It was a quarter past eight in the morning, and all the signs were pointing to a lovely day. Men, women and children went their ways enjoying the bright atmosphere. Except for young man who seemed to carry his own personal rain cloud. Darien Chiba stalked down the street, his face dark and brooding. Unlike the rest of the population of Tokyo he did not see anything to be cheerful about. He knew Beryl was coming.

At twenty Darien had matured into a charismatic young man, intelligent and possessed of more than his fair share of good looks. His best friend, Andrew, often teased him about the female following he attracted, especially the girls that Darien was constantly hanging around with. Despite strenuous protests Darien could not get Andrew to understand that the seven girls who were among his closest friends were not in any way romantically appealing to him. Darien had eventually concluded that the only way to escape his friend's taunting was to either pick a steady girlfriend, not something that tempted him, or to tell him the whole truth of his past. As much as Darien desired some peace on the subject of the opposite sex he did not believe telling his friend about being a reincarnated prince and his supposed girlfriends being his protectors the Sailor Scouts would do much good. It might silence Andrew about Darien's love life but it would also open a whole new set of questions regarding the end of civilisation that Darien did not want to discuss. Thus he bore the teasing in resigned silence.

He had been informed about his unique history four years before, soon after the death of his mother. At the wake his mother's friend, Setsuna Meiou, had drawn not only himself and his foster sister aside, but also six of their closest friends. When the other mourners had left the dark haired woman had revealed her position as Sailor Pluto and revived their memories of the time of the System Alliance, before the Day of Darkness. Ever since then they had all prepared for the time when Beryl would return and set the Shadows free once more.

For four years Darien had lived with the knowledge that he was Endymion, Crown Prince of Terra, Earth's sole protector, he lived with it and accepted it. He had to be constantly on his guard and on a morning when everyone else seemed to be so carefree... it really sucks. For once I want to be ordinary again, even if it is just an ordinary prince. At least then I wouldn't have the fate of the entire solar system on my shoulders. His thoughts were dark and they reflected the scowl that had formed on his face. All because of that stupid prophesy from over ten thousand years ago! What do they expect me to do? Pull the Moon Goddess out of my hat? The dark haired man didn't notice the smiles that wilted as he walked past, dampening everyone's mood. All of the Scouts believe that I'm some kind of hero, they don't show it, but it's there. They all believe in me, that I'll be able to save everyone but why? I was absolutely useless against Beryl wasn't I? I couldn't even free the Guard... sometimes I wish I just forget a little while-

Wham! Darien looked up at the sky and wondered why he wasn't on his feet anymore.

"I am sorry, really, really sorry. Please forgive me..." a frantic voice babbled. The weight on Darien's chest moved and without ceremony he rolled it off. He moved to his feet without looking at his attacker, trying to keep his already bad temper from getting loose.

"OW!... Sir? Are you OK?"

At those words Darien lost his battle with himself. All of his grievances rose up and focused on the owner of the bright voice.

"No I am not alright!" he growled, dusting himself off and still not looking around, "Why don't you look where you're going?"

"I said I'm sorry and it's not like you were looking either." the voice started to sound a little irritated.

Darien turned, "I wasn't pelting along like the path was a race track-" OH, by the Goddess! Those eyes! He stood looking down at the girl who had run into him. She seemed to be only a couple of years younger than him. Although her slight frame gave her the illusion of extreme youth the way she stood emphasised curves no one younger than eighteen had the right to possess. Her hair was a brilliant golden and was arranged in two buns with ponytails hanging out of them to reach down to her ankles. It was her eyes that caught him, pure blue, clear as crystals and currently crackling with aggravation.

"Well excuse me for breathing," she retorted, "What's your problem? I apologised already."

He came back to himself with a snap. He drew himself up to his full height, a full foot taller than she, and looked down his nose at her. He blatantly eyed her up and down and savoured the sight of her face flushing in fury. How much redder can her face get? His voice was sarcastic and cutting, "Listen Meatball Head-"

She stopped still and glared daggers at him, "What did you call me?"

"Your brains must match your hair Meatball Head, didn't you understand me the first time?"

"Meatball Head? Meatball head! Why you arrogant stuck up jerk."

Goddess, she looks like she's about to explode. "Geez, lower the decibels Meatball Head," he protested while wincing as her voice built up to a shriek.

She paused for a minute and then obligingly lowered her voice, "Listen ZIT, don't take your bad mood out on me, I didn't do anything."

Zit? Where did that come from? His voice was mocking, as he answered, "Didn't do anything? You nearly killed me! And where did you get Zit from?"

"I've already apologised," she snarled at him, "And as for Zit, I think it suits your personality, painful, irritating and unattractive."

"I am so hurt!" Unattractive? She finds me unattractive? Why? "Have some experience with acne do you, Meatball Brains?" Oh great one Dare! She really looks like a pizza face too. He forced himself not to eye her obviously flawless skin with appreciation.

"You pick on my hair, I'll pick on yours," she returned sweetly.

Huh?

She snorted, "Look who's calling who Meatball Brains. Black hair, black head, zit. Get it yet or do you need pictures to understand?"

You are not getting the last word here! I refuse to be shown up by a meatball haired midget! "Getting a little childish aren't we? Then again, if you're as klutzy the rest of the time as you were just now, the constant blows to the head must have damaged the noodles you pass off as brains. I suppose it's not surprising that you lack maturity,"

"Lack maturity? I'll show you lack of maturity!" and she blew a raspberry at him.

Who is this girl? "Oh yes that's really shown me. Now you'd better run along, you're late for kindergarten,"

"I take it back. I'm not sorry I knocked you over at all. The only thing I'm sorry for is meeting you-... school? SCHOOL! Oh man I am so late!" and she took off.

Darien shook his head and took a step forward. What the-? Oh she forgot her school bag. "HEY, MEATBALL HEAD!" his shout rang out down the street. The blonde screeched to a halt at the corner and turned back to face him. She even answers to it! He held her bag up for her to see and she did a double take. He smiled wryly as she sprinted back to him and tried to snatch it from him.

