**Well, here's another chapter. I figure it's been awhile since I made the disclaimer that SM is NOT mine, so I just wanted to point that out. Sailor Star is tho, so don't take her. This is a continuation of the last chapter. I said that was CH13, part one, but it was supposed to be 12, part 1. Therefore, this will be CH 12, part 2. Please review, and hang in there. Next chapter Aurora and Darien meet and talk one on one! That should be out soon. ***

… Means thought

~ ~ ~ Means intermediate scene change

With the Coming of the Dawn

Chapter 12, Part 2

"There! At the top of that apartment building!" Mercury directed, her visor shielding her eyes from sight.

"Well I'll be damned. Serena was right. That's one hell of a tree," Jupiter commented, her hand on the back of her head.

"Well, what are we waiting for!?" Mars snapped, "Lets get in there!" The Soldier of Fire set of at a run.

"Wait Mars!" Venus called after her futilely. She turned to Mercury, "Any ideas on how to get in there? That placed looks pretty secure," Venus noted, taking in the massive root system that extended down the entire height of the building.

Scanning the building from afar, Mercury shook her head, "Everything is locked down. The only way we're getting into that place is by force."

"Well then," Jupiter started towards the direction Mars took, a sly smile on her face, "I suggest we get over there and show a little force."

Mercury's visor picked up on Mars standing in front of the apartment's entrance. Covered as it was by roots, the Soldier of the Scared Fire was at a stand still.

"Thanks for waiting Mars," Venus huffed as she came to stand along side the Red Soldier.

Mars glared at Venus from the corner of her eye, "Serena is in danger. We don't have time to stand around discussing matters." Turning to Mercury, Mars asked, "How do we get in."

"I already asked that question," Venus sniffed, "If you'd waited, you would have heard Mercury say the place is secure." Mars continued to glare.

"Yeah," Jupiter smirked, "The only way to get in is by using force. Speaking of which, guys stand back."

Mars and Venus looked at Jupiter as if she'd sprouted an extra head until they saw the lightening rod of her tiara rise into the air. Leaping forward to stand a safe distance behind the Soldier of Earth and Air, the three young guardians watched as Jupiter called forth her power.

"Jupiter Thunder Crash!"

The massive blot of lightening destroyed a large root that had inhibited passage into the building.

"Ha! Nothing like the direct approach," Jupiter said smugly. Taking off at a run into the building, Jupiter left the others to catch up to her.

* * *

Sailor Star watched in horror as a large alien tree sprouted from the top of a high rise.

What is it, Aurora? Firewalker's voice came, sounding through her mind.

I don't know Firewalker, Sailor Star returned, Whatever it is, it is the cause of this trouble. We must get there quickly.

Taking heed of the silent command, Firewalker ran faster.

* * *

Something was waking her: a feeling, a presence. She knew she had to open her eyes. She struggled to bring her mind out of the fog it had lost itself in. She heard voices, speaking as one, calling her name.

~    ~   ~   ~

The Scouts arrived at the Doom Tree's resting place and took in the sight of an unconscious Moon Princess and Earth Prince. Anger flared in their hearts at the sight on Serena's unmoving form.

"Serena! What have you done to her?!" Venus yelled, seething.

~    ~   ~   ~

She opened her eyes, but she couldn't focus. She saw nothing but blurry white images against a dark background. She closed her eyes then opened them, trying to clear her sight.

  ~    ~   ~   ~

"Get away from her!" Mars snapped, her stance defensive. When the female alien didn't respond quickly enough to the threat, she attacked.

~    ~   ~   ~

She felt heat searing the air around her. She shrank back. The voices didn't stop however - they persisted. She opened her eyes again and this time she could focus.

Scouts…

~    ~   ~   ~

Jupiter picked up on Serena's coherence before the others.

"Serena! Lie still!"

Serena looked at Jupiter with worried eyes, "I have to help you! This is too much to face alone!"

