A/N Hey everyone! Happy New Year! I hope all of you had a great holiday season. I know I've kept you waiting for this, but I hope it's worth it. I've got a nice long chapter for you here. Lots of stuff happening. This was kind of hard to write because I had to make some major changes from my original notes. Since I have decided to do the sequel, I decided to drop some hints about what will be coming up in it. I look forward to what 2010 holds for all of us. For those of you that don't know, I have had a poll running on my profile for a while about my upcoming projects. Right now, the sequel to this story (as of now being called The Galactic Trinity) is tied for first place with another one of my stories for what you guys want me to work on next. Descriptions for my new stories are found on my profile, so if you want to, take a moment to visit my page and vote so I know what you want me to work on next. Okay, enough babbling. Hug time. BIG HUGS TO:

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Thank you so much! Now on with the story.

ENJOY!

The Lunar Princess of the Earth

Chapter 25

The Storm Breaks

The night sky over Tokyo was dark. It was the night of the new moon and the only illumination came from the twinkling of stars. If anyone had been paying attention they might have seen a brief flash of light from the window of an apartment on the top floor of a tall building. But at 3 am the streets were empty.

Two figures materialized in the living room of the high-rise apartment. After glancing around quickly to make certain that they were alone, they proceeded down a long hallway. One of the figures hurried quicker than the other to the door at the end of the hall. Placing a hand on the door, it felt the two slumbering consciousnesses behind it.

The woman that was inside of the closed room was deeply asleep. But the man stirred as if he sensed the intruding presences in his home.

The dark figure standing at the door muttered a few softly spoken words and a golden glow seemed to surround him as it penetrated the door to encompass the sleeping occupants. He breathed a sigh of relief as he felt both of the individuals slip into such a deep sleep that an explosion wouldn't wake them.

He hurried back to his companion that was waiting by another door and whispered, "They're both deeply asleep. They shouldn't wake until I release them from the spell."

"Good" the female figure said. "I would hate to think of them waking up to find her gone. It would raise too many questions."

The male figure nodded as he turned the knob to enter another bedroom. His eyes softened as he saw the peacefully sleeping teenage girl lying on the bed. He crossed to her quickly and lightly shook her shoulder.

"Rini" he whispered. "Wake up, Rini. We need you."

The girl rolled over, mumbling in her sleep, and making the man chuckle softly. He leaned over the bed and pressed a light, chaste kiss to the pink haired princess's lips. Her eyes flew open to reveal very surprised maroon irises. She relaxed when she was able to make out the intruder in the dim light.

"Helios!" she exclaimed in a loud whisper. "What in the world are you doing here?"

The white haired priest cocked his head to one side and grinned at her. "Maybe I just wanted to see my princess. Is that all right with you?"

She threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. "You know it's okay with me, but I'm just surprised. You know my dad is the lightest sleeper in the world. So don't be shocked if Darien comes storming through that door in a few seconds." She felt his body shake as he laughed lightly.

He lowered his lips to her ear and whispered. "I don't think we have to worry about your parents tonight. I took out a little insurance to make sure we're not discovered."

Rini pulled back with a look of confusion on her face. "What's going on, Helios?"

The second person stepped forward from the shadows, making her presence known. "The time has come, Rini. We must act now in order to start restoring the future as it should be."

Rini nodded her head. "I'm ready, Puu. What do you need me to do?"

Sailor Pluto regarded her young princess with a smile. "We're going to change fate tonight. If everything goes as planned, everyone will still be alive at the end. In any case, this ordeal will be finished in forty-eight hours, one way or another. To start the events that will hopefully end with Jess restored to her proper place in Crystal Tokyo, I am in need of some moon magic. You said I could count on you when the time came. Are you still in?"

Rini reached over and grabbed her broach off of the bedside table. Clutching it tight, she grinned at the time guardian. "You bet I am. What do we do?"

Pluto returned her grin with satisfaction. "Transform and come with us. We have a lot of work to do."

Rini jumped from the bed. Holding her broach up she called out, "Crescent Moon Power!"

There was a burst of light and energy as pink ribbons slithered around, encompassing the young girl's body. Helios blushed and looked away. His maiden obviously didn't realize how much of her body was exposed during her transformation process. He had waited a long time for her and here she was practically grown. Even though there was an understanding between them that they would some day wed, he had promised King Endymion and Neo Queen Serenity that he would wait until the princess was eighteen before making the relationship formal. But even the usually composed high priest of dreams had his limits.

The power faded and Sailor Crescent Moon now stood in the center of the room clad in her fuku. Of course the short skirt and skintight body suit didn't leave a whole lot to the imagination either.

"Okay, I'm ready." Crescent Moon said.

Helios held out his hand to her and she took it with a shy smile. There was a flash of white light. When it faded, the three occupants had vanished from the room.

Bastian knelt before the mist. "You sent for me, master?"

"Yes" the deep voice replied. "Our time has come. It is written in the stars that the time for our victory is now. Tonight we will succeed in breaking the one that holds the power that we seek and we will become the rulers of this world. Are you ready, my faithful subject?"

Bastian bowed his head. "I am yours to do with as you please, my lord."

There was a long moment of silence, and then, "So you are completely committed to me and our cause?"

Bastian raised his head. "Absolutely. I owe you my life. If not for you I would have died centuries ago. I exist for nothing more than to see those of the Silver Millennium destroyed and for us to take our rightful place as the leaders of this planet. The whole galaxy will be ours to command."

A hissing sound filled the chamber and the mist began to swirl quickly. "Then give yourself over to the power, Bastian. Together, we will be unstoppable."

"Yes" the red headed man growled. "I want the power. I want it all. Please master, give me the power to overthrow our enemies."

There was a dark chuckle. "As you wish."

The dark mist surrounded Bastian, swirling and snapping with unrestrained dark power. It sank into his body, entering through his nose and mouth and the very pores of his skin. He closed his eyes and arched his back as he felt the strength of the energy humming through his blood.

'Now we are one.' a voice whispered through his head. 'Talon was too much of a weakling to let me act through him. But you, Bastian, you let your greed and lust for power consume you. You have served your purpose well, but now it's my turn."

An unearthly scream left Bastian as he felt his consciousness fade into oblivion. When the dark energy disappeared, the mist was gone. It had completely taken over Bastian's body. His red hair was now streaked with black and when his eyelids opened they revealed eyes that were a glowing blood red.

