Diamond screamed, thrashing about as black light tore her down into a dark world. She was falling so far down-what was happening?! What had Ivy done to her? Was she dying? If so, why was she going down?! She shuddered at this thought, and closed her eyes tightly. Her descent ended as she was knocked against a large, hard surface. She lay there, gasping for air, making sure no bones were broken. Then, gingerly, she sat up and looked around. "Oh my ." Broken, filthy, gray skyscrapers loomed up in front of her, large holes gashed in the sides. The paved streets were cracked and filthy. Huge rocks and gravel littered everywhere. Falling down buildings, only a few stories high, had so many holes they looked like they had been partially eaten by ants. The sky was a deep, cloudy, poisonous gray-green. A cold wind whistled down the street, ruffling her hair for a brief instant before speeding on. "Where am I?" Diamond whispered, getting to her feet and wiping off the front of her fuku. Her eyes fell on a small sign. Welcome.to.. She gasped. "No! This-this can't be home!" Blindly she stared around. It was her city, but so torn and decaying it was beyond her recognition. The buildings were greasy and broken down, and the only place that looked new was directly in the middle of the city, where the Sunset Tower gleamed a bright gold. It was twice as wide as it was formerly, and three times as large. "Jeez." Diamond stretched a little, touching her face from where it had hit the pavement and wincing. "But-this-it can't be-where's everyone? Even if I was gone for a little, the girls wouldn't let our city die like this." There was a banging from a nearby alley. Diamond looked up to see a man in ragged, scrappy clothes come out. He ignored her and moved towards the middle of the streets, picking up a banana peel that was lying there. The man inspected it, then opened his mouth wide and began to chew on it. "Hey!" Diamond protested. "What the-don't eat that!" The man glared at her. "Mine!" He hissed. "My food!" He scuttled back into his alley, glaring at her, holding the garbage like it was a piece of priceless treasure. Slowly, out of more alleys, humans began coming out. Most were middle aged and older people, very few teenagers. There were no children. All began scrounging around, looking for pieces of trash. "Um-excuse me." Diamond said to a somewhat less decrepit older woman. "What-year-is it?" The woman ignored her, but a teenaged boy on her other side, with black hair, said, "It's the year 2005." He did not look at her. "2005?" Diamond gasped. "But-have I been gone that long? What did Ivy do to me." The boy raised his head slightly to eye her suspiciously. "You an alien, or something?" "I-haven't been around." Diamond said hesitantly. The man finally straightened all the way to glare at her. "Obviously." Diamond gasped. "Y-your eyes!" "What about them?" The boy asked coldly. "They're-red." Diamond whispered. "I have a friend with eyes like that-or, I guess, I had." A strange look came into the boy's eyes. He hesitated, then bent his head to whisper in her ear, "Rachelle Roberts?" Diamond gasped and nodded. The boy stepped back and eyed her up and down, awe in his eyes. "You're the Lost Scout, aren't you?" "I'm Sailor Diamond, if that's what you mean." Diamond said uncertainly. The boy roughly grabbed her arm and began to drag her into the nearest alley. "Follow me. I know someone who wants to see you." "What?!" Diamond protested, grabbing his arm. "Who?! What are you doing with me?!" "Come on." The boy said, glancing over his shoulder before lifting up an iron grate in the ground. "Get in!" "Gross." Diamond complained, doing as told. She leapt down and landed in darkness-and on something smooshy. "Ew!" The boy jumped after her and banged the lid close. "Come on!" He raced through the darkness, her in tow. Dimly, Diamond realized that she could hear muttering all around her, and very close by. Faint lights glimmered overhead, showing bundles of humans keeping close and conversing quietly. All looked at her as she passed, and the murmurs grew louder. The boy took her down several tunnels before stopping in a huge, high ceiling one. Only a few humans lined the walls in this one, and the light was bright. A high-backed chair sat in the middle of this room, and someone with long white hair was sitting in it. The boy bowed to the chair. "Grandmother, I bring someone you would like to meet." The white-haired woman raised her head. Her face was withered and creased, but she had obviously been beautiful in her youth, for all her small size. The crone stood and made her way over, looking at Diamond, a small smile on her face. "I wondered when I'd see you here, Diamond." She said in a creaky tone. "Um-excuse me, ma'am." Diamond said nervously. "But-have we met?" The woman gave a pretty laugh, quite unsuited to her age, before she fixed Diamond with a piercing stare. A stare with eyes that were a deep scarlet. Diamond gasped, and grasped the old woman's arm to see the eyes more clearly. "No way-I mean, no way." The woman laughed again, a laugh Diamond now recognized. "Garnet?" Sailor Diamond asked in a whisper. "Garnet?" The woman repeated. "No, no. I'm