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.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Episode eight: The Test: Part 2. New Powers Awaken!

______________________________________________________________________________________

The light beam shot toward Tuxedo and despite a moment of panic he found himself able to focus. Without conscious thought he willed for something, anything, to protect him. In an instant a slab of stone five feet high rose up from the ground in front of him, taking the blast. In the next second four vines shot from the nearby trees and wrapped around the guardians limbs, holding him fast.

Peace filled his mind and body as Tuxedo felt himself connect with the very earth beneath him. An aura covered him and a column of light rose around him. As he drew energy from the ground and plants he felt his wounds closing up, his strength returning. He stood up slowly, and with a gesture caused a large blast of water to shoot from the lake.

The guardian's crystal flashed, extinguishing the water in a great cloud of steam. With another surge of power he broke free of the vines and fired a beam at the now fully recovered Tuxedo Mask. Tuxedo leaped away and with a wave of his hand caused a tremor to pass through the ground. The Guardian simply rose above it. Tuxedo concentrated and tried to will a thunderbolt to strike the Guardian but received nothing. Why won't it work?! He thought in frustration.

The Guardian picked up on it immediately, "You can only control nature's forces to a limited extent though it may become stronger with time. Even so such power is useless if you are ever to fight somewhere besides Earth. Awaken your other abilities, they lie just below the surface now."

Tuxedo flipped back as more blasts of energy shot from the crystal on the Guardian's forehead. The being then stopped and began charging a larger beam. Tuxedo could feel a new attack rising within him and searched for the words. He clenched his right fist, "Tuxedo…" (Gray and black bolts of energy begin to flash from around his hand.) "The Smoking…" (A mass of black and gray energy begins to form in front of his palm as he throws his arm foreword.) "Bomber!" (The surging mass fires foreword from his outstretched palm in a discontinuous beam trailing black and gray vapor.)

The Guardian fired his beam and it met with Tuxedo's attack in a brilliant display. "You're learning," he said with an air of approval, "But you have yet to defeat me."

"I'm just getting warmed up," Tuxedo said confidently then raised his right arm. Wind began to blow about him. Small points of light, life energy, began to rise from the earth, every leaf and every blade of grass. They began to converge in his open palm.

The guardian shot another beam.

Tuxedo threw a rose, absorbing the beams energy.

"Earthly…" (The light converges into a large blue and green sphere.) "Orb!" (He crouches down and throws the sphere forward.)

The orb grew larger and larger and completely enveloped the guardian causing him to disappear in a brilliant flash of light. (Tuxedo is left standing in cool "throw" pose like how he looked after throwing the rose into Fiore's' heart.)

"Feeling the chill Mercury?" the Ice Guardian taunted as the soldier fell to her knees, shivering so badly she could hardly move.

I have to calm down, she thought to herself as her body stiffened, I have to think this through, there must be a solution. A thin coating of ice began to form around her body. With the little movement left to her she looked down in surprise at the readout on her computer screen. This ice… its energy is identical to mine. That… that means I'm fighting a part of myself. Maybe I've been doing things wrong from the start. Maybe instead of resisting the ice I should embrace it… my power. Closing her eyes and willing her defenses to let herself be frozen she was soon totally encased in ice. All was still for several moments when slowly she began to glow brighter and brighter till her ice blue aura exploded outward and enveloped the chamber. The light dimmed and revealed Mercury floating in the center of the chamber, her aura still glowing about her. She opened her eyes

The Ice Guardian raised her hands, a large orb of blue energy forming between them. "Now onto phase 2 of your test." She threw the orb forward and it surged out into a beam. Her gaze unwavering Mercury extended one hand, literally absorbing the icy liquid.

"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"

The guardian leaped over the barrage of liquid and floated above her, charging a beam of ice in one hand.

Mercury brought her hands forward and leveled them with the being. "Mercury…" (a bright, surging orb grows in-between her palms). "Ice…" (the orb surges within her hands faster and fiercer with every second). "Beam!" (The orb fires outward into a large beam.)

The twin beams struck each other directly; Mercury's showing a distinct advantage in the struggle. The Ice Guardian brought her other hand forward, intensifying the beam. The beams continued their struggle for several seconds till they canceled each other out in a bright flash. Mercury collapsed to her knees, breathing heavily. The guardian was similarly fatigued.

"I don't suppose you want to call it quits?" Mercury heaved as she got back to her feet.

"Do you?" the being asked with a smile.

Mercury smiled back, surprised at how fulfilling this battle was for her, "not a chance!" She ran and leaped toward the guardian. "Mercury…" (she holds her right arm high over her, a swath of light flashes into her hand as she does so). "Ice…" (the light in her hand begins to solidify as it spins, becoming a sharp-edged disc). "Discus!" (She throws the disc much like Moon would.)

The disc flew forward, the guardian dodging as it sliced through the ice walls. With a thought and wave of her arm Mercury sent the orb back to her hand, spun around, and leaped at the guardian, disc in hand. She slashed the edge of the disc against the Ice Guardian; cutting through her robes and lodging the disc in her shoulder as Mercury kicked off her body and landed perfectly on the slick ice. "Odd," Mercury said to herself, "my feet seem to just grip the ice perfectly."

The guardian tore the discus out of her shoulder with some effort and tossed it to the ground. "It is because you are embracing your powers like never before, gaining mastery over your element, ice."

"I see. Very interesting." Mercury resisted the urge to analyze the situation further. The Ice guardian ran at her as she dodged and rolled aside, picking up the discus as she did, and threw it back at the guardian with great force. The spinning disc shot past, and through the guardian's right arm, slicing it cleanly off. The arm fell and shattered.

The Ice Guardian swiftly regenerated the limb and faced Mercury. "You are doing well Soldier of Ice. Now let us summon our full abilities and put them to test. Her eyes flashed pure white as wind began to blow about her body, increasing every moment. Within seconds it had grown to a fierce gale but still remained on the guardians half of the cavern. "I suggest you devise a defense, for though you cannot die here you may wish you had." She threw her hands forward and the wind went with them, releasing thousands of icy fragments with it.