"Finally" he breathed. "After millennia of waiting, my revenge will be complete. I will start by killing the granddaughter of those who sought to imprison me and take her power. Then the whole universe will bow to me."

He was so wrapped up in his own musings that he failed to see the dark figure lurking outside the door.

'Bastian, you idiot!' Talon fumed. 'I can't believe he allowed himself to be possessed like that. He has no idea what he has done. He has just condemned everyone to death. I don't even think the princess can take him down now.'

At that thought, he knew that the others had to be warned. This had just turned into a war that far surpassed anything they could have imagined. Victory had seemed possible while the evil entity had been without a body. But now that it had possessed Bastian, it may all be hopeless.

Talon hurried to his chamber and began arming himself. He had felt his magic weakening with every day that passed and knew that it would be unreliable in a fight, but luckily he was a highly skilled fighter. He wouldn't be going into this final battle completely helpless. He slid his favorite sword into the scabbard at his side and stuck several daggers and other weapons into the belt at his waist.

The sound of the door creaking open behind him had him whirling around quickly with his hand reaching for the hilt of his sword. He paused when he saw the person that slipped inside.

"What are you doing here, Anya?" he demanded.

The dark haired woman surveyed him with wide, sad brown eyes. "You're leaving, aren't you? You're going to them."

Talon sighed. "Yes. Bastian has been possessed and he's planning on destroying everything. I can't stand by idly and allow that. I have been wrong for so many centuries, and now I must do what I can to make it right."

Anya stepped forward and laid a gentle hand on his scarred cheek. "I always new that there was a better man hidden deep inside you. I had hope that one day you would realize it and break free of that monster's hold."

Talon turned surprised eyes on her. Anya had been a source of companionship over the centuries. She had always been there to listen to him when he needed someone to talk to. She had also given herself willingly to him when he had need of physical release, but there had never been any feelings involved other than deep friendship.

He brushed her hand aside. "Don't kid yourself, Anya. There's nothing good about me. I just think it's time to put an end to all of this. My soul is damned no matter what I do now."

He turned back to his weapons and continued to gather what he needed. He jumped in shock a moment later when soft, slender arms embraced him around the waist from behind. Anya laid her head against his back between his shoulder blades and sighed.

"I know you must think me silly." she whispered brokenly. "This may not be the best time to be honest with you, but I feel I must. It may be my last chance to tell you."

Talon turned around to face her. "What are you talking about?"

Anya blushed furiously and looked down. "I…I love you, Talon. I have since we were children. Our parents were close friends and you were like my big brother when we were growing up. I knew that you would never see me as anything other than a friend, especially after Beryl caught your eye, but I have always continued to have feelings for you."

Talon was floored. He had never expected anything like this to come from his childhood playmate. He lifted her chin to look into her teary, coffee colored eyes and saw the hurt and longing that resided there. He didn't know what to say to her, so he pulled her into a tight embrace. He soon felt her tears seeping through his shirt.

"I'm sorry." she sniffled, her voice muffled in his chest. "I have lousy timing. I never meant to tell you this at all, but I'm just so scared that you won't come back. I couldn't let you go without telling you how I feel."

Talon closed his eyes as he rested his cheek against the top of her head. Had he really been so blind over the years? He had chased Beryl shamelessly, panting after her like a dog, even through the times that she had ridiculed and betrayed him. After her defeat he had turned his thoughts to power and revenge, until a certain blue-eyed princess had helped him see the world through her innocent eyes. He had never realized what he had in front of him the whole time. He was a fool.

"Shh" he soothed the now shaking woman in his arms. "There's no need to get so upset. I should have seen it before. I have feelings for you as well. You are one of the few of our clan that have managed to stay pure and not become consumed by hate and greed. We'll talk more if I return."

Anya pulled back to look at him with wary eyes. "You don't have to patronize me. I know that I have no place in your life. Just promise me that you'll come back."

Talon kissed her forehead gently. "I can't make any promises. This will be a brutal fight and the old one is no longer fueling my powers. I don't know how this will turn out. But I promise to try my best to return. You have just given me a new reason to fight. And by the way, I'm not patronizing you."

Her face brightened for a moment and then turned thoughtful. "Take me with you. I can help. You need another person to boost your powers. Why not me?"

He seemed to consider it for a moment before he shook his head. "No. I can't do that. It would be too dangerous. You haven't done any real magic in centuries. I don't deny that you are a powerful sorceress and could be a great help, but I won't put you in danger like that."

Anya raised her chin and her eyes turned defiant. "Either you take me with you, or I will follow you. Take your pick. You can't expect me to just let you walk away after you just admitted to having feelings for me."

Talon groaned. "You wouldn't really follow me into a battle, would you?"

She gave him a deceptively sweet smile. "Oh yeah, try me."

He shook his head, knowing that it was useless to fight her on this. "Fine. But you are there just for support. I expect you to stay far away from the fighting, understand?"

She kissed him quickly on the lips. "Yeah, sure. Whatever you say."

"I know I'm going to regret this." Talon muttered as he picked up a lightweight sword and handed it to her. "Just in case you need it. Do you remember how to use it?"

"It's just like riding a bike." she replied, swinging the sword around her body expertly. "Don't worry, I still remember the lessons you gave me when we were younger."

He held out a hand to her. "All right then. Let's go."

She placed her small hand in his and they disappeared from the underground lair.

"Hey Sere, where do you want these?" Jess called out as she pushed the apartment door open with her foot and walked in with two fairly large boxes stacked in her arms.

Serena ran from the living room to see what was written on the boxes before giving out instructions. "Let's see, I think…yep, they both go in the spare room."

"Okie dokie" Jess said as she walked down the hallway to the room that used to be Darien's spare bedroom, but was quickly turning into a replica of Serena's pink and white bedroom at her parent's house.

Jess had just reached the door and was about to walk through it when another person stepped out. They collided and went falling to the floor along with the boxes.

"Hey! Watch it you klutz!" Rini shrieked. "You didn't have to run me over."

"Me a klutz?" Jess snapped back. "You're the one who stepped out without looking first, cotton candy head."

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Whatever!" Rini said, tossing her long pink hair back over her shoulder as climbed back to her feet. She walked over to the room that was hers when she stayed there and slammed the door behind her.

