Thanks to reviewers:
Dark shadowed rose
MJ
BostonBill
Almvira
Candiandi97
LoveInTheBattleField
Jade Riddle 19 (sorry, but I can't answer that quite yet without major spoilers)
CherrySerenity-sama
TropicalRemix (sorry, but I can't answer that quite yet without major spoilers)
saveme57
inufan155687
CaseClosed621 (sorry, but I can't answer that quite yet without major spoilers)
and Anon (Hmm…Serena as the moonlight knight that would be an interesting sight to see, but no. As much as I love the Moonlight Knight, he will not make any appearance in this fanfic.
I was very surprised by the number of reviews for this chapter so thank you guys so much!
To the lovely reviewers who got the same answer (it was basically the same question) and anyone else wondering: If I told you IF or when Serena would be back, that would spoil my story. So I'm not saying she won't be back, but I'm also not saying she will. She is, after all, dead. There are plenty of stories without a Sailor Moon on here. But a couple of you are too smart for your own good… it's like you know what I'm planning…. I'll leave it to you to figure it out…
Sorry for the delay in updating, I tried to make this slightly longer than normal to make up for that. I also have limited internet connection, so I'm sorry to say every two weeks or so might be the limit on my updates, or once a month if I finally find a job. I have big plans for this story though (and even more twists!) so I'm excited to write it out.
Sadly, I don't own sailor moon (if i did, paying for college would be a snap). I times that statement by however many chapters this fic will be because I don't feel like trying to remember it for every chapter. So I don't own the wonderful story that is Sailor Moon but I will own two of the future characters who are not part of the series.
"Just because she took Serena's seat in class doesn't mean Ann and her brother are evil," Raye said, looking in annoyance at the Sailor Scouts' leader.
The other scouts seemed to be in some way agreeing with the statement, much to the blonde's dismay.
"There's been a lot of negative energy coming from the downtown region," Raye continued. "I haven't had a chance to find the cause yet."
"If you go take Chad," Andrew suggested. "If there is a new enemy, we have to be careful."
"Trista, is there any way you can tell us anything?" Greg inquired. "Even just a hint of who the new enemy might be?"
"I've made myself clear," Trista replied. "I can't reveal the future, especially if it could sway our path. I risk a lot trying to keep us going towards universal peace. I shouldn't even be here giving an opinion."
"But you're the one who most remembers the silver millennium," Hotaru replied. "And you're the oldest in this time so we like your wisdom."
"But Mina is still our leader," Amy said.
"Of the Inner Scouts, maybe," Amara replied. "Earth isn't even under our protection."
"Then don't protect it," Darien replied flatly. "No one is forcing you to be here."
All eyes flew to Darien, who had been silent at all previous meetings. He continued to stare out the window as if he hadn't even spoken.
"Darien, we do need the help of the sailor scouts," Andrew said gently. "I don't think the five of us are strong enough, especially since we seem to rely slightly on the ladies in this life for our own powers. If we fail to protect earth then Serena's sacrifice will have been in vain."
"If Beryl wasn't the only enemy we have, then her death was in vain," Darien spat out. "You think we're strong enough? Without Serena and the silver crystal, we have nothing!"
"We still have the silver crystal," Ken pointed out.
Darien subconsciously pulled the crystal from his inner pocket. He turned it over in his hand, the only physical reminder he had of his past lover.
"None of us can use it," Amy said.
"That's true," Artemis agreed. "Only a living member of Moon royalty is able to bring forth and use its power."
"But if that's true, then it's useless," Luna said. "It should have been destroyed when Serena drew her last breath."
"So someone is still left of the royal line," Michelle said softly. "Luna, is there someone other than Serenity who could harness the silver crystal's power?"
The black cat seemed to lose herself in distant memories for a second before shaking her head.
"If there is," Luna said, "I do not recall."
"Trista?" Hotaru asked.
"Serenity blocked many events in the past. If there is another heir to the Moon kingdom, I do not know. Even with her death, some things are guarded." Trista looked up as Darien pocketed the silver crystal and walked out.
Everyone flinched as the door slammed behind him.
"He misses Serena," Hotaru said.
"We all miss Serena," Amara replied. "It's not our fault he was never nice to her while she was alive."
"He didn't know who she was!"
"That doesn't excuse the way he treated her."
"He still liked her. Even before he knew she was Sailor Moon or the princess. Guys tease girls when they like them."
"Guys your age. Darien was an adult, he should have at least been mature about picking on a teenager. An underage teenager at that."
"That's enough," Michelle said, grabbing Amara's arm. "I think Hotaru is right. It's cute really, that he couldn't just admit to liking her. It's possible he was trying to push her away to keep them both out of trouble, since she was underage."
"It never stopped them in the silver millennium," Raye muttered.
"Love doesn't care about age," Mina added. "Trista, is there any way to get Serena back? Darien is miserable without her. She wasn't really supposed to die in this life, was she?"
