Hope Never Dies

Notes: This is based off characters that belong to myself, Sanyo, and Meeko. Take them and face my wrath. This story is a plot created by myself as well, mixed in with plots that were used with my friends. Again, take them and face my wrath. Sailor Moon isn't mine, I'm not getting paid to write this.

Prologue

In the deepest reaches of space lies a castle. Nestled among dead stars, it looks foreboding to any who would look at it from an outsider's prospect. To a small group of Senshi, it was their home. Or it had been. Many years had passed since the palace had last held occupants, hundreds of years.

The chambers were a mess and the floors needed dusting. No one had lived there in years, thus it wasn't considered as a threat it had posed to Crystal Tokyo when the Senshi had been at their strongest. They had been known as one of the strongest in the Solar System, just slightly higher than the Sailor Scouts of Earth. That is, they were, until the battle raged just outside the castle walls.

The Senshi of the Moon had brought their forces down hard on the castle. It was all the Senshi of Darkness could do to keep it from fall down upon them as they fought for their home.

Their leader was Sailor Soul Fire, a feisty one who always had firepower ready to go. Second in command was Sailor Dark Sun, who always proved to be very practical with battle tactics, even in the heat of battle. Following close behind her was her twin sister, Sailor Dark Star, who was a strong fighter and a team player. Last, but certainly not least, was Sailor Orion, a bubbly girl who brought everyone's spirits up and was always there to try and lend a hand. And, as always, Star Knight Sirius followed the girls, acting as an extra fighter with some Knights who he had been training recently.

It was a hard battle to fight as it raged on for almost a week of on and off fighting. Then, finally, the Darkness Senshi received a loss: Star Knight Sirius had taken a blow that proved to be fatal. It was then that the battle took a turn for the worst...

"Dark Star, get your sorry ass out there! Soul Fire and Orion need your help, as do I!" Sailor Dark Sun raged at her sister as she entered inside to take a brief break for keeping the light scouts down. Dark Star, however, had been watching as the knight who held her heart was fading away.

"Dark Sun, I can't leave him." She said, her throat clogged with emotion. "He's going to die...I can feel it. I need to be here when the end comes."

"But, by doing so, you're ensuring that those damned light scouts gain control over us and our home! Empress Opale won't have it!" Dark Sun slammed her fist down onto the wall nearest her. Dark Star winced slightly, but held her ground with her sister.

"Star? Sun?" It was Orion, hurrying inside with Soul Fire on her heels. "Good, you're inside. They've gone back to regroup- we sent a hit at Mars that went off at Mercury. They'll need to have her spend time out and she's their strategist for that side! Things are looking slightly better." Her face fell as she looked down at Sirius. "How is he?"

Star looked away as Orion felt the meaning sink in. "No...He can't die!" she cried out, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder only to have it shaken off with a shrug.

"We won't let them win." Soul Fire said, her amber eyes burning with a fire of her own. "We can't let them win, Dark Star! We need you out there when they come at us again!"

"I can't!" Dark Star found herself yelling as she stood from where she had been sitting by the side of Sirius. "He's not going to make it..." Her eyes were bright as her face crumpled at the thought, but she didn't take any of the comforting words or gestures as she spoke again. "I need to be with him as he takes that final breath. I can't let him die alone..." She let a few tears fall and, not bothering to wipe them, sat back down as her gloved hand took his again.

Silence settled between the friends, as their defeat seemed inevitable as the death of Sirius. Nothing they could do would convince her to leave his side and they were growing weaker every time they stepped out into the battlefield. Bowing their heads, they stood, watching as they fell apart.

"There is a way..." The haunting voice of Empress Opale said as she stepped into the area. All the scouts turned their heads, inclining their heads in respect to their leader.

"A way to what?" Dark Sun asked, crossing her arms. "To win this battle? Because I don't see a way we could possibly beat them." Dark sun had turned rather pessimistic to see her younger twin fall to pieces and her outlook on the battle had turned grim.

