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 five: Future unknown. Amy's love returns!
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"Greg's coming back?" Serena said in surprise as she and Amy strolled to school, "that's great!"
Amy smiled. "Yes, his grades have allowed him to get into college early and he's transferred to one near here. He'll be arriving tomorrow."
"Soooo have anything planned?" Serena asked with a goofy grin.
"What do you mean?" Amy responded as though she had no idea what Serena was talking about.
Serena sweat dropped and sighed, putting a hand on Amy's shoulder in pity. "Amy, Amy, Amy… I mean are you going to take him out to dinner, for a cozy walk in the park? Anything!"
"Serena, you know I don't do things that way. He knows how I feel so if he's interested I'll wait for him to ask me to do any of those things. It's only lady-like." Amy suddenly looked more sullen. "Although I've been wondering about my own feeling lately. It seems like in the past few years I've almost forgotten about Greg. How could my feelings be true if I let a little thing like absence and distance dull them?"
"Oh cheer up Amy. With Greg coming back you'll finally have a chance to sort through everything and I'm sure you'll make the right decision."
"I hope you're right," Amy said, smiling at Serena's words. "Greg deserves someone who will be everything he needs."
"If you ask me…" Serena said, pulling her arm back around her friend's shoulder as they continued walking, "you've always been everything he needs."
From the swirling mists of the crystal orb, Jedite watched the two scouts speak. He couldn't care less about what most of their conversation was about but Greg's return intrigued him. "So, one of the Rainbow Crystal holders is returning…" He turned to the chamber above him. "Tell me great Negaforce, do the former holders of the Rainbow Crystal still contain a large amount of remnant energy?"
Two blood red eyes stared down at him from the chamber. "Yes, a great deal. Beryl once tried to regain them for that very reason."
Jedite scratched his chin. "Well then perhaps they can help us. I have all the organic material needed to make a small army but lack the necessary energy. They could be the deciding factors in reaching our goal, and with my current abilities that foolish black crystal would not be needed to take advantage of their energy. I can simply take it. Unleashing the Invincible Shadow would also give us a greater advantage."
"Then proceed as you see fit," it hissed.
"I will began locating the former holders immediately," he said with a bow.
"I just can't get over how great it is that Greg is coming back for good," Mina said happily to Lita as they walked down their high schools halls.
Lita smiled, "that isn't the only good news. I just heard from Andrew that Rita arrived yesterday to visit for awhile. He also told me he has a big announcement he wants to make to everybody at a party he's having for her tomorrow evening. He told me to tell you and the other girls we're all invited."
"Wow, I wonder what he wants to tell us…" Mina wondered.
"You got me."
It was then that Serena came running towards them. "Hey guys, Amy says Greg will be arriving tomorrow afternoon at five thirty. She wants to know if you'll be at the bus stop with us to meet him."
"Sure," the two replied simultaneously.
"Good, Hotaru says she's not going to be able to make it since she has to take care of her dad, but everyone else is coming."
"Don't worry we'll be there," Lita assured her.
It was morning at the Hikawa Temple and Raye's grandfather was goofing off as usual. His strange antics were scaring off various tourists and other visitors, especially girls.
"Come on! Let me give you my special blessing!" He yelled as he ran after one pretty girl.
Raye walked up and grabbed him by the collar of his robe, holding him in the air while he continued to move his legs like he was running. "Grandpa will you please stop scaring the customers, they really don't like being pounced on like that."
Grandpa looked offended. "Pouncing? I'm just being friendly!"
"Yeah, a little too friendly if you ask me," Raye replied and stomped off.
Grandpa sighed in frustration and yelled after her, "hey! I'm an old man, I deserve to have some fun!"
It was at that moment a tall dark man walked up behind him. "Excuse me sir but is this the Hikawa Temple?"
"Indeed it is," Grandpa replied with a smile, "why do you ask and what can I do for you?"
