The Lady Wore Black: Nine Home, Four Corners
Reni saw the Light.
The former Scouts shielded their eyes-blinding pink light cloaked their vision,
they couldn't clearly make out what was going on.
She had the wand posed.
Positioned on the enemy, Reni screamed out words foreign to herself yet so familiar . . . .
"NEO . . . SUGAR ROSE . . . ATTACK!"
A cyclone of pink dust and red fire had spiraled out at their enemy,
the energy surrounded the creatures then suddenly an explosion rocked the earth,
all the women braced themselves the blow.
The Neos stared straight at the turning sky watching its reaction.
BOOM!
Noise filled the air as the Minions were blown away . . . .
Terra felt the ground shake her soul.
Doreira felt the sky crying out.
The Sun was still hidden in darkness, Selena prayed desperately for it to come back.
And the innermost corners of the universe called out to Creda . . . . .
Pink dust descended slowly to the ground.
******* ******** ************
Reni couldn't believe it.
She saw herself float up to the sky, she remembered she went under the metamorphoses,
she recalled them clearly yelling 'Sailor Neo Combine' . . . .
She remembered the Power.
The Neos all felt it, they had connected once agin with their leader,
their Lady, she was risen . . . .
The older Senshi were still trying to gasp the situation in their minds.
Everyone was alright, they were able to look around,
Apollo sported his feline smile-yes, she was the One.
Sky couldn't contain her joy, "Go Lady!"
Selena had to cry out happily when the sky above faded back to normal,
Sun beaming brighter than ever, "She did it! The Nine Ladies are safe and the Neo Moon's free!"
"Yes!" Earth yelled, jumping into the air. "We found the Lady!"
"We are one again." Creda smiled, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead.
But in the mist of praise she felt it: A heartache.
Holding her head, pain throbbing in every beat, Reni felt herself blackout.
******* ******** ************
"The Lady!" Selena screamed in horror.
The girl was descending to the earth.
"She's drained!" Terra declared. "We gotta hold her up!"
"Psyche Levitation Maker Rise!" Creda yelled to stop her from slamming into the earth.
Silver energy came from her palms as silver air kept the girl afloat.
But the battle snapped her also-they weren't Super Neos yet.
"Keep her there Creda!" The turquoise sailor of the sky ordered.
"I . . . can't . . . . keep her up . . . She's gonna . . . . damn!"
Her silver confidant's concentration was broken.
"Oh no!" Serena shrieked, realizing what was about to occur.
"RENI!" The other Senshi yelled affright.
Sky jumped into the air-the air was pulling her up-and grabbed Reni's falling form.
Terra swallowed her heart back down her throat, Selena was ashen,
Creda was pulling herself back up.
Doreira had taken over, the Sky placed Reni on the ground gingerly.
She's okay." The silver sailor declared after checking her pulse.
Each heaved a sigh of relief. But Doreira jumped up:
"That's it! We can't wait. We leave now."
"But how in-" The copper sailor knew they were powerful enough to go back yet.
She continued: "You're to ONE with the transportation powers, get us home!"
Terra shot back, "Stupid! Do you think I'm that strong! It'll take a miracle . . . ."
"The Mothers!" Selena hit upon an idea. "Their pens!"
"Of yeah, if they didn't work THEN-do you think they'll work now!"
"Who are you?" Lita demanded, struggling to her feet.
"And what do you want with Reni?" Rei ordered.
"Leave her alone!" Serena wailed.
The other Senshi tried to do the same, hoping to save Reni from whatever those girls were.
Creda walked toward them then bowed, then suddenly she called for Sky.
"What is it now?" The powder-blue eyed Doreira growled.
"We must taken all of them home but the Ladies and our Queen will fight is."
"But-but the know that we'll never hurt the Lady!"
"No . . . . They don't, this is the past, not even the Lady knows what's going on."
The gold and copper and looked at the silver one solemnly.
She was forming a plan.
"Five of the Nine Points can get us home-we must channel it."
Terra spoke, "Their energy will channel well."
"But they couldn't change-" Selena remembered but Creda stopped her protest.
"That was the Dark One's doing-but she can't stop them, she can't stop us for long."
She looked back at the Mothers, their Ladies and kneed down.
"Keeper of Time, hear my call:
I, Sailor of the Soul, call upon the winds of Time to deliver us home." She closed her eyes.
Doreira lifted her head, the wind was listening.
This time she left Reni in Terra's and Selena's care, following Creda's lead.
"To the Queen Serenity: Grant the Ladies their powers, keep us strong.
We come to bring the Nine and the Family home."
She kneed directly across from Creda.
Suddenly the pens appeared in the Neo Sailors' hands,
rising in the air then floating back to the group of former Senshi and The Mask.
This time all of the older women and Darien were standing to face the Neos,
but they couldn't make sense of what was happening.
"Forgive us dear mothers, we only serve the Mothers, the Royal Family, and our next Lady."
Selena apologized as Terra directed the pens to her.
Tera took them in her hands, two in each palm, and held them to her chest.
"To the King, brother Eydimon, may the Earth see my way as I led us back today."
The pens began to glow, the signs of the Sailors appeared on all their heads,
former Senshi and Neos alike, the moon crests were there on the heads of the royal Family and cats . . . .
Selena was last but now she had found her place to speak:
"And to the Sun, the heart that beats, protect the next queen, our dear Small Lady."
Terra and Selena remained near Reni as a light for each of them began to shine.
Red and silver, green and turquoise, copper and ice blue, orange and gold, and lastly pink.
The Lights rose into the air, intermingling and becoming one.
The former Senshi shielded their eyes, "What's going on!?!" Serena yelled, copper vapor surrounded them-the sky was opening again. "Where you taking us!?!"
"Home." Creda replied when Doreira yelled out. "Sky Sleeper Hold Bind!"
The shade of sleep fell upon all them except the Neos.
