"My name is Tsukino Usagi, age fifteen, first year student at Juuban Technical High School. I am little lazy and a bit of a crybaby. But for the most part I'm a normal Japanese girl. Don't let the blonde hair and blue eyes fool you. I'm not a delinquent, and both of my parents are full-blooded Japanese. And so what if I go to the best school in the prefecture? I am the worst student in the school with a solid C minus average. None of that is so special. Everyone has a few quirks, after all. I really am as normal as they come…"

As her alarm went off, Tsukino Usagi sat up with a leisurely yawn. She tapped the button to turn off the device. She thought her room looked a little bright, but a second look at the clock confirmed it was only six AM. The teen padded casually over to her dresser and drew up her golden hair. Loose, it reach the bottom of her toned yet shapely butt, but she wrapped it into a spherical bun on either side of her head. Each intricate ball took up only a portion of her hair, and the rest trailed out in the respective buns in a tail that reached the middle of her back. She slowly stripped off her pajamas, changed her panties and put on a matching bra, before donning her school uniform.

"Usagi, are you up?" her mother shouted from the foot of the stairs in concern.

"I'm up, Mom."

"Well, it's after seven o'clock, you better hurry," Tsukino Ikuko sounded concerned but also a mildly annoyed.

"Ehhh?" the teen exclaimed, whirling to look at her clock again. It innocently changed from 6:06 to 6:07 under her gaze. Had she messed up setting her alarm again, or was this one of her little brother's pranks? Either way she would have to run, or she was going to be late.

She hurried to pull on her socks and grabbed her bag as she jogged out of her room. She slid down the stair rail under her mother's disapproving eye. Usagi snatched a piece of toast off the plate her mother was taking to her brother Shingo. Before she could be scolded, the teen darted to the door. Holding the snack in her mouth, she quickly pulled on her outdoor shoes and raced out of the house.

She took her cellular out of the skirt pocket. It cheerfully reported the time as 7:12. She only had seven minutes to catch the last bus that would get her to school in time.

Tsukino jogged even while she chewed, and was so intent on her toast and the road that she did not notice the small black mass that shot out of the alley until it bounced off her calf. Usagi barely stayed upright and paused to see what it was. Lying flat before her was a short-haired black cat, above average size for most domesticated breeds, but not as big as some of those cats she had seen on the internet. A moment later, a large dog trotted out of the same side street, growling. Its eyes locked on the feline, and started to stalk towards it.

"Shoo," the girl told the hound, feeling sorry for the cat. The animal turned its glare on her, a rumble still issuing from its bared teeth. Usagi flinched, but did not retreat.

"Please?" she held her bag in front of her and tried to sound threatening. But the quaver in her words and her general defensive posture gave her away. The dog stepped closer, so she threw her toast at it. It looked surprised when the bread hit its snout. But after a moment it seemed to snort derisively, and then collected the morsel before vanishing back into the alley.

"Are you okay?" Usagi knelt down next to the cat. It had rolled onto its side, and its front paws were scratching at its head. It stopped for a moment, and Usagi saw a Band-Aid covering a spot between its eyes. Then the cat started picking at it again.

"You want that off?" she asked, and the cat slowed its efforts.

"This might hurt a bit," Tsukino warned the feline. Then she gently took the cat's head in her left hand, and quickly tore off the bandage. As she did, she almost thought she saw a flash of light. Underneath the Band-Aid there was a bald spot in the shape of a crescent moon. Except where there should have skin, spot appeared to be made out of metallic silver. Usagi reached tentatively to touch the spot, but the cat, suddenly energetic, pulled out of her grasp and bounded to the top of the high wall surrounding the closest house. Tsukino suddenly remembered that she did not have time to spare.

"Bye, kitty," she called out as she started to jog again.

Usagi picked up the pace. The encounter with the cat had cost her too much time. As she rounded the corner and the bus stop came into view, the bus was already starting to pull away.

"WAIT," she howled, tears in the corners of her eyes. At the same time she dashed forward, hitting the side of the bus gently. The driver must have seen her, because the transport slowed back down and he let her on. Panting slightly, she wiped her eyes. Then she frowned slightly when she saw there was only one seat open, and who it was next to. Gritting her teeth slightly, she slid sat down next to her senior.

"That was a great sprint, Odango," the young man said dryly, "Are you sure you don't to join the Track Team? I heard they could use a few more short distance runners."

"Shut up, Chiba-senpai," she said sharply, not looking at him, "And don't call me that."

