Sailor Earth, Luna, and Artemis sat on a bench next to the lake. "The people of the Earth turned against the Moon, the very people that assured their safety. The prince was the only one to not go against us but even that wasn't enough."
Artemis spoke up. "I don't mean to interrupt, but I have to ask you something, Sailor Earth: You and the prince were so close and you two did everything together it seemed. Why didn't you side with him? It may not have made a difference, but. . ."
"I remember being mad at the princess for some reason. . .I wanted to retaliate. . ."
"Beryl! Find the princess! Destroy her before she destroys Endymion!"
". . .but I don't remember why. I wish I could remember more. . .but I want to let you two know that I will do whatever it takes to make it up to you." Earth lowered her head. "I really don't remember what I did, but I feel very guilty about having done it."
"Hana-san!" The three quickly looked up and saw Human Osiris running towards them at top speed. In her arms was a very panicked Ken.
Luna and Artemis stood up defensively. "Osiris!"
Earth stood up as well. "What is. . .?"
"No time! Ra is after Ken!"
Earth's face paled. "What?"
"Come one! This way!" Osiris took off.
Earth started after Osiris, then looked back. Luna and Artemis were still standing there. "What are you doing?" she yelled at them. "Let's go!"
They were about to object when Ra's shadow covered them. "Let's risk it!" Artemis grabbed his wife's hand and pulled her in the direction of the others.

Unable to go back to sleep, Mamoru walked into the kitchen to grab himself a midnight snack. He glanced over at the couch. Before he had gone to bed, that was where the Cat Family had fallen asleep. However, only Diana laid there now. "Kami-sama. . ." worried Mamoru.

Luna and Artemis followed the group into a cave. Earth used her Bolder Dash attack to seal the entrance. Then they sat back and waited anxiously for Ra to pass. After a few minutes, she did, and Ken was finally able to ask "Hana-chan? What is going on?"
Earth reached out for Ken and he climbed into her lap. "Well, it turns out that I am a Sailor Senshi," she explained.
"Just like Sailor Moon-chan?"
"Yep. There are some bad guys that want to take over Earth and do lots of bad things to the people here and I have to stop them."
"Why do they want me, then?"
"I can explain that," said Osiris. "That is my fault."
Earth gave him a surprised look. "What?"
"I-I told Ra you were here and that you had brought Ken," Osiris explained. "The plan was to attack Luna and Artemis, thus luring you away from Ken. . ."
". . .so you could kidnap him," Earth finished for her. She coaxed Ken out of her lap and stood to confront Osiris. "Why? Why would you bring an innocent child into this?!"
"For the Golden Crystal," Osiris mumbled.
"I don't have it!" Earth yelled impatiently. "I don't even know what it looks like or even what it is!. . . I had to trust you with my brother's life! And you are the reason I had to in the first place! I told you to leave my family out of this!"
"Look! I did what I felt was best for my mission! It wasn't until you thanked me that. . .I realized that we might be wrong."
"Bullshit! This in itself could be another one of your games!" Osiris tried to speak, but Earth wouldn't let her. "Ken is my brother! He is my only family! And I will do everything I can do to protect him!" Her hands started to glow gold. "Even if that means I have to kill you!"
"Hana-chan!" Ken grabbed his sister's leg. "Don't! Ris-chan is my friend! She saved me!"
Earth looked down at Ken and it finally dawned on her what had happened.. . .

