Hey again :) We have some more senshi action here, but the main story really picks up next chapter, just so you're all waiting for it :D

Thanks once again to reveiwers:

Andysteve1311

loveinthebattlefield

Wonderbee31

IsadoraKayStone

Comet Moon

Kasseraandra

Princess Moonie of the Moon

Chapter updated 21/07/2014 - Beyond this point, chapters without this prefix will not follow on chronologically.

"Crap," Usagi said, looking up at the empty sky, "How the hell are we going to get out of here now?"

"I don't know," Mars shrugged, "you're the one who's been doing this the longest."

"Don't you dare throw my words back at me!"

"I'll throw whatever I want back at you!"

"Er, we might actually make some progress if the two of you calm down?" Tuxedo Mask suggested awkwardly.

"Sorry," Usagi replied, glancing at her feet. Mars didn't say anything.

"So, anyone got any ideas?" he said hopefully.

"I could try call Luna," Usagi said thoughtfully. She pressed a button on her communicator and waited. It clicked, but no answering voice could be heard. "Crap," Usagi said loudly.

"So that's a no go," he tapped his foot, his mind racing. "Where did you get Mars' henshin pen from?"

"It's a sub space dimension," Usagi said, "Used for storing all the senshi relics. That's what Luna told me anyway," she shrugged.

"Would there be a way for us to get through it to the real world?"

"Maybe," Usagi said thoughtfully, "I could get us in, but I'm not too sure about getting out again."

"Either way, it can be reached from Earth so it's better than here. Once we've got home we can think about how to reach the buses and bring them back."

"Sounds like a plan," Mars said, smiling at him. Usagi narrowed her eyes, realised what she was doing and turned away.

"You guys'll have to hold my hands," she called back to them, "and don't let go, no matter what happens, right?"

"Got it," Tuxedo Mask said, slipping his gloved hand into hers. Usagi glanced down, grateful for both of the fabric layers separating their skin. Mars' took her other hand and Usagi braced herself before jumping high in the air with a cry of "Jump!" She pulled the other two with her, their momentum aiding her. When she had reached for Mars' pen, Usagi had done a back flip in the air. This time she deliberately tilted her weight forwards, pushing through the walls that separated this dimension from the one she wanted to enter. When they landed, the surrounding area was much darker; the only light a soft silver glow emanating from something only a few metres away.

Usagi let go of her companions hands and straightened up, looking around at what appeared to be nothing more than piles of old junk. "Well this is underwhelming," Mars said, sounding disappointed.

"I think that might be because it's hard to see what this stuff actually is," Tuxedo Mask pointed out.

"Some of them are more advanced henshin wands," Usagi said, thinking, "The sort of thing we don't have the power to unlock yet. Then there are official gowns," she gestured at a large pile of glittering dresses. Mars reached forward and pulled out a deep blue dress that seemed somehow familiar.

"Certainly looks as though no one's been here for years," Tuxedo Mask said, glancing around. Then Mars screamed, dropping the dress and jumping back.

"What is it?" Usagi asked, reaching for her tiara.

"The dress… it's torn across the stomach and I think it's covered in dried blood."

Usagi did not reply

"Who do you think probably wore those?" Mars asked. My bet is past senshi." Usagi stopped and looked at the dresses, shuddering internally.

"Yeah… but that's kind of in the job description. Constant risk of death? Check."

"I didn't sign up for this," Mars said, backing up.

"You think I did?" Usagi pointed out. Mars didn't reply.

"What's that the light's coming from?" Tuxedo Mask asked, moving towards it.

"Don't touch it," Usagi warned, "if it's not meant for you it could kill you." He flinched back away from the small wand that was giving out the light. "Let me see," Usagi squirmed around Mars and crouched to look at it, squinting against the glow. "I think it's the moon wand," Usagi said, "Luna told me about it." She reached forward.

"Careful," Mars said, her voice strained.

"It's the moon wand, somehow I think as Sailor Moon I'll be alright." She reached forward and grasped the handle. Very suddenly, what had been only a silver glow expanded to become blinding white light. Usagi felt herself lifted from the ground for an instant before her feet made contact with the solid pavement outside the Hikawa shrine.

