Have you ever heard of happily ever after? You know where the prince gets the princess and the loyal, handsome Captain of the Guard gets the Lady-in-Waiting?
Life is never a fairy tale, and so far, I have yet to see a happily ever after. How do I know all this crap? 'Cause I am the princess and I did get the prince. But I am waiting for the second half of the story. You know the one where everyone lives happily?
Well I am still waiting for it. Which is why I, the future Queen of the World, Mother to an adorable, if not slightly annoying, Princess, am starring at five sulking men? Five I hear you say? Yes five.
Jason, Nate, Zach, and Keaton all look like they have been bitch slapped. Mamoru just looks sulky because everyone else does. I think they made a club or something out of it. Personally I just want to shove my ice cream into all of there faces, even if Minako has nailed Keat with that trick already, and tell them to suck it up.
"And tell me again why you guys are just sitting her, whining, and not moving off your butts to go and get them?" Usagi demanded in a hot tone.
"Because as of right now they would like to chop us into little pieces of liver and then roast us, then scatter our ashes to the four corners of the world and never think of us again." Jason said simply.
But, as it went, Usagi was not buying it. "Oh suck it up. The Jadeite I knew a long time ago would just laugh and chase her more after every fit Rei threw his way. Keaton, Kunzite never let Minako think of another guy, once he figured out he wanted her. Zach, you're used to chasing shy, what's the big deal? Nate, are you scared of Makoto?" Usagi growled at them. She looked at all the men in front of her and sighed.
"I guess I had better run an ad in the paper for new soul mates for the Senshi." All the men turned back to her and Usagi growled. "The men you four in past where had more balls."
"Now what one second." Zach hissed.
Before he could get off a smart ass comment the communicator Usagi always carried went of. Growling Usagi slammed it open. "What?"
"Usagi," Makoto's voice asked a hint of worry in its tone, "Have you seen Rei or Minako lately?"
"Minako had some modeling meeting this morning, and Rei was supposed to meet Ami for lunch."
"Usagi, I am talking to Ami. Rei missed lunch. She is close to twenty minutes late. They are not answering there communicators." Makoto's tone was clearly worried. The five men sitting around the table were leaning so close to here they almost flipped the table.
"Damn. Do you think something wrong?"
"Ami has been picking up some major power signals from about three blocks to your east. But there is no sign of Mars or Venus. But she says she is picking up there normal signatures. Could you check it out?" Makoto questioned.
"Sure, I have Mamo-chan with me." Usagi thought it best not to mention the fact that she had the Generals as well. But by the glint that entered her friends mind she guessed that it might had registered anyway.
"Be careful. Ami and I are on our way."
Usagi looked up at the determined faces of the Generals in front of her. "Well her we go again."
~*~
Rei struggled to get some type of air into her lungs. Any type would work. She was slowly reaching the black out stage. It felt like her arms and legs were not even part of her body anymore. Hearing something that sounded like painful gasps Rei realized through the fog in her brain that it was her.
Rei felt her eyes roll into the back of her head and her body went limp. Just as the blackness took over her vision she felt the hands let go. Rei dropped like the weak piece of putty she was and even as the air returned to her brain she felt herself lose her slight grasp on consciences.
"Take that, you ugly freak of nature." Minako growled, holding the chair in a bat like way, her arms still tingling from the force she had used to smash it into the guys head and back.
"You'll pay for that, bitch." The green haired, whatever he thought he was, and raised his arms. Minako felt the air stir and rolled just in time to keep from getting brained by a large energy bolt.
"Play by the rules. I don't have magic, you can't use it." Minako taunted. "Or does it take magic to kill a weakling?"
Minako stopped running when she crashed into to something like a rock. Looking into green hair and orange eyes Minako brought the chair into his side and rolled again. Minako winced and knew her shoulder was going to have a large bruise.
"Looks like we have one with some spunk here, don't you think brother?" Orange eyes said to green. Minako felt her heart drop into her stomach at the looks she was getting. Looking around frantically she cursed mentally when she spotted her purse lying next to Rei. Inside it was her communicator. There was no way she could call back up, and Rei was in la la land.
"Shit." Minako said simply as she watched the energy bolts form on there hands. Suddenly a large form was crashing into her and sent her rolling over the wooden chair she still had in her hand. It jarred her left hand something painful, but her body never hit the ground. Minako found herself looking into a pair of dark grey eyes that held only worry. They took her breath away.
Jadeite looked frantically around for Rei and heard a small groan and turned. His face paled visibly when he saw that she was in the middle of cross bolt action between idiots one and two. They were firing at Nephrite and Zoicite as they tried there best to keep there attention off Minako and Kunzite.
