Hey minna! I'm back with another exciting chapter of, dum dum dum, A
Dreamer's Dream! *looks around and notices that everyone has run
screaming from the room* Oh well. Sorry I didn't get this out sooner,
but I've been really busy. Ok, ok, I've rambled on enough.
On to the story! (after the disclaimer, of course. Don't want to be
sued now, do we?)

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon or any of Naoko Takeuchi's
characters. All other characters are mine. Please don't steal them.

A Dreamer's Dream
by Tegasus


Chapter 7-"Who are you?"

Sailor Venus stood for a moment, just looking at the castle.
This HAS to be it. She thought. It feels right.

"Venus?" Venus turned around and saw Sailor Saturn running
towards her. A new Saturn. Her skirt had two tiers, the top a dark
blue, with a dark purple underneath. Her boots had the symbol of Saturn
just below the knee, right above the laces. At her waist, where the vee
of the skirt met the leotard, there was a small purple heart with two
thin dark blue ribbons falling from it. Her back bow and ribbons were a
dark blue gauze. Her brooch was a purple heart with a silver star burst
in the center. Her choker was dark blue with a silver star burst. Her
sleeves were three tiers of silver gauze. The gloves only came to her
mid fore arm and had the symbol of Saturn on the band. Her tiara had a
heart shaped, purple crystal with a silver star burst in the center.

Looking down, Venus saw that her outfit had similarly changed.
She was in an orange and gold two tired fuku with golden ribbons. The
symbol of Venus was on the front of the ankle strap of her shoes and on
the band of her gloves. Venus reached up and felt her tiara. The
crystal was heart shaped. She then looked down at her brooch and saw
that hers was different that the outer senshi's. Instead of a silver
star burst, hers was golden.

The dark haired girl stood looking at the blond for a moment.
"You've changed. And for the better, I think."

Venus didn't respond. Saturn had changed too. She looked as if a
secret burden had been lifted from her shoulders. She turned back to
the castle. "Do you know how we're supposed to get in?"

"Well, we could try blasting our way in, but I don't think that
Dream Maker would be too happy with us." Saturn and Venus turned to see
Sailor Mars jogging up to them. "Did I miss much?"

Mars' fuku had gone through similar changes. It was two tiered,
with a red upper skirt and a pink lower and had bright red ribbons.
She also had the symbol of Mars on her shoes and gloves. Her star burst
was in gold.

Venus smiled at her friend. "Nope. Just trying to figure out how
to get in-" The senshi were suddenly transported into the castle. "-
there." Venus stopped and looked around. "Now, wait a minute. What just
happened?"

"Please forgive me, Sailor Venus. It was the quickest way to 'get
you in here.'" The senshi turned to look at Dream Maker. She was
sitting in what appeared to be a throne with a large mirror suspended
in front of her. "Welcome to my Dream Castle."

"Dream Maker?" Saturn asked. "Where are the others?"

"Still in their nightmares. You three are the first to finish.
The others should be joining us shortly."

"Not if I have anything to say about it." The senshi immediately
took up battle positions, while Dream Maker just glared at her mirror.

"Fortunately, you don't, Uther. Now, remove yourself from my
mirror."

Uther's face hardened. "I would be nicer to me if I were you,
Dreamer. Soon, I'll own you and then I'll make you pay."

"In your dreams, Uther."

"Exactly."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Michiru awoke to a small bare room. She was lying on a tiny cot
that was barley big enough for her small frame. The walls appeared to
be made of concrete and there were no windows, only a door. She got up
and tested the wooden door. It was locked. Looking around the room, she
could see nothing that would be able to help her open the door. There
was nothing in the room, save the bed and that looked like it could
fall apart at any moment. I really wish Haruka were here.

"You always DID care for that BITCH too much!" Michiru spun
around and stared at the intruder.

Who are you?!?

"I'm hurt you don't remember me, Michi. I certainly remember
YOU!"

I don't understand...

The young man snarled at her. "You always were a stupid bitch.
Selfish too! Can't you ever think on anyone besides yourself and your
own stupid pleasures?"

A flash of memory caught Michiru off guard. It was of the two of
them together in a garden.

* Memory flashback *

"I can't see you anymore, Akuma. I've met someone else..."

"No! Michi, don't do this to me! I love you!"

Michiru looked at the young man quietly. "I'm sorry. I just don't
feel the same way about you."

"The man's face suddenly twisted in rage. "Damn you, Michiru
Kaioh! Can't you think of anything but your own pleasures?" He stormed
off into the trees.

Haruka stepped out of the bushes and stood next to her. "I take
it he took it badly?"