"No reason, oh and you can stay very still," the man replied simply then threw his right hand forward. A wave of energy proceeded to surge out and paralyzed Grandpa as he yelled in pain. A beam then shot from his palm and began to draw out massive amounts of energy.
Luckily Raye was still in earshot and came running at her grandfather's screams. Her eyes widened in surprise as she spotted his assailant. "Jedite!? Leave my grandpa alone!"
Jedite smiled as he ceased the energy flow and dropped the unconscious Grandpa to the ground. "It's alright, I'm already done."
Raye came running and cradled the old man in her arms; she then looked up at Jedite confusion and anger. "But how?"
"Did you not sense me?" Jedite finished for her. "It's very simple really. The energy to take back what was ours to begin with is very minimal. I think I'll let you figure out exactly what that means." Having said that he vanished just as Chad came running to them.
"Raye, what happened?"
Raye didn't answer, "get some cold water quick, we have to try and wake up Grandpa!"
Later that day the group, minus Michelle, Amara, Raye and Hotaru, waited at the bus stop for Greg to arrive.
"This is so boring! What time is it now?" Serena whined.
"About a minute after you last asked Serena," Darien sighed from his seat next to her.
"Don't worry Serena, Greg should be arriving any minute and then we can all go to Andrew and Rita's party," Mina said happily.
"Well it can't come soon enough, I hate waiting!" It was then that Serena noticed Amy looked unusually stressed. She walked over to her friend's side and held her hand. "You nervous?"
Amy nodded slightly. "It's been so long, I'm just worried… I mean what if he's changed so much that we can't be friends anymore or that I've changed more then I realize and he won't like it."
"People change Amy, its part of living life," Darien told her sagely, "but who we are inside, our true natures, never go away. That true nature is what attracts us to other people and it will always be there even if you have to look awhile to find it. The things that attracted you to Greg are still there, I'm sure of it."
"I know you're right… I'm still so worried though," Amy said, unconsciously squeezing Serena's hand slightly for reassurance.
"That's his bus now," Lita said pointing as the bus drove up beside them. Dozens of people began to disembark, and the group craned their necks in hopes of spotting their old friend. "There he is!" Lita shouted and the group moved over to him as he approached, Amy staying in the back of the group.
"Greg is that really you," Serena questioned.
"Its me," Greg replied. Being about a half foot taller and with longer hair he still looked much like the shy young boy they had met so long before.
"Well it's good to see you on friendly terms Greg, I hope you can forgive me for what I tried to do to you last time," Darien said as he approached and offered his hand.
Greg smiled and shook his hand, "don't worry about Darien. I know you weren't really your self back then."
"Amy," Greg addressed her with a smile, "you look great."
"It's… it's good to see you again Greg," Amy said nervously but was saved from having to speak further by Michelle and Amara arriving.
Amara waved as they walked over. "Sorry we're late," she apologized then took notice of Greg. "So you're Greg," she said extending her hand.
"It's nice to meet you," Michelle added with a slight bow.
"And you must be Sailor Uranus and Neptune," Greg chimed nonchalantly.
"Wow, you really do see the future," Amara noted slightly impressed.
Greg scratched his head nervously. "Well I didn't need to here. Amy told me all about you and Hotaru. I only found out who Amy was because I had a vision of becoming a monster and attacking her. The truth is I mainly have visions about bad events, hardly ever anything good," Greg hung his head slightly, "it gets kind of depressing sometimes."
"Greg don't think about things like that now, you have a lot of catching up to do especially with Amy…" Serena said suggestively enough to make both Amy and Greg blush.
"Well it would be nice to find out what everyone has been up to the past few years," Greg said, still scratching his head nervously.
"I'd hate to interrupt things Moonface but if we don't get going soon we'll be late for the party," Amara told her.
Serena acted like she had totally forgotten for a minute, "hey that's right! Greg, you know Andrew and Rita right? Well they're having a party because she's back for awhile and I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you came."