Rei opened her eyes painfully and tried to get them to focus. It was like being stuffed into a large cotton ball. Slowly her arms and legs tingled back to life, leaving Rei with the sensation of being taken off ice. Rei rolled to her knees and shoved a dark strand of hair out of her way. Looking around Rei groaned again.
Life was never easy was it?
Rei breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Jupiter and Mercury headed her direction. But the smiled faded when she saw them stop short by some type of beast. It was even uglier than the last one.
It had only one head and its body tapered off into some type of snake like creature with its upper body looking like some type of lion. It looked like they had taken several bodies of creatures and stuck them together.
Rei dragged herself to her feet and walked into an area hidden bye bushes. Raising her transformation wand Rei opened her mouth to call on Mars. Only some type of croak comes out instead. Rei winced as that pulled on her throat muscles and stamped her foot.
There was nothing she could do to help.
Jupiter looked at Mercury and both stumbled back a foot from the pure stench of the thing. It smelled like garbage, only about ten times worse. Like rotten eggs that had been sitting out in the hot sun for a week. Makoto held her hand over her nose and winced.
"This thing had one hell of a stench." Her voice was weak and her eyes watered. "How the hell do we beat it Mercury?"
Mercury was in the process of typing, her nose scrunched up in disgust. Even her calm features look disgusted. "Fire."
Jupiter looked around. "Then where the hell is Mars?"
The thing choose that moment to charge
Nephrite and Zoicite dove behind a couple of trees and winced as they hit. "You know, I am tired of playing cat and mouse." Zoicite snapped.
"I agree. Lets rumbled." Nephrite muttered his tone icy.
Zoicite made a curious motion with his hands and a large staff, not unlike Pluto's, was held in his hands. On the top of it was a curved over edge, almost like a Shepard's staff, but the curve was made out of pure Zoicite. The rest of the staff was made out of some curious crystal.
Nephrite mimicked his motion and in his hand rested a battle ax of huge proportions. The doubled edge blade was as large as his two hands put together. The hilt was as long as one arm. A loop made for carry it attached itself to his hip.
"Let's go." Nephrite hissed. His stony brown eyes were not the least bit happy about the situation.
Zoicite nodded and both stepped out behind the tree. Dumb and dumber had turned to Minako and Kunzite and where ready to fry them to bits.
"Eyes of the Heavens…Rage." Nephrite hissed, swinging the ax and allowing it to push him back a step. A single shot of white hot energy raced into the air, embedding into the Orange haired freaks back. He screamed once and turned, his eyes blood shot.
Zoicite slammed his staff into the ground and the top part began to glow in a pale green color. Almost a misty ice. "Crystal Ice…Embed." Sharp points of green crystal slammed forward. Green hair had been warned by his brothers cry turned in time to dodge and only got nailed in the shoulder. Both men hissed.
"You have not seen the last of us!" They disappeared as quickly as they came. Nephrite and Zoicite slumped from the sheer amount of energy that had been used.
Rei watched Mercury and Jupiter dance around the smelly creature. Her hands were clutching each other so tight they drew blood from little half moon from where her nails had dug in.
Everything was going fine until the thing decided to turn and fire at an unsuspecting Jadeite. The blond dodge quick enough but in the short time he had taken his eyes off the beast, it had decided to charge. Rei watched in horror as the thing threw Jadeite into a tree.
Jupiter watched Jadeite snapped backward and fall limply to the ground. The man pulled himself back up, but he was shaking his head as if he was not completely aware of where he was.
"Jupiter Thunder Dragon…Crash." Jupiter screamed, the attack hitting the beast, causing him to roar with agony. It turned with a furious gaze and charged her instead. The fur that surrounded the monsters body stood strait up from the charge. If it got anywhere near any of them then they would get a nice charge. Shit.
Mercury and her frantically dodged. Again.
Rei felt the fire that she could not release well inside her. She had to transform. She had to. Rei reached for the fire again, this time unknowingly without saying the words, and felt the fire race around her.
Mars dropped down and she glared at the creature that had hurt him. For some unknown, unprocessed reason, the fact that Jadeite had been hurt, the fact that he was lying on the ground recovering his wits, it infuriated her.
Mars placed her hands together and though about the fire bird, mentally calling Fire soul. The fire leapt from her hands and tore in the creatures back. It howled in pain. Mars closed her eyes and allowed her hands to play into the air, as if making a bow and arrow.
Her hands and eyes snapped open and she aimed for the creature's heart. A flick of her wrist and the fire arrow was spinning forward. The creature howled as it was consumed by the flames. Mars allowed her shoulders to relax. Her dark violet eyes starred at Jadeite until he got to his feet. Then she turned and headed to Minako, who was still wrapped in the tall General.
