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 thirteen: Questioning Herself? Lita's Concerns.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Lita lay in her bed, sleep evading her. She sighed and thought back to a recent conversation with Trista.

*Flashback*

*Lita is sitting on a bench all alone when Trista walks by*

Trista's eons of experience allowed her to immediately recognize Lita was depressed over something. "Something wrong? You don't look like your usual self."

"I guess I'm in a slump…" she said sadly then looked up. "Hey would you mind staying a minute? It'd feel good to get things out and you're always so easy to talk to."

"Certainly," she sat down.

After a few seconds Lita sighed. "Lately I've been feeling so useless. You see everyone's always had a special place on the sailor team: Mercury was the brain, Venus was second in command, and Mars handled stuff like visions… I was there for when they needed a lot of power."

"And?" Trista inquired though she now had a fair idea of what this was all about.

"Now don't get me wrong. I love it that you four have joined up with us and I wouldn't have things any other way. Its just you, Amara, Michelle and Hotaru are stronger then I'll ever be. You four protect Serena and the Earth better then I could hope for. I can't help feeling like I'm not needed anymore."

Trista looked at her. "You can't believe everything you feel Lita. Sometimes our emotions play tricks on us. The fact remains that you have no good reason to feel this way. You passed your test as a sailor and have proven time and again to be an important and powerful member of the team. Plus you share a very special relationship with Serena. I suggest you try to think of something else till this phase passes."

Lita sighed again. "I know you're right… I'll try."

*End flashback*

"This is ridiculous," Lita told herself. "There's no reason to feel this way I should just take Trista's advice and think about something else." She smiled, warm thoughts of having a husband someday and being a florist filling her. With those happy dreams she drifted off to sleep.

"Hahahahahahahaha!" Serena laughed as she looked at the latest issues of Raye's comic books. "Oh I love Saturday's! Nothing to do but relax and catch up on my reading."

An angry vein throbbed on Raye's forehead. "Serena will you take what you want and go home!"

Serena glared at her. "Raye you're such a grouch!"

"I am not!" Raye replied angrily. She then clutched her face and blushed girlishly. "Besides, me and Chad would like some privacy."

Amy looked up from her work with Greg a bit irritated as well; "you should both be studying."

Serena ignored her. "Well as far as privacy is concerned you're not going to be getting any," she said in an exasperated tone. "Not with your grandfather sneaking around with his camera."

"I just want some momento's of my granddaughters first true romance!" Grandpa yelled from behind the sliding door.

Raye grabbed a broom to run him off and opened the door. "All right that's it-" she stopped in mid sentence as no one was there. She sweatdropped, "he's still quick for an old guy."

Amy said, "your grandfather really needs to stop living at such a high pace and settle down."

"Well its like they say," Mina began as she leaned against the wall, "you're only as old as you feel."

Amy gasped as everyone in the room stared at the blond. "Could-could you repeat that?"

"I said 'you're only as old as you feel'" Mina repeated. "Hey, why is everyone looking at me like that?"

"She actually got one right," Amy fainted into her workbook, the concept too hard to contemplate.

"Hey girls I've got refreshments," Chad said as he entered the room with a tray full of drinks Hotaru beside him.

"Here let me help you with that," Raye said as she took some of the drinks.

Hotaru looked at the fainted Amy as Greg tried to wake her, "Uh… I came to ask Amy a question about my schoolwork but it looks like I'll have to wait."

"Hotaru you have to read this!" Serena cried as she grabbed the girl gleefully and pulled her over to the comics.

Amy woke up. "What happened? I had the strangest dream."

Meanwhile Grandpa was now spying on them from outside. He felt someone tap him on the shoulder and turned around with a gasp, dropping his camera.

Amara looked at him suspiciously and crossed her arms. "You know old men shouldn't spy on pretty girls who are bigger then them."

Grandpa looked terrified. "Uh, I was just leaving!" He ran off.

Amara shook her head, "crazy old man…"

"I think he's kind of cute," Michelle said with a giggle.

Amara smirked. "In any event he's harmless."

Everyone looked up when the two older sailors entered the room. "Hey, Amara, Michelle!" Mina greeted.

