Japan. Someone even suggested that a memorial be built. Usagi and her friends had a good laugh over that while Darien and his guardians scowled and complained. They had fought Beryl and her pet demons, too. Didn't they deserve some recognition, David had argued before they all left for their various vacation spots.

After a month's separation, everyone was glad to be back and all had something to share. While in Hawaii with her father and his new wife, Rei had a meeting with the Mars High Chancellor. After meeting with him, she was given a letter from her brother, King Ares IV. He missed his sister and elated that she had returned. He also understood if she chose to remain on Terra with their Queen, it was her duty and he would respect that. He sent her his love and miniature of them in a ruby locket that she now always wore.

Ami's meeting was not so heartfelt. She had been the only child of Queen Metis Athena and Prince Thoth thus she was the sole heir of Mercury. During Ami's death her late mother's advisors had ruled the planet as regents and they were now ready to return the crown to its rightful bearer. Ami faced a true dilemma, she was needed here on Terra to stand beside their Queen and at the same time she had to think about her own world and her people. She asked the Royal Council to wait, to give her time to confer with Queen Serenity before she made her decision. The Ministers agreed and promised they would return in three months to escort her home.

Mina, like Ami had been her mother's only child and heir; yet unlike Ami, Mina had a cousin who had been sitting on her throne and was a pretender to her power. Mina had to go to Venus; she was left with no choice. She left only after giving command to Lita and Hotaru, she said she would be back in a few months; she had to get her planet under control.

Lita received her own council members within days after Beryl's attack. In her former life, Lita or Frigga had been born on her throne. Her father, King Thor II had died two months before her birth thus leaving her mother, Queen Sif as Regent of Jupiter. Queen Serenity supported her cousin and protected both mother and child long after Frigga became a Senshi. To honor her cousin and former Queen, Sif returned the favor by ruling the Universe as regent as well as Jupiter as both awaited the return of both their rulers. Lita received a warm, loving letter from her mother, who impatiently awaited the day they were reunited.

Hotaru's visit was very different. She was a Goddess of Death and the Goddess Destruction and was the youngest daughter of the Gods of Death. With the vast empire of the Underworld to command, Saturn was just a small province that required almost none of Thanatos' attention. Her parents appeared to her in her home, their conversation was brief with little emotional exchange that left Hotaru feeling cold. But her eldest sister Ereshkigal was more affectionate in their reunion. Ereshkigal had been watching over her little sister's world as well as Hotaru's domain in their father's realm, which worried the young Queen since her sister was always at war with some other relative or another. Ereshkigal claimed that she was offended, but quickly shrugged off her hurt to inquire about her sister's love affairs, she was very interested in meeting Sam. Hotaru just rolled her eyes and turned away. Two things one could always count on when it came to Gods: They were either trying to kill each other or pry into one's personal life.

Usagi was very busy herself. Before Mina left for Venus, Usa had to meet with the dignitaries from Pluto, Uranus, and Neptune. The Uranians showed up while she was in school and it took a lot of fast-talking to get them to wait for her at her home. Once they gone, she called Mina and Hotaru asking them to meet her at her house as soon as they last classes were over.

Darien had come with his sister, it was his planet, and it would have only been courteous of him to welcome them. Usagi had to give her parents credit just for how they were handling the situation. Here they were, two average terrans (they were getting used to word, but some times, there were slip ups.) whose niece was the Queen of Jupiter and their only daughter was not just the Queen of the Moon, she was also the ruler of the entire Universe. (They just did not want to think about her engagement to Darien, that was another headache altogether.)

When Usagi came home, she found the Uranuian Ambassador and his underlings seated in her mother's living room having of all things tea while politely inquiring the Senshi's battle with Beryl and demon. The Ambassador rose immediately when he saw Usagi standing in the entryway, and then the seven Uranuians genuflected before the High Queen of the Solar System; Usagi hid her annoyance with the formality as she waved them up. She was a bit peeved to have noted that her Senshi and fiancé had also bowed as she entered, but she chose not to mention it.

With the Uranuian Crown Princess MIA, the Royal Ambassador then asked Darien if he could remain on the planet to help with the search of the Princess Theia.

The Neptunian and Plutonian Ambassadors wanted the same things, but they chose to remain on at the Lunar Palace.

After Mina left, the high schools had their breaks. Usagi and her mother went to New York to visit with the Rensselaer matriarch. Darien went off to Europe to visit his relatives, David chose to tag along, and they made plans to meet up with Frankie and others at his family's villa on the Spanish Riviera.

Sam opted out of the guys vacation to spend go to Tahiti with Hotaru and Lita. The month that should have gone by quietly was interrupted when an evil tree touched down in Barcelona. Neither the thing nor the two aliens living on it had time to set in roots before Darien and his generals eradicated it three days after it touched down and had a merry bon fire on the beach to celebrate.

After that, there was no excitement after that. Everyone came home, happy to see each other and just happy to be home. School started, everyone rushed about to get the classes they wanted, books, and in Usa's case, she had to take physics and statistics. Both Darien and Ami offered to tutor her as she moaned and sobbed over her pitiful fate. She stopped when a pained looked crossed Ami's face, reminding both girls of Ami's impending departure which had the Moon Queen sobbing again, this time over losing Ami. It took her almost a week to calm down, but when she did, Usagi via Luna sent an injunction to the Mercurian government informing them that she needed Queen Sophia with her as she began to establish her own government. The same went to Venus as Usagi refused to recognize anyone other than Freya as the ruler of that planet. If the insurgents, a.k.a. the current Venusian government under Lord Tammuz rule, persisted in denying Freya her throne, Silver Millennium was prepared to intercede and restore Freya's kingdom to her by force. Diplomatic and school duties aside, Usa's year seemed to looking up for the moment.

Ami's sixteenth birthday came and went without a major catastrophe, if you could ignore Frankie and Yuuichirou all out brawl throughout the Hiwaka Jinja courtyard. It had been a quiet celebration at the Hiwaka Jinja that had been planned by Ilene and Ami's mother; Rei's grandfather graciously opened up the temple for the event, saying that they were all family now. The only problems came during the clean up. Frankie was working off a new debt at the temple, not that he was fooling anyone, and Yuuichirou was still there. The older novice had had his eye on Rei for little over a year now and her father had been encouraging the young man in his pursuit of Rei. Unfortunately for Yuuichirou, Rei has never shown any interest in him or anyone for that matter, still, the man held out, thinking that one-day Rei would give in and accept his suit. And before she had met Usagi and Ami, Rei had been thinking about it. Even though she did not want to be married, least of all to a guy eight years her senior, she kept a slightly open mind to that possibility. It was all her father could ask for at the time. Yuuichirou came from a very prominent family in the Kobe region. While they were no Chibas (and very few were), the Isodas were a traditional and wealthy family, which was fine and dandy until Frankie expressed his interest in Rei. And now the girl had two suitors fighting (literally) for her hand. Her father was very happy.

By September Rei was sick of both of them. Since becoming a Senshi and then learning that she was the Princess of Mars and she had a brother, the last thing on the young miko's mind were men. She had told family that she was putting aside the issue of marriage until after she met her brother and Usa's coronation and subsequent marriage to Darien. That was all she could handle at present and luckily her family respected her decision. Frankie, of course, declared himself the winner of Rei's affection while Yuuichirou vowed to continue with his suit. This led to a great deal of fighting, insults, and just out and out stupid, childish behaviour.

There was a new bet going in the guys house, this time it was how soon was Frankie going to kill Yuuichirou. All Frankie's friends were behind him, Darien and Usagi said that Yuuichirou crept them out and Ami just thought he was a disgusting pervert (not that she would actually say that in public. Wink, wink.) Yet on her birthday, Ami did not mince words every time the lech (Yuuichirou) would try to slide up to Rei.

To Rei's horror and embarrassment, Round 76 took place in her grandfather's vegetable garden and it ended at the base of the main stairs. Frankie walked away a few cuts and scraps, but Yuuichirou was not coming back at all.

With his main competition gone, Frankie now turned his attention on wooing the delicate Japanese rose he adored. Before leaving the temple that evening, Mina handed Rei a full can of pepper spray and told her to be on her guard when the Menace was about.

Speaking of Mina. Now that she had her throne back and was returned to her Queen's side, Mina felt it was time that she located her missing Senshi. But first, she and Darien had to deal with the problem of Dave.

Darien knew his sister loved him and that she would do anything for him, except share his affections with anyone other than their father, Usa (whom they both adored, but in different ways), and his some of his friends and a couple of his relatives (the ones he liked and Mina could just tolerate.) Dave was not one of these people. The only reason Darien was still living in the same house as his friends was because Mina knew and liked Sam and Drew. Eiji, she didn't much care for, but the other guys worried her sick. She shared her feelings with their father, who was even more reluctant to allow his son to move in with seven other older college age guys, and then Artemis Aino met Sam, Andrew, and David, the three eldest members of the house. The guys managed to impress Artemis, and that was saying a lot. Artemis found each young man to be responsible, each was serious about their educations and they all genuinely liked Darien, and after the background check cleared, Artemis gave his consent over Mina's protest.

From that moment on Mina resolved to ruin David's life.

Why David? She felt he, more than anyone else in that little fraternity house, was trying to steal her brother from her. When Darien would come home or join she and their father for brunch, it was always “Dave did this—“ or “Dave says that—“ Jealousy ate Mina, relentlessly as Darien found a new hero for his life. When she found out that she couldn't ruin him, Mina began to shun him. That went well especially when the Kous showed up, it was like double whammy of social destruction until that sissy Seiya actually took the time to get to know David and the rest of the silly nincompoops and now they were all the best of friends.

But now, he was Darien's cousin. His cousin from his last life who had been more of a sibling to Endymion than distant family member and the two had been very close, just as Darien and Mina now were. It was going to take some time, this she knew yet in spite her mistrust of David, Mina resolved to get along with the guy, who affectionately referred to Darien as little brother. (She was going to break David of that habit.)

In the spirit of the Senshi and Generals now accepting each other, Usagi decided that she wanted to have a barbeque. Everyone was up for it, except Lita who refused to cook. With a malicious grin and evil glint in her silver eyes, Usagi announced that she would cook. All of the guys fell to their knees before Lita, begging the culinary goddess to come to their aid and save their stomachs, yet Lita (the cruel she-devil) refused to relent. Neither Ami nor Rei saw what the problem was, they all cooked when they stayed over at the Tsukinos. Even Molly was perplexed by their strange behaviour. But to appease everyone, the other three girls offered to assist Usagi. The barbeque was planned for the weekend after Ami's birthday, since Trista would be back in town and Eiji would be back from visiting his sister in Hong Kong. (She was playing her farewell concert tour which was to end in Tokyo in mid October. Mina already had her tickets.)

That Friday after school, the four girls showed up at the guys house, each still in her school uniform and carrying a school bag. Usa went straight up to Darien's room for his car keys and the credit card he was letting her use while the other girls sat around in the living room. Ami and Molly turned on the television to catch the end of their favorite anime (Usagi and Frankie had corrupted the genius' mind.) while Rei went to call her new friends in her school's festival committee.

Usagi and Molly were really excited about the First Street Girls' Academy/Azabu Prep. Academy festival and the excitement had spread to the other Senshi as well. Rei got off the phone just as Usa was coming back; Rei had to be back at school by five-thirty, so Usa had to give her a ride. That was fine by her friend, but she wouldn't be able to pick Rei up because her parents would go into conniptions if they found out she was driving Darien's car without a license.

At that moment, David came through the front door. He stopped, looked at each of them, and then stepped out to check the house number before he came back in.

“We should be charging you girls rent.” He muttered as he stalked through the living room on his way towards the kitchen.

“Oh, God, what got your panties in bunch?” Usagi scowled after him.

“My girlfriend just dumped me.” He called back.

“Mina told you she was no good as soon as she saw the freak.” She hollered.

“Yeah, I wonder what makes her such an authority on love anyway considering she can't hook up with anyone.” He said sarcastically as he came back with unopened bottled of apple juice.

“She is granddaughter of Aphrodite and her mother was Inanna and Min herself is a goddess of love.” Ami told him with a shrug.

“How about the Goddess of Psychosis,” He snorted.

“Yeah, yeah, you men are all the same.” Usa grabbed him by the arm and started pulling him towards the door. “You say you don't need a woman, but you always cry when you don't have one.”

“Hey,” he cried as the little ball of energy started dragging him towards the front door. “What are you doing?”

“Rei needs to be dropped off at school in two hours and then she's going to need a ride.” Usagi said matter-of-factly.

“I'm not a taxi.”

“Oh, just shut up.” She shoved Darien's keys into his hands as Molly opened the front door. “You're going to help us shop for the stuff for my barbeque and you are going to forget about that tramp that was all over my man.” She ordered, “Do I make myself clear, Dave.”

Dave didn't know wither to laugh or what. “You know Beryl's been dead for two months.”

“Don't be a smart ass,” she warned him. “Just get in the car and chauffer us about.”

“That's not in my job description, your Majesty.”

“It is now.” Ami told him. “Obey the Queen or you might get hurt.”

 

 

It did hurt. David lay on the middle of the parking lot outside of the super market, staring up at the sky. Or he thought it was the sky.

The sky blinked. Cotton candy pink clouds danced before his eyes…Wait a second, since when could the sky blink.

As he began to puzzle this mystery out, Dave heard his name and then something was removed from his chest. He moved to sit up, Ami and Molly were at his side, trying (on Molly's part) to lift him up. Ami easily had him on his feet and set to right immediately. He had forgotten how strong the Senshi were beneath their Terran facades. Dave looked to where Usa and Rei stood beside the filled grocery cart and he did a double take.

“That kid—“ Quickly, Dave looked up at the sky, half afraid that something else might fall and flatten him again.

“We have to get her out of here.” He heard Rei saying. Usagi was nodding her ascent. “Usa—“

“Let's get everything and David in the car.” Usa then directed her attention to Molly and she gestured for the girl to come over. Usagi handed the little girl over to her best friend and hurriedly led them to the car, putting both in the backseat. “Molly, get my phone and call Mina. She's in my phone book. Tell her I'm going home right now and she and Hotaru need to be there before I am.”

“But Usa—“ Molly started to protest.

“I don't have time to argue,” Usa almost snapped her head off. Abashed, Usa looked away. She had no reason to be angry with Molly; “I'm sorry, Moll.” She said contritely. “I didn't mean to snap at you.” When she turned back to her friend, all the carefree joy and happiness was gone from Usa's face, leaving a cold mask of regal authority. “But my realm has just been invaded.”

 

 

 

Let's do a little recap before we begin.

 

Serena (Usagi to everyone, Buns to Darien) Rensselaer -Tsukino- add on Serenity, Queen of Silver Millennium and the universe.

Darien Mamoru Chiba-Shields- Prince Endymion of Terra (he's gonna be King some day)

 

Anne Marie (Ami) Mizuno-16 (Sailor Mercury) Sophia, Queen of Mercury

Rei Hino-16 (Sailor Mars) Brighid, Princess of Mars

Lindsey Brita Rensselaer-Kino -18 (Sailor Jupiter) Frigga, Queen of Jupiter

Wilhelmina (Mina) Aino -19 (Sailor Venus) Freyja, Queen of Venus

Hotaru Tomoe-19 (Sailor Saturn) Persephone, Queen of Saturn

Anastasia (Alex) Larisa Alexandrova-18 (Sailor Uranus) Theia, Princess of Uranus (she's going to rule, too.)

Trista Meiou-21 (Sailor Pluto) Neti-Erra, Queen of Pluto

 

David Rothschild-19 (Kunzite) Head General and Endy's cousin

Francisco (Frankie) Jaen Alvarez de la Santa Maria del Toro-18 (Jadeite)

Jiro Satoshi-Carter-19 (Nephrite)

Joshua Anderson-17 (Zoisite)

 

Extras:

Luna, Prime Minister of Silver Millennium

Artemis Aino, father of Mina and Darien

Andrew, best friend of the guys and medic

Eiji Kaiou (he was Greg, but now he is Michiru's brother.) the guys' other roommate

Samuel Shingo Rensselaer-Tsukino. Usa's big brother and Hotaru's boyfriend

Kenji Tsukino- Very understanding father who likes to rag on Darien

Ilene Rensselaer-Tsukino. She ain't the happy homemaker, but she is happy.

Dr. Marie Mizuno. Ami's Mom and the Senshi's doctor

Grandpa Hino. He's a super sweet guy who only wants the best for his granddaughter.

Princess Serenity (the name here is Serena not Rini) of Silver Millennium, the Silver Alliance, and Terra.

King Ares of Mars (also know as Lugh.)

And The Dark Moon Family with the Wiseman

 

 

By the way, I don't own Sailor Moon; I'm just a fan.

 

Read, enjoy, and review.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two

 

 

1

 

 

 

The Senshi were on high alert by the time Usagi entered her house. Mina had been in

contact with the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Defense after she received Molly's frantic telephone call. There had been several temporal disturbances since the early hours of morning. Without the present incarnation of the Senshi of Pluto to decipher them or stabilize the disturbances, the gates to the Underworld and patches throughout Time were vulnerable as was the entire Realm.

Mina was on the verge of awaking the Senshi of Pluto where ever she was; she already had Hotaru, Lita, and Rei searching for her as well Neptune and Uranus. The last thing she wanted to deal with a new enemy that had decided Terra looked like a nice place to sit and conquer.

When Usagi came inside, Molly was close behind her and in her arms was a blue and pink bundle that Mina did not have a chance to identify. Usagi did not stop for; She just hurried her friend up to her bedroom. Ami, Rei, and Dave followed soon after, each with their arms loaded down with bags. Mina sent Lita and Hotaru after Usagi while she went to question the other two Senshi.

