I do not own Sailor Moon. CastellaStar owns any characters that Naoko Takeuchi does not.

Chapter 12

It was growing dark as night crept upon Crystal Tokyo. Normally, the streets would have been busy, filled with cars on their way home from work and other activities. Sidewalks would normally have been filled with people, perhaps out for a walk, or maybe getting some last-minute shopping done. Where theaters would have been filled with happy couples, they were empty. Nobody was in the city. Nobody had been there since the afternoon before. The people were all hiding in the shelters near the castle, all in fear of their lives.

King Endymion was sitting near one of the shelter doors, cradling his arm, now wrapped in a sling. Even Kings could bleed..an explosion, one of many, had gone off, and he had obtained a fracture in his wrist. He was fortunate to be alive, unlike the many who weren't. For him, the wound would heal quickly, probably before he fell asleep, but it was no less painful. Times like this made Endymion thankful for his healing powers.

Yet, even then, he could not heal death. So many people were dead. Thousands of people. There was more than enough room for the people in the shelters, but not always enough time. People were beginning to fall asleep. There was not much else that COULD be done. Eat, sleep, and wait until it was safe to come out. The occasional wail of a baby or the panicked sobbing of a person would break the uncomfortable silence. It was much quieter now than it had been yesterday though.

Thousands of people screaming, as they rushed into the shelters, and the cries of pain from the wounded had filled the air. The echoes of it throbbed in Endymion's head, only making for a worse headache. He was very tired, having used most of his strength to heal the people.

Yet, it was strange. Some people began to receive odd markings that would grow quickly. While most with the markings died, or went into a coma, others began to go insane or became strangely distant. Endymion glanced at one of the victims who was sitting in a corner, ropes wrapped tightly around him. The victim was staring at him, a wild look in his eyes. Upon Endymion's glance, the man began to laugh strangely, struggling against the ropes. A person nearby kicked him roughly and he fell silent.

That particular victim had become violent and began lashing out at anything nearby. Anyone who received a cut from him began to get the same black splotches that covered his arms and legs. It was like a plague, in a sense. Whatever the enemy had done, it was working.

Endymion shook his head slightly, coming out of his daze, as two figures approached. They were in black cloaks, which shrouded their faces. He couldn't see who they were, until they pulled down the hoods of their cloaks.

Two young women, almost identical, slowly sat down next to him. They both had long blonde hair, streaked with different colors. One of the girls, with cerulean eyes, had her blue-streaked, golden hair wrapped into a long braid. The other, with emerald green eyes, had allowed her green-streaked, golden hair hang loose, except for a green headband. They were obviously sisters.

"Are you hurt?" asked Endymion, slowly sitting up.

"No, silly," giggled the one with braided hair. "YOU are."

The other girl reached down and gently touched his wrist. "A fractured wrist is easy to heal," she said, her tone much more sincere. "This won't hurt."

Endymion gasped as a green glow emitted from the girl's hand and enveloped his arm. Cold chills ran up and down his spine, but it was soon over.

"Try moving your wrist now," said the girl who had healed him.

Gently, Endymion moved his wrist. It was as good as new. There was no pain at all. It was as though nothing had ever happened. Looking up, he stated, "You are sailor senshi."

"Yup!" laughed the girl who had watched her sister heal him. "Good guess!"

"Your names?" he asked.

"Aya!" giggled the braided-haired one.

"I am Yue," replied her sister.

"Well Aya.and Yue.thank you," he said, sitting up straighter now. "Now, I know many sailor senshi, but I don't believe I've seen you two before."

"We're not from here," replied Yue.

"Then where are you from?"

"Oh, from around, ya know," laughed Aya. "Hither and thither; round and about sort of thing."

Yue waited for her sister to finish chattering. Then, she spoke up. "We are strangers to this world and time."

"Yes," agreed Endymion, nodding knowingly. "I sense that you are from the future."

"Your intuitions are as sharp ass the history books say."

"Wow, you're so smart! How'd you guess?" rambled Aya.

Quickly and quietly, Yue hit Aya on the back of her head with her hand. It wouldn't have been noticed, except for when Aya turned to Yue. "Hey! That hurt! What'd you do that far? You could really hurt someone if you're not careful!"

A sweat drop formed on Yue's head as she sighed exasperatedly. "Will you ever learn?" she mumbled.

"Learn what, Yue?"

A sweat drop formed on Endymion's head as he listened to Aya begging Yue to tell her what she needed to learn. He smiled slightly, almost sadly, because it reminded him of his wife and child. Just as Aya began giving Yue puppy dog eyes, the sound of a loud explosion filled the air.

The cries of shock from all of the people followed, and the ground shook from the effects of the explosion. Bits of dust and rock showered everyone. The cry of a baby filled the air, along with the worried chatter of the people.

Endymion leapt up, but had to balance himself from the shaking ground. "Is everyone all right?" he called out. "Is anyone hurt?" There was no wail of pain or cry for help, she he started to leave for the other shelters.

"Wait, my King!" cried Aya, grabbing Endymion's arm. "It is not safe."

Yue was standing as well, looking towards the entrance of the shelter. That was where the explosion had originated. "Aya," whispered Yue, in a tense voice. "They're here."

Aya looked at Yue and then up at Endymion. "Well," she said, breaking into a smile, "I believe it would be best if you stayed here. Me and Yue can handle this!"

"Yes," agreed Yue. "Plus, we have a score to settle anyways."

Endymion looked from Yue to Aya and then back again. Nodding, he said, "I will respect your decision. But realize, that if the danger grows too much, I will have to stand up as well."

Yue nodded, as well as Aya, if not a bit reluctantly.

"Very well," said Yue.

Another explosion shook the ground. More dust and pieces of rock fell from the ceiling. Cries started up from the panicked people, but they fell silent as a cackle filled the air.

"A shadow cannot live without its body!" laughed the sinister voice.

"The shadow is ever-longing for its master!" continued a second voice.

"The master which it will overtake and use for its own dark purposes!" said the first voice.

"Shadow forever follows the light! Light is never without darkness!" said the second voice.

"Now it is time for the light to return to its new master of darkness!" the two voiced echoed simultaneously.

An eerie silence had filled the shelters as the two voices spoke their strange words. A choked sob filled the air, and it was soon followed by even more intensely panicked cries of the people.

"They know we are here," muttered Yue.

"It is time," agreed Aya.

The two cloaked figures of Aya and Yue moved towards the entrance. They opened the door and slipped away into the darkness that had sullen over a sullen world. Endymion watched as the two disappeared without a backward glance, left in the dark as to what they had said.

"They know we are here," he murmured, contemplating the words Yue had said.