Chapter 3 Problems



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Authors Note: I am continuing with the story with this chapter. Please read and review. Thanks to those who have.

Characters of Sailor Moon are not owned by me. I am just borrowing them to make this story.

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Rae, Amy and Lita were already at the temple when Mina, Serena and their guardians showed up. They were all seated around Rae's table, their communicators and power sticks spread out.

"So what's the emergency Amy?" Mina asked as Serena and she took their seats.

Serena remained silent, waiting to see what has happened and hoping it had nothing to do with her. Rae looked at Serena and then at Mina and then replied, "I have had a vision."

Serena took a deep breath and held it as Rae retold her vision as well as her fears. Luna in the mean time had kept an observant gaze on her ward and noticed the faint understanding gleam in her eyes when Rae told of how she had seen two figures of Serena but that disappeared almost immediately.

Rae looked at Serena when she finished and asked, "Serena do you have any ideas of why I saw two of you?" However Serena only shook her head and looked away.

"Could it be something you saw in the far future?" Amy asked.

Rae shrugged her shoulders, "I wouldn't think so. Both Serena and I were around the same ages."

Lita suddenly punched a fist into her hand and levelled at the others. "Well before anything like that happens we need to know if we can still transform. If that guy in your visions did anything, it's a safe bet he knows exactly who and what we are."

The others fell silent at the truth in her words. Amy took out her computer and started to program it for many moments and then looked up at the others.

"I am going to take some readings while each of you change. Since you had the vision it might be best if you change first Rae."

Rae looked a little doubtful, but nodded in acceptance. "My grandfather isn't here and the temple is closed due to the construction we are having done on the grounds. So we should go outside to do this."

The others agreed and as each picked up their power stick and headed outside, Serena felt the noose around her neck tighten ever so slightly.

Outside under the blue sky, Rae held up her stick hesitantly and called out, "Mars Crystal Power!"

Quickly, Rae was enveloped in red light that blazed like fire. After a few moments, Rae had transformed into the guardian of Mars. Rae looked at herself, as if not believing that she actually transformed with out any problems.

With a tear in her eye she started to laugh and cry at the same time. Amy in the meantime had been monitoring her change with her computer. All looked towards Amy as she punched a few more keys and the computer buzzed and then stopped.

"Well from what I can see there was nothing out of the ordinary about your change, Mars. But just to be sure.Mina take a hold of my computer and just point it at my direction as I transform."

Mina took the computer and Amy transformed. Sailor Mercury took the computer from her as she looked at the results, smiled and nodded. "Okay your turn." She indicated to Lita.

Lita and then Mina both transformed with no problems.

"Is something wrong Serena?" Luna asked as she saw Serena hesitate.

Mercury and the others waited patiently as Serena took out her locket. To cover up why she was really hesitant she smiled shakily and replied, "I just hope nothing goes wrong. That is all." With that Serena took a deep breath, said a small prayer and lifted her crystal locket and said, "Moon Cosmic Dream Power!"

Serena had had her eyes closed, waiting for the powers to encase and transform her as they had done many times before.

"Oh my!" Mercury gasped.

Serena opened her eyes and gaped at her. "What!?" Serena looked at everyone as they stared back at her. Serena then looked down to her clothes and realized that she was still wearing her clothes and not in her Sailor Scout Uniform.

Serena closed her eyes and tried again, putting in her heart and soul into the words she said, "Moon Cosmic Dream Power!"

Still nothing. "Amy? What happened?" Artemis asked.

Mercury took a look at her readings on the computer and then stared at Serena. Putting her eyebrows together in concentration she took another reading of Serena.

Sighing as Mercury looked at her results once more, she closed her computer. "What ever is presently happening to Rae, Serena has also been affected though my computer cannot read anything wrong."

Mars looked astonished, "You mean whoever is keeping me from having visions has also somehow prevented Sailor Moon from changing. It doesn't make sense Mercury. If he can do that to Sailor Moon and me why did he not just do the same to everyone? And why just my visions, why not do the same to me as he did to Serena."

Mercury frowned and sighed. "I don't know. Maybe he believes that we are not a real threat to him. The only thing he may have thought were a threat was the vision you had and Sailor Moon's power."

"I don't know about that." Mars sighed. "So you are saying that the only clue we have right now seems to be centred in my vision."

Amy nodded and Serena looked down at her locket.

Could this be all her fault? Serena thought. Looking at the others who had moved in closer to take a look at Amy's readings, Serena shook her head. No it couldn't be. This wasn't like the time when she couldn't use her powers due to a part of her resenting the gift she was given and the responsibility that she never wanted. She had learned since then that though she had a great responsibility it didn't mean she couldn't be a normal girl either. When Rae told Mina and her of her vision, for the first time Serena understood what it meant in reference to her changing into two Serena's. She was still in fact Serena only the past one was resurfacing.

Suddenly Serena looked up and stared at Mercury who was scanning around the temple and then the power sticks. Serena looked back down at her locket and wondered, could it be the powers in her locket weren't responding due to Princess Serenity. If there were two people within her it could explain that the magic wasn't responding due to not knowing who was the real person. Or could it be that when both of her called up the magic that it was cancelling it out or repelling each other.

