Title: The Thirteenth Year

Summary: When All-American girl Serena Warren turns thirteen, weird things start happening. Every night she dreams of the life of a Moon Princess and as time progresses, her dreams become more and more real, so that finally, she cannot distinguish between the life she leads in her dreams and the one she is trying to live during the day.

Author: Silver Sparklze

Reason for Writing: A challenge, issued by Sage: The Dark Dryad

Author's Notes: OMG, I am sooo sorry to have taken so long, guys. I'm just so busy with exams atm, and then my comp shut down and I had to rewrite the whole chapter. Luckily, BT was ok, but I decided not to upload any more until I had finished this chapter, since I make a point of trying to upload both stories at the same time. Anywho, this should be out by the 7th of December, since that's when I finish my exams.

~Common Room, Planet Orphanage, New York~

"Under a summer sky, gonna be with you, and no one's gonna be around. If you think you won't fall, well just wait until, 'til the sun goes down. Underneath the starlight, starlight, there's a magical feeling, so right, it'll steal your heart tonight. You can try to resist, try to hide from my kiss, but you know, but you know that you, can't fight the moonlight, deep in the dark, you'll surrender your heart, but you know, but you know that you, can't fight the moonlight, no oh you can't fight it. It's gonna get to your heart." Serena sang softly, before smiling ironically at the appropriateness of the song. "Can't fight the moonlight, indeed." She muttered, "That's just how I feel."

"Hey, 'Rena, look at this!" Serena turned around to see Amelia practically dancing in delight.

"What, Ames?" Serena asked.

"There's a story writing competition. Some Japanese Manga writing company is holding it, and the winner gets to have their story made into a manga! Better yet, they get to go to Japan!" Amelia did do a little dance then. "You should so enter, Serena," She said, suddenly serious, "You're a fantastica writer, and fantasy is your favourite genre. And that's just the one they're doing it on."

"What could I write about?" Serena asked.

"Anything. Anything at all. Ooh! What about that dream that you used to have, about the Moon Princes? Surely you could lengthen her story, and write that?"

"What would I write? That she after she died, her mother sent her soul to Earth to be reincarnated in another body, and now she spends her time living a double life, normal girl during the day, and superhero at night?" Serena laughed bitterly. Amelia stared at her, blue eyes wide.

"Whoa, that's brilliant. I'll bet you'd win with that story." She gushed.

"Whatever. When does it have to be due?"

"At the beginning of next year." Amelia told her.

"Oh. Well that's months away! Five, at least." Serena was relieved. "Look, I'm really tired, I'm going to bed." She walked out of the Common Room, which she'd been dusting, and upstairs to bed.

~Dream Sequence, Tsukino Backyard, Tokyo~

Serena sighed, and rolled onto her back. Andrew's so cute. She sighed. How good would it be if Andrew were Tuxedo Mask? Suddenly, Jadeite (the current Nega-sleaze) appeared in the sky. He grinned wickedly,

"Listen Sailor Scouts! It's time to settle this. At 1 AM tomorrow night, come to the F runway of Haneda airport. If you don't come, I'll..." Serena gasped as an illusion of Tokyo burning appeared. "That was an illusion. But if you don't come, I'll make Tokyo a sea of fire."

"We've got to fight." Rei argued. "We can't just let him burn Tokyo to the ground."

"But it's a trap, I know it is." Ami protested. "What if something happens? We could be seriously injured. Or worse, we could die!"

"Ami's right, Rei. You could die. And that wouldn't help anyone." Luna said briskly. Ami threw Rei a triumphant look, and Serena hid a smile. "But then, Rei's right too. You can't just let Tokyo burn."

"I don't want to go, I'm scared." Serena said honestly. "But I don't want Tokyo to burn either. I'll do it. But just in case, perhaps you should check out where all the exits are, Ami?" She savoured their astonished faces. She could almost see their minds trying to deal with the fact that she'd said something sensible.

"Well, that's settled then," Luna murmured dazedly, "We'll go."

"Did you hear?" Serena heard one girl whisper to another, "The Sailor Scouts are having a duel with some evil guy tonight."

"Really? Cool." Her companion replied.

"Oh no," Serena said to Luna, "Everyone's talking about it. If they all go there, they'll get caught in the battle. Perhaps I shouldn't go."

"What?!" Luna exclaimed.

"Relax, I'm only joking." Serena grinned.

"Hey, Serena!" Serena turned around and saw Molly.

"Hi, Molly." She replied. Molly and Melvin, a classmate walked up.

"Did you hear about that fight between the man in the sky and the Sailor Scouts?" Molly asked. "Personally, I think it's all a big joke."

"I think that it must be aliens from another planet." Melvin said.

"Melvin, you watch too many trashy movies." Molly said scornfully.

"Well, whatever it is, I'm going to go see it." Molly said. Just then, their teacher, Miss Haruna came in.

"You can't." She said sharply.

"Yeah! If you have time to be playing at night, you should study at home." Serena agreed quickly. Miss Haruna checked her temperature. Serena couldn't help but burst into tears.

Serena met Rei and Ami at the monorail station. She shifted from one foot to the other rather nervously, shivering in the cold Tokyo air.

"How are we going to get to the Airport?" She asked Ami. Rei snorted, and Ami pointed to the car that was driving towards them.

"I have a suspicion that we're supposed to get into the car." She said. The car (which had no driver) stopped smoothly beside them, and one door opened. They all piled in.

"Shouldn't we transform?" Serena whispered. (She didn't know why, but it seemed like the thing to do.) "This is weird. I don't like it at all." There was no driver, and that really creeped Serena out.