"Oh and the buses too," Mars said, "that was easier than I thought it might be."

Usagi whooped as the passengers began to emerge from inside the buses, turning to Tuxedo Mask in delight and, without even thinking, kissed him as though it were the most natural thing in the world, as though it were something she had done many times before. She realised what she had done and broke back, the same horrified look as last time clear on her face. She turned, her face bright scarlet, grabbed Mars' hand and pulled her up to the nearest roof and away.

"Where are we going?" she asked, pulling her hand back and running with Usagi.

"To my friends place," Usagi replied, leading the way, "Minako's staying there."

"Right. Sounds good." They ran on a little until, about half a mile from Makoto's house they jumped into a deserted alley and de-transformed. "Right," Usagi said, smiling. "We have to get on, so let's at least try and restart. My name's Usagi."

"Rei," she replied, taking the offered hand and shaking it.

"Minako is staying with a friend from school at the moment," Usagi explained as they walked, "She sort of ran away from home."

"How come?"

"She had a fight with her parents," Usagi shrugged, "She said it's been coming for years. This is the place." Usagi buzzed the correct number and after a moment the door clicked to let them inside. When they reached the front door Minako was waiting for them, wrapped tightly in a housecoat and still looking exhausted.

"Not had much sleep?" Usagi asked as they moved into the hallway.

"No," Minako sighed, "and Artemis isn't helping. Does that cat ever shut up?"

"I never had any problems with Luna," Usagi shrugged. "Anyway, this is…"

"Bellona," Minako breathed gently. Usagi looked at her sharply.

"Umm... Rei, actually."

"What? Oh, sorry," she brushed it off and turned away. Usagi's eyes narrowed as Minako took a seat on the sofa.

"Well anyway she's Sailor Mars," Makoto chose that moment to move into the living room from the kitchen with a tray of snacks.

"I put out a few more when I heard there were guests," she smiled, "I'm Makoto."

"Rei," she replied, "Do I know you from somewhere?"

"I don't think so," Makoto shrugged, settling down next to Minako.

"So which one are you?"

"Mars, and you?"

"Oh, I'm not a senshi," Makoto shrugged, "I just make the snacks."

"Good snacks though," Usagi laughed.

"So we've still got two senshi to find, right?" Usagi asked.

"And the outer senshi," Minako said absently.

"Outer senshi? You mean you got Artemis to talk about them?" Minako looked a little taken aback for a minute, as though she hadn't really thought through what she'd said.

"Yeah," she said quickly, "He said there are two."

"Only two? But there are four planets."

"Don't ask me," Minako shrugged, "He just said that there was a Sailor Uranus and a Sailor Neptune and that they had nothing to do with us, so not to worry about them."

Usagi scowled at Minako and scooted back a little on the sofa. "Fair enough," Rei shrugged, nibbling on a piece of cake, "But that still leaves us with Jupiter and Mercury to find. Anyone got any ideas how we could go about looking for them."

"Not really. Maybe we should just keep doing what we're doing." Minako shrugged, "I mean, you found both of us that way."

"I suppose. Have you signed up for a martial arts class yet by the way?" Usagi asked.

"Not yet," Minako shrugged, "I don't want to do it alone."

"No way I'm doing any more," Usagi backed up.

"I already practise at the shrine with my grandpa," Rei put in.

"I'll go," Makoto shrugged, "The teachers at my last school told me I should think about signing up for one at some point as an outlet."

"Good," Minako said, relieved.

"Well if that's it, I'm going to go home before my mum starts to wonder where I am. See you at school," she smiled at Makoto and Minako, before sticking her tongue out at Rei.

"What about the moon wand?" Rei asked.

"Oh yeah," Usagi reached into the air and pulled the wand out of nowhere.

"How did you do that?" Rei asked, intrigued.

"I stored it in a specific part of the subspace that's meant for me. Artemis or Luna'll show you how to reach your own. It just saves jumping over every time you need something from it."

"You'll have to show us that later," Minako shouted towards the spare room, from which a grouchy yowl came by way as a reply.

