"-Yeah, it's so wicked cool... I can't wait either... Are you sure?... Lita that's great! All... Heh, all you have to do now is... What?... Tell Amy I'm sorry... Yeah but Andy was never really her type... What about the..." Bunny lounged in the easy chair by the phone as she chatted away with Lita. As the two teenage girls were discussing possible boyfriends for their mutual friend Bunny heard the front door open and voices drift into towards her.

"Oh look they're home... Sorry Lita I gotta go... Yeah, thanks... See ya later," so saying she hung up, and turned to great the new arrivals.

Zoe led, followed by Nick, who was carrying an overnight bag, and then Jase who was being supported by Kevin. Nick tossed the bag onto a nearby chair and Kevin helped Jason to the couch. As soon as he was seated the blonde man turned to Bunny and grinned wickedly, "So Angel, what happened after you left last night?" Bunny blushed and her other three guardians watched, fascinated, as her colour continued to deepen.

"She's gotten even worse than she was last night," Nick commented to his friends as he sprawled his lanky frame in a lounge chair.

"Oh?" Jase drawled, not taking his eye of the embarrassed girl.

Zoe's eyes twinkled and as she and Kevin took a seat together she explained, "When she got home she took one look at Kevin and I and then began to blush. She wouldn't explain why and it only got worse when Kevin asked how her day went."

Kevin shrugged, though his eyes were also laughing, "I'd felt that spike of emotion and then nothing. I was wondering if everything was OK, I didn't expect it to embarrass her."

Bunny took a seat near Jase on the couch and her blush deepened further. She wouldn't look at any of them though her eyes kept flicking to Jase and back to her hands. "Jase and I were arguing, I'm sorry about disturbing you like that..." Bunny trailed off and, as her guardians eyed her skeptically, her face felt as if it were glowing. Jase's lips twitched and Bunny felt the futility of her cause.

"Arguing is accurate Angel, but don't you want to tell them what we were arguing about?" Jase teased wickedly. The girl cringed and Jase's grin revealed itself before he turned to his brother and friends, "Oh we were arguing about a certain young man by the name of-"

Bunny broke and in a desperate bid to shorten her torture began to babble, "HeforcedmetoadmitthatIlikedDarienandhewasbehindmeandIkissedhimandranoff."

The four adults stared a moment in bemusement. When the surprise had worn off Jase's grin became smug and Kevin, Zoe and Nick worked on deciphering the flow of words. It was the name 'Darien' in addition to the girl's bright blush and their own suspicions that proved the key to comprehension and once he understood Kevin bolted upright.

"Did I hear the word, 'kissed' in there somewhere?" he asked in confusion.

Bunny refused to look at any of them and Jase took pity on her, "I sort of tricked her into admitting that she liked Darien, who by the way is the current incarnation of Endymion, and he was behind her when she did. He heard it and after a little bit a running around she said it to his face, kissed him, rather well I think, his knees were definitely shaky afterwards, and then she ran off. It took him a couple of minutes to get his breath and strength back and then he shot off after her. Now what I want to know is what happened afterwards, come on Angel, spill."

His sword sibs started and stared at Jase in shock. Jase ignored them in favour of Bunny who hadn't heard much more than his demand for what happened.

"We kinda met up at the arcade and worked it out," the girl mumbled.

Jase sighed, "Details Angel, details."

She glared at him, "What are you? Some kind of snoop?"

He looked at her in mock hurt before smiling slyly, "We are your protectors Angel, we can't do that if we don't know what's going on." Kevin opened his mouth to say something but was stopped by Nick and Zoe, both of whom had been intrigued and were awaiting Bunny's answer impatiently.

Bunny looked to her other guardians and even Kevin looked at her in anticipation. She sighed, "He found me at the arcade."

"You already said that Angel," Jase commented.

Bunny rolled her eyes at him and Nick made as if to rise from his chair. Jase mimed zipping his mouth and locking it while the tall, auburn haired warrior eyed him warningly.

"Well he tracked me down," Bunny continued, taking a small amount of pleasure from the interaction between her two friends, "He refused to let me leave and we... talked it out."

"Refused to let you leave? I take it that he feels strongly about what ever happened," Nick mused.

"Talked it out?" Jase took Nick's words as permission to speak, "Some how I don't think so otherwise you wouldn't be blushing. Can we consider the pair of you an item now?"

"We talked!" Bunny objected, her eyes not meeting his.

"Of course," the blonde man murmured, "Before or after the make out session though?"

Bunny looked at Jase and then her gaze wander across all of her friends. She felt their excitement, anticipation and their happiness and knew that they wouldn't push her further. Her lips twitched as her own sense of humour kicked in and she glanced at Jason from the corner of her eye, "Does six kisses count as a make out session?" Jase choked, caught unprepared for her sudden shift of mood and she continued with a grin, "I'm asking you, Jase, because of your extensive experience you would know the exact difference between making out and simply kissing. Darien took me into the store room at the back of the arcade he kissed me six times, now is that making out?"

"In the store room?" Kevin squawked.

His brother's scandalised voice jolted Jason out of his surprise and he cocked his head at the teenage girl in consideration, "Depends on what kind of kisses and where."

Bunny raised an eyebrow, "You're an irreparable gossip Jason Ice, for your information, they were all on the lips and that's all I'm telling you."

Jase chuckled, "I wouldn't count that as making out. You're going to have to do better than that Angel, really. After all Endy was a passionate man-"

"What are you doing?" Kevin exclaimed, "Don't encourage her!"

