Hey! This is my first real fanfic so please be constructive with criticism and kind with praise. Oh yeah, this will be a finished fanfic even though it's in chapters so try to be patient with me. I am using the characters' Japanese names and may eventually feel brave enough to try to add the odd word of Japanese too. If you need translations they will be at the bottom after the story. This final thing is for everyone who has no life and surfs the Internet with the hope of catching a fanfic writer without a disclaimer: Sailor Moon and the associated characters do not belong to me and I have a feeling that they never will. All characters and plot lines that I make up do belong to me and I will send my Death Fuzzies after any not nice person who steals them. You have been warned…
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CHAPTER 1
"Goodnight Luna."
"Goodnight Usagi-chan."
Usagi rolled over in her bed and immediately fell asleep. At first she saw merely impressions and snippets of scenes. Then one appeared and held. She was looking out of a window, straining her eyes to see something behind a huddle of white marble streaked with silver buildings. She realized that she was trying to see if the shuttle carrying the royal family of Pluto and their entourage had arrived yet.
"Hold still little princess. I've almost finished."
She looked longingly out the window opposite to her, which looked down on an inner courtyard. "Do you think that they're here yet? I'd hate to miss their arrival." She wiggled impatiently before she could stop herself.
"If you'd stop wiggling, this would go much faster and you wouldn't have to worry about missing the arrival of the royal family of Pluto."
"Yes Ikuko-momma." She responded meekly and did her very best to hold still.
"There Little Princess. You now look like a princess you are. Try to keep out of trouble." She nodded impatiently.
"I don't want to see the hem ripped out of that dress for quiet a while. Understand Princess Selenity?"
"Yes. May I go now Lady Ikuko?" Lady Ikuko laughed. "Yes I suppose so."
Princess Selenity hopped off of the stool on which she stood. "Thank you for arranging my hair. Bye!" Princess Selenity then dashed from the room in a most undignified way. Lady Ikuku laughed at her small charge.
Princess Selenity stopped running before she got to the corridor that led to her mother's throne room. When she got there she smiled up at the guards at the door to the throne room. "Would you please have me announced to Mother?"
They smiled down at her. "Yes Princess Selenity." They said in unison while making low bows to her. One went and spoke to the trumpeters and the chief herald. Princess Selenity looked up at the remaining guard anxiously while smoothing the front of her dress. "How do I look?"
"You look very beautiful Princess." Little Princess Selenity joyously beamed up at the guard, who couldn't resist returning the smile.
"Thank you very much kind sir."
Just then the other guard reappeared. "They're ready for you now Princess."
"Thank you. Would you mind opening the doors for me?"
"Not at all."
The two door guards grandly swung open the doors and the trumpeters inside sent up a loud fanfare. Then the head herald announced her in ringing tones to the court within. Trying to create an adult like air about herself, she processed down the main isle to her mother and the throne. Coming to the proper point she curtsied deeply to her mother the queen. Her mother, faintly smiling, acknowledged her in front of the court and rose to walk to her daughter. Taking the princess' hand, she announced that it was time to move to greet the royal family of Pluto for those who wished to accompany them. Guards materialized around the queen and her daughter as they led the envoy of those who wished to greet the Plutonians. As they walked to the buildings on the royal grounds that surrounded the landing pads and runways on the palace grounds, Princess Selenity gazed up at her mother wonderingly. Lovingly the queen looked down at her only daughter and smiled. "What are you thinking about?"
"You Momma. I was thinking that you're beautiful and graceful and smart and everybody loves you and trusts you. I want to be just like you when I grow up." Princess Selenity looked at the ground then and her lower lip trembled. "But I'm none of those things."
"Not yet my darling but one day you will be all of those things and more. Just wait and see." Queen Selenity leaned closer to her daughter and softly said, "When I was little I was terribly clumsy and not exactly beautiful, but I eventually grew out of it. One day you will too."
Princess Selenity's face lit up. "You think so Momma?"
"I know so my darling."
Princess Selenity laughed and hugged her mother. Queen Selenity stopped and returned the hug then laughed and retook her daughter's hand. "Come on lest we be late and miss their arrival."
The royal family of the Moon arrived at the landing pad where the Plutonians would land in time to hear their request to land. Patiently they stood watching the whole arrival process and the laying out of the red carpet to the door to the craft. Then the entire entourage of the royal family of Pluto filed out of the door and lined up along the sides of the carpet, to stand with the entourage of the royal family of the Moon. The queen, king, and princess of Pluto filed out of the craft last.
The queens greeted each other first with the pronounced formulas being rounded off with a tight hug, then the King of Pluto was recognized and he gave the Moon Queen a chivalrous kiss on the back of the hand. Finally the Moon Queen greeted the Princess of Pluto and she curtsied prettily before hugging the Moon Queen. Now it was the Moon Princess' turn to greet their guests. She curtsied before clearly stated all the things dictated by custom. Then she skipped over to the Princess of Pluto, and hugged her tightly before going to hug the Queen of Pluto with slightly less enthusiasm. The King of Pluto then swept her up and gave her a resounding kiss on the forehead where her crescent moon was. "How old are you now little Moon Princess?"
"Six and a half."
The King feigned surprise. "So old already? I had no idea."
Princess Selenity giggled. "You did too! You sent me a present on my birthday!"
He laughed. "I did, didn't I? I must be getting forgetful in my old age."
"You're not old at all!" Princess Selenity exclaimed and playfully swatted him on the shoulder. Again he laughed. "You're a nice lass."
Gently he placed her on the ground, then bowed and offered one arm to Queen Selenity and the other to his wife, Queen Persephonia. Behind the three rulers trailed the two princesses, holding hands. Princess Selenity smiled joyously up at her companion. "You're finally here, Persephonia! I was so excited when I heard that you were coming that I nearly died waiting."
Princess Persephonia smiled down at her cousin. "I'm happy to see you too Selenity."
Pain slashed across her mind and Usagi shot upright in bed clutching her left ear. Angrily she glared at the little black cat lying dazed on the floor.
"Luna! What was that for?"
Luna sat up rubbing her head with a paw. "You didn't set you're alarm. You're late for—"
"School!" Usagi bellowed.
Usagi fell out of bed and flew around the room. Luna watched the blonde whirlwind that was her owner, dress at an impossible speed then dash around the room collecting her school supplies. "It's Saturday." Luna's voice was soft but it stopped Usagi dead in her tracks. Slowly she turned to face her cat. "What?"
"It's Saturday Usagi-chan."
Usagi threw her book satchel on her table. "Why did you wake me up Luna?"
"You have a Senshi meeting. You didn't set the alarm and now we're going to be late! Hurry up!"
Usagi once again became a blonde whirlwind as she changed clothes, scooped up her cat, and ran down the stairs. In the kitchen she gulped down a breakfast of sorts while holding Luna with one hand, then bolted for the door while shouting good morning to her family and that she would probably be back around lunchtime. Usagi dashed down the street and around the corner.
WHAM!
Holding her head she sat up and spotted Luna lying on the pavement next to her meowing pitifully. Looking up she spotted a quartet well known to her.
"Haruka-san. Michiru-san. I'm sorry I ran into you." She smiled sheepishly and directed her next comment over their shoulders. "Hello Setsuna-san. It's good to see you Hotaru-chan."
"It's alright Usagi-chan. We're fine." Michiru assured her young friend.
"Hello Kitten. Are you okay?"
"I think so." Usagi gently picked up Luna. "Luna may be another matter though."
Hotaru giggled.
"I'll be alright." Luna assured everyone, then glared at Usagi. "I wish that Usagi would learn to look where she's going though."
Usagi blushed and changed the subject. "Where are you going?"
"To see you actually. You seem to be in a hurry to go somewhere though." Haruka replied.
"There's a Senshi meeting at Rei-chan's Temple." Usagi sighed deeply. "I'm going to be late, though. Rei-chan is going to throw a fit." Hotaru giggled while Michiru and Setsuna smiled and Haruka grinned. Usagi threw the lot of them a hurt look.
"Come on. We'll give you a ride Usagi-chan."
"Really?" Usagi asked hopefully.
"Really." Haruka assured her. "The car is parked around the corner."
"WWWAAAAHHHHHOOOOO!!!!!" Usagi shrieked joyously while jumping in the air.
"Now I won't be late and Rei-chan won't scream at me! Thank you!"
"Sure." Haruka looked around at the people staring at the group. "Let's go."
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Usagi sat in the back seat between Hotaru and Setsuna. "So, um, what did you want to see me about?"
"We were going to tell you first. Since the Inners are already conveniently gathered at the Temple for a Senshi meeting though, we might as well wait and explain it all at once to all of you at the same time." Haruka replied.
"We're almost there anyway." Michiru added.
Usagi sighed sensing that it wasn't going to be good news.
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"What do you want to bet that Usagi-chan and Luna are going to be late again?" Rei asked the others in general as she looked at her wristwatch. "She has five minutes, then she'll be on time and after that she'll be late, as usual."
"Does that mean that she's early?" Haruka's voice came from the doorway.
Minako, Makoto, Ami, and Rei all turned towards the door and saw five silhouettes there. The five silhouettes entered the room and resolved into the forms of Hotaru, Setsuna, Usagi, Michiru, and Haruka. "What! All four of you had to come to the meeting to make sure that Usagi-chan would be early for once?" Rei teased.
"What's going on?" Ami asked. "The four of you wouldn't be here if there wasn't trouble."
Setsuna nodded. "You're right Ami-chan. There is trouble and the Princess is in danger."
"This might take awhile." Rei stood. "I've already made tea and there should be enough for all of us but we'll need more cups. If you'll excuse me for a few minutes." Then she disappeared through the door. While she was gone the others made themselves comfortable for the talk that would ensue so that when Rei appeared to set the places and pour tea for everyone, they were ready.
Minako took a sip of her tea, then began the talks. "So what's going on?"
"We've all foreseen trouble and danger." Hotau quietly began.
"The seas are becoming restless," Michiru said.
"And the winds are beginning to stir," Haruka added.
"Both are signs that trouble is about to come to pass." Setsuna informed the others. "The winds of time have changed so that the future is no longer certain. I can no longer see clearly what the future will hold because the mists of time have swirled so that the future is obscured. Even to me."
