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 six: Demon Horde! Jedite Makes His Move

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Two figures stood silently near a still pond in the park. A slight wind blew their hair about. In this moment of solitude they voiced the thoughts that had weighed heavily on their minds for some time.

"Something's coming Michelle… something big. And I think there is more to it then this attack Jedite is planning."

"I know what you mean. For the past few days I've felt something changing inside me. It's not like anything I've sensed before. Its as though the course of my entire existence is about to be decided and my body is preparing itself for whatever will be required of it. One thing I'm sure is that in some way all our lives are going to change soon."

"It has to be fate. A vital part of our destinies is going to be fulfilled. Think we're ready?"

"As long as you and the scouts are with me I'm ready for anything.

Alone at her dojo Lita tensed her body as she practiced her fighting techniques. Kick after kick and punch after punch was executed perfectly in a style that could be likened to dancing as much as fighting. I have to refine myself, " she thought as she let loose another volley, I have to be ready. " She spun about, her bangs whipping across her face as she assumed a perfect stance. "I will be ready."

Darien stood on the balcony of his apartment watching the sun set. His eyes looked off into the horizon with great intensity. What is this strange sensation? He thought to himself. I've never felt so alert and focused. It can't be the fight with Jedite. That's for sure. The feeling disturbed him some but was at the same time somehow comforting and empowering. "I've never felt this ready for a confrontation in my life."

Hotaru bent down and kissed the still, sleeping form of her father. "Daddy… if only I could talk to you about how I've been feeling… but then, even if I could you wouldn't be able to help. This is something that must be handled by myself alone. But… I'm so afraid." After several seconds she lifted her face in resolution. "No… I won't let this beat me. I swear to you, for you I will pass whatever test is coming. I will be a part of Crystal Tokyo."

"Crystal Tokyo…" Greg mused. "Its comforting to know that one day the whole Earth will be at peace. I can't wait." He turned to Amy, who stood beside him on the street corner, "thank you for trusting me enough to tell me about it."

"There's a lot more I want to tell you and now… we finally have all the time to share everything in our lives." She stared off into the distance.

"Is something wrong?" Greg asked. It surprised him how often he had been picking up on Amy's emotions lately. Ever since that kiss he had felt so… in tune with her.

Amy closed her eyes in contemplation; "as a matter of fact I have been feeling rather restless the past few days. Don't worry, I'm sure it has nothing to do with you."

"That's a relief," he put his hands on her shoulders and faced her. "If there's ever anything you need, you know you can talk to me right? I may not be able to help but I'll always be willing to listen."

Amy smiled, "yes Greg, I know."


I've never felt this focused before. If only I knew what it meant… Raye wondered as she meditated in front of the fire. Despite all her attempts, no visions made themselves known.

Mina seemed distracted as she combed out her hair. Finally she spoke. "We sure have come a long way haven't we Artemis?"

"I'll say," the cat answered from her bed. "Remember back when it was just you and me?"

Mina smiled at the memories, some of them bittersweet, "yeah, but I'm glad we're all together now. I don't think I could take it if I still had to fight alone."

Artemis seemed a bit disconcerted by her last remark. "Uh, wasn't I always there for you?" he asked timidly.

Mina walked over and stroked him gently. "Of course you were partner, I'll never forget that." Artemis purred as she scratched his ears. Mina smiled, "and I hope you're with me for whatever we face in the days to come."

Serena lay awake in her bed, her golden hair spread out around her. The moonlight shone brightly through her window. She sighed deeply. "Luna, do you think I'm ready for the future?"

Luna was somewhat surprised by the question. From her place at the end of the bed she yawned and answered. "I think that you have all the potential to be a greater queen then even Serenity."

She seemed dissatisfied with the response. "But do you think I'm ready?"

Luna sighed, "to be completely honest Serena, no I don't."

Serena's face turned somber, "I thought so…"

Luna looked at her in compassion, "but you still have time. No one expects you to be ready yet. I doubt I'm ready. Now you need to get some sleep. It may be a Friday night but you still shouldn't stay up forever."