Jess sat there in shock for a moment before muttering, "What the hell's wrong with her?"

Darien and Andrew walked into the hall, each carrying a couple of boxes, and stopped short at the sight of Jess sitting on the floor and the fallen boxes close by.

Andrew chuckled. "Do I even want to know?"

"Can it, Drew." Jess growled with a glare. "If you must know, I just had a run in with Hurricane Rini."

The last part was said loudly toward the closed door. There was a moment of silence before there was a thump like a shoe had been thrown at the door. It was followed by a muffled. "Shut up, Jess!"

The three in the hallway laughed as Andrew set his boxes down and helped Jess to her feet. They all quickly stowed the boxes in the room before returning to the living room where Serena was unpacking some things.

There were a few subtle changes to the once sparsely decorated room, but it definitely seemed warmer and more inviting now. There were a few more pictures hanging on the walls now and some knick-knacks scattered around on tables and shelves. Colorful throws were draped over the backs of the two black couches and were accented by throw pillows at the ends.

Jess nodded in approval. "Much better. I knew this room had possibilities. You're pretty good at this Serena. Maybe you should go to school for interior decorating."

Serena laughed. "Are you kidding? I'll probably be lucky to make it past my required courses. With my school history, I'll flunk out in the first semester."

Darien reached over and pulled on a strand of her long blonde hair. "A couple of years ago I would have agreed with you, but you really did a turn around in high school. You'll be fine."

Serena snatched her hair from his hand. "We'll see. If Amy can manage to squeeze in some tutoring I may be okay. But have you seen the list of classes she's going to be taking? She's insane. I don't see how one person could take that many classes and still have time to breath."

"Her class load is no worse than mine have ever been." Darien told her. "I did the same number of classes every semester and it paid off. Now I'm only one semester away from starting my internship while other people my age are just starting med school."

Serena stuck her tongue out at him. "That's because you're a brainiac. Not many people graduate high school two years early and then jump right into a serious college career."

"Hey" Jess protested, "I take offense to that. I graduated early and went straight to college and I don't consider myself to be a genius."

"I guess now wouldn't be a good time to tell her that you were valedictorian." Andrew hissed in a loud stage whisper.

"Ugh" Serena moaned. "I'm surrounded by smart people. Well did you highly educated individuals manage to get everything out of the cars?"

"Yes we did, no thanks to you." Darien teased her. "That was the last of it that Drew and I just brought in."

"Thank goodness." Jess sighed as she flopped down onto one of the sofas and closed her eyes. "I'm bushed."

Andrew sat down next to her and nudged her in the ribs. "What's up with you? You usually have enough energy to run a ten mile marathon before going on an all day shopping spree at the mall and still be able to take out three youma before bedtime."

She cracked open an eyelid to squint at him. "I'm just tired, okay?"

Serena took a good look at her and saw a fine sheen of sweat that covered the other girl's face. Her breathing also seemed slightly labored as well, and that worried Serena. She walked over and felt Jess's forehead. It felt slightly warmer than usual.

"I hope you're not coming down with anything." Serena mused. "I heard there's a nasty flu bug going around."

Jess pulled back from Serena's cool hand with a laugh. "I'm fine. I'm not sick. I'm just having an off day. I guess I didn't sleep as well as I thought I did last night."

Serena backed up a few steps. "If you're sure…"

Jess let out a pent up breath. "I'm sure Serena. I'm eighteen years old, not five. I think I would know if I was coming down with something. Geez, you're as bad as Dawn and Nebula. God forbid if I sneeze around them. They act like it's the end of the world. I wish people would quit treating me like a china doll. I'm made of stronger stuff than that."

Seeing the hurt look on Serena's face she sighed. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be so crabby. I've just felt really weird all day. I think something big is about to go down. I think the end is coming. I have been preparing for this for five years, but now I feel so weak. I don't think I'll be able to beat this."

The other three looked at each other in surprise at the hopeless sound in her voice. None of them knew what to say to her. She was usually so confident in her abilities, so this was definitely unexpected.

"Oh please, quit the pity party. You'll never accomplish anything if you just sit around and mope." a voice suddenly joined in. Everyone turned to find Rini standing in the doorway glaring at Jess.

Jess returned her glare. "What do you know about it, pipsqueak? This may look like moping to you, but I can assure you it's not."

Rini narrowed her eyes. "It better not be. There's a lot riding on you, so you better get your ass in gear and do your job. Don't even think about running away from it."

Jess stood up from her seat and observed the teenage girl in front of her. Her eyes darkened until they resembled cold blue steel. "Are you calling me a coward?"

Rini shrugged. "You said it, not me. I'm just trying to make you see reality. There's more than your life at stake here. You can't start having doubts now. If you do…well, lets just say it won't be pretty."

Jess's anger faded and she chuckled. "You sure have big mouth. It's amazing that your parents don't beat you on a daily basis." She winked at Serena and Darien and they grinned back.

Rini's face softened as well and she giggled. "I had a great teacher. And as for my parents, let's just say I've had my fair share of punishments and leave it at that. I just want you to know that I believe in you. You never back down and you never give up. You can't lose that determination now."

Jess reached out and ruffled Rini's hair playfully. "I never thought I would be getting a pep talk by someone younger than me. Don't worry, Rini, I'm not going anywhere. Like I told the others earlier, I'm just having an off day. I think I'm just tired. I have felt clumsy and disoriented all day."

Rini turned her head quickly so nobody would see the expression of guilt that crossed her face as she remembered her nocturnal adventure the night before. She knew why Jess felt so disconnected, but she had sworn to Pluto to not say anything. It was eating her up inside, but Jess would find out soon enough.

"Well I don't know about the rest of you, but after all of this moving I feel like having pizza." Darien announced. "My treat. So who's in?"

Predictably, Serena and Rini were the first ones to agree as they each grabbed Darien by an arm and began dragging him to the door. Jess was right behind them with Andrew, but moving a lot slower than she usually would.

She stumbled into Andrew as they walked through the door and then tripped twice as they made their way down the hall to the elevator, causing Andrew to have to hold on to her to keep her from becoming intimately acquainted with the carpet.

"What the hell?" she grumbled as they waited for the elevator. "I don't remember being this klutzy even when I was going through my awkward early teen stage."

"Remind me to take a look in your ears when we get back." Darien told her. "You might have the beginnings of an ear infection. If fluid has built up in there it could throw your equilibrium off. That could be why you feel so tired and are having trouble with your balance."