"Shh, no, we're going to take a look around first." Ami replied, also in a soft voice.

"Why?"

"Shut up, Serena." Rei said irritably. Serena huddled further down in the seat, and stroked Luna for comfort. Why can't I be normal?! Her thoughts wailed. Finally, they reached the airport, and all three of the girls hopped out.

"There are quite a few policemen around." Luna observed from her vantage point on Serena's shoulder.

"Yes. How odd. You wouldn't think there'd be so many, would you?" Ami agreed.

"How are we supposed to do our job if they're here?" Re asked, pouting.

"They're trying to do their job, too." Serena pointed out.

"Shut up brain dead."

"Don't call me names!"

"Then don't be an idiot!"

"Stop it!"

"Enough, both of you." Ami snapped. "We're here to save the world, not to argue."

"Other people have normal careers; I get to be a superhero." Serena grumbled.

"Quit complaining spaghetti brain." Rei said, almost automatically. "I don't like this," She continued, "There's a bad feeling about this place." Suddenly, the police officers turned around, and headed towards them, evil intent written clearly across their faces. Rei quickly got rid of them, and pushed Ami and Serena away.

"I wonder why those guards were trying to hurt us." Serena said musingly.

"It's a mystery," Ami agreed, "One that I intend to figure out. MERCUY POWER!" She quickly transformed, and Rei followed her lead.

"MARS POWER!" They both stood in front of Serena who also transformed. Mercury got out her little computer, and had soon figured out that the policemen were actually made of sand.

"Hit 'em with your fire, Mars." Sailor Moon yelled. She wasn't sure why she was yelling; it just seemed like the right thing to do in such a situation.

"MARS FIRE IGNITE!" Mars yelled, as if in direct response to Sailor Moon's prompting. The policemen disappeared, and the sand floated away. Suddenly, just when they were beginning to feel good about themselves, Jadeite appeared, grinning madly.

"Wonderful." He said mockingly, "You have helped me greatly. Thank you for joining me, girls. And an even bigger thank you for revealing your identities. Queen Beryl will be pleased."

Oh no! Sailor Moon thought in dismay. This isn't good.

"Now, no need to look so sad." Jadeite said mockingly, "You're going to die tonight anyway." Suddenly, some airplanes started moving towards them. Jadeite disappeared, still laughing.

"MARS FIRE-" Sailor Mars began.

"Stop, Mars." Luna commanded. "Airplanes are very expensive, and if you damaged one your children's children's children would still be paying for it."

"Well, there's only one thing to do, then." Sailor Mercury said sensibly.

"What's that?" Sailor Moon asked.

"Run!" They all sprinted out of the way of the plane, only to have it turn in their direction and continue rumbling towards them, picking up speed. Eventually, they had to stop, as the runway ended in the ocean. Jadeite appeared.

"I have you now." He cackled evilly. Suddenly, a red rose flew in front of the planes, stopping them. Tuxedo Mask appeared.

"It's not right to use Earth's weapons against her people." He said reprovingly, "Nor is it fair. You should fight them face to face, rather than taking the cowards way out." He and Jadeite had a little duel, during which Sailor Moon noticed exactly how well Tuxedo Mask could use his cane. Unfortunately, both Jadeite and Tuxedo Mask disappeared, tumbling into the sea. Sailor Moon gasped, eyes filling with worried tears, which soon fell when Jadeite returned and Tuxedo Mask didn't.

"Now, where was I?" He rubbed his hands in a decidedly evil manner, and the planes began to move again. The Sailors began to run, but were soon stopped by Luna.

"You must fight." Luna said reprovingly.

"Right," Sailor Mars nodded. "I have a plan. Sailor Moon, you be the decoy. Mercury, let's go kick some Nega-butt." Sailor Moon kept running.

"That's so typical." She muttered, "I always get used as the decoy." She watched as Sailor Mercury used her Mercury Bubbles, and then Sailor Mars used one of her ghost-sign things. Jadeite froze, and the planes began to surround him. Sighing in relief, Sailor Moon stopped running and stood with the other Scouts.

"Don't think girls are fools." Sailor Mars said.

"Girls aren't always just crying." Sailor Moon agreed.

"You got caught in your own trap. Very foolish of you." Sailor Mercury added.

"MOON TIARA MAGIC!" Sailor Moon yelled. Jadeite dodged the attack, but in doing so, moved right into the path of one of the planes.

"This isn't over!" He yelled as he disappeared, wounded, back to wherever he came from.

The Sailor Scouts all hurried to the edge of the runway to look for Tuxedo Mask.

"You should give up." Luna said, but Sailor Moon started crying. Then Tuxedo Mask came up behind them.

"Why do you always help us, Tuxedo Mask?" Sailor Mercury asked.

"Probably because he loves me." Sailor Moon said hopefully.

"Who are you?" Sailor Mars asked warily.

"I can't tell you my identity now. Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, please treasure your friendship. Bye!" Tuxedo Mask said, before disappearing.

~Library, Wessington Catholic College, New York ~

Serena opened her eyes slowly, stretching and yawning. She hadn't had such a good sleep for ages, even if she had spent most of the time in her dream fighting. Mind you, her legs were really sore. She placed the book Japanese Fairy Tales, The Tale of Princess Kakyu back on the shelf, and wandered out of the Library, unaware of the eyes that followed her…

More Author's Notes: Acknowledgements for fic reviewers;

Sage: The Dark Dryad: *wince* I'm sorry it took so long.

Silver Moonlight-81: Both you and Sage know just what to say to make me feel guilty. Have you been taking lessons or something? Are you plotting my death behind my back? *looks insane* I have a cheese! And a marshmallow! Stay back! I'll use them!!!