Imperfect Reincarnation

by Serena530

AU. The Guardian Sailor Scouts must be awakened, protect the Earth from a familiar evil, and find and guard the Moon Princess, but what will happen when more scouts arrive and memories begin to surface of a past far different then some remember. Continuation of The Perfect Match.

9. Chapter 9

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or her characters, and have no right to it except as a long time fan.

Imperfect Reincarnation
Chapter Nine

Wednesday found Serena and Darien walking along a trail in a national forest where Darien had driven them for their hiking date.

The scenery along the winding trail through the forest was absolutely beautiful with tall thick trees creating virtual walls along the path, and a slightly wide stone and rock walkway that gave the appearance of having been there for hundreds of years.

As they walked and enjoyed the peace and quiet they both lost themselves in their thoughts; feeling more than comfortable enough in each other's presence not to feel like they were neglecting the other or was being neglected.

Darien's mind was engaged in the double date he had participated in, which had allowed him to meet another of his Serenity's friends. He easily found that he liked Kagome just as much as he liked Molly.

She was as cheerful as his Serenity and spoke her mind, but she could be quiet and serious when the situation called for it. She seemed to be a loyal young woman considering her friendship with her boyfriend's younger brother when he didn't seem to deserve it from the sounds of him.

The fact that she had wanted his Serenity to meet her boyfriend meant that she valued her opinion, which also showed her strong friendship and loyalty to her, and of course Serena had been the same.

Thankfully Kagome appeared to like him, so he now had the approval of two of her close friends. He was glad for that since that meant he was that much closer to his soulmate and more integrated into her life. He knew there was at least one other friend that he had yet to meet but he was patient. There was no hurry. He was not going anywhere.

Of course Kagome wasn't the only one at that meeting, and he found he actually liked her boyfriend as well. They were both quiet and serious young men, but Sesshomaru actually reminded him of Malachite. Although, he sensed more passion in him than Malachite had been capable of.

What form or forms that passion takes is another matter entirely, but the point is that it is there. He thought as he looked at the scenery around them.

Darien also found it interesting that the two of them went to the same school. They had never come across one another, since he would have remembered his unique coloring, but that wasn't surprising. He didn't even have classes with his best friend and they were the same age.

Sesshomaru was a year older than him and depending on how quickly he moved through his classes it was possible that he had long since finished with any possible classes they could have had together.

I can actually see us becoming friends. I will see how any future meetings go to determine if that has a chance of happening. He thought with a slight nod to himself.

Serena, meanwhile, recalled how Darien had picked her up at her school to take her home so she could change out of her uniform. He had already changed and was wearing a gray long sleeve V-neck shirt with the sleeves pushed up just below his elbows, dark blue jeans, and black tennis shoes.

She had quickly changed into a pair of brown cargo pants, a white tank top and matching tennis shoes, and a navy blue zip up hooded sweater before rushing back out and hopping back into his car.

She hadn't wanted to waste any of their time since she would eventually need to get home to start on her homework.

I should have brought it with me, so I could do it at his place. That way I could still spend time with him even if I had to focus on my homework. She thought as she looked up to see the sun trickling through the branches of the trees here and there.

Taking breaks would have been very enjoyable. She added as they began to turn at a bend in the path.

Before she could continue the thought a flash of sunlight nearly blinded her, and next thing she knew a scene suddenly began to play through her mind as if a switch had been flipped.

oOo

Sailor Earth stood out of sight, concealed behind a hedge wall in the royal garden of the Earth, a few feet behind a young woman. She wore a white gown with a large sheer bow at her back with ribbons trailing down the back of the gown, and decorative puffs sat off her shoulders on her upper arms that matched the gown.

Her hair was the color of moonlight and up in a unique style. The long length was parted down the middle and pulled up into twin buns with a stream flowing down nearly to the ground from each ball of hair.

The attire and the hair style, along with the color, was familiar to her, and could only belong to one person.

The princess of the Moon.

She narrowed her eyes slightly as she watched the royal young woman try to conceal herself behind a round pillar, and gaze off into a section of the garden.

This too was familiar since it wasn't the first time the princess had been there. She had come multiple times, always to the royal gardens, and always attempted to conceal herself.

Sailor Earth was sure the princess thought she was successful. Perhaps she was confident since she seemed to have no trouble evading the watch of her Guardian Scouts, but this was not the royal's planet and she always knew when someone arrived that didn't belong.

I am going to have to get her to leave before she starts trouble. She thought as she continued to watch the young woman; since it was obvious she should not be there.

Before the scout could decide how she wished to deal with the princess a familiar young man began to approach. From his cautious bearing and the placement of his hand near the hilt of his sword she could tell that he knew an intruder was in the immediate area.

"Hello?" The prince of the Earth called out; for that was exactly who he was. There was no way she could mistake him for anyone else.

Sailor Earth watched her step further back behind the pillar, the sunlight causing her to briefly notice the jewelry the royal young woman wore, before she seemed to reconsider the move and step out to reveal herself.

"I am Princess Selene if the Moon." The young woman said softly.

oOo

Serena blinked slowly as the memory snippet passed barely acknowledging that her hand was pressed against the bark of a thick tree.

That's the first time I've seen, or at least remember seeing, the Moon Princess in my memories, and definitely the first time I've seen the princess and prince face to face so far in my memories. She thought as she recalled what the princess had worn and the style of her hair.

Her first thought was that she was guarding the princess as she watched the Earth Prince, thinking they were together or would be together based on the memory and a previous one since the princess liked him.

She couldn't tell if he knew about the princess' feelings just by looking at his face, but the memories were making her think maybe her past self or selves were getting in the way of them being together.

But then Serena tried to be objective and reminded herself of what she actually saw.

I was dressed as Sailor Earth and not Sailor Moon. Plus, there's the thoughts and observations she had. She thought, and it didn't seem like her past self thought the two were together.

In fact, she seemed to believe the princess was trespassing on the planet, and had been slipping pass her guardians to do it multiple times before. Then there was the look on the prince's face before the memory stopped. She considered.

He had looked cautious at first, and then unimpressed once he realized who was in the garden with him. She admitted.

Plus, there was the fact that Sailor Earth and the prince were engaged. Although she couldn't tell if the memory had happened before or after they were supposed to be engaged.

If it happened after then it meant the prince was cheating on Sailor Earth, but if it was before then there was no cheating there. She thought.

Of course she was speculating a lot considering where the memory ended. It seemed as if the princess was meeting him for the first time. She didn't even know if a meeting actually took place after that since the memory stopped before he could respond.

Then Serena's eyes widened as another completely different thought occurred to her.

That was a memory of Sailor Earth seeing the Moon Princess. She couldn't even say it wasn't the same girl she was supposed to be protecting, because they had the same name according to memories of her, as Sailor Moon, speaking to Sailor Mercury and Sailor Mars.

Which means both the Earth Prince and the Moon Princess were in both my scout lives. She thought in surprise. Confusion was firing through her mind wildly, and she needed to get it under control before Darien noticed.

"Are you alright?" Darien asked as he stepped back toward her. He had been watching her as soon as he heard her footsteps pause, and from the look in her eyes he wondered if she was recalling another memory.

"Yeah. I just had a strange thought." Serena answered with a small smile, looking to him as her mind also pointed out that she was currently sporting the same hair style as the princess.

"Well then allow me to distract you from it." He said as he grasped her hand. He really wanted to know what she had remembered, but he obviously couldn't ask her.

"By all means. Do your best." She said with a grin; perfectly willing and already putting the memory to the back of her mind to think about later.

"Oh I will." Darien said with an answering grin before he proceeded to do just that.

oOoIRoOo

Serena lay in the dark of her bedroom waiting for time to pass. She had finished her homework and changed into her pajamas before turning out her lights and getting into her bed; having bid her parents a goodnight before she settled in her room to finish her homework.

She had been lying there for half an hour waiting for Luna to fall asleep so she could go patrolling. Her senses were telling her it was time she get to it again, and she was looking forward to getting in some training with Tuxedo Mask in any case.

When she sensed that Luna was asleep she carefully got out of her bed, since Luna was lying at the end, and grabbed her brooch from her nightstand before she silently slipped out onto her balcony.

She left the door open a crack before she looked around to make sure she wasn't being watched or would be seen and jumped down to the ground. She landed lightly and jogged away as she looked for a place to transform.

When she found it she slipped into place and transformed, bright pink light flaring out from her brooch to surround her, and when it cleared she stood as the scout of the Moon.

She took a deep breath and released it before she took off running heading in the general direction of the downtown area. As she stretched her senses, searching for dark energy or anything unusual, her mind skipped back to the memory snippet she had recalled earlier that day.

She was still surprised that both the Earth Prince and the Moon Princess had been in both her previous scout lives. Of course she still hadn't seen the princess in a memory as Sailor Moon, so she couldn't be completely positive that it was the same royal woman, but what were the odds of two princesses of the Moon having the same name?

They had to be high that's for sure. She thought as she ran. And what in the world does it mean that my hair style is the same as the princess'? It's a different color and not nearly as long, but it is the same.

She couldn't understand why she would have the same style. Was it simply the style for women on the Moon or was she trying to copy the royal woman? If she was trying to copy her then why would she feel the need to do that?

Could my past self have been trying to impress someone? The Earth Prince perhaps? She considered. But that doesn't make sense. Prince Endymion approached my past self not the other way around, and he didn't seem to be interested in the princess from any of my memories, so it would be pointless to try to copy the princess' style.

It couldn't be the other way around, and the princess was copying my past self instead. That memory snippet was of Sailor Earth and her hair was loose, and the princess had still worn the bun style. She told herself.

It was puzzling, and her mind quickly skipped to what would happen when the princess was found. What if she still wore the same style? What would the reincarnated royal think of them both having the same hair style? What would the others think when they saw them with the same hair style?