"Earth Neo Thinkwave . . . ." Terra stood up, "F-L-O-A-T!"
******* ******** ************
Into the coming Night they were taken, they traveled as if they were in dreams,
the former Senshi were in deep slumbers.
Across time and the universe they were back to the Crystal Tokyo, back to the Neo Moon Kingdom.
******* ******** ************
Serena was the first open her eyes and started to turn over only to find lying in sand.
She shot up from her slumber and peered around.
They were upon a grey-colored strand, a deep azure hue sea mixed with a golden sunset.
"Huh?"
A groan behind her got her attention.
It was Darien coming to.
Jumping up she rushed to his side: "Darien! Darien, wake up! We're at some beach."
He muttered some inaudible phrase. "Letmesleepwoman."
Serena persisted in shaking him, "Darien!" Then she hit him.
"Ah!" He sprung as well, then shielded his eyes from the glare. "Serena, what in the hell-"
"Look!" She commanded.
He took in the sight of the unusually colored beach and the sound of waves,
he joined Serena in waking the other women from their hard slumbers.
"And I was just having the most wonderful dream-" Mina spoke in a heavily sedated voice.
"Yes, REM sleep will do that for you . . . " Ami noted after a deep yawn.
"Ok Meatball Head . . . . What's the big idea?"
Rei tried to fix her with a mean glare but failed since her eyes were drowsy revealing dark circles.
"DON'T YOU GET IT!" She wailed, "THIS ISN'T-"
"Home." Creda cut in advancing toward the group. "Not the old home you all know."
"But our home." Terra continued after her, "In Crystal Tokyo."
They looked around.
The beach stretched as far as the eye but on a hill above laid the shadow of an immense mansion that stretched even father.
"We want answers!"
Lita jumped looming over the two smaller girls.
They were bombarded with questions and demands by the sixsome.
"Where's Reni?" The Moon Queen demanded.
"How's Reni?" The Earth Prince followed in.
"Where are we?" The Sailor of Ice asked in a cold tone.
"Why are where here?" The fiery Sailor of Fire ordered.
"Who are you?" The Sailor of Thunder's voice boomed.
"And what happened to our clothes?" The Sailor of Love whined.
Their two partners joined them, all of them wore simple yet elegant dresses.
As if on a cue they swept into curtsies, standing side by side across from the six:
"We are connected . . . . Mind and body . . . Heart and soul . . . .
The Dear Lady Serenity connects us all. S
ailor Neos, students of the Sailor Scout Senshi, watches of the Nine Ladies, our Mothers."
"Lady Selena" The girl with sunny locks and fair skin smiles, "Daughter of the Lady Venus."
Her bright demeanor made the tiny beauty shine big.
The powder blue-eyed girl spoke, hair mixed with white and dark blue-black locks wearing a turquoise dress.
"Lady Doreira-Protege of the Lady Uranus, daughter of the Lady Jupiter."
"Daughters!" Mina and Lita cried then they sunk down in the sand. "Ohhhhhh-"
Her best friend and rival stepped up, the unofficial leader of them all.
"Lady Creda: The lost child of the Lady Mars and student of the Lady Saturn."
"Lost child?" Rei fixed the girl with a blank expression.
The grey eyed, silver metallic-haired girl spoke, skin dark as bronze in contrast to the others'
paler complexions. The last Neo stepped up, one of the most important.
"And the Lady Terra . . . keepers of Ladies Mercury and Neptune, sister-in-law
to the Lady Serenity Our Queen, sister of Eydimon."
Green-eyed, and brown-haired she beamed at the couple.
Faces fell, eyes grew wide, and there was even laughter.
"Sister!?!" The sixsome yelled.
"Hello, dear brother." She said to Darien.
"I . . . . Have a sister?" He was dumbfound.
"And the best one yet." She winked sly.
"Ha-ha." Doreira jeered. "Look at Miss Priss."
"We have time for truer formalities later." Creda cut in,
"But now we must really get you dressed in proper attire and cleaned up.
Your dress is most unbecoming for royalty!"
That's where the women noticed their dressed down states,
their original clothing had been replaced with ripped fabric,
Darien was only sporting a pair of tore jeans.
They resembled castaways and beach combers-not royalty.
"She's . . . . right guys." Rei admitted in defeat. "We have no other choice but to trust her." They all nodded in silent agreement, bracing themselves for a bumpy ride.
"And to get some clothes." Ami brushed heavily, "We really must be dressed decent."
The Neos led the way slowly with the Senshi following until . . . .
"Wait a minute-" Lita jumped in front of them, blocking the others.
"If you girls say you are who you are . . . . then where in the hell is Reni!?!"
They stopped then realized their youngest Scout wasn't with them.
Each of them exchanged a nervous glance between each other. They knew.
Doreira shrugged, "Did I also mention that she landed in another spot?"
******* ******** ************
And as a lady in fairy tales, Reni woke up a dream . . . .
"Lady . . . ."
That voice. She knew it.
The sound of waves beating against a rocky shore averted her attention: Waves?
She asked herself in the haziness, aren't waves found at a beach?
"Serenity . . . ."
Something or someone was teasing her hair.
Then it was him.
Her ears were straining to hear the voice again-
goose bumps ran all over her skin, a thousand sensations could be felt just upon hearing it.
"Lady . . . Serenity . . . ."
Water and sand clung to her bare legs, the air felt cooler, she was leaning against a body.
Wasn't it him?
Unlike the seagulls flying above noisily, a voice like the flowing breeze floated through her.
A strong arm drew her closer, a faint breath spilled over her face.
"Or should I call you Reni . . . ?"
Her mind screamed: 'It's him! IT'S HIM! Wake up stupid! This is your dream!'
Her eyes shot open this time, slowly the scene began to come into focus.
She whispered a name: "Helios?"
A face turned to hers, a pair of eyes looked downward.
