AUTHORS NOTES
DISCLAIMERS: Rights to Sailor Moon are owned by Naoko Taceuchi, Kondansha Publishing, Toei, DiC, Optimum Productions, Cloverway...am I forgetting anything?
This story is supposed to provide an alternate story line to the Sailor Moon series. It starts after the Sailor Moon R series ends (the Death Phantom is destroyed and Rini goes home to Crystal Tokyo). The next events are of my own creation and do not relate to the Sailor Moon S series (at least not intentionally).
I finished this fanfic over a year ago, before the S and SuperS seasons were dubbed in America. Please excuse any attack names that are DiC-ish, because that is what I had to work with at the time. ;) This story, after looking back, seems a cross between Japanese and American references. So, please excuse the term "Negaverse" as opposed to "Dark Kingdom", because the story focuses on Jedite.
Yes, I wrote "Scouts" instead of "Senshi" as well. My intentions are on the side of good, however, as I rectify this...NOW! Pay attention, now!
Also, each part posted here will contain two chapters.
Anyway, please enjoy the story!
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CHAPTER 9
Lilithite had to support Jedite as the portal closed behind him. The energy drain had been too much for him. All the time spent in the prison crystal had made Jedite's body a bit weaker than it once was. That was why the energy drain was so taxing on him. However, his mind, soul, and power had grown by leaps and bounds as he thought of revenge against the Sailor Scouts.
Even though the energy drain had left him weak for the moment, Jedite was pleased. The revenge had been carried out with exact precision and perfect planning. Because of him and his new assistant, Sailor Moon and the Sailor Scouts were completely and utterly destroyed. Even Tuxedo Mask failed to overpower him. Everything seemed to be going his way. A smile passed his lips.
His arm was around Lilithite's shoulder, leaning upon her for support. "Can you walk on your own?" she asked.
"I need…to sit," he muttered in response.
Lilithite nodded, using her free hand to make several gestures. From the mist-filled ground, an object began to rise and form in front of their eyes. What appeared from the mist was a plush couch, perfect for resting. She sat Jedite down on it gently, sitting beside him if he needed any more of her help.
Jedite once again smiled. "Lilithite," he started to ask, "has it sunk in for you, yet?"
"No, it hasn't," she responded. He was of course referring to the "final battle", or so he thought, with the Sailor Scouts. "It's hard to believe that they'll no longer be in our way!"
"Just the way Queen Beryl wanted it," he added. Energy was returning to him fast. He was absorbing the negative energy around him for his strength to return. When he obtained enough, he stood up. "However, that witch is dead," he commented. "And we have done exactly what she could never have dreamed of. Have complete control with no opposition!"
Lilithite still sat upon the couch, half listening to what he was talking about, and half marveling at how he looked. "He is so built!" she thought to herself. When she brought herself back from the Bahamas, a thought struck her. "That's all well and good," she stated, "but what good is it without the force to back it up?"
"What do you mean," Jedite responded in a half snarl.
"What I mean," replied Lilithite, "is that you promised an entire army of soldiers were to walk on Earth within twenty-four hours. We don't have anymore agents left. They're all either dead or trapped in that prison."
"Exactly," said Jedite, as if she hit the nail on the head.
Lilithite was confused. "What does that mean?" she asked.
"Follow me," Jedite responded, "and you will know all."
He extended his hand out toward Lilithite, a signal for her to take it. She took it with pleasure. She didn't know what he was thinking, but her gut told her that it was going to be good."
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"Are you feeling better, Serena?" asked Lita.
Serena was able to return to her feet. "I little, I guess," she uttered. She still couldn't believe that her broach, as well as the Scout's transformation sticks, were gone. She felt somewhat lost within a labyrinth, without any way of finding her way out. However, the mourning stopped for a while when she realized something. "Darien!" she shouted suddenly. "Where is he? He needs me!"
"Amy's checking him out," said Raye. "She's the 'doctor' of the group."
Serena nodded and rushed over to his direction. The other Scouts quickly followed. Amy was hovering over Darien with her computer in hand. She typed furiously, scanning his body for negative energy and any sustaining injuries she could find. "Darien!" shouted Serena as she headed toward her fallen love.
He was sitting up now, trying to shut out the remaining pain. He took Serena's hand when she came. "Serena," he said, giving her a look with his baby blue eyes.
"The scan's complete," said Amy, folding he computer back up. "There are no broken bones, and there seems to be no negative energy in or around your body. I think your going to be okay!"