* End flashback *

Akuma. What are you doing here?

Akuma smiled. "I see you've remembered me. Too bad it's too late
for us. I could have spared you a lot of pain."

What do you mean?

"I'll show you." The room disappeared and a larger chamber took
it's place. In the center was a long crystal box. There was something
inside of it. A body.

HARUKA!!! Michiru rushed over and knelt by the coffin not
noticing that Akuma had begun laughing. NO! This can't be!

"Believe it, Michiru."

The young women turned around in shock. H-Haruka?!?

"Give the girl a medal. She's figured it out." The wispy image
sneered. "Took you long enough. I guess Akuma was right. You are rather
stupid.

Michiru reeled as if struck. What? How can you say those
things? How can you be so cruel?

"I'm not being 'cruel' Michiru. I'm being truthful. God, I don't
know why I didn't see it before! I guess it took DYING to open my
eyes." Michiru just stared at the girl in chock. She couldn't believe
what she was hearing.

"Don't feel too badly, Haruka," Akuma stated from behind her.
"Remember, I got taken too. She IS very beautiful."

"Still. I can't believe I died protecting THAT! What a waste!"

You were protecting me?

"Watch, Michiru," Akuma's voice was like ice. "Watch you lover
die."

Michiru was suddenly thrown into another scene, once again as a
watcher. She saw herself and Haruka walking down the street. They were
laughing over something, but she couldn't hear what. She watched while
they spotted some friends on the other side of the street and started
to cross. The car seemed to come out of nowhere. One moment the street
was empty and the next a sports car was racing towards them. Someone
shouted a warning, but it was too late. At the last second, Haruka
pushed Michiru out of the way and took the full brunt of the impact.
She went flying, her body broken and bloody. In some distant part of
her mind, Michiru heard someone screaming. As she fell into the
darkness, she realized that the sound was coming from herself...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Michiru drifted. She didn't know how long she had been here. She
didn't care. She could hide in the darkness forever. No one could find
her here. Haruka's dead! Oh, God! She's dead!

"Michiru."

Go away.

"I can't."

Leave me alone.

"I can't." Michiru didn't bother to answer. "Do you think she
would want this?"

Who?

"Haruka."

Michiru winced in pain. She's dead.

"Would she want this?"

Suddenly all her pain and frustration surfaced, screaming for an
outlet. Michiru sent at the voice. NO! SHE WOULDN'T WANT THIS! SHE
WOULD WANT ME TO GO ON WITH MY LIFE! BUT HOW CAN I? SHE'S DEAD!

"Michiru."

The girl deflated, all of her anger gone. Only the emptiness
remained. Go away. Just go away. Let me mourn the only person I have
ever truly loved...

The voice sighed. "Michiru. I know it hurts. But listen." The
voice paused. "I'm going to tell you something that someone else once
told me. 'Just because the great fire has gone out, is that any reason
to deny the warmth of smaller fires?' True, it feels like the great
love is gone, but is that any reason to deny the love of friends? You
said it your self, Haruka would want you to live on. That's why she
pushed you out of the way of that car. Don't let her sacrifice be in
vain. Live in the light, if not for yourself, then for her."

Michiru had been silent through the speech and now she asked in a
quiet voice, But, it's so dark. How do I find my way back?

"You need to call the Waters of Life. From which all things come,
they must return again to be reborn once more."

I don't think I can.

"You can! Now call with all your heart and soul. It will come."

Michiru looked down at her Neptune Crystal. As she watched, it
began to glow brighter. Here goes... She placed her hand over the
crystal and began to call. At first, nothing happened, then, like a
flash flood, it came. The sea roared in and claimed her as it's own.
She was drowning. She was soaring. She was everything. She was nothing.
Her doubts and fears were washed away. Not her pain though, that she
would keep forever. Haruka. I will love you forever. I will live
now. Not just for me, but for you. You will live always in my heart.

Michiru's eyes drifted open. "I am ready."

"Neptune Eternal Ocean Power... MAKE-UP! The waves rose once more
and transformed her into the Soldier of the Eternal Ocean, Eternal
Sailor Neptune. "Neptune Tidal Wave Serge!" The new attack flowed
forth, sweeping away the darkness. Neptune found herself standing on a
cliff over looking a small bay. To her right she could see a castle
rising above the mists. Without a second thought, she started towards
it. That's where she needed to be.


Ok minna, what did you think? Please write a review and tell me, I NEED feed
back! I really do! I'm not kidding! *sigh* Why does no one ever believe
me? Well, until next time, ja ne!

Tegasus