"Well if I won't be a bother I'd love to come," Greg said, trying to avoid eye contact with Amy.
"Great! Now all we need is for Raye to get here and we can go. She can be so unreliable!" Serena scolded, thoroughly enjoying the moment.
Just then Raye ran up to them panting. The others could see something was wrong from the look on her face. "Guys, my grandpa's been attacked," she heaved.
"What?" Serena asked in confusion.
"Who was it," Lita inquired further.
"It was Jedite. I don't know why but I think he was stealing energy from Grandpa. I couldn't even sense it happening. He said something about it being easy to take back energy that was the Negaforce's to begin with."
Serena took Raye's hands, "is he okay?"
"He's resting fine now," Raye said in worry, "but it could be days before he's back to full strength." She then looked at Greg accusingly, "did you have any visions about this?"
Greg stepped back, "no, I swear I didn't."
"Calm down Raye," Darien said sternly, "this isn't his fault."
Raye hung her head, "I know… its just the fact we can't sense these attacks has really got me wound up."
"We'll just have to stay on higher alert," Mina decided.
"In the mean time I think its best that we stay together and do what we originally planned tonight. We have no idea where to look for any other potential targets and I feel Andrew and Rita will need us somehow tonight," Amara stated.
"I thought Raye said we can't sense these attacks?" Mina inquired.
Amara looked at her seriously; "premonitions don't rely on energy detection."
"I just don't understand how Jedite is hiding so well," Artemis said in an annoyed tone as he typed various information up on the computer screen. "We've been searching for an entrance to his base for two weeks straight and there's nothing. Nothing!" Artemis slammed his paw on the screen as another search turned up nothing. This caused a "error" sign to appear which just made him madder. He began to beat the keyboard with his paws in frustration. "Nothing! Nothing! Nothing! ARGHHHH!!!" His eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep.
"Artemis I think you need lie down for awhile…" Luna said in concern. Artemis banged his face into the screen, at last, mercifully, knocking himself unconscious. Luna sighed.
It was a dark street corner and a body lay limp on the ground. Jedite sucked the last of his energy out, took one last look at the unconscious form of "Joe The Crane" and vanished.
Hercules the cat was strolling down a sidewalk when his fat body was suddenly enveloped in a beam of energy from above. He screamed for only a few seconds before being knocked out. Jedite looked at his hands, now pulsing with excess energy, and smiled. "I've taken the energy of the priest, the old man, the artist, and the game player. Now only Rita and that boy remain."
"We're really glad all of you could make it," Rita said happily as she welcomed them into the apartment.
"Hey Rita, you look great!" Serena complimented her.
"Elisabeth?" Lita asked as she spotted the slightly older girl across the room and approached her. "We haven't seen you much lately."
"I've been looking for a new job," the girl said cheerfully, "I'm not going to be working at the arcade much longer."
"Really? But why?"
"You'll see," Elizabeth replied with a playful blink.
"Hey Rita are we the only one's coming?" Darien asked slightly confused at the lack of guests.
"I thought there would be a lot of other people here. You two must have tons of friends besides us," Michelle added.
"Nope," Andrew said as he walked out of the kitchen. "We just wanted to invite you because you've always been there for us like nobody else has. We wanted to be the first to tell you the big news."
"But that can wait," Elisabeth said jumping in, "now let's party!"
"Yeah!" The Inner Scouts cheered.
Serena was already at the snack table. "What? I had a short supper," she said innocently.
The next half-hour went by quickly as everyone chatted up a storm, Serena attempting to get Rita to tell her the big surprise early. She, of course, failed. Amara and Michelle sat on the couch together discussing deep philosophical issues with Andrew and Darien while Mina, then joined by Serena, chatted with Elisabeth. Amy sat next to Greg, neither saying much, while Lita took some time to clean the apartment despite Andrew pleading with her not to go to the trouble. Raye gingerly sampled some snacks.
