*Four*
"So quick bright things come to confusion"-- A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
The light had just begun to appear over the treetops. The birds were chirping cheerfully. Serena woke at dawn. She looked at her watch; it was only four o'clock. She sighed, closing her eyes again. She had not had a good night; she kept having this frightening nightmare. She didn't know what it meant, but it scared her. Finally, deciding that she wouldn't be able to sleep any longer, she got up. She looked over at the sleeping bags next to her. Rini was still sleeping soundly, but Darien was gone. She frowned slightly, going outside. Darien was sitting over on a rock; his eyes were unfocused, deep in thought.
"Why are you up so early?" she asked him, sitting down next to him.
"I could ask you the same question." He replied, looking thoughtfully over at her.
Serena shrugged. She looked off in the distance. "Is that smoke?" she asked suddenly. He looked towards where she was pointing and frowned slightly.
"Maybe we'll find what we're looking for sooner than we thought." He finally said getting up. Serena followed him. They crept stealthily and quietly towards where the smoke was rising. Soon, they reached a small camp. There was a small fire in the middle; some things were neatly stacked up around it. A woman stepped out of the tent and bent over the fire. Serena recognized her immediately, the girl from the other night.
Darien quickly stood up, "Emmy?" he called out. The woman turned in surprise. Upon seeing them, she smiled and waved.
"Hello Darien!" she greeted them, "I don't believe we've met." She said looking at Serena.
"I'm Serena." The young woman said extending a hand, "Darien's friend."
"Nice to meet you." Emmy said taking it, "the name's Emmy."
"What are you doing here?" Darien asked.
"Well," the other woman said looking up with her clear, green eyes, "After you said you were going camping, I decided it was a good idea. I figured you could use some company," she looked at Serena, "I wasn't aware that you already had some."
Darien blushed.
"Oh, me?" Serena said, trying to smooth things out, "No. We're actually doing some research in the forest. I'm, uh, Darien's research partner."
"Oh!" Emmy said, slightly embarrassed.
"That's all right," Darien replied, shooting Serena a look of gratitude, "You can still join us if you want, but I'm afraid it won't be very interesting."
"That's all right." Emmy said, "I'll do a little research of my own then, I'm sure I can keep busy."
"Our camp is just a little ways that way." Serena said pointing in the direction, from which they came, "I'm, uh, going to go check on some things." With that she quickly headed back towards the camp. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. Emmy was so beautiful, and Darien was right, she was more mature than Serena. Yet, when Serena was around her, she couldn't help but like her. Serena sighed, Emmy was perfect, there was no way that Darien could resist her. When she got back to the camp, Rini was up, sitting by the fire. When she saw Serena she quickly got up.
"Where were you?" she asked.
"We ran into one of Darien's friends." Serena replied, sitting down next to the fire.
"His new girlfriend?" Rini asked, her eyes full of remorse.
Serena nodded slightly, "She actually is very nice, and I want you to be nice to her. As far as she's concerned, I'm Darien's research partner."
"What about me?" Rini asked, a twinge of amusement seemed to cross her face, "I can just be your cousin again."
"All right," Serena replied, "Whatever you want."
"Is she beautiful?" Rini asked, after a moment of silence.
Serena nodded.
"More beautiful than you?" Rini asked again.
Serena laughed, "I'm not beautiful, Rini."
"Yes you are." The little girl said seriously, "You are very beautiful. You're the most beautiful person I know."
Serena laughed again, "Rini, you are very amusing, did you know that?"
By then Emmy and Darien had returned, arm in arm.
"Emmy," Serena said motioning to Rini, "This is my little cousin, Rini. She insisted on coming along with us."
"Nice to meet you, little lady." Emmy said smiling, "I'm Emmy."
Rini smiled nicely.
"You know, if I didn't know any better," Emmy joked, "I'd think you guys were a family or something."
Darien looked at Serena uneasily.
"Let's get started." Serena said, trying to keep the conversation going.
* * *
"Excellent." Azure congratulated her servant, "Venom, you are brilliant."
"Thank you, your Majesty." Venom replied with a bow.
"I think, maybe we should spruce this up a little." Azure said thoughtfully, "Give our little heroes something to think about. Send out the youmas."
"At once, your Majesty." Venom replied again.
* * *
Lita sat proudly atop her strong sandy colored horse. She lifted her head higher, peering into the sunlight.
"Ami," she warned, "There are youmas over there."
"What?" The young woman asked, immediately looking around thoughtfully.
"You ready?" Lita asked, already dismounting.
Ami nodded, taking her star key from her neck.
"Mercury Star Power!" she commanded.
"Jupiter Star Power!" Lita added.
* * *
The wind blew suddenly, chilling the air around the two figures and their horses. Mina looked up, sensing something wasn't right. She searched the horizon warily.
"Something's not right." Rei said, voicing the same suspicions.
"Definitely not right." Mina agreed. Soon, the two Scouts were surrounded by youmas.
"Venus Star Power!" Mina exclaimed.
"Mars Star Power!" Rei said simultaneously.