Chiba Mamoru was the bane of Usagi's existence. Tall, dark and handsome, he should have been her type. Except that Mamoru devoted every moment in her presence to nitpicking, nagging, and needling. He was always asking her why she didn't join a club or go to a cram school and complaining about her grades. All while calling her that hated nickname. After all, someone had to be at the bottom of the class, so why should he care if it was her. Normally she tried to take the earlier bus, so she wouldn't have to see him. Not that that was the only reason. Osaka Naru, her best friend, was the daughter of the school's director, so Naru always got to school early. And Usagi liked to keep the other girl company. That Naru sometimes let the blonde copy her homework was just a mild side benefit.

Purposely ignoring the older boy, Usagi tapped her foot in impatience as she waited for the bus to reach their school. Until her stomach let out a loud grumble of hunger.

"Skipping meals?" Mamoru asked in mock concern, "It's not like you need to diet. If anything…"

"I gave up my breakfast to a stray dog to save a cat," she cut him off triumphantly.

"Really, Odango?" he sounded surprised, "I wouldn't have that you had it in you."

"What you don't know about me would fill a book," she shot back. He did not have a comeback, so they settled into an uncomfortable silence. Until her belly rumbled again, and he smacked her arm with a granola bar. She looked at him in surprise.

"You're distracting me, and I don't think it's fair to make your classmates try to concentrate through that," he explained defensively. She looked rebellious for a moment. He wiggled it at her. Feeling another noise building in her gut, she snatched it out of his hand and wolfed it down.

"There, happy?" she complained, folding the wrapper and putting it in the empty side pocket of her schoolbag.

"My ears are," he teased. She huffed, and went back to ignoring him.

Usagi was somewhat surprised to find Naru was not present when she arrived, still a few minutes before the bell. She watched her friend's chair, her eyes occasionally moving to the door. Tsukino wondered if the other girl was sick.

"Where's Naru?" Gurio Umino asked her. The young man was a classic nerd. Shorter than her, painfully thin, Umino had short, dark brown hair in a messy array of spikes, and perfectly round glasses that covered most of his face and were so thick they made his eyes look blurry. Naru had once suggested that he might be cute, without his spectacles distorting his face like a funhouse mirror. Usagi had expressed her doubts, using his perpetually wrinkled uniform as evidence. So much as she disliked Mamoru, at least the older boy kept his jacket and pants sharp. Still, Umino was always near the top in their year, and at this school that equated to social status. If anything, most of the class wondered why he was friends with Tsukino, rather than the other way around.

"Don't know," Usagi answered, "But she didn't text me to pick up her assignments, so she's either not sick, or she's really, really sick. Is the headmistress here?"

"I thought I saw her in the hall," he considered that. Both teens quieted as their homeroom teacher walked in and slid the door shut. But before she reached the podium, the door slammed back open, and a slightly panting Naru hurried into the class.

"Sorry, sensei," she said quickly before hurrying over to her seat.

"what happened?" Usagi whispered worriedly. Naru shook her head to suppress a yawn, her wavy red-brown locks fluttering around her. The green eyes, so dark they looked black in the shadows, fixed on Tsukino wearily.

"my mom left without me," the other girl explained, "and she didn't even wake me up first. I know she is caught up in this inter-club competition, but…"

Usagi nodded as she listened to her friend complain. Osaka Mayumi was a good mother and a better principal. She, more than even Naru, was the reason Usagi had followed her friend to the selective school rather than trying for an easier one. That Mayumi would forget about Naru like this was practically unthinkable, and said something about this tournament. As a member of the Go-Home club, Usagi had not paid attention to the event, but she resolved to ask Naru and Umino about it at lunch.

"So, some alumni offered to give the school a bunch of money, if they had some sort of multi-sport competition?" Usagi tried to wrap her head around what Naru had told her, "And your mom offered to increase the winners' budgets, to get all the clubs to participate? Except now she is super busy organizing everything, and forgetting about you? So you are try to get back into the top ten so she will be proud?"

"That sums it up," Naru agreed sadly. Then Umino returned, she turned her eyes on him, "Well?"

"Sorry, you were number eleven," he told her consolingly. The brunette slumped slightly.

"And you?" Usagi prompted the boy.

"Number two, again," he scratched the back of his head, "I guess I'm never going to win against a 300 IQ natural genius."

"You know, there were some girls from another school on my bus a few days ago," Usagi said thoughtfully, "They were talking about going to a temple on the route. Supposedly the miko there has actual powers. You could get a magic talisman for studying."

