Mina picked up from where she left off. "She apologized to Lita and then introduced her self as 'The Unknown Sailor, Sailor Eclipse' and then the guys as the Eclipse Knights. Their names were Eros, Jove, Diomedes, and Deimos." With that she went on to describe what they looked like.
@~%~ Time Gates ~%~@
Pluto watched all of this from the Time Gates. Ami held a far off look, like she was trying to figure something out. Mina had actually become thoughtful, and Rei hadn't said a thing for more than five minutes. Lita on the other hand had a blank look and it was impossible to tell what she was thinking. Luna and Artemis knew something that they were forgetting. Mentally she made a note to have a talk with Sere tonight.
@~%~ Temple ~%~@
They had finished telling the cats about the first battle of the night and had started on the second. "Someone called us mentally. It sounded familiar. But we got there and saw the carnage and had a chance to fire a couple attacks before the voice was there in our heads again. She fired a come back at Mars with out even thinking and then told Ami to get the two hot heads to quite making the thing mad and the jump to the roof. Once there she told us that we needed more power if we were going to get rid of the thing and pared us each with a knight who at the moment was passed out. With that done we all gathered the energy and soon we where ready. While we were gathering it, she was distracting it. The first attack didn't work. And the thing was standing. We then began to launch the attacks one after another, after dong this twice four new attacks were added, these came from the Knights. Finally with the combined power we were able to defeat the thing." Lita added in.
"After the battle everyone wound up on the same roof and that was when you guys came in, so you know what happened afterwards." Rei spoke last.
@~%~ Serena and the Guys ~%~@
"So we have everything that we may need, I hope. And it'll be delivered later today." Jag was saying.
"Got to admit that we got lucky being able to find places that would deliver everything today." Nate added in.
"Yeah. We now have food, clothes, and furniture. And our cars are being flown over soon. So what else do we need?"
"Ice cream!" Rini said from were she was walking between Zane and Kaz. "Uncle Kaz, promise!"
"YOU DID WHAT?!" Sere exclaimed hearing this.
"That we would get ice cream after we had lunch." He hoped that she believe him.
"He did, mommy. After the man left." Rini added in. "Get it now?"
Sere sighed and gave in. Letting them pick where they wanted to eat. Rini wanted to go back to the Arcade, while the guys and Sere didn't care. "Might as well, Sere, we can get food and ice cream there." Nate said while Zane and Kaz walked ahead of them with the skipping Rini. "You know she passes for yours any way. You two look so much alike, and she even acts like you at times."
"Yeah she does. And don't take this the wrong way, but if you are her momma, then Zane or Kaz could pass for her daddy easily, just by the hair color." Jag added. "Or they could pass for your brothers."
"Hey I got it. Well for you three at least. You, Zane, and Kaz are brothers and sister, while we are just friends that you've known forever. That's why Rini calls us all uncles."
"They only problem that we may have with that is Andrew. He's known me forever and knows I only have on brother." Sere finally spoke up.
"Yeah, but you also went to live in the States for a while did you not?" Nate took up the defense.
"True."
"So who's to say that you didn't have two brothers that you never knew about? Or even cousins. Sere, you have to admit that it does have its possibilities."
"Ok I'll admit it. It does. And you guess have always been around Rini so she naturally thinks that you are her uncles, since she doesn't know any better."
"Now you've got it." Nate exclaimed and caught the attention of the two guys walking ahead of them. "We'll explain later." He quickly told them.
"So that is the way that we'll play it?" Jag asked.
"Only if it's okay with those two." Sere agreed.
"They'll go along with it." Nate reassured her.
"I hope so." She looked across the street and a sign caught her eye. She remembered that she needed to get a new notebook before they went back to the condos. "Guys, I'll be right back, go on in and order me whatever. Oh and no ice cream until after she has ate."
"Got ya, Sere. Were are you going?" Nate tried to ask but she had already taken off across the street, her hair flying behind her. Kaz and Zane were already inside when Jag and Nate walked in alone.
"Where is Sere?" Zane asked, while watching Rini play a game.