"It's all right Luna," Serena whispered. "I just have a lot on my mind. You go back to sleep, I think… I'll just lie here awhile."

Luna looked at her in concern. "Serena…"

Mimet's laboratory surged with activity within the dark confines of Jedite's base. An apparatus rather like the one Doctor Tomoe had once used stored hundreds of Daimon pods. Mimet cheered for herself as she filled the last vial. "Yay! We're finally ready!"

One by one the Daimon pods hatched, breaking through their vials and splattering on the stone floor. Within seconds they began to form on mass into humanlike shapes. They looked much like the mass of Daimons that had defended Mugen School some time before, but for some anatomical modifications. The influence of the Youma DNA was apparent. In stark contrast to their uniform blood red bodies, each possessed an appendage colored black and, unlike the rest of their bodies, solid. Some had large demon-like wings, while the arms of others ended in large scythes or whips. Still others had long, saw-edged tails ending in spikes or stingers. Their long fangs dripped with saliva in anticipation of the coming bloodshed.

Jedite closed his eyes as he brooded from his throne. "At last I can make myself known to this world. When my army destroys the scouts this pathetic planet will be mine for the taking. All other resistance will be easily crushed." He looked up at the Negaforce's chamber, "once I control this planet you will have all the energy you have ever desired at your disposal. With that our influence will spread throughout this galaxy and beyond."

"One world at a time Jedite. Getting ahead of yourself at this crucial point could be disastrous. I expect the scouts to put up a great struggle no matter what you do."

"Yes, but they will not be dealing with only me this time." He stood up and walked toward the center of the room. "First I will use the energy of the Seven Shadows to at last form the Invincible Shadow. Though, at their current power levels the scouts will not find the Shadow invincible it will still be one of the strongest fighters on our side. I will lead the attack, and fill the streets of Tokyo with the sailors blood."

He raised his hands high as seven shadow-like shapes shot from the Negaforce's chamber. They swirled around each other and began to merge. Jedite sweated from the stress of maintaining the power flow. Terrible screams emanated from the core of the shadowy mass, which then exploded outward, turning the whole chamber pitch black.

All was silent for several seconds as two piercing yellow eyes slowly formed in the darkness. A heavy, animalistic breathing could be heard echoing through the room as some light began to return. In the center of the chamber a huge, hulking, shadowy body now stood. It raised its head high, letting out an inhuman scream of deepest rage. Fang-like teeth filled its blood-red mouth, and large claws tipped its huge hands. It stood nearly thirty feet high, and its form seemed to deflect any light that came near it.

Jedite smiled, "welcome back."

Serena wasn't sure why she had taken to going for walks alone in the park lately, let alone this early. She guessed it was because it was a good place to think: something she had found herself doing more and more. It was apparent to everyone, even her. She was maturing, and surprisingly she found she enjoyed it. Today though her heart was heavy. Her sleep had been plagued with nightmares of the coming attack and just last night she had heard a voice within her dream tell her to be prepared for one of the hardest tests she would ever have to face. Despite the disturbing words the voice was comforting, and somehow familiar. She went over the dream again and again as she tried to figure it out. "Was it about Jedite? If not then what test could possibly be coming?"

Her thoughts were interrupted as her communicator activated. "Mercury?"

"Serena you have to get to down here fast. I've detected a huge amount of negative energy in the area where Mugen School once stood. It has to be Jedite's army."

"I'm on it," she replied as she brought out her broach.

"I'll try to contact the others but this army of creatures is emitting so much energy that I may not be able to get though."

"I'm sure they'll come," Serena assured her. Mercury nodded and stopped transmission. Serena looked up in resolve. "Well this is it, whatever's coming we'll face it soon." She raised her broach to the sky. "Moon Eternal Power!"

