Trista started. Something was wrong. Very wrong. She stood up shakily, not offering an explanation to the senshi as she began to pace. Atia was late for the meeting, yes, but she was known for being late. But what if...

Fire! Fiery pain staggered its way across her heart, her danger sense that lay dormant. Funny, all the senshi were here...except Atia...and that meant..."She lied!" her hoarse cry caught them all off guard. "She lied!"

Running to the door, she slammed it open. Suddenly all she could see was black. She heard the shouting of the senshi, them following her, but she was faster, so much faster...darkness...she'd trained with Atia, so long ago...

Silver Millennium Atia stood up, smiling as she excused herself. Lia followed her. "Something's wrong, isn't there?"

Atia's brilliant smile confused her. "He's back, Lia. He's back."

Lia frowned. "Atia, I don't think..." She was silenced by her twin's hug and sudden disappearance. Her cousins and friend were before her as she turned around. "He's back."

"You sound less than thrilled, cousin," Ocean said with amusement. "Are you jealous?"

"Don't you think it's ironic, Oce?" Lia asked quietly, using her cousin's pet name. "I mean, exactly a year ago he left, on the princess's birthday. Please, tell me I'm not the only one."

"Ironic, yes, but nothing to be worried about," Sky said dismissively.

"I'm going to stay back here."

"Then we'll stay with you," Trista smiled, plopping herself down and apparently not caring that her expensive dress was getting dirty. Ocean and Sky did the same.

Soon an uneasy feeling overtook them all. Then, with a suddenness that nearly made them pass out, pain whipped their minds, hearts, and bodies. When the pulsating pain passed, then waited a nerve-racking fifteen minutes before Solar appeared, bloodied and broken. She didn't even seem to see them as she raced into the room.

As the quartet watched in astonishment, she jumped onto the banquet table and began shouting in her booming army voice, "All armies to arms! Guard the princesses! Block the doors!" Suddenly the doors exploded off of their hinges, and wild gunfire and power blasts thundered throughout the room. Screams and chaos rang through the air powerfully.

"Oh my God," Lia whispered in horror. "Saturn Planet Power, Make-Up!" The other three were not far behind.

"Good evening, ladies," a familiar silky voice said warmly.

"Sebradon! Stop this madness!" Saturn shrieked.

Then they noticed something totally off. His normally hazel eyes were nearly black and an upside-down black heart was on his forehead. "I'm afraid I cannot do that. Ocean, Sky, how much do you love your daughters?"

"Sebradon, leave them out of this!" Uranus said in alarm.

"I did. But my army didn't. It seems your cousin isn't as good as protecting as she should be."

The two women whirled around. In the abandoned court floor, the bodies of many nobles lay unheeded.

Princess Michelle of Neptune. Princess Amara of Uranus.

Both fatal casualties of love gone wrong.

Now There was silence around the theater. Finding the doors locked, Sailor Pluto box-kicked the door in.

And found herself facing a gigantic army.

There was no way Solar could still be alive.

*

"OhmyGod," Neptune hissed, seeing the army. Far into the battle, they heard a familiar shout, and a huge explosion sent light flying. "Solar."

"Let's go! Every senshi for themself!" Uranus was gone before anyone could stop her.

As Sailor Moon, Sailor Mini Moon, and Tuxedo Mask entered the building last, they found themselves face-to-face with Sebradon. "Prince, princesses," he said with a charming smile. "I'm sure Solar would not wish to see you hurt. If you'll allow me..." They suddenly found themselves behind bars in what must've been the center in the stage. The army all around them seemed oblivious to their presences. "What type of a joke is this?!" Tuxedo Mask demanded angrily, slamming into one of the bars that wouldn't budge.

"Don't change his mind, Tuxedo Mask! At least we're safe," Mini Moon pleaded. A loud clang brought their attention behind them. Pluto and Sebradon both had swords, and the swords were crossed in the air.

"I told you you were next, Trista," Sebradon said, his voice unmistakable over the roar of battle.

"I won't go without a fight." The army seemed oblivious to the duo. Drawing back, they began an intricate duel, one that would have only one winner. The three trapped fighters could only watch in frightened awe at the graceful parries, thrusts, and blocks. They'd never seen any two people so skilled with a sword.

They seemed to fight for eternity, neither tiring or getting struck. The trio began to think that maybe, just maybe, Pluto could outsmart the man and kill him. But that hope was crushed when Sebradon suddenly struck her sword arm, and, while she was switching the sword from hand to hand, drove his blade straight through her chest.

Pluto didn't make a sound as he withdrew the sword and stood on swaying feet. She glared at him. "I never...thought you'd resort to this. Killing...your friends..." as she spoke, blood began to seep from her mouth over her lips. "Someday, when you realize what you've done...you'll be sorry." She collapsed. Sebradon stared at her for a moment, then shrugged and turned back into his army.

"Pu..." Mini Moon whispered in horror. Struck down right before her eyes...

"Pluto! No!" Sailor Moon shrieked, falling to her knees. "Plutooo!"

In the time it took to blink, Solar was right beside Pluto, knelt down and picked her shoulders up. "Trista, I'm sorry..." None of the army seemed to see either of them.

"Don't...be." Pluto smiled weakly. "I love you, Atia. Remember...that."

"Oh..." Before Solar could say anything else, Pluto's eyes slid shut, and her friend's head turned to one side. "No!" She hugged the sailor to her, as though she could save her. "Trista..." Pluto's body disappeared. Solar stood, face set with anger. "ENOUGH!!" Every warrior, good or evil, heard her shout. The entire army abruptly vanished, leaving the senshi standing around.

With three strides Solar approached the cage, then cleaved the bars of one side off with her sword. Too shaken to move, they stared at the spot where Pluto had fallen. Sebradon came up to her, dangerously calm. "You!" Solar was shaking in fury as she turned to face him. "Are you happy now, Sebradon?! Are you?! You've killed my sister and my best friend, and they never once hurt you! Damn you!" Her hand came up and slapped him clear across the face.

"I see you've survived my army well enough," the man said dryly. "Now it's between me and you, princess." A huge transparent globe that took up half the stage appeared. "Shall we?"

"May the most deserving win." If looks could kill, Sebradon would've been dead. They both phased out, then appeared inside of the globe.

Luna, Artemis, and Diana bounded into the theater. "It has begun," Luna said quietly, shaking her head. "The strongest fighters in the universe...it's a shame only one will survive."

"What if it's Sebradon, mommy?" Diana asked nervously.

"Then, Diana, we're as good as dead."

*
"Anything you want to say?" Sebradon smirked.

Solar glared at him. "Go to hell."

"Not before you." With that, he propelled a black blast of fire at Solar. She dodged it.

The fight to the finish had begun.