Sailormoon Zodiac: #14 - Shingetsu / The New Moon
By: Janelle Jimenez (miaka@bishounen.org)
Official Webpage: http://www.sailormoon-millennia.net/ [http://bishounen.org/smmillennia/]
Princess Serenity walked silently down the hall, her white heels clicking
on the marble floor. It was unusually dark on the Moon Kingdom, the usual rays
of light from Earth did not shine through the windows of the palace.
Serenity lifted the folds of her white dress as she carefully walked
down the steps into even more darkness. She was heading to Lady Juno de Kasei's
divination room. It was not a part of the palace she was very familiar with and
the fear of the darkness mingled with her fear of being caught and reprimanded.
Serenity straightened her shoulders and regained her composure.
This was no time to be a coward.
Her destiny had called to her.
* * * *
Neo-Queen Serenity gazed out into the night. The usual radiant white
moon was missing from the starry sky making it unusually dark. She sighed
heavily and weakly walked over to the throne room of the Crystal Palace. Each
and everyday she grew constantly weaker...and she knew exactly why. She remembered
what had happened in the past, but never knew she would be affected like this.
She was beginning to fade away, to fade from existence. Yesterday was the dreadful
day that Neo-Princess Serenity disappeared, ceased to exist. It was only then
did she really begin to realize the seriousness of the situation. The past had to
be changed, as the past had to be changed many times before. It was selfish, but
for for the sake of her daughter...for the sake of her court, she would do anything.
The Queen removed a small key from her pocket and unlocked a crystal case.
She gently placed her fingers on the Illusion Silver Crystal, expecting it to be
cold as all crystals generally are, and was surprised to find it warm. After all
these years, she mused, you would think I would have gotten use to this. Delicately,
she lifted the Crystal off its velvet pillow and carefully closed the case.
Serenity left the throne room and walked down a dark hall, her wings lightly
brushing against the crystal walls. She lifted the folds of her dress and carefully
walked down a stair-well. There was once a time when she was afraid of the darkness.
There was no time to be afraid.
She had to face her past.
* * * *
Usagi opened her eyes and sat up straight.
Two figures were walking towards her, both dressed in white. They looked
like ghosts, like something she read in a book by some British person who's name
she couldn't remember.
They were the spirits of the Past and the Future.
"Princess Serenity? Neo-Queen Serenity?" Usagi asked in shock. "What
are you doing here?"
"Hello, Usagi-chan..." Neo-Queen Serenity smiled, "It's nice to see you
again." she replied, her face radiating all the warmth and kindness that the
Queen of the world should have. Her face then suddenly took a look of seriousness
and she glanced at Princess Serenity who was looking a bit nervous.
"She doesn't know, does she?" the younger Serenity whispered to the older.
"I don't know what?" Usagi asked innocently.
"Usagi-san, turn around please..." Princess Serenity said slowly.
Usagi's eyes were full of confusion, but she obediently turned her head and looked
behind her. She gasped at the sight. She saw herself lying near-death upon a stack
of pillows. The window was open and a breeze ruffled the lace curtains, it was
incredibly dark in the room. She frantically glanced to her side and saw Mamoru
asleep by the bed, grasping her body's hand. Usagi looked down at her own hand
and to her surprise she saw she could see right through it.
"So...I'm a ghost too? But a spirit of the Present..." she said with
a weak smile as tears welled up in her eyes. "What..happened to me?" she asked,
her eyes glassy.
"When you were given your Princess form the sensitive bond between you
and the Silver Crystal suddenly collapsed. It was due to you not being fully
prepared to accept it. You died on the spot, Usagi...well, perhaps a better
description is that you were put in a permanent coma. However, doctors saw that
you weren't trully dead because your brain was fully active. It's a phenomenon
that still no one can explain. You would have remained that way forever, but
somehow, Sailorsaturn knew a way to awaken your spirit. I don't even know to
this day how, but it was very traumatizing for the others to watch. They
thought she had hurt you...and she ran away in shame." Neo-Queen Serenity
explained, tears filling her eyes as she remembered her own past.