Mercury raised her arms in front of herself and met the wall of wind head-on. Unaffected by the cold the ice shards still tore at her skin as she struggled against the fierce wind. "No," she strained, "I'm, I'm not going to let you win." Her aura again exploded outward, creating an area of a meter around her where the ice could not touch. "Mercury…" (ice grows up all around her.) "Sub-Zero…" (the ice shatters into thousands of pieces but remain floating around her as she raises her arms high.) "Blizzard!" (She throws her arms forward and ice shards envelop the screen as they fly at it.)

The two massive blasts of wind and ice merged together, tearing apart the center of the cavern. With a yell Mercury released the last of her strength and overcame the guardian's blizzard. The Ice Guardian was overwhelmed and her body torn apart as the full power of Mercury's attack was brought upon her.

Mercury fell to her knees. "I did it." She smiled, despite her fatigue, she had never been so proud of herself.

The flames filled her whole field of vision as the gap between Mars and the incoming stream of fire was bridged. Her mind was racing, as the flames seemed to approach in slow motion. No... I can't let this beat me. I have to face this threat head on and not be afraid. This fire is a part of me and I'm a part of it. There's nothing to be afraid of. Mars felt a wave of peace wash over her; she closed her eyes as the fire engulfed her body.

The Fire Guardian watched the flames for several seconds as nothing happened. Then, ever so slightly, the fire began to die down. The flames slowly parted, revealing the silhouette of a woman, her hair blowing about in the hot wind. The dragon smiled, "excellent."

*Mars Theme begins to play* Mars stood amidst the flames in a meditation posture, her eyes still shut. Though the fire licked at her legs and embers struck her skin she didn't flinch. She was completely unharmed. Slowly she opened her eyes and spoke with great passion. "I am flame… I am light… I am Mars!" A wave of energy spread from her red aura, extinguishing the flames instantly. Mar's face rose to look in the eye of her opponent. She raised her right arm toward the dragon. "Mars…" (Flames wrap around her body, thickening and surging around her arm). "Snake…" (Two slitted red eyes appear behind her in the darkness.) "Fire…" (The flames build around her even further.) "Strike!" (The fire shoots from her right arm, forming into the shape of a flaming, hooded cobra; its jaws wide open as it engulfs the screen.)

The snake fire bit into the guardian's neck then wrapped its flaming coils around its body before exploding. The dragon stumbled backward from the heavy blow but managed to throw its head forward and release another blast of flame. The fire hit Mars full force but it did little more then blow her hair about. She didn't even blink. She threw her arms outward and the flames parted before her. "Flame Sniper!" The fiery arrow embedded itself in the dragon's chest, causing it to fall forward onto all fours in pain. Breathing heavily it tore the arrow out and lashed at Mars repeatedly with its tail. She dodged every blow until during one leap she twisted wrong, sending a shooting pain through her body from her previous wound. She landed holding her side, leaving herself open to attack. The Fire Guardian struck forward with its tail, sending Mars crashing into one of the cave walls where she fell hard to the floor.

Getting to her hands and knee's Mars panted as the dragon approached her. I have to slow this guy down. Feeling new power building within her she stood to her feet. "Mars…" (She crosses her arms as lava boils up around her.) "Lava Flow!" (She throws her arms forward and the lava surges toward the screen.) The Fire Guardian struggled as the wave of lava washed under it, but within seconds it had hardened, trapping the creature's legs.

Now to end this, she thought as the sailor felt again a new ability surfacing. She closed her eyes and concentrated, willing the new power to her. The ground around her began to crack, steam shooting out and lava flowing from the cracks. Still the power built. "Mars…" (Flames grow all around Mars as she stands in a meditation posture.) "Eternal Fire…" (The flames grow until we can barely see her through them.) "Incinerate!" (She throws her hands forward and all the flames fly out as a single wall, totally engulfing the screen in fire.)

The wall of fire, at least a hundred feet tall, just as wide and twice as long, hit the dragon with immense force, its whole body disintegrating in mere seconds. Mars collapsed to her hands and knee in relief and fatigue. "I'll have to remember not to use that attack very often, it really drains me." She rested, breathing heavily, till the dragon's voice boomed to her through the cavern.

"Well done Mars. You have succeeded in passing your test. Now go and await your friends, I wish you well."

Mars looked up as a beam of light shot from the ceiling. She basked in it as all her injuries vanished before the light teleported her back to the dark chamber Pluto had first brought them to.

Jupiter's screams sounded through the wooden cavern as the guardian pressed her harder and harder against the electrified wall. Amidst all the pain she tried to remember her training. Come on Lita… focus. You are thunder, use this energy to your advantage. You have to focus, Suddenly the pain began to subside, the lightning coursing through her becoming almost comforting. She leveled her gaze with the guardian. "Supreme…" (Her rose earring flash brightly.) "Adrenaline…" (Lightning courses through her body.) "Surge!" (A shock wave of energy explodes from her form; kind of like what DBZ characters do when they power up.)

With one pull she ripped the trunk-like vine in two all the way to the base of the guardians arm where it tore off sending her stumbling back. With a yell she ran at her and slammed her right fist into the floor as the guardian leaped back. The wood shattered under her fist and tore apart for several feet around her, the shock wave of the hit rocking the ground like an earthquake. She ran forward again but again the guardian dodged as branches from the ceiling lifted her out of reach. Jupiter leaped up and struck but still to no avail. "Hold still darn you!"

"Why don't you make me?" the Thunder and Wood Guardian taunted.

Jupiter felt more new strength flowing into her, "I will. Lightning…" (She throws her right arm backward as lightning flashes within her palm.) "Whip!" (She throws her arm forward, the lightning extending into a long bolt-like whip that flies out in front of her.)

