11 - The Saving of Caliban, The Sacrifice of Charon.

A single spotlight lit the wooden floor of the dance school's main studio, where Caliban was sat on the floor stretching his legs. He was feeling much calmer after his earlier rooftop ordeal, although his conscious was still being gnawed at by guilt. After he had finally finished crying and being sick he had come to the decision that as soon as he returned to Reimo (after dealing with Lucilius, of course) he would make his peace with his father and then he would deliver a speech to the universe – apologising for everything he had done under Lucilius's control.

He let out a melancholy sigh.

He wasn't expecting them to forgive him, though, nor was he expecting it to make him feel any better. At the end of the day he knew that all he could really do was learn to accept his past and live with it.

He stood up, and was about to take his starting position, when two slender arms suddenly slipped around him, encircling his chest from behind.

"Need a partner?" A voice whispered, tickling the back of his neck. He turned around, the arms still firmly wrapped around him, to face the new arrival.

"Alexia," he smiled before giving her a kiss on the forehead. "How did you get in here?"

"Ms. Yakamori lent me the key," she explained, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "I think I should be asking how you got in here?"

"Teleportation, it's all the rage these days." he replied casually, tucking a stray strand of her soft green hair behind her ear, then allowing his fingers to run slowly down her cheek. She laughed lightly at his remark. "So, you here to rehearse too?"

"It's one of the reasons, yes," she sighed, leaning her head against his shoulder as the swayed slightly, as if dancing to music only they could hear. "Really I just wanted to get away from everything."

"Are you still having trouble with Lita and Rei?" he asked gently and she nodded in reply.

"Lita's made what she thinks of me pretty clear; she almost started a fight at the meeting earlier," she informed him of the situation. "But at least she's acknowledging my existence, unlike Rei…she's been acting like I'm not there." she sighed again. "The fact that I lied to her hurts enough, without her choosing to ignore me rather than attempt to talk to me about it. Oh, why does everything have to be so difficult?" They sat down, Alexia between Caliban's legs, her back to his chest. "I really hoped that everything would get sorted yesterday, but it only seems to have got worse." She leant her head back against him and he put his arms around her shoulders.

"I'm sorry." he suddenly whispered in her ear, the image of her bleeding, lying on the floor flashing before his eyes again for some unknown reason. She craned her neck in order to look at him with confusion.

"Whatever for?" She replied questioningly. He stood up and went to lean against the barre.

"For everything, Alexia; it's all my fault." He dropped his head. "If I hadn't been stupid enough to go along with Lucilius yesterday then I wouldn't have attacked you, and you wouldn't have had to use your Psychic Force, and then I wouldn't have…" she leapt up and turned him round. "Not to mention what I did to you on the Moon…" he continued, regardless of her imploring gaze. "You do realise that your birthmark is actually a scar, don't you?" She nodded, before placing a finger on his lips to quiet him.

"Shhh, I don't blame you," she said sincerely, her hands cupping his face gently. "You couldn't help getting brainwashed and anyway, it was bound to all come out in the open sooner or later." she let her hands slide down from his cheeks to come to rest on his chest; she felt how his heart beat strongly. "Rei and Lita will come around, I'm sure of it." Caliban couldn't help but smile as her usual determination shone through. "And as for that other thing…I already forgave you for that, remember?"

The prince placed his hands on her sides, looking fondly into her blue eyes, seeing how the spotlight caused them to sparkle like drops of dew in the early morning sun. Alexia closed her eyes and pressed her lips lovingly against his, wrapping her arms around his neck as she did so.

And who was he to resist?

"So, shall we dance?" Alexia grinned as she pulled away from the handsome youth, feeling slightly light-headed.

"Sure, I just need to fetch a towel from the changing room first, be right back." Caliban squeezed Alexia's shoulders as he walked away. The changing room was dark, and the only sound was the dripping of a shower. Caliban sighed as he leant over his bag to find his towel, only to discover it wasn't there. "How strange," he muttered to himself. "I'm sure I put it in he-" he never finished his sentence, because he suddenly felt a dull ache at the back of his head and then everything went black. Standing over the unconscious youth the small blue and red-haired alien flashed a grin, revealing a set of extremely sharp, vicious-looking teeth.

"It's just you and me now, Sailor Charon." Mirage sneered, as she threw the ropes she was holding under one arm onto the floor next to the unconscious prince and started to gag him using the towel he had been searching for, her eyes flashing from red to silver-grey…

x x x x x

Several minutes later, for it had been a lot more difficult to tie up the youth than she had expected, the now-disguised Mirage appeared from the changing rooms.

"What took you so long? I was about to send a search party in there for you!" Alexia smiled as she saw who she thought was Caliban in the mirrored wall.