"Hotaru-chan..." Usagi murmured, looking saddened.
"Usagi, listen. There isn't much time. Something that should have never
happened HAS happened. It has to do with the Black Star Galaxy and something
called the Golden Key. I've only heard about it from my mother, I don't know
exactly what has happened...but something in the continuum of time is terribly
wrong. Usagi-san, you must awaken and become Princess Sailormoon and overcome
your enemies." Princess Serenity quickly, she gave an odd glance behind her
shoulder...as if she were afraid someone was going to catch her.
"Yes, we in the Future are feeling this paradox. Chibiusa...she's
disappeared and every day I grow weaker and weaker. There is something that
must be fixed. The battle will no doubt be difficult, but you are to be the
Queen of Crystal Tokyo..." Neo-Queen Serenity replied. "You ascend to the throne
in only seven years. Usagi-chan, you MUST be prepared. More importantly, you
must be alive. But without the Silver Crystal you cannot live, so you must take
this." Neo-Queen Serenity said and without fear held out the Silver Crystal of
the Future.
"No! I can't take this. How will you protect yourself and live without
this?" Usagi exclaimed.
"Usagi, my present is dead. But you *are* me. Your survival and your
healing the wound to the time continuum will allow me and all of Crystal Tokyo
to live once again." Neo-Queen Serenity explained gently, "So please, allow this
existence to disappear and allow me to live in another."
"It is not only the Future which is in jeopardy, but also the Past.
Please fight. For your friends, for the ones you love, for us." Princess
Serenity urged.
"We must go now. Return to your body, Usagi-chan.." Neo-Queen
Serenity directed. Usagi nodded and lay down upon the pillows, her spirit
fusing with her body, the Silver Crystal still in her hands. As the Crystal
touched her real body a light instantly filled her and began to heal her.
"And remember Usagi...the line must go on, it must always go on..."
Neo-Queen Serenity whispered as she and Princess Serenity faded away.
The light melted away Usagi's bed clothes and a crescent moon appeared and
then shined upon her forehead. The blinding light brought Mamoru to open his
eyes, he winced at the brilliance and shielded his eyes.
"Usako..." he whispered as he forced himself to stare down at her.
The white light eminating from her body, the look of peace and tranquility
on her face...he didn't think he had ever seen her look so beautiful in his
life.
The Silver Crystal flickered with color and changed form into a
crystal brooch shaped as a crescent moon encircled with a golden crown.
The Crystal was set upon a golden backing that was encircled by the signs
of all the Sailor Senshi and Earth. From the brooch, a whirl of white
ribbons surrounded Usagi and dressed her in the gown of the Silver Millennium.
"Usako..?" he whispered again. Her eyes opened slowly and she smiled
gently at Mamoru. His hands and body hung limp in his chair as he stared at her,
his blue eyes in a daze. She gracefully got out of bed and stood before him,
a shining fingetip gently touching his face. The luminescence transferred from
her body to his, filling it with the same healing energy.
"Usako...my Princess..." he whispered. He stood up and opened his arms
wide, Usagi fell into his embrace. The light and love the couple shared entwined
them, Mamoru's clothes melting into a suit which resembled his clothing as
Prince Endymion of the Silver Millennium. Upon his face appeared a white jeweled
mask.
"My Princess..." he said lovingly to her and stroked her long, loose hair
from her face.
"Mamo-chan..." Usagi whispered as she turned her face up for a kiss,
"My Prince, my Tuxedo Knight..."
* * * * *
Jessica stared at Sailorcancer, or rather, 'Kazeno Hikari' as she called
herself nowadays.
She felt nothing.
Her mind raced back to the night before, Sailorcancer had kissed her, much
to her surprise. She didn't know what to think of it for a second, but then shortly
after she pulled herself away from Cancer and demanded an explaination.
