Greetings out there, true believers!

By now I am sure some of you are familiar with me. This is your humble author, speaking to all of you beautiful people out there! This is a different sort of venture of me, it's a Sailor Moon fic! This is actually the very first fic I ever wrote, and that I have decided to finally finish and put up on for all of you to enjoy!
As always, all the legal mumbo jumbo applies. I don't own the Sailor Moon franchise, its characters, or any names, dates, places, etc. contained therein. However, any original characters in this fic are mine, and if any of you out there like them enough, please ask before using them in one of your own stories.
And now, I want to issue a challenge to all of you out there! As you read the progressing chapters, I want you all to take your best shot at guessing just what will happen next, and especially at just who the antagonist of this story is, and just what his connection to Sailor Moon and co. is. I look forward to seeing your responses.
And with that, I leave you to enjoy. Read on!

Keep reading, and keep believing!

Sincerely yours,
Djk1982

I
The Message

With a final scream of defeat, the monstrous form of Beryl, now possessed by Metallia, incinerated in the overwhelming stream of energy. The flash of light from her destruction was blinding, and for a moment it wiped everything out, leaving only empty, white nothingness, perhaps like that experienced by a birthing infant as it enters the world…

Usagi Tsukino snapped her eyes open. She gazed up at the ceiling for a moment, remembering that she was in bed, not on the battlefield. She blinked several times, gave a long sigh, and then sat up, rubbing her forehead. She placed both hands over her eyes, and for a moment struggled to hold back tears that she could not understand.
She had been dreaming more and more often of the final battle between her and Beryl. It seemed ages ago, but each time it came through, clear as the image on a television screen. Every detail, to the feel of her princess' gown against her skin, to the fire of her enemy's eyes, to the comforting presence that she took during the final moments, as if her fallen comrades were back alongside her, was exactly as it had been.
She had not told Momaru, nor her companions, of these dreams. She preferred to leave their thoughts focused on the happy present, not the pains of the past. They had faced enemies much more horrific than Beryl, and so she wondered, why did that particular ghost of her past haunt her now?
She found her eyes drawn down to the feline form sleeping at her feet. She smiled, taking small comfort in Luna's presence. The dreams at least reminded of her some happy times too, such as the day she had first met this remarkable creature, her friend, mentor, and sometimes pet. Luna's presence comforted her, and she slowly laid back down to try resuming sleep.
This time, she dreamt of Momaru, and of things she knew where coming soon.

"You did it!" Ami shouted, throwing her arms around Usagi's neck in a wave of enthusiasm. Usagi giggled and tried not to crumple the acceptance notice in her hand; she wanted to be able to show this to Momaru later. It had taken a lot of effort, but thanks to some hard tutoring by both Ami and Momaru, her grades had actually improved to the point where college seemed possible.
"Yeah, congratulations." Minako smiled, giving her friend a pat on the shoulder.
"Who would have thought." Rei smirked.
"Good job, Usagi," Makato added. They're celebration was interrupted by the sound of sniffling. All heads turned to the two cats who sat on the porch of the shrine. Luna's head was bowed, her tiny body trembling a little as she emitted tiny sobs.
"Luna, what's wrong?" Artemis said, leaning in closer to her.
"My girl…going off to college…" the black cat said in hushed voice. She then raised her small head, revealing that her eyes shined, trying to hold back the tears. "Its just so…so…"
"Aw, Luna!" Usagi shouted, throwing her arms around her oldest friend, hugging the cat to her body. The others could not help but smile as they watched the emotional display between the two.
Luna finally controlled her sobs, and offered a catty smile up at her protégé.
"I just hope they allow cats on campus."
"Hey, this is a celebration!" Artemis chimed in, trying to heighten the mood.
"Yeah!" Minako shouted, grabbing Usagi by the arm and hauling her up. "Lets hit the arcade!" She received no argument.

The wind whipped through her hair, causing it to fly about in a brilliant cascade of blue, like the ripple of tropical water. She sighed and tilted her head back, closing her eyes, and enjoyed the cool, refreshing whisper of the breeze.
Haruka cold not help but smile a little as she admired her lover in the fading sun. It was pleasant to have some time alone, and with Setsuna babysitting Hotaru, it left the evening before them full of promise. She turned her eyes back to the road, but carefully, oh so carefully, she switched her grip on the steering wheel to one hand, the other slowly snaking out to wrap itself about Michiru's shoulder. Much to her delight, about halfway her companion randomly leaned over, resting her head against her shoulder.
"So…" she said, breaking the silence, "What do you feel like for dinner? Whatever you want."
"Hm…" Michiru sighed as she returned to reality. "Anything, as long as I'm with you." Haruka could not help but smile at this response. "This has been wonderful." Michiru said, opening her eyes to gaze up at her friend and lover.
"I'm glad you've enjoyed it so far." Haruka replied, and then added with a smirk "But the night is still young." Michiru smiled, and then shrieked when Haruka suddenly buried her face in her green hair and began kissing and nibbling at her neck.
"Haruka!" She said between giggles, "keep you're eyes on the road!"
"I can't take my eyes off you." Haruka said, lowering her voice a notch as she dove in for more kisses.
"You're being-WATCH OUT!" Michiru's horrified scream ripped Haruka's eyes back to the road before them. She did not have time to make out the details of the figures standing in the road ahead of them before she tore the steering wheel as hard as she could sending the car swinging about. The tires screamed against the pavement, a black trail of burned rubber in the wake of the runaway vechile. They were brought to a stop by the crash of the lamppost against the passenger side door, the window cracking with the impact but not shattering. The force sent both of them slamming forward and then throw back against the seats by the snap of they're seatbelts.
They both were still for a moment, allowing their minds to catch up to the events of the last few seconds. Haruka gripped the steering wheel, as if trying to reaffirm her control. She then reached over and touched Michiru, whose entire body trembled.
"Are you okay?" She asked, and then repeated when Michiru did not respond. She opened her mouth to say it a third time when finally she nodded, her shell shock-keeping her tongue tied. She then tore her seatbelt off and threw the door open to check on whoever she had almost hit.
"Well, its you Haruka-papa." A sinister, feminine voice said, mockingly.
Haruka froze, her jaw dangling. Michiru leaned forward to look past her companion, and found herself also paralyzed with shock and disbelief.
"It can't be…" Haruka managed to say before a dark whip of silky strands lashed out, wrapped around her throat, and yanked her from the car.
Michiru screamed.