"Until recently, I was once again in my form as a baby. One night Setsuna came for me, telling my father that I was needed again. A few days later, I was my proper age with all my memories restored." Hotaru took a sip of her tea. "I have been having visions of the Princess being in grave danger. This time the Prince and the eight of us may not be enough to save our Princess from the darkness that even now threatens her and this world. We will need the aid of others who are strange to Setsuna-mama, Michiru-mama, Haruka-papa, and myself. They all seem to be familiar to Usagi-chan, the four of you, and the guardian cats though."
"What do they look like and do you have any clues as to their identities?" Ami queried.
"I don't have any clues to their identities and I can't see them. They are shadows that are looking into mirrors. Suddenly each reaches an arm into their mirror and grasps the shoulder of their reflection who reaches an arm out and does the same."
"How many are there?" Minako interrogated.
"Can you at least tell if they're male or female?" Makoto questioned.
"There are four shadows. I know that at least three of them are male. I'm not sure, but I believe that the fourth is also male." Ami had been feeding everything that had been said into her minicomputer. Without looking up she asked, "Can we win whatever war is coming without the four shadows and their reflections?" Everyone held their breath.
"I don't know but I don't believe so." Hotaru's quiet words caused everyone's heart to drop.
"So the most important thing for us to do is find those men." Ami summed up quietly.
"Yes."
"Do you have any idea of their connection to us? Or know anything about them that will make them easy to find?" Minako demanded.
"I know that some of the men were very dear to you while the rest of the men were considered enemies."
"If the four of you are involved then the danger must not be from this solar system, right?" Minako persisted.
"We don't know." Haruka injected. "All we know is that we've all received overwhelming signs that whether or not the enemy is from this solar system the Princess will need us for this war." All four Outer Senshi looked at their Princess. "We will not fail in our duty."
Usagi spoke up for the first time. "But how does all of this mean danger for me and do you think Mamo-chan is going to be involved?"
"Somehow a great deal of this will center around you, Princess. Parts of it will center on others of us, but you will be important to the outcome even then. As for the Prince, I don't think that he is going to be involved very much in what is going to come to pass until he returns from America, so don't worry about his safety at the moment. From this moment on we all must be very careful."
"I think that if it can be helped, none of us should spend too much time alone."
Haruka nodded. "Michiru is right. Usagi-chan in especial shouldn't be put into a position where there may be trouble and she's alone." The other Senshi all nodded gravely but Usagi gave a deep sigh. When the others all looked at her inquiringly she smiled slightly. "I was just thinking that all this sounded like it was going to make life very interesting for awhile."
"I thought that you didn't mind being Sailor Moon, Usagi-chan." Said Makoto.
"Yeah. You looked like you were having fun being a champion of love and justice." Minako added.
"Mamoru-san isn't going to be in any danger from whatever trouble's brewing until the end. I'd have thought that you would be happy about that." Rei threw in.
"Oh I really don't mind being Sailor Moon, I really do have fun being the champion of love and justice, and I'm very happy that Mamo-chan isn't going to be in danger."
"Well what's the matter then?" Ami asked perplexed.
Usagi's face took on a mournful expression. "Whenever we're fighting a war I never get to sleep in late or even get a full night's sleep. I'm finally getting used to getting a full night's sleep and sleeping in late again and now I have to give them up again." Everyone else, guardian cats included, burst into laughter. "Really! It's not that funny guys!"
"Yes it is," Rei disagreed. "It's hilarious!"
"You would be more interested in getting your beauty sleep than in saving the world!" Minako added cheerfully.
"You guys are so mean to me!"
More laughter, this time Usagi joined in.
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Laughter. She was in the royal gardens with her cousin, Princess Aphrodita. Already her cousin was slightly taller than she was and much faster and far more agile. Giggling she ran as fast as she could away from her cousin who was steadily following her. Selenity tried to run faster but her foot got caught on the hem of her skirt and she tumbled forward. Selenity began to wail but before her voice could reach the level where her wails became sonic wails and the crescent moon on her forehead activated, warm arms slipped around her and her cousin whispered in her ear, "It's alright, I'm here and you're not hurt badly, Sel." Selenity stopped sobbing and wailing and managed to tone it down to sniffles and whimpers. "Are you hurt anywhere?"
"M…my knee."
Aphrodita took a look at her knees. One was slightly black and blue in one spot. "This doesn't look too bad."
"Honest?"
"Honest." Her cousin blasted her with one of her sunniest smiles and she stopped sniffling and whimpering so that she could smile back. "Do you think you can walk on it Sel?"
Selenity nodded. "Yes."
"Really? Well then…TAG. You're it!" And with those words she bound off in the opposite direction. Selenity scrambled to her feet and began to chase her. "Hey! No fair!" For a reply all she got was more laughter.
Pain.
Usagi sat up rubbing her head. "Ow! What am I doing on the floor?"
Luna sat up rubbing her head as well. "You started thrashing then you rolled over and knocked us both out of the bed."
"Sorry Luna." Usagi picked up her cat and got into bed. Carefully she rearranged the blankets on her bed and resettled herself. As Luna resettled herself, she cast a sleepy look at her owner and tried to make her voice severe. "Don't have anymore dreams which require you to thrash around. I don't want to end up on the floor again with you."
"Right. Sweet dreams Luna."
"Goodnight."
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"Are you okay Luna? You look very tired."
"I am. I barely got a wink of sleep last night." Luna yawned tiredly. "Thanks to Usagi-chan I ended up on the floor at least five times last night."
Artemis was startled. "She threw you on the floor at least five times?" Luna shook her head slowly, too tired to even get angry at the absurdity of Artemis' statement. "No. She kept having dreams that caused her to flop around in the bed until she eventually rolled out of it and took me with her. It was a long night."
"Did she say what was in her dreams that made her act like that?"
"All she would say was that in her dreams she saw memories long forgotten."
"Does she usually act like that when she sleeps?"
"She flops around in the bed sometimes in her sleep but not like last night. She only dreams about things that happen in real life when there's a crisis of some sort in her life."
"Has she been doing it for a long time?"
"No." Luna yawned again. "She only started shortly before the Outers announced that there is a new enemy to be faced."
"Then this might have something to do with the new enemy."
Luna looked startled. "It might," she conceded slowly.
Artemis stood up. "I think that we should tell the others."
Luna raised her head from her paws to look up at Artemis. "Why?"
"Usagi-chan's behavior has changed since we were told about the new threat. That might have something to do with the new enemy. Hotaru-chan said that Usagi-chan would be in the most danger out of all of us. We should tell the others so that they can be ready for anything."
"Let's wait awhile and see what happens before telling the others. If we go to them now we'll sound foolish."
Artemis thought it over then nodded slowly. "You may be right." He sat down and looked at Luna slyly. "Mind if I spend the night tonight?"
Luna shot bolt upright. "Artemis!"
Artemis chuckled. "To observe Usagi-chan first hand naturally."
"Oh." Luna settled down again. "That's different."
Artemis chuckled. Luna fell asleep after muttering crossly to herself, "Dirty tomcat."
Artemis only laughed harder.
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In the Crown Fruit Parlor a group of five girls met at a corner booth after school.
"Is anything the matter Usagi-chan?"
Usagi opened one eye. "Huh?"
"Is anything the matter?" Rei repeated.
"No, I'm just tired. I didn't sleep well last night."
"Don't worry! We've defeated everything else that's come against us. We'll defeat this too."
The others nodded agreement. "I may know how she feels though. I stayed up late last night making a program that would help us find any sources of negative energy." Ami looked down dejectedly. "It didn't work though."
"Cheer up Ami-chan! I'm sure that you'll get it to work. It's just a matter of fine tuning."
"Yeah, Rei-chan's right! I mean, you're a genius Ami-chan!" Minako bubbled enthusiastically. Usagi nodded. Ami blushed.
As the others turned the conversation towards gossip and Ami worked on her program, Usagi nodded off to sleep.
The sound of something being dislodged and falling. This was shortly followed by a splash. She was soaking wet. Looking down at her wet and clinging clothing, she heard the sound of laughing. Looking up she saw her cousin sitting on the ground, laughing at her misfortune. Somehow she didn't share his mirth. Walking over she scowled down at him accusingly, "Eurus I suppose that you did that."
"Y…yes. You should've seen your face! It…it was—AAAHHHH!!!"
Selenity, soaking wet, had plopped down in Eurus' lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm sure that you'll keep me warm."
"Sel, get off me!"
"No! I'm cold!"
"What's going on here?"
Selenity and Eurus looked up guiltily.
"Selenity you're soaking wet! Why are you sitting on Eurus?" It was Lady Ikuko.
"It's my fault so don't be angry with Sel—"
"Don't listen to him! I should have—"
"Enough!"
Both children were silent immediately.
"I take it you both had some part in this. I'll ask questions later. Right now though, I'd better get the two of you cleaned up. Although," Lady Ikuko smiled slightly, "I'm sure your parents will be most interested in your exploits."
"Wake up Usagi-chan!"
Usagi jumped. "What's going on?" she asked confusedly.
"You fell asleep." Makoto said kindly.
"Oh yeah."
"Maybe you should go home." Ami said kindly. "You can catch some sleep after you do your homework."
"No, I can't. If I go home, I'll go to sleep before doing my homework. If I don't do my homework, then I'll get another detention and Mom'll be furious."
"Do it now then." Rei suggested. Usagi nodded as she got out her school materials.
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'Even with the others there, I still fell asleep at least three times. Luckily I didn't have much homework.' Usagi thought as she flopped down onto her bed. 'Why don't I get any rest even though I'm sleeping even more than usual? And why am I seeing things from my past life? I'm sure those dreams are memories of my past life on the moon. I'm sure that Princess Persephonia is Setsuna-san and Princess Aphrodita is Minako-chan but who is Eurus? Eurus looks so familiar but I can't place him. I'm so tired though, so very tired. If I could only get some decent sleep maybe I could remember where I've seen him." Usagi rolled over onto her side. "If only…" and then she was asleep.
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"Minako-chan, I have to go out tonight. Will you be alright?"
"Sure! Where are you going though?"
"Luna and I are going to hunt for some answers." Minako got a naughty look but Artemis didn't notice. "Would you mind leaving the window open a crack for me though, so that I can get in? I'll close it afterwards."
"You're going on a date with Luna!"
"WHAT!"
"I can see through your trick! But you're filthy! You can't go on a date like that!" Minako grabbed her cat. "Come on! I'll give you a bath and help you dress for you're date with Luna."