This is stupid! Amy scolded herself in thought. I should at least be able to talk to him… maybe I'd be more comfortable without everyone else around… She looked at Greg and decided to ask him, very timidly. "Greg, it's been a long time since you were last here. Uh, would you like to go to the park and take a look around? I'm sure the others won't miss us and we can come right back."
Greg blushed a bit, "sure."
As they said a quick goodbye to the group Raye clamped a hand over Serena's mouth to keep her from making any suggestive remarks. Amara and Michelle simply smiled knowingly while they watched them walk off.
Meanwhile Andrew was coincidentally asking Rita to leave with him as well. "Rita I know its rude for the guest of honor to leave early but there is something I want to ask you… and I just can't wait any longer, but not here," Andrew said, he seemed extremely nervous. "Could we go to that place in the park where we had our first date. It'd mean a lot to me."
"Of course," Rita replied lovingly then turned to Amara, Michelle and Darien, "you don't mind do you?"
"No of course not," Michelle giggled.
"Go have fun," Darien wished them as he got up to sit with Serena in the love seat.
Amara seemed disturbed as she watched the two walk out, and Michelle soon bore the same troubled gaze. Feeling very uneasy Amara voiced her concerns telepathically to her cousin. Something's not right here… We should look after them.
Should we tell the others?
No, not till we're sure. Let them have fun, we'll contact them the instant there's trouble, Amara assured her silently. Without a word and barely a sound the two got up and left the room before anyone could ask where they were going.
"Isn't that so sweet, young couples in love going for walks in the park… hey wait a second how come we're not doing that?" Serena noted about Greg and Amy and Rita and Andrew.
Darien sighed, "because you said you were too tired and your feet hurt."
"Oh yeah! But we can still cuddle…"
Darien smiled and held her closer as Serena nuzzled up against him. "Serena…"
Mina and Lita were chowing down on desserts, shoveling it into their mouths, fighting over it, and generally being gluttons.
Raye sighed, "honestly you two do you have to do that?"
They both leaped at her and jumped down her throat yelling, "we have no boyfriends! What are we supposed to do?!" Lita then noticed Elisabeth was leaving with some binoculars. "And where are you going, there won't be anybody left if people keep leaving."
"What do you think I'm doing?" she said with a smile, "I'm his little sister I'm going to go spy on him!" With that she zipped out the door.
It was evening by now as Amy and Greg entered the park. The air was perfectly still and cool, perfect weather for a slow walk. As Amy had not spoken since they left, Greg decided to try and initiate a conversation. "You know I still have that picture you gave me of yourself. I pinned it to my bedroom wall so that I'd always be sure to think about you before I went to sleep. It's so great though that I get to see you in person again."
I don't deserve this, Amy thought, truly moved by his devotion to her. How can he say these things when in all the time I've known him I've barely shown any interest back? She braced herself and finally spoke outright. "Greg, what is it that makes you want to have a relationship with me? I stink when it comes to a social life, I spend all my time studying, all I've done is ignore you since you got here, and on top of that my life is inherently dangerous to myself and anyone who knows me."
Greg responded as though he had known this was coming, which of course he may have. "Amy you're too hard on yourself. Even if those things you said were true I think there are still a lot more reasons for me to get to know you better. I've always been enchanted by your spirit and hoped that one day we could be together." He turned and faced her as they stopped walking. "I care about you Amy, a lot more then I do about any dangers in knowing you. I just want to know if you feel the same way."
Amy was speechless, far too many thoughts and emotions now racing through her to describe. I can't believe this, she scolded herself again, he's just poured out his heart to me and all I can do is stand here like a complete idiot.
Rita and Andrew stood holding each other's hands under a large tree in the center of the park. He looked deeply into her eyes and spoke softly, "Rita, with everything we've decided in the last few weeks I know you must be expecting this but I wanted to say it anyway. Rita, would you marry me?" he asked as he brought out a ring and placed it on her finger.