"Hey, girls. Michelle and I just dropped by to because we're opening for a music theater downtown tonight at seven. We wanted to know if anyone wanted to come."

"It'd mean a lot to us and as our guests you'd get in free," Michelle added.

"Of course we'll come!" Raye said.

"I'm bringing Darien!" Serena cried.

"Would it be okay if I asked my Dad to come?" Hotaru asked.

Michelle smiled, "the more the merrier."

Chad suddenly grabbed Greg and gave him a friendly slap on the back as Greg pitched forward and fell on his face. "If you don't mind me and my buddy Greg here are gonna stay and hang out while you're gone. You know, guy stuff."

Raye smirked. "Guy stuff?"

"Yeah," Chad said trying to sound serious. "Isn't that right Greg?" He picked Greg up and gave him a "you better do what I say look."

Greg nodded uneasily, "uh… sure."

"Come on lets go make uh… preparations!" Chad dragged Greg off as the girls looked on with matching sweatdrops.

Amara shrugged the strange behavior off. "Anyway, we've already asked Trista and Lita so we'll be seeing you tonight." With that the two left.

Now out of sight Greg glared at Chad. "What was that all about?! I wanted to go!"

"You'll thank me for this later dude. Trust me, this is a great opportunity for us to prepare something special for the girls while they're gone."

"And why do you want me to join you?"

"Because you're too shy man! I'm going to help you really come out of your shell so you can show your real feelings for Amy in the most romantic way of all."

Greg looked uncertain. "And that would be?"

Chad pulled a microphone out of no-where and posed with it. "Singing!"

Greg twitched.

Jedite bowed before The Negaforce's chamber. "I have a new plan for gathering energy my lord."

"After all the energy he's wasted I don't see why you should even listen to this failure," Mimet mocked from the background.

"As if you have done any better!" Jedite roared at her.

Mimet smirked. "Well impress me. You have something up your sleeve?"

"Indeed, you are not the only one who has been experimenting with new ideas," Jedite said in a cocky manner. He held out his hand, a large vaporous demon appearing before him (it looks like the legless, multi-eyed demon Ryoko summons in Tenchi Muyo.) "Meet Phantom, it took a lot of resources to create but it is well worth it."

Mimet cocked her head. "And what is so special about this thing?"

"Unlike the other creatures I've made Phantom is not a physical being. As such any physical blow will not harm it. Its body is made up of very special energy that has immense absorbing potential. Tell me Mimet who has the strongest energy of all Earth's humans?"

"Hold on a second, you're not thinking of stealing the sailors energy?"

"That is exactly what I am thinking."

"You really believe that such a plan can succeed?" The Negaforce asked from its chamber.

Jedite bowed again. "The sailors will be helpless against Phantom. I have made it capable of absorbing any of their attacks; even Moon's. It is also capable of taking all a sailors energy within seconds of touching them. The energy it will give you will be immense."

The Negaforce seemed to consider it for a moment. "Even if this creature is destroyed I will still gain the energy. Go and do as you plan."

Jedite shot Mimet a look of superiority. "Yes my master."

"What time is it now?" Serena whined to Darien from her seat in the theater.

Darien sighed, "about a minute since you last asked me. Serena just try to be patient it'll start soon."

Serena slumped in her chair. "Oh I hate waiting!"

"We got great seats right up in front," Mina said happily. "Those two certainly have connections. I hope I get this famous someday." Stars formed in Mina's eyes as she leaped up; "I'll be the greatest idol ever!"

"Quiet down!" several audience members yelled at her as Mina recoiled in embarrassment.

Doctor Tomoe leaned back. "I haven't been to a theater in years. This should be fun especially if your friends are half as good as I've heard."

"Amara and Michelle are great musicians though they'd never admit it," Amy giggled.

"They're great at just about everything," Lita sighed, I shouldn't even bother being here I'm just going to depress everybody.

"Okay, quiet everybody its starting," Raye said.

Amara and Michelle stood before the audience and bowed before taking their places, Amara on the piano and Michelle standing nearby with the violin. They began to play and the air was filled with the sweet melody.

Everyone in the audience relaxed as they listened, except Trista. Her eyes narrowed. Something's not right.

You feel that? Michelle asked her partner wordlessly.