"Minako-chan, there may be a misunderstanding. I'm not—"
"No need to be shy around me Artemis! After all we're partners and I wouldn't let my partner down in something as important as this! Now let me draw you're bath water and put some salts in. You'll—"
"We're not going on a date!!"
Minako laughed and Artemis yowled as he was shoved into a warm, soapy, and sweet smelling bathtub.
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"Where is that fool cat Artemis? He's really late!" Luna paced another circle in front of the Tuskino house. "I hope nothing's happened to him!"
"In a manner of speaking something terrible has happened to him," a voice said from behind some bushes.
Luna jumped. "Artemis! Hurry and come out of those bushes!"
"Not until you promise not to laugh."
"What? Artemis, we don't have time for this! Now get out here!"
An unhappy sigh and then a deeply unhappy Artemis shuffled out of the bushes to stand in front of Luna. "This is so humiliating."
Luna took one look at him and began to howl with laughter so hard that she fell down. Artemis stood before her with all possible fur rolled into curls and as a crowning touch a huge red bow was tied around his neck. "It's not that funny."
"Have you seen yourself?"
"Yes. My wonderful senshi insisted on holding me up before a mirror."
"Then you can't say that you don't look funny."
"Stop laughing and help me get this bow off."
Luna wiped away tears of mirth. "Can't you get it off by yourself?"
"Do you honestly think I would have shown up here with it on if I could get it off by myself?"
"I suppose not." Luna pulled at the ribbon with her teeth. "What about the curls?"
"She put styling hair mousse in my fur so that the curls would stay. The only way to get rid of them is to get sopping wet."
"Oh dear. By the way, what's that scent that you've got all over you?"
"She used flower scented hair mousse."
Luna began to laugh again. "Concentrate on getting that bow out." Artemis smiled slyly. "By the way what is that scent that you're wearing Luna?" Luna gave a vicious yank to the offending bow and muttered something inaudible. "Well?"
"It's perfume."
"I see."
"Not another word tomcat or I'll leave this bow around your neck."
"I never dreamed of saying anything dear Luna."
Luna gave the bow another particularly vicious yank. "I'm glad to hear that."
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The two cats silently climbed the tree that lead to the window of Usagi's room and looked in. Usagi was tossing and turning in her bed.
"Eurus…Persephonia…Aphrodita…yes…Eurus!"
Luna and Artemis looked on in concern. Someone came to the door of Usagi's room and entered. Pausing in the doorway, they flicked on the light. It was Shingo.
"Wake up! Come on wake up!" Usagi woke up and blinked groggily.
"Hunh?"
"You were having a bad dream or something. Anyway, you were making a lot of noise."
"Oh, thanks."
"Just keep it down."
Usagi nodded, rolled over and was fast asleep in seconds. Singo looked down on his older sister's sleeping form for a few moments before he bent and began to untangle the bed sheets around Usagi and on the floor. Tenderly he covered her up. "Sleep well Usagi-chan," he whispered as he turned off the light and exited the room. Luna and Artemis continued their silent vigil over their dreaming princess.
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Usagi trudged tiredly to school the next day deep in thought. 'I dreamed of Eurus, Setsuna-san, and Minako-chan again last night. Eurus is so familiar. I know that I've seen him. It was during the Dark Kingdom's attacks on Earth in this lifetime. He…he was… He was Jadeite! NO! That couldn't possibly be right! Eurus would never betray Mother, the White Moon Empire, or me!' Out loud she muttered fiercely, "Never!"
"What did you say Usagi-chan?"
Usagi jumped. "Woah! Naru-chan! I haven't seen you in a long time! How are you?"
"Fine. You didn't notice when I joined you?"
Usagi looked embarrassed. "Sorry Naru-chan, but I didn't."
Naru looked hurt. "Why not?"
"I…I haven't been sleeping well."
A look of comprehension appeared on Naru's face. "Mamoru-san is in American studying again isn't he?"
Usagi nodded miserably.
"I guess you miss him?"
"I do. I think about him all the time and I write him every day."
Naru placed her hand on Usagi's shoulder sympathetically. "No need to say anything else." Naru's tone of voice brightened. "Hey Usagi-chan?"
"Yeah?"
"Race you to school."
"Okay. I'm ready when you are." They stopped.
"When I say go we run as fast as we can to school. Ready?"
"Yeah."
Naru took off running. "Go!" She shouted back to Usagi.
Usagi ran after her shrieking, "Hey you cheated! Wait Naru-chan! Wait!"
Naru only ran faster.
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"I'm so tired." Usagi moaned pathetically as she trudged to the Crown Fruit Parlor. 'I wish those dreams would tell me whatever they're suppose to tell me, then let me get some rest. I'm exhausted!' Usagi's mind turned to her thought from this morning. 'Is Eurus really Jadeite? I wish I knew what to do.'
Footsteps pounded behind her. Usagi distractedly turned to see who was running to discover that Ami, Makoto, and Minako were the source of the footsteps. Puffing mightily they caught up to Usagi who had stopped.
"Why…didn't…you…wait…for…us?" Makoto puffed.
Usagi blinked in surprise. "I'm sorry but I didn't hear you calling me."
"What?" Minako demanded. "We kept calling you and calling you! What do you mean you didn't hear us?"
"I didn't. I was thinking about something else and not really paying attention. I'm sorry I made you run."
Minako and Makoto opened their mouths to say something but Ami cut them off. "It's all right, Usagi-chan," she assured her friend. "We were just worried about you. We've got to protect you and we can't do that if we're not with you."
Usagi looked unhappy but nodded her acceptance. Together they walked to the Crown Fruit Parlor to meet Rei and the cats.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"I guess we'd better start the meeting now." Minako said.
"Oganda Atama isn't here yet." Haruka objected.
"She wasn't told about this meeting." Minako replied.
The Outer Senshi started. "What?" Haruka demanded. "Why wasn't Usagi-chan told about this meeting?"
"Because we've called it to discuss her." Rei replied as she poured the tea.
"Who's watching over Usagi-chan if we're all here discussing her?" Mirchiru demanded.
"No one." Luna replied. "Usagi-chan doesn't need anyone to watch over her right now anyway. She's sleeping."
"That's part of the problem." Artemis added.
"None of you are making sense." Haruka said testily.
"Well," Minako began, "it all started just before the last meeting when the four of you announced that there was a new enemy. Usagi-chan had begun to act strangely but none of us really thought about it and chalked her strange behavior up to Mamoru-san's absence. She had become quiet and thoughtful at times but it wasn't too serious."
"Until recently." Rei broke in. "She's quiet and thoughtful a lot of the time now and sometimes she mutters to herself."
"She doesn't pay attention to what's going on around her either." Ami added. "Granted that she's not very observant normally but it's gotten worse recently. She doesn't notice when people call her or try to get her attention."
"Her appetite seems to be slightly off which is something for Usagi-chan." Makoto frowned slightly. "She's always tired and she falls asleep everywhere that she goes but that only seems to make it worse."
"Artemis and I have been watching Usagi-chan at night when she sleeps. She cries out and flops around in the bed. She wakes up at least six or seven times a night."
"And lately, she's been speaking in the various languages of the White Moon Empire." Artemis finished.
"I don't understand." Everyone turned to look at Hortoru. "What does it mean when you say that 'she's speaking in the various languages of the White Moon Empire?'" Before Artemis or Luna could answer, Setsuna did.
"The White Moon Empire had many languages in it, Hortoru-chan. There was the standard language, which everyone spoke when at gatherings where everyone was from different planets. Each planet had an official language, which people spoke when at gatherings where everyone was from the same planet but from different regions because every region on every planet had a different language that was all it's own. The high princesses and the guardians of the Moon Princess from each planet were required to learn most of the languages found on their planet as well as the official language for their planet and the standard language for the White Moon Empire. Some high princesses were required to learn maybe one or two official languages for other planets."
"Wow." Minako breathed.
"You speak as if being the Moon Princess' protectors and being the princess of a planet are sometimes mutually exclusive." Ami commented.
"They are." Setsuna replied. "The position of being a guardian of the Moon Princess was open to everyone. When the Moon Princess reached a certain age there would be a huge festival in her honor. At that festival there would be a competition in which everyone who wanted to be a guardian of the Moon Princess would compete. Only the best most loyal warriors would get the honor of being unquestioningly trusted with the Moon Princess' safety and well-being mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually for they would have a definite hand in the molding of the princess who would someday become Queen of the White Moon Empire." Setsuna took a sip of her tea and continued. "Don't think that the fate of the Moon Princess and of the White Moon Empire was decided by mere tests of physical prowess. Strength in combat was important but other factors like intelligence, dedication, courage, love, and friendship were tested and taken into account. Just because you were good in a battle and took your duties and missions seriously didn't mean that you would become the warriors of the Moon Princess." Setsuna paused and looked around at her companions. "We weren't chosen because our mothers were the protectors of the Moon Queen nor because we were the high princesses of planets. We were chosen because we were, and still are, the best possible protectors of our princess and because we will protect her no matter what the cost, even if it means our own lives. We are bound to her by bonds that have never and will never be broken by any force. We belong to her and she belongs to us. Forever."
Everyone was awed by the power and conviction in Setsuna's voice but one by one they all nodded agreement to something that was beyond ordinary words. As if it sealed some unsaid but understood agreement and answered the problem of what they were going to do about their current concerns, Minako intoned, "And we will protect her."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"I have to do something!" Usagi announced to her mirror. "I can't live like this! But," she added miserably, "I don't know what to do. None of the others are home or available to talk to. Not even Haruka-san, Mirchiru-san, and Setsuna-san can be raised on the phone or on their communicators. I can't even find Luna and Artemis."
Usagi looked at her unhelpful reflection and sighed. She was almost positive that Dark Kings that fought for Beryl both in this lifetime and the last were not the same men who had fallen in love with the Inner Senshi. She knew that although she had no clue how to explain the Dark Kings. She sighed again. An image of Sailor Mercury with her goggles on and her minicomputer out flashed through her mind and caused her to jump excitedly. 'I know! I could use a computer to find the reborn generals of Earth and see what happened to Jadeite.' She frowned. 'I really don't know how to use a computer for ordinary things much less a search like that. I need Ami-chan.' As she continued to mull over her problem she heard a snippet of Minako's voice. "The voice, which I called 'Boss', talked to me out of my pen and the computer in the control room. That's how I received guidance when I wasn't with the rest of you." Usagi bound to her feet and grabbed her jacket.