Jedite looked about the giant water-filled crater that lay before him him. Surrounded by his Chimera Daimons he floated at the end of a street that had once lead to the school. Mimet stood nearby, her Charm Buster rod in hand. People had been so afraid of this area that they had never repaired it after the events that had left Mugen School completely destroyed and the surrounding area uninhabitable. "How appropriate," he mused, "to have our battle take place at the sight of one of the scouts great victories. Things will be very different this time."

"Why don't we start already?" Mimet whined, "I hate this waiting."

"We do not make a move until they arrive," Jedite ordered. "I want to save every ounce of our power for fighting the scouts. They'll be here, I'm sure of it." He raised his head as a distant movement caught his eye. He turned to see Sailor Moon standing in the street before him, the rising sun illuminating her body as she spoke.

"I am Sailor Moon, Champion of Justice and in the name of the moon I shall punish you for ever believing you had a place in this world." Her hair flapped about magnificently as she spoke. "Your quest for power ends here Jedite."

"Well its about time you got here!" Mimet spat.

"Shut up!" Jedite shot at her then looked with a smile at the scout. "Sailor Moon, I didn't expect you to come alone."

"She's not alone!" a new voice yelled. Jupiter stepped out of the suns light and stood beside Moon as the other Inner Scouts gathered around her. Each took poses and called out their names.

"Sailor Venus!"

"Sailor Mercury!"

"Sailor Mars!"

"Sailor Jupiter!"

Venus: "We hate everything you stand for."

Mercury: "You are the opposite of everything that is good in this world."

Mars: "We are the Inner Scouts, and we shall fight any evil that threatens this planet."

Jupiter: "So we shall punish you in the name of everything we believe in!"

Sailor Moon now noticed that the two guardian cats had also positioned themselves behind her. "Luna, Artemis?"

Luna winked at her; "you didn't expect us to just stay at home for this did you?"

"We're with you guys every step of the way," Artemis stated.

An overzealous Chimera Daimon flew forward to attack. Before anyone could react a red rose struck the ground in front of it, cracking the concrete, and stopping it cold. Jedite looked to the top of a nearby light post to see a familiar capped figure.

"It is arrogance and pride that has made you challenge us Jedite. You will see that those emotions will be the end of you. I am Tuxedo Mask and as Guardian of Earth I protect the sailor soldiers, and this planet, from all who seek to harm them." He leaped down in front of the scouts and extended his cane in preparation.

Jedite's cape flapped in the wind as he faced the soldiers, he smiled confidently. "You scouts have proven your abilities against single opponents many times, however I believe the outcome will be quite different when you try to take on my horde. Their individual powers may not be great but together they will be more then you can handle." The hundreds of Chimera Daimon around him screamed and cackled. He raised his arm to order them to attack. "Now…"

*Rose petals float across the screen as the three Outer Scouts appear on top of a nearby building* "You're not thinking of starting the fun without us are you?" Uranus asked with a wink.

"Neptune, Uranus, Saturn!" Moon cried happily.

"I'm certainly not missing this," Saturn said from between her two partners. She pointed her scythe in Jedite's direction, "this time I'll finish what I started." Jedite glared at her.

"You really should have called ahead Jedite, we would have been here sooner" Neptune mocked as the three leaped down next to the other scouts.

"All right everyone's here, now we can fight with our full strength," Mars said confidently.

"So the stakes have been raised?" Jedite smirked. "Allow me to raise them higher." He lifted his hands as dark energy flashed between them. The scouts stepped back as a huge form materialized in front of them. Luna and Artemis gasped in shock.

Luna: "The Seven Shadows!"

Artemis: "They combined!"

Moon: "It's huge!"

Mars: "And it's so dark. It's sending chills through my whole body, I've never felt such emptiness."

Jedite's proud smile never wavered. "Yes, with great pleasure I introduce the Invincible Shadow. If Queen Beryl had had her way you would have met it long ago, but where she failed I have succeeded and brought it back."

"We're not afraid of your lackeys Jedite," Uranus said threateningly, "it will take more then that thing to save you."

"You will be the ones begging for your lives when this is over sailors." For several seconds silence passed between them as the two groups sized each other up. Jedite raised his hands. "Now… let the battle be joined!"