"Did ya hear that?" said Serena joyously, helping Darien up. "Your gonna be alright!"
Leaning on Serena for support, Darien and the rest headed for a bench nearby. Once they sat down, the other Scouts stood around them. "Do you feel alright?" asked a concerned Serena.
"I just need to rest for a few minutes," he replied. "Nothing's broken…hey, what happened to your cheek?" Darien pointed to a small bruise upon Serena's cheek.
"You can thank Raye for that," she replied. "She tried to 'slap some sense' into me when the enemies left." Both glared at Raye, who immediately blushed.
"Can you still transform into Tuxedo Mask?" asked Mina. "We lost our powers, but I don't think Jedite took yours."
"Let's see," Darien replied as he reached into his green jacket. He pulled out a rose, however it was brown and wilted. The stem was broken, and nothing happened when he raised it into the air. Darien sighed. "I guess Tuxedo Mask took the brute of the punishment when Jedite forced that energy beam onto me."
"I'm very sorry," said Amy, offering her condolences.
"I'm sorry, too," said Darien. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you all when Jedite took your wands."
"You don't have to blame yourself, Darien," Serena said. "Nobody's blaming anyone. We just underestimated the enemy, that's all." She curled up her hand into a fist. "I still wish I could get my hands around that scraggly neck of Lilithite's!" she exclaimed.
"Serena's right," said Amy. "There's no room for blame, here. Right now, we need to think about how to get the Imperium Silver Crystal back."
"That's right," said Lita. "No one saw it when Jedite dropped it. It should be around here somewhere."
"It could be closer than you think," Darien remarked in a mysterious tone.
"What do you mean?" asked Raye.
Darien once again reached inside his jacket. He removed a familiar object from it's pocket. "I believe this belongs to you," he said, depositing it in Serena's hands.
Everybody gasped. "The Imperium Silver Crystal!" all the girls shouted.
Serena was shocked as anyone. When she saw the shimmering object within her hands, she put her arms around Darien and kissed him with so much force that he nearly fell off the bench. But he managed to straighten himself out and return the same amount of force. Serena broke off the embrace to ask how he obtained the crystal.
"When the crystal fell," Darien began to explain, "I caught it and pocketed it before anyone else saw. Then Jedite blasted me before I get it back to you," he said to Serena specifically. Another sigh escaped his lips. "A lot of good it does us now."
"Yeah," said Mina, "but look on the bright side. At least the Negaverse doesn't have the crystal!"
"Right," said Lita. "As long as we have the Silver Crystal, there's still hope."
"Hope," muttered Serena, staring into the brilliance of the Imperium Silver Crystal. "That's the one thing I'm short of."
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Luna was sitting by Darien's motorcycle, unaware of the conversations the girls were having. She wanted to be alone for a little while, and try to let all thoughts of the day sink in. The Sailor Scouts were gone thanks to Jedite and his new apprentice. She couldn't think of how things could get any better.
"Luna!" rang a familiar voice.
She looked up to see Artemis running toward her. She sighed. "What is it, Artemis?" she asked half-heartedly.
"I've got some great news!" he exclaimed. "I was listening on the Scouts' conversation, and we've found the Imperium Silver Crystal! Darien had it all along"
"He did? We have?" asked Luna. Her spirits began to rise. "That is some good news!" But as quick as it had risen, her spirits lowered once more. "But what good is it now without the proper activator?" She was referring to Serena's transformation broach.
"I know," Artemis responded, "but we can at least breath a little easier."
"I guess there's that," said Luna, "but what do we do until then?"
Artemis didn't have a clue. Neither did Luna. Both cats let a few moments of silence go between them. Neither of them new what do. But after those few minutes past, a wave of inspiration swept over Artemis' mind. The idea hit him so fast that he wondered why he didn't think of it sooner. He suddenly stood up. "I've got it!" he shouted.
"Got what," muttered Luna.
"This is it, Luna!" shouted Artemis. "This is the solution!"
"Well, spit it out!" yelled Luna, unenthusiastically.
Artemis began to speak in riddles. "Remember back on the Moon before Queen Beryl attacked us?"
"Of course," snapped Luna. "But now isn't the time of think of such things…"
"Come on!" shouted Artemis, cutting her off. "Think back. Where was everyone before Queen Beryl attacked?"
"Alright, alright," said Luna, "I'll play along." She began to go back in her mind to the Silver Millenium, to the times when life was peaceful. "Let's see," she began. "Queen Serenity was ruling, Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion were hopelessly in love, and the Sailor Scouts were in their final stages of training. Satisfied?"
