Sailor Moon: Ghosts of the Past

by Perentie Fan

Frozen by a magic spell of procrastination and laziness for a thousands years (or so it may have seemed) I have awakened and now completed this, my first fanfiction series! Read and enjoy.

3. Uranus's folly: pride's price

Sailor Moon

Ghosts of the past

A fanfiction by Jonathan Schmidt

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon so don't sue me. There I said it J

This series is based almost entirely on the dub which, despite its shortcomings, I prefer to the original. Judge the story by how well made you think it is not by whether I include those questionable aspects of the original. Try to regard it as a different reality and dimension. It takes place a few months after the end of the Stars season. Any question/comments? Email me at ashmidt@flash.net enjoy.

Text in italics are thoughts.

Text in Triangular Brackets is psychic or telepathic communication.

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Episode three: Uranus's Folly! Prides Price

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*Scene is Jedite's floating base. We then move to an inner chamber filled with familiar looking test tubes. As Mimet, in a lab coat, attempts to bring one of many Daimon eggs to life (she looks distinctly out of her element) Jedite enters. *

"How are we progressing?" Jedite asked impatiently.

"It's not as easy as it looks," Mimet shot back, "you're just lucky that I remembered enough of the process to recreate the Daimon eggs."

"Well I invested quite a bit in obtaining the necessary materials for your experiments so I believe I am entitled to a progress report," Jedite, quite irritated, replied. "Think logically Mimet with an army consisting of the best aspects of your Daimons and my Youma we will stand a much greater chance of overwhelming the scouts and finally ridding ourselves of them."

"As long as we're thinking logically why don't we just shoot or poison them while they're in their human forms?" Mimet asked contemptuously, "surely that would be easier then going through all this."

Jedite glared at her. "Idiot, don't you think that if that would work it would have been tried long ago? Even in their human forms the scout's powers still protect them. When it comes to scratches and other minor injuries they are just as susceptible as any other human is. The same goes for minor ailments like colds but no manmade weapon like a gun or any poison would have the slightest chance of killing them. Only powers such as ours can truly do the job."

Mimet sighed, "It would be much easier making your little army if the ability to merge with objects was withheld. That alone makes them take twice as long and uses up more then twice the energy. If they simply hatch from their eggs they won't be as powerful but we will be able to produce them on mass."

Jedite seemed to consider this for a moment, "very well, use that method and continue until we have enough to launch a full scale attack," he then turned and began to walk away, "in the mean time I will thin the scouts ranks." He vanished from the room.

Jedite sat in his throne looking into what was once Beryl's crystal ball. From above and behind him the Negaforce spoke, "well Jedite, which of the scouts will you target?"

"Sailor Uranus," he said with a smile as he watched Amara go about some of her daily activities through the crystal. "The rift she has made between herself and the other scouts makes her the most vulnerable of all of them. She doesn't communicate with them and avoids any other form of contact whenever possible. I couldn't ask for an easier target."

"Then stand before me and receive your next infusion of Nega power, I warn you however that it will be painful."

"I fear no pain," Jedite replied emotionlessly as he remembered the torture Beryl sometimes performed on him for failing. Still Jedite's screams could be heard echoing throughout the base as the Negaforce fired the intense beam of black energy into him.

Mimet startled by the pain filled yells, knocked over a beaker of liquid sending it crashing to the ground and breaking apart. She growled in frustration. "How does he expect me to work with all that racket?!"

Jedite slowly stood up as his whole body flashed and crackled with new power. He turned to a large pile of body parts from his former comrades and began to shape it like clay. "This creature will be perfect for the required task."

Soon a new Youma knelt before him. It wore a long cloak with the hood draped over its face and dark, armored clothing that still allowed for easy movement. Its voice was sinister and recognizably male. "What is your bidding Lord Jedite?"

"Go and eliminate Sailor Uranus, you know where to find her now go." The creature raised its head so its face could be seen (it looks a lot like Ryoko did when Tenchi found her as a mummy and it has long messy pale hair,) then vanished. Jedite stared at the area where he had disappeared and spoke to himself with resolve, "if my Bountyhunter is unable to complete this task I will…"

Hotaru sat on her bed staring at the ceiling as she collected her thoughts. It had actually been one of her father's better days; he had felt well enough to take her to the park like they had wanted to for some time. However it didn't last long as he was soon overcome with a terrible headache and Hotaru convinced him that they should head home. Now he lay on a couch downstairs, his kind intelligent eyes lifeless. In this state there was no point in being around him as he would rarely respond to any form of conversation or contact she might initiate. She remembered happier times during her previous childhood, before Mistress 9 and Germatoid had come and torn everything apart. How she had hoped to return to those happy days and in a way she had but her fathers instability, continual nightmares and painful headaches weighed heavily on her.