At the same time Bunny asked in confusion, "What do you mean by Endy? What does the prince have to do with- ... Urk!"

The four adults, including Kevin once Zoe had rolled her eyes at him, watched the realisation cross the petite blonde's face.

"Darien is Endymion?" Bunny looked at Jase with mixed emotions, primary was astonishment. "DARIEN is ENDYMION!"

"Keep it down to a dull roar Angel," Jase said dryly.

"You knew and you didn't tell me," she accused him.

He reached and grabbed one of her clenched hands, "If I had then you would have taken even longer to admit what you felt for him."

Bunny opened her mouth to shout some more but even as she did the words died on her lips and she became introspective. Her friends left her alone to straighten her mind and began to question Jason.

"When did you find out?" Zoe asked.

"When Angel ran into him at the hospital yesterday. He followed her when she came back to my room and she introduced us. I knew it as soon as he came to shake my hand, you're right Zoe, his eyes haven't changed," Jason answered.

"Did he know you?" Kevin inquired.

"No," Jase shook his head, "I think I may have looked familiar to him but with all the bruises I have I'm not exactly recognisable."

At this Bunny started and looked at him, "Oh I'm sorry Jase!" She moved closer to him and placed the hand he wasn't holding on his shoulder as she gathered her legs up under her. She concentrated and began to heal the last remnants of his injuries, taking it slowly so that she could save her energy.

"It's so silly," she murmured as she worked.

"What is Angel?" Jase asked as he closed his eyes and enjoyed the sensation of her pure power running through him.

"Well if we hadn't always been so busy then you would have probably already have met him and the girls... the girls are the Sailor Scouts. How come I didn't realise that before?"

Nick rose, "The same reason they don't know that you're Sailor Moon. Disguise mechanisms. I'll get you all some snacks, the pair of you are bad at the best of times but after a healing? It's a good thing I got groceries yesterday."

Kevin sighed, "You knew Jase'd be coming home, we had to prepare. Batten down the hatches and so forth." Nick snickered as he left the room.

Jase snorted but otherwise ignored them, addressing Bunny instead, "Things happened as they needed to."

"You've become good friends with all of them," Zoe mused, "Something that probably wouldn't have happened if they'd known you as our friend straight off."

Kevin watched for a moment as Bunny caused Jase's disfigurements to fade. "Could you tell us more about them in this lifetime? Analyse them as if you were Sailor Moon instead of a friend. Who do you believe to be which Scout? Have any of them changed dramatically from our descriptions of them in the past?" the silver haired man questioned as he observed a particularly nasty cut fade from above his brother's eye.

Bunny nodded and, still concentrating on Jase, began to answer, "Amy would have to be Mercury..."

***

Lita, Lita, Lita. What on Earth do you think you're doing? Darien repressed as smile of intense joy, the previous day's events still causing a euphoric high, as he glanced at his sister from the corner of his eye. He almost chuckled. See Lita watch Darien suspiciously. See Darien watch Lita watch Darien suspiciously. Sorry Lita I'm not going to tell you anything, this is too private at the moment... Just twelve more hours until I see my girlfriend again! Darien restrained himself from glancing at the clock, knowing that it would not cause time to pass mysteriously faster. Patience Endy, you'll see her tomorrow... in eleven hours and fifty-eight minutes. Darien eyes slid away from the clock on the wall, his resolve being broken again as it had been all day. Maybe I could call her...

"Arghh!" Lita shouted, "Darien what is the matter with you? You've been spaced out all day and you're driving me crazy the way you've been checking the time every couple of minutes. It's like you're a kid waiting for Christmas to come-"

Not entirely inaccurate, Angel could be my very own Christmas Angel...

"And you're doing it again!"

Eleven hours and fifty-one minutes.

Lita jumped up and stalked over to where he was lying on the couch. She loomed over him and Darien could almost see the steam coming out of her ears.

I love it when my Meatball Head (my girlfriend!) does that. She looks so adorable when she's irritated. She looks even more adorable when she's in my arms kissing me... mmmm!

"DARIEN!" Lita screamed and swung at him. Darien's reflexes kicked in and his hand shot up to grab her wrist. He blinked and looked at Lita in confusion. She saw his expression and growled, "Wake up! You look like on drugs."

I do not... Ok sort of. Darien's eyes twinkled as his mind started to drift off again.

Lita jerked her wrist from his grasp and whined, "Darien!"

Darien blinked again and sat up as he examined Lita. "Lita are you OK? You look absolutely frazzled why don't you go to bed, it's almost midnight," He said in a concerned voice before his mind wandered yet again. Eleven hours and forty-six minutes.

Lita grumbled under her breath but admitted defeat. After one last glare at the apparently heedless man she stomped off to her room, muttering under her breath the entire time. Darien's lips twitched and he lay down on the couch again. Sorry Lita but I have to admit, that was fun!... Eleven hours and forty-fo- What on Earth? A small alarm had begun to sound from his pocket. He reach down and pulled out the small midnight blue communicator Amy had made for him. Matches my eyes she told me...

"Darien here," he said as the tiny screen lit up with Sailor Mercury's picture.

"Darien, there's a major attack occurring in the warehouse district in downtown. My computer was picking up fourteen youma at last count and two of the generals."

"Which ones Amy?" Mina's voice asked.

"Jadeite and Nephrite."

"We're on our way," Haruka's voice told them, speaking for both herself and Michiru.

Darien looked up to see Lita standing next to him. "Us too," he added as he stood and summoned his transformation rose.

"Hurry guys, Sailor Moon and her friends are already there and they're massively out numbered."