"And how do you think the Scouts did in their training down here on Earth?" Artemis encouraged.
"Obviously they passed with flying colors. What planet besides Earth have you been…." Suddenly Luna was on the same page of thought as Artemis. The same wave of inspiration swept over her as well. "And if they passed their training," she uttered slowly, "they're technically qualified for the…"
"That's right!" shouted Artemis, ecstatic.
"My goodness, you're right!" Luna happily exclaimed. "And with the Imperium Silver Crystal, we can open the door to…but what if they're not ready?"
"Hey, with both Queen Beryl and Death Phantom under their belts, there's no question that they're ready!"
A wave of joy washed over both cats, thinking of the possibilities. "Artemis," exclaimed Luna joyously, "there may be hope for you yet!"
The cats then took off to see Serena and the rest of the crew. "Serena!" she shouted as she ran towards them. "I have great news! There's a way to return your powers!"
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CHAPTER 10
Jedite and Lilithite stopped walking when they came outside the Prison of Lost Souls. "We're here," he said.
Lilithite was once again confused. "Why are we stopping here?"
"This is where my plan is going to take effect!" he cackled.
The twosome entered the Prison once more. Lilithite, for the life of her, could not understand why Jedite wanted to come back here. "You were held captive here for over a year!" she shouted. "Why are we here again?"
"It's really simple," said a confident Jedite. "Just take a look around."
Lilithite did what she was told. She looked upon all the green crystals which held the prisoners of Queen Beryl. She saw the Queen's first general, Gelstar, trapped within the first crystal. The record of his crime was lost in time, however, but speculation through history told that he must have spilled a drink all over her dress. Lilithite then started to walk down the long corridors, observing other monsters and generals who failed during the years. She saw two-headed monsters, weak human-like operatives, and some of the most historic Generals throughout Negaverse history. There was Fistan, the first general who conquered a planet, Tispolite, a well-rounded general who first discovered the universe that contained Earth, and Ronaldite, the one who opened the door to Earth-realm universe. Each of these monsters/generals performed an act or committed a crime against the Queen which she thought was totally unacceptable. She imprisoned them in the fabled green-sleep crystals, sending them to sleep forever.
One set of crystals really caught Lilithite's eye. A set of seven crystals were separated from the rest. They contained very powerful ogre-type monsters known as the Seven Generals of the Apocalypse. In the days before the Seven Shadows, these were the Queen's most successful henchmen throughout history. They had conquered countless worlds, and had their swords stained with many of the people they had slain. But as soon as the Seven Shadows proved their worth to the Queen, she sent the Seven Generals of Apocalypse to an early imprisonment due to the superiority of their counterparts. Lilithite had always admired their work.
She had finished her "tour" of the prison and returned to Jedite. "Well, I took a look around," she said. "What's so special about this?"
"Look at their faces," Jedite began. "Their faces are full of anguish and pain. The pain is from being trapped by their own leader. The leader that had been faithful to them. The leader that had been loyal to them. The leader that destroyed their freedom whenever things didn't do their way." Jedite began to smile. "These fools have been betrayed. They have lost their only thought of leadership. It is time to give them a new leader. A leader that will be loyal and stay loyal until the bitter end!"
Lilithite finally understood. "Are you going to free them?" she asked enthusiastically.
"Yes," he responded. "These warriors of old will be the wave of the future! With these mighty warriors with the strength and knowledge of times past, we will conquer new worlds and enslave many more beings for eons to come!"
"Oh, Jedite," Lilithite swooned, "You are so brilliant! I hope to be by your side when all this happens!"
"Of course, my dear," Jedite assured her. "You shall be the commander of these forces. Besides, you are the one who freed me from my imprisonment. I shall never forget that."
Jedite brought her close to him. He took her chin into his hand, and brought her head close to his lips. Lilithite had always dreamed of this moment, but never thought it would come true. She felt a wave of passion streak across her as his lips touched hers in a firm embrace.
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"Serena!" Luna shouted as she ran towards the group. "I have great news! There's a way to return your powers!"
All the Scouts, startled by this amazing announcement. "What?" said Lita.
"Really?" uttered a shocked Raye.
"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" said Serena.
"The idea was pushed out of our minds until now," Luna explained. "In fact, it was Artemis that came up with it." Artemis blushed for a second.
"Well, how do we get our powers back?" asked Amy.
"Before we tell you, we have to explain some things to you, first," remarked Artemis.
