There was only darkness and pain

There was only darkness and pain. He couldn't move or breath and the darkness began to suffocate him. Then the world was silver and dominated by a great pulsating beat. The darkness retreated and he felt his being begin to pound in time to the strange rhythm. Pain vanished and the silver radiance filled him as he succumbed to the beat's siren call.

***

"We're too late," the stranger's panicked voice was strangely familiar and as she ran Lita wondered where she had heard it before. The four inner Scouts darted through a small grove of trees, heading for the area Lita and Mina had seen Darien and Bunny playing. Several metres ahead of her friends Lita was the first to stagger to a halt as she saw the four distraught figures milling by a small white coat, a green blazer and the remains of a picnic lunch. At her abrupt arrival all four of the figures whirled to face her and they stared at her in shock. Seconds later she was joined by her friends and the four Scouts gaped in return at the Guard.

Raye shock of her surprise first and when she saw the green blazer she made to rush past Lita to attack the motionless warriors. Without a thought Lita extended her arm and the black haired Scout rebounded from it, the Scout for Jupiter's strength not allowing her to pass.

"They've hurt Darien!" Raye growled.

Even as the four figures opened their mouths in denial Lita shook her head, "Wrong Generals. These aren't Beryl's, they're our friends."

Lita looked to Kunzite who nodded in approval, "Thank you Lady Jupiter, we do not have time for arguing. Beryl has both Darien and Angel-"

"When she realises what she's got Metallia is going to have a field day!" Jadeite burst out.

Each of the inner Scouts gasped. "Darien? How do you know his name?" Amy questioned.

"Who's Angel?" Mina asked at the same time.

Jadeite gestured impatiently, "I met Darien a couple of days ago and we met up again this morning. He was going to reintroduce us to you tonight. Angel is our ward, you would know her as Bunny."

"Bunny is Sailor Moon isn't she?" Amy asked intently. Even as the words left her lips Lita felt her mind reel as the image of a crescent appeared in her mind. She shook off her sudden dizziness and looked up to find Nephrite holding her gently. A slight blush heated her cheeks and it was with great reluctance that she pulled away from him. He smiled at her wistfully but both of them knew that time was of the essence; though they desperately wished to speak to each other it would have to wait.

Zoicyte was nodding and Amy had retrieved her palmtop computer and was tapping away madly. "Will that do it?" she asked the taller woman.

Zoicyte nodded again, "That's the same mechanism I designed into Angel's medallion. Using your computer to reverse the hypnotic suggestion should be simple. You've already managed to do it with yourself."

Amy nodded and her computer emitted a small beep. Lita started and shook her head. Beside and behind her she felt Mina and Raye doing the same. Lita frowned and then looked at Nephrite again. "Nick... Cook?"

The corners of his lips turned upwards slightly as he nodded. Lita groaned and smacked her forehead, "I knew I should have made her introduce us sooner."

He chuckled, "Trust me, you can't be kicking yourself any more than we are."

Lita suddenly sobered, "Beryl's caught them?"

Zoicyte and Kunzite, Zoe and Kevin Lita realised, nodded with Nick. "Angel called us a few minutes ago but what ever happened happened too fast, she didn't even have the chance to transform," Zoe told her seriously.

"Called?" Mina asked."

Nick turned and tapped his forehead with two fingers. Raye exhaled in comprehension and Lita whistled silently as she understood the implications.

"That explains it," she whispered and Nick cocked an eyebrow at her. She looked at him earnestly, "It explains how she knew Jase was hurt, Jadeite is Jase I presume?" he nodded and she continued, "How she could calm you all last night and maybe even why you aren't human any more. Amy, Pluto said that they'd bonded themselves to the daughter of a goddess, could that explain it."

Raye was nodding absently and Amy frowned for a moment before agreeing, "Maybe…"

"What do you mean 'not human'?" Nick demanded.

"I'll explain later," Kevin surprised them all by interrupting, "Right now we have more immediate concerns." Behind her Lita could hear Mina whispering urgently to someone.

"Damn right!" Jase barked, "Beryl has both Endy and Angel. Endy's bad enough but if she or Metallia realise who Angel is? We can't just sit here and do nothing!"

"Jase, calm down," Kevin ordered quietly, "We know they're alive and with Mercury... Amy's help Zoe should be able to track them down. The problem is getting there."

"We already know where Beryl's set up," Lita interrupted, "Amy tracked them to the Arctic but as you said, the problem is getting there."

"What about that teleport thing you all did last night?" Raye asked.

Zoe shook her head, "Won't work, distance is limited and it strictly a homing mechanism, I haven't had the time to work with it."

"And we don't have the time now either," Mina stated calmly, "The Outers are on their way, with them we should be able to manage a Sailor Teleport but it'll be inexact. We're going to have a problem tracking them down, especially since Darien left his communicator at home."

Jason was shaking his head, "Just get us in range and we'll find them. There's nothing on Earth that can hide the Angel from us."

Mina nodded and for a moment they all stood in silence, fidgeting uneasily. Lita sighed in exasperation, "Why don't we all introduce ourselves and make sure we each putting the right name to the right face?" Seeing no objections she motioned to each of her friends appropriately, "Raye, Mina, Amy and I'm Lita."