Everyone stopped everything they had been doing when they felt the Queen using her crystal. Rei quickly dropped her bags on the closest counter top and then dropped to her knees with her hands folded before her as she started chanting. Red and dark purple magic leapt off her as her aura bled out about the house, camouflaging her Queen's pure energies.

“What's going on?” Mina demanded as she helped Ami put away the groceries.

Dave tore his eyes from the still kneeling Rei, his eyes wide in shock as the magic continued to pour off the girl. “I—“ he stammered.

Mina stared at for a moment. Ami cleared her throat to gain Mina's attention.

“Someone or something is interfering with one of the Gates guarded by Neti.”

The two startled by Dave's sudden laughter. “Netty?” He snickered.

“Ne-ti.” Mina enunciated. “Princess Neti- Erra, Guardian of Time and the Underworld. She is Persephone's second in command. And if were you, I wouldn't laugh at someone with the power to undo my existence with the turn of her staff.”

“If she is so powerful why is she missing?” He asked curiously.

“She died dumb ass.” Mina spat. She shook her head and dismissed him from her thoughts as turned back to Ami. “I am going to need a more aggressive search to find Neti-Erra, Anahita, and Theia.”

“I will find them by tomorrow morning.” Ami assured her.

“Good.” Mina clapped her hands in satisfaction. “Now what fell on this loser's head?”

“A child.” Usagi told her. She swept in the room with Hotaru at her side. “More specifically, my child, from the future.”

“Yours?” Dave shrieked then he asked, “Whose it father?”

Usa shot him a look that promised pain. “Don't get cute, Kunzite. I'm not in the mood.”

He shrugged off her foul temper, “Just because you're pissed off doesn't mean you get to take it our on me, Blondie. I need to know what the going on and how it will effect Darien.”

Rather deliberately, Usagi turned her back on him. She ignored the meditating Rei; she could feel the other's girl's magic flowing over the house, hiding Usa's own power by pulling up every Terran spirit force she could gather.

“Min, I want answers.” Usa said, her voice sounded weary even her own ears.

Hotaru and Mina exchanged a look, before the golden warrior turned to their Queen. “The seers on Pluto felt a vibration around three a.m., Tokyo time.” The older blonde girl reported. “I was contacted an hour later by the Minister of the Interior at Silver Millennium. His office was at lost as to something had managed to get in or how it entered the System. I was teleported to Palace for a briefing and then I returned to Terra. Once I was here, I telephoned Persephone and Frigga to bring them up to speed on disturbance and have had them working with our colleagues back at the palace, while I put a rush on finding Neti.”

Usagi had said nothing through the brief monologue. An eerie calmness seemed that have fallen about the girl as she moved about her mother's kitchen. When Mina had finished, Usa, who had now donned an apron, was chopping freshly washed herbs for a marinade.

“What are you doing to find Neti?” she asked as she dropped a handful of parsley into Lita's beloved food processor.

“I just put Sophia on it,” Mina informed her Queen. “She is confident that she will have the remaining Senshi's identities by morning.”

Usa glanced at Ami inquiringly. “Are you certain you can do this?”

Ami nodded, “I am confident in my abilities, Usa-chan.” She flashed a superior grin that caused the other girl to laugh. “Usa, doesn't that recipe call for olive oil?” She asked worriedly when Usagi reached for the canola oil.

“And risk Lita's wraith?” She cried in horror. “If it's all the same to you, I would rather keep living, thank you.”

“Coward.” Rei's mocking voice came from the front of the counter.

“Frankie's love slave.” Usa smirked.

“Eww, what are you trying to do?” The miko demanded, “Are you trying to give me bad luck?”

“You are supposed to be helping us?” Ami reminded their friend.

Usa looked her friend up and down and she snorted. “What are you doing? Man, if I needed someone to stand around eating chips, I would have called Darien.”

“I'm hungry.” Ami complained.

“Yeah, yeah,” Usa muttered sarcastically. “Mom left her credit card beside the telephone; Go order us some dinner, Helper.”

Ami popped another chip into her mouth as she ambled over to the kitchen's phone. “Who all is staying?”

“You, Moll, Rei's coming back after her thing at school, and the kid.”

“Burgers?” Ami suggested.

Usa thought for a moment, then she nodded, “Yeah. Molly's vegetarian, so you have to get her a Garden burger—ooh, no. Get her portabella sandwich with the works and Provolone cheese. Oh, man those things are good.”

“Is that what you want?” Ami grinned at Usa's obvious affections for food.

“Naw, I just want a burger with the works and plenty of fries.”

“I'll have the same as Molly.” Rei said as she rose from the floor. “Usagi, I have the concealing spell in place. It will remain active until remove your spell.”

“So the kid is hidden?”

Rei nodded.

“Alright. Then you should get out of here.” They leaned across the counter and touched cheeks.

“I'll be back as so as this meeting is over with.” Rei said as she walked over to Ami.

“Have fun,” Ami told her as they also said hugged.

“Hey, if you want the Menace off your back, try to hook up with someone from Abuzu.” Mina smiled at the Martian Senshi. “One of Darien's friends is a student there and he on the Abuzu Prep's Festival committee.”

The other Senshi burst out laughing at their friend's obvious discomfort.

“C'mon, David,” Rei said gruffly as she stalked out of the kitchen. “I am going to be late if we do not hurry.”

“Flashing eyes, heighten color about the face,” Hotaru laughed, “Me thinks the lady—“

“None of you are my friends.” Rei hollered over her shoulder.

“We love you, too, sweetie.” Mina called to her.

“Bite me.”

“I told you before, you should let Frankie do that.” Usa shouted back.

 

 

2

 

 

Around eight of clock, the four girls were seated around kitchen table, having a late supper since they decided to wait for Rei to return. Hours before, Usa had given her little house guest a bath and fed her some of Lita's homemade Minestrone soup before exhaustion over took the child and she passed out in Usa's arms.

The kid, Serena, was the current topic of their conversation. Usagi had managed to get the kid's name (Serenity Gaia Milena Shields), her age. She had just turned four a few months ago. The little girl proudly told Usa that she shared her mother's birthday, but that happiness faded just as she remembered that she wasn't with her mother.

Usa had put the child in her bed and sat with her until Rei returned.

She called Darien before Dave could talk to him. She was exhausted and as much as she loved Darien, she did not want him coming over making a big ta-do about the situation. He could do that tomorrow, after she had rested and gotten the answers she wanted.

When she came down to the kitchen, Usa found her two friends at the kitchen sink. Molly was staring in open mouth amazement at Ami who held her hands over the frozen water in the sink. Ami's eyes were glowing an icy blue and her lips were moving silently as she stared unseeingly ahead.

The doorbell rang, Usa went to answer it; She was signing for dinner when Dave drove up and let Rei out. Rei went up the guest room to put her school bag down then check in on the little girl for Usa.

“What are you going to do with her?” Molly asked her best friend around a mouth full of fries.

“Keep her with me until we can send her back to where she belongs.” Usa dipped a couple fries in the small pool of ketchup on her plate. “Ames, you having any luck with tracking Neti?”

“Some,” Ami admitted as she yawned behind her right hand. “I would have more success had she been closer to water.”

Once again, Molly was staring at the raven-haired genius in shock and awe. “You can find people through water?” She asked in awe.

Ami flicked her eyes in Molly's direction before she turned back to her meal. “Water and ice are my elements to control. I can feel anything everything that touches them.”

“Okay, so how are you looking for this Neti person?” The red headed girl asked.

“It is very simple, for me, water exist in all forms and it is constantly moving. Anything it touches, I feel.” Ami clarified before either of her two friends could comment. “It's also distracting since you Terrans are mostly water.”

“What are you?”

“Not water.” Ami told her.

“Then what?”

“Not water.”

“Tell me.” She begged.

“No.”

Molly turned to Usa for help, the blonde blew her off, “C'mon, Usagi. Don't you want to know what she's made of?”

“I know what her body is composed.” Usagi winked at her. “Ames, can you sense if Neti is moving or anything?”

Ami closed her eyes briefly before answering her friend. “She is covering a great distance very fast.”

“Maybe she's in a car?” Molly suggested. “Or a bus?”

Inspiration stuck Usagi at that moment. “I know how I can help you.” Before anyone could speak, Usa was up and around the table and she touched her hands to Ami's temples. When Ami tried to turn around and ask her what she was doing, she was shocked to find that she could not move much less speak.

“Just relax, Ami,” she felt Usa's comforting presence in her mind. “I am just going to look about for a bit.”

Rei and Molly shared a look then turned back to the faintly glowing girls. Ami was staring ahead with unseeing eyes.

Usa stood behind her with her eyes closed, her head tilted back slightly. Her faint touch raced along Ami's awareness, going deeper as she searched for the bond she knew was there.

“What is it?” Ami asked as she followed the blond girl through her mind.

A deep frown marred Usa's delicate features, “Have you ever noticed that you guys rarely speak to each?” She asked unexpectedly.

Incomprehension showed on Ami's features as she stared at her friend. “I don't know what you mean—“

“I mean, you my friend and Senshi, do not speak to the others.”

“That is not so, we converse all the time.”

Usa shook her head, “Not necessarily.” She smiled reassuringly at her. “It only means that you are comfortable with this that never notice it. And I guessing, neither Venus or the others have noticed it either.”

“What is it?” Ami asked her again.

After a moment, Usagi whispered almost distantly, “Your connection with the others.”

“Why mine?”

“Next to Min, your have the second strongest connection to all the other Senshi. You are the intelligence officer. Everyone would pass information on to you and you relayed it to Venus. Ah, there. I found them.”

Shocked in silence, Ami could only stare at the girl beside her in wonderment. How different her friend was now than when they had first met. Usagi had always been confident in herself, as well as brave, loyal, and open towards everyone. Ami admitted that she had been a bit envious of her petite friend, for in her personality, Usagi was everything Ami wished that she could have been. Of course that was before she really came to know Usagi and in turn discovering herself. Usagi had shown Ami that she, too possessed the same confidence in herself, the furious bravery and intense loyalty that defined not only Usagi, but every Senshi; Usagi was just the epitome of it all. Now, now she was so much more than that. Never again could her first friend ever go back to girl she once was.

Looking at the brilliant person standing beside her reminded Ami of difference that separated them.

“I have awaken the bond inside of you,” Usagi was saying. “Soon, you will know the location of every Senshi and guardian in this System.” She turned to face Ami, her insubstantial moving to cup the Mercurian warrior's face. “Prepare yourself,” she sounded excited, “This is gonna better than anything you've ever felt in your life.”

Without warning, Ami threw her head back, her mouth parted in silent scream while a wild current of information rushed through her brain. It was like Usagi has jacked into her head, pouring in all the knowledge of the about life, the planets, and stars; force feeding information into her hurting mind until it felt as it was going to explode. It did not stop, her conscience swelled and when it seemed as if she could accept no more, something in her mind clicked. The pain vanished, and flow of information into head seemed now not to be enough.

A hunger awoke her mind now, which now felt starved for learning. It lusted for knowledge and longed for everything that she was knew in her former life. Oh, but should something inconsequential as death deny her of what she wanted? The wisdom and knowledge she possessed once before was still there, imprinted on her soul just like her destiny as a Senshi.

She shrugged off Usagi's hands and reached out herself for what she knew was there and she found it. It crashed through her, overwhelming her, but only for a moment. Her thirsty mind opened up and swallowed all that her soul had to give including her past life.

Outside, Usagi staggered back and would have fallen to the kitchen floor had Rei not been quick enough to catch her.

“Molly,” the miko said sharply, “get a damp cloth and a glass of water. Usagi! Usagi, can you hear me?” She demanded as she tapped the sides of the girl's face. “Usagi?”

Molly rushed back to them, she handed Rei the glass as she tried pressed a damp dishtowel to Usa's brow. The smaller girl gently slapped Molly's hand away, “I'm alright, guys.” She assured them, but her voice sounded rusty and hollow. Usagi pushed herself in a seated position, she moved to stand, but her legs were trembled thus causing Usagi to fall back against Rei.

“Oh, boy.” She panted, “I do not want to do that again.” She looked up them and smiled wearily. “You guys think you can help me off the floor.”

With sheepish grins and lots of laughter, that was done. Usagi slumped down in her chair and threw her head back. Lord, she wondered what possessed her to do what she had done. Creating that protection spell around her house and the kid had almost wiped her out. This time, she had pushed her already tired body and in the process, she drained her own energy. She could feel the Terran gravity pulling on her, nor did it help that she felt as if she were enchased in a suit of lead for her clothes were also weighing her down.

“God, Usa,” Molly looked worriedly at her friend, “Do we need to call a doctor or something?”

She tried to shake her head, but that was an effort at that moment, “I'll be fine. I just need to rest and…” She was cut off as Ami started to cough and gasp for air. Usagi struggled to rise and help her friend.

Rei had hurried over to Ami, but the other girl had stumbled to her feet and ran to the kitchen sink and attached herself to the faucet. The other three girls watched in fascination as Ami gorged herself on water for five minutes. When she was done, Ami sank to the floor groaning as like she was in pain.

At the table Usagi started to giggle and snorted.

Ami levered herself off the floor long enough to point and laugh at her friend. Caught between the hilarious pair, Rei just threw up her hands and stomped out of the kitchen.

“Rei,” Molly called as she hopped up and raced after the miko. “You can't leave me in here with them.”

 

o.O.o

 

 

Serena awoke with a start. She looked about, somewhat disoriented as she pushed her hair back from her face. Wait a second this wasn't her hair—Furthermore, this wasn't her bed. The little girl pushed the long shimmering strands away from her as she sat up in the small bed and looked about at the foreign room and the strange shirt she had been sleeping in.

She was in a bed with two other girls; One had long, shining white hair just like her mother's and the other one had short, blue black hair that resembled her father's. The one with the blonde hair rolled onto her back and yawned as she rubbed the heels of her hands into her tired eyes.

“Serena?” The blonde said sleepily. She reached out grabbing a brass clock and bleary stared at it for a moment. “God, kid, do you normally get up this—“

The little girl stared down at her before she launched herself Usagi crying, “Mama.”

Usagi grunted loudly as she went tumbling from the bed in a flurry of hair, blankets, and pillows. Usagi lay on the floor, staring up at the ceiling in a daze; Serena had pushed herself up and was now sitting on Usagi's stomach. The kid had a big grin on her cute face as she beamed down at her mother's younger self.

Back on the bed Ami rolled over, groping for the covers but she came up empty. “Usagi, you hog…”

Usagi draped her right arm over her eyes and groaned, “Shut up, Ami.”

“Mama,” Serena tired to remove Usagi's arm, “I'm hungry.”

“Mama.” Ami chortled. She leaned over the side of the bed, a big goofy grin on her face as she smacked Usagi on the ankle. “What are you making for breakfast, Mama?”

“Go to hell, Ames.” She grumbled.

“Shouldn't you watch you mouth?”

She made an obscene gesture with her left hand but she did sit up, Serena scrambled off her, but she bouncing around Usagi like bunny. The two older girls cringed in disgust.

“That's not right.” Ami muttered. She reached down for the blankets only to have them snatched away, she protested when Usa threw the bedclothes across the room, but the girl wasn't listening.

“If I gotta be up at—“ Usagi glanced at the clock on her desk, “—eight o'clock in the morning, you will be too. In fact—“

“No!” Ami cried, she almost fell off the bed in her hast to reach her friend.

Usagi started laughing as she raced out the room with Ami close on her tail. Slowly, Serena followed the two laughing girls down stairs.

An hour later, Lita came down stairs still dressed in her pajamas. She was yawning as she pulled her long hair up in to a loose bun and clipped it. She saw the three sitting in the family room watching anime and eating ice cream.

“I'm making waffles,” she told them.

“Strawberry?” Usagi asked absently.

“Blueberry?” Ami looked down into half empty container.

“Just plain Belgian.” She told them.

“No, Kaiba!” Usagi wailed heartbroken. “Yuugi's a punk with MPD. That little freak can't win all the time.”

Ami looked at her in disgust. “It's just a cartoon.”

“Shut your blasphemous mouth, Mizuno.”

“You are never getting that game back.”

“I will tear up your PS2 if you don't give me back my game.” Usagi growled menacingly.

“Who wants bacon?” Lita hollered over them, drowning the two bickering girls out.

The two hopped up and rushed in the kitchen, once again living Serena to follow them.

“You better help me out,” Lita grumbled, “I'm not feeding you people for free.”

 

 

3

 

The morning started had off bad (she had woken up and tackled before breakfast) and the rest of the morning had taken on a slightly normal bend, and that was weird. After breakfast, Lita went out back and set up the grill for Usa. While she was doing this, Rei and Molly came down, dressed, chipper, and eager to start the day. Usa and Ami went upstairs to clean up. When they came down, Rei and Molly had helped Lita load the dishwasher and wipe off the counters. Serena was sitting on a counter top, munching a large strawberry that Molly had given to her.

Usa had the clothes the little girl had worn the day before in her arms as she walked over to the girl and scooped her up.

“Lita, I know you said you didn't want to cook, but I gotta take Sere shopping.” She told her cousin.

“Sere?” Lita looked at her skeptically.

Usa shrugged her shoulders as she began to dress the child. “Yeah, she doesn't like Chibi-Usagi, Reenie, or Bunny.” She leaned forward to kiss the tip of the little girl's pixie nose. “I can't believe you have pink hair.” She laughed as the child wrinkled up her nose.

“Pink is my favorite color,” Serena told her.

“At least it's a dye,” Ami told them as she pointed out Serena's pale strawberry blonde roots.

“That hair colour must be a genetic flaw.” Usagi laughed as Lita gave her the finger.

“Fine,” Lita told her, “You need money?”

Usagi shook her head, “I still got all that money that I got from selling that stuff Luna sent to me.”

“Oh, God,” Lita laughed, “You better pray Darien never finds out about your stash.”