Amara closed her eyes as she played, yeah, looks like we're going to have to cut our show short. Try to keep whatever it is away from the audience.

Right.

All of the sudden a terrible scream drowned out the music as Phantom appeared floating over the stage. People instantly began to run as its hands stretched over them. "The energy of you weak stars is easy to steal." Wave of energy erupted from the audience leaving everyone unconscious but the sailors and Doctor Tomoe who Hotaru had protected with her body.

"Why is it this always happens when we go to a music theater?!" Mina fumed.

"Worry about it later, look there," Amy pointed.

Phantom had turned its attention back to the sailors. "Now for my true prey," it hissed and shot an arm toward Lita before she could get out of the way.

"Lita no!" Amara yelled and pushed her away, the creature's hand grasping the woman by the neck and sucking energy out as she struggled vainly.

Lita looked on horrified. "No Amara!"

"Delicious, the energy of the very stars," Phantom said in satisfaction.

"Amara!" In a rage Michelle grabbed the chair from the piano and flung it at the creature but it simply passed through it like its body was made of vapor. She did however get its attention and the beings arm snaked its way over to her and grabbed her around the neck, lifting her in a suffocating hold as it drained her energy.

"Let them go!" Hotaru's aura blazed and sent out a shock wave, knocking the creature back and releasing Amara and Michelle who collapsed unconscious.

"Hotaru be careful!" Tomoe cried.

Phantom turned to her with interest. "What's this? A stronger Star Seed then before, one with more energy then the other two combined." It's arm shot forward and grabbed Hotaru before she could react. It began to drain her as she screamed.

"Hotaru!" Mina and Raye had to hold Tomoe back.

"Hotaru you have to fight it!" Trista yelled.

Hotaru concentrated her energy and sent out another shock wave, disintegrating the creatures arm and knocking it back further. She fell onto her side unconscious.

Phantom seemed undamaged as its arm regenerated. "The power I gain is more then she takes. I will suck all of you dry and offer your energy to the Negaforce. Then I will come back and finish you for good."

Raye grabbed her transformation pen. "We have to transform! Mars Crystal Power!"

Mina did the same. "Right! Venus Crystal Power."

"No don't!" Trista yelled but too late. Before they could finish transforming Phantom grabbed them and sucked them dry of energy. Back in their civilian clothes they fell limply to the floor.

Serena ran to them. "Girls!"

Phantom was advancing on the remaining sailors when suddenly a red rose struck the floor in front of it. Tuxedo Mask stood on the second floor of seats. "You beast! You dare interrupt the wonderful expression of musical theater? I am Tuxedo Mask and I shall punish you!" He threw a ring of roses around Phantom and a column of energy rose up, paralyzing it. He looked to the sailors. "Now transform!"

"Right!" Serena cried. "Moon Eternal Power!"

"Mercury Crystal Power!"

"Jupiter Crystal Power!"

"Pluto Crystal Power!"

"Mercury give us some cover so we can get the girls out of here, it wants to suck more energy out," Moon ordered.

"I'll distract it when you do," Tuxedo said as he leaped down next to them.

Mercury nodded, "right. Mercury Bubbles Blast!"

The theater was filled with a thick mist and the sailors moved quickly to get their friends out. As Phantom tried to search the room another rose struck the floor in front of the demon. It looked back as Tuxedo taunted it. "You want my Star Seed's energy freak? Come get it!" Phantom roared and raced after him as Tuxedo left the theater.

Backstage the group laid the unconscious sailors down on the floor. "Will they be okay?" Tomoe asked as Mercury scanned them.

"It drained a great amount of energy very quickly, any more and we might have lost them. However I think they will recover provided they get a lot of rest."

"Mercury look after them in case it comes back here, we have to go help Tuxedo Mask," Moon said as she moved to leave then noticed Jupiter sulking in a corner. "Hey, what's wrong."

Jupiter slammed her fist against the wall; "this is all my fault! Amara only got drained because I was too slow to get out of the way then Michelle was attacked trying to protect her."

Moon put a hand on her shoulder, "Jupiter…"

Jupiter pulled away, "just leave me alone."

"We have no time for this," Pluto pointed out.