"What did she do to you?" Princess Terra snapped.
Prince Endymion wiped a tear from his bloodshot eyes. "Terra, Serenity and I just had an argument. Every couple has their share."
"You two are not a couple!" screamed Terra. "She's brainwashing you!"
"Terra!" Endymion had had enough. "Would you please tone it down?"
Terra threw her hands up in frustration. "No! Not until you see. . .why can't you see that you are being brainwashed?!"
"Why can't you just let me be happy with her? Why can't you just accept our relationship? That I want to spend the rest of time with her?"
With tears streaming down her face, Terra yelled, "Because you never have time for me anymore!"
Endymion was shocked by his sister's reaction. "Terra, what are you talking about? We have had spent time together. Maybe less than usual. . ."
"The last time we did anything together was four months ago! On my birthday! You probably don't even remember what you gave me!" When he didn't answer, she continued. "We use to spend all our time together. We could finish each other's sentences. But ever since you two started dating, I have been dumped! You don't love me anymore!"

Earth looked at Luna and Artemis. "I remember now. When Endymion started dating Serenity. . .We were joined at the hip and then he was gone. I was so jealous and mad at Serenity. He was my brother! Nobody else could have him!" She kneeled next to Ken. "You are my brother. I don't want to share you."
"But you told me that sharing was the right thing to do," Ken told her.
Earth smiled. "I did, didn't I?" She looked over at Osiris. "I'm sorry. I overreacted."
"I understand. It was my fault," Osiris told her.
"Osiris!" Ra teleported into the cave. "What are you doing? You are suppose to be watching her, not helping her!"
Osiris stood up. "Guess what? I've switched sides! Nile's Fury!"
"Solar Flare!"
Earth knocked down her rock door. "Luna! Artemis! Get Ken out of here!"
Ra and Osiris broke off their attacks. Earth tried to take advantage of the distraction. "Bolder Dash!"
Ra turned around and let the Boulders hit her. Earth gasped as the attack had no affect on her target.
"My turn. Solar Flare!" Ra attacked.
Earth ducked, the attack barely missing her head. As she hit the ground, she looked to see where the attack was going. "Ken-chan! No!"
Luna and Artemis looked over their shoulders, then did their best to protect Ken. All Earth could do was watch as Ra's attack hit her little brother.
When the dust settled, Earth gaped at the sight of the three bodies lying before her. She couldn't believe it. I should have blocked it. Ken-chan. . .
"Ken-san!" Osiris ran out of the cave to help the little boy.
Ra pointed at Osiris. "Solar Flare!"
Osiris fell to the ground unconscious.
Ra turned her attention back to Earth. "Give me the Golden Crystal."
Earth didn't respond. She simply closed her eyes. You are not getting away with this, Ra.
"Hello? Pay attention to me!" yelled Ra.
A heavy, golden glow began to cover Sailor Earth. As Ra tried to get her attention, Earth slowly stood up. She turned and faced Ra with a cold stare that finally got Ra to shut up. There were a few tense moments before Earth, in a more mature sounding voice, calmly said, "Gaea's Fury."
Six columns of mud shot out of the ground, two at a time, in rows of three. Earth simply pointed at Ra and the columns raced towards her, criss-crossing along the way. Ra tried to protect herself, but was unable and had to teleport away to save herself.
Earth lowered her arm and the columns disappeared. The attack had drained her of so much energy, her glow and her fuku faded away. Hana was so weak, she lost consciousness.. . .

Mamoru rang out the washcloth and placed it back on Hana's forehead. She groaned and slowly opened her eyes. At first, Mamoru's face was blurry, but she could still make some of the details out. "Endymion. . ." she mumbled.
He smiled. "At one time I was."
She blinked and his image cleared. "Mamoru?" Then she sat up with a start. "Ken-chan!"
Mamoru put his hand on her shoulder. "Settle down. He's okay. He's in the other room."
"How is he?!" she demanded to know.
"Hana-san, calm down. He has some bruising and some blistering on his back. As long as he doesn't lay on his back, he'll be fine." He picked up the cup of water on the nightstand. "Here. Have a drink."
Hana did as she was told, taking a quick sip. "I should have never brought him with me," she told Mamoru after gently placing the cup on her lap. "I had a feeling this was going to happen."
"You were unconscious for a day and a half," Mamoru informed Hana. "He's had time to talk. And from what I heard, you needed to get him out of there. Why didn't you come here? You have my address."
Hana took another drink. "I thought about it. It would have been rude, though."
"Hana-san. For this, it's not rude. It's necessary. Plus, since we are going to be working together, it's pretty convenient." He stood up from the desk chair next to his bed. "You and Ken are staying here, end of discussion. Your stuff is over there and there is food in the refrigerator. Ken and I are going grocery shopping. You settle down and make yourself at home. Be back in a few hours. Ja ne!" Mamoru closed the door before Hana could reply.

