The large chamber was immense and completely dark save for a soft glow that filled the room with enough light for a person to see immediately in front of them. The source of the light was a large pod filled with a strange swirling black substance that would every once in a while pulse with a light of a different color. It was this light that filled the chamber. No one could remember what the black substance used to look like but they knew what it represented, their great leader Metalia.

The denizens of the Dark Kingdom knew Metalia was the source of the dark energy they had been blessed with. And it was for Metalia they went on their missions to gather energy from the human world. In order to give her loyal followers the black energy they would need for their missions Metalia would expend a vast amount of her own energy.

Very few individuals were ever allowed council with Metalia. Only those the being deemed worthy were allowed to enter into the chamber of the ultimate ruler of the Dark Kingdom and Queen Beryl was one of them. Her master had summoned the fiery haired queen to the large chamber. Things were not going well for the army of the Dark Kingdom. With two generals destroyed it became increasingly necessary to find the ultimate prize. Metalia needed it in order for the essence of the once great being to be released and take over the Earth.

Beryl kneeled before her master and ruler waiting for the dark being to acknowledge her presence. Finally after what seemed like an eternity of waiting Metalia let Beryl know she was ready to speak to her.

"Beryl the time has come to bring me the Silver Imperium Crystal." Metalia said.

Beryl raised her head and looked at her master with questioning eyes. Surely the all knowing dark being knew the generals hadn't located it yet. Was there something Metalia knew that Beryl did not?

"My master I do not know the location of the crystal as of yet." Beryl told Metalia.

Metalia began to pulse and radiate a bright white light when she had heard they hadn't located the Silver Imperium Crystal yet.

"You haven't found the crystal yet because you haven't been looking in the proper place." Metalia began, "A long time ago when I was once whole the Dark Kingdom had in its army seven of the most powerful warriors known in the universe. These youma were known as the Seven Shadows. During our greatest battle the Seven Shadows were sent to battle against our enemy. But they were somehow defeated and sealed inside the Silver Imperium Crystal. The crystal was broken into seven shards each reborn into a human host. Find the host and you find the crystal shard. We need all seven shards in order to form the Silver Imperium Crystal. Once we have the crystal I will be free once more."

Beryl listened to what her master had to tell her and took in all the information. She now knew why they hadn't been able to find the Silver Imperium Crystal. With this new information and the black crystal Zoicite had returned to her Beryl would be able to resurrect the greatest warriors the Dark Kingdom ever had. The time had come to step up their mission.

"I will dispatch my next general to begin the search for the shards right away my master." Beryl said to Metalia as she bowed her head once more.

********

Transferred, Kino Makoto had been transferred. It was as plain and simple as that. She had been caught fighting in school for the third time that month and the principal didn't know what to do. Makoto had a history if fighting in school and it was due to four years of martial arts training in kempo and aikido. But it was more than just the martial arts training that caused her to fight, Makoto had become severely defensive and withdrawn after the death of her parents when she was twelve. And now anything anyone might say to her could be considered grounds for a beating.

The principal had tried to find a school anywhere in Tokyo that would take in a troubled student like Makoto. But it seemed as though most of the schools in Tokyo didn't want to take in a potential troublemaker like Makoto. There were however, two schools that said they would take someone like Makoto, Furinkan in the Nerima ward and Juban Prep in the Azabu-Juban neighborhood of the Mintako ward. Furinkan was a given considering the high reputation of the school's kendo club but Juban Prep was a total surprise to the principal. He didn't know why an elite private school like Juban Prep wanted to take in such a troubled young youth. The principal knew that somehow sending Makoto to Juban Prep would be the best thing in the entire universe for her. And so Kino Makoto was transferred to Juban Prep.

When the news came to Makoto that she would be transferred to a new school the tall girl reacted in a way the principal had expected. Makoto began to raise her voice and yell at him about how she was being taken away from the only friends she had ever known. And she threw in a few arguments about how it wasn't fair that she would be sent to another school when the other guy involved in the fight was only given a week's worth of detention. But the principal had a valid reason for his decision.

"Makoto in a situation such as yours it sometimes becomes necessary to remove one of the individuals from the cause of the disagreement in order to ensure it will not happen again. I cannot simply move you to another section because the cause of your problems will still be there. So the only other course of action I could take due to your record was to transfer you to another school. You should be lucky Juban Prep was willing to take you. Most schools wouldn't want someone with your record." The principal explained to tall girl.

