AUTHOR'S NOTE: Mostly in Serena's POV. I'm so sorry this has taken so long to get up, the writer's block is especially bad at this time of year. :-O Plus, final exams are just around the corner, and I *should* be studying for them instead of writing SM fan fiction, but whatever. :-) All standard disclaimers apply, please don't steal plot or characters. Read it, review it, and, most importantly, enjoy it!

Thanks!

~Teller

"Rise of the Elements"

Chapter Three: Birth of a New Sun?

In Tokyo . . .

"Now boarding flight 137 non-stop flight to Madrid, all rows. Please turn in your boarding pass at the gate. Remember, no smoking while on the plane. Thank you for flying with Continental, and enjoy your flight . . ."

"Ouch! Serena, you stepped on my foot!"

"Sorry, Rei, but I can't find Darien! He said he'd be here!"

"Well, maybe he's taking a page out of your book and being late for a change! Now come on, they're boarding all rows! We can't miss the flight!"

"But I didn't get to say good-bye . . ."

"Then what were you doing at Le Estrelle last night during dinner?"

"Le Estrelle? Oh, that's right, we did go there . . . hee hee . . . nothing, Rei!"

"Eww, Serena, that's really gross."

"You're just jealous, Rei. Oh! There he is! Darien!" Serena ran to Darien's side, leaving Rei nursing a wounded foot and grumbling about the immaturity of the future Queen and the Elementals laughing at Serena's antics.

"Come on, Rei, she won't miss the flight. Let's board and we'll save her a seat." Mina said, winking.

"Yeah, give her some space so she can say good-bye to Darien," Halimeda chimed in.

"It doesn't look like they'll be saying much . . ." Arianna commented, eyes wide.

"And it certainly doesn't look like they have much space . . ."Avaris chuckled.

"That's quite enough, you two!" Mamesa laughed. "Come on, let's go."

"All right . . ." Rei muttered, shouldering her backpack. "But I get the window."

"Oh no you don't!" Lita shouted, sprinting for the gate. "I call it!"

"As long as I don't get the middle, I'm fine," Ami laughed. Mina giggled.

"Then you'll have to race me for the aisle!"

"What? Oh, Mina, you wouldn't!"

Five minutes later, when the scouts minus one were all settled in, Serena bounded onto the plane and up the aisle.

"Sorry, guys, but Darien wanted to say good-bye and then this tall guy and three others cut the line in front of me and then this family with two kids nearly ran me down and . . ."

"Tall guy? Was he cute?" Mina and Lita wanted to know.

"I don't know, I didn't really see his face . . . but he looked pretty old, Mina, like in his early twenties."

"And how old is Darien?"

"Well . . ."

"Oooh, you hypocrite!" Serena blushed and changed the subject quickly.

"So, where's my seat, guys?" She asked, looking at the rows.

"Well . . ." Mina said slowly.

"You didn't save me a seat?" Serena demanded.

"Umm . . ." Rei said slowly.

"Aguh!" She shrieked. "I can't believe you guys! Why wouldn't you save me a seat?"

"Erm . . ." Lita said slowly.

"Well what?" She demanded hotly.

"Well . . . you see . . ." Ami said, blushing slightly.

"Excuse me miss, but you have to sit down," a stewardress said chidingly.

"I can't find a seat," Serena whined. The stewardress looked exasperated, and looked around the plane.

"There isn't one on this level. You'll have to go up to the first class floor."

"First class?!?!" Rei burst out as a huge grin spread across Serena's face. "You're being rewarded for being late??" Serena giggled.

"Stop delaying me, Rei, I have to go to my seat now!" She sang, as she bounced up the stairs.

Serena stepped onto the first class level, looking for a seat. She spotted one on the aisle next to the tall young man who looked to be about Darien's age that had cut in front of her. She tapped him on the shoulder, and he looked up at her.

He had sun-bleached hair and blue eyes, and a slightly muscular build. Just Lita's type, she thought. Then again, her 'type' doesn't have a very small range.

"Can I help you?" He asked in a deep baritone. Serena nodded.

"Is this seat taken?" She asked shyly. The man shook his head.

"No, not at all. Please, sit down." Serena nodded again.

"Thank you, sir."

"You're very welcome." As Serena sat down, he helped her put her carry-on bag under the seat. He extended a broad hand. "My name is Samson Sune. I'm very pleased to meet you." Serena returned the hand shake.

"My name is Serena Tsukino," she said. "And the pleasure is all mine."

"Please meet my niece, Hideko Sune." He gestured to a small girl - maybe two or three years old - sitting at his side. "She is coming with me because my brother and my sister in law are taking their second honeymoon." Hideko leaned forward, and Serena found herself staring into wide silver-blue eyes and a head of curly golden hair.