Do I care what they would think? She asked herself with a sigh as she continued to stretch her senses. No I don't care, and I won't if the princess and I do happen to have the same hair style.

She had been wearing the style for as long as she could remember, well before Luna came along and made her a scout and told her she was a guardian to a princess. There would be no issue of anyone accusing her or suspecting her of copying the princess.

The only issue would be an explanation of why we had the same style, and I'm personally liking the theory of all women on the Moon having the same hair style and it carried over into the next life. She thought as she landed on the roof of a three story building.

Serena gazed around as she stepped toward the edge of the roof, and saw that there was a rather large park across the street from her, but other than that observation she didn't see or sense anything concerning.

She carefully made her way down to the ground and darted across the street and began to jog through the dark park. She crossed an attached baseball diamond and skirted around a playground, gazing at the swings and idly remembering fondly the last time she had used one, and was almost on the other side of the park when she spotted something white move in her peripheral vision.

She turned her head and scanned the area before seeing a white cat walking across the grass. She slowed to a stop and gazed down at the cat, wondering if it was friendly and would accept a stroke along its fur, but then she gasped as it passed under the light of a streetlamp and she saw a crescent moon on its forehead.

Just like Luna. She thought in surprise. She said she was an advisor to the Moon Queen in the past, and that she had an impression that she wasn't the only one. Could this cat be one?

"Excuse me." She called out, and watched as the cat paused and looked her way only to start jogging toward her. "Umm...I'm Sailor Moon." She said as she knelt down in the grass to meet the feline.

"I am Artemis." The cat said in a decidedly male tone as he sat in front of her. "I'm pleased to meet you."

"Well I have a cat named Luna at home who made me a scout. She said she was an advisor to the Moon Queen. Are you or were you an advisor as well?" She asked.

"Ah, I remember her, and indeed I was an advisor to the Queen of the Moon." Artemis answered. "Are you the only scout so far?" He asked curiously.

"Oh no. So far there are three of us. I was the first Luna found, then Sailor Mercury, and more recently Sailor Mars." Serena explained.

"Oh wow." He said in surprised pleasure. He had been searching for quite some time and hadn't even come across one, and here his counterpart had discovered three.

"Would you like to come home with me and meet her?" She asked.

"Yes. I would very much like that." Artemis said. He hoped that now that he and his counterpart would be together they would hopefully find the remaining scouts faster.

And then the princess since she didn't mention her reincarnation had been located yet. He thought as he watched her nod.

"Can I ask why you are out so late?" He asked curiously.

"Umm..." She hesitated. "I was patrolling to make sure the city is safe. At least from strange monsters."

"Did you think I wouldn't approve?" Artemis asked, having noticed her hesitation.

"I haven't told Luna about it since she's all about finding my fellow scouts and the Moon Princess." Serena admitted. "I'm fine with that, understand it's my duty, but my instincts tell me I need to be patrolling."

"I understand, and I actually do approve." He said. "You're listening to your instincts and that's important. You don't know where the rest of the scouts are or the princess, so you're doing something useful."

"I won't tell Luna if that will make it more comfortable for you." He added.

"Thank you." She said gratefully. "I don't want to have an argument every time I go out; especially since I already have to deal with something similar nearly every time I go on a date with my boyfriend."

"Although, I don't know what I'm going to tell her when I arrive home with you, but I'll think of something before we get there." She said firmly.

oOo

Darien raced through the cool night air in his Tuxedo Mask persona having sensed his soulmate transform. He hadn't seen her since he dropped her off at home after their hiking date earlier in the day, and was hoping he could ask her about the memory he was sure she had experienced during their date.

Will it be one of her as Sailor Earth or Sailor Moon? Will I be present or will it be of something else that doesn't involve me? He wondered curiously as he leapt from an electrical pole to a rooftop. Has she remembered any others that she hasn't had a chance to tell me about?

He was so curious. Part him lived for the details she gave of those memories, because it let him know that she was remembering. It was memories here and there of both her lives as scouts mixed together, and they likely didn't actually feel like memories to her, but it was better than not remembering at all.

Darien would definitely take that over the less than nothing he got in the past when he was trying to spark her memories of her life on the Earth. Had he gotten what he was getting now of her memories he would have been ecstatic.

He leapt and ran across the rooftops of two more buildings before he approached the edge of a third and was about to jump to the ground but stopped as he spotted his soulmate kneeling in some grass. He narrowed his eyes to better focus and realized there was a cat with her.

Another one? He speculated as he watched from his distance. I need to be sure. He thought before he jumped down to the ground and stepped around the side of the building to stay out of her sight.

Keeping his eyes on her kneeling figure he concentrated on his connection to the Earth and focused on wanting to see his Serenity. Images and scenes from around the Earth flickered through his mind rapidly before they slowed and the image of his transformed soulmate solidified.

She appeared to be speaking so he widened the scene and saw the cat with her. It was white with a golden crescent moon on its forehead and appeared to be speaking back to her. It was clear that the cat was connected to the Moon Princess, so he decided he would not approach her as he usually did.

I do not want that feline questioning her about being unsurprised and fine with my appearance, and then to tell the other cat. He thought quietly.

After all, it was one thing for him to show up at fights with monsters, but another for him to regularly meet up with her outside of monster attacks. The scout of Mercury was already suspicious of her simply because she had an ability she hadn't disclosed right away. There was no need for him to cause any more suspicion to be placed on her.

Darien took a deep breath and released it slowly as he considered his options. It didn't take him long to decide that since he was out there and awake, and couldn't be with his soulmate, he would take the time to finally look in on his Generals.

He wanted to see if he could even find their location and see them wherever they happened to be, and if he could then he wanted to see what they were doing at the moment. If they were asleep, awake, relaxing, or plotting against his soulmate.

He'd seen three of his Generals now, the only one unaccounted for was Malachite, and they all looked just as they did in the past in terms of their physical appearance. The only issue was that they were on the wrong side. They had once again been corrupted; this time before they had a chance to meet him.

Has Malachite been spared or has he too been corrupted and simply hasn't made an appearance yet? And what of Beryl? He questioned. Had she been corrupted and been responsible for his Generals current predicament or was it the evil being that had corrupted her in the past that was currently in charge? Perhaps with a different pawn it had taken advantage of this time?

It is high likely that it is Beryl. There would be no other reason to go after the reincarnation of my Generals. He thought with certainty. There was no longer a standing army that she needed them to control; it would have only been for the familiarity they offered.

And if that is the case then it means Beryl remembers the past, the past of the 'great change', or at least some of it. He thought quietly.

He cleared the image of his Serenity from his mind and focused on Malachite since he was the only one of his Generals he had yet to see. He needed to know if he had been corrupted in this life as well.

He pictured how he looked in the past. Straight white hair pass his shoulders yet not long enough to reach the middle of his back, tall broad figure, and intense blue eyes.

Again images and scenes flickered through his mind rapidly searching for the one person he wanted to see. It took longer than it had to find his soulmate, but eventually the flickering images slowed until the figure of a man solidified. He was standing leaning against a black wall in a dark area looking at something.

The look in his eyes was different than he remembered, but it was definitely him; it was Malachite.

He wore the same light gray uniform as the other guys, although his was trimmed with dark gray, and black shoes that he was sure were actually boots even though his pants were covering them. The other guys wore boots, and this was obviously their uniform, so it was a good supposition as far as he was concerned.

I now have confirmation that all of my Generals have been corrupted yet again. He thought with a solemn sigh as he cleared the image of Malachite. How long? How long have they been with that evil organization? He wondered as he focused on Zoycite.

Darien pictured him as he last saw him. Long blond hair in a low ponytail with green eyes. Light gray uniform with green trimming and tall black boots.

Again images and scenes flickered through his mind, but more quickly than before, likely because the Earth now knew where the men were, the blond haired general solidified. He was sitting in a chair in a dark room reading something. The walls were black and the light around him was muted yet flickered.

He released the image and quickly checked to find Neflite and Jedite. The Earth located them for him quickly and he saw that both were in uniform, but Jedite appeared to be asleep on a bed and Neflite while on a bed was instead sitting up and reading.

He very much wanted to get them away from that dark group, but he didn't know where they were. He supposed he could search out their actual location based on what he had seen so far and with the Earth's help, but there was no point until he could actually do something with the information.

And he couldn't afford to go after them at this time. His Serenity needed him more. He needed her to remember herself, and he couldn't take any risks until she did.

And when she does remember then we can go after them and rescue them together. Assuming they are still alive by then. He thought gravely.

Darien looked to his Serenity once more before he turned and dashed away to head back home. He didn't want to chance that he would be tempted to follow her home, because then that cat might see him and staying away from her in the first place that night would have been pointless.

oOo

"Come on. Let's get out of here." Serena said as she held her arms out to him. "My name's Serena by the way." She added as she carefully scooped him up when he came closer.

"Serena." Artemis repeated. "I look forward to getting to know you."

"Thank you. I'm looking forward to getting to know you too." She commented, and she really meant it.

Already she liked him better than Luna. He was polite and didn't have a problem with her patrolling; even approved of the activity and had a reasonable explanation for why she should do it.

Not to mention he didn't even comment on my mention of my boyfriend. Luna would have been asking if having a boyfriend was necessary and if spending time with him was for the best considering her role as a scout. She thought as she stood up and took off running.

She had the sense that Artemis was more realistic than Luna was. Yes they were scouts and would be protecting a reincarnated princess once she was found, and they were supposed to fight dark agents of the evil that was responsible for everyone dying in the past, but they still had lives to live. They had school, they had friends, they had boyfriends.

At least I have those things, and I don't see why I should get rid of one just to please Luna. She thought with an internal huff before she switched her thoughts elsewhere.

She was a bit upset at not being able to hang out with Tuxedo Mask and possibly train, not to mention continuing her patrolling, but she knew she wouldn't have been able to do any of that with Artemis around anyway.