"We're not alone, Meatball Head, we have each other. Now do as Jupiter told you!" Mars hissed, her eyes trained on the two aliens hovering mid-air.

"You think you're any threat to us?" Ann sneered, "That's cute."

With that, Ann gave a flick of her wrist. An unseen force slammed into the Sailor Scouts, throwing them back against the one wall still standing, some 30 feet from their original position.

Serena watched with wide-eyed horror as her beloved guardians were viciously thrown back. They had stood 50 feet from her position on the demolished apartment's floor and had been advancing to get to her; Ann had had other ideas.

Serena got to her feet, however unstable her legs were.

"Guys, hold on! I'm going to help you!"

Venus struggled to her feet. Her whole body ached from the jarring impact with the wall behind her, but she refused to let the enemy have the best of her. Looking down at her fellow Scouts, Venus realized they weren't in much better shape than her. Mercury seemed to have taken the worse of it and was not attempting to stand.

This is not good. One shot and we're down… Venus's eyes darkened in anger.

"Serena, stay down! Stay with Darien! We'll handle these freaks," Venus ordered.

Allen raised one brow, "Is that so?"

Venus didn't bother to answer him, but instead began calling upon her powers. Jupiter pushed herself up using the wall, and started calling for her own powers; neither scout was given the chance to attack.

Serena turned to stare at Ann and Allen, pain and fear reflecting in her innocent blue eyes. She heard Allen chuckle then raise his hand.

"No! Allen, please no!" Serena begged. The male alien wavered, staring down at the blond haired girl with the pleading eyes. The pain he saw in them struck him to the core.

"What are you waiting for Allen?! Kill them!" Ann screeched. When Allen would not, Ann attacked once more.

Serena's head wiped around at the sound of the Scouts' scream. Tears ran down her cheeks.

My friends…

Serena turned that tear stained face down, looking for a moment at Darien's prone form laying were it had fallen when the creature had let them both go from its attack. Her pain stricken mind did not question how it was they had survived the fall, nor did it consider that the aliens had saved them. All she knew was that the aliens were hurting the ones she loved most – and that had to stop.

"Enough!" Serena's voice boomed through the rubble, "You'll not hurt anymore of us! Moon Crystal Power!"

Allen's eyes widened in shock and terror as he watched the young woman he 'loved' transform into the one young woman he hated most.

It can't be! Serena is…. Sailor Moon! Allen's mind went blank.

"That stupid little klutz is Sailor Moon!" Ann laughed a laugh cruel and mocking, "I don't believe it!"

"Well believe it slime ball!" Serena called out, "I am Sailor Moon! And in the name of Love and Justice, I will punish you!"

"Oh please!" Ann sneered, "Spare me. I've heard this lecture before Sailor Moon, and it wont save you now. Darien is mine!"

Sailor Moon walked defensively in front of her unconscious re-born Prince.

"No, he's not," Sailor Moon spoke steadily, her voice steeled, "Darien belongs to no one but himself. You will not have him Ann, not so long as I live."

"Well, I can remedy that," Ann lifted her arm. Sailor Moon called forth her Scepter.

"Moon Scepter Elimination!"

Ann watched with a smirk as the attack neared her. With a flick of her wrist, she overpowered Sailor Moon's energy and blasted the young Princess with a bout of the Doom Tree's power.

"Sailor Moon!" Mars and Venus called out. Both attempted to stand. Directing her power to the Scouts laying near the last standing wall, Ann leveled Mars and Venus with another blast of energy.

Moon looked behind her in terror, "Mars, Venus no!"

Turning to Ann, Sailor Moon appealed to the kindness she believed had to exist within the female alien.

"Please Ann! Your fight is with me! Let them be."

Allen looked over to where the Scouts lied, bleeding, and looked back again to Sailor Moon and the pain in her eyes.

Why does she feel so compelled to save them? Is this what humans call friendship?

Ann only raised a brow at the plea, "Give me Darien and you and your little sailor friends may leave."