Both Darien and Lita nodded dashing out to their balcony. A split second later Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Jupiter were darting from room top to rooftop across Tokyo. They were the first of their team to arrive and they found their mysterious allies in dire straights. Three of the warriors were fighting together; Dragon, Phoenix and Unicorn were cutting a swathe through the numerous enemies with sword and magic. Gryphon and Sailor Moon, however, were in serious trouble. Gryphon fought alone amidst a ring of youma, just barely holding his own against the superior numbers. Jupiter took one look and leapt to his assistance, her presence beside the beleaguered warrior heralded by a clap of thunder and a wave of electricity.

Don't get distracted Lita, whether or not he's really Nephrite doesn't matter half as much as getting him out of here alive. Tux's eyes flicked around the battle site, looking for a place where he could do the most good. He saw Uranus, Neptune and Saturn arrive just before his eyes caught Sailor Moon dodging blasts from Nephrite, who hovered over the conflict snarling, in between destroying youma. Damn! There are three of those things coming up behind her and the general's not giving her a chance to deal with them.

A barrage of roses preceded his appearance and he swept the tiny Scout out of harm's way. They landed in an unobtrusive corner and he held her at arms length to examine her for injuries. "Are you OK?" he asked anxiously. She doesn't look hurt, just slightly harassed... I wonder what Angel would look like in a Scout uniform, those skirts-... Angel?

Sailor Moon didn't answer, instead she was staring at him with her huge blue eyes wide. "It is you," she whispered and her sudden smile of joy blinded him.

I know those eyes, that smile... Angel? The warrior opened his mouth to speak but at that moment another explosion sounded and the blonde fighter in his arms looked away. As she did light caught on the crescent choker at her throat and Tux lost his train of thought. What? I knew something... important. What was it?

Another explosion rocked their little corner and he automatically drew his cape up to shield her.

"It's the fake Nephrite," she muttered as she peered around him, "He's sort of ticked at me. I affect some people that way."

Who? "I can't imagine," he replied honestly.

She looked at him in surprise and grinned, "Are you flirting with me?" she asked him with a twinkle in her eye.

Am I flirting with her? Not intentionally. Is she flirting with me? I believe she is! She's so much like Angel- A vision of a golden crescent disorientated him for an instant. He blinked and shook his head. When he met her eyes again he saw resolve and he was in complete agreement. Without consulting each other they simultaneously burst from their hiding spot and golden disks and crimson roses began to sail through the air.

Tux surveyed the scene thoroughly even as he and his new partner focused their attention on a group of youma. He noticed that all eight of his Scouts had arrived, Venus and Mercury were opposing Jadeite, allowing the armoured warrior they knew as Phoenix to get clear. Jadeite seems to have something against him. Could that be because Phoenix is the real Jadeite? Mars, Saturn and Pluto were fighting together, causing an enormous death toll among the youma. Gryphon and Jupiter fought side by side as effortlessly as Neptune and Uranus did near them. From their expressions it seems the two pairs have a contest going, maybe that really is Nephrite. He and Jupiter used to do that all the time.

The Dark Kingdom General that Tux knew as Nephrite was searching the battle zone and from the corner of his eye the formally clad warrior saw Phoenix hurrying in his direction. A shout of triumph turned his attention back to his tiny, but lethal, companion and he saw that she had been what Nephrite had been looking for. Two roses met the balls of black energy that had been sent in her direction and her own contribution of three blazing disks shot towards the floating attacker, quickly followed by a stream of fire. Tuxedo Mask summoned four more roses to his fingers and prepared to hurl them into the fray as the gold and copper flash from his side announced Phoenix's presence.

The three warriors watched as Nephrite dodged two of the disks and the fire only to be hit by the shards of the third disk as it shattered mid air. Without prompting Tux threw his roses and the floating warrior teleported with a shriek of pain.

"Wimp," Phoenix muttered and Tux's lips twitch as he saw Sailor Moon nod her head in agreement. A scream of pain caught their attention and the three warriors whirled to see Mercury clutching her side, blood seeping out from underneath her hands. Oh Goddess, Amy! Tuxedo Mask dashed to help his fallen guard, Moon and Phoenix following close behind. Phoenix swerved to help Venus who was desperately trying to keep Jadeite away from the injured Scout and his flames and telekinetic tricks were added to her hearts and stars.

Tux knelt down at Mercury's side gently lifting her hand to inspect the wound. This is serious, she needs medical attention. He in turn was pushed aside by Sailor Moon who knelt in his place and laid her hands over the slash.

"We have to get her to a hospital-" Tux started to say when the silver glow around the blonde Scout's hands stopped him.

"This isn't too serious, with all the practice I've gotten over the last couple of months I'll have her back to normal in a couple of minutes," Moon murmured as her ministrations closed the wound.

Tux stared at her and asked, "Practice?"

The fighter nodded, "Yeah, we tend to go for closer fighting and so collect a lot more scrapes. For some reason you have all been really lucky, no serious injuries aside from the one Nefarious gave Jupiter a couple of months back."

Nefarious? "I don't-" he started.

"Oh that's right," she interrupted, "You weren't there. She's been caught unprepared and that lackey of Beryl's that masquerades as Nephrite, the nefarious nitwit, hurt her inside. I don't know how exactly but he did something that damaged her heart, the next time she summoned even a spark her heart would have given out."

"You undid it?" he asked already knowing the answer.

"Yeah, it wasn't too hard, even back then. All it required was a quick tweak and she never knew."