"I'm sorry Ch- I mean, Alexia." The impostor corrected herself quickly, however Alexia noticed the slip-up.

"Are you feeling okay?" she inquired, regarding her companion curiously.

"Yes, fine, why shouldn't I?" Mirage responded casually.

"Well it's just that you said you were going to fetch your towel…" she looked at the impostor's empty hands pointedly.

"Oh, I decided…I decided that I didn't need it after all!" Mirage managed to hold back a smile as she thought about where the towel actually was - tied firmly around Caliban's mouth.

"Oh, okay…well, shall we get back to business?" Alexia turned back to the barre whilst Mirage eyed the girl's training back eagerly.

"Hey, could I have a drink of your water? I'm so thirsty." She inquired, noticing a large bottle sticking out.

"Sure thing, help yourself." Alexia was busily warming up and so didn't notice how the shape-shifter rummaged through her bag and how her eyes lit up when she discovered what she was looking for.

"Um, I just have to go to the bathroom, I'll be back in a moment." Mirage spoke up, hiding the items she had just retrieved from Alexia's bag behind her back. Alexia waved her hand dismissively.

"Sure. Jeez, anyone would think you didn't want to practise tonight." The shape-shifter slipped back into the locker room and then ran into the hallway beyond that excitedly. She looked down at the prizes in her hands - Alexia's transformation pen and communicator. Chuckling to herself she pressed the call button on the communicator, and Serena answered almost straight away.

"Is everything okay, Alexia?" she asked in concern.

"Oh, oh please help me! I'm in terrible danger!" Mirage yelled out, her voice now altered to sound like Alexia's.

"What's happened? Where are you?!" Serena asked anxiously.

"I'm at the dance sch-aaaaaagh!!" Mirage let out a loud scream and then cut off the link. "That should do the trick." She smiled, her voice once again sounding like Caliban's. "Now to play around with Charon until the others get here…" she headed back to the studio to find a rather impatient Alexia stood waiting.

"Are you ready now?" she inquired, her eyes bright in the spotlights overhead. Her companion simply laughed, causing the Charonian to feel even more irritated. "What's so funny?" she demanded to know, not in the mood for jokes.

"Oh my dear Charon, you just don't understand, do you?" came the response.

"Understand? Understand what exactly?" Alexia felt a shiver run down her spine as she noticed the strange look in 'Caliban's' eyes. She started to edge towards her bag.

"You do not understand that I have you exactly where I want you - completely defenceless." Alexia gasped in horror as the shape-shifter held up her transformation pen. "Oh, do not worry - I've taken the liberty of getting in touch with your dear friends. They'll be here soon enough." Mirage indicated the communicator, which was now attached to her wrist.

"Caliban, no! You can't let Lucilius win!" Alexia exclaimed, close to tears. What had happened? Had Lucilius been waiting in the locker room for him? Questions flew around the girl's head as she did the one thing she could think of - she ran for her life.

x x x x x

Rei sighed as she sat at top of the steps of the temple, her chin resting in her hands. She was trying to keep her mind off her troubled friendship with Alexia. She felt terrible about how she'd been ignoring her and felt even worse about hitting her. She looked at her hand, and recalled the throb of pain that had followed after striking Alexia's cheek sharply. If it had been the other way Alexia would've never treated her so unfairly, she would've talked it through then forgiven her…She felt sick because what Mina had said was true - she had been being cold hearted! She dropped her head, allowing her dark hair to cover her face, not wanting to see the world and most certainly not wanting the world to see her – a picture of guilt.

"I don't deserve to have any friends." She murmured. Suddenly she felt something soft rub against her ankles.

"Don't say that. You're just starting to feel bad, that's all." Estrella murmured gently as Rei pulled her head up again. She nodded, and the cat jumped into her lap.

"I can't believe how I have been treating Alexia. I'm supposed to be her best friend. I can't begin to imagine how upset she must be…"

"She's very, very unhappy Rei. That's why she came home early…"

"I know!" Rei suddenly exclaimed loudly, before lowering her voice again. "Sorry, it's just I feel guilty enough already without you rubbing it in." a smile unexpectedly appeared on her face.

"What's wrong?" the cat inquired.

"I was just thinking of the first time I met Alexia, that's all." the smile grew. "As soon as I looked into her eyes I knew we were destined to be friends. She's probably the only person at school who's really ever tried to get to know me and doesn't just treat me as a fair-weather friend. Sometimes I'd wonder what I'd do without her around…I guess I know now." she sighed again.

"So, you'll talk to her next time you see her?" Estrella inquired urgently.

Rei was about to answer when she was cut off by the appearance of Nerissa; who looked very agitated about something.

"Hello Nerissa, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Rei inquired, noticing the Reimo Guardian's bandaged wrist.