"Usagi-san," the boy shook his head, "There's no such thing as magic."

Usagi was still worrying about Naru when she got home. She hurried through her homework a little quicker than usual, in the back of her head rationalizing that maybe if she did a little worse, her friend could do a little better. Then she collapsed on her bed, trying to think if there was any way to help Naru.

At the same time, she couldn't stop herself from contemplating the tournament. What kind of person would shell out a lot of money to see a bunch of high school kids compete? Other than a pervert who wanted to see a bunch of girls in bloomers? It wasn't like the boy's gym outfits were quite as revealing…

However the money was still tempting. Except that she wasn't in a club. Or a manga character who could get paid to be a mercenary sports ace. Besides, it just sounded like too much work.

The girl's introspection was interrupted by a weird squeaking noise. Looking around, she realized it was coming from her window. She propped herself up on her shoulder so she could get a better look. A black cat was gently scratching the glass with its right front claws. And it only took an instant for her to look at its head and realize it was the same feline she had rescued this morning. With a slight grin, she opened up the window. The cat immediately hopped into her room, and as its species was wont to do, started to look around like a queen appraising her new kingdom.

"Are you stalking me, kitty?" Tsukino asked in an amused tone. The cat gave her an aggrieved look. She started to apologize, but before she could the cat spoke.

"I would hardly call it stalking, Usagi-chan," it said in a female voice, speaking perfect Japanese, "and my name is Luna, not 'kitty'."

"EHHH!" the Human shrieked and crab-walked back on her bed until she hit the wall, "The cat is talking!"

"Technically speaking, I am not a cat," Luna sounded annoyed and gave the girl another condescending look, "I am a Cait Sidhe, a type of spirit."

"You mean a fairy? Like in Fairy Dance Arc of SAO?" Usagi stopped cowering and looked amazed.

"I suppose that is one way to put it," not happy with the label, Luna could not fully deny it, "But I do not know what this SAO…"

"Then why did I have to save you from the dog?" Usagi suddenly looked doubtful as she remembered, "Couldn't you have used you powers on it? Or just yelled at it to go away?"

"After those young ruffians affixed that sticky thing to my head, my mana flow was diminished," the cat sounded slightly embarrassed, "My physically abilities were greatly lessened, including my ability to enunciate Human speech. As for my 'powers', I am not sure what you think I can do based on this 'Fairy Dance Arc', but it is not as if I could have blasted the mutt. A Cait Sidhe's abilities are mostly based on the gathering and use of information."

"But you did jump to the top of that high wall pretty easy," Usagi countered, "So if you can't fly or something, you have to be stronger than a normal cat. Unless you have some super awesome Cat Fu."

"Well, yes, we are gre…" Luna started off proudly, but suddenly stopped and shook her head, "That is not why I followed you today…"

"You are stalking me!"

Luna ignored the interruption, "I believe you are one of the people I have been looking for, one of the reborn Sailor Senshi."

"Sailor Senshi?" the blonde tilted her head in confusion, "What's that?"

"The Senshi were the guardians of the Sol Federation. They represented eight of the ten planets in our system, and protected it from threats both internal and external."

"There's only eight planets at all," Usagi countered, fixating on one fact to counter her growing bewilderment.

"There are ten," the feline insisted tersely, "including the Moon, and Pluto before its destruction. That unfortunate hunk of rock that now carries its name is merely one of the largest surviving pieces of the planet Pluto…"

Luna shook her head to drive out the girl's distractions, and quickly and sternly continued, "We do not have time for this. The Dark Kingdom is on the move. If you really are one of the Sailor Senshi, your power will be needed, and soon."

"Okay," Usagi sounded dubious, "How do we figure out if I am one of the Sailors you are looking for?"

Luna waved her paw, and a golden brooch fell out of thin air onto the girl's bed. It was a circular disc, and completely unadorned. The teen's eyes widened as she looked at the accessory.

"Touch this transformation brooch," the feline instructed, "If you are one of the ones we are looking for, it should attune itself to your power. And that in turn should tell us which Senshi you are."

Nervously, Usagi extended her hand, and picked up the brooch. The talisman began to emit a sharp, golden light and grew warm in her hand. Even though it did not hurt her, she yelped in surprise and dropped it. Etchings began to form on the surface, and a yellow gem emerged in the center of the artifact. As the Human and Cait Sidhe leaned closer to see what the symbols were, Usagi's cellular suddenly rang. Tsukino hopped off her bed, her interest in the magical cat and jewelry eclipsed by the familiar ring tone.