Moon looked at her seriously, "she's right. Let's move out." She started to leave, her worry over Tuxedo overriding her desire to talk to Jupiter about whatever was bothering her. Jupiter reluctantly followed the two.

"Is there something wrong," Tomoe asked after observing them.

Mercury sighed, "I hope not."

Tuxedo leaped on top the theater roof, Phantom flying up right behind him. He dodged as it took a swipe at him then leaped to another roof. His retreat was blocked suddenly as another being materialized in front of him. His eyes widened, "Jedite!"

Phantom stopped in its tracks at the sight of its master as Jedite glared at it. "Phantom you fool, can't you see he's just leading you away? Stick to your primary objective." Phantom obeyed and went back toward the theater. Jedite smiled as he faced Tuxedo; "I will take care of this."

Tuxedo raised his right hand, energy gathering into it. "Earthly Orb!" He threw the resulting multicolored orb toward Jedite.

Jedite extended one hand, stopping and deflecting the sphere with ease. "Is that the new power you gained during your little disappearance a few weeks ago? Its nothing to me!"

Tuxedo looked about at the treeless, deserted area, not enough life. He leaped back and began to run, Jedite close behind him.

Chad leaned back on the shrine steps as he and Greg took a break from making a song for their girls (you don't want to hear how they sounded). "Say, do you ever get the feeling that we're just a little part of something bigger then we could imagine. Like we're minor characters in a big TV series or something?"

"Wow Chad that's pretty deep," Greg said. Strange but deep…

The sailors ran outside, only to be immediately confronted by Phantom. "Where's Tuxedo Mask?!" Moon demanded.

Phantom seemed to ignore her question. "Surrender your energy to me sailors," it cried, "and I will give you a swift end!"

Moon glanced at Pluto. "You know that logic has never been very inviting to me." Her wings folded back and began to glow.

"Nor me," Pluto also got ready to attack as they cried out the phrases simultaneously.

"Angel Wing!"

"Deadly Scream!"

Phantom opened its mouth, sucking both attacks in. Its body bulged slightly before it threw both attacks back up and right at the sailors who had to dodge quickly.

"Did you see that?" Moon asked in shock, "it threw our attacks right back at us."

"We must attack carefully," Pluto said keeping one eye on the demon.

"Nothing you have can harm me nothing!" Phantom screamed and flew toward them attempting to grab them with its arms. The sailors dodged again and Moon released a Crystal Encase. However it simply passed right through the creature.

"If it hadn't been for me Neptune could use her mirror to find this thing's weak spot," Jupiter said bitterly.

"If you don't stop condemning yourself you may as well not be here," Pluto said slightly angry. "You are a sailor, protect the princess."

Jupiter only looked at her with uncertainty and clutched her head in stress. "I don't know if I can, all I seem to be able to think about is how worthless I am."

Moon faced Phantom, an immense amount of energy gathering into her crescent mark. "Try this. Eternal Moonbeam!" The beam slammed into Phantom's open mouth, its body bulging greatly as it absorbed the blast. Moon stepped back and sweatdropped, "that may have been a mistake!"

Phantom threw the attack back up, sending the beam hurtling down the street causing a great deal of destruction as it ripped through the concrete.

Mercury's face softened as she watched Tomoe cradle the still unconscious Hotaru. "It must be difficult knowing your daughter is a sailor. You must worry about her a lot."

Tomoe nodded slightly and sighed as he stroked his daughter's hair. "I know that she has to do this, that she's a lot more then just my little girl and I can't protect her… but you're right. Sometimes I can't help but think like a father when it comes to her sailor duties."

"I think that you handle it all very well," Mercury encouraged. "But that's why the rest of us are keeping the fact we're sailors secret from our families till we're older. Hopefully they'll be able to understand and accept it by then."

Tomoe closed his eyes; "I certainly hope so. I would hate for the truth to cause any of you pain."

Mercury sighed. "Yes, but… it may be unavoidable."