Sailor Moon's head hung with regret, "I can't do that Ann."

"Then suffer!" Ann shrieked, powering up to attack the young Princess once again.

~ ~ ~

Sailor Jupiter's eyes filled with tears of anguish at her inability to protect her Sovereign. Beside her she heard Sailor Mercury cry out for Sailor Moon to get away, but Jupiter knew Serena would not leave them or Darien. She knew Serena would stay and fight. Jupiter could only hope by then, her and the rest of the Scouts would be able to stand long enough to help her…

~ ~ ~

Sailor Moon called for her power once more, only to be blasted backwards once again by Ann's attack. Her body already ached from the intensity of the power. She couldn't call her powers fast enough to protect herself. She could feel the evil energy licking at her limps, stealing away her strength, leaving her scarred and bruised.

I can't let them hurt Darien…hurt the Scouts…

Sailor Moon looked up in enough time to see Ann preparing to attack yet again, and crossing her arms in front of her chest, Serena prepared to defend herself. She sent out a wish to the heavens that she would be strong enough to last the attacks. Her body tensed, reading itself for the rush and roar of dark power.

It never came.

~ ~ ~

Sailor Mars looked up; something in her peripheral vision drew her attention: a flash of white, a spark of silver. Her eyes widened at the sight of a powerfully built horse landing on the rooftop only a few meters away from Sailor Moon. She watched in burning rage as the one she feared and mistrusted leapt from the horse and charged at Sailor Moon.

"Dear Gods," Jupiter whispered, "Its Sailor Star…"

~ ~ ~

Sailor Moon saw a flash of ruby red out of the corner of her eye. Before she could react to the sudden presence to her left, she felt a powerful body slam into her side. Falling to the side with a small cry of pain, Sailor Moon looked up from the ground with wide eyes. Where she once stood, now stood Sailor Star. The older Soldier stood tall, a fire burning in her eyes. She quickly crossed her arms in front of her chest in defense and widened her stance. She took the attack head on. Sailor Moon watched as the power ripped at the other Soldier's uniform and whipped her hair about in all directions. When the raging blast calmed, Sailor Star stood defiantly.

"You will not harm her," Star's calm and deadly voice echoed throughout the clearing.

"And just who the hell are you?!" Ann yelled, alarmed. Allen watched the deadly intent glinting in the eyes of the new Sailor – it unnerved him. Silently, he floated in front of Ann.

"State your business here," Allen spoke with a cautionary note. For once, Ann didn't question him.

Silver eyes flashed in the ethereal light of the Doom Tree.

"My business is none of yours. I am Sailor Star, ally to the Sailor Scouts and their Princess. You have caused enough grief here. I've come to put an end to it."

"What makes you so sure of yourself?" Ann sniffed, still behind Allen.

Sailor Star raised one eyebrow, "I think you should ask yourself the same."

Mars watched the exchange from a distance.

She protected her…

Ann grew impatient.

"Enough of this," she hissed to herself. Pushing Allen aside, she stood to face Sailor Star.

"You will not intimidate me! You're no better than the rest of those pathetic Sailors and you'll fall just as quickly!"

The corner of Star's mouth lifted slightly before her impenetrable mask fell in place once more.

"You do wrong to underestimate me," Star lectured, "Underestimating your enemies will only get you killed."

Sailor Moon gapped at Sailor Star's calm. Fear gripped her heart. Reaching over slowly so as not to draw attention, Sailor Moon gently took hold of Darien's limp hand and took strength from his presence. She wanted so badly for him to wake up. She wanted Sailor Star to get away from here and the harm being here would bring. She wanted her friends safe. She wanted to be back on the sidewalk talking to Darien, laughing with him while she smelled the rose he'd given her. She wanted everything to go back to how it had been only a few hours before.

Silent tears of fear and longing fell softly from innocent eyes of blue.

Sailor Moon started when she heard Ann scream in rage and frustration. Looking up at the unstable female alien, she watched as Ann prepared to attack.