Minako pulled herself from his eyes and looked around. Opps. Look liked the battle was over. Minako turned back to him her face a study of confusion. "Why are you helping me?" Her done was soft but demanding.
Kunzite looked into her light blue eyes and allowed himself to grin on the inside, but not on the outside. This was the Minako he remembered. The happy go lucky, slightly ditzy, but with the core of steel. He was happy to see her soft side instead of her pissed off warrior princess she had been showing lately.
"Because," Kunzite whispered," My heart refuses to allow me to do anything else." Gently he disentangled her and stood up to help Jadeite.
Rei sat down next to her, her face pale and worn. She had de-transformed and now her body was aching like crazy.
"Rei, are you okay?" Minako demanded looking at the already rapidly forming bruises. The girl but a hand to her throat and nodded. Her face looked pained, but besides that she seemed to be doing alright.
Jason ran a hand through his blond hair and watched the other go back to their normal appearances. Zach sat down and watched Ami and Makoto walk over to there friends. All of a sudden Minako shot up, screamed she was late, and took off down the street. It left the other three blinking and then bursting into laughter.
Sailor Moon sat down and in a flurry of ribbons and feathers was Usagi again. "Sorry that we did not help, we were dealing with some type of energy barrier." Her expressing was confused. "Why could all of you deal with it, and we could not?"
Ami began to hammer out on her computer and there was a tense silence for a moment. "I think it had something to do with the golden and silver crystals. They were blocked somehow, so you two, the carriers, could not enter." Ami shrugged. "I need to see it in action to have a better idea of what was going on."
Rei looked at her watched and made a later motion. Jason jumped to his feet and looked at her. "I am walking you home."
Rei opened her mouth but remembered she could not talk, and instead stomped her foot and crossed her arms. Her face and body language said 'go to hell'.
"You are not arguing with me on this one." His voice was firm and cool, and Rei found the fire in his gaze startling. But, being herself, had every intention of being stubborn. Her lips thinned as her eyes narrowed. Both held the 'no way' look.
"I agree with Jason." Usagi said softly, her eyes telling Jason he owed her. "I think its best if he walks you home. There was a reason those things attacked you."
Rei huffed and on a turn of her heel stomped off. Jason winked at Usagi and took off after the furious Senshi.
Ami and Makoto sighed. "You heading home Usagi?"
"Yes. Mamoru can walk me home. What are you two doing?"
Both women eyed the men who had perked up. "Going to eat lunch." They both said, there voices blended together. "Alone." They added as an after thought. Makoto and Ami looked at each other and shrugged.
"Be careful." Usagi called as they walked away. Looking at the sad faces of Nate and Zach she sighed. "And why are you two not following them?"
Both men looked at her then at the retreating back of the two Senshi and took off.
Usagi looked at Keaton who winked and stood up. He began a leisurely path down the street. Taking a right he disappeared into a different place.
Usagi laid her head against Mamoru's shoulder and sighed. "Match making with crazy aliens is rough. Buy me some ice cream?"
~*~
Rei walked up the steps to the temple and rolled her eyes when she heard him come up behind her. He had chatted the entire time, unabashed that she could not answer. Rei was beyond tempted to hit him. She had. Twice.
He, of course, had laughed.
"So this is your temple." Jason commented, his expression easy going. That moment Chad and her grandfather walked onto the front lawn. Rei's expression said she hoped it could not get any worse.
"Rei! It's about time you brought home a man!" Her grandfather said lightly. His eyes where scanning Jason's clean shoulders and smooth muscles. His frame was tall, but not overly. The shirt he wore only hinted at the solid chest and back.
Rei made a crossing motion and violently shook her head. Chad was glaring at the man with every intention of starting a fight. Rei stomped her foot to get their attention.
Grandpa turned to look at his granddaughter, who normally would have yelled a storm about a boyfriend, and he noticed the dark bruises circling her throat. It pained him to see them, but Rei had told him close to a year ago who she was. He had a pretty fair idea of what was going on.
"Chad, go get me some water." Grandpa said firmly. The lad heisted before doing so.
"You're another one of those people aren't you?" Grandpa demanded.
Jason looked at him for a second before nodding. "I am to Mamoru what Rei is to Usagi."
The old man turned at look at the furious expression on Rei's face and the amused one on the blonds. "I am her grandfather. It is about time a man took interest in Rei." Rei made a chocking nose in the back of her throat. "I thank you for watching over her. You may come whenever you like. And whether or not my granddaughter likes it. I like you." Rei chocked again and stomped into the temple. She slid the door behind her with a bang.
"Quite a temper my Rei has. Do you think you can handle it?"