"But anyway," Usagi said, "I'm not really sure what to make of it." She put it down on the table, and they looked at it in silence for a moment. The handle was made of metal, coloured a rose pink and attached to a crescent moon that could only be made of gold. Looking at it, Minako saw a memory that was not her own, of a woman who looked remarkably like Usagi but with silver hair, holding the wand above her head, only then the moon part had acted as a cradle for a silver crystal.

The silver crystal.

"I'll ask Luna about it anyway," Usagi shrugged, taking the wand and putting it away, "See you tomorrow." She closed the door behind her and Minako listened for the sound of her heading down the stairs.

"Right," she said, all business, "now that Usagi's gone we can actually talk."

"Why couldn't we talk when she was here?"

"Because there are some things she can't know yet. So anyway, first tell me how she found you." Rei recounted the story and then paused to let Minako speak. "So Tuxedo Mask knows your identity, but no one else does? Hmm, better than the situation I'm in, but not ideal."

"Makes you wonder how the hell Usagi managed to keep her own identity a secret for so long."

"Nah, it was the first few months that were the miracle," Minako laughed, "Luna said she matured a lot after that."

"So anyway, what was it you couldn't say while Usagi was here?"

"It's a long story," Minako sighed.

"Come on, we're nearly there."

"But everyone's staring."

"What did you expect, anonymity? You've already been back once already."

"Yeah, but now they've all seen me fight."

"Minako, you know that if you don't hurry up Makoto and I will drag you in there. Don't you think that might be a little embarrassing?"

"All right, all right I'm coming." Minako stumped through the school gates, glaring around to meet the stares coming from every quarter. "I knew they'd stare." Her eyes scanned the yard once more, alighting on a girl sat in the corner with short, bright blue hair.

"When did Ami dye her hair?" she asked quickly.

"Um, a few days ago," Usagi said, "Why?"

"No reason," Minako shrugged, "Just doesn't seem like her." They headed up to their classroom, where Naru was sat at her usual table she smiled at Usagi as she entered, but her expression faltered as Minako came in after her.

"Hey," Minako said awkwardly, settling into her usual seat while Usagi sat next to Naru. Makoto took the seat by Minako. Naru smiled at her and then turned back to her work.

"Oh come on," Usagi said loudly, "She's one of your best friends and you aren't even going to say hello after she's been off ill for four days?"

"But…" Naru glanced at Minako and then back at Usagi.

"She's still one of our best friends, Naru."

"But Usagi she's…" Naru's voice trailed off.

"No buts," Usagi scowled, "She's still the same person she was then, just now she's saved your life by stopping that youma from attacking the school. Remember when you were telling us of the way Sailor Moon saved the jewellery shop?" Naru nodded, "How would you have reacted had Minako turned out to be Sailor Moon? Far different than you are now is my guess." Usagi turned back to her desk and started getting out her books.

"I'm sorry," Naru said hesitantly to Minako, looking at her feet, "Usagi's right." Minako just smiled and reached over to hug her friend, which was of course when Haruna walked in and yelled at them for not being ready for the day's lessons.

Haruna was handing back the test results from the previous day, and Usagi was pleased enough with the 67 scrawled at the top of hers. It wasn't brilliant, but it was far better than her grades had been when she was battling the dark company every night.

Minako, who hadn't actually done the test, peered over Usagi's shoulder to look at the questions. "Eurgh, glad I wasn't there all of a sudden," she moaned.

"Yeah, just think – now you get to sit it at lunch instead."

"Oh crap." Minako huffed, sinking down in her chair.

"So what did you get?" Usagi turned around to talk to Umino, Naru's rather geeky, bespectacled beau.

"95," he said, "second highest again."

"Beaten by Ami then," Usagi smirked.

"Who else," he scowled.

"I heard she cheats;" Naru whispered conspiratorially, "Some of the other girls were saying she's scored 100 on all the tests so far this year."

"That doesn't automatically mean she was cheating," Minako said in Ami's defence, remembering just how smart Princess Minerva had been.

"But come on," Naru said, "on all the tests?"