"Sailor Star, get away from here!" Sailor Moon leapt to her feet to stand beside the Imperial Soldier. Her pleas fell on deaf ears.

"Firewalker, protect the Prince and Princess," Sailor Star commanded, not looking at Sailor Moon but keeping her eyes trained on the pink haired alien.

"No! I wont leave you alone!" Sailor Moon was determined not to have another scout fall in this battle. She jumped back in surprise when the large white stallion walked up to her, pushing her back to stand beside the unmoving Darien.

He's using himself as a shield! Sailor Moon was amazed. The beautiful creature was massive and yet held a quality of gracefulness that could not be contested. His blue pupil-less gaze was trained diligently on her and then his mistress. Cautiously, after assuring herself of Darien's safety behind the giant beast, Sailor Moon poked her head around Firewalker's chest to watch Sailor Star.

The Imperial Soldier stood strong, taking blast after blast from the female alien. The male alien stood staring, his face emotionless, at the battle between his supposed sister and their new enemy. Sailor Moon wondered briefly why Allen didn't join in on the attack, and at the same time why Sailor Star didn't do more to defend herself. She hadn't been aware that Sailor Star had only been stalling for time to be sure Sailor Moon and Darien would be well protected by her Guardian before making her stand.

~ ~ ~

"What do you make of that, Mars?" Mercury asked quietly, her voice laced with pain, "Sailor Star is protecting Sailor Moon."

Mars continued to watch the Solitary Solider; she'd watched as Sailor Star commanded her stallion to protect Sailor Moon; she'd watched as Sailor Star continued to take one attack after the other in place of Sailor Moon. Yet, her fear of the new sailor remained.

Her eyes narrowed, "Right now, I only see one fool trying to save another fool."

Jupiter shook her head, "Even when Serena stands up to protect us Mars, you still can't stop teasing her."

"She should have waited for us," was all the Martian priestess said.

Jupiter didn't bother to point out how irrational that statement truly was.

~ ~ ~

"Why wont you just die!" Ann shrieked at the Star Child below her. While the new soldier had not tried to defend herself, she was proving to be much more difficult to be rid of than the others.

Sailor Star lowered her crossed arms. She was breathing hard, and every so often a tremor could be seen running down the length of her body. Aurora had not been prepared for a battle like this. The power of these attackers was alien to her and her physical defenses; each attack took much more out of her than she'd expected. Every joint ached; every muscle throbbed from the effort of keeping herself standing and preventing her from being thrown back. The evil of this enemy was not a potent as that of the Sorceress, but is left its mark: black burns had been seared onto her bared arms and legs. Aurora decided enough was enough. She knew this wasn't her fight. In the end, it would have to be Sailor Moon who finished the battle. Aurora, however, was not prepared to leave without making a mark of her own.

"I was about to ask you the same question," Sailor Star shot back. With that, Star quickly lifted her right leg up and to her left, bending it at the knee. With a forceful thrust, Star slammed her foot down on the ground.

The eyes of Sailor Moon and her Guardians widened in wonder as Imperial Sailor Star was enveloped in a bright column of light.

The force of the released power ruffled the pleats of Sailor Star's skirt and lifted the pale golden tendrils of her hair. Slowly Star lifted both arms up above her head, pools of pale golden light gathering around each hand. She brought both hands together, resting one in front of the other, palms spread wide. The fingers of the hand held behind could be seen through the spaces of the fingers of the hand held in front, forming in sort a ten pointed star. The light pooling around both hands fused, forming a large globe of light.

Sailor Star called out, her silver eyes looking to the light energy pooling round her uplifted hands, "Sun Beam!"

Swiftly, she brought her arms down straight in a direct line with Ann and Allen's position. Her hands separated almost completely; her fingers spread wide, pointing toward the enemy with palms facing downward. The only point of contact between either hand was at the thumbs: the joint of her right thumb lay over the joint of her left thumb. It was a small detail; however, without a connection between her hands, Star's power could not flow freely.