She could have died... "Nephrite..." he growled. I should have killed him when I had the chance-

"No, not Nephrite!" Moon exclaimed turning to him. Behind her Mercury's eyes opened and it looked as if she were awakening from a pleasant dream. Moon grabbed his shoulder and forced him to face the direction of the battle between Jadeite and the Scouts. Mars and Pluto had joined Venus and Phoenix, the four warriors hounding the General without respite. "Look at him," she ordered him, "That is not Jadeite fighting our friends. That is a clone that Beryl made of him with Metallia's help. The only ways that he is like Jadeite is in appearance and in the type of attacks he makes. His aura, his power is totally different. You're the bloody Prince of Earth, she'd lend you all of her strength if you asked.

She knows I'm Endymion!

"Look at him and tell me that that's the real Jadeite. Use your own eyes, rely on your own judgement. Jade was one of your best friends, you knew him as none of your Scouts did and yet you accept their opinion that that thing is him. I don't get that! Look!"

He met her eyes for a long moment. What do you know? Making a decision he looked away from her and began to concentrate on the man floating above them, using his senses in a way he'd never thought to do before. At that moment attacks from Pluto, Mars, Venus and Phoenix combined to impact with the enemy general. The blasts met with a force field but his hasty shield hadn't been enough to protect him from the combined attentions of four angry warriors, one of whom had a serious score to settle. The Dark General snarled but his injuries were too severe for him to remain. He disappeared but before he did so he shot one last blast of fiery energy off towards a warrior who wasn't expecting it.

Even as Jadeite faded from view Tuxedo Mask saw the warrior in the dragon armour slice a youma in half before stiffening and beginning to dive. Dragon had sensed the attack too late, though, and it hit him square in the back. The gold and silver warrior fell lifeless to the ground and beside him Tuxedo Mask stiffen as Sailor Moon screamed, "KUNZITE!"

Phoenix's howl of anguish joined hers, "BROTHER!" and a roar of anger and a keen of heart wrenching grief also added themselves to the horrible song. Sailor Moon flew from Tux's side almost teleporting herself to the fallen warrior. The other three armoured figures followed her and helped her to roll him onto his back. Tuxedo Mask began to approach them but was stopped by the amazing fury that radiated from them all. Near him he felt Mars gasp, Goddess, Mars. This has got to be driving your senses wild, like some one shining a searchlight into your eyes. He dashed to her in time to catch her as her legs failed her and as he held her upright she clutched at his tuxedo.

"They're not human!" she insisted in shock, "No human can radiate that kind of emotion, it's not possible, we simply don't have the strength. Nor could our anger be so pure. If one of us were hurt we'd be angry and wanting to get even, vengeful, hating, mad. What they're feeling is not human anger!"

Not human? "I don't understand, Mars" he replied shaking his head.

"Highness, they're broadcasting pure wrath. They don't want revenge, they don't want to get some payback. They want justice, there's a difference. This must be what the Christian Archangels are like when they're sent to do their God's bidding. They're so bright!" Her last words were whispered in awe and the former Prince looked back to the quartet.

The three armoured figures had stood and a shimmering halo of power ringed them. Tux felt his senses reel as he understood what Sailor Moon had been instructing him to do only minutes earlier. He felt their power in his head and in his heart and as he sensed their mood he began to fear. Oh Goddess, they're going to destroy everything here, nothing will escape. Even as that dread began to grow he saw Sailor Moon look up from her place beside the dying man and glance across at him. The white-hot rage generated by the three standing warriors was replaced by a cool determination that had obviously originated from the kneeling girl.

"Is she...?" he whispered to Mars. Is it her that's their true leader?

The black haired Scout nodded shakily as she stepped away from him, the absence of the aura of fury having given her strength back. "There's some link between them all. She felt our fear and stopped them from just blowing up. She's calmed them down, whatever they do now is going to be intentional and deadly."

The eight Scouts and their prince watched as the three warriors faced the remaining youma and simultaneously slashed their swords towards the cowering monsters. Three bright arcs of magic shot forth and combined into a brilliant maelstrom of power. When the light had died down no youma remained only several small heaps of grey dust. Each of the warriors sheathed their swords with finality before turning back to their comrades.

Tux watched as they knelt in a circle around Dragon. Sailor Moon's healing him, I can see the same glow that she used with Mercury but it's so dim... Suddenly Unicorn looked up and began to beckon frantically to the watchers. Tuxedo Mask reacted first, his stride quickly turning to a trot as he answered the summons. Not far behind him his friends followed but they stopped outside of the ring of armoured warriors where he moved to join the ring around their sword brother.

He looked at each warrior in turn, seeing nothing in the eyepieces of their mask except impenetrable glass. Sailor Moon had her head turned upwards with her eyes clenched shut as she urgently tried to save the man's life. Finally he looked down expecting to see the mask of a dragon, instead finding the pale face of a silver haired man who had once been his best friend. She kept trying to tell me, she even yelled it out...

"Hello Endy," the man rasped, pale blue eyes dulled with pain. In the background Tuxedo Mask heard several gasps from the Scouts but he ignored them.

"Hello Kunzite."

***

Sailor Moon desperately tried to stem the flow of blood, her strength pouring into her friend but to no avail. His heart was faltering and his breath grew more laboured every moment. Tears ran down the young woman's face as she frantically tried to do something, anything that might help. She dimly heard the dying man speak and another answer him but her concentration was centred on a battle that she was losing. She dismissed any worry over her surroundings, knowing that the rest of her friends would protect both her and Kunzite, she vaguely remembered having to calm them down a short while ago. The warrior's lungs started to fail him yet again and she quickly poured strength into them, only to have it bleed out of them almost as quickly. She compelled injured tissues to regenerate themselves, supporting them with her own strength when Kunzite's failed.

