"Okay, I guess that was all", Minako finished, looking at her fellow Sailor scouts. She'd just told them everything Yaten said the other day.

They all seemed slightly taken aback. Of course they did know about the dreams and visions of the silver-haired Starlight, but that they were so graphic came as a surprise to everybody.

"Avaritia", Ami murmured, already taking notes. "And she is able to take the power of the people she kills. Did he say anything about the other six creatures?"

Minako shook his head. "No, he didn't."

"He should have told us when all of us were together. I've got so many questions..."

Minako looked down. She could understand that he hadn't said anything. To be honest, she didn't quite believe that he really wanted to tell her, he just had to inform anyone.

She wasn't able to forget his face at that moment, how his lips had quivered and his forehead wrinkled in agony when he understood which attacks the evil woman had added to her 'collection' lastly. The pain had been evident in all his features.

"Don't", she pleaded suddenly. The other girls looked at her in confusion. "Don't ask him too much. When there is something important, he'll let us know, I'm sure."

"What's going on with you?", Rei asked and raised a neatly trimmed brow. "I haven't seen you getting so defensive about anyone for ages."

"Oh, you're still after him, aren't you?", Usagi demanded to know and crept closer to her friend. "Spill it, Mina. Are you two... involved, somehow?"

"Nonsense." Minako crossed her arms in front of her chest. "They just arrived two days ago and with all the events going on, when would we even have time to get involved?"

"But you want it!" Usagi poked her with her index finger.

Minako blushed. "What? I never said that!"

"You didn't need to!"

"That's rubbish." Minako pouted.

"Hey. Don't tease her." Makoto soothed and took a sip of her tea.

"Thanks."

"You just encourage her, give the poor boy a few days of peace before the Minako-invasion starts."

"Makoto! You betrayed me!" As soon as the cup of tea was placed safely on the table again, Minako jumped up and tickled the brunette.

"And I really thought they'd matured", Artemis sighed, who'd curled up on the windowsill next to Luna.

"You really did?" Luna rested her head against the white cat. "You should have known better."

"I'm afraid you're right." The cat sighed once more, absolutely not willing to leave his cozy place, but got up nonetheless.

"Hey", he demanded the girls' attention. "Is there a new war we have to prepare for or not?"

Minako went back to her place and smoothed down her dress. "But what can we do right now? I'd rather enjoy the time we've left until it starts."

"Oh, I know something you can do." Ami handed Minako a big, boring looking book. "Read this. I already managed to get to page 74, so you can just start from there. You know, just scan the pages for something important."

"Yay. And how should I possibly know what's important and what's not?", Minako mumbled to herself, but bowed her head over the book nonetheless.

"Anyone else here looking for something to do?", Ami asked innocently and smirked when Rei, Usagi and Makoto claimed to be terribly busy all of a sudden. "I thought so."

Most of the information Minako found was completely useless. There was a lot stuff about church going on, but it was rather unlikely that intruders from another solar system cared that much about human spirituality. A few other things she scribbled down though she was still not sure if they were useful at all, but she figured it was better to have a bit too much than missing one important point. Alien enemies who could easily kill them should be taken seriously.

When she'd made her way through 12 pages, her mobile phone rang. The display showed an unknown number.

"Hello?", she answered the call, not willing to give her name away to a complete stranger.

"Minako? It's Seiya."

For one moment she wondered briefly when she had become the person to call instead of Usagi, then another thought crossed her mind and immediate concern was evident in her features. "What's up? Did something happen?"

"No, nothing at all", Seiya was quick to assure. "We just wanted to ask you for a favor."

"I'm listening." Minako relaxed again and smiled towards the girls who were watching here worriedly to show that everything was okay.

"We need to do some grocery shopping, and we still got no car. Mind to help us out?"

Minako beamed. That was the perfect excuse to get out of here. "Not at all. I'm already on my way. Meet me outside in 15 minutes."

"Perfect. Thanks, Minako."

Deeply satisfied the girl ended the call and was met by four pairs of curious eyes. She settled for a simple "I have to leave."

"Yeah, we got that. Secret date? Oh, oh! Was it Yaten?"

"Don't be silly", Minako scolded. "It was Seiya, and he only wanted to borrow my car to do some shopping."

"Seems like you got your old job as their personal assistant back", Makoto couldn't help but tease.

"What can I say? I have the best qualifications." Minako smiled sweetly and grabbed her keys from the desk. "Do you want to stay here while I'm gone?"