Her eyes burning into Ann's, Sailor Star completed her incantation, "Burn!"

A continuous beam of intense golden power shot towards the two aliens; it was only by chance that Allen was able to react fast enough to protect himself and Ann from the onslaught of attack. Pushing against the oncoming surge of power with that of his own, Allen grunted under the strain.

"Ann, its too much! You have to help me!" Allen ordered over the roar of power.

Sailor Moon gasped in fear as Ann added her own power to Allen's countermeasure attack. Unconsciously she fell back to Darien's side, holding his hand tight as she kneeled beside him, watching Sailor Star fight. She watched as the Star Child arced her back against the strain; Aurora's beam of power, however, remained strong and true.

"I can't let this happen!" Sailor Moon whispered harshly to herself, "I wont let her face them alone!"

Sailor Moon looked back behind her. She saw her friends kneeling where they'd fallen, watching the fight between the outsider and the aliens. She thanked the heavens for them being all right enough to sit up. Looking down at Darien, she tenderly brushed his bangs out of his eyes before leaning down and kissing him on the cheek. Drawing back, Serena swore for a moment that he'd stirred but dismissed it as her imagination. Turning back to the scene of battle before her, Sailor Moon stood up determined to help her new ally bring an end to their enemy. Knowing the great white stallion would most likely try to stop her, she darted under his belly the moment his ever-watchful gaze left her to check on Sailor Star. As she ran the few short strides to Star's side, she heard Firewalker whinny in protest.

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Serena's sudden appearance at Aurora's side was not expected; Aurora started and her concentration slipped, only slightly but it was enough. Allen felt the intensity of Sailor Star's attack wan. He dredged up energy from the very bowels of the Doom Tree and sent it hurling at Sailor Star as a high intensity pulse.

Sailor Moon was standing right next to Sailor Star when the pulse hit the older Soldier. Serena heard the grunt of pain as the power tore through Star's attack and slammed into her. She watched in horror as the Imperial Soldier was thrown back, her body colliding with, and plowing through, several thick branches of the creature that held them all captive. When she finally lost momentum and came to rest on the floor, Sailor Star did not get back up.

~ ~ ~

A wide-eyed Mercury gasped, "That shouldn't be possible."

"How do you mean 'shouldn't be possible'? She's human and can be knocked unconscious like any one of us," Mars snapped.

"She's not like any one of us, Mars," Mercury retorted tersely, "By all accounts, she should have made short work of those aliens; she has the power to do so. She shouldn't have been struggling to fight them."

Slowly, Mercury raised herself up on two legs. Her face a mask of pain, she summoned forth her visor and computer.

"Is she alive?" Jupiter asked tentatively.

"Yes," Mercury responded after a moment's silence, "But she's been wounded, quite severely. She broke several bones on her way through the creature's 'limbs'. One broken rib has punctured her right lung."

"Bloody hell," Jupiter cursed, and with difficulty struggled to her feet.

"What are you doing?" Venus questioned from her position on the ruined, rubble-strewn floor.

Jupiter's eyes traveled to her Princess already in a heated battle with the Aliens, using her body as a human shield to protect Darien. Ann hadn't wasted any time attacking the object of her hatred once Imperial Sailor Star had been taken down.

"Knowing Serena, she'll be worried about Sailor Star all the while she's fighting them. It'll be a distraction and the last thing I want is for Sailor Moon to end up on the floor along side her. Besides, Serena would never forgive herself if that young woman died while protecting her."

Jupiter turned in the direction of Sailor Star, "I'm going to bring her here, Mercury. Do what you can for her, then I'll go help Serena. Venus, Mars, see if you can stand by then. I'm going to need your help."