'Leo, don't you remember me?' Cancer had asked, the look of despair that
crossed her face at that point stabbed Leo in the heart...but yet...no, she didn't
remember her. Even now Jessica couldn't bear to look at Hikari, she knew that at
every free moment Hikari was gazing at her. Probably willing desperately to bring back
a memory of hers. Part of Jessica found it pathetic, but yet another part of her
was also longing for some sort of memory to come to her.
What if she was the person Jessica had been praying would come into her life?
"Yes, Mihana-san, I was sent from the future by the great Queen Selestia
to bring you a prophecy from our Oracles..." Hikari was explaining. She glanced up
towards Jessica and gave her a gentle smile. Jessica felt heat rush to her face,
and for the first time in almost all her life, she found herself unable to look
at someone directly in their eyes.
What's wrong with me? Jessica thought to herself angrily, she's just a girl.
Near her, she heard Shikami let out a snort. Jessica didn't have to see her to know
that those blood eyes of Shikami's were filled with amusement at her discomfort.
It was enough to snap her back to reality momentarily.
"Hikari-san," Jessica began in a cool, clear voice. "Could you tell us what
this propechy was again?" she asked.
"Of course, Le...Jessica. I have it memorized." Cancer said quietly, her
eyes lowered. She paused for a moment before repeating it, "'When Nine Stars have
risen in the Future, and the Moon disappeared from the Earthen sky, the Invaders
will win their First Major Triumph.'"
"So, as you can see, the Black Star Galaxy will win a great battle
soon." Hikari explained.
The girls nodded in agreement, only Tien-Lei looked a bit perplexed.
"When the Moon disappears from the Earthen Sky...what if that's tonight?
It's a new moon tonight..." Mihana asked.
"Then we must prepare before the new moon rises in the night sky.
We must use any means necessary to make sure the Black Star Galaxy does not
obtain any more pieces of the Seven Stars." Jessica said, eager to take back
her role as leader from Shikami and eager to prove to all that this situation
with Hikari had left her undaunted.
"That's what you've been trying to do, Jessica." Shikami replied
coolly, "And as I recall, you weren't doing a very good job of either
acquiring OR protecting Star Pieces."
"Please, Jessica, don't reply." Hikari said, raising her hand
up. "You do not remember your arguments with Scorpio from the past, but I
remember them well. There's no point in senseless battle, it only weakens
the team." she murmured. Much to her own surprise, and everyone elses,
Jessica felt her rage die down and felt herself become much more calm...but only
momentarily. When Jessica realized that Hikari had been able to do this, she
felt her anger flare up once more. Hikari sighed,
"If only you could remember what Libra told you time and again--"
"Libra?" Tien-Lei repeated in surprise. She still looked perplexed,
"Yes, Sailorlibra, the best swordsmistress in the galaxy, perhaps
even in the universe...she's--"
"Where is she? Sorry to interrupt again..." Tien-Lei interjected.
"Well...I...I don't know...I suppose you haven't found her yet."
"You said the prophecy said nine stars would be risen, right?" Tien-Lei
asked. Without waiting for an answer she continued, "I'm assuming that we
are those stars." Tien-Lei glanced to Hikari who nodded, "I am also assuming
that we should count you as one of the stars. Well, even if we do count you...
How could that prophecy be fulfilled when there are only eight of us?"
* * * *
"Usagi!" Rei cried out and threw her arms around Princess Sailormoon's neck.
All the Senshi were equally as shocked and elated as Rei was. The message had
spread quickly that Sailormoon had awakened and they all quickly rushed to
Hikawa-jinja to see her with their own eyes. They were all there, all of them except
Tomoe Hotaru.
"Mamoru-san...you, you look so dashing!" Ami gushed, a slight blush reddening
her cheeks. The joy she felt in her heart was so overwhelming, she felt tears warming
her eyes.
"How did this happen, Usagi-chan?" Makoto asked.