"I'll go first," said Luna, clearing her throat. "During the Silver Millenium, in the years before Queen Beryl attacked, your elders passed the Guardian powers onto a new generation: the five of you. Thus you began the first stage of your training: the Scout phase."
"Scout phase?" asked Mina.
"You mean the Sailor Scouts are just Sailors in training?" added Lita.
"That's right," said Artemis. "In the Scout phase, the Sailors first learn to use their powers, and how to perfect them."
"I remember," said Luna, "that Princess Serenity never took her training seriously back on the moon, either. She was constantly dreaming of Prince Endymion and the Earth."
"Well whatta ya know," Raye chimed in, "she was a ditz back then, too."
"Very funny, Raye!" Serena snapped back.
"Anyway," said Artemis, trying to get everyone to listen to him once again, "Queen Beryl attacked us before you could finish the Scout phase, so when we found you again, we just picked up where we left off."
"Then," added Luna, "when we both thought you were ready, we shifted into the next phase: the Star Scout phase."
"That explains the Star sticks," said Amy.
"Right as usual, Mercury," said Artemis.
"Wait a minute," said Serena. "Did I go through the same phases as the rest of the Scouts?"
"As a matter of fact," said Luna, "no you didn't. The training for Sailor Moon is a bit different then the rest, for she's the leader."
"Let me guess," said Serena, "my steps were Prism and Crystal?"
"That's right," said Artemis. "When your first broach broke, we kinda had to rush into the next phase for you. Luckily, Queen Serenity thought you were ready."
"But now what do we do?" asked Amy. "Our powers are gone, and that means we can't finish our training."
"But you already did," said a confident Luna.
"We did?" asked Raye.
"Yep," said Artemis. "As Luna put it, you passed with flying colors."
"You're now ready to take the final step," said Luna, "in becoming full fledge Sailor Guardians!"
"Sailor Guardians?" asked Lita.
"Is that any different than Sailor Scouts?" asked Serena.
"There's a big difference," said Luna. "The Sailor Guardians have a sworn duty to become the Guardians of their respected planets."
"You would still be known as Sailor Moon, Mars, and the rest," said Artemis, "but your official titles would be something like The Guardian of the Moon, or The Guardian of Mars, and it goes on like that."
"Or you could just shorten the names to 'Guardian Moon', or 'Guardian Mars', and so on." added Luna. "Just like on the days of the Moon Kingdom."
"Wow," said Serena. "Would we have to change our names to Sailor Guardians instead of Sailor Scouts? I kinda liked that name."
"All of us do," said Amy.
"You can call yourselves whatever you like," said Artemis, "but like we said, those would be your official titles."
"Well, how do we become Sailor Guardians?" asked Mina.
"That's what I was going to explain next," said Luna. "To become Sailor Guardians, there is a test that each of you must pass. The tests will test your specific attributes, such as intelligence and compassion. These tests prove without a doubt if you are worthy of receiving the Guardian Power."
"Where do they take the tests," asked Darien.
"Thank goodness you saved the Imperium Silver Crystal," Luna started. "We need it to open a portal. The portal will take the Scouts to the tests."
"But we need to act quickly," said Artemis. "In about twenty-three hours, Jedite's gonna come back with new army, or so he says."
"But we need time to prepare!" said Raye. "Thanks to Jedite and that flake he's got with him, we don't have any time."
"Raye's right," said Serena. "We can't just rush off and take the tests now!"
"You're right," said Luna. "We'll give you an hour to prepare yourselves."
"An hour?" asked a startled Lita. "Is that enough time?"
"Believe me, it's all you need," said Artemis with a smile. "All you need to do is get in the right frame of mind. Just think of your past accomplishments, and believe in yourselves. That's all there is to it."
"We should start as soon as possible," said Amy. "Time is of the essence!"
"Right!" said everyone else.
The five girls-with Darien accompanying Serena-left the bench and began to mentally prepare themselves. Luna turned to Artemis, unsure of herself. "I know they'll pass," she said, "but I can't help having my doubts."
"I know what you mean," responded Artemis. "But like always, the Sailor Scouts will come back winners. Just like Queen Beryl and Death Phantom!"
Luna and Artemis just stared at eachother, no need for words between them. They just sat and counted the minutes before the hour of preparation ended.
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NEXT TIME...
The Sailor Senshi prepare for what lies ahead of them: The Guardian Trials. The cats use the Imperium Silver Crystal to open the doorway, as destiny calls. Amy Mizuno is the first one up at bat.