“Please, I'm just selling stuff I can't use. I mean what use do I have loose gems and gold coins?” Usagi scoffed. She looked down at the little girl and smiled proudly. “My baby girl is so pretty!” She crowed. “Aren't you so pretty?”

Rei had been in the process of drinking a glass of water only to spit it out. Molly fell on butt laughing

“Usa, please.” Ami muttered. “That's sickening.”

Usa ignored them. She turned to her cousin and flashed her most pathetic, watery-eyed, lip trembling puppy-dog face. Lita drew back in fright.

“Li, please, let me barrow your jeep?” Usagi begged. “Please!”

“Oh, God,” Lita turned her back her. That damned look always got her. “My keys are in the living room. Drive carefully and put gas in the tank.”

Usagi bounded over to her and hugged her tight. “Thanks, Li. I should be back in two hours.” She promised.

A slight smile graced Lita's features as she returned the young girl's embrace. “Be careful, knucklehead.” She ruffled Usagi's pale bangs before giving her a gentle shove. “Who are you taking with you?”

Rei threw a dishtowel at Ami, she gestured for Ami to volunteer. Ami was shaking her head no.

“Sam and Frankie were supposed to be stopping by in a few minutes.” Lita said. Upon hearing that, Rei happily volunteered.

 

 

As soon as they pulled out onto the street, Usagi swore.

“What's wrong?” Rei asked.

“Damn that Lita,” the irritated blonde cried, “She knew she had no gas. What more she had the balls to tell me to put some in. Well, I'm going to show her. Freaking little—“

“Usa-chan,” Rei said seriously, “What are you going to do with this child?”

Usa glanced into the review mirror and smiled at the pretty girl. “She's my daughter, Rei. Something happened that caused her to be here and until I find out what, I'm keeping her with me.” A little sigh escaped her then, “I already spoke to my parents, and we are going to talk about this situation some more after they come home today.”

“What did they say?”

A bitter smile crossed Usagi's lips as remembered her parents reactions from their phone conversation last night.. “They are not happy with my decision but they understand and respect it.”

“And that means…?”

“That means Serena stays with me, I am responsible for her well-being until she goes home.”

“Are you certain you want this added responsibility?” Rei asked softly.

A small frown marred Usagi's brow. “What other choice do I have?” She glanced at her guardian and advisor, “She came seeking my help. I cannot turn her away.”

“You are right, but I want you to remember, you are not alone Serenity.” Rei smiled. “I will help out as much as I can and I know the others will too.”

“Thanks. I know I will be taking you up on your offer. We can't forget Darien in all of this.”

Rei glanced back the little girl and smiled. “No, we cannot.” She turned around and studied Usagi's profile. There was a new maturity in the other girl's face. A maturity and strength that was never there before and it seemed make Usagi older than her fifteen years.

Usagi met Rei's stare and she smiled at her. “Don't worry,” she reached for one of Rei's hands. “I will be alright.” She told her, “We all will.”

 

 

Shortly after Usa and Rei had left with Serena, people started to arrive.

Sam did show up, but Frankie was not with him. Sam had gone to the airport to meet his parents and had taken Hotaru with him.

On the drive, Hotaru had answered all of the Tsukinos questions about the little girl that Usa through was hers and Darien's. Hotaru assured them that the child was indeed the Queen's but she was from the future. That was where Kenji and Sam seemed lost therefore Hotaru had to tell them about the missing Sailor Pluto. She was the only one who could have send Serena to the past and take the child back to her proper time.

Ilene still wanted to talk to her daughter about this situation; it wasn't going to be easy for any of them, let alone Usagi since she wanted to keep the child.

Soon after, David and Jiro showed up. They came to help set up the picnic tables and chairs and Josh came with Seiya and Yaten Kou. They brought two twenty-gallon trash cans filled with ice. Soda was in one and beer in the other. Darien called to say he was coming by later; his dad was in town, Ilene quickly extended an invitation to his father, after some prodding, Artemis gave in and agreed to come.

Usagi returned, while she carried her purchases inside, Rei helped Serena out of the back seat. She was on her way inside when she heard someone call out her name.

Rei turned around and smiled at the guy trotting up the walkway. “Asanuma-san,” she said politely once he reached her and Serena. “What are you doing here?”

“Darien invited me,” he replied with a sheepish grin. “He said be here early to help out if I wanted to eat.”

Rei did not know why, but the way he was looking at her was causing to feel nervous. Not nervous in a panic, frighten way, but a shy, sort of self-conscious way that caused a slight blush to touch her cheeks.

She glanced down quickly just as he looked away. An awkward silence fell between them as they tried not to look at each other.

“Hino-san…”

“Asanuma-san…” They said almost together. They met each other's gaze and both started to laugh.

Asanuma stared down at her, looking into her amethyst eyes and he felt his shyness dissipate. “Hino-san, I was wondering, if you had some time free—maybe tomorrow—I was wondering if you would like to go—ah, join me at the Fruit Pallor and maybe see a movie?” he finished quietly.

Incredulous disbelief was evident on her face. This was the first time a guy was actually asking her out, on date. The first thought to cross her mind was to refuse him. She had enough trouble dealing with Frankie and after that horrid mess with Yuuichirou; the last thing she wanted was to have another male in her life.

That was why she was so surprised to hear herself saying yes.

“You will?” Asanuma cried. His dark brown eyes were alight with joy that Rei felt awful at the though of resending her answer. “Oh, this great!” He grabbed her hands in his and he turned the full effect of his smile on her. “I'll pick you at your temple at five?”

Rei felt a tight grin stretch out on her face as she nodded, committing herself to this date.

“Cool.” With a shock, Asanuma remembered why he came to Tsukinos in the first place. “Yeah, well, I guess I should get out back and help with the—“

“Hai,” she said weakly.

Gently, he let her hands trail from his as he started to step around Rei and the little girl he had just noticed. “Well, I'll see you inside?” He said with a goofy grin that was almost endearing.

Rei nodded. She waved him inside. When he was gone, Rei looked down at the little girl who was looking up at Rei inquiringly.

“Rei-chan, is that your boyfriend?”

An expression of pure horror crossed the miko's face as well as a heavy blush. “No, Serena. He's not my boy, we're just friends.” She held her hand out to the little girl. “Let's get you inside for lunch.”

Serena took her hand and Rei led her inside. As they reached the door, they saw Usagi standing there. Usa held her arms out of the little girl who ran to her without hesitation. Rei smiled at the loving sight yet she was unaware of the wistful little sigh that escaped her once Usa had turned away.

“Hey, Rei,” Ami called from the front room, bringing her out of her thoughts. “Come in and join us, Lita is making brownies and we're all helping.”

All unhappy thoughts fled as Rei went to join her friends. She wondered if Lita would make those special brownies with the white chocolate chips that she loved. She grimaced, of course she would have to help with the clean up, but she didn't mind since all her friends would be helping as well.

Rei hurried over to Ami's side and linked their arms. “Oi, Li-chan, you think you will make a batch of white chocolate chip brownies?” She called merrily as she pulled Ami towards the kitchen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three

 

 

1

 

 

A week had passed since Serena's arrival and there was no news about their enemy. Neti-Erra, well Trista for the less formal, had determined that their enemy was in their present time. Where? She did not know but she working on it.

That was not what either Usa or Mina wanted to here but it was what they had to go on for the time being. The High Council wanted Usa to leave Terra for the safety of the Lunar palace and several of her Senshi expressed similar sentiments, Usa could understand their fear and worries but she would not leave. There was something hiding out in Usa's kingdom and it was threatening her in both the present and the future and some how it was involved with Terra. She wanted this threat eliminated and she wanted it done now.

Ami and Trista got to work on it immediately while Mina went to coax Alex (aka Sailor Uranus) out of the woods. Mina had Rei and her grandfather before the Scared Fire everyday as they stepped up the search for the enemy.

While they were waiting for the enemy's first move, and when she had a spare moment, Usa was indulging in being a parent. She adored Serena. Once the child felt secure, she lavished affection and showed that she was a very bright, loving, curious little girl. She could light up a room with her smile and made Usa laugh on her lowest days. She seemed to brighten up the entire Tsukino household as everyone just seemed to have fallen in love with her.

There was only one person who did not fall the little girl tricks. Darien initially had a bad reaction when he first met Serena. In fact he though the child was evil (she had pink hair.) He tried to get the others to see his point of view only to be slapped up side his head by both Mina and David for his immature attitude.

It didn't help his cause with Usagi, who could not understand his jealously. He did a lot sulking and pouting whenever Usa spent too much time with the annoying little girl. Darien didn't like the fact that the kid was always on his bunny when he wanted to be on her (not in the way that would have Kenji Tsukino wanting to castrate him). Darien just wanted to the focus of Usagi's attention, you know, have things go back to the way they were before that little nuisance crashed landed on Dave's head.

For six days, Darien had whined to anyone who would listen to him. He begged his friends to watch the kid for extended periods of time so he could take up what free Usagi had and he threw a couple fits when Usagi wanted that thing to accompany them on those rare outings. What did he get for his efforts? His friends called him spoiled and selfish, the child was his after all. Even his sister wouldn't take his side on this. But what was worst than that he so-called friends could say or do--Usagi had given him an ultimatum.

Reluctantly, Darien surrendered to her demands. (He had bitched and moaned about it for a good twenty minutes before he slunk over to the Arcade with his tail between his legs and surrendered his manhood to the girl he loved. It just goes to show who was going to wear the pants in that family.) To prove that he harbored no ill will towards the little brat—the sweet face, little angel with the demonic hair—Darien offered to watch the kid that following Saturday while Usagi met with the Neptunian Ambassador and caught up on her school work.

The very grateful Usagi promised that to spend all of Sunday with Darien, doing everything he wanted as compensation for him taking care of Serena that afternoon and proceeded in making he feel like a cad. Before this mess had happened, no one could have ever accused Darien of being a neglectful boyfriend. He had always prided himself on being intuitive to Usagi's needs and emotions. But while sitting on her bed after succeeding in badgering Usagi into giving up this day to make time for him, Darien for the first time saw how overworked his bunny was. He didn't like what he saw and was somewhat hurt that Usagi had not shared some of the burden with him. But he promised to make it up to her and he would by earning his day with his bunny.

When Saturday finally rolled around Darien surprised the never early risers at the Tsukinos by showing up before eight. A sleep-eyed and grouchy Kenji let Darien in and sent death glares at the youth's back as he raced upstairs to Usagi's room.

There was a scream, a crash, and Darien's startled oath that made Kenji grin, which turned into a full fledged smile when Darien came downstairs fifteen minutes later sporting a hand print on his left cheek. In his arms he carried the still sleeping Serena and had a pink and white little bag slung over his left arm. Kenji stood by the door feeling a bit more human as he sipped his morning cup of coffee. He gave Darien a mock salute and slammed the door behind his future son-in-law and granddaughter.

Darien carried the sleeping brat to his car and placed her in the back seat then draped someone's jacket over her. Last night he had loaned his car out to Jiro who went to help Lita and Alex do something at their sorority and apparently his friend had picked up more than the two girls. The result was that Darien spent the better part of thirty minutes cleaning out his car.

From the Tsukinos' it was off to breakfast with his father and sister. Artemis was surprised to meet his granddaughter from the future, but he quickly warmed up to the child. And much to Darien's disgust, the kid actually took a shine to his father. After breakfast, the small family took in a couple rounds of golf while Serena played in the club house daycare. The intrepid group returned from battling the links to have lunch before calling it a day. Mina was meeting with Dave much to the surprise of her father and brother. She angrily rebuked all of her brother's insinuation that her relationship with Dave was becoming civil.

She still wanted David dead or something worst, but for the moment she needed his help in preparing an exit strategy for a mass exodus of Terra if it came down to it, but that was not something that Darien needed to know about right now. After they all said their good byes and Artemis managed to get Darien to agree to having dinner with him sometime during the week and to bring Usa and her family with him, Darien and Serena were on their way.

With half of the day gone and his spirits somewhat lighten, Darien decided to take the kid to now kid friendly and mutated creature free park until it was time to feed her again. A few hours of that, a very happy Serena declared that she was hungry. As they left the park, Serena chatted on and on about the new friends she had made and asked if they could come again the next day so she could play with them.

As much as he wanted to deny it, Darien found that he was actually enjoying his time with the kid. Sure the thing was trying to steal his woman's affections from him, but there was something about the child that made her special that made he like her a bit more. (He was now at acceptance.) Darien was mulling over these new thought as he watched the kid but a starving wolverine to shame. Several times he had to remind her to chew. She had already inhaled three hotdogs (just the wiener with catsup. Darien shuddered) and she was scarffing down a basket of fries and a large glass of milk at a speed that would have made her mama proud.

Andrew made his way to their booth just as Serena gulped down the last fry. He ruffled the little girl's hair affectionately and smiled down at her. She was really a cute kid, sweet as honey and just as adorable as Usagi was.

“Serena, you want an ice cone?” Drew asked her.

Before Serena could respond with a very enthusiastic yes, Darien said, “Usa said fruit only.”

Serena started to protest but something else outside drew her attention to the large shop windows.

Hearing that almost caused Drew to have a heart attack. Such a thing coming from Usagi—Damn the though of her uttering such a statement.

“Are you sure that was something Usagi said or are just saying that to be mean to this poor child?” Drew asked in English.

“No,” Darien muttered. “Hell, she's even given up sweets.” He shuddered. “Watching Buns going through sugar withdrawal is like watching a heroin addict get off smack. What's worst, I can't have any. Me! What the hell did I do to deserve this torture?”

“Cover-boy, you got a kid sitting here with you. Check the language.” Drew snapped at him. He caught a server by the arm and ordered three berry sorbets and for the little girl, he wanted extra fresh berries.

“I'm not paying for that,” Darien said grumpily..

“It's on the house.” Drew slid Serena's booster seat over then he dropped down in the booth beside her. “So where's your baby's mama?” He couldn't help but to ask.

Darien glared at him. “You know, that wasn't funny when Jiro said it all last weekend nor is it amusing today.”

“Well she is.” Drew pointed out.

“Dude, Usa's still a virgin.”

“Meaning you are, too.” Drew smirked.

Darien gave him a look that clearly told him to shut up. “Fuck off…”

The two were interrupted by Serena who was pointing a dainty little finger accusingly at Darien. “Oooh,” the little girl said, her dark blue eyes were wide as saucers as she told Andrew, “He said a curse word.”

And they were back to that. This was the main reason Darien didn't like that kid in the first place! She called him, “He”, “Him”, or by his first name (Endymion, not Darien), while she respectfully and lovingly called Usagi “Mama.”

“It's not nice to point, Serena.” Drew gently admonished the kid, while inside he was dying with laughter.

Serena pouted, “But Mama said…”

“Sweetie, your daddy is little nuts. We can forgive him when he has these little slip-ups.” Drew hopped out his seat to avoid Darien's kick. Drew stopped laughing at his poor twisted friend and he dropped back down in the booth. “Oh, yeah, speaking of nuts: Don't you know some people in the Minister of Interior's office or something.”

“My dad might,” Darien shrugged, “Why?”

Drew turned around and grabbed a copy of the Times from the booth behind them. “Because of crap like this.” He said as he pushed the paper under Darien's nose. “Just how long is this investigation going to last?” He asked him.

Darien had stopped reading the paper after his received his first lawsuit. Some tabloid reporter in America, who had snuck into his party, had tried to sue him for a wrongful death suit as well for emotional stress and the lost of his camera. The judge in America had thrown the case out since the jerk was still alive (the reporter had tried to sue for his own death) and the judge went on to deny all the rest of the claims since the reporter took the risk by sneaking into the party. That did not stop others from trying to sue him or blame him even though everyone who had died or had been injured at the Crown was alive and their injuries healed. So far, every claim had been thrown out of court.

“I don't know,” Darien shrugged, “I guess a miracle is too radical of a concept for the politicians to accept.”

“Yeah, well, because of this, my internship is being postponed until the summer.” Andrew slumped down in his seat and sulked.

Darien's mouth fell open, “Dr. Fujita is canceling his program?”

“He's part of the investigation so he won't be picking up it back up until next year.”

“And what do you think I can do?”

“Hell, I don't know. Maybe nothing, I just want this crap over with. You know my dad's been subpoenaed and the commission wants the security tapes for your party.”

“Are there any tapes?” Darien asked. He knew that he had transformed in the open and was certain that everyone had as well. If their identities gotten out, Lord, Darien shuddered to think about of the kind of chaos would come about.

“Ami and Jiro came in the day after and cleaned house.”

Darien sighed in relief. “You know had you gone with Fujita this year you would have only been doing paper work?”

The expression on Drew's face showed that he did not believe him.

“I'm serious. You wouldn't be doing anything medical,” Darien told him. “Fujita uses undergraduates as secretaries.”

“Have you ever joined his program, Dare?”

“I never had the need. Besides, I freaked him out.” Darien pushed the paper aside as their server returned with their desserts.

Drew laughed. “You frighten a lot of people. The girl I'm supposed to be tutoring tonight dropped out of a class because you were the TA.” Drew grabbed a napkin from the dispenser and made a makeshift bib for Serena.

“Hey,” she cried as she ripped the napkin from her shirtfront. “I'm not a baby. I'm a big girl.”

“I know you are, sweetie,” he said trying to cajole her, “You don't want to mess up your pretty outfit do you?”

Serena shook her head no.

Drew replaced the napkin and then gave her the dessert. “Darien, she is your kid, you should be doing this.” He scolded his friend.

“You look like you were enjoying yourself, I wouldn't dream of interfering.” Darien smirked, “You stepped right into Mr. Mom role rather easily.”

“Only because you are neglecting your kid.”

“I'm doing nothing of the sort. I fed her.”

“You've been ignoring her.”