"It was Hotaru...somehow she awakened me...but there's no time to discuss this
right now." Sailormoon said seriously, "The time has arrived for us to finally
defeat the evil that has encircled Earth..."
"Usagi..." Ami gasped, "Your vocabulary! It's so...adult..." she said blushing
even more than she had before.
"Don't be embarassed, Ami-chan. I'm sure everyone was thinking the same thing.
You could say that I've grown up a bit...that I know there is a duty I must fulfill."
Usagi explained. For a moment her face looked pained as she remembered Neo-Queen
Serenity's words...Chibiusa's demise...
"Usagi..." Rei murmured, catching the look of sadness that crossed Usagi's
eyes.
"Also...please don't worry about Hotaru-chan. I know what my mother said about
Sailorsaturn and how she must never be awakened or else the end will come. She's a
very important member of the Sailor Team who we shouldn't alienate...I have more
faith in her than that..."
"Princess, you are well on your way to becoming the Queen of the Crystal
Millennium." Setsuna murmured. Sailormoon smiled at her gently,
"Well, there will be time for that later. There are many things on our agenda.
We must acquire the Golden Key and discover what the Black Star Galaxy has to do
with the Golden Millennium...We should also find out who exactly the Zodiac Senshi
are. It's been difficult thus far, but something inside tells me that they're not
the enemies we think they are..."
"The Black Star Galaxy could only be the invaders from the future that
destroyed the Golden Millennium..." Michiru said quietly. "If this is so, then we
should be helping the Zodiac Senshi, they are the protectors of the Golden Millennium,
afterall."
"Minna..." Rei whispered as a look of fear covered her face, "I think we
should henshin..."
"Rei-chan?" Minako asked,
"I feel something....very sinister and evil...."
* * * *
Arseniru watched the girls from afar. He smirked to himself,
"What a clever girl." he said dryly. He thought it rather demeaning that he had
to spy on these silly Sailor Senshi. They are weak and useless, he thought. He felt it
would have been much more worthwhile to attack the Zodiac Senshi, but unfortunately,
Princess Lithia did not feel the same way.
"She's losing faith in me." He muttered to himself feeling his anger rising.
"I can't continue to fail. Damn that Scorpio...this is all her fault."
Arseniru clenched his fists, he wasn't really paying attention to the Sailor
Senshi. If he had been, he would have noticed they were alarmed. They had all henshin'd
and were calling out for whoever it was to come out. But he didn't notice any of this,
and if he had been paying attention, he wouldn't have cared. His mind was fixated on
one thing right now:
Scorpio.
He felt his heart tighten as iciness traveled in his veins. How he would like
nothing more than to destroy her. To wipe her disgusting smugness from her face. The
idea of seeing her broken and torn brought a tiny smile to his face.
How he hated her.
Hated her, yet desired her. He wanted to control her...Scorpio, the only woman
who never fell for him. Scorpio, that beautiful, haughty woman with the sharp eyes and
the sweet smelling hair. Scorpio, that hateful woman who stole Leadan away from him.
Soon enough, soon enough.
He had it all planned out, and when it was done, he would have won.
She would be broken, he would control her, and Leadan would hate her.
It was perfect.
"I took you once, Scorpio." he muttered with a smirk, "I can do it again."
* * * *
"Who's there?" Sailormars demanded as she called into the darkness.
"Are you sure there's something here?" Sailoruranus whispered.
"I felt it...no, I still feel it. There's something evil around us..."
"No, nothing evil." a cold voice muttered, "Just us."
From under the torii appeared a group of females: the Zodiac Senshi.
"What are you doing here?" Sailoruranus demanded.
"We're here to bring you a prophecy, to ask for your assistance." a
Zodiac Senshi with long jade colored hair said quietly. There was something about
her air which made her seem ethereal, not of this time.
"Was she part of the Zodiac Senshi before?" Sailorvenus whispered to Mercury.
