Soldiers of Destiny

by David Knight

PRSM Crossover. [Chapter 3 Up] Nephrite makes his presence known, as he takes on Mars, Jupiter and all five Zeo Rangers. When all is said and done, nothing will be the same.

1. Through the Flames of a Phoenix

Disclaimer: The Power Rangers are the property of Disney. Sailor Moon is the property of Naoko Takeuchi/Kodansha, TOEI Animation. This was originally the first fanfic that I ever did five years ago and I'd like to take the time to thank JustJill and Wingzero for their help in the revision of this story, which profoundly better than its original form. If you have any questions, contact me at ericpaladin@hotmail.com

Though the Flames of a Phoenix
By: David Knight

On top of the Moon during the age known as the Silver Millennium, there was a kingdom known as the Moon Kingdom. It had been the center of the entire universe. From the Moon Kingdom, ruled by the noble and fair Queen Serenity and all of its rulers before her, peace had reigned thought the universe and all the planets in the solar system had kingdoms that were thriving and all races got along.

But alas, it all came to an end.

The evil empire known to all as the Dark Kingdom, which had been plotting for nearly a millennium for this, decided to attack the Moon Kingdom to solidify its position as the ultimate power in the universe. Its leader was Queen Metallia, a powerful being of darkness. Her second in command was the evil Queen Beryl, who had a quartet of warriors, the Shitenno, at her command. Their names were Jadeite, Nephrite, Kunzite, and Zoicite, the only female ever to become a member of the Shitenno.

Beryl led Metallia's surprise attack against the universe and had it been just them, perhaps things would not have been as disastrous. Unfortunately Queen Metallia had a mysterious and powerful ally, one none had seen before. His forces were causing riots all over the universe, their efforts being joined with the already existing evil there was in the universe. All defenders of the peace, as well as existing Power Rangers were called in to service, but were unable to help the Moon Kingdom at all as their first obligations came to their own home worlds.

The Moon Kingdom's defenders, the Sailor Soldiers, fought to the end but even they couldn't win against the odds they faced. First fell the strongest of the Soldiers, the Outer Sailors. With their fall, Queen Beryl led the forces of the Dark Kingdom straight to the heart of the Moon Kingdom. There she and her forces eliminated the Inner Sailor Soldiers, and Beryl herself ended the lives of Princess Serenity and her betrothed, Prince Endymion of Earth.

No longer concerned with the consequences, Queen Serenity unleashed the full destructive power of the item the Dark Kingdom had come to take in the first place.

The Ginzuishou, which translated to means Mystical Silver Crystal.

And now our story begins with one lone warrior now arriving to see at the end of it all.

* * *

Prince Trey of Triforia slammed his fist down at his console, wishing for Pryamidis to go faster.  For the umpteenth time hating that he couldn't have come sooner. _After all the attacks that had happened, we now finally drive the invaders away, and now finally I have the opportunity to leave to help Serenity._

His thoughts were strong when towards the princess. They had known each other for a long time, had been very fond of her, and even loved her. Yet he knew he could never win her heart as hers belonged to another man's. When he had seen Prince Endymion with her for the first time, he knew it was not meant to be with him and the Princess. Still, his feelings remained, and it was almost unbearable for him to have been able to do nothing.

_The defenses are all down and dead, all that's left is the moon. Please let there be..._ all color drained from his face as his advanced scanners caught sight of the moon. "... by the Power..."

The great Kingdom of the Moon was now in utter ruins. The bodies that lay upon the ground were both of its defenders and its invaders.

"I'm too late..." Trey breathed, falling back into his chair as he had his computer scan for life forms, scan for the people he knew, praying they were alive.

It was when he saw the lifeless bodies of Princess Serenity and her betrothed that he stopped the images; his eyes focused on what he saw. All emotions came to the surface as Trey himself unable to tell what would come out. 

In the end, it was grief. "... aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!" the Prince of Triforia screamed out, his grief consuming him as he lashed out at everything until he fell to the floor of his ship, allowing himself to cry.

He would have continued to cry had his ship not alerted him to life signs: two strong and one waning.

Resolve filled him as he immediately got back into his chair and poured everything he had into his ship. _I swear by the Power, I will NOT let any more die!_

* * *

On the surface of the moon, two cats, one white and one black, both with crescent moons on their foreheads, stayed faithfully and loyally to a slender elegant woman who laid on her back on the ground. She wore a white gown, sterling white hair styled into two rather elaborate pigtails, and a crescent moon on her own forehead. Her face was pained and knew that her time was short.

"You've done it Queen Serenity," the black cat spoke. "The Dark Kingdom is destroyed!"

"No Luna... it isn't over now," Queen Serenity muttered softly, "All I have done now is take care of the problem for the moment... but it shall return one day. I cannot deny that." She looked at the Crescent Moon Wand in her hands, the Ginzuishou attached to it. "... Now, only one option remains."

"Your majesty?" the white cat asked.

"This is the only way Artemis... the only way that I believe to be the right way..."

"You majesty what are you doing?" Luna asked.

"Giving my daughter, her beloved, and all the others a second chance. To be reborn in other souls in the future. Souls like themselves that will have a great destiny." Queen Serenity said softly. "They will come back in a thousand years."

"But why are you crying my Queen?" Artemis asked.

"Because they will have no memories of our kingdom. Nor the evil when they are reborn." Queen Serenity cried, "For when I do this, I will give my daughter and her friends new life, but also those of the Dark Kingdom shall be restored. The cycle will happen again."