He refused to release it and shook a finger in her face, "Now, now, manners Meatball Head."

She glared at him and snapped, "Who are you to talk Mr. I-don't-care-if-you're-sorry-I'm-in-a-bad-mood-so-I'm-gonna-take-it-out-on-you? Now give me that!" With a great heave she wrenched the bag away from him and sprinted off again.

He grinned and shook his head as he turned and walked away, not noticing that his bad mood had vanished.

***

Bunny slumped on her desk. Her first day at a new school and she had been ten minutes late to class. Her new teacher, a Miss Haruna, had blown a gasket and the only reason she had escaped with out detention was because it was her first day. It was all that jerk's fault, if he'd just accepted her apology rather than blowing the whole thing out of proportion things would have been easier all around. She began to grumble to herself and didn't notice when the rest of the class filed out for lunch.

A touch on her shoulder made her start upright and glance around in worry. Behind her she saw a petite, blue eyed girl with blue-black hair and beside her a tall girl with her brown her in a ponytail and emerald green eyes. The tall girl's hand was still resting on Bunny's shoulder and when she saw that she had the girl's attention she smiled.

"Hi, you're Serena right? I'm Lita and this is Amy," the girl said gesturing to the smaller girl beside her.

Bunny smiled at the both of them, "Hi! Yeah my name's Serena but all of my friends call me Bunny. It'd be nice if you did too."

"Sure Bunny. Well we were just wondering if you planned to stay in here all lunch hour or if you wanted to come outside and eat with us," Amy chirped.

Bunny looked at them, dismayed, "It's lunch time already? Oh man I've been wasting precious time in this prison. Today is not my day." She pulled her lunch box out of her school bag and stood up saying, "Sorry and yes I'd love to come with you. I haven't had time to make any friends yet and it's kinda lonely eating by yourself."

"Cool Girl! We know the greatest spot, it's under one of the oaks behind the field, really quiet and pretty," Lita laughed and grabbed Bunny's hand and began to pull her along.

Five minutes later the trio were ensconced under the ancient tree and unpacking their lunches. Or rather Amy had pulled out a piece of fruit and Lita and Bunny were still unpacking their lunches. Amy began to giggle as both girls finished with large displays of various treats. Lita eyed Bunny's collection with obvious respect, and sniffed the aroma the food generated with awe.

"Good grief Bunny, is all of that yours? Did you make it? It sure smells great," the brunette's eyes were closed and she savoured the scents with relish.

Bunny grinned ruefully, "Yeah it's all mine. My guardian makes it all for me, he's a chef and he likes to test out new recipes and I'm his guinea pig. I usually share it with who ever wants any. I eat a lot but this is too much for even me. What about you? Yours doesn't exactly looks like it was scraped out of the bottom of the fridge either?"

"Oh I make it myself, I love to cook and I always bring enough to share with Amy. Your guardian's a chef? Do I know of him? I've always wanted to be a chef. I thought I might try and get a job at the Gryphon Restaurant chain. Nicholas Cook is my hero and if I could learn from him it would be so great!"

Bunny began to giggle and at the other girls' enquiring looks she answered, "I can safely say you've heard of him. My guardian's name is Nick Cook and he's Co-owner of the Gryphon Restaurant chain."

Lita looked at her in shock, "No way!"

Bunny grinned at her and offered both her and Amy some of the cookies she'd brought, "Yes way!"

Amy took a cookie and her face lit up as she bit into it. Lita watched her for a moment before taking one for herself.

"Bunny, you've gotta tell me, is he really as cute as everyone says? I mean I've heard that he's a stud!" She bit into the cookie and forgot her question for a moment.

Amy swallowed and shook her head, "Lita!"

The other girl gulped her mouthful and protested, "What?"

"I'm sure Bunny doesn't want to be quizzed on what her friends look like."

"No it's OK Amy," Bunny paused between mouthfuls of her meal and the other girls looked back to her to find she hadn't been exaggerating when she said she ate a lot. Almost a third of the hoard she had brought with her had already vanished. She saw their looks and motioned to what remained, "Help yourself, I'm already slowing down so there's plenty to share."

Lita nodded and pushed some of hers forward, "Only if you try some of mine... now spill!"

Bunny nodded and began thoughtfully, "Well he's about six foot four, six foot five, he's got long auburn hair that goes down his back which he usually wears in a braid. He likes to wear it loose but since he spends so much time in the kitchen he can't. His eyes are blue or green, they tend to change colours. All of my old friends thought he was gorgeous but they thought that about all of my guardians. He can be really serious or really funny, especially when he starts picking on Jase. He's into martial arts and astronomy and he likes to hang out with me and the rest of my guardians."

"Ooh he sounds like my kind of guy!" Lita murmured dreamily.

Bunny saw Amy roll her eyes and she cocked her head to the side. Amy smiled and shrugged, giving Bunny the impression that this was normal behaviour.

"So Bunny how many guardians do you have?" Amy asked.

Bunny's smile dimmed slightly and she shrugged, "Four, they were friends of my parents and they took me in when my parents we killed."

"I'm so sorry!" Amy exclaimed and Lita came out of her dream world.

"It's hard to loose your parents," she said sympathetically.

"It's all right. It was a long time ago," Bunny shrugged and smiled again, "Enough about me, more about you!"

Lita nodded, "Me first, my full name's Lita Kino and I live with my foster brother Darien Chiba. My parents died when I was quite young so I kind of know how you feel. Darien's Mom took me in and I stayed with him after she died. Amy and I have been friends since we were little. I like martial arts, ice skating and cooking, other than that, I'm a normal girl."

Bunny caught the wry look Amy shot at Lita but forgot about it as Amy started to speak, "My last name is Mizuno and I want to be a doctor like my mother. I like to read and play chess and I like swimming."

"And she's really good at it," Lita added.

"So do either of you have a boyfriend?" Bunny asked.