“Just let the kid eat.” His young friend scowled, “I have to drop by Mina's before I take Serena home.”

After they finished their dessert and Darien left Andrew flirting with the girl he was supposed to be tutoring, Darien decided stop by a toy store before stopping by his sister's. He didn't know why, just the fact that one of his friends through he was being cruel to a child that he and Usagi would one day have did bother him. To make up for his behavior and to show his kid that he was nice guy, Darien was going let her pick out the most expensive doll in the shop, only she didn't want the priciest toy. He was rather surprised when she chose a Tuxedo Kamen plush doll.

She told him that Usa had given her a Sailor Moon doll, but Kamen was her favorite. He was he was Endy. And that melted his heart. He was his little girl's favorite parent (how quick they change.)

They swung by Mina's place and had dinner. Darien asked how Mina's meeting with Dave went. Mina just gave him some general information that he already knew about but she did not reveal anything new to him. Mina like the rest of the Senshi were being very tight-lipped about this situation and for the first since learning about Mina's secret life as Sailor V, Darien found that he was being shut out of the Senshi business. Well fine, if they wanted to play this way, he could too. This was his planet, although he was not ruler, he would still protect it.

After leaving Mina's it was a quick shot to the Tsukinos. It was a little after six when Darien rang the bell. Lita let him in after she swooped down to scoop up Serena.

“Usa's in her room,” Lita told him as they went into the kitchen, to Serena she said, “Are you ready for dinner, little bunny?”

“We had dinner at Min's,” Darien told her.

“Well, I guess it's just bath time then.” Lita said as she nuzzled the little girl's cheeks. “Darien, Usa wants to talk to you, so if you will go up…”

He stared at her blankly, “Why?”

She started to give him a sarcastic reply until she remembered how exhausted and dispirited her young cousin had looked after the Neptunian Ambassador had left. Neptune could not understand why Usagi had moved finding Anahita down on her list of major priorities. To them and most of the other planets, Terra was a planet open to conquest. With no central government for the planets to communicate with or representatives, Terra was ripe for anyone who was strong enough to take it.

Lita knew that Usagi had been keeping that from Darien. Usagi's presence alone had forestalled the other planets from attempting to conquer Terra. Sadly, Usa could not remain here in defiantly. The day was going to come when they all would have return to Silver Millennium and their home worlds to rule.

Maybe by some divine act it would be possible for Darien to reclaim his kingdom. Usagi had reservations concerning that. The planet was so war torn and filled with suffering and hate that would be impossible for it to unite as one nation at least in their lifetimes.

The Uranian Ambassador was quick to point out the Terrans flaws when they last met. He was intrigued by the United States, the current world super power. He did not believe in the democratic process and found it laughable that the nation was trying to impose their opinion on Iraq when it failed to support the democratic nations in South America or the struggling nations in Africa.

Usagi spent two hours defending the land of her birth and it's international policies. She knew the man had just been making conversation, yet before August Usa had shown little if any interest in the politics of the United States or any country. Now she discussing it with alien diplomats that she was forced to put up in lavish lodgings and give them everything they wanted within reason just to keep them happy while they were on Terra. Her Minister of Finance was pleased to give her anything she wanted and her Treasurer had sent Usagi a small chest loaded with jewels soon after the battle with Metallia that she had been selling off to pay for them Uranians' up keep and to pay for the damage done to the Crown Arcade.

After the Neptunian Ambassador had left, Usa had returned to her room to catch up on her work. She was serious contemplating having her government coming to her with the amount of work they were constantly sending to her. She had budgets to approve, two treaties to sign with the star system next to hers as well as prepare for a summit she was to have with the planetary leaders in December. Oh, she could not forget that she was class project for World History that was due on Monday. She had just decided to take a break from the Punic Wars when she heard someone tapping on her door.

“Come in,” she called out. God, she sounded awful even to her own ears. When she heard nothing, Usa turned around with a sharp reply on her lips that turned into laugh of pure delight.

Poking through her slightly opened door was the largest bouquet of red roses that she had ever seen. Without hesitation, Usagi hurried over to the door and pulled it open and she threw herself into Darien's open arms.

“Goddess, I'm so happy that you to see you.” Before he could reply, Usa grabbed him by the hand and started to pull him down stairs. “Get me out of here, please or I am going to go mad.”

Unable to do anything but comply, Darien said, “Your wish is my command.”

She flashed him a warm, grateful smile. “Thank you.”

 

Eiji had finally gotten around to asking Ami out (and to Josh's every lasting joy), the pretty little genius had turned him. She said was overwhelmed by everything that was going on with her planet, Usagi's problems with the Neptunians, and now with this new enemy. Of course she claimed to have been flattered that he had though of her but she really was interested right now.

As they strolled through the park, Usagi brought Darien up to speed on the girls' “love lives.” She swore Darien to secrecy about Ami's current crush (actually she wound up begging and promising him anything if he would just keep his mouth shut.) Rei and Asanuma had decided just to be friends. They had determined after their second date that neither really was interested in pursing a relationship at that time, however, they truly enjoyed each other's company. Darien admitted that he wasn't surprised by that which surprised her. She wanted to know why yet after his reasoning, Usa told him that she did not care for his insights concerning women.

Their wondering brought them out around to an open market and brought some noodles from a vender and their talk lead them Alex and Trista.

Whatever Usa had done to Ami, she had managed to duplicate with all the other Senshi. They were all able to reconnect with their pasts (,if that was even the right word for it,) and she offered to do the same for Darien's Generals who turned her down only to explain that their memories of the past were just fine. It seemed the more Usa used her crystal, the stronger her bond with the crystal became, and it in turn strengthened her.

However, she didn't mention what had sent her running from her bedroom. Several times Darien tried to stir the conversation around to what was going on with the other planets only to have Usa brush it aside or bring up something else. Darien could tell that she apprehensive about something and it bothered him that Usagi refused to talk to him about it.

They had come back to the park and had found and empty bench one of the water fountains and cuddled.

Usa rested her head on his left shoulder, her eyes drifted close as she luxuriated in the feel of his long fingers moving through her hair. If she hadn't been so tired she would have yelled at him for taking her down her hair not to mention it felt good having that evil clip out. If she could have anything, Usa would have wanted this night to go on forever.

Alas that was an impossible dream for Usagi. In the morning she was meeting with the Martian Ambassador, King Ares along with the other planets were sending her greetings and gifts as overtures of peace and their fidelity to she and her rule. After that, she was going to try to squeeze in some time to study and spend time with Serena before showing her support for Rei by attending her school's festival. Everyone was going to that and she had to remind Darien that he had agreed to go when he started to protest. Privately, Usa admitted the last thing she wanted to do was go to the thing, but she had made a promised to Rei thus she had to honor it.

She thought Darien was going to complain about the lack of time they have had together, (heck, she did so to Lita almost every night) and was somewhat stunned (and irritated) when he announced that he understood and would take a rain check on his day. It was so compassionate and thoughtful as well as generous, she only wanted to know one thing: Who was he and where the hell was her fiancé?

He laughed at her outraged expression and pulled her down for a quick kiss. He was upset that they wouldn't be spending the day alone but at least they would be together and that had been a rarity since their return from the Moon.

“So I guess you don't miss me at all?” She pouted.

“Of course I do,” he whispered. “I miss you all the time, even when you're with me. But I kind of understand what you're going through.”

She yawned as she burrowed deep in his arms. “When all of this settles down, we're gonna go back to the way things were before, okay?” She murmured as sleep stolen through her voice.

They could never go back, he wanted to say; Usagi was the ruler of their universe and an alien Queen. They could never be as they once were. Instead of voicing his true thoughts, Darien pulled her close and tucked Usa's head under his chin. Above them the full moon shone bright in the night sky. Not since Usa's return to Terra had truly returned to its once soft pale light. The moon was alive and teeming with life. It was only a matter of time before the people of his planet became aware of the fact that they were not alone in this universe.

 

 

 

2

 

 

Rei awoke with a sense of foreboding the next day.

It was almost dawn when she left her bed and went to the pray before the great fire of her shrine. She had felt a great darkness moving through the astral planes shortly after Serena had arrived but had felt nothing since. Hotaru and Ami both suspected their enemy to have been cloaking itself and was hiding somewhere nearby. Until last night, Rei had sensed nothing about them, so she was left to wonder why was it showing itself now.

She contacted Ami and was still on the phone with her when Frankie arrived, ready to start on the temple's chores. As she rung off, she noticed him standing inside the kitchen's doorway, a worried frown marred his usually cheerful countenance, it was obvious that he had heard everything she had said. Rei didn't like to see such serious expression on his face; it looked unnatural for someone like Frankie who was always filled with exuberance and joy.

Rei forced a smile to her lips as she motioned for him to enter. “Buena dias, Francisco.” She bowed slightly in greeting. Frankie rewarded her with one of his quicksilver grins. It was a mock grin, but at least he was smiling.

“Ohayo, Rei-chan.” He snickered.

“Stop laughing at me.” She snapped, but she couldn't stop her own smile from appearing. “Is it my fault that you are awful teacher?” She turned around and reached for the teakettle, but Frankie had rushed over and grabbed the ancient monster before she could lay one finger on it.

“I'll do that.” He told her. Frankie gently pushed Rei out of the way as he moved over to the sink. “I'm sorry about laughing, Rei, but your accent is—“

“Terrible?” She rolled her eyes and nodded, “I know, you say so all the time yet you insist upon my learning your confusing language when I barely understand English.”

“Spanish is one of the Romantic language.” He winked at her, “It is meant to seduce and charm una bonita señorita out of her underwear and into bed.”

She burst out in giggles. “And you say this from experience?”

“I never kiss and tell, Rei-chan. Besides it worked for my father when he was wooing my mother.” he smirked.

“Oh, I refuse to believe another of your stories,” She opened the cupboard and pulled out of box of cereal bars. Had she the time she would have had bowl of the rice porridge the cook had made.

“So, Rei, you're going to tell me bothering you or do I have to guess?” Frankie asked after he put the kettle on to boil. He but his back to the counter top with his arms folded over his chest.

The easy going, laid back façade hid a very piercing mind and a dark, mysterious side, Rei had often been exposed to that other side of Frankie since he started volunteering at her family's temple. Usually the monster would rise when Frankie was worried about her.

Rei stopped nibbling on her breakfast, “Our enemy is on the move.” She told him. Before he could comment she went on, “I don't know where they are or how they are moving; with some luck we will have that information soon.”

He nodded, “I'll inform David.”

“I've already shared this information with Mina. She says until the enemy shows, our status is still high alert.” A chill raced down her spine as she recalled an image from her dream. “Tell Dave to be aware of those who promise death.”

He looked at her questioningly, “Death?” He was confused.

Rei nodded, her violet eyes were empty as she stared into the flames on the range top, “I have a feeling that our enemy will not stop until they have brought death to this star.”

 

3

 

 

 

Usagi was a having bad morning. Since Mina early morning visit, Usa had been though several state of nervousness and anticipation. The enemy had moved, which was good. But they had no idea of where they had gone.

She had to postpone her meeting with the Martian Ambassador, rearranged her schedule all together, and plan for a possible attack somewhere in her Universe. After her briefing with her Royal Council, Usa made time to do some coloring with Serena after breakfast and take the little girl for a walk around the neighborhood. When she returned it was back to business. Mina was preparing an exit strategy for Usagi and had sent Alex over to discuss it with her. The Senshi had decided that it was time for the High Queen to return to Silver Millennium, she would be safe in her own palace. From the kitchen, her parents had overheard every word. Which was why it was no surprise that they sided with her guardians; they wanted their daughter safe and if it meant her leaving them, then so be it.

By this time Usagi had enough. She rounded on Alex and Lita and simply yet firmly told them no. She would not leave her loved ones or Terra until their enemy had been destroyed and that was final. She then excused herself to her get ready for the festival.

After wards, Usa and her Senshi met with Darien and his Generals at the Crown. Mina was reluctantly sharing information with the terrans. She didn't like having foreigners interfering with her work and that was what Dave was doing with all his questions and suggestions. Josh wanted to know about their intelligence and where it was coming from. Jiro asked about their plans for defense and the possibility of exit strategy. Frankie had been talking to Rei and brought up something that neither Mina nor Dave had thought of. The Senshi were not of this world and everything felt the similar to them. However, the Generals were of this world and they knew what was of Terra and what was not. Why hadn't they though to use them to help track this unseen foe?

Ami admitted that his was right. The Senshi had been arrogant by not including the Generals in their search which thus far had yielded nothing. Mina wanted to hold off on further judgment until the Terrans provided them with solid information that could be used in locating their enemy.

Dave turned to Frankie and Jiro which left the Senshi feeling embarrassed. Mina was seething; Dave had been sitting on this information and had not been forthcoming with it. Frankie said that Rei had unknowing confirmed his and Jiro's assessments, then Dave revealed the greatest shocker: The enemy was already on Terra.

Lita wanted to know why they hadn't they said something. All that time and the resources wasted when David could have just picked up the freaking telephone…She had to leave the booth or she would have attacked one of them.

Usagi wanted to know the same. She was angry that Darien had been keeping something so important and vital from her. Darien answered for his men. This was an internal problem and Terra would handle it.

Usagi felt sick and ashamed. She blamed herself for this. She had cut Darien out of certain parts of her life, all the while justifying it all by saying that she was trying to protect him and his planet. She had treated him as…Usagi pushed her emotions aside to focus on the matter at hand.

It was decided that they would continue with their initial plans and go about their day as if nothing was the matter. That meant they were going to festival.

 

o.O.o

 

Rei could not rid herself of the cloud of fear that hovered over her since that morning. She had been at her booth for two hours now, casting fortunes that and reading auras. The readings were not apart of her original program, but Rei was using it her customers as covers as she openly cast out a psychic net, searching for dark magics if they were out there. While with her last customer, she spotted Dave moving in through the crowd with Serena riding high on his shoulders. The silver haired youth stopped beside Frankie and the two had a brief conversation. Frankie nodded at something Dave had said and then his commander moved on.

Frankie had come with her and was there as her back up incase something were to happen. Rei was glad to have him there—each of them. Whatever was going to happen, it was going to happen today, until it did, they just had to wait.

 

Frankie did not like this. All this waiting business was play havoc with his nerves and was making him jumpy. It was why he started so violently when Jiro clapped him on the shoulders.

“Frank. Man, what the hell got into you?” His roommate demanded.

Frankie was hunched over with his right hand clamped over his racing hear. “Madre de dio,” he panted. “God, you almost gave a damned heart of attack.”

Jiro ignored that. “Dave said that you felt an abomination or something in this area and he sent me over here to check it out.”

It took him a moment, but Frankie did manage to get his heart out of his throat. “Sí, at that fortune teller's booth over there.” He pointed to the one that read “Black Moon Supernatural Club. As soon as I had entered the school grounds, I felt that something didn't seem right,” Frankie explained, “The feeling of uneasy only grew stronger the closer I came to that booth. There is just so much negative energy coming from that tent and that that chick in there, it just screams abomination. Do you feel that?” He asked Jiro, his voice hardly more than a whisper, but he knew Jiro had heard him.

Jiro nodded, his express was tight with barely suppressed rage. “I do. A black void surrounds that tent. Why the name The Black Moon Club? What does it mean?” His eyes narrowed even as realized that something was completely off with the tent and the chick with her crystal ball.

“Rei said she had a vision about inverted black crescents,” Frankie told him.

Jiro looked at him in shock. “She's telling you about her visions?”

Frankie glared at him, “Just because she's seeing that loser doesn't mean we don't talk. But seriously, Rei's got these visions and they're starting to worry her. We've tried channeling the negative energy, but with no luck. We gotta get Endy and Usa out of here. Something big is about to go down.” He watched as a girl went running from the Black Moon booth and others a couple others went running for Rei and the festival director. “Shit,” Frankie swore, “We're too late.”

Rei looked up when she heard the commotion coming from the Black Moon's tent. She met Frankie's worried gaze over the crowd, he didn't want her to go, but Rei was being pulled towards the Black Moon booth.

Swearing under his breath, Frankie trotted after her. He shouted to Jiro to tell Dave what was going as he went after Rei.

Rei pushed her way to front of the so-called fortuneteller's tent and stepped between the dark haired girl under the purple veil and her latest victim. When the charlatan started to reach for her crystal ball, Rei slapped the offensive object to ground and caught the girl's wrist in a painfully tight hold.

“What is the meaning of this?” Rei demanded angrily. “Why are you pretending to predict such tragedies for those who visit your booth?”

“What I speak is the truth,” the other girl declared. “You should not fear death. It should be embraced and welcomed.”

“Majo!” Rei snarled. With a flick of turn of her hand, Rei twisted the girl's wrist almost to the point of breaking causing the witch to cry out. “You speak of curses and lies. Only those with nothing to live for fear death. What you are doing is needlessly frightening people for you own perverse pleasures.”

To her surprise the false seer smirked, a cruel look appeared in her eyes as she regarded Rei. “Maybe you are the one with the fear, Hino-san.” She smiled then and it was a ghastly sight.

Before Rei could reply, the festival director caught Rei's right sleeve and pulled it slight. “Let's go find the Mother,” Kate said imploringly. Then she turned to the seer, “Until we return, your booth is closed, Catzi.”

Reluctantly Rei allowed Kate to pull her away. Rei glanced back for Frankie, he gestured behind her, and Rei knew the strange girl was following them. They entered the closed off part of the school. Rei managed to pursuit Kate to return to the festival, she told her that she would find inform the Mother Superior of what had been going on. No sooner had Kate left when Rei heard a voice call out.

“Hino Rei. You are so different from everyone else in this place.” The speaker cooed, “We know about you. The difficulties you face because of your gift. You feel as if no one understands you. Your father has betrayed you by abandoning you to life of isolation and fear by leaving you in that run down old temple with only that old man to care for you?”