The lightning whip wrapped around her, simultaneously electrocuting and holding her in place. Just as the guardian broke free Jupiter fired another attack.

"Supreme Thunder Dragon!"

The dragon-shaped lightning attack surged through her, leaving the guardian smoking. A large bolt of lightning shot down from the ceiling of the cavern, healing her slightly. Instantly she summoned dozens of new tree limbs. They wrapped around Jupiter, holding her fast, while forming a protective net around the guardian.

Unable to move enough to summon an attack Jupiter struggled to breathe as the branches squeezed her neck. Again she felt the comfort of her element and closed her eyes. The ground around her began to glow with her aura and green lightning flashed about from the electrified walls. Slowly the branches unwrapped and lowered her to the ground. Although she could now control the plants she decided to go for the more direct approach at getting to the guardian. "Jupiter Oak Evolution!"

The energy leaves sliced through the branches surrounding the guardian. As the being fell Jupiter focused.

*As I think both are good I'm giving two descriptions of this attack. Mine and it's original creator Soldier Polaris's (in opposite order). *

Blossom…" (Jupiter crouches toward the ground and places one knee down. She lays the palms of her hand on the ground and closes her eyes. Her hands glow a light pink and her energy spreads around her. Flowers of all kinds rise up and bloom in front of her. As she opens her eyes and stands the antenna on her tiara raises up and a great storm appears above her.) "Tempest!" (A bolt of lightning hits the rod and the thunder energy swirls around her. Great winds lift the petals and thorns off the flowers. The thorns, petals, and thunder energy swirl together and form to a tight sphere. Jupiter shoves her hands out and the sphere flies at the screen.)

The lightning rod on her tiara rose up and began to draw in energy. The electricity of the room surged into her until it was completely absorbed and every inch of her body crackled with power. "Blossom…" (Thousands of leaves, flower petals, and branches swirl around her amidst a mass of electrical energy.) "Tempest!" (The material becomes energy and forms into an orb she holds high. As it surges with power she throws it forward where it expands into a continuous stream of plant shrapnel and lightning.)

The attack struck before the guardian could even hit the ground and, suspended in mid-air, she was torn apart by its violent power.

Jupiter dropped to one knee breathing heavily. "Wow, what an attack!"

"Enjoy your life Sailor Jupiter, every stage of it," the Wood and Thunder Guardian's voice echoed, "and one day your prince will come."

Jupiter smiled. I hope you're right.

Venus shut her eyes and prepared for the impact when suddenly a circular field of energy surged up around her, forming an energy barrier as the guardian slammed into it. As the guardian pressed against the shield she felt a new attack phrase enter her mind. "Passion…" (Her whole body is bathed in golden light. Light beams shoot up forming the barrier.) "Regeneration!" (Her injuries vanish.)

A shock wave of power surged from her shield knocking the guardian back. Venus stood to her feet. "As the most experienced Inner Scout and second in command of the sailor soldiers I punish you in the name of Venus! Crescent Beam Smash!"

The little guardian spread her arms summoning two halves of a large gold shield, one half in each hand. She brought them together; blocking the attack as Venus gasped. "You really should cut down on the speeches." She threw her arms back and flew forward, the shield folding up behind her.

"Speech this! Crescent Beam Shower!"

Summoning the shield the Love Guardian again deflected the rain of crescent beams. Pulling one arm back then forward she released a huge golden beam of her own as Venus barely dodged, the beam rocketing down the hall for as far as the eye could see. As the guardian shot past her Venus turned her aura surging. She raised her arms over her head. "Golden…" (She begins to spin, gold energy surging around with her till her whole body becomes golden energy like she looks when she transforms.) "Revolution!" (She flies toward the screen, still spinning.)

Venus bored right through the shield, shattering it. She flew upward still spinning then down as the guardian dodged aside. She landed on one knee, her body becoming flash and blood again, her eyes shut. Her hair began to flail wildly, her energy surging like never before. "Heartbreak…" (A column of light forms around her and grows outward as she crosses her arms over her chest.) "Revenge!" (Golden energy fills the whole view. Surging out it rips up the gold plated floor.)

All was enveloped in the golden light as it surged out of Venus in every direction. Overcome, the guardian melted away.

Pluto dodged left and right as the twin heads struck at her independently. In a quick motion she jabbed one end of the Garnet Rod into one of the guardians eyes while striking the other head back with a powerful swing. The creature roared in anger and released a twin stream of black fire from its jaws as Pluto flipped back out of the way.

Pluto dug her shoes into the earth, skidding to a stop, and positioned her staff as energy surged into it. "Pluto Deadly Scream!"

With a flap of its huge wings the dragon flew over the blast. As it did so one head separated from the rest of the body. Now snake-like the head flew down at her jaws wide, Pluto leaping to the side just in time. Now however she had to deal with two attackers and it was all she could do to dodge or deflect their constant strikes. With a spin of her staff she deflected a blast of dark fire as the head with the body came up from behind her, delivering a hard slash across her shoulder and arm with its rapier claws.

Pluto rolled away and struggled to support herself with her staff, only to fall to her hands and knees bleeding badly. She breathed heavily as the dragon approached. Her aura formed. "This isn't over yet. Underworld…" (Her aura surges, causing her hair to flail wildly.) "Healing!" (Her wounds close up.)

Pluto rose back to her feet. "Now its my turn." The dragon heads rushed at her again as she leaped over them. "Garnet…" (The end of the Garnet Rod forms into a long sharp spike.) "Rod…" (The rod surges with power.) "Impale!" (She stabs the rod into, and through the snake dragon head.)