She sighed forlornly and pulled a picture out from under her pillow. It had been taken after the final battle against Galaxia and featured her and the other Outer Scouts shortly before they had left. She pulled out another picture, which featured the Inner Scouts, Sailor Moon and Mini Moon. She touched them as her eyes glowed and her hair blew about hauntingly. A tear fell onto the picture. Using her powers she melded the two shots into one picture. They all looked so happy, if only things were really this way.

Two thin streams of tears slid down her cheeks as she leaned her face over the picture "I want us to be like this in the future, please Amara with my father like this I need all of you more then ever."

Amara strode aimlessly down the street in deep thought. Images of her last conversation with Michelle flashed through her mind. She sighed deeply then looked up in shock to see Mina, Lita, Raye and Amy coming toward her too engrossed in their own conversations to have noticed her yet. She searched for an escape route but it was too late. "Amara," Mina gasped. They both stared at each other for some time, until finally Amara simply walked past them.

Amy called after her, "wait a second. Don't you want to know how Michelle is? She's been staying at Raye's and is at the pool today if you wanted to go see her."

Amara stopped for a moment but then continued on without a word. The others looked on sadly, not sure what to do, when Serena came running up to them.

"Hey guys was that Amara?" she asked out of breath.

"Yeah but don't even think of going after her," Lita cautioned, "I don't think she's in a talking mood."

"We all want her to swallow her pride and join us but it may just not be meant to be," Mina said sadly as Serena hung her head.

Serena continued to stare in the direction Amara had went, "guys… you keep shopping. I'll think I'll start heading home." Before they could reply she had already started walking away.

"Something tells me she's going to try something foolish," Raye surmised.

"Should we go after her?" Lita asked.

"I don't think so," Mina decided, "I mean what's the worst that could happen? Who knows, maybe she'll actually be able to get through to her."

"I wouldn't be surprised, if anyone can do it she can," Lita said smiling proudly.

As Amara walked high above her a dark shape could be seen leaping from rooftop to rooftop as it followed her.

Far ahead of Serena Amara continued to walk, her mind flooded with memories of her past meetings and experiences with the scouts both good and bad. Her face softened for a moment then stiffened up again. She went into an alley and hit her fist against the wall in frustration. "Why can't they understand?! It just can't work… no matter how much we may want it too…" She then looked up in annoyance, "I know you're following me. You may as well come out so we can get this over with."

The dark shape shot down and the figure leaped from one vertical wall of the alley to the other before landing in a crouching position. It rose up and removed its cloak allowing it to float to the ground next to him.

"I assume Jedite sent you," Amara said calmly. "Mind telling me who you are? I like to know the names of my opponents before I defeat them."

"My name is Bountyhunter and I have come to collect you or at least parts of you," it said menacingly.

Amara smiled mockingly, "really? You see that doesn't really work for me. But if you want to play I'll be glad to oblige." She raised her transformation pen.

"Uranus Crystal Power!"

Bountyhunter immediately attacked, firing two metallic tentacles from its wrist, which tore the concrete up as Uranus dodged. Leaping off a wall she dove forward, her left fist raised. It blocked her punch with one hand and did the same with the other as Uranus struck with her right. He then threw her aside, Uranus managing to flip upright and skid to a stop. She narrowed her eyes; "I'm going to have to go all out on this guy."

Darien strode down the street; still thinking about why on Earth Serena would call off their date. It had to be something important, he knew that much but she hadn't really told him anything on the phone except that something had come up and she wouldn't be able to make it. He didn't sense that she was in danger but was worried all the same. It was then that a figure in a nearby restaurant caught his eye. Michelle sat in a seat next to the window looking absolutely miserable. After checking around to make sure Serena wasn't anywhere in sight (she had gotten better about it but could still sometimes be insanely jealous) he headed over to the restaurant to see if he could be of any help.

Michelle was stirring her drink absentmindedly when a tall shadow came over her. She looked up and gave a fake smile to Darien.

"This seat taken?" He asked in a non-nosy manner.

"No but I doubt I'm going to be very good company right now," she replied with a sigh.

"Want to talk about it?" Darien asked as he sat down across from her.

Michelle sighed again, she had already talked this over with Serena the night before when she had slept over at her house but she may as well again. It felt good to get things out and Darien was always easy to talk to. "We've had fights before but nothing like this. I haven't heard a thing from her in a week, I even tried calling her a few days ago but she wouldn't answer. I can't remember the last time we were apart this long…" she took a moment to gather her thoughts. "Ever since my parents died she's been there for me and me for her, like a sister but even closer then that. She was what kept me going when I thought it would be better to just end it all. I have the rest of the scouts and you now but no one can replace her. I… I just don't know how long I can stand this…" she closed her hands around her face near tears. "I know… that what I did was right but I thought for sure that Amara would of come to her sense's by now… but then admitting she's wrong and apologizing have never been her strong points." She looked up at him, "has anyone ever told you you're a great listener?"