"I'm fine." Nerissa replied quickly. "I'm so glad I found one of you Scouts at last, I have some urgent news for you all."

"Do you want me to contact the others?" the black-haired girl asked; Nerissa shook her head.

"You can just relay the information for me." she sat down, holding her aching side. "Earlier today an incident occurred on Florizel's ship, which resulted in the unexpected escape of one of our warriors. Now usually this wouldn't be a problem , you see the warriors kept within the Aathean Bottles are there for a reason - they are all extremely dangerous criminals who after trial have been found guilty and thus sentenced to a life imprisonment-"

"What?!" Rei suddenly interrupted, her eyes wide. "And you're saying that it's not usually a problem if they escape?!"

"If you'll let me finish I'll explain." Nerissa remarked in a level tone. "I was about to say that they have been sentenced to a life imprisonment under our control. That basically means that they no longer have free will and so if they did manage to escape, which may I add is virtually impossible, they wouldn't be able to do anything without a command from either myself or Florizel."

"So what's so different about this one?" Estrella questioned.

"You may recall having to fight a shape-shifter called Illusia not long after Sailor Charon joined the team." Rei and Estrella both nodded. "Well, she had a twin sister, Mirage. The difference between these two and our other warriors is that they were not actually criminals but volunteers; in hiding from a warlord who had captured their planet and wanted to kill the girls for attempting to lead a resistance group. In exchange for our protection they agreed to help us in any way they could and so they became part of our army. When Illusia was destroyed Mirage was distraught, blaming herself, then myself and Florizel and finally you Sailor Scouts. Slowly she descended into madness until we had no choice but to treat her like a criminal and seal her into the bottle, since before she could come and go as she pleased. We felt terrible for having to do that to her but we simply had no choice if we wanted to protect you.

"And so now she's escaped…" Estrella remarked. "But surely if you now treat her as a criminal then you have control over her." Nerissa shook her head.

"Sealing her into the bottle was one thing - taking away her free will another. There was no way we could do it."

"So you mean she's-" Rei was stopped mid-sentence by her communicator.

"Rei - Alexia is in serious trouble at the dance school." Serena announced as soon as Rei answered the call. "She sounded terrified! Please say you'll come!" Nerissa listened to the news calmly, yet a nauseous feeling crept over her. Estrella looked up at Rei expectantly, and the psychic closed her eyes.

"Okay, I'm on my way." she informed the Scout leader.

"Did she just say the dance school?" Nerissa asked quietly and Rei nodded. "Oh no…"

"Do you think it's Mirage?" Estrella asked, and the warrioress shook her head sadly.

"I'm afraid it might be worse." she murmured, sounding downcast. "Caliban's there too…" A sudden rage hit her and she cried out, causing a post to shudder dangerously as she slammed her hand against it. "Damn you, Lucilius! He was ours!" she cursed furiously; however Rei and Estrella failed to see this display of frustration as they sprinted down the temple steps.

x x x x x

"I don't know why we're here, if she got herself into trouble with Caliban then she should deal with it herself - she's made her bed; now it's time for her to lie in it." Sailor Jupiter muttered as she stalked into the studio behind Sailor Moon and Estrella.

"Oh be quiet!" Estrella snapped. "You wouldn't be here if you didn't care!"

"Oh I care alright - I care about finally getting my hands on that scumbag Prince, and then getting to say 'I told you so' to Charon and the rest of you!" the brunette retorted.

"Where can she be?" Sailor Moon, choosing to ignore her griping friend, anxiously looked around.

"Well, there doesn't seem to have been a disturbance in here." Estrella commented, looking at Alexia's bag. "And she must be here somewhere."

Sailor Moon continued to pace around when suddenly her foot came into contact with something, which caused it to skid along the shiny floor.

"We have a problem here…" the blonde remarked nervously as she noticed what it was she had kicked. "She can't transform." holding up the pen, which Mirage had accidentally dropped as she'd took chase. Estrella suddenly felt her fur stand up as she thought about her defenceless charge.

Oh Alexia…what's happening to you? She thought, her heart pounding against her ribcage.

"You guys better come in here." Tuxedo Mask suddenly stuck his head out of the men's locker room. "You're never going to believe what, or should I say who, we've found." The Scouts and cat joined him, Luna and Sailor Mars, who was crouched over the unconscious and tied-up Caliban.

"What the?!" Estrella exclaimed.

"It's gotta be a trap." Jupiter muttered rather unconvincingly.

"To be honest, I don't think it is." Mars remarked, removing the towel-gag from the Prince's mouth. She walked over to the nearby basin, soaked the towel in water and then dabbed Caliban's face until his eyes flickered open.

"Uuuuh? Sailor Scouts? Tuxedo Mask? Estrella and Luna? What are you all doing here?" he muttered as Sailors Mars and Moon helped him to sit up.