They nodded to each girl in turn and then Nick took over, "I'm Nick-"

"Ooh, you make the cheesecake!" Mina squealed, temporarily forgetting the circumstances. The other three girls rolled their eyes and Jason snorted, loosing some of his agitation.

Nick lips twitch as he continued, "Jase and Kevin."

"You're really brothers?" Raye asked curiously, her memories of the past jarring with the thought.

Both men glanced at her and then at each other. Lita caught the slight lift of Kevin's eyebrow and the sudden spark of mischief in Jason's eyes. Without moving both of them adopted identical postures and facial expressions. Lita shook her head in awe as they simultaneously looked back at the gaping priestess and in one voice replied, "Of course!"

"Wicked twin act!" Lita murmured as Raye stuttered in response.

Nick smiled briefly and leaned closer to her, "They used to do that a school and make everyone think they were long lost twins rather than just step brothers. It worked quite well since they do have the same birthday and really freaked some people out. Jase tried to get me to join in but I thought that would have been stretching it." He stood back again and then motion to Zoe, "Last but not least is Zoe, who is not male, contrary to popular belief!"

Mina's face darkened, she stalked up to Kevin and growled at him, "She was female, you two were having an affair before we all died and are now engaged and you still let me chase after you? Why didn't you tell me?"

Kevin's gaped at her for a moment before he replied, frustrated, "I couldn't tell you! If the king ever found out who knows what he would have done and you were the biggest gossip in court."

"So you let me make a fool out of myself?"

"I tried to stop you. I avoided you, I refused to speak to you about anything other than business, I did everything in my power to get the point across and yet you didn't listen!"

"I thought you were playing hard to get!"

"Hard to get?!"

The two were face to face and everyone else was restraining laughter. Even Jason, who was the most anxious over the fate of their friends, had lightened up and was choking back snickers. Zoe herself was covering her mouth and her eyes twinkled as she watched her lover. Then, in a startling move that surprised them all, Mina leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. Lita watched as he stood there, stunned, for a moment before jumping back as if he'd been bitten. Something that an upset Mina might just have done.

Mina looked at him smugly, "Now you know what you've been missing!"

Lita bit her lip in amusement at seeing the unshakeable Kunzite rattled but the anger in his gaze worried her. Kevin retreated to Zoe's side and the woman placed a calming hand on his shoulder. Her obvious amusement at the situation seemed to soothe him and he kept his peace.

Jason snickered, "Really Bro, stringing the poor girl along like that... you should be ashamed of yourself!"

Kevin sighed, "Shouldn't we be preparing? We are about to attack Beryl in her own lair. Her forces will be at their strongest, all four of the dark generals will be there and we'll likely have to face not only the traitor but also her mistress, Metallia."

"We won't have a lot of time to scout around," Nick added, "Even if Beryl doesn't realise who Angel is, she'll figure something's up when she starts fighting as Sailor Moon. Angel will not allow Endy to be hurt. If she fights Metallia will probably be drawn into it and she'll know almost instantly whose daughter Angel is."

"She really is Selene's daughter? Will Selene be able to help?" Amy asked.

Jase shook his head, "Yeah, Angel is the Princess Serenity and No, Queen Serenity can't do anything for us. Until the curse that traps them is broken we're on our own."

"So the Shadow Bane is still out of reach and Beryl has the one person who can free her," Raye mused.

Kevin disagreed, "No, Queen Serenity isn't the Shadow Bane, though her freedom does hold the key. When the Lunari are free then Angel will be freed, her memories will come back and she'll return to her true form."

"She'll truly be the angel that we've named her," Jason finished.

"Does Darien know this?" Mina queried.

Kevin frowned, "He suspects it but I couldn't confirm it while she was listening."

Mina looked confused, "Why not?"

"She already had the weight of her people's hopes on her shoulders, she didn't need to be burdened with that as well. If it happens then she'll know what to do but unless it does I'd prefer for her to be free of the responsibility," Kevin answered seriously.

Lita nodded, she understood their reasoning better than they would suspect. She had lived with Darien for over ten years and knew the burden he had carried since he had regained his memories. The responsibility he felt weighed heavily on him and Lita would hate to see the exuberant blonde saddled with obligation.

Mina saw her friend's nod and dropped the subject, "So when we get there, you four will be able to track Bunny down? What if they've been separated?"

"If that's happened then Jase and Nick'll look for Angel while Zoe and I help you find Endy."

"Will you be able to handle Beryl's generals if you meet up with them?" a new voice said. Lita looked around to find the Scouts for Pluto, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus armed and ready for battle.

"Are you already filled in?" Kevin questioned, frowning.

Mina held up her communicator, "I kept the line open so that we wouldn't have to go through everything a second time."

Uranus smirked as she eyed Kevin, "Did you like the kiss Kunzy?"

Kevin walked up to Uranus and stared down his nose at her, "Don't even go there Wind Bag!" They stared at each other in silence for a long minute and just when Lita thought that they were about to attack each other they clasped hands in the old manner of blood sworn friends.