I'll have to go back out soon since my patrolling tonight wasn't nearly long enough to satisfy my instincts. She thought as she leapt rooftops.

It was a few long minutes later that they reached her neighborhood, and she carefully made her way to the ground before she ran along the sidewalk until she reached her house. She knelt down, careful of Artemis, and looked around carefully to make sure there was no one to see her before she jumped up onto her balcony.

"Serena! Where have you been?!" She immediately heard Luna's voice as she leaned against the door to open it

She sighed in irritation but didn't answer as she finished entering her room and quietly closed the door. She stepped further into the room and gently placed Artemis on her bed before she released her transformation in a bright pink light.

"Luna this is Artemis; the other advisor to the Moon Queen." Serena said as she caught her brooch as it began to fall away from her chest.

"Artemis?" Luna said as she looked to the white feline on the bed with her.

"Hello Luna. It's good to see you in this lifetime." Artemis said as he looked at her.

Already he was understanding why Serena didn't tell her about her patrolling and he had been in her presence for all of a minute. It was not her business where Serena had been. Luna was not her mother, guardian, or minder. If Serena wanted to sneak out of her house in the middle of the night then that was her business, and the only ones she was answerable to were her parents.

"Ah. I remember now." Luna said as memories began to flash through her mind at the sight and sound of him. "How have you been?"

"I have been well." He answered. "I've been on the search since I was awakened, but haven't had any luck so far. And you?"

"I've been good as well, and have been lucky in my search so far. Speaking of..." Luna replied as she watched Serena sit on her bed and begin to slip under her covers.

"Really Luna." Serena said quietly as she pulled her covers over her waist and leaned back against her pillow. "It shouldn't matter where I was, but if you must know I thought I sensed dark energy and went to follow it. I didn't find anything so I wandered hoping to make myself sleepy and came across Artemis."

"You can sense dark energy?" Artemis asked in surprise as he looked to Serena.

"Yeah. I found out after following my senses to the second monster I faced." She answered. "Recently I realized that I can only sense the dark energy the monsters give off if they're actually doing something otherwise I won't sense them. I'm hoping that as time passes I'll be able to sense the dark energy of the monsters regardless if they are doing anything."

"I'm impressed. That is a really good ability to have." He said.

"Thank you." She said before she looked at the time. "Well, I'm going to try and get to sleep. Goodnight you two."

"Goodnight." Artemis replied.

"Goodnight." Luna added.

Serena slid down in her covers, avoiding displacing the cats, and turned on her side and closed her eyes. She was tired and hoped she could get to sleep quickly.

oOo

Luna and Artemis sat in silence for a few minutes to let Serena fall asleep before they looked to each other and began to speak softly.

"So, tell me what has been happening with the Scouts so far." Artemis said. "How did you find them?"

"Well, first was Serena. I recognized her when she helped me one day months ago. Some little kids had put Band-Aids on my forehead, which blocked my senses and she came along and took them off. I watched her for half a day since it was morning then followed her home after she got out of school. I awakened her right here in her bedroom that day." Luna explained.

"Then a while later came Amy who is Sailor Mercury. Serena actually remembered a memory of the two of them speaking, and was able to recognize her as a girl at her school from that alone. I verified it the next day and awakened her at her apartment after school." She continued.

"And just this past weekend I spotted Raye, who is Sailor Mars, when we were at a festival. Before we could approach her a monster attacked, so I ended up finding her and awakening her on my own and she was able to join the others in fighting." She concluded.

"Now only Sailor's Venus and Jupiter need to be found." He said thoughtfully.

"Yes. Then the guardians will be complete." Luna said, and he nodded. "Mostly it's been monsters the girls have been facing, but they have encountered three men who appear to be part of our enemy."

"Really." Artemis said in interest.

"Yes. I saw two of them myself at the fight this weekend. They wore light gray uniforms with black boots and they could teleport." She informed him. "One of them could issue a white blast from his hands. I have no idea what exactly it would do since no one was hit with it, and the other one I have no idea what he could do. However, I know it was something since the girls were reacting to something on the ground."

"Do you know what the third man is capable of?" He asked seriously.

"No. It was only Serena fighting at that time, and she said he didn't attack only dodged hers before teleporting away." Luna answered.

"It sounds like they are above the monsters and possibly the ones sending them out in the first place." He said seriously, and she nodded.

"The only other thing to mention is my concern about Tuxedo Mask." She said.

"Who is that?" Artemis asked.

"He's a man that wears a black tuxedo, cape, and a white mask over his eyes." Luna answered. "I've only seen him twice with my own eyes, but all the girls say he is at each fight. And I can't help wondering why he is always there."

"According to Serena during his first appearance, which was her first fight, he mentioned that he was there to help, but I don't know if I believe that. I don't recall anyone of his appearance from the past, and I don't know if he is a threat to our princess or not. He can be a part of the enemy or an enemy unto himself." She explained worriedly.

"I don't remember anyone by that description either." He said with a frown clear in his voice. "He definitely bears close watching. We'll have to tell the girls to keep an eye on him and to be wary."

"Yes. We'll mention it when we introduce you to Amy and Raye. Hopefully it will be before the next monster attack." Luna said with a sigh.

"Yes. That would be for the best." He said.

"So do you plan on living here with us?" She asked after a few minutes of thoughtful silence.

"Yes. I am looking forward to getting to know Serena, and that can only happen if I am here with her." Artemis answered.

"Well, since I've been here she's been keeping me a secret from her family, and doesn't seem to want them to know I'm here. I can admit I'm worried about that." Luna said worriedly.

Judging by Luna's reaction at their arrival and what little Serena had mentioned Artemis had a good guess as to why that was. Still, he didn't feel the need to explain it to her. Perhaps at a later time when he had a chance to observe more.

"She must have her reasons. Has it ever occurred to you that she can't have pets?" He asked reasonably.

"No." She admitted quietly. That actually hadn't occurred to her, but she still didn't think that was the reason.

"Leave it alone Luna." Artemis said quietly. "I just met her and I already know that if she didn't want you here she would have told you to leave."

Luna sighed but nodded since she actually believed that to be true as well. She knew Serena had no problem speaking her mind and getting her point across.

"Then I guess we should get some rest ourselves." She said as she lay down off to the side of the bed away from Serena's legs.

Artemis followed suit, making himself comfortable at the end of the bed, and looked to Serena and saw that she really had fallen asleep. Although, he wondered if she had heard any of their conversation.

"Goodnight Luna." He said as he closed his eyes.

"Goodnight." She replied.

oOoIRoOo

Sailor Moon sat in her sitting room the day after the masquerade ball reading a book. She was trying to read but she was still distracted by the remembered words of the prince of the Earth from the evening before.

"I have permission from the Queen to spend time with you." He informed her seriously. "Time with you on the Moon and at any and every other function you happen to be at."

"I am courting you," He stated outright. "and I wish to spend time with you. The princess has four other scouts to watch over her."

I tell him about my concern of the time I am spending with him instead of doing my duty, and he surprises me with that. She thought in happy amazement before the door to her sitting room was practically thrown open.

She watched her princess barge into her room with a thunderous frown, and refrained from sighing in irritation.

"I cannot believe you have betrayed me!" Princess Selene nearly shouted.

"How so?" Sailor Moon asked calmly with a raised eyebrow.

"How so? How so?!" Selene repeated in outrage. "By spending time with Prince Endymion; especially when you were supposed to be protecting me!"

Sailor Moon listened in silence for a few minutes as the princess she was charged with protecting paced in front of her and essentially threw a tantrum over her spending time with the man she liked.

"Selene!" She said firmly, cutting into her tantrum. "Start acting your age and, more importantly, your station. You are a princess; start behaving as one, and go retrieve your answers from the Queen."

"No! I am asking you." Selene said petulantly.

"Prince Endymion wanted to spend time with me. What was I supposed to do? Deny him?" Sailor Moon said patiently before shaking her head slightly. "That was not going to work. He is determined to spend time with me, and nothing I say is going to change that."

"You should speak to the Queen as she will have more thorough answers for you since she is allowing him to freely seek me out." She added.

oOo

"Endymion!" She cried out and hurried toward him, quickly dropping to her knees at his side as she placed a hand on his shoulder and grabbed his hand with the other.

"Why?! Why did you do this?" She asked, angry and sad. "It is my duty to protect my princess!"

"No. It is not your duty and never has been." Endymion said weakly. "You were never supposed to be Sailor Moon. Your destiny was taken from you."

"I do not understand." Sailor Moon said in confusion.

This man had just saved her life, taking a clearly mortal wound for her, and it was clear from his words that he did it for her and not her princess. She had already admitted to herself that she loved him, but seeing him so hurt and knowing he was dying shattered something deep inside her.

They heard a scream and she looked up to see her princess being attacked by an earth soldier. She moved to get up but looked back to Endymion as she felt him squeeze her hand.

Sailor Moon looked frantically between Endymion and her barely struggling princess. She knew she needed to protect her, but her body was already settling back at his side and it made her abruptly aware that his life was more important to her then her princess' was.

"I do not want you to die. You cannot die. I love you too...

---

Serena woke up abruptly Thursday morning and blinked rapidly feeling disoriented as her alarm blared nearly in her ear. She reached over and turned it off before she flopped onto her back with a weary sigh.

The usual sad feeling was flowing through her and she still had no idea why, but she thought she remembered words. Something about love...

I know that doesn't match up to the memory I just dreamed. She told herself. So it has to be from something I'm not remembering just as the sadness has to be from something I'm not remembering but definitely seeing in my sleep.

But she did remember the memory of her as Sailor Moon being confronted by the princess.

Serena had now seen the Moon Princess' face. She had pale blue eyes with bangs covering her forehead yet parted to perfectly frame the golden crescent moon that sat there. She had the same moonlight colored hair up in the same bun style with the same white dress from the memory with Sailor Earth.

