*One*

            Rei walked down the quiet streets of Tokyo as she looked up every so often to admire the changing colors on the trees. Autumn was here and, in a few more days, school would start again. The girl smiled, thinking about how everything had changed so much over the summer. Now, all the Scouts would advance to another grade, Rei was making a lot more progress in the temple, Ami had again been offered a trip abroad, which was, again, refused. Lita had already found herself a new guy who "looked just like her old boyfriend," and Mina was starting up a new acting career this season. Then there was Serena… Rei stopped walking as she pondered about the last girl. Serena had changed, that was for sure, and Rei couldn't tell if it was for the better. Serena was actually being responsible, which, up until a few months ago, was not even part of her vocabulary. She always showed up on time to meetings, was thoughtful but most of the time rather quiet, and always turned her homework in on time with good grades. Rei laughed aloud, remembering how the old Serena couldn't read a real book even if her life depended on it.

            "Hey, Rei!" She turned around to see Ami walking towards her, "Are you heading over to the temple?"

            "Yeah." Rei replied, "The meeting is starting a about five minutes and I was just running some errands for Grandpa."

            "Great." Ami said, catching up with Rei. The two girls continued walking up the street towards the Cherry Blossom Temple. "I've been working on that program for Azure," the girl said, looking at Rei, "But it keeps getting looped and bugged. I don't know what's going on."

            Rei nodded, "Yeah, that's strange. I mean, for the past few months, Azure hasn't attacked us at all. Those troops that she has up in the mountains aren't going anywhere, but I keep getting this feeling that something is wrong."

            Ami nodded, "Have you been able to get a good reading on her?"

            The temple keeper shook her head, "No." She replied, "It's as if I'm missing a piece, a link. The Fire won't tell me anything, and because I can't find the link. I can't get this straight."

            Ami sighed, "I get the same feeling about making this program. I mean, I've never had so much trouble tracking down the enemy before. Every time I think I've gotten somewhere, I end up having to start all over again."

            Rei shrugged, looking up as they arrived at the temple. "Yeah, I'm sure we'll figure it out sooner or later." The two quickly made their way up the stone steps, "I think it's rather pointless to have these meetings every week, I mean, there hasn't been an attack for months."

            "But Luna seems intent on keeping us in shape." Ami reminded her friend, "Besides, it's a good excuse for the five of us to get together."

            "Hey, Ami, Rei!" The two looked up to see Serena walking towards them with Luna, "Where are the others?"

            Rei looked at her watch, "Well, the others aren't here yet. The meeting doesn't start for a few minutes, you're here early Serena."
            The blond shrugged, seating herself on the steps, "That's all right." She looked back up at the other two, "Have you guys been able to get anywhere?"
            They both looked at each other and then shrugged, "No." Rei replied, "We've been stuck."

            "That's strange…" Luna said, jumping up and down the steps, her voice sounding worried.

            "I'm getting tired of all these peacefulness," the three looked up to greet Lita and Mina who had made their way up the stairs, "I want to get some action." The tall girl said, punching her fist into her open palm.

            Mina laughed, "You know, I'm almost tempted to agree with Lita on that one."

            Rei rolled her eyes, annoyed, "Yeah, well until we know what's going on, we aren't going anywhere."

            "I like having this peace," Serena piped up, "It gives more time to catch up with studying and also have some time to get outside and enjoy the weather."
            The four other Scouts stared blankly at Serena. Though they were all used to Serena's new "attitude" they had never expected her to be this productive.

            "Well you're in a good mood today, Serena." Mina commented, "Did you talk with Darien?"
            Serena blinked, raising an eyebrow, "Darien?" She asked, "No, I haven't talked with him for a few days, why?"
            The others continued to stare.

            "What?" The girl asked indignantly, "Just because I'm in a good mood doesn't mean that it has something to do with Darien!"

            There was no response; only the rolling of Rei's eyes as she turned around broke the silence.

            Serena listened as conversation began again. She stared off at the ground. True, she was happy to have heard from Darien, but she didn't know what really was going on anymore. She knew that she was no longer that jumpy, almost constantly hyper, girl that she was a few months ago. Yet, she still didn't feel that she hadn't changed that much. Sure, she did her studies and took schoolwork more seriously. But, she still enjoyed reading comic books and stopping at the arcade once in a while. Seeing Darien on the street still made her heart beat faster, and a tall glass of ice cream sundae still made her ecstatic. She shrugged; she didn't know who she was anymore. She definitely wasn't Serena, at least not the one that used to be known, but she wasn't the Moon Princess either. It was as if she had created a new role, a whole new self, one that no one knew, and, it sometimes felt, that no one wanted to know. Everyone seemed to want her to stay the same, dependably ditzy, girl that they used to know. Sometimes, she would giggle once in a while or trip deliberately just to wipe the strange looks that they now gave her off their faces.