Amy blushed and Lita looked a little depressed.

"No," Amy said shyly.

"Unfortunately," Lita sighed.

"If you like Lita, I'll introduce you to Nick and you can try asking him out," Bunny quipped, "He's a load of fun if you can pry him away from his fan club, but I have to warn you that he's never dated a girl seriously for as long as I've known him."

"Who cares?" Lita exclaimed, "He'll take one look at me and fall madly in love. He'll take me into his heart and into his kitchen and we'll make beautiful desserts together!"

Bunny hid her giggle behind her hand and Amy sighed, "He must be old enough to be your father,"

Before Lita could answer Bunny interjected, "He's only fifteen years older than me and I'm seventeen."

"I'm eighteen so that makes him only fourteen years older than me, no where near old enough to be my dad," Lita stated as the dreamy look returned to her eyes.

"Only fifteen years? That's awful young to be a guardian for someone your age Bunny," Amy commented

"I guess so. But they were Mum and Dads' best friends. Jason saved my life when they first met and they hit it of. They were all nineteen when my parents died but they'd all finished school early and both Jase and Kevin had jobs, Nick was halfway to becoming a chef and Zoe was really doing great in her course. My mother felt they could take care of me and they have."

Amy smiled, "They sound really nice."

Bunny nodded positively, "They're the best,"

"So you come from Australia?" Lita asked while she nibbled on a pastry.

"Originally I'm from around here but after the accident the guys all took me back to Australia where they came from. We came back to Japan because Nick wants to open another restaurant and Kevin has an assignment here anyway."

"So tell us about them," Lita ordered.

Bunny wrinkled her nose and Amy added, "Yeah having four guardians is kind of unusual. How did that come about?"

"OK, OK, I'll tell you but only if Lita tells me about her brother, is he cute?"

"Deal!" Lita and Amy shouted together.

Bunny laughed, "OK I've told you about Nick. That leaves, Kevin, Jase and Zoe. Kevin and Jason are brothers, Kevin's a security expert with a firm called SekTek and Jason's a board member for the same company. Every one tells me that Kevin's kind of scary but I don't get that. He's always been really easy for me to talk to and I think he can fix anything. Any problem I have I can always go to him and he can help me deal with it. On the other hand Jase is a nut. He's really weird and always getting me into to trouble. He's always got two or three girlfriends at a time and it can get really funny watching him juggle them. They almost always catch him in the end and then there's the Big Fight where they try to kill him. Kevin's had to bail him out a hundred times. Zoe has been dating Kevin, like, forever. Since before I was born. She's a scientist and does some really wicked stuff with computers. She's kind of shy but she's really smart. They're all really smart but in some things Zoe's a genius.

"They've known each other since high school and Kevin and Zoe came to Japan a couple of months after they graduated. Nick and Jase were visiting when they met me and my parents and Jase saved me from being run over by a bus. Nick and Jase visited every couple of months afterwards and came to be family. It's as if we've always been together. We all fit together and I'm really lucky to have them, I've never been alone with them."

"Wow, that's so cool Bunny," Lita exclaimed.

"Yes, it sounds really nice," Amy remarked.

"OK now it's your turn Leets, spill."

"Leets? Oh well. Darien is, how can I say this?" Lita mused teasingly.

"Gorgeous," Amy stated, "Darien is drop dead gorgeous."

Bunny's eyes widened at the conviction and emphasis Amy showed, it seemed strange for the quiet girl to be so assertive about something like boys.

"Yeah I guess you could say that," Lita suddenly grinned, "He has very black hair which girls dream of running their hands through, the perfect face and a body to die for." Amy's face was starting to go red and Bunny stifled her giggles so that she could continue to listen, he seemed interesting. "But it's his eyes girl's go for," Lita baited.

"Eyes?" Bunny asked.

"Eyes!" Amy breathed.

Bunny would have thought it impossible but Lita's grin grew wider, "Yeah his eyes. They are a dark blue so deep you could drown in them."

"Oooh, sounds yummy," Bunny giggled.

"And that's not all," Amy sighed.

Lita's eyes were dancing, "He's a college student, studying to be a doctor. He does volunteer work at the hospital and loves kids. He's great at all kinds of sports as well as being an amateur astronomer. He's friends with every one but doesn't have a girlfriend, he doesn't even date. There are a thousand girls after him but he doesn't even look twice at them."

"Whoa, wicked," Bunny leaned back and tried to imagine the paragon Lita had described.

"Yes!" Amy whimpered.

Lita leaned closer to Bunny and confided, "As you can see, Amy's totally gone on him as well."

"I am not! Lita, he's Darien! I just wish I could find a guy that's half as perfect as he is."

"There's always Darien's friend Andrew." This time both of the girls started to get starry eyed.

Bunny sighed, depressed, "Why can't I ever meet any of these cool guys? How come I only ever meet the jerks?"

"Hmm?" Lita murmured.

"What happened?" Amy asked, her attention returning faster than her friend's.

"Nothing much, I just ran into this jerk this morning and he blows a gasket! He totally loses it in the middle of the street and it's because of him that I was so late. I apologised, several times, and he starts calling me names," Bunny grumbled, becoming aggravated at the memory, "What did he want me to do? Get down on my knees and beg his forgiveness? Huh! With his ego he probably did!"

"Was he cute?" Lita asked curiously.

"Cute boys do tend to be more self absorbed," advised Amy.

"Maybe... But only if he had a personality transplant. I didn't really take that much notice, by the time I'd scraped myself off of the cement he'd made me so mad he could have been movie star and I wouldn't have noticed... the nerve of that guy!" Bunny scowled but the expression faded after a moment to be replace by her normal cheer, "Well at least I'll probably never see him again."

"Sounds like a real downer," commiserated Lita.

"So what do you guys do around here for fun?" Bunny asked dismissing the incident.

"There's the library," Amy suggested.

"Amy!" Lita whined, rolling her eyes. She straightened up and began to tick items off on her fingers, "There's the ice rink if you like skating, the mall."