Makoto looked at the principal quite dejected and accepted the hand fate had dealt her. Somehow she knew something good would come out of this transfer to Juban Prep. All the martial arts classes and all the pain and anguish would be worth it if Makoto could realize her destiny.

********

Guardians of the Earth
Episode Eleven: Thunder and Lightning

********

Ranma quietly jogged through the streets of the Azabu-Juban neighborhood wondering how he got himself into the situation he was currently in. Sure the morning started off peaceful and quite but then ten minutes after he had begun a relaxing run in the early morning light Usagi had appeared out of nowhere and unceremoniously invited herself along on Ranma's morning run. The female Saiyan began disappearing and popping up here and there without any warning, which was beginning to annoy the heck out of Ranma. And after what seemed to be the thousandth time Usagi had done it Ranma began to ignore Usagi and focus on his run.

As the pair wound their way through the still quiet streets of the Azabu-Juban neighborhood Usagi decided to give up her little taunts on Ranma. The innocent teasing just didn't seem any fun anymore when Ranma began to ignore her. There were better things to do. And as Usagi fell in step with Ranma's pace the female Saiyan could hear the sounds of arguing coming from a nearby side street.

"This is just great! Your little stunt has twisted my knee!" the voice yelled out.

"I said I was sorry for bumping into you." The female voice replied.

"Sorry ain't gonna cut it girlie." A second male voice told her.

"Please don't do anything to me!" the female voice pleaded.

Usagi knew they had to do something to help the girl who was being threatened by some street thugs. Gesturing to Ranma the pair headed off in the direction of the arguing. By the time they reached the scene of the argument things had changed considerably. It seemed Ranma and Usagi weren't the first ones to respond to the girl's pleas. As the three towering brutes stood over the scared and visibly frightened young woman with long blue hair pulled back at the nape of her neck another female figure stood on the other end of the small street glaring at the thugs. Ranma was about to rush in and take on the three thugs but Usagi held her arm out to stop him from doing anything and letting the other female have first claim on the three thugs. Usagi was interested in this new person.

The mystery girl was dressed in the uniform worn by the female students at Juban Prep. The dark blue skirt and accents on the shirt were a dead giveaway. Usagi studied the tall female for a moment and realized she hadn't seen this girl in school before. There was something about her that had the female Demi-Saiyan transfixed. The tall five foot six inch brunet with green eyes and hair pulled up in simple ponytail held in place with a green-balled hair tie radiated with a powerful and strange Ki. Watching Usagi waited for the tall girl to make her move.

"Hey uglies! Leave the girl alone!" the brunet called out as she got into a ready stance.

The three street thugs turned around to face the girl who dared to stand up to them.

"Oh yeah who's gonna stop us?" the first thug asked her.

"I am!" the brunet declared defiantly.

"I'd like to see you try." The second thug challenged her.

"Come and get me." The brunet taunted the two supposedly perfectly healthy thugs.

The two thugs rushed the tall girl and were each met with a low sweeping kick to their ankles knocking them down to the ground. The first thug got up and was immediately greeted with a knee to his most tender spot on his entire body. Doubling over in pain the first of the three thugs fell to the ground. Seeing what had happened to his partner and friend the second of the three thugs rushed the brunet and was met with an elbow to her face and a hard kick to his gut causing him to fall over in pain from having the wind knocked out of him. The third, and supposedly hurting, thug looked at the brunet in horror and disbelief. He couldn't believe a mere female could do that much damage to his friends. Not wanting to be beat up any further the three thugs ran away from the scene screaming at the top of their lungs.

"She's mad!" thug one screamed.

"No man she's possessed." Thug two screamed.

"I ain't sticking around to see what she does next." Thug three added.

With the three thugs gone the tall brunet could now turn her attention to the blue haired girl still on the ground. Walking over to the girl the brunet reached out her hand in order to help her up.

"Here let me help you up." The brunet offered.

Taking the hand of the taller girl the blue haired girl smiled and bowed to her savior.

"Thank you for saving me. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't come along." The girl replied with a polite smile on her face.

Usagi watched the scene play the rest of itself out and noticed a few interesting details about the tall girl. She has the most interesting rose earrings, Usagi thought. Then as she took one last look at the girl Usagi got another thought in her mind. I'll be watching for you. You have the Senshi power that I'm sure of but what does this mean, Usagi thought once more.