"What is your prophecy?" Sailormoon asked.
By: Janelle Jimenez (miaka@bishounen.org)
Official Webpage: http://www.sailormoon-millennia.net/ [http://bishounen.org/smmillennia/]
Princess Serenity walked silently down the hall, her white heels clicking
on the marble floor. It was unusually dark on the Moon Kingdom, the usual rays
of light from Earth did not shine through the windows of the palace.
Serenity lifted the folds of her white dress as she carefully walked
down the steps into even more darkness. She was heading to Lady Juno de Kasei's
divination room. It was not a part of the palace she was very familiar with and
the fear of the darkness mingled with her fear of being caught and reprimanded.
Serenity straightened her shoulders and regained her composure.
This was no time to be a coward.
Her destiny had called to her.
* * * *
Neo-Queen Serenity gazed out into the night. The usual radiant white
moon was missing from the starry sky making it unusually dark. She sighed
heavily and weakly walked over to the throne room of the Crystal Palace. Each
and everyday she grew constantly weaker...and she knew exactly why. She remembered
what had happened in the past, but never knew she would be affected like this.
She was beginning to fade away, to fade from existence. Yesterday was the dreadful
day that Neo-Princess Serenity disappeared, ceased to exist. It was only then
did she really begin to realize the seriousness of the situation. The past had to
be changed, as the past had to be changed many times before. It was selfish, but
for for the sake of her daughter...for the sake of her court, she would do anything.
The Queen removed a small key from her pocket and unlocked a crystal case.
She gently placed her fingers on the Illusion Silver Crystal, expecting it to be
cold as all crystals generally are, and was surprised to find it warm. After all
these years, she mused, you would think I would have gotten use to this. Delicately,
she lifted the Crystal off its velvet pillow and carefully closed the case.
Serenity left the throne room and walked down a dark hall, her wings lightly
brushing against the crystal walls. She lifted the folds of her dress and carefully
walked down a stair-well. There was once a time when she was afraid of the darkness.
There was no time to be afraid.
She had to face her past.
* * * *
Usagi opened her eyes and sat up straight.
Two figures were walking towards her, both dressed in white. They looked
like ghosts, like something she read in a book by some British person who's name
she couldn't remember.
They were the spirits of the Past and the Future.
"Princess Serenity? Neo-Queen Serenity?" Usagi asked in shock. "What
are you doing here?"
"Hello, Usagi-chan..." Neo-Queen Serenity smiled, "It's nice to see you
again." she replied, her face radiating all the warmth and kindness that the
Queen of the world should have. Her face then suddenly took a look of seriousness
and she glanced at Princess Serenity who was looking a bit nervous.
"She doesn't know, does she?" the younger Serenity whispered to the older.
"I don't know what?" Usagi asked innocently.
"Usagi-san, turn around please..." Princess Serenity said slowly.
Usagi's eyes were full of confusion, but she obediently turned her head and looked
behind her. She gasped at the sight. She saw herself lying near-death upon a stack
of pillows. The window was open and a breeze ruffled the lace curtains, it was
incredibly dark in the room. She frantically glanced to her side and saw Mamoru
asleep by the bed, grasping her body's hand. Usagi looked down at her own hand
and to her surprise she saw she could see right through it.
"So...I'm a ghost too? But a spirit of the Present..." she said with
a weak smile as tears welled up in her eyes. "What..happened to me?" she asked,
her eyes glassy.
"When you were given your Princess form the sensitive bond between you
and the Silver Crystal suddenly collapsed. It was due to you not being fully
prepared to accept it. You died on the spot, Usagi...well, perhaps a better
description is that you were put in a permanent coma. However, doctors saw that
you weren't trully dead because your brain was fully active. It's a phenomenon
that still no one can explain. You would have remained that way forever, but
somehow, Sailorsaturn knew a way to awaken your spirit. I don't even know to
this day how, but it was very traumatizing for the others to watch. They
thought she had hurt you...and she ran away in shame." Neo-Queen Serenity
explained, tears filling her eyes as she remembered her own past.