As everyone gaped at them Uranus gave a genuine smile of pleasure, "Good to have you back Ice-man!"

Kevin's eyes were intent, "That name fits me better than ever Windy."

"So I've discovered, Kevin Ice. It figures that you'd be guarding someone like Bunny. And now that we've got you back Ice-man are you ready to kick Beryl's flabby backside?"

He snorted wryly, "Beryl's going to be the easy part."

"The Scouts and the Guard are together again. Beryl and her lackeys have nothing on us!"

Kevin shook his head, "I hate to admit this Windy, but her generals are stronger than we are. When she created them she gave them the same basic abilities but much more powerful-"

"Then we're just going to have to rough it Bro," Jase interrupted harshly, "I'm sick of being pushed around by some wannabe and now they've taken Angel. I don't care how good they think they are, I am Jadeite, Ward of the Phoenix and nothing is going to stop me this time."

Lita watched as Kevin asked a silent question of the other two of his sword mates. The determination in their eyes spoke for itself and, when he turned back, the silver haired man smiled coldly, "Leave them to us then."

"You just want to have all of the fun," Uranus retorted though her face was approving.

"Don't worry Windy, there'll be more than enough youma for you and when Beryl realises that we're there then she'll undoubtedly call on Metallia, if she hasn't already. Then we'll have pure Shadows to deal with."

"So what are we waiting for?" she responded eagerly.

***

Bunny strove with all of her might to get Darien's heart to beat again on its own. She'd awakened to find him surrounded by darkness, the life leaching out of him. She called her power to fight for his life and they both glowed with the silver of her own being. Her magic supported him with her own heartbeat but could not free him to sustain himself. Inside of him she sensed the golden pool of light that was his life force, something she had never before been close enough to feel, dying. The power of each beat of her own heart stirred the spring of his aura, battling the darkness that was draining the light and life from him.

As she poured her own energy into him her heart and soul reached for his, trying to call him back to her. She distantly remembered Jase telling her that they would have only a little time together but even in her worst nightmares she would never have dreamed to it to be this short. She desperately wished for the support of her guardians but could spare neither the time or the energy to call for their aid. She moaned as Darien's energy ebbed further and furiously reached out to grasp his spirit only to meet with failure. Unlike Kunzite or Jadeite Darien was in no way bound to her. They shared no link except that of their feelings towards each other, she had no way to bespeak his soul, convince it to stay, and with out his own help he would die.

"Darien, don't go. We've only just found each other..." she whispered brokenly as she poured the last of her strength into the black hole that had been his spirit.

Even as her own heart started to falter, his picked up the beat. Their two hearts beat together, augmenting each other. His life force grew and entwined with hers, re-energising her as he returned to life. For an endless time she lay beside him, doing nothing other than listen to the sound of his breathing and feeling his pulse beneath her ear. Eventually they forced themselves to separate, Bunny sat up, removing her head from his chest. He forced himself to rise next to her and together they examined their surroundings.

Until then Bunny had been too focused on fighting whatever magic had been draining him. Once she had the time she saw that they were in a huge cavern that echoed the slightest sound. For a moment she thought it empty save for themselves but then she noticed the strange shape of the walls. Bunny's eyes widened in shock, the cavern must have been over a kilometre long and yet along the entire length large capsules lay piled against the supporting rock. She gasped in shock, within each capsule there was a youma and in numbers that, if they were freed at once, would overwhelm Earth's defenders with ease.

"Are you OK Angel?" Darien asked in worry.

"There's so many of them," she whispered back, horrified.

He put his arms around her and held her loosely as he turned to see him examine the cavern. Bunny felt his hands tighten on her arms convulsively as he took in the scene around them. "We must be in Beryl's work room,' he mused quietly.

Bunny leaned into him, "That means she won't be too far away..."

"Probably not," he released her, rose and offered her his hand.

She took it, murmuring, "Where Beryl is Metallia will follow."

She looked up to see him staring at her in agreement. They both looked around again, the legions of gestating youma unignorable.

"We'd better get out of here," he told her as he located the chamber's entrance.

She nodded and followed quickly as he led her to the door. "Do you have any idea where here is?" she asked as they approached the door.

He looked back at her and shook his head, "No, I had Mercury working on it but she hadn't found this place yet. If the Scouts can figure out what happened then I have no doubt that Amy can locate but I don't know how long it'll take them to work it out." They reached the door and Darien peered out cautiously. Seeing no one and nothing they began to stride down the corridor as quietly and quickly as they could.

"The guys'll be able to tell them about what happened," Bunny told him with certainty, "I was calling for their help when we were taken. They'll tell the Scouts what's up and then Zoe and Amy can team up to find us."

Darien glanced at her from the corner of his eye, "You're that close?"

Bunny bit her lip, afraid that he was angry at her for effectively stealing the Guard from him. He saw her anxious expression and paused to smile briefly at her in reassurance. She returned the smile tremulously and answered, "We're learning to use the link between us more and more. Both Zoe and Kevin believe that if we work on it enough we'll manage true telepathy. We're not that good at the moment but we're close. They'll know."