Even the decorative puffs that were on her upper arms were the same, and she saw that they actually matched and lined up perfectly with the intricately decorated bodice of her dress.

And now I know for sure she wasn't happy with my past self seeing the Earth Prince. She thought with another sigh. The princess was clearly angry and feeling betrayed, highly likely jealous as well.

Serena supposed the princess would be right to be jealous since the prince told her past self that he was courting her and wanted to spend time with her. Even made it a point to state outright that the princess had four other scouts to watch over her.

Clearly my previous thought of the prince dating my past self as Sailor Moon to have more private access to the princess and have a secret relationship with her is out. She told herself. The princess was clearly upset and he was clear in his intentions towards my past self.

Maybe I should try not to think about the princess' possible relationship with the Earth Prince. Or his relationship with my past selves. She considered. It's only starting to stress me out and that will do me no good. I have a boyfriend and I really like him. He's my first but I can definitely see him becoming a permanent fixture in my life.

This isn't the past. I'm living a different life and regardless of how I felt for Prince Endymion in the past I'm with Darien now, and I'm not going to ditch him just because a reincarnated prince comes along. Assuming he comes along at all. She thought firmly.

I should just focus on how it is I was able to live two different lives in the past, and how my past memories can help me in my role as a scout. Simple as that. She told herself before she finally sat up.

Serena blinked at the white cat at the end of her bed in confusion, and then she remembered him, Artemis, and cutting her patrolling short to bring him home to meet Luna.

"Are you alright?" Artemis asked as he looked at her. "You look disoriented."

"Yeah." Serena assured him. "My alarm woke me pretty abruptly, and the switch from dreaming to being awake was more than a bit jarring." She added, and he nodded.

"I don't remember all of it, but I think I know what the princess looked like in the past." She said, and both felines sat up quickly.

"What did she look like?" Luna asked curiously.

"She looked like she was about my height with pale blue eyes, and moonlight colored hair that was in the same style I wear but much longer. The streams of her hair trailed all the way down to the floor! Her bangs were just like mine, and she had a golden crescent moon on her forehead right here." She explained as she pressed a finger to the middle of her forehead.

"And she wore this sleeveless strapless white dress that reached the floor, and she had these decorative puffs she wore on her upper arms that matched the top of her dress." She described. "She was really beautiful."

"Wow. Did you remember her name as well?" Artemis asked.

"Oh I remembered that one a while ago. Her name is Selene." Serena said.

"Princess Selene." He said, trying it out. "Sounds familiar."

"I'm sure you'll remember sooner or later. Just give it time." She said reassuringly. "Anyway, I was thinking, I look the same way I did in the past, and so do Amy and Raye as far as I can tell, so I was wondering do you guys think the princess will look the same as she did then?" She asked.

"If she's wearing her hair in the same style as I do then we should have better luck spotting her." She added thoughtfully.

"That's a good theory." Artemis said. "Do you know if you all look exactly as you did in the past in terms of details?"

"Yes. I'm talking same eye color, hair color, hair style, facial features. We look identical although maybe a bit younger than we were in the past." Serena said.

"If that's the case then it is possible the princess looks as you remembered, and you and the girls should definitely try to search for her that way." Luna said, and Artemis nodded.

"That method is better than doing nothing." He said seriously.

"Then that's what we'll do." Serena said before she looked to her clock. "Ugh! I have to start getting dressed or I won't be able to eat before I leave." She moaned before quickly getting out of her bed and rushing to grab her uniform and other items to take with her to the shower.

oOoIRoOo

It had been a few weeks now since Michelle and Amara began to watch the reincarnation of Sailor Earth both in her civilian life as Serena and her scout life as Sailor Moon.

They knew that she didn't need protection considering what Pluto had told them about her prowess, and even though she didn't currently have said prowess considering she didn't remember her true self she was still doing well protecting herself. And the few times she did need help to get out of the line of danger the Earth Prince was always there to help her.

However, they wanted to continue observing her and learning about this scout that was apparently so important. What they saw was that she had a natural ability to inspire loyalty and respect, and that was without her true memories and the knowledge of who she really was.

They also saw that that ability mostly worked with her friends and new people she met. Although, for some reason the guardian scout of Mercury didn't really respect her, and the only loyalty there was as a fellow guardian scout that protected the Moon Princess.

They were friends, but it seemed to only go deep enough for them to get along as scouts; so they were really more like civil acquaintances that got along. And at this juncture the scout of Mars hadn't been awakened long enough to have an opinion of her own.

All this they knew for sure since they had been watching Serena closely. They saw how her close friend at school behaved with her, and they were at the museum to see her reunion with a good friend she apparently hadn't seen in a while. There was no faking the joy and happiness visible on both their faces.

They had also been at the festival at the Cherry Hill Temple and seen her with yet another clearly longtime friend, and that reunion too had been full of happiness and eagerness to reconnect.

Now after all these weeks of constant watching and observing they believed they had finally seen enough to make a definitive decision.

"So we're decided?" Amara asked.

"Yes." Michelle replied firmly.

Amara nodded and lifted her wrist and looked to her communicator watch. It was blue and gold with a series of golden discs circling the cover with the symbol of Uranus emblazoned in the center. It was a convenient item that both she and Michelle had each been given by their fellow scout.

She opened it, the cover swinging upward like a clamshell, and pressed the magenta button with a white symbol for Pluto on it and waited.

"Pluto here." A mature feminine voice answered moments later.

"We've made our decision." Amara informed her seriously.

"Give me a moment, and I'll open a doorway. Pluto out." The scout of time and space said calmly.

Amara presses the button to close the connection before closing the cover to her communicator. She looked to Michelle and she nodded at her.

"It won't be long." Michelle said softly.

It really hadn't been long only a few more moments before an elaborate white marble door appeared in front of them where they sat on the couch in Amara's living room. The door opened and they got up and walked through, and immediately found themselves standing before their fellow scout.

"We have chosen Sailor Earth." Michelle announced.

"Yes." Amara agreed. "We have watched and observed her behavior and interactions with everyone around her and we like and approve of what we have seen."

"She is friendly, easygoing, and loyal yet calm and firm when she needs to be. She takes her studies seriously yet she knows when to take a break." Michelle said.

"As a scout she is interesting to watch. She observes and evaluates instead of rushing into a situation. She uses logic and common sense and doesn't let her emotions get in her way. She does well in terms of fighting and her reaction times are very on point." Amara said

"We believe it is because her instincts as Sailor Earth are coming through." Michelle said. "Once she remembers herself she will be a much better scout I am positive of that."

"Yes, so that is our decision." Amara confirmed. "Is there anything you want to add, anything we should know?"

"Indeed there is." Sailor Pluto said. "Not only are her instincts coming through, she is slowly remembering her past; both as Sailor Earth and as Sailor Moon. It is confusing to her, but she is handling it very well."

"Also one of the Moon Queen's advisors, Luna, is suspicious of Tuxedo Mask and has spoken of her concern with the other advisor Artemis. In addition to that, those men on the side of the enemy. I am sure you have seen at least one of them." She continued.

"We have seen two." Michelle confirmed, and Amara nodded.

"There are actually four, and they are the reincarnations of the Earth Prince's Guardian Generals." She informed them.

Amara and Michelle gasped in shock. How in the world had that happened?! It would be like if the Guardian Scouts had joined the enemy, and left the princess to fend for herself! The only difference here is that while the princess would be helpless if the enemy turned their attention to her the Earth Prince would not be.

It was clear from their observations that Prince Endymion could take care of himself, and they suspected he was actually holding back so as to not give away who he truly was.

He had obviously seen them as well as they had, but their identity hadn't stopped him from fighting them. There was no telling what he thought of the situation or what he intended to do.

"What happened to them in the past?" Michelle asked with a light frown.

"They were brainwashed by the enemy and helped bring war to the Moon at the end." Pluto answered solemnly.

Michelle and Amara exchanged a look. This information was unexpected. This situation called for more information before they could decide what to do if anything.

oOoIRoOo

Amy sighed lightly as she walked from the library to the building the Crystal Seminar Cram School was so she could attend her class. She had spent two hours at the public library after school studying and doing her homework for the day, so she would only have her studies from her class at the cram school to worry about.

Now that she was no longer distracted with school and her studies at the library her mind went back to the dream she had awakened from that morning.

She had been thoroughly surprised to realize it had been a memory instead of a dream, and of all things it had been about her past self talking to Sailor Moon about how she should stop seeing the prince of the Earth.

oOo

Sailor Mercury walked behind the palace as she searched the royal garden for her fellow scout. This conversation needed to happen. They had had one before but now the situation had escalated. This needed to stop.

After a few minutes she finally spotted her walking along as if she did not have a care in the world.

"You should stop seeing the Earth Prince. In fact, you need to stop seeing him. It is clearly making our princess upset and unhappy." She said seriously as soon as she was close enough. "It does not matter if the Queen does not mind; you should still stop seeing him to show your loyalty to our princess."

"Loyalty has nothing to do with it." Sailor Moon said as she turned around to face her with a frown on her face. "Selene has feelings for a man who does not care; she is going to be upset and unhappy regardless of what I do. Beyond that my duty is to see to the protection of our princess, even more so than the rest of you considering what I will have to do in certain situations."

"I deserve to be happy any chance I get. I always take any chance I can to be happy, and right now Prince Endymion is making me happy. I do not know what the future will bring since I am taking it one day at a time, but I am not going to give up the happiness I have found with him simply because our princess is jealous." She continued calmly.

"It is not right! You are hurting Selene; practically flaunting your relationship with the prince in her face." Sailor Mercury insisted. She could not believe what she was hearing.

"I am not! I have never sought him out. He has always come to me, and it is usually when our princess is not around or is busy speaking to someone. Selene is simply making a point to know when he is around, and is only hurting herself in the process; especially since she has never even met him." Moon said.