"Moshi-moshi, Naru," she said as soon as the phone connected.

"Usagi," the other girl said desperately, forgoing the normal greeting, "You have to help me, my mom turned into some kind of monster and she's trying to kill me."

"What?" Tsukino all but shouted in surprise and worry.

"My mom was acting weird at dinner tonight, so when she came back to the school I followed her," Naru whispered quickly, "But once she was inside she changed. Her skin turned grey and her nails turned into foot long spikes. Then this other blonde woman appeared, and my mother told her that the plans to harvest the students during the tournament was on track. She gave this glowing green gem to the other woman, who disappeared again. Then she started to leave, so I did too. But I knocked over one of those wet floor signs, and she heard it. She started chasing me. I ran and hid one of the second year classes. 2-C, I think."

"Why didn't you call the police?" Usagi demanded.

"I did," the other girl managed to sound insulted despite the overwhelming fear in her voice, "I didn't even tell them the monster part, but they didn't believe me."

"Don't worry, Naru, I'll think of something. For now, hang up and stay quiet."

She hit the end call button, and then glanced around her room. She stepped over to the closet and took out the tennis racket her mother had bought for her during the ill-fated attempt to join a club in her second year of middle school. Just before the incident that had ultimately lead to her going to Juuban.

"Usagi, what is wrong?" Luna demanded.

"Naru is in trouble," the girl called back even as she ran out of her room, "Her mom turned into a monster and is after her!"

"Usa…" Luna tried to stop the girl, but stopped short when Shingo poked his head out of his room. Instead, she touched the brooch, causing it to vanish again, before chasing the blonde.

Brandishing her makeshift weapon, Usagi tip-toed into the darkened school. She made her way quickly to the stairwell, her ears straining for Naru or her mother. Once she made it to the landing between the floors, she heard a scream and broke out running. She rounded the corner onto the second floor, and saw something lifting Naru by the neck and jaw. It had its back to Tsukino, and Naru's unfocused eyes did not seem to see the blonde either.

The creature looked vaguely like Mayumi, but almost skeletally thin, with pale grey skin and fingers ending in claws instead of nails. Claws which were cutting into Naru's cheek as the monster closed its hands. Before Usagi could protest, her friend went limp.

"Naru," Usagi half sobbed, half shouted. But she was too frightened, to do anything more. The monster lowered her friend with a look of confusion, and turned her head to face at Usagi. Turned its head only, into a position that would have killed a normal human.

"Another donor, looking to contribute to our great cause," it rasped, its voice still resembling the Osaka matron. She let her victim drop to the tiles, and took a step towards Usagi. As its head returned to the normal position, it sprinted forward, faster than a natural Human could. Usagi fell back with a shriek in the heartbeat after it started moving, her racket clattering to floor. But as the monster passed the edge of the stairwell, a steak of black leaped out of the alcove, and latched onto its face.

Luna clawed the creature's face three times, before hopping off when it reached for her. She landed lightly, and gestured with her paw. The brooch from earlier reappeared. With a light kick, the Cait Sidhe sent it skittering over to the girl.

"Usagi, take the brooch and say, 'Moon Senshi Power, Make Up'," the cat commanded. As the girl touched the brooch, the monster kicked at Luna. The cat attempted to dodge, but the tip of its boot scraped her ribs and sent her careening.

"Luna!" Tsukino yelled, and the cringed as the monster lunged at the Human again.

"Do it," the cat groaned.

"Moon Senshi Power, MAKE UP!"

Lightning crackled out of the artifact, the energy throwing the creature back even as it flowed over Usagi's body. Her clothing seemed to evaporate, but her naked body appeared to be made out of shimmering sliver-white energy instead of Human flesh. The ornament floated out of her hand, and landed on her chest between her modest cleavage. Yellow and lavender ribbons flowed out of the talisman, wrapping her body. Once she was covered, additional strips shot out, disconnected from the device, and surrounded her hands and feet. Another burst of electric energy exploded out of her, and her skin returned to normal while the mystic streamers solidified into real cloth. The majority of her body was covered in white, with a purple collar and a pleated yellow skirt with hints of orange and lavender around the bottom edge. Her high-heeled boots were the same color as her collar, except for a white trim on the top, in a lightning bolt pattern. The gloves instead were white with a purple ribbon tying them off at her wrists. Her uniform had gauzy sleeves and a similarly translucent cape and two purple ribbons trailing behind. A violet jewel perched on each of the buns in her hair. A purple choker held an amber rhombus over her throat. And a thin tiara holding another oval amber rested on her brow.