"That's how I'll do it! I'll ask Boss to help me with the search for the reason behind my dreams." With those words Usagi bound down the stairs and out of the house.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Usagi looked around the control room. "Hello? Excuse me Mr. Boss?" Usagi waited a moment and was about to leave the room when a voice said, "Usagi, is that you?"
Usagi spun around. "Y…Yes."
"Why did you call me?"
"I…I need some help."
"Why are you asking me? Why don't you ask the other senshi?"
"I…I can't find them otherwise I'd ask Ami-chan."
"I see." There was a pause. "Why don't you have a seat and tell me what you need help with?" Usagi slide into the chair in front of the main control center.
"Two thing first. Did Ami put her scans of the Dark Kings into the memory banks of the computer and can you do a worldwide computer search?"
"Yes. Ami did enter her scans of the Dark Kings and I can do a worldwide computer search. I have connections to INTERPOL, all the missing persons and criminal record databases in most countries, as well as tax records in those countries. I also have accessed the personnel records for many of the larger corporations or can get it. The same goes for the student and personnel records at colleges and high schools."
"Good!" Usagi pause and thought for a few minutes. "Now I need you to do two things. I need you to scan both Earth and the Dark Kingdom for signs of the whereabouts of the Dark Kings. If you find any of them please note their locations so that you can tell me about them later, if they're dead please find their death spots and note them for future knowledge. I also need you to scan all the databases that you have access to. Find and book mark all the men that look like the Dark Kings, even slightly, so that we can find them later."
"What are we doing?" The Boss sounded interested.
Usagi paused, finally she said, "I really need to tell someone and I guess it may as well be you." Usagi then told him all about her dreams and her suspicions about the Guardians of Endymion and the Dark Kings. She finished with, "The others would think that I'm nuts!" The Boss didn't say anything so Usagi hurriedly asked, "Do you think I'm crazy to let my dreams bother me?"
"No," he said quietly. "I think that it's important that you listen to yourself. There are parts of you that you as of yet know nothing about but in time you'll learn to use them wisely and well."
"Um…Thank you." Usagi cleared her throat nervously. "Would you please not tell anyone about this until we have proof to back up what I think happened."
"Why?"
"If I'm wrong, no one will know except you and me. Then I won't be embarrassed in front of the others. I know Rei-chan for one would never let me live it down."
"I see. I won't tell as long as there's no danger involved but the moment things begin to get interesting though, in any way shape or form connected to this, I'll tell the others. Deal?"
"Deal."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"Usagi-chan has been disappearing a lot lately, but whenever we ask her where she went and if everything's alright, she says everything's fine." Minako frowned. "She says that she's at the Crown Game Center but whenever we look for her there, we don't find her."
"Are you saying that Usagi-chan is lying?" Hortoru asked.
"No." Minako said firmly. "I'm worried though that we keep losing her at such a dangerous time. Of all of us you said that she would be in the most danger so we Inner Senshi decided to try to have at least one of us near her at all times." Minako paused. "Only we can't do that if we can't find her."
"Should we put a trace on her?" wondered Luna.
"No!" It was Ami who said it. "We have to trust her. She's our princess, our leader, our teammate, and most importantly our friend and we have to trust her judgement the way that she trusts ours. If it were something important she would tell us about it."
"I hate the waiting!" Makoto burst out. "I just wish that we knew what we're up against!"
"It'll be okay." Haruka reassured her as she placed a hand on Makoto's shoulder. "Soon we'll know what we're up against and then we'll deal with it the way we did all the other enemies that we've faced."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
It had been several days since she had asked the Boss to find anything. While he had found several people who looked like the Dark Kings, he was having trouble with the Dark Kings themselves or more specifically Jadeite. He had successfully found and marked the places of death for Nephrite, Zoisite, and Kunzite and he had found a number of people who looked like the Generals of Earth in the databases that he had searched and marked their files too. As Usagi entered the Control Room she silently prayed that he had finally met with success. "Hello Usagi-chan."
"Hi Boss." She slid into the chair in front of the main computer. "Have you found Jadeite yet?"
The Boss seemed to hesitate for a few moments. "Yes." He seemed to be having trouble deciding how to phrase what he wanted to say. "Usagi-chan, the Jadeite I've found may not be the Jadeite that you remember."
Usagi was puzzled. "What do you mean?"
The Boss's voice was oddly gentle. "Have you ever heard of a punishment known as the Forever Sleep?"
Usagi thought hard for a moment then shook her head. "No."
"There's a punishment in the Dark Kingdom known as the Forever Sleep. It's a spell that takes so much energy and so much skill that in the entire Dark Kingdom only Beryl and Metallia could invoke it. In the Forever Sleep the poor wretch that had been sentenced to it was doom for all time to face their worst fears and nightmares for all of time with each dream being worse than the last. When the fear and nightmares of the victim no longer inspire the terror that they used to the spell and the crystal that the wretch are trapped in manufacture some new ones that are even worse and more horrible. No matter how terrible the dream or intense the pain the one that has been trapped cannot die or ever receive peace. Very few have been saved from this fate and of that few only one or two were ever sane again."
Usagi's eyes were as wide as they could be with horror by the time that the Boss finished with his explanation. "And Jadeite was sentenced to the Forever Sleep by Beryl?"
"Yes."
"Well we have to get him and the others that have been sentenced to that fate out of there as quickly as possible! No one deserves that kind of fate!"
"To send someone to the Forever Sleep takes so much energy that it is only very rarely used. As far as I can tell the only one presently sentenced to the Forever Sleep was Jadeite himself."
"Well that makes it much easier."
"It will be dangerous. Jadeite has been in the Forever Sleep for almost two years now so his mind has probably snapped and he's insane."
"Jadeite's got a strong mind. He was always doing things with his mind as well as his magic. If he is insane and dangerous, he'll be weak after his ordeal so I'll be able to overpower him and strip him of his magic."
"This is dangerous. We should get the other Sailor Senshi involved."
"No! This isn't really dangerous. Beryl, Metellia, and most of the people of the Dark Kingdom were destroyed during the Battle of the Arctic. There's probably no one in Beryl's castle except Jadeite."
"I—"
"Please! If I get into trouble you can send for Minako-chan and the other senshi."
The Boss sighed in defeat. "I know I'm going to regret this but I'll do this your way. The moment this rescue gets dangerous, though, I'm going to call the other senshi and send them after you. Deal?"
"Deal."
"So when do you want to rescue Jadeite?"
"Tonight."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"Luna."
Luna rolled over in her sleep and muttered something. Usagi shook her cat and hissed, "Luna wake up!"
Sleepily she opened one eye, "What is it?"
"I need you. Come on." With those words Usagi scooped up her cat, and slipped out the window. Luna really woke up as Usagi trotted down the street. "Where are we going?"
"To the Crown Arcade Center."
"Why?"
"You'll see."
Usagi sneaked into the Arcade, then went to the Control Room. "Boss, I'm here."
"Good. I see you brought Luna with you."
"You said I'd need a partner." Usagi took a huge breath. "No time like the present." Gently she set Luna down.
"MOON ETERNAL, MAKE-UP!"
A panel in the computer slide open. "Here, take this." Sailor Moon reached in and pulled out a headset. "This way the two of you won't need a map of Beryl's castle." Sailor Moon put on the headset and picked up Luna. "Good luck." Sailor Moon smiled.
"Thanks."
"Sailor Moon, what are we doing?"
"Shh, you'll distract her!"
Luna snapped her mouth shut and glared at the computer as Sailor Moon, her eyes closed in concentration, began to float. In another flash, she and Luna were gone.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Sailor Moon, dropped Luna and leaned against the wall of the cave and gasped for breath as she fought waves of nausea and dizziness. 'At least I didn't fall ununconscious and detransform this time.' Sailor Moon thought wryly to herself. "Sailor Moon! Answer me Sailor Moon!"
"I'm fine Boss," she said into her headset. Luna snorted but didn't say anything about that. Instead she asked, "Where are we?"
"The Dark Kingdom."
"What! Why?"
"We're going to rescue Jadeite. Now be quiet and follow my lead because we don't have much time." Into her headset she said, "We're ready any time now for your instructions on how to get to Jadeite."
"Right. Be careful. Go left…"
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
The room that Jadeite's crystal was situated in was long room with a high ceiling. Peeking around the corner, Sailor Moon narrowly studied the room and decided that no one was in there. Carefully she and Luna slid into the room. "Keep guard at the door." Sailor Moon whispered to Luna. Luna nodded and hid behind an outcropping of rock near the door. Sailor Moon walked up to the crystal and tentatively put a hand on it. Stifling a cry she snatched her hand back. Her crescent moon mark flared with a golden light and suddenly the Eternal Moon Tiel was floating in front of her. Where it had been cut by Sailor Galaxia's sword, there was a thin golden line. Otherwise it was complete and whole.
"SILVER MOON CRYSTAL POWER KISS!"
Sailor Moon concentrated and sent massive amounts of her energy spiraling out in ribbons from the Eternal Moon Tiel.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
The nightmares, which had plagued him since his imprisonment in the Eternal Crystal, tormented his mind again. He fought to awaken, to leave the horrors both from the darkest corners of his mind and the Crystal itself. He fought despite the fact that he knew it would be in vain. He knew that he wouldn't be able to return to consciousness, yet he fought. He was surprised when this time he began to make progress. So surprised was he, he almost stopped fighting. Realizing that he was drifting back, he redoubled his efforts to return to consciousness. Searing pain shot through him. His mind began to babble and scream incoherently from the pain as it had when he was first imprisoned but he continued to fight. He no longer knew what he fought to leave or why he had to leave. He didn't even know what he fought to return to return to, only that he had to get there and this was his only chance. Suddenly there was a mind-wrenching explosion. The eyes that he hadn't had a chance to close when he'd been imprisoned impressed upon his reeling mind a shadowy cavern and a brightly clad feminine figure that shone in a brilliant silvery aura. Then the blackness came and he screamed. He barely had time to register the fact that his lungs and voice screamed in unison with his mind before the darkness of unconsciousness swallowed him.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Here are the promised translations but remember, the last name is first:
Tsukino Usagi = Serena = Sailor Moon
Mizuno Ami = Amy Anderson = Sailor Mercury
Hino Rei = Raye Hino = Sailor Mars
Kino Makoto = Lita = Sailor Jupiter
Aino Minako = Mina = Sailor Venus
Meioh Setsuna = Sailor Pluto
Tenoh Haruka = Sailor Uranus
Kaioh Michiru = Sailor Neptune
Tomoe Hotaru = Sailor Saturn
Chiba Mamoru = Darien Shields = Tuxedo Kamen = Tuxedo Mask
Luna = Luna
Artemis = Artemis
Jadeite = Jedite
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
CHAPTER 1
"Goodnight Luna."