Darien nodded in acceptance, at that moment a sound came from behind them. Bunny's head whipped back to investigate. Darien didn't bother, he noticed the goose bumps forming on her arms and darted through another door with her. Bunny allowed him to pull her along as she tried to understand the nature of what was following them. It wasn't a youma but it was something just as dangerous and even more evil. Comprehension dawned, "Shadows," she hissed.

Darien gave no sign that he heard her other than to speed up. Bunny started to jog beside him and soon the both of them were sprinting through the maze of halls and tunnels. Behind them their pursuers gained in numbers and ferocity, eerie cries reverberating from the very walls as the distance between hunters and prey lessened. Darien saw a small portal and ducked into it, pulling Bunny behind him. Her gasp was quickly stifled but still audible to Darien and when he saw what she did he resisted the urge to groan. They were in a throne room, the four dark generals kneeling before a seated woman and all five of them staring at the two new arrivals.

Darien straightened in determination as he faced their five watchers. The four generals rose and moved to flank the now floating woman. Her red hair haloed her cold face as she levitated above her throne. Hatred and triumph danced in her eyes as she stared at Bunny and Darien but so did madness. Some thing inside of Bunny advised her to look closer, when she did Bunny saw that behind the insanity there was darkness, pure evil and the blonde girl trembled for Metallia had found her path to freedom.

Darien felt his lady's fear and from the corner of his eyes saw her mouth Metallia's name. Resolution flowed through him as he stepped in front of her and glared at both the generals and their queen.

The queen smiled, condescending at was she saw a futile effort to protect Bunny, "Greetings little prince. I'm rather pleased that you didn't succumb to the Death Spell, life will now be so much more interesting. I take it from you pathetic attempt to shield that girl that you still refuse to ally yourself with me. How about a small bargain then? Join me and I'll let her live. "

Bunny felt Darien's slight hesitation and projected denial with every fibre of her being. Darien nodded slightly and stood taller as he answered.

"Go to hell Beryl."

***

Beryl stared at the two intruders, she saw no use for the girl although something inside of her twisted with unease every time she caught a glimpse of crystalline blue eyes. Endymion on the other hand would have been an asset to her cause. The sorceress could feel the power radiated by the prince, power that grown exponentially since she had first tried to recruit him. The taste of that strength was familiar and the Queen bit back a snarl of rage as she recognised the Earth sense within him. He had taken what was hers, he had denied her for the last time.

"Your precious Scouts are not with you now Little Prince. There is only you and your girlfriend to face the full might of the Dark Kingdom." Beryl turned to the silver haired warrior at her side, "Kunzite release the youma... all of them."

The dark general smiled coldly and bowed before disappearing. Beryl enjoyed the horrified comprehension that flitted across Endymion's face but the girl's reaction bothered her. For a moment Beryl glared at the pair, trying to understand what was so important about the girl. Inside of her a dark presence writhed in sudden knowledge and Beryl frowned. The very idea was preposterous and yet... Even as Beryl began to consider the matter, trying to understand the importance of what her evil patron was trying to impart to her Kunzite reappeared. His return preceded hordes of youma by only a few seconds and Beryl dismissed her half formed concerns as her created army surrounded her enemy.

She smiled and began to laugh in satisfaction as she watched Endymion trying to protect the girl from all sides at once. He had summoned his armour and prepared to fight as his true self rather than in the persona of Tuxedo Mask. The sorceress merely laughed louder as she saw this, even the little prince's armour could not aid him here.

Her laughter cut off abruptly as a bright white light surrounded the girl with Endymion. Beryl watched, dumbfounded, along with her generals as the blonde girl was surrounded with ribbons and feathers for an instant. A distant part of the would-be queen's mind noted the origin and signature of the transformation's power as a device created by the true Zoicyte but the foremost component was astounded by the personal power the girl was unshielding.

In times long past the Earth Guard had disguised their power for many reasons and apparently, from the reports of her generals, still did, otherwise even the mundane humans of Earth would know what they were. When the previously unheard of Sailor Moon had appeared to oppose them Beryl's generals had noted her closeness to the, then unknown, Guard. Barely hours before, when Kunzite had reported the true identities of the armoured warriors to her he had suggested that they had found and trained Sailor Moon, not Endymion and the Scouts. As the supposedly harmless girl transformed into a formidable warrior Beryl was forced to agree. She, better than any, knew the differences in technique and strategy between the Guard and the Scouts.

Even as she realised this, and even as Sailor Moon straightened beside Endymion, Beryl was distracted by the waves of rage her evil patron was radiating from her place in Beryl's mind. The rage washed over the sorceress and hidden in it was fear. Beryl's eyes widened at such an emotion from the Queen of Demons and then narrowed as she realised that it was the girl, not the prince, who caused it.

The youma began to attack both prince and Scout and Beryl sank back to her throne. To her generals it looked as if she were watching the spectacle, in reality the woman was delving deeper into her own mind, searching for the link to power that her patron had given her. When she found it, she drew upon it, basking in the energy and reached into the otherworldly prison that held the Queen of Demons, Metallia.