His eyes.
White-colored locks flying in the wind, Helios was sitting there in the sand clad in a pair of blue slacks-
that and nothing more. Her hair spilled behind her back unbound.
Reni saw her legs disappear under a piece of fabric that barely reached her knees . . . .
Suddenly she spot up, startling the young man.
"Who brought . . . . How did I . . . . Are we . . . .Wasn't I . . . .What am I wearing!?!"
Then she knew who was coaxing her form her slumber when he let out a faint chuckle.
"Helios!"
Reni jumped up and threw her arms around his waist, sending him back first into the sand.
"Oh my God! It's you! It's you!"
"Lady." He simply smiled at that name, that person, tracing the outline of her soft lips.
His eyes were so clear.
So deep.
So divine.
"Welcome home."
So much so she tried to hit him . . . .
"Ah!" He screamed nursing his jaw-she had missed his eye but her fist connected with his mouth.
Now he saw the angry in those angelic features.
"I guess I deserve that." He finally admitted grimly.
"You lied to me!"
"I wasn't lying when I said-" But she loomed over him, ranting.
"You were in my dream and-and-and you scared me like that then you pretend that you're happy to see me?
How dare you treat me this way!"
Now the girl had her fists balled up, shaking with rage.
"Serenity . . . . Reni . . . . What I said is true."
"And what is that-that-that bull about some prophecy!?!"
"The Lady Mars gave it herself. The Queen and King themselves told me to stay away from you,
you're supposed to be married off before you're crowned Queen of Crystal Tokyo before anything bad could take place."
He slowly stood to his feet to face her.
"I even saw it in a dream myself-why do you think I even came in your dream?
The lines there began to soften. The wind blew in her face.
"That's the only way they can't find me."
"But . . . ." She maintained,
"But you said. . . ." Tears glistened. " . . . . I had your heart."
"A lady will have your heart one day but will she be a dark one?"
He quoted Mars' words. "You have it."
He indicated to the crystal locket around her neck then pointed to his chest.
"But for how long?"
"What does that mean-?" But he closed the gap between.
Taking her by the waist he pulled her closer, skin tingling at the touch, lips near her ears.
"I can't promise when I'll come back." Then she found herself trapped again in those eyes.
Anger fading away. "But I will."
When she blinked, Reni found herself falling back into the sand only to hear the other women calling her.
******* ******** ************
The dark scout of fury, Sailor Neo Mystique, found herself in fury on earth:
Alone.
A ray of light broke through the clouds slightly, Mystique growled at the sky.
No-she was powerful.
She had underestimated the Lady.
"Damn." Mystique cursed as black smoke began to form around her."I'm out."
Like dust, she blew away and disappeared to another place in time, an ancient and broken circus tent.
She rematerialized into her unusual dark- with a pair of plastic pants and matching tube top, hair in elaborate pin curls.
A lonely mirror was settled in the center of the stage.
"OOOHHHHHHHHH! THEY'RE ACTIVATED THE DAMN PENS!"
She slammed her fist into the ground enraged, feeling the room shake in fright:
"What can I do Mother? What can I do to save you?"
A faint light pulse inside, an unreadable form appeared in it.
"I learned a little secret long ago from the Dark Moon, my former home.
The Lady was once evil: A Black Lady."
"No! Really? Not little Miss Lily White Pure Princess Serenity!"
"Yessss, her. The very sammeeeeeeee."
"And the Sailor Scouts cured her of all evil, she saved the day . . .
And the handsome prince followed when the dish ran away with the spoon. What-ever."
Charisma didn't want to be bored with the same old fairy tale.
"Foolish child LISTEN!" The mist screamed
The girl back up cowering, "I hear you, Mother."
"Revive the Lady: Through her I can live again.
What Serenity did to you daughter-I'll do to hers.
I'll destroy the little princess and her Neos too."
"But what does going after them do-?"
"You are connected . . . .
Listen to your own damn speeches sometimes.
Together they are a type of body, the Lady Serenity's body.
When one is hurt, they all are hurt. But if their leader goes down, they all go down."
"You mean . . . . That they will help revive the Black Lady?"
"Oh yesssssss, daughter, it is a complained thing but actually very simple."
"Please tell me Mother. Let me know your divine plan."
"Right now, I'm only a spirit in a damn glass.
But when you gain control of the Neos, they'll have a body waiting for me-her body, the Lady will become weak and I'll take over."
"Then you'll rule the Neo Moon Kingdom!"
"Goood . . . . You're learning."
"But Mother . . . .
Where does the Earth Guardian fit into the equation?
And how will we accomplish this? And what about the Mothers, they still are powerful and feared-?"
"So many questions filling that pretty head. . . ." The mist laughed.
"You'll learn, child. You found your Neos-now drain them!"
A smile flickered across her face. "It is done."
******* ******** ************
It was as if they were walking through a dream.
Crystal Tokyo was a dream.
Silver colored beaches with ice jeweled colored waters out of picture books,
the greenest pastures with meadows with rainbows for flowers,
deep red sunsets with the orange Sun fading. The stars shined clearer for the Earth now, the breezes sweeter.
The now royal family and their newly made court were literally carried up the hill at the Neos' orders-
the five women and Reni having their own litter and personal attendants, the couple carried in the last but most ornate litter-to the grand estate with the Moon as its backdrop.
Even the cats were treated as royalty as they were carried on a special litter.
Their eyes were on a picnic as they took in the scenery:
Mina, Lita, and Rei were checking out the shirtless, muscular male servants carrying them leaving
Ami to be the only one taking in the breathtaking landscape.
Darien and Serena were into each other too much to notice anything.
Reni didn't have to look at anything-she knew this land by heart, she was watching the horizon wondering if Helios would enter return . . . .
"Lady?"
Someone was calling her that again, at first her heart swelled at the thought but she realized the voice was tiny and feminine.