DISCLAIMERS: Rights to Sailor Moon are owned by Naoko Taceuchi, Kondansha Publishing, Toei, DiC, Optimum Productions, Cloverway...am I forgetting anything?
This story is supposed to provide an alternate story line to the Sailor Moon series. It starts after the Sailor Moon R series ends (the Death Phantom is destroyed and Rini goes home to Crystal Tokyo). The next events are of my own creation and do not relate to the Sailor Moon S series (at least not intentionally).
I finished this fanfic over a year ago, before the S and SuperS seasons were dubbed in America. Please excuse any attack names that are DiC-ish, because that is what I had to work with at the time. ;) This story, after looking back, seems a cross between Japanese and American references. So, please excuse the term "Negaverse" as opposed to "Dark Kingdom", because the story focuses on Jedite.
Yes, I wrote "Scouts" instead of "Senshi" as well. My intentions are on the side of good, however, as I rectify this...NOW! Pay attention, now!
Also, each part posted here will contain two chapters.
Anyway, please enjoy the story!
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CHAPTER 9
Lilithite had to support Jedite as the portal closed behind him. The energy drain had been too much for him. All the time spent in the prison crystal had made Jedite's body a bit weaker than it once was. That was why the energy drain was so taxing on him. However, his mind, soul, and power had grown by leaps and bounds as he thought of revenge against the Sailor Scouts.
Even though the energy drain had left him weak for the moment, Jedite was pleased. The revenge had been carried out with exact precision and perfect planning. Because of him and his new assistant, Sailor Moon and the Sailor Scouts were completely and utterly destroyed. Even Tuxedo Mask failed to overpower him. Everything seemed to be going his way. A smile passed his lips.
His arm was around Lilithite's shoulder, leaning upon her for support. "Can you walk on your own?" she asked.
"I need…to sit," he muttered in response.
Lilithite nodded, using her free hand to make several gestures. From the mist-filled ground, an object began to rise and form in front of their eyes. What appeared from the mist was a plush couch, perfect for resting. She sat Jedite down on it gently, sitting beside him if he needed any more of her help.
Jedite once again smiled. "Lilithite," he started to ask, "has it sunk in for you, yet?"
"No, it hasn't," she responded. He was of course referring to the "final battle", or so he thought, with the Sailor Scouts. "It's hard to believe that they'll no longer be in our way!"
"Just the way Queen Beryl wanted it," he added. Energy was returning to him fast. He was absorbing the negative energy around him for his strength to return. When he obtained enough, he stood up. "However, that witch is dead," he commented. "And we have done exactly what she could never have dreamed of. Have complete control with no opposition!"
Lilithite still sat upon the couch, half listening to what he was talking about, and half marveling at how he looked. "He is so built!" she thought to herself. When she brought herself back from the Bahamas, a thought struck her. "That's all well and good," she stated, "but what good is it without the force to back it up?"
"What do you mean," Jedite responded in a half snarl.
"What I mean," replied Lilithite, "is that you promised an entire army of soldiers were to walk on Earth within twenty-four hours. We don't have anymore agents left. They're all either dead or trapped in that prison."
"Exactly," said Jedite, as if she hit the nail on the head.
Lilithite was confused. "What does that mean?" she asked.
"Follow me," Jedite responded, "and you will know all."
He extended his hand out toward Lilithite, a signal for her to take it. She took it with pleasure. She didn't know what he was thinking, but her gut told her that it was going to be good."
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"Are you feeling better, Serena?" asked Lita.
Serena was able to return to her feet. "I little, I guess," she uttered. She still couldn't believe that her broach, as well as the Scout's transformation sticks, were gone. She felt somewhat lost within a labyrinth, without any way of finding her way out. However, the mourning stopped for a while when she realized something. "Darien!" she shouted suddenly. "Where is he? He needs me!"
"Amy's checking him out," said Raye. "She's the 'doctor' of the group."
Serena nodded and rushed over to his direction. The other Scouts quickly followed. Amy was hovering over Darien with her computer in hand. She typed furiously, scanning his body for negative energy and any sustaining injuries she could find. "Darien!" shouted Serena as she headed toward her fallen love.
He was sitting up now, trying to shut out the remaining pain. He took Serena's hand when she came. "Serena," he said, giving her a look with his baby blue eyes.
"The scan's complete," said Amy, folding he computer back up. "There are no broken bones, and there seems to be no negative energy in or around your body. I think your going to be okay!"