"She said that she remembered something and to just order her something, that she would be right back. And that Rini gets no ice cream until she had ate." Jag relayed the message.
"Ok, what were you going to tell us about later?"
"Oh it can wait until we sit down." With that Nate scooped up a giggling Rini and followed the guys to a booth in the back.
"Where's mommy?" Rini asked as Nate sat her down.
"She had to go get something. She'll be right back." Zane told her as he sat down next to her.
"O-tay." She had a lost look on her face, this was the first time in two days that Sere had not been in her sight, she was scared.
They guys looked at the menus while trying to decide what to order. Zane made sure that Rini got what she wanted and Nate ordered for Sere, when Andrew came to get the orders.
@~%~ Across the street ~%~@
Sere had darted off across the street. Molly's mother had a jewelry store there but she also had some of the best notebooks, with any luck she would still have them. She pushed the door open and stepped into the store with a tinkling of a small bell announcing her arrival.
From somewhere in the back a voice called. "I'll be right with you." Sere took those minuets to look at some of the jewelry and around the store. It hadn't changed since the last time she had seen it. Everything was still neat and clean, and in a word the perfect picture of a jewelry store.
"What can I get you?" The lady asked coming from the back of the store. She was wearing a pale yellow summer dress with auburn hair falling in soft waves to her shoulders.
"I was told that this store at times sold designer notebooks. I was hoping that with any luck you would have a couple of them left." Sere spoke while taking in the appearance of the girl.
"No, that was something that was done about five years ago, we don't carry them any more."
"Oh…you wouldn't know by chance where I would be able to get one, would you?"
"No, not really."
"Ok, thank you." Sere left the store and hurried across the street to the Arcade. When she got there the food was already there and they had started to eat.
Rini was the first to see her when she walked in and jumped up in her seat "Momma!" She was smiling. The little girl's joy was contagious and Sere couldn't help but to smile back as she walked over to the table they were at.
"So did you find what you were looking for?" Nate asked as she sat down.
"No. But there are other stores so I'll just wait and go to a different one."
"Well they agreed to it. And Rini there, is happy with it." Jag was next to speak.
Sere looked at Zane and Kaz for confirmation that they agreed willingly before saying anything else. When they nodded she spoke again. "Thank you guys. That means a lot."
"Hello. Here's your order. Andrew said to wait until you got here to bring it out." A young woman sat a plate down in front of her as she spoke.
Sere didn't speak and offered a smile. There was something in the air that wasn't right. But she couldn't put her finger on it. It was about that time that the doors opened and in walked a tall woman with long green tinted hair. Her skin held an olive hue and crimson eyes. She looked around the Arcade before seeing Sere and her group and going towards them.
"Hello, may I say welcome home Serena?" Her voice held ages worth of wisdom as well as her eyes.
Sere's eyes narrowed as they woman spoke. "Is there something that I can help you with?" She responded.
"Your loyal servant and guardian, Sailor Pluto." Her voice dropped so that the guys wouldn't be able to hear her. Sere's face lit up into one of the biggest smiles that the guys had seen on her in response to whatever the woman had said. They next thing they all know Sere has thrown her arms around the woman's neck and was hugging her.
Trista returned the hug for a moment before letting go. "Good day." She said in acknowledgement to the guys and smiled at the little girl who was the next to hug her.
"Who's your friend Sere?" Jag asked there was something that they were missing here. And he wanted to find out what it was.
"Trista." Trista answered them.
"What are you doing here?" Sere asked as they sat down.
"I honestly can't stay long. But I needed to check on Rini, and make sure everything was okay. Forgive me princess but I can't explain much of anything. Just know that you need to keep her safe, and that when the time is right for Sailor Moon to reappear you will know. But I can offer you this bit of advice. Try to become friends with the Scouts again." She shot a meaningful look at the guys as she said this.
"I understand. So I take it you can't tell me anything about what she is doing here?"
"No."
"I'll see what I can do about the Scouts. But I'm not promising anything, they probably hate me for leaving like I did."
'You don't know how wrong you are Princess.' Trista thought before answering. "You will never know until you try it. But I must be going." With that she got up from the table and started to leave.
