*Six*
"O weary night, O long and tedious night, Abate thy hours!"--A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
Another uneventful day had passed by already. Serena realized as she saw the waning light get swallowed by the trees. The beginning of the day had been rather quiet. However, inevitably, later on Darien and Emmy got to talking again. Serena had shut out their conversation and just concentrated at the task at hand. They had stopped for a short time to dismount and have some lunch. Rini had fallen asleep in the afternoon, so Serena had to keep the little girl from falling from the saddle. Along the way, her scanning device had picked up many odd signals. She decided she would check them out after she had finished with her dinner. Rini, not being accustomed to waking so early was already falling asleep again by eight. After they had eaten, Serena tucked the child into bed, letting her sleep. She looked at her watch for a moment, deciding that she'd have just enough time to check out those signals. It was almost nine, she was hoping not to go past midnight so that she'd get at least four hours of sleep. She waited for a couple minutes, watching as Emmy and Darien talked next to the fire, like they did the night before. Finally, sure that they weren't paying attention to her she slipped silently into the trees again. She sat down behind a trunk flipping through the data she had gathered during the day. Normally, she was bad at studying and recording, but now it seemed so much easier when she didn't have much to do. She walked out of hearing distance and took out her locket.
"Moon Crystal Power!" she commanded. Soon, she had transformed into Sailor Moon. She crept stealthily around the forest, trying to find the places she had visited during the day. The night was silent, all except for the constant chirping of the owl. Serena could hear the twigs cracking beneath her feet while she walked. After about a half an hour, she finally figured out a more silent approach to things, moving noiselessly through the night. Suddenly, she realized that she had forgotten her scanner. She sighed, cursing her memory and turned back to fetch the small device. When she had reached the campsite again, it was nearing ten thirty and the fire had been put out. Everything was quiet. Serena walked noiselessly to her bag and began to go through here things trying to find what she was looking for.
"Serena?" someone said quietly behind her. She jumped with fright turning around quickly. The night was dark and it was hard to see. As if reading her thoughts, the moon shone a little bright.
"Darien!" she exclaimed. She was confused, why did he always try to find and follow her? "What are you doing up?"
"I was looking for you." He replied, "You didn't come back again. I didn't want you to spend the night alone outside again."
"Oh." Serena replied. How thoughtful of him, she thought to herself.
"What are you doing anyway?" he asked, curious.
Suddenly, Serena realized that though the moonlight made things quiet visible to her, it was still dim and dark for him. She stepped a little closer, out of the shadows and into the stream of silvery light. He finally saw her Sailor Moon uniform.
"I'm checking some things out," she replied, "I noticed some suspicious readings today, while we were riding. I'm going to see what's going on."
"Oh." He replied, "all right."
"Why don't you go back to sleep?" she asked, "I'll be back in a couple of hours."
"All right," he said, "Be careful."
Serena nodded, "I will."
* * *
The encampment was rather small. The tents were made of a tough canvas unavailable to Earth. There were guards posted all around the encampment, not to mention an invisible wall of electricity. Some of the small fires were still going, burning in the darkness. Serena watched; most of the camp was asleep save for the night guards. She stood in the shadows of the trees. Her heart was pounding with fear, yet she knew she couldn't turn back. Suddenly a rough hand grabbed her shoulder, turning her around to face the opponent.
"Well, well, well," the man snickered, "Look what we've got here!"
Serena looked around; there was a whole patrol of youmas surrounding her.
"Sailor Moon," the man snickered, "It's nice to see you again."
She looked more carefully at the face, seeing a shock of blond hair and crystal clear blue eyes, "Jadeite!" she exclaimed.
"Nice to know you still recognize me." The man replied.
"You're dead!" she said unbelieving.
"Or am I?" He replied. He had his rough hands on her wrist now. He dug his fingernails into it.
"Ouch!" Serena exclaimed, trying to pull back.
"Does that hurt?" he replied evilly, "I do hope that it does."
She kicked out with a foot, catching the man in the stomach. His grasp loosened and Serena pulled back her hand quickly. Her wrist hurt, but she couldn't think about that right at the moment.