"Umm hey-" She mustered up a smile. "Who are you again?"
"Oh I'm the Lady Selena, daughter of the Lady Venus. And this is Apollo!"
The golden-haired child indicated to the calico on her shoulder.
"Dear Lady." He lowered his furry head.
"Why aren't you girls riding on litters?" She asked, seeing that the Neos were on foot.
"They thought that you may need protection." The calico answered in a somber baritone.
"Besides, he's just too embarrassed to be near the fairest Diana . . . . Hey!"
The calico had bit her shoulder to stop her from saying any thing further.
"Thank you Sailor Sun, your input *wasn't* needed."
On the other side Terra moved toward to Reni, dropping her voice,
"Someone asked me to deliver a message."
"A message?" She breathed, "It couldn't be. . . ."
"They speak of the night is in disguise."
"Huh?" Reni blinked, what did that mean? Was it from HIM?
"You'll know soon. But don't tell a soul, especially my brother and your mother."
"This is so cool! We're having the ball before your coronation and your mar-"
Terra stopped her, "Hey Selena, tell Creda and Doreira to prepare n-o-w."
"But I was-" The smaller girl saw her mistake now and with a red face, scurried away.
"Is something wrong?" Reni was concerned.
"Wrong? Oh no dear Lady!" She faked a laugh, "Just making sure everything is right. Excuse me."
Terra soon followed her friend hurriedly leaving Reni to wonder.
"Weird."
******* ******** ************
"Man." She breathed a sigh of relief.
"Terra, why didn't you let me tell her she was getting married?" The golden one demanded.
"Selena, remember the Lady will no go through with a forced marriage!" The copper hissed.
"She l-o-v-e-s the Guardian."
"But still, she has to know. Like the Lady Mars said,
after the Mothers are awaken and their memories restored, we can't stop it."
"And the Lady Mars also said a great change would occur-that'll be the change!"
"The King is gonna kill you."
"Let him kill me, they went through with their marriage so why should they stop hers?"
"Because the oracle." The golden one shrugged.
"Selena, not everything the Lady Mars says is the gospel."
"We swore that we would watch the Lady."
"We are. We're making sure she doesn't run away." Terra explained, "Things can change."
"Well . . . . I hope so. I don't like that last prince she met."
"Damn pompous men from Galaxy."
Terra looked at Creda and Doreira at the head of the caravan of litters and servants.
"Let's go, we need to prepare for the Awaking."
The two ran to the front.
But they didn't realize that someone had heard all that was said . . . .
"So the brat's getting hitched?" A dark figure whispered, "Hmmmmm . . . ."
******* ******** ************
"It looks. . . ."
Serena's heart swelled at the thought of being in such a lovely place . . . .
Darien looked around the garden. "Dead."
The reality was shattered when they saw the limp flowers and black ground.
"What happen to the great kingdom?" Rei mocked, " Our great Crystal Tokyo?"
"A long sleep fell upon the Kingdom." Creda answered with a small smile that held secrets.
The Neos led the group through the vine-covered, dilapidated mansion.
They were expecting a glorious estate bright and beautiful:
But the place was only damp, dark and cold.
"So much will be explained dear Mothers, our Ladies."
"Ignore Creda's creepy talk." Doreira cut in,
"You don't remember it but the last time the Kingdom was threatened,
Queen Serenity placed everyone under a dep sleep to protect us from the Dark Moon and it's Circus.
The Nine Points veiled our dreams from them.
But a year has passed and Time will allow us to return everything back to normal . . . "
"A sleep?" Reni's heart picked up speed. "My home-?"
"Will be restored, don't worry Lady." Doreira reassured her with a hand on the shoulder.
"But we Neos escaped the sleep since we were in training in another universe."
Creda spoke again. "And now it's imperative we awaken you all since the Dark Scout is meddling."
"Dark Scout?" Ami asked, wondering how one of their own could attack them.
Lita was shocked, "That girl was one of us!"
"She's a Neo, a Scout like us all dear Ladies . . . . Creda knows her better than any of us."
The Sailor of the Universe cut her friend a mean glare.
The Earth returned with a large scepter that had a glass ball on the end,
The Sun returned the pens back to the Senshi then she placed Serena's locket in her hand.
"Let us gather."
Creda told them centering the scepter.
"Mothers and Family, please place a hand here." She indicated to the glass ball.
They followed and formed a circle, the glass ball felt cold to the touch.
It was dead too.
The Neos each took a point forming a square.
Terra touched her forehead, light emitted from there. "Tell the memories to arise."
The Senshi looked to each other, wherever this was going they had to know.
Anyone who hard the power to stop them like that was a menace . . . .
Ami ventured a guess as to what was to be done: "Arises . . . Mercury?"
Her hand glowed faintly causing the tiniest beam in the ball.
They gasped. Doreira noticed the wind was beckoning.
"Wait a minute." Lita thought. "Arise Jupiter!" Now a stronger light came from her hand.
"Arise Venus!" The light grew . . . .
"Arise Mars!" And grew . . . .
"Arise Earth!" And grew stronger . . . .
"Arise Moon!" Now it was blinding . . . .
Six voices became one. "Arise Crystal Toyko."
Reni touched the ball, "Arise my home, arise!"
The Neos' chanted to the sleeping Mother Pluto.
"Awake the Body, the Soul, the Heart, and the Mind! Return the memories of lost time!"
The glass floated to the ceiling then burst into a rainbow . . . .
Now they were all caught in a storm of wind and light, their clothes changing,
their minds being shaped.
The room was growing like a flower, the decay revealing an enchanted place.
The Senshi bloomed into their royal selves, exquisite Ladies worthy of their title Mothers.
******* ******** ************
Reni saw herself became the Princess that Serenity, the Small Lady.
"Hello Reni." Queen Serenity and King Eydimon were extending their arms.
