Ranata rubbed the sleep from her eyes and looked around her room.
Her room.
Ranata was never going to get used to that. She always shared a room, whether it was with the Azuma girls or with her sister. It was obvious that the Three Lights had planned to have Ranata stay with them. Ranata's room had everything a girl could ask for. there was a huge closet with only the few outfits had brought with her inside. There was a giant bed with a gossamer canopy that floated down from the ceiling. The carpet was so thick that Ranata sank up to her ankles and there was a huge window that poured sunlight into the room. While the room that the Three Lights had prepared was nice it had nothing on the room she had shared with her sister. Ranata walked to the kitchen and put eggs, bacon, and some toast on her plate.
"Morning sleepyhead." quipped Taiki as he read the paper.
Yaten and Seiya walked in the latter immediately turning on last night's football game. Yaten went over to the refrigerator and took a swig out of the milk jug. Taiki threw a piece of Ranata's toast at him.
"Hey!"
"Not out of the jug. It's not just us anymore, we have Ranata to think about. Now you have to drink the whole thing." scolded Taiki.
"I was gonna eat that!" interjected Ranata.
"Anyway," continued Taiki, "Ranata, I thought that we'd pick up Bunny and Raye and pick you up a new wardrobe fit for you and Shadow Star."
"That's sweet of you guys Taiki, but you don't have to do that."
"Yes we do." jabbed Seiya over the television, "Have you seen your clothes?"
"What's wrong with my clothes!"
Yaten and Seiya laughed while Taiki rubbed his forehead like he had a migraine.
Ranata walked out of the dressing room wearing the outfit the Three Lights had picked out.
"Are you guy's nuts?" asked Bunny, "She can't wear that."
"It'd be a good outfit for Shadow Star, though." added Raye.
"Alright," amended Seiya, "Why don't you guys pick out her normal clothes and we'll pick out her stage clothes."
"Thats reasonable." agreed Raye.
"Don't I get any say in this?" questioned Ranata.
"No!" stated everyone.
"Geez. I feel like a doll." mumbled Ranata.
"What was that?" asked Yaten.
"Nothing."
By the end of the day everyone was laden down with bags of clothes and decorations for Ranata and her room. Ranata was exhausted from trying on millions of outfits and being treated like a living doll. Ranata had virtually no say in what was bought.
"There. Now you're all set for Thursday night." said Yaten.
"Don't forget that Michiru, Haruka and everyone are coming this week." reminded Bunny.
"It's a good thing its vacation," stated Raye, "I'd hate to have all this upheaval in my life and have school at the same time."
Ranata just looked at her. Bunny and Raye helped bring all the stuff to Ranata's room and put it away.
"We'll see you at the club," yawned Bunny, "It's late I need to go home."
"Yeah, me too." agreed Raye.
"Bye Bunny, Bye Raye." said Taiki.
"The girls turned to say goodbye to Ranata only to find her already asleep on the couch.
"You know after all this time I still haven't figured out how she does that." commented Raye.
"Me neither." said Seiya as he carried Ranata to her room.
Everyone was jumping and dancing to the beat with the disco balls and strobe lights flashing around them.
"Are you ready to rock!" cried the DJ.
The crowd screamed, "Shadow Star!"
Ranata started singing off stage. It was quiet and sad. The tune held the crowd in a spellbound silence.
"I'm just a step away,
I'm just a breath away,
Losing my faith today,
We're falling of the edge today,
I am just a man not super human,
I'm not super human,
Someone save me from the hate,"
The music erupted into a frenzy as Ranata jumped through the stage curtains. The only people not dancing were Bunny and Darien.
"It's just another war,
Just another family torn,
I'm falling from my faith today,
Just a step from the edge,
Just another day in the world we live,"
Glimpses of weapons, of blood running in rivers flashed through Bunny and Darien's minds. They could not take their eyes off Ranata.
"I need a hero,
To save me now,
I need a hero,
To save me now,
I need a hero,
To save my life,
A hero will save me,
Just in time,"
Serenity screaming from a balcony as she watched Endymion cut a path through a swath of people.
" I got to fight today to live another day,
Speaking my mind to day,
My voice will be heard today,
I've got to make a stand but I am just a man,
I'm not super human,
My voice will be heard today,
It's just another war,
Just another family torn,
My voice will be heard today,"
There was Endymion pleading passionately to the throngs of people crowded around a castle.
"It's just another kill,
The countdown begins to destroy ourselves,
I need a hero,
To save me now,
I need a hero,
To save me now,
I need a hero,
To save my life,
A hero will save me
Just in time,
I need a hero,
To save my life,
I need a hero,
Just in time,
Save me just in time,
Save me just in time,"
It was when the song hit its peak, all the Sailor Scouts and Darien clutched their heads. It was brief but a wave of pure power washed over the crowd.
"Who's gonna fight for what's right,
Who's gonna help us survive,
We're in the fight of our lives,
And we're not ready to die,
Who's gonna fight for the weak,
Who's gonna make them believe,
I've got a hero,
I've got a hero,
Living in me,"
Serenity watched as Endymion was struck down and cried out in agony.
"I've gotta fight for what's right,
Today I'm speaking my mind,
And if it kills me tonight,
I will be ready to die,
A hero's not afraid to give his life,
A hero's gonna save me just in time,
I need a hero,
To save me now,
A need a hero,
To save me now,
I need a hero,
To save my life,
A hero will save me,
Just in time,
I need a hero,"
Darien and Bunny saw Queen Serenity activating the Silver Crystal and saving them all.
"Who's gonna fight for what's right,
Who's gonna help us survive,
I need a hero,
Who's gonna fight for the weak,
Who's gonna make them believe,
I've got a hero,
I need a hero,
A hero's gonna save me just in time,"
The song ended, Ranata walked off stage, and all the Sailors had to go lean against a wall. Seiya, Yaten, Taiki, and Haruka had to catch their breath; Michiru and the others had to sit down; Setsuna kinda collapsed; and Bunny and Darien just looked shell shocked.
"D-Did you see it?" stammered Bunny.
"See what?" asked Seiya breathlessly.
"Our past," clarified Darien, "The war that tore the Silver Millenium apart."
"No, I don't think any of us did." stated Michiru
"Something similar happened before Ranata came to live with us," commented Taiki.
"I wonder why only Bunny and Darien saw it this time?" questioned Yaten.
"Maybe it's because only Bunny and Darien really experienced it." theorized Amy.
"What was your last vision about?" asked Raye.
"It was just a bunch of jumbled images and emotions." explained Seiya.
"Did it happen when Ranata's was singing?" wondered Lita.
The Three Lights nodded.
"Hey, Setsuna, are you okay?" asked Darien because she was still sitting on the ground clutching her head.
"Yes," she replied, "That wave we felt was a disturbance in the space-time continuum. Whoever that power originated from was looking for someone."
"We need to have a talk with Ranata." stated Mina firmly.