Disclaimer: I do NOT own Sailor Moon or any of the canon characters. Derek, Drake, and the others are merely figments that have escaped from my imagination.
Author's Note: Welcome to my version of the Heart Snatchers Arc. I hope you enjoy it, especially with the switch to being in my fictional city of Le Lune, California. This is mainly going to take place from shortly before Serena and Darien broke up to right before the second chapter in Vault of Souls.
Chapter Twelve: Cerberus Revelations
Sailors Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto found themselves standing in the rubble of what was once Le Lune High.
"Uranus, Neptune, Pluto!"
The Tuxedo Knights came running up to the three Outer Scouts, their capes in tatters and rips covering the tuxedos. Gryphon and Phoenix were both missing their hats.
"What happened?" Dragon demanded.
Uranus looked down at the ground. "Sailor Moon and Sailor Saturn both went to face Pharaoh 90. They must have destroyed him."
"But, where are they?" Phoenix demanded.
Pluto and Neptune refused to meet their gazes.
"Greetings, Princess Serenity."
Serena whirled. A tall figure, in a long grey hooded cloak stood before her, a tall silver staff in his hands, topped with a pewter skull.
She shifted into her battle stance. "Who are you?"
"Ah, you don't trust me, either. Well, I'm not surprised. You probably don't even remember me." He shrugged.
One hand came up and he flung his cloak aside. Drake Miller stood before her, clad in a dark grey version of the uniform of the Terran Generals, with black trim along the edges of his jacket. Black boots reached his knees, while grey gloves covered his hands.
"Drake? What's going on?"
"You really don't remember me?" He frowned.
Serena's eyes dropped to the ground as she thought.
Once again, the throne room materialized before Serena. She drifted forward, this time, standing beside the kneeling blonde figure.
"I, Zoicite of the North, pledge my life and my service to my prince, Endymion of Terra. My intelligence and all my skills are at your command, sire."
Endymion nodded. "Join your fellow generals, Zoicite. At last, the Generals of Terra are complete."
Zoicite rose, striding over to stand between Jedite and a tall cloaked figure.
A frown crossed the face of the ghostly Serena. There was also a cloaked figure standing beside Nephrite, although this one was much shorter.
Serenity crouched down beside Rei, just in time to hear her mother introduce the Terran Delegation to her fellow sovereigns of the Silver Millennium.
"I present those petitioning for entrance into the Silver Alliance. This is Prince Endymion of Terra, and his loyal protectors. 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."
Serena looked back up at him. "Hades, Cerberus General of the Underworld!"
"Indeed, Princess. Much like your Sailor Pluto, I wasn't killed at the end of the Silver Millennium. Instead, I retreated here, to the underworld, to fulfill the rest of my responsibilities, safe-guarding the dead."
He turned and looked at the spectral form of Sailor Saturn, hovering behind her princess.
"What will it take for you to allow Hotaru to accompany me back to the living?" Serena demanded. "I know you can't keep my soul. I didn't die."
Hades nodded. "I was unable to swear a vow to you in the Silver Millennium, when you were married to my prince. I wish to be given the opportunity, now. Something dark is coming, Princess, and I have a feeling you will need my help. If I swear allegiance to you, you may command me to release Sailor Saturn, excuse me, Hotaru's, soul, and it shall return with you. The Silver Crystal will not help you restore her, not now that you have both entered my realm."
Bright blue eyes met crimson ones, before she nodded. Hades knelt down before her.
"I, Hades, Cerberus General of Terra, swear allegiance to Princess Serenity of the Moon, until such time as she declares fit to release me. I will defend her, even unto my death." He bent his head and placed a kiss on the back of her hand, sealing his vow.
The pewter skull detached itself from his staff, drifting to rest in Serena's free hand. Silver light flared around it, before she extended it back to him.
"Rise, Tuxedo Cerberus, last of the Tuxedo Knights."
The moment the skull touched Hades' hand, light flared around Serena. White, chased with gold and silver, flowed around her.
Her hair, pulled loose by her battle against Pharaoh 90, tightened back into its buns, lightening in color as it did. Her sailor fuku repaired itself, as well, transforming again.
When the light faded, she looked down. Her uniform no longer was her Super Sailor Moon uniform. Instead, it more resembled her ordinary Sailor Moon form. White boots covered her feet, with silver crescent moons resting at her knees. Her gloves, now with gold cuffs instead of dark pink, had shortened by a couple of inches, now sitting at the same length as those of Sailor Uranus and Neptune. Her skirt and scarf had lightened to a bright silver, while the two bows on her uniform had turned gold. Her hand came up to touch the new broach in the middle of the gold bow. The red heart had been replaced by a white circle, with gold wrapped around the edge and a silver crescent moon in the center.