Jason smiled and held out his hand. "I am Jason. And I like being burned."
The old man laughed and smiled. "You came to the right place."
~*~
Ami walked home with dragged steps. She and Makoto had eaten and then had to high tail it out of there in order to loose the double shadows that had been following them. Zach and Nate may have found the whole situation funny, but she sure as hell did not.
Walking in the front door and blinked when she smelled pasta. A smile lit up her collected features when she noticed her mother was home.
Ami walked into the kitchen and smiled at the petite form of her mother looking over a cook book.
"Ami your home." Her mother said smiling.
"I was about to say the same thing to you." Ami admitted.
"A young man called." Her mother said softly. Ami froze looking at her mother in hope. She had never given up hope that Greg would come back.
"He said his name was Zach. He sounded very nice looking." Her mother's eyes sparkled and Ami frowned.
"He is not nice. And he is not nice looking." Ami growled. Her face froze when a certain thought entered her mind. Zachary Green was very nice looking. With his thick slightly curly hair and his sparkling mint eyes, he was what you called a heart breaker.
Her mother caught the look and smiled to herself. She had been right. "I invited him to dinner. He should be here with in the hour." Ami made a chocking noise and her mother listened until she heard her head up the stairs. Bingo.
~*~
Minako walked out of the photo shoot looking like a wet bag. Or as much of a wet bag that she could. She was not looking forward to the long walk back to her apartment. And she had left her cell phone and cash at home. That what she got for running late though.
Just as she began to walk down the street she heard the sound of a car pulling up. Looking over she saw a perfect Mercedes pulled up. The window rolled down and Minako had the urge to scream. One pick up line and she was not going too be held responsible for the actions she took. It was actually Keaton behind the wheel, which was the only thing saving him from being brained.
"You want a lift?" His low tones questioned easily.
Minako weighed the options in her head. Go with the man who looked like the man who had tried to kill her more times than she could count, but who had saved her life twice so far. Or walk on her aching feet.
Minako opened the car door and said in a firm voice. "Go to the next stop light and turn right. We can go from there." And in some odd, far away part, she felt just a touch of peace enter her chaotic heart.
~*~
Makoto groaned as she walked to her front porch and saw him there. What was it with these guys and there tendencies to show up unannounced. Did they want the girls to kick them around?
"What do you want?" Makoto asked in a weary voice. Her tone was hard and her face the same.
"I just wanted to make sure you got home okay." Nate said simply. Makoto watched in awe as he simply stood up and began to walk down the street. Usagi's voice begging them to give them a chance rang through her ears.
"Wait." Makoto said softly. She did not think he heard her, but he stopped and turned. Makoto offered him a weak smile. "You want to come in and get something to drink?"
Nate looked at her hesitant features and smiled. "That would be nice. Thank you." As she unlocked her front door she was left with the question of what had she done?
~*~
Hotaru looked over at the snuggled pair of parent she had always known. It did not matter that she did have a father out there somewhere, these two where the ones that she loved. She did love her dad, and missed him, but somehow she knew that these would die for her.
But at the moment it did not bring her any comfort.
They knew about what was going on with the Inner Senshi, knew what the enemy was, and yet one word from Pluto and they were willing to leave it up to chance. And it broke her heart. The Outers may have been her parents, but the Inners had given her the chance to live.
It was moments like these that she missed Chiba-Usa the most. Hopefully her bunny eared friend was fine somewhere in the future. Maybe one day they could play again, but Hotaru got the sad feeling she would be a adult and Chiba-Usa a baby.
Unless she had somehow died between then and now.
The idea caused Goosebumps to rise on her arms, what threat could be big enough to cause the thousand year sleep and force the hand of her power? What could make her use the glaive to such destruction? She knew if anyone laid a finger on Usagi she would. But that seemed unlikely with the Inners guarding her and now the Generals coming back.
That was the one thing she kept from them all. When she had died she had been given back the memories of before her Silence. Yes she had been locked up but somehow curiously apart of everything. She knew the Inners loved the Generals and vise versa. And knew the path of thorns they now treaded. But the question was always how to help.
Hotaru sighed and laced her fingers together and watched the sun set. These were the times she really missed Chiba-Usa.
~*~
Luna laid her lithe form next to Artemis and sighed a deep, soulful cat sigh. It was the type that only the deepest pain allowed.
"The time is coming, isn't it?" Luna said simply.
Artemis nodded his head and layed his ears down flat. "I wish we did not have to do this. But we can not let what happened a long time ago happen again."
"But how do we tell them? How do we break it to there hearts, there as fragile as it is." Luna whispered.
Artemis nudged her head with his in compassion. "The way we always have. With dreams."