"Hello . . . . Mother. Hello Father."
Reni saw the Light.
The former Scouts shielded their eyes-blinding pink light cloaked their vision,
they couldn't clearly make out what was going on.
She had the wand posed.
Positioned on the enemy, Reni screamed out words foreign to herself yet so familiar . . . .
"NEO . . . SUGAR ROSE . . . ATTACK!"
A cyclone of pink dust and red fire had spiraled out at their enemy,
the energy surrounded the creatures then suddenly an explosion rocked the earth,
all the women braced themselves the blow.
The Neos stared straight at the turning sky watching its reaction.
BOOM!
Noise filled the air as the Minions were blown away . . . .
Terra felt the ground shake her soul.
Doreira felt the sky crying out.
The Sun was still hidden in darkness, Selena prayed desperately for it to come back.
And the innermost corners of the universe called out to Creda . . . . .
Pink dust descended slowly to the ground.
******* ******** ************
Reni couldn't believe it.
She saw herself float up to the sky, she remembered she went under the metamorphoses,
she recalled them clearly yelling 'Sailor Neo Combine' . . . .
She remembered the Power.
The Neos all felt it, they had connected once agin with their leader,
their Lady, she was risen . . . .
The older Senshi were still trying to gasp the situation in their minds.
Everyone was alright, they were able to look around,
Apollo sported his feline smile-yes, she was the One.
Sky couldn't contain her joy, "Go Lady!"
Selena had to cry out happily when the sky above faded back to normal,
Sun beaming brighter than ever, "She did it! The Nine Ladies are safe and the Neo Moon's free!"
"Yes!" Earth yelled, jumping into the air. "We found the Lady!"
"We are one again." Creda smiled, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead.
But in the mist of praise she felt it: A heartache.
Holding her head, pain throbbing in every beat, Reni felt herself blackout.
******* ******** ************
"The Lady!" Selena screamed in horror.
The girl was descending to the earth.
"She's drained!" Terra declared. "We gotta hold her up!"
"Psyche Levitation Maker Rise!" Creda yelled to stop her from slamming into the earth.
Silver energy came from her palms as silver air kept the girl afloat.
But the battle snapped her also-they weren't Super Neos yet.
"Keep her there Creda!" The turquoise sailor of the sky ordered.
"I . . . can't . . . . keep her up . . . She's gonna . . . . damn!"
Her silver confidant's concentration was broken.
"Oh no!" Serena shrieked, realizing what was about to occur.
"RENI!" The other Senshi yelled affright.
Sky jumped into the air-the air was pulling her up-and grabbed Reni's falling form.
Terra swallowed her heart back down her throat, Selena was ashen,
Creda was pulling herself back up.
Doreira had taken over, the Sky placed Reni on the ground gingerly.
She's okay." The silver sailor declared after checking her pulse.
Each heaved a sigh of relief. But Doreira jumped up:
"That's it! We can't wait. We leave now."
"But how in-" The copper sailor knew they were powerful enough to go back yet.
She continued: "You're to ONE with the transportation powers, get us home!"
Terra shot back, "Stupid! Do you think I'm that strong! It'll take a miracle . . . ."
"The Mothers!" Selena hit upon an idea. "Their pens!"
"Of yeah, if they didn't work THEN-do you think they'll work now!"
"Who are you?" Lita demanded, struggling to her feet.
"And what do you want with Reni?" Rei ordered.
"Leave her alone!" Serena wailed.
The other Senshi tried to do the same, hoping to save Reni from whatever those girls were.
Creda walked toward them then bowed, then suddenly she called for Sky.
"What is it now?" The powder-blue eyed Doreira growled.
"We must taken all of them home but the Ladies and our Queen will fight is."
"But-but the know that we'll never hurt the Lady!"
"No . . . . They don't, this is the past, not even the Lady knows what's going on."
The gold and copper and looked at the silver one solemnly.
She was forming a plan.
"Five of the Nine Points can get us home-we must channel it."
Terra spoke, "Their energy will channel well."
"But they couldn't change-" Selena remembered but Creda stopped her protest.
"That was the Dark One's doing-but she can't stop them, she can't stop us for long."
She looked back at the Mothers, their Ladies and kneed down.
"Keeper of Time, hear my call:
I, Sailor of the Soul, call upon the winds of Time to deliver us home." She closed her eyes.
Doreira lifted her head, the wind was listening.
This time she left Reni in Terra's and Selena's care, following Creda's lead.
"To the Queen Serenity: Grant the Ladies their powers, keep us strong.
We come to bring the Nine and the Family home."
She kneed directly across from Creda.
Suddenly the pens appeared in the Neo Sailors' hands,
rising in the air then floating back to the group of former Senshi and The Mask.
This time all of the older women and Darien were standing to face the Neos,
but they couldn't make sense of what was happening.
"Forgive us dear mothers, we only serve the Mothers, the Royal Family, and our next Lady."
Selena apologized as Terra directed the pens to her.
Tera took them in her hands, two in each palm, and held them to her chest.
"To the King, brother Eydimon, may the Earth see my way as I led us back today."
The pens began to glow, the signs of the Sailors appeared on all their heads,
former Senshi and Neos alike, the moon crests were there on the heads of the royal Family and cats . . . .
Selena was last but now she had found her place to speak:
"And to the Sun, the heart that beats, protect the next queen, our dear Small Lady."
Terra and Selena remained near Reni as a light for each of them began to shine.
Red and silver, green and turquoise, copper and ice blue, orange and gold, and lastly pink.
The Lights rose into the air, intermingling and becoming one.
The former Senshi shielded their eyes, "What's going on!?!" Serena yelled, copper vapor surrounded them-the sky was opening again. "Where you taking us!?!"
"Home." Creda replied when Doreira yelled out. "Sky Sleeper Hold Bind!"
The shade of sleep fell upon all them except the Neos.
