Serena had found getting up on time much easier since Sailor V had returned to Tokyo. Being up to date on the exploits of Japan's greatest superhero was something of a social necessity at school, so she was motivated to wake up in time to find out the morning news.

That morning she got up even earlier, before even her parents. She could not wait to see the news that Sailor V and the Sailor Senshi would be working together.

The morning news was in a commercial break and she was too impatient to sit through an ad for kitchen appliances. So she did something she had never done before-she brought in the morning paper to read with her breakfast.

But there was no mention of an alliance between Sailor V and Sailor Moon anywhere in the paper. There was only a story of Sailor V foiling a robbery more than an hour after the incident at the docks.

'Of course,' Serena realized. 'No one saw us fight Kunzite and Zoisite. So no one put it in the news.' She shouldn't have been surprised; Sailor Moon's battles with monsters and demons rarely had any witnesses and rarely made headlines the way Sailor V did.

A note at the bottom of the Sailor V story said that there was a related editorial. Serena flipped to the editorials.

TOKYO WELCOMES BACK A REAL HERO said the headline.

The exploits of the Sailor Moon imposter, stopping a robbery and saving a man from falling to his death, highlight the fact that Sailor Moon does none of these things. She, and the other so-called Sailor Senshi, have never been observed doing anything other than fighting the occasional monster. It is shocking that even with four seeming replacements, the crime rate in Tokyo rose nearly ten percent in the months Sailor V was in England.

Thank God Sailor V's business with Interpol is over and she is back in her home, a return she announced by getting back to the business of fighting crime and saving lives. We welcome a hero we can count on to prevent murders and stop robberies, a hero who bothers to work with the police and with Interpol, a hero who actually acts like she cares about our lives and our well being and not solely about some personal crusade against monsters.

Some will say that we are being too hard on the Sailor Senshi. To them we say: if your house is being broken into in the middle of the night by an armed robber, who would you expect to save you? Sailor Moon? If your house was engulfed in flames, who would you expect to run into it and bring your child out to safety? Sailor Mercury?

If you are honest with yourself, you will see who the true hero is.

The words cut into Serena like a cold knife. Her first reaction was outrage. How dare this editor judge her. She put her life on the line for the sake of the whole planet every time she fought. Without her Jadeite or Nephrite might have gathered enough human energy for Metaria to destroy the earth. What did this person, writing from a cozy newsroom, know about that?

But was she the kind of hero Sailor V was? Nearly every time she'd fought she'd needed to be rescued, usually by Tuxedo mask. Sailor V either fought alone or alongside the police. She never needed saving. Serena was more likely to cry than to willingly commit herself to a battle. Sailor V was out searching for trouble every day.

Serena did not have the skills to fight street crime. Even if she did have the skills, she probably would not use them.

There was an odd feeling in Serena's stomach, a lack of an appetite. For the first time in her life, she left home without either finishing her breakfast or bringing it with her. And for the first time, she left for school early enough that she could walk at a leisurely pace and still arrive on time./

"Sailor V not playing today? Too bad."

Mina Aino smiled at the joke of her classmates, who headed towards the locker room. It hadn't gone unnoticed that she looked a lot like the famous superhero, but having a medical dispensation to get out of PE went a long way towards dispelling suspicion that she moonlighted as a crime-fighter. Even Mina thought that the idea that someone who jumps off buildings and beats up criminals would not be allowed to play volleyball for health reasons was kind of funny.

But if her classmates knew the truth they wouldn't have joked about it. They, like most of her teachers, thought that she had anemia. It explained why she had fainted in the middle of the championship volleyball game three years earlier, why the former star athlete of her school sat and watched as others participated in the activities she missed so much. It was a lie that allowed her to be treated normally at school and avoid unwanted attention….and pity./

Ami and Lita arrived at the Hikawa Shrine without Serena, much to the disappointment of Raye and Sailor V, the only one there in costume.

"Did Serena forget to do her homework again?" Raye demanded.

"No. She was distracted and said 'Sailor Moon' when the teacher asked her a question."

"But she's still got detention."

"Yes."

"Typical."

They looked at Sailor V, who was sitting with her eyes closed beneath a tree. "Um, so what do we do now?" Ami asked.

Sailor V opened her eyes. "You are a team. We will begin when you are all here."

"But you told Serena to not get detention."

"Artemis and myself have allocated enough time that it does not matter much. This was partially a test of her reliability."

"And she failed." Raye said.

"Yes."

"So what do we do in the meantime?" Lita asked.

"Luna and Artemis are around talking somewhere." Raye said. "We've got nothing better to do."