The horde of demonic creatures flew forward, firing beams of dark energy and spewing out acid as the scouts counter-attacked. Mimet added her Charm Buster to the assault.

"World Shaking!"

"Deep Submerge!"

"Sparkling Wide Pressure!"

"Venus Love and Beauty Shock!"

"Shine Aqua Illusion!"

"Mars Celestial Fire Surround!"

The front line of the army was disintegrated by the first round of attacks but quickly replaced. Saturn, Tuxedo, Moon, and Uranus ran at them, weapons raised. Uranus cut through nearly a dozen before they could react then locked her sword against the scythe of another. Tuxedo impaled several with his cane while knocking others aside. Saturn's scythe sliced through their bodies as if they were paper. Moon Twilight Flashed some and struck others. To the scouts dismay many of the creatures simply reformed, just as they had a few years before. Mimet sent out a wave of Charm Buster energy at the Inners who managed to dodge aside. Venus leaped high and sent down her Love Chain, Mimet jumping away as it tore through the concrete.

The Shadow threw its hands forward, unleashing a river of dark power that Saturn could barely block. It laughed and slashed at her as Saturn ducked and then leaped up, cutting her scythe deep into its left shoulder, revealing it's "skin" consisted of several layers of varying ebony. The creature stumbled backward from the blow but almost as soon as it had appeared the wound filled in with black matter.

Saturn gasped. "That's impossible! Nothing should be able to heal that quickly from a wound by my scythe."

Moon leaped to the side just in time to dodge a blow from Jedite's black blade as he swooped past her, tearing apart the concrete in his path. The moment of distraction was all the Chimera Daimons needed and one immediately knocked Sailor Moon off her feet. Moon raised her staff to protect herself but the attack never came. From above her a new orb sped past, disintegrating at least a dozen of the creatures. All activity stopped as every eye looked for the source of the power.

Luna's eyes widened. "Is that who I think it is?"

A new figure stood silent on the nearby buildings roof, her incredibly long, dark green hair flailing behind her in the wind. *Outer Scout music plays as the camera pans up over her body*

"Sailor… Sailor Pluto!" Moon gasped.

Neptune stared in wonder. "I don't believe it."

Saturn couldn't believe her eyes. "Pluto… she came back…"

Jedite was as surprised as the scouts but soon regained his composure. He smirked. "Well… Sailor Pluto… this is an honor. Now I shall have the pleasure of killing all the sailor scouts."

Pluto glanced at him in disgust. "I have come for a far more important task then speaking with a degenerate leech like you."

"How dare you!" Jedite screamed and fired an orb of dark energy at her.

Pluto raised her staff, stopping the attack without apparent effort as it struck the Garnet Rods energy. She held the surging sphere at bay for a few seconds then flicked it aside as casually as a pebble. After looking coldly at a frustrated Jedite the Guardian of Time focused on the scouts. She smiled warmly, "sailor scouts, I have come to pick you up."

Moon was dumbfounded. "Pick us up?"

"What are you talking about?" Mercury asked, confused.

She raised her staff as the crystal ball that topped it began to pulse, "trust me, link your minds with mine and we shall go together."

"But what about Jedite? We can't just leave," Mars said adamantly.

"Trust me," she said again.

"Its all right guys," Sailor Moon said turning to them, "I trust Pluto with my life. If she says we have to go with her then we have to go." Tuxedo and the cats nodded in agreement.

"I agree," Uranus added, "Pluto has never steered us wrong before. She knows what she's doing."

"Pluto probably knows a lot more about this situation then we do," Neptune told the Inners. "We should take her word seriously."

"You leave this battle and I promise you I will slaughter every single person in your precious city," Jedite swore.

Sailor Moon turned to her team expectantly, "well what's it going to be?"

The Inners looked at each other for a few seconds then nodded. "We go where Sailor Moon goes," Venus stated.

"Then focus on this rod and I will explain everything." Pluto raised her staff high as the crystal orb pulsed brighter and brighter. Everyone was soon engulfed in light and vanished, leaving a raging Jedite and a confused Mimet.