Not only had her clothing changed, Usagi's hair was now stark white and the tails had extended until they reached almost down to her ankles. And her blue eyes were now shining gold. Despite her initial position, the Sailor Senshi was now standing on her feet, facing the imposter.

"Ehhh?" Usagi shrieked in surprised as she looked down at herself.

"What was that?" the monster howled, stiff shaking from the jolt that threw it back. But it returned to its feet and stabbed at the newly transformed Senshi. Tsukino dodged, but she moved faster than she expected and slammed lightly into the wall. She exclaimed instinctively in pain, and then slid down to her butt as the monster aimed its next strike at her neck. Its right claws dug into the concrete column. It followed up, attempting to carve out her heart.

"Why is this happening!?" Sailor Moon wept in terror and confusion. The stones in her hair resonated with her cries, and the sound of thunder shook the school. The monster was launched back again, and as the sonic burst continue, it carefully covered its ears.

"Sailor Moon," Luna gasped as she struggled to stand, "You must destroy the youma. Focus your mind and draw out your power."

"Focus my mind," she took a breath and tried to do what the fae cat asked. The yellow gem on her forehead began to glow.

"Draw out my power," she parroted, and lightning began to flicker across the golden band. Usagi blinked and shuddered from the odd feeling of her magic flowing down her spine. But her eyes centered on her opponent intently.

"Moon Tiara," she drew the circlet off, but the gem stayed behind, affixed to her forehead, leaving a hole in the tiara. Then she snapped out her wrist.

"Action!"

The tiara flashed across the gap. It struck the youma in the chest. And then bounced off and clattered to the floor at the monster's feet.

"Ehhh?"

"What was that?" Luna groused. And the fake headmistress almost looked like it agreed with its enemy's adviser.

"I felt the power in my tiara, so I threw it," the teen whined.

"That is just stupid," the youma smirked. It kicked the tiara back at her and took a threatening step forward.

"Again, quickly," the cat yowled, "And this time think about and feel your magic!"

The youma looked slightly worried and leapt at her. Usagi's eyes widened in fear, and she thrust her hand out to keep the monster at bay.

"Moon Senshi Spark!" she squealed quickly. Five balls of lightning shot out of her fingertips. One missed entirely, but the other four scorched the youma's blouse and grey skin, pushing it back again.

"Better," Luna complimented her, "But finish… it before it recovers."

Usagi eyes caught on her tiara, and she remembered how it reacted to her electric powers. And another thought came to mind. She caught up the accessory and placed it on her left palm, face up. She held her right hand, face down, above it. Then she began to send her lightning into her hands. The tiara began to glow, and floated between her hands, spinning faster and faster.

"What are you doing?" Luna demanded as the monster started to recover, "That didn't work."

"Because I didn't do it right," Sailor Moon insisted, as the tiara appeared to become nothing more than a disc of solid electricity. The youma snarled, but also took a step back when it saw the attack growing brighter.

"Moon!" The gem on her head began to spark.

"Tiara!" Voltage began to flow visibly back and forth between her arms, moving down towards the tiara. The youma turned to run.

"RAILGUN!" Sailor Moon screamed the final word. Thunder boomed again as the disc launched at supersonic speed. It hit the monster's spine, and this time definitely did not bounced off. As it sliced through, it discharged the built up energy into the youma's body. When it exited, it had returned to its original appearance, barely spinning at all. It looped back, a few last sparks dancing on it as it made the return trip. And as it touched down on Usagi's hand, the creature crumbled into dust.

"Thank you, Misaka Mikoto," she whispered with a grin as she replaced the circlet.

"What was that?" Luna demanded incredulously.

"Just letting myself be inspired," Usagi grinned sheepishly. Then Naru's fallen form caught her eye, and her skin went almost as pale as her hair. It looked like Sailor Moon was struggling not to throw up.

"Oh god," she mumbled, "Naru's mom turned into a monster and killed her, and then I killed her mom."

"Don't be foolish," Luna interrupted, her voice still rough from pain, "Your friend is not dead, she has only had her energy drained. She will need some time to rest, but she should make a full recovery. As for her mother… We can only hope that the youma left this girl's mother alive, to feed on her energy or for information."