"I heard she goes to that cram school," Makoto said absently, doodling on the corner of her own test, which had a red 79 in the corner. "If she does it's hardly surprising she does so well."

"Got to be with Makoto on that one," Usagi shuddered, thinking of the tall intimidating building. Youmas she could deal with, but cram school? No way.

Haruna called for silence once more and then arranged for Minako to sit the test at lunch, followed by much grumbling and ribbing from the others, before continuing with the lesson.

When lunch did finally come, Minako moved to the front of the class to collect a paper from Haruna while Makoto and Naru hurried away to their various clubs, gardening and needlework respectively, leaving Usagi on her own. She headed out into the yard and glanced around, looking for someone to sit with. Ami was sat in a corner of the yard on her own, a book on her knee as she nibbled on a perfectly cut triangle of bread that looked as though there was hardly any filling between the layers.

"Hey," she said, beaming as she dropped next to the now blue haired girl, "Mind if I sit here."

"No, but I wouldn't if I were you," Ami replied without even looking up from her book.

"Why not?" Usagi asked, rummaging in her back and pulling out the perfectly packaged lunch her mother had made her and tucking in.

"Because you're popular. If you hang out with me too much you won't be anymore."

"Meh. Being popular's overrated anyway," Usagi shrugged, glancing at Ami's miniscule lunch, "you haven't got much there," she said, "Want some of mine?"

"Oh, no I couldn't." Ami said quickly, looking up from her book at once.

"Sure you could," Usagi smiled, "My mum packs enough for me to share anyway."

"Thank you very much," Ami said, bowing her head slightly as Usagi handed her a small tray of sushi. There was silence as they ate, until Usagi finally worked out what to say next.

"So how come you always sit over here? You could come and sit with us at lunch, or even during lessons. There's an empty desk just behind me."

"I wouldn't want to intrude," Ami said, clearly nervous.

"Nah, you wouldn't be intruding," Usagi smiled at her, "just joining in. I tell you what, are you doing anything after school today? We usually head down to the crown for half an hour or so, and you could meet us there."

"I would love to," Ami said and Usagi could tell she really meant it, "But I have to go to cram school."

"Why do you go to cram school?" Usagi asked, shaking her head in disbelief, "Of all the people in the school you probably need it the least."

"I want to do well in my exams," Ami shrugged.

"But we're still a year away from high school!" Usagi moaned.

"The exams are only a few months away," Ami pointed out, "and I'm working hard to get into Mugen academy."

"Mugen?" Usagi pulled a face, "really?"

"It has a fantastic reputation," Ami said, "you could probably get in if you worked hard enough."

Usagi was taken aback, "I thought it was just for brainy people. Not that that's a bad thing," she added quickly. Ami actually laughed, making Usagi beam at her. "You're really pretty when you laugh," she said, "and I really like your hair."

"You do?" Ami's hand flew up to it and her eyes were shining.

"Yeah, I think it really suits you."

"You're the first person to mention it, actually."

"Really? But it's such a huge change! What dye did you use? I reckon Minako's after some. Probably not in blue, but still…"

"It's not a dye," Ami said, suddenly timid again, "this… this is my natural colour."

"That is kinda cool," Usagi said, looking at the blue, her mind whirring. Blue was not a natural hair colour unless... unless there was some Mercurian mixed in there. Very suddenly, Usagi saw Ami in a whole new light.

"Are you alright?" Ami asked, looking at Usagi, who had zoned out entirely.

"What? Oh, yeah I'm fine," Usagi flashed her a winning smile, and changed the topic. By the time Usagi returned to the classroom at the end of lunch she had learnt quite a lot about Ami and had decided that she rather liked the quiet girl. To her delight, Ami did take the seat behind Usagi's, earning more than a few curious glances; Ami always sat at the front, but now she was practically at the back.

The lessons dragged past as always, and Usagi only grasped the very basics. She could already feel her old routine settling in. Now that she was up half the night fighting the dark kingdom, she knew that the chances her school work would start to suffer were more than slight. She was moaning about how tired she was on the way out of school when Ami spoke, very quietly, "I could tutor you, if you'd like."

"Would you have time?" Usagi asked curiously, "I mean you've got cram school and everything."

