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: Words written in bold (w/o italics) will be translated at the end of the chapter.

~New York Community College, Myths, Legends, And The Occult Room, New York City~

Serena paged through Explaining Dreams By Melinda Imperal, wondering if it might hold any useful information. Suddenly, her eyes caught on something. She turned the page back, and read, heart in her throat.

Sometimes, dreams are more than just images sent up by our subconscious. There have been cases where dreams have actually been a doorway into another person's life. Researchers suspect that in these cases, the dreamer and the dreamee share a close bond, family, lovers, or, sometimes, souls. There was a case in 1989 where a young girl began having dreams about a boy, seeing his life through his eyes. Finally, they met, and, according to them, realised they were 'soul mates'.

But you don't have to be soul mates with another person to share their dreams. It is possible that, just maybe, someone could share a soul with another…and then…who knows? One thing is for certain, sharers of souls could never meet…lest the most terrible thing in the world happen, and the two halves of the soul join…leaving one person without a soul…forever.

Serena bit her lip. This wasn't good. If she was truly seeing someone else's life, she was in big trouble. What if they met? Then either she or the other Serena could be left without a soul! Screw this, she thought angrily; I'm going to have a coffee. With that thought in mind, she stormed out of the College, and headed down the road to the Magickal Bean.

Serena entered the coffee/internet café and stalked towards her usual table, glaring sightlessly at the computer screen. She placed $2 ((Approximately $5 Australian or £2.50.)) into the slot, and logged on.

PrincessSerenaNYC has logged on

MilleniumFire: konnichi wa, Serena-chan.

PrincessSerenaNYC: hey, Rei. *giggles* that rhymes.

MilleniumFire: ur right, it does. how r u?

PrincessSerenaNYC: good, u?

MilleniumFire: i'm fine. had nemore of those strange dreams?

PrincessSerenaNYC: yes.

MilleniumFire: nande

PrincessSerenaNYC: i dremt about this girl, Sailor Venus, meeting the rest of the Sailor Scouts.

MilleniumFire has logged off.

Serena frowned, confused. What had happened? Why had Rei suddenly logged off after she'd told her about the dream? The thoughts that she'd previously dismissed as ridiculous came flying back to taunt her. Perhaps…no…it wasn't possible. Life wouldn't be so cruel!

Wait…what was she saying. Of course it would be. There were two Rochelle's!!!!

~Dream Sequence, The Battle Scene (some dark alleyish thing), Tokyo~

"Are you sure you're not the Princess?" Sailor Moon persisted.

"Yes," Sailor Venus said patiently. "I'm just a Sailor Scout like you, here to protect the Princess." Serena grinned, extremely happy that her idol, Sailor V, was a Sailor Scout. Everyone shook hands, and the usual 'nice to meet you' was said.

"Sailor Venus and I are trying to track down a lead, so we'll have a meeting wherever it is you usually do-"

"The Hikawa Shrine." Sailor Mars interrupted, rattling off directions,

"Tomorrow, say around five?"

"Sure." They all nodded.

The next day, Serena was made to stay after school because of her bad work. She decided to run to the meeting, because she didn't want to be yelled at. Just then, she spotted Darien walking down the street. She hurried over and slapped him on the back.

"Hey, Darien!" She chirped.

"Hey, Meatball Head." He replied, smiling slightly.

"My name's Serena. Call me Serena!" Serena said. Darien shook his head and walked away, turning back momentarily.

"Ok, Serena." Serena bit her lip. That wasn't the same Darien she always fought with. She felt a strange wetness on her hand, and looked at it. Blood? She thought incredulously, her eyes widening. Oh no! Darien's hurt! She ran after him. She finally caught up with him when he stopped to rest in an alley. Boy, she thought, even when he's injured he's fast. It was then that Darien seemed to notice she was there.  He turned around, and only just stopped himself from hitting her. Serena cried out in fright.

"Jeez, Serena!" Darien said, running a hand through his hair, "Quit following me, alright?"

"I'm worried about you, Darien." Serena said honestly. She saw something in his eyes then, but it quickly disappeared. "Your injury won't heal unless you rest at home." Serena persisted. Darien's face hardened.

"Go home." He said firmly, and kept walking.