"Cool!"

"The park, the arcade where Andrew works."

"Ahhh..."

"Sounds interesting."

"The mall, and... did I mention the mall?"

"Three times Lita."

"Don't worry Leets, a good mall is always worth mentioning more than once."

"Here, here! A girl after my own heart!" Lita exclaimed.

"If you and Mina spent more time studying and less time shopping you'd both do a lot better at school," Amy counselled.

"My grades aren't that bad... Mina on the other hand..." Lita trailed of meaningfully and both girls groaned.

"Who's Mina," Bunny asked in confusion.

"She's one of our friends who go to another school," Lita explained.

"She's really nice but..." Amy paused.

"She's a bit of a ditz," Lita finished.

"If she's as nice as you say I wish I could meet her. It's kind of weird being back in Japan, I don't know anyone and my first experience meeting a new person wasn't so hot."

"We could introduce her to you this afternoon if you like and to Raye and the rest of the gang as well. You'll love them!" exclaimed Lita before she noticed Amy shaking her head.

Bunny did notice and was grateful that she really couldn't take the tall girl up on her offer, "Sorry Lita but I can't. I've been drafted this afternoon to do some stuff with Kevin and Jase. Another day perhaps?"

Lita's suddenly chagrined expression lightened, "Sure what about tomorrow?" she turned to Amy, "We're not doing anything else are we?" Amy shook her head and Lita turned back to Bunny, "So would tomorrow be cool?"

Bunny quickly examined Amy, making sure that it was OK with her before answering. "That would be really great."

At that moment the bell rang, signalling the end of lunchtime. Lita and Bunny began gathering the few remains of their respective feasts. As they stood up Lita grinned at Bunny, "It's settled then," she proclaimed and began to lead the other two girls back to class.

The rest of the day was more enjoyable for Bunny now that she had made two friends. The temperament of Miss Haruna was made easier to bare by Lita's cross eyed looks and Amy's reassuring smiles. Art class perked Bunny up even more, it being a subject she excelled in and by the time school was over for the day Bunny and both of her friends were in high spirits. The three of them walked to the gate together were Bunny stopped to wait for her lift.

"Is someone picking you up Bunny?" Amy asked.

"Yeah, Jase I think, Kevin'll be meeting us later," Bunny said cheerfully.

"So what are you up to this afternoon?" Lita questioned, curiously.

Bunny shrugged, uncomfortable and not wishing her companions to know it. "Not much, just stuff. What about you?"

Lita answered, "An appointment,"

Amy looked at her watch and added, "Which we'll be late for if we don't go."

"No need to worry ladies, your ride has arrived," a smooth and deep voice announce from behind them. Amy smiled and Lita suddenly started to grin as she turned to face the owner of the voice. Bunny, on the other hand, went pale.

"Not you again!" she exclaimed.

The man looked to her in surprise, "Meatball Head?!"

"Don't call me Meatball Head!" she shouted.

"Why not? I like it!"

"Listen Zit grow up, get a life and leave me alone!"

"Ah.. I take it you two have met?" Lita asked dryly before Darien could reply.

"If you want to call it that. She tried to kill me this morning!"

"I apologised, more than once! Why do you keep harping on it?"

"A close brush with death tends to grab one's attention,"

Bunny scowled at him and Amy decided to intervene before things escalated.

"Darien this is Bunny Tsukino, Bunny this is Darien Chiba," she introduced them to each other.

Darien snorted and Bunny looked disgusted, "Oh man, this is Darien? What a letdown! From what you were telling me I thought he'd at least be cute!"

"Oh you've cut me to the quick Meatball Head!" Darien proclaimed clutching at his heart.

She grinned at him fiercely, "Is the wound mortal?"

"'Fraid not Meatball Brains, you just don't have that much of an affect on me." Darien replied smugly.

"Pity," she muttered in return.

He smiled sarcastically, "I didn't realise you cared that much for my opinion Meatball Head."

"In your dreams Zit! The pitiful thing is that your gonna live and I have to breathe the same air."

"It's me the world ought to pity, existing in the same city as a ditzy klutz of a Meatball Head like you."

"At least I don't have an over inflated ego which crowds everyone else out,"

"You imply that I'm the public menace, oh give me a break!"

"Then again your ego might be a good thing," Bunny turned and explained to the fascinated Lita and Amy, "He's so full of hot air it's probably the only thing stopping him from floating off and polluting the atmosphere!" Lita choked and Amy looked on in awe.

Darien raised an eyebrow but before he could respond a horn sounded behind them. Bunny leaned around him to see a man in jeans and a leather jacket motioning to her from his motorcycle. She whirled round and picked up her bag.

"That's Jase, Amy, Lita I apologise that you had to see that and I'll see you both tomorrow." She turned to Darien, "You on the other hand I hope never to see again," She dodged around him and ran over to the waiting man. He gave her a hug from the bike before handing her a helmet and another jacket. After putting them on she climbed onto the bike behind him and waved at the watching girls before the bike roared off.

Bunny wrapped her arms around Jase and rested her head on his back. She closed her eyes and let the breeze blow her agitation away. When they stopped ten minutes later she felt better but was still tense from the confrontation.

"What's up Angel?" Jase asked running his hand through his short blonde hair after he had taken his helmet off.

Bunny scrunched up her nose and answered, "Not much, I just met the biggest Jerk in Tokyo."

"Sounds like fun,"

"Yeah right,"

"Was he cute?" Jase asked casually as he led his ward into the nearest building.

"I don't know, I guess so. Lita and Amy think he is, I wasn't paying much attention to his looks."

"Lita and Amy?"

"Some really nice girls I met," Bunny's voice began to sound more enthusiastic.

"Good." He led her into the elevator and selected their destination. "So do you have any idea what Kev wants with us today?"

"No, I was kinda hoping you did."

"Sorry Angel, my brother is being secretive again."

"I wish he'd stop."

"That makes two of us."