The second head blew apart in a burst of black cloud, leaving Pluto with the main body. As the two faced off anew she took a quick look at her surroundings, searching for an advantage. She noticed the chasm and a plan quickly formed in her mind. This creature's destruction should create enough of a shock wave…

The dragon struck its spiked tail forward, releasing half a dozen long spines. Pluto knocked them away with another spin of her staff and raised it high. "Chronos…" (The Garnet Orb flashes brightly and gathers a great amount of dark energy into itself as the shadowed figure of the time god Chronos appears behind her.) "Typhoon!" (Massive waves of dark energy radiate from the orb as she throws the staff down to the horizontal and releases the huge gale.)

The huge amount of dark energy ripped apart the ground and struck the dragon in the chest, sending it flying toward the chasm. Pluto ran after it, her adrenaline rushing. She leaped into the chasm and started to free-fall toward the still stunned dragon. As she fell toward it she leveled the crystal orb of the Time Key with the guardian. "Deadly…" (Black energy fills the orb and surges around it.) "Beam! (The energy shoots out into a black beam about twice as wide as the Crescent Beam.)

The guardian wheeled about in mid-air but the beam still struck the base of its wing, blasting it clean off. Now flightless it too began to free fall. Having been blasted part way back up the chasm by the force of firing the beam Pluto leveled her staff once more. "Deadly Scream!" The orb struck the flightless dragon in the chest shooting it down to the bottom of the chasm where it blew apart while the momentum sent Pluto even further upward. The resulted explosion of dark power its destruction caused hit Pluto, knocking her back to the surface of the chasm where she landed gracefully.

Pluto opened her right hand, the heart-shaped locket appearing in it. She looked at the picture fondly. "I did it my queen," she whispered. "Now I will be able to protect you, Rini and everyone else even more." Pluto knew it would be some time before she would return to Crystal Tokyo. Indeed how Crystal Tokyo would come into existence with all the changes that had occurred was somewhat of a mystery to her. She was however getting a fair idea and it would probably involve some temporary memory and power altering. She walked toward the light beam.

Neptune's lungs were now burning for air as she struggled in the mass of liquid. Amidst her panic she remembered how right it always felt for her to be in the water, how she could hold her breath much longer then most and how the waters temperature didn't seem to effect her much. She closed her eyes, summoned her aura, and breathed in. It didn't surprise her when she found herself able to breathe. She opened her eyes, summoning the full strength of her aura. The mass of water fell away and left her floating there.

The Sea Guardian summoned several jets of water, which circled around Neptune then sped down upon her. Neptune crossed her arms and her aura flashed brighter. The water jets were instantly reduced to steam. The guardian was already charging another attack, a huge orb of liquid energy. She threw it forward and it lengthened into a thick stream.

Neptune closed her eyes again, a sweet melody filling her soul. "Submarine…" (She moves her hands into the playing position as glowing aqua violin appears in them.) "Violin…" (She begins to play beautifully.) "Tide!" (Many violent jets of liquid energy shoot from the violin as she plays.)

Neptune's blast of liquid quickly overcame the guardian's attack and pushed her back. Undaunted the guardian rose up above her and summoned a Deep Submerge-like orb.

Neptune raised her right arm over her head as the orb flew forward. "Neptune…" (Liquid energy flashes into her hand, forming into a solid form.) "Triton!" (A magnificent aqua colored pulsing triton flashes to life.)

Neptune brought the triton down to meet the orb. Energy flashed as the orb struck the prongs of the triton and was cut in half the two halves flying harmlessly off on each side of her. Neptune ran forward and leaped toward the guardian, slashing at her with the triton. The guardian dodged aside and released another stream of water as Neptune blocked it. "You will have to do more then this if you are to win," she said.

Neptune vanished the triton. "I will."

Neptune raised both her arms over her head like she would when using Deep Submerge. "Neptune…" (Water begins to rise around her.) "Supreme…" (An immense amount of water rises over her.) "Tsunami! (The water comes crashing down and envelops everything.)

The huge amount of water crashed into the guardian like a tidal wave and as it drained away parts of the guardian were revealed scattered about the floor. The parts began to collect. Neptune stepped forward and with a mere gesture stopped their movement. The guardian sighed in defeat. "Very well… you win."

Amidst the violent spinning Uranus began to feel something more. It was the same feeling she had when she was racing, riding her motorcycle, out fighting an enemy through speed. My power… She shut her eyes, finding a calm in the center of this twister, and concentrated. She willed the wind to reverse direction, canceling out the twister and lowering her gently to the base of the cloud. The wind was now hers to command. She looked at the guardian, her desire for battle taking over. "Now, lets try this again."

The guardian flew at her as Uranus lifted her arms over her head. "Space..." (Bright wind energy gathers about her as she holds her arms high.) "Turbulence!" (She throws her right hand forward and the wind energy surges forward as a chaotic mass of swirling air.)

The wind energy violently caught the guardian, trapping her as it spun about. Uranus crouched. "Ethereal…" (Wind energy engulfs her body.) "Embodiment!" (She races forward as a streak of light.)

In a blink of an eye Uranus ricocheted off the cloud and hit the guardian hard right out of the twister. The Sky Guardian flipped over in mid air and sent out a stream of wind energy. Uranus dodged and continued her assault, rebounding and striking again and again. Finally she landed and faced the stunned being. She crossed her hands over her chest. "Ethereal…" (Wind energy is drawn up around her.) "Blaze!" (The energy turns golden as she throws her hands forward and releases it as a wide, continuous stream.)

The guardian was finished, her vaporous body being torn to atoms by the surging river of golden energy. Uranus looked at her work with approval. "Well that was fun." She glanced at the beam of light as it opened up nearby and walked toward it.

As she heaved against the guardians assault Saturn gave in fully to her auras power and felt her new abilities emerging. "Dark…" (The shape of a black star appears under her feet.) "Star…" (It begins to emit energy.) "Enshroud!" (A flash of pure black extended from her scythe and into the guardian's eyes.)

