Disclaimer: I do NOT own Sailor Moon or any of the canon characters. Derek, Drake, and the others are my creation, however.

Author's Note:This is set during the Sailor Moon R break-up, when Darien is having the nightmares and breaks up with Serena. However, I have decided to make Rini a little older. She's now about ten years old, instead of four, just because of the plot line. Also, the other scouts are older, as everyone is now in high school except Hotaru. But, hey, this is AU. Also, when I refer to the five divisions of Terra, I refer to them by their direction from Elysian, thus North and South America, being to the East of Elysian, are the Eastern Division, Africa and the Middle East are the Western Division. Europe, Russia, Greenland, and Iceland are all the Northern Division, while Australia, Antarctica, and the Pacific Islands are the Southern Division. The rest of Asia would be Elysian. Galaxis High School is my creation, here. Its sort-of replacing the school Hotaru, Michelle, and Amara attended during the Heartsnatchers episodes, but since that isn't happening, I gave them a new school. (Too I can't remember the name!) This would be the school that Serena, Jason, Zack, Amara, and Michelle are attending.

Chapter Eleven: Dragon and Light

Mina sat by her window. In a lot of ways, she was glad she lived just down the street from Amy. It made it easier to get a hold of her when a youma attacked, but it also meant that she knew when Amy was out with Zack. She sighed as the ice blue convertible pulled up in front of the Mizuno house. Amy came running down the front steps as Zack opened the passenger side door.

"No book bag tonight. Means she isn't pretending it's a study date," muttered Mina, pulling her knees up to her chin. "Wonder where they plan to go tonight."

A knock sounded on the door, downstairs, but Mina didn't budge. She knew one of her parents would get the door. A tear slid down her cheek as she continued to stare out the window.

"Mina, sweetheart," came her mother's voice on the other side of her bedroom door. "There's someone here to see you."

Mina wiped the tear away and stood, opening the door. Her mother stood there, with Mal Stone standing right behind her.

"I just brought by the last of the photos. I thought you might want to have your copies," stated Mal, not meeting her eyes. The white haired man held out a thick envelope. "It has been a pleasure to work with you."

He placed the packet in her hands and walked away, after bidding her mother a very polite farewell.

The blonde teenager stared down at the envelope, before closing the door on her mother's confused face. Mina threw the envelope on her desk, where it burst open. Photos fell out of the envelope and all over her floor. With an anguished cry, she scooped them up, quickly.

"Why did he have to bring them by?" Mina growled, stuffing them back into the envelope.

She paused when she saw it. The photo was not one from the shoots. It couldn't have been. She hadn't worn that dress in this life. It was the golden orange one she had worn as Official Ambassador of the Moon Kingdom. That was clearly the Moon Palace in the background, too. Frowning, she flipped through the other photos, pulling out those that clearly were from the Silver Millennium.

"It can't be," she whispered, lifting one of them off the floor.

It was her, as the Princess of Venus, dressed in that same golden orange gown. But Mal stood behind her, his chin resting in her hair. His arms were wrapped around her, allowing the light to catch on the ring he wore on his right hand, a ring that bore a dragon carrying a rose.

"Malachite."

* * *

Minako, Princess of Venus, stood behind her aunt, as the Queen of the Moon welcomed the delegation from Terra. Her golden orange dress shimmered in the light of the stars. Her hands, covered in the white silk of her gloves, trembled slightly. This was her first official task as the newly appointed Ambassador of the Moon Kingdom. She wanted with all her heart to succeed, to make her own mother, the last Ambassador, proud of all she had accomplished.

"Welcome, Prince Endymion," stated Queen Serenity. "And these gentlemen must be your generals."

The dark haired prince bowed. "Indeed, your majesty. I present to you my loyal guard. The leader, Malachite, Dragon General of the West. His second in command, Jedite, Phoenix General of the South. Third is Nephrite, Gryphon General of the East, and Zoicite, Sphinx General of the North. Also, I present Hades, Cerberus General of the Underworld, and his brother, Erebus, Wyvern General of Shadows."

The six men behind him bowed.

"And I present my niece, the official Ambassador of the Moon Kingdom, Minako, Princess of Venus, and head of my daughter's own guard, the Sailor Scouts."

"It is a pleasure, your highness." Endymion and his generals all bowed again.