The elevator stopped and Bunny followed Jason into a huge room. The room was filled with computers and other lab equipment. There were several display cases showing armour in various stages of development. In the centre of the room a man stood near a table on which several trinkets rested. He was absorbed in examining what looked to be another of the trinkets, holding it up to the light to see it better. His silver-white hair was pulled back in a ponytail that barely passed his shoulders. Neither Jason nor Bunny had to look to know that his eyes were a pale blue and the stones sparkling in his ears were kunzites.

The pair approached him and he glanced over at them as they reached the table. On closer examination the trinkets lying there were four medallions, five counting the one Kevin was holding. Two of them were daintier than the others and Jase picked one of these up. On one side a crescent moon was engraved and on the other was a sword entwined with a rose and surrounded by feathers.

"I presume this is Angel's, Bro?" Jase said swinging the small golden disk by the chain.

Kevin nodded and picked another off of the table. Jase handed the medallion he was holding to Bunny and caught the one Kevin threw at him. It too was gold with a crescent moon on one side but on the other was a flaming bird holding a sword. A quick glance at the remaining medallions on the table showed that one had a unicorn and a sword and the other a gryphon and a sword. At Bunny's curious look Kevin showed them the fifth amulet that was engraved with a dragon and a sword.

"Zoe finally finished them." Jase commented redundantly.

"Yeah and we've got to check them out, find any bugs." Kevin answered as he pulled the chain of his medallion over his head. Bunny sighed and put hers on as well, she was kind of sick of training, no matter how necessary it was.

Bunny tapped the medallion where it lay upon her breast and recalled the phrase Zoe had told her would activate the medallion. "Moon Prism Power!" she whispered. For an instant she was surrounded by light and ribbons and then the room returned and she looked up to find Kevin and Jason watching her.

"Well?" Jason asked when she didn't speak.

Bunny twirled experimentally, adjusting to her new outfit. They all knew that they would soon be needed to fight and had been aware that they could not do so as civilians. Too great a risk of being tracked down and having innocents hurt. So Zoe had created a way for them to instantaneously transform into something more fitting. When Bunny activated her medallion it had changed the school uniform she had been wearing into what Zoe had told her would be a version of the Sailor Scout uniform. She was wearing a tight, white body suit with a red bow on her chest and at the back of her skirt. There was a blue collar like those from a sailor suit and an extremely short skirt.

"Um... isn't the skirt kind of short?" she asked anxiously, trying to tug it down.

Jason smiled reminiscently and Kevin shook his head in amusement.

"Who's stupid idea was it for me to dress as a Sailor Scout anyway?" she muttered.

"I believe you were the one that said there should be a Sailor Moon to join the others when the time came," Kevin recalled.

Bunny shook her head, "No, I think it was Jase."

"But you look so cute Angel," he grinned.

"You just like seeing girls in short skirts Jason," Bunny retorted.

"Of course, but they really were that short back in the time of the System Alliance Angel," Jase said as he fidgeted with his medallion.

"He's telling the truth, Uranus absolutely hated the uniform, hated skirts full stop." Kevin added.

Jase chuckled, "I really though she was going to blow a gasket when she first began training. She got so mad, she hadn't wanted to be Sailor Uranus at all."

"Then why was she?" Bunny jumped up to sit on the table displaying her red boots for both men to see.

"No choice, the planet picks the Scout not the people. She was chosen and no one could do anything to change it."

"She did seem to get over it once she met Neptune though, apparently short skirts had their advantages after all," Jase began to snicker.

"Neptune and Uranus-" Bunny began.

"Lovers," Kevin finished, "They were good for each other and an excellent team, now Bunny do you know all the details of the accessories?"

Bunny looked down onto the reflective surface of the table and saw that she was wearing a tiara and on her two buns were red jewels. She had golden earrings with moons and stars and at her throat was a red choker with a golden crescent. The red bow on her chest had what looked to be an enlarged copy of her medallion pinned at the centre showing the side with the crescent moon.

"Um... something's supposed to have a disguise field in it so that no one'll know me even though I'm not wearing a mask or anything." she answered.

Kevin nodded and pointed to the crescent on her choker, "The disguise field is in the crescent, the gems in your hair can be used for communication, Zoe's integrated a communications system into our armour but she had to creative when adding it to your outfit. The right gem receives and the left sends, when you want to speak just tug your left earring. The tiara is there because you need a focus for your attacks and Zoe thought it might provide one. We'll try it out and see if it helps. Now Bro, it's your turn."

Jase sighed and pulled the medallion on. "Phoenix Ignite!" he murmured.

Bunny watched in fascination as for a couple of seconds the blonde man was engulfed by flames. When they died down they revealed a man in golden armour with copper highlights. On his breastplate a golden disk was inlaid in the copper coloured metal, inscribed with the same crescent moon on Bunny's bow. His helmet looked like the head of a phoenix, complete with a feathery crest that ran from the crown of his head to the nape of his neck. Nothing of his face could be seen, it was completely covered by the helmet's mask. It looked as if a man were standing there with the head of a brilliant bird.

He tapped the side of his neck, triggering the release mechanism and the helmet folded back into the collar to reveal Jase's grinning face. "Way cool, don't you think?"

Bunny winked at him, "We need a mirror in here."

Kevin smiled at the two, Jase was spinning, modelling his armour for the both of them and Bunny had to admit he looked pretty good in it.

"How's the helmet?" Kevin asked.

Jase tapped the neck of his collar again and the helmet reformed around his head. He turned and twisted for a few minutes before answering, "Pretty good, I've got good vision and movement, what more do I need?"

"What more indeed?" Kevin murmured, "Dragon Roar!"

Both Bunny and Jason stared as light split through his clothes and then spread as if he were growing a new skin. The transformation took only instants and soon Kevin stood there in full armour similar to Jason's only where his colours were gold and copper, Kevin was in gold and silver. His mask was that of a dragon and he too had the disk with the engraved crescent inlaid on his breastplate.