Rita's eyes shook with emotion as she replied, "yes, a thousand times yes!"
"It's so romantic…" Elisabeth said dreamily as she watched her brother and her now soon to be sister in law from behind a nearby tree.
Amara couldn't help but smile with Michelle as they watched the two lovers kiss. With their superior hearing they had understood every word despite being about a hundred feet away from the two.
"They sure are happy," Amara mused, having almost forgotten why they had followed them in the first place. Suddenly the feelings of imminent danger returned. Looking above the two she could see an orb of red energy building up. She ran toward them followed closely by Michelle.
Rita and Andrew looked to their side in surprise at seeing Amara and Michelle coming toward them. "Amara, Michelle what are you doing here?" she asked as the two got closer.
"Get down!" Amara yelled to Rita and Andrew and they did just as the beam of energy rocketed over them. The orb struck the ground in from of them, creating a ring of fire that circled around them. Thus trapped they could only watch in fear as Jedite appeared, floating over them.
Elisabeth fled from her hiding place and ran toward the ring of fire. She wasn't sure what to do but knew she had to try to help her brother.
Jedite didn't speak a word but merely extended his right hand, catching Rita in the greenish beam of energy and lifting her into the air, Andrew being knocked aside by the energy wave. Rita screamed as energy began to surge from her body and flow into Jedite's.
"No Rita!" Andrew yelled in fear and rage.
Michelle held out her transformation pen and looked to Amara. "We have to transform!"
"But"
"We have no choice!"
Amara slowly nodded. She was right; this was no time to worry about secrets. She held out her own pen and the two transformed simultaneously.
"Uranus Crystal Power!"
"Neptune Crystal Power!"
Elizabeth stopped in her tracks as Amara and Michelle were engulfed in light. "They're… they're…"
"They can't be…" Andrew gasped in shock.
Rita looked on in disbelief, having seen the scouts transform despite her pain. Uranus easily leaped over the wall of fire and plucked Rita from the energy in one swift movement. She landed smoothly, placing Rita on the ground on her back, and smiled at the shocked expression on the woman's face.
"You're, you're…" she couldn't finish her question. Uranus nodded then got up and faced Jedite.
"Uranus, that was rather rude. I wasn't quite finished," Jedite said scornfully.
"Like I care," Uranus spat in disgust as Neptune came to her side.
Jedite floated down amidst the dying flames and stood about fifty feet from her. He beckoned her forward with his finger, "You want to duel? Let's duel."
"You're on," Uranus raised her right hand to the sky. "World Shaking!"
The orb of golden light shot at Jedite with incredible speed, but with a simple flick of his hand he tossed it off to the side where it exploded. Uranus gasped then looked to Neptune. The two nodded in silent agreement and raised their hands to the sky.
"World Shaking!"
"Deep Submerge!"
The two orbs combined and surge forward, ripping apart the earth several feet below them. Jedite held out both hands, using a force field to stop the attack cold. With a yell he split the combined orbs in two again and sent each to one side where they blew apart in their respective explosions of light and liquid energy.
Uranus shook in apprehension. "He's definitely gotten stronger."
"Andrew take Rita and run!" Neptune told him.
"But"
"Do it now!" Uranus ordered. Andrew obeyed, picking up the dazed woman and carrying her toward Elisabeth. Uranus activated her communicator as Jedite came closer. "Scouts, we need help, Jedite's here and he's after Rita."
"This is all starting to make sense now," Amy told them.
"We'll be there as soon as we can," Serena assured.
"In the meantime we'll hold him off." Uranus extended her right hand, her sword forming in it as Neptune did the same with her talisman treasure. They assumed a fighting stance.
Jedite continued to take his time. Fire began to jump from his outstretched hands. He smiled darkly, "I suppose I can afford to play with you two for awhile." A river of flame surged from his hands, burning a trough through the ground and narrowly missing Uranus and Neptune as they dodged aside.