"Hide . . .ko?" She asked, putting a finger to her mouth and looking puzzled. Serena lauged.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Hideko," she said, putting her hand out to be shaken once more. Hideko looked at it curiously, then took it in her own hand and turned it over, as if looking for something. Serena felt a strange, golden tingle warming the back of her mind. She blinked, and watched Hideko study the pink nail polish intently, before dropping Serena's hand.

"Pretty!" She said.

"Why, thank you, Hideko."

"Why are you flying to Madrid?" The man asked curiously. "Are you with the Around the World program?"

"Yes," Serena nodded. "I am on the track and field team. And you? Why are you flying to Madrid?"

"I am one of the judges," he said. "I met Miss Soluminary a few months ago, and we've become very close." Serena raised an eyebrow, and Samson laughed. "No, not that way. We've become very good friends." Serena laughed and nodded.

"I see. How did you get the job as a judge?"

"Well, I work for one of the major corporations that helped funding the Around the World program when it was first started. There were several others, and at least one member of each corporation was made a judge. It was merely coincidence that I was chosen," he said, shrugging. Serena's eyes widened slightly, and her eyebrows came together.

Coincidence, she thought. After everything that I've been through, I'm not sure I believe in coincidence anymore.

"And are you familiar with any of the other judges?" She asked. Samson shook his head.

"I'm afraid not. I'm one of the few judges coming from Japan." Serena nodded, and felt a hand land on her shoulder. She looked up, surprised.

"My kitten, what are you doing here?" Serena blinked.

"Haruka! What are you doing here?"

"Michiru and I are traveling to Madrid on business. What are you doing? You need to stay in Tokyo, things will be dangerous for you elsewhere." Samson looked at Amara intently.

"Serena, I don't believe we've been introduced," Michiru said quietly, her tone indicating that it would be unwise for them to say more at that time and place. Serena nodded.

"You're right, Michiru. Samson, these are my friends Haruka Tenno and Michiru Kaiou. Haruka, Michiru, this is Samson Sune, a judge for the Around the World Competition." Samson shook hands with both of them, then directed a question to Michiru.

"Michiru Kaiou? The internationally recognized violinist who instructs the advanced placement music students at Around the World?" Michiru nodded and rewarded Samson with a small smile.

"The very same," she said. Samson grinned.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Kaiou. Miss Soluminary has told me much about you." Michiru's eyebrows raised.

"Miss Soluminary and I are still only acquaintences. I'd be interested to hear what she said." Samson laughed.

"Only compliments, Ms. Kaiou, only compliments." He turned to Haruka. "I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with your name, Mr. Tenno." Serena opened her mouth to correct Samson, but Michiru shook her head almost imperceptibly. Haruka forced a smile.

"I am a race car driver . . . among other things." Samson's eyes lit up.

"That's right! I thought your name sounded familiar . . . you earned second place in last year's Gran Prix, correct?"

"Not last year, Mr. Sune, but the year before."

"Ah, of course. I apologize."

"No need," Haruka said, waving a hand airily. "Well, my kitten," he said to Serena. "Michiru and I must sit down now. We will talk later."

"Of course, Haruka. It was good to see you two." They nodded, and moved up to take their seats.

"Kit - ten?" Hideko asked, tilting her head to one side.

"Yes, sweetie, kitten," Samson chuckled. "How do you know those two?" he asked Serena curiously.

"Old friends of the family," Serena explained hastily. Samson nodded in acceptance and turned to Hideko, who was fussing about her seatbelt.

The seatbelt sign turned on with a quiet ding and the plane began to move slightly. Serena glanced around the first class section, trying to put names to the faces that she could see. There were very few that she recognized; and the only name she could come up with for any of them was Selestinea Soluminary -- she could recognize her shining hair from three rows back.

As the plane began to take off, Samson leaned back and promptly fell asleep. Hideko sang a wordless song quietly to herself as she brushed the hair of a Sailor Moon doll. Serena watched and chuckled quietly to herself, then reclined her own chair and began to fall asleep herself.

She was falling, but not unpleasantly. No, not falling, floating, through a golden misty haze. She was surprised to find herself not in her street clothes or her fuku, but in her Neo-Princess Serenity gown. She felt a quiet tremor within her, and the Silver Crystal appeared.

The golden glow reduced itself in the presence of the silvery shine the Crystal was emitting, and a figure cloaked in the golden haze became visible before her.

"Who are you?" She asked.

A messenger, the figure said. It didn't speak with words, but Serena could understand it all the same. She opened her mouth to ask, but the presence continued. I have been sent to tell you that The Land of Dreams, Elysion, is dying.

"Dying?" she asked. The presence glowed in an affirmative nod.

The Land of Phantasm is taking over, slowly but surely , very similar to the way the Dark Moon Kingdom took over your own, Princess.