He tapped the trigger of his neck and the helmet retracted. "OK time for a little training, you first Angel, and Jason over on the work bench there are something for each of us. Get the ones meant for the three of us, the insignia are the same as those on our medallions." Jason nodded and trotted off, finding that the armour was nowhere near as heavy as it looked.

Kevin returned his attention to Bunny, "OK Angel, now when we've trained before you've always found it easiest to focus your power on something. When you heal, it's your hands. Touch plays a big part in things for you, we all know you're a very tactile person. If you want to throw your magic you need to throw something, so take off your tiara and throw it."

Bunny nodded and jumped down from the table. She walked over to the practice area of the room. A section of the huge chamber that had been made proof against everything its creators could think of, fire, electricity, sudden cold and energy bursts, anything that might be used during a fight. She took her tiara off and concentrated it began to glow and transformed into a shining discus. She hurled it at the opposite wall, getting a feel for the weight and spin.

Kevin nodded in approval, "After a bit of practice you should be able to form more than one at a time or to split one that's already been thrown so that you can get more than one target. It's an automatic thing, as soon as you throw one another should form."

Bunny touched her forehead and felt the cool metal that meant another tiara had indeed been created. At that moment Jase returned carrying three swords. He handed the largest to Kevin and the smallest to Bunny. It was a rapier with roses and crescent moons entwined on the guard.

"Why roses?" she asked examining it.

"Because you are from the moon, the Queen's daughter, even though you don't remember and you along with Endymion are who are going to make the greatest difference in the upcoming war. Your sign is the moon and his is the rose. Zoe though it apt that you fight under both." Kevin answered belting on his own sword. "Now your attacks will be stronger when you focus them through your sword but because you'll have to get in closer to use it, it's not something we want you to handle lightly."

She smiled at him and belted it on, "You worry too much Kev. You've been preparing me for this for years, don't worry, I'm not about to go and do something stupid, you're too good a teacher."

He smiled ruefully and reached out to stroke her cheek, "I know Angel. It's just I'd prefer it if you didn't have to fight-"

"We all would," Jase said placing an armoured hand on her shoulder.

"We know you have to, it's why you're here after all... but I just wish you weren't so limited by your human form." Kevin finished.

"I understand, believe me, I do. Sometimes I get so frustrated knowing something's on the tip of my tongue or just out of reach. I should be able to do so much more. But you've told me that as long as my people are trapped on the moon I won't remember. I know that I have to fight. There's nothing that you could do to stop me, I'm scared stiff but I can't just stand aside and let Metallia run loose. Any way, you said Queen Serenity said something about freeing our people would give me my memory and full powers back as well as letting them help against the Shadows."

"And if it takes killing Metallia to free your mother and your people?" Kevin asked seriously.

"Then we make sure Endymion gets all the help he needs, the prophecy you told me says that he's the one that frees the Shadow Bane. So we'll have to help him."

Kevin nodded in agreement and smiled in approval, "Well reasoned, Angel. Now let's spar for a while and get used to the outfits. You and Jase against me."

Bunny looked at Jase and they grinned at each other. Jase shook his head at his brother, "Bad move Bro, you maybe able to beat us separately but together we're invincible!" Bunny nodded in accord.

Kevin smiled slightly, "We'll see. Oh and by the way, whenever we're in armour or uniform call each other by your warrior name. We've got to get used to them again so that we don't slip in a fight."

Sailor Moon nodded again and moved to stand besides Jadeite in a fighting stance. Jadeite planted his feet and looked at his brother through his mask. "Ready Kunzite?"

The pale haired warrior grinned and restored his helmet. The Dragon general faced his opponents and murmured, "On guard!"

***

"Then again, your ego might be a good thing," the blonde girl snapped at him. Darien winced as she turned to Lita and Amy to explain, "He's so full of hot air it's probably the only thing stopping him from floating off and polluting the atmosphere!"

Ouch Meatball Head! There's no way I'm going to let you get away with that one! Darien cocked an eyebrow. He had come to the school to offer Lita and Amy a lift to the Scout meeting they had scheduled that afternoon. He hadn't realised the girl that the pair were talking to when he approached them was the same one he had run into this morning. She greeted me like I was a bug! They had almost immediately begun to argue again. And now she says I'm a windbag! If anything it's my allergy to smart-mouthed midgets giving me gas.

As he was about to convert the thought to words a horn sounded behind him. The small blonde teen leaned around him and Darien turned to see a man in jeans and a leather jacket motioning to her from his motorcycle. She whirled round and picked up her bag.

"That's Jase, Amy, Lita I apologise that you had to see that and I'll see you both tomorrow." She turned to Darien, "You on the other hand I hope never to see again,"

Me? What'd I do? I'm the one being slandered here!

She dodged around him and ran over to the waiting man. Darien watched as the pair hugged and for a moment he felt a flash of envy. Dare... Endy, get your head together! What on Earth are you thinking about? She crammed into the helmet and jacket she'd been given and clambered onto the bike. Smart thinking for him to give her the helmet and jacket, her hair'd be everywhere otherwise. The man gunned the bike's motor and the pair roared off.

Darien stared after them for a moment until a sharp poke in the ribs forced him to turn back to Lita. Amy was trying to hide her giggles behind her hand and Lita hadn't even bothered trying to conceal her smirk.

"See something you like Dare?" she drawled.

"What?" he started.

"Don't try to hide it Dare, I saw you watching her, especially the way her skirt rode up when she got on the bike!"

"WHAT?!!!" he squeaked, "We're talking about the Meatball Head here Lita. I could have any girl I wanted. Why on would I want to have anything to do with her?" Even if she does have nice legs.

"I think the great Endymion might have fallen at last," the tall girl whispered loudly to Amy as they strolled to his car.

He caught Amy's eyes and she smiled sympathetically. Lita's teasing was often uncomfortable. Come Amy, save me! I'm your prince, you're supposed to be protecting me! I get enough of this kind of thing from Andrew without Lita making it worse.