Darien smiled. "I have to be with Serena." This brought a slight giggle from the aqua haired woman, which pleased him greatly. It was always nice to help out the scouts outside of battle: he then turned serious. "Why do you think Amara refuses to work closely with the other scouts?"

"Amara has always had trouble trusting people," Michelle replied, "she also seems to think that it's impossible for the Inner and Outer scouts to work together the way Serena wants them to. She thinks it will just cause everyone a lot of pain, it doesn't even have to do with differences in power anymore. My memories are just as clouded as yours if not more but from what I do remember and from what Pluto told me it seems we always have worked separately from the other scouts. Even so that doesn't mean that working closer with the scouts now is impossible does it?"

"I don't think so. If we are to judge from our past battles we've always been strongest when we've worked together and some of the times I've seen Serena happiest is when she's been able to spend time with you and the other Outer Scouts. I once thought too that it may be best for us not to work together but since then I've seen how right Serena was right from the very beginning and I'm sure Amara will realize it too eventually."

Michelle smiled, genuinely comforted by Darien's words. She then stared out into space, "I just hope it's soon…"

*Uranus and Neptune's battle music plays*

Uranus's sword seemed to cut through the very air as she swung and slashed it at the creature at a speed beyond anything a normal human could hope for. Bountyhunter was extremely agile however and he continually dodged the strikes, Uranus driving her sword through the brick walls and stone floor as if they were butter. He held out his hands and from both wrists extended a long dagger-like blade. He immediately began to parry Uranus's assault: energy flashing from the point of contact as they ran past each other. Eventually he pushed her into a wall. Pinning her sword with one blade he struck with the other missing her head by inches (the blade struck through the wall) as she dropped down out of the way then punched him in the stomach. He ran at her again and after parrying one strike from her blade with his own struck forward with the other. Uranus moved her face aside but not quite fast enough this time as the blade cut a shallow swath into her cheek. Shrugging off the wound she spin-kicked him a good five feet away. The two then stood facing each other and breathing heavily.

Uranus felt the wound and then looked at the blood on her hand. Glaring angrily at the creature she struck forward again. However this time Bountyhunter leaped high above her and threw four dark spheres, which broke apart into Bolas like objects and wrapped around her wrists and ankles. Drawn to the ground as though by a magnet the objects forced her to fall backward where one end of each sunk into the concrete. The chains linking the two orbs of each retracting so their was no space in-between them thus pinning her flat on her back unable to move and her sword lying several feet from her. Bountyhunter landed gracefully and his cloak reformed around him as he walked forward to finish the job. Completely silent he raised one wrist blade high as it began to glow with dark energy. As he swung down at her neck Uranus glared defiantly at him and with one huge surge of strength pulled her right arm up along with the chain, rolling aside just enough so that his blade cut through the chain (which then disintegrated) instead of her neck.

Holding her now free hand out in front of his face she began to draw energy into it.

"World…"

He tried to step back but the energy of the forming attack being so close by had almost paralyzed him so that he moved very slowly.

"Shaking!"

The orb struck him in the chest at close range and he rocketed back into the far end of the alley yelling in rage and pain as he hit the dead-end and disappeared in an explosion of light, stone and dust. Uranus flicked her hand, summoning the sword to her and quickly cut herself free. However when she ran to where he should have been lying she only found some torn cloth. Holding it she sighed in frustration, "he got away."

Serena breathed a sigh of relief from the alley's opening. She had arrived just as Bountyhunter was about to deliver the final blow. Before she could transform though Uranus had beaten him. She seemed okay aside from the cut but she still vowed to visit her apartment first thing in the morning just in case that creature tried to attack her again. Having gotten better at not being noticed she beat a hasty retreat before Amara could even realize she was there.

Amara didn't sleep well at all that night. She tossed and turned as memories of her recent conversations with Sailor Moon and Michelle assaulted her dreams. Suddenly Bountyhunter's blade struck through her sheets to her neck where she was sleeping. She let out a hard gasp as he impaled her.

Amara woke up with a gasp and sweating profusely despite the breeze coming through her open window. She touched the cut on her cheek and grimaced. Like any other wound on a Sailor Soldier it was healing fast but still stung thanks to the dark energy the blade had been covered in. She sighed, "there's no point in taking chances."

It was very early in the morning, the first of the suns rays only just beginning to show themselves on the horizon. Bountyhunter appeared in Amara's room without a sound and walked toward her bed. In one quick motion a blade extended from his wrist and he stabbed it into the covers, only to find nothing there but some pillows. He widened his eyes realizing he had been tricked and turned around just in time to see a World Shaking attack shoot through the open windows.

His hands glowed as he caught then threw the orb back out the window in a lightning quick motion. Uranus had shot the orb from the parking lot outside and quickly dodged as it came back at her and created a reasonably sized crater.