"I don't go in on Saturday afternoons, so I could help you then."

"That would be amazing," Usagi said, a grin spreading across her face as she fell behind Minako and Makoto.

"Good," Ami smiled, her eyes lighting up, "We can arrange the details tomorrow, I've got to get to cram school."

"See you later," Usagi waved after her.

"Ami!" Makoto bent to the ground, retrieving a CD that must have fallen from Ami's bag. "I think she might need this for cram school," she said, reading the cover, "You two go on to the crown, I'll meet you there."

"Sure," Usagi smiled, moving to talk to Minako as Makoto headed in the opposite direction.

"Hey Usagi," She turned to see Naru running up the street to catch up with her, "Why didn't you wait for me after class?"

"Oh, I'm sorry," Usagi clapped a hand to her mouth, "I'd agreed to go meet Minako's new friend at the crown arcade."

"Oh, ok then," Naru's shoulders slumped and Usagi bit her lip. She really wanted to invite Naru along, but they were going to head to Makoto's after meeting up with Rei and talk over some of the things Luna had taught Usagi over the last two years. There was no way she was going to involve Naru in any of that.

"I'll see you tomorrow though," Usagi said, smiling brightly.

"Yeah of course," Naru smiled back, turning away. Usagi slumped and Minako gave her a quick hug.

"It's better that she doesn't know, right?" Usagi asked, uncertainly. "I mean, it was different when it was just me, but now the groups only going to get bigger.

"I don't know," Minako sighed, "But she'll almost certainly be safer this way."

"I guess so." She pushed open the door to the arcade and glanced towards the counter, for once glad to see Unazuki working instead of Motoki.

"Feeling awkward around him then?" Minako whispered as they headed to a secluded booth.

"What? I don't know what you mean."

"Oh come on, Rei told me about how you got smoochies with Tuxedo Lame Ass." Usagi's face went bright red.

"I… I didn't mean to," she said defensively, "I don't know what came over me, I mean the first time…"

"There was more than one time?" Minako asked, laughing.

"I didn't say that!" Usagi said horrified.

"Oh yes you did. Anyway, there's something between the two of you!" she declared ostentatiously, "The goddess of love sees all!"

"Is that a title you're thinking of adopting?" Usagi said drily.

"Hey, I'm Sailor Venus," she winked, "I have the right to adopt any name I feel fits."

"But what about Motoki?" Usagi asked anxiously. Minako sighed, wishing she knew the answer.

Makoto pushed open the door and glanced around the squeaky clean hallway, wondering if she was even allowed to be there. She moved quickly, the disc clutched tightly in her hand, peering through the classroom windows as she went, finally spotting Ami's blue hair three doors before the corner. As she looked in, she frowned. She didn't use her own computer all that often, but she was sure that prolonged exposure didn't lead to the symptoms she was seeing around the room. In fact there were only two people whose eyes didn't look as though they were on drugs, one of whom was Ami, the other of whom was her teacher.

"What do you mean you lost the disc?"

"I must have dropped it on my way in. I could go and get it."

"Yes, but be quick." Ami bowed and hurried from the room. She would have run straight past Makoto, but the tall girl grabbed her arm and swung her around to stand next to her.

"I have the disc," she whispered, "but I don't think you should go back in there."

"Why?"

"Look at them," she whispered, "That is not normal." Moments after she had spoken, a soft wind seemed to weep through the room, and a short blonde man in grey seemed to step out of the air.

"How much energy have you collected?" he asked the teacher, who bowed low before him.

"Not very much yet, Lord Jadeite, but be assured the amount will soon pick up."

"Crap," Makoto hissed, reaching into her pocket for her phone. She flipped through the contacts until she reached Minako and was about to press dial when a second wind seemed to sweep the room. Her finger was frozen mere millimetres from the button. She recognised the man now heading towards Jadeite.

"Nephrite," Jadeite was frowning, "You were instructed to leave me be when I am collecting energy for the queen."

"Perhaps, but I thought I should let you know; this is your last chance. Beryl has given Zoisite a new mission – to locate the rainbow crystals. He will collect energy as he does that, and you will have become superfluous, nothing but a waste of space. You never even managed to find out if Sailor Moon was the princess."