"Hotaru-chan..." Usagi murmured, looking saddened.
"Usagi, listen. There isn't much time. Something that should have never
happened HAS happened. It has to do with the Black Star Galaxy and something
called the Golden Key. I've only heard about it from my mother, I don't know
exactly what has happened...but something in the continuum of time is terribly
wrong. Usagi-san, you must awaken and become Princess Sailormoon and overcome
your enemies." Princess Serenity quickly, she gave an odd glance behind her
shoulder...as if she were afraid someone was going to catch her.
"Yes, we in the Future are feeling this paradox. Chibiusa...she's
disappeared and every day I grow weaker and weaker. There is something that
must be fixed. The battle will no doubt be difficult, but you are to be the
Queen of Crystal Tokyo..." Neo-Queen Serenity replied. "You ascend to the throne
in only seven years. Usagi-chan, you MUST be prepared. More importantly, you
must be alive. But without the Silver Crystal you cannot live, so you must take
this." Neo-Queen Serenity said and without fear held out the Silver Crystal of
the Future.
"No! I can't take this. How will you protect yourself and live without
this?" Usagi exclaimed.
"Usagi, my present is dead. But you *are* me. Your survival and your
healing the wound to the time continuum will allow me and all of Crystal Tokyo
to live once again." Neo-Queen Serenity explained gently, "So please, allow this
existence to disappear and allow me to live in another."
"It is not only the Future which is in jeopardy, but also the Past.
Please fight. For your friends, for the ones you love, for us." Princess
Serenity urged.
"We must go now. Return to your body, Usagi-chan.." Neo-Queen
Serenity directed. Usagi nodded and lay down upon the pillows, her spirit
fusing with her body, the Silver Crystal still in her hands. As the Crystal
touched her real body a light instantly filled her and began to heal her.
"And remember Usagi...the line must go on, it must always go on..."
Neo-Queen Serenity whispered as she and Princess Serenity faded away.
The light melted away Usagi's bed clothes and a crescent moon appeared and
then shined upon her forehead. The blinding light brought Mamoru to open his
eyes, he winced at the brilliance and shielded his eyes.
"Usako..." he whispered as he forced himself to stare down at her.
The white light eminating from her body, the look of peace and tranquility
on her face...he didn't think he had ever seen her look so beautiful in his
life.
The Silver Crystal flickered with color and changed form into a
crystal brooch shaped as a crescent moon encircled with a golden crown.
The Crystal was set upon a golden backing that was encircled by the signs
of all the Sailor Senshi and Earth. From the brooch, a whirl of white
ribbons surrounded Usagi and dressed her in the gown of the Silver Millennium.
"Usako..?" he whispered again. Her eyes opened slowly and she smiled
gently at Mamoru. His hands and body hung limp in his chair as he stared at her,
his blue eyes in a daze. She gracefully got out of bed and stood before him,
a shining fingetip gently touching his face. The luminescence transferred from
her body to his, filling it with the same healing energy.
"Usako...my Princess..." he whispered. He stood up and opened his arms
wide, Usagi fell into his embrace. The light and love the couple shared entwined
them, Mamoru's clothes melting into a suit which resembled his clothing as
Prince Endymion of the Silver Millennium. Upon his face appeared a white jeweled
mask.
"My Princess..." he said lovingly to her and stroked her long, loose hair
from her face.
"Mamo-chan..." Usagi whispered as she turned her face up for a kiss,
"My Prince, my Tuxedo Knight..."
* * * * *
Jessica stared at Sailorcancer, or rather, 'Kazeno Hikari' as she called
herself nowadays.
She felt nothing.
Her mind raced back to the night before, Sailorcancer had kissed her, much
to her surprise. She didn't know what to think of it for a second, but then shortly
after she pulled herself away from Cancer and demanded an explaination.