The guardian clutched its face, stunned by its blindness. Saturn raced forward. "Silence…" (She pulls the scythe back as she runs.) "Scythe…" (The scythe begins to pulse darkly.) "Strike!" (She swings forward, releasing a black swath from the scythe.)

Saturn leaped up and slashed past the guardian doing serious damage to its side as it fell to the ground. With loud moans it began to stand up.

Saturn felt an immense amount of new power emerging. She leveled her scythe with the creature as it ran toward her, its own scythe raised. She raced past it releasing another Silence Strike and halving the guardians scythe. She leveled her scythe once more as the creature turned toward her. "Ebony…" (Saturn raises her scythe above her head and holds it with one hand so that it is perpendicular to the ground. As she twirls it around in a circle her eyes go black and the ground beneath her cracks.) "Silence…" (Black energy swirls around her from the ground and forms to a tight sphere above the scythe.) "Scream!" (Saturn jabs her staff into the sphere and swings the staff toward the ground. The sphere flies off the end and soars toward the enemy.)

The guardian had no time to react as the surging black orb struck it in the chest, destroying it in a huge explosion of darkness.

Saturn breathed a sigh of relief, the light beam shooting down and healing her. As Saturn basked in it the guardian appeared before her, only now she was in the form of a beautiful woman, much like an adult Hotaru in appearance.

Saturn stuttered. "You- but-but you were just-"

The being smiled, "your darkness hides much light and beauty Saturn. You just have to look for it. You fought very well and by every right overcame me and thus yourself." Her face turned serious as she continued, "before you go there is something I must tell you."

"Yes," Saturn asked confidently, but still dreading what she might say.

"You are not yet entirely complete. There is another demon from your past you must face."

Saturn cringed inwardly, "what do you mean? Who?"

"A part of you has been lost since the time your spirit was first created. It will find you. It's only a matter of time. What you do then may determine everyone's fate." Without another word the creature vanished, leaving a mystified Saturn. Saturn stepped into the light.

When she opened her eyes Saturn found herself back in the room Pluto had first brought them to. She smiled as the others noticed and ran toward her. Even as they did so Mars and then Mercury appeared from their portals. As everyone hugged and congratulated each other Saturn decided to not mention the strange message the guardian had given her. Until she had a better idea of what it meant there was no point in saying anything. She then noticed something. "Wait a second, where's Sailor Moon."

"She's right, Sailor Moon isn't here," Tuxedo said, worry in his voice.

"She must not have completed her test yet." Pluto turned toward the center of the room and let the orb of her staff levitate over it.

"What are you doing?" Mars asked, stepping up to her.

"Focus on the crystal ball. It will allow us to see what is going on," Pluto explained. Everyone clustered around to watch the titanic battle.

"Sailor Moon is the strongest of all of us," Uranus pointed out.

"That means her opponent will be stronger then any of the ones you faced in there," Artemis surmised.

Luna stared at the forming image in worry, "I hope she can handle this."

Moon attacked, her right fist flying forward with all her might. The being dodged this blow as well as a second and third one before catching her right fist in one hand and hitting her hard across the face with the other. Moon flew backwards a good fifteen feet, landing hard on her back.

In quite a bit of pain Moon struggled back to her feet again and summoned her staff, firing a Twilight Flash. The beams merely bounced off the guardian's energy shield as it attacked again.

The guardian spin kicked Moon in the face, sending her rolling along the floor. Spitting blood, she struggled to get up but was kicked again. Trying again she struck forward with her staff, the guardian dodging every blow.

"You're attacks are strong Sailor Moon but a bit too clumsy and unfocused," she said as she dodged left and right.

Moon was getting panicked, as she grew tired. "Twilight Flash!"

The guardian stepped back just enough for the light beams to fly over her head then struck forward with her own beam right into Moons stomach, knocking her back even further. "I won't continue this exercise any more. It is pointless." Moon gasped as she shot another beam, pinning her to the wall and melding her into crystal, trapping her in the small space.

"I am disappointed Sailor Moon… I had hoped you would put up more of a fight. However now it is out of my hands, your powers will go to someone more worthy of them." The guardian turned to walk away.

Moon struggled within the crystal, tears forming in her eyes. _No! This can't happen! _ She breathed heavily as she tried to focus. Come on Serena… you've awakened the warrior within you before. Now its time you take control of it. (She has flashbacks of fighting Rubeus and Bountyhunter.) Everyone believes in me I can't let them down! Closing her eyes Moon made her will her power as she focused it within the Silver Crystal. Drawing more and more power out her crystal containment began to crack as her aura flared up.

The Crystal Guardian turned her face toward the new activity and raised an eyebrow.

*Song "She's got the power!" begins to play*

Sailor Moons containment shattered into a million fragments and disintegrated as she floated out of it. Her wings began to glow and folded back. "Angel…" Her eyes flashed open. "Wing!"

Her wings shot forward with great force, releasing two identical wing-shaped blades of energy. They combined and flew forward at great speed, slamming into the Crystal Guardian and blasting her into the far wall in an explosion of crystal shrapnel and energy.

"Did you see that?" Venus said stunned.

"She's doing it!" Uranus cried happily.

Tuxedo looked on proudly.

The guardian exploded from the debris and shot toward Moon. She flew straight up and the two wheeled about in the sky as great speed, striking fists to staff, till each stopped and floated on opposite sides of the room.

Moon closed her eyes as she felt the warm, gentle sensation of a new power forming. She looked on in surprise as first her Heart Crystal then her Star Seed emerged from her body. They merged and in a flash that lit the whole chamber a new weapon formed. "Eternal Moon Blade!" Moon yelled as the sword completed forming in her right hand (it looks like the sword that was used against Galaxia at the end of the Stars series.) Her Star Seed and Pure Heart Crystal proceeded to leave the weapon and go back into her body much as had happened with Uranus, Neptune and Pluto's talisman treasures.