The ten soldiers and guardian cats reappeared in a huge, dark chamber. Neither walls nor ceilings could be seen in the dark room but above them light whizzed by as though they were in the Time Gate. "This must be some kind of pocket dimension," Mercury surmised as she scanned the strange room. Everyone else was speechless as they took in their surroundings.

Moon's awe of the room was short lived however as she soon focused on Pluto. "Pluto!" she cried as she ran forward and hugged her. "You were the voice in my dream weren't you?" She whispered to the ancient scout.

Pluto embraced her warmly then nodded slightly to her question. "Its good to see you," she said softly. "Small Lady sends her love."

"How is Rini?" Moon asked curiously.

"She's making all of us proud. Her experiances in this time period have benefited her greatly, just as her mother and father hoped," she replied then looked to Saturn, who still seemed a bit in shock. "Do you have something to say to me little one?"

"It's… it's really you," she said as though she only half believed it. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again, at least not till Crystal Tokyo. I… I missed you," she stuttered.

Pluto opened her arms as Saturn dropped her scythe and buried her face in her chest, finding herself crying though she wasn't sure why. Though they had only been together a relatively short time during Galaxia's threat she had found Pluto to understand her like no one else did. Rini, Sailor Moon and the others were the best, closest friends she could ever ask for but only Pluto seemed to have a real understanding of the dark forces that empowered her. She had been the one who had helped her adjust to her rapid aging, as well as taking care of her father.

Everyone was silent for a while at the heartwarming scene but eventually Jupiter spoke up. "All right, do you mind telling us why you took us out of the battle? People could be getting hurt, we have to get back there."

Pluto looked up but kept her arms around Saturn. "Don't worry. Time passes differently here. Jedite won't have time to cause any harm while we're gone."

"I don't understand," Luna said as she approached the tall soldier. "Did you think the scouts weren't capable of defeating Jedite?"

"It looked to me like they were doing just fine," Artemis asserted.

"No, it's not that. You may very well have won, but what we will do here will help you greatly." Pluto then addressed Uranus and Neptune. "I must say, I'm very pleased that you have learned how to put your differences aside and work as a team."

Jupiter crossed her arms in spite. "You're one to talk."

"Jupiter!" Moon scolded.

Pluto seemed unfazed. "It's alright. I suppose I deserve that. I admit I have been quite cold to you in the past. Believe me when I say I am sorry for that. The truth is it is hard for me to be close to you here while being close to your future selves. There are so many things I can't tell you about, and so many experiances we can't share because they haven't happened yet. Its like being with a group of people who only know half of what you know about them. Still, that is not an excuse and I promise to try harder from now on."

Jupiter looked a bit ashamed now. "That's… all right. I guess I never really thought about how strange it must be for you when you come to this time."

Pluto nodded, "we had best get down to business." Raising her Garnet Rod she pointed it into the darkness. As it pulsed ten portals appeared in the distance. Each glowed with the trademark elemental colors of one of the scouts: gold for Venus, icy blue for Mercury, red for Mars, green for Jupiter, Silver for Moon, aqua for Neptune etc.

"What are those?" Tuxedo asked.

Pluto spoke with great purpose. "Queen Serenity knew our powers would grow beyond what they were in the Silver Millenium. Even she did not imagine they would become this great but she did know we would need help to fully develop them. So, she designed ten special rooms, one for each of us and the last for the guardian of Earth, and entrusted me with their care." (As she says this we see flashbacks of Pluto talking with Queen Serenity with the rooms in the background.) Within these rooms, our minds and bodies would accelerate the growth of our powers to the very maximum, but only when we had already reached a certain level of development, and only when we were all ready. Now that we have all reached the level of Super and have united fully as one team we are at last ready to face these tests. Your spirits knew the time was close at hand and so have been preparing your minds and bodies for the coming challenge. This will be a defining moment for us as Sailor Soldiers. If we succeed in these tests it will not only help us fight Jedite but all the enemies we will inevitably face in the future. It is time we completed our evolution and became the sailors we were always meant to be."