Suppressing a growl Rei turned around to where the sound of footsteps. Out of the shadows came Catzi. Rei was not surprised or impressed by the tacky outfit that witch was wearing, but she was curious about that black crescent in the middle of the other girl's brow.

“Come join us, Rei.” Catzi said. Behind her appeared fifteen black droids. “Come to the Black Moon and we will take away all your fears and make you invincible.” Her voice changed to a low, melodious singsong that was meant to hypnotize and possess.

…The enemy is already here… Rei threw the thought out to her sister Senshi. “Who are you?” Rei demanded tersely. Her right hand closed over her transformation crystal as she stared at the smiling chimp. “Where do you came from and what do think you will accomplish here?”

Catzi's drones moved to surround the girl. Rei slowly dropped into a defensive crouch as the Dark Moon witch came towards her.

“I am Catzi,” the strange girl was saying, “I am the youngest of the Four Sisters of Deception who serves Crimson Rubeus. And as for what we want. We want you, Hino Rei, to join our side.”

“Why should I?”

“To save our planet, Terra, from the cruelty of those who worship the accursed stone of illusions that will destroy our world.”

Stone of Illusions? Rei frowned. “What are you talking about? What stone could destroy this planet?”

“Terra is being threatened by the outside forces that will one day destroy our home. We need you to help us find the Silver Imperial Crystal and its keeper and destroy them before they can ruin our history and force us into subjugation while their puppet king…”

Outside, Mercury had been listening to the conversation and recording it for further analyst. The last part had her worried. “Venus, are you getting this?” she demanded of her commander who was rushing across from the other side of the schoolyard.

“I am,” was the grim reply. “It's an assassination plot and they are trying to use the Terrans against the Queen.”

“Mars wants to eliminate the target.”

“Take her out.”

Frankie stood outside the gym, listening to everything was being said by the Black Moon freak. The girl, Catzi was apart of group of dissenters who wanted to overthrow Endymion's government in the future so they had come to pass thinking they could so. That explained why Frankie felt Terra around the girl, but whatever it was that she and her comrades had hooked up with not of this world. It stank on her like three-day-old fish in the sun or a pair Dave's gym socks; both were lethal on hot days just like the crap that Catzi was carrying around on her back and it was making Frankie worry.

“I am sorry, Catzi, however, I decline generous offer.” Rei said politely.

“You are a powerful psychic,” Catzi continued to press on. “We will help you develop your talents and give you a place to belong.”
         “I said no.”

The kind, helpful façade fell from Catzi face, “We are not giving you a choice. You will join the Black Moon.” To prove that she was serious, black fire leapt sparked and danced around her closed fists.

For Rei, Catzi had just thrown down the gauntlet. Before the other girl blink, Rei had leap into the air and hit Catzi full in the face with jumping turning kick. The attack was so unexpected that she had caught Catzi unawares. Catzi fell back to the floor with blood and teeth exploding from her mouth; Rei landed in a crouch and immediately went after the other girl.

Meanwhile Frankie was caught up in his own trouble. He was swamped by drones and he wasn't the only one. Dave had Sam and Hotaru with him and they were trying to protect Usagi and Serena from a gang of drones. The enemy had finally decided to attack in order to escape with their prize.

Mina felt it. A pain lanced through her heart and for a moment everything seemed to have slowed down. She heard Trista and Lita shouting as they raced to the gymnasium yet before they could reach the doors, the building exploded.
        “Rei!&# 8221; Frankie's yells could have been heard across the school grounds. Mina turned and saw that David and Josh were wrestling him to ground to keep him from running into the burning remains of the building.

Usagi shrank back in horror as she felt Rei bring spirited out of this plane. This was too much for her already overwrought nerves. Silently, she called Rei's name before she collapsed in a dead faint.

 

4

 

 

 

Rei had been taken.

Mars wanted answers when Usagi had none. Mina of course took the blame saying that she had underestimated their enemies, but she would not allow such an act to go unpunished. It was again that Lita brought up the idea of Usagi leaving Terra. The argument had turned almost violent physical confrontation when Darien learned that Mina had been trying to convince Usagi to leave before. Darien felt betrayed by his sister and her seemingly lacked of faith him in to protect Usagi and his planet.

Alex threw in that he could not protect his planet since he was not its ruler and had no real say in its destiny. She also let loose the secret Usagi had been keeping from him and until she realized the look of horror on the young Queen's pale did she know it had been a secret.

Usagi did not know what do. Rei had been captured, Mars was blaming her since Usagi refused to leave Terra, and now Darien was angry with her. Darien left in a huff, he did not say anything to either she or Mina. His generals went after him with Dave promising that he would get Darien to calm down. Soon after the Senshi broke off into separate groups and went home.

Usagi had seen to Serena and had put the somber child to bed. Hours later, Usagi was the only person awake in the house and it did not seem that she would be sleeping soon. She sat in her bedroom window watching as the night grew longer, waiting for the dawn.

Over head the bright light of a still brilliant pearl moon hung ponderously in the dark blue sky a silent sentinel for it's Queen. Some time before, when she realized that sleep would not come to her, Usagi spent a few minutes surfing the Internet when she had stumbled across a news report from Holland that had everyone from amateur astrometry to the NASA turning their telescopes to her planet's pale surface.

Life had been discovered and of all the places, it had been on the Moon. A few days before, a group of Martians deliberately wrecked NASA probe. It was one of major issues the Martian Ambassador had wanted to address. Trivial things like the Terran dropping probes onto his King's planet, instead the audience almost become at declaration of war. Ares and his people blamed Usa for Rei being kidnapped.

Again, Usagi blamed herself. Was she so selfish? Because she wanted to remain of Terra one of her dearest friends and allies had been captured by the enemy. And now she had had half of planets wanting to declare war on Terra because of her ineptitude. It was all her fault.
         “Selene, what am I supposed to do?” She whispered. “How can I protect my kingdom when I can't even protect those I love?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four

 

1

 

 

 

“Serena,” Usagi smiled tenderly as she wiped the tears from the little girl's face as she came awake.

“Mama!” The child cried as sat up. She threw herself into Usagi's arms and began crying afresh.

It hurt her not to be able to comfort her child, more so than the pain she already felt at losing Mars. The undeveloped maternal instincts were tugging at her heartstrings causing Usa to feel guiltier than she already did. It was bad enough that she hadn't been to school in the last four days. She was in danger of failing this term, but it was kind of difficult balancing schoolwork with growing the demands of the both the Silver Millennium and the Silver Alliance. She could never forget her duties to her planet and empire. Nor could she forget her until recent silent enemy, whose only moves so far had been to put a doomsday prophet at First Street, scare a bunch of kids, blow up a gym, and kidnapped Rei.

Usagi tucked Serena into her lap, wrapping her arms about her as she rocked them slowly. Ares was not happy and Luna hinted that some of the diplomats thought she was incapable of dealing with this situation and a few others thought she was not fit to rule her kingdom. Luna felt that all the fears and doubts could be laid to rest if Usa would return to Silver Millennium, most especially now. For the protection and continuation of the line of the Selene and the protection of the Universe, all parties believed that it would best if she would go back to the Moon, be crowned and started behaving like the ruler her mother had brought her up to be.

All of these arguments and the constant fear of more of her Senshi being taken. These burdens were wearing not on Usa's mind and her spirit, they were manifesting as physical ailments.

Usa ran a through Serena's unbound hair. The silken strawberry strains slipped easily through her long pale fingers. No, she couldn't believe that. There had to be hope for herself and her kingdom in the future if she and Darien were to have Serena…

Or maybe something did happen and Silver Millennium suffered because she refused to leave Terra and was the reason the enemy was here.

Great Goddess she did not know!

Serena raised her worried, tear-stained face and saw the pain and sadness etched on her mother's face. Slowly she reached up, her small, childish hand brushed at Usa's tense face. At the soft touch, Usa looked down at her questioningly.

“It's alright, Mama,” the little girl smiled; although her sapphire eyes were swimming in unshed tears, “Even queens cry sometimes.”

Usagi searched the child's face, before her lips curved into a hesitant smile. “Thank you, bunny.” She pressed an affectionate kiss the Serena's brow. “And I will, after we bring Rei home.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

The enemy had disappeared once again.

Mina was half listening to her professor as she tried to make sense of the latest reports she had received from Silver Millennium.

How could they suddenly appear and just as quickly disappear?

She had given up on to decipher what the Seers on Pluto had tried to communicate. She would let Trista deal with them. Just as she put those aside she got an e-mail from Ami. As much as Mina hated it, she had been forced to deal with the Menace and his leader.

Since Frankie had been working at the temple, he and Rei had become close. What she didn't tell Usagi or Ami, Rei had confided to Frankie. So Frankie, with the help of Jiro and Rei's grandfather, they were searching for any trail that their enemy could have made in this world or the spiritual one.

She hated this. She really freaking hated this entire situation. She was two Senshi short, with a lunatic band of determined psychos terrorizing Silver Millennium and her Queen. And all she could do was sit by and for them to attack again.

The class couldn't end soon enough. Students were packing up there bags as the professor called out the writing assignment for the next lecture. Mina slammed her notebook computer closed and started to reach for her bag only to have someone beat her to it. Her pale gold eyes moved over the large, strong hand, the powerful tanned forearm, the solid thick biceps and shoulder to Dave's slightly grinning face.

“I got this for you, Min.” He said as he hefted her heavy bag up on his shoulder.

For a moment, Mina stared at him speechless. She recovered though and with a haughty little toss of her head, Mina turned her back on him.

“I didn't know you were taking this class, Rothschild.” She said once they had left the hall. They started towards the student quad, Mina waved at some people she knew.

“It's part of the requirement for my major.”

“And what are you reading for?”

It took him a moment to understand what she meant. “Oh, yeah. You Brits with your strange ways.” He flashed a quick grin, “I'm studying International Law and Sociology.”

“A double major?” She was impressed.

“Yeah,” he said sheepishly. “But lately it's been feeling like a double noose.”

“Tell me about it.”

Dave regarded her for a moment, “Naw, I doubt if could.”

Mina didn't like the way he was looking at her. The last thing she wanted was for the jerk who was trying to steal her brother to pity her. Call her crazy, but Mina would have preferred being pounced by a screaming horded of crazy Sailor V fans…

“I'm going to buy you cup of coffee,” Dave announced. Without waiting for her answer, Dave caught Mina's free hand in his and pulled her towards the dining hall. At first Mina tried to pull her hand free, but Dave only increased his hold on hand until she stopped trying to get away.

She didn't know what else to do short of pulling out her sword and cutting off his hand. She didn't want to do that—But she really could use a something hot to drink and maybe a bite to eat.

“Alright, throw in a couple muffins and we got a deal.”

Dave looked down at her and was graced by one of Mina's rare, carefree smiles as well as confirmed something that about her that Dave had always suspected: She was beautiful in anything, even if it happened to be baggy sweat pants, a hoodie, and running shoes with mismatched socks.

He just wished he could get her to smile like that more often and relax around him. It was kind of hard having a crush on a girl who acted like she wanted to rip you a new one every time you saw her. Yet Dave wasn't about to give up on Mina. He was going to win this ice queen over. He just prayed that he survived the experience with all his teeth, fingers, toes, and testacies. Did he forget to mention that Mina was kind of evil and very scary?

No? He didn't think so.

He was a sick man, but God, he was in love with this Goddess of Beauty, War, and Death.

 

 

3

 

 

“Hino Rei. You are so different from everyone else in this place.” The speaker cooed, “We know about you. The difficulties you face because of your gift. You feel as if no one understands you. Your father has betrayed you by abandoning you to life of isolation and fear by leaving you in that run down old temple with only that old man to care for you?”

The enemy had known things about Rei, information that was not common knowledge. They knew about Rei's past, Ami wondered how their foe managed to obtain this information.

“Come join us, Rei.” Catzi said. Behind her appeared fifteen black droids. “Come to the Black Moon and we will take away all your fears and make you invincible.”

Rei had been their target all along. The enemy had needed a power psychic and somehow they had learned about Rei's gifts. Where did they get their information and were they looking for others individuals like Rei on Terra and if they were, did the enemy all ready have them?

…The enemy was already here… Rei threw the thought out to her sister Senshi. “Who are you? Where do you come from and what do think you will accomplish here?”

“I am Catzi,” the strange girl was saying, “I am the youngest of the Four Sisters of Deception who serves Crimson Rubeus. And as for what we want. We want you, Hino Rei, to join our side.”

“Why should I?”

“To save our planet, Terra, from the cruelty of those who worship the accursed stone of illusions that will destroy our world.”

Stone of Illusions? Rei frowned. “What are you talking about? What stone could destroy this planet?”

“Terra is being threatened by the outside forces that will one day destroy our home. We need you to help us find the Silver Imperial Crystal and its keeper and destroy them before they can ruin our history and force us into subjugation while their puppet king…”

They were not of this time. They were rebels of future hell bent on overthrowing their King. They wanted to find Serenity before she claimed her throne. What would Usagi and Darien do in the future that would cause such a powerful rebellion? Why would they refer to Darien as a puppet King? Where would this group of radicals come from?

…The enemy was already here…

“Ami,” her swim coach called out, bringing Ami's thoughts back to the present, “you're up next.”

 

o.O.o

 

Ami went home tried after a long practice. Normally being in the water would invigorate her physically as well as spiritually. But today she had to struggle in the pool; the waters had felt as if it were trying push in on her and surround her. When she went to shower afterwards, every shower head and faucet exploded as the powerful jets of spray tried to wrap around her again. At first Ami thought her powers were out of control, only to learn that the problem was a bent pipe that caused the accident in the girls' locker room and it was easy for her to caulk her poor performance in the pool up to plain old exhaustion.

There were a five messages waiting on her answering machine. Two were from Mina and they sounded urgent. Another was from her mother letting her know that someone from the Moon had stopped by and left a package for Ami (she really did say it that way.) The package was more analysis of the Terran surface and report. She scanned the document as she half listened as someone invited her to some party for that weekend. Every since people found out that she knew the Starlights (it didn't matter if she really knew them or not) and had seen hanging out with Mina Aino as well as dating Eiji Kaiou (it had been one time and it wasn't even a date. Everyone had gone out as one big group,) Ami's social star had risen in ranks at the Infinity College. To her disgust, Ami was now one of the popular people. It didn't matter before when she was just the top ranking students in the school and highest ranked in the nation for her age group (Darien had held that title for so long that he was no longer included in this ranking.) or that she dominated in swimming. For the last two years, Ami has held the fastest time for the 400 meter medley and ranking national champion in the both the butterfly and backstroke and each year she broke her own record. Which reminded her; she had a meet the next day. She should call Usa and asked if she were coming.

The next message was from her coach reminding Ami to get some rest. That was top on her list of priorities. Ami couldn't remember the last time she actually fell asleep in her bed. She had passed out on the couches, at her desk, or on top of her bed but rarely has she moved beneath the covers. She prayed to all the Gods of both Mercury and Terra that she made it to bed before one o'clock.

The final message pushed all other thoughts about the enemy, her problems, and the meet completely out of her head.

“Hey, Merc, it's Josh.” Ami dropped down in her desk chair; unbeknownst to her a bright happy smile broke on her face while she listened to Josh asking her if she wanted to catch a movie that night. Ami had the phone up before the message ended. She punched in the numbers she knew by hard and after three rings it was picked up.

“Moshii, moshii,” it was Frankie who picked up the phone.

“Hello, Frankie,” Ami was trying to be kinder to Frankie since Rei's kidnapping. “Is Josh home?”

“No, he and the cover boy had to go the library for something. But he should be back in a few minutes. You want to leave a message or—“ Suddenly in the background there was a large commotion. Ami heard Jiro and Dave yelling something, she heard Mina's name a couple times and then her own. Worried, Ami called out to Frankie, trying to get his attention when David came on the line.

“Ami, where are you?” He demanded.

Puzzled she said, “I'm at home, why?”

“Are you alone?”

“Yes. David, what's going on—“

“Damn it.” Dave turned away from the receiver but she heard him shout to both Jiro and Frankie, “How close are Darien and Josh to Ami's?” He paused to hear the answer and he started swearing. He calmed down just a long enough to ask Ami if she could teleport to their house.

“I could,” she said hesitantly, “But why can't I just—“

“I'll tell you when you get here.” He said brusquely. “Just grab all that you need for tonight and teleport inside our house.” And he rang off.

Ami did as he ordered; She grabbed her laptop, her toothbrush, and some clean clothes and her school bag. She had just summoned her Sailor Crystal when something broke down her front door. Cold energy had begun wrapped about her as the gates between dimensions opened up around her. Silvered, ice blue eyes flew to her bedroom door as it was blown open and inside rushed a woman in blue body suit and white hair.

“Stop her!” A disembodied voice yelled at the woman. And the strange woman made to leap at the disappearing Mercurian Queen.

But out of the blue, the strong, pure angelic voice of Ami's Queen called out. “Moon Halation!” A brilliant silver light flooded Ami's room, slamming into Ami's attacker and disintegrating her on contact. As she faded from sight, Ami saw the light pour out of her room as Usagi's purifying agents cleansed the darkness out of the Mizuno's apartment and continued on to rest through the rest of the building.

When she looked again, Ami was standing in the middle of the Generals' living room. Before she could speak, Ami was caught up in a big bear hug from Frankie.

“Frankie, please,” she gasped as she tried to get free. “Let me go. I can't breathe. Frankie!”

Across the street from the Mizuno's home, standing proudly on the roof top of another condominium was Sailor Moon. Clinging to her right leg, Serena gazed proudly up at the powerful warrior queen, who was her own personal idol.

Once the purification was complete, Sailor Moon lowered her scepter and with it her transformation faded until she was just Usagi again. She bent slightly at the waist to remove her daughter from her jean clad leg. Her long plaits fell over her shoulders, brushing both of their faces as she moved.