"Your majesty, you mustn't..." Luna shook her head, trying to dissuade the Queen from this action.

"There is no alternative," Queen Serenity said, "There is also the evil that made its deal with Metallia... it still remains. That and the Dark Kingdom, they must be faced in the future... and I must ask you two to do me one final service. When I send them to be reborn, you must go to the future, find them, and help them remember. They may or may not look as you remember but you will know them when you find them... do you understand?"

"Yes," Both moon cats nodded though could not help but feel the sorrow in their hearts.

Summoning up the courage to stand, Queen Serenity raised her wand in the air.  Suddenly, the Silver Crystal sparkled brightly and left the wand, taking with it the souls of those that would be sent to be reborn. There was a flash of light and then it was gone.

"Goodbye... my daughter..." Queen Serenity breathed out with a smile on her face before she collapsed to the ground.

"QUEEN SERENITY!!!" Luna cried out. She and Artemis went to rush to her but suddenly found time had stopped for them. The Moon Wand glowed and disappeared but not before she and her partner were encased in crystal capsules which then disappeared as well.

Queen Serenity felt her life slipping from her, as she prepared to join the world beyond this one yet heard the rapid footsteps of someone coming to her. "Who..."

"QUEEN SERENITY!"

"... Trey...?" the Queen squeaked out, catching sight of the Gold Ranger. He ripped his helmet off to reveal himself.

"Your Majesty, hold on!"

"Trey... you came..." the Queen breathed out, a smile on her face, "I am glad at least... to die in the arms of a friend."

"No, you can't die, not like the others." Trey shook his head, "I won't let you..." his words trailed off as he saw the area around him, "The bodies of the dead... what has..."

"Trey... promise me... you'll find her..." Queen Serenity rasped.

"Find her, my queen I don't..."

"A thousand years from now, my daughter, her court... all will be reborn... as will the Dark Kingdom," Queen Serenity breathed, summoning what little strength she had left to tell him this much, "I don't know how the spell will work, it may have changed… but promise me... that you'll make sure my daughter is protected and that you will tell no one, no one what I have told you. Promise me!"

Trey looked into the dying queen's eyes, saw the truth of her words and made his vow, "By the Gods of Triforia as my witness, I swear I will do as you ask of me."

"Thank you. I have... only one last request... bury me... in secret."

After speaking those words, the Prince of Triforia felt the Moon Queen die in his arms.

His cries of mourning resounded through out the now lifeless moon.

* * *

Trey buried Queen Serenity in a corner of the moon over looking her former kingdom and made her burial site look as if part of the moon itself. He wouldn't allow the soon to be future looters and lowlifes that would mock the now fallen kingdom to desecrate the body of the great ruler.

When Trey returned to his home world and given his report, he was more than angered to learn of the Council now deciding to sever all ties to Earth, save for Zordon of Eltar who remained trapped on that world. They cited that its galaxy was no longer worth involving themselves in, that a world of primitives had nothing to offer them in their fight against the United Alliance of Evil.

The Alliance had been nothing more than a ragtag band of mostly petty lowlifes, average servants of evil and a few strong warlocks and witches, among them Lord Zedd and Rita Replusa, even if she was locked up with her court in a dumpster. They hadn't heard anything from the Alliance, anything of real note, for nearly three millennia.

That had been before the invasions on all Council homeworlds. As they soon realized, Metallia's secret ally had probably been taking over and refining the Alliance in those three millennia if not longer. He was not one to trifle with and yet apparently it had all been nothing more than awake up call for the galaxy.

This new lord of the UAE, this Dark Specter as he called himself, was a very powerful and devious individual. The end of the Silver Millennium only showed his ambition, to conquer the entire universe.

The universe was indeed changing, but Trey wouldn't change. Not to the Council's new order. He was a man of principle, of honor and integrity, and that was why he kept his promise to Queen Serenity.

_A thousand years from now... in a thousand years we will meet again, my Princess._ Trey vowed, for as long as he lived, he would never forget or give up on his vow to the queen. He would complete it.

No matter what.

* * *

A thousand years later...

At the Angel Grove Youth Center, Tommy Oliver and Rocky Desantos were sparing with each other, while Kimberly Ann Hart looked on. The usually spunky Pink Ranger was looking depressed. William 'Billy' Cranston came in and noticed his friend's sad face.

"You okay Kim?" Billy asked, coming up to her.

"Yeah," Kimberly said, letting out a sigh, "Just wondering what they would think of what's happened since they left?"

Billy knew exactly whom Kim was talking about: Jason Lee Scott, Zack Taylor and Trini Kwan. They along with Billy and Kimberly had been Earth's first Rangers. They weren't rangers any more though. Nine months ago they had left the world of the Rangers in order accept the opportunity of a lifetime to be the US representatives at the Teen Peace Conference in Switzerland.

"Lost our original powers, got a new set of them," Billy commented, "Rita having a brother..."

"How does a flesh and blood alien have a bag of bones for a brother?" Kimberly quipped, "Aisha, Rocky and Adam have been great Rangers and friends, but I just can't help but miss my best friend, Billy."

"I know, Kim." Billy nodded, "I know, but look at it this way. Three more months and then the conference is over for them."

"Yeah... maybe I should get started on working on a welcome back home party," Kim mused, earning a smile from Billy, "I wonder what they are doing over there now."