"She would have met him if you were not monopolizing all of his time." She insisted with a frown.

"That is a complete fabrication! Prince Endymion can do what he wants, and he clearly wants nothing to do with our princess." Sailor Moon countered. "I noticed fairly early on that he was going out of his way to avoid contact of any kind with her."

"He clearly knew of her feelings for him before he introduced himself to me and wanted nothing to do with her. Selene clearly needs to work on getting pass her infatuation with him, and move her attentions to someone who will care about her the way she wants." She continued.

"That is what you should be doing instead of telling me to stop seeing Prince Endymion. You should be encouraging our princess to move on." She insisted. "Even should I stop seeing him, and he suddenly stops having an interest me, that will not change anything for our princess. He is still going to stay away from her."

oOo

There were many things in the memory that interested her, but she focused instead on the actual subject of the memory.

Luna had never mentioned a prince being connected to the Moon Princess or to any of them, but it made her suspicion of Serena grow. If she had been seeing the prince their princess wanted in the past what was to say she wouldn't do it in their present life.

Amy knew she currently had a boyfriend, but who was to say Serena wouldn't dump him when the prince came along. After all, she barely spoke of him, so she didn't know how close they were or how serious she was about him.

Has Raye remembered anything similar? She wondered. If she has what does she think of Serena now? Will she be suspicious too?

She had learned from Luna that Serena did actually have the ability to sense dark energy, but she still didn't like that Serena hadn't revealed it to her, so her initial suspicion was still there.

She didn't think her suspicion of Serena would ever leave.

Amy shook her head lightly as she reached the building the cram school was held in and stepped through the main front door. She walked halfway down a hallway and then began to make her way up the stairs to the second floor before walking nearly to the end of the hallway where the last door was.

She walked through the open doorway and glanced around at the desks with partitions around them, and the tops of the heads of her fellow classmates before she went and settled in her desk in front of the computer.

As she placed her school bag on her lap she looked around from her place nearly in the middle of the room. Everyone that was there was already studying and had their computers on and was using the study disk from the looks of it.

I know it's recommended but I prefer to study on my own. She thought as she began to pull out her notebook and pen.

She still turned on the computer though since she could use it for the internet, and look up reference material and email herself links to any information she found to look at more thoroughly later.

Nearly ten minutes passed to the slight sound of clicks as the students worked on their computers. The teacher had entered the room five minutes before and was now beginning to make her rounds and check on the progress being made.

She looked professional wearing a yellow green skirt suit with a white blouse and white high heel shoes. Her hair was brown and stopped above her shoulders, and she wore narrow rounded glasses over her narrow brown eyes.

She walked along the rows quietly, the only sound coming from the light clicking of her high heel shoes, before stopping behind and slightly off to the side of Amy.

"Why are you not using the disk containing the study program you were provided?" The teacher asked.

"I prefer to study on my own without the aid of anything." Amy answered quietly as she glanced to the teacher, not noticing the silence that suddenly descended around her.

The woman shook her head, as if in disappointment, and took her glasses off before putting them away in the pocket of her blazer.

"That is not how we do things in this class." She said as she looked down at her sternly. "In this class you follow the rules, and the rules are to use the program on the study disk."

Amy frowned since she knew using the disk wasn't a rule. She remembered at her orientation they only said it was recommended that they use it. She had been coming to this class for a few weeks now, and no one had ever said anything about her not using it.

Ah but the teachers haven't all been the same, and she is the only one to do rounds to actually look at what we have been doing. She thought as she looked away from the teacher only to blink in surprise at the sight of her classmates looking in her direction.

She held in another frown as she realized in the next moment that their faces were blank. Not just their faces but their eyes as well.

Amy looked back to the teacher warily; beginning to suspect what was happening.

"Now begin using the disk." The teacher said firmly.

"No. I can study just fine on my own." Amy said just as firmly.

"You will!" The teacher said sternly.

Amy was about to reply but caught sight of the woman's hand coming at her. Instantly she ducked and pushed her chair back until it slammed into the partitioned desk behind her. When she raised her head she gasped to see that the woman's hand had gone through the computer screen.

She quickly stood up and backed away trying to keep her eyes on the teacher and her fellow classmates. Then right before her eyes the woman turned toward her and began to glow as she pulled her hand from the broken screen. A slight wind began to pick up around her, and in moments her appearance shifted and changed drastically.

She still looked female but no longer like the professional woman she had been. Now she was tall and had red skin, pointy ears, beady eyes, dark spiky hair, spikes on her shoulders, and a light purple mark on her forehead. Her outfit now consisted of a black sleeveless strapless pants bodysuit.

A monster. She thought. It was just as she had begun to suspect. The disk must be a way to steal energy, and control people once they have some. She thought as she looked to her classmates getting to their feet; their eyes and faces still blank.

Amy glanced to her school bag and was glad she had been keeping her transformation pen and communicator in her pocket. Unfortunately, her minicomputer was in there, but she didn't need it just yet. She would eventually if only to confirm that her classmates were being controlled.

Deciding she needed to get transformed quickly she kicked her chair toward the monster and turned around and ran. She pushed and shoved her classmates out of the way, and felt terrible but hoped they wouldn't remember any of it.

As she reached the end of the isle she pushed two more of her classmates out of the way causing them and the students behind them to fall before she pulled out her transformation pen.

"Mercury Power!" Amy called out quickly, and blue light and a stream of water came pouring out of the top and swirled around her.

Blue light flashed and when it cleared she stood as Sailor Mercury. She checked to make sure she was still clear of possible attacking students, and lifted her hands and pointed them at the monster.

"Mercury Ice Bubbles Freeze!" She called out, and sent a stream of cool bubbles at the female.

Once it was on its way she immediately turned and shoved a guy that was coming toward her, pushing him back into the students behind him, and began to slip through the students and jump on the desks with the computers to try and get around them.

What I need is to get away from them long enough to call for the others. Or a distraction that can keep them busy. She thought as she jumped to the floor at the front of the room, and turned around in time to see something streaking her way.

She gasped and instantly ducked and twisted in her place to see what looked like pieces of paper sticking out of the whiteboard. Her eyes widened as she realized what could have happened to her if she hadn't seen the attack coming.

I need back up, but I can't risk getting hit by that while I'm focused on contacting the others. She thought as she sprang to her feet, her hands already raised.

"Mercury Ice Bubbles Freeze!" She called out and sent another stream of bubbles at the monster even though she was trying to figure out how to stay hidden long enough to call for help.

"Mercury Bubbles Blast!" She yelled as the words suddenly came to her.

Another stream of bubbles came pouring out of her hands but this time they formed into a cool fog as they spread out and away from her.

Perfect! She thought in surprise as she ducked low and moved away from where she was standing.

She slipped pass two of her fellow classmates before she quietly moved under a desk. She pulled out her communicator having practiced doing so at home in her free time, so she knew how to get it while transformed and pressed the dark pink button with a red symbol for Mars first.

"Raye here." The scout of Mars thankfully answered quickly.

"There's a monster attacking at my cram school, and I think the students are under its control as well. I need you here quick!" She said quickly and quietly.

"I'll be there as fast as I can. Where's the location?" Raye asked, and she gave her precise directions. "Alright. I'm on my way. Raye out."

Amy pressed the button again to close the connection and looked around to make sure she was still concealed before she pressed the dark pink button with a white crescent moon next.

oOoIRoOo

Serena paused on a rooftop and walked to the edge as she looked around, her streams of hair swaying and her mini skirt fluttering against her thighs. It was the first time she had patrolled during the day, but it didn't feel odd. It felt just as any other time she patrolled.

She had met up with Darien as usual after school at the cafe, but had unusually parted ways from him early. He'd had a friend with him, which hadn't at all been a problem. She was actually very happy to meet a friend of his. She had obviously met Andrew, but she had already known him when she first met Darien.

She had hung out with them for a bit, getting to know his friend, but then decided to head home and get an early start on her homework, and leave the two of them to hangout. By now she knew her boyfriend spent a lot of time with her, and she didn't want him neglecting his new friend or for him to think she was the clingy type.

She had gone home just as she had decided, but no sooner than she got there she found herself struggling to keep her mind off the memory dream she had had during the night. She didn't want to think about it so she decided to distract herself with something useful and productive like patrolling.

Serena took off running again when she saw and sensed nothing concerning. Patrolling was working; it was keeping her distracted from contemplating the various and possible relationships going on in the past, but now she found her mind drifting back to Darien and the friend he had introduced her to.

oOo

Serena stepped into the quiet cafe and looked toward the seating area and spotted her boyfriend. She smiled and immediately started walking his way only to see that he was seated in a booth seat at the windows overlooking the street and sidewalks and he wasn't alone.

"Hey." She said softly as she watched him get to his feet at the sight of her approaching.

"Hello my lady." Darien said before he added a kiss to his greeting. "I have someone I want you to meet." He said as he pulled back and gestured to a young man with straight black hair pulled back into a loose ponytail and black eyes with a nice gray tint.

"This is my new friend Itachi Uchiha. Itachi, this is my girlfriend Serena Tsukino." He said.

"Hi. It's a pleasure to meet you Itachi." Serena said with a smile.

"The pleasure's all mine. Darien has told me so much about you." Itachi said.

"Really?" She replied as she slid into the seat across from him, and scooted toward the window. "It's good to know I'm not the only one bragging." She added teasingly as Darien slid in next to her.

"Of course I'm bragging. I have the perfect lady." Darien said as he grinned at her.

Serena blushed and helplessly ducked her head even as she smiled and leaned against him.

"So how did you two meet?" She asked as she looked from Darien to Itachi and back again.

"We have some of the same classes together." Itachi answered, and she perked up.

"You go to K.O. University too?" Serena asked. "I'm thinking about going there when I graduate."