“Mama, is all over now?” Serena inquired softly as Usagi settled her on to her back.

“No, baby.” Usa replied grimly, “This war has just begun.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Five

 

1

 

 

 

Life brought with it many things, some things which were good like getting high marks in your cell bio class or getting that extra burst of speed when you're on that final leg of 100 meters race. Then there were the bad things. Things like missing your favorite old movie on television or having one of your best friends being captured by the Dark Moon family only to have them come back for you.

Ami dropped her fork on the dinner plate then dropped her head in her hands. At the opposite end of the table, Marie Mizuno concerned eyes were fixed on her daughter's sad face.

“Anne Marie?” She called out softly.

The two softly spoken words caught Ami's attention immediately. It was rare that her mother ever called Ami by her real name. A slight grimace appeared on the gentle girl's face as she reminded herself that it was not her true name either. She was Sophia, an extraterrestrial queen who somehow replaced the Mizuno's baby while it was still in the womb. She and the others were in the classical sense changelings, a being begotten by some supernatural being and then secretly exchanged for the rightful child. They were not demonic, they were not sent here to hurt the ones who reared them, for Queen Serenity would have never been so cruel. But they were hurting their families. They would one day abandon them because the Terrans will look at them and see that they were different. They would see that they were not aging, that they defied the natural order of things and then—

“Honey,” Marie's voice broke through the hysteria that threatened to consume her and Ami grabbed hold to it like a life line.

She lifted her face from her cold hands showing the tears that streaming openly down her face. Each tear that splatter on the lace table top froze on contact. She felt weak and helpless which warred with the valiant warrior and ruler that resided in her soul. The internal battles, the guilt she was feeling over Rei's capture and her own rescue was playing havoc in her heart.

In times like these, Ami would wish that she never became a Senshi in this life only feel ashamed when she though of her friends and how they had also fought and managed to handle the constant changes in their lives. Mina used to do this alone for years and…and…Ami did not care. At that moment she was not a queen nor was she a Senshi. She was a girl barely sixteen-years-old who until six months ago lived in a sheltered little world. She was scared to death for herself and her friends and she needed her mother at that moment.

Marie was at her side in a heartbeat. Her arms wrapped protectively about her frail daughter and she held her tightly as she could.

Ami was cold, frightfully so. Had she been anyone else, Marie would have rushed her to hospital in fear for that person's life. She knew the girl in her arms was an illusion. A few weeks before Marie had seen her daughter's true face, the one hidden by her mask of humanity.

Ami was ice; a living, breathing being of ice and mist and frigid waters. Her chilly flesh was blue-grey, not a pale translucent white that is associated with the ice blasted artic, Ami was the frozen waters that surrounded the polar caps. Her features were very sharp and exotic, completely at odds with the soft, delicate features that Marie knew almost as well as she knew her own face.

The face Marie had seen that one time was not of a girl who was shy and uncertain of herself, but of a self assured, confident woman who had witnessed more than her share battles and tragedies. Her eyes were hazel, an exotic blend of blues and grays that moved as water did in a pool and her hair—Marie finally knew why her daughter had dark blue hair. Ami's true hair color was the cold early morning fog rolling off a lake touched pale blue undertones which all in all gave Ami an iridescent effect. Ami had explained that people of Mercurians lacked the pigments for such a strong colour. Not even the venerated Queen Serenity's magic had been powerful enough to override Mercurian natural physiology.

Ami felt her mother trembled beside her. She knew that she was the cause. Once again guilt tore at her as she gently removed herself from her mother's embrace.

“I'm sorry, Mama.” She whispered as she dried her eyes wet eyes. Ami just happened to glance down when she noticed the ice sickles forming on the front of her mother's blouse. Anguish sank its mighty jaws into her as the divide between her once human self gave more ground to the alien that she was.

“Ami,” Marie whispered sadly as she reached up to touch her daughter's face but the girl drew back.

Marie let her hand dropped back to her side with a soft sigh. Ami wasn't rejecting her; Ami knew her skin was too cold to touch.

Her poor little girl, Marie though as she rose to her feet, how she wished she could take away her pain. How sad and alone she looked. Marie sensed that Ami was apologizing for more than ice sickles and the frozen tears. She apologizing for the changes that she was experiencing and the person she was now. She was not Dr. Marie Mizuno's daughter anymore, but that was fine by Marie. In her heart, Sophia, Sailor Mercury, the Queen of Mercury, and whoever else she was would always be her sweet, little Ami. She hoped that her touch conveyed what words failed to do.

She gave Ami acceptance. From Ami's remembered past, this was what her people never had from the ancient people of Earth.

“I'm here for you, Ami.” Marie promised her. “I'm here for you always.”

 

 

2

 

Lita and Alex had left their sorority sisters at the last club now the two were ready to go home. Life was becoming kind of rough for all the girls. Each was in school trying to continue with the lives and responsibilities they had before becoming Sailor Warriors and monarchs of alien worlds.

Since Rei had been captured and the attempted kidnapping of Ami, Mina had been them all working double shifts in:

1. Guarding Usagi

2. Research with the Generals

3. Training and drilling

4. Working as liaisons between the High Council and Mina herself.

The later was actually a top priority since Mina was on the verge of going to Silver Millennium and it wasn't for a pleasure trip either. Luna (to Lita dumbfound and heart attack inspiring surprise) headed off Mina's plots for murder and destruction of the Imperial High Council by suggesting that Mina worked directly with her (the brave woman) and if Mina needed to speak with the a Minister or Council member that she assign one of the Senshi serve as her proxy.

That job fell mostly on Ami and Hotaru's shoulders since Ami was Mina's Intelligence Office and Advisor to both Mina and Usagi and Hotaru was one of Mina's second-in-command; Unfortunately there were those few occasions when either Lita or Alex was had to it because Ami was in class or Hotaru was in one of her Mina phases or Trista just would not be bothered. It was always something and frankly the two girls were feeling over extended and their contributions were not being appreciated by Mina and the others. (Lita had missed two assignments and Alex had to talk to her mother twice since she had been too distracted to avoid her.)

After spending the day complaining about it and that they wanted to attend their sorority's mixer, Mina grudgingly worked out schedule with Dave and the guys which gave the Senshi the night off from guarding, research, training, and whatever else. Lita felt guilty taking the night off to relax while Mina and the Terrans took up her slack, but not so guilty that she wanted to rush home and start reading those transcripts from the Imperial Forces. Besides her meeting with Mina wasn't until later the next day and she could read them in her history class or had them over to Ami and bow out of the meeting all together. She would need to come up with a plausible excuse to get out of though, Mina didn't care if you were on your deathbed taking your final breath, if she wanted something from you, you best deliver or there would be hell to pay. She and Alex turned off on Greek row and started walking towards their cars. Beside her the tall, willowy Russian woman yawned broadly as stretched her back with a great deal of bone creaking and joint popping.

Lita tried not to cringe, but by the fifth pop of Alex's vertebrate, she was ready to crack herself. It was ironic that she had not problem snapping another's spine or ripping their head from their shoulders after sending 1000 watts of electricity through their body. Still when Alex pooped the tendons in her neck for the second time, Lita was ready to scream bloody murder.

When Alex went for her third, Lita caught her mischievous grin and she turned to yell at her to stop when the area around them exploded.

 

o.O.o

 

With trembling fingers, Usagi cautiously snagged a fry from the ignorant David's basket and dipped it to Mina's spicy buffalo sauce.

“I think it would best for everyone if we were all in one location.” David slid the basket in front of Usa. He didn't miss her thievery. But after twenty minutes of arguing with the stubborn blonde goddess seated across from him had destroyed Dave's appetite and left a rather sour feeling in his gut which felt suspiciously like an ulcer. “You and your team would be able to protect Usa and we can defend you all of you.”

Mina's right eye was twitching, spasming rather uncontrollably, as she fought a losing battle for her self-control. Usa tried to make herself as small as possible and remain silent in the face of the Venusian's growing wraith. Darien had been smart and left the table as soon as the conversation had turned to their enemy. He knew his sister better than anyone and at the time Usa hadn't thought follow. Curse her voracious appetite and Andrew's tofu burger! Now she was going to die because David was a either a masochist or he was just too freaking stupid to see that he was pissing Mina off. Mina was going to kill him and she was going to be crushed when his two ton corpse fell on her.

Mina had heard enough. David had done nothing but try to undermine her authority and her position since the day he came into his power. He wanted to take control of her Senshi, be charge of protecting Usa, and he was trying to steal her genocide away from her!

Goddamn it!

Mina had had it up to her hairline with the overbearing terran male! How dare he imply that she did not know her duties! The insufferable bastard had to die.

With a wild shriek Mina lunged at David her hands like claws as she aimed for his eyes. A scream of terror tore from Usagi's lips since she was in the crossfire. At that moment everything seemed to slow down around them.

Almost over the table, Mina felt her pulse quicken as a surge of power rush through her head. Two of her warriors transformed. In her mind's eyes she could see Jupiter and Uranus going into battle. Their opponent was a tall woman in a mini skirt with some kind of mangy dead animal draped over her shoulders. She was no serious threat to them as Uranus proved as she easily her dispatched by loping off her head before turning to join Jupiter against the real danger.

Mina was falling onto the table. David let out a strangled cry as he reached up to grab her, but just as his hands closed about her waist, Mina disappeared in a flash of sparkling golden lights.

David stared at the empty space in shock. The girl in front of him had simply vanished but not like a poof of smoke or with a wave of her hand…Dave had been looking directly into Mina's face, their eyes had met and in that brief moment he had seen Mina's true face. He had seen Love in the flesh and it frightened him. Love walked hand and hand with death. Beauty was just an illusion and it was eros' greatest weapon. David was so caught up in the mysterious of Mina that he did not hear the small gasp that came from Usagi. He heard Darien called out the same instance he felt a warmth at his side where Usa sat. He turned to the small lunar girl but she was long gone.

Darien altered his course mid-step and turned to the door. He felt the negative energy that called and challenged Usa. Dave quickly fell into step beside him and he was aware of Andrew chasing after them.

If it wasn't Sam then it was Drew. After Darien's party and at the start of this mess, the two guys followed their friends to a battle at the risk of their own lives in order to help their friends. Dave picked up on the Senshi's energy signatures and called back over his shoulder to Drew that they were going to KO campus and to call Frankie and Jiro.

Darien felt Josh with the girls. Josh was tutoring that night and he must have still been on the campus when Jupiter and Uranus were ambushed.

Damn it! They had to get there in time…

 

 

3

 

 

 

“Jupiter!” Sailor Moon's anguished screams echoed through the debris littered street on the K O campus as she gave chase after the fading light that had taken her cousin and two of her friends. “Jupiter!”

“Sailor Moon,” Venus cried running after the small girl to prevent her from being hurt or worst, captured.

Left behind to pick up the pieces and restore so semblance of order, Saturn, Pluto, and Zoisite closed and sealed ruptured water mains and repaired electrical lines. It was all they could do not give into their anger and wreak move havoc on the all ready damaged campus. Still Zoisite allowed some of his frustrations to vent by putting his fist through windshield of an unoffending car.

Neither Saturn nor Pluto scolded him, he was hurting just as they were, so they understood.

“I still can't believe they took them? How could that—that thing be stronger than three Goddesses?” Saturn murmured quietly to Pluto as they moved down the alley. Her guardians had been busy that night collecting the souls of the dead. Pain crossed her normally impassive features as she recognized two of the people that had been killed by their enemy during the attack.

Pluto had caught the look. She reached out and touched her commander's tense shoulder offering her compassion as the Guardian of Death and Destruction sent two of her childhood friends to their final resting place.

“They will find peace in Thanatos' embrace.” Pluto told her.

The smaller woman nodded sadly. “It was their time.” She turned her face away so Pluto would not see her tears. “But this was—this was unnecessary.”

“Kore,” Pluto said uncertainly. “If you want—“

She reached up and removed Pluto hand from her shoulder. “I will be aright,” she assured her. Her voice was thick with unshed tears, so she had to clear her throat. “I just don't know what I am going to say to their families?”

 

 

Zoisite was abruptly pulled away from the car he was demolishing. He swung around ready to lay into who had interrupted him only to meet Jadeite's understanding eyes. Zoisite dropped his fist, the rage that had fueled him suddenly drained away leaving him with only guilt and despair.

“They took her, man.” He told him. His voice hitched as he fought down a sob. “They took Ami.”

“Ami?” Jadeite choked his eyes wide with disbelief. “¿Cómo…?”

“She teleported in just when I got here,” Zoisite said, “Lita and Alex were being sucked into that wormhole and she tried to rescue them—But she wasn't strong enough. I couldn't help her and when the rest of the girls showed up it…”

 

 

 

 

“It just absorbed them.” A grim face Venus told Tuxedo Kamen and Kunzite. Her arms were closed protectively about the pitiful sobbing figure of her Queen. There were no tears in embittered warrior's hard golden eyes just a frighteningly cold resolution. She looked away, grief and shame making sharp marks on her beautiful face as she ground out. “They hadn't a hope in hell of standing against that thing.”

Kamen was shaken; he had never seen his sister so distant or Usagi so broken. It hurt him to his heart that he could not do anything to take away hers or Usagi's pain. He could not allow this Dark Moon gang to continue uncheck. For their sake, he would stop them, somehow.

Every one of Kunzite's instincts was telling him to get himself and his Prince as far away from Sailor Venus as fast as he could. Her calm voice, the flat look in her eyes made her all the more dangerous than whatever the hell had been stupid enough to stir her rage.

But Kunzite was a grown man, not some trembling little boy. He was the leader of the Royal Terran Forces, Prince Endymion's second in command and the fearsome warrior who name in the past was equivalent to terror. He was not about to be intimidated by a six foot Amazon in high heels!

“Did you see what it was?” Despite all that he told himself, his voice still shook slightly when those ominous gold eyes turned on him.

At that point Sailor Moon tore away from her guardian and unerringly threw herself into Kamen's arms. “They took my cousin and my best friend…” She sobbed through her tears. “They took Lita…”

Kamen said nothing. Over Moon's head, Kamen watched Venus' hands clench into fists as she stared resolutely ahead.

“I failed to protect them,” she ground out. “I should have been here with them—I should been taken…”

“No!” Sailor Moon violent cry of denial caused everyone's attention to focus squarely on them. After witnessing the horror of losing her friends—No, she would not allow another to be taken.

Venus stared at the Queen helplessly. Moon could see the pain and rage coupled with guilt on her face and it strengthened Usa's resolve as she reached out to her.

“Tuxedo Kamen let me go, please.” She said quietly.

He did the opposite. “Bun, we need to get out of here.” He said in terse whisper. “Whatever you have to say to Min will have to wait until we get you home.”

Moon look like she was going to protest, but the fight died in her eyes and slumped against him, “Take me home.” She whispered. “I have to tell my parents what happened to Lita and…”

“No, your Majesty.” Venus straightened to her full height, “As the Commander of the Imperial Forces of Silver Millennium and the Silver Alliance, the duty is mine.”

Silently the last of her soldiers had gravitated to their leader's side. Sailor Moon looked at the three warriors and her resolve returned, giving her the strength to do what she knew was right. There would never be another moment like this for them. Her warriors had been beaten, four of their number had been taken, and they did not know where their enemy had come from or was hiding out, yet in spite of every set back her warriors refused to give up.

They were proud, Sailor Moon smiled at them. They were fearless, noble, and brave; They were not broken or defeated. They were strong.

“I believe in you,” she told them as she met each of their eyes. “I believe in your strength to defend my kingdom and your unwavering loyalty to protect us all. I trust you.” Her eyes fell on Venus' and she held her gaze. “Silver Millennium looks upon each of you as her guardians who have never failed her. My Senshi, I look to you when I need strength because I know you will lay down your lives for me without a second though and even then you will still fight for me.” She stepped forward and held her hands out to them. “I trust you. Each of you and I know that you will win.”

Behind them Tuxedo Kamen and Kunzite exchanged a weird look. Neither knew what had just happened between the four girls, but what ever it was it huge. Power was rolling off Sailor Moon in waves and the three warriors before her were sending it right back to her. A pale nimbus surrounded Sailor Moon and the Senshi as the group transferred their power. From the corner of his eye, Tux noticed the small crowd that was forming around them. He saw the expressions on their faces, the fear and horror was being replaced by awe and reverence. He turned back to his girlfriend and he understood.

This fight was far from being over.

The very heart of the universe was depending on all of them, Tux nodded to himself as he threw his own hat into the ring. His power reached out and wrapped about his lady. Sailor Moon glanced back at him over her shoulder. The smile on her face was a new dawn in the wake of this all turmoil.

This was far from being finished.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six

 

1

 

 

 

Darien finally understood why his house mates (with the exception of Josh) chose to skip their classes occasionally. It wasn't because they were lazy or didn't care about their class standing (well, he wasn't completely sure about Frankie). It was as Dave often claimed; sometimes a person needed a mental health day.

In all his years as student, Darien had never missed a day of school. The though never crossed his mind until he got up in the middle of his first lecture and walked out the door with his professor yelling for him to come back.

Not wanting to stay on campus, Darien got into his car and headed home. He had kept the radio off, the major news was the fight between them and the Dark Moon and the aftermath. Five people had been killed that night, twenty were injured, and two students were missing. The two missing were of course Lindsey Kino and Princess Anastasia Alexandrova. Darien had caught the morning news before he walked out the door. A morning news program was running an excerpt of last night's news. Kenji and Ilene had appeared and gave a brief statement about the disappearance of their niece and made the obligatory appeal to the Sailor Girls to find Lindsey and Miss Alexandrova.