Explosions rocked the area as Tuxedo swiftly leaped from building to building, Jedite firing blast after blast of energy at him as he flew in pursuit. Tuxedo jumped to street level and tossed a rose up, Jedite dodging it and sending out a river of power into the concrete Tuxedo leaping out of the way and back to a roof just in time. Jedite rose up only to be knocked back by Tuxedo's cane, he flipped backwards slightly stunned and, enraged, fired a large blast. Tuxedo spun his cane quickly about, collecting the energy and throwing it back at him. Jedite formed a shield as the blast hit him. When the smoke cleared he found Tuxedo gone. He grimaced in frustration then noticed Tuxedo in the distance still leaping from structure to structure. His fists crackled with power. "You will not get away!"

Moon lay on the ground stunned as Phantom approached her. She tried to summon her powers but it's arm continued to advance towards her, sucking up the energy of her aura. "You are only delaying your fate by resisting. Your energy is mine," it hissed.

Pluto glared at Jupiter. "I can't believe you are letting your doubts keep you from fighting our enemy." She picked up her staff and leveled it with Phantom, her eyes narrowed in anger as she struggled forward, Phantom's extended arm stealing her energy as well. "Release her!" A great amount of energy crackled around The Garnet Rod as she released her attack. "Chronos Typhoon!"

The huge amount of dark waves of energy slammed into Phantom freeing Moon as it was pushed back, the dark energy temporarily wrapping it up in ebony as it tried to suck the attack up. Moon looked up wearily, "thank you… but its just going to throw it back at us."

Pluto helped her up, "saving you was more important. Now run."

"Hurry up!" Jupiter yelled seeming to have gotten some of her confidence back. The three sailors ran down the street as Phantom released the mass of energy. The massive waves tore through the road and blew up cars. Pluto was knocked to the ground as a stray bolt struck her in the back; Moon and Jupiter ran to help her up.

Tuxedo leaped down onto a tree branch and stopped, waiting. Jedite soon arrived and smirked. "So you have decided to face me, I was beginning to believe you were a coward."

Tuxedo smirked, "we'll see who's the coward. Look around you Jedite," he leaped down and tapped his cane on the ground, "you're in my element now." They were standing in the park.

"What?" Jedite glanced about in shock as Tuxedo raised his hand, a huge tree root lifting itself from under the ground and wrapping around him.

"Something you should know about me Jedite," he raised his hand, beams of light began to rise from the ground and trees, "my powers are stronger the more life there is around me."

Jedite's eyes widened as the energy gathered in the Earth Guardian's hands.

"Earthly…"

The tree root released him and retreated back into the earth, Jedite too surprised to move.

"Orb!"

Jedite was completely unprepared for the power of the attack as the orb slammed into him. He shook in pain and shock from the blast. That miserable waste of skin tricked me! He slowly floated down, unable to maintain the levitation. He ended up on his hands and knees before the Earth Guardian.

Tuxedo looked at him with a degree of pity. "Now are you going to run away like you always do?"

Jedite's face twisted in anger. "There will come a day when your limp, lifeless body bows at my feet human!" He disappeared.

"That day will only ever exist in your mind Jedite," Tuxedo said to himself and approached the tree whose root he had used. He placed a hand on it, "thank you." He looked to his communicator, "Sailor Moon, are you all right?"

"Yeah, yeah we're just great!" Moon said sarcastically as explosions rocked the area behind her. "Nothing works on this thing! We're going to die!"

Tuxedo nodded seriously, "I'll be right there just hang on."

Moon threw her hands out in front of her, "Moon Gravity Force!" Phantom absorbed the attack and extended one hand, the strong blast wave issuing from it and knocking the sailors back violently.

Pluto stood up. "I have an idea."

"I'm open to suggestions!" Moon cried.

Pluto narrowed her eyes. "This creature can't possibly absorb an endless amount of power. There must be a breaking point."

Jupiter nodded. "I see, if we fill this thing with energy faster then it can send it back at us it'll pop like a balloon." She began to charge up, Moon having already started.

"Yes, we must fire together." She leveled the Garnet Rod with the monster.

"Deadly Beam!"

"Blossom Tempest!"

"Eternal Moonbeam!"

Phantom opened its jaws wide, sucking up all three attacks. Its body bulged until it was nearly circular. It appeared helpless and paralyzed by the amount of power it had taken in as Pluto and Moon collapsed to their hands and knees in exhaustion.

"That did it!" Moon panted.