'Leo, don't you remember me?' Cancer had asked, the look of despair that
crossed her face at that point stabbed Leo in the heart...but yet...no, she didn't
remember her. Even now Jessica couldn't bear to look at Hikari, she knew that at
every free moment Hikari was gazing at her. Probably willing desperately to bring back
a memory of hers. Part of Jessica found it pathetic, but yet another part of her
was also longing for some sort of memory to come to her.
What if she was the person Jessica had been praying would come into her life?
"Yes, Mihana-san, I was sent from the future by the great Queen Selestia
to bring you a prophecy from our Oracles..." Hikari was explaining. She glanced up
towards Jessica and gave her a gentle smile. Jessica felt heat rush to her face,
and for the first time in almost all her life, she found herself unable to look
at someone directly in their eyes.
What's wrong with me? Jessica thought to herself angrily, she's just a girl.
Near her, she heard Shikami let out a snort. Jessica didn't have to see her to know
that those blood eyes of Shikami's were filled with amusement at her discomfort.
It was enough to snap her back to reality momentarily.
"Hikari-san," Jessica began in a cool, clear voice. "Could you tell us what
this propechy was again?" she asked.
"Of course, Le...Jessica. I have it memorized." Cancer said quietly, her
eyes lowered. She paused for a moment before repeating it, "'When Nine Stars have
risen in the Future, and the Moon disappeared from the Earthen sky, the Invaders
will win their First Major Triumph.'"
"So, as you can see, the Black Star Galaxy will win a great battle
soon." Hikari explained.
The girls nodded in agreement, only Tien-Lei looked a bit perplexed.
"When the Moon disappears from the Earthen Sky...what if that's tonight?
It's a new moon tonight..." Mihana asked.
"Then we must prepare before the new moon rises in the night sky.
We must use any means necessary to make sure the Black Star Galaxy does not
obtain any more pieces of the Seven Stars." Jessica said, eager to take back
her role as leader from Shikami and eager to prove to all that this situation
with Hikari had left her undaunted.
"That's what you've been trying to do, Jessica." Shikami replied
coolly, "And as I recall, you weren't doing a very good job of either
acquiring OR protecting Star Pieces."
"Please, Jessica, don't reply." Hikari said, raising her hand
up. "You do not remember your arguments with Scorpio from the past, but I
remember them well. There's no point in senseless battle, it only weakens
the team." she murmured. Much to her own surprise, and everyone elses,
Jessica felt her rage die down and felt herself become much more calm...but only
momentarily. When Jessica realized that Hikari had been able to do this, she
felt her anger flare up once more. Hikari sighed,
"If only you could remember what Libra told you time and again--"
"Libra?" Tien-Lei repeated in surprise. She still looked perplexed,
"Yes, Sailorlibra, the best swordsmistress in the galaxy, perhaps
even in the universe...she's--"
"Where is she? Sorry to interrupt again..." Tien-Lei interjected.
"Well...I...I don't know...I suppose you haven't found her yet."
"You said the prophecy said nine stars would be risen, right?" Tien-Lei
asked. Without waiting for an answer she continued, "I'm assuming that we
are those stars." Tien-Lei glanced to Hikari who nodded, "I am also assuming
that we should count you as one of the stars. Well, even if we do count you...
How could that prophecy be fulfilled when there are only eight of us?"
* * * *
"Usagi!" Rei cried out and threw her arms around Princess Sailormoon's neck.
All the Senshi were equally as shocked and elated as Rei was. The message had
spread quickly that Sailormoon had awakened and they all quickly rushed to
Hikawa-jinja to see her with their own eyes. They were all there, all of them except
Tomoe Hotaru.
"Mamoru-san...you, you look so dashing!" Ami gushed, a slight blush reddening
her cheeks. The joy she felt in her heart was so overwhelming, she felt tears warming
her eyes.
"How did this happen, Usagi-chan?" Makoto asked.