The guardian was undaunted and flew forward, her right fist glowing with power. Moon raced toward her, her sword flashing in the crystal's light. The guardian fist struck the base of the sword and both held. The shock wave extended from the contact point, shattering a line of crystal on all sides. Moon yelled as she surged with more power and shot the guardian back. The guardian stopped herself before she could hit the far wall and raced forward again. As Moon dodged aside her eyes flashed and a huge section of the crystal floor levitated. She threw it toward Moon. Moon threw out a small orb of crystal energy from her hand. "Moon Crystal Encase!"

The flashing orb struck the crystal enveloping it in a barrier of more crystal. It fell harmlessly to the floor. The guardian extended her hand, firing out light beams. Moon blocked them with her sword and swung at her. The guardian dodged and Moon flew above her. The sword shortened as a small sheath appeared behind her wings. She sheathed the sword and threw her hands forward, palms out. "Moon Gravity Force!"

An intense wave of gravity was released from her hands, sending the guardian straight into the floor where Moon held her there. For several seconds she kept up the assault then stopped. The guardian lay beaten and broken in the impression made by the gravity wave, her skin cracking in various places. Moon looked at her wearily. She smiled. "You have proven to have many tricks Sailor Moon, but crystal takes many forms." Before Moon could react she descended through the crystal floor, completely disappearing.

Moon unsheathed her sword and held it at the ready, expecting the guardian to come flying at her any moment, when before her eyes something very different happened. A huge hand, then arm extended from the crystal wall, followed by the rest of the guardians body, now at least fifty feet high. Moon sweat dropped. "You've got to be kidding me…"

"As I said I take many forms." The guardian extended her right arm into a blade and struck towards Moon. Despite her smaller size Moon blocked the attack with her own sword's extreme power, a shock wave again shattering crystal around her. She backed up and dodged aside as the guardian extended the crystal blade at her and into the floor. With one strike she broke the blade in half then raced past the guardian, slashing her across the side. She turned around and gasped as the injury healed over but then she noticed something. For a brief moment she could see inside the wound. The inside of the crystal being was hollow and within was her original body, still the same size. I'll have to cut through that whole shell to do any real damage… but how?

The guardian released a beam of energy from her hands as Moon dodged aside. She faced the being, hovering about fifty feet from her. The crescent mark on her forehead began to glow. "Eternal…" Beams of light formed everywhere and began to converge within the crescent mark. "Moon…" The energy built until it reached the breaking point. "Beam!" The crescent mark released a GIGANTIC pure white beam that rocketed toward the guardian.

The beam surged forward; ripping through the guardian straight up from her stomach to her head, cutting her outer shell into two vertical halves and stunning her real body which remained floating amidst the debris.

Moon flew forward amid the hundreds of crystal shards, pulling her sword back and then forward. Her swath cut into, and through, the guardians side as she raced past her in a streak of light before coming to a stop where she hovered, her back turned to the guardian, eyes shut, and sword still drawn forward. Slowly she turned around and watched the effects of her attack play out to their inevitable conclusion.

The guardian hovered in shock, small fragments of crystal breaking away from the wound in her side. She closed her eyes and smiled slightly. "It seems you were more then worthy…" Her body continued to fragment, light shooting from the cracks until her whole body shattered and exploded in light.

Sailor Moon sheathed her sword behind her wings and looked at the falling crystal shards in sadness. I know I had to do it, but… she wasn't evil. I wish there had been another way.

Suddenly a voice sounded through the cavern as the Guardians face, huge, appeared in the glasslike wall. "I thank you for your concern Sailor Moon but you need not worry about me. You did not kill me, you simply overcame me. You see I am you Serena, I am your power given life and persona. I am a part of you and have been since long before you were born into this world. Ever since you first received your powers they have been growing. Every foe you faught, every challenge you faced made you more powerful. When you were ready you made more apparent jumps in power, resulting in your Super and then Eternal forms. Now however you have faced and conquered your very self thus gaining full mastery of your abilities. Now go. Your friends await you."

Moon smiled and stepped into the light.

Sailor Moon was showered by congratulations as soon as she reappeared, Jupiter and Venus hugging her and Uranus giving her a hard slap on the back.

"You really did great Sailor Moon. You looked invincible out there," Tuxedo Mask said as he took her aside.

Moon blushed. "Thank you." She then looked to the others. "I can't tell you how glad I am that everyone got through. I knew we could do it."

"It certainly helped knowing we all believed in each other," Mars said winking at the Outers.

"There will be plenty of time to talk later," Uranus said as she turned serious, "now I say we take Jedite down." She extended her hand, inviting the others to place theirs on top.

"I agree let's crush him!" Mars yelled as she stepped up.

Jupiter added her hand. "We'll make him wish he never heard of the Sailor Soldiers."

"Let's send the message today that we won't tolerate his kind in our world," Saturn said as she added her hand."

"We will throw his forces to the wind and make it as though they were never there." Neptune added her hand.

Pluto placed her hand with the rest. "We shall preserve our future."

"And the future of all those who fight for our cause!" Venus cried.

Mercury added her hand. "Together we will win."

"Nothing can stop us!" Moon proclaimed.

Tuxedo completed it. "I am honored to fight by your sides as always."

They linked hands in a circle, Tuxedo included and the cats as passengers. Moon's aura flared followed by the others. "Lets go!"

Their voices chanted in synchrony. "Sailor Teleport!"" They vanished from the room in a burst of light.

Meanwhile back on Earth only a minute or so had passed.

Mimet was beyond confused. "How can they just leave? Its nothing like them."

Jedite clenched his fist till he drew blood. "Fine then. I will keep my promise." He looked down at the Chimera Daimons. "Go. Kill every single person you see. Butcher the entire city, show the sailors I will not be taken lightly nor will I be made a fool of." The daimons were moving to leave when a sudden flash on the top of a nearby building caught Jedite's eye.