Jess smacked herself on the forehead. "Of course. I should have known that. I've had enough ear infections in my life to know to know the signs." Her face turned thoughtful for a second before she giggled. "Actually I should say both lives. I seem to remember that Melody was prone to them as well."

Serena groaned. "Don't remind me. All those sleepless nights about killed me. That reminds me, are you still allergic to lilies?"

Jess laughed. "Am I ever. My mom planted a bunch of them in the flowerbed outside my bedroom window when I was about ten. It took my parents three weeks to figure out the reason why my eyes were all red and puffy and I was sneezing all the time. My dad went out and pulled them all up and then burned them. Mom was crushed, she thought that maybe she could move them farther away from the house and they wouldn't bother me, but dad wasn't going to have them anywhere around."

A few tears sprang to her eyes as she thought back on the memory. Andrew tightened his arm around her as she quickly wiped the corners of her eyes.

"I'm fine." she reassured him. "It doesn't hurt as much as it used to when I think about them." Her face brightened as they heard a ding and the door opened. "On to the pizza. I want one with the works."

"Eww!" Serena and Rini exclaimed.

"All of those vegetables ruin the flavor." Serena proclaimed.

Rini nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah. I like pepperoni."

The great debate over what kind of pizza was best ensued as the doors slid shut.

Sailor Pluto stood looking out of one of the windows of the Crystal Palace, watching the bustling city as it went about its business. On the outside, everything seemed to be business as usual. Inside the palace, the somber mood gave testament to the uncertainty and the stress.

Pluto sighed. She hadn't had the heart to tell Rini how bad things had deteriorated here when she asked. The young girl had enough responsibility weighing on her shoulders as it was.

A door behind her opened and she turned to see King Endymion and Neo Queen Serenity leaving a room. Both of their faces were lined with worry.

"How is he doing?" she asked them.

Serenity shook her head. "Not good at all. Darien's having to keep him sedated."

"It's the best thing for him." Endymion said. "I think he would lose his mind if he were coherent."

Serenity's heart ached for her friend that lay in the room behind the door. Poor Andrew had watched his wife disappear in front of his eyes. And then to add insult to injury, he had to watch both of his children fade away into nothingness as well. It was more than enough to bring even the strongest man to his knees.

Serenity fought the urge to break down as well. She had lost more than just the reincarnation of her past daughter when Jess vanished from this time. She had lost one of her best friends and confidantes. She had been closely attached to the twins as well. They had looked to her as a favorite aunt, and she had spoiled them shamelessly.

Pluto regarded her king and queen with a heavy heart. "It is all coming to an end in the past. The final battle will start tonight. Win or lose, it will all be decided in a little over twenty four hours."

"Let's hope everything turns out all right." Serenity sighed as she leaned against Endymion's shoulder. "Are you sure Rini will be okay?"

Pluto nodded. "The princess will be fine. I would never risk her unnecessarily."

"We're not questioning you, Trista." Endymion reassured her. "But as parents we are concerned of course."

Pluto smiled at them both. "I wouldn't expect you to be any other way. I will take my leave now to return to the past. I must be there to make sure things go as planned."

"I want to go too." a new voice entered the conversation. A boy with unruly black hair and wide, light blue eyes joined them. "I can help. I want to go."

"Absolutely not!" Pluto, Serenity, and Endymion all exclaimed at once.

"You are only fifteen years old." Serenity raged. "There is no way that you are going."

"Aw man! That's not fair." the boy complained. "Rini's been going back for years. The first time she went to the past she didn't even have her powers yet. She was stealing them from the Silver Crystal. At least I know how to use my powers. I've been practicing hard."

"You heard our answer." Endymion said firmly. "Now I think it's best if you just walk away and forget that you heard this conversation."

"Whatever" the boy said and slouched away down the hall, disappointment evident in the way that he held his body.

"He can't help it, you know." Mina said as she joined the group. "He's mourning for her and wants to try to help bring her back. I know they're young, but she is his other half. There has been a connection between them since they were little."

Serenity closed her eyes as she thought about the girl with the long, light blonde hair and sparkling hazel eyes that was causing the teenage boy so much pain. "I know you have deemed them soul mates, Mina, but he is not going to the past. Just having Rini there helping Trista manipulate the timeline is risk enough."

"Indeed" Pluto replied. "We are walking a fine line right now. We don't need any other outside interferences. With luck, this will all be behind us soon."

She turned and walked away, guilt gnawing away at her insides. She hated lying to them. The events that were about to unfold in the past were more serious than she would have them believe. Everyone was in danger, some of them purposefully so thanks to her manipulations.

"I'm sorry, my queen." she whispered. "I hope you can forgive me for what I have done and what I'm about to do."

The group of five left the local pizzeria laughing. After the seriousness earlier, it had been nice to get away for a while and have fun. They had gorged themselves on pizza until even Serena, Rini, and Jess thought that they would pop if they ate any more.

They were all walking back to Darien's apartment, planning on watching a movie together before they called it a night, when the earth suddenly shook beneath their feet. At the same moment, three sets of beeps could be heard.

Looking around to make sure there was no one nearby to hear them, the three girls flipped open their communicators to answer the call.

"Moon here."

"Crescent Moon"

"Shadow"

Several other voices chimed in as the scouts reported in one by one. Sailor Venus's soot blackened face filled the small screen.

She hurriedly filled them in. "Bastian just launched an attack down at the docks. He has several youma with him and he just blew up one of the old warehouses. Something about him is different this time. He seems to be more powerful than ever."

"Sit tight and try to keep off his radar. We'll be there as quick as we can." Serena told her. "Let's go guys."

They all took off in the direction of the waterfront. The streets were crowded, making it impossible for them to find a place for them to transform. They finally found their opportunity when they reached the first warehouses leading into the docks. Using the smoke that was hanging in the air as cover, they slipped inside one of the buildings.

Serena and Rini held up their broaches and called out their transformations. Power swirled around them as they turned into Sailor Moon and Sailor Crescent Moon. More energy was felt as Darien and Andrew transformed as well.

Jess felt a deep sense of foreboding as she gripped the pendant around her neck tight. She whispered, "Shadow Power" and felt the familiar rush as the shadows wrapped around her to leave her standing in her solid navy blue fuku. Unexpectedly, a wave of dizziness hit her, threatening to make her knees buckle, but she fought against it, not wanting the others to know.