"I won't, you know, I won't!" She yelled after him, knowing that he thought the exact opposite, that she would leave him alone. After all, they certainly weren't friends. Nevertheless, Serena followed him. He seemed to be heading towards the Starlight Tower. Suddenly, a red force field surrounded them. "Darien, what's happening?" Serena whimpered, looking around. Darien sighed, only just realising that she was still there. They were carried to the Tower, where Zoisite stood, waiting. Serena fell and all went black…

~Galaxy Dorm, Planet Orphanage, New York~

Serena's eyes snapped open, and she breathed out a sigh of relief. She was safe. She was safe. She was sa…she was asleep.

~Dream Sequence, Starlight Tower, Tokyo~

"You tricked me!" Serena heard as she awoke. She opened her eyes just in time to see Zoisite vanish.

"Meet me on the top floor." Zoisite's voice said.

"Huso." Darien muttered.

"D-Darien, what's going on?" Serena stuttered as the roof began to collapse.

"I don't know, run!" He said, grabbing her hand and dragging her toward the elevator. Serena yelped and jumped out of the way as a large hunk of plaster slammed down where she once was.

"Omigod, omigod, omigod, omigod, omigod, omigod, omigod." She muttered under her breath, moving slightly as the floor crumbled away. Darien jerked her into the elevator, which immediately began to carry them towards the top floor.

"So…" Serena said once they were inside the elevator, "Why do you want the Rainbow Crystals?" Darien cast her an amused look.

"Why is that any of your business?" He asked.

"Just making conversation." Serena lied, shrugging.

"Well…I need the Rainbow Crystals because they make up the Imperium Silver Crystal. When I was six, my parents died in a car crash. I was injured badly, and I lost my memory. I still don't know who I really am. But I have this recurring dream. A princess with long blond hair asks me for the Imperium Silver Crystal, and says that it will bring my memory back."

"You poor thing. You know…I used to hate you more than anyone else in the world. But now I'm going to bump you down a bit…you're not an enemy any longer…you're a…a…friend." Darien smiled wryly.

"Gee, thanks." He said. For a moment, Serena thought he was Tuxedo Mask, but…No…he couldn't be…could he?!

Just then, there was a crackling sound, and Serena saw a giant fireball hurtling down.

"OMIGOD!" She screeched, causing Darien to wince.

"Ow, geez, Serena," He complained, "What's wrong?"

"L-look up." She stuttered. Darien's face paled as he did just that.

"Hirekin." He cursed. Meanwhile, Serena was having an internal debate.

I can't transform, she thought, then Darien will know who I am. And look what happens every time people find out who I am. They try to kill me. But…if I don't transform I'm going to die anyway…what to do? If I do transform, I'll probably die. If I don't, not only will I die, Darien will too! Well, that's decided it.

"MOON PRISM POWER!" She yelled, holding up her transformation brooch. She blushed, glad for the protection of the strange mist that always surrounded her when she transformed, since she was naked for five minutes while her costume appeared.

Then, the elevator exploded.

~Galaxy Dorm, Planet Orphanage, New York~

"Aiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!!" Serena screamed, sitting up in bed, and holding her arm. She removed her fingers, and gasped. There were three or four blisters on her arm, and they hurt like hell.

"Serena, are you ok?" Matty asked worriedly.

"Huh?" Serena replied.

"You screamed, dumbass." Rochelle said snappily.

"I did?" Come to think of it, her throat was pretty sore…

"Wha's 'appening?" Louise slurred, her green eyes drowsy.

"Dunno. Need sleep." Amelia replied, burying her dark head further into her pillows.

"Sleep good." Louise agreed. "Nigh' nigh'." She fell back asleep, snoring softly.

"Mmph." Amelia said, also going back to sleep. Rochelle followed their examples. Only Matty and Serena were left awake.

"Let's go have some hot chocolate." Matty suggested. Serena nodded.

"Now," Matty said ten minutes later, leaning her elbows against the kitchen table, "What's wrong?"

"Huh?" Serena said wittily.

"Oh, please. You know I'm a light sleeper, Serena. And you've been moaning and muttering in your sleep for months now. You're losing weight too. And your grades have…ok…they haven't suffered. In fact, you've been fanatical about doing your homework and getting at least 99% at all times. What's going on? You've never been this bad before. Heck, I've never seen anything like this before." Matty sounded so truly worried that it struck a chord deep inside Serena.

Suddenly, without meaning to, Serena spilled everything that had been happening since before her thirteenth birthday six months ago. Matty listened patiently, and, an hour later Serena's throat was hoarse, and she was finished.