"Really? Then I highly recommend it." He said. "I'm studying law since I want to be a lawyer, and the professors are really good. So far two of my professors are actually currently practicing law, so they're up to date on current laws and statutes."

"Wow. Are yours like that too?" She asked as she looked to her boyfriend.

"Yes." Darien answered with a nod. "Those professors have assistant teachers that deal with the majority of the paperwork, but it's worth it to get actual current information from a practicing doctor before encountering it at a hospital."

"Okay I'm impressed." Serena said. "Now I'm really going to have to start researching and looking up information."

"Don't worry. I'll..." Darien began.

oOo

Serena blinked rapidly as she was knocked out of her memory by the disturbing sense of dark energy scratching at her senses. She looked around but didn't see anything, so she began to jog in one direction, leaping a couple of rooftops in the process.

She stopped after a while when she felt like she wasn't getting closer and changed directions. However, this did nothing for her but frustrate her. Clearly this was something she was going to have to work on; focusing harder to pinpoint a monster's location when the trail wasn't readily apparent.

She took a deep breath and released it slowly to help calm herself down then closed her eyes and tried to do what she had done before when she knew there was a monster in a building but didn't know where.

Slowly she turned in a circle testing every direction for the feel of energy that absolutely did not belong. Long minutes passed before she began to have the vague sense that it was behind her and to her right.

Opening her eyes she was about to turn and follow that direction, but saw Tuxedo Mask approaching from a few rooftops away, so she decided to wait for him.

"Thanks for waiting for me." Tuxedo Mask said as he landed on the roof she was on and began walking toward her.

"No problem." Sailor Moon said kindly. "So, there's a monster in the direction somewhere behind me and to my right. I was just about to try and hunt it down."

"Then I'm right on time." Tuxedo Mask said. "After you." He added as he gestured behind her.

Sailor Moon nodded and turned around and took off running to her left focusing her senses as hard as she could on the vague direction she had picked up. A few minutes into their travel she heard her communicator beeping from wherever it went when she didn't have pockets.

She slowed to a stop as she gestured with her hand, concentrating on wanting the device, and watched it appear in her palm. She watched Tuxedo Mask move around in front of her, which was likely a good thing so he wouldn't be seen, before she pressed the flashing dark pink button with the blue Mercury symbol on it.

"Sailor Moon here." She said calmly yet firmly as she watched Mercury's face appear on the tiny screen.

"There's a monster attacking at a cram school, and the students appear to be under its control." Sailor Mercury said urgently yet quietly.

"I'm already on my way. Moon out." She replied before Mercury could say anymore and pressed the button to end the connection. "Well, now we know where to go." She said to Tuxedo Mask as she put her communicator away.

As they continued on their way Sailor Moon thought about how she knew exactly where the school was. She could have attended that exact school if she wanted to, but she had decided she didn't need that kind of extra studying. It certainly didn't surprise her at all that Amy attended.

Likely only wanting to have the name of the establishment in her record since she certainly doesn't need the extra help. She thought before pushing it away.

They raced across the rooftops and leapt onto fire escapes and light poles when there were no roofs close enough. Long minutes passed as they traveled but Sailor Moon eventually slowed to a stop on a rooftop across the street from their destination.

As she walked over to the edge of the roof she looked at the building and could sense the dark energy much stronger than before.

"The monster's definitely in there." Sailor Moon said as she gestured toward the three story building across from them.

She took a breath and decided to take some time to get a look at the roof of the target building and surrounding rooftops to see if they would possibly be of good use during the coming fight.

As her eyes scanned she saw that there was access to the roof, but she didn't know if it would be locked or not. From her vantage point the rooftop looked flat, so there wouldn't be much worry about tripping.

"If necessary we can take the fight to the roof, but the door might be locked." She told her companion.

"I don't like destroying property, but we can open it if it comes down to it." Tuxedo Mask replied.

"Alright. Shall we go through the front door?" She asked.

"I don't see why not." He said with a nod.

With that agreement Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask stepped off the edge of the roof and plummeted toward the ground. They landed lightly despite the distance and dashed across the street, ignoring the surprised looks of nearby people, and entered through the front door.

Sailor Moon lead the way following the sense of dark energy and the sound of fighting as they unknowingly followed the path of the students who had come to enhance their education at the building.

They reached the second floor and moved down the hallway closer and closer to the sound of shouts and cries. When they reached the location Tuxedo Mask stopped next to the wall at the side of the door, out of sight, and Sailor Moon stopped right in front of the open door and groaned.

"Why are they still in the classroom?" She said as she took in the sight of Mercury and Mars fighting what was obviously the monster and practically surrounded by students.

"Because they do not have your instincts and common sense." Tuxedo Mask said honestly.

He really meant that. Serenity had been trained to deal with any number of opponents and fighting environments. The Guardian Scouts were trained as just that, guardians. They were only supposed to protect a single person, get them away and to safety, not stick around and fight in any given situation.

Sailor Moon groaned again this time at the sight of so many students under the control of the monster. She hadn't had to deal with this type of situation since her first fight. She knew she would be doing a lot of fighting since they were not monsters she could use her tiara against.

And Mars and Mercury appear to be avoiding them while still trying to fight the monster. She thought in irritation. On top of that because there are so many students I can't risk using my tiara or I might hit some of them, and I honestly don't want to find out what would happen if I did.

"Here goes." She said quietly with a frown as she glanced to Tuxedo Mask.

He nodded and she took a breath before she stepped into the room and swung her fist into the face of the closest student. The girl dropped to the floor soundlessly, and she turned and jogged slightly before shoving another student so hard he flew into two other students.

He knocked them both down before colliding face first into a wall and sliding unconscious to the floor.

She then moved over to the two that had been knocked down and kicked one hard in the side causing the girl to slam her head into the other student when she suddenly skidded sideways.

Look at my Serenity. Four down in a matter of seconds. Silent, quick, and efficient. Tuxedo Mask thought and watched her face as she turned. Serious and focused even as she glances around to take in her surroundings and size up her next opponent.

He finally stepped away from where he had been watching from the edge of the doorframe, and into the classroom to help her put these people down.

He liked and approved of her preemptive strategy of taking the fight to the roof, but he knew it would only happen if she guided the fight there.

And she cannot do that if she is busy fighting all these students. He thought as he silently punched a guy hard in the side of the face, and stepped around him as he went down.

Sailor Mercury looked around after sending her attack at the monster and saw that Sailor Moon had arrived and Tuxedo Mask was there as well and they were dealing with the students.

"Can you cover me so I can scan the students and make sure they really are being controlled?" She asked Mars.

"Yeah. Go ahead." Sailor Mars said before she took a step forward and lifted her hands. "Mars Fire Ignite!" She shouted and sent a large ball of fire hurtling toward the monster.

Sailor Mercury knelt down out of sight of the monster and summoned her minicomputer the same way she had with her communicator, knowing it would come regardless of being in her school bag.

It appeared in her hand and she quickly opened it and clicked around on the tiny keyboard until she got what she wanted. She then slowly twisted to her left and then to her right as she scanned the energy signatures in the room. She didn't worry about the furniture being in the way. Her computer would pick up the energy regardless.

Once it was done she began to type again, noting that she had gotten everyone; herself, Mars, Moon, and even Tuxedo Mask. She put those energy signatures aside for later study and isolated the signatures of the students and the monster.

Right away she could tell that each student was tainted with a bit of the monster's energy, and that a lot of their energy was actually stored in the computers they were using. So they really were being controlled, and just to be sure she checked to make sure the monster was not a human being used and simply made to look like a monster.

Nope. Definitely all monster. She confirmed as she read the data.

She then closed her computer and stored it away before she stood up and attacked the monster.

"Mercury Ice Bubbles Freeze!" She yelled and sent a stream of cool bubbles speeding toward the monster.

The monster dodged the cold bubbles coming her way and turned to see what was happening with her minions, and frowned at the sight of two more fighters. She raised her hand and conjured up a series of test papers and sent them speeding toward the pair.

"Duck!" Sailor Moon heard Tuxedo Mask call as she was punching a girl in her stomach.

She did as he said, dropping to the floor since she assumed he was speaking to her since the other scouts were on the other side of the room, and took advantage of the move. She swept her leg to the side as she turned, knocking the girl off her feet, and kicked her in the face, which thankfully knocked her unconscious.

She stood back up and looked around to see if there was any evidence of what would have hit her, and blinked in surprise to see paper sticking out of the wall. Obviously they were razor sharp and something to watch out for.

"Thanks for the warning." She called to Tuxedo Mask as she elbowed a guy in the face.

"No problem." He called back as he backhanded a girl almost running at him.

Sailor Moon looked around and saw that there were only a few students left. But she was more than a bit concerned about the classroom. There were scorch marks on the walls here and there, paper sticking out of the walls all over the room, and melted and frozen computers and desks.

This is no good. We need to get out of here. She thought with a frown as she looked to her fellow scouts.

"Mars, Mercury get out of the room! We need to get it out of the room!" She called urgently before she dodged a sloppy punch from a blank faced girl.

"And how are we supposed to do that?" Sailor Mars called as she dodged more sharp papers from the monster.

"Just leave the room. It will follow you." Sailor Moon said. She didn't understand why Mars didn't already know that. Obviously the monster was not trying to escape.

Tuxedo Mask kicked a rather large guy hard with just enough force send him halfway across the room and slam into the wall. He dropped to the floor and didn't get back up, so he turned to survey the situation around him.

There were only a few students left to deal with, and he was pleased to see Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury doing as his Serenity had said and were making their way toward the door. Thankfully he and his Serenity had moved away from the door, and were no longer in the monster's line of sight or its attention radar.

Sailor Moon blocked a low kick with her leg and backhanded the guy she was fighting across the face. He was a bit of a fighter for one being controlled, but that didn't stop her from shifting her hand into a fist and plowing it into his face before he could look back at her.