* * *

At that moment, Trini Kwan was at a lake by the grounds at the Peace Conference. She was looking at her reflection in the water, thinking.

_Has it really been almost a year now since I gave up being a Power Ranger?_ she mused, _We've done a lot of good here, even if sometimes it goes slowly. I remember how fast things went when I was a Ranger. I have done something for the world in both positions and I am glad for that... even if I am restless at time._

That was something she wondered about, her own restlessness at times. As if wanting to get back into the life that she once knew as a Ranger. Still though, it came and went. _At least I keep up with my martial arts training. I think I would go nuts if I didn't._

"Hey Trini!" Trini turned around to see Jason walking over to her, "You forget about having dinner tonight with the rest of us or what?"

Trini let out a small laugh, "Sorry Jason. Just thinking about things."

"Life things or Ranger things?" Jason quirked.

"Both." Trini smiled.

"Come on, Zack's waiting for us back at the dorms," Jason told her. The two of them started walking together, moving toward the buildings that had been their home for many months now.

They just hadn't considered to see smoke coming from one of them nor see Zack helping a young man out of it. Both of them rushed over to him. "Zack what's going on?" Trini asked.

"A fire got started some how," Zack explained quickly, "We don't know what caused it, but the fire is spreading. There are people trapped up stairs."

"Fire department?" Jason asked.

"On the way but it's going to be ten to fifteen minutes."

"We don't know if they have that long!" Trini snapped, looking at the building that was slowly but shortly showing more outward signs of being on fire.

"Trini," Jason said, looking at her but saw the look in her eyes.

"This is something I have to do." Trini told him before running inside, wanting to go help whoever was left inside.

Jason just looked around and then to Zack, "Start helping everyone out here alright. I'm going in after her."

"Take care of yourself, bro," Zack said before Jason went into the burning building.

* * *

Trini had already gone up into the fourth floor, hearing a cry for help. Up here the flames were much more intense. Thick smoke was starting to form and boards were burning.

_This is definitely hot! I just wish I was morphed at this point._ Trini thought as she went through, trying to find the source of the cry for help.

She ended up going into the fourth floor lounge. There the fires were their hottest, but also in there she could see a girl crying out, screaming for help while trying to wake up another person.

"Hang on!" Trini shouted, getting her attention. As she started to move towards them there was a creaking sound that she heard.

"Watch out!" she heard someone scream.

The last thing she saw fiery pillar engulfing her vision, pain over coming her body and falling into darkness.

* * *

Jason came out with two teenagers, his clothes and face showing smoke. In the last few minutes the fire had grown very intense. He saw Zack helping others but he didn't see Trini. "Trini!"

Zack heard his shout, "Jase, she didn't come out yet!"

Jason helped the two he brought out a safe distance from the building and intended to go back in, only to see the doorway get blocked by fiery debris that fell from the ceiling. "Oh my god... TRINI!"

* * *

Within the fiery rubble a figure began to stir now.

_What... what is going on... where am I..._ the figure turned around trying to understand what was happening but couldn't figure it out. Her head felt like a jumble of images.

What she could understand was the fire all around her, consuming the place she was in. _Fire..._

"HELP! Someone help!"

The girl looked up to see another girl and an unconscious boy some distance from her. Though she couldn't remember what had happened to her, she did know one thing.

Her mission was to protect innocent life and that was what she was going to do.

* * *

Jason was going to try to get back into the building but that's when the firefighters finally came. Some held him back while others went to work on the flames. As Jason looked at those fires, he thought that he just seen his best friend's death.

*CRASH!!!*

Everyone's attention was caught by the sound of a window shattering. From there, a young woman jumped out, carrying two people with her. She fell to the ground first; the other two fell on top of her. She let out a scream of pain as she hit the ground.

Fire fighters went to her, helping the other people she saved first. Jason couldn't help but be impressed by this mysterious person's bravery. _I've never seen someone like her before._ He certainly would have remembered seeing someone with waist length purplish-black hair. When she turned, he could see her red eyes.

However what brought him to a shock was her clothes, a lemon yellow shirt and white jeans. The Yin-Yang necklace around her neck was the killer.

Save for a different appearance, this person was wearing everything TRINI had worn before she went into that fire.

_Whomever you are, we are going to have a talk._ Jason decided.

* * *

She had let out that cry of pain because she had felt pain. However she had thought the fall would have hurt much worse.

But when she had fallen on her back, her mind had flashed back to the end. The end of her life. _BERYL! That witch! I have to..._ However her mind started coping with everything, realizing that time had passed. How much she didn't know right now but that wasn't important.  _I need to transform! Once I do, whomever is left can feel me!_ She willed for her transformation stick to appear in her hands, only it never did. Her eyes went wide at that. _How! How can that be?!_

Looking around her, she saw odd vehicles of some sort, shooting water out to fight the fire, _Fire trucks, firemen... wait how do I even know this?!_ A stab of pain came to her as flashes of memories came to her.

Yet they weren't her own. They were of someone else: a woman with friends, fighting an evil not unlike that of the Dark Kingdom. _I don't understand any of this! Why am I seeing this!_ Her answer came to her from reliving her last moment.

Being impaled through the heart by one of the Shitenno.

"I'm... I died... I can't... but how..."

"Hey you!"