"We're gonna finish this quickly if that's okay", Ami decided.

"Sure. I don't know how long it will take, maybe I'll join you again when we're ready."

Maybe. Or maybe not. She would make sure that it would take a while.

When she arrived the Three Light's apartment, nobody was there to be seen. Minako decided on waiting inside of her car instead of getting out and ring the doorbell. Seiya would show up sooner or later. She was a few minutes early anyway.

Eventually the passenger's door opened, and a rather pissed looking Yaten entered the car.

"You?", Minako asked as a welcome. "I though Seiya would join me."

"I'm not here voluntarily", Yaten complained. "We played a weird game which Seiya swears exists on earth, and I lost."

"What kind of game?" Minako glanced over curiously before she started the car again and concentrated on the traffic instead.

"Scissors Rocks Paper?", Yaten speculated. "I'm pretty sure he made it up, though. He was just doing strange stuff with his hands."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but it is a real game", Minako grinned. "It's Rock Paper Scissors."

"It's a dumb game", Yaten decided firmly.

"Only because you lost."

"No, that's... well, maybe", he confessed with a sheepish smile.

The girl next to him giggled, and there was it again, that warm feeling that rushed through his body, making him feel relaxed and exited at the same time.

"What did you pick?" Her voice sounded amused.

"Paper, I guess." Yaten straightened his hand and showed Minako the gesture.

"So Seiya did scissors."

"No!" Yaten frowned and clenched his hand into a fist.

"But when he did rock, it means you won", she remarked.

"He said the rock tears the paper into pieces with it's weight.

"Nope. Paper covers rock." Minako folded her own hand over Yaten's fist for a moment, before she put it back on the steering wheel again.

"Son of a...", Yaten cursed. "I should have known that he's not playing fair."

"Who cares?", Minako shrugged. "It's not that bad, isn't it? If you complain any more, I will be seriously offended."

"Okay", Yaten smirked. "I'll give it a fair chance."

"Admit it Yaten Kou, you're enjoying it."

"Don't overdo, Minako." He turned his face towards the window to hide his smile. If he was honest, he could think of worse places to be right now, but she really didn't have to know.

When they reached the supermarket, Minako stopped the car in the parking lot. "Do you guys need a lot?"

"I've got a whole list", Yaten sighed. "I hope you're not too busy today, we might be here for a while."

"No, actually that's great."

On their way inside Minako instructed Yaten to get a shopping cart.

"I always hated those stores", the boy admitted. "How do you find your way through that easily? It's just too much of everything. Luckily we were more at work than at home back then, so we mostly ate on set or wherever we were, and they used to have caterer."

"Oh, you'll get a hang on it pretty quickly", Minako promised. "And, lucky as you are, you have a shopping expert by your side today. Hand me the list."

Two slightly younger girls who were standing a few feet away watched them attentively. "Isn't that Yaten from Three Lights?", the smaller one whispered to the other, but in her excitement she didn't turn her voice down enough. Yaten and Minako could perfectly understand her.

"Oh my god, yes. That could be him. I mean, it looks like him, right?"

Yaten groaned quietly.

That was the one thing he didn't miss about being on earth. The constant chasing after his brothers and himself.

"Let's go over and ask."

"Yeah, let's... oh, you know what? Never mind. I don't feel like walking right now."

"You're right. It's too exhausting."

The girls shrugged it off and turned away.

Yaten blinked surprised while Minako started to laugh. "Seems like you're not such a big number anymore", she teased.

"That's weird."

"Oh, get over yourself."

"No. It's really weird", Yaten insisted. "It was like they were turning 180 degree in a split second."

"That were teenage girls, Yaten. They do it all the time!"

"If you say so..." He rubbed his forehead mind absently. Why did his headache decide to come back just now?

"Excuse me, Miss", Minako cleared her throat when they turned around a corner and a woman stood in the middle of the isle, elbows resting on her shopping cart. When there was no reaction, she tried again. "Miss? Could you move a bit to the side? We have to~"

"Minako", Yaten interrupted and grabbed her arm. "Look around!"

The girl did as she was told. The place here was quiet, unusual quiet. Nobody walked down the shelves to gather the stuff, all people stood in place and looked dumbly into space. A kid even curled up and fell asleep on the floor.