Then she swung her other fist and slammed it into the side of his face before she kicked at the side of his leg causing it to buckle. He dropped to one knee and she shoved hers into his face, knocking him back and unconscious before he hit the floor.

She looked around and saw that it was only her, Tuxedo Mask, and a couple of students left in the classroom.

"Go on! Leave the rest to me. Go put your strategy into action. I'll catch up as soon as I finish them." Tuxedo Mask told her.

"Right." She said and hurried out of the room only to run into a hallway full of cold thick fog.

Well shit! She thought as she stopped abruptly. She didn't know if this was Mercury's doing or the monster's.

Only moments later Tuxedo Mask ran out of the room and nearly into her before he managed to stop himself.

"What the...?!" He exclaimed before cutting himself off before he could actually curse.

"Yeah. I have no idea who did this, and I can't see a thing." She said.

"Me either." He said with an aggravated sigh. This is likely the scout of Mercury's doing. He thought before tapping into his connection with the Earth to see where the monster was.

Focusing on the red skinned monster the images of people, places, and scenes flashed through his mind rapidly before they slowed and the monster he had seen earlier solidified.

It was standing in the midst of the fog shivering with its arms around itself looking around. He widened the view around the area and spotted himself and his Serenity standing a few feet behind the monster, and Mercury and Mars kneeling down off to the side next to a wall a few feet in front of the monster.

Cowardly! He thought with a sneer. They were clearly hiding from the monster. Still, I can use this to help my soulmate become a better fighter while she is this weakened scout. He thought as he moved closer to her.

"You don't need to see the monster just yet." He said quietly, making sure he didn't lose his focus on the view in his mind. "Use your senses to find it, and follow them to the monster. Plan how you want to approach it and get it to the roof."

Sailor Moon nodded and focused on her senses. She should never have stopped, and reminded herself not to lose focus just because she could see the monster. Another one could have showed up and she would have been surprised by its appearance.

Immediately she sensed the dark energy the monster was giving off battering at her senses. It was like it was lit up in the dark right in front of her.

Now, how to get its attention, and get it to the roof. She wondered as she narrowed her eyes in the monster's direction. An idea came to her that was sure to work, especially since the fog looked like it was starting to clear, but she had another problem.

"I have a plan, but I don't know which way to the roof." She said quietly.

"Go back the way we came to get here. At the other end of the hallway there are more stairs. Follow those and go from there." Tuxedo Mask instructed.

"Alright." Sailor Moon said with a firm nod before she took off running toward the monster trying to be as quick and as quiet as possible.

Soon she could see the monster's back as it stood in the middle of the hallway shivering and looking around. As she got closer she decided a kick was better than a shove since she wanted it to go down as hard as possible.

So as she reached it she jumped toward it and with her momentum planted her boot in the middle of the tall monster's back sending it flying forward with a surprised cry.

Sailor Moon landed back on the floor and continued to run forward, aiming for where she sensed the monster and once she spotted it laying sprawled on the floor face first she increased her speed and ran right over it, making sure to step on its head as she passed.

"Head to the roof!" She called as she spotted Mercury and Mars off to the side against a wall as she ran.

She decided not to dwell on the fact that they were kneeling down as if hiding. Such a thought hadn't occurred to her when she first saw the strange fog, and it reminded her all over again that she preferred fighting with Tuxedo Mask since the thought obviously hadn't entered his mind either.

Instead of suggesting they hunker down and wait for the fog to clear, he gave her guidance on how to get to the monster when her vision was impaired and then instructions on how to get to where she wanted to go.

He was proactive and so was she since she knew the monster needed to be destroyed as soon as possible so the students could have their energy back. The monster had to have taken at least some for it to control them the way it had.

As soon as she spotted the stairs Tuxedo Mask mentioned she darted up them two at a time until she reached the third floor and then sprinted down the hallway as her eyes looked for more stairs or a doorway leading to the roof.

She slid to a stop at the end of the hallway in front of a door that was thankfully clearly labeled 'Exit; Roof Access Only'. She tried the door handle but it was locked.

Looking over she saw Mars and Mercury coming her way and further behind them Tuxedo Mask was running in their direction. At the sight of him she recalled his words about not liking to destroy property but he basically would if it was necessary.

Sailor Moon looked back to the door and backed up before her rushed at it and kicked the door. It flew open, banging against the wall, and she pushed it open again as it bounced off the wall back toward her and continued up the stairs. She came across another door after she turned up to continue up the next flight of stairs, but strangely that door was unlocked and easily opened to reveal the open air of the rooftop.

"Come on, come on." She said, waving her fellow scouts to hurry as she held the door since it opened outward.

Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury made it to the top and rushed through the doorway, and she watched as Tuxedo Mask turned to head up the stairs as he glanced back the way he came.

"It's coming!" Tuxedo Mask said as he looked back up the stairs, and saw his Serenity nod and wave him on as she held the door for him.

As soon as she had taken off into the fog he had followed after her, and saw through the view in his mind exactly what she had done. He had followed up by stepping on the monster as well and once he reached the stairs he threw a rose blossom bomb, that he had quickly summoned, at it and watched to make sure it hit

It did; as soon as the monster got to its feet it was blasted flat on its back with a pained cry. He waited long enough for it to spot him before he took off up the stairs after the others. He wanted to make sure the creature followed them to the roof.

As soon as he ran through the doorway she released the door and they all moved away and waited. Soon they could see the door buckle outward and then they suddenly saw the blade of an axe before the door was falling apart in pieces revealing the clearly angry monster.

oOo

Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune watched from a nearby rooftop as Sailor's Moon, Mercury, and Mars along with Tuxedo Mask appeared from a doorway before spreading out. Soon after that the monster appeared through the door and immediately started attacking them with sharp paper.

The two watching scouts had been there from the beginning watching the fight progress through Neptune's mirror before the fight moved outside and they could see with their own eyes.

It was clear that progress was only made when the reincarnations of Sailor Earth and the Earth Prince arrived. They systematically took out what they had seen were students being controlled and then had gone after the monster. They noticed that the two were careful to use only enough force to knock them out so they wouldn't be a problem instead of seriously injuring them.

Now they would really see how they did against this monster, especially since it had somehow grown an axe on its arm.

However, as interesting as the fight was sure to be it was not their main reason for being there. The two of them were there for the reincarnation of the Earth Prince.

It had been decided that they would approach him after a fight since that would be easier than simply appearing wherever he happened to be and trying to explain themselves. They would wait until he was alone and then speak to him.

Hopefully he wouldn't react negatively at the mere approach of them or it would be harder to do what they planned to do.

oOo

Sailor Moon huffed as she knelt on the roof floor and narrowed her eyes at the monster. Since the monster appeared she had been too busy dodging the sharp papers it was sending everywhere to even remove her tiara.

She needed some breathing room to get her tiara off or she would be stuck having to resort to physically fighting the monster, and dodging the axe that its left arm had somehow become on top of avoiding being hit by friendly fire.

Tuxedo Mask threw his piercing roses at the papers that were flying in his direction before he looked over to where his soulmate was.

She was also dodging the papers but to his discerning eye she was starting to look frustrated. That was likely because the papers were coming nearly nonstop or because she was unable to use her only weapon as of yet.

I need to do something about that. He thought as he returned his eyes to the monster. Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury don't appear to be having luck hitting the creature when they get the chance to attack, so it truly does have to be me that does something.

He pulled on his chakra and summoned a rose to his right hand and willed it to grow into his whip while he raised his left hand toward the monster and willed sharp rose petals to spray out of the palm of his hand.

The spinning rose petals shredded through the sharp paper flying his way before they collided with the monster cutting into the skin of its neck and chest, but more importantly distracting it briefly from sending more paper flying everywhere.

Sailor Moon was finally able to lift her hand and grasp her tiara by the v-juncture and pull it off as she looked over to Tuxedo Mask. The monster was now focused on him sending those sharp papers flying and streaking toward him.

Thankfully he was able to handle it just fine. He used his rose whip to shred every last one by flinging it rapidly in front of himself in a crisscross motion that made it look like a green blur.

She looked back to the monster as she charged her tiara until it was a spinning glowing white disk hovering above her fingertips. She subtly moved around to its back so it couldn't see her and gradually eased closer.

When she was only a few feet away she shifted her arm to prepare to throw her tiara at its back but Mars' shout ruined her quiet plan of attack.

"Mars Fire Ignite!" Sailor Mars shouted and sent a ball of fire hurtling toward the monster.

Sailor Moon's eyes widened in dismay as the monster jumped back toward her to dodge the fireball. Then before she could do anything the monster twisted sideways and spotted her standing nearly right behind it.

It swung its axe arm back at her, and she quickly ducked under it feeling the breeze of its passing. And as she straightened back up it reversed the motion and swung back at her again! She reacted instinctively after that. She ducked again but this time she raised her hand, and the tiara with it, and sliced through the monster's arm as it passed cutting the limb off.

The monster screamed and she stood up and quickly kicked her leg forward planting her booted foot into the monster's stomach and sent it flying back and away from her.

"Mercury Ice Bubbles Freeze!" Sailor Mercury yelled sending a stream of cold bubbles streaking toward the monster.

The bubbles reached the monster just as it hit the roof floor and froze it solid before it could even cry out in pain.

Sailor Moon took that opportunity to throw her tiara at the frozen monster. The spinning white disk streaked through the air and slammed into the monster right between its legs and shattered it as it moved through the frozen figure.

They all watched the frozen pieces of the monster crumble and disappear. Sailor Moon looked to the red skinned axe arm in front of her as she knelt down, and watched it turn gray before it too crumbled to dust.

"Are you alright?" Tuxedo Mask asked as he knelt at his soulmate's side.

He had been just as dismayed as she was when Sailor Mars shouted her attack and the monster moved back to her as she tried to move silently toward it.