Hades smiled as he rose. "By accepting the oaths of the five living Terran Generals, you've been given a significant amount of Terran Magic, Princess. It is reflected in your new uniform, Sailor Crystal Crescent. Your transformation broach and phrase will have changed, as well. You'll know them when you need them."
"And you've got a new uniform, too," observed Sailor Saturn, speaking for the first time.
The general looked down, his general's uniform replaced by a dark grey tuxedo and top hat. Black lining clung to his long dark grey cape, and he pulled a black mask away from his eyes.
Sailor Crystal Crescent nodded her approval of his changed attire. "Now, then, Tuxedo Cerberus. Take us back to the living!"
The Tuxedo Knights and the Outer Scouts stood, grouped together, as a roaring sound filled the air. Three figures emerged from the black portal.
Sailor Saturn walked through first, a soft smile on her face. Sailor Crystal Crescent emerged next, fiddling with the edge of her new skirt, while Tuxedo Cerberus followed, closing the portal behind him.
"My Knights, I believe you may remember your fifth companion, Hades, Cerberus General?" Sailor Crystal Crescent asked. "Well, he's now Tuxedo Cerberus, joining the Tuxedo Knights."
Dragon grinned. "I was beginning to wonder about you, Hades."
"And I about you, Malachite," was the reply.
"A new uniform, Princess?" Uranus demanded, scanning over her cousin.
"I'm now Sailor Crystal Crescent!" She grinned. "And we can welcome back Hotaru, too!"
Drake crept back into the upstairs room, his long cape draped around him once more, while the others were still arriving downstairs. He strode over and placed a hand on Darien's shoulder. The prince of Terra had still been watching Rini, who slept off the effects of loosing her Heart Crystal.
"It's time to go, your highness," stated Drake, pulling them both back through the portal, before leaving Darien standing in his living room once again.
Several days had passed since their victory over Pharaoh 90 and his Great Silence.
Serena sat on the roof of her house, looking out over the small town of Le Lune. Work had already begun on constructing a new high school, after a 'gas leak' had blown the other one to pieces.
"Hotaru and Michelle are happy to be spending time together, again," commented Amara, leaping up to join her cousin.
A tear escaped the Moon Princess's eye, but she didn't reply.
"What's wrong, Meatball Head?" Amara placed a hand on her shoulder. "You know you can tell me anything."
"I'm going to have to make them forget."
"Make who forget what?" Amara frowned.
"My parents, my brother, Dr. Tomoe, everyone. They're going to have to forget I exist. There's a darkness rising in Tokyo. My parents won't let me go back on my own, and even if you went with me, they still wouldn't let me. I can't put them in danger by arranging for us all to go back, so they're going to forget they have a daughter. I'm heading back."
The older girl nodded. "Then they'll have to forget me, too. I won't let you head back on your own."
"They might as well forget all of us," declared Mal, joining them. "Drake explained things to us. He explained his vow to you and the emergence he felt in Tokyo. All five of us have agreed to come with you."
"And you know Hotaru, Michelle, and Trista won't be left out, either," added Amara.
"Do you think it will hold?" Serena asked, looking down at the Silver Crystal in her hands.
Sara looked over at her. "Salem, Sola, Apollo and I are going to stay behind to make sure it does. And to make sure everyone adjusts to the new memories you've given them."
"Thank you, Sara. I appreciate it," stated the moon princess, turning to pick up her pink book bag. "I'd better get going."
"Good luck, Serena. We'll join you as soon as we can," stated Salem, walking over to her.
She nodded, striding over to the yellow convertible waiting at the bottom of the hill, with Amara at the wheel. Michelle smiled up at her from the front passenger's seat, while Mal nodded from his orange motorcycle beside the car.
"Are you sure you don't want the others to know everyone's forgotten?" Michelle asked.
Serena nodded. "That's why I sent them all on ahead to the airport. And with Jason already in Japan for that retreat, it made things easier. Only the three of you are aware of what I've done."
"Get some sleep, Princess," ordered Mal, taking in the weariness in her eyes. "We'll wake you at the airport and you can sleep on the plane."
She nodded and let her eyes drift closed.
"May the Moon guide you all!" Sara called out as they drove away.
To be continued in Vault of Souls…
That's it! Hearts of Le Lune is now complete! Now, in case you've been wondering, you know why Sara, Salem, Sola, and Apollo haven't appeared in Vault of Souls! I wanted to find a way to send Serena back without her parents having to worry about her! You know what, I didn't expect to get this done so soon! You'll be getting two chapters in one day! I've never been able to pull that off! Well, now back to Vault of Souls. Just don't expect that one done as quickly!