He leaped through the window throwing several energy balls from his hands in mid-air, which rained down on Uranus. She managed to dodge them all and stood ready as Bountyhunter landed in front of her in a crouch. He slowly raised himself up and smiled, the skin around his desiccated mouth twisting up and revealing even more of his sharp fangs as his blood red eyes bored into hers through their caved-in sockets. As if the attack he had just made never happened he commented on her trap. "Very clever wind warrior but what will you do now?"

"This," Uranus said simply as she rushed forward and attacked fiercely. Bountyhunter responded with just as much fervor as the two punched, kicked, flipped, blocked and dodged all over the parking lot. As he extended the metallic cables from his left wrist Uranus responded with her Talisman Sword and sliced right through them as she ran forward. The tentacles had only been a diversion however and before she could move to strike again Bountyhunter extended a blade from his right wrist and rushed forward cutting her deeply in the side as she tried to move out of the way.

Uranus's body spun about from the force of the blow and she landed on her hands and knee's as Bountyhunter turned around slowly chuckling in amusement and charged up to finish the job. Uranus breathed heavily and glared at the creature, there was no choice but to run now. Just as he was about to reach her she slammed a World Shaking attack into the ground right in-between them, knocking him back and temporarily blinding him as well. Uranus took the opportunity and leaped away quickly despite her wound. Bountyhunter's eyes cleared moments later. Looking around he smiled as his eyes turned an even deeper red as he scanned the area around him. "Foolish girl, you cannot escape me."

Serena had arrived just as Uranus had left and watched through wide eyes as Bountyhunter ran after her. "I don't understand," she murmured in worry, "why couldn't I sense she was in danger?" she gasped holding a hand to her mouth, "maybe its because she doesn't want me to!" She glanced in the direction Bountyhunter had gone, "well if that's the case then none of the other scouts will realize she's in danger either, I better follow them."

Uranus, once again in an alley, leaned her back against the wall as she examined the wound. It wasn't life threatening but definitely debilitating; there was no way she could fight full strength now. She looked at her communicator for some time and then with a defeated sigh decided, "there is no shame in situations like this to ask for help." Before she could send a message however one thin metallic cable shot forward and whipped if off her hand. She looked up and saw her pursuer standing in the entrance of the alleyway.

"You are my prey Uranus, I don't want anyone else interfering," he said throwing his cloak off once again.

He ran and stabbed at her several times in quick succession. Uranus dodged them with catlike agility and then threw repeated flying kicks at the creature eventually knocking him into a wall. Bountyhunter smiled in satisfaction and struggled to stand up fully, "you fight well Uranus. How about we finish this in the park this evening, seven preferably."

Uranus tried to remain calm and put on a cocky smile even as her whole body ached from the recent exertion. "I'm wounded, why not just finish me now?"

"Because if I was to build up enough energy to kill you it would no doubt attract the other scouts, something I don't want as they would likely come before I could finish my job. We wouldn't want that would we?" he said slyly.

"Go on…" Uranus said folding her arms trying to look as though she wasn't at all weakened.

"I can set up a field for our battle where it will be impossible for the scouts to detect us no matter how high our energy levels become. However I want you to swear to me on your warriors honor to come alone." He noticed the sailor warrior looking down at her communicator and taunted her. "If you really believe you don't need the other scouts, that they just get in your way, then you have no reason to decline my offer." He turned and began to fade out of sight as he walked away before turning back and adding one last thing. "I suggest you be punctual or I may have to start killing random civilians to pass the time." Uranus nodded seriously.

Bountyhunter reappeared on the roof of a nearby building and kneeled before Jedite who looked rather displeased.

"You've failed me twice Bountyhunter. It took a lot of hard to replace resources to give you your abilities, I don't like seeing them wasted."

"Do not lose faith in me master," the creature pleaded, "I have only been testing her, seeing what she is capable of. I will destroy her soon I swear it."

Jedite thought for a moment, "very well, I leave her to you… for now."

Serena stood hidden behind a wall. She had overheard everything. "Knowing Amara she'll take up that challenge, I better call the other scouts." However she only received static. "That monster must also be blocking our transmissions with whatever thing he's gonna use to keep us from sensing their powers," she surmised quite impressed with her deduction. She then stood up and raised her hands in determination (you know how she does) "I can't go home and get help! That creep could do a double cross and attack Amara while I'm' gone, so I'll stay out here all day if I have to!"

"Beautiful day isn't it?" Artemis asked as he and Luna strolled down a street. Luna, her head down, didn't reply. Artemis looked a bit annoyed "hey kitten you're supposed to reply by saying 'is it?'"

Luna looked up seeming to have just noticed he was talking, "hmmm? I'm sorry did you say something Artemis?"

"What's wrong," he asked softly now catching on that something was on her mind.