In the meantime should Serena tell the others of what was happening to her? She really didn't want the others involved in her problems. It was a battle that only she could fight anyways. The others will only get distracted if they know, the Sailor Scouts will be needed more so now then ever especially since Sailor Moon can't join.

Luna and Artemis had remained quiet all throughout the meeting and when Serena hadn't been able to change they stood apart watching Serena. They saw the play of emotions on her face when she thought no one was watching her. Luna was more convinced then ever that something was very wrong and if Serena wasn't going to tell her friends or her guardians, Luna was going to make sure Serena told Darien.

Luna leaned over to Artemis and whispered, "Whatever is wrong with Serena, has to be connected to the vision of Mars' and why Serena can't transform."

Artemis nodded in agreement. "I am sorry I didn't believe you before Luna. Whatever is bothering Serena, she isn't going to talk, especially now with this new threat. The scouts are going to have to be ready and cannot get distracted. That leaves Darien and us to help her."

The two guardians nodded to each other with new determination.



From somewhere far away, a figure stood looking into a mirror that was hanging on a stone covered wall, watching the sailor scouts frustrations take hold of them.

The figure wore a long black cloak, with armor that gleamed a dull black in the dimly lit chamber. A sword hung from the figure's hips ready to be used.

"Soon." a hash baritone voice came from the figure.



It was late in the afternoon when Serena returned home. After the initial testing, Amy tested her locket and found nothing wrong with it. She then conduced a full scan of Serena and again found nothing out of the ordinary. Serena was hoping that Amy would pick up something that could explain what was happening to her. Serena went inside and found a note from her folks that they had went out for dinner and won't be back until late.

Serena went to the telephone and saw that there had been two messages. Playing them, Serena went into the kitchen to grab something. The first message was from Molly stating that she won't be back until next week since her mom had taken her on a jeweller convention. Serena smiled, Molly was beginning to take an interest in her mother's work and had picked up a lot of skills working at the store. The next message was from Darien

Telling her that he will be over at her house to pick her up. He wanted to know everything that happened. Oh boy! Serena thought.

Serena looked at her watch and it was close to 5 pm. Darien would be here soon. Going upstairs she went to get changed. Within 15 minutes, the doorbell rang and Serena came down to answer it.

At the door was Darien, dressed in casual jeans and a jacket, his face masked in concern and questions.

"I noticed your parents' car isn't here. Would it be alright that I came in?" Darien asked.

Serena nodded and open the door further for him to come in. They both seated themselves in the living room. They sat in silence for a moment before Dairen asked, "Is it safe to talk?"

Serena nodded and replied, "Sam has gone to a friends and Luna went with Amy."

Darien nodded his head asked, "So what is going on? I checked my messages and got your message about a Sailor emergency. I tried to give Rae a call to find out what was happening but I received no answer." His eyes giving away his concern as his voice remained calm and assured.

Serena smiled and then told him of what happened. She told him about Rae's vision and her problem of not being able to change.

"It all seems to be connected to this figure in Rae's vision." She stated as finality to her story.

Darien had kept quiet but his facial expressions gave way to the worry he was starting to feel over Serena's safety. "I am not worried about the figure, I am more worried about you."

At first Serena felt puzzled but them nodded, "You mean about me not being able to change. Well." She was about to continue but Darien interjected.

"Yes I am worried about you not being able to change into Sailor Moon but only due then you can't protect yourself if something should come after you. What I am more worried is about what has been happening to you these past few months." He stated fiercely.

When Serena was about to say something but he silenced her with one of his stares. "Something is going on with you and has been for sometime. I didn't pursue it because what you said was true due to that people do change when they get older. However what you don't see is that the change what you call has been drastic and fast. Oh I know you have tried to hide it from all of us." He put in quickly as Serena tried to say something. "However from someone who has known you the way I do. They would know some thing is wrong. And that to change the way you have that fast would be impossible. However I left it alone because I really had no proof, until I talked with Luna and Artemis this afternoon."

Serena looked at Darien with some confusement and he smiled, "Amy came by to tell me all about it. When she went out Luna stayed behind a moment to tell me something that just confirmed my worries. Serena now I am going to ask you one last time." Darien took a deep breath as he held Serena's shoulders tightly.

"What is happening to you? What is going on that would make you lie to us all that nothing is wrong?" He asked with his best don't give me any of your nonsense look.

Serena looked at Darien and saw the worry in his eyes and knew she could not lie to him. Tears started to come down from her eyes as Darien held still tightly to her shoulders. He bit his lip but he didn't say anything, just looked at Serena and waited holding his breath as if his worst fears were going to come true.

Was she sick? Darien thought. Was he going to lose his Princess, his love to something he can't defend her against?

Taking a deep shattering breath, Serena closed her eyes and then opening them. She looked at Darien carefully and said, "Darien I do have something to tell you and its not good."



To be continued.