no longer Sailor Garnet, Angie. I'm Rachelle Roberts, now. Rubian took my charm away." She coughed a little and returned to her chair. "But-" Diamond knelt by her side. "How are you so old? It's only-what did he say, 2005?" "Rubian's drained me, Angie." Rachelle said in a dry voice. "Like she drained all of our generations, and the ones before us. All our parents are dead. I'm one of the last of our generation. And my children, and my grandchildren-their fates are the same, I'm afraid. We can't hide from the generals." "You have-children?" Diamond glanced at the tall boy behind her. Rachelle laughed. "He's my grandchild, dear! My children," she gestured towards the walls, "are all middle aged." "This is so horrible." Diamond whispered, squeezing her friend's wizened hand. "You're only-what, seventeen? And you're an old woman." Rachelle laughed. "My life is longer than my children's and my grandchildren's, dear! Rubian begins draining immediately. As the children grow older, their brains grow stronger also. Clever trick, eh? And Tom, here-" She pointed at Diamond's escort. "He's only two! His life will be short. As are all lives, now. We are born, we feed Rubian, we reproduce, we die. Lovely cycle, isn't it? Rubian can feed on us forever." "Who-um-who did you make-them with?" Diamond asked uncomfortably. A true smile lit up Rachelle's face. "My dear Kyle. We were allowed the small shred of dignity to choose our own mates." She sighed a little. "Is he..?" Diamond asked quietly. "He's gone to a place I dream about now, Angie." Rachelle said, tears in her eyes. "My poor Kyle." "And where are the others?" Diamond demanded urgently. "Obsidian and Topaz, Emerald, Amethyst, Sapphire, Tuxedo Onyx?! What happened to them? And Lune and Demetri!" Something flickered in Rachelle's eyes. "Lune and Demetri are dead, for starters. Rubian sought them out and killed them ruthlessly. As for everyone else-" The flicker burned again. "They're-dead also. Drained completely." Her voice was monotone. Diamond blinked back tears. "Everyone? God." Rachelle laughed wearily. "They were some of the first to go, Angie! Rubian wanted to make sure they were properly drained." "And yet you're here." Diamond said, clutching the old woman. Rachelle sighed. "I escaped, Diamond. By purest chance." She stood up, leaning on a walking stick that was by her side. Diamond stayed where she was, fighting back tears. "God." "So." Rachelle said, kicking her slightly. "What're you going to do now?" Diamond looked up, eyes burning. "I'm going to go and see Rubian. I want to go down fighting." Rachelle laughed. "That's our fearless leader! Come on, I'll show you out." She pointed to a ladder in the wall. "Guests first." Diamond started up the ladder, not noticing the look that passed from Rachelle to Tom. Diamond pushed open the top covering the hole and sprang up back onto the street, offering Rachelle a hand. Rachelle popped out herself and grinned at Diamond. "Just cause you're a young whippersnapper doesn't mean an old coot like myself can't crawl out of a hole all right!" She said in a fake old-crone voice, cackling evilly. Diamond grinned, and hugged her friend gently, willing her tears not to show. Rachelle embraced her back, then released her and pushed her away. "Go on, now. You have a date with an evil queen." Diamond nodded and turned away, walking away down the street. Rachelle watched her for a moment before she looked down at a small watch on her hand. "5.4.3.2." Diamond was halfway down the street before there was a groan from behind her. She turned to see Rachelle's body lying on the pavement, a spear through her heart, and a bunch of young men standing over her, Tom included. She ran back towards them, shock and pain rising in her heart. "Get away!" She cried, hitting at the men, who drew back in surprise. She knelt by Rachelle and cradled her head in her lap. "Rachelle! Shellie! Can you hear me!" No response. Rachelle's face was slack and peaceful. Sobbing, Diamond raised her hand. "I'll heal you! I-I can heal you-" "No." Rachelle said, creaky voice firm. "Diamond-I want this. I'm ready to go to my Kyle." Her eyes opened one last time to wink at her friend's miserable face, then those fiery eyes closed, clouding over. Rachelle exhaled, and was gone. Diamond screamed her pain and rage, standing and glaring at the men who had taken her last friend away. Tom raised his hands. "Diamond-Angie-please, wait! Grandmother asked us to do this! She's been wanting to for a while, but she wanted to see if you would come back before she had to die! She didn't want to go by Rubian, Diamond! You know she wouldn't!" Diamond stopped advancing on them. Tears streamed down her face, but her fist lowered. "You're right." She said softly, kneeling back by her friend and kissing her forehead. "You're right." * * * "What do you mean, a future without her?!" Garnet demanded, sparks flying from her eyes. "A future where you rule supreme?!" "That's right!" Spike cackled, very pleased with himself. Hatred was coursing through Garnet's small body like poison. "You bring her back." She said in a dangerous low tone. "You bring our leader back." "Can't and won't." Spike said