Previously on "Once More with Feeling", the city of Tokyo succumbed to a singing curse. People were singing out their darkest and deepest secrets to each other. Finally, Usagi and Rei sang to each other their true feelings...

In the end, Rei chose to leave Tokyo for a while so that she could get Usagi out of her system. After all, how could one defeat destiny?

Chapter 1- Split

The lake was still. So still as a perfect mirror, reflecting the sky. The moon reflected in the water and it shone just as brilliantly. It seemed peaceful but the girls knew it was anything but. Then, ripples were seen and the moon image was skewed, distorted. From the center of the lake, a dark, cloaked figure started to ascend, slowly and menacingly.

Mercury's visor was already down, scanning. Earlier, residents in the area had reported suspicious activities and Mercury knew there must be evil brewing.

Jupiter and Venus flanked Sailor Moon on both side, as they got ready to fight.

The figure stayed levitated over the water and slowly, it raised its wand. Dark energy struck down from the clouds and connected with the wand.

"Jupiter coconut cyclone." The thunder soldier fired the first shot. It hit an invisible barrier and then sizzled out. She fired again and got the same results.

"There is an energy field around it." Mercury pushed a button and the visor went back up. "Mercury Aqua raphsody." She tried her attack to see if she could take it down. Again, the field absorbed the shock and the figure laughed.

"Let me see if I can get the wand." Venus leapt up. "Venus love me chain." The chain penetrated the field but the figure waved its wand, and the energy chain melted.

"This can't be. What are we going to do?" Sailor moon had her wand poised, and hesitated. The figure seemed to be not attacking, but merely collecting energy into its wand. Should she try her shot anyway?

The dark energy stopped flowing and the figure laughed again. The wand slowly descended until it was aiming at Sailor Moon.

"Watch out." Jupiter picked up Moon and leapt. The energy missed, barely. The two rolled to a stop and Jupiter slammed her back into a tree trunk.

"Jupiter!" Sailor Moon tried to lift the hurt soldier.

"Bubble spray." Mercury quickly pulled down the curtain of fog and raced the two out of its original spot, as the dark lightning hit again. Venus started to attack, left and right, distracting and drawing the fire towards her.

"Now, Sailor Moon." Venus barked out her order.

Moon could see the figure's back was facing her. Perfect chance. She raised her moon wand and sent forth her attack.

The next few seconds seemed to happen in slow motion.

The same moment that Sailor Moon send out the shot, the figure turned and fired its wand. Simultaneously, both shots hit their intended target. The figure screamed and disintegrated, ashes raining down to the lake.

The thunder hit Sailor Moon in her centre mass and a piercing scream ripped out of her throat. She felt like her body was being tear apart. It was pain that she never felt before...

The last thing she heard was her soldiers yelling her name and rushing to her side. Her knees gave out and she collapsed to the cold ground...

Rei sat in front of the fire and stared into its depths. She had spent numerous hours here, trying to meditate and to get Usagi out of her head.

Just then, the fire flickered and it started to burn hotter than ever. Rei felt the evil aura spreading and a thought, clear as day, popped into her mind. Usagi is in grave danger.

Rei leapt up from her cushion and transformed on the spot. As she raced down the mountain, she could only pray she wasn't too late to save her princess...

"Huh?" Usagi slowly opened her eyes and found herself in a bush. "How did I ...what?"

She got up, wincing in pain and walked towards the lake. Up ahead, she could see Mercury, Jupiter and Venus hunching over someone.

"Hey guys, I am okay. The shot must have sent me flying." Usagi slowly limped towards her friends and waved weakly at them.

The three stood up and turned to face her. Instead of their usual relief and warm smiles, fear and alarm were written across their faces. They looked at Usagi and then looked down at the body on the ground.

"Hold it. Who are you?" Venus spread her arms, protecting whoever was down there.

"It's me. What? Did you guys lose your memories again?" Usagi said half jokingly. Her heart was racing though, as she realized Mercury was in her attack stance. So was Jupiter. "Guys...what?"

Her question hang in the air as she looked at the body. She yelped out in surprise and took a few steps back. Usagi was staring at herself. "What? Am I dead?" Usagi quickly patted herself down. Solid body. She wasn't a ghost.

Slowly, the figure stirred and sat up. She winced in pain also, as she took a look around. Her eyes settled on Usagi and her eyes widened as well.

Mercury took a tentative step towards Usagi. "If you are not evil, then stay still and let me scan you."

Usagi nodded frantically. "I am me. You will see."

Mercury spent a good ten minutes scanning both Usagis, while the rest waited anxiously.

"Well?" Jupiter finally asked, unable to wait any longer.

Mercury pushed the visor up and chewed on her lips. Her eyebrows were knotted together in a deep frown, as she continued to study both of them. "Good news, you are both alive and human."

"Well, who is the imposter then?" Venus asked, confusion written all over. "Are you sure one of them is not a daimon or something?"

Mercury paused dramatically and then spit out the news. "Bad news, you are both Usagi..."

"What?!" The two Usagis said in unison.

The one on the ground stood up and brushed the dirt off her dress. "Okay, I am not Usagi. I think I know what's happening here."

"You are the imposter." Usagi pointed her finger at the other self.

"No. I am princess Serenity. I...I don't really know what's happening." Princess looked down at her brand new body.

Mercury came over and scanned Princess's body again. "I think whatever the wand does, it pulled you, the memories of being Princess Serenity and gave it a new body? That is my guess." Mercury shrugged her shoulders.

Usagi scratched her head in deeper confusion. "So...you are me but you are not me."

"In a sense. I always have to borrow your mind and body when you need my power, remember? Now, I guess I can fight along you guys." Princess said as she beamed at her soldiers.

"What. The. Hell?" A familiar voice rang out in the dark and everyone turned towards it. Sailor Mars leapt out from the darkness, breathless.

"Mars!" Usagi ran towards her, as if there was an invisible force pushing her.

"Yeah, what the hell indeed..." Venus muttered as she watched Usagi bear-hugged Mars.