"Naru," Usagi was over by her friend's side in less than a second, propping her up and checking ineptly for a pulse, "Naru, it's…"

"Sailor Moon, you must keep your identity a secret," the cat hissed in warning. Then she turned her head upwards as she saw a shadow flash across the third floor balcony window. But when Luna looked, nothing was there.

"… okay," the Senshi finished ineptly, "The monster is gone, and I am sure help will be here soon."

"We must leave," Luna whispered forcefully. Scowling at the Cait Sidhe, Usagi turned away from her friend, and darted down the stairs. Even as Naru's eyes fluttered open.

"So they will let you out tomorrow?" Usagi asked her hospital bound friend anxiously.

"Yeah, I am as good as new," Naru agreed, her hand brushing the bandage over the cuts on her cheek, "the doctor's just worried because of the 'gas'."

It had been four days since the dramatic events Usagi was still not convinced were really real. Both of the Osaka women had been found thanks to Usagi's call and a second, anonymous tip. Unable to determine what had knocked them out, they explained it as a gas leak in their home. Which conveniently explained Osaka Mayumi's erratic behavior and lack of memory.

Usagi was visiting her friend, hoping for denial or confirmation of her odd experience. Especially as she had not seen Luna since. The mysterious brooch was sitting on her desk, but Usagi was too cowardly to touch it, much less try to transform again.

But when her friend made finger quotes around the word gas, a chill bit the blonde's spine.

"What do you mean?"

"The doctors say I was hallucinating," Naru lowered her voice so the nurses could not hear her, "But I know what I saw. Some kind of monster took my mom's place. And I was rescued by an angel."

"An angel?" Usagi prompted hopefully.

"Yup," the brunette agreed, "I only caught a glimpse of her, but she was glowy, gold, and silver. And some kind of voice called her Sailor Moon."

Usagi fell forward on to Naru's bed, with a expression of despair on her face and a matching sigh.

"Usagi, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," she lied weakly, "I just thought I saw something like that before I found you… But she didn't look like an angel to me. Just a girl in a crazy cosplay. I had been thinking I was just seeing things…"

"I wonder who she was," Naru pondered.

"Me too."

Exiting the hospital, Tsukino was only mildly surprised to find a black cat waiting for her in the shadows.

"Shoo," she waved her hands at the feline, holding on to one last shred of hope.

"I will not," Luna announced imperiously, "If the Dark Kingdom is already taking action, there is far too much to be done."

Usagi exhaled in defeat, "Where were you anyway?'

"I checked on your friend's mother."

"You made the anonymous call," Usagi barely kept her voice down as she pointed at the Cait Sidhe accusingly.

"And then I began searching for the other Sailor Senshi," Luna ignored her, "Now come along, we should get home. And I believe you still have English and math homework to finish."

"Are you still stalking me, Luna?"

Ba-dump

A blonde woman in militaristic uniform kneeled before the shadowed dais. She struggled to keep her hand off the short sword on her belt. The act might have comforted her, but would not have been taken well.

Ba-dump

"What have you brought me, Jadeite?" the low, hollow, barely-female voice seemed to come from the walls themselves.

Ba-dump

"The energy I promised, my queen," Jadeite answered, her voice carefully even.

Ba-dump

The only female general held out a small piece of jade, which floated out of her hand and vanished into the darkness.

Ba-dump, ba-dump

"This is only a fraction of what you promised," the disembodied voice shrieked. Jadeite wished to cover her ears, but did not move. She dared not even flinch.

Ba-dump, ba-dump

"It could not be helped, my queen," the blonde said with confidence she did not feel, "The youma was destroyed before it could complete its job. Even so, it was able to collect this much through incidental exposure."

Ba-dump, ba-dump

If Jadeite expected her master to accept the excuse, she was sorely mistaken.

Ba-dump, ba-dump

"What in this empty age could have possibly destroyed a youma of the Dark Kingdom?"

Ba-dump, ba-dump

"A…" Jadeite shook, but this time with rage, "A Sailor Senshi, my queen."

The room grew deathly still. The ever-present sound a slow heartbeat vanished.

"What did you say?"

"One of the Sailor Senshi has revived," Jadeite growled, "I do not know which one, but it does not matter. I will kill her, whichever one she is. And I already have two more plans in action, to acquire the energy I promised."

Ba-dump

"Good. I will accept that this was unexpected, but also unavoidable. But my patience will not last forever, Jadeite."

Ba-dump

"Of course, my queen."