Moments later Beryl jerked upright with an audible gasp of dismay. Her general's tore their attention from the scene before them and turned to her in concern. Beryl ignored their questions and stared at the two battling for their lives. Endymion, the Rose Prince, and a Lunarian soul, no less than that of the daughter of Queen Serenity herself... the Shadow Bane. Her brief exchange with Metallia had informed her that the Shadow Bane was still caged, even though she fought by the side of the one who would free her. Beryl could not let that happen.

She turned back to the inquiring faces of her generals and looked straight into Kunzite's eyes. "Kill them," she demanded flatly.

The silver haired general's eyes widened slightly, surprised that she would think intervention necessary with such odds against the two. However he took one look at her expression and dismissed any questions. Behind him, the remaining three generals opened their mouths but a peremptory hand signal stopped them. Beryl smiled in dark satisfaction as he gestured to the others and they moved to end the debacle for once and for all.

Both Endymion and Sailor Moon were taking a toll on the monsters facing them, Beryl had not expected any different. Although they massively out numbered the beleaguered pair, the youma were limited in how many could approach their prey at a time. The sorceress had decided that such a manner of execution would provide entertainment but she could no longer risk it. Her four generals lined up and prepared to blast both Rose Prince and Shadow Bane before either of them realised the power that had been prophesied as theirs.

Four pulses of dark energy shot towards the duo that were oblivious to the death approaching them. At the last instant Beryl saw Sailor Moon stiffen and knock Endymion out of the way, causing the blasts to miss them both completely. Beryl cursed silently, wondering how the girl had known. The answer came almost immediately as twelve more forms appeared. Beryl screamed in outrage as the Scouts and Guard surrounded the Prince and Shadow Bane.

***

Endymion felt the pressure on his back ease up and he looked around to see Sailor Moon kneeling beside him. How on Earth did she know that was coming? He rose to a crouch and glared at the nonplused dark generals, who returned his stare angrily. Then Beryl screamed and Endy turned to see the figures of his friends landing around both him and Sailor Moon. Oh, that's how!

Endy and Sailor Moon rose to their feet and took their places among their friends. Endy saw the brief inspections they were both being given as well as the loaded glances the Guard were exchanging with Sailor Moon. I think Angel might be getting a talking to. He chuckled softly, receiving two or three questioning glances.

"It's about time you lot showed up," he said aloud.

The real Kunzite looked away from Sailor Moon and smiled sourly at him, "Advance notice would have been nice."

Endymion snorted, "Hmph! Beryl has never been known for her consideration."

Jadeite looked away from the clones and interjected wryly, "I think our fearless leader was referring to your impromptu holiday but I guess it applies just as much to Beryl as it does to you."

"So kind of you to say so," Sailor Moon retorted, "Jade, you're just too good to us!"

The blonde Guard grinned smugly, "I know!"

Sailor Moon stared at him in aggravation. Endymion chuckled again, his adrenalin was peaking, his girlfriend was beside him and all of their friends were with them. Despite the odds he was starting to feel unbeatable. Jade, Jade, Jade, I have said it before and no doubt I will say it again, you humility under whelms me!

His good mood was contagious, the Scouts had overseen the short exchange from the corners of their eyes and were all smiling with him. Jadeite had a broad grin on his face now that he was in a position to do something rather than wait. Kunzite, Nephrite and Zoicyte were shaking their heads in amusement and Sailor Moon was trying to restrain giggles.

Endymion glanced at the primed group and couldn't stop his smile from growing wider. With a couple of gestures he split the Scouts into two groups to deal with the hordes of youma around them. The Guard moved on their own to challenge their doppelgangers and Endymion drew his sword from it's sheath before looking up to Beryl with a confident expression. By the Goddess know this, that whatever else happens today you will not survive. You may have us outnumbered Beryl and you may even kill us but you will not win. We are the protectors of this world and all who dwell on it and we will not fail it!

"All right boys and girls, it's time to dance."

The Scouts took his cue and struck at the waiting youma simultaneously, knocking the mass back.

Jadeite threw back his head and howled, "PAARRTYYYY! Yeah!" The Dark Kingdom generals appeared startled for a moment and the Guard launched their own assault while they were off guard.

Endymion's smile didn't fade as he cocked an eyebrow at Sailor Moon who stood on his left with her own sword drawn. It's a good thing that she's left-handed, she compliments me perfectly... so Angel are you ready to finish this? "Can I have this dance Sailor Moon?" he asked her.

She winked at him, "Always." In complete accord they turned back to the battle and launched themselves into the thick of it as they tried to make their way to the throne where their target sat.

***

Nephrite dodged a blast from his clone and hurled one of his back. The dark general merely brushed it aside as he closed with the Guard and Nephrite found himself quickly on the defensive. His double was overwhelming him with sheer power and the disturbance that the ShadowWar was causing meant he could not access his true power in the stars. The auburn haired warrior resigned himself to the fact that his opponent was stronger but that didn't mean he was more skilled.