In her mind the girl felt Kunzite's spirit flicker and the panic that she had barely been able to restrain a week ago, when another friend had lain dying, returned in strength. Immediately responding with another rush of energy Sailor Moon disregarded the knowledge that her own reserves were almost gone. Between the healing she'd performed that morning, Sailor Mercury's injuries and the battle she had almost nothing left. In spite of the consequences she continued to channel her energy into her guardian, daring death for the sake of her friend.

Abruptly strong arms pulled her back. "What the Hell do you think you're doing Angel?" Jadeite's angry voice demanded of her, "You're draining yourself dry, your own heart was about to give out!"

"He needs my help," she insisted, weakly trying to pull out of his hold, "He's dying Jade and I won't let that happen. I can't!" Faces around them paled at her words and Zoicyte hit the trigger that retracted her helmet and carefully laid her palm against Kunzite's cheek. Jadeite also hit the release mechanism on his helmet with one hand while still restraining his struggling charge in the other.

"Killing yourself won't help him!"

"Listen to him Angel..." Kunzite weak voice whispered, "You can't throw your life away."

Sailor Moon's tear streaked face pleaded with him. "You can't leave me, you promised."

"You have Endy now Angel, and the Scouts. And always the Guard." Kunzite rasped.

Tuxedo Mask looked up from where he knelt by Kunzite's side. At some point he removed his mask and hat, his deep blue eyes tried to reassure her but they, too, were trying to deny the approaching tragedy. Sailor Moon knew those eyes and loved them, only the day before she'd been staring into them blissfully as she'd kissed their owner, even so they could not take the place of any of her friends. Inside of her there was an unreasoning fear that they could not assuage, that only the Guard's oath had been able to hold at bay.

Behind her, his arms still around her, Jadeite felt her grief and fear and understood it as she didn't. He knew that the prince would spend his entire life trying to make the angelic princess happy but there would come a time when he would not be there. Jadeite knew that the tiny warrior would need the Guard then, whole and strong, to support her. He also knew that somewhere inside of her Selene's daughter sensed the same thing, ultimately she was theirs as they were hers.

"Brother, she's right about one thing, she needs you and you made a promise-"

"Kunzite!" Zoicyte screamed, cutting Jadeite off as her lover's eyes closed. She tapped the crescent on his armour and it shone for a moment, its brilliance concealed the man. When the light died away the dead warrior remained, garbed in the uniform of the Guard as he had been eons before when he had served the Terran Prince Endymion.

"NO!" shrieked Sailor Moon and wrenched herself from Jadeite's arms to fall to Kunzite's side. "No!" she moaned in anguish. Next to her Zoicyte was sobbing, Nephrite gently supporting her. Jadeite saw Mercury tapping on her computer behind Tuxedo Mask but knew that there would be no help there. Kunzite had been leader, teacher, friend and brother to him and now he was dead. Jadeite looked at Sailor Moon, her face was pale and she seemed to be having difficulty breathing. Through his link to her he could feel her traumatised mind trying to cope with the breakage of one of the bounds to her soul then he realise that he was wrong. She was not suffering the backlash of a broken soul tie, instead she was gamely trying to stop the Dragon General's soul from slipping from her grasp.

"Neph, Zoi, can you feel what the Angel's doing?" he asked moving forward to support the girl as she waged her silent battle.

The other two generals looked to him in confusion before following his example and reaching out to their ward in their minds. They took only a moment longer than he to understand what was happening and hope began to rise.

"She's not strong enough," Nephrite warned examining Sailor Moon both mentally and visually, "She's used way too much energy today."

"She'll do it," Zoicyte stated, confidently, "She won't give up, not on any of us. She won't let us break our promise."

"Neph's right Zoi, she hasn't got enough strength," Jadeite contradicted.

Zoicyte looked stricken as she realised that her two fellow Generals were correct and then determination rose with in her. She moved away from Nephrite and raised her arms to the sky. "Lady Unicorn, Mistress of the Pure Waters, hear your scion," she cried into the night. Her voice echoed loudly and it was if the rest of the world quietened so that her words would not be lost. "Through me lend an Angel, of purity to match thine own, your strength that she may save the Dragon's Heir!" Within her, a pure strength began to pulse, of a kind that the woman had not experienced since the day she had been sworn in as a Guardian of Magic, one of the Earth Guard.

Nephrite nodded in comprehension and as soon as her last words were spoken he continued Zoicyte's plea. "Lord Gryphon, Master of the Skies Above, hear you son. Channel your strength through me to a warrior of a courage worthy of your favour that she may heal the Dragon's Heir!" In his mind the stars began to sing, his guide and totem - the very essence of his soul - answered his plea, and the strength of the Gryphon began to flare inside of him.

Jadeite did not release Sailor Moon as he called quietly but with passion, "Lord Phoenix, Bringer of the Cleansing Fires, hear your ward. The woman in my arms is both princess and healer with a heart that burns in compliment to your own. Lend Serenity's daughter your strength that she may bring my brother, the Dragon's Heir, back to us. I beg of you, help her." In answer to his appeal Jadeite's being was suddenly filled with flames as his spirit guide joined with him.

Simultaneously the three warriors sent the strength that had been given to them by the world's arcane protectors, coursing through the link that existed in each of their minds. In his arms, Jadeite felt Sailor Moon jerk as their strength reached her. She tamed the elemental energies, harnessed them almost instantly and then was gone, her mind rocketing into Kunzite's.