firmly, glaring back at Garnet. "I understand won't-why can't?" Topaz asked, voice ice. Spike waved the small charm that had come from Diamond's bow in the air. "I can't, because this is her transforming charm, right?" "One of them." Emerald said, nodding. "Well." Spike drawled, straightening his shoulders proudly. "That means the one she has in the future is false. She breaks that, she's part way home." "And the other part?" Garnet inquired, as if it didn't matter too much. Spike smiled maliciously. "Now, if I told you that, you could get the witch home, couldn't you? But she's not coming back. Ithengil's made sure of that." "Well." Sapphire said, eyes like coals. "That just means we're going to have to beat it out of you." Spike smiled cruelly, then, with a yell, flung an attack down on the girls. Emerald glared at Spike as black bolts rained down. "Oh, no, you don't. Just because one of us is gone doesn't mean we're any weaker!" Her eyes blazed with a green light. She raised a hand to point at the two and shouted, "IVY WALL FORM!!!!" A torrent of green plants swarmed up from the floor, forming a dome over the tops of the scouts' heads. The blows stopped, though flashes of light could be seen through the vines. Amethyst stood and gingerly touched the vines. "Whoa.Emerald, you did a defensive attack." Emerald nodded grimly. She patted the vines and whispered something to them. The plants squirmed a little, enlarging themselves, thickening and blocking out all crevices. She turned back to them, and Topaz, who was nearest, scooted back slightly. Emerald's eyes were a blazing, glowing green, and all over she was illuminated slightly. "Uh-oh." Obsidian whispered. "Ashanti mon aborro." Emerald said calmly, looking at them. "Dommet kiel ammo dedutchtoe." "That last part was 'have no fear'." Amethyst muttered. "But what was the rest of that?" "It meant our power is growing." Garnet said in a strange tone of voice. "And she's right." "So.now what?" Sapphire asked, rubbing her head and pointing to where the vine were starting to break. "This isn't going to last forever. How do we get our leader back?" Garnet was glaring openly at the rupturing vines, a small glow of light forming just above her heart. "We wait, and then we attack." * * * Diamond walked down the rapidly darkening streets, eyes dry and face blank. Her last friend was gone, but gone from this place was more of a blessing than anything. She noticed idly that the streets were almost completely devoid of human life again. Only a few people still walked around, muttering to each other, most of them looking like teenagers. A small part of her, deep inside, was wailing-that seemed unreal. But the rest of the world was extra clear and sharp. She would get Rachelle back. She would get all of her friends back. She would find a way back to the past-demand it of Rubian, trick her, something. She would get to her own time. She would not let this horrible future happen. Two men walking the opposite direction from her bumped into her. "Watch it!" Diamond snapped, glaring slightly at the teenagers. They immediately whirled together to frown at her. "Girl, who do you think you are?!" One of them with a red bandanna snapped. "I'm a walking pedestrian that you bumped into!" Diamond returned, anger deep in her chest. "Hah!" The other one, wearing a girl's daisy necklace, snorted. "Wrong answer. You're nobody." "And you are?" Diamond retorted. "Exactly!" Bandanna-Boy said proudly. "We are some of Rubian's special human servants, hand-selected from the volunteers." Diamond could not believe her ears. "You sold out your race, your people, to that dog?!" She demanded. "You watch how you talk about our lady!" Necklace-boy said, shaking a fist at her. "Fine, you transvestite." Diamond snorted, turning away. The boy had whirled her around and punched her in the stomach before she could block him. She gasped for air, but straightened and kicked him hard in the neck. The man stumbled back, puffing for breath, while his hankie wearing buddy moved forward. Diamond faced him off, glaring hatefully at him. "What's all this about?!" A male voice demanded from behind her. "You two louses-Patrick and Greg, right? Beat it!" The two immediately sent up protests. "But, sir-this whelp-" "She's only a human and she thinks she's all that, that she can diss our Lady-" The owner of the voice chuckled grimly. "I said scram, and let's see who the brave human is-" Diamond felt a hand on her shoulder, turning her irresistibly around. She had recognized the voice immediately, but she almost couldn't believe it until she looked up into those stormy eyes. Damon stared at Diamond, eyes nearly popping out of his head. She smiled a little. "Hey." Damon gaped, gasping for a mouthful of air. He looked at the men. "Go." "But, sir!" "GO!!!!" Damon roared, moving towards them. The boys took off, fleeing down the street as fast as their legs could take them. Damon turned around to find a pair of arms encircling his chest to give him a quick hug. Diamond quickly backed away, but smiled at him, tears in her eyes. "God. A familiar face, even if it is an evil one. A welcome treat." She let out a small laugh as tears that had been