"You'd better stay here Greg," Amy told him as she brought out her transformation pen.
"No way," Greg asserted, "if I have a vision I may be able to help you in the fight. I'm sticking with you."
Amy nodded, "alright let's go then." As she ran forward she raised her pen to the sky, "Mercury Crystal Power!"
Greg watched in amazement as liquid energy wrapped around her body, forming into her sailor suit in mid-stride. "Wow," he gasped, dazzled at the sight of Super Sailor Mercury. Mercury smiled and took his hand, helping him leap across the park in the great bounds so typical of the sailor scouts.
Jedite's eyes shot to the side briefly as he glanced at his retreating query. "And where do you think you're going?" He vanished, Neptune and Uranus standing stunned for a moment before running to where they knew he was going.
The trio was only a short distance away when Jedite appeared atop a stone wall over them. He was about to finish stealing Rita's energy when he spotted something out of the corner of his eye. Turning about he summoned a large black blade just in time to block Uranus's Space Sword. Bolts of black and yellow energy shot from the contact point forcing Andrew and the others to back up. Breaking away, they proceeded to parry each other's blades for several seconds. Uranus leapt up and away to dodge a blast of energy from his sword then swung her own down at him. Jedite levitated just in time as the ground tore apart from her wide swath. He swung forward, a black beam shooting from the tip of the sword. It hit in front of Uranus, the shock wave knocking her onto her back.
Seeing that Uranus was temporarily incapacitated Jedite turned his attention once again to Rita, firing the beam almost immediately when from out of nowhere Neptune leaped in the way. ""Submarine Reflection!" The energy of the beam struck the powerful mirror and reflected back. Jedite screamed in pain as he found his own energy leaving him.
"That was incredible!" Elisabeth cheered.
"Its not over yet, look," Neptune motioned as Uranus ran to the group.
The energy leaving Jedite was soon sucked back in. He looked down at Neptune with a grudging respect now. "Not bad, but not enough…" energy began to build in his palm but before he could fire a voice cried out a familiar attack phrase.
"Shine Aqua Illusion!"
The icy liquid energy struck Jedite in the side, freezing his left arm, shoulder and the side of his neck.
(Mercury appears in front of shiny blue background, Greg behind her.) "I am Sailor Mercury. You have fought against true love and failed. So I suggest you leave now Jedite, you're out numbered and out powered. Otherwise you will be punished, in the name of Mercury."
Andrew looked at her in wonderment; "Amy… does this mean that Serena and the other girls are also…" Mercury nodded and smiled
"You don't know anything!" Jedite roared as he broke free of the ice, his whole body steaming. "I have more then enough power to handle you three." Uranus and Neptune leaped at him, fists raised, but massive waves of power from his hands shot them back and to the ground where the energy continued to surge over them for several second as they cried out in pain.
"Neptune! Uranus!" Mercury yelled in worry then assumed a stance to fire another attack.
"Honestly why are you trying so hard, I want the Negaforce's energy not their pathetic lives," he said scornfully and erected a wall of fire in front of Mercury. In another swift movement he continued the drain on Rita.
"Let her go!" Andrew yelled, then ran at Jedite with all his might even as his sister called after him to stop.
"Andrew don't!" Mercury warned him, knowing that Jedite was far too strong for him to attack. He didn't listen of course and a moment before striking Jedite he was knocked aside by a blast of energy from the left hand of the former General. Jedite returned to his task and within seconds was finished. Rita collapsed into Elisabeth's arms barely conscious.
"And then there was one." Jedite smiled as he hovered over Greg. "The energy granted to be reborn in you long ago will now return to its rightful owner."
Greg's mind reeled as a vision suddenly revealed itself to him. "Amy, I know what he's doing. He's collecting the energy of all the Rainbow Crystal holders. He's going to use it to… ahhhh!"