* * *
Serena rode silently. Rini sat in front of her, holding onto the pommel of Midnight's saddle. Emmy was riding Rini's Cloud. Suddenly the horse whined nervously. The young woman patted the beast soothingly on the neck, reining it to a stop. She looked up at the sky. The sun was just beginning to crest over the treetops. There was something strange about the air. It was so still, menacingly dead. Yet, Serena still felt a chill go up her spine, as if cold fingers had brushed her hand. Darien and Emmy rode on, unnoticing. Serena dismounted, giving Midnight another pat on the neck.
"What is it, Serena?" Rini asked anxiously.
"Youmas." Serena replied quietly, "You ride ahead. I'll take care of this."
Rini nodded silently, "Be careful."
"I know." Serena replied. She waited until Rini was a good distance away. She took the locket from her uniform and opened it. The amazingly clear Silver Crystal shimmered under the faint sunlight.
"Moon Crystal Power!" Serena held the locket up in the sky.
* * *
Darien talked adamantly with Emmy. They had so much in common. She was so beautiful, and smart. He couldn't resist the way her hair seemed to fall carelessly around her face, framing it. And her laugh, it was like a tinkling bell, so sweet and so exquisite. He sighed happily, lost in thought. He heard hoof steps next to him, but they seemed so far away, all he could think about was Emmy.
"Where's your friend?" she suddenly asked.
Darien turned around, seeing Midnight. But Serena was no where to be seen. Only Rini was riding in the saddle.
"Serena is examining some things." Rini replied, "She said she'd catch up with us in a little while."
"Oh, all right." Emmy seemed to accept this, and again they began to talk. Suddenly, a loud clap of thunder cracked in the sky. The horses reared in anxiety. Darien held on tightly, trying to keep Guardian calm. He looked up worriedly at the sky, but there were no clouds.
"Hello, campers." A cynical voice said ahead of them. He quickly turned to look. There were dozens of Negaverse youmas standing in front of the horses.
"Mind if we have some fun?" one asked.
Emmy screamed. Darien looked around helplessly.
"Stop right there!" a commandingly strong voice declared from somewhere above. Darien looked up, seeing a familiar figure balanced so precariously on top of a large tree. He smiled slightly; everything was going to be all right.
"Sailor Moon!" Emmy exclaimed, "I can't believe it!"
"Come on." Darien said, remembering where he was. "Let's get out of here." He led the four horses to a safe place in the trees. There the three people watched.
* * *
Lita kicked a youma full in the stomach. "That'll teach you to mess with Sailor Jupiter!" she declared.
Ami grabbed a handful of soil, hurling it into the face of the nearest youma. "Sailor Mercury always wins!" she said defiantly. She jumped out of the way as another youma rushed her. "Don't you guys ever learn?" she complained, dodging youmas nimbly.
"Apparently not." Lita replied, laughing. She chopped a youma to the ground, catching another one with an well-aimed kick.
"Enough of this!" She said finally, "You are beginning to annoy me!" She turned to Ami with a small grin of satisfaction, "Would you do the honors, Sailor Mercury?"
"I would be delighted to, Sailor Jupiter." Ami replied with a smile. She turned to face her enemies.
"Ice Bubbles Blast!" she commanded, freezing all her enemies quickly.
"Supreme Thunder Crash!" Lita added, shattering all the youmas like dust to the ground.
* * *
"You don't want to make me angry." Rei bit out under her teeth as she wrestled with a youma.
"You got that for sure." Mina replied, fending off a couple herself.
Rei hit the youma straight in the nose, sending him flying. She turned around; "Who else wants some?" she challenged.
Mina laughed, kicking one defiantly herself; "You don't want to mess with the Sailor Scouts."
One youma lunged at her, sending her sprawling to the floor. "Hey!" she said, getting angry, "That wasn't very nice." She got up, "Well, if you're going to be that way, I don't have a choice."
"Venus Love Chain!" She commanded.
"Mars Firestorm Flash!" Rei added. The youmas were burnt to a crisp.
"Well that was refreshing, wouldn't you say Sailor Mars?" Mina said surveying the damage.
"I thought it was rather fun, Sailor Venus." Rei replied with a grin.
* * *
The youmas looked up at Serena, finding their target.
"I am Sailor Moon!" she declared, "the Champion of Love and Justice! You have come to harm innocent people! Now, in the name of the Moon, I will punish you!" Like a lightning bolt, she flipped nimbly to the ground. Within seconds, youmas were piling on top of her. She swept her arm quickly around her in a circle, sending them all flying away. One youma rushed her, running straight at her, aiming to knock her over. Serena stepped nimbly aside, catching the fool in the stomach with her foot. She jumped up quickly, letting the youmas pass under her. Turning around, she surveyed everyone critically. Finally she spread her palms out quickly. A beautifully crafted scepter appeared in her hand.
"Moon Scepter Activation!" she commanded. She swept the weapon in a wide circle, radiating deadly beams of light in all directions. The youmas cringed away in fear and were destroyed. She smiled satisfied. She turned to leave.
"Sailor Moon!" someone called her. She turned around, surprised. It was Emmy. Emmy smiled quickly running to grasp both of Serena's hands.
"That was great!" Emmy said, her shimmering eyes showed her enthusiasm.
"Uh, thanks." Serena replied awkwardly, "Just doing my job."
"Thank you, Sailor Moon." Another familiar voice added. Darien had joined Emmy now. Darien winked slightly at Serena.
"Your Welcome." She replied warmly, then she turned quickly disappearing as mysteriously as she appeared.