"Fine with me." Lita sat down in front of Sailor V. "You don't mind if we ask you some questions, do you princess?"

"As Mars said, we've got nothing better to do until Sailor Moon arrives."

"Well, for starters, I'd like to know how you know so much about us."

"I've seen the reports Luna sent to Artemis about you."

"Luna's been making reports about us?" The revelation did not sit well with the assembled soldiers.

"Yes. Ever since I identified Sailor Moon."

"You figured out that Serena was Sailor Moon?" Ami asked.

"By accident. She was running somewhere and wasn't looking where she was going. She knocked me over, but when she helped me back up I could sense who she was. Artemis then sent Luna to her."

"Typical Serena." Raye said again.

"So we're all awakened as soldiers because you found Sailor Moon." Ami observed.

"If you want to view it that way."

"But if you've known about us all this time," Lita pressed, "why wait till now to contact us? Isn't it our job to protect you?"

"It is, but first of all, I've been busy, and second, secrecy has proven to be far better protection from the Dark Kingdom. Now that I've 'contacted you' I'm actually in greater danger than ever."

"Which is why you need to train us. To make us better able to protect you."

"Pretty much. If I could have defeated the Dark Kingdom without your help I would have done so already. Now I have a question. What were you guys thinking when you were tracking down Zoisite? You weren't acting like you thought she was the enemy."

"Um, we thought that she might have been the fifth soldier that Luna told us would appear soon."

"Ah. Perhaps Luna shouldn't have been told about that. It did cheer her up, though."

The conversation turned to less serious matters, such as Sailor V's opinion on the video game with her name, until she stopped and looked down at the path to the shrine. "Something's wrong. Even with detention your friend shouldn't be this late."/

"To be late today of all days," Serena muttered as she ran through the streets towards the shrine. "Raye's going to kill me, and Sailor V was expecting me! Now my idol's going to think that I'm no good!"

As per her usual routine when running at top speed, Serena was not paying enough attention to where she was going and crashed into someone who was walking slowly, knocking them both down.

Her victim moaned in pain as she apologized again and again while getting back up. He didn't even look at her when he said "Oh. It's you, meatball-head."

"Darien? I take back being sorry then."

"Fine. Just help me up, will you?"

"Help someone who's mean to me and calls me meatball head? I don't think so."

Darien at last looked at her, and Serena was surprised at how pained his expression was. "You're right. I shouldn't call you that. I'm sorry."

Her pity aroused, Serena immediately bent down to help him. "I-I didn't realize I had hurt you so badly."

"No, no. it's…" whatever Darien had been about to say could not be brought out of his lips. "I've got to go." He walked off slowly, leaving Serena feeling quite guilty. She looked down.

And saw a large bloodstain on her blouse.

"Darien!"

He was walking slowly enough that it was not difficult to catch up with him. "You're bleeding."

He nodded.

"Did I do that?"

"No. It happened earlier."

"But I made it worse." she said miserably. He looked at her, and was startled by how much older she looked.

"Actually, I feel it less now because the rest of my body hurts. Thank you."

They shared a chuckle and Serena continued walking with him. It was the first civil conversation they had ever had, and for some reason she didn't want it to end.

But eventually she noticed that they had turned off the way that led towards the Hikawa Shrine. "Um, where are you going?"

Darien seemed to be struck by a bolt of awareness. He looked at her, the road ahead, and back again, this time with fear in is eyes.

"I've got something I have to do Serena. Alone. I'm sorry, but you can't come with me."

"What?" Darien was making it sound like he was doing something dangerous. "If you're in trouble you shouldn't face it alone when you're hurt."

He looked her squarely in the eye. "Please go. I'm not in any danger, but I don't want you involved in this. You probably have someplace important to be yourself."

He was lying. She knew it. And he had inadvertently told her how to help him.

Get the Sailor Senshi.

"All right."/

"Guys!" Serena yelled as she ran up the steps to Hikawa shrine.

"Oh. Now she shows up. You'd think she'd be too embarrassed to show her face." Raye said.

"I'm a little more concerned about the blood on her shirt at the moment Mars." Sailor V said. The scouts looked at her and back at Serena, only then noticing the bloodstain. When Serena reached them Sailor V asked "Were you attacked?"

"No-but I think Darien-this guy I know-he's in some sort of trouble-and he's hurt bad-we've…"

Sailor V put up her hand to stop the flood of words coming out of Serena's mouth. "Darien Shields is still bleeding?"

"Yeah."

"And he's walking into danger."

"Yeah."

"That idiot." Sailor V mumbled. "In what direction was he headed?"

"I think towards Tokyo Star Tower."

