Obligatory disclaimer : Negima and the characters therein do not belong to me, they are the property of Ken Akamatsu. Sailor Moon is the property of Naoko Takeuchi. No money is being made from this, so suing me is pointless.

This is a Negima/Sailor Moon fusion story, and contains shoujoai/yuri - that means girl/girl relationships and possibly some physical action. If that sort of thing offends you, please don't read this - and don't bother reading this, then flaming me, 'cause I'll ignore you.

Btw, the attacks used in this fic are NOT the same as SM - it's an AU story, in case you're wondering why.

Pretty Schoolgirl Soldier - Sailor Moon!

Part 2 - Battle Is Joined! Mysterious Stranger Number One!

"NEVER FEAR! SAILOR M IS HERE!"

Konoka stared at the newcomer. For some strange reason, she felt a sense of familiarity, a feeling that she should KNOW the daringly-dressed girl with the overlarge sword held in two hands. More than that, though was the feeling that there was something that she, herself, was now expected to do, though the brown-haired girl had no idea what that 'something' was. But for some unknown reason, she found herself looking behind the redhead, a faint afterimage of another four girls dressed similarly to Sailor M. But who are they, and why do I think I should see them?

"Okay, butt-ugly, this is where you get your head handed to you!" Holding her massive blade over her head, Sailor Mars pointed at the demon with one free hand and shouted "Fire dart!" From the palm of her hand leapt a glowing bolt of orange-red fire, hissing as it sped towards the demon's head. With an angry growl the monster dodged aside, them howled in rage as it sprang at Mars' throat.

Mars parried the attack, then countered with a strike to the beast's neck, but much to her concern, the creature was too fast for her to hit, and its counterattack hit the armoured shoulder protector, knocking her back several steps. It took advantage of her being off-balanced to strike at her legs, drawing blood from a long, shallow cut, then a blindingly fast claw nearly hit her eyes, Mars barely managing to side-step the attack.

I've got to take this thing more seriously than I have - it's a lot faster and stronger than the low-level demons I've dealt with in the past. Mars stepped back, and back again, her blade swinging in front of her as a shield as she probed the demon's defences, trying to find a chink in its armour that she could exploit.

Konoka watched from the sidelines, forgotten by the two combatants, her heart in her mouth as the bestial demon pressed Sailor Mars back and back. She wanted desperately to help the redhead in the fuku who had bravely come to her aid, but she knew that she had no fighting skills or magic power that could turn the tide of the battle. Unconsciously her hand rose to her neck, as if searching for something that should be hanging there ...

Dammit! This thing is FAST and damn STRONG with it! I gotta do something, quick! Mars waited for the beast to lunge at her again, and switched tactics. Instead of fending it off as she had been doing, she brought the flat of the blade across her body as a shield, and threw herself forward, trying to knock the demon off its feet with her own weight and strength. That, at least, was the theory. Unfortunately, theory and reality came rapidly into conflict, with theory the loser.

The impact of the demon's heavyset and muscular body knocked Mars off her feet and back into a tree, head connecting solidly with the trunk, dazing the redhead.

"Mars!" Konoka ran forward, reacting too quickly to realise just how stupid her action was. The bestial demon spun, roaring, fangs dripping saliva, and sprang at her throat. Terrified, Konoka had no time to dodge, no time to scream -

Before a volley of gleaming blades tore into its hide.

The dark figure had been following the chestnut-haired girl from the shadows of the woods, moving so silently that the Konoe heiress had no idea that the person was there. Precisely WHY they were following the girl was something that even the person concerned didn't fully understand, the overriding necessity to protect Konoka Konoe being accepted without question. The girl never noticed her shadow following her everywhere around Mahora Academy, protecting her from the shadows. And that was how her unknown guardian wanted it to remain.

When the demon had attacked Konoka, her shadower had made to jump to the helpless girl's defence, but the intervention of Sailor Mars had caused the protector to hesitate, then decide to take a vantage point up in a tree, from where the guardian could intervene if necessary, meanwhile simply watching the combat's progress. But from depths of memory previously untapped came images of battles fought long ago, deadly enemies slain in battles both physical and magical. And the clothing of the shadowy figure began to change ...