Minako smiled slightly as she stepped forward, dropping a graceful curtsey. "Welcome to our home, your highness, generals."

Her blue eyes met a pair of silvery grey, as she rose. General Malachite nodded as he looked at her. She forced back a frown. Why couldn't she read this man? She had been trained from very early how to read people, yet this Terran General utterly defeated her skills.

Four men, dressed in polished silver armor charged at a young woman, dressed in a white and orange sailor fuku. Light flared around her upraised right hand, and a sword of stone dropped into it. She spun around, taking down two of the men with one blow, before facing the third. He went down just as easily as his comrades. She turned to fight the fourth, only to find him already pinned under another's blade.

A tall man with bleached blonde hair looked up at her with shimmering copper eyes. He held the blade of his sword to the armored man's neck.

"I did not require your assistance, Adonis. This was merely a training exercise. You did not need to involve yourself," stated Minako, her voice cold.

Adonis delivered a winning smile. "You shouldn't have to fight, your highness. Not while there are so many guards to protect you. Why don't you return to the castle and do something much more fitting?"

"I resent your implications, Adonis." Minako lowered her own blade to rest just above the ground. "It is necessary for me, as one of the princess's own guards, to keep myself trained."

"Besides, women need to know how to defend themselves. With out such protection, they become easy targets."

The white haired general of Terra stood at the edge of the practice arena, his arms folded. "I've seen it far too many times. A woman can be killed by a sword as easily as a man."

"Thank you, General Malachite," stated the princess.

He nodded. "Perhaps you would like to practice against me, your highness? One on one, without interference?"

"I would be honored. I heard you are the greatest warrior of the Prince's generals."

"Let us just say it has been a long time since I had a worthy opponent."

"Good evening, General Malachite. What is that object you are studying?"

Minako stepped out onto the balcony beside the general.

He held out the small black box he was turning over in his hands. "Good evening, Princess Minako. It is called a camera. It is a recent experiment of Zoicite's. It can reproduce an image, in miniature, using reflections of light."

Malachite lifted the box and pointed it towards the gardens. He pressed a small button the top and a flash of light came from the camera. He pulled the box back and turned it to show Minako. On the back of the box was a small image of the garden, identical to the view from which the camera had been placed.

"It will work wonders on scouting missions, if he can turn off that flash," stated the white haired man. "Imagine being able to know exactly how the terrain looks, without having to take hours to draw it all out. The flash, however, would give away the position to anyone who is watching."

"Unless it is during a lightning storm," remarked the princess. "Then one might think it was a flash of lightning."

He nodded. "That is very true."

"But I am sure there are other, just as practical, uses for the camera." She smiled up at him. "Like using the camera instead of hiring an artist to paint a portrait. It would be much faster and much more comfortable. Imagine, it might even be affordable for the common person, one day."

Malachite gave her a faint smile of his own. "Would you like me to take your photograph, your highness?"

Minako floated across the ballroom, holding onto the shoulder and hand of her brother, Eros. The blonde haired, blue eyed prince of Venus was her own twin, younger than her by mere minutes. However, the crown would still pass to him.

"You know something, little sister?" Eros whispered. "I've been watching people a long time, and I've noticed when two people are meant to be together."

Minako scowled up at him. "Quit calling me little sister. I'm older than you by three full minutes."

"But I am taller," he retorted. "Anyway, I wanted to tell you that I approve of Malachite. You belong with him. When he first arrived here, he didn't smile at all. Now, I see him fighting back a smile every time you walk into the room. Even Mother and Psyche agree with me. You and Malachite are soul mates, Minako. You two belong together for eternity, the same way Psyche and I do, or the way we all agree Serenity and Endymion do."

"Thank you, Eros, but I don't need your approval."

He smiled. "You have it anyway, Minako. Now, if you will excuse me, my wife is waiting for me."

Minako nodded as her brother walked off the dance floor, to where a small, brown haired woman waited, her hands folded in front of her stomach.

I really hope it works out this time, she thought. I'm not sure Psyche could handle another miscarriage.

"Might I have the honor of this next dance, your highness?" Adonis appeared beside her elbow, his hand held out to her.

The blonde princess took a careful step backward, unsure how to politely turn down the invitation. Something about Adonis just never felt right, not even when he trained with her brother.