She looked over and saw a young man point right at her. His face, she could feel that she should k now that face. Yet her mind was confused, so many things didn't make sense. _I have to go! I have to go now!_

Before anyone could stop her, the Princess of Mars ran as fast as her legs could carry her, wondering by all gods what had she done to deserve this fate and just what had become of the world she had known.

* * *

At this time though, a black cat walked dejectedly through the streets of Geneva, wondering how long it had been now since the end had happened. All that kept her going was her promise. And yet she wondered if maybe something had gone wrong, and all she had left to do was watch human kind fall one more time.

A tug to her own essence came to her. _MARS! She's awakened! Could the enemy be awakening too or is it just coincidence?_

Either way she wasn't going to give up on this first connection to her mission. Following the pull, the black cat ran to where she felt the pull, hoping to find the person she was looking for.

* * *

Mars felt like she had ran several miles before finally stopping, finding herself at a lake. _Strange, its as if I knew how to get here. But I've never been here before._ She looked up at the sky, seeing it was dusk now and even though the sky was not totally dark yet she could see the moon.

_At least it looks the same as ever, from another planet at least._ Mars mused to herself.

When she caught a look at her reflection in the lake, she let out gasp. She was wearing garments that she had never even seen before yet knew of them. _This is too bizarre. I died. I remember dying now, but then how am I alive and whose memories do I keep on..._

She suddenly froze, hearing noises coming closer and coming from the path that she had taken to get here.

_I have company._

* * *

Both Jason and Zack ran after the young lady, who wore their friend's clothes. They wanted to know why on earth was she wearing the exact same outfit as Trini. It couldn't be a coincidence they happened to wear the exact same things on this day.

Being the former leader of the Power Rangers, Jason took charge. He assessed the situation.

They were standing at the edge of a lake with no girl in sight. "Where could she have run off to?"

"I don't know?" Zack replied frustrated they ran all the way for nothing. He was trying to catch his breath. "Do you think she decided to go for a swim?"

Jason shook his head. "We would have heard her enter or seen her. She has to be hiding here somewhere. We have to keep searching." He walked over to a few bushes. "I wonder why she was wearing the same outfit as Trini."

"Maybe they have the same fashion sense?" Zack shrugged his shoulders.

The former red ranger gave the former black ranger an 'I don't think so' look. "I doubt it, which is why I want to ask her about Trini."

"You do care for her," Zack inquired seriously. He could be serious when he wanted to.

"Let's just find her," Jason said simply, "We need to find her and we need to find Trini."

* * *

Mars just stood in a tree, listening on to their conversation. _Trini. Trini. Who is this Trini that they keep talking about? Why does that name even sound familiar? But more than that, why do they think I am wearing her clothes?_

As Mars stared down at them, looking at them, feeling as if there was some sort of connection, she was unprepared for what happened next.

/What?! What am I doing up in a tree!/

"WHAT?!" Mars shouted; the shock of hearing another voice as if it was in her head broke her concentration.

A rather unfortunate thing as the tree branch she was on decided to break because of her sudden shift of weight.

"Oh sh---" she screamed as she fell to earth.

* * *

Both boys turned around to find the strange young lady in an awkward position. They exchanged looks as they go to help her up.

"Let go of me," she muttered as she got up. "This is so not right."

"Are you okay?" Jason asked, "And just what were you doing in that tree?"

"That's what I'd like to know Jason," the woman said before putting a hand over her mouth, "Wh-wha-wha? Who the heck just took over my voice?!"

"Okay, first of all how did you know my name?" Jason inquired; a bit unnerved this strange lady knew his name. "Second, why are you wearing Trini's clothes?"

"That's what we'd like to know," Zack added in but shut up when Jason glared at him.

The young woman frowned, putting her hands on her hips as she glared at them, "I have no idea what you mean at all and I'd like to get this voice out of my head before I go..." Suddenly the woman's face softened and looked at the two boys concerned and worried, "Jason, Zack... what's going on? I'm feeling really weird here."

The two boys looked at each other with concern. They had no clue what was going on with her. It seemed as if she had split personalities. She seemed to be a complete stranger to them and next she was their friend, Trini or at least that was what they thought.

"We have no idea," Jason explained to her as best as he could. "You were trapped within a burning building. It collapsed and we thought you were gone, but then someone wearing your clothes jumped out of the building and ran for it."

"I don't understand." She said but when catching her own reflection in the lake she fell to the ground, "What... what's happened to me?" Her facial expressions changed again, showing anger. "What's happened to you? What about what's happened to me?! Last thing that I remember is being killed by one of the Shitenno, only to wake up in that burning building and now I find myself in one really twisted world, which I am going to assume is Earth," she looked over at Jason and Zack, "This IS Earth right?"

Both Jason and Zack looked at her as if she had grown a second head or something. If they hadn't been Power Rangers, they would have thought her to be a bit off her rocker. Fortunately, their time as rangers taught them there were other beings out there and a lot lived on different planets, even galaxies.

"This IS earth," Jason answered her question. "As for your earlier questions, I have no idea what you're talking about and who this Shitenno character is."

"The Shitenno are the four elite warriors under the command of Queen Beryl of the Dark Kingdom." the woman replied.

"The what?" Zack blinked.

Now it was the woman's turn to be surprised, "... how can you not know the name of the Dark Kingdom? They came to attack your world as well as the Moon Kingdom and all of the planets in this solar system."

"It's the year 1996," Zack started off. "How are we supposed to know about it?"