"Did ya hear that?" said Serena joyously, helping Darien up. "Your gonna be alright!"
Leaning on Serena for support, Darien and the rest headed for a bench nearby. Once they sat down, the other Scouts stood around them. "Do you feel alright?" asked a concerned Serena.
"I just need to rest for a few minutes," he replied. "Nothing's broken…hey, what happened to your cheek?" Darien pointed to a small bruise upon Serena's cheek.
"You can thank Raye for that," she replied. "She tried to 'slap some sense' into me when the enemies left." Both glared at Raye, who immediately blushed.
"Can you still transform into Tuxedo Mask?" asked Mina. "We lost our powers, but I don't think Jedite took yours."
"Let's see," Darien replied as he reached into his green jacket. He pulled out a rose, however it was brown and wilted. The stem was broken, and nothing happened when he raised it into the air. Darien sighed. "I guess Tuxedo Mask took the brute of the punishment when Jedite forced that energy beam onto me."
"I'm very sorry," said Amy, offering her condolences.
"I'm sorry, too," said Darien. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you all when Jedite took your wands."
"You don't have to blame yourself, Darien," Serena said. "Nobody's blaming anyone. We just underestimated the enemy, that's all." She curled up her hand into a fist. "I still wish I could get my hands around that scraggly neck of Lilithite's!" she exclaimed.
"Serena's right," said Amy. "There's no room for blame, here. Right now, we need to think about how to get the Imperium Silver Crystal back."
"That's right," said Lita. "No one saw it when Jedite dropped it. It should be around here somewhere."
"It could be closer than you think," Darien remarked in a mysterious tone.
"What do you mean?" asked Raye.
Darien once again reached inside his jacket. He removed a familiar object from it's pocket. "I believe this belongs to you," he said, depositing it in Serena's hands.
Everybody gasped. "The Imperium Silver Crystal!" all the girls shouted.
Serena was shocked as anyone. When she saw the shimmering object within her hands, she put her arms around Darien and kissed him with so much force that he nearly fell off the bench. But he managed to straighten himself out and return the same amount of force. Serena broke off the embrace to ask how he obtained the crystal.
"When the crystal fell," Darien began to explain, "I caught it and pocketed it before anyone else saw. Then Jedite blasted me before I get it back to you," he said to Serena specifically. Another sigh escaped his lips. "A lot of good it does us now."
"Yeah," said Mina, "but look on the bright side. At least the Negaverse doesn't have the crystal!"
"Right," said Lita. "As long as we have the Silver Crystal, there's still hope."
"Hope," muttered Serena, staring into the brilliance of the Imperium Silver Crystal. "That's the one thing I'm short of."
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Luna was sitting by Darien's motorcycle, unaware of the conversations the girls were having. She wanted to be alone for a little while, and try to let all thoughts of the day sink in. The Sailor Scouts were gone thanks to Jedite and his new apprentice. She couldn't think of how things could get any better.
"Luna!" rang a familiar voice.
She looked up to see Artemis running toward her. She sighed. "What is it, Artemis?" she asked half-heartedly.
"I've got some great news!" he exclaimed. "I was listening on the Scouts' conversation, and we've found the Imperium Silver Crystal! Darien had it all along"
"He did? We have?" asked Luna. Her spirits began to rise. "That is some good news!" But as quick as it had risen, her spirits lowered once more. "But what good is it now without the proper activator?" She was referring to Serena's transformation broach.
"I know," Artemis responded, "but we can at least breath a little easier."
"I guess there's that," said Luna, "but what do we do until then?"
Artemis didn't have a clue. Neither did Luna. Both cats let a few moments of silence go between them. Neither of them new what do. But after those few minutes past, a wave of inspiration swept over Artemis' mind. The idea hit him so fast that he wondered why he didn't think of it sooner. He suddenly stood up. "I've got it!" he shouted.
"Got what," muttered Luna.
"This is it, Luna!" shouted Artemis. "This is the solution!"
"Well, spit it out!" yelled Luna, unenthusiastically.
Artemis began to speak in riddles. "Remember back on the Moon before Queen Beryl attacked us?"
"Of course," snapped Luna. "But now isn't the time of think of such things…"
"Come on!" shouted Artemis, cutting her off. "Think back. Where was everyone before Queen Beryl attacked?"
"Alright, alright," said Luna, "I'll play along." She began to go back in her mind to the Silver Millenium, to the times when life was peaceful. "Let's see," she began. "Queen Serenity was ruling, Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion were hopelessly in love, and the Sailor Scouts were in their final stages of training. Satisfied?"
