Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon, Magic Knight Rayearth, Ronin Warriors, or Dragon Ball. They're each owned by their respective companies. Do not sue me because you won't get anything anyway.

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Setting: The sailor scouts have just finished their battle against the Death Busters, the Magic Knights have saved Cephiro from Lady Debonair, the Ronin Warriors have defeated Talpa the second time with the Armor of Inferno, and Gohan has defeated Cell.

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Chapter One:

"Evil Released"

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 Somewhere in a realm unknown to all and where time has no meaning….

   

   A woman sits solemnly within a large glittering room; its shape and space to be molded by her will alone. Surrounding her is the glimmer of light from glowing crystals.  Hanging far above was a night sky full of stars easily grasped should she wish it. A warm brilliance radiated from the gaseous orbs. Their luminance at that moment filling the kaleidoscopic room with flickering colors, prismatic like clear gems in sunlight.

  Suddenly the woman rose from her crystal throne. Gracefully walking towards the center of the room, she began to levitate upwards with raised arms. As she rose into the air one of the stars floated towards her. Her long light brown hair blew in a swirling mass above her head, and her large eyes shimmered like white gold in the star's approaching gleam. Gently it came to rest in the palm of her hands. Her concerned gaze explored its depths with thorough care. She was nearly engulfed by its brightness when suddenly the star's blinding light turned black and cold.

  She gasped and then watched as is its energy deadened, and its core hardened with heaviness. Startled she let its remains drop from her hands and into the dark abyss below her. A brief flickering light could be seen as it fell into nothingness.

  The woman's knees trembled as she retouched the glass-like floor beneath her. The quiver in her legs quickly traveled into her chest, rattling her heart against her ribcage. She was forced to steady herself. With clenched hands, she gripped the elbows of her folded arms. She was aware of being watched and could sense concerned eyes upon her. Her young grim faced companion slowly approached.

"What is it, Kala?" asked the young girl. "What's wrong?"

Kala answered in a soft voice, "Another star has faded…and with it the light of an entire world. An entire planet and its people are forever gone." Her eyes angled in a sidelong glance, lingering on the dark abyss. "What I have feared the most has become a reality. An old evil…" she paused before looking the young girl in the eye. "It returns with powers much greater than before. Enough to release itself and to soon force all life to descend into the same deathly silence."

The young girl blinked rapidly in shock. "What can we do?"

Kala's eyes once again shifted upward to peer into the distance of the star-cluttered night. Her searching gaze narrowed before lowering to meet her companion's. 

"What will happen now?" the young girl asked in a shaky voice.

Kala closed her eyes and tried to concentrate her powers on seeing the future events that would take place. To her great surprise and even greater fright, the comfort of knowing that she had always depended upon had suddenly vanished without a trace.

"I-I don't know" she answered stunned. "For the first time ever, Utori…I simply don't know."

*~*~*~*~*~*

   As Darien walked with his hands tucked in his pockets, he stole a glance down at Serena. She had her hands wrapped around one of his arms and her head leaning contently towards him. It was a fairly nice day, something of an oddity in comparison to the past few weeks. Darien had never considered his self to be pessimist, but frequently found himself glancing at the sky's sunny disposition with skepticism. At any moment another perfectly seeming day could be ruined. He half-expected the billowy clouds to suddenly gray and swallow the sky. With his luck they would probably decide to hail hard blocks of ice. The edges of his lips turned upward into a faint smile as he laughed inwardly at himself.

   Only weeks ago, had he been involved along with Serena and the other sailor scouts in a battle to save this world. Although his role towards the end of it had been more in preserving his daughter's failing life…his future daughter technically…. All in all, it had been a grueling battle, with himself separated from Serena, and all the scouts from one another. Each of them alone, wondering whether or not they would see each other again…wondering whether they would be together just as before. Now here he was, strolling down the park sidewalk with the woman he loved more than anything else, and instead of enjoying it he was stressing out over bad weather. He truly was a pessimist. 

 "Darien?" Serena asked breaking the silence.

  To be honest he was actually grateful and in truth the silence had been unusually prolonged, especially since Serena never went for too long without voicing her thoughts - good or bad. A quality that would annoy most, but one he found endearing and the majority of the time amusing. At the moment her voice sounded somewhat serious. He could tell she had been thinking about something important. .

"What is it, Serena?" he responded looking down into her troubled eyes. Her slender, heart-shaped face held mixed emotions.

"Well, you know I really do miss Rini and all," she said referring to their future daughter pensively. Her brow wrinkled some as she went on, "…but ever since she went back to the future we've had a lot more time for us."

"Yeah?" Darien replied, sensing a twinge of guilt in her voice.

   He nodded in agreement, but wondered where this was leading. Unsurprisingly, the thoughtful look on her face had quickly vanished along with her fleeting emotion of guilt.  The flame of heated annoyance now burned in her eyes. Darien couldn't help, but shake his head. Like the weather of late, his Serena's emotions tended to be just as fickle.

"I mean honestly," Serena huffed gripping his arm harder. "How does she ever expect to be born if she's always tagging along with the two of us everywhere we go?"