Jason chuckled a bit. "The only problems we have been having lately are from Lord Zedd, Rita, and her brother, Rito."

"Who... what... when..." she shook her head, trying to sort all of this out, "... just how much time has passed... how much..." Her face softened looking back at the boys as she got up on her feet. "Guys, this is really getting bizarre. I mean even for us."

"Us?" The two of them asked simultaneously. Could Trini and this mystery person share the same body? Was that even possible?

"I am referring to me and the two of you," she spoke, "I mean when did..." she suddenly tensed up feeling something. "SCATTER!"

"Huh?" they both asked.

"Baka," she growled as she tackled them to the side.

"Hey! What did you do that..." Zack asked only to be interrupted by something erupting from the lake. The green scaled creature reminded the boys of the Merman from monster movies. It hissed and looked at them as if it was a dinner.

"Now do you understand baka, I saved you two from being Youma food," the woman returned.

"Youma?" Jason asked.

"It means demon in Japanese Jason," the woman spoke again, the softness in her voice making him know it was Trini. _Is this even possible?_ he asked himself.

"No way!" Zack cried out. He thought he had seen it all with aliens and monsters, but demons. Who knew?

"What I wouldn't give for my transformation stick at this point... guess I'm going to have to try this normally," the woman muttered, trying to concentrate before shooting her hand out.

"That what's that supposed to do?"

"What?!" she snapped, in disbelief of what had happened, or rather what hadn't happened. "I can't even summon up a spark of flame?! This is just great!" A few moments later she spoke again, "Summon flame?"

"ARRRRRRRRRROUGHH!!!" the Youma cried out, its mouth opening up to spit out a green gunk.

"Move!" Jason shouted and they all did just before the gunk hit the ground. When it did it burned a hole in the earth.

"Acid?!" Zack exclaimed, "That thing can spit out acid!!"

Jason back flipped a few times and hid behind a nearby tree. "I'm open to suggestions here!" If he could only morph, then he stood a chance against this youma, but he transferred his powers to Rocky.

Zack dove behind a bush as if it would protect him. "Don't look at me. I wasn't the strategist."

"This is so pathetic!" the woman muttered, "Why?" "Why? Because if I had my stick I could transform and beat this freaking low class youma into dust!"

As the two in one were arguing the Youma came up close and tried to attack her.

"Trini!" Jason cried out, trying to warn her.

As if on reflex, the woman launched into a spin kick that took the Youma by surprise, knocking backward and to the ground. The woman stared in surprise.

"... okay. That's new," she muttered in disbelief, "I know I am not that strong outside of Soldier form." a pause again before speaking, "What are you talking about... scratch that. Fish man is getting back up."

Sure enough the youma was getting back up, yet the young woman was holding her ground, though unsure of what would happen. _Is this it? Am I going to die again?_

"MARS!!!"

Her eyes widened and everyone's attention was grabbed by who spoke.

"Luna!" Mars cried out, a wide smile on her face, "Luna is that you?!"

A black cat with the crescent moon on its forehead nodded, "It most certainly is Princess."

"First talking robots, floating heads, and aliens," Zack muttered loud enough for those close by to hear. "Now a youma, a talking cat, and a princess. I have seen everything."

"Somebody pinch me," Jason stated as if he was dreaming. "That cat is talking?"

"Luna! I don't have my transformation stick!" Mars shouted.

"I know and I'll explain later," Luna returned as she leapt into the air, "But for now here you go!" A bright red light came from the cat as an object suddenly materialized and went to Mars.

"Yes! Hello transformation..." Mars smirked, however it dropped when she saw the object... around her wrist. It was a pink strapped bracelet with a silver metal heart in the middle which contained a red ruby in its center, "What the?! Luna what is this!!"

The cat was practically bug eyed, "... I ... don't know..."

"Not helping!" Mars snapped, only to have her features soften for Trini to be the one speaking, "This actually looks like a wrist version of a morpher." Suddenly Mars was back in control, "You aren't helping either!"

"... merciful heavens! I don't believe it! The spell DID go wrong!" Luna gasped.

"Huh?" was the collective reply, save for the youma.

"No time. Explanations later!" Luna snapped, "For now you need to transform, both of you! You have to both want to agree together to do this or you're both going to end up dead."

Looking at the youma, Trini first came through to speak, "That is something I don't want." Next was Mars, "Now there's something we can agree upon. Follow my lead then and here's to hoping the call phrase is the same... MARS POWER, MAKE-UP!"

Jason and Zack had to shield their eyes as a bright red light engulfed their vision. Before shielding their eyes they could have sworn they saw fire and rose petals surrounding the woman.

When the light finally faded, they were completely caught off guard. In front of them, this person was wearing a short red skirt with white blouse in what appeared to be a sailor theme. She had a bow on her lower back and on her front. Red high heels adorned her feet. Her white gloves went up to her elbows and she wore a tiara with a ruby on her forehead.

"Now I definitely know that's not a Ranger outfit," Zack stated the obvious.

"You don't say," Jason said with sarcasm.

The sailor suited heroine turned to face the Youma, "Guardian of flame and passion, I am Sailor Mars! In the name of Mars, I'll punish you!"

"ROAR!!!!" was the Youma's response as it spit acid at Sailor Mars, who leapt into the air with unearthly grace, moving right for it. Her left leg extended, it connected with the Youma's head. The force of the blow sent it flying through a tree nearby.