A quick flick detached his cape from the shoulders of his uniform and he flung it over his enemy. In the brief pause Nephrite drew his sword and slashed at the blinded adversary. The general freed himself from the folds of the material just in time to duck the blow. Nephrite flung the length of hair, that he had managed to get, from his blade and cursed. His double straightened up where he stood a few metres away and reach to the back of his neck. His face darkened as he felt the gap in his hair and charged Nephrite furiously. The Guard smiled in satisfaction as he easily stepped out of the general's path and closed in on him from behind. Suddenly the clone whirled and sent three blasts of dark energy at him in quick succession, placing Nephrite on the defensive once more.

***

Jupiter dodged several projectiles and sent some electrifying repayments in return. She saw Mercury go down under a fallen youma and she hurled a lightning bolt in the direction of the watching monstrosity who would have taken advantage of the icy Scout's predicament. A few minutes and two youma later Jupiter reached her friend's side. The smaller Scout was trapped beneath the bulk of the dead youma and was unable to free herself. She smiled in reassurance to the beset Scout and grabbed a strong hold on the imprisoning carcass.

Even as the strong warrior began to heave the youma off Mercury the blue Scout's eyes widened in horror. Jupiter's head whipped around in time to see a large youma fried, then sliced and diced by Mars and Saturn. The Jovian Scout nodded to her two rescuers and turned back to the task at hand. She forced herself to ignore the sight of Nephrite's desperate retreat behind the two dark haired Scouts. Guarded by the Scout of Fire and Soul and the Scout of Death and Rebirth, Jupiter concentrated on freeing her friend while hoping that her would-be beau could save himself.

***

Jadeite was using every little trick he had learned in two lifetimes to just hold even in a mental arm wrestling contest with the clone of himself. They pitted telekinetic strength against telekinetic strength and only Jadeite's skill was allowing him to persevere. The dark general's brute strength was enormous, greater than Jadeite himself could ever hope to attain, even on his best day. The blonde Guard sent a mental thank you to his brother for teaching him how to fight against a stronger opponent and in the back of his mind he felt a small surge of assurance that he interpreted as, 'you're welcome.'

The brief brush with his brother's mind gave him inspiration and Jadeite grinned maliciously. Not long before they had first met up with Nick he had tried to overpower his brother in much the same way as the clone was trying to do to him. His brother was not telekinetic and had no way of matching him while his telekinesis was enhancing his strength. Instead he had used a trick that had ended up with Jadeite sending himself into a wall. The blonde Guard grinned wider and twisted mentally and watched with satisfaction as the dark general went flying into two youma.

***

Pluto fought with an expressionless face but inside she was singing. Her prince had gained the heart of the Moon Princess. The prophecy was being fulfilled and although she didn't know how Endymion was going to awaken the Shadow Bane she had every confidence that he would. Across the chamber she saw the duo fighting, side by side, as they cut a path towards Beryl. Seeing that Pluto had to restrain a sigh, for all that the woman was cold, ambitious and totally evil she had once been a little girl whom Pluto had loved and cared for.

Beryl was doomed, Pluto had no doubt about that. Her staff swung around and a blast of energy streamed from it to destroy two youma. The Guardian of the Gate of Time knew better than anyone that the future was not certain but from the moment she had seen Bunny and Darien standing side by side as Prince Endymion and Sailor Moon she had known that the outcome had been decided. She didn't know how yet, the very war they fought obscured her knowledge of the future, but a certainty was growing inside of her. They would win and the union between the Terran Prince and Lunarian Princess would herald a new era of prosperity for the entire solar system. The aged Scout believed that with her entire heart and she fought with a vigour she had not felt in centuries.

***

Kunzite stood back to back with Zoicyte each of them facing their own nemesis but also assisting their lover. Behind him he could here the shrieks of the youma who were facing another pair of warriors as Sailor Neptune and Uranus combined their own forces. He saw Pluto moving to aid Venus with a pair of tricky youma and Endy and Angel fighting together as they caused a massive death toll on their opponents.

The Guard and the Scouts had a strength that Beryl had never understood. A strength that was only enhanced when Angel and Endy were added to the equation. For they did not fight alone, they fought together and Beryl had never understood the power that a team could give you. The two dark generals that Beryl had created to replace Zoicyte and himself may be stronger than either of them individually but they could not match the couple when they fought together. The two generals might attack simultaneously but would never combine forces as they Guard would. He smiled viciously and without saying a word he and Zoicyte combined an attack and shot it at her double. The clone with the light brown ponytail was blasted off his feet. Where neither of them had the strength alone to defeat their copies, together they were more than able.

***

Beryl seethed as she watched the combat before her. Her forces massively out numbered those of the pitiful little prince's and yet they were not gaining ground. She snarled as she watched Kunzite and Zoicyte cooperate to fight her generals. Jadeite was leading his clone around in circles, not allowing her general to get a good shot at him. Nephrite was having more trouble but again was not giving his double a chance to use his superior strength. The proof that it was not their power that had made the Guard such useful tools but their skill angered Beryl more. For all their power her creations would only triumph if they outlasted their opponents and considering the Guard's skill and experience that was unlikely. A thought struck the sorceress and her scowl turned to a smile.