"Are you okay?" Andrew asked in concern.

She flashed him a brilliant smile. "Peachy keen. Now let's go kick some ass, shall we?"

Andrew answered her with a grin and a bow. "Your wish is my command."

The five left the old warehouse and made their way toward what was left of the building that had exploded. They met up with Venus and Kunzite who quickly filled them in on what they had seen.

Kunzite was calm and composed as usual. "Mina and I were down here checking out the building. It's for sale and I was looking to see if it would be a good investment. We had just exited the building when there was a small explosion and the building went up in flames."

"Small explosion, my ass!" Venus exclaimed. "That was no little boom, that was a big boom. And the building did a lot more than just catch fire, the damn thing exploded. It knocked us both down and almost singed the ends of my hair. Then Bastian showed up with four or five youma and sicced them on us. We got away and found a place to transform and put out the call."

"Where are they now?" Tuxedo Mask asked.

"That's the weird part." Kunzite replied. "When we snuck back this way to see what was going on, they had all vanished."

"A hit and run, perhaps?" Andrew asked.

Sailor Moon shook her head. "That doesn't sound like the way he usually operates."

Sailor Shadow let out a growl. "It's not. He's up to something. I bet the sick bastard is somewhere nearby, watching us."

"You called my bluff quicker than I thought you would, princess. Congratulations." a quiet, yet cold voice cut into their conversation.

Five figures materialized from the lingering smoke. Bastian was in the middle, flanked by two humanoid looking youma on each side. The youma looked like the ones that they had faced on several occasions, but there were several differences that tipped the small band of heroes off that theses youma would be difficult to beat.

These youma still had the bright red eyes that belied their humanness, despite their humanlike appearance. But in addition to that, their incisors were long and sharp like a predatory animal. They were also taller and broader than the past youmas, and dark energy radiated around them in visible waves.

Bastian was the biggest surprise though. His unnaturally red hair was now streaked with black and his eyes glowed with a blood red intensity. Unlike in the past when he had exuded an air of almost bored cockiness, he now took a dominating stance, a look of confident superiority on his face. The amount of power surrounding him was almost suffocating.

He let out a low, evil sounding chuckle. "Do you like the improvements? I'm quite pleased with them myself?"

Running footsteps were heard as the rest of the inner scouts and the generals joined them. They all stopped short as well as they took in the scene before them. Mars gasped as she felt the aura of their enemy.

"Something's happened." she stated. "That not Bastian. It may be his body, but his consciousness is gone."

A shadow fell across them as another person walked forward to join them. "You are correct Sailor Mars. Bastian has been possessed by an evil entity. It has taken him over entirely." Talon said.

"So the traitor decided to put in an appearance." the person who wasn't Bastian growled. "I'm assuming since you are standing by their side instead of mine that you have made your choice as to which side you are on."

Talon stood straight and unsheathed his sword. He glared at his opponent, hate and fury burning bright in his black eyes. "You assume correctly. I see now that your plan is based on nothing but your need for revenge. You fooled me for centuries and made me think that your goals were the same as mine. I will not be your puppet, nor will I stand by and let you destroy these people to satisfy your demented need."

The possessed Bastian snarled. "You know nothing of my need for revenge. I was sealed away in the darkness for years. When I finally broke free I was cursed to exist as nothing more than a spirit. I joined you and your small surviving band of rebels because I knew that you would eventually lead me to the one that I needed to take my ultimate revenge on the ones that took me prisoner all those centuries ago."

His hot glowing eyes pinned Sailor Shadow in a look of triumphant glee. She took an unconscious step back.

"What are you talking about?" she demanded. "What the hell does any of this have to do with me? I don't even know who you are."

A sly smirk turned his lips up. "I suppose it's only fair to tell someone why they are about to die. You, my dear, are the granddaughter of the ones that imprisoned me. Back when she was still a princess herself, Queen Serenity teamed up with her future husband, Prince Jonathan of the sun, and his best friend, the future king of Earth, Prince Edward. The three of them invoked an ancient magic to seal me away. They saw me as a threat to the solar system. Since you are their granddaughter, you are the perfect tool for my revenge. The fact that you are also the holder of one of the most powerful crystals ever born is an added bonus."

Sailor Moon's head swirled for a moment as the almost forgotten memory of a conversation she had once had with her mother in the past surfaced. She had been looking through a book in the castle's library about recent history and had come across the story of a battle that her mother, father, and Endymion's father had been in. The details had been vague, so she had asked the queen about it. Queen Serenity hadn't told her much more about it, just that an evil power intent on taking over the galaxy had appeared and that she and the two princes had beaten it.

She also remembered another conversation, this one more recent, that she'd had a little over two years ago with Princess Kakyuu right before the final battle with Galaxia.

Flashback

Serena knocked on the apartment door nervously. She had received an unexpected phone call earlier from the Fireball Princess, requesting her to join her for tea. She had agreed because she was curious. She hadn't spoken much to the mysterious princess since she had made her appearance, so she wondered what she wanted with her.

The door opened to reveal the exquisitely beautiful princess. Serena was shocked. She had expected one of the Starlights to answer the door.

"Please, come in." the princess invited her in her soft, melodic voice.

Serena had stepped in. "This is an honor, Your Highness."

The red haired princess laughed. "Do not stand on ceremony with me, moon princess. We are both equals. You may simply call me Kakyuu, and I will call you Serenity. Now I'm sure you are wondering why I called you here today."

Serena nodded. "I must admit I am curious."

Kakyuu had seated them and began pouring the tea. "I thought you should know more about the enemy before you face her in battle. Galaxia does not act on her own free will. She is possessed by an evil entity called Chaos. This entity is similar to Metallia, who you destroyed a couple of years ago, only much more powerful. You see, there are many of these dark powers that have traveled the universe bent on dominance and destruction. Some have been sealed away by warriors in the past, but there are still some out there. Chaos is one of the more powerful ones, but luckily is not the most powerful. It is, however, the most violent one that is still roaming free. Your past parents, Queen Serenity and King Jonathan had a hand in sealing away the most fearsome one…"

End Flashback

The rest of the conversation flashed through Sailor Moon's mind. The puzzle pieces fell into place one by one. She knew who this was.

"Discord…" she whispered.