"Get her!" Jadeite commanded.
Suddenly, there were youmas all over her. She screamed out once, before she was smothered with people. She tried to fight back as well as she could, but she wasn't very tensile.
There was a whizzing noise next to her and something shot into the crowd, hitting the ground. Serena looked down; a single bright red rose was stuck into the ground. She looked up quickly, trying to find her savior. Before she could call out, she was smothered again with youmas.
"Stop it right there!" a commanding voice declared. Serena looked up again, finally seeing the figure of a man standing over them on a tree. He had a long swaying black cape. He wore a top hat, and a pristine, black, tuxedo. Over his eyes, was a small white mask.
"Tuxedo Mask!" she cried out.
The man swung his long black stick at the youmas, throwing it like a boomerang. It zipped past her, knocking down everyone around her. Serena kicked them away, jumping clear quickly. Tuxedo Mask nimbly jumped down, landing neatly next to her.
"You followed me!" she accused him, hitting a youma on the head.
"I couldn't very well let you go alone." He replied with a small smile.
"How long have you been hiding up there?" she asked, now drawing her weapon.
"For a couple of minutes." He replied, taking back his as well.
Serena turned to find her opponent.
"Jadeite!" she called out. The young man looked over at her, his blue eyes calculating her move.
"Maybe you'll remember this!" she yelled. Again, she reached up for her tiara. "Moon Tiara Stardust!" she yelled. She launched the now deadly golden weapon at Jadeite. Radiating beams of light, it seemed to vaporize the youmas that it encountered.
"This isn't over, Sailor Moon!" Jadeite yelled behind him as he fled.
"We'll see." She replied rather pointedly. Soon they had disappeared. She sighed, rather satisfied. Taking off one of her pristinely clean, white gloves, she examined her wrist. There were large black bruises all around her small wrist. There were some places where the skin had been broken. She rotated it slowly. It hurt, but she could still use it.
"You're hurt." Darien noticed. He had taken off his white mask, to reveal his crystal clear blue eyes.
"I'm fine." She replied, "Jadeite just left me a little present that's all." She slipped the glove back on and looked at her watch.
"I think we've had enough excitement tonight," Darien decided, seeing the time as well, "Let's go back."
Serena agreed with a tired yawn. They headed back towards the camp. Sailor Moon jumped up into the air, soaring into the sky. Tuxedo Mask followed shortly.
"This form of travel is so much faster, don't you think?" Serena commented as they arrived back to the camp in a matter of seconds.
"Don't overuse it." He cautioned.
"I know, I know." She replied, quickly returning to her original form. She yawned again, "Good night." She said already walking towards the tent.
"Good night, Serena." Darien replied, as soon as they arrived inside.
* * *
Mina watched nervously as she hid in the trees. She looked over her shoulder towards where Rei was hiding behind another tree. She lifted an eyebrow in anticipation. Rei shook her head. Mina sighed; she motioned silently towards a small clearing farther away. The two crept silently towards that place.
"This is an extremely large encampment." Mina said nervously, "We can't take them on alone."
"Should we contact the others?" Rei asked, looking back over her shoulder for any sign of ambush, "Even with five, we'd have a pretty hard time defeating hundreds of youmas. Azure has a complete army up here!"
"I don't think we have a choice." Mina replied, sighing, "Let's hope that they can get here in time."
"I don't like this." Rei decided. She wrenched her hands anxiously "It'll be only a matter of minutes before those patrols get here and find us."
"I know, I know." Mina replied, "But it's not like the others can get here that quickly!"
Rei sighed, "Well, let's just hope that they can arrive before we turn into Sailor Burgers."
"That was a great thought," Mina commented sarcastically. She keyed her communicator on.
* * *
"It's awfully quiet around here." Ami commented nervously.
"Too quite." Lita agreed. She rode apprehensively, something about the air wasn't right. The horses could feel it; they trotted tensely.
"Something's not right." Ami shuddered.
"This is really creeping me out!" Lita said frustratingly. Suddenly, their communicator beeped. They started, frightened at first. Finally, Ami keyed her channel open.
"Mercury here." She reported.
"Ami, Lita," it was Mina, "You have to get here fast!"