"Can I ask you something first?" Sere asked hopefully she would get an answer. When Trista nodded she went on. "Will the others appear as well?"
"That is not for you to know." With that she left the arcade.
"Who was that?" Nate was the first to speak after she was gone.
"Trista, a friend from a long time ago."
"How did she know about the Scouts?" Zane asked next.
Sere shrugged not knowing quite how to answer it. "Maybe she is one, or then again maybe not."
"You are a lot of help. She left so many questions. Did she even answer yours?"
"As best as she could without interfering with the future."
"You're talking as cryptic as she was."
"Oh well. Guys let's get out of here. We've got time to kill before the furniture arrives."
"Ok, fine. Were should we go?"
"I have an idea." Pluto's words were playing over in her mind, 'Try to become friends with the Scouts again.' She would try it. But which one to go to first? Rei was the only one that she could use a reasonable explanation with. So that narrowed it down considerably. "You guys pay, we'll wait outside." With that she took Rini's hand and started to exit the building. They had made it to the door when she knocked into someone and would have fell if it hadn't been for a pair of two strong arms that caught her.
Sere let out a squeak of surprise when she started to fall. And as soon as she was able to speak "Oh, I am so sorry. Please forgive me." The guys had seen this and the next instant Nate and Jag where to 'save' her. "I wasn't watching where I was going. I am really sorry sir."
When Darien was sure that she was able to stand by herself he let her go. 'This is a first in a long time.' He thought while not hearing all of her apology. "Yes, next time just watch where you are going you could have gotten hurt."
Sere started to turn red in the face and was about to pop off with a smart remark Kaz walked up. "Are you ok?" He asked seeing what she was about to do.
"Fine." She snapped. "Let's get out of here. Bye Andy!" She called over her shoulder and walked out of the Arcade her eyes darker than normal, reminding the guys of storm clouds.
Darien watched her them go, and smiled a little. After they were gone he shrugged off the spell he was under and walked up to the bar. "Who was that?"
Andrew shrugged not knowing exactly how to tell him. "A friend of Rita's from America." He had to admit that it sounded good. "You know Dare, something is up with you." He said while setting the coffee down in front of his friend.
"Nothing is up with me." Darien responded while staring into the cup.
"Yeah sure, whatever you say. But I've known you for a while; I think I would know when something was up. So come on tell me what is on your mind. It has to do with Serena doesn't it?"
"Nothing is on my mind. And if there was what makes you think it would have to do with Serena." With that he closed up. "I've got somewhere to be. I'll see ya later Drew."
Andrew watched him go. "Damn, so much for getting anything out of him." With that Andrew went back to work. Something was going on he was sure of that.
@~%~ Meanwhile ~%~@
"So Re, you going to tell me where the Fire Goddess lives or at least works?" Jag asked as if they had been planning it all along. He had two reasons for this to be asking this question, one to try and get her to clam down as it was she would probably go off on someone with in a short time, and two he defiantly wanted to see Rei again.
"Jag, I don't think that Rei will take it well if she knew who you are or for that matter what you have done." She responded, while working over things in her mind to find a way out of it.
"Oh come on Sere, she can't be that bad." His tone was taking a pleading edge and the next step may be full out begging. "At least say 'hi.' That woman did say that you should try and make friends with them again. Why not start with Rei?"
While they had been talking Sere had headed unconsciously towards Rei temple and by this time was at the top of the steps. Her outrage was enough to block he other sense. That was the first time she had had a klutz attack since she left Tokyo when he had broke her heart. In one hand she was furious that he had been there and then in the other she was glad that she had ran into him. It was obvious to her now that she was still in love with him, but the only place she would admit that would be in her heart. Kaz had picked Rini up and had her on his back so that she wouldn't have to run to keep up with everyone. "Because she is probably the one that I miss the most. And the one that is most likely…"
"To fry you." Another voice finished for Sere. At the voice Sere gulped. She recognized that voice all to well, and with this being familiar ground to her there was no telling how much she had heard. Sere lifted her head from where she had been watching the ground and was surprised to find not Rei standing in front of them but Sailor Mars.