"I am afraid that she has promised this dance to me," stated a deep voice.

Malachite stood behind her, appearing very stiff, as always. He took her hand and led her farther out onto the dance floor, away from the fuming Adonis.

"Princess Minako, there is something I have been wanting to ask you for the longest time," he whispered. "I am not quite sure how to phrase it, though."

She looked up at his grey eyes. "Go ahead and ask, General."

"I was hoping, Minako, that you would agree to, that is I, would you," he stumbled over the words. He took a deep breath and tried again. "I mean to say, Minako, Princess of Venus, would you marry me?"

She gasped and threw her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder before turning to whisper in his ear. "There is nothing I would love more. You are everything to me, Malachite."

"And you are everything to me, Minako. You are the goddess who can make me smile," he whispered, a brilliant smile crossing his face.

Minako hurried down the halls of the palace, searching for her husband of four months. She could hardly contain her excitement at the news she had to tell him.

It had been the chat she had been having with her sister-in-law that had confirmed what she had suspected. Now, she had to tell her husband, and as soon as possible.

"Good day, Princess." Adonis appeared next to her, again.

The captain of the Royal Guard still would not accept that Minako was happily married. Every chance he got, he was still trying to flirt with her, protect her, order her about. The other day, he had even tried to force a kiss on her, before she had stomped on his foot with her high-heeled shoe. Thankfully he was to be reassigned, now. Eros had witnessed the almost kiss and intervened.

"Excuse me, Adonis," she stated, skirting around him, "but I am in a little bit of a hurry."

He grabbed her arm as she tried to leave. "You don't belong with that idiotic old man from Terra, Princess. You need someone stronger than him, someone who will teach you how to truly behave like the princess you are."

"Release me at once," declared Minako, glaring at him. "My husband is waiting for me."

Adonis pulled her closer. "I can show you what you are missing, by staying with him."

"I believe my wife told you to release her," stated Malachite.

He stood in the doorway behind Adonis, one hand resting on the sword he carried at his side. The other hand rested on the shoulder of Eros. The prince of Venus gripped his own sword, preparing to draw it.

"I will be leaving now, your highness." Adonis released Minako's arm and bowed, before disappearing down the hall.

Minako ran forward, throwing herself into her husband's embrace, tears falling down her face.

"You know you have to go, Malachite. Your brothers need your help. If you don't go, I don't think anything would keep Endymion from following. He knows, if you go, Jedite will be in good hands." Minako pushed several strands of hair away from her husband's face.

"I know, but I don't want to leave you, or the children."

Malachite turned to look down at the two small beds. One blonde head peaked out from under an orange blanket, while silver hair spread itself over the white pillow.

"They are still so innocent. I don't want them to loose that, Minako," he whispered, pulling her close.

"They won't. Not yet. Not if you go and stop this evil," she reminded him. "You protect them by going. Remember that."

She blinked back her own tears as she looked up at him.

"I will come back to you, safely. You and the children are my life, Minako. You are what I live for."

"Then you know what you have to do."

"Yes. I have to go. I have to find Jedite and bring him back. We have to find out what the threat is that he found, just before he disappeared."

The blonde princess nodded.

"Before I go, I want to do something," he whispered, pulling out the camera he had shown her, a long time ago.

He led her out of the room where the children slept, putting the camera up on a shelf and pressing several buttons. Walking back over to her, he wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin in her hair. The flash went off and he walked over to pick up the camera. The two of them looked up from the back of the camera.

* * *

Mina looked back up from the photo.

"It was the last time we were both together. He turned against me, not long after that." Two tears fell from her eyes to land on the photo. "But how did Mal get a hold of it? It was left on the moon. Unless, Mal is Malachite."

She rose to her feet, leaving the other pictures scattered on the floor. Folding the other picture and sticking it into her pocket, she ran out the door, hoping to be able to catch up to Mal.

Using the speed granted to her by being a Sailor Scout, it wasn't long before she caught up to him.

"Mal!"

The white haired man turned. "Yes, Mina?"

"Explain this." She shoved the folded picture into his hands.

"I didn't realize I slipped it into the envelope," he muttered. "I thought I had kept it."

"You are Malachite."

He stared at her. "How much do you remember?"