held back since she had buried her dead friend broke free in a huge flood. Damon gently wiped her cheeks, all the while gazing at her. He gave her the slightest hug. "It's good to see you again, Diamond. You're still the best opponent I've ever had." Diamond nodded, darkness coming into her eyes. "Garnet's dead." Damon whistled. "The fish that got away." He saw the look in Diamond's eyes and softened. "I'm sorry, Diamond. I'm sorry." "And I suppose you killed the rest of my friends!" Diamond said, temper and anger flaring up suddenly. She glared at Damon. "Were you there, when they died?! Did you laugh!? Did you cheer?!" Damon blinked at her. "You think-Garnet told you your friends were dead?" Diamond nodded coldly. "She told me a lot." Damon shook his head, the strange look she had seen in Garnet's eyes coming into his. "Jeez.where are you going? What are you planning to do?" Diamond glared at him. "What do you think I'm going to do?! I'm going to go to Rubian and take my revenge out on that-that witch! And then I'm going to find a way to my real time, so I can prevent this from happening!" She turned away and began walking down the street again. Damon grabbed at her hand, she tried to shake him off, glowering back. "What?!" Damon shook his head. "Don't go to Rubian." "What?" Diamond asked, eyeing him angrily and mistrustfully. "Why?" "Just-don't." Damon sighed. "There are-things there-that might hurt you." "I can handle seeing my friends' bodies up on display, thank you." Diamond retorted, shaking him off and running as fast as she could down the street. Damon did not follow, but stayed where he was, a mixture of emotions he had not felt in years swirling around in the pit of his stomach. Willing herself not to cry, Diamond finally collapsed against the edge of a building, gasping a little. Seeing Damon.even if he had helped kill her friends.it was wonderful.jeez. "Miss?" Two armed men were staring at her seriously. Diamond looked at them, eyes sharp. "What?!" She snapped. "You're out after curfew." One man said, grabbing her arm in a surprisingly firm grip. "I think you'd better come along with us." Diamond wrenched her arm from his grasp and glared at him. "Where are you taking me?" "To the Lady's headquarters." The man said in some surprise. "You're violating rules." "Big whoop." Diamond said. Okay, I do want to go to Rubian's place, but if I go too willingly. The two men looked shocked. They shifted nervously. "Um, miss." The other said. "You'll just get your energy drained a little. That's all, really." "Bullshit." Diamond growled. "Completely. Rubian's nothing but a lying whelp." The men reeled back as if struck. "Wh-what did you say?!" They gasped instantaneously. "Bull-" Diamond began. "No, no!" One waved his hand. "You-you said her name!" "Rubian?" Diamond asked, puzzled. The men clapped their hands to their mouths, staring horrified at Diamond. "Rubian!" She said louder. "Rubian, Rubian, Rubian, RUBIAN!!!" One man reached into his pocket to bring out something with a bright red button. He pressed it, muttering to his cohort, "She's mad!" "What's the matter?!" Diamond said scathingly. "Can't hear the villain's name? The person who you sold out to?! Huh?!" The men attempted to grab her arms to hold her down, but Diamond was gone. Her rage was boiling up in her, and it was coming out in pure power and strength. Derisively she shook them off, flinging them into the alley walls. But now an alarm had been raised. Men came swarming at her, something carrying crowbars, all looking grimly confident. A few people who had also apparently been breaking curfew watched bemusedly. Heads began poking out of buildings. "Nothing to worry about, people!" One man carrying a megaphone shouted. "Just another crazy renegade." "I'll show you crazy renegade!" Diamond growled, coming out of the alley and fiercely glaring at the crowd. All reserve about injuring humans was gone. These weren't humans. They had sold out their race. They were no better than the generals. A man moved towards her, beefy face looking pompous. She had slammed the heel of her palm into his chin, breaking his jawbone before he could move. She flung herself into the crowd, roaring her fury to the sky. Men went flying as she moved through the throng like a whirlwind, destroying all that was in her path. "Stop her!" Someone yelled as she moved towards him. "She's nuts-uunh!" Diamond rammed her fist into his stomach and continued on. A faint cheer was coming now from some of the houses. Diamond looked up, and through bloodlust-hazed eyes she saw people waving and cheering. A grin broke out on her face. Slowly, her rage began receding. She calmly looked at the men right in front of her, who were eyeing her in terror. "You are going to take me to Rubian, now. Or I shall pop all your heads like melons." The men nodded, faces white. They quickly snapped handcuffs on her-Diamond watched in amusement, these things were so old that a child could have broken them. Then they led her away down the street, all men staying in a close group but leaving a three-foot radius around her. Diamond didn't care. Her eyes were focused on the point they were moving towards. The Sunset Tower..