"We are in for it now guys." She mumbled. The guys had stopped behind Sere except for Jag who was standing beside her until he got a look at who they would be dealing with. After the first look he took a few steps back so that he was standing with the rest of the guys. Kaz had by now set the little girl down but made sure that she was staying near him.
Rei had felt a familiar aurora coming close to the temple. Familiar, true but there was something that wasn't quite right about it. Like the person was trying to block it. She transformed into Mars and went to see what was the cause of the disturbance. After scouting the temple's ground she made her way to the stairs where she had caught the last thing that the girl had said. She recognized her as the lead singer for the Earth Squad, but there was something else familiar about her. 'What did she mean about the one that she probably missed the most?' She thought while she surveyed the group.
They each had strong auroras, each with a different colored. The guys had pale yellow, pale blue, light green, and light red. The lady on the other hand had silver, but it was being damped by something, there was another one, and from what she could tell that one was also silver but tinged with pink.
"Who are you?" Mars asked after taking in everything about them. If they tried anything she would be able to handle it, although she was a little wary of them. She stood with her feet apart to make sure she had her balance, her hands where on her hips. All in all she resembled the Goddess of War, standing guard over the battlefield. Her violet eyes were burning with an inner fire that could only come from Mars.
'Go for it Re.' It came in her mind quickly. Jag, she was defiantly going to have to talk to him about this. She shot a glare over her shoulder at him.
"I asked you a question." Mars tone was short and it obvious that she was becoming impatient.
"And I didn't answer you." Her anger was flaring back up and her voice was turning cold. This had not been one of the best days.
Mars was a little taken back by this. No one had spoken to her like other than the Sailor Eclipse. "I suggest you do."
"And if I don't?" Sere snapped back. This was not her idea of talking to Rei.
"You will be sorry." Her eyes narrowed as she took in her appearance. So familiar, the aurora was becoming clear with her anger. Turning more silver. She couldn't as much see it as feel it.
"What will you do fry me? Go ahead and then you will be sorry." It was a challenge, spoken softly.
No one had dared to challenge Sailor Mars. And yet she was. Something snapped in her memory. Her violet eyes glassed over as she was taken back. Jag rushed forward and caught her as she fell forward.
@~%~ Memory ~%~@
There was a grand ball. The stars hung like diamonds in the midnight blue sky. She was to become a guard to the Princess of the Moon starting on the tomorrow; the ball was to celebrate it. Already her temper had gotten the best of her and they had wound up in a fight. The scenes played over in her mind. It was before the ball and they were getting ready, the other Scouts would be arriving the next day. 'I will NOT dance with him!' Serenity was trying to make her dance with one of the Prince's Generals. There was something about him that she didn't like; maybe it was that if she looked into his eyes she felt as if she could fall forever. Or maybe it was the way he always had a complement for her. Or maybe it was that she was afraid to let fate take its course.
'You've got to! If you don't I won't be able to dance with Prince Darien.' She was close to begging. It was obvious that they both loved each other.
'You will be sorry if you make me.' Her eyes narrowed.
'What will you do fry me? Then it will be you who will be sorry.' They conversation ended in a stare down between them. A sort time later there came a knock on the door that shocked both girls into blinking. 'Please Rei, just one night of fun. Just dance with him, that's all I am asking.'
The knock came again. 'One moment.' They both yelled at the same time.
Rei's lips were set into a grim tight line. 'Rei, what are you afraid of?'
'Nothing.' She told her out loud while adding silently everything. 'I'll dance but that's all.' With that she went to open the door. Both prince and general stood there. Both dressed their best to escort the princesses to the ball. Jadeite was dressed in the gray uniform and had a crimson cloak on his shoulder. Darien on the other hand was dressed in a black tuxedo.
@~%~ End ~%~@
AN: So that brings us to the end of another chapter. Hope you like. Comments…feel free to review or email. Also it may be a while before the next chapter is posted, if you would like to know when it please let me know. Thanks!
~Silvra