Apparently Amy got the hint as she tried to distract Lita. "Lita do you know why Raye wanted everyone to meet today?"

They reached his red sports car, hopped in and Darien sighed in relief as Lita allowed herself to be sidetracked. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Amy I think I love you!

"I think she wants us all present while she does a fire reading. For the last couple of days she's been getting really bad vibes."

Darien frowned in thought as he drove out of the parking lot, "Amy have you picked anything up on the Mercury minicomp?"

Amy shook her head, "Sorry but then again it can't predict the future. All I can do is analyse the variables I've been given. Unlike Mars I can't just pick things up out of thin air."

"I know Amy, the waiting is just starting to get to me."

Lita groaned and added, "It's getting to us all. Why can't Beryl be nice for once and send us a schedule?"

"We could still have another five years yet," warned Amy.

"When that witch gets here I'm gonna give her a piece of my mind," Lita growled, "Stake through the heart, then behead her and bury her at a crossroad,"

"Haruka's of much the same mind," Darien commented.

"Uranus has always been smart," Lita agreed.

"I think it's actually a good thing that it's taking so long for Beryl to arrive," Amy informed them, "The more time we have, the stronger we'll eventually be when she attacks. This will be our last chance. From what Setsuna has told us Queen Serenity will not be able to intervene again. If we loose this war then everything is doomed."

"Don't be so gloomy Amy. She doesn't stand a chance," Lita crowed before becoming more serious, "This time Beryl doesn't have the Guard fighting for her."

Darien sighed. Neither do we. And it bites doesn't it Lita? Ever since we got our memories back you've remembered Nephrite and every boy you date is compared to him and comes off short. The four of them should be with us.

He pulled the car to the side of the road and parked in front of a tall set of steps. The trio then got out of the car and started up the steps. At the top was a set of gate that was the entrance through a tall wall. Inside the wall was a large courtyard at the centre of which was the Cherry Hill Shrine. As the three walked through the gates they were greeted by the cries of several other girls who had gathered around the door to the shrine.

"Hi guys!" a cheerful girl shouted. She had blonde hair that reached her waist and was pulled away from her face by the red ribbon at the back of her head.

"Hey Mina," Amy and Lita chorused and Darien smiled.

A tall blonde with short hair looked up from where she was talking with a beautiful girl with unusual blue-green hair. Both girls smiled, Haruka giving a wicked grin and Michiru an elegant smile of welcome.

"Hey girls, Dare, what've you been up to?" Haruka asked, running her hand through her blonde mop.

Lita glanced sideways at Darien and before he could stop her she smirked. "Not much Haruka, well for Amy and me at any rate. Darien on the other hand..." and she trailed off.

Haruka unfolded herself and swaggered over to them while Michiru remained where she was and watched Darien's face darken with what could only be amusement. Lita, why on Earth are you bringing this up here? It's not interesting.

Haruka cocked her head at Darien and he refused to be shaken. Sorry 'Ruka, I don't feel like turning red in embarrassment today. I've done nothing wrong.

"Ignore her 'Ruka, Lita's just letting her imagination run away with her."

"Maybe, but I'm bored and a good flight of fancy might be fun," Haruka answered in an amused drawl and Lita grinned. Darien felt Amy pat him on the shoulder and he looked to see her face was sympathetic but also amused. He rolled his eyes at her and went to sit by Hotaru while Lita spun her story. If I'm lucky Raye'll come out before Lita gets too into her story. I don't see what the big deal is.

"What's the matter Endymion?" a young voice piped. Darien looked down at fourteen-year-old Hotaru Tomoe whose brown eyes were looking up at him in worry. She, like Setsuna tended to call him by his old name while most of the other Scouts called him by his current name. Not that it really matters, sometime I can't make up my mind on how to think of myself and I answer to both anyway.

"Nothing Hota," he sighed as he leaned back, "Lita's just trying to tease me."

"Ah, but how much of it is teasing and how much is truth?" a smooth feminine voice said from behind him. Darien turned to see Setsuna Meiou standing behind him with a humorous twinkle in her serious magenta eyes. His mouth twisted in derision.

A girl ran into me, I got mad. Is that so unusual? OK so I don't usually blow up at people, if anything it's the opposite but I was having a bad day, so sue me!

"Well Amy and I met a new girl today," Lita was saying when Haruka interrupted her.

"Was she cute? Anything we should know about the two of you?"

Lita blushed slightly at the tomboyish girl's insinuations. Darien began to cheer internally. Haruka if I still had a kingdom I'd give you a barony... no a duchy.

"There's nothing between us. In fact she might even be setting me up with one of her friends," Lita objected.

Darien interjected sarcastically, "What, like the one she rode off with today?"

Lita looked at him in satisfaction, "I thought you'd noticed how close they are. Do you still deny an interest?" He saw Amy smother a giggle from where she sat with Michiru, and Michiru herself looked to be fighting for a straight face.

Darien looked at her levelly. "I'd rather kiss Ann," he stated flatly. The seven girls all shuddered at that thought, Ann was an obnoxious red head who was one of the more persistent of Darien's admirers.

"So you were thinking of kissing Bunny?" Lita goaded.

Darien ground his teeth, "Lita, she is a klutz, a ditz and a loudmouth. A total Meatball Head. I want nothing more to do with her."

Lita looked downcast but Haruka just looked more interested. So did Mina and Setsuna, the former of which had an amused smile. What are you thinking of Mina? Better not be planning to hook me up.

Haruka grinned again, "OK Lita, tell us of his Meatball Head."

My Meatball Head?

"Well she is very cute," Darien snorted loudly and Lita looked introspective for a moment before a gleam came to her eyes, "Darien's right, she's not cute,"

About time you listened to me... but I wouldn't go so far as to say that she didn't have something in the way of looks

"She's beautiful... Amy a run down on some words that'll help me describe her please!" Lita requested.

Amy nodded and looked thoughtful, "Gorgeous, shapely, stunning, magnificent, foxy, witty, breathtaking, wonderful and exquisite should do."

