Chapter 5
"It is always sad to have to bury a child, but sometimes it is for the best." The pastor of the funeral service begins. "Those that knew Heather Ann, knew the pain that she suffered. Even though she seemed like she was getting better over the last few months, she truly was getting worse." The pastor looks out over the family and friends that are gathered around the graveside. "Heather touched many people with her kind heart and her loving spirit. She will be a beautiful angle in the heavens above."
Serena watches as the casket is lowered in to the ground. When the casket reaches the bottom, family members walk by the grave and throw a handful of dirt onto the casket. Serena watches until she is one of the last few people still there. She walks over to the mound of dirt and grabs a handful of dirt. She tosses it in and turns to walk away.
"Serena?"
Serena turns and sees a woman standing there. "Yes." She answers.
"Heather spoke of you a lot, but we never got to meet. I am her Aunt Melody."
"Heather was a very good friend." Serena says as a tear falls down her cheek. "I will miss her."
"Heather asked me to give this to you before she went to the hospital. You really brightened her last few months. I had not seen her that happy since before her parents died." Melody hands a small envelope to Serena. "Thank you for being there." Melody says as she turns and walks away.
Serena opens the envelope and pulls out a piece of paper.
*****
Merlin opens his eyes. He sees Luna is curled up on the bed before him. He carefully tries to rise, but finds that he is still too weak.
"I see you are awake again." Luna says as she opens her eyes and looks at him.
"How long have I been out?"
"A week." Luna says as she jumps off the bed. She runs out the door before he can say anything else. When she comes back, Mamoru is close behind.
"Luna you can not stay mad at him forever." Merlin says as he sees the look on Luna's face.
"Save your breath, Merlin." Mamoru says as he places some food down in front of Merlin. "She will never forgive me for driving Usagi away." Mamoru rubs Merlin's ears carefully, then walks from the room.
"You don't even see his pain through your own, do you?" Merlin says as he sits up to eat. Merlin takes a couple of bites, then lies down again. He glances over at Luna. "For being older, you can be so dense."
"Telling Usagi that he didn't lover her killed him more then anything. Did you ever ask him why he lied to her or did you just get mad and pout as always?"
"You still remember how I am." Luna whispers. "I was so angry that she left because of him."
"You really should not be angry at either. My ward still does not tell me everything." He sits back up and begins to eat. He watches as Luna jumps off the bed and leaves the room. "We can't afford to have enemies amongst ourselves." He thinks to himself as he finishes his meal.
*****
Serena sits on the nearby pier. She looks out over the Pacific Ocean and thinks about Heather and home. It's been a month since Heather's death. Serena had not gone back to school since that day and no one was there to make her. This left a lot of time for Serena to think, to mourn, and to be alone. It also gave her plenty of time to make a decision.
She watches as the sun slowly begins to set. She hears the planks of the pier creek slightly under someone's weight. She does not even turn to acknowledge their presence.
"Are you Princess Serenity?"
"Princess Serenity died a long time ago." Serena responds. "She was killed during a youma attack if I remember reading the story correctly."
"This stupid detector must be broken then, because it says you are Serenity." Serena turns around and sees a giant crystal creature standing behind her. Fear flashes in her mind, but quickly dies away. "Well, if Serenity is dead, then killing the other Senshi will be much easier." The creature mutters as it turns around and heads to a portal.
Serena pulls her transformation brooch from her pocket. She knows that so far her luck is holding out. As the creature steps into the portal, Serena begins to relax. As she puts the transformation brooch back in her pocket, the creature turns around and stares directly in her eyes.
"No, Serenity didn't die." He sneers at her. "Did you really think that you could trick one of Queen Crystalline's Hunter."
Serena raises her transformation brooch above her head. "Moon Cosmic," she begins to yell, but a hard blow to her side cuts her off as the air is ripped from her lungs.
When she hits the hard boards of the pier, she looks in the direction she had just been. She sees the brooch lying on the ground. She tries to stand, but pain races through her and her vision begins to go black. She shakes her head and gets her vision to clear just in time to watch the creature step on her transformation brooch. "No." She whispers as her head falls.
She looses all consciousness as she hears the creatures laugh.
*****
Kaylee stares out the classroom window. She has not been able to pay attention in class all day. Something is bothering her, but she can't put her finger on it. As she continues to stare, a feeling of dread fills her. "No." She whispers. Tears start to fall down her face as she continues to look out the window.
The bell rings and pulls her from her thoughts. She grabs her things and runs for the door. Ami, Minako, and Makoto watch in shock as they see her run out the door. They grab their things and start to walk forward. They see Kayla is just sitting there.
"Is your sister okay, Kayla?" Minako asks in a concerned tone.