"I've had a lot of frustrations and aggravations in less than an hour," Sailor Mars smirked, "So believe when I say this: I am SO going to enjoy using you to vent those frustrations!"

"She may not be a Ranger," Zack muttered to Jason, "but I sure understand that!"

Jason agreed.  "Too bad we can't join in," he muttered back.

The Youma got back up but Sailor Mars was all over it. As she fought, both Zack and Jason could see how she moved, her fighting style was unfamiliar to them in some cases, but in others it definitely was Trini's Mantis Kung Fu style.

Either way, the Youma was getting the tar beaten out of it. After delivering a punch to its jaw that sent it to the ground, Sailor Mars looked at it disdainfully, "Say hi to your masters when you get to hell," she then put her hands together and fire started to form, "FIRE SOUL!!"

To the shock of the boys, it was if her hands had become a flamethrower. A column of fire came from her hands and engulfed the youma. When the fire stopped coming, there was only scorched earth. There weren't even remains of the youma.

"We never had anything like that back home," Zack said appreciatively.

Jason walked cautiously over to the strangely-dressed girl and cleared his throat to get her attention.  Not that he was afraid of her attacking him, but he didn't want to startle her.  "What's your name?" he asked when she turned around.

Zack moved up behind him.  "Yeah.  When you aren't Trini," he added with a disarming smile.

Sailor Mars turned around to face them, "Princess Mars, though right now I am Sailor Mars and I am both of them."

"Both?" Zack asked.

"Both Princess Mars and Trini..." Sailor Mars started to say; only to fall to one knee, "What... what's wrong... I feel so...weak..." Suddenly she collapsed to the ground, her body first changing back from Sailor Mars to Mars. Then before their eyes Mars's body changed into Trini's.

Trini opened her eyes, looking up at her friends yet feeling very weak, "Guys... I feel so drained..."

"Mars took the brunt of the strain of your first merger." Everyone turned to see the talking black cat walking towards them, "She'll be alright with rest. So will you." Luna took in their shocked faces and shook her head, "Honestly you've seen talking heads, fought the forces of evil as Power Rangers, and you'd think seeing a talking cat wouldn't shake you at all."

Jason stepped back.  "Power Rangers?" he questioned. 

"What would make you think that?" Zack asked as he crouched down to help Trini up.  Jason took her other side, and the two of them got her to her feet.

"Oh please. What else does a Power Ranger use to transform save for a morpher?" Luna returned.

"... it's okay guys," Trini said weakly, "We can trust her... I don't know... I just know."

"I would suggest that we continue this conversation in a place that is a bit more private," Luna said to them, "Someone had to see that flash of fire and even if they didn't, being out in the open isn't exactly the best place to talk."

Jason nodded shortly.  "You're right.  Can you make it back to the dorms, Trini?" he asked.

"Just give me some support and we'll be fine," Trini muttered.

* * *

It was half an hour later when the three teens and one talking cat made it into their dorm room. Trini lay down on a bed while the boys all took chairs looking at the cat, which was also on the bed.

"So who are you?" Jason asked.

"Yes well introductions are definitely in order. My name is Luna. I was an advisor to Queen Serenity, ruler of the Moon Kingdom."

"Moon Kingdom?" Trini asked.

"Yes, your moon to be specific," Luna explained, giving a look towards Zack, "And before you ask your 'scientists' and such are very wrong. Up until a thousand years ago there was life on all the planets in this solar system, including the moon."

Zack shrugged.  "They wouldn't believe in most of what we've seen or been, either," he said. 

"You don't have to be so defensive," Jason said gently.  "We understand that science is not always right."

Luna relaxed and let off a small smile, "I can't tell you how refreshing it is to have a conversation with people again and open minded ones at that."

"But this Moon Kingdom, we've never even heard of it," Zack said, "I mean the astronauts found the moon barren and right now the only castle on the moon is Lord Zedd and Rita's."

"As I have gathered from reading newspapers over the last year," Luna sighed, "To think lowlifes like they would now desecrate what had once been my home, the kingdom that had been the greatest I had ever known."

"What was it like?" Jason inquired, curious to know about this 'Moon Kingdom'.

"It was a great kingdom for this solar system, based on Earth's Moon and consisted of all the planets in the system. We traded with other planets in other solar systems, especially with the kingdom of the planet Triforia," Luna said wistfully, "Their Prince Trey was a close personal friend of the Moon Princess and Queen Serenity."

"It was the time of the Silver Millennium... peace prospered throughout the universe and the people of all the planets in this solar system were grateful to the Queen..." Trini said softly, as if reliving a dream, "... how?"

"I'll explain how you know that later," Luna replied, "It's best to continue a tale straight through rather than skip back and forth."

"From what you are saying, this Silver Millennium seemed like something innocent people would want," Jason said, "But considering everything we know so far, I can assume it came to a rather bad end."

"Tragic would be a better word for it," Luna nodded sorrowfully, "Queen Metallia and her Dark Kingdom decided to launch an attack upon our kingdom, wanting to gain control of the Ginzuishou. The closest translation in your language would be Mystical Silver Crystal. It could fit in the palm of your hand yet its power is unimaginable."

Zack let out a whistle at that, "I'd hate to think what could have happened if Rita had something like that when we fought her. Fighting Tommy when she had him evil was bad enough."

"What about your allies?" Jason asked, "Shouldn't they have been able to help?"