"Earth Neo Thinkwave . . . ." Terra stood up, "F-L-O-A-T!"
******* ******** ************
Into the coming Night they were taken, they traveled as if they were in dreams,
the former Senshi were in deep slumbers.
Across time and the universe they were back to the Crystal Tokyo, back to the Neo Moon Kingdom.
******* ******** ************
Serena was the first open her eyes and started to turn over only to find lying in sand.
She shot up from her slumber and peered around.
They were upon a grey-colored strand, a deep azure hue sea mixed with a golden sunset.
"Huh?"
A groan behind her got her attention.
It was Darien coming to.
Jumping up she rushed to his side: "Darien! Darien, wake up! We're at some beach."
He muttered some inaudible phrase. "Letmesleepwoman."
Serena persisted in shaking him, "Darien!" Then she hit him.
"Ah!" He sprung as well, then shielded his eyes from the glare. "Serena, what in the hell-"
"Look!" She commanded.
He took in the sight of the unusually colored beach and the sound of waves,
he joined Serena in waking the other women from their hard slumbers.
"And I was just having the most wonderful dream-" Mina spoke in a heavily sedated voice.
"Yes, REM sleep will do that for you . . . " Ami noted after a deep yawn.
"Ok Meatball Head . . . . What's the big idea?"
Rei tried to fix her with a mean glare but failed since her eyes were drowsy revealing dark circles.
"DON'T YOU GET IT!" She wailed, "THIS ISN'T-"
"Home." Creda cut in advancing toward the group. "Not the old home you all know."
"But our home." Terra continued after her, "In Crystal Tokyo."
They looked around.
The beach stretched as far as the eye but on a hill above laid the shadow of an immense mansion that stretched even father.
"We want answers!"
Lita jumped looming over the two smaller girls.
They were bombarded with questions and demands by the sixsome.
"Where's Reni?" The Moon Queen demanded.
"How's Reni?" The Earth Prince followed in.
"Where are we?" The Sailor of Ice asked in a cold tone.
"Why are where here?" The fiery Sailor of Fire ordered.
"Who are you?" The Sailor of Thunder's voice boomed.
"And what happened to our clothes?" The Sailor of Love whined.
Their two partners joined them, all of them wore simple yet elegant dresses.
As if on a cue they swept into curtsies, standing side by side across from the six:
"We are connected . . . . Mind and body . . . Heart and soul . . . .
The Dear Lady Serenity connects us all. S
ailor Neos, students of the Sailor Scout Senshi, watches of the Nine Ladies, our Mothers."
"Lady Selena" The girl with sunny locks and fair skin smiles, "Daughter of the Lady Venus."
Her bright demeanor made the tiny beauty shine big.
The powder blue-eyed girl spoke, hair mixed with white and dark blue-black locks wearing a turquoise dress.
"Lady Doreira-Protege of the Lady Uranus, daughter of the Lady Jupiter."
"Daughters!" Mina and Lita cried then they sunk down in the sand. "Ohhhhhh-"
Her best friend and rival stepped up, the unofficial leader of them all.
"Lady Creda: The lost child of the Lady Mars and student of the Lady Saturn."
"Lost child?" Rei fixed the girl with a blank expression.
The grey eyed, silver metallic-haired girl spoke, skin dark as bronze in contrast to the others'
paler complexions. The last Neo stepped up, one of the most important.
"And the Lady Terra . . . keepers of Ladies Mercury and Neptune, sister-in-law
to the Lady Serenity Our Queen, sister of Eydimon."
Green-eyed, and brown-haired she beamed at the couple.
Faces fell, eyes grew wide, and there was even laughter.
"Sister!?!" The sixsome yelled.
"Hello, dear brother." She said to Darien.
"I . . . . Have a sister?" He was dumbfound.
"And the best one yet." She winked sly.
"Ha-ha." Doreira jeered. "Look at Miss Priss."
"We have time for truer formalities later." Creda cut in,
"But now we must really get you dressed in proper attire and cleaned up.
Your dress is most unbecoming for royalty!"
That's where the women noticed their dressed down states,
their original clothing had been replaced with ripped fabric,
Darien was only sporting a pair of tore jeans.
They resembled castaways and beach combers-not royalty.
"She's . . . . right guys." Rei admitted in defeat. "We have no other choice but to trust her." They all nodded in silent agreement, bracing themselves for a bumpy ride.
"And to get some clothes." Ami brushed heavily, "We really must be dressed decent."
The Neos led the way slowly with the Senshi following until . . . .
"Wait a minute-" Lita jumped in front of them, blocking the others.
"If you girls say you are who you are . . . . then where in the hell is Reni!?!"
They stopped then realized their youngest Scout wasn't with them.
Each of them exchanged a nervous glance between each other. They knew.
Doreira shrugged, "Did I also mention that she landed in another spot?"
******* ******** ************
And as a lady in fairy tales, Reni woke up a dream . . . .
"Lady . . . ."
That voice. She knew it.
The sound of waves beating against a rocky shore averted her attention: Waves?
She asked herself in the haziness, aren't waves found at a beach?
"Serenity . . . ."
Something or someone was teasing her hair.
Then it was him.
Her ears were straining to hear the voice again-
goose bumps ran all over her skin, a thousand sensations could be felt just upon hearing it.
"Lady . . . Serenity . . . ."
Water and sand clung to her bare legs, the air felt cooler, she was leaning against a body.
Wasn't it him?
Unlike the seagulls flying above noisily, a voice like the flowing breeze floated through her.
A strong arm drew her closer, a faint breath spilled over her face.
"Or should I call you Reni . . . ?"
Her mind screamed: 'It's him! IT'S HIM! Wake up stupid! This is your dream!'
Her eyes shot open this time, slowly the scene began to come into focus.
She whispered a name: "Helios?"
A face turned to hers, a pair of eyes looked downward.
His eyes.