"We could ask you the same thing." Luna replied before he started to look around wildly.

"Where's Alexia? I think she's in danger!" he quickly explained what had happened to him and described Mirage.

"She sounds familiar…" Sailor Moon remarked.

"It's her!" Mars exclaimed suddenly, recalling Nerissa's earlier visit.

"Who?" Luna inquired. Sailor Mars bit her lip and looked at Caliban, who was looking at her as expectantly as the others were. She decided it would be best not to mention Nerissa in front of him, they didn't have time for explanations.

"Our contact got in touch with me earlier," she said, placing stress on the word 'contact' and looking at Sailors Moon and Jupiter with raised eyebrows. Sailor Jupiter, Tuxedo Mask and the cats all nodded understandingly, however Sailor Moon looked baffled. "She told me that there was a shape-shifter called Mirage on the run; she's looking for revenge because we destroyed her sister."

"Now that makes sense." Estrella remarked.

"We have a contact?" Sailor Moon exclaimed, her hands on her hips. "How come no one told me!" Jupiter and Mars exchanged a withering glance. Fortunately before Sailor Moon could demand to know who it was Sailor Venus appeared in the doorway.

"Here you all are!" she exclaimed breathlessly. "We think Alexia's on the roof - Mercury and Artemis are on their way up there already!" Her eyes fell on Caliban. "Heeey, what are you doing tied up down here?!"

"We'll explain on the way." Sailor Moon took charge. "Mars and Estrella you stay here and get Caliban out of those ropes. Venus - lead the way. Luna can tell you what's going on and perhaps Jupiter can tell me who this contact is!" Jupiter rolled her eyes.

"Okay! Let's go!" Venus sped off, followed by the others.

Mars started to work open the intricate knots which Mirage had used to tie up Caliban in silence, her face turning as red as the uniform she was wearing.

"So, I guess I owe you an apology." She murmured, unable to look the Prince in the face.

"No, you don't Mars. I understand why you can't trust me - I'd feel exactly the same way if I were in your position. Who you really ought to apologise to is Alexia."

"I know - please, don't remind me!" she exclaimed. "I feel so awful about how I've treated her - some friend I am! If it had been the other way round I know she would never have behaved like such a baby. And as for the other thing…" she finally felt the courage to look him in the eye as the rope around his wrists fell free. "If the others trust you, then so do I." Estrella couldn't help but smile as the Prince took the Scout's hands in his.

"Thank you, Sailor Mars. That is one of the best things I have heard in a long time." He said honestly, and Mars felt her cheeks burn again.

"Right," she said, hastily pulling her hands away from his. "Let's go and help the others!" This time, instead of doing it the hard way, Mars used her powers to burn the rope around Caliban's ankles away.

"Why didn't you just do that in the first place?!" the Prince exclaimed, and Mars found herself blushing for the third time that evening.

"Uuuhhh, well, I didn't want to burn your hands, did I?" she exclaimed quickly.

"And what would Alexia say if I had to inform her that I could no longer dance because her best friend had burnt my feet?" Caliban teased, winking at Estrella as they ran along, for they both knew very well that Mars had chosen to untie the rope manually, not because she was concerned for the welfare of the Prince's hands, but because she wanted to use the time it would take to apologise.

x x x x x

"Caliban, please listen to me! You're being controlled by Lucilius!" Alexia tried desperately to appeal to who she thought was Caliban, however the words fell on deaf ears. Mirage laughed as she forced the girl to walk backwards towards the edge of the roof. Alexia wasn't really sure how they had come to be up here, all she had known was that she had to get out of the building - there was no way she could explain to Ms. Yakamori if anything inside got wrecked. She hoped the others would be there soon, as she was too scared to concentrate enough on sending a telepathic message to Rei. "Just give me my pen and I can help you fight him!"

"Forget it Princess - even if I wanted to return it to you I couldn't - I dropped it in the dance studio!" Mirage started to laugh triumphantly, however it soon died away as she started to shiver violently. A thick and ice-cold mist had slowly spread along the rooftop, and as Alexia felt a pair of gloved hands grab her arm and pull her away from the edge she knew that helped had finally arrived. As she embraced Sailor Mercury joyously Alexia felt relief wash over her, calming her nerves instantly.

"Thank goodness you're here!" she exclaimed. "I don't have my transformation pen!"

"What? Where is it?!" Artemis asked in surprise.

"In the studio - Caliban took it from me." She explained what had been happening as she looked over at the figure she could just make out in the mist.

"I cannot believe he has succumbed to Lucilius again…" Mercury sighed, shaking her head sadly.