Greg's words were cut short as Jedite blasted him down with a bolt of dark power. "Now, now, I can't have you telling her my little surprise yet." He narrowed his eyes at the young man. "You should really be thanking me. Once the Golden Crystals energy has been completely drained you will no longer be burdened with visions of disaster. All abilities given you by the crystal will be erased forever.
As he fired one last time, Mercury leaped between them. Taking the brunt of the blast she lay over Greg's body, protecting him from some of the painful effects of the attack. However it still drained him. "Don't worry Greg… it will be over soon," she soothed as they both moaned in pain.
Jedite finally withdrew his hand, now pulsing brightly with a great amount of excess energy. He laughed insanely. "At last, I have everything I need! However…" he looked down at Greg with a cold stare, "it would be nice to keep my plans anonymous so you still must die."
"No." Mercury stated as she stood up and faced Jedite. "You can't do this. You have what you want, leave him be."
"You are in no place to be begging me for anything Mercury."
"I'm not begging, I'm ordering," Mercury replied, her power building. "If you don't leave now I swear I'll make you leave." Wind began to whip up as a blue aura formed around her.
"All of this strutting and posing for a puny, powerless human? Pathetic."
Mercury's emotions surged with as much intensity as her aura. The very air around her began to drop drastically in temperature. "You'll never understand what he means to me. I love him!"
Everyone but Jedite gasped at this confession. Greg was nearly speechless, "Amy…"
Jedite was unmoved, and even appeared to pity her for a moment. "You humans and your love…" Dark energy crackled through his hands as he charged a blast. Mercury's energy exploded outward just as he fired, reducing his blast to vapor. (She looks like she did when she blocked the Doom and Gloom girls heat blast at the end of the first season.) The shield soon dissipated, revealing her tiara shining brightly. Jedite stammered, no words managing to escape his lips.
Mercury closed her eyes as she finished focusing her powers, then snapped them open and narrowed them at Jedite. The ground around her froze and cracked apart beneath her feet. "Mercury… Aqua… Rhapsody!"
Jedite brought his hands forward to block the massive attack but to no avail. The liquid energy overwhelmed his shield, exploding around him. Weakened and bedraggled he hovered, facing her. He was panting heavily. Mercury was as well but her tiara continued to send out light, signaling she could continue if need be. Jedite glared at her with absolute hatred and complete frustration as he panted.
Before the stalemate could be resolved however, a golden flash shot past his face. (We see a black screen with a golden streak flashing by, followed a split second later by a view of the previous scene but from the ground.) Uranus's sword lay pinned in the earth. Looking to his side he saw her crouched on one knee, her arm still positioned as she had it in the last stage of throwing the blade. Jedite brought one hand up; his fingers inspecting the deep cut that now graced his cheek. Greenish blood leaked out of it to the ground. He looked at his hand, shaking in anger. "If you want him so badly then keep him. I have more pressing matters to attend to and whether you know about it or not you can't stop me!"
Neptune sighed in relief as Jedite left, "that was close. Is everyone okay?"
"We're all right I think, but you two don't look so good," Elisabeth said in concern. Andrew was comforting Rita.
Uranus looked at herself and laughed, "relax, we've been injured a lot worse then this and it's never done any long term damage."
It was then that the other scouts and Tuxedo arrived. Sailor Moon looked over the scene with concern. She knelt down next to Andrew and Rita, "what happened here? Are you all right."
Andrew looked at her a moment and smiled, "we'll be fine… Serena."
Moon gasped and backed up a bit, "w-what? How did you?"
Rita supported herself on Andrew as they stood up, "don't worry, your secrets safe with us."
"I just don't understand why we never noticed it before," Elisabeth said, "it seems so obvious now."
As Neptune filled the others in on the battle, Uranus stepped up to their three friends and explained. "We have an invisible aura surrounding us whenever we are transformed. It makes it practically impossible for most to recognize us by appearance alone."
"Yeah, believe it or not I didn't know Amara and Michelle were scouts until I saw them transform," Moon added.