"I'm just worried about Serena. She was gone all afternoon and evening yesterday and she left without a word way before dawn this morning."

Artemis cocked his head, "that is strange… but what are we supposed to do?"

"I've told all the girls and Darien to keep an eye out for her but besides that all we can do I guess is hope that whatever is going on she's not in over her head," Luna explained.

Artemis looked up into the sky in contemplation. "Its sometimes hard to believe that a ditzy High School girl like her is the most important person in the universe isn't it?"

Luna walked up and sat beside him, "I don't think she even realizes it fully yet. Sometimes I wonder if she is capable of what her destiny demands of her. I mean really can you imagine her ruling the entire Earth?"

"Not as she is now but the amount she has grown as a person and soldier in the last few years is incredible. You should know that better then anyone. We'll find out soon though. We don't know when but the events leading up to Crystal Tokyo will be starting soon and you know what that means."

"Yes, the most difficult times for her and the rest of the scouts may be yet to come," Luna nodded and looked up to the sky "I guess we'll just have to wait and see…"

Serena ran through the woods in a panic. It was now evening and she had lost track of Amara a few hours before. She had thought it would be easier to find them. "I just hope I'm not too late…" she said breathlessly.

Amara walked along a path, guided by Bountyhunters voice, which had appeared as soon as she had entered. She looked to her side to some kids going home with their parents, all of them laughing at some unvoiced joke. She looked at them with envy; her life was nothing like theirs and never would be. Battle and sacrifice was all there was for her, it was time she accepted it.

"I'm growing impatient Uranus," the ethereal voice spoke into her mind.

"I'm coming!" Amara shot back in irritation. She entered a clearing and her opponent revealed himself, leaping down from a tree behind her. Amara spun around in an instant and transformed.

Bountyhunter's wicked face smiled, "you have excellent reflexes my dear, this will be a fulfilling fight indeed.

Uranus was in no mood to talk, "let's get on with it."

"You are a brave and skilled warrior Uranus," Bountyhunter said eerily as a mysterious wind began to flap his cloak about him and the sky around them grew darker, "but you are in way over your head!" The wind picked up suddenly and as his cloak blew up around him a dozen orbs of energy shot from under it. Uranus had barely a second to react but managed to draw her sword and knock several of the orbs away from her, one still managing to strike her left shoulder. She ignored it and ran forward thrusting at Bountyhunter but only managing to cut his cloak as he dodged aside. Turning around she raised her right arm and fired a World Shaking even as her body cried out from the injuries in her side and shoulder. Bountyhunter dodged this as well, Uranus' attack digging a trench through the ground, then shot an arm forward. To Uranus' shock she noticed that some of the orbs he had previously fired had not exploded and were still hovering nearby. Guided by their master they flew at her once again. Uranus leaped up as two of the orbs exploded beneath her, the third flying up after her and exploding as it hit her in the stomach. Stunned and knocked back by the shock wave Uranus fell to the ground hard on her back.

Bountyhunter let out another chuckle, "you didn't know that I could do that did you? You had best give up now, even the soldier of sky cannot escape these orbs for long." He formed more orbs around him as Uranus struggled to stand.

The orbs fired.

"Space Sword Blaster!"

The swath of light that extended from her sword hit the oncoming orbs directly causing them to explode early. As her field of vision became engulfed in light Bountyhunter ran forward striking her hard in the chin with a punch. Uranus spun around from the blow but managed to block the next one, which came behind her, with one hand before striking forward with the other. Bountyhunter blocked this punch and laughed as he spat a strong stream of burning vapor into her knocking her back a good twenty feet. He continued to laugh as he extended his right hand and shot two metallic tentacles forward intending to eviscerate her.

Uranus, still stunned, could only lay and watch when at the last second Sailor Moon leaped in front of her, staff spinning as she deflected the attack, the two cables continuing out to the sides before being retracted back into Bountyhunter's wrist. Sailor Moon looked down at her and smiled, "you stay put I'll take care of this." Uranus was too stunned to speak.

Bountyhunter was unperturbed and laughed as he formed a swarm of orbs around him, "I don't know how you managed to find us Sailor Moon but you won't be able to dodge my orbs any better then she did."

Moon grinned and raised her staff, "we'll see… Twilight Flash!" The beams of light that proceeded to shoot from her staff blinded Bountyhunter who screamed in rage as his orbs blew apart around him. Despite the blinding light of the explosions Moon ran forward, striking him hard in the stomach then the back with quick spins of her staff. Enraged Bountyhunter tore his cloak off, turned around and shot his tentacles again. Sailor Moon flew into the air, avoiding the attack, which proceeded to rip into a large tree trunk and tear it apart. Bountyhunter pulled back on the tentacles in an attempt to keep the tree from falling on him, and in so doing turned it completely around, throwing it higher into the air. Moon took full advantage of this and in mid-air kicked at the tree trunk sending its lower end into Bountyhunter like a bat. With incredible speed he extended his wrist blades and tore through the tree trunk as it hit him, then ran at Sailor Moon in a blood lust. He attacked with both blades at once, Sailor Moon blocking with her staff. The two proceeded to begin pushing hard against each other, blades to staff.