"You did well to come here and tell me. Artemis!" Sailor V called.

"Yes?"

"You and Luna, take over here. Make them do drills or something."

"And what are you doing?" Lita demanded.

"I'm going to try to save Mr. Shields from his own stupidity. I don't want anyone following me." She said the last line to Artemis and ran off./

Darien's heart was pounding as he stood in the elevator of the Tokyo Star Tower in its slow ascent towards the top floor. He had already changed into Tuxedo Mask, with his staff and roses ready for battle. His injury left him at a disadvantage, but as long as he was on his guard he was confident he could handle Zoisite. She would not catch him by surprise again.

He had become Tuxedo Mask in order to search for the imperial silver crystal. Along the way he had come across Sailor Moon and the other senshi and aided them as they needed, but he was never part of their quest. It had put them at odds when he had collected several of the rainbow crystals for himself, but he needed answers. That's all he had ever really been concerned about.

At least until recently. Lately he noticed himself becoming distracted more and more by Sailor Moon and the troubles she was in.

And at the moment he was equally distracted by Serena.

Darien shook his head. He had to stay focused. Distractions would likely get him killed this time.

At last the elevator doors opened, and he stepped out to face Zoisite.

Who was not alone.

"Hi there, Cape Boy." she said cheerfully. "Did you bring the crystals?"

"What is he doing here?" Tuxedo Mask demanded, pointing at Kunzite who was standing behind her.

"Insurance." Kunzite said.

"So this was a trick all along."

"Yes, Cape Boy, and you fell for it."

Tuxedo Mask cursed. How could he have been so stupid?

"Now hand over the crystals and you won't be-"

Zoisite stopped, looking at a window behind Tuxedo Mask and to his left along with Kunzite. Tuxedo Mask turned around in time to see Sailor V crash through the window.

She obviously had experience with those sorts of entrances. The spray of glass was spectacular and avoided Tuxedo Mask.

"You were looking for these, I presume." she said, holding up the two crystals Tuxedo Mask had given her the day before.

"Why you lying little.." Zoisite snarled at Tuxedo Mask. "You didn't have the crystals at all!"

He shrugged. "Turnabout is fair play."

"I'll kill you! I'll kill you both!"

"Zoisite." Kunzite warned. "Remember our orders." All four combatants assumed battle stances.

"Hold."

Once again Beryl had intervened, this time with a life size image of herself.

"You are becoming a great annoyance princess."

"I'd like to think that I'm quite good at that."

"Such insolence! You will learn to respect your betters soon indeed child."

"I'd suggest that you come here yourself to teach me, but I suspect that you're showing yourself for the opposite reasons. The outcome of this fight is uncertain, but this man is virtually guaranteed to be hurt."

"You are correct. Zoisite! Kunzite! Return!" Beryl's eyes burned into Sailor V. "You will not take Endymion from me this time."

"After all these years you haven't changed a bit Beryl. That's why you'll lose."/

Back in the Dark Kingdom Beryl shouted. Her crystal ball shattered into a thousand pieces. She turned to her two Shittenu, every syllable of her speech dripping with hatred.

"I. want. her. dead."/

"What was that 'Endymion' stuff about?" Tuxedo Mask asked.

"That was your name in a past life. Beryl turned to Metaria's service because she couldn't win your love."

"And I was in love with you?"

"That is irrelevant. Beryl has not changed, but the rest of us have. If you wish to pursue a relationship with anyone you do not need my approval.

"Listen," Sailor V continued, "this was incredibly stupid of you. You're damn lucky that I got here in time. Don't do anything like this again."

"I guess I won't."

"You are going to the hospital to get that shoulder checked out, now. And you are not to fight again until it is healed. Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal."

Darien turned to leave, but before he did he had one more important question.

"That girl, Serena, is Sailor Moon, isn't she?"

Sailor V nodded. "I'll be watching you until you're in the doctor's office, so don't think of going straight home instead./

What's important to note about this story is that the character of Mina/Minako is vastly different from her interpretation in my other story, Mina Aino: Witch in Training, and does not fit into the same continuity. That story emphasizes her characteristics as an every-girl with super powers and a destiny thrust upon her. This story emphasizes her as an experienced super hero. She is years older, much more experienced, and has completely different motivations for being Sailor Venus.

My motivation for this story is that I noticed that in every version of Sailor Moon, the manga, anime, and live action, Sailor Venus, as Sailor V, seems to be the only one who fights real crime and not just youma. The very first image in the manga of Sailor Moon is an article of Sailor V stopping an ordinary robbery. I wanted to write a fic that explored that and the differences it should create between Venus and the other senshi.