Trista stared at them while contemplating how to answer. "No," she finally said. "Serena was to live a long and fulfilling life, as were the wishes of Queen Serenity. However, at the last moment the path seems to have changed and therefore we have to make the best of this. We can still protect earth and continue on without her. I suggest going back to pairs guarding the city twenty-four seven. Darien is excluded; being the prince we are to guard him as well. I believe Hotaru and I should be able to handle that. As far as we know the enemy isn't after him, if there is an enemy at all. When he isn't with Hotaru or myself he is usually at the arcade-"
"I can guard him there," Andrew said. "It is our duty after all, not the sailor scouts."
"When Serenity and Endymion married, the earth prince became our responsibility," Mina told him. "So we have to guard him too."
"Protecting Darien and figuring out if there's a new enemy," Lita said. "So much for going back to our normal lives."
Ann fumed as she and Alan walked around that afternoon.
"We have to do our best to blend in," Alan continued. "We have to at least act like brother and sister."
"You're only supposed to play that song for me," Ann complained. "And you played for every one of those hideous humans!"
"And you think I didn't see the smile you gave the boys?"
"I did not!" Ann crossed her arms, looking away from Alan. "I'd never stoop low enough to like these silly humans!"
He sighed. "Ann, we have to remember our life here is the only way we can keep the doom tree alive. We have to keep up our personas. No need to be jealous."
"Jealous? Who's jealous?" she snapped.
"You're going to ruin everything! You should know I'm not interested in any of them. Only you, Ann."
A man passing by bumped Ann's shoulder. She turned to yell at him, but instead gasped.
"He's perfect," Ann whispered to herself, following the man.
Alan continued on the way back to the Doom Tree, not realizing until a few minutes later that Ann was gone.
Ann watched the man absentmindedly brush his fingers across the petals of a red rose as he walked, in a direction unfamiliar to her but very familiar to the man. He stopped on the corner of a busy street, waiting as traffic rushed by in front of him. Just as Ann prepared to speak, she was overcome by a wave of weakness and collapsed against a lamppost.
Darien finally crossed the street, not hearing the weak cries from behind him. Alan ran to the girl's side as she slipped into sleep.
"She needs energy from the Doom Tree," he said aloud to himself. "And fast."
Alan sat on a limb of the Doom Tree playing on his flute as Ann absorbed more energy from the Doom Tree. When she finally awakened, he lowered the instrument.
"We have to get energy," he said to her as a stack of cards appeared in his hand. Alan fanned them out and held them up to Ann. "Pick a cardian, Ann. Our future depends on it."
Ann raised her hand and one of the cards floated up.
"A flower," Alan said. "Flowers can be poisonous, even deadly. Cardian I command you, send forth our servant Vampeel!" He raised the flute to play a few notes.
A monstrous flower appeared in front of them.
Sailors Uranus and Neptune were combing the streets for any signs of negative forces. At the sound of a scream both ran to the source, seeing a monster that resembled an ugly flower let go of a young woman it had just drained the energy from.
"World shaking!" Uranus shouted, letting loose an attack on the monster.
"Deep submerge!" Neptune followed.
Vines suddenly sprouted out, wrapping around the two scouts.
"It's draining…our energy," Neptune said.
"Fight it!" Uranus said, struggling against the vines.
Both girls slowly fell to their knees. A sword of flames appeared to cut them loose. Jadeite stood tall watching as Sailor Mars took over.
"Fire Soul!" the red scout shouted.
The monster burned out in the flames before changing back into a card that disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
"What was that?" Jadeite asked.
"A new enemy?" Mars asked.
"We didn't anticipate someone like you on our planet," Alan said.
The three scouts and Jadeite turned to face the two new foes that had just appeared nearby.
"Your planet?" Uranus shouted.
"You sent that thing, didn't you?" Mars demanded.
"Just our way of getting acquainted," Ann sneered.
"See you again, Sailors," Alan said as the two vanished.
"Good timing," Neptune said. "Usually it's us saving you."
"I sensed a surge in energy. We decided to investigate," Mars explained. "Are you two okay?"
Michelle nodded while Amara glared at the spot that Alan and Ann had previously occupied.
"If they think we're going to stand by and let them take over a planet Serena died to protect, they better be ready for us," Amara growled.
Michelle smiled softly, taking Amara's hand. "I think we've all had enough for one night. Our shift is over. I believe Venus and Kunzite are taking over. We'll tell them to be on alert. I'm sure she'll call a meeting to discuss those two."
"What could they want?" Jadeite asked. "Why could they be attacking earth?"
"Who knows," Mars replied. "I'm sure we'll find out soon enough."
So the flower monster thing was from the first episode of sailor R but I'm not sure if I got the name right. I was going on sound, not a character list or anything. Some of the lines were taken directly from the episode, but I tried changing it up as well as I could. And I kinda like how this is turning out so far. Reviews are much appreciated! I even accept anonymous reviews if you don't have a fanfic account! Energy from reviews will feed my Doom Tree!