Inside of her she sensed Metallia's encouragement and gathered the power the Queen of Demons willingly sent to her. She sent her power towards the Earth Guard and used it to encroach on their minds. It had been their strength that had defeated the Scouts in the past and with them she would triumph in the present. What had been done before could be done again, they would be hers once more.

***

In the middle of battle four figures stiffened simultaneously and then bent over, holding their heads in pain. Their souls the focus of a battle between Light and Shadow for the second time in their memory. Each of them felt the blows, their opponents had used their distraction to give to them, only peripherally. Each of them were too engrossed in the battle they fought inside of them, determined that this time they would not lose.

A bright light came to each one and linked them so that where before there had been four people fighting four battles now there were five fighting in a single conflict. The Earth Guard were united by their link to their ward and to each other, by a common mission and a common destiny. They were the sworn protectors of the Princess Serenity, of Bunny Tsukino, of the Angel. They were not alone, and she offered them her strength without restraint. They basked in her light and the Shadows Beryl sent to plague their minds retreated from the light they shared. As one the four Guards regained their feet and each ignored their wounds to savour the shriek of disbelief sounded by Beryl. They would not fail again.

***

Endymion caught Sailor Moon as she stumbled and he noticed the Guard had also been distracted. What on Earth is happening? What's wrong and why's it only affecting them? Oh man, they're being pulverised! A quick signal sent Scouts to cover the heedless warriors before their enemies could do more harm to them. Jupiter and Mercury moved to help Nephrite, Pluto and Venus went to Jadeite while Uranus and Neptune stood guard over Kunzite and Zoicyte. Mars and Saturn approached him, destroying a youma that had thought to take advantage of Sailor Moon's vulnerability.

"She's trying to coerce them to her side again," was the first words out of Mars' mouth.

Saturn nodded in sober agreement, "We may have to consider taking them out before she can finish with them. There's no way we can win if they fight for her."

Endy shook his head in denial as he was forced to take more of Sailor Moon's weight. No, she can't do that to them anymore-

Saturn frowned at the sight of the almost unconscious Sailor Moon but she persisted with her argument, "Highness they couldn't resist her in the past even with the aid of their totems, they won't be able to-"

"You're wrong Saturn," Mars interrupted as she peered closer at Sailor Moon, "They'll be able to resist, she's helping them."

Endymion nodded in confirmation, "As long as she's alive the bond they share with her will protect them from Beryl spells."

The youngest Scout looked hopeful, "She's that powerful? Has she been freed? Can she face Metallia yet?"

Both Endy and Mars shook their heads and Mars answered, "No, between them they are probably using less power than any one of them would have alone to fight the spell. It's the type of power they're using."

"And the fact that they're fighting it together," the prince added as he brushed a strand of hair from the face of the girl in his arms. 'She is the light that will give the world hope' I understand what they meant by that now. Her light is what Mars called positive energy and I guess it's not so strange that she has so much of it when you consider that she's an angel incarnate. And light is the one thing that can chase away shadows, Angel's Light can destroy Beryl's Shadows but as a human she's not strong enough. I'm supposed to free her so that as a Lunarian she can defeat Beryl and Metallia but I have no idea how. I don't know how to entreat the aid of angels and I have no idea what the 'power divine' is. I don't what I can do other than stay with her.

Mars had nodded in agreement to his last qualifier and continued, "We don't have the right type of power to defeat the Shadows, especially not with Beryl directing them, she does, only not strong enough."

As her true self she would be but how can I help her become Lunarian again?

"Can we lend her our power?" Saturn asked.

Kunzite said something about Angel only being human so long as her people are trapped, would freeing the Lunarians free Angel?

Mars shook her head, both Scouts keeping an eye on the youma waiting for their Queen to finish so they could attack. "Wrong type of power," the Martian Scout explained, "Ours is elemental, the power of our planet. It'd only make Metallia stronger, it's why having an ex-Scout like Beryl serving her so disastrous."

Would she be strong enough even in her true form though? Pluto told us that Selene fought Metallia not once but twice and with the aid of all of her people and a magic crystal and she still couldn't destroy her. Would Angel be able to do it alone where her mother couldn't?

At that moment Sailor Moon's eyes snapped open and she stood up. In his peripheral vision Endy saw the Guard doing the same as Beryl screamed in outrage. They did it! Beryl's generals watched their mistress as warily as they did the Guard. You're losing it Beryl! The Guard resisted you, beaten and bloody they still beat you! You're own generals look like they're about to turn on you. You might as well give up!

Her eyes flared red as the Guard, flanked by the Scouts, stood defiantly against her. She snarled and before Darien realised what she was doing she threw her head back and screamed. Then, as they had millennia before, pure Shadows began to fountain from her mouth. Endymion threw a barrage of his lethal roses at her but this time the sorceress was prepared and the steel tipped blooms hit a magical barrier. The Shadows began to spread throughout the chamber and Endymion nodded in approval when he saw the Scouts blocking the exits to prevent their escape. Good, they won't get out unless it's through us. Of course that means we don't get out either but if it stops these abominations I can live with it.