"It was Hotaru...somehow she awakened me...but there's no time to discuss this
right now." Sailormoon said seriously, "The time has arrived for us to finally
defeat the evil that has encircled Earth..."
"Usagi..." Ami gasped, "Your vocabulary! It's so...adult..." she said blushing
even more than she had before.
"Don't be embarassed, Ami-chan. I'm sure everyone was thinking the same thing.
You could say that I've grown up a bit...that I know there is a duty I must fulfill."
Usagi explained. For a moment her face looked pained as she remembered Neo-Queen
Serenity's words...Chibiusa's demise...
"Usagi..." Rei murmured, catching the look of sadness that crossed Usagi's
eyes.
"Also...please don't worry about Hotaru-chan. I know what my mother said about
Sailorsaturn and how she must never be awakened or else the end will come. She's a
very important member of the Sailor Team who we shouldn't alienate...I have more
faith in her than that..."
"Princess, you are well on your way to becoming the Queen of the Crystal
Millennium." Setsuna murmured. Sailormoon smiled at her gently,
"Well, there will be time for that later. There are many things on our agenda.
We must acquire the Golden Key and discover what the Black Star Galaxy has to do
with the Golden Millennium...We should also find out who exactly the Zodiac Senshi
are. It's been difficult thus far, but something inside tells me that they're not
the enemies we think they are..."
"The Black Star Galaxy could only be the invaders from the future that
destroyed the Golden Millennium..." Michiru said quietly. "If this is so, then we
should be helping the Zodiac Senshi, they are the protectors of the Golden Millennium,
afterall."
"Minna..." Rei whispered as a look of fear covered her face, "I think we
should henshin..."
"Rei-chan?" Minako asked,
"I feel something....very sinister and evil...."
* * * *
Arseniru watched the girls from afar. He smirked to himself,
"What a clever girl." he said dryly. He thought it rather demeaning that he had
to spy on these silly Sailor Senshi. They are weak and useless, he thought. He felt it
would have been much more worthwhile to attack the Zodiac Senshi, but unfortunately,
Princess Lithia did not feel the same way.
"She's losing faith in me." He muttered to himself feeling his anger rising.
"I can't continue to fail. Damn that Scorpio...this is all her fault."
Arseniru clenched his fists, he wasn't really paying attention to the Sailor
Senshi. If he had been, he would have noticed they were alarmed. They had all henshin'd
and were calling out for whoever it was to come out. But he didn't notice any of this,
and if he had been paying attention, he wouldn't have cared. His mind was fixated on
one thing right now:
Scorpio.
He felt his heart tighten as iciness traveled in his veins. How he would like
nothing more than to destroy her. To wipe her disgusting smugness from her face. The
idea of seeing her broken and torn brought a tiny smile to his face.
How he hated her.
Hated her, yet desired her. He wanted to control her...Scorpio, the only woman
who never fell for him. Scorpio, that beautiful, haughty woman with the sharp eyes and
the sweet smelling hair. Scorpio, that hateful woman who stole Leadan away from him.
Soon enough, soon enough.
He had it all planned out, and when it was done, he would have won.
She would be broken, he would control her, and Leadan would hate her.
It was perfect.
"I took you once, Scorpio." he muttered with a smirk, "I can do it again."
* * * *
"Who's there?" Sailormars demanded as she called into the darkness.
"Are you sure there's something here?" Sailoruranus whispered.
"I felt it...no, I still feel it. There's something evil around us..."
"No, nothing evil." a cold voice muttered, "Just us."
From under the torii appeared a group of females: the Zodiac Senshi.
"What are you doing here?" Sailoruranus demanded.
"We're here to bring you a prophecy, to ask for your assistance." a
Zodiac Senshi with long jade colored hair said quietly. There was something about
her air which made her seem ethereal, not of this time.
"Was she part of the Zodiac Senshi before?" Sailorvenus whispered to Mercury.
"What is your prophecy?" Sailormoon asked.