White-colored locks flying in the wind, Helios was sitting there in the sand clad in a pair of blue slacks-
that and nothing more. Her hair spilled behind her back unbound.
Reni saw her legs disappear under a piece of fabric that barely reached her knees . . . .
Suddenly she spot up, startling the young man.
"Who brought . . . . How did I . . . . Are we . . . .Wasn't I . . . .What am I wearing!?!"
Then she knew who was coaxing her form her slumber when he let out a faint chuckle.
"Helios!"
Reni jumped up and threw her arms around his waist, sending him back first into the sand.
"Oh my God! It's you! It's you!"
"Lady." He simply smiled at that name, that person, tracing the outline of her soft lips.
His eyes were so clear.
So deep.
So divine.
"Welcome home."
So much so she tried to hit him . . . .
"Ah!" He screamed nursing his jaw-she had missed his eye but her fist connected with his mouth.
Now he saw the angry in those angelic features.
"I guess I deserve that." He finally admitted grimly.
"You lied to me!"
"I wasn't lying when I said-" But she loomed over him, ranting.
"You were in my dream and-and-and you scared me like that then you pretend that you're happy to see me?
How dare you treat me this way!"
Now the girl had her fists balled up, shaking with rage.
"Serenity . . . . Reni . . . . What I said is true."
"And what is that-that-that bull about some prophecy!?!"
"The Lady Mars gave it herself. The Queen and King themselves told me to stay away from you,
you're supposed to be married off before you're crowned Queen of Crystal Tokyo before anything bad could take place."
He slowly stood to his feet to face her.
"I even saw it in a dream myself-why do you think I even came in your dream?
The lines there began to soften. The wind blew in her face.
"That's the only way they can't find me."
"But . . . ." She maintained,
"But you said. . . ." Tears glistened. " . . . . I had your heart."
"A lady will have your heart one day but will she be a dark one?"
He quoted Mars' words. "You have it."
He indicated to the crystal locket around her neck then pointed to his chest.
"But for how long?"
"What does that mean-?" But he closed the gap between.
Taking her by the waist he pulled her closer, skin tingling at the touch, lips near her ears.
"I can't promise when I'll come back." Then she found herself trapped again in those eyes.
Anger fading away. "But I will."
When she blinked, Reni found herself falling back into the sand only to hear the other women calling her.
******* ******** ************
The dark scout of fury, Sailor Neo Mystique, found herself in fury on earth:
Alone.
A ray of light broke through the clouds slightly, Mystique growled at the sky.
No-she was powerful.
She had underestimated the Lady.
"Damn." Mystique cursed as black smoke began to form around her."I'm out."
Like dust, she blew away and disappeared to another place in time, an ancient and broken circus tent.
She rematerialized into her unusual dark- with a pair of plastic pants and matching tube top, hair in elaborate pin curls.
A lonely mirror was settled in the center of the stage.
"OOOHHHHHHHHH! THEY'RE ACTIVATED THE DAMN PENS!"
She slammed her fist into the ground enraged, feeling the room shake in fright:
"What can I do Mother? What can I do to save you?"
A faint light pulse inside, an unreadable form appeared in it.
"I learned a little secret long ago from the Dark Moon, my former home.
The Lady was once evil: A Black Lady."
"No! Really? Not little Miss Lily White Pure Princess Serenity!"
"Yessss, her. The very sammeeeeeeee."
"And the Sailor Scouts cured her of all evil, she saved the day . . .
And the handsome prince followed when the dish ran away with the spoon. What-ever."
Charisma didn't want to be bored with the same old fairy tale.
"Foolish child LISTEN!" The mist screamed
The girl back up cowering, "I hear you, Mother."
"Revive the Lady: Through her I can live again.
What Serenity did to you daughter-I'll do to hers.
I'll destroy the little princess and her Neos too."
"But what does going after them do-?"
"You are connected . . . .
Listen to your own damn speeches sometimes.
Together they are a type of body, the Lady Serenity's body.
When one is hurt, they all are hurt. But if their leader goes down, they all go down."
"You mean . . . . That they will help revive the Black Lady?"
"Oh yesssssss, daughter, it is a complained thing but actually very simple."
"Please tell me Mother. Let me know your divine plan."
"Right now, I'm only a spirit in a damn glass.
But when you gain control of the Neos, they'll have a body waiting for me-her body, the Lady will become weak and I'll take over."
"Then you'll rule the Neo Moon Kingdom!"
"Goood . . . . You're learning."
"But Mother . . . .
Where does the Earth Guardian fit into the equation?
And how will we accomplish this? And what about the Mothers, they still are powerful and feared-?"
"So many questions filling that pretty head. . . ." The mist laughed.
"You'll learn, child. You found your Neos-now drain them!"
A smile flickered across her face. "It is done."
******* ******** ************
It was as if they were walking through a dream.
Crystal Tokyo was a dream.
Silver colored beaches with ice jeweled colored waters out of picture books,
the greenest pastures with meadows with rainbows for flowers,
deep red sunsets with the orange Sun fading. The stars shined clearer for the Earth now, the breezes sweeter.
The now royal family and their newly made court were literally carried up the hill at the Neos' orders-
the five women and Reni having their own litter and personal attendants, the couple carried in the last but most ornate litter-to the grand estate with the Moon as its backdrop.
Even the cats were treated as royalty as they were carried on a special litter.
Their eyes were on a picnic as they took in the scenery:
Mina, Lita, and Rei were checking out the shirtless, muscular male servants carrying them leaving
Ami to be the only one taking in the breathtaking landscape.
Darien and Serena were into each other too much to notice anything.
Reni didn't have to look at anything-she knew this land by heart, she was watching the horizon wondering if Helios would enter return . . . .
"Lady?"
Someone was calling her that again, at first her heart swelled at the thought but she realized the voice was tiny and feminine.