"Give… it up… Nega Creep!" Moon strained when Bountyhunter was suddenly knocked away when Uranus tackled him. Moon looked at her in shock, "Uranus you have to rest, what do you think you're doing?"

"Leave here, this is my fight!" Uranus shot angrily.

"No way!" Moon cried back emphatically, "I didn't follow you around all day to just walk off when you need me most!"

"Why can't you just mind your own business for once?" Uranus yelled at her.

Moon was just as angry, "if it involves a sailor then it is my business!" She then looked at her emotionally. "Listen I know you're just trying to protect me but I'm not going to leave you here to die!"

"I hate to interrupt your little drama but I'd much rather fight both of you," Bountyhunter hissed as he stood back to his feet and shot forward a dozen more orbs. The two scouts got ready to block when he suddenly raised his hands sending the orbs high into the sky then down around them again where they circled them ominously. Bountyhunter grinned, "now I've got you both…"

"This has to stop!" Moon cried as she raised her staff yet again, "Twilight Flash!" The light beams from the attack again destroyed the orbs as Bountyhunter cried out in rage then noticed Uranus collapse to the ground. Seeing an opportunity he fired more energy orbs right at her, as time seemed to stand still.

Uranus could barely see the movement as she heard her name called out and an angelic shape pushed her down then stood over her. She could feel the heat and see the light as the orbs exploded over Sailor Moons wings and back and saw her future queens face wince and her voice cry out in pain. Moon stood over her on hands and knee's, her fingers pressing into the earth as she strained from the pain. "Are… you… all right?" she managed to utter.

Uranus didn't answer the question but instead yelled at her passionately, "what do you think you are doing?! You're our future, get out of the way!

"I don't care! You're my stubborn, special friend and I won't let him hurt you!" Moon had tears in her eyes as she cried this out.

Again Bountyhunter's evil chuckle sounded, "like shooting fish in a barrel…" again and again he fired the orbs as Sailor Moon continued to shield Uranus's body. No matter how many times she told her to Moon would not move even as her wings and suit tore and her face dripped blood. At last she collapsed onto Uranus's body, tears streaming from her eyes. But Uranus could see they were not tears of pain but of sorrow, sorrow that she failed in helping someone she loved. Uranus's raised her head slightly and looked down at her. Her eyes were watery with emotion as she remembered all the times this girl had wanted them to work together, all the times she had proven how much she loved her and the other Outer Scouts and all the times she had not returned that love. *Scenes of Amara taking her broach, shoving Serena and other times she was cruel to her flash by* It was then that she realized how wrong she had been all those years.

Tired of his efforts Bountyhunter brought out his blade and ran toward them to finish the job. Uranus looked up with resolve and in a brief second pushed Sailor Moon over taking the slash that was meant for Moon in her arm as Bountyhunter ran past them from his momentum. Injured as she was, she stood up and smiled down at her surprised leader. "You're important to me too and I won't let you be hurt any more on account of me," she then turned to face the one who had caused her so much pain.

"Don't tell me you're thinking of attacking me again?" Bountyhunter said in disbelief, "you're injured and no match for me anyway. You simply don't have the power."

Uranus raised her sword as drops of Sailor Moons blood trickled down her cheek. Without a word she narrowed her eyes and ran forward. Bountyhunter responded with a half dozen orbs, which flew right at her. Uranus didn't slow down in the least and fueled by her rage she passed her sword to her left hand and raised her right. "World Shaking!" the attack completely annihilated his and not missing a step she continued forward amidst the dissipating energy. Passing her sword back to her right hand she raised it high and struck down as Bountyhunter brought out his own blade. "Space Sword Blaster!" her sword cut right through his blade as he raised it to try to defend himself. She then gave one last thrust forward and stabbed it into Bountyhunter's chest as she ran past him.

Bountyhunter fell to his knee's and cried out in shock and disbelief as the sword embedded within him began to glow brighter and brighter until his whole body tore apart and disintegrated, leaving her sword embedded in the earth amidst the swirling vapors of darkness that remained of his body.

Uranus collapsed to her hands and knee's in exhaustion. She looked to Sailor Moon who still lay where she was but had managed to turn her head. Her face was bloody but her smile so pure that Uranus couldn't help but smile back, their pain forgotten the two rested in this moment of reconciliation. However in the next second Uranus's smile vanished, replaced by a look of absolute horror and disbelief as she watched a raging torrent of dark power shoot toward and engulf Sailor Moon's body as she cried out in anguish. When the initial blast stopped it revealed her more battered then ever and barely able to move. Uranus looked up to see the wicked smile of Jedite as he floated nearby, still panting from the energy he had just released. "You!" she cried out in anger and tried to stand only to fall to her hands and knees again.