"This... this is not right. It's... Yaten?" Her eyes widened when the boy grabbed his head with both hands and grimaced in pain. "What's wrong with you?"

"It's starting", he pressed through gritted teeth. "Minako. It's starting now."

The words made her heart skip at least a beat. With shaking hands she pulled out her phone to send a mass text to her friends, including Seiya and Taiki. Just the address of the grocery store, with a 'come asap' following. She couldn't focus on anything longer. And even if she could, what was there to explain when she didn't have a clue what was going on herself.

"Will you be alright?"

Yaten nodded carefully. "I'm used to the headache, it just was so intense all of a sudden. But I'll get through."

"Okay. I informed the rest, do you think we should wait for them, or what are we supposed to do? God, I thought I were prepared, but I'm~"

"Can you just stop?", Yaten snapped.

"I couldn't have said that better myself", a slow voice cut in. "You're too boisterous. You need to calm."

They both turned on their heels and came to face a woman who lazily rested her back against a shelf. Minako gasped when she observed her closer. She was shimmering, in a way that made clear that she didn't belong on earth. Her white hair was in a messy side braid, a few stubborn strands framing her face, which was so pale that it seemed to have an ice-blue tint. She wore a short, lose fitting white dress which could have been mistaken for a nightgown.

"I didn't want to come over here, but I had to", she complained. "You were too loud, I couldn't have a rest with you buzzing around. So hectic."

"Who are you?", Minako asked. When she met the woman's piercing blue eyes she felt a chill creeping through her body.

"I'm Acedia. And you talk to much. Time-out, girl."

Silver-blue lightning bolts shot out of her fingertips.

"Minako", Yaten yelled and grabbed her wrist to put her out of aim. He watched her for a moment to make sure she was okay and started running, pulling the girl with him. Hopefully he was right and this woman was the incarnation of sloth, so she wouldn't follow them too quickly. Further and further he dragged her down the maze of supermarket shelves.

Eventually Yaten slowed down, pulled her around one last corner and pressed her flat against the wall. "You're okay?", he asked with hushed voice.

Minako shivered when she felt his breath trailing across her face. "I'm fine."

"You need to be more careful." Yaten stepped back. "We have to transform."

"I know", Minako nodded and pulled out her Crystal Change Rod. "Venus Crystal Power, make up!"

"Healer Star Power, make up!"

The sky was shining in different colors when the two seemingly ordinary people turned into their Sailor scout ego.

As soon as the transformation into Sailor Venus was complete, Minako felt a strength inside of her she hadn't felt for a long time.

"Ready?"

Venus turned around and nodded shortly. "Always."

"Let's go." Healer jumped up and disappeared of Venus' view.

"You can wait, you know that?" She hurried to follow the other girl.

Soon they'd found Acedia. The landed in front of her, but far away enough that they'd be able to dodge the attacks.

"What? Is this a joke? Who are you clowns?"

"Penetrating the darkness of night. The air of freedom breaks free. Sailor Star Healer, Stage on!"

Healer took in a pose and Venus twirled around herself before she joined her.

"Guarded by Venus, planet of love. I'm the soldier of beauty, Sailor Venus! In the name of Love, I will punish you!"

"You won't do anything but sleep."

The lightning bolts were bigger this time, burning brighter, and they were straightly directed towards Healer. She jumped to the side just a second before they could reach her. "Star Sensitive Inferno!"

The power of the collision was enough to knock all three females from their feet.

Healer crushed into a shelf and cried out, causing Venus to run towards her as soon as he was able to get up again.

"Healer. Are you hurt?"

"Be... careful", the silver-haired senshi pressed through gritted teeth. "Be~... behind you."

Venus whirled around.

Acedia had managed to get close enough that she could reach her, and with a strength Venus was surprised the woman had in her she pushed the blonde soldier away. Before she had a chance to react, a fresh burst of lightning hit her and made her scream in agony until she eventually blacked out.

"Venus", Healer whimpered and tried to push herself up.

Acedia turned her interest towards her again. "Stage up", she repeated in a mocking way. "I would say the spotlight is fading now. Take a last bow, before you follow your friend into the land of dreams."

"I'm not going anywhere. Star Sensitive Inferno!" Healer gathered all her power to use the attack again, smirking satisfied when Acedia was taken completely out of the blue. She was knocked to the ground again.

But what now? Healer still couldn't get up, her shaking arms and legs simply refused to hold her body weight. It was only a matter of time until Acedia would return, and she wouldn't be able to defeat herself or Venus then.