While Darien had stopped in his favorite coffee shop for espresso and muffin, he heard Alex's mother on the radio blasting the Japanese government for allowing the “terrorists” to continue to roam free and commit all the horrible acts of violence. She demanded that the Minister of Public Safety do whatever it was in his power to protect others from the menace and to find her daughter.

Even Rei's father had to address the issue. All of Japan knew or had heard of how his daughter had been killed by this radical faction which destroyed the gymnasium at her school…At that, Darien tuned the rest out. But he could not escape it. The attack and the kidnapping had been the main topic of conversation on the lips of the students when he went in to class that morning.

What he heard ranged from paranoid delusions to the absurd. After deciding he did not want to spend the rest of the day listening to that rabble adding to fact that he was emotionally exhausted (he had spent the night at Mina's trying to help her cope with this mess.) He had called Usagi that morning to check on her. Her mother hand answered, Usa had gone to school that morning. He had surprised to hear that, but her mother explained that Usagi only went to escape her hounding government. With five Senshi MIA, Silver Millennium was now more afraid for Usagi's life. They wanted her off Earth (Terra for the Intergalactic savvy.). Darien knew Usagi's stand on the issue had not changed and as much as it secretly pleased him, Darien was beginning to think that her government was right. Neither Usagi nor the remaining Senshi were safe on his world. Their enemy was Terran, which made them virtually invisible to the Senshi who could not tell most Terrans apart unless they were familiar with their energy patterns. Their senses were blocked by magic which was fine under normal circumstances except this time it was their greatest hindrance.

Rei was a powerful psychic. When it had just been Usa, Ami, Rei, and himself, the priestess had a near uncanny ability to sense Beryl's pets and predict where they were set loose on Juuban. She had felt the aliens who had invaded over the summer, (now that was the dumbest invasion he had witnessed since seeing the movie Mars Attack as a kid.) So it worried him when Rei had failed to pick up on the so called rebels from the future who were out to assassinate both him and Usa… Darien came to sudden stop, luckily he had come to a red light when he had his epiphany.

They had been going about this entire situation all wrong. When the light changed, Darien gunned the engine and made u-turn, going back towards Tokyo.

If he was right, the answer to their dilemma has been right under their noses the entire time.

 

 

2

 

She knew she shouldn't have come to school, but Usagi could not bear to be her house that morning. The entire atmosphere there had been oppressive. With calls coming in from concerned family members in America and Europe, and the media, it had all been too much, not just for her but her family as well.

Usa looked down at the mess she had scribbled down when she should have been taking notes in her history class. Haruna-sensei had been very understanding when Usagi did not do well on her math test that afternoon. She was going to let Usa make it up at the end of the week, but in the meanwhile her prayers were with her and family. She closed the booklet firmly before dropping it down in her bag.

Usa raised her face to the sky and closed her eyes. A tired sigh mingled with sadness escaped her lips, betraying the false sense of calm and serenity she projected to the outside world. Prayers were the last thing she needed right now. Usa needed answers not just for herself, but her government, the allied planets, as well as the families of her Senshi.

What does the enemy want? She wondered. Where did they come from? Why did they want to destroy her crystal? Could her death really be all they cared for?

“I'm afraid the sun cannot give you the answers you seek any more than the wind can, Serenity.”

At the use of her true name, Usagi's eyes flew open and she turned to face who had dared to intrude upon her solitude. Her pale gray eyes met unremarkable brown in the familiar face one of her oldest friends. Confusion marred her lovely face as she looked up Umino who stood a few feet away from the bench she was seated on.

“What did you call me?” she asked in a low whisper.

Umino heard the demand in her quiet voice as well as the underlying threat. Just like his sister, he was a psychic, but he was not a strong one. But what he lacked with that gift, he made up with his other gift.

“Do not fear, your Majesty, I am your loyal servant.” He said in her mind.

Usa gasped, startled by the mental touch and by the sudden rush of images that followed. This she had only shared with her Senshi and her family, a gift that served to convey her deeper emotions to those she cherished most. It was more intimate and more precious since only showed the truth. As it was now.

Forcefully, Usagi shoved him from her mind. The backlash of her sudden anger rushed over him like a physical attack which caused him to stumble back against a tree. He hit the tree before dropping to the ground in graceless heap. He lay there for a moment pulling up his mental barriers as he also tried to regain his composure.

Suddenly a small hand was at his throat. The pressure from the deceptively delicate hand was cutting off his air supply. He opened his eyes and Usagi emitted a small gasp and quickly let him go.

“Ares?” she said in shocked disbelief. One the brow of her geeky little friend was the last thing she had ever expected to see.

The King of Mars rose from his comfortable seat on the earth floor, pausing to dust dirt and dried leaves from his uniform jacket and his rear all the while the flaming symbol of the Ancient God for whom he had been named was blazing on his forehead.

“In the flesh,” he bowed mockingly.

Usagi face became a deep shade a red as she recalled just moments ago she ready rip the smirking King's throat out because she thought he was the enemy.

“What are you doing here, Ares?” she demanded curtly in an effort to regain control over the situation.

“It's Umino, please Serenity.” He smiled charmingly down at her.

She only huffed and turned her nose up at him defiantly.

He tried again, but Usa was in no mood for flattery. Just when she thought things could not get any worst, the freaking King of Mars just had to show up and possess Umino.

“I have not possessed anyone,” he snapped her as soon as she thought that ridiculous idea. “This is my Terran disguise. I have been on Terra for five years.”

Usa's head whipped around to his direction so fast he was surprised she did not have whiplash. “Five years?” She cried.

He nodded curtly

Usa started to her feet. Ever the courtier, Ares offered her his hand, which she absently accepted.

It took Usa a moment to right herself. Her long hair had gathered bits of leaves and twigs and the bottom of her skirt was dusty. She didn't know what possessed her to wear her hair in buns and pigtails that morning. The stuff was well near uncontrollable when it was loose, the shimmering, semi-transparent strains moved about as if gravity was a myth.

Once she was satisfied that she no longer resembled Serena at play, Usa directed her attention on the King before her and growled out rather menacingly, “Start talking, Ares.” She shoved her index finger in his chest, making him back up until he hit the same tree again. “What the hell are you doing on Terra?”

Ares looked down at the slight girl glaring up at him with daggers in her eyes and he swallowed hard. This meeting was not going as he envisioned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seven

 

 

1

 

 

She had listened to Ares plead his case without interruption and now the Martian King sat tense beside Usagi awaiting her answer.

After going over the matter and weighting the repercussion of each position, Usagi settled on her decision. She turned to Ares, her face expressionless as she crushed all his hope. “I cannot allow you to remain on Terra, Ares.”

Ares stared at her blankly. He must have not heard correctly because he asked her to repeat herself.

“Lugh,” she said softly, using the King's true name. Usa laid her hand over his tightly clinched fist, there was compassion in her tone but there was no regret. “Although I do sympathize with you and your people in concern for your sister, I cannot allow you to stay on Terra.” He started to protest but she continued with that same now mocking voice. “It is my edict that protects this world from the other planets that wishes to invade Terra. Your being here jeopardize Terra's safety—“

“No more than your misguided loyalty to your lover has endangered the life of not just my sister but also the lives of monarch and person in this universe.” He said hotly.

Usa drew in a sharp breath, “How dare you?” she hissed.

“How dare I?” Ares cried, “How dare I? You have no right to question my motives when they are far more pure than your unveiled selfishness, Serenity. How dare I indeed,” he sneered. “I care more for my sister and her fellow warriors than you could, your Majesty.”

“Were I my mother, you would be dead now.” Usa warned him.

Ares was beyond caring. “Yet you are not that worthy Queen.” He hissed. “She would never endanger the lives of her people for a personal fling.”

She slapped him. Her small hand left a dark red imprint on his pale face. Slowly, Ares brought his dark gaze back to her. The fire that he had kept under control was a roaring inferno in his ruby eyes. His mask of humanity fell away and the God of War loomed over the small girl in his full divine glory.

Usa was not intimated. She looked beyond the brilliant radiance to the man “You are more of an arrogant fool than I ever though! You think you can challenge me and that I will meekly stand by and allow you to have you way?”

“I will not go.” He told her.

“I am sorry, Lugh,” she bit off harshly. “But my will remains the same.”

“You cannot ask this of me, Serenity.” He cried. Disgusted with the sudden turn of their conversation, Ares turned away from her, his graze settled on small budding cherry blossom tree. “Nothing is as it should be. Beryl is dead, her pet demon was destroyed and you all have your memories and the your Kingdom has been restored, why won't you go home, Serenity?”

“Do you believe my leaving Terra will make Frejya forget your betrayal?”

“Do you honestly believe by staying here you can protect your petty princeling and his pitiful little world?” He countered.

Usa's eyes narrowed ominously. “You do not want to challenge me.”

He glanced at her over his shoulder, his eyes searching, before he made his confession. “I know Frejya will never forgive me, but I have never cared one wit for the woman nor do I want her forgiveness. Not more than will support your decree when it fails to keep my sister safe. It is beyond even my strength to live through my sister death again.”

“Your sister died on while you were on Mars, sulking as I recall, because Neti-Erra chose her loyalty to Venus over her youthful romance with you.”

He grinned, it was a cruel. “So you were not completely blinded by your lust for Hyperion's bastard as we all believed. You actually knew what was happening in your court.”

“Insult Endymion again, Ares, and Brighid will be on your throne by day's end.” She warned.

He was warned yet he was still angry. He had been forced to live when all those he loved and cherished had passed into the afterlife. Ares had been forced to endure his twin's death as a living witness. He had felt every torn bleeding wound that poured the life out of Brighid and when she ultimately lost her battle against thanatos. Unlike his sister, Ares awoke two days after walking in the land of dead with his twin, and just hours after clinging desperately to Brighid before death's guardians managed to pry her from his arms. Those mercilessly Furies had dragged him back to the land of the living and barred him Persephone's gates when he tried to storm Titan Castle. It had been after Ereshkigal had come to their dimension did Ares find some solace for his distraught heart as did the remaining survivors of that dark day.

Queen Serenity, in her final moments, had summoned a forbidden spell. The magic demanded the ultimate sacrifice to which their great Queen readily paid so that her daughter and those others who died that awful day would live again. The heirs of the Silver Alliance would live. This news gave Ares broken spirit peace. It made him hope and a reason to believe. Happily, Ares fought his way back to sanity and then began to make his plans for reuniting with his twin. He put his oracles to work, he watched the signs himself, and when he felt Brighid's soul come near the Great Void, he was on Terra. Ares searched out her ancestors and protected them while as he waited for the day Shigekane Hino met Lin Far Yow. He officiated at their wedding and he was there when his sister took her first breath her terran body. He held her in his arms, still wet and warm covered the fluids of her birth. The precious bundle in his arms had opened her eyes and her first sight of in this new world was of him. It was all that was needed for their souls reconnect. And for the God of War, it was the first time he felt could breathe in eons.

“You have no idea of what it was like for me to live this long without my sister.” He said his voice was thick with emotion. “I while do love Neti-Erra and worship her with my soul, it is for Brighid—the other half of my soul—that I make my appeal to you. You know that we are Gemini twins, bound to one another through mind, body, and soul. My sister is my dearest friend, my other half, and the love of my life. I died with her that day on Silver Millennium and I lived every day, every century, every millennium with the memory of her screaming my name, digging her nails into my arms as the Furies tore us apart.” He raged, “I will not leave this place until my sister does!”

His pain, rage, and fear hit her at fully; it forced her back and into the arms of her Senshi who had suddenly appeared behind her. Usagi pulled out of her Senshi's arms and looked back to where Ares stood only to find the space empty.

She sat up, the wind pushed her weightless hair over her shoulders as she stared at empty space with a superstitious eye. Had the conversation only had been a wild daydream? Was the King of Mars really on Terra searching for his sister?

She could hear Umino talking rather loudly in his squeaky, adolescent voice to Molly. There were no cultured overtones or elegance in his speech. It was unbelievable to think that the urbane, articulate King of Mars would hijack a terran just to be near his sister. It was madness, to think—

“Your Majesty,” Venus said formally, “the others are waiting for you at your parents' home.”

“I will not leave, Serenity,” she felt the gentle brush against her mind, “Not without Brighid.”

“Lugh.” She reached out to him but the connection was broken.

 

o.O.o

 

Deep within the heart of a fortress made of dark crystal, the cries of a tortured soul echoed through the cavernous vaulted halls of the castle's prisons.

A man in a dark blue uniform and with hair of the same color watched as his assistants removed the restraints that secured his victim to the color metal table. Slowly, he moved to stand near the table, the prisoner, a girl with long, black glared up at him in defiance. A smirk graced Sapphire's pale lips as he reached out and brushed a lock of matted hair from her face.

The girl jumped at the tender touch. She hated it when he touched her, Sapphire knew this, but he felt compelled to touch her. Her soft translucent skin was incredibly soft and very warm, like a fire on a cool night. And despite the abuse she had endured since her capture, the girl's downy complexion had remained clear, there wasn't a mark to be seen anywhere on her lithe body. She was a puzzle and luckily for her, he enjoyed puzzles.

“Rei,” he spoke in soft, soothing tones. He watched her violet eyes narrow. Her pretty bow shaped mouth thinned to a thin line as his hand cupped her cheek. “You are the Senshi of Mars.” He whispered.

She did not answer him. She never did. Sapphire often wondered what her voice sound like when she was not screaming in agony.

“When did you receive your powers?” His eyes fell to her lips. Rei did not give him the satisfaction of shrinking from his advances. But she did not hide her disgust when his breath wafted over lips. Reluctantly Sapphire drew his eyes away from that temptation. “Why were you on Terra?”

The hand on her face began to move lower. Rei still stared forward, willing herself out of this moment and away from him. She could not scream, she would not move, she is nothing more than the flame.

Suddenly Sapphire pulled his hand from her and jerked away to confront whomever had entered his chamber.

Rei moved her head slightly to get a look at the person. It was another man, the one with dark red hair and terrible fashion sense. He had brought her to this hell, carrying her in his arms as if she were some precious burden. She would recognize his awful uniform and spiky red hair anywhere. Green cargo pants and red vest did not a villain make.
Sapphire glared at the interruption, Rubius smirked.

“You're still playing doctor with your little bitch?” Rubius drawled as he strolled over to the metal table. “Hello, Beautiful,” he raised a hand as if to touch her, but it was violently slapped away as Sapphire moved between Rubius and the table.

“Don't touch her.” He snarled at the other man.

For a moment Rubius stared at the young man then he look down at the naked girl on the table. Without a word, Rubius stepped around the irate youth, picked up a blanket and draped it over the girl's body.

Rei didn't have the strength to cover herself properly much less sit up. Rubius reached out, gently pulled the young warrior up into a sitting position, and cautiously wrapped the coarse blanket around her torso. Rei sagged helplessly against his chest through this. Rubius had been quiet effacement in getting her covered. Not once did his hands stray to any forbidden part of her body and for that she was grateful.

Once she was descent, Rubius swung Rei up in his arms and gave her to one of Sapphire's minions. “Make sure she and the rest of the prisoners are given fresh water and are fed. Prince Diamond does not want his guests mistreated, so find Sailor Mars some clothes. Also, bathe her. This woman stinks.” He looked at Sapphire as he said that. “Even dogs are treated better than this.”

After drones rushed off to as he commanded Rubius direction his attention to his Prince's brother. Sapphire was not himself, that was obvious to everyone in the castle, but his behaviour towards the Martian Warrior was more than a little peculiar. It was enough to make the Prince worry about him and it took a lot to gain Diamond's attention these days. Rubius let out a tired sigh as he rubbed his face.

He had captured three more Senshi and there were four more in the past, excluding the Queen, he would have to capture before the Dark Moon made their final assault on Terra and Silver Millennium.

“The Prince wants you to begin interrogating Sailors Jupiter and Mercury soon.”

“I've finished with Mars.” Sapphire said stubbornly.

Rubius hated to look at Sapphire because he knew what he would see. There was it was, that same sick obsession that had consumed his brother had now effected Sapphire. The only cure for it rested in death. “We should kill the Sailor Senshi right away.”

Sapphire looked at in shock. “I though you cared for the Senshi.”

Rubius shook his head, “They are prisoners, very dangerous prisoners. We should but an end to them while we have the opportunity.”

“What rubbish.” Sapphire said dismissively, “With the Poison Dark Crystal and my brother's All Seeing Eye, we will do the once unimaginable. We will conquer Terra and destroy the Silver Alliance.”

He could remember a time when Sapphire would have sided with him on this matter. There was a time when Sapphire would have argued for reason and logic, but now it seemed that he was only concern with taking advantage of the Senshi of Mars. How would the Wise Man silence his most vocal opponent?

He left Sapphire soon after to make his report to Prince Diamond. Rubius could not stand to see what had the once brilliant scientist had become. Sapphire had done nothing to warrant such a hex being placed upon, but the Wise Man would not allow anyone to stand in his way, not Prince Diamond or his brother.

A sentry saluted Rubius and opened one of the large elegantly carved oaken door as the general swept past. Rubius stopped at the entrance and bowed to the white haired man seated on a marble and diamond throne.

The man seemed distracted, lost in a haze that left a dream-like expression on his handsome face. In his right hand he hand a glass of wine, a potent drink from the vineyards of Saturn. Rubius certain the drink had been laced by a powerful narcotic. Prince Diamond had been of late seeking more reckless adventures which were foolish in the eyes of his generals with their conquest almost secure.

Slowly, Diamond raised the glass to his lips. Before his throne a woman with bright green hair was making her report. Emerald noticed Rubius in the entryway; she inclined her head briefly before continuing.

Rubius and took a seat in a chair near the back of the room. He saw something move in the shadows behind Diamond's throne, he tensed slightly as the Wise Man came into the light. The cloaked man stood at the right of Diamond's throne. He laid one bony hand on the Prince's shoulder before whispering something into his ear.