"What?" the others asked as they turned questioning eyes on her.

She ignored them as she glared at the man in front of her. "I know who you are now. You are Discord, aren't you?"

He inclined his head slightly. "Very good, Serenity. I see my reputation precedes me. I have waited a long time for this moment. It's nothing personal against you, but I hope you have enjoyed your brief reunion with your daughter. I intend to steal her power and kill her. Her death will seal the revenge that I vowed I would seek almost 1,100 years ago. With the spilling of her life blood, a new era will begin."

Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask moved protectively in front of Andrew, who had shoved Sailor Shadow behind him while he took a defensive stance in front of her. Talon stood at the front of the group with his sword pointed at Discord, who surveyed them all in amusement.

He let out a deep, eerie laugh. "Do you honestly think you can stop me? You are nothing but pesky little insects to me. If you insist on standing in my way, I'll destroy you all. And you, Talon, without my power to fuel your own, you're nothing."

Talon just grinned as his sword began glowing. "Are you sure about that?" A large blast of energy shot from his sword at Discord.

Discord jumped quickly out of the way. He turned disbelieving eyes on Talon. "How did you do that? Without my energy your powers should be diminished."

Talon smirked. "I have my ways. I found a way to have power before you came along, and I don't need you now."

Discord looked around, his eyes spotting a glow coming from a nearby rooftop. "Ahh, so you brought along your little lapdog. I'm sure the lovely Anya was more than willing to serve as your new power source. I should have killed her centuries ago. She was never devoted to our cause, but I kept her around because you seemed to enjoy her company. But it's of little consequence. Even with both of your powers combined, you're no match for me. She will die for her betrayal along with you."

"I don't think so." Talon said with a shake of his head. "There is still one here who I believe can put an end to you. Her pure heart opened my eyes and restored my hope in this world. I have faith in her." He turned to smile at Sailor Shadow, who was peeking over Andrew's shoulder.

She returned his smile and mouthed a silent 'Thank you' to him. She hoped that she could live up to everyone's expectations, but she felt so drained and out of sorts right now.

"Enough" Discord roared. With just a wave of his hand he sent everyone tumbling to the ground. "You are all foolish to put your fate in the hands of that girl because of a prophecy made a millennia ago. She cannot defeat me. Even now I can feel her confusion and lack of faith. She will be disposed of as easily as the rest of you."

He turned those creepy eyes back to Sailor Shadow, who stiffened as she felt a dark power nudge at her mind. She knew Discord was trying to see inside her head and quickly tried to erect her mental shields that Nebula had taught her years ago, but she wasn't fast enough.

"Ah, I see now." Discord said with a low chuckle. "You can fight it, but you can't hide from me, princess. I can see your innermost thoughts and feelings. I can feel your anger and disappointment in life. Others may see you as innocent and pure, but you don't fool me for a minute. You are nothing but an angry, jaded little girl. But if you hand over the power I seek, I promise to give you peace quickly and painlessly. Then you will be with the ones that you miss so much forever."

Power swirled around him, materializing to form two figures. One was a tall man with light blonde hair and warm brown eyes. The other was a slender woman with long, layered, light brown hair and striking green eyes.

Tears flowed freely from Sailor Shadow's eyes. "Mom…Dad…" she whispered.

The apparition of Joshua Alexander smiled at her. "There's my little peanut. How ya doin, kiddo?"

Beside him, Kimberly shook her head. "Honestly, Jessie, I can't turn my back on you for five minutes without you getting into some kind of trouble, can I?"

Shadow buried her face in Andrew's shoulder and he held her close. "This can't be real. That's not really them. My parents are dead."

"I can make it real for you." Discord said in a low, hypnotic tone. "Just give me the crystal and I'll send you to be with them for eternity. Isn't that what you wish for, to be able to go back to what your life was like two years ago before the tragedy that ripped your parents away from you at such a tender age?"

Sailor Shadow shook her head as she climbed back to her feet to glare at the man. "Stop it. You don't know anything about me or my parents. If you did, you would know that they always taught me to fight back and never give up."

Discord surveyed her cautiously for a moment. With a careless wave of his hand, the apparitions disappeared. "So be it. Bring on your worst, princess. You will never defeat me."

Shadow felt the presence of her friends beside her and drew from their strength and support.

Sailor Moon smiled at her. "Hey, we're with you all the way. I told you that you wouldn't be alone in this."

Andrew's arms encircled her from behind. "Let's beat this asshole so we can go home."

She smiled at them all. "Sounds good to me."

"Am I too late to join the party?" a voice asked as a portal opened up and Sailor Pluto stepped out.

"Nope, you're just in time." Sailor Moon said with a grin. Then she whispered, "Where are the other outers?"

"They were all the way over on the other side of the city." Pluto told her. "Michelle was giving a violin performance tonight. They will be here as quick as they can."

"So we're down three scouts." Sailor Moon mused. "I guess we'll just have to do what we can until they get here. Everyone stay together. No wandering away from the group."

"I hope you're done with all of your whispering. I'm ready to get this show on the road." Discord said in a bored tone. "I have a universe waiting for me to conquer it. Youmas, kill the rest and bring the princess to me. We have a date with destiny."

The heroes stood back to back with their partners, creating an impenetrable circle of defense. The youma prowled around them, looking for an opening to strike. Unable to find a weakness, they began launching random attacks, trying to break through the ranks. The scouts and their male companions were able to deflect the attacks for the most part, but a few made their way through to inflict some damage.

A sharp cry was heard and Sailor Mercury sank to her knees clutching her upper arm. Blood seeped through her fingers to stain her white gloves. Zoicite was down on the ground beside her in an instant, prying her hand away to examine the large cut she had received.

"I'm fine." she reassured him quickly and climbed back to her feet.

Muttered curses were heard all around as some of the others received superficial wounds as well. Discord stood back watching with a look of unholy glee on his face.

A youma shot a blast toward Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask. They combined their powers and deflected it with a small burst of silver and gold energy. The youma growled and set its sights on Sailor Shadow and Andrew instead. With an angry snarl it launched itself at them.

Sailor Shadow reached deep down inside herself to draw on the energy she needed to launch her own attack. But instead of the vibrant hum of power she usually felt, she was only able to find a faint echo of the energy she usually felt from the crystal shard inside her. Knowing she didn't have time to wonder about it right now, she pulled in every speck of that residual energy. As her hands began faintly glowing, she knew that this attack was going to be weak.