What?! Why am I wearing a tuxedo?! I wasn't wearing this before! And where did these blades come from?! I've never trained with these, so why do I now have a handful of -

The scream from below brought the tuxedo-clad figure's attention to the battle site below, and dark eyes widened at the sight of Konoka, unprotected, standing defenceless as the demon sprang to kill her. A hand shot out, and blades flashed in the moonlight.

What the - ?! Who the hell is that, and where did they come from?! Ah hell with it, they're on our side, by the looks of it! Mars rolled to her feet, shaking her head to clear the stars still obscuring her vision, as a tuxedoed figure leapt down from the trees, long, gleaming blade in hand, and a second spray of spinning knives volleyed into the demon, which screeched in pain, bellowed a challenge, and charged the newcomer, jaws agape.

The stranger stood waiting, no-dachi held at shoulder height, face covered by a black half-mask covering even the eyes, dark tuxedo formfitting over a slim body, black hair pulled back on one side. Mars felt a tingle down her spine, the feeling that she should KNOW the person behind the mask, but somehow just couldn't make the connection. Blue and green eyes widened as the figure just stood there, unmoving, as the demon charged howling its challenge. Konoka prepared to scream a warning to the newcomer, but no sound came from her tight throat. The beast lunged, massive jaws snapped shut -

- onto the blade of the no-dachi, as the suited figure slipped aside with casual grace. There was a pause, as the demon realised what was to happen next, then the tuxedo-clad figure whipped the blade out, cutting through the roof of the beast's mouth and taking several teeth with it. A bloody foam erupted from the monster's gaping maw, as the masked figure called over to Mars, "now, whilst it's distracted, finish it!"

"Gotcha!" the redhead shouted back and, jumping high, she brought her outsized blade down through the demon's spine, cutting it in half with one blow. A mournful howl, and the demon shuddered and fell to the ground, forepaws feebly clawing at the ground before stilling, dark blood pooling on the ground.

"It's dead! Thank the Kami for - hey, where the hell are you going?!"

Ignoring Mars' shout, the dark-clad figure disappeared into the trees, the tantos buried in the demon's corpse vanishing like mist, leaving no trace of the stranger's intervention.

"W-wait! You don't have to - " But Konoka's shout was too late, the masked stranger was gone. The chocolate-haired girl came to stand next to Mars, both girls staring after the disappeared figure who had come to their aid.

"Who was that masked man, anyway?!" Mars paused, looking puzzled. "And why do I have the sudden urge to start humming 'The William Tell Overture'?!" [1

"It seems my 'pet' has been destroyed. How ... unfortunate." The words were whispered in a soft voice, yet, in the all-encompassing silence of the darkness, they carried to all corners of the black throne room. There was a shifting of figures in the shadows around the throne, but nothing was said, no noise made. The figure on the throne sat back, gripping the arms of the massive stone edifice upon which she was seated.

"Perhaps a suggestion, then, my Queen." At the quiet tones, eyes opened, shutters rolling back to reveal the madness beneath.

"A suggestion? By all means, then, make it."

"Perhaps a scout should be sent, to ascertain how the demon was destroyed, what defences they have. We know the Time Witch is active, but now how many others? Best to find out how strong the opposition is before we send more attackers to kill the Moon Princess." The speaker could barely be made out through the gloom, but the dark Queen knew him well enough to consider his words thoughtfully.

"Who would you suggest?"

"My Queen, I would send ... "

"Konoka?! Are you okay?! What happened?!" Asuna ran to the shorter girl, grabbing her by the shoulders and examining her carefully. The brunette smiled cheerfully and removed the redhead's hands from her, hands unconsciously dusting dirt and grass from her rumpled, dirty uniform.

"I'm okay, Asuna. Really! There was ... an intruder on campus, one that got past the guards. But Sailor Mars showed up and killed it before I was hurt."

"That's okay then, as long as you're alright." Bells in her hair chiming softly, Asuna turned away, suppressing a grin. If only she knew ... But I can't tell her, I have to keep my secret ... well, secret. "Anyway, shall I cook us some - "

"NO! Heh heh," Konoka rubbed her neck, a slight blush on her face, as her roommate turned back to face her, "it's just there's a recipe I'd like to try out tonight, if that's okay with you?"