"Goodnight Usagi-chan."
Usagi rolled over in her bed and immediately fell asleep. At first she saw merely impressions and snippets of scenes. Then one appeared and held. She was looking out of a window, straining her eyes to see something behind a huddle of white marble streaked with silver buildings. She realized that she was trying to see if the shuttle carrying the royal family of Pluto and their entourage had arrived yet.
"Hold still little princess. I've almost finished."
She looked longingly out the window opposite to her, which looked down on an inner courtyard. "Do you think that they're here yet? I'd hate to miss their arrival." She wiggled impatiently before she could stop herself.
"If you'd stop wiggling, this would go much faster and you wouldn't have to worry about missing the arrival of the royal family of Pluto."
"Yes Ikuko-momma." She responded meekly and did her very best to hold still.
"There Little Princess. You now look like a princess you are. Try to keep out of trouble." She nodded impatiently.
"I don't want to see the hem ripped out of that dress for quiet a while. Understand Princess Selenity?"
"Yes. May I go now Lady Ikuko?" Lady Ikuko laughed. "Yes I suppose so."
Princess Selenity hopped off of the stool on which she stood. "Thank you for arranging my hair. Bye!" Princess Selenity then dashed from the room in a most undignified way. Lady Ikuku laughed at her small charge.
Princess Selenity stopped running before she got to the corridor that led to her mother's throne room. When she got there she smiled up at the guards at the door to the throne room. "Would you please have me announced to Mother?"
They smiled down at her. "Yes Princess Selenity." They said in unison while making low bows to her. One went and spoke to the trumpeters and the chief herald. Princess Selenity looked up at the remaining guard anxiously while smoothing the front of her dress. "How do I look?"
"You look very beautiful Princess." Little Princess Selenity joyously beamed up at the guard, who couldn't resist returning the smile.
"Thank you very much kind sir."
Just then the other guard reappeared. "They're ready for you now Princess."
"Thank you. Would you mind opening the doors for me?"
"Not at all."
The two door guards grandly swung open the doors and the trumpeters inside sent up a loud fanfare. Then the head herald announced her in ringing tones to the court within. Trying to create an adult like air about herself, she processed down the main isle to her mother and the throne. Coming to the proper point she curtsied deeply to her mother the queen. Her mother, faintly smiling, acknowledged her in front of the court and rose to walk to her daughter. Taking the princess' hand, she announced that it was time to move to greet the royal family of Pluto for those who wished to accompany them. Guards materialized around the queen and her daughter as they led the envoy of those who wished to greet the Plutonians. As they walked to the buildings on the royal grounds that surrounded the landing pads and runways on the palace grounds, Princess Selenity gazed up at her mother wonderingly. Lovingly the queen looked down at her only daughter and smiled. "What are you thinking about?"
"You Momma. I was thinking that you're beautiful and graceful and smart and everybody loves you and trusts you. I want to be just like you when I grow up." Princess Selenity looked at the ground then and her lower lip trembled. "But I'm none of those things."
"Not yet my darling but one day you will be all of those things and more. Just wait and see." Queen Selenity leaned closer to her daughter and softly said, "When I was little I was terribly clumsy and not exactly beautiful, but I eventually grew out of it. One day you will too."
Princess Selenity's face lit up. "You think so Momma?"
"I know so my darling."
Princess Selenity laughed and hugged her mother. Queen Selenity stopped and returned the hug then laughed and retook her daughter's hand. "Come on lest we be late and miss their arrival."
The royal family of the Moon arrived at the landing pad where the Plutonians would land in time to hear their request to land. Patiently they stood watching the whole arrival process and the laying out of the red carpet to the door to the craft. Then the entire entourage of the royal family of Pluto filed out of the door and lined up along the sides of the carpet, to stand with the entourage of the royal family of the Moon. The queen, king, and princess of Pluto filed out of the craft last.
The queens greeted each other first with the pronounced formulas being rounded off with a tight hug, then the King of Pluto was recognized and he gave the Moon Queen a chivalrous kiss on the back of the hand. Finally the Moon Queen greeted the Princess of Pluto and she curtsied prettily before hugging the Moon Queen. Now it was the Moon Princess' turn to greet their guests. She curtsied before clearly stated all the things dictated by custom. Then she skipped over to the Princess of Pluto, and hugged her tightly before going to hug the Queen of Pluto with slightly less enthusiasm. The King of Pluto then swept her up and gave her a resounding kiss on the forehead where her crescent moon was. "How old are you now little Moon Princess?"
"Six and a half."
The King feigned surprise. "So old already? I had no idea."
Princess Selenity giggled. "You did too! You sent me a present on my birthday!"
He laughed. "I did, didn't I? I must be getting forgetful in my old age."
"You're not old at all!" Princess Selenity exclaimed and playfully swatted him on the shoulder. Again he laughed. "You're a nice lass."
Gently he placed her on the ground, then bowed and offered one arm to Queen Selenity and the other to his wife, Queen Persephonia. Behind the three rulers trailed the two princesses, holding hands. Princess Selenity smiled joyously up at her companion. "You're finally here, Persephonia! I was so excited when I heard that you were coming that I nearly died waiting."
Princess Persephonia smiled down at her cousin. "I'm happy to see you too Selenity."
Pain slashed across her mind and Usagi shot upright in bed clutching her left ear. Angrily she glared at the little black cat lying dazed on the floor.
"Luna! What was that for?"
Luna sat up rubbing her head with a paw. "You didn't set you're alarm. You're late for—"
"School!" Usagi bellowed.
Usagi fell out of bed and flew around the room. Luna watched the blonde whirlwind that was her owner, dress at an impossible speed then dash around the room collecting her school supplies. "It's Saturday." Luna's voice was soft but it stopped Usagi dead in her tracks. Slowly she turned to face her cat. "What?"
"It's Saturday Usagi-chan."
Usagi threw her book satchel on her table. "Why did you wake me up Luna?"
"You have a Senshi meeting. You didn't set the alarm and now we're going to be late! Hurry up!"
Usagi once again became a blonde whirlwind as she changed clothes, scooped up her cat, and ran down the stairs. In the kitchen she gulped down a breakfast of sorts while holding Luna with one hand, then bolted for the door while shouting good morning to her family and that she would probably be back around lunchtime. Usagi dashed down the street and around the corner.
WHAM!
Holding her head she sat up and spotted Luna lying on the pavement next to her meowing pitifully. Looking up she spotted a quartet well known to her.
"Haruka-san. Michiru-san. I'm sorry I ran into you." She smiled sheepishly and directed her next comment over their shoulders. "Hello Setsuna-san. It's good to see you Hotaru-chan."
"It's alright Usagi-chan. We're fine." Michiru assured her young friend.
"Hello Kitten. Are you okay?"
"I think so." Usagi gently picked up Luna. "Luna may be another matter though."
Hotaru giggled.
"I'll be alright." Luna assured everyone, then glared at Usagi. "I wish that Usagi would learn to look where she's going though."
Usagi blushed and changed the subject. "Where are you going?"
"To see you actually. You seem to be in a hurry to go somewhere though." Haruka replied.
"There's a Senshi meeting at Rei-chan's Temple." Usagi sighed deeply. "I'm going to be late, though. Rei-chan is going to throw a fit." Hotaru giggled while Michiru and Setsuna smiled and Haruka grinned. Usagi threw the lot of them a hurt look.
"Come on. We'll give you a ride Usagi-chan."
"Really?" Usagi asked hopefully.
"Really." Haruka assured her. "The car is parked around the corner."
"WWWAAAAHHHHHOOOOO!!!!!" Usagi shrieked joyously while jumping in the air.
"Now I won't be late and Rei-chan won't scream at me! Thank you!"
"Sure." Haruka looked around at the people staring at the group. "Let's go."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Usagi sat in the back seat between Hotaru and Setsuna. "So, um, what did you want to see me about?"
"We were going to tell you first. Since the Inners are already conveniently gathered at the Temple for a Senshi meeting though, we might as well wait and explain it all at once to all of you at the same time." Haruka replied.
"We're almost there anyway." Michiru added.
Usagi sighed sensing that it wasn't going to be good news.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"What do you want to bet that Usagi-chan and Luna are going to be late again?" Rei asked the others in general as she looked at her wristwatch. "She has five minutes, then she'll be on time and after that she'll be late, as usual."
"Does that mean that she's early?" Haruka's voice came from the doorway.
Minako, Makoto, Ami, and Rei all turned towards the door and saw five silhouettes there. The five silhouettes entered the room and resolved into the forms of Hotaru, Setsuna, Usagi, Michiru, and Haruka. "What! All four of you had to come to the meeting to make sure that Usagi-chan would be early for once?" Rei teased.
"What's going on?" Ami asked. "The four of you wouldn't be here if there wasn't trouble."
Setsuna nodded. "You're right Ami-chan. There is trouble and the Princess is in danger."
"This might take awhile." Rei stood. "I've already made tea and there should be enough for all of us but we'll need more cups. If you'll excuse me for a few minutes." Then she disappeared through the door. While she was gone the others made themselves comfortable for the talk that would ensue so that when Rei appeared to set the places and pour tea for everyone, they were ready.
Minako took a sip of her tea, then began the talks. "So what's going on?"
"We've all foreseen trouble and danger." Hotau quietly began.
"The seas are becoming restless," Michiru said.
"And the winds are beginning to stir," Haruka added.
"Both are signs that trouble is about to come to pass." Setsuna informed the others. "The winds of time have changed so that the future is no longer certain. I can no longer see clearly what the future will hold because the mists of time have swirled so that the future is obscured. Even to me."
"Until recently, I was once again in my form as a baby. One night Setsuna came for me, telling my father that I was needed again. A few days later, I was my proper age with all my memories restored." Hotaru took a sip of her tea. "I have been having visions of the Princess being in grave danger. This time the Prince and the eight of us may not be enough to save our Princess from the darkness that even now threatens her and this world. We will need the aid of others who are strange to Setsuna-mama, Michiru-mama, Haruka-papa, and myself. They all seem to be familiar to Usagi-chan, the four of you, and the guardian cats though."