"And how do you think the Scouts did in their training down here on Earth?" Artemis encouraged.
"Obviously they passed with flying colors. What planet besides Earth have you been…." Suddenly Luna was on the same page of thought as Artemis. The same wave of inspiration swept over her as well. "And if they passed their training," she uttered slowly, "they're technically qualified for the…"
"That's right!" shouted Artemis, ecstatic.
"My goodness, you're right!" Luna happily exclaimed. "And with the Imperium Silver Crystal, we can open the door to…but what if they're not ready?"
"Hey, with both Queen Beryl and Death Phantom under their belts, there's no question that they're ready!"
A wave of joy washed over both cats, thinking of the possibilities. "Artemis," exclaimed Luna joyously, "there may be hope for you yet!"
The cats then took off to see Serena and the rest of the crew. "Serena!" she shouted as she ran towards them. "I have great news! There's a way to return your powers!"
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CHAPTER 10
Jedite and Lilithite stopped walking when they came outside the Prison of Lost Souls. "We're here," he said.
Lilithite was once again confused. "Why are we stopping here?"
"This is where my plan is going to take effect!" he cackled.
The twosome entered the Prison once more. Lilithite, for the life of her, could not understand why Jedite wanted to come back here. "You were held captive here for over a year!" she shouted. "Why are we here again?"
"It's really simple," said a confident Jedite. "Just take a look around."
Lilithite did what she was told. She looked upon all the green crystals which held the prisoners of Queen Beryl. She saw the Queen's first general, Gelstar, trapped within the first crystal. The record of his crime was lost in time, however, but speculation through history told that he must have spilled a drink all over her dress. Lilithite then started to walk down the long corridors, observing other monsters and generals who failed during the years. She saw two-headed monsters, weak human-like operatives, and some of the most historic Generals throughout Negaverse history. There was Fistan, the first general who conquered a planet, Tispolite, a well-rounded general who first discovered the universe that contained Earth, and Ronaldite, the one who opened the door to Earth-realm universe. Each of these monsters/generals performed an act or committed a crime against the Queen which she thought was totally unacceptable. She imprisoned them in the fabled green-sleep crystals, sending them to sleep forever.
One set of crystals really caught Lilithite's eye. A set of seven crystals were separated from the rest. They contained very powerful ogre-type monsters known as the Seven Generals of the Apocalypse. In the days before the Seven Shadows, these were the Queen's most successful henchmen throughout history. They had conquered countless worlds, and had their swords stained with many of the people they had slain. But as soon as the Seven Shadows proved their worth to the Queen, she sent the Seven Generals of Apocalypse to an early imprisonment due to the superiority of their counterparts. Lilithite had always admired their work.
She had finished her "tour" of the prison and returned to Jedite. "Well, I took a look around," she said. "What's so special about this?"
"Look at their faces," Jedite began. "Their faces are full of anguish and pain. The pain is from being trapped by their own leader. The leader that had been faithful to them. The leader that had been loyal to them. The leader that destroyed their freedom whenever things didn't do their way." Jedite began to smile. "These fools have been betrayed. They have lost their only thought of leadership. It is time to give them a new leader. A leader that will be loyal and stay loyal until the bitter end!"
Lilithite finally understood. "Are you going to free them?" she asked enthusiastically.
"Yes," he responded. "These warriors of old will be the wave of the future! With these mighty warriors with the strength and knowledge of times past, we will conquer new worlds and enslave many more beings for eons to come!"
"Oh, Jedite," Lilithite swooned, "You are so brilliant! I hope to be by your side when all this happens!"
"Of course, my dear," Jedite assured her. "You shall be the commander of these forces. Besides, you are the one who freed me from my imprisonment. I shall never forget that."
Jedite brought her close to him. He took her chin into his hand, and brought her head close to his lips. Lilithite had always dreamed of this moment, but never thought it would come true. She felt a wave of passion streak across her as his lips touched hers in a firm embrace.
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"Serena!" Luna shouted as she ran towards the group. "I have great news! There's a way to return your powers!"
All the Scouts, startled by this amazing announcement. "What?" said Lita.
"Really?" uttered a shocked Raye.
"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" said Serena.
"The idea was pushed out of our minds until now," Luna explained. "In fact, it was Artemis that came up with it." Artemis blushed for a second.
"Well, how do we get our powers back?" asked Amy.
"Before we tell you, we have to explain some things to you, first," remarked Artemis.