"Sure." Good, that changed the subject quite smoothly, though I say so myself - but did she HAVE to be that quick to stop me cooking?

The dinner was, as was only to be expected, delicious - Konoka Konoe was a very good cook indeed. Relaxing after the meal, she watched Asuna doing the washing up - she was prepared to let the redhead do THAT, at least, but not actually cook - NEVER cook. Not after the time she'd nearly burnt the dormitory building down ...

Scrubbing the dishes, Asuna was deep in thought. Somehow, that demon had managed to get past the wards placed around the Academy by the magical security patrols - something she would have thought impossible. Unless whoever had sent it had used magic to nullify the wards ... That, at least, would make sense. But what had the demon been sent for, that was what was puzzling Asuna now. The way it had spoken before she'd jumped into battle with it, it had been controlled by someone, but who? And what had been its goal?

Chamo hadn't said anything, though whether that was a good thing or not was arguable. The ermine might be a pervert, but he knew a lot about magic, as well as the otherwise forgotten history of the Moon Kingdom. So, either he was waiting for Konoka to be elsewhere, or he had nothing to say about the battle. He'd definitely listened in to the two girls' discussion of the fight, and Asuna had noticed a worried expression on his furry face, but he'd said nothing to her, nor indicated he'd like a word in private. She didn't know whether to be grateful or not.

The youma screeched in pain, and tried to slash at the attacker with one of its long tentacles, but before it could strike home, a black-armoured figure leapt past her and struck off the limb with one sweep of a long, curved blade. Behind her, Mars could hear her princess casting her own spell to finish the enemy ...

She blinked, gripping the bowl in white-knuckled hands. The flashback had taken her by surprise with both its force AND its vividness She took a deep breath to steady herself. Then it struck her.

That blade! It was the same one that ... that Tuxedo Mask bore earlier! It's him! It MUST be him! The guy from my memories! He's back! She quickly looked over at Konoka, to see if her roommate had noticed her sudden startA wry grin appeared on her face when she saw the chocolate-brown hair spilling over the side of the sofa as the other girl slept peacefully -perhaps not so peacefully, she thought, as the girl on the sofa began murmuring words in her sleep. Though the redhead couldn't completely make out the words, it sounded like a name - Dam, Damien?

Jewels glittered everywhere, brightly-lit chandeliers casting illumination to all corners of the immense ballroom. The floor swirled with colour as couples danced to the slow, beautiful music of the orchestra. Around the dance floor, people stood drinking from crystal glasses, talking in polite, elegant tones.

She stood for a moment watching the activity around her. This was supposed to be HER night, her birthday, but suddenly she felt ... distant, apart, as if she didn't really belong there, as if something was missing, though she had no idea what.

She glanced over to see the Senshi of Mars and Venus arguing as they always did, though she knew they were best friends in reality - and maybe more, if either of them were to admit it. She sighed, feeling a touch of melancholy descend.

"Pardon me, Your Highness. But I thought it wrong to see one as beautiful as you looking unhappy." Startled, she turned to face the newcomer - and froze. Eyes of deepest crimson looked steadily back at her from a pale, high cheek-boned face beneath hair of purest white, held back by a simple circlet of gold. Clad in elegant, formfitting black, even to gloves on the hands, the figure before her was a contrast to the overdressed courtiers around them in the sheer simplicity of their dress. Before the Princess could regain her scattered wits, the stranger bowed smoothly. "May I have the pleasure of this dance, Your Highness?"

So formal, so polite, yet her heart began beating fast as she replied, in a somewhat unsteady voice, "you may, sir. I thank you for your invitation."

The two stepped onto the dance floor and began to move together to the music. She was surprised at how well they fit together, strangers as they were. This person - they danced like an angel! She had to know who it was! "Forgive me, sir, but you have the advantage of me. May I know your name?"

A smile crossed the delicate, almost feminine face before her." My apologies, Your Highness, please forgive my lack of manners. I am Endymion, Prince of Earth."

[1 Okay, who gets THAT reference:)

Enter Tuxedo Mask, stage left! But, who is the person behind the mask? Can you guess? (If not, shame on you - how many clues do you need?!)

Tune in next time for another exciting episode of - 'Pretty Schoolgirl Soldiers - Sailor Moon!'