"This is all so incredible," Andrew said in amazement. "To think that all this time you've been the famous Sailor Moon and my best friend has been Tuxedo Mask."
"It's not that we didn't trust you," Tuxedo explained, "we simply thought it safest for you to not know."
"Well as long as we're telling secrets how about you tell us just what this nights big announcement was supposed to be?" Jupiter asked. The others lifted their heads from inspecting Greg to hear what they would say.
"I guess now is a good time to tell you," Rita admitted. "Andrew is going to come back to Europe with me. We'll finally be together again, this time for good."
"But why, how?" Moon asked, confused.
"There's this great opening at Rita's university. I'll finally get a chance to become a doctor. It's perfect," Andrew said happily.
"Not only that, they're getting married!" Elisabeth announced.
An angry vein throbbed from Andrews's forehead as Elisabeth smiled at him meekly. "Were you spying on us?!"
"Married? That's great!" Moon cheered.
"Congratulations," Tuxedo added.
"Are we invited to the wedding?" Venus asked hopefully.
The couple replied simultaneously, "of course."
Mars looked to her side, noticing Greg trying to say something. She motioned for the others to pay attention.
"Greg, don't try to talk," Mercury said soothingly as she held him in her arms.
"No, you have to know this. All of you," he said weakly. "Before Jedite drained me I started to have a vision. It wasn't very clear but I do know Jedite is planning a major attack on the city soon. He now has all the power he needs for a full-scale war against you. He's making an entire army, you're all in great danger."
"Hush, you have to rest," Mercury said. "We'll find a way to beat them, don't worry." The others stood silent, letting them have their moment.
Greg looked up at her, "did… did you really mean those things you said? Do you really love me?"
Mercury smiled down at him, "yes, and I don't know why I ever doubted it."
"Amy…"
She touched his lips with her finger, silencing him, then bent down, closing her eyes. Their lips touched lightly at first, then more passionately. At that moment, to everyone's surprise, her tiara began to shine again as an aura of blue formed around their bodies. Their hair and clothes flailed wildly as the energy surged, then, after several seconds, died down. Their lips separated but the two continued to stare deeply into each other's eyes, their faces inches apart.
"What was that…" Mars whispered in wonder.
Artemis and Luna stood on a hill watching the scouts discuss the strange kiss. Luna took on a contemplative look as she recalled a distant memory. "Queen Serenity once told me that when a Sailor Soldier finds and proclaims true love to someone the souls of the two are bonded together for the rest of eternity. That is how Sailor Moon and Endymion managed to come together when they were reborn, despite all odds. I believe Amy has at last bonded with Greg by realizing, even subconsciously, that he is whom she wants to spend the rest of her existence with. He feels the same way and thus in the bond has gained a unity and understanding of Amy that no one else will ever have. He also now has the same long natural life span of a Sailor Soldier and may have even gained some of Mercury's powers."
Artemis nodded, "should we tell them?"
Luna shook her head. "I don't think the scouts are yet ready to fully embrace the true nature of the beings they are. Not even Uranus and Neptune. Their life spans, minds, durability, all are much greater then any humans. Imagine how vain some of them might get now if we told them they will never physically age past their late twenties? I do not believe however that we should tell them too much now. Its better if they learn and understand it on their own. They've already developed far beyond what their powers were in the Silver Millenium."
"I agree, but we need to still help them in any way we can. If tonight was any indication then you're right about what you said a few weeks ago. The toughest times really are yet to come…" Artemis and Luna looked up at the stars and together said a silent prayer for the safety of their charges and dearest friends.
Notes:
Wow, I'm finally getting past setting up the story. Now the real fun begins. Hope all you Amy and Greg fans found my romance scene worthy. As for Rita and Andrew, I didn't want them to be in much of my series but thought they deserved a nice sendoff. So I completed the plots that have been building around them from the beginning of the series.