The soldiers reformed and stood together, their hair flailing in the wind, their faces serious. The cats ran off to seek shelter.

Jedite smiled confidently. "So you have returned. For a moment I was beginning to believe you were cowards."

Moon smirked just as confident. "You actually think you stand a chance don't you?" she asked beginning the greatest speech the sailors had ever said.

"You've been out of your league from the beginning Jedite," Tuxedo said, his cape flying behind him.

Venus flicked some hair out of her face, "and now we'll prove it."

Mars: "This one is for everything we've sacrificed to get this far."

Neptune: "For the friends we've made and the ones we've lost."

Uranus: "We will break you and humble you."

Pluto: "For the future we fight to protect."

Saturn: "We won't be turned back now."

Jupiter: "Together we are an unstoppable force."

"We are the Sailor Soldiers and in the name of Mercury!"

*Each sailor poses*

"Mars!"

"Jupiter!"

"Venus!"

"Pluto!"

"Neptune!"

"Uranus!"

"Saturn!"

"The Earth!

"And the Moon!"

*Beginning music for "Power of Love" begins to play*

All ten completed their speech in synchrony. "We will punish you!!!"

Jedite's eyes shook with hatred; the edges of them turning a pale green with frustration, and even a bit of fear. He raised his right hand shakily and roared out the order the daimons had been waiting for. "KILL THEM!!!"

As a group the soldiers leaped down toward the approaching daimons. Pluto, Saturn and Tuxedo blocked energy blasts with spins of staffs and cane as Neptune and Uranus cleared a path with Deep Submerge and World Shaking. As they landed the soldiers separated to take on different sections of the army.

Tuxedo's cane ricocheted off the daimons bodies as it spun, cutting them in half or knocking them back before it spun back into his raised hand as he crouched surrounded by the defeated bodies.

Mars didn't waver as she faced the Invincible Shadow alone. Flames boiled around her. "Mars Snake Fire Strike!"

The flaming cobra struck the shadows neck, constricted, then exploded as the being stumbled backward from the blow.

"Mercury Ice Discus!" Mercury disk decapitated several of the demons.

Saturn pulled her scythe back as it surged with power. "Silence Scythe Strike!" Her swath disintegrated a good dozen daimons.

"Lightning Whip!" Jupiter destroyed still more, wrapping several up in her electric whip and throwing them into a pile before vaporizing them with Sparkling Wide Pressure all in mere seconds.

Several daimons combined their energy and fired a beam at Mercury. She responded with Ice Beam, overcoming their beam, freezing, then shattering them.

Moon raised one hand high as she floated above the daimons. "Eternal Moon Blade!" Her sword formed in her hand as she aimed one hand out to her side, knocking back a group of daimons with Gravity Force. She turned and flew straight down, slicing another daimon in half. As she flew past it the upper half disintegrated.

Jedite's whole body was shaking from his frustration and shock as he watched the battle. "How, where did they gain all these new abilities so quickly?!"

The Shadow fired a beam of black at Mars but she managed to dodge. Turning around it found itself facing Pluto and Venus. It threw its hands forward releasing another beam.

Pluto crouched and aimed her Garnet Rod. "Deadly Beam!"

Pluto's beam struck the other and ripped through it then the Shadows arm. Venus readied herself. "Love and Beauty Shock!"

The heart orb struck the Shadow in the shoulder, blowing its side apart as it stumbled clumsily from the two hits. Jedite thought quickly. Its too slow… "Separate! Attack them from all sides you're an easy target as you are now!" he yelled at it.

The Shadow obeyed and in a flash of black separated into seven forms. The shadow warriors then spread out on the battlefield.

Sailor Moon was momentarily distracted by the Shadows and didn't notice as a Chimera Daimon with, huge scythe-like arms came up behind her. She screamed as Tuxedo jumped in and pushed her out of the way, taking a hard slash in the back. She glared at the daimon in rage as her wings glowed and she floated a few feet into the air. "Back off. Angel Wing!""

The daimon was reduced to dust and as more swarmed around them Moon folded her arms across her chest. "Moon Gravity Force!"

The wave of gravity released from her body slammed into the approaching daimons like an invisible wall and shot them back as a mass of red slime. Moon bent down and supported him as Tuxedo tried to stand. "Darien, are you all right. I'm so sorry I should have been paying more attention. You're always getting hurt because of me."

Tuxedo waved her aside. "Its okay. Don't feel guilty I know you'd do the same for me. It all goes hand in hand. If you love someone you'll risk anything to help them."

Moons eyes shook emotionally. "Tuxedo…"

From her place atop an office building Mimet observed the scene with disgust. "I've had it!" She raised her Charm Buster and twirled it about as it crackled with power. She leaped into the air spinning it as she called out the attack phrase. "Charm Buster!"

Both Tuxedo and Moon were kneeling and looked to the new threat simultaneously. On instinct Moon clasped his right hand as he clasped her left. They raised their joined hands as Mimet flew toward them, staff raised and surging with power. She seemed to hit a wall as a great amount of energy surged around their joined hands. As she stood suspended in mid-air by the energy the two lovers hands began to glow brightly. Tuxedo and Moon spoke in synchrony. "Love…" The crackling energy built into a pinkish orb spinning in front of their joined hands. "Bond…" The orb grew larger and surged with an immense amount of power. "Harness!" The orb shot from their hands and rammed into Mimet, enveloping her in the pink energy as she screamed. Every eye on the battlefield became focused on the scene as the sailors gasped.

"What was that?" Mars cried getting a bit tired of the surprises this day had brought.

Pluto leaped away from a daimon. "It must be an attack that they can use only when they are together."

Mercury took a quick scan. "An attack that utilizes the energy of their love for each other… amazing."

Moon stared into Tuxedo's eyes. "That was incredible. It was as if our very souls connected." Tuxedo nodded, just as awed.