"That's because he hasn't!" Sailor Moon piped up as the mist cleared to reveal her, Venus, Jupiter, Tuxedo Mask and Luna almost as if right on cue. Pointing towards the impostor the blonde Scout leader's eyes narrowed. "How dare you hide behind an innocent person's face! I am Sailor Moon, champion of justice! And on behalf of the Moon I shall punish you!"

"Hide behind an innocent person's face?" Alexia repeated in confusion as Luna ran over, Alexia's transformation pen in her mouth. "Oh, thank you!" she exclaimed, lifting the pen over her head:

"Charon Moon Power - Make up!"

Mirage was grinning hideously at Sailor Moon.

"So, you've worked it out." She remarked, applauding the Scout mockingly. Finally bored of the charade she transformed back to her normal shape, causing Sailor Charon to gasp, horrified.

"You!" she exclaimed. "I can't believe it!" Her heartbeat increased its rate as adrenaline and anger pumped through her veins. "Where is he? What have you done with Caliban?!" she demanded.

"He's safe, Mars is untying him right now." Luna told her gently. The news made Charon feel a little better, however she was still furious that she had been duped.

"You made me think he'd turned on me again!" she cried out. "I can never forgive you for that!"

"And I can never forgive any of you for murdering my sister!" Mirage screamed back just as angrily. "You took her away from me, and now you will die too!" her hair became long and grey and her skin wrinkled as she transformed into the ugly hag Charon recognised from their first meeting so many months before. Screeching at the top of her lungs Mirage charged towards the assembled Scouts, causing them to scatter quickly. Jupiter, annoyed at the fact that it wasn't Caliban after all, decided she may as well fight whilst she'd got the chance.

"Jupiter Thunderstrike!" she called out, sending a crackling bolt of lightning at the opponent. Mirage was thrown onto her back for a moment, her hair smoking slightly from the attack. When she leapt back up she immediately struck back:

"Copycat!" Fortunately Jupiter was quick and managed to dodge the attack as she ran forward, her fist ready to throw the first punch. Unfortunately however Mirage saw this coming and as Jupiter neared she transformed - into a beetle! Even more unfortunate was the fact that Jupiter was running so quickly that she couldn't stop herself and before she knew she was falling off the edge of the roof!

"Jupiter!" the other Scouts screamed, horrified. The brunette Scout was helpless and so closed her eyes and prepared herself for the cold, hard pavement…

However, it never came.

The girl found herself landing on what felt like two firm and strong hooks, one around her back and the other her knees. It took her a moment to realise that they were actually a pair of arms. Opening her eyes one at a time she found herself staring at a man's rather muscular chest.

My knight in shining armour has finally arrived! She thought rather faintly. Well, my knight in a leotard - close enough. She looked up, and was immediately disappointed.

"Are you okay? You look like you were expecting someone else." Caliban remarked as he placed her down on the ground. Luckily for her he, Mars and Estrella had just arrived on the roof as she had started to fall and so he'd quickly teleported in order to catch her.

"Yeah, I was." She muttered, feeling embarrassed. "Thanks, I guess."

"No problem." He grinned. "So, are you ready to go back up?"

"Yeah, I am." She said. Taking her hand the Prince teleported them back up just in time to see Charon and Venus knock Mirage down with a blinding double-team attack.

"Copycat!" However it was not enough, as the alien simply got back up and replicated the attack.

"Shine Aqua Illusion!" Mercury attacked from Mirage's left side.

"Mars Fire!" And Mars from her right.

"Copycat…and Copycat again!" the alien laughed as she crossed her arms and sent Mars a copy of Mercury's attack, freezing her hands, and Mercury a replica of 'Mars Fire'.

"What can we do? She's just copying everything we throw at her!" The blue-haired Scout exclaimed as she finished rolling out of the way of the shot. Sailor Charon started to think; she remembered from the last time she had fought against Mirage and her sister that something had happened which had rendered them powerless. If only I could recall - what had caused their powers to be knocked out? Charon pondered, and then it came to her. Knocked out - that's it!

"We need to hit her on the head!" she exclaimed. "That's how we defeated Illusia last time! When she banged her head she couldn't use her powers!"

"Leave it to me." Tuxedo Mask announced, swinging his cane around expertly. Mirage grinned wickedly as the youth charged towards her, and just as she morphed into a huge serpent he leapt over her, landed, turned sharply and struck her on the head with his cane all in one fluid motion. Immediately the shape-shifter turned back into her normal form, holding onto the top of her head as she winced.

"That hurt!" she complained, glaring at Tuxedo Mask. Sailor Charon ignored the alien's moaning as she stepped up to her and turned her around by the shoulder.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked simply.

"I've already told you that," Mirage suddenly snapped, forgetting her pain. "You killed my sister - and now you're all going to die too!"

"How exactly are you going to do that now, since you don't have your powers?" Mercury joined Charon and Tuxedo Mask, who was still stood behind the shape-shifter.

