Summary: A year has passed since the battle against Chaos, and Earth slowly makes its recovery. But, things don't look good for its saviour, Sailor Moon.

As a new enemy makes its appearance, it's up to Serena to fight alone, with her allies only being the Starlight team. Old players begin to step up to the playing field, and new friends have arrived to justice. Her loyalties in her friends and family aren't unbidden, and she will find a way to save them from the darkness.

But as more sacrifices are made to change the battlefield, a dark future faces everyone on the planet. Will Serena be able to beat the darkness alone, or will she die trying to make her future a reality in this darkness?

A.N. I cannot guarantee a time frame on Chapter 4, unfortunately as it stands, these last three chapters have been sat in the hard drive of my computer for the past couple of years that I've been absent. Chapter 4 will be out when it is written and I'm comfortable. Until then, I ask that you kindly give a review where possible :)

Vintage Spirits

Chapter 3

Trouble and the Mistress

"What are we going to do, guys?" Seiya asked, as he clutched Serena's shaking form, even as a second explosion struck. "We can't leave Serena like this, the way she is?"

"I'm coming with you!" Serena yelped, even through her chattering teeth. "I don't want to lose you guys as well."

"We won't be able to protect you while fighting, Serena." Yaten looked over to the frightened woman, before something clicked. "Since Galaxia trashed your brooch, you are unfortunately a liability to us in the battle."

Serena yelped and buried her face in Seiya's shoulder, whilst Seiya and Taiki glared at him angrily for the statement but knew that he was right, either way and there was nothing they could do to help Serena join them on the battlefield.

"Serena, you trust us, don't you?" Seiya asked, as he pulled Serena away from him.

"Yes, but I'm scared something will happen." Serena whimpered slightly as her eyes filled with tears.

"Trust us, little lady, and I swear that we will not leave you at all." Taiki bent down to her eye level and gave her a quirky grin.

Serena squealed and jumped away in laughter whilst the brothers laughed in return, before the situation turned fierce once again. Serena looked up and ran into her room to hide, whilst the three nodded to themselves and pulled out their transformations, as they began to take to the rooftops to make their way to the battlefield.

"Well, back in business, boys." Seiya smirked as he jumped a rooftop. "So what do you guys say, FIGHTER STAR POWER!"

"Let's do this, MAKER STAR POWER!" Taiki called over the roaring noise as he and Yaten followed their leader to the battlefield.

"Remember it's not only for the planet, HEALER STAR POWER!" Yaten finally made his transformation call, and that made up the Sailor Starlights. "It's to protect the Moon Princess we've sworn our allegiance to."

Unknown for the three, was the young woman they had left back at their apartment, was hiding a secret as she sat up on the bed. A sigh escaped her lips as she looked up at the two scouts that stood in front of her, and smiled softly.

"Are you unable to transform, my lady?" One of the scouts asked, as she sat next to Serena on the bed. "The Starlights may have need of your guidance, since Fireball has fallen to the previous entity, we call Chaos, when he struck the planet?"

"Zero is currently guarding them at the cauldron, Destiny." Serena smiled at her eldest scout, and patted the young woman on the hand. "I can no longer transform into Sailor Moon, because that right only belonged to my cousin and not me!"

"I know that look on your face, cousin." The second scout barked, as she leaned against the wall opposite the duo.

"I cannot hide anything from you, Fate." Serena smiled softly, and outstretched her hand, allowing a ball of power to quickly appear and fade the same way. "I am the leader of the Soldiers; those hip bracelets tell everything about your faith and companionship."

Sailors Fate and Destiny brightened up and fell into laughter, as Serena wrinkled her nose and gave a mock growl as she fell back onto the bed. As another explosion shook the ground outside, Serena squeaked lightly, as the two scouts with her suddenly stopped in their laughter and looked at her directly for orders.

"Ladies, go and save the Starlights, please?" Serena sighed as she fell back onto the bed, and groaned. "I shall join you in a couple of minutes, but say nothing about where I am, tell a lie if you need to."

"Godspeed, young cousin, we shall see you shortly." Fate bowed, as she and Destiny looked at each other before vanishing in a flash of their respective colours.

"Be aware of your surroundings, my lady, we cannot lose you now." Destiny's voice whispered to her, as the two scouts vanished, headed quickly to the battlefield. "You have our trust and strength, should you need it, especially for the journey ahead."

Serena softly smiled as she looked at the empty place where the scouts had stood, and bent her head in small confirmation. It was peace, and their return she would wait for, but her personal reasons would be kept behind until this battle was over. It was Earth she would fight to save, and it was Earth as the only planet she would willingly die for.

"I am the Lady Mistress of the Universal Soldiers." Serena whispered as she looked at her form in the mirror in front of her. "Whoever you are, demon, you will not win against us because Earth is my domain."

Closing her eyes, the form in the mirror vanished to become a young woman of the same age with different features. Gone were the features of a sun kissed woman with shiny blonde hair and baby blue eyes, and in her place stood a woman with white blonde hair and pink tints in black-blue eyes and pale skin, the warrior of the White Moon's kingdom. Lady Celeste DeLune Andimetroius stood in the place of Serena Tsukino, with a small smirk, as her eyes reopened.

"Ack, I need to check on Caitlin once everything is done with." Celeste softly muttered, as she redid her hair, and smoothed her clothes down, as her smirk turned into a frown. "These Starlights have lost their minds if they thought Caitlin was going to answer them, even after disobeying my orders."

As another explosion struck the city, Celeste's eyes snapped open and a growl issued forth, as curse words spewed painfully forward. She could sense the evil behind it and only prayed that her Soldiers would hold on, until she made it to the scene. With a flick of her wrist, a new compact appeared between her fingertips and a smile came upon ruby red lips.

"Well, looks like the age of Serena Tsukino is finally over." Celeste sighed as her eyes landed on the compact that would change the fate of the battlefield. "Though I was quite enjoying it, but these things can't last forever." With a final look at herself in the mirror, the compact opened through a silent wish. "Hold on girls, I'm on my way, UNIVERSAL MOON POWER!"

A flood of power made all the difference, as an intricate symbol glowed beneath Celeste's feet. A white light and multi-coloured then moved to surround her figure and cover her from view. Once the light and ribbons disappeared, a silver haired sailor suited soldier was stood in Celeste's place. With another flash of light, the Soldier disappeared, making her way as quickly as possible to the battlefield, hoping that everything was still alright.

But it was only beginning.