"Umm hey-" She mustered up a smile. "Who are you again?"
"Oh I'm the Lady Selena, daughter of the Lady Venus. And this is Apollo!"
The golden-haired child indicated to the calico on her shoulder.
"Dear Lady." He lowered his furry head.
"Why aren't you girls riding on litters?" She asked, seeing that the Neos were on foot.
"They thought that you may need protection." The calico answered in a somber baritone.
"Besides, he's just too embarrassed to be near the fairest Diana . . . . Hey!"
The calico had bit her shoulder to stop her from saying any thing further.
"Thank you Sailor Sun, your input *wasn't* needed."
On the other side Terra moved toward to Reni, dropping her voice,
"Someone asked me to deliver a message."
"A message?" She breathed, "It couldn't be. . . ."
"They speak of the night is in disguise."
"Huh?" Reni blinked, what did that mean? Was it from HIM?
"You'll know soon. But don't tell a soul, especially my brother and your mother."
"This is so cool! We're having the ball before your coronation and your mar-"
Terra stopped her, "Hey Selena, tell Creda and Doreira to prepare n-o-w."
"But I was-" The smaller girl saw her mistake now and with a red face, scurried away.
"Is something wrong?" Reni was concerned.
"Wrong? Oh no dear Lady!" She faked a laugh, "Just making sure everything is right. Excuse me."
Terra soon followed her friend hurriedly leaving Reni to wonder.
"Weird."
******* ******** ************
"Man." She breathed a sigh of relief.
"Terra, why didn't you let me tell her she was getting married?" The golden one demanded.
"Selena, remember the Lady will no go through with a forced marriage!" The copper hissed.
"She l-o-v-e-s the Guardian."
"But still, she has to know. Like the Lady Mars said,
after the Mothers are awaken and their memories restored, we can't stop it."
"And the Lady Mars also said a great change would occur-that'll be the change!"
"The King is gonna kill you."
"Let him kill me, they went through with their marriage so why should they stop hers?"
"Because the oracle." The golden one shrugged.
"Selena, not everything the Lady Mars says is the gospel."
"We swore that we would watch the Lady."
"We are. We're making sure she doesn't run away." Terra explained, "Things can change."
"Well . . . . I hope so. I don't like that last prince she met."
"Damn pompous men from Galaxy."
Terra looked at Creda and Doreira at the head of the caravan of litters and servants.
"Let's go, we need to prepare for the Awaking."
The two ran to the front.
But they didn't realize that someone had heard all that was said . . . .
"So the brat's getting hitched?" A dark figure whispered, "Hmmmmm . . . ."
******* ******** ************
"It looks. . . ."
Serena's heart swelled at the thought of being in such a lovely place . . . .
Darien looked around the garden. "Dead."
The reality was shattered when they saw the limp flowers and black ground.
"What happen to the great kingdom?" Rei mocked, " Our great Crystal Tokyo?"
"A long sleep fell upon the Kingdom." Creda answered with a small smile that held secrets.
The Neos led the group through the vine-covered, dilapidated mansion.
They were expecting a glorious estate bright and beautiful:
But the place was only damp, dark and cold.
"So much will be explained dear Mothers, our Ladies."
"Ignore Creda's creepy talk." Doreira cut in,
"You don't remember it but the last time the Kingdom was threatened,
Queen Serenity placed everyone under a dep sleep to protect us from the Dark Moon and it's Circus.
The Nine Points veiled our dreams from them.
But a year has passed and Time will allow us to return everything back to normal . . . "
"A sleep?" Reni's heart picked up speed. "My home-?"
"Will be restored, don't worry Lady." Doreira reassured her with a hand on the shoulder.
"But we Neos escaped the sleep since we were in training in another universe."
Creda spoke again. "And now it's imperative we awaken you all since the Dark Scout is meddling."
"Dark Scout?" Ami asked, wondering how one of their own could attack them.
Lita was shocked, "That girl was one of us!"
"She's a Neo, a Scout like us all dear Ladies . . . . Creda knows her better than any of us."
The Sailor of the Universe cut her friend a mean glare.
The Earth returned with a large scepter that had a glass ball on the end,
The Sun returned the pens back to the Senshi then she placed Serena's locket in her hand.
"Let us gather."
Creda told them centering the scepter.
"Mothers and Family, please place a hand here." She indicated to the glass ball.
They followed and formed a circle, the glass ball felt cold to the touch.
It was dead too.
The Neos each took a point forming a square.
Terra touched her forehead, light emitted from there. "Tell the memories to arise."
The Senshi looked to each other, wherever this was going they had to know.
Anyone who hard the power to stop them like that was a menace . . . .
Ami ventured a guess as to what was to be done: "Arises . . . Mercury?"
Her hand glowed faintly causing the tiniest beam in the ball.
They gasped. Doreira noticed the wind was beckoning.
"Wait a minute." Lita thought. "Arise Jupiter!" Now a stronger light came from her hand.
"Arise Venus!" The light grew . . . .
"Arise Mars!" And grew . . . .
"Arise Earth!" And grew stronger . . . .
"Arise Moon!" Now it was blinding . . . .
Six voices became one. "Arise Crystal Toyko."
Reni touched the ball, "Arise my home, arise!"
The Neos' chanted to the sleeping Mother Pluto.
"Awake the Body, the Soul, the Heart, and the Mind! Return the memories of lost time!"
The glass floated to the ceiling then burst into a rainbow . . . .
Now they were all caught in a storm of wind and light, their clothes changing,
their minds being shaped.
The room was growing like a flower, the decay revealing an enchanted place.
The Senshi bloomed into their royal selves, exquisite Ladies worthy of their title Mothers.
******* ******** ************
Reni saw herself became the Princess that Serenity, the Small Lady.
"Hello Reni." Queen Serenity and King Eydimon were extending their arms.
"Hello . . . . Mother. Hello Father."