Jedite looked at her and smiled as he gathered more energy into his hands for another blast, "Uranus don't be naïve. I'm surprised that you were able to defeat my Youma but in your current state you can't even launch an attack much less beat me." Hearing moans coming from his target he looked to see Sailor Moon trying to get up. A bit confused Jedite got ready to fire at her, "odd… I was hoping that blast would finish you… your resilience never ceases to amaze," with that he fired again.

Holding her bleeding arm Uranus stumbled forward. "No! Stop it!" Her cry went unheeded however as Moons body was once again engulfed in the destructive black fire. Moon raised her head slightly in defiance and spat out some blood.

Jedite was amazed that she was still conscious but continued to mock her. "Are you still here? I suppose you deserve some last words, perhaps one of your trademark speeches?"

Moon's glare intensified as she replied, her blood ridden face etched in anger, "you are such a pathetic coward to attack me like this… now I see why Beryl got rid of you so quickly."

Jedite narrowed his eyes in anger for a moment then smiled in contempt, "oh really Miss Moon? Do you think it would be smart of me to ignore such an easy opportunity to kill you? Though I am impressed that you haven't started wailing." Neither of their glares wavered as he fired again.

"Sailor Moon!" Uranus dove at Moon and the two rolled away from the blast as it dug a large trench in the ground. Placing herself in front of Moon she struggled to stand, "Please no more…" her eyes watery, she looked up at him, "I beg you, take me instead."

Jedite's gaze was unforgiving, "how pathetic. The mighty Uranus reduced to groveling for the life of her Princess. You know it is your own fault that she is in this condition, if you hadn't been so proud she would never have made herself so vulnerable. Perhaps I should thank you," he finished with a scornful smile.

Uranus, utterly defeated in body and soul, hung her head.

Jedite charged dark energy around his hands, "I think I'll just put you both out of your misery…"

Before he could fire however he noticed a metallic flash out of the corner of his eye and dodged aside just in time to avoid it as the object shot past him, still cutting his wrist, and into a nearby tree.

"Who is that?!" Jedite yelled, amazed at how much the small wound on his wrist hurt, then looked to the tree, which had been cut in two and was now decaying rapidly. A large scythe lay stuck in the ground.

"I am one with the darkness but I serve the light," a voice said forebodingly from the tree's. With a flick of her hand she summoned the Silence Scythe to her and posed with it as she walked out of the shadows. "I am Sailor Saturn the Soldier of Destruction and for what you have done I will punish you severely!"

Uranus was relieved and surprised at the same time, "Saturn!"

Jedite's eyes widened in shock. "How did you find us so quickly!" he roared, "Bountyhunter was only destroyed a few minutes ago!"

Saturn looked at him coldly. "You forget my powers are based on darkness and are thus very different from the other scouts. I received a vision an hour ago and knew just where to go. I may not have able to contact any of the scouts with our communicators but I did through the telephone. They'll be here soon."

Jedite Smiled, "no matter, Sailor Moon is good as dead and Uranus isn't even worth fighting." He then looked down at her with a new interest; "you on the other hand will be the perfect opponent to test my new powers on."

Now Saturn smiled, "you are an arrogant fool Jedite. You have no idea what you're getting yourself into."

Jedite raised his hands, "lets find out." With that he shot twin streams of dark power at her.

Saturn responded by raising her scythe high, "Silent Wall!" The shield completely absorbed Jedite's attack as her hair began to rise around her and her eyes glowed in an unearthly red. *Creepy vocal music that was sometimes played when Hotaru used her powers during S begins to play* The sky grew darker and the wind began to pick up as her body shone with an aura of purple and red. Her raised scythe pulsed with the same power. The whole clearing was soon surging with the awesome energy of her aura.

"What sort of trick do you think you're trying to…" Jedite began as he tried to move forward only to find his whole body paralyzed by her aura which now surrounded him as well. "I- I can't move! What have you done to me?!"

Saturn didn't answer as her power continued to build. Her eyes were a dark red, vacant and haunting as she spoke, her voice echoing across the area,

"Silence…"

Jedite's eyes widened in fear as he struggled to move but found he couldn't in the slightest.

"Scythe…"

The energy became more and more concentrated around her scythe, swirling around it in a circular manner.

"Surprise!"

Saturn slammed the scythe into the earth, tearing the ground apart as the immense amount of energy surged into it and the earth shook from the impact. For several seconds more Jedite was forced to wait as the energy continued to gather around him and at last the attack struck. A huge orb of purplish energy exploded from beneath the ground he floated over and engulfed his body, cutting short his enraged scream.