"What do they look like and do you have any clues as to their identities?" Ami queried.
"I don't have any clues to their identities and I can't see them. They are shadows that are looking into mirrors. Suddenly each reaches an arm into their mirror and grasps the shoulder of their reflection who reaches an arm out and does the same."
"How many are there?" Minako interrogated.
"Can you at least tell if they're male or female?" Makoto questioned.
"There are four shadows. I know that at least three of them are male. I'm not sure, but I believe that the fourth is also male." Ami had been feeding everything that had been said into her minicomputer. Without looking up she asked, "Can we win whatever war is coming without the four shadows and their reflections?" Everyone held their breath.
"I don't know but I don't believe so." Hotaru's quiet words caused everyone's heart to drop.
"So the most important thing for us to do is find those men." Ami summed up quietly.
"Yes."
"Do you have any idea of their connection to us? Or know anything about them that will make them easy to find?" Minako demanded.
"I know that some of the men were very dear to you while the rest of the men were considered enemies."
"If the four of you are involved then the danger must not be from this solar system, right?" Minako persisted.
"We don't know." Haruka injected. "All we know is that we've all received overwhelming signs that whether or not the enemy is from this solar system the Princess will need us for this war." All four Outer Senshi looked at their Princess. "We will not fail in our duty."
Usagi spoke up for the first time. "But how does all of this mean danger for me and do you think Mamo-chan is going to be involved?"
"Somehow a great deal of this will center around you, Princess. Parts of it will center on others of us, but you will be important to the outcome even then. As for the Prince, I don't think that he is going to be involved very much in what is going to come to pass until he returns from America, so don't worry about his safety at the moment. From this moment on we all must be very careful."
"I think that if it can be helped, none of us should spend too much time alone."
Haruka nodded. "Michiru is right. Usagi-chan in especial shouldn't be put into a position where there may be trouble and she's alone." The other Senshi all nodded gravely but Usagi gave a deep sigh. When the others all looked at her inquiringly she smiled slightly. "I was just thinking that all this sounded like it was going to make life very interesting for awhile."
"I thought that you didn't mind being Sailor Moon, Usagi-chan." Said Makoto.
"Yeah. You looked like you were having fun being a champion of love and justice." Minako added.
"Mamoru-san isn't going to be in any danger from whatever trouble's brewing until the end. I'd have thought that you would be happy about that." Rei threw in.
"Oh I really don't mind being Sailor Moon, I really do have fun being the champion of love and justice, and I'm very happy that Mamo-chan isn't going to be in danger."
"Well what's the matter then?" Ami asked perplexed.
Usagi's face took on a mournful expression. "Whenever we're fighting a war I never get to sleep in late or even get a full night's sleep. I'm finally getting used to getting a full night's sleep and sleeping in late again and now I have to give them up again." Everyone else, guardian cats included, burst into laughter. "Really! It's not that funny guys!"
"Yes it is," Rei disagreed. "It's hilarious!"
"You would be more interested in getting your beauty sleep than in saving the world!" Minako added cheerfully.
"You guys are so mean to me!"
More laughter, this time Usagi joined in.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Laughter. She was in the royal gardens with her cousin, Princess Aphrodita. Already her cousin was slightly taller than she was and much faster and far more agile. Giggling she ran as fast as she could away from her cousin who was steadily following her. Selenity tried to run faster but her foot got caught on the hem of her skirt and she tumbled forward. Selenity began to wail but before her voice could reach the level where her wails became sonic wails and the crescent moon on her forehead activated, warm arms slipped around her and her cousin whispered in her ear, "It's alright, I'm here and you're not hurt badly, Sel." Selenity stopped sobbing and wailing and managed to tone it down to sniffles and whimpers. "Are you hurt anywhere?"
"M…my knee."
Aphrodita took a look at her knees. One was slightly black and blue in one spot. "This doesn't look too bad."
"Honest?"
"Honest." Her cousin blasted her with one of her sunniest smiles and she stopped sniffling and whimpering so that she could smile back. "Do you think you can walk on it Sel?"
Selenity nodded. "Yes."
"Really? Well then…TAG. You're it!" And with those words she bound off in the opposite direction. Selenity scrambled to her feet and began to chase her. "Hey! No fair!" For a reply all she got was more laughter.
Pain.
Usagi sat up rubbing her head. "Ow! What am I doing on the floor?"
Luna sat up rubbing her head as well. "You started thrashing then you rolled over and knocked us both out of the bed."
"Sorry Luna." Usagi picked up her cat and got into bed. Carefully she rearranged the blankets on her bed and resettled herself. As Luna resettled herself, she cast a sleepy look at her owner and tried to make her voice severe. "Don't have anymore dreams which require you to thrash around. I don't want to end up on the floor again with you."
"Right. Sweet dreams Luna."
"Goodnight."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"Are you okay Luna? You look very tired."
"I am. I barely got a wink of sleep last night." Luna yawned tiredly. "Thanks to Usagi-chan I ended up on the floor at least five times last night."
Artemis was startled. "She threw you on the floor at least five times?" Luna shook her head slowly, too tired to even get angry at the absurdity of Artemis' statement. "No. She kept having dreams that caused her to flop around in the bed until she eventually rolled out of it and took me with her. It was a long night."
"Did she say what was in her dreams that made her act like that?"
"All she would say was that in her dreams she saw memories long forgotten."
"Does she usually act like that when she sleeps?"
"She flops around in the bed sometimes in her sleep but not like last night. She only dreams about things that happen in real life when there's a crisis of some sort in her life."
"Has she been doing it for a long time?"
"No." Luna yawned again. "She only started shortly before the Outers announced that there is a new enemy to be faced."
"Then this might have something to do with the new enemy."
Luna looked startled. "It might," she conceded slowly.
Artemis stood up. "I think that we should tell the others."
Luna raised her head from her paws to look up at Artemis. "Why?"
"Usagi-chan's behavior has changed since we were told about the new threat. That might have something to do with the new enemy. Hotaru-chan said that Usagi-chan would be in the most danger out of all of us. We should tell the others so that they can be ready for anything."
"Let's wait awhile and see what happens before telling the others. If we go to them now we'll sound foolish."
Artemis thought it over then nodded slowly. "You may be right." He sat down and looked at Luna slyly. "Mind if I spend the night tonight?"
Luna shot bolt upright. "Artemis!"
Artemis chuckled. "To observe Usagi-chan first hand naturally."
"Oh." Luna settled down again. "That's different."
Artemis chuckled. Luna fell asleep after muttering crossly to herself, "Dirty tomcat."
Artemis only laughed harder.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
In the Crown Fruit Parlor a group of five girls met at a corner booth after school.
"Is anything the matter Usagi-chan?"
Usagi opened one eye. "Huh?"
"Is anything the matter?" Rei repeated.
"No, I'm just tired. I didn't sleep well last night."
"Don't worry! We've defeated everything else that's come against us. We'll defeat this too."
The others nodded agreement. "I may know how she feels though. I stayed up late last night making a program that would help us find any sources of negative energy." Ami looked down dejectedly. "It didn't work though."
"Cheer up Ami-chan! I'm sure that you'll get it to work. It's just a matter of fine tuning."
"Yeah, Rei-chan's right! I mean, you're a genius Ami-chan!" Minako bubbled enthusiastically. Usagi nodded. Ami blushed.
As the others turned the conversation towards gossip and Ami worked on her program, Usagi nodded off to sleep.
The sound of something being dislodged and falling. This was shortly followed by a splash. She was soaking wet. Looking down at her wet and clinging clothing, she heard the sound of laughing. Looking up she saw her cousin sitting on the ground, laughing at her misfortune. Somehow she didn't share his mirth. Walking over she scowled down at him accusingly, "Eurus I suppose that you did that."
"Y…yes. You should've seen your face! It…it was—AAAHHHH!!!"
Selenity, soaking wet, had plopped down in Eurus' lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm sure that you'll keep me warm."
"Sel, get off me!"
"No! I'm cold!"
"What's going on here?"
Selenity and Eurus looked up guiltily.
"Selenity you're soaking wet! Why are you sitting on Eurus?" It was Lady Ikuko.
"It's my fault so don't be angry with Sel—"
"Don't listen to him! I should have—"
"Enough!"
Both children were silent immediately.
"I take it you both had some part in this. I'll ask questions later. Right now though, I'd better get the two of you cleaned up. Although," Lady Ikuko smiled slightly, "I'm sure your parents will be most interested in your exploits."
"Wake up Usagi-chan!"
Usagi jumped. "What's going on?" she asked confusedly.
"You fell asleep." Makoto said kindly.
"Oh yeah."
"Maybe you should go home." Ami said kindly. "You can catch some sleep after you do your homework."
"No, I can't. If I go home, I'll go to sleep before doing my homework. If I don't do my homework, then I'll get another detention and Mom'll be furious."
"Do it now then." Rei suggested. Usagi nodded as she got out her school materials.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
'Even with the others there, I still fell asleep at least three times. Luckily I didn't have much homework.' Usagi thought as she flopped down onto her bed. 'Why don't I get any rest even though I'm sleeping even more than usual? And why am I seeing things from my past life? I'm sure those dreams are memories of my past life on the moon. I'm sure that Princess Persephonia is Setsuna-san and Princess Aphrodita is Minako-chan but who is Eurus? Eurus looks so familiar but I can't place him. I'm so tired though, so very tired. If I could only get some decent sleep maybe I could remember where I've seen him." Usagi rolled over onto her side. "If only…" and then she was asleep.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"Minako-chan, I have to go out tonight. Will you be alright?"
"Sure! Where are you going though?"
"Luna and I are going to hunt for some answers." Minako got a naughty look but Artemis didn't notice. "Would you mind leaving the window open a crack for me though, so that I can get in? I'll close it afterwards."
"You're going on a date with Luna!"
"WHAT!"
"I can see through your trick! But you're filthy! You can't go on a date like that!" Minako grabbed her cat. "Come on! I'll give you a bath and help you dress for you're date with Luna."
"Minako-chan, there may be a misunderstanding. I'm not—"
"No need to be shy around me Artemis! After all we're partners and I wouldn't let my partner down in something as important as this! Now let me draw you're bath water and put some salts in. You'll—"
"We're not going on a date!!"
Minako laughed and Artemis yowled as he was shoved into a warm, soapy, and sweet smelling bathtub.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"Where is that fool cat Artemis? He's really late!" Luna paced another circle in front of the Tuskino house. "I hope nothing's happened to him!"