Matty rubbed her freckled nose, tugging on a lock of golden hair with her other hand. "Well," She said, "Well. This certainly is a surprise. You know…Ami sounds a lot like Amelia." Serena nodded, "And Rochelle sounds like Rei." Another nod, "Louise like Lita…and I'll bet that I'm probably like Mina. It seems to me that that book of yours was right. You do share a soul with someone else. And that's probably why you became such good friends with us, because we are the counter-parts of this other Serena's fighting partners. Undoubtedly Princess Serenity knew them as well."

"What?!" Serena yelped.

"Don't you get it? It seems to me that this 'Sailor Moon' is the reincarnation of Princess Serenity. After all, wasn't Serenity the Moon princess?"

"Er…"

"Exactly." Matty smiled. "Hey…" She said, a mischievous smile lighting up her eyes, "Why does Artemis the male cat have a girl's name?"

~Dream Sequence, Starlight Tower, Top Floor~

"Ah well," Sailor Moon heard Zoisite say, "I'll just have to tell Queen Beryl that Darien died in an accident."

"No he didn't." Sailor Moon snapped.

"Yes he did. Tuxedo Mask is dead." Zoisite insisted.

"Tuxedo Mask isn't even here." Sailor Moon said, confused.

"Yes he is," Darien contradicted, before taking out a red rose, and transforming into Tuxedo Mask.

"Y-you're Tuxedo Mask?!" Sailor Moon gaped, all the while thinking of past encounters that suddenly made sense.

"Leave the rest to me." Tuxedo Mask said, moving forward and shielding Sailor Moon with his body. He smiled gently at her. "Mamotte ageru Sailor Moon." Sailor Moon smiled back at him. Tuxedo Mask turned to face Zoisite.

"Let's settle this." Zoisite said.

"Ok," Tuxedo Mask agreed, "But leave Sailor Moon out of it."

"Very well," Zoisite said, laughing. She flicked her hand, and Sailor Moon turned around to see a crystal spear heading for her heart. She stood, frozen. Suddenly, Tuxedo Mask jumped between her and the spear, falling to the ground as it hit him.

"Nooo!!!!!!!" Sailor Moon cried, kneeling beside him. "Darien!" Darien/Tuxedo Mask smiled up at her weakly.

"Couldn't…let…you…get…hurt." He said weakly, "Have…to…save…the…world… after…all." He coughed.

"No, Darien, please don't die, please." Sailor Moon murmured, trying to stem the blood flow, not noticing that the Scouts had appeared. "Please, don't die, Darien. I couldn't bear it." A single tear fell down her cheek, and, quite suddenly, all seven of the Rainbow Crystals were floating in front of her. The tear hung in midair, and the crystals flew into it, turning into the Imperium Silver Crystal. Then, Sailor Moon's outfit changed, and she was wearing the dress that Princess Serenity wore. A crown was on her head, and she sat there, Darien's head cradled in her lap, while she mumbled under her breath…

Nande: what

Huso: fuck

Hirekin: shit

Mamotte ageru Sailor Moon: basically, I'll protect you, Sailor Moon.

 Did you know? In the manga, Zoisite is killed by Sailor Venus, so obviously, there's no duel between Tuxedo Mask and Zoisite. Sailor V and Artemis join the Senshi party. Sailor Venus is the Moon Princess they've been searching for and now that she's found, the tiara on Sailor Moon's forehead turns into a moon-shaped crest. Sailor Venus and Artemis have been using the Sailor V game in the arcade to train the Senshi, especially Sailor Moon. Using the game machine, they could access a secret control room that was located under the arcade game. Sailor Venus also has a different transformation pen than the other Senshi.

Thanks to these reviewers:

Silver Moonlight-81: No, MilleniumFire isn't Serena. She's Rei, as you find out in this chapter.

Ellen: Thanks, I will.

Shimmering Angel: Thanks, I'm glad you like it. And yes, finally Mina is here. This is the second last chapter, so enjoy it. I hope to have the first chapter of the sequel; Welcome to Reality out by the end of January.

Sage: The Dark Dryad: RE the Japanese, I do Jap at school, one of my best friends live in Japan for three years, and my teacher is Japanese and she is constantly telling us to shut up in Japanese, as well as swearing under her breath when she sees my work, so I've picked up a lot of the more…colourful aspects. Lol.