"Not quite," Jupiter said, turning depressed again.

"We have to fire again," Pluto strained.

"After all the energy it's taken from me I can barely move." Moon collapsed again.

"Jupiter, you must deliver the final blow," Pluto said looking her in the eye.

Jupiter stared at her in shock. "What?"

"I can sense you have enough power left to use more attacks."

Jupiter looked terrified. "N-no! I can't. I'll mess up! The only reason we're in this situation is because of me."

"That isn't true. Now you have to do this. If it releases the energy we just poured into it we're all finished."

"Lita you've always been so confident. Don't let yourself stay like this," Moon pleaded. "We believe in you even if you don't and that's what matters."

"You do?…"

"Yes now use that to believe in yourself and your abilities. It's all you've ever needed."

"B-b-but," Jupiter stammered, "I feel so…"

"Forget how you feel! There's more to life then feelings," Moon said passionately. "I don't always feel like being Sailor Moon, heck I don't always feel like I'm in love with Darien but that doesn't change the fact that I am and I do. Focus on what's real right here and now."

A red rose struck the ground. "Sailor Moon is right," Tuxedo declared from a nearby street light. "A life ruled by only emotion leads to nothing but chaos you must overcome it!"

Jupiter seemed to struggle with herself for a moment. She looked up resolutely. "I will protect my friends." She leaped high into the air and threw her right arm back.

"Sparkling…"

As the energy gathered in her raised hand she aimed for the creature's open mouth. The paralyzed Phantom screamed in rage and protest.

"Wide…"

She threw her right arm forward, still holding the orb of lightning.

"Pressure!"

She slammed the attack into Phantom's mouth then flipped back, the entire street being rocked by an explosion as its body tore apart in a great burst of light. The mass of light, the energy it had stolen, sped up through a rift in dimensions and disappeared.

"I… I did it… I did it," Jupiter repeated as though to make herself believe. She smiled. "I really did it."

Mimet gave Jedite a "I told you so" look. "Did it ever occur to you then would combine their attacks?"

Jedite glared at her. "Shut up!" He held out his palm, a large orb surging into it, "we still received a great deal of energy…"

"But Raye," Chad mumbled nearly incoherent as she kept his lips tightly clamped with her fingers, "I wrote it just for you."

"And I think its very sweet that you want to nurse me back to health Chad but believe me the last thing I want right now is to hear a song. Just keep the place nice and quiet for me okay?" She released him.

"Right!" Chad declared. "I'll make sure no more Negaverse wackos interfere with your recovery! You can count on me!" He zipped out the door to stand guard. Raye sighed in relief over the bullet she had just dodged.

Amy giggled as Greg finished telling her his story. "Chad really had you try to write a song for me?"

Greg laughed, "yeah believe me though it was not meant to be."

Amy leaned on him on the park bench. "Oh well, it was still a nice thought but I love you just the way you are. There's no reason to try to change anything about yourself for me. So, do you want to go for ice cream then go see how Mina and the others are doing?

"Sure," Greg replied.

The two walked off hand in hand.

Lita smiled as the door opened. "Oh, hello Dr. Tomoe. I just brought these cookies for Hotaru."

"Thank you," Tomoe said kindly as he took them. "Hotaru is asleep right now but I'll be glad to give them to her when she wakes up."

Trista sipped some tea as Tomoe exited the room to put the cookies up. "So I take it you aren't depressed anymore?"

Lita smiled. "How can I be depressed when so many people care about me and appreciate what I do? You were right Trista; it was silly of me to think I wasn't needed or was a problem. I guess I just needed a reminder." She moved to leave giving a cheery wave, "I'd like to stay but I got to get these other cookie's to Amara and Michelle's place while they're still fresh."

Trista smiled slightly as she left. I'm happy for you Lita. You really are special to all of us.

Mimet sighed in frustration. She looked at the vial of liquid in her hand. "Well so much for this confidence reducing formula. If I'd known she'd be able to fight it I'd never would have tried." She sighed again. "Back to the drawing board."

Notes:

Have you ever felt down about something for no good reason? I know I have and I thought this would be a good idea for an episode. Not a particularly important episode in this series, nor one of my better written ones in my opinion, basically a filler.