"I don't know." She answers in a solemn tone. She looks into Minako's eyes. "We need your help." She whispers to Minako. "I need to talk to you all. Meet me in the park with Raye and Amber in one hour. There is a park bench by the lake that the three of you know well. That is where we will meet." Kayla says as she turns and runs out the door.
"Who is Amber?" Makoto asks.
"How does she know about Raye?" Ami asks.
"What just happened here?" Minako asks as she stares after Kayla.
*****
Kayla bursts in the front door of the apartment. She runs into the room where she knows that she will find Kaylee. She sees Luna and Merlin sitting on the bed and Mamoru holding Kaylee in his arms.
"Kaylee." Kayla whispers as she nears her.
"She won't talk to us." Merlin answers.
"Kaylee!" Kayla yells at her. "We are Sailor Senshi! It is time for this to end!"
"We can't." Kaylee whispers.
"The Silver Crystal has been shattered, and Serenity is dead."
Mamoru gets a blank look on his face as the news hits him. "Usako is dead." He whispers. "I will never get to tell her I love her."
Kayla walks over and sits down on the other side of Mamoru. She lays her head on Mamoru's shoulder. Tears begin to fall down her face. They sit there in silence for a long time before Kayla remembers the meeting. "Merlin, Luna, and Kaylee, we have a meeting with the other Senshi in fifteen minutes."
"Who called the meeting?" Aliegh calls from the other room.
Dani comes running in and jumps on the bed. "We got worried when we didn't see you guys leave the school."
"So, we have been searching for you both."
"Kaylee and I need to leave so we can make it on time." Kayla looks at Luna and Merlin. "You four catch up after you get Dani and Aliegh updated."
"Will you go with us, Mamoru?" Kaylee asks. She sees that he has not even heard her.
"Mamoru will be no help right now, Kaylee." Kayla takes her hand and pulls her up off the bed. "We must finish this fight now. We have already lost too many."
Kaylee and Kayla kiss Mamoru's cheeks and turn to leave. "Good-bye, Big Brother."
*****
"We have not been here in along time." Minako says as she looks around.
"Not since Usagi and Mamoru first broke up. We had to come make her go home almost ever night that first week." Makoto says.
"That was awhile ago." Everyone looks up and sees Raye standing nearby. By her side, is someone they don't recognize, but figure that it is Amber.
Amber steps forward. "My name is Amber. It is so nice to see you all again."
"Again?" Minako asks.
"Amber, I thought you would have figured out by being with Raye that they don't know us." Everyone turns to see that Kayla stands there with Kaylee behind her.
"I have been with Raye so much, I forgot, Kayla."
"You two know each other." Raye, Minako, Makoto and Ami say in unison.
"Let me explain." Kayla says s she walks over to the bench. She sits down and takes a deep breath. "We know who you are, and we know who Usagi is." She looks around to see that everyone now stands in front of her. "Now, that Serenity is gone, it is time for us to stand up to Queen Crystalline and to take back what she has stolen."
"Without Serenity to use the Silver Crystal we will be defeated again." Amber says. "Beside, we are not a full team either. We need to wait until Serenity and Ocean get here."
"They will not be joining us." Kaylee whispers from beside Kayla.
"Kayla what is she talking about." Amber yells at Kayla.
"We can sit her and do nothing and die." Kayla answers through clinched teeth. "Or, we try to fight and live or die." She looks down at the ground as the tears begin to well in her eyes. "Ocean has been captured and Serenity is dead. The crystal has been destroyed."
"No!" Raye yells.
"Inner Senshi, we are what is left of the Elemental Senshi." Kayla says as she closes her eyes. "When we lived on the moon, we were all friends, but one day we had to leave. That was the same day that you were introduced to the Elemental Senshi."
"Senshi!" A voice hollers from the sky as it begins to circle downward. A white hawk lands beside Kayla and Kaylee. "My name is Aliegh, Guardian of Kaylee and Kayla. Please allow me to awaken your memories, Senshi."
They nod in agreement.
*****
"Mamoru," Luna says as she curls up in his lap. "The Senshi will need Tuxedo Kamen."
"Usako." He whispers. "She didn't deserve what she got, Luna." He looks down at Luna. "I am sorry. I never expected her to leave."
"Are you going to risk losing the rest of the Senshi because you are too busy feeling sorry for yourself?" Luna looks up at him. "I can't sit here and think about what may happen to them. I have to go."
Luna jumps down and runs for the bedroom door. She glances back to see if he is moving, but there is no sign of movement. She sighs and continues out the door.
"I can't leave them to die, Usako. I will fight beside them and join you in death." He stands and raises his transformation rose above his head. He runs out the bedroom door toward the balcony. He sees Luna standing there on the railing. They smile at each other as he picks her up into his arms.
"Where are they meeting, Luna?"
"Aliegh said something about the park."
"Let's go, Old Friend." He smiles at Luna. "It is time for the Elemental Senshi to meet Tuxedo Kamen."