            "So… Serena?" Rei's voice was ringing in her head, "Are you even listening to me?"
            "Huh?" Serena asked, looking up, "Oh, sorry, I didn't hear."

            A smile of pure joy and almost relief spread over Rei's face before she was able to screw it into a scowl, "You're supposed to be paying attention!"

            "We were just talking about Azure and about how we're going to be able to defeat her." Ami filled her in, "I think that if she's not going to attack soon, we need to make the first move. We can't let her just sit their and build her forces, we need to show her that she has to stand and fight."
            "Do you think we should go back to the mountain and try to provoke those troops?" Lita asked.

            Mina quickly shook her head, "No, bad idea. Did you see how many youmas the have up there? If we go back, we're definitely going to end up being Sailor Pancakes!"

            "Well then what do you think we can do?" Serena asked, looking at the others.

            "I don't know, but we've got to make a move soon." Artemis replied.

*          *          *

            The energy was being fed through the crystal that floated between her hands. Azure watched it, feeling the dark energy go through her body and channel into the void before her.

            "I have supplied you with the energy that you have require, great Negaforce." She called, "Now, give me the warriors that you promised!"

            The void shifted, a strong, almost human voice, began to speak, "You have served us well, Azure. You are rewarded. The ShadowCrystals have been arisen and they will serve you well."
            Thank you, great Negaforce." Azure bowed, waiting until the void disappeared before rising. She stood back up, her tone becoming more commanding.

            "Zoisite, Malachite, Jadeite come forth!" She ordered.

            The three drew out of the shadows, standing before their queen. "We serve you, my Queen." Malachite said, bowing.

            "Rubeus, Emerald, I call upon you!" The Queen called again. This time, two more figures appeared.

            "You called, my Queen?" Rubeus asked.

            Azure surveyed each of them critically, her eyes sharp, "All of you have either served Queen Beryl or the Doom Phantom who have taken the rule of the Negaverse before me. Under them, you have all failed, and yet my heart is still kind enough to bring you back to serve me. I trust that because I have done you this favor, you will not fail me as you did my predecessors."

            "We will succeed, my Queen." They announced in unison.

            Azure smiled, "That is good to hear… I have asked the mighty Negaforce to help us. They have been kind enough to provide us with more warriors." She stopped, glancing at them, daring them to speak out. Some of them looked slightly displeased, but no one dared to say anything.

            "I am sure you have all heard of the ShadowCrystal Warriors before." She said the name with a slight grin as she watched the reaction. Some grimaced, others looked surprised. Azure stood, holding up her staff. "ShadowCrystals, I call you forward!" She cried, letting the power flow through her fingertips and crackle into the air. "Hematite!"

            A flash of light resulted a young man appeared. His eyes were an icy blue that seemed to glitter like his hair, which was also a shade of light blue. He wore a black suit that covered his whole body, complete with a flowing black cape. He bowed to Azure before taking his place to the right.

            "Serpentite!" Azure called again, using the Dark Energy to beckon the warrior forward.

            Another flash of light another man appeared. He had hair that was a flash of yellow and his eyes were fiery, glittering with specks of gold embedded in light brown. He also wore an outfit similar to Hematite's. He bowed and then took his place next to his partner, in the center.

            "Celestite!" Azure called the last warrior forward.

            This time, beneath the flash of light, emerged a woman. Her hair was long and flowed easily to the small of her back. It was full, and wavy, but what was perhaps the most strange, was that her hair was silver. It glimmered every time she moved. Her eyes were a shadowy gray color. Her outfit matched those of the other ShadowCrystals, but hers hugged her figure tightly. The cape that flowed from her shoulder seemed almost to cling to her arms whenever she moved, serving more as a train than a cape. She took her place to the left of Serpentite.

            "Your wish is our command, my Queen." The three said at the same time, each bowing low to the ground. Azure watched them, her eyes reflecting pure pleasure.

            "Welcome to my reign, ShadowCrystals." She greeted them. "I trust that you will serve me well. The Negaforce has been rising, and this time, we will triumph." She added turning to the others, "Nothing can, or will, stop us."

            Her workers looked at the each other, some with concern, others with doubt. Finally, Emerald stepped forward. She curtsied, bowing her head in reverence.

            "Forgive me, my Queen," She spoke up, "But it was our understanding that when you revived the defeated warriors of the past leaders, you also revived those that had turned against the Negaverse…" She began to say.

            "If it is Nephlite, Diamond, and Sapphire that you speak of," Azure cut in, "Let me assure you that we will be getting any interference from them. They are alive, mind you, and I certainly hope that they are enjoying the stay at my gracious palace…" She grinned to herself, laughing.