"I…I…" the alien girl stuttered as Sailor Venus moved closer.

"Have you ever thought that she might not be dead if you'd stayed to help her?" she inquired, and Mirage slumped to the floor.

"Yes! All the time…" the alien exclaimed bitterly. "Why do you think I want to avenge her death?"

"To make yourself feel better?" Jupiter asked scornfully, and a teardrop slid down Mirage's cheek and splashed against the ground.

"NO!" she suddenly yelled, looking around at each and every one of them. "I'm doing this to show her how sorry I am!" her voice became full of despair as she completed her sentence; standing up again she wiped her tears away and turned to Sailor Moon. "I have failed my sister, and I have failed Lucilius-"

"Lucilius?" Sailor Mercury repeated. "What's he got to do with this?"

"I was doing this partly for him." she explained, her voice emotionless. "I was to kill you all except for Caliban and Charon, who he wanted alive. However I was only going to take him Caliban - I wanted all of you Scouts for myself." she turned back to Sailor Moon, her red eyes as empty of emotion as her voice had been. "Please, I would rather die at your hand than his." Sailor Moon walked forward, her sceptre in her hands. Mirage closed her eyes and took a shaky breath, awaiting the end that would not come.

"No," Sailor Moon announced. "I refuse to do it." the alien's eyes flickered open again, full of confusion.

"Why not? I tried to kill you - doesn't that make me a bad person?" Sailor Moon shook her head.

"Wanting to die is the coward's way out. I don't believe for one second that you're really a bad person, are you?" Mirage shook her head honestly.

"I know you're not bad too." Mars spoke up. "I've been told about your past - about how you led a resistance group to attempt to protect your planet."

"I did…but we were overthrown, and many of my people who were involved got killed." Tears reappeared in the alien's eyes. "Illusia and I helped the others escape before leaving ourselves."

"That was very brave of you." Sailor Moon told her gently. "And I also think it was brave of you to stand up to us. If I were your sister I would be very proud of you. Believe me, I am truly sorry for what I did, but I couldn't allow her to hurt anyone."

"I understand, and I accept your apology." Mirage replied. "But it doesn't help to remove the terrible guilt I have within me - and Lucilius…"

"I am afraid there is nothing anyone can do to take away the guilt." Caliban stepped forward. "I should know. All you can do is to learn to live with it." Charon took his hand and smiled at him.

"As for Lucilius, we'll protect you from him." Venus smiled. Mirage's eyes lit up joyfully as she realised that she had nothing to worry about. The Sailor Scouts had never meant to intentionally ruin her life - they had just been doing their job! And now they were going to help her even though she had tried to harm them - that just showed what great people they were.

"Thank you so much, you are all so wonderful!" she grabbed hold of Sailor Venus and hugged her tightly. "I would like to go back to Lord Florizel, if that is possible. He had always looked after me."

"I would be honoured if you would, Mirage." the man himself, accompanied by Nerissa, walked through the Scouts to stand in front of the alien shape-shifter. "I am pleased to see you have finally returned to your senses. I have been most worried about you." Mirage's eyes softened as she heard his words.

"You were worried?" she repeated in amazement. "No one has ever been worried about me before, apart from Illusia…" suddenly her eyes lit up. "I've got it! I know the perfect way to make it up to my sister!" she looked seriously at Florizel. "I wish to return home to set up a new resistance group. I will fight until my people are free from tyranny, even if it costs me my life!"

"I can't think of a better way to apologise." Sailor Moon grinned.

"Yeah, you go girlfriend!" Sailor Venus gave her the thumbs up, and the others all agreed.

"Very well Mirage. As soon as we have settled matters here on Earth then we shall take you back." Florizel smiled.

Whilst this was happening Charon and Caliban were regarding the scene with confusion.

"I recognise him…" Charon thought out loud as she gazed at Florizel, then clicked her fingers as she placed him. "Aha! He was in the memory I got back of when you went missing from the Moon Kingdom - he was looking for you too! I can't remember his name for the life of me though…"

"It's Florizel," Caliban responded. "He's my father's adviser…the one who Lucilius brainwashed me into thinking was a traitor." He scratched his head as he pondered. "Whatever is he doing here?" He regarded how the Scouts were chatting to Nerissa as if she were an old friend. "I wonder…did he come to get Nerissa back?"

"Only one way to find out…" Charon commented and walked over to join the group.

"Soooo, who would care to tell us what exactly is going on?" she asked them, her head tilted curiously. "I thought Nerissa belonged to the group known as 'our sworn enemies'?" Luna and Artemis looked at one another, then at Florizel as he stepped up behind the questioning Scout.

"I believe we have some explaining to do," he announced, his voice causing Charon to jump and turn quickly. "However, first of all let us get inside where it's warm."