***

Tuxedo Mask watched in horror as Sailor Moon flinched and then fell limp. What happened? What did you do to her?

As if in answer Jadeite looked straight at him, saying tensely, "It's up to her now, we can't do any more."

Tux nodded slowly and returned his gaze to Kunzite's white face. Kunzite, you can't leave me now. We only just found each other again. We're now supposed to all get together and thoroughly whip Beryl. It's supposed to be a happy ending, for a little while at least. We should have had some time. He looked away before the tears in his eyes began to overflow. His gaze met Zoicyte's, her own anguished and riddled with pain. Zoi, I should have known, I would have if you hadn't hidden in that bloody armour. There's no way I could mistake your face for that copy's. You're a beautiful woman now that you don't have to hide it and I hope Kunzite told you so.

Behind him the former prince heard a repressed growl and turned his head to see Sailor Jupiter restraining Uranus. Haruka, it's not necessary, can't you tell? "Uranus," he demanded. She looked at him, startled and he continued, "There's no need." The sandy haired Scout looked as if she were about to disagree but decided to wait. Thanks 'Ruka. I know they look different and I know we didn't exactly part on the best of terms but they are and always have been our friends.

"Highness," Venus whispered from behind him and he twisted again, "Did you notice what they called Sailor Moon?"

Yeah, Angel... is it really- A golden crescent moon dominated his mind's eye for a fraction of a second and faded. He shook his head in irritation. What is that? Then realisation hit, "They called her a princess, Serenity's daughter-"

At those words Jadeite looked up, met his eyes and smiled sadly.

The price Queen Serenity paid was her daughter's life. Does that mean Sailor Moon is Selene's daughter? Is she the Shadow Bane?

***

Bunny looked around, white skirt swaying gently and the tips of her wings lightly tickling her ankles. "Where have I seen this before?" she muttered to herself, the emptiness of her surroundings and the circumstances of her visit oppressing her natural exuberance.

"I'm sure I don't know," a dry voice responded, "How about letting me go Angel?"

Bunny looked to her side where she hadn't even realised Kunzite had been standing, his hand caught firmly in her own. Her eyes flicked down to their joined hands briefly before they returned to his face and she frowned at him. "Not likely," she retorted, "If I do then you go flitting off and dying on me." Fear that not even her hold on him would stop him from doing just that rose within her briefly before she pushed it back.

"You're just going to have to accept it Angel, it's my time," Kunzite told her calmly.

She glared at him, "Pessimist! For a moment she rolled her shoulders, experimenting with the weight of her great wings. "Besides it isn't your time until I say it is! Do you hear me giving you permission to die? I don't!" she stopped speaking and began glancing about again, her perplexity obvious.

The white haired general watched her with bemusement for a moment as she danced around, tugging him with her because of her refusal to release his hand. "Angel?" he asked, "Is there something aside from your general dissatisfaction at my imminent demise bothering you?"

She slumped and turned to face him, "I have the most major feeling of deja vu here and it's driving me nuts!"

Kunzite spared a moment for a brief examination of their monotonous surroundings and suggested, "Maybe you came here to save Jadeite? There were a few minutes when we couldn't sense either of you."

"Then why don't I remember it?" she grumped, "My memory's not that bad!"

The man shrugged, "Who knows, you might try asking Jade about it when you go back."

"Ask him yourself," Bunny responded, "I'm not going without you."

"Angel-"

"Listen Kunzite," Bunny interrupted, "You promised me that you'd always be there for me not a week ago. Are you going to dishonour your sworn word?"

"You don't need me anymore Angel," he answered gently, "You still have Nephrite, Jadeite and Zoicyte. They'll be with you-"

"And what about them, hey? What about Zoi who loves you and was planning to marry you? What about Neph who's best friend you are? What about Jade? You're his brother! It's not just me you'll be abandoning-"

"They'll recover!" he shouted, his conscience smarting, "And you have Endy and the Scouts with you to protect you now!"

"That's what this is about, isn't it?" Bunny whispered in sudden understanding. He looked at her blankly and she continued, "You're afraid!"

He snorted, "Of what?"

"We've finally joined up with Endymion and if you went back you'd have to face him. This way gives you the easy way out, you die the hero's death, having given your all. Otherwise you'd have to talk with him and listen to what he has to tell you." His face was white and only decades of protecting her from hurt prevented him from wrenching himself free. Her eyes shone with empathy, "He doesn't blame you, he never blamed you."

"I know," he said hoarsely and then met her eyes, "But I betrayed him Angel-"

"You couldn't help it!"

"I don't mean with Beryl. Because she had Metallia's support I had no chance of standing against her. What I mean is I betrayed him for you!"

Bunny's face went stricken but she still continued, "You still didn't have a choice, my mother and I... we... If you wish I would release you. As long as you came back you would be free to serve him again, if you were alive I wouldn't mind."

Kunzite shook his head and kneeled at her feet, his holding hers instead of the other way around. "No Angel, your mother did not force me, I chose willingly. Even if the Day of Darkness hadn't happened, were I given the option again I would make the same choice. He is my Prince but you are my Angel, I would always choose you over him. The minute I saw you, Angel, I forgot about him, I was yours in my entirety when I was supposed to have been his."

"And you would leave me anyway?" she whispered.

Kunzite caught her free hand and clasped it together with the other between both of his. Then he lowered all of his defenses. All of his shields, all of the protections which served him, the mental armour which prevented people from seeing his uncertainties, his fears and doubts. Even her, his Angel and hope for redemption, had never been allowed to know the most secret portion of him, only Zoicyte and she only part. He looked at Bunny and hid nothing of himself from her.