            The others looked at each other uncertainly, but didn't dare speak up.

            "Now," Azure looked them over, "We must begin our attack. We have to be careful, and wary, for the Sailor Scouts are a very tricky bunch. Jadeite, you will return to your post in the South. Rubeus, Malachite, Zoisite, you will also return to your Mountain posts. Make sure that the warriors are ready."

            "Yes, my Queen." They bowed to her before flickering and disappearing, each returning to their assigned post.

            "Emerald," Azure now turned to the last worker, "You have done well so far, you must continue your work. I will call for you when it is your time to reveal yourself."

            Emerald nodded, bowing as well before also disappearing.

            Azure waited until the others were gone before finally turning her attention to the ShadowCrystals. "I want you to supervise them, make sure that they are doing their job properly." She said, "If anyone trips up, you know the consequences."

            The ShadowCrystals watched her with their cool, impassive eyes. They each nodded in turn and dissipated, going their separate ways. The Queen watched with satisfaction, now leaning back in her seat. Everything was going perfectly.

*          *          *

            Frozen in time, never moving, never thinking, never being. The five prisoners lived, suspended in the vacuum. Some had been there for eons, others only for days. But all were doomed, for they were the most highly guarded prisoners in the universe. Diamond paced the span of the room, as he always did. Every so often, he'd look up and watch the others.

            "Diamond," His brother watched him with caring eyes, "Stop pacing so much, we're never going to get out of here."

            The man turned, his icy blue eyes sharp as they found the figure of Sapphire, "Yes we are." He replied, "All we need to do is figure out how to disrupt the vacuum."

            "And how do you plan to do that?" Sapphire asked, shaking his head.

            Diamond shrugged, "We'll figure out something."

            The other three didn't say anything as they just watched the two siblings argue, as they had for the past few months, over their escape plan.

            "Both of you, stop it!" Nephlite spoke up.

            The two both looked at their friend at the same time.

            "If we ever are going to get out of here, we have to be coordinated. If we keep arguing, we won't get anywhere!" Nephlite said.

            "The only way to disrupt the force field is if someone from the outside can trip the switch." Now the girl spoke up. She was young, perhaps not much older than twelve or thirteen. No one knew her name; she never bothered to share any information with them. They all called her Violet, for the color of her eyes. Now she ran an annoyed hand through her silky black hair and stood up. "Me and Ay here have been trying to get out for centuries."

            They three new prisoners looked towards the other man, the one to whom Violet always referred to as "Ay". He was a young man, but in his eyes, he held a haunted look. One that usually is only found in someone who had seen the horrors of the universe. He now stood up; his voice was soft but calm.

            "Violet is right." He said, "I've been here longer than any of you. Eons, millennia," He shrugged, "Time doesn't even matter here anymore. You never age, you never change. You live forever, in this solitude, and hope that one day, you can go crazy, and forget about everything."

            The others shuddered, listening to his calm, passive voice, as he told them of their fate. "That's what they hope. They want you to be so alone, that eventually, you go so crazy that you kill yourself. It's the most horrible punishment, and I've been here long enough to see thousands, millions, of people do exactly just that."

            "How come it never happened to you?" Sapphire asked, watching the prisoner.

            "Because," the man clenched his hand, "I've got a mission, and until I complete it, I will never rest."

            Violet shrugged, "What he says is true." She added, "We've both seen plenty of strong ones, warriors, get thrown in here and never get out. It's sad at the end, to see them rot and fester, and become nothing more than a shadow." She shuddered, "Even after all these centuries, I still can't stand it."

            "Well, it's not going to happen to us." Diamond said, "We have to get out, we have to go and find the Sailor Scouts and tell them what's going on. Princess Serenity will help us, she healed us once, and she'll know what to do."

            "Serenity…" Nephlite said the name with a bit of surprise, "So you've found the Moon Princess? What about the Silver Imperial Crystal…?"

            "The Moon Princess is Sailor Moon," Sapphire cut in, "Didn't you know that? Sailor Moon yields the power of the Silver Crystal…"

            Ay, who had been listening to the conversation the whole time, suddenly stood up, eyeing the three strangers, "Princess Serenity…" He said, "You know the Moon Princess?"

            Diamond watched the strange man, "Yes…" He finally said, "We once fought against her, but she healed us. She is the only one that stands between the Negaforce and the Universe."

            Ay sighed, rubbing his temples, "Serenity…" He repeated the name, "It couldn't be the same one…" he shook his head, "No matter, we need to contact her somehow…"

            "And warn her about this new leader…" Sapphire agreed, "What was her name? Did anyone catch it before she threw us in here?"

            The others shook their head, "It doesn't matter. Serenity will know, the only problem is, how can we contact her?"