"What's going on?" Lita asked anxiously.
"We've found the bulk of Azure's army." Rei's voice replied, "There are hundreds and hundreds of soldiers. Get here quickly."
"Where is your location?" Ami asked, "check your compass. We need a bearing."
"Um," there was a silence on the other end, and then Mina replied, "We're about five miles eighty degrees southwest of the Great Lake."
"Right," Ami replied already tracing out their location on her map, "We'll be there as soon as possible!"
"Come quickly!" Rei sounded exasperated.
"Contact Serena and Darien," Lita suggested, "We'll be there soon."
"Right, Venus out." Mina replied.
* * *
It was mid-afternoon already. The four people had stopped for a small rest before they continued their journey. Serena sat quietly under the cool shade of a large oak tree, nibbling slowly at an apple. Not far from where she sat, was the stream still winding it's way north. The golden rays of the sun shone brightly onto the clear waters. The stream sparkled and shimmered like flowing rivulet of glitter. A slight, summer breeze blew coolly through the forest. It brushed the grass beneath her feet, making them bow slightly at the heads. It caressed Serena's cheek lightly, and seemed to whisper in her ear. Like a chorus of whispering voices, they seemed to carry a message in their midst.
"Hail, Serena, the Moon Princess Serenity, future Neo-Queen Serenity. All hail, Sailor Moon!" it seemed to whisper as it blew through the winds. Serena started at these words, she looked up, trying to identify the source of the greeting. She looked over at Darien, who had been sitting, talking with Emmy. He, too, had his face lifted towards the sky in wonder. He looked over at her, one eyebrow cocked up. She shrugged and then returned to munching on her apple. Suddenly, the communication device sounded. She got up quickly, rounding to the other side of the tree trunk where Emmy and Darien couldn't see her. She quickly turned it on.
"Sailor Moon here." She said quietly.
"Serena?" the voice held a note of panic to it.
"Mina?" Serena asked, "What's going on?"
There was an explosion in the background, "Serena, get here quickly. We're being attacked by Azure's army!"
"What?"
"We need your help now!" this time it was Rei, "The Negaforce is strong, we need you!"
"Where are you?" Serena asked.
"Mina said we're five miles eighty degrees southwest of the Great Lake." Rei replied; there was another explosion and then screams.
"I'll be there as soon as possible!" Serena replied, "But I've got a minor complication."
"What?" Mina asked, this time.
"We ran into Emmy, Darien's new girlfriend. She's been travelling with us." Serena replied helplessly, "How will I explain my disappearance?"
"Don't." Rei replied shortly, "I'm sure Darien and Rini will be able to make something up."
"Come on Serena!" Mina urged, "Lita and Ami are on their way, but we need you. We need Sailor Moon!"
"I know," Serena replied, already forming an idea in her mind, "I'll be there soon. Hang on guys!"
"We're counting on you, Sailor Moon." Rei finally said, "Mars out."
Serena sighed; she peered around the tree. The others didn't seem to have noticed that she had disappeared. She took out her locket.
"Moon Crystal Power!" she declared. She felt the familiar breezing feeling as the transformation began. She was lifted into the air. She closed her eyes, letting the locket do it's work. She felt the magic waves wrap around her body, forming the white leotard under her uniform. She lifted her hands up, feeling the white, long elbow length gloves appear on her arms. Suspended in midair, the magic wrapped around her legs, covering them with strong red, knee high boots. Her forehead shimmered, and a golden banded tiara appeared over her pale crescent moon mark. The shock went through her head, up to the very tips of her hair. Two, ruby red circlets appeared embellishing her hair. Along with them appeared dangling golden crescent earrings and a red banded choker with another matching crescent moon on it. Finally, she opened her eyes. A bright blue skirt appeared around her waist and then two large red ribbons, one on her chest and another at the small of her back. Finally, the transformation was complete. She landed lightly on the ground. She put one hand up to her forehead and another against her hip, landing in her final pose.
Without a sound, she leapt like a cat into the clear blue sky. Her natural instinct directed her towards the fight. She flew off quickly, her feet touching nothing but clouds.