"Good idea." Luna agreed, and was about to lead the way when:

"Watch out!" Sailor Venus suddenly cried out, and pointed to where Mirage was stood behind Florizel. They all stood watching in paralysed shock as the shape-shifting alien was bathed in a column of light which had suddenly shot down from the sky and as she shrieked in pain, her body writhing.

"Mirage!" everyone cried out in unison, and ran forward. The first person who got there, Sailor Jupiter, unthinkingly leapt under the light herself in order to push Mirage out.

"No! Jupiter!" Sailor Moon yelled out as the brunette Scout was subjected to the same agony that Mirage had just felt. The blonde Scout was about to run forward herself when she was beaten by Caliban, who jumped in, grabbed Jupiter's arm, and then rolled out with her to safety. Sailor Jupiter felt numb as she looked up at the Prince.

"That's the second time tonight that you've saved me…" she managed to say dazedly. "I don't know what to say…" she continued to stare at him. Hmmm…he looks just like Akito. Wonder why I ever split up with him… she thought as Caliban helped her to her feet.

"Just say sorry to Alexia." he told her frankly.

"Okay, I'll do that." Jupiter smiled, her doubts concerning the youth now a thing of the past. They noticed how everyone was looking up at the sky and so they joined them, Caliban's eyes narrowing as soon as he recognised the bottom of the ship they were gazing at.

"Please, oh please don't let him hurt me!" Mirage whimpered as she clung desperately to Florizel's arm. The Royal Adviser lifted the edge of his sleeveless coat to reveal a leather pouch attached to his belt and from this pouch he took an Aathean Bottle.

"Get in." he ordered her, and she nodded immediately. On removing the glass stopper a blue mist flowed from out of the Bottle, surrounded Mirage and then returned to its source. Florizel replaced the container into the pouch.

"Caliban!" Lucilius's voice boomed out from the sky. "Give yourself up now!"

"Never!" Florizel yelled back angrily. "You have lost, Lucilius! He is on our side again!"

"You!" Lucilius spat. "I should have realised you were hiding in the shadows! How could I have been so foolish as to believe such a pitiful woman could have stolen from you?! And Caliban! You shall pay for your betrayal!" The light, which had faded after Caliban had saved Jupiter, reappeared - directly over Sailor Charon. "Say goodbye to your little girlfriend!" Charon screamed, now realising what Mirage and Jupiter had experienced. The pain was like thousands of sharp, red hot needles being repeatedly stuck into her skin then pulled out again rapidly. She fell to the ground, her body quickly becoming weakened. The Scouts watched in sickened terror as the light got brighter and brighter and Sailor Jupiter felt herself grow pale. Now her doubts about Caliban had subsided, where they about to be proven? Would he turn on them just to save Charon?

"No!" the Prince shouted furiously, not knowing what to do. "Please don't hurt her!" he turned to look at Florizel. "I have to go…" as soon as he said the words the light surrounding Charon faded.

"I knew you would be sensible." Lucilius's chuckle echoed over the empty roof, and as the ship got closer to the rooftop a flight of steps came down.

"I am so, so sorry, everyone." Caliban said sadly, his grey eyes shining with tears as he placed his foot on the bottom step.

"You can't go," Sailor Jupiter exclaimed, her voice desperate. "Not now I believe in you!" he smiled at the brunette.

"Thank you for saying that, Sailor Jupiter." he looked at all the Scouts. "If I return to kill you - then you must defeat me once and for all." he told them. "I am not to be trusted."

"Only if you cannot be saved first." Sailor Moon told him seriously. "We will do everything we can to get you back."

"Do not risk your lives for me, I am not worth that much." he replied, taking another step. "Farewell, my friends."

"STOP!"

Caliban's ascent into Lucilius's ship was halted by the loud and heart-breaking cry of Sailor Charon, who had managed to get back onto her feet and push through to the front of the group. "You cannot do this." she exclaimed, tears rolling down her face. "I won't allow him to turn you back into the monster I saw in your mind! Lucilius!" she looked up to the top of the steps, where she could just make out a small silhouette. "I have a proposition for you!"

"And what is that, Princess?" Lucilius responded; the Charonian looked down at the ground for a moment and then back up at him.

"If you promise not to harm anyone here on this rooftop…then you can have me."

Her words ripped through the group like a knife.

"Very well, you have my word." Lucilius responded.

"NO!" The Scouts screamed, running to her. "Don't do it Charon!"

"I have to," she told them frankly. "Caliban's been through enough - I'm doing this because I love him."

"You must love him a lot to give yourself up to that freakazoid." Venus remarked.

"Don't you know it." Charon answered, nodding. Venus embraced her tightly, holding back tears.