"They would have, had Metallia not made a secret pact with a mysterious and unknown force of great power. He and his minions caused battles to spring up all over the universe. All of our allies were hard pressed to defend their home worlds," Luna explained, "In the end it was the Moon Kingdom against the Dark Kingdom and they severely outnumbered us."

"Don't sugar coat it Luna. They killed everyone including me."

Jason, Zack, and Luna turned to face Trini who looked at them, her face somewhat hardened yet eyes looking apologetic. "Princess Mars?"

'Trini' nodded, "I feel weak as a kitten, no offence."

"None taken," the moon cat replied.

"Where's Trini?" Zack asked.

"Trini... she dozed of a moment ago... Zack isn't it?" at his nod, she turned to look at the guardian cat, "Luna what has happened to me?"

"... shortly after you died, Queen Beryl killed the Princess and Prince Endymion," Luna answered with tears in her eyes, "Queen Serenity couldn't take it anymore."

'Trini' shook her head vigorously, "No... no tell me she didn't!"

"She used the Ginzuishou to its fullest to eliminate the Dark Kingdom, knowing it would cost her life to do so." Luna nodded. "But even then, it was only for the moment. She knew that the Dark Kingdom would be revived one day and there was also Metallia's hidden ally who still remains to this day."

"Then why? Why did she waste her life if only to repeat history!" 'Trini' snapped.

"... She wished to give you all a second chance child," Luna said softly, catching everyone's attention. "Though your bodies were dead, your souls still remained."

'Trini's' eyes widened at realizing what this meant, "Reincarnation? Are you saying she sent our souls into the future to be reincarnated?! Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, the Princess?!"

"Yes..." Luna said hesitantly, "But I fear now that her condition when casting the spell caused... a glitch."

"Glitch?" Jason asked.

"The spell was intended for the Princess and her court to be reborn nearly a thousand years from when it was cast, having no memory of their past lives yet would grow up to look exactly had in the past," Luna explained, "Instead, you have retained most if not all of your memories of the past, however your soul has became intertwined with another persons from the moment that person was conceived."

"... are you telling me that if it hadn't been for that near death experience in that burning building I might have never awakened?!"

"I don't know," Luna shook her head, "This is COMPLETELY new territory as far as reincarnation is concerned. Nothing like this has ever happened before."

"What about my transformation stick? Why does it now look like a morpher? And why can I switch between bodies?" Mars demonstrated by changing into her body.

"I think that has to do with the fact that you have 'other' mystical energies within you," Luna said, "After all, your 'other half' for lack of a better term, was a Power Ranger. Regardless of her no longer being one, there are imprints of that power still within your body. All of your bodies."

"Whoa hold on?" Zack interrupted, "We still have power in us even though we aren't even Rangers?"

"Yes, though accessing it is a totally different story as a few have been able to access their remnants of power," Luna answered, "It isn't something you should try. As it is whether you know it or not; you have above average physical conditions when compared to normal humans because of the trace energies."

Mars looked thought full at that, "It would explain why I'm stronger now than back in the Silver Millennium. But why is my Soldier form is stronger than before and why did I collapse?"

/Something I'd like to know./

 Mars blinked upon hearing Trini's voice in her head. //Trini?//

/I think it's best if I keep silent and listen instead of speaking through your mouth. We'll get our answers faster that way./

Luna looked thoughtful at the momentary lapse in Mars's concentration. _Guess they are talking a bit. It's definitely a good idea to air out all the misunderstandings._

"Luna?" Mars spoke again, wanting to know an answer to her question.

"Oh yes sorry," Luna apologized, "As you have noticed when either of you look as you do now or as Trini, both of your minds can co-exist with in the same body. For your Sailor Form, it doesn't work that way. There can only be one mind. In order for you transform from now on, you both will have to be unified in your thoughts. Once you are, you can transform."

"And what about that strain I had?" Mars asked. "I collapsed after only a few minutes."

"Well," Luna fumbled around for the right words to use in how to break the news to her, "there's no easy way to say this."

"Then just say it straight." Mars replied irritated.

Luna sighed but gave her what she wanted, "You're going to have to train to be a Sailor Soldier all over again and Trini has to learn how to. It's the only way you are going to extend the length of time you can remain transformed and reach what could be considered your old level of skill."

"... oh come on," Mars groaned plopping back on the bed, "Back to basics is going to be the pits. It does explain why I can't even summon up flame even outside of Soldier form."

"Wait. What's the rush though?" Zack asked, "I mean the Dark Kingdom is gone, right."

"You said Queen Serenity got rid of the Dark Kingdom, albeit temporarily," Jason posed to Luna, "What about that Youma we faced?"

"I see where you are going, though I doubt if the Dark Kingdom was already back they would have known about the resurrection spell; much less know to go right for Mars." Luna assured him, "My best guess is that is a leftover Youma Pod."

"Youma Pod?"

"During the invasion, Metallia had Beryl send several of them down to your planet. They contained rather weak Youma, but were considered more than enough to take down the majority of your people," Luna explained, "Thankfully many never awoke, though a few have."

"You'd think we would have heard of something like that," Zack muttered.

"Well you have," Luna said matter-of-factly, "Where do you think your race came up with concept of Vampires and Werewolves from?"

There was a bit of silence after that. Jason was the first to speak though, "Okay. I think that's definitely enough for now. My only question is do we tell Zordon or not."