A few minutes later, Hana gingerly opened the bedroom door and stepped into the living room. She pulled the apple juice out of the refrigerator. Cat Osiris leapt onto the counter. "Hana-san. . ."
Hana started her search for a glass. "Just drop it, Osiris." She looked over at Osiris to say something else, when she saw the Golden Crystal glowing on the coffee table. "What is that?"
Osiris looked over. "Is that. . .?" Both approached it. "The Golden Crystal. Wow. I had heard about this, but never thought I would ever see it."
"This is the Golden Crystal?" After Hana asked, the Crystal floated over to her. "Nani. . .?"
"The Golden Crystal is your crystal, Hana-san," Osiris told her. "It takes you energy and multiplies it. Most powerful behind the Silver Crystal."
"Which Ra has, right?"
"Right," answered Artemis. Luna and Diana followed him into the room. "The Golden Crystal is our only hope now. It will be at its most powerful only when you use it."
"Why?" Hana asked.
"Because you are the reincarnation of the Earth Princess; therefore, your power is the most inline with this planet," Luna told her.
Hana cupped the Crystal in her hands. It slowly shrank in size and a chain formed from it. Hana put on her new necklace and thought about what had been said. I have to stop Ra and the others and the only way is by attacking them in their house. Just like they are attacking me in mine. "Osiris. Can you get me in?"
"I advise against it," said Luna. "Until you become more powerful, you need to stay on this planet. The Earth gives you your power."
Hana nodded, then fell silent. After a few moments, she stood. "This. . .this is a bit too much to take in at once. . .I'm gonna take a walk." The cats nodded with understanding.

"Your power is the most inline with the planet."
"Terra! Why would you believe them?!"
"Because what they say is true!"
"As soon as I get out of here, I'm taking you with me, Ken-chan!"
"Since when have you been attending Gaea High?"
"Since the beginning of this year."
It's too late for us.
"The future of this planet depends on you".
Hana stepped onto the empty lobby area of the apartment as all of these thoughts swirled through her head. Unable to control her emotions, Hana started to cry. I don't know if I can handle all of this! Why me?
A clap of thunder scared Hana out of pity-mode. Rain? But it was sunny a minute ago.
As her tears ended, so do the rain. It stayed gray and depressed outside, the same way that Hana felt on the inside. "Whoa, that's creepy," she commented to herself. As she continued to look out the glass door, Jiro came into view. He stopped walking as the two looked into the other's eyes.

Hana and Jiro found a rock ledge to sit on. Swinging her legs nervously, Hana looked over at Jiro, though not into his eyes. "So, what brings you here?"
"Dad's job transferred him again."
"Again?"
"Yep.. . .You?"
"Uh, visiting a friend," Hana replied akwardly.
"How long are you going to be here?"
"I-I don't know."
"Oh," he said with understanding.
There was another awkward silence. Finally, Hana couldn't take it anymore. "What happened to us?"
"Nani?"
"What happened to us? You and me. We just stopped talking to each other. Why?"
"I-I don't know. . .But we can always pick up from where we left off."
"Huh?"
"There were no hard feelings, right?"
"Jiro-san, it's not that easy."
"Why not?"
Hana looked up to answer, but stopped herself. Those eyes. . .

"Princess Terra!" An Earthsman knelt before his princess. "It has come to my attention that you do not have an escort to the dance tonight. May I have that honor?"
Terra smiled. "Of course, Elden. You will always have that honor. No one else."