"You have Endymion now and he is someone who would never switch his loyalties the way I have done. I am afraid that you will no longer need me now that you have him, no longer even want me now that you understand who I have wronged."

She threw herself down onto her knees and into his arms, "That'll never happen, NEVER!"

His arms wrapped around her tightly, "Promise me Angel."

"I promise," she cried, "I promise we'll be together forever. All of us, you and Zoe, Nick, me and Jase. The universe better watch out because nothing'll part us!"

Even as Kunzite felt a certainty wash over him, knowledge that the bond between them was strong enough to endure whatever existence threw at them, a presence made itself known.

"Pretty speech Little Cousin, unfortunately for you it was a tad premature,"

The kneeling pair jerked to their feet, Kunzite pushing the dainty angel behind him as they face the dark man who had spoken. He was taller than either of them and his clothes were differing shades of black. His face was pale and yet that very pallor emphasised the charisma that shone from his dark eyes. Bunny was struck by a sense of familiarity when she stared into the black orbs and Kunzite remembered eyes that affected him the same way. Black vs. blue, completely different and yet undeniably similar.

"You're related to Selene," Kunzite stated with out hesitation.

"Very good young Dragon. Indeed I am kin of a sort to the Lady of the Moon. Like her I am more than mortal yet not of the divine. You may call me Thanatos and I am afraid that I must put lie to my little cousin's statement. Young Dragon, it is for you to accompany me-"

"You can't have him!" Bunny insisted, leaping in front of Kunzite and mantling her wings to hid her friend behind a feathery barrier.

The being calling himself Thanatos reached out and gently caressed the girl's cheek. Disarmed, Bunny lowered her wings but did not retreat.

"Such a bright soul, Little Cousin, to be housed in a mortal shell. You have sacrificed much to help the humans of this world. In this form you cannot attain the ascension that is the glory of your people and yet your soul is far too bright to be accepted into a mortal after realm. Do you know the fate that awaits you if you fail to free your people?" Thanatos' voice was calm but his eyes plainly showed concern.

Bunny nodded, "Yes. I don't remember much, I don't remember anything about being Princess Serenity but I know what you're talking about. I know what will happen to me if I die and the curse isn't broken."

Kunzite started behind her and as Thanatos nodded to her in respect and admiration he demanded, "Angel, what fate?"

It was Thanatos who answered, "With neither the path of her people nor yours open to her, her soul will dissipate. It will cease to exist as if it had never been."

Kunzite's face paled and he forced Bunny to turn to face him, "Is this true?" She nodded and he demanded, "Why didn't you tell us?"

Bunny smiled sadly and shrugged, "It's something I just knew but not anything I ever thought about. I didn't even realise that I knew about it until just now."

"Hers is not the only risk, Dragonchild. You and your fellows tempt the same fate each moment longer you remain bound to her. As you bask in her light, you too grow brighter, your sleeping depths awakening. Each oath you make to her, each tie that binds you closer draws you further from me."

It was Bunny's turn to pale and Kunzite's to nod in understanding, saying only, "It is worth it."

"Are you sure? If we part now, as bright as you already shine, the next time you will be beyond of my reach."

Bunny began to shake her head, "Kunzite I didn't know, maybe you should-"

The silver haired general smiled as he removed his fingers from her lips, "Were you go Angel, we follow. What risks you take are ours as well. The others will agree with me, we are in it together."

Their eyes met in understanding and as one they turned to face Thanatos. Kunzite stood behind Bunny, one hand on her shoulder as the being took in their acceptance.

"As you wish," he acceded before smiling at them respectfully, "In the face of such resolve I can do naught but agree. Indeed, such courage deserves recognition. Your body is grievously wounded young Dragon, I am able to help you in that if nothing else. Little Cousin, your guards have gained the aid of that which they believe to be their guardian spirits and sent you their strength. Lend it to me that I may heal the damage that you could not. It will leave you both weary but whole, would that I could do more to help you."

Bunny was smiling in gratitude and Kunzite responded, "Healing me is more than enough, you have our thanks."

"Heartfelt thanks," Bunny amended.

"Only free my cousin, the Lady of the Moon, from her imprisonment and I would be more than content."

"Truth be told, so would we. If Queen Serenity and the other Lunari were free then Metallia, even with Beryl's service, would be hard put to win," Kunzite commented wryly.

Thanatos smiled enigmatically at the pair as he touched their foreheads with the fingers of each hand. Within her Bunny felt the borrowed power of the magical creatures of Earth well up and flow through her forehead and into his fingers. Kunzite in turn felt that same power course from the cool touch against his brow and pour into him. With some distant sense he felt his material body regenerating. As the current of energy died Kunzite and Bunny found themselves fading and even as darkness swallowed them Thanatos' last words echoed in their minds.

"Twice the Lady of the Moon has fought the Demon Queen and on neither occasion was the outcome decisive. Freeing the people of the Moon does indeed hold the answer but it is not on the Moon that Shadow Bane will be found. Your saviour is far closer than you would believe yet bound so firm that only by a miracle will she be free."