"If you do, I would recommend in person," Luna suggested, "We cannot chance anyone on the side of evil learning of what has happened here."

"I have to agree with the cat, Jase. Who knows who could be watching us," Zack stated, "... and I can't believe I just said I agree with a cat."

"In any case you're probably right," Jason agreed, "We'll keep this to ourselves for now. When the conference is over in a few months, we'll all go home together and tell them. For now, I think we all need to get some sleep."

Everyone agreed with that. It had been a long and very surprising day. Everyone decided to go get some sleep.

Though Mars couldn't sleep, she found Luna curled up right beside her and she welcomed it. She was the only tie she had to the world she had lost, her only friend.

/Not only friend./ A voice in the back of her head spoke.

//Trini.//

/I'm sorry for what happened to you Princess./ Trini said sympathetically.

//... Don't call me Princess anymore,// Mars said sadly, //My world is dead. My people are dead. And the person that was Princess Mars died a thousand years ago.//

/Maybe she did in a way, but you're still here. You've been given a second chance. Maybe it's not the one you intended for, or me./ Trini replied, her voice being comforting, /... but then again I'm not so sure that I don't mind all this./

//What?//

/Even before giving up the power, I felt restless. Holding it was the only time that this feeling ever lessened. But now... now I don't feel it. What I feel now I can't even describe. Its something I want to explore, understand and learn./ Trini explained, /We have similar things in common, but there are also aspects of us that we don't share at all. It's like my necklace, Yin and Yang, a balance between life. Maybe we were meant to be this way, Mars./

//... Maybe. And don't call me Mars.//

/Alright. Then how about I give you new name to fit in with the fact that you've been reborn,/ Trini offered, /How about Raye Hino? It translates out to Spirit of Fire./

//Spirit of Fire... Raye Hino... I like that name. I think I will like being Raye Hino in this life.//

/Good... so Raye there's something I've been meaning to ask you from earlier./

//Yes Trini?//

/We can summon fire, outside of Soldier form?/

A smile formed on Raye's lips, //Given the training we're going to do, we will be able to.//

Trini sounded amused when giving her reply, /The next few months should be interesting./

//To say the least.// Raye agreed, yet her own thoughts lingered for a moment.

If she had come back, had any of the Shitenno returned?

* * *

In a distant corner in another galaxy, a person playing on a piano suddenly stopped as if a flicker of something familiar passed through the music.

_... that was peculiar. I wonder._

Suddenly a figure busted into the room, a Mephistian who fell to his knees. A black-green grid machine followed, sword in hand but froze once there.

"I knew it! You wouldn't dare do anything here!" the Mephistian sneered, however it fell upon hearing a female voice.

"What make you think it was even your idea to come here, Darkonda," the voice coming from the person sitting down. She then began to play once more. However this time the music was having a different affect. Darkonda attempted to move yet couldn't. Soon he fell unconscious. As the rather haunting melody reached its conclusion, the alien vanished. After the last note had been played, a smile came across her face, "Surprised Ecliptor?"

If he had been capable of showing surprise, Ecliptor would have. He watched as the figure stepped into the light. A white uniform adorned with silver lining, and a white cape with silver blue gems at the shoulders. The woman's face was as flawless as the pure snow white hair that came down to her shoulder blades and from there the rest was tied into a ponytail went down to the middle of her back. A pair of green eyes looked at him, telling him that she had him at her mercy and he knew it. "Don't worry. He won't remember what you did in defiance of Dark Specter."

"And I suppose I am to owe you a favor for not telling him what Darkonda would have," Ecliptor returned.

"Yes, you are a capable warrior Ecliptor. One doesn't find something like that easily in this day and age." The woman returned, "But to be honest with you, I don't like needless murder."

"If Dark Specter ever learned..." he started, gaining only her laughter.

"It wouldn't make a difference to me. I owe him nothing, even if he did bring back my true self," she sneered, "I only 'serve' him because it is convenient... and that convenience may now be starting to pay off if what I heard before I was interrupted is an indication."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Ecliptor asked.

"Something you don't need to know," she smirked, "Now, leave me. I'd like to play another lament for my Queens." He was about to do so but then she said one last thing. "And Ecliptor, I meant what I said. I won't tell Dark Specter you failed to kill your charge a year ago. You have my word as Shitenno."

Ecliptor nodded and left her to play her music. He hated that someone else knew of the secret he fought every day to keep from his master, that he had failed kill the girl that he originally wanted to raise to be his heir but then felt something unsettling that he wanted her dead.

But he couldn't do it to her. He couldn't. He had her sent away with an old friend, one that understood honor as he did and was in the one place that Dark Specter would ever think even if he knew she lived.

Darkonda had found out, somehow he did but now he wouldn't remember and Ecliptor would make sure Darkonda never remembered.

There was only one good thing all of what had just happened. Shitenno had their own code of honor and he knew that Zoicite would keep her word.

To Be Continued...

Author's notes: I should point out that I am drawing upon elements from all three versions of Sailor Moon: the anime, manga and Live Action versions. The Live Action version has only begun airing in Fall 2003 in Japan and has considerable differences from either of its predecessors. The bracelet transformation tool you saw Mars use, the title Shitenno for the four Generals and Zoicite's non-anime appearance are all from the Live Action version. I hope that you will all enjoy the surprises that I'll be springing along the way of this grand ride I have started, or restarted as the case maybe.