"T-things are different now. It wouldn't work."
"Of course it would."
"No, it wouldn't."
Jiro looked at the ground below. "There's someone else, isn't there?"
"Yes," Hana lied.
"Oh. . .I'm. . .I have get home. It-it was good seeing you again." He hopped off the ledge. "We can still hang out together, right?"
Hana continued to look at the ground. "I guess."
"Okay.. . .Well, ja ne," he replied, dejected.
"Yeah. Ja ne." As Jiro walked away, the rain began to fall again.

Ra threw a chair across the room. "That girl is getting on my last nerve! How does she know where we are and what to do?!" The coffee pot followed the path the chair had taken. "And Osiris! The one who led us into this! Tut-Tut!"
Tut-Tut ran into the room. "Yes?"
Ra sighed. "Your turn."
Tut-Tut jumped for joy. "Yes!"
Ra sighed again. "I can't believe I just said that. You mission is to kill Osiris and Sailor Earth, get the Golden Crystal, and get Luna and Artemis. And do it as quickly as possible. I'm getting tired of this waiting."
Tut-Tut saluted. "Yes, ma'am! I won't let you down!" As he scurried from the room, Ra pressed her fore and middle fingers to her forehead. "I'm screwed."

Everyone looked over as a sopping wet Hana walked in. Mamoru saw the look on her face and knew something was wrong. "Ken, could you take the cats into the other room and show them what I bought you?"
"Sure, Mamoru-chan." Ken picked up Diana. "Come on, kitties. Let's get out of their way."
Mamoru picked up the blanket that was hanging over the back of his couch. "Here. Let's got you warmed up."
Hana didn't respond; instead, she let Mamoru wrap the blanket around her, then started crying into his chest. Mamoru hugged her and tried to calm her down. "Shhh. Everything is alright."
"I can't love him now," she sobbed, "just like I couldn't love him then."
"Hana, what are you talking about?" asked Mamoru.
Hana pulled back. "Elden. Back during . . .during that time, I was in charge of training the new military recruits. Elden was part of the last batch that I trained before our kingdom fell. Because of our positions, we tried to hide our love from everyone. With tensions running so high, though, I decided that it was in his best interest to end the relationship."
Elden, in tears, looked at Princess Terra. "What are you trying to say?"
Terra held back her own tears as she coldly told her lover, "What I am trying to say is 'I don't love you anymore'!"
"Our love wasn't like the one between you and Serenity. Under different circumstances, your love would have been accepted. Under no circumstances would our love have even been tolerated, much less accepted. He was a lowly private; I was the princess. I would have received no punishment; he would have been killed. I loved him too much to do that to him."
"So you pushed him away to save him," Mamoru concluded.
Hana nodded. "But it didn't matter. A few weeks later. . ."
Sailor Earth screamed in horror as she saw Elden lying before her, dead. She knelt down and cradled him in her arms. Queen Beryl ran up behind her. Angrily, Earth cried out, "Beryl! Find Princess Serenity! Kill her!" Beryl simply nodded and ran off.
Earth took Elden's sword from his hand. With one last breath, she stabbed herself in the stomach.
"I didn't know how to live, what to do without him."
"But things are different now," Mamoru pointed out.
Hana leaned against the wall. "I still can't let him get close to me."
"Why not?" Mamoru asked.
"From what you have told me, by the time you and Serenity . . . uh, Usagi-sama remembered all of this, you both were already involved. But Jiro doesn't know. And I don't want to tell him."
"You don't have to tell him," said Mamoru.
"I don't want to get him involved."
"You won't be getting him involved."
"Yes, I will."
"How?"
Hana started to answer Mamoru's question, but stopped when she couldn't. "I don't know." There was a moment of silence as before Hana asked, "Mamoru, how did Usagi-sama disappear?"

Chapter 8