The others all looked impressed. Oh come on! "She's a midget with a weird hairdo!" he protested wearily and found himself subject to seven looks of skepticism.

"She's very petite but with a good figure as Darien very well knows since he was ogling her," Lita mocked him.

"I was not!" I wasn't.

"She has this glorious silvery gold hair that reaches her ankles when it's done up. Blue eyes that I just bet he would love to stare into and a smile that can set a whole class off into giggles."

"And did," Amy informed when Lita paused for breath.

"Not that Darien would know about the last since he seemed to be intent on trying to get her to kill him."

"She started it!" he muttered rebelliously.

Lita looked at him innocently, "She said you did."

"She would," he pointed out dryly. You're taking her side now?

"She told us she'd knocked you over, apologised and you started calling her names,"

... "Technically."

"That's not like you at all Darien," Mina said in shock.

"Bad morning, really bad morning," he sighed, a hint of his earlier depression returning.

Lita continued, "Well it's not like she didn't give as good as she got... How did she come up with Zit, Dare?"

He looked at her and said levelly, "Don't ask... just don't ask."

Several of the girls had to cover their mouths to hide their grins, Mina went so far as to turn a giggle into a fit of coughing and Hotaru patted his knee in understanding.

Someone save me from these grinning loons... Please?

At that moment Raye appeared from the depths of the shrine and stood in the light, blinking.

Thank you "OK Raye, what's up?" he asked.

Raye looked startled by his eagerness and Darien heard and ignored a muffled laugh from the ageless scout behind him.

Raye shook her head and answered, "Our waiting is over."

Sudden silence reigned over the courtyard. Faces that, a minute before, had been filled with amusement now looked deadly serious.

"When?" Mina asked, not as the ditzy blonde but as Sailor Venus, leader of the Scouts and protectors of the prince.

"A week at the most." was the answer.

The blonde nodded and turned to Darien, "It seems Setsuna, Michiru, Amy and I have finished just in time then."

"Finished what?" What on Earth is she talking about?

"Darien, you can't fight in you armour for two reasons," Mina began

"Unlike the Scout uniform, your armour has nothing which will hide your identity," Amy explained.

"I'll wear a mask or a helmet then." I do not like where this is heading.

"A mask will be provided," Setsuna state from behind him and he turned to face her as she continued, "But that alone will not be enough. You are the Rose Prince and therefore a target. If you insist on fighting then you will do so under a false name, my Prince."

"What?!!" he blurted.

"Darien... Endymion," Mina corrected herself, "By not fighting as yourself it should confuse the Shadows enough that you aren't the first thing they go for. As Sailor Venus and leader of your protectors I'm ordering you to wear what we've made for you. Either that or don't fight." Darien stared at the intent girl, her seriousness erasing any barriers to her authority that their age differences caused. She was Venus, and his protection was paramount.

It makes sense I guess.

Mina must have sensed his acceptance because she suddenly giggled, "Besides you'll love what we've made, you're going to look totally awesome!"

We? Mina helped them to make this... thing I'm going to be forced to fight in? "Ahh... What exactly have you done?" he asked suspiciously.

Lita's lips twitched at his skepticism and Mina sighed dramatically, "You don't trust me?"

"No, not with my clothes," he answered seriously.

"Yeah and look what you end up wearing, a black turtleneck with that green thing you call a jacket over the top. You have no right to question my fashion sense buddy!" she retorted.

"Yes but no one's forcing you to wear what ever it is you've cooked up!"

She let loose a huge sigh, "Don't worry, I didn't make it. Setsuna and Michiru did, I was just called into give a final opinion."

Well maybe...

"You do trust us don't you Highness?" Michiru asked sweetly.

Put like that... He sighed, "OK, OK hit me with the worst of it!"

Setsuna walked out from behind him and sniffed in disdain, "With my designs, there is never any 'worst'."

You too Pluto? What is this? Pick on Darien Day? "I apologise Setsuna, reveal to me your wondrous creation!"

Setsuna nodded her head magnimoniously, accepting his apology and Darien caught the laughter in her eyes. She waved both hands and when they came to a stop, palm upwards in front of him a scarlet rose lay on them.

Darien took it and examined it carefully, it seemed familiar, and Darien had always been able to tell one bloom from another. It can't be! He looked over to Lita who had the grace to blush. And so you should dear sister. I would be furious if I wasn't so pleased to see it whole and alive rather dried and pressed.

"I apologise if it is out of place my prince yet I thought it appropriate. The first rose you received in this lifetime." Setsuna murmured.

Yes you would know Sailor Pluto. I wonder where the little Angel who gave this to me is now. I rather like the idea of protecting her and others like her with this rose. "It's fine. So what do I do with it?"

"Simply will it to give you strength," Amy replied.

You would have designed the trigger but how do you mean? Maybe-

Suddenly brilliant multicoloured lights enveloped him. When they faded he stood there in a black velvet tuxedo with a domino mask, top hat and cane. To top it off he also had a black cape that was lined with red satin.

"Oh!" he said and received several whistles from the watching girls.

"You look way hot Dare!" Lita told him.

"Thanks. Um Mina?"

"Yeah?"

"Why a tuxedo?"

She grinned at him, "You're going to be heart throb, so we thought we may as well play it up. Don't worry, Amy and Michiru designed and made the cloth, it's proof against as much as we could make it and the cape more so. You'll be almost as protected as if you were in your amour and you'll find it a lot easier to move around in."

"My prince, Beryl knows you to be a serious, practical warrior. In this guise that side of your personality will not be as obvious," Setsuna murmured to him.

"In other words Dare, ham it up!" Lita proclaimed.

Mina joined in, "Show that witch some style!"

"Forget your dignity and enjoy the role," Michiru finished.

Darien undid the transformation. They're right, this could be more fun than I thought. A reason to be unprincely. "Fair enough," he finally said and nodded, "Just one more thing, what am I going to be called when I wear that costume?"

Eight females regarded him with bright eyes.

Uh oh!