The youma began to attack the Scouts once more, supported by the Shadows. The Guard found themselves under siege by the dark generals yet again. Endy hurled rose after rose into the fray, often saving the life of one of his friends but still he began to despair. There's too many of them. The Scouts are being worn down by the number of youma and with the Shadows it's only a matter of time before they're just too tired. The Guard are already out matched by their clones and their battle with Beryl has to have taken a lot of their energy. It's history repeating itself...

The prince turned to look for Sailor Moon and found, to his horror, that she was unobtrusively approaching the sorceress on the throne. The small, blonde Scout reached the throne apparently unnoticed and raised her sword to end the stream of Shadows and finish the war. As the blade came down and without even turning her head Beryl thrust out her hand and a bolt of destructive energy shot into the Scout. Sailor Moon's sword dropped to the ground as she was flung away from the throne.

Angel! Endy ran to the sprawled form. Behind him he heard the cries that meant the Guard knew what had just occurred. Their preoccupation cost them, their opponents taking advantage of their momentary weakness to put them on the defensive and keep them there. The prince ignore that, all he was concerned with was the tiny, limp figure of Sailor Moon. He fumbled at her neck, desperately trying to find a pulse, his own jumping frantically when he couldn't. No, Angel! You can't die!

He gathered her into his arms and a memory of the night before came to him. 'You're the bloody Prince of Earth, she'd lend you all of her strength if you asked.' Could I... Endymion delved into his own power, deeper than he had ever imagined doing. He reached into the core of himself and found the magma core of Earth. His senses expanded, he was Terra, Terra was him, and there was no difference between the two. He called for strength from his body and it came. It came from the oceans whose depths rivaled those of Neptune's, from the storms that would do justice to those of Jupiter. The pebbles, the rocks, the very mountains gave him their strength and he tried to channel it to the small body in his arms.

She won't accept it.

She's not one of my children nor any of my sisters', she cannot accept what I have to give her.

I can't let her die.

She's my last hope, my only hope of survival. Without her I join my sisters and we will all sleep eternally.

I love her.

I am the ultimate mother but she is not mine to nurture.

How can I help her?

I cannot nourish her, yet maybe I can help her.

She needs her people.

They must be freed.

I cannot give her my strength but I can lift her until hers is enough.

Her people were my friends. I will help her reach them.

The Terran prince changed tactics.

***

In the back of his mind the link was fading. Kunzite began to make desperate moves, hoping to end the duel quickly. He cursed his haste as his recklessness allowed his clone to separate him from Zoicyte. In the back of his mind he felt the panic of the rest of the Guard as they each felt their Angel fading. The silver haired warrior began to retreat quickly, his clone having gained enough momentum to begin his own sequence of attacks. Kunzite counter the attacks as best he could in his abstracted frame of mind. The dark general scored several hits whose strength debilitated the Guard more than he would have believed.

A surge of shock in the back of his mind distracted him again and Kunzite dived for cover behind a pile of youma corpses as he tried to analyse the golden energy that was streaking along his link to Sailor Moon. He tasted the energy cautiously and jerked when he recognised as the elemental strength of Terra herself. He quick glance confirmed that Endymion was indeed directing the power from his world. Both he and the girl in his arms were surrounded by a golden glow and Kunzite's hope rose, only to be dashed when the prince's efforts met with failure.

Instants later Kunzite's threw a blast of energy at his twin, doing little more than startle the man, as he tried to understand Endymion's new approach. The prince was no longer trying to heal the girl or even give her his energy. Instead he seemed to have surrounded what remained of Sailor Moon's own life force and was trying to lift it. Comprehension dawned and Kunzite realised that the Prince was trying to help his girlfriend break the barrier that held her back from contacting her people.

The pang of excitement Zoicyte sent him as she ducked and dodged her adversary's blasts told the leader of the Guard that it might work but also that it might be too late. The girl's energy was almost gone. Kunzite abandoned his efforts to save himself and turned his attention inwards as he reached for his ward's soul as she had done for his the night before. He felt the presence of his brother beside him in his mind and knew that the other Guard had the same goal. Zoicyte and Nephrite both of them guided by the friends who'd been through something similar to this before soon joined them. Together the Guard reached across their link and found the failing spirit of their ward. Around all their souls the power of Terra and her prince encapsulated them as it propelled their essences skyward.

Each of the Guard felt their totem animal send them its strength without waiting to be asked. They wrapped the angel in a blanket of power that came from the beings of pure magic that had chosen them to be their avatars on Earth. As the golden cocoon sped forward the silver essence of Sailor Moon strengthened, feed by the energies of the Guardians of Earth's Magic as she couldn't be by the energy of Earth's prince.

Their journey slowed and then stopped completely and the essence of Kunzite sensed that it was the curse on the Moon Kingdom that had stopped them. The cocoon of magic suddenly began to whirl around them, the golden energies of Earth revolving around their souls faster and faster. Currents and swirls of power warping reality outside of it. Kunzite knew that Zoicyte was observing the phenomenon in wonder as Earth's Prince breached the wall that separated the Lunarians from the rest of the universe.