She released the ball of energy at the youma. It was soon joined by a brighter sphere of copper colored light as Andrew also attacked. The two powers slammed into the youma and it let out a howl as it disintegrated.

Sailor Shadow sank to her knees as a wave of exhaustion overtook her. She let out a startled cry as her transformation faded. The others looked just as shocked as she was.

"What happened?" Andrew asked as he knelt down beside her.

Jess shook her head. "I don't know. It's like all my energy is gone. I can't even sense the power of the crystal shard anymore. It's like it vanished."

"That's impossible!" Sailor Moon exclaimed. "Your power couldn't have just disappeared."

"Somehow it has." Talon told them as he joined them. "I have sensed it since I arrived. I could barely feel what little energy she had, and now that's gone as well. She needs to get out of here. She is in no condition to fight."

Talon had his back turned and didn't see the youma rushing him until it was too late. He turned just as the youma was practically on top of him. Before he could react, it exploded into dust. A dark haired woman who looked to be in her middle twenties was at his side a moment later.

"I thought I told you to stay out of the fight, Anya." he growled at the woman.

She flipped her long, dark brown ponytail over her shoulder. "And I thought you had enough sense to not turn your back on the enemy during a fight. I guess I was mistaken."

"Don't test me, woman." he ground out between clenched teeth.

She grinned at him. "You don't scare me a bit, you big teddy bear. Your bark is definitely worse than your bite."

Talon heard a giggle behind him and turned to find most of the eyes in the group trained on him and Anya, watching their exchange in amusement.

Jess cocked a blonde eyebrow at him. "Girlfriend?"

A red flush crept up his cheeks and the normally cool and composed man stammered, "Uh…kinda…I'm not exactly sure…"

The woman next to him shook her head and sighed. She held a hand out to Jess and helped her up. "My name's Anya. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance finally. Don't pay any attention to him. I think I superimposed him earlier and he hasn't quite got his head back on straight yet." She turned back to Talon with a smile. "Well, shall we take care of the last two nuisances?"

The two remaining youma were still prowling around the group, but they were careful to keep their distance. Their eyes widened in fear and they both began running away as Talon and Anya began glowing with a muted light. Two howls were heard as the youma crumbled into dust.

During this exchange, Sailor Pluto had cocked her head at Crescent Moon, indicating that it was time to execute the plan that they had come up with the night before. She began backing away from the group while their attention was diverted, intentionally breaking Sailor Moon's rule of sticking together.

Just as Pluto had predicted, the moment she had put a considerable distance between them, Discord struck. His eyes glowed with triumph as he spotted her alone.

"So one of the little piggies is all alone." he crowed as he made a beeline for her. "Just the leverage I needed."

She froze at the sight of the possessed demon flying at her. She heard her name being called, but couldn't force her body to respond. She closed her eyes tight and prayed that this worked out the way Pluto thought it would.

She saw a flash of silver light behind her closed lids at the same moment arms scooped her up. She opened her eyes to see that Tuxedo Mask had gotten to her just in time and had carried her away from the threat. She looked over his shoulder and saw Sailor Moon facing off against Discord. She cradled the Silver Crystal between her palms.

"I've had just about all I can take from you." she said in a low, even tone. "You are sick and twisted to punish other people to get revenge for something that was done over a millennia ago. The ones that imprisoned you are long dead. I can't allow you to destroy this world in your attempt to take over the universe."

There was a bright flash of light from the Silver Crystal. When it faded, Sailor Moon's fuku had been replaced by Princess Serenity's formal white dress. It was no longer Sailor Moon or Serena that stood defiantly in front of Discord. She was the moon princess once more, and her desire to protect the Earth burned bright in her clear blue eyes.

Discord threw back his head and laughed. "So the princess of the moon thinks she can defeat me with her little crystal? Okay, go ahead and give it your best shot, Serenity."

Serenity glared at him as the crystal began glowing with power. "Oh don't worry, I will."

Tuxedo Mask had returned to the others by that time and sat Crescent Moon on her feet. He turned at the sound of a scuffle and heard a muttered curse from Andrew. Something slammed into his shoulder as a figure raced by him. When his mind registered that it was Jess, he reached out to grab her, but she slipped through his fingers.

The moment Serenity had made her appearance; Jess had tried to go to her. She didn't care that she was powerless and unable to transform. She knew that it was suicidal for Serena to try and take on Discord by herself. Andrew had held on to her tightly to keep her from rushing to Serena's side. She had struggled against him fruitlessly for several moments. Finally, she was able to jab an elbow into his stomach. His grip loosened and she was able to break free.

She was physically drained, but the adrenaline pumping through her gave her the energy that she needed to run. This psycho was after her, and there was no way she was going to let Serena take the fall for her. She had almost reached her when she bounced off of an invisible barrier. She fell back, hitting the ground hard. She heard footsteps as the others rushed forward as well, but she didn't pay them any attention. She jumped up and began pounding her fists on the shield.

"Serena" she screamed. "Serena stop! You can't go against him alone. Please!"

Serenity didn't even acknowledge her. She kept her eyes fixed on the man in front of her. Even when Tuxedo Mask, the scouts, and the generals joined in, she stayed focused.

"Discord, you bastard!" Jess yelled. "I'm the one you want you son of a bitch, so come and get me."

Discord turned a mocking gaze on her. "I'll deal with you shortly. But first it seems that Princess Serenity wants to play. I am more than happy to oblige her. Let's see how the legendary moon princess that has defeated so many others fares against me."

He turned back to Serenity. "Any time you're ready, princess."

"Fine by me." Serenity snapped. "Moon Crystal Power!"

A burst of silver energy shot from the Silver Crystal and flew toward him. It looked to be a deadly attack, and everyone held their breath, hoping that maybe Serena might be able to pull this off.

Discord made no attempt to launch a counter attack. At the last moment, he held up a hand lazily and easily blocked the energy. "Is that all you have, princess? I'm disappointed. This barely tickles."

He began walking forward, pushing the energy back with him. The crystal glowed brighter as Serenity poured more energy into it. Then suddenly Discord was right in front of her. She let out a startled cry as he batted the Silver Crystal out of her hands as easily as if he were shooing a fly away. It flew several yards away to land on the ground.