"In a manner of speaking something terrible has happened to him," a voice said from behind some bushes.
Luna jumped. "Artemis! Hurry and come out of those bushes!"
"Not until you promise not to laugh."
"What? Artemis, we don't have time for this! Now get out here!"
An unhappy sigh and then a deeply unhappy Artemis shuffled out of the bushes to stand in front of Luna. "This is so humiliating."
Luna took one look at him and began to howl with laughter so hard that she fell down. Artemis stood before her with all possible fur rolled into curls and as a crowning touch a huge red bow was tied around his neck. "It's not that funny."
"Have you seen yourself?"
"Yes. My wonderful senshi insisted on holding me up before a mirror."
"Then you can't say that you don't look funny."
"Stop laughing and help me get this bow off."
Luna wiped away tears of mirth. "Can't you get it off by yourself?"
"Do you honestly think I would have shown up here with it on if I could get it off by myself?"
"I suppose not." Luna pulled at the ribbon with her teeth. "What about the curls?"
"She put styling hair mousse in my fur so that the curls would stay. The only way to get rid of them is to get sopping wet."
"Oh dear. By the way, what's that scent that you've got all over you?"
"She used flower scented hair mousse."
Luna began to laugh again. "Concentrate on getting that bow out." Artemis smiled slyly. "By the way what is that scent that you're wearing Luna?" Luna gave a vicious yank to the offending bow and muttered something inaudible. "Well?"
"It's perfume."
"I see."
"Not another word tomcat or I'll leave this bow around your neck."
"I never dreamed of saying anything dear Luna."
Luna gave the bow another particularly vicious yank. "I'm glad to hear that."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
The two cats silently climbed the tree that lead to the window of Usagi's room and looked in. Usagi was tossing and turning in her bed.
"Eurus…Persephonia…Aphrodita…yes…Eurus!"
Luna and Artemis looked on in concern. Someone came to the door of Usagi's room and entered. Pausing in the doorway, they flicked on the light. It was Shingo.
"Wake up! Come on wake up!" Usagi woke up and blinked groggily.
"Hunh?"
"You were having a bad dream or something. Anyway, you were making a lot of noise."
"Oh, thanks."
"Just keep it down."
Usagi nodded, rolled over and was fast asleep in seconds. Singo looked down on his older sister's sleeping form for a few moments before he bent and began to untangle the bed sheets around Usagi and on the floor. Tenderly he covered her up. "Sleep well Usagi-chan," he whispered as he turned off the light and exited the room. Luna and Artemis continued their silent vigil over their dreaming princess.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Usagi trudged tiredly to school the next day deep in thought. 'I dreamed of Eurus, Setsuna-san, and Minako-chan again last night. Eurus is so familiar. I know that I've seen him. It was during the Dark Kingdom's attacks on Earth in this lifetime. He…he was… He was Jadeite! NO! That couldn't possibly be right! Eurus would never betray Mother, the White Moon Empire, or me!' Out loud she muttered fiercely, "Never!"
"What did you say Usagi-chan?"
Usagi jumped. "Woah! Naru-chan! I haven't seen you in a long time! How are you?"
"Fine. You didn't notice when I joined you?"
Usagi looked embarrassed. "Sorry Naru-chan, but I didn't."
Naru looked hurt. "Why not?"
"I…I haven't been sleeping well."
A look of comprehension appeared on Naru's face. "Mamoru-san is in American studying again isn't he?"
Usagi nodded miserably.
"I guess you miss him?"
"I do. I think about him all the time and I write him every day."
Naru placed her hand on Usagi's shoulder sympathetically. "No need to say anything else." Naru's tone of voice brightened. "Hey Usagi-chan?"
"Yeah?"
"Race you to school."
"Okay. I'm ready when you are." They stopped.
"When I say go we run as fast as we can to school. Ready?"
"Yeah."
Naru took off running. "Go!" She shouted back to Usagi.
Usagi ran after her shrieking, "Hey you cheated! Wait Naru-chan! Wait!"
Naru only ran faster.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"I'm so tired." Usagi moaned pathetically as she trudged to the Crown Fruit Parlor. 'I wish those dreams would tell me whatever they're suppose to tell me, then let me get some rest. I'm exhausted!' Usagi's mind turned to her thought from this morning. 'Is Eurus really Jadeite? I wish I knew what to do.'
Footsteps pounded behind her. Usagi distractedly turned to see who was running to discover that Ami, Makoto, and Minako were the source of the footsteps. Puffing mightily they caught up to Usagi who had stopped.
"Why…didn't…you…wait…for…us?" Makoto puffed.
Usagi blinked in surprise. "I'm sorry but I didn't hear you calling me."
"What?" Minako demanded. "We kept calling you and calling you! What do you mean you didn't hear us?"
"I didn't. I was thinking about something else and not really paying attention. I'm sorry I made you run."
Minako and Makoto opened their mouths to say something but Ami cut them off. "It's all right, Usagi-chan," she assured her friend. "We were just worried about you. We've got to protect you and we can't do that if we're not with you."
Usagi looked unhappy but nodded her acceptance. Together they walked to the Crown Fruit Parlor to meet Rei and the cats.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"I guess we'd better start the meeting now." Minako said.
"Oganda Atama isn't here yet." Haruka objected.
"She wasn't told about this meeting." Minako replied.
The Outer Senshi started. "What?" Haruka demanded. "Why wasn't Usagi-chan told about this meeting?"
"Because we've called it to discuss her." Rei replied as she poured the tea.
"Who's watching over Usagi-chan if we're all here discussing her?" Mirchiru demanded.
"No one." Luna replied. "Usagi-chan doesn't need anyone to watch over her right now anyway. She's sleeping."
"That's part of the problem." Artemis added.
"None of you are making sense." Haruka said testily.
"Well," Minako began, "it all started just before the last meeting when the four of you announced that there was a new enemy. Usagi-chan had begun to act strangely but none of us really thought about it and chalked her strange behavior up to Mamoru-san's absence. She had become quiet and thoughtful at times but it wasn't too serious."
"Until recently." Rei broke in. "She's quiet and thoughtful a lot of the time now and sometimes she mutters to herself."
"She doesn't pay attention to what's going on around her either." Ami added. "Granted that she's not very observant normally but it's gotten worse recently. She doesn't notice when people call her or try to get her attention."
"Her appetite seems to be slightly off which is something for Usagi-chan." Makoto frowned slightly. "She's always tired and she falls asleep everywhere that she goes but that only seems to make it worse."
"Artemis and I have been watching Usagi-chan at night when she sleeps. She cries out and flops around in the bed. She wakes up at least six or seven times a night."
"And lately, she's been speaking in the various languages of the White Moon Empire." Artemis finished.
"I don't understand." Everyone turned to look at Hortoru. "What does it mean when you say that 'she's speaking in the various languages of the White Moon Empire?'" Before Artemis or Luna could answer, Setsuna did.
"The White Moon Empire had many languages in it, Hortoru-chan. There was the standard language, which everyone spoke when at gatherings where everyone was from different planets. Each planet had an official language, which people spoke when at gatherings where everyone was from the same planet but from different regions because every region on every planet had a different language that was all it's own. The high princesses and the guardians of the Moon Princess from each planet were required to learn most of the languages found on their planet as well as the official language for their planet and the standard language for the White Moon Empire. Some high princesses were required to learn maybe one or two official languages for other planets."
"Wow." Minako breathed.
"You speak as if being the Moon Princess' protectors and being the princess of a planet are sometimes mutually exclusive." Ami commented.
"They are." Setsuna replied. "The position of being a guardian of the Moon Princess was open to everyone. When the Moon Princess reached a certain age there would be a huge festival in her honor. At that festival there would be a competition in which everyone who wanted to be a guardian of the Moon Princess would compete. Only the best most loyal warriors would get the honor of being unquestioningly trusted with the Moon Princess' safety and well-being mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually for they would have a definite hand in the molding of the princess who would someday become Queen of the White Moon Empire." Setsuna took a sip of her tea and continued. "Don't think that the fate of the Moon Princess and of the White Moon Empire was decided by mere tests of physical prowess. Strength in combat was important but other factors like intelligence, dedication, courage, love, and friendship were tested and taken into account. Just because you were good in a battle and took your duties and missions seriously didn't mean that you would become the warriors of the Moon Princess." Setsuna paused and looked around at her companions. "We weren't chosen because our mothers were the protectors of the Moon Queen nor because we were the high princesses of planets. We were chosen because we were, and still are, the best possible protectors of our princess and because we will protect her no matter what the cost, even if it means our own lives. We are bound to her by bonds that have never and will never be broken by any force. We belong to her and she belongs to us. Forever."
Everyone was awed by the power and conviction in Setsuna's voice but one by one they all nodded agreement to something that was beyond ordinary words. As if it sealed some unsaid but understood agreement and answered the problem of what they were going to do about their current concerns, Minako intoned, "And we will protect her."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"I have to do something!" Usagi announced to her mirror. "I can't live like this! But," she added miserably, "I don't know what to do. None of the others are home or available to talk to. Not even Haruka-san, Mirchiru-san, and Setsuna-san can be raised on the phone or on their communicators. I can't even find Luna and Artemis."
Usagi looked at her unhelpful reflection and sighed. She was almost positive that Dark Kings that fought for Beryl both in this lifetime and the last were not the same men who had fallen in love with the Inner Senshi. She knew that although she had no clue how to explain the Dark Kings. She sighed again. An image of Sailor Mercury with her goggles on and her minicomputer out flashed through her mind and caused her to jump excitedly. 'I know! I could use a computer to find the reborn generals of Earth and see what happened to Jadeite.' She frowned. 'I really don't know how to use a computer for ordinary things much less a search like that. I need Ami-chan.' As she continued to mull over her problem she heard a snippet of Minako's voice. "The voice, which I called 'Boss', talked to me out of my pen and the computer in the control room. That's how I received guidance when I wasn't with the rest of you." Usagi bound to her feet and grabbed her jacket.
"That's how I'll do it! I'll ask Boss to help me with the search for the reason behind my dreams." With those words Usagi bound down the stairs and out of the house.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Usagi looked around the control room. "Hello? Excuse me Mr. Boss?" Usagi waited a moment and was about to leave the room when a voice said, "Usagi, is that you?"
Usagi spun around. "Y…Yes."
