1 - The Star that Fell to Earth.

"Well?" Miaka asked expectantly. The doctor had been very good and had arrived about five minutes after she had phoned the surgery.

"Alexia has worn herself out, she just needs a week or so of rest and she should be alright." the doctor smiled confidently.

"But…the auditions! They're in four days time!" Alexia protested from her bed.

"I'm sorry Alexia, no auditions for you." her mother told her sadly. Alexia tried to get out of bed, unable to accept her situation. However as soon as she stood the dizziness returned and she had to sit down. A lump rose in her throat.

"It's not fair! I've been practising non-stop and now I won't even get a chance!" she broke down into tears again.

"She's exhausted. Let's leave her to get some sleep." the doctor ordered.

"Sweet dreams honey." her mother whispered as she left.

"It's…not…fair!" the girl wept. Estrella leapt up onto her lap.

"There'll be other auditions for other recitals Alexia, it's not the end of the world."

"Oh leave me alone!" Alexia pushed the cat away and threw her head down into her pillow. Estrella quietly slipped away through the window, tears in her eyes. She walked straight into Artemis, who was sat out on the ledge.

"I heard what she said, don't take it to heart; she only said it because she's upset." he said comfortingly.

"I know, but why do I still feel so terrible?" Estrella said bitterly. "She was so trouble free before I came along…" Artemis sighed.

"We've been through this before, she told you before that she's ok with the fact that she's a Scout."

"But what if she was only saying that to prevent me from feeling bad?"

"Luna and I are going to have a meeting about what we're going to do with Alexia out of action. Come along with me." the white cat got up.

"Very well." Estrella said reluctantly and followed him away.

x x x x x

That night, for the first time in what seemed like forever, Serena discovered she couldn't sleep. She lay in her bed staring at the wall with a worried expression on her face.

"What's wrong with me?" she murmured. "I felt so tired a few minutes ago, but now I'm wide awake…" she sat up and rubbed her eyes. "My mind feels like it's working overtime – weird." She clambered out of bed, thankful that Luna was out on patrol. She walked over to the window and realised that it was starting to rain. She watched the raindrops splash against the windowpane and shuddered as she heard the first crash of thunder. Quickly she jumped into her bed again and pulled her sheets right over her head – she detested storms. She wondered how Alexia was, and remembered the last time she'd been ill. That was the time that Neromostro the DreamDweller had infected her mind and trapped her in her darkest nightmare; and Serena had fortunately been there to help fight the demon. She shuddered again as a louder roll of thunder sounded and she thought about how frightened she'd been when she'd seen Alexia's lifeless body, covered with blood. No one could explain what her nightmare had been about, even the cats hadn't a clue; although they always seemed quite reluctant to talk about it… "Maybe it's just my imagination, but I think they know more than they're letting on…" the blonde remarked to herself, closing her eyes as the wind howled outside, causing her window to rattle slightly. The storm was getting worse, and she hoped that Luna had found somewhere safe and dry to shelter. "I wish you were here Luna…I don't like the thought of you out there in this weather." She murmured. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest as an ear-splitting crash of thunder made her jump. "Why do I feel so worried all of a sudden?" she asked herself. "Like something really bad's going to happen…" her eyelids suddenly felt heavy as she yawned. "Oh well, guess I ought to sleep on it." She mumbled, and finally fell into a deep slumber.

x x x x x

The following afternoon Mina, along with Artemis and Lita decided to pay their sick friend a small visit.

"She's awake, but please don't get her over excited." Alfredo, Alexia's father, told them. Mina smiled and nodded.

"Sure thing! I'll make sure she's nice and comfortable." Lita sweatdropped.

"Poor Alexia, I'll never forget the time Mina insisted on looking after us when we had the 'flu." she whispered to Artemis.

"Tell me about it, I thought no one was clumsier than Serena, but that week proved me wrong!" he groaned. "Then again, when Serena insisted on looking after us…" he sighed. "It was hell, sheer hell." Lita laughed lightly.

"Good afternoon Alexia!" Mina beamed as she stepped into the girl's room.

"Oh, hi guys." she replied wearily.

"How are you feeling? You still look awfully pale." Lita said sympathetically.

