AN: Hey everyone. New Story. Read it, if you like it review! Romance/ adventure/ angst/ and probably a MS.

Disclaimer: DON'T OWN IT. So don't complain! Enjoy!

Also the song in the background of the fic is called the same thing as the title : Not falling. By Mudvayne

I picked it cause when i heard it kind of reminded me of the complications that the main character will be experiencing through the story. As the fic continues you'll be able to see the comparision as well!

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Always, known in, all my time,

a little left of center now

reflect as i realize,

that all i need is to find the middle pillar

path to sit like the sun by a

star in th sky and just be.

sinners, casting stones at me...

Chapter one: Rejected angel

We all stood there..silent. Resilient and stone. Like statues.

The Time Gates loomed ahead out in the distance but other than that, every thing was enshrouded with mist and darkness. But I could still see their faces.

Everyone looked somewhat ashamed and frightened. I however felt quite different.

Today I was Sailor Mars. Hotter than fire. Today I was pissed.

Setsuna stood, staff in hand and stared hard between me and my Princess…the frail, ditzy blue-eyed blonde that I was sworn to protect, to live and to die for. She was crying. The others tried to void themselves of all emotions on their faces. The outers weren't doing so well.

"Is that your final decision, Princess?" The Guardian asked calmly. Her eyes bore into my own..but it seemed as though she didn't even care. Her expression was blank. I couldn't believe it.. She was actually going to allow this to happen to me.. Setsu-mama…how could you?

Traitor.

I looked frantically at the princess once more. She was struggling to compose herself as the outers were, looking anywhere but at me. She suppressed a sob and wiped her eyes but the wetness wouldn't go away. And it hurt more than anything to know I was the cause of it.

Yes, me. The rotten in the ripe. The bad seed.

"I'm sorry. . " The blonde whispered simply, tears gliding down her fair porcelain skin.

She gave me a look of guilt and turned away as I looked around at everyone silently pleading for one of them to reject.

I looked at the inners. Their eyes were blank, their faces stone and their mouths sealed. My friends…my family. They had turned against me.

And what hurt me the most was that Setsuna was only nodding. Tilting her head. Agreeing.

I had been betrayed.

Flashback

"Serena?" The beautiful blonde looked down at me from where I sat in the sandbox. Each grain of sand tickled between my toes and warmed my skin. The hot sun was shining bright down on her golden head and dark upon mine. It was a beautiful summer day.

"Hmm?" Serena hummed. She swatted at fly and almost fell off the swing in the process.

She was clumsy…and ditzy to say the least.

But she was so kind and pure. I loved everything about her, good and bad. Her and Rini were the closest thing I had to sisters. They meant the world to me.

I remember being shy when I asked..I was fumbling with my fingers. Then I finally sucked it up and spoke.

"If I went away…would you miss me? Just a little?"

She blinked, her hands resting on each side of the swing. Then suddenly we were rolling around in the sand, she was tickling me with no mercy. I laughed and laughed and threw sand at her trying to mess up her hair, but she just kept laughing and tickling. Finally we both lay, out of breathe in the sand me laughing, her smiling.

"Of course Ru. I don't think any of us could ever live without you smiling! I'd probably go crazy and rip my hair out if I didn't know where you were and if you were safe."

"You would look pretty funny." Serena's expression became a snicker.

"Yeah. Me and Rei's Grandpa would actually have something in common then," I giggled at the thought of Serena running around chasing after Darien with her head bald and waxed and shiny.

"Why would you ask if I'd miss you little one?" Serena asked hoisting herself up onto one elbow.

I didn't answer quickly, I just gazed at the clouds watching how each one of them looked like animals or characters from a story book. Trying to pick the right words.

"Well…it's just…I'm not always good. Well. Sometimes..when I'm running or even walking, I have to stop. I might not always be around to ask you stuff like this…and I wanted to know.. that's all." She gazed at me seriously, her eyes big and round.