***

It seems like we've been waiting an eternity but it hasn't been more than five minutes. Tuxedo Mask looked up at the Guard again, Jadeite was cradling Sailor Moon carefully in his arms and Tux forced himself to ignore the brief flare of jealousy. She's not mine and I have Angel... Jade called her Ang- He shook his head of the brief dizziness and his eyes moved on to where Zoicyte was holding Kunzite's hand to her lips. Oh Zoi. The last conscious General seemed to be concentrating on the stars but Tux noted the way Nephrite's eyes kept darting around, most often landing on Sailor Moon, Kunzite, Sailor Jupiter or himself. Tux managed to catch the tall warrior's eyes as they flicked from Jupiter to him and raised an eyebrow. Nephrite's eyes widened and he quickly directed them back at the stars but even in the darkness Tuxedo Mask could see the small blush that stained his cheeks.

Heh! Some things never change and pretending that you're listening to the stars when you've been caught out at something is one of them Nephrite. Why on Earth don't you just talk to the girl? Because none of us feel right about talking at the moment, forget I asked. He sighed and picked up his hat and mask from where he'd dropped them when he'd talked to Kunzite. The silence was starting to get to him and he tried to distract himself before he cracked.

Think about it Dare, only... nine hours and forty-six minutes until my date tomorrow! I get to see my Angel again... He frowned and another brief dizzy spell passed. What about an itinery? Where am I going to take her? Nine hours and forty-five... forty-four minutes. He replaced his pocket watch and heard Sailor Jupiter behind him.

"Oh great he's at it again," she muttered.

Gee, thanks Lita.

"At what?" Venus asked, yawning.

"He's been spacing out and checking the time every couple of minutes all day! It's been driving me crazy and he won't tell me why!" Jupiter growled.

Tux happened to glance at Jadeite and Nephrite at that moment and saw the both of them start and then grin widely. He frowned at them in confusion and Jadeite just grinned wider. Jade winked at me! What on Earth? Tuxedo Mask continued to stare at the pair, bewildered by the merriment in the blonde warrior's green eyes. I remember Jade laughing like that when he knew something that I didn't... I've seen those eyes recently, but where? Green eyes watching an Angel... Jason and Angel, Jason is Jadeite and Angel is- A gold flash and he shook his head in frustration. What is that? I know I'm on to something important and then I lose it. I was thinking of green eyes...

His train of though was interrupted again when Jadeite, Zoicyte and Nephrite started upright in shock.

"What's wro-" Jupiter began only to stop mid-word as the bodies of both Kunzite and Sailor Moon began to glow. Light, all the colours of the rainbow, shone from them for a moment and when it faded Kunzite's chest was rising and falling evenly. He looked completely healed, only his uniform showing any sign of the blow he had taken, torn and bloodied as it was.

In Jadeite's arms Sailor Moon began to stir, "Jase?" she said weakly.

Jase?

"I'm here Angel," the armoured man murmured softly.

Jadeite is called Jase?

"I'm so tired..."

"We'll get you home," he stood with the slight form in his arms.

Jadeite is Angel's Jase?

Nephrite stood and helped Zoicyte lift Kunzite. The silver haired warrior stirred briefly before unconsciousness claimed him again. Zoicyte triggered a small mechanism on her wrist and Jadeite nodded to the trio before she activated the teleportation that appeared to have been implanted in her suit of armour.

Jadeite turned back to Tux and the Scouts, "We'll get in touch with you later but we need to make sure both Kunzite and Angel are OK."

Tuxedo Mask nodded. "Go." Jadeite smiled and activated his own teleporter and both he and his passenger disappeared. Jason Ice is Jadeite. Does that mean Angel it Sa- A glint of gold began to build in his mind's eye and he banished the thought quickly. What ever that dizziness is, it comes when I try to name Sailor Moon. I know who she is, I just can't think about it. Jadeite is Jason Ice and I'll see my Angel in nine hours and thirty-eight minutes, I'll be content with that.

"-You let them go?" Uranus was yelling as Tux came out of his thoughts.

"We know what they look like now-" he started to explain.

Mercury interrupted, "And they know you too," gesturing to where he still held his mask and hat in his hand.

Tux nodded as he replaced the items, "That's OK. This way we'll know each other if we meet on the street. We can even search for each other. The four of them are rather distinctive in appearance." They look a lot like they did the last time we knew each other. I should have known Jason was Jadeite, how could I have missed those eyes.

"And you're not?" Venus asked wryly.

"We can't trust them," Uranus tried again but it was Mars who answered.

"We can trust them,"

"How do you know?" Saturn asked, not doubting just curious.

"I've told you that Sailor Moon radiates positive energy, well they do too. They're not the same as they used to be, they've changed."

"They've bonded themselves to the daughter of a goddess, I would be surprised if they hadn't," Pluto commented.

Bonded?

Jupiter suddenly grinned, "It's them though, isn't it?"

Tux couldn't help but smile as he nodded. Yeah Lita it's them. They've changed but it's still them. They've come back.

The group began to walk away from the battlefield and Venus suddenly stopped and exclaimed, "Zoicyte's female?!"

Jupiter looked back and shrugged, "So? Only males were allowed to join the Guard she pretended to be a man. The others all supported her."

Venus' voice sounded ill, "Pretended to be a man?"

Uranus scowled, "What's wrong with that?"

Venus threw out her hands, "Oh nothing other than that it meant that I didn't even consider her as competition for Kunzite! She's had how long to get him?"

"Give it up Venus!" Jupiter said, "She had him long before you even met him."

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

Nine hours and twenty-nine minutes.

***

A tall form watched the young warriors depart. Pale blue eyes gleamed in the darkness, the past few minutes had been most illuminating. The identity of the armoured fighters and the true face of Prince Endymion were now known to him. The Dark Kingdom General known as Kunzite smiled to himself as he faded from sight, his Queen would be pleased.