"No," Mercury ordered, her fingers flying over the keys of her computer, "None of us are in any condition to fight them. Go out there Jupiter, and you stand to get yourself killed. You can't protect Sailor Moon dead. Wait until we can be sure our powers will actually be of help in this battle; Sailor Moon is strong enough to hold her own for a while longer. Besides," Mercury finished, gesturing to the massive stallion making its way to the fallen Sailor's side, "Sailor Star has a Guardian of her own, it seems. My instincts tell me she'll be fine."

None of the other Scouts questioned her.

~ ~ ~

Sailor Star lied still on the floor, her mind working slowly to take stock of her injuries. She could barely breathe; a few searing coughs resulted in the deposit of blood on her palm. She could hear the battle raging on between Sailor Moon and the aliens.

I have to get up… Aurora tensed her muscles, readying her body for the movement and pain of getting to her feet.

No, lie still, Firewalker commanded as he drew near Star's prone form.

Firewalker, Aurora's inner voice came caustically, I have to get up. I have to help the Princess.

Aurora, you know as well as I do you can be of no help to her; not against this enemy.

Aurora did not respond for a moment.

Yes I can, Firewalker. I can but my body between her and the oncoming attacks. I can attack and weaken those aliens…

But you can't destroy them, Firewalker's deep voice interrupted her.

Aurora, you knew going into this that this battle was for Sailor Moon to fight. You were just giving her the chance to better defend herself; a chance that she didn't have before you arrived.

Firewalker sighed to himself as he watched Sailor Star struggle to get up despite his cautioning and her body's warning of sever internal damage. Softly yet firmly he placed his hoof on her chest, keeping her grounded.

Firewalker, Aurora's inner voice all but growled, Let me up.

No. Your powers were not designed to fight an enemy like this Aurora and you know that. Your powers and skills have been honed to fight the Sorceress. To be able to properly defend yourself against this enemy, you'd have to spend hours in battle to adapt your skills and powers to the energy signatures of those aliens and to learn the intricacies of their powers. You don't have that sort of time. You go back out there, and you'll get yourself killed.

Not too long ago, Firewalker, Aurora shot back, You were encouraging me to fight along side the Sailor Scouts and help them in their battles against the Cardians, creatures of evil sent by the aliens.

That was different Aurora, and you know it. The Cardians were simple minions and no match for your power. You wouldn't have had to defend yourself; one attack would have destroyed them. But these aliens are the root of the power that created those creatures and are not so easily destroyed. To defeat them you must first know their power, their weakness and strengths and you don't. Heal yourself and have faith that Sailor Moon's love will be enough to end this battle.

Aurora opened her eyes to stare into the blue, pupil-less eyes of her Guardian. Noting that he didn't seem too inclined to remove his hoof any time soon, she took his words into serious consideration. He was right, she knew. She stood to battle the Sorceress; her powers had been honed to fight the Sorceress's minions, the Sorceress's power. She knew the power of the Sorceress – she knew how to defend herself against its evil. She knew what levels of power were necessary to defeat a minion of the Sorceress; she knew the intricacies of the Sorceress's power signature, enabling her to fight against it. She didn't know any of that information for this enemy and without it, couldn't fight to her full capacity. As a result, her only hope of defeating this enemy was not to rely on her greater skill, but to simply overwhelm them with her power; a tactic that was wasteful and far less efficient.

Struggling, Sailor Star   lifted her head slowly to view the ongoing battle.

Darien is awake…

She watched as the former Prince of Earth placed himself in the line of fire, protecting his past love from harm. Relief flooded Aurora as she watched them in battle. No harm would come to Sailor Moon so long as he lived. Aurora decided she would leave them to this battle.

Lowering her head to the floor, Sailor Star smiled at Firewalker sheepishly signaling that she would do as he asked: she would heal herself. She would not continue to fight. She felt the slight pressure of Firewalker's hoof be removed as she called upon her powers of healing. Closing her eyes, Sailor Star listened as Sailor Moon righted Ann's perverted views on love and friendship.

With a small smile, Aurora let the darkness claim her.

* * *