I looked at the light muscles in her arms and her legs. Serena was definitely not the toughest out of all the girls..but she was a far cry from being someone weak. Someone always getting ill. Someone like me.

"I wish I could be you for one day." I blurted, turning red soon after and she snorted and laughed.

"No, you don't." She mumbled shaking her head.

"I do. Really!" She looked at me long and hard.

"Ru you're no different from anyone else. You're not paralyzed! You don't have a disease! You're as normal as anyone could hope to be."

"But I'm always…sick!" I said sitting up and staring down at her. She touched my cheek and pulled me into a hug.

"No, Ru. you're not sick. Believe me- someday..not now..but someday..you'll be perfect." There came a far off look in her eyes.

" You'll be strong. The fastest runner. The fastest anything. I'll make sure of it," She said clutching that old broach she always wore. I gazed at her hopelessly.

"But how…" I asked. She shushed me and pulled me back into a hug.

"Because I'll show you. It'll be a big…gift. A gift you'll get when the time is right."

"Ok." I replied faithfully. I was too young to have understood it at that moment. I didn't even know about the Ginszaou. Suddenly Sere's eyes lit up and she tugged on my hands.

"Hey! Let's go get an ice cream hmm? Common I'll race you!" She said cheerfully as she hauled me up and started off.

"You'll beat me though Sere!" I whined as she slowly got further and further away from me, practically running in place. I ran after her…and soon I was beating her…then I was so far ahead that I was cheering her on and telling her to hurry up. Serena would always hold back. She knew how to make me feel like I could soar. She knew how to lift me up, to change the way I felt about myself and about everything. She was the best friend I could ever have.

VVVVVVVEnd of FlashbackVVVVVVV

With my eyes raging I dared any of the inners to look up at me once more but their heads were eternally bowed, until the moment that I should leave. It seemed only one of them truly looked as if they felt anything at all. Ami, Goddess of Mercury. Her hands were balled up into fists and she was shaking terribly, all over.

Only the outers seemed to have the courage to protest one last time.

Neptune was pinching her lip with her fingers, deep in thought. Finally she spoke what was on her mind, what was on everyone else's mind.. they just didn't have the courage to speak up.

"This- this isn't necessary. Take her powers away, yes…But banish her? From this world?-It's her home Serena…she doesn't know anything else!" She said exasperated and I could see pity and sadness in her blue eyes. That moment I appreciated her more than words.

But Serena shook her head sadly.

"I…she's…" She sighed, " I tried to save her body and her soul…her body I retrieved successfully from the Pharaoh…I healed her…But .." Her eyes met mine and in that brief moment I could almost smell a sense of fear about her. I stiffened. But what?

"But what has she done to you Hime? The girl is only seventeen, she has barely had a year..to-to heal.-" Haruka interrupted angrily but Rei cut her off just as fast.

"We have seen changes in her.. Haruka. She's not all as innocent as she plays it off," Rei said heatedly eyeing me with her cruel midnight eyes.

" What are you saying? That she's planning to hurt the Princess," Haruka challenged, a single brow raised threateningly. Rei scoffed defiantly.

"I haven't accused her of anything! But this is Serena's life we're talking about! Her safety is our number one priority. We're her soul protectors. We're just not so sure that she is worthy." Rei replied benevolently using her eyes to point the last part of her sentence towards me.

"You should not judge so quickly," Michelle admonished quietly.

"And you should not be so quick to abandon all sense of propriety!" Rei shot back. Haruka took a step forward angrily.

"She is still young. And have you forgotten her health? She is not as strong as any of you! She couldn't possibly pose a threat to our hime.-"

Rei choked a breath and hissed out in anger.

"Yes she can! Have you forgotten her planetary sign? She holds one of the key powers to Serena's safety, and she's one person alone! Do you have ANY idea how dangerous she is to Serena- to us!-" Rei argued with the outers and soon everyone was pulled in…as if I wasn't even there. I wasn't there…not really. My fate had already been determined.