"I'll go first," said Luna, clearing her throat. "During the Silver Millenium, in the years before Queen Beryl attacked, your elders passed the Guardian powers onto a new generation: the five of you. Thus you began the first stage of your training: the Scout phase."
"Scout phase?" asked Mina.
"You mean the Sailor Scouts are just Sailors in training?" added Lita.
"That's right," said Artemis. "In the Scout phase, the Sailors first learn to use their powers, and how to perfect them."
"I remember," said Luna, "that Princess Serenity never took her training seriously back on the moon, either. She was constantly dreaming of Prince Endymion and the Earth."
"Well whatta ya know," Raye chimed in, "she was a ditz back then, too."
"Very funny, Raye!" Serena snapped back.
"Anyway," said Artemis, trying to get everyone to listen to him once again, "Queen Beryl attacked us before you could finish the Scout phase, so when we found you again, we just picked up where we left off."
"Then," added Luna, "when we both thought you were ready, we shifted into the next phase: the Star Scout phase."
"That explains the Star sticks," said Amy.
"Right as usual, Mercury," said Artemis.
"Wait a minute," said Serena. "Did I go through the same phases as the rest of the Scouts?"
"As a matter of fact," said Luna, "no you didn't. The training for Sailor Moon is a bit different then the rest, for she's the leader."
"Let me guess," said Serena, "my steps were Prism and Crystal?"
"That's right," said Artemis. "When your first broach broke, we kinda had to rush into the next phase for you. Luckily, Queen Serenity thought you were ready."
"But now what do we do?" asked Amy. "Our powers are gone, and that means we can't finish our training."
"But you already did," said a confident Luna.
"We did?" asked Raye.
"Yep," said Artemis. "As Luna put it, you passed with flying colors."
"You're now ready to take the final step," said Luna, "in becoming full fledge Sailor Guardians!"
"Sailor Guardians?" asked Lita.
"Is that any different than Sailor Scouts?" asked Serena.
"There's a big difference," said Luna. "The Sailor Guardians have a sworn duty to become the Guardians of their respected planets."
"You would still be known as Sailor Moon, Mars, and the rest," said Artemis, "but your official titles would be something like The Guardian of the Moon, or The Guardian of Mars, and it goes on like that."
"Or you could just shorten the names to 'Guardian Moon', or 'Guardian Mars', and so on." added Luna. "Just like on the days of the Moon Kingdom."
"Wow," said Serena. "Would we have to change our names to Sailor Guardians instead of Sailor Scouts? I kinda liked that name."
"All of us do," said Amy.
"You can call yourselves whatever you like," said Artemis, "but like we said, those would be your official titles."
"Well, how do we become Sailor Guardians?" asked Mina.
"That's what I was going to explain next," said Luna. "To become Sailor Guardians, there is a test that each of you must pass. The tests will test your specific attributes, such as intelligence and compassion. These tests prove without a doubt if you are worthy of receiving the Guardian Power."
"Where do they take the tests," asked Darien.
"Thank goodness you saved the Imperium Silver Crystal," Luna started. "We need it to open a portal. The portal will take the Scouts to the tests."
"But we need to act quickly," said Artemis. "In about twenty-three hours, Jedite's gonna come back with new army, or so he says."
"But we need time to prepare!" said Raye. "Thanks to Jedite and that flake he's got with him, we don't have any time."
"Raye's right," said Serena. "We can't just rush off and take the tests now!"
"You're right," said Luna. "We'll give you an hour to prepare yourselves."
"An hour?" asked a startled Lita. "Is that enough time?"
"Believe me, it's all you need," said Artemis with a smile. "All you need to do is get in the right frame of mind. Just think of your past accomplishments, and believe in yourselves. That's all there is to it."
"We should start as soon as possible," said Amy. "Time is of the essence!"
"Right!" said everyone else.
The five girls-with Darien accompanying Serena-left the bench and began to mentally prepare themselves. Luna turned to Artemis, unsure of herself. "I know they'll pass," she said, "but I can't help having my doubts."
"I know what you mean," responded Artemis. "But like always, the Sailor Scouts will come back winners. Just like Queen Beryl and Death Phantom!"
Luna and Artemis just stared at eachother, no need for words between them. They just sat and counted the minutes before the hour of preparation ended.
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NEXT TIME...
The Sailor Senshi prepare for what lies ahead of them: The Guardian Trials. The cats use the Imperium Silver Crystal to open the doorway, as destiny calls. Amy Mizuno is the first one up at bat.