As the taller girl turned to leave the scene of the crime and continue her own early morning workout she noticed Usagi and Ranma out of the corner of her eye. As she looked at the pair she could almost feel the blonde Usagi checking her out. This was going to be an interesting day.

********

Queen Beryl requested a private audience with Malachite and Zoicite. She needed to speak to the pair of dark generals and tell them what she had learned from her master. Beryl also had a little something to give to Zoicite for his upcoming mission. The time had come for the effeminate general to begin his search for the Silver Imperium Crystal. But this search wouldn't be the way he had originally thought it would. The search Beryl was about to send him on would involve the revival of the seven most deadly youma the Dark Kingdom had ever seen.

"You wished to see us?" Malachite inquired for the pair.

"Yes. It seems our plans have been slightly altered." Beryl began, "A long time ago when the Dark Kingdom was in its glory there existed seven youma unlike any others. These youma were known as the Seven Shadows. But they were lost to us during our great battle with the Moon Kingdom.

"The queen of the Moon Kingdom sealed the Seven Shadows within her Silver Imperium Crystal and split it into seven smaller crystal shards. These shards were sent to Earth and reborn inside the bodies of ordinary humans. The time has come for us to revive the Seven Shadows and bring about the reformation of the Silver Imperium Crystal. With this crystal our great master will be free once again."

Beryl then made the black crystal she had given to Nephlite appear in her hand.

"This crystal is now yours to command Zoicite. With it you will be able to find the holders of the seven rainbow shards. The crystal will only respond to the rainbow shard inside its host human." Beryl explained to the effeminate general.

Zoicite took the black crystal and now understood what he had to do. It was his job to find the humans who held within them the seven rainbow shards. Once they had all seven shards the Silver Imperium crystal would appear. Holding the crystal within his gloved hand Zoicite began to call upon its magic to find the first holder of a rainbow shard.

"Black crystal show me the human who holds within them a rainbow shard!" Zoicite commanded.

The crystal began to glow with an eerie light and thin tendrils of light came out of the crystal and displayed before them the image of the person holding in them a rainbow shard. The young man the crystal showed was wearing a yellow sweat jacket, white t-shirt, blue jeans, blue ball cap, and glasses. The teen had dark eyes and chestnut brown hair.

"So this is the first of the Seven Shadows? Well it won't be long before you become part of the Dark Kingdom once more and I have your precious crystal inside you." Zoicite sneered.

********
Rumors with a side of lunch; that was the order of the day. At least that's how Umino saw it. And the nerdy gossip was making certain everyone got their daily dose of rumors and controversy. The flavor for the day, the new girl in section three of the first year class. It seemed the girl was kicked out of her old school and transferred to Juban Prep because she was caught fighting with some of the other students. Now Umino was making it his personal mission to make certain everyone stayed away from her so there wouldn't be any problems with her.

Umino had finished dispensing the latest round of gossip when he noticed Son Usagi walk out from the cafeteria complaining to herself about the skimpy portions the school tried to pass off as lunch. Umino noticed Usagi look up from the tray full of food and look directly at the new girl who was sitting underneath one of the large momiji trees in the schoolyard. Walking over to one of the newer students at Juban Umino prepared to tell her all about the newest student.

"Usagi I wouldn't go over there if I were you. I've heard some pretty bad things about that girl. Her name is Kino Makoto. It seems she was kicked out of her last school for fighting with the other students. Some people are calling her the towering freak. But I just think she's someone to be weary of." Umino said to the female Saiyan.

Usagi turned to regard the smaller boy.

"Um yeah I'll try and keep that in mind." she said as she headed towards Makoto.

Umino just looked on and thought Usagi had some sort of death wish.

Usagi walked over to the momiji tree and sat down next to Makoto. Slowly and carefully, at least what was slow for her, she ate her lunch making occasional glances over at the overflowing bento Makoto had brought with her. The taller brunet looked over at the girl sitting next to her and decided to strike up a conversation with her. She was the first one to approach Makoto all day.

"I noticed you were checking out my lunch. Is the food here that bad?" Makoto asked Usagi.

"No it's just that they have a strange idea of what passes for a normal lunch here. There is no way I'll make through the rest of the day with what they give me. Talk about skimpy proportions." Usagi replied to the new girl.

Makoto smiled at Usagi. Not once so far had the female Demi-Saiyan mentioned the rumors floating around the school about her.

"Would you like to try one of my onigiri?" Makoto offered.