Rubius was too far to hear what was being said, but he did see Emerald's shoulders tensed and her small hands ball into fists. Emerald wisely held her tongue. Prince Diamond took it as a personal affront if anyone verbally attacked or criticized his advisor. It was just another reason to revile the magician.

“Lord Rubius, how goes the war on your front?” Prince Diamond called out breaking Rubius' thoughts.

Rubius left his seat and approached the dais. Emerald moved beck, her presence was no longer required but as the commander of the Dark Moon forces in their present she wanted to keep abreast of the situation in the Twenty-first Century, which was where Rubius was fighting.

Rubius bowed to his Prince. “Your Highness, we have successfully captured the Senshi of Jupiter, Uranus, and Mercury. However we lost Lady Prisma.”

“Yet you failed to bring Sailor Moon to me.” Diamond said pointedly. His obsidian eyes slid over Rubius' in barely disguised contempt.

Rubius quickly lowered his head, “Forgive me, my Lord, but the Queen was not present during the battle. She is guarded by King Endymion's Generals and they have kept her hidden from my skilled spies.” He risked a glance at his Lord's face and quickly averted his gaze. “Not even this latest attack on her guardians have been enough to drawn her out.”

The sound of rustling cloth over stone made Rubius raise his head. “Your failure to capture the Queen of the White Moon in her vulnerable point has put our mission at risk.” Wise Man told him.

Rubius bristled at the insult. He was sure that hack was laughing at him beneath that damned hood of his. Through clenched teeth Rubius told the magician, “King Endymion is also the King of Sol. He will not let the Queen go so easily. He is as much determined in the past as he is today to protect the Queen. Pray, Wise Man, if you have any suggestions on how my men and I could by pass the Priest of Elysium and the Celestials Guardians of Sol and also neutralize the Four Kings of Terra and the High King and his Golden Crystal, I gladly await your counsel.”

There was a tense moment as the two glared at each other. Rubius knew he was on dangerous ground but he knew he was right. The intelligence the Wise Man had given Prince Diamond and his generals had been false when it came to the Terran King. Endymion was no weak-willed follower or quiet, meek husband of the most powerful monarch in the universe who faded into the background. Endymion stood as an equal with his Queen. The Dark Moon learned too late that the Terran King also matched his wife in power. His Golden Crystal was something to be reckoned with and he had used it to repel their forces for almost a year. It wasn't until Emerald has ordered to fill Terra with the Poison Black Crystals did the tide of the war changed in favor of the Black Moon.

Endymion, like all the other rulers in the Star System, was an ecopaths. And it was his bond to Terra which brought down her King. Emerald spies on the ground reported that the King had been moved, probably to Elysium, in effort to protect him from the crystals corruption. The Golden Crystal was now in the hands of Kunzite; Emerald believed that she had a chance to finally capture Atlantis.

Prince Diamond of course wanted Emerald to concentrate on Endymion's summer palace, Crystal Tokyo. It was where Queen Serenity lay in a coma.

“It's a suicide mission,” Emerald was saying.

They had retired to Rubius private chambers to discuss battle strategies and troop organization.

Rubius offered her a glass of cognac, the real stuff, straight from Lord Nephrite's Palace in the Mu. Ah, the spoils of war. Rubius dropped down in a plush forest green chair and propped his feet up the matching ottoman.

“What can you do?” He asked. “By concentrating on the Crystal Palace you'll exposed and Kunzite will not hesitate to decimate your rear.”

“Its madness,” she cried in exasperation.

“Speaking of insanity, have you seen Sapphire lately?”

Emerald shuddered as a look of revulsion crossed her elegant features. “He has contracted the same sickness as the Prince.”

“It was the only way the Wise Man could stop him from asking too many questions.”

She agreed with him. Sapphire could have stopped his brother from make such a foolish mistake. He had been the voice of reason throughout this war. He was the one who proposed how to neutralize the Queen and he had come up with the idea of flooding Terra with the Poison Crystals. But soon after that victory that eliminated King Endymion, Sapphire was stuck by a strange illness.

Emerald shook her head to banish the melancholy thoughts. In two days she would return to Terra and lead her forces in an attack of Crystal Tokyo. If the Gods were with her, she would take the palace and the Queen. And maybe, just maybe, they could finally have peace. She finished her drink and took her leave of her friend. But before she could leave Rubius asked if she would check on their prisoners. Although he was no fan of the Senshi, Rubius would not condone abuse.

Rubius sat there for a moment. He finished off his drink and though of having another, but he really did not feel like getting up. He was tired, sick to soul, with little recourse for anything.

Behind him, his bedroom door opened and closed quietly. Rubius did not move as a pair of small, longer fingered hands settled lightly on his shoulders. Long, chestnut colored hair brushed the sides of his face and pooled in his lap as the woman knelt behind him and enfolded her arms about his shoulders.

“I thought you were asleep,” he tipped his head back to brush a light kiss over the woman's petal soft cheek.

“I could not,” she said softly. Large almond shaped eyes stared at the wall across from them. “I see my sisters in my dreams. Their deaths were horrific. I ache for them.”

There was nothing he could say, he had sent each girl to her death and he had the gall to climb into bed each night beside their sister and hold her as she cried.

Avery must have sensed his inner turmoil because she tightened her hold about his shoulders and buried her face in his neck.

“I have our orders,” he whispered. “We leave for the past tomorrow, our objectives are Sailors Venus, Saturn, Pluto, and Neptune.”

The room was silent as the lovers allowed the impact of this mission wash over them. Rubius resented what he was being commanded to do. He was sending the woman he loved to her death. He closed his eyes as brought her hands to his lips.

“I am sorry,” he said quietly.

“I will survive,” she lied with tears standing in her eyes. “I'll come back to you. I promise.”

 

 

2

 

Usa spotted Umino just before he entered the school gates.

It was still hard to believe that strange, awkward, studious youth that she known since primary school was in truth the King of Mars. It just didn't make any sense to her. But it was not her place to ban traveler from Terra, especially when they offered to help as Darien had been swift to point that out when she informed him of her edict. To say he took it well would have been the misquote of the year. To say he was furious just didn't cover the range of emotions the young King expressed when he learned of her high-handed approach of protecting his world without telling him.

And to make things worst, Darien made her call the Martian bastard last night so they could meet “officially”. Apparently Darien and Ares seemed to think alike. Mars and Terra now had a truce and Darien had an ally who could and would aid Terra if any of the other planets decided to invade.

Did Usa forget to mention that she absolutely hated Ares? That slimily, greasy little toad had the audacity to rub in her face that she did not have any formal treaties with Darien, nor did his sister, the Queen of fricking Venus, which why arrogant little pricks like the Ambassador from Uranus felt that he could and did snub, insult, and derided the Terran King.

Thankfully, Mina had gone home to work on their plans for going to the future otherwise, she would have eviscerated the Martian rat. That reminded her, she was yet to tell her Senshi that Ares (she would never call him Lugh again) was here.

This was starting to become too much for her, Usa admitted wearily. The demands of her kingdom and the other eight planets required more attention than she was capable of providing. She was needed on Silver Millennium even more than she was needed on Terra. Maybe Darien's treaty with Ares would allow her to visit her kingdom.

Once this ordeal with the Dark Moon was over with she give it more though, but right now she and Ares were going to have a very long and overdue talk.

With purposeful strides, Usagi went forward to meet her prey. Umino had come to a stop near the gates when he felt her presence. Feeling the need to gloat, the Martian ruler decided to allow Usa to reach him before entering the schoolyard. The broad smile on his pale face faded as look of horror covered his face. Usa realized that he was gaping at something behind her.

Time seemed to slow down then, Usa turned on her heel. Her large eyes doubled in size as her mouth fell open in shock.

“Usagi, get down!” She heard Molly shout of alarm before she was tackled to the ground.

Steel covered arms held her protectively against an armored chest. The smell of burning asphalt and scorched earth permeated the air along with the burned flesh. Usagi tried to pull free of her savior's tight embrace, but the person holding her would not let her move.

“You okay?” A very familiar, Spanish-accented voice asked worriedly.

She couldn't see a damned thing because of the way Jadeite was holding her and she hit by a wave of nausea as he took to the air a little to fast for her taste.

“Put me down, Menace,” she growled. “You're making sick.”

Just for that, Jadeite took another free falling dip then jetted back into the air. He was rewarded for his actions with a couple hits on his armored forearms and a few choice obscenities.

“Just calm down, Usagi,” Jadeite said, his tone was all business now. “Kunzite ordered me to get you to our house.”

“Why? What's happening?” She demanded. A cold fear gripped her heart when her Senshi failed to respond to her call.

In the distance a powerful explosion tore through downtown Juuban. Jadeite was forced to land as the shockwaves rippled through the air. He brought them down in an alley. Carefully, he set Usa on her feet. She hurried to the mouth of the alley to see what was happening only to be shoved back by a tide of people trying to fleeing the battle being in the heart of downtown Juuban.

There was another explosion, this was closer than the last. Usa cried out as the force of the impact threw her back into the alley.

“¡Mierda!,” Jadeite swore as he raced forward. He glanced back as Usa and said, “Looks like we have to fight, Babe.”

 

o.O.o

 

 

Venus skillfully dodged Avery's attack but was unable to counter. Avery had the Venusian warrior successfully pinned down on the freeway. Venus was alone, separated from the other Senshi who were fighting off drones in various parts of the city which left her free to personally deal with their Captain. Avery lunched another attack at Venus only to watch it miss her again.

Venus darted through the rows of now abandoned cars, not really running from the fight, she was looking for something that she use beat that crazy bitch in the head with. Damn it, that witch had totaled her car when she bombed the freeway. That meant that Venus had lost more than her car, she had lost her two papers, her laptop, her purse that had everything in it, as well as her work from Venus and Silver Millennium. All that hell that she went through and the more that she would have to suffer through in replacing every last bit of it. Oh, hell no, that bitch had to die.

Venus spotted a tire iron hanging out of trunk of an abandoned Lexus. She grabbed it up and just in time too. Avery hovered in the air a few feet above her, amber energy crackling about her fist.

A wolfish grin appeared Venus' face as she raised the iron. Naw, she didn't need a sword for this bitch.

 

o.O.o

 

It was a worm hole. It was stupid little disturbance in Time and Space that the enemy had somehow mastered and was now using to kidnap her sister Senshi. Pluto didn't know what offended her more; the fact the enemy had taken her sisters by using the idiotic thing or that morons actually thought they could capture her by using her own element against her.

The idiots had a better of chance of Mercury developing hypothermia if they though they could take her prisoner with a blasted riff in the time stream. But oh, damnit, Trista was so angry. It infuriated just her so much that she wanted spit.

“Pluto!” Nephrite hollered over the wind created by that offending bit of annoyance. “What the hell are you doing?” He let out a yelp as he dodged a street sign that was being sucked into the vortex.

The same sign was coming towards her back, but stopped and disintegrated when it reached the outer fringes of the barrier that surrounded her. None of the chaos that affected Nephrite disturbed the Guardian of Time and the Underworld as she glared menacingly at that gaping black hole.

“I've had enough of this crap,” she hissed. Plum coloured eyes narrowed as the Senshi of Pluto raised her crystal key staff. “You people have pissed me off,” she roared. “Chronos Typhoon!”

Her attack struck home and destroyed the thing. But before it was destroyed, Pluto heard a voice inside the screaming in pain as her attack hit. She frowned. Whomever had been in there had to have been the summoner and the trace energy left in the Time Stream did not feel Terran.

Who or what was working with the Dark Moon?

And what did it want with Terra?

 

 

 

Saturn sat on the hood a black Navigator, her back to windscreen, with one leg bent at the knee and the other dangling off the side of the car. Her glaive was beside her well in reach incase the things went awry in Venus' fight with the Dark Moon chick.

She had stopped the enemy in her little of the woods with a quick Death Reborn Revolution. Her attack had brought the enemy up short and had taken out the destructive little wormhole that tried to appear. However, during the course of Venus' physical assault on the Dark Moon warrior Saturn realized that she had been rather hasty in getting rid of the freaks in her neighborhood. Obviously she had gone about the situation all wrong. She had but aside her Talisman in favor of something more rustic, like a bat.

Yeah, she always wanted to beat something to death with a wooden or aluminum bat. Yes, the was something satisfying about inflicting pain on other with methods that were not just wreaking havoc physically, but left mental scars as well. The people watching Venus pounding the Dark Moon girl in the head with a common, everyday tire iron would always remember seeing that. It was going stand out in their memories and cause them to shiver a bit in fear as they retell the story for years to come.

Oh well, next time she would find a bat or better yet she was put on in her subspace pocket and woe for anyone who dared to cross her path when she was swing that deadly instrument of suffering.

Thinking of her subspace pocket reminded Saturn of the breakfast bar she has shoved in there when she got the call that morning. She had just retrieved the treat when Kunzite dropped down beside the car.

The leader of the Generals took a moment to regard the lounging warrior before inquiring about her commander.

Saturn took a moment to open her snack and take a bite before pointing skyward.

He ignored her antics and directed his eyes to the sky, searching for Venus, this missing Saturn's lovely hand gestured directed at his head. Kunzite instantly spotted the two women in yellow battling it out it in the sky. Both were oblivious to crowds they had attracted in both the air and on the ground seeing that they were lost in defeating each other. Kunzite was puzzled as to why the pilots were taking such insane risks by flying so close to the pair until he saw the reason.

He had to double take to make sure his eyes weren't playing tricks on him he cried, “Is that tire iron?”

“I told you that Venus was insane.” She snorted. She began to chock when a crumb went down the wrong way.

Distractedly, Kunzite slapped her back a couple times before she coughing fit passed. “She a fucking lunatic,” he hissed, his eyes did not leave the bizarre sight until he could watch no longer. “She's beating that woman in the head with tire iron.” He said disgustedly. “Why didn't she just get a bat with nails or extension cord?”

Now it Saturn's turn to look at him strangely, “An extension cord?” One finely shaped raven brow rose slightly. “What the hell would she do with an extension cord? What's wrong with you, sick-o?”

Before he could reply, a body fell into Saturn's Navigator. Kunzite went for his sword, but he knocked off his feet sent sliding a good two hundred feet on his back with Saturn pressed tight against him. He started to demand what the hell was she doing when the car exploded. He cried out as the engine block came hurtling their way. Saturn forced him back to ground, purposely shoving her knee into his neck as she half turned with her glaive raised and extended forward. The engine and fire crashed harmlessly against Saturn's hastily erected black shield.

Kunzite looked up to see a roguishly grinning Saturn sitting up on his waist. She winked at him and said, “You promise not to tell Sam about this and I won't tell anyone that you scream like a little bitch.”

Kunzite flushed embarrassed as he shoved her off. “Fuck off, Hotaru.”

Unperturbed by his sullen disposition, Saturn stood up, laughing. “Oh, come off it, Dave, you know it turned you on.”

“About as much seeing Frankie in a Speedo.” He growled.

“Now that was uncalled,” she pouted. “I look much better than the Menace.”

“Do I want to know this?”

She shrugged. “Whatever.”

Kunzite sighed, “Look, the leys are all messed up right now, do you think you could find Endymion for me?”

“I'm insulted. Of course I can find your precious little Prince, but I don't want to.” With that she turned her back on him. “But since I am such a kind and generous person…Hmm, he's with Sailor Moon and the Menace. Pluto has just informed me that she, Nephrite, and Zoicite are with them and they are escorting them to a secure location.”

Kunzite grabbed a lock of her hair and gave it a playful tug. She glanced at him over her shoulder and he smiled. “Gurache, Hota-chan, you are a truly the spirit of compassion and generosity.”

“I know,” she gently pulled her hair from his gauntlet covered hand. “I need to catch up with the others. You can stay here and help clean up this mess. Venus will know where we are.”

“Are you saying I won't?” His left brow rose at the challenge.

“I saying keep an eye on Venus she still might have that tire iron.” She winked at him. “Catch you later, Davy-boy.” She called as she walked through a portal that appeared out of no where, leaving him to wonder about her mental state yet again.

The Senshi were an odd bunch, Kunzite decided. Thankfully they hadn't lost another; the emotional strain it was causing the girls was starting to spread to his men. It was going to be soon, Kunzite was sure of that. Hotaru had spoken to the Fates after Usagi and Darien had given the Fates permission to read Serena's life. Once they knew where and when the little girl had come from Trista was going to do a little recon before they all moved out to face the Dark Moon and rescue the girls.

For now, however, he needed to catch up with the others before he headed out for his classes (if they hadn't been cancelled.) Kunzite turned around, ready to call out to Venus when he came up short for the second time that morning.

Venus stood the wreckage of the SUV with the bloody tire iron in one hand and the severed head of Dark Moon warrior in the other. Blood was splattered the front of fuku, covering legs and in her hair. There was a jagged tear in her left glove that revealed a bleeding bite mark on her forearm. All in all, Venus looked like she savage warrior, not the angelic beauty that graced the covers of countless magazines. She was tired; her posture screamed that she ready to collapse that was at odds with the elated look in her bright golden eyes.

She dropped the tire iron and slung the head at his chest. Kunzite caught it before it slipped to the ground, he glanced at her questioningly. A wicked grin spread her lips as she shared her good news. “I know where my Senshi are.” She said

He never expected that. “How?” As far as he knew the Fates had not finished reading Serena's life.

She nodded at the severed head, “Avery told me everything right before I ripped her head off.”

Kunzite had noticed the pulled skin and the jagged rips and tears in the flesh along with the remnants of a spinal cord and esophagus that were still attached to the head. She was worst than his sister's cat. Thankfully Chuck Joy only brought home dead vermin and birds, not severed heads and limbs.

He did not let his disgust show as he inquired lightly, “So where are we off to, V-babe?”

“Thirty-first century, baby.” She winked at him.