Healer pressed her eyes shut and took a deep breath. This wasn't a time for weakness, she had to fight, no matter it's costs.

"You're starting to annoy me", Acedia hissed. "Time to make you shut up."

"Shine Aqua Illusion!"

Acedia froze in place, her hand already pointed towards healer.

The hurt girl sighed thankfully when the other Sailor Senshis entered the scene.

Sailor Moon said a few words to the paralyzed women, but Healer didn't really pay attention. The pain was enough to make her breathless.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Fighter and Maker appeared next to her.

"Nothing." Healer tried to smile, but even that hurt right now. She winced. "Just a bit bruised."

"Do you need something?"

"I need..." She gasped. "I need you to shatter that bitch."

Fighter and Maker looked at each other and nodded. The turned and joined the fight again.

"Star Gentle Uterus!"

"Star Serious Laser!"

Acedia broke down, the full might of the impact too much for her to bear.

They had no need to hold their powers back this time, since Acedia was a creature from another planet that never had been human, it wasn't possible for Sailor Moon to heal her. And far more important, she had hurt their sister. She had to pay for that.

Without feeling any mercy they watched how her body began to flicker and finally disappeared completely.

The girls sprinted towards Venus as soon as they were sure that the danger was over.

They were relieved when she reacted to their words, opening her eyes slowly.

Luckily Acedia's powers didn't last after her death.

"But all in all, that was surprisingly easy", Mars remarked. "I had imagined them to be mightier."

"Oh, we are!"

"What?"

Sailor Moon turned around when an foreign voice started to talk. "Who is... Healer?"

The Starlight soldier was standing again, but her limps were still slack. She seemed to be pulled upwards by invisible strings.

"Healer, can you hear me?" Fighter reached out to touch her, but backed away when Healer raised her head. Her eyes weren't their usual green, they shone in a rich shade of violet.

Venus followed the events from the ground, her eyes wide in fear.

"I'm afraid your friend Healer isn't available right now." The voice was a bit muffled, like a phone call from a different country sometimes could be.

"Who are you, and what have you done to her?"

"Don't get rattled, she's alright. She's watching us right now, I just took the control over her body for a minute." She held her hands up and watched them with interest. "I'm too curious if I could kill you like that... defeated by your friend's powers. But I'm impolite. Let me introduce myself, my name is Superbia. I'm one of the ones you are looking for."

"Get out of her, you creature!" Fighter balled his hands into fists.

"You know that you'd hurt her when you hit me, right? I only want a little talk. You owe it to me, you just killed my sister after all. I'm a bit upset."

"Well, she tried to kill us first." Venus, who'd managed to get up again, grabbed Jupiter's shoulders to steady herself. With a worried look, the taller girl wrapped her arm around her friend's waist.

"Do you think this is a joke?", Healer, or rather Superbia, yelled. "I thought you'd understood by now that you never will defeat us. You're friend here was watching us for a while now, that didn't go by unnoticed." She laughed evilly. "Well, a door can be used from both sides. She found us, and made us aware of you too. But from what it looks like, you are not much of a threat."

"We just finished your sister", Maker reminded her. "One is down, six are going to follow."

"Acedia wasn't worth to be the ruler of a planet. She never was much of a queen, all the opportunities she wasted because she never did anything. I had no use for her anyway, so I figured she was the one to test the waters."

"You sacrificed your own sister." Sailor Moon shook her head. "How could you do that? You're a monster."

"Nobody needs the weak ones." Superbia turned slowly around herself, facing the soldiers one by one. "Thanks to you I don't have to deal with her myself, so I'm not going to kill you today. It will be fun to see you try and fail. Remember, I'm watching you."

She smirked a last time, then Healer's eyes faded back to green. She blinked twice in confusion before she broke down without a sound.

I'm sorry it took a while to finish that chapter, I had a busy time at work. I have a few days off now though, so the next one will hopefully be online sooner :)
I hadn't imagined fighting scenes to be that complicated to write. I hope you were able to follow along well enough. ^^

Nishu96
I know, I also love it when the two of them are together. Sometimes I have to force myself to get the other people into the story again :D

LoveInTheBattleField
Thank you, and I liked the mother's day saying you added

WiOvIx (I got that right, didn't I? ^^)
Thanks for your comment, I'm happy you like it :)

odango
And your review had made my day, thanks ;)