"How did you - wait, what is the land of Phantasm?"

The Land of Phantasm is the counterpart to the Land of Dreams. It is the darkness for Elysion's light, the night for Elysion's day. One cannot exist without the other, and the two must remain in balance at all times. When the balance is tipped, the price is paid in full with the blood of innocents.

Serena shuddered slightly. The 'blood of innocents,' as this presence had put it, had been spilled on her side before. She would do anything short of selling her soul to the devil to avoid repeating the incidence. The voice continued.

If the Land of Dreams falls to Phantasm, then your world, and your future, is next in line. Elysion has protected the Sol Solar System since perhaps before the beginning of time, and if it's barriers are breached, Nightmare will overwhelm the Earth and flood the Solar System with it's sinister power. Your future will crumble and fall down about your ears, and there will be nothing you can do to stop it.

"What can we do now?" Serena asked desperately. The golden light glimmered in what she supposed was a smile.

Now? it asked. Now you can clean your world of excess Nightmare, send it back to Phantasm, where it belongs, and then tip the scales in the favor of Dream. Your light, and the light of those who love you truly, will overcome the imbalance and save your future. Here: the figure extended a shadowed hand towards Serena, who held out her own in response. Their fingers touched, and Serena felt a flood of power rush through her, revitalizing her and mending old wounds. It's soothing golden glow felt strangely familiar, as if she had experienced it's rush of light before. She frowned and tried to remember, but only the golden shimmer filled her mind.

After she felt it had run through her veins completely, it sank into the Silver Crystal and rested there. Serena blinked, surprised. Now the power of Elysion runs through you. Give your powers to those who fight beside you as well, and Phantasm will be vanquished under your hands.

The words had a sense of finality to them, and Serena stretched out her hand again.

"Wait!" she cried. The light sent out a series of rays that reminded her of a chuckle.

I am not going anywhere, your Highness. I will be with you until Phantasm leaves your world.

Serena nodded, and the figure, along with it's golden glow, vanished. Only fragments of light remained, imprinted upon her heart like the sun is imprinted on your eyes if you look into it too long.

She sighed, and relaxed, knowing in a few short seconds she would awaken and find herself on a plane bound to Madrid.

"Pretty!"

"Wha -- huh?" Serena asked, jerking up into a sitting position. Samson snorted in his sleep beside her. "Oh - Hideko. You startled me."

"Pretty!" She repeated, brandishing what she held between chubby fingers. Serena gasped.

"My locket!" She exclaimed. "Please give that back, Hideko. Where did you find it?"

"Floor," she replied proudly, pointing beneath her feet.

It must have fallen out of my pocket, Serena thought in dismay. I hope I can get it back!

"May I please have my locket, Hideko?" She asked, smiling sweetly. Hideko shook her head stubbornly, sending the golden ringlets crowning her head spinning around her.

"I'll give you a piece of chocolate," Serena bribed unashamedly. Hideko gasped.

"Candy!" She explained. She hurled the locket into Serena's lap and scrambled across Samson's legs. "Where?" She demanded.

Serena chuckled as she picked up her locket. She glanced at Hideko and gasped in surprise. A warm golden aura hovered around her, especially bright around her head and her chest, right above where her heart would be. She looked at Samson beside her, and was startled to see that he too shared the golden glow. She glanced at her hand, and found it enveloped in a silver-white light. She glanced around the plane, and more brightly- colored hues streamed out of hearts and minds to greet her. She saw an aura of blue and green winding about Michiru, and a navy-blue twisted through Haruka's short hair. Yet another glimmer of gold caught her eye, and she recognized the back of Selestinea's golden head. Her heart almost stopped.

Gold, she thought. Golden as sunshine . . . Sun. I met her last Sunday at the Rising Sun Hacienda. Her name is Selestinea SOLuminary. . . sol! Sun! Celeste wasn't reborn for all we know . . . but the Sun Crystal is missing . . . Celeste! Selestinea is --

"Candy!"

"What?" Serena's train of thought was interrupted by a pleading voice. "Oh, that's right. Sorry, Hideko, here you go." She pushed several chocolates into Hideko's tiny hand and watched her return to her seat. She clasped the locket tightly again, and the auras shimmered into view.

It's never done that before, she thought. The power of Elysion runs through it? But what is the connection of Elysion to the Sun? And why do Hideko and Samson share Selestinea's aura? Samson and Hideko are related, so that may be part of it, but Selestinea . . . possibly Celeste . . . maybe, Celeste and Samson are related? Serena gazed at Hideko, and a thought came to her. Celeste's sister? Celeste's child? No . . . and that still doesn't explain the connection with Elysion . . .

Serena frowned deeply and turned up her headphones. These thoughts were way too complicated for her. She needed someone else to bounce ideas off of . . . she would just have to wait until they reached Madrid.