"Yeah I'd love to." Usagi said as she took one of the nori wrapped rice balls.

Taking a bite of the rice ball Usagi smiled and made a satisfying noise from her throat.

"I take it from the smile you like the onigiri?" Makoto asked.

"Yeah your mom must be a great cook because these are just as good as the ones my mom makes." Usagi replied.

Looking over at Makoto Usagi saw the taller brunet hang her head a bit before answering her.

"My mom didn't make them. I did." Makoto said a bit quietly.

After a brief moment of silence Makoto lifted her head back up and turned to the smaller girl sitting next to her.

"How come you haven't run away from me yet? Almost everyone I've seen today runs away from me. And they're saying all those things about me. Surely you've heard what they've said." Makoto wanted to know.

Usagi let out a soft sigh and smiled at the new girl.

"Because all it is are a bunch of silly rumors I refuse to believe. So what if you got into a fight or two at your last school. There are always rumors floating around about the new people in school. I was like you not too long ago and so were a couple of my friends. It's no big deal." Usagi said.

"You're not afraid of me then?" Makoto asked Usagi.

"Nope. Besides, I've been studying martial arts since I was five. When your father is a past champion of the Tenkaichi Boudoukai you learn a thing or two along the way about reading people. And from what I can tell you and I are going to be fast friends." Usagi replied.

Makoto stopped to consider what Usagi had told her and decided that maybe this girl was the one true friend she was looking for.

"Well in that case I'm Kino Makoto." Makoto said.

"The name's Son Usagi and believe me I've heard worse insults than the towering freak comment." Usagi replied with her signature smile.

Yes Kino Makoto knew this was going to be a very interesting day.

********

School had ended for the day and Usagi and Makoto had hooked up for the afternoon. The pair was headed for the Crown fruit and game parlor. Usagi wanted to show her new classmate one of her favorite hangouts. And after a quick stopover in Usagi and Ami's room so Usagi could change and drop off her bag the pair was on their way.

The crown was the place to be on the bright sunny spring afternoon. Everyone wanted to be at the Crown not because of the games or the great food but because they all wanted to see one person showing his skill at the crane game. But Usagi and Makoto didn't know the young man existed or that he would be at the Crown on this particular day.

Usagi led Makoto inside the Crown Game Parlor and over to the Sailor V game. The female Saiyan had a big smile on her face as she motioned for the tall brunet to sit down and try her hand at the game. Makoto put in her coin and began playing. After five minutes of playing Makoto got the standard game over message indicating she had died. Usagi looked on stunned because Makoto had gotten to a higher level on the game than she had ever been able to. Must come from a life growing up in the city, Usagi thought as she tried to figure out why Makoto and Ami were better than her on the game.

"Wow Makoto you're real good." Usagi said to the brunet, "If Motoki were here he'd say the same thing you know."

"Is he your brother?" Makoto asked Usagi.

Usagi blushed a bit and shook her head.

"No he's not although I do have two brothers back home." Usagi replied, "Motoki is a real good friend of mine and he works here so I kind of know his schedule."

Makoto smiled at Usagi and put in another coin so she could play the game once again. And while she played Ami and Rei walked into the Crown with Luna perched on Ami's shoulder. Usagi saw the trio headed for them and noticed Rei was in her school uniform and Ami still had her bag with her, which meant she had her Juku that afternoon. The blonde Saiyan motioned for her two good friends to come over and meet Makoto.

"Hey Usagi." Rei greeted her friend.

"Hi Usagi. Isn't that the new student at school?" Ami added.

"Hey guys. Yeah this is Kino Makoto the new girl at school." Usagi told her friends.

Makoto once again died and turned her attention to Usagi and her friends.

"Makoto I'd like you to meet two of my friends. This is Hino Rei the elegant Miko in training and Tendo Ami the world-renowned genius and my roommate. Oh and the cat with Ami is my cat Luna. She lives with us in our dorm room." Usagi said introducing her friends to Makoto.

Makoto stood up and gave the girls a slight bow of respect and a smile.

"It's nice to meet you both." Makoto said as she gave Luna a scratch under her chin.

Luna for, the benefit of Makoto, acted like any other normal cat and let a small purr escape her lips. The lunar feline didn't mind it one bit when someone took an immediate liking to her. There's something special about this Makoto, Luna thought.