"To have peace again." Opale said in a brisk tone as she swept into the room. "A way for all of you to live again." She looked each of them in the eyes as she spoke and all listened intently. "But, it would involve sacrifice for all of us."

"Tell us how!" Orion said, bursting out of turn with her voice. Opale managed to give a flickering smile towards her, while Orion blushed, realizing she had spoken out of turn. But Opale didn't seem to mind.

"This plan involves all of your energies form yourselves. It involves you forgetting everything you've ever known. It involves leaving here, forever. I will lend my powers to give you the extra strength to go to where you will spend the rest of your lives.

"It will be hard to do this now, but you will all live in the end. Even Sirius, who is slipping from us as we speak." All heads turned back to Sirius as Star held his hand slightly tighter. "But you will have a future again; a life of your own will await you every morning. What do you say?"

"We will forget everything?" Soul Fire said, speaking to her mother as their eyes met. "How will we be happier? Sure, blissfully happier, but unaware of who we really are?"

"Yes. Though, I can give you each something to remember who you are, if the time comes." There was a small flash of light as, opening her hands that she had clasped together, she held out 5 necklaces.

"In my hands are necklaces that will represent your true selves. The star for Dark Star, the Sun for Dark Sun. The Belt of Stars for Orion, the Flame for Soul Fire. And, finally, the Dog Star for Sirius." Each were handed their necklace while Dark Star placed Sirius' over his head. "These will hold your powers until you will come back here again. They will hold your memories too. They will activate when you are together again."

"Will we see you again?" Dark Star asked, looking both horrified and grateful that she was being told she had to take a new life. "Will I know who my sister is when I see her?"

"All will come to pass in time. Don't loose hope." Is all Opale would say as she motioned for them to rise. "You have time to say your goodbyes now, for we have little time before the Light Scouts attack us again."

It took a moment before the hugging and kissing of the cheeks started. Even Soul Fire, swept along with all this emotion, was found crying as she hugged Orion. Dark Star and dark Sun had little to say, though they hugged one another tightly before they moved to say goodbye to the others.

"Sirius," Dark Star spoke softly as she took his hand, not sitting this time. "I don't know how but I promise I'll see you again. Forever..." She bent low, pressing a kiss to his clammy brow. His breath as slowing as, silently, she took the hands of Dark Sun and Soul Fire. Orion had taken Sirius' limp hand and the hand of Dark Sun.

"Close your eyes. And remember that I love each of you dearly. You will see one another again someday..." Her words soothed the fears and nerves of the scouts as, closing their eyes, brief flashes of memory crossed their minds.

Dark Sun thought of the countless times she had spent playing with Dark Star, always keeping her safe from harm. She had always been there and the thought of being so far away and unable to help her when she needed hurt but she knew she'd see her again.

Dark Star thought of her sister and her friends here. Her thoughts ran on about Sirius as she wondered if she'd be able to keep the promise she had made. She smiled lightly, remembering all the quirks of her teammates, no, her friends.

Orion thought of her home and her friends she knew as family. She knew that she would miss all of them terribly, somewhere in her heart, even if she wouldn't remember them. She had to believe that she'd see them again, someday...

Soul Fire remembered all those years spent alone in the darkness of space. She thought of how she had found home when she had met Orion and how she felt now. She wished that she could stay happy, but knew it wouldn't be the same after this.

All had their thoughts in their minds as smile donned their features. And, as happy thoughts came from their minds, they started to glow colors corresponding to their Senshi name. It wasn't until the white light emerged into the mix that their minds were wiped blank.

They felt nothing as, with a flash that made the Light Scouts curious, they vanished off to Earth, ready to start their new lives. And it was then that Opale wept as, in a smaller flash of light, she vanished, never to be seen again near that castle of Darkness.

But, it is now, that the scouts will be called together. For, there are forces out there that are darker than the scouts who dwelt in the castle, who want to bring the downfall of all scouts. The time has come.

Find the others. You have the power to return.