Everyone stared in stunned silence. They had never seen anyone stand up to the power of the Silver Crystal like that. It was unheard of. With the loss of the crystal, Serenity turned back into Serena.

Discord reached out and wrapped a hand around her throat. He lifted her several inches off the ground. Serena clawed at his hand as she struggled to breath.

"Did you seriously think that you could stand up against me?" he hissed. "I warned you before, but you didn't listen. Your parents and that pathetic earthling tried to defeat me as well, but they were only able to seal me away. You had to learn the hard way that I can't be beaten so easily, but this fits in nicely with my plans. You have just ensured my victory."

He stared at Jess hard. "You have twenty four hours to deliver the Celestial Crystal to me, Princess Melody. If you fail to do so, I promise that Serenity will suffer a long and painful death. But it wouldn't be the first time that she died because of your mistakes, would it? Remember, princess, twenty four hours."

He disappeared then, taking Serena with him. Tuxedo Mask fell to the ground on his hands and knees. His body was shaking with anger and pain. Each of the inner scouts had tears streaking their cheeks as they leaned against the generals.

Jess felt Andrew's arms around her, but she was too much in shock to notice. She did notice, however, when Crescent Moon walked over to Sailor Pluto and began whispering frantically to her.

The hot temper that always lay just under Jess's surface broke free. She pulled herself away from Andrew roughly and stalked over to them. She grabbed Crescent Moon by the arm and spun her around. The pink haired girl's eyes widened in fear as she saw the cold fury in Jess's suddenly stormy eyes.

"What were you thinking?" Jess screamed at her. She took the younger girl by the shoulders and began shaking her violently. "Of all the stupid things to do. What possessed you to leave the group like that? It's your fault that Serena got kidnapped."

Tears filled the maroon eyes and her transformation faded. Rini looked at her beseechingly. "I know, but I had my reasons for it."

Jess gaped in amazement. "What reason could you have possibly had for what you did? Don't you care that your mother's past self has just been taken prisoner by the enemy?"

CRACK!

Everyone stared in stunned silence at the pair. Even Darien, who had let go of his transformation as well, raised his head to look at the two battling girls.

Rini glared at Jess, who was now holding her cheek where Rini had just slapped her. The young princess was trembling and her bright eyes were snapping with angry flames.

"Don't you dare accuse me of not caring about what happens to my mother." she growled. "I have come close to losing her many times in my life. I had to witness her lying as if she were dead when I was only eight years old. I risked my own life to come to the past to save her. My mother is one of the most important people in my life and I would do anything for her."

Jess stared the now sobbing girl. "So why, Rini? Why did you go against her wishes and leave the group?"

"I did it for you!" Rini cried. "Everything I have done today, I did for you. If I hadn't, you would be dead right now. I have known you my entire life. You have been almost like a second mother to me. But something went wrong and you disappeared from the future. I have put my own existence in jeopardy to make sure you have the happy future you're supposed to have."

"That's enough, Rini." Sailor Pluto said softly. "We shouldn't say too much about the future."

"You were in on this too, weren't you?" Jess accused her. "Both of you have been acting weird for the last few weeks. Now I know that you have been plotting behind everyone's backs. Well I hope you're both happy with the results."

Pluto refused to be intimidated by the angry young woman. "I am not pleased that things had to happen this way, but I am happy that the disturbance in the timeline is on its way to being repaired. It's not fixed yet, but it's a good start. I hate that Serena had to be a pawn in this, but it was the only way. She is in no danger at the moment."

"How can you say that?" Darien ground out as he got up off the ground. "That madman has her and we don't know where they are. I call that being in danger. And I can't believe that you of all people would intentionally mess with the timeline. That's not like you."

Pluto may not have been intimidated by Jess, but Darien was a different story. He may not be king yet, but the air of authority still hung around him. She looked down at the ground uneasily.

"It's true that I always stick to the strict rule of never messing with time." she told him. "But in this case it's a matter of restoring things to the way they should be, not influencing a favorable outcome. As Rini said, Jess is supposed to be alive and well with all of you in Crystal Tokyo, but some events have happened in this time that changed that and she vanished. I searched the alternate timelines and found that this particular moment in time was the turning point. If Rini and I hadn't interfered, Jess would have died on this night at the hands of Discord. Now we just have to hope that everything else falls into place so that the future returns to the way it is supposed to be."

"I guess I should give this back to you now." Rini told Jess, holding out her hand. In her palm rested a beautiful gold locket.

Jess's breath caught. She knew that locket well. She could see in her mind the picture of the three people that rested inside it as well as the inscription engraved on the back, To my love, Kim. You are always in my heart. Forever yours, Josh. It was the locket that she had seen around her mother's neck on many occasions, and one of her most treasured keepsakes.

"Where did you get this?" she whispered as she reached out and took the locket from Rini. She jumped as a bright blue light flashed from it and she felt her powers return in a rush. She looked questionably at Rini.

The younger girl blushed and looked away. "Pluto, Helios, and I snuck in last night while you were asleep. I used my moon power to siphon off most of your energy and sealed it inside the locket. We knew if you went into this fight with your powers intact that you would die. That's why you've felt funny all day. Your body's not used to functioning without that extra energy."

Jess snapped open the locket and stared at the picture inside. It was of her and her parents when she was about six years old. Her anger sparked again as she thought about how Discord had used her parents to mess with her head earlier. It was time to end this. She closed her hand tightly around the locket.

"All right" she said calmly. "If anyone has any information about that damn crystal, they better start talking. If Discord wants a fight, he's going to get one. I'm tired of playing around. When I see him again, I'm going in with all of my powers completely intact. It's time to see whether this stupid prophecy is true or not."

A/N So the final battle has begun. Not only do they have to defeat the enemy, but they have to rescue Serena as well. Don't worry, you all know how protective Darien is about her. I doubt he'll let her rest in Discord's hands for long. And did any of you remember Anya from her brief appearance in Chapter 21? Originally Talon was going to be the main baddie through the whole story, but I started liking him so much that I completely rewrote his character. I felt that it was only fair to give him a romantic prospect since Jess is already taken. And remember the teenage boy in Crystal Tokyo, he will be in the sequel. But I'm keeping his identity a secret for now. Wow, I'm rambling again. I should really learn how to shut up. Please remember to review guys, it helps me so much. See ya in the next chapter!

~Sere~