"Enough to know how much you betrayed me."

"Then you don't remember enough," he sighed. "I wish you did."

He turned and started walking away again.

"You still owe me an explanation, Malachite!"

"You aren't ready to hear it, Mina. I'm truly sorry, but you aren't ready. I hope, one day, you will be, but not now." He bowed his head. "It's for the best if we don't see each other for a while. When you're ready, you'll know where to find me."

Mal walked away, leaving Mina standing, frozen, on the sidewalk. Tears welled up in his eyes, but his discipline refused to let them fall. His hands fisted in his pockets, crumpling the picture he had taken, their last day together in the Silver Millennium.

"I doubt you'll live long enough to explain things to her, Malachite."

Four figures descended to surround him. One was clearly a youma, with golden hair and tiny white wings. It held a small bow and a quiver rested on its back. It was the other three that forced him to pause. The first woman had long golden hair, falling to her feet, while she wore a Grecian style gown in pale orange. A gold, heart shaped pendant rested in the hollow of her throat. Beside her stood another woman, with long brown hair falling to her waist. Red-rimmed eyes stared out at him, as if reading his soul. A man stood behind her, his teeth clenched together. Blue eyes, edged in red, almost pleaded with the General of Terra.

"Queen Aphrodite, Princess Psyche, Prince Eros," whispered the general. "What has happened to you?"

Aphrodite stepped forward. "We have been shown the truth, you traitor. Surrender now, and tell us where your fellow generals are. Maybe then we won't hurt your precious prince too much."

"And you had better tell us where we can find Minako. She belongs with her family," added Psyche. "So just tell us where she is."

Eros didn't say anything. He frowned at Malachite, but his eyes spoke of something else. A plea for help filled them, as if asking that he not believe what they were telling him.

"I'm right behind you," stated Mina. "Now, what do you want?"

"Minako, darling, it's time you returned to your true family," stated Aphrodite, holding her hand out to her daughter.

Mina shook her head. "You aren't my family anymore. You all died a long time ago. I have a new family, now, and I belong with them. My friends still need me, and so does this world."

"You shouldn't have to fight anymore, Minako," stated Psyche, holding out her own hands.

Eros stared at his twin sister. I'm not sure how much longer I can hold this shadow back. I can't let it hurt my sister or Malachite, not now that I know the truth.

"Attack Malachite and destroy him," ordered Aphrodite, motioning to the youma.

The youma turned and launched several arrows at the general, who dodged them. He pulled a small pink crystal from his sub space pocket as he rolled across the ground.

"Dragon of Terra!" Earth surrounded him and flew outward, revealing a man in a grey tuxedo with an orange mask. His long orange lined grey cape fluttered out behind him.

"Dragon Earth Shatter!" He lifted his hand and several rocks rose out of the ground, surrounding the youma before shattering and burying the shards in the youma's skin. The youma shook itself and the shards fell to the ground, leaving no marks on the monster.

"Hey! You can't do that!" A young girl's voice rang out down the street.

A small figure in a pale version of Sailor Venus's uniform stood at the other end of the block. The only addition to the uniform was a pair of white tights that covered her legs. Her long blonde hair, falling freely around her, looked as pale as Sailor Crystal Crescent's. She was a mere child, appearing only about ten years of age.

"You can't just shake off his attack like that!" She lifted her fingers and pulled Sailor Venus's traditional pose. "I am Sailor Mini Venus, and I won't let you get away with that!"

"What are you going to do about it, little one?" Aphrodite demanded, holding out her hand, palm first, towards the new arrival.

The little scout held up her hand, pointing one finger towards the youma, while her other hand came up to brace her arm. "Mini Venus Crescent Beam Smash!"

The crescent shaped beam of light shot from her hand and slammed into the youma, who stumbled back, but was otherwise unphased.

"Well then, try this! Venus Dragon Crescent Roar!" Another girl's voice declared.

Another beam of light, a brighter orange this time, took the youma by complete surprise, leaving it covered in singe marks after the light had passed.

A young boy's voice followed. "And take this as well! Venus Dragon Earthy Roar!"

Small rocks, glowing with an orange light, flew at the youma, with a great roaring sound as they collided. The youma collapsed on the ground, before turning into a pile of dust.

"Now for the three of you," declared the boy's voice.