"Why did you call me?"
"I…I need some help."
"Why are you asking me? Why don't you ask the other senshi?"
"I…I can't find them otherwise I'd ask Ami-chan."
"I see." There was a pause. "Why don't you have a seat and tell me what you need help with?" Usagi slide into the chair in front of the main control center.
"Two thing first. Did Ami put her scans of the Dark Kings into the memory banks of the computer and can you do a worldwide computer search?"
"Yes. Ami did enter her scans of the Dark Kings and I can do a worldwide computer search. I have connections to INTERPOL, all the missing persons and criminal record databases in most countries, as well as tax records in those countries. I also have accessed the personnel records for many of the larger corporations or can get it. The same goes for the student and personnel records at colleges and high schools."
"Good!" Usagi pause and thought for a few minutes. "Now I need you to do two things. I need you to scan both Earth and the Dark Kingdom for signs of the whereabouts of the Dark Kings. If you find any of them please note their locations so that you can tell me about them later, if they're dead please find their death spots and note them for future knowledge. I also need you to scan all the databases that you have access to. Find and book mark all the men that look like the Dark Kings, even slightly, so that we can find them later."
"What are we doing?" The Boss sounded interested.
Usagi paused, finally she said, "I really need to tell someone and I guess it may as well be you." Usagi then told him all about her dreams and her suspicions about the Guardians of Endymion and the Dark Kings. She finished with, "The others would think that I'm nuts!" The Boss didn't say anything so Usagi hurriedly asked, "Do you think I'm crazy to let my dreams bother me?"
"No," he said quietly. "I think that it's important that you listen to yourself. There are parts of you that you as of yet know nothing about but in time you'll learn to use them wisely and well."
"Um…Thank you." Usagi cleared her throat nervously. "Would you please not tell anyone about this until we have proof to back up what I think happened."
"Why?"
"If I'm wrong, no one will know except you and me. Then I won't be embarrassed in front of the others. I know Rei-chan for one would never let me live it down."
"I see. I won't tell as long as there's no danger involved but the moment things begin to get interesting though, in any way shape or form connected to this, I'll tell the others. Deal?"
"Deal."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"Usagi-chan has been disappearing a lot lately, but whenever we ask her where she went and if everything's alright, she says everything's fine." Minako frowned. "She says that she's at the Crown Game Center but whenever we look for her there, we don't find her."
"Are you saying that Usagi-chan is lying?" Hortoru asked.
"No." Minako said firmly. "I'm worried though that we keep losing her at such a dangerous time. Of all of us you said that she would be in the most danger so we Inner Senshi decided to try to have at least one of us near her at all times." Minako paused. "Only we can't do that if we can't find her."
"Should we put a trace on her?" wondered Luna.
"No!" It was Ami who said it. "We have to trust her. She's our princess, our leader, our teammate, and most importantly our friend and we have to trust her judgement the way that she trusts ours. If it were something important she would tell us about it."
"I hate the waiting!" Makoto burst out. "I just wish that we knew what we're up against!"
"It'll be okay." Haruka reassured her as she placed a hand on Makoto's shoulder. "Soon we'll know what we're up against and then we'll deal with it the way we did all the other enemies that we've faced."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
It had been several days since she had asked the Boss to find anything. While he had found several people who looked like the Dark Kings, he was having trouble with the Dark Kings themselves or more specifically Jadeite. He had successfully found and marked the places of death for Nephrite, Zoisite, and Kunzite and he had found a number of people who looked like the Generals of Earth in the databases that he had searched and marked their files too. As Usagi entered the Control Room she silently prayed that he had finally met with success. "Hello Usagi-chan."
"Hi Boss." She slid into the chair in front of the main computer. "Have you found Jadeite yet?"
The Boss seemed to hesitate for a few moments. "Yes." He seemed to be having trouble deciding how to phrase what he wanted to say. "Usagi-chan, the Jadeite I've found may not be the Jadeite that you remember."
Usagi was puzzled. "What do you mean?"
The Boss's voice was oddly gentle. "Have you ever heard of a punishment known as the Forever Sleep?"
Usagi thought hard for a moment then shook her head. "No."
"There's a punishment in the Dark Kingdom known as the Forever Sleep. It's a spell that takes so much energy and so much skill that in the entire Dark Kingdom only Beryl and Metallia could invoke it. In the Forever Sleep the poor wretch that had been sentenced to it was doom for all time to face their worst fears and nightmares for all of time with each dream being worse than the last. When the fear and nightmares of the victim no longer inspire the terror that they used to the spell and the crystal that the wretch are trapped in manufacture some new ones that are even worse and more horrible. No matter how terrible the dream or intense the pain the one that has been trapped cannot die or ever receive peace. Very few have been saved from this fate and of that few only one or two were ever sane again."
Usagi's eyes were as wide as they could be with horror by the time that the Boss finished with his explanation. "And Jadeite was sentenced to the Forever Sleep by Beryl?"
"Yes."
"Well we have to get him and the others that have been sentenced to that fate out of there as quickly as possible! No one deserves that kind of fate!"
"To send someone to the Forever Sleep takes so much energy that it is only very rarely used. As far as I can tell the only one presently sentenced to the Forever Sleep was Jadeite himself."
"Well that makes it much easier."
"It will be dangerous. Jadeite has been in the Forever Sleep for almost two years now so his mind has probably snapped and he's insane."
"Jadeite's got a strong mind. He was always doing things with his mind as well as his magic. If he is insane and dangerous, he'll be weak after his ordeal so I'll be able to overpower him and strip him of his magic."
"This is dangerous. We should get the other Sailor Senshi involved."
"No! This isn't really dangerous. Beryl, Metellia, and most of the people of the Dark Kingdom were destroyed during the Battle of the Arctic. There's probably no one in Beryl's castle except Jadeite."
"I—"
"Please! If I get into trouble you can send for Minako-chan and the other senshi."
The Boss sighed in defeat. "I know I'm going to regret this but I'll do this your way. The moment this rescue gets dangerous, though, I'm going to call the other senshi and send them after you. Deal?"
"Deal."
"So when do you want to rescue Jadeite?"
"Tonight."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"Luna."
Luna rolled over in her sleep and muttered something. Usagi shook her cat and hissed, "Luna wake up!"
Sleepily she opened one eye, "What is it?"
"I need you. Come on." With those words Usagi scooped up her cat, and slipped out the window. Luna really woke up as Usagi trotted down the street. "Where are we going?"
"To the Crown Arcade Center."
"Why?"
"You'll see."
Usagi sneaked into the Arcade, then went to the Control Room. "Boss, I'm here."
"Good. I see you brought Luna with you."
"You said I'd need a partner." Usagi took a huge breath. "No time like the present." Gently she set Luna down.
"MOON ETERNAL, MAKE-UP!"
A panel in the computer slide open. "Here, take this." Sailor Moon reached in and pulled out a headset. "This way the two of you won't need a map of Beryl's castle." Sailor Moon put on the headset and picked up Luna. "Good luck." Sailor Moon smiled.
"Thanks."
"Sailor Moon, what are we doing?"
"Shh, you'll distract her!"
Luna snapped her mouth shut and glared at the computer as Sailor Moon, her eyes closed in concentration, began to float. In another flash, she and Luna were gone.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Sailor Moon, dropped Luna and leaned against the wall of the cave and gasped for breath as she fought waves of nausea and dizziness. 'At least I didn't fall ununconscious and detransform this time.' Sailor Moon thought wryly to herself. "Sailor Moon! Answer me Sailor Moon!"
"I'm fine Boss," she said into her headset. Luna snorted but didn't say anything about that. Instead she asked, "Where are we?"
"The Dark Kingdom."
"What! Why?"
"We're going to rescue Jadeite. Now be quiet and follow my lead because we don't have much time." Into her headset she said, "We're ready any time now for your instructions on how to get to Jadeite."
"Right. Be careful. Go left…"
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
The room that Jadeite's crystal was situated in was long room with a high ceiling. Peeking around the corner, Sailor Moon narrowly studied the room and decided that no one was in there. Carefully she and Luna slid into the room. "Keep guard at the door." Sailor Moon whispered to Luna. Luna nodded and hid behind an outcropping of rock near the door. Sailor Moon walked up to the crystal and tentatively put a hand on it. Stifling a cry she snatched her hand back. Her crescent moon mark flared with a golden light and suddenly the Eternal Moon Tiel was floating in front of her. Where it had been cut by Sailor Galaxia's sword, there was a thin golden line. Otherwise it was complete and whole.
"SILVER MOON CRYSTAL POWER KISS!"
Sailor Moon concentrated and sent massive amounts of her energy spiraling out in ribbons from the Eternal Moon Tiel.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
The nightmares, which had plagued him since his imprisonment in the Eternal Crystal, tormented his mind again. He fought to awaken, to leave the horrors both from the darkest corners of his mind and the Crystal itself. He fought despite the fact that he knew it would be in vain. He knew that he wouldn't be able to return to consciousness, yet he fought. He was surprised when this time he began to make progress. So surprised was he, he almost stopped fighting. Realizing that he was drifting back, he redoubled his efforts to return to consciousness. Searing pain shot through him. His mind began to babble and scream incoherently from the pain as it had when he was first imprisoned but he continued to fight. He no longer knew what he fought to leave or why he had to leave. He didn't even know what he fought to return to return to, only that he had to get there and this was his only chance. Suddenly there was a mind-wrenching explosion. The eyes that he hadn't had a chance to close when he'd been imprisoned impressed upon his reeling mind a shadowy cavern and a brightly clad feminine figure that shone in a brilliant silvery aura. Then the blackness came and he screamed. He barely had time to register the fact that his lungs and voice screamed in unison with his mind before the darkness of unconsciousness swallowed him.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Here are the promised translations but remember, the last name is first:
Tsukino Usagi = Serena = Sailor Moon
Mizuno Ami = Amy Anderson = Sailor Mercury
Hino Rei = Raye Hino = Sailor Mars
Kino Makoto = Lita = Sailor Jupiter
Aino Minako = Mina = Sailor Venus
Meioh Setsuna = Sailor Pluto
Tenoh Haruka = Sailor Uranus
Kaioh Michiru = Sailor Neptune
Tomoe Hotaru = Sailor Saturn
Chiba Mamoru = Darien Shields = Tuxedo Kamen = Tuxedo Mask
Luna = Luna
Artemis = Artemis
Jadeite = Jedite