Mimet dropped to the ground unconscious, her battered form had definitely seen better days. Jedite hovered over her, shocked at how quickly she had been taken down. How can my forces be falling so quickly? This can't be!

Jupiter raised her fist as it crackled with electricity. "Okay, let's pick up the pace and show them what we can really do."

Venus leaped back into the fight. "You're on!"

*At this point scenes flash by quickly as the sailors unleash a number of attacks, ripping through the daimon forces, the Inners attacks looking as they did when they attacked the flower monster army in the R movie*

"Crescent Beam!"

"Shine Aqua Illusion!"

"Fireball Flash!"

"Supreme Thunder Crash!"

"Space Turbulence!" The wind energy reduced the daimons to a thick goop

"Submarine Violin Tide!" The water streams ripped through the concrete as they struck the daimons.

"Deadly Scream!" Pluto's classic attack did its job well.

"Silence Scythe Surprise!" The orb erupted from the ground beneath the Chimera Daimon's and exploded taking them with it.

Uranus raced forward and unsheathed her sword. "Ethereal Embodiment!" Her body became surrounded by golden wind energy and in the blink of an eye she slashed through several dozen daimon, coming to rest in a crouch and sheathing her sword as the daimons disintegrated behind her.

"Adrenaline Surge!" Jupiter traded several blows with a Shadow then in one swift kick decapitated it. The body fell lifelessly to the ground and disintegrated into darkness.

Neptune blocked several blows with her trident then stabbed it into the Shadow's chest. Beams of blue light exploded from its body till it vanished in a burst of liquid energy.

Saturn raced at an incoming Shadow. "Silence Scythe Strike!" Her swath cut the Shadow neatly in two, the whole body vaporizing almost instantly. Two more Shadow's came at her. As she backed up against Pluto a peace filled them both and they knew what to do. "You feel that?"

Pluto closed her eyes. "Yes, one final new ability remains to be activated." She swung The Garnet Rod straight out so that it faced the coming Shadows. Without conscious thought Saturn knew to do the same.

"Garnet Orb!" The crystal ball atop the rod began to glow.

"Silence Scythe!" The scythe pulsed with power.

They spoke in synchrony. "Sailor Planet…" With the staff's orb and scythe beside each other two orbs of dark energy began to form around the two staff ends. Their mass grew and dark purple energy surged within around them. "Cannon!" The orbs shot off (one looks like the planet Saturn, the other like Pluto) the staffs, combined into one large sphere in mid flight and then blew apart in between the two Shadows taking both out in a massive black explosion, the energy of the explosion that left a large crater. The two Outer sailors were still charging and turned to a mass of daimons. They were obliterated by another shot from the Planet Cannon.

Jedite didn't know what to think, many of the daimons were reforming after being hit but they couldn't keep doing it for long and of the Seven Shadows only two remained alive. "Surround the sailors!" Jedite screamed. "Asphyxiate every one of them!"

The sailors bunched together, the daimons rising over them as one large mass. They linked hands and their aura's surged in a bright flash, driving the creature's back. "I say we finish this now," Mars said from her place in the ring they had formed.

"I agree, we'll fire our strongest attacks and take them all down at once. Ready?" Moon's crescent mark began to glow.

Ready!" The sailors and Tuxedo replied in unison as the daimons and remaining Shadows surged toward them again.

"Mercury Sub Zero Blizzard!"

"Mars Eternal Fire Incinerate!"

"Blossom Tempest!" (Like last time the orb comes apart into a beam instead of staying an orb.)

"Heartbreak Revenge!" (This time she throws her arms forward causing the golden energy to surge forward as a huge and wide beam instead of it flying out in every direction.)

"Chronos Typhoon!"

"Neptune Supreme Tsunami!"

"Ethereal Blaze!"

"Ebony Silence Scream!"

"Earthly Orb!"

"Eternal Moonbeam!"

From the ring the sailor's attacks extended for hundreds of feet in every direction, totally destroying every last daimon in the space of a few seconds. Jedite was left alone, stunned silent.

Tuxedo stepped out of the ring as the sailors caught their breaths. He raised his cane, his eyes angry. "Jedite!" He raced forward and leaped up high over Jedite then struck forward with great force. Jedite teleported away, just dodging the blow as Tuxedo's cane impacted with the cement, shattering it.

Jedite reappeared before the sailors. He looked as though he had decided something. "I don't understand any of this," he said, frustration filling his voice. "And until I do it would be pointless to continue fighting." He fired a beam at Mimet's unconscious body causing her to be transported away. He glared down at Sailor Moon. "I'm not like your previous enemies moon urchin, I know when to cut my losses." With that Jedite vanished.

Luna and Artemis emerged from their hiding place. Artemis smiled, "you did well sailors, as always."

Not a word was said among the sailors. They simply smiled at each other, and faced the morning sun victorious.

Notes:

I chose to have the "She's Got the Power" song from the episode "Naughty and Nice" (where the soldiers have their big showdown with Rubeus and the Four Weird Sisters) because it was a great battle song that sounds good when played in my head during the fight. Just play whatever battle song you like best during the fight. I wanted Moon's fight with the guardian to be one of the best in the series and it certainly is the way I've imagined. I hope my writing has brought over some of the magic it had in my imagination. For several of the fights it helps if you have certain parts play through your mind in slow motion of as a split screen. When reading my stories I really want you to feel like you're watching an episode.

Originally I made up three completely new attacks for both Uranus and Neptune. However, as they had similar effects and better names I decided to have them learn their manga attacks Space Turbulence and Submarine Violin Tide instead. Hope I interpreted them good, the manga isn't to clear on details on how these attacks look.

You may notice that I didn't put any of Sailor Moons attacks in parentheses. That was intentional as I have all those attacks happening without the backgrounds the other scouts get. I wanted Moons to be different. The same is true for the Sailor Planet Cannon (based off a move they only used once in the manga).