   At this point Darien's eyes widened. That wasn't exactly what he had expected her to say. Though it was always that way with Serena and almost always, it caught him off guard. "Ur--well," he gasped, "I think it's all right for Rini to come places with us. I mean I just don't think we're ready for that kind of a thing yet. That kind of thing leads to kids and your Dad already kind of doesn't like me, being that I'm in college and you're in high school and--"

"Oh, its not just that." Serena sighed, leaning her head against his arm again. "I just think it's nice to not have to fight anymore." The high-pitched signature trill in her voice went away once more. "I'm glad the battle with the Heart Snatchers is finally over. All the responsibility of being a scout…gone. Even if it's just for a little while, you know. The future is going to be here soon enough as it is."

She was referring to both of their future destinies as rulers of Crystal Tokyo.

"Don't you think?" she asked.

"Yeah," Darien sighed, though still a bit undone by what she had said about becoming Rini's parents. As usual she had said something that meant something completely different from his first thought.

"Umm, Darien?" Serena asked in a tiny voice a few moments later.

"Hmm," he answered strolling along slowly beside her down the park path.

"What did you mean about not being ready for that kind of a 'thing'?" she asked staring at him now with wide innocent eyes. Darien's face reddened.

"I meant--um--you know. Us. Us together," he stammered developing a sweat drop behind his head and trying his best to avoid a certain short lettered word. "Us having…um getting-"

"Oh," she cried, her eyes widening with understanding. A large smile widened across her face as she slid one of her hands down his arm to link fingers. "Married! Us getting married! That's what you meant right?"

Without realizing it, Darien let out a sigh (*sweat drop*). "Yes," he said nodding his head in relief. "Sure, that's exactly what I meant…definitely."

   Serena laughed and slapped his arm. "Well, duh! I know we're not ready for that yet." 

Raising an eyebrow, she tipped her head to the side away from him. "And we're not ready for that other 'thing' either."

    She laughed further at Darien's wide-eyed reaction. Then smiling a mischievous, knowing smile slipped into a daydream about their future wedding.  The shock on Darien's face all but vanished when suddenly she impulsively jumped up to throw her arms around his neck.

"But still, I can't wait for that day when you do ask me!" she exclaimed staring adoringly into his dark blue eyes, face-to-face from her elevated position. "Marriage I mean. It's going to be so wonderful!"

'Serena,' he thought, allowing his self to think a tad bit naughty. 'You have no idea.'

   Although somewhat embarrassed at her sudden embrace he returned her smile, amazed at her never-ending exuberance. Pulling her arms away from his neck, he lowered her petite frame back to the ground and then held both of her hands together against his chest. Serena closed her eyes and pursed her lips in expectation. Darien hesitated, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious of the park being such a public place.

    Serena, of course, was never bothered by this kind of shyness. After all, anyone who knew the bubbly blonde knew that there wasn't much that would embarrass her. Looking at his beautiful Serena, Darien gathered himself and decided to lean over towards her. He was about to close his eyes, when suddenly a flash of light blazed in the sky accompanied by a strong gust of wind.

Darien cried out as he covered his eyes with his arm.

"Jeez, Darien! Would you come on already?!" Serena said impatiently, eyes still closed. "I don't care if it's rain or snow, I am not moving from this spot until you kiss me!"

"Serena! Turn around! Look up above you!" Darien yelled, "There's some kind of hole in the sky!"

Reluctantly, Serena opened her eyes and turned away from Darien. She let out a smirk. Instead of being alarmed like him she was angry.

"Oh no," she mumbled as she watched the clouds part to reveal a small portal in the center of their gathering. "Its Rini!" she shouted back at Darien and then walked closer towards the opening. "Not now you little pink-haired brat!" she yelled waving her fist.

"Go away! You're ruining another moment between me and Darien!"

"No, Serena! I don't think its Rini! Come back!" Darien shouted, staring in disbelief at his girlfriend's recklessness. The situation didn't make sense. The wind was getting stronger, pushing him back but allowing Serena to walk closer.

"Ha! Of course it's her!" she yelled back, waving her hand at Darien wearily. "Who else could have such bad timing? You know she's doing this on purpose!"

  The angry blonde glared upward at the portal; determined not to move and just as determined to be the first thing that Rini saw when she exited the time passage into this world. She was sure Darien wouldn't mind the little girl's intrusion. To him, Rini was his future daughter. To Serena, Rini was about as annoying as her own little brother.

'Jeez, I swear this kid is really asking for it again,' Serena inwardly fumed, arms crossed fiercely over her bosom. 'If she doesn't watch it I'll get my tubes tied. And I'm not joking. I'll do it. I swear I'll do it. I don't care what anybody says about destiny and--'

  Serena's mental tirade quickly ceased as she was suddenly swept off her feet. This was not what was suppose to happen. Nothing was exiting the portal's opening and for whatever reason she was being pulled in. 

"AAAHHHHH!" she wailed forgetting her anger. "Darien help me!"