"SILENCE! ALL of you!" Someone yelled shrilly but powerfully.

I gasped as I saw who it was that had yelled out so fiercely. Ami. She looked around at all of us angry and infuriated.

"This is someone's life we're discussing. This is not just something you can decide on and have everyone be satisfied with it!" She turned to Rei who glared daggers.

"I am shocked at you Rei. You speak of propriety when it seems that you yourself carry little of it, for the sake of someone else's life. How would you like it if we were about to send you away because we thought your powers of telepathy could be used to communicate with the dark forces? "

Rei choked on her own reply, defeated and bowed her head. Ami did not stop there. She rounded on Jupiter.

"What about you Lita, you have the strength and skills advance enough to sneak up on the Princess and break her in half! But does that make you a bad person?"

"No," Lita replied quietly.

The glare in Mercury's eyes was unbelievable.

"And you Mina? How would you like it if Serena sent you across the Universe because she felt threatened that your powers of love could be used to steal Mamoru right from under her nose?.. Wouldn't that make you angry? Wouldn't that hurt you?"

Mina looked at the ground surprised..as though it had never even occurred to her before .

"Yes," she said faintly turning away.

Ami was fuming. I had never seen her act out this way. And as I looked at her I could honestly say that there was no one in the world who looked more beautiful and intelligent then she did. She was truly lovely. Her ocean blue eyes had green specks in them, like colorful embers crackling and burning deep inside of her in an elegant, graceful rage. But what was even more beautiful was her heart. She breathed in deeply her voice calming down, as she continued to stare coldly at the inners.

"I am ashamed to call all of you friends right now. This whole thing is absolutely beyond necessary. Everyone- anyone… can become, or do evil things SerenaIt's called choice. Choice gives anyone the right to make their own decisions..right or wrong, good or bad. And that's just the way life is, and always will be. No one can change that. Any of us could betray you at any moment- but that doesn't mean we will! Don't you see..?" She pointed softly at me.

"She needs your trust. Or at least just give her a chance! Let her prove that her heart is pure! She deserves the right to show that she is worthy of you. ' No one protested this time. Ami's voice grew soft again as she continued.

" She is a sworn protector of the Moon, and she has done nothing to hurt you Serena. Please do not take life away as easily as you rescue it…"

And with that echoing through all of our minds.. not one person spoke a single word for a very long time.

It was true. Serena rescued lives everyday. She had saved so many. With our help of course but still…And she could just as easily take it all away. But that would make her…evil..

Finally when the silence was beginning to stretch too long and all of us were just staring into the endless mist, Serena reacted.

She came right up in front of me looking me straight in the eye with an expression I couldn't read.

" If you truly are..my protector..if you care for me…for us…for the Moon Kingdom and for all the people of the Earth…You will go. You will do this one thing for me."

I opened my mouth to speak but found that I couldn't find the words to say what I felt.

What did I feel?…

Serena's stony crystalloid eyes grew darker in their sadness. As though it pained her to have to say this.

"You will be sent into a world of peril. And… hate. A world caught between war and destruction. You will fight for the forces of good. Each of us will give you one gift from our planets. But if you stray from the path…even once…if you-…if you betray it…" She looked deeply into my eyes.

"If you fail in proving…that you are able to protect me and protect yourself from evil…the powers along with yours will be taken away..and you shall never be able to come home again."

My stomach suddenly plummeted towards the floor. I felt ill. Like I felt when an attack was coming, when I was a little girl. The feeling twisted and churned my mind causing me to feel sick and dizzy.

This is really happening. This is real. It's not some game. Prove it…prove them wrong…prove yourself…

"Do you understand?"