Mar's eyes widened as she and the other scouts ran towards the park (Tuxedo was coming from another direction and hadn't met up with them yet), "did you guys feel that?"

Venus nodded, "yeah it was incredible."

"We have to get there they may need us!" Jupiter thundered as she ran ahead, only Neptune managing to keep pace with her as the others came up close behind.

Artemis looked up as he and Luna watched the moon rise from the roof of Serena's house, "the energy I just sensed was overwhelming!"

Luna nodded, "yes it had to be Saturn, I'm sure of it."

"But what could have happened that would have forced her to use an attack like that?" Artemis remarked in worry.

The orb slowly dissipated as Saturn lowered her scythe and the energy in the area began to die down. It revealed Jedite, clothes torn and with a look of shock on his face. He only hovered for a moment before drifting to the ground to land on his face with a thud. Saturn narrowed her eyes at him, glanced at the still awestruck Uranus, and started to walk forward, scythe at the ready.

Jedite lay on the ground motionless and bleeding profusely. "Incredible power… how can she possess such… incredible power…" he uttered in disbelief of what had just happened.

Without a sound Saturn continued forward and raised her scythe high in preparation for the final blow. So quiet was she that Jedite didn't even realize she was coming until she was right on top of him. He looked up at her; his thick green blood splattered over his features, and grinned mockingly. "Quite honorable of you Saturn," he said weakly, "killing a helpless enemy."

Saturn features were unwavering as she raised her scythe higher and it began to pulse with energy, "what do you know of honor?"

Before she could strike however a rift in dimensions opened up nearby and spewed out a mass of dark energy. Sensing the danger Saturn turned about just in time to block the beam with her scythe. As she attempted to hold the energy off, being pushed several feet back in the process, another tongue of energy shot out and enveloped Jedite. When it dissipated he was no longer there, transported away by the Negaforce. Saturn felt like cursing as she watched the stream stop and the rift close, "I was so close to ending this…" It was then that she heard Uranus pleading voice and beheld a truly heart wrenching scene.

Uranus had her hands on the unconscious Moon's shoulders gently shaking her. Her face was angry and stressed as she spoke, "come on Sailor Moon… wake up… wake up!" her voice became more and more desperate as her eyes watered. "You have to wake up… you can't… you can't die…" her face became angry again, "don't do this! Everything depends on you, you're our future we need you!" She hung her head and closed her eyes in realization as she cried unashamed, "I… need you…" The tears continued to flow down her face as she spoke again. "I'm so sorry… if I could just go back there are so many things I'd do differently, please you have to give me one last chance. I promise I'll do everything you asked, we'll go eat cookies at your house, we'll spend time together, we'll work together just like you wanted just please, please don't die!!! Serena…" Regaining her composer she looked up in determination.

"I'm not losing you…"

Her tiara began to shine.

Realizing what she was trying to do Saturn started to walk towards her to assist when Uranus raised her hand. "No Saturn, I have to do this alone. If it doesn't work you may have to heal us both but please give me this chance to try and make things up to her." It sounded crazy but her voice was so passionate and determined that Saturn could not deny the request in good conscience. Uranus closed her eyes and knelt over Sailor Moons body a bright yellow aura now forming around the soldier of sky.

It was then that the other sailors and Tuxedo entered the clearing. They gasped at the site and started forward to help when Saturn raised her scythe in front of them, gently waving them off with a shake of her head. They conceded and stepped back to watch the spectacle.

"Is she doing what I think she's doing?" Mercury asked Saturn in concern.

Saturn's voice was completely stoic as she replied, "yes. She is linking her remaining power and life force with Sailor Moons in an attempt to revive both."

"But she's injured," Jupiter added, "she may not have enough strength left to form the link properly and if she doesn't then it will cost her life even if Sailor Moon is saved."

Neptune looked at her beloved cousin in concern and admiration, "I think she knows that."

Tuxedo Mask stared at them worried beyond description, "please be all right Serena…"

Her aura grew larger and brighter as Uranus linked her very life force with Sailor Moons and attempted to stabilize them both. Moons wings began to reform as some of Uranus's cuts sealed up. "Uranus…" the jewel on her tiara began to emit beams of light, "Crystal Power!" Their hair flying wildly, the aura around them continued to grow until it at last touched the Moon Crystal, reached a breaking point, and erupted around them into a great pillar of light that could be seen from miles away.

As the light dimmed Uranus opened her eyes, Sailor Moon doing the same. The true Sovereign looked up at her and smiled. Uranus collapsed on top of her in exhaustion and relief, "can you ever forgive me?"

Sailor Moon gently lifted her face till she looked directly in her friend's eyes and took one hand in hers, "how could I not?" The two hugged tightly for some time as the scouts looked on teary eyed.

Neptune smiled, well done Amara…

Notes:

Well did I succeed in making the story touching?