    As the suction pulled her closer, Serena noticed a cloaked hooded figure floating right above the portal. All of the bright light coming from the strange opening made it difficult to make out the woman's features, but still Serena could tell that she had dark-colored skin and long strands of wavy hair that covered her face.

"Who are you?" Serena said shouting above the wind's loud whirling.

Darien had also noticed the young woman as well. "What do you want?" he yelled running toward Serena. He wanted to transform into Tuxedo Mask, but time left no second to spare and he wasn't about to risk losing Serena.

"You," said the strange woman solemnly. Her gaze was fixed directly on Serena.

"I'm not going anywhere!" Serena called back using one hand to reach down toward Darien and the other to pull down her short skirt.

   Darien knew he had to fight against the strong wind if he was going to save her. He ran to grab her hand, grasping it hard it with all his strength.

"Darien!" Serena screamed helplessly, holding on in desperation. Her long blonde tassles whipped wildly around her frightened face.

"Give me your other, hand!" Darien cried trying his hardest to pull her back down.

"What? Are kidding me?" Serena cried back red faced. Then shook her head rapidly 'no.'

(*Sweat Drop* for Darien)

'Good grief, of all the times for her to be modest,' Darien thought inwardly.

  Serena screamed louder as the portal's suction grew stronger. She let go of her skirt to reach forward for Darien's hand. Meanwhile, the strange woman in green merely shook her head at the two of them. Darien noticed amusement dancing in her dark eyes from underneath the hood of her cloak. Then just as he was about to grab Serena's second hand, he lost his grip on her other one.

"Darien!" he heard her scream more shrilly.

"Serena! No!" he cried back in anguish. She had been sucked into the mysterious hole right before his very eyes.

   The portal closed almost immediately afterwards, vanishing along with the strange young woman and her laughing eyes. He would never forget the enjoyment he had seen in them, nor the look of terror he had seen in Serena's face as she was stolen away from him.

Moments before elsewhere...

'It doesn't make any sense. How can Kala not know about future events? She's still the guardian of dimensions.... Isn't she?' thought a confused Utori.

She was surprised at herself for even thinking such a thought. She had served Kala as her apprentice for what one who lived in a time-based world would not have been able to fathom. Although to her, living in this temple, she didn't have any concept of time and every moment felt short-lived.

  Still, there were many things that she didn't know about Kala. All she knew for sure was that Kala was dedicated to her duty as guardian. She would know how to deal with the calamity they faced. Utori banished the thoughts of doubt from her mind. She knew she needed to be ready to assist the guardian on a moment's notice. Kala then spoke as if she had been reading the young girl's mind.

"I always knew this moment would come. From the first time I fought Daisan" she sighed. "We need to summon the ones who can save time and space."

"How will we go about choosing these warriors?" asked Utori.

Kala took out a velvet drawstring pouch from around the waist of her gown and poured out the sparkling silver dust contained within it. She threw it into the air and the dust began to glow as it rose up above them.

"As guardian of infinite time and space, I have vowed to protect all dimensions and to insure the continuous, uninterrupted flow of time. I am a protector and a watcher. But it seems that Fate has arrived on my own doorstep and it calls for those of destiny to protect existence. I will answer this call. BY THE POWER OF THE STARS REVEAL TO ME THE CHOSEN CHAMPIONS OF FATE!"

  The glowing dust turned into beams of light and shot upward towards the stars in the night sky above them. They pulled back four balls of light. The four balls of light circled and then presented themselves before Kala. Utori stepped forward to gaze into the shining, round spheres of energy.

"With the help of the Astro Dust, it seems that Fate has chosen its army of champions, warriors from four different worlds who would defend it."

  Kala then created another ball of energy in her hands, a simple conjuring spell for calling forth needed items. The small orb formed into a long staff. Under further direction of she and her scepter an altar was brought forth. Kala whispered a few words and the four balls of light plunged together upon the altar to produce a flame that burned brightly as it shifted from several colors. The time guardian reached to her side and pulled out another small pouch, smaller than the one that had contained the astro dust. "Utori, I need you to go forth and collect our warriors since I can not leave the temple. You must hurry. It won't be long before Daisan resumes his quest for the gems."

   Utori looked at her mentor and nodded. "But before you go you'll need this one special item to aid your mission, Fate's Compass," Kala said before pouring the contents of the second pouch into the flame. Utori watched as four tiny broken pieces of a crystal fell into the burning fire. She stepped forward unafraid and then slowly reached into the mystical blaze to pull out a single icicle-shaped crystal. A sense of elated pleasure forced her to smile. The flame had not burned her; meaning was she worthy of possessing this item and worthy of carrying out this mission. Looking into the gem's center, she saw the same prismatic fire glowing from within it. A similar fire burned within her self. She felt confident about accomplishing what now needed to be done.

   The young woman turned to watch as Kala raised her glowing rod of energy. It opened a space, a rip in the dimensional fabric that would quickly mend itself once Utori had passed through. The time guardian's assistant tucked away the Fate Compass into a pocket on her traveling belt and then pulled the hood of her long cloak over her dark face. The ends of her cape flapped in the wind created by the portal. She knew there was no time to waste and hurried forth without hesitation.