A figure in a bright orange tuxedo, with blonde hair falling out from under his orange top hat and surrounding his yellow mask, landed next to Sailor Mini Venus, while a girl in an outfit, identical to Sailor Venus's, landed on the other side of him. Although, Sailor Venus didn't have the dragon wings sprouting from her shoulders like this girl. Her platinum colored hair was partially held back by an orange bow, visible as it peaked over the top of her head.

"I am Venusian Knight," declared the boy, and his companion declared, "I am Sailor Dragon."

Together they spoke, "We are the warriors of love and earth, and we shall, in their name, punish you!"

Aphrodite smiled as she and Psyche stepped forward. "Oh, you children are no match for us."

Venusian Knight shook his head and leapt into the air. "Venus Dragon Scale Chain Encircle!"

A long whip, made of scales, appeared in his hand, before flying out to wrap around Eros. The blonde prince looked up at the Knight, a look of hope in his eyes.

"Do it, boy! Say the words!" Eros exclaimed. "I can't hold the shadow for long!"

"Eros, give me guidance! Neo Venus Power!" Venusian Knight lifted an orange crystal sphere into the air.

Eros smiled as the orange light flared around him. He rose off the ground, leaving a shadow crumpled below his feet. His hand stretched out and a sword dropped into it. He plunged the sword into the heart of the shadow. An ear piercing shriek rang out from the shadow, blasting the prince across the street.

Sailor Dragon wasted no time in unleashing her own attack against Aphrodite. "Venus Dragon Love Chain Encircle!"

A chain, similar to the one wielded by Sailor Venus, surrounded the queen of Venus, dragging away the shadow that had been trapped inside her. The chain squeezed the shadow into dust.

"Aphrodite, guide me," declared Sailor Dragon, lifting her own crystal. "Neo Dragon Power!"

An orange light surrounded the queen, and she vanished into the crystal.

Mini Venus hurried forward, as the queen was taken into the crystal.

"Mini Venus, wait!" Sailor Dragon yelled, but the younger scout did not listen.

She kept running, stopping only when she was directly in front of Psyche. "Mini Venus Love and Beauty Shock!"

The little scout pressed a kiss to the tips of her fingers, creating a ball of yellow orange energy and throwing it, point blank, at Psyche. The brown haired woman was untouched, but the shadow that had dwelled within her crumpled into a pile of dust behind her.

"Psyche, give me faith. Mini Venus Power!" Mini Venus lifted her own round orange crystal and trapped Psyche inside it.

Eros rose to his feet, on the other side of the street. He walked over and placed his hands on Mina's shoulders.

"Before I go into the light of Venusian Knight's crystal, I need to tell you something, little sister," he whispered. "Remember what I told you, the night of the Treaty Ball. Never forget that."

The blonde prince of Venus turned and walked towards the glowing orange crystal held in the boy's hand.

"What exactly does he mean by that?" Mal demanded, letting his transformation fade.

The three children gathered together as their own transformations faded. A ten year old girl with straight, long blonde hair, clung to the hands of two fourteen year old children, one boy and one girl. The boy had blonde hair, falling to the shoulders of his orange t-shirt, while the girl had platinum hair that fell past the hem of her orange mini skirt.

"I don't know," stated Mina, turning to the three children. "Who exactly are the three of you?"

The boy stepped forward. "It isn't exactly time for that explanation, to borrow a reason from General Malachite."

The three of them turned and ran up the street, with clearly supernatural speed.

A sudden jingling came from Mal's pocket. He pulled out a small silver phone and answered it. He muttered yes and few times and then closed it.

"I'm sorry, Mina, but I am needed elsewhere."

The white haired general walked over to an orange motorcycle, parked at the edge of the sidewalk. He pulled on the orange helmet and started the bike. In only seconds, he was gone.

Okay, I know I'm a little slow getting chapters out, and it may stay slow for a while. My own computer is malfunctioning, so I have to borrow my sister's and I won't get to use that very often! Sorry. And, I'm thinking Serena and Darien won't be getting back together for a while. It has to do with a problem that will get brought up in Hearts of Le Lune, when I actually get around to writing it. This may end up being a trilogy, depending on how I end up finishing this one! Sorry, again. Now, why don't you get down there and complain to me?