"Wow," Moon said as she took the revelation in.

"We have more new abilities?" Uranus said in wonder.

Mars scratched her chin as she pondered; "I wonder what they are…"

"Wait a second. What do you mean 'if' we succeed? You're from the future so don't you already know what's going to happen?" Jupiter asked.

"It's hardly as simple as that. The future you visited a few years ago has been greatly altered by events since then, both in the present and future. Even I don't understand all of it," Pluto admitted.

"Yeah like how the events with Nehelania and the Dark Moon Circus still happened even though Sailor Moon gave her a second chance by sending her back in time to be a child again," Venus declared.

"Exactly," Pluto agreed, "to me it is as though what is about to transpire has never happened."

Jupiter looked more confused then she was before. "Oh, I see… I think."

"But what happens if we do fail?" Venus asked.

Pluto looked somber; "if one of us fails… we will not lose our lives. However our powers, and the eternal soul of the sailor soldier within us, will be taken away, to be reborn in another."

Everyone gasped. "Lose our powers?" Venus shuddered at the thought.

"That would be like losing a part of my soul," Mars trembled, "it'd be worse then death."

"We wouldn't be the people we were before and someone else would protect the future," Jupiter said.

Uranus shook in anger and worry, "everything we've worked for… all the sacrifices we made. It would be taken away, just like that."

Moon turned to them, her face serous. "Don't talk like that. We've come a long way and I for one am not going to let some test tear us apart. Let's all promise each other to get through this. We owe it to ourselves and everyone we've faught for."

Mars stepped up to her portal. "Sailor Moon's right. We've come too far to let anything stop us now. I don't care what's in there, I'll take it down."

Neptune looked to Uranus, "we have a future waiting for us, I'm not about to fail." Both smiled and assumed their places.

"Let's seize our destiny!" Jupiter cried.

"We may not be together physically, but we will be with each other in spirit," Mercury said confidently.

Venus approached her portal. "We'll make Queen Serenity proud!"

Tuxedo took Moon aside, concern shone in his features. "Be careful."

Moon nodded, "I will, and I promise to make you proud of me."

Tuxedo pulled her close. "You already have." The two shared a brief kiss.

As the scouts assembled, determination etched in their faces, Pluto addressed them. "In each of these rooms you will face a being with powers like yours, and just as strong. It will know everything about you, your darkest secrets, and greatest dreams. They will attack both your minds and bodies, so be prepared for anything. You must overcome them if you are to gain your new abilities.

As she entered Moon stopped and looked back, "good luck Pluto."

"Yeah, although I doubt you'll need it. I'll bet you're out before any of us," Jupiter said winking at her.

Pluto was genuinely moved, "thank you, you have no idea how much that means to me."

One by one the scouts entered through their respective portals until only Saturn and Pluto remained. Saturn stood still as Pluto walked toward her portal. Noticing her hesitation Pluto looked back. "What's wrong?"

Saturn seemed to struggle to answer, "Pluto… I… I'm afraid. I have always tried to put my past behind me. If this being will truly know my darkest fears then I'm going to have to face it."

Pluto looked at her in understanding, "we are alike you and I. Both our powers are based on far darker forces then the other scouts. It can be difficult dealing with it at times." She gave one of her rare smiles, surprising warm and comforting; "do you want to know a secret?"

Saturn looked at her in surprise, "what?"

Pluto's smile faded, replaced with her usual calm, mysterious visage. "I'm afraid too."

No longer feeling so alone Saturn smiled slightly and walked through her portal. Pluto looked after her then faced her portal, her face unreadable as she entered.

Luna and Artemis were left to watch and wait. Luna sighed. "Good luck… all of you."

Notes:

Yay! I finally got to introduce Pluto! She's one of my favorites and I hope to have fun with her character in the rest of the series. I hope my explanation about the scout's powers was realistic for the series. They got new abilities in every season so who's to say they don't have more that haven't activated yet?