Her eyes were so serious. As much as my heart was broken..as much as I felt that I should hate her for doing this to me.. Hate all of them-….a part of me felt ..proud. Proud that she was growing up into a strong woman. The future Queen of our Crystal Tokyo. She was only 17 and already she looked just like her mother. If I knew how to cry I probably would have. But I had forgotten how to…so very long ago..

Shaking myself from my thoughts I cleared my throat silently and nodded.

"Yes. I understand Princess." I said.

"Good. Then it is decided." Setsuna stepped in and stated firmly.

"Now you can each give your gift and say goodb-

"Wait!" Ami cried running between us.

She pulled my hand into hers. I was so shocked with how she was treating me. Like I was her sister. Out of all the scouts I knew her least. But of all the scouts I respected her the most.

"I ask permission to go with her." Ami announced looking directly at Setsuna and Serena.

Everyone gasped shocked.

"Ami-" Serena cried. The inners flew into an frenzy.

"No, you can't leave all of us like that! Are you crazy!"

"What about your schooling Ami! You'll ruin any chance you have as a scientist if you leave now!"

"Ami don't be stupid, really! What's the matter with you!"

"I ask permission. Please." Ami said a little louder and a little more firmly ignoring Venus, Mars and Jupiter.

Serena bit her lip and fresh tears began to work their way out into the open from her silvery speckled eyes. I thought I saw jealousy and pain flicker across her face..but this whole thing had gotten so escalated…it could've been just me imagining things I wished were true. That Amy liked me more than her own Princess.

Suddenly she caressed Ami's cheek softly the way she had done to me so long ago..

"Is that what you really want Ami?" She whispered, her voice had gone hoarse, as hoarse as mine had probably become from all of those earlier hours of crying and screaming and begging.

Ami held Serena's outstretched hand with both of hers and smiled warmly.

"Yes Serena. This is what I want. If you must send her away so be it. But she shouldn't go alone."

Serena sniffled with a nod and pulled away. Her back had been turned to me but now her body swayed round as she looked at me steadily taking my hand. The air in my lungs disappeared.

"In the name of the Moon, I give you the power of healing. To heal others and to heal yourself when the pain is unbearable."

A white light consumed my hands and a new current of bright pure energy I had never felt before began to flow gently through my veins. Mars came up next to me and grabbed my hand next and soon everyone was surrounding me. She spoke hesitantly.

" In the name of Mars, I give you the power of the two most important senses: perfect sight and perfect hearing, so that you will never have to struggle to sense or to see your way through the dark again..." she murmured as the red glow lit her face as well as mine. I nodded. Mina hugged me surprisingly before taking my hand.

"In the name of Venus I give you the power to shield yourself from love and from your heart. Or to accept it." Boldness when I wanted it… no emotion…no feeling..

Lita was smiling sadly.

"In the name of Jupiter…I give you the power of top physical strength and endurance." She looked up at me.

" You will no longer fear pain." The glow… I could run marathons. I could climb mountains or swim oceans…anything.

Haruka grasped my arm firm and rough.

"In the name of Uranus, I give you the power of physical combat and disguise. You will always know your enemies and their weaknesses before they know you." I became dangerous. Truly dangerous. And then Michelle.

"In the name of Neptune I give you the power of song and music. If there is no voice to guide you, let your heart be soothed by your own ." I was dangerous…And lovely…

All of these powers…these new talents I never felt capable of…I felt like I could do anything in the world. I felt like soaring.

"Thank you." I whispered.

"I get to give you something too.." Someone said grabbing my hand and turning me to face her. Ami was now my new best friend. I would always protect her and care for her. No matter what.

"In the name of Mercury I give you sharpness and intelligence of the human mind. That way if I am not around to help you..you'll be able to pull yourself out of almost anything." She said with a small smile and I laughed.

Setsuna stood up from the throne she sat upon and sighed.

"It is settled then. Ami." She looked at Ami who nodded.

Then she looked at me.

"Hotaru." I nodded. Setsuna stiffened.

"Then it is time."