"Then you go for it girl - and don't let the bastard grind you down. We'll come get ya before you've even had a chance to miss us!" After Venus let go of her Jupiter stepped up, and much to the green-haired girl's surprise she threw her arms around her and hugged her tightly.

"I think you're an idiot for doing this." the brunette told her honestly. "But…I am sorry for the way I've been acting, I hope we can still be friends."

"You can count on it." Charon somehow managed to smile.

"Time heals all wounds, Charon." a hand rested on her shoulder and Charon turned to look at Sailor Mercury. "And we become stronger people because of it. I only hope that what you are going to do will strengthen you - both physically and emotionally." the blue-haired Scout said wisely.

"Thank you, Mercury, and I hope so too." they hugged quickly. Sailor Moon was next; placing her hands on the Charonian's shoulders she looked deeply into her pale eyes and recognised the determined glow there well.

"Not one of us is going to be able to stop us, are we?" she commented gently, and Charon simply shook her head. "Well then, good luck, Sailor Charon. All our thoughts will be with you…" she pulled her close, a tear rolling down her cheek. "We shall rescue you, our team is never separated for too long."

"You're wrong, Sailor Moon," Charon replied, and the blonde leader looked at her in confusion. "We are never apart."

Meanwhile Estrella was shaking like a leaf, unable to comprehend her charge's plan. Her green eyes were wide as she watched the Scouts say farewell.

"Charon…Alexia…" she murmured, just loud enough for the girl to hear. However as soon as Charon's pale eyes fixed upon her the cat let out a stifled sob, turned, and ran towards the door which led back inside. Luna and Artemis immediately followed her.

"She'll be okay." Charon said quietly, trying to convince herself of the fact.

Estrella wasn't the only one finding it difficult to express her feelings.

Sailor Mars stood frozen to the spot, trying desperately to find words to express what she felt in her heart right at that moment. Trying to vocalise just how sorry she was for how she'd treated her.

The words never came.

"Enough!" Lucilius's amplified voice caused the very building to rock. "It's time to go, Princess!" At those words Charon took to the steps, no longer able to look at the people whom she cared for more than anything. She was only three steps up when a hand caught hold of her wrist.

"Charon." It was Caliban. "I have two things two say to you before you leave." he whispered, his voice shaking slightly. "Firstly, please do not take Lucilius at face value and secondly-" he cupped her face in his hands. "I love you." With that he kissed her one last time, before sending her on her way. The Scout sprinted, getting closer and closer to the ship, before anyone could try to convince her not to go. She bit her lip, determined she would not cry as she came face to face with Lucilius for the first time in centuries. She somehow managed to hide her shock at his appearance; although she had already been told about the Court of the Moon Kingdom's punishment it was still odd to see the person who had caused her and her friends so much grief looked no more than eight years old.

"Finally, we are reunited." the man-child sneered, as two hideous guards grabbed her roughly and dragged her inside.

"Noooo!" the Scouts cried out again as the steps were raised, the door closed and the ship vanished into the darkening sky. Mercury, Jupiter and Venus put their arms around each others' shoulders supportively. Nerissa comforted a visibly torn-up Caliban. Sailor Moon clung tightly onto Tuxedo Mask and cried for the fate of their friend.

Mars felt numb.

As she had watched her friend climb the steps to an unknown hell she had suddenly heard a voice in the depths of her mind:

Rei, I know I lied to you, and it hurt me as soon I realised I'd done it. I forgive you for ignoring me today, I just hope that I hope you can forgive me too. I shall always consider you my best friend, no matter what.

Charon's message had shocked her so much that she couldn't respond, and now she was too far away.

"I didn't even get to say I was sorry…" she murmured woefully.

x x x x x

The smirk on Lucilius's face could easily have rivalled that of the Cheshire Cat as he watched the two hulking guards fling Charon into a cell as if she were a rag doll. The force behind the throw was so large that when she hit the floor she skidded along it, tearing a layer of skin from her knees; she also bit down on her lip, causing it to bleed slightly. She sat up, ignoring the stinging pain running through her legs and lower lip, to glare at her captor.

"Poor, poor Charon, lost her friends and true love all in one go." he clucked with about as much emotion as a stone as he stood over her. "Never mind; why don't you get some rest? You got an exciting few years ahead of you."

"Well aren't you hospitable?" she replied sardonically, earning herself a sharp slap around the face.

"Pleasant dreams, Princess." he snapped before slamming the door on her.

The room was dark apart from a tiny pin-prick of light coming from a small hole somewhere in the door. As soon as the footsteps of Lucilius and the guards vanished she knew she was alone and thus safe for her to finally let her vulnerability show. Breaking down in a flood of tears, which she had been desperately holding back, she curled up on the cold floor, wondering what fate had in store for her…