"I still feel really tired." she sighed.

"Well, these'll make you feel better!" Lita handed her a box. "I baked them last night."

"They're really yummy." Mina told her. Alexia opened it - it was full of cookies.

"Great, thanks a lot Leet." she said gratefully. "I could do with a sugar fix." she took one out, then offered the box around. She nibbled on it carefully. "Delicious!"

"Thanks Alexia." Lita grinned.

"So what's going on?" Estrella asked.

"Nothing much, hey there's going to be a solar eclipse on Sunday! We're all going to watch it at the temple. It's a shame you won't be able to come." Mina said sympathetically. Suddenly the sound of the phone ringing floated up the stairs.

"I wonder who that could be?" Alexia wondered out loud as the ringing stopped.

"It might be one of the others phoning, Amy said she was going to call to check on you." Lita told her.

"Oh that's nice of her!" Alexia smiled. The door opened, and Miaka appeared, a small smile on her lips.

"I have some news for you. That was Ms. Yakamori, the pianist had to be rushed to hospital with appendicitis, and as there's no other pianist available the auditions have been cancelled indefinitely." she announced. Alexia's eyes widened.

"Oh no, poor thing, I hope she gets better…but I still have a chance! Oh, this is so terrible because of Miss Hanada being sick, but at the same time…this is fantastic news!!" she squealed with excitement. Lita and Mina grinned at their friend's good fortune.

"That's great Alexia!" Mina agreed.

"Calm down honey, you'll tire yourself out again!" her mother warned. Alexia couldn't stop smiling, her heart was racing and she felt like she was on top of the world.

"Hey mom, would it be alright for me to go to the temple on Sunday to watch the eclipse?" she asked hopefully. Her mother looked at her critically.

"We'll see, it depends on how well you are then. If you're a lot better, then fine."

"Great!" Mina smiled. "Now you have to get better soon!!"

x x x x x

On Saturday Alexia received many visits from the Scouts, Shishu and other various friends from dance class and school. All of these visits plus the news about auditions being cancelled had put Alexia in a very good mood and by Sunday she was feeling a lot better.

"Well, we guess you can go to the temple Alexia as long as you take it easy!" her parents decided.

"YES!" she exclaimed joyfully, and after kissing her parents went to the phone to call Rei.

"Great!" Rei said enthusiastically. "The others are staying over, so if you want you can too!"

Later at the temple. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the sun, which was now blocked out by the moon's shadow. The sky was as dark as night.

"Wow, that is amazing!" Lita gasped.

"It's beautiful." Amy sighed.

"It's really romantic!" Serena said, pulling Darien closer. Behind the group Rei suddenly took a sharp intake of breath and turned away.

"What was that?" Estrella murmured, also looking around her.

"You felt it too?" Rei asked quietly, and the kitten nodded.

"Yes…and I wish I hadn't…" she looked back towards Alexia sadly.

No one noticed as what looked like a star fell towards the Earth…

Meanwhile, several thousand miles away in London, a certain purple-haired girl felt too distracted to watch the spectacle. She broke away from the small group of people, who had woken up so early in the morning to watch the eclipse, and placed a hand to her forehead.

I never thought I'd see the day…she thought to herself as she felt the tension in the atmosphere. Good luck Scouts, you're gonna need it.

So, this is Earth. Caliban thought to himself. Sailor Scouts, I am coming to find you, and you won't escape me. He smiled to himself, the glint in his eyes brighter than ever. Nerissa observed him carefully.

"He is strong, I must be wary that I do not let him know my true intentions." she murmured to herself. "Florizel would be angry if I ruined such an opportunity." she walked up to the youth in her normal casual manner. "So, Caliban, what do you think?"

"I think it's too dark to see anything," he muttered. "I still don't know why Lucilius thought I needed watching, I'm sure I could do this mission without your interference!" Nerissa laughed scornfully.

"Whatever, Caliban." she said sarcastically. "You know you need me here, I have knowledge of this planet and its inhabitants; plus someone needs to make sure you don't try…reliving the past." she leant on his shoulder, but he pushed her off.

"What past is that?" he growled, narrowing his eyes before storming off to his quarters. She smiled to herself again.

"You know exactly what I mean."