He didn't know why these scouts had to shout their attacks like they did. Didn't they realize it would be better if they didn't? He didn't shout out the name of his attacks, and his soulmate had only done it once when she first discovered the attack and never again since then.

Perhaps they think the attacks will not work if they do not use the name or perhaps it simply never occurred to them not to shout as they do. He thought as he held in an aggravated frown.

"I'm a bit shaken, but I'm okay." Sailor Moon said with a small smile, her heart still racing from the close call, as she looked at him.

"Good." Tuxedo Mask said before he glanced to the approaching scouts and back to her before lowering his voice. "Moving around will help that. Perhaps you should go patrolling if you have the time." He suggested.

"Good idea. I'll do that." She said with a nod.

She would love to continue her patrolling and would be happy if he could accompany her, but she knew that wasn't possible with the present company. Mercury and Mars would see them leaving in the same direction and come to whatever conclusions their imaginations came up with.

I'll just have to go it alone. She told herself. She wouldn't patrol for long anyway since she still needed to get her homework done.

"Then I'll leave you to it." Tuxedo Mask said before he glanced to the approaching scouts again. He nodded to his soulmate before he stood up and began to walk away; uninterested in seeing more of those guardian scouts or hearing anything they had to say.

"Hey, you okay?" Sailor Mars asked as they reached their fellow scout.

"Yeah. Just a bit shaken." Sailor Moon said as she finally stood up. "I'll just go for a run before I head home. I should be calm enough after that." She added as she reached up and grabbed her hovering tiara before replacing it back on her forehead.

"I'm going to have to go back inside and get my bag at the very least." Sailor Mercury said as she finally looked away from where Tuxedo Mask was leaping to another rooftop.

"You should lose the transformation before you go, so you can blend in with the other students." Sailor Moon said, and Mars nodded.

"You should probably try to look confused if you come across anyone." Sailor Mars added.

"Okay. I'll do both." Sailor Mercury said as she nodded.

"Well, I'm going to head home. I have homework and chores." Sailor Mars said.

"And I have a run to get to before tackling my own homework." Sailor Moon said before she waved lightly. "Later you guys." She said before she took off running in the opposite direction from Tuxedo Mask.

oOo

Tuxedo Mask landed on a rooftop before he continued running and leaping rooftops in the general direction of his home.

As he ran he considered how he had kept his connection with the Earth open during the entire fight mostly to keep a better watch on his soulmate, but also because it was something he needed to practice. Being able to have a view of the entire area and fight while being in the middle of the fight himself was a very beneficial ability to have. It was something he had done a few times in the past, but this was the first time in the present.

So he wasn't entirely surprised to find out that the scouts of Neptune and Uranus were in the general area, and had once again been watching the fight and the players involved.

However, what did actually surprise him was that those two scouts appeared to be following him, which was clear to him because he had continued to keep his connection open with the Earth and she had seen fit to inform him of his followers.

This of course meant he could not go straight home nor could he release his transformation.

If they wish to follow me then perhaps it is time I discover where their loyalties lie, and if they are a threat to my Serenity. He thought quietly, his eyes flashing gold with the intensity of his thoughts.

He continued to run and leap rooftops until the buildings began to run out then he moved to the ground. As the two scouts continued to follow him he led them to the seldom used park he used for his personal training.

He ran pass the old playground, with the play structure that had long since seen better days, through the trees, and eventually came to a stop at the familiar small clearing with its overgrown grass. He stepped toward the middle before he turned and waited to see what the scouts would do.

---

Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus slowed to a stop in the midst of the trees of a park. They had carefully followed the masked man as he left the fight scene, and now as they looked through the trees they could see him calmly standing in the middle of a clearing apparently waiting.

They shared a slightly uneasy look. Had he known they were following him? They could only see people and areas without looking with their own eyes through Neptune's truth mirror. How could he be aware without something similar?

They didn't have any answers and despite being uneasy they were also impressed, and it helped to shore up their already firm decision so they moved forward.

Walking carefully and calmly they moved around trees until they were stepping into the clearing. They walked on until they were a few feet from the reincarnation of the Earth Prince and stopped.

"Sailor Neptune. Sailor Uranus. Welcome ladies. What can I do for you?" Tuxedo Mask said politely and calmly.

He wanted them to be aware that he knew who they were, but they need not know anything else unless he willed it otherwise.

Before anything else could happen or be said an elaborate white marble doorway appeared a few feet behind the scouts. The double doors opened and a third scout stepped out from the dark interior.

"Welcome Sailor Pluto." He said politely, identifying her by the black and white colors she wore.

Said scout stepped forward and pass Uranus and Neptune before she got down on one knee and bowed her head before him. The other two scouts silently stepped forward until they were even with her and also knelt before him in the grass and bowed their heads.

This alone told him they knew exactly who he was, but not that he was aware of who he was. Although, his non-reaction to their kneeling before him would have informed them of the truth. Anyone else would have been confused, and asked them what they were doing.

"Prince Endymion." Sailor Pluto said as she raised her head to look at him. "We did not meet in the past, but I knew of you and of your soulmate. My specialty as a scout not only allows me to guard the time stream but to watch as well."

"And watch I did. I witnessed the entire tragedy that was the Moon Princess' poor attempt to manipulate reality to her selfish benefit. Since then I have watched, searched, and waited for the ideal timeline where a new Silver Millennium could flourish and peace would reign." She explained honestly, not wanting to appear deceptive to the young man who would be her King.

"When I found it I searched for all who would be essential in making that happen. I found all but yourself and your soulmate until recently; when she once again became Sailor Moon." She informed him, and watched his eyes narrow. Clearly he did not like her being called by that name.

"Watching her as I was I saw you as this masked figure fighting alongside her. I did not know who you were at first but I had a suspicion, and when it was confirmed I decided it was time to bring in two of the essential ones." She continued. "I approached Neptune and Uranus and awakened their memories of the past, and they once again chose to be sailor scouts."

"We too were aware of the tragedy of the past because we were not affected by it. When Pluto awakened us she informed us of who else had been awakened and what had happened so far. Then she said we had a choice to make." Sailor Uranus spoke up.

"The Moon Princess or Sailor Earth." Sailor Neptune said, bringing the reincarnated prince's eyes to her. "In truth, that was not the decision we needed to make. It was but an instant to decide that we wanted nothing to do with the princess regardless of what happened this time around."

"Yes. The Guardian Scouts are actively searching for her, and it is only a matter of time before she is found. Eventually she too will remember the past, and despite being a reincarnation she is likely to have the same personality and mindset that allowed her to selfishly manipulate reality without a thought to the consequences." Sailor Uranus said.

"No. Our choice was if we would be loyal to Sailor Earth or remain independent scouts." She added.

"We had not met Sailor Earth in the past, so we decided to observe her despite not yet being her true self." Sailor Neptune said. "All that we have seen and learned have led us to our decision."

"My choice was already made before I approached them, having watched her in the past, and now that their choice has been made we have come to you." Sailor Pluto said seriously. "We have decided to give our loyalty to Sailor Earth, and through her to you as well Prince Endymion."

Tuxedo Mask listened intently as his eyes shifted to each woman as she spoke, and he could admit to himself that he was surprised at what this encounter was revealing. He had not expected any of it at all.

He had known by the Queen's own words that these scouts were not affected by her daughter's manipulation so that was not a surprise. What surprised him was the talk of a new Silver Millennium.

At first he wanted to be angry because that meant that a royal of the Moon line would be at the head of that, and there was only one royal of that line being searched for. However, talk of him and his soulmate being essential to that peaceful reign stopped him cold.

It was a vague mention, but that along with the thoughts he had been having let him know that his kingdom really would rise again. It was what he wanted, what he had determined would happen, but this was almost confirmation that it would become a reality.

Then they began to mention a choice to be made, and he understood immediately before anymore could be said. There was no other reason for them to approach him, and his immediate internal reaction was one of approval.

Especially when they all made it clear they wanted nothing to do with the Moon Princess. Any hint of approval for that royal would have evinced an immediate negative reaction in him, which likely would have quickly had him showing hostility if not outright rage.

Then Neptune mentioned observing and he finally understood with certainty what the two scouts had been about. They had been watching everyone, but were more focused on his Serenity and trying to see what she was like in this time.

And now these three scouts were giving his Serenity and himself their loyalty. His reaction was still one of approval now that it had been stated outright, but he needed to be absolutely sure about them.

"I know you were not Guardian Scouts in the past, however, were you not loyal to the Moon Kingdom in general?" He asked.

"We were." Sailor Neptune answered. "However, with the Moon Kingdom gone we are free to choose who we give our loyalty to. The Moon Princess is not an option. We are unwilling to give our loyalty to or serve someone so selfish and irresponsible; not to mention dangerous."

"Yes. What she did was horrible, especially with the series of events it caused, but she could do so much worse with complete control of the silver crystal. Especially in this modern time." Sailor Uranus said intensely.

"We have chosen Sailor Earth, and you by association. You two are a couple; there is no doubt. You are strong separately, but together you will be stronger and more stable once she remembers." Sailor Pluto said seriously.

Tuxedo Mask nodded at their impassioned words. He sensed their sincerity and knew it to be the truth. They wanted nothing of the Moon Princess or a possible Moon Kingdom, and truly wished to be loyal to his soulmate and even to himself.

It seemed his and his Serenity's character and strength were desirable qualities and enough to inspire the kind of loyalty that would bring about the rise of not only a kingdom but a new Silver Millennium.

"I graciously accept your loyalty Sailor Pluto, Sailor Uranus, and Sailor Neptune on mine and my soulmate's behalf for now. However, we will address this subject again once my Serenity remembers herself." The secret prince of the Earth said calmly and firmly.

"Then you can pledge yourselves directly to her for you will be her scouts, and it will be her approval and acceptance that ultimately matter." He added with a small smile.