"Makoto?" Ami whispered, her voice fearful, "Makoto?"

"What? Oh, right," Makoto pressed the call button and moved the phone to her ear. It rang for a few agonising seconds until, finally, Minako's voice answered, "hey, what's taking so long?"

"There are these men at the cram school," she whispered, "I think they may be… you know."

"Dark kingdom?" Minako asked, suddenly alert.

"Yeah," she whispered back.

"We're on our way." She hung up and Makoto slipped the phone back into her pocket.

"Minako's bringing the sailor scouts," she said to Ami, still whispering. Ami did not reply, but she looked as though she were about to faint which, in retrospect, was probably because she was. Makoto lunged forward and caught her before her head hit the ground, but there was an awful sinking feeling inside her chest as the conversation within the classroom stopped, very suddenly. She looked up slowly, and her eyes met those of Nephrite as he strode to the door, yanked it open and dragged both her and Ami inside by the hair. Makoto squirmed, trying to get in a good position to release herself, but he simply dropped Ami and put his arm around her neck, making her cough as he choked her air supply to a bare minimum.

"Spies for the sailor scouts," Jadeite said, his eyebrows raised, "They've both been seen with Sailor Venus at school."

"What if they are scouts themselves?" Nephrite asked, tightening his grip once more.

"Nonsense, they'd be transformed for one thing and they look nothing like Mars or Moon."

"Hmm, still leaves Jupiter and Mercury."

"Neither of whom have awakened yet. For goodness sake don't kill the girl. We can add her energy to what we collect today." Makoto took in a great, ragged breath as Nephrite's grip vanished and he pulled her arms behind her back instead.

"Stop right there, dark kingdom scum!" The door was kicked inwards, crashing into the far wall as Sailor Moon walked into the room, her eyes flashing. Makoto nearly wept in relief; she had never been so glad to see anyone in her entire life. Behind her, Mars and Venus stood, their arms ready to launch an attack at any minute. Nephrite blinked, and because of that missed the slight movement that could have warned him what was coming next.

"Crescent beam!" Minako shouted, and the orange energy hit him smack bang in the centre of the forehead, causing him to let go of Makoto, who rolled over and kicked him hard in the face, making a rather unpleasant crunching sound as the sole of her shoe met with his nose.

"Get them!" Jadeite shouted at the teacher whose disguise fell away to reveal that she was, of course, a youma. Sailor Mars raised her hands and shouted, "Fire soul!" just as Sailor Moon threw her tiara, combining the attacks to dust the youma. As soon as the dust settled, all the computers around the room powered down, and the students of the cram school blinked sleepily, only to scream and duck under desks as they saw what was going on Makoto glanced down at Ami, who was blinking, her eyes once more afraid.

"Get under a desk, she whispered, "go!" Ami began to crawl across the floor, avoiding shots from both the men of the dark kingdom and the senshi.

"It's no use, Sailor Moon!" Jadeite crowed, "We know you are the princess."

"Again with the lies," Usagi shouted back, "You haven't got a clue where the princess is and we both know it!" Nephrite smirked at Jadeite, before replying, his voice muffled as a result of his almost certainly broken nose, "Perhaps we don't, moon brat, but we'll find her soon enough. Come, Jadeite, let's go."

"No!" Jadeite screamed, "This is my last chance and I won't leave until I have the energy I came for."

"Very well," Nephrite scanned the room and lunged at Ami, pulling her to her feet, his arm around her neck as he had with Makoto. "Step down or she dies!" he shouted. The fighting stopped in an instant. Usagi looked fearful, but Minako was looking straight into Ami's eyes, seeing not a trace of fear there at all, only a sudden set determination. The room was suddenly filled with an ice blue light and, under cover of this, Minako leapt backwards, reaching into the sub dimension and pulling back a pen made of silver and of blue sapphires. She ran across the room as the light faded and kicked the still blinded Nephrite in the already tender nose. As he let go of Ami, Minako slipped the pen into her cold fingers and whispered something in her ear.

"Mercury power, make up!"