As the group stood there the other patrons of the arcade began to clap and cheer loudly near the crane game. The young man playing the game had pulled out another prize and was about to drop a coin into the machine to have another go at it. Carefully maneuvering the mechanical arm he stopped it over a small plush representation of Sailor Mercury and let it drop. The claw on the arm connected with its intended target and pulled the Mercury UFO doll up and over to the prize chute. The prize dropped down the chute and the young man reached in and pulled out doll placing it in a large bag. Usagi could tell the young man had a hidden talent that he used on the crane machine prizes.

"Who's that guy?" Usagi asked Momoko who happened to be there as well.

"They call him Crane Aikido no Joe. It's said he gets prizes from the crane games every time he plays them." Momoko replied to her friend and her companions.
Usagi took a look at Joe who was dressed in a yellow sweat jacket, jeans, and a white t-shirt with glasses and a blue backwards ball cap. The talented crane game player had brown hair and dark eyes as well. Usagi studied the young man for a moment while Makoto just watched him with a far off dreamy look in her eyes. The tall brunet was falling for him.

"He reminds me of my old sempai." Makoto said dreamily as a slight pink tint came to her cheeks.

The girls watched as Joe picked up the bag full of UFO dolls and begin to head out the door of the Crown Game Parlor. Determined not to let a potential boyfriend get away Makoto followed Joe.
"Makoto where are you going?" Usagi asked the taller girl.

"I'm going to follow him and introduce myself to him." Makoto called back.

With that Makoto was out the door and on her way to completing her task.

********

Joe made his way down the street with the bag of UFO dolls flung over his shoulder. The young game player was unaware that Makoto was following him or that someone else had an interest in him. And unbeknownst to any of them Usagi was following Makoto to see how she fared with the game player. As Joe innocently made his way down the street a shadow appeared above his head. Looking up Joe noticed an effeminate looking man with sandy blonde hair and blue eyes sneering down at him. The man was dressed in a gray uniform with white gloves and held a black crystal in his hands. This was Zoicite third general of the Dark Kingdom

The crystal in Zoicite's hand began to react to the crystal within Joe's body. Joe began to hunch over in pain as the crystal inside him responded to the power of the black crystal. Crying out in pain Joe dropped the bag full of UFO dolls and clutched his midsection. Noticing Joe's pain Makoto came out from the nearby bush where she had been hiding and got between Joe and Zoicite.

"I won't let you attack this talented young man you creep!" Makoto said defiantly.

"Those who try and interfere with my mission shall be destroyed." Zoicite replied.

Makoto shrugged off the dark general's warning and lunged for the effeminate man. Makoto prepared to give Zoicite a combination punch to the face and drew back her fist. When Makoto made her attack Zoicite dodged the punch. Frustrated Makoto grabbed one of her rose earrings and threw it at Zoicite. The effeminate general dodged the earring but Makoto saw this and punched him in the face. Frustrated Zoicite clutched onto his nose with one gloved hand and yelled at Makoto.

"You'll pay for hitting my beautiful face." Zoicite yelled.

Seeing what had just happened Usagi appeared out the bush she was hiding behind and got into a ready position flaring her Ki just enough to let the dark general feel her power. Seeing the extra person on the scene the effeminate looking general decided to leave in a shower of pink sakura petals.

Usagi powered down and went with Makoto to see if Joe was okay. But as they reached the fallen game player Joe grabbed the bag of UFO dolls and began to leave the scene.

"Listen I don't need your help." Joe told the girls.

Not taking no for an answer Makoto went after the young game player. Luna who had been with Usagi came out of the bushes and decided to voice her opinion on the situation.

"I don't like this one bit. It feels like the Dark Kingdom. I'm getting some strange vibrations from Makoto and that young man." Luna said to Usagi.

"Do you think Makoto could be one of us or one of them?" Usagi asked her guardian.

"I don't know Usagi. I just don't know." Luna replied.

********

Makoto had followed Joe to make certain he was okay after the attack from Zoicite. The tall brunet had caught up to the game player and wanted to make certain no one else would try and hurt him. Confronting the young man Makoto decided to offer her martial arts service to Joe so she could protect him from any further harm.

"Joe, wait up!" Makoto called to the game player.

Turning around Joe responded to Makoto.

"What do you want?" he asked her.

"I saw what that guy did you and from now on I'm going to be your bodyguard. I'll make certain no one ever tries to hurt you again." Makoto offered.

Joe looked at Makoto and wondered if she was crazy. He didn't need anyone sticking up for him let alone trying to be his personal protector. But before he could tell her so Makoto began asking him all sorts of questions.

"How were you able to get all those UFO dolls?" Makoto wondered.

Joe looked at her like a martial artist who didn't want anyone copying his best moves.

"You wouldn't be able to copy my method." Joe told her.

With that Joe picked up his bag once more and walked away from Makoto.

Not one to give up easily Makoto once again began to follow Joe.

********

Usagi and Luna knew they needed to find Makoto and fast. They had a feeling the strange man who had attacked Joe would try and do something again. They just weren't certain when or for what reason why. Using her abilities Usagi focused in on Makoto's Ki to find the taller brunet. Once she had found Makoto's unique Ki signature Usagi grabbed Luna and headed off to find her newest friend.

Usagi found Makoto standing outside a small coffee shop staring into the window. Putting Luna down Usagi went over to Makoto to see if everything was okay.

"Hey Makoto you all right?" Usagi asked the brunet.

"Yeah I'll be fine. Joe's just like this guy I used to know." Makoto replied.

Makoto turned her attention back to watching Joe inside the coffee shop. As she watched him she saw him hunch over in pain. Joe's body was still reacting to the earlier attack from Zoicite. When the pain had subsided Joe noticed Makoto standing outside the coffee shop and motioned for her to come in.

"You might as well come inside." Joe said, "I don't think it would look good having you stare at me from outside."

Makoto let a small blush come across her cheeks as she went inside the coffee shop and sat down across from Joe. Joe looked at her and decided to answer her earlier question.

"You wondered how I am able to get the prizes each time I play the crane game well I'll show you." Joe began, "I have super powers designed for the crane game."

With that Joe placed his hand over the ashtray on the table and began to concentrate. The ashtray slowly began to lift off the table and float towards Joe's outstretched hand. Makoto looked at the display of Joe's strange ability and thought that using it when he played the crane game was cheating.

"You know that's cheating." Makoto told him.

Joe let the ashtray drop and just looked at Makoto.

"It doesn't matter if it's cheating. I don't keep the prizes anyway. I donate them to the kids at the local orphanages." Joe told her.

As Usagi watched Joe and Makoto talk to one another inside the coffee shop Ranma came up behind her wondering what was so interesting.

"Hey Usagi what's going on?" Ranma asked her.

"I'm watching the new girl in school talk to that guy we saw in the Crown." Usagi said.

Ranma looked at Makoto and saw that she was the same girl from earlier in the day.

"Hey isn't she that girl from this morning who beat up on the street thugs?" Ranma inquired.

"Yeah, her name's Kino Makoto." Usagi told him.
It was at that point Zoicite appeared inside the coffee shop in his usual shower of sakura petals. Raising his hand the effeminate general prepared to blast Makoto.

"Remember me girl." Zoicite sneered, "Take this!"

With a loud cry the effeminate general blasted Makoto.

"Zoi!" he cried out sending pink crystals at Makoto.

Using the attack on Makoto to his advantage Joe started to run out of the coffee shop. But before he could get completely away from the scene Usagi and Ranma stopped him.

"Are you just going to run away and leave the girl!" Usagi yelled at him, "You aren't a man."

Joe looked at Usagi for a moment before answering the female Saiyan.

"That tall girl isn't my type." Joe replied before running out of the coffee shop.

Usagi and Ranma went over to where Makoto was to see how she was doing. It was obvious from the look on her face that Makoto had heard the entire conversation between Usagi and Joe.

"He said the same thing to me." Makoto said quite hurt.

********

Joe ran as though his life depended on it, which in a way it did. Zoicite was after him for a reason he didn't know about. As he ran through the streets of the Azabu-Juban neighborhood Joe came upon Juban park the telekinetic game player tried to loose the effeminate general. Running into a secluded garden Joe tried to catch his breath. The calm of the early evening sky was interrupted when Zoicite appeared laughing maniacally.

"Now I shall finish what I started!" Zoicite said, "Now it is time to become one with the Dark Kingdom once again."

Zoicite pulled out his black crystal and held it over Joe. The game player screamed in agony as a small red crystal floated out of his body and into Zoicite's gloved hand. As Joe began to writhe in pain a shadowy figure appeared in the park.

"Leave him alone creep!" a voice called out, "I am the defender of love and justice! The Senshi of the Moon Sailor Moon! In the name of the Moon I shall punish you!"

Zoicite let out another cackle and turned to the Moon Senshi to introduce himself to her.

"Nice to meet you Sailor Moon." Zoicite said, "Allow me to introduce myself to you. I am Zoicite third general of the Dark Kingdom. And in a few moments you are about to become history."

As Zoicite introduced himself to Sailor Moon Joe's body began to change. When the transformation was complete Joe resembled something out of a video game. The game player now looked like a cross between a bald kabuki actor and a futuristic warrior. Joe had become a youma.

"Gesen destroy Sailor Moon!" Zoicite ordered, "Until next time."

With that Zoicite phased back into the Dark Kingdom in his shower of sakura petals leaving Sailor Moon to deal with the first Shadow Warrior.

As Gesen turned to face Sailor Moon Makoto, Ranma, and Luna came running onto the scene. Ranma had told Makoto Usagi would be able to get to Joe first because she could run faster then they could. He also suggested they follow her in case she needed some back up. And as they ran after Usagi Ranma and Makoto discussed what had happened that morning.

"What in the world is that thing?" Makoto asked Ranma.

"Um, that's what some would call a youma." Ranma told her.

Luna took a good look at Gesen and felt the same energy pattern she had felt when she first saw Joe in the Crown. The lunar feline knew the youma and the game player were one in the same. Sailor Moon would need a new way of defeating the youma. The time had come to choose the leader of the Senshi and that person was Sailor Moon.

Sailor Moon knew she had seen Zoicite somewhere before but she couldn't remember where. In her momentary lapse Sailor Moon had let her guard down and Gesen attacked. Sailor Moon felt the youma use his Ki to power his extendable hand and tried to dodge the attack. As she tried to run Sailor Moon tripped up on a nearby branch and went rolling out of the way. Seeing her chance Makoto jumped into action to back up Sailor Moon and fight the youma.

Makoto ran over to where the youma was and picked him up. As she did Makoto felt a strange energy surge through her. Upon her forehead a symbol began to glow. To Ranma and Luna it looked like an altered number four. Ranma wasn't certain what it meant but Luna did. Makoto was indeed one of the Senshi she was Sailor Jupiter.

Makoto threw the youma into a group of trees. And after he landed on the ground Gesen continued to attack. Using his extendable arm Gesen grabbed a hold of Sailor Moon taking her by surprise. Seeing Sailor Moon captured by the youma Luna knew she had to do something and quick. Running over to Makoto the lunar feline began to tell her who and what she really was.

"Makoto you are one of the Sailor Senshi, Sailor Jupiter to be exact. You can help save Sailor Moon. Take this henshin rod and call out Jupiter Power." Luna said as she dropped a green and gold pen at Makoto's feet.

Picking up the rod Makoto felt the power surging through her body. Knowing what she had to do Kino Makoto embraced her destiny and called forth her henshin phrase.

"Jupiter Power!" Makoto called out.

The air around Makoto became charged with static electricity as lightning began to envelope her body forming her Senshi fuku. When the lighting and electricity faded Makoto stood before Luna as Sailor Jupiter. Jupiter's fuku was like the others except it was green with pink bows and green jewels in her tiara and upon her front bow. On her feet was a pair of green lace up ankle boots.

Feeling the words come to her Jupiter crossed her arms, extended her fingers, and closed her eyes before calling out to her guardian deity the thunder god Jupiter.

"Guardian Jupiter give me the power to destroy this youma." Jupiter said as a small lightning rod came out of her tiara.

Opening her eyes Jupiter called out her attack.

"Supreme Thunder!" Jupiter called out.

The lightning and electricity from Jupiter's attack hit Gesen square in the back causing him to drop Sailor Moon who easily rolled out of the way.

"Jupiter if we combine our attacks we can take this thing out!" Sailor Moon told Jupiter.

The pair of Senshi was about to attack when Luna spoke up.

"No you can't attack him again. He needs to be healed. He's still human on the inside. That youma is the young man from the arcade Joe." Luna told Jupiter and Sailor Moon.

Jupiter and Sailor Moon began to wonder how they could turn Joe back into a human again. And as they did Luna did a back flip causing a pink and yellow rod with a large yellow crescent moon on top to appear on the ground. Picking up the moon rod in her mouth Luna handed it Sailor Moon. Taking the rod Sailor Moon looked to Luna for the answer to her silent question.

"Sailor Moon that rod can heal the youma. All you have to do is call out Moon Healing Escalation." Luna instructed her charge.

Sailor Moon gave Luna a nod that told the lunar feline she understood what she had to do. Taking the rod firmly in her hands Sailor Moon called out the words that would heal Joe.

"Moon Healing Escalation!" Sailor Moon called out moving the moon rod in an arc.

The light from the moon rod washed over Gesen turning him back into Joe. When the light had faded Gesen was no more and Joe lay on the ground.

"Good job Sailor Moon. The fourth Senshi Jupiter has finally arrived." Luna said, "That rod is the symbol of the leader of the Senshi. It is now your job lead the Senshi and protect the princess."

Sailor Moon took in what Luna had to say and knew this had to happen if she were to ever reach the next plateau as a Saiyan warrior. After a brief moment to think about Luna's words Sailor Moon turned to Jupiter to welcome her to the team.

"Welcome Sailor Jupiter or should I say Kino Makoto." Sailor Moon said with a smile.

"Thanks. One thing though, how in the world can your cat talk?" Jupiter replied.

Jupiter's comment caused Sailor Moon, Ranma, and Luna to laugh and after a few moments Jupiter joined them in the laughter.

********

Usagi and Makoto had once again gone to the Crown after school the next day. Ranma and Luna had joined them at their insistence and the trio was watching Makoto play the Sailor V game once again. As she played the game Motoki came over to say hello to one of his favorite customers and meet her knew friend. Usagi saw the older college boy and decided to introduce him to Makoto.

"Hi Usagi. Bringing in new customers for me I see." Motoki said with his usual smile.

"Yeah I guess I am." Usagi replied, "This is Kino Makoto my newest friend. Makoto this is Motoki. He's the one I told you about yesterday."

Makoto looked at Motoki and saw something about him that reminded her of an old sempai. Getting the same far off dreamy look in her eyes Makoto commented about it.

"He reminds me of my old sempai." Makoto said dreamily.

Usagi looked at her new friend and kindred spirit like she was crazy.
"What about that boy Joe?" Usagi asked Makoto.

"Oh Motoki sounds like my old sempai but Joe looks like him." Makoto said getting laughs.

Makoto was certainly going to love being a Senshi and going to Juban Prep.

********

Whew! Finally finished another episode. Sorry for the delay but a flat tire and babysitting duty sometimes become more important than the story. Oh well hope you liked it. Thanks for all your great reviews. It's great to know you like my work. I feel so loved. Oh and Ranma made a brief appearance in the story as did a girl who looked so much like a pre haircut Akane. Hmm maybe she was Akane.

I'd like to give special thanks to Hitoshi Doi once again for his Sailor Moon Encyclopedia. I also want to thank Joey's Anime Arena. Without him I wouldn't be able to get the Japanese names of the Seven Shadows. He's the only one with a site devoted to this important part of the anime.

The name of the tree Usagi and Makoto sit under during lunch the momiji is basically a Japanese maple tree. Onigiri is what the story said it was a rice ball with a bit of flavor to it. The nori the rice ball is wrapped in is dried seaweed pounded flat into sheets. Most of the time nori is used to wrap sushi but it can also be used as a wrapper for many other things. If you've ever seen any one in an anime eat something like a rice ball you'll notice it's got a little wrapper on it. That's the nori.

Oh I used Makoto's original attack instead of her dub attack because I thought it sounded better for her in this series. I'll also be using her manga attack from time to time too. As you can see I mix a lot of original, dub, and manga Sailor Moon elements in this story. It makes the story more interesting that way in my opinion.

We all know Makoto's parents died in that plane crash that often gets mentioned in the series. Well I'm making it so Makoto can afford to go to Juban Prep and live on her own because of a trust fund her parents established for her in their will. This would give her a monthly stipend to live off of. That plus Makoto's thrifty nature allows her to live from day to day on her own. And I also think she has a generous relative that lets her sublet the studio apartment she lives in. Nako-sensei never really did say how she's able to live on her own.

Now that Makoto has arrived it's time for the rainbow crystal arc to get into full swing. Luna will tell the other Senshi about the rainbow crystals and the moon rod. Rei won't like hearing that Usagi is going to be the leader. Makoto learns all about Usagi's unique heritage and our favorite female Saiyan and a certain class nerd try to comfort their friend Naru. But why is Zoicite attacking